A Decade in the Life of Mai and Zuko
Year 9
Traveling with a child can be difficult. Traveling with three children is very difficult as Mai and Zuko discovered on their way to Ba Sing Se. Their latest child, a boy named Roku was now about eight months old. Keiko was almost six and Emiko was three. The girls had boundless energy and ran around the deck of the small Fire Nation ship almost nonstop. Keiko had recently displayed the early signs of firebending and Zuko spent about an hour each day of their journey giving her a lesson in the basics while imparting some of the philosophy of the Sun Warriors at the same time. The little girl was enthralled with the idea of dragons and Zuko had promised to take her to the ancient city of the Sun Warriors when she was a little older.
"Uncle Iroh can tell you stories about the dragons, Keiko," Zuko informed his daughter. "Make sure you ask him."
"Okay, daddy," she agreed.
Zuko was excited about spending time with his uncle. But, what made this visit even more special was the presence of his mother Ursa at Iroh's teashop. Zuko and Ursa kept up a regular exchange of letters and he had visited her twice with his family. Sometimes the Fire Lord wished that his mother would just move back to the Fire Nation. He could visit her much more often and everything would be easier. But considering all the years of not seeing her at all and not knowing her fate, Zuko was grateful.
Iroh had only seen little Roku once, about a week after his birth. Ursa hadn't seen him at all. So, tiring trip or not, everyone looked forward to the visit. Mai enjoyed getting away from the capitol city and showing the children some other sites. As a child, she rarely left the caldera. Her stay in Omashu with her father as governor was her first time away from the Fire Nation. The girls loved their great uncle and were slowly forming a bond with their grandmother. Keiko was learning her characters and sometimes wrote her own little note to Ursa when Zuko sent her a letter.
"Don't you dare bring any help with you," had been Ursa's joking order to Mai and Zuko. "I'll change diapers and feed the baby. I'll watch them so you and Zuko can get out and see Ba Sing Se. I don't see them often, so please let me take care of them."
Obligingly, the couple, who were very hands on parents anyway, did not bring any help with them. When the boat docked at Ba Sing Se, Mai hoisted Roku onto her hip and took Keiko by the hand. Zuko held onto Emiko. One of the ship's crew carried their bags off the ship and onto the waiting carriage that would take them to Iroh's.
The carriage pulled up in front of The Jasmine Dragon. Iroh and Ursa opened the front door and walked quickly down the steps to greet them. After hugging his nephew warmly, Iroh bent down to look Emiko square in the eyes. "And how is my beautiful little Emiko doing?" he asked, his eyes sparkling.
Ursa headed straight for Mai who was still holding Roku on her hip. "May I take him, Mai?" she asked her daughter-in-law.
"Sure," Mai replied handing the baby over.
Ursa's eyes shone with delight. "Oh, he's beautiful, Mai. He looks a lot like you."
"Thanks," Mai said with a shy smile.
"And Keiko, let's have a look at you too. You're getting so big. I love the notes you send me. I look forward to getting lots more." Ursa stroked Keiko's hair affectionately. "You look so much like your father."
Keiko looked up at her grandmother and smiled. "I am a big girl, grandma. I'm learning how to firebend."
"Well, that is impressive," Ursa declared. Keiko beamed.
"Come see Emiko, Grandma," the girl said, grabbing Ursa's free hand and dragging her the few feet to where Zuko, Iroh and Emiko stood.
"Emiko, you're getting to be a big girl too, aren't you," Ursa asked the middle child.
"Uh-huh," she agreed, nodding her head vigorously and making her ponytail bounce crazily.
"How about we all go inside and have a soothing cup of tea," Iroh suggested. "I've got some jasmine steeping. And I have some very special cookies for the girls."
"Cookies, cookies," shouted Emiko.
"You've just hit her where she lives, Uncle. Emiko loves cookies," said Zuko laughing. "In you go girl," he said to his daughter, giving her a gentle tap on the behind.
The group made their way inside, Zuko and Iroh carrying the bags and Ursa still holding onto Roku. "Should I take these upstairs, Uncle?" Zuko asked.
"Yes, just leave them at the head of the stairs. You can put them away later."
Zuko walked up the staircase loaded down with baggage. Dropping the bags heavily on the floor, he headed back down the stairs and sat down beside his wife. Ursa had handed Roku back to his mother, and was pouring sweet smelling jasmine tea into delicate green cups with an intricate design of yellow flowers. A platter of almond cookies sprinkled with sugar and cut into interesting shapes sat on the table in front of the girls. Emiko stretched out her arm and grabbed three cookies.
"One at a time, okay Emiko," Mai corrected her daughter.
"Sorry, Mommy," she said almost tearfully.
"It's alright, Emiko. Just remember for next time. Nobody's angry at you."
"Is she always that sensitive?" Ursa asked her son.
"Yes," he answered. "She gets upset easily. Keiko's easier going right now."
"Uncle Iroh, can you tell me about the dragons?" Keiko asked the older man who was sipping his tea almost worshipfully.
"Ah, yes, the dragons, Keiko, let me see now," Iroh said thoughtfully as he stroked his chin.
The one time Dragon of the West and fearsome general reached for Keiko and pulled her onto his knee. "Come over here too, Emiko," he said to the moody little girl. She reached for her second cookie, making sure to finish chewing her first, and joined Iroh and Keiko. Sitting on the floor at his feet, she turned her face to his, eyes rapt with attention.