Asha watches over Gumi's saddle, Zulu asleep in her lap, as Appa sinks lower and lower, nearly sinking into the water. Rubbing her eyes (well aware of the growing bags under them), she lets some slack off on the reigns, signaling Gumi to lower; which he does, staying a good amount higher than Appa as Asha watches as Aang groans into his hands. 

"I'm not one to complain, but can't Appa fly any higher?"  Sokka groans looking to the driver of the bison. Asha snickers to herself at the blatant white lie.

"I have an idea, why don't we all get on your back and you can fly us to the North Pole. " Aang snaps, turning to Sokka, his own eyes having large, dark bags under them. 

"I'd love to! Climb on everyone!" Sokka stops to turn, shaking his butt at the air bender.  "Sokka's  ready for takeoff!" The only response being Momo jumping onto his back. 

"Look, we're all just a little tired and cranky because we've been flying for two day straight, even Zulu's tuckered out." Katara tries, defusing the situation. Said raptor was currently wrapped tightly in a wool blanket, snoring away.

"It's not entirely our fault either, when I woke up at the North pole, they were well hidden, needed someone to help me out of the maze when I left ." Asha looked to Appa's saddle, getting blank stares in response. 

"Face it, there's noting up here!" Sokka yells, Asha looking forward with a huff only to rapidly pull Gumi's reigns, pulling him higher in the air. Ice starts to rapidly shoot towards Appa, barely missing Gumi. Securing Zulu to Gumi's saddle, who was now awake, Asha jumps to Appa, helping the fallen to their feet. More ice shoots at Appa, Asha falling back as she tries to help Katara. Gumi lets out a groan in response, looking like he wants to go closer. She manages to hold on however. She looks around to see familiar skiffs approach.

"It's me! It's me!" Asha yells waving to a group of water benders who look at her with surprise, bringing their arms back to themselves, stopping the ice from hitting Appa again. 

"They're water benders! Asha, we found them!" Katara yells to the girl, whose laughing to herself as flashbacks wrack her mind. 

___

Asha tightens her jacket around her, back in her water tribe clothing, and adjusts Zulu, who was currently wrapped in a shawl around her. Blankets laid within the portable crib, Zulu wrapping herself tighter into them.  The bender watches as blankets are piled onto her other reptile, Gumi, who lays his head near a freshly made fire.  Walking towards the others, Asha notices the Southern water tribes in their traditional clothing. 

It's as they float on Appa towards the castle (Aang driving with Asha right next to him) that Asha recognizes a familiar face, Sokka gawking as she passes in a small boat. She had beautiful white hair which was elaborately styled, and a luxurious purple coat all of which were all to familiar to the air bender.

"This place is beautiful." Katara sits amazed at the sight of the building around her, Asha smiling in pride. 

"Yea, she is." Sokka mutters, falling to Appa's tail. 

"You mean Princess Yue?" Asha looks behind them, the same princess that found her in the first place floating peacefully away.

"You know her?!" Sokka had jumped into Asha's face, waking Zulu in the process.

 "Uhh, yeah?" 

___

"Tonight, we celebrate the arrival of our brother and sister from the Southern Tribe, both of which have brought very special people. People whom many thought disappeared from the world until now, " He gestures to Asha and Aang, both nodding, greeting him. "The Avatar and his Onsra!" He pauses as the crowd cheers before him. "We also celebrate my daughter's 16 birthday." He steps back as princess Yue walks up to them, smiling at Asha, who returns it. 

"Princess Yue is now of marrying age." Her dad smiles with pride as Sokka's eyes widen.

"Thank you, father. May the great Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over us during these troubled times."  Yue speaks with a rehearsed pride, moving gracefully before sitting beside Sokka.  Katara sitting next to him, then Aang and finally Asha on the end. 

"Now, Master Pakku and his students will preform!" 

"So, is 16 really the marrying age here?" Aang leans over to Asha, who looks to him with an eyebrow raised. 

"Yes? It was the same at the air temples." Aang looked to the girl with shock, the brunette looking away to feed Zulu bits of her own meal. When she looks back, she laughs at the flabbergasted Avatar.

"Did I just miss the memo?" He whisper shouts, praying to god that no one beat him to the punch.

"Why does it matter? Got a special someone you wanna marry?" Asha looks coyly at Aang as she speaks.

"Absolutely, have you seen my reflection?" Aang wiggles his eyebrows at the girl, the lack of light hiding his blush. He knew it was a lie. The someone he wanted to marry was sitting right in front of him, feeding a small raptor like it was her child (come to think of it, she would make a great mother).

He was interrupted by footsteps approaching their table, looking up to see the Chief and Master Pakku.  Following Asha's example, Aang stands and bows to the water bender.

"Master Pakku, meet your newest student, the Avatar." 

"Just because you're destined to save the world, don't expect any special treatment. The same goes to my returning student." He looks between Aang and Asha.  When Asha was still recovering, Master Pakku had taught her a few water bending stances she used for air-bending. She supposed now she could use them for their intended purposes. 

"My friend and I can't wait to start training with you- after we relax for a couple days." Aang tried to reason, ignoring the past statement. 

"If you want to relax, then I suggest visiting a tropical island. If not, I'll see you both at sunrise. Good night. " 

___

Dragging her boot across the snowy court yard, Asha focused her energy into the water whip she was manipulating. She had woken up, and subsequently left, much earlier than the other two, leaving Zulu and Gumi in the care of the stable workers (After, of course, she met with the two for breakfast, giving Appa some love too). 

"It's been awhile, hasn't it Asha- or should I say Onsra?" Master Pakku stood behind her, arms folded behind him. He had a gleam of something that wasn't sexist negativity in his eyes, but she couldn't identify it. 

"Asha is fine, Master Pakku. And yes, it has been. No need to worry, I'll still kick your old ass." She kept her eyes close, scared of losing her concentration as she moved the whip above her head in a smooth continuous circle.

She nearly lost it though when she felt the older mans arms adjust her stance. 

"Don't get cocky, now. That'll be your downfall."  He muttered, taking the same stance beside her before grabbing his own bit of water.

"Good morning, Master Pakku! And, Asha?" Said girl peeked open an eye to see both Katara and Aang standing there, Aang tilting his head as his hand fell.

"No, please, march right in. I'm not concentrating or anything." Asha winced as she felt a splash of water. Sighing, she allowed her portion of water to fall back into the nearby fountain. 

"Right... This is my friend, Katara, the one I told you about?" Turning, she watched as Aang gestured to Katara. 

"I'm sorry. I think there's been a misunderstanding. You didn't tell me your friend was a girl. In our tribe, it it forbidden for women to learn water bending." Asha furrows her brows as Master Pakku creates an ice chair for himself.

"Hold on, then why did you teach me?" Asha steps towards Master Pakku, the man glancing at her with warning. 

"Order of Chief Arnook and a favor to princess Yue."  He said simply, watching as the two girls grow increasingly angry.

"What do you mean you won't teach me?! I didn't travel across the entire world so you could tell me 'no'!" Katara stomps up to Master Pakku. 

"No." He remains seated. 

"But there must be other female water benders in your tribe!" Asha walks closer to Katara, her hands stiff at her side. 

"Here, woman who I'm not forced to teach learn from Yugoda to use their water bending to heal. I'm sure she'd be happy to take you as her student, despite you bad attitude." He turns to Katara, only to then turn to Asha. "You don't have a choice of leaving. You will stay here and learn with the Avatar. The Onsra and Avatar must train together." He glares at Asha who glares back. 

"I don't want to heal, I want to fight!" Katara yells.

"I can see that. But our tribe has customs, rules." 

"Well, your rules stink!" Asha starts up. Stomping her foot, cracking the ice beneath it.

"Yea! They're not fair. If you won't teach Katara, then-" Master Pakku stands up as Aang speaks.

"Then what?" 

"Then I won't learn from you!" Asha steps in front of Katara, pointing a finger to Master Pakku's chest.

"Then have fun teaching yourself. I'm sure you'll do a great job." He calls as she turns to stomp away; Aang following closely behind. 

"You guys can't risk your training for me. You have to learn from him, even if he is a big jerk." Katara grabs Aang's shoulder turning him around.

Aang turns to Asha, who nods her slightly, brows still furrowed and her arms crossed. He ambles back to Pakku, who has a smug smirk on his face. 

"Why don't we get started then." He rushes a huge wave of water a the two. Aang being washed away as Asha bends it away from her self; looking back to the boy behind her. 

___

"How's warrior training going?" Katara looked to her brother as he kicks a bag, only to fall to his knees and flop onto the bag; using it as a pillow.

"That bad?" Asha looks to the man as she runs a gloved hand up and down Zulu, who currently paws at the puffballs on her jacket. 

"No! It's princess Yue. I don't get it. One minute she wants to go out with me and the next, she's telling me to get lost!" He huffs. "How's water bending training?" He watches as Katara flops onto her own sleeping bag.

"Master poop head won't teach her because she's a girl." 

"Why don't you just teach her, Aang?" Sokka suggest as Asha widens her eyes.

"Maybe that's not-" Asha starts.

"Why didn't I think of that?! At night, you can teach whatever moves you learned from Master Pakku. That way you get some practice and I get to learn water bending. Everyone's happy!" Katara interrupts, popping to her feet. 

"On paper it's a great idea, but-" Asha tries again, this time Sokka interrupts. 

"I'm not happy."

"But you're never happy. Come on, Aang!" Katara runs out, Aang behind her.  Asha falling back to her own bed roll, exasperated. 

Just ignore the only one who knows how things go on around here.

___

Asha was beyond done. She tried warning them, but no one listened. Now, her friends stood facing Chief Arnook, Princess Yue, Master Pakku and the tribe's council.  Asha kneeling beside Yue. 

"What do you want me to do? Force him to take Aang back as his student? You know how hard it was to convince him to take Asha?"

"Please- Yes! Make him take Aang back!" Katara pleads. 

"I suspect he might change his mind if you swallow your pride and apologize to him." The chief looks to Katara. The water bender looks to Asha, who shrugs with an apologetic look.

"Fine." Katara grits her teeth. 

"I'm waiting, little girl."  He smirked smugly, Asha twitching at the words. 

And it's like something snaps. Asha jumps to her feet and stomps in front of Katara. 

"No! No way is she going to apologize!" Asha spits as she yells.

"Especially not to a sour old man like you!" Katara moves to stand beside Asha. The floor cracks as Katara yells, the water aggressively splashing behind her.

 "Katara?" Aang tries, pulling Asha closer to himself, even if she remains stubbornly rooted to her place. 

"I'll be outside- if you're man enough to fight me!" Katara looks at the master. Both princess Yue and Asha drawing in breathes of surprise, the men in the room stiffening. Aang and Sokka dropping their jaws.

"I'm sure she didn't mean that!" Aang tries to make it up, still holding onto Asha.

"I think she did." Sokka whispers.  

___

"Are you crazy Katara? You're not gonna win this fight!" Sokka struggles to run down the stairs next to his sister. Only stopping when her coat smacked him in the face.

"I know! I don't care!" She stomps further.

"You don't have to do this for us! We can find another teacher!" Aang tries next. 

"I'm not doing it for you! Someone needs to slap some sense into that guy!" Katara yells as she looks to Asha, challenging her to try and convince her otherwise.  The brunette snorts through her nose, eyebrows furrowed. 

"I think you have a chance." The boys gape at the air bender. "Bending is propelled by extreme emotion and I think you got that, I say don't hold back." Asha smirks at Katara who smiles and nods. 

As Master Pakku walks past, Katara furrows her brows. "Aren't you gonna fight?" 

"Go back to the healing huts with the other women where you belong." He doesn't even have the nerve to turn as he says it. Katara then uses a water whip, smacking him on the back of the neck.

"Fine! You want to learn how to fight so bad, study closely!"  He then grabs most of the water out of two nearby fountains, bending it around himself, hurling Katara backwards as she runs to him. Breaking it, he proceeds to wrap it around the two, creating a whirlpool. 

"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you!" He mocks.

The air benders merely stand by and watch as a wave of water is thrown at Sokka, Asha laughing a bit.  They turn their heads watching as Katara lands on a guard rail, using water to cement herself. 

"You can't knock me down!" She smiles. 

Aang is shocked as Asha jumps up, cheering loudly. 

"Go Katara! Show him what a girl can do!" Asha yells, jumping up. 

The fight didn't go on much longer. Katara being caged in a ring of icicles. The three running up to her, trying to help her down. Katara stays focused on Master Pakku, who bends down to pick up Katara's necklace. 

"This is my necklace!" 

"No it's not, it's mine! Give it back!"  Katara yells, nearly hitting Asha in the face as the brunette pulls an icicle free. 

"I made this sixty years ago- for the love of my life. For Kanna." The group freezes as the rest of Katara's prison liquefies. 

"My gran-gran was supposed to marry you?" 

"I carved this necklace for your grandmother when we got engaged. I thought we would have a long, happy life together. I loved her." Pakku looks to the necklace. He can feel the salt build up in his eyes, but ignores it.

"But she didn't love you, did she?" Katara clued in, standing still. 

"It was an arranged marriage." Asha looks to the necklace as she speaks, her hand subconsciously going to the very one around her neck; thankful it wasn't a betrothal necklace. 

"Gran- Gran wouldn't let your tribe's stupid customs run her life. That's why she left. It must of taken a lot of courage. " Katara walks up to Pakku. 

Asha remains next to Aang, only giving a glance behind her as princess Yue runs away behind her, crying. Sokka watching her as well. 

"Go get her." It's Aang who speaks. Sokka sending him a thankful smile as he runs to catch up to the princess.  He then looks to Asha who still holds onto her necklace. 

"You know, it was just a gift. I didn't mean for it-"

"I was once betrothed."  

Aang stops in his tracks as Asha goes to lean against the guardrail. Shaking his head he looks to the girl.

"My mother- or I guess step mother, Aki, had arranged a marriage with a water bender. His name was, ironically, Moku." She looks forward to Pakku and Katara, who are still talking about the necklace. Aang wincing as he remembers the man from Aunt Wu's building. 

"That wasn't the life for me though. Part of the reason I was so ready to leave the Northern Air temple and travel with you. I want a choice in who I love, who I decide to give myself too." She finally looks to him; her blue eyes looking right into Aang's grey ones. 

"I'm happy to give you that choice. Onsra or not." Aang smiled, his heart silently breaking as he said the words. Asha's smile cracking it a bit more. 

He didn't want her choices to be tied to him for her entire life, and if by giving her the choice to be freedom made her just the slightest bit happier, he'd do it in a heartbeat. Even if he got hurt along the way. All for her.

___

"Not bad! Not bad! Keep practicing and maybe you'll get it by the time you're my age!" Pakku laughs as he watches Aang water bend, Asha sitting upside down on the guardrail behind Pakku.

The three look up as Katara runs to them, slightly panting. 

"What do you think you're doing?" He pauses, Pakku's glare softening.  "It's past sunrise. You're late." Pakku then smiles, Katara smiling back. 

The moment is ruined however as they hear a yelp and a thump. Turning they see Asha, now on the ground, her features looking dizzy as her head slightly rolls.

"Ow."