Kuvira stared out the bedroom window, gazing over the water of Yue Bay towards the city. Even all the way from Air Temple Island, she could see the city streets clogged with people evacuating. They'd been at it all night. Now, close to noon, the evacuation might be close to halfway complete. As long as the pace continued steady like this, all remaining Republic City citizens would be safely out of any potential warzone by the time the Dragon Empire arrived.
A gentle hand pressed against her back. Turning her head, she noticed Korra standing behind her with a smile. "Hey, morning."
"Morning," Korra said, leaning in for a kiss. "You get any sleep last night?"
Kuvira hissed out a tired groan and rubbed her eyes. "Not a lot. You?"
"Probably not much more than you did," she muttered, with a lingering yawn. "Pretty hard to right now."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Kuvira looked back out the window. "If the plan with Shayu doesn't work, we're in for one heck of a fight."
"That's an understatement. People will die. A lot of people."
Kuvira went quiet, bowing her head in thought. So many potential lives on the line. Lives that might be saved, if they could take out Yula at the start. That was an easy fact to understand. So why did the thought of making her next suggestion bring her such pause? Spirits, she needed to do it. They'd already exhausted almost every other option. Glancing back at Korra, she said, "There is something I've been meaning to ask."
Korra brought a hand to her shoulder. "What is it?"
"I know you don't like to do it if you don't have to, but... couldn't you just go into the Avatar State and bring Yula down yourself? She may be powerful, but she's no Avatar." Even as she said it, a knife twisted in her gut. Guilty, conflicted. No easy way to rationalize asking her girlfriend to essentially ascend to godhood and murder someone.
Korra looked away, easing a deep sigh. No revulsion or anger in her expression. Instead, understanding. Contemplation. She had to have known why Kuvira asked it. As the Avatar, her duty was to maintain balance. Sometimes, the methods in doing so weren't always clean. "I could, if I had the opportunity. I doubt she's going to make it that easy. I can't just go rampaging through her army to find her, taking out who knows how many of her troops along the way. Even if I did, I still can't take on an entire army by myself, no matter how strong I am. Someone would get a lucky shot in eventually, and that's the end of me and the Avatar Cycle."
Kuvira rubbed her hand against Korra's back. "Yeah, I understand."
"If there's ever a chance to get her alone, though..." Korra closed her eyes and gave a slow nod. "Then yeah, I could beat her in the Avatar State no problem. But unless that happens, sending me after her probably wouldn't end well."
"I just wish there was something we could do to stop this without war," Kuvira muttered. "We've already lost Zaofu. I don't want Republic City to be next."
"I know," Korra said. "Neither do I. Shayu is our best hope right now."
"Here's hoping Yula hasn't completely lost it."
Korra gave one last look out the window, and led Kuvira by the hand towards the exit. "We should probably get going now. Asami just called with something she needs us to take care of before we head to City Hall. I'll explain on the way."
As they exited the women's dormitory, a call shouted at them from across the island. "Kuvira, wait up!"
Kuvira turned to the sound of the voice, raising a hand above her eyes to block the sun. She noticed two familiar, identical figures racing towards her from across the courtyard. "Wing, Wei, you haven't left yet?"
Ever since leaving from Zaofu, the Beifongs had been invited to live on Air Temple Island with Tenzin and the airbenders. She had assumed they would have already started evacuating with the rest of the city.
"Well, here's the thing," Wing said, as the twins approached. "See, we want to stay and help."
"What?" Kuvira blinked at them with lifted eyebrows. "Are you sure?"
"Uh, yeah," Wei replied, with an insistent tone. "That crazy empress chick who buried our home is on her way here. We're not about to run away when we could be doing something to help stop her."
Wing gave an affirmative nod and held up his fist. "We'll do whatever you need, Kuvira. We're ready."
"We're staying too," said a new voice.
Kuvira looked behind the twins to see another pair of figures approaching—Baatar Sr. and Huan. "Wait, but Dad—"
"If my boys want to remain behind to help, I can't stop them," Baatar said. "That doesn't mean I'm going to leave them, either. I'll be here for support."
She paused, shifting her focus to Huan. "You too?"
"Well I'm not going to evacuate by myself," Huan insisted, with an obvious shrug.
A bubble of warmth lifted in Kuvira's chest. Spirits knew she couldn't force any of them to leave if they didn't want to, no matter how much she might want otherwise. That didn't mean she couldn't be grateful for their support. Not to mention proud. Proud of their determination, and proud to call them her family. "Alright. Wing, Wei, if you want to help you can join Captain Hong Li down at City Hall. He and the rest of the security force will be joining Tenzin and the other airbenders soon on a special assignment."
Wing nodded. "We're on it."
"You can count on us," Wei affirmed.
"Dad, Huan, for now you should stay here on the island," she added. "Once the evacuation is finished, we'll probably be moving to a different base of operations. I'll let you know more then."
"Understood," Baatar replied.
Huan gave a lazy thumbs-up. "Whatever you say."
"And guys..." Kuvira beamed an appreciative smile, and leaned close to pull them in for a hug. "Thanks."
By the time Anraq and Azula arrived at City Hall, the world leaders and their associates had already gathered in the central meeting chamber. Asami and General Iroh both hunched over a map of Republic City, setting up pins around it to indicate troop formations. Tenzin, Hong Li, and Mako stood near a map of United Republic territory discussing battle plans, while Eska and Desna studied a map of Yue Bay, with various pins representing the United Forces blockade and both Water Tribe Navies.
Anraq marched around the central table, heading straight towards the remaining world leader studying a folder of documents near the back wall. As he approached, he gave a firm salute in greeting. "Chief Tonraq, sir."
Tonraq glanced at him, a flicker of recognition lifting in his gaze. "You're Anraq, right? Korra's friend."
"Yes, sir," he replied, with a nod. "Born and bred Southerner, too. I'd like to offer my services to you, if that's alright. Whatever you need."
"I see." Tonraq took a moment to examine him, sizing him up, and extended his hand. "Well, glad to have you. Right now, we could use some help setting up the minefield outside Yue Bay, if you'd like."
"Happy to do it, sir." Anraq gave his chief a strong handshake, and turned to Azula. "You want to come with, or will you be okay here a while?"
Azula rolled her eyes and waved off the comment. "Please, I'll be fine. Go play with your mines."
He chuckled, leaning close to give a brief kiss before parting. "See you again soon."
When Anraq was gone, Tonraq folded his arms across his chest and focused a glare at her. "Azula."
She stared back at him, furrowing her brow curiously. Oh right, they'd met before, hadn't they? "You're the Avatar's father, correct?"
"Yes. Korra." Tonraq's glare intensified, burning a hole through her. "You know, the woman you almost killed once?"
"Oh, right... Sorry about that." Azula shifted her stance with an awkward clear of her throat. Probably best if she left this man's presence as soon as possible. Something told her he didn't much care for her. No sense in subjecting herself to his hostile glaring. "Pleasure to meet you again, in any case. Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe the president needs me."
Even as she walked away, she could feel his eyes following her across the room. She ignored him. Let him glare. Not like he could change anything. Instead, she maintained focus on the President of the United Republic. General Iroh had since left to attend to other business, leaving Asami alone at the central table.
"President," she stated, planting her hands against her hips.
"Oh, Azula." Asami glanced up from the map of Republic City, pausing momentarily when she noticed Azula's outfit. "You look... fit for battle."
"Yes, well, best to be prepared," she said, with a simple shrug. "I highly doubt using Shayu to deter Yula is going to work, so when the inevitable happens and we go to war, I'll be ready."
"We'll all be ready," Asami insisted. "As ready as we can be, anyway."
"I do hope you've done a good enough job building up your defenses. Otherwise, the Dragon Empire will crush us."
"We've done everything we can so far." Asami looked back down at the map. "Evacuations should finish up by tonight, and after that the only thing left to do is wait for Yula's forces to arrive."
"And prepare what you're going to say to her when she gets here," Azula said, folding her arms across her chest. "If you insist on using Shayu against her, you need to do it right. Your negotiations must be perfect."
"I know." Asami bowed her head, heaving an exhausted breath. "We're working on that."
Azula tapped her fingers against her elbow, watching the president closely. "When you contact Yula, I should be there to help bargain."
Asami frowned, flicking a skeptical glance towards her. "And why would that be?"
"Because you're far too soft," she said. "The whole lot of you, actually. Yula will know you're bluffing if you try to make threats on her sister's life. Me, on the other hand? She knows what I'm capable of."
"About that..." Asami cleared her throat, turning to face Azula. "We're going to try not to threaten Shayu. I discussed it with the other world leaders, and we believe threatening her sister will only make Yula more hostile. Instead, we're hoping Shayu can convince her sister to leave."
Azula recoiled, an exasperated breath surging into her throat. "Are you serious? That will never work! Even if you do manage to get Shayu to act against her sister, Yula won't fall for it. She's already come this far. She's not going to turn around because someone asks her to, no matter who it is. Force is the only thing she understands right now. If you don't meet her with that force, she's going to steamroll right over the lot of you."
Asami shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. Either way, we have to try."
"No, you don't have to." Azula hardened a glare, taking a step towards the woman. This idiot had no idea what she was doing. "You want to, because you're too passive to do it the way you should. If anything, we should be the ones making the first attack and catching her by surprise. At least then we might actually have a chance. Instead, you're so keen on doing things peacefully that you're setting yourselves up for disaster. You're going to get your people killed, and your city destroyed!"
"With all due respect, Azula, I don't really think you're in a position to judge how I run my nation, or the decisions I make as a leader." Asami took a step closer, staring directly into Azula's eyes. "If I recall correctly, you had your chance at being a world leader, and look what happened. Your incompetence is what put us in this position in the first place. Yula was your making. Now we're trying to clean up your mess."
Azula faltered momentarily. There was certainly truth in those accusations. She'd already scolded herself for it so many times. Too many. Exactly why she had to push back now. With a harsh exhale, she refocused her glare, firm and unyielding. "You're right, I did make Yula what she is. That means I know how she operates far better than any of you do, and I'm telling you that nothing you say to her is going to make her back down. You're wasting your time with Shayu."
"I guess that's where we disagree. If there's even the slightest chance to end this without bloodshed, we have to take it."
Azula scoffed. "Fine, do it your way. Just don't come crying to me when this blows up in your face." With a flippant wave, she turned and marched away. "Have fun fooling yourself, President."
Asami watched the other woman leave with focused ire. When Azula was gone, she buried her face into her hands and heaved a deep groan. As if her exhausted headache hadn't already been bad enough, Azula had gone and made it ten times worse. Why in spirits name had they ever agreed to work with that woman? Even as she asked herself the question, her gut sank. She already knew why. As a favor, of course. To Anraq, to Korra, to Kuvira, and to Lord Zuko. All of them had vouched for Azula, and sure, maybe she wasn't as terrible as she used to be, but that didn't make working with her any easier.
"So, that sounded intense."
Asami blinked, lifting her head from her hands to see another woman standing in front of her. Her heart lifted with a swell of warmth. Spirits, now there was a much more welcome sight. "Oh, Sinn, how long were you standing there?"
"Long enough to catch the hostility," Sinn replied, with an awkward smile. "You alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just exhausted." Asami stood straighter and rubbed her eyes. "What about you? I thought you'd have evacuated by now."
Sinn nodded. "I will soon. I just wanted to say goodbye first, and... you know, wish you luck."
Asami smiled. "Thanks, you're sweet."
"I guess we'll have to take a rain check on our next date, huh?"
"Yeah, looks like it..." Asami held a hand to Sin's cheek and leaned in close for a kiss. "I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too." Sinn smiled, wrapping her fingers around Asami's hand in gentle embrace. "Just be safe, alright?"
"I will."
Kuvira stared down the hospital corridor with a frown. "Are you sure this is going to work?"
Korra sighed, shaking her head. "No, but Asami asked us to try, so we're going to try."
"Then you'd better get going."
"Wait," she said, lifting a curious brow at her girlfriend, "aren't you coming?"
"Uh, no..." Kuvira muttered, averting her gaze. "Considering I'm the one who put her in a wheelchair, that's probably not a good idea."
"Oh, right..." Korra mentally scolded herself. Stupid. Should have considered that before asking Kuvira to come here. "Guess it's just me, then."
"You'll do fine. You're the Avatar, after all. If anyone can convince her, it's you."
"Here's hoping." Korra sucked in a deep breath, working up the courage to make her way down the hallway. The hospital room was easy enough to identify, being the only one with police officers stationed outside the door. She gave the men on a duty a nod in greeting, and they stepped aside. One more breath to steady her nerves, and she knocked on the door, peering inside. "Shayu?"
The girl sat near the window, gazing outside at the crowded streets below. She didn't so much as twitch at the sound of her name, remaining still and solemn in her wheelchair. "What do you want?"
"I just want to talk," Korra said, closing the door behind her. "That's all."
"Come to tell me how horrible my sister is, just like everyone else?" Shayu maintained her stare out the window, still not turning around.
Korra made her way across the room and pulled up another chair to sit next to the girl. "No, I'm actually here to ask for your help."
Shayu glanced at her. What had been a sour expression of defiance melted into stunned surprise, as recognition flickered in her eyes. "Wait... You're the Avatar."
"Yes, I am."
Shayu looked away and bowed her head, pressing her fingers against her eyes. "Oh... I see."
Korra leaned closer. "Is everything okay?"
"It's just..." Shayu inhaled a deep breath, fighting back an oncoming sob. "If you're here to see me, then I guess Yula really is the bad guy, isn't she? I really thought she wanted to help people, but she isn't, is she?"
Korra eased out a quiet sight. Apparently, Shayu had already given the situation a good deal of thought. "Look, I don't know your sister, or why she's doing what she's doing. All I know is that a lot of people could get hurt when she gets here tomorrow."
Shayu tightened her fingers in her hair, eyes shut tight. In spite of her best efforts to hide them, tears leaked out behind her lashes. "Did she really kill Lord Zuko?"
"Yes... I'm afraid so."
A wailing groan burst from Shayu's lips. She smacked her hands against the side of her head and sank deep into her chair. "How was I such an idiot? Why didn't I see it? Why did I go along with this?" She hiccuped, and coughed out a sob. Tears flowed harder, streaming down her cheeks. "I thought... I thought Yula was doing good. She convinced me. And Zaofu... She just destroyed Zaofu. People lost their homes. People died because of her!"
Korra gently rubbed her hand in circles along Shayu's back. "She's your family. Your sister. I don't know what it's like to have a sibling, but I know what it's like to love someone, to love your family. You'd never want to believe that the people closest to you could do terrible things. No one's blaming you, Shayu."
"But what am I supposed to do now? I don't know what..." A quivering, solemn breath fluttered out of her throat. "I looked up to her. I thought... she was such a sweet person, and kind, and funny, but now she's... I don't know what to do!"
"You can help us."
Shayu sniffled back another sob, tilting a confused stare towards Korra. "What? How?"
"Whatever Yula's done, she's still your family," Korra said, "and I'm sure she still loves you. I think she'll listen to you."
Another sniffle, and she rubbed her eyes in attempts to clear them. "Listen to me how?"
"You could get her to stop her campaign, stop her from invading the other nations. Get her to see that what she's doing isn't helping anyone. Get her to stop."
Shayu stared at her, eyebrows twisting with thought, considering the request. Her expression drained, and she looked away, choking down another sob. "No, I... I don't think I can. She won't listen to me. She's an empress, and I'm... I'm just me."
"You're her sister." Korra reached forward and wrapped a gentle touch around Shayu's hand. "You can do this. You can save a lot of lives. Please. Will you try?"
Shayu's fingers instinctively tightened around Korra's, accepting the reassurance. Still fighting to hold her tears at bay, she sucked in a deep breath and slowly nodded. "Okay... I'll try."
Night had already fallen when the herd of flying bison broke through the clouds. Dozens of bison in all, each belonging to a different member of the Air Nation. Each wearing a saddle packed with as many passengers as they could carry. A dozen metalbenders to each bison, both from Zaofu's security force and the Republic City police force, plus the bison's airbender partner. Oogi and Tenzin led the group, followed close behind by Pepper and Jinora, Juicy and Opal, and Lefty and Kai. Ikki followed next in line with her new companion Juniper, while Meelo and his bison Comet flew in formation next to her. Bumi brought up the rear, sitting atop his bison partner Sarge.
Tenzin guided Oogi lower in the sky, as they neared their targets several hundred feet below them. "We're almost in position, everyone. Get ready."
Hong Li peered over the edge of the saddle, looking down at the Dragon Empire airships. "That's their air fleet?"
"It's massive," Wing muttered, joining the security force captain at the edge of the saddle.
Wei also gazed over the edge, watching with wide eyes. "How many airships do you think are down there?"
"I'm counting at least fifty transports, another fifty bombers, and at least a dozen smaller cruisers," Wing said. "Too many."
Wei frowned, sinking back into the bison saddle. "There's no telling how much damage they could do if they attack Republic City."
"That's why we're here, to make sure that doesn't happen," Hong Li stated. He pulled out a small spyglass and extended it, lifting it to his eye for a better look at the air fleet below. Each airship flew level with each other in neat formation. That made their job easier. "Fortunately, these particular airships are exactly as General Iroh described them to us. No viewing decks on top, with passenger quarters solely at the bottom of each vessel. Because of their size, they won't be able to see us coming from above."
Tenzin raised an arm and gestured to the other airbenders behind him. On command, every bison in formation descended through the sky at a steady rate towards the airships. "Does everyone know the plan?"
"Yeah, we got it," Wing replied. "The airbenders will guide us into position above the fleet, while we rappel down on our cables and board the tops of the airships, two metalbenders to each."
"Once we're aboard, we sit tight and wait," Wei added. "If and when the fleet makes an attack when they reach Republic City, that's when we strike. Should be simple enough for a group of metalbenders to wreck a bunch of metal aircraft."
"Good," Tenzin said. "We'll start from the back of the fleet and work our way forward. Everyone ready?"
Hong Li stood up and gave a salute, followed by the other dozen or so metalbenders in the saddle. "We're ready."
