"Just keep on flying girl. Korra is in trouble and we need to save her. She's likely somewhere in the Earth Kingdom. A place that large is perfect for her to hide." Hope said to Lunala as they flew through the sky.
Lunala couldn't help but feel that Hope was overwhelmed and decided to speak up.
*Screech*
Her cry snapped Hope out of it as he shook his head. "Man… you're right Lunala, I'm probably just overreacting. I mean what was I thinking doing this? I do know Korra is in a bad situation, but she probably doesn't need saving. Maybe it's just my instincts telling me something was wrong and… I just assumed the worst."
"Hope!" A voice called out.
"Simon?" Hope asked looking behind him to see Simon on Malphas, ZS close behind on his board.
"Please, wait!" Simon called as he and ZS caught up and flew next to him on both sides.
"Did ya find Korra?" ZS asked.
'How could I? I've only been out here for at least a couple of hours." Hope said. "But why did you guys follow me out here?"
"One thing is that Aria...overreacted. And two, I was planning on following you until I saw ZS follow behind." Simon explained.
"Overreacted? You broke her bike." ZS said.
"It was just the Tailpipe, that can be easily fixed!" Simon said.
"Hey, don't fight you guys!" Hope called. "In anycase, I'm sorry for making you worry, but I overreacted when I heard Korra was missing. I know it's dangerous to be out here before the tournament officially gets underway, but this is something I gotta do… and I feel I need to do it alone."
"Maybe so, and I understand, me and my brothers would've done the same thing if something happened to any of our teammates, and besides you may need help if a group of competitors try to ambush us." Simon said. "We already came this far, haven't we?"
"You're right, but maybe there's a way we can throw them off." Hope said. "If we go in different directions, that'll be easier for us to have some breathing room. Plus, it'll make finding Korra a whole lot more efficient."
"Uh...quick question...what do we do about that?" ZS asked as cannon fire was being shot at them.
"Cannon fire?" Hope said before seeing a ship with a shark on its flag chase them. "Oh no."
"Aye...about time I pay ye back for what happened in the plaza." Sharkfang said.
"It's Captain Sharkfang!" Hope said.
"We don't have time to deal with this paranoid pirate. We still need to track down Korra." Simon said.
"Oh...I'll let you search...after I sink you three to the bottom of the briny deep!" Sharkfang said.
"Simon, Keep her busy! ZS, you're with me!" Hope said.
"Me?" ZS asked.
"Well, you're the one who baked that cake for Korra… I'd hate to give it to her without her knowing who made it." Hope explained.
"Pinkie-2 made the cake. I'm just the delivery boy." ZS said. "But I'll come anyway."
"Wait...there's a fog bank ahead. We can lose her in there." Simon said. "Hold on, CANILU!"
Hydra appeared from underwater as she roared, getting Sharkfangs attention.
"What manner of beast is this?!" Sharkfang asked.
"Say hello to Hydra, The Spinner of Destiny." Simon said.
"That boy's a problem… men! Forget the bat boy! We're going after that beast tamer!" Sharkfang said.
"Once we get in the fog, have Hydra make her follow you and try to lose her. And… thanks for having my back, Simon." Hope said.
"Will you stop trying to get rid of me? We're going with you, no buts about it!" Simon said. "We're your friends aren't we?"
"...You're right. Guess I haven't been thinking straight lately. Thanks, Simon." Hope said.
"It's no problem. *Whistle*!" Simon said as he whistled a signal to Hydra to tip Sharkfang's ship sideways. "That'll keep her off our backs for a while."
"Damn little." Sharkfang growled as Sharpedo jumped out. She touched it as both glowed as she stood there in a blue flowing cape, fins on her arms and sharp teeth in her mouth.
"No way...she can use burst?" Hope said.
"Rar!" she said biting into Hydra's neck and ripping a chunk out.
"Simon, call Hydra back!" Hope called.
Simon whistled as Hydra vanished and the portal disappeared.
Sharkfang fell into the water only to see the three vanish in the fog. "I swear...if it kills me, I'll sink you all into the briny deep! You hear me?!" she shouted.
Hope breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, that could've gone better. You and ZS okay?"
"Yeah, but that woman...is CRAZY!" Simon said. "Seriously, none of us said anything bad about her and she went all paranoid. What's up with that?"
"Well not us personally but someone travelling with us." Hope said.
"Right...Emo." Simon said.
"Guess its true. Some sharks do attack groups." Hope said.
"Don't think that's a saying but considering we made it out alive, not gonna argue." ZS said.
"Alright, now let's resume our flight to the Earth Kingdom!" Simon said.
The three continued their journey through the air. As they did, Hope was able to clear his head in the open air as he calmed his mind.
"You know, there is something calming about flying in the air. Maybe you were trying to help me, Lunala. Thanks." Hope said.
Lunala screeched with a grin.
"She said thank you." Simon said.
"Yeah." Hope said before he saw a burst of flames coming from the west direction. "Flames? That was fire bending, and it came from the Swamp!"
"Yes, I'm sensing a lot of Spiritual Energy coming from there." Simon said. "You think that's where Korra is?"
"Only one way to find out. Maybe we should park a bit further away, we don't want to give her a heart attack." ZS said.
"Wait, what's she striking at?" Hope asked.
"She's...attacking the air it looks like." Simon said.
"Attacking the air?" Hope pondered as they landed near the edge of the swamp as they ran in to see Korra attempting to climb a tree. "No! No get away!" she cried with nothing pulling her down.
"Her mind is...unstable. Whatever's she seeing is making her act like this." Simon said.
"PTSD." Hope realized.
"PTSD?" Simon asked.
"Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Likely caused from when Zaheer kidnapped her and almost killed her." Hope said.
"So what do we do?" ZS asked.
"We can't do anything. She sees us like this, she's gonna think were hallucinations too." Hope said.
"Well, we can't just leave her like this." ZS said.
"Help!" Korra called as she was sinking in mud with no catalyst.
"She's probably thinking she's sinking in Mercury… but I can't just stand here." Hope said before Korra passed out. "So what…"
"You three morons just going to stand there?" a voice said as they saw an old woman approach. "Pull her out and follow me."
"Alright...Let's help her." Simon said as they managed to pull her out and follow the old woman underneath a giant tree.
"Thanks. Didn't really know what to do for a second there." Hope said before the old woman whacked him on the head.
"Still the same. Always overthinking, Fancy Dancer." she said.
"Why you...wait...Fancy Dancer? I haven't heard that since…" Hope said. "Wait….no way…"
"It's been a long time...you stupid kid." she said.
"Toph!" Hope smiled.
"Oh yeah, she used to travel with yours and Jexi's group right?" Simon asked.
"She did?!" ZS said in disbelief. "Wow, another expert in Multiverse travel!"
"I used to. Then when the fire nation fell, Twinkle Toes and the rest of us departed to build the new Republic. I formed the police force and trained other Earthbenders in the art of metalbending." Toph said.
"Amazing. Do you...want to know our names?" Simon asked.
"You're Simon Neptune and...Zombie Shooter I guess." Toph said.
"SKATER! Uh, I mean...Skater. I mean, I have a skateboard, so it's pretty obvious…" ZS said.
"You felt our presences through the earth, that's how you knew who we were." Simon theorized.
"You could say that. I've spent a while in this swamp to know what goes on around here." Toph explained. "So what brings you all here, along with Twinkle Toes' reincarnation."
"Kinda a long story, but let's just say it's gotta do with a tournament. As for Korra… I'm as clueless as you are." Hope said.
"Maybe we should talk to her when she wakes up. Seeing you might lift her spirits a bit." ZS suggested.
"Yes. Also…this tree, I feel a lot of Spiritual Energy from it." Simon said putting a hand on one of the roots.
"That's the great Banyan grove tree. Aang told me it's some sort of spiritual connection to the rest of the world one time. It's how he knew where to find Toph." Hope said.
"Heh… he always did have a big mouth." Toph said.
Later as night fell again, Korra stirred before finally waking up.
"Ugh… where am I?" Korra asked.
"Long story, but if you knew me, I'd tell you anyway." Hope said. "Hey Korra. It's been a while."
"Hope...please go away." Korra groaned.
"Is that out of reflex or are you really that down?" ZS said approaching before he stopped in his tracks. "Oh. Wow. You're pretty."
"Korra, please calm down, you're amongst friends." Simon said.
"But… why are you guys here? And what is that?" Korra asked looking at ZS.
"It's because Fancy Dancer here cares about you a little too much." Toph said stepping out of the shadows.
"I can't believe it...Toph?" Korra asked.
"Heh...it's been awhile, Twinkle Toes." Toph chuckled.