Book 1 Chapter 7 Solstice, Part 1: The Spirit World
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 episode opens to a cloudy sky, looking toward the ground. The point of view switches to one above the clouds as they pass by. A messenger hawk floats into view, emitting a cry. When Appa overshadows the bear and roars, it shrieks again and stoops down, swiveling out of view. The camera shifts to a side-view of Appa soaring along with Luz, Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda in his saddle.
(Voice-over, somewhat dreamily.) "Those clouds look so soft," (Cut to Luz sitting lazily atop Appa's head, a twig in her mouth; the view pans to the left, showing Willow carving something with an uninterested look on her face, Amity, Gus and Eda lying on their stomachs, popped up on their elbows, staring dreamingly over the rim of Appa's saddle, and King sleeping on the luggage.) "don't they? Like you could just jump down and you'd land in a big, soft, cottony heap?" Amity asked
(Turns to Amity, mockingly with a smile.) "Maybe you should give it a try." Willow said
(Looks at Willow with annoyance, sarcastically as she looks away from her.) "You're hilarious." Amity said
(Frontal shot, excitedly.) "I'll try it!" (Carrying her staff, she jumps off Appa with a big smile on her face. As she begins to fall, she turns once around her axis, winking at the camera as she passes. She falls down spreadeagled, laughing joyously.) "Yeah!" Luz yelled
Cut to a side-view of Appa's saddle as Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda pop their heads over the rim, looking down in the direction Luz went. Cut to an upward looking shot following Luz falling down, still smiling broadly. As she passes the camera, it tilts down, following her as she vanishes in a cloud. Cut back to the others, Amity looks somewhat worried, while Gus, Willow and Eda gazes wide-eyed at the point where Luz vanished. When they lean over to search the sky, Luz comes back up from behind them on her glider. The group turn around as they hear the snapping noise of Luz's glider being closed, and they watch how the airbender plops down on the saddle, her legs spread apart and a big smile on her face. Cut to a side-view of an unimpressed looking Willow, before switching back to a frontal shot of Luz who is dripping wet.
(Looking at herself.) "Turns out, clouds are made of water." Luz said
She breathes in deeply and slams her balled, right fist against her stretched left hand, creating an expanding air ball around her in the process, drying herself off. As Luz leans back to rest on both her hands, she constantly looks at King, whose fur got all fluffed by Luz's airbending. Cut to a side-view of Willow, who is still looking at Luz unimpressed. Amity glances at her friend, but her attention is drawn to something over his shoulder.
"Hey, what is that?" Amity asked
Gus, Willow and Eda look over their shoulders in the direction Amity is looking as well. Amity gets up and walks to the front of Appa's saddle. Cut to a shot of the landscape in front of them, a large, dark patch of burned land standing out among the lush green of the forest. Cut to a frontal view of the group now all looking over the front rim of Appa's saddle, surprised looks on their faces.
(Camera zooms in.) "It's like a scar …" Eda said
The scene fades to a ground view of the scorched forest. The camera pans to the right, showing many burned trees, and Team Avatar standing in the middle of a gray, barren patch.
(Voice-over.) "Listen." (Cut to a frontal shot of a sad-looking Luz, her friends behind her.) "It's so quiet. There's no life anywhere." Gus said
"Luz? Are you okay?" Amity asked
(Noticing footprints, angrily.) "Fire Nation! Those evil savages make me sick! They have no respect for -" Willow didn't finish saying
"Shhh!" Gus said slapping his hands on Willow's mouth shutting her up
(Muffling angrily.) "What? I'm not allowed to be angry?" Willow asked
Amity points to Luz with a somewhat concerned look on her face as she slumps over, downcast at the sight.
(Kneels down and sighs. She picks up some ash as it slowly seeps through her hand and drops to the ground, sadly.) "Why would anyone do this? How could I let this happen?" Luz asked
"Luz, you didn't let this happen. It has nothing to do with you." Amity said
(Sadly.) "Yes, it does. It's the Avatar's job to protect nature. But I don't know how to do my job." Luz said
"That's why we're going to the North Pole." (Smiling softly.) "To find you a teacher." Gus said
"Yeah. A waterbending teacher. But there's no one who can teach me how to be the Avatar. Monk Klatso said that Avatar Moku would help me." Luz said
"The Avatar before you? He died over a hundred years ago, how are you supposed to talk to him?" Eda asked
"I don't know." (King comes up to Luz and settles in her lap.)
In another area, Lilith comes looking for Kaldo.
"Kaldo! It's time to leave! Where are you? Lieutenant Kaldo!" Lilith yelled
(Relaxing in a hot spring.) "Over here!" Kaldo said calling Lilith over
"Kaldo? We need to move on. We're closing in on the Avatar's trail and I don't want to lose her." Lilith said
"You look tired, Commander Lilith. Why don't you join me in these hot springs and soak away your troubles?" Kaldo asked
"My troubles cannot be soaked away. It's time to go!" Lilith said
"You should take your teacher's advice and relax a little. The temperature's just right. I heated it myself." (He lifts his mask a bit and breathes steam through his nose.)
"Enough! We need to leave now. Get out of the water!" Lilith demanded
"Very well!" Kaldo said (He gets up, exposing himself.)
(Shielding her eyes.) "On second thought, why don't you take another few minutes? But be back at the ship in a half-hour or I'm leaving without you!" Lilith yelled while walking away
Kaldo sighs as he slumps back into the water.
The scene returns to the forest.
(Approaches Luz.) "Hey, Luz! Are you ready to be cheered up?" Amity asked
(Sadly.) "No." (An acorn is thrown at her.) "Ow! Hey, how is that cheering me up?" Luz asked
(Chuckles.) "Cheered me up." (An acorn gets thrown at her.) "Ow. Yeah, I probably deserved that." Willow said
"These acorns are everywhere, Luz. That means the forest will grow back! Every one of these will be a tall oak tree someday, and all the birds and animals that lived here will come back." Amity said (She places the acorn in her hand and closes it.)
"Thanks, Amity." Luz said
Amity smiles at her before gasping at the sight of an old man approaching.
"Hey, who are you?" Eda asked
"I am Kay-fon, when I saw the flying bison, I thought it was impossible!" (Approaches Luz.) "But, those markings ... are you the Avatar, child?" [Luz looks at Amity, who nods. She nods herself.) "My village desperately needs your help!" Kay-fon said
The scene cuts to them at Senlin Village at sunset. The village has been partially destroyed. The wanderer leads them into the center building.
"This young person is the Avatar!" Kay-fon said
"So, the rumors of your return are true! It is the greatest honor of a lifetime to be in your presence." the Senlin Village Leader said
"Nice to meet you too! So ... is there something I can help you with?" Luz asked
"I'm not sure …" the Senlin Village Leader said
"Our village is in crisis, she's our only hope!" (To Luz.) "For the last few days at sunset, a spirit monster comes and attacks our village. He is Hei Bai, the black and white spirit." Kay-fon said
"Why is it attacking you?" Gus asked
"We do not know, but each of the last three nights, he has abducted one of our own. We are especially fearful because the winter solstice draws near." the Senlin Village Leader said
"What happens then?" Amity asked
"As the solstice approaches, the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer and closer until the line between them is blurred completely." Kay-fon said
"Hei Bai is already causing devastation and destruction. Once the solstice is here, there's no telling what will happen." the Senlin Village Leader said
"So, what do you want me to do, exactly?" Luz asked
"Who better to resolve a crisis between our world and the Spirit World than the Avatar herself? You are the great bridge between man and spirits." Kay-fon said
"Right ... that's me." Luz said
"Hey great bridge girl, could I talk to you over here for a second?" (She leads her toward a window.) "Luz, you seem a little unsure about all of this." Amity said
"Yeah, that might be because I don't know anything at all about the Spirit World. It's not like there's someone to teach me this stuff!" Luz said
"So ... Can you help these people?" Amity asked
"I have to try, don't I? Maybe whatever I have to do will just ... come to me." Luz said (King lands on her shoulder.)
(With a kind and reassuring smile.) "I think you can do it, Luz." Amity said
(With a similar expression.) "Yeah." (Brief pause.) "We're all going to get eaten by a spirit monster." Willow said
Cut back to the hot spring. A sleeping Kaldo is awoken by nearby stirring in the trees.
"Who's there?" (He sees a rat-like animal.) "A meadow vole! I should have known." (He takes the creature into the palm of his hand.) "You startled me, little one." (Sighs.) "It seems I dozed off and missed my commander's deadline, but it was a very sweet nap." Kaldo said
The meadow vole leaps up and down. This is followed by shaking and the ground moving toward Kaldo. Suddenly, the rock at the bottom of the spring jumps up, capturing him. Three Earth Kingdom soldiers surround him.
(Picks up Kaldo's clothes.) "He's a Fire Nation soldier." said the Soldier
"He's no ordinary soldier. This is the Fire Emperor's retired General, the Dragon of the West. The once-great General Kaldo, but now, he's our prisoner." said the Earthbender Captain
Kaldo gives the captain a stern look.
Cut back to Senlin, near sunset. Luz steps outside the center building and awaits the Hei Bai.
(Walking toward the village entrance.) "Hello, Spirit? Can you hear me? This is the Avatar speaking. I'm here to try to help stuff." Luz said
Cut to the building interior. Amity, Gus, Willow and Eda watch.
"This isn't right. We can't sit here and cower while Luz waits for some monster to show up." Willow said
"If anyone can save us, she can." Kay-fon said
"She still shouldn't have to face this alone." Willow said
The sun sets and night falls. Cut back to Luz.
"The sun has set. Where are you, Hei Bai? Well ... spirit ... uhhh ... I hereby ask you to please leave this village in peace." (She spins her staff and sticks it down, in apparent authority.) "Okay ... well ... I guess that's settled, then." Luz said
She walks away. Behind her, however, the Hei Bai fades into the real world. He walks right behind Luz, who turns to see her.
"You must be the Hei Bai spirit. My name is–" Luz didn't get to finish saying
The spirit releases a burst of energy at her. It moves past her.
"My name's Luz! I'm the Avatar and I would like to help. Hey, wait up!" WHei Bai wreaks havoc, smashing buildings and destroying a tower with energy.) "Uhhh …" Luz wondered
"The Avatar's methods are ... unusual." the Senlin Village Leader said
"The spirit doesn't seem too interested in what she's saying. Maybe we should go help her." Willow said
"No. Only the Avatar stands a chance against the Hei Bai." Kay-fon said
"Luz will figure out the right thing to do, Willow." Amity said (Closes her eyes in satisfaction.)
"I hope your right" Gus said
Hei Bai smashes another building.
"Please, would you stop destroying things and listen? I'm trying to do my job as a spirit bridge! Excuse me, would you please turn around?" (Shouts.) "I command you to turn around now!" Luz yelled
The spirit hits Luz and sends her flying to the roof of another building, and Luz grunts.
"That's it. She needs help." Willow said (Exits the building.)
"Willow, wait!" Amity yelled (Starts to follow her with Gus and Eda coming along.)
(Stops the group.) "It's not safe!" the Senlin Village Leader said
"Hei Bai, over here!" Willow said (She throws her boomerang at him, but it barely affects the monster. She runs toward it.)
"Willow, go back!" Luz shouted
"We'll fight him together, Luz." Willow said as she starts earthbending at Hei Bai
"I don't want to fight him unless I–" Luz didn't finish saying (Willow is taken by the Hei Bai, and the spirit flees. Luz chases it.)
(Running to the village entrance.) "Willow!" Gus yelled (The villagers go to the entrance as well. Gus is left standing fearful.)
"Don't worry, Luz will save her" Eda said putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder
Back near the hot spring. Two soldiers and Lilith look for Kaldo.
"Kaldo! Kaldo, where are you?" Lilith asked
"Ma'am, maybe he thought you left without him." the Fire Nation Soldier said
"Something's not right here. That pile of rocks." Lilith said
"It looks like there's been a landslide, ma'am." the Fire Nation Soldier said
"Land doesn't slide uphill. Those rocks didn't move naturally." (Stands up straight.) "The lieutenant has been captured by earthbenders!" Lilith said
Back to the forest. Luz continues to pursue the Hei Bai, looking for Willow.
"Luz! Over here! Help!" Willow yelled
"Hang on, Willow!" Luz yelled
Luz pulls out her hand, trying to free Willow. Willow grunts, trying to reach her. However, before she can grab her, the spirit fades away, taking Willow with it. Luz shouts and falls in front of a bear-like statue, knocked out.
A couple of hours later, Luz awakens.
"Willow! (She realizes Willow is nowhere to be seen.) "I failed." Luz said saddened from losing her friend
The next scene cuts back to the soldiers who captured Kaldo. They are riding ostrich horses. One soldier carries a torch with him for light.
"Where are you taking me?" Kaldo said
"We're taking you to face justice." the Earthbender Captain said
"Right, but where, specifically?" Kaldo asked
"A place you're quite familiar with, actually. You once laid siege to it for 600 days, but it would not yield to you." the Earthbender Captain said
"Ah, the great city of Ba Sing Se." Kaldo said
"It was greater than you were, apparently." the Earthbender Captain said
"I acknowledge my defeat at Ba Sing Se. After 600 days away from home, my men were tired, and I was tired." (Yawns.) "And I'm still tired." Kaldo said
He falls off one of the horses. He is quickly picked back up. However, he leaves one of his sandals behind and smiles cunningly.
Cut back to Senlin Village. Gus awaits at the village entrance for Luz and Willow. Then Kay-fon approaches him.
"I'm sure they'll be back." Kay-fon said
"I know." Gus said
(Places a blanket around him.) "You should get some rest." Kay-fon said
"Everything's going to be okay …" (He turns his blanket.)
"Your friend is in good hands. I would be shocked if the Avatar returned without her." Kay-fon said (As he is speaking, Luz approaches.)
"Gus? Gus, I lost her." Luz said
The sun rises.
"The sun is rising. Perhaps she will return soon." Kay-fon said
(Her appearance is blue.) "What? No, I'm right here!" (She waves her hand in the Wanderer's face, only to notice her own appearance.) "I'm in the Spirit World!" Luz said freaking out
Cut back to the forest. Lilith comes up on Kaldo's sandal.
(Sniffs and gets a disgusted look.) "Yeah, that's Lieutenant Kaldo." Lilith said (She re-mounts her rhino.)
Back at the Village.
"I'll figure this out, Gus. I promise. Like they said, I'm the bridge between the worlds, right? All I have to do is ... figure out what I have to do. But once I do that, no problem." (Appa approaches.) "Appa! Hey buddy, I'm right here!" (He breathes on Gus.) "But, I guess you can't see me either." Luz said
"It's okay, Appa, don't worry. I'm sure they're on their way back. I bet they even found you a bunch of moon peaches for a treat." Gus said (The two return to the village.)
"What am I supposed to do? Avatar Moku, how can I talk to you?" (She turns his head in disappointment, when she hears something.) "Willow?" (She notices a dragon coming toward her.) "That's definitely not Willow." (She tries to fly away but cannot. She notices her airbending is not working at all.) "What? I can't airbend in the Spirit World." (The dragon lands just before her.) "You don't know where Willow is, do you?" (The dragon touches her. She sees a vision of Moku flying on this dragon.) "You're Avatar Moku's animal guide! Like Appa is to me! I need to save my friend and I don't know how! Is there some way for me to talk to Moku?" (The dragon curls around her, and she gets on her.) "I'll be back, guys." (It gets up.) "Take me to Moku!" (The dragon flies away.)
Cut to a mountain where the earthbenders are leading Kaldo through. Kaldo looks at the skies and notices the dragon and Luz. He gasps in wonder.
"What's the problem?" the Earthbender Captain asked
"Nothing." (Pauses.) "Actually, there is a bit of a problem. My old joints are sore and aching, and these shackles are too loose." Kaldo said
"Too loose?" the Earthbender Captain asked
"That's right. The cuffs move and jangle around and bump my wrists. It would help me if you tighten them so they wouldn't shake around so much." Kaldo said
"Very well. Corporal, tighten the prisoner's handcuffs." the Earthbender Captain said
They all stop. The corporal dismounts and moves to Kaldo. As he touches his handcuffs, Kaldo lifts his mask a bit and breathes deeply and heats them up. He pushes the corporal's hand to the cuffs, causing him to scream in pain. Kaldo jumps free and blasts fire at the soldiers. He rolls down the hill as the soldiers try to get control of their ostrich horses.
Cut back to Luz and Fang. Fang takes her to a temple on an unknown island. He flies into the temple and toward the roof.
"Hey, what are you doing?" (She screams, but they fly right through the roof and into a mysterious room. Within is a celestial calendar and a statue of Moku.) "I don't understand, this is just a statue of Moku." (Fang presses one of his feelers to Luz's forehead. A vision of a comet appears to her.) "Is that what Moku wants to talk to me about? A comet? When can I talk to him?" (Fang moves his head, allowing a light beam to appear. This is just to the right of Moku's statue. With another feeler press, she sees a vision of the sun setting and rising repeatedly, and the light closing in on Moku.) "It's a calendar, and the light will reach Moku on the solstice! So, that's when I'll be able to speak to Moku?" (The dragon breathes an apparent yes.) "But I can't wait that long! I need to save Willow now!" (The dragon takes Luz from the temple.)
Cut back to Kaldo rolling down the hill. One of the soldiers hits him with a rockslide. All of the soldiers chase after him, reaching him at the bottom of the hill.
"He's too dangerous, Captain! We just can't just carry him to the Capital! We have to do something now!" the Soldier said
"I agree. He must be dealt with immediately and severely." the Earthbender Captain said
Kaldo spits a rock out.
Meanwhile, Amity, Gus and Eda are flying on Appa over the forest.
"It's no use, Appa. I don't see them anywhere. Our best hope is to go back to the village and wait." (She redirects Appa to the village's direction.)
While following the ostrich horse footprints, Lilith notices Appa.
"The Avatar!" Lilith said
She turns slightly, but looks back at the footprints, debating whether she should save her lieutenant or follow Appa.
Cut to Fang, who takes Luz back to the statue at high speed. Luz notices her body is there and also prepares for impact.
"Whoa!" Luz yelled
She tries to shield herself, bracing the collision. Suddenly, Fang disappears into the statue and Luz is returned to her body. She scours the area and jumps down from the statue. There she stares at the statue she was returned to, before opening her glider and flying back to the village.
Cut to the village, sunset. Gus stands outside the center building and notices Luz's return. Luz lands and Gus runs to her.
"You're back!" (He embraces Luz.) "Where's Willow?"
"I'm not sure …" Luz said
The evening gives way to night.
Back to Kaldo, who is surrounded by the soldiers.
"These dangerous hands must be crushed." the Earthbender Captain said (He brings up a boulder and prepares to drop it. However, Lilith jumps in and kicks the rock away before breaking Kaldo's chain with his boot.)
"Excellent form, Commander Lilith." Kaldo said
"You taught me well." Lilith said
"Surrender yourselves. It's five against two. You're clearly outnumbered." the Earthbender Captain said
"Yeah, that's true, but you are clearly outmatched." Kaldo said
The soldiers fire rocks, but Kaldo destroys them with the chains. Lilith takes out two soldiers with fire. A rock is fired at her, but Kaldo catches it and throws it back at the soldiers, knocking them down. The captain fires three rocks at Lilith, which she dodges. Lilith counters with fire blasts that are dodged. The captain brings up a large mass of rock, however, Kaldo throws his chains around his ankles, knocking him and causing the rocks to fall on top of him. The soldiers are heard groaning underneath the rocks.
"Now would you please put on some clothes?" Lilith asked
Cut back to Senlin. Luz awaits at the entrance for the Hei Bai. After some time, she gives up and returns to the center building. Just as she exits, however, the spirit appears to her left. She throws up an air shield to stop its attack.
"Luz, what are you doing?! Run!" Amity yelled
The spirit prepares to resume its attack when Luz jumps in front of it. She feels its forehead and notices that a panda lurks below it.
"You're the spirit of this forest! Now I understand. You're upset and angry because your home was burned down. When I saw the forest had burned, I was sad and upset, but my friend gave me hope that the forest would grow back." (She shows it the acorn and leaves it at his feet. The spirit picks it up and reverts to the panda form. It walks away peacefully. As it exits, a series of branches grow, and three villagers and Sokka emerge from it.)
"Willow!" Gus said (He runs to her and embraces her, while other villagers embrace their loved ones.)
"Good to have you back, earthbender" Eda said while patting Willow's shoulder
"What happened?" Willow asked
"You were trapped in the Spirit World for 24 hours! How are you feeling?" Gus asked
"Like I seriously need to use the bathroom." (Willow waddles away, displaying a nauseated look. Gus and Eda give her an unsure gaze.)
"Thank you, Avatar. If only there were a way to repay you for what you've done." the Senlin Village Leader said
"You could give us some supplies, and some money." Eda said
"Eda!" Amity yelled
"What? We're low on both." Eda said
"It would be an honor to help you prepare for your journey." the Senlin Village Leader said
"I'm so proud of you, Luz. You figured out what to do, all on your own." Amity said
"Actually, I did have a little help and there's something else." Luz said
"What is it?" Willow asked
"I need to talk to Moku and I think I found a way to contact his spirit." Luz said
"That's great!" Amity said
"Creepy, but great." Gus said
"There's a temple on a crescent-shaped island and if I go there on the solstice, I'll be able to speak with him." Luz said
"But the solstice is tomorrow!" Eda exclaimed
"Yeah, and there's one more problem. The island is in the Fire Nation." Luz said
The others grow fearful. The shot slowly moves up to the moon over the hills.
To be continued
Fade to credits.