Chapter 53 Beyond the Wilds
Its been about a few weeks since the world learned that Zeus had been fully corrupted by the Devil and since not only was Kuvira revived but also Tarrlok, Amon, Unalaq, Eska and Desna, P'li, Ming-Hua, Ghazan and Zaheer who had his airbending back.
Since then the world was preparing for war against the King of Olympus and his new and vastly large army.
Right now Freya was meeting with the others to discuss this.
"I say we strike at them now before they can cause any more harm than they did before they died the first time." Reznov said.
"I don't disagree but we have no idea where they are or what they are up to. Most of Kuvira's old original army is dead minus Baatar and Zhu Li. Whatever those freaks are up to involves them." Sean said.
"Um..." Bolin tried to say.
"Spit it out." Freya said.
"Um...Before she was killed Kuvira had Varrick and Zhi-Li working on a new super weapon." Bolin said.
"Super Weapon? What does it do?" Korra asked.
"You guys said you were only messing with spirit vines you never mentioned anything about a weapon." Sean said.
"Well that was what we were originally doing but then we had a breakthrough. We were using spirit vines to to draw energy from them to power up anything...But then...I unintentionally created a new super weapon. I did my best to say no but she threatened to kill me." Varrick said.
"Since when in all the time we've known you have you ever said no?" Asami asked frowning at him.
"Thats what I said to myself. But that doesn't matter since I made sure she could never complete the weapon" Varrick said proudly as Bolin glared at him which was unexpected to most in the room minus Sean and Korra.
"What are you glaring at him for?" Mako asked.
"He nearly blew us up if I didn't find that hatch." Bolin said.
"Now you see why I have issues with him you fucking moron?" Sean asked amused.
"All right I learned my lesson." Bolin said.
" Oh I beg to differ. Lets go over all your major league fuck ups. Working for the Triple threats to get a spot in the pro bending tournament. Then theres Dating Eska who treated you like absolute garbage. And then working for Kuvira who nearly got you killed." Sean said making most laugh or chuckle in amusement while Bolin looked annoyed.
"You really have some bad luck buddy." Dojo said around Korra's neck making her giggle.
"Aye." Mimir said before Opal and Jinora rushed in
"Guys this isn't good. Kuvira and her new army just took Zaofu." Opal said shocking them.
"Why am I not fucking surprised?" Sean asked.
"Well I suppose it makes perfect sense. She was this close to reclaiming the Earth Kingdom if she finally took the Metal Clan." Freya said.
"I don't know I think that was only part of the reason. She said it was full of riches and technology. But something tells me she wasn't talking about financial wealth when she said riches." Sean said thinking on what she meant.
"Well, the only other thing there are Meteorites." Korra said.
"Maybe theres one of interest she's after amongst the others ." Opal asked.
"Meaning what exactly?" Sean asked.
"Well there are dozens of Meteorites that come down every year. Maybe theres one type she's after thats essential to her plans." Opal said.
"It does sound logical." Tenzin said.
"Aye. Meteorites have very special properties." Mimir said.
"Hmm. I've already called for other world leaders to come here. We'll discuss this further when they arrive." Freya said.
"Good idea." Sean said as they all left.
"What do you think Zeus is up to he would have Kuvira invade her home again?" Korra asked.
"I have no idea. But clearly its something big." Sean said.
Days later
Korra laughed as she watched her daughters play with Naga while she held her youngest close who was drinking from a bottle.
Annabeth was running from Naga before she caught her.
"Aww." Annabeth said before Naga rushed after Calliope and caught her in her mouth.
"Aww." Calliope whined before Katara tried to waterbend away but she jumped on her and caught her.
"No fair." Katara whined making Korra giggle.
"She's a tracker girls. You can't escape her." Korra said as she continued to feed Lysandra before she finished her bottle and yawned before falling asleep in her mother's arms making her smile as she kissed her forehead. "Mommy loves you so much." Korra said before Sean walked to her before sitting down.
"How you holding up Korra?" Sean asked making her smile.
"I'm ok. I'm just waiting for the final battle to begin. Enjoying every normal day I have with you and the girls." Korra said as Lysandra yawned in her arms making them smile.
"I promise is gonna be just fine." Sean said kissing her making her smile as he held them close.
Thats when they spotted Opal who looked depressed before they walked to her.
"You doing ok Opal?" Sean asked.
"No, Kuvira and those monsters are alive again and they have my family, and no one seems to care." Opal said.
"Thats not true. We just have to be careful in this. We don't know what to expect this time around since dealing with them one at a time was bad enough. Dealing with them all at once is gonna be a lot more difficult." Sean said.
"We'll get them back soon. We just have to be patient. And besides I doubt Kuvira would kill them otherwise she knows we would go after her and mess up any plans she has. And I don't think Zeus wants that." Korra said.
"Yeah...I guess thats true." Opal said.
Thats when Jinora flew down to them.
"Guys, there you are! I just felt a weird surge of spiritual energy coming from the spirit wilds. Something is really wrong right now." Jinora said making them concerned.
After leaving the girls with Pema they arrived at the spirit wilds.
"Hmm. Something does feel rather off" Sean said.
"Are you sure you felt a disturbance? Maybe you just had some bad food for breakfast." Opal said.
"Opal what the fuck is wrong with you?" Sean said looking at her like she was stupid.
"Sorry I wasn't thinking when I said that." Opal said feeling dumb for saying that.
"I'm telling you. I felt it." Jinora said. "Maybe something happened to Ryu's tour group." Jinora said.
"Ryu? That dumb motherfucker we found before we got to Ba Sing Se?" Sean asked remembering him during another stop on the way to Ba Sing Se after they got Kai and he got on Sean's nerves.
"He's...matured a lot since you two were gone." Jinora said making him cross his arms. "Ok he's still basically the same but he does take his responsibilities seriously now." Jinora said.
"Bullshit." Sean said not believing that for even a second. (God help us if he has kids)
"Guys, can't you two feel the strange energy here?" Jinora asked.
"No, But maybe." Korra said touching one of the vines. Chiron had taught her to see through the spirit vines during the three years Sean was recovering incase she ever needed to know this.
She connected to the vines before seeing Zeus's army violating the swamp vines where Hephaestus and Toph lived making her gasp in shock.
"What did you see Korra?" Sean asked.
"It was Zeus. His army are taking vines from the swamp. It must be affecting our spirit wilds." Korra said.
"That must be what Jinora was sensing earlier. The vines feel everything even from great distances." Sean said.
"Since Varrick destroyed the vines he got from here he needs new ones. And the ones there are no doubt a hundred times stronger." Jinora said.
"We need to warn Freya about this." Korra said.
"I'll stay here to look for Ryu." Jinora said as they ran off.
Meanwhile
"I understand the seriousness in this situation since now Zeus has been fully corrupted like the others but the fire nation has been in too many wars and started just as many for dumb reasons. I won't let my people become part of another unless there is no other choice." Fire Lord Izumi said.
"And yet you joined the war from five years ago against my brother and Vaatu." Tonraq said.
"That was not a war. It was a fight for survival." Izumi said.
"On that I agree." Theseus said.
"Look regardless we have to take his army out now. Once he's defeated and Sean absorbs him...The Devil will come out and fight him and when he's dead...Sean can finally release all the gods he's absorbed and order can be restored like the old days." Freya said.
"I'm not saying I don't agree but we don't even know where they are." Izumi said.
Thats when Sean, Korra and Opal barged in.
"Freya we got a serious problem outside." Sean said.
"What is it now?" Freya said.
"The Spirit vines are acting up because of Zeus's army. He's taking vines from the swamp in the Earth Kingdom. Probably to power that weapon Varrick was trying to stop." Korra said.
"Weapon? What weapon?" Tonraq asked.
"Varrick unsurprisingly created a weapon using spirit vines. And Kuvira wanted to use it." Freya said.
"If Zeus is collecting the swamp vines it means he's trying to restart it again and maybe make it even stronger." Tenzin said.
"How dangerous would you say this weapon is?" Izumi asked.
"Without question strong enough to wound or kill a god like Zeus" Sean said making her sigh.
"Ok...That changes things. I'll commit my forces to protecting republic City but not to go on the offensive unless there is no other choice. We still don't know where Kuvira and the others are." Izumi said.
"We'll be sending ours as well." Theseus said getting Tonraq to agree.
"Assemble everyone you can. The armies of the world will fight against Zeus and his followers." Freya said.
Soon everyone left the building.
"You really think her weapon could kill a god?" Korra asked.
"I have very little doubt since Varrick said he got the idea from hearing about my fight with Vaatu. If he could replicate his powers it would not surprise me." Sean said.
Thats when Jinora appeared before them in spirit form.
"Guys! The Vines! They're taking me! Help!" Jinora yelled before vanishing making them widen their eyes before rushing to the Spirit wilds.
When they arrived they saw a police blockade led by Lin before they approached her.
"Lin we need to get in there. Jinora was taken." Korra said.
"I don't think anyone should be going in there right now." Lin said before more vines attacked them.
"Not like we got much choice!" Sean yelled as they rushed in.
"I don't understand why take Jinora and the others anyway?" Korra asked.
"Probably because Zeus has angered them. He's harvesting their energy for that weapon. They're all connected to one another." Sean said before more vines attacked them only for Sean to use his axe on them freezing them before they backed into a building before Korra sealed it up. "Uh Korra." Sean said making Korra look seeing green pods and inside one of them was Jinora. "What the hell? I've never seen this before." Sean said.
"Their spirits are trapped in the spirit world." Korra said before she used her spirit bending. "It's not working. Maybe if I meditate into the spirit world, I can free them." Korra said before sitting down and got into a meditative position.
However Korra found herself not in the spirit world at all but someplace she was all too familiar with.
"Wait...This isn't the spirit world...Why am I?" Korra tried to ask before she heard Sean scream in pain making her turn before gasping.
She saw Reznov cutting his chest open to get the parasite Zaheer had put inside him.
Once his chest was opened up and parasite crushed Sean's heart before blood erupted from his mouth making Korra gasp as the life in his eyes faded before the world was engulfed in Chaos.
"AHHH!" Korra yelled as she appeared back in her body.
"Korra? What happened?" Sean asked holding her close.
"I...I can't get in. We'll have to go in through the South Pole." Korra said ready to leave.
"No Korra." Sean said stopping her.
"Sean we have to go now." Korra said.
"Korra I can easily tell theres something you're not telling me. Now what happened there?" Sean asked making her look away. "Korra...Have you been to the spirit world at all recently?" Sean asked making her sigh.
"No...I haven't been there...Since you died before God brought you back." Korra said making him frown.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sean asked.
"You were alive again and thats all that mattered to me so I didn't say anything." Korra said.
"But thats not whats blocking you. Korra...What happened?" Sean asked making her sigh.
"The first time I tried to go back after you were killed was because I thought I might be able to help you find some way to regain your connection...But every single time I keep reliving that memory of when Zaheer had you killed over and over again and I..." Korra said as her voice started cracking before Sean held her as she broke down sobbing. "I couldn't take it anymore so I never went back till now." Korra sobbed.
"Shhh. I understand." Sean said holding her close as she cried.
"I can't do it anymore." Korra said.
"I think I know a way for you to get past this. You need to let go of what happened. And I know a way for you to do so." Sean said.
Later
Sean and Korra arrived in Athens before they were in a temple.
"Why are we here?" Korra asked.
"You need to head inside. This is the one place where you can move on." Sean said before Korra walked inside alone.
Arriving at the center of the temple she looked around.
"What am I looking for?" Korra asked.
"Hello Korra." Athena said appearing before her.
"Oh...Well that makes sense." Korra said.
"I know why you're here. You can't get into the spirit world. It's well known to many you haven't been there since that fateful day 4 years ago." Athena said.
"I know...And its all Zaheer's fault." Korra said.
"Zaheer has nothing to do with this. The problem is you." Athena said shocking her.
"ME! No! This is all his fault! He killed Sean for some stupid selfish reason to unleash all that power inside him and nearly got Calliope killed from disease! Nearly destroyed the whole world and laughed about it! I thought when he was finally dead I could rest easy knowing my family was safe from that madman. And now he's back again along with every other person who's brought me nothing but pain." Korra said.
"Blaming them is only an excuse to make yourself feel better. The problem is you...Because you haven't moved on from that experience. And it's holding you back emotionally. Physically and power wise you have become stronger than you were 4 years ago. Strong enough to fight a god like Ares or even Ra and Odin." Athena said.
"Are you saying you moved past what happened?" Korra asked.
"I had to. Korra...If we cling to the worst experiences of our past we can never move forward and become stronger. Kratos knew this more than anyone. Thats why he became even stronger to protect Sean all those years ago. Cause he knew he had to for his sake." Athena said.
"How am I ever supposed to move past something so horrible? Seeing him dying in my arms and watching my daughter dying from disease. How do you move past that?" Korra asked.
"By accepting it happened and move forward and make sure it never happens again." Athena said making her sigh. "I can help you move past this but you need to meet me all the way." Athena said.
"Ok." Korra said as she got into a meditative position.
"Whatever you think about doing you need to not turn away." Athena said as she led her into the spirit world only for her to see her worst memory play out making her gasp seeing Sean heart being crushed. "You need to let it play out. Forget about what could have been. And Accept what has happened." Athena said making her let out a shuddering breath seeing Sean dying in her arms.
Thats When they appeared in the spirit world.
"You actually led me here. Do you know where Jinora and the others are?" Korra asked.
"No, but you know someone who can lead you to them." Athena said before vanishing.
Thats when Raava appeared on Korra's chest.
"Raava, I missed you." Korra said smiling. "Where have you been?" Korra asked.
"I have always been inside of you." Raava said.
"Can you help me find Jinora?" Korra asked before she appeared in front of a glowing green sphere with the spirits of Jinora and the others. "How do I release their spirits?" Korra asked.
"By bending the energy within. In the Spirit world you are at your most powerful. You're connected to all the spiritual energy." Raava said getting Korra to nod before her eyes glowed as the Sphere opened up before letting them out.
Sean waited outside the temple before Korra finally walked back out.
"Jinora and the others are free." Korra said making him smile.
"How do you feel?" Sean asked.
"I feel...At peace. Finally able to move on." Korra said.
"Enough to forget about what happened?" Sean asked.
"No...I'm never gonna forget that. But I think moving on will make me stronger. How you do stuff like this so much I'll never understand." Korra said making him grin.
"Oh thats easy. I have you and the girls." Sean said making her smile as she held him and vice verse. "I promise you'll never lose me again Korra." Sean said as tears ran down her eyes in happiness.
"I know." Korra said enjoying the moment.
Authors Note: I said things would be different this time around. So Korra has also moved past her horrible experience seeing Sean die and her daughter Calliope dying 4 years ago. Next Chapter Operation Beifong. Read, Review, Fav and Follow. REVIEW MY LOYAL FANS! SEE YA!