Author's Note
Thanks to those of you who reviewed last chapter! It means a lot to me!
So, here's the next chapter!
Disclaimer- I own nothing but my own Ocs.
…...
"A-Achoo!"
"See! I told you you are sick!"
"And I said I'm still fine to travel!"
"Alice, come on! You've had a fever for the past two days!"
"Don't call me by my real name with people around!"
"Then MOVE!"
"No, I'm not going in that doctor's place!"
"I'll make you!"
Iroh sighed, watching the two sixteen year-olds argue. Zuko was trying to push Alice into the doctor's place but she refused.
"Nope nope nope!"
"Ali-"
"Cheshire!"
"Fine! Cheshire, GO ALREADY!"
"You can't-hey!"
Zuko finally managed to get her in the doors. Iroh followed with a shake of his head.
"May I help you two?" The man asked with a smile
"Yes, my friend here has a cold and we were hoping for a cure."
"Of course." The man walked over to the shelf, pulling a few things down. When he walked back over to the group, Iroh took the things from him.
"That will be five silver."
"Of course." Iroh handed the money over.
The two men turned to leave. Alice had already went outside.
Zuko sighed, walking over to her.
"Let's go." He said.
"Why are you so kind to me?" Alice muttered, "I've attacked the Fire Nation who knows how many times..."
"I'm not part of the fire nation anymore. You haven't tried to attack us, so why should I hate you?" He put a hand on her shoulder.
She shrugged his hand off.
"I'm going back to the camp. I will pay you back, somehow..." Alice muttered, walking off with her hands in her pocket.
"Come on, Zuko, let's go get some supplies." Iroh said.
"Fine." Zuko said, following his uncle as he walked away. He glanced back at Alice's retreating form. He turned away with a sigh.
Iroh narrowed his eyes as he saw a few Fire Nation people and pulled down his hat slightly.
After buying a few things, the two returned to the camp to find Alice asleep in the shade. Iroh walked over to her, putting a hand on her forehead.
"Her fever's gotten worse."
"Well, it's the stupid cat's own fault!"
"I heard that..." Alice muttered, opening one eye.
"In any case, we have to go." Iroh said, "I saw a few people from the Fire Nation in town."
"Of course..." She murmured, standing up.
"Alice, look out!" Zuko tackled Alice. Her eyes widened as she saw a blue fireball hit where she had been standing just a moment ago.
"Alice?" Azula stepped out of the trees, eyes widened ever so slightly, "I thought there was a resemblance. Good to see you after so long." She sneered.
"Azula?! What are you doing here?!" Zuko demanded, helping Alice to her feet.
"Father sent me to get rid of you two. He's tired of you embarrassing him. Who would have known I would find the Cheshire Cat herself as well." She glared at the group of three.
"Don't hurt her!" Zuko pulled Alice behind him.
What did she mean by 'good to see you after so long'?!
"Aw, does little Zuzu have a girlfriend?" Azula cooed, a mocking smirk on her face.
"I-"
"Leave, Azula. I don't want to fight you."
Zuko's eyes widened as Alice appeared in front of him. Shadow whips extended from her pointer and index finger.
"What? Still have mix feelings on attacking your old friend?" She put her hands on her hips.
"Friend..? Alice, what does she mean by that?!" Zuko asked. A pained look came over Alice's face. She closed her eyes, gritting her teeth and looking away from them.
"She didn't tell you? Of course she didn't. She was raised by the Fire Nation, as my servant." Azula laughed at the look on Iroh's and Zuko's faces.
"W-What?"
"That's right..." Iroh muttered, "I remember a hooded figure dropping the child off. She was shot down... The child was five. All of her hair was short except for two braids with spikes on the end..."
"A symbol...of my people." Alice said quietly. The shadow whips disappeared.
Zuko stood in shock. But...he remembered her!
One day when Azula forced him to 'play' with her and her two main friends, there was another girl with short, spiky brown hair and two long braids. She was kind to him when Azula pushed him and Mai into the fountain, she had handed him a towel.
He remembered Azula punishing her for it
He remembered being slightly saddened when she left when he was ten.
"Azula, please, I beg of you, don't fight. I don't want to fight you." Alice pleaded.
"Oh?" Azula smirked, "But I don't care about you anymore. You were banished because you learned bending when you weren't supposed to. You were beaten and driven away because you were a shadowbender, the forbidden fifth element." She leaned close to Alice, almost whispering in her ear, "You were hated...because you weren't supposed to exist."
"S-Shut up...!" Alice shook her head, backing away.
"You're mother is dead because of you! Because she tried to save you!" Azula taunted.
"Shut UP!" She shouted, summoning the whips again. Azula leaped back, barely avoiding the attack.
"Oh? Finally decided to fight back?" She smirked. Alice growled.
Azula sent a fire-enhanced kick at her. Alice dodged it.
Azula darted up to her, grabbing her wrist, then her arm. A hand shaped burn mark was left in each place. Azula slung Alice into a tree. She didn't move.
Zuko finally came back to his senses, attacking Azula the same time Iroh did. She kicked Zuko away with a swift kick to the side. Iroh aimed a fire breath at her, but she swiftly moved to the side.
Azula was about to send lightning at her uncle, but something kicked her, sending her flying. She was knocked against a boulder.
Zuko's eyes widened at what he saw in front of him. A purplish black horse and a deep red horse stood in front of them. The mane of the purplish black one looked like black and purple flames, and the red one's mane looked like red and black. Both had eyes that were a startling bright blue, the same as Alice's
His eyes swiveled to Alice. She was standing, leaning against the tree. She met his eyes but quickly looked away.
"It's been awhile, Alice." Zuko jumped when a deep voice came from the purplish black horse.
"I was wondering if something had happened, you had not summoned us for so long." The red one said in a more feminine tone.
"I'm sorry, Eques, Roette. It won't happen again." Alice smiled softly.
"I KNEW it! You're a shadowbender!" Iroh exclaimed.
"Uh...Azula said that a moment ago..." She blinked.
"Right..."
"We have to go before she awakes. These two can transport us." Alice said. She glanced at Zuko, who had remained quiet throughout the ordeal.
"I will explain everything when we get away from here." She said softly to him. She then turned to the two horses, "Roette, take Iroh. Eques, are you alright with taking me and Zuko?"
"Of course." Eques rumbled.
"Hello Roette." Iroh patted her when she walked over to him.
"Alice, I like him." Roette...said, lowering herself so Iroh could get on. Eques did the same for Zuko and Alice.
"I hope you don't mind...I would summon one other, but I don't have another. Just like the flying bison airbenders had, shadowbenders have shadow horses. Eques is mine, and Roette used to be my mothers..." Alice said softly.
"N-Not at all..." Zuko cleared his throat, getting on the back of Eques. Alice got on behind him.
"Roette, Eques, go." Alice said. The two started off quickly.
After a while, Zuko's eyes traveled to Alice's arm that was around his waist to make sure she didn't fall off. It had burn marks on it..
"You're burnt..."
"I am fine." She said, pulling down her sleeve to hide the burns.
Zuko sighed. She was so different than the meek, compliant servant of Azula's he had once known long ago. When he had met her back them, he wouldn't have guessed...
"There is a town up ahead. Do you wish to stay there, Alice?" Eques said, turning his head to look at the two. The moon was slowly rising in the sky. A full moon.
"Iroh?"
"Yes, we can stay there for the night." Iroh answered.
Eques and Roette stopped at the edge of the town at Alice's command.
"We have to walk from here. These two don't exactly look like normal animals." She said, getting off. She hissed in pain as the action sent a jolt of pain up her arm.
As soon as Iroh and Zuko got off, the two shadow horses vanished.
"Alice? Are you alright?" Iroh asked.
"Fine...just fine." She answered, trying to ignore the heat radiating both from her wound and fever.
With some bargaining, the group got a room at an inn. Zuko plopped down on a bed while Alice when to go sit on the porch.
After a while, Iroh came outside. He sat by her, showing a few big leaves in her hand.
"This is a plant similar to aloe, it will take the heat and pain away from your burns."
"How did you know?"
"I may be old, but not blind." He chuckled, "Let me see your arm."
Alice nodded slightly, pulling up her sleeve. Iroh carefully set the leaves on her wound, then covered that with a layer of bandages.
"You know, I was sort of surprised you didn't recognize me right away." She said quietly.
"It was hard to, you changed a lot." Iroh said, "When you were younger-"
"I know..." Alice said quietly. She glanced at the sleeping Zuko, then to the full moon shining in the sky.
"The only thing that's the same about you is the braids, eyes, and name. You've completely changed." Iroh chuckled.
"I suppose I have..."
"Now, why not try to get some sleep. You need to rest to fight off the cold." He said, standing up and offering his hand. Alice took it, standing.
"Yeah...goodnight, Iroh." She smiled softly, walking over to one of the beds and laying down.
"Goodnight Alice."
Author's Note
Yeee second chappie! I hope this was good enough for people, and thanks once again to those who reviewed! It makes me happeh.
So...yup...words...
LOOK! DOTS! …...
*ahem*
I shall be leaving.
GOOD BYE PEOPLE! I LOVE YOU ALL! Unless you flame.
THEN I DISLIKE YOU