History FanficRecs / AvatarTheLastAirbender

* Recommended by: Kalaong, @/USABobcat

* Synopsis: A impulsive pirate in the episode "The Waterbending Scroll" leads to Katara being kept prisoner by Zuko for much longer than either of them expected. The two enemies' relationship gradually begins to change, leading to consequences that ripple throughout all three seaons of the show. Eventual Zuko/Katara.

* Recommended by Stratagemini
* Status: Dead (last updated September 2015)
* Synopsis: One pirate gets impulsive, and an event starting in "The Waterbending Scroll" sends ripples throughout the rest of Seasons 1, 2 and 3. Basically, a bad end in "The Water Bending Scroll" leads to Katara being held prisoner by Zuko for much longer than either of them expected.

* Recommended by Orchidperson969

* ''Comments'': Told from the POV of several OCs living in the Fire Nation, it's sometimes difficult to keep track of all of them, but this canon-compliant fic is both heartbreaking and realistic as it details the ripple effects of Ozai and Zuko's disastrous Agni Kai, and how it impacts the lives of ordinary citizens.

* Recommended by: [=SubversionStation=]

* Recommended by: [=SubversionStation=]

* Recommended by: Aryashi, ElementalFire, Wheretheducksgo, Oberoniss

* Recommended by Tropers/{{Queenbri}}

** Comments: A rather well written Avatar AU that knows how to use the ripple effect of Ursa taking the reins on the Fire Nation quite well. It is a really interesting take on the Fire Nation and war and the circumstances compared to other stories; by making the Fire Nation more down to earth and less like mustache twirling tyrants that rule with an iron fist. Especially given how Ursa rules here, compared to Ozai in canon. She is not a military person but steadily adapts to the war and the situation in annexing all the nations, and proves to act more politically sharp minded and with a whole lot more heart to her actions. This means that the Fire Nation steadily transitions towards making a lot less stupid and chaotically evil decisions, and through becoming much more diplomatic and reasonable, makes several smart, decisive actions that give them huge advantages. This also adds some complexity to what the canon protagonists faces as they start to enter the story. They, aside from Aang, grew up amidst the evil and cruelties of Azulon and Sozin's respective reigns, who really did conquer for the sake of glorious conquest and ego, and consequently still see themselves being conquered as a bad thing. Yet due to Ursa becoming regent of the Fire Nation than Ozai taking the throne, the Fire Nation in the span of four to five years, has become much more reasonable and daresay ''almost'' benign than her predecessor's were. Leaving the Gaang struggling against a Fire Nation that is now very, ''very'' good at putting on a face of being the reasonable, responsible adults in all this. It's only made worse by how much those in charge genuinely believe what they are doing is for the good of the world. The protagonists are ultimately full of heart up against several political and strategic experts who know what they are doing and is starting to make some of them sway slowly to accepting them. And quite frankly, the example of Ba Sing Se and how the "Earth King" rules only adds a lot of credibility to their arguments...

** Comments: A rather well written Avatar AU that knows how to use the ripple effect of Ursa taking the reins on the Fire Nation quite well. It is a really interesting take on the Fire Nation and war and the circumstances compared to other stories; by making the Fire Nation more down to earth and less like mustache twirling tyrants that rule with an iron fist. Especially given how Ursa rules here, compared to Ozai in canon. She is not a military person but steadily adapts to the war and the situation in annexing all the nations, and proves to act more politically sharp minded and with a whole lot more heart to her actions. This means that the Fire Nation steadily transitions towards making a lot less stupid and chaotically evil decisions, and through becoming much more diplomatic and reasonable, makes several smart, decisive actions that give them huge advantages. This also adds some complexity to what the canon protagonists faces as they start to enter the story. They, aside from Aang, grew up amidst the evil and cruelties of Azulon and Sozin's respective reigns, who really did conquer for the sake of glorious conquest and ego, and consequently still see themselves being conquered as a bad thing. Yet due to Ursa becoming regent of the Fire Nation than Ozai taking the throne, the Fire Nation in the span of four to five years, has become much more reasonable and daresay ''almost'' benign than her predecessor's were. But at the same time they are still very self righteous and downright ruthless when they need to be for the sake of what they believe is a righteous cause. Leaving the Gaang struggling against a Fire Nation that is now very, ''very'' good at putting on a face of being the reasonable, responsible adults in all this. Making Aang genuinely believe they can reason with Ursa and her family for peace despite not approving of the conquest of Ba Sing Se when knowing the grave casualties that will occur. It's only made worse by how much those in charge genuinely believe what they are doing is for the good of the world. The protagonists are ultimately full of heart up against several political and strategic experts who know what they are doing and is starting to make some of them sway slowly to accepting them. And quite frankly, the example of Ba Sing Se and how the "Earth King" rules only adds a lot of credibility to their arguments...

* Comment: A really original idea of what I can only call a "Fertile Crescent AU" version of ATLA, changing things in really interesting way. For example, in this version, Fire Lord Ozai is basically [[spoiler:[[Literature/TheShahnameh Zahhak]] from Myth/PersianMythology]]. Sadly seems discontinued.

* Synopsis:Instead of Zuko, it is Azula that Firelord Azulon demands to be sacrificed. This single change shall ripple across the fate of the world; Ozai shall not be Firelord, Azula shall question everything she ever knew, and the world shall be very different when the Avatar returns.