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Arsonist's Lullaby: An Azula Timeloop Quest

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[X] A child. You understand, now, why it hurt when your mother called you a monster. You might even know why you said she was right. Maybe it's finally time to let Zuko know, too, before he ends up fumbling his way into figuring it out at the worst possible moment. At least there's some kind of dignity in surrender.
 
[X] A traitor. It's what you are—or what you make of yourself, each and every time you decide to keep Mai and Ty Lee alive and free. In this, at least, you and Zuko are two of a kind. Neither of you are the sort of children you believe you should be. Mai once said you needed to forgive yourself for that. Maybe it's worth seeing how Zuko did.
 
[x] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
The Royal Fire Hazard Siblings are theatre kids? Yeah, that tracks.

[X] A flame.
as a holiday gift to myself: Azula and firebending have been so delightful in this fic.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[X] A child. You understand, now, why it hurt when your mother called you a monster. You might even know why you said she was right. Maybe it's finally time to let Zuko know, too, before he ends up fumbling his way into figuring it out at the worst possible moment. At least there's some kind of dignity in surrender.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[x] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[X] A traitor. It's what you are—or what you make of yourself, each and every time you decide to keep Mai and Ty Lee alive and free. In this, at least, you and Zuko are two of a kind. Neither of you are the sort of children you believe you should be. Mai once said you needed to forgive yourself for that. Maybe it's worth seeing how Zuko did.
 
[X] A traitor. It's what you are—or what you make of yourself, each and every time you decide to keep Mai and Ty Lee alive and free. In this, at least, you and Zuko are two of a kind. Neither of you are the sort of children you believe you should be. Mai once said you needed to forgive yourself for that. Maybe it's worth seeing how Zuko did.
 
[x] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
Zuko: "Why are you here?"
Azula: "I am here to make sure you will not completely embarrass yourself when you finally decide to challenge me for Agni Kai, now look carefully and repeat after me.
Zuko: "What?"
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.


As always, there's a sadness that Ty Lee doesn't remember that moment with Azula, but i'm glad she still sees the shape of it and knows that mastering the flame is basically one of the only healthy pillars of Azula's identity right now?

So we can lean into that.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[X] A child. You understand, now, why it hurt when your mother called you a monster. You might even know why you said she was right. Maybe it's finally time to let Zuko know, too, before he ends up fumbling his way into figuring it out at the worst possible moment. At least there's some kind of dignity in surrender.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[X] A child. You understand, now, why it hurt when your mother called you a monster. You might even know why you said she was right. Maybe it's finally time to let Zuko know, too, before he ends up fumbling his way into figuring it out at the worst possible moment. At least there's some kind of dignity in surrender.
 
I know A flame is going to win, so I'll vote for the one I have tied with it.

[x] A traitor. It's what you are—or what you make of yourself, each and every time you decide to keep Mai and Ty Lee alive and free. In this, at least, you and Zuko are two of a kind. Neither of you are the sort of children you believe you should be. Mai once said you needed to forgive yourself for that. Maybe it's worth seeing how Zuko did.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.
 
[X] A flame. It's funny—despite everything, even sharing lessons for a year or so before you accelerated past him, you don't think you've ever taught Zuko a single thing about firebending. He's certainly never taught you. You've only ever used your fire to hurt each other. Maybe you should try, just this once, to offer a moment of your incandescence for something other than pain.

Poor Zuzu is going to be so confused. I can't wait.
 
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