We're back on the next chapter.
REMINDER: I DO NOT OWN LEGEND OF KORRA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
Opal's sky bison landing on the outskirts of Zaofu. Opal and Bolin gets off the bison together.
"All right, let's do this! Saving the Beifongs and saving our love, because I vow to repair the rift that has grown betwixt us and make us whole again!"
Lin angrily walks between the two and giving Bolin a shove. "You. Zip it. Now. I had enough of your babble on the way in."
"Yes, ma'am." Bolin said timidly.
All three of them walked to the edge of the mountainside, crouching out of sight and looking down at the city.
"Kuvira tore down all the domes. Why would she do that?" Opal said.
Lin pulls out a spyglass, surveying the city. "She's got a whole battalion of troops stationed there. There's no way we'll be able to spot anything useful from here. We'll have to go in for a closer look."
"Don't bother. All the prisoners have been moved."
A voice speaks from behind them and they all turns their heads; it was Toph Beifong who was walking up behind them.
Lin was shocked by her mother's sudden appearance. "Uh... hey, Chief.
"Hey, Chief." Toph said.
Opal runs and hugs Toph. "Grandma Toph!"
"You were only up to my waist the last time we were together." Toph said.
Bolin was excited. Oh, man! Ohh, I can't. This can't be happening!" He waves hands in his face, becoming hysterical.
"What? Do you have to pee or something?" Toph asked before Opal giggles.
"No... well, now, maybe. You're my hero! My name is Bolin. I'm dating your granddaughter, I mean, kind of. I may have screwed that up, but that's why I'm here and you're my hero! Oh, I said that. Can I have a hug, too?"
"What's up with him?" Toph asked.
"He's an actor." Lin said. "So, you already checked the city for Su? How did you know she was captured?"
"I've been living in the swamp and keeping watch on Zaofu through the vines." Toph said.
"Sure, okay, makes sense." Bolin said.
"By the time I got here, they were gone. I snooped around town and heard that they were taken away to some nearby prison camp."
Opal turns to Bolin with newfound bitterness in her voice. "Where would that be?"
Bolin was ashamed. "There's a factory and reeducation facility not too far away."
"How do you know that?" Toph asked disbelieving.
"Bolin used to work for Kuvira." Opal said.
Toph was confused and agitated. "How the hell did you end up dating the kind of dipstick who works for Kuvira?"
Bolin was leading his case. "'Used to'!"
Lin begins to walk away. "It's not his silver tongue, I can tell you that." Toph and Opal follows her.
Bolin hastens after the group, disappointed. "Please tell me this attitude isn't hereditary."
Opal's bison panting as dark-green mucus drips from its nose. The bison proceeds to lick Opal.
"Grandma, this is Juicy." she said.
"And I thought Appa was smelly. Why would you choose this leaky, nasty thing?" Toph asked repulsed.
"You don't choose your bison. He chooses you." Opal said while Juicy nuzzles her. She pats her bison. "And once he chooses you, you can't change. Believe me, I checked."
Meanwhile, at City Hall, Republic City, where Sheng Sr. was addressing Varrick and Asami. S.J, Mako, Korra, Wu, and Tenzin were also present.
"The borders are secure, and troops are guarding the rail lines into the city. So what have you two come up with to fend off Kuvira and Meldora?"
"It's a flying mecha suit!" Varrick said as Asami displays schematics. He trikes schematics, to Asami's annoyance. "Asami got the idea from watching dragonfly-hummingbirds. You can take off straight up, fly in any direction…"
"And the spirit ray is not made?" Sheng asked.
"It doesn't have a spirit ray. I'll tell you what I told Kuvira: That technology should not be used." Varrick said.
"He's right, Pop. That would be dangerous." S.J said.
"It was Kuvira's harvesting of the vines in the swamp that caused the Republic City vines to go crazy and grab all those people." Korra said.
"I agree. Couldn't you harvest the vines, Korra?" Sheng asked.
"I won't do that. But maybe since the spirits love Republic City so much, I can convince them to help us defend it somehow." Korra said.
"She's right, President Ichiro. The spirits will help us.' Raava's imprint said.
"I agree with Raava and Korra.' Vaatu's imprint said.
"Okay, maybe while the weapon geniuses and the spirit bridge are getting ready for battle, we should be evacuating the ordinary citizens so that if Kuvira attacks, they won't be hurt." Wu said.
"That's actually a good idea. Prince Wu, you work with the police to coordinate getting people out of the city. Now, everyone, it's showtime. We'll need daily updates." Sheng said.
Outside the council chamber. Mako walks with Wu.
"Nice job in there. I'm proud of you. You're starting to act like the kind of king I'd like to work for." Mako said.
"Thanks. And if the ladies buys this 'man of the people' thing, they might get to date me." Wu said.
S.J walks to Mako and Wu. "That depends. To pick up girls. Every work of art, every song, every city evacuation, all for the ladies." he said before he and Wu walks off while Mako stares in disbelief.
Meanwhile, at Kuvira's factory, where the facility houses a large cannon.
"All right, everybody, let's test the power core." Baatar, Zhu Li, two scientists, and two mecha tanks. "I want everything in order for the full demonstration for Kuvira tomorrow. Load the energy capsule."
The two mecha tanks lower a spirit vine capsule into the cannon.
"Zhu Li, initialize phase one." Baatar said.
Zhu Li pushes up a lever and a current runs through the spirit vine sample; coursing with energy, it begins to radiate its characteristic purplish glow.
The opening of the cannon's turret, where an ball of purple energy has begun to materialize. As Baatar Jr. watches with silent satisfaction, the meters on the machine begin to go haywire while a warning light flashes and an alarm sounds.
"There's a problem with the condenser. It's backing up!" Zhu Li said.
"Shut it down." Baatar Jr. said reluctantly.
Zhu Li lowers the lever, though nothing happens. "I can't. The override isn't working. Everyone needs to evacuate. This thing is going to blow!"
"Everyone, get out! Now!" Baatar Jr. shouts urgently.
The two scientists and mecha tanks jump over a rail to escape. Baatar Jr. and Zhu Li remain. The former opens up a box to check the cannon's circuitry.
"Come on, Baatar! It's too late!" Zhu Li begged.
Baatar Jr. reaches into the cannon's circuitry and shuts down the firing sequence. The vine sample in the capsule stops glowing and shrivels up.
After searching for a few seconds, Baatar Jr. finds the reason for the malfunction and stares in disbelief at the cracked metal ring.
Baatar Jr. was holding up the cracked ring. "This channelling ring was cracked. That's what caused the reaction to overload. Now we're taking this whole thing apart tonight and checking everything. Nothing is too small. This has to be ready by tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Juicy was flying over to the factory.
"So how long as it been since you two have seen each other?" Bolin asked.
Toph relaxed. Lin, however, has her arms crossed. "Little while now. Couple of years."
Lin turns to her mother. "Try twenty years."
"Ah, time flies when you get to be my age. I'm surprised you came to save Su. I thought you guys didn't get along."
"Su and I finally worked out our old grievances." Lin said.
Toph lies back on the saddle like she did all those years ago. "Good, glad we can put all that behind us."
"Right. 'We'." Lin said sarcastically.
Juicy touches down behind some rocks on the outskirts of the factory.
"Okay, there's the factory." Bolin said.
The group reaches the factory and Toph metalbends an opening in the wall. After she, Opal, Bolin, and Lin enter, the opening was metalbent shut just before a mecha tank on patrol passes by.
Inside the factory where the group continues to hide behind boxes to maintain stealth.
Bolin sees the cannon. "Whoa, that's one big super weapon."
Toph stamps her foot to get a seismic reading of the area. Concentrates for a moment. "I think I know where they are. Feel that cavern a few stories down? It seems empty, but it's guarded by an awful lot of mech."
Lin stamps her foot to confirm Toph's reading. "Right. Why would you need soldiers guarding an empty cavern? They must have them in some kind of suspended prison, so they can't use their earthbending." A door suddenly begins to open.
"Someone's coming. Hide!" Bolin said.
The doors open to reveal Kuvira and Meldora, who were escorted by a pair of mecha tanks. They stand before the cannon. Baatar Jr., Zhu Li, and some associates walk up behind them.
"I didn't expect you until tomorrow." Baatar Jr. said.
Kuvira gazes up at the cannon. "We just wanted to check in to make sure everything was on track. It looks wonderful."
"Yes. This is magnificent." Meldora said. "How did it go?"
"We've had a few minor malfunctions, but we should be ready for the test tomorrow." Baatar Jr. said.
Kuvira turns to Zhu Li. "You've been working on this the entire time, Zhu Li. What do you think the problem is?"
"It's a very complex machine. There are bound to be some bugs to work out." Zhu Li said.
"But you're doing everything you can to fix those, correct?" Meldora asked.
"Of course, Your Eminence." Zhu Li said.
"How many times must I tell you, Zhu Li? Just call me Meldora. 'Your Eminence' was all behind me." Meldora said while smiling.
Toph, Bolin, Lin, and Opal were watching.
"She's lying." Toph said before Bolin lights up at this revelation.
Kuvira, who was addressing her subordinates.
"Tell the troops and the factory workers to attend tomorrow's demonstration. I want them all to witness this incredible new weapon in action."
Opal, Lin, Toph, and Bolin, who leaves.
On the outskirts of the factory.
"We should be thinking of a way to take out Kuvira while we have the chance." Opal said.
"Or at least destroy the cannon. If she takes that to Republic City, it could obliterate everything." Bolin said.
"I didn't come to fight with Kuvira or destroy a cannon. I'm here to save my family. It will take everything we have just to get out alive." Toph said.
Bolin thinks for a moment. "Hmm. Kuvira wants every single one of her people to see the weapon test tomorrow, so the factory will be mostly empty then. That's our best chance to sneak in and free Su without being spotted."
Opal was mildly impressed. "Good thinking, Bolin."
"Thanks." Bolin puts a hand to his head. "I kind of have a headache now."
Meanwhile, att Republic City's Spirit Wilds. Korra walks along and sees a small yellow spirit with two leaves on its head.
Korra waves enthusiastically. "Excuse me, spirit? Can I talk to... The spirit vanishes from sight. "And you're gone."
Korra turns around and sees more spirits vanishing from the wilds. "Just like all the other spirits. They're abandoning the city." Raava's imprint said.
"What's going on?" Vaatu's imprint wondered.
Later that night, Lin, Opal, Bolin, and Toph gathered around a stone table.
"So let me ask you about metalbending. Su tried to teach me, but I couldn't get the hang of it."
While Opal and Bolin listen, Lin sits to the side and picks at her food.
"I used to have an academy to train metalbending. Even blockheads like you can figure it out with the right instruction." Toph said.
"Yeah, you're a real sensitive instructor." Lin said.
"I did learn how to lavabend." Bolin said.
Toph was somewhat impressed. "Really? It's a very rare ability. Maybe you do have some talent." Toph said with a smile.
Bolin was excited. "I can't believe... you think I'm talented?" He fans himself. "That means so much to me coming from my hero."
"Yeah, she's real encouraging." Lin said sarcastically.
"Hey! I'm blind, not deaf, damn it." Toph snapped.
"So here's something I've always been curious about: Who's Lin's dad?" Bolin asked.
Lin whirls around with her eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed. A moment of silence ensues.
"He was a guy named Kanto. Nice man, but it didn't really work out between us."
"And..." Bolin was realizing Toph was not going to reveal anything more. "Okay."
"Lin, I can feel your enraged breathing from here. Just say what you have to say and let's get it over with." Top said.
"Just get it over with? Yeah, let's not linger on the fact that I grew up without a dad. No need to get all touchy-feely about it. Just one of those things, right?" Lin snapped agitated.
"Hey, I forgave you for all your garbage a long time ago and Su and I worked things out. You're the only one who wants to hold on to this family drama nonsense for the rest of your life." Toph said.
"Forgave me for what?! And not knowing my dad is nonsense to you? It was pretty important to me. And until now, you would never even discuss it. You know, after Su and I patched things up, I thought, 'maybe I should try to reach out to mom.' But now that we're together again, I remember why we stopped talking. You make me furious, and you don't even know why. And when I tell you, you don't care. Once we save Su, you and I are finished."
Toph closes her eyes and sighs. "If that's your decision and it makes you happy, then fine."
Lin crosses her arms while Bolin continues to eat his noodles.
At Kuvira's factory. It was dark, but the wheels of the vehicle upon which the cannon rests were visible. The doors suddenly open, allowing the light outside to illuminate the chamber.
The vehicle begins to crawl outside. Opal lands on a vantage point overlooking the cannon.
"The test is about to start. They're going to blow up that empty town we flew over yesterday. You're clear to go." Opal whispered into a two-way radio.
"Copy that." Lin, Toph, and Bolin, who have taken down three of Kuvira's sentries. "We're clear to go."
Lin, Toph, and Bolin jumps into a pit. An underground chamber; Toph opens up a hole in the rock to allow an entry into the prison. A wooden container suspended in midair by ropes. Suyin and her family were there. Bolin, Toph, and Lin were analyzing the container.
"The guards are on the other side of that door." Toph said, referring to a door on the side of the cavern opposite them. Suyin, who sees the group. "We'll have to be quiet."
Suyin touches Baatar's shoulder and he turns around to look. "Shoot me over to the cage and I can swing them back on my cable." Lin said before she turns to face Bolin. "Bolin, you'll have to catch them since mom won't be able to see them." Bolin nods. Lin bends down. "Ready?"
Toph walks to the side and she and Bolin both earthbend a rock column to propel Lin into the air, who lands on top of the wooden cage. It shakes from the impact and the prisoners all grunt from the motion.
A guard, who bursts through the door on the other side of the cavern and looks up at the shaking wooden cage suspiciously. It stills and the guard turns around to leave, closing the door behind him.
Toph uses earthbending to create another opening from which Bolin can catch the prisoners.
Inside the cage, Lin was having cleaved an opening from the top.
"We'll get you out one at a time. Come on." Lin said.
Lin lowers Wei to Bolin, who catches him. "I got you!" he said.
Wei pats Bolin on the cheek, to the latter's surprise.
On the surface, where Kuvira's subordinates have gathered at the cannon. Kuvira, Baatar Jr. and Meldora approaches.
"Congratulations on all of your hard work. This weapon is proof that the Earth Empire is the strongest nation in the world. And believe me, this is only the beginning!" Kuvira turns to Baatar Jr. "Fire the weapon."
Baatar Jr. pushes up the lever to commence the cannon's firing sequence. The spirit vine in the capsule begins to glow purple. Baatar, Zhu Li, Meldora and Kuvira were observing the weapon. Suddenly, an alarm sounds, surprising the three.
"Ooh, what's wrong?" Meldora snapped.
"Probably something minor." The cover opens to reveal the insides are smoking and Baatar peers in. "I should be able to find the problem." The machine powers down. Baatar Jr. looks around and becomes surprised.
"The distributor pin is gone." Baatar Jr. wipes his hands on a cloth. "I swear I locked it in place yesterday. There's no way it could have just fallen out."
"And this could cause the entire weapon to fail?" Kuvira asked.
"It could cause it to explode." Baatar Jr. said.
"Perhaps…" Meldora turns to face Zhu Li. "What do you know about this, Miss Moon?"
Kuvira approaches Zhu Li, who begins to back away into the control panel.
"Nothing." Zhu Li said.
Kuvira metalbends the distributor pin from Zhu Li's pocket and lets it twirl in front of them. "You swore your loyalty to me, and I gave you a chance at greatness." She grabs the pin in anger. "This is how you repay me?!"
Zhu Li was afraid, but turns resolute. "You're a monster. I regret nothing."
"Oh, woe is us. She's on the Avatar's side!" Meldora said in mockery. "Take her."
Kuvira seizes Zhu Li and throws her to Baatar Jr. "Chain her up in the target town. She can see how the weapon works up close and personal."
Opal sees everything. "Oh, no."
Meanwhile, back at the underground prison. All the prisoners have been freed save for Suyin and Baatar.
Suyin was reassuring Baatar Sr., who has pinned himself to a corner of the cage. "Sweetie, it'll be fine. Lin won't drop you and Bolin will catch you."
Baatar was perspiring from fear. "No, no. Just go. Just leave me. I'll stay here." He closes eyes.
Lin and Suyin give each other a look; Suyin shrugs. Lin turns back to Baatar. "Sorry, but I have to do this."
Lin metalbends a cable around Baatar's right leg. Baatar was swinging upside down from Lin's cable while screaming. The noise alerts the guard, who activates an alarm.
A mecha tank steps behind him to assist. The wooden cage, where Suyin looks to the guard with worry; Baatar, who has landed in Bolin's arms, whimpering.
Kuvira and Meldora hears the alarm and whirls to face one of her guards.
"What now?!" Meldora snapped.
"The prison. Get there now!" Kuvira ordered.
"Should we postpone the test?" Baatar Jr. asked.
"I didn't come all this way to stop now. Fire when ready. I want to see that town destroyed." Kuvira said darkly.
The prison, where the mecha tank assaults Lin and Suyin with its flamethrower. Lin uses her metal cables to sever two of the ropes keeping the cage suspended.
The cage begins to swing to the side of the cavern where the other prisoners landed and Lin and Suyin both leap from the cage to reunite with the rest. Suyin hugs Toph.
"We got 'em. We're coming out." Bolin said into a two-way radio.
On the surface, where Lin, Bolin, and Suyin emerge from a hole and observe their surroundings before bursting out with the others. Suyin sees Opal, who glides down and pulls out her bison whistle to summon Juicy.
"Mom! Dad!" Opal hugs both before turning to Bolin. "Thank you." Bolin smiles softly at her.
"Let's move." Lin said urgently.
"Kuvira caught Zhu Li and threw her in the town." Opal said.
"What?" Bolin stands up. "No, I have to go save her."
"You can't go in there, kid. It's suicide. Kuvira's onto us." Lin said.
"We've been through too much together. I can't leave her. Toph, you said Zhu Li was lying about fixing the cannon. She must have been trying to stop it."
"For all you know, she could just have been covering her butt because she made a mistake." Toph said.
"No, Zhu Li doesn't make mistakes. You guys leave. If we make it out, we'll make it to the city somehow." Bolin said adamant.
"Bolin, no!" Opal turns to see Juicy fly in. Airbends herself onto Juicy. "You guys get out of here. I have to go with Bolin." She flies off.
Suyin turns to Lin. "Could be our best chance to stop Kuvira."
"Maybe take out that weapon." Lin said considers.
"We can't let Opal be the coolest!" Wing complained.
"If you all want to get yourselves captured again or worse, that's your business. I'm through." Toph said.
Suyin places hand on Toph's back. "Watch out for Baatar Sr. and Huan." She, Lin, Wei, and Wing head off to face Kuvira.
"So how have you been, mother?" Baatar asked.
"God, I told you never to call me that." Toph said. Baatar looks away, crestfallen.
Meanwhile, at Republic City where Korra with eyes closed in concentration. Korra meditates into the Spirit World, finding herself at the Tree of Time, where multiple spirits have gathered.
"Spirits, this is the Avatar of the Balance." Korra turns around to face the spirits behind her.
Vaatu emerges from Korra's body. "Please listen to us." More spirits continue to materialize.
Raava emerges from Korra's body. "Come on, you guys."
"Since I opened the portals, spirits and humans have lived happily together in Republic City. It's all I could have hoped for. I know you felt the effects of Kuvira cutting down spirit vines. But now isn't the time for you to flee the city. It's time for you to help me save it from Kuvira, who was perverting spirit power to use as a weapon against other humans."
A serpentine spirit with a beak descends from behind Korra and the two Spirits. "We don't get involved with human wars."
"Spirits worked with Unalaq." Korra said.
"He was misusing my power during Harmonic Convergence to force spirits to fight her." Vaatu said.
"No, but as the Avatar and Avatar Spirits, we're hoping that you will come to our aid to save the new world we all share." Raava said.
The serpentine spirit with all his spirit companions gathered behind him. "What you want is exactly what Kuvira wants: To use spirits as a weapon in a human war." The spirit and his companions begin to fade away. "The answer is no."
"Wait! Please, listen." Korra tries to reason with the spirits, but they continue to fade away. "If spirits and humans are gonna live together, we have to work with each other!" No answer.
"Well, that was a big-ass bucket of nothing." Vaatu complained.
"We have to think of something." Raava said.
Meanwhile, back at Kuvira's factory. The cannon's turret slides into place, focusing its sights on the town. Baatar Jr. pushes up the lever to fire the weapon and looks through a pair of binoculars. He spies Opal, Bolin, and Juicy near Zhu Li.
Baatar Jr. was peering through the binoculars. "Opal? No!" He faces Kuvira and Meldora. "We have to stop the test!"
"What the hell for?!" Meldora asked.
The cannon continues to gather energy, but before the blast was released, earthbending pummels the side of the cannon, knocking it to one side, disrupting its aim.
The beam punches a smoldering hole into a rock face directly behind Bolin, Opal, Juicy, and Zhu Li. The group regards the hole in shock.
"Whoa." Opal said.
Kuvira and Meldora looks for the source of the disruption and spots Suyin, Lin, Wei, and Wing. The Beifongs exchange blows with Kuvira's soldiers, but the battle reaches a stalemate with both sides hiding behind earth walls.
Seeing an opening, Suyin goes to engage Kuvira atop the cannon, but her former protégée manages to stand her ground. Suyin was knocked from the tank by Kuvira, but Wei and Wing help their mother retreat.
However, the Beifongs were eventually surrounded by Kuvira's soldiers and mecha tanks. Before the group was captured, however, the earth beneath the soldiers and tanks shifts and knocks them all down. The Beifongs turn around and realize that Toph returned to save them. She was accompanied by Baatar, Huan, Juicy, Opal, Bolin, and Zhu Li.
Toph points to Kuvira. "You give metalbenders a bad name!"
Kuvira processes Toph's words. Her gaze shifts up while the whoosh of Juicy's takeoff was heard. Kuvira and Meldora were watching the bison depart with Bolin, Zhu Li, and the Beifongs.
Bolin, Zhu Li, and Lin were staring back at the site with concern.
The group in a forested area.
"Thanks for coming to save us, Mom." Suyin said.
"Yeah, thanks, Chief. I'm sorry for what I said last night. I was just... you know." Lin said.
"Look, I know I wasn't a great mother, but one way or another, I ended up with two great kids. Good enough to risk my bony old butt for, anyway. If you can just find some way not to hate me, maybe that's enough, at least for me."
"Me, too." Lin hugs her mother.
Bolin moves to link an arm around Toph and Lin, much to their surprise. "You know, I never had any family except for my brother until a few years ago, and reuniting with them made me realize how special it is."
"Argh, enough!" Toph escapes Bolin's embrace, causing Bolin to collide with Lin and shoves him aside. "Enjoy the ride back to the city with the gum flapper here."
"Aren't you coming back to Republic City with us, Grandma?" Opal asked.
"No, my fighting days are over. Don't tell Korra, but my back is killing me like hell now. This is why you didn't see Katara messing with that civil war nonsense. At some point, you gotta leave it to the kids." Toph walks off.
"I want to thank you for coming back to save me. And don't be too hard on Bolin for working with Kuvira. His heart was in the right place." Zhu Li said.
"I think Bolin has worked his way out of the polar bear doghouse." Opal said playfully before she kisses Bolin's cheek.
Bolin was smiling triumphantly. "Yes! Ha-ha!"
"We should get going. I'm afraid I have bad news to deliver to Republic City. Meldora is going to attack in two weeks. I secretly heard her saying she's gonna betray Kuvira and uses the spirit beams as a beacon to her armada."
A shocked Suyin, Lin, Bolin, and Opal.
Next chapter will come soon.
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