Blood Stained Colors of Love..

Ari watched as Katara demonstrated a waterbending move to her. "See just push and pull the water and you should be able to do it," said Katara throwing a water blade at a rock. Ari watched in amazement as the rock shattered. "Okay! Let me try," said Ari excitedly as she stood on the shore. She took as deep breath in an made the blade of water and threw it.. Unfortunately she threw it upward.

"Where'd it go?", asked Katara as she searched the river before them. "Um.. There," said Ari sheepishly as Katara gasped and got her and Ari away as the blade came crashing down upon them.

"Okay, practice session for today over," said Katara wiping sweat from her brow.

"Thanks for teaching me," said Ari with a huge smile.

"No problem," said Katara as she walked over to Sokka who was stirring a stew. "Smells good actually," said Katara sitting beside her brother. "Well, what did you think it would smell like?", asked Sokka, "Well.. Bad," said Katara as Sokka sulked.

Ari sat by herself and watched Aang who was sitting across from her with Momo in his lap. She glared and him and him at her. "Sheesh, if looks could kill those two would be dead," whispered Katara to her brother. "Why don't you turn around?", spat Ari.

"Why should I?", asked Aang his glare intensifying.

"Well you don't even know me so why stare at me?", growled Ari her nails digging into the soft sand.

"Maybe you should turn around," said Aang pointing a finger at Ari.

"Don't you dare point your fat fingers at me," hissed Ari her eyes closing to slits.

"Fat! Look at yourself heifer," yelled Aang making Momo jump out of his lap and into Katara's.

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME," screamed Ari her fists aflame.

"I didn't stutter," said Aang with a smirk.

Ari and Aang both got up and started toward each other, "HEY! Cool it you two," said Katara getting in between the two. Ari was about to yell when she quickly pushed down Aang and Katara. As soon as they fell three arrows whizzed over head.

"Fire Nation," said Ari brandishing her sword.

"We should leave," said Katara who was stopped by Ari.

"Too late, we're surrounded," said Ari.

The gang huddled together and heard Appa grunt as he was hit by a sleeping dart.

"Well, well, well, look what I've found," said a male voice. "I know that voice... but it couldn't be," said Aang his eyes wide.

"Oh yes it could," said the man as her sauntered out of the shadows.

"Zhao," said Aang softly.

"I thought the water spirit took care of you," said Aang with a growl.

"The gods are ever so forgiving," said Zhao with a smirk.

"They let you keep your wicked life for what reasons?", asked Katara. "I have no clue really. I just awoke on the shores of my homeland," said Zhao walking up to the group.

"Oh! Who do we have here?", asked Zhao with a perverted smile.

"Gross," said Ari placing her sword in front of her.

"At least tell me your name girl," said Zhao standing in front of her and placing his hands behind his back. Ari hesitated for while, "My name is Ari, reincarnation of Aria of the Light."

"Ah, Aria, as I recall, murdered a whole temple of Fire Sages using a forbidden bending technique," said Zhao rubbing his chin.

"They must have deserved it," spat Ari glaring at Zhao. Zhao laughed, "I like the fire in you girl," said Zhao. "How old are you?", asked Zhao circling the group. "Too young for your old ass," said Ari. "Wrong answer," said Zhao as he quickly shot a blast of fire her way. The group scattered and turned to face their opponent. Ari ran at him and continued an assault with her sword, in a matter of minutes her blade was at his throat.

"I don't think you'd want to do that," said Zhao pointing to her friends. "I've got snipers all around you kids. All they need is my signal and they'll kill the water tribe peasants and capture the Avatar."

"Bastard," said Ari. "So either put your blade down or my snipers will kill your friends," said Zhao with a smile.

Ari growled but dropped her sword. Time seemed to stop... Zhao grabbed the sword and stabbed Ari in the chest. "No," screamed Katara as Sokka held her back.

Ari hacked up some blood and stared at Zhao, "You lied," wheezed Ari as she fell to her knees. "The Fire Lord will be pleased the reincarnation of the hated goddess Aria was killed," said Zhao. "Though you would have made a nice play toy," said Zhao stroking Ari's cheek. Ari spit blood at him and he kicked her in the face.

"Now for you three," said Zhao popping his knuckles. Aang stared in shock as the pool of blood under Ari increased. "Why?", whispered Aang as he looked at Ari's fading eyes.

Zhao snapped his fingers then laughed as arrows came cascading down toward Sokka and Katara.

In a flash the arrows were cut in two. "So we meet again," said Zhao with a smirk. There in front of the gang stood the Blue Spirit himself. "What?", said Aang confused, since the Blue Spirit was none other than Prince Zuko. The Blue Spirit pointed his swords at Zhao and readied himself.

"Banished pr...," Zhao was cut off as the spirit came rushing full force at him.

"That's right. Katara, and Sokka don't know who he is. But apparently Zhao does," thought Aang as he stared at the two fighting. "Aang, nows our chance for escape," said Katara who splashed water in Appa's face and the bison started waking. Aang nodded and saw Sokka holding Ari in his arms. Into the night sky went the group.

Katara stood over Ari and healed her wound. "It doesn't look like it went all the way through, but only time will tell," said Katara putting her hand on Aang's shoulder. Aang nodded and watched as Katara went to sit by her brother.

"I'm so sorry I didn't help you," said Aang moving the hair from her forehead. "I'm sorry for being mean to you Ari," said Aang tears threatening to fall.

"I.. I care for you too, even though we hadn't seen each other in so many years I also felt like we were so close," said Aang tears slowly falling down and landing on Ari's face. "Please don't die," whispered Aang bringing his face close to Ari's. His lips almost upon hers when he noticed a green eye and blue eye staring up at him. "ARI," said Aang embracing her tightly.

"Trying to take advantage of me while I was unconscious?", asked Ari with a smirk as Aang and her pulled apart.

"Um.. Uhh..", said Aang his face bright red. "Just kidding," said Ari with a laugh.

"Ari you're alive," said Katara running over with Sokka.

"Of course," said Ari with a smirk.

"We thought you were a goner," said Sokka with a smirk. "Come on, you think they can get rid of me so easily?", asked Ari crossing her arms. "How did you guys escape anyway?", asked Ari, "A person with a blue mask saved us," said Katara. "Really?", asked Ari, "Yeah, and I felt like I knew him from somewhere," said Katara tapping her finger on her temple trying to remember.

"Well, anyway I'm glad all you guys are safe," said Ari slowly standing up with Aang's help.

"Well, I'm tired", said Sokka jumping into his sleeping bag. "Me too," said Katara also getting into her bag and falling asleep.

"I'm really not that tired. You?", said Ari to Aang.

"Nah, how about we talk?", answered Aang. "Sounds good to me," said Ari following Aang to the shore of a little lake and sitting down. "Ari, about before," said Aang. "No need to explain, I totally understand," said Ari shaking her head.

"Well maybe we should get to know each other a little more," said Aang, "Okay, ask a question," said Ari raising an eyebrow.

" Uh, what's your favorite color?", asked Aang. "Black," said Ari with a smile. "Really?", asked Aang thinking about how black is such a morbid color, "Yeah! Black is just so simple and cool to me," said Ari. "What's your favorite color?", asked Ari. "Well, I like blue," said Aang suddenly thinking about Katara. He really did like Katara, honestly, but right now he should just concentrate on Ari.

"What's your favorite bending element?", asked Aang. "Firebending," said Ari. "Why?", asked Aang, "Because to water, air, and earth bend you need those elements. Don't get me wrong air is all around us and you can always use it but fire... fire comes from inside," said Ari making a flame in the palm of her hand. "You have to be so in tune with yourself in order to use it right," said Ari closing her hand extinguishing the flame. "Yours?", asked Ari looking up at Aang, "I like all of them," said Aang cheerfully.

"Okay, what name would you give your first born daughter?", asked Ari. Aang blushed at Ari's question and knew what she was getting at, "Well, um, what about Trinity?", asked Aang picking the first name that popped into his head. "Oh Aang, that's such a pretty name," said Ari jumping into Aang's lap.

"Really?", asked Aang his voice cracking from Ari's sudden closeness. "Really," said Ari sincerely.

"What would you name your first born son?", asked Aang. "Aang jr.", said Ari with a smirk which made Aang blush furiously, she was enjoying making him nervous.

"Come on Ari be serious," said Aang shifting his legs under Ari. "But I am," said Ari nuzzling her head under Aang's chin. Aang's whole body turned red, "Okay, I'll be for real this time. I'd name him Aki," said Ari removing her head from under Aang's chin. "It means autumn," said Ari crawling off of Aang's lap. "It sounds cool," said Aang breathing a little more calmly now.

Ari smiled warmly and yawned. "Why don't we hit the sack," said Ari walking back toward camp with Aang at her side.

Read & Review... no flames... not my best writing...