Part One. My Birth.

As daunting a task it is, recalling one's life, I feel compelled to at least greet my audience, of which I am assuming is comprised of loyal Fire Nation citizens. What I have gathered here, loyal subjects, is everything I can remember about my birth.

So how do I even begin? Well, I should begin where we have surely all begun: with my father and mother. My father, as you all know, is Fire Lord Ozai, and my mother is/was Lady Ursa. My birthday being the seventh of August in the year 1991, I can assume that my parents did some… ahem… rather intimate mingling… as the weather grew cold and the leaves burst into flames of color.

I have been told that my mother did not have an enjoyable pregnancy with me, as she had my brother, Zuko. The heavier with me she became, so increased her general misery with headaches, nausea, and dizziness. As she neared her time, she was forced to stay in bed, as she grew very prone to fainting. I have been told that Father spoiled her with sweets and attention. He was ever the loving type when it came to Mother.

My birth itself is also notable. It occurred (or rather began) at my cousin Lu Ten's graduation celebration. Must have been dreadful! Imagine the scene, will you: a wonderfully catered affair, with balloons that matched the table linens and live music. Picture Lu Ten, smiling and splendid in his robes, and my useless old uncle weeping with joy. He certainly was the man of the hour, my cousin. Yes sir. The man of the hour.

Naturally, I couldn't take it. And so I gave a healthy stir in my mother's womb that effectively launched her into labor. Oh yes, dear readers, that certainly drew attention away from Lu Ten. I can just picture him all forlorn and forgotten as Uncle rushed to help my pain-wracked Mother while someone sent for a nurse.

Tee hee! Of course it would be wrong of me to admit how much I enjoyed that.

For all my "timeliness", however, I took my sweet time being born. I took about fifteen hours. As Father so wittily told me, some years later, it was like an opera, only with more exaggerated screaming and much more realistic blood and fluids. My Father truly is a funny man. It's a shame most people don't appreciate his delightful sense of humor. Well, anyway, Mother somehow managed to muster enough strength to push me out, and I was thus born at 11:32 pm.

Father was not expecting a daughter, so there was a great rush as to what I would be named. In a flash of genius, he decided to indirectly compliment his father by naming me after him. Let's see… Azulon. Too masculine for a girl. We must soften it up. Azulene? Awful. Azulette? Wretched. Sounds ridiculously prissy. How about simply adding an "a"? Azulona? Nearly. Still too frilly.

Azula? By Agni, I think we're on to something! It conveys the power and dignity of Azulon, but is effectively suited for a young lady. Yes, Azula will fit the bill! Azula it is! And it looks so beautiful written on a birth certificate.

Azula, daughter of Prince Ozai and Lady Ursa.

I find it notable to add that the first thing I did in my life was pee on the doctor. Father laughed himself sore.

Azula discusses her early life in the next chapter