Alex remained stiff throughout the entire ride over to the daunting shape of the ship. Her mind was numb. This couldn't be happening, there was no way, right? Only last night her biggest worry was what to do about the whole Zuko situation. But now that seemed like a frivolous worry. She was being taken by pirates. She didn't even want to think about what they would do to her.

As she was led onto the ship she came face to face with the same pirates only a few months ago she had watched attempt to assassin Zuko on her TV. The captain smiled greedily at her, "Take her to the hold. We'll send his crew over later. Maybe." He grinned his disgusting smile at her.

It was then she realized what they had done. When the pirate had climbed aboard he must have placed a bomb or something on the ship's hull.

As they dragged her away she started to scream, "YOU BASTARD! WE MADE A DEAL!"

He laughed, "Never make a deal with a pirate miss, a lesson for you."

She turned her head to Zuko's ship, he was helpless, unaware of what was happening, "ZUKO! ZUKO! IT'S A TRAP! ZUKO!"

But he never heard her, she was dragged below deck. When she was thrown into a dark cell she was still saying his name between chocked sobs.

The crew was in the adjoining cell and the closest – Luke, Troy, and Iroh – looked over when they heard her sobbing. Iroh felt an awful chill when he heard her saying his nephews name like that. Something must be wrong.

He rushed to the edge with the others, letting the crew rest, by the looks of it, they would need it.

"Alex, what's wrong?" he asked seriously.

She heard his voice and crawled to the bars, wrapping her hands shakily around the wet metal, "Iroh! They're going to kill him they planted a bomb we made a deal I'm so stupid this is all my fault he's going to—"she couldn't finish.

Iroh froze, "We need to get back to the ship." He started to think of a plan.

Luke was on his knees next to Troy directly in front of Alex. He wrapped his hands around her's and touched his forehead to her's through the bars, "It's all right, nothing's going to happen."

For once Troy only felt the slightest objection to someone touching his sister. He had spent enough time down here with him to know he truly cared about his sister, unlike most of the scum on the ship. He thought of Zuko, of the way he looked at her, if he ever touched her he would kill him.

Alex stood up suddenly, "I have an idea," she went to the door to her cell and looked at the pirate who was half heartily watching them in the dim light.

"Excuse me sir," she said sweetly.

At the sound of a woman's voice he sat up straight and looked at her, adjusting his mustache. She felt sick at what she was about to do but did it anyway. "I think I might have hurt my back, could you check for me pretty please?" she smiled seductively at him.

Troy gagged a little. He knew his sister could act, but this was sick. He felt happy at the look of utter horror and wonder on Luke's face; he could tell this guy was all right.

The guard smiled hungrily at her and walked right up to the cell. She smiled again, "Could you just feel my back for me please, see if it feels all right?"

Troy watched Luke's face when the guard placed his hands on her back. He was surprised to see the look of not only jealousy but fear for her. He was truly starting to like this guy.

Luke turned to Troy, "Aren't you a little angry?" he asked bitterly.

Troy shook his head sadly, "She's had to do this before, when we were falsely arrested. I know it doesn't mean anything."

Luke shook his head in disgust as the guard rubbed her back eagerly, "I can't even touch her like that," when Troy glared at him suspiciously he quickly added, "Not that I would even think about it of course."

Alex was trying to ignore the fact she was being groped by a fifty year old perverted man and instead on her task. She saw his keys by his waist and reached for them slowly, making it seem like she was doing something entirely different.

She smiled at he guard, "Thank you sir," he looked disappointed but sat back down, turning away and trying to sleep.

She wiggled the keys silently at Troy and he gave her thumbs up. She found the key and in one swift motion unlocked the door and hit the guard with her fire, knocking him out.

She stood over him, "You're incredibly vain if you think I would actually touch you like that." Smiling, she turned and let the crew out. They quickly hatched a plan and she ran after them on deck.

What followed next was fifteen minutes of full out battle between the firebenders and the pirates.

Zuko was pacing his ship when he noticed the fire blasts. He smiled, he knew his crew would rebel.

Alex took down another pirate as she simultaneously thought of a way to get that bomb away from the ship. She knew it would probably go off, but she didn't know how or when.

Spotting the captain she rammed him against a post, "Tell me how to stop the bomb!" she shouted.

He grinned and to her horror he threw something off the ship. "That lass, was the only was to set it off, a very small arrow which would strike the button on the bomb, the only way to set it off."

She gasped in horror and hit his head against the pole, knocking him out.

Most of the pirates were rounded up. She ordered the crew to get in boats and sail away. She told two different boats she was going with the other, and so they left without her, thinking she was on board.

After they had left the shoved the pirate crew into a rowboat and pushed them far away from the ship, using her fire to make small waves.

She turned and saw the crew had landed. It was time.

Zuko met his crew eagerly, but he was looking for Alex's cheerful face among the rest. He spotted the last two, Luke and Troy, get off.

"Where is she?" he asked.

Luke looked around and horrified eyes met with Zuko's and Troy's. They all turned to the ship and saw her standing on the bow, smiling sadly at them.

Zuko turned to Iroh, "Is she mental?"

Iroh remembered the bomb, "Prince Zuko! There is a bomb on the hull!"

As Zuko's face went into shock they heard a voice shout.

"Watcher!" Alex cried.

The entire ship turned and saw Watcher, bomb in his claws, speeding towards the ship. As he dropped it in her hand he turned and sped away towards the ship.

She looked at the bomb and knew that it would go off anyway, but she knew that if it went off by itself, in the water or not, it would destroy both ships. She knew that if it was manually shut off, as planned, it would only destroy one.

She looked over at the ship, they were all pressed against the deck, she saw them all look at her in horror. Giving them one last smile, all of them one last smile, she mouthed to them, 'Goodbye.'

She pressed the button.

The ship exploded in a fiery rage. Luke screamed out, "ALEX!"

The flames and the remainder of the ship sank into the ocean.

Troy was in shock, but he was proud. He knew his sister had a heart of gold, that she valued the life of others more than her own. He could never be more proud for as long as he lived.

Zuko was in a state of stunned anger. This couldn't be happening, no, not now, not ever.

Iroh bowed his head with the rest of the crew as he said, "We have gathered to honor the memory of our greatest soldier, Alex." He looked at the sad faces of the crew, "She gave her life for ours, even though we were undeserving, may her soul rest in peace," he looked at Zuko, at his stunned face, he saw an emotion he never expected in his nephew. He saw sorrow.

"Now, were you all going to celebrate without lil ole me?" a voice said.

Everyone turned in shock to see Alex sitting on the railing by the anchor hole, dripping wet but smiling. She had lived.

It was quiet at first, but once she stepped down from the rail the explosion was deafening. They charged her in happiness, hugging her tightly and telling her what a hero she was.

Zuko stood with his uncle out of the way, not daring to believe it.

The circle was smothering her in a way very similar to what had happened with her firebending. Although this way greater.

Iroh shouted at them to pay attention and they stilled. Someone brought her a towel and Luke wrapped it around her, not bothering to remove his arm from around her shoulder. He looked over her head at her brother. He didn't look happy, but he only gave him a look that said, 'do anything more than that and I will strangle you.'

The message was understood loud and clear.

Iroh cleared his throat, "As you all know, I have been looking for an army captain for a very long time,"

Zuko stared at his uncle, Why was he talking about this now?

Iroh smiled, "I would like to tell you—I have found her."

Everyone was shocked until people started cheering and patting her again. She was stunned. Her, captain? This was—incredible. But yet she was grinning, this was all right.

Later that night Alex was unpacking her things into her much larger Captain's quarters. It was a bit frightening to think that she was second in command of the entire crew. Uncle had told her that he wanted her to be first in charge, that he was too old, but she had said all right halfheartedly. As far as she was concerned, he was in charge. After all, all she was in charge of were the actual fighting parts. She didn't want to deal with sailing and junk.

She had neglected to mention she had also saved the pirates as well, knowing that wasn't what you did in a war. But they couldn't do much where they were right now. She smiled to herself at the thought of the pirates drifting out in the sea in their minuscule rowboat.

Her door opened and closed and she turned, hoping to see Luke, and she did.

He walked over to her, standing a few feet away. She smiled, "Hey Luke."

He extended a hand, "I'm glad you're back," he said softly.

She smiled and jumped at her, hugging him tightly. He instantly hugged her back, "I thought I would never get to tell you."

She looked at him, her forehead against his, "tell me what Luke?"

He took a deep breath, "More like, do this," he leaned forward and kissed her quickly and softly.

She remembered again how different it all was. When she had kissed Zuko right before she had left, he had been in control. But now, she felt at ease and secure with Luke. She smiled at his timidity. He looked at her, frightened. She could do so much to him as captain now. Ban him, lock him away, anything.

She only smiled and pulled him back to her, "I wanted to do this too," she took control, pulling him deep into her kiss.

He was surprised, but pleased, and kissed her softly back, knowing he shouldn't go too far. She admired this.

Zuko had been coming to tell her the recent news when he saw them in her room through the peephole. He was not surprised she was doing this, she had said she loved him. He saw how gently, and so differently than his, he kissed her, and how she seemed unafraid, unlike when she was with him.

He sighed and went up deck.

Luke smiled down at her; Iroh wanted me to tell you he's celebrating with a music night."

She laughed, "And?"

"Let's go," he smiled and took her hand in his, gently leading her to the deck.

She was wearing different clothes he noticed happily, he liked them.

She had on a dark red cropped tank top with the same low neck styling, and some cut off black pants with flat shoes.

He smiled and reached up to her bun, "He said it's free dress," he whispered.

He felt such a longing when her hair tumbled beautifully around her face.

She smiled, "come on."