And with this, we close out Ty Luko Week. Technically, this was Saturday's prompt, but I decided to do some real research for this, instead of going off of a few vague references in the cartoon itself.


Ty Luko Week - Auras

"You? Oh, you're easy. You're aura is fire."

"Huh."

"Disappointed?"

"No. Well, I'm... I mean, like you said, that's easy. Everyone in my family, going back generations, has been likened to Fire in some way. Poets make whole careers here about describing Fire, and using it as a metaphor for the people of our Nation. Saying that the Fire Lord's aura looks like Fire is... it's been done."

"Believe it or not, I have a good reason."

"I know! I didn't mean to insult you!"

"Not many people do, anymore. But they do it all the time. At least Mai has always been honest about it. She doesn't believe in auras, and thinks the whole thing is stupid. Just like a lot of people. But Mai says it to my face."

"I don't think you're stupid. And I know there's probably something to the auras you see."

"But nothing you can understand? Because Ty Lee is the only one silly enough?"

"I..."

"Don't worry, I'm fine. You just need to be educated. Okay?"

"I would be honored."

"Yay! But so formal! Just go, 'Yes, Ty Lee, that would be awesome and you're the cutest teacher I've ever had!' And smile when you say it."

"..."

"Well, when you were a little boy... Remember? You had that crush on me, and I didn't care because I didn't like boys yet and anyway you were always so serious and grumpy and I thought it was just the silliest thing and anyway Mai liked you and I didn't want to mess it up and Azula... Well, back then you were mostly red, with brown and black darkening you. Like a low-burning fire."

"Okay."

"The red showed that you were so serious because you felt kind of helpless and lost. You wanted to be a good son, and a good prince, but you had all these factors in your life causing you stress. Your mother was gone. Azula. Your shade also made me think you felt out of control of your life. Is that why you pushed to attend that war meeting? To take charge of your own growth?"

"..."

"The brown shades are what made you different from Azula. You were always a bit more straightforward, seeing things in straight lines. Also, there were tones of some self-doubt in there. You weren't confident in yourself, deep down. And then, of course, the black and darkness were all about the death and unbalance that surrounded you. Ultimately, it was good for your aura that you were banished."

"But not my face."

"......You weren't doing too well when you first came back, either. After we took Ba Sing Se, you kind of stopped being like fire. You were mostly black, all without light."

"Like Mai."

"No. Mai wasn't black at all. She was gray, because she was so super in-control, pinning her emotions to the wall like she did to people with her knives. You had a touch of gray in your aura, but mostly black. And some red. You've always had red, even now."

"Yeah, I was constantly on guard, angry at everything and wanting to lash out."

"I know. I got some lashing. But don't frown! I appreciated your honesty. It made us closer, didn't it?"

"I guess. Did I ever apologize for that?"

"Not formally. But you're more than made up for it."

"Uh, yeah, I guess. I did get better, right?"

"Oh, definitely. When you became Fire Lord, you were gold. Like the brightest, sunniest day. I could have stared at you forever. For the first time in your life, your smile energized the people around you."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah. Gold is integrity and spiritual peace. Picture your soul flying free over the shining Spirit World. That's gold."

"I did feel that way."

"See? You still had a slight red outline, but mostly gold, with highlights of yellow and orange. Kind of a mix of positive thinking like a smart kid, and sensual emotion. Especially when Mai was around."

"Well..."

"Funny how Mai hates orange, but you two glowed that color around each other? Maybe that's why she hated it. She couldn't come to terms with her own sensuality."

"That almost sounded smart."

"I know, right? I don't get why people think I'm stupid. Anyway, you're still mostly those colors now, flame like the sun, but the orange has gotten stronger. But as you've grown older, matured, really settled in? I see flashes of pink now."

"That sounds... girly."

"It is. It's about feminine influence, really taking care of yourself. You also compromise more, trying to be nice and happy for other people. It's cute."

"Sounds a lot like you."

"Yay, you're getting it!"

"And I wonder if my... pinkness... has anything to do with all the time we've been spending together?"

"Just the time?"

"You tell me."

"..."

"..."

"I've become a bit more purple, since we got together."

"Is that good?"

"Mmmmmm, hmmmmmm."

"What does that mean?"

"Oh, you'll figure it out, someday. You'll have a lot of time to think about it."

"I'm glad we found each other, Ty."

"I already know that, Zuko. I'm smart that way."

END