The Ultimatum


 * This article is about the eleventh episode of Book Three: Change. For the machine from the Avatar: The Last Airbender video game, see Ultimation.

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- As long as I'm breathing, it's not over.

"The Ultimatum" is the eleventh episode of Book Three: Change of The Legend of Korra and the 37th of the overall series. It was released on Nick.com for online viewing on August 15, 2014.

Overview
''While Ba Sing Se erupts in chaos, Mako and Bolin commandeer an airship and set course for the Si Wong Desert to find Korra and Asami. While flying over the Lower Ring, they stop to take their family with them, saving them from the flames that are consuming the city. They eventually track their friends down to the Misty Palms Oasis, where they reunite and relay Zaheer's message: Korra in exchange for the survival of the Air Nation. In an attempt to warn Tenzin of the Red Lotus' approach of the Northern Air Temple, Team Avatar heads back to Zaofu to use their radio transmitter and prepare for takeoff toward the temple. The warning comes too late, however, and the Red Lotus manages to capture all the temple's inhabitants. Tenzin, Kya, and Bumi try to fight off Zaheer, Ming-Hua, and Ghazan respectively, but are eventually overpowered. Although Kai nearly sacrifices himself to help the airbenders reach the bison stables and escape, P'Li manages to corner them all.''

Synopsis
Upon the assassination of the Earth monarch, a massive of lower-ring people started looting the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace. Mako and Bolin walked outside their cells as Zaheer freed them, noticing the mess that people had made to the city. The looters are running all-around and with the help of guards they stole the Earth Queen's property. Mako planned to tell Korra the message as soon as possible, using the Cabbage Corp airship to get to Korra. They flew through the city as the chaos evolved even more. Noticing their family is still inside the city, they used the airship to evacuate their family.

Entering their family's home, Bolin was greeted by Yin and she offered them to stay. The fire outside the house was spreading all-over but as Bolin begged her grandmother to evacuate, she refused. After a short debate Bolin brought Yin to the airship, and before they leave, Yin picked up the portrait of Hou-Ting.

As they left the city, Mako and Bolin headed the airship to Si Wong Desert, where Korra and Asami were last seen. Chow noticed the ruins of the airship but they didn't make themselves to Korra. Soon afterwards, they arrived at the Misty Palms Oasis. There, they were greeted by Korra, Asami, Lin, Tonraq, and Zuko. Noticed that Lord Zuko was there, Bolin excitedly bowed down as Mako told Korra about the message. Realizing that Tenzin is in danger, they made their way to Zaofu where Korra can send a radio message to Tenzin.

Arriving at Zaofu, they used the radio to call Tenzin. Su was worried about the Air Nation, Opal more precisely. After a short buffer, Meelo received the broadcast but refused to get his father until ordered by Korra to do so. Tenzin arrived and received the message from Korra just as the Red Lotus approached to the temple. Tenzin and Meelo spread the order to evacuate using the flying bisons, but later was blocked by Zaheer.

Bumi was practicing with the other new airbenders just when the airship flew above, and Bumi passed the message to Kya who was meditating with the female airbenders. As the airbenders were evacuating, they were blocked by the Red Lotus, gathered in a courtyard as result. Tenzin was running with his family when Zaheer blocked their way and later united with the others.

Looking for Korra, Zaheer asked the airbenders to cooperate by offering their freedom in exchange for Korra. Tenzin refused and ordered Jinora to lead the others to the flying bison stable while Bumi, Kya and himself handled the Red Lotus. Using their bending, they dueled one by one in the courtyard.

On the way to the stable, the airbenders were attacked from the air using the combustion from P'Li. Kai decided to try and distract P'Li in order to buy some time to allow the other airbenders to escape, but she was able to knock him out of the sky. The others were unable to escape due to the bisons being scared off when the combustion reached the stable, leaving them at the mercy of P'Li.

Inside the courtyard, Kya fought Ming-Hua using water from the fountain there knocked her down until she used the water nearby to create a huge water octopus. Ghazan faced Bumi, until both Kya and Bumi were cornered and thrown down to the mountain. Tenzin was able to hold his own against Zaheer on the rooftop of the buildings, but the latter was joined by Ming-Hua and Ghazan who soon overpowered Tenzin. Zaheer offered him to surrender, but he refused and was attacked by the Red Lotus. Kai was found by one of the baby bisons hanging from a tree and was rescued.

Credits
Written by:
 * Joshua Hamilton

Directed by:
 * Colin Heck

Starring:
 * Janet Varney - Korra
 * David Faustino - Mako
 * Seychelle Gabriel - Asami
 * P. J. Byrne - Bolin
 * J. K. Simmons - Tenzin
 * Henry Rollins - Zaheer
 * James Remar - Tonraq
 * Mindy Sterling - Beifong
 * Richard Riehle - Bumi
 * Lisa Edelstein - Kya
 * Anne Heche - Su
 * Kiernan Shipka - Jinora
 * Jeff Bennett - Radio broadcaster
 * Skyler Brigmann - Kai
 * Greg Cipes - Tu
 * Dee Bradley Baker:
 * Pabu
 * Naga

Also starring:
 * Grey DeLisle-Griffin - Ming-Hua
 * Maria Bamford - Pema
 * Logan Wells - Meelo
 * Peter Giles - Ghazan
 * Carlos Alazraqui:
 * Chow
 * Radio operator
 * Royal guard
 * Susan Silo - Yin
 * Greg Baldwin:
 * Iroh
 * Looter
 * Bruce Davison - Lord Zuko

Trivia

 * One of the airbending moves that Tenzin uses during his fight with Zaheer is the same one that Avatar Aang performs in the opening sequence for "The Legend of Korra".
 * The airbending move that Tenzin uses to knock Zaheer, Ming-Hua, and Ghazan against the walls of the foyer is the same technique Daw used on the Metalbending Police Force in "A Breath of Fresh Air".
 * The way Bumi hung on to save Kya is similar to how Sokka hung onto the Fire Nation airship to save Toph in "Sozin's Comet, Part 3: Into the Inferno".