-Late that night-
Iroh had come to visit Arie.
"I don't think locking him on the blacony is the best approach to this, Arie, " Iroh said.
"I know," Arie whined.
"Mind if I talk to him?" Iroh asked.
"Go right ahead."
Iroh walked to the balcony door, unlocked it, and went out onto the balcony, closing the door behind himself.
"Uncle?" Zuko asked, getting up from his spot on the floor where he had been trying to sleep.
"Not a lady charmer are you, Prince Zuko?" Iroh chuckled.
"She hates me with a passion!"
"Something you'll never have in a relationship at this rate," Iroh laughed.
"Excuse me? I could to. Just...NOT with HER!"
"Did you ever think that one reason your father did this was for an heir?" Iroh asked.
"What? UGH! I'm not doing that with her. EVEEEER!"
"Zuko, do you love her?" Iroh sighed.
"No," Zuko said, bluntly.
"Do you care about her? Even just a little?"
"Well, I- a little..."
Zuko turned away blushing.
"So you fancy her?" Iroh grinned.
"Maybe," Zuko said, stubbornly.
"What would you say Arie wants the most in the world?" Iroh asked.
"To kill me."
"That could be or by what she has said to you, what would you think she wants?"
Zuko thought about it.
"Love," he said, uncertainly.
"Yes," Iroh said," See, she has no one who loves her that is alive."
"But I dan't love her, she hates me," Zuko said.
"I don't think she really HATES you. She was just upset," Iroh said," You could learn to love her, couldn't you?
"I-I guess," Zuko said, grudingly.
"Good, now, we sail tomorrow," Iroh said," Try and spend some time with her. Thats what you'll have a lot of while we're sailing."
Zuko nodded. Iroh headed back inside.
"One more thing, Zuko," he said," A teenage girl's heart is the most unbelievably precious thing in the world. It can be broken and manipulated easily. It can also feel loved and protected. I'm sure I know that YOU know what to do."
He then left. Zuko didn't notice.
"But, Uncle, how am I-?" he started, but stopped.
Arie was standing in the doorway instead. She had a night dress on her where her shoulders were bare.
"Iroh just left," she said, quietly.
"Oh..."
Silence
"I'm sorry I yelled at you before, I was wrong," Arie said.
"No, you weren't," Zuko said.
"Yes, I was, Prince Zuko, I was just upset, I-" she said, but was hushed by Zuko putting his finger to her lips.
"You weren't," he said," You know you don't have to call me Prince anymore."
"Um, okay," she said, softly.
Wow Zuko thought, Only now I notice how shy and innocent she acts and looks sometimes. Hmmm...innocent. WAIT! NO, HOLD IT! WHAT DID I JUST THINK! URGH! I disgust myself.
"So, am...I allowed inside?" Zuko asked.
"Oh, of course, I'm sorry," Arie clushed.
-Why does she seem so skiddish around me all of a sudden?-
They went back inside.
-And now I know why...-
"There is only one bed..." Zuko said.
Arie nodded.
"Uh, you take it, you're the lady," he said.
"We could share it," Arie said, politely.
"Alright," Zuko answered.
Yes, now all you have to do is lie down next to her Zuko thought Then, get on top of her and slide that dress- WHAT AM I THINKING!??! Man, I AM perverted.
So they both got to bed.
-Back to Sailing: 1 Week Later-
The Avatar had escaped Zuko again. He had locked himself in thier room out of anger.
"Iroh, I'm worried about him," Arie said," Does he always do this when the Avatar escapes?"
"Yes, its natural," Iroh said.
Arie sighed.
"I'm gonna go check up on him," Arie said.
She headed down below deck to the room. She knocked on the door.
"Zuko, its me...can I come in?" she asked.
The door opened a bit, so Arie went inside and shut the door. Zuko was sitting on his bed, clearly POed.
"Zuko, are you alright?" Arie asked.
"No I look alright to you?"
he had obviously trashed a few things. His armor was strewn across the floor. Arie's bed was badly burnt.
"You know, I'll have to sleep in your bed now," she said, pointing to her bed.
"I really don't care," Zuko said.
Arie went and sat next to him.
"Zuko, look at me," she said, softly.
He turned away stubbornly.
"Zuko, c'mon," she laughed, turning his head.
He was now looking at her. Arie stroked his cheek. She then rest her head on his shoulder. Zuko seemed to relax a bit as he slipped his arm around her waist.
"Its okay to be upset. Just don't take it too far," Arie whispered," I'm always there to talk to."
"Thanks, Arie," Zuko said.
He stroked her hair, finding in wonderfully soft and silky.
"No problem."
-Another 2 Weeks-
Admiral Zhao's fleet had been spotted going after the Avatar, also. Zuko's ship had landed, so they were all camping once again. Arie went for some exploring in the woods. She had been looking around, when she ran into a guy. He was obviously in high rank in the Fire Nation.
"Who is this?" the guy sneered, grabbing her wrists.
"You're Admiral Zhao, aren't you?" she asked, fearfully.
"Yes, and I'm guessing you're Arie Kozonoko," he said," Prince Zuko's fiance, hmm? I wonder what he'll do if I kidnap you...would he come for you or still look for the Avatar?"
"ZUKO!!" Arie screamed.
"Calling for his help, eh?," he laughed," What can he do?"
Arie snarled.
"Ohhh! Not friendly," Zhao said.
Arie threw a fireball in his face. That started a fight between the two.