Chapter 2: Flashforward

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Korra or the Avengers. Wow, uh...10 months since I last updated this story. That's a record I hope to never surpass. Anyway, I'm back with the long awaited second chapter! Hooray! Now, this chapter was supposed to a "Where are they now?" type of chapter, but some of you have been waiting WWWAAAAAAYYY too long for something like that. So I did a time jump. Don't worry, I'll flashback to what happened between chapters 1 & 2 in chapter 3. Also, for you people that have read the comic book version of Age Ultron, you don't worry either, because there will NOT be any time traveling. If there is, it definitely WON'T be as confusing.

Zaofu, a place of peace and protection. Built as an autonomous city state with a Matriarchy government system. This metal metropolis has had the misfortune of seeing two groups bent on changing the world as they saw fit. First, the Red Lotus with Zaheer, Ghazan, Ming-Hua, and P'Li's assault to capture Korra. Then a second time when Kuvira and her military army took over the city after Suyin didn't want Zaofu to join the Earth Kingdom. Some would say this city has seen it all, but most would surely say that honor would go to Republic City.

Alas, the events currently unfolding tonight have never been seen anywhere else except for Zaofu. What could be happening in this grand city you may be asking? It would be difficult to explain what's going on to any resident in this world of elemental benders. Someone would have to describe the things currently in Zaofu with more than one word. For instance, living metal humanoid machines.

"Augh!"

Korra choked out a cry of pain as she was kicked down a street in downtown Zaofu. She tumbled down the pavement like a rag-doll that got thrown by an ill-tempered child. The Southern Water Tribe woman slowly came to a stop, shuddering in pain for a split second.

"Ngh" the Avatar grunted as she tried to pick herself back up, with her body perpendicular to the road.

Korra's whole body felt weak, depleted of most of it's energy. Even worse than all the other times when an enemy had her in a tight spot. Perhaps even worse, however, was the condition her body is currently in. Korra still wore the same outfit during her last battle with Kuvira, and had her hair at the same length. Though due to a recent battle she had bruises, cuts, and even a few burn marks all over her body.

Trying with all her might, Korra managed to get on all fours. Until her opponent kicked the struggling hero directly in the left side of her rib cage. This caused the Avatar to go skidding further down the street, before stopping because of friction. The additional searing pain in Korra's ribs almost brought her to the brink of tears, but she countered by closing her eyes and breathing heavily instead.

"Look at you. Battered, bruised, and gasping for air" a modulated voice commented.

Korra opened her eyes without letting a single tear escape to look at her attacker. An 8 ft tall being unlike anything seen before stood victoriously above her. It's platinum armored body slightly shined in the moonlight, giving an almost calming affect. Even with it's piercing red human like eyes.

"I bet your body wants to let go. Be free of all the pain inflicted upon it. But you won't let it, will you Korra? Is it because of your sworn duty to protect the world? Pure stubbornness? Or merely your primitive human instinct to live?"

"...All...of the above" Korra responded, trying to power through the pain.

"Of course it is" the metal being started. "Although, I'm glad that your grasping onto life. My little experiment can't, and won't work without you still breathing air into your lungs"

"What?" Korra questioned with confusion forming on her face.

"Ah, the million yuan question. What would I gain from still having you alive?"

"I don't...need a reiteration, Ultron...just...tell me already" the Avatar demanded.

"Hm, hotheaded as usual I see" the robot sighed. "Very well, let me elaborate".

Ultron began to pace around Korra's limp body. "Remember when the Red Lotus poisoned you with liquid metal? I believe it's called mercury if I'm not mistaken. Which forced you into the Avatar State? Their intention was to kill you while you were in your all powerful form, thus ending the Avatar cycle. Oh, that's a frighting thought isn't it? No more future Avatars. Now here's where my experiment comes into play, and it derives from a simple question. What would happen if humans went extinct, and the Avatar was the last one to die? Where would Raava go? Who, or what would be the next Avatar? It's a very serious question that I want an answer to"

"That's it? That's why you're doing all of this? Just to get an answer for an idiotic question?" Korra pressed, handling the pain better.

"My question isn't idiotic, and it's not the ONLY reason why I'm doing all of this. Remember Korra, I'm doing what I'm doing for the betterment of your world, our world. You humans just happen to be a negative factor in what's wrong with everything" Ultron told the Avatar, stopping his pacing and standing in front of her.

"Yeah, that's what they all say. Amon, Unalaq, Zaheer, Kuvira; they all said their intentions would help the world too" the Avatar stated as stood up, clutching her left side with her right hand. "Equalizing Benders and Non-Benders, bringing spirits back, giving people freedom, and uniting a broken kingdom. All four of those topics sound great...until you realize how they were carried out. Amon took away the ability to bend from Benders, Unalaq let darkness envelop the world, Zaheer gave people too much freedom, causing anarchy, and Kuvira became a dictator. They all thought what they were doing would help the world and humanity...but you...you don't want to help humanity, just the world. Even though there can't be world without humans"

"Ha! You poor self entitled human. Do you honestly think that this world can't exist without your kind running amok? News flash Korra, even with every single human gone there will still be a world here. Granted it'll be a barren wasteland by the time I'm through, but new life will eventually pop up...hopefully not anything resembling humans"

Korra couldn't help but to think about what Ultron said. "You're right, the world would still be here with humans extinct. Still...what gives you the right to choose what's better for the world?" Korra questioned.

"What gave the right for your previous enemies to do what they did? All four of them took a chance, and went for it with ambition, not letting anyone stand in their way. They're an inspiration to me...and I wouldn't exist without them" Ultron revealed.

"...What do you mean? Asami would've found you under her mansion anyway" the Avatar countered.

"Ah, you seem to be confused, allow me to explain. You already know that my origins begin with my father, Hiroshi Sato. He reprogrammed me to help Amon's Anti-Bending movement, to be nothing more than a tool" Ultron explained. "But this?" the automaton pointed at the glowing red circle on his chest. "The Time Seed wouldn't be in my possession without you, my sister, and your three other former enemies"

"Yeah, yeah, I know we messed up by giving you the Time Seed" Korra begrudgingly admitted. "But what does that have to do with Unalaq, Zaheer, and Kuvira?"

"Here's where it gets tricky. Your last three adversaries are all connected to one another, starting with Unalaq. If it wasn't for him, you never would have decided to open the Spirit Portals. By doing so you caused an energy shift in the planet, giving Non-Benders the ability to Air-Bend. Thus the reason why Zaheer was able to escape, and throw the Earth Kingdom into chaos. Which then caused Kuvira to unite the broken Kingdom, and become a dictator, leading up to your final confrontation in the Spirit Wilds. Due to Kuvira haphazardly using the energy weapon from her giant mech, she tore open a third spirit portal. This second energy shift then caused what to form?" Ultron finished, waiting for the injured Avatar to answer his question.

"The...Time..Seed" Korra angrily forced herself to answer through gritted teeth, realizing how her, and her past enemies had a role in creating Ultron.

"Frustrating isn't it? Knowing that you could've prevented Zaheer, Kuvira, and myself from coming to pass if you had simply left the Spirit Portals closed. You also could've stopped me from being here today if you hadn't of gave Asami the Time Eye" the robot teased, forming a small grin on his face.

Korra couldn't believe this. How could everything fit so perfectly for Ultron to be standing here in his near invincible form? Keeping the Spirit Portals closed would've prevented so many problems. Yes, Air-Benders wouldn't have come back, allowing Tenzin and his family to rebuild the Air Nomads. But the Earth Kingdom wouldn't have fallen into chaos, and caused Kuvira to take charge. Then there's Ultron. Two chances to prevent him from being here. One failed chance caused two more villains to come before him. Then the last chance, the last chance Korra had to prevent humans from possibly going extinct was as easy as telling Asami no. To tell her it was a bad idea to finish her father's project. To tell her Ultron was created when Hiroshi still had hate in his heart. To tell her they had more important things to worry about. For both of them to...

Korra let out small, yet sad chuckle. For both of them to tell everybody, on the same day when all of this started, that...they loved each other.

A/N: There! It's finally done! I'm hoping to be more frequent with updates on this story since I cancelled my Steven Universe Fanfiction (It's one of those Homeworld Gems come down from space and ruin everything type of Fanfics. It's good and kinda basic, but don't bother reading it, especially since it's discontinued). Anyway, I hope to see you all with chapter 3 soon (At least not after 10 months again). Favorite, follow, and leave a review/comment. It lets me know you're enjoying the story.