The Southern Raiders

Writer: Aaron Ehasz

Director: Joaquim dos Santos

Guest Stars: Tim Dang (Yon Rha), Grey DeLisle (Azula, Kya), André Sougliuzzo (Hakoda), Jennie Kwan (Suki)

Synopsis
The episode begins with the kids sleeping on a spire at the The Western Air Temple, when Aang stirs. Out of nowhere, an Airship bomb comes flying at the gang. Aang airbends it away, and the others wake up as several Fire Nation Airships rise out of the mist. Aang Airbends the large doors of the spire closed to protect them from the flying bombs and fire blasts. As Toph blasts a tunnel into the wall that they can escape through, Aang notices Zuko standing at the doors. Zuko tells Aang that he will hold them off. When Aang can't get Appa to go in the small tunnel, he decides to go help Zuko. Everybody but Aang, Katara, Sokka, Suki, Zuko, Appa, and Momo start to go through the tunnel while the others prepare to fly away. Azula and Zuko battle on top of an airship, which results in them both falling off opposites side of the airship. Zuko gets saved by the gang through Appa, while Azula uses her firebending to propel herself to the cliff-side and halt to a stop using her hairpin.

The kids camp out on a small island. Zuko tries to talk to Katara but she only yells at him. He then goes to Sokka, who was expecting Suki. The former inquires about their mother. Sokka remembers that the Fire Nation attacked their village long ago. But the attack was short and the invaders soon retreated. At that time, they discovered their mother was gone. Zuko asks what flag the ships were hoisting. Sokka describes it as a lion, which Zuko recognizes as the Southern Raiders. He tells Katara that she could get revenge for the death of her mother. Aang tries to dissuade her, saying revenge is never the answer but she doesn't listen. Nonetheless, he allows her and Zuko to take Appa. They go to a guiding outpost that serves as a coordination station for the entire Fire Navy. On the way, Katara reveals what she remembers of the attack:

She went to search for her mother but inside an igloo, she finds her mother Kya being questioned by a Fire Nation soldier. Kya tells Katara to go outside. She complies and goes to get her father but Kya was already gone. (flashback ends)

They sneak in and send a guard out by waterbending ink on her. They trail the Southern Raiders to Whale Tail Bay. Katara waterbends the crew overboard and the two make their way to the bridge to capture the captain. But it is not the man she remembers. Interrogating the captain, they learn that the last commander, Yon Rha, retired years ago and is living with his ill-tempered mother.

Yon Rha is sent by his mother to get fresh tomatoes. However, on the way back, he feels he's being watched. He feels so sure that he firebends a bush. But Katara and Zuko were hiding and ambush him. Katara gets him to remember her. Yon Rha tells her the whole truth of what happened. He was searching for the last waterbender, which Kya identified as herself and wanted to be taken prisoner but he had no interest and killed her. But Katara reveals herself as the last true waterbender and summons the rain for her attack. Yon Rha pleads for his life, even offering his mother to make things even. Seeing how weak and pathetic he is, Katara relents.

Series Continuity

 * This is the first time in the series that more information was released about the mother of Katara and Sokka.
 * Kya, the mother of Sokka and Katara, was killed by trying to protect Katara, which was the target of the Southern Raiders, since she is the last waterbender in the Southern Water Tribe.
 * This is the first time Katara bloodbends since The Puppetmaster.
 * This is the first Zuko has mentioned Katara and Aang's names out loud.

Triva

 * Katara and Sokka's mother's name is Kya. In the Avatar pilot episode Katara's name was Kya.