Earth
Fire
Air
Water
Only the Dual Avatars master of all four elements can bring balance to the world.
Book IV: Balance
Chapter X: Kuvira's Gambit
Kuvira speaks in front of her army in Zaofu, behind her is the map of the Earth Kingdom almost united. But one piece is missing. "Today we stand on the precipice of history. For the past three years, we've proven that no one can stand in our way. Not even the Dual Avatars. But our mission is not yet complete. There is an injustice that must be corrected. As you all know, after the hundred-year war, Avatar Aang, along with Fire Lord Zuko stole Earth Empire land and formed the United Republic. This land belongs to the people of the Earth Empire, and it is time to reclaim it! Republic City will be ours!
Her army cheers in unison, crying out, "All hail The Great Uniter!"
Behind the map is Baatar Jr. waiting, Kuvira smiles at him, "Are you ready to show the world what a true superpower looks like?" Baatar Jr. smiles, "Yes. I'm honored to march into the city by your side. I love you, Kuvira."
"I never could've done this without your help. After we claim victory, we can finally get married and rule our Empire together,"Kuvira smiles as she hugs Baatar. Jr. However, in the hug she looks conflicted.
"Eighteen families evacuated?" Wan repeats as he turns to Wu, the prince nods. "There are millions of people in this city!" Korra says in shock at that number. Wu shrugs, "As I said, could be better," Wan sighs as he rubs his head, "The problem is it's voluntary and there aren't many volunteers. They just don't feel like they're in any immediate danger." The door opens and Bolin rushes in "Guys! Good! You're all here." Su and Zhu Li walk in next to Bolin.
"What's with you interrupting my important meetings all the time?" Raiko stands up, annoyed. Wan eyes widen, "Su!?" as he stands from the seat in shock, Korra is as well baffled by how they got out. "What are you- you're okay!" Korra smiles in relief. "I'm so sorry about Zaofu." Wan says, "How did you escape?" Bolin drapes his arm around Suyin's shoulders, "Opal, Beifong, and I rescued everyone, but we had a run-in with Kuvira," Bolin turns his head to Raiko "We saw her super spirit weapon up close. Like, really close. Way too close."
Tenzin looks concerned and asks, "Is she going to use it against Republic City?"
Zhu Li walks up, "Yes. She's going to attack in two weeks. I pretended to be loyal to Kuvira, so I could sabotage her weapon. It didn't work, but I did overhear her plans to attack." Raiko slams his fists in anger, "I knew she wouldn't cease at Zaofu."
"If most likely she's coming by rail. It's the only way she can transport that weapon," Lin adds. "Then we cut the rails," Wan says "Hopefully that would block her weapon…"
"I agree. Let's get as many citizens evacuated before we do." The president turns to Mako, "Put out the announcement. The evacuation is now mandatory." Mako stands up and nods. Wan turns to Raiko, "Don't worry, we won't let Kuvira take our city or nation."
Korra meditates focusing on the Spirit World, maybe, just maybe the spirits could help. Ever since Kuvira has been tampering with the vines, the spirits are leaving more and more within Republic City. She crosses over the spirit realm over to where the Tree of Time is, Korra stands, "Spirits, this is Avatar Korra." Korra turns around to face the spirits behind her more and more spirits show up to listen to her. "Please listen to me. Since Avatar Wan and I reopened the portals, spirits and humans have lived together in Republic City. It's all we could have hoped for. I know you felt the effects of Kuvira cutting down spirit vines. Please It's time for you to help me save it from Kuvira, who was perverting spirit energy to use as a weapon against other humans." An eel like spirit swoops down with a beak, Korra turns to the spirit. "We don't get involved with human wars."
"Spirits worked with Unalaq." Korra mentions. "He was misusing Vaatu's power during Harmonic Convergence to force spirits to fight you both. Is that what you want?" the spirit retorts calmly.
"No, but as the Avatar, I'm hoping that you will come to my aid to save the new world we all share."
"What you demand is exactly what Kuvira wants: to use spirits as a weapon in human war. The answer is no." The spirits one by one fades away. Korra sighs, not even trying to argue, she goes back to her physical body. Wan walks up to where she was meditating and sits down next to her. "It didn't work," Korra mumbles. Wan shuts his eyes, "Not a surprise. Spirits are complicated creatures."
"Yeah, I know,"Korra slumps dejectedly, Wan pats her shoulder, "Hey, don't feel bad, we just have to find another way."
Ms. Nami and other airbenders fly from above, monitoring the Earth Empire and any other signs. Satomobiles and airships are scarred and everyone is trying to get out. In the train station, Pema and Wu guides the people as they wait to board the trains. Everyone does their part. Wan looks out at the bay at night, as ships from the United Forces come through and prepare the incoming attack. He remembers all the times he would stare at the city's lights, not knowing what his place was or if he even was. He knew one thing from his amnesic times, Republic City is his home.
He had a duty to himself to protect it from Kuvira.
Late at night, two guards take a stand in the towers near the mountains. A guard becomes suspicious at the slight faded crashing noises. He takes binoculars and peers through them. "I see something-" Through his binoculars he sees Kuvira's army covered from the fog. "It's Kuvira's army! They're a week early! Get the commander and radio Republic City!"
The other guard quickly sets up the radio call but is stopped when he hears a loud crash and a boom. The guard who holds the binoculars eyes widens as he lowers it in horror he sees a humanoid colossus, made of metal and dwarfing the size of anything they ever saw. "Zung! We have to leave!" The Colossus prepares the spirit energy cannon attached to its right arm. As the tip of the pipe starts to glow purple aiming at the guard tower. Zung and the rest of the guards run out of the tower, but before they could even escape the energy beam is fired. After it finishes the attack, the tower is left in ruins.
In the morning Dual Team avatar fly on a sky bison to attempt to try and dismantle the weapon. Korra is guiding the sky bison while everyone else surveys the area. Wan uses his air cloud to get a better look around, he finds nothing and lands in the saddle. "Odd, I don't see anything on the tracks. How is she transporting this weapon-"
"Any theories?" The rest of the Dual team Avatar asks in unison. Wan thinks for a moment, "I honestly don't know. It's strange, how is she even-"
"Guys! I see something," Bolin points down. Wan looks down to see Kuvira's army and his eyes widen, "She's a week early, she must have known how-" the team hears thudding, Wan turns and his mouth gapes in horror as he sees the huge mecha tank. He twitches his eyes as everyone looks on in dismay and wonder.
"You know, I'm really happy that humans advanced technology, but now I want to go back to sticks as weapons please." The spirit energy cannon prepares itself for an attack, pointing at them and glowing a purple hue. Bolin's eyes widened in alarm, screaming, "We gotta get out of here, now! Now!" The Mecha tank fires the weapon, it nearly hits the sky bison. The team screams as the sky bison starts to recourse themselves as Korra guides the bison to head back to Republic City. On Air Temple Island, the bison lands in front of a group of people, "Korra, Wan? Are you two all right? Why are you both back so soon?" Tenzin asks.
Korra glances up with a serious expression "It's Kuvira. She must have known Zhu Li had the information. Her army is only a few hours away."
"And that spirit weapon of hers is attached to a monstrous mecha suit. It's over twenty-five stories tall!" Wan joins in with a somewhat horrified look.
"Get General Iroh on the line and tell him that the strike is happening today. We need to lock down the city," Raiko commands Lin, who hurries off. Everyone finds their places and quickly, now the city is in a war. Ms. Nami and the rest airbenders mount on nearby buildings, waiting for the attack. Wan and Korra wait for Kuvira's army next to General Iroh on the battlefield. All are silent as they hear the mecha tank come closer and closer.
It finally appears along with the army behind her army and an airship. Ms. Nami's eyes widened in shock. Everyone who can see the mecha is in shock. It eventually stops near the barbed-wire fencing.
The duo listens to the radio nearby in the tent, hearing the conversation between Raiko and Kuvira "Kuvira, this is President Raiko. I order you to stand down. Turn your army around and stand down, or we will attack."
"I don't think you understand the power I possess. Let me make it clear." With that, the Mecha fires another blast, aiming at the ships near the bay. It reloads and launches another one aiming at more of the united force's ships. Other airbenders try to rescue any survivors. Kuvira's mecha aims near the army in front. Wan looks at the rising smoke ahead.
General Iroh goes on the radio, "Mister President, do I have your order to engage?"
"You have three seconds before I wipe out your army," Kuvira says through the radio, "Time's up!"
"Stop! We surrender. Republic City is yours," Raiko says, defeated. "Good. Turn your troops and the Dual Avatars over to me, and give Baatar your location. He'll present you with our terms." Kuvira goes off the radio, general Iroh slams the handheld microphone ferrous, "I'm not surrendering!" Korra yells. Wan scoffs at Raiko's response to the entire ordeal. "Coward," he speaks under his breath. "Neither am I."
General Iroh glances at the pair, "Get back to the city before she sees you two. Find a way to beat that thing." Wan nods "We will." The duo rushes off on their gliders, going to Varrick's warehouse. The Dual Avatars step in, "Raiko surrendered, looks like we have to do it ourselves…" Wan announces.
"How are we supposed to challenge an entire army, a mecha giant, and that crazy weapon?" Bolin asks, petrified. "We can't fight it, but we can cripple it. Zhu Li, when you were spying on Kuvira, did you learn anything about that metal monster?" Asami asks Zhu Li, who shrugs,"I had no idea they were even building it," Varrick sighs. "Wow, Baatar Jr. is a better inventor than I thought. Don't tell him I said that."
Korra and Wan glance at each other, both smiling in realization. "That's it! Baatar Jr. built it, he'll know how to take it down! I say we capture him and make him talk." Korra smiles as she slams the side of her fist on her palm.
"Good thinking."
Tenzin hums for a minute then with a decisive tone he says " I'm in."
"We'll need a stealth team to get in and out of Baatar's airship and grab him." Wan starts, "Tenzin, Bumi, Jinora, Kai, Ms. Nami let's get moving." Meelo looks disappointed and pouts, "What about me?"
Korra kneels, "Sorry, buddy. This mission counts on everyone being as silent as possible, and your farts are just too much of a wild card." Korra smiles. Wan ruffles Meelo's hair, "Some
missions aren't made for some people, kiddo," Wan smiles at the boy.
"I can be quiet!" As soon as he says that he farts loudly and blushes. The dual Avatars laugh. "Okay, point taken."
Before the airbenders could start, Wan breathes in and walks up to Korra. She turns to her partner as he closes his eyes. "Korra, I want to let you know. I care deeply for you, more than the deepest oceans. What I'm trying to say is-'' Korra's finger touches his lips, and she shushes him softly. "I know." Korra smiles, blushing softly and so does the first avatar reborn "I know Wan, you don't have to say a word. Right now, we need to focus." Her hand touches his cheek softly.
"Once this is finished... Well, we can talk about it later," Korra closes her eyes, before she walks away, wan gently grabs her hand, as the female avatar looks back. Korra's heart thumps faster, and so does Wan's. "I waited three years, I'm tired of waiting for the right moment," Wan breathes, "We might not...make it."
"We will make it. I know it." Korra says coming closer to wan.
"Just let me say it, at least as a whisper. I've wanted to say this for years, please. I need to get this off my chest," Wan pleads, Korra sighs but not out of annoyance but adornment, "Okay."
Wan whispers in her ear, holding her gently, "I love you Korra, I've always loved you and I would love to spend the rest of my life with you."
Korra's eyes widen, as she hears these words, dopamine lights up her brain like no tomorrow. The water avatar is weeping tears of joy, Wan smiles crying as he looks at her. "I love you too," Korra cries, trying to get herself together. "Korra, are you ready to-" Tenzin stops seeing the two crying but smiling. Korra giggles, looking at Wan. "We'll continue this later?…"
"Um hum."
The stealth team takes Baatar Jr. muffling him and placing him in a brown bag and heads back to base. They tie Bataar Jr onto a wooden chair. Wan ungags him and uncovers his face. "You've made a terrible mistake. Once Kuvira finds out I'm missing, you're all done for." Korra steps up "That's why, before she finds out, you're going to tell us how to stop that thing, or else." "Baatar Jr. smirks, "Or else what? Avatar Korra?"
"Her eyes turn pure white glowing in the Avatar State, and she walks to Baatar, grasping him by his bonds and lifting him into the air with one arm. Baatar Jr tries to escape and looks at the female Avatar glowing eyes. "You won't hurt me. I know an empty threat when I see one." Korra leaves the Avatar state and lets Baatar fall back on the floor. "He isn't bugging." Korra groans, exasperated. "Was this your best idea? You've lost,]only you haven't accepted it yet." Baatar gloats. Wan glances at Baatar for a moment and smirks as Suyin tries to talk to her son and him refuting it.
Wan steps up to the inventor, "No, we're not going to hurt you if you don't talk. You don't fear the Avatar state but know something much worse to you." Wan starts as he leans down to Baatar, looking into his eyes.
"You love Kuvira with all your heart, so much so that you betrayed your own flesh and blood for her. In all honesty, you're sad, but that's not the point. While you think Kuvira's going to save you, let me make sure one thing is clear... You're never seeing her again."
Baatar's eyes widen with horror, he becomes desperate "No! No, you're bluffing!"
"Am I? Heh, I don't bluff, Kuvira may drive us out of the city, she may take over. But one thing is for certain. If I go, you're coming right along with me. So, you can forget about your marriage or wedding or a happy ending because as long as I live, I will make sure you never see her green eyes again. Is it really worth a tiny country over her?"
"No! You can't!"
"Oh, I will. But, if you tell Kuvira to back off, you two can be content with the Earth Empire. Just leave the United Republic alone. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Good" Wan stands up and hands in the radio speaker as they try to contact Kuvira. "Kuvira? It's Baatar. I've been captured. My airship was ambushed, and I was taken by force. Korra and Wan refuse to release me unless we back down and leave behind the city," he says, Kuvira responded and got on the radio line quickly.
"Are you injured?"
"I'm fine."
"Is the Dual Avatars there with you now?" Kuvira asks, she goes off the radio commanding the people to find the signal. General Ai Wei opens into the cockpit listening to the radio signal, and he looks at Kuvira. "Yes, everyone is here. Listen to me. If you try to take Republic City, Avatar Wan will never let me see you again ... and I refuse to live that way. Forget the United Republic; we have our empire! We have each other! Let's go back home and get married. The only thing that matters is that we're together for the rest of our lives." Kuvira closes her eyes, hearing this. She says thick with emotion and heartache knowing what she must do next. "You're right. This city isn't worth sacrificing our future, and I am sorry for the pain that I may have caused."
Wan smiles, he knew it would work in a sense. Once the radio connection was cut off, Korra unties the binds on Baatar and the man stands up, "As soon as we work out terms, you can go back to her," Mako stands by the window and turns his head seeing the giant mecha tank preparing to fire. Mako eyes widened as he moves back, pointing at it as it loads up "She has our location! She's pointing that weapon right at us!" Baatar Jr. eyes widened in shock.
"No! She wouldn't!"
The weapon prepares to fire, as they see a purple glow from the window. Wan steps backward, tuning to Korra who screams as terror and panic sets on her face. "Everybody out! Now! Now!" The cannon fires with a boom aiming at the warehouse and everybody tries to outrun it as fast as they can, but a fire rises from the floor underneath and throws the helpless people off their feet into a cloud of dirt. Luckily, after the dust has settled. Bolin under the rubble lifts the rock with his earthbending standing as everyone gets out, "Go ahead, take your time, just bending a giant wall! Man, have we got a lot of people hurt!" Bumi and Suyin carefully and slowly carry out an unconscious Baatar Jr. "Is that everybody?!"
"Yes!" Wan calls back, Bolin drops the wall and throws himself out of the disaster. Korra helps Wan up. Tenzin turns to see a horde or mecha tanks and much more. "Kuvira is heading our way, with a platoon of mecha suits!"
"This is my hometown and I hate to say it, but there's no use risking all our lives to fight that giant thing! Let her take the city for now! We'll think of some way to come back and beat her!" Bolin says. His brother then replies with, "What about all the people who haven't been evacuated yet? She might fire that spirit cannon at him and take them all out."
Wan glances down then looks up, "We can't give up! We couldn't stop Kuvira from taking Zaofu." Korra steps beside Wan, "We're not letting her conquer Republic City. The world isn't safe with that thing."
"I agree. We take down that giant today." Lin says up the top of the crater, Wan gasps with a smile, "Lin."
"Glad to see you all made it out. You had me worried."
"Well, you benders are going to have to fight her alone. She just blew up our factory with all our hummingbird suits." Varrick says, Asami turns to Varrick, "Not all of them. There are the prototypes back at my office. If we can have those ready to fly, we'll at least be able to offer a little air support," Wan nods as he turns to Suyin, "Su, you take Baatar Jr. and the rest of the wounded back to Asami's office. Get those suits working as quickly as you can. The rest of us will just have to face Kuvira on our own."
Meelo passes by a paint store as everyone tries to bring down the metal monster, Meelo comes up with a brilliant plan. Lin turns back looking at the Airbender boy, as he shouts "I just got an idea how to beat the giant. Now, everyone, grab some paint and find me some balloons!"
The Mecha giant roams the street, groups of airbenders with green balloons strap to their bodies to attack and slam the balloons in the mecha's windows, covering it with paint of many colors, Pink, yellow, red. Kuvira tries to wave them off but fails, she glares at this.
Tenzin lands on top of a nearby roof, "Now!" he yells at Lin, who swings onto the mecha suit's right ankle and tries to metal bend the joints but to no avail. "The joints are platinum too! We can't metal bend any of it!" Bolin comes in as Lin moves back, lava bending the floor beneath the mecha's foot. He spreads the lava across the entire foot, causing it to become unstable. As they tie metal cables around to trap it, Bolin yells at the dual Avatars at the rooftop, "Hit it now!"
Wan and Korra enter the Avatar state for a power boost, building up the attack and blowing an enormous gust of wind at its chest The airbenders below add on to this. The mecha topples, but Kuvira stands her ground and quickly fires the weapon, swinging it wildly.
Wan and Korra duck and turn to see the damage, as buildings explode, the Duo turns back, Wan clenches his teeth and enters the Avatar state for an extra power boost once adding more power, and so does Korra. Kuvira's mecha grasps at the buildings to save itself.
Kuvira points the cannon at the building where The Dual Avatars and the airbenders stand and fires, causing everyone to spread as the building explodes. The airbenders plunge through the air, screaming. Wan and Korra, trying to rise above the beam with airbending, throw themselves out of the way screaming. Korra plunges downward, Wan uses his cloud and grabs Korra, slowing her fall. They both crash down with airbending. Wan holds Korra by the waist as they both lay down. Wan lifts his head, seeing the injured airbenders scattered in the street. Wan helps Korra get up and runs to the wounded airbenders. Wan rushes up to hurt Ms. Nami, he kneels at her side. "Ms. Nami!"
She groans, clearly wounded. Wan picks up the former librarian in his arms.
Korra holds a female Airbender on her shoulders "Everyone retreat! Take the injured back to Asami's office!" She demands. Wan nods in agreement.
After an attempt of depowering the small mechas but the thing they wanted to down power wouldn't "How come your electro-thingy shut down the small mecha suits but not the big one?" Varrick asks.
"Because it's powered with spirit vine energy. It's unstoppable, " Baatar says regretfully. Hiroshi Sato comes in, still in his jail clothes. "It's not."
Asami is surprised at this "Dad?" Dual team avatar eyes widen, Lin explains herself "I got him out of prison to help. I figured we need all the geniuses we can get right now. If the prison's still standing, after all this is over, we can throw him back in."
Hiroshi sighs, "I know what you all must think of me, but I love Republic City and I would do anything to save her."
"Says the one who declared all-out war on her. Sure." Wan sasses crossing his arms, "Anyway, you think you know how to defeat this thing?"
Hiroshi explains, "You must act like an infection: break the skin and attack its vital organs, disconnect the heart and the brain, and this beast cannot live. Future Industries has plasma saws for cutting platinum. If we had one on the mecha suit. I think I can add an electrical element to the welding torch on the suit and convert it into a plasma saw. Then we'll just have to land on the giant and cut open a hole big enough for someone to get in."
"Like a metal mosquito," Asami says, Varrick chimes in. "You know what happens to mosquitoes that land on me? I squash 'em!"
"We'll have to strike in a swarm to try to keep you guys safe in the hummingbird suits. It looks like they're our only hope." Korra adds. The engineers work on the suits, Wan watches, pacing around. He wasn't sure if it would do the trick, but the last shot they got, he just hoped that they were lucky enough to win the day. As Daw came to warn them, the attack started as the non-wounded airbenders.
Wan looks up to see the hummingbird machines as they try to get a good spot to cut through the machine. When the mecha tries to fire, Korra bends a large stream of water, freezing the mecha suit into place. Asami pilots the suit to the portion of the mecha suit that is not frozen, while her father readies the saw, this happens for more minutes. The ice around the cannon arm starts to break. Hiroshi continues cutting a hole, Asami watches worried as the ice continues shattering. "We need to get out of here."
Hiroshi focuses more on "Almost there."
"We have to go now!" Asami cries out as Hiroshi makes the hole, "Almost there. Almost there!" The arm breaks free from its hold, "Dad! Now!"
"Goodbye, Asami. I love you so much." Hiroshi flips the ejection switch of his daughter's seat. Asami is shocked as she screams, reaching out seeing her father being smashed to death. As the broken suit plummets an open hole. Wan eyes narrow, "Hiroshi's plan worked. There's our opening. Now."
Dual Team Avatar rushes in despite Kuvira's efforts to stop them.
