Chloe Hoffman

A2
Los Novos
Many centuries ago there was an Aztec emperor that had a good and beautiful daughter
that was named Ixtacchuatl.
One day the emperor received notice that his enemies were preparing an attack against
his country. Then the emperor called to his palace for his young, valiant warriors and said:
I am old, I can no longer fight. Because of this, I nominate the most valiant warrior to
server as the head of my Aztec army. If he can overcome the enemy and establish peace in this
land, I will give you my throne and my daughters hand.
Popo is the most valiant and the strongest. He should be our chief, shouted all the
warriors except one.
Very well. Popocatpetl, you are the chief, said the emperor, I know our gods will go
with you to help you be victorios.
Among the warriors there was one that was very jealous of Popocatptl. He thought that
he should be the chief. But he said nothing of what he was thinking.
No one knew that the princess and Popocatptl were in love. Before the war, the young
chief went to the garden to say good-bye to his dear princess.
I will return quickly, my dear, said the young man to the princess, Then we will
marry.
Yes, and you will always be by my side. True? responded the princess.
You are right. I will be by your side forever, said the young man.
With these words Popocatptl left for the war that was long and cruel. But no one was as
valiant as the Aztec chief.
At the end, the Aztec warriors were victorious and all were prepared to return to the
capital. But Popocatptls jealous warrior left first. He was running so fast that he arrived two
days before the others. He immediately announced that Popocatptl was dead and that he was the
hero of the latest battles. For this reason he should be the next emperor and the princesss
husband.
The poor princess! She was so sad that she wanted to die. The emperor was sad as well
because he believed that the warrior was telling the truth about Popo.
The following day there was a grand party in the palace to celebrate the wedding of the
princess and the warrior. All of a sudden the princess shouted, My poor Popocatptl, and she
fell dead on the ground.
In these moments, the warriors entered the palace. Popocatptl ran to the side of the
emperor and announced, We have victory. Now the princess and I can marry. There was a
great silence. Everyone looked in the direction of the princess. When he saw that his love was
dead, the young man ran crying to her side. He grabbed her in his arms and said, Until the end
of the world I would be by your side, my precious. Then the valiant chief brought the body of
his princess to the tall mountains. He put her on a bed of beautiful flowers and sat down at her
side.
The days passed. At the end, one of the good gods changed the couple into volcanoes.
Ixy-stays still. But, once and a while Popo- quivers, and from his heart come tears of fire. Then
all of Mexico knows Popo cries for his dear princess.