"Hey, you guys picked a great campsite." Toph smiles as she curls her toes around Appa's fallen fur, he other five raising their brows at the girl. "The grass is so soft." 

"That's not grass." Sokka begins, grimacing. 

"Appa's shedding." Asha finishes, hiding a laugh as Katara raises a foot, yelling about how gross it is. 

"That's not gross; it's a part of spring. Even Gumi goes through it." Aang smiles as a bright blue bird lands lightly on his head; Momo jumping up to grab at the butterflies the surround them.  The bird quickly squawks, flying away as a sharp dragon scale is thrown, grazing the bird, only stopping as it impales itself in a tree. 

Asha stands proud, three more scales in her hand as she smirks. "Yeah, you know, rebirth, flowers blooming, and the animals get new coats."  The air bender laughs as Raiko eyes the scales with a weary eye.

"Ah, the beauty of spring." Katara deadpans as Appa sneezes, blowing the fallen fur everywhere, the water bender yelling in surprise. 

"It's not that bad, Katara. It makes a great wig!" Sokka laughs, discarded fur on his head, almost looking like a tower.  

"And a great beard!" Aang laughs with the other boy, dropping from Appa with fur arranged on his own face.

"I'm just glad we finally have another girl in the group because you two are disgusting." Katara sounds unamused. 

"Excuse me," Toph walks forward, breaking the two boys apart. "Does anyone have a razor because I've got some hairy pits!" The blind girl raises her arm to reveal two masses of white fur emerging from her sleeves. 

Katara and Raiko only stare as Asha and the others laugh at the girl, laughing even harder as the poor Onsra sneezes, launching herself into Appa's leg before she falls face first back down with fur stuck to her back.  The four laugh, the two others joining in soon after.

They eventually gather themselves, Sokka and Asha leaving to gather firewood, Raiko and Katara water bending said liquid into a large pot, finally Aang uses air bending to set up the tents.   They all look over as Katara stomps towards Toph, an annoyed look on her face. 

"So, Toph, usually when setting up camp we try to divide up the work." 

"Hey, don't worry about me, I'm good to go."  Toph lays back, a peice of straw in her mouth.

"Well, actually, what I'm trying to say is, uh, some of us might fetch water while someone else might set up the fire pit or put up the tents." Katara pauses as Momo lands on her shoulder, dropping some nuts into Katara's hand. "Even Momo does his fair share. "

"Katara I'm fine. I can carry my own weight. I don't need a fire, I've already collected my own food, and look," Toph stops to throw her fists to the ground, two stone slabs appearing, creating a tent. "My tents all set up. " 

Asha quickly throws her stack of wood towards Sokka, speed walking over to the other two girls, Zulu following with a stick in her mouth. 

"Well, that's great for you, but we still need to finish." Katara looks increasingly annoyed at the Earth bender. 

"I don't understand. What's the problem here?" Toph looks ahead, irritation littering her face. 

"Nothing Toph, don't worry about it." Asha steps in, leading Katara away before things escalated. "Give her some time Katara." The air bender offers with a kind smile, the water bender shrugging her off before walking back over to the pot. 

Huffing, Asha walks over to her dragon, Raiko already there; untying the saddle. Between the two of them, they easily get the large saddle off without any hassle, but the same can't be said for Asha's male counterpart. Asha looks over just as Sokka gets crushed by the bison's saddle, Aang quickly hoping down to help him. 

___

Katara places a pot of water down before standing and walking over to Toph's tent. Giving a look to Asha, who was currently brushing her hair, Aang gestures over to the two with his head. The girl understood the other two a lot better then he did, so he figured she'd be able to defuse the situation a lot more efficiently and quickly than he would've. Rolling her eyes, Asha hands her hair brush to Aang, standing and following Katara.

"Hey Toph, I wanted to apologize for earlier. I think we're all just a little tired and getting on each others' nerves."  Katara tries, gently speaking.

"Yeah, you do seem pretty tired." Toph huffs, munching on her own food while Katara's face grew aggravated quickly.

"I meant all of us." The water bender grunts angrily. 

"Alright, maybe it's time we all go to bed and get some shut eye. It's been a long day for all of us." Asha steps in between the two, arms outreached. 

"Well, good night." Toph makes no further fuss, turning and laying down as Asha walks away. 

"Good night." Katara halfheartedly says. 

Eventually, the group falls into their individual slumbers. Sokka and Raiko sharing a tent, Katara in her own. The air benders sleeping against Appa, arms wrapped around each other as Gumi's head lays on their laps. Zulu and Momo lay on Appa's head. Everyone of them shoot awake however as Toph runs out of her tent. 

"There's something coming toward us!" 

The three in the tents emerge quickly, Asha jumping up as Aang simply sits up. 

"What is it?" Aang rubs his eyes as he asks, looking to Toph, then to Asha, nodding to himself as she seems unharmed. 

"It feels like an avalanche...But also not like an avalanche."  Toph reaches down, connecting her hand to the ground. 

"Your powers of perception are frightening." Raiko grunts, rubbing his eyes.  

"Should we leave?" Katara steps up next. 

"Better safe than sorry."  Aang says, standing up, ready to start packing despite the fatigue in his bones.

___

Appa and Gumi fly side by side, their drivers turning and looking to whatever is behind them.  There, following them, looks like a large train- like tank, smoke pouring out of it's chimney. For it's size, the train is moving incredibly quick, catching up to the teens without much issue.

"What is that thing?"  Katara turns tiredly. 

"I wouldn't know. It just looks like bad news and that's enough for me to stay away from it." Raiko snaps, his eyes now having heavy bags under them. 

The two animals fly without hitch, despite the tank behind them. Aang barely holding onto consciousness as he looks ahead, then to the side, watching his female counter part. Her eyes looked blank as she held her knees to her chest. Dark circles decorated the underside of her eyes, the circles becoming more prominent as  she looks to Aang; offering a small smile. He returns it before breaking eye contact, looking down to the ground. Deeming it far enough, the male bender gestures to start landing to the other.  

As they land, Toph quickly jumps off, laying flat on the ground. 

"Ah, land, sweet land! See you guys in the morning!" Toph Earth bends herself to her feet as she speaks, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

"Actually, can you help us unload?" Katara peeks up. 

"Really? You need me to help unload Sokka's funky-smelling sleeping bag?" Toph gives a look to Katara. 

"Well, yeah. That and everything else. You're a part of our team now and-" Katara begins, Asha groaning from behind her at the incoming fight. 

"Look. I didn't ask you to help unload my stuff. I'm carrying my own weight. Besides, Raiko's new too and I don't see him helping."  Toph points irritated.  Said male just looks back to his task, helping Asha with Gumi, neither him or Asha going for the low fruit of 'you can't see anything'.

Letting the last statement go, Katara places her hands on her hips. "That's not the point. Ever since joining us you've been nothing but selfish and unhelpful." 

"Katara, don't start-" Asha begins, Toph cutting the girl off. 

"What?! Look here, sugar queen, I gave up everything I had so I could teach Aang and Asha Earth bending, so don't you talk to me about being selfish!"  Toph quickly sits, bringing up slabs of Earth to create another tent. 

"Sugar Queen?! " Katara is cut off by a slab of Earth slamming in front of her. "D-did you just slam the door in my face?!"  Without another word, Asha simply grabs Katara dragging her away. 

"How can she be so infuriating?!" The water bender asks, yelling as she tilts her head up. Asha allowing her to stomp away.

"Okay, okay, you both just need some time to calm down."  Aang says as he walks up, coming to Asha's aid 

"Both?! I'm completely calm!" Katara yells, turning to face the two air benders, who wince as she does. 

"I...can see that." Aang slowly backs away, pulling Asha with him.

___

Once more, the group settles down for a well deserved sleep. Sokka and Raiko lay in their own sleeping bags, the latter drooling onto his arm while Asha and Aang lay next to each other, tangled within their own limbs.  

"The stars sure are beautiful tonight." Katara speaks up, her brother covering her head as Asha looks over in annoyance, irritated Katara felt the need to keep bringing this up.

"Don't say it-" 

"Too bad you can't see them, Toph!"  Katara snarks, a rumble of Earth flying at the girl, launching her up and onto her brother. 

"Hey, how is a guy supposed to sleep with all this yelling and Earth quaking!"  Sokka yells, turning to his sister. 

"That thing is back!" Toph yells, getting rid of her tent. 

"Well, how far away is it? Maybe we can close our eyes just for a few minutes." Sokka grunts, turning over as Raiko stands up. 

"I wouldn't count on that." Raiko looks up to the smoke stacks over the trees, already groaning.

And just like that they were in the air again. Toph, Sokka, Katara and Aang on Appa and Asha and Raiko on Gumi. 

"Seriously, what is that thing?"  Katara leans over the saddle. 

"And how does it keep finding us?" Toph chimes, peering over the saddle as well. 

"I don't know, but this time. We're gonna lose 'em." 

When they land, Appa quickly topples over, throwing his passengers off the saddle as Gumi lands gently beside him- keeping his passengers on.  The four thrown-off passengers remain where they are, laying down in defeat. 

"Okay, forget about setting up camp. I'm finding the softest pile of dirt and going to sleep." Sokka moans out, laying on his rolled up sleeping bag. 

"That's good because Toph wasn't going to help anyway."  Katara smirks, laying on her own sleeping bag. 

"Oh, I didn't realize baby still needed someone to tuck her in bed!" Toph snarks back. 

"Oh my spirits! Shut up you two, drop it already!" Asha yells, surprising the people around her. 

"Asha's right. There's something after us and we don't even know what or who it is." Aang yawns, covering his head with the top of his shirt.  His hand absently reaches around him for Asha, his nerves calming when he feels her sit on the opposite side of him, head on his chest while his arm snakes around her waist.

"It could be Zuko. We haven't seen him since the North pole." Katara turns, looking to the others.

"Who's Zuko?" Toph asks, looking in the direction of Asha.

"Same question." Raiko peeps up, looking to the air bender as well. 

"Oh, just some angry freak with a ponytail who's tracked us all over the world."  Sokka pipes in before Asha can. 

"What's wrong with ponytails, ponytail?" Katara jokes.

"This is a warrior's wolf tail." Sokka's voice is muffled. 

"Well, it certainly tells the other warrior that you're fun and perky!" Asha snarks with a giggle, looking up from her Avatar made pillow.

"Anyway, whoever's chasing us, they couldn't have followed us here. So...now would everyone just shh!" Sokka turns, pushing a finger to his lips, ignoring Asha.  Momo quickly jumps onto Sokka's chest though, chirping. "No, Momo, ssh! Sleepy time!"  

Zulu tries next, nipping at Asha's hand with a whine.  Asha wakes slowly, looking up, she groans at the sight she sees. "Come on!" 

"Aw, don't tell me."  Sokka moans at the other girl.

"That's impossible. There's no way they could have tracked us!" Aang stands next, facing the other side. 

"I can feel it with my own two feet!" Toph yells next. 

"Let's get out of here!" Katara rushes out, already packing up.

"Maybe we should face them. Find out who they are. Who know, maybe they're friendly." Aang suggests, quickly helping Asha out of her dragon's saddle. 

"Always the optimist." Asha looks up to Aang as she says it. The boy only shrugs.

The six line up, facing the machine as it abruptly stops. As the side compartment opens, the kids holding a breath as white smoke pours out. Three figures step out, all riding giant lizards. The girls from Omashu looking to the fighters.   With a command, the lizards move forward, speeding up to an incredible pace. 

"It's those three from Omashu!" Katara yells, assuming a battle stance. 

"We can take 'em. I mean it's five on three!" Toph smirks, assuming a fighting stance as well. 

"Actually Toph, there's six of us." Sokka speaks. 

Toph stands furthest from Aang, Sokka beside her, Raiko following then Katara, Asha and finally Aang.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't count you. You know, no bending and all." Toph sarcastically shrugs. 

"I can still fight!" 

"Enough!" Asha steps in before it can get any worse. 

""Okay, okay. Three on five plus Sokka." Toph sneaks in as Sokka growls as his face turns red. 

Toph quickly jabs her arm out, repeating it three times, opening her palms on the third.  Rocks and other pieces of Earth raise in large formations, trying to impede the girls. The kids only groan in frustration as the lizards climb right over them.

"Well, we wanted to find out who they were. We found out. Now let's get out of here." Asha quickly turns. Despite the fact that they double in numbers, the group dwindles in hours of sleep. Their coordination would be off, and fighting them would most likely lead to capture.

As they turn, Toph creates a wall of Earth, not even turning to run.  None turning back as the wall gets destroyed, presumably by lightning. Toph, however, stands in amazement, not noticing the four arrows that fly towards her. She flinches as Asha pulls her back, using air bending to deflect the arrows.  Pulling the Earth bender, Asha dodges more arrows as she runs towards the flying animals, pushing Toph into Appa as she runs past. 

"Yip yip Gumi!" Asha calls before she even gets to the dragon. Leaping, using air bending to get an extra boost, she lands on Gumi's saddle, grabbing the reigns

"Bet your awake now." Raiko chuckles from behind her, earning a glare and huff from Asha.

"I can't believe they followed us all the way from Omashu." Katara breathes out.

"I still think we could've taken them." Toph huffs as well. 

"Are you kidding? The crazy blue fire bending and the flying daggers are bad enough, but last time we saw them one of those girls did something that took my bending away. Asha had to fight for both of us. That's scary." Katara brings her knees closer. 

"What part? No bending or Asha fighting?" Raiko smirks, wincing as Asha hits him. He then lays down, hoping to get any sleep as Asha drives. 

After that, they flew in silence, only being broken as the sun peeked over the hill tops. 

"Oh no, the sun is rising! We've been up all night with no sleep!" Sokka panics.

"We'll be okay, Sokka." Aang comforts, not even looking back. 

"Are you sure?! I've never not slept before! What if I fall asleep now and something happens? And something always happens!"  

"Every time we land, those girls are there, so we'll just have to keep flying." Katara yawns. 

"We can't keep flying forever." Asha speaks up, not even looking over. 

___

After a short fiasco with Appa falling asleep, nearly plummeting into the ground, the group decided to take a short break. Appa had created a large trench, so that's where they landed, all surrounding the poor bison. 

"Appa's exhausted." Aang pats his bison's head, looking over as a thump is heard. He just rolls his eyes as Asha lays face first, foot still in the air.

"Okay, we've put a lot of distance between us and them. The plan now is to follow Appa's lead and get some sleep." Sokka yawns as he says it. 

"Of course, we could have gotten some sleep earlier if Toph didn't have such issues."  Katara snarks, said Earth bender springing awake as she slams her hands on the ground cracking it. 

"What?!" 

"Alright, alright! Everyone's exhausted. Let's just get some rest." Aang steps between the two, sending a glare in Asha's direction. The girl still laying on the ground, eyes closed as soft snores slip past her lips.

"No! I want to hear what Katara has to say. You think I have issues?!" 

"I'm just saying, maybe if you helped out earlier we could've set up our camp faster and gotten some sleep and then maybe we wouldn't be in this situation!" Katara yells with an annoyed, yet sarcastic, placid face.

"You're blaming me for this?!" Toph screeches, Aang stepping further between the two. 

"No, no! She's not blaming you!"

"No, I'm blaming her!" 

Toph throws Aang to the side, Asha slowly sitting up as the fighting intensifies. 

"I never asked you for diddly doo da. I carry my own weight! Besides if there's anyone to blame, it's sheddy over here!" Toph reaches over and grasps a handful of fur. 

"What?! You're blaming Appa?!" Aang asks, flabbergasted. 

"Yeah! You wanna know how they keep finding us?" Toph releases the fur, allowing it to blow away. 

"He's leaving a trail everywhere we go!" 

"How dare you blame Appa! He saved your life three times today! If there's anyone to blame, it's you! You're always talking about how you carry your own weight, but you're not! He is! Appa's carrying your weight!" Aang snaps, glaring at the girl.  Asha's eyes pop open at the growing animosity, making her groan as she rolls over, Raiko watching the Onsra stomp her way to the arguing duo.

"Aang and Toph! Enough! Seriously, you guys are acting like spoiled brats!" The brunette snaps, pushing the two away from each other.

"Oh, so now you step in?!" Aang's glare is directed towards his fellow air bender now, her icy blue eyes returning his tenfold.

"Excuse me?" 

"You heard me. When those two are fighting it's whatever, but now that I've stepped in, you start intervening?! And then call me the child?!" Aang steps forward, challenging the girl.

"Yeah, I did call you a child! You know why?! Because I'm not fighting with my teacher! I'm not getting involved in a stupid, petty argument that I wasn't apart of in the first place!" Asha yells back, her eye twitching. Taking a breath, Asha turns, grabbing her satchel. 

"And where do you think your going?! I presume running away as usual! That's all Onsras are good for. Taking credit for the Avatar then running!" Aang calls back, instantly regretting it as Asha stiffens. Her glare is cold and he feels his blood freeze as she throws her bag over her shoulder, angrily huffing through her nose.

"Yea, I am outta here. Because I know when to step down. When to cease fire. I need a break before I say something I'll regret." Asha snaps, calm and collected, so much that it scares the Avatar and Katara. Grabbing Gumi's reigns and allowing Zulu to walk beside her, Asha turns to leave, Toph following her. 

"I'm with Asha." 

"Wait!" Sokka attempts to get in front of the two girls, but Toph quickly moves him to the side with Earth bending. 

"Oh my gods, what did I just do?" Aang shakes his head, not believing what he just did. The words that came out of his mouth. The actions he took. "I yelled at Asha. Again?! Do I just not learn?!" Aang paces back and fourth, reaching up to his head and dragging his hands down. 

"I know. We're just trying to get used to each other, and even Asha warned us. I was so...mean to Toph." 

"Yeah, you two were pretty much jerks." Sokka pipes in, drinking from a cup Raiko offered him.

"Thanks, Sokka." Katara glares at her brother as Aang looks even more panicked. 

"You guys need to find the other two and fix this." Raiko speaks next, firm as he looks to Aang, who shrinks under his gaze. 

"Okay, but what are we gonna do about the tank full of dangerous ladies chasing us?" Sokka raises a brow. 

"I have a plan." Raiko smirks, eyeing Appa with a devilish gleam in his eyes.

___

"You okay?" Toph asks, as gently as she can. Asha awfully silent beside her.

"I don't know." Asha sounds near tears.  

"He didn't mean it." Toph pushes on, wrapping an arm around the girls shoulder.

"It just... Hurts, I guess." Toph feels Asha raise a hand to her shoulder, holding the Earth bender's hand with her own.

Toph quickly lets go however, feeling another presence. Using her Earth bending, she causes a jet of Earth to rush forward, throwing a man in the air. 

"Oh... That really hurt my tailbone." Asha looks over, recognizing Iroh.  Throwing a hand out, she halts any further attacks from Toph.

___

"So you two know each other how?" Toph eyeballs the man before them, campfire lit with a kettle above it.  Gumi lays behind them, Zulu finding herself in Asha's lap. 

"My mother was part of the royal court for his  grandfather and his father." Asha smiles at the memory, her and Iroh always playing together when her mother brought her to the fire nation. The man chuckles as the kettle boils.  He can see which one of them aged better (It was her as she didn't look a day over sixteen).

Pouring it into two glasses, Iroh hands them to the girls; Asha taking it immediately, Toph hesitating. 

"Here is your tea. You seem a little too young to be traveling alone." Iroh looks to Toph, knowing Asha must've been at least a hundred by now. 

"You seem a little too old." Toph finally takes the cup. Iroh laughing at her remark.

"Perhaps I am." 

"I know what you're thinking. Asha and I look like we can't handle being by ourselves." Toph continues. 

"I wasn't thinking that." Iroh defends, still calm and even.  He knew for certain the air bender was dangerous when she wanted to be. Now so that she was harnessing all four elements.

"You wouldn't let us pour our own tea." Toph huffs taking a sip of tea. Asha just lays her back against the nearby rock, eyes closed, tea in hand.

"I poured your tea because I wanted to, and for no other reason. I know Asha's a very skilled fighter, and I assume if your brave enough to travel with her, you are too."  Iroh says, making a gesture with his hand.

"It's just...People see me and think I'm weak. They want to take care of me. But I can take care of myself by myself." 

"You sound like my nephew. Always thinking you need to do things on your own without anyone's support. There is nothing wrong with letting people who love you help you. Not that I love you; I just met you. But people like Asha." He laughs with Toph. 

"So, where is your nephew?" Toph asks, her laughter dying down.

"I've been tracking him actually." 

"Is he lost?" Asha speaks up, sipping her tea. 

"Yes, a little bit. His life has recently changed and he's going through very difficult times. He's trying to figure out who he is and he went away."  Iroh looks off with concern, facing the sky.

"So...now you're following him." Toph tilts her head. 

"I know he doesn't want me around right now, but, if he needs me, I'll be there. Funny how that works. They may not want you around in that moment, but sometimes you just have to be there for when they need you." Iroh looks to Asha as he says it. 

"You nephew is very lucky, even if he doesn't know it. Thank you." Toph stands, placing her cup down. Asha smiles towards Iroh and does the same. 

"My pleasure. Sharing tea with fascinating strangers is one of life's true delights, even if  one isn't a complete stranger. "

"No, thank you for what you said. It helped a lot." Asha cuts in. 

"I'm glad." 

Picking up their bags, Asha picking up Zulu as well they turn to walk, the air bender turning back momentarily. "Oh, and about your nephew? Maybe you should tell him that you need him too." 

Smiling back at Iroh, Asha walks off with Toph and Zulu, Gumi grumbling behind them.

"Come on, we gotta find your Avatar." Toph smirks, looking in Asha's direction. Said girl calling over the large reptile.

___

Asha falls just in time, blocking a hit directed at Sokka with air bending, Toph just behind her as Gumi roars loudly. 

"Oh thank you!" Sokka throws himself onto the girl, who just pats his head. Looking to the princess, she closes in. Others following in suit.

"We thought you guys could use a little help." Toph smirks, Katara thanking her and giving her a genuine smile. 

Azula turns to run, firing blasts behind her, most being deflected or dodged with attacks returning towards her. She quickly is bounced back, quite literally after she runs into Iroh, allowing the others to close in.  Eight people in total corner her, all aiming either themselves or weapons towards the princess. She looks between them, slowly raising her hands. 

"Well, look at this. Enemies and traitors all working together. I'm done. I know when I'm beaten. You got me. A princess surrenders with honor." Her eyes scan, momentarily locking with Asha's narrowed ones, before moving on. She watches as Iroh looks towards Toph and Asha, giving her the chance to strike, which she does. 

The six benders fire at her quickly, however it creates only an explosion as Azula creates a shield around herself. Using air bending, Asha clears the dust, hoping to catch the princess before she disappears, but it's too late. Falling to the ground, Asha throws a fist to the ground, letting out a yell.

Aang is quick to rush to her side, falling next to her, pulling her close to him. They don't notice Zuko snapping on Katara, or Toph's teary eyes. They only notice each other, the pain that the entire day has caused them. The stress that the two have gone threw melting away as they hold each other. The only reason the two get up at all is Katara pulling them away from the burning ghost town.