#atla ltf

If you have come across this book on your own, you may be doubtful of its validity. Perhaps you still feel doubt even if this was given to you by the one I entrusted it to. It's okay, I understand your doubts. I feel them myself as I am writing to you. ... Through these tales I hope you, perhaps a descendant of one of my friends or maybe a future incarnation of myself, can find a connection to the past to help push you forward in your future.

-Avatar Yangchen, Sands of Time

Avatar Yangchen and her memoirs in Sands of Time are the cornerstone of Zuko’s journey in Learning to Fly. I was so fortune to commission @6y9brows ! She captured Zuko connecting to Yangchen and her friends through her writings so perfectly. I’m still speechless <3

If you’re interested in exploring Zuko’s journey (pretending to be a scholar) before Aang emerges from the ice, Avatar Yangchen, or some extended ATLA-verse worldbuilding, give Learning to Fly a read from the beginning ~!

(picrew1)(picrew2)

I love making picrews of my Team Avatar Yangchen or as I’ve been calling them: Team Lesbians + One (Good) Man as featured in Learning to Fly Part 6: Sands of Time

NGL at first I didn’t have intentions of drawing parallels to the Gaang. Akari was the only one fleshed out and was pivotal to the development of the whole LTF au. Huizhong was "earthbending master that died for Yangchen” and there was just a nameless waterbending master. But then I had a laugh bc here we are, Air Avatar w/ a Fire Nation Royal BFF and that’s what Aang and Zuko become... and then I was like whelp we gotta keep playing with that it’s too good to pass up. So Huizhong, Siniq, and Tarkik were born lol. 

Since they’re getting introduced though Yangchen’s memoirs, which were written as a way to cope with her grief of losing Akari and Huizhong, Siniq and Tarkik didn’t get much time to shine despite the past chapter having focus on Yangchen’s waterbending journey. I’m not sure if/when I’ll be able to work in fun tidbits about these chaos twins, but they realized from a very young age that they didn’t vibe with Water Tribe gender roles. And being identical twins well... They convinced everyone they were BOTH waterbenders and switched places in all their classes so Siniq could learn combat and Tarkik could learn healing. When they eventually couldn’t keep up the act anymore, they were so established with what they were good at the chief was like whelp guess that’s just how it’s gonna go. My warrior daughter and healer son, no fighting it now. Love these two <33

"I'm searching for the lost city of Hkan Myahoet. My research indicates this island is where it should be—and I've found some artifacts to support this theory!—however, the city itself remains elusive." -Professor Zei, Casting Nets

Shh, the Nerds™ are talking about lost civilizations...

Commission by flynnpaff, she did amazing work bringing to life little Zuko and the beginnings of his scholarly exploits from Learning to Fly !!

“I’m 13! I’m too OLD for toys!” Famous last words by Prince Zuko before he carried a turtleduck plush around for the rest of the Summer Solstice Festival.

This amazing commission I got of Learning to Fly is by @sleazyjanet​!!!

[ID: A colored digital illustration of a young Zuko with two original characters, Bun Ma and Ju Long. They are at a Fire Nation-style festival. In the background is a ring toss game stall with three ring toss stands. On the right, the stand has a stack of rings on it. The middle stand has one ring. The left stand is covered by Ju Long’s head (but it doesn’t have any rings on it). The stall has a toys set up to win, including dragons and turtleduck toys.

Bun Ma is a short young woman with dark, brown hair pulled up in a messy topknot. She is wearing a red-pink jinbei patterned with gold Fire Nation flames hiding the Earth Kingdom symbol in the middle. Bun Ma stands on the left, teasing Zuko with her tongue sticking out and holding a turtuleduck toy to his face.

Zuko stands in the middle with his arms crossed, looking at the toy. His hair is shaved except for his high ponytail. He is wearing a black jinbei patterned with turquoise and red dragons breathing red and green fire.

Zuko makes a deal with Wan Shi Tong and makes some furry friends. He also finds some tough pills to swallow. Meanwhile, Yangchen writes about her first years as the Avatar. And is totally in love.

There wasn't an Air Army wing.

Outside the bending scrolls, airbender sources themselves were meager. For every primary source, there were three more written from a scholar from another nation talking about the Air Army- Air Nomads as every paper insisted on calling them. That shouldn't be possible! An army needed records to work, to keep track of people and resources at the very least.

Unless... They weren't ever an army, were they?

Zuko (finally) gets his hands on Yangchen’s memoirs. Meanwhile, Yangchen’s entries shed light on the events that contributed to the loss of her companions.

The Knowledge Seeker delicately placed the loosely bound collection of papers in Zuko’s hands, then dropped on his lap with a proud rumble. The book had no title or author on its cover. Zuko opened to the first aged page. Tight, even script greeted him. The header couldn't be true... but...

'If you have come across this book on your own, you may be doubtful of its validity. Perhaps you still feel doubt even if this was given to you by the one I entrusted it to. It's okay, I understand your doubts. I feel them myself even as I am writing to you.'

Zuko laughed breathlessly. He rubbed Toasty's sweet spot behind its ear.

"This might be exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you."

me: i want to write another scene of ltf

brain: what if you did more alignment memes with the crew plus sarnai?

(picrew)

me: should be going to sleep

brain: what if we made some sandsib picrews