Chapter 13: The Journey Begins

When Iroh had finished explaining about The Tree of Time, Darlene was even more confused then when she had been before "that is where you must go' Iroh said solemnly to Alex as if he knew what he was facing "The Tree of Time holds all the answers you nead" of course Alex and Darlene were more than ready to face whatever lay ahead, The problem was though for Alex, it was a lie, a beautiful lie for him. He needed this, he needed the answers know more than anything and here they were standing at the threshold, and the truth was. He was scared.

Darlene saw the expression on Alex's face and wondered if he was ok, it wasn't often that she saw her friend like this, and that was saying something. "Are you sure about this?" She asked taking his hand out of kindness and whilst Alex appreciated the gesture, Darlene could tell there was something more than her friend was letting on. And it regarded the nightmarish message. Anything concerning that was not good, even for The Avatar.

"Not wanting to do this, Alex took a deep breath and prepared for the worst, he focused his attention on Iroh and said the words he'd been dreading "yes" he said a little shakily "I'm sure" he directed this at Darlene to reassure her, but in truth he was reassuring himself as he was uncertain of what he was facing, he then turned to Iroh and said "I'm ready" rather unexpectedly, Iroh smiled, a wise old smile.

"You have carried this burden for a long while" Iroh then focused his attention on Darlene which was quite unexpected because this was the first time Iroh had even acknowledged her "even though I am his Spirit Guide, it was always your destiny to guide him through the physical realm," Alex looked at Darlene and smiled at her, and even though she had no clue what Iroh was talking about, she had an idea. "You are the Avatar's soul" Iroh said leaving Darlene to wonder what that meant "his most troubled time is coming, there will be loss and sacrifices. Do what you are meant to, and lead him through the Darkest battle" Iroh stopped there leaving the rest up to imagination, but Darlene kind of got the gist.

"So, old timer" Darlene said after finally being allowed to speak "where's this tree then?" At this Iroh smiled and said

"At the bridge between the Spirit World and the physical world"

"And where's that?"

"Don't you know?" Iroh asked and he winked at Alex as if the two were sharing a joke that Darlene hadn't been let in on, "if you are ready Avatar?" This was it, the moment of truth, the answers to the many questions he had forming in his head. The dream and everything could make sense for Alex. All of this rested on his decision and his decision alone. "Shall we begin our journey?" Iroh asked, Darlene was to terrified to even speak, she knew that this was what they came here to do but, she couldn't help but sense there was something wrong about this whole thing.

Without hesitating Alex smiled and said "I'm ready" at this Darlene gasped and wasn't sure why. She hadn't seen her friend like this in such a long time. Alex noticed this and looked at Darlene "are you OK?"

"I'm fine" Darlene said hesitantly "it's just" she sighed worryingly "are you sure you are ready for this?" Alex nodded and this brought a smile to Darlene's face, she then hugged her friend and whispered "I just had to be sure" she then let go of Alex and turned to face Iroh "we're ready"

At this Iroh smiled and said "then if there are no questions, let us begin our journey," he said nothing more and set off into the fog and smoke, vanishing almost instantly, knowing they would end up in the same location, taking Darlene's hand Alex and Darlene followed Iroh through the mysterious mist, their most daring journey had just begun