A/N: This was written for my atlaland bingo card, filling the prompt of "mythology." I chose the Greek myth of Persephone.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.
Warnings: May/December (Song/Zhao), and classical allusions.
Daughter of the Earth: Legend of Persephone
By: Nuit Songeur
The Summer had been a happy, fruitful one as did the Spring that preceded it. But, the seasons changed, as Song had long since learned, and the Summer came to its seasonal end. She could tell it was ending by her mother's darkening face with each passing day. Song's mother often spent the last days of summer gazing resolutely out their window and seemed to watch as Nature began to flex its fingers for Autumn. Song would touch her mother's face and offer a reassuring smile.
"Winter will have to end too, Mother," she reminded her. There was a brief smile on her mother's before it returned grave.
"He's coming," she said. "I can feel it."
"It will be okay," Song pressed, trying to soothe her mother's anxiety.
"If only he hadn't tricked you with that poison," her mother murmured, more to herself. Song sighed and left her staring out the window.
She knew what her mother was referring to— when the Admiral had persuaded Song to eat four pomegranate seeds. She never thought that she had been tricked or that the seeds were poisoned. It was just a plan her husband had devised. It was a plan to ensure that they saw each other. They were married, after all.
Although, Song's mother would often deny the validity of their marriage.
It had been true that the Admiral had seduced her, but Song still loved him. He was a powerful man, admittedly coarse, but always gentle with her. He'd stand up for his rights to Song, rather vehemently, against her mother, but that was because he was a desiring husband.
He had told her of his intention with the pomegranate seeds, and she had agreed to it, before eating. Her mother thought it a curse. Secretly, Song believed it to be a blessing.
Song knew when it was the day for him to fetch her; it was always an unseasonably cold and bitter day. The last day of Summer. It would take a day to reach the Fire Nation, the first day of Autumn.
"Goodbye, Mother," Song bid, not attempting to feign sadness. She kissed her on the forehead. "I'll be back before you know it."
Her mother said nothing as Zhao pulled up in his rickety milk cart, a condition that Song had asked of him in favor of his fleet of naval officers. Song eagerly jumped in the cart beside him, ready to take off. Her mother approached them.
"Take care of her," was her quiet order. Zhao did nothing to suppress his smirk.
"I always do." He cracked the reins and the ostrich horse slowly began to amble down the path. Song turned in her seat to wave goodbye.
"I'll be back soon!" she promised.
"Not too soon," Zhao muttered under his breath. Song ignored him and watched as the still figure of her mother grew smaller and smaller. Their milk cart seemed to leave nothing but gloom and death in its wake as Song was taken away to be Queen of the Underworld.
There you are! I hope you enjoyed! Please review!
-NuitSongeur