Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Legend of Korra.

A/N: I will be focusing on this story to finish it out as we're close to the last ten ep's with skipping Remembrance and as everyone's split up until halfway into S4 some eps might need to be put together (The first 2-4 will be)

I've also written up to the end of Book 3 but will wait a day before betaing the next Ch to make sure people read the previous one.

Remember to vote if you haven't!

Beta: Chaos-PSD.

Book Three

Change

Chapter IX

Long Live The Queen.

The Red Lotus is the world's newest threat. After confronting Zaheer, Korra learns he is part of a secret society whose mission is to take out all the nation's leaders and destroy world order. But before Korra could warn anyone, she and Asami were apprehended by the Earth queen's forces. And the Red Lotus nabbed an unconscious Naruto, as well as Mako and Bolin. Now both parties are headed toward Ba Sing Se.

Earth Queen's Team.

"You have to let me out! The Earth Queen is in danger from a group of terrorists calling themselves the Red Lotus." Korra yelled as she was being pushed into the airship. "I talked to one of them in the Spirit World yesterday. He's insane!"

"Screaming about terrorists in the Spirit World? You're the one who sounds insane." The captain said as he turned and walked inside his ship and the hatch closed.

The engine is turned on, and the airship begins to fly. Inside, Korra is locked in a cell with Asami. After locking Korra to the wall, the crew chains Asami to the floor.

Asami looked up at that. "Do I have to be chained to the floor the whole way? It's going to be so uncomfortable."

"Sorry Ma'am, I'm under orders."

"Can't you just chain me to that railing?" She asks as she looks at the railing on the wall. "I mean, where am I gonna go? Please?"

"Well, as long as you're chained up, I guess it doesn't make a difference." He said as he moved the chains on Asami to the railing.

"Thank you, Sir."

"Can I have... some water?" Korra asked as the man looked over.

"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." He said before leaving then closed the door.

"I hoped Naruto, Mako, or Bolin would have shown up to save us by now. I wonder if they're okay."

Red Lotus.

In a truck, Ghazan and Ming-Hua were in the back guarding a knocked-out Naruto as Mako and Bolin looked at them. "If you think holding us hostage will give you some leverage against the Avatar, you're gonna be very disappointed."

"Can't we just enjoy our time together in silence?" Ming-Hua asked, leaning against the frame.

"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?"

"Look, all you need to know is that the world is about to change, for the better," Ghazan said, crossing his arms.

"So you guys were like locked up for fifteen years, huh? It must've been crazy boring." Bolin spoke, having Ghazan shrug.

"It was only thirteen years. But it felt like thirty."

"I mean, what did you do with all that time? Did you sing songs, work on crafts?"

"Not a lot of craft supplies in a volcanic prison cell."

"And I must've renamed the constellations about a thousand times. When it rained, that was a big event." Ghazan sighed after Ming-Hua spoke.

"(Sigh) 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."

"Ooh okay, that sounds like fun." Bolin smiled at that. "Let me try that on you guys." He looked at the lavabender before speaking. "You were raised by an older sister, your mustache grew 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 who smiles at Bolin. "Two out of three. Not bad."

"Bolin, would you stop making friends with the bad guys?"

"Sorry!"

"Ghazan, gag those two. We're almost there." Zaheer said from the driver's seat.

Asami And Korra.

"We have to find a way to get out of this prison before we get to the Earth Queen."

"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." Asami said, pulling on the chains. She 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.

"Now that's just shoddy workmanship." She sighed before walking up to Korra. "There's no way I can get these locks off. I need the keys." She then looks at the floor before prying a panel open with the railing. "Give me five minutes, then start yelling for help."

Ba Sing Se Palace.

"When is the Avatar scheduled for delivery?"

The Queen asked Gun, who was standing in front of her.

"The airship already left Fort Bosco and should be arriving in a few hours."

"Excellent. Bring it to me as soon as it lands."

"Yes, Your Majesty. But first, there are some... People here who captured two of Avatar's friends. They would like to present them to you personally." Gun said as she scowled.

"You know I don't meet with bounty hunters."

"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."

Hou-Ting smiled at that. "Really? Fine, send them in." The Red Lotus enter the throne room, throwing the bound and gagged trio in front of them. "Ah, yes, I remember these three. We'll find an acceptable home for you in prison, with the rest of the dissidents." She said before looking at Zaheer. "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 to her.

"How very magnanimous. So, where are my airbenders?"

"I'd be happy to tell you, once you hand the Avatar over to me," Zaheer replied, getting her to glare.

"Who told you that we have the Avatar?!"

"How I know is not important. But if I found out, others will too. And that could put you in a difficult position."

"Is that so?"

"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 would ever need to know she was here, and you can get your airbenders back without interference. We both win." Zaheer explained as she looked at him in thought.

"And what do you plan to do with the Avatar should I see fit to grant your request."

"All I can say is: I have business with her. But she won't be bothering you again. I can assure you of that." He said as Mako and Bolin glanced at each other with worried looks as Naruto moved a little, still unconscious.

Hou-Ting ponders over the deal while tapping her long fingernails 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 three to the dungeon."

Two Dai Li agents open the floor beneath the trio, leaving them to drop into the unknown.

Korra And Asami.

"Guards! Get in here!"

Arik opens the hatch at Korra's yelling. "Something happened to my friend. She needs help."

"Where is she?"

Arik is 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 before kissing her roughly. "Nice work. Now let's take control of the ship."

Korra then barges into the cockpit with metalbending as the co-pilot runs up but is 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 yelled out

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." She picks up the radio phone which has broken into two. "Also, you broke the radio."

"Sorry, but it's not my fault this airship's a hunk of junk."

Asami looked up to see that the airship was about to crash into a dune. "Hang on to something!" She yelled as the ship crashed. Korra and Asami climb out of the airship from the roof. "Well. They say any landing you could walk away from is a good landing. "But, given our location, I'm not so sure about that."

"You're the engineer. What do you think? Can we fly again?" Korra asked her while they looked out at the dessert.

"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."

"Is everyone all right?" Korra asked as the crew walked out as well

"Like you care."

"What the heck happened?"

"She said her friend needed help, then they knocked me out!"

"I'm sorry. But I couldn't let you take me to the Earth Queen as a captive. There are dangerous forces at work that you don't know anything about." Korra bit back at them.

"More dangerous than being stranded in the desert?" One of the men asked as the captain

"Don't worry, Kong. I 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."

"If we all work together, we might be able to get the ship up and running," Asami said as Kong shook his head.

"Not likely. I just tunneled out of the engine room. It's like a sandbox there."

"This ship isn't going anywhere. And neither are you. You're prisoners and we have to transport you to the Earth Queen."

"You realize that I'm the Avatar, 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 back to her.

Asami notices a moving dune out in the distance. "Wait, did that dune just move?"

"It was probably just a mirage. The desert will play tricks on you."

"That's no mirage. Look." She points as the dune moves.

"I heard that since all the spirits came back, this desert has been haunted by them."

"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 asked, pointing to the dune.

"We want to fix the ship. Right, Cap?"

"Let's get to work." The captain said as Korra got ready to airbend the sand away.

"Everybody stand back."

She then bends a large air spout at the dune.

Prison.

Naruto groaned awake as he saw they were in a prison cell. "What happened?"

After explaining everything that happened, Naruto stood up and sent the doors flying before opening the others then they all ran out.

Misty Palms.

Lin drives a jeep near where the others drove theirs before she notices some tire tracks. She reverses and drives up to the abandoned jeep. As she inspects it, Naga leaps from behind, Kurama and Pabu on her saddle 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 then threw treats at the animals. "Here, chew on this and leave me alone. She walks to her jeep and picks up a radio phone on the jeep. "Tonraq, you read me?"

"Yes, we copy."

"I've found Korra's jeep, but the kids aren't here. Meet me at the Misty Palms Oasis." She said before hanging up. "And where are they?"

"Captured I believe," Kurama replied from his spot.

"And you didn't save them?"

"Not my job… Plus I was asleep. Naruto's with them so I wouldn't worry."

Korra Asami And The Queen's Team.

Asami welds the rudder before stopping to look down at the others, pushing up her mask. "How's it looking in there?"

"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 wiping his hands.

"How's it going out here?" Korra asked her lover

"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. "Alright!"

Suddenly a large 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!" Korra said as everyone stands up when the dust subsides. "I think it's gone now."

"What are we going to do? All of our supplies were on the ship. We've got no food, no water.

"Easy, Arik. Another ship is on the way. We just need to hold our position for a few hours." The captain said to Arik as Asami looked over.

"We might not have a few hours."

"How far are we from the edge of the desert?" Korra asked as the captain sighed.

"Too far to walk, if that's what you're thinking."

"We can't just wait around for that thing to pick us off one by one!"

"You'll do as you're told, Airman. Now get a hold of yourself!" The captain said as 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?"

"No, but we might have enough material to construct a makeshift sand sailer. Like the sandbenders used to get around. All we need is a sail and some kind of sled to attach it to."

"It's worth a try." Korra shrugged at that before walking to the parts.

"Gather every piece of metal you can find. We'll give that sandy beast a run for his money yet."

Ba Sing Se.

A Dai Li agent walks past the door, alerting the Red Lotus. "Looks like he's in a hurry. Wait here."

Zaheer 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 may have escaped."

"This is outrageous! Send another airship to retrieve the Avatar immediately."

"It's already on its way, Your Majesty." The agent said to the queen.

Zaheer leaves the throne room and returns to his chambers to explain what he just heard. "What are we going to do now?"

"There's no way we can track her down in the desert before the queen gets to her," Ghazan said from his spot as P'Li sighed.

"You think we'd be lucky enough to capture her again? She'll be long gone by the time they arrive."

"It doesn't matter. We're through chasing her. It's time to make her come to us." Zaheer said before they walked out and into the throne room.

"What is this riff-raff doing in my throne room unannounced?"

"Apologies, Your Majesty. But I couldn't help overhearing that the Avatar won't be joining us today." Zaheer said to her.

"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." He said as she stood.

"I will not bandy words with bounty hunters! Seize these hoodlums and throw them in prison until they decide to show proper respect for the crown!"

Dai Li agents surround the Red Lotus. P'Li fires a combustion beam to the floor, knocking off a group of Dai Li agents. Three Dai Li agents fire rock gloves at Ghazan, who easily redirects them back to the agents. A Dai Li agent attacks Zaheer with an earthbending attack from below, though he can 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. "Gun! Get back here and lay down your life for your queen, you coward!" The queen yells before she Notices Zaheer walking forward and follows suit. "You wouldn't dare attack a queen!"

Zaheer leaps to the throne. "Maybe I forgot to mention something to you. I don't believe in queens." He then starts airbending and pulls air out of Hou-Ting's lungs and traps her head in a vacuum sphere, leaving her gasping and collapsing 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."

Later, they walk into a radio room. "Hey! You can't be here!"

"No need for alarm. I just need to announce the entire city. How do I do that?" Zaheer said to the man

"Who do you think you are?

Ming-Hua Grabs the radio operator with her water. "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. [To the radio operator.] 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 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!"

Outside, Ghazan readies himself at the wall 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, Naruto busts down the doors and sees Zaheer who jumped in the air onto a roof. "I have a message for you to give to the Avatar!"

Korra, Asami, And The Queen's Team.

Arik welds the finishing touches to the sand-sailer before Asami spoke. "She ain't pretty, but I think she'll do the job."

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. Cut to Asami at the helm as the beast approaches them. Far shot of the beast jumping out, but missed before making another unsuccessful attempt. Cut to the sand sailer leaving as the sand shark's sand trail disappears.

"I think he's gone. We did it!"

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. Cut to 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 steps onto the dock as the last of the group. "Thanks, Asami. You got a good head on your shoulders." The captain said hands in his pocket.

"I'm sorry for getting us stranded out there. I didn't mean for that to happen." Korra said as the captain looked towards her.

"You know, whatever the conflict between you and the queen is, I'm sure it's above my pay grade. He shakes Korra's hand with his hooked right hand. "You've got a tough job. Good luck, Avatar."

"Captain, have we been in the desert for too long? Or is that a dragon over there?"

The crew turns to see Druk, Zuko's dragon 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 and Asami walk and enter 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, you're safe," Tonraq said, hugging her before seeing her choker.

"Naruto proposed."

"Do you remember Lord Zuko?" Tonraq gestured to Zuko who stood.

"I met you when you were a very young girl. It's good to see you again, Avatar Korra."

"It's good to see you, Lord Zuko."

"Thanks for ditching me back at Zaofu," Lin said, annoyed as Korra turned to her.

"Yeah, sorry about that. But, how did you all find us?"

"I am a detective, you know."

"Did you find Naruto, Mako, and Bolin?"

"Some people at the inn saw them captured by Zaheer's crew. We don't know where they are."

"Did you hear about the Earth Queen?" Tonraq asked Korra who turned to him.

"What about her?" She asked before the radio came on.

"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."

"What's that?" Tonraq asked Korra who turned.

"The name of the group that's been trying to capture me and just took out the Earth Queen. I'm afraid this is only the beginning, Dad."

To Be Continued.

A/N: Thanks for reading and let me know of any mistakes.

Beta: Chaos-PSD.

I will be focusing on this story to finish it out as we're close to the last ten ep's with skipping Remembrance and as everyone's split up until halfway into S4 some eps might need to be put together (The first 2-4 will be)

I've also written up to the end of Book 3 but will wait a day before betaing the next Ch to make sure people read the previous one.

Remember to vote if you haven't!

Nothing else to say.

Talk To You Later,

Lone Wolf Out.🐺