So, Aang wouldn't be in terror within or the stakes out, just assume they told him about it over the radio. Okay, work with me. This has gotten crazy in the planning stages, real quick.
I can't write this out in expanded form, but basically, Korra radioed him and Aang flew to meet them at the misty palm oasis, and he meditated into the spirit world after her. Why? Because I'm trying to make this work, for all of you.
Also, this covers the very end of the episode "long live the queen."
Aang had come right away after Korra radioed them at the temple, and had flown there immediately on Appa. And Momo.
Aang opened his eyes in the spirit world with Korra, watching as Aiwei was thrown off into the fog of lost scrolls.
"Well, it looks like he was followed after all."
"So what did you do to him?!" Korra demanded.
"He'll be spending eternity in the fog of lost souls. Which just leaves the three of us." Zaheer answered.
Zaheer moved to step forward.
"Don't move Zaheer!" Korra told him. They both took a stance. "You're going to give us some answers."
"There's no need for aggression," Zaheer said, sitting down. "None of us have our bending, and I'm not going anywhere. I'll answer whatever questions you ask, you both deserve that much." Aang and Korra both relented, surprised. "What would you like to know?"
"First off, who are you people?!" Korra demanded.
"What do want? Why do you keep trying to kidnap Korra?" Aang added.
"We are part of a secret society dedicating to restoring freedom to the world. We are the Red Lotus."
"Red lotus?" Kora said.
"Are you like the White Lotus?" Aang asked.
"We are what the white lotus was meant to be, but after the hundred year war, the White Lotus lost its true purpose. Its members came out of hiding and openly served the avatar, or now I guess avatars. They became nothing but glorified body guards who served corrupt nations. So a great man named Xai Bau broke from the white lotus and began his own society."
"That's a great story," Korra said.
"You haven't explained why you doing what you are though." Aang said.
"It doesn't explain why you tried to take me when I was a kid." Korra added.
"That was Unalaq's idea."
"What?! My uncle, was part of the Red Lotus?"
Little did they know that in the physical world, Zaheer was telling his buddies where to find them.
"I met you uncle when I was a teenager after we had both joined the Red Lotus. We learned about Raava and Vaatu and about how avatar Wan foolishly severed them, disrupting the balance of the world forever."
"Avatar Wan wasn't foolish!" They said in unison.
"He was trying to restore balance." Aang finished.
"Her closed the portals, severing humans from spirits. Even you Korra, realized the error in his ways."
"So all along you and my uncle planned to use me to open the spirit portals and release Vaatu?" Korra asked. "That's why you tried to take me when I was a kid?"
"Yes, and with members of the Red Lotus as your elemental masters, we could have taught you so much."
"Sounds like you wanted to brainwash her." Aang said. "So you could have a puppet to do whatever you wanted."
"No Aang," Zaheer said. "All I wanted was to show the avatar a better path for the world."
And they didn't know that in the physical world, Zaheer's buddies showed up. Asami got them both on Naga, hoping to get to Appa.
"If my uncle came up with a plan to abduct me when I was a kid, why wasn't he caught?" Korra asked.
"He wasn't with us that night." Zaheer explained. "And he covered up his involvement afterwards."
"So he betrayed you." Aang said.
"Just like he betrayed me." Korra finished.
"Yes, he allowed me and my friends to remain imprisoned while he pursed his own, selfish goals. Unalaq becoming a dark avatar was never part of our mission."
"And what is this mission?" Aang asked.
"I want what we all here today want," Zaheer said. "To restore balance to this world."
"I don't think our conception of balance exactly lines up." Aang said.
"Are you sure about that?" Zaheer asked. "Korra kept the spirit portals open, but why stop there? Bringing the spirits back should be only the beginning."
"What do you mean?" Korra asked.
"The idea of having nations and governments is as foolish as keeping the spirit portals closed. You've had to deal with a moronic president and a tyrannical queen. Don't you agree that the world would be better off if leaders like them were eliminated?" Zaheer asked.
"No!" Aang said. "We might not totally agree with what they've done, but taking out world leaders…isn't the answer."
"It wasn't too long ago that the airbenders were nearly all wiped out thanks to the fire lord's desire for world dominance." Zaheer said.
"You can't use an extreme example like Sozin to-" Aang began.
"I wasn't referring to Sozin. I was referring to Ozai. Didn't you, take him out? You might not have killed him, but you basically did what I've been saying." Zaheer said. "Why should this be any different? True freedom can only be achieved when oppressive governments are torn down."
"But that won't bring balance."
"It'll bring chaos."
He nodded his head. "Exactly. The natural order is disorder. Do you know who once said 'new growth cannot exist without first the destruction of the old'?"
"Guru Laghima." Aang said barley more than a whisper.
"Yes indeed. An airbender." Zaheer paused, looking at both of them. "You two are connected in the avatar state?"
"How did you?!"
"You just told me Korra."
Aang woke up, something in the cosmic energy telling him to. But Korra didn't. He woke up in a earth pyramid, in the dark.
"Hello?!" He shouted.
"Avatar Aang?" Korra's friend Asami said.
"You can call me Aang by the way," He said, bending the tent down. "What's going on?"
"Zaheer's buddies showed up out of nowhere."
Earth queen forces came then, surrounding them.
"Aang, you have your glider, you have to get out of here!" Asami said. "The world needs a free avatar."
Aang hesitated, tying to make a decision, and then made one. He nodded, and flew high into the sky, dodging boulders. He needed to warn the others.
Aang landed at the Misty Palm Oasis and took a moment to think.
But the universe wasn't feeling generous today.
A red spot caught his eyes on the edge of the horizon and it turned into….Is that Zuko's dragon?! Is that Zuko?!
It was Zuko, and as he landed, Aang walked over, out of sight of Zuko. He decided to have a little fun, despite the circumstances.
"Um, excuse me sir," He said in a voice that was very different to his own. "Can you park your dragon a little to the left?"
"Whoever you are, I don't care what you think about celebrities, leave me alone. I'm busy." Zuko said, walking around the corner to see the grinning Aang. He jaw dropped.
"Hi Zuko!" Aang said cheerfully.
"So it's true?!" Zuko said. "You really came back from the dead?"
"Yep."
And then they both lost it, running to hug each other. Normally they weren't really hugging friends, but what are you going to do when you friend comes back from the dead?
Later they all sat around a table, Aang and Zuko and Lin and Tonraq as Korra and Asami walked in, a bit out of the blue. "What are you all doing here?" Korra asked.
"Korra, you're safe," Tonraq said, walking over to her and giving her a hug.
"Yeah, we made it out of the desert, thanks to Asami." Korra said.
"Do you remember lord Zuko?" Tonraq asked as Zuko stood up.
"I met you when you were a very young girl." Zuko said. "It's good to see you again Avatar Korra."
"It's good that you came back safe." Aang said.
"It's good to see you lord Zuko, Aang." Korra said.
"Thanks for ditching me back at Zaofu." Lin said.
"Yeah, sorry about that. But how did you find us?" Korra asked.
"I am a detective you know." Lin said dryly.
"Did you find Mako and Bolin as well?" Asami asked.
"Some people at the inn saw them get captured by Zaheer's crew. We don't know where they are." Lin told them.
"Did you hear about the earth queen?" Aang asked.
"What about her?"
"She's dead." Aang said, as an announcer came over the radio.
"Once again, the Earth Queen's reign has come to a violent and abrupt end." The voice came over the radio. "Ba-Sing-Se had descended into chaos. Rioters and looter have overrun the palace."
"It's the Red Lotus Korra." Aang said.
"I'm afraid this is only the beginning." Korra said.
"I'm leaving now." Aang said quietly.
"What?!" Korra said. "But you're avatar Aang, you're a legend. We need you."
"Korra, right now, I have a duty as the only living airbender you can remember when our ancient culture was the present. My people need me." Aang said. "Korra, we need to make a distinction. I will always help the world when the time comes, but you must remember that this is your time."
Sorry if that was a short chapter, but it was crucial to setting things up. Yes, Aang left Asami and Korra The world needs a free avatar and besides, plot. I wanted him to get a private moment to greet Zuko.
Sorry if this chapter felt a little forced or whatever, but it was something I wanted to write. I know it seems weird, but this is a moment I wanted.
Hope you enjoyed this Chapter,
Avatar Lizzy