Chapter 7 Bitter work

Swamp

Korra and Rex were all dressed up after two hours of Toph laughing her ass off. She was preparing some things for the day while Korra explained what they were doing and she hoped that Toph could train her to get back into the Avatar game.

"Listen you have to help me. I need to get back to Republic city and get back into shape to do my job. The world needs me." explained Korra.

"Ha, the world does not need you, when I was the chief of police of Republic city I worked my butt off to bring down crime, but crime was always there. In my long years in the force I learned that the names change but the streets stay the same. And besides if what you and your friend were doing yesterday is what you call training you won't get anything from me." responded Toph with a smiling face.

This made Korra and Rex get red faces. Rex had officially had it with this lady first she spied on them during their private moment, then she made jokes about them, and now she was saying that the Avatar was not needed. Well, he just had to show this old bat a thing or two.

"Listen here lady, I don't care who you are but as I understand it, THE AVATAR is needed to maintain balance in the world. It is true that there will always be something or someone that threatens that balance, but just because of that you have to keep fighting." stated Rex making Korra grow a smile and made Toph put her thumb on her cheek.

"Well, I was planning on soaking my feet in mud for the next few days, but I can't let you go on getting your ass handed to you by every loser that comes around and then let your "boyfriend" fight your battles." responded Toph.

"Really thank you..." Korra was about to hug Toph only to be stopped by a stone wall that made her fall down to Rex's arms.

"Now listen here, you want to hug something hug a tree we are here to work." said Toph only to drag both Rex and Korra into the swamp to begin the training.

Korra went first since she was the one that asked for training. She readied herself to fight against the earth bending mentor of the past Avatar. Rex meanwhile was wondering how a blind old lady could be tuff as nails.

"Why am I even here?" "Quit your whining lover boy after I wipe the floor with her you are next." responded Toph making Rex glare at her.

"Alright bring it."

With that said Korra began her attack moving forward sending a jumping air kick followed by an air left hook. Toph only moved to the sides and dodged every attack. She then moved the earth to get behind Korra. Korra had gone and used water to stop her but she was too slow. Toph made a small jump and made the mud hit Korra with an uppercut sending her flying. Korra crashed into the mud with her face filled with mud. As Korra got up a piece of ground hit her in the face and a toad squirrel planted itself on her shoulder. That only made Korra grab it by the tail and put it away.

"Now tell me what you did wrong." "Well, I thought that..." "Exactly. You were thinking! Now do it again!" "Man and I thought Six was intense." said Rex watching the fight go down.

Korra got back up and started sending air jabs, flying stones and water kicks. Toph however was with her back turned and she dodge every attack. She moved to the sides, raised the ground she stood on and as Korra was getting closer Toph did a earth slide making Korra fall and then she was blasted off to a nearby pond. Korra turned around and saw Toph getting closer.

"Pathetic of all the Avatars I have worked with you are by far the worst. I know that is only one other Avatar but still." said Toph as she walked past Korra removing a leech from her elbow.

"Now its your turn Goggles."

This took Rex as a surprise making him almost flinch.

"Are you sure about this? I am not a bender." "What happened to mister keep fighting? Afraid to hit an old lady?" "No, afraid to make the old lady eat her words." responded Rex getting on his fighting stance.

Rex built his Punk busters earning an eyebrow from the famous earth bander. Rex made a quick jump upward reaching over the tree tops. Yelling "Woohoo!" at the top of his lungs.

"Maybe you are not just talk after all?" said Toph as she was ready for anything.

As Rex made his way down Toph made an earth jump away from the area were Rex was about to land. After the landing Rex had made a small crater sending shock waves to everything around it. This was enough to make Korra fall to her butt. Toph had just landed and gave the young hero a smile. Through the dust the light of Rex's arm could be seen as he built his Slam cannon. He loaded it and aimed for Toph. She however tried to metal bend the weapon only to remain untouched.

"What's the matter can't metal bend me?" "So all that metal inside you is pure huh? Go figure."

Rex then shot Toph with the patch of earth he had. Toph merely stepped forward and held her palm out to stop the blast. The ammo was standing still on her hand.

"Not bad, are you sure you are not the Avatar?" "Hey!" yelled Korra.

Toph pulled her arms back and then forward making two rows of rocks go towards Rex. He was pushed back but then he built his Bad axes to slice the stones. He then proceeded to jump towards Toph and attack her with his more powerful built. He went for quick diagonal slices and slashes. Toph blocked or dodged said attacks. She raised a stone wall and pushed Rex back. Rex then switched to his all time favorites the Smack hands. He activated the rotation and smashed the wall. He then built his Punk busters and with his giant combo went for the golden shot. He was inches away from her face but she merely bended the earth down to avoid the attack. Rex crashed into a tree and grunted in pain.

"Alright looks like we have a winner here." yelled Toph picking Rex from his foot and then earth tossing him towards Korra. "You are the only one that has made me have a good work out in decades. Congratulations kid. Also what kind of metal is that you have in your body?" "Wait, you can sense my nanites?" "Yes, you goof. Now tell me about those things." "Its kind of a long story." "We got time."

Three hours later

Rex had been trying to explain what his nanites were and where he came from, but trying to explain trans-dimensional technologies to an old lady that had been living in a swamp for a while was just as hard as explaining the theory of evolution to a thick headed caveman.

"So these really small machines called nanites are inside everyone in your world?" "Yes." "And most people who have them turn into monsters called EVOs right?" "Yes." "But, you can control them and you can turn people back into people?" "Yes." "And you just banged the Avatar?" "Yes, no wait." "Hahaha, relax kid that last one was a joke."

Rex and Korra were barely awake thanks to Rex constantly trying to explain things to the greatest earth bender. They had five more round of training besides the explanation by all means they were exhausted. Korra had been more of a punching bag, but the constant use of his nanites also left Rex in the same level of exhaustion. Korra was currently resting on Rex to regain some of her strength back. After a small dinner they went to sleep.

The Next Day

The training begun the next day just like the day before. Korra was being tossed around like a rag doll and Rex was feeling the strange energy the swamp had. He was told by the spirits and the nanites in this world that there was a lot of energy here. He even tried to use his nanites on one of the vines and discovered that he could recharge his nanites by touching the vines. He went on to explore leaving Korra alone with Toph.

Korra was furious with herself.

"I just don't get it everything is out of sync." "Maybe its all that metal poison still inside you?" "Wait, there is still some of that inside me? But I thought that Suyin got all out of my system?" "Sadly, my girls never did get a handle on metal bending." "Could you get it out?" "Of course I can."

Korra and Toph were back at the house ready to get the metal poison out. Toph cracked some of her bones in order to get ready. She began only for Korra to contract by the pain. They tried again and again but to no avail. Toph got fed up and simply walked away. Korra got up and went to find Rex with hopes of him being able to use his nanites to help her. She walked for a couple of hours with no luck. She than went through a tree that had an opening between the roots. As she walked through it she started hearing voices. When she turned to see the origin of those voices she saw all the times she was defeated by her enemies, Amon, Unaloq and Zaheer. She was now running until she tackled Rex. Rex was startled and saw that the person that had tackled him was Korra herself.

"Korra are you okay?" "Rex, is this a dream?" "No, did you eat some of those slimy mushrooms again."

Korra then hugged Rex with all her strength getting the air out of his lungs.

"Rex I was so scared. Don't leave me." "Korra its okay. Tell me everything."

Korra told Rex everything she saw inside the tree and about the metal inside he system.

"Look Korra I think you should learn about those times rather than just run from them." "I don't understand." "Look Amon wanted equality, Unaloq wanted the spirits, and Zaheer wanted freedom. They all were consumed by their ideals you must help people by learning from your past battles. I may not be the best person to tell you this but you are not just scared of your past but of something else. Am I right?" "Yes, I am afraid about what the people will do about you." "Huh?" "What if I go back to being the Avatar you will come with me what if people see you as a monster and not the wonderful man I see everyday?" "Well, let them think whatever they want. I will be by your side and I'll help as many people as I can."

Korra then kissed Rex with tears in her eyes.

"You are the best." said Korra "And if my dad says anything about us he will deal with me." after hearing this Rex smiled.

"Well about time you two." They turned to see Toph standing there watching and listening. "And please do not start your "training" like Kanguroo rabbits again. There is a place where we must go."