When they stopped to camp that night, Alex took the liberty of examining her sword. The blade had become blunt from chopping through the three limbs. Now it was mostly useless, and as she tested it found it wouldn't even cut her flesh.
Sokka saw her and handed her a sharpening stone that he carried for his own weapons. She smiled, thanked him, and began to sharpen her blade.
"Are—are you a bender?" he asked.
She looked up, not stopping her sharpening hand, "Yes, I am."
"Then why do you—"
She laughed, "Some foes cannot be defeated with a mere flame." She frowned slightly and turned her head down, "I refuse to kill people with my bending, it wasn't intended for murder."
"You're the first Firebender I've ever heard say that."
"Well, we aren't all killers. Actually, the majority of us would just like peace, many serve the fire lord out of fear."
"Your brother, I assume he was your brother, he spoke of a rebellion. What did he mean?"
Tina and Aang had sat down and they too looked to her for an answer.
She frowned, "I'm not sure. I feel as if I should know, but I just can't remember. It's become harder each day to recall memories, as if someone is keeping them from me."
She looked at Tina; she couldn't keep the truth from her any longer. Besides, Aang might be able to help them.
"Tina, when I was in the spirit world with Ko, he gave me a mission."
"What kind of mission?" Tina asked.
"You were in the spirit world?" Sokka asked in confusion.
"You met Ko?" Aang asked also.
But Alex only replied to Tina, "He said that I need to get you all—home." She emphasized the word, and Tina knew what she was talking about. But Alex took a shaky breath, "If I don't—he's going to kill you."
Tina gave a small cry, and Aang spoke up, "But Ko can't kill anyone, he doesn't have that power—"
Aang was cut off by a rustling in the bushes. All four stood silently, Alex and Sokka pulling out their weapons.
Sokka didn't look at Alex but he spoke to her, "Wouldn't it be wiser to use your bending in a situation such as this?" he hissed.
She shifted her feet, gripping her short sword, "Oh yes that would be very wise, considering we're surrounded by dense forest that easily burns."
"Point taken," but it was not Sokka who said this.
A dark figure emerged from the trees. Alex immediately lowered her weapon as she felt the presence, but Sokka rushed forward.
"Sokka, no!" she cried after him.
The figure's hand moved ever so slightly, and Sokka was sent reeling backward. Tina took a few steps forward and caught him as he fell.
Alex sheathed her weapon, "What are you doing here."
Shakra came into the dim light of their campfire, "What, no 'happy to see you again'?"
"Who are you?" Tina demanded.
Aang felt a chill go up his spine and he collapsed to the ground, shaking.
Alex looked at Aang, then turned angrily to Shakra, "What did you do to him?"
He shrugged, "He is the avatar, such a strong presence from a spirit might cause such a reaction."
"You are not welcome here, leave." she said bitterly.
But instead, he went to the fire and sat beside it, floating gently off the ground, "I have come to help you."
"Yeah, right."
He reached into the fire and pulled out a small rock. He pulled a long silver chain from his pocket and fused it to the chain. He held it out to her, "here,"
She was cautious, but took it gently in her hand. It was cool, and she examined it carefully, it was a teardrop shaped diamond, and it caught the light from the fire.
"What is it?" she asked suspiciously, thinking it a trick.
"The Tear of Deception, don't be fooled by the name. it can be a very useful object for making peace in the world. You can use it to defeat Azula."
"How?"
"The Tear will tell you how, you'll just have to listen to it when it speaks."
"But what then? After Azula is gone—if she can be destroyed – what then? Ozai and Zuko will still be in the way."
"You'll see, trust it."
"And my friends?"
"When Azula has been defeated, you can use the Tear to send them home. You could do it now if you wished, but I suspect you will need them to destroy the princess."
Alex looked up to ask him another question, but he had vanished. Sokka was helping Aang to his feet, and Tina asked, "Who was that?"
"A spirit."
"Good or bad?"
Alex looked at the jewel in her hand, "I'm not sure."
Luke opened his eyes to see—nothing. Nothing more than his usual room, unexciting by far. He climbed out of bed and went to the window, watching the waves crash against the side of the ship.
Luke was still trying to contemplate what had gotten into Alex. Sure, he had only known her for six weeks or so, but it had felt like a lifetime.
He frowned; surely she could not be a traitor, as Azula had said. What had she done to be clarified as such? He wanted to ask her brother, but he had yet to see Troy . He wondered if the princess knew that Alex's brother was onboard, but perhaps she thought him dead as well.
Maybe Azula just wanted them turned against her, maybe it was Azula who was the traitor.
He shook these thoughts from his mind, to think such things would result in execution. But as he thought about it, reasons why Azula would want Alex out of the picture became clear. After all, Alex was third in line to take the throne, after Azula and Troy —
But was Troy really lined up for such a fate? It had never occurred to him that the proud soldier had never requested a proper title, and he didn't seem like Alex in the area, where he would prefer to be known casually.
The door to his room opened, and he turned to see Azula walk in and shut the door behind her. He was immediately aware that he was shirtless and felt awkward at her presence.
She smiled at him, but it was not as warm as she would have wanted it to appear.
"Hello Luke,"
He bowed his head in respect, trying not to look at her. But he soon had to return his gaze to her eyes.
She took a few steps closer to him to stand by the window. He took a step back, allowing her more room than necessary; being in her presence gave him chills.
"I know it's hard, discovering that your captain was a traitor, which is why I need your help to find her, she needs to be destroyed. She is a threat to the fire nation."
"Pardon me your highness, but how can one girl be such a threat?" he asked carefully.
She gave a small, eerie laugh, "You'd be surprised." She looked at him, dark eyes boring into him, searching his face for information, "If you help me, you will be well rewarded."
He hesitated; he had no idea where Alex could be—sorta. But he knew that if he said that, she would think him a liar.
She saw him hesitate, "I see you're thinking it over. I'll check back with you later."
She turned and exited the room as slippery as she had entered.
