After returning to Zaofu, Korra attempted to trap Zaheer in the spirit world while Mako and Bolin tried to get through to Tenzin. Violet stood outside petting Zuko's dragon as he prepared to leave. Korra soon came outside.
"You're leaving? Aren't you coming to the air temple with us?" Korra questions
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Zuko turns to her "I'm going back to the Fire Nation. If it's true that the Red Lotus is targeting the nations' leaders, I need to protect my daughter."
"I understand. You have to keep the Fire Lord safe." Korra nods "But before you leave, I was wondering if you could help me with something."
Zuko smiles "I was often Aang's counsel and I'd love to be yours."
"That just it. You knew Aang better than anyone. I was wondering if you knew what he might do if he were in my situation." Korra asks
"Hmm. Rebuilding the Air Nation was Aang's biggest dream. He would be beside himself with joy with what you've done. And if he accomplished that goal, he might have sacrificed anything to protect it." Zuko replies
"So he would give himself up to save the Air Nation?" Korra asks
"I don't know for sure. The airbenders might have been closest to Aang's heart, but, as the Avatar, he was concerned with people of all nations. No one knew better than Aang that in times of turmoil" Zuko reaches out to hold Korra by the shoulder "the world needs its Avatar the most."
"Thanks." Korra smiles "Your uncle was right. It was helpful talking to you."
"Wait, you spoke with my uncle?" Zuko asks
Korra nods "Yes. In the Spirit World. A couple of times actually."
Zuko listens with surprise as Mako runs toward them "Guys. We got through to the air temple."
They run inside where Bolin was on the radio "I told you, it's Bolin! No! I'm not looking for Bolin, I am Bolin! Gah, look, I need you to find your dad. No, a whole herd? Really?"
Korra pushes Bolin aside "Meelo, this is your commanding officer. Go get your dad, now!" after a bit of waiting she was getting anxious "Come on, come on...Tenzin! Listen to me carefully. Zaheer is on his way to the temple. He's coming for the airbenders. You have to get everyone out of there immediately. Drop everything. Leave! Now! What? What is it? Tenzin! Tenzin, what's happening?!"
"What's going on?" Violet asks concerned
Korra turns to them "They're there!"
Everyone immediately prepares to depart.
Mako grabs Violet's arm "Are you sure you're ok to be coming?"
"Yes, Mako." Violet says "Right now we have to take action."
"Right." Mako nods "I'll make sure we save them."
"Thank you." Violet smiles
-
As Suyin's airship flew above several mountain ranges growing closer to their target location, the group gathered around.
Suyin places an airship figurine in front of the temple "I say we make our approach from the west, drop down from the airship on cables, ambush these Red Lotus low-lives before they know what hit them."
"It will never work. That Combustion Lady will pick us off one by one." Lin disagrees
"You have a better idea on how to save the airbenders?" Suyin asks
"Yeah. We come up from the valley, scale the side of the mountain and take them off guard." Lin replies
"That could work." Tonroq agrees
"And give them the high ground? No, if their lavabender spots us, he'll melt the mountainside and us with it." Suyin argues
"Wait, I've got it. I'll disguise myself as a lost hiker, and once I'm in the temple, I'll distract the Red Lotus with my bird calls." Bolin creates bird calls and whistling "That's when you all strike."
"Bird calls, really?" Mako looks at him disapprovingly
"Well I haven't noticed you offering any suggestions." Bolin says annoyed
"It doesn't matter. None of these ideas will work. The second Zaheer realizes we're up to something, he'll wipe out the airbenders." Korra sighs
"And Opal is one of those airbenders. Believe me, I understand what's at stake." Suyin faces her
"Then I'll think you agree that the only plan that will work is for me to give myself up." Korra says
"No way." Violet objects
"We'll figure out another way." Tonraq says
"I talked it over with Lord Zuko, and I've given it a lot of thought. I have to do this." Korra stands up
"And what makes you think I'll let that happen." Violet stands in front of her
"The world has been out of balance for far too long: it needs the Air Nation back again." Korra explains "I can't let Zaheer destroy it and everyone we love. Help me save the airbenders, then you can worry about saving me."
"We're with you, Korra." Tonraq agrees after exchanging glances with Suyin.
"Yes, whatever you need, they're here." Suyin adds
"I'll go radio Zaheer." Korra walks out of the room
Violet sighs and walks away to look out the window. Korra soon reenters the room.
"Did you speak to Zaheer?" Tonraq asks
"Yes." She looks dissapointed "He told me to come to the top of Laghima's Peak at noon, alone. Once he has me, he'll release the airbenders over to you at the temple."
Violet walks out of the room, she didn't want to hear anymore nonsense. Later that day Suyin's airship sat at the bottom of Laghima's Peak, Korra walks out to Tonraq and Suyin wearing a hood.
"Korra" Tonraq calls out to her
"Yes." Korra looks at him
Tonraq hugs his daughter "I just want you to know how proud I am of you. The risk you're taking to save the Air Nation will be remembered for generations."
"I love you, Dad." Korra replies
"I love you too, sweetheart." Tonraq replies
Korra opens her glider and flies up the mountain as the airship flies away. Tonraq looked down at his hands deep in thought.
"Mako, did you see the airbenders?" Korra asks through the radio
"Not yet. We're just arriving. Don't turn yourself over until I get a visual on them." Mako replies
Korra lands on the mountain and faces Zaheer and P'Li.
"Drop your staff and surrender yourself." Zaheer says and Korra stands still. "Don't make me come get you."
Korra remains defiant and remains still.
"Mako, what's going on?" Korra asks
"They're here. And so is the lavabender." Mako responds
"Tell Ghazan to let the airbenders go." Korra looks at Zaheer
"Not 'til you turn yourself over. This isn't a negotiation." Zaheer radio's Ghazan "Wipe them out!"
"No." Korra says "Wait. I'm coming."
P'Li and Korra walk up to each other. Korra drops her staff and radio, while P'Li cuffs her wrists and ankles.
"Don't bother trying to metalbend out of these: they're platinum." P'Li says to her
As P'Li pushes Korra toward Zaheer he radio's Ghazan "We have her."
"Korra, it was a trick! They're not here. Don't turn yourself over!" Korra hears from the radio
"We had a deal!" Korra faces Zaheer
"So did we." Zaheer grabs her hood and pulls it off to reveal Violet, not Korra "Guardian Violet!"
Team Avatar and Tonraq all looked shocked and in fear over the radio.
"Did he say Violet!" Bolin shouts as he dodges an attack
"What is Violet doing there?!" Mako panicked
Violet struggles against her restraints and airbends with her feet, separating Zaheer and P'Li from her.
Mako quickly changed his radio "Chief, Violet switched places with Korra! Get her out of there. Now!"
"Go! Go!" Lin commands her benders quickly
As the metalbenders ascend the mountain, Violet firebends and earthbends at Zaheer, who dodges all the attacks. Zaheer airbends her off her feet and slams her down with an air blast. The metalbenders reach the peak, engaging P'Li.
"It's a change of plans, get the Guardian on the airship." P'Li orders "I'll deal with them."
P'Li runs forward directs a combustion beam at the metalbenders. Lin manages to dodge the attack, but two metalbenders were thrown off the peak and fire a cable to ascend the peak again. Lin dodges another combustion beam and sends two earth slabs to P'Li. Suyin joins in a sends another slab. P'Li destroys a slab with combustion and avoids the other two.
Zaheer pushes Violet into the airship. Tonraq climbs up the airship and attacks Zaheer. Violet dodges the attack and falls off the airship. Tonraq catches Violet with waterbending and jumps down to her.
"What the heck are you doing here Violet?!" Tonraq shouts "Where's Korra?"
"I knocked her out." Violet replies looking up at her father "I wasn't letting her go through with it."
Tonraq cuts the tethering ropes of Zaheer's ship with his water whips, causing the airship to fly off. Zaheer goes to attack the two but he's suddently a bolder knocks into him.
"What the heck Vi?!" Korra shouts as she lands beside them
"You're awake?!" Violet questions shocked
"How could you do that?!" Korra shouts grabbing her shoulder "Do you think I'm so weak that the plan wouldn't work? I don't want you getting hurt in my stead!"
"And do you think I would want you getting hurt?!" Violet asks
"You're my little sister it's my job to protect you!" Korra argues
"So?!" Violet stands up "I want to protect you too!"
"Watch out!" Korra blocks an attack from Zaheer
P'Li bombards the metalbenders out. Korra kicks a boulder to Zaheer while Tonraq whips the water. Zaheer airbends the assault and creates a wind gust to Tonraq. He dodges, waterbends the water to attack Zaheer. The boulder flew toward Zaheer, but he easily dodges and punches some air gusts to Tonraq until he falls down.
Korra stands up, creating some earth columns, which the airbender dodges. Resuming his assault, Tonraq bends a stream of water at Zaheer, forcing him back. Taking advantage of the respite, Korra earthbends another small column behind Zaheer's foot, causing him to stumble backward. With his remaining water supply, Tonraq bends an ice spear on his forearm, and attempts to stab Zaheer, who dodges his attack and manages to ensnare Tonraq in a small tornado.
"Say hello to the Earth Queen for me." Zaheer throws Tonraq off the cliff.
"Daddy!" Violet reaches out for him
"Dad!" Korra tries to save him but Zaheer blocks her
"P'Li!" Zaheer shouts "Take out the Guardian!"
"No!" Lin shouts rushing toward P'Li
"Violet!" Korra is thrown to the side by Zaheer
P'Li takes aim at Violet, Violet quickly went to dodge but her chains were caught on a rock.
"Korra!" Violet looks at her sister "Run!"
The combustion beam goes off and hits right where she was, rocks fly everywhere and when it settled half the mountain was blown off.
"Violet!" Korra cries
P'Li directs combustion beams back to the half-sisters, who shield themselves. Lin leaps up the slope to avoid P'Li's combustion beam before retaliating with an earth slap. P'Li destroys the slab while Suyin glances out looking for the right moment. Lin sends two earth slabs to P'Li, who dodges and retaliates with combustion beams.
Lin dodges the attack and bends an earth wall to protect herself from another beam, but is knocked toward the edge. Lin props herself up. While P'Li prepares to finish Lin, Suyin runs out of her cover and bends her armor toward P'Li's head, containing the blast.
Zaheer turns back in horror, staring at the resulting explosion "P'Li!"
Zaheer looks at the fight sadly, while Korra, seizing the moment to distraction, firebends at Zaheer. Zaheer dodges the attack and sends an air blast to Korra, knocking her out. Zaheer carries Korra and walks to the edge, watching the unmanned airship fly off. Suyin and Lin ascend the peak, landing behind Zaheer.
"It's over, Zaheer." Suyin says
"Let go your earthly tether."
"Release the Avatar." Lin commands
"Enter the void."
"This is your last warning!" Suyin shouts
"Empty, and become wind." Zaheer steps back, falling off the peak.
"No! Stop!"
The half-sisters run up to the edge, where they see Zaheer floating in mid-air. Both fire cables at Zaheer, who dodges the attack and flies off to Suyin's airship.
-
At the mountain foot Kuvira bandages Tonraq while the other metal benders tend to their wounds.
"Has anyone found Violet?" Tonraq asks seemingly depressed
"I'm sorry," Lin looks down "I should've looked out for her."
Tonraq holds back tears "My little girl's dead and the other is in the hands of Zaheer."
Everyone hears Bolin's bird calls. Suyin stands up and points in the direction of the calls. Lefty flies toward the camp, landing heavily and tossing Bolin off mount. Suyin and Lin rush forward to help Team Avatar.
"Hey everybody, there's something I got to tell you." Kai says
"How did you guys make it out of the temple alive?" Lin asks the others
"It was all Bolin. I thought we were done for, then out of nowhere, he lavabends." Mako replies
"I knew you had the potential for something big. You just had to believe in yourself." Suyin says proudly
"You're right. Being moments from death was a pretty good motivator too." Bolin nods "Of course, we would have never made it back with Kai."
"Glad I could help. So anyway-"
Kai was cut off by Tenzin "Did Zaheer get away with Korra?"
"I'm afraid so." Lin answers "Violet tried to pose as Korra to keep her safe, but Zaheer saw through it. Korra appeared to help fight but Zaheer got her."
"What about Violet?" Mako asks pushing the others out of the way
"I'm sorry kid." Lin looks down "She's gone."
"What do you mean gone?" Mako grabs Lin's shoulders "What do you mean gone?!"
"Mako." Suyin pulls him away "The combustor got her.. we couldn't do anything to save her."
"Sir!" Mako runs up to Tonraq "Tell me they're wrong!" upon seeing Tonraq's face full of pain and grief he backed up "No.. she can't be gone.."
Bolin hugged his brother "It's gonna be ok."
"Violet!" Mako pulled away from his brother and ran off
"Mako!" Bolin attempted to chase him
Lin stops him "Let him be Bolin.."
"Violet" Mako ran through the mountain "Violet!" he called again, he looked around frantically "VIOLET!"