History Fanfic / BringingOutTheBlue

* AbsurdlySharpBlade: Played straight at first, then subverted in Chapter 14, when Zuko explains how he cut through the chains holding Aang. Turns out the chain was designed to be soft(though still strong enough to hold a human being), so if it were to be heated up by firebending it would exploded, with the chain acting as lethal sharpel.

* SnowballLie: See the story summary.
** InventedIndividual: Blue Spirit Lee.

* ShownTheirWork[=/=]WordOfGod: Much of the background research and information for the story, as well as some of the future developments, are discussed in the comments of [[http://maguena.livejournal.com/6408.html this post]] on the author's Livejournal account. '''Warning:''' Heavy spoilers abound in the discussion.

In this universe, the arrow injured the Blue Spirit instead of knocking him out, so Aang didn’t find out who was behind the mask. To Zuko, it seemed simple enough to maintain the disguise – just don’t take it off and pretend to be unable to speak. First of all, he needed the Avatar’s help to remove that arrow, and then he found out that the Avatar needed help himself, for his sick friends. Unwilling to leave two people to die, even for his long-sought goal, Zuko decided to use the disguise to infiltrate the Avatar’s group and find out useful information on his enemies that way. It seemed so reasonable, but then he found himself traveling with the group, and helping them out to maintain his disguise, and it all got out of his control fast.

So as far as the Gaang was concerned, Blue was someone who’d just rescued Aang and continued to be a good ally and later, friend. Zuko found such naïve trust ridiculous, but all the same, it was hard not to respond to it, or to dislike them for it. As Zuko struggled with the way that the Avatar and his companions were nothing like he expected, he began to realize that perhaps, he’d been wrong about some things – about the Avatar, about friendship, about the role of the Fire Nation in the war… Zuko believed in living by his father’s harsh rules, but he couldn’t easily apply them here. In turn, the Gaang also learned to see some new perspectives. Slowly, all their destinies began to change.

* ChekhovsGun: The medicine that Zuko gives the Gaang in Chapter 1 is used to treat Iroh’s wound in Chapter 17. Sewing is used to identify Blue after a long absence and a marked change in appearance, and WordOfGod is that [[ChekhovsSkill sewing will pop up again.]]

* DealWithTheDevil[=/=]BargainWithHeaven: Zuko’s deal with [[spoiler: Spirit!Blue]] in Chapter 20.

* DidNotThinkThisThrough: Zuko doesn’t know how he’s going to keep Aang captive after they get out of Pohuai Stronghold.

* HonorBeforeReason: It’s Zuko – what did you expect?
* ItWasAGift: Zuko has a number of these. (He started out the story with the Earth Kingdom dagger and Mai’s heartstone; now he also has the slate and bedroll.)
* LaResistance: Sokka thinks that Blue might be working for a resistance group. There is also the Order of the White Lotus and the conspiracy started by [[spoiler: Zuko’s former crew with the goal of forcing the Fire Nation’s military command structure to change]].

* TheMutiny: [[spoiler:Jee and the rest of Zuko’s former crew]] stage a minor one after the Siege of the North when they go back to try and rescue any survivors of Koizilla’s attack. Also, it’s mentioned once that Zuko faced a mutiny from his crew about a year ago.

* NonSequitur: [[spoiler: Spirit!Blue’s]] initial means of communication with Zuko tended to be inserting one of these into Zuko’s train of thought.

* OnlySaneMan: Sokka is this for Aang and Katara when they first meet Blue. Also, Zuko believes he is this when he’s traveling with the Gaang as Blue.
* ReassignedToAntarctica: Every member [[spoiler:of the crew of Zuko’s ship was assigned to it as punishment. Also, as punishment for their minor mutiny after the Siege of the North]], they get assigned to a dead end patrol.

* ShownTheirWork[=/=]WordOfGod: Much of the background research and information for the story, as well as some of the future developments, are discussed in the comments of [[http://maguena.livejournal.com/6408.html this post]] on the author’s Livejournal account. '''Warning:''' Heavy spoilers abound in the discussion.

* ThisMeansWar: Invoked in Iroh’s thoughts when he finally learns that Azulon had ordered Ozai to kill Zuko and that Ozai had been going to do it.

A ForWantOfANail AU. The story can be found [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6904038/1/ here]].

* AnnoyingArrows: Subverted. The reason Zuko isn't bothered by[=/=]doesn’t notice the arrow initially is due to nerve damage. Also somewhat averted, since once he knows about the arrow, he knows that he needs immediate medical attention.

** EmpoweredBadassNormal: [[spoiler: Now as of Chapter 23, when Blue reveals to the gaang that he's a firebender]]