Venom of the Red Lotus - Part 1

Inside a cave, decorated with giant luminous green crystals, Korra was suspended in the air in the middle of the cave, restrained by chains around her wrists and feet. The Red Lotus insignia was pained ominously on the wall behind her. Korra slowly regained consciousness and gasped, seeing Zaheer, Ming-Hau and Ghazan standing in front of her on a viewing platform. Her eyes hardened with hatred. 

"You...You killed my father!" In her rage, Korra yelled out, breathing a stream of fire at Zaheer, but the airbender was just out of reach. 

"I understand your grief. I also lost someone I loved today. But your pain will soon be over"Zaheer stepped to the side, revealing two Red Lotus members behind him wearing hooded robes "Bring the poison" 

The two members stepped forward, one was holding a bowl.  Korra gasped in fear as one member bent out the poison, which was a silvery-black liquid. Korra grunted as she struggled against her chains, trying to break free. 

"When I get out of here, none of you will survive!" She yelled, enraged 

"You won't get out. Unless the Metal Clan has taught you a way to bend platinum" Zaheer taunted "Once we administer this poison, your body will naturally react, forcing you into the Avatar State in an effort to keep you alive. Sadly for you, you'll be entering it for the last time." 

Korra's eyes widened in realisation "No! The Avatar Cycle." 

"Yes. When we dispatch you in the Avatar State, the cycle will end. So we lucky few, this band of brothers and sisters in anarchy, are witnessing the beginning of an era of true freedom. Together, we will forge a world without kings and queens, without borders or nations, where Man's only allegiance is to himself and those he loves. We will return to the true balance of natural order. And though you will never again be reborn, your name will echo throughout history: Korra, the last Avatar!" 

Not far away, hidden behind one of the crystals, Jinora's astral projection was eavesdropping on the conversation. She turned away, looking troubled by what she'd heard before her projection flickered and disappeared, returning to her body which was left behind with the other airbenders who were all chained to the floor of a cave.

"Did you find any way to escape?" Opal asked quietly, so as to not alert the guards standing at the mouth of the cave. 

"No. Not yet. But don't worry, we'll find a way out soon." Jinora replied 

"They might not make it that long" Daw looked over to where Bumi, Ursa, Kya and Azira were all lying beaten and unconscious. 

Kiyi sat by her sister's side, holding her hand with a worried expression. "Hold on just a little longer, Zizi. Please" 

Ikki turned to her big sister, looking scared. "El will come and save us, right? And Korra? They'll get here in time" 

"I'm sure that El and the others are on their way as we speak. But for now, I think we're gonna have to do this on our own" Jinora glanced over her shoulder at the two Red Lotus guards securing the entrance.

*

Elsewhere, Lefty and Oogie were flying across a mountain range. 

"Kai, are you sure we're going the right way?" Elira asked anxiously as she steered Oogie. 

"Yes, I'm sure. The place where I saw them taking the airbenders is around here" Kai replied, riding Lefty.  

 "That's got to be where they took Korra," Mako said 

Kai then noticed a cave with five Air Nomads carved on the wall in front of them and pointed to it "That's it. Down there, Lefty" 

The team landed in front of the cave and dismounted, with Tonraq and Shai supporting Tenzin. Tenzin buckled slightly but held onto Oogie to keep his balance Elira approached him.

"Are you gonna be okay?" She asked looking at her father with concern. 

"I'll be fine" Tenzin placed a shaking hand on his daughter's shoulder "Go. Find the airbenders. And our family" 

Elira's worried expression turned determined and she nodded. "Don't worry, Dad. I'm not coming out without them or the rest of our people. I won't let you down" 

Elira then turned and ran into the cave with Team Avatar, Kai, Su, Lin, Shai and Azula. Tenzin smiled softly. 

"I know you won't" He muttered, watching his daughter disappear into the cave with the others. 

*

Inside the cave, where the airbenders were detained, Jinora glanced at the guards before nodding to her sister.

"I'm thirsty!" Ikki yelled 

"I gotta go pee," Meelo declared, falling to lie on his side 

"Me too" Daw added 

One of the guards turned around annoyed "Hey! Keep it down over there, or you're all gonna end up like them" 

He pointed toward Kya, Ursa, Bumi and Zira. 

"Sir, please. Could we just have some water? There are elderly, and children, and a baby here" Pema pleaded 

 The guard glanced at his partner, who shrugged at him. Taking out his waterskin, the guard brought it over to the airbenders. But as soon as he got close, Jinora airbent at the guard, covering his face with his robes, which caused the keys to fall off. As the keys fell, Meelo grinned and airbent, throwing the keys to Opal, who caught and hid them out of view.

"Oh, so you just called me over to attack me? Fine! Now nobody gets any water" The guard glared and opened his water skin, drinking it in front of the airbenders tauntingly. 

"You just wait" Jinora snapped "When my big sister gets here, and she will, you'll be sorry" 

"Yeah, El's gonna kick your butt" Ikki added

"Oh, I'm so scared" The guard rolled his eyes sarcastically, turning to rejoin his partner by the entrance  "I don't know how we ended up in daycare while everyone else gets to watch the Avatar being destroyed. I can hold a bowl of poison!"

As soon as the guard's backs were turned, Opal took out the keys and worked on unlocking one of her cuffs. She smiled when it clicked open. 

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" The guard from before finally noticed she had the keys and began making his way over. 

But before he could react, he was knocked out cold by a large rock shooting out from the wall

The other guard, stunned, turned to the sudden attacker, seeing Team Avatar emerge from a hole in the wall. 

The second guard bent two rocks at the team and Suyin jumped forward, bending a wall in front of them for protection bent. When the attack stopped, Asami and Elira leapt over the wall. The guard threw more rocks, but Elira side-stepped and dodged them as Asami elegantly twirled low to the ground, ducking underneath the rocks. Elira then bent an air current around the guard's legs, pulling him off his feet as Asami charged forward, grabbed the guard's arm and stunned them with her electric glove, slamming the guard to the ground. 

"Mom!/ Pema!" Elira and Shai rushed over to Pema, embracing her while behind them Suyin hugged Opal. 

Pema looked surprised to see her father "Dad, what are you--?" 

"Azula, Zuko and I were tracking the Red Lotus when we heard you were in trouble. Azula and I came to help while Zuko went to protect Izumi" Shai explained, wrapping his arms around his daughter, granddaughter and grandson.  "I'm so glad you're all safe" 

"Zira! Kiyi!" Azula exclaimed, rushing over to her sisters, gasping when she saw the horrible state Zira was in. 

"What happened?" She demanded 

"She went back to help Tenzin. But Zaheer was just too much for her" Kiyi shook her head sadly. 

Azula knelt beside Zira, taking her other hand in hers. "Zizi? Don't tell me someone's finally knocked the fight out of you. Wake up!" 

Groaning slightly in pain, Zira's eyes slowly opened and she smiled weakly seeing her sister's faces looking down at her. 

"Hey, Zula. What took you so long?" She smirked despite her laboured breathing. 

"Oh, Zira! Thank goodness you're okay!" Kiyi grinned as Azula sighed in relief 

"It'll take more than a few fanatics to take me down" Zira chuckled before coughing and wheezing weakly. 

Elira helped to free the remaining airbenders, using the keys as Asami used her hairpin to unlock the cuffs as she had done for Tenzin.

"Are you guys okay?" Elira asked her siblings, checking them all over for wounds while Shai fussed over Pema behind her. 

"We're okay. But you don't have to worry, El. We could've beat those bad guys ourselves" Meelo boasted cheekily. 

"I'm sure you could," Elira smiled as her sibling embraced her. 

"I knew you'd come" Jinora muttered, clinging to her big sister. 

"Hey, no one messes with our family. Besides, 'couldn't let you guys have all the fun" Elira joked. Her siblings giggled as Elira hugged them tightly again, almost afraid they'd vanish into thin air if she didn't. 

From the corner of her eye, Jinora finally noticed Kai amongst the others. Glancing at Elira, who nodded at her with a smile, Jinora ran to him relieved

"You're alive!" She hugged him tightly " I can't believe it" 

"Why? Just because I was blown out of the sky, and fell hundreds of feet down a cliff? Don't you know it takes more than that to get rid of me?" Kai grinned and Jinora nudged him on the shoulder. 

Behind them, Lin helped up Bumi, supporting him, while Kya and Ursa were supported by four other airbenders and Zira was helped up by her sisters. 

"We have to get these four out of here now. They don't look so good." Lin declared 

"What are you talking about? I feel great!" Bumi grinned before slumping down and coughing weakly. 

"You guys get everyone out of here. I'll search for Korra." Tonraq declared 

"We're going with you." Mako stepped forward along with Bolin

"So am I" Elira added. Her arms were around Ikki and Meelo clinging to her legs, but her face was determined. 

"You don't have to search for her. I know exactly where she's being held." Jinora revealed, stepping forward 

*

Elsewhere in the caves, Korra had been poisoned and was trying her best to prevent herself from going into the Avatar State. Sweat poured down her face as she struggled. Her eyes flashed white every so often as her body attempted to enter the Avatar State. Below, Zaheer and the Red Lotus waited patiently. Finally, Korra's eyes glowed as she entered the state, creating a dome of air around her.

"Now! Destroy the Avatar!" Zaheer ordered 

Ming-Hua flung an ice shard at Korra, but the Avatar destroyed it by breathing fire. 

Korra continued struggling against her chains, eventually pulling the chain on her right arm off the wall. A rock was attached to the end of the chain and Korra swung it toward Zaheer. 

 Zaheer used airbending to jump back and dodge the attack. 

Korra then swung the chain at Ming-Hai, who was caught off-guard and slammed against a wall, losing her water appendages in the meantime. 

Ghazan stared in shock before erupting the pool of lava underneath Korra, sending it up toward the Avatar. 

Korra swung the chain around her arm before directing the lava flow with airbending back to Ghazan. 

The lavabender's eyes widened in fear before jumping out of the way to avoid the lava. 

Using her raw strength, Korra then broke the chains around her legs and airbent herself away before propelling herself with firebending to rip off the final chain around her arm. 

She landed in front of Zaheer, who jumped back to avoid her. Korra lifted four boulders and circled them around her before airbending to push the boulder away, sending at the Red Lotus who retreated to avoid the attacks. 

Korra breathed fire in fury while Tonraq, Elira Mako and Bolin entered the cave. They stopped, stunned at what they were seeing. 

"Korra!" Tonraq yelled 

Korra either didn't hear her father or decided to ignore him, breathing a stream of fire towards Zaheer, who flew up to dodge the attacks before escaping out through the open roof. With glaring, glowing eyes, Korra propelled fire from her feet and gave chase.

"We have to help her!" Elira exclaimed 

"Look out!" Bolin yelled, pushing Tonraq out of the way before earthbending two boulders in front of them, blocking the rocks Ghazan threw at them. 

"You help Korra, we got this," Mako said to Tonraq who nodded and ran off, back through the cave as Elira and the boys turned to face Ghazan. 

*

Outside on the surface, Tenzin watched from beside Oogie as Korra battled Zaheer around some stone columns. 

"Daddy!" Tenzin gasped hearing Ikki's yell and turned around to see his family and the rest of the airbenders coming out of the cave. 

"Oh, thank goodness you're all right." Tenzin sighed in relief, grunting softly but laughing through the pain as the kids hugged him. 

"Honey, are you okay?" Pema asked worriedly. 

"I'll be fine." Tenzin smiled 

Behind them, the airbenders gently lowered Kya, Ursa and Bumi onto the ground while Azula and Kiyi lay Zira against Oogi. Tonraq suddenly came running out of the cave.

"Where's Elira?" Tenzin immediately questioned, seeing no sign of his eldest child 

"Still inside with the boys. We have to help Korra." Tonraq said and the whole group turned to look at the fight, seeing Korra slamming two pillars toward Zaheer, who dodged the attack. Korra then threw three boulders at Zaheer and charged toward him, yelling in fury. 

*

Back down in the caves, Mako firebent at Ming-Hau, ducking briefly under an ice shard aimed at his head. Ming-Hau nimbly dodged the fire blasts and swung out of view. Mako chased after her further into the cave. 

 Meanwhile, Elira and Bolin were fighting against Ghazan.

Bolin sent two rocks at Ghazan and Elira followed suit on an airball. Ghazan dodged the two rocks from Bolin before bending a wall in front of him to block an air swipe from Elira. But while he was distracted, the airbender got behind him, knocking him into his wall with a gust of air. Elira landed behind Ghazan, staff raised and ready. The lavabender glared at her, bending a second wall to cover his back as Elira attacked him again with air blasts, before throwing the first rock wall at Bolin. 

Bolin smashed the attack, but Ghazan had hidden behind the wall and caught him off guard, tackling the young earthbender. Elira chased after them. The two rolled for a moment before Bolin kicked Ghazan away, regaining his ground. 

Ghazan retaliated by throwing two rocks as Elira joined Bolin's side again. The duo dodged one and Bolin smashed the other. 

"What are you smiling about?" Bolin questioned with a glare. 

"I was just remembering the last time we fought" Ghazan smirked before erupting the ground with magma, sending it towards the teenagers. 

The duo jumped back, Elira taking cover behind Bolin as he swiftly stopped the attack 

"Well, a lot has changed since then!" Bolin sent the lava hurtling back towards Ghazan

The lavabender flipped and jumped out of the way of the incoming magma, staring at Bolin in surprise. Bolin winked, grinning smugly at Elira who giggled. 

"So that's how you got out of the temple. Not bad. Let's see what you got!" Ghazan taunted and sent multiple lava sprays toward Bolin and Elira. 

*

Back up on the surface, everyone was watching in worry as Korra battled Zaheer up in the air. 

"I can fly up on my bison to help her." Kai declared 

"You'd never be able to keep up with Zaheer. He's too powerful." Lin argued "

"We have to do something!" Kai scowled persistently

"How can he fly like that?" Bumi questioned, sitting against a rock on the ground with Ursa and Kya. 

"He's unlocked powers of airbending that haven't existed for thousands of years," Tenzin explained, sitting against Oogie next to Zira with the rest of their family around them. 

"There haven't been this many airbenders in one place for a long time either. We have power together." Jinora pointed out before standing to address the other airbenders "Hurry, everyone form a circle! Follow me." 

The airbenders followed Jinora over to a large clear spot and formed a circle around her.  Jinora stood in the centre and created a small vortex that increased in size. The other airbenders created air gusts to the vortex, causing it to get bigger and bigger. 

*

Down in the cave, Mako chased after Ming-Hua, breaking off her water appendages with fire blasts. Running back to avoid the firebender, Ming-Hua tripped and fell down a slope, losing her appendages. Mako stood above her as Ming-Hau got to her feet, cornered against a wall. 

"You have no water. It's over." Mako declared 

"Not yet." Ming-Hau glared before darting to the side and jumping down a hole, just missing Mako's fire blast. 

Mako chased after her, jumping down the hole and landing in a lake of water. Looking around, he lit his fist to provide some light. Turning around, Ming-Hau was looming over him, with eight large water appendages.

"Now it's over!" She snarled and charged forward, shooting multiple water blasts at Mako, forcing the firebender to retreat. 

Dodging and ducking under the water blasts, Mako suddenly leapt up towards two stalagmites, bracing himself between them and shot lighting at the water. The electricity spread throughout the water, electrocuting Ming-Hau who screeched in pain before falling. She landed on the ground with a thud. Mako looked on in shock. 

Above, Elira was flying around on her glider, occasionally ducking down to breathe a gale of wind at Ghazan's lava, cooling it down before it could hit Bolin. 

Ghazan threw a rock of magma at Bolin who blocked it with an earth wall and jumped out of the way as it exploded. Elira swooped down, avoiding the lava. She closed her glider and as she touched the ground, used her staff to send a huge gust of air at Ghazan while behind her Bolin directed the lava flow around Elira and sent it towards Ghazan. 

Ghazan blocked Elira's attack with an earth wall, which he then leapt over to avoid Bolin's lava. As he landed, he slammed his fists against the ground turning the wall behind Bolin into lava and directing it towards the earthbender. Elira took flight again as Bolin retreated. 

"Grab on!" Elira yelled, flying beside him

Bolin grabbed a hold of her glider and they lifted further into the air, just narrowly avoiding the lava. Drops of hot magma from the oncoming wave suddenly splashed onto Elira's glider wing, burning it and causing the airbender to gasp as she and Bolin went spiralling down a slope. 

The duo rolled as they landed and Bolin jumped to his feet again, standing between Elira and the oncoming lava. Thrusting his hands out, he solidified the lava before it could reach them. 

Ghazan jumped down, landing behind the duo. He kicked up a slab of rock, about to attack them again, but was abruptly stopped by a fire blast. Bolin and Elira looked over and smiled, seeing Mako had come to help them. 

Mako used his fire to propel himself toward Ghazan. 

The lavabender tried to block Mako with a rock wall, but Mako destroyed it with a fire kick, sending Ghazan back. 

Ghazan tried to regain his ground but it was now 3 against one and he was constantly knocked back by Elira and the brothers. Eventually, he was knocked off his feet, flying back and landing on the ground with a thud. 

"Give up, Ghazan! You can't win!" Bolin yelled 

Ghazan glared at the trio. 

"I'm never going back to prison. If I'm going down today, you're coming with me!" Ghazan punched the floor, causing rocks to fall from the ceiling. He then melted the walls around him and directed the lava downward, trying to bury the teenagers and himself. 

Elira looked around in horror before noticing a tunnel leading out of the cave above them. 

"Look! A way out!" She pointed 

"Hang on!" Bolin created a platform beneath them, bending it and the trio up the slope. 

Standing at the mouth of the tunnel, they watched as the cave collapsed around them, burying Ghazan in lava and rock. Sharing a look, they then turned and started running out of the cave.