Alex awoke with an extreme head ache and a cut on her cheek. Sitting up slowly she looked around her and was horrified to see that she was all alone in the clearing. She cursed her stupidity and stood slowly, adjusting to the feeling of walking again.
Looking to the trees she could see no more houses. They must have dumped her off in the middle of the forest.
Walking forward she pondered over what to do. She highly doubted she could undermine and entire rebel army single handedly.
She glanced up and stopped, noticing the faint shadows of the rebel "fortress."
She smiled, they wouldn't expect her to know how to get up there. But to her utter dismay she found no sign of the ropes used to pull herself up to the heights.
However, she did spot a branch nearby, and, sighing with resent, climbed atop it. It was a long way up, but it was her only option aside from burning the entire forest to the ground.
Luke once again attempted to struggle against his bonds. He had been shoved in a fire proof hut with Troy and Zuko. They had assumed they were not dangerous and had foolishly placed them together.
Zuko, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, said confidently and with boredom, "That's never going to work,"
Luke glared at him, angry also at Troy for still being victim to the sleeping gas, "Well why don't you figure out a way out of here Mr. I'm-so-clever."
Zuko opened one eye and looked at the boy, who was beside him, "I was until you stupidly interrupted me. But what else is new."
Luke would have jumped at him if not for the fact he was tied.
He knew he wouldn't get out of here like this, "Alex will save us."
Zuko gave a small laugh, "In your dreams."
Luke's previous plan – the one he had hatched with Troy – arose in his mind once more, "Don't be talking, I know what you're thinking when you look at her you sick freak,"
Zuko gave that same, mocking laugh, "Don't give yourself so much credit, you have no idea what's going on."
Luke rolled his eyes, "I'm not that stupid, and it's so obvious it's sad." He narrowed his eyes at the Prince, "You have no idea who she is,"
Zuko laughed, "And I suppose you do?"
Luke didn't laugh, "Yeah, I do in fact. I've known her since we were young," he whispered coldly.
Zuko raised his brows and looked at the older boy. Had he really? But Alex had said—
She also said she didn't know her brother, but then she remembered. Maybe he does know her. You're so vain to think you even had a chance. Why would she have anything to do with you, when she's known him forever, even if she doesn't realize it? You are so hopelessly lost in all this that you are forgetting you're true goal: to capture the Avatar. She's made you loose sight of what you really need, what you really want. She's distracting you, she's changing you. You're weak, you will always be weak—
Zuko mentally shut the voice off, even though he knew it was right. He really was being distracted. He needed to concentrate on getting out of here.
Luke looked over and saw that Troy was watching him, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"It was you, wasn't it?" he asked in a chilled voice.
Luke looked at who he had thought to be a friend, "What are you talking about?"
Troy only scoffed and turned his head to look at Zuko. Both prince and soldier eyed each other with hate and resentment.
"I'm going to take this opportunity to touch on something that's been on my mind for awhile now," said Troy in a mockingly dignified manner, "Let me make this clear: if you ever go near my sister again, I'll kill you." He said flatly.
Zuko smiled wickedly, "You make it sound like she had nothing to do with it."
"She didn't, I know she didn't."
"I beg to differ."
"Prove it," Troy shot back, "You don't have anything on her beside your illusions."
Zuko shifted his weight, "I don't feel like sharing."
Suddenly, the fabric to the room opened and all three men looked, expecting to see the rebel leader. But the flap closed before either of them could get a good look.
Zuko was nearest the door, and thus the figure moved silently to him. Up close he was surprised to see it was Alex. She looked surprised to find herself face-to-face with him, but she only nodded, "Are you all right?" she whispered, "who else is here?"
Luke spoke up, "Alex, Troy and I are here also, we're bound and the chains are fireproof."
Alex cursed in her mind and sat back on her heels, wondering what to do. She obviously couldn't burn the chains, but what else could she do?
Biting her lip she thought. The rebels weren't that smart, she knew enough about Jet to realize that. So there had to be a weakness…
She snapped her fingers, that was the answer to the dilemma.
She moved to reach behind Zuko but hesitated. Looking him in the eye he only looked back and raised a brow as if to say, 'well?'
Sighing, she reached behind him with one hand and fingered the clasp. But she was unable to reach it. She started to tell him to move but noticed his feet were also secured to the floor, making that impossible.
She tried to move both hands behind him but to her dismay she discovered she could barely fit one.
Looking him in the eye with a fierce hate he knew what she had to do, and so did she.
Troy watched in disbelief as his sister practically climbed into the lap of the Prince. He was about to speak up when he noticed she was reaching behind him and fingering the clasp again. He then decided to contain his hate inside—for now.
Alex felt extremely uncomfortable in this situation, and she could tell he was also. This was definitely the Zuko she had grown up knowing at "home."
After Zuko she untied her brother, and then moved to Luke. This too was awkward, but not as much.
After everyone was released they went to find the others. Alex sent Luke and Troy off after the soldiers while she and Zuko went in search of Jet.
Zuko walked ahead of her on the rickety platforms, not watching the surface beneath him.
But Alex did, and this is why she saw it right before it happened.
The plank Zuko had just stepped on gave way beneath his feet and he plummeted down, giving out a cry.
Startled, she too cried out and fell to her knees, reaching for his hand.
She barely caught him, but as she moved to pull him up she heard the sickening creak of the boards. She realized that if she pulled him up they would both fall, but she couldn't very well let him go to his death.
He looked up at her, "GO! You have to let go Alex, let go!"
She shook her head, "I—I can't!"
He struggled against her grip, as if to free himself from her grasp, "let me go! I don't want to hurt you!" when she didn't let go he sighed, "I'm sorry Alex!"
Alex cried out as his hand caught fire, causing her to release his hand in both pain and surprise.
She watched in horror as he disappeared below her and towards the ground.
She stood up and ran across the bridge madly so as not to hear the sickening sound that would echo once his body had hit the ground.
