In the Si Wong Desert, Asami and Sokka work on the exterior of the ship while their Avatar friends worked on the inside of the ship.

As Asami welds the rudder, the exit hatch opens and Korra, Aang and Kong walk out.

"How's it looking in there?" Asami asked.

"We just airbent all the sand out of the engine room." Korra replies, "I think it's clean."

"Hasn't been this clean since it floated off the showroom floor." Kong adds.

"How's it going out here?" Aang asked.

"Well, she's still pretty banged up, but I think she might be able to limp out of the desert." Asami replies, "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, but a sand shark jumps from beneath the surface and grabs the airship, snapping it into two.

"Aw come on! We worked on that for hours!" Sokka exclaimed.

Aang grabbed his shirt to pull him back as they ran away with the crew. They narrowly missed the sand shark's dive, causing the doomed airship to sink below.

"That's no spirit!" Korra says as everyone stands up when the dust subsides.

Kong stands at the helms unharmed, though paralyzed with fear, "I think it's gone now."

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

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

"We might not have a few hours." Asami says.

"How far are we from the edge of the desert?" Korra asks.

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

Arik slumps to the ground, "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 examines 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 sarcastically.

"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." Aang says.

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

----

At the Red Lotus' chamber, Dai Li agent walks past the door, alerting the Red Lotus.

"Looks like he's in hurry." Zaheer says, "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." The Dai Li agent said, "We believed the ship crashed in the Si Wong desert and the Avatars may have escaped."

"This is outrageous!" Hou-Ting said angrily, "Send another airship to retrieve the Avatars immediately."

"It's already on its way, Your Majesty."

Zaheer leaves the throne room and returns to his chambers. He recounts the conversation to the others.

"What are we going to do now?" Ming-Hua asked

"There's no way we can track him down in the desert before the queen gets to him." Ghazan said.

"You really think we'd be lucky enough to capture him again?" P'Li asks, "He'll be long gone by the time they arrive."

"It doesn't matter. We're through chasing him. It's time to make him come to us." Zaheer says, "Avatar Aang will do anything to save his Water Tribe girlfriend."

The Red Lotus leave their chamebers and barge into the throne room.

"What is this riff-raff doing in my throne room unannounced?" Hou-Ting asked.

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

"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."

"I will not bandy words with bounty hunters!" Hou-Ting addresses the Dai Li, "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 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.

"Gun! Get in back here and lay down your life for your queen, you coward!" 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 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."

The Red Lotus exit the throne room after the battle and walks into the radio control room.

"Hey! You can't be in here!" The radio operator said.

"No need for alarm. I just need to make an announcement to the entire city." Zaheer says, "How do I do that?"

"Who do you think you are?"

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." Zaheer addresses tthe radio operator again, "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, now at the inner ring wall, 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, prisoners have begun to riot. Mako and Zuko has managed to melt sections of the bar. Mako shakes his wrist with the strain before resuming.

"We have to get out of here. Zaheer came here to take out the Earth Queen, and now Aang is next." Toph said, "If only I could metalbend so I can go beat their stupid faces."

"Still nothing?" Zuko asked.

"Must be something that lasts a day or two." Toph replied.

Mako looks at his brother, "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 replied.

"I know I did, but now it's really your time." Bolin stands up, "Do it!"

Bolin readies himself and metalbends again. All the prison doors, except theirs, open. The prisoners laugh and run out.

"Did you see that? I did it! I mean, not for us, but I metalbent all the other cells open!"

Mako facepalms as Toph says, "That wasn't you."

She nods ahead of them. The three boys notice Zaheer approach them and prepare to attack, though were quickly neutralized by an air blast.

"Listen to me. I'm going to set you free, but I want to talk to you first. I have a message that I need you to take to Aang."

-----

Arik welds finishing touches to the sand-sailer. The others stood behind him, looking at their finished work. Sokka had a tired look on his face.

"She ain't pretty, but I think she'll do the job." Asami said.

"Great, can we leave? I hate the heat." Sokka replies.

Korra notices the approaching sand shark's dorsal fin, "Yeah, I think it's best we leave. Let's move!"

Everyone boards the sand-sailer. Korra and Aang readies themselves and bends a large gust of air, moving the sand-sailer. 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 says.

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 that day, the sand-sailer has 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 asks.

The group steps onto the dock.

"Thanks, Asami. You got a good head on your shoulders." The captain says.

"I'm sorry for getting us stranded out there." Korra says.

"Yeah, we didn't mean for that to happen." Aang adds with a sheepish smile.

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

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

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.

Korra giggles, "Easy, girl. Did you think we weren't coming back to you?" She snuggles Naga.

Appa suddenly lands next to Aang and licks him.

"I missed you too boy." Aang says with a laugh as he hugs the bison's head.

As Aang pulls away and pets Appa, Momo flies over and lands on the Avatar's shoulder with a chitter.

"We should go to the cantina." Aang said as he pet the lemur.

The four walks to and enters the cantina, where they see Lin, Tonraq and older Zuko at the far end.

Korra smiles and approaches her father, "What are you all doing here?"

"Korra, you're safe." Tonraq says as he hugs her.

"Yeah, we made it out of the desert. Thanks to Asami."

Tonraq nods in appreciation to Asami as Aang walks up next to Korra.

"Uh... Zuko?" Aang said, "I almost thought you were Avatar Roku."

"Well, he is my great grandfather." Older Zuko jokes.

"So is that dragon outside yours?" Sokka asks as he joins them.

"Yes, Druk is my dragon." Older Zuko replied.

"So... if we wanted to-"

"You're not riding my dragon."

Sokka frowns, "Aw man."

"Thanks for ditching me back at Zaofu." Lin says to Korra.

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

"I am a detective, you know."

"Did you find Toph and the other boys?" Asami asks.

"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.

"What about her?" Aang asks.

Lin turns on the radio to answer Aang's question, "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 says

"What's that?" Tonraq asks.

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