The return home of Hsiang and the rest of the army was met with great celebration in the capital. The streets were alive with celebration as the news spread of victory over the Air Nomads. Dancers performed sacred rites in worship of the Fire Spirits and of Dragons, the first benders of the great fire. Some Hsiang recognized as 'The Serpent', and 'The Phoenix', others he did not know.
A skilled troupe of benders provided a lively light display in the skies with flames of a myriad of colors which darted one way, then another. When two or more flames collided they resulted in explosions of new and unpredictable color. The crowds roared as red and blues became yellows and purples.
It was said that even the Fire Lord's family would be in attendance, yet the Fire Lord himself would no doubt be delayed with the debriefings and updates on the next campaign predicted to be against the Water Tribes. Hsiang had been taught well by his family to understand that the Fire Nation was only doing what was right for the world. The Fire Nation had for a long time been prosperous and provided amply for it's people. The world would appreciate the rewards of joining the Fire Nation under a single banner. It was surprising to Hsiang therefore that the Air Nomads had resisted.
Hsiang's family was not there either, they would be working harder now than ever to provide for the Nation. It would have been more than he could have expected for them to be there for him, he had always been the dreamer of the household and his father told him many times that the real world would not care for him when he was older. His father never dreamed, his father only did the jobs that were presented for him.
The princess Ursa appeared at the top of the stairs. The granddaughter of the great Avatar Roku and something of a child prodigy at a remarkably young age. She had learnt to bend fire at the age of three years old and was treated with enormous respect by her father-in-law Azulon. Her brother-in-law was the Legendary Dragon of the West and first in line for the throne. It was a title given to only those who had slain the great beasts of the past. Iroh had been famed for successfully slaughtering the last of the noble dragons, retaining the secrets of Fire Bending solely to the Fire Nation. Her husband Ozai would succeed as second in line only, though he seemed more impassioned than his brother. They had married only a few months before, at the tender age of twelve.
The princess stood there coolly for every bit that she was hot. Hsiang admired her for her splendor and had longingly desired her from afar. Her countenance was that of a noble background, it showed inner peace and outward tranquility. Her hair was sleek and brown and hung gently across her shoulder blades. Even at such a young age Hsiang could see the beautiful woman she would become, and he was not very much older than her. It was true that six years was a hurdle at their age, but Hsiang would not always be a teenager, and Hsiang was certain he could love her many times over what Ozai could offer her. Hsiang knew that she would not notice him unless he made her though. Hsiang knew that he would have to do something great in order for the Ursa to recognize him. Well he would do something, something no-one would be able to ignore.
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