Aria Amore here (my new alias that I'm going with from now on lol) and I'm back with this story new and rewritten now that I'm older and feel like I'm more experienced. Feel free to compare this first chapter to my old story because I think I've made a lot of good changes. If you want to read it you can go to this website:

s/7933171/1/The-Missing-Piece

And without further ado, on to the story ^_^

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Oh wait, I think I have to do this first:

DISCLAIMER- I ONLY OWN ARI (Do people even do this anymore XD)

Well let me just stop and you can read it.

ENJOY!

The Beginning Starts Now

In the Republic of Padokia near the Dentora Region was the small village of Koharu. The day was bright and sunny as a little girl with long black hair, going down to her mid thigh, skipped down the road with a stack of ice cream one on top of the other, which threatened to fall off the cone it was in at any moment.

"Hey Ari!" a store lady yelled.

The girl, Ari, turned around and replied with a huge smile on her face, "Morning Mrs. Monika. What can I do for you." she asked while walking towards the storekeeper rapidly licking her ice cream.

"Are you going to stop by again later on to help me with my store?" the lady mentioned as Mrs. Monika said with a hopeful smile on her face only to have been met with a shake of the head from Ari smiling back sadly, "sorry but I can't, tomorrow I'm going to be taking the hunters exam and my mother says that I will have to go to sleep early if I don't want to be late for the blimp."

After saying that Ari turned around, took a big bite out of her ice cream, finishing it, and, with a quick wave goodbye, started to run out towards the forest. "Maybe another time, OH AND ARI, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Mrs. Monika yelled after her making Ari turn around and yell back, "Thank you!" as she continue to run off towards the forest with a huge grin on her face.

_In the Forest [Ari's POV]_

I walked through the forest until I got to a clearing with nothing but a giant rock in the center. It took me only a second or two to get up to the top of the gigantic rock which was around 10 meters high. I balanced myself at the top and began to meditate, seeing how it was also a part of my training and all.

Tomorrow I will be turning twelve and that will mean being able to participate in the Hunter Exams... to think that my mother was at one point in the same situation as me. I took in a huge breath and sighed deeply, but it seems it's my turn to do this thing… hopefully it will be fun. And with that last thought I quickly started to focus on my task at hand…. to get stronger.

_Four Hours later_

Some hours later I relaxed my aura and stood up to stretch. When I opened my eyes I found that the sun was going down. Panicking for a second, I quickly hopped off the giant rock landing gracefully on the ground below. Then I looked down at my watch on my wrist…. Oh snap… "IM ALMOST LATE, I have two more minutes until I will truly be late and my house is a 30-minute walk from here OH-MY-GOSH!" I ran in circles while scratching my head, and then I stopped and positioned myself, focusing all of my energy into my feet. I can do this. Three…..Two…. On~ I was out the forest in a second.

-The Next Morning-

"ARI GET UP!" my mother yelled, laughing as I was startled and fell off my bed.

"But mooommy~, there is still-"I checked the time, sighing before continuing, "five hours until I actually have to leave for the blimp, can't I just sleep it," I said while laying down on the floor curling up into my blanket. "I'm still kind of sleepy," I said yawning in the process while closing my eyes again. "Well, you should have thought of that before you came back home five minutes late. NOW HURRY UP!" YAWN, "Ok, ok sure," I said as I felt myself drift back to sleep.

I heard her footsteps walk off and disappear. Finally she is gone, maybe I can get a few more hours-, stopping my thoughts for a moment I could hear what sounded like someone was running towards me. Automatically reacting, I rolled to the side to avoid the impact and sat up opening up my eyes now wide awake and alert. Crouching in the same spot that I was just laying in a moment ago was my mother with a creepy smile on her face as she stood up straight looking at me. "I told you to get up didn't I", she said as she lunged at me.

Quickly untangling myself from my blanket, I jumped up off to the side and stood in a defensive stance as I waited for her next move. A sparring match so early in the morning… how fun. Smiling back at her I moved my body in a way in order to dodge my mother's attack. Finally reaching to the far side of my room, having nowhere else to go, I jumped out the window and turned my attention back to my mother as she came jumping out the window after me. Now feeling freer, I ran towards her and aimed a couple of my very own attacks at her, causing her to amuse me a bit by dodging for a while. I don't know how long we have been going at it back and forth, but seeming to have become bored with my sad attempts of an attack; my mother stopped dodging and caught my last punch. Reacting quickly, I brought up my other fist to hit her but she was able to catch that one as well. Now starting to panic, I brought up my leg as if to kick her, but stopped mid-attack and head-butted instead. Big mistake. She let my arms go as I slumped to the ground and curled up into a ball clenching my head. Feeling the intense pain as it washed through me I could almost feel myself start to tear up. "No fair, you can't strengthen your head like that" I whined in protest as I continue to shake with pain. " Then you should have anticipated my defense and chose to attack me a different way. Now get ready, you now have only three hours left" and with that, she walked off as if nothing happened.

After the pain finally went down, I stood up from my location on the ground and started to stretch out my body before heading to the back door. It was locked. Did that lady really just locked me out… blowing out a huge sigh I backed up from the door and jumped up to my window. Finally back into the house, I hurried off to get ready. After taking a quick shower and brushing my teeth, I went back into my room finding my belt bag with some much-needed things inside of it and some clothes to put on. There was a dark purple short sleeve hoodie dress, black shorts (that I put on underneath my dress), a pair of my dark gray gloves, and my dark grey with strips of purple colored boots. After putting on my clothes and shoes, but leaving off my weighs for once (seeing how I believed that taking the exam will bring on a challenge), I took my bag and went down the stairs while tying up my hair looking for my mom. I ended up finding her at the bottom of the stairs looking up at me, waiting.

"Soooooo," I began as I stopped in front of her, "what are we going to be doing for the next two hours and a half". "What do you think that we will be doing?" she asked right after while beaming at me. Thinking for a while I put out my honest thought of what I would LIKE to be doing "well… I think that since I'm about to leave and everything that I should take it easy and~" but she cut me off. "Hmmm, but that doesn't sound like something I would do…", she starts to lean towards me and smile wider. "Well yea, but … today is also my birthday… so… how about…" I sighed and slouched in defeat. I won't win this…

"Ok then, no usual training then," she says happily standing straight again. I looked up only slightly to give her a look full of doubt, "really?" "Yup, birthday girl's request, right? In fact I actually have a present for you," and with that I instantly shot up straight and started to grin like crazy. "You really mean it?" I asked excitingly jumping up and down waiting as she pulled out a box that seems to have come out of nowhere, I know I'm acting childish but I'm still a child and I love getting presents!

Not even two seconds went by since she placed the present in front of me that the box was torn to shreds and what remains is only the present itself, which was…

"Oh my gosh mom… is this what I think it is?" I say with a blank expression on my face as I suddenly felt tears fall from my eyes. It was a picture of a young couple standing next to each other, the female smiling brightly while the male with a more reserved smile on his face. I looked up at my mom only to meet a soft smile on her face, "You have come a long way my love and I am so proud of you. The time has finally come so I thought it was time for you to have thi- " but before she could continue I jumped and attacked her into a huge bear hug which caused us to both tumble towards the floor. For a moment we just laid on the ground as she allowed me to hug her, then she suddenly got up and pull me my off. "Well with that out of the way we have two hours to get some last minute training in before we leave. Lets get started."

And with that she turned and walked away, leaving me to dry my tears and rush after her with a huge smile on my face now. Though not even a second passed when the smile fell from my face as I realized something.

Wait... I thought we weren't going to do our usual training...

-At the ports to the blimps-

My mom stood before me with her long silvery-white hair in a neat bun… crying her eyeballs out. "Oh Ari, win this thing to the end or~" then suddenly she just stops and glares at me," don't even bother coming home, bye." And with that she left me standing there with my mouth wide open… my mother, I thought as I felt a sweat drop.

And before she was out of hearing range I yelled, "of course I will be just fine, I'm your daughter remember." And as she turned around I gave her a huge smile and she smiled back then we both turned and went our separate ways.

As soon as I got on the blimp it started to take off into the sky. As I walked around and looked at my surroundings I suddenly notice something, all of the examines here were all older men. That means no children my age and no girls or women, really?!

Ugh, oh well got to make the best of things, but first I've got to explore this place,I thought excitingly being that it was my first time on a blimp. I searched around the blimp looking to find something fun to do.

Right when I was about to give up I went around the corner and found a huge window displaying all of the gorgeous views of outside.

"OH WOW!" I shouted as I ran over to the window, "look at this view, oh wow. I've never seen such a thing!" Suddenly I see a person in the corner of my eye, quickly turning around, I let out a breath of shock and surprised… when did he get there… I couldn't even sense him…

Upon a closer second look I noticed that he was a boy around my age with spiky silver hair, contrasting greatly to my own, along with an almost matching pale skin complexion. He wore a dark blue turtleneck under an almost lighter purple shirt with purple-ish blue shorts and light and dark purple ankle boots. His head was pointed downwards as if he was unknown to my presence. "Hey!" I said smiling as I approach him, wondering if he hasn't noticed me at all this whole time. "…," but I was only met with silence.

"Hey, isn't this cool?" I tried again a little louder this time thinking that maybe he just didn't hear me. This time he did acknowledge me and started to lift up his head to look at me. But I only met a killer strong glare pointed in my direction, his eyes a shade of dark blue.

For a split second, as hopeful gray eyes met with deadly blue ones, it made me flinch. Not out of fear but out of shock and …excitement?

I walked up next to him and as I got closer I could smell a faint scent of blood, but I sat down next to him as if it was nothing.

"Sooooo… what's wrong" I say as I relaxed a bit. His glare only intensified even farther and he seemed as if he was emanating a murderous aura now, with it increasing rapidly as the seconds ticked by. Without giving an answer he got up, picked up his skateboard, and started to walk away. Now with my curiosity growing just as fast, I got up to follow him.

After walking for maybe about three minutes I tried for a conversation again. "Hey, my name is Ari… I just turned 12 so this will be my first time taking the hunter exam how about you…no answer huh, well how old are you… your favorite snack… your favorite color… hmmm, can I at least get a name?"

Without much luck at any of the attempts, it only drove me harder to get him to talk. "Aww come on, what's your name?" I asked as I reached out my hand to poke him playfully.

And that's when it happened. Suddenly he strikes out his arm in my direction, catching me off guard, as I was barely able to dodge to the side before he attacked again. I was able to dodge a couple more of his hits before he stopped and I looked at him with a disappointed look. "Awww, why did you stop", I asked with a pout on my face. With his hand still in the out-stretched position that he attacked in, wait were those sharp claws always there, he slowly brought his hand down and looked at me now seemly bored. "I don't feel like it anymore", and with that he turned around and started to walk again leaving me to wonder what just happened. Quickly shaking my head I went to go and follow him again. When I finally caught up to him I just had to voice my question, "you don't want to fight anymore… why not?" "Didn't you hear me? I said I don't feel like it anymore." And with that, he turned his head and continued to walk off ignoring me.

Then the speaker of the pilot spoke: Passengers on the blimp, there will be a storm on our way towards our destination and a very big one at that. You may experience slight shaking of the blimp, but nothing to be alarmed about. Thank you and have a wonderful trip.

Ignoring the warning message, I continued to follow this strange boy. Why? I'm not too sure, but as I continued to follow him I found that this boy seriously didn't want to continue our fight. Now starting to think of a way to try and lure him into another fight, I went to reach out my arm again to touch him, hoping that this time he would react the same way again and attack like before. But nothing, he didn't do anything.

Now grabbing on to his shoulder, he stopped and I started to shake him and yet still I got no response. This is odd, why is he acting like this, I thought to myself as I let go of his shoulder and he continued to move on. Is he seriously really going to ignore me? Not one to have patience I jumped out in front of him and held out my hands, he finally stopped. "Why won't you fight me?!" I demanded as I started to feel frustrated and heated up. Now mirroring my annoyance the boy looked up and started to lose his own composure as well. "Well, why don't you find somebody else to fight? I'm pretty sure there are lots of other strong people here, go fight one of them". I then went back at him crossing my arms together, forcing myself not to smile at his reaction, "Well I just want to fight you, what's the big problem?" "I said that I don't feel like it didn't I, why are you so stubborn?" He asked as his fingers started to grow shap again.

"I just want to fight you!"

"Why?!" He finally shouted and I could see his fingernails fully turn sharp again. And with that I couldn't continue to hide my smile anymore,"because you're cute." And with that comment, I let a laugh as his whole entire face turned red suddenly and his fingers relaxed.

It took me a while for me to stop my fit of laughter, and I can imagine that he was close to just giving up on me and walking away. So I quickly stopped myself and cleared my throat a bit before I continued. "Sooo…" a couple more giggles escaped, "do you feel any better?" He just looked at me with a blank and confused look for a few seconds before finally responding.

"You did all of that just to make me feel better?"

"Yes of course I did?" I replied back in a "duh" kind of way. He just continued to look at me kind of confused, taking a few more seconds to reply. "But why would you go through the trouble of doing all that?" And now it was my turn to look at him confused, "well because we are friends of course." With that, I gave him a huge grin and brought my arms up to emphasize a gesture of friendship. He continued to look at me, breaking down the things that I said, and then his face totally transformed into a distrustful look. "We are not friends, we just met," he said with a matter in-fact tone and put his hands in his pocket and started to walk away again. Well at least we are getting there, I thought to myself as I followed behind him skipping along.

"Of course we are friends now, we had a conversation already," I said as I smiled and continued to walk giddily next to him. "Just cause someone had a conversation with someone else doesn't mean that they have become friends," he said looking straight not even giving me one glance. "Well when it's with me, that is totally what it means. And how old are you?" I suddenly asked trying to make another point with my pointlessness. "Why should I even tell you, you were the one to come and trouble me to begin with," he said as he started to quicken his speed.

But that only got me to skip faster and smile brighter, I love a good challenge. "I won't leave until you tell me," I sang a little with a mischief smile forming on my face. "Twelve," he said this time finally stopping and looking my way, now figuring that he couldn't escape me. "SEE!" I suddenly yelled out, looking excited more than ever, causing him to get a bit shocked. "Especially when you're the same age as someone you have a greater chance at becoming friends." And with that logic of mine I suddenly reach out and grab his arm before he could register what was going on, "and now we are friends," I said as I tried to hug his arm. But he moved his arm away quickly and just looked at me weirdly, "Ari, you're weird." He said plainly, but I just got happy at the fact that he called, and remembered, my name. "Oh, so you did hear me before?" I said happily, my grin getting bigger as I continued to talk to him. "Of course I did, I have ears you know."

"And what shall I call you my new friend?"

"I'm not your friend."

"You are now." I sang out a bit just way too excited that we are getting some progress into a real friendship. "Hmm, you truly are a weird one, but I still won't tell you." And with that, he stuck out his tongue at me and started walking again. Why do you keep on walking away from me when you know that you can't escape? I thought and ran in front of him again stop him. And this time, he was annoyed. "Why do you keep doing that? Leave me be." "Do you like a good fighting?" I asked suddenly getting his attention this time.

He stopped instantly in his tracks and turned to me giving me his full attention. "Yeah, why?" he asked a bit curious as to where this was going. "Well, how does a fight with me sound?" I asked with my grin growing.

"You'll die," he stated instantly, his face dropping as he looked at me in disbelief. I just smiled at him and grabbed his arm before trying to drag him away, "we'll just have to fight and see now won't we". And with another weird look from my strange new friend he eventually smiled and said:

"You know what, you're on".

What did you guys think? OMG who could possibly be Ari's strange new friend…I wonder (lol)

Anyways, I'll try to keep this story constantly updated every weekish so don't be afraid to tell me what you think about my new take on this story in the comments.

~Ari Amore Out ~