Life
Roku had been in Aria's forest for almost about half a month now. Roku had almost completely forgotten about returning to the Fire Nation. Aria didn't mind his prolonged visit since she had grown quite fond of him. Though she knew it was forbidden to fall in love she couldn't help herself.
Late one night Aria and Roku sat in a meadow next to a stream. "Beautiful", said Roku softly, "Oh", said Aria with a light blush. "Yes, the moon is gorgeous", said Roku. "Oh", growled Aria glaring up at the moon.
"You know the moon makes waterbenders stronger.", stated Roku.
"I know", said Aria getting up and walking towards the stream. "You have to return soon", said Aria staring straight ahead. "I'm sure the Fire Nation absolutely misses their Avatar", said Aria taking a step forward on the water. Roku stared at Aria as she stood on the water.
"Of course the temple sages are probably going crazy looking for me", said Roku slowly getting up and joining Aria on the water. "Are you going to miss me?", asked Roku with a smirk. Aria's solemn face turned into a scowl, "Of course notཀཀ", snapped Aria using her waterbending to throw a small wave at Roku.
Roku quickly moved out of the waves way. "What has got you so upset?", asked Roku frowning at Aria as she turned her back to him and simply stated, "Nothing."
"Aria", said Roku slowly walking up to Aria and put his hands on her shoulders. She slowly turned and looked up to him. "This is a sin", said Aria her two colored eyes shimmering.
"A sin I'm willing to commit", said Roku. Aria stared at him astonished by his words.
"I truly care for you", said Roku softly yet sternly. Aria stared at him, her eyes searching his. "This is the first time I've ever been afraid in my life", said Aria looking away.
"You shouldn't be afraid of love", said Roku turning her face towards his. "Roku I...", before Aria could finish her sentence Roku placed his lips on hers. After a few seconds they pulled back from each other. Roku then pulled Aria into a strong embrace, "I want you to be mine forever", said Roku.
Aria smiled at him, "Aria, will you marry me?", asked Roku.
Aria gasped, "Forbidden", thought Aria. "I... I...I", stuttered Aria. "If you wish not to I understand", said Roku with a small frown. "Yes", said Aria.
"Yes to what?", asked Roku his face full of surprise.
"Yes I'll marry you", said Aria with a small laugh. Roku hugged her and laughed, "What about me being an immortal?", asked Aria. His hold on her tightened a bit more. "As long as I get to spend everyday with you till I die... I'm happy", said Roku not even considering the dangerous effect this love would cause.
"I love you", said Aria who also was not thinking about the future.
"So you're leaving the temple", said Lady Umi placidly. "Yes", said Aria. "And the forest?", asked Umi. "It will live", said Aria walking past Umi into her own room. Another shrine maiden walked over to Lady Umi.
"Is this really a good idea Lady Umi?", asked the young shrine maiden. "No, I sense disaster", said Umi staring unblinking.
A few months later Aria made herself right at home in Avatar Roku's temple. Roku and Aria traveled around the four nations together. Aria saved villages from famine and disease and in return these villages erected temples dedicated to worship the goddess.
"This woman is just a sick distraction", whispered on sage.
"Avatar's should never marry", said another.
Aria stared out of her bedroom window and sighed. "What ails you?", asked Roku placing his arms around her waist. "Your whole damn nation wishes me, Aria goddess of Light, gone", said Aria with a conceited smirk. "I don't care, I love you", said Roku turning Aria around and kissing her.
"I love you too", said Aria.
Sixty years later and Aria was still beautiful, but her husband's soul was fading fast. Roku lay on his death bed silently. Aria had a placid expression on her face. She sat by her husband's bed side wearing a solid black kimono style dress.
"My dear Aria", whispered Roku. Aria kissed her husband's hand, "I'll return again...I love you", said Roku as he went lifeless. Aria placed her husband's hand on his other hand and left the room.
"I won't accept this", said Aria running for the temple exit. "Vile demon", said the head Fire Sage. Aria looked back to see all the temple sages staring at her.
"He was a fool to marry an immortal", said the head sage venom dripping off every word.
"Move", growled Aria her eyes glowing red. The sages held their ground.
"Just because you are an immortal does not mean you can't be killed by a blade", said the head Fire Sage revealing a sword. Aria screamed with anger and was surrounded by a black light. She then used her dark bending on the sages . They gasped as their head Fire Sage started slaying each one of the other sages.
"Sir PLEASE STOPPPཀཀཀ", screamed the sages. Their words were heard but the Fire Sage couldn't stop his arm from swinging. After killing all of the other sages he turned the blade on himself and slit his throat. Aria blinked and her eyes returned to normal. As she took a step forward the blood of the sages receded from her path.
Aria slowly made her way into her forest. A darkness filled the forest due to Aria's dark plan.
"Lady Aria", said a shrine maiden with a gasp. "Where is Lady Umi?", asked Aria not even looking at the shrine maiden.
"Lady Umi passed away years ago my Lady", said the shrine maiden.
"Oh", said Aria softly. "But I can I help you?", asked the shrine maiden. Aria looked over at her. The girl must have been in her twenties, she had short black hair and bright amber eyes, which signaled she was from the Fire Nation.
"What's your name?", asked Aria turning to look at the girl. "Reika", said the girl bowing her head.
"Lady Reika, I'm giving you a obligation", said Aria with a smile.
"What kind of obligation my Lady?", asked Reika.
"I want you to take care of my reincarnation", said Aria looking at Reika with a dead serious expression.
"My Lady?", said Reika puzzled.
"I plan on taking my life tonight. I will then be reborn again... I want you to make sure my reincarnation finds the next Avatar", said Aria.
"And when I find the next Avatar what do I do then?", asked Reika.
"Something you think will make a goddess smile", said Aria was she exposed a sword from behind her. She smiled and plunged the blade into her heart.
"Aria", whispered Reika as the goddess disappeared into dust and was swept away by the wind.
A few days later Reika was placing flowers where Aria had taken her own life.
"My dear Lady Aria", said Reika saying a small prayer.
Then out of no where Reika heard a baby cry. Reika looked behind the marker left for Aria and gasped. In a bundle of purple blankets was a baby. The baby had a onyx gem stone in the middle of her forehead with a silver tiara. She had dark purple hair and opened her eyes to reveal a green and blue one.
"Aria", said Reika gathering the baby up in her arms and laughing. "You came back to us", said Reika. Just as she was about to walk away a shrine maiden appeared from a room. "Lady Reika, the Avatar was just born in the Southern Air Temple", said the maiden excitedly.
"Amazing", said Reika. "My lady whose child is this?", asked the confused maiden.
"It's Lady Aria reincarnated", said Reika with a smile.
"Reallyཀཀཀ", said the girl excitedly. "What's her name?", asked the girl.
Reika's eyebrows went up and then she smiled, "Ari."
"Ari, reincarnation of Aria", said Reika proudly.
"I must do something for Aria", said Reika. "Send me a messenger hawk", said Reika walking into her private house.
A few days later Reika sat in the courtyard with all the other shrine maidens. The young and old women played and passed the baby around for everyone to see.
"What a gorgeous child", said a old earthbender with a smile.
"An exact replica of Aria", said a young air nomad girl.
"An she will continue Aria's legacy well", said Reika taking the baby in her arms as it cooed softly.
"What is it that Aria asked of you", asked one maiden.
"She told me to do something that would make a goddess smile", said Reika.
"So what have you planned?", asked another shrine maiden.
"Lady Reika?", said a male voice. Reika smiled and turned to see a air nomad man standing behind her with a letter.
"The Monks of the Southern Air Temple wish to meet with you", said the man handing Reika the letter. Reika nodded and told two shrine maidens to pack clothes for her and Ari.
Later that night Reika found herself on the back of a flying bison riding towards the northen air temple. Reika looked in awe as the southern air temple came into view.
"Look Ari you future lies here", whispered Reika as she nuzzled the baby. Reika was helped off the bison and was greeted by the head monks at the temple.
"It is good to see you have had a good journey", said a monk with a long white mustache.
"Thank you, and you are?", asked Reika bowing her head.
"I am Monk Gyasto", said the elderly man with a smile bowing.
"Pleasure to meet you Monk Gyatso I am Lady Reika. This is Ari", said Reika revealing the baby to Gyatso.
"What lovely eyes", said Gyatso with a laugh.
"Lady Reika if you will", said another monk leading Reika to their counsel room.
"You wish for them to be MARRIED", growled one of the head monks.
"This I think would honor Lady Aria and Avatar Roku's relationship", said Reika placidly.
"Why would we want to honor that?", asked another monk.
"Please I beg of you", said Reika getting on her knees. "This would make Goddess of Light Aria so very much happy. After the death of her husband she took her own life so her reincarnation could find love in this Avatar", said Reika looking straight at the floor never looking up.
"That was very selfish of a goddess", spat one monk.
"Yes very vain indeed", said another.
"I say we let Avatar Aang and Lady Ari be promised to one another", said Gyatso proudly.
"Why", asked one monk.
"I am the guardian of Aang so I think I should decide what actions to take", said Gyatso.
"Fine, the girl is promised to Aang and can live up here and grow up with him", said the head monk.
"Thank you so much", said Reika bowing once more and then turning to leave. Reika stood outside and sighed deeply, "Would you like to introduce Ari to Aang?", asked Gyatso.
Reika nodded her head and followed Gyatso. Reika found herself in a small bedroom and looked over to a crib. "This is Aang", said Gyatso pointing towards a little baby in the crib that was playing with some toys. Reika raised her eyebrows at this, "Being only born a few days ago and he can already sit up by himself", said Reika looking over at Gyatso.
"He's the Avatar", said Gyatso. Reika sat Ari in the crib with Aang and held her breath for their interaction. The babies looked at each other and cooed. Aang reached over an touch Ari's gemstone and it started to light up along with Aangs tattoos (I have no idea if they're born with tattoos so bear with me).
"Amazing", said Reika with a expression of pure amazement.
"Maybe this marriage is a good thing after all", said Gyatso stroking his mustache slowly.
"You doubted it this whole time?ཀ?ཀ", yelled Reika glaring at the old man.
"Yes a little", said Gyatso with a laugh.
Reika glared at him and huffed a little to herself. "Why don't we leave them alone for a while to bond, and I can show you to your room", said Gyatso leading Reika away from the two giggling babies.
Two years later..
Ari and Aang played in the courtyard of the Temple while Gyatso and Reika watched.
"Gyatso, Aang needs to be at least trying to learn", said a passing monk.
"He will but right now he is with his future bride", said Gyatso with a smile.
"Is that so...", said the monk angrily, "Let's just see what the counsel says about this", mumbled the monk.
Later in the counsel chamber...
"The girl must go", said the head monk sternly.
"Why? She hasn't done anything wrong", said Reika balling her fists at her side. Gyatso glanced down to see her fist starting to turn to flames. He placed his hand on her tense shoulders and she calmed down.
"Please reconsider", said Gyatso looking over at the counsel.
"Monk Gyatso, we trust your wisdom but we need Aang to concentrate on his bending skills instead of a girl", said the head monk.
"Is the marriage off?", asked Reika looking at the head monk her amber eyes staring straight at his.
"No, Ari will return when Aang is ready to balance both bending and personal life", said the head monk getting up and leaving the counsel chamber.
"Then I guess I shall pack my things and be on my way", said Reika walking out of the chamber and into the day light.
She looked over to the court yard and smiled at the toddlers. She made her way to her room and packed all of her things along with Ari's. Ari started giggling when she caught sight of Reika walking over to her. She extended her arms out to her wanting to be picked up.
Reika smiled a sad smile and picked the girl up, "Say good bye to this place Ari."
Ari started to fuss in Reika's arms when she discovered she was being taken away from Aang onto the back of a flying bison. Ari cried as the bison lifted in the air and was gone. Aang also cried loudly as he watched his playmate leave the temple.
"Don't worry my dear Ari, for your future is with Aang and forever you two will be connected", said Gyatso as he tried to calm down the crying Aang.
Ten years later...
"HYYAAAAཀཀཀཀ", yelled Reika as she shot a fireball at her opponent. Her opponent countered with a ball of air and made a quick dash behind Reika and, by using moisture from within the air, made a water whip and tripped the firebender. Reika quickly tried to get up but was stopped when the ground below her turned to quicksand and stopped her movements.
"You have gotten better", said Reika as the quicksand released her.
"Thank you", said the opponent.
"You will soon master these bending skills Ari", said Reika placing her hand on Ari's shoulder.
Ari smiled. She had grown in ten years, her hair was very long and was tied halfway by a ribbon. It was then separated into two individual pieces and encased in black fabric (kind of like how Ayeka from Tenchi Muyoཀ Has those two long pieces of hair but encased in fabric). At the end of each piece of hair was a silver oval ring tied in with it. She wore a brown shirt that buttoned up in the front with rolled up sleeves. She wore a black fabric belt and wore a matching brown skirt with knee high brown boots.
"I've mastered Dark and Holy bending, so all I need is the four basic bending elements", said Ari with a smile. "Exactly", said Reika.
"Then I will be a worthy wife for Avatar Aang", said Ari looking up at the sky and smiling.
Reika gave a small smile and led the young Ari towards her sleeping quarters. Reika laid her head down for sleep and blew out her only candle. Reika fall into deep slumber and started to dream. In her dream she saw Avatar Aang being swept away by a big wave and a huge fire surrounding the temple. She also saw Ari sleeping peacefully in a stone coffin.
Reika jumped out of bed. She gave big deep breathes trying to control herself. "Relax", said Reika calming herself down. Reika quietly made her way to Ari's room and sighed contentedly to see Ari sleeping well.
"That dream is of what to come", said Reika looking out of a window as a terrible storm started to brew . The next morning Reika was confronted by a young shrine maiden.
"My Ladyཀཀ Avatar Aang disappeared last night during the thunderstorm", said the girl her eyes full of fear. Reika smirked, "I was right then."
"What do we tell Ari?", asked the young girl. "The truth, and I shall give her a decision", said Reika walking past the girl to find Ari.
Ari was out in the forest training with a sword, the same sword that Aria used to end her own life. Reika smiled as Ari moved swiftly and gracefully with the sword. "You're even better with a sword then with bending the four basic elements", said Reika walking out of the shadows towards Ari. "Really you think so?", asked Ari staring at the blade. The hilt was black with blue, red, green, and white colored gems to represent the four nations. The sheath also was black with a mixture of those colors. The blade of the sword had the four element names engraved in ancient writing.
"Is there something wrong?", asked Ari staring at the frown on her Guardian's face. Reika sighed, "Ari, Aang disappeared last night and I don't think he is coming back anytime soon."
Ari stood there in silence, her hair shadowing her eyes. "Is there any way to keep me like this?", asked Ari.
Reika looked at her, "I was coming to you to tell you I can put you under a sleeping spell using a special kind of plant called Angel's Kiss. It'll put you into a comatose sleep and only sunlight can wake you."
Reika looked hard at Ari, "Is that what you want?"
"Yes", said Ari looking up at Reika tears in her eyes, "I want to see Aang again...I want him to see me like this", said Ari wiping the falling droplets away.
"Then I shall go gather the plant and tell the other shrine maidens to get you ready", said Reika slowly walking away. When Reika was out of hearing distance she sat in a clearing and let the tears fall freely.
"My dear Ari", sobbed Reika
Ari sat on her knees as the shrine maidens bound her chest and placed pretty smelling perfumes and oils on her body. She sat up and they put a white and silver skirt on her. Ari looked over the small room she was in, it looked like a tomb. There in the middle of the room was a small stone coffin with a lock only a firebender could open.
Reika made her way through the entrance of the room and sighed when she saw Ari. "Are you ready?", asked Reika. Ari nodded and Reika sent the other maidens away. Her Fire Nation pride wouldn't let her cry in front of the young Ari. "Remember I love you with all my heart", said Reika swallowing hard to try and make the lump in her throat go down. "I know", said Ari placing her hand on Reika's trembling one.
"Don't worry we'll see each other soon", said Ari putting her head to the side and smiling brightly.
Reika half smiled and sat down to mix the potion. After she was done she took out a goblet and poured the black liquid into the glass.
"Drink it", said Reika handing the glass to Ari.
Ari bravely took the glass from Reika and gulped it down. Slowly everything started to spin wildly then everything went black. Ari dropped the cup and it shattered then she started to fall backwards but was caught by Reika. Reika let one tear slip down her face then placed Ari in the stone coffin said a little prayer then closed the lid.
Sorry if it seems I am rushing a little but I really want to get into the story. Please don't flame me
