Reunion
"Don't you remember me?", asked Ari slowly walking over to Aang. "Uh...", said Aang as Ari got closer to him.
"Stay back", commanded Sokka as he pointed a knife at Ari's throat. Ari glared down at Sokka and knocked the knife from his hand. "I just want to talk to him you imbecile", growled Ari. "Heyཀ Maybe you should calm down", said Katara making a water whip ready for Ari.
Ari stared at her, "I don't wish to fight any of you", said Ari putting her hands up in surrender.
"Katara, Sokka, just let her talk", said Aang walking up to Ari.
"Who are you again?", asked Aang with a smile.
"It's me Ari", said Ari. "We were best friends as children", said Ari.
"I remember way back when but I don't remember you at all", said Aang knitting his eyebrows together.
"I guess we were both to young", said Ari. "We played together as two years olds then I was taken away", said Ari.
"How do you remember things from when you were THAT young?", asked Katara her eyes wide with wonder. "I don't... my guardian Reika told me", said Ari.
"Oh", said everyone in unison.
"And why were you living at the temple?", asked Aang.
"Because we were going to get married when you were older", said Ari with a bright smile.
Aang stood there in shock and his eyebrow twitched a bit. "MARRIED?", said Katara looking from Aang to Ari.
"Wow", said Sokka.
"If you're supposed to be Aang's age why do you have a very matured body? How did you live for one hundred years?", asked Sokka. "Well..", said Ari as she told the group her long life story.
"So you took a potion", said Katara.
"Yup, but I guess it wore off on me a bit, so my body started to age very slowly but I stayed the same height due to the size of the coffin I was in", said Ari. Aang was stilled stunned with the news and sat very quiet as Ari talked.
"How? Gyasto never told me? Unless he was forbidden from telling me? I can't marry her I DON'T EVEN KNOW HERཀཀ Plus I have such strong feelings for Katara already", thought Aang as he gave a deep sigh.
"So do you plan on traveling with us?", asked Katara.
"Well if you'll have me", said Ari looking down at the ground and fiddling with her skirt.
"Of course, beautiful", said Sokka with a perverted smirk.
Ari stared as Katara back handed her brother.
"Come on Ari, there's a nice hot spring over there and I'd like to get to know you more. So would you like to join me in a nice warm bath?", asked Katara with a smile.
"Of course", said Ari excitedly.
"Me TOO!", said Sokka standing up then being pushed back down by Katara.
"You'll have your turn after we are done", said Katara sternly.
"Whatever", mumbled Sokka as he got his boomerang and started cleaning it. Katara walked over to her pack and got two soft towels she had gotten from the Northern Water Tribe and signaled Ari to follow her to the springs.
"Ahh", sighed Katara as she climbed in the hot springs. Ari was still taking off her breast bindings and smiled at Katara.
"Is it hard being the only girl in the group?", asked Ari as she made her way into the water.
"Sometimes. You know, you're the girl who's in charge of cooking, mending and such", said Katara rolling her head around.
"Oh, sounds hard", said Ari.
"Not really. I think of it as practice for when I start my own family", said Katara happily while thinking about Aunt Wu's prediction.
"I wish me and Aang could get married soon", said Ari with a sigh.
Katara stared at Ari. How could she talk so openly about that stuff and not blush?
"You must really love him", said Katara with a small smile. "I do, I've always felt so connected with him", said Ari, "It's so bizarre."
Katara looked down at the water and made a little water snake out of it. Ari stared in amazement.
"What? Don't you know how to waterbend?", asked Katara whirling the snake around Ari's shoulders.
"Yes, but I'm not very good at it", said Ari with a sheepish smirk. Ari made a water snake to and it collapsed right back into the steaming water. Katara noticed Ari's shaking hands. "You shouldn't tense up or you won't be able to control the water right", said Katara. Ari nodded her head, "Think of the water as an extension of your body", said Katara moving the water snake easily in the air.
Ari then took Katara's words into perspective and tried again, this time the water snake followed closely behind Katara's own.
Katara felt like a proud teacher. Ari put the water back and laughed.
"What's so funny?", asked Katara putting the water snake back into the water.
"It's just that I'm the reincarnation of Goddess Aria an expert at all bending skills and I barely know how to do any of them", said Ari.
"I think I'm better at fire bending then anything else", said Ari lifting her hands out of the water and setting them ablaze. Katara shivered at the sight of the flames and averted her eyes. Ari noticed this and doused the flames in the water.
"Is something wrong?", asked Ari with a worried expression on her face.
"It's just that my mother was killed by fire nation soldiers. Every time I see fire I think of my dear mother's death", said Katara slowly looking up at Ari.
"Oh", said Ari looking away from Katara.
"Enough about that", said Katara with a half smile, "Your eyes are so beautiful", said Katara wadding over to Ari.
Ari looked back at Katara and blinked, "What's so beautiful about them?", asked Ari raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's very rare for anyone to have two colored eyes", said Katara looking down at her reflection in the water.
"Really", said Ari also looking at her reflection in the water.
"Your eyes are pretty Katara", said Ari pointing at Katara's sapphire eyes.
"Thank you", said Katara looking back up at Ari. "I guess we better get out and give Sokka, and Aang a turn", said Katara with a laugh picturing a fuming Sokka.
"Right", said Ari as her and Katara wadded out of the water. Ari and Katara had their bottom clothes on and their breast bindings when they heard a sound from the bushes. Katara readied her water whip and Ari her sword.
"Who's there?", asked Katara bravely while Ari gripped her sword tighter.
Out of the bushes pops a little monkey. "Just a little ape", said Ari with a thankful smile. Both girls put their tops back on and made their way back to camp. Unbeknownst to the duo, in the forest a blue masked stranger watched as the girls left.
Katara and Ari walk back into camp to find a irritated Sokka and silent Aang. "FINALLY! I was about to drag you two out", spat Sokka as he took his own towel and made his way to the hot spring. Aang also got a towel and followed Sokka barely even giving Ari a passing glance.
"He must feel so... weird and awkward around me", said Ari sadly watching Aang disappear into the forest.
"He just needs to get used to you", said Katara while getting another sleeping mat laid out for Ari. "Maybe you're right", said Ari walking over and sitting on the mat. Katara pulled a comb out of her bag and started to brush her soft brown hair. Ari just kept staring at the camp fire Sokka must have started.
"Want me to comb your hair?", asked Katara sliding over next to Ari.
"If you want", said Ari. Katara nodded excitedly since she thought Ari's hair was so pretty and such and exotic color. Katara watched as Ari unhooked the four silver rings that hung from the tips of her hair. Ari then undid the encasing of fabric around her two long pieces of hair and the bow that held her hair half way. Ari shook her head and Katara watched as the dark purple hair came cascading down.
"Wow! Your hair is so long and pretty", said Katara taking a piece of hair and combing it through.
A few long minutes passed and Katara was finishing putting Ari's hair back to the way it was when Sokka and Aang returned from their bath.
"Enjoy your bath?", asked Ari happily to Aang.
"Huh? Oh.. Yeah", said Aang slowly as he made his way to his own sleeping mat. Ari sighed and laid down on her mat and fell asleep.
Next Morning
Ari awoke to the mornings light in her eyes. She slowly sat up, stretched and yawned. She looked to see Katara packing everything up on Appa's back.
"We leaving already?", asked Ari rolling up her sleeping mat and handing it to Katara who packed it up.
"Yup, we got to get Aang to Omashu", said Katara looking around to make sure she left nothing behind.
"Is he learning earthbending already?", asked Ari putting her hands behind her back and sauntering over to Katara.
"Yes he is", said Katara.
Ari turned to her left to see Aang sitting on Appa's neck. She walked over to the front of Appa and smiled.
"Aww, Appa I haven't seen you in so long", said Ari as Appa pushed his face against her body and grunted happily.
"You remember Appa?", asked Aang looking over at Ari.
"One doesn't forget a huge flying bison so easily", said Ari using airbending to float up to sit beside Aang.
"You know how to airbend, I forgot", said Aang remembering when Ari told them her life story and how she could bend the elements like he could.
"I learned from air nomad women", said Ari with a smile looking at the sun rise.
Aang looked over at her, "I never met any women airbenders", said Aang sadly, thinking about his destroyed race.
"Terrible", said Ari looking back over at Aang. "You two lovebirds done chit chatting?", asked Sokka with a smirk as he and Katara climbed onto Appa's back.
Aang blushed furiously and Ari nodded walking over to sit with Katara.
"Yip Yip", said Aang and Appa was in the air in no time. "Hey Katara, could you give me a piece of that left over food from Veni's dinner?", asked Sokka. Katara nodded and reached into the food sack and gasped. "All the food is gone?", said Katara moving her hand quickly around inside the bag.
"How?", asked Aang turning around to look at the group. "I don't know", said Katara. "Did anyone have any late night snacks?", asked Ari.
"NO", said the gang in unison. "What about Momo?", asked Sokka pointing at the sleeping lemur.
"No, I don't think Momo could eat all that food", said Katara tapping her finger on her cheek.
"Well, I guess we should stop at a village then", said Aang pointing far off in the distance.
"I guess so", said Katara with a sigh.
"I'm so hungry", moaned Sokka as he slid onto his back. "Get over it", grumbled Katara.
A few hours later and the group landed in a small village. Sokka and Aang decided to let the girls do the shopping.
"This one looks just about ripe", said Katara thumping on a large red fruit. "You could tell just by thumping it?", asked Ari staring at Katara in amazement.
"Of course", said Katara paying the merchant and continuing on her way. "Cool", replied Ari following after Katara. Katara looked into another stand and started looking at sacks of other vegetables. Ari waited for a few minutes until Katara was completely done.
"Ready to go?", asked Katara with a smile while holding a bag.
"Yeah", said Ari. The two girls made their way down the street when Ari asked, "So who do you think stole all the food?"
"Probably some animals or something of that matter", said Katara thinking of how that animal must of been so stealthy to steal all the food.
"Oh", said Ari.
"Well, well, well, what have we here?", said a female voice. Katara and Ari turned around to see a very disheveled Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee.
"I know you", said Ari with a smirk pointing at the girls.
"Oh. Do you remember leaving us in that damn cave for a whole day?", asked Azula her face getting red with anger.
"Yeah", said Ari putting her hands on her hips.
"Are you proud of yourself?", asked Mai through clenched teeth. "Yeah! Are you?", asked Ty Lee with a angry pout.
"Well, I felt kind of good when I left so... I guess I am proud of myself",said Ari getting into a relaxed position and putting her hands behind her head.
"Don't get so relaxed, because we are here to take you down a notch", said Azula rolling her shoulders around and getting into a fighting position.
"Ari, make a break for it. I'll handle these girls", said Katara looking over at the trio.
"Don't worry Katara, I have a few tricks up my sleeve", said Ari putting her hand up against her face so the others could not read her lips.
"I'm trusting you", said Katara looking from the trio to Ari.
"Let's go! QUIT STALLING!", yelled Azula as her body erupted in blue flames.
Ari got into a fighting position and slowly breathed out. Everything seemed to go into slow motion from there. Azula ran at Ari, and Ari at Azula. Then before they hit Ari slid between Azula's legs and passed Mai and Ty Lee. Before either girls could counter Ari lifted her arms above her head and encased the girls in stone from neck to feet.
"Bitch", growled Azula while thrashing her head around.
Ari winked at her and walked over to Katara, "I thought your bending skills weren't that great?", asked Katara with a sly smile. "Well, that's about the only earthbending trick I know", said Ari placing her hands behind her head and walking with Katara.
The girls made it back safe and sound and were in the air in no time.
"Yummy", sighed Sokka as he stuffed a sweet smelling fruit in his mouth.
"You guys should have been there! Ari kicked some girl's butts", said Katara packing the food into a back securely.
"Really?", asked Aang looking over at Katara.
"Yeah", said Ari with a smile.
"Yeah whatever", said Sokka with a yawn as her rubbed his full belly.
"Jealous?", asked Katara with a glare at her brother.
"Of a girl? No way in seven hells", said Sokka curling up in a ball for sleep.
"Whatever", said Ari with a glare.
Sorry I haven't updated for a while but I just got my TAKS scores and I passed all four! Kudos for me! NE Wayz I'm not sure how this story is going? So review but don't flame me in any way because I'm weak and small. LOL!
