INT EARTH KINGDOM CATACOMBS
A guard marches in front of a few scientists packing away equipment and large vats.
From off the screen to the right, there is a small, continuous whistle that catches the guard's attention.
CUT TO:
INT EARTH KINGDOM BAR - LATE AFTERNOON
A large man, SCIENTIST 2 (45), sweeps a mountain of small paper umbrellas across the floor as someone leaves.
SCIENTIST 2
Have a good night.
PATRON
(slurring)
Ye dropped...your umbrella, mis'er.
As the man leaves through the saloon doors, Yasuhiro fills the doorway. The scientist looks back towards him.
SCIENTIST 2
(hesitant)
Can I...help you?
CUT TO:
EXT EARTH KINGDOM VILLAGE - HIGH NOON
A festival is in full swing, packing the streets with masked patrons and various street vendors. A pair, SCIENTIST 4 (30) and SCIENTIST 5 (29), weave through the crowd with hands held tight and masks on top of their heads.
SCIENTIST 4
C'mon!
SCIENTIST 5
There's still time before they close!
As they rush past a small band, one of them raises their head to reveal Ju-Fen. Her peacock-patterned fan flings open as she stands to follow the two.
CUT TO:
INT EARTH KINGDOM MUSEUM OF SCIENCE - DAY
Inside of a wind-blown museum of tan rock hangs several works of art set behind glass. SCIENTIST 6 (72) leads a tour group with a pair of flags in hand, pointing to a piece behind glass on the left.
SCIENTIST 6
And against this wall is a clay urn recovered from the remains of a sunken library in the Great Desert. It is believed to be older than even that stale bread in your ice box.
She laughs but everyone else looks bored.
SCIENTIST 6
(laughing)
Sorry, I know my jokes can be a little...stale!
The group visibly winces in various ways.
SCIENTIST 6
Any questions?
A hand shoots up from the back.
SCIENTIST 6
Yes, you there?
The crowd parses to reveal the final member of the trio, Kozan. A small smile spreads across his face.
CUT TO:
INT EARTH KINGDOM CATACOMBS
The guard is over at a door, peering in with a cross-hatched sewer grate rising from the ground behind him. Tendrils of filthy, green water shoot out to snatch the guard, covering his mouth as Voso shoots up from below, pushing them both into the open door.
His hand covers the guard's mouth.
VOSO
(harsh whisper)
Stay silent.
He removes his hand as the fight goes out of the guard's eyes.
VOSO
(whispering)
Look at this list and tell me who isn't out there.
The guard takes the list, pointing to two of the names.
GUARD
(monotone)
These two aren't here.
Voso takes it back, seeing the finger pointing to the very first two names.
GUARD
(panicking)
Where...where am-?
VOSO
(whispering)
Go to sleep.
The guard slouches down to the stone floor with a thud. Voso puts away the list, then proceeds to jump up and down with a disgusted face.
VOSO
(grossed-out)
Oh, jeez, I can feel it in my sho-ooo-ooeessss!
He takes the dripping water from a nearby faucet and swirls it around his body. What is left over is green sludge that falls with a splat.
VOSO
(whispering)
Alright, guys...
His spirits rise from the ground, some playing in the muck.
VOSO
(whispering)
Everyone ready?
The spirits happily tumble out of the room ahead of Voso. He turns the corner without a shred of secrecy.
VOSO
(shouting)
Attention scientists! You are all to come with me. I'd prefer this be done as quietly as humanly possible! Any objections?
The scientists don't even pause to look at him. They continue robotically going about their duties.
VOSO
(shouting)
Yo, very serious person up here demanding your attention!
He looks to one of his spirits, a small green gerbil that waves its tendril legs towards Voso.
Voso holds his hand up towards the small spirit, pulling back abruptly. As he does, the gerbil grows massively and begins to rush through the set-up, destroying desks and sending implements to the ground.
It wraps its tentacles around one of the scientists and lifts them above their head, fetching them to Voso.
VOSO
(mumbling)
What happened to you?
The scientist continues to work despite there being no desk, and their eyes are an empty, milky white lined in a deep purple.
Voso gently grasps their wrist.
VOSO
Talk - tell me what's happening here.
SCIENTIST 7
(monotone)
We will destroy all evidence. The master will not fail. Ananta Shesha cannot be allowed to come forth.
VOSO
Who is Ananta Shesha?
The eyes flash purple and the scientist's head snaps up. Their other hand snatches at Voso's wrist and tears his hand away.
VOSO
(in pain)
Ah - AH!
Voso tries to pull away to no avail.
SCIENTIST 7
(angrily)
You know where the Avatar is, don't you? Where is Avatar Makami!?
The massive gerbil whips hard at the scientist, freeing Voso. The others all flash with purple in their eyes that moves them to attack. Three of them launch at the gerbil, who fights back valiantly.
Meanwhile, Voso flips backwards away as the scientist throws beakers and clipboards at him.
VOSO
(shouting)
NOW!
All at once, his spiritual friends come out of the walls and floors, all grabbing hold of one of the scientists. They do little to stop the fight, but still hold tight.
Voso closes his eyes and holds his hands out in focus.
VOSO
Go to sleep!
All at once, the scientists collapse to the floor. Voso opens his eyes and stumbles from the strain. The spirits all watch him expectantly with large, doughy eyes.
VOSO
(sighing)
Alright, everyone line up for high-fives.
All of them celebrate, even the gerbil, by jumping and shaking the entire chamber.
CUT TO:
INT ROKU'S SOLSTICE CHAMBER
Makami hugs her knees to her chest on the raised, dry center section of the chamber while Raava hovers above the water.
RAAVA
(echoing)
As I suspected, forces are moving to strike down the Avatar. Dark spirits are being drawn to the Avatar State's spiritual energy in both realms.
MAKAMI
What spirit could target the entire Avatar lineage?
RAAVA
(echoing)
One of the primordial geysers of spiritual energy itself. One who emerges from the void of space at the end of every age. Ananta Shesha - the destroyer of all.
Makami stares hard into the water.
MAKAMI
(mumbling)
The destroyer of all... Ananta Shesha sent those creatures after me?
RAAVA
Not just you.
CUT TO:
EXT EARTH KINGDOM FIELD - NIGHT
Ju-Fen and Kozan are eating fried festival treats while Yasuhiro stacks the unconscious scientists into the back of a tall van.
RAAVA (V.O.)
Terrible spiritual energy has been building in the human world for some time. I fear Ananta may have more...
Yasuhiro snatches Kozan's treat for himself in the background. In the foreground, the scientists snap their eyes open for a moment with the same sickening purple.
RAAVA (V.O.)
Permanent forces at work in this world.
CUT TO:
INT ROKU'S SOLSTICE CHAMBER
Makami peers dourly into the water.
RAAVA
(echoing)
You must travel to the spirit world to confront Ananta Shesha before their plan comes to fruition.
MAKAMI
Why not deal with the permanent forces in this world first?
RAAVA
(echoing)
We do not know how many agents are at work, and as long as Ananta is fixated upon the darkness growing inside of the Avatar Spirit, the dark spirits will never stop coming.
MAKAMI
What darkness in the Avatar Spirit? I mean, I've been in a bad mood, but...
RAAVA
(echoing)
But it's not just your spirit to be tended, is it Makami?
Her eyes flinch away.
MAKAMI
(softly)
No, of course it isn't. How do you expect me to stop someone that created you?
RAAVA
(echoing)
With the help of the other Avatar spirits.
MAKAMI
(laughing bitterly)
They won't help me. They're afraid to come near me.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Kyoshi is the first link in the Avatar chain to ever be broken. They have been taught since the very beginning that such an act would destroy the Avatar lineage. They are simply afraid.
MAKAMI
And why didn't it destroy the lineage?
RAAVA
(echoing)
Because you are the Avatar, Makami. Your life is where our power is at its strongest and most vulnerable to the darkness of the past. The living Avatar is a nexus, and through this permeating darkness, Ananta Shesha may be planning to destroy you with these servants.
Makami looks up as Raava draws closer.
MAKAMI
I get it.
RAAVA
(echoing)
The Avatar line is fraught with struggles of power and war, but never have we faced anything of this magnitude. Ananta is a threat to both worlds - to life at its very core.
MAKAMI
I said I get it, but I won't be able to convince them. If I go alone against a god of destruction, I don't see good chances there either.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Then, your only option is to face your past lives. Expel the darkness from the Avatar Spirit.
Makami shifts uncomfortably for a moment before slowly nodding her head.
MAKAMI
What do I do?
RAAVA
(echoing)
Follow the energy of the Avatar lineage. It will take you to its darkest points. You must be brave.
Raava slowly absorbs back into Makami's body as she closes her eyes and straightens her spine again.
RAAVA
(echoing)
I will be with you the entire time.
MAKAMI
(grumbling)
Great. My own tour guide to a decamillenium of Avatar history. What could possibly go-?
FADE CUT TO:
INT MAKAMI'S CROWN CHAKRA - UNKNOWN SPACE
The background suddenly shifts enough for Makami to snap her eyes open. From the pitch black begins to speckle moving constellations, animated in eternal loops of fierce battles and peaceful subjugation.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Whoa...
Makami stands upon a winding, thin glass pathway, peering out to the planets that weave through the animations. Raava floats down beside Makami, separated from her entirely here.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
This is...where exactly?
RAAVA
(echoing)
Your crown chakra. Usually, you would only be seeing your own, but since your spirit was opened to the experiences of all Avatars, you can-
MAKAMI
This is in my head, isn't it? Every Avatar's crown chakra is mine.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Yes, Makami, and your own.
She looks down, peering through the glass floor to see many uneven snaps and lines that spread into the realities below. Colors of the four nations run deep into the crowded space below, dropping into a tiered world of thousands of past lives.
RAAVA
(echoing)
What do you feel?
MAKAMI
(swallowing)
Immense nostalgia. Like...it's overwhelming.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Don't peer into it too long, Makami. You must be mindful here to not lose yourself. Remember, no other Avatar has faced this, and you will be moving through the worst of their memories to root out darkness.
MAKAMI
So they might not exactly be happy to see me?
She turns to look at Raava, who has an imperceptible face. Makami eventually just shrugs.
MAKAMI
Just like in the real world then. Do I just dive off or...?
She looks up as a glass slide appears next to the pathway. A smirk comes to her face.
MAKAMI
Oh yeah, this is definitely still my head. Zura and I tried to turn our staircase into a slide on more than one occasion.
With a loud, jovial "wee," she jumps into the slide down to the next tier. Raava lingers, peering out to the constellations. They all turn to straight-up depictions, bowing respectfully towards Raava.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Hold on Makami.
Raava chases down the slide.
CUT TO:
INT ZURA'S NEW OFFICE - DAY
Zura looks positively tiny inside of Kin's old chair. Her desk is barren as she searches the drawers. She opens a folding cubby above her, pink slips, resumes, and her personal coffee spout greeting her.
She slams the door closed as her door opens.
INTERN
Hello, sorry I took so long.
ZURA
No big business, let's just business!
INTERN
Uh, yeah.
The smaller woman takes a seat across from Zura, sliding over a contract with a pen.
INTERN
This is your new contract - new title here, new pay here, and stipulations.
Zura uncaps the pen with her teeth.
ZURA
(pen cap in teeth.)
Stip-pu'ations?
INTERN
Yes, you can take your time and read through them if you want. I mean, you'll just be fired if you ever violate any of them in any way.
(snorting)
Maybe to pave the way for a certain hard-working, non-famous intern to finally claim a chair made of leather...
She clears her throat while Zura spits out the pen cap.
ZURA
What kind of stipulations are there?
INTERN
The ush - don't bad-mouth the company, don't hurt yourself on company property, so on and so on.
Zura goes to write her name on the dotted line.
INTERN
The only added one in there for you regards your sister, er, Avatar Makami.
Zura stops the pen in the air.
ZURA
Wait, what about her?
INTERN
Well, like my boss said, you're going to be expected to be against the Avatar.
(whispering)
I think they're going to make you call her a war-monger or something about how bad a driver she is, I'm not sure.
ZURA
Uh-huh, well, I'm...I'm pretty good at getting under her skin.
INTERN
So you said. I'd just hate any positivity towards your sister what-so-ever to ever get out. It'd be a really embarrassing thing to get fired over.
Zura shrugs and scribbles her name in blocky, awful handwriting, sliding the cap back on the pen.
ZURA
Oh well - no worries there!
The intern looks perturbed but grabs the pen and contract anyways. She smiles bitterly while Zura stares on blankly.
INTERN
(overly sweet)
Great, so great - this is just great.
She stands, backing out the door.
INTERN
(turning dark)
Really greatly great, Greatest Great-er...
Once the intern sulks out of sight, Zura slides down beneath the desk. Her hand comes back up, feeling for the phone before finally bringing it down to her hand.
A moment of dialing resounds.
ZURA (O.S.)
(whispering)
Hey, Mom, do you have that memory box from when Makami and I were kids? No, I'm not still a kid - answer the question, Mother!
A moment of silence goes by.
ZURA (O.S.)
(whispering)
Yeah, okay, thanks - I'll see you tomorrow morning.
Zura comes back up with the phone in hand, her serious face fully affixed.
ZURA
(quietly)
Operation No Love is a go.
CUT TO:
INT AJNA CHAKRA HALL OF MIRRORS
Raava comes to a stop within a long maze of glass mirrors. Makami is just off from the end of the slide, staring into one of thousands reflections, each showcasing Makami in the outfits of previous Avatars.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Wait, Makami, let's stay together in here.
MAKAMI
Are you seeing this? Why am I all the other Avatars?
RAAVA
(echoing)
This is your chakra of perception. For you, this place must be an oculus, refracting your face against the actions of your past selves.
MAKAMI
Well, now I just wish I had a camera crew here with me. This is like an interactive museum of Avatar invincibility!
She snaps to attention, turning towards Raava with her nose up, looking posh. She presents a mirror where one Avatar is beating down upon several soldiers in ancient, wooden armor. The outfit of the Avatar appears to be a primal version of the current day Air Nation garb.
MAKAMI
(in snooty voice)
This exhibit shows us the latest in fashion and hand-to-hand negotiations by a fifteenth-century Avatar. Notice her plain, stern features as they say 'No, bad person, you stop punching your own face.'
She slides to the left, presenting another mirror. This one shows Makami's face glaring down at a knelt noble person - both in Earth Kingdom garb - as they offer the Avatar a jade-encrusted treasure.
MAKAMI
(in snooty voice)
Here, we see a slightly different portrayal of the Avatar ruling in every possible way as she sees some rebel leader offer her tribute-
She turns to see the herself as the old Avatar kick over the knelt person and attack them mercilessly. Makami recoils.
MAKAMI
Whoa, no - stop that!
RAAVA
(echoing)
Three-hundred years ago...
She turns to Raava.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Li-Xi was a very angry man. He led an entire nation of cutthroat thieves, and he eventually toppled the very first Earth Kingdom government.
MAKAMI
And he's...? That's the Avatar?
RAAVA
(echoing)
Our journey has never been a straight line.
MAKAMI
'Our'? Could you have stopped them from doing this?
RAAVA
(echoing)
I am a spirit and companion only.
MAKAMI
Uh, excuse me?
RAAVA
(echoing)
Makami, I...
Makami's crossed arms await an answer, but Raava just turns away.
RAAVA
(echoing)
We don't have time to dally. Is this the source of the darkness?
MAKAMI
(sighing)
No, I sense something this way.
The two walk through the maze silently, Makami barely able to glance at the mirrored images around her. Some show herself fighting against her friends and loved ones. One shows herself and another with Voso's face embracing. She turns away quickly, angry to see herself in so many.
MAKAMI
(mumbling)
This is why I hate mirrors.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Do you find yourself physically unattractive?
MAKAMI
Not exactly. I just used to have this expectation of who I'd see in the mirror. Hard to reconcile those two realities sometimes.
RAAVA
(echoing)
I see. Is that why you sometimes change appearances?
MAKAMI
Heh, yeah. Nothing like a fresh haircut to make you feel better.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Hm...Makami?
MAKAMI
Yep?
RAAVA
(echoing)
What do I look like?
The two stop, Makami's eyes narrowing.
MAKAMI
You mean, you've never seen your own reflection?
RAAVA
(echoing)
Well, no. I've been attached to humans so often that I've never had a chance.
MAKAMI
Hm, well...
Makami turns to introduce Raava to one of the mirrors.
MAKAMI
Have a look now.
Raava floats closer, the reflective glass empty minus only a vague outline of Raava. The spirit hovers closer and closer.
A sudden arm shoots out of the mirror, dripping with black mucus. Makami and Raava both jump back.
MAKAMI
What the-?
The arm folds up into a ball, dropping and dashing along the ground away into the hall of mirrors.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
That ball...that's the dark energy!
RAAVA
(echoing)
Go!
The two are off after it, Makami using her agility to roll and bounce from quick corners while Raava flies above her for a better view.
Eventually, the glob comes to a corner where the mirrors offer only one way out. Raava swoops down, growing to an indomitable size.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Raava, wait for me!
The blob becomes a spiked ball, shooting several barbs that pierce through Raava. The massive spirit grunts and recoils away, giving the ball time to burrow through the glass ground just before Makami can arrive.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Raava, are you alright?
RAAVA
(shakily)
Y-yes, I am...this feels...familiar.
Raava weakly pulls into itself, shrinking back to a size smaller than Makami. She watches the dark, pulsating splotches upon Raava's blue form.
MAKAMI
How did a dark spirit get into here at all? That same thing happened to me when one of Ananta Shesha's hounds got ahold of my arm.
RAAVA
(echoing)
That's what we're after, or at least a part of it. We must find it before it reaches the root chakra of all Avatars.
MAKAMI
No, we need to heal you. Absorb back into me and-
RAAVA
(echoing)
Stay back!
Raava bolts away from Makami.
RAAVA
(echoing)
You cannot become infected.
MAKAMI
Raava, if you're infected, I already am.
RAAVA
(echoing)
No, I am the spirit, not the body.
MAKAMI
Okay, but if you cease to exist, then so does the Avatar!
The fact hangs in the air coldly. Another slide appears at Makami's feet.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Then, we have no time to spare.