Alex opened her eyes to find herself in a clearing. Sitting up slowly, she looked around her.

The air was calm and peaceful, the feeling of life filled the air with beauty.

She stood, slowly as not to hurt herself, she wasn't sure as to what extent she could freely move.

Upon finding nothing wrong with her aside from a small burn on her left shoulder, she took a few steps forward. After only a few moments she regained her strength and was able to continue forward.

It seemed all too quite in the woods, as if they were in silent repose of some recent event. She had no idea how much later it was than when she had died, but she had a feeling it was much later than she thought.

She half expected to continue forward without seeing a soul, but her theory was proven drastically wrong when she heard the shouts of people.

Quickening her pace, she pondered on the irony of what was happening. What were the odds that she would have awoken so close to civilization?

"Convenient, no?"

Alex gave a small gasp and turned round to see Shakra smiling at her. She narrowed her eyes, "Oh, now you're here. But where were you when I faced Ko?"

Shakra smiled, "Don't be like that Alex," he walked forward and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm always here for you, you just have to know what to say."

He motioned for her to continue walking, and she told him of her encounter with the spirit.

"It seems like you have a bit of a dilemma on your hands," he said softly.

She glared up at him, "No really?" she turned away and frowned, "I don't have any choice, I have to find someway to get them home. But how?"

She turned to the spirit, but he was gone. She groaned in frustration and kicked at a stone.

She stopped as she heard the voices again. If she made no noise she could distinctly make out the voices and what they were shouting about.

"Why didn't you tell me you were writing to Alex?"

"I—I—"

"What? You didn't even bother to tell me she was with the fire nation? And now you're saying you've never met this boy before?"

"I haven't, listen Tina—"

"Then how does he know your name? Tell me the truth, I'm sick of being lied to!"

Alex blinked, not believing what was happening. In a frenzied panic, she broke through the trees.

All four people in the clearing stopped. The three that were facing her didn't move as they looked at her with wide eyes.

She stared at the back of a fire nation boy. She looked around him to see Josh, another girl who must be Tina…and Zuko.

"Zuko!" she cried out.

He blinked at her and stood up quickly, "Alex…how can…what are you…."

The boy in front of her turned around quickly, and she gasped upon seeing that it was Luke.

For a moment they both stared at each other before she gave a cry and threw her arms around his neck.

Luke felt like crying as he held her tightly, it was a miracle, and it could be nothing more.

"It's alright Alex, I'm here now."

Tina blinked, unbelieving. There was no way this fire nation girl was Alex, it must be a different Alex.

She looked at the stricken face of Josh. Yeah, another Alex who knew Josh and Zuko.

Sure thing, just a coincidence.

Alex looked over at Tina and smiled sadly, tears brimming in her eyes. "Hey Tina."

Tina backed away quickly, nearly tripping over a log as she did so. Her face was full of fear and disbelief.

Alex frowned and took a step toward her old friend, Luke moved away to let her pass.

"No, stay away!" Tina cried.

Alex stopped, dismayed, "Tina, it's me. " She outstretched a hand.

Tina gave a cry and ran backwards until her back hit against a tree. She fell to the forest floor and buried her head in her arms, sobbing.

Alex froze, not knowing what she should do. She looked at Josh, for the first time in so many weeks, but instead of rejoicing and embracing her friend as she had wanted to, she could only silently plead for help.

But she knew what she had to do.

She knelt on the forest floor in front of her head. She gently took Tina's head in her hands and made her look at her. Her friend was sobbing wildly until Alex asked her softly to stop.

She smiled at her, "It's alright, I'm here now. Everything is going to be ok."

"But—but you're fire nation!" Tina choked.

Alex took a deep breath, and in a shaky voice replied, "I am. But I'm still the same, I'm still the same."

Tina smiled sadly and Alex hugged her friend. For the longest time they embraced each other, crying softly.

And Tina knew that everything was going to be alright.