The Grove

The UHoT team emerged from the portal that led to the Grove. Violett didn't want to risk bringing more humans there until the ceasefire that ended their three month war becomes more solid. Azelia understood that, which is why she selected Selene and other Norn guildmates to accompany her. After arriving, they immediately saw that the Vidells got there before them. The sisters have only been there for a minute or so. There was no word from the Lionguard on their brief return to Lion's Arch to use the Grove portal.

"I know you walking salads are hiding our sister. Where is she?" Kira asked a female guard in a demanding tone.

"Where is... who?" she said. Only a very few Sylvari have any knowledge of Azeena even being there at all. This guard was not one of them.

"I'm starting to think they are related to Selene, when it comes to intelligence.", Alexis told Kira.

"And what makes you such a genius?" Selene asked in a mocking way.

Everyone turned to see who said that. "You again!" said Alexis. "I should cut your tongue out for saying that!"

Selene walked up right to her face, not afraid. "Try it... I dare you."

Alexis reached for her axes but Kira stopped her by grabbing the warrior's arm. "No! Not here. Not yet anyway. We have more important business to tend to."

Kira turned back to the guard. The other Vidells kept their eye on UHoT. "If you don't tell me exactly what I want to know, I'm going to have Engie burn you to a crisp." She paused before continuing. "Where... is..."

Suddenly, she glanced behind the guard and saw three individuals approaching. One is the Avatar of the Pale Tree. Limping beside her is a battered, bruised, slightly burned and bloody Azeena Videll. Her eyes are dark blue and not glowing red. Another female guard was walking behind the two, carrying a Zenith greatsword, being careful not to cut herself on the blade edges. The weapon is almost as big as she is. Azeena's skin looks more pale than usual, almost zombie-like. In the guardian's subconscious mind, a large unseen crowd is cheering with the original Videls over the dreamstate outcome.

"Azeena!" Kira shouted. Everyone looked over at them in surprise. They all assumed she was dead days ago, unaware that this is not the same Azeena they were thinking about. Selene was relieved to know she is still alive and in the same timeline. The VM unit on Azeena's forearm is proof that she was indeed the original.

Kira ran over to Azeena and embraced her as the Avatar and the second guard went over to the others, specifically next to Azelia and Violett. Azeena reacted in pain. Kira quickly let go, realizing her error.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Kira pleaded. She then looked over the extent of the damage to her sister's body, then glared a hateful look at the Avatar. "What have you weeds done to her?!"

"This is not our doing," Avatar said. "These injuries were created as a result of..."

"LIAR!"

Azelia stepped in front of her mother, scepter in hand. "Leave her alone! The Mother Tree never lies!" she told Kira.

"So much for the ceasefire," Charsi said before laughing about it. Engie prepped her flamethrower, anticipating conflict. Violett saw her do that and readied her own twin swords.

Unseen and unheard by all, an electrical surge was flooding the gateframe of the nearby portal. A surge that could only be caused by a bolt of lightning but there was no storm above them. The portal itself began to distort in an unusual way.

"Ki...ra..." Azeena struggled to say.

The thief immediately turned her attention back to her. "I'm here. Don't worry, we will kill them all and- "

"No... combat."

Kira glanced over to the other Vidells, who were just as puzzled by her saying that. She looked back to Azeena.

"Um, all right. Then what is it you want to do?"

There was a pause before answering. "To... go... home."

Kira mentally questioned her reasoning but Azeena is their leader. "Very well, we will respect your wishes." She then looked over to the second guard. "You there! That greatsword belongs to Azeena. Give it to her and I'll consider sparing your pathetic life!"

The guard looked over to the Avatar for guidance. She nodded in approval of the request. Nervously, the guard walked over to Kira and Azeena. Violett went with her, swords still armed. They stopped in arm's reach of the other duo. Kira and Violett were staring at each other as the guard held out the weapon with the handle facing Azeena.

"First, you enter Divinity's Reach without permission and attempted to attack us," Kira said to Violett. "Now you have the gall to stand there and defend that glowing Sylvari's blatant lies. For someone who wanted the war to end, you sure have a funny way of showing it!"

"Deception is not a virtue our Mother possesses. As for Divinity's Reach, you are clearly mistaken," said Azelia.

With shaking hands, Azeena took the greatsword by the handle. Given her weakened condition, the blade part dropped to the ground with her still holding on to it. The guard was about to help her lift it back up but Azeena nodded no to her. She wanted to do it herself or at least try to.

"Oh really... Engie, Charsi, Alexis! Did we or did we not see Violett in our city earlier?"

"Of course we did!" said Engie.

"How can you not see an ugly face like that?" Charsi said.

Rasolnika took a step towards her. "You're one to talk. Have you looked in a mirror lately?" Charsi took offense to that comment, readying her axe and dagger. Rasolnika's hands softly glowed with elemental magic.

"Let's get something straight," Violett said to Kira. "You speak as if you and your sisters personally own Divinity's Reach. You don't. And I haven't even been there since our little war began. You were delusional then and you still are now."

Azeena closed her eyes in pain but it was not because of her injuries. The guard was concerned. Even the Avatar sensed a disturbance of some kind but couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. In Azeena's subconscious, the crowd went from cheering to reacting in horror. She began to become more and more angry, taking deeper breaths. It wasn't long before everyone noticed her rapidly changing condition. Azeena slowly lifted up the greatsword and then her own head. She opened her eyes. They are once again glowing red.

"What is happening to her?" Selene wondered.

Everyone started to back away from Azeena, including the other Vidells. How is this possible? Her corrupted evil side was defeated.

Or was she?