To all those who have followed and favorited me and my stories over the years, I humbly and sincerely apologize for my extended absence. Life has taken me down a long series of troubled paths and bumpy roads. As a repentance, I offer a new chapter in my most liked story. This was written years ago and meant to come into play during Book 2: Earth towards the beginning of the episode "The Cave of Two Lovers". It has been metaphorically gathering dust in my hard drive for all this time. I do not know when, or if I'll be able to continue updating this story, but I felt compelled to share this with my valued readers. Now, without further ado, I present Chapter 13: Aeriss.

Finally, a moment of peace, Jayden thought. The group had been through a great deal recently. As if the siege of the Northern Water Tribe hadn't been trying enough, the group had been put through nearly as much grief by an overzealous Earth Kingdom General, bent on destroying the Fire Nation. Now they were en route to Omashu to meet with King Bumi, so Aang could learn earthbending.

Jayden closed his eyes as he sat in a meditation position on a boulder beside a gurgling stream. The rest of the small group were downriver a ways. Last he had seen of them, Sokka was floating around on a large leaf while Aang and Katara were practicing waterbending. The stream itself flowed through a deep gorge with high walls and grassy ledges.

Breathing slowly, Jayden let himself sink into the Force. He expanded his Force awareness, picking up on every stone in and around the bubbling river, every blade of grass on the ledges, and every insect and creature buzzing or swimming around in the vicinity. As he stretched out further, he could sense the presences of his friends downriver. Everyone had their own distinct sensation in the Force, Jayden had found. Katara felt like an encapsulated tidal wave, surging with energy and compassion. Sokka was a piece of durasteel ingot waiting to be forged. Jayden sensed a greatness in him, it just needed to be refined and honed. Aang was unlike any other. When they had first met, Aang had felt like a gust of wind. Now however, Jayden could sense all four elements within him and a strong spirit. In short, Aang felt like the purest form of life itself.

Jayden basked in the emotions and feelings he sensed flowing from his friends. Katara's compassion, Aang's playfulness, Sokka's determination mixed with the laziness of his current mood.

Suddenly, Jayden sensed another presence in the Force. This sensation came from upriver, in the opposite direction from his friends. Jayden had become accustomed to sensing people in the form of elements. Earthbenders ranged from a hardened stone to a living boulder. Firebenders felt like a burning candle to a raging bonfire. Waterbenders had the range of a bubbling creek to a surging tidal wave. But this, this presence wasn't rooted in any element. In fact, Jayden hadn't felt a Force presence like this since...

Jayden quickly drew in on himself and opened his eyes. The last time I felt a presence like that, I was... in the Jedi Temple.

Jayden quickly slid down off the rock and started to make his way upstream. Knowing that his footsteps on the stones would give him away, he used the Force to leap up to a low grassy ledge on the rock wall to his left. He drew his Force presence inward, making himself small in the force, just in case the person was able to sense him as well.

As he made his way around a bend in the river, he noticed that the walls widened to leave an open and wooded area between them. Far ahead, he could see a waterfall cascading down from the rock wall. He dropped down to the grassy earth below and began making his way through the trees alongside the river. He could hear the roar of the waterfall in the distance. The stream beside him though, was listing along peacefully, as if completely unaware of the raging current and energy it had flowed down from.

Jayden stopped and crouched in place for a moment. Tentatively and ever so cautiously, he stretched out with the Force again. There, up ahead, he felt the same presence as before. Jayden made a quick mental note of the location and withdrew from the Force again. Slowly, stealthily he began moving upstream again. It seemed the waterfall had created a deep pool up ahead and the stream merely flowed out of it at its leisure.

Finally, he came to the edge of the clearing. There before him, was a deep azure pool. Its surface rippled with the energy of the waterfall at the far end. He crouched behind a large patch of bushes that lined the edge of the pool. Not a soul in sight.

Was I mistaken? Jayden thought to himself as he looked across the waters surface. How far away was I anyway? He tried to calculate the distance he had come from the spot where he had been meditating, but then decided to forgo the thought in light of the present. Just as he was about to reach out again with the Force, the surface of the pool broke. Jayden ducked behind the bush again. So, whoever it is, was underwater. He could hear splashing as the person made their way toward shore. Hazarding a glance, Jayden peered over the bush. All his Jedi training and experience couldn't have prepared him for what he saw.

There, to his absolute astonishment and wonder, stood the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. She must rival any Angel or Diathim on the moons of Iego, Jayden thought to himself. Long auburn hair flowed down over her shoulders and back. Hair that must turn a bright shade of red once it dried, he surmised. She had a lithe, athletic body with smooth white skin. Skin that, Jayden realized, he was seeing more of than usual. The reality of the situation suddenly dawned on him, she was completely naked. He stifled a gasp, and immediately realized his mistake. Instantly, she turned to face him, which, unfortunately for her, only gave him a more gratifying view.

Jayden quickly stood up with his hands raised and his eyes suddenly closed.

"Apologies. I didn't realize you wer... Umph!"

The sheer amount of Force energy that slammed into him was nearly unfathomable and completely unexpected.

"Pervert!" She screamed.

Jayden flew backwards, striking a nearby tree with such force that every leaf was disturbed and many of them fell. He groaned as he dropped forward onto his knees, and then to his hands as well. Stang! Where in the blazes did that come from? he thought. He coughed a few times, trying to pull air back into his lungs. Upon opening his eyes, he spotted a pair of bare feet a short distance in front of him. Not daring to look any higher, he kept his gaze fixed on the earth beneath him.

"Ok, I'll admit, I probably deserved that..*cough* But I had no idea you weren't wearing clothes."

"Bull!", she said rather loudly, "You've been watching me for a while now."

"I just got here." Jayden argued, being sure to keep his eyes on the ground, "I didn't even know who, what, or where you were until you came up for air."

"But I felt your presence several minutes ago. Thats why I dove underwater", She replied.

Several minutes? Jayden thought, she must've sensed when I reached out in the Force. "I can explain, everything." he said, after a pause.

"I doubt it." she retorted.

"Are you clothed?" he asked.

"What does that matter? What kind of question is that?"

"It matters, because I'd rather not stay on my hands and knees for the rest of my life, staring at the dirt."

"Oh, uhm, alright. Hang on." she said as she turned and jogged away.

Jayden breathed a sigh of relief.

Bothersome pervert, she thought as she quickly pulled on her clothing, 'explain everything' huh? Yeah, wouldn't I love that? Why don't ya' explain the rest of my life while you're at it?

The girl pulled her black boots on and walked back to where she had left the strange young pervert. He was sitting at the base of the tree she had thrown him against, legs crossed, eyes closed with his hands sitting on his knees palms up. He was a strange young man indeed. Clothed in a black overshirt and pants with matching boots, he stood out amongst the green foliage and brown leaves on the ground. Her gaze shifted to his face and his long black hair. Even with his eyes closed, he seemed rather handsome, for a pervert, she thought. She crept up quietly, not making a single sound.

"Are you clothed now?" he asked plainly, as if she were right in front of him. She was, but he couldn't have known that.

"Yes," she answered, tentatively, "How did you know I was here?"

"I felt your presence", he said calmly, still without opening his eyes, "something I'm assuming you can do as well?"

"Sort of, I guess."

"May I open my eyes now?", he asked, tilting his head slightly to the left.

"Sure."

His eyes opened slowly and he tilted his head back to look at her.

Those eyes, she thought, such a beautiful blue. Oh why did you have to be a pervert?

When Jayden finally opened his eyes, he saw, at last, what the Force hadn't shown him. Her presence in the Force was one thing, the sight of her was quite another.

Radiant. That was the only word that came to mind. Her red hair, still wet, flowed down over her shoulders atop a lovely green tunic vest that reached to just below her hips. The vest covered a light and airy white undershirt whose cascading sleeves fell to her wrists. A wide black belt wrapped around her waist and black trousers shown beneath her tunic. But the real focus of Jayden's attention, was her eyes. Sparkling in the light with a hint of mischief, they were the deepest shade of emerald known to nature.

"First of all, I'd like to offer my sincerest apologies for earlier. I did not mean to spy on you."

"Well then," she began, putting on an indignant tone, "I may be willing to accept your apology, on one condition."

"And that is?"

"You said you can explain 'everything', so explain." she said, crossing her arms.

"Well, that could take a minute. How about we start with introductions? My name, is Jayden."

"I'm Aeriss. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but.."

"But under the awkward circumstances, it's understandable", Jayden finished.

"What I have to tell you, will likely sound incredible, and probably be very difficult to hear. You may want to sit down for this." Jayden said, gesturing toward the grass in front of him.

Aeriss cocked her head to the side quizzically, but begrudgingly obliged, sitting in similar cross legged fashion as Jayden.

With a sigh and a cough to clear his throat, Jayden began, "I come from a place that's very far away; not across an ocean of water, but a sea of stars..."

Well Ladies and Gents, I hope you enjoy this little addition. Apologies for the time jump. I had so many great plans and schemes for this story, but alas, the time now thoroughly eludes me. This may be my swan song, and if so, I hope you all enjoyed the tune. Thanks again for all of your support. Adieu Mes Amis.