"Your legs are too far apart and your arms are too close." Raiko instructs, standing in front of Asha with his arms folded behind his back. He watches as she moves her limbs accordingly, the orb of water (taken from her canteen) flowing between her outstretched hands.  The sun had barely even peeked over the wall of rocks that surrounded the group, the others still sound asleep, yet here the two were wide awake.

It was a beautiful serenity that allowed Asha into the part of her brain that was otherwise unavailable. The part that showed her the true beauty of nature, the hues of the dirt around her, the gleam of the sun reflecting off of the suspended clouds, the smell of morning dew. Everything just invading her intensified senses.  It wasn't often Asha felt this relaxed, normally she was tense, stressed or just antsy with what Aang was doing, what any one in her group was doing to be honest. 

Her concentration broke as Aang lept in the air, awoken from his sleep. "Today's the day! Can you believe it? After all this time searching for a teacher, I'm finally starting Earth bending! And this place...I-It's perfect! Don't you think, Sokka?" Aang yells out excitedly, turning to the water tribe boy. 

Sighing, Asha returns the water to the canteen it came from, Raiko looking at her with an empathetic look, only getting a shrug in return.  Walking over towards Aang, Asha watches as Sokka rolls over, glaring at Aang. 

"Oh, you're still sleeping, huh?" Aang raises a brow, Sokka moaning and rolling over. The air bender mutters an apology.   He quickly takes a step back though, arm reaching over Asha as the ground shakes, Toph's tent exploding as the girl emerges. 

"Good morning, Earth bending students!"  Toph approaches the two air benders, both bowing as she does. 

"Good morning, Sifu Toph." Aang speaks.

"What he said." Asha peaks open an eye, nodding over to him.

"Hey... You never call me Sifu Katara." Said water bender mutters, emerging from her sleeping bag with Raiko chuckling behind her.

"Now who has the better student?" He looks to her, Katara glaring back.

"I mean, if you think I should..." Aang scratches the back of his head, Sokka sitting up with an angry grumble. 

"Sorry, snoozles. We'll do our Earth bending as quietly as we can." Toph snickers, kicking the ground. A large rock quickly shoots up underneath of Sokka, causing him to scream as he's launched up.  As he lands he glares at the three benders, bouncing away shortly after in hope of getting some more rest. 

"So what move are you going to teach us first? Rock-a- lanche? The trembler? Oh! Maybe I can learn to make a whirlpool out of land!" Aang moves his hands, demonstrating the moves, as he speaks a mile a minute. He's halted as Toph pushes on hand onto his chest.

"Let's start with 'move a rock'." Toph turns, prepping herself for what's to come. 

"Sounds good! Sounds good! Let's go Ash!" Aang bounces in place excitedly before grabbing the quiet girls hand, following Toph. 

___

"The key to Earth bending is your stance." Toph takes a basic bending stance, waiting for the air benders to follow; they stand on either side of her, focused and silent. "You've got to be steady and strong. Rock is a stubborn element." She pushes the two, Aang stumbling as Asha remains still. "If you're going to move it, you've got to be like a rock yourself." 

"Like a rock. Got it." Aang widens his stance, glancing back to Asha's for reference. 

"Good. Now the actual motion of this one is pretty simple." Toph straightens, only to lunge forward and punch the air, shooting a boulder into the distance, leaving the air benders shocked.   Asha shakily takes stance again, Aang sounding confident as he announces he's ready. 

Aang tries copying Toph's move, sends a blast of air forward, sending him backward; slamming into Appa's side. 

"Rock beats air bender!" Sokka laughs from his sleeping bag, now on top of a nearby rock. 

"Earth: one. Air benders: zero." Raiko joins in, watching as Asha goes to help Aang. 

___

As the two get back, Aang rubbing the knot on the back of his head, Katara and Toph eyeball the rock.  Raiko standing beside them, keeping a watchful eye over the air benders. 

"I don't understand what went wrong. He did it exactly the way you did."  Katara points at Aang as she talks. 

"Maybe there's another way. What if I came at the boulder from a different angle?"  Aang walks toward the boulder.

"It's more than just stance, Aang. It's a state of mind." Asha speaks up, shifting her weight from one foot to another. 

"Like Nova said, that's the problem. You've got to stop thinking like an air bender." Toph pauses, knocking on the side of Aang's head, causing him to wince. "There's no different angle, no clever solution, no trickity trick that's going to move that rock. You've got to face it head on. And when I say head on, I mean like this. " Toph runs forward, jumping and crashing into the boulder, shattering it with her head. 

"Whoa!" Asha and Aang both gape, in awe. Looking down, Aang ambles away, Asha following him quickly; eager to help him. Leaving the masters to their own devices.

"I've been training Aang for a while now. He really responds well to a positive teaching experience.  Lots of encouragement and praise. Kind words. If he's doing something wrong, maybe a gentle nudge in the right direction."  Katara offers, watching Aang sulk in frustration. 

"Thanks, Katara. A gentle nudge. I'll try that. What about Nova?" Toph looks forward. 

"Nova? Nickname for Asha?" Toph nods, waiting for Raiko to continue. "For the little bit I've trained Asha? Keep doing what your doing. She's like a complete 180 from Aang. She responds to harsh training. Criticism over flattery.  She'd rather know what she's doing wrong the minute she does it." Raiko looks back to the benders as well, Asha patting Aang's back; her mouth moving, presumably whispering sweet nothings to him.  He looks back, only to see Toph nodding with a smirk on her face.  "Be harsh with her; and spite will drive her to prove you wrong."

"Gentle nudge and criticism. Got it." 

___

"Keep your knees high, twinkle toes!" Toph yells, watching Aang stumble with a large rock on his back. Asha goes to help him, but Toph uses a small wall of Earth to keep her away.  The female air bender can only watch as Toph uses even more Earth bending to raise pillars under Aang's feet, unfortunately knocking the poor boy over. 

After that, the move on. This time, Toph putting Asha up to the plate; Aang nurturing his poor back. Toph creates a large pillar, pushing Asha on top of it as it raises up. Taking a shaky stance, Asha watches as Toph fires small boulders at her, forcing her to stumble; nearly fall off. 

"Your thinking like an air bender, Nova! Hands firm by your side, ready for any incoming attacks!" Toph yells, throwing another rock. This time, she smirks as she hears the rock shatter.

The remaining group on the ground look up, shocked. Asha stands fist outreached, the remnants of dust and pebbles on her fist; said girl looking just as shocked at her actions.  

___

Asha finds herself in an oddly familiar position as her hands rub circles in Aang's shoulders, the boy huffing in relief as the tension leaves his shoulders.

"Am I that bad?" He whispers so quietly, Asha almost misses it. 

"Not at all. Your learning. There's a huge difference." Asha whispers back, leaning onto his shoulder as she does; her hands still working all knots out of the boys muscles. 

"Is there?"  He sounds so defeated, breaking Asha's heart as he speaks.

"Yes, there is. Being bad would insinuate you know what your doing,  learning means figuring out how something works." Asha nuzzles into Aang, allowing him to lean back onto her. 

"What would I do without you?" Aang finally smiles, looking over to Asha. She only shrugs, giving his cheek a quick peck before standing to meet with Toph, leaving behind a flustered Avatar.

___

"This time we're going to try something a little different. Twinkle toes, your up. Now, instead of moving a rock, you're going to stop a rock. Get in your horse stance!" Toph shouts, allowing Aang to widen his stance. She waves a hand, motioning for Asha to step back; the air bender complying. 

"I'm going to roll that boulder down at you. If you have the attitude of an Earth bender, you'll stay in your stance and stop the rock.  Like this." The Earth bender lunges toward a boulder, holding her arms out to demonstrate. Both air benders look at her in horrified shock; their water bending teachers walking over to Toph. 

"Sorry, Toph, but are you sure this is really the best way to teach them Earth bending?" Katara asks, wearily looking towards the large boulder on top of the cliff above them.

"I'm glad you said something." Toph walks over, the two water benders following. Reaching to Aang's belt, Toph jerks it off, blindfolding the poor air bender. "Actually, there is a better way. This way they'll really have to sense the vibrations of the boulder to stop it. Thank you, Katara!" She beams at the water bender, giving her a thumbs up.

"Yeah, thanks Katara!" Both air benders speak in a sarcastic unity, the water bending girl nervously laughing. Raiko dragging Asha out of the way of the boulder. 

Throwing her on top of a boulder, Raiko keeps a hand on the collar of Asha's shirt. Making sure she doesn't run off. She only sits and watches as Toph takes position, Aang taking stance. As the rock rolls forward, picking up pace, she tries to go help, but is pulled back. Asha's eyes never leave Aang, watching as he clenches his teeth; sweat falling down his face. As per habit, Asha nervously bits her lip in anticipation, fingers tapping by her side. She had already been able to stop a rock, albeit a small one, but Aang hadn't.

As the boulder closes in, the tension grows; becoming thick enough to cut. It's just before the boulder hits, Aang jumps over it; Asha releasing a breath, with a cry of happiness following as the boulder flies past. Stumbling over her own feet, Asha falls onto Aang as he raises his blindfold. He wraps an arm around the girl who clings to him. He smiles at the air bender, only for it to fall as Toph stomps towards him, glaring at him. 

"I guess, I just panicked. I don't know what to say." Aang looks down to Asha, said girl not even looking to Toph. 

"There's nothing to say! You blew it. You had perfect stance and perfect form but when it came right down to it, you didn't have the guts!"  Toph screeches, pacing in front of Aang. 

"I know, I'm sorry." Aang continues to watch Asha, the girl not loosening her grip. 

"Yeah, you are sorry! If you're not tough enough to stop the rock, then you could at least give it the pleasure of smushing you instead of jumping out of the way like a jelly- boned wimp! Now, do you have what it takes to face that rock like an Earth bender?!" Toph continues the verbal abuse. 

Taking a look to Asha, then back to Toph, Aang takes a breath. "No. I don't think I do." He breathes out sadly. 

Katara walks over to the two, Asha letting go (still keeping her hand on his shoulder) as Katara approaches. "Aang, it's no big deal. You'll take a break and try Earth bending again when you're ready. Besides, you still have a lot of water bending to work on, okay?"  Katara smiles to the boy. 

"Yeah...That sounds good."  Aang slowly walks off with Katara. Asha, Raiko and Toph left behind. 

"Yeah, whatever, go splash around until you feel better. Maybe your Onsra will take training seriously." Toph mumbles the last part. Taking Asha further from Raiko for simple training; much like the drill from earlier. 

___

"Sorry." 

"For?" 

"I don't know, I guess... being an extra burden?" Asha looks to Toph, a sad look on her face. 

"You weren't the one to jump away from the perfect chance to learn Earth bending." Toph is straight faced. 

"No, but I bet in the same situation, I would've." Asha continues, beating herself up. 

"I don't think so, Nova. Your starting to think like an Earth bender. After all you did stop that rock from earlier."  Toph smiles towards Asha, said girl barely looking up. Thinking, Toph quickly extracts a boulder from the ground, throwing it towards Asha. The girl quickly stopping it with a fist.

"See? Your form is near perfection, just keep your hands firm." Toph walks over after the rock falls. "In no time, you'll get your stripe or whatever." 

"It's not whatever. The stripe means I've achieved mastery." Asha lets her small smile fall. 

"Then why do you have two? Last I checked, you've only mastered air?" Raiko speaks up, gesturing to the full stripes on her legs. 

"I'm not sure. To be honest, I think...I think it's for fire. I mean my dad was an air nomad and my mom was a fire bender. It would make sense..." Asha trails off, using her finger to trace the outline of one of her arrows. 

"Have you tried fire bending?" Raiko pushes on, Asha holding her arms to herself. 

"A few times.  Not often. I'm trying to learn the other the others before I pursue it." Her voice is wavy.  She's quickly pulled from her though process as another rock is thrown towards her. She successfully blocks it again, throwing into the ground beside her. 

"Well, your on your way to becoming an Earth bending master." Toph smiles at her.  "Not to mention a water bending master." Raiko cuts in. 

Asha bows, hands clasped together. "Thank you Sifu Toph. Sifu Raiko."

___

Asha watches as Aang furrows his brows, his hands clutching even tighter in the fists they're in.  She only gives a glance to the approaching footsteps, taking a double take as Toph approaches them with Aang's staff in hand;  bag in the other. 

"Aang! I found these nuts in your bag. I figured you wouldn't mind. And besides, even if you did, you're too much of a pushover to do anything about it." Toph smirks, said boy opening his eyes; giving an annoyed look to the raven. 

"As a matter of fact, I don't mind. I'm happy to share anything I have." Aang says, closing his eyes, trying to resume his meditation. Asha sitting in silence in front of the two. 

"You know, I'm really glad you feel that way, because I also have this great new nutcracker." Toph spins Aang's staff above her head, the air benders looking with a pained expression. The Earth bender smiles widely, lifting the staff only to bring it down onto a nut. 

"Actually, I'd prefer if you didn't-" Aang begins, wincing as another nut is cracked; sending a cringe down his spine. "That's an antique, hand crafted by the monks- It's a delicate instrument!"  The air bender grows increasingly frustrated as Toph continues the abuse on his staff.

"It's not the only delicate instrument around here." Toph mocks, walking away with Momo; hitting the rocks with Aang's staff as she passes. 

"The nerve." Asha glares, sending an apologetic smile to Aang, who only huffs as he returns to meditating.  He hums as Asha looks up to him, Katara approaching the two. 

"Hey Aang, have you seen-" Katara begins, glancing to Asha then to Aang.

"Meditating here!" Aang shouts, annoyed.

"It's important, it's almost sundown and Sokka isn't back yet. I think we should search for him."  Katara continues, worry lacing her words as she looks behind her.  Aang looks back to her, air bending himself to his feet, leaping off the rock; helping Asha to her feet. 

"We'll find him faster if we split up." Aang looks to Asha and Katara, both girls nodding as the run off into different directions. 

___

"Where you think your going, Nova?" Asha skids to a halt as Toph speaks up.

 "Sokka's missing. Raiko went with Katara and Aang and I are searching other places. You wanna join?" The Earth bender looks to take it into consideration before walking over to Asha. 

"Alright, let's go find snoozles." Toph smirks, only for it to be replaced by shock as Asha grabs her arm; running off to find the water tribe boy. 

As they run towards a cliff, Asha once more skids to a stop; looking over to see Aang and Sokka talking. Aang sitting beside the trapped boy as a baby Moose-lion walks closer to them.  Jumping down, with Toph in tow and Air bending their fall, Asha is stopped by Toph as she goes to move forward.  

"Aang, this is my friend Foo Foo Cuddlypoops. Foo Foo Cuddlypoops, Aang." Sokka motions to the Moose-lion; Aang picking up the creature. 

"Aw, what a cute name for a little baby Saber tooth Moose-lion cub."  Asha doesn't get to hear the rest of their conversation as a large, brown mammal invades her vision. It lets out a loud roar, the cub Aang previously held running to it's mother. The beast only roars again, Asha pushing herself further into the crevice the two were in.  As the beast charges, Aang air bends the creature onto it's back.  Giving the boys a few seconds before it charges again.  Asha goes to get up, but once again is pulled down by Toph.  She winces as she hears it charge again. 

The Moose-lion charges again, Aang throwing it onto it's back once more; this time the Moose-lion leaves.  Walking into the bushes, following it's cub. As the dust clears, Asha can see Aang standing in an attacking stance; Toph starts to slowly clap from behind Asha.  Aang turns to them, Asha looking like a deer caught in the headlights at his glance. 

"What are you two doing here?" Sokka asks first, still stuck. 

"Just enjoying the show." Toph smirks as Aang walks closer to them.

"So you were there the whole time?" He looks to Toph then to Asha.

"More or less." Asha rubs her hand up and down her other arm, looking to the ground. Was this how he felt whenever she ripped into him? God, she hated it.

"Why didn't you do something?! Sokka was in trouble! I was in trouble! You could've gotten him out and helped us get away!" Aang points angrily to Toph, said girl looking unaffected. Asha refuses to look at Aang, less she break under his gaze.

"I tri-" Asha starts, Toph cutting her off.

"I guess it just didn't occur to us."  Toph takes out another nut, taking Aang's staff out as well. As she brings it down, Aang catches it, glaring at Toph. 

"Enough! I want my staff back!" Aang demands, taking the staff as Toph jumps to her feet. 

"Do it now." 

"What?!" 

"Earth bend, twinkle toes. You just stood your ground against a crazy beast, and even more impressive, you stood your ground against me. You've got the stuff. " Toph looks pleased as she faces Aang. 

"But-" 

"Do it!" 

With a groan, Aang stomps his foot down then shoves his fist forwards, throwing a large rock into a ridge.  The air bender turns to Asha, crushing her into a hug with a big smile, the girl laughing as she hugs back. 

"You did it! You're an Earth bender." Toph stands proudly as she speaks. 

"I can't believe it!" Aang cheers excitedly, separating from Asha. 

"Aw, this is a really wonderful, touching moment. So, could you get me out of here so I can give you all a big, snuggly hug?"  Sokka says from his cavern. 

"Not if your going to hug me." Asha grimaces, Aang marching closer to Sokka, proclaiming it not a problem.

"Actually, you should probably let me do that. You're still a little new to this. You might accidentally crush him. " Toph stops Aang, walking to Sokka herself. 

"Yeah, no crushing, please."  

___

Asha skips ahead of the trio, humming to herself as  she twirls; the crisp night air flowing through her auburn locks. Aang walks behind her, with Sokka's arm around him, acting like a crutch. Toph beside the boys, staff in hand.  The male air bender only watches as his female counterpart twirls and dances in front of them, not noticing Katara running to them.

"You found him!"  Katara beams, running up to her brother. 

"The whole time that I was in that hole, not knowing if I would live or die, it makes a man think about what's really important. I realized-" 

"Hey, Katara, look what I can do!" Aang cuts Sokka off, breaking a large rock formation in half. 

"I told you there was a difference." Asha laughs behind him. 

"Yeah, yeah. On the bright side, I can Earth bend now! You know Ash, the key is being completely rooted! Physically and mentally unmovable!" Aang falls into stance as he looks to Asha. He doesn't notice Appa behind him until the bison licks him right off his feet, causing the two to break out into laughter.  

Until Gumi did the same to Asha, pushing her over next to Aang. Only increasing the laughter ten-fold.