AquariusShadow

but would Azula have targeted any other member?

i actually don’t think so.

Azula is calculating, manipulative, and an expert on how to upset her brother. She reads and analyzes each and every thing that he does. 

When Zuko shows up in the Catacombs Azula doesn’t know whose side Zuko is going to choose. Her face says that she’s calculating his next move. 

And then Zuko decides to attack Aang. 

Azula’s satisfied smirk says she’s pleased, but not that she was necessarily expecting it. But look at Katara, she’s actually kind of surprised that Zuko went after Aang. And then the fight ensues. 

I’ve said it before, but Zuko doesn’t attack Katara until Azula is in serious danger. She sincerely thinks that Katara is about to smash her into the ground. Why is that? Very little manages to unsettle Azula; this is probably the most frightened we see her up to this point. Being at Katara’s mercy scares the crap out of Azula, even after Zuko seems to have chosen Azula’s side against the Avatar. 

Maybe she doubts Zuko’s abilities, maybe she understands Katara’s power. 

Or, maybe she doesn’t think Zuko will try to stop Katara. 

But then Zuko does step in to break Katara’s hold on Azula. He doesn’t strike Katara, even though he has a clear shot at her and it would be the more strategic move. He only breaks her grip on Azula. 

Another calculating look from Azula. Yes, her brother came to her aid against the waterbender. But did he attack her? Not quite. Attacking Katara directly would have accomplished the same goal as severing her water tentacles, but Zuko chose the option that wouldn’t harm Katara. He had just gone after Aang relentlessly, but he hesitated to use such violence against Katara. Azula wouldn’t fail to take note of this. 

And Azula hears Katara angry with Zuko. Thinking he had made a change, become a better person (by Katara’s standards). Azula would be able to gather that something had taken place in the Catacombs when they were together. Azula’s the one who put them in there. 

The next time Azula sees her brother he’s joined up with the Gaang. During this fight she’s only really gunning for Zuko. She could go after Sokka or Suki in an attempt to upset Zuko, but she doesn’t. Azula doesn’t see the value in sending either of them careening into the boiling lake. 

The next time Azula sees Zuko, she sees this. They’re both falling to their deaths and it’s the waterbender who is up in the saddle, reaching out to Zuko. The same girl who had thought Zuko had changed before he chose Azula’s side in Ba Sing Se. The same girl that Zuko had been trying not to harm last time they fought. 

She’s the one who isn’t clinging to the saddle for safety, but risking toppling off the bison to save Zuko. 

And Azula says interesting indeed. 

Azula doesn’t witness this ^^ particular tenderness, but she sees a flicker of it when these two turn up for the Agni Kai. 

That’s why we see the “I know more than you do” smirk when Azula takes aim at Katara. She has spent her whole life finding ways to hurt Zuko. She knows that Katara in particular is a weakness for Zuko. She saw it when they were in the Catacombs. 

Zuko is grounded and confident today when they’re fighting. Katara is by his side and apparently she was right about Zuko changing. And Azula sees that Katara has helped make Zuko strong. She’s been there for him. Saved him. Supported him. Encouraged him. Katara was the one who already believed in Zuko back in Ba Sing Se, betrayal aside. 

That’s why Azula wants to kill her. 

I’m going to circle back to something else to prove this point. In The Chase, we see the first time that everyone else unites against Azula. 

Azula realizes then, too, that she is outmatched. And she pulls the same tactic in The Chase as she does during the Agni Kai. 

She goes after someone who loves Zuko, who believes in him and supports him. Someone who believes that Zuko’s strength lies in his goodness. 

Azula goes after Iroh because she knows how much damage it will do to Zuko. More damage than could be done by killing him. It will break him enough for Azula to defeat him. 

Prior to his return, Azula sees Zuko hesitate about taking her side in the presence of two people: Iroh and Katara. Azula has exclusively seen these two as a threat to Zuko siding with her. Azula has seen firsthand that, for some reason, Katara makes Zuko hesitate. 

Azula thinks that she’s going to kill Katara. She doesn’t think for one second that Zuko is going to move faster than lightning to save Katara

But he does. And he has the same horrified look on his face as he did when Azula nearly killed Iroh. Because Azula was right, as usual. 

Azula comes completely unhinged after she hits Zuko because she absolutely intended to kill Katara, not Zuko. (Despite it all, she cares about him) She had calculated that Katara would matter enough to Zuko for her death to change the tides and for Azula to win the Agni Kai. But she micalculated. Again. She hadn’t anticipated that Katara dying would scare Zuko so much that he would die in her place. 

Azula isn’t stupid. Even crazed, she’s calculating. She’s seen evidence that Katara will make Zuko hesitate. Like she knew attacking Iroh would completely distract Zuko. 

There is only one member of the Gaang who Azula has this impression of, and it’s Katara. If any other member of the Gaang had been waiting in the wings I don’t think Azula would have broken the rules of the Agni Kai. She wouldn’t have been able to bank on it being enough for her to take Zuko down. 

But Azula knew that, with Katara, it would be. 

But one thing I’ve never really touched on, and never seen talked about (I think it’s been mentioned off-hand in another meta by someone else, but not focused on in this sort of detail), is the fact that Azula would not have targeted them if Zuko had brought anyone else to that Agni Kai. You are absolutely right, and this is a huge point that I’m amazed I’ve never actually seen an in-depth meta on before.

Thank you for the ask!

2. Which reunion(s) are you most looking forward to?

Sora and Kairi (I think this is building up to be something really special, and I think it'll be at the climax or ending of the game, either following up on “maybe waiting isn't good enough” or the “oath to return” stuff, depending on where they reunite)

Sora and Riku (I think this will be a big moment that happens mid battle to parallel Sora arriving in the Dark World/realm of darkness to help Riku and Mickey rescue Aqua in KH3, probably at the midpoint or climax of the game)

Sora and Young Xehanort (hey, the latest trailer has me intrigued)

Sora, Donald, and Goofy (Duck Dad and Dog Dad are literally braving the underworld and Hades to try to find Sora, I think that reunion is going to be top-tier and also happen mid battle lol at the end of the prologue in Quadratum)

In short, I think this game has the potential for a lot of really beautiful, emotional reunions, and then whatever the hell Sora and Young Xehanort have going on 🤣 I hope Sora gets to beat him up at least once before they inevitably become frenemies and reluctant allies though lol. I mean, it’s kinda his fault Sora is in Quadratum in the first place…

10. What Final Fantasy character(s) do you want to have cameos?

The entire FFXIII cast. I love them all. Zack Fair in Quadratum, because it just makes sense. Clive, Jill, Joshua, and Torgal from FFXVI, though this seems less likely since Nomura didn’t design them. Rinoa from FFVIII, because they've been teasing her for years. And of course I'd be happy for any of the other FF characters who have been in the games before to show up again. I'd like to see FFXV characters show up as well, but I don't think they will because of how similar some of the Quadratum characters look, and intentionally so.

14. Name an underrated character relationship you'd love to see developed more.

Kairi, Donald, and Goofy. Kairi and Naminé. Kairi and Aqua. Kairi and Xion. Ven and everyone. Mickey and Sora. Basically, any of the character relationships we haven't seen quite as much I would love to see developed more.

This is by far my favorite Kingdom Hearts Headcanon I came up with.

Alright y'all. Remember that scene in KH3 in Final World!Sanfransokyo when Sora and Mininort have their confrontation and Mininort’s “there’s no saving you” line? (If any of yall have stalked my blog…I think you know where I’m going with this…maybe)

Sora has the Master’s Defender keyblade at this point right? Canonically he currently wields it after saving Aqua from the Realm of Darkness (even if it does turn into whatever you’re currently using).

What if…

–

“All that galivanting through the Sleeping Worlds, and yet you learned nothing?” Mininort says with his usual snark.

Sora summons Masters Defender and points it directly at Mininort, stopping the other boy in his tracks.

Mininort’s cocky smile disappears instantaneously and his mouth drops.

Mininort looks at Sora and for a split second, he doesn’t see Sora’s light blue eyes, sparkling with confident determination burning into him. Instead, Eraqus’ dark eyes cut into his soul, nearly suffocating him with the disappointment they hold.

He gasps.

“Are you?” Sora asks tentatively.

Mininort shakes his head. “You just, reminded me of someone…”

Sora tilts his head and Mininort gave a small, empty chuckle, regaining his usual demeanor.

Sora saw Mininort’s lips moving but his mind couldn’t keep up with his words, too preoccupied with Mininort holding out his hand and Sora realizes why the other boy seems so familiar.

He nearly slapped himself for not putting it together. Silver hair glowing in the light, a firm hand holding out to him, a smirk laced in darkness…Sora didn’t see Mininort.

He saw Riku back on Destiny Islands, asking Sora to join him to the outside world as Darkness formed around them.

“No…” Sora whispered.

“What are you?” Mininort’s voice cut through Sora’s daze and he saw the Master’s Defender, hanging by his side.

Sora sends away his keyblade and smirks.

“You worried about me, now? Besides, you remind me of someone too.”

–

Heartwarming tearjerker of a Zerith reunion? Zerith fighting together side by side? Possible Zerith syngeries? I’m so pumped because we haven’t really seen these things before (outside of EC stuff) and I just 🥹 🥹 🥹 at the thought, even if they’re only playable for a battle or two.

I loved it all so much! And it just kept going man, we got like three trailers and I was so shocked, I think between the trailers and Hamaguchi and Matt Mercer etc speaking, it was at least 10 minutes?? I felt downright spoiled! By the time we hit the third trailer I was shook lol I just expected one trailer. And I think it was a good amount of information without spoiling too much of the big reveals like you said.

Yes, I've seen rumors that Nomura stopped them from showing the game earlier because he wanted things to be perfect for the reveal, and if that's true, then he was absolutely correct. His background in marketing paid off again. It also sounds like he’s the one who decided on the final title, Revelation, which it sounds like he chose between the three options they were considering. Revelation is just perfect for so many different reasons: