The Legend of Korra

Earth.

Fire.

Air.

Water.

Only the Avatar can master all four elements

and bring balance to the world.

The air nation has its first recruit.

Team Avatar's search for new airbenders

in the earth kingdom led them to Kai,

an orphan with a shady past.

Meanwhile, Lord Zuko is hot on the trail

of three escaped criminals who pose a great threat

to the Avatar.

Unaware of the danger to her,

Korra continues her mission to find more airbenders.

Next stop, the walled city of Ba Sing Se.

Light on your feet, Uncle Bumi.

Remember, you want to be quick and evasive.

Don't worry about me, little lady.

I've been in a scrap or two, you know.

Oh, you're just a youngster, so I'm going to go easy on you.

Wouldn't want to hurt a kid...

Oh!

Uncle Bumi, you've got to work on your stance changes.

Kai, that was just... really good.

Thanks, Jinora. You're a great teacher.

Hmm. Did I drop my wallet?

Give me that, you little thief!

It's so exciting

to be on a diplomatic mission to Ba Sing Se.

- What's the earth queen like? - I've never met her,

but I've heard she can be quite... Demanding.

This is it, Mako! We made it!

This is where dad grew up! Come here, look! Look!

Okay, calm down. I'm looking.

I wonder how many airbenders are down there.

Ugh. The lower ring looks terrible.

Yeah, I can smell it from here.

No wonder dad left.

Hello, middle ring!

Wow. Now, this is more like it.

Avatar Korra, master Tenzin, it is a pleasure to welcome you

and your party to the upper ring of Ba Sing Se.

I'm grand secretariat gun.

Thank you.

Ahh, it's got that upper ring smell.

Oh, no.

The queen hates animals.

We've got to get them out of sight.

Well, I can just stash Pabu in my shirt.

These two are gonna be a little tougher.

Come with me, hurry. I'll take you to your quarters.

Now, when you meet the queen, make sure you bow low enough.

That's very important.

And don't look her in the eye, she can't stand that.

If any food is served, don't eat before she eats.

Oh, actually, I have to taste her food first,

then she eats, then you can eat. Better yet, just don't eat.

Seems like an awful lot of rules.

Oh, you have no idea, and I'm the one

who gets in trouble when people don't follow them,

so please, please, for my sake,

just try not to upset her majesty.

Here we are. Ooh, very swanky.

Now, go in and make yourselves comfortable...

- Hey! - And keep those animals

out of sight in the backyard.

Avatar Korra, if you'd follow me,

we don't want to keep her majesty waiting.

Your majesty, may I present Avatar Korra.

You're ruining the koi pond!

It's completely overshadowed by the topiaries!

Guards, take that buffoon away

and get me someone who knows what they're doing!

You! Rip everything out and start over!

I am surrounded by idiots.

So I finally get a visit from the Avatar.

Let me guess, you want something.

Well, actually, your majesty, I was hoping you could...

I hardly think you're in a position to ask me for favors

after everything the last Avatar did to the earth kingdom.

He and fire Lord Zuko

took advantage of my father's weakness,

and stole our lands to make their own little empire.

The united Republic is earth kingdom territory.

Well, I-I'm not sure what I can do about that.

Not that you care,

but what's left of my kingdom is falling to ruin.

Roving bands of barbarians

are raiding villages in the countryside,

and now, some of my subjects are refusing to pay their taxes.

I'm very sorry for your troubles,

but actually... That topiary is supposed to be

an eel-swan, not a turtle-duck!

Hey, has anyone seen Kai?

- Kai? - Kai! Little bro?

He's not over here.

I don't think I've seen him since we landed.

I knew that kid was no good.

He was just waiting for an opportunity

to run away again.

- We have to find him. - What's the point?

He obviously doesn't care about us.

But he's my new little brother.

He's probably lost and scared.

He is just a little boy, and he's our responsibility.

Besides, he's the only airbender we've recruited so far.

We can't lose him.

Fine. Bolin and I will find him.

No! To your left!

Your other left!

Do you have these problems with your servants?

I don't really have servants.

But, your majesty, the reason for our visit

is that we're trying to gather all of the new airbenders

who are popping up in the earth kingdom,

and we'd like your help finding the ones in Ba Sing Se.

Airbenders in Ba Sing Se? Where did you hear that?

Before we left Republic City, we got some reports.

Hmm. Well, before I even consider helping you,

I'll need you to do something for me.

Oh. Of course. What is it?

I have a vault full of tax money

sitting in a town South of here.

Barbarians have stolen my past two shipments.

Go collect my money and bring it back here.

Yes, your majesty.

Kai! Did you go fishing?

You under the bridge?

Here, sir, let me help you.

Oh, thank you, young man. What a strange sudden breeze.

Yeah, that was really weird.

Thanks for your help.

Kai!

Get back here!

Kai, it's us!

Mako and Bolin!

Your new family!

Excuse me, pardon me.

No, no, carry on.

What are you doing

running around robbing people?

I was just practicing my airbending.

Yeah, right. Let's go.

You're in big trouble.

Hey!

Your little brother, huh?

Yeah, just a lovable little scamp, isn't he?

Reminds me of my little brother.

This is the express line to the lower ring.

Next stop, po Kong station.

- Ah! - Oh!

All right, let's see if we can catch a train back

to the upper ring.

Passports and tickets.

We can pay, hold on.

Where's my money?

No. Kai wouldn't...

aw, man!

All right, beat it, you two,

before things get ugly. Ah, hey!

The bad news is, we're stuck here.

The good news is, you can go the bathroom

wherever you want.

Are you sure we shouldn't have brought more people

to collect the tax money?

There are royal guards waiting at the vault.

I doubt anything will happen.

I think her majesty just likes ordering me around.

Man.

Oh, I think I slipped a disc sleeping here.

It's been a while since we spent the night on a trash pile.