Long Live The Queen

14:04, 6 February 2024

A truck drove along a desert road. Zaheer was driving with P'Li sitting beside him in front. In the back, Ghazan and Ming-Hua were seated on a bench, looking at Elira and the brothers tied up together on the floor. The boys were tied up, back to back, while Elira was tied up alone, sitting against the wall.

"If you think holding us hostage will give you some leverage against the Avatar, you're gonna be very disappointed." Mako snapped at their captors.

"Can't we just enjoy our time together in silence?" Ming-Hau glared

"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

"So you guys were like locked up for fifteen years, huh?" Bolin asked

"That must've been like super boring. I can't even stand being grounded a couple of weeks, let alone fifteen years," Elira added, nonchalantly taking her arms out of the ropes meant to be retraining her.

"Actually, it was only thirteen years. But it felt like thirty." Ghazan corrected

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

"Not a lot of craft supplies in a volcanic prison cell," Ming-Hau replied

"And I must've renamed the constellations about a thousand times. When it rained, that was a big event." Ghazan added

Ming-Hau sighed. "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, that actually sounds like fun", Elira grinned.

"Yeah, let me try that on you guys" Bolin smiled and turned to Ghazan."You were raised by an older sister, your moustache grew in when you were ten, and I'm sensing - just sensing - an unspoken attraction between you two."

Ming-Hua and Ghazan glanced at each other awkwardly. Ming-Hua gave Ghazan a sulking look and turned away, surprising the lavabender.

"Two out of three. Not bad." Ghazan smiled at Bolin

"Wait, what? Which one did he get wrong?" Elira questioned curiously.

"My moustache grew in when I was twelve," Ghazan smirked, pointing to his facial hair, making the airbender smile.

"Bolin, El, would you two stop making friends with the bad guys?" Mako scowled at them

"Sorry" Bolin frowned

"We're just making conversation", Elira added

"Ghazan, gag those three", Zaheer called from the front " We're almost there."

Elira craned her neck to be able to look out of the front window. The looming structure of the Ba Sing Se wall was getting nearer and nearer.

Inside the palace, the Earth Queen sat on her throne with her usual scowl.

"When is the Avatar scheduled for delivery?" She demanded

"The airship already left Fort Bosco and should be arriving in a few hours," Gun explained

The queen smirked. "Excellent. Bring it to me as soon as it lands."

"Yes, Your Majesty. But first, there are some ... people here who captured three of the Avatar's friends. They would like to present them to you personally." Gun said

The queen's smirk fell back into a scowl. "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."

The Queen perked up and smiled cruelly. "Really? Fine, send them in."

The Red Lotus entered the throne room, throwing the bound and gagged Elira, Mako and Bolin in front of the queen.

"Ah, yes, I remember these three. We'll find an acceptable home for you in prison with the rest of the dissidents. As for you..." The Queen turned her beady eyes to Elira, who was glaring up at her from the floor. The Queen smirked maliciously. "I have something special planned for you."

Elira snapped something, but it was all muffled due to her gag. The Queen simply continued to smirk before turning to The Red Lotus. "Now, I'm told you have some information for me. I hope this isn't just some ruse to increase your bounty."

Zaheer stepped forward. "We don't want any bounty, Your Majesty. You can consider these three a "thank you" gift for simply taking the time to talk to us."

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

Elira yelled something muffled again behind her gag but was ignored.

"I'd be happy to tell you. Once you hand the Avatar over to me," Zaheer said

"Who told you that we have the Avatar?!" The Queen snapped

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

" Is that so?" The Queen glared

"Your Majesty, imprisoning the Avatar will cause the other nations to turn against you and demand her freedom. Not to mention, also imprisoning the granddaughter of Avatar Aang" Zaheer said, gesturing to Elira on the floor. "Before long, we'd be in the midst of a sticky international incident. I'm sure you're aware of how protective Lady Azira can be of her family. But if you let me take the Avatar today, no one need ever know she or Master Elira were here, and you can get your airbenders back without interference. We both win."

The Queen seemed to be considering his request. "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." Zaheer replied, and Elira and the boys glanced at each other with worried looks

The Queen pondered for a moment. Tapping her long finger nails on the arm of the throne. After some consideration, she sat up straight with a smile. "I find these terms agreeable. Gun, escort them to the antechamber until the Avatar's arrival."

Gun nodded and escorted the Red Lotus out of the throne room. The Queen then pointed at Bolin and Mako.

"Send these two to the dungeon."She ordered

Elira let out a yell behind her gag as two Dai Li agents opened the floor beneath Mako and Bolin, leaving them to drop into the unknown.

"Remove her gag" The Queen then pointed at Elira.

Another Dai Li agent approached the retrained airbender, ignoring her glare, and removed her gag.

"If you think you will ever get away with this, you're an idiot" She immediately snapped at the Queen."People will notice Korra and I are missing, and they'll come looking for us. In fact, they're most likely already looking. You're risking war with other nations. Why? Because we freed innocent people you forced into your army? Or is this just some elaborate plan? Use me as a bargaining chip. My return for the airbenders?"

The Queen smirked. "Not quite. But you will be helpful in returning my airbenders."

"They're not your airbenders! And I will never help you!" Elira yelled

The Queen's smirk didn't falter, an evil glint in her eyes. "Willingly. Take her away."

Elira's eyes widened in fear before the floor beneath her opened, and she was dropped into the darkness.

Down in the dungeons, a guard patrolled past the cells, knocking on the bars with a baton. As he walked past Mako and Bolin's cell, he hit Bolin on the head as he was leaning against the bars, causing him to grunt in annoyance.

"We have to find a way out of here before Zaheer gets his hands on Korra." Mako declared

"And find where they've taken El," Bolin added, looking worried. He leaned back against the bars again and sighed. "I hope she's okay."

"Take me with you", a man locked in the cell next to the brothers called out, pulling out a mirror to reflect his face to the cell. "I haven't seen my wife and five kids for four years."

"Four years?" Bolin repeated

"The first few months were great, I-I could finally get some sleep, but ..." The man's smile fell. "Now I really miss them."

"Listen. Bolin, this is up to you. I know you can metalbend." Mako said, ignoring the man and turning to his brother

"You can metalbend?" The man asked

"No" Bolin denied, standing up

"Yes, you can. I believe in you." Mako replied, standing up too

"I believe in you too, Bolin." The man next to them added

"I appreciate that, Mako, and fellow ... prisoner man. But I've been trying and trying and trying, and I've never been able to do it. Not even a little." Bolin frowned

"You've always had the ability deep down. You just haven't had the motivation. But this is your time! El needs you, Bolin. Get us out of here to save her and save Korra. You can do it! Bolin! Bolin!" Mako chanted, rallying the other prisoners who joined in.

"Bolin! Bolin! Bolin! Bolin!"

Bolin smiled, feeling more confident in himself. "You're right. Okay, here I go. For El!"

He readied himself, "Metalbending!"

Bolin thrust his hands at the bars of the cell, his arm shaking. When that didn't work, he tried another technique to move the bars apart. Again, nothing happened, and he sank to the floor in defeat, tears in his eyes.

"I can't metalbend." He muttered and sniffed sadly.

"Aww!" The other prisoners echoed and returned to their activities

"Hey, you guys didn't happen to bring any toilet paper, did you?" The man in the cell next to them asked but was ignored.

Elsewhere, Lin was driving in a jeep, searching for the teens. As she drove along a dirt road, she suddenly noticed some tyre tracks leading onto another road. She reversed and followed the tracks until she found the teens and Aiwei's abandoned jeeps.

She got out and began inspecting the teen's jeep, looking for any clues on where they could've gone. Suddenly, Naga leapt out from behind the vehicle, growling aggressively and startling her.

The polar bear dog abruptly stopped when she realised it was Lin and smiled, running around her and licking her.

Lin was not impressed "First, you scare the life out of me, now you want to lick me."

Naga licked Lin once more before Pabu and Pitchi emerged from the jeep with a squeak and a chitter.

Seeing the chief of police, Pitchi leapt onto her shoulder, nuzzling her, as Pabu crawled around her body in excitement. Lin managed to grab Pabu and Pitchi by the scruffs of their necks, looking at them disapprovingly, making them chitter sadly, their ears folding down, before putting them both on top of Naga.

" Here, chew on this and leave me alone" Lin gave each animal a treat from her pocket before walking away as they happily devoured the food.

She walked over to her jeep and picked up the radio. "Tonraq, you read me?"

"Yes, we copy." Tonraq's voice replied

"I've found Korra's jeep, but the kids aren't here. Meet me at the Misty Palms Oasis." She said

Back in Ba Sing Se, Elira was being marched down a dimly lit corridor by Dai Li agents. Two holding her arms while four more surrounded them, ensuring the airbender couldn't escape. They dragged her into a dark room as she struggled against their hold.

"Let me go!" Elira cried as she was forced into a chair and retrained by rocks being bent around her feet, wrists and head. "What are you doing?"

"Don't worry. Everything is going to be fine. You're safe now," A Dai Li agent said, standing in front of her, surrounded by a metal track. From behind him appeared a small orange lantern attached to the track.

Elira's eyes widened before she shut them tightly as the light passed over her "No. No, no! Let me out! Let me go! Please!"

The Dai Li agents ignored her cries.

"You are a soldier of the Earth Kingdom. You are loyal only to your queen," The Dai Li agent in front of her said

"No. I am Elira of the Air Nomads. Daughter of Tenzin and Pema. Granddaughter to Avatar Aang and Lady Azira. Jinora and Ikki are my little sisters. Meelo and Rohan are my little brothers. My best friends are Asami Sato, Korra, Bolin and Mako. I'm in love with Bolin," Elira muttered to herself, shutting her eyes tightly as the light passed over her again.

"You are a soldier of the Earth Kingdom. You are loyal only to your queen." The Dai Li agent repeated.

"I am Elira of the Air Nomads! Daughter of Tenzin and Pema! Granddaughter to Avatar Aang and Lady Azira! My sisters are Jinora and Ikki! My brothers are Meelo and Rohan! Asami, Korra, Bolin and Mako are my best friends! I'm in love with Bolin!" Elira repeated louder, her eyes shut tightly.

Elsewhere in the palace, the Red Lotus were lounging in their assigned chamber when a Dai Li agent walked past the door, making them all perk up.

"Looks like he's in a hurry. Wait here." Zaheer got up and left the chamber.

After noticing no one was around, he stalked after the Dai Li agent. As the agent opened the throne room door, Zaheer leapt up against the wall and followed just before the door closed. Grabbing hold of the ceiling lattice, he swung around and perched himself upon it, looking down at the Queen's throne room.

"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." The Dai Li agent informed the Queen, kneeling before her.

"This is outrageous! Send another airship to retrieve the Avatar immediately!" The Queen snapped angrily.

"It's already on its way, Your Majesty." The Dai Li agent informed

"And what of the airbender? Is she ready yet?" The Queen demanded

"I'm afraid it's taking longer than we expected, Your Majesty. The girl is extremely strong-willed and is fighting heavily against our methods. But, it does seem to slowly be taking affect. I'm confident she will be ready to serve by sunset."

The Queen smirked maliciously. "Excellent."

Below the palace, in the dark room, Elira was still struggling against her stone restraints. A circle of stones now covered her mouth, muffling her protests. She squinted as the lamp passed by her eyes again.