In spite of the determination Korra had felt the night before, the battle had not gotten off to a promising start. Kuvira's army hadn't even had to engage Republic City's defenders; a few blasts from the spirit canon and President Raiko had thrown in the towel with his usual lack of backbone, even agreeing to turn her over to Kuvira.

Of course, Korra had no intention of going so quietly. She had slipped away from the rest of the troops before anyone could come looking for her, instead making her way to the factory where Asami was manufacturing her hummingbird suits. When she walked inside, though, she realized that Raiko wasn't the only one who was frightened. Tenzin and the airbenders, Suyin and her children, and the rest of "Team Avatar" were all there, and as she looked over their faces, Korra could see a great deal of fear. They're all looking to you, she realized. You have make them strong.

"Raiko's surrendered," she stated bluntly. "It's down to us now."

Bolin was among the more agitated people present. He gesticulated wildly as he asked, "How are we supposed to fight an entire army, a mecha giant, and that crazy weapon?"

Fortunately, her mate was keeping her calm somewhat better, for which Korra was grateful. There wasn't time to comfort Asami now, but she wasn't sure she would've been able to stop herself. "We can't fight it head on but maybe we can cripple it," Asami said. "Zhu Li, when you were spying on Kuvira, did you learn anything about that metal monster?"

Zhu Li shook her head. "I had no idea they were even building it."

Varrick's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Hmph. I guess Baatar Jr is a better inventor than I thought." He paused for a second before his face darkened and he added. "Don't tell him I said that."

Korra didn't bother engaging with that remark, because a sudden inspiration had struck her. "That's it!" she exclaimed. "If Baatar Jr built the mecha, he'll know how to take it down. I say we capture him and get him to talk." Tenzin murmured something she couldn't quite make out, and Korra insisted, "I know it's a long shot but it's the only chance we have and…"

Tenzin cut her off with a nod. "Korra, I'm in."

For an instant, Korra was surprised by his words, but then she smiled. Be sure of yourself and others will be too. It was a bit of wisdom she'd picked up from one of her past lives, and it seemed to be true in this instance. When she came back to Republic City, almost everyone else had doubted her, but maybe that had as much to do with her own lack of faith in herself as with her past failures. "We'll need a stealth team of airbenders to get in and out of Baatar's airship unnoticed," she said, "Bumi, Jinora, Kai, you're with me and Tenzin."

The three she had selected all nodded their acceptance, but before they could get moving, Melo protested, "What about me?"

Korra gave him a sympathetic smile before kneeling down and delivering one the more unusual pieces of strategic thought she suspected an Avatar had ever had to give. "Sorry, buddy. This mission counts on everyone being as silent as possible, and your farts are just too much of a wild card."

A look of outrage appeared on Melo's face. "I can be quiet!" he insisted, but his point had barely been delivered before being undercut. A long, loud gaseous emission hit all of their nostrils with unpleasant force, and he conceded, "Okay. Point taken."

Korra turned to leave along with the airbenders, but not before sending a brief, reassuring glance in Asami's direction. It was hard to be separated from her mate in the midst of a battle like this, especially after what they had shared the night before, but the steady smile Asami returned to her made it a little bit easier. Do what you need to, it said, and Korra resolved anew to do just that.

The extraction hadn't proved to be very difficult. Their team had been on and off of the airship with Baatar in tow before anyone knew they were there, but as Korra looked at their prisoner, bound to a chair inside of Asami's factory, she wasn't sure that the next stage of their plan was going to be as simple. Baatar's eyes were determined rather than afraid, and his chi was unwavering despite being surrounded by so many enemies.

"You've made a terrible mistake," the omega growled. "Once Kuvira finds out I'm missing, you're all done for."

Korra crossed her arms, giving Baatar a stern look. "That's why, before she finds out, you're going to tell us how to stop that mecha giant, or else."

"Or else what?" Baatar demanded.

Don't make me do this. Korra's eyes flashed with white light as she allowed her anger to guide her into the Avatar state. At least that wasn't a problem anymore. Not since facing Zaheer. She felt a surge of strength run through her, and with one hand, she took hold of Baatar's ropes and lifted him off the ground, chair an all.

Unfortunately, her display of power didn't have the desired effect. "You won't hurt me," Baatar declared. "I know an empty threat when I see one." He's right. I'm not Kuvira, and I won't hurt a helpless prisoner in order to beat her. The light faded from Korra's eyes as she let the Avatar state slip away, and she set Baatar's chair down with a growl of frustration. "Was this your best idea?" he laughed contemptuously. "You've already lost, only you haven't accepted it yet."

The arrogance and anger that mixed in his voice drew his mother's attention. Suyin stepped out from the group, and turned to Korra. "Let me talk to him," she said. Korra could hear the distress behind her request, the need to find out what was driving her son to such extremes. She gave a nod, and Suyin knelt in front of Baatar, bringing the two of them eye to eye.

"Baatar…" Suyin begun, but before she could say more, the omega cut her off.

"If you think I'm going to spill all my secrets to you, mother," he spat, "You're sadly mistaken. You don't give orders to me anymore."

"Why are you doing this?" Suyin asked, sounding more like a distressed parent than a world leader trying to win a war. "I know that when you joined Kuvira, your goal was to better the world but this is madness."

The accusation didn't make Baatar give an inch. "It's madness to let others take what's yours and accept it blindly. The United Republic belongs to us and we're taking it back."

"But at what cost?" Suyin demanded. "How many people have to lose their lives before Kuvira is satisfied?"

Baatar leaned forward in the chair, pushing against his bonds. "It doesn't have to cost any lives if you would all just surrender," he insisted. "The only thing that Kuvira and I want is a united Earth Empire."

Suyin's eyes narrowed and her head dipped. When she spoke, her voice was filled with grief. "I don't know what I did to hurt you, but whatever it was, I'm sorry. When you left Zaofu, it broke my heart and our family has never been the same since. Please, Baatar. Stop all of this and come home. We want you back with us."

Baatar's face softened slightly, but his answer wasn't any more helpful for it. "Kuvira is my family now. My home is with her."

Tears began to form in Suyin's eyes, but though Korra felt terrible for the other alpha, she couldn't focus on that. The reverence and devotion in Baatar's voice when he spoke about Kuvira had given her an idea. Turning to Tenzin, she said, "We're going about this all wrong."

Her mentor's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, Korra?"

"I mean, this isn't how to get through to him, but I think I know what is. I need you to get out of here now. All of you."

As she spoke, she summoned every ounce of authority she could manage, her chi flaring powerfully. It had the desired effect. The rest of the group began to filter out of the room. Asami gave her a nod, assuring Korra that she trusted her judgment, and Tenzin did the same, but no one objected. They might not have known what she was planning, but they were willing to put their faith in her. Okay, then. I'd better not let them down.

When the room was empty save for her and the prisoner, Baatar asked, "What is this? Do you think I'll believe that you'll torture me if no one's there to see you do it? I don't buy that for a second, so don't waste your time."

"No. I'm not going to torture you. Not exactly. But that doesn't mean you'll enjoy it." Korra took a deep breath. This wasn't going to be a fun conversation for her either, but just maybe, it would get through to him. "Baatar," she began, "What do you think happened with me and Kuvira at Zaofu after we fought?"

Korra could hear the pride in his voice as he said, "She beat you, Avatar. Kuvira beat you and you ran away with your tail between your legs."

She raised an eyebrow. "And is that all that happened?"

For the first time, doubt began to creep onto Baatar's face. "Of course it is. What else could you possibly be talking about?"

"I'm talking about us having sex. Me and Kuvira." His eyes went wide and Korra felt a twinge of her old shame. She fought it down. That was in the past. She wasn't the weak, pathetic woman who had succumbed to Kuvira on that dusty plain. Now, she was the Avatar again, and she needed to find a way to save Republic City, no matter how awkward.

"You had sex with Kuvira? I don't believe it. I won't."

She leaned in closer, letting Baatar look into her eyes. "We did. It's not something I'm proud of, but it really happened and you need to accept that."

Whether it was the expression on her face or her words, she must have cracked the shell of his denial, because Baatar's face fell as he stammered, "But… But why would she do that? After everything we've been through together?"

"Because even after she beat me, Kuvira wanted to humiliate me even more. To prove her dominance over the Avatar once and for all."

"I, I didn't know," he insisted. "But what about you? Why did you…"

His voice trailed off and Korra sighed. In that moment, she felt a strange kinship with the omega. Kuvira had taken advantage of both of them, albeit in different ways, and that was why she was confidant she could get him to see the light. "I was at a really low point after the fight," she admitted, "And Kuvira exploited that. That's what this crusade has done to her. It's made it so that her power is the most important thing in the world to her. More important than the damage it's going to do, or the lives it's going to cost. Even more important than you. Can't you see that?"

Baatar was reeling, but he wasn't quite ready to give in yet. "It's almost over," he insisted. "Once we conquer the United Republic, the wars will be finished and things can settle down again."

"Do you really believe that?" she asked. "This isn't about Zaofu or the United Republic. This is about Kuvira trying to fill some void in herself, and no amount of territory can do that. Once this is done, she'll find some new insult that needs to be avenged or another enemy she has to attack. The only way this ends is if she makes peace with herself."

Korra knew she had him. Even before Baatar said anything back, she could feel it in the collapse of his aura. "What do you want me to do?" he finally asked.

"To help me end this. Even if you don't care about this city, do it to stop Kuvira before you lose her for good."

Baatar blinked, trying to force back the tears she could see starting to form in the corners of his eyes. "All right," he said at last, "Give me the radio."

Korra picked it up the transmitter and walked back over to Baatar in silence. There was nothing more than needed to be said. He gave her the frequency that the mecha transmitted on, and she entered it before pressing the device up to his ear. Several long seconds passed, and then she heard the voice that had intruded into her thoughts far too many times in the past few weeks.

"Who is this?" Kuvira demanded. "How did you get this frequency?"

"Kuvira, it's Baatar. I've been captured. My airship was ambushed and I was taken by force. Korra…" He paused, the words no easier for him to say than they had been for her. "Korra told me what happened between the two of you at Zaofu."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kuvira said. Her voice was icy, and hearing it sent a chill down Korra's spine. It reminded her of the contempt Kuvira had spat at her after she beat her, when they were fucking. But it didn't break her. That was then. She had come a long way, and she wouldn't let Kuvira keep power over her, any more than Zaheer.

"Yes, you do," Baatar insisted, a frantic note creeping into his voice. "Don't deny it. Not after all the promises we made to each other."

"This is not the time to talk about such things," Kuvira replied flatly, unwilling to show any hint of her real feelings. "Is the Avatar with you now?"

"Yes," he confirmed, "Everyone's here. Don't worry; they're not hurting me. But Kuvira, you have to stop this. What happened at Zaofu… I'm afraid you're slipping out of control. This drive to take over the United Republic is pushing you to go too far. Forget about it. We have our empire. Let's go back home and get married. The only thing that matters is that we're together for the rest of our lives. Isn't that what you told me? Don't you still believe it?"

"You're right," Kuvira said, suddenly and unexpectedly. "This city isn't worth sacrificing our life together. I love you, Baatar. I'll give the order to halt the advance, and then Korra and I can negotiate a withdrawal."

The call ended and Korra breathed a sigh of relief. Could this really be the end of it?

"Just one second," Korra said as she undid the last of the ropes that had bound Baatar. Everyone else had filtered back in the room, and though many of them seemed confused that Baatar had helped put a stop to the conflict, she could see the relief on their faces. Tenzin and Bolin and both congratulated her, and even Suyin's mood seemed to be improving.

I would've thought I'd have to fight Kuvira again, she thought, But maybe I've found a way to restore balance without violence for once. That would be a nice change.

"As soon as we work out terms with Kuvira, I'll let you out of here," she added as Baatar stood at up out of the chair.

Suyin looked as if she was about to say something to her son, but before she could, Mako spoke. He had been standing by the huge row of windows that looked out over the city, but now his gaze had focused in on something more specific. "Guys!" he yelled. "Kuvira must have our location. She's pointing that weapon right at us."

All around the room, relief was turning to shock, but the look on Baatar's face was particularly heartbreaking. He gasped, and terror was mixed in with utter devastation. "No! " he insisted in disbelief, "She wouldn't!"

But she would. As Korra followed Mako's eyes, she could already see the mecha's canon aimed in their direction, the tell-tale purple glow forming inside it. "Everyone out! Now!" she barked, and then the light leaped out towards them, and all they could do was run.

So, for the endgame, I'm going to be covering some of what happens on the show, but I don't want to just repeat all of it. Korra using what happened back in Chapter 1 to get through to Baatar seemed like a fun change to include though. Hope you enjoyed it.