How does it feel

How does it feel 43

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Elsewhere on the Astral Plane…

Korra and Asami weren't the only ones trying to work out their situation.

Tsuchi and Katara float aimlessly in a rainbow colored nebula of moving space. The waterbender had released Tsuchi's throat expecting the essence to give her a mouthful, but he kept silent not wanting anything to do with her. She'd spent the last half hour trying to get him to explain his animosity towards Korra, but he wouldn't say a word.

"Tsuchi, I'm not your enemy and neither are Korra and Raava." Katara says softly. "Believe it or not we're all trying to help you. Even the mothers are doing their part."

The earth essence rolls his forest green eyes. "That's petty human reasoning for someone who's supposed to be enlightened my naughty little bender. You have no idea what you're talking about."

Katara raises surprised eyebrows. "Well aren't you the pot calling the kettle black? I don't know what I'Mtalking about? Have you looked at your actions lately? You're more emotional than Mizu is." Tsuchi glares at her. "You're running around like a whining child throwing a temper tantrum trying to get your mother's attention."

"I don't need to explain myself to you!" He shouts back.

"Fine. You don't want to talk then you can keep listening. Right now Korra is more powerful than you and the other essences combined. She might even be more powerful than the mothers."

"Pttff…"

Katara raises her voice. "If you don't try and work with her, she's going to destroy you." The enlightened woman takes a deep breath. "I've seen it."

Tsuchi sighs heavily in annoyance as he regains the use of one of his feet. He lowers his eyes. It was well known that none of the waterbender's premonitions had ever been wrong. But there was a first time for everything Tsuchi thought. "She can't destroy me. That would go against the mother's terms."

"She can do whatever she wants after she and Asami make their choice. If you think Korra's going to keep you around after everything you've done to them then you really have lost your mind. Once she understands how to use the mother's power you'll be the first one she comes for, unless you start working with her."

Tsuchi lowers his eyes. He knew the waterbender was right. The mothers wouldn't care what happened after their terms were fulfilled. "That spineless Avatar isn't going to do anything to me. She can't."

Katara takes a deep breath as her body starts to disappear from the astral plane. "If you don't let go of your hate and stop trying to punish her and Asami for your pain, she's going to destroy you." He averts his eyes. Katara can sense what he's thinking. "It won't matter if you're her child or not."

Tsuchi looks up with wide eyes as Katara's body disappears and he's freed from her power. He was counting on Asami giving birth to him. He needed another chance to destroy the mothers even if it meant waiting a lifetime. Korra wouldn't hurt her own child. But what if his mother's energy had changed her? Would the Avatar really destroy him? His essence still made up the world. For all intents and purposes, Korra had a duty to protect him.

Tsuchi lowers his eyes deep in thought. If Korra learned how to control the mother's energy she could unmake him. That wasn't what he wanted. He wanted existence to return to its original state, to free everyone from the mother's control.