The sun bore down on Bolin and Mako as they prowled the streets in their desperate search for Kai. Citizens hustled about in the busy marketplace creating a din so loud you almost couldn't hear the gold they bore jingling around their necks.

"Ughh where is he?" Bolin whined.

"We have to be in the right part of the city. Look at all this gold." Mako's lips turned down into a harsh sneer. "That no good thief wouldn't miss opportunities like these."

Bolin's expression was soft compared to his hot-tempered brothers. "You can't be so hard on him Mako. He's just a kid."

The older brother turned to go back down the street, his voice cold and hard.

"So were we."

(Meanwhile, miles away in a remote cave in a hidden location)

A fire crackled lightly in the center of the shallow cave, its flames casting silhouettes of the four people surrounding it against the walls.

"So you're an airbender now." Ming Hua deadpanned.

Ghazan nudged her gently. "C'mon that's exciting news!" His friend only glared back.

"What's the game plan?" P'li asked.

Zaheer looked up from his dented airbending staff. "Our first mission is to locate the Avatar. Once we know where she is we can direct her to a more manageable destination, and apprehend her there."

"Why don't we just start by assassinating Raiko?" Suggested Ming Hua, "Isn't it her job to avenge that kind of thing?"

"No." Zaheer snapped. He caught himself and continued in a softer tone. "If we make ourselves appear to be the enemy, we will never be able to convince her to see the light. We need to allow her to see corruption before we guide her."

There was a beat before Ghazan spoke. "And what if that plan fails?"

His question incited a sly smile on the leaders face. "Plans are like the wind." He extended a hand to send a burst of air upwards. "Always changing. If something goes a different path, then so do we."

A pair of bright blue eyes focused intently on the clothing line before them. They shifted across the backyard quickly checking for any inhabitants.

"The coast is clear. Let's grab em and go." The Avatar stood up and began to hop over the bush she had just been hiding behind. She was pulled swiftly back down. "Hey!" She exclaimed. "What was that for?"

Asami huffed and looked back at the house. "We are not going to steal these people's clothes."

"Why not?! We need disguises and there are clothes right there!" Korra objected, her voice raised. She stood up again and once again was immediately pulled back down.

"First off, stealing is wrong." The avatar shot the heiress a judging glance. "What? I never steal. And secondly, i am not wearing someone else's clothes."

Korra rolled her eyes. "They're clean! That's why they're drying." She peeked over the bush again to make sure no one was around. "Well if you don't come get your own I'll just have to get them for you." She said leaping over the bush and darting across the yard. "I'm gunna pick the ugliest stuff for you!" She called back.

Asami slumped down and folded her arms behind the bush. When Korra returned she daintily lifted the fabric to examine it.

"We've been through worse." The avatar mentioned. "Remember that time we trekked through the sewers and hung out with dumpster guy?"

The heiress shuddered. "I really try not to."

Korra smirked mischievously as she and Asami began heading towards the tax collection office. "You actually like them don't you?"

Asami ignored her gaze and focused forward. "Let's just make our way to the office so we can stake it out."

"I knew you'd like them."

The taller girl looked down at her outfit. "Not exactly what I'd pick if I had the choice, but they'll do."

The tax office was now just across the clearing in front of them. "Alright," Korra began. "Someone around here must know something. Let's bust some doors down and get answers."

They moved towards the nearest house but were quickly halted.

"HEY YOU TWO! STOP!" The girls froze at the yell and readied themselves for a fight.

"Looks like this plans a bust." Asami whispered to Korra. The Avatar nodded. "Let's see what this guy wants, then hit em and run."

The two girls turned to face the agitated man. To their surprise he looked more relieved upon seeing them then angry.

"Oh thank Agni I found you guys." He gave them a once over. "Where are your aprons?"

The girls exchanged a confused glance. "Aprons? I don't really think they'd go well with this outfit." Asami answered.

The man waved his hand wildly and nudged them along to follow him. "Nonsense nonsense. Of course aprons go well with those outfits. They're uniforms for Zhong's tea shop. You can't make tea without aprons!"

Korra resisted slightly as he tried to push them along. "Hey buddy, watch it with those hands."

The man apologized but urged them on anyway. "You both are very late. I knew Zhong employed some new help but i figured they'd at least have a sense of direction."

Korra continued to protest. "There's a bit of a mistake, you see I'm the Ava-"

"Aviarians daughter." Asami interjected quickly. Korra sent her a confused look while she continued. "Yes, Her name is Arrluk, and strangely enough there is another Arrluk living in the area too, so naturally there was some confusion and we didn't get the memo to start work today."

The man nodded understandingly. "Ahh i hate when that happens. I'm one of 6 Gopan's in the area myself. So Arrluk and" he gestured to Asami.

"Kimiko."

"Nice to meet you two." Gopan said shaking their hands. "I actually just remembered why I came out here in the first place, and unfortunately I won't be able to escort you the rest of the way, but" he pointed down an alleyway. "The shop is just down that way. You wont miss it trust me!" He waved goodbye and dashed off in the opposite direction.

When he had gone out of earshot Korra turned to Asami. "So what was all that about?"

"We need to get to know the people of this area, and what better way than blending in with them by working in a tea shop. That's where everyone gossips."

Korra shook her head. "No no no. I picked up on that. I mean why do you get a name that means beautiful empress and i get stuck with one that means killer whale? Are you trying to tell me something?"

Asami laughed and consoled her friend. "It's all I could think of. And besides, killer whales are awesome."

Korra couldn't quite argue there, but things weren't settled yet. "One problem still remains."

"What's that?" Asami asked.

"I suck at making tea."

(Ba Sing Se - queen's guest residence)

"Still no luck with finding Kai?" Jinora sighed as Mako and Bolin entered the ship.

"No, but one guy said we should ask the Earth Queen." Bolin answered enthusiastically. His brother put his face in his hands. "We are not asking the Earth Queen where Kai is. That doesn't even make any sense."

Bolin shrugged. "Well I think it's worth a try."

"Was there any luck recruiting the airbenders a second time around?" Mako asked.

"I'm not sure." Jinora answered. "They haven't come back yet."

An hour went by before there was a knock on the door. "Who could that be?" Mako stood up from his chair. "Maybe it's the Earth Queen!" Bolin chimed enthusiastically. "I hope not." Mako muttered as he opened the door. There was a collective gasp as the door slid open to reveal none other than a very disgruntled Lin Beifong holding Kai a few feet off the ground by the collar of his shirt.

"You know this kid?" She asked raising him a little higher.

Bolin jumped off the couch and rushed over to get him. "Yah that's my little bro Kai!"

Lin rolled her eyes and dropped him so Bolin could hug him. "Great, another rugrat for me to keep my eyes on."

"Where did you find him?" Mako inquired.

"Sneaking around outside scoping out the place. When I went to question him he ran." She sent Kai a dirty look and he smiled sheepishly. "It wasn't hard to catch up to him though. He claimed he knew you guys. Guess that much was true."

Kai snuck under Mako and tried to push the door closed. "Okay great that's settled. Bye Miss!"

Mako stopped the door with his foot. "I don't think so little man."

Lin stepped inside the room and Mako closed the door behind her. Kai slunk off to the couch next to Jinora. "I wish I could say that was all I came for and head back to republic city, but it's not." Lin paused and look around. "Where's Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi?"

"Daddy went off to find more airbenders. He should be back soon." Jinora answered. Kai opened his mouth to speak but Mako waved him off. "Whatever you've got to say, i don't wanna hear it."

The door slid open once again as the cloud babies entered the room.

"I'm telling you! That's the secret! Invisibility!" Bumi explained.

"What hooplah is he spouting now?" Lin demanded.

"Lin! I didn't know you were coming." Tenzin said, moving to greet her. Kya rushed past and drew Lin into a tight hug, which the chief of police did not reciprocate. "Lin it's so good to see you!"

Lin raised an arm to pat her back awkwardly. "Yes. Good to see you too."

'So what bring's ya here?" Bumi asked.

Lin answered, "Nothing good that's for sure. Zaheer escaped and broke out the others as well."

A collective "no" echoed through the room. Lin nodded and continued. "And that's not the worst of it. Zaheer is an airbender now, and a damn good one. He and the others took out Zuko, Tonraq and the twins in the Northern Tundra."

"Are they okay?" Kya asked, her voice thick with concern.

"They'll be fine. But we need to get Korra back to republic city so we can protect her. Screw the banishment. Raiko can deal."

Bolin leaned over and whispered to his brother. "Woah, if Lord Zuko is in on this these guys must be pretty bad."

Tenzin overheard the comment and responded gravely. "They are. They're some of the most powerful benders in the world."

His sister shrugged. "They may be good, but you can't tell me mom dad and the gang, or even just the fearsome foursome couldn't take them on."

"She's got a point." Bumi agreed. "Zaheer and his team wouldn't stand a chance against any of them."

"In case you hadn't noticed most of them aren't around and the ones that are aren't so young anymore so until that changes i don't see how it's relevant." Tenzin snapped.

"Anyway," Lin said, bringing the group back to task, "Where's Korra?"

"I thought you sent her to Omashu to find airbenders?" Tenzin questioned.

"What?! No!" Lin denied. "Where in the dickens did you hear that?"

"I knew it!" Mako exclaimed. "I knew she was lying about that letter!"

"Letter?" Lin asked.

Mako quickly explained what Korra had said about the letter, and how she claimed she lost it.

"If she's not in Omashu, then where is she?" Bumi pondered.

"Asami knows!" Bolin chimed.

Lin uncrossed her arms. "Good. Now where is she?"

The young earthbender sank back into his seat. "With Korra."

'We have to find them, and fast." Tenzin demanded.

Jinora raised her hand to grab the attention. Once she had it she began, "Dad, did you guys find any airbenders today?"

Tenzin answered softly in a tone he only used for his children, "That's not quite the priority anymore sweetie, but no. We didn't. When we went back to the houses the airbenders were nowhere to be found and the families acted like they didn't know us."

Jinora turned with a worried look to Kai. "Tell them." She urged quietly. Kai nodded. "I was trying to say this earlier but someone," he gestured to Mako, "wouldn't let me speak. The reason there weren't any airbenders is because they all got captured."

"By who?" Lin demanded.

Kai swallowed hard.

"The Earth Queen."

okay so my laptop is getting repaired but i had the urge to write and i couldn't wait any longer. here's the new chapter, and i hope you liked it! remember comment kudos subscribe all that jazz. and round of applause for anyone picking up on the other little references in here. Hope you're enjoying!