"Hey guys, I think this river's polluted." Aang looks to the sludge infested river he was currently sludging in, watching from Gumi's back as he trudged beside Appa. Her toes barely touching the sludge before retreating back into her form; the girl shuddering at the feeling while wondering how in the world Aang was 'swimming' in that.

"Ya think?" She looks to the sludge with a grimace, continuing to watch as Aang gets out of the river, bending the sludge onto the other group members before quickly air bending it away. 

"Well, that explains why I can't catch a fish around here. Because normally my fishing skills are...Off the hook! Get it? Like a fishing hook?" Sokka is stopped by an orb of sludge being thrown at his face, Asha laughing at the shocked glare Sokka gives her.

"Real shame your skills aren't on the hook." Asha snarks, her joke more successful as the group laughs.  

"That's my girl!" Toph laughs out, feeling Asha hop onto Appa, Raiko following soon after.

"It looks like we'll need to go somewhere else to get food." Katara groans, a long scroll of paper falling in front of her. "Assuming that'll fit into Sokka's master schedule."

"It's doable. But that means only two potty breaks today!"  Sokka looks to his schedule, yanking it from Raiko as he picks up the end. 

"Hey, maybe we can get food there." Aang points to  a small village in the middle of the lake. 

___

With the animals hidden and the group at the village, it was set up so all they had to do was find some food.  Easier said then done however. 

"Look at this place. It's so sad. We have to do something to help!" Katara whines as they walk through the town, yanking on Asha's arm.  The Onsra stays silent, only rethinking her life over with every step. 

"No, we can't waste our time here! We have a bigger mission that we need to stay focused on. These people are on their own!" Sokka growls at his sister. 

"I mean harsh. But he's right." Raiko walks beside Toph, their arms linked (Toph claiming it's because she couldn't see as well as she normally does, Asha calling BS). 

"These people are starving, and you turn your back on them!? How can you be so cold and heartless? Asha, back me up." Katara yanks the girls arm again, pulling Asha from her thoughts.

"I mean, we are here. We can help out howe-" Asha begins, sending a pleading look to Aang, the girl being cut off shortly after. 

"No. First, I get your the Onsra, but we don't have time to waste. Second, I'm not turning my back, I'm just being realistic!  We can't go around helping every rinky-dink town we wander into. We'll be helping them all by taking out the Fire Lord!" Sokka snarks again, Toph slapping her hand over Sokka's mouth again.

"Hey, loudmouth! Maybe we should be a little quieter when we talk about taking out the Fire Lord!" The Earth bender growls, her eyes darting side to side, despite not being able to see.

"Come on, Katara, Asha, be reasonable about this. You know our mission has to come first. Asha, you especially should know this." Sokka's face relaxes, his voice much quieter. 

"I guess so." Asha rubs her arm, which is now free from Katara's iron grip, the water bender folding her arms in reluctant agreement. 

"Let's just get what we need and go." Aang takes Asha, gently by the hand, as he speaks; leading her away from Katara less her arm get torn off. 

They eventually approach the counter of an outdoor marker stall, the same man who rowed them over to the village (Dock) standing there, waiting for them. 

"Hey, Dock. You work here too?" Raiko looks to the man, who raises a brow. 

"I'm not Dock, I'm Xu. Dock's my brother." The man looks to the group of kids, only getting flabbergasted looks back. 

"Wait. What?" Asha shakes her head, making sure she heard right. 

"I thought we just saw you. You're even wearing the same clothes. The only difference is your hat." Aang narrows his eyes in confusion.  

"Dock works on the docks, that why they call him 'Dock', and I work in the shop, that's why they call me 'Xu'." The man explains, confusing the poor kids even further.

It's silent for a few seconds, the group still looking on in confusion. 

"I don't get it." Asha groans, laying her head on Aang's shoulder. She closes her eyes, only to shoot them back open as a sharp pain cracks through her skull the minute her orbs are cut off from the outside world. She stumbles over, Aang quickly catching her before she can fall on her butt. His grey eyes, laced with concern, look over her face, the girl only rubbing one of her temples. 

'You okay?' Aang asks through their connection, the girl only groaning at the burning sensation in her lower back. 

'I'll be fine.'  Asha shakes her head again, but doesn't dare leave Aang's side; not that the boy would've let her. 

"Me neither." Dock ignores the past few seconds, the group looking back to Dock as well. The air benders giving off the impression that it was for the best. "What can I get ya? Hey, I'll give you a special deal. If you buy three fish, I'll throw in a clam for free." 

"We'll just take the fish. Mind telling your brother we need a ride back to shore?" Sokka pushes beyond the revolting feeling that settles in his stomach.  They watch as Dock-  er Xu?- ducks beneath the counter, reappearing with yet again, another hat. 

"Hey, colonials. My brother says you need a lift." Dock walks to his boat with the rest following closely behind. 

Aang walks ahead, Asha shaking the boy off so she could help Katara, who hands her a couple of fish in a basket.

"Can you spare some food?" A boy asks, running up to the two. Asha gives him a sad smile, handing him her portion of wrapped fish. 

"I wish I could do more." Asha crouches next to him, the boy smiling back before running off to a sick woman, most likely the boy's mother.

"Weren't you gonna eat that, Ash?" Katara walks off with the girl, the boat awaiting the two.

"I'm not to hungry. Don't worry about me." Asha gives her a bright smile, boarding the boat.

___

Asha hastily flips through one of the books she had gotten from the library, Katara sitting across from her, both girls' brows furrowed.  Stopping abruptly, Asha shoves the book under Katara's snout, allowing her to read it. She then looks over to Raiko, the blonde sitting beside the southern girl.  Katara furrows her brows further as she continues reading, looking worried at the new information she was given.

"Asha, were you in the Avatar state when you were fighting Aki?" Katara sounds worried, looking to the nodding girl. 

"Oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no." Katara stands quickly, pacing in front of the two.  "Are you sure this could be happening to you?"  

"I don't know, I mean, since Ba Sing Se I've gotten... Irritable. Battles got ugly way too fast, and though I never went into the Avatar state, I felt like I was loosing control... Not to mention Aang and I got into a fight just days ago. In school I deserted him completely! Nearly left you guys for some stupid social life, then when that didn't work tried to cut you guys out as well, like a social withdrawal." Asha starts gripping at her hair, biting her lip.

It's silent for a few seconds, Katara and Raiko looking over to Asha in silence. 

"We'll keep an eye on you Ash, though if I were you, I'd tell Aang." Raiko pats the girls shoulder, Asha jerking away quickly. 

"No! I-I can't. He has way too much on his plate already, with the fire Lord and everything. I can't-"

"You can't what?"  Funnily enough, it's Aang who walks up to them first, looking to the panic-stricken trio. He furrows a brow, but says nothing on it, mentally trying to decipher the emotions going through his counterpart.

"Asha will tell you later." Raiko smirks at the girl, who sends a glare his way.  Shrugging, Aang wraps an arm around Asha, nuzzling into her hair. With a sigh, the brunette surrenders to the raven, falling limp in his arms as he holds her tightly, gently rocking back and fourth. He feels better at the relief that soars through her.

"Our detour into town today has completely thrown off our schedule. It's gonna take some serious finagling to get us back on track." Sokka pipes up, looking to his schedule. 

"Finagle away, O schedule master." Toph snorts sarcastically. 

"Well, for starters, it looks like we'll need to wake up forty-three minutes earlier every day-"  

"Forty-three minutes?" Katara groans, tearing her gaze from the air benders. 

"Look, we only have a few weeks to get to the Fire Lord in time for the invasion and the eclipse- which, by the way, only lasts for eight minute. And we just lost a whole day. So if we want to make up the time and stay on schedule, we have to wake up early!"  Sokka says, pacing in front of them. 

"Asha and I get up early to train anyway, so not a problem." Raiko gives a smile, which Sokka returns, thankful for the backup. Asha once called it a bromance, and Sokka likes to think of it that way too.

"Well, I'm not waking up early." The Earth bender snorts, glaring (in reality narrowing her eyes in his direction) at Raiko. 

"Or we could just cut out all of our eating breaks." Sokka says with a triumphant smirk, the idea quickly being shot down. "I got it, how's this: From now on, we'll take food breaks and potty breaks at the same time." 

A chorus of revolted 'Ews'  comes from the group as Sokka rolls his eyes.  

"Hey, it might be gross, but it's efficient. Either way, we have to leave here first thing tomorrow morning." 

___

Morning for Asha seems to come earlier than the poor air bender had anticipated.  

She had fallen asleep on Appa,  with her and Aang huddled on the bison's side as Gumi lays on their laps (acting like a blanket with his warm breaths surrounding them). The brunette is awoken by a cold shiver running down her spine as Gumi raises his head at incoming footsteps, allowing the cool nightly winds to brush on any exposed skin, which with her outfit-- was more than enough.

Her eyelids felt like bricks as she forces them open, Katara crouching down in front of her.

"Asha, I need your help." 

___

It took some trouble, but Asha had managed to sneak out of Aang's arms with ease, then back into his arms (with the same ease) without waking the boy.  He had re-latched onto her with no problems, making her ever so thankful for his heavy sleeping patterns. The sun was rising once the two got back, so Asha had no problem falling back asleep.  However, she was woken up soon after by Appa groaning.  

The poor bison had gotten 'sick' (Asha assumed Katara had something to do with that while she was away) the others  buying the excuse and deciding to stay another day. Because of this, they were forced to go back into town.

 It seemed different however. Children are seen laughing, some chasing a ball as it bounces past. Aang grabs Asha's hand, dragging her towards Xu's shop, not wanting to loose her in the crowd. The rest of the group follows the air benders, approaching the same stall. 

"Hey, Xu, what's going on with everyone today?"  Sokka pushes forward, looking to the man. 

"Ah, something amazing happened last night. Food was delivered to our village by a mysterious and wonderful person... the Painted Lady." Xu (Dock?) explained, looking off in awe and wonderment. 

"The painted who now?" Asha furrows a brow, tilting her head. She's careful to keep her mind blank from ever knowing about her.

"The Painted Lady."  Dock plunks down a statuette of the spirit on the counter. "She's part of our town's lore. They say she's a river spirit who watches over our town in times of need. I always thought she was just a legend. Until now."  

"See, we don't need to help these people, they already have someone to help them. All we need is medicine for our sick friend."  Raiko smirks, leaning back onto the stall. 

"Medicine? Sorry, all the medicine we have goes to the factory. That's why there's so many sick people in our village." 

"Looks like we need to stay another night so Appa can rest." Katara shrugs, sending a small smirk towards Asha. The girl nodding in return behind Aang's back

"I guess you're right. You got any more food to sell?" Sokka sounds like an exasperated dad.

"Would you like the one-headed fish, or the two-headed fish?" 

___

Bags had set under Asha's crystal eyes by now, the girl constantly leaning against Aang for support as they yet again needed food; he happily gave it too her, but kept a watchful eye. The second day had come and gone, and with the third now just breaking dawn, it seemed the group wasn't going anywhere any time soon. 

"Oh well, that's too bad. Maybe if you guys are lucky, the Painted Lady will visit you in the night, and heal your friend."  Dock smiles, the group looking to the rotten plate of clams in disgust. Seems they had run out of luck with their fish.

"And maybe she'll cook us a midnight snack, and we'll all have a sing-along." Sokka snarks, remaining the eternal skeptic. 

"Yeah, may be! You know, last night she visited us again. Healed most of our sick folks." Dock continues smiling, oblivious to the sarcasm dripping from Sokka's voice.

"Is that why this place seems so festive?" Aang looks back to the large statue that the villagers were currently erecting. Cheers and applause erupting from the group.

"Yep, it's all because of the Painted Lady."

"Can you believe how much an entire village can be affected by one lady? I mean...Spirit?" Katara looks to Asha, who quickly looking over to Dock to avoid suspicion. God she wanted a nap, so bad.

"Well, I hope she returns every night. Otherwise this place would go right back to the way it was." Sokka fold his arms tightly, Asha looking back to him.

"Why would you say that?" Asha once again furrows a brow, the girl fighting the urge to close her eyes, a yawn also threatening to pass her lips.

"Look how much better off these people are." Katara snorts indignantly, her own arms folding.

"Yeah, now, but without her, they wouldn't be able to fend for themselves. If she really wanted to help, she would use her spirit magic to blow up that factory." Raiko laughs, him and Sokka making sound effects, indicating an 'explosive spirit magic'. 

"Spirit magic doesn't work that way, Sokka. It's more like woooooooo." Aang lets go of Asha, waving his arms in an elaborate dance.

"Oh my lord." Asha groans, watching as the boys ham it up, Katara dragging her away.

___

Carefully contorting her body, and putting her flexibility to the test, Asha struggles to slide under Aang's arm (Had it subconsciously gotten tighter?), attempting to slip away unnoticed. She had, yet again, wanted to spend the night sleeping, but with a little convincing, Katara had made her agree to one more stakeout. One for all the marbles.

Walking over to a large rock where Katara was already crouched, mixing a dark maroon paint in a wooden bowl, Asha let out a yawn.

"Ready?" The water bender watched as Asha adjusted the red hood that shielded her neck arrows. Asha only shrugs, sitting in front of Katara, the girl quickly painting stripes over her arrows and on her face.

"You know the plan. Quick, quiet, in and out." Katara slides the rings up the air benders arms, placing a hat on top of the girls head.  She gets a nod in return and watches as Asha runs off, quick and silent just as she promised. 

It's as Katara goes to lay back down, Momo wakes, effectively waking the air bender beside him.  Feigning being asleep, Katara can hear Aang sit up, looking away until presumably spotting Asha, quietly pointing her out to Momo (although believing she's still the Painted Lady), before running after the girl.  After a few seconds, Katara peeks open an eye, sending a silent sorry to Asha. 

Said girl was currently struggling to keep ahead of her determined boyfriend.  Normally, she was quick, but the long robe she was wearing trapped her legs in long folds, causing her to stumble. She thanked the lucky stars when Aang was distracted (calling out to her), the boy running into a roof pole. Of course, she felt bad, but that sympathy died out quickly when a small throbbing erupting in the middle of her head. The down sides of soul bonding she supposed.

Continuing her trek, eventually loosing the boy (or at least that's what Asha thought), the brunette slowed to a trot, then to a full-stop. Panting, Asha can feel sweat running down her face, though she bends it away before it can wreck her makeup.  Turning around, Asha stumbles back with a small yelp as Aang stands before her, his headband secured around his head and the boy eyeballing her. 

"My name's Aang. I'm the Avatar."  He stands tall, despite is 16-year-old stature. 

"Well, hello, Avatar. I wish I could talk, but I'm fairly busy." Asha squeaks, forcing her voice up several octaves. Her head is bowed, attempting to hide her face from the boy with the large hat she had on.

"Yeah, me too. I hate that. Luckily, I have my Onsra. You'd like her." Aang smiles like a love-sick dork, Asha feeling the pride bubble in her own chest; narrowly avoiding Aang's peeking gaze. "You know, you're really pretty for a spirit. I don't get to meet too many spirits, but that ones I do meet...Not very attractive." He joked, laughing haughtily, as he continued trying to peek. 

"Thank you, but..." The girl struggled to keep her mind clear of thoughts, ones that would for sure give her away.

"You seem familiar, too." Aang continues to peer, suspicion rising in the boy. He already had a sneaking suspicion, for god's sake him and Asha were practically attached by the hip-- and her sudden disappearance along with the Painted Lady's sudden reappearance? He wasn't good at math, but this just didn't add up.

"A lot of people say that." 

"No...You really seem familiar."  

"Look, I really should get going..." Asha turns quickly, but Aang predicts the move. He knocks that hat with a wave of air bending, sending the brunette into a hasty scramble to get it back. 

He gently grabs her wrist, pulling her into his chest. Her bright blue orbs look up to him like a deer caught in the head light as he looks down at her, unimpressed.

"Hi, Aang." 

"Hi Asha.  Mind telling me how you became the painted lady?"  He holds her tightly, brow raised in a teasing manner as he watches her flounder.

"I wasn't at first. It was originally going to be Katara, but her skin tone was completely different. So she asked me to help. I was fine with doing so, cause I really did want to help the village. Eventually, Katara and I had just kinda... became her? If that makes sense." The girl shrugs, pulling away from Aang.

"So you've sneaking out at night? Wait- Is Appa even sick?!" Aang furrows his brows, the girl raising her own. 

"That part I don't actually know. If I were to guess, I would assume Katara was feeding him purple berries. He seems perfectly fine and the berries would've dyed his tongue." Asha offers, Aang running a hand tiredly through his hair.

"I can't believe you, of all people, lied to everyone so you could help these people." Aang sounds tired, Asha frowns. 

"I know. I'm sorry, I should've-" Asha begins, her eyes falling to the ground. 

"No, Ash, I think it's great. You're like a secret hero." Aang hugs her again, a smile breaking out on his face as he feels her nerves and any regrets slip away.

"Then, I might need your help...There's one more thing I have to do." 

___

Aang had been excitedly asking question after question to the two girls about how they ran their operation on the way back. When Asha had asked him to help destroy the factory, he was a little apprehensive before agreeing; The two doing it with ease (Asha thinking Aang took a little too much joy in destroying the factory, but who was she to judge) with Katara meeting up with them on their way back to camp. Currently, they were just within hearing distance, but only if they talked louder than the volume they were at. If anybody asked, they could say they went on an early morning walk-- which worked fine as Asha was back in her own clothing, paint and jewelry off like it was never there in the first place.

"Shh! We don't wanna wake Raiko or Sokka. They're mean when they don't get their 'beauty' sleep." Asha giggles quietly, air quoting beauty sleep. Katara laughs with her, both being cut off as the three left behind glare at them. 

"And where were you three?" Raiko glares, Asha hiding behind Aang as Katara feigns innocence. 

"Sokka, Raiko. We were just...out on a...morning walk!" Katara tries the excuse, gesturing back to the air benders who nod.

"Oh, really? A morning walk?" Sokka dumps the grass from Katara's sleeping bag, the dead plant falling without any hassle as it easily kills their excuse. They never stood a chance.    "I know Asha is the Painted Lady. I know you've been sneaking out at night, and I know you've been lying about Appa and feeding him purplizing tongue berries!" Sokka lists, Toph sticking her now purple tongue out as proof. 

"What you two did put the whole mission in jeopardy. We're leaving. " Raiko catches on, turning fully to Aang. "And how long did you know about this? Why didn't you stop her?!" 

"Hey, I just found out this morning!" Aang defends himself, raising his hand in mock surrender.

Raiko only rubs the bridge of his nose, sighing as Asha huffs in annoyance.

___

The peace, as short lived as it was, was nice while it lasted. While packing up, the group was set on edge as jet skies encased the village, Raiko and Asha immediately getting into an argument because of it.

"What was I supposed to do, huh Raiko?!" Asha yells at the blonde, both watching as fire nation soldiers grow closer and closer to the village.

"Leave!? Do nothing?!" The man sounds just as hysterical as he glares at the approaching ships. 

"No. As an Onsra it is my duty to never, ever turn my back on people who need me!" Asha glances back to the village, setting her jaw in a tight grimace. "I'm going down to the village, and I'm gonna do whatever I can." Asha stomps away, the others watching as she does.   

"Ash. Wait. We'll come too." Raiko stops the girl, the others smiling back.

"I though you didn't want to help." She snorts, crossing her arms.

"You need me, and I will never turn my back on you." Raiko gives her a side hug, finally dragging a smile out of the girl. If their friendship was ever questioned before, it wasn't now. 

"He really does have a heart, doesn't he?" Aang snorts, wiping a fake tear as he turns to Toph; the Earth bender socking him in the chest; the boy falling over right after.

___

With more than twice as many helpers, Asha is back in the Painted Lady outfit within minutes. It wasn't the most thought out plan but it was the best they had. 

With cover from Katara, a large cloud of fog washes over the dock of the village, Asha taking the opportunity to fall in. With added effects from the gang (Toph lifting and dropping a boulder for footsteps, Appa and Gumi letting out low growls, Sokka playing a soft flute, Katara and Raiko bending the large cloud of fog), the menacing atmosphere grows with every passing second.

The fire soldiers whisper among themselves, eyeballing the cloud. They watch as the fog parts dramatically, Asha standing in full outfit before rushing the fire soldiers with a burst of air bending. 

"Do something! Stand your ground!" The general barks, another wave of air bending blasting the soldiers, this time from Aang (the boy hiding beneath the docks as a just in case).  With the given distraction, Asha throws a pair of jet skis into a nearby cliff (using water bending). The remaining soldiers speed off on the non-destroyed jet skis, leaving the general to deal with Asha.

"I'll take care of you myself." The general growls, bending an arc of fire at Asha. She effortlessly flips over it with the help of air bending, as she does (distracting the general) Aang bends a hole into the dock, forcing the general to fly into the river.  

He flounders for a bit before Asha reluctantly bends him out, raising her arms threateningly, with a mean glare.

"Leave this village and never come back." This time it's Asha growling, her blue eyes looking set to kill.  The girl drops him back into the filthy water, the general swimming desperately before a ski passes by, the general clambering on and buzzing off.

Raiko, Toph and Sokka approach the village right after, the people applauding Asha.  Cheers and praise escape different people, but Asha doesn't hear it. In reality it's just a buzz to her as her heart races.

"Wait a minute! I know you! You're not the Painted Lady, you're that colonial girl!" Dock is the one who exposes her, quickly pulling Asha back to the world of the living. 

More angry shouts erupt, the village closing in on the the flabbergasted girl, however Raiko and Sokka both run forward, intervening. 

"Look, maybe she is a water bender, but she was just trying to help you! Because of her, that factory won't be polluting your river, and the army is gone." Sokka begins, using hand gestures to prove his point.

 "You should be down on you knees thanking her!" Raiko steps in, but Asha pushes in front of both of them, pulling her hat off and letting her hair fall down her back.

"Sokka, Raiko, it's okay.  I shouldn't have acted like someone I wasn't, and I shouldn't have tricked you. But I felt like I had to do something. It doesn't matter if the Painted Lady is real or not. Because your problems are real, and this river is real. You can't wait around for someone to help you. You have to help yourself." Asha looks to the village, giving herself a pat on the back for her apology. Nailed it.

She hears Aang snicker at the thought.

"She's right, but what should we do?" 

Toph has to peek out, disguising her voice as she call, "Maybe we can clean the river."

Yells of agreement and excitement cheer, bringing a smile to Asha's face. Looking over as Aang walks up to her, Asha lets her muscles relax.

"You did good, Ash. A true Onsra." He smiles, hugging the girl. She hugs back before turning to Dock. 

"You gonna help us clean?" 

"No, ma'am. I'm going to get my other brother, Bushi. He loves cleaning rivers." Dock switches hats once again, not bothering to hide it. "Alright, I'm Bushi! Let's get some river cleaning done." 

"Aha, I knew it! I knew you were the same guy! You're the shop owner and the boat guy!" Aang points as he smirks, on arm still around Asha. 

"Oh, you must be talking about my brothers, Dock and Xu." 

"No! I just saw you! You switched hats and called yourself a different name!" Aang yells exasperated, Asha biting down a giggle. 

"Oh, you know who does that? My brother Dock. He's crazy."  The man whispers, Aang fuming as giggles finally tumble free from Asha.

___

Splashing water on her face, Asha lets out a soft hum. The river was clean and the village had it's main source of profit back and she was off duty for a little while, meaning she could get some well deserved rest.  She's shocked backwards however as an apparition appears before her. It looks suspiciously like her costume of the Painted Lady, however when it speaks it forces the brunette to believe it's real. 

"Thank you." 

Without another word, she disappears, leaving Asha with a dropped jaw and a racing heart. 

'Aang you're never going to guess what I just saw.'

'Asha, it's you're reflection.'

'I mean this out of love, but respectfully shut your mouth.'