Endgame! - Part 2

Back in the arena, Amon stood over a now weakened Korra.

"Finally, you are powerless." He sneered

Korra attempted to hit Amon but was too weak from the loss of her bending to do it and missed.

"Amon!" Amon's eyes widened as the voice of the Lieutenant came from behind him.

"Everything the Avatar said is true, isn't it? I just saw you bloodbend her" The Lieutenant removed his mask, dropping it to the floor before smashing the goggles with his foot.

He gritted his teeth angrily "You traitor! I dedicated my life to you!"

The Lieutenant took out his kali sticks and ran forward to attack Amon.

Right before he could land a hit, however, Amon glared at him and lifted him into the air with bloodbending.

"You've served me well, Lieutenant." Amon flung his arm and cast the Lieutenant aside into a pile of wood.

He turned and headed toward Mako, bloodbending him to his knees intending to take his bending.

But as Amon stopped in front of the firebender, Mako managed to electrocute him with lightning strong enough to throw him away, crashing into the wall.

Now free from the bloodbending grip, Mako sent two firebending blasts at Amon, but the blasts hit the surrounding wood and trapped the bloodbender.

Mako then ran over and picked up Korra, before carrying her bridal style out into the hallway.

"Mako ... my bending." Korra muttered weakly "I...I promised El I'd..."

" Everything will be all right! We just need to get out of here." Mako huffed, continuing to run.

He suddenly grunted in pain, freezing to a halt and dropping Korra sliding along the floor.

Amon stood behind Mako and used bloodbending to toss the teen around like a ragdoll into the walls and ceiling before letting him fall to the ground beaten.

"I'm impressed. No one has ever gotten the better of me like that" Amon approached the boy, bloodbending him into a kneeling position "It is almost a shame to take the bending of someone so talented"

He stood over Mako as Korra stirred, lifting her head up.

"Almost"

Amon grabbed Mako's neck and Korra gasped when he went to place his free hand on his forehead.

" NO!" Korra stood up and instinctively threw a punch at Amon.

Suddenly a blast of air shot down the corridor and slammed into Amon and Mako, sending them flying. Mako landed against the wall as Amon was sent skidding backwards.

Despite the mask, it was obvious that he was for once completely stunned. " Impossible!"

Korra was leaning against the wall and glanced down at her hands in surprise "I - I can airbend?... I can airbend!"

She stood up straight and attacked Amon with a flurry of air blasts.

Despite his attempts to block, he was flung to the ground and slid to a stop on his side in front of a window.

He growled in annoyance and stretched out his hand, immediately halting Korra's progression with his bloodbending.

Amon stood up and strengthened his grip on Korra, now using both hands. The Avatar's face contorted in pain and the effort it cost to resist his hold.

"No ... you ... don't" She struggled "I...made a...promise!"

Korra broke out of Amon's bloodbending grip and punctuated the last word with an airbending-infused kick that slammed into him, blasting him out of the window behind him.

As Amon fell, his mask came off, and he plunged into the sea. Concerned citizens dashed to see what happened.

"Did you see what happened?"

"Can you see him?"

Amon's mask floated to the surface making the crowd gasp in horror. "Could that be...?"

Korra and Mako appeared in the shattered window causing the crowd to yell up at them angrily.

"You bending tyrant!"

"Evil Avatar!"

"What did you do to our leader?!"

The water behind them suddenly exploded and Amon appeared without his mask, and without his "scar". Waterbending a spout to get to the surface, he gasped for air. Riding his water spout high above the crowd, he turned to see the people looking at him in shock.

"He's waterbending."

"He is a bender."

"Whoa!"

"The scar is fake."

"The Avatar was telling the truth."

Amon, or Noatak, glared angrily at Korra, which she reciprocated, before jumping into the water again. As Noatak escapes, Mako tried to stop him by firebending, but he missed every shot. After Noatak had disappeared, Korra and Mako hugged each other.

It was over. Amon had been exposed.

But at what cost?

*

After rescuing Pema, Rohan and Lin from jail, everyone returned to Air Temple Island. Tenzin hugged his mother, wife and youngest children, all of them bearing sombre expressions. Pema was crying while her children clung to her. Heartbroken over what had happened to her eldest daughter. Her baby. One who had not said a word to anyone before she had disappeared into the temple as soon as they returned.

Lin stood with Team Avatar not far from the family.

"I can't believe Amon got you and Elira too." She sighed, a hand on Korra's shoulder

"Hey, at least you unlocked your airbending!" Bolin grinned brightly and everyone turned and glared at him sourly as Pabu chittered.

"Bro, not the time," Mako said

"Right, right, I'll just stand over here" Bolin backed away sheepishly

"Quietly" He put his hands over his mouth " In silence"

Several ships then appeared, coming through the bay and the group watched them.

" You saved Republic City" Tenzin turned to Korra

" But Amon got away. And what's worse, El got hurt" Korra lowered her head, looking sad "I'm so sorry, Tenzin"

"It's okay, Korra." Tenzin placed an arm around the Avatar's shoulders, and she covered his hand with hers "It'll be challenging, but with a little time and support, Elira will be alright. And so will you"

A ship with dragons on the front sailed passed in the distance. Azira smiled when she saw a figure standing on the side of the ship.

"Yay, Uncle Bumi's here!" Ikki cheered

"WAAAA-HOOOO!" Bumi's yell was heard as the man clapped his hands happily.

Azira chuckled slightly at her erratic son as Tenzin sighed

"Great, now I have to entertain my brother." He muttered, rolling his eyes

*

Elira lay silently unmoving in her bed and staring at the wall. She had finally returned to her home and reunited with her family after what felt like weeks. But the happiness she thought she'd feel wasn't there. She didn't feel anything. Except numb. Numb and cold. She had numerous thick warm blankets laying over her but she was still freezing.

There was a faint knock at the door causing Pichi to lift her head with a chitter from the end of the bed. The door slid open and Bolin popped his head in with Pabu on his shoulder.

"Hey, El. Have no fear, your bestest friend is here!" He struck a goofy heroic pose, intending to make the girl laugh.

But Elira remained facing the wall. Unmoving.

Bolin frowned sadly and slid the door shut before walking over to the bed. Pabu jumped off his shoulder and hopped onto the mountain of blankets covering Elira, chirping sadly at her. Bolin sat on the edge, placing a comforting hand on Elira's shoulder.

"Your uncle Bumi arrived earlier. Ikki was pretty excited" He smiled, trying to get a reaction but the girl just curled more into the blankets silently.

Bolin sighed. It pained him seeing her so broken.

Another knock came from the door making the two animals chitter. Bolin got up and slid the door open, finding Pema standing on the other side with the kids behind her. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her cheeks pink from crying.

"How is she?" Pema walked in slightly and frowned when she saw her daughter lying motionless in her bed.

"Has she said anything?" She whispered

"Nothing" Bolin shook his head

Pema sighed and slowly walked over to her daughter while the three kids stood in the doorway.

"El?" She sat on the bed and began stroking the teen's hair comfortingly "Come on, sweetie. We're going to the South Pole"

Elira finally looked up at her mother with a questioning look.

"Your grandmother thinks Aunt Katara may be able to help you and Korra" Pema explained "It's worth a shot, what do you say?"

Elira remained silent but slowly got up, brought her blankets with her, and dragged her feet towards the door. 

She stopped when she noticed her siblings standing in the doorway. The kids didn't say anything, staring up at Elira sadly. 

Jinora was the first to move, hugging her big sister tightly. Ikki and Meelo soon joined her. Elira remained still for a moment before eventually kneeling and wrapping her arms around her three siblings, trying extremely hard not to cry. But a single salty tear escaped from her eye, silently rolling down her cheek. 

*

Hours later, Elira was sat on a couch in a hut in the South Pole. Anxiously waiting for Katara to come out of the healing room where she and Korra had disappeared to. She had her blankets wrapped around her, trying to stay warm.

Meelo was sitting on her lap, sound asleep, while Jinora was on her right, hugging her arm and Ikki was on her left on Bolin's lap as he sat next to her, holding her hand comfortingly. Mako and Asami were sitting on the couch next to them with dejected expressions on their faces

Tenzin and Pema were seated at a table with Zira, and Pema was changing baby Rohan. Zira was fiddling with the locket around her neck before she glanced over her shoulder sadly at her granddaughter.

Korra's parents, Senna and Tonraq, were there too. Senna had her eyes closed while resting sadly against Tonraq's shoulder who had his arm around his wife. Lin was sitting beside him, both staring sadly toward the ground in front of them.

They all looked up when the door suddenly slid open and a sad-faced Katara walked out. Korra could be seen sitting in the room behind her, though was blocked from view when the elderly healer shut the door behind her.

As she ventured further into the waiting area, all people present stood up and look expectantly at her.

"I've tried everything in my power, but ...I cannot restore Korra's bending" The waterbender announced regretfully

Elira sighed and cast her eyes to the ground, tightening her hold on her sleeping brother. If she couldn't bring back Korra's bending, then what hope was there for hers?

"But you're the best healer in the world, you have to keep trying!" Lin persisted

"Tara, please, there must be something" Zira added

"I'm sorry, there's nothing else I can do. Korra can still airbend, but her connection to the other elements has been severed." Katara informed

Lin and Zira looked down disappointed as Korra exited the healing room. She was staring sadly at the ground. She stopped and eyed everyone upon noticing all the people in the room watching back at her.

"It's going to be all right Korra," Tenzin reassured her

"No...It's not" Korra walked passed them all and grabbed her coat before silently leaving the hut. Mako soon followed after her.

Elira looked down in thought for a moment before placing Meelo down and heading towards the door.

When she got outside, she saw Korra climbing onto Naga and running off as Mako watched her sadly.

"El? What are you doing? You'll freeze out here" Mako called out as she dashed down the steps 

But Elira ignored him and bolted past.

"El, come back!" Mako yelled as she disappeared out the compound gate.

Azira came up behind him as he sighed and looked down "We need to be patient with them. It will take time for them to accept what has happened"

*

Elira ran as fast as she could, holding her blankets close to her. She was absolutely freezing! She knew the South Pole was cold, but never this much. She didn't let it stop her, however. Following the pawprints in the snow, she sighed in relief when she finally caught up with Korra on a cliff.

 She gasped and skidded to a stop however when she realised Korra was standing right on the edge!

"Korra, no!" She yelled causing Korra to jump in shock but didn't turn to face her. 

"Don't do this. Please" Elira begged, tears in her eyes 

"What's the point of an Avatar that can only bend one element?" Korra replied quietly, staring over the edge of the cliff

"Korra, I know things seem hopeless right now, but it'll be alright. It's not gonna be exactly the same as before, I know that. But just come back from the edge and we'll figure this out together, okay?" Elira pleaded. She was shivering badly, her fingers and nose had gone numb.

Korra still didn't face her. She looked down as a tear rolled down her face and fell into the ice below her. 

She suddenly began sobbing and she fell to the ground, crying into her knees. Elira sprinted over, hugging her as tightly as she could, tears of her own falling from her eyes.

The two heard footsteps approach them. Glancing up, they saw the ends of Tenzin's red cloak.

"Not now Tenzin, I just want to be left alone" Korra turned away as Elira looked down

"But you called me here." A voice, definitely not Tenzin's, replied

The two girls glanced up and Elira gasped. Smiles returning to their faces.

"Aang!" Korra grinned, seeing her past life standing behind them

"You have finally connected with your spiritual self." Aang smiled at the two. 

"How?" Korra asked as she and El stood up

"When we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest change," Aang stated as behind the figures of Kyoshi and Roku appeared, followed by Kuruk, Yangchen, Szeto, and many others, stretching far into the distance and all looking at the teens. 

"Grandpa?"Elira stepped forward hesitantly.

This had to be a dream. Surely this wasn't real. 

"Elira" Aang turned to smile at her softly and held open his arms for a hug. "My granddaughter"

"Grandpa!" The teen quickly ran to her grandfather, hugging him tightly.

"The last I held you, you were but a tiny baby" Aang pulled back to smile at her once again "And now look at you. All grown up. Well, physically"

Elira let out a laugh, reaching up to wipe her face, sniffing her runny nose.

"I could not be more proud of the woman you are turning out to be"

Elira felt her heart swell with happiness. He was proud! Her grandfather. The hero of her grandmother's stories. He was actually proud of her!

The sound of someone's footsteps in the snow caught her attention. Whoever it was stopped and gasped in shock.

Azira stood there frozen with her hands over her mouth, tears brimming her golden eyes. She had come after Elira and Korra.

"...A-Aang?" She whispered, her voice heavy with emotion as her hands shook.

Aang turned to gaze at his wife with the purest of love in his eyes

"Hello, Zira"

Tears fell from the old woman's eyes as she clutched her locket, a bright smile lighting up her wrinkled features.

"There's that smile," Aang said making Zira chuckle a bit, more tears falling.

Aang then turned back to Korra and in the Avatar State, put his hands on Korra's forehead and shoulder.

Elira watched in amazement as they seemed to glow. The eyes and tattoos of the other Avatars lit up as well before they all faded away.

El grinned, backing up towards her grandmother as Korra's eyes snapped open, glowing.

She raised into the air with airbending and sent out blasts of air, fire, and earth before bending the water at the bottom of the cliff to make a large wave.

Korra lowered back to the ground and exited the Avatar State, turning around to smile at Zira and El.

"Told you things would be alright" Elira smirked, crossing her arms

Korra rolled her eyes playfully while laughing "Just come here, arrowhead. I've got an idea"

The two girls approached each other and Elira knelt in front of the Avatar.

Just as Aang had done to her, Korra placed her hands on El's forehead and shoulder. Her eyes glowing brightly.

Elira immediately felt warmth spread through her body, banishing any feeling of cold. She felt stronger and so energized!

As Korra stepped back, Elira shot into the air on an air spout, throwing her blankets off her shoulders, and laughing in glee.

She spread her arms wide and relished at the feeling of the wind in her hair.

Her bending, the gift from her grandfather, was back! She was an airbender again!

Floating back on the ground, El hugged Korra tightly

"Thank you" She whispered

Azira came up to them with Naga as they pulled back "Come on, girls, let's go home"

Korra helped Azira into Naga's saddle before climbing on herself. She smirked at El challengingly "Race you back?"

Elira returned the smirk "You're on!"

The airbender dashed off at high speed, kicking up snow as she did and Korra turned to Zira

"Hang on tight" She flicked the reins and took off after her friend, Zira laughing behind her.

*

Elira reached the compound first. She skidded to a stop and smirked mischievously when she saw Bolin and Mako waiting on the steps. They both looked up when she approached.

"El!" They yelled, running towards her, hugging her tightly.

"Where have you been?"

"And where're your blankets? You'll freeze out here!"

"Where's Korra and your grandmother?"

Elira smirked at them "They're coming, don't worry. As for those blankets, I don't think I'll be needing them anymore"

The boys shared a confused glance "How come?"

Elira grinned. Stepping back, she conjured an air ball and flung it at her friends. It split into two and swept the brothers off their feet causing them to cry out.

"What?!"

"Hey!" 

"El!"

"Put me down!"

Elira bent over, holding her stomach from laughing so much before suddenly stopping standing up straight.

"Ooh! I need to tell dad!" Dropping the boys to the ground, Elira took off inside the hut

"Hey, wait for me, airhead!" Bolin chased after her

Mako sighed and stood from the ground, brushing snow off himself as Korra and Zira finally arrived back through the gate on Naga.

Korra immediately ran to him, jumping on him in a hug. He smiled and spun her around a bit before placing her back on her feet. 

" I love you too" She smiled, placing a hand on his cheek before pulling him in for a kiss.

It was only brief however as the door to the hut burst open and Elira flew out laughing with her siblings behind her all on air scooters.

Those remaining inside quickly ran out after them, and they all watched in amusement as Elira played with her siblings, laughing and yelling in glee.

*

The sun was setting and everyone had gathered at the temple. Korra stood at the top of the steps as Lin climbed up to her and knelt down.

Doing the same as she did to El, Korra placed her hands on Lin's forehead and shoulder.

Her eyes glowed as she entered the Avatar State. Everyone watched amazed while Elira, Zira and Katara merely smiled as Korra's hands shone, restoring Lin's bending.

When the light faded, Korra stepped back. Lin climbed to her feet and simultaneously lifted several large rocks surrounding the temple into the air. Everyone watched with awed expressions on their faces. Elira snickered at Bolin's eyes almost popping out of his head.

Lin lowered the rocks again before turning to Korra with a rare soft smile " Thank you "

Korra returned the smile and bowed as Tenzin walked up to her.

"I am so proud of you, Avatar Korra."

Korra smiled at him gratefully. At the bottom of the steps, Azira gazed up at them with a proud smile. She glanced down at the bracelet around her wrist. Worn and old but still beautiful as the day it was given to her. 

An icy wind blew past, ruffling her silver hair, and in the whistling breeze, she heard a faint voice whisper. 

"I love you, Zira. I always will" 

The old woman looked down and closed her eyes. Clutching her wrist to her chest 

"I love you too, Aang" She whispered, looking up with a small wistful smile as the sunset over the horizon.