#arnook

Art for the Avatar fanfiction, Reign of the Fire Lady Dowager, by Snakestaff. (Bottom image was my first version where everything was backlit, but top one is what I consider the final version)

Ozai and Ursa: decided not to have more kids after Zuko and Azula. They easily had the time to do it and the resources to raise as many kids as they wanted, but no.

Kya and Hakoda: likely decided not to have more kids due to resource restraints.

Chief Arnook and his wife: we really don't know, it's possible she died when Yue was young and Arnook didn't remarry.

Iroh: either he really hated having kids, he had fertility problems, or there are a bunch of unacknowledged bastards running around.

Ty Lee's parents: I assume seven kids was enough for them.

Ukano and Michi: almost certainly had fertility problems. It took them so long after Mai to have Tom-Tom.

Warnings: Death i guess dunno, sexism or smth

word count: 1.9k

A/N: Hello loves, i cannot commit to one thing, i am working on several fnafics i can't wait to post them, as awalys ao3 gets fics first they also have more detiled notes and stuff, now sorry for any plot holes cause i don't know how to fix them,

  The picnic was special, not only was it her 16th birthday but also the avatar was there! Yue sat down next to a boy the avatar came with, he said he was kinda like a prince, the girl next to him made a mocking comment, he asked if maybe the 2 of them could do an activity, got embarrassed, and started shoving food into his mouth, he was silly. The next day, while Yue was on a boat he approached again he was talking about yesterday, and he wanted to meet, Yue told him to see her at the bridge that was in view tonight and then he fell into the water, she giggled at him, he was funny… But she was engaged and she shouldn't have done this, and yet she did, in her defence her fiance was a jerk and she didn’t like him at all! Besides, it could just be a friendly chat… She has to snap herself out of this, she can’t be justifying it! Regret was hitting her in the face, and yet, she still showed up.

 She still came to the bridge where she waited, and he came, he gave her a carved figure, she thought it was a bear, it wasn’t it was a fish, she apologised to him, asking him to come was a mistake, she should have never done it, she ran off, regretting it all, asking him to come, waiting for him and lastly running off without explaining, later she watched as the girl that came with the avatar ask for Master Pakku to resume lessons with the avatar, she knows that women aren’t allowed to bend, she’s a water bender herself and she wsn’t allowed to learn, it’s stupid, but it’s not like she can do anything about it, this tradition is way older than her… And then the girl challenged Master Pakku, that surprised Yue, she let out a gasp, that girl couldn’t believe she could beat Master Pakku, and yet she still did it, with no fear.

 You watched her fight, she of course lost, but she had the courage to try to fight back, and she wasn’t that bad at it, but Master Pakku was well a Master, then he noticed her necklace which turned out to be a necklace he made for her grandma? Yue could have never predicted that, the girl talk about how her grandma left because she didn’t want her arranged marriage how she wouldn’t let her tribe’s tradition dictate her life, and that reminded Yue of her own situation, a marriage she didn’t want, the tradition that forced her to do something she didn’t want to because it was her duty, she ran off.

 The guy, his name was Sokka, he followed after her, she asked him what he wanted, he answered nothing and then complimented her, “You don’t understand." she said to him, he started talking about how he does understand it’s a status thing, she tried to tell him no, he tried reassuring her, and she in the moment kissed him, she told him she does like him, she likes him a lot, but then she showed him, the engagement necklace she worse, she apologised to him again before running off again, she shouldn’t have kissed him, she was engaged, yet it felt so right to do so, it was shameful to do but it felt freeing, she had to forget about him, this was wrong and despite that she kept coming back to him.

 She walked on the bridge while he balanced on the railing beside her, he told her that in the South they don’t have palaces, she couldn’t believe it, he also said he grew up in a block of ice, it was so funny, this was wrong, she was engaged and he was a boy, a boy that she liked, he told her he knows what she needs, to meet his good friend Appa, who even was that, he took her to see Appa, which was the Avatar’s flying bison, she heard those were extinct so Appa must have been the last one, Appa licked Sokka who tried to get him off of himself, it was funny, he and she got onto the saddle of the bison, and then Sokka took her flying, it was amazing, she couldn’t believe it, it was so amazing, “Is it always this cold up here?” she asked before coming closer to Sokka, was it wrong yes? Was she regretting it at that moment? No. They were about to kiss, but they moved away at the last second, it was wrong, she was engaged…

 Then black snow started falling from the sky, Sokka said it was soot, mixed with snow, a sign that the fire nation was coming… they had to hurry back, Sokka was running up the stairs while holding her hand, she stopped “What’s wrong? We have to go!” she heard him speak, she knew, she knew from the start this was wrong, “No Sokka.” she started “Wait. I can’t see you anymore. Not at all.” she continued, she felt guilty, for betraying her engagement, and for pulling Sokka along, she should have stopped it sooner “What? We’re just friends!” he argued, she lied to herself that he was just a friend, but she couldn’t do it anymore, not to herself, and not to him… “I wish we could just be friends, but I like you too much, and it’s too confusing to be around you. I’m marrying someone else” she turned his back to him, “You don’t love him do you.” he said it sounding somewhat resigned and he continued it with a “You don’t even seem to like him”, and it was true, she didn’t but it was her duty. “I don’t, but I love my people more.” he argued “You’re not marrying them, you’re marrying a guy.” She knew it was true, but it also wasn’t the full picture. “You don’t understand it, I'm a princess, I have duties, to my father, to my tribe, to my people.” with one last goodbye she ran off, she knew this had to be done, and yet it still hurt…

 She sat behind her father as he talked about the situation, the fire nation was on their doorstep, and they needed to protect them, and people would die defending the tribe, each sacrifice would hurt her, and Sokka volunteered, she was surprised, he wasn’t even from this tribe, and yet he wanted to fight, she had one last look at him as he went, and then tears flowed from her eyes, she knew what she did was wrong, and yet if given the chance to back, she would have done it again. The avatar went to fight the ship, when he came back he said he couldn’t do it, there were too many of them, “But you have to, You’re the avatar.” Those words left her mouth before she really thought about it, she didn’t want any of her people to die, she hoped he could help them, save them from any deaths, “I’m just one kid.” Those words reminded her, he was young, younger than her, it was unfair of her to expect him to fix everything just because he was the avatar…

 She was looking at the moon with the avatar whose name she learned was Aang and the girl companion of his, she started talking about how people learned waterbending from the moon spirit, and Aang thought about contacting, the spirits could help, but how could he contact them, and she had the idea to take him to the most spiritual place in the North Pole, the spirit oasis, she always liked this place, it was warm and has grass, it also calmed her, she doesn’t really get it but she feels at peace here, Aang sat down to meditate, she tried talking to the girl but Aang told them to be quiet so he could meditate. The two of them waited “Maybe we should get help, just in case.” she proposed, “I’m his friend, I can protect him just fine.” said the girl, her name was Katara she hasn’t learned it until today, they were interrupted by a different voice, a boy “Well, aren’t you a big girl now,” Katara let out a disbeliefing No, the boy continued talking but Yue rushed off to find help, whoever that guy he was bad news.

When she came back with Sokka Aang was gone, the boy whose name apparently was Zuko took him… the 3 of them went onto Appa to go after Zuko to find Aang, they found them after a while, Katara defeated him, Aang insisted on bring him back and not leaving him behind to die, it made sense he was an air nomad, and then the sky went red, Yue felt a headache, and she told the story of how when she was born she was born sleeping no healer could save me, and he brought her to the spirit oasis and put her in the pond and she began to cry.

 She arrived with the other 3 to a guy called Zhao holding a bag with what they assume is the moon spirit fish, he threatens to kill it, then a different guy comes to defend the fish too, Zhao puts the fish back in the pond, and then tries to attack it, Yue reacted before thinking, using waterbending to block the attack and save the fish, and then, she went into the avatar state… the koi glew too as if responding to her, she step into the pond and all the water was pulled back as she went into a big glowing water being, she started attacking all the fire nation soldiers who were attacking the Northern Water tribe, and finishing it by pushing back all the fire nation boats, then the Moon and Ocean spirit grabbed Zhao, as the last act of the battle, pulling him deep into the spirit world for him to never be seen again, while she came back to the oasis, confused, “She’s the avatar” Aang said, “I told you it wasn’t me.” he continued.

Yue couldn’t believe it, she was the avatar, Aang was just a boy, but it means the responsibility of ending the 100 year war as on her now, Sokka spoke up “Yue i think you should come with us, we can help you learn the other 3 elements,” He then addressed her father Arnook “I know you love your daughter but you also should know she can’t stay here, the fire nation will come back for her.” Arnook knew that, she was his little girl, but she was the avatar and he couldn’t protect her, she needs to learn the elements, “As much as I don't want her to go, I know it is for her own good.” he says before adding “If she wants to go i won’t stop her.” Everyone looked at Yue. What will her choice be?

Fic-to-Art #57: Kino and Yue kiss in front of Arnook and Pakku

I have the slight suspicion that my Patrons have a favorite side couple. Hmm. It's just an inkling I guess (?)

It was very funny to draw this one, due to my current IRL constraints and many responsibilities I had to turn this into a chibi artwork so I could get it done on time. But that also allows a lot of silliness, and we got plenty of it here with Kino's dorky reaction upon being kissed by his princess. I suspect this may be what his return to the Northern Water Tribe looked like, and yes, Yue is the one who initiates things. As usual xD Hope you guys like it!

he is looking respectfully,,,

Original meme below:

INSANELY underrated piece of dialogue. i feel like we talk a lot about dialogue in other big scenes (i.e. “i am going to speak my mind and you are going to listen” + “i was sad because you had lost your way” + “hope is something you give yourself” and so many more) but this simple, small line and the little pause between ‘proud’ and ‘sad’ ….. oh my god. 😖

not to say that the dialogue in those scenes isn’t amazing also, but “so proud… and sad” really gets me in a way none of the others do. it’s the perfect thing to say after such a heavy sequence of battle and sacrifice scenes. it’s such a beautiful way of showing arnook’s love for his daughter - he knew she would have to sacrifice herself to give back to the moon spirit, and was in full support of her bravery (cause damn, she was SO brave) but he was also just.. sad. and that’s so valid.

As much as I appreciated what NATLA was trying to do and think it is worth a rewatch, can I just say as an unapolagetic Yue stan that they completely ruined her, and Yukka by extension.

And say whatever you want about her scenes leading up to the sacrifice (which did make me cry, I'll admit, her speech about living was actually a nice addition), but it was actually this line that left me absolutely seething and in my opinion proves that the writers completely misunderstood what made the sacrifice so powerful:

I actually had to pause the television and collect myself after this one because holy fuck is this the stupidest thing I've ever heard. The entire point in the animated show was that she didn't get to make her own choices before this point. She didn't get to choose who to marry, she didn't get to choose her role in society, she didn't get to choose basically anything about her life besides maybe how to style her hair or something. Yue was a character who was extremely dutiful, but also extremely boxed in by her duty. It was both her greatest strength and her greatest weakness, a parody of itself, just as her mere existence was a parody: while she was saved by the moon spirit as a child and allowed to live on, it was that very reason that she eventually gave up her life. And the very fact that she was given these choices in the first place in the LA seriously undermined the idea of her sacrifice. Yue was told her entire life what to do, and although she did manage to find a bit of freedom through her brief romance with Sokka, ultimately, she still didn't get to publicly be with him or reject Hahn or anything similar. Her sacrifice was what she saw as her duty, yes, but her sacrifice for her people was also a way of standing up for herself and finally resolving to make her own choices. In that moment, she not only saved her people, but she finally made a decision for herself instead of doing something someone else told her to, even going against Sokka's wishes to do what she thought was necessary. So in the LA, with her having a place of influence in her community, with her being able to call off her engagement, with her being told that she could one day be chief, to that stupid fucking line implying that she was in no way ever repressed and free to make her own decisions the entire time, removing all of her character growth and any character significance to her actions, it was all basically pointless. It made Yue into a plot device for Sokka to bond with and to move the Aang-and-Kuruk plotline forward. In the animated series, Yue was not a plot device, and she was extremely well written, whereas in NATLA, her character fell completely flat. She talks about responsibility and pressure in her first scene with Sokka, but other than that, she has no depth. In other words, she has no depth besides her relationship to him.