"Well...seems you both are awake now." Invel said entering a car with the frozen Kazuichi and Eddy who's heads have melted free. "How does it feel to be arrested as war criminals?"
"You didn't arrest us, we didn't do anything wrong! I tried to stop Eddy, so why am i here?!" Kazuichi asked.
"Because this guy's a jerk?" Eddy suggested.
"Silence. You two were making a mockery of the Earth Empire. We needed to set an example." Invel said.
"So...what do you plan to do with us?" Kazuichi asked.
"Given your mechanical skills, you'll be working on the robotic armors and any other mechanical projects. The runt will be sent to a reeducation camp and made a proper citizen of the Earth Empire." Invel said.
"I don't like the sound of that…" Kazuichi said.
"Jokes on you!" Eddy laughed. "I never pay attention in school!"
"Somehow I believe that. But there are many kinds of ways to get the behavior in. Like...torture for example." Invel said.
"So, are you gonna unfreeze me so you can get me to work with Varrick and Zhu Li?" Kazuichi asked.
"Nice try. The Spirit Vine project has already received four volunteers. Have you not heard? Dr. Mathis, Miss Iruma, God Usopp and Cyborg Franky have left your groups. They work for the Earth Empire now." Invel said.
"(Why would they do that? That's not like them…. Unless… maybe I should just play along too.)" Kazuichi thought. "Fine, you win. I'll build you the best damn robots and war machines you've ever seen."
"Perfect." he said unfreezing Kazuichi. "And best make haste. We will be approaching our last conquest soon."
"Hey Snowman! Forgetting something?!" Eddy yelled. "Unfreeze me, ya mook!"
"I'm no fool. The moment I unfreeze you, you're just going to make a run for it." Invel said.
"Nah, I was gonna just beat you up, but whatever floats your boat." Eddy said.
"With your level of power, that would be quite absurd, now would it?" Invel asked. "Besides, you have any idea who I am? You've heard of the great Alvarez Empire haven't you? The country once ruled by our Emperor Spriggan."
"Never heard of you." Eddy said.
"I'm the Winter General, Invel Yura. As for the emperor...you might know him better as Zeref." Invel said.
"Oh, you mean Natsu's big bro." Eddy said.
"Trust me, this guy is no joke. Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't go back to Alvarez." Kazuichi said.
"I wanted to...but after the death of the emperor, the Spriggan 12 was disbanded. Ajeel, the desert king, now rules it and has established peace with Ishgar. Even pardoned Jacob from his sentence in prison to act as a bodyguard. But the likes of me and Neinhart are no longer welcome there due to trying to ignite another war." Invel said.
"Sucks to be you." Eddy said.
"Shut it. Now I'm left roaming the worlds, travelling from master to master...each one not lasting long I'm afraid." Invel said.
"And you think Kuvira's the one?" Kazuichi asked.
"For now she is." Invel said.
Meanwhile in the lab…
"Hey, Mathis, careful with those spirit vines!" Varrick said.
"I wouldn't worry too much about him. He knows what he's doing." Miu said.
"So, what's the deal with these vines anyway?" Usopp asked.
"Glad you asked! Inside that stasis capsule is a spirit vine weighing approximately 2 Zhu Li's. I'm approximated that these spirit vines are a form of energy that is unstable in typical earth condition. This machine should transfer the energy from the vines into a battery using electrical currents, reverse magnetic polarity and a little phenomenon I like to call...the Vari Effect." Varrick said.
The machine was soon activated as energy began to grow.
"It's working. It's registering 5 varricks of power. Now 7 varricks." Varrick said before lights on the machine began bursting. "Whoa, what is going on here?!" he said as lightning came from the capsule. "Mathis! Shut it down!"
"Right!" Jude said running to the switch as he kept throwing it but the power kept growing. "It's not working. The machine's overloaded!"
"Hit the deck!" Varrick said as they ducked down as the machine sent out a large blast of energy that took out the rear end of the car.
Zhu Li screamed as she was flung out into the open side as Varrick grabbed her and pulled her back.
"Whoa...glad it was just a car." Miu said.
"Uh...maybe more than that." Usopp said looking out to see several mountains with large holes in each one from when the train was in their line.
"Holy moly…" Franky said.
"What happened? Were we attacked?" Kuvira asked entering with her fiance Batarr Jr.
"No, we were spirit vine'd. Well, better put the kibosh on this project." Varrick said.
"No you are not. Do you have any idea what we could do with this power?" Kuvira asked.
"Yes, I do. That's why we gotta stop it. What if it fell into the wrong hands?" Varrick asked.
"Since when has that mattered to you?" Jude asked.
"I know. Normally when something like this happens, I think "Whoa! This is gonna make me a ton of money!" But recently I've been having thoughts and...feelings for others. It's like there's a voice in my head telling me right from wrong." Varrick said.
"What you just described is called having a conscience." Usopp said.
"Well I'm the other voice in your head, and I'm telling you to continue." Kuvira said. "We have Dr. Mathis with us now. He can stabilize the spirit vines output with his knowledge of spyrites. We have the chance to make a weapon no other nation has."
"Sorry, no. I just gotta stand my ground on this on...WHOA!" Varrick said as Kuvira metalbent his shoulder pads.
"And now there's a voice in my head telling me to drop you on the train tracks." Kuvira said. "Should I listen?"
"No no! Head voices are liars! I'll work on the project! Please don't drop me!" Varrick said before Kuvira pulled him back as she returned to business in the other cars. "You know what you guys? I think Kuvira might be kinda crazy."
"Oh god, what was your first clue?!" Usopp shouted. "Jude, you cannot consider working on this thing."
"Of course not!" Jude said. "I researched spyrites so humans can co-exist with spirits, not weaponize them."
"Definitely. I say the moment this train stops, we grab Kazuichi and Eddy and desert this army." Franky said.
"Please take me with you!" Varrick begged.
"After the way she treated you, I don't see why we can't." Miu said.
"Ugh...this stinks. We're trapped between a rock and a hard place." Kazuichi said working on a machine with Eddy placed nearby him.
"Don't tell me. You're the one free of ice." Eddy said as they heard the door open as Bolin entered.
"Hey, I thought I heard you guys in here. What's up?" Bolin said.
"What's up? We're being used a slave labor. Well, mostly me. Bolin, how can you side with these guys?" Kazuichi said.
"Sides? I don't see sides. We're making the Earth Kingdom a better place. Last week we visited this town that had never seen a sato mobile. Guess how many they have now. 2. Running water and a train that runs right through their town." Bolin said.
"Uh huh. Just answer me this. Out of all the towns you visited...how many have you actually gone back to?" Kazuichi asked.
"And how many people have you seen frozen in ice in those towns?" Eddy added.
"Uh to answer both...0." Bolin said.
"Trust me when I say this Bolin. Kuvira just needs you to take Zaofu because of your connection with Opal. And when it's all said and done, she'll toss you aside. Leave now, while you still have a choice." Kazuichi said.
This statement by Kazuichi put the same thoughts Varrick had into Bolin's mind. When they reached Zaofu ahead of Kuvira's massive army, the delegations were declined by Suyin, and Opal repeated the exact same things said by Kazuichi. This gave Kuvira no choice. Despite her relationship with Suyin in the past, she had 24 hours before Zaofu was taken, the hard way.
That's when Korra's group arrived in Zaofu and saw the massive army of soldiers and mechs.
"Dang, that is a big army. Kuvira isn't messing around." Hope said.
"This is insane…" Simon added.
"Hope we're not too late…" Korra added.
"Let's land in the city and meet with Suyin." Simon said.
After landing in the city, ZS followed them on the ground.
"Man, this place reminds me of my vacation in Star Wars." ZS said. "...We need to finish up here and leave fast."
"If we can make sure Kuvira doesn't raise hell, I'm sure we'll get outta here fast." Hope said.
"Yes, but for now let's look for Suyin." Simon said.
While all that was going on, Bolin saw Kuvira's true self after the negotiations and had gone to convince Varrick's group to escape. While this happened, Invel and Batarr Jr. went to the militia's storeroom. "Where is Bolin?" Invel asked.
"He came by to see the two prisoners again but we turned him away." the guards said.
"Open the door." Invel said.
The guards did so, and upon seeing what's inside, they were shocked. Kazuichi''s cuffs were off, and Eddy's ice prison was shattered.
"They're gone!" a guard said.
"Bolin...I knew he wasn't inner circle material. Do not stand there. Get a militia after them! We cannot allow them to escape." Invel said.
Meanwhile, both groups were escaping the train as Bolin, Varrick and Zhu Li were inside Mech Suits keeping up.
"So, now what?" Bolin asked.
"We gotta scram. We head to Republic City and warn the world about Kuvira and her super weapon." Usopp said.
"No, if anything, we should stay here and help the others defend Zaofu." Bolin said. "It's a tough decision either way… let me think about this...GAH!"
Bolin was suddenly zapped from behind as enemy mechs charged their positions.
"You are not going anywhere." Batarr Jr. said.
"Well don't just stand there! Get em!" Varrick called.
"For once, can you try to fight yourself?!" Franky said opening up his shoulder. "Franky Rocket Launcher!" he called blasting a mech down. "Jude, take the others!"
"But what about you?" Jude asked.
"I'll hold em back as best I can. You guys need to get away!" Franky said.
"He's right. There's no other way. We have to go!" Miu said.
"Damn it…" Jude muttered as he and the others started to bolt.
"Don't let them escape!" Batarr Jr. called.
"We just need to…" Usopp said as the surrounding land froze.
"You...will not go anywhere." Invel said in his True Ice Kamui.
"Not good…" Miu said.
"If anybody's got fire on 'em, now would be a good time to use it." Eddy said.
"Wouldn't work. I've seen this guy freeze even Natsu's flames." Usopp said.
"Guess there's only one thing to do…" Miu said. "We surrender!"
"That's a good girl." Invel smiled.
It was soon enough everyone was brought before Kuvira.
"I am astonished by this…Bolin, you, Zhu Li and that runt will be sent to a re-education camp on a train personally monitored by Invel. The rest of you will continue on the spirit vine project...under armed supervision." Kuvira said.
"Wait!" Zhu Li called running and falling over. "Kuvira please, spare me! Don't send me away, take me back!"
"And why should she?" Invel asked.
"Because I've been a fool to follow this idiot. I realize now...your rule is the only one for me...great uniter." Zhu Li said.
"You two-timing coward!" Eddy yelled at Zhu Li. "When I get outta this, I'll deck you!"
"Kuvira...I want to make a request. I'm afraid this runt will not serve any purpose to the Earth Empire. I move he be marked for execution...as a target for the spirit weapon." Invel said.
"Hmm. I'll allow it." Kuvira said.
"Guards… do the thing." Zhu Li ordered as the guards grabbed the others.
"No! Not the Thing! Zhu Li!" Varrick called as the guards dragged them out.
Back on the train the next day…
"Can't believe it. We're stuck here." Kazuichi said. "Again."
"And the worst part is, Zhu Li just abandoned us! That bitch had to wait until now to Rebel?!" Miu asked.
"Calm down, Miu. I think I have a plan. Hey, Invel right? These guards here have real shaky hands. I need someone with stronger hands...like Bolin." Varrick said.
"Hmm. Fine. Guards, have Bolin brought here. He is now one of Varrick's assistants." Invel said.
"What are you doing?" Usopp asked.
"Trust me kid… I have a plan." Varrick said.
It was later Bolin was brought before them and was helping. "Can't believe you have me working on a weapon of mass destruction!" Bolin said.
"First of all, it wasn't meant to be a weapon. It was originally designed to be a source of clean pure energy." Varrick said.
"Clean energy. I like that. Let's do that instead." Bolin said.
"Quiet. You're here to help, not chat. And Varrick, you should know when a discovery is made, it's up to the masses to decide how it should be handled." Invel said.
"You wouldn't know genius if a wolf bat went and made a nest in your butt." Varrick said.
"That makes no sense. Wolf bats don't make nests." Invel said.
"Huh. He's got me there. Okay and…" Varrick said kicking the machine as the green vines turned purple as a ticking was heard.
"What is that?" Invel asked.
"That's the timer." Varrick said.
"The timer for what?" Invel demanded.
"For the bomb of course!" Varrick said.
"A Bomb?!" Usopp asked.
"You might want to take cover." Jude said.
"Grr...all forces fall back and separate this car from the rest of the train." Invel said as they left and decoupled the car.
"Okay…Franky Fireball!" Franky said freeing Eddy once again.
"Okay, we're free! Now, you think you can stop that timer now, Varrick?" Miu asked.
"Huh? Oh that. Yeah, there's no way to stop it." Varrick said.
"What?" Usopp said.
"Yep, it's gonna explode and take this whole car with us." Varrick said.
"Not if we hit the road first!" Eddy said jumping out of the moving train as the others were following before Miu grabbed Varrick.
"Just so you know...I hate you." she said jumping out with him.
It was seconds after that when the bomb exploded, leaving a huge crater in the tracks.
"The idiot actually blew himself up. That man was as crazy as a sewer pipe elephant rat. Turn back to Zaofu. Nothing could have survived that explosion." Invel said.
On the side of the tracks, the group groaned as Varrick laughed. "You guys did it! You all did the thing!" Varrick said.
"Why did we save him again?" Eddy asked lying face first on the ground.
"To be fair, he did see that Kuvira's intentions were wrong. We couldn't have just left him to die." Kazuichi said. "Right, Jude?"
"Exactly. There was no way any of us could've stayed there. I can't believe they would weaponize spirits like this." Jude said.
"Well it's gonna be hard for them now since all the vines and the machine were on that car." Franky said. "Yeah. Only chance to get it back now would be to have...someone who...worked on it." he said realizing.
"...I'm SO gonna deck that jerk." Eddy said.
"The question no one seems to be asking is why Zhu Li betrayed us?" Usopp asked.
"Considering how a certain someone almost blew us up...I think I can understand her pain." Miu said.
"I'm sure she had her reasons for doing that, but for now, we gotta get back to Republic City. Kuvira probably already took Zaofu by now." Franky said.
"David's still down there in the preliminaries, right? Maybe we can warn him while we're there." Miu said.
"Why couldn't we just call him and tell him?" Usopp asked.
"If we did that, they could trace us." Jude said.
'Our best bet now...we need to get out of the Earth Empire." Bolin said.
"He's right. We gotta cross the border, get on a boat and warn the world." Franky said.
"But that's gonna take weeks on foot." Kazuichi said.
"We got no choice. Right now...we run." Franky said.
"YOU guys run. I can fly." Eddy said. "I could carry one of ya if you want."
"By all means, fly in the sky...where you can be scouted by soldiers and shot down." Miu said.
"...Right, we're running." Eddy said.