We're back on the next chapter.
REMINDER: I DO NOT OWN LEGEND OF KORRA OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS.
Suyin's airship was flying above several mountain ranges.
Suyin places an airship figurine in front of the temple. "I say we make our approach from the west, drop down from the airship on cables, ambush Azula and these Red Lotus low-lives before they know what hit them."
"It will never work. That Combustion Lady will pick us off one by one." Lin said.
"You have a better idea on how to save the airbenders?" Suyin said.
"Yeah. We come up from the valley, scale the side of the mountain and take them off guard."
"That could work." Tonraq said.
"And give them the high ground? No, if their lavabender spots us, he'll melt the mountainside and us with it." Suyin said.
"Wait, I've got it. I'll disguise myself as a lost hiker, and once I'm in the temple, I'll distract the Red Lotus with my bird calls." Bolin said before he creates bird calls and whistling. "That's when you all strike."
"Bird calls, really?" Mako said in annoyance.
"Well I haven't noticed you offering any suggestions."
"It doesn't matter. None of these ideas will work. The second Zaheer realizes we're up to something, he'll wipe out the airbenders." Korra said.
"And Opal is one of those airbenders. Believe me, I understand what's at stake." Suyin said.
"Then I'll think you agree that the only plan that will work is for me to give myself up." Korra said before the two Spirits emerges from her body.
"So am I." Vaatu said. "Me, too." Raava said.
"What?" Mako was worried and shocked.
"Korra, no." Lin said.
"We'll figure out another way." Tonraq said.
"Vaatu, Raava and I talked it over with Avatar Aang, and I've given it a lot of thought. I have to do this." Korra explained.
"You can't expect us to sit by and let Zaheer take you." Asami said.
"The world has been out of balance for far too long: It needs the Air Nation back again. I can't let Zaheer and Azula destroy it and everyone we love. Help me save the airbenders, then you can worry about saving me."
"She's right. She has us with her." Raava said.
"We are one. We are the Avatar of the Balance." Vaatu said.
Tonraq was exchanging glances with Suyin. "We're with you, Korra."
"Yes, whatever you need, they're here." Suyin said.
"I'll go radio Zaheer." Korra said before she walks out of the meeting room.
At the Northern Air Temple radio room, where Zaheer was wating for Korra's call.
"Zaheer, are you there? It's me."
"I've been waiting for your call." Zaheer said. "So, do we have a deal?"
"Yes. You release the airbenders, and then I'll turn myself over." Korra said.
"And take away the only leverage I have? No. I can't do that. Listen carefully, here's what I need you to do." Zaheer said.
Azula was watching Zaheer talking to Korra on the radio, hidden. She grins so evilly. "Meldora's plan is about to be complete."
Back at the airship meeting room where Mako was seated, while Bolin walks past him.
"Will you sit down? I'm already tense enough as it is. I'm about to lose the girl I love." Mako said.
"I'm just worried about Opal, and Pabu's not here to comfort me. I hope he and Naga are doing okay back in Zaofu."
Zaofu, where Naga and Pabu tugged at Mako's scarf. Naga stands up, leaving Pabu hanging at the end of the scarf. Yin runs into the room.
"No, not Mako's scarf! Bad dog and rat thingy! I'm very disappointed in you two." Yin said before Naga and Pabu hang their heads in shame.
Back to the airship where Korra re-enters the room.
"Did you speak to Zaheer?" Tonraq said.
"Yes. He told me to come to the top of Laghima's Peak at noon, alone. Once he has me and my Avatar Spirits, he'll release the airbenders over to you at the temple."
"If he does get us, I don't know what he'll do to us." Raava's imprint said. "I agree." Vaatu's imprint said.
"I think I figured a way to play this so that the airbenders and Korra all come out in one piece." Suyin said.
"How?" Lin asked.
"Zaheer and Azula doesn't know how many of us there are, so we have the numbers advantage. I say we split into two teams: Mako, Bolin and Asami will take the airship up to the temple. Meanwhile, my metalbenders, Tonraq, Lin, and I will get in position below Laghima's Peak."
Korra nods in agreement to the plan.
At the air temple, where Zaheer was meditating.
"Let go your earthly tether. Enter the void. Empty and become wind. Empty and become wind."
P'Li walks into the room. "The airbenders are secured."
"Thank you, P'Li. For everything." Zaheer said.
"Of course." P'Li said.
"I want you to know: Not one day went by in that prison when I didn't think of you."
P'Li walks up to Zaheer. "The years apart only made my love for you stronger. And deep down I knew you would find a way to get me out. Just like you saved me from becoming that warlord's killing machine when I was a girl. You've shown me what true freedom means."
"And after today, we'll show the entire world what it means. No more prisons, no more running." Zaheer said.
"I love you, Zaheer."
"I love you too." Zaheer and P'Li kissed.
At Laghima's Peak with Suyin's airship at the bottom. Tonraq and Suyin were walking outside, with Lin talking to the Team Avatar on the mouth of the airship.
Lin passes a radio to Korra. "Radio the second you see those airbenders."
"I will, Chief. Good luck." Mako
Lin nods to Mako before walking out. Korra hugs Asami.
"Be careful, Korra." Asami said.
"You, too." Korra said.
She hugs Mako and then he kisses her.
"If this is over, we need to talk." Mako said.
"I was thinking about that." Korra said.
Bolin hugs her, sobbing. Korra walks out of the airship before it takes off.
"Korra."
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll be all right. Vaatu and Raava are with me."
Tonraq hugs his daughter. "I just want you to know how proud I am of you. The risk you're taking to save the Air Nation will be remembered for generations."
"I love you, Dad." Korra said.
"I love you too, sweetheart." Tonraq said.
"And Dad, watch out for Zaheer. He's not very fond of world leaders." Korra said.
"I can handle him. Just stay focused on your mission."
Tonraq and the metalbenders scaled up the mountain until they were obscured from view by the clouds. Korra opens her glider and flies up the mountain.
At the Northern Air Temple as the airship approaches. The interior where Mako and Bolin surveys the damage.
"Oh, man." Bolin said.
"Must have been some fight." Mako said.
"Mako, did you see the airbenders?" Korra asked.
"Not yet. We're just arriving. Don't turn yourself over until I get a visual on them."
Asami steers the airship to the temple, while Bolin ties the tethering ropes. Both approach the temple to Azula and Ghazan were awaiting them.
"Right this way." Ghazan said. Team Avatar glares at Azula and Ghazan with suspicion.
Azula smiles. "Oh, come now, don't you want the airbenders?"
Azula and Ghazan walks into the temple, which Team Avatar follows.
Korra was flying toward Laghima's Peak, where Zaheer and P'Li are waiting.
"Drop your staff and surrender yourself." Zaheer said. Korra stands still. "Don't make me come get you."
Korra remains defiant and remains still.
Back at the Northern Air Temple where Azula and Ghazan leads Team Avatar to the captured airbenders, where Tenzin was chained to the floor and gagged, while the other airbenders are bound up and hooded.
"Mako, what's going on?" Korra asked in a radio.
"They're here. And so is the lavabender." Mako said.
Back at Laghima's Peek.
"Tell Azula and Ghazan to let the airbenders go." Korra demanded.
"Not 'til you turn yourself over. This isn't a negotiation." Zaheer said before he picks up his radio to speak to Ghazan. "Wipe them out!"
"No! Wait. I'm coming." Korra said.
"Stand down." Zaheer said before P'Li walks to Korra.
P'Li and Korra walks up to each other. Korra drops her staff and radio, while P'Li cuffs her wrists and ankles.
"Don't bother trying to metalbend out of these. They're platinum." She said.
P'Li pushes Korra toward Zaheer.
Back at the temple.
"We have her."
"Go ahead." Azula nodded."
Ghazan gestures to Team Avatar, who run toward Tenzin. Tenzin shakes his head.
"It's okay, Tenzin. We're about to get you out of here." Asami said.
Mako walks up to the airbenders, only to see them collapse into a pool of water and Ming-Hua was seated among the decoys while Azula laughs like a madwoman.
Ming-Hua rushes to attack Team Avatar, which Mako blocks the attack with fire.
"Korra, it was a trick! They're not here. Don't turn yourself over!" Mako said.
Back at Laghima's Peek.
"He tricked us!" Vaatu's imprint said.
"We had a deal!"
Korra struggles against her restraints and airbends with her feet, separating Zaheer and P'Li. Lin was on the mountainside.
"Chief, get Korra out of there. Now!" Mako said on the radio.
"Go! Go!" Lin called out.
The metalbenders ascend the mountain. At the peak where Korra firebends and earthbends at Zaheer, who dodges all the attacks. Korra tries to regain her ground, but is stopped by her shackles.
Zaheer airbends her off her feet and slams her down with an air blast. Back to the mountainside where the metalbenders reaches the peak, engaging P'Li.
"Get the Avatar on the airship. I'll deal with them."
P'Li runs forward directs a combustion beam at the metalbenders. Lin manages to dodge the attack, but two metalbenders were thrown off the peak and fire a cable to ascend the peak again.
Lin dodges another combustion beam and sends two earth slabs to P'Li. Suyin joins in a sends another slab. P'Li destroys a slab with combustion and avoids the other two.
At yhe airship where Zaheer pushes Korra into the airship. Tonraq climbs up the airship and attacks Zaheer. Korra dodges the attack and falls off the airship.
Tonraq catches Korra with waterbending and throws her toward Zaheer, where she sends a point-blank fire kick. Zaheer protects himself with airbending, but was thrown back. Tonraq cuts the tethering ropes with his water whips, causing the airship to fly off.
"Nowhere to go, Zaheer!" Tonraq said.
Tonraq directs his whips to Zaheer.
At the Northern Air Temple where Azula firebends on Mako, but he blocks it with his fire. Ming-Hua scales the walls, landing next to Ghazan.
Ghazan directs lava to Bolin, who blocks with an earth column. Mako runs up and firebends, while Asami tends to Tenzin.
"Where're the airbenders?" Asami asked.
"I don't know. Zaheer moved them out of the temple." Tenzin said.
Mako firebends at Ming-Hua, who stops the attack with her water arms.
"Won't you just bury them already?" Ming-Hua asked.
Ghazan leaps forward, lavabending a large portion of the floor, before spreading it across the room. As they exit, Ghazan lavabends the exit path.
Asami looks on in fear, as she picks Tenzin's shackles with her hairpin.
"Come on." She punches the hairpin, freeing Tenzin before supporting him. "We have to get to the airship."
"Not gonna happen. The exit's blocked." Bolin said.
Bolin bends the tiles beneath, forming a barricade to stop the lava flow. A pillar collapses. Tenzin groans, prompting Mako to run up and support him.
"Where's Oogi?" Asami asked.
"Gone. All the bison got scared off during the attack." Tenzin replied. "But, I think I know another way out. Bolin, can you get us to that wall?"
"On it!"
Bolin bends the wall behind them.
At the temple exterior, where Ghazan lavabends the entire exit path before taking over Suyin's airship with Azula and Ming-Hua. As the airship takes off, a portion of the garden collapses.
Team Avatar was escaping to a meditation room. Bolin notices the lava approaching and blocks off the flow.
"Through there." Tenzin said.
Bolin opens the floor board and the group enters the tunnel, where Mako firebends to provide some light.
Bolin was getting uncomfortable. "Is it just me, or is it uh, getting really warm in here?" He notices approaching lava. "Oh, this is not good." He attempted to block the lava flow. "Let's move it, people!"
Back at Laghima's Peak with P'Li bombards the metalbenders out. Korra kicks a boulder to Zaheer while Tonraq whips the water. Zaheer airbends the assault and creates a wind gust to Tonraq.
He dodges, waterbends the water to attack Zaheer. The boulder flew toward Zaheer, but he easily dodges and punches some air gusts to Tonraq until he falls down.
Korra stands up, creating some earth columns, which the airbender dodges. Resuming his assault, Tonraq bends a stream of water at Zaheer, forcing him back.
Taking advantage of the respite, Korra earthbends another small column behind Zaheer's foot, causing him to stumble backward. With his remaining water supply.
Tonraq bends an ice spear on his forearm, and attempts to stab Zaheer, who dodges his attack and manages to ensnare Tonraq in a small tornado.
"Say hello to the Earth Queen for me." Zaheer said before he throws Tonraq off the cliff.
"Dad!" Korra shouts out.
P'Li directs combustion attacks toward Suyin, who dodges the attacks before regrouping with her half-sister, who had already taken cover.
"Damn it. We're pinned down." Suyin said.
"I'm gonna draw her fire. You take her out." Lin said.
"Lin. No."
P'Li directs combustion beams to the half-sisters, who shield themselves.
"I love you." Lin said before she touches her sister's cheek. She runs from the rock and leaps to the terrain. "Come and get me, you Third-Eyed Freak!"
"Who are you calling a 'freak', cop?" P'Li asked furiously.
Lin leaps up the slope to avoid P'Li's combustion beam before retaliating with an earth slap. P'Li destroys the slab while Suyin glances out looking for the right moment.
Lin sends two earth slabs to P'Li, who dodges and retaliates with combustion beams. Lin dodges the attack and bends an earth wall to protect herself from another beam, but was knocked toward the edge.
Lin props herself up. While P'Li prepares to finish Lin, Suyin runs out of her cover and bends her armor toward P'Li's head, containing the blast.
Zaheer who turns back in horror, staring at the resulting explosion.
"P'LI!" Zaheer shouts in schock.
Zaheer looks at the fight sadly, while Korra was seizing the moment to distraction, firebends at Zaheer. Zaheer dodges the attack and sends an air blast to Korra, knocking her out.
Zaheer carries Korra and walks to the edge, watching the unmanned airship fly off. Suyin and Lin ascend the peak, landing behind Zaheer.
"It's over, Zaheer." Suyin said.
"Let go your earthly tether." Zaheer said.
"Release the Avatar." Lin demanded.
"Enter the void."
"This is your last warning!" Suyin shouts.
"Empty, and become wind."
Zaheer steps back, falling off the peak.
"No! Stop!" Lin shouts in shock.
The half-sisters run up to the edge, where they see Zaheer floating in mid-air. Both fire cables at Zaheer, who dodges the attack and flies off to Suyin's airship.
"Did he just, fly?" Lin asked in disbelief.
At the airship where Zaheer zooms past. Azula, Ghazan and Ming-Hua watch this in disbelief.
"Guess he doesn't need a ride." Ghazan said.
"Now, that's a new airbender stuff." Azula said amazed.
At the mountainside where Kuvira clings on with one of her cables, while Tonraq grabs on to the other, while he sees the Red Lotus fleeing with his daughter.
"Korra." Tonraq said.
Zaheer flies past the temple.
Meanwhile, back at the temple tunnel.
Bolin sees the tunnels glowing orange. "We can't outrun it! This way."
Bolin bends a tunnel on the side of the path, the group enters the tunnel before the lava approaches them. At the mountainside as a rock falls off from Bolin's bending.
"Now what?" Mako said.
The group turns back to see the lava approaching the tunnel. Bolin walks toward the lava and stretches out his hands.
"Bolin!" Mako shouts.
As Bolin groans, the lava flies above him. He brings his hands together, pushing the lava back and solidifying it.
"Incredible." Tenzin said.
Mako was amazed. "You're a lavabender."
"I know. I just found out."
Kai flies toward the hole atop a baby bison. "Hey, you guys need a lift?"
"Kai. You're all right." Tenzin said as he was glad.
"More or less. Everyone hop on."
Tenzin climbs onto the bison first, followed by Asami. Mako follows suit, causing the bison to lose altitude.
As Bolin climbs onto Lefty, it groans from the impact. The bison subsequently leaves the temple. Tenzin looks back sadly as the temple begins to collapse.
At the mountain foot where Kuvira bandages Tonraq.
"I owe you my life. Thank you, Captain." Tonraq said.
"You can call me Kuvira."
At the temporary camp, where everyone hears Bolin's bird calls. Suyin stands up and points in the direction of the calls.
Lefty flies toward the camp, landing heavily and tossing Bolin off mount. Suyin and Lin rush forward to help Team Avatar.
"Hey everybody, there's something I got to tell you." Kai said.
"How did you guys make it out of the temple alive?" Lin asked.
"It was all Bolin. I thought we were done for, then out of nowhere, he lavabends." Mako explained.
"I knew you had the potential for something big. You just had to believe in yourself." Suyin said.
"You're right. Being moments from death was a pretty good motivator too. Of course, we would have never made it back with Kai." Bolin said.
"Glad I could help. So anyway…"
"Did Zaheer get away with Korra?" Tenzin asked.
"I'm afraid so." Lin said.
"Apparently, he can fly now." Suyin said.
"What?"
"How?" Asami asked.
"I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't seen it for myself." Lin said.
"I've heard the legends about Guru Laghima's ability to fly. I'd never imagine they were true." Tenzin said.
"So what's our next move?" Tonraq asked.
"I have an idea." Kai said.
"Not right now, kid! We need to figure out where Zaheer took Korra." Lin said.
"And find the airbenders." Tenzin said.
"That's what I've been trying to tell you." Everyone looks at him as he speaks. "I know where the airbenders are, and I bet it's where Korra is, too."
"Good job." Mako said.
"Where are they? How did you find them?" Tenzin asked.
"After I got blasted out the sky, I woke up on the side of the mountain, where this little fellow found me. I tried to sneak back into the temple, to see if I could rescue anyone, and that's when I saw the airship leaving. I followed it into some caves a few miles from here. The giant lady and some people put the airbenders into the caves."
"Was it Azula, Ghazan and Ming-Hua?"
"No, there were four more of them. They didn't look familiar. And there were two witches." Kai said.
"Must be more Red Lotus members than we thought." Mako said.
"And those two witches must be the Witchvanians." Asami said.
"I couldn't fight them on my own, so I came back here, hoping you guys would show up." Kai said.
"We need to get to those caves." Lin determined.
"How? I don't think we can all fit on my bison." Kai said.
A shadow flies above the group. The group looks up to see Oogi.
"Oogi!" Oogi lands onto the ground, Tenzin reaches out for his bison. "I'm glad to see you, too, old friend."
The entire team was mounting atop Oogi, while the Metal Clan nurse their wounds. Kuvira walks up to Oogi.
"I want to come with you."
"No, Kuvira. Stay with the injured. We'll be back for you once we have the Avatar." Suyin said before Kuvira nods.
Kai had just mounted atop Lefty. Mako approaches to him. "Hey. Um, I appreciate you coming back for us. Sorry for ever giving you a hard time."
"That's okay. I probably deserved it." Kai said.
"Yeah, you kind of did." Mako said.
Purple smoke appeared out of nowhere. It was Dr. Franceschini and Professor Diogenes.
"We have to save Korra!" Franceschini said.
"We know what Azula is doing. We know what the Witchvanians are going to do to Korra." Diogenes said.
Meanwhile, at the Red Lotus' hideout, where Zaheer was seated cross-legged while levitating. Azula, Ming-Hua and Ghazan approach him.
"Why didn't you ever tell us you could fly?" Ming-Hua asked.
"I wasn't sure I could. Only one other airbender in history had the ability." Zaheer answered.
Ghazan looks underneath Zaheer. "How did you figure out how to do it?"
"I found true freedom. I am no longer bound to this earth by worldly desires. I have entered the void."
"That is really what freedom is about." Azula said. "Meldora's on her way to witness our success."
"Where's P'Li?" Ming-Hua asked.
Zaheer returns to the floor. "She sacrificed her life for our cause. Now let's make sure it wasn't in vain."
At a cave with the Red Lotus insignia paint on it. Korra was chained on all four limbs. Zaheer, Azula, Ming-Hua, Ghazan and two Red Lotus member entered the cave.
Korra regains consciousness and gasps.
"You. You killed my father!" Korra breaths fire in rage at Zaheer.
"I understand your grief. I also lost someone I loved today. But your pain will soon be over. Bring the poison."
"Wait, poison?" Azula asked.
Two Red Lotus members walks forward, causing Korra to gasp in fear. One member bends out the poison, which is a silvery-black liquid.
Korra who looks on in horror.
"Things have gone as Meldora's plan. But not that one." Azula thinks in her mind.
Will Meldora's invasion starts? Will Korra stop her?
Find out on next chapter.
Review if you enjoyed the story.