Lu Ten flipped the Open sign to Close as the last patron exited. Finally, the Jasmine Dragon was closed for the day. As it would be Mother's Day this weekend, more then a few individuals had come into the tea shop to get some of his father Iroh's mystery tea to serve to their mothers for breakfast in bed. Lu Ten slumped to the floor and remained there till he heard the voice of his sixteen-year-old son, Zuko. "Hey, Dad? Are you okay?" he questioned with a hint of concern.
Lu Ten glanced up at his handsome son and gave a weak smile. "I'm fine, Zuko, just exhausted. I also have to do the books before we can head home."
"Surely that can wait until tomorrow, Dad?" Zuko asked, and his father shook his head.
"We're going to be twice as busy with Mother's Day weekend. Consequently, I've got to do the books immediately. Why don't you go to the family room and unwind? I can tell you're about to fall on your face from all the extra serving you had to do today."
"You're so much like Grandpa Iroh, Dad. You notice everything. I wish Akira and Hideki had agreed to work today and tomorrow. Nevertheless, their families come first. Sure, I'll go to the back room. Akiko and Ember are waiting for me there anyhow. We just finished reading the latest Disney Twisted Tale about the Disney/Pixar movie Brave. We've wanted to discuss it all week but have yet to have the time.
"Well, you can finally talk about it now. Go. I'll be done in forty minutes, at the most."
"Thanks, Dad," Zuko said as he hugged his father before sprinting to meet up with his girlfriend and cousin.
When Zuko returned to the backroom, his gorgeous, jade-eyed girlfriend leaped to kiss him. "Oh, Zuky! You've been working far too hard lately!"
"I agree with Akiko, cousin. You hardly had time to read the book! So can we finally chitchat about it?" his attractive fourteen-year-old cousin questioned.
"Sure can!" they said as they returned to their seats. Akiko had some of Iroh's mystery tea and their godmother's Xiaoying mystery cookies. After a quick snack, they were ready to start. Akiko was the first to speak. "Well, I think, once again, the Twisted Tale is far better then the movie. Why couldn't these extraordinary books be the movies? Or they could do live actions of these books as well!"
"I agree, Akiko! All these incredible novels we've read have been ten times better then the source material. Also, this is the second book based on a Pixar movie. It's also a Disney Princess book and the first to involve time travel!" Ember pointed out excitedly.
"You're correct, Ember. I find these alternate universes so much more entertaining. When you modify a few things, it makes for such a better tale then just following the cannon," Zuko replied with a smile to his cousin.
"I'm glad you agree, cousin! I like it. It's one of the few books in the series with alternating POVs. Some chapters are from Merida's POV, and others are from teenage Elinor's POV. It's a shame none were from teenage Fergus's POV. Since they're the book's prominent characters, shouldn't it have been all three of their POVs?" Ember asked, to which Akiko replied.
"You do make a fine point, Ember. I find all the dramatic irony of how mother and daughter aren't so different. However, I don't think the name Freya was the most suitable choice for the witch's name."
"Why do you think that Akiko?" questioned her boyfriend, Zuko, confused. His girlfriend sipped her tea before answering his question.
"Well, Freya is a Norse goddess, after all. Remember, Brave takes place in Medieval Scotland. Therefore, it's doubtful that name would be known to them when it comes from another country," Akiko pointed out logically.
"She does have a point, cousin. Still, their other names were quite lovely, even if some of them were a little tricky to say since different countries have different ways of pronunciation." Ember quickly replied. She blew a strand of jet-black hair out of her face and said, "Still, I believe we can agree the book is exceptionally vivid regarding the details of the locations within the past where Merida finds herself."
"Yes, the details weren't overdone, so it painted an excellent picture. Also, they kept to the language they used in that period. I appreciate the realistic efforts they put in to make you feel you're in the Highlands," Zuko commented cheerfully as he reached for another cookie.
He resumed talking after he finished the cookie. "However, I wonder if time travel would change anything like it does in fiction. You know the ripple effect they keep talking about? What if history couldn't be changed, even if someone could go forward or back?
Is that a slightly more intriguing concept? Moreover, why are the individuals who changed history's memories of the previous timeline still intact? If history is altered, shouldn't their memories have changed to match the new one?" he questioned the two girls.
"Wow, Zuky! I didn't think you had such deep thinking! Yet you do make some excellent points. I guess that's why time travel is only achievable in fiction and not reality," Akiko answered her handsome beau's inquiry.
"Time travel aside, Merida did guarantee her parents fell in love, even if it wasn't the same way in the original timeline. Or possibly that was how the timeline was meant to be in the first place, and she just did what she was supposed to do. In the end, everyone is much merrier. Plus, mother and daughter have a better relationship. So possibly she created a timeline that was supposed to transpire by getting involved when she ended up in the past," Ember replied enthusiastically.
"That could be the case. Multiple things from the original timeline didn't add up when we were in the past, particularly the Highland games. I also love it's not only a love story, but a mystery in it, too," Zuko remarked cheerfully.
"So let's see. We have a mixture of fairy tales and fantasy. Combined with the sci-fi part, which is time travel, Plus adding the love story on top of a mystery? Wow! Who knew one story could fuse so many genres flawlessly!" Akiko exclaimed happily.
"You are also a deep thinker, Akiko. At least the main element of inner transformation is kept, plus the physical one of the bear curse," Ember replied with a yawn.
Zuko glanced at the clock on the wall. It read 7:45! "We should go see if my Dad's done with the books so we can head home for the night," he said, noting that his cousin looked ready to crash.
"Good point. Let's go, and we can talk about another book at another time!" Akiko replied as the trio left the private room. Indeed, Lu Ten said it was time to go home. So everyone piled into Lu Ten's car as they disappeared into the night.