I paced nervously, waiting for Korra and Mako to return from their reconnaissance. "You're pacing is making me nervous." Asami commented, watching me.

"I can't help it." I complained. "I know I told Tenzin that I'd be patient, but I feel like I have to do something."

"We can't do anything yet." Asami said softly, setting her hand on my arm. "Just relax." There were some footsteps as Mako and Korra returned.

"Thank the spirits." I sighed greatuflly, seeing that my sister was ok.

"You two were gone a while." Asami commented suspiciously, folding her arms.

"We were doing reconnaissance." Mako shot back.

"Whatever…"

"Welcome back!" Gomu, a homeless man who Korra and I had met on our first day in the city, exclaimed, jumping between Korra and Mako. "Hope you worked up an appetite, 'cause dinner is served." He wrapped his arms around Mako and Korra, pulling them, and subsequently us toward a makeshift table.

"Thank you, Gomu, for your kindness the past few days." I said, bowing to him as he served his pot of…something. "Letting us hide out here has saved us more than you realise."

"Honored to oblige. My associates and I heartily oppose Amon's so-called 'Equalist' policies. We got Benders and Non-Benders living together down here, but do you see us fightin'? No siree, we've figured out how to harmoniously co-exist."

"You are a wise and noble hobo." Bolin commented. He ate some of the food in his bowl. "This is the best tasting Street Gruel I've ever had, seriously!" I reached out and put my hand over Asami's spoon before she could put it in her mouth.

"I culled it from the finest dumpsters the city has to offer!" Asami went green, and set her bowl on the floor for Pabu to eat, I did the same, letting Saria enjoy…what the city dumpsters had to offer.

TIMESKIP

That night, I sat curled up, leaning against Nuki for warmth. "Can't sleep?" A voice asked softly. Looking up, I saw Asami giving me a half-smile.

"Not really." I replied gently. I shifted over so that Asami could sit next to me. "Everything's just…topsy turvy and I can't wrap my head around it." I rested my head on my bent knees. "Just a couple months ago, I was practising for my Firebending Exam…worried that I would fail…"

"It seems crazy that we didn't know each other then but…it feels like we've been friends forever." Asami turned to look at me. "I can't think of anyone else I'd trust my life with. You're loyal, brave, tough, and so selfless." I flushed at the praise. "You're amazing, Yunoh."

"Thanks, Asami." I said softly. "You're pretty amazing too." I gently nudged her with my elbow. "But I'm sure you already figured that out, yeah?" Asami chuckled. You can stay here if you want to sleep." I told her.

"Thanks." Asami and I smiled at each other, then lent against Nuki to fall asleep.

TIMESKIP

The next morning, it was foggy, I could barely see Aang Memorial Island from the sewer pipe. "Coast is clear." Mako told Korra, Asami, Bolin and I, gesturing us forward. I hurried after him, heading up the rickety metal steps to an observation deck, kneeling at the railing. Bolin laid down to scan Yue Bay with a telescope.

"Ok, so here's our plan." I said. "When the United Forces arrive, our main objective is to assist them."

"They're here." Mako stated. Looking back through the fog, I saw a large fleet of ships arrive, sailing towards Republic City. However…it was eerily silent.

"Wait a second…" Korra wondered, standing. "Where are the Equalist Airships?" Mako took the telescope from his brother and scanned the shoreline.

"I don't see any mecha tanks, either." He reported. Suddenly, explosions started erupting from the water.

"They have aquatic bombs!" I shouted. "Korra, with me!" I jumped in the water, Korra barely a second after me. We cut through the water, and appeared before the ships before we heard a weird buzzing noise. Looking up, I saw weird flying machines soaring through the sky. A hatch opened up underneath the aircraft and dropped even more bombs, completely destroying the entire fleet. "Look for survivors!" I ordered my sister, before starting to use my bending to throw the missiles back at the airships. As I was fighting, I saw a massive explosion, and watched as someone was thrown from the crow next. I swam up to them, grabbing their shirt and pulling them into me as I took us to the surface. "It's ok." I assured them, "I've got you."

"Avatar Yunoh…" The person rasped. "You saved my life. Thank you."

"Don't strain yourself, General, let's just get you medical attention." I used my bending to take us back to shore, where Korra was just getting out of the water. "Did you manage to find anyone?"

"No." Korra said sadly. "They were all taken by Amon's troops."

"Let's get back to camp." Asami suggested. And that's where we found ourselves soon after, Iroh sitting on a crate as Korra healed his shoulder.

"We were prepared to deal with Sato's mecha tanks, but not these new high-speed aircraft." Iroh admitted.

"I know." I said softly, "It seems that every time we may have an advantage…Amon just gets the upper hand again…"

"No matter what our plan is, he always has a better one." Bolin said.

"Amon is winning so far, but we're not out of the fight yet." Iroh told him.

"I like this man's confidence! So, how are we not out of the fight?"

"A second wave of reinforcements is on the way, but I need to warn them." Iroh said, standing and clutching his wound. "Do you still have a way to get a message out?"

"I know just the man for the job." Korra said. Turns out, said person was Gomu. Once Iroh's arm was bandaged, we gathered around the hobo as he hooked up his wires.

"And who is the recipient of this top-secret message?" Gomu asked, reading his fingers.

"The leader of the fleet, a Commander Bumi." Iroh told him. "Second division of the United Forces."

"Tenzin's brother?" I asked. "I've never met him, but Katara speaks about him quite a bit."

"Yes, bit of a wild man, but the bravest commander you'll ever meet."

"Ready sir." Gomu said.

"Fleet ambushed and destroyed by Equalist aircraft." As Iroh spoke, Gomu tapped out the message. "Retreat to Red Sand Island until my signal. Do not approach the city until you receive the all clear." Once the message was sent, we gathered around a map of Republic City. "Now comes the hard part. We need to ground those aircrafts. Otherwise, Bumi's fleet would never be able to retake the city."

"They flew in from this direction." Mako revealed, pointing to a spot on the map. "The airfield must be somewhere over this mountain range."

"Everyone get ready, we leave at dawn." Everyone nodded at each other. However, before anyone could say anything, I spoke up.

"I'm sorry everyone but…" I started. I then sighed. "I can't go with you tomorrow."

"What?" Korra wondered.

"Why not?" Asami added.

"I'm just." I huffed. "I can't help but feel like I've been absolutely useless here, I'm the Avatar and I haven't been able to do anything. So, I'm going to stop hiding from Amon and face him head-on this time.

"That's not a good plan." Iroh argued. "We need to stick together."

"I can't let Amon hunt me down, he could find me here, and this entire camp could be in danger. I can feel something…in here." I clutched my shirt, right above my heart. "It's telling me that U have to do something, end this whole war, but it has to be on my terms.

"Yunoh, this is not a mission you should be handling alone."

"Like I'd let my sister go alone." Korra huffed, walking over to me. She put a hand on my head. "I'm coming with you.

"I'm going too." Mako added, approaching us.

"Guys, you don't have to come." I assured them. "I can handle this."

"Yes, we do."

"Hmm ... My grandfather would respect the Avatar's instinct." Iroh said. "So will I."

TIMESKIP

The next morning, I was dressed in an Equalist uniform, which felt wrong on me, so even when I tugged and adjusted it, it didn't sit right. I approached Nuki, who was whining softly. "I need you to stay here with Saria, ok?" I told her softly. I gently scratched her head. "Protect these people, ok?" Nuki pressed her head into me, and I gave her a hug. I felt a large paw on my back as Nuki hugged me back. I then separated from her and smiled gently. "Good girl." I then walked over to Mako and Korra who were waiting for me. The three of us nodded at each other and headed off. We exited the sewerage pipe, and headed to the sea. Together, Korra and I created a large air bubble so that we could walk and breathe. After a little bit of walking, we arrived on the shores of Air Temple Island, which had been entirely taken over by the Equalists. We stepped onto the shores of the Island, and pulled our masks over our faces. We climbed up the rock outcropping of the island. We spotted Amon getting on one of the Airships.

"There's Amon." Korra pointed out softly.

"We need to get into the temple." Mako said. "Then, when he returns…"

"Then we ambush him?" I supplied.

"Exactly." The three of us headed toward the temple, but a voice behind us almost made me blow our cover.

"What are you three doing here?" Turning around, I saw the Lieutenant eying us suspiciously.

"Uh, we were just transferred." Mako said.

"Well, you're getting transferred again. Amon wants extra security at the arena today."

"The arena? For what?"

"The rally. You should have been briefed on this."

"Yes, of course, Sir, the Rally." I said, as if just remembering. "We'll head there right away." The Lieutenant then walked off.

"I know another way in." Korra told Mako and I softly. We shuffled away slowly as to not be noticed. Korra showed us a back path through the base of the temple that lead us into the building itself. "Let's hide in the attic. When we got upstairs, Mako spoke up.

"Uh, we're not alone up here." He stated.

"Tarrlok?" The three of us took our masks off.

"I don't suppose you're here to rescue me?" The Councilman wondered sarcastically.

"We didn't know you were here." I admitted. "Are…you the only prisoner on the island?"

"Yes, I'm the only one."

"And what makes you so special." Korra demanded.

"I'm Amon's brother." Tarrlok revealed.

"His…brother?" I repeated. "If you don't mind…can you explain it to us?" Tarrlok sighed before reluctantly starting.

"Amon is from the Northern Water Tribe. He's a Waterbender and a Bloodbender, just like I was."

"Did you know this all along?" Mako asked.

"No…not until after he captured me."

"Do you know why your Brother became Amon?" I asked him.

Tarrlok then dove into his history. He explained how Yakone managed to escape prison after his bending was taken away, and took on a new face and identity. He explained that when he and his older brother, Noatak, were growing up, their lives were happy, but then Noatak and Tarrlok learned of their Waterbending abilities. That was when Yakone changed, and not for the better. He would train his sons, harshly, and for hours on end, and then, when he thought they were ready, Yakone started to teach Noatak and Tarrlok how to Bloodbend, keeping the secret from their mother. Noatak seemed to take to the Bending Style like a fish to water, even managing to master Yakone's Psychic Bloodbending technique. Tarrlok on the other hand, didn't have the stomach to hurt innocent creatures. Noatak changed over the years, until one day, they were forced to Bloodbend each other. Noatak ran away, offering to bring Tarrlok, but the younger brother decided to stay. They searched for Noatak, but they had assumed he'd died in a storm. Their mother was distraught, and Yakone was never the same, dying a few years later.

"That's one of the saddest stories I've ever heard." Korra said softly.

"Avatar Yunoh, I am truly sorry for all that I did to you." Tarrlok said. "I thought I was better than my father, but his ghost still shaped me. I became a soldier of revenge, just like he wanted me to be. And so did my brother. The Revolution may be built on a lie, but I think Amon truly believes Bending is the source of all Evil in the world."

"How did you figure out Amon is your brother?" Mako asked.

"When he took my bending, the sensation was somehow familiar. I later recognised it as my brother's Bloodbending grip."

"So…Amon uses Bloodbending to take away people's Bending?" I confirmed. "He must have taken ages to try and learn he was capable of that."

"I don't know how he does it." Tarrlok admitted. "But then again, I've never encountered a Bender as strong as Noatak."

"How in the world do we beat him?" Korra wondered.

"We can't." Mako argued. "Any attack we throw at him, he'll redirect with his mind. That's he's been able to challenge any Bender."

"So much for our ambush, if we stay here, we're toast."

"Wait…" I said softly. "Hold on! I have an idea!" I turned to Mako and Korra. "We know the truth about him, right? If we go to the rally and expose him as a Bender, we can take away the only real power he has, make his entire Revolution see that he was manipulating him." I then turned to Tarrlok. "Thank you, for your help." I bowed to Tarrlok.

"We can't just leave him here." Korra said.

"Go." Tarrlok prompted, standing. "Amon can't know anyone spoke with me." Tarrlok gripped his cell bars. "Defeat him. Put an end to this sad story." We gave him a solid nod, and then escaped back through the tower.