Azula was born lucky. Not only was she born into the royal family of the Fire Nation, but she possesses natural firebending
powers and is a martial arts prodigy. But with all her gifts comes a haughty, aloof, condescending personality that distances
her from most people. She is a perfectionist and seems to measure her self-worth by what she can accomplish. If this is so,
she has reason to think very highly of herself, considering her unbelievable achievements in martial arts and firebending.
Not only can she manipulate flames, but Azula can control electricity, a skill very few people have mastered.
As a
child, Azula was a bit of a palace brat. Though usually polite in front of her parents, she constantly tormented her less
talented older brother, Zuko. She delighted in pushing him into awkward situations and in spurring him on to anger with her
showiness.
In all her life, Azula only had two friends. Mai was a cool, even-headed beauty possessing a skill for weapons and knife-throwing.
Her other friend, Ty Lee, had a bubbly, sparkly personality and found endless joy in gymnastics. Why both these people liked
a person like a Azula is unknown, but both seem to have a deep bond with her. The fact that all three girls attended the Fire
Nation Academy together only served to strengthen that bond. Eventually, all three went their own ways. Azula went on to master
lightning under the tutelage of two elderly firebending women. Mai's father was appointed governenor of the newly-conquered
city of Omashu, taking Mai with him to his new residence. Ty Lee bade farewell to aristocratic life and joined the circus
as a gymnast, tight-rope walker, and probably a trapeze artist.
Azula was quite a daddy's-girl. Her father, Fire
Lord Ozai, doted on her and loved her as much as he disliked her brother, Zuko. It seems that Azula also loved her father
as much as she disliked her brother as well. When Fire Lord Ozai challenged Zuko to an agni kai (fire-duel) Azula looked on
with savage delight as her father permanently burned her brother's face. His screams were music to her ears.
Zuko's
banishment proved an opportunity for Azula. Though the rules of hereditary succession in the Fire Nation are unclear, it appears
that Zuko's banishment opened Azula's way to the throne.
However, Ozai had a task for Azula to accomplish. Three years after Zuko's banishment, Fire Lord Ozai commanded Azula
to apprehend and capture Zuko along with his uncle Iroh. Azula took up her new job with zest, relishing every minute of making
her brother miserable. With her massive warship, she hunted him down all across the northern Earth Kingdom. After a while,
Azula realized that her warship was actually hindering her progress rather than furthering it. Thus she decided to call on
some old friends…. Mai and Ty Lee. The three girls were re-united and vowed to hunt down Zuko until another, more important
prey appeared- the avatar. Now both avatar Aang and prince Zuko are running for their lives from Azula and her forces. And
Azula continues to enjoy her job, relishing each time she makes her brother miserable.
