How old do you think Azula was when she firebended for the first time?
Thank you for the ask anon.
My guess is I believe she was about maybe a year younger than she was when Lu Ten and Azulon died. So about maybe 8. I'd figure this since she doesn't look that much older in the flashback for Azula in the Spirit Temple than she did in "Zuko Alone".
I got this guess since she performs what looks to be a complicated firebending routine for Azulon while Zuko struggles with the basics. So we can assume she's been training for a year. Now it's a canonical fact that it takes a lot of effort and skill in order to successfully master an element. It varies with person to person, but one of the things about bending is that prodigies like Aang and Katara are able to quickly pick up the basics and some advanced techniques whether it be through good mentoring or solid practice.
Given that Azula's been labeled as a prodigy by Ozai (NOT a good thing mind you), I can assume that maybe she's been firebending for a few months or half a year. And given what we know of Ozai's expectations, he probably put her training on the fast track in order to impress Azulon. It is a habit that some firebenders like Zhao or Zuko value getting good as fast as possible. It's just Azula was one of the few who was able to get that good in such a short timeframe.
I mean, I'd think it just adds to the tragedy that she's already being put through the wringer at such a young age.
[ID: Mini comic with two vignettes in monochrome magenta.
In the first vignette, a pre-teen Lu Ten confidently and excitedly says "I'm a prince!, how hard can it be?" he holds Zuko and Azula who are little children in each arm, Zuko in the right arm and Azula in the left arm, they are holding hands on the front of Lu Ten. In the background on the left side it reads "Babysitter for the first time" with emphasis lines on the edge of the vignette.
In the second vignette, in a darkened stillness, Zuko and Azula are floating, both with glowing eyes, mouths open as they hold hands. Lu Ten screams frightened. End ID].
I had this really weird dream were little Zuko and Azula (like a couple years before the Zuko Alone flashbacks?) came to my room in the middle of the night.
Zuko slept on the nugget couch I stole from Wonton and Azula slept on my top bunk.
She had a nightmare and seeks her mother’s comfort.
I wanted to do something sweet and innocent for once. It was meant to be part of a mini-comics but it’s too much work and I’m not patient enough for long-projects when it comes to drawing.
When little Zuko and little Azula would fight, Ursa would put them both in timeout, but then little Azula would cry, cause she was put in timeout in a seperate corner than her brother, when she wanted to be close to him, which confused Ursa, because if Azula wanted to be close to Zuko, then why did they start fighting in the first place?
Anon I love this ask!!!!🥺
Azula was just being a little sister that doesn’t mean she wants to be separated from her best friend. Ursa, still confused, let’s them be in the same corner and Azula stops crying. This now leads me to the headcanon that Zuko is the one person in the family who can get Azula to stop crying. Whenever Azula won’t stop crying (whether it’s from injury, fear, angry, what has you) Ursa just sets her next to Zuko and she stops crying within five minutes. Ursa stops questioning it because it works.