Day of The Colossus

The Future Industries warehouse was in ruins. Nothing was left standing except a huge pile of rubble. Ash rained down through the air as smoke rose into the sky, the remnants of the Colossus' cannon.

Suddenly, a large slab of concrete began to quiver and shake. Then, the higher end of the slab began slowly rising into the air, revealing Bolin straining to bend it upward beneath it. He kept the others safe from being crushed as they rushed out to safety, Elira keeping close to her younger siblings.

"Go ahead, take your time, just bending a giant wall! Man, have we got a lot of people hurt!" he yelled, his voice strained with exertion, as Suyin and Bumi carefully and slowly carried out an unconscious Baatar Jr, "Is that everybody?!"

"That's everyone. Come on!" Elira replied, raising her hands ready. 

With a grunt, Bolin dropped the huge slab of concrete, and Elira quickly pulled him out of the way with airbending as the slab crashed back down. Elira moved to help him up while behind her, Tenzin airbent himself up to the top of a building and rushed to its edge. Using it as a vantage point, he spotted the Colossus wading through the bay and, to its right, a battalion of normal-sized mecha suits marching across the bay on a bridge. Tenzin stared in horror at the oncoming horde before running from his vantage and returning to the others, landing in the middle of the group gathered in a crater of rubble nearby.

"Kuvira is heading our way, with a platoon of mecha suits!" He announced

"What should we do?" Asami asked

"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 said

"What about all the people who haven't been evacuated yet?" Mako argued, "If Kuvira finds out that Wu is with them, she might fire that spirit cannon at him and take them all out."

"I couldn't stop Kuvira from taking Zaofu. I'm not letting her conquer Republic City," Korra declared

"Neither am I. The world isn't safe so long as Kuvira has that weapon. We have to destroy it," Elira crossed her arms, her face determined.

"I agree." A firm, driven voice suddenly spoke from the top of the rubble crater on Korra's left, and they all turned to see Lin standing atop it. "We take down that giant today."

"Lin!" Elira grinned at the sight of the police chief.

"Glad to see you all made it out. You had me worried." Lin smiled, walking up to the group.

"Well, you benders are going to have to fight her alone. She just blew up our factory with all our hummingbird suits." Varrick said

"Not all of them" Asami argued, looking deep in thought "There are the prototypes back at my office. If we can get those ready to fly, we'll at least be able to offer a little air support."

Korra turned to look at Suyin, who was kneeling on the ground with the still-unconscious Baatar Jr. "Su, you take Baatar Jr. and the rest of the wounded back to Asami's office. Get those suits working as soon as you can. The rest of us will just have to face Kuvira on our own."

The others all nodded, sharing determined looks, ready to defend their home and their loved ones.

This was it. The Battle for Republic City had begun. 

*

At the train station, a tremor shook the building, causing the evacuees to panic as debris rained down from the ceiling above. Off to the side, Pema climbed onto a bench and yelled to the crowd, trying to restore calm, as Azira stood nearby.

"Everyone, please settle down. The trains should be returning to pick us up soon." She said

"You have nothing to fear; we simply ask that you remain patient and calm until the trains arrive," Azira added.

"Tell that mecha jerk to settle down. She's the one blowing up the whole city!" An impatient evacuee shouted

A train conductor then suddenly, inopportunely, climbed up onto the bench in front of Pema, and the woman looked at him, startled.

"I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but I just heard on the radio that Kuvira's army has destroyed the train tracks. We're not getting out of the city by rail." He announced

Then Tu also jumped up onto the bench behind Pema, pinning her between himself and the conductor "Everyone! I was just up on the observation deck and saw a bunch of mecha suit soldiers heading this way!"

"Oh great! The giant one wasn't enough?! It's over! We're all gonna get blown to bits!" The impatient evacuee exclaimed as everyone began to panic.

Wu then jumped onto the bench behind the conductor, and the excess of people standing on the small bench caused Tu, on the opposite side, to nearly lose his balance.

"Listen, everyone, I can get us out of here if you just sit tight," the prince said, before cordially turning to the conductor. "Can you step off the bench, please? It's a little crowded up here."

The conductor scowled, stepping off the bench.

"Sure. I'm only the conductor. No one needs me on the bench." He muttered as he walked off.

"Just stay calm. I'll be right back," Wu told the crowd before turning to Tu, "Come on"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Where are you going?" The impatient evacuee questioned, causing Wu to stop, but was run into by Tu and nearly pushed off the bench.

"I'm going to get some help, "Wu replied, annoyed. He then turned to Pema and Azira, "You think you two can handle this unruly mob for a little while?"

Azira smirked. "I've faced a number of unruly groups in my life: Pirates, bandits, my eldest son, even Sokka on cactus juice" 

"And I raised Meelo", Pema added confidently, "We can handle anything."

*

On a deserted city street, Elira, Korra, Bolin, Mako, Lin, Ikki, and Meelo could be seen running when Meelo suddenly stopped and looked in a window of a nearby store. He grinned when he saw what was inside.

"A paint store? That's it!"

He airbent the door down as Elira returned to get him.

"Meelo, what are you doing? Now's not the time to be shopping!" She exclaimed

"I just got an idea how to beat the giant. Now, everyone, grab some paint and find me some balloons!" Meelo ordered, and his sister looked at him, confused

A few moments later, the mecha suit's crashing could be heard as the Colossus walked through the streets, when many airbenders ran across a nearby rooftop and threw themselves into the empty air beyond, taking flight with bright-green balloons filled with paint strapped to their bodies. They arranged themselves in formation and bore down on the Colossus.

Inside the Colossus' cockpit, one of Kuvira's soldiers observed the scenario through binoculars.

"Airbenders approaching." They warned

"I see them." Kuvira narrowed her eyes as the approaching group

Then, manipulating the controls, Kuvira turned the Colossus to face the airbenders and raised the cannon, pointing it toward them. Elira's eyes widened, and she looked over her shoulder at the other airbenders.

"Scatter!" She cried

Kuvira fired the weapon.

The airbenders scattered, breaking formation to avoid the beam as it passed them by and hit a building beyond. The explosion pierced a hole through the building and severed the top from the bottom.

The airbenders fell out of the sky, landing on rooftops.

"Anybody hurt?" Elira called out as she scanned the area for her fellow airbenders. Relief washed over her when she received multiple replies—thankfully, no one had been struck by the blast. With a renewed sense of purpose, she took flight once more, the other airbenders soaring closely behind her.

As the airbenders swarmed around the Colossus, it flailed its non-weaponized arm in an attempt to swat the airbenders away. Below on the ground, Lin, Wei, Wing, Mako and Bolin stared up at the Colossus with large spools of wire at the ready.

In the air, Meelo dodged a swat from the arm before landing on it and running across the body, airbending the balloons from his suit and holding them in midair, spinning them around his head.

"Bombs away!" He yelled and threw his balloons at the Colossus's target crosshair, covering it with purple paint.

The other airbenders followed suit and covered the remaining windows.

In front of the unmoving mecha, Korra airbent herself onto a roof, and she stood there, glaring at the massive machine in front of her with disdain as the airbenders completely obscured the cockpit window with the paint.

Nearby, Tenzin landed on a tiled roof, taking cover before yelling to the others. "Now!"

Using cables, Lin and the twins swung onto the Colossus's ankles and tried to metalbend the joints. Lin's eyes widened in shock when nothing happened.

"The joints are platinum, too! We can't metalbend any of it!" She yelled back to Bolin, who stood with the spools of wire nearby.

As Lin and the twins dismounted from the Colossus, Bolin advanced on it, catapulting himself into the air with his earthbending.

"You're about to get the world's largest hot foot, metal lady!"

Landing in front of the Colossus's left foot, he lavabent the street beneath it and spread the magma until the entire space under the foot was lava, causing the Colossus's foot to sink into it and become unstable. Lin and the twins then bent the spools of wire, wrapping the suit's legs in the metal cables.

"Hit it now!" Bolin yelled up to Korra and the airbenders on the rooftops.

Korra entered the Avatar State, gradually building up her attack before sending a large gust of wind at the Colossus's chest. From the nearby rooftops, Elira and the other airbenders joined in to assist her.

"Come on...Come on," Elira muttered, sweat building on her forehead as she put all her strength into her attack.

She then smirked, seeing the machine start to topple backward, but cringed as the Colossus suddenly fired the cannon aimlessly, trying to strike the airbenders. But the weapon's beam swung wildly through the air, streaking into the distance and slicing a shimmering ribbon of purple across the midsection of the skyline.

Korra ducked as the beam went over her head before spinning to her feet and turning to survey the damage. Every single one of the impacted skyscrapers detonated explosively, their deafening immolation spreading a massive cloud of fire across the face of the city.

As the airbenders continued their efforts to topple the Colossus, Korra, after seeing the catastrophic damage, turned back to the Colossus and redoubled her airbending, knocking back the Colossus.

It grasped at the buildings on either side in a last-ditch effort to save itself. The wires around the Colossus's legs then failed and snapped, and the machine, moving its left foot underneath it, managed to stabilise itself.

Not hesitating a moment, Kuvira pointed the cannon at the building where Korra and the airbenders stood and fired!

Everyone promptly dispersed as the building exploded. Airbenders tumbled through the air, screaming, and Korra, trying to rise above the beam with airbending, threw herself out of the way with a terrified yell.

The beam tore through more buildings, followed by more explosions in turn. Korra, tumbling downward, slowed her descent by grabbing the wall of a building, breaking her fall with earthbending and airbending.

After rolling to a stop, she lifted her head and saw injured airbenders scattered in the street. Elira was kneeling beside her father with her siblings around her, all looking slightly scratched and dusty from the debris but otherwise unharmed. Korra quickly got up and ran to the injured airbenders as Mako, Bolin, and Lin entered the street from a side alley.

"Opal!" Lin rushed over to her niece, lying unconscious on the ground.

"El!" Mako and Bolin ran over to their best friend, Bolin picking her up in a tight hug as she stood.

"We're okay...We're okay," Elira muttered, more to herself than anyone else, clinging to Bolin.

A huge crash sounded, and the ground beneath their feet shook! The group turned as the crashing drew closer and closer. Elira's eyes widened in fear. Through the flames rising high at the end of the street, the Colossus loomed menacingly, turning to face them once again.

"Everyone retreat! Take the wounded back to Asami's office!" Korra ordered, supporting a female airbender.

"I'll meet you there! I'm going to see if I can find any help!" Lin replied, passing the still-unconscious Opal over to Mako as Bolin and Elira supported two more airbenders.

Kuvira fired the spirit energy cannon at the group once again.

They fled into one of the side alleys as the street behind them went up in flames, and they were enveloped by a cloud of dust and smoke.

*

Reaching Future Industries Tower, Varrick had an idea on how to stop the Colossus. So, on a metal tower on the rooftop, where wire spools were lying around, Varrick and Zhu Li climbed up the ladder.

"Do you think this plan will actually work, sir?" Zhu Li asked

"I know I can stop the mecha suits with an electromagnetic pulse, so it stands to reason that I can stop a giant mecha suit with a giant electromagnetic pulse," Varrick explained from above her.

Reaching the top of the tower, Varrick got to work setting up, snipping a few wires with pliers.

"Zhu Li, I've been thinking."

"You're always thinking, sir."

"Yes. But lately, I've been thinking about you." Varrick confessed, "I know we might not make it out of this mess, and I feel like there are some things I should tell you."

"There are?" Zhu Li smiled, her eyes lighting up with hope.

"I remember when I was a boy, I had an ostrich horse. Named her Mrs. Beaks," Varrick said. Zhu Li's excitement died out, and she glared at him. "I grew up on a farm. Did I ever tell you that, Zhu Li? This was before the circus people took me away. Anyway, I loved old Mrs. Beaks, but I took her for granted."

"You'll have to finish your story later. Kuvira's troops are in range," Zhu Li interrupted, noticing the Colossus in the distance.

Zhu Li grabbed the switch for the electromagnet "Okay, I hope this works."

She flipped the switch, creating a buzzing sound from the tower, causing Varrick to cover his ears as electromagnetic pulses were emitted. In the distance, the mecha suit platoon marching in front of the Colossus was all disabled one by one.

"Yes! Dead in their tracks," Varrick cheered.

But his celebration was short-lived. The Colossus was still moving towards them!

"Oh, rats. She's still coming. Zhu Li, do the thing!" Varrick ordered, but Zhu Li didn't move, staring at the giant mecha suit in fear.

"I'm afraid there are no more things to do." She muttered 

*

"Varrick, how come your electro-thingy shut down the small mecha suits but not the big one?" Bolin asked when Varrick and Zhu Li came back inside the tower.

"Because it's powered with spirit vine energy. I'm sorry. I wish I could help you, but it's unstoppable." Baatar Jr explained, sitting in a chair with his mother standing behind him.

"It's not." A voice replied from the doorway, causing all heads to turn towards it.

There in the doorway, his hair and beard now white with age, and dressed in a prison uniform, was Hiroshi Sato!

"Dad?" Asami gasped as her friends stared in shock, Bolin instinctively moving an arm protectively in front of Elira.

"I got him out of jail to help" Lin joined Hiroshi's side "I figured we need all the geniuses we can get our hands on right now. If the prison's still standing after all this is over, we can throw him back in."

"I know what you all must think of me, but I love Republic City and I would do anything to save her," Hiroshi said

"You think you know how to defeat this thing?" Korra asked skeptically

"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," Hiroshi stated

"Um, just one problem: How are we supposed to get inside? The thing's made of platinum," Elira questioned.

"Future Industries has plasma saws for cutting platinum. If we had one on the mecha suit ..."

"But the saws are way too big. We'd never get the suits off the ground." Asami argued

"I think I can add an electrical element to the welding torch on your 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." Hiroshi explained

"Like a metal mosquito"

"You know what happens to mosquitoes that land on me? I squash 'em!" Varrick cut in, hitting his first in emphasis.

"We'll have to attack in a swarm to try to keep you guys safe in the hummingbird suits", Korra said "It looks like they're our only hope." 

*

Back in the train station, the evacuees were sitting around bored. Azira was working on the knitting that she had stored in her pocket, quietly talking to a few of the children and telling them stories about the Hundred Year War. Meanwhile, Pema was singing an old Airbender nursery rhyme to the adults.

"Oh, first he ate the fruit, then he ate the leaves. Hungry little lemur, ate up all my trees." Pema smiled and stopped singing "Okay, great job, everybody. Who's got another song for us?"

"We can't just sit around here singing old airbender songs and telling stories until we're all captured, or worse." The impatient evacuee snapped

"Should we play the button game? Who has a button?" Pema asked

"Or perhaps you'd like to hear how Republic City was first founded?" Azira smiled

The crowd groaned in boredom, some even glaring at the two women. Suddenly, pounding sounds were heard, and the evacuees turned to find Wu and Tu each riding a badgermole through the station entrance. The badgermoles stopped in front of the evacuees and sniffed at them, causing them to recoil a bit, except Azira, who reached out with a smile to pet the creature's snout. 

"Where did these badgermoles come from?" Pema questioned

"The zoo! Mako always hated my singing, but they love it!" Wu grinned

"Well, what are we supposed to do with badgermoles?" The impaitent evacuee scoffed

"They're the best earthbenders around! We can use them to tunnel out of the city without Kuvira's troops spotting us." Wu explained

"Are you sure this is the best plan?" the evacuee asked before the spirit cannon was fired near the station, causing the group to scream and duck. "Let's follow the moles!"

"Badgermoles, digging holes, under Republic City. Got to run away from Kuvira today, although I do still think she's pretty." Wu sang as the badgermoles created a hole beneath the train tracks and walked into the tunnel. 

*

In Future Industries Tower, Varrick, Zhu Li, Hiroshi, and Asami were working on the hummingbird suits when Daw ran up to the group.

"Kuvira is headed our way!" He exclaimed

Korra turned to Asami "How long will it take to get the plasma saws ready?"

"Just a few more minutes," Asami replied

"Get out there as soon as you can."

"If you do manage to get inside, find the engine room", Baatar Jr instructed "There are two emergency levers. If you switch them off at the same time, you'll cut the power."

"Thanks", Korra nodded before turning to the rest of the group "We may not be able to beat that thing, but we can slow it down. Let's go!" 

*

The Colossus stomped through the streets, turning a corner and found Team Avatar waiting to intercept it. As the Colossus approached, the group scattered, leaving only Korra. She rose up on an air spout and entered the Avatar State.

The Colossus raised its arm and fired the cannon at her, forcing Korra to retreat. The canon's blast tore up the street, leaving a fiery mess in its wake. Korra managed to outrun the onslaught by turning down a side street. Landing, she bent out multiple large earth slabs from the road, before propelling herself up with firebending, the slabs following behind her.

Upon landing on the roof, she grunted in effort as she sent the slabs at the Colossus, which raised its arm to protect itself from the bombardment.

From a nearby rooftop, the airbenders took flight and swarmed to the Colossus, avoiding its physical attacks, while Korra continued her barrage of earthbending.

While the Colossus readied its weapon, the airbenders swarmed down. Spinning to create a large funnel of air, they pushed the cannon down, causing it to fire to the ground and lose its balance, slamming against a building.

The airbenders flew past the Colossus again while Meelo slammed against the cockpit window, grinning crazily at the stunned Kuvira inside.

Regaining her composure, Kuvira controlled the robot's arm and tried to squash Meelo. But he flew away before she could hit him, causing the Colossus to hit itself.

"Nice one!" Elira laughed, joining Meelo's side as they flew away. But her eyes suddenly widened as the Colossus fired the weapon at them.

"Watch out!" Elira and Meelo dove to the side, avoiding the blast, but it was now headed for Jinora!

"Jinora!" Tenzin flew in to protect her, grabbing and pulling her out of the way of the blast, which missed them but barely, knocking them out.

Elira, Meelo, and Ikki had perched on an awning and saw their father and sister now free-falling towards the ground!

"Dad! Jinora!" Elira cried, taking off again with Ikki and Meelo close behind her. "Ikki, grab Jinora. Meelo, help me with Dad!"

The kids did as instructed. Ikki grabbed Jinora and landed on the side of a building, while Meelo helped Elira try and carry their father on their backs, Meelo groaning with the weight. Moments before they hit the ground, Elira airbent from her feet, softening the impact.

The siblings then looked up in fear as the Colossus walked over them.

Elsewhere, Bolin assisted the Beifongs in slicing a building with their earthbending. The group groaned and pushed the building toward the Colossus, successfully pinning it down.

The group landed on the ground to survey the damage. The Colossus was buried underneath the rubble of the now-destroyed building.

Suddenly, the hand of the Colossus twitched before getting up out of the debris like it was nothing! 

Inside the cockpit, Kuvira, her hair now dishevelled and messy, was grinning with an unhinged glint in her eyes. 

*

Up in Asami's office, Hiroshi used the plasma sawed and sliced a piece of platinum into two.

"If we stop that mecha giant, it will all be because of you." Asami smiled at her father.

"You're the one who designed these incredible suits", Hiroshi said and took his daughter's hand. "It's great to be working together again."

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you, too"

Asami then climbed up and prepared to climb into the suit while her father closed his window. Meanwhile, by the second suite, Varrick walked up to Zhu Li with his hands behind his back.

"Zhu Li?"

"Yes?" Zhu Li turned around on the steps up to the suit, her hair flying around her shoulders.

Varrick looked very nervous all of a sudden. "I have something I need to attach before we take off."

"Attached to what?" Zhu Li asked as Varrick walked closer.

"I need to attach this ring to your finger." Varrick took out a small purple box and knelt down, opening the box to reveal a beautiful emerald green ring. "Zhu Li Moon, will you do the thing for the rest of our lives?"

Zhu Li looked shocked before smiling softly. "Yes"

"Yes!" Varrick cheered, standing up and putting the ring on Zhu Li's finger before picking her up and kissing her. "Now let's go attach these barely functional rust buckets to a giant killer smashing machine!"

"It's exactly how I always pictured our engagement." Zhu Li smiled 

*

Outside, the Colossus continued to destroy Republic City, shooting down a building with its cannon.

Wing and Wei swung down on cables, slicing a building as they went, but as they moved into the Colossus' sights, they were knocked out by the spirit cannon firing and cutting their wires.

Lin and Suyin dropped down to save them. Lin caught the twins and landed them in a nearby alley while her sister bent a rock tent to protect them from the falling debris.

Inside one of the buildings, Elira was kneeling down with her family. Jinora and Tenzin were still badly injured from their fall. Brushing some hair back from Jinora's face, Elira then cringed as another explosion went off behind her. Looking outside, she saw the other airbenders swarming the giant as it attempted to swat them out of the air.

"You need to get back out there, El. We'll stay here with Dad and Jinora," Ikki said

"I'm not just gonna leave you guys here on your own", Elira argued.

"We're not babies any more, El! We can protect ourselves," Meelo scowled.

"We'll be fine, El" Ikki smiled reassuringly "Go save the world"

Elira's eyes flickered between her younger siblings, and her concerned expression slowly melted into a soft smile.

"I'm so proud of you", Elira said, hugging Ikki with one arm, reaching for Meelo with the other, kissing their heads. "Both of you"

"El! Let go!" Meelo whined, squirming and wiggling to get out of his sister's hold.

Elira just giggled, and after ruffling her little brother's hair, ran out into the streets and took to the skies.

A few minutes after rejoining the airbenders in the air, Elira heard a buzzing sound drawing close to the battle scene. Looking down the street, she grinned in relief to see the hummingbird suits approaching.

Kuvira turned the giant and fired at the hummingbird suits, but they easily dodged the attack, Varrick and Zhu Li ducking under the suit's arm to fly to the giant's back.

"Aim for that spot in the middle of the back - the one I can never reach," Varrick instructed

"Got it." Zhu Li steered the suit to the Colossus, attaching it to the body. Varrick readied the saws and began to cut through when he noticed the Colossus raise its arm, preparing to crush them.

"Wah, let's get out of here!" He exclaimed, and Zhu Li steered the suit away, narrowly avoiding being crushed. They hovered a bit away behind the Colossus, which had its arm bent behind it. "Wow! I wish I had that kind of flexibility."

Asami then flew in, steering her suit to the giant's leg. While her father prepared the saws, the giant prepared to crush them, forcing her to fly off.

On the ground, Korra was watching as the Colossus tried to swat the hummingbird suits. Turning behind her, she spotted a river with four bridges not far from where she was standing.

She ran to the river, and while the Colossus continued to attempt to hit the suits, Korra stood on one of the bridges and bent a tidal wave of water at the Colossus. As the water solidified, freezing the giant in place, it suddenly fired the spirit energy cannon and caught one of the wings of Varrick and Zhu Li's suit, sending it plummeting towards the ground.

"Hang on!" Zhu Li flipped both ejection switches, throwing both pilots out of the suit as parachutes deployed. The suit crashed into a building and exploded.

Meanwhile, Korra bent another wave of water and froze the cannon arm, leaving the giant open. Asami piloted the suit to the portion of the Colossus that was not frozen, attaching to it and her father readied the saw, beginning to cut through the platinum.

The ice around the cannon arm slowly began to shatter as the giant tried with all its power to move. While Hiroshi continued cutting a hole, Asami looked on in worry as the ice continued breaking around the Colossus.

"We need to get out of here." Asami cried

"Almost there," Hiroshi muttered

Shattered ice landed on the window.

"We have to go now!"

"Almost there. Almost there!"

The arm broke free of the ice!

"Dad! Now!" Asami shouted

Hiroshi shut his eyes mournfully "Goodbye, Asami. I love you."

He then flipped the ejection switch of his daughter's seat, sending her flying from the suit with her parachute.

"Dad!"

Asami watched in horror as the Colossus's hand crushed the hummingbird suit...and her father.

When the Colossus moved its hand again, the destroyed hummingbird suit fell towards the ground, revealing a hole in the leg cut by Hiroshi.

Elira and the rest of Team Avatar witnessed the entire thing from the ground, staring up at the scene mournfully.

"Hiroshi's plan worked. There's our opening." Korra declared, her sad look morphing into determination as Team Avatar darted for the opening, each using their respective bending to help them climb up towards it, except for Bolin, who was being helped by Elira and her airbending.

The Colossus's arm swung to crush the group as they neared the opening, but Korra blocked the attack with an ice column. The Colossus doubled its effort and broke free, but the group managed to jump into the hole, narrowly avoiding being crushed.

Realising it'd missed, the Colossus moved its hand, revealing Team Avatar safely inside the opening.

"We did it", Elira muttered, sharing a determined glance with Korra "We're in"