Chapter 13

The next couple months went by very quickly. Even though she and Bataar were technically still serving their time, they hardly spent any time at all in their cell. Korra or Asami were always picking them up and bringing them to the factory to work on different projects. They had gone back to Crescent Island a few times to pick up ore for more of Bataar's projects. His projects always required special materials to complete. He was working using spirit vines as a clean energy source. They had plenty of spirit vines that were taken from Kuvira's warehouse.

Asami signed a new contract to redesign the city's railway and road systems. Since the Korra had left the Spirit Portals open, the city changed. Raiko had order the city be expanded instead of rebuilding parts of the central city area. The buildings that were destroyed as a result of the spirit vines and the war were being demolished and the rebuilt if possible. The plan was to demolish the buildings around the Spirit Wilds to improve the overall look of the city.

This morning Kuvira was supposed to go to the Spirit Wilds with Korra to work on bringing down a building that they started the other day. The work was necessarily difficult because they were using earthbending, it just took a lot of time. After they demolished the buildings in this area, they had to level it.

"How many more buildings do we have in this section." Kuvira asked getting a little winded. "About three more buildings, I think." Korra replied. They had been working for about five hours without taking a break.

"Why don't we stop for now and take a break?" Korra suggested.

"Sounds like a good idea." Kuvira agreed. She was starting to get a headache and was feeling lightheaded.

"You okay?" Korra asked, you look flushed.

"I'm fine. It's probably just from the all the work." Kuvira replied. She had never done this much physical work before and it was tiring. It was also a very good workout. She could feel her already strong muscles becoming stronger. She was looking better than did in a long time. The best part was that her bending is better than it has ever been. Asami gave her space on the estate to practice her lavabending. She was getting really good.

"Are you sure?" Korra asked clearly concerned. She knew that Kuvira didn't usually get tired from this kind of work. It was hard work, but Kuvira was in peak physical condition. "If you're sure. Let's go to Ming's Palace for lunch, I know you love their dumplings."

"You read my mind." Kuvira replied.

They walked the eight blocks to the restaurant. They weren't in the mood to get a taxi because it really wasn't that far away. They were starving and they order more food than usual.

"Can we get some cold water please?" Kuvira asked the waiter. She was so thirsty and tea wouldn't quench her thirst. The waiter nodded and came back a few minutes later with the her water. She chugged her water in one breath.

"Thirsty?" Korra snickered.

"Extremely." Kuvira replied.

"I think we'll continue for a few more hours and then call it a day. Did you want to train at the Pro Bending Arena afterwards?" Korra asked.

"Sure sounds good. I have been spending all my spare time at Asami's practicing my lavabending. I have also been reading some water and airbending books and I have been able to incorporate some of those moves into my lavabending. I have been working on some new moves I want test in metal bending." Kuvira responded.

"Wow. Sounds like you have been keeping busy. No wonder your bending has gotten so much stronger." Korra commented.

They finished their food and went back to work. They spent the rest of the afternoon working on one of the last buildings in this section. They were working on the area by sections. They would demolish all the buildings in each section before leveling the ground. They had already completed four sections and there were twenty more.

After work, they went to the Pro Bending Arena. They have to warm up because they had been bending all day. Kuvira showed Korra some of the new moves she had been working on. She alway used her speed and agility against her opponents. She was trying to incorporate lighter, more fluid moments into her metal bending. Studying airbending and waterbending techniques allowed her to expand her metal bending abilities. Korra seemed impressed by her new moves. Korra's metal bending was getting much better. Her bending style mimicked Kuvira's. Korra admired the graceful way Kuvira was able to bend metal and earth. She had the grace of a dancer, which wasn't surprising being she had spent years dancing in Suyin's dance troupe in Zaofu.

"Okay let's see what you've got Avatar." Kuvira jested.

"Bring it on!" Korra teased.

They enjoyed teasing each other during their sparring sessions. They were both master benders and learned from each other. They were competitive whenever they sparred, simulating a fight, which is why they always wore protective gear, to avoid serious injuries that they would inflict on each other otherwise.

Korra sent a metal pole at Kuvira's foot, which she easily diverted back to Korra. Kuvira sent a three discs at Korra, which she was able to avoid, but Kuvira caught her off guard and when she bended the metal drains to grab Korra's feet and then sent another disc at her.. Korra nearly tripped, but was able to bend the drains back in place, before leaping out of the disc's way. As soon as she landed, she hurled a disc in each direction before getting up and sending another flying toward Kuvira's feet. Kuvira was easily able to divert the discs. She decided to go all out and she started hurling discs and metal sheets at Korra left and right. Korra was getting better at diverting them and redirecting them back Kuvira. When she saw an opening she hurled a disc at Kuvira, knocking her to the ground.

"I win." Korra boasted.

"It's about time! I was getting a little tired of kicking your butt." Kuvira joked.

"I think that's enough for today." Kuvira stated.

"Why, afraid I'll kick your butt again?" Korra challenged.

"Of course not, that was a lucky shot!" Kuvira laughed.