Chapter 48 Beyond the wilds
Its been a week since Kuvira was revealed to be alive once more due to Ares actions. Since then the United Republic was preparing for the worst since she was now the new student of Ares who would not doubt seek revenge against Sean and his allies.
Currently right now Baldur was meeting with everyone about the subject.
"I say we strike now and put her in the ground for good this time." Reznov said.
"Not that I don't disagree but we have no idea what she's even planning this time. Since her original army was cut down 10 months ago she now has to depend on Ares's army. And I'll bet anything Baatar Jr and Zhu-Li are working for her again." Sean said.
"Uh." Bolin tried to say.
"What is it?" Baldur asked.
"Well...Before we escaped Kuvira had Varrick and Zhi-Li working on a new super weapon." Bolin said.
"Super Weapon? What does it do?" Korra asked.
"Just for the record I did try to stop her and did from completing it. We were using spirit vines to to draw energy from them to power up anything...But well...I created a new weapon and I tried to tell her no but she threatened to kill me." Varrick said.
"Since when do you say no?" Asami asked frowning at him.
"I know it's not like me. But either way I made sure the whole project would never continue." Varrick said proudly while Bolin glared at him which everyone noticed.
"What exactly happened?" Mako asked.
"He nearly blew us up if I didn't find that hatch." Bolin said.
"Now you see why you shouldn't admire him? Dumbass?" Sean asked amused.
"Ok I learned my lesson." Bolin said.
"And theres the time you worked for the Triple Threats when me and Korra first arrived in the city. Then theres Dating Eska who treated you like shit. And now working for Kuvira." Sean said making most laugh or chuckle in amusement while Bolin looked annoyed before Opal and Ikki rushed in.
"We have a serious problem. Kuvira retook Zaofu." Opal said shocking them.
"You gotta be fucking kidding me." Sean said.
"I guess it only makes sense. It was the last place she planned to attack before you killed her." Baldur said.
"No she wanted Zaofu for something else. She said it was full of riches and technology. But when she said riches I don't think she was talking about actual wealth." Sean said thinking on what she meant.
"Well, the only other thing there are Meteorites." Korra said.
"Maybe theres one in particular she's after." Opal asked.
"What do you mean?" 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.
"Hmm. I'm gonna call the other leaders of the Fire Nation and North and South Pole. We all need to discuss this problem." Baldur said.
"I would also recommend other world leaders just to be on the safe side." Sean said.
"Right." Baldur said before everyone left.
"What do you think Kuvira's up to this time?" Korra asked.
"If I had to guess she wants to reclaim her empire. Since 80% was killed when I got my warrior spirit back she now has to depend on what remains that are loyal to her and Ares's army. But even then she couldn't reclaim the Earth Kingdom as a whole in such a short time. It took her three years to get most of it under her thumb while we lived in the South." Sean said.
"So where would she strike next?" Korra asked.
"My best guess? Here. What better way to show her true power than destroying Republic City?" Sean asked making her frown.
"Next time you kill someone make sure you burn the body like Raiko." Korra said making him scoff in amusement.
"I'll keep that in mind." Sean said holding her close.
Days later
Korra smiled as she watched Naga play with her kids who were playing hide and seek.
"Aw!" Junior whined as Naga picked him making his mother giggle as she held Calliope in her arms who laughed.
"AW!" Katara yelled as she was picked up next before Atreus tried to run away but got caught.
"Darn it." Atreus said making Korra burst out laughing.
"And I thought I was bad at this game when I was your age playing with your father." Korra laughed.
"This isn't fair! Naga can smell us!" Junior yelled.
"Your mother used to hide in the snow every time she hid from me when she was your age. And that was before she found Naga." Sean said walking to Korra before sitting down. "How you doing?" Sean asked.
"I'm ok. Just enjoying the peace and quiet while it lasts. Ain't that right sweetheart?" Korra said to her daughter who laughed making her parents smile.
Thats when they spotted Opal who looked depressed before they walked to her.
"Everything ok?" Sean asked.
"No, Kuvira's alive again and she has 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 Kuvira is capable of this time since Ares trained her now like he trained me. And believe me I could do some pretty cruel things in those days." Sean said.
"We'll get them back soon. If Kuvira had killed them she would have let us know is the most cruel way possible." Korra said.
"Meaning?" Opal asked.
"You don't wanna know." Sean said remembering the messed up things he did in his youth.
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. Somethings wrong." Jinora said making them concerned.
After leaving the kids with Pema they arrived at the spirit wilds.
"Hmm. I do sense something off." Sean said.
"Are you sure you felt a disturbance? Maybe you just had some bad food for breakfast." Opal said.
"What the hell?" Sean said looking at her like she was stupid.
"Yeah your right thats stupid." 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 stupid kid who was living in his parents basement?" Sean asked remembering him during another stop on the way to Ba Sing Se after they got Kai.
"He's...Mellowed out while you two were gone." Jinora said making him frown. "Ok he's still basically the same but he does take his responsibilities seriously now." Jinora said.
"Whatever." Sean said changing the subject.
"Guys, can't you two feel the strange energy here?" Jinora asked.
"No, But maybe." Korra said touching one of the vines. Sean had taught her something he had learned in the swamp from Toph.
She connected to the vines before seeing Kuvira's remaining Earth Empire forces violating the swamp vines where Toph lived making her gasp in shock.
"What is it?" Sean asked.
"It was Kuvira. Her forces 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 are connected to one another. It's pissing off the spirits." Sean said.
"Since Varrick destroyed the vines he got from here she needs new ones. And the ones there are probably even stronger." Jinora said.
"We need to warn Baldur 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 but the Fire Nation has been part of too many wars and started just as many and I refuse to bring my nation into another unless we have no choice." Fire Lord Izumi said.
"You didn't seem to mind the one from 5 years ago." Tonraq said.
"That was completely different. That wasn't a war it was a fight for survival." Izumi said.
"She's not wrong." Theseus said.
"Look regardless we have to take her out now. Ares has caused enough damage and now Kuvira is his new student. I don't need to remind people what happened when Sean was his last one." Baldur said.
"To be fair that is completely different since he is Zeus's son and she's mortal." Izumi said.
"Its the same." Thor said.
Thats when Sean, Korra and Opal barged in.
"Baldur we got a problem here." Sean said.
"What is it now?" Baldur said.
"The Spirit vines are acting up because of Kuvira. She's taking vines from the swamp in the Earth Kingdom. Probably to power that weapon Varrick was trying to stop." Korra said.
"What weapon?" Tonraq asked.
"Varrick was trying to harness the power of the Spirit vines as a power source but instead created a weapon and Kuvira wanted to use it." Baldur said.
"If she's collecting the swamp vines it means she's trying to restart it again." Tenzin said.
"How dangerous is this weapon exactly?" Izumi asked.
"Probably strong enough to kill a god." 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 she is." Izumi said.
"So will ours." Theseus said getting Tonraq to agree.
"Ok...I want the armies of Greece, Asgard and Egypt ready here and now along with the armies of these lands. Let the others know and ask them to send whoever they can." Baldur to Horus who nods.
Soon everyone left the building.
"You really think her weapon could kill a god?" Korra asked.
"Normally Mortal weapons have next to no effects on gods but the vines are so powerful they could in theory kill a god." Sean said.
"Too bad we can't use them against Ares." Korra 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.
"We got to get in there and find Jinora." Korra said.
"I don't think anyone should be going in there right now." Lin said before more vines attacked them.
"We gotta get in there fast." Sean said as they rushed in.
"Why would the Spirit vines take Jinora and the others?" Korra asked.
"Probably because they're pissed off. Kuvira is harvesting their energy for selfish reasons. That alone makes them think all humans are alike." Sean said before more vines attacked them only for Sean to cut them to pieces before they backed into a building before Korra sealed it up. "Whoa." Sean said making Korra look seeing green pods before she walked up to one before Jinora was seen inside.
"Their spirits are trapped in the spirit world." Korra said before using her water bending to try to release them but it didn't work. "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 to familiar with.
"Wait...This isn't the spirit world." Korra said before hearing a pained scream making her turn and widened her eyes seeing the Demon who was cracking apart.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The demon roared before exploding.
Next she saw herself crying holding Sean's dead body before Zaheer came in before he screamed in pain as she blood bended him.
"You took him away from me and my children. Now I'll take your life."
"AHHH!" Korra screamed as she entered the physical world.
"Korra! What happened?" Sean asked holding her as she breathed heavily.
"I...I can't get in. We'll have to go in through the South Pole." Korra said ready to leave.
"No." Sean said stopping her.
"Sean we don't have time for this." Korra said.
"Korra I can easily tell something blocking you from entering. Now what happened there?" Sean asked making her look away. "Korra...When was the last time you went into the spirit world?" Sean asked making her sigh.
"I haven't been there since...Since you died and came back." Korra said making him frown.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?" 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. Something happened while I was dead am I right?" Sean asked making tears run down her eyes before he held her. "Korra what happened?" Sean asked making her cry.
"After you were dead Zaheer showed up and surrendered. I was just...So mad at what he did regardless if he was a pawn. I...I blood bended him." Korra said crying shocking him.
"You did what? When did you learn to do that?" Sean asked.
"I didn't. I was just so angry and it just happened like it was natural. Turok convinced me to stop before I actually killed him." Korra said.
"Shhh." Sean said holding her close as she cried.
"I told you before the war. When we go through a loss we say and do things we normally would never do. In your case you did what you did out of anger." Sean said.
"I just hated myself so much for it after you came back." Korra cried.
"I know. But you need to get past this and theres only one way you can. You need to Face Zaheer again." Sean said.
"I...I can't." Korra said.
"Yes you can. I have complete total faith in you." Sean said.
Later
Korra and her husband were outside the city in front of a mountain where Zaheer was inside.
Guarding it were over a dozen Elite Spartans and Asgardian warriors.
"You ready?" Sean asked holding her hand making her sigh.
"Yes. I think if I see Zaheer chained up, I'll finally be able to move on from that horrible experience." Korra said as they went inside.
Arriving at an elevator Korra got in but saw Sean outside.
"Aren't you coming?" Korra asked.
"No...You need to do this alone. Don't worry if something happens I'll know and I'll be right there." Sean said making her nod before she went down.
When the doors opened she found him flying in the air meditating.
"I knew you would show up sooner or later." Zaheer said.
"I came here to look you in the eye to tell you have no power over me or my family ever again." Korra said.
"Oh please." Zaheer said shocking her. "We both know thats something your saying to make yourself feel better. Thats not why your here at all." Zaheer said making her glare.
"This was a mistake. You haven't changed. Still the arrogant bastard from 4 years ago who almost had my husband killed and nearly forced my kids to grow up without a father." Korra said turning to leave.
"I know exactly why your here." Zaheer said.
"YOU DON'T KNOW A DAMN THING ABOUT ME!" Korra yelled.
"You can't go into the spirit world." Zaheer said shocking her. "I spend most of my time there and it's well known you haven't been there since Kruger came back from the dead." Zaheer said.
"You can enter the Spirit world from here? Doesn't seem spiritually charged." Korra said.
"Thats where your wrong. Republic City is flowing with spiritual energy, and you can't even tap into it and thats the problem." Zaheer said.
"NO! My problem is you! You forced my husband to kill himself to kill his inner demon cause you worked for Ares! You ruined both of us! Forced me to blood bend you out of anger! Forced his best friend to give up his life to save him! Made him vulnerable for 3 years! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING FOR US!" Korra yelled.
"Did I? Or did my actions help him?" Zaheer asked making her growl before metal bending him down making him grunt.
"What does that mean?" Korra asked glaring at him.
"Think about it. While my actions did indeed cost you for a couple hours...It later helped him forgive himself for all the horrible things he did." Zaheer said shocking her as she let him go.
"How did...How did you know about that?" Korra asked.
"The guards do talk. Trust me I regret my actions that led to his short death and the deaths and my friends. But it later led him to finally forgive himself for everything he did." Zaheer said making her look away before sighing.
"Ok...I admit you had a hand in that. But now because of you Kuvira rose through the Earth Kingdom and became its worst dictator before Sean put her down when his warrior spirit came back. And now she's alive again because of Ares and she's his new student." Korra said surprising him.
"This Kuvira is the new student of the God of war?" Zaheer asked.
"Yeah and it's your fault! If you hadn't killed the Earth queen none of this would have happened!" Korra yelled.
"Hmm. I suppose." Zaheer said.
"You were no different than Ares back then. And he even tried to stop Sean from being born by trying to kill his mother 10 years before he was born. All that did was change his name." Korra said.
"Regardless of our past experience Kuvira and Ares need to be stopped. And you need to get past this block thats preventing you from entering the spirit world. Truthfully your powers would rival Kruger's in years to come since both of you are immortal. But until you get past what you did that went against your beliefs you won't get there." Zaheer said.
"Yeah and thats your fault." Korra said glaring at him.
"Then let me help." Zaheer said shocking her. "I owe you for the pain I caused you and this may make some amends for getting my friends killed. Regardless of what we were in the past. Ares and Kuvira must be stopped." Zaheer said making her sigh.
"Not like I got much choice." Korra said sitting down.
"Whatever you do don't turn away." Zaheer said as he led her into the spirit world only for her to see her worst memory play out making her gasp seeing Sean take his own life. "You need to let it play out. Forget about what could have been. And Accept what has happened." Zaheer said making her let out a shuddering breath seeing her blood bend Zaheer.
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 do." Zaheer 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.
Korra than opened her eyes before seeing Zaheer again.
"I can never forgive you for the pain you caused me and my husband...But you have my thanks for helping me." Korra said about to leave.
"Before you go I have one question." Zaheer said.
"And that is?" Korra asked.
"You said Ares tried to kill Kruger's mother before he was born and his actions had his name changed to what it is now. What was his original name supposed to be?" Zaheer asked making her raise an eyebrow.
"Well...If you really want to know...It was supposed to be Achilles." Korra said making his eyes widen before chuckling making her frown. "Whats so funny?" Korra asked.
"So thats why he wanted him dead. And here I only thought it was because he turned his back on him." Zaheer said.
"What are you talking about?" Korra asked.
"You have no idea who your husband really is do you? Then again I can't say I'm surprised. Not many people know the legend." Zaheer said.
"What legend?" Korra asked.
"You'll see soon enough." Zaheer said before resuming his connection to the Spirit world making her frown before heading back into the Elevator.
"Raava? Do you know who Sean really is?" Korra asked before she appeared.
"I do actually and no I won't tell you since I'm forbidden from telling his destiny. But I will tell you this. You two were always destined to meet. Some bonds of love are so powerful they survive even the greatest changes of time." Raava said before vanishing making Korra smile happy to know her marriage wasn't some accident because of Ares.
Walking outside the gates to the prison closed.
"So how do you feel?" Sean asked.
"I feel whole again. Finally forgave myself for what I did." Korra said.
"Enough to forget what happened?" Sean asked.
"No...I'll never forget that. But I think it'll make me stronger. How you do stuff like this so much is beyond me." Korra said making him smile.
"Simple...I have you." Sean said making her smile before kissing him as he held her. "No matter what Korra I will always love you even if you nearly repeat my mistakes." Sean said making her smile.
"I love you too and I always will no matter what you did in the past." Korra said enjoying the moment.
Authors Note: And with that Korra puts her past actions of using Blood bending on Zaheer and Sean's death behind her and moves forward. Next Chapter Operation Beifong. Now As soon as this was done I was gonna do the New Legend of Korra story but I decided I won't make it until AFTER New Years begins since what better way to start a new story then to do it the year when everything will get way better? I will get back to work on my Savior created by the Gods and Rider of the League and Jedi or Sith.