Aria Fie

[ShizukaSakoi]

[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]Chapter 1- Disappearance[/glow][/shadow]
It was a cool winter day and Aria was watching TV. It was snowing out side and her favorite show was on. Just when it was getting good the strangest thing happened, it was as if the show was calling her? Weird! She didn’t think anything of it, and kept watching. That’s when it happened….

“Whoa! How did I wind up here?” Aria thought to herself, looking around. By now she was very freaked out, she was in the woods.
She turned and ran in the direction she heard noise.

It was as if she had been picked up and placed in a totally new world. One minute she was sitting on her couch watching TV, then next she was in the woods somewhere. It was warm wherever she was, obviously not the cold winter that was at her house.
When she had run about as far as her legs would allow her,she was near a small town and decided to go there and see where exactly she had wound up. She walked over to a small board with news and ads from those who lived here. Apparently the town was called Fai Lin. She looked around. Everyone was oddly wearing the same colors. And most of the buildings all had red roofs. She stuck out like a sore thumb. Wearing blue jeans and a black t-shirt.

“We caught you, its over!” A man said running over. He looked as though he were a cop or something of the sort. He had a sword in a hilt over his shoulder. He had a woman beside him with a similar outfit on.

“Who me? I haven’t…”she managed to stammer before they grabbed her arms and pulled her away. They dragged her around the corner of a large building. She was thrown into a cell.”Oh great!” she thought to herself.” Now I’m a fugitive in this weird place. And I don’t even know what I’ve done!”

“There, now you cant disturb anyone! We sent a message to the Fire Lord to see what he wants us to do with you. You’re probably from the Earth kingdom. They’re not to happy we overtook Ba Sing Se!” He laughed profusely in her face then locked the door and walked away.

Aria walked over to a small bench in the side of the cell. it was dark and cool inside, very depressing. Then am idea came to her, she was still wearing a bobby pin in her hair, she quickly got up and looked thought the bars on her door. No one was around, and there weren’t any sounds that anyone was nearby. She was alone.

“Ok, I hope this works!” she said to herself in barely a whisper. She put the bobby pin in the lock and began to pick it. Clink. Success! She opened it slightly and looked around, she was going to have to find some new clothes and a bag to keep food and other items in. she closed the door quietly behind her. It latched shut with a soft click. She ran for the door, looked out and ran to the woods. It didn’t seem as if anyone had seen her much to her relief. She walked around in the woods forever it seemed. But hen she stumbled upon what looked similar to a dry cleaning area. But this one used the volcanic steam to clean instead of the machines and belts in the ones back home.

Ducking behind a rock, she looked around; the clothes were exactly the same as the ones the people here wore. She jumped up and ran to grab something of the line quickly. She managed to grab an out fit that fit her and she darted back to the rock, looking around once more to make sure that she hadn’t been seen. Once she changed, she hid her clothes in a tree that would be her home until she could make some money somehow. She walked through the market place. She wasn’t shopping they probably wouldn’t take her money anyway. Instead she looked at the ground searching for dropped change. By the time the sun was setting she had found only a few but it was better than nothing. She was going to have to find a job or something because certainly she couldn’t live like this. Sooner or later she would have to buy food. She began to head back to her tree. She counted the coins she had upon arriving and making a makeshift camp. She didn’t have much, but she could buy something to eat tomorrow, but she was definitely going to need a job.

She awoke the next morning, and put her stuff back in the tree. The sun had only been up for about an hour. Her cell said that it was eight o clock, but it wouldn’t do her any good here. No signal. She turned it off, and strode of toward town. The market place was pretty empty this morning unlike yesterday afternoon. Most people were probably still in their houses. She walked by a small teashop with a sign in the window. She walked over and to her good fortune it was a job opening. The hours were good and the pay would suite her. Some money was better than none! The man inside was much older than she herself, about 60 she guessed. She herself was only 16.

“We’re not open yet young lady, maybe you should come back later” he said looking up from sweeping.

“Oh, I’m not here to buy tea right now” she said looking around, she probably couldn’t afford it anyway,” I saw your ad in the window, and wondered if it was still available?”

“That sign I’ve had in the window has been there for months now, I thought that no one could see it.”

“Maybe they didn’t need a job, or weren’t looking” Aria suggested

“Maybe so, it’s still open. You’ll be delivering tea to the customers. As you can tell, this isn’t the biggest shop on the street, but we have a good many people who’s till come by.” he said smiling.

“So what do you want me to do first? I could dust, boil some water…”

“Well, how about you finish this sweeping for me. I have to go down to the market to get some more tea. I just wish I could make a new sign and some improvements. But it’s so expensive to hire people, and my back isn’t as good as it used to be.” The old man chuckled as he went outside.
A
s she swept, she couldn’t help but think that she could help the old man fix up si shop. She was a good artist after all, top of her class. She could probably help him fix up the interior a bit to. She smiled to herself as she made out the plan.

It was about closing time and her first day had gone well. ”That’s the last one” she said to Xiajin, She had found out his name earlier.

“You did well today, I think that we had the most customers today that we’ve had in weeks!” He said beaming.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about what you said this morning about wanting to fix your shop up, I’d be glad to help. At no extra charge. I could come in early and start if you wanted me to.

“That’s a good offer” he said thoughtfully “but I don’t know if I should accept. There’s a lot to be done here, so…”

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind, I don’t have anything else to do anyway. I could repaint your sign for you, I’m very good at artwork, and maybe we could spruce up this place a bit. That might help you get more customers if they liked the environment here.”

“Yes, yes, you do have a point…”

“Can I?” Aria was practically begging the man, his little shop was kind of sad. No wonder he didn’t have many customers.

“I suppose, but you’ll have to show me what you plan to do with the sign before you actually paint it.”

“YES! I’ll get right to it.” He paid her as she left for the night. She decided to buy some food and a bag. She had to keep her belongings together, what if someone found her stuff up in the tree? She also bought a small set or three scrolls some ink and a brush. They didn’t have pencils or notebooks in this world. But luckily she had always been interested in Chinese calligraphy so she knew how to hold the brush.

Upon arriving at her tree, she put her old clothes in the bag; she had enough food for about two days. She had bough a few fruits to be her meals. She built a small fire and began to carefully draw out the design for the new sign.

[*Erin*]

Hi! I think you are doing a great job with your fanfic, I think there is a good plotline behind it, but it would have been nice to see a little more reaction from Aria in the beginning of the story when she was transported to the fire nation.

But overall, I love the fanfic!

[ShizukaSakoi]

@ *Erin* - Aw, thanks. I tried writing a fanfic on here before, but it was clearly a flop as no one replied. But since I recently took the ACT at my school and got 3rd in my class, I decided to try again.Im glad you like it so far!That means alot to me, especially since the other one was a flop.^^ I havent edited any of this, just kinda typed it up on here as I thought it up. But I can edit it if you think I should.




[glow=red,2,300][shadow=red,left,300]Chapter 2 – Discovery[/shadow][/glow]
“So what have you got?” Xiajin asked as she walked in the next day scroll in hand.

“Well, I figured that since the shops name is The Flaming Ginseng, that we could have a dragon in the corner over here breathing fire onto the title, and we could have a nice steaming cup of tea in the opposite corner, to kind of balance it out.” Aria said laying the scroll out for him to see.

“It is a lot better than the one I came up with a long time ago.” He said looking through the window at his current sign. It was just a plain sign with the name on it.

“So, do you like it? If you don’t, I’m sure that I could come up with something better, but you would have to give me a few ideas on what you would …”

“No, I like it, How about we take it down tonight so the paint can dry flat. Did you think of anything else that might improve the shop?” He asked, he clearly thought that her ideas were going to improve his shop a lot.

“ well, I did think that it would brighten the atmosphere in here if you could put some plants in.” She looked around, it was just plain wooden tables, bare walls, and a bare floor to. “Maybe some bamboo in the corners and some lotus flowers in the windows. Maybe….maybe you could put some little decorative items in the center of each table. A few paintings or a wall mural, and a carpet or two, and you’ll have the best tea shop in town!” She said excitedly. I could get some paint and make some scrolls to hang on the walls with pictures of tigers, dragons, and dragon hawks on them If you like to put on the walls by the door, and then we could paint the two walls on the sides with murals of the ocean and the forested mountains.” She was getting excited now.

“ I suppose that would be good, but It might take a bit for these renovations, if you will. “

“Yeah, it would take a bit, but if we start this morning and paint after closing hours I’m sure it’ll be done soon!” She said cheerily.” It might even boost the value of your shop here!” She said giving him a big smile.

“Why don’t you go down to the market now and see if you can find a good deal on some of these plants that you are talking about. I’m not much of a plant person, but I think that they would do some good in here.”

She was walking down the streets looking for a good plant shop when she stumbled up on another ad wall. It had several wanted posters and the latest newspaper from the nearby news area. She stopped to look at a few. Something caught her eye. A wanted poster of a boy with an arrow on his head was pictured. ”It’s just a coincidence” she thought to herself. But she went on reading it, his name was Aang (which was creeping her out now) and apparently he was the Avatar. He was the AVATAR!!! ”Ok,” she turned around and watched the people walk past her “This cant be happening, I’m in the Avatar World.!?! Now she knew where she was exactly, she was hiding out in the Fire Nation, the worst place to be in the whole world. She turned back to the board and read the newspaper, it read:

“Prince Zuko returns home after long banishment! Fire Lord Ozia has redeemed him for slaying the Avatar. Princess Azula is also home, with the accomplishment that our previous Fire Lord Iroh failed to do, overtake Ba Sing Se! The Earth Kingdom has fallen!

Be sure that you take cover on the Day Of Black Sun, there is supposed to be an invasion that Azula has overheard about that is to happen on that day, when we will be almost completely powerless!”

“That is so not news, that’s just a bunch of idiots writing about the bad things they’ve caused.” She kept walking down the street to a plant shop. “I’ll help Xiajin finish his shop, he’s nice at least. Save my money and head out to the somewhere else.” She thought to herself. She managed to get a good deal on four large bamboo plants, and two White Lotus plants. She had to have the store boy put the plants on a cart and take them down the street. She paid up, and left.

Xiajin, here’s your plants, what do you think?” She asked absentmindedly after the plants had been arranged in there places.

“Well, they certainly give the place a better look don’t they!” he said with a smile. We’re kind of slow today, maybe you could go get some of those table center things you were talking about I saw some that you could put a candle inside for only two copper pieces next door! There on sale so we better take the opportunity.” He said smiling.

She walked out to the shop next door. She couldn’t wait now until the remodeling was done. She was going to buy a world map tonight she decided, maybe save up the rest of her money for the trip. he was also going to need a water skin to keep drinking water in.

“Can I help you?” asked a young boy at the counter. He was about her age, and had been watching her the whole time.

“Umm, yes, where are your candle holders at?”

“Over here” he said, she followed. “So, are you from around here, I haven’t seem you before.” he asked after they had found what she was looking for.

“No, I…travel a lot.” She said barely able to think of something fast enough.

“Are you going o stay here?”

“I haven’t decided” She lied. She wasn’t going to risk anything, she was a stranger to everything here, the less this boy knew she decided the better.

“So why do you need these? I know Xiajin was in here yesterday, said he finally got some help for his little place.” He said almost laughing.

“Yea, that’d be me.” She said walking back to the counter with the six little candleholders with their candles inside.

“Really? I would never have taken you to work for him, he’s kind of a strange old man. That’ll be 12 copper pieces for the holders and 18 for the candles, your total is 30 copper pieces.”

“Here, thank you for your help” she said gathering up her things. ”You know, you shouldn’t judge people before you really know them, he’s actually a very nice guy.”

“Will you be coming back?” he asked hopefully.

“Probably not, but I may need some paint and your prices are good.” She said before leaving.

“Xiajin!” She called” I have the candles and containers, do you want me to put them on the tables now?

‘That would be good, we don’t have any customers right now, we should light them too.”

“Do you have any matches?”

“No, can you not bend either?”

“Nope.”

“Need some help?” asked a familiar voice from the door. It was the boy again. Aria almost wanted to run to the kitchen; she knew that boy was going to try to get her to talk to him more and more. Why did she tell him she worked here!

“Yes Jay, you can firebend cant you? I ran out of matches earlier lighting up the stove for the tea.”

“Sure, trying to light your candles?” He said lighting them before he got a response. “ I see you’ve fixed the place up a bit, looks a lot better.”

“That’s because of my great new help, Aria! She’s going to paint a new sign tonight, and perhaps a few murals for the walls in a few days. She really helped me get this place to get fixed up. I never would have changed it, but she makes it sound so great. It may even boost the value of this little run down place,” he said chuckling before going back to the kitchen. A few customers had come in for tea.

“ So your names Aria.” The boy said coming back toward her.

“Yeah, that’s me, I have to get back to work.”

“Maybe I’ll see you around some time?” The boy sounded hopeful.

“Maybe” she said as he left. It was seven more crucial for her not to let him know anything; she had to keep herself quiet around everyone now, especially since he was a firebender. She did not want to meet Azula, or the Fire Lord. Surely they would kill her, after all, she wasn’t on their side.

“Well, I got the paints that you needed yesterday.” Xiajin said walking from behind the kitchen area.

“Thank you. I’ll go get the sign down. It should be dry by morning.”

It took her forever to paint the sign. But she finally finished it, while she was waiting for it to dry, she figured she may as well get started on the murals she was about halfway done with one wall when Xiajin came in the next morning at dawn.

“Were you here all night? Goodness child, you shouldn’t have done that!”

“Well, I figured that I was going to have to wait for it to dry anyway, so I just started on the mural.”

“It looks as if the land just moved itself and became my wall!” He sounded astonished at how it looked.

“Do you like it?” she asked in a worried tone. She thought that it was good, but she didn’t quite know if it was what he wanted.

“It’s marvelous! I’ve never seen anything like it before! The sing out front looks great to.” He just looked at her for a minute then back at the wall. “How about you finish this wall today and I’ll just have the customers come up to the kitchen with their orders.”

With that he went in to heat up some water, he had opened the store already and people were making their way down the street outside. She saw some people stop and glance at the sign as if the shop had never been there before, and they came in to get some tea. They had a record breaking number of customers that day Xiajin told her at closing. He was absolutely beaming now. The mural was finished, and she had even started on the other.

“I believe that you saved my little shop here Arai!”

“Is it ok if I stay here late again to finish the mural? I hate to leave art unfinished.” She had to stop herself before say that it was Chinese tradition to do works in one sitting so the mood wouldn’t change. But he had never heard of the Chinese before, so she would have just freaked him out.

“I guess you can, just don’t stay all night like you did last night, you need some sleep.”

"I guess so.” She laughed, and went back to her work as he headed home.

It was late when she finished. She blew out the three candles she had let burn for light grabbed her bag and locked the door. When she turned to the street, it was dark with not a soul in site, and there was a cool breeze blowing that made her shiver. She went down the street to edge of the woods. She figured that she was going to have to do without a fire tonight, she had no matches or dry wood, it had rained at some point during the night, as most of the ground was wet. Eventually she found a dry rock to sleep on before calling it a night. The moon above glowed in fullness. And for and instant it was brighter than usual, but she thought that she was only dreaming.

[ShizukaSakoi]

[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]Chapter 3- The Dream[/glow][/shadow]

Aria awoke the next morning when the sun shone on her face. The rock proved to be very uncomfortable. But she had to go to work now. She stretched and walked by a stream to get some water, and do her hair. She ate her moonpeach. She walked into The Flaming Ginseng and the boy was there drinking tea, obviously waiting for her.

“Good morning Aria!” he said jumping up. “You did an extraordinary job on these walls!”

“Thanks. It took me forever last night to finish that one.” She said pointing to it.

“I know” he said knowingly “I could see the light in the window as I left last night after restocking the shelves. And that takes a good deal of time to do.”

“ Well, I have to get to work now, maybe I’ll see you later.” She said quickly walking away.

“Great!” Jay thought to himself “ I’m scarring her away or something, she never want s to talk…maybe I’ll wait for her tonight so she cant avoid me by working before the shop is technically open.” With that he left and went to go work a shift at his own store.

At closing, Aria gathered up her bag, and Xiajin paid her. He liked to pay her once a week. But since they had been getting more customers, she noticed that he paid her slightly more.

“See you Monday!” Xiajin called. He had one day a week that the shop was closed that was Sunday.

“See you then!” Aria called back before heading out the door.

“So, Where are you going this evening?” Jay asked.

Startled, Aria jumped back, and almost ran.” Home”

“Would you like to go down by the harbor? They have a shop down there with the best flaming fire flakes around!” he looked at her eagerly.

She hadn’t really done anything fun lately, just worked and gone back to the tree. The most she had seen of the town was what she passed daily. “ I guess I could g with you.”

“Lets go then!” He grabbed her hand and led her to the harbor. “So, what part of town do you live in?”

“I’d prefer not to say”

“Here we are!” he bought them a bag of the flaming fire flakes and kept walking toward the beach.

“These are pretty good!”

“You’ve never had these before?”

“Well, no, um, they didn’t have them in the earth kingdom where I was at.”

“You were in the earth Kingdom! Wow, I’ve always wanted to go there, but my mother wants me to stay here, in the fire nation, One day though, I’d like to go.” He looked longingly out at the sea.

She didn’t want to tell Jay deep inside, but somehow it slipped right out. “I’m leaving soon.”

“What? You only got here a few weeks ago! Where are you going?” Jay seemed suddenly distracted, as if he had reached a goal, but it hadn’t been what he’d expected.

“I knew that I wasn’t going to stay here long. I needed a job though, that’s the only reason I’ve been here this long. It’s getting late, I should be getting home.” She used it as an excuse; she didn’t really have to go anywhere.

“Yeah, I guess your right. I’ll see you Monday.”

“See you Monday” she said as he walked away. She looked out at the see, the harbor had huge boats that cast even bigger shadows making the water darker under the setting suns glow. She sighed, looked at Jay as he walked down the beach, and made her way back to the woods.

It was dark in the woods but not wet like the night before. She climbed a tree, and slept up there, she could sleep in if she wanted the next morning. Might as well, there was nothing else to do. She drifted of into a strange dream that night. She was climbing mountains somewhere up in the clouds. But when she reached the top, she was standing on level ground with doors, and passages. Even buildings, all carved from the mountainside.
“Hello?” she called, no answer. She walked around one of the paths that went up to an overview area. Upon getting to the top she found an old man, He was meditating on something. She was about to approach him when he just vanished. Suddenly there was a huge flying creature coming toward her, It was white and had a brown arrow on its head. She knew what it was, A flying bison. Then it was gone to. She was now in a room with a cracked mural. It had people with gliders on the walls, and flying bison with them. She was in an air temple! But which one? She looked around, and guessed that it was the eastern air temple, since the direction the sun was rising. Then she woke up, a branch had snapped below her. She looked down, and there stood Jay. How could he have found her? Maybe he hadn’t seen her she hoped. He had a spear or something with him, probably hunting. He crept under her, she dared not breathe. But her bag moved against the tree.

Instantly he looked up, and almost threw his spear at her. She flinched, expecting it to hit her.

“What are you doing here?” he asked her confused.

“Um..” she couldn’t think of anything. Instead she just jumped down from her tree.

“I almost speared you!” He sounded very shaken up.

“I tried to be still, I didn’t want to startle you, but my bag moved.” She said

“You still didn’t answer me, what were you doing out here?”

“I was, looking for an inspiration for a drawing.” That should be good enough, she thought.

“Well, just don’t do it again, I could have killed you.”

“I’m going to the market now, I shouldn’t startle you there should I?”

“What are you going to do there?”

“I need to get a few things.”

“Like what? You were just up in a tree, now your going to the market?”

Certainly is a nosy person, “I have to get a map, and some food, why?”

“Just wondering. You know, I really wish you weren’t leaving. Where are you going anyway?”

“Ba Sing Se.” She was really going to the Eastern Air Temple, but he didn’t need to know that.

“I heard that Azula recently took over Ba Sing Se! She became the head of the Di Fi, or whatever it’s called.”

“Di Li. Their the agents that kept the city under control.” She began to walk away.

“Wait, maybe I could go with you.”

“To the market, yes, to Ba Sing Se, no.”

“To the Market. I already told you I cant leave the Fire Nation.”

“I guess” She walked fast to the Market. Even if she hadn’t wanted him to come along, he probably would have followed her.

She walked around for a good deal of time. She was searching for a good deal. At last, she found a map of the world. She bought a water skin to hold her drinking water, a and of course, a good deal of food to last her a bit. She went over to the harbor last, and looked at the prices to travel to the earth kingdom. She would have to work for about another week in order to afford it though. Better make it two to be on the safe side once she got to her destination. She would have to sail south of the Fire Nation.

“So, when are you leaving?”

“Probably in about two weeks. I don’t quit have enough money to buy a ticket yet, and then I’ll have to have money to buy food once I get there, so I better stay about two more weeks.”

“Well, I guess that’s better than leaving tomorrow.”

“ You’re going to do just fine without me here Jay!” she said putting her hand on his shoulder.

“I know, it’s just that, never mind. Is that everything that you needed to buy?”

“Well, yeah. I guess that you can go hunting again.”

“Yeah” they were headed back t the woods “but where are you going, home?”

“No, back to where you found me, just don’t shoot me ok!”

“I promise. See you tomorrow morning.”

“See you” She put her bag down and sat on a rock. She took out her two remaining scrolls, and her ink and brush. She was going to make the scrolls for the bare wall. It took the rest of the day. They would match perfectly. The shop was almost complete now.

She grabbed her waterskin and walked toward a creek that was nearby to fill it up. How was she going to tell Xiajin that she was leaving? He might get help faster now, that the shop was clearly doing better. Jay clearly liked her, and wasn’t happy she was leaving. But he would have to get over it. She knew that she was going to have to leave the day she came to the town. She had to go to the Eastern Air temple soon and maybe find out what that dream meant. “Maybe I’ll find the Avatar, but it’s unlikely.” She whispered to herself.

She began to make a small fire for the night, she took out her cell phone, and turned it on, just to hear it’s little electronic noises. She watched one of the videos on it. Turned it off again, and went to sleep.

It was late that night when Jay cam creeping through the woods, he was on his way back to the house. He had set his traps. The glow of the fire thought the tree’s caught his eye, and he walked toward it. He peered through the tree’s to see who was there, all he saw was a dark figure of someone lying down. He moved around the small enclosure, almost soundlessly. Finally he could see the face, no, it couldn’t be-Aria?

[ShizukaSakoi]

ok, I spaced it for you, Hopefully that wil be esier to read.I also changed the beggining a little, so she would show a little more..emotion when she first crossed over.I didnt change it much, just a little. Hope you like it.

[*Erin*]

I love chapters 2 and 3. Your fanfic is really developing! Good job!

[ShizukaSakoi]

Thankx, Im so glad that this one is doing great! I got the idea from a daydream(weird huh?lol)

[ShizukaSakoi]

[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]Chapter 4- Searching[/glow][/shadow]

Jay crept around the little place. She was asleep, but he didn’t want to wake her. Why in the world was she sleeping here? He thought back to earlier when she was up in the tree; it wasn’t to far from here. He sat there awhile, watching her little fire. She couldn’t bend fire, so she had to make it herself somehow. He thought about how when he first met her she seemed very to-the –point, but he could see the fear in her eyes. The next day when he came over, she almost jumped as the people came in the door to get away from him. And just earlier today, she was hesitant. She was afraid of him. Every time he caught her eye, he could see it clearly. She tried to hide it, but without success. He was good at telling what people were up to, but this girl proposed a challenge, he knew she was scared of him, but why? She avoided most of his questions, and didn’t tell hardly anything about herself. And now she was leaving after only being here for a few weeks. It didn’t make sense. But he knew more about her than she thought he did. That was his only advantage over her. He looked at the stars through the trees. The sun would be rising soon, and he didn’t know how early Arai would wake so he gathered his spear and the hogmonkey he had caught, then headed toward the city, taking one look back before completely disappearing into the woods.


Morning came, and Aria woke to a larger fire than usual. It was as if someone had been there in the night to tend to it while she slept. She looked around, no one. Relieved, she grabbed a moonpeach out of her bag and sat by the fire. Then she dumped some water on it so she could head down to the tea shop. Xiajin was already there, heating water as usual.

“Good morning Aria, how was your day off?”

“Good I guess. Jay almost speared me when I was up in a tree.”

“What on earth were you doing in a tree!?”

“Well, I was-looking for an inspiration for the scrolls I did for the room here!” She said remembering what she had told Jay, not wanting to confuse her lies in case they happened to bring it up later- she produced the two scrolls.

“Better hang those up, the customers have been increasing more and more. I even heard some people in the market yesterday talking about coming here today! Imagine that, my little old teashop is getting popular! Hahaha” He went into the kitchen laughing to himself as he prepared for another day.

She had defiantly helped Xiajin in getting his shop to a better place. But how was she supposed to get to the temple? She had heard that only air nomads could get to them. But they were nearly impossible to get to, without the help of a flying bison. And of course she didn’t have one; only Aang had one (at least that was what the rest of the world thought, that the airnomads were extinct, along with the bison.) But she wasn’t an earth bender either, if she was, she could have scaled the wall in no time. She would have to think on this. But how did she know that this man who was there hadn’t made a way to get up? Or what if he had left? She tried not to think about that. But for now she was going to concentrate on her work and tend the tables of the awaiting customers.

“Good morning sir, what will you be having today?”

Jay had the day off, and decided that he would go back to the spot he found Aria the night before. He knew that she had to work today, and she would have left. He was going to find out what she was up to. Upon arriving, there was nothing there to give away that either of them had been there last night, just the fireplace she had made. By now it was just a pile of black coal. It was still damp as if she had poured water on it. He looked around to see if there was even a small item that she left behind. Nothing.

He sat down and looked around, well at least he knew where she was staying, or at least where she stayed yesterday. He would spy on her tonight. And find out exactly what she was up to. He looked around for a good hiding place there was a tree. The tallest one in the area, and it would make perfect cover! He decided that that was to be his hideout.

Before returning home for the night, Aria went over to the shop across the street, and bought a small tent. When she did get to the earth kingdom, she may need something to shelter her from the rain. The one she got was small, and grey but it came with a nice little blanket so it would do. She headed for the woods. It was a cool night, as if the air was getting cooler as the days went by, since she had been here, she still couldn’t tell exactly what season it was, but her best guess was that it was early fall or something.

Coming up to her familiar camp, she looked around. “Home sweet home” she thought thinking of what her family might be doing. She missed being with them. But at the same time, she liked how this new world was. Full of adventure and no one really cared if she was old enough to live on her own. It was a simple world, it didn’t have the worries of her home. Between school, home, and friends, it could be hard to find time for yourself. But here it was different, you had more freedom. No one really knew her anyway- she had made sure of that. She dropped her bag and new tent on the ground and began to collect some firewood for the night. She had to make the fire before dark, as she wouldn’t be able to see without it.

Still up in his tree, Jay was watching her closely. Nothing unusual yet maybe he was just imagining the wrong scenario. She had told him that she was traveler; maybe she preferred to be outside. Well, even if she was, he decided that it was good that he was just making sure she was all right. He looked down at her again; she had been trying to make a fire for a long time now. He wished he could help, as it would be dark soon, but that would compromise his position. If she found out he was here, what would she do? Alas she finally got it.

Well, camp was finally good. She had all the dry wood she could find within the area, so it should last her awhile. Tomorrow could pose a problem for her though. She looked in her bag to find some food, only one moonpeach left; she would have to go to the market tomorrow. She lay down to go to sleep, with the stars twinkling above, and the cool night air drifting through the trees on the clear summer night.

Jay began to come down from his tree late; after he was sure Aria was asleep. When he got down, he looked over, fearful he had waken her. But she was still in her peaceful sleep. How beautiful she looked, with the fire’s last flames shining over her, casting shadows around them. He couldn’t help but crouch there where he had come down, it was as if he were frozen stiff. A bird flew by and she moved slightly. He stood up. He should be heading back to his house now, he would have to use the excuse of “nothing came his way” since he was supposed to be hunting.

On the long walk home through the woods, and the deathly silent town, Jay got to thinking. “What was it like to really know Aria?” he had never seen her smile, except at customers. He shook his head “Why are you still thinking about her, you don’t even know her!” But deep inside himself he knew the answer – he was falling for this strange young girl who had stumbled into his life.

[kooties]

The story itself is quite nice.

Keep it up!

[*Erin*]

Chapter four wqs amazing, It was my favorite one yet!

[ShizukaSakoi]

Thankx! I think I may post a new one in a couple days, I havent quite finished it yet. Im so glad you guys like it^^

[ShizukaSakoi]

[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]Chapter 5- Narrow Escape[/glow][/shadow]

As the weeks passed by, Aria became more wary of herself. Being in the Firenation so long wasn’t easy-especially if you hated the war that they began. Jay had been away oddly. He didn’t seem to come to the shop anymore.

She wondered of he had finally gotten over her. Even if a part of her enjoyed his attention… She shook the thought from her head. It wasn’t right for her to feel this way about him- a firebender.
It was her day off and she had spent the majority of it by the beach. Her days here in the Fir nation were drawing to a close after all, why not do some ‘sightseeing’? Off in the distance lay the crescent island where Avatar Roku’s temple used to be. It was rumored that Avatar Roku himself destroyed it through Aang. When Admiral Zhoa and Prince Zuko both tried their luck at capturing him.

She dropped her bag on the soft sand, almost golden in the suns last fleeting rays, and sat down. The rushing waves meeting the shore gave a sense of peace around her that she had always liked about the ocean, no matter which one it was. She felt a sudden pang of homesickness as the last beachgoers passed her on their way home.

The cool breeze came over the waves and blew her hair from her face. Bringing with it the sharp smell of seawater. She had stayed there forever it seemed watching the sun set. Her thoughts were constantly drifting, like the waves themselves, but always seemed to wind up on Jay. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t keep him off her mind. She looked out over the horizon and wondered what the Earth kingdom was like, or even the Air temple she was to go to soon. Sighing, she picked up her bag and headed back toward town. The streets were deserted except a few people by their doorways. A young girl was still playing with her doll. Aria kept walking until she finally came to the camp that had been her home the entire time she had been in this world. It would be dark soon, and there were only a few splotches of light under the cover of trees. She dropped her bag and made a small fire. She had been getting better at this, since there weren’t any matches that she knew of in this world. Listening to the soft crackling of the fire and peaceful wood, she drifted off to sleep.

When she woke, she wasn’t sure what time it was, or who was in front of her. Only that it was still night as the sky overhead was black still.

“I’ll ask you again, what are you doing in this part of the woods?” His voice sounded harsh and angry.

“I was –“ she started but he cut her off.

“This is the land Im renting for the rest of the hunting season, and I don’t like to see vagabonds, or homeless people such as yourself here scaring away the game!”

By now she had stood up, ready to give this guy a peace of her mind, as she had been staying here in this exact spot for weeks now.

“Put your hands up, I don’t want you to grab some hidden knife and attack me like people such as yourself tend to do.” he commanded, producing a sword froma hilt on his back that she hadn’t noticed before. He came closer slowly, almost hesitant, but with an air of power, and status. She tried not to show her fear, but her eyes betrayed her even in the dim light of the fire, and he seemed to notice.

By now she had backed up against a tree, and the man who stood before her stepped closer. She looked around for an escape, but the tree was to her back and the man was close. If she did manage to run for it, he could probably just catch her and attack her then. She tried not to think about it.

“You look very familiar trespasser.” He looked her up and down “Do you know what I do to trespassers who scare the game away?”

“Umm…not particularly…if I could just-“

“Leave? You aren’t going anywhere” he was right in front of her now. “ I remember now little vagabond, you’re the strange girl we locked up a few weeks back, the one who escaped.” The long blade shone in the shadowed darkness as he raised it as if to cut her. She closed her eyes not wanting to see it actually happen, even though she wouldn’t be able to block out the pain. It never came, but the sound of the weapon hitting a rock to her right startled her. She opened her eyes

“So, you’ve got friends do ya?” he said, grabbing her harshly around the color of her shirt and pinning her against the tree. “Do you have any idea how much I’m gonna get for turning you in?”

She recognized him then, he was the guard who had arrested her when she first came here, she wanted to yell at him, but her voice never came.

“HA! I’m going to get such a good raise after the FireLord hears about this!” He paused, laughing to himself. “How did you ever get out little witch?” He pressed her against the tree so hard that she wanted to yell from the pain in her shoulders, the rough bark pressing harshly into her back.

Suddenly, a fireball was shot at the mans feet, he spun around, thrusting her in front of him as a shield. Jay was on the ground in front of them; clearly he had been up in a tree.

With the skill of a master he thrust arcs of flame at the man who held her captive. He loosened his grip on her, and she took the opportunity. She kicked him hard in the knee, so hard he bent over. She ran to her bag and scooped it up. She ran over to Jay who was still on his guard. The man was just getting up when he shot the last ball of fire, straight at him. That’s when they bolted into the woods. He led her deep into the woods until they came to a small clearing and a cave appeared.

“Jay” she said sitting on a rock.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks, you saved me back there.” She looked up at him, he was looking out at the woods where they had come from. “But I have to ask, why were you there? I’m glad you were but…” her voice trailed off.

At first he was hesitant to reply “I was just making sure you were ok.” He looked at her returning her gaze. In the moonlight her eyes sparkled. They sat there for awile, looking back at the trees almost expecting the man to jump out of them. “So,” he said breaking the silence “you were in jail?”

Oh that!” she looked at the ground “It was a big misunderstanding that they still don’t get. I’m not a fugitive or anything if that’s what your thinking!”

“I never said that, but listen, I know your leaving in a few days. My dad gets home tomorrow night from the war, he may let me travel, and I was wondering if you wanted someone to go to the Earth Kingdom with you.”

There was so much hope in his eyes, he probably had always wanted to see the world, but his mom had made him stay home. But if he did come, wouldn’t that pose a problem for her going to the temple? “so your dads a soldier?” she said trying to sest his opinion on the war.

“Well, he was drafted. To tell the truth, we dotn exactly agree with the war. But you cant exactly say no to the Fire Lord!”

“Yeah, I guess not. Well, I guess I can wait till you get an answer before buying my ticket if you want.”

“Great! You can stay here if you want, so you don’t have to deal with the lunatic. I don’t know what my mom would say if I let you stay at the house, I would let you stay there but…”

“This is fine, I like being outside anyway.” she smiled.

“Ok, my house is just beyond those tress over there, and town is a lot closer than you would think it would be.” He said pointing, he got up “better head home now.” He started to walk away.

“Jay”

“yeah” he turned around again.

“Thanks again”

It was awile after Jay had left that she decided to go to sleep. What had she done? Suppose he could go, and she would have to tell him of course she wasn’t firenation! This could be the worst decision she had made since arriving here.

[ShizukaSakoi]

[glow=red,2,300]Chapter 6- Dawn of Departure[/glow]

Aria awoke to the sound of rustling leaves. She got up quickly and stood at the entrance of the cave in the morning’s mist. The sun was just coming up over the treetops, and there were a few grey clouds drifting by in the sky overhead.

“This is the day!” she thought, “The day I leave for the Earth kingdom.” She turned back to the cave, and gathered up her bag, and tent.

Xiajin had already paid her the day before so all she had to do was get some food for the long trip. She started heading into town; at least, the direction Jay had said town lay. There was a small trail, almost completely overgrown with plants but she followed it nonetheless. She had been walking along it for about ten minutes in complete silence when she came to a wider trail, the followed it and within no time was coming up on a small group of houses.

She didn’t want to disturb anyone, so she passed the quickly. Hoping she hadn’t been seen by Jay. There was no one in the streets oddly. She came upon the market street. It was about seven in the morning she guessed, so where was everyone?
She walked by a shop, luckily it sold food and had an open sign in the window. She walked in.

“Excuse me, but where is everyone this morning?” She asked the man behind the counter.

“You didn’t hear! It was posted on the news board late last night, there’s a fugitive in the forest on the loose. Apparently armed and dangerous, and has a friend to. Left a man simply out hunting to die in the woods. No one wants to face them. I think the stalls are closed today in fear the pair will attack them. A hawk was sent to the Fire Lord this morning asking for soldiers to help go through the woods! So, what can I get for you today?”

“Umm, maybe some of your moon peaches, I’ll be leaving this morning, so I need to stock up on supplies.”

“Leaving? At this time!”

“I’ve been planning to leave for awhile now, I’m headed for the …ummm…colonies in the Earth Kingdom.”

He gave her the supplies, and she left. The streets were still empty. Hopefully the docks wouldn’t be quit so deserted.

As she walked through the death silent town, she passed only one guard, who stiffened as she passed. The city was obviously in a case of disaster right now. And they had no idea as to what really happened the night before. Finally she came upon the dock. It was just as she expected. Sailors would go through everything, and earthquake wouldn’t stop them from trying to get on with life. She walked around trying to find a good deal on a ticket price.

“Aria! Aria!” She turned abruptly Jay almost ran into her.

“What? Stop yelling, can you see that I would obviously be able to hear you a mile away today? The city’s practically dead!”

He just looked at her. “Well, it is kind of awkward to be this still in the morning” he said looking around.

He obviously hadn’t heard yet either. “Look” she said in hushed tones making sure no one was within hearing distance of her, “you know what happened last night? Well, that’s why its so quite! They think that we attacked that man in the woods and left him to die. They sent word to the FireLord this morning to have reinforcements sent to search the woods for the fugitive-guess who that is!?” She looked at him hard

“You.”

“Right, and their also looking for my ‘accomplice’. So I’m going to have to set sail today, or they’ll eventually have me.”

“Well, you’re not going alone! My dad said it was about time I saw the world for myself, even if my mom protested.”

“Great, do you have food, a tent, and other supplies like that?”

“Yeah, got it packed last night” he said picking up a bag from behind him, slinging it over his shoulder. He had something else strung across his back as well now that she hadn’t noticed before, a sword.

“So, guess you noticed the sword, huh?”

“Who wouldn’t!”
“My dad wanted me to have it, you never know what you might come across in the Earth Kingdom!”

“Right-lets go, we need to get our tickets now. There’s a good price on the ones over her, but I think there leaving in a few minutes.” She started running over to the ships stall. “I, I need two tickets please.” She said placing her money on the counter, and Jay did the same.

“Your just in time then!” he said grabbing the money quickly “ Ship sets sail in five minutes. Here are your tickets; you’ll get your room once you’re on board. It’ll take about a three days to get to the shores, so there are three meals included-dinners. Enjoy the trip.”

They took the tickets and walked up the plank to the ships main deck. It certainly wasn’t the biggest ship in the harbor, but it would have to do for them. A man walked over to them.

”You the last two?”

“I think so.”

“Set ‘er loose boys!” he hollered at the sailors. “ I’ll show you to your room. Follow me” he began to go below deck “I hope you brought some food with you we only serve dinners. We should be arriving on the Earth kingdom shores in about three days- or the morning of the fourth I should say. Anyway, heres your room.” he said opening the door.

The room was small, but what could she have expected? There was a pair of bunk beds to her right, and a small chest to the left. A mirror hung on the wall by the small window they had for light.

Jay had already set his bags down on the top bunk, leaving the sword on his back. “Wow, were actually going overseas!”

Jay was obviously excited. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out the door running to the main decks front. The ship cresting the waves as it began to move away from the shores.

“Aria, were going to see the world” he looked at her, his amber eyes aglow with anticipation. This was probably his dream-to see the world, but his parents had never let him, at least not until she had come into his life.

“Yeah, the world” she looked out on the horizon, the sun was above them, the sky still grey “he has no idea how much of the world he may see….” She added in her thoughts looking away from him.

[ShizukaSakoi]

[shadow=red,left,300][glow=red,2,300]Chapter 7 – Arrival[/glow][/shadow]


The days had passed by slowly, the smell of saltwater was everywhere, there was no escaping it. The toss and turn of the ship was getting annoying as well, she longed for the solidity of the ground. They spent most of the time in their cabin.

It was very early, and Aria couldn’t sleep. She had anticipated this day for a long time now. She got up quietly, hoping not to wake jay up. She put on her jacket and opened the door; she closed it quietly behind her. The small corridor was lit every few feet by a torch, but the light alone was eerie to her. She walked up the stairs, and was greeted by a gust of chilly night air. The sky above her was clear, the stars a myriad of lights in the sky that went on for eternity. The moon shone brightly above, lighting the water with and almost icy look as it tossed below.

She walked to the bow of the ship and peered out. Just water, that’s all she had seen for days. She still hadn’t told Jay she intended to leave the Firenation colony immediately upon arriving.(after getting some new clothes of course!) Btu she couldn’t do it here, with only Firenation people around her. It had been weighing her down so hard, at times she just had to go away, for fear she’d just tell him right them. She hated not being completely honest with him.

She leaned on the railing and looked down at the water being parted by the ship.

“Arai” It was Jay’s voice.

She turned, startled. ”Did I wake you? I didn’t mean to.”

“No, I couldn’t sleep either. What are you doing up here?” he moved over by her.

“I don’t know…. I just needed some fresh air I guess.” Was all she could say. “The moon almost full tonight isn’t it?”

“It’s a beautiful night.” He said looking out over the horizon. “You know, there’s a story that has been going around the city for awhile now, I don’t know if you’ve heard it or not but-“ He stopped in the middle of his sentenced.

She looked at him, “Are you going to tell it, Im sure I probably haven’t heard it.”

“Ok, here goes. Rumor has it that when fire Lord Ozia sent a fleet to attack the North Pole, something amazing happened. The Avatar changed into this uge water beast the destroyed the fleet! But because the leader-Admiral somebody, Zhoa I think was his name- tried to kill the moon spirit, the water beast killed him.! Drug him right into the water.”

“Yeah, that’s not all that happened that day, Yue became the moon” Aria added in her thoughts. She looked at the moon.

“But the most amazing thing, is that a girl revived the moon spirit, and actually became the moon! It’s probably just some tale somebody made up, but it was really good when the news bringer from the capital told it.”

“I think that stories true.” She was going to give him the facts on this one, “ The young girl was actually the Northern Watertribe chiefs daughter. She was born sick, so her parents went to the spirit oasis where the moon and ocean spirits live. IT was that day that the moon spirit gave her life. Her hair was given a white appearance because if it. So when Admiral Zhoa killed the moon spirit, she gave her life back to it, and became the moon spirit.”

“How do you know this?”

“When you travel, you just know things I guess.” She couldn’t tell him that this was actually a TV show that she was in, one she knew a lot about. He would think she was insane, let alone probably wouldn’t know what a TV was.

“LAND HO!” the sailor from the crow’s nest yelled.

The sun was just cresting the horizon in front of them. They could only see the mountains far of in the distance

The Earth Kingdom!” jay whispered, “Were almost there!”

“It’ll be a good hour before we actually arrive, if the wind and tide stay with us.” A sailor said coming over to tighten some of the ropes.

That hour had to be the longest that either could remember. They sat on the deck with their belongings. Not that there were many, only three bags which were made for easy travel. But then the time finally came when they could get off the ship.

The Earth Kingdom was even better than she had expected. And even though this was a Fire Nation port, their were still several places nearby where she could get some new clothes.

“So, what do we do now?” jay asked,

“How about we restock our food supplies before heading west. Oh, you may want to buy some Earth Kingdom clothes as well.”

“What! Why?”

“Trust me, your going to want to blend in, they don’t like firenation people to well. Meet me back here in fifteen minutes, ok.”

When they came back, Aria led him to the end of town, taking out her map, she showed him a bit of the way, which they would take.

“So, why are we going south?”

“Well, umm, There’s something down there I have always wanted to see.”

“Awesome, were vagabonds now! Travelers of the world.”

It seemed that they had been walking for almost an eternity. The sun was getting low in the sky and they decide to make camp. There was no road they were following, just the map. It was getting dark and Jay made a fire in barely a minute it seemed.

“Jay, there’s something I have to tell you.”

“What?” he wet on watching the fire.

“I’m not firenation” It was so hard for her to actually say this, even though she had rehearsed it a hundred times in her head. What if he reacted wrong? “I figured I should tell you before we got to far from the Fire nation colony. I would have told you before, but you would have turned me in. At least this way, if you want to go back, you can, and I don’t have to go to jail.”

“Your not? I should have figured, your not like the girls back home. And besides, most girls don’t travel like you, let alone by themselves. So then what kind of bender, or nation are you?”

“Well, I don’t know exactly. I’m telling you this so if you want to leave you can. I’m headed south so I can see something.”

“Leave? His gaze changed from the flames to her “ Why would I do that? Just because I was born Firenation and happen to be a bender, doesn’t mean I’m evil or something. I wouldn’t leave. So what is it you want to see? Now that you’ve told me the one thing I’ve been trying to figure out why you were so secretive.”

“Well, I’ve had this dream for nights on end-always the same one. Im headed west so I can go to the air temple there. “

“So your dream was about the temple?”

“Yeah, but there’s a monk there that I want to see. He may be able to help me figure out what the heck is up with my life lately.”

“Right, I wont ask about that. Btu why do you want to see the monk? How do you even know if he’s there or if it was just a dream you had.”

“I don’t know, but I just have to try.” With that they went to sleep, the fire burning late into the night. Jay had defiantly taken the news a lot better than she had expected.

[The Overlander]

^ Wow, this is starting to sound pretty nifty. Keep it up
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