We're back on the next chapter.
REMINDER: I DO NOT OWN LEGEND OF KORRA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
A building in the midst of the desert where a group of people walks toward an Earth Kingdom airship. A soldier pushes the dolly Korra was on while Asami walks forward with her head bowed down.
"You have to let me out! The Earth Queen is in danger from Azula the Fire Princess, and a group of terrorists calling themselves the Red Lotus." Korra tried to warn the captain as she is pushed up the ramp leading into the airship.
"I talked to one of them in the Spirit World yesterday. He's insane and he's working for an alien witches!"
"Screaming about terrorists in the Spirit World? Alien witches? You're the one who sounds insane." the captain said before he turns and walks inside his ship and the hatch closes.
The engine was turned on, and the airship begins to fly. Korra was still being locked in a cell with Asami. After locking Korra to the wall, the crew chains Asami to the floor.
"Do I have to be chained to the floor the whole way? It's going to be so uncomfortable." Asami said in sweet-talking.
A crew member chains Asami. "Sorry, ma'am, I'm under orders."
"Can't you just chain me to that railing?" She looks at the railing on the wall. "I mean, where am I gonna go?" The ship crew glances on Asami. "Please?"
"Well, as long as you're chained up, I guess it doesn't make a difference." The crew member chains Asami to the railing.
"Thank you, sir."
"Can I have some water?" Vaatu said in Korra's body.
"No water. We're also not going to bring you any rocks or fire, so don't ask. I guess there's air, but there's nothing we can do about that. We're not opening your compartment 'til we reach Ba Sing Se." the crew member said before he walks out of the cell.
"I hoped Mako or Bolin would have shown up to save us by now. I wonder if they're okay." Korra said. "I never got the chance to say I'm sorry." She sheds a tear.
Meanwhile, a truck was driving along a desert road. Inside of the Red Lotus' truck with Zaheer driving and P'Li and Azula sits besides him in front.
Back of the truck where Ghazan and Ming-Hua were seated on a bench and looking at the brothers tied up together on the floor.
"If you think holding us hostage will give you some leverage against the Avatar of the Balance, you're gonna be very disappointed." Mako said.
"Can't we just enjoy our time together in silence?" Ming-Hua asked bluntly.
"And why did you need Korra alive back in Zaofu? You had her paralyzed. Why didn't you just take her out when you had the chance?"
"Not yet anyway. All you need to know is that the world is about to change, for the better." Ghazan explained.
"So, you guys were like locked up for fifteen years, huh? It must've been like crazy boring." Bolin said.
"Actually, it was only thirteen years. But it felt like thirty." Ghazan said.
"I mean, what did you do with all that time? Did you sing songs, work on crafts?" Bolin asked.
"Not a lot of craft supplies in a volcanic prison cell." Ming-Hua said.
"And I must've renamed the constellations about a thousand times. When it rained, that was a big event." Ghazan said.
"Ha, I would've killed for some rain. Mostly I just made up stories about the guards, who was having trouble with his girlfriend; which one secretly wished he'd become a pastry chef." Ming-Hua said.
"Ooh, okay, that sounds like fun. Let me try that on you guys. You were raised by an older sister, your mustache grew in when you were ten and I'm sensing - just sensing - an unspoken attraction between you two."
Ming-Hua and Ghazan glance at each other awkwardly. Ming-Hua gives Ghazan a sulking look and turns away, surprising the lavabender.
Ghazan smiles at Bolin. "Two out of three. Not bad."
"Bolin, would you stop making friends with the bad guys?" Mako asked in annoyance.
"Sorry."
"Ghazan, gag those two. We're almost there." Zaheer said.
"Hey, I kinda beginning to like this one." Ghazan said.
"Me, too." Ming-Hua said. "He didn't ask me how I lost my arms, so I just thought if I tell my story of how I…"
Azula's head turned backwards to Ghazan and Ming-Hua. "NOW!"
"Okay." Ghazan and Ming-Hua said in disappointment before Ghazan gags the brothers.
The truck enters Ba Sing Se.
Back at the airship flying above Si Wong Desert, inside the interior where Korra struggles against her restraints, but to no avail.
"We have to find a way to get out of this prison before we get to the Earth Queen." Korra determined.
"Perhaps she knows what does Meldora want from us." Raava said in Korra's body.
"Don't worry, I have a plan. These airships the Cabbage Corp sold to the Earth Kingdom are way cheaper than the ones Future Industries built."
"Say what now?" Vaatu asked.
Asami stands against the wall and struggles, pulling off the railing. She jumps to bring her hands in front before throwing the railing to catch it upright.
"Damn." Raava said.
"Now, that's just shoddy workmanship. Ha, ha." Vaatu said.
Asami walks up to Korra. "There's no way I can get these locks off. I need the keys." Asami looks at the floor before prying a panel open with the railing. "Give me five minutes, then start yelling for help."
Asami crawls down the pane.
Meanwhile, at the palace.
"When is the Avatar scheduled for delivery?" Hou-Ting asked.
"The airship already left Fort Bosco and should be arriving in a few hours." Gun said.
"Excellent. Supreme Witch Meldora will be pleased with me. Bring it to me as soon as it lands." the Queen said.
"Yes, Your Majesty. But first there are some... people here who captured two of the Avatar's friends. They would like to present them to you personally."
"You know I don't meet with bounty hunters." Hou-Ting said.
"And of course, I told them that. But they say they have some information that might interest you; about the location of your stolen airbenders." Gun said.
"Really? Fine, send them in."
The Red Lotus and Azula as a woman with blonde hair enters the throne room, throwing the bound and gagged Mako and Bolin in the meantime.
"Ah, yes, I remember these two. We'll find an acceptable home for you in prison, with the rest of the dissidents. Now, I'm told you have some information for me. I hope this isn't just some ruse to increase your bounty."
"We don't want any bounty, Your Majesty. You can consider these two a "thank you" gift for simply taking the time to talk to us." Zaheer said.
"How very magnanimous. So, where are my airbenders?" Hou-Ting asked.
"We'd be happy to tell you, once you hand the Avatar over to me." Azula as the blonde-haired woman said.
"Who told you that we have the Avatar?!" Hou-Ting demanded furiously.
"How I know is not important. But if I found out, others will, too. And that could put you in a difficult position." Azula as the blonde-haired woman said.
"Is that so?" the Earth Queen asked.
"Your Majesty, imprisoning the Avatar will cause the other nations to turn against you and demand her freedom. Before long, we'd be in the midst of a sticky international incident. If you let me take her today, no one need ever know she was here, and you can get your airbenders back without interference. We both win." Zaheer said.
"And what do you plan to do with the Avatar should I see fit to grant your request.
"All we can say is: We have business with her. But she won't be bothering you again. I can assure you of that." Azula as the woman said.
Mako and Bolin glance at each other with worried looks.
The queen ponders over the deal while tapping her long finger nails on the arm of the throne. She sits up straight with a smile after some consideration.
"I find these terms agreeable. Gun, escort them to the antechamber until the Avatar's arrival." Gun escorts the Red Lotus out of the throne room.
"Send these two to the dungeon." Two Dai Li agents open the floor beneath Mako and Bolin, leaving them to drop into the unknown.
Meanwhile, at the airship flying above the desert. Outside of the cell, where a crew member stands guard.
"Guards!" Korra shouts. The guard runs to the door. "Get in here!" The guard opens the hatch. "Something happened to my friend. She needs help."
"Where is she?"
the guard was knocked out by Asami. She opens the door, triumphantly spinning the keys around her finger. She frees Korra from the straitjacket while Korra removes the muzzle.
"Nice work. Now let's take control of the ship." Korra said before Vaatu emerges from Korra's body and head towards the guard.
"Hey. Young man. You got knocked the hell out."
At the cockpit of the airship where Korra barges in with metalbending. The co-pilot runs up, but was knocked against the steering wheel by an air blast, causing the airship to lose control.
"Mayday! Mayday! The Avatar has escaped. We're going down in quadrant four of the Si Wong Desert." the captain shouts.
The co-pilot regains consciousness and charges Korra, before being knocked against the captain by another air blast. Asami runs up to the steering wheel.
"I think you might have been a little over-aggressive with the airbending. The controls are busted." Asami picks up the radio phone which has broken into two. "Also, you broke the radio."
"Oh, mother of Jesus." Raava and Vaatu's imprint said.
"Sorry, but it's not my fault this airship's a hunk of junk." Korra said.
The airship was about to crash into a sand dune. "Hang on to something!" Asami said before the ship crashes.
Korra and Asami climbed out of the airship from the roof.
"Well. They say any landing you could walk away from is a good landing." Raava's imprint said.
Asami looks at the vastness of the desert. "But, given our location, I'm not so sure about that."
"You're the engineer. What do you think? Can we get flying again?" Korra asked.
"It doesn't look good. Even if you metalbend the propellers back into shape, we have to dig this whole thing out of the sand."
As the crew climbed out of the airship. "Is everyone all right?"
"Like you care." the guard said bitterly.
"What the hell happened?" another guard asked.
"She said her friend needed help, then they knocked me the hell out!"
"I'm sorry. But I couldn't let you take me to the Earth Queen as a captive. There are dangerous forces and alien race of witches at work that you don't know anything about." Korra explained.
"More dangerous than being stranded in the desert?"
The captain climbs out of the airship. "Don't worry, Kong. I've radioed Ba Sing Se before we went down. We just need to sit tight. Somebody will be here to rescue us."
"I'm not waiting around for that. We need to get out of here now." Korra determined.
"She's right. Those forces we spoke about are called the Red Lotus. They won't stop at nothing until all world leaders are dead." Vaatu's imprint said.
"And they may have assistants with the Witchvanians." Raava's imprint said.
"If we all work together, we might be able to get the ship up and running." Asami said.
"Not likely. I just tunnelled out the engine room. It's like a sandbox in there." Kong said.
"This ship isn't going anywhere. And neither are you. You're prisoners and it's our duty to transport you to the Earth Queen." the captain said stubbornly.
"You realize that I'm the Avatar of the Balance, right? You don't want to fight me."
"I'm afraid you aren't giving us much of a choice. We have our orders." the captain said.
Asami notices a moving sand dune. "Wait, did that sand dune just move?"
"It was probably just a mirage. The desert will play tricks on you."
"That's no mirage. Look." Vaatu's imprint said Asami as the sand dune moves again.
"I heard that since all the spirits came back, this desert has been haunted by them." Kong said.
"Oh, right, so I guess that's my fault too. Do you want to help us get this ship up and running, or do you want to wait around and meet that thing?" Korra said sarcastically before she points to the moving sand dune.
"We want to fix the ship. Right, Cap?" Kong asked. The other crew members nod in unison.
"Let's get to work."
"Everybody, stand back." Korra said.
Korra enters the Ultimate Avatar State, prepares herself and bends a large air spout at the sand dune.
Meanwhile, at the prison cell, where a guard patrols past the cells, knocking on the bars with a baton. As he walks past Mako and Bolin's cell, he hits Bolin who was leaning against the bars, causing him to grunt in annoyance.
"We have to find a way out of here before Azula and Zaheer, or those alien witches gets their hands on Korra." Mako determined.
A prisoner pulls out a mirror to reflect his face to the cell. "Take me with you. I haven't seen my wife and five kids for four years."
"Wait. Four years?" Bolin asked.
"The first few months were great, I-I could finally get some sleep, but... now I really miss them.
Mako ignores their neighbour. "Listen. Bolin, this is up to you. I know you can metalbend."
"You can metalbend?" the prisoner asked.
"No." Bolin replied.
"Yes you can. I believe in you." Mako said.
"I believe in you. too, Bolin." the prisoner said.
"I appreciate that, Mako, and fellow... prisoner man. But I've been trying and trying and trying and I've never been able to do it. Not even a little."
"You've always had the ability deep down. You just haven't had the motivation. But this is your time! Get us out of here to save Korra. You can do it!" Mako said before he rallies with the other prisoners. "Bolin! Bolin!
"Bolin! Bolin! Bolin! Bolin!" the prisoners chant.
"You're right." Bolin said before he readies himself. "Okay, here I go. Metalbending. "
He tries to metalbend the bars, but to no avail. Sinks onto the floor, tearing. "I still can't metalbend."
"Aww!" the prisoners said in disappointment before they return to their activities.
"Hey, you guys didn't happen to bring any toilet paper, do you?"
Later, Lin was driving a jeep when she notices some tire tracks. Lin reverses and drives up the abandoned jeep.
As she inspects it, Naga leaps from behind, growling aggressively, startling her. Naga soon recognizes Lin and smiles, running around her and licking her.
"First, you scare the life out of me, now you want to lick me."
Naga licks Lin once more. Pabu emerges from the jeep and crawls on Lin's body. Lin manages to grab Pabu by the neck and put him on top of Naga.
Lin passes treats to the animals. "Here, chew on this and leave me alone."
She picks up a radio phone on the jeep. "Tonraq, you read me?"
"Yes, we copy." Tonraq said on the radio phone.
"I found Korra's jeep, but the kids aren't here. Meet me at the Misty Palms Oasis."
Meanwhile, back at the Si Wong Desert where Asami welds the rudder. The exit hatch opens, and Korra and Kong walks out.
"How's it looking in there?" Asami asked.
"I just airbent all the sand out of the engine room. I think it's clean."
"Hasn't been this clean since it floated off the showroom floor." Kong said.
"How's it going out here, Asami?" Korra asked.
"Well, she's still pretty banged up, but I think she might be able to limp out of the desert. Kong, you want to see if you can get the engine started?"
"Aye, aye!"
Kong walks back into the airship. Soon, the propellers begin to spin.
"All right!" Vaatu's imprint shouts in joy.
A sand shark jumps from beneath the surface and grabs the airship, snapping it into two. Korra and Asami look in fear before running away with the crew, narrowly missing the sand shark's dive, causing the doomed airship to sink below.
"That's no spirit." Raava said before everyone stands up when the dust subsides.
Kong was at the helms unharmed, though paralyzed with fear.
"I think it's gone now." Korra said.
"Kong, are you all right? What are we going to do? All of our supplies were on the ship. We've got no food, no water." a crew member said.
"Easy, Arik. Another ship is on the way. We just need to hold our position for a few hours." the captain said.
"We might not have a few hours." Asami said.
"Hours?" Vaatu's imprint asked in disbelief. "Aw, man!"
"How far are we from the edge of the desert?" Korra asked.
"Too far to walk, if that's what you're thinking." said the captain.
Arik slumps to the floor. "We can't just wait around to for that thing to pick us off one by one!"
"You'll do as you're told, Airman. Now get a hold of yourself!"
Asami examined the mess. "Maybe we can still build something to get us all out of here."
"You want to make some wings out of scrap metal and flap real hard?" the captain asked sarcasticly.
"No, but we might have enough material to construct a makeshift sand-sailer. Like the sandbenders use to get around. All we need is a sail and some kind of sled to attach it to."
"It's worth a try." Korra said.
"That'll work." Raava's imprint said. "You bet it would, Raava." Vaatu's imprint said.
"Gather every piece of metal you can find. We'll give that sandy beast a run for his money yet." the captain ordered his crew.
Meanwhile, at the Red Lotus' chamber. A Dai Li agent walks past the door, alerting the Red Lotus.
"Looks like he's in hurry. Wait here." Zaheer said.
He leaves the chamber and, after noticing no one around, stalks the Dai Li agent.
As the agent opens the throne room door, he leaps up against the wall, entering the throne room via the ceiling lattice.
"Your Majesty, we received a distress signal from the airship carrying the prisoners. We believed the ship crashed in the Si Wong desert and the Avatar of the Balance may have escaped."
"This is outrageous! Send another airship to retrieve the Avatar immediately." Hou-Ting ordered angrily.
"It's already on its way, Your Majesty." said the Dai Li agent.
Zaheer leaves the throne room and returns to his chambers. The blonde-haired woman's stomach opens and revels Azula's head. She returns to her robot body.
"She escaped?!" she asked in disbelief. "What are we going to do now?" Ming-Hua asked.
"There's no way we can track her down in the desert before the queen gets to her." Ghazan said.
"You really think we'd be lucky enough to capture her again? She'll be long gone by the time they arrive." P'Li said.
"It doesn't matter. We're through chasing her. It's time to make her come to us." Zaheer said.
"Then let's begin." Azula said with an evil smile.
The Red Lotus barges into the throne room.
"What is this riff-raff doing in my throne room unannounced?" the Queen asked bitterly.
"Apologies, Your Majesty. But I couldn't help overhearing that the Avatar won't be joining us today." Zaheer said.
"The Avatar is still in my custody. However, eavesdropping on royal conversations will land you in a cell right next to those boys you brought in. Now, if you value your freedom, you'll tell me where the airbenders are right now!"
"That wasn't the deal." Azula said before entering the throne room.
"Fire Princess Azula?! Seize these hoodlums and throw them in prison until they decide to show proper respect for the crown! But execute her at once!"
Dai Li agents surrounds the Red Lotus. P'Li fires a combustion beam to the floor, knocking off a group of Dai Li agents. Azula uses lightningbend on two agents. Three Dai Li agents fire rock gloves at Ghazan, who easily redirected them back to the agents.
A Dai Li agent attacks Zaheer with an earthbending attack from below, though he is able to leap up to avoid the attack and counter with an air blast. Another Dai Li agent attacks him from the pillar, only to be knocked against the pillar.
The third agent runs up to Zaheer, only to be thrown away and frozen against a pillar by Ming-Hua. Gun, noticing the battle, runs away.
"Wait! Gun! Get in back here and lay down your life for your queen, you coward!" Hou-Ting shouts in cowardice before she notices Zaheer walking forward and follows suit. The Queen puts glasses on. "You wouldn't dare attack a queen with glasses, would you?"
Zaheer leaps to the throne. "Maybe I forgot to mention something to you. I don't believe in queens." Zaheer said cruelly before he pulls air out of Hou-Ting's lungs and traps her head in a vacuum sphere, leaving her gasping and collapsed onto the floor.
"You think freedom is something that you can give or take on a whim... To your people... freedom is just as essential as... air. And without it... there is no life. There is only... darkness."
Zaheer stops bending, and the Earth Queen has been killed.
At the radio control room as the Red Lotus and Azula walks in.
"Hey! You can't be in here!" a radio operator said.
"No need for alarm. I just need to make an announcement to the entire city. How do I do that?" Zaheer said calmly.
"Who do you think you are?" a radio operator asked.
Ming-Hua grabs the radio operator. "He's the man who just took down the Earth Queen. You want to be next?!"
"Ming-Hua, please. We're here to help citizens like him, not hurt them. Now, can you help me?"
The radio operator nods before Ming-Hua throws him to the seat. He sets the controls and bows to Zaheer, who takes the seat.
"Attention citizens of Ba Sing Se. I have an important announcement to make. Moments ago, the Earth Queen was brought down by the hands of revolutionaries, including myself. I'm not going to tell you my name, because my identity is not important. I'm not here to take over the Earth Kingdom. I think you've had enough of leaders telling you what to do. It's time for you to find your own path. No longer will you be oppressed by tyrants. From now on, you are free! I deliver Ba Sing Se be into the hands of the people!"
Ghazan stands before the Inner Wall. He readies himself and punches the floor, melting it to lava. Soon, the Inner Wall begins to melt. With a stomp, the wall collapses. Bystanders brace themselves from the collapsing wall and cheer when the dust settles before making their way out, while Ghazan looks on.
At the prison where the prisoners begin rioting. Mako has managed to melt off a section of the bar, shaking his wrist with the strain before resuming.
"We have to get out of here, Bolin. Zaheer and Azula came here to take out the Earth Queen, and now Korra is next." Mako said worried.
"You know that guy? He's my hero!" a prisoner said.
"Oh, shut up! Bolin, you have to metalbend us out of here. C'mon! I know you can do it! This is your time!"
"You said before 'was my time'." Bolin said.
"I know I did it, but now it's really your time." Mako said before Bolin stands up. "You can do it!"
Bolin readies himself and metalbends again. All the prison doors, except theirs, open. The prisoners laugh and run out.
"Oh, my God. Did you see that? I did it! I mean, not for us, but I metalbent all the other cells open!"
"Uh, I don't think that was you." Mako said.
The brothers notice Zaheer and Azula approach them and prepare to attack, though were quickly neutralized by an air blast.
"Hello, Mako." Azula greeted. Mako stood there in silence and anger. "What, no salute for your former President?"
"Listen to me. We're going to set you free, but we want to talk to you first. We have a message that we need you to take to Korra." Zaheer said.
Later, at the Si Wong Desert where Arik welds finishing touches to the sand-sailer.
"If I would human, I'd know I'd be hungry." Vaatu's imprint said.
"Stop complaining, Vaatu." Raava's imprint said. "But, I'd be hungry if I would be human, too."
"She ain't pretty, but I think she'll do the job." Asami said.
Korra notices the approaching sand shark's dorsal fin. "No time for a test run. Let's move!"
Everyone boards the sand-sailer. Korra readies herself and bends a large gust of air, moving the sand-sailer. Asami at the helm as the beast approaches them.
The beast jumps out, but missed before making another unsuccessful attempt. The sand-sailer leaves as the sand shark's sand trail disappears.
"I think he's gone. We did it!" Arik shouts in joy.
The sand shark emerges from beneath the sand-sailer, preparing to devour it whole. Korra firebends into the mouth, saving them. The beast returns to the sand, pushing the sand-sailer from beneath.
Later on the day, when the sand-sailer made its way to the Misty Palms Oasis, where they park the vehicle next to onlooking sandbenders before the sail and mast break off.
"You want to buy a slightly used sand-sailer?" Asami step onto the dock as the last of the group.
"Thanks, Asami. You got a good head on your shoulders." the captain said.
"I'm sorry for getting us stranded out there. I didn't mean for that to happen." Korra said.
"I'm sorry, too." Vaatu's imprint said. "So am I." Raava's imprint said,
"You know, whatever the conflict between you and the queen is, I'm sure it's above my pay grade." The captain shakes Korra's hand with his hooked right hand. "You've got a tough job. Good luck, Avatar of the Balance."
"Captain, have we been in the desert for too long? Or is that really a dragon over there?" Arik asked.
The crew turns to see Druk on the ground, while two camels tied to a tree avoid the dragon, shivering in fear.
"Ugh, let's go get a drink."
Korra watches the airship crew leave before turning to see Naga pin her down and lick her face.
"Dhaaah! Easy, girl. Did you think we weren't coming back to you?" Korra snuggles Naga.
Korra and Asami entered the cantina, where they see Lin, Tonraq and Zuko at the far end. Korra smiles and approaches them.
"What are you all doing here?" Korra asked.
"Korra, you're safe." Tonraq said before he hugs his daughter.
"Yeah, we made it out of the desert. Thanks to Asami." Korra said.
Tonraq nods in appreciation to Asami before turning his attention to Korra again.
"You remember Lord Zuko." Tonraq said.
"I met you when you were a very young girl. And then I helped you with the civil war with Unalaq and my sister. It's good to see you again, Avatar Korra."
"It's good to see you, Lord Zuko." Korra said.
Lin was annoyed. "Thanks for ditching me back at Zaofu."
"Yeah, sorry about that. But, how did you all find us?" Korra asked.
"I am a detective, you know."
"Yep." Vaatu's imprint said. "Defectives are really talented." Raava's imprint said.
"Did you find Mako and Bolin?" Asami asked.
"Some people at the inn saw them captured by Azula and Zaheer's crew. We don't know where they are." Lin said.
"Did you hear about the Earth Queen?" Tonraq asked.
"What about her?" Korra asked.
An urgent news from the radio. "Once again, the Earth Queen's reign has come to an abrupt and violent end. Ba Sing Se has descended into chaos. Rioters and looters have overrun the palace."
"The Red Lotus." Korra, Raava and Vaatu said.
"What's that?" Tonraq asked.
"The name of the group that's been trying to capture me, working for alien witches, and just took out the Earth Queen. I'm afraid this is only the beginning, Dad."
The Misty Palms Oasis as the sun sets.
Next chapter will come soon.
Review if you enjoyed the story.
