EXT. SIDE STREET - NIGHT
Makami digs into a piece of the birthday cake with her bare hands while Voso gnashes on a sandwich. There is a comfort in this sight that you wouldn't normally see with new couples - a side effect of being friends for so long.
The paper lanterns around them conceal humming streetlamps.
MAKAMI
Leaving? Where are you going?
Voso swallows hastily, coughing a few times as a result.
VOSO
(hoarsely)
With my grandpa somewhere. I, uh, I can't say where.
MAKAMI
(playfully)
Oh, a secret spot? Could it be those rumors of alien lifeforms are being checked by the great Commandant Adachi and Fam?
VOSO
(chuckling)
I wish it was something that cool...but, I mean, it will still be pretty cool.
MAKAMI
I bet.
VOSO
It won't be for too long, I hope. Just a few weeks and I'll be back.
Makami puts the cake away and fails to make eye contact out of guilt.
VOSO
(smoothly)
Maybe for a third date?
MAKAMI
(bitterly)
Careful what you ask for...
The tone catches his attention until she whips back her face with a quick smile.
MAKAMI
The second one isn't over yet.
VOSO
(anxiously chuckling)
Yeah, well, I've, uh...I've got...
He hits himself softly on the forehead a few times.
VOSO
Do you remember that time our families went to Ember Island? When Grandpa and your mom pretended to be father and daughter to get a discount?
MAKAMI
(whispering)
Hey, maybe don't talk about fraud out loud, hm?
VOSO
(louder)
I don't care!
She hides her face while chuckling.
VOSO
I'm talking about the last night we were there - the big bonfire?
MAKAMI
(warmly)
Yeah, I remember. You juggled caocaonuts on one foot, then dropped one on your sister's head.
VOSO
(chuckling)
Yeah, then you had me make a block of ice to put in Zura's bath.
They both share a laugh while he sets down the bag of food and holds his wrapped gift in both hands.
VOSO
(softly)
That was the night we stayed up late as the flames died. I...
He juts the present towards her, which she happily takes.
VOSO
(softly)
I wanted to give you something to remember that night by...and tell you that...that I...
The light fixture above them whines louder until it suddenly explodes. Both of them duck and cover their faces.
VOSO
(concerned)
Are you okay?
Before Makami can answer, another and then another bulb explodes. Soon, they are separated from the light. Makami empties her hands as they both move to the center of the cobblestone street, looking around.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
A weird power surge?
VOSO
(scared)
Let's head back to the crowd.
Their hands come together as they walk backwards towards the fountain in the far background, their eyes flicking for movement.
A loud clang sounds from behind, turning them both to see the hooded, metal creature. The cylindrical body shows a steam-punk design beneath a clear case, the copper shining through with a harsh indifference. From its chest are pounds and muffled screams.
KOTA (O.S.)
(muffled)
GET ME OUT OF HERE!
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Kota!? Kota are you in there?
Bursts of steam move aside the cloth around the arms and head, revealing an automaton with dark blue eyes and a thin, gear-filled face.
Makami and Voso reel backwards - him a few steps further back than her - when another clang slams to the stone behind them, and another still.
One is right over Voso's shoulder, scaring the boy into a mighty recoil.
VOSO
(panicked)
Whoa, no, no, NO! PLEASE I'M NOT A DEFRAUDER!
MAKAMI
(nervously)
What do you want?
One of them opens its chest and shoots out several metal lines towards Makami. She clenches her eyes closed and takes to the skies with fire, avoiding them completely.
Voso is on the ground, trying to create more space by crawling backwards. One is reaching towards him.
VOSO
(panicked)
NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!
Above, Makami hears Voso and spins back, looking strong-willed as she bursts to protect him.
A strong flame blast hits the automaton's head hard enough to knock it off balance. Makami shoots two more as she flies past above.
CUT TO:
INT. ROBOT CHEST
Kota pulls on the stubborn metal doors in front of her while the exposed gears around her continue to grind. A bellows pumps in the background in the chamber just large enough for Kota to keep her knees off her chin.
KOTA
(struggling)
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon!
CUT BACK TO:
EXT. OFF STREET OF ZUKO FOUNTAIN
A flurry of flame blasts pound against the torso of the robot blocking the way to the fountain, sending it reeling. Yet another sends it finally off its feet.
CUT BACK TO:
INT. ROBOT CHEST
With the movement outside, a pipe has sprung loose on the inside in the foreground, drawing Kota's attention. She maneuvers herself and wrestles the pipe free with a metal "pop".
CUT BACK TO:
EXT. OFFSTREET OF ZUKO FOUNTAIN
Makami bursts towards the downed robot with large flames pushing her forward. As she does, the bot quickly juts a foot up and into her midsection. The hips rotate on their gears to spin her in the air, then launch her towards the light off-panel to the left.
The robot is up quickly before all three are chasing after her, leaving Voso by himself.
VOSO
(yelling)
Makami!
CUT TO:
EXT. ZUKO STREET FIRE CLOCK FOUNTAIN
Makami skips across the cobblestone, coming to a stop just before the lip of the clockwork fountain. The television camera is in the background, filming as the families begin to run and scream. The robots march, destroying the stones they step on and tossing chairs out of their path.
Makami rises from the ground slowly. The robot in front has its clawed fingers aimed at her with an inevitable danger.
Suddenly, a burst of steam shoots from the shoulder of the closest bot, its arm dropping limply. Another burst takes out its leg. The second robot charges past the first with arms out towards Makami. She raises her hands as though she's giving up...
Once it's close enough, she shoots flames out of her hands, thrusting herself strongly enough to uproot the robot. It hits the side of the fountain and tumbles into the water as Makami rises further in the air, winding her hands with water before spraying the water back to freeze the bot underwater.
Creaking metal meets Makami as she lands in front of the last robot with Kota prying herself free. Makami tries to help her.
MAKAMI
(struggling)
C'mon, Kota, push!
The remaining bot's midsection snaps opens to shoot metal wires at a frozen Makami. Before she feels the cold wrap of the wires, each of them stop in mid-air.
They whip back, wrapping around the automaton's body in force, sending sparks and steam flying before the body falls. Sage Toyo is revealed to be the bender that stopped the final bot with Shii bringing Voso to rejoin the group.
SAGE TOYO
(grumbling)
They got the cheap models...
SAGE SHII
(loudly)
Avatar Makami!
CUT TO:
EXT. THROUGH THE TV CAMERA
Now back through the grain and off-kilter coloring of the video camera, it watches Shii help up Makami and Voso hug Kota. It pans to the right slightly to see Toyo waving and smiling at the camera with a short-armed wave.
The reporter climbs back up into the frame with eyes wide and anxious. Hairs are jutting from her head in multiple places.
REPORTER
(quickly)
Ladies and gentleman, what we just witnessed was an attack of unknown assailants on a person now claimed to be the Avatar. The assailants were subdued and - wait, do we have the network?
The camera nods up and down as the word "Live" now flashes onto the screen.
REPORTER
(quietly)
Holy kumquats...
CUT TO:
EXT. ZUKO STREET FIRE LANTERN FOUNTAIN
Shii is behind Toyo as the three kids look over to a group of televisions set inside of a glass window, all of them proclaiming "Breaking News". Their dirty, shocked faces appear on each of the TVs.
SAGE SHII
I believe our little secret has gotten out. We have to get to the marina.
As the sages approach, the three check on one another. Makami and Voso hug tightly.
VOSO
(softly)
I'm so sorry, I froze up - I was so scared.
MAKAMI
(sincerely)
No, I'm sorry...
They release their hug.
MAKAMI
(remorseful)
I should've told you I was the Avatar, and...and that I-
SAGE SHII (O.S.)
Makami?
The view turns to Toyo and Shii with the reporter backpedaling closer to them from the other side of the pond.
SAGE TOYO
(seriously)
We have to get you out of here.
Makami slowly nods, turning back to Voso with renewed determination.
MAKAMI
(quickly)
Promise me we'll be back here at the same time again soon.
VOSO
(quickly)
I promise! Promise me that you'll go on a third date with me.
MAKAMI
(chuckling)
I promise times a thousand.
He hands her the wrapped present.
MAKAMI
Can I open it?
VOSO
(chuckling)
It's yours, so yeah.
She plants a kiss on his cheek, sending red all the way through his face. Makami takes off with Kota right beside her.
MAKAMI (O.S.)
I'll write!
VOSO
What? No, just call me!
MAKAMI (O.S.)
As soon as I can!
The view looks to Kota's excited face running alongside Makami's confused one.
KOTA
(excitedly)
Don't even ask - yes, I'm coming with you...Avatar Makami!
Makami just smiles as the group of four pass the reporter.
REPORTER
(quickly)
Excuse me, Avatar Makami! Please do you have a comment?
TOYO
(to Reporter)
Sorry, Avatar business.
The camera slowly zooms out to the blocks around them, then the city at large.
REPORTER (O.S.)
For those that have just joined us - the Avatar has returned!