History FanFic / TheFallOfTheFireEmpire

* CompleteMonster: Old age has made Azula [[BeyondTheImpossible even worse than her father]], with her fear of death making her more unstable and desperate than ever. It's pretty unnerving coming from the same author who was able to give her a believable {{Heel Face Turn}} in the Azula Trilogy. It's also very much in-character and believable, too - she wasn't ''born'' a monster here ''or'' in canon, but by the end she was so far gone that only death could destroy the evil she has become.
** Gian also counts. Late into the first story arc, he kills a young Earthbending slave girl in cold blood after she helps him (forcefully), simply because [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he has no further use for her]]. He's also revealed to be [[spoiler:an Earth Kingdom man who essentially exploits his own people for profit, and admits as much to Jiazin without an ounce of guilt about it.]]

* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Shu Bei Fong]].

* {{Late Arrival Spoiler}}/{{Trailers Always Spoil}}: Unsurprisingly, the sequel's summary spoils that [[spoiler: Aang is alive, WalkingTheEarth and the (apparent) central character; not to mention the cults.]] Right now, avoiding the author's profile is the best way to avoid spoiling oneself about this, but avoiding the summary whilst browsing helps as well.

* ActionGirl: Jiazin and Chaiy are the two most notable. Even [[spoiler: Yue is capable of handling herself in a fight, though she doesn't like it]].

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler: Shiyan, who sinks into catatonia after accidentally killing the person she was raised to see as an absolute god.]]

** Cheng, thanks to being less cruel than the other Chosen (and her frequent ButtMonkey tendencies), comes off as somewhat endearing rather than scary in her desire to follow the Chosen's purpose, and [[spoiler: yet she actually pulls off the "villain" part when she kills Shu Bei Fong as a result of said loyalty]]. It's really not hard to feel for her even from the start.

* TheAragorn: Chaiy, Tong, and [[spoiler: High General Xia]] during the FinalBattle, as they take on the Imperial army and Chosen while Jiazin, Kanoda, and [[spoiler: Avatar Aang]] go after Azula herself.

* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: [[spoiler: Jiazin.]]

** And [[spoiler: Yue]] though she [[OlderThanTheyLook doesn't look it]].

* BigBad: Azula.
* BigBadWannabe: Yuan.
* BookEnds: [[spoiler:The Prologue of this story is a Scribed message written by former Earth King Kuei during his final days, offering his encouragement to those who believe in hope and peace. The Epilogue is Scribed by Fire Lord Jiazin 5 years after her coronation, reaffirming that hope has indeed returned to the world]].

** Book 1: [[spoiler: Gian]], fought at [[spoiler: the Rebel Base at Lake Laogai]].
** Book 2: [[spoiler: Admiral Yuan]], fought at [[spoiler: the N.W.T. City Ruins]].
** Book 3: Fire Empress Azula, fought on [[spoiler: her warship, not far from Long Du Shi]].
* CoDragons: Directly beneath Azula is her inner circle, who are all roughly equal- [[TheChessmaster High Minister Qing Xi]], [[SmugSnake High Admiral Yuan]], [[NobleDemon High General Xia]] and [[DarkActionGirl the Mistress of the Chosen]]. There is also Zhi, the Chosen who acts as Azula's personal bodyguard and attendant.

** Gian also counts. Late into the first story arc, he kills a young Earthbending slave girl in cold blood after she helps him (forcefully), simply because [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness he has no further use for her]]. He's also revealed to be [[spoiler: an Earth Kingdom man who essentially exploits his own people for profit, and admits as much to Jiazin without an ounce of guilt about it.]]
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: [[spoiler: Gian's - which involves being stabbed through the chest by a sword ''wreathed in blue fire'', and being burned alive from within]].
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: [[spoiler: Yue can temporarily call on a larger amount of the Moon Spirit's power, effectively creating a mini-Avatar State- but it's horribly hard on her body, and ultimately kills her]].
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Gian, at least until [[spoiler: Jiazin unexpectedly pulls out the blue fire and incinerates him]].
** And Azula, [[TheChessmaster of course]]. Of course, as in canon, she may also have traces of WrongGenreSavvy - whatever variables she'd considered, she certainly didn't take into account [[spoiler: being offed by one of her own [[UndyingLoyalty Undyingly Loyal]] Chosen]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Governor Yan Li (Jiazin's father), and High Minister Qing Xi]].

* FetishFuel: Some people consider the Chosen to be this, apparently, judging by some of the reviews.

** TheSixthColumn - Gian, [[spoiler: Xia, Qing Xi]]

** TheChick - [[spoiler: Yue]]
** TheSixthRanger - [[spoiler: Aang]]
* FlamingSword: Jiazin can wreath her sword in fire [[spoiler: as Gian found out to his misfortune]].

* HeelFaceTurn: Jiazin, [[spoiler: High General Xia, Governor Yan Li]].
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Yue, to ultimately liberate the Moon and Ocean Spirits]].
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Azula is finally killed not by one of her actual enemies, but by one of her most loyal Chosen, Shiyan]].

* IneffectualSympatheticVillain: Cheng, in contrast to the more experienced and ruthless Shiyan. [[spoiler: Then [[SubvertedTrope she kills Shu Bei Fong ...]]]]

* KillItWithFire: [[spoiler: How Jiazin kills Gian - the description of his death is [[NightmareFuel quite scary]], too]].

* LastOfHisKind: [[spoiler: Well, Last of ''Her'' Kind, rather - Yue is both the only known survivor of the Northern Water Tribe, and the only Waterbender in the world because of her close connection to the Moon Spirit]].
* LegacyCharacter: Apparently Qing Xi and Azula's plan [[spoiler: is to create the fiction that Azula is immortal by having Jiazin "become" her by hiding behind her robes and mask. Turns out Azula has other plans, and the whole LegacyCharacter scheme was just a distraction for QX]].
* MagnificentBastard: Azula of course, and also Qing Xi. Both of them openly admit that they have no real trust in each other, and just trust the idea that there would be no advantage to either betraying the other.

* NotSoDifferent: Jiazin and Azula, or at least Jiazin fears [[spoiler: particularly after developing the ability to create blue fire]].
* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Aang.]]
* OmnicidalManiac: [[spoiler:Azula may have accepted the reality of her own impending death- but that doesn't mean she's not planning to drag as much of civilization as she can down with her]].
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Like Sokka before him, Kanoda is a skilled fighter, but he has a hard time measuring up against the benders, trained-from-birth fanatics, and [[spoiler: spirits]] he finds himself mixed up with.
* PillarOfLight: When [[spoiler: the Moon and Ocean Spirits are freed]].

* [[spoiler: ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Yue]].

* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler: Shu Bei Fong]].
* SealedGoodInACan: [[spoiler: Tui and La, held captive by the Fire Empire since the destruction of the Northern Water Tribe]].
* SequelHook: Most of the main plot is wrapped up, but we still don't know [[spoiler: what happened to Cheng]], and the epilogue mentions [[spoiler: that strange cults have started to spring up in parts of the former Empire, worshipping a deified Azula, while Aang is WalkingTheEarth to help restore peace and balance, aided by Kanoda]].

* [[spoiler: ThanatosGambit: After Azula accepts that she's going to die, she figures she'll take as many people as possible with her, but in a way that will result in her being remembered as a martyr who tried to stop those deaths while the real heroes will be seen as the ones responsible.]]

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Shiyan and Cheng.
* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: [[spoiler: After Jiazin allies with the rebels, she and Chaiy are often contrasted, though it's more like LadyOfWar and CuteBruiser]].

* [[spoiler: TragicMonster: Though YMMV, Azula at least has ''vibes'' of this]].

* {{Unperson}}: [[spoiler: Zuko - after his death, his very existence was struck from the official records and history, with him only appearing in some private documentations. Upon reading them, Jiazin is horrified]].

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We never found out what happened to [[spoiler: Cheng, after Shiyan released her]].
* [[spoiler: WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: Narrated by Jiazin in the historical records.]]

* YouKilledMyFather: [[spoiler: Cheng assasinates Shu Bei Fong, much to Chaiy's grief and rage, and Tong has to reason with her to prevent an execution. She is able to prioritise her duties, thankfully.]]

* TimeSkip: [[spoiler: Five years, pretty much picking up where the story left off in the epilogue.]]

An ''{{Avatar The Last Airbender}}'' [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5071591/1/Avatar_The_Fall_of_the_Fire_Empire fanfic]] by contributor Tropers/MasterGhandalf who surprisingly also wrote the [[Fanfic/AzulaTrilogy Azula Trilogy]]. It's an AU story in which [[TheBadGuyWins Aang was quickly defeated at some point in season one]], and the Fire Nation took over the world and became the Fire Empire. Several decades later, an elderly Azula still rules the Empire with an iron fist as the Dragon Empress, with the Earth Kingdom completely enslaved and the Water Tribes reduced to a few scattered villages. In this dark future, we follow three main viewpoint characters, one from each of the remaining nations:

* SequelHook: Most of the main plot is wrapped up, but we still don't know [[spoiler: what happened to Cheng]], and the epilogue mentions [[spoiler: that strange cults have started to spring up in parts of the former Empire, worshipping a deified Azula, while Aang is WalkingTheEarth to help restore peace and balance, aided by Kanoda]].

* BlurbsAlwaysSpoil: The fanfic's summary spoils that [[spoiler: Aang is alive, because he's now the central character; and also that the story is set five years later.]] Right now, avoiding the author's profile is the best way to avoid spoiling oneself about this, but avoiding the summary whilst browsing helps as well.
* TimeSkip

!! ''Legacy of the Fire Empire'' contains examples of

!!This work contains examples of:

* [[spoiler:RetGone: A version of this happened to Zuko - his very existence has been struck from the official records and history, and very few people alive even know he ever was. Jiazin is understandably horrified]].

* YouKilledMyFather: [[spoiler: Cheng assasinates Shu Bei Fong, much to Chaiy's grief and rage, and Tong has to reason with her to prevent an execution. She is able to prioritise her duties, thankfully.]]

An ''{{Avatar The Last Airbender}}'' [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5071591/1/Avatar_The_Fall_of_the_Fire_Empire fanfic]] by contributor Tropers/MasterGhandalf who also wrote the [[Fanfic/AzulaTrilogy Azula Trilogy]]. It's an AU story in which Aang was quickly defeated at some point in season one, and the Fire Nation took over the world and became the Fire Empire. Several decades later, an elderly Azula still rules the Empire with an iron fist as the Dragon Empress, with the Earth Kingdom completely enslaved and the Water Tribes reduced to a few scattered villages. In this dark future, we follow three main viewpoint characters, one from each of the remaining nations:

* NoNameGiven: For a while - despite playing a prominent role in the story, it's not until the climax of the second arc that Jiazin's father, the Governor, is finally named - Yan Li.

* TheCaligula: Azula

* KatanasAreJustBetter: The Chosen, like the Kyoshi Warriors, use katanas (though unlike the KWs, they don't bother with fans). Subverted in that Jiazin, despite being a wealthy and high-ranking noble, uses a straight-edged sword instead.

An ''{{Avatar The Last Airbender}}'' [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5071591/1/Avatar_The_Fall_of_the_Fire_Empire fanfic]] by contributor {{Master Ghandalf}}, who also wrote the [[Fanfic/AzulaTrilogy Azula Trilogy]]. It's an AU story in which Aang was quickly defeated at some point in season one, and the Fire Nation took over the world and became the Fire Empire. Several decades later, an elderly Azula still rules the Empire with an iron fist as the Dragon Empress, with the Earth Kingdom completely enslaved and the Water Tribes reduced to a few scattered villages. In this dark future, we follow three main viewpoint characters, one from each of the remaining nations:

Jiazin is the daughter of the governor of Long Du Shi (formerly Ba Sing Se), and just as much of a teenage firebending prodigy of Azula. She is summoned to the Empress' palace for a mysterious mission, but soon finds herself a pawn for both Azula and her spymaster Qing Xi.

* NietzscheWannabe: Azula is a borderline example.
* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Aang]].

* SequelHook: Most of the main plot is wrapped up, but we still don't know [[spoiler:what happened to Cheng]], and the epilogue mentions [[spoiler:that strange cults have started to spring up in parts of the former Empire, worshipping a deified Azula, while Aang is WalkingTheEarth to help restore peace and balance, aided by Kanoda]].

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: [[spoiler:After Jiazin allies with the rebels, she and Chaiy are often contrasted, though it's more like LadyOfWar and CuteBruiser]].

* AntiVillain: Though he isn't prominent until the later stages of the story, High General Xia is quickly established as being a [[NobleDemon Noble]] PunchClockVillain who is both loyal to the Fire Empire and highly honourable - a sharp contrast to [[EvilChancellor Qing Xi]] and [[SmugSnake Yuan]]. [[spoiler: He pulls a HeelFaceTurn at the end to prevent Azula from destroying the world]].
** Cheng, [[YMMV arguably]] - she's portrayed a good deal more sympathetically than the other Chosen, and between her and Shiyan she comes off being much less cruel. Though this is largely since she's younger and thus still has some measure of humanity - unlike, for instance, the Mistress
* AnyoneCanDie: Besides there being a number of ''named'' characters who prove to be false leads for recurring or major roles, [[spoiler: the second arc ends with the deaths of both Shu Bei Fong and Yue - only ''two'' chapters apart.]]

* ActionGirl: Jiazin and Chaiy are the two most notable. Even [[spoiler:Yue is capable of handling herself in a fight, though she doesn't like it]].

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Shiyan, who sinks into catatonia after accidentally killing the person she was raised to see as an absolute god.]]
* AmazonBrigade: The Chosen; they even have their base on the former Kyoshi Island. In fact, Azula was inspired to create them after her first encounter with the Kyoshi Warriors in this timeline.
* TheAragorn: Chaiy, Tong, and [[spoiler: Xia]] during the FinalBattle, as they take on the Imperial army and Chosen while Jiazin, Kanoda, and [[spoiler: Aang]] go after Azula herself.

* AwesomeMomentOfCrowning: [[spoiler:Jiazin.]]

** And [[spoiler:Yue]] though she [[OlderThanTheyLook doesn't look it]].

* CompleteMonster: Old age has made Azula [[BeyondTheImpossible even worse than her father]], with her fear of death making her more unstable and desperate than ever. It's pretty unnerving coming from the same author who was able to give her a believable {{Heel Face Turn}} in the Azula Trilogy.
** It's also written in very believable manner, in that Azula here wasn't ''born'' a monster, but is so far gone by the end that only death can destroy the evil she has become.
** The mercenary Gian is also quite the monster himself, as demonstrated when he killed a young slave girl in cold blood simply because she was of no use to him, and especially when he revealed that [[spoiler:he's an Earth Kindgom man who essentially exploits his own people for profit]].
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: [[spoiler:Yue can temporarily call on a larger amount of the Moon Spirit's power, effectively creating a mini-Avatar State- but it's horribly hard on her body, and ultimately kills her]].
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Gian, at least until [[spoiler:Jiazin unexpectedly pulls out the blue fire and incinerates him]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler:Governor Yan Li (Jiazin's father) and High Minister Qing Xi]].

** TheSixthColumn - Gian, [[spoiler:Xia, Qing Xi]].

** TheChick - [[spoiler:Yue]].
** TheSixthRanger - [[spoiler:Aang]].

* HeelFaceTurn: Jiazin, [[spoiler:High General Xia, Governor Yan Li]].
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Yue, to ultimately liberate the Moon and Ocean Spirits]].
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Azula is finally killed not by one of her actual enemies, but by one of her most loyal Chosen, Shiyan]].

* LastOfHisKind: [[spoiler:Well, Last of ''Her'' Kind, rather - Yue is both the only known survivor of the Northern Water Tribe, and the only Waterbender in the world because of her close connection to the Moon Spirit]].
* LegacyCharacter: Apparently Qing Xi and Azula's plan [[spoiler:is to create the fiction that Azula is immortal by having Jiazin "become" her by hiding behind her robes and mask. Turns out Azula has other plans, and the whole LegacyCharacter scheme was just a distraction for QX]].

* NotSoDifferent: Jiazin and Azula, or at least Jiazin fears [[spoiler:particularly after developing the ability to create blue fire]].

* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler:Aang]].

* OvershadowedByAwesome: Like Sokka before him, Kanoda is a skilled fighter, but he has a hard time measuring up against the benders, trained-from-birth fanatics, and [[spoiler:spirits]] he finds himself mixed up with.
* PillarOfLight: When [[spoiler:the Moon and Ocean Spirits are freed]].

* [[spoiler:ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Yue]].

* [[spoiler:RetGone: This is essentially what happened to poor Zuko, whose very existence has been struck from the official records]].
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Shu Bei Fong]].
* SealedGoodInACan: [[spoiler:Tui and La, held captive by the Fire Empire since the destruction of the Northern Water Tribe]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: In general, the fic was written as a thematic counterpoint to the main series, using the same setting in a different time period, and similar character archetypes with different twists. In particular, several characters paralell canon characters' arcs, personalitiles, or abilities:

* [[spoiler:ThanatosGambit: After Azula accepts that she's going to die, she figures she'll take as many people as possible with her, but in a way that will result in her being remembered as a martyr who tried to stop those deaths while the real heroes will be seen as the ones responsible.]]

* [[spoiler:TragicMonster: Though YMMV, Azula at least has ''vibes'' of this]].

* {{Tykebomb}}: The Chosen, as noted above - they're raised from infancy to be Azula's ultimate warrior-servants.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We never found out what happened to [[spoiler:Cheng, after Shiyan released her]].

* WrongGenreSavvy: Kanoda at first. He becomes more straightforwardly GenreSavvy with CharacterDevelopment.

* TheAragorn: Chaiy, Tong, and [[spoiler: Xia]] during the FinalBattle.

* AlasPoorVillain: [[spoiler:Shiyan, who sinks into catatonia after accidentally killing the person she was raised to see as an absolute good.]]

** Toph was revealed to have been one as well, being Shu and Chaiy's ancestor, and [[spoiler: almost succeeding in killing the Dragon Empress herself]].
** And [[spoiler: Yue]] though she [[OlderThanTheyLook doesn't look it]].
* BadassNormal: Gian, all the Chosen (who are forbidden from firebending even if they have the ability- Azula's smart enough that she doesn't run the risk of creating another her) and Kanoda, although he's usually OvershadowedByAwesome.

* BookEnds: [[spoiler: The Prologue of this story is a Scribed message written by former Earth King Kuei during his final days, offering his encouragement to those who believe in hope and peace. The Epilogue is Scribed by Fire Lord Jiazin 5 years after her coronation, reaffirming that hope has indeed returned to the world]].

** The mercenary Gian is also quite the monster himself, as demonstrated when he killed a young slave girl in cold blood simply because she was of no use to him, and especially when he revealed that [[spoiler: he's an Earth Kindgom man who essentially exploits his own people for profit]].
* DangerousForbiddenTechnique: [[spoiler: Yue can temporarily call on a larger amount of the Moon Spirit's power, effectively creating a mini-Avatar State- but it's horribly hard on her body, and ultimately kills her]].
* DangerouslyGenreSavvy: Gian, at least until [[spoiler: Jiazin unexpectedly pulls out the blue fire and incinerates him]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Governor Yan Li (Jiazin's father) and High Minister Qing Xi]].

** TheSixthColumn - Gian, [[spoiler: Xia, Qing Xi]].

** TheChick - [[spoiler: Yue]].
** TheSixthRanger - [[spoiler: Aang]].
* GenerationXerox: Yuan is very much like his grandfather Zhao, if a bit more unstable. Justified, since Zhao is a legendary "hero" of the Empire is this AU, and all his family have lived in his shadow- Yuan is trying to almost literally out-Zhao Zhao!

* HeelFaceTurn: Jiazin, [[spoiler: High General Xia, Governor Yan Li]].
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler: Yue, to ultimately liberate the Moon and Ocean Spirits]].
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler: Azula is finally killed not by one of her actual enemies, but by one of her own Chosen, Shiyan]].

* LastOfHisKind: [[spoiler: Well, Last of ''Her'' Kind, rather - Yue is both the only known survivor of the Northern Water Tribe, and the only Waterbender in the world because of her connection to the Moon Spirit]].
* LegacyCharacter: Apparently Qing Xi and Azula's plan [[spoiler: is to create the fiction that Azula is immortal by having Jiazin "become" her by hiding behind her robes and mask. Turns out Azula has other plans, and the whole LegacyCharacter scheme was just a distraction for QX]].

* NotSoDifferent: Jiazin and Azula, or at least Jiazin fears [[spoiler: particularly after developing the ability to create blue fire]].

* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Aang]].
* OmnicidalManiac: [[spoiler: Azula may have accepted the reality of her own impending death- but that doesn't mean she's not planning to drag as much of civilization as she can down with her]].
* OvershadowedByAwesome: Like Sokka before him, Kanoda is a skilled fighter, but he has a hard time measuring up against the benders, trained-from-birth fanatics, and [[spoiler: spirits]] he finds himself mixed up with.
* PillarOfLight: When [[spoiler: the Moon and Ocean Spirits are freed]].

* [[spoiler: ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: Yue]].

* [[spoiler: RetGone: This is essentially what happened to poor Zuko, whose very existence has been struck from the official records]].
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler: Shu Bei Fong]].
* SealedGoodInACan: [[spoiler: Tui and La, held captive by the Fire Empire since the destruction of the Northern Water Tribe]].
* SequelHook: Most of the main plot is wrapped up, but we still don't know [[spoiler: what happened to Cheng]], and the epilogue mentions [[spoiler: that strange cults have started to spring up in parts of the former Empire, worshipping a deified Azula, while Aang is WalkingTheEarth to help restore peace and balance, aided by Kanoda]].

** Jiazin= Zuko+ some Mai
** Kanoda= Sokka and Katara
** Tong= Toph
** [[spoiler: Aang]]= Aang
** [[spoiler: Yue]]= elements of [[spoiler: herself and]] Aang
** Qing Xi= Long Feng made successful
** Yuan= Zhao
** Shiyan= Azula+ Evil!Suki
** Cheng= Ty Lee+ Evil!Suki
** Azula= Herself+ Ozai
** Chaiy= Jet+ Toph
** Gian= Combustion Man+ Jun

* TomboyAndGirlyGirl: [[spoiler: AFter Jiazin allies with the rebels, she and Chaiy are often contrasted, though it's more like LadyOfWar and CuteBruiser]].
* TouchedByVorlons: [[spoiler: Yue, made an immortal and extremly skilled waterbender by the Moon Spirit]].
* [[spoiler: TragicMonster: Though YMMV, Azula at least has ''vibes'' of this]].

* {{Tykebomb}}: The Chosen, as noted above- they're raised from infancy to be Azula's ultimate warrior-servants.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: We never found out what happened to [[spoiler: Cheng, after Shiyan released her]].
* WhiteHairedPrettyGirl: [[spoiler: Yue, as per canon]]

* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Governor Yan Li, Jiazin's father, and High Minister Qing Xi]].

* OvershadowedByAwesome: Like Sokka before him, Kanoda is a skilled fighter, but he has a hard time measuring up against the benders, trained-from-birth fanatics, and [[spoiler: spirits]] he finds himself mixed up with.

* TheGovernorsDaughter: Jiazin is the daughter of the Governor of Long Du Shi (aka Ba Sing Se).