Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: I'm not sure I hate any kind of bending, I find them all very interesting. I guess Bloodbending, that's the one with the most murky moral implications surrounding it.

Zigzagdoublezee: No matter what Varrick does in this, his actions in Series 2 do hang over him, which makes the question of what to do with him a complicated one.

As Always, Please Review!

Mako

The Satomobile rumbled down the street of Republic City, and Mako noted with some concern that it looked emptier than he had ever seen it. While there were a lot of people still there, trying to get on with their normal lives in the face of potential imminent invasion, many more were beginning to get wind of what was happening and leave. Trains to Yu Dao and the rest of the cities in the Republic were packed, and the roads were full of Satomobiles leaving the city. A few of the more affluent were even emigrating, leaving the Republic entirely and heading for the Fire Nation or the Water Tribes, betting that there they would be out of Kuvira's reach. Mako did not blame them.

Despite this though, enough remained that for the moment life in Republic City still resembled normality. The lights were still on, the shops were still open, and the only difference was the atmosphere of vague anticipation that hung in the air. The United Republic of Nations was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

Mako and Hotaru were headed towards the outskirts, towards the newest district of Republic City; New Zaofu, built to accommodate the refugees from Kuvira's attack on the old Zaofu. The place had become something of a hub for Earth Kingdom refugees fleeing Kuvira's tyranny, and that included the most famous refugee of them all, the one who had brought them here.

He was waiting for them by the side of the road, a broad grin on his face. Several Metal Clan security guards surrounded him.

"Mako!" Wu cried, waving excitedly. "How have you been?"

"I've been fine, thanks," Mako replied. "Have you been getting on alright?"

"I've been trying my best," Wu shrugged. "Working and dancing, mostly."

"A good way to live," Hotaru noted approvingly, exiting the vehicle.

"You dance too?" Wu asked happily.

"Often," Hotaru nodded. "Fire Nation music is great for it."

"That's great!" Wu told her as they approached the house Wu had been staying in. "You know Mako doesn't? I could not convince him to dance no matter how hard I tried!"

"I just don't like dancing!" Mako replied defensively.

"I gathered that," Hotaru nodded, grinning.

"So why did you want to see us?" Mako asked, hastily changing the subject. He did not relish the idea of this meeting devolving into Wu and Hotaru laughing at him.

"Can't I just want to see my friends?" Wu asked, looking hurt.

Mako stopped as the situation suddenly became unbearably awkward.

"Well- I-" he faltered, not knowing what to say.

Wu just burst out laughing.

"Every time," he giggled. "You're very easy to wind up."

Mako scowled, causing Wu to compose himself.

"Anyway," he said, "I called you because I need your advice."

"Oh really?" Mako asked, raising an eyebrow. "About what?"

"Raiko."

"Of course," Mako groaned. "What does he want now?"

He knew that Raiko had been grasping at any straw possible to defend the Republic, which he perfectly understood considering the stakes.

"He came to visit me yesterday," Wu replied, matter-of-factly, "to propose an alliance. His idea is a "Triple Alliance," to fight Kuvira."

"Zuko did say Raiko had spoken to him about a formal alliance," Hotaru cut in.

"The United Republic, the Fire Nation, and the Earth Kingdom, equal partners in the fight against tyranny," Wu recited. "Raiko says that what Kuvira commands is not the Earth Kingdom anymore so that's not a contradiction. He'll recognise me as the legitimate ruler of the Earth Kingdom, not her."

"So he wants you to be the face of Earth Kingdom resistance. It seems like a hell of a vote of confidence."

"Basically," Wu replied. "But there's more."

He offered Mako a piece of paper, and the Firebender took it.

"Free Earth Legion?" He read. "Wu, do you even have any military experience at all?"

"That won't be necessary, I'll basically be a figurehead," Wu pointed out, before sighing. "Again."

"It's a noble idea on paper, but it could be construed as actively taking up arms against your own country."

"Or taking up arms to save it," Wu countered.

"Something tells me Kuvira won't see it that way, and won't present it to the people that way," Mako pointed out. "If we lose, you and anyone who fights with you will be a traitor."

"And Kuvira will be fine with me if I don't do this?" Wu pointed out. "I'm here because she's already tried to get rid of me. This Legion will be made up of exiles from the Earth Kingdom fleeing Kuvira. Will she just forgive them?"

Mako had to admit that was a good point.

"This will be different though," he insisted. "If you do this, and Kuvira gets her hands on you, she'll think nothing of regicide!"

"That doesn't matter," Wu told him. "I need to do this for the sake of my people. I can't let them suffer under Kuvira's tyranny and do nothing about it. Raiko has offered weapons and training."

"Raiko is saying whatever he needs to to save his country," Mako said.

"So am I," replied Wu. "I trust him. What use will we be to him without weapons or training? It benefits him to stick to his word."

"I think it's a noble thing to do," Hotaru butted in. "As long as you know the risks. Doing this would make you an equal of my mother and President Raiko, it would also make you a very visible symbol of opposition to Kuvira and paint a massive target on your back."

"I understand," Wu nodded grimly. "But it has to be done."

"Then I'm glad you're on our side," Hotaru nodded. "I think you should do it."

"I'll tell Raiko," Wu crossed to a telephone set up in one corner of the room, but paused.

"Do you think we can win?" He asked. Gone was the assertive and confident Earth King who had been standing there a second ago, and now a boy who just wanted reassurance took his place. The transformation was stark.

Mako did not really know. He knew that the Earth Empire had a very powerful military- but so did the United Republic and the Fire Nation, and the Empire was not as industrialised as either, though Kuvira had been making strides in that direction.

"I think we're definitely in with a shot," Hotaru reassured him. "There's three of us, and only one of her."

Mako opened his mouth to agree, but a sound from outside stopped him.

A commotion could be heard outside, the sound of voices growing louder. It sounded like a crowd was approaching the building.

"What's that?" Wu asked, noticing it.

"I bet it's Raiko," Mako grumbled. "He seems to be following me around."

All the same, he moved towards the door, but just as his hand came to rest on the handle there was a knock on the other side. He braced himself, and opened it.

"Bolin?"