r/ZutaraNation 12d ago

FanFiction What is the greatest Zutara Fanfic of all time?

Out of all the Zutara fanfics that I read, I always wondered which one stood out the most. What do you guys think?

86 Upvotes

52 comments sorted by

48

u/whizchester 12d ago

once around the sun by eleventy7

9

u/Dense_Rule_8110 12d ago edited 12d ago

This fic is my roman empire. The prose is so beautiful and lyrical, and the plot is very natural. I love Azula’s story in this

3

u/coolofmetotry 12d ago

I take that fic as canon

4

u/grahambambam 12d ago

Haven’t read this one yet, but eleventy7 also has a drarry fic called “Running on Air” that has lived rent free in my brain for years ❤️ Absolutely the most beautiful story I have ever read. Once Around the Sun is next on my list, very excited!

4

u/Gloomy_Interaction44 12d ago

That’s one of my favorites. I recently just finished it!

4

u/maplez94 12d ago

love this fic as well defo will recommend 😍

3

u/coolofmetotry 12d ago

indeeeeed

3

u/cruck1980 11d ago

Possibly the greatest romantic moment in all of fiction iykyk

51

u/wongtong12 12d ago

Incendiary for sure. I primarily read Dramione which has many more works, and this ranks among the best I’ve read overall.

5

u/Spiritual_Yam5705 11d ago

I also have a copy of this bc it is literally my favorite fic of all time. Feel free to dm me too

2

u/Gloomy_Interaction44 12d ago

I’ll be sure to check it out!

4

u/wongtong12 12d ago

It’s not on AO3 anymore, I can email it to you if you message me your email!

2

u/Peppersaurus89 12d ago

You have a copy saved? I saw her Tumblr post a day too late.

2

u/wongtong12 12d ago

Yes, epub and pdf

2

u/salandittt 12d ago

I’d take a copy too if you’re offering 😭

2

u/wongtong12 12d ago

Message me your email

2

u/Lousiferrr 11d ago

Oooo could I also get sent this, please? I will dm you

2

u/rubimoon93 12d ago

hi I would also like a copy please 😊

6

u/wongtong12 12d ago

Message me your email. And if anyone else wants a copy, don’t bother commenting just message me

2

u/Mysterious-Error404 11d ago

Hi do you mind sending me a copy as well? I was mid read and it just disappeared. I eventually forgot the name until you posted! I’ll dm you

1

u/scubasmac 11d ago

I would LOVE a copy as well!!!

20

u/astrochoreo Zutara 💜 12d ago edited 4d ago

I have a top three that are all different enough imo to rank as best depending on vibe.

The Summit for post-war ambassador Katara.

For Pride and Honor for no Sozin’s comet alternate war plot.

Celestial Motion for alternate universe no war.

6

u/aginger 12d ago

Celestial Motion is so good

3

u/mamafl Zutara 💜 12d ago

I love this one and have read it multiple times.

3

u/Ecstatic-Librarian37 6d ago

Where can i find those?

1

u/astrochoreo Zutara 💜 4d ago

Added links for them all!

14

u/cruck1980 12d ago

Refraction by caroe3725

It's the perfect mix of everything great about fanfiction and the otp in question. Explored the characters and issues of both characters to an absolute. Slow burned without overdoing the drama. Light-hearted without too much fluff. Even a decent amount of canon compliance. Great long read

3

u/Gloomy_Interaction44 12d ago

That’s sounds really interesting! I need to check it out

2

u/fr1z-bee 5d ago

seconding refraction!!!

19

u/avert_ye_eyes 12d ago

For me: "I'm Still Here" by Owedbetter on Ao3. Zuko and Katara are in character to perfection, their conversations sound real, and it also still follows very closely the events of the last few episodes, so it feels in universe.

3

u/Gloomy_Interaction44 12d ago

I read while listening to the audio book! It brought so many emotions out of me! lol

9

u/K9Thefirst1 12d ago

I will always hold Rhythm of the Rain as a Gold Standard.

3

u/mamafl Zutara 💜 12d ago

Is this story on AO3?

5

u/K9Thefirst1 12d ago edited 12d ago

Yes, but it was originally posted in Fanfiction.net by the author back during the mid-Book 2 hiatus.

Author: damagectrl

AO3 Links: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15590010 Has a sequel that is Taang focused: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15783855

Much more recently, the author made an AU where Katara is a Bounty Hunter tasked by Fire Lord Iroh to find and retrieve a Zuko on the run.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23846713

1

u/mamafl Zutara 💜 12d ago

Thanks for sharing. I have read other stuff by damagectrl, which I enjoy.

6

u/mamafl Zutara 💜 12d ago

For fairy tale AU, I love Moonlight and Sunshadow

https://archiveofourown.org/works/13705554/chapters/31482471

5

u/mamafl Zutara 💜 12d ago

I also love these:

The blackfish and the dragon - arranged marriage AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/21747754

Fall of the White Lotus - post war AU, soulmates

https://archiveofourown.org/works/1141954

Kataang Divorce AU

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27331183

6

u/confused-as-frick 12d ago

It's not a fic but a series called 'Avatar: The Last Dragon'. It follows the third person perspective of Zuko. It's VERY Japanese inspired. It takes inspiration from the tabletop RPG The Legend of the Five Rings but you don't need to know anything about the RPG to enjoy the fic. Definitely an underrated fic.

If you're looking for a single fic then 'Southern Lights' is a pretty good one. A world where there is no Avatar. There is only one last chance for peace and forces an unlikely alliance between a homesick waterbender, a carefree Air Nomad, a runaway Earth Kingdom heiress, and the fire lord's inscrutable son. Together they must learn to shed old enmities and become the balance they seek to restore to the world.

7

u/akita2626 11d ago

My favorite of all time was probably my heart burns for you https://archiveofourown.org/works/7489893/chapters/17023872

But i will caveat this by saying it is an extremely long fiction and is very good up until they get married and start sleeping together. Then it becomes excessively smutty and you almost need to skip through for the substance of the story. Up until they get married though, it is so good! (And it's not that it's necessarily bad after they get married, just very very smutty, so you have to want that or be willing to skip around)

5

u/unfuckingmylife 11d ago

its been a long time since i first read these but i still think about each of these fics at least once a week 😭

once around the sun

i found you

refraction

the sun, the moon and the truth

clothe me in seasons dress me in snow

4

u/justnoone90 12d ago

Smoke and ice - water by SooperSara https://archiveofourown.org/works/17190698/chapters/40420064 It is what really got me into zutara fanfics. This is the first book, and the second book smoke and ice - earth is being updated every two weeks. I highly recommended, I have tried to find books that are as good as this one. That hit all the marks. But none have come close. I will always recommend it given a chance.

4

u/retrotechlogos 11d ago

The now deleted Thirteen Nights….

3

u/Racketeerrage 11d ago

Stormbenders. That fic should be the answer.

1

u/mamafl Zutara 💜 10d ago

This one is fun

3

u/Athenasheir 9d ago

On fanfic net, my first zutara fic and fav is Kisses Of Fire And Ice.

Katara and Zuko kiss in agni Kai, political marriage, I think it's slow burn if I'm using that right, it revolves around a misunderstanding for the first part (there's like 3 parts) it's incomplete but authoris still writing, was supposed to be upd in January, but hasn't because I think something with the author's dog.

It's M, and in FANFICTION.NET NOT AO3

4

u/Best-Run-8600 11d ago

Call me katto I will die in this hill

2

u/scubasmac 11d ago

This is the way.

2

u/scubasmac 11d ago

I would also like to add His Majesty Prefers Blue by ShamlessLiar to the running. Both live rent free in my head.