The gang arrives in the village of Yoza. Taqqiq recognizes pieces of it that were once him home village, when he was taken in by the Earthbender Rahi. It appears Yoza is now a conglomerate of several nearvy villages brought together for safety and prosperity by Gao, a local Beetle Merchant. They also learn the area is 'under siege' by sandbenders controlling the nearby river and supply route.
Everyone goes to meet with Gao, save Mayu because he's armed. Gao seems busy and uninterested in the gang's questions. He claims everyone has been better off under a single roof and that the leader of the rebel group, Hanta, is the real threat. The heroes don't buy this, and Taqqiq says once they've resolved the issue with Hanta, they'll put leadership up to a vote of the people.
Mayu, while the group is parleying, goes off to the local watering hole(s) and finds information on Hanta, a waterbender who used to operate in the area as a guide and bandit. He also learns that Gao has quite a heavy hand over the people.
As the group reconvenes, Mayu mentions Hanta's name and Taqqiq recalls growing up with Hanta, when they were part of the same waterbending tribe. Despite Gao's Goons™ bullying the gang and their waterbender, Taqqiq stands up to them and wants to defend the people of the village he grew up in.
The gang heads out into the desert to meet with Hanta. It's a tense negotiation about freedom and protection, but they convince Hanta that if he can ingratiate himself to the people he has a better chance of taking down Gao. The heroes ask to bring water back to the people, as Hanta the Water-Bringer is a better guy than Hanta the Dam-Builder. They also decide to divert the river to a better position to help everyone.
Distributing the water to the villagers allows the group to also spread word about a more fair governance of Yoza, with elections, etc. More of Gao's Goons™ show up and claim the group needs permission to distribute water - imagine if all the resources were just allowed to be used by anyone at anytime! Mayu and Taqqiq drive them away however.
Po and Kensaya look to recruit more earthbenders or waterbenders to help divert the river. They find some sandbenders, but are also bullied by Gao's Goons™, however Po manages to drive them off via an earth-pillar push.
Everyone reconnects before the next day. Taqqiq asks around the 'old town' about Gao's rise to power, how he brought togetjher the different, small and struggling villages, but perhaps is too greedy for his own power. The next morning, Gao tries to stop the gang from going to help Hanta's river construction, but he's driven aside and upset.
The group goes to Hanta and helps plan and coordinate all the parts of the river divert project. It is here that Rahi finally approaches Taqqiq, and they discuss in private about the young man and bender he's become since he left. Po, impressed by the sandbenders, looks to instill some of their skills in his bending, and is told of Rakim, one of the tribe chiefs in the Si Wong Desert.
When Gao arrives at the project with his forces, Taqqiq and Mayu are able to quell combative uprisings and bring everyone together in mediation. It's decided that not just elections will help Yoza, but a Council of villagers that can help dictate the future of all the groups now there. This brings better resolution to the people, who are wary of both Gao and Hanta's leadership, and allows others from the displaced villagers to have a say.
The group celebrates with the people's newfound autonomy and prepares to head out with Amu to the desert to meet Enji...hopefully.
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