Hello readers, first off id like to thank everyone who has read, followed, or favorited my story. this is my very first fan fic, so any advice, comments, and reviews are most welcome. please no flaming though. any how here's the latest chapter so enjoy. sincerely Raavaatu.


Chapter: Three

"Spirits damned son of a polar bear dog"! korra yelled as she cut off the fire blast, that she was hurling at the red energy barrier. During the fifteen minutes of their imprisonment Korra, and Asami have been very busy. Korra had thrown every element she had at the barrier keeping them trapped. She threw fire, air, and what little water, and earth they had access to. Nothing was getting through. Even when she entered the avatar state, nothing could put a crack in it.

Asami on the other hand was standing back, and listening to Korra's colorful, and extensive vocabulary. By this point she now had enough material to write two books on swearing. "Damn it why isn't this working"? "Maybe it has something to do with you hammering at the walls like a caged gorilla goat; instead of thinking things through". Asami said dryly. "Well we've got to get out of here"! Korra said getting more, and more desperate. "Vaatu is out there doing Agni knows what, and I have to stop him"!

Walking over to Korra, Asami grabs her by the shoulders, and looks her in the eyes. "I know Korra, I was there when Vaatu told us the general outline of his evil plot, but you freaking out isn't going to stop him. Now take a deep breath, and let's figure this out".

Korra took a deep breath in, and out. Finally she met Asami's emerald gaze, and calmed down. "Okay how do you think we can get out of here"? Taking a step back, and looking from Korra to the barrier. "I don't know, but let's try to puzzle this out. We know this tree has been used as a prison twice.". "Yeah the first avatar, Wan trapped Vaatu in here about 10,000 years ago.". "That's right, and as strong as Vaatu is he still couldn't break through. He needed harmonic convergence to do it." "Ok it get that, but what exactly does that mean"? Korra asked, getting impatient again. "It means that since Vaatu's energy couldn't break through Wan"s. Which in theory means your energy should be able to break through his". Asami finished with a grin.

"Asami I have already tried everything. I've used water, earth, fire, and air. I even used them in the avatar state". Korra began passing back, and forth. She needed to do something, and soon. Without her the world didn't stand a chance against Vaatu. "How did Wan create the first barrier"? Korra continued to pace as she answered. He was in the avatar state, and he bound him with all. Four. Elements. Dammit! Asami please take a step back". Asami did as she was asked, with a I told you so smile on her lips.

Giving Asami a grateful smile of her own, Korra turned to the exit, and put her game face on. Korra's eyes began to glow once more. She assumed a solid stance, and began moving her arms back, and forth. A sphere of air began to surround her, soon to bejoind by rings of fire, earth, and water. There wasn't much of the latter two, but it would have to do. With the elements gathered, and the power of Raava flowing through her veins Korra found her target. Focusing on the center of the exit, she thrust her fist forward; launching a swirling vortex of elemental power at the barrier.

When the blast connected with Vaatu's barrier the whole chamber was filled with a purple light. It was so bright that Asami had to shield her eyes. The barrier held strong, but Korra wasn't backing down. Too many lives were at stake. The world was at stake. She held strong, and put everything she had into the blast. The purple light grew brighter, and brighter; a cracking noise could be heard. Then with a boom like thunder, the barrier gave way. The purple light disappeared. The barrier faded, and the Tree of Time lost its red glow.

Grabbing Asami by the waist Korra launched them out of the tree with a blast of air. Landing on the ground Korra was stunned. Not by the impact, but by the feel of the spirit world around her. What was once bright, and welcoming; was now dark, and foreboding. "We need to get back to Republic city now"! Asami said, as she was starting to panic now herself.

"Already on it". Korra said as she took up an earth bending stance. Thrusting both arms down at her sides; then raising them up, Korra lifted the ground beneath their feet. Asami stumbled to her hands, and knees as the six foot chunk of earth floated under them. "Hold on tight". Korra said in warning as her eyes began to glow again. With that she thrust both her arms forward. Obeying the avatars will the chunk of rock took off at high speed towards the Republic City spirit portal.

As they raced forwards they could see just how much the spirit world was changed. The once blue skies were now an unnerving crimson. The trees were gnarled, and leafless, and the ground rushing by beneath them was cold, and lifeless. The spirit world had become a nightmarish parody of what it once was. "How could Vaatu be strong enough to do all this already"? Korra wondered out loud. "I don't know, but what I'm wondering is; where are all the spirits"? Asami asked in turn.

That question unnerved Korra greatly. In the seven days that they'd spent in the spirit world; the couple had seen hundreds, if not thousands of spirits. Now the spirit portal is once again in sight, and in their hour long return trip; they hadn't seen a single one. This did not bode well. As they reached the portal, they realized even that was changed. Where it was once a swirl of greens, and yellow energy before; now it was red, with a helix of red, and purple. "Here we go". Korra said as she launched them trough the portal.

The change in atmosphere was staggering. In the spirit world everything felt dark, and aggressive. It felt like a battle was about to begin at any moment. That would be preferable to what they felt now. Dead. That was the only word that could describe the world around them. The sky was overcast. There was no lights, no sound, not even the wind. It was just dead silence.

They quickly rushed up the side of the vine covered crater that housed the newest spirit portal. As they climbed out they could only stare out in shock. Republic city wasn't in the best condition when they left on vacation, but this was something else altogether.

Republic City was completely destroyed. Everything as far as the eye could see was ruble, ruins, or vines. Korra fell to her knees. She could see it all, but she couldn't understand it. This level of devastation in the amount of time they were gone was impossible. "One hour, how could he do this in one hour"? Asami asked as she stared at what was left of her home, her company, her entire life. "Vaatus free, republic city is gone, and the spirit world is a living hell. Things can't possibly get any worse can they"? Korra asked as she tried to pull herself together.

"Well well well, what do we have here"? The universe sucks. Korra thought as she turned around to find the source of the inhuman voice. Looking down into the crater she could see seven figures, each with a slight glow to them. Dark spirits, Korra realized as her heart sank. She recognized six of them as being dark lion dog spirits, but she had never seen the seventh one before.

He was bipedal with light, and dark brown coloring, a pale face, and glowing yellow eyes. "Stinky is that you? Well what do you know; long time no see. How have you been buddy"? asked yellow eyes, with the lion dogs growling behind him.

Korra highly doubted that he really cared how she was. Slowly backing up she leaned over to Asami, and whispered "run now". She didn't have to say it twice. Both women took of in a dead sprint for the ruined city. Korra usually preferred to stand, and fight, but with seven dark spirits, no water, and Asami to worry about; fighting wasn't currently an option.

Back in the crater yellow eyes could only cock his head, and sigh. 'Why do they always run' he wondered to himself. He looked back at the vicious beasts behind him 'oh right that's why' he remembered. Looking back to where the two humans had been, he pointed a clawed hand in their direction. "Sick em"! He commanded with a toothy grin. With blood thirsty roars the six lion dogs took off after their prey. 'This is going to be fun' Yellow eyes thought as he took off after them; grinning all the while.