Maiko
| Pairing | |
|---|---|
| Pairing: | Mai/Zuko |
| Alternative name(s): | Maiko, ZuMai |
| Gender category: | het |
| Fandom: | Avatar: The Last Airbender |
| Canonical?: | Yes |
| Prevalence: | Moderate |
| Archives: | |
| Other: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Maiko, also known as ZuMai, is the pairing of Mai and Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Canon
Mai and Zuko grew up together, as Mai was a friend and companion of Zuko's sister, Azula. After Zuko betrays his uncle and joins Azula at the end of season 2, he begins a relationship with Mai. When he flees to join the avatar during the Day of Black Sun, Zuko leaves a breakup letter for Mai. Mai is angry and hurt by his letter, but when they meet again at the Boiling Rock she is swayed by his cause, and she ends up attacking Azula to help Zuko escape, declaring "I love Zuko more than I fear you". [1] In the finale of the show, Mai and Zuko are shown to have resumed their relationship.
No mention is made of Mai in The Legend of Korra and it is left ambiguous whether they married and whether Mai is the mother of Zuko's daughter, Izumi.
Fandom
Fans were divided on the show's presentation of the ship. While some like the couple, some criticize it as poorly written or even as abusive. Some fans were particularly unhappy with Mai's characterization and arc, and saw her or the ship in general as getting in the way of Zutara. Other fans pushed back on the negativity, defending Mai's and Zuko's actions and characterizations.
Maiko tends to ally with KatAang in the Zutara vs. KatAang ship war.
In fan works, it is common to find Mai/Zuko as a past-ship, as a background to endgame Katara/Zuko or Sokka/Zuko. However, actual Mai/Zuko fics can also be found. Some fans headcanon Mai as Izumi's mother in The Legend of Korra, and it is common to find fanart depicting this, and depicting Mai as the consort of the Fire Lord.
Fan works
Fan art
Opaque by Kimmy-Tsunami (2018)
- another compilation of ask doodles, this time featuring maiko<3, Archived version by minireklamo
- do you think the first time that zuko had to leave mai, he ever really got the chance to say goodbye?, Archived version by gingersnapped, fan comic about Zuko and Mai as kids
- Super nostalgic one, Archived version, by viria, Mai and Zuko with baby Izumi
- they hate being pictured, by domfree-ok, modern AU fanart
Cosplay
Fan fic
- "Fallen"WBM Archived by glamaphonic (8 September 2006)
- "Life Began with Waking Up"WBM archived by glamaphonic (13 October 2006)
- "Imperfect"WBM archived by awildgoose (2007)
- Escapee
- Unexpected
- Distances, Archived version (FFN mirror) by hlwim, a post-canon AU
- Kill Me Romantically, Archived version by All_About_That_Ace, post-canon, fluff/humor, Mai and Zuko troll the Gaang about the nature of their relationship
- Memoirs of a Fire Lady, Archived version by ladyvcngeance, a Legend of Korra-era AU fic exploring the lives of Mai and Izumi as Fire Nation royalty.
Meta
- meta about Maiko, Archived version by royaltealovingkookiness
- 'I don't hate you too': why Maiko works, Archived version by thethiefandtheairbender
- Azula and Mai and even Ty Lee herself all seem equally shocked when Ty Lee betrays Azula and each of their reactions absolutely destroys me emotionally, but you know what no one talks about? ZUKO’s reaction. by i-was-talking-to-momo (2020)
Sites
- Avatar: The Last Airbender stories and crossovers featuring [Zuko, Mai] on FanFiction.Net (FFN)
- MaikoWeek on AO3
References
- ^ Mai Betrays Azula scene: Avatar the last airbender ("you miscalculated"). Scene posted to Youtube by Lake Laogai on 13 October 2019. Accessed 1 September 2019.