It did not take long for Kuvira to bring up the Great Uniter's old antics. To Mako, it was a bit terrifying that she could just take on the persona of the dictator so quickly after years of being in jail. He found that she was actually helpful and kind around camp. She was certainly easier to talk to than Zhao was.
If Zhao was not harassing Korra, he was harassing Mako and Mako was tired of it. He could tell that Kuvira was getting tired of it too but he promised Korra that he would not partner up with the Great Uniter and destroy her pet project. Yet.
Presently, he was helping the metalbender with mending his jacket so she would look decent enough to convince her followers that they needed to go home before someone (namely Korra) lost their temper and decided to just brutally murder each and every last one of them.
It was going to be an interesting day.
"Watch the needle," Kuvira warned as she lifted an arm for him to tailor, "I can and will maim you with it if you poke me."
"Stay still and we will not have any issues." Mako said softly.
"No, we are not burning them all. What is with you, Zhao?"
"They won't just surrender. I am positive that some of them are only stating that they are doing this for their Great Uniter as an excuse."
Kuvira sighed, "Are they arguing again?"
"Yes they are."
"Do they ever stop?"
Mako paused to give the former dictator a serious look, "Do you want me to answer that truthfully?"
She rolled her eyes and sighed. Maybe coming along was a bad idea. At least jail was quiet and she could think.
"How did you get dragged into this?"
Mako paused to think about it, "I'm her person. She symbolically and often literally drags me into everything whether I want to go or not. I don't mind most of the time."
"But this one is different?"
"Yes. It's torturing being near them! This is the worst Team Avatar she's managed to put together ever."
Kuvira hummed, "I am one day into this thing and I'm ready to willingly go back to my cell. I empathize with your pain."
The former detective sighed, "How is it that the other seemingly sane person here is also the one that made a giant super weapon?"
A thick eyebrow rose on the dictator's face, "I could ask the same, seeing how you are Bolin's brother and also working for that fool, Wu."
The Avatar soon came storming over, "Are we ready to go? I'm about ready to set something on fire."
Mako burned the end of loose strings, "Yeah, I think we're ready.
Kuvira made one last adjustment to her green jacket and blue trousers before confirming.
Before them was a larger camp of the former soldiers. They were living in the forest's temple and abandoned abbey. This just screamed warnings for something to go completely wrong.
"Alright," Korra started hiding behind the bush again, "We need to try to convince them to just go home without, and I plead and beg, without destroying that abbey. That's for you Zhao. It is important that we do not anger the spirits here. I can feel them close by."
"Korra."
"Yes Mako?"
"You better stop him before he does something rash." He pointed out towards the abbey. Zhao was already running with fire in his hands.
"Damn it all, Zhao. I am going to kill him!" Korra shouted as she leaped over the bush to give chase.
Kuvira sighed and gave Mako a look, "Why was I brought along again?"
"Just help me keep them from killing each other."
They then gave chase to follow their impatient comrades. Kuvira instantly took a stance to incase the abbey under a dome of earth to protect it. She was not in the mood to deal with spirits again. Then with what she could manage, she began to turn her former soldiers' metal against them. A few dozen eyes turned to see who they were also fighting.
"It's the Great Uniter."
"She's out of jail to help us!"
The soldiers stopped fighting the four benders long enough for Kuvira to make herself a platform and grab their attention. She was just in time to see the Avatar give Zhao a good punch in his chest for not being patient. Then she spoke.
"Gentlemen and Ladies, as you can see I stand before you. With Avatar Korra's request, I am asking you all to stop acting as lowly thieves and brigands. Go home and continue our work that we started. Go fix our towns and roads. While I do not agree with King Wu being on the throne, word has been brought to my ear that he does understand the issues with the monarchy. I will do what I can with my short release from jail to remind the King of this idea. I apologize for the Avatar's friend's actions. He was impatient and startled you all before we could speak civilly. My last request as your Great Uniter is to return to your families and stop attacking the innocent we fought to protect."
Kuvira then nodded to Korra.
Some of the men took her words to heart. Korra sighed with relief when a few began to go leave. Then one of the brigand leaders threw a fist up and pointed at Kuvira accusingly.
"You were forced to tell us these lies by that murdering hypocrite."
The former dictator glanced at the Avatar before smirking. She stomped on the ground to divide the crowd before her before using the metal around some of them to drag them to the ground. Those whom dared to attack their former leader were caught in between the rest of the team. A few of the remaining men decided that they too were going home.
When it was all over, Kuvira bent over breathing hard. She wore a grin as she stretched.
"I am out of fighting shape to be fighting multiple people at once." She finally stood up, "I think I pulled something."
The other three laughed.
"The Great Uniter is in great pain." Zhao smirked.
Kuvira gave him a glaring look, "Some of us are paying our dues."
"I did. I just paid them in the Spirit World."
Korra shook her head as she grabbed the shorter firebender's collar, "What was the meaning of taking off before we made a plan?"
"You did not have one planned for this. Someone had to improvise and it worked."
Korra then stomped her foot out of anger, "I needed you to know not to break or set anything on fire! Then you just take off! What if it did not work and everyone did not stop to hear Kuvira out?"
"Korra." Mako tried to interrupt.
"I did not set anything on fire. I was scaring these brigands like you wanted."
"That was for after we found out how they reacted!"
"Korra!" Kuvira shouted as her eyes grew wide.
"What?!" Korra shouted at them before hearing something crumble.
"You just blew up the abbey in a fit of anger."
Zhao began to laugh, "Who does not have control now, Avatar?"
Korra turned to watch the rest of the earth dome fall. Kuvira turned and ran while shouting something about not wanting to face more spirits. Zhao joined her. The rest of the Earth Empire soldiers fumbled around as they tried to get out of the way of the spirit.
"Oh no." Korra muttered before she felt something grab her and toss her away.
Mako stood still, unsure if he should run or stay and fight.
Kuvira and Zhao stopped to catch their breaths. They were deep in the forest and there was no sign of Korra or Mako.
"Should… we… go," Kuvira bent over again to catch her breath, "And get… them?"
Zhao looked back, "And face the spirit that the Avatar angered? No thank you. I've had enough of spirits and their jails."
Kuvira soon sat down, "Nine years in jail and I can feel every sign of it. I might have to write a letter to the President and ask him for more space. This is ridiculous."
Zhao looked her over, "You're the one that gave Korra a run for her money in a fight, aren't you? I cannot see it. You look pathetic."
She looked up with glaring eyes, "If I was not trying to recover from fighting and running, I would should you exactly why I tossed her around."
"If you were truly-"
Zhao let out a shriek as Kuvira bent a hole in the ground and covered him up to his neck. She then when back to sitting on the ground. She leaned back into a tree and placed her arms behind her head as a pillow.
"When you can get out of there, we will talk about how great or not, I am."
The forest spirit was really angry. The black and white spirit battled with Korra almost seeming with the idea of killing her for destroying his forest abbey and temple. Watching Korra fight back probably did not help. Mako sighed.
"We are sorry Forest Spirit for destroying your connection to the forest."
The spirit changed his course and charged Mako, only to stop and roar in his face. The firebender was a bit startled before he continued.
"The Avatar is just a bit crazy from a few past instances. She did not really mean to destroy it." His brow rose as he was beginning to worry about his fate, "Uh."
Mako then put his hands together before him and bowed, "Please accept my apology on behalf of Avatar Korra. I promise to make sure she knows how her actions made you feel."
The Forest Spirit then seemed to settle down into a giant panda bear. It sniffed Mako once before turning away. As Korra was picking herself up from a newly made hole in the ground, Hei Bai roared once more to signify his anger with her. Mako stood in his spot, dumbstruck that it worked.
"Thank the spirits for Jinora's books." He finally muttered.
Mako crossed his arms before her as Korra walked up. He studied the mess before him before shaking his head.
"Don't. I already know what you are going to say." She said before picking a direction to walk in.
"Korra," Mako chuckled as he pointed in another direction, "Our jail birds went that way."
The Avatar's head and shoulders dropped, "Right. Thanks."
Their new camp was where Kuvira and Zhao had stopped. After the fight with Hei Bai, Korra and Mako went through the tents. They found locations of other camps like the one they barged into and ruined.
Now, Zhao was still stuck in the ground. Korra did not feel like releasing him yet. Kuvira and Mako attempted to prepare a meal. It was difficult when the former admiral was verbally attacking them for not letting him out. Everyone's short temper was on edge.
The Avatar was sitting off to the distance with the borrowed bison. She was visiting the Spirit World, seeking to apologize to the black and white spirit for her lack of control. Korra had been strangely quiet after the spirit left them alone. Mako told the others that he suspected that she was embarrassed. He was partially right. The other part none of them considered was that she was being haunted again by her fear of herself.
Korra saw the hallucination after she left the first tent. It mocked her again with its dead eyes. Immediately after meeting with Hei Bai, she searched for the only other spirit that could advise her.
"I do not understand why she still haunts me, Iroh." She sighed as she cupped her tea tightly within her hands, "I faced my fears years ago yet she's still here."
The older man nodded, "Korra, we have spoken about this several times."
Korra's stature faltered as she spoke, "I know we have but I still like to hear your wisdom about it."
"Alright." He smiled, "Our past lingers with us. Recently, you have been unstable and unbalanced. This is the third time since you and the charming Miss Sato visited the Spirit World years ago. The first time was after you lost yourself with revenge. The second time was when you lingered here in the Spirit World for too long because you were afraid of peoples' opinions. Now, I believe you are lost again because of your odd relationship amongst your company."
He then chuckled, "And you are with a strange company of friends."
"Will this be an ongoing issue for me? I feel like every time I have something good going for me, fate decides to throw a stone into it."
"You sound like my nephew. He had many trials and errors but eventually, you will find it and keep it. Avoiding burning down spirits' forests is a good goal to keep."
Korra leaned on the table after finishing what was in her cup, "Zhao just angers me. One day he's fine and actually sweet. The next I want to bury him in the dark, deep depths of the South Pole."
"Zhao is unbalanced himself. It is no wonder you two fight. Perhaps if he found the same balance you knew you had, he will not test your anger."
"You are right, as always." She finally smiled, "Thank you Iroh."
"It is my pleasure Korra. I enjoy your company. Please come visit me again."
When she returned, the first thing she did was pull the former admiral from the ground. Then she pulled him aside.
"We need to talk." She said.
"If it is about your lack of control, I highly agree."
Korra tripped him up, forcing him to sit down, "No, this is about you purposely angering me. I cannot be acting brashly and now, neither can you. We're going to work on your control and firebending is going to be a part of it. If you are going to continue to be my shadow, then we have to get along like mature adults."
Zhao hummed. He did not like this new attitude coming from the Avatar.
"Fine but on one condition."
"What is it?"
"When this is all done," he then grinned, "You will let me take you out dancing again. No Avatar duties. No trying to pawn me off like some old, unwanted baggage. No Makoto. A proper night out."
Korra's face wrinkled into confusion, "Like a date?"
"If you want to call it that, yes."
"The last man that tried to ask me on a date right at a bad moment almost lost a hand." Korra gave him a glaring look.
"And I'm sure King Wu deserved it but I won't allow you to break my hand."
The Avatar pondered his offer, "Fine. I'll take this deal."
Mako shifted in his seat nervously, "What is taking them so long?"
Kuvira rolled over from her spot. She looked completely annoyed.
"Oh, I'm sure you have an idea. I would do just about anything to not be an earthbender right now."
The firebender slapped himself, "This is the worst trip ever."
The metalbender rolled back over before muttering to herself, "Tell me about it…"
Moments later, Kuvira grinned. Then she smirked. Mako glanced over when he heard her finally laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Would you like to give them a taste of their own medicine?"
"No. Not really. Not with you."
Kuvira rolled back over, "I'm not talking about actually doing the act. Just faking it and possibly having to shout a few times."
"You are demented."
"I am also supposed to be in jail for being the wicked dictator in the modern age of this world. One does not simply become a dictator without being slightly demented."
"Korra will know that we're faking."
Kuvira shrugged, "She will after being embarrassed. Besides, she's done enough tricks on me when we shared a hallway in prison."
"What's your plan?"
The former dictator grinned again.