Book 1 Chapter 6 Imprisoned
Amity's intro
Water. Earth. Fire. Air.
Long ago, the four nations lived together in harmony. Then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked. Only the Avatar, master of all four elements, could stop them, but when the world needed her most, she vanished. A hundred years passed, and me, Willow and Gus discovered the new Avatar, an airbender named Luz. And although her airbending skills are great, she has a lot to learn before she's ready to save anyone.
But I believe Luz can save the world.
The scene opens up in a forest. Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda are on a raised, grassy plateau. A gentle stream is running out beneath it. Amity and Gus are folding the sleeping blankets. Luz is lying on the root of a tree. King screeches and lands on the plateau for Eda to write something down on her notes as Willow approaches.
(Enthusiastically.) "Great, you're back!" Luz said
Luz leaps off the root with her airbending, landing beside Amity and Eda as Willow digs in her bag.
"What's for dinner?" Eda asked
(Pulls some nuts from her bag.) "We've got a few options. First, round nuts. And some kind of oval shaped nuts? And some rock-shaped nuts, that might just be rocks." (Throws the rock-shaped nut toward King.] "Dig in!" (Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda look at each other then back at Willow.)
"Seriously ... what else you got?" Amity asked
King coos, and sniffs the rock-shaped nut, before taking it with one of his paws and slapping it against a stone twice. Attempting to break it, he takes it with both paws and slams it down on the big rock. The moment he does so, however, the entire earth quakes, making King shriek and his hair stand up on end.
"What was that?" Gus asked cowering behind Willow
King, believing he may have caused the quake, cautiously drops the rock to the ground in test. The quake returns, causing King to leap away.
"It's coming from over there!" Luz said
(Luz, Amity and Eda run off-camera.) "Shouldn't we run away from huge booms? Not toward them?" Gus asked only to be pulled along by Willow
The five friends, joined by King, hide behind a fallen tree and spy on a young boy bending boulders into the air and punching them into the side of the ravine.
"An earthbender!" Willow said
"Let's go meet him!" Luz said
"He looks dangerous, so we better approach cautiously." Eda said
(Suddenly Willow is a few feet in front of them, excitedly addressing the earthbender.) "Hello there! I'm Willow! What's your name?" Willow asked
The young boy gasps in surprise, dropping the boulder he was bending to the ground. He flees quickly, bringing down an avalanche of boulders with his bending to block his exit.
(Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda approach Willow, yelling.) "Nice to meet you!" Luz said
"Weren't you supposed to be the cautious one?" Amity asked
(Shrugging.) "I just wanted to say hi." Willow said
"Hey! That guy's gotta be running somewhere. Maybe we're near a village? And I bet that village has a market!" Eda said
(Excitedly.) "Which means no nuts for dinner!" Gus yelled
(Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda chase after the young boy.) "Hey! I worked hard to get those nuts!" (King flies overhead, chasing Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda.) "Yeah, I hate 'em too." Willow said (Slowly follows Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda.)
Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda stroll through the mining village's streets while Luz speaks with a shopkeeper under a terrace.
"Great hat!" (Tries on the hat.) "I'll trade you some nuts for it." Luz said
(Notices the boy enter a shop. Speaks to herself in surprise.) "Hey …" Willow said
The boy enters into the dark, wooden building and approaches a woman.
"Hi, Mom." the young boy said
"Where have you been, Taru? You're late! Get started on your chores." Taru's mother said
(Enters the shop's front door, startling Taru.) "Hey. You're that kid. Why did you run away before?" Willow asked
"Uh, you must have confused me with some other kid." Taru said
(Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda enter the shop.) "No, she doesn't. We saw you earthbending." Luz said
Taru and his mother gasps in horror at his secret being revealed and both the door and window to the small shop are promptly slammed shut.
(Standing by the window.) "They saw you doing what?!" Taru's mother asked
"They're crazy, Mom! I mean, look at how they're dressed." Taru said
Luz gazes to his conical hat, shifting it about in confusion. Amity and Willow awkwardly grasps at their dresses, looking with astonishment at themselves. Gus quirks an eyebrow and smooths out his sleeve. Eda scratches the back of her head then pops her shoulders.
"You know how dangerous that is! You know what would happen if they caught you earthbending!" Taru's mother said
(Heavy knocks on the door.) "Open up!" a voice was heard from outside
(Willow peeks through the window's blinds.) "Fire Nation! Act natural!"
Taru's mother opens the door, allowing the Fire Nation tax collector to walk inside. He stares awkwardly at the group in front of him. Taru grasps his chin and stares toward Amity and Willow, cross-eyed. Gus eyeballs an apple. Amity and Willow hunched forward with their eyes wide open, having stuffed their mouths with berries. Eda reading a book leaning against a wall. Luz has her hand atop a barrel, beaming an immense toothy smile. Her pose is short-lived as the barrel's lid spins, dunking Luz's hand into the barrel of water and causing her to fall down.
(The tax collector stares sourly toward the group, aggressively.) "What do you want? I've already paid you this week!" Taru's mother said
"The tax just doubled." (Arrogantly.) "And we wouldn't want an accident, would we?" (Creates a ball of fire between his hands, making everyone slightly back away.) "Fire is sometimes so hard to control." the Fire Nation tax collector said
Taru's mother and the tax collector approach the store's counter, where she opens a small chest and passes a meager handful of Earth Kingdom currency to the tax collector. Taru leans against the counter, staring with contempt toward the Fire Nation man.
"You can keep the copper ones." the Fire Nation tax collector said (Walks away, dropping four copper pieces to the floor, exits.)
(Door slams.) "Nice guy. How long has the Fire Nation been here?" Eda asked
"Five years. Fire Lord Ozai uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships." Taru's mother said
"They're thugs. They steal from us. And everyone here's too much of a coward to do anything about it." Taru said
(Angered.) "Quiet, Taru! Don't talk like that." Taru's mother said
(Curiously.) "But, Taru's an earthbender? He can help!" Amity said
"Earthbending is forbidden. It's caused nothing but misery for this village!" (Casts a meaningful glance toward her son.) "He must never use his abilities."
"How can you say that? Taru has a gift! Asking him not to earthbend is like asking me not to waterbend. It's a part of who we are." Gus said
(Shakes head in dismay.) "You don't understand." Taru's mother said
"I understand that Taru can help you fight back. What can the Fire Nation do to you that they haven't done already?" Willow asked
"They could take Taru away! Like they took his father." Taru's mother said
Scene changes to late evening, viewing farmland and a barn. Appa walks into the barn. Cut to a closer view of Luz, Amity, Gus, Willow, Eda and Taru standing inside the barn.
"My mom said you can sleep here tonight. But you should leave in the morning." Taru said
"Thanks. I'll make sure Appa doesn't eat all your hay." Luz said
Appa engulfs a mouthful of hay. Appa pauses, turning to stare dubiously toward Luz before continuing to chew hay. The scene switches to Gus, Willow and Taru taking a walk into the woods outside under the setting sun.
"I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't know about your father." Willow said
"That's okay. It's funny, the way you were talking back in the store? It reminded me of him." Taru said
(Flattered.) "Thanks." Willow said
"Look who found someone that understands her" Gus said letting out a laugh only to hold his foot in pain from getting it stomped by Willow
"My father was very courageous. When the Fire Nation invaded, he and the other earthbenders were outnumbered ten to one. But they fought back anyway." Taru said
"He sounds like a great man." Willow said
The three approach the top of a steep cliff, gazing out to the setting sun beyond.
(Stops.) "After the attack, they rounded up my father and every other earthbender, and took them away." (Kneels.) "We haven't seen them since." Taru said
"So that's why you hide your earthbending." Gus said rubbing his foot
"Yeah. Problem is …" (Close-up, earthbends two stones in a circle above his hand.) "the only way I can feel close to my father now" (Crushes the stones to sand with his hands. The sand blows away.) "is when I practice my bending. He taught me everything I know." Taru said
(Sits beside Taru, sets his fingertips on his necklace.) "See this necklace? My mother gave it to me." Gus said
"It looks cool." Taru said
"I lost my mother in a Fire Nation raid." (Hangs his head, turning away.) "This necklace is all I have left of her." Gus said
"It's all he has to remember of his mother" Willow said looking down crossing her arms saddened
"It's not enough, is it?" Taru asked
"No." (Hangs his head and turns away.)
The scene switches to Gus, Willow and Taru who have continued their walk along the dirt trail. A loud boom sounds and rock and dust blasts from a distant mine entrance. An old man cries out.
"Help, help!" the old man yelled
"The mine!" Taru said
Gus, Willow and Taru run quickly to the entrance, which has caved in and left a tremendous pile of rocks pinning the old man to the ground on his stomach. Sand continues to pour down, rocks intermittently falling.
"Help me!" the old man yelled
(Gus and Taru braces their backs against the mine entrance. Willow pulls the old man.) "Ugh! It's not working! We have to get help!" Willow said
"There's no time, pull harder!" Taru said
(Getting an idea.) "Taru. There's a way you can help him." Gus said
(Guilty fear.) "I can't." Taru said
"Please, there's no one around to see you. It's the only way!" Willow said
Taru leaps away from the falling debris, spinning back to face it as he assumes an earthbending form. With a sudden and strong move, he blasts all the rocks down the tunnel making Gus fall forward from it, freeing the old man.
(Excitedly.) "Taru! You did it" (The two take place beside the old man and aid him walking away from the mine.)
At the barn, Willow is sitting up in her bedroll with a lamp in her lap. Gus is lying on a square bale of hay with his blanket over him, Eda laid back against another bay of hay reading her notes, Luz and Amity are sprawled out on Appa's head with King lying on his back.
"It was so brave of Taru to use his earthbending to help that old man." Willow said
"You must have really inspired him." Luz said
"I guess so." Willow said
"She'll probably have a thing going with him as well" Gus said while chuckling only to be hit on the side of the head by a small rock earthbended by Willow
"Everyone should get some sleep, we're leaving at dawn." Eda said putting her note away in her backpack
(Unhappily.) "Dawn?! Can't we sleep in for once?" Willow asked
(Commandingly.) "Absolutely not! This village is crawling with Fire Nation troops. If they discover you're here, Luz, we'll be eating fireballs for breakfast. Goodnight." Eda said
(Slyly, with a wry smirk.) "I'd rather eat fireballs than nuts." Gus said only to be covered in sand from a rock crushed above his head by Willow
(With finality.) "Goodnight!" Willow yelled at Gus
Luz and Amity share a few playful chuckles with each other before Willow blows out the lamplight to get some rest.
Fire Nation troops march on a mission through the dead of night. The man in the lead knocks on a wooden door. Taru answers the door, suddenly gasping in shock as he sees the troops.
(Points accusingly.) "That's him! That's the earthbender!" the old man yelled
The Fire Nation leader shoves the old man out of the way and approaches Taru. Taru screams as the man forces Taru into his grip and hauls him away.
In the morning, Gus carries a jar outside of the barn. He sets it down beside a water pump and proceeds to waterbend, drawing water out of the spigot and into the waiting pot. Picking it up, he spots Taru's mother standing with her back to him, gazing toward the distant ocean. Taru's mother slowly turns around, laying a tearful gaze upon Gus. Gus realizes Taru has been taken and drops the pot, as it shatters to pieces at his feet.
(Enters the barn to see Luz, Amity, Willow and Eda folding blankets, emotionally.) "They took him! They took Taru away!" Gus yelled
(Surprised.) "What?" Luz asked
(Worried.) "The old man must've turned him into the Fire Nation - it's all my fault - I forced him into earthbending!" Willow said crying
(Steps beside her, taking her hand in hers and laying her other hand supportively behind her shoulder trying to comfort Willow.) "Alright, Gus. When did this happen?" Amity asked
"Taru's mother said they came for him at midnight." Gus said
"Then it's too late to track him, he's long gone." Eda said
(stands defiantly and walks to the open door, clenches fists.) "We don't need to track him. The Fire Nation is going to take me right to Taru." Willow said
(Confused.) "And ... Why would they do that?" Luz asked
(Determined.) "Because they're going to arrest me for earthbending." Willow said(Luz and Amity share a horrified look. Eda was shocked from what she heard as Gus fainted from Willow's determination.)
Scene changes to Willow earthbending a boulder near the edge of a cliff on a rocky road.
"I thought you were crazy at first, Willow, but this might work. The rocky terrain up here where the mines are. You'll be able to earthbend here, but this is risky." Gus said
(Props hands off hips, turns to Luz, Amity and Gus.) "hey? You fellas okay there?" Willow asked
(Snapping small puffs of air at a sooty copper fritillary butterfly, dismissively.) "Yeah, yeah. We're okay here." Luz said
"Do you remember what we'll do to get Willow arrested?" Gus asked
"Stay back here to let you know when the fire nation will come, we got this" Amity said
(Aggravated.) "By this, do you mean intentionally being captured by a group of ruthless firebenders?" Eda asked
"Hey, this is a side of Willow we don't see very much" Luz said
(Spots a group of firebenders with spears approaching.) "Here they come! Get in your positions!" Amity said ducking down pulling Eda down with her behind the rock their hiding behind
Luz stops playing with the butterfly and King tries catching it as it flies away. As the group of spear-wielding guards approach, Gus and Willow make a show of walking into one another by their stomachs before emphatically shouting.
(While angrily pointing at Willow.) "Get out of my way, lummox!" Gus yelled (The soldiers watched in confusion. One of them even raises an eyebrow.)
(Angrily hunched over.) "How dare you call me lummox, you giant-eared cretin!" Willow yelled
(Just as angrily hunched over.) "What did you call me?" Gus asked
(Far too dramatically as her hair moves with her motion.) "A giant-eared cretin! Look at those things! Do herds of animals use them for shade?!" Willow shouted (Imitates an elephant's ears.)
(Stands on his toes.) "You better back off!" (Slips his hand by his mouth and mutters.) "Seriously, back off." Gus whispered
(More determined, heightens above her now-cowering friend.) "I will not back off! I bet elephants get together and make fun of how large your ears are!" Willow yelled louder
"That's it! You're going down!" Gus said getting into fighting position
"I'll show you who's boss!" (Angrily points at Gus.) "Earthbending style!" Willow yelled as she raised her hand using earthbending to lift the boulder behind Gus into the air making him look at it in fear but revealed King behind the boulder, who had his arms raised, licking himself.
(Points a finger to the demon dog, surprised.) "That demon dog! He's earthbending!" the Guard said
(Willow and King each remain in their positions. Willow eyes the man in surprise. Gus, angrily, waves his arms toward her.) "No, you idiot, it's the girl!" Gus yelled
"Oh." (Blushes shamefully.) "Of course." the Guard said
Gus steps beside Willow, laying his hands on her shoulders making her drop the boulder to the ground. Willow stands patiently.
"I'll hold her." (Close-up. Whispers to Willow.) "You've got twelve hours to find Taru. We'll be right behind you." Gus whispered
The guards escort Willow away, leaving Luz, Amity, Gus, Eda and King to watch as she takes a final glance back. Gus unhappily tugs at his ears, testing their sizes.
(Eyeballs King perched off of Luz's shoulder. Points accusingly.) "King, you're lucky your ears don't show!" Gus said (King lowers his tail down, hunches down, and coos in protest.)
Willow is in the back of a Fire Nation transport with other earthbender prisoners. She wears a brown, tattered prison garb over her blue Water Tribe outfit and stares glumly downward. Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda each have conical yellow hats in a crowd, attempting to stealthily observe her travel. Willow looks longingly over shoulder as the cart bobs along a pier, heading toward a waiting barge on the ocean.
Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda chase the barge, riding Appa through the clouds. The immense, smoking, off-shore Fire Nation prison rig is seen just ahead. Close-up of the rig.
(Gus stares nervously at the barge carrying Willow to the prison.) "She'll be fine, Gus. Willow knows what she's doing." Eda said
After the barge arrives, six prisoners, including Willow, line up on the deck of the prison. Spear-wielding guards stand at either side. A prison warden approaches.
(Smugly.) "Earthbenders. It is my pleasure to welcome you aboard my modest shipyard. I am your warden. I prefer to think of you not as prisoners," (Quips smartly.) "but as honored guests. And I hope you come to think of me as your humble and caring host." (Paces nonchalantly.) "You will succeed here, if you simply abide-"
The warden pauses, suddenly interrupted by a prisoner in line coughing. With no forewarning, the warden leaps into the air and aims a blast of fire at the prisoner's legs in anger. The prisoner cowers away for safety as the warden stands defiantly toward the man.
(Very angrily.) "What kind of guest dishonors his host by interrupting him?! Take him below!" (Swings his arms. Some guards escort the man away. Mutters.) "One week in solitary will improve his manners." (Continues smug gait.) "Simply treat me with the courtesy that I give you-"
Approaches Willow, kneeling to stare into her obstinate expression. She crosses her eyebrows, scowling coarsely at the man.
"And we'll get along famously." the Warden said
The prisoners are taken on a tour of the facility. Below, fellow prisoners are seen laboring.
"You will notice, earthbenders, that this rig is made entirely of metal. You are miles away from any rock or earth." (Willow pauses, glancing over the expansive ocean to the land far away.) "So, if you have any illusions about employing that brutish savagery that passes for bending among you people …" (Lowly.) "forget them. It is impossible. Good day." the Warden said
A guard escorts the prisoners into the prison courtyard. Willow enters last and the metal gates close behind her. Among many earthbender prisoners, Taru takes notice of Willow. Above the courtyard, a watchman and the warden monitor the scene.
(Surprised.) "Willow?" Taru asked
(Excitedly. Runs and hugs Taru.) "Taru!" Willow yelled
(Confused.) "What are you doing here?" Taru asked
(Somewhat apologetically.) "It's my fault you were captured. I came to rescue you." Willow said
(Shocked.) "So, you got yourself arrested?" Taru asked
"It was the only way to find you." Willow said
"You've got guts, Willow. I'll give you that." (Places hand on her shoulder.) "Come on. There's someone I want you to meet." Taru said
The two approach an old, gray-bearded man eating dinner among other prisoners.
"Willow. This is my father, Kyro." (The older man looks up.) "Dad. This is Willow."
(Slightly bows.) "It's an honor to meet you." Willow said
(Hands Willow a bowl.) "Have some dinner, Willow." (Willow accepts the bowl, but grimaces.) "It's not as bad as it looks." (Willow tries a spoonful, but becomes further disgusted. He finds humor in this with a small chuckle.) "It's still pretty bad though." Kyro said
(Walks up and lays a hand on Kyro's shoulder.) "Kyro. The prisoners are complaining there aren't enough blankets to go around." the prisoner said
"I'll talk to the guards. In the meantime, make sure the elderly are taken care of. The rest of us will simply have to hope for warmer weather." Kyro said
"If you don't mind me asking, what's your escape plan?" Willow asked
"Excuse me?" Kyro asked
"You know, the plan to get everyone off the rig? What is it? Mutiny, sabotage?" Willow asked
"The plan? The plan is to survive. Wait out this war. Hope that one day some of us can get back home and forget this ever happened." Kyro said
(Shocked.) "How can you say that? You sound like you've already given up!" Willow said
"Willow, I admire your courage. And I envy your youth. But people's lives are at stake here. The warden is a ruthless man, and he won't stand for any rebellion. I'm sorry, but we're powerless." Kyro said
(Obstinately.) "We'll see about that." Willow said
Willow stands up and carries a trash can lid and a ladle, climbing on top of a wooden table. From there, she bangs the ladle against the lid to draw attention.
"Earthbenders! You don't know me, but I know of you. Every child in my friend's Water Tribe village was rocked to sleep with stories of the brave Earth Kingdom, and the courageous earthbenders who guard its borders." (The watchman walks up to talk to the warden, but the warden stops him and listens.) "Some of you may think that the Fire Nation has made you powerless. Yes, they have taken away your ability to bend. But they can't take away your courage. And it is your courage they should truly fear! Because it runs deeper than any mine you've been forced to dig, any ocean that keeps you far from home! It is the strength of your hearts that make you who you are. Hearts that will remain unbroken when all rock and stone has eroded away. The time to fight back is now! I can tell you the Avatar has returned! So remember your courage, earthbenders," (Shouts clearly.) "let us fight for our freedom!" Willow shouted
Willow's speech is met with utter silence and a small cough in the background, leaving her to fall into sorrow as she realizes the muted answer she receives. The warden walks away from the courtyard. Later that night while she is sleeping, Luz and Gus sneak into the prison and Gus taps his hand to her shoulder, waking her. Urging her to be quiet, they lead her to the perimeter where Amity, Eda and Appa are waiting to make their escape.
"Your twelve hours are up; where's Haru? We've gotta get outta here!" Eda said
"I can't." Willow said
(Hurriedly.) "We don't have much time. There are guards everywhere. Get on!" Eda said
(Concerned.) "Willow, what's wrong?" Gus asked
"I'm not leaving." (Luz, Amity, Gus and Eda share a questionable look.) "I'm not giving up on these people." Willow said
Fade to black. Cut to Luz, Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda on the metal perimeter.
"What do you mean you're not leaving?" Amity asked
"We can't abandon these people! There has to be a way to help them." Willow said
"Maybe she's right. What do you say, fellas?" Gus asked
"I'm with you" Luz said
"Me too" Amity said
"I say you're all crazy!" (The group ducks a searching spotlight.) "Last chance! We need to leave, now!" Eda said
(Sternly.) "No!" Willow said
(Shakes her head dismally.) "I'm starting to hate it when someone gets like this. Come on, we better hide." Eda said
(Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda flee. Luz whispers to Appa before joining them.) "Go hide."
(Appa soars overhead to fly away and hide.) "Look!" the Captain said
The two guards who witnessed Appa take to the skies approach the warden on a catwalk.
"Tell me exactly what you saw." the Warden said
"Well, sir, it looked like a flying bison." the Captain said
(Surprised.) "What?" the Warden asked
"It was a giant flying buffalo, sir. With an empty saddle." the Guard said
"Which was it? A buffalo or a bison?" the Warden asked
"Uh, I'm not sure what the difference is, but that's not really the point, is it, sir?" the Captain asked
(Furiously.) "I'll decide what the point is, fool!" the Warden said
The warden throws the first guard overboard. The man screams in horror before finally being silenced by a splash below.
(To the second guard as he straightens up.) "You! Wake up the captain. Search the entire rig!" the Captain said (Turns to walk away.)
"Uh, sir." the Guard said
(Annoyed.) "What?" the Warden asked
(Somewhat timidly.) "That was ... the captain you just threw overboard, so …" the Guard said
(Still quite annoyed.) "Then wake up someone I haven't thrown overboard and search the rig! There's something going on here and I don't like it."
King peeps over a wooden crate where the group is safely hiding behind numerous boxes. Scene opens up to show the five huddled together seated on the metal ground in the darkness.
"We don't have much time. What are we gonna do?" Eda asked
"I wish I knew how to make a hurricane!" Luz said
Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda provide Luz with assuredly un-entertained facial expressions.
"The warden would run away and we'd steal his keys!" Luz said
"Wouldn't he just take his keys with him?" Gus asked
"She's just tossing ideas around." Amity said
"I tried talking the earthbenders into fighting back but it didn't work! If there was just a way to help them help themselves." Willow said
"For that they'd need some kind of earth, or some rock. Something they can bend." Eda said
(Lays her palm to the surface.) "But this entire place is made of metal!" Willow said
"No, it's not." (Points to smokestacks.) "Look at the smoke! I bet they're burning coal. In other words, earth." Amity said
Morning arrives, the scene gaining light. Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda are alone by an air duct. Amity is peering down into it with her hood over her head, while Gus, Willow and Eda kneel beside it with their hands on its rim.
"It's almost dawn. We're running out of time! You sure this is gonna work?" Willow asked
"It should. These vents reminded me of our little trick back at the village. We're gonna do the same thing, but on a much bigger scale." (The camera zooms through a visual walkthrough of Amity's explanation.) "There's a huge deposit of coal at the base of the silo. And the whole system is ventilated. Luz closed off all the vents except one. When she does her airbending the coal only has one place to go, right back here."
"There's the intruders!" the Guard said
The group are suddenly surrounded by a number of spear-wielding Fire Nation guards. The prisoners have gathered a safe distance away from this spectacle, observing what is happening.
"Stay back! I'm warning you!" Gus yelled (Pulls out Willow's boomerang, turning back-to-back with the others.)
(Roughly.) "Willow, stop! You can't win this fight!" Kyro said
"Listen to him well, child. You're one mistake away from dying where you stand." the Warden said
A sudden rush of air fills their ears as the facility shakes. The ventilation shaft bursts off its hinges as an immense blast of coal soars into the air, crashing down into a gathered pile. Everyone present is silent, staring in stark surprise at this turn of events. Lastly, Luz leaps out from the barren ventilation shaft, landing atop the coal pile and coughing, covered in soot and dirt. King follows her and Willow runs up to the coal, turning to face the earthbenders.
(Lifting up a piece of coal with her earthbending.) "Here's your chance, earthbenders! Take it! Your fate is in your own hands!" Willow shouted
Taru bolts ahead without hesitation, prepared to bend the waiting coal as a weapon. Kyro throws his hand up, bracing his son's chest to halt his advance.
(Bursts out into highly amused laughter.) "Foolish girl. You thought a few inspirational words and some coal would change these people? Look at these blank, hopeless faces. Their spirits were broken a long time ago." (Willow's expression dims as she does as instructed, staring at the forlorn prisoners.) "Oh, but you still believe in them. How sweet. They're a waste of your energy little girl. You failed." the Warden said
The warden finishes his speech by turning to take leave of the facility. As he does so, a single piece of coal sails through the air and pelts the back of his head. Outraged, the warden spins back to see who dared to attack him. Taru stands defiantly levitating three pieces of coal above his hand. The warden sends a blast of fire toward Taru, but the fire is blocked, as the newly invigorated Kyro raises a wall of coal in his defense.
(The guards line up and prepare for battle.) "Show no mercy!" the Warden yelled (The guards sent a blast of fire as one toward the rebelling prisoners.)
(The earthbenders work together to haul a sizable mass of coal to block the fire.) "For the Earth Kingdom, attack!" Kyro said
Slamming the coal to the ground, chunks of rock assault the guards. The battle immediately flares, prisoners ducking blasts of fire and countering with fists of coal. Luz and Amity chase after Gus and Eda as they snap the soldiers' spears in two with Willow's boomerang and club, tossing the broken shafts to King overhead. King continues to collect other pieces of broken spears that are thrown up to him.
Willow, Taru and Kyro work in unison to compress gathered coal into one lump, slinging this through the doors to make way for their escape. The guards on top fall down.
"Get to the ships! We'll hold them off!" Kyro said
"Do not let them escape!" the Warden commanded
(Generates an air funnel and holds it between her hands, to Amity, Gus and Eda.) "Guys! Throw me some coal!" Luz said
Amity, Gus and Eda drop heaps of coal into his funnel, firing the material rapidly at the warden and his fellow benders, knocking them to the ground. Following this, Tyro and two other earthbenders work together to lift coal beneath these adversaries, moving them away from the rig and over the ocean.
(Pleading.) "No, please! I can't swim!" the Warden said
"Don't worry. I hear cowards float." Kyro said (Drops their enemies into the ocean.)
On the barge headed to their homes, Taru and Kyro approach Willow on its deck.
"I want to thank you for saving me. For saving us." Taru said
(Turning to face Taru. Denying.) "All it took was a little coal." Willow said
"It wasn't the coal, Willow. It was you." Taru said (Willow blushes.)
"Thank you for helping me find my courage, Willow of Omashu. My family and everyone here owes you much." Kyro said
"So, I guess you're going home now." Willow said
"Yes. To take back my village." (Raises his voice to the crowd on the lower deck.) "To take back all of our villages! The Fire Nation will regret the day they set foot on our land!" (Crowd cheers at Kyro's bravado.)
(To Katara.) "Come with us." Taru said
"I can't. Your mission is to take back your home. Ours is to get Luz to the North Pole." Willow said [Gazes over the rail to see King join Luz atop Appa's head, floating in the ocean.)
"That's her, isn't it? The Avatar." (Luz airbends an encased piece of coal. King jumps into her lap.) "Willow, thank you for bringing my father back to me. I never thought I'd see him again. I only wish there was some way …" Taru said
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll meet again." (Reaches for his necklace wistfully as Willow is about to elbow him, but realizes it is not around his neck and panics making Willow stop herself from doing it.) "My mother's necklace! It's gone!" Gus said in panic
Back on the prison rig, Lilith stands alone facing the sunset amid coal lying sparsely on the deck. She seizes Gus's necklace in her fingers, lifting it to stare at it grimly.
Fade to credits.