Chapter 9 The Aftermath
It's been a few days since Hercules attacked Sean and seriously wounded him using a poison so deadly it almost killed him. Thankfully he was finally recovered.
Currently the two were on Naga heading towards the Arena before Sean saw it was nearly destroyed.
"Damn. Amon did this after we left?" Sean asked.
"Yeah. I was more focused on getting you to the hospital. I still can't believe your own brother even half tried to kill you for something so low." Korra said.
"Hatred and Jealousy will do that." Sean said as they stopped and got off Naga before rushing inside.
"I still can't believe they're shutting this place down." Mako said as he and his brother packed up.
"Yeah, we had some good memories here, didn't we?" Bolin said feeling down before the two rushed up.
"YO!" Sean said.
"You look better." Mako said seeing him in a new set of armor.
"Just got out today." Sean said.
"Guys, great news. You don't have to go back on the streets. I talked to Tenzin and made all the arrangements. You can live on Air Temple Island with us." Korra said.
"Oh...Well, we'd love to, but." Mako tried to say.
"Asami already invited us to live in her dad's giant mansion!" Bolin said excited.
"Well you could have told us. I had to Beg Tenzin to let you stay with us." Korra said.
"You didn't beg! You just paid Jinora and Ikki to give him that stupid puppy eye look to say yes." Sean said making her giggle.
"Ok true." Korra said smiling.
"Hey guys." Asami said coming down with Pabu.
"I guess we should have realized you would offer them a place to stay." Sean said. Korra on the other hand was somewhat glad since it meant she could spend more time with Sean alone. Speaking of him.
"That reminds me." Korra said grinning at him.
"What are you grinning about?" Sean asked.
"You promised to show more of your past if I won. Technically we did win because of you." Korra said smirking making him sigh.
"Damnit." Sean said looking away before she grabbed his hand.
"None of us are gonna judge you for something that happened 300 years ago." Korra said.
"You might think differently." Sean said before his eyes glowed.
Flashback (Again picture Gaia's voice narrating)
All four found themselves within his memories before hearing someone yelling seeing Sean pinning an old man down before stabbing him shocking them.
The memories Sean had would never fade.
Memories of how he became a servant of the God of war.
Sean jumped down from a balcony before appearing behind a woman before slicing her head clean off.
His humanity was robed and replaced only with the will to murder.
Sean stood before a group of children with his blades in the air before their blood was sprayed on the walls shocking the four.
Nothing else mattered to him other than serving his master.
Entire armies and nations outside of Greece fell before Sean and the soldiers who followed him on his quest.
A group of Spartan soldiers was seen killing civilians at ever turn.
No one was safe as Sean's rise to power made him the greatest general in all of Sparta leading his people on an unending quest of conquest.
All in the name of his master.
Sean roared before smashing a dam before it gave and unleashed a fatal flood on a village who screamed in horror as they drowned.
No matter what Ares asked Sean obeyed.
Entire villages were eradicated by his power alone.
The entire world feared him for his brutality even the gods themselves became greatly concerned.
Sean's eyes which the others were used to seeing the kind and compassionate forest green were completely blood red even the whites of his eyes.
Drunk with power Sean was unstoppable.
The next thing they saw was a village along with Sean holding a torch with his men.
Those who offered resistance of any kind were dealt with swiftly.
"They built this temple to offer prayers to Athena! This entire village stands as an affront to Lord Ares! BURN THIS VILLAGE! BURN IT TO THE GROUND!" Sean roared throwing the torch on a hut before it burned.
Emboldened by the God of War Sean's army was beyond ruthless.
No one was a match for them or their leader who had become near invincible.
Sean feared nothing...Not even Death itself.
Sean stood before the temple with a conflicted look on his face as the village oracle approached him.
But something about this temple seemed forbidden.
All of Sean's instincts told him never to cross its Threshold. Never step inside.
"Beware Kruger. The Dangers in the temple are greater than you could ever realize." The Oracle said making him scoff before pushing her aside.
The village Oracle's warning fell on Deaf ears.
Sean's ambition would not be denied.
All who opposed him would die.
Sean kicked down the doors to the temple but found it covered in a mist but still sensed where people were before he started swinging his swords around killing everyone in the temple. None would escape.
Sean roared as he slashed his swords one last time on the people in front of him getting a shriek of horror from his final victims.
When the mist cleared Sean's eyes returned to their forest green as he fell to his knees.
In that instant the glory he had reveled turned to complete horror.
The images of his final victims within the temple as a whole would haunt Sean for all his days.
With that act Sean knew he could no longer serve the God of war.
End Flashback
Everyone took a step back before looking at him making him sigh before leaving.
"I'm starting to see more reasons why he hates himself. I would too if I did all that." Asami said sadly before Korra rushed after him.
Sean sat at the docks before looking at his hands seeing blood on them before it vanished making him sigh.
After 300 years the visions and nightmares never ended for him. He had learned to live with the nightmares at night but the visions had always troubled him beyond words and would never fade.
Suddenly Korra's hand gently grasped his making him face her before she held him close.
"You still don't hate me?" Sean asked surprised.
"No. And I never will." Korra said placing her head on his chest making him sigh as he held her close.
Still in his mind he feared she would once she saw the final part of his memory of the temple...For what he had done.
Later
Pabu jumped into a pool before Bolin followed.
"Earthbending bomb!" Bolin yelled before Sean and Korra were led in.
"Avatar Korra and Lord Kruger have arrived." A servant said.
"Wow." Sean said impressed. "And people say Money can't buy happiness." Sean said making Asami giggle.
"Depends on who's buying." Asami said making him chuckle.
"Glad you guys could make it." Mako said before Bolin came out.
"Welcome to Paradise." Bolin said.
"Don't get too attached to this place." Sean said.
"Looks like you guys settled right in." Korra said as she and Sean sat down with her leaning on his shoulder.
"Pretty much. Except someone forgot to ask her father if we could stay here." Mako said looking at Asami making them chuckle.
"Don't tell me all that money has made you forgetful." Sean teased making Korra laugh while Asami giggled.
"I smoothed it over with him. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." Asami said.
"I'll bet." Sean said as she swam to them.
"So, what do you have planned for us today? Let me guess, shopping, Makeovers?" Korra asked amused.
"Oh, Oh, I vote makeovers." Bolin said before Mako dunked him.
"I have something a little more exciting in mind." Asami said grinning.
"Uh oh." Sean said making Korra giggle.
Soon all five were outside seeing some race track.
"Ok now I'm really impressed." Sean said.
"Way cooler than a makeover." Korra said.
"This is where future Industries test drives their Sato-Mobiles. Ever been behind the wheel?" Asami asked.
"The only thing I know. how to drive is a polar bear-dog." Korra said.
"What about Spyro?" Mako asked.
"Who's Spyro?" Asami asked.
"My Pet dragon who can grow and shrink. And no she can't fly him as only I can. The last time she tried well..." Sean trailed off.
Flashback 13 years ago
"WHOA!" Sean yelled as Korra tried to fly Spyro before they were both upside down making her laugh. "YOU ARE NEVER FLYING MY DRAGON AGAIN!" Sean yelled before heading to the ground.
"Uh oh." Korra said alarmed.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!" Sean yelled as they crashed.
"Korra!" Senna yelled as she and the others rushed to them before Spyro came out and shook off the snow before the two popped out of the snow.
"You are never flying again." Sean said making Korra laugh while her mother sighed.
"Honestly you two." Senna said rubbing her head.
"Hey it's not my fault. She took control at the last second." Sean said making Korra grin. (This was after the Red Lotus attacked)
End Flashback
Everyone burst out laughing while Korra blushed.
"What! I was four!" Korra said.
"Yeah a hyper active four year old." Sean said smirking making her glare.
"At least I'm not a 300 year old Virgin." Korra said grinning while the others looked at him in shock.
"I got no problem with that." Sean said calmly making her glare. (To My Loyal Guest no he was not lying about that part)
"Wait your serious?" Asami asked in shock.
"Need I remind everyone here I have one majorly fucked up past? You really think I wanted a relationship? And like I told her I was not into the fucking whores Aphrodite tried to force on me." Sean said shuddering from the memory of the countless times Aphrodite would send her female lovers on him in the middle of the night. He had never been so mortified. The Temple was worse sure but they basically were untamed animals.
Korra and the others laughed their asses off at that.
"IT'S NOT FUNNY!" Sean roared making them laugh harder.
Soon they went back inside before Bolin rushed to the bathroom.
"Uh, is there. another bathroom I can use?" Korra asked.
"We have a ladies powder room upstairs. First door on your right." Asami said before Korra rushed up.
After using the bathroom Korra washed her hands before grabbing a beauty product. (I have no idea what this thing is called)
Then she hit herself with it making a large cloud of powder making her cough before coming out of the room.
"Having trouble with a beauty product now?" Sean asked leaning against a wall looking amused.
"I'll never understand why girls use that crap." Korra said before Sean blew off the powder making her grin.
"No, no, no. Everything is going exactly as planned." Hiroshi said in his office making them raise an eyebrow before they went closer. "Luckily the Cabbage corp investigation has bought us enough time. Trust me, by the end of the week, we'll be ready to strike." Hiroshi said on phone before hanging up making Korra widen her eyes before the two left giving the others an excuse.
Later
"So you two think Mr. Sato manufactured those gloves for the equalists, then framed cabbage corp?" Tenzin asked Sean and Korra.
"Ay." Sean said.
"Thats a bold accusation. But what proof do you have?" Lin asked.
"Nothing solid if thats what your asking." Sean said.
"Look we know what we heard. Sato is up to something." Korra said.
"I can't see why he would be with Amon though. Records show he's always been a good man." Sean said.
"Well..." Lin trailed off. "He does have a motive you might not be aware of." Lin said.
"Thats right." Tenzin said.
"A motive? Whats that?" Korra asked.
"12 years ago while you were being trained, the Agni Kai triad robbed Sato's mansion. A firebender killed Sato's wife during the break-in." Tenzin said sadly.
"That's terrible." Korra said as Sean held her hand.
"It was tragic. It's possible he's been harboring Anti-bending sentiment all this time." Tenzin said.
"Maybe we should. look at Mr. Sato a little more closely." Lin said.
"Hmm." Sean said.
Later
After confronting Hiroshi about what he said he merely said he was going to strike the market now that his number one competition was out of the way. Of course they asked to investigate his factories which he had no problem with.
Of course nothing was found to incriminate Hiroshi to anything.
"I don't understand. How could we not find anything?" Korra asked.
"Maybe Hiroshi was being honest." Sean said.
"No...The timing and the fact that Hiroshi has a reason to join them...He's up to something." Korra said.
"Korra. Theres no shame in admitting when your wrong about someone." Sean said walking to Tenzin and Lin making her sigh before she felt a piece of paper in her hand making her widen her eyes before looking around seeing dozens of people before she read the note.
"Sean." Korra said gaining his attention. "I think you should see this." Korra said handing him the paper.
"If you want to find the truth, meet me under the north end of the silk road bridge at midnight." Sean read.
Soon the four arrived at the destination before someone came out from under the bridge.
"Listen, I joined the Equalists because I believed in what Amon said. I thought he could make life better for us non-benders. But I didn't sign up for this war."
"What do you have on Hiroshi Sato?" Lin asked.
"He manufactured those gloves for the Equalists."
"I knew it!" Korra said.
"And there are rumors he's working on something even bigger. Some kind of new weapon."
"We searched all of Future industries and found nothing." Tenzin said.
"Thats because he has a secret factory."
"Where?" Korra asked.
"It's right underneath the Sato mansion."
Korra, Lin and Tenzin gasped while Sean narrowed his eyes.
Later
The four along with elite officers arrived at the house but didn't find Hiroshi before they arrived in his workshop.
"No one here." Sean said before stepping on the ground and narrowed his eyes.
"What is it?" Korra asked before Sean kicked the ground hard making a large dent.
"Secret entrance." Sean said tearing the floor entrance off showing a lift.
"Do you think your dad knows about this tunnel?" Bolin asked.
"I don't understand. There must be an explanation." Asami said.
"Maybe you don't know everything about your father. I'm sorry." Korra said.
"Officers, into the tunnel." Lin said getting them to do that.
"You three stay here. We don't know what we're gonna find." Sean said as he and Korra went down with the others.
Using the lift they arrived in Hiroshi's secret factory finding Amon's face on flags.
"Great." Sean said annoyed before seeing large Tanks.
"And I'm guessing those are the new weapons." Korra said.
"Not your average backyard workshop." Lin said.
"Hmm." Sean said looking at the tanks.
"Hiroshi was lying all right, but where is he?" Tenzin asked before the entrance sealed off.
"And we walked into a trap." Sean said before the tanks turned on.
"Very observant Demon of Sparta." Hiroshi said in one of the tanks.
"DO NOT call me that." Sean said pissed off.
"Oh but it suits you. A man who murdered thousands of people in two years for his master the god of War. No other names suits you than that one." Hiroshi said making him glare.
"You set us up. You lured us down here as test subjects." Sean said.
"Guilty as charged. Now why don't you do the world a favor...And die!" Hiroshi yelled trying to smash him but Sean dodged with ease before another tried to hit him only for Sean to grab the arm and tightened his grip actually denting the metal.
"Your nothing but a demon."
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!" Sean roared.
"How many innocents have you killed! How many children died by your hand."
Sean was growing more and more enraged with each reminder of his past.
"And then theres your greatest failure at that temple 300 years ago." Hiroshi said.
Sean roared before charging at him and jumping on top of his tank making him gasp in shock before trying to electrocute him but it did nothing but piss him off.
Korra quickly used fire bending on the other tanks while Tenzin used airbending.
Lin and her officers tried to restrain the others but were having troubles.
Sean growled as he tore the top off of Hiroshi's tank making him gasp in shock before Sean threw him out making him grunt in pain.
Sean was about to attack him but saw Korra having trouble and jumped on her enemy tank before stabbing the pilot before jumping down to her.
"You ok?" Sean asked.
"Yeah." Korra said before Tenzin and Lin flew at them before the rest of her officers were down.
"Other than facing the Demon I'd say this was a perfect test run." Hiroshi said.
"I understand hating criminal benders but this is madness. Not all benders are like the ones who killed your wife." Sean said.
"No? How many wars have been started by benders since these lands were created? How many people have died because of benders? They are the cause of everything thats wrong with this world. And you...Are the cause of so much suffering in the world. Your very existence brings nothing but death and misery." Hiroshi said pissing him off.
"Thats not true. He's changed since those days." Korra said.
"Has he?" Hiroshi asked pointing at the dead Equalists. "People like him don't change. And his father has abandoned us. Left us to suffer at the hands of Benders." Hiroshi said.
"DAD STOP!" Asami yelled shocking him before facing her seeing her with Bolin and Mako. "Why?" Asami asked.
"Sweetie. I wanted to keep you out of this for as long as I could, But now that you know the Truth, please forgive me. These people, these...Benders, they took away your mother, the love of my life. They ruined the world. But with Amon, we can fix it and build a perfect world together." Hiroshi said.
"Your wrong." Sean said angering him. "You really think without bending the world would be better? Nothing would change. There would still be criminals and war and those...Like me during my past. The one true fact about humanity is Man's hatred for other men for the most petty and pointless reasons." Sean said sadly.
"No! Your wrong! We can end all wars by removing benders everywhere! Asami, Please Join me." Hiroshi said holding out a glove before she approached him.
"Asami, Don't." Korra said before Asami put on the glove.
"I love you dad." Asami said before electrocuting him knocking him out.
To say everyone was shocked was an understatement. (Not really)
"Lets get outta here!" Mako yelled as they ran off as more Equalists arrived.
The group was back on an airship.
"Are you okay?" Korra asked Sean in concern.
"No. What Hiroshi said was just another painful reminder of what I did. And it cost me everything." Sean said before she held him close before he did the same. "But I've learned from my mistakes...If I can theres hope he will one day as well." Sean said making her nod.
"I Uh...Don't suppose that offer you two gave us is still up is it?" Mako asked making them smile.
"Do you really need to ask?" Sean asked amused making him chuckle.
"And Asami is welcomed as well." Korra said.
"Thanks." Mako said walking to her.
"Really wish Reznov and Julia didn't leave to get some things from home. They could have helped." Korra said.
"We can never know what might have been. All that matters is here and now." Sean said.
Authors Note: And with that Now Hiroshi is a wanted criminal and the Equalists become even stronger. And we learned another part of Sean's past that haunts him. But the final piece however will explain why Sean really severed all ties with Ares and changes his ways. Now Next Chapter will be much longer and introduce the final member of Sean's group. Read, Review, Fav and follow. REVIEW MY LOYAL FANS! See ya! Oh and to my Loyal Guest yes you did better in keeping the negativity down last chapter. However as for this deal it was more of a request since I still am far behind on Queens blade before I can think of story idea. But I will eventually. As for Food wars I have something in mind. And Yes I am gonna focus solely on this story since Every time I leave a story to work on another I lose interest in it and it never gets done. That ain't happening this time. And if current events are any indiction I might get this done faster than expect compared to my usual update patterns.