Turning the Tides

Elira groaned slightly as she opened her eyes, being immediately blinded by the early morning sun. She looked around finding she was in her bedroom. Pichi and Pabu were laying by her feet while Bolin sat beside the bed in a chair with his head down. All three perked up when she stirred.

"Hey, you feeling any better?" Bolin quickly asked

Elira smiled softly at him as she sat up "I'm getting there. How's Korra?"

"She resting, Mako's with her" Bolin replied as Pabu and Pichi climbed into El's lap

"And my family?"

"Your dad's gone to check on them"

A knock came at the door before it slid open and Asami walked in with a tray in her arms "El, I'm so glad you're awake. Your grandmother made some tea for you"

"Thank you" El muttered as Asami handed her a cup before placing the tray on the side table and taking a seat on the bed.

As Elira took a small sip of the steaming beverage, Asami and Bolin shared a concerned look, noticing how unusually quiet their friend was being.

"El, what happened up in those mountains?" Asami asked, "Did Amon...?"

Elira put her cup down on the tray, shaking her head as she hugged her knees.

"Well then, why'd he let you go?" Bolin wondered

El was silent for a moment "...He--"

"El!" The door slammed open and her siblings barrelled into the room still in their pyjamas.

Pabu and Pichi screeched, quickly leaping off the bed as the kids jumped onto their sister, clinging to her and shouting.

"We were so scared!"

"Where did you go, El?!"

"Did you beat up the bad guys?!"

Elira didn't say anything and just held them tightly.

"El?" Jinora pulled back slightly, looking concerned

"I'm fine, Jinora. I'm okay" Elira smiled at her, stroking her hair

"I was scared, El. I thought you weren't coming back" Ikki admitted

Elira frowned bringing her siblings into her arms again, holding them tightly "I'm sorry you were scared, Ikki. But everything is going to be fine now... I promise"

*

Soon after, Elira sat in the dining hall with her friends, parents, Zira, Lin and Jinora. Korra was chowing down on the food in front of them happily but Elira barely touched it.

"Mmm. Mmm. The food tastes amazing, Pema. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again."Korra smiled

"We're so thankful you're home safe." Pema stood up to retrieve Korra's cleaned plate "Both of you"

She kissed Elira's head as she passed making the teen smile briefly but kept her head down.

"Let me help." Asami got up to assist Pema

"Elira, you've barely touched your food" Azira stated, frowning

"I'm sorry, I just don't have much of an appetite right now" Elira apologised.

She glanced down as Jinora hugged her side and Bolin took her hand comfortingly from her other side.

"Girls, I realize you've been through a lot, but I need to know everything that happened" Tenzin stated

"Well, first off, Tarrlok isn't who he says he is. He's Yakone's son" Korra revealed and Tenzin, Lin and Azira all looked shocked.

"It all makes sense now. That's how Tarrlok was able to bloodbend us without a full moon." Lin realised

"But how did you escape?" Tenzin questioned

" And what happened to Tarrlok?" Azira added

"Amon captured him. And took his bending" Elira replied, squeezing Bolin's hand a bit.

"What?" Tenzin gasped

"Yeah, he showed up out of nowhere. He would've probably gotten me too but El pushed me down the slope" Korra glanced at the airbender.

"Then what happened? Did he...?" Tenzin trailed off

Elira shook her head "No, but he wanted me to deliver a message"

"A message?" Azira shared a look with Lin and Tenzin

"Yes, he said that "The time for total equality is almost upon us... And no bender is safe" Elira replied, frowning even more when she felt her sister cling to her tighter.

"This is very disturbing news. Amon is becoming emboldened. Taking out a councilman, almost capturing the Avatar and threatening my daughter ... I fear Amon is entering his endgame" Tenzin declared gravely and the teens shared concerned glances.

*

Later, Elira was outside practising her airbending stances trying to keep her mind off everything that had happened. After another spin, she stopped and shut her eyes.

"I know you're there. There's no point in hiding" She called out and Jinora revealed herself from behind a pillar.

"Something wrong?"

"No, just wanted to watch" The 10-year old replied

"From behind the pillar?" Elira raised an eyebrow disbelievingly

Jinora smiled up at her, but El knew she was hiding something. She sighed and went to sit on the steps, waving her sister to join her.

"Okay, spit it out. What's wrong?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?" Jinora countered

"You've been following me around like a shadow ever since I woke up. You haven't done that since you were five" El frowned in concern when her sister turned away, looking troubled "What's going on, Jinora? Talk to me"

Jinora sighed "This is the second time you've been taken, El. And both times I thought you weren't coming back. I guess the truth is...I'm just scared that one day...you won't" Elira felt her heart break at her sister's confession.

"Jinora... She whispered, pulling her sister into her arms, hugging her tightly "Why didn't you tell me?"

The 10-year old shrugged "I see how hard you try to act brave around us. Even when your terrified yourself, you smile and reassure us it's all gonna be okay, that there's no reason for us to be scared. I guess...I didn't want to make you worry more than you already do"

Elira scowled "Hey, look at me"

She pulled back and lifted her sister's chin, making her look at her. "It doesn't matter how many times I get taken by maniacs, or how far or how long I leave home. I will always come back okay?"

Jinora smiled slightly and held up her pinkie finger "Promise?"

Elira chuckled and linked their fingers "I promise"

BOOM!

The tender moment between the sister was suddenly shattered by the deafening sounds of explosions!

*

Rushing over to where the pond and greenhouse were located, the two sisters were horrified to see Lin, their grandmother and younger siblings along with several White Lotus sentries watching as Equalist airships flew over the city, dropping bombs into the streets.

Upon noticing their eldest sister, Ikki and Meelo swiftly clung to Elira and the teen glanced down at her siblings, frowning at how frightened they looked. Another loud boom from the city made her cringe and she quickly moved in front of the kids, blocking their view of the destruction.

"Okay, that's enough. All of you in" She pushed them gently towards the house

"El, what's going on?" Ikki asked, looking terrified and confused

"Don't be scared, Ikki. It'll be alright, I promise" Elira reassured her "Jinora, take them inside"

Jinora nodded, taking her younger siblings' hands and leading them into the house as Korra and the others came rushing out.

"We heard explosions, what's going on?" The Avatar questioned

"Republic City is under attack." Lin declared

The teens shared shocked looks before Elira suddenly gasped, her eyes wide as she realised something.

"Dad's out there! There was supposed to be a council meeting today, he could be in trouble!" She exclaimed, starting to panic

"El, calm down" Korra grabbed the airbender's shoulders "Let's go find him, I'm sure he's alright"

As the teens ran off, Azira glanced with worry over at the city being ruthlessly destroyed. Praying that her son was okay.

*

"Where did you say you parked the car?" Elira asked as they looked around the city streets

"It's right around here somewhere. There it is." Korra pointed to the Satomobile that was crashed into a pole.

"Wow, nice parking job," Asami said sarcastically

"Hey, you guys got arrested and left me alone with the car! I made it very clear I don't know how to drive." Korra huffed

"All things considered you did a great job!" Bolin then grabbed the pile of parking tickets off the windshield "But how are we going to pay for all these parking tickets?"

Elira took the tickets from his hand and passed them to Mako who crumpled them up and burned them making Bolin gasp in horror.

"Relax, the city is under attack. The police have more important things to worry about." Mako stated as more explosions were heard in the background

Asami opened the trunk of the car and took out an electrified glove" This'll come in handy"

The team climbed into the car, but when Mako went to sit next to Asami in the front, she glared at him disdainfully "Why don't you sit in the back? With Korra"

"I think I will" The firebender replied

"In that case, I call front! "Elira quickly called, jumping into the passenger seat

Asami started the car as the boys squeezed into the back.

"Everything all right?" Korra asked Mako

"Yeah, everything is terrific ..." Mako turned his head to the side; sarcastically

Asami backed up very fast onto the road as another Satomobile drove passed making Bolin cry out "Car! Oh, we're good"

"El, where do you think your dad would be?" Asami questioned as she sped down the road

"My guess is the police station trying to help" Elira replied

*

The car skidded around the corner towards the police headquarters as Asami floored the gas pedal. Elira gasped when she saw mecha tanks surrounding her father unconscious on the floor.

"Bo!" She called

"I'm on it!" Bolin stood from his seat and earthbent two ramps in front of the car

"Jump!" Asami yelled

They all quickly bailed out of the car before the ramps launched it into the air, knocking one mecha tank into another causing them to fall over in a heap of smoke, fire and metal.

Standing up, the remaining four mecha tanks closed in on the teens.

Mako, Bolin, and Korra engaged the tanks with their bending while Elira and Asami headed for Tenzin being carried to one of the vans by two Equalists.

As they set him down, Elira blasted one away with her bending while Asami electrocuted the other from behind.

More Equalists came at them, but the two girls nimbly dodged their attacks before blasting them away and electrocuting them.

Tenzin groaned as he stood up, holding his head

"Thank you." He said before rushing over to where Mako, was dodging a mecha tank's attacks.

After jumping out of the way of the mecha's grapple, Tenzin positioned himself beneath the tank and airbent it high into the air, sending it flying into the dome of City Hall.

Elira turned to face off against another mecha tank, twirling to the side to dodge its grapple, she then airbent a current of strong wind around the legs of the machine. Flinging her arms over her shoulder in a pulling motion, the mecha tank was swept off balance by the air current, falling backwards into the second and last mecha tank with a loud crash.

Pushing her hair out of her face, Elira ran to her father, embracing him "Dad!"

"Are you all right?" Korra rushed over

"I'm fine. Thank you, kids. Another moment later and I would have been on my way to Amon." Tenzin replied as Elira pulled away from their hug

"Uh, guys ... look." Mako pointed at something down the street and the others turned to see what he was looking at.

"Oh no..." Tenzin muttered, his eyes broadening as Elira felt her breath hitch, her eyes wide with horror.

An Equalist airship was heading straight for the island!

*

Lin was standing in the courtyard with Zira looking up as chi-blockers used harnesses to slide down a cable to the island while Pema and the kids watched from the balcony.

"Everyone, hide inside and remain calm" Lin ordered

Pema suddenly screamed in pain making Lin and Zira turn around to face her

"Pull it together, Pema! Didn't I just say "remain calm"?" Lin snapped

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Ikki asked her mother who was leaning over with her hand on her stomach.

"The baby's coming!"

"Oh no!" Jinora gasped

"Not now, baby!" Meelo yelled

Two Air Acolyte midwives rushed to help Pema and lead her inside, leaving the kids watching in concern.

"Jinora, take your brother and sister inside. I'll come to fetch you once it's safe" Azira instructed

Jinora didn't argue and led the younger kids inside.

"What are you doing? You should go with them" Lin questioned

"I am not leaving you out here alone. I may be past my prime but there's still some fight in these old bones" Zira smirked, holding up her fists.

She suddenly turned serious again when the sound of booted feet was heard running toward them.

The Lieutenant and a group of the chi-blockers race up the steps and charge at the two. The Lieutenant taking out his electric batons.

Lin flicked her cables at two chi-blockers, grabbing and flinging them into the air where they collided before falling to the ground.

Azira conjured a fire whip and snapped it at a chi-blocker while Lin intercepted another coming up behind them with an earth column.

She bent out another earth column and shot the projectile to an Equalist's face. Zira sent a few fire punches at the chi-blockers before Lin then jumped and slammed her palm on the floor, creating three earth columns that sent Equalists flying into the air.

While Zira became occupied fending off three chi-blockers at once, Lin faced off against the Lieutenant.

She shot her cables at the man, but he intercepted them with his batons, wrapping the wire around them and sending a current through them.

Lin cried out in pain as the electricity shocked her

"Lin!" Zira called out before quickly blocking another jab from a chi-blocker

The Lieutenant stood over the former chief of police and raised his electrified kali sticks. He went to shock Lin again but a voice called out making him stop.

" Stay away from my dad's ex-girlfriend!" Jinora swooped down on her glider and used it to blow the Lieutenant away over a nearby roof.

"Good shot, my dear" Zira smiled in approval at her granddaughter

"Jinora! You shouldn't be out here!" Lin exclaimed

Ikki soon zoomed in on an air scooter, knocking several Equalists over.

"Get off our island!" She yelled, knocking down several more before joining Lin, Jinora and her grandmother.

"Girls! You need to go back inside this instant!" Lin ordered standing up as more Equalists approached them.

Meelo suddenly jumped down from the roof" Taste my fury!"

He farted on one of the Equalists ' faces and knocked him unconscious.

"Meelo! Be careful!" Lin cried

The boy sent three other blasts from his hands and rear before making a small air shield around himself to send the remaining Equalists flying. Snot dripped from his nose as he roared.

"Never mind" Lin sighed and Azira chuckled

*

Soon, the Equalists were bound and sat in a row in front of Lin, Zira, the children, and the White Lotus sentries.

"Take these Equalists and lock them in the temple's basement!" Lin ordered the head sentry before turning to the children "Nice work, kids"

Azira smiled at her grandchildren, wrapping her arms around them "I'm so proud of all of you"

They all looked up suddenly at the sound of Oogi grunting and the kids rushed out to the centre of the courtyard.

"Dad! El!" Jinora grinned

Oogi landed and Tenzin and the teens dismounted.

"You're okay!" Elira quickly embraced her siblings and Tenzin soon joined them, wrapping his arms around all of his children.

Azira felt herself let out a breath of relief, seeing her son and granddaughter safe and sound.

"Oh, thank goodness you're all right!"Tenzin smiled as Meelo climbed onto his shoulder and pulled on his head.

"We caught the bad guys." He grinned

"Did you now?" El smirked at him

"You let them fight? Do you realize what could have happened?" Tenzin snapped at Lin, standing up

"I would have been toast if it weren't for your kids" Lin folded her arms

"You should be proud. You taught them well, Tenzin" Zira smiled

Tenzin looked over his shoulder at Meelo, before down at his daughters who were smiling up at him.

"Go on, be with your wife" Zira gestured to the house and Tenzin took off inside.

Meelo clambered onto Elira's shoulders as she stood up, taking her sister's hands and leading them into the house after their father.

*

Elira heard the sound of soft cooing coming from inside one of the rooms and she peered inside along with her siblings. She smiled softly, seeing her mother lying in the bed with her father beside her cradling the new baby.

Tenzin looked up and smiled at them " Come, meet your new brother."

"A brother? Well it's about time!" Meelo grinned, walking into the room with his sisters as Azira entered behind them, smiling.

"Great, another Meelo" Elira joked standing with her siblings as they peered down at their baby brother.

"Welcome, I'm Ikki, and this is Jinora and Meelo. And this is our big sister, El. We have a super great family and we're so happy that you're a part of it" Ikki smiled and the baby cooed at them

"Hey there, squirt" El reached out, letting her baby brother take hold of her finger, cooing and gurgling at her.

Azira approached from behind them, smiling down at the baby "He's perfect, Tenzin. Have you decided on a name yet?"

"Yeah, what're you gonna call him?" El asked

" Can I pick?" Jinora added, putting her hands together in excitement

"We already chose a name" Pema rested her head on Tenzin's shoulder.

"Rohan." Tenzin finished as Lin and the rest of Team Avatar watched from the doorway

"Well, welcome to the world, Rohan" Elira smiled as the baby gurgled at her.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt but..." Korra stepped forward " More airships are coming."

Elira's smile fell as Ikki looked up at her big sister worried "Everything's not gonna be fine, is it, El?"

Elira didn't reply for once and just held her tightly as Tenzin glanced at each of his family members.

*

Heading outside, they saw multiple Equalist airships making their way toward the island.

"What do you want to do, Tenzin?" Korra asked

"I need to protect my family and get them as far away from this conflict as possible. If Amon got his hands on my children..." Elira hugged her father's side as he sighed " I hate to even think of it"

"If you're leaving, then I'm going with you." Lin declared

"But-"

"No arguments. You and your family are the last airbenders. There's no way in the world I'm letting Amon take your bending away." The metalbender stated

"Thank you, Lin." Tenzin nodded "Korra, I want you to leave this island and hide for the time being."

" I'm not giving up. "Korra argued, looking determined

"I'm not asking you to. I sent word to the United Forces. They will be here soon. And once my family is safe, I will return. With the reinforcements, we can turn the tide in this war." Tenzin explained

"What you're saying is...we need to be patient" Korra sighed

" You're learning well" Tenzin put his hand on her shoulder and the Avatar brightened up

"If Korra's staying then so am I" Elira declared

Tenzin frowned "Elira--"

"No, Dad. I'm part of Team Avatar now, I need to be with them" Elira argued

"You are a part of this family too and I am not leaving you behind!" Tenzin exclaimed

"But Lin is right. The most important thing right now is making sure you, mom and the kids get out of here safely"

"But Amon--"

"Will have to go through all of us first" Bolin cut in, standing by El's side.

"We won't let anything happen to her, Sir" Mako added and El smiled at the brothers.

Tenzin still looked reluctant, so Elira hugged her father tightly "Don't worry, I'll be okay, dad"

Tenzin sighed in defeat and held his daughter close, kissing her head.

*

A little while later, El was saying goodbye to her family as they all prepared to leave.

"Be careful, lotus flower. Don't do anything too reckless" Azira smirked, giving the teen a squeeze.

"I'll try, Gran-Gran" Elira chuckled before turning to embrace her mother

"Stay safe, mom. And don't worry about me. Just get somewhere safe" She frowned when she heard her mother sniffling and pulled back to find her crying. "Mom, I'll be okay. Iroh will be here soon and we'll win this thing "

"I know, it's just..." Pema sighed and caressed her daughter's cheek with a wistful smile "I love you so much, sweetheart"

"I love you too. I'll see you soon okay?"

Pema nodded and wiped her cheek, moving to climb onto Oogie with Azira as El turned around to face her siblings standing behind her.

She knelt down and opened her arms with a small smile "Come here"

Ikki and Meelo quickly ran to her, clinging to her with tears in their eyes. Elira held them tightly, shutting her eyes.

"I wanna go with you" Ikki frowned

"No, Ikki, I need you to go with mom, dad and Gran-Gran. It'll put my mind at ease knowing you're all safe, okay?" El pulled back to look at them, lifting her sister's chin "This isn't forever, guys. It's just for a little while"

Ikki sniffed as she began to cry but nodded

"Now you two behave. No causing mayhem without me, you hear?"

The two kids giggled slightly and Elira smiled pulling them in for another hug "I love you...so much"

"We love you, too, El"

The teen then ushered the kids up into Oogie's saddle where they clung to their mother before she turned to Jinora, who had silently been looking at her feet the whole time.

"Jinora?" The 10-year old looked up, seeing her sister holding her arms out for a hug and she rushed to embrace her.

"I'm gonna miss you" She muttered

"I'll miss you, too, kid. But we'll see each other again. I will always come back, remember?" El smiled and held up her pinkie to her sister.

Jinora smiled sadly and linked their pinkies, hugging her sister one last time before airbending into the saddle.

Elira stood up as her father approached behind her. They didn't say anything and just hugged each other.

"Stay safe, sweetheart"

"You too...I'll make you proud dad"

Tenzin smiled at his eldest daughter "I know you will"

"Tenzin, if we're leaving, we'd better do it now," Lin called from the saddle

Tenzin kissed Elira's forehead before airbending himself onto his bison "Oogi, yip yip!"

Pichi came and landed on Elira's shoulder, chittering sadly. The airbender watched fearfully as the sky bison holding her family flew away from the island and two Equalist airships began to chase them. The teen looked down at her feet, feeling tears build in her eyes. She turned her head when she felt Bolin place a hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

One of the remaining airships suddenly shot out a cable near the team and Equalists slid down onto the island. The White Lotus guards quickly ran in front of the teens and took their stances, ready to fight.

"Go! We'll hold them off!" The head sentry yelled

" Everyone, climb on!" Korra climbed onto Naga and Mako, Bolin, El and Asami hopped on behind her. It was tight, but they all managed to squeeze on.

" Let's go, girl!" Korra patted Naga's head and the polar-bear dog took off with Pichi flying closely overhead.

*

El had wrapped her arms around Bolin in front of her as Naga ran along the path towards the docks with Pichi following.

"Mustache guy!" Bolin yelled, pointing at the Lieutenant sliding down the slope towards them.

He jumped to attack them but Naga growled and intercepted him mid-air. Swatting him with her and sending him flying off of the cliff into the bushes below.

"Nice one, Naga!" Korra praised

"Good girl!" El added before they ran down the pier.

Naga jumped into the water and Pichi dived in soon after, settling herself on El's lap when Korra waterbent a large water bubble around them, allowing them to breathe as Naga swam to safety.

*

Up in the air, Oogi was trying to escape from the Equalist airships, but they were too fast and easily kept up with the bison.

"Tenzin, they're gaining on us!" Azira cried, hugging her granddaughters to her sides to try and soothe them.

" Faster, Oogi!" Tenzin cracked the reigns and the bison flew faster

One of the Equalist airships shot out a large net at them but Lin metalbent her cables to break the net apart and wrapped her cable around the rope. She stood and looked back at the family with sorrow as they watched the airship in fear.

She looked away for a moment before turning back at them" Whatever happens to me, don't turn back!"

Tenzin turned his head "Lin, what are you doing?!"

"Lin? Lin!" Zira yelled as the metalbender jumped off Oogi, reeling herself up and landing on the airship.

She took her stance and ripped off a large section of the airship's metal skin causing it to explode and begin to fall into the harbour below.

Lin metalbent a panel to catapult herself to the other airship and began ripping it apart when a couple of Equalists came up behind her.

"No!" Zira gasped, watching as they wrapped their bolas around Lin's body and feet, electrocuting her into unconsciousness.

The last airship turned back as the family gazed at it in shock.

"That lady is my hero," Meelo said

"Yes, she is," Tenzin muttered sadly

Zira suddenly stood up "I'm going after her"

"Mother, no!/Gran-Gran!/ Zira!" Her family yelled

"I have to help her!"

"Mother!" Zira turned to face her son, his eyes begging her not to follow after Lin. "Please...not you too"

"But..." Zira turned away again, watching helplessly as the airship got further and further away making it impossible for her to catch up with it.

"...I promised Toph" She muttered, sinking to her knees as Oogie flew them away to safety.

*

Back in the city, Elira stood with her friends in a large drainage pipe near the bay watching with tears in her eyes as her home was raided. Pichi chittered sadly and nuzzled her cheek as Naga whimpered.

"Korra, we should get moving." Mako placed his hand on the Avatar's shoulder.

Korra looked down in dismay before turning around and letting Mako escort her into the tunnel. Asami watched them disdainfully, leaning against the tunnel wall before she too walked with them into the tunnel.

Bolin turned to go with them but stopped when he saw El wasn't following. He stood beside her and wrapped his arm around her comfortingly.

"Come on, El. Time to go" He said

Elira didn't say anything, lowering her head and turning to walk down the tunnel. A single tear falling down her cheek.