*may contain feels*

The Spoils of War. -- Editing in Progress

Re-editing (SPAG, punctuation, changing 'Aro' to 'Rasa'), mild rewrites (sentences, paragraphs), and minor retcons (character thoughts, motivations, etc. -- nothing that changes the story, just makes it flow better, imo. And giving the chapters more personality -- especially the earlier ones that really need it).

Also, I'm doing up moodboards and editing some silent film title cards for the beginning of each of the ARCs (remember there are 3 Arcs in this story). It's been a lot of fun and hopefully all these edits and creations will culminate in the energy I need to get the next new chapter out.

Current chapters with moodboards (at the end of the chapter):

Chapter 2: Fate Intervenes

(Predicted chapters are Chapter 15: Unhappy Reunion and the final chapter of ARC 3 -- likely before the epilogue.)

Anyway.

Wish me luck. :)

Also:

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GaaSaku

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First:

FF NET is being a bitch so I won't be updating there anymore for the foreseeable future. AO3 will be my only baby.

Second:

My current priorities are The Spoils of War and an unposted 30k+ one-shot that I'm beginning to think I might need a beta for, for some overarching help.

Third:

A Beautiful Lie is not abandoned. I'm just not writing it right now. (Tumblr link for latest chapter.) It will be next after my current obsession with these minor rewrites of The Spoils of War.

All other posted wips are on the backburner.

OTHER UPDATES:

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Other Ships

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SasuHina month is coming in August, 2026, so I'll be posting for that. Beyond August, I do have several one-shots and a multi-chapter I'm working on -- ALL will be complete when posted.

KakaSaku is on my planner but not a priority.

Zutara: I will be participating in the Zutara Gift Exchange when it happens again this year and may be able to finish something for the Zutara Week. We'll see.

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Last of all

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Thank-you so much to everyone who has ever consumed the things I've created in all my fandoms over the years. You guys are the reason I never chucked it all in and left for good. Life is only getting harder right now -- for us all -- and it's a source of comfort to be able to come back to fandom each time and enjoy both creating and reading.

Be safe out there, please.💜

“The spirits have told me it’s a girl.”

Zuko blinked at his wife, surprised. Katara was a spiritual person — more so than himself — but this was new.

They were on the ground, leaning against a willow tree in the Royal Palace gardens, taking advantage of the shade and a rare, lazy day off from their more important duties in the palace. With the turtle ducks frolicking nearby and Katara nestled between his legs, braced against the warm wind, Zuko felt a little nostalgic for when he’d been a child. It stirred something inside him. The anticipation of his impending fatherhood. Of Katara’s growing, glowing body. Of everything that was expected of them both.

He tilted his head downward, giving her a confused look.

“In a dream,” she clarified, seemingly unconcerned by his lack of enthusiasm.

He humoured her. Of course he did. Zuko kissed the top of her head as she regaled him about Tui having visited her in her dreams to tell her their daughter would rule the Fire Nation, while La had remained mum on which element she would wield.

It didn’t matter. The council would complain if she wasn’t a firebender and, logically, Zuko understood the tradition for every nation to have an heir apparent who bent the correct element. (The Earth Kingdom was currently in the middle of a scandal regarding the rite of succession.) It was understandable. But it didn’t matter to him. To her.

“I want to name her after dreams,” she added. “In honour of Tui and La.”

In honour of her dream?

His fingers tangled in her hair gently, lightly tugging as he hummed in thought. There were a number of different options. Zuko wanted his daughter’s name to be strong but also feminine. Dreams… each nation had an olden language. Perhaps that could work.

Katara rubbed her stomach gently. Five months along, the protrusion was already getting second and third looks from everyone.

“Sinnatomak means dream or dreaming,” she said. It was an old Water Tribe word.

It was a bit long, he thought. “Maybe just call her Sinna.”

Katara smiled. “Lazy.”

He laughed. “Okay, what about Kanasu?”

“Does it mean dreams?”

Zuko nodded.

“That’s nice, then.”

He held her tighter, inhaling her scent. “Easier to say, too.” 

She scrunched up her nose as he chuckled. “What about merging a Waterbender name with a Fire one?”

He hummed. He knew of a few names. His mother had gifted him with a book of names and Zuko had memorised his favourite ones.

“Yume,” he offered.

“Yume…” Katara rolled the name over her tongue. “Pretty.” She clicked her tongue. “Yume… Yukana. Kaname. Hm. Or Sinname.” She groaned. 

He wasn’t going to be outdone. “Yumeko. Yumeno. Yumemi. Yumeka.”

Katara laughed.

“All variations of ‘dreams’,” he said, flushing. “Easy to merge into Sinna.”

The name Sinna sounded better every time he tossed it around in his head, but he wanted a little Fire Nation in the portmanteau, too.

“Sinna…” her voice was curious. “Hm. I like it, but…”

“Yumesinna,” he offered.

She visibly cringed.

“Okay, maybe not.”

Katara closed her eyes. “Yusinna.”

It sounded better. But Zuko couldn’t help teasing. “How about Leesinna?”