They knew that when mommy was waiting outside for them after school, it was going to be a special day.
"Did you bring Minx?"
"Nice to see you too." Suki laughed, lifting herself off the low wall in front of the The Fire Nation Girl's Academy.
"Mommy!" Ki launched herself at her mother happily, a smile on her face. The Fire Lady accepted her youngest daughter, hugging her close.
"Min Chu always brings Minx." Zarra sighed, "I like walking home with him."
"Well sorry." Suki rolled her eyes, Ki mirroring her action. She moved the little girl to her hip, looking down at her other daughter's frowning face, "I would have but were not going back home."
"We're not?" Ki whined a bit, her head going to her mother's shoulder.
"Nope. We're going to the dojo." Both the girls perked up, looking at their mother, "The big girls are practicing tonight."
They usually only worked out before dawn. Before their respective duties to the Royal Family or United Forces were needed, before they had to report for duty. Today was special though and everyone knew it, even the Fire Lord as he watched them warm up.
His wife had not worn the full Kyoshi regalia since before their weeding nearly 10 years ago. She would don her headpiece when she was feeling sentimental, or the face paint when she was applying some to the girls. She would put on her armor from time to time, wearing nothing but it just for him. He loved to see her like that, a reminder of the warrior that she was before. Zuko wandered to himself if he could get Suki to put on the entire get up on for their next tryst.
He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sight of the very woman he had been thinking about, accompanied by the small versions of her in each hand.
"Daddy!" Ki pulled away from her mother, running to him quickly.
He leaned down, arms out as he scooped her up. "Hey baby."
Ki simply giggled, her little legs wrapping around his strong waist. He looked past her and to her mother, the mother that still looked so beautiful with or without her Kyoshi out fit. They kissed quickly, Ki wigging out of his arms. Both the girls ran into the dojo, slipping their shoes off before they went inside.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, a smile on her face, "We you watching the big girls?"
"I was." he admitted with a shrug, hands resting on his wife's hips. "I was thinking about about the woman I fell in love with."
"Should I be jealous?"
"Nah." He chuckled, "I kinda like her now."
"Well now I am jealous." She giggled.
They watched green dresses and gold fans in the warm light of the Fire Nation sunset. They moved with swift powerful actions, their fans and fists punching the air in perfect unison.
They were all tall and strong, ranging from ages 17 to 24, chins held high and faces focused.
Ki sat in her father's lap, Zarra next to them as they all watched the Warriors. Zarra and Ki were watching the girls, noting the way that they stood, the way they moved. They wanted to be them, they would be them one day and they loved the thought of it.
Zuko's focus was on Suki. She was walking among the warriors, her pupils, many of whom she'd know since they were girls. She watched them carefullyTo anyone else she would look stern, harsh even. To him though he saw pride, strength, and a little bit of love. She did love these girls after all; her warriors.
The formation ended, all of the girls sitting on their knees with fans in their laps. Suki stood before them her hands gathered behind her back. One of the Warriors stood up, walking to Suki and standing in front of her. Suki gave her a soft smile, breaking the damn of tears that the girl had been holding back. The crying warrior placed her katana, shield and fans into Suki's outstretched hands. Suki took them, letting them fall to her side.
"I thank you for your service to our organization. You have made all of us, and Avatar Kyoshi proud. You've made me proud." Suki's voice had shook when she said the last bit, the girl's tears now rolling down her cheek. "Soon you will be married and by our by laws you can no longer me among our ranks. But you will always be welcome and loved by our organization. Understood?" The girl nodded quickly, gasping a bit fro her tears. Suki smiled, reaching out and wrapping her arms around the girl's neck in a tight and loving hug. "I'm so very proud of you."
There were tears in the eyes and on the faces of all the warriors as they gathered out in the courtyard, hugs and words of love all around. All the while there was a tall young man standing next to the retiring warrior. Zuko knew him from someplace, but he could not place it. He meet so many people that he usually lost track of their names and faces. Suki has always better at that kinda thing.
"You look like you're having some kinda flashback."
He looked to his right, seeing his wife looking at him with a soft smile.
"I am." He motioned out to the gathering of warriors, one of her strong hands wrapping around his bicep. "It's a terrifying prospect."
"Terrifying?"
"Yep. You have a wife that if you ever make her mad will kick your ass in ways that you had not even thought of. And then when she's done there is more women, just like her, who will kick your ass too."
Suki giggled, looking around the courtyard and the people who were there to celebrate with the retiring warrior. "Where are the girls?"
They looked around the space, not seeing bobbing little heads anyplace. Suki looked into the dojo, pulling on Zuko's sleeve and motioning in. They were both in the middle of the training floor, paper fans in hand as they were going through the motions they just saw the older girls going through. Their footwork was just as firm, just as sure as the others had been. When one of them miss-steped, the other would correct them gently. They supported one another,
A smile crossed both of their faces as they watched their girls.
"You know you're going to have to do a ceremony like this for them one day, right?" He whispered to her.
She shivered a bit, "Shut up."
He kissed the side of her head, "I'm not looking forward to it either." They watched the girl's firm footwork and steady hands, little lips pressed into lines.