The more Ozai mulled over Ursa's decision, the more his worry faded away. She's right, he thought. Another Dragon year will come soon, maybe there will be an eclipse THAT year, or the year after that... it could be another 100 years before the prophecy is fulfilled. And besides, he reminded himself, when this child is born, he won't be the rightful heir either. Iroh is still the rightful heir, and Lu Ten after that. I'm counting my golden-eyed komodo chicken before he's hatched. Ozai chuckled to himself at his own joke. Ursa's due date, and the date of the eclipse, drew nearer.
The morning of July 9th, Ozai was practically humming with nervous energy. The moon was in perfect position to eclipse the sun at about midday. Ozai paced the floor of his chambers, wondering what the day's events would bring. If that kid stays in there for just one more day, I'll be in the clear, he thought. He turned his eyes upwards. Oh please oh please oh please don't let our child be born today. ANY day but today. And for the moment, he seemed to be getting his wish. His wife was in good spirits, with no complaints about the pregnancy. Breakfast was uneventful. Ursa sat under the tree in the courtyard and fed the turtleducks. Ozai was beginning to think he was home free.
Just after mid-morning, a sudden pain ripped through Ursa's body, and her water broke. Servants immediately rushed her to the palace infirmary, where doctors announced that she was already beginning to dilate. Ozai paced and wrung his hands anxiously as the sky darkened, and Ursa's contractions quickened. The baby crowned as the moon covered the sun, and at the moment the doctors announced the baby's arrival, the sky went black. Drenched in a cold sweat, Ozai hovered over the newborn, waiting for him to open his eyes. Minutes ticked by as the baby cried and the doctors cleaned him off and tended to Ursa. Finally, the baby's eyes began to open, and two golden orbs stared back at Ozai. The prince's heart sank.
"What is the child's name?" the head doctor asked.
"Zuko," Ursa replied before Ozai could say anything. "His name is Zuko." Ursa held her first born and gazed at him in adoration.
In the following weeks, Ozai tried to pretend nothing was wrong as Ursa fawned over her son. She seemed to have forgotten the prophecy entirely. As the people of the Fire Nation learned about Zuko's birth, rumors began circulating that there was something wrong with him, that he was cursed in some way. That he had been born at the exact same time as a solar eclipse, an incredibly bad omen in a culture that worshipped the sun, instilled in the people a superstitious fear of the newborn child. Only Ozai knew their fear was not unfounded.
The moment Zuko opened his eyes, Ozai knew he had to do something to try and circumvent the prophecy. He would do anything to keep Zuko from the throne, and so he immediately began begging Ursa for another child. Ursa was puzzled, wondering why the prince could possibly want a second child. When Azulon passed away, the throne would go to Iroh, not Ozai. And Iroh had an heir of his own, Lu Ten. Ozai concocted dozens of reasons why a second child would be a wonderful blessing, never once referring to the prophecy which he knew Ursa didn't believe. Eventually, she relented, and soon Zuko had a baby sister. Ozai began putting his plan in motion.