[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[X] The future. The one place you cannot seem to reach, throne or no throne. Has Zuko ever wondered what it'll be like? No, not whether the mantle is heavy enough to cramp the shoulders, or what his first command as Fire Lord could be—just about the shape of the Sun's path through the sky, the day after Sozin's Comet, and what the world will have become in the face of that light. What does he see? What do you?
 
[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?

Dealing with Azula's feelings towards Ursa seems like the most important thing to focus on.

Quite frankly, Zuko and Azula just have too different frameworks right now to make much progress debating what should happen now and in the future. Maybe once she acknowledges people love her, she can acknowledge that maybe burning down the Earth Kingdom is a bad idea. But I don't think she can do that until she accepts Ozai's approval isn't what she needs. Until then his goals will always be her priority.
 
Lo and Li are my new favorites. Goddamn, they love her. Chills during that scene. I'm so proud of Azula you guys. Seeing her reflect in Lu Ten's room was fantastic too. Goddamn I love watching the process of her learning how to let herself love.

I still want to go on a field trip with Sokka on a future loop, once that becomes an option again. Azula's fire nation nationalism, while fantastic to read, is a little too strong rn imo. I think seeing some more perspective from other nations will help her out on that front in the near future, especially now that she's started figuring how to people.

No strong thoughts on the current vote, I kind of want all of them to win, as always. Will be keeping an eye on the discussion for now.

First impressions on vote options:

Past is best for giving Zuko what he needs because Azula is more intrigue savvy than him and picked up a lot of succession politics growing up that he completely missed.

Present is best for rebuilding their relationship as siblings, but closer to being equals this time.

Future is best for Zuko helping Azula understand his mindset, cuz she's naturally quite ambitious and goal oriented.
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[X] The future. The one place you cannot seem to reach, throne or no throne. Has Zuko ever wondered what it'll be like? No, not whether the mantle is heavy enough to cramp the shoulders, or what his first command as Fire Lord could be—just about the shape of the Sun's path through the sky, the day after Sozin's Comet, and what the world will have become in the face of that light. What does he see? What do you?
 
[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?

If this round we don't succeed, try try again
 
[X] The future. The one place you cannot seem to reach, throne or no throne. Has Zuko ever wondered what it'll be like? No, not whether the mantle is heavy enough to cramp the shoulders, or what his first command as Fire Lord could be—just about the shape of the Sun's path through the sky, the day after Sozin's Comet, and what the world will have become in the face of that light. What does he see? What do you?

Let him already say where he wants to lead the Fire Nation by his actions, rather than postponing this answer for later by waving away phrases:

"The war must end because everyone is suffering from it."

War was originally started because of the Fire Nation's hunger and lack of arable land. War solved these problems, albeit in such a brutal way as mass deaths on the front lines.

Now the problem is solved, but what's next? Sprinkle ourselves with ashes and give up all the sacrifices that have been made so far? What kind of foolishness is that?

No, the idea of burning a city is stupid, but it's about peace to settle the land and get rid of the wounds, not actually giving up everything. So he'll devalue all the sacrifices that have been made.
 
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[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?

[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[ ] The .

This is not a time to imagine worlds that will never be.
@Magery The empy bits, the spaces left blank are part of this story. So if you prefer not to say directly, then you prefer not to say.
...But what was the idea Azula did not allow herself to fully form, here?
[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?
This is the sort of question I'd like Azula to ask infront of Iroh. But we can't bank on him being there. Him coming to the Cladera last loop makes me think that there's too many butterflies involved for use to be sure.
----

Maybe asking Zuko about what he hopes for the future. His future... a question that we've has the option of picking twice, will be a good idea. But still, not yet.

[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
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[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?

Imo, Azula needs to understand her past before she can start understanding the present, much less the future
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?

The fact that he isn't angry anymore was a whole thing that got at the nature of Firebending itself, and if there's one thing Azula is interested in it's Firebending itself. I dunno, it might not go that way but there's some interesting possibilities there.
 
[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?

I'm tempted by the future but I think Azula needs to accept the present and let go of the past. Hypothesizing about the future won't help in a loop.
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?

I like this option because it's about reaching out to relate and establishing common ground. I think that is needed first before Azula turns towards the past or future between them.
 
So Azula has already had the loops where she rampages and merrily slaughters everyone in sight. Good to know.
 
[X] The past. It's what has driven you here. It's what you're trapped in. It's what you want to break out of. But it's Zuko's past, too. You've spent the whole of your lives chasing each other's shadows—on your whole family's encouragement. Has he ever realised? Does he even care? And why does it seem so impossible to escape?
 
FelOnyx said:
The fact that he isn't angry anymore was a whole thing that got at the nature of Firebending itself, and if there's one thing Azula is interested in it's Firebending itself. I dunno, it might not go that way but there's some interesting possibilities there.
And that insight is what tipped the decision scales for me; thanks!

[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?
 
[X] The present. Here you stand, before your brother. Here doubt has driven you. Does Zuko doubt, too? Is he still angry at himself? If you were him, you would be. But maybe that's his secret. Maybe he's always angry. Maybe you're angry too. The world isn't what you thought it was—and you think Zuko can relate. What will happen if you let him?

Lol at the avengers reference.

I really like future, but I agree it would be more about shaping *zuko* and that sadly won't stick until after the loop is over.
Man. Only 5 years. I forget sometimes, just how short Ozai's reign is and how young everyone really is. Zuko is convinced his sister is evil because of stuff she did when she was 9 for god's sake. Iroh really aged a lot after his son died.
 
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