Forward In Time

The two Avatars were moved to a ship heading back to Ba Sing Se along with their non-bender friends. Korra tried to plead with the Earth Kingdom soldiers to let her and Aang go so they could stop the Red Lotus, but they didn't listen.

Aang had regained consciousness not long after and Korra explained everything to him. Though all he worried about was if their friends were okay, despite the news he was in danger.

Meanwhile, their firebender and earthbender friends were sitting in the back of a truck with Ghazan and Ming-Hua. Zaheer was driving while P'Li was in the passenger seat. Toph was injected with something so she couldn't metalbend them.

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

"Can't we just enjoy our time together in silence?" Ming-Hua asked.

"Why did you need Aang alive back in Zaofu?" Zuko asked, "You had him paralyzed. Why didn't you just take him out when you had the chance?"

"Look, all you need to know is that the world is about to change, for the better." Ghazan replied.

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

"Actually, 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." Ming-Hua replied.

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

Ming-Hua sighs, "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. Let me try that on you guys." Bolin looks at Ghazan, "You were raised by an older sister, your mustache grew in 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.

Ghazan smiles at Bolin, "Two out of three. Not bad."

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

"Sorry!"

"You know, Aang is gonna come for us. Then it'll be over for you guys. No more bending." Toph said, "He'll beat your asses just like he did with Ozai."

"Ghazan, gag them. We're almost there." Zaheer ordered.
----

Korra struggles against her restraints, but to no avail, "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." Asami says, "These airships the Cabbage Corp sold to the Earth Kingdom are way cheaper than the ones Future Industries built."

Asami 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 walks up to Korra, "There's no way I can get these locks off. I need the keys."

"I think I can help with that." Sokka said as he brings his hands back to his front, holding a cut rope and a knife, "When your best friend is the Avatar, you gotta be prepared for anything."