I do not own any of the original Legend of Korra characters.


Refusal

"We have to do something," Sado said. "She's using her army to force people to serve her, and anyone who disagrees with her she throws in prison."

"Her methods may be severe but she's still bringing the Earth Kingdom states back under the throne," Raiko said.

"No, she's taking them for herself," Sado said. "They don't bow to the throne. They don't shout all hail the Earth King. They Bow to Kuvira. They shout all hail the Great Uniter. She's not going to give up her power to Wu when the time comes. She doesn't believe in monarchies. She just wants to control the entire Earth Kingdom, including what Zuko and Aang turned into the United Republic."

"If she attempts to do anything against the United Republic, we will deal with her accordingly," Raiko said. "But for right now, she is doing her job. Now, if you will excuse us, we're trying to have a discussion about more important matters."

He gestured around the table at himself and the other politicians. Sado grit his teeth and bowed, turning and walking out of the room, getting to the lobby of the City Hall just as Korra walked in.

"Any good?" Korra asked.

"No," Sado said. "Raiko says that she's still doing her job so long as she gives up the power and as long as she's still uniting the states again, even if she's clearly being a dictator about it. He says it's not important."

"Not important!?" Korra scoffed. "It's a dictator stealing the entire Earth Kingdom!"

"I know," Sado said. "But there's nothing we can do about it right now. Come on. Let's go and see how the others are doing."

Korra nodded and they headed to Asami's house, finding that she was the only one there.

"Mako still hasn't been replaced as Wu's bodyguard?" Sado asked.

"No," Asami said. "Lin refused his request to have someone else do it."

"Damn," Sado said. "An Bolin?"

"He left to help Kuvira unite the Earth Kingdoms," Asami said.

"He what!?" Sado and Korra both gasped.

"What's wrong?" Asami asked.

"She's a two-faced, conniving bitch," Sado said. "One of the towns refused her help because we helped them get food, so instead, Kuvira took it by force by marching her whole army into it and threatening to destroy the town and lock everyone present in prison."

"Oh my God," Asami said. "Bolin has no idea. He's under the impression that she's giving food and supplies to everyone out of the kindness of her heart."

"Yeah well those supplies never last long enough," Korra said. "The towns are no better off after she takes over than when the bandits that she pays are starving them out."

"How do you know she's paying the bandits?" Asami asked.

"Someone pays them to starve the town into submission, and then Kuvira arrives just in time with supplies and played the knight in shining armor?" Sado asked. "Come on. That's one of the oldest tricks in the book."

"That does sound suspicious," Asami said. "Won't Raiko do anything?"

"No," Sado snorted. "He says that he doesn't care how she does her job as long as she does it. And he says that he isn't going to care until she refuses to give up her power or attacks the United Republic."

"I hate politicians," Asami said.

"Join the club," Korra snorted. "So, what should we do?"

"Fuck, I don't know," Sado sighed. "Keep helping, I guess. We really can't do anything else for the time being. If we attack her, we'll have to fight her full army. And we also have no legal right to fight her. Even with her being a bitch."

"I hate having to follow rules," Korra said. "Aang never did against the Fire Nation."

"That's because they were at war," Sado said. "As of yet, we're not."

Korra sighed, nodding. "I guess you're right. I doubt it'll stay that way for long."

"I agree whole-heartedly," Sado said. "But I hope Kuvira comes to her senses. I don't want to have to go through another war."

"But we've gotten so good at it," Korra said.

"Probably not a good thing, though you're right," Sado said. "Come on. Let's go get something to eat and take our minds off of Kuvira."

"Good idea," Asami nodded.

She grabbed a jacket and they all left, heading into the city to unwind.


Sado laughed as the small vaguely dog-shaped, blob-like spirit barked excitedly, bouncing back and forth from the ground on one side, to his chest, then the ground on the other side and back. It was like an excitable puppy. He reached up, the spirit pressing its head to his hand and he began to pet it, the spirit calming sightly. Sado looked over to the side where Korra was trying to fight against Toph, only for Toph to easily beat her around and around the swamp she had moved to using the mud making up the ground. Korra hadn't even landed a single hit. Toph was just too good.

Sado looked up at the canopy of trees. This was the swamp where his grandfather had met his future self's spirit. It was like a gigantic spirit wild. And from it, Toph claimed she was able to see everything, and that she kept an eye on the entire family from it. Sado set his hand down on the root and closed his eyes, focusing. There were no visions, no mental image of his friends or family. Just the bark of a gigantic tree's root.

"You have to open yourself up to the world," Toph said, sidestepping a blast of air and sending mud exploding up from below Korra. "You're just feeing the tree."

"I know," Sado said. "I know how meditation works."

"Oh I know," Toph said. "I was watching when you learned to become one with fire."

Sado smiled. She almost sounded proud. Almost. The closest he had heard her since they first met. He pushed himself into a sitting position, the spirit blob curling up in his lap, and took a long, slow breath, beginning to allow his mind to drift. Again he didn't see any visions of his friends, but this time, he was able to feel them. The same way he could feel their chi when he was using his firebending to guide their energy, he could feel their energy as he focused. He could feel Suyin's, Wing and Wei, Huon. He could feel Mako's, far beyond out of balance from having to deal with Wu and the stress that obviously caused. There was Lin's. Kato and Kurik. Kai. Jinora. Opal. Tenzin. Ikki. Meelo. General Iroh. He focused harder, and after a few moments, he could feel the barest hint of Izumi's. Zuko's was easier.

He opened his eyes again as the spirit began to bounce around and bark again. He smiled, petting it, and looked up at Korra and Toph, who had transitioned to Korra wearing a blindfold and trying to avoid strikes Toph threw at her, doing fairly well but still struggling to pick up seismic sensing. After a few more minutes, they called it a day, heading back to Toph's home, a small cave she had formed for herself, and Korra bended the mud off of herself before they headed inside, the spirit that had taken a liking to Sado running circles around his feet as he walked.

"I think he likes you," Toph smiled. "So, what are you two going to do about Kuvira?"

"We don't know yet," Sado said. "But we're working on it."

"You're a lot like your grandfather, you know that?" Toph asked. "You're diplomatic when you can be, but if anyone threatens the family, there's no room for diplomacy. They're just going to burn."

"Family is everything," Sado shrugged.

"I know," Toph said. "You two should get going if you want to get back in time to sleep before the sun rises."

"True," Sado sighed. "I guess time got away from us, huh?"

"Doesn't it always?" Toph asked. "Korra, keep working on it. You're progressing quickly."

"Thank you," Korra smiled. "We'll see you next time Toph."

"See you," Toph said. "Have a safe flight. And Sado, take your new spirit friend."

Sado looked down from Meizha's back and leaned over, holding his arm out, the spirit leaping up so Sado could catch him. Then, Sado set him in front of himself, Korra wrapping her arms around Sado and petting the spirit for a moment before the dragon bird took off, flying them back toward Air Temple Island.


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