Hey guys, I'm here with the finale of Rolling Thunder. I hope you came for some action, case this is jam packed with it. Thank you all for your support, now let's get the show on the road:

Alex stood on the dock of Air Temple Island with a lit cigarillo, watching as the torpedo boat faded into the horizon. It was morning, and he had just seen the vast majority of Team Avatar off for their journey back to the Southern Water Tribe. He didn't like watching them go. The group of friends had only just gotten back together and now they were splitting up again.

Of course, it went without saying that he would miss Korra and Asami a little more then Mako and Bolin. He'd given Korra a very long and private kiss goodbye, and he'd spent the entire night with Asami. Needless to say, Tessa had been silent the entire time since. Alex wasn't sure where the tag along had gone, but he was going to enjoy the silence while it lasted.

"Smoking, really little bro?" Lucy asked as she appeared by his side.

"It calms my nerves."

"Uh huh, sure. I thought it was customary to have a smoke after doing the deed," she said.

"You would know," came the reply.

"So how was your night with the beautiful heiress?"

"I don't broadcast my business," Alex said. Lucy smirked at him.

"Oh I don't need you to tell me the details. I can figure enough out on my own," she said. Alex remained silent, taking another drag and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"I saw the look on her face this morning. That, and the way you've been walking...she nearly broke you in half didn't she?" An image flashed through Alex's mind. The picture of Asami's naked form, perched on top of him and writhing in ecstasy. She had gone over six months without anything more then a kiss, and last night she had cashed all that in and them some. Lucy was right. Asami had nearly broken both him and the bed in half.

"Ha, called it," Lucy said when some color crept into Alex's cheeks. He was starting to get annoyed by his sister's prying.

"Seriously? You need to find a better hobby."

"So how long until you give it to Korra like you've been giving it to Asami?"

"Lucy, for now I'd just settle for being able to see them both again," Alex answered as he tossed his cigarillo into the harbor before he turned and headed back up to the main part of the Temple. Lucy watched him go before looking back out to sea. She may have given Alex a hard time, but it was her way of making sure he stayed on top of his game and assuring him that things would be alright.

"You will, little bro. You will," she said to herself.

The darkness swirled around him like a black fog. It pulsed with each breath he took, condensing in as he inhaled, and expanding outward as he exhaled. Matt Cross had never attempted meditation before. He was only doing it now in order to prepare himself for the role he was set to play. Soon he would be the most powerful being in existence, a god incarnate, and there would be nothing to stop him from achieving his goals.

Mercer had a plan for the world, to reshape it and remold it. 'A world where everyone could achieve extraordinary things' he'd said when he had pitched his plan to him. The masked man honestly, truly believed that in the world he was trying to bring about, the possibilites were endless.

But Cross, he'd never seen it. He saw only a dog eat dog world. A world where the ones with more power would rise to the top, while those with less power fell to the bottom, as was the order of things in nature. In truth, Matthew viewed Mercer as being too much of a dreamer, a man who was trying to be the hero of his own tail. This was something he despised.

"Take him out." There it was again. The small, nagging voice in the back of his head he had heard since he was a young man. Adam, he'd named the voice. It wasn't real, he knew it wasn't real, and yet here it was once again, whispering to him.

"Not yet," he replied out loud. It was foolish to respond to a voice in his head, yet Cross did so anyway. If he didn't address it, it would only grow louder in it's demands.

"He's a fool. It's you who should be leading this project."

"The Project is his design. I must follow it to the letter if I am to reach his goals."

"Bull! Take him down now, when he doesn't expect it!"

"I do not stand a chance against his powers. Not as I am now. I must wait until I have the power to do so." Despite the possibility of him betraying Mercer growing, Cross had other things to deal with once he acquired the power he had been promised. Namely in the form of the Chambers siblings.

When he had first joined the Watchers, seeking some sort of meaning in his life following the death of his girlfriend in a mugging, it was Mercer who had taken him under his wing. But not even the charismatic man had been able to shield him from the overly bold and somewhat cruel humor that had come from new member Lucy Chambers. Over time, she had caused him more and more annoyance. And as this continued, Adam had grown louder and louder when it came to her. Each time, the chant grew harder and harder to ignore. Dispose of her, make her an example, do away with her.

Then, Cross had encountered Lucy's brother, and all of that anger and rage shifted focus.

Alex Chambers was like a walking example of everything Cross had come to despise. The world was a cold, cruel place that claimed everyone in the end. Anyone who tried to defy this was a fool who deserved everything they got when the world backhanded them into place.

He had read Chambers' police file when they had first learned of the fact that he was alive. It was mainly a list of things they had tried to connect Alex to, but had never managed to find enough evidence to do so. The fact that Chief Beifong had declared the man they were trying to prove was Alex dead six months ago hadn't helped matters.

Regardless if the police could prove it was him or not, Cross had gotten enough of a glimpse to know that he hated this person with a passion. He were acting like some super powered goodie two shoes out of a comic book. It was bullshit, all of it. Matthew had seen war, seen humanity at it's worst. And from that he had learned something; heroes get chewed up and spat out like a wad of gum.

To him, Alex was a showoff, someone who needed to be reminded of their place in the order of life. If no one else was willing or able to, then Cross would gladly step forward and do so himself.

"Matthew. It is time," came Mercer's voice. Cross opened his eyes and allowed the darkness to dissipate. Standing, he raised the hood on his coat.

"Then let us begin."

Korra braced herself in the supports of the wing of the biplane. They had stolen the plane from an abandoned military instillation not far from the Southern Port, a place that had been cleared out by the Southern Rebels not long before.

The plan the team had come up with was...suicidal at best. They would pass over the camp around the portal, and while Asami, Mako and Bolin created a diversion, Korra would drop in and close the portal. They hadn't counted on the large amount of dark Spirits that were swirling around the pillar of light.

"That's a lot of Spirits," Asami said from her place in the pilot's seat.

"They're drawn to the energy the Portal is giving off. They should dissipate when it's closed," Korra said.

"Are you sure about that?" Mako asked.

"No. But that's a chance we have to take. The Portal can't be open when the Convergence starts."

"That settles it then. Everyone ready?" Asami asked.

"I'm an earthbender, I should be on the ground," Bolin whined from his place on the wing opposite of Korra.

"Bro, just get ready," Mako said.

"Right, right. Ready. Well, ready as I'll ever be."

"Alright then, let's roll," Korra said before lowering a set of goggles over her eyes and detaching the safety wire from her waist. The Avatar took a single step backwards off the plane's wing and allowed herself to free fall toward the ground. Her stomach churned with butterflies, and the wind deafened her as she raced toward the snow covered tundra.

At the last second, she let out a powerful blast of air from both her hands and feet. This was enough to cushion her fall and allow her to land in a roll. Coming up into a crouch, Korra quickly looked around to see if she had been spotted. Realizing that she was undetected, the Avatar began a mad dash toward the pillar of light that rose up before her.

Strangely, the vast majority of the encampment around the Portal was empty. More then likely the Northern troops had been drawn out to fight the Rebels. That, or the biplane distraction was doing it's job really well. Even now, Korra could hear the planes' engines buzzing over the sound of explosions as the brothers threw explosives from the wings. Ignoring this, she continued forward, determined to reach the Portal. Finally, she found herself at the base of the pillar.

"HOLD, AVATAR!" Korra froze at the force of the voice. Turning toward the noise, she found herself confronted by three people. It was Mercer and Cross, with Mercer holding her mother, Senna, by the back of her neck.

"Mom?"

"Korra, no matter what happens, don't do what they say!" Senna yelled. The woman flinched in pain as Mercer tightened his grip.

"If you want your mother to survive this day, you will do exactly what I tell you," he countered.

"What do you want?" Korra asked, getting straight to the point despite assuming a bending position out of habit.

"Let's take a walk, shall we?" Mercer said, forcing Senna forward toward the Portal. Korra reluctantly followed, walking into the Spirit World after them. The area they found themselves in was a desolate plain with patches of water here and there. In the center of it all was a massive gnarled tree standing atop a pile of boulders. Contained within a hollow in the center of the tree was a large orange and black spirit that resembled a kite.

"There you are, Raava," it said, it's voice containing a haunting echo. Korra shuttered, not at the voice, but at some primal recognition that came from deep within her.

"The other Portal, open it," Mercer said.

"You're insane if you think I'm going to let that thing out," Korra said, pointing toward the Dark Spirit.

"You will do as you are told, or you will suffer the consequences," Mercer said, forcing Senna to her knees.

"Korra, don't..." she started, but was silenced by another grasp from the man holding her.

"Radiation poisoning is a horrible way to die. Her skin will turn red and blister, her ability to keep food down will disappear along with the ability to control her bowls, and finally it will end with her deformed and wailing in pain because, frankly, she's being cooked from the inside," Mercer said, removing a glove and raising a glowing green hand.

"Wait, wait," Korra said, holding up her hands in surrender, "I'll do it."

"Wise choice." Korra crossed the barren plain to the glowing orb in the ground on the far side of the tree. Both Mercer and Cross followed close behind with Senna, watching closely to ensure that she didn't try anything. Reaching the orb, Korra closed her eyes and placed her hand on the light. After a moment, she opened her eyes, revealing the glowing white of the Avatar State.

The Portal opened with a burst of energy, sending another pillar of light racing skyward. Both Mercer and Cross stepped back and looked up in awe, admiring the twin pillars that now dominated the landscape. Neither one of them saw the twin blasts of air Korra sent at them when she suddenly turned.

The first blast struck Cross dead center in the chest at full force, sending him flying and landing several yards away while the second managed to separate her mother and Mercer from each other. Korra didn't give him a chance to recover as she followed this up with another air blast, sending him flying farther then Cross had gone.

"Mom, run!" she ordered. Senna didn't need to be told twice, picking herself up and sprinting back in the direction of the Southern Portal. Turning on her heal, Korra went back into the Avatar State and placed her hands against the pillar of light. Time was running out, she could feel it deep within the core of her being. But the pillar was shrinking. There was hope, she could do this, just a little more...

"You're too late, Raava. You feel it coming, don't you?" Vaatu asked.

The Portal suddenly flared with an explosion of energy, sending Korra flying backwards. Both of the pillars arched toward each other and collided high above the Tree. Lighting flashed off of the now joined Portals, showing just how much energy was traveling through them. In the tree, the barrier containing the Dark Spirit pulsed and then gave out, freeing the being of darkness.

Vaatu cackled as he floated upward, turning his form and relishing the fact that after so long of being trapped, he was finally free. Korra pulled herself to her feet, momentarily horrified at the sight, but quickly shifting back into fighting mode. She was the Avatar, and she was not about to let this thing go free and terrorize the world, not without giving it the fight of its life.

"You could not stop this from happening, Raava. Now I will usher in a new era, an era of darkness everlasting!" the Spirit declared.

"Not if I have anything to say about it! You're going right back in that tree!" Korra yelled before her eyes glowed white. As she started to build up power for an attack, her body was suddenly surrounded by dark energy. She didn't have time to react as Cross levitated her, and then threw her like a rag doll through the Portal behind her.

"Now, quickly! Form the bond!" Mercer yelled. Vaatu instantly dove toward Cross, who stood with his arms outstretched as if offering a hug. As the Spirit of Darkness entered him, Cross visibly shuttered, but otherwise remained upright and defiant. With a puff of smoke, he appeared next to the Portal and placed his hand on the beam of light. Energy flowed into him, and his form was covered with an orange glow. As he opened his eyes, Mercer saw that they now glowed pure orange, the color of flames.

"Behold, for a new era comes forth," he said, his voice now a mixture of Cross' and Vaatu's. A fist suddenly collided with Cross' jaw, coupled with a blast of fire, sending the newly formed Dark Avatar flying backward. Korra sprung out of the Portal, her eyes aglow and a yell of rage billowing from her lips as she unleashed a torrent of the different elements on her enemy.

Cross raised his arms and formed a shield of dark energy around his body. His managed to withstand the attacks, but he was still forced to his knees from their ferocity. Counter attacking, he sent out a few balls of energy, which Korra dodged while still refusing to let up on her attacks. The two managed to kick up quite the dust cloud as they duked it out, each one trying to crack the others' defenses.

Finally, Korra saw a way to get past Cross' shield. She reached out and bent the ground beneath his feet, causing it to buckle and rise upward violently. Rather then be taken by surprise, Cross spring-boarded off the stones and closed the distance between the two. He managed to get his hand on Korra's face, forcing her to her knees in the process.

Before she could react, Cross' hand glowed orange and he drew it away from her. She choked and gasped for air as something was drawn up from inside her, forcing its way up her throat and out of her mouth. A form emerged and was ripped free from her. It was another Spirit, the same shape as Vaatu, only white and blue in color. This was Raava, the Spirit of Light, and Vaatu's opposite.

Cross twisted his hands, and Korra once again found herself surrounded by dark energy before being thrown like a rag doll again. She landed in an ungraceful heap, weak and unable to get back up. With her out of the way, Cross focused his attention on Raava herself. He encased the Spirit in a ball of dark energy and began to crush it.

Korra twisted in agony as she felt the Light Spirit being destroyed. Each time the ball compressed, she felt a stab of pain go through her very being. Finally, Cross twisted his hands and then threw them out to either side. The ball that surrounded Raava compressed a little more before splitting in half and flying off in opposite directions. As a result, the Spirit inside was sliced in half and collapsed into a shower of sparks. Korra cried out as the last stab of pain struck, and she collapsed, unable to take anymore.

"It is done," Mercer said as he stepped forward and looked down at Korra's fallen form, "The Avatar Spirit is destroyed, and the Avatar is no more."

"No. There is still one that stands in our way," Cross said, his voice echoing with Vaatu's. Turning, the Dark Avatar placed his hand on the glowing pillar of light and vanished into it. Mercer now embraced the silence. It was done. His plan was complete. A new age, a new era had come, and he was it's herald.

A groan from behind him caused him to turn in surprise. Korra wasn't dead like he had thought. She was currently pushing herself to her hands and knees, trying to get back to her feet. Mercer had to admit that he was impressed. He figured that the shock of the Avatar Spirit being ripped from her and then being destroyed would have done her in, or at least kept her out of the fight from now on.

"It is over," he said. Still Korra got to her feet, a look of defiance in her eyes.

"You talk to much," she grunted as she cracked her neck.

"The Avatar Spirit has been destroyed, and a new era has begun! It's over, you failed! And now your boyfriend is gonna pay the price for it!" Mercer yelled.

"This is far from over," Korra replied before blasting him with a combination of air and fire, sending Mercer flying and no doubt breaking some bones in the process.

Alex stood in the center of the yin and yang symbol on Air Temple Island, facing toward the city skyline. It had been daytime, until just a short while ago when a wave of purple energy had come from the North. Now, the sun had dimmed to the point that stars could be seen, and the Aurora danced in the sky overhead.

He knew without a doubt that Korra and the others had failed in their objective of closing the Portal and stopping Harmonic Convergence. Now that the planet was bathed in Rift Energy, Charged were being formed all over the world. There was nothing he could do about that now. Now his focus had shifted. If an attack came to the city, he had to be ready.

"Ohh, they're beautiful," Jinora said. They had finally gotten in contact with Tenzin, and his family had returned here to the Island while he and his siblings raced South to help Korra. Pema and the children were currently in the courtyard as well, watching this once in a lifetime event unfold.

Alex looked down at his hand. A faint blue glow was coming from within him. All of that energy in the air was flowing through him, making him feel alive and at his most powerful. He took a few breaths and felt the electricity inside him respond. Using the energy in the air, he looked within his mind's eye to see how far he could see. However, he felt something racing toward the city. Something dark, and incredibly powerful.

"Tessa?"

"I'm here."

"Can you feel that too?"

"Yeah. Something wicked comes this way. And fast." Alex watched as a pulse of light appeared over the mountains. It arched through the sky before slamming down Aang Memorial Island like a comet. The force of the impact cratered a good chunk of the island, and sent the giant metal statue of the past Avatar toppling into the harbor.

"That would be our cue."

"Tessa, this isn't going to be easy. If at all possible, I'd like you to sit this one out."

"Not a snowball's chance in Hell, light bulb."

"Pema. Kids inside, now," Alex said over his shoulder. The woman nodded and hurried to rush her children inside while Alex started toward the dock. He didn't like the idea of going near water. But he needed to get to the island and confront whatever had landed there.

The boat ride was short, even if the guy running it was absolutely frightened out of his mind. Alex let him go back to Air Temple Island, or wherever else he wanted to go once he reached the shoreline. He didn't care, his focus was on what lay ahead of him. Climbing to the rim of the crater, Alex looked down inside to see what had fallen from the sky. Standing in the center was Cross, his form aglow with orange light along with his eyes. Power radiated off of him, making it clear that this wasn't going to be easy in the slightest.

"You know, there are less destructive ways to make an entrance," Alex said. Cross looked up at him.

"There's no escape for you this time, Chambers," he said, pointing at him. Alex just folded his arms and rolled his eyes.

"I'm standing between you and the entire city, I wasn't planning on going anywhere," he replied.

"So you're saying that you won't hold back this time?" Cross asked, darkness starting to gather around his form. Alex unfolded his arms and took a fighting stance.

"Count on it." Cross grinned at that.

"Music to my ears," he said before unleashing a ball of dark energy at him. Alex leapt into the air, springing off of a blast of static electricity and clearing the ball, which blew apart the crater side where he had just been standing. As he flew through the air, he threw several balls of electricity back at Cross like they were baseballs.

The electro grenades exploded, forcing Cross to backpedal in order to avoid damage. He settled into a stance and struck out with a spear made of dark energy like a scorpion tail striking. Alex landed and blasted the strike away before countering with several blasts of his own. Like the last time they had met, Cross raised his shield and deflected the blasts away from him, into the dirt sides of the crater.

Raising a hand, Alex clenched it into a fist. A single bolt of lightning rocketed down from the sky and struck the ground right next to Cross. The Dark Avatar was sent sprawling by the force of the blast, his jacket smoking and his hair standing on end. Control of natural lightning to this degree was something Alex rarely used. But in this case, it was clear that it was needed.

"Nice trick," Cross grunted as he got back to his feet, "wanna see mine?" He raised his hand and unleashed a beam of purple energy. The air filled with the sound of a fog horn. The beam forced Alex straight back into the crater wall, sprawling him out in the process. Rocks and dirt rained down on him as he struggled to get a breath back into his lungs.

Overhead, the air raid siren of several Police airships descending up them sounded. It was enough to get Cross' attention, drawing it away from finishing off Alex while he was still down. Alex himself was struggling to get up. The beam had been a total surprise, and was no doubt incredibly powerful.

"Republic City Police! Nobody more!" Cross responded by unleashing the purple beam again. It punched clean through an airship, slicing the craft in half and sending it flaming and spiraling into the harbor. Before he could turn the beam on the other airships, Alex tackled him from behind. The two rolled through the dirt before Alex came out on top, punching downward as his fists were alight with electricity.

Cross' form trembled as the current passed through his body from the blows. But he did manage to get a fist up and make contact with Alex's jaw. The electric user was sent flying backwards, tumbling a short distance across the crater. They both came up with their own respective energies pulsing, neither one ready to back down.

"So what's your plan when you kill me, huh? Mercer got what he wanted, the whole world will have Charged now," Alex said.

"Who said that Markus' plan is my own? I have my own vision for the world, and with this power, nothing will stand in my way," Cross replied.

"Pretty bold talk coming from someone who can't put down a glorified bug zapper."

"Hm. Perhaps you are right. I've been going about this all wrong," Cross said before a tendril made of dark energy appeared and wrapped itself around Alex's waist. Before he could react, he was lifted into the air and then slammed back to the ground. Cross repeated this process again and again, slamming him against the crater walls.

"Bugs need to be squashed!" he roared as he slammed Alex into the ground again. The electric user felt himself hoisted into the air again, but this time managed to discharge a single bolt of lightning. It struck the tendril that was holding him, destroying it just as it was about to reverse direction and slam him into the ground again.

The resulting action sent the electric user flying and tumbling like a rag doll. For a moment, all he saw were spinning images to dizzying to make out. Then he slammed down hard on something made of wood. He skidded a short distance, tearing up whatever he had landed on before finally coming to a halt.

Alex let out a moan of pain. His whole body felt like it was broken, which given what he had just gone through, there was a good chance of that. Sitting up slightly, he realized that he was on the edge of a dock jutting out from the mainland. The majority of the structure had been destroyed by him thanks to his landing. Now he knew why he hurt so bad, Cross had just thrown him across the harbor.

After establishing where he was, he began to take stock on the damage his body had sustained. His right eye was swollen shut, his left arm dangled useless at his side, several ribs were cracked or broken, and his left leg had bone showing. Using his good arm and leg, Alex dragged himself off of the dock. It was a taxing effort, and he pulled himself up against the base of a lamp post in order to rest.

"Alex, look." He took the electric woman's cue and looked back toward Aang Memorial Island. A massive black and red humanoid figure was rising from the crater. It was several stories tall, with tendrils hanging from it's arms. He could only watch as the massive monster swatted the remaining airships from the sky.

"Is that Cross?"

"You know anyone else with a temper and power level like that?"

"But...how?"

"Do I look like I have any answers right now?" Alex watched as Cross smashed the fallen statue's head with his foot. With this done, he turned and began wading toward the city itself.

"Alex, get up, that thing is headed for the city." The electric user tried, but he cried out in pain and collapsed again. His body was too damaged to move, much less fight.

"Uh uh, you ain't getting out of this THAT easily." Tessa suddenly appeared next to him, kneeling on one knee. Rising to her full height, the electric woman placed one hand on his shoulder while raising the other to the light post overhead. Alex's body suddenly went rigid as he felt an electric current enter his body.

He screamed through gritted teeth as his body began the painful process of repairing itself. His eye shrunk back down to it's normal size, his ribs repaired and reattached themselves, and the bone in his leg slid back inside before the skin reformed itself over it. Alex felt every little detail, and it was pure agonizing torture. So intense was the pain that he saw spots dance before his eyes as he threatened to black out.

With that done, he slumped back against the lamp post and continued to allow the current to flow into him. Slowly, he felt his exhaustion and pain vanish as his reserves were restored. When he had a decent amount stored, Tessa allowed the current to stop. Alex got to his feet, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders.

"Sometimes I wonder which hurts more, getting the injuries or healing them," he said.

"I'm going to find Lucy, it'll take both of you to stop Cross," Tessa said, watching as the massive form finally reached the shoreline. He reached down and fired his tendrils into the ground. All over the city before him, vines raced forward, overtaking several buildings and roads.

"Make it quick, and then get somewhere safe," Alex replied. Tessa nodded once before turning into a stream of electricity and flowing into the lamp post. Reaching into his jacket, Alex produced a small brass flare gun and fired it toward the sky. A single red flare flew upwards before arcing and beginning it's fall back toward the ground.

A fog horn filled the air, and Alex turned to find an airship approaching him. Alex couldn't help but smile at the sight of the Kumano, it having been so long since he'd last seen it. The hatchway on the underside of the craft opened, revealing June standing with her arms crossed.

"Someone need a ride?" she called before tossing him a cable. Alex grabbed and was instantly pulled skyward. He'd had his breather, and now it was time to get back in the fight.

Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi stepped through the Portal and looked over the Spirit World for the first time in awe. The arch of light that was above them was a dazzling gold color. Nearby, they found Korra sitting on a boulder. Next to her, encased in stone up to his neck was Mercer. The man resembled a Halloween decoration with his hood and mask gone, leaving only a bald head, transparent skin, and glowing green skeleton behind.

"What in the name of all that is holy is that?" Bumi asked as they stopped before Korra. Mercer glared at him, or at least it seemed like he was glaring at him. He looked like he was doing that all the time without eyebrows.

"This is Mercer, Unalaq's right hand man," Korra replied.

"When I get out of here, little witch, I am gonna..." He was silenced as Korra flicked her wrist, casing the rock to rise up and cover his mouth.

"Korra, what happened?" Tenzin asked.

"Vaatu got loose and merged with Cross. They then ripped Raava right out of me and destroyed her. It's over, Tenzin, we lost," Korra said, her voice sounding depressed and on the verge of tears. Tenzin, however, didn't look like he was convinced as he stroked his goatee.

"Maybe not. There may still be a way we can reverse this," he said. Korra looked up at him skeptically.

"How?"

The Kumano was circling high above the Cross monster, it's crew watching as the Police airships, and now biplanes from the United Forces engaged it and tried to fight it off. Aside from his trick of unleashing a horde of vines into the city, Cross had yet to actually leave the harbor and walk amongst the buildings, something with Alex was thankful for. Once he crossed that threshold, there was no telling how many civilians would be caught in the crossfire.

"So what's the plan, sparkles?" June asked.

"Hit it till it dies?"

"Yeah, cause that's working out so well," the airwoman said, motioning toward a flight of biplanes what were dropping bombs on Cross with little to no effect.

"Spirits are impervious to most physical attacks. But they do have a certain weakness to electricity though," Alex replied. June shot a look toward him.

"You're not gonna..." The electric user smiled as he held his hands out to the side, allowing electricity to arc up and down his arms.

"Oh you are gonna."

"Someone's gotta get his attention," Alex said before he stepped out of the airship. Despite free falling for over a hundred feet, he took it in stride, using a constant downward flow of static energy to slow his decent. Landing on the roof of a waterfront building, he looked up at the towering red and black form above him. Cross' attention was elsewhere, focused on the airships circling overhead. Many of the craft had increased their altitude so they were beyond his reach. The few that were still close found themselves being toyed with, like a cat lazily playing with a toy tied to some string.

One of the airships dropped a bomb, which promptly exploded in Cross' face. Cross responded by letting out a billow of pain before firing that purple beam, causing the airship to explode into a ball of fire. Alex could only look on in horror as his rival turned the beam from one airship to the next, igniting them all. Not even the Kumano was spared as the civilian cargo airship was split and sent falling toward the city in two flaming halves.

Seeing June's airship being brought down was enough to make the Charged's blood boil. Turning to face Cross again, he brought his arms up and focused all of his power and concentration on the red and black giant. Bringing his hands together in two clenched fists, Alex unleashed the full power of the sky upon his rival.

Massive bolts of lightning chained down from the sky and into Cross. For the first time since he had taken this form, it seemed as if true damage and pain was being inflicted on him. Thunder roared, deafening people and shattering windows in the process. Cross withered under the constant stream of lightning, his voice moaning in pain as his form started to fall apart. Finally he collapsed, falling back into the harbor.

Alex had no choice but to release the flow of lightning. He fell to his knees, exhausted from the effort. Unlike anyone else, he had actually managed to wound this thing. The sound of water sloshing caught his attention, and he pushed himself to the buildings edge to see what was happening. Cross was getting back up, despite the smoldering holes that were in his form. Alex groaned at the sight. He was going to need the entire cities power supply to put Cross down permanently, maybe even more so.

A gleam of light in the sky caught his attention, causing him to take his eyes off the literal rising threat and see what was happening. Like a comet, another large figure slammed into Cross, sending the Dark Avatar skipping across the bay like a stone. As the new figure stood to it's full height, Alex couldn't believe his eyes.

It was Korra. Granted she was giant, and blue, and had her hair down. But it was Korra all the same. Alex just sat there, leaning against the building's edge completely dumbfounded. He knew that Korra as the Avatar was powerful, but he didn't think she was capable of doing something like this.

"Alex!" Turning his head, Alex found Lucy landing on the rooftop as well. Her body was surrounded by the swirling orange plasma.

"Bout' time you showed up," he said.

"I was having a hard time finding you until your little light show just now. You doing alright? Can you stand?" she asked. Alex nodded and wobbly pushed himself to his feet. Together, the two siblings stood side by side and watched as the two massive forms traded blows in the middle of the harbor.

"When did Korra learn to do that?"

"Hell if I know. I'd just settle for her kicking his ass," Alex said. Lucy smirked as she raised her hands to show off the plasma there.

"You know, lightning is plasma. You could give me a boost," she said.

"I'm drained, sis. I only got a little left," Alex said.

"It could save your girlfriend's life," Lucy said. Out in the harbor, Cross kneed Korra in the stomach before striking the side of her head with his fist, forcing her down toward the water.

"Fine then," he said, raising his hands toward his sister's. Lucy raised her right hand and pointed her index finger at Cross. The energy concentrated into a single point before shooting outward at a high rate of speed. A single orange beam, wrapped in blue lightning, shot forward.

PHEOW!

The beam crossed the harbor in the blink of an eye, striking Cross directly in the side of the head. An explosion erupted, the entirety of the fireball consuming everything on Cross above his shoulders. The beast fell backwards from the force of the impact. When the smoke cleared, it was evident that the attack had caused a lot of damage, as literally half of Cross' head was gone.

"Nice shootin' sis," Alex slurred before his vision went black and he collapsed. He was at his limit, and now his body would have to pay. He caught himself on the edge of the building and watched as giant Korra bent a pair of water streams up and around Cross' downed form. After a moment, they began to glow gold. Alex quickly realized that this was the purifying technique that Unalaq had used.

"No..." Cross moaned before his form began to disintegrate. Alex smiled as his rival turned into a stream of sparks being blown away by the wind. With that, he collapsed, his exhaustion finally catching up with him.

"Alex? Hey, Alex stay with me...Alex...Alex?

"WAKE UP!" Alex's eyes flew open, and he realized that he was no longer on a rooftop but rather in a bed, with Korra sitting on the edge smirking at her success.

"We've really got to stop meeting like this," he said with a tired groan.

"You're the one who keeps overexerting himself. You really need to stop that, cause one of these days you won't come back from it."

"Where are we?" he asked, ignoring her comment.

"Back on Air Temple Island. We won. That shot you and your sister pulled off was enough to turn the tide back in my favor," Korra answered.

"How did you..?" he asked, making a few hand gestures to indicate the form she had taken.

"I'm still not entirely sure to be honest. Between Mercer escaping and keeping the Portals open, it's been a rough week." Alex paused and blinked, rerunning what she had just said through his head again.

"You didn't take out Mercer?"

"He was being prepped to be moved to a United Forces facility when..."

"You should have killed him when you had the chance!" Alex snapped. Korra folded her arms and gave him a look.

"Well excuse me if I don't think killing is always the way to go."

"He's dangerous, Korra. Not just in ability but in mind. Markus Mercer is probably one of the most dangerous people on the planet, and you just let him go free!"

"I didn't let him do anything! We had him in custody and he escaped!"

"And the Portals? Don't get me started. Did you think any of your actions through? Or did you just roll the dice and think 'gee I wonder what will happen if I do this?'" he asked. Now Korra was fuming.

"I did what I thought was best for the world!" Alex sprung out of the bed and was nose to nose with her.

"What's best for it? Letting a psychopath get free and dousing it in Rift Energy, THAT'S what's best for the world?"

"Humans and Spirits can coexist, it was a mistake to keep the two worlds separate."

"Oh, open your eyes, Korra! Mercer got exactly what he wanted. Now there are going to be Charged popping up all over the world. People are going to take advantage of that, and it's all going to be your fault!" Alex was cut off as Korra suddenly slapped him. He remained standing there with his head turned, momentarily stunned. Slowly, he turned his head back to face her, his eyes burning with rage.

"Alex, I..."

"Don't." His voice was cold. The coldest she had ever heard. She realized that she had crossed a line, and nothing she could say at this moment would get through to him. Grabbing his hat and jacket off the back of a chair, he quickly put them on.

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"I'm going to find Mercer. And I'm going to do what you were too much of a coward to do," he answered before storming out the door. Korra felt nothing but cold as she watched him go. She grasped her upper arms in a self hug as she sank onto the bed, suddenly very afraid of the once hopeful future she'd had a vision for.

And that's it for Rolling Thunder. Honestly I'm just glad to finally be out of Book Two. So you might be asking, what is next for this series. Well, dear reader, I'll tell you. I should have the first chapter of the next installment out shortly, and there will also be a Halloween special released in October. Be sure to keep your eye out for both. I'll be sure to post a notice here when the next installment is published. Until then, remember to read, review, let me know what you liked or didn't like, and I'll see you all again soon!