Meteors shot across the sky with dazzling tails mesmerizing the kids below them. The rocks seemed to glimmer as they soared, the stars twinkling meekly beside them, paling in comparison. Below them, Asha sat wrapped up within Aang's arms, the boy resting his head on hers as she practically sat on his lap; Raiko and Toph sitting beside them , leaning against each other (For 'warmth'), the water tribe siblings beside them. 

They all sat on top of a makeshift roof, the flying animals laying underneath with Zulu and Momo.

"Wow, this is amazing to watch." Katara stares up in awe, her eyes dazzling with the sky.

"Kind of makes you realize how insignificant we are." Sokka looks up, his eyes holding a sad depression though. 

"Eh, you've seen nothing once, you've seen it 1 000 times." Toph smirks as she leans back onto the blonde behind her.  She can hear Asha giggle, causing her to smile wider.

"I'm so glad we kept her." Asha giggles, looking up to Aang; the boy rolling his eyes before pulling Asha even closer. She can hear him hum, making a soft smile appear, her cheeks pinching up ever so slightly.

"Oh, man. You've never not seen anything like this." Sokka sits up quickly, the rest following. A meteorite whistles through the air, passing over their head (almost too close). It crashes behind the group, fire and bits of Earth being blown away from the impact.  Toph stands in surprise as Asha burrows herself into Aang's chest.  She's pulled away however as  Toph grabs her forearm, dragging her off the roof right before throwing her to Gumi, the dragon already rising and readying himself for flight. 

Raiko and Asha are in the air (heading toward the crash site) before the others, watching as fire spreads, slowly, yet efficiently.  

"The fire is gonna destroy the town!" Katara cries out, watching the same fire. Asha rolls her eyes, before jumping out of Gumi's saddle, using air bending to soften the fall. Appa and Gumi landing beside her. 

"You couldn't have waited?" Raiko grunts beside Asha, taking the same bending pose she does.

"Yea, Ash." Aang smirks as he stands beside Asha. Asha rolls her eyes, the blue crystals quickly darting around for anyway to stop the fire but Katara beats her to it.

"There's a creek over here. Raiko and I'll bend the water on to the fire." She calls back, her and Raiko running over to Appa and taking off. 

"Asha, you and Aang make a trench to keep the fire from coming any closer." Toph directs, the air benders nodding before taking action.  Toph joins them too, the three getting ready for action before Sokka interrupts. 

"What should I do?" 

Aang looks back to Asha, the girl looking nervous before shrugging.

"You can...Keep an eye on Momo and Zulu?" Asha suggests, said animals running up to Sokka. 

"So what, I'm just a lemur-sitter?" Sokka sarcastically pats Momo's head. "There, there. Feel better?" Asha laughs while running off, Sokka watching them with a frown. 

Toph and Aang stand on either side of Asha, the trio swinging their arms up and down, bending a trench and pushing the fire back. Water splashes onto the fire, like a bad shower, Raiko and Katara holding a much larger orb above them; the water falling from it.

"Stand clear Sokka!" Aang calls, him and Asha taking the orb from the water benders. The boy seems to grumble disappointed, watching as the two legacies easily take care of the fire. They throw the water at the fire with a gust of air, snow now falling around the area, putting out the fire as Raiko and Katara land.

"Good work, everybody." Aang smiles, dusting his hands off before walking over to his counterpart. He wraps an arm around the brunettes waist, the girl only watching as Zulu and Momo slide in front of her on a sheet of ice.

___

Asha crosses a leg over her knee as she munches on a vegetarian safe dumpling, eyes watching Sokka carefully as she smacks Raiko's hand away without looking. The group had miraculously found a restaurant that didn't need to run on over abundances of meat and was taking full advantage of it.

Currently she sat in between Raiko and Aang, Toph beside Raiko, then Katara on the other side of Toph. Sokka sat on the edge of the floor. 

By himself.

"These people have no idea how close they were to getting toasted last night."  Aang looks around to the surrounding citizens. 

"Yeah, the worst thing about being in disguise is we don't get the hero worship anymore. I miss the love." Toph whines, her mouth full with dumpling. 

"I'm sure Rai- Ow!" Asha starts, wincing as the blonde beside her elbows her side. She sends a glare his way before rubbing her side with a sour look; leaning onto Aang's side, the boy laughing as wraps an arm around her waist, gently rubbing the point of impact.

"Boo-Hoo, poor heroes." Sokka glares at the group, crossing his arms.

"What's your problem? You haven't even touched your smoked sea slug." Katara looks to her brother, Asha sticking her tongue out in a grimace as she shuts her eyes tightly. 

"It's just... All you guys can do this awesome bending stuff like putting out forest fires, and flying around, and making other stuff fly around. I can't do any of that. " Sokka sounds sad, looking down. 

"That's not true. No one can read a map like you." Raiko offers, holding his hand out. 

"I can't read at all." Toph adds. 

"Yeah, and who keeps us laughing with sarcastic comments all the time?" Aang asks with a smile.

"Okay, ouch. But Sokka, you help out just as much as we do." Asha gives the boy a small smile, Aang rubbing her back in an apologetic fashion.

"Look, I appreciate the effort, but the fact is each of you is so amazing and so special, and I'm not. I'm just the guy in the group who's regular." Sokka continues to sound depressed. 

"I'm sorry you're feeling so down, but I hope you know none of us see you that way." Katara places a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "I know something that's gonna make you feel better." This perks Asha's attention, the brunette already trying to run, she doesn't get the chance though as Aang grabs her quickly; holding her close to his chest. 

"Don't say it, Katara! Don't say it!"

___

"Shopping!" Sokka claps his hands excitedly, running forward like a kid in a candy store. 

"I hate you. I hate this. I hate everything." Asha grumbles from beside Aang, her eyes darting to the exit every other second. 

"It's not all bad, Ash." Raiko smiles, holding a rather large sword as if he actually knew how to use it. Sokka is behind him, making a variety of sound effects  as he swings a pair of nun-chuks around.

"It is all bad." Asha grunts, poking a dagger-like weapon, like it was infected with some sort of disease.

"What do you think?" Aang calls,  Both Raiko and Asha looking back with a raised brow. Her sour mood is temporarily lost by the sight of her boyfriend; Aang currently wearing an overly complex suit of heavy, shiny armor. "Pretty slick, huh? All I need to complete the outfit is a wind sword."  The boy smiles, Katara approaching them (attempting to shield her eyes).

"What's a wind sword?" 

"It's where I get a sword handle. And then I just swing this around and bend air out like a blade." 

Asha lost interest by the time Aang had finished explaining to Katara. She flinches when she hears Aang crash, the air bender quickly running to the boy as she can feel small shockwave in her back.

"I'll just stick to what I got."

"Probably a good idea." She smiles, helping Aang out of the armor. 

After Aang is pulled out of the armor, the air benders are distracted by the shop owner pointing out a sword Sokka was looking at. 

"That's an original from Piandao, the greatest sword master and sword maker in Fire Nation history. He lives in the big castle up the road from here." The shop keeper explains before walking away. 

"Convenient." Asha hums before Aang's eyes widen.

"That's it! That's what you needed all along,  Sokka!" The Avatar cries in excitement.

" A sword?" Sokka furrows a brow, not connecting the dots. 

"Not the sword. A master. We've all had masters to help us get better. You should see if you can study with Piandao." Aang furthers his exclamation, Sokka pulling the sword that he was looking at off the shelf.

"That's a great idea. I could've never gotten to where I am without Master Pakku. Everyone needs a teacher." Katara offers. 

"I learned from badger moles. They don't talk, but they're still good teachers." Toph speaks next. 

"Just like how I did with Koi fish." Raiko adds. 

"It would be nice to be a master sword fighter. All right, I'll talk to him." 

___

The plan was that the whole group would go to the castle, unfortunately Raiko just had to have the brilliant idea to send just Sokka and Asha. His reasoning being that it was Sokka's thing, but if he got into real trouble, Asha would most likely be able to defuse the situation with limited fighting (She was getting real good at being persuasive and it was starting to show with people other than Aang, who'd probably kiss her feet is she asked). That, and the connection was always helpful between the two. With much convincing (mostly them trying to convince Aang to let Asha out of his sight), the two were allowed to start their trek up to the castle.

Once they got to the top of the hill where the castle was, Asha is forced to knock in place of Sokka; the boy playing chicken as the nerves got to him. Leading to where they were currently. A large man, most likely a butler, opened the gate to be faced by Asha standing crossed arm, unimpressed, and Sokka behind her with a nervous smile.

"Can I help you?"  Asha pushed Sokka in front of her, forcing him to stand face to face with the butler. 

"I've come to train with The Master." 

"You should know the Master turns almost everyone away. What did you bring him to prove your worth?" The man holds a hand out, Sokka momentarily trying to push Asha to the man, but she side steps him with a growl. Sokka then tries feeling around his clothing for something-anything- to offer.

"Right. Let's get this over with." The man groans, gesturing for the two to enter. They do, but not before Asha feels the need to be herself. 

"You're voice is super cool, my dude." 

"Thank you. Hurry up though."

___

"Master, my name is Sokka, and I wish to be instructed in the way of the sword."  

"Sokka. That's an unusual name. And you?" Piandao doesn't even look to the two, Asha looking shocked before collecting herself quickly. 

"Naki."  

The man hums, continuing to focus on his calligraphy, his back turned to them. "Very unusual names."

"Oh, uh, really? Uh, where I come from, The Fire Nation colonies, it's a pretty normal name, for Fire Nation colonials." Sokka mutters nervously, Asha face palming. 

"Let me guess. You've come hundreds of miles from your little village where you're the best swordsman in town. And you think you deserve to learn from The Master."  Piandao continues with his calligraphy, not even looking back.

"Well, actually, I've been all over the world."  Sokka fiddles with his fingers, Asha looking mildly impressed at the guess that was oddly specific. Been around the block a few times, she guessed.

"Yep, here we go."

"And I know one thing for sure, especially having hung out with Naki for so long I realized that I have a lot to learn." Sokka gets to his knees, hanging his head.  This causes both Piandao and Asha to look to him.

"You're not doing a very good job of selling yourself."

"I know. Your butler told me that when I met you, I would have to prove my worth. But the truth is...I don't know if I am worthy." 

"Hmm, I see. Well, then."  Piandao picks up his sword with a smile. "Let's find out together how worthy you are. With your friend as a supervisor. Unless, she would like to join?"  The man looks to Asha, who holds a hand out while shaking her head. 

"I'm just here to watch him make a fool out of himself. Supervisor is fine." 

Piandao nods before walking over to Sokka, his sword firmly planted before him.

"I will train you."

___

Asha hangs upside down on a nearby balcony, watching as Piandao lays a peice of thick parchment in front of Sokka.  She was pretty sure she had called the man a Dilf thirteen times in the five minutes she was talking to Aang, the boy now wishing he had fought harder to go with them.

"The warrior practices a variety of arts to keep his mind sharp and fluid. The first you will learn is calligraphy. Write you name." The man hands a brush to Sokka, who messes the bristles up with his thumb. The inner artist in Asha cries.

"Writing my names will make me a better swordsman?" Sokka sounds skeptical, looking to Asha- who shrugs. 

"When you write your name, you stamp the paper with your identity. You must learn to use your sword to stamp you identity on a battlefield. Remember, you cannot take back a stroke of the brush, or a stroke of the sword." Piandao corrects the way Sokka holds the pen. 

Asha watches as Sokka gets a little bit of black ink on his chin, him and Piandao talking quietly before Sokka seems to get an idea. The brunette gasps in shock as Sokka swipes the brush all over his face before shoving it onto the paper, rolling his head around. 

"Oh my lord." Asha falls to the floor, quickly getting to her feet and running over to Piandao. "I'm so so-" Asha begins apologizing, only for Piandao to hold a hand out to stop her. Sokka picks up the paper and shows it with a proud smile. An inkblot is center, vaguely resembling Sokka's face.  

Charmed, she's sure. That was Dilf's expression right now.

'Please for the love of the spirits, stop calling Piandao a Dilf.'

'No. Until my pre-ordered one fulfills his purpose I'm allowed to call Piandao a Dilf.'

'I'm sixteen. I'm not going to be a Dilf anytime soon.'

___

Asha leans onto the wooden sword given to her, facing Sokka who has a matching sword. Piandao had sought out her help with a training exercise and, of course, Asha was willing to help. Currently, they were in a face off (Sokka taking it a lot more seriously than Asha), both waiting for the other to make the first move. Sokka takes the initiative charging at Asha. The girl effortlessly parrying  the attack, knocking the sword from the Sokka's hand before smacking his hand (gently of course). 

"You couldn't have gone easy on me?"

"Trust me that was easy."

***

After painting, more sword fighting (this time, Sokka putting up a little more of a fight), and rock gardening (whatever that was), the group was back in the fighting ring; Asha and Sokka face to face. The two thrust and parry a few strikes, Sokka swinging his sword in a circle, trying to hit Asha's leg.  She gracefully dodges with a beautiful flip, flying over his head. Turning quickly, it's almost in slow motion, Sokka blocks Asha's attack, firing four quick thrusts back. She manages to deflect all four and go on her own offense. The two swords clash together in an epic strike, an echo ringing through the ring.  Both pull their swords back, and in turn they swing again. They stop at each others throat, fierce glares on each of their faces. They stay like that for a few seconds before chuckles and giggles escape from the two of them. 

Drawing the swords away, they walk over to where Piandao sits with a cup of whatever, two more awaiting the kids on the table. Taking one and sipping it with a careful manner, Asha looks to Sokka, whose all but chugged his.

"What do you think the others are doing?"

___

"So where are we going next? We're starting from here." Katara points at the map in front of them, Raiko and Aang beside her with raised brows. Toph is behind them, hands behind her head as she lays on her back. 

"No, we're over on this island." Aang points to a completely different spot. 

"You noodle-brains don't know what you're doing. I miss Sokka."  Toph groans from behind them, getting a look from Raiko, but the blond says nothing. 

"Ooh, I got one. If you miss him so much, why don't you marry him?" Katara smirks, only getting unimpressed groans and looks from the others.

"I bet Ash would've said something snarky." Aang whines, falling to his own back as he desperately aches to have his Onsra back. Less he actually destroy something because she said the word 'Dilf' one more time. 

What the hell even is a Dilf?

___

"They're coming!" Toph is the first to sense the missing team mates, rousing everyone from their impromptu naps. She's quick to sit up, the other three following soon after

Toph was, of course, correct as Sokka and Asha were slowly walking up the hill, obviously drained but still full of fire as they argue about something.

(Aang for sure knows their arguing about the very word he grew to hate in just under 24 hours.)

"Hey, guys. What are you doing?"  Sokka greets, shoving a hand to Asha's face to shut her up as he looks to the three, who run up the duo with excited smiles; all before jumping onto the two.  

"Ash!" Aang nuzzles into his girlfriend, the brunette patting his back slowly while also trying to pry Sokka's nasty sweaty hand off her face.

"You're back!" Toph cries, holding tightly onto the Onsra. 

"We missed you so much!" Katara latches onto her brother, Raiko holding them all in a group hug. He was a big bear, even if he sometimes didn't show it. 

"Say something, anything, funny. Please." The blond pleads. Sokka and Asha giving him weird looks (She had finally pried off Sokka's hand).

"Funny how?" Sokka asks confused, getting hearty laughs from Aang, Katara and Raiko. 

"You guys have officially lost it."  Asha groans from Aang's arms, rolling her eyes as Aang holds her tighter.

"Yeah, what's their deal?" Sokka turns to Toph, whose finally let go of Asha. 

"I don't know. They missed you guys or something. I didn't care." Toph turns away, a blush on her cheeks. 

"Careful, Toph. Raiko might get jealous." Asha snickers, Aang and Katara laughing with her.

"Ha. Ha. Ha." Raiko deadpans, glaring at Asha before shoving her away, the group watching as she tumbles on the ground.

"I watch Sokka try to eat steal and this is the thanks I get-"

"Thanks." Sokka interrupts. " That warms my heart. Anyways, I need some help." 

___

"Sokka, when you first arrived, you were so unsure. You even seemed down on yourself. But I saw something in you right away. I saw a heart as strong as a lion turtle, and twice as big. And as we trained, it wasn't your skills that impressed me. No, it certainly wasn't your skills.  You showed something beyond that.  Creativity, versatility, intelligence... these are the traits that define a great swordsman. And these are the traits that define you.  You told me you didn't know if you were worthy, but I believe that you are more worthy than any man I have ever trained." Piandao hands Sokka a newly made sword, one made up of meteorite.  

The whole group stood behind Sokka and Piandao, watching the graduation-esque ceremony. And if Aang had to begrudgingly admit anything, it would be...

Asha had a point with the Dilf thing.

"I'm sorry, Master. You're wrong. I am not worthy. I'm not who you think I am. I'm not from the Fire nation. I'm from the Southern Water Tribe." Sokka confesses, the rest of the group gawking at him. "I lied so that I could learn swordsmanship from you. I'm sorry." 

"I'm sorry, too."

In a split second act, Piandao swings his sword at Sokka, the boy standing and avoiding attack. He halts the others as they get up, facing Piandao by himself and unsheathing his sword, accepting the challenge.

___

Sokka is stuck in the chest by Piandao's arm, knocking him on his back. Piandao points his sword at Sokka's neck, sending the group of spectators into action.  They jump from the building they were watching from, but once again are stopped as Piandao swings his sword away from Sokka.

"I think I'm a little old to be fighting the Avatar and Onsra." Piandao smirks, the kids looking back to him- shocked. 

"How did you know?" Aang is the one to ask, the group getting out of their combat stances. 

"Oh, I've been around a while. You pick things up." Piandao pauses, wiping his forehead with a cloth his butler gave him. "Of course, I knew from the beginning that Sokka was a Water Tribe. You might want to think of a better Fire Nation cover name. Try 'Lee.' There's a million 'Lees'.  Asha had enough sense though. Good name choice." He looks to brunette who furrows a brow. 

'Trust me Ash, everyone knows our names. He's not a stalker. ' Aang reassures the girl who still looks confused but nods nonetheless.

"But why would you agree to train someone from the Water Tribe?"  Katara looks up. 

"The way of the sword doesn't belong to any one nation. Knowledge of the arts belongs to us all." Piandao pulls Sokka's sword out of the ground. "Sokka you must continue your training on your own. If you stay on this path, I know that one day you will become an even greater master then I am." The man hands the sword to Sokka. the two then bow to each other. 

___

Collapsing onto Gumi with a groan, Asha closes her eyes; shielding the retinas from the bright moon above them. 

"You okay?" Aang sits next to her, dragging her onto his lap. She doesn't protest, instead leans into his familiar warmth.

Her eyes peek open, looking up to the bright grey ones above her. The hair still struck a chord in Asha, as she would never get used to it, but she had to admit it looked good on him. 

"About as okay as okay can be right about now." She hums, slightly adjusting her position.

"I feel the same way. It seems as if we're loosing these small moments of serenity. Doesn't it?" His voice is tired, but his arms remain as tight as ever.

"I don't want to lose them."

"Then we won't."

Just like that, the two laid within each others arms. Happy with the small bit of serendipity they have. Content with just each other. 

In love with each other. 

Which in reality, was all they needed.

"Okay you have to admit now, Piandao is a grade-A Dilf." 

"Asha, I swear to god, if you say Dilf one more time-"

"What if I say when you're my strong Avatar, Dilf husband?"

"...You know what, maybe it's okay every once in a while."