In the Swamp...
Absol was currently standing next to Simon as both had their eyes closed along with a white aura surrounding them.
Hope stared at them before turning back to Korra and Toph. His former teammate was laying near a root of the tree while his mentally hurt friend was trying to get over her fears.
"Okay, Absol...BURST!" Simon called as a flash of light engulfed them both. However, they were unable to fuse properly as they burst apart and fell into the swamp.
"Simon!" Hope called as he ran over to him and Absol. "This is the third time today. I've told you before, Burst isn't just something you can just do."
"I know...does it just come naturally or…" Simon trailed off.
"Hey. You're overthinking it." Hope said. "I get why you're trying to master burst. You want to be prepared as possible for Captain Sharkfang. But given we're on dry land..."
"Yeah, but that's not the only reason, I'm trying to prepare so that all of us can get to the finals. I mean, I have such a good connection with Absol and Cheshire, what am I doing wrong?" Simon said. "I mean...I don't even know how you and the others do it."
"Just…I can't explain it, but it's something that you have to be mindful about. What is it that you and Absol are thinking about? Ugh...I'll be honest. I only did Burst once and I don't even remember the key things. But...I guess it has something to do with how long both the person and Pokemon have been together as well as the amount of trust and friendship between them." Hope said.
"Well, in a way, our powers could cause destruction if we ever used them wrong, but we want to use them to protect others." Simon said as he looked at the Keystone in his hand.
"You just have to believe you and Absol can do it, same with Cheshire." Hope said. "I gotta get to some training too. I'll see you later."
"Believe huh?" Simon said before looking to Absol as he nodded his head. "Alright...let's do it!"
Hope then came over to Toph as she looked his way.
"You sure have made some interesting new friends." Toph said.
"Yeah, Simon's a great guy, same with his brothers. And once you get past the freakiness, Zombie Skater's a good person too." Hope said.
"I heard that!" ZS said. "And thank you."
"Anyway, it was pretty rough seeing you beat up Korra like that, but I know you're helping her. In your way, I suppose. And knowing that she doesn't want to get better by keeping what's left of that Mercury in her body, it's hard not to feel sympathetic." Hope siad.
"Look, I know you want her to get better, and so does the swamp. Aang did tell you its secrets, it senses her out of balance." Toph said.
"Yeah, big time." Hope said. "I mean, I just can't help but feel she's carrying around more than just the Mercury in her blood."
"You've got that right. She wants there to still be something wrong with her." Toph said. "That way, she can't be the Avatar."
"She doesn't want to be the Avatar?" ZS asked. "Why not?"
She's afraid." Hope said. "All her enemies keep haunting her. It's more than just the poison, her enemies kept haunting her too."
"On the nail as always. But have you considered that you or Korra could learn from those enemies?" Toph asked. "While you claimed a lot of them evil. Many of them raised very valid points. Amon, he wanted Equality. Unalaq wanted spirituality. Zaheer, he wanted freedom. And I've heard of the fights you brought here. Like Centurion, he wanted equal and fair justice. All good ideals but each of them took them way too far."
"So many dark mirror images of David… Even he would find that scary…" Hope said. "But even so, their defeats brought about such changes. Amon's defeat allowed for the right to elect leaders here. Unalaq and Vaatu's defeat brought a connection between this world and the spirit world allowing spirits to travel here freely. Zaheer and Centurion's defeat brought back the airbender nation as a sign of good and justice."
"But still, Korra can't look towards future enemies without facing the old ones." Toph said. "So, it's time for her to face the old enemies. Get your friends, I'll get Twinkle Toes. Were heading to the Banyan Grove."
"Okay…" Hope nodded.
Later at the grove tree with the others.…
"Jeez… Aang forgot to tell me how big this thing is." Hope said.
"He should've. The roots of this tree extend all over the four nations. Some might say they even connect to other worlds, but that might be an exaggeration." Toph said. "The point is, this tree is connected to everything. But Korra has disconnected from the world for too long."
"I know. But...how do I…" Hope said.
"That's the thing...you can't. In the end, it all relies on her." Toph said.
"Okay… here goes." Korra said laying a hand to one of the roots. Suddenly she could see through the swamp before spying something. "I see them. Jinora, Ikki and Meelo!"
"They probably came here to take you home." Toph said.
As Toph predicted, the grandchildren arrived on a Sky Bison and flew down to Korra, who was in tears as she was reunited with them.
"We missed you so much, Korra." Ikki said.
"I missed you so much too, but how did you know where to find us?" Korra asked.
"Jinora sensed your energy." Ikki explained.
"I would've never sensed it if it wasn't for Ikki's instincts." Jinora admitted.
"I would've never stormed off and found those soldiers if it wasn't for Meelo." Ikki added.
"I was trying to toughen these two up, but… it was a team effort I suppose." Meelo said.
"Finally...we're saved." ZS said. "Oh, I mean, glad you all came."
"HAAAAAAAAA!" Simon roared as a pillar of light erupted from a distance. In the same instant, it exploded outward as Simon crashed into the trees root.
"You almost had it but it doesn't matter. We've been found. We can go home now." Hope said. "Wait...why did you kids come looking for Korra?"
"You...you don't know what's been happening?" Jinora asked.
"We were in the swamp for a bit, but I did feel something off." Simon said.
"You need to come back. Kuvira is taking over the Earth Kingdom." Jinora said.
"I'm not sure if I can. I'm not the Avatar I used to be." Korra said. "I can't even go into the Avatar State."
"Please Korra, you have to come back. We need the avatar." Ikki pleaded.
"Everyone is depending on you Korra, and we do too. We know you can overcome your fears." Hope said. "Me, Simon, Zombie Skater… everyone."
"Yeah! Plus, you have a cake to look forward to! If that's not motivation, I don't know what is." ZS said.
"We've got your back on this. We're your friends, and we don't leave each other behind." Simon said.
"Thanks, guys..." Korra said.
Later in the night, everyone gathered in Toph's abode. There, Korra started to try and bend the remaining Mercury out of her body, slowly at first but it then picked up as all the mercury was ejected from her body as Toph isolated it inside a rock capsule. "Well done." she said as Korra's eyes glowed bright.
"The Avatar is back!" Meelo cheered.
It was later that everyone boarded the bison that the kids rode here as Hope boarded Lunala as they took off from the swamp.
"Finally, some peace and quiet. It was great catching up with Blue Boy, but an old woman like me needs her alone time." Toph said. "And although I wouldn't say this to his face…he may still be a fool...but he's matured since last we met."