*Zuko's POV*

We all stood around Armelle's bed. We had to try to talk to her or something. Katara said that she might be able to hear us and maybe even respond or wake up. Honestly, I had no idea what any of it meant. But if there was a chance that it could work, then I was all for it. We really needed Armelle back.

Katara bent down near Armelle's bed. Armelle looked like she was asleep, her breathing slow and steady. Her eyes were closed, and she was snoring softly. It really does look like she's sleeping. Is this what a coma is supposed to look like?

"Armelle?" Katara softly spoke, touching her arm. "Armelle, we need you back. There's some trouble. Your brothers are coming to get us and they are hurting Elizabeth." She shook her arm.

Armelle woke suddenly with a start. "What?! What on earth has been happening while I was gone?! What?? Why didn't you guys tell me sooner?!" All of us were startled. Armelle hopped up off the bed, and we just gaped at her.

"Do people usually wake up like that from being in a coma?" Toph asked, turning towards Katara. Katara looked just as shocked as the rest of us.

"Uh... I don't know."

"Wait, did you guys think I was in a coma?" Armelle asked, looking between all of us.

"Yes. That's what I thought, at least." Katara answered.

"No, no, no," Armelle chuckled. "Sometimes after using my power too much in a span of a few weeks, I go into a state of rest. My body automatically does it, and I can't help it. At first, it looks like I'm in a coma, but after resting for a few days, I slowly regain control and consciousness. I usually have to keep resting afterwards, though. I was just resting some more, and you guys started to wake me when you walked in just now. Why didn't you try waking me sooner?"

"...Because we didn't know that you were not in a coma?" Aang answered, making it sound more like a question.

"Okay, we got the explanations." I butt in. "Armelle, can you help Elizabeth?"

"Take me to her." Armelle spoke in a more serious tone.

We got to Elizabeth's room, where she was laying on the bed. She was asleep, her eyes closed tightly and beads of sweat on her brow. She twitched every now and then, and it looked like she was having a nightmare.

Armelle stood solemnly over Elizabeth. We all stood back, waiting for her to say something.

"Well?" I asked after a few minutes, stepping forward.

"Alpha is torturing her from the inside, from her mind. He has an active link to her, meaning he can read and control her mind. Inside this house, he can't reach any of us with his mindbending unless he has an active link. But I know that he is coming for us. He should be here within the next month. The problem is, we can't leave if he has a link. Also, he'll be able to find us, too."

"Can't we just go back to Elizabeth's world? He can't have a link through a different dimension, right?" Sokka asked.

Armelle shook her head. "I'm so sorry, guys. After having my sleep, I can't bend. Not for a week or two and even then it's risky and unsafe. We're trapped here."

I widened my eyes. What were we supposed to do? These benders could literally kill us from the inside out! Our bending would be useless against them!

Katara sensed everyone's hopelessness, and spoke up. "Well, let's just try and focus on one problem at a time. Let's just concentrate on helping Elizabeth."

"What can you do to help her?" Aang asked.

"Well... I can bring her memory back and break the link. It won't be easy, though. I'll have to dig out some ancient books and stir up a medicine, and then we'll have to..." she sighed.

"Have to what?" I urged her to go on.

"In order to complete the process of breaking the link, I will have to inflict pain on her. It will wake her up back to her normal self. It's the last step of the process- to burn her on her left arm in a certain spot with a certain candle.

I widened my eyes, glancing at Elizabeth lying there, looking like she was in pain.

"She's already in pain now. If it wakes her up, I guess that's what has to be done..." I trailed off.

"Are you sure there isn't any other way? Besides hurting her?" Aang asked. Of course he would ask that. Guru Goody-Goody.

"No, it's the only way. The process was created by my grandfather, who knew that there needed to be a way to break the link. He had the power to see what was going to happen in the future in detail."

Aang sighed and nodded. He glanced at everyone else, who slowly agreed. This was the way to help Elizabeth. It had to be done.

"Okay, help me take her to the healing room. I'll lead the way." Armelle said.

We were going to do this. We were going to bring Elizabeth back, finally.

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And there you go! The next chapter! I was stuck for a little bit, but I'm figuring it out!

I don't know what else to say, so... Bye! :DDD

~Purple