Alex walked slowly through the swamp, making sure to step carefully, not wanting to discover what was at the bottom of that water.
She spotted the tree, the tree she did not know was there. She shuddered as the evil vibes filled her pores.
She took on step after another, bringing herself closer to the cave entrance.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
She turned quickly, but saw no one.
"Up here."
She looked up to the top of the tree and screamed when she saw a body etched in the tree's base.
The body – which seemed to be male – did not look at her, only outward.
"I wouldn't go in there if I were you, it's a wretched face…filled with curse."
"Who are you?" she demanded of the stranger.
Then, he looked upon her.
And she turned away in horror, shaking.
It was the face of her friend, one she had known when she was little, one who had died of a young age.
She did not look up at the face, she only proceeded forward, deeper into the cave itself.
Once deep inside, she had the oddest feeling of being watched. She knew it was Ko, but she forced herself to keep her expression blank.
"Hello child."
She turned and came face to face with Ko. She did not blink, but only stared at the spirit.
The face changed to one she did not recognize, "Why are you here?"
She took a calm breath and bowed her head respectfully, "I do not know, I was hoping you could tell me."
The face changed again, and as Alex looked up, she saw a fire nation face. She stared, it was a young man, with a sad expression on his face.
She had to use every will in her body not to scream in horror.
"Miuko," she whispered with no feeling in her voice.
The face changed back to the one Ko usually wore, the one that resembled a joker's mask.
"You are here because you have distorted the balance."
"the balance," she said blankly.
He circled around her, "The balance between life and death. You have broken the delicate chain by returning to this world."
"I did not wish it."
"But yet, you are here." He stopped and faced her once more, "You were taken from this world for a reason, and now you have returned. You have disrupted the life that has been planned out for the people, by bringing with you the people of your earth."
His voice seemed to become slightly angrier, "But having you in the spirit world has caused more trouble than you are worth. Shakra has been toying with the balance, and I want you out."
She blinked, still showing no emotion, "Out?"
He turned to her, "I will make you a deal, lady Alexa. If you agree to remove these strangers from our world, then I will grant you back your life."
Alexa looked carefully at Ko, "Is it that simple?"
"Simple? No, for you would be forced to stay here, and never see them again."
"And if I were to refuse, if I were to let them remain here?"
Ko's face changed, to that of a beautiful fire nation woman. Alex felt her mind go blank for a moment, for it was not the same woman Aang had laid his eyes upon.
She wanted to break into tears, to scream in rage at the spirit. How could he have done such a thing?
The face was her mother's.
Now she knew, now she knew what had happened.
Although her body shook violently with the pain, she let her expression remain stone.
"If you refuse my offer, then I will kill your friends."
She felt her knees go weak, but remained upright. He could not break her, he could not knock her down.
"I accept," she said dryly.
Tina returned to the camp a few hours later, her search completed. She noted with amusement that the boys still had yet to wake.
Overall, her search had been useless. The only interesting thing in town was the docking of a fire nation ship, but other than that it was insufficient.
She sighed and set her pack down, sitting to stoke the fire.
Luke raced through the forest quickly, following the trail of footprints on his mount. The horse was tired, but he urged it onward. He had to find out if she was alive.
But out of nowhere, he heard voices…
Slowing his horse to a halt and dismounting, he let the creature run back to the village as it was trained to do. He carefully walked toward the voices, not sure what he would find.
But as he neared the source of the voices, he stumbled upon a tree root, sending him sprawling forward through the trees.
He caught hold of a stray branch as he fell, attempting to steady himself.
"Who are you?" a voice demanded.
Luke looked up, startled.
He saw three people, staring at him. Two were unfamiliar, but one….
He stood upright, staring at the third person.
The man stared back.
"Zuko!" Luke cried, staring in shock.
Zuko blinked, not sure this could be happening. How had Luke found him? Not that that was a bad thing of course…
Josh and Tina stared at the boy. Tina seemed angered; she could see that he was fire nation.
Zuko stood up and took a step toward Luke, "How did you—"
Tina stood and glared at the boy, "You have no business here! Leave, you are not welcome!"
Luke looked at the girl, forgetting she was there. But his eyes fell to the other boy. He smiled, "Josh." He said softly.
Josh blinked at the stranger, how could he possibly know him? He knew no one in this world.
Luke too was trying to figure this out. He didn't know why, but he had the funniest feeling that this boy was Josh.
Tina looked at Josh, "Josh, what is going on?" she demanded angrily.
Josh looked away, avoiding her eye.
Tina glared at the boy, "Who. Are. You."
