Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Legend Of Korra.
A/N: Good news everyone! I just did that for the new season that's out. I got my time back to write but I still will need to get into the habit but, expect updates to pick up to where they were in 2020ish on back for those of you who were reading back then.
For those that didn't, except for the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), I would update one or two stories a week outside of internet/power failures or family visits. And for the holidays I would take the first week of the month off at least to write a Ch for each story then an extra for the one that's getting updated so I could update all stories for the holidays for those times as a present in case there's a lot of family/friends visiting.
I have a poll up on who Ron should be paired with, I was going to have it be quick as I was thinking of doing one for my RWBY story but nixed that after talking with fellow writers and beta's.
Now I'll leave it up until Zita appears. BUT I haven't gotten a vote for it for a while and if I don't get many after a few rounds of updating all stories then I'll take it down.
Beta: Chaos-PSD.
Book Five
Epilogue
Chapter VII
A New Plan Hatched.
A new plan! While Team Avatar works to get Guan to surrender peacefully, the General sets on a new path with a new plan… Can the Avatars stop him before it's too late?
Airship.
"Mako, come in. Are you there?"
Mako grabs the radio on his waist and answers it. "What is it, Korra?"
"Commander Guan and his army just rolled into town. Get over here with Kuvira, now."
The group then got on a Jeep and started driving to Korra.
Later Gaoling.
Korra and Guan are facing one another at the foot of the steps. "You must be Commander Guan."
"The famous Avatar Korra. At last, we meet. What brings you to Gaoling?" He asks her.
"As you're aware, the Earth Empire's rule has ended. I'm here to make sure you and your troops surrender peacefully."
"Then I'm afraid you've traveled a long way for nothing. I have other plans." He says as they turn to see the others riding up.
"I figured you would say that. That's why I brought someone who can help you see things differently."
As Korra speaks, the jeep drives down the street toward her and Guan, another panel showing Kuvira sitting in its passenger seat. "I don't believe it…" Guan says in disbelief.
"Is that really Kuvira?"
"What's she doing here?"
Asami stops the jeep while looking at Kuvira. "You say you've changed? Now's your chance to prove it."
Kuvira got out, at that. "I will. Walks toward Guan and Korra. Hello again, Commander Guan.
"So, the Great Uniter is now doing the Avatar's bidding," Guan says as Korra looks at him.
"Listen pal-"
Kuvira holds up a hand. "I have this under control, Korra." She then turns to Guan. "If you must know, it was actually my idea to come. I wanted to handle the situation personally out of respect to you, and to everyone who served the Earth Empire with honor."
"Don't talk to me about honor. You disgraced the empire by giving up the fight in Republic City." He says to her.
"No one regrets the demise of the Earth Empire as much as I do. I'm proud of all our achievements and everything we did to modernize the kingdom. People will enjoy the benefits of what we have done for years to come. But we can't allow our personal feelings to obscure reality. Our great experiment has come to an end." She explains.
"No, it's only the beginning." Guan gestures to the surrounding area. "There is so much more progress to be made. And why should others get to reap the rewards of everything the Earth Empire accomplished? I'm sure there's part of you that wishes you hadn't stood down, that wants to see how far we can take things."
"I've seen what lies at the end of that path, death and destruction. I stand by my decision, commander. And it doesn't change the fact that the Earth Empire was defeated."
"No, you were defeated. My soldiers and I are still standing." Guan countered as she just stared.
"Yet, you have no real power. Your force is a fraction of what the Earth Empire once was. You've offered these men and women false hope that the Earth Empire has a future. It doesn't." Kuvira then walks past Guan. "So, if you won't see reason, maybe they will. To the soldiers. I'm giving you all one final command! Surrender to King Wu and the Avatar, and you will all be dealt with fairly."
"ALL HAIL THE EARTH EMPIRE! ALL HAIL COMMANDER GUAN!"
Guan grinned at that. "I think it's clear where they stand."
Kuvira sighs and turns to him. Very well... Then I challenge you to a fight, one on one. If I beat you, then you and your troops will surrender immediately."
"That ploy might have worked on the Avatar back in Zaofu, but I'm not foolish enough to fall for it. You may have struck fear into your followers once, but now we see you for what you really are, a spineless coward."
Kuvira glares at him. "If you won't give up willingly." Suddenly she earthbends him off his feet. "Then I'll make you yield!"
"Kuvira, stand down!" Korra yells as Kuvira clenches her hands.
"Not until Guan does!" Kuvira uses her metalbending to start choking Guan with his metal shoulder pads, everyone around is paralyzed with shock as they watch. "Surrender!"
"Never! I'd rather die a martyr than live as a traitor!"
"Release the commander!"
Korra runs up to them. "That's enough, Kuvira!"
Before things can escalate further, Kuvira is suddenly electrocuted by an unknown source, and she cries out in pain before falling to the floor unconscious. Guan is dropped to the floor and he climbs up to his feet while coughing as Korra blinks. "How...?"
Asami walks over while holding a small device with a red button on the top. "Remote trigger…" She then removes Kuvira's belt and shows it has wires on the inside. "Connected to an electrode belt. I thought we needed a backup plan… We did.
Mako and Bolin pick up Kuvira, draping her arms over their shoulders. I knew bringing Kuvira was a bad idea."
Korra sighs and looks at them. "Put her in the jeep. I'll deal with her once we get back to the airship." The two brothers carry Kuvira toward the jeep as Korra, Asami, and Wu turn their attention to Guan, who is now rubbing his throat. "I'm not finished with you yet, Guan. I won't let you interfere with Gaoling's election."
"You misunderstand. I didn't come here to stop the democratic process... I came to take part in it."
Wu blinks at that. "What are you talking about?"
"Kuvira is right. The Earth Empire has no real power. It never did, really." He explains as he walks past the three while taking out some papers. "The world has never viewed us as a legitimate nation. But I'm going to change that." He hands the papers to Rhee. "Mayor Rhee, I am officially declaring my candidacy for governor of Gaoling! Here's my paperwork."
"You can't do that!" Wu yells as Rhee examines the paperwork.
"Technically, nothing is stopping him. It's an open election, and his documents seem to be in order."
Guan walks away before speaking. "Soon, the Earth Empire will have candidates in every state. And once we're in power, no one will be able to question our right to rule."
Naruto, Korra, Wu, and Rhee watch him leave, all of them bearing looks of dismay. "I don't believe this..."
Airship.
"Ugh... what... what happened?"
Kuvira opens her eyes to see she is in the pod, as well as Team Avatar and Wu standing around her. "What am I doing here?"
"Cooling off." Naruto shrugged as Korra took a step up.
"I locked you up so you don't try something stupid again, like provoking an army."
"And Commander Guan? Where is he now?" Kuvira asks as Korra crosses her arms.
"Probably printing up some campaign posters. You were right about him being a good strategist. Instead of conquering the states militarily, he's planning to take over politically."
"Is that so..."
Mako looks over at Wu. "I say you call off the vote, at least for now. Make it impossible for Guan to win."
Wu sighed at that. "Mako, you know I love you, but I'm trying to encourage democracy. I can't just go around canceling elections because I don't like one of the candidates. We need to let this play out."
"Doubtful. So we just sit back and hope one of the other candidates wins?" Asami asks as Korra sighs.
"I wouldn't hold my breath. They're not exactly what I would call "inspiring"." Korra explains as Kuvira looks at her.
"If you want to defeat Guan, you have to beat him at his own game. Find a candidate to run against him, someone who's popular enough to win."
"That's actually not a bad idea." Asami shrugs before Wu speaks.
"But there's only one week to go until the election. Who are we going to find on such short notice?"
"I know the perfect person!" Korra jumped at that as Bolin looked over.
"Who?"
"Toph! She's a legend! Everyone loves her. Plus, Gaoling is her hometown, and I know for a fact she hates the Earth Empire. And she would definitely bring a... unique governing style to the Earth Kingdom."
"Excited. Sounds good to me!" Wu smiles as Bolin sighs.
"Doubtful. There's one itsy bitsy problem. Last time I saw Toph, she didn't seem too keen on getting involved with world affairs."
"Then we'll just have to convince her." Korra smiled and crossed her arms.
Guan's Camp.
"You should have seen Kuvira, Doctor Sheng."
Inside Guan's tent, he stands with his back to Sheng. "She's no longer the commanding woman who inspired us all. The Avatar's influence has clearly corrupted her mind."
"Then perhaps we need to re-calibrate it for her."
"Perhaps... but at the moment, we have an election to prepare for." He turns to look at Sheng. "You mentioned the first campaign recruits have arrived?"
Sheng gestures to a door. "Right through here, sir." They start walking through it. "You'll be pleased to hear that they're responding quite well to our messaging."
"Excellent." Guan said as they stood in front of three people, two men, and one woman, bound to chairs, each of the three "recruits" wearing a spherical metal hat that was wired up to various machines.
Sheng then speaks. "A vote for Commander Guan is a vote for progress and prosperity. Go with Guan.
Having the recruits repeat it. "A vote for Commander Guan is a vote for progress and prosperity. Go with Guan."
The Airship.
"I radioed Su and let her know we're bringing Kuvira to Zaofu for safekeeping until the election is over. She didn't sound very happy about it."
Asami said to Korra and Naruto as Wu in hiking clothes sat the wrong way on Naga. "I figured she wouldn't be. But you don't have time to fly Kuvira all the way back to Republic City." Korra states that all three share a kiss.
"Your Highness, are you sure you don't want me to accompany you?"
Naruto turned to see Wu talking to a guard. "No, captain. Stay with the guards. The more eyes on Kuvira, the better."
"But I've heard the Foggy Bottom Swamp can be quite treacherous."
Wu reached into his backpack before speaking. "Don't worry, I'll have the Avatars guiding me." He then takes out a can of bug spray. "And I'm bringing plenty of bug spray!"
"Kurama and the others are lucky that they went to the Spirit Realm for a vacation." Naruto sighed as he turned to walk to Naga.
"See you all back here tomorrow morning," Korra said as he followed Naruto.
Naruto, Korra, and Wu proceed to ride off, the captain and the rest of Team Avatar watching them leave. "Good luck! Say hi to Toph for me!" Bolin waves at their retreating forms.
No one noticed the Earth Empire soldier watching from a distance with binoculars. Onboard the airship, Asami addresses the pilot at the foot of the staircase leading up to the cockpit. "We're ready for takeoff."
"Yes, Mrs. Uzumaki."
The pilot walks up the stairs to the cockpit as Asami approaches Kuvira, still imprisoned within her platinum cell. "I don't suppose you're going to let me out of here?"
"Not until we arrive at Zaofu. Su told me she has a nice cell waiting for you."
"Terrific… I'll get to trade one platinum prison for another." Kuvira sarcastically said from her pod.
"Mrs. Uzumaki, I'm afraid we're going to be delayed. The engines won't start."
Asami looks around in surprise at this news, as Mako and Bolin appear behind her, Pabu resting on Bolin's shoulders. "That's odd... they were working fine on the way here."
Kuvira then tensed up at that. "I think I might know why you're having engine trouble."
Asami turned to her. "And how would you know that?"
"I suggest you let me out of here. Now."
Mako looks at her crossing his arms. "Why?"
All of a sudden, several Earth Empire soldiers swinging in on metal cables smash through the airship's windows, much to the shock of Asami, Mako and Bolin. Mako blasts one of the soldiers with a fireball before he can land. The other Earth Empire soldiers land and begin bending their metal blades about as Bolin dives for the room's table, Pabu leaping off his shoulders with a screech.
Asami punches her opponent in the chest before kicking another of the soldiers in the head. Kuvira spots a third soldier reaching toward his cable spool while behind Asami. The soldier shoots out a cable that wraps around Asami, pinning her arms to her sides. Mako and Bolin are shown fending off four soldiers at once, Mako firebending and Bolin wielding his chair.
Cables then wrap around the two brothers and slam their heads together, knocking them out. The next panel shows Asami, Mako, Bolin, the pilot, and Wu's guards sitting together on the floor, all of them tied up with rope as Earth Empire soldiers stand guard on either side of them, and Kuvira remains imprisoned inside the platinum cell.
"I have to hand it to you, Kuvira, waiting to escape until after Korra left was a smart move," Asami said to her.
"You fools, this wasn't my doing…" Kuvira says as the airship's elevator arrives with a ding, before its doors open to reveal Guan and two more Earth Empire soldiers. "It was his."
"Hello again, Kuvira."
The Others.
Naruto, Korra, Wu, and Naga make their way through the Foggy Swamp. "The swamp is a really strange place. But if you stick with me and Naga, you'll be fine."
"Let's just find Toph and get back to Gaoling," Wu said before Korra glanced back.
"First, I have to figure out where she is," Wu said as they stopped.
"There's no street signs to follow and she just woke up there after Toph found her. Then Jinora brought her bison to fly her back." Naruto said as he got off to look around.
Korra kneels at a root and places a hand on it. I can tap into it and connect to Toph.
Korra closes her eyes as the root begins to glow faintly around her hand, while Wu dismounts from Naga behind her.
Wu begins to sing and walk away so he can relieve himself, asking Naga for privacy when he sees that she is watching him. Having finished, Wu steps back out from behind a tree but finds that Korra and Naga have inexplicably vanished, and he calls for Korra's aid. A voice tells him that the Avatar cannot help him and that he has lost his way.
When the voice claims he is a weak king and a disgrace to the throne, Wu finds himself before a vision of his late great-aunt, Earth Queen Hou-Ting. The spectral queen tells him that he entrusted him with the Earth Kingdom and he has made a mess of it. Wu tells her that he is trying to change things and make the Earth Kingdom better.
Hou-Ting responds that people do not care about change or progress, only stability. Wu raises that people should have the freedom to have a say in who leads them, though the vision tells him to stop fooling himself, and that he is only pushing for democracy because he is too scared to rule on his own. Wu objects, but Hou-Ting grows furious, telling him that he handed the Earth Kingdom over to Kuvira after she died and that he is ready to give away all his power again even after regaining the crown.
Wu cowers and closes his eyes to then feel Korra's hand on his shoulder, telling him that he is all right. He tells Korra about his vision, and Korra apologizes, saying she should have told him beforehand that the swamp loves to mess with people's heads. Helping Wu onto Naga's saddle, Korra asks him to elaborate on their way to Toph, while Wu states that he will not ever go to the bathroom in the swamp again.
They walked up to see Naruto looking around before walking to Naga.
Later, Naruto, Korra, Wu, and Naga stand at the mouth of Toph's cave. Korra bends a flame in her hand to use as a torch, and she calls to Toph, who does not respond. Wu suggests she has moved on, but Korra tells him that she saw Toph through the vines. She asks Toph to come out once again as she is willing to wait as long as she needs, while Wu waits behind.
To his left is a relief of a woman's face with closed eyes within the cave wall. The relief's eyes open, and Wu yelps in alarm, before an annoyed Toph emerges from the wall, having used her bending to hide within it. Korra grins and points to Toph, while the latter jokingly bemoans her "Avatar powers." Wu is relieved that Toph is not another vision, and Toph asks who he is.
Korra introduces him as the king, and he bows to Toph in honor. Toph turns away and walks to the cooking fire, apologizing that she has never been a fan of the monarchy, which Wu understands. Toph bends her spark rocks to light the fire and hangs a kettle for her guests, asking what Korra wants. She responds by asking if a friend cannot stop by to say hello, but Toph asks for the real reason, knowing that she did not drag the Earth King out to the Foggy Swamp to enjoy her company.
Toph and Korra sit down on the stone stools by the fire as Wu comes to join them. Korra asks if Toph has heard about Kuvira's surrender in Republic City, which Toph confirms, saying "Good riddance." Wu raises that not everyone has surrendered.
Korra asks her what she thinks of becoming a candidate, noting that "Governor Beifong" has a nice ring to it. Toph muses that Guan seems like a piece of work, and that she would love to put him in his place. Korra happily asks her if she will run, but Toph refuses, saying that Aang, Sokka, and Katara lived for politics, while she saw the government as a giant pool of mud, where anyone who fell in was going to come out filthy.
Korra pleads to Toph, saying that it makes her perfect for the job, as she tells it as it is and is incorruptible. Toph says she hates being around people, gesturing to the cave around them as emphasis, and asks Korra why she thinks she wants to be of service to them. Korra asks if she does not want to make a positive change in her home state, and Toph responds that she hated growing up there. Wu seems defeated, and walking toward the entrance, wonders if Hou-Ting was right after all.
Inspired, Korra stops Wu and whispers into his ear. Toph asks what they are talking about, and Korra slyly claims she told Wu to ignore his swamp vision. Toph grows incredulous, saying that the swamp is very wise, and pulls Wu by the wrist back to the fire to sit and share his vision. Wu tells Toph about the Earth Queen and her doubting his plan to democratize the Earth Kingdom.
On Korra's prompting, he elaborates that Hou-Ting said that people do not want to change and that people would rather stick to what feels safe and secure to them rather than do anything outside their comfort zone. Korra reminds Toph that she once told her that the swamp would teach one open to listening to what they needed to learn, which Toph awkwardly acknowledges.
Shoulders sagging at being defeated by her own words of wisdom, Toph gives in and agrees to run for governor. Wu gives her a hug, causing Korra to note that he is a hugger, prompting Toph to say that she gathered that.
Guan's Camp.
"I'm glad we finally have a chance to talk, away from the public and your new best friend, the Avatar. So tell me, are you ready to return and serve the Earth Empire once again?"
Kuvira started up at Guan. "No, Commander Guan. I won't be returning. And I serve no one – not the Avatar, and especially not you.:
"Then you've left me no other choice..."
Guan metalbends a tent wall to the side to reveal Asami, Mako, and Bolin, all three of them bound, gagged, and hooked up to the brainwashing machinery, with Dr. Sheng standing behind Asami while checking a clipboard. Upon seeing Kuvira, Asami, Mako, and Bolin's eyes all widen in panic, Asami cries out behind her gag.
"Release them at once!
"You remember Dr. Sheng, don't you? She worked very closely with your former fiancée." Guan says as Sheng nods.
"Hello, Kuvira."
Kuvira looks at the machinery and then at Guan. "What...? What is all this?"
Guan gestures to the machinery. "This is how the Earth Empire will regain power. And keep it."
Dr. Sheng adjusts the machinery before looking back. "After Baatar Jr. left to become your second-in-command, I began researching more effective methods to reeducate the prisoners you sent to our camps. I discovered that the Dai Li had maintained order in Ba Sing Se for centuries by using enhanced indoctrination techniques."
"You mean brainwashing." Kuvira glares as the doctor nods.
"Yes. But while the Dai Li's methods were useful, they were also unreliable. More often than not, reeducated subjects would revert to their old selves. So, I began experimenting with magnetic waves to alter the brain. By combining modern technology with ancient techniques, I was able to dramatically increase effectiveness."
Guan nods and looks at Kuvira. "She learned how to control people's minds, and make it stick."
Dr. Sheng looks at Kuvira before speaking. "But you surrendered before I could share my wonderful breakthrough with you."
"If you had, I would have shut you down. I never authorized such inhumane experiments."
Dr. Sheng turns to face the other woman. "Maybe not directly, but don't act so naive. You demanded results from your followers. You never cared how we achieved them."
"No... that's not true. I hoped those who had gone astray would see the error in their ways. I wanted them to be motivated by my strength and leadership, not by some machine."
"You might change your opinion once you see what Dr. Sheng and I have accomplished in your absence. I think you'll be quite impressed." Guan says to her.
"Please, don't!" As Dr. Sheng prepares to initiate the procedure, Asami glares at Kuvira while making a muffled noise through her gag. "Asami, you have to know, I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
Later, Sheng addresses Asami, Mako, and Bolin, unbound and ungagged, with half-closed eyes and dull expressions. She tells them to obey Commander Guan, that the Avatar is no longer their friend, and that Korra is their enemy, which they repeat. The three stand up and remove their helmets as Guan points to the restrained Kuvira and orders Mako to put her in the chair.
Asami begins to open the platinum cell and Mako readies handcuffs, Asami taunting her by saying that Kuvira is finally getting her wish to be let out. Asami and Bolin restrain her arms while Mako moves to her with handcuffs, but she yanks her wrists away before he can slip the cuffs onto her and kicks out within Asami and Bolin's grip, hitting Mako and knocking him backward.
She crouches down and rushes forward, causing Asami and Bolin's heads to slam into each other. Seeing this, Guan bends metal strips off his shoulder pads at Kuvira to try to subdue her, ordering her to stand down. Kuvira bends the strips away, telling him that she may have surrendered to the Avatar, but she will not surrender to him.
She metalbends the wall onto Guan, pinning him against the floor as Dr. Sheng flees and Mako struggles to get up behind her. He bends fire at Kuvira, which she dodges. Kuvira apologizes to the brainwashed members of Team Avatar as she uses her metalbending to trap them in the tent.
Kuvira flees the tent and escapes into Guan's camp, where his soldiers soon take notice of her. Running forward, Kuvira bends small pillars of earth to propel herself into the air just as a mecha suit tries to incinerate her with its flamethrower. She punches the ground upon landing, earthbending a larger pillar of earth that launches the mecha suit toward a pair of soldiers running after her.
Guan then emerges from the tent with a snarl but sees no sight of Kuvira, his soldiers informing him that they lost sight of her. Guan tells them that she cannot have gotten far, and commands them to search the area. Soldiers rush off to find Kuvira, with jeeps driving out of the camp into the surrounding area.
One jeep peels off from the others and drives into a deserted part of the mountains. The driving soldier brings the jeep to a stop and removes her helmet to reveal her identity as Kuvira, breathing a sigh of relief at her successful escape.
Toph's Cave.
Back in Toph's cave, Korra asks her what she thinks of becoming a candidate, noting that "Governor Beifong" has a nice ring to it. Toph muses that Guan seems like a piece of work, and that she would love to put him in his place. Korra happily asks her if she will run, but Toph refuses, saying that Aang, Sokka, and Katara lived for politics, while she saw the government as a giant pool of mud, where anyone who fell in was going to come out filthy.
Korra pleads to Toph, saying that it makes her perfect for the job, as she tells it as it is and is incorruptible. Toph says she hates being around people, gesturing to the cave around them as emphasis, and asks Korra why she thinks she wants to be of service to them. Korra asks if she does not want to make a positive change in her home state, and Toph responds that she hated growing up there.
Wu seems defeated, and walking toward the entrance, wonders if Hou-Ting was right after all. Inspired, Korra stops Wu and whispers into his ear. Toph asks what they are talking about, and Korra slyly claims she told Wu to ignore his swamp vision. Toph grows incredulous, saying that the swamp is very wise, and pulls Wu by the wrist back to the fire to sit and share his vision.
Wu tells Toph about the Earth Queen and her doubting his plan to democratize the Earth Kingdom. On Korra's prompting, he elaborates that Hou-Ting said that people do not want to change and that people would rather stick to what feels safe and secure to them rather than do anything outside their comfort zone.
Korra reminds Toph that she once told her that the swamp would teach one open to listening to what they needed to learn, which Toph awkwardly acknowledges. Shoulders sagging at being defeated by her own words of wisdom, Toph gives in and agrees to run for governor. Wu gives her a hug, causing Korra to note that he is a hugger, prompting Toph to say that she gathered that.
Back in the mountains, night has fallen as Kuvira observes Guan's camp through a pair of binoculars from behind some rocks. Lowering the binoculars, Kuvira looks toward a radio on the jeep's passenger seat before sitting down on the ground, her back resting against the rocks.
Zaofu.
Suyin is sitting in front of a radio set, speaking with Kuvira over it. "What's going on? Asami said she was bringing you to Zaofu, where are you?"
"Still in Gaoling. We never left."
"What did you do to Asami and the others?" Suyin asks her.
"Nothing! Commander Guan and his rebels attacked the airship before we got off the ground and took a bunch of us captive. Asami, Bolin, and Mako have been brainwashed! I managed to escape, but-"
"Brainwashed? You expect me to believe that?" Suyin interrupts
"I'm telling the truth! Naruto, Korra, and King Wu are off trying to find your mother and I'm out here all alone. I know you have every reason to hate me, but I didn't know who else to turn to. Please, I need your help."
Gaoling.
"Go with Guan! Go with Guan!"
"The hell?"
Naruto asked as he dropped down beside Korra, Toph, and Wu who were riding into town on Naga, all of them looking around at the mass of Guan supporters with concern. "I hope we're not too late."
Inside the hall, Mayor Rhee and Toph are sitting down at a table together, Korra and Wu standing behind Toph as Rhee reads out the contents of a scroll for her. "And paragraph five, subsection eight, stipulates that in the event of a force majeure, the election will be suspended until such a time as -"
Toph waved him off at that. "Enough flimflammery! Where do I sign?"
Rhee places the scroll on the table, before pointing to a spot on it. "Right here, Miss Beifong."
Korra takes Toph's wrist to assist her in signing the scroll. "Congratulations! You're officially a candidate for governor of Gaoling."
"Yippee," Toph says enthusiastically before looking at Rhee. "Give it to me straight, Mister Mayor, what do you think my chances are?"
"If you had asked me yesterday, I would've said you'll win easily... but practically overnight, there's been an unexpected groundswell of support for Guan."
Toph narrows her eyes at that. "You don't say..."
Later, Naruto flew beside Korra, Toph, and Wu who were riding Naga through the streets, back toward the airfield. "Asami and the others should be back at the airfield by now." Korra mused as they traveled, Korra saw Pabu running toward them, chittering all the while. "Pabu? The Fire Ferret jumps up into her lap. Why aren't you with Bolin?"
She looks up and sees the jeep with the disguised Kuvira driving toward them. "Uh oh... we got trouble. Dismounting. Wu, stay put. Toph, I might need some backup."
"You got it."
Kuvira parks the jeep while looking at the other four. "You need to follow me."
"I'm not going anywhere with one of Guan's lackeys."
Kuvira removes her helmet and says, "I'm no lackey."
"Kuvira?! Where are Asami, Mako and Bolin?!"
Korra walks toward Kuvira while generating flames from both her fists, as Kuvira gets out of the jeep and holds up both her hands in a gesture of peace. "I'll explain, but we need to get off the road before someone spots us. Guan's at the airfield waiting to ambush you, and-"
Kuvira's explanation is cut off when Korra shoots both of her fists forward, firebending a ring of flame around Kuvira and trapping her in place. "I warned you if you hurt my friends, I would take you down!"
"Korra, wait!" Naruto flew over and grabbed her arms. "If she did anything, why come to us?"
Kuvira tells her that Guan and his soldiers attacked the airship after Korra left, and brainwashed the other members of Team Avatar. Korra tells Kuvira not to lie to her, but the metalbender says that she is not lying, and asks Toph to verify it. Toph confirms that Kuvira is telling the truth, to Korra's surprise. Wu asks how she can know, and Kuvira explains that Toph is a truth-seer.
Toph notes the suspicious nature of Guan's supporters repeating the slogan over again, comparing it to Long Feng. Korra asks who he is, and Wu tells her that he served Wu's great-great-grandfather Earth King Kuei, manipulating the king alongside the Dai Li so they could control Ba Sing Se and that Long Feng brainwashed anyone perceived to be a threat.
Toph commends him on knowing his history and tells him to be glad he did not live through it. Korra asks what has happened to her friends, and Kuvira tells her that their minds are no longer their own, now following Guan's orders.
Up ahead, Asami, Mako, and Bolin are hidden behind a set of earth-bent walls near the Future Industries airship. Guan peers at the airship over the top of the walls with binoculars, asking Team Avatar about them saying Korra would meet them here in the afternoon. Bolin affirms that it was the plan, and Guan is alerted by a soldier's voice on the radio.
The commander asks for good news, and the soldier tells him that the Avatar passed through town on her way to the airfield, but Kuvira intercepted her. Guan asks where they are now.
Meanwhile, Wu proclaims that the situation is a disaster and that Guan will steal the election and brainwash the entire kingdom in the process. He despairs that it is all his fault and that he should have never asked Korra to come. Kuvira tells him that he could not have known this would happen, and Wu tells the group that he knows how he can make things right.
He plans to call off the election, and Toph tells him that it is a great idea as she never wanted to run in the first place. Korra is unsure if this is the best strategy, but Wu confidently proclaims that it is perfect, as Guan is unable to steal the election if there is not one being held. Kuvira remarks that Wu is making a good point, and the king thanks her, excusing himself from the others and planning to return to the city hall and issue his decree to the mayor.
Kuvira tells him not to, as none of them would get out of Gaoling without being brainwashed once Guan knew what they were up to. Korra asks what Kuvira would have them do, as Asami, Mako, and Bolin are in danger.
Kuvira looks to the sky, telling them that they can regroup in Zaofu and get reinforcements there. Wu inquires about Zaofu, and Kuvira points to an approaching Metal Clan airship in the distance. She tells the group that she radioed Suyin, who agreed to pick them up after some convincing.
Aboard the airship, Opal says that she does not understand why her mother did not send Metal Clan soldiers to collect Kuvira, asking how Suyin could still have a soft spot for her after all the anguish she put the family through. Suyin curtly dismisses the point, telling her that it is important she does it herself and this is not the time to discuss it and orders the pilot to bring them down as she walks away.
The airship lands in front of the group, lowering its gangway and opening its backdoors to reveal Suyin, Opal, Wei, and Wing standing at the top. Kuvira warmly greets Suyin, though Toph interrupts the group's reunion as she feels the ground rumble, informing them that Guan's army has found them and they need to escape.
Korra's party heads onto the airship, Toph leading them, and is warmly approached by her daughter and grandchildren, all of whom are happy to see her. Toph notes she wished it was under better circumstances. Suyin notices Korra hesitating to board the ship, and the Avatar tells her to go, as she is not leaving without Asami, Mako, and Bolin.
Guan's forces arrive and head toward the ship. Kuvira tells Korra that they could possibly learn how to reverse Sheng's magnetic brainwashing process in Zaofu, but Korra is resolute that she will not abandon her friends as a madman. Kuvira accepts this, telling the Avatar that she will help to get her friends back, with Suyin and Toph offering to support Korra too. Toph tells Wu to wait on the ship, as things will begin to get ugly.
On the ground, a jeep containing Asami, Mako, and Bolin parks at the center of Guan's army's formation. He tells the three that the Avatar is their enemy and orders her to be brought to him. The brainwashed members accept the order, stepping out of the jeep and readying their respective weapons, a fire dagger, an electric glove, and a lava shuriken. Once ready, they advance to Korra and the others ahead of the rest of Guan's forces.
Korra, Kuvira, and the Beifongs stood at the gangway, Wei cracking his knuckles and Wing flexing his arms, while Opal and Korra called out to their respective partners.
"Bolin! It's me! Please, stop!"
"Asami, you can fight this!"
Kuvira looks at them before speaking. "It's pointless to try and reason with them.:
"We'll have to play defense." Korra says before Toph takes a step forward.
"I can take them out, no problem."
"Grandma, no! We don't want to hurt them."
Korra looked at the others before speaking. "Opal and I will steer them towards you. Wrap them up with cables and get them on the ship."
"Or I could do this." Naruto shrugged before bending lava in a circle covering the three and creating a line forcing the army back as he continued to make it larger.
He then flew and grabbed Asami before using the wire in his spool to wrap her arms to herself before going back to the ship as Bolin had the circle cool off. Bolin earthbends rocks at Suyin, which she turns away with her own bending, while Mako sends a jet of fire at Wing, who earthbends a barrier in its path. Korra and Opal then airbend curved blasts of wind at Mako and Bolin, pushing them up tight against each other, before Suyin, Wei, and Wing shoot out their metal cables, wrapping them around the brothers and binding them together.
Guan's soldiers and mecha-tanks advance toward the airship, after creating a bridge over the lava while Suyin and Kuvira move to stand next to Toph, who is already standing in the path of the approaching troops. As one, the three women all crouch down and punch the ground with both their fists, causing large columns of earth to burst out from the ground beneath Guan's troops, sending several of them flying.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, Opal is fighting with Bolin, who earthbends up two rocks before launching them at her. Opal deflects the first rock with her airbending, but the second strikes her near the left shoulder, causing her to grunt in pain before collapsing unconscious.
Wu, who is watching the battle from his hiding spot with an increasingly nervous look, is Pabu watching over his shoulder. Wu then sees the captain's half-closed eyes, and realizes what has happened as the bodyguards continue to approach him, Pabu letting out a hiss. "Guan got to you, too!"
The brainwashed guards then grab Wu, causing him to let out a scream as Pabu jumps off his shoulder. Suyin, Toph, and Kuvira are shown hiding behind a stone wall as Mako and a group of mecha-suits blast at them with firebending and flamethrowers, respectively, while Wei and Wing carry the unconscious Opal back onto the airship.
Bolin uses his earthbending to lower the wall, allowing the flames to pass unhindered. Kuvira dives out of the way, while Suyin tackles Toph to the floor. Suyin guides Toph toward the airship as Korra jumps in to cover them, holding off the flame attack with her airbending.
Suyin gets Toph aboard the airship as Kuvira leads Asami up the gangway behind her, Korra continuing to hold back the flames. Finally, Korra retreats onto the airship, which takes off as Guan's soldiers attack it to no effect, before flying away into the distance. Guan watches it leave, as the captain and another of Wu's bodyguards approach him from behind, both gripping the captured king by the arms.
When they inform the commander that they captured the king, he notes that the day is not a total defeat.
Aboard the Metal Clan airship, Korra locks Asami inside a platinum pod, as her brainwashed girlfriend glares at her. She apologizes for having to do this, and that she is sorry about what Guan did to her. Asami rebuffs Korra's statements, telling her not to pretend she cares, and that she is the enemy. Korra sadly tells her that she does not know what she is saying and that those are Guan's words.
Elsewhere, Wing asks their mother aside if she wants them to restrain Kuvira. Suyin tells the twins to leave her be, and that she is not the flight risk, and Wei hopes that she is right. Toph and Opal rest on a bench nearby, the Airbender's head lying in her grandmother's lap, while Korra approaches Kuvira, asking her about the possibility of countering the brainwashing. Kuvira tells her that she got a good look at Sheng's setup, but that she will need Baatar Jr.'s help to reverse-engineer the device.
Guan's Camp.
Back at the reeducation camp, Guan orders his forces to prepare a new subject. Mako and Bolin place a wired helmet on Wu's head and place a gag on his mouth as he gives off a muffled scream, binding his arms to his sides while sitting him down in a chair in preparation for his brainwashing. The pair stand to attention on either side of Wu as Dr. Sheng begins operating the machinery, Guan watching on and telling her to begin.
To Be Continued.
A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.
Beta: Chaos-PSD.
NEXT CH WILL BE THE LAST FOR COVERING THE COMICS THEN ONE MORE FOR THE EPILOGIE!
Good news everyone! I got my time back to write but I still will need to get into the habit but, expect updates to pick up to where they were in 2020ish on back for those of you who were reading back then.
For those that didn't, except for the holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas), I would update one or two stories a week outside of internet/power failures or family visits. And for the holidays I would take the first week of the month off at least to write a Ch for each story then an extra for the one that's getting updated so I could update all stories for the holidays for those times as a present in case there's a lot of family/friends visiting.
I have a poll up on who Ron should be paired with, I was going to have it be quick as I was thinking of doing one for my RWBY story but nixed that after talking with fellow writers and beta's.
Now I'll leave it up until Zita appears. BUT I haven't gotten a vote for it for a while and if I don't get many after a few rounds of updating all stories then I'll take it down.
The next to be updated will be A Fox In Middleton tomorrow.
Nothing else to say.
Talk To You Later,
Lone Wolf Out.🐺