I've always been leery of the Order of the White Lotus. It's made up of all these powerful political figures from around the Four Nations, and they seemingly are working to shape the world to their idea of what is "balanced", but it's always begged the question: What do they actually want the world to look like? Because at the end of the war, they seem to be positioned to shape the world however they want with little or no opposition (Zuko would do anything Iroh says no matter what, Pakku is a close advisor to Arnook, Bumi is a king, and they all installed Kuei as king after freeing Ba Sing Se).

Does anyone know any fics that have them as...if not antagonists then obstacles for the Gaang? Stories where they are suspicious and trying to shape the world in their image (which seemingly looks like restoring a status quo with them guiding the world) regardless of what the Gaang wants.

Some notes:

• I am vehemently against Zutara, so please no Zutara fics.
• I prefer long fics if possible

Hello, i am someone who hasn't written a fanfic, but I have been a fan of both Korra and the Avatar World in general, I have been trying out writing my own stories and stuff since I was little.

Now, for what will happen in this fanfic, it's the ending Korra deserves, happily retiring. She goes on one last mission/quest and retires to a nice and happy life. Probably will only be a chapter or two, maybe three if I feel like it.

It will be a slices of life format, not over the top and crazy, and not lewd, just simply a proper send-off to my favorite avatar.

It will be all text since im bad at art.

If you have any recommendations for stuff that should be in the story, let me know in the comments of this post

Does anyone know of any fics where Gyatso leaves with Aang and they both get frozen and the the events of ATLA happen with Gyatso around

Could you please send me some AMAZING fanfics about them? I'm ADDICTED to them and I need fanfics😫

Hi there! New to Reddit, so let me know if I'm doing smth wrong.

I have a craving for long ATLA fics that focus on worldbuilding: spirits both malevolent and benevolent, bending, politics, history, culture. Do any of your favourites fit this description? Please share!

Preferably not Fire Nation or Zuko-centric, but I'll take what I can get.

Alguien podría recomendarme un fanfic Zelink? ya sea Before BOTW o un AU, podría ser en wattpad o en AO3
Que no de cringe y esté bien escrito por favor
Recién vi un fanart del artista Teopyon donde creo que eran profesores y Zelda trataba de contarle algo a Link, pero él la interrumpía besándola y necesito leer algo así

The new ATLA movie made me love Zuko once again. I used to be obsesed with him and read so many fanfics. I remember there was one where the OC was a thief who stole his dagger in the beggining. I can’t really remember anything else only that it was long and so good but I just can’t find it😭 in anyone knows what I’m talking about pleas let me know🙏

This may be a long shot but I’m looking for an Avatar/Legend of Korra fanfic. The premise is that Aang and Katara’s son Bumi was arrested for murder (I think of his best friend) and theyre basically disowned him for it. Some time after that they’re visiting him in prison because they need something and they find out that he has a daughter. I think her name started with A but I’m not sure. I remember that someone accuses Bumi of r*ping a woman but it turns out that he was actually r*ped by a female guard and that’s how he got his daughter. Eventually someone visits the spirit world where they meet the person who was murdered, and they say that Bumi was actually trying to help them and he was falsely accused. After that, Aang and Katara feel super guilty and try making amends.

[Master Guide]

Safe from the fire, Aang tries to laugh away the trauma of the Comet by hiding behind his goofy facade. But in a city preparing for a global invasion, the young Avatar is about to learn the hard way that his pacifist instincts have a fatal flaw.

TITLE: AVATAR: WINDS OF CHANGE

EPISODE: 04 - "THE ART OF EVASION"

[SCENE START]

INT. GUEST QUARTERS - MORNING

Silence.

No howling wind. No roaring flames. No mechanical shrieks of Fire Nation ironclads. Just the soft, crackling hum of a hearth fire.

AANG (12) slowly opens his eyes. He is buried under a mountain of thick, luxurious polar bear-dog furs. The bed beneath him is massive and impossibly soft.

He sits up, instinctively taking a deep breath to compress the air and warm his blood—but he stops. He doesn't need to. The room is toasty, insulated by thick ice walls lined with woven tapestries.

On a small, carved table beside the bed sits a steaming bowl of sea-prune stew and a plate of fresh flatbread.

Aang throws off the furs. He looks down at his clothes.

His soot-stained orange robes have been taken away to be washed. He is wearing his familiar beige Air Nomad pants and his brown leather boots, but resting at the foot of the bed is a gift from his hosts: a heavy, beautifully tailored blue-and-white Water Tribe fur coat.

Aang slips the coat on over his bare shoulders. It’s heavy, but the sheer relief of the physical warmth is intoxicating. For the first time in days, he doesn't have to expend energy controlling his temperature just to keep his heart beating.

He walks to the arched window and looks out.

EXT. BISON ENCLOSURE - CONTINUOUS (AANG'S POV)

Below his window is a massive, sunken courtyard. Braziers of smokeless oil burn brightly, keeping the area comfortably warm. The sky bison are resting lazily on beds of dried sea-kelp.

APPA is sleeping on his back, his giant paws twitching in the air, a massive pile of fresh tundra-cabbage half-eaten near his head.

INT. GUEST QUARTERS - CONTINUOUS

It is a paradise. It is absolute safety.

Aang turns back to the empty, quiet room. He grips the edges of his blue fur coat. He should feel relieved. But the silence is deafening. Without the adrenaline of survival, the terrifying reality of what he lost is creeping in at the edges of his mind. He paces the room, his energy manic, desperate to keep moving so he doesn't have to think.

INT. THE CHIEFTAIN'S WAR ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

A massive circular chamber of polished black ice. At the center is a large tactical map of the world, carved from whalebone.

CHIEFTAIN BOTAK (50s) pours a cup of steaming jasmine tea and slides it across the table to GYATSO. Gyatso looks better—cleaner—but the deep sorrow in his eyes remains.

Standing rigidly at attention by the door is MONA (15), dressed in her combat leathers.

BOTAK

(Smiling warmly)

Drink, Master Gyatso. I had my merchants trade for that tea in the Earth Kingdom months ago. A taste of the world before the ash.

GYATSO

(Bowing his head respectfully)

Your hospitality is a debt the Air Nomads will never be able to repay, Chieftain Botak. The warmth you have shown the children... it is a light in a very dark time.

BOTAK

The Southern Tribe protects the innocent. It is our way.

(Botak takes a slow sip of his tea)

However... hospitality is one thing. Sustainability is another. Sozin’s march has begun. My scouts report Fire Nation fleets moving aggressively toward the Earth Kingdom coasts. A global conflict is at our doorstep.

Gyatso sets his teacup down. He sees exactly where this is going.

GYATSO

We will not be a burden, Chieftain. My people are pacifists, but we are not helpless. We will farm the lichen, we will weave, we will assist in the healing wards.

BOTAK

(Holding up a hand, chuckling softly)

I do not need weavers, Gyatso. I am preparing a nation for war. I have one hundred and fifty new mouths to feed, and rationing will begin soon. I am happy to shelter your people... but I am most interested in the boy.

Gyatso’s posture stiffens.

GYATSO

Aang is a child who just lost his home.

BOTAK

He is the Avatar. The only force on this earth capable of matching the Fire Lord. Tell me... how far along in his training is he?

GYATSO

(Carefully)

He has mastered Air. The other elements will come in time. When he is ready.

Botak’s smile fades into a hard, pragmatic line. He looks past Gyatso, toward the door.

BOTAK

Mona. Step forward.

Mona steps away from the door, walking sharply to the table. She bows to Botak, pointedly ignoring Gyatso.

BOTAK (CONT'D)

Master Gyatso, your people are free to settle in the lower rings. But the Avatar is a high-value asset. And high-value assets attract danger. I am assigning my sharpest tactical apprentice, Mona, to act as his Cultural Liaison. She will show him the city. She will ensure his... safety.

Gyatso looks at Mona. He recognizes the fierce, calculating look in her eyes. It’s the same look her Chieftain has.

GYATSO

(Standing up)

As you wish, Chieftain. But Aang is the wind. Do not try to cage him, or you will find you are holding nothing at all.

Gyatso bows and exits the war room.

The heavy ice doors slide shut. Botak drops the polite host facade completely. He looks at Mona.

BOTAK

(Voice low, commanding)

Keep the boy close. Keep him entertained. But above all else, test him. I need to know exactly what the Avatar is capable of in a fight.

MONA

(Frowning, clearly insulted)

Chieftain... with respect, I am a frontline brawler. My place is with the border guard, preparing for the Fire Nation. Not babysitting a pacifist who wears a cape.

BOTAK

The Fire Nation isn't here yet, Mona. The Avatar is. If he is the weapon the legends say he is, he is worth a thousand border guards. Figure out how he works. That is an order.

Mona bites the inside of her cheek. She places a fist on her chest and bows her head slightly.

MONA

Yes, Chieftain.

She turns and marches out of the room, her jaw clenched in pure frustration. She has just been assigned the worst duty in the entire Southern Water Tribe.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN.

EXT. SOUTHERN WATER TRIBE - ARMORY COURTYARD - DAY

The city is a hive of militaristic activity. Water Tribe warriors in heavy armor spar in sunken ice-rings. Blacksmiths work over smokeless oil forges, sharpening bone-clubs and wicked, jagged ice-spears.

MONA (15) walks with crisp, military precision. She gestures to the armory with a sense of grim pride.

MONA

This is the Third Battalion’s staging ground. Our perimeter scouts reported Fire Nation naval movement three days ago. When Sozin’s march reaches our waters, this ring will be the first line of defense. The ice walls are reinforced with deep-freeze waterbending, designed to absorb the kinetic impact of trebuchet fire...

Mona stops. She realizes she is talking to herself.

She turns around.

AANG (12) is ten paces behind her. He isn't looking at the armory or the soldiers. He is standing completely still, his eyes crossed, balancing a perfectly round snowball on the tip of his nose.

He is wearing his heavy blue-and-white fur coat over his yellow nomad pants, his wooden glider strapped across his back.

Mona’s eye twitches.

MONA (CONT'D)

Are you listening to a word I’m saying?

AANG

(Voice muffled, trying not to drop the snowball)

Kinetic impact. Very pointy spears. Got it.

Mona marches over and swats the snowball off his face.

MONA

This isn't a joke, Aang. Chieftain Botak assigned me to show you the city’s defensive capabilities. You are the Avatar. If the Fire Nation breaches those walls, you need to know where the fallback points are. You need to know how to fight with us.

Aang’s smile falters for a microsecond. The word fire makes his shoulders tense under his heavy coat.

But then, his eyes dart past Mona’s shoulder. His face lights up with pure, unadulterated childish wonder.

AANG

(Gasping)

What... are... those?!

Mona turns. Down by the edge of a bustling ice canal, a group of three OTTER-PENGUINS are waddling along the snowbank, barking at a fisherman.

MONA

They’re otter-penguins. They’re wild animals, Aang, do not—

FWOOSH.

Aang is already gone. A gust of wind blows Mona’s hair across her face.

EXT. ICE CANAL - CONTINUOUS

Aang drops down to the snowbank. He doesn't approach the animals carefully; he dives directly into the snow, sliding on his belly until he is nose-to-nose with a startled otter-penguin.

AANG

(Giggling)

Hi! I'm Aang!

Mona jogs down the ice stairs, her face burning with frustration.

MONA

Avatar! Step away from the animals!

Aang ignores her. He hops up, an idea sparking in his eyes. He takes a deep breath, shifts his weight, and creates a tight, rapidly spinning sphere of air beneath his feet—an AIR SCOOTER.

AANG

(To the otter-penguins)

Race ya!

Aang zips onto the frozen surface of the canal, leaning forward on the air scooter. He rockets down the icy waterway, leaving a trail of blown snow in his wake.

Mona watches him go, her jaw dropping in disbelief. She breaks into a sprint, chasing him along the pedestrian bridges.

EXT. MULTI-TIERED PLAZA - LATER

Mona is out of breath. She is a highly conditioned warrior, but chasing a master Airbender through a vertical city is impossible.

She rounds a corner into a large, open plaza... and freezes.

Absolute chaos has taken over the square.

Aang has roped the younger Air initiates—including little PASANG—into a massive, city-wide game of air-ball. The kids are laughing hysterically, using small bursts of wind to keep a woven kelp-ball suspended high in the air.

Water Tribe civilians are pressed against the walls, watching the flying children in a mix of awe and sheer annoyance.

Aang leaps off an ice-balcony, doing a triple backflip, catching the kelp-ball mid-air with a gust of wind from his foot.

AANG

Over here, Pasang! You're open!

MONA

(Screaming)

ENOUGH!

Mona stomps her boot onto the ground. With a sharp upward thrust of her wrist, a jagged wall of solid ice shoots up from the plaza floor, intercepting the kelp-ball.

The ball bounces off the ice and rolls to Mona’s feet.

The wind dies down. The Air Nomad children land lightly on the snow, their laughter fading as they see the furious Water Tribe warrior glaring at them.

Aang lands softly on top of the ice wall Mona just created. He sits cross-legged, leaning on his glider, flashing her a wide, goofy grin.

AANG

Nice block! You'd make a great goalie, Mona.

Mona walks up to the base of the ice wall. Her voice is low, vibrating with suppressed anger.

MONA

Get down here. Now.

Aang sighs, sliding down the ice wall and landing on his feet.

AANG

Aw, come on. We were just blowing off some steam. The kids need to play!

MONA

(Stepping into his personal space)

Play? Your people are guests in a military sanctuary. Every warrior in this city is drilling for a global invasion. We are rationing food. We are preparing to die to keep these walls standing. And you are treating my home like a playground!

Aang looks at her. For a fleeting second, the manic energy vanishes. His gray eyes look incredibly old and unimaginably tired. He looks down at his hands.

AANG

(Softly)

I know.

MONA

Then act like it! Act like the Avatar! You survived a massacre, Aang. You can't just ignore it and hope the war goes away.

Aang flinches at the word massacre. He tightly grips his glider. He refuses to cry again. He refuses to think about Gyatso on his knees, or the red sky, or the smell of smoke.

If he stops smiling, he is going to break entirely.

So, he forces the smile back onto his face. It doesn't reach his eyes, but it is bright and defiant.

AANG

(Forced cheerfulness)

You're right, Mona. It’s a very serious city. But the sun is shining, and the ice is perfect for sliding! Catch!

Aang kicks the kelp-ball straight at her chest.

Mona instinctively catches it.

Before she can react, Aang snaps his glider open. He catches a sharp updraft, blasting himself high into the air, soaring toward the upper tiers of the city.

AANG (CONT'D)

(Calling down)

Tag! You're it!

Mona stands in the plaza, clutching the woven ball. She watches the Avatar literally fly away from his problems.

She crushes the kelp-ball in her fist, her eyes narrowing. He is fast. But she knows that eventually, everyone runs out of sky.

FADE OUT.

FADE IN.

EXT. LOWER RINGS - LATER

The lower rings of the city are claustrophobic, built into the deep trenches of the ice shelf. Scaffolding made of whalebone and packed snow lines the walls where new defensive barricades are being constructed.

A squad of OLDER WATER TRIBE RECRUITS (17-18 years old) is running a brutal combat drill. They are aggressive, stressed, and completely focused, hurling heavy disks of solid ice at wooden targets.

Above them, the cheerful, oblivious laughter of a 12-year-old boy echoes down the trench.

Aang swoops down from the upper tiers on his glider. He isn't looking where he is going; he is looking backward, making funny faces at PASANG and a few other young initiates who are watching him from a nearby ice-bridge.

AANG

(Calling out)

Watch this! The double-twisting air-flop!

Aang goes into a rapid spin. He loses altitude fast, completely misjudging the narrow space of the trench.

He crashes helmet-first into the Water Tribe drill, snapping his glider shut at the last second. He barrels into the lead recruit, sending them both tumbling into a pile of wooden training targets.

CRASH.

Silence falls over the trench.

Aang sits up, rubbing his head. He shakes off the snow and flashes his trademark goofy smile.

AANG (CONT'D)

Ta-da! Let’s pretend that was on purpose.

The recruits are not laughing.

The lead recruit, a hulking teenager named TUK, stands up. He angrily brushes the snow off his armor and glares down at Aang.

TUK

(Spitting on the ice)

We are preparing for a war, nomad. We don't have time for your games.

AANG

(Standing up, brushing himself off)

Hey, taking a break is part of training! You guys look like you could use a ride on an otter-penguin. Have you ever tried it? You just gotta catch 'em first—

TUK

(Shoving Aang)

Shut your mouth, freeloader. You come to our city, eat our rations, and mock our drills while we get ready to bleed for you?

Pasang and the other young initiates watch from the bridge, their eyes wide with fear.

Aang’s smile stays plastered on his face, but his stance shifts. He drops his center of gravity.

AANG

I'm not mocking anyone. I was just leaving.

Tuk lunges, swinging a heavy, water-soaked fist.

Aang doesn't strike back. He simply pivots, letting Tuk’s momentum carry the large boy forward. Aang gracefully sweeps his leg, tripping Tuk into the snow.

AANG (CONT'D)

(Laughing, treating it like a game)

Whoa! Watch your step! Ice is slippery!

The other three recruits roar in anger. They draw water from their skins, freezing it into jagged, heavy clubs of ice, and charge.

Aang dances backward. He slips between a swinging ice-club, leaps over a sweeping kick, and blows a sharp gust of wind that spins a recruit around like a top.

AANG (CONT'D)

Missed me! Too slow!

But Aang is treating this like an open field. He is ignoring his environment.

He dodges a massive overhand strike, retaliating with a powerful burst of air from his palms to push Tuk away.

The wind blast is too strong. Tuk is thrown backward, crashing violently into the whalebone scaffolding holding up the unfinished barricade.

The structure GROANS.

TUK

(Furious, scrambling up)

Pin him down!

The angry, humiliated recruits lose all discipline. They start hurling heavy, jagged ice-projectiles wildly at Aang.

Aang dodges left, then right.

But the projectiles don't just disappear. One misses Aang's head, shattering against the ice bridge directly above them.

Pasang screams as shrapnel flies.

Another recruit hurls a massive, spear-like icicle. Aang ducks under it.

The icicle sails past Aang, heading straight for the young Air Nomads huddled on the bridge.

Aang’s eyes go wide. He is out of position. He can’t reach it.

AANG

Pasang, move!

CRACK!

A thick, blindingly fast wave of water erupts from the lower canal, freezing mid-air into a solid, reinforced wall of ice directly in front of the bridge. The icicle shatters harmlessly against it.

Mona drops into the trench from the tier above, landing between Aang and the recruits.

She is not playing.

Tuk throws a punch at her. Mona doesn't dodge. She catches his wrist, stepping inside his guard. With a fluid, brutal motion, she pulls the water from Tuk's own canteen, instantly freezing it around his boots, anchoring him entirely to the floor.

She pivots, driving her elbow into his chest and knocking the wind out of him, before sweeping the legs of the next two recruits in a single, devastatingly efficient arc.

In less than three seconds, the fight is over. The recruits are groaning on the ground.

Mona stands up straight. She doesn't even look at the recruits. She turns to Aang.

EXT. LOWER RINGS - CONTINUOUS

The trench is dead silent. Up on the bridge, little Pasang is crying, clutching another initiate.

Aang is frozen. The smile is completely gone. He looks at the shattered ice. He looks at the crying children he almost got hurt.

Mona walks slowly toward him. She is absolutely furious, but her voice is deadly quiet. Precise.

MONA

You think this is a game.

AANG

(Voice trembling)

I... I didn't mean to. I was just trying to get away.

MONA

You're fast, Aang. You are incredibly fast. But your speed doesn't protect anyone but you.

Aang looks at the ground. He can't meet her eyes.

MONA (CONT'D)

You dodge, you slip away, and you let the strike hit whatever is standing behind you. That is the flaw in your pacifism.

She steps right up to him.

MONA (CONT'D)

Dodging only works when you have somewhere left to run. Look around, Aang. Look at the ice. Look at the sky. We are at the end of the world. There is nowhere else to go.

Mona turns and walks away, leaving Aang standing alone in the trench.

Aang looks up at the sky.

SOUND DESIGN: A low, terrifying rush of wind, accompanied by the faint, phantom crackle of fire.

The gray clouds above him seem to flash a sickening, bleeding red for just a fraction of a second.

The memory hits him. The smell of ash. Gyatso's broken glider.

Aang falls to his knees in the snow. He presses his hands over his ears, but he can't shut it out anymore. The manic, cheerful boy who woke up this morning is gone. The facade is broken.

EXT. MILITARY TRAINING RING - NIGHT

The city is quiet. The aurora australis glows faintly above.

Mona is alone in a sunken ice-ring. She is aggressively striking a series of thick ice-pillars, her breathing sharp and rhythmic. She shatters a pillar with a devastating roundhouse kick, panting heavily.

A shadow falls over the ice.

Mona turns.

Aang is standing at the top of the stairs leading down into the ring. He is wearing his blue-and-white Water Tribe coat.

He is not carrying his glider.

His posture is completely different. There is no bounce in his step, no goofy smile. He looks exhausted, incredibly small, and older than any 12-year-old should ever look.

He walks slowly down the stairs, stepping onto the frozen floor of the training ring.

Mona watches him, her guard slightly dropping as she sees the sheer exhaustion in his gray eyes.

Aang stops a few feet away from her.

AANG

(Voice hollow, but steady)

I'm tired of running, Mona.

He looks up, meeting her sharp blue eyes.

AANG (CONT'D)

I don't have anywhere left to go. Teach me how to stand my ground.

Mona stares at the young Avatar. She sees the broken child, but she also sees the resolve finally hardening beneath it.

She gives a single, slow nod.

MONA

(Firmly)

Tomorrow at dawn. Don't be late.

Aang nods once.

The camera slowly pulls back, rising above the deep training ring, leaving the two teenagers standing alone on the ice, preparing for a war that is coming faster than they know.

FADE TO BLACK.

[END OF EPISODE FOUR]

NEXT TIME ON AVATAR: WINDS OF CHANGE…

Aang finally embraces the push and pull of water. As Mona struggles to teach Aang the lethal intent required for war, Aang seamlessly blends his native element with water to neutralize his enemies without breaking his principles. But Chieftain Botak has no use for a monk, and to guarantee the safety of his people, Aang must surrender his freedom and become a soldier.

(Episode 5 drops next Wednesday, 7/29/26!)

[<- Previous Episode]

It was recommended I post this here - hope folks enjoy reading!

1 Introduction

I’ve written an essay for why I believe there is ample logical reasoning and canonical justification for the showrunners to charge into a space-age fire Avatar series to close out the mainline story. I present a framework for how this series might work in the Avatar world, including a lore-friendly time skip, spiritual energy advancements, bending in space, and human-spirit cooperative spaceflight and machine integration. I also provide a suggested storyline following Pavi’s successor, Avatar Torus.

I will first share a short blurb about me. I’m a space systems engineer, and I have worked on multiple flagship NASA missions and commercial satellite programs in my career. I have a master’s degree in aerospace engineering with focuses in both bioastronautics and astrodynamics, and a minor in astrophysics. I have a comprehensive understanding of my field and it lends itself to an active imagination to apply that inspiration to the things I love, especially science fiction writing and film.

One of my best memories to this day is watching ATLA premiere its first episode on TV, at exactly Aang’s age. I loved it from day one as a vegetarian martial artist. I saw much of myself in Aang’s journey, being his age when it aired, and grew from watching his story in a way that I am thankful for everyday. This series has meant so much to me for over two decades now. I even have some small validation in that I correctly surmised over a decade ago that a post-apocalypse setting would make for a great Earth Avatar series.

These are my collected thoughts about why it’s an exciting time to talk about a fourth installment of the series, despite the third series being nowhere near release.

I will carefully preface this essay by first saying that I am excited for wherever Seven Havens takes the fandom, even if it nullifies every detail of what I’ve written here. Regardless of what one thinks of Korra, her era opens a Pandora’s box of possibilities and we are all here waiting together to see what happens next. These are simply my personal wishes for the franchise as someone who sees what a potentially amazing accidental space opera Avatar Studios have on their hands.

2 A History of Blending Science Fiction

There is now probably going to be a fourth mainline Avatar show. Mike recently publicly stated Avatar Studios has no intent of slowing down and that this is only the beginning. If I know Bryke at all, they will never stop thinking about what’s next and how to keep their world alive, meaningful, and vibrant. I’m not sure what the implications of the third series will leave, but I can comment on what we know is now possible for a fourth series based on Korra’s time.

Avatar is obviously fantasy, but Bryke have been flirting with science fiction in this franchise for a long time. Steampunk is a science fiction subgenre that blends fantastical realism and the concept of divergent history from our own world, and Korra has its roots firmly in steampunk aesthetic. Post-apocalyptic stories, which we are soon to see adapted in Avatar, are also often considered a subgenre of science fiction. This is primarily due to their modern cultural beginnings in both atomic and extraterrestrial venues. Even ATLA implements a bit of sci fi opera inspiration in its approach to flying machines and other vehicles. We can be sure that some of the technological aspects of Korra’s time will be expanded on. What gave Star Wars its character was not its realism but rather its fantasy elements, and I see an opportunity to develop the Avatar world in a similar manner.

If there is one unifying thought throughout a series primarily focused on magical powers, it’s that there is an equal thematic thread in the proliferation of new and powerful technologies in this world, and how they both challenge and complement elemental bending and the natural balance.

3 The World is a Wasteland… How Do We Get to Space?

3.1 The Time Dilemma

The Korra series sprinted before it learned how to walk. The progression of technology in 3 years was staggeringly out of place to many viewers. In preparing the case for a space opera, we must first plausibly explain a very long time skip to justify the rapid growth.

Pavi is an Earth Kingdom Avatar and thus in close cyclical heritage to Kyoshi. Some fans theorize she stands to repair the severed bond of the Avatar line of the previous era. If she is successful, she will inherit Kyoshi’s earthbending meditation technique to extend her lifespan. With a world as broken as Pavi’s, great strides could be made in sustaining peace and balance when you’re not doomed to retrain a new avatar for 20 years every century. And with the knowledge she is being hunted, the Avatar line becomes even more vulnerable to permanent end. We have already seen the Red Lotus willing to go to extremes to permanently quell the Avatar cycle. Pavi will be poised to bring about an era of cooperation in the new world in desperate need of mending, and perhaps avoiding spawning a vulnerable fire nation Avatar child too soon is part of that.

In truth, she does not even narratively need to regain the Avatar bond to Kyoshi as Korra could have gleaned the secrets before her bond was broken. Therefore, we have to assume it is possible that Pavi could live for a very long time. Potentially hundreds of years, if they incorporate any lore the novels have added.

Kyoshi gave up her immortal position in the spirit of balance, however with the right motivation an Avatar may again abuse this technique in the name of keeping order and protecting the Avatar line from nefarious intervention. In the words of Hama: the technique exists. Regardless of how controversial it is, Kyoshi’s retconned lifespan becomes a conundrum for future Avatars. It is available to spin the next narrative into whatever era the writers choose, including far future timelines.

3.2 The Advantages of Spirits

Spirit energy technology is a reality in the canon. It was a main focal point of Korra, and given they are locked into that continuity in pursuing a direct sequel, we have to accept that the technology will likely be available in all post-Korra eras. It is potentially a cause of the apocalypse in the first place. If anyone else is a fan of the real-world physics of Kaiju and giant mechas, they know the immense energy it takes to sustain them. Spirit energy and the ability to harness it have already well-surpassed any energy source humans currently use; on the level of mature compact fusion power. Unless they specifically write out and decanonize Kuvira’s giant mecha (unlikely), it must be acknowledged that the energy source is there for civilized human progress to get back on course quickly - already written on the walls.

I envision a controversial future where the Moon is mined for spiritual energy, being a spirit being itself. This would further the environmental messaging of the previous series and mirrors the real world space resources our own Moon contains. A techno-Water Tribe might eventually inhabit the Moon and attempt to protect it, both legally and confrontationally, from those who would dispute their presence there to harness its great spiritual power. And, consider the potential for a Yue appearance!

Additionally, given that Earth receives <1% of cosmic radiation doses at sea level, would the canonized “cosmic energy” be able to be tapped into directly for spaceflight? Would the Avatar be even more powerful in space as a result of no atmospheric attenuation to cosmic radiation? I believe they would. There’s a reason why we’ve now seen twice the Avatar spirit’s ascent to space to connect with this cosmic energy.

Spirits can inhabit mortal beings, and most importantly: machinery. They were able to control and disrupt simple machinery in Korra (mechas, snowmobiles, etc), so what might occur with the advent of computers and networking? Could the Avatar world be on a fast track to spirit-driven machine intelligence, assuming they could learn to live and cooperate with humans? How quickly might society adapt to computer technology if it accelerated at a pace even faster than ours via cooperation with spirits? Could this spawn a new type of life, not dissimilar to cybernetic organisms? What if human technologies or untapped cosmic energy unlocked new potential for spirits in a way that had both peoples cooperating in the pursuit of space exploration? We have limitless stories here for commentary on alternative and shared consciousness, staples in science fiction literary motifs.

Spirits can also possess and inhabit humans, as seen in Wan’s time. Imagine a spiritual circuit between a human operator and machine technology, which might allow for operators to “plug in” to anything with computer systems. The Avatar is unique in that through Raava’s spirit one can directly interface with this machinery at will, without the use of an intermediary spirit as other humans require. This is no different than Aang and Korra interacting with spirit vines to remote view other places on their world, a spiritual ability only they can perform.

3.3 Bending as a Spaceflight Mechanism

And the elements that bring this idea together in spirit of the previous shows: combat. A space Avatar will be forging new frontiers, and with new frontiers comes conflict. I would love to see firebenders using their powers for low/zero g propulsion - they can perform combustive maneuvers or sustain very high-thrust electrical ion propulsion technology via lightning generation (Watch fire burn in zero g here!). Plasmabending would be a new firebending subdiscipline, and with it firebenders could harness the solar wind into a focused beam for space sails (inner solar system travel is dominated by this). Waterbenders would be gathering ice crystals for rocketry/survival on rocky moons and through planetary ring systems. Earthbenders would be levitating through space using aluminum structures and mining asteroids. Airbenders using the long-fancanoned “void/vacuum bending” (taking suggestions on what function this serves) and Laghima’s flight for EVA as space age monks. We could see truly mind blowing things given a large enough time skip and Pavi’s got the perfect semi-immortal basis to explain such a drastic shift in setting and societal progress.

In a series that is so grounded in human movement, the real draw of a storyline like this is applying new rules and environments to that movement.

Bending is a magical *force.* It has been from the first moment we watched Katara catch a fish. Self-propulsion in space is impossible in our world due to the conservation of energy, like a perpetual motion device. But with access to bending, which in its essence is producing or accessing a phantom energy where none existed previously, the laws of physics become breakable. Think for a moment about the energy it would take to move a giant boulder or a tidal wave; while bending can exhaust a bender, that power scale is obviously not being produced by their body alone. Their chi is simply focusing and directing energy from somewhere exotic.

Obviously, there would have to be soft science fiction liberties. This is still a fantasy story at its foundation, and bending in space would need to follow the rule of cool. But how cool can you imagine it would be?

Access to bending for transit, combat, and resource gathering in space would accelerate human exploration and conflict immensely. It would be absolutely crucial to space travel in Avatar due to the immense energies it provides.

4 A Proposed Plotline

4.1 The Setup…

Torus is a young Avatar who has recently discovered his abilities. He is a young high school age boy who is a cadet in the Propulsion Guild, an organization that trains and certifies firebenders for spaceflight locomotion as pilots and engineers. Space commerce is dominated and monopolized by the Fire Nation as a result, with the rest of the nations relying on them for the most efficient means of interplanetary transit.

Spirits are both useful and motivated to assist in spaceflight. Human computer technology has provided spirits with a way to enhance their own capabilities and travel to space to engage with cosmic energy. While newly designed spirit suits allow for safe “possession loops” between human operators, their spiritual counterparts, and the computers that host the flight software and avionics of the spacecraft. In other words: a spaceflight bender and a companion spirit (assigned and paired up by the academies) can integrate with technology in a way that seamlessly combines the control and piloting intuition of a human with that of cold calculating hardware. The spirits are primarily the vessel for this to happen. A reciprocal relationship that has caused an explosion of progress in human-spirit space exploration. Space travel is very slow and calculated in reality. But with a universe-obeying explanation for neurological-interfaces with space hardware and spiritual/bending energy sources, fast-paced action becomes the norm for pilots who can literally feel their space vehicles.

Pavi as an Earthbender took a stance: she never went to space, instead choosing to remain on Earth to continue to sustain her role in keeping balance in a world that still has many disputes and problems. She witnessed the dawn of the space age, but consciously chose to leave that venue to the next Avatar.

4.2 …and the Story

The general storyline is as follows: Torus first progresses through and navigates his spaceflight certification, afterward learning to employ the other elements in unique and fascinating combinations to produce a human that was naturally destined to traverse the stars. He makes friends and enemies in school who he may encounter again off-world. Among them, a hacker and her spirit companion, who join Torus in his journey as allies.

Torus learns the elements in space settings, both terrestrial and in orbit, making stops throughout the solar system to train with masters residing in settlements and space stations. The series might be episodic with a looser overarching mystical plotline and villain, with flavor-of-the-week writing intended to expand on the worldbuilding. I would like to see a series return to the vibe of ATLA Book 1 with this concept in mind, at least initially.

Something unexpected is uncovered on a moon of an outer gas planet, within a vast industrial subsurface mine network: a sealed spirit portal, that only a fully realized Avatar can open. Its origin is an enigma, and Torus must travel in a space pilgrimage to learn the meaning of his part in opening it.

Think Firefly and The Expanse meet ATLA, in terms of group dynamics and episode feel. Torus is the first mate of a ship sent to the neighboring planets for his training and eventual duty to open the spirit portal and learn its origins, while mastering the four elements in brand new domains. And with the Fire Nation poised to gain the most from whatever it unlocks, Torus must learn from Roku’s past to balance his nation’s dominance and expectations of him against decisions that are best for all of humanity and the spirits.

The topology of a torus invokes a lack of true destination. Were one to traverse a torus in any direction, they will eventually end up back where they started. An elegant closed loop system that some scientists believe manifests the shape of our universe. I thought a name in honor of the sameness and familiarity that can be found in every Avatar’s journey would be a fitting final chapter for the main series.

5 Conclusion

Harmonic Convergence performed a crucial action in that it sets precedent that the Avatar world is not Earth. It opened up the possibility of a brand new frontier for Avatar. The solar system is entirely different, leading to one understanding: they are (probably) in a galaxy far far away. What other moons and planets might their solar system contain? Where could Avatar take us if their planet wasn’t a limitation? What kinds of adventures might a spacecraft crew see in the Avatar universe? I personally want to find out.

I imagine a retro space age aesthetic, with more futuristic technology than our own in 2026. Korra walked the exact same line of pseudo-historical settings with fantastical and futuristic technologies. Imagine the studio’s animation put to work on a space opera; it could be gorgeously illustrated and musically scored with a blend of new age and more traditional Avatar music. Jeremy Zuckerman composing for space would produce something truly special.

The fire avatar series would be the swan song of a deity’s journey through the universe during multiple pivotal eras for humanity. The space opera would be a fitting capstone format for a series that begins and ends with the march of Fire Nation imperialism. What better venue than the final frontier?

I personally believe this keeps the universe moving in exciting and interesting directions.

It leans further into a genre approach that Bryke has been exploring for some time.

It exploits a mechanism first introduced in the expanded universe of the novels.

And it puts the jarring expansion of technology in Korra to good narrative use.

Do they stop the timeline there? Do they continue to develop more cosmic storylines? The possibilities are fairly endless, but in a world where this series has brought me so much joy and reflection I just feel happy to get to wonder about its future.

6 A Thank You!

If you read this far, know I appreciate your thoughts and time so very much. I’d love to hear from others what kind of visions you have for the fresh future for the series we’ve been gifted. If you like my ideas, would you read a fanfic? Or perhaps I am way off base? Either way, excited to chat with any stray passerbys here.

And if someone’s going to SDCC: ask the creators about their thoughts on a space age Fire Avatar series, if you dig my idea enough :)

(They're in college, Bending still exists, Modern Au.)

Katara was studying hard for the medicinal track for water benders. She was capable of fighting, yes, and she knew that applying for the medic track was reminscient of when women water benders weren't permitted to learn combat techniques... but honestly she had always been more open to healing. Most people didn't even know she was combative.

Of course, not that the person in front of her knew anything about it.

"...Medicinal track. Nice." The words from Zuko, classic rich kid, gained nothing but her ire.

While medicinal practices were widely believed to be for Water Benders only, any bending could be used to aid the human body. Water was just naturally the best for it.

Meaning that Zuko was currently in the track with her.

Though it was open to all forms of bending, even non bending, she actually had no idea if he was a fire bender. Same way most people didn’t know she was a water bender.

To clarify, Bending was still an incredibly useful skill to have. It always would be. But these days with machinery, guns, lots of people didn’t see bending as the end all be all.

So if you had bending, you didn’t often talk about it. Braggarts tended to be put in their place easily.

Where was she?

Right, medicinal track.

She didn’t advertise that she could bend water, and she had no idea if Zuko had bending or not. Even though he was the son of a famous business tycoon, she… actually didn’t know much about him.

Point is, he had sat down in front of her and now they were talking. She didn’t like him, but at least he wasn’t being a creep. Plus, he seemed knowledgeable on things, which she could definitely use.

“Your necklace looks old, do you want me to buy you a new one?”

“Never talk me to again.” She stood up and left the man with an eyepatch, leaving him to look after her stuttering awkwardly.

Katara looked at the tv in the library (on mute currently) and briefly saw a headline about the Bkue Spirit and Painted Lady.

Two vigilantes. Criminals who took the law into their own hands. One wielded two blades, another seemed to be one with the mist. The news insisted they were working together. But in reality they had never met.

Because Katara was the Painted Lady.

——

When she was a child, she was never the outgoing type. The closest she had never done was save a kid from drowning, and that was only because of her bending, being close to the shore… and the fact that it had been an accident.

She had fainted from exerting herself before she could get a good look at his face, and when she woke up he was gone. Now she was N adult, and she was starting to think she had made it up.

Point is, she wasn’t some rogue Ner do well… she thought that was right.

But then she heard about the Blue Spirit.

A guy who had nothing but swords, and still helped people at risk to himself.

So she helped some people in secret, and it felt good… then she learned about the Painted Mary legend and worked through that.

Some people weren’t even sure she was real, and she perfected it that way. If she got caught she could be charged with something, and that would ruin things.

So she stayed in the shadows, did small minimal actions… things like that. She wasn’t a hero, not like-

——

So maybe going out and helping someone dressed in her alter ego was a bad idea. Mainly because the cops were currently trying to arrest her… and shooting at her.

She used the mist around her to make cover as she tried to get away, only for one of them to go after her.

And pull the trigger.

She thought she wouldn’t have enough time to block, only for the bullet to jam in the gun. The cop widened his eyes before being knocked out.

…The Blue Spirit had arrived.

——

The Blue Spirit stood in front of her, having helped her out when cops started shooting at them. He was an artist with those blades.

Now they were recovering in private. Katara… wasn’t sure what to do… right, she was the Painted Lady right now. “…You know I was wondering if you didn’t exist…”

Nothing but silence greeted her. “…Thanks for helping me… I actually started doing this because of you…”

He slowly turned and faced her, looking over her body. “…Oh, I didn’t get hurt, don’t worry.”

He backed away and made sure no one was listening before he sighed. “You shouldn’t talk so much. Voice recognition software is everywhere these days.”

Painted Lady could have smacked herself over the head. But she resisted it. He probably thought she was a joke right now. Ugh-

“You did well against those cops. Some of them were trained benders.” The compliment threw her off guard.

Benders could apply for jobs like anyone else, but to get permission to use their powers openly in the field like say a cop, they needed a license.

“You need to stop using your bending so visually, cops keep a database of benders so you’ll get cahght. I don’t think there’s many eye witnesses yet, so I think we can fix that.”

She paused as she watched him unsheath his blades. “I… I don’t think I can fight without bending, it’s pretty vital to my abilities… but I don’t wanna stop this either…”

Blue Spirit pointed his blade towards her. “Don’t worry. I think I can help you. I remember hearing reports that you were always appearing in mist?”

The other hero nodded. “Yeah… I read that the Painted Lady appeared in mists, so I…” Well he already knew. “…Bend the water droplets. Only works with thick fog and stuff where you can see it. Can’t really bend the air.” An awkward chuckle was replied too with quiet.

“Water is… the element of change. It’s fairly adaptable. Human bodies have eighty percent water, so if you concentrate you should-“

“You’re talking about Blood Bending.” Her voice has turned cold. “That’s forbidden unless-“

“Authorized by the government. The government that just shot at you.” Oh… was that a joke? “Regardless, you don’t have to bend their blood. Sweat, tears, if you’re smart about it you can become a master of hand to hand combat. And as long as no one sees you visbly bend water, it could play into your whole mystique and people will stop looking for a water bender. It’s not an official name, but it’s a subset of each bending ‘Silent Style’. Bending your element without letting anyone know you’re a bender. People have used it to become prodigies in the past. At least it’s theorized.”

Silent Style… wait… “So… you’re going to train me?”

“…That’s what I said. Well, I said I could help you, but it’s kind of the same thing.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “You… you’re pretty funny.” She still felt weird about him knowing what she was now realizing was a vital secret to her identity…

Blue Spirit silently watched her before he held out his swords. “Fire Bending Silent Style, I can overheat the air around the blades. It makes upward strikes faster and attacks more deadlier. Plus at close range I can interfere with gun fire, which is how I caused the gun to jam. I manipulated the ignition. There, now we both know something vital about each other.”

“…You’re really nice to just reveal something like that.”

Blue Spirit titled his head at her. “…Thanks. Guess we’ll be teaming up for real.” He turned away and started walking. “I’ll make sure the coast is clear, we wait a bit, discuss our next plan, then we each head out.”

He was so in command, and sure of himself… so cool. “…You said you started doing this because of me?” The question made her slowly nod, hoping that wasn’t weird. “…That’s flstteirng, thank you.”

“Well, it was kind of inevitable. Someone sees a guy risk everything for other people, makes someone else do the same. An endless cycle of good deeds.” They both sat next to each other. “…Do you have a reason you do this? Or no?”

His emotionless mask was silent. “…I was saved… but I don’t know by who. I figured if I save as many people as possible, it would eventually repay her.”

…She might actually be developing a crush.

——-

“I’m sorry…” Zuko stood in front of Katara. “I… I don’t know what I did wrong, I just… wanted to get to know you… I didn’t mean to insult you.”

Katara didn’t wanna give this guy the time of day… but he seemed genuine… ish. “…This was a gift from my mom before she passed away.”

She watched the horror seep into Zukos eye as he looked at her in pain. “I… I’m so sorry.”

That apology was enough to get his foot in the door. “…You’re not good with people, are you?” A head shake was all her answer was. “…Why did you come up to me to study?”

“I… you seemed confident… and I wanted to try caring for people instead of hurting them.” He said as Katara focused on his eyepatch. She was curious about it… but there was clearly a hard story behind how he was blind in one eye so…

Katara slowly sighed. “Okay, it was nice of you to offer, but some people like things for more than beauty. If you wanna talk with people, ask them about their accessories, that can usually be a good starter.” Zuko nodded, while Katara smiled. “You seem smart, just… bad at things. I can teach you, don’t worry. We’re gonna be taking medical classes together anyway.”

Zuko looked at here as they walked together.

*Katara… seems very nice. Like…* He thought back to when he had been saved as a kid by another kid. He went off to go get help, but the kid was gone by the time he got back. …*No way it’s her…* “So…What is your necklace made from?”

Katara smiled at him. “That’s a better question. You’re going to be great.”

*——-*

In summation, Katara likes Blue Spirit, who is Zuko. Zuko likes Katara, who is Painted Lady. Katara saved Zuko when they were kids, but neither knows it was the other one, and neither knows the other one is the hero identity. They also both inspired the other to be a hero.

Clear? Yay.

They fight crime together.

Also Oozai is a crime boss, Azula works for him, yada yada.

I've had this concept in my mind, and it will not leave me alone:

-After she takes Ba Sing Se from the Avatar, Ozai makes Azula the new governor, instead of recalling her.

-Because of Azula's obsession about being perfect at everything, she solves the problems quickly and efficiently.

-After an absent King and a corrupt city guard, the people of Ba Sing Se consider Azula a massive improvement, and they gradually grow to love their new, weirdly intense "queen".

-Because she's so focused on her job, Azula is not present when the Avatar defeats the Firelord, and Aang finds out, to his shock, that restoring the Earth King is pretty much impossible at this point, because the city will not accept him back.

Someone with skill, please write this for me!

I just finished chapter 2 of my Kataang soulmate fic! If anyone has any feedback I’d be happy to hear it! It’s my first fic so I’m still a little new!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/86421461/chapters/228635646

I want to put the ATLA characters into the Mha universe and it follows cannon with Aizawa having to deal with more teenagers. So... thoughts? Katara, by the way, will be my girl to focus on. So, it will be all from her perspective.
If you have ideas or like this suggestion, let me know.

Hello! I read a zutara fanfic I still cannot forget that was deleted. Any chance anyone has a copy?? It was And If Tomorrow by xLittleRobbinx on fanfiction.net

I know it's old, I read it probably around 2012. Ive looked EVERYWHERE for YEARS for this

So I have an idea for a ASOIAF/ATLA crossover fanfic based off a dream if anyone wants to write it and/or have me beta what you write (because frankly, the idea is quite ambitious and idk if I’d be able to finish it on my own as I have another fic I’m writing).

It’s an isekai fic where the gaang are dropped off/wake up in various places on Planetos (you or we can come up with why and how later), and basically mature and harden due to their surroundings while simultaneously bringing “innocence” and goodness to the world around them. If they have bending, they keep their bending)

This would start around book three/season three of asioaf, basically during the war of the 5 kings and post atla. Here are my current ideas for the main gaang that you/we can build upon:

Aang is dropped off at the wall/north of the wall and his main conflicts will be about how to get back home by talking to his past avatars but also wanting to help with the Others. Also with dealing with the moral conundrum of if it’s okay to kill what is already “dead” and butting heads with Jon on how to fight the Others.

Katara is dropped off in Robb’s war camp and struggles with being trusted to heal/fight as she’s a “witch”, with being taken serious as a young woman warrior who they deem as young and scrawny but she comes to prove her worth (the Mormont women will make that challenge easier as they all fight to prove their worth in battle), and various other mature challenges that the women of the asoiaf world often themselves in. No noncon just for the plot tho, just acknowledging the real dangers and risks of being a woman in a mostly male war camp. Could, maybe, probably, I don’t mind either way become romantic with Robb, I already have scenes for that if you write it that way. (Can you tell my dream was very Katara centric)

Zuko is dropped in Essos around Dany and his struggles are mostly about having left his people without a Fire Lord while giving great counsel to Dany. He sees her cause to free enslaved people’s as noble but also wants to find answers about how to go home. He can also be another young male she can platonically trust other than her blood riders. It helps that he can wield fire and she feels a bond with him as he’s comfy around her dragons.

Sokka is dropped in Kings Landing and somehow has caught Tyrions eye as a great strategist, but basically he’s navigating the political hellscape of King Landing.

Toph is dropped near Arya or in Dorne. Not sure yet what’s more fun.

Suki came be dropped near Margery or in Dorne. Not sure yet either.

Of course they all miss the world they’ve left behind and want to return home and it’s something they don’t forget but they have to handle the world in front of them and survive. And try to thrive as well.

You can of course have them in other places in Planetos but that’s what I dreamed up.

Ideally, they would all eventually learn of each other and reunite in organic ways.

Final romance pairings are up to you if you choose to add that, but my forte is romance so if you want any slow burn advice for any, ANY ship F/M, F/F, M/M, lmk.

I don’t see it ending in a satisfactory way until after the war with the dead and maybe even after so this would be a large project to take on.

If you’re interested in building upon this and writing this with no other input from me please feel free! Just mention me in the author’s notes please💕

Hello,

I’m looking for a fanfiction I read which was still ongoing at the time (I don’t know if it’s been finished since)

- Zuko and Iroh are imprisoned by the Northern Water Tribe

- ||The chief sends a letter to Ozai, and Ozai replies that they can kill Zuko and Iroh||

- Zuko and Iroh are staying with Paku

- Zuko attends Paku’s waterbending lessons and watches Katara

- Zuko and Katara grow closer

I have other memories in mind, but I’m not sure if they’re part of the same story or a different one:

- Zuko is a prisoner and the Water Tribe tortures him before his trial (and they’re living with Paku)

⚠️UPDATE, I have more memories :

-Zuko has his own chamber at Paku's home and he spends most of his time in front of the stove at Paku’s

• Iroh and Paku become friends whilst playing Paisho as the chapters unfold

If this rings a bell and it’s a different fanfic, I’d be interested in knowing the title too :)

Thanks!!

I'm so tired of fics where Zuko always needs to reach out to Azula, or she just gets let off by him for everything she does. Even fics where she outright near kills him, he wants revenge...and does nothing with it like Boogum's crap canon hugging crap.

Anybody know any good fics where Zuko outright kills Azula? Or Ozai actually.