AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 2: TRADE
CHAPTER 14: THE BATTLE OF TANG'S FORTRESS
We hear crickets, birds, the sound of nature.
Then we slowly fade in on Young Yamani's face, partially blocked by the branches of a berry tree. Yamani looks to be 5 years old.
We hear Yamani's mom from offscreen.
Mom
See it, Yamani?
Yamani nods, narrowing her eyes.
Then we cut to a Jackalope, meandering through the forest, sniffing around.
Mom
Watch and learn.
Yamani turns and looks up at her mom. Then we see Yamani's POV. Her mom is tall, the sun is eclipsed behind her curly hair.
Yamani
Ok, mom.
Mom ruffles Yamani's hair, before Yamani turns back to look at the Jackalope.
We cut to the animal as it continues to walk along the forest path.
Then the Jackalope makes one final, fatal step onto a pile of leaves, which cover a hole in the ground. The animal's two front legs fall into the hole and it squeals in surprise, before completely falling in. We hear a thud as it hits the bottom.
We cut to a clear blue sky over the sea, accompanied by the sound of seabirds.
The birds fly across the sky, flapping their wings in formation. After the last of them exits the frame, something else glides through the sky behind them in the far distance.
We cut to a closer shot. An airbender, Gyan, is flying through the air on his glider, surveying the sea. He pulls a handful of nuts out of his pocket and munches on them.
As he looks around, we see the eastern coast of the earth continent in the distance. The camera pans across the horizon until 3 dots appear in the north. Gyan continues flying until the 3 dots reveal themselves to be Kamakoi ships.
Gyan takes another handful of nuts as he notes the ships, then he turns his glider around. While maneuvering, one of the nuts falls out of his hand.
We follow the nut as it drops out of the sky, falling, falling, falling…
Until it hits the water with a small splash. Moments later, the first Kamakoi ship rams into frame, cutting through the water.
We cut to the cabins below deck. Behind the bars of a large cage, a dozen eelhounds moan and thrash in hunger.
Suno, Tarakano's servant, has a bucket full of what looks like mashed up shrimp. He is taking handfuls of the stuff and tossing it into the cage, giving the eelhounds their supper.
Suno
There you go, boys.
Suno empties the bucket and sets it down on the floor. He admires the eelhounds for a moment, before he hears the door to the kennel open. We pan over to see Tarakano walk into the room.
Suno bows to Tarakano, then he takes the bucket and begins to walk out of the room.
Tarakano
Suno.
Suno stops in his tracks. He turns around.
Suno
Yes, Admiral?
Tarakano
We have two days. Less. Until we meet your cousins on the battlefield.
Suno
(Raises his eyebrow) My cousins? I don't think-
Tarakano
Of course not. No, I know where you come from. But, you are family in a certain way. Do you know what I'm talking about?
Suno doesn't know what to say. He just stands there. Tarakano slowly walks up to Suno.
Tarakano
This man, this rock pusher, Tang. He calls himself an emperor. How do you feel about that?
Suno
Hmm?
Tarakano
One of your kind masquerading as an emperor. Do you like that idea? Maybe you want to join him?
Suno
(Blinks) No.
Tarakano
Why not?
Suno
I serve Emperor Batua.
Tarakano frowns.
Tarakano
That's a boring answer. It could be fun!
Suno doesn't respond. Then Tarakano sighs and slowly walks around Suno. He ends up behind him.
Tarakano
Well… Very soon, my boys will be out there, slaughtering him and every other rock pusher in the place. So, I guess you were too late to join him, anyway… Doesn't that make you sad?
Beat.
Suno
No…
Tarakano
You don't feel anything at all? (Suno shakes his head) You sure about that?
We cut to a close up of Suno. His face gives away nothing.
Suno
Admiral, I… There are tasks to be completed.
Tarakano smiles and puts his hands on Suno's shoulders, rubbing them.
Tarakano
(Almost sincere) Suno, you are always welcome to speak your mind in my company. Yet I fear you almost never do. I wonder what it would take.
Suno
…Sir?
Tarakano insists on continuing to rub Suno's shoulders. Suno eventually slinks out of his grasp and exits the room. Tarakano watches as he leaves.
We cut to Suno as he steps onto the deck, looking around at all of the Kamakoi soldiers. He sighs and looks down, shaking his head.
A funky, rhythmic, focused groove steps in and we cut to the underground crystal catacombs of Tang's Fortress.
We are looking at what was once the town square, now a massive hole in the ground. And it keeps getting deeper. Earthbenders surround the hole and break off large chunks of earth, bending these chunks up and out of the hole.
We watch as these enormous slabs of rock are passed down an assembly line of citizens. Each person in the line breaks the rocks into smaller pieces, until they are left with chunks that are roughly the size of a human. Then these human sized pieces are passed along to a group of people led by Ziri and Baka.
Next to Ziri and Baka, a simple chalk outline of a person is drawn on the wall.
This montage of the people working is intercut.
We cut to Tang, sitting in his office. Then he raises the door. Yamani is holding a large, rolled up sheet of canvas.
Tang
Yamani!
Yamani
(Walking in) The reason it took so long is that people need to stop moving my stuff.
Tang
Do you have it?
Yamani holds up the rolled up canvas.
We see Yamani, days before, drawing something on the large canvas in her home. Ziri looks at the drawing with surprise.
Yamani
I always have the craziest ideas when I talk to that boy.
Ziri
Kato?
Yamani nods.
Ziri
You're right. This is crazy. (She walks up closer to the drawing) What gave you the idea? What did he say?
We cut to later. Yamani, Ziri, and Tang are in Tang's office.
Yamani
The temptation is to appear bigger than you are. That's what pufferfish do.
Tang nods, lighting some smokeables in his bone pipe.
Ziri
Those flying lizard-squirrels with the flaps, too. (Hand motion)
Yamani
That's how you approach a predator. Traditionally… But something told me that wasn't the right way to approach this confrontation. If the fish-heads feel threatened, it could backfire. They might lash out even harder.
Tang
Sure.
Yamani
Another consideration… Were we to meet them in the field of battle. As we are right now? We probably wouldn't stand a chance.
Tang narrows his eyes, taking another puff and waiting for Yamani to continue.
Yamani stands up and unrolls the large canvas. We see the room from the perspective of the canvas, never seeing the drawing ourselves. She nails it to the wall and points to it, turning back to Tang.
Yamani
Therefore… The idea was to limit the need for actual combat as much as possible.
The music gives way to an improvisational jazzy percussion.
We cut back to the present. Hundreds of earthbending citizens are standing on a ring, above the hole. They are modifying the ceiling of the cave, above which, the ruins of the decoy town stand.
Yamani is flying around on her glider, observing the work. She sees Kato and Jinhai working next to each other and gives them a visit, landing beside them.
Yamani
Jinhai, Mushi.
Jinhai bows, giving Yamani a salute.
Jinhai
General Yamani.
Yamani
How goes it?
Kato pats the mechanism he has been carving out of earth.
Kato
I never thought I would have so much fun making a giant hinge.
Yamani
(Nods) I'd say our success hinges on your efforts.
Kato and Jinhai chuckle politely, then look at each other.
Yamani
No good?
Jinhai
You sound a little unhinged.
Yamani laughs. The moment is interrupted by Gyan, who glides in from the surface. Yamani watches as he dismounts and then walks towards her. Yamani meets him and takes him off to the side.
Yamani
Well? When will they arrive?
We cut back to earlier, in Tang's office.
Tang
What's the timeline on this?
We see a split screen. Yamani and Gyan both talk at the same time.
Gyan
A bit less than two days.
Yamani
A little more than two days.
We cut back to Yamani in the present. She exhales and nods.
Yamani
Okay…
The funky, jazzy music reaches its crescendo and then abruptly halts.
We're back in Tang's office.
Tang nods his head up and down, processing all of this.
Tang
I really think this plan could work. All I can do is thank the badgermole you arrived before they did!
Ziri nods.
Yamani
There's another thing. But I don't know if right now is the time to discuss it. We haven't even-
Tang
Go ahead.
Yamani
If the time comes… We need to control the story. We need to make sure we don't provoke them further.
Tang lights up again and lets the smoke waft over his face.
Tang
Perhaps… A decisive victory over the Ice Empire would be unprecedented. And the world is watching, waiting to see what we do next.
Yamani raises her eyebrow, then she turns to Ziri, who seems to agree with Tang.
Tang
Especially with the great General Yamani in our corner.
Yamani
(Chuckles) I don't know about you, but I am certain I never want these fish-heads knocking on our door again. They should be distracted into pursuing other interests. (Yamani stands up and starts pacing) Maybe we even send them some of their precious coral.
We cut to a close up of Tang. He narrows his eyes.
Tang
Hmm… Well… (Takes a puff) If we indeed prevail, we'll have a lot more than that to talk about.
Yamani nods, but a bead of sweat is trickling down her temple.
We cut to Yamani that night. She is wide awake, staring at the ceiling. Ziri is sleeping soundly beside her.
The next day, Ziri wakes up to find Yamani gone. She yawns and then walks over to the kitchen, where a loaf of bread sits on the table. She takes a knife and cuts a slice out of the loaf.
We match cut to an earthbender cutting through the floor with earthbending. Yamani is watching as she cuts the floor out of one of the ancient decoy apartments. Yamani nods and gives her a thumbs up.
We quickly cut between Yamani visiting various tasks. First she visits the construction of fake rock people. Then she visits the people working on the earthen hinges. Then she visits the bottom of the giant hole, where earthbenders are raising giant sharp spikes from the ground.
Yamani
(Checking off her checklist) Good, good, good.
Yamani is walking through the construction site, going through the checklist, when a man, Taru, comes up to her.
Taru
Excuse me?
Yamani
(Looking up) Huh? Uhuh?
Taru
I was just wondering… I'm a nonbender. Is there any way I can help?
Yamani
Yeah, sure! (She puts her arm around Taru) Everyone can cook.
We cut to several enormous pots of stew sitting over a flame. Yamani brings Taru down and sets him up with some vegetables and a knife. Several other people are cutting vegetables, tending to the stew or cleaning pottery.
Yamani
Thank you everyone! It's gonna be a long night.
Yamani walks through the cutting stations, observing the work, until she reaches someone she recognizes.
Muzo, the gambling addict and former gangster, is at a celery chopping station, chopping celery.
Yamani gasps and gets into a fighting position.
Yamani!
Muzo!
Muzo looks up with embarrassment, hands over his face.
Muzo
Hi, Yamani…
Yamani then drops the fighting position and looks perplexed.
Yamani
You know my name? (Steps back) What are you doing here? And where are your flunkies?
Muzo
My what-ies?
Yamani
Your crew! Oh, zeph… I didn't anticipate this. This is a wrench I did not anticipate. (Muzo raises his eyebrow) Don't look at me like that! Don't you know that everything is riding on this? Tomorrow has to go perfectly and you are a complication!
Yamani starts to hyperventilate.
Muzo
Relax! Please, just take a deep breath.
Yamani does take a breath, then she exhales and closes her eyes.
Muzo
Look, I got better things to do than to come here and try to ruin your plans, alright? I promise I mean you no harm.
Yamani opens her eyes, then she glares at Muzo.
Yamani
You promised something last time we met.
Muzo
I know, I know…
Yamani
And then you and your flunkies came out and started throwing fireballs at me.
Muzo
I know.
Yamani
That wasn't a very nice thing to do.
Muzo
I know. I'm sorry.
Yamani keeps glaring at him, then she looks down and sighs.
Yamani
What are you doing here, Muzo?
Muzo smirks, leaning back in his chair.
Muzo
A long time ago, I met a very rich man. He asked me about my business and I told him I could get anything for him, anything in the world, for a price. He told me he only wanted one thing. Can you guess what it was, Yamani? (Yamani shakes her head) He wanted a dragon. So I got it for him. Not an easy feat, mind you. He was so happy, he told me that once I delivered his dragon to him, I was going to be one of the lucky few that he calls a friend. Imagine that! But a few nights later… Well, you know the rest of the story…
Yamani grins and nods.
Muzo
I lost my crew. I lost my home. I lost my reputation. And now I'm a refugee. (Takes a long pause) I followed a group of airbenders to this strange place. Made another life. And Imagine my surprise when one day I look down on stage and see you.
We cut to days earlier. Yamani is on stage in the amphitheater, addressing the citizens.
Yamani
I have a plan.
We cut back to the present.
Muzo
The girl who ruined my life.
Yamani stares at Muzo for a while, then she smirks.
Yamani
It's not my fault you're so bad at Hanan Dao.
Muzo laughs heartily. Then he nods and resumes chopping celery. Yamani leans in.
Yamani
If Shira was so important to you, why did you gamble her away?
Muzo takes a long time to respond. He keeps chopping celery, before he sighs.
Muzo
Things were going so well for so long… I thought I couldn't lose.
Yamani furrows her brow. Then she turns around and walks away. As she leaves, her expression changes. She is thinking about something.
We match cut to Yamani a few hours later. She is standing in front of the crowd, on stage in the amphitheater once again. She looks unsure.
Someone in the audience coughs. Yamani then looks up and addresses them.
Yamani
In the old days, people were asked to make a sacrifice to please the spirits.
We pan across the audience, who look back at Yamani in confusion. We see Tang, watching with interest, and then we see Ziri, observing the crowd.
Yamani
In order for this plan to work… In order to lure the enemy into our trap, we must appear weak. To lull them into a false sense of security.
People in the audience nod. They know this.
Yamani
But what if they arrive and nobody is home? What happens then?
Beat. Then a townsperson raises her hand. Yamani points to them.
TP1
They might realize it's a trap?
Yamani nods. Another TP raises their hand.
Yamani
Yes?
TP2
Isn't that what the stone people are for?
We cut to a large pile of rudimentary rock sculptures shaped like people.
Yamani
Yes. The stone people are gonna help sell it. But it's not enough. (Sigh) We need to look like we're trying to defend our city. And more importantly… (Rolls her eyes) We need to look like we have failed at that task. Otherwise, they will never buy it. (Pause) To that end, I need volunteers… And I'm sorry… This is a terrible thing to ask you to do. This is a terrible thing I'm asking you to sacrifice, but I know in my heart that the actions of twenty brave men and women might just save the rest of us from certain doom… (Pause) So, um… Any takers?
Ziri winces.
We pan across the mixed reactions among the audience. Some find this disgusting. Others find it logical but unpleasant. But nobody makes a move.
Yamani
Nobody? Yeah… Not a big surprise…
We cut back to the audience, who murmur quietly amongst themselves.
Beat.
Then someone in the audience raises his hand.
Man
I volunteer.
Yamani
(Squints) Who is that? (Double-take) Muzo?
We cut to a closeup and see that it is.
Muzo
I've done some bad things in my life. Like how I treated you… But I see the way that you care so much for your people, and… (Lip wobbles) It moves me.
Yamani looks shocked.
Muzo
(Wipes his tears) Besides, I've always hated those damn fish-heads. I'll be glad to give them a lick or two for a good cause!
Someone in the crowd agrees. Yamani nods and looks at Ziri, who looks back with support.
TP2
I volunteer.
TP3
I volunteer, too! Who knows? Maybe we beat 'em before they even get here!
TP2
Yeah! Let's give 'em the secret recipe!
TP4
I volunteer!
We cut to Kato and Jinhai. She turns to him.
Jinhai
Are you going to volunteer?
Kato
I'll do it if you do it.
Jinhai
Nevermind.
Then we hear a commotion across the amphitheater. Kato looks over and sees the crowd pushing a man around. Kato struggles to get a better look.
TP5
Here's another volunteer!
TP6
He's a waterbender!
We cut to a closer look at the man, Taru from earlier. One of the townspeople pushes him and he falls to the ground. As he looks up in fear, we can see he has blue eyes.
TP7
How do we know he's not a fish-head spy?
Taru
I'm not! I swear!
TP5
Prove it!
The crowd starts booing the man. Kato watches the situation unfold in quiet fear. Then he looks over at Jinhai, who is booing the man with a smile on her face.
TP4
I saw him bending an ice cube!
We zoom in on Kato as the crowd chants.
Crowd
Volunteer! Volunteer! Volunteer!
We cut to a leaf, gently falling through the air. The camera follows as it surfs on the wind, lazily making its way down, until it finally lands in someone's hands.
Yamani has caught the leaf. She stares down at it, before slowly turning the leaf over.
There are two symbols written on the leaf in ink.
'Big Mistake'
Yamani's eyes open wide, then she turns around and realizes she is on the beach. She takes a few steps back in panic.
Yamani
No! What did I do? What did I miss?
Yamani looks to the left and sees a sandcastle. She narrows her eyes, then she looks to the right and sees more empty beach.
Yamani
What am I missing?
Then Yamani looks out on the sea. A large vertical object approaches from a distance. In horror, Yamani watches as it gets closer and closer.
The object becomes more clear. It looks like 50 kamakoi ships stacked on top of each other, reaching up to the sky.
Yamani tilts her head in confusion.
Then we cut to Yamani in bed. She opens her eyes.
Today is the day.
We hear the sound of the ocean. Then we cut to Tarakano on the deck of his ship, looking through a spyglass. He raises his eyebrow.
We see from his POV that the shore looks deserted.
Tarakano
It's empty.
S1
Sir?
Tarakano
Clean the wax out of your ear-holes.
S1
Ok, will do, sir.
Tarakano
I said there's nobody here. (He lowers the spyglass and narrows his eyes) Why?
S1
I don't know… (Grabs the spyglass and looks through) They could be holding defensive positions further inland.
Tarakano
Rock pushers? No… I don't like this.
S1
They're probably scared.
Tarakano continues to mull this over. We cut to Muzo and his team running through the farmland towards the shore.
S1
Wait, I see something.
S1 hands the spyglass back over to Tarakano, who takes a look.
From his POV, we see Muzo and his team taking position.
We cut to a close up of Muzo, he is terrified. The rest of his team are the same. Then they start lobbing chunks of earth towards the sea.
We cut back to Tarakano's ship. He looks around as the chunks of earth start raining down on them. The waterbenders create ice umbrellas which completely block the stone projectiles.
Tarakano
(Grinning) So it begins.
We cut to a close up of a key going into a lock. Suno unlocks the eelhound cage below deck and then opens the door. The eelhounds make their way up the stairs to the deck.
Tarakano
My soldiers, are we ready?!
Soldiers
Yes sir!
Tarakano
Are you going to make me proud?!
Soldiers
Yes sir!
Tarakano
Are you going to make the Koi proud?!
Soldiers
Yes sir!
Tarakano
That's what I want to hear! Ride, my soldiers! (Beating his chest) Ride and teach those rock pushers a lesson they'll never forget! Make 'em beg like they did in Aikira!
The soldiers cheer and begin to mount their eelhounds. Tarakano watches proudly as the eelhounds jump off of the ship into the water. 90 out of the 100 soldiers ride their way to the shore. The other 10 stay aboard Tarakano's ship.
We cut to Muzo. He watches in fear as the eelhounds step onto the beach. Then he steels himself, getting into position.
Muzo
Come on… Come and get it you damn fish-heads!
Muzo throws a fireball at the soldiers. One of them blocks it with an ice shield, then he pats his eelhound on the head. We pan down as the eelhound thrashes its tongue.
Soldier
Onward!
Muzo and the rest of the team scream in defiance, throwing as many projectiles as they can muster.
We cut to a powerful wave hitting a rock. The foam slowly trickles out back to the sea.
Beat.
The music turns bleak as we cut back to Muzo. He lies dead on the ground, with several ice daggers sticking out of him. We pan across the other volunteers, all of them defeated.
Tarakano's mouth curls up into a smile. Suno brings him a cup of tea. Tarakano starts to hum a tune as he takes a sip.
The bleak music continues as the soldiers ride their eelhounds towards the town. We see their reflection on the surface of Lake Laogai. As the soldiers get closer, the decoy town and all its glory becomes apparent.
S2
This is it?!
We cut to the collapsing shingles of a building, then we cut to a broken pinwheel on the roof of another building, next to what looks like a dying cat.
S2
These pipsqueaks had the clams to defy our Empire? What a joke!
Then we cut to the window of one of the ancient apartments. It looks like several people are inside, moving around in the shadows.
We cut to a pair of hands, moving like a puppeteer. Another pair of hands does the same thing. The "people" above in the apartment seem to be guided by the hand movement.
A soldier sees the people inside, then he turns to his comrade with excitement.
S3
They're here…
The eelhound's foot takes a step into town and the camera dips below, where Yamani is gliding. She sees the dust being shaken off the ceiling and then blows on her whistle.
Yamani
They're here! Undo the braces!
We cut to Kato, who balls his hands into fists. All the earthbenders do this, and the structural bracing underneath the ceiling becomes crushed by the collective bending. Now the ground is only being held up by the earthbenders. Kato grits his teeth, taking on the weight.
Above ground, the soldiers sweep out, covering every street.
Once the soldiers have the apartments completely surrounded, they jump off of their eelhounds. The music becomes more and more intense.
One soldier arms himself with an ice dagger, then he walks up the stairs and kicks the door open.
Soldier
Time's up, rock pusher-
But the soldier stops, holding onto the door frame. The camera pans down and we see that the apartment lacks a floor. His abrupt stop caused a few pebbles to fall from the edge into the gaping maw below.
We cut to another soldier, opening a door and finding the same thing. Then we see another. He looks up at what he thought was a person, but is actually a floating head-and-torso shaped rock person.
The soldier gasps in disbelief, rubbing his temples.
Soldier
What is this?!
Another soldier runs into the locked door of an apartment at top speed and breaks in. He and the door tumble down into the deep pit below.
Soldier
AAAAAAHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh!
Kato continues to strain himself, holding the earth up. We can see the soldier and the door reflected in his eye.
We then cut to Kato's hands, raised in the air. We pan over to see Jinhai's hands, raised as well. She's in the same position. We pan across dozens of hands holding up the earth.
We intercut between Kato straining and all the other earthbenders of Tang's fortress doing the same thing. As this happens, the once bleak and terrifying music gives way to the familiar jazzy percussion from earlier.
Another soldier opens the door and does a double take.
S4
Where's the fish-hooking floor?!
We cut to the fake rock person who greets the soldier, a huge smile carved into his face.
Then we cut back to Tang's office, a few days ago. He is up from his desk, staring at the canvas with a surprised expression. He turns to Ziri.
Tang
You were right. This is crazy. (To Yamani) You have a name for it?
Yamani
(Nods) I call it 'The Trap Door'.
We finally see the contents of the canvas; an illustration of what is about to happen.
We cut back to Yamani in the present. She pulls out her whistle and blows on it.
Yamani
Now!
With great relish, Kato releases the earth from his grip. All of the earthbenders do.
We cut to a birds eye view of the decoy surface town, which is swarming with Kamakoi soldiers and eelhounds.
A vertical seam cuts the town in half, then the two halves open up like a giant trap door. Soldiers are screaming, eelhounds are squealing. Everything in the town is sliding towards the expanding hole in the middle.
Eventually the two halves of the town are completely separated. They hang perpendicular to the ground.
The soldiers and the eelhounds and everything else descend until they hit the sharp spikes at the bottom of the pit, impaled en masse. The fake rock people join them at the bottom, bouncing and breaking on the spikes.
Yamani looks down at the result with awe. And a little bit of guilt.
The music stops, and we cut to the gaping pit that was once "Tang's Fortress', seen from a distance.
Admiral Tarakano is staring at the gaping pit in disbelief. He's on the deck of his ship, just offshore. The camera slowly pans away from Tarakano and lands on Suno, who is standing behind him with a similar expression.
Tarakano
(Quietly) The earth. It swallowed them whole.
Tarakano turns around to look at Suno, before descending into rage.
Tarakano
This is your fault.
Suno
What?
Tarakano angrily grabs Suno by the collar, holding him in the air.
Tarakano
You betrayed me. You-
Tarakano suddenly looks behind Suno and gasps. On the horizon, a 4th ship speeds across the sea. It's definitely not a Kamakoi ship.
Tarakano lets go off Suno and walks across the deck to get a better view. Then he turns around and stomps his foot.
Tarakano
Bleeding Koi! It was a trap!
Tarakano looks around, processing this, then he slowly starts to laugh maniacally. The remaining soldiers onboard look back in fear.
Tarakano
Those clever little fiends.
S1
What do we do, sir?
Tarakano looks at the soldier, then he looks back at the gaping pit, before looking at the ship on the horizon.
Tarakano
Our ships are faster. Turn this thing around! Now!
The soldiers affirm and then take position to bend the ship around using the water. The ship starts to move.
Tarakano
They played their hand and now they have nothing left to play. We regroup, restock, and return to destroy them!
Soldiers
Yes, sir!
The ship continues to rotate.
Tarakano
(Nervously) Come on, come on!
The soldiers push even harder and finally, the ship is facing the opposite direction.
Tarakano
Let's go!
The soldiers set sail and go below deck to navigate. The ship is now sailing away from the shore. Tarakano exhales in relief, eyeing the ship on the horizon, before he turns again towards Suno.
Tarakano
As for you…
Tarakano approaches Suno. He grabs him by the arm and takes him to the corner of the ship. Then Tarakano looms over him, whispering in his ear.
Tarakano
You're in for a world of hurt.
Suno
What did I do?
Tarakano
You really think I don't know? I know everything! I know all the plans and the schemes you hatch in your shifty little mind! I know! These are rock pushers! They never would have got the drop on us without your help!
Suno
But sir! How could I?
Tarakano
Shut up.
Suno
I don't have access to the-
Tarakano
Shut up!
Suno
I have always served you faithfully! I promise, I would never-
Tarakano punches Suno in the face. Suno reels back, clutching his jaw.
Tarakano
Shut up! (Punches him again) I know that all you rock pushers sit around and think about ways to betray your master! Forever ungrateful! (Tarakano holds Suno against the edge of the ship) Forever wanting more and more and more! You savages won't stop until you've destroyed everything!
Suno looks back with a piercing stare. Then he narrows his eyes.
Suno
Fine.
We cut to a large rock on the seafloor. The rock dislodges from the sand.
Then we cut back to Suno, lifting his arms, bending the rock clean through the ship and tearing a massive hole.
All the sound drains. Tarakano stares at the water pouring in from the hole, before he turns and looks at Suno with wide eyes. Then he puts his hands around Suno's throat.
Tarakano suffocates Suno in silence, the two slowly sinking. Then a soldier hurriedly taps his shoulder. Tarakano turns to the soldier as the sound comes back.
Soldier
Sir, you need to get on your eelhound!
Tarakano looks up at the soldier, breathing heavily, then he nods. He lets go of Suno, who flops into the water.
Tarakano
Goodbye, Suno.
Tarakano and his soldiers mount the eelhounds, riding off.
We pan over to the ship, which continues to sink into the water.
Beat.
Then suddenly, Suno emerges from the water. He breathes heavily, catching his breath. Then he swims toward the shore.
The eelhounds are making their way across the water. Then we cut to the mysterious ship, en route to cut them off. Tang is aboard, along with Ziri and some other benders. The camera slowly zooms in on Tang as he looks upon the Kamakoi.
Tang
They've abandoned ship. This is better than we could have hoped for. (He turns to Ziri, standing behind him) You're up.
Ziri nods, then she steps onto a small lifeboat, hanging on the side of the ship. The crew lowers her down to the water.
The eelhounds are getting closer. Tarakano looks determined. Ziri inhales, centering herself. Then she raises her hand. As she gets into position, a spark builds in her fingers, slowly, slowly, until…
Ziri screams. The positive and negative energy come crashing together, and she sends a powerful lightning strike into the water.
The electric current flies through the water, electrocuting all of the eelhounds.
Before Tarakano and his men can even react, Ziri and another firebender are heating up the ocean around them. Then a couple of airbenders raise the steam and envelop the Kamakoi soldiers. Their sight is completely cut off.
Tarakano
Men! Don't give up!
The soldiers are bobbing up and down in the water. Their eelhounds are fried, the charred remains sinking deeper and deeper below.
Tarakano
This is our element! This is our turf! This is our-
Then, the massive shadow of the ship casts upon the fog, before the bough breaks through. Tang is standing on the deck, looking down at Tarakano.
Tang
There you are.
Tarakano
(Smirking) It's you. I was hoping I'd get to see you.
Tang
(Smirking) Likewise.
Tarakano floats up and down, his gaze fixed on Tang.
Beat.
Then Tarakano quickly sends some ice daggers in Tang's direction, but Tang dodges the attack. Then the rest of the earthbenders trap the remaining Kamakoi soldiers in stone.
Tarakano spits at Tang in rage. Then we hear some rope unfurl.
Tang
Gotcha.
We cut to a crescent moon in the sky, along with the sounds of music.
The camera pans down and we see the citizens of Tang's fortress in the grand amphitheater, partying, drinking and dancing.
Gyan swoops down and addresses the crowd.
Gyan
For the first time in three years. Yamani and Ziri!
Yamani turns to Ziri, who grins.
Yamani
Wait!
Ziri shakes her head, before she takes Yamani's arm and brings her on stage.
Ziri
You remember 'The Dance of the Dragonfly'?
Yamani nods. Ziri takes out her stringed instrument and Yamani busts out her flute. Ziri taps the tempo with her foot, then the two break out into a rhythmic ditty. The drummer soon follows.
Kato and Jinhai are both in the crowd, dancing their asses off. Particularly Kato. He looks completely lost in the music, eyes closed, sweating.
We cut to Yamani. As she plays, she notices something in the crowd.
Tang is making his way through the crowd, carrying a small wooden box. Yamani raises her eyebrow. We cut to a closeup of the box, then pan up to Tang's face. He has a devious expression.
Yamani shrugs and continues to play, closing her eyes.
We cut back to Kato. He dances and dances and completely blends into the crowd.
We cut to Suno, aboard one of the empty Kamakoi ships. He is in the kennel, staring at the empty eelhound cage. He sighs.
Suno is wandering around the cabins, looking for something before he stumbles upon the captain's pantry. Inside, he finds dozens of cured meats hanging from the ceiling. He swipes one of them.
Then Suno goes into another cabin which is full of scrolls.
Suno opens some of the scrolls, looking for pictures. When he finds none, he sits down and chews on his cured meat.
We cut to a wide shot of the two abandoned ships, sitting in the moonlight just offshore.
Beat.
Then we hear the recognizable sound of an airbender using their glider. The airbender flies past the frame. A moment later, we see them land in the distance.
We cut to the door being slammed open. Kato and Jinhai enter their little apartment. Kato is still humming the song from before, as he dances into the room. He grabs Jinhai's hand and leads her through the moves, both of them sweaty and probably drunk.
Eventually the dancing stops and the two end up looking at each other.
Kato
(Slurring his words) That was amazing!
Jinhai
(Also slurring her words) Everything is amazing.
Kato
You don't understand, Jinhai. I felt… I felt like I was part of the crowd, like I was part of something bigger. I never felt that before.
Jinhai
(Sad) You never felt like you belonged?
Kato
I don't know… (Hiccup) They put me on a pedestal.
Jinhai
(Looks confused) Who?
Kato shakes his head. Then he takes off his shirt and flops down on the bed. We briefly see the ceiling from his POV, shaking and spinning. Then he looks at Jinhai.
Kato
But they'll never know it was me. I made a hinge with my people! My beautiful people!
Jinhai
Beautiful, huh?
Jinhai lies down in the bed across from him. He nods and she grabs his hands.
Jinhai
Today was beautiful. All of us working together. We did what everyone thought was impossible. You don't mess with Tang's fortress!
Jinhai yells that last part loud enough that she gets a response from her neighbor.
Neighbor
Woo!
Jinhai and Kato chuckle about this.
Jinhai
Yeah!
Kato
You don't mess with Tang's fortress.
Jinhai shakes her head. She and Kato look at each other for a moment. Then she leans in and kisses Kato on the lips.
Kato freezes, staring back at her with wide eyes.
We cut to Ziri pushing Yamani into the wall of their own apartment. Ziri and Yamani kiss for a moment, then Ziri licks Yamani's cheek.
Ziri
You beautiful genius. I want to taste you.
Yamani bites her lip in pleasure, but she suddenly looks away and her expression drops.
Ziri
Hey. What's wrong? (Yamani just stands there, staring at the floor) Yamani, your plan worked without a hitch. Today will go down in history!
Yamani is about to speak before she gets interrupted.
Knock knock.
The two turn towards the door. Yamani walks over and opens it to see Gyan.
Yamani
Gyan? Um…
Ziri
Welcome.
Gyan
Hello, ladies. I'm sorry, I know it's late.
Yamani
(Nods) …Well?
Gyan
Yamani, someone just arrived on the surface. Says he knows you.
Yamani raises her eyebrow, sharing a glance with Ziri, before looking back at Gyan.
Ziri
Really?
Gyan
An airbender.
We cut to a close up of Yamani. The camera slowly zooms in.
Then we cut to Gyan and Yamani gliding through the catacombs toward the hole. A column of rain pours through it.
The two end up on the surface. Yamani dismounts from her glider and follows Gyan to the edge of Lake Laogai. As Yamani gets closer, she sees the airbender standing on the lake's edge, facing away from them.
Yamani already knows, but she doesn't want to.
Then the man turns around. Jang.
Yamani stops in her tracks, staring at him in shock. Jang looks back with a complicated sadness.
The rain pours down on them both.
TO BE CONTINUED…