History Fanfic / FracturesATLA

* AdaptationalRank: Zhao, In canon, he was introduced as a commander of the Fire Navy before later being promoted to admiral by Ozai. Here, he was already an admiral by the time Aang awoke from the iceberg.

* AdaptationalJobChange: {{Downplayed|Trope}} with Zhao. In canon, he was introduced as a commander of the Fire Navy before later being promoted to admiral by Ozai. Here, he was already an admiral by the time Aang awoke from the iceberg.

** Chapter 22 is told from Toph's POV as she grows uncomfortable with Aang removing Azula's bending and believes Iroh and her friends are wrong to assume Zuko is evil like his father. [[spoiler:This culminates in her choice to break Azula free from prison and go on the run with Piandao.]]

* HowTheMightyHaveFallen: [[spoiler:Zhao’s fate following the Siege of the North. He goes from being an admiral in command of the world’s most powerful navy to a nobody hiding out in some random inn near a desert. He’s even forced to wear a mix of Earth Kingdom and sandbender clothes to blend in, both cultures that he views as "inferior".]]

* AbusiveParents: Ozai, as in canon, and taken up a notch with his numerous torture sessions carried out against his own son. [[spoiler:He is even an abusive uncle, trying (and thankfully failing) to have Lu Ten assassinated.]]

* AbusiveParents: Ozai, as in canon, and taken UpToEleven with his numerous torture sessions carried out against his own son. [[spoiler:He is even an abusive uncle, trying (and thankfully failing) to have Lu Ten assassinated.]]

* WouldHurtAChild: Taken UpToEleven by [[AbusiveParents Ozai]]. Maiming and scarring Zuko on the face wasn't enough. After imprisoning his son, he routinely visits the capital city prison just to torture him into submission.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome:
** When Zuko was first banished by his father, Zuko declared that not only would he not stop the Avatar, but that he'd instead help him overthrow Ozai and end the war. In response, Ozai immediately has him imprisoned for treason.
** After spending three years locked in a cell and tortured daily, Zuko is [[BreakTheCutie severely]] [[ShellShockedVeteran traumatized]]. He can barely eat or sleep, suffers frequent nightmares, and needs a wheelchair to get around.
** A number of Zuko's generals don't respect or trust him as he's an obvious invalid with none of the strength of personality his father possessed. At least one is outright planning on finding a way to restore Ozai to the throne. Even Zuko's former friends Mai and Ty Lee are wary of him as they don't know where he's been for the last three years.
** While well-meaning, Zuko also isn't trusted by anyone outside of Fire Nation as they only know him as Ozai's son and the newest Fire Lord. Most of his attempts to deal with them are met by hostility.
** When [[spoiler: Lu Ten]] reveals themselves to have been alive for the past several years and living in the Fire Nation capital as a commoner, Zuko outright refuses to believe [[spoiler:his cousin]] is who they say they are. If he did, Zuko would be forced to acknowledge that [[BystanderSyndrome they knew he was suffering for the last three years and did nothing to help]].

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Aside from the canon cast, lots of worldbuilding effort by the author is put into the story, giving names and personalities to characters such as Zuko's caretakers, Fire Nation palace staff, Fire Nation royal servants, as well as Fire Nation military commanders.

* AdultFear: On the same day that a 16-year-old Zuko is released from prison after three years incarcerated, he is crowned Fire Lord following the defeats of Ozai and Azula. Now he's responsible for trying to rebuild and reconcile his nation with the rest of the world.
** The Gaang is subject to all kinds of these in their introductory chapter, all the more to highlight the tragic nature of their ChildSoldiers status.

* AdaptationalJobChange: {{Downplayed|Trope}} with Zhao. In canon, he was introduced as a commander of the Fire Navy before later being promoted to admiral by Ozai. Here, he was already an admiral by the time Aang awoke from the iceberg and began his journey to master all four elements.

''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/20063656/chapters/47516917 Fractures]]'' is an AlternateUniverse FanFic on Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn by fledgling author [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/EvieNyx/pseuds/EvieNyx EvieNyx]][[note]]formerly known as good_eviening[[/note]].

* DramaticIrony: When the Gaang first learns about Zuko from Ozai and Iroh, they assume that he’s evil like his father. When Sokka tries picturing Zuko in his head, he imagines a StrongerSibling with the [[CompositeCharacter combined traits]] of Ozai and Azula.

** Kyoshi Island was still burned down by the Fire Nation after they host Aang, though Zhao is the one who leads the attack instead of Zuko.

* AdaptationalJobChange: {{Downplayed|Trope}} with Zhao. In canon, he was introduced in Book 1 as a commander of the Fire Navy before being promoted to admiral by Ozai mid-season. Here, he was already an admiral by the time Aang awoke from the iceberg and began his journey to master all four elements.

''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/20063656/chapters/47516917 Fractures]]'' is an AlternateUniverse FanFic on Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn by fledgling author [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/EvieNyx/pseuds/EvieNyx EvieNyx]]. [[note]]formerly known as good_eviening[[/note]]

''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/20063656/chapters/47516917 Fractures]]'' is an AlternateUniverse FanFic on Website/ArchiveOfOurOwn by fledgling author [[https://archiveofourown.org/users/EvieNyx/pseuds/EvieNyx EvieNyx]] (formerly known as good_eviening).

The author also has a Tumblr page where they blog about this fanfic and answer any questions that readers ask. It can be accessed [[https://evienyx.tumblr.com/ here]].

* LaserGuidedAmnesia: [[spoiler: Iroh has this regarding Zuko. During his trip to the Spirit world Koh the Face stealer took Iroh's memories regarding Zuko.]]

* EscapedFromHell: [[spoiler:Unlike in canon, Admiral Zhao was able to escape the Spirit World after being DraggedIntoHell by the Ocean Spirit through "[[AWizardDidIt spirit magic]]" he learned from Wan Shi Tong's library.]]

* TheFarmerAndTheViper: In the Chaunli interlude, the titular innkeeper took in an injured man named Fengge after finding him wandering through the desert. Due to his kind heart, Chaunli allowed Fengge to stay at his inn for free, provided him with dry clothing, and did everything he could to help Fengge recover from his wounds. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Chaunli, "Fengge" is none other than Admiral Zhao, who [[ImpromptuTracheotomy stabs him in the throat with a knife]] after he overhears Zhao talking with some Fire Nation soldiers about his plan to restore Ozai's firebending.]]

* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: In the Chaunli interlude, the titular innkeeper allows an injured man named Fengge to stay at his inn for free after finding him wandering through the desert. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for Chaunli, “Fengge” is none other than Admiral Zhao, who has Chaunli killed after he overhears Zhao talking with some Fire Nation soldiers.]]

* InSpiteOfANail: Mai and Ty Lee still turned against Azula and end up imprisoned at the Boiling Rock.