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Where the Wisteria Grows

Summary:

For centuries, the Shenlin Tribe lived entirely suspended in the bioluminescent canopy of the Spirit Wilds, strictly forbidden from touching the scarred, war-torn earth below. Kiri, an apprentice Spirit Warden and botanical prodigy, was perfectly content to spend her life floating in the wisteria, speaking to ancient trees and tending to her lazy spider-sloth.

Then, the Avatar crashed into her branches.

Armed with radical empathy and devastating woodbending, Kiri breaks tribal law and steps onto the ground to help heal a fractured world. But the earth below is complicated. The rivers are poisoned, the armies are cruel, and a heavily scarred, incredibly angry Fire Prince is tracking their every move. To save the world, she will have to teach a traumatized Avatar how to stand his ground, remind a cynical warrior how to dream, and show a banished prince that even the darkest, most burned ashes can grow something beautiful.

Chapter 1: Intro

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Water. Earth. Fire. Air. My grandmother used to tell me stories about the old days, a time of peace when the Avatar kept balance between the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, and Air Nomads. She would even whisper ancient myths about the Spirit Wilds, and a hidden canopy tribe that wove magic from the branches. But that all changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

Only the Avatar mastered all four elements. Only he could stop the ruthless firebenders. But when the world needed him most, he vanished. A hundred years have passed and the Fire Nation is nearing victory in the War. Two years ago, my father and the men of my tribe journeyed to the Earth Kingdom to help fight against the Fire Nation, leaving me and my brother to look after our tribe. Some people believe that the Avatar was never reborn into the Air Nomads, and that the cycle is broken. But I haven't lost hope. I still believe that somehow, the Avatar will return to save the world.

And maybe, he won't have to do it alone.

Notes:

Welcome to the Shenlin Forest! This fic is a slow-burn Zuko/OC romance, but it is equally a massive, found-family nakama ensemble piece. We will be hitting the canonical beats of ATLA, but Kiri’s presence will heavily impact how Team Avatar navigates the war.

Enjoy the journey! I will try to update every Saturday!!