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Published:
2025-08-12
Updated:
2025-08-12
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Chapters:
1/2
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The Dragon's Empire

Summary:

Ba Sing Se has fallen to the Dragon of the West's siege. What will become of the Fire Nation royal family?

Notes:

Hey guys, decided to finally post this fanfic that's been collecting dust in my drafts forever. I'll try and update it monthly. No promises that it'll ever get completed, but the plot outline has been living rent-free in my head for years now.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

General Iroh, crown prince to the Fire Nation, has conquered Ba Sing Se.

And so concluded the latest news from the front lines.

As he took in those words, Zuko knew they'd never leave him. After nearly a century of warfare, the seemingly eternal struggle had finally come to a close. Although he was unsure how, he was certain life his would never be the same.

And he knew he wasn't alone in this thought. His mother had let out an involuntary gasp before sharing a smile of relief. His father didn't even bother trying to hide his jealousy at his brother's accomplishment. Azula's face had twisted into the strangest expression. As if she were torn between pride in her nation and disappointment that all of the glory would go to her uncle and his bloodline. Without a second thought, Zuko asked the one question they were all thinking: "So what now?"

The answer to that question came about three months later: Caldera erupted into celebration upon the arrival of the Dragon of the West and his men; their nation's total victory affirmed by the safe return of their beloved crown prince and his heir.

Indeed, Zuko had never seen his uncle and cousin look more regal than when their procession made its way through the city. Iroh and Lu Ten were each riding their own war elephant-rhino and flanked by troops on all sides. Both royals were dressed in ceremonial armor, with each piece of their costume adorned in gold and rubies. Leading the procession were women dressed as festivity spirits, some tossing flower petals before the procession's path while others danced with ceremonial swords. As if to complement their female counterparts, some of the troops carried banners and shields as they performed a victory chant.

Long live General Iroh! Long live the Fire Nation!

With each chant, the crowds of onlookers grew more enraptured. Local sages blessed the troops with jasmine-infused holy water, adults and children alike attempted to throw garlands of fire lilies on to the horns of the elephant-rhinos, and some of the bolder women even attempted to fling their undergarments at Heir Apparent Lu Ten.

The revelry only stopped when the procession finally approached the entrance of Palace Caldera, where Fire Lord Azulon stood. Even into his 90s, Azulon possessed an overwhelming presence--- yet, as he stood before this grand parade honoring his progeny, he actually resembled the figure of a humble grandfather. Standing behind him, his second-born son's family looked on quietly.

All fell silent as Iroh and Lu Ten slowly dismounted from their their war-elephants and approached the Fire Lord with careful, measured steps--- manners that had been burned into them from birth. The general and his second-in-command positioned their hands into the customary Sun Salute and bowed all the way down to the waist, as was expected. Fire Lord Azulon stared at them wordlessly as he received their bows. To everyone's shock, the Fire Lord returned their bow with equal depth.

"Welcome home, my son."

Notes:

Leaning into the Fire Nation's Southeast Asian influence with the procession. The details of Iroh and Lu Ten's homecoming parade are inspired by Zhou Daguan's account of daily life in the Khmer Empire, called "A Record of Zhenla: the Land and Its People". The Khmer king Indravarman III was quite ostentatious in his day-to-day presentation. The festivity spirits that the women dress up as are the best English description I could think of for apsara.