Well, you guys got what you wished for. I'm very glad you like you this story, it means a lot.
Though the week was hectic, Ursa was very glad she had Iroh and Lu Ten to help her out. Lu Ten kept trying to show Zuko how to Fire bend, but though Zuko seemed utterly fascinated by it, he could not quite grasp the concept yet. They were outside for a while, and Ursa was beginning to feel nervous when she didn't hear anything for an extended amount of time. She was right to feel nervous, however, when she suddenly heard a loud screaming. Lu Ten came running in with Zuko on his shoulders.
"What happened?!" Ursa asked in a frenzy.
"I was.. Fire bending and Zuko got too close.. And well, he burned his hand.." Lu Ten looked down meekly.
Ursa grabbed her son and looked at his hand; it was red, but it didn't seem to have burned the skin. She ran outside to a water pump, and ran cold water over his hand. She cooed softly to him, rubbing his head, until his cries became little whimpers.
"There, there, Zuzu.." Ursa said softly, but something she must have did upset him because he started crying again.
"I don't like Zuzu.." He said through a choked cry.
"I'm sorry, Zuko, I won't call you that," she hugged her son and put him down. He ran back inside. Ursa followed him.
"What was that about?" Iroh asked coming in with Azula.
"Zuko got burned.." Ursa said, her eyes flickering momentarily to Lu Ten. Iroh did not see that.
"By himself?"
"Uh.. No by.." Ursa started, but Lu Ten came over.
"By me.." Lu Ten, lowered his head. "I was showing him how to Firebend, but he got too close.. I'm sorry, Dad, Aunt Ursa."
Ursa and Iroh glanced at each other. "What should his punishment be?" Iroh asked her.
Ursa raised her shoulders and hands, shrugging. "I don't know.. I would think knowing that you scared the Fire Lord's only son out of Firebending would be punishment enough," Ursa smirked.
"Oh, what do you think Fire Lord Ozai will do when he finds out?" Iroh said, trying to keep a serious face.
"He has been working on a new Firebending move.." Ursa said, putting her finger to her chin thoughtfully.
"Ok, ok! I'm sorry! I'll be more careful around, Zuko!" Lu Ten bowed to the floor apologetically. "Please don't send me to Uncle Ozai!"
"Fire!" Zuko shouted randomly, "I'm a Firebender!"
"Yes, you are dear," Ursa said, even though she had no idea if that was true. "I'll hold Azula, Iroh."
Iroh handed over the infant, who seemed to have been asleep, and jerked awake when she was moved. She whimpered softly. Ursa quickly soothed her before she could start crying.
"Is Azula a Firebender, Mommy?" Zuko asked.
"We don't know yet, Zuko, she's too little. Maybe," Ursa told him. He didn't seem to like that answer.
"No! I'm a Firebender, not Azula! I'm stronger than her!" Zuko shouted.
"Zuko! No yelling!" Ursa shook her finger at him. Zuko shut his mouth and fell to the floor, crossing his arms. She sighed, turning to Iroh. "He sure has gotten sulky lately, do you think he misses Ozai?"
"It's possible. A boy needs his father," Iroh said softly.
"Hm.. Maybe it'll get his mind off of Ozai if we went to the beach," Ursa suggested.
"That's a great idea, Ursa!" Iroh stood up abruptly, startling Zuko.
"Do you want to go to the beach, Zuko?" Ursa asked her son. A big smile appeared on his face, and he nodded. "Then get your things together."
Zuko jumped up and ran towards his room. A few minutes later, he came back with an armful of random stuff; mostly toys.
"Not that many things, Zuko.." Ursa sighed, smiling. She got up, Azula on her shoulder, and took some of Zuko's toys away. "You'll have plenty to do at the beach."
To Ursa's surprise, Zuko nodded, and smiled. They packed up, and put their luggage into the carriage. Zuko insisted on sitting next to Lu Ten, so Ursa sat next to Iroh with Azula safely in her arms. The trip took longer than Ursa remembered, and Zuko and Azula were getting fussy. And after, what seemed forever, they finally arrived. Now the beach was exactly the same as Ursa remember; large, beautiful, and that strange dark sand.
She wished that the beach house was smaller, however, it seemed rather too much for a vacation home. She preferred the twins', Lo and Li, beach house; small, simple, and a bit tacky. Just like a beach home should be. But she had good memories of the royal beach house; it was where Ozai and she spent their honeymoon. She blushed at the memory.
"Ursa?" Iroh poked her.
"Hm?" She realized she was visibly blushing, so she put her hands to her face, making it look like she was scratching her cheeks. "Yes, sorry.. Come on Zuko!"
They walked inside to the large house; it had been awhile since they were there, so the air smelled and felt rather musky. Ursa and Iroh opened some windows to let some fresh air in.
"Mommy! I want to go swimming," Zuko shouted.
"Now? We just got here. Don't you want to rest a little bit before?" Ursa said, dropping some bags to the floor.
Zuko shook his head. "No, now!"
"Fine, get your swimming trunks on quickly," Ursa told him.
Zuko came back with his trunks on, carrying a small shovel. "I'm going to dig a hole this big!" He held out his arms.
"Wow, maybe you should bury your uncle," Ursa chuckled. Iroh came back in with the rest of the luggage, "Iroh, you want to go to the beach, now?"
"Already? Sure, you can go on ahead, I'll unpack," Iroh smiled.
"Ok. Lu Ten, do you to go now?" Ursa asked him.
"Sure, I have my swim trunks on already, anyway," Lu Ten grinned.
Ursa grabbed a large beach blanket, shoved it into a bag, handed a large umbrella to Lu Ten and they headed out the door. Zuko darted past her and ran down the path leading to the beach.
"Zuko! Don't run so fast, you'll trip!" Ursa shouted to her son. The toddler was pretty fast for his age, but she knew that he wasn't very graceful. Luckily he slowed down a little, and safely made it down the dunes. Ursa found a good spot, and laid out the blanket, placing Azula on it. Lu Ten put the umbrella in, covering the baby from the bright sun.
Zuko immediately began digging with his shovel, soon making a hole the height of his leg. Lu Ten helped him.
"Be careful of the sand falling into the hole, Zuko," Lu Ten warned him. But despite him telling Zuko this, the sand still fell down the sides. Zuko made a frustrated whine.
"No! Stop it!" He grabbed the sand falling in, and threw it, only for it to be blown by the wind towards Ursa. She shielded her eyes with her hand, but Azula didn't have that ability. She cried as some of the sand got into her eyes.
"Zuko! Don't throw the sand!" She snapped, "Lu Ten, why don't you take him into the water."
"Ok Aunt Ursa. Come on, Zuko, let's go swimming!"
Zuko got a bright smile on his face, and ran towards the water; Lu Ten slowly following him. But Zuko wasn't in the water for more than five seconds before he got out, running over to Ursa.
"What's wrong, Zuko, is the water cold?" Ursa highly doubted that since most of the Fire Nation was tropical. But then she realized he was 'holding' himself, "Do you have to go the bathroom?"
Zuko nodded. "Then.." Ursa looked around; the closest people were nearly a half a mile away, "Just.. Go in the water."
Zuko shook his head exaggeratingly. Ursa really didn't want to go all the way back up, but by the look on her son's face, he wasn't going to wait much longer. So she made a move to get up.
"I'll take him, Aunt Ursa," Lu Ten said, coming back over.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to waste your trip to the beach," Ursa said, mostly hoping he wouldn't reconsider his offer.
"It's no problem! Come on, Zuko!"
Ursa watched as the two boys left, and she absentmindedly stroked Azula's cheek. The baby let out a small whine, so Ursa picked her up.
"Isn't it beautiful here, Azula?" Ursa asked her daughter, holding her facing the water. Azula turned to her mother, her large, amber eyes opened wide. She held out her hand, and grabbed Ursa's lips. Ursa laughed softly. "What are you doing?"
"Princess Ursa?" A woman's voice called over to her. Ursa turned her head and saw that it was her friend, Jiao. She didn't get to see the woman much since both families were of high-status, and had their own responsibilities.
"Jiao! Oh my goodness, I haven't seen you since my wedding!" Ursa got up, and walked over to the woman. She realized that Jiao was holding a baby, "Is that your's?"
"Oh, yes, this is my daughter, Mai. She was born six months ago," Dinah noticed Azula, "Is this your daughter?"
"Yes, this is Azula," Ursa sighed, "And I have a two year old son, Zuko."
"Oh, how lucky you are! Two kids!" Jiao gushed. She bent down and placed Mai on the blanket; Ursa did the same with Azula. Mai, however, could sit up, while Azula could only lie on her back. The black-haired little baby, Mai, stared at Azula, completely confused.
"She's never been around another baby before," Jiao chuckled. "Mai. Mai! This is Azula. Be nice to her."
Mai put her face closer to Azula's, moved away, and pointed, facing her mother with her mouth hanging open. Azula didn't seem to like being pointed at because she began thrashing her tiny fists around. Mai turned around, facing Azula eventually getting hit in the face by said tiny fists. Mai fell over, crying loudly. Azula giggled.
I loved writing the beach scene because I love going to the beach, whether it's the ocean or a lake. The scene where Zuko had to use the bathroom was inspired by my cousin, Will, who, when, he was younger, every time he got into the water, would have to go the bathroom. But he would refuse to go in the water, so whoever was watching him at the moment, would have to walk with him all the way back the house. Yea, good times, yea.
I had no idea what to call Mai's mother, since, as I recall, she wasn't given a name in the show. Also I didn't know what her title would be, so she just became "Ursa's friend"
And the NYCC is tomorrow! I am beside myself with excitement, and also because of the fact that I watched a little trailer for "The Boiling Rock" that's going to air soon in Brazil. Though I don't live in Brazil, and nor do I speak Portuguese, the fact that it's airing and looks epic beyond comprehension, is enough to get me excited.