From here on out, the chapters are gonna get a lot longer, I'm going to try and fit the whole episode on one chapter. Sorry for the inconvenience. 

___

"This should give us a good idea of what's around here. " Katara muttered, looked at a canopy that held tons of fliers and such. Asha stood beside her, digging through her satchel looking for her coin pouch with furrowed brows.

"See if you can find a menu, I'm starving." Sokka mutters, digging his hand through their empty food bag.

"I bet we'll find something here!" Aang points to a colorful flyer that takes up half of the face of the canopy.

"The Fire Days Festival. Fire nation cultural exhibits... jugglers, benders, magicians." Asha read from the poster, a small brown sack in her hand. 

"This's be a great place for me to study some real fire benders!" Aang smiled wrapping an arm around Asha who smiled at him. 

" You might wanna rethink that. Look."  There, stuck proudly, was not only a wanted poster for Aang, but one for Asha as well. 

"Word travels fast." Asha seemed content with the picture, pulling it off with a quick rip.

"It's a wanted poster. This is bad. So bad." Sokka started panicking as Aang looked at his own picture. Katara watched as Asha pulled out about six other pages, folding the new one in between them.

"What are those?" Katara pushes as Asha looks to here. 

"Wanted posters from when I worked with the blue spirit." Aang now looked at the pile, eyes wide as he held a hand out for the pages, Asha quickly letting him skim through them. Her ability to surprise him made his heart jump more times than he could count, and honestly, he always had a thing for bad girls. 

"I think we better keep moving." Katara moved away, dropping the subject as Aang handed the papers back.

"I have to learn fire bending at some point, and this could be my only chance to watch a master up close." 

"We'll leave if it looks like trouble." Asha stood beside Aang, puppy eyes focused on Sokka as he would break a lot more easily than Katara would. 

"You want to walk into a fire nation town where they're all fired up with all their, you know, fire?!" Sokka avoiding looking at Asha, instead focusing on Aang.

"We'll wear disguises." Aang pleaded.

"I say we go." Katara turned to brother, surprising everyone. "Like Asha said, we'll leave if it looks trouble." 

"Yea, cause we always leave before we get into trouble. 

"Yes! I get to use my fire nation clothing!" Asha cheered as she ran to Gumi. 

___

"You guys stay out of sight here until we come back." Aang watched the animals, who watched him. They were currently waiting for Asha to come back, the girl changing in some bushes a little ways away.

"Ready disguises!"  

Sokka pulls down the hood of black cloak Asha gave him, Katara doing the same with a similar cloak. The two watching as Aang pulls his red hood over his head, barely covering his arrow. His only response to the siblings is a dorky smile. His head snapping up as a familiar giggle is heard. He turns to see Asha dressed in a traditional fire Nation kimono. It had a dark red base underneath a black over coat and a bright yellow sash.  The fire nation insignia on the back. Her hair was tied into a neat bun, a light red ribbon around it and finally a gold crown perched on her head. Aang could feel his cheeks light up at the sight of the girl; lightly gulping as she drew nearer, a bounce in her step.

"You look great Asha!" Katara smiled, speaking up when Aang couldn't. He was frozen, watching as she put on a lower face guard that hid not only her mouth, but the arrows that decorated her neck as well.

"Thanks! I like your disguise Aang." She tried-- and failed-- at trying to hide a giggle.

"It's like he's a whole new person." Sokka said sarcastically.

___

As they enter the festival, they're all mesmerized by the bright colors, dancers, decorations and more.  Fireworks explode above them and a few children run past Asha and Aang, laughing.  A common thing however, is the masks most are wearing.

"You might need some new disguises." Asha whispers to Sokka. 

"Where are we gonna get masks like that?!" Sokka whispers back, skeptical and annoyed.

"Get you genuine fire festival masks right here!" A vendor yells making the four turn their heads,

 Asha folds down her mouth cover and replaces it with a masquerade type mask. It has beautiful feathers flowing from the side and is bright red and bejeweled around the edges with yellows and oranges.  As she turns she watches Aang and Sokka put on their masks, Sokka wearing one with a bright smile and the other-- the one Aang is wearing-- is one with a sour face. Laughing, Asha switches the two so Sokka is wearing the sour face and Aang is wearing a bright smile. 

Sokka continues to groan and grunt until Asha points to a vendor selling some sort of food.

"Finally! What do you have?" Sokka runs to the vendor.

"Flaming fire flakes! Best in town!" He holds a pouch, which Sokka snakes, Asha handing the man a couple bronze coins for it-- ya know, responsible people things.

Sokka tries eating them only to throw them at Asha and remove his mask, attempting to cool his tongue.  Asha shrugs her shoulders and pops a couple into her mouth; enjoying the burning sensation. 

"Hot! Hot!" Sokka struggles, tears gathering at his tear ducts as he looks for any form of water. 

"Flaming fire flakes. Hot? What do you know?" Katara snickers, watching Asha eat a few more.

"How are you not suffering over there?!" Sokka yells at the smaller girl, who continues munching on the snack she damn well payed for. 

"Maybe she's too hot." Aang shrugs, not realizing the crucial mistakes he's made. However, he quickly does realize and tries to form an excuse as Asha chokes and blushes, hitting her chest.

"I mean maybe she's used to hot food- not saying she isn't hot because she really is- I mean-" Aang struggles as his face heats up as well.

"We get it Aang. Sokka's a wimp and Asha can handle spice." Katara said, patting Asha back  who coughed, still a bright red.

___

"How about you little lady, in the kimono?" Asha looked like a deer caught in the headlights as the magician pointed right at Asha, continuing even as she shook her head furiously. 

After their little incident, they had found themselves in a large crowd watching a performer use fire bending in new, unique ways. It was going fine until he needed a volunteer and decided on Asha. 

"Aww, She's shy! Let's give her some encouragement folks!" The man yelled. People already pushing Asha away from her friends until the performer grabbed her and pulled her to the stage. She had already began gnawing on her lip and it only got worse as he pushed her onto a nearby chair; tying her hands together. "This next trick is called, 'Taming the Dragon.'  You will be my captured princess." 

The performer fire bends a giant comet from the fire on top of each pillar, Asha and Aang holding their breath as the dragon loops close to Asha and then behind. The comet is connected to the performer by a rope of fire.

"Don't worry, young maiden! I will tame this fiery beast!" The man struggles  with the rope, playing it up to the crowd.. "It's too strong, I can't hold it!" 

"We gotta help her!"  Aang tried to get on stage but a masked man and Sokka held him back.

"We don't wanna make a scene! The performer has it under control!" Sokka grunted as Aang struggled. Sokka was silently thankful for the other man who held, because there was no way Sokka would be able to hold the struggling Avatar.

"The rope, it's breaking!" Asha looks up, continuing to chew on her lip. Once the rope breaks, the comet charges right for Asha. She looks at it and finally chomps on her lip, tearing a chunk of flesh off. Blood gushes into Asha's mouth as she stares at the comet.

Aang finally breaks free and jumps on stage, creating a whirlwind that destroys the comet with a shower of confetti. Asha lets out a sigh of relief as blood pours down her chin, falling on her knee and thankfully, not her dress. Aang goes to Asha and unties her, only to stumble back as she wraps him in a hug, continuously thanking him. Aang wrapped his arms around the girl, thanking the goddess' she wasn't fried.

"Hey, you tryin' upstage me, kid?" The performer got up from where he had fallen, glaring at Aang, who looked to the performer with a dorky smile as Sokka and Katara run up to Asha, Katara holding a rag to Asha's face.

"That kid's the Avatar!" Someone from the audience yells among the boos. 

"That's his friend too!" Another yells. 

All four freeze as guards push their way through the crowd.  

"I think it's time to go!" Sokka yells, pushing the girls away.

"Follow me! I can git ya outta here!" The masked man from earlier waves them over. He leads them backstage where there's a broken wall, prompting them to crawl through.

The guards see them just as they escape, the masked man throwing a smoke bomb.

They group run as another guard spots them. Asha leading them through alleys and such, trying to lose the guards.

"I'm calling Appa!" Aang pulls out a pristine white bison whistle and blows it.

"I hope he really hears that bison whistle!" Sokka yells as he runs.
"If he can't Gumi will!" Asha turns again, only to almost fall trying to turn around.

"Not this way! Not this way!" The group is faced with a dead end. Guards block the other way. Asha reaches over the masked man and grabs a couple smoke bombs. Using her staff like a bat, she smacks each one into the chest of each guard. Taking the opportunity they run past them, this time the masked man leading the way. 

They stop as another wall blocked their way. Looking up, Asha could see a large white bison and black dragon.

Throwing two fingers in her still bleeding mouth, she let out a loud whistle. "Appa! Gumi!"

Appa lands and allows the others on. As they grow air born, the man throws an explosive at the fireworks on the other side of the barrier. Igniting them the group watches them as they fly away. Asha turning to jump to Gumi, who had caught up.

"Lemme see your lip, Ash." Aang pulled her back down, looking at the swollen lip. Dried blood crusted the edges as smaller streams of blood continued to pour out. Aang grabbed her satchel, Asha not stopping him, and digging through it. He pulled out a canteen of water, and some herbs from the abbey before going over to his own satchel and pulling out a clean cloth; dousing it with water he cleaned up Asha's mouth and chin. 

"Nice touch setting off the fireworks. " Aang looked to the man, still dabbing at Asha's injury, carefully watching her for any sudden winces or signs of pain.

"You seem to really know your explosives." Sokka turned to the man. 

"I'm familiar."

"You're a fire nation soldier!" Sokka pointed at the man, immediately standing up, Katara close behind and Aang crouching in front of Asha.

"Was. My name's Chey."

___

"I'm going in anyway!" Aang yelled, marching to the shack where Jeong Jeong supposedly was.

She honestly couldn't quite explain how they got here, at 'The Deserter's' camp, but they were here now, bringing out the-- honest to god-- worst parts of Aang. 

"Aang, you can't!" Asha tried to reason with him, but Aang pushed forward.  Pushing open the curtains, Aang marches in as Asha tries to pull him back. 

"Get out." A white haired man sits before them, candles surrounding him as he seems to be dragged out of meditation.

"Master, I need to learn fire bending." Aang stands still, Asha behind him as she weighs the option of turning and leaving before being burnt to a crisp.

'You must be there for him, even if he's not there for you.' Aunt Wu's prediction rings in her ears, however, shutting down that train of thought.

"Only a fool seeks his own destruction." Jeong Jeong looks over his shoulder. Asha reaching for Aang's hand, which he gladly accepts.

"I'm the Avatar. It's my destiny to-" Aang starts, squeezing Asha's hand.

"Destiny? What would a boy know of destiny? If a fish lives its whole life in this river, does he know the river's destiny? No! Only that it runs on and on out of his control! He may follow where it flows, but he cannot see the end. He cannot imagine the ocean!" Jeong Jeong turns to Aang.

"But, it's the Avatar's duty to master all of the bending disciplines."

"To master the bending disciplines, you must first master discipline itself. But you have no interest in this, so I have no interest in you! Now, get out." Jeong Jeong turns back. 

"Please, I have to learn. This could be my only chance."  Aang tried again, pleading. This time holding Asha's hand with both of his. 

"Are you deaf! How can I teach you if you refuse to listen? Before learning fire bending you must learn water and earth. Water is cool and soothing, earth is steady and stable, but fire, fire is alive! It breathes, it grows, without a bender, a rock will not throw itself! But fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it! That is its destiny! You are not ready! You are too weak! Not only that, but you don't have the only thing that can balance yourself! Where is your Onsra?! No discipline, no balance and no Onsra!" The flames light up and explode around Jeong Jeong, making the teens reel.

"You think I am weak?" Avatar Roku stood before him, Onsra Tanna behind him perched on a rock as she sneered at the fire legend.

"Avatar Roku! No! No! I did not mean that!" 

"I have mastered each element a thousand times in a thousand lifetimes, my Onsra doing the same!  Whether he knows his Onsra is near or not, we must do it again. You will teach the Avatar fire bending." 

"I will teach you two." Jeong Jeong broke from his vision, facing the two. 

"Really? That's great!" Aang smiled, turning to Asha; ignoring the groan coming from Jeong Jeong.

"Sir, if I may, I'm just an air bender." Asha explains lowly, ignoring Aang who was celebrating his new fire bending journey. 

She can't quite place the look he gives her. 

___

Sokka holds a fishing pole as he sits on top of a boulder. Katara beside him, practicing her water bending. Asha sat in a meditative pose beside Jeong Jeong, Aang in front of them. They had tried it where Asha sat with Katara and such, but Aang wouldn't sit still, so Jeong Jeong had her sit in front. 

"Widen your stance." The old man barks. "Wider! Bend your knees. Now, concentrate. Good, good!" 

"What now?" Aang opens an eye.

"Silence! Talking is not concentrating. Look at this girl," Jeong Jeong points to Asha who remains seated with her eyes closed. "Is she talking? What about her? Even that oaf knows to concentrate on what he's doing." The man ignores the yell from Sokka.

"But what am I concentrating on?" Aang pushes once more.

"Feel the heat of the sun. It is the greatest source of fire. Yet, it is in complete balance with nature!" Jeong Jeong yells, standing behind Asha, only leaning down to raise her hands half an inch and straighten her back. 

"So, when do I get to make some fire?"

"Concentrate!"

___

"Come with me." Jeong Jeong walks past Asha as he says it, the girl scrambling to catch up to him less he get angry. She had already seen his bark and had no intention of seeing his bite. 

He sits within his semicircle of candles and motions for her to sit in front of him. Absentmindedly, her hand goes to her lip as she does. There's a scab from when she bit it, allowing the wound to heal properly. She fights the urge to disrupt that healing.

"You hold great power and discipline within you Asha. What you lack is confidence." He looks at her as she fiddles with her sleeve- back in her air nomad clothing- letting out a slight nod as she huffs through her nose.

"Give me your hand." She complies. Jeong Jeong creates a small amount of fire within his palm.  Asha tries to pull her hand, but he grips her wrist tightly.  Slowly he slides the fire onto her palm and watches as it stays dormant, not burning or even hurting the girl. He releases her wrist and she slowly pulls her hand back. 

"How?" She looks to him, cupping the fire with both hands. It dances and flickers between her finger tips, weaving like thread.

"You say you are just an air bender, but in reality, you are so much more." He smiles to her. She shakes her head, already trying to utter how there's no way, but he stops her with a hand. 

"Would a regular air nomad be able to hold this fire? Control it? Keep the fiery will at bay?" He watches her as she looks down. Defeated. 

"No."  Jeong Jeong takes the fire back, lighting the candles. 

"Enter your meditative state. Try contacting past lives." He twists his legs in as she copies. 

The two sit in silence, Asha struggling to enter any state as Jeong Jeong watches over her. It was going fine until Aang burst in.

"What are you doing here?! I did not tell you to stop!" Jeong Jeong shouted. The girl before him was close to entering the spirit world, he could feel it. Now, it was all down the drain.

"I've been breathing for hours!" Aang complains, sitting beside Asha.

"You want to stop breathing?" 

"I want you to stop wasting my time! I already know how to squat and breathe and feel the sun. I want to know how to shoot fire out of my fingertips!" Aang yell, frustrated.

"I had a pupil once who had no interest in learning discipline. He was only concerned with the power of fire - how he could use it to destroy his opponents and wipe out the obstacles in his path., but fire is a horrible burden to bear. Its nature is to consume and without control it destroys everything around it." Jeong Jeong remains calms. "Learn restraint, or risk destroying yourself and everything you love." He looks over to Asha as he says this. Giving Aang a hint of who he really should be thinking of. Instead, the boy exits the tent. Asha excusing herself to follow him.

___

"Concentrate on the fire. I want you to keep this flame from reaching the edges of the leaf for as long as you can. " Aang assumes position as Jeong Jeong stands in front of him; Asha beside.  

"Master! There is trouble." One of the rebels runs up the group.

"What's going on?" Aang looks up.

"Concentrate on your leaf. Asha, stay with him!" Jeong Jeong yells as he leaves with the guard. She nods, turning to face the other teen. 

"Worst fire bending instruction ever. All he does is leave me alone for hours to concentrate or breathe." Aang complains, glaring at the leaf like it offended him. 

"I'm sure there's a good reason." Asha reassured with a soft smile.

"But I'm ready to do so much more." Aang looks to his leaf. Getting an idea, Aang widens his stance, concentrating on his breathing. The leaf begins to smoke, then burst into flames, giving Aang a fireball.

"I made fire! I did it, Ash!" He turns to the girl, her eyes wide as she watches.

"Aang, that's great, but maybe you should take it slow-"

The flame grows bigger at Aang's annoyed face, but he quickly gets it back to it's original size. 

"Please, be careful, Aang." Asha steps closer. 

"Now that's fire bending!" Aang continues to play with the ball, juggling it and looping it around his self. 

"Aang, your going to hurt yourself!" Asha steps closer again, Aang still ignoring her.

"Wonder how that juggler did it."  Aang then pushes the fireball outward, creating a shock wave of flame, which engulfs Asha, throwing her to the ground;  a cry of pain escaping her as her hands make contact with the ground. 

"Holy shit- Asha! I'm so sorry!" Aang runs to her, holding her wrists gently. Tears run down Asha's face as she watches, wanting to pull her hands away. She doesn't though, fighting through the blistering pain. 

"What happened?! We heard a yell and- " Katara cuts herself off at the sight in front of her. She hurriedly pushes Aang away from Asha and takes his place. Sokka running towards Aang. 

"I told you we shouldn't mess with this stuff and look what happened?!  The only form of protection Asha had was ripped away from her. How is she gonna bend like this Aang? You burned her hands!"  Katara pulls Asha with her as Sokka yells at him, the only thing the Avatar focusing on were the teary blue orbs looking back at him. 

___

Asha lets out a cry as Katara tries to run her hand over the burn before ultimately lowering Asha's hands into the water only for another cry. Her eyes turn to Asha for a split second as her cries die down, only to find the water around the girl's hands glowing.  Katara gently pulling her hands out of the water, the burns gone and Asha looking down, just as shocked.

"One of the many things about being an Onsra is having healing abilities. The same goes for you. Great benders of the water tribe sometimes have this ability. Which is why I wish I was blessed like you two. Free from this burning curse." 

"But you're a great master. You have powers I'll never know." Katara looks at Jeong Jeong, still holding Asha's hands.

"Water brings healing and life. But fire brings only destruction and pain. It forces those of us burdened with its care to walk a razor's edge between humanity and savagery; Where we're eventually torn apart. But lucky for you two, the Onsra is meant to help the Avatar and others keep balance; to stop the harsh cut. Isn't that right Asha?" He looks to her as she looks down, in though.

"I- I suppose it is the Onsra's job." Asha looks up, seeing Katara's supportive smile and Jeong Jeong's knowing look. She pauses, taking a breath before looking at her healed hands, all of the denial she once felt slipping from her grasp. "I suppose that's my job."

Jeong Jeong places a hand on her shoulder. "Welcome then, Onsra Asha." 

The moment is ruined as the water in front of them is blasted with flames.  The man standing in front of both Asha and Katara. 

"Find your friends and flee! Do not come back or you will be destroyed! Hurry!" The two girls run off, complying.

They run into Sokka first. "Ash, are you all right?" He looks to her hands, only to find no trace of  a burn left.  "Where's Aang?" Asha looks around, no sign of the boy. 

Sokka thumbs behind him, Asha running past. She approaches Jeong Jeong's hut and slowly opens the curtains. 

"He tried to tell me I wasn't ready. I wouldn't listen. I'm never going to fire bend again." Aang was solemn. This wasn't the Aang she knew. Where was that happy go-lucky attitude? The teen with the mind of a twelve year old boy? Huh?

"You'll have to eventually." Asha walked closer, not second guessing any thought too.

"No. Never again." 

"Aang, I'm healed. It's okay."  She walked closer. She jumped as Aang ran to her, reaching for her hands, looking them up, down, left and right.

"How?" 

"I'll explain later, we have to go help Jeong Jeong. They've captured him." Aang holds an arm out.

"No. I'm going alone. I've hurt you once. I don't want to do it again." Asha pushes his arm down. "It's the least you can do for me Aang." She looks at him, her blue eyes reflecting off of his grey ones. Only giving a slight nod, the two run to where he was last. 

As the two found the small army, the were met with Zhao, who turned to them. 

"Let's find out what my old master has taught the two of you." He fired a ball  of flames as they jumped out of the way, avoiding it. 

"You were Jeong Jeong's student?!" Aang looked at the man in shock, quickly deflecting a ball with a wave of air. 

"Until I got bored." Zhao smirked as he fired some more.

"I see he taught you how to duck and run like a coward. But I doubt he showed you what a fire bender is truly capable of!" He fired at Asha who lept above, the man glaring at her as she landed.

"Wild shot there, Zhao!" Asha called back. 

"I'll show you wild!" He blasts some at Asha who dodges, Aang breaking a few with air bending as Asha runs up to him.

"No self control, Aang. Remember what Jeong Jeong said?" 

"Stand and fight, Avatar! Or maybe you and your Onsra are too scared." Aang's eyes widened as he heard 'Onsra', but stowed the thought away till later, watching Asha duck from another fire ball. 

"Oh, were we fighting? I thought you were just getting warmed up!" Asha had jumped to the top of a boat with a teasing laugh, Aang soon joining. 

"I was!" Zhao fires more. All missing their intended targets.

"Is that all you got? Man Asha, they'll make anyone an admiral these days!" The girl laughed as another round of fire was thrown at them, once more they dodged.

"Ahoy!" Asha turns to Aang, who's currently wiggling his butt at the admiral, "I'm Admiral Zhao!" The two laugh again as Zhao fires more. 

"I don't know why, but I thought you'd be better than Zuko." Asha says as she jumps from the roof and onto the deck. Aang following only to be cornered. The two jump around him as they run again.

"Very sloppy Admiral!" Asha calls back as she separates from Aang, jumping to the roofs as Aang remains on the deck. Their game of cat and mouse continuing. 

Eventually, Zhao catches up, yanking Asha down to the deck. 
"Nowhere to run now, you little smart mouths!" He fires another ball. Aang flipping over and Asha sliding under it with ease.

"You've lost this battle!" Aang stands tall and proud with Asha beside him.

"Are you crazy, neither have you have thrown a single blow!" 

"We didn't have too!" Asha points to his sinking ships.

"Jeong Jeong said you had no restraint." 

The two make their great escape as the admiral yells in frustration. "

"Have a nice walk home!" 

___

"Your burned." Asha huffed, grabbing Aang's arm and holding it closer to her eye level.  

Aang looks down only to realize his shirt and skin are indeed burnt, cheeks burning at the close proximity.  Reaching over to her satchel,  he watches Asha pull out a thing of water, bending the liquid to her hands. The water glowing the same as it did when Asha's hands were burned. 

"That must be some good water." Aang looked to where the wound was; now completely healed.

"When did you learn that, air bender?" Sokka chuckled, not realizing the real solidity behind his words as Aang's head shot up to meet Asha's eyes. Everything clicked into place. The glowing arrows, the flashes before they reconnected, the overall spiritual closeness off the two. 

"You really are the Onsra."  Asha avoided his gaze. She knew he would be mad. Disappointed, disgusted, appalled.  Yet, she was shocked when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her.

"Good. I wouldn't want anyone else."