After the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Azulas mental state was exceptionally weakened. Her paranoia and narcissism evolved into a full-blown mental breakdown even after she was named Fire Lord by her father, Ozai. She convinces Zuko that shes his only real chance at finding their mother. He agrees to take her with him in his quest, and for a time, Azula joins Team Avatar. However, she is still being haunted by hallucinations of Ursa, and believing her mother is behind all her problems, including Ty Lee and Mais betrayal, Azula is determined to find her mother and kill her. In the comic series Smoke and Shadow, Azula is shown leading a group of firebenders she befriended and freed from the mental institution in The Search. Now more mentally stable, she enacts a plan to test and mold Zukos leadership abilities as Fire Lord. Knowing that Mais father was still loyal to Ozai and wanted to depose Zuko, Azula manipulates him to do her bidding and turn public opinion against Zuko. But her goal isnt to bring back Ozai. To Zuko, she admits finally embracing her destiny, accepting him as the true Fire Lord and her role as his shadowy advisor. Although still very dangerous and manipulative, Azula believes shes:

• More mentally stable
• Embracing her destiny
• Accepting Zuko as the true Fire Lord
• Serving as his shadowy advisor.