February 89AG

Azula was three years old. She wouldn't be four until late August. From her window, she could see Lu Ten practicing outside.

"He's so cool," Azula thought of her older cousin. He had skill and confidence in his bending. It came naturally to him, and he worked hard to make his father, Crown Prince Iroh, proud of him.

Ursa came to get her daughter. "Time to play outside."

Azula heard outside and smiled. She could go watch Lu Ten up close.

Her mother led her to the garden. Zuko had been on their mother's other side.

"Mama, when will I be able to firebend?"

"I'm sure it will be soon Honey." The average age was six. Zuko would be six in four months.

Ursa broke off small pieces of bread so they could feed the turtle ducks. Zuko happily threw them in, but Azula wondered away.

She ran to see her cousin. He was doing some type of move that caused the fire to keep circling around him. She thought he would catch on fire, but he remained in control.

"Azula, don't bother him while he's practicing."

"Oh she's no trouble," Lu Ten noticed her in the corner, but she sat still, away from the fire.

"Fire's dangerous," Ursa told her as she picked up her daughter. She took Azula back to the pond.

The girl pouted.

When they came inside, she asked Lu Ten how to firebend.

"You just think something that makes you happy. Imagine that feeling coming from your belly and extending to your hands."

Azula thought of pine taro puffs. They were really yummy. She tried her best and a blue flame appeared.

"You did it!"

"I can firebend!"

She was all too happy to show her family.

Ozai found his wife after his meeting. Two years from now, he would learn that Ursa still loved her ex, that she still wrote to him in longing, but right now, he thought she was loyal to him and only him.

"How were the kids?"

"Azula keeps running off. She wants to watch Lu Ten firebend all day."

"She's curious. It's a good thing."

"I fed the turtle ducks," Zuko said to his father.

"Isn't that nice."

"I can firebend!" Azula declared.

"No she can't," Zuko retorted.

"Well, let's see it."

Azula thought of the pine taro puff, took a breath, and expelled a blue flame in her hand. "Look Mommy, Daddy, I can firebend."

Ozai grinned. His little girl was most impressive.

Zuko frowned. He still can't firebend. She's only three. It's not fair

Ursa noticed her son's pain but not her daughter's enthusiasm.

"Aren't you a little prodigy?"

"What's prodigy?"

"It's means you were born lucky."

"Oh!"

He kissed her forehead.

At dinner, Azula happily showed off her new flame.

"Can I learn like Lu Ten?"

"Of course," Ozai said when Ursa said, "not yet."

"Why not?"

"She's only three. She could hurt herself."

"She could hurt herself at any age. It's why she should learn good practices while she's young."

The two glared at each other.

Azula's smile fell from her face. She doesn't want me to learn.

The argument only continued when Ozai and Ursa were alone.

"She can get hurt."

"Pain is a great teacher."

"She can't even read."

"So? She doesn't need to be able to read in order to firebend."

Eventually, her real concerns came out.

"You can't teach Azula before Zuko."

"Why not?"

"He's been trying to firebend for months. It will crush him."

"Then he should try harder. Why should I hold Azula back because he can't do it?"

"He's older."

"Older doesn't mean better," he said angrily.

Ursa used the one weapon she knew Ozai was vulnerable to. "If you promise me you'll wait until she's five to start training her, I'll make it worth your while."

She fell back into the bed, knowing that his eyes were following her chest.

He had a devilish grin on her face.

"But I want to learn," she told her father.

"I know, and you will, when you're older. It's for your own safety."

"But last night you said …"

"Well your mother convinced me otherwise. Don't worry. You will be a star."

Ozai went back to work.

Again, Ursa invited Azula to come out to the garden with them.

This time she said, "NO!" All she wants is to hold me back.

"Okay," Ursa figured she was just having a bad day.

Azula watched her cousin training from the window. She started trying to teach herself in her room. No one will hold me back. I will be the best.