Leagues Away Literature Gifts

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As it happens, every now and then I'm tempted to partake in various Secret Santa events held by various fandoms :rudolph:
:w00t: So today it's my utmost joy and delight to present you with some unbelievably amazing creations yours truly got the humble opportunity to inspire :aww:



We'd begin with the annual HeartShrineVillage's Secret Santa which I happen to moderate :nod: Here you can enjoy the artworks our heartshriners have created so far :aww:



Due to some mishaps I was almost left without a gift this year :sniff: yet the ever so resourceful SerenEvy put to action some of her magic that unites people into common cause (real sorcery, believe it! :heart:) and together they've written (and drawn) a day from Joshua's life - and made him so wonderfully in-character I find it's a sin NOT to share the glorious round-robin collab :heart:


MorningJoshua sat quietly in the shadows, watching as his beloved slept restfully on the other side of the bed. His eyes darted towards the far off window. Moonlight still shone through, but that was hardly surprising given the time of year. He lived for these quiet peaceful moments when his and her responsibilities were put on pause and waited for them in silent, cold, cramped offices. It would be morning in a few hours and the new day would bring with it more work and more stress.
But that would come later. Right then, his daily morning rituals awaited him.
Slowly, Joshua pulled himself out from under the covers, taking the time to pull them a little higher up around Eimi’s shoulder’s as he did. Shifting his feet off the bed, he quickly slipped into the thick winter boots that Eimi’s sister had given him for Christmas that year. They were warm and comfortable. With all the walking Joshua did it had been a lovely sentiment from Kan to get something that would keep him warm
  HSV: A meeting with the priestIt was afternoon when Koume finished her job. She had done some work for the weapon department and just said goodbye to Taira before leaving. On her way out, she noticed Joshua. He seemed to be on his way to Mikokage's office and she was proven right when he knocked on her door.
“Don't bother.” Koume said to the Bishie Priest. “They just left for a meeting.”
“Who did?”
“Our spouse did. Taira said it could take a while.”
“Ah, that's too bad. I guess I will consult her later.” He paused, and then turned to face Koume. “Wait... Did he tell you about us?”
“About Mikokage-sama and you?” A smile played around Koume's lips. “I've seen the way you look at each other. It wasn't hard to figure out. When I asked my husband, he didn't deny it. But don't worry, your secret is safe with me.”
“I'm glad we can count on your discretion.”
She looked straight at Joshua. “Just promise me one t
 
HSV - Secret Santa for JesterryIt was cold outside but that hardly mattered to the blonde girl anymore.
 
The snow. The ice. The rain. None of compared to how she was feeling. Her heart had been ripped out of her chest. Tears had fallen; nothing was able to stop them from flowing freely down her cheeks at the slightest provocation.
 
She knew where the pain came from.
 
She knew who caused it.
 
She should be mad at the Kobiru. He had accepted her, or so she’d thought, into his heart and then left her so abruptly. He hadn’t given any real reason. He just left. She should be mad…
 
But she couldn’t bring herself to that feeling.
 
Shaking her head, Kiki turned away from the Kobiru Compound. Ever since the unceremonious split before Christmas she had been finding herself walking, although quite outside her normal route, by the clan’s space. She was so lost in her own thoughts she didn’t see person she crashed into until it was too late.
 
“I
Hair Care Club"And this is why this shampoo is really effective," Joshua stated, "while it doesn't make the hair glimmer and softer with use, it keeps the hair healthy, prevents hairfall, and most importantly, erases any kind of odor, external or natural, as well as chakra traces. Hence it's very useful during long term missions."
The rest of the fanclub nodded as they listened to the battle priest speak.
"It's almost time up," Joshua continued, "but there's something else that I've been meaning to show you for a while. It's not completed yet, but it's worth a try."
"What is it, sensei," one student asked.
"Yeah, it sounds exciting."
"I'll show you," he exclaimed and sat crossed legged on the ground.
Joshua begun meditating. He had a calm concentration on his face and soon, his body went as stiff as a statue. The students didn't notice any changes in his posture since he begun. Not a muscle was moved, he wasn't even breathing. The only movement they saw was in his hair. The light winter breeze made
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The Night before by SerenEvy
Thank you! :la:




Changing the universe now, and returning to the ever so glorious ATLA which's etched within one's heart and the flames of it just never go out :flame: That's the power, I tell you :heart:

:star: First of all, I'd like to express my utter gratitude and admiration to chromeknickers - the one in charge of the amazing Zutara Secret Santa exchange at LiveJournal :santa:
Every year I'm being enraptured over and over again about how neatly and smoothly chromeknickers runs the event :la: - and her devotion often acts as great inspiration for my own projects as well :nod:



My secret Santa this year turned out to be the amazing sadladybug :ladybug: and what she'd made out of the prompts I'd offered has left me so speechless I tell you even this journal is unlikely to do any homage to the marvel that was created :faint:

This is EXACTLY how I've been envisioning Z & K interactions in the canon-compliant universe.
And by this I mean it's more than just heart-wrenching.
It's likely to tear you apart, if you dare feel too much into the story.

Because we all know there was never a happy ending destined for these two :tears:
And I'm most sure I'm NOT going to request angst for a prompt for quite some time. Yes, honestly.
THIS vortex of pain has quenched my thirst for drama quite sufficiently, to say the least :omg:

Here're the prompts I've suggested for my gift, never knowing how sadladybug would go out to incorporate them ALL into the story, and the manner of such magical action :la:
It's magic, no less, wordbending they call it :aww:
1. PaintedBlue
2. Promise (song by Within Temptation, but of course :lol:)
3. Protect Me From What I Want (song by Placebo)
4. “We could have had it all” (Old!ZK meet again. Angst)
5. Zuko afraid of his reflection in the mirror (which represents Ozai).

So, if you want to try yourself in the intricate arts of tearbending (do not, under any circumstances, mistake this for teabending, or grievous would be the outcome! :omg:) and are ready to cry your guts out together with all hope - there you go, for you're warned now :nod:



Here're the links to the complete story, all 12 chapters in row, and a FF-net as well:

Leagues Away and Scattered by the WindThere is a hole in her sleeve.
Well, it wasn’t her sleeve, not technically. Two days ago, when Zuko had handed her a neatly folded stack of black clothing, she hadn’t even thought twice about putting it on. It was all just part of the mission, just another necessary part of tracking down the monster who had murdered her mother. She had not, could not, would not think about the length of his limbs as she had adjusted the belt around her waist in an attempt to keep the hem from brushing past her knees, and she certainly had not lingered on past memories of his closeness which were conjured when she had taken a deep breath after adjusting the mask over her face. There simply wasn’t time for such foolishness; they had a task to complete. There was no time for these thoughts in her head as her hands had woven through the air, water and blood at her command, no space for these thoughts when she had stopped the rain.
There was also no space for those thoughts l
Leagues Away and Scattered by the Wind - Chapter 2The play was awful.  Though her brother tries to save face by commenting on the special effects, she knows he regrets being the one to suggest that they go see that stupid thing.  No one seems to know what to say after voicing their distaste, so they trudge the rest of the way home in an uneasy silence.  It is a relief to finally reach the beach house so that they can all go to their separate rooms and go to sleep with the hope that in the morning it will all just seem like a bad dream.
Katara tries to sleep, but fails. She turns over for what feels like the hundredth time, but nothing seems to help. There are too many thoughts spinning through her head, and most of them have to do with Aang.  Finally, she throws back the blanket and heads for the beach, hoping to channel some of this excess energy into waterbending.
The sand is pleasantly cool under her feet though the evening is still balmy. The closer she gets to the water the more she congratulates herself on th
Leagues Away and Scattered by the Wind - Chapter 3When the lightning hits him her heart stops along with his. For a moment everything falls away, and she forgets the comet, forgets the fate of the world; all she can see is his body crumpled on the ground and all she can feel are her dreams crumbling in her chest. Her heart feels heavy with regret and things left unsaid. She shouts his name and sprints toward him, but blue flames block her path. She had forgotten Azula, too. Her eyes swing toward the princess, and she can feel her body swell with rage and disgust. Her focus narrows to a single point: she will show Azula what it means to regret; she will show her what it means to lose the things she loves. 
The world is a blur of blue as water and fire collide. She smells singed hair and sweat, feels her lungs burn, but she will not stop. Cannot stop. She feels as crazed as her opponent. Though the adrenaline rushing through her veins makes her feel as though she could keep this up indefinitely, her water supply is dwindling

Leagues Away and Scattered By the Wind - InterludeAang and Katara travel all over the Earth Kingdom, spending most of their time in the colonies working to quell discontent among the citizens and keep the Avatar’s peace. It isn’t always easy, and it doesn’t always work. Not everyone is charmed by Aang’s playful demeanor, and some of the wounds between the nations go so deep that she isn’t sure they can ever be healed. The first year is hard and their failures are many. But she maintains the hope that the people can work out their differences, for Aang’s sake as well as Zuko’s.
Along the way, Aang insists on showing her the sights that he enjoyed a hundred years ago as well as exploring things that are new to them both. He doesn’t have to kiss her by surprise anymore, and she has come to find comfort and even happiness in his closeness. During the next summer, they spend a great deal of time in Ba Sing Se at the Earth King’s request. Sometimes when Aang is in meetings she takes her
Leagues Away and Scattered By the Wind-Chapter 5It is the summer of her fifth year in the South Pole when a Fire Nation zeppelin appears in the sky.  She dismisses her waterbending pupils and runs to find her father, not sure what to make of it. She is unaware of any scheduled diplomatic visits, and it would be completely out of character for the Fire Lord to show up on a whim. She and her father - along with other curious citizens - make their way to where the zeppelin has docked.  When the captain of the ship emerges, he is carrying a cylinder tied with a black ribbon.
Her father steps forward and the captain bows formally. “Greetings, Chief Hakoda. I have an urgent message for Master Katara from his majesty, Fire Lord Zuko.”
“That’s me.” She steps forward and he hands her the tube. Aware of the all the eyes watching her, she carefully extracts the scroll from inside. The seal on the letter is definitely Zuko’s, though it is smeared and spots of stray wax dot the back of the page. The

Mature Content


Mature Content

Leagues Away and Scattered by the Wind -Chapter 8She settles back into her life at the South Pole. For months, she watches the skies for hawks with red ribbons, but none ever appear. The silence hurts the worst, even hateful angry letters would be better than this. From her correspondence with Iroh, she knows that his reaction to her disappearance resulted in an accelerated renovation plan for a portion of the north wing of the palace. She hates that she hurt him, but she believes in her heart that she would have only hurt him more had she stayed.
The seasons pass and she works hard training the village’s waterbenders and delights as they grow and advance under her teaching. Aang’s visits increase in frequency, and occasionally she even accompanies him on short trips to the Earth Kingdom.  She can’t deny the fun that they have together and they quickly fall back into the easiness that they felt during the early years after the war. It doesn’t take long before she finds herself a renewed expert at making v
Leagues Away and Scattered By the Wind - Chapter 9Less than a year later a hawk with a red ribbon finds its way to the temple. The message inside invites Avatar Aang and his wife Master Katara to celebrate the marriage of Fire Lord Zuko to Lady Mai.  Part of her is relieved when Aang insists that she cannot possibly attend; he rubs the swell of her belly and proclaims that travel would be much too dangerous for her at that time. She doesn’t argue with him; they have both been so excited and careful to make sure that their first child is born healthy that taking additional risks would be foolish.  Instead, he promises to share every detail with her and bring back gossip from the Fire Nation Capitol. When he returns, he tells her of the lavish and somber ceremony, the breathtaking decorations, and of the people in attendance. She asks him to describe Mai’s robes, and he does, though he gives her a funny look. When she questions him about it, he smiles and shares the juiciest piece of gossip: though her robes were s
Leagues Away and Scattered by the Wind Chapter 10There is a hole in her sleeve.
Well, it isn’t her sleeve, not technically.  It belongs to her nephew who is visiting during the arctic summer, who has just returned with the rest of the men from a hunt.  The way he tells it, a polar leopard jumped down from a bank of snow, and he dramatically wrestled it to the ground, tearing his sleeve on its sharp claws. The way the other men tell it, he wasn’t watching where he was going and caught it on the edge of another man’s spear as they tracked a pack of snow antelope.  Either way, she has offered to fix it, and she spends some time that morning making slow, careful stitches. Her hands are not as steady as they once were, and some of the stitches are crooked or too long, but her nephew still praises her work and thanks her for her help. His smile and his voice remind her so much of her brother that she sometimes has to remind herself to breathe.
But her brother has passed on to the spirit world, along
Leagues Away and Scattered by the Wind-Chapter 11As the days pass her excitement grows.  They enjoy tea together in the mornings, and in the afternoons she shows him her favorite places in town. Before dinner he watches as she gives instruction in waterbending, alternating lessons between combat styles and healing techniques.  In the evenings she eats meals with him and once he has bid her goodnight she returns home and frets over what to pack. She can’t be sure exactly how long she will be gone, but the trip alone will take weeks by ship.  He tells her not to worry, there will be room in her cabin for as much or little as she would like to bring, and they can shop for anything she might have forgotten at the number of ports that they will visit along the way.
Three days before they are scheduled to depart, she is demonstrating to her advanced students the proper way to extract poison from the human body while Zuko watches with interest from a seat along one wall.  She is drawing a stream of water from the t
Leagues Away and Scattered by the Wind-Chapter 12Katara likes to be right, but not about this.
As promised, hawks with red ribbons find their way to her on a weekly basis for many years. They come without delay and without exception: even when he is in remote parts of the world; even when he is clearly exhausted and the characters on the page are hastily printed; even when he falls so ill that he has to return to the Fire Nation for a month to recuperate.  He updates her on his location as well as requests her advice on the matters he faces as he meets with various officials from all over the world. He asks about the Avatar’s training and if there are any ways that the Fire Nation can contribute to the task.  When she is lucky and his travels by ship are particularly long and dull, he shares stories with her: of his childhood, of captaining a ship at the age of thirteen, of his marriage, of parenthood, of being the Fire Lord.  There is no clear reason why he chooses to share one story over another, but she finds





However, I'm well aware how it is with literature features here on DA ;p
That is why, for those of you courageous persons who might want to experience the purest concentrated POST-CANON Zutara interaction...

BRACE YOURSELVES for FEELS are coming. And relentless they be, in sheer drama of what could have been :sniff:

Old!ZK in their finest. In their best. In the relationship so powerful it leaves you grasping for air like a drowning man.

:eager: It's not too late to reconsider and read the whole fic instead of torturing yourself with this one final blow of a quote!


:police:! SPOILER AHEAD !



Katara,

When I was young, I once met a family along my travels that showed me great kindness by allowing me to sleep in their barn. They had a young son who took an interest in these swords. That night, I caught this young boy sneaking into my room to take them. Curious, I followed him out into a nearby field to see what he would do. After watching him struggle to wield them, I offered some basic instruction.

I told him that it was a mistake to think of them as separate, because they are not. They are two halves of a single whole.

I have known this principle since I first started training with broadswords as a child. Though they may move in different directions, though they may pass by one another, and though they may occasionally meet; they are never really apart. I have known this, but I had never really considered what it meant.

It is only now, reflecting on the course of our friendship, that I think I finally understand.

Zuko




:faint: You think you know what tears are? :tears:
Why, now you know.
:iconzutara-plz:
No amount of thankyous can express it.
It's just the epitome of what makes ZK eternal.

Just be sure to visit sadladybug's gallery, read her other stories and get immersed in the genuine beauty of it all :heart:



Much love | Such feels | :jester:

© 2014 - 2024 solar-sea
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sadladybug's avatar
Thank you so much for that glorious promotion! I am undeserving of such praise! I'm just so glad that you liked it. :hug: