So, I skipped the Fire masters or whatever, but if you want me to write it (or keep it as the canon verse had it) feel free to comment.

Jk. New and fresh, I've added the fire masters chapter! Thank you to those who commented.

___

Asha let out a short giggle as the teacup in her hand warmed her cupids bow, even as she hesitates on drinking it; especially since it wouldn't be the first time she's choked while laughing.

"It's nice to get a chance to relax a little. It hardly ever happens." Toph smiles, taking the drink offered to her

The air is light and cheery, bringing smiles to the groups faces, all but Sokka who sits alone, thinking.  He calls over Zuko, who follows without question, tugging at Asha's curiosity. Placing her cup down, she slinks away, Aang watching while she does. He doesn't say anything, allowing her to run off. He's sure he'll find out eventually.

Crouching behind a pillar, Asha pulls her hair to one side of her body, allowing it to hang off of one shoulder.

"So, what's up?" Zuko turns to the other boy, Appa and Gumi groaning as they wake.

"If someone was captured by the Fire Nation, where would they be taken?" Sokka's head remains tilted down. 

"What do you mean? Who was captured?"

"When the invasion plan failed, some of our troops were taken. I just want to know where they might be." Sokka gestures with both hands out.

"I can't tell you." Zuko remains adamant, his arms crossed within each other.

"What? Why not?"  Sokka's head snaps up, causing Asha to flinch.

"Trust me. Knowing would just make you feel worse." Zuko goes to turn around, but Sokka grabs his shoulder.

"It's my Dad. He was captured too. I need to know what I put him through." Sokka's voice is now pleading. 

"It's not good Sokka." 

"Please." 

Asha can't even stop herself as she steps into the light. The boy looking over in shock at the appearance of the Onsra. She knew. She knew because one too many times Zuko had once threatened that that was where they'd end up if they weren't careful while playing hero as the blue spirit.

"They were most likely taken to the Boiling Rock." Asha pauses, opening her mouth just as Sokka does. "The highest security prison in the Fire Nation." The boy closes his mouth.

"It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. It's inescapable." Zuko adds, looking to Sokka, whose lips were in a tight grimace.

"So where is this place?"  Sokka pushes on, shaking the look off his face.

"Why do you need to know? What are you planning?" Zuko steps in front of Sokka, stopping him from going anywhere. 

"Nothing. Boy, you're so paranoid." Sokka waves his arms dismissively, pushing past.

"It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. We flew right past it on our way here." Asha explains further, wary. If Sokka wanted to know though, she'd tell him. Worst comes to worst, Zuko goes with him to check it out?

"Thanks you two. Just knowing makes me feel better."

"I'm sure it does."

Sokka walks away, leaving the two to their own devices as he joins the group again. 

"He's leaving tonight." Zuko groans.

 "Yep."

"He's going to get himself killed."

"Yep." 

"Pack your bags. We'll go with him."

"Ye- Hey! What did I say last time!?"

___

"Just because we're on a rescue mission doesn't mean you won't have to train. Aang has homework and you will too." Zuko glares, playfully, at the tired brunette, who looks over from spot with an unimpressed yawn. 

True to Zuko's prediction, Sokka had tried leaving, Zuko waking her and making her wait with him on Appa's saddle. And while Aang wasn't hyped by the idea, he had gotten better at letting Asha do her own thing. Especially when she explained the situation, and how both Sokka and Zuko would be there with her. 

She nearly falls back asleep as the boys attempt to make small talk.

"Really? You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?" Sokka looks over the side of the balloon, the question peeking her interest. She never really thought about leaving people behind because, well, she traveled with them. 

"Well, I did have a girlfriend, Mai."  

"That gloomy girl who sighs a lot?" Sokka looks over with a surprised look.

"That icon, you mean?" Asha interrupts, grinning at the groan from Zuko.

"Yeah. Everyone in the Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor. I couldn't drag her into it."  Zuko looks of the side of the balloon as well. Man, with how they were avoiding the elephant in the room you would think this was the first time they had ever met.

"My first girlfriend turned into the Moon."

"That's rough buddy." Zuko looks up.  Asha suddenly squealing with an excited smile.

"This is great! I have Aang, Toph has blondie, Sokka has Suki and you-" Asha grabs Zuko's face. "You can get with Katara!" 

"Yeah, no." Zuko pries her hands away, picking her up and plopping her down on the seat. "Katara hates me."

"But, I can see it." Sokka smirks, despite the fact. "Hey, wait a minute!" 

He's only met with happy laughter.

___

"I really hope these disguises work." Zuko groans, now clad in prison guard uniform, Sokka and Asha in familiar gear-- even if the former was struggling in the gear. She was an air bender. Small, light, not big and stalky like a fire bending.

"We're not here for long." The only girl mutters watching as the boys close the door they came through.  Whether she was convincing herself or the boys she had yet to decide.

"We just need to lay low and find my Dad as soon as possible." Sokka says, jumping back as guards run past the trio. One stops, looking to the three ( a miracle in and of itself that Asha just looked short), calling to the three.

"Guards! There's a scuffle in the yard, come on."

Asha moves first, her feet thumping as she runs to catch up, Zuko and Sokka close behind.  As they get to the courtyard, they see a ring of prisoners, most likely watching the fight.

Pushing past, the three watch as a guard over uses his power, snapping a fire whip at the poor prisoners feet.  Asha goes to help, almost yelling, but Sokka stops her with a hand on her arm, his other on Zuko's. 

"We can't blow our cover." Sokka whispers, the girl reluctantly stepping back.

"I've had it with your unruly behavior!"  The guard screeches, the whip burning in his hand with a sparkling cackle. 

"What did I do?" 

"He wants to know what he did. Isn't that cute?" The guard turns to Zuko and Sokka, the boys quick to push Asha behind them. The only thing worse than a fire nation prison, can and would be an angry Avatar on their asses.

Thanks but no thanks.

"Uh, yeah, very cute sir. "

"Super cute."

___

"That was close. Too close." Asha breathes out a sigh of relief as Zuko and Sokka watch her, the later readjusting her helmet as it slips to the point of covering her eyes.

"I can't stay in uniform, I'm taking to the rafters. I'm too short, they're gaining on us." The girl decides, looking at the boys, shrugging off the heavy padding of the uniform, and finally the helmet.

"That's actually not a terrible idea..." Sokka seems to consider it for a hot second, Asha shaking her head as her hair falls. 

"You keep watch and make notes about prisoners, guards everything." Sokka nods to himself, giving the girl her new directions, she nods back, Zuko momentarily looking shocked.

"Wait-what if she gets caught? What if a guard spots her and they burn this place to the ground trying to get to her?! What-" Zuko's rambling is cut off by Asha shushing him, jumping (with air bending) to a beam above them just as two guards walk past, chatting. 

Leaning upside down, Asha looks to Zuko from her spot, hurting her neck with the angle. "I'll be fine. It's not the first time I've hidden from the fire nation, especially in the roofs." 

With that the girl disappears, watching over the boys as they walk to their own places.

___

"Hey there, fellow guard. How goes it?" Zuko stands awkwardly, not looking over to the other guard, who raises his visor soon after. 

"Zuko?" Sokka question, getting shushed quickly. Asha sits above them, watching with a small smile. Boys. Such silly animals.

"Shh. Listen, I asked around the lounge. There are no water Tribe prisoners. I'm afraid your Father's not here." 

"What are you sure?! Did you double check?!" Sokka looks distressed, Asha almost steps in with her crucial information.

"Yeah, I'm sure." 

"No. No!" Sokka cries banging his fist on the wall behind them.

"I'm really sorry Sokka."  Zuko tries to comfort him as Asha slowly creeps to where the boys are. Outside. Gross. 

"So we came all this way for nothing. I failed." Sokka turns to lean on the wall. "Again."

"Err, what would Uncle say?  Sometimes clouds have two sides, a dark and light. And a silver lining in between. It's like a silver sandwich. So... when life seems hard... take a bite out of the silver sandwich."  Zuko tries, looking everywhere but Sokka.

"Okay, you nitwits." Asha stands dusting herself as the boys look to her. "I have no idea what you were trying to say, it made no sense whatsoever Zuko, but I have news. One; we may not have failed yet. New prisoners are constantly coming in on gondoliers outside of the wall. So Hakoda may be on his way. Two;" Asha pauses, clearing her voice. Talking like a tour guide, Asha gestures to the courtyard. "If you look to your left, you'll see the lovely miss Suki, waiting her prince charming."   

"Ash, do you have any idea where her cell is?" Sokka is now shaking the poor girl by the shoulders, Zuko only watching with his arms crossed.

"Of course I do, who do you take me for? Aang?" 

___

Asha opens the door to Suki's cell quietly , creeping in with Sokka beside her, Zuko off doing his own thing. Suki, of course, looks up to the creaking as Sokka stands, facing her. 

"What is it? Did I do something wrong?" Suki sits straight up, glaring at the boy, words leaking venom. Asha hides in the corner of the room, just out of sight, well not the peripheral. 

"You mean you don't recognize me?"  Sokka crosses his arms, staring at Suki. 

"You people all look the same to me." The girl breaks eye contact, looking to the side (thankfully opposite to the multi-bender). 

"Oh. Then maybe you'll recognize this." Sokka purses his lips, attempting to kiss Suki, only for her to grab his chin and slam him into the door, his helmet falling off. Suki momentarily looks over as Asha can't help but burst into laughter.

Putting the pieces together, Suki looks to Sokka with relief, running over to him as Asha calms down.  The two hug, and Asha swears she could've seen tears in Suki's eyes.

"The other Kyoshi Warriors, are they here?" Asha asks as the two stand up, calmed from her laughing fit from earlier.

"No, I don't know where they are. They locked me here because I'm the leader." Suki looks worried, but Sokka quickly touches her face with a hand. 

"Well, you won't be here for long, I'm busting you out." 

"Okay, ouch." Asha feigns mock hurt as Sokka gives her a look.

"I'm so glad to see you Sokka. I knew you'd come." 

"Alright, I know my que to leave." Asha stands quickly, the two teens leaning in. Walking out of the door, Asha nods to Zuko, who nods back, just as she gets ready to take to the rafters again.

Just as she bends down a guard shouts, causing her to look back in shock. Zuko pushes her on, just as a female guard runs up to them, Zuko pushing her up to the rafters. The shout alarms more guards and before Asha can say anything, she's tackled by a rope (a Stone on either end) wrapping around her legs, taking her down to the awaiting guards, Zuko in shackles beside them.

___

Asha can feel she's been in this situation before. 

She doesn't like it -- being gagged, limbs tied far away from each other, and collar around her neck, effectively stopping any and all bending-- and she can tell Aang doesn't like it based on their small update conversation.  Zuko had tried to help her but it was no use.  

(For a warden with no escape, he locked two great benders in the same room? I mean whatever have fun, but... Like  thats so stupid. I know it's my book but ya know. Plot convenience.)

The stones of the wall are cold, even through the fabric of her jumper, as she groans in defeat as her head falls limp, shooting up as the door opens. There stands the warden, glaring at the two. 

"Well, well, well. I never thought I'd find you in here, Prince Zuko." 

"How did you know who I am?" Zuko snaps, Asha rolling her eyes. How would he not know? He's the mother freakin' prince!

"How could I not? You broke my niece's heart."  The warden growls, facing Zuko as he stands straight. 

"You're Mai's uncle? I never meant to hurt her!" Zuko stands with a guilty face, a muffle 'oh snap' coming from beside him. Asha stares intently, eyes wide with interest. 

'So that warden dude? Zuko's ex-girlfriend's uncle.'

'Do you need us to come help? I swear, I'll come right now if you need me.'

'Hold off for a second. I'll let you know.'

'Just...Stay safe, okay?'

'Always.'

"Quiet! You two are my special prisoners now. And you best behave. If these criminals found out who you are, the traitor prince who let his nation down and the Avatar's pet bent on killing their queen. Why, they'd tear you to shreds."

"So what's in it for you? Why don't you just tell my father and collect the reward?" Zuko snaps, stepping out slightly in front of Asha. 

"Oh in due time believe me, I intend to collect." The warden chuckles darkly before walking away, the room becoming dark once more as Zuko turns to try and loosen Asha's shackles.

___

"I hate it here." Asha groans, now muzzle free but chained to Zuko. The boy only rolls his eyes as he turns to Sokka , the disguised boy going through their escape plan. Asha would've helped with the plan but with her hands closely shackled, she couldn't; And she didn't really want to, to be honest.

"Asha, listen up."  Zuko snaps, turning back to Sokka. She rolls her eyes but pretends to pay attention a lot better. It probably would be easier to just pay attention, but no. 

"I think I have an escape plan. I checked out the coolers again. The whole point of them is to keep fire benders contained, right?" Sokka looks to the group, getting nods in return. 

"So they're completely insulated and sealed to keep the cold in. Well to keep the cold in it also has to keep the heat out, right?"  Sokka continues to draw out his explanation, glaring over at Asha as she groans. 

"Get to the point." She groans, hating every second of this damned place.

"It's a perfect boat for getting through the boiling water."   Sokka finally explains, the other three looking to each other before looking back to the water tribe boy.

"The cooler as a boat? Are you sure?" Zuko raises a brow.

"I'm telling you it'll work. I walked around the perimeter. There's a blind spot between two guard towers. It's the perfect launching point. I already tested it out. We'll roll the cooler into the water and just float with the current.  It'll take us straight across. As long as we don't make a sound, no one will notice. And bing, bang, boom we're home free."  Sokka explains, making motions with his arms as he does. 

"Okay, great. But how are we going to get the cooler out?" Asha rolls her eyes, propping her arm up on a shackled hand.

"Yeah, how are you going to get the cooler out?" The prisoner from outside startles the group, he allows himself to slink through the railing and crouch next to him. Zuko yanks Asha's chain tighter to his side.

"What? We didn't. We... We didn't say that..." Sokka panics, Asha and the others groaning.

"You heard wrong, buddy." Asha stands, her hands still clamped together. Her feet are shackled but there's enough chain for the girl take a few steps, even with Zuko trying to yank her back. She was practically a pro with short leashes at this point.

"I heard you hatching an escape plan and I want it."  The man smirks. 

"There's nothing to get in on." Zuko stands as well, helping Asha (because let's be honest. A 5ft shackled girl isn't that dangerous looking, especially since her arrows are covered).

"Yeah, the only thing we're hatching is... An egg?" The group groan at Sokka's attempt to hide the truth. 

"Okay, well, I come with you or the Warden hears about this egg too." 

___

Asha slowly drops from the rafters, her feet planting just as Sokka turns the corner. The cooler stands before them, holding Zuko within it's clutches.  Asha was being held in solitude while her partner was in the cooler, so it was easy to break her out for a small amount of time.

Opening the two doors, Asha stands watch as Sokka and Zuko face each other. 

"I can take you back to your cell if you've learned your lesson." Sokka attempts to play bad cop. Lifting his head, Zuko breathes a spark of fire. 

"Yes, I have. Completely."  

"Oh yeah, Katara would be a fool to turn you down."

"Let's get you back Ash."

___

Turns out their entire previous plan had been a huge bust. With two more added people, last minute, and a few inspirational words from Sokka, it turns out they were staying while the ones who tried escaping were being put on lockdown.

"The gondola's moving" The four hold their backs against the wall, watching as the warden shouts commands and the kids hold their breath in anticipation. 

Zuko and Sokka bicker in the back as Asha keeps her eyes focused ahead. 

"Hey you, get off the gondola!" A guard shouts, just as Asha peers down.  The girl looks up, nudging Sokka as a final man walks out. 

"Dad."