"Bolin, calm down." Mako said. "Just tell us what happened?"
Lin had just gotten the angry crowd outside of the department while Bolin sat in a desk. Spike arrived and gave him a hot drink in a mug.
"Thanks... uh..." Bolin said.
"Spike," the baby dragon introduced himself.
"Bolin, you screamed something about Opal." Korra said. "What happened?"
"All right." Bolin breathed. "Me and Opal were having a nice dinner last night. We were walking back to my home. Suddenly, a masked guy tried to mug us. I used my Earthbending to knock him across the alley. Suddenly, I heard some weird language before I floated in the air. I looked and saw a different guy behind us. His fingers were glowing, he had a red scarf over his face, and he kinda freaked me out. He said something about leverage and taking me. He was about to grab me, but Opal air-blasted that guy across the road. I fell to the ground. I tried to escape with Opal, but that red-scarf guy fired some kind of energy at me and blasted me into a building. I was about to black out, but I saw the scarfed guy disappear with Opal."
"Must be Red Lotus." Korra said.
"Now... what's going on?" Mako asked. "I thought the Red Lotus crumbled when we imprisoned Zaheer."
"Look, we don't fully understand the details either," Rainbow Dash said, "But right now, we need to find them. They've got a friend of ours too."
"OOH!" Pinkie Pie screamed. "I've got an idea! Why don't we get... A GIANT DOG?!"
"Pinkie, dear, what does that have to do with finding Discord?" Rarity asked
"Nothing." Pinkie Pie said. She then pulled a wagon carrying a gigantic rib-cage. "I just need something to do with these bones."
Everyone was confused. "Um..." Mako said, "Where did you get that?"
"Ask yourself this," Pinkie Pie said, "Do you really want to know?"
"Bolin," Fluttershy said, "Is there anything that might tell us where they are? Did you notice anything?"
"Well..." Bolin said tapping on his chin, "Now that you mention it... I did overhear that scarf-guy saying something. I think it was 'Don't be afraid, young one. The Lower-West Side isn't so bad.'"
"The Lower-West Side?" Mako asked. "Hold on. There's a warehouse on Chakra Street big enough to shelter a small army. It's the first building to be refurbished by the Expansion Project."
"I thought the Expansion Project only rebuild the necessary places first." Twilight said. "Why would your president rebuild that place before all else?"
"I don't know, but that doesn't matter now." Korra said. "Now, we need to save Discord and Opal."
"But I think it might be important." Twilight debated. "Don't you think it's a little convenient for the Red Lotus to get their hideout back first?"
"I agree with the purple pony." Mako said. "It looks like the Red Lotus somehow has control over the Expansion Project."
"Mako, that's insane." Korra said.
"Look, we can argue about this later." Rainbow Dash said. "Let's put this to a vote. Hands and hooves up if we should take Twilight's idea about discussing politics." Twilight and Mako were the only ones who voted that. "All right. Who thinks we should take Korra's idea on going to the warehouse and saving both Discord and Opal and put a stop to these red creeps for good." Everyone else raised their hands and hooves. "Well, it looks like the Avatar has it."
"You all go on ahead." Chief Beifong said. "I'll head over to Air Temple Island for reinforcements."
"All right." Korra said. "Let's go."
"WHOO, HOO!" Bolin shouted. "TEAM AVATAR IS BACK ON A RESCUE MISSION!"
"With some help from..." Rainbow Dash declared before stopping. "Uh, what do we call ourselves? Team Pony? The Equestrian Girls?"
"How about..." Applejack said, "The Mane 6."
The other ponies spoke in agreement.
Team Avatar and the Mane 6 walked down a street until they saw a large, complete building with metal walls. They approached a wall.
"Watch out, everyone." Korra said gesturing everyone to step back. "I'm metalbending us in there." She raised her arms up and prepared to bend. Suddenly, Mako grabbed her wrist and she stopped.
"Hold on. Look." He pointed at an open window. There was a man looking out of it from behind. "Must be a lookout. If he hears you metalbend, he'll warn the others."
"Then how do we get in there." Korra asked.
"Leave that... to me." Pinkie Pie said. She then bounced high up and landed on the guard. She stood on top of his shocked body on top of a catwalk and raised her hoof into a fist. "Prepare for a pink bruisin'."
The guard closed his eyes preparing for pain. He waited for a few seconds. He then opened his eyes and noticed that Pinkie Pie was lowering her fist slowly. Twilight flew through the same window and approached Pinkie Pie.
"Pinkie, this is no time for slow-motion."
Twilight's horn glowed and lit at the guard's head. He then fell asleep. Twilight and Pinkie then got off from the catwalk and opened the front door letting their friends in.
"Pinkie, how did you jump so high?" Mako asked.
"With my hooves." Pinkie Pie answered.
"No, what I mean is..." Mako said.
"Don't bother." Rarity said. "Pinkie doesn't make a lick of sense. Anything you say is just going to go over her head."
The humans and ponies continued through the hallways looking forward. They then heard a moan noise. They peeked and saw Discord holding a skull.
"What's that?" Mako asked.
"That's him." Twilight said. "That's Discord."
"That's who we're looking for?" Korra asked. "He looked like a zoo had a baby."
Discord sighed loudly and held up the skull. "To be free or not to be free? That is the question."
"Discord." Fluttershy whispered. Discord stiffened his head and looked behind him to see where the noise came from.
"Fluttershy?" Discord asked growing a grin. "You're here?"
"And so are we." Twilight said stepping toward him with the others.
"Perfect!" Discord shouted. He then saw the humans. "Uh... who are your new friends?"
"Right." Twilight said. "Discord, this is Bolin, Mako, Asami, and Korra."
"So you're this legendary Avatar girl the Red Lotus has been blabbing about." Discord said examining Korra. "I thought you'd be taller."
"Come on." Mako said. "We need to find Opal and get out of here."
"Yeah, I can't do anything." Discord said. "These guys, they have a magic box that gives them control of me. As long as they have that, I can't help you no matter how much I want to."
"Well, then, we get the box too." Bolin said. "Where is it?"
"With me." a voice called out. Everyone gasped as the Red Eye appeared out of the dark shadows. In his hand, the stone box was resting and Discord gulped at the sight of it. "I am the Red Eye, the leader of the Red Lotus who will bring freedom to the world."
"So you're the guy I have to blame for the poison." Korra said. "Ready when you are."
"Actually, I want to delegate." the Red Eye said stepping to the left. A new guy appeared from the shadows. He had blonde hair, an early-20's look, and rags for clothes. "I'd like to introduce the instrument of your destruction. His name is Miles and he'll be your demise."
"Just let me be sure," the blonde man said, "I kill them and I can go?"
"Kid, no problem." the Red Eye said. "Just get rid of them."
Team Avatar and the Mane 6 posed and were getting ready for anything... except for what came next. Miles opened a water bottle nearby and bent every last drop out of its container and hovered it next to him. He quickly changed it to ice and shot sharp ice projectiles from it. The heroes dodged them and took cover. Twilight and Korra hid behind a crate. Discord dodged some ice shards and flew behind a crate.
"Watch where you're aiming, water boy!" Discord shouted.
"That's it?" Korra asked. "That's the Red Eye's secret weapon? One waterbender?"
"Perhaps this guy's got a special form of waterbending." Twilight said.
"Well, whatever he has, I can firebend his water into steam." Korra said. "I'll then bend the steam in his face and capture him after."
"Korra, we still don't know..." Twilight said.
Twilight was interrupted by Korra as she jumped in front of Miles. She quickly formed a small fireball and tossed it toward him. Miles held his hand out in front of the fireball... and it stopped.
Everyone was surprised to see Miles controlling the fire. He waved his arms and the fire grew. Suddenly, he tossed the fire toward Korra. She jumped back next to Twilight still with her surprised face. The others couldn't believe what they saw either.
"Did you see that?" Bolin asked in shock. "That guy can bend water AND fire!"
"Impressive, isn't it?" the Red Eye asked. "Because of me, Miles here has made history as being the world's first bi-bender."
"How'd you do all that?" Mako shouted.
"Here's a hint." the Red Eye said pointing his hand toward Mako and Bolin's hiding place. "Cumuolis, levio."
Suddenly, the hiding place glowed and was flung in the air. Mako and Bolin reacted with firing their bending towards Miles, but he either countered or dodged.
"Did you see that?" Twilight asked. "The Red Eye has magic!"
"That doesn't make any sense." Korra said. "No human has any magic; only spirits."
"Well, this isn't any magic I've ever seen." Twilight said. "Anyway, we need to get that box away from him."
"I know what to do!" Bolin said.
Bolin strained his arms toward the Red Eye and the ground split. The crack turned red and hot, boiling lava sprouted. The crack surrounded the Red Eye, but he didn't flinch. The lava shot over him.
"YEAH!" Bolin shouted. "NO MORE RED EYE!"
The lava cleared, but the Red Eye was still standing like he didn't even notice the lava. He yawned mockingly.
"Enough warm-ups, kid." the Red Eye said. "Give me your best shot."
"That was my best shot." Bolin whimpered shaking.
"I'll get to it!" Rainbow Dash declared. She flew from her hiding place and aimed her trajectory towards the Red Eye.
Suddenly, Rainbow Dash felt a strong gust of wind pushing her back. Everyone looked and Zaheer hovered in the air. He didn't have any hair on his face or hair. The sight of him shocked Korra.
"Zaheer! But, how..."
"The Red Eye got me out." Zaheer said landing beside the lava. "Although, I'm surprised he'd speak to me."
"Don't flatter yourself, Zaheer." the Red Eye said stepping out of the lava.
Suddenly, a masked girl appeared from a gust of wind and landed next to the Red Eye. He mask was similar to the Blue Spirit mask, but it had a dark-red shade.
"Another airbender!" Korra gasped.
"We meet again, ponies!" the girl said.
"Do we know you?" Applejack asked.
"I took Discord, remember?"
"GOLDEN EYES!" the Mane 6 shouted.
"And Lok too!" the parrot shouted landing on Golden Eyes' shoulder.
"Discord, get over here." the Red Eye said clutching on the stone box.
"All right, all right." Discord said appearing with the villain crowd.
Suddenly, Tirek, with a slightly muscular build, appeared and stood with the other villains.
"Well then," the Red Eye said, "Any last words?"
"'Hummina-hummina-hummina' comes to mind." Fluttershy whimpered.
"Get them." the Red Eye commanded.
The Red Lotus charged at the Mane 6 and Team Avatar. Rainbow Dash and Zaheer chased each other through the ceiling. Tirek and Twilight struggled trying to strike at each other. Everyone else was trying to take a shot at the other. Fluttershy was still hiding.
"What do I do?" Fluttershy said. "I can't handle either one of those guys, not even Lok." She then saw a hallway out of the room and brightened her face. "I got it. If I can get to their cells, I can find Opal and whoever else these guys kidnapped. They can give us an edge."
"Hold it right there, little mare." a frightening voice behind Fluttershy said.
Meanwhile, the Red Eye was watching the battle when he felt a tug on his cape. He looked and saw Pinkie beside him.
"Uh, Mr. Red Eye," she said, "I'm going to take my friend, Discord, home now."
"And how precisely are you going to do that, little pony?" the Red Eye asked.
"Like this." Pinkie Pie stuck out her tongue and curved it until it touched her nose. Her tongue was a perfect round. The Red Eye was confused.
"And what was the point of that?"
"That, you red varmint, is called a distraction!" Applejack said throwing a rope at Pandora's Box. The lasso tugged the box out of the Red Eye's hand and held it with her own. "Discord, stop attacking!"
"Gladly!" Discord cheered. "Now, give me the box!"
"Hold it!" Applejack said seeing Zaheer charging after her. "Hot potato!" She tossed the box into the air.
Rainbow Dash caught the box. She then tossed it to Korra. She tossed it to Twilight. She tossed it to Bolin. He tossed it to a random Red Lotus soldier.
"Thank you." the soldier said.
"Bolin!" Mako shouted.
"I'm sorry." Bolin panicked. "He was open!"
"Excellent work, my soldier." the Red Eye said. "Now, give me the box."
"I got a better idea." the soldier said clutching on the box. "The good guys keep the box."
"What?" the Red Eye gasped.
"What?" the heroes gasped.
"How can you do this?" the Red Eye asked angrily. "You're a Red Lotus agent!"
"Wrong!" the soldier said. "Let me shed some light on the subject."
Suddenly, the soldier burst in green flames. He grew bigger and a tail sprouted from him. His skin changed to metal and his mouth pointed further. His ears became like a dog. Heck, he was like a robotic wolf on its hind legs.
"Okay, I didn't see that one coming." Discord said.
"Oh... my... goodness!" Spike gasped. "It's Masque, the shapeshifting wirewolf of the Mighty Machines!"
"Zaheer, get that... thing!" the Red Eye commanded.
"Right!" Zaheer said. He flew towards Masque, who leaped and grinded on the rails. He performed several acrobatic tricks getting chased by Zaheer.
"Hang claw!" Masque shouted.
Zaheer grew angry. "Enough of this!" He waved his arms and a circle of air appeared around Masque's head.
"If you're trying to take my breath out, you're wasting your time, baldy." Masque said. "I'm a robot and machines don't need oxygen! That's you in a lugnut shell, all right."
"Where did you even come from?!" Golden Eyes asked.
"I brought him here." the Doctor said appearing from behind a large stack of crates. He had a black bruise on his front-left leg. "I am the Doctor and I will not stand while you lead them to disaster!"
"SWEETIE-FACE!" a loud voice called out. Derpy zipped from nowhere and hugged the Doctor.
"Careful, Derpy." the Doctor said. "I need my body later."
"Derpy?" Rainbow Dash asked. "What are you... Oh, never mind!"
"This..." the Red Eye chuckled, "This is your big rescue?"
"No." the Doctor said. "This is!"
Suddenly, several unknown figures jumped from behind the crated and landed next to Masque. The large figures look almost like Masque, but different features.
"The Mighty Machines!" Spike cheered. "Then, that means..."
Other figures also appeared. They were revealed to look almost like the Mane 6, but with superhero costumes.
"THE POWER PONIES!" Spike cheered in complete excitement.
"The Power Ponies?" Twilight said. "Perfect."
"I have sooooooo many questions right now." Bolin said. "But I think they can wait!"
"Let's Power Pony up!" the Masked Matterhorn shouted.
With the Power Ponies and the Mighty Machines, the fight became more hopeful. Zapp held up her amulet and shot lightning at Golden Eyes. She dodged the lightning, but was chased to the corner. Saddle Rager grew to humongous, monstrous size and tried to smash Miles. He shot water and fire at her, but it didn't even phase her.
Mistress Marevelous levitated her rope and wrapped it around Zaheer. She tugged it and threw the airbender to the ground. Radiance pointed her bracelet and created a wall that pushed Tirek away. He tried to absorb the bracelet's magic, but each push interrupted him.
"I am here!" Filli-Second told a group of soldiers. She then ran to the other side of them. "I am here!"
Suddnely, the Mighty Machines and Hum Drum pushed a bunch of crates on top of the soldiers.
Finally, Mistress Marevelous pointed her horn to the floor underneath the Red Eye. An blue beam shot out and the whole floor was covered with ice. The Red Eye kept his balance, but Korra bent the ice around him and he couldn't move.
"Whoa." Discord said. "This is very confusing, even for me."
"Me too." another draconequus said next to Discord. Discord was surprised seeing an identical draconequus beside him. They stared at each other and switched places.
"Do I know you?" Discord asked.
"Sort of." the draconequus said. "My name's Anar D, and I'm the Power Ponies' version of you."
"Well, that does explain the handsomeness." Discord said.
"Right back at you, big guy."
"Two Discord's?" Rainbow Dash asked. "One was bad enough."
"This is beautiful," Derpy said, "Good triumphing over evil. Don't you think, Doc?" She looked, but didn't see the Doctor beside her. She couldn't find the Doctor anywhere. "Doc? Oh, horseapples."
"I don't think so, you pineapple-heads!" Lok was revealed holding onto Fluttershy's mane. No one reacted to it when they saw Fluttershy's frightened face. "One more step and this kid goes to the petting zoo in the sky."
"They have flying petting zoos in this world?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"What?" Lok asked. "No, that's not what I meant! Just let my friends--and Zaheer--go! If not... well... first her, then you."
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Discord whispered to his double.
"I think." Anar D whispered back. "Hey, Tweety, why does she get to go first?"
"What?" Lok asked.
"You said, 'first her, then you'," Anar D said. "What are you going to do?"
"Not me, you," Lok corrected, "You, you."
"Ooooh." Anar D said. "Me."
Discord turned his head to the Mane 6 and Team Avatar while the Mighty Machines and the Power Ponies continued to fight the Red Lotus. Discord blinked and everyone realized what was going on.
"What about the rest of us?" Rarity asked.
"This hardly seems fair." Asami said.
"No, you stupid mammals!" Lok shouted. "All of you!"
"You, as in you," Pinkie Pie said, "Not you, as in me."
Lok hesitated in confusion. "...Right."
"Then I can go." Pinkie Pie said.
"What?" Lok asked.
"Well, you said, not you, as in me." Pinkie Pie explained. "That means, to me, that me, as in me meaning not you, can split."
"My head hurts." Lok said loosening his grip on Fluttershy's mane.
"You've had a tough day." Korra said.
"Well, since it's not you as in me," Discord said, "Then me can split, as in you."
"I can... split?" Lok asked.
"You said it." Anar D said. "You can split. That is you, as in you; not you, as in me... and certainly not them." He pointed at the ponies and humans.
"No." Lok growled. "I hate them."
"Let go of the pegasus." Discord said. "You can split."
"Yeah." Lok said. He completely released Fluttershy's mane and ran back to her friends.
"Oh, thank goodness." Fluttershy said. "I thought I was a goner. Thanks, Discord..." She widened her eyes when she saw Anar D. "...and Discord?"
"Anar D, actually," Discord's double said.
"How'd that happen?" Korra asked.
"Kid, sometimes, the best way to save someone is with subtle trickery." Discord replied.
"Now, what about me?" Lok mumbled to himself. He then whispered the entire conversation he was just in. He then widened his eyes in anger. "WAIT A MINUTE! I'VE BEEN TRICKED!"
Suddenly, the windows broke apart. Several metalbenders and airbenders swooped through the windows and landed on the ground.
"NO!" the Red Eye shouted struggling to get out of the ice. "Golden Eyes, take the others and run!"
"What about you?" Golden Eyes asked.
"Don't worry about me." the Red Eye said. "I'll catch up! Get to our secondary base and I'll be there!"
"But grand..." Golden Eyes was about to say.
"Just trust me!" the Red Eye said.
Saying nothing, Golden Eyes grabbed Zaheer and Tirek and escaped through the door with them. Lok tried to follow them, but Anar D snapped his eagle claw and a cage materialized around him. Miles slipped and fell unconscious.
"Korra!" Tenzin said seeing the Avatar and hugging her.
"Good to see you too, Tenzin." Korra said. She turned to the Equestrians. "Everyone, this is Tenzin, my teacher."
Seeing the ponies, draconequi, and robotic wolves, Tenzin hesitated on speaking. "Korra, am I dreaming?"
"I wish I was." Korra said.
"Still, we captured the Red Eye." Twilight said. "He's the Red Lotus leader."
"Well then, Red Eye," Chief Beifong said approaching the villain, "You are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent..."
"Oh, forget about all that." Discord said. "This guy has kidnapped me and forced me to do unspeakable things; most of them, in the bathroom. The point is, he deserves to be arrested."
"Do I?" the Red Eye asked. "Here's what's going to happen: the Avatar is going to let me out of here and the rest of you will let me walk out."
"And I thought the Mane-iac was nuts." Radiance said.
"Why would we let you go?" Lin asked. "The kindest thing we should do is unmask you."
"But you're not." the Red Eye said. "Why don't you look in my bag behind you?"
Lin saw a brown, burlap bag behind her. She pulled it up and moved through it. She then found a piece of paper and unrolled it. She put the bag down and read the paper. Suddenly, her eyes widened.
"No." she gasped. "It can't be."
"What?" Korra asked. "What is it?"
"This is..." Lin said, "A presidential pardon describing the Red Eye's... diplomatic immunity."
"WHAT!" everyone gasped. They couldn't believe what they have heard.
"Let me see that!" Tenzin said taking the paper and looking over it. "It's legit. It's got Raiko's signature and everything."
"This doesn't make any sense." Twilight said. "Why would the president want to let free someone who would see him dead?"
"That's not important right now." the Red Eye said. "Right now, you have to let me go."
Lin sighed. "Korra, let him go."
"But..." Korra said.
"We don't have any choice." Lin growled. "Let him go."
Reluctantly, Korra shifted her legs and the ice around the Red Eye broke apart. He rubbed his wrists and stretched his arms and legs.
"Ugh." Miles said waking up. He rubbed his head. "What happened? Oh, now, I remember."
"You may get away," Lin said, "But you still have stuff that aren't protected by your immunity, including who you imprison. Therefore, we're taking all your prisoners."
"Knock yourselves out." the Red Eye said. "I'll just take my immunity deed. You can have the rest."
"What?" Miles gasped. "Wait, chief, take me with you. I'm a prisoner as well."
"Who... are you?" Chief Beifong said.
"I'll explain later." Asami said.
"But know this, Discord." the Red Eye directed himself at the draconequus. "You may have your freedom today, but we've got other plans. One day, you will do what we command and we shall liberate the world from the corrupt."
"Go kiss a lemon!" Discord declared.
"Until then..." the Red Eye said. "Josmo, welkiun, kazin!"
Suddenly, the Red Eye changed into smoke and flew out of the window. That's all everyone saw of him... for now.
"HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME?!" Lok shouted. "I'M A MEMBER OF THE RED LOTUS TOO!"
"I got two words for you, Foghorn," Anar D said, "'Chicken nuggets'."
"Good one." Discord chuckled.
"It's going to be a looooooooong night." Mako said pinching between his eyes.