INT MAKAMI'S ROOM - LATE AFTERNOON
Voso pulls out pairs of pants with Abe nowhere to be found. He slaps them to his covered waist and back onto the rack again, none of them even close to his size.
VOSO
(grumbling)
Curse your narrow hips, Ami...
He slams the metal hangers back to the rod, but something catches his eye in the clothes bureau. Moving aside some socks, he sees their sash of stars, now with the start of a new constellation.
Behind him, the door bursts inward with a stream of people coming in, including Makami and Kota. Their eyes are up to him as he slides the envelope beneath his shirt.
KOTA
Voso?
His towel drops, causing her to look away while Makami shoots forward in a sprint, her eyes up and bright.
KOTA
(groaning)
Aw, c'mon, bro!
MAKAMI
(happily)
You're late!
VOSO
No, I'm-
Their lips smack together with her arms wrapped around his neck. He catches her, causing his towel to drop again and bringing another groan from everyone in the room. Kota turns with her eyes closed to shoo the others away.
KOTA
Alright, I'll spare you all - go on, find Abe.
ACOLYTE 1
(whispering, to Acolyte 2)
What's on those boxers?
ACOLYTE 2
(whispering, to Acolyte 1)
Chili peppers?
Abe ducks their way in under Kota's arm.
KOTA
Careful, buddy.
ABE
I'm back with the thread - aw, they're kissing, aren't they?
KOTA
Yeah, yeah, and I saw my brothers pale legs...
Makami's feet are back on the ground with both her and Voso's eyes sparkling.
MAKAMI
You were supposed to be here this morning, I didn't think I'd see you until tonight.
VOSO
Was I?
MAKAMI
Yeah, I had Helga send the message out yesterday.
KOTA
(quickly)
Can you please bring that towel back up!?
He does just that while Abe slides back before the torn pants.
VOSO
I didn't get a message. And who's Helga?
MAKAMI
My new assistant.
ABE
(mumbling)
Your extremely old assistant, you mean. That snail-turtle probably still hasn't sent the message.
MAKAMI
She's not that bad.
KOTA
I think I saw her trying to make the morning coffee just now.
ABE
Done!
He tosses the pants to Voso while Makami sits on her bed, Abe and Kota coming over.
ABE
(to Makami)
Now, what happened to you?
MAKAMI
Hm? Oh, some lupine spirit bit me.
ABE
Whoa...
KOTA
I'm the least doctor-y person ever, but wounds shouldn't look black like that, right?
MAKAMI
It's fine - it doesn't even hurt.
Voso turns around and immediately drops to his knees besides Abe and Makami, studying the odd bite.
VOSO
That black stuff is beneath your skin.
ABE
But the skin doesn't seem to be broken? How bizarre.
KOTA
Hey, gawkers, let's get the injury on the world-leader healed, huh?!
Shii and Toyo come in with smiles as Abe grabs a bandage.
TOYO
A reunion at last, huh?
VOSO
(to Abe)
It looks like energy - can you try to bend it out, Abe?
Shii turns serious and rushes forward, one hand out as Abe puts both hands on her wrist.
ABE
Sure, I'll just fix everything today.
SHII
(loudly)
Stop!
Abe freezes as Shii grabs their shoulder, pushing them and Voso aside.
ABE
Jeez, it's not that serious.
SHII
Yes it is.
Makami holds her arm up to Shii.
MAKAMI
Do you know what...?
Shii backs away like she is presenting the plague.
SHII
Everyone stay back from her - Kota! Move!
She obeys, stepping away from the bed while Makami's expression sours.
SHII
Who touched the wound so far?
MAKAMI
Kota and my mom. And Abe.
ABE
Spit it out, old timer.
SHII
I've...seen this before. A sickness not of the body, but of the spirit. It consumes you from the inside until you are nothing but a ravenous walker.
ABE
Like those old people at the shopping centers?
Kota elbows Abe while Voso leans closer.
VOSO
How do we stop it?
SHII
I...I never learned the technique for cleansing the spirit. But Korra did!
MAKAMI
Then I should know it too.
She brings her legs up to sit cross-legged atop the bed.
MAKAMI
Bring my mom in here for quarantine. Everyone else stay outside.
She closes her eyes.
MAKAMI
I'll be back in a few.
When her eyes open again, they are glowing white. Shii pushes Toyo out while Voso doesn't budge.
VOSO
I'm staying to help.
SHII
You can't help-
VOSO
I have to try.
Shii reluctantly nods and leaves the room.
KOTA
What are you doing, bro?
VOSO
I don't know yet...I hope she does.
CUT TO:
EXT THE APOTH
Aang and Kuruk dust off their hands with smirks on their faces, staring at something just outside of the foreground.
KURUK
Not bad, Twinkle Toes.
AANG
Thanks, K-man.
Makami has appeared in the background. The other Avatars gather round while she realizes that her forearm is gone in this world. Her upper arm is steaming away in a dark blue haze as well.
ROKU
What is happening to you?
MAKAMI
I need to see Korra.
YANGCHEN
She's out at the border.
Yangchen points out towards the rainbow vale's far barrier.
MAKAMI
Suppose the quickest way is a straight line?
YANGCHEN
Make haste.
She is off, running up the ramp was and past the large statues of Avatars past. She pumps her arms harder, even as one is completely gone beneath the shoulder. Her deep breaths echo harshly in a realm without air. The stone, blank stares of every Avatar statue in the background watch her spirit disintegrate.
Back by the Avatar group, Kuruk comes out, looking after Makami with great concern.
CUT TO:
INT MAKAMI'S ROOM
Abe, Baki, and Kota sit on the bed drinking some water from a large green jug. Kota looks like she drank sour milk.
KOTA
(disgusted)
What do you use this water for?
Abe snatches it and takes a drink.
ABE
Tastes like Makami's make-up smells.
Kota looks twice as disgusted now. Voso is leaned against the wall in the background deep in thought.
KOTA
(angrily)
Don't even tell me that was bath water...
ABE
What do you want me to say instead?
Kota groans loudly.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
The old man was right - the sickness is eating away at their spirits. You shouldn't be in here. There's nothing you can do.
VOSO
(whispering)
If it covers her whole body?
FUU-KI (O.S.)
Then she will die both in this world and the spirit world.
VOSO
(whispering)
Maybe I can use my power...?
FUU-KI (O.S.)
And reveal your secret to them all? Or become infected yourself? Are they worth such a sacrifice?
Voso's jaw sets harshly and his eyes intensify with determination.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
Leave them to their fates.
He pushes off the wall.
VOSO
(loudly)
Alright, I have an idea.
He kneels down in front of the three of them with his hands up.
VOSO
Give me your hands.
ABE
Not a good idea if we're infected.
VOSO
There's this water healing trick I learned in the Earth Kingdom. It's dangerous but it's our only option.
KOTA
Uh, seriously?
VOSO
Trust me, please.
Baki is first to grab one of his hands with both of hers.
BAKI
(exasperated)
Turns out I didn't want this kind of excitement in my life.
Abe and Kota touch his hands as well.
VOSO
Alright, now, on the count of three, say your favorite dessert. One, two, three.
BAKI
Candy lasagna.
VOSO
Go to sleep.
All of them flop over onto the soft bed on command. Voso lifts his hands, seeing the black infection of the spirit on the tips of his fingers.
CUT TO:
EXT EDGE OF THE APOTH
Makami limps on only one and a half legs with the purple haze harshly eating into her torso. The statues are in the background as she huffs into the foreground.
MAKAMI
(breathlessly)
C'mon...c'mon...
(loudly)
KORRA!
CUT TO:
INT MAKAMI'S ROOM
Voso works to make them more comfortable quickly on the bed.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
What are you doing?
VOSO
She already knows how to do the healing thing if the last Avatar knew.
He's around the bed, sitting in front of her.
VOSO
So, I'm going to help her remember.
His hand is shaking in the air.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
I can't let you, Voso.
VOSO
(struggling)
I...can't move.
CUT TO:
EXT EDGE OF THE APOTH
Korra stands up from the clear edge of the realm as Makami, now crawling with one arm, is finally in sight.
MAKAMI
(struggling)
K-Korra! I need...I need your help!
KORRA
Makami, what's happening?
MAKAMI
(struggling)
Some...sort of poison is eating...eating my spirit. I need to know...how do I heal the...spirit?
She inches closer.
MAKAMI
Please...teach me.
KORRA
I can't.
Korra turns away.
KORRA
I won't.
CUT TO:
INT MAKAMI'S ROOM
Voso's hand slowly inches its way towards Makami's blackened arm.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
You can't save her from this poison, Voso. Be reasonable. All you'll accomplish is spreading this sickness.
VOSO
(struggling)
You don't...know...that!
His fingers continue to force their way forward in the air, now only a few inches away.
CUT TO:
EXT EDGE OF THE APOTH
Makami reaches with her fading hand towards Korra, who is backing away.
KORRA
Kyoshi helped you and look what happened to her! If I touch you, you'll...look, there will be another Avatar after you, but not if you keep destroying spirits! The spirit has to survive.
They both look up as a rumble of thunder rolls through the sky. Korra covers her mouth, realizing her mistake too late.
KORRA
Oh no.
CUT TO:
INT MAKAMI'S ROOM
Voso pushes his hand forward with all of his might.
VOSO
Let me go!
Finally, his hand shoots out to grab her arm.
VOSO
Makami!
CUT TO:
EXT EDGE OF THE APOTH
Makami's lone remaining eye is wide as it looks into the sky. From behind the colorful clouds writhes a massive torso between dark wings. The shadow breaks apart into dozens of flying creatures threatening the Apoth.
VOSO (O.S.)
(echoing)
Remember the power to cleanse spirits!
Her eyes are suddenly awash with white light. Beams shoot from her mouth and eye sockets, enough to cause Korra to cover away and decimate the oncoming enemy spirits.
CUT TO:
INT MAKAMI'S ROOM
Voso is blown off the bed as the same beam of light emits from her eyes and mouth in the human world. The other three rest peacefully in Makami's glow.
CUT TO:
EXT EDGE OF THE APOTH
Her body is made whole and lifts off the ground with an ethereal blue outline. Tentacles soon appear, moving gently as Raava, the spirit shared by all Avatars, appears in the air above them both.
Makami's full body lowers to the ground, Korra still keeping her distance.
KORRA
Raava? I thought...
RAAVA
(echoing)
It's been a long time, my friends.
Makami looks up weakly, stumbling.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Makami. My name is-
MAKAMI
I know, Raava. I remember you through Korra's eyes. I remember everything down the line of...um sharks.
A pause breaks the enormity of the moment.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Okay then. Please, come. There is much to discuss with the others.
CUT TO:
EXT THE APOTH
Makami sits by herself beneath Raava while the other Avatars look up to them both from the surrounding ground.
RAAVA
(echoing)
My friends, I can sense your fear. Your line is being threatened as never before. Saber shark Makami was attacked by a dark spirit that infected her incorporeal being.
KORRA
Is this Vaatu's doing?
RAAVA
(echoing)
No, he is not involved, of that I am sure. This threat feels...mysterious. Beyond the pale of light and dark. Something far more sinister that is moving to threaten all worlds.
KURUK
Listen, Raava, all we care about is what happened to Kyoshi. What happened to her spirit?
Makami turns away with disgust on her face while a few murmurs go on around Kuruk.
MAKAMI
(sternly)
All you care about? Raava just told you both worlds are in danger.
KURUK
That's your problem now, lady.
MAKAMI
Excuse me?
She jumps down from the platform, causing all the other Avatars to scatter away in fear. She looks to all of them, feeling even more like a pariah amongst her own kin.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Kyoshi chose to give her spirit to protect Makami. No other...um, saber shark has been able to fully channel past power as Makami has.
Makami notices a tear at the side of Raava where one of the tentacles hovers, covering the wound.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Her sacrifice removed a part of me - a part of all of you - from existence.
MAKAMI
(solemnly)
I didn't know this would happen - any of this.
Makami turns and walks quickly through the crowd, each Avatar leaving her path quickly. She is at the foot of Kyoshi's monument, bowing.
MAKAMI
(sadly)
She was the bravest saber shark, giving away her eternity to save lives.
RAAVA
(echoing)
I am no longer able to sense Vaatu in this world. If something spiritual plots against us, Makami may not be able to face this threat alone.
MAKAMI
I can do it.
She stands and walks speedily back the way she came.
MAKAMI
You said it yourself - none of them have discovered what I have. I don't need anyone that isn't willing to fight for others.
Makami stops in her tracks as Roku, Aang, and Yangchen stand in her path.
ROKU
While I do not know what awaits you, I do know what it is like to face the impossible alone. We can offer you nothing more than we have any other saber shark, but we offer it freely.
He extends his hand, but Makami just stares.
MAKAMI
Ex nihilo nihil fit, Roku. Means out of nothing - like your lack of help - comes nothing - like my care for your empty words.
Raava combines with her body again, and she is away in a flash of light.