Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar world, that is all owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Chapter 27

Loss

In the suburbs of Kang City, the youngest daughter of three children sat in front of a television. Watching black and white cartoons flicker across the screen. A heroic Dai Li agent defeating comical villain after villain. The girl's parents usually disallowed her to watch them. Preferring old movers they had lying around that weren't banned. Said parents were busy with her siblings however. Unable to stop the girl with long black hair from watching.

"Rina" Her siblings shouted, jumping down the peeling stairs. Her brother, the oldest of the three yanked the door open. Ushering her sister outside while warily glancing upstairs. "Let's go before they catch up!" Rina's brother called, but the girl shook her head.

"Mama and Papa said not to go outside by yourself." Rina turned down with a huff.

"Suit yourself, little sister!" Her brother shrugged before running off into the neighbourhood. Turning back to the screen, Rina watched a few more shorts before hearing her parents charge down the stairs. The girl quickly turned the television off and ran to the dining table for breakfast.

"They left." Rina immediately ratted her siblings out. Her parents shared a look, before racing outside to catch the two kids. Rina innocently snickered, imagining all the trouble her brother and sister would get in when the four returned home. In the meantime, the girl waddled back to the television, happily flicking it on.

None of them could've known of the chaos that would soon erupt.

It was the day of the Resistance's final major operation. They would retake Kang City and many of the smaller villages, and once that was settled, Ba Sing Se. No more would they hide in the shadows. It was time to take back their homes from the Dai Li's possession. The night before, the base was a disarray of review, final checking and preparation. Phantoms of victory invigorated the air, filling their chests and boots with adrenaline.

Wikilow, Elsi, and Arlo remained at the base. All prepared in their own ways. Arlo was working in the workshop, as he along with Yulan would be acting as field maintenance. Elsi would help with evacuating citizens from the soon to be battleground city. And so practised her air bending in a small course she and a few others rigged up. As for Wikilow…

It had taken a good amount of effort to locate an empty cave. Almost all of them were being used by someone, either to train, or preparing for the worst with family. Yet the Avatar found one, one of the highest caves in the system, and the smallest. But, it worked for his training.

Wikilow had two main roles during the operation. One, taking down any and all Dai Li agents seen. Two, using the Avatar's reputation as morale boost for the citizens of Kang City. Assuring them that they would be fine, to follow the Resistance's instructions and the such. It was beneficial to them that the rumours surrounding Wikilow's sleeper status had settled. And that the ones surrounding his Resistance work had spread like wildfire. It would be Wikilow's first public appearance.

Earth, Fire, Air, and Water.

The Avatar cycled through his routine as usual. Then again, and again. He had sparred with most, if not all of the Resistance's best fighters. He was satisfied with his skill level. Afterwards, Wikilow attempted bending with person again. It still wasn't his top priority, but he still wished to master the art.

"Hey Wikilow, still training?" Elsi asked, entering the cave while rubbing her sore arms. An exhausted Gale on her shoulder.

"Correct, I am trying to 'bend with feeling' right now." The Avatar explained without stopping. Elsi blinked, surprised.

"Huh? You're still doing that?" The air bender questioned.

"Correct. But, the final result is unsubstantial." Wikilow answered with a slow nod, attentive to every single one of her words. Elsi gave a small, light laugh in response.

"You'll get there one day, Wikilow." Elsi encouraged, smiling. Despite the rushed atmosphere of the past few weeks leading up to the operation, things were oddly peaceful between Wikilow and Elsi. The Avatar found himself enjoying the short time they had together, a word he was finding easier to describe. Wikilow seldom smiled though, but that was Wikilow. There was something about Elsi that had grown, though the word was lost to him. But, they were happy.

Others had noticed the change. Particularly Arlo who cheered from the sides, teasing Elsi in private. The Beifong family who fondly looked on, awaiting for something more to happen.

"Am I interrupting something?" The cirque mischievously questioned, entering the cave minutes later. A newly developed stun gun strapped to the fire bender's back. Elsi shyly dashed her head away at his remark. To which Arlo gave a boisterous laugh.

"You are not." Wikilow informed, finally pausing his exercises. "Are you prepared for the operation?" The Avatar asked both of his friends.

"Best as I can." Elsi replied while Arlo offered a cheeky grin.

"Good." Wikilow stated, satisfied. He trusted his friends to be able to handle themselves in their given roles.

"To think, this could all be over in just a few weeks." Arlo pondered out loud, leaning against the cool stone wall. "I can't believe how fast time flies. It feels like yesterday we met in Avatar Korra park." The fire bender said, amazed.

"It has been one year, three months, and two days." Wikilow informed.

"Sounds about right." Elsi chuckled.

"Correct." The Avatar said in turn. Arlo grew a more thoughtful expression, hands behind his head.

"…What happens after all of this? When and if we win and it all settles down?" The cirque wondered.

"There is already a plan for how to manage the removal of the Dai Li." Wikilow stated, tilting his head.

"After that though." Arlo clarified. A pregnant silence followed, before their resident air bender spoke.

"I don't know actually." Elsi wistfully replied, taking a short glance at Wikilow. "But, I got a few ideas." She said, hopeful for the future.

The Resistance spread themselves out throughout Kang City. Waiting in trucks and alleys, acting as inconspicuous as possible. The only thing they needed was the signal. And when rockets launched themselves into the afternoon sky, the operation began. It was unfortunate that they couldn't take the fight to an open field, but the Dai Li would never leave a city under guarded. The Dai Li were ruthless, not caring whether citizens were injured or not. They tore down skyscrapers and roads, smashed cars and more to bring the Resistance down. People screamed, fleeing for their lives and to escape the destructive battle.

A horrible, but necessary evil.

Arlo and Yulan raced down Kang City's centre area. Ducking under flung debris and earth. Jumping over rubble. They ran from group to group, fixing what needed fixing.

"Catch!" Yulan shouted, throwing the fire bender a wrench. Arlo caught up and finished his repairs, shoving the equipment into the fighter's arms.

"Next group, let's go!" Arlo yelled back, hopping over an open manhole. His partner wordlessly followed his lead as they turned a corner. Yulan swiftly knocked a lone agent out with her baton while they sprinted. When encountering a larger unit, Arlo immediately blinded the agents. After which the two engineers stunned them unconscious.

They ran as fast as their legs permitted them too. Faster then the wind that howled.

Maybe if they had only been a little bit faster…

Wikilow by far was dealing with the most agents. He had long entered the Avatar State and plowed through them. He hit one, two, three on the back of the fits in an aerial swoop. Rolling on cracked ground, he swept the legs out from an entire squad with wind before pushing them against earthen walls. Sending more rock flying and knocking them out.

Another agent tried to chi block him. But Wikilow spun around and kicked them to the ground, quickly paralyzing the agent.

One Dai Li agent attempted to threaten Wikilow with a hostage in their haste. A petrified child wiggling in their grasp. Before either could blink, Wikilow had thrown them apart as he dealt with the agent. Turning, the Avatar unleashed a lightning charged water whip at a row of agents, shocking them. He then used that same whip, which was not touching him to freeze the agents in place.

The last remaining agent in the area desperately bended the remains of a car at Wikilow. Metal parts sharpening as they sailed toward him and the child. He easily blocked the attack with a thick wall. Creating a metal coil from the remains which Wikilow used to wrap around the agent and slam into a pillar. Scanning the area, he was satisfied to see all the opponents out cold.

"…Mister… are you the Avatar?" The child, a little boy curiously asked. Tugging on Wikilow's uniform with their dirtied hand.

"Correct." Wikilow calmly answered, escorting the boy to safety. Two adults, obviously the boy's parents ran out and embraced the kid.

"Thank you, mister Avatar!" The boy called as Wikilow sprinted off to find more agents. That was one of the few times he had to actually speak with someone. It turns out that just seeing the Avatar pummelling the Dai Li was proof enough for people. Wikilow's glowing white eyes were a dead giveaway to his identity. So, when he located a larger group of agents. He would exit the Avatar State and pretend to be a normal Dai Li agent and get close. His uniform had another use for once. Unfortunately, they had his face memorized for this very situation, and so it only worked from afar. There was also the awkward moment when a random Resistance member would mistake him for the enemy and attack Wikilow.

But things were going well to plan.

Wikilow was making good, efficient progress.

Maybe if he had only been better…

Hark was the lone engineer in the workshop back at the cave base. Two guards pointing stun guns at his back while he worked. For the obvious reason that he might betray them again, Hark had been left at the base. Along with families of Resistance members and those left behind to maintain the base. However, he was tasked with surveying camera feeds the Resistance had set up throughout Kang City.

As his guards communicated to the field scouts. Hark could see the rapid progress the Resistance was making. A bittersweet feeling flowed through him.

It looked like their fears wouldn't come to fruition. That they would be defeated by the Dai Li and labelled as horrible terrorists. In that case, they would've used what remained of the feeds as a defence. Which showed the Dai Li's lack of empathy toward their own citizens. But in the current scenario, where they were looking to win. It would make a nice historical recording of their rebellion.

Hark briefly wondered what would become of him in the aftermath. Would the Resistance continue to imprison him? Most likely, maybe Yulan could argue for him. The camera feeds were just reinforcing the true Dai Li to him. Permanently extinguishing any lingering hope he had for them. The ashes were made of Hark's guilt.

One factor of the Dai Li pulled apart a house while fighting a Resistance pocket. Hark cringed, averting his eyes. It was an especially slow fight, the Resistance coming out victorious, but with few alive. As the survivors stumbled out of the wrecked neighbourhood. The rescue units rushed in, quickly taking them away to safety. Hark recognized Elsi on the screen, carefully securing an elderly man who had been caught in the crossfire.

The Resistance left the damage. The bodies of fallen agents scattered about.

On other screens Hark viewed similar scenarios. One house had collapsed during the struggle. Both sides neutralizing each other and leaving nothing behind. Two long, black haired kids ran up, screaming as they hit the ruined abode. But, they themselves collapsed against the walls. However, a different Resistance group showed up and pulled them away from the scene.

Hark looked away again, not seeing one of the presumed dead Dai Li agents crawl away and hide.

Maybe if he had only watched a bit longer…

A flash of red and metal. A spear is wielded against the Dai Li.

Elsi arrived at the Resistance's designated safe zone, where they were taking the injured. She gently set the old man down on a dissolved cot. The elder's head was badly bleeding. As a healer rushed toward him. The air bender backed away respectively, she prepared herself to head back out. But, paused when another group ran in. Dragging two unconscious children behind them.

Trusting the others, Elsi left anyways.

Hours later, the air bender collapsed against a tree for a short break, panting. She was tired from the constant back and forth from carrying people. It was times like those that Elsi wished she had Wikilow's stamina. It was loud in the safe zone, but she could hear the high yells.

"NO!" The long haired kids from earlier screamed, as they tried to run away.

"It's not safe back there!" One of the Resistance members tried to say, but the kids wouldn't listen. The two were limping, and had red scratches and blotches all over their bodies. However, they didn't seem to notice the pain.

"Our parents are still there! Our little sister!" The girl shouted through sobs.

"You've been out for a few hours. Please, calm down." Someone else tried to say.

"Rina's only seven! We have to go!" The boy yelled, wincing when trying to move his arm. Elsi blinked, listening. Despite her exhaustion she rose, walking toward the kids. "…Go! Please go find them!" The boy begged now, pointing at the city. Gently, Elsi knelt down to their eye level.

"Hey… I'll try and find your family." She soothed, nodding at the other members.

"Is that a good idea?" One of them asked, unsure.

"I can make a few more rounds." Elsi confidently assured. "I'll at least check it out." She whispered later, sympathetic for the children's plight. The girl choked out the area of where their family probably was. Then to her surprise, hugged her.

"Thank you…" The girl muttered, repeating it again and again with her brother. Elsi offered a wry smile in turn. In retrospect, there were many other people who could have gone out. But, she wanted to anyways. There was something about the scene in front of her. Something that snagged and tugged at her heart. Something familiar that Elsi vividly remembered, that she wanted to personally ensure didn't happen again while she could help it.

It was foolish…

Softly prying the children off, Elsi began making her way back into Kang City. However, for a second she froze in her tracks. A cold, ominous chill creeping up her spine. It was as if she had stepped back into the Southern Water Tribes. But, Elsi shook it off, continuing her way.

Maybe if she had turned back…

The air bender made her way to a ruined neighbourhood. Every single house horrifically demolished, the bodies of Dai Li agents still. Blood met dirt around her. Gulping, Elsi pressed forward, counting the wreckages as she passed. Eventually at the sixteenth 'house' she found an identical scene to the rest. This street had taken one of the more severe beatings for sure. Elsi stepped on top of the wreckage, and carefully listened exclusively inside.

It took a few long minutes that they normally couldn't afford. But she heard it, breathing.

"…Hello? Is anyone there?" Elsi quietly called out, then again but more loudly. She received no response. Another chill crawled up her spine but she beat it down. "They're unconscious… if I could just, get all of this out of the way…" She mumbled, face falling. There was no way she could physically lift it all. As for bending, it would be a monumental effort. Elsi hesitated, doubting her abilities. Hints of fear clouding her mind for a moment. The air bender looked around, there was no one but her and Gale, who flew around the area.

"…" She could still hear the light, ragged breaths below.

Elsi had to try.

Taking a deep breath, the air bender danced through the stances and forms. The wind and air howling as the rubble creaked. Slowly, but surely. It began to move. Planks were lifted, rocks were rolled. What couldn't do either was picked up by the windstorm. Elsi instinctively squeezed her eyes shut, bur forced them to stay open. Her hands and lip trembled. Gale silently supported her, excitedly flapping their wings.

"Just a little longer! Come on!" She mentally screamed, gasping. A large hole became clear, some sort of basement. And three figures were visible. A little girl and two adults. "Yes!" Elsi gasped, watching their chests move up and down. It was a miracle they were alive. Being in just the right position to have not been completely crushed. The air bender forced herself to lift them up and away to the ground. Before finally, falling to the ground with the wreckage.

Unknown to her, the sound awoke someone else nearby…

Elsi lightly shook the little girl, but she didn't wake up. Sighing, Elsi resolved to make her way back to the safe zone with the family. Or try and hide them if she couldn't make it. She certainly couldn't get anyone else that day.

A cough.

Elsi ducked, narrowing missing a large boulder thrown her way. Looking up, she saw a single Dai Li agent deliriously stumble toward her. Uniform torn and bloodied. Something out of a nightmare. Face a mix of shock and anger.

"Just… die…" The male agent muttered, hurling another boulder at her. Elsi jumped out of the way, seeing how the rock collided with the wreckage. Sweat rolling down her forehead, as she glanced from the clearly unstable agent to the family. Elsi grit her teeth, and sprinted away from them. She knew she had to deal with the agent, lest the family become casualties.

Elsi sent a torpedo of wind at the agent, which broke through their earthen wall defence. The agent gathered the pieces up, heavily panting. He flung them all at once, which Elsi parried back with a swirl of wind. The agent dropped to the ground to avoid the attack, not even trying to catch themselves. Though she hit his shoulder with a low blow. The agent shakily stood as she readied a shaky aerial attack. Elsi couldn't let tiredness get to her now. He stared at her with one eye brutalized, and started laughing. The sight unnerved her as she went in, avoiding a barrage of earth cuffs.

"JUST DIE ALREADY!" The agent screamed, desperate. Despite his state, it was difficult to land any blows on him. It didn't help that her own movements were sluggish as well.

Then disaster…

The agent wildly looked around, as she maneuvered herself quickly. But his eyes landed on the sleeping family on the ground. Gale watched over the unconscious humans. And when they tried to charge the agent. Gale was thrown off. They hadn't gone far, the agent couldn't move far. He hobbled toward them, a maniacal smile plastering his face.

"Die…" He was gleefully whispering. The Dai Li agent shifted his stance, and pushed his hands out.

"NO!" Elsi shouted, already sprinting toward the family. Hand outstretched to get them away.

The spikes roared…

The wind howled…

Earth met flesh and blood…

From not too far away in the city, Wikilow turned.

"Elsi?"

Wikilow was running, he heard Elsi scream. Past building and skyscraper, ruined and intact. Park and road he ran. He was still in the Avatar state as well. So, he increased his speed to the max. Eventually, he was jumping over rubble in a neighbourhood. There were three unconscious bodies lying on the ground, a child and two adults.

Then he saw it…

A laughing Dai Li agent, covered in blood…

Earthen spikes…

Earth spikes through Elsi's heart…

Time slowed down. Wikilow acted fast, knocking the agent out and moving to Elsi.

"Elsi!" He whispered, panic in his voice.

*Flashback*

The air bender herself had been hallucinating just minutes before Wikilow arrived. Her mind raced, yet stood still at the same time. She had retreated into her own world. It felt like she was floating in the cold oceans from home. But, her chest felt so tight, she couldn't breathe. Elsi's arms drooped in front of red droplets . It smelt metallic, or was she imagining it? Wait, no… it was blood… her blood. Elsi's eyes had widened for a quarter of a second before closing. She remembered, spikes, she had been stabbed.

"Am I going to die?" Elsi had wondered, the seconds counting down. Black flooded her vision, she was losing consciousness. "…I don't want to die…" She desperately thought, hands drifting at her sides. But suddenly a calm feeling came. Her life flashed before her eyes, her parents, Gale, Rin, Arlo, fireworks, Wikilow… Wikilow. Her eyes were closing, she could hear voices. But in that last second between life and death. There was a bright light of white and green. "Wikilow…" Elsi lovingly thought, a ghost of a smile in her mind that never reached her face.

Then nothing at all and never again…

*Flashback End*

"Elsi?" Wikilow repeated, more urgently. Her face was still, but she was still warm. He checked her neck and felt no pulse. She wasn't breathing either. Gale was loudly screeching, nudging Elsi's body to no avail. Despite himself he mechanically tried to heal her with water bending. Wikilow's face was impassive as he worked. Elsi didn't change, the water splashed against the ground, mixing with blood. "Elsi?" He repeated for some reason, like she would still answer.

Nothing…

Wikilow's face felt wet, surprised. He reached a hand, shaky? A shaky hand toward his face. Tears spilled from his eyes, slowly dripping like rain. Wikilow, was crying? Why was he crying? His chest hurt, but he wasn't injured. But, he hurt inside. What was this? What was happening to him? He was confused. Wikilow stepped back, then again, and again. His body shook, eyes flashing in and out of the Avatar State.

He was losing control, he had to focus and remain calm-but he couldn't!

"Elsi…" Was the only thing he could think. "Elsi!" Again, and again, like he was suffocating. The ground, cracked the wind raged above. Lightning jumped out of him. Gale flew into the air to avoid his own spikes. The spirit bird circled the Avatar. But, Wikilow didn't notice.

"ELSI!" Someone else, Arlo maybe screamed. But, Wikilow stumbled backwards, hands erratic as he attacked the already destroyed world around him.

This was…

He was…

She was…

Elsi was…

"Elsi is dead…" Dominated Wikilow's mind. The tears increased, salt filling his mouth. He couldn't stop it, couldn't stop any of it.

Wikilow ran…

"…Please… entertain me Avatar…"

Authors Note: Well, Elsi's dead. I like to think, she died happy. I searched up heart stabs, and it said there was only about fifteen seconds of consciousness before blacking out, preceding death within minutes. But, I'm thinking four or five more chapters and then we're done. But, until next time!