Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or The Legend of Korra.

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Beta: Chaos-PSD.

Book Four

Balance

Chapter VII

Beyond The Wilds.

Korra is safely back in Republic City, but Bolin and Varrick are still on the lam. Weeks ago, Korra removed the remaining poison from her body, but the memory of Zaheer's attack still torments her. And after being defeated by Kuvira, she questions if she will ever fully recover. Meanwhile, Kuvira has been secretly harvesting spirit vines from the swamp. But how close is she to completing her spirit energy weapon?

Republic City.

Ryu, the airbender Korra tried to force to join back three years ago, is wearing the airbender bodysuit, with his hair moistly died blonde, and is preparing to guide a group of tourists into the Spirit Wilds.

Among the tourists are his parents; his mother proudly declares how happy she is that he is an airbender and that he is doing "Important Air Nation stuff", while his father is less than impressed. Annoyed and embarrassed by both his parents, Ryu begins his tour. Inside the wilds, Ryu tells the tourists about the vines being the result of Korra's battle with Unavaatu, but the tourists seem to be rather dim about it.

Ryu is slightly annoyed by the questions one particularly dim tourist poses to him. When the tourist points out that a vine is moving toward them, Ryu is unsure of how to address the issue; the tourist decides to poke it with a stick, despite Ryu pointing out the stupidity of such an act, and the vine suddenly wraps around him and lifts him in the air. Ryu tries and fails to free him, and, as more vines begin to accost them, the rest of the group is quickly taken as well.

Air Temple Island.

Korra sits on the steps of a building, earthbending the stone of the courtyard as Naga chases after each bit of earth that pops up. Opal walks down a short flight of stairs on the opposite side of the courtyard from Korra. As Opal approaches her, Korra sees her, the smile vanishing from her face, and stops earthbending. "Everything okay?"

"No, Kuvira has my family, and no one seems to care but me."

"We all care," Korra said as Naruto walked out of the building.

"Don't worry. We'll get them back safely."

"Guys, there you are!"

They turned as Jinora landed by them. "I just felt a weird surge of spiritual energy coming from the Spirit Wilds. Something's wrong."

Later, the group is walking in the wilds as Opal looks at Jinora. "Are you sure you felt a disturbance? Maybe you just had some bad food for breakfast."

"I'm telling you. I felt it. Maybe something happened to Ryu's tour group. We should've run into them by now.

"Yeah, but it's Ryu." Korra shrugged at that. "They might be at the mall for all we know."

"Korra, can't you feel how strange the energy is?" Jinora asked Korra who shook her head and looked at a vine.

"No, but… Maybe I can get a reading." She put her hand on it and saw a vision of Kuvira's men harvesting the vines at the swamp.

She then pulled away with a gasp. "Korra, what is it? Are you okay?" Opal asked, looking at Korra.

"It was Kuvira. I saw her taking vines from the swamp. It must be affecting our Spirit Wilds."

"I bet that's what you were sensing, Jinora," Naruto said walking up to them.

"Why is she taking vines?"

"Whatever the reason, I'm sure it's not good," Korra said before Opal looked over.

"We have to tell Raiko. This might help him convince the other leaders to finally take her down."

"I'll keep looking for Ryu and the others," Jinora said as the three others ran off.

City Hall.

"I say we deal with this Kuvira situation immediately."

Raiko said as he, Wu, Tenzin, and the Fire Empress, who has fair skin and long black hair, sat at a table. And Lin, Mako, and Zira are standing behind them.

"Yes! Agreed!" Wu nodded from his seat. "And I know just how to get rid of her: We tell her she won an all-expense-paid vacation to a tropical island. Then when she gets there, we reveal it was a trap… The island's a prison! Boom! Got her!" He said as the three stayed quiet. "Or, okay, uh, I'm just spit-balling here. We march in with an army of highly trained badger moles!" Again, the three stayed silent. "Do we know if Kuvira has any allergies?"

"Look, I think we all know what must be done. We take the fight to her." Raiko said as Tenzin stroked his beard before speaking.

"I don't believe attacking is the right move, since she hasn't done anything aggressive toward the United Republic."

"Not yet. But Kuvira can't be trusted. She told us that she was going to turn over her power, and she didn't. I'm with Raiko." Lin said from her spot. "I say we go on the offensive and start by retaking Zaofu."

"With an army behind her, that probably wouldn't work," Zira said looking over. "And there are Earth Kingdom citizens who are visiting or living here, they could join up with her and that would grow her army, or they could leak our plans to her too."

"President Raiko., I'm sorry to interrupt, but-"

They turned to see Korra and the others running in and stopped. "What's going on here?"

"Oh, hey, Avatar Korra," Wu replied, looking back and smiling. "Just kickin' it world leader style, trying to figure out what to do about Kuvira. For the record, I told Raiko. he should've invited you."

"You invited him but not me?" Korra asked, looking at Raiko.

"Please, Korra, it's not personal. We just thought perhaps we called you back into action a little too soon." Tenzin said as Naruto shrugged.

"She might still be rusty, but she can do this."

"Thanks, Naruto. Again... Him, not me?" She directed the last part back at the others.

"Korra, we're in the middle of a meeting, and we can't have people just barge in whenever they want!"

"Um, leader of the Task Force." Naruto raised his hand at that. "Got a right to be here if you're using my second in command as security."

"Guys!"

They turned to see Bolin and Varrick running in. "Oh, perfect! You're all here!"

"Bolin?"

"What are you doing here?" Raiko asked before yelling. "Guards, remove these traitors!"

The guards caught them before Bolin spoke up. "No! We escaped Kuvira's army! We're back on your side now! We have top-secret information for you!"

The guards let go of them before Varrick spoke. "OK, I guess we should have opened with that line."

"Listen to me. Kuvira is making this thing that goes… Ba-BOOM YAAHH! I don't know how it works, but it has this… Ayayaya!"

"It's a super weapon!" Varrick said, stepping up. "Like a regular weapon, only super!"

"And let me guess. It has something to do with spirit vines." Korra asked, having Varrick look over.

"Yes! How did you know?"

"I saw a vision of her taking spirit vines from the swamp."

"If she figures out how to harness their power, we are all doomed," Varrick said before Raiko looked at the others.

"She might use the weapon to attack Republic City. The only way to protect ourselves is with a preemptive strike."

"My airbenders won't be part of an unprovoked attack," Tenzin said before Izumi stood.

"Neither will the Fire Nation."

"But, Fire Lord Izumi, Kuvira is a threat to the world. She has to be stopped!" Raiko said as she closed her eyes.

"The Fire Nation has spent too much of its history fighting nonsense wars, and I refuse to drag my nation into another one unless there's no other choice. If you attack Kuvira, you'll do it without my army."

Raiko sighed and calmed down. "Fine. I'll hold off any plans of attack. We'll go on the defensive and fortify security on the borders."

"In that, you'll have my help." She replied sitting down.

Opal leaves the building and Bolin follows her, trying to apologize; Opal, while glad that Bolin is okay, tells him it is too late for a simple apology. Lin comes out as well, interrupting the conversation, and takes Opal aside. The chief tells the airbender about Raiko's decision and informs her that they will have to save their family by themselves. Opal wants to seek outside help, but Lin refuses as it is an unsanctioned and dangerous mission into enemy territory.

"I think I can help."

They turned to see Naruto walking up. "We couldn't-" Lin stopped as he raised a hand and had a person drop silently behind him.

He's wearing light blue robes with a hood up and a half mask revealing slightly tanned skin and green eyes. (1.)

"This is Zen, he's part of one of my inner groups, scouts and infiltration. He was watching the meeting all that time. He should be able to help." Zen nodded at them before walking off. "He's quiet most of the time, but he's also an Earthbender and wants to help you."

The three walked off before Mako and Korra walked up to Bolin. "Bolin, I'm so glad you're back. I was worried about you."

"We all were."

"Thanks, guys. Mako, I'm so sorry about the way we left things. I'm such an idiot. You tried to warn me about Kuvira, and I ran off anyway, like an idiot. You were right, and I'm just an idiot. I hope that I'll be able to earn your trust again."

"Bolin, you're not an idiot. You were just doing what you thought was right."

"Aw, I love you guys. And I really want to hug you all again." Bolin said before the group hugged.

Suddenly Jinora's spirit form appeared. "Korra! The vines! They're taking me! Help!"

They ran to the entrance where both Lin and Zira were giving orders to their men. "We got to get in there and find Jinora," Korra said as they stopped by them.

"I don't think anyone should be going in there right now."

"I know I'm not the old Avatar I used to be, but I can do this."

"Be careful," Lin said as Korra and Naruto ran in the vines.

"Jinora!"

"Jinora!" Naruto yelled before hearing a rustling. "Wait. Do you hear that?"

The rustling intensifies as three vines crash through the window of the nearby building and attack Naruto and Korra. They both defend themselves with firebending and airbending, respectively, though Naruto is taken and lifted into the air. Korra severs the vine with her firebending and uses another fire arc to keep the vines at a distance, while she and Naruto retreat. "Come on!"

Naruto threw fire at the vines as Korra broke through a wall before Naruto jumped in and sealed it. As he panted, he noticed a green glow from the back before walking to see Jinora and the missing people all in pods. "Korra, look. What are those?"

"It's Jinora. And the rest of them. Their spirits are trapped in the Spirit World." Korra tried the purification technique before anything happened. "They won't open. Maybe if I meditate into the spirit world, I can free them."

Korra got into her meditation pose and found herself at a mountain range before turning to see Zaheer flying behind her. She woke with a gasp as Naruto knelt. "You OK?"

"It's Zaheer."

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"He's been haunting me ever since I fought him. I can't get any peace. It's like he's blocking me from meditating into the Spirit World."

"Alright… What do you need?" Naruto asked, pulling her up.

"I want to face Zaheer."

"OK… I mean, he's chained up in a cave, don't know what good it'll do… Oh did you mean talk to him?"

Air Temple Island.

Bolin searches the grounds for Pabu; eventually, the fire ferret descends from a tree and races to him. Bolin hugs him, saying that he missed him very much. The earthbender informs Pabu that Opal is mad at him, and asks for his help to win her back. Pabu responds by chittering excitedly, and Bolin concocts a plan.

Moments later, Opal is approached by Pabu, who has a pink ribbon around his neck. When Opal greets him, she notices the ribbon and finds a note attached to it. Opal reads the note and becomes panicked, running off immediately with guidance from Pabu. When she reaches Bolin, she finds him sitting down and pouring tea in a picnic setting, looking relieved that she has arrived.

When Opal asks him what she is looking at, Bolin tells her that it is a picnic for both of them; he adds he also invited Pabu. Opal responds by pointing out that the note that Pabu brought her told her that he had broken both of his legs and accuses him of lying to her. Bolin admits that he has, but persists anyway, saying that, since she has come, she can sit down with him, relax, eat some homemade steamed buns made by Pema, and watch Pabu do some "world famous" backflips.

Opal replies with cold sarcasm, saying that steamed buns are her favorite and that they will make her forget that Bolin ever worked for Kuvira, who captured her family and, she surmises, is probably torturing them. As Bolin listens to her words, his guilt increasing, she continues, with more and more sarcasm and anger in her voice, stating that having a picnic is a great idea, as the two of them are "so in love".

Apologizing to Pabu for his having to watch the confrontation, she leaves a saddened and guilt-ridden Bolin alone, and Pabu helps himself to a steamed bun.

City Hall.

"Thank you both for coming."

Raiko said to Asami and Varrick who were in his original clothing. "It's nice to be welcomed back with open arms."

"Actually, I brought you here out of necessity. It's no secret I never liked you, especially after you tried to have me kidnapped." Raiko said to the genius.

"Allegedly."

"Right." Asami scoffed at that before looking over. "Everything you do is 'allegedly,' like when you almost took over my company and bombed the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center."

"I own that building! A man has the right to blow up his own property!"

"Right now, I need you to put aside your differences. If Kuvira really is creating a super weapon, we're going to need the two brightest minds in the city working together to stop it." Raiko said, getting the two's attention.

"What do you say, Asami?" Varrick smiled and held out his hand. "Partners again?"

"Fine. I'll help." she sighed and took the hand. And then twists it, having Varrick wince in pain. "But don't even think about double-crossing me again."

"Ow! Uh-huh."

Prison.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Naruto asked his wife who nodded as the large doors in the mountain opened. "Yes. I think if I see Zaheer. chained up, I'll finally realize that he's not a threat anymore."

They went to an elevator and then went down for several minutes before walking out to another door where White Lotus members opened another metal door.

"Want me to come?" Naruto asked as the door revealed another elevator with a door on the other side.

"No. I need to do this alone."

She approaches the wall and the door behind her is lifted down. The elevator brings her down to Zaheer's room and the door opens when she gets there. She sees Zaheer, unshaven and chained up in mid-air. "I figured you would show up sooner or later. So… You must really be in trouble if you came all the way down here to see me."

"I came here to look you in the eye and tell you that you have no power over me. I will no longer be scared of you."

Zaheer then lunges at her having Korra gasp as he stopped several feet short of getting her because of the chain around him. "I guess it didn't work. You still seem scared."

"This was a mistake." Korra sighed before turning to leave.

"I know why you're here." That got Korra to stop and turn back around.

"You don't know anything about me!"

"You can't go into the Spirit World. I spend most of my time in the Spirit World, and it's well-known that the Avatar's spirit hasn't been there for a few years."

"You can meditate into the Spirit World from here?" Korra asked, looking around at the stone room. "Doesn't feel very spiritually charged."

"This is your problem. Republic City is flowing with spiritual energy, and you can't even tap into it."

"No, my problem is you. You poisoned me! You ruined me! People used to think I was unstoppable, but now they don't think I'm capable of anything!" She yelled at him.

"Blaming me is a crutch to make you feel better, but it's not helping you recover."

"I thought seeing you face-to-face would put an end to all of this, but maybe it's time I realize I'll never be the same." She looked down at that as Zaheer turned to walk to the middle of the platform he was on.

"Neither of us is the same as before. I learned to fly, but now I'm bound in chains." He said looking down at his chains. "You have all the power in the world and the freedom to use it, but you choose to hold yourself down."

"I'm not holding myself down, but my powers have limits."

"You're wrong." Zaheer turned to face her. "That poison should've killed you, but you were able to fight it off. You think your power has limits; I say it's limitless."

"Whatever." Korra scoffed at that. "Before, you were always talking about chaos and freedom. Then you took out the Earth Queen and created the worst dictator the Earth Kingdom has ever seen. Thanks for that."

Zaheer looked down at that before looking Korra in the eyes. "I've heard rumors about her, but I didn't know she achieved so much power. She needs to be stopped."

"Well, I can't stop her unless I get over this block."

"I think I can help," Zaheer said, surprising her. "Let me lead you into the Spirit World."

"No way. I can't trust you."

"Maybe not. But if you had any other options, you wouldn't be here now, would you? We may have been enemies once, but for now, our interests align."

"Korra sighed at that before speaking. "I've come this far. What have I got to lose?"

She got in her meditation pose as he did as well floating. "Focus on the sound of my voice, and clear your mind." He said as Korra remembers her fight with Zaheer at the Northern Air Temple. "Let it play out."

"I can't!"

"You can. Accept what happened to you. Don't fear what might have been." He said as she started to sweat.

"I have no control!"

"Don't be afraid. Hold on."

Spirit World.

Korra appeared in a field with Zaheer. "I made it… And you led me here. Do you know where Jinora and the others are?"

"No, but you do." He said before disappearing as Raava lit up on her chest and stomach.

"Raava, I missed you. Where have you been?"

"I have always been inside of you," Raava replied in her mind.

"Can you help me find Jinora?" The wind blows Korra to the location of Jinora and Ryu's tour group. They are all trapped inside a green, spherical force field. "How do I release their spirits?"

"You must bend the energy within."

"But I'm powerless in the Spirit World."

"No. You're most powerful here. In the spirit world, you're connected to all the spiritual energy." Raava replies as Korra walks over to the force field and puts her hand on it. Her eyes glow and the force field becomes a golden yellow, signifying the release of the spirits.

Prison.

Korra got up to Naruto who looked at her. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel whole again. I feel good."

"Do you think you're finally able To forget about Zaheer?" He asked, walking out with her wrapping his arm around her waist.

"No. But I am finally able to accept what happened, and I think that's gonna make me stronger."

Air Temple Island.

Back on Air Temple Island, Lin and Opal are loading their luggage onto a sky bison as Zen walks up with pouches on his waist. Suddenly, Bolin walks up to them. He looks to Opal and says that he understands her anger toward him, and will do anything to try to win her back. He acknowledges that Opal might never forgive him, but continues that he will never stop trying, since he loves her.

She thanks him for his heartfelt apology, and stops the earthbender from leaving in sadness, informing him that there is something he can do to win her back: joining her mission to save her family.

To Be Continued.

A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.

Beta: Chaos-PSD.

1. OC of mine to help keep the next ep from being mostly canon.

Remember to vote if you haven't!

Nothing else to say.

Talk To You Later,

Lone Wolf Out.🐺