Ursa (Avatar: The Last Airbender)/Relationships

The relationships of Ursa from Avatar: The Last Airbender. 
== Love interests ==
 
=== Ikem ===
Ursa was once childhood friends with a boy named Ikem. They often teased each other and eventually fell in love through their times at the theater. However, the couple was broken up for good when Ursa promised to marry Ozai if he didn't hurt Ikem. She eventually sent letters to her former lover but was eventually caught. When she had Zuko, Ursa wished Ikem had been his father and stated so in a letter, denouncing Zuko as the Fire Lord's son.
 
After her banishment, Ursa retreated to the theater stage in the middle of the town and cried to herself in silence. A man named Noren approached her, believing that she was looking for a part in the next play, but after realizing how sad the former Fire Nation princess was, he invited her to breakfast, an offer Ursa gladly accepted. As Ursa ate her breakfast, she conversed with Noren until he suddenly mentioned her by name, though Ursa was certain she had yet to introduce herself. Having lost her appetite and feeling awkward, Ursa prepared to leave when Noren admitted that he was Ikem, her ex-fiancé.
 
Noren revealed that he had encountered the Mother of Faces, who altered his face and gave him a new name following his heartbreak at Ursa's departure. Ursa realized Ozai must have lied to her about having killed Ikem; it was clear Noren's new identity had saved him. Noren then offered Ursa a chance to make up for their lost time as lovers: if Ursa were to change her face, they could live in peace together, and she would have a chance to see her children undetected. The couple went to Forgetful Valley, eventually arriving and setting up camp by one of the sacred pools from where the Mother of Faces' wolf would drink. After at least several months of living in the forest, the wolf appeared, indicating the face-bestowing spirit was nearby. Noren comforted Ursa who, With a new face and identity, Ursa became "Noriko", married Noren with the theatre stage as their wedding venue, and had one child, a daughter named Kiyi.
 
With a new face and identity, Ursa became "Noriko", married Noren with the theatre stage as their wedding venue, and had one child, a daughter named Kiyi. Noriko lived peacefully with her family in Hira'a until the arrival of a disguised Team Avatar in 102 AG, almost five years after the wedding.
 
== Family ==
 
=== Zuko ===
Ursa feared that Zuko would never develop firebending powers. Ozai felt disdain for Zuko since birth because a firstborn non-bender was disgraceful in his eyes. He nearly cast him over the walls of the palace. However, Ursa consulted the Fire Sages, who convinced Ozai to give him a chance. When Zuko was three years old, he developed firebending powers, putting the family at ease for a while. Ursa often took him to see the Ember Island Players but every year they would ruin Love Amongst the Dragons.
 
When Zuko was eleven, his cousin Lu Ten was killed during his uncle's 600-day Siege of Ba Sing Se and his mother mysteriously disappeared. In truth, Ursa made arrangements with Ozai by poisoning Fire Lord Azulon in exchange for him not killing Zuko or Azula and helping him become Fire Lord. In the middle of the night, Ursa woke up Zuko and hugged him, proclaiming that everything she did was to protect him. The following day, Zuko attempted to find Ursa but instead encountered Azula, who unnervingly grinned and informed him that Azulon had passed away the previous night. The young prince quickly ran away from Azula and found Ozai. Zuko demanded to know where Ursa was but was soon crestfallen when Ozai didn't answer him.
 
Despite his mother's disappearance, Zuko still loved his mother dearly and at the same time, Ursa began missing her children. Despite finding her place in the world with Ikem, Ursa fell into a state of depression after losing contact with her children. When Ursa reunited with Noren, he revealed that he had encountered the Mother of Faces, who altered his face and gave him a new name following his heartbreak at Ursa's departure. Noren then offered Ursa a chance to make up for their lost time as lovers by approaching the Mother of all faces so Ursa could ask for a new one. Ikem suggested moving them closer to Hira'a, but Ursa declined, saying that doing so would put the children and the entire town in danger. Accepting a new face from the Mother Of All Faces, Ursa became "Noriko", married Noren with the theatre stage as their wedding venue, and had one child, a daughter named Kiyi. She also forgot her past life including the memory of Azula and Zuko. Noren and Noriko lived peacefully with her family in Hira'a until the arrival of a disguised Team Avatar in 102 AG, almost five years after the wedding.
 
=== Azula ===
Ursa often took her children to see the Ember Island Players but every year they would ruin Love Amongst the Dragons. Over the years Azula began thinking that her mother never loved her and saw her as a monster when Ursa witnessed Azula firebending and sometimes favored Zuko over her. One day, the young girl overheard the conversation after she and Zuko were told to display firebending in front of Azulon. She went over to her brother's room and sadistically and cheerfully told Zuko that their grandfather ordered their father to kill him. Ursa overheard Zuko and Azula arguing that Ozai was going to kill Zuko. Infuriated, Ursa took her daughter's hand into another room and learned what her father-in-law ordered her husband to do. Azulon was later poisoned by Ursa after promising to help Ozai become Fire Lord and save Zuko from his father's wrath. The next morning, Azula told Zuko that their grandfather died last night. Though she had resented that her mother had seemingly favored Zuko, Ursa had also shielded Azula from Ozai's worst manipulation. With her mother gone, Azula thus became obsessed with pleasing her father and always achieving perfection.
 
As of Book 3, Azula is haunted by visions of her mother and admitted to Zuko, Mai, and Ty Lee at the Beach. In her daughter's paranoia, Ursa appeared, claiming to love Azula and Ty Lee and Mai's betrayal pushed her over the edge without her "friends" to support her. In her paranoia, Azula thought that the rest of her allies were out to get her, such as accusing one of the servant girls of leaving a cherry pit to purposefully kill her.
 
Ursa, despite finding her place in the world alongside Ikem, felt a deep sadness over the loss of her children. Upon reuniting with Noren, he disclosed that he had encountered the Mother of Faces, who had transformed his appearance and bestowed upon him a new name after his heartbreak over Ursa's departure. Noren then extended an opportunity to Ursa, allowing her to compensate for the time they had lost as lovers by seeking out the Mother of all faces and requesting a fresh identity. While Ikem proposed relocating them closer to Hira'a, Ursa declined, expressing concern that such a move would endanger both the children and the entire town.
 
Accepting a new face from the Mother Of All Faces, Ursa became "Noriko", married Noren with the theatre stage as their wedding venue, and had one child, a daughter named Kiyi. She also forgot her past life including the memory of Azula and Zuko. Noren and Noriko lived peacefully with her family in Hira'a until the arrival of a disguised Team Avatar in 102 AG, almost five years after the wedding.
 
Azula attacked her mother Ursa in a fit of rage when she learned that her mother had given up her old face. Azula was particularly upset to discover that Ursa had another daughter named Kiyi with Ikem, under the identity of Noriko. Later, when Zuko revealed that he would love Azula as a sister no matter what, Azula gave up her plan to kill Ursa, running away instead. This encounter changed Azula's perspective towards Ursa. Though still resentful of her mother's behavior, Azula recognized that Ursa had always loved her, something that Ozai had never done, as he had only seen her as a tool.
 
=== Rina and Jinzuk ===
It is implied Ursa was closer to her mother, as Rina taught her daughter much about medicinal herbs and poisons. When Ursa was twenty-one years old, she became engaged to Ikem. However, when she returned home to tell her parents the news, Ursa came home to see Rina crying over her father's headpiece. When Ursa came home, Rina told her to go to her father and his guests in the greenhouse but emphasized to her daughter that she loved her.
 
Ursa later accepted Ozai's marriage proposal, stating that it brought much honor to her family. Rina and Jinzuk attended their daughter's wedding and bid her a final farewell, as Fire Nation princesses were not permitted to have any connection with their families or hometowns. Ursa attempted to have letters secretly sent home but was betrayed by the servant Elua for Ozai. Since then, Jinzuk and Rina believed Ursa without them and never heard from their daughter again. After her banishment, Ursa returned to her village and was heartbroken to learn that her parents died of old age.
 
=== Iroh ===
Brother-in-law
 
Ursa cared for her brother-in-law and publicly scolded Azula when the latter stated if Iroh were to be killed in the Siege of Ba Sing Se, Ozai would become the Fire Lord's heir. Ursa defended Iroh, saying that it would be terrible if he did not survive the siege, and was devastated to learn that the general lost his son, Lu Ten, during the battle.
 
After Ursa's return to the Fire Nation Capital after the end of her banishment, Iroh apologized for the pain his family caused her, but she embraced him with open arms, her face already having lit up with visible joy at seeing him, and told him that his presence always gave her hope.
 
Iroh later comforted Ursa after her daughter Kiyi was abducted by Azula, disguised as a Kemurikage. She asked about how he had gotten over Lu Ten's death, and Iroh confessed that he never truly had, and consoled her that parents are not always able to protect their children but can teach them to see fear with unclouded eyes. Iroh accompanied Ursa when she went to visit Ozai in prison, overcoming her fear of her ex-husband.
 
=== Roku ===
Roku is Ursa's maternal grandfather but she never met him due to him dying before she was born. According to Azulon, the Fire Sages foretold that if Ozai were to marry the granddaughter of Avatar Roku, they would have a strong line of Firebenders. Iroh would later reveal to Zuko that Roku was his mother's grandfather.
 
When Roku was contacted by Aang, who was unsure if he should have committed to his promise of killing Zuko if he became too much like Ozai, he revealed to his young incarnation that Ursa was his granddaughter and Zuko was his great-grandson. Aang was horrified to see Roku would see to an end by his own great-grandson and cut off ties with him.
 
== Allies ==
 
=== The Mother of Faces ===
When Ursa reunited with Noren, he revealed that he had encountered the Mother of Faces, who altered his face and gave him a new name following his heartbreak at Ursa's departure. Noren then offered Ursa a chance to make up for their lost time as lovers by approaching the Mother of all faces so Ursa could ask for a new one.
 
The couple went to Forgetful Valley, eventually arriving and setting up camp by one of the sacred pools from where the Mother of Faces' wolf would drink. The Mother of Faces arrived but was puzzled by Ursa's decision to change her face, despite her obvious beauty. To test her sincerity, the spirit offered the former princess a new, much plainer face, which Ursa accepted without hesitation. Sensing Ursa's pain, the Mother of Faces also asked her if she would want a new mind that did not remember her old life. After much deliberation, Ursa agreed to forget her past life.
 
=== Aang ===
When Roku was contacted by Aang, who was unsure if he should have committed to his promise of killing Zuko if he became too much like Ozai, he revealed to his young incarnation that Ursa was his granddaughter and Zuko was his great-grandson. Aang was horrified to see Roku would see to an end by his own great-grandson and cut off ties with him.
 
Despite having little interaction with each other Ursa didn't seem to mind Zuko's friends for company. Aang once saved Ursa's daughter Kiyi from drowning and Ursa was reassured by Katara Aang could save her.
Category:Relationships
Category:Avatar: The Last Airbender