Princess Ursa

Ursa is the wife of Ozai and mother to Prince Zuko and Princess Azula in Avatar: The Last Airbender. She has only appeared in flashbacks so far and not very much is known about her. It is shown that she is very protective of her son Zuko and may be one of the only members of the royal family (along with Uncle Iroh) who loves him.

Voice: Jen Cohn

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(Spoilers!)

Shortly after the death of Iroh's son, Lu Ten, Ursas husband Ozai asked Fire Lord Azulon to pass Iroh over for the throne. Ozai declared Iroh is a quitter and unworthy for letting death get in his way of winning Ba Sing Se. This only infuriated Azulon saying that he will not betray Iroh shortly after the death of his beloved son but instead decided to punish Ozai for his rash request. It is unknown what this punishment was but Azula who had spied on the conversation claimed that Azulon was going to kill Ozai's first born son, Zuko, so Ozai knew how it felt to lose a child. The morning after Ursa disappeared and Azulon was proclaimed dead with Ozai announced as his successor. It is unknown what part Ursa had in these events but it is almost certain that she played a major role in order to protect her son Zuko.

There is much speculation regarding what Ursa did but there are two main theories, taking into account if what Azula said was true. It could be that Zuko's mother killed Fire Lord Azulon to protect her son from his punishment for Ozai and had to flee for her safety afterwards. However, it is mentioned that Fire Lord Azulon had a dying wish for Ozai to be Fire Lord, and if she has killed him and left, it would be difficult for anyone to know what that wish was. This gives reason to speculate that Ozai fabricated the content of his father's dying words to secure his position as Fire Lord. This seems likely as Azulon was gravely displeased at the suggestion that Iroh be surpassed in succession to the throne. Another possibility is that perhaps she offered her life in Zuko's place. This could be why Azula, after Zuko wakes up in his room, refuses to return his knife and snidely asks, "Who's going to make me? Mom?" and why Ozai was so still and quiet at the turtle duck pond (where Ursa is first seen) when Zuko demanded to know where Ursa was. When greeted by silence, Zuko fell quiet. It is unknown at the moment what fate she ultimately experienced.

"Ursa" is latin for "bear" - likely a reference to how protective she is of her children, mainly Zuko.

Little has been revealed of the relationship between Zuko and his mother. It is known that she cared deeply for Zuko, despite her daughter Princess Azula having greater firebending powers. This is a direct contrast to her husband Ozai's feelings towards his children, who has stated that while Azula was "born lucky," Zuko was "lucky to be born." In one scene she is shown saying goodbye to Zuko, while some one in the hallway is running about. She is shown tense and in a hurry at this time, suggesting that she may be leaving Zuko for an extended period of time or permanently for some reason. This is later touched upon in Zuko Alone Azula tells Zuko that his Father was going to have to kill him after angering the then Fire Lord Azulon. Zuko tells himself that Azula is just lying, but as his mom gives him her final goodbyes, she states that everything she has done has been to protect him. Despite the fact that Ursa disappears on the same night that Azulon dies, it is unclear what exactly took place or how these two events are related. Ursa's protectiveness of Zuko could imply that she allowed herself to be sacrificed in his place, but her statement that mothers "bite back" when their children are threatened could imply that she killed Azulon herself. Whether Ursa is dead, exiled, in hiding, or something else entirely is also unclear.

~ Karen

Favorite quotes:

Zuko, that’s what moms are like. If you mess with their babies (playfully pretends to bite him) they’re going to bite you back!.

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Azula: Mom, can you make Zuko play with us? We need equal teams to play a game.
Zuko: (emphatically) I am not cart wheeling.
Azula: You won’t have to. Cart wheeling’s not a game, (under her breath) dumb dumb.
Zuko: I don’t care. I don’t want to play with you.
Azula: We are brother and sister. (her voice becoming sickly sweet) It’s important for us to spend time together. Don’t you think so, mom?
Ursa: Yes darling, (to Zuko) I think it’s a good idea to play with your sister. Go on now, (she toussles Zuko’s hair a few times) just for a little while.

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Azula: If Uncle doesn’t make it back from war, then dad would be next in line to be Fire Lord, wouldn’t he?
Ursa: (disappointed) Azula, we don’t speak that way. It would be awful if Uncle Iroh didn’t return. And besides, Fire Lord Azulon is a picture of health.

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(Sadly) Iroh has lost his son. Your cousin Lu Ten did not survive the battle.

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Ursa: Your father has requested an audience with Fire Lord Azulon. Best clothes, hurry up.
Azula: Fire Lord Azulon. Can’t you just call him “Grandfather”? He’s not exactly the powerful Fire Lord he used to be. Some one will probably end up talking his place soon.
Ursa: (crossly) Young lady! Not, another, word. (to herself) What is wrong with that child?

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Zuko: (dejected) I failed.
Ursa: No, I loved watching you. That’s who you are Zuko, someone who keeps fighting even though it’s hard.

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Azula: (in a sing-song voice) Dad’s going to kill you. Really, (turning to look at him with a leer) he is.
Zuko: Ha-ha Azula. Nice try.
Azula: Fine, don’t believe me, but I heard everything. Grandfather said dad’s punishment should fit his crime. (imitating Azulon) “You must know the pain of losing a first born son, by sacrificing your own!”
Zuko: Liar!
Azula: (coming and sitting on his bed) I’m only telling you for your own good. I know, maybe you could find a nice Earth Kingdom family to adopt you.
Zuko: Stop it, you’re lying. (holding his blanket for security) Dad would never do that to me.
Ursa: (Entering the world) Your father would never do what to you? What is going on here?
Azula: (innocently) I don’t know.
Ursa: (grabbing Azula and leading her out of the room) It’s time for a talk.

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Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I’ve done, I’ve done to protect you. Remember this Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are.

~ Karen

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