History Fanfic / Embers

* AbductionIsLove - In the historical form of bride capture. Played straight by the Water Tribes according to Sokka, and by the Earth Kingdom according to the Dai Li (when it comes to spiritually strong 'desert witches' for the Earth King's bloodline), but inverted in the Fire Nation, where it's a woman that ambushes the man with 'three cups of wine and a [[RedStringOfFate red cord]].' In both cases, it's implied to ideally be ceremonial, basically part of the marriage process or a proposal (Iroh's wife proposed in this fashion), but Teruko [[RapeAsComedy jokes]] about doing it to [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale Sokka]], since he's prime stock, and given the Northern Water Tribe's feuding traditions and all three groups' cultures, it's probably been nonconsensual often enough.

* Under the shelter of Dragons' Wings - Everyone is planning for the Invasion. In the Fire Nation capital, Azula and Mai take care of some dirty business [[spoiler: that is, wrapped around a dead Fire Sage's body]] before Azula plans with the Fire Lord [[spoiler: who gives her Shidan's request for help]]. Zuko and his allies explore their new home, and come to some mortifying revelations [[spoiler: Avatar Kesuk, walking-whales/Sea serpents, and Koh]], and decide that these things need to be kept secret from Hakoda and Tao. Meanwhile, with the GAang, they meet Shidan [[spoiler: who helps them put an end to Hama and her reign of terror]]. The good news is, the GAang lives. The bad news: [[OhCrap the Fire Nation knows about their plans to invade during the Day of Black Sun.]]

*** [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Vathara's dragons]] turn this into fearsomeness, simply because dragon morality is similar to human morality with a crucial difference: both human and dragon morality have non-threatening action and trustworthiness as shared key virtues, but are opposed as to which takes precedence - to a human, a nonviolent traitor(a draft dodger) is less of a concern than a dutiful sociopath(a war criminal). For dragons, it's the other way around - a BloodKnight is of use to the clan, but a deserter is a weak link to be eliminated at all costs. In chapter 39, we get to hear why the dragons went along with the genocide of the Air Nomads from a dragon who likely witnessed some of it [[spoiler:'''''Zuko's maternal grandfather.''''']]

*** [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Vathara's dragons]] turn this into fearsomeness, simply because dragon morality is similar to human morality with a crucial difference: both human and dragon morality have non-threatening action and trustworthiness as shared key virtues, but are opposed as to which takes precedence - to a human, a nonviolent traitor(a draft dodger) is less of a concern than a dutiful sociopath(a war criminal). For dragons, it's the other way around - a BloodKnight is of use to the clan, but a deserter is a weak link to be eliminated at all costs. In chapter 39, we get to hear why the dragons went along with the genocide of the Air Nomads from a dragon who actually participated in it - [[spoiler:'''''Zuko's maternal grandfather.''''']]

** Sgt. Kyo, a Marine with the ability to [[{{NCIS}} smack the back of offenders' heads before they even see it coming]], complete with the rest of his squad.

* ShockAndAwe - Iroh [[spoiler:comes out of retirement by [[PapaWolf smiting]] a certain Earth Kingdom general]], an event that was both [[IncrediblyLamePun shocking]] and [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome awesome]] to those who weren't familiar with his history. [[PsychoElectro Azula]] is the modern fiction version of a lightning wielder, but in earlier works it was a [[ChronoTrigger heroic or divine element]]. Given some of the foreshadowing (the mind and airbenders), it will likely come up again, especially since the fic makes liberal use of ChekhovsArmory.

''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5398503/1/Embers Embers]]'' is a popular, though [[LoveItOrHateIt controversial]], ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fic by {{Vathara}} that [[DeconstructorFleet deconstructs]] the standard story of a [[FiveManBand group]] of [[IdiotHero kids]] [[BlackAndWhiteMorality saving]] the world from TheEmpire, with copious amounts of FridgeLogic and FridgeHorror. Moving the WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender universe on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism (characters had ''better'' not even try to invoke HeroInsurance, for example), causes the good guys to [[HanlonsRazor seem]] less good and the bad guys to range from AntiHero to CompleteMonster. It also explores things that the TV show had to gloss over for kids, like [[ChildByRape the horrors of war]], [[EldritchAbomination dangerous]] [[NightmareFuel spirits]] and [[MindRape Azula]].

* BigBrotherIsWatching - The Dai Li and their brainwashed Joo Dees. [[spoiler:It's implied that at least some of the Dai Li remain with Azula in order to make sure that no one tells her about Lake Laogai. One tells Min that he'll [[ShootTheDog kill him]] instead of letting Azula [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel have him]], which he's grateful for.]] However, it's very possible that she knows and doesn't care, because she doesn't need it. Without the checks and balances provided by [[spoiler:fire healing allowing rebels to survive and the lords of several domains being willing to gang up on anyone who crosses the MoralEventHorizon by trying [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel to use it this way]], fire loyalty can be used to]] punish thoughtcrime with death, no expensive surveillance system required.

*** [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Vathara's dragons]] turn this into NightmareFuelUnleaded, simply because dragon morality is similar to human morality with a crucial difference: both human and dragon morality have non-threatening action and trustworthiness as shared key virtues, but are opposed as to which takes precedence - to a human, a nonviolent traitor(a draft dodger) is less of a concern than a dutiful sociopath(a war criminal). For dragons, it's the other way around - a BloodKnight is of use to the clan, but a deserter is a weak link to be eliminated at all costs. In chapter 39, we get to hear why the dragons went along with the genocide of the Air Nomads from a dragon who actually participated in it - [[spoiler:'''''Zuko's maternal grandfather.''''']]

** ItGotWorse for the Fire Nation. Their [[NightmareFuel prisons for benders]] are designed to starve them of their element, wounding their spirits. ''Every single survivor'' of one of those prisons, like the Earthbenders Katara rescued (and ''Hama'') has the potential to become a yaoren. Who obviously won't have much reason to like the Fire Nation.

* EvenEvilHasStandards - [[spoiler:Azula. [[HighOctaneNightmareFuel Terrifyingly]] [[CompleteMonster evil]] enough that Vathara posts a warning every time she makes an appearance. Still horrified by [[LaserGuidedAmnesia what the Air Monks]] [[{{Brainwashed}} and onmitsu do]] [[GettingSmiliesPaintedOnYourSoul to people they get their hands on]].]]

* HumansAreBastards - [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped What makes someone a good person is being honest about their own flaws and trying to minimize the damage]]; {{Vathara}} seems to be arguing that this is the true nature of heroism, since [[GenreBlindness claiming that everyone is fundamentally good]] and [[KnightTemplar forcing them to act that way]] when they can't is stupid and likely to make things worse at best and leads to NightmareFuel at worst.

* MoreThanMindControl - [[spoiler:Benders can pull on your emotions. What the Dai Li pull. However, [[NightmareFuelUnleaded Azula's plans for Min]] indicate that it's not exactly mind control in the first place]]

** Given it'd be a relatively simple matter for an airbender to simply collapse somebody's ribcage/lungs, induce a realistic form of ExplosiveDecompression, and other fun crosses of BloodlessCarnage with {{Family Unfriendly Death}}s, one who actively ''wants'' to kill probably ought to be considered HighOctaneNightmareFuel. It might be worth noting that in the canon, [[spoiler:the one time we see any skeletons in the Air Temples, the only bones we see of the dead Firebenders are the ''skulls''.]]

** WeaponOfMassDestruction: According to the Embers universe's equivalent of the Geneva Convention, a bender summoning a spirit to possess them and turning it loose is a serious war crime. This is because said spirit will not distinguish between one side and the other, soliders and civilians, combatants and those trying to surrender; they only recognize worship. (Yep, she noted the Water Tribespeople might not have been spared/would not (since they'd failed to protect it) if they hadn't hit the ground.) They do not give quarter, which is in itself a war crime. Not to mention the fates of those killed by spirits can often be AFateWorseThanDeath. Using one near a populated city is the equivalent of launching a nuke next to that city, since there's the well-known risk of the spirit deciding to destroy it as well. Aang's use of the Avatar Spirit doesn't qualify, since the Avatar is still a human and capable of making those distinctions. The way he unleashed the Ocean Spirit was. While he was undoubtably right to protect the city and clearly didn't know he was violating the Generva Convention equivalent, Aang still did it, and [[CultureClash doesn't grasp that he needs to apologize and make it clear to everyone he won't do it again.]] Even Zuko admits Aang was right to protect the city; the trouble is even if Aang hadn't had other means of doing so, using a nuke near a populated city for good reasons doesn't change the fact a nuke was used. [[spoiler:To make the metaphor even more explicit, [[NightmareFuel there's even a very deadly "residue" left behind]]: Chapter 31 both states this and starts to show some of the consequences.]] The Fire Nation might be a Japan-analogue, and using nukes on Japan may have ended that war, but it looks like it will only be making this one worse.

* {{Wendigo}} - Discussed as part of the ShownTheirWork about why [[DeliberateValuesDissonance Katara is acting as a responsible adult]] and doing the right thing when [[WrongGenreSavvy she suspects that Zuko is driving the others crazy and needs to die under Ba Sing Se.]] Or rather, [[CultureClash she would be if this were the Water Tribes.]] {{Vathara}} seems to enjoy breaking brains and conventional definitions of right and wrong by pointing out the NightmareFuel bits of how the human psyche works.

* {{Wendigo}} - Discussed as part of the ShownTheirWork about why [[DeliberateValuesDissonance Katara is acting as a responsible adult]] and doing the right thing when [[WrongGenreSavvy she suspects that Zuko is driving the others crazy and needs to die under Ba Sing Se.]] Or rather, [[CultureClash she would be if this were the Water Tribes.]] {{Vathara}} seems to enjoy breaking brains and conventional definitions of right and wrong by pointing out the NightmareFuelUnleaded bits of how the human psyche works.

* AbductionIsLove - In the historical form of bride capture. Played straight by the Water Tribes according to Sokka, and by the Earth Kingdom according to the Dai Li (when it comes to spiritually strong 'desert witches' for the Earth King's bloodline), but inverted in the Fire Nation, where it's a woman that ambushes the man with 'three cups of wine and a [[RedStringOfFate red cord]].' In both cases, it's implied to ideally be ceremonial, basically part of the marriage process or a proposal (Iroh's wife proposed in this fashion), but Teruko [[RapeAsComedy jokes]] about doing it to [[RapeIsOkWhenItsFemaleOnMale Sokka]], since he's prime stock, and given the Northern Water Tribe's feuding traditions and all three groups' cultures, it's probably been nonconsensual often enough.

''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5398503/1/Embers Embers]]'' is a popular, though [[LoveItOrHateIt controversial]], ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fic by {{Vathara}} that [[DeconstructorFleet deconstructs]] the standard story of a [[FiveManBand group]] of [[IdiotHero kids]] [[BlackAndWhiteMorality saving]] the world from TheEmpire, with copious amounts of FridgeLogic and FridgeHorror. Moving the AvatarTheLastAirbender universe on the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism (characters had ''better'' not even try to invoke HeroInsurance, for example), causes the good guys to [[HanlonsRazor seem]] less good and the bad guys to range from AntiHero to CompleteMonster. It also explores things that the TV show had to gloss over for kids, like [[ChildByRape the horrors of war]], [[EldritchAbomination dangerous]] [[NightmareFuel spirits]] and [[MindRape Azula]].

* ZombieApocalypse - It's coming. Ch. 46's [[WordOfGod author's notes]] reveal that [[spoiler:Koh the Facestealer is partially based on Nidhoggr, according to WordOfGod from the creators of AvatarTheLastAirbender. During the Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok, Nidhoggr controlled the corpses he had consumed]] making it a ZombieApocalypse. There are large numbers of unhallowed dead near the Northern Water Tribe.

* NoDelaysForTheWicked - Everyone in the Fire Nation has to [[spoiler:[[YouHaveFailedMe do as the Fire Lord says or risk death by loyalty sickness]] - JustFollowingOrders with a knife at their neck. Fire Nation soldiers in the field [[spoiler:[[ExplosiveLeash die if they blatantly disobey orders]], even if that means committing war crimes, because [[MoreThanMindControl Fire Is Loyalty]].]] Fire Nation civilians [[spoiler: get attacked by Fire Nation spirits if they oppose the war because "[[{{Ghostapo}} Fire Spirits owe loyalty to The Fire Lord]]" - even if that support is polluting their water supplies.]] Luckily, every autumn is hurricane season--crippling the nation-- and the other nations aren't exactly push overs even after a century of war, and sheer human incompetence (see Sadao's story) as well as the way that loyalty isn't meant to be monolithic keep the Fire Nation from being TheBorg. (Iroh explains in 29 that loyalty means "the bonds of fire and spirit to one's clan, one's lord, and one's followers.")

*** Some of the later chapters may help this make more sense. Also, as I personally do agree with a statement in the story, Aang is very good at only hearing what he wants to hear. At least in this story he is shocked at every single time someone thinks something is right that he thinks is wrong.

* WorldOfBadAss - Do I need to say anymore?

* AuthorTract - Moved to the Embers [[JustBugsMe/Embers It Just Bugs Me]] page. (It was very long before it was moved.)

* StaffChick - In the process of being subverted by Katara, who in the original series very pointedly chose offensive waterbending over healing, which is then ignored for the rest of the series. In Embers this is even more significant, since [[spoiler:throughout her childhood she was given the impression she was supposed to be the healer, and a failure because she wasn't, so she's not just defying the Northern Water Tribe's sexism when she makes the choice to fight but also her own feelings of insecurity and failure.]] Instead of becoming the healer despite almost no training in the show, her talents and interest lie in the other direction and will likely remain insistant on being the BlackMagicianGirl. Her alternative candidate for healer training is [[spoiler:Haru, since Toph is also [[CuteBruiser violence-focused]], not to mention more interested on what she can do with seawater.]]

* PosthumousCharacter - Canon characters include Gyatso, Sozin, Kya, and past Avatars like Roku, while Emberverse characters have Kuzon (who's given more background), some of Zuko's and Azula's grandparents, the unnamed Fire Nation Avatar before Yangchen, Xiangchen, Subodei, and several Air Nomad groups.

** Vathara has a ''huge'' thing for claws. Has given them to people in ways that involve Zuko (and Kenshin, in two other universes) being part dragon, some AU [[RecycledINSPACE space]] version of the {{Bleach}} cast becoming [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot octopus-cat-alien-hybrid]] survivors of TheVirus, some ''bizarre'' gene-sharing with Godzilla, [[NomDeGuerre Battousai]] being a psychic dragon-tooth demon sword which possesses the mild-mannered [[RurouniKenshin Kenshin]], genetic tampering on the GundamWing cast by [[StargateSG1 Goauld]], and a [[FinalFantasyVII Crisis Core]] AU in which Zack and Cloud [[BeyondTheImpossible become part griffin because of a conversation Aerith has with a sentient gargoyle]]. These are all considered good things.

* OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions - most of the Fire Nation. They consider tales of fire-healers or traditions like blood knot, as silly and superstitious. Zhao took it UpToEleven, proclaiming they don't have to fear spirits and tried to kill a Moon.

* The Fire Nation arc - As of Ch. 47 [[spoiler:Aang has left for the Fire Nation]] with the Gaang in pursuit and [[spoiler:Makoto]] has finally appeared. She attacked [[spoiler:Azula]], who fought her off, which may have only furthered her XanatosGambit. Sokka and Aang spend time having a "manly" talk, while Azula gets some sorely needed healing from Shidan. [[spoiler: The Fire Lord is less than amused when he learns that Azula has had contact with her grandfather, and Azula's loyalties are tested once she meets her father.]] Katara meets the Painted Lady [[spoiler: where she and the rest of the GAang learn to tread lightly with spirits]], who points out Shu Jing to them. This is where the gAang ends up next, home of the retired Fire Army major, Piandao [[spoiler: and Kuzon's ghost mate, Temul, who teaches them about ground fires and how Sky bison treading on their fields means BAD for farmers]]. In the Earth Kingdom, Kuei learns more about the Touzaikaze and how they survived in the desert [[spoiler: both airbenders and sandbenders living underground]]. Zuko, Shirong and Langxue go off to find Asagitatsu to stop the volcano from erupting [[spoiler: by fighting off Makoto and Koh. They win]]. While here, Aang finally learns of the tragic fate that befell his good friend, Kuzon [[spoiler: who was killed by airbenders, trained by none other than Aang's own Temple mate, Ja Aku]]. Currently, the Southern Water Tribe fleet has caught up to Zuko and his crew, and are now in the Northern Air Temple...Ch. 47-55

** Several chapters ago, Iroh hints that the White Lotus has, centuries ago, had to deal with an Avatar that went bad. [[spoiler: That Avatar was Kesuk, from the Northern Water Tribe. In the records the White Lotus kept, she was never really strong, and when her spirit beast was killed, she snapped. She set out to take over the world, but thanks to Asagitatsu and lots of help from both the Fire Isles and Air Nomads, they stopped her.]]

*** Fire is influenced by both the nature of fire and the [[spoiler:predator instincts]] of their [[spoiler: dragon]] ancenstors. Whoever has the strength to get the most, gets the most, but if they don't leave enough for others they are likely to end up with nothing.

*** Air hasn't been defined yet and may not be until Aang gets more introspective or [[spoiler:more air-folk come out of hiding.]]

* Under the shelter of Dragons' Wings - Everyone is planning for the Invasion. In the Fire Nation capital, Azula and Mai take care of some dirty business [[spoiler: that is, wrapped around a dead Fire Sage's body]] before Azula plans with the Fire Lord [[spoiler: who gives her Shidan's request for help]]. Zuko and his allies explore their new home, and come to some mortifying revelations [[spoiler: Avatar Kesuk, walking-whales/Sea serpents, and Koh]], and decide that these things need to be kept secret from Hakoda and Tao. Meanwhile, with the GAang, they meet Shidan, and put an end to Hama's reign of terror. The good news is, the GAang lives. The bad news: the Fire Nation knows about their plans to invade during the Day of Black Sun.

So far, Embers can be divided into seven major story arcs:

* The Fire Nation arc - As of Ch. 47 [[spoiler:Aang has left for the Fire Nation]] with the Gaang in pursuit and [[spoiler:Makoto]] has finally appeared. She attacked [[spoiler:Azula]], who fought her off, which may have only furthered her XanatosGambit. Sokka and Aang spend time having a "manly" talk, while Azula gets some sorely needed healing from Shidan. [[spoiler: The Fire Lord is less than amused when he learns that Azula has had contact with her grandfather, and Azula's loyalties are tested once she meets her father.]] Katara meets the Painted Lady [[spoiler: where she and the rest of the GAang learn to tread lightly with spirits]], who points out Shu Jing to them. This is where the gAang ends up next, home of the retired Fire Army major, Piandao [[spoiler: and Kuzon's ghost mate, Temul, who teaches them about ground fires and how Sky bison treading on their fields means BAD for farmers]]. In the Earth Kingdom, Kuei learns more about the Touzaikaze and how they survived in the desert [[spoiler: both airbenders and sandbenders living underground]]. Zuko, Shirong and Langxue go off to find Asagitatsu to stop the volcano from erupting [[spoiler: by fighting off Makoto and Koh. They win]]. While here, Aang finally learns of the tragic fate that befell his good friend, Kuzon [[spoiler: who was killed by airbenders, trained by none other than Aang's own Temple mate, Ja Aku]]. Currently, the Southern Water Tribe fleet has caught up to Zuko and his crew, and are now in the Northern Air Temple...