Apparently, breakfast that morning is eventful. Suki apparently ends up breaking several locks, including the one to her and Sokka's ensuite bathroom. Sokka is quite sad, and says he does his best thinking in his bedroom, apparently without even Suki (possibly ruling out the idea that he's making excuses for having sex with her. Sokka tries to fix the lock, but soon moves on to unlocking locked compartments in the library, in spite of Katara's warnings.
Suki tells Sokka not to make such a big deal about the bathroom, since only two people use it and she'd seen everything there was to see on him, so to speak. Sokka asks Zuko, since it's "his" house, but Zuko feels put on the spot. Sokka then asks Toph, who shrugs, and says there's no point in doing so, since Sozin's comet is about a week away.
The rest of the Gaang reacts to this casual remark, Aang most of all. Aang wants to know why they didn't tell him, and Zuko says that he had been telling Aang about it. Perhaps Zuko hadn't mentioned the specific date, but he thought Aang could read a calendar as well as anyone else there (except Toph, as she herself points out), and he should understand why Zuko is training him so hard. Aang panics, and insists on training now, even suggesting Zuko should stop being lazy and do so, much to Zuko's incredulity.
Toph tells Aang to chill out, and Aang says Toph should chill out. When Toph says she'll come after breakfast, he tries to snatch her plate away, leading to a scuffle. Katara shouts to be heard over "there bickering," and tells Aang that Toph can train him if he lets her finish breakfast. Katara proposs the four-way training that they had tried before she was bitten (I have to wonder why they didn't resume it after she recovered).
Zuko finds Aang's behavior bewildering, and Katara says Aang always gets like this before a major battle (I only recall him doing so in "Nightmares and Daydreams"; he didn't seem that uptight about the Siege of the North, and the fall of Ba Sing Se took him by surprise).
As I said before, it's unfortunate that in this fic, whenever Aang does the right thing with regards to training, it's either brought on by a short-lived inspiration, or overzealous to the point of being counterproductive.
Suki goes to get a haircut, and Sokka, after some skepticism, decides to let her prepare her way, and pats from him with a kiss; she heads to the barbershop, while he heads to the library. As Aang is doing fire squats, Katara waits for Toph to finish before joining him.
The training goes well, with Aang defending against the others as they attack (He's faced many firebenders, but I wonder when he'll have to face another Earthbender or Waterbender in combat), with any style of bending except airbending, and the whole over-reliance on airbending argument is brought up again. Again, I do have to wonder if there are any actual advantages to other bending styles, apart from the ones the author makes up to give Aang a weakness.
The speed increases over time, and Aang only "lapses into airbending" five times. This seems to be going too far in the other direction; originally, Airbending was seen as a valuable tool, but one Aang uses too much. He should be using it in tandem with his other styles, not seeing it as something that he shouldn't be using at all.
For the first time in a while, Aang gets some positive feedback, and the trainers go to wash the mud off.
Katara heads to her bathroom to wash off, which, combined with her ignorance of what will happen next, prevents her from doing something "very pervy and '''stalky'". Zuko, meanwhile, takes Suki and Sokka's bathroom (the one with the broken lock), and the natural result happens. Suki gets back and sees Zuko naked.
Katara is tempted to get "a peak," but resists it.
Suki tells Katara that she, while opening the bathroom door to look for her brush, found Zuko there naked. Toph comes over wanting to be included in the hilarity, while Aang hums "ILW". At that moment, Zuko comes out, too, just out of the shower.
Suki hastily and awkwardly apologizes. Zuko asks if she "looked everywhere," and Suki, confused, admits to doing so, until Zuko clarifies that he he was asking about the search for her brush. Upon realizing, the rest of the group is mortified, and even Sokka is drawn in, but Katara diverts his attention.
Zuko is frozen in horror, and Katara tries to get the others to pretend it never happened, which worked well in the past. Aang then arrives, and Zuko "escapes' by going to train him. Suki is deeply embarrrassed over what happened, and Katara tries to reassure her (although it is partly Suki's fault for breaking the lock). She's dreading seeing Zuko's face again, or having to tell Sokka about this, and it's not helped by Toph teasing her.
Katara says embarrassing things happen to Zuko all the time, and tries to reassure her that Sokka knows nothing will happen between his best friend and girlfriend. But Suki brings up what could be considered a female version of "the bro code," saying that seeing "backstage" is off limits. But she decides to tell Sokka, because they're honest with each other. But Suki does worry about Sokka asking her if she liked looking at Zuko. Suki comments on how she knows why Katara fancies Zuko, but Katara ignores the comment.
Suki decides to talk to Sokka over dinner, since he's currently too absorbed into his book, and reassure him that he's sexy enough for her.
Afternoon practice doesn't go as well, with Zuko suffering from lingering embarrassment, and Katara thinking of the naked Zuko and imagining him naked. Katara, completely out of form, decides to stop early and start preparing dinner.
Dinner is eventful. Sokka found something that isn't horrifying this time- a collection of past Avatars' work found in a compartment Sokka noticed the day before. It's a hiding place for the things Iroh doesn't want people to find. Apparently, Ozai isn't much of a reader, to Sokka's annoyance.
Sokka says it's a sound theory, but he found Ursa's name on the books. After taking a moment to confirm this, Zuko announces that Ursa is his mother, and she must have inherited the books from her grandfather, Avatar Roku, much to Katara's surprise, and she plans on talking with Zuko about that later.
Aang then wonders whether, if Zuko is his previous life's great grandson, that means that Zuko is Aang's great grandson, and prepares to give Zuko some grandfatherly affection as Zuko, extremely embarrassed tells him that it doesn't work that way.
I know this is Played for Laughs, but it also got me thinking about reincarnation. Aang is in many ways a very different person from his predecessors, so much so that he eventually decides that Roku can't help him anymore at the end of "The Promise." Similar cases happen in other cases of reincarnation, which makes me wonder why the Reincarnation Romance trope even exists. I doubt the author believes in it, since Ty Lee, Toph or any number of the other girls that serve as Aang's substitute for Katara in Zutara works (as well as Katara herself), aren't necessarily like Roku's wife.
Back to the other Avatars, Suki is quite excited to get her hands on a rare book by Kyoshi, the Avatar who founded the group of warriors to which she belongs, and borrows those books.
Sokka then points out that he knows Aang hasn't mastered all elements, as well as the fact that he knows that most Avatars take 12 years to master all four (FINALLY someone acknowledges how difficult Aang's task is). Of course, Sozin's Comet won't allow them to do that, so they decide to take measures to expedite the process.
It's pointed out that Avatar Yangchen, the Air Nomad Avatar before Aang, had trouble with earthbending and firebending (again, I can understand the former, but I think Aang's difficulties with the latter are mainly due to lack of time to practice). Her solution was to meditate in a volcano, giving her the necessary breakthrough in firebending, and enabling her to further improve her earthbending. Katara, already a master but wanting to test her limits, finds Yangchen's dedication to improving herself a good thing, and finds her strategy a sound one.
Sokka, speaking with Yangchen's words, describes volcanoes as contradictions; liquid or earth or solid fire, and neither creating nor destroying; they are what they are. Yangchen struggled with aggression, but was able to bend fire by doing what came naturally to her.
Since Aang has a similar problem, he's eager to go to the volcano right away, and, conveniently enough, Zuko mentions one on the other side of the island. Zuko also says that most teachers take their students to one, but his was apparently a less enlightened one, and his teacher told him to be in awe of the volcano's power.
The Gaang decides to travel to Mt. Ember tomorrow. Zuko calls it an "intense hike," and unfortunately, one that tends to attract a lot of tourists. When Toph points out that the Gaang could be considered tourists, Zuko points out that he doesn't like them per se, as much as the sheer number of them, and the gift shops that pop up. The Gaang decides to set out after dawn, but Katara suspects that in practice, they will go out a little after that to accommodate those who don't like getting up early.
Aang appreciates Sokka's efforts, especially when Sokka's reading, something that's difficult for Aang given the kind of person he is. Sokka appreciates it, saying that he's more suited to the task, that he enjoys it, and that he took a break to come up with reasons why Suki and Toph should fix the bathroom lock.
After an awkward moment between Suki and Zuko, Sokka points out that with the comet so close, some would think there's no point to doing this, but all it takes is one person looking for an unoccupied bathroom to catch Suki when she doesn't want to be seen.
Apparently, Sokka doesn't know about the incident with Suki and Zuko earlier in the day. Zuko says Suki should have knocked. Suki says she had no reason to expect anyone was in her bathroom. Sokka sees both as proof that they need the lock back.
Toph points out that it would take too long to fix the lock, and since they're leaving soon, knocking is a simple enough solution. Zuko and Sokka, however, are not convinced, and Sokka gives a long and passionate speech about how much men need the privacy of a bathroom, and this is one of many ways they're different from girls. The other males approve, and Toph smiles in amusement before offering to put the lock back together.
As Zuko and Katara wash dishes together, Zuko is trying to regain his dignity after an embarrassing day. Katara tries to change the subject by asking if boys don't cut their hair recreationally, and Zuko says no. After Katara points out that Zuko might need a haircut, she gets a splash of water in response, signifying some degree of success.
Zuko says he finds Aang's attitude to training strange, but realizes that it's like his approach to his studies. He also realizes that it doesn't work for bending training, and hopes Aang will be ready in time, but Katara says he will be. Zuko's cynical enough to be skeptical about the prospect of the world being saved by a 12-year-old (and from what I've gathered, so is the author), but Katara tells him to believe in his great grandfather instead (the one who died after being betrayed by Fire Lord Sozin when he couldn't bring himself to kill him).
Katara asks Zuko about Roku being his great-grandfather, and Zuko tells about how he learned about it. Zuko says he hasn't had time to think about it, and doesn't like to do so. He says he's learned many things about his family, many of which are unpleasant.
Among those are his mother, and he's not sure what to think about her now that he knows this secret about her ancestry. Katara doesn't understand why Zuko is unsure, since she should still be his mother, and I agree; it seems like an odd thing to angst about.
Zuko kept many mementos from his mother, and took them with him on his exile. When his ship blew up, the obvious happened, and all those mementos were destroyed. This is an interesting and sad revelation, although Zuko didn't show much of it at the time; this is one case when Adaptation Expansion starts to feel like a Retcon.
Katara naturally has empathy for Zuko, given that she has her mother's necklace, but now, he's lost everything from his mother, until he found some of her handwriting this afternoon. Katara gives him a hug, saying that it's not lame to feel sad about something like this. If they hadn't burned up, she'd consider diving to the bottom of the ocean (although the water and the pressure probably would have meant that they might not be in recognizable shape).
The tender moment ends when Zuko and Katara remember that they have things to do, most immediately the dishes. Zuko brings up the issue of Aang's training, and hopes it won't be a waste of time, but Katara's confident in Sokka's ideas, particularly finding the same solution that Yangchen di.
Katara makes another teasing remark about Zuko being Aang's grandson, much to his annoyance. She notes that the day is turning out to be quite embarrassing for Zuko, with this and being seen naked. Zuko says his current predicament is far worse than the play. Katara comments that it wouldn't be bad for him with his gorgeous body, and after a few moments, realizes that she said that out loud. Zuko's embarrassed, but also pleased, and the rest of the dish washing is awkward, but in a nice way.
The author advises us to take a bathroom break, because this author's note will be long. She starts off by thanking her readership for its support, especially in the face of a delay.
The author then brings up "The Promise," and notes that it is divisive. She doesn't offer a judgment on its quality, but decides to ignore it, like she says Bryke ignores their own canon. The author doesn't elaborate on where Bryke ignores their own canon, but I'd like to point out that ATLA isn't as bad about it as some people think. At this point, I have to wonder; if the author believes that Zutara and canon can be friends, does this mean that they had an argument and are now avoiding each other?
The author says that it was about time someone caught Zuko naked, even if that someone wasn't Katara.
Of course, the author also points out that this chapter is largely about Aang's training. She admits to being less than confident in the estimate of how long they have left, not being as familiar with the timeline. I agree; there seemed to be too much time between The Day of the Black Sun and Sozin's Comet.
The author, in a bit of self awareness and almost Brutal Honesty, says that she'd love to have them at the beach house forever, (cue "No. Just... No" Reaction from me), but she is trying to follow "and elaborate on and fix canon," so Sozin's Comet will come soon, and she will have to have the Gaang leave, but will have the fic continue after the end of the series.
Yes, the quoted part is her exact words on this matter. The author is becoming increasingly open about this fic's status as a Fix Fic.
The author points out that he's going through "Nightmares and Daydreams" again, and that even if Suki drugs him, it won't help him during the day, when he feels like a student cramming at the last minute for a test, something the author finds very familiar for her.
The author segues into talking about school, and suggests that Zuko and Azula went to a good school for noble children that's part of the Fire Nation's organized educational system. I suspect that Zuko and Azula, being royalty, had private tutors, and wonder how widespread the education system is in the Avatar world.
The author says that the Fire Nation developed plumbing "because (she) say(s) so", and because they seem quite advanced. Regarding the latter, I can say that Schizo Tech exists for a reason, meaning that a technological advance from one era doesn't mean the existence of one from the same one in a different field, and I think the latter speaks for itself. She hopes to work in a Monty Python reference with this.
The author says that while Sokka plans for Sozin's comet by reading, Suki plans by getting a haircut; in my experience, her hairstyle didn't change much from when she was captured.
The author points out that while Suki and Zuko are deathly embarrassed, Katara's secretly annoyed that someone saw Zuko naked before she did, while Toph is amused, and Aang and Sokka are oblivious. Zuko and Suki try to keep it under wraps until Sokka brings it up at dinner.
The author says she hopes Sokka's bathroom rant doesn't come off as sexist, and I agree; it sounded like he was displaying the quirky and less civilized side of men. The author does say that he wants to make a point, especially now that his buddy fell prey to an intruder in the bathroom.
The author says that the rant came from "coupling," and was inspired by her boyfriend telling her about the "man cave."
The author mentions that she's confused as to how Roku could be Ursa's great grandfather, and wonders how old Ursa would have to be in order for this to work. There doesn't seem to be a timeline or official ages, but I don't find it that hard to swallow. Sozin and Roku were old men around the same time, indicating that they were the same age, and they also got married and had kids, so it's possible that Azulon and Sozin's kid had Ozai and Ursa around the same time. She chalks it up to Writers Cannot Do Math. But in any case, the author suspects it would happen, complete with all the awkwardness.
The author believes that Ursa and Iroh were close, and while little seems to indicate this in canon, there's the fact that they're both decent people who care about Zuko (and the "crowny thing" that Ursa gave to Iroh). The author points out that Iroh and Ursa trusted each other (and the author implies that it's possible that they might have felt something for each other), enough so that Ursa trusted him with her family's secret legacy, so that the Avatar could return when the time came, with Iroh hiding the books in his secret hiding spots.
It's an interesting theory, but "The Search" completely disproves this. To begin with, Azulon knew about Ursa being Roku's granddaughter, which is why he sought her out so that he could marry her off to his son (I'm not sure what his plans were for Iroh, if he had any). Ursa had her old lover, and seemed to trust in one of her maids more than Iroh, only to have that trust betrayed.
The author points out that Ozai is not much of a reader, or very bright, given that his plan to incinerate the Earth Kingdom would probably have destroyed much of the land he wanted to use. She says he's good at mind games, but not at ruling a country.
The author wanted to expand on Avatar Yangchen, since she had very little screentime outside of five minutes in Sozin's Comet. Yangchen does get some more screentime in "The Rift," (looks like I hit the trifecta for referencing the comics here), and it's a fairly interesting look at her. The author also points out that Yangchen would be helpful to Aang as a fellow Air Nomad, and I agree.
The author points out that Aang hasn't completely mastered the elements by the time of Sozin's Comet, even though he has gotten the hang of them quickly, it's not practical for him to immediately master them to the same degree as Katara, Zuko and Toph, who'd been specializing in them and spent years training in them. The author points out that if that happened, they'd be upset, possibly like Katara was in "The Waterbending Scroll."
The author points out that Aang can't possibly accomplish in 12 months what Roku did in 12 years. I'm personally curious how Roku's training was different from Aang's.
The author says that Aang should have the advantage with four types of bending compared with Ozai's one, but he still loses until he has Avatar State activated, and wins because he got help from his past lives. I find that overly dismissive of Aang's performance.
The author summarizes her point by saying that the Gaang would want to help Aang improve, even if they're a bit hesitant to point it out openly (again with sparing Aang's feelings). I do recall Zuko and Toph mentioning that Aang needs work on firebending and earthbending, but not that he's "crap" at it.
The author points out that the dragons didn't make Aang and Zuko experts, but inspired them, in a sense, and I agree; it seems as though they got Aang started, and Zuko re-started, in a sense. I have to wonder who is saying that they did make Aang and Zuko experts.
The author reiterates that Aang isn't very aggressive, and explains the volcano idea some more. This leads up to the volcano trip, and some "Vietnam touristy shenanigans."
The author points out that Zuko is "sentimental" enough so that he'd bring mementos over his mother along with him on his exile, be upset over losing them and feel "emotionally naked" for telling Katara(Again, I have to question how many he had, or why he doesn't react in canon). This, naturally, leads to hugging between them because the author wants them to do so in her fic, and because of how many reveals were made about the Fire Nation royal family, with so many people lying to and keeping secrets from him.
In any case, Katara and Zuko idealize their respectively dead and missing mothers, and are not willing to think otherwise.
The author points out that Katara and Zuko's antagonism has given way to teasing, as she notes that she was teasing in Sozin's Comet, which the author says implies she did it on a constant basis. I suspect that she'd have to tell him because it isn't very common, rather than because it was common.
The next chapter will feature "a touristy day," with many things that don't seem to relate to training, and OCs. The author says some people are leery of them, but advises us to give them a chance. I have to say that there are times in fan fiction when you have to make OCs to fill certain roles in the plot, such as a certain character's predecessor or replacement, a character who appears in a scene that isn't shown in canon, or so forth. As such, I don't think people bat an eye at minor OCs, and for major ones, they only complain about poorly done ones.
What I liked
- The part in which Sokka acknowledges the difficulty of Aang's task.
- Sokka's speech about the bathrooms was quite amusing.
What I didn't like
- The author's increasingly overt expressions of her desire to make this a Fix Fic.
- The fic's attitude toward Aang's training continues.
- The incident arising from the broken lock wasn't entirely funny.
- Zuko angsting about his mother being Roku's granddaughter.
- The part with the destroyed mementos feels like a Retcon.
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