A/N I had a ball experimenting with a very different writing style in this one! I also enjoyed mixing and matching various elements (no pun intended) from both the series and other myths besides Icarus to make a weird mishmash of a myth. And yes, it focuses more on Zuko than Katara again, but what can I say? Inspiration takes me where it will. :) -Nerdy J

Day 4: Icarus

There once was a powerful ruler, who wished to control the entire planet. He decided that if he were to watch over this vast empire that he wished to call his own, he must view it from the skies. And so, Ozai ordered the Mechanist to build him and his two children sets of wings, that he may soar through the air and rule from above, that his daughter, who was his favorite child, may be even more powerful than she was, and that his son, his heir, may see his birthright.

The Mechanist did as he was told, and fashioned three pairs of wings, made of wax and feathers. When the man delivered the wings to Ozai, he cautioned him that he and his children must not fly too low, lest they be swallowed by the unforgiving ocean, and not too high, lest they be burnt by the sun. Ozai heeded his warnings, and his wicked mind formed a devious plan.

He informed his daughter, the Princess Azula, of the dangers of flight, but purposefully did not tell his son, Prince Zuko. Ozai hoped that the Prince, his hated spawn, would be careless, and burn or drown, allowing Azula to take his place as heir.

The day came when the family, if you would indeed call them by such a kindly term, took to the skies. Ozai and Azula carefully maneuvered through the air, bearing knowledge of what could happen should they fly too high. Zuko, however, blissfully unaware of his father's plotting, eagerly soared upward. The overly enthused Prince glided through the air, going higher and higher, until he brushed up against the sun. Crying out, he tried to move away, but the heat of the giant star melted the wax from his wings, and the sun stroked his left side of his face, burning him. The boy fell from the sky, no longer able to manipulate the air beneath his wings.

Crashing into the frigid waters of the Southern sea, the Prince drifted helplessly into its depths. Unable to swim, he was certain that he would die. Tui, the Moon Spirit, however, took pity on the young man, seeing that he had a pure and kind heart, if only someone were to truly love him. The Moon Spirit pleaded with her lover, La, to spare the boy. Grudgingly, the Ocean relinquished his prey, and, pushing Zuko to the icy shores of the South Pole, allowed the Prince to live.

Though the Ocean had given him back to the world, the Prince was far from home, and still more dead than alive. A beautiful girl, with blue eyes set in brown skin, discovered the burned and half-frozen boy near her village, and pulled him all the way home by her own strength. He awakened, having fallen unconscious from weakness, to see the girl sitting quietly at his bedside.

The Prince demanded to know where he was, who the girl was, and what had happened to him. She shook her head, explaining that she knew not how he had come to bear the fierce burn across his eye, nor how he had ended up on their shores. Prince Zuko covered his fear with arrogance and pride, calling the girl names as he commanded her to tell him where he was once more. The girl, hurt and angry, shouted that her name was Katara, and she had saved him from certain death by bringing him to her home.

Ashamed of his cruel words, the boy attempted to apologize, but Katara was not appeased, and left him alone in the igloo. Finding a sheet of ice to use as a mirror, the teen boy cried out in fear at his own reflection. His heart and mind both raced. How had this happened? He remembered soaring high, and colliding with the sun. His father and sister had not met the same fate, of that he was certain. Zuko was not entirely ignorant of his father's feelings towards him, and was sure he must have known this would happen. But how could he possibly be so cruel as to condemn his own son? Clearly, he must have fallen from his grace somehow.

He decided he would avenge himself, no matter what it took. He had no plan, only a blind faith that he could return home and to his father's good graces. Running from the igloo, he sprinted towards the ocean, the girl crying after him to stop. Katara finally caught up to him, where he was standing and staring at the waters.

She caught his hand in her own, begging him to come back with her and rest, as he was not fully healed. He grudgingly agreed, and returned to the village with her. Over the next several months, he found himself falling in love with the beautiful girl, who was both gentle as a still pond, and yet could be as strong as a wave. But though she claimed most of his heart, there was always a nagging feeling that he must return home, and redeem himself in his father's eyes.

He built himself a boat in secret, and the day came at last when he set out, having recalled something his father had said once. Ozai had spoken of the legendary power to control fire, and the glory that would be bestowed upon the one who could find this power. Surely it would be enough to give him his throne and destiny once more.

Zuko came back to the igloo one day, and silently rolled the bedroll he had slept on in the corner. Katara asked him what he was doing; he told his destiny laid elsewhere, and bid her goodbye. He did not know that the girl he left behind was heartbroken by his departure, and cried herself to sleep that night.

He sailed far across the globe, desperately looking for the power to wield fire. At long last, after three years of searching, he came upon what appeared to be an island, but was in truth a large animal, a lionturtle.

The lionturtle told him he would be gifted with fire, but he must bring it back in three days time. The eager Prince lied, agreeing to return the fire. As soon as it was given to him, he rushed towards his home, desperate to regain his father's favor. However, the three days expired, and his word to the lionturtle had been broke. That night, Tui descended upon his boat, angry, and startled the scarred Prince.

She shouted with rage that she had given him every chance in the world. She had saved his life, and he had been sent to a place where he could be loved, and where he could find love as well, but he had since proven himself incapable of such an emotion. He thought guiltily of the kind girl who had taken him in, and felt ashamed. He begged for another chance, and even conceded that he would surrender the fire he had stolen.

Tui decided to be merciful once more, and agreed to return his fire to the lionturtle. La shoved the small boat back to the South Pole with a mighty tidal wave. The Prince ran to the igloo he had abandoned years before; still knowing the path by heart.

He burst through the door, a smile alight on his face. The girl turned to face him in surprise, even more beautiful than she had been when he left. She covered her mouth, tears filling her oh-so blue eyes. The Prince cleared his throat, feeling vulnerable in his moment of truth.

"I'm... I'm home."

A/N So I obviously used Icarus with the first part, then I tossed in the boat, which of course relates to both Zuko as well as Jason of Jason and the Argonauts. The stealing the fire was inspired by the myth of Prometheus. GOSH I LOVED THIS PROMPT SO FRICKIN MUCH.