Aoi Hyoudou: Thank you for your continued support. It's always great to see readers enjoying the additional scenes and content added to a story. Well, this will be the final part before Kingdom Heart III elements take full effect in the plot. Expect the unexpected as well since there will be some surprising twists. There might be a AshxKorra moment but we will see how everything folds. In any case, Heartless Amon is going down so get ready!
XXIII
Republic City - III
The following day, Ash and Korra regrouped with Mako and Bolin at their pro-bending training facility to discuss a plan to lure Heartless Amon out of hiding. Sneaking away from Tenzin had been tricky, but they managed to meet with the brothers. The brainstorming session began with ideas flying fast and loose, especially from Bolin, whose suggestions, though well-intentioned, often bordered on the absurd.
"We could dress up as chi-blockers and infiltrate their hideout!" Bolin suggested enthusiastically, prompting a facepalm from Mako. "Or maybe we could set up a fake pro-bending match and have Ash pretend to be a non-bender?" Bolin continued, undeterred by his brother's lack of enthusiasm.
"Bolin, that's... actually not the worst idea you've had," Mako admitted, surprising everyone.
Ash chuckled. "I don't mind pretending to be a non-bender, but we need something more concrete to lure Amon out."
Korra, who had been silent for a while, thought back to her first days in Republic City, recalling a shady character trying to hold an Equalist rally at the park. A smirk spread across her face as she spoke up, "I think I have an idea to stir up Amon."
Mako, Bolin, and Ash turned their attention to the smug Avatar.
"What do you have in mind, Korra?" Mako asked, curiosity piqued.
"Remember that Equalist rally I crashed when I first got to Republic City?" Korra began, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. "We could set up a fake rally and spread the word that a new, powerful challenger is going to confront Amon's beliefs. That should definitely get his attention."
"That's actually a pretty good idea," Ash said, nodding in agreement.
"But how are we going to spread the word?" Bolin asked, tilting his head in thought.
"Leave everything to me, guys," Korra reassured the group with a confident grin.
Republic City Park
The group arrived at the city park and immediately noticed a large gathering. As expected, the same protestor Korra had encountered before was rallying the crowd with one of his inflammatory speeches.
"I figured he'd be here," Korra said with a sigh, leading the group toward the crowd. When the protestor noticed Korra approaching, he narrowed his eyes at the Avatar.
"Oh, great, not you again, Avatar!" he spat. "Can't you see I'm busy making sure you benders don't suppress us any further?" His words elicited murmurs from the crowd.
Korra ignored his petty remarks and focused on the megaphone he was using. "Hey, mind if I see that for a moment?" she asked as politely as she could manage.
"Why should I?" the protestor growled, prompting Korra to sigh.
"Well, I tried." Korra swiftly switched to plan B, ripping the megaphone from the protestor's grip and shoving him off his makeshift podium. She then addressed the murmuring audience through the megaphone. "Amon! Today is the day your reign of terror ends! Because someone here will make sure of it!"
Meanwhile, Ash, Mako, and Bolin quietly observed from within the crowd, uncertain if Korra's plan would work. "Will this even work?" Ash asked curiously.
"I don't know, but she is drawing more attention to herself than usual," Mako replied with a groan.
"If this doesn't work, we can always go back to my ideas, Mako," Bolin said with a grin, causing his brother to groan even louder.
In the midst of her speech, Korra glanced at her friends and met Ash's eyes, an idea sparking in her mind. "And this new challenger who will put an end to Amon will be... him!" She pointed directly at Ash, drawing many eyes to the baffled Keyblade wielder.
"Wait... me?!" He pointed at himself in confusion, earning a grin from Korra.
"I always knew you had it in you, Ash. Go say a few words," Bolin said, grinning as he slapped Ash hard on the back, causing him to stumble forward through the crowd until he reached Korra's side.
"Go on, Ash," Korra encouraged with a smile. "Show them what you've got."
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Ash cleared his throat before taking the megaphone from Korra and began speaking. "Um, hello everyone," he started, his voice wavering slightly with nervousness. "I, uh, didn't exactly plan on making a speech today, but here I am." He chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood.
The crowd murmured in response, a mix of curiosity and skepticism.
"As Korra said, my name is Ash, and I'm... well, I'm not exactly a bender," he continued, glancing at Korra for confirmation. She nodded encouragingly.
"But that doesn't mean I'm not willing to stand up against injustice," Ash went on, his confidence growing. "I know some of you believe what Amon is telling you, but the truth is... he doesn't care about you. What he really wants is to force people to believe his lies until he gets what he wants!"
The crowd's murmurs grew louder, some members showing signs of doubt about Amon's intentions.
Ash pressed on, sensing he was making an impact. "If Amon is truly the all-powerful Equalist he claims to be and genuinely wants equality in Republic City, then he should have no problem showing up later tonight at..." Ash scanned the area for a suitable location for the final showdown. He pointed at the giant statue of a bald monk with a staff in the distance, causing everyone to look that way. "There! He should meet me and Avatar Korra at that statue to prove he's not a coward."
"How dare you challenge Amon, you little—" The protestor's interruption was cut short when Korra intervened.
"Let him finish, you clown!" She punched the protestor off his feet, sending him sprawling into the distance.
Ash ignored the commotion and continued. "Amon! I know you're listening! If you're not a coward, then meet us at midnight! We'll be waiting!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement and anticipation, the challenge echoing through the park. Mako and Bolin exchanged hopeful glances, and Korra gave Ash an encouraging nod, her eyes gleaming with determination.
"You did a good job, Ash!" Korra said with a grin.
"Well, I hope he takes the bait," Ash replied sheepishly.
"Only time will tell," Mako said with his arms crossed. "Speaking of which, why Aang Memorial Island?" he asked, directing his question at Ash, who shrugged.
"I kinda panicked midway through my speech," Ash explained sheepishly.
Mako raised an eyebrow. "You do realize you need a boat to get to the island, right?"
Ash's response was a blank stare.
The Firebender sighed. "Figures."
"Don't worry, Mako, I'm sure Korra can get us there with no problem," Bolin tried to reassure his brother, wrapping an arm around his shoulders before glancing at the Avatar with a cheeky grin. "She is a Waterbender, after all, right?"
"I'm sorry, Bolin, but even with Waterbending, it would be difficult," Korra said sheepishly.
"Oh."
"Great, now we're back to square one," Mako said with a groan.
"Not exactly," Ash spoke up, drawing the group's attention once more. He had a big grin on his face as an idea popped into his mind. "I have an idea."
"Which is?" Mako asked, frowning deeply.
"I hope you guys aren't afraid of flying," Ash stated.
"What?" Mako blinked in confusion.
"Flying," Ash repeated with a confident grin. "I've got a way to get us there without a boat."
Korra's eyes widened with interest. "Are you talking about using your Keyblade?"
"Exactly," Ash confirmed.
Moments later...
Ash, with his Keyblade glider, soared over the waters of Republic City towards Aang Memorial Island. Mako and Korra clung to each side of the glider's edge while Ash skillfully navigated. Mako was impressed that the glider maintained its speed despite the extra weight.
"I'm impressed. Your flying bike's breezing through with no problem," Mako commented.
"Yeah, it typically takes an hour or so by boat, but we'll get there in no time, within ten minutes," Korra added, enjoying the ride.
"Help!" Bolin's sudden cry caused the group to glance back. Bolin was barely hanging on at the back, his feet kicking wildly as he tried to keep his grip on the glider's rear end.
"Bolin, what are you doing? This is no time for silly games," Mako said with a groan.
"I'm not playing games, Mako!" Bolin retorted. "I'm trying to hang on for dear life here, so excuse me if I need some help!"
"Don't worry, Bolin, we're almost there. Just a little longer," Ash encouraged the Earthbender.
"Why did I get stuck in the back?" Bolin questioned through his cries.
"It's not our fault you lost in rock-paper-scissors, Bolin," Mako stated with a deadpan expression. "And it was your idea to begin with."
"You snooze, you lose, Bolin," Korra teased.
"W-W-Whyyyyyy?!" Tears welled up in his eyes as Bolin cried in a whining pitch.
Aang Memorial Island
Ash's Keyblade glider descended towards the island below, with Bolin comedically hanging on. As they approached the landing spot, Ash smoothly brought the glider down, allowing everyone to safely dismount. Bolin stumbled off, panting and shaking, but otherwise unharmed.
The Oathkeeper returned to its normal state before vanishing in a burst of light. Bolin lay flat on his back with a dazed look on his face.
"Is Bolin going to be okay?" Ash asked with concern.
"He'll be fine," Mako quickly dismissed Ash's worries. "He's being overdramatic."
"No, I'm not..." Bolin muttered dizzily.
Mako ignored his brother and turned to Ash and Korra. "So, what's the next step in our plan?"
"Guess we'll wait," Korra said with a shrug.
A frown appeared on Mako's face as he glanced at his wristwatch. When he saw it was 1:30 PM, he looked back up at the Avatar incredulously. "For almost eleven hours?"
"Maybe Amon might show up earlier than that?" Ash suggested.
"I highly doubt that."
The group fell into an awkward silence. They collectively sighed, realizing they should have brought snacks or something to do while they waited.
Later that evening...
Night had already fallen over Republic City, and it was getting late. The sky was clear, with a full moon casting a silvery glow over the cityscape. Mako and Bolin, a bit tired, were taking cover behind the towering statue of Aang, ensuring they were hidden from Heartless Amon's view to avoid suspicion of an ambush.
In the distance, Ash and Korra sat on the ground, backs leaning against each other as they stared in opposite directions, scanning for any signs of Amon or his squad. Boredom crept in as the hours dragged on, and they took turns asking each other if they had spotted Amon yet.
"Any sign of Amon, Ash?" Korra asked, her voice weary and tinged with boredom.
"Nope. How about you, Korra?" Ash replied, his mood mirroring hers.
"Nothing."
They sighed in unison.
Were they even sure Amon was going to show up? It was close to midnight, and there were no signs of him appearing anytime soon. They began to wonder if he was playing mind games with them. Sitting around for nearly twelve hours was boring as hell.
Ash shifted slightly, fighting to stay awake. "Do you think he's just messing with us?"
Korra sighed again. "Wouldn't be surprised. He's the type to keep us on edge."
Ash stretched, trying to keep himself awake. "Maybe we should take turns keeping watch. At least one of us should be alert in case Amon shows up."
"Good idea," Korra agreed. "I can take the first watch."
"No, you've been up longer. I'll take it," Ash insisted, standing up.
She smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Ash. Wake me up if anything happens."
As Korra settled down to rest, Ash took a few steps away, scanning the horizon. The full moon cast a serene glow over the island, making everything seem peaceful. But the peace was deceptive, and Ash knew they couldn't let their guard down. Hours passed, and just as Ash was beginning to feel the weight of sleep pulling at him, he spotted movement in the distance. His heart skipped a beat as he saw a group of figures moving stealthily toward the island. He quickly bent down to the sleeping Avatar and shook Korra awake.
"Korra, wake up," he whispered urgently. "I think they're here."
Korra's eyes snapped open, instantly alert. "Mako, Bolin, get ready," she called out softly.
The brothers quickly joined them, their fatigue replaced by adrenaline. They watched as Heartless Amon, his lieutenant, and a squad of Equalist chi-blockers approached.
"Remember the plan," Korra said, her voice steady but tense. "We need to draw Amon out and separate him from his followers. Ash, you ready?"
Ash nodded, gripping his Keyblade tightly. "Let's do this."
As Heartless Amon and his group drew closer, Korra stepped forward, her voice ringing out confidently. "Amon! You've been terrorizing this city long enough. Face us and prove your strength!"
Amon halted, his red eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "Ah, Avatar Korra. And the Keyblade wielder. I see you've brought your friends. How... quaint."
Ash stepped beside Korra, his eyes locked on Amon. "It's time to put an end to this, Amon."
Amon chuckled, the sound chilling in the still night air. "Very well. Let's see if you're as formidable as you believe."
With a sudden, coordinated burst of movement, Mako and Bolin sprang into action, creating a diversion to scatter the chi-blockers. Korra and Ash charged forward, determined to confront Amon directly. The battle was fierce, the air crackling with energy and the sound of clashing attacks. Korra unleashed a torrent of Waterbending, while Ash's Keyblade glowed with power as he parried and struck with precision.
Amon deflected their attacks with ease, his movements almost ghostly in their fluidity. "Is this the best you can do?" he taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.
"Not even close," Korra shot back, hurling rocks toward the arrogant Equalist leader, who swiftly evaded each one.
Ash charged at Amon, his Keyblade shimmering in the moonlight. Amon met Ash's strike with his own dark energy, the two forces clashing violently. Amon's hand, engulfed in his dark aura, lunged forward, but Ash sidestepped and swung his Oathkeeper in retaliation, forcing the Equalist leader to jump back. Ash rapidly fired a barrage of Fira spells at Amon, but the masked fiend deftly dodged each flaming sphere, moving with unnerving precision as he closed the distance.
Korra stepped in, throwing fiery punches at the advancing enemy. Amon sidestepped around her streams of fire with ease. When he formed a dark sphere in his palm and lunged at Korra's blind spot, Ash intercepted the strike, jumping in front of her and placing his Oathkeeper out to absorb the blow. A loud vibrating sound echoed through the night as Amon's dark sphere made contact with the Keyblade, causing Amon's red glowing eyes to widen in surprise.
Korra leaped over Ash and launched a stream of water at Heartless Amon, knocking him off his feet and drenching him in cold water. Ash seized the opportunity to cast Blizzaga. The ice spell made contact with the drenched ground, and as Amon noticed the ground around him freezing, he realized the trap.
Heartless Amon tried to back away, but the ice spread quickly, freezing his foot solid and then encasing the lower part of his body in ice. "No!" he growled.
Seeing Amon immobilized, Ash and Korra charged forward, ready to end the fight. The Equalist leader watched as they closed in. When Ash thrust his Oathkeeper at Amon's chest, Amon's lips curled into a confident smirk beneath his mask. He chuckled darkly, making Ash's eyes widen as Heartless Amon's body began to fade into a swirl of darkness. Ash stumbled forward as his Keyblade met only air.
"Where did he go?" Korra asked, her question immediately answered by a chilling voice.
"Right behind you, Avatar," Amon's voice made Korra freeze in cold sweat as he reappeared right behind her. "You cannot defeat me so easily," Amon said with a dark chuckle.
Ash quickly glanced back to see Korra in trouble. "Korra!" he shouted.
Mako and Bolin, momentarily glancing away from their battle with the chi-blockers, saw the danger. "Korra!" they echoed.
"To leave yourself so vulnerable, Avatar. This will be your demise!" Heartless Amon's hand was about to thrust forward when Ash's Oathkeeper struck the Equalist leader's mask, surprising everyone, including Amon. "Gahhh!" Heartless Amon was hurled off his feet, landing hard on his back and clutching his cracked mask with a groan.
Ash panted heavily, having saved Korra just in time.
Korra glanced back at the Keyblade wielder, her eyes softening. "Ash..."
"Amon!" the lieutenant cried out, seeing his leader on the ground. This left the non-bender wide open as Mako blasted him with Firebending, sending the lieutenant sprawling.
Heartless Amon struggled to his feet, still clutching his cracked mask, his eye now visible through the crack. "You... you think you've won?" he hissed, his voice dripping with malice. "This is far from over."
Sensing they had Amon cornered, Ash and Korra charged forward. The Equalist leader withdrew his hand from his cracked mask, briefly glancing at the full moon overhead before refocusing on the approaching duo. "They leave me with no choice," he muttered with a dark chuckle, extending his palm towards them.
Suddenly, Ash and Korra came to an abrupt halt, a powerful pulsation coursing through their bodies. Their muscles tensed as an invisible force seized control, a sickening sound echoing through the night as they groaned in agony. Suspended off the ground, they felt Amon's grasp tightening around them, intensifying the excruciating pain.
"Ash! Korra!" Mako's voice rang out, filled with concern.
"What's he doing to them, Mako?" Bolin asked, his worry mirroring his brother's.
"Not sure, but we need to help them. Let's go, Bolin!" Without hesitation, the Firebender surged forward.
Bolin followed closely behind. "Wait for me!" the Earthbender called out as they bypassed the chi-blockers, heading straight for Amon.
Observing the brothers' approach, Heartless Amon lifted his other hand, activating his Bloodbending on them as well. "You two should've stayed out of this, but I suppose the more, the merrier!"
"Gahhh!" Mako and Bolin cried out as they felt their bodies subjected to the same invisible force, also lifted off the ground against their will.
"Mako...! Bolin...!" Korra's voice trembled with pain.
The chi-blockers watched in disbelief as their supposed leader, the champion of non-benders, displayed the power of bending before them, which was the terrifying Bloodbending. The lieutenant, finally recovering from Mako's Firebending, was shocked beyond belief but soon gritted his teeth in frustration. He couldn't fathom that Amon had been hiding the truth from them all along, that he was a bender hiding behind a mask.
"Amon!" the torn lieutenant shouted at his former savior, causing the Heartless man to briefly turn his attention to his once allies, now turned adversaries. "You liar! You've been a filthy bender this whole time, deceiving us! We trusted you!" His angry outburst only seemed to amuse Amon.
"Lieutenant, it seems you're not as naive as I presumed," he mocked, prompting the lieutenant to remove his mask and glare sharply.
"Get him! Show him what happens to traitors!" the lieutenant barked, rallying his comrades.
Heartless Amon chuckled at the futile attempt of the chi-blockers as they charged at him, including his former lieutenant. "What a shame that this charade had to end so soon, but alas, all deceptions must be unveiled."
As the charging chi-blockers and the lieutenant drew closer, Amon's red eye widened slightly, causing the group to groan in agony as they too suffered the same fate as Ash and the others. The cacophony of moans and groans seemed to delight him.
"Lieutenant...you and your pitiful followers have served your purpose. You are no longer of use to me." With a flick of his red eye, the lieutenant and the chi-blockers were sent hurtling into the water, one by one.
"Amon... you monster!" Korra muttered through clenched teeth, her voice strained with pain.
Heartless Amon glanced at the Keyblade wielder and the Avatar, a cold chuckle escaping his lips. "Don't worry, Avatar. You'll join them soon enough, but first, I need to deal with you and your Keyblade-wielding friend," he stated with chilling calmness.
"Amon...!" Korra hissed, her anger palpable.
Ignoring her fury, Amon turned his gaze back to the brothers suspended in the air by his Bloodbending. "Before that, I must ensure these two don't interfere." With a flick of his wrist, Mako and Bolin were sent crashing to the ground with resounding thuds, still immobilized by his sinister power.
Heartless Amon raised his hand, dark energy crackling around his fingers, and unleashed two dark spheres at the brothers. The spheres struck with brutal force, their groans of pain intensifying as dark electricity surged through their bodies, paralyzing them further.
"Mako...! Bolin!" Ash cried out, his voice raw with anguish and rage as he glared at Amon, fury blazing in his eyes. "You truly are a monster," Ash spat.
Heartless Amon glanced back at Ash and Korra, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. "Why, thank you. I'll take that as a compliment," he said sarcastically. With another flick of his wrist, Ash and Korra were slammed to the ground, their painful groans echoing through the night. Amon's Bloodbending forced them to their knees, holding them in place as he approached.
Soon, the former Equalist leader loomed over Ash, his grip tightening on Ash's shoulder. Korra growled in defiance. "Amon! Leave Ash alone! It's me you really want!"
Amon spared her a brief glance, chuckling once more. "True, but he managed to surprise me more than once. I can't allow him to interfere any further. Wait your turn, Avatar. You're next." Korra struggled against the Bloodbending, but it was futile. She could only watch helplessly as Amon prepared to deliver a finishing blow to Ash, his other hand reeling back and aiming at Ash's chest. "You should've stayed out of my business, Keyblade wielder. Now, you'll suffer the consequences." Ash gritted his teeth in frustration, sweat dripping from his face as he desperately tried to fight off the Bloodbending, to no avail. "Say goodbye!"
"Ash!" Mako and Bolin cried out in desperation.
"No..." Korra bit her lower lip, fighting back the tears welling in her eyes.
But before Amon could execute the fatal blow, a familiar voice rang through the night sky. "Hey!" Ash's eyes widened in recognition.
"Hm?" Amon paused, slowly glancing over his shoulder. His red eyes widened as a familiar black Keyblade spun through the air and slammed into his face with full force, knocking him off his feet and sending him hurling backwards. "Gahhhh!" He landed hard a few feet away with a resounding thud, groaning in pain.
The Oblivion Keyblade returned to its owner, and Amon's Bloodbending hold on Ash and Korra was released. They gasped in relief, slowly glancing upward at a figure in a black coat standing atop the Aang statue, red eyes gleaming beneath the hood.
"Xhäs..." Ash muttered, grateful that his Nobody had come to his aid once again.
Xhäs, however, didn't share the sentiment. He let out an annoyed groan. "Seriously, Ash, how many times do I have to save your ass?" A frown creased Ash's face. Xhäs dug into his coat pocket and pulled out a yellow magic sphere, tossing it towards Ash. "Here! Use that to finish him off already so you can finally focus on your real mission," he stated.
"Real mission?" Ash blinked at his Nobody's cryptic words. "What do you mean?"
Xhäs groaned in exasperation. "Quit wasting time asking dumb questions and just finish him off, Ash!"
"Jeez, fine," Ash replied with a pout, earning an eye roll from Xhäs.
Ash took a deep breath, gripping the yellow sphere tightly in his hand. Concentrating, he closed his eyes, feeling electricity surge through his veins. A gentle voice whispered the name of his new spell. "Thunder..." he muttered under his breath.
The sphere vanished, and his body began to glow with a radiant yellow light, the energy coursing through him. When he reopened his eyes, they shone bright yellow.
Learned Thunder
Heartless Amon staggered to his feet, his cracked mask revealing half of his face. "Curse these interruptions..." he growled, his annoyance evident. He noticed Ash lifting his Oathkeeper high, a confident smirk on his lips.
"Thunder!" Ash shouted.
From the clear night sky, a lightning bolt struck Heartless Amon directly. "Gahhhh!" the former Equalist leader screamed, his body convulsing as electricity surged through him. He stumbled backwards, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated.
Seizing the opportunity, Ash sprinted forward. Xhäs noticed and threw his Oblivion Keyblade to Ash, who instinctively caught it, increasing his pace toward Heartless Amon.
Amon, struggling to regain his composure, looked up just in time to see Ash lunging at him with both Keyblades. Ash unleashed a relentless barrage of heavy and swift combo strikes. The masked fiend winced with each blow, staggering backwards and losing his footing.
"You...!" Amon snarled, desperately trying to regain his balance, but Ash was relentless.
"You're done, Amon!" Ash shouted, his determination fueling each strike. With one final, powerful swing, he launched Amon into the air.
Korra, seeing the opening, stepped forward and unleashed a combined bending attack. Streams of fire, water, and earth converged, creating a powerful elemental blast that struck Amon mid-air.
"Aaaaargh!" Amon screamed as flames, rocks, and ice shards tore into his form. He crashed to the ground, the impact sending a shockwave of dust and debris flying.
As the dust settled, Amon lay defeated, his mask completely shattered, revealing his true face twisted in pain and anger.
"It's over, Amon," Korra declared, her voice firm and resolute. "You won't hurt anyone else."
Struggling to lift himself, Amon glared at them with pure hatred. "This isn't... the end..."
Ash, holding both Keyblades, stepped forward and shook his head. "For you, it is."
With a final thrust, Ash crossed the Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades into an X stance, releasing a burst of light that enveloped Amon. His form dissolved into darkness, vanishing completely.
Heartless Amon was finally defeated.
Korra, Mako, and Bolin watched as the darkness dissipated, relief washing over them. Ash, still holding the Keyblades, looked up at Xhäs, who stood atop the Aang statue. "Thanks, Xhäs. I couldn't have done it without you."
Xhäs shrugged nonchalantly. "Just don't make a habit of needing my help. I won't be around forever, you know." With that, he opened a dark portal and disappeared, leaving Ash to ponder his Nobody's cryptic words.
The Oblivion Keyblade vanished from Ash's grip, signaling it was returning with Xhäs.
Before Ash and the others could celebrate their hard-earned victory over Amon and the Equalists, they were suddenly blinded by a bright light from the sky. Glancing up, they saw a Republic City Police aircraft hovering above the island.
"Everyone, don't move! This is Republic City Police!" Chief Saikhan's voice boomed from the aircraft.
Korra stepped forward, raising her hands in a calming gesture. "Chief Saikhan, it's over. Amon is defeated."
The aircraft descended, and several officers emerged, cautiously approaching the group. Saikhan, stepping out last, surveyed the scene with a mix of relief and suspicion. "Is everyone alright?"
"We're fine, Chief," Mako replied, helping Bolin to his feet. "But Amon... he's gone."
Saikhan's eyes widened in surprise, then softened with gratitude. "You've done the city a great service. We need to secure the area and make sure no remnants of the Equalists are left."
Moments later...
Saikhan and his squad fished out the lieutenant and the chi-blockers from the water, tying them up and placing them under arrest. The dejected lieutenant lowered his head in defeat, realizing their goal of achieving equality for all non-benders had abruptly come to a close.
Meanwhile, Tenzin approached Ash and Korra, a mixture of worry and disappointment etched on his face. "You had me worried sick," he said, his voice stern. "But more than that, I'm disappointed that you disobeyed and lied to me."
Ash looked down, his face flushed with guilt. "I'm sorry, Tenzin. We thought it was the only way to stop Amon."
Korra nodded in agreement. "We couldn't just stand by and do nothing."
Chief Lin Beifong stood by, arms crossed, watching the exchange. "You're lucky I'm not arresting you for interfering with police business," she said, her tone hard but with a hint of grudging respect. "But you did help bring down Amon, and for that, you have my thanks I'll let it slide. This time."
Tenzin sighed, his expression softening slightly. "What's done is done. The important thing is that you're safe, and Amon is no longer a threat."
"Ash..." The Avatar approached the Keyblade wielder, extending her fist with a playful smirk.
Smirking back, Ash accepted Korra's offer and tapped his fist against hers. "You were great, Ash," Korra praised with a grin.
"Hey, I couldn't have done it without your help, Korra," Ash replied modestly. "And Xhäs, along with Mako and Bolin. Everyone chipped in."
"Aww, time for a group hug then!" Bolin suddenly appeared, wrapping his arms around their shoulders and pulling them into a tight embrace. Startled at first, Ash and Korra quickly relaxed into the hug.
The group then glanced at Mako, who stood apart, arms crossed and a reluctant expression on his face. "Come on, Mako, bring it in!" Bolin urged, causing the Firebender's eyebrow to twitch nervously.
"Uh, no thanks," Mako declined firmly.
Ash grinned mischievously, sharing a glance with Korra and Bolin. "Alright, I guess we'll just have to come to you."
Before Mako could react, the trio lunged at him, pulling him into the group hug. "Hey! Let go of me!" he protested, trying to squirm free.
Korra laughed, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. "Admit it, Mako, you love it."
Despite his grumbling, Mako's stern expression softened, and he finally relaxed a bit in the embrace. "Fine, fine," he muttered. "Just this once."
"That's the spirit!" Bolin cheered, squeezing everyone tighter.
As the group shared this moment of camaraderie, Tenzin and Lin watched from a distance. Tenzin shook his head with a smile. "They make quite the team, don't they?"
Lin nodded, a rare smile tugging at her lips. "They do."
The group finally broke apart, laughing and feeling lighter despite the long day they had endured.
Korra glanced at Ash, her eyes filled with curiosity. "So, Ash, what's your next adventure going to be?" she inquired, a hint of excitement in her voice.
Before Ash could respond, the rhythmic buzzing of his pants drew everyone's attention.
Beep, beep, beeeeeeeep...
Beep, beep, beeeeeeeep...
Beep, beep, beeeeeeeep...
Quickly retrieving his vibrating communicator from his pocket, Ash answered the call. "Um, hello?" he greeted, a note of surprise in his voice as he glanced at the screen, revealing the face of a familiar figure with short silver hair. "Wait... Riku?" The unexpected call from another Keyblade wielder caught him off guard.
Korra, Mako, and Bolin exchanged curious glances, gathering around Ash to listen in on the conversation.
Riku offered a small smile. "Sorry to interrupt your travels, Ash, but we need your assistance."
"Oh, for what exactly?" Ash couldn't help, but ask.
Riku's expression became serious. "We're preparing to save Aqua from the Realm of Darkness."
Ash's eyes widened in astonishment.
Dum dum dummmmmmm...! The suspense! XD I hope you guys enjoy the finale of the Legend of Korra visit and the battle against Heartless Amon. I hope it wasn't too bad. I mean it's a lot longer than the first battle, that's for sure. Anyway, the mission to save Aqua is in place. Hope you guys are ready for a two-parter to save the best Kingdom Heart girl. I'm sure most of you have been waiting for it since the beginning.
Extra scene: The Return of Demyx
Xhäs returned to Twilight Town after aiding Ash against Amon, his mind still swirling with the echoes of their recent battle. As he strolled through the familiar streets lost in contemplation, he was abruptly halted by the sight of a figure he never expected to encounter: Demyx, the water musician from the old Organization XIII.
With a casual wave and a lazy grin, Demyx greeted Xhäs. "Hey there, buddy. Long time no see."
Xhäs's steps faltered, his guard instantly rising. "How do you know where I am?" he demanded sharply. "And does Master Xehanort know of your whereabouts? You had better answer me now, Demyx, or else!" The threat hung heavy in the air as Xhäs made it clear he wouldn't hesitate to strike down Demyx if he didn't speak the truth.
Raising his hands in a gesture of peace, Demyx maintained his relaxed demeanor. "Whoa, chill out, Xhäs. I'm not here to cause trouble. Only I know where you are, and I swear I won't spill the beans to anyone," he reassured with a hint of humor in his voice.
Reluctantly easing his stance, Xhäs sighed and let his guard down slightly. "Fine," he relented. "But how are you still around? I thought Sora defeated you."
Demyx chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, that was just a little mix-up. Turns out I'm more resilient than I look."
Intrigued despite himself, Xhäs's curiosity was piqued. "And why are you sharing this with me?"
Leaning in with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Demyx grinned. "Because I've got a juicy secret to spill. It's about Master Xehanort's plan and what he's after with Ash, more so than Sora."
Xhäs's interest was immediately sparked. "Go on," he urged, eager to uncover the mysteries surrounding the old Keyblade Master's intentions.
After a brief moment of silence, Xhäs stood in stunned disbelief, his expression a mix of shock and concern. Demyx, observing the young Nobody's reaction, couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement.
"Wait... so you're saying the old geezer wants Ash to be his 13th vessel instead of Sora?" Xhäs's voice held a note of incredulity, his brow furrowing with each word.
"Bingo," Demyx confirmed with a chuckle, his tone light despite the seriousness of the revelation.
Xhäs shook his head in disbelief. "But why?" he pressed with frustration.
Demyx sighed, considering his words carefully. "Because of you, Xhäs," he explained cryptically. "You're unique, more so than Roxas, despite him being your successor in the original Organization XIII."
Xhäs clenched his jaw in frustration, the weight of the revelation settling heavily on his shoulders. It was clear he needed to act swiftly to protect Ash from Master Xehanort's nefarious plans.
As Xhäs turned to leave, Demyx couldn't resist a soft chuckle. "Good luck, old buddy. You're gonna need it."
With a wry smile, Demyx watched Xhäs disappear into the dark portal.