INT. CABBAGE CORP STENOPOOL - EVENING OF SOZEN'S COMET
Taking place just before the end of our last episode, a fairly tame party is taking place with all the desks moved out of the way. A man and a woman are seated in the middle of the room, spinning in office chairs with their torsos tied together. Other workers are spinning them around with glee, then one tosses a small red fruit. The woman catches it in her mouth and various shouts ring out.
Kin walks through the foreground with Baki, dressed in a fine blue dress, and Zura in her finest school uniform. Out the windows, red clouds hang heavy.
KIN
I'm sorry it took so long to have you in for a tour, and in such an unprofessional environment.
BAKI
No trouble at all, we're glad to have such a venue for the comet. Quite the view Makami had here.
KIN
Yes, a view she admired far too much when she did bother to show up.
ZURA
I'll show up! And I hate heights, so I won't look out the window much.
BAKI
(quietly)
Hush now.
INT. KIN'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Kin opens her door and flips on the lights. The desk is neat with only a few of the stress balls present near the front of the desk.
KIN
It's probably best for a tour of the job that she see my office.
Zura zooms into the chair behind the desk fast enough to spin it around.
KIN
You're familiar with the typewriter, but there will be several other aspects to your internship. Can you operate a paper-toother?
ZURA
A what?
Baki stands behind Kin with her hand moving together like an alligator mouth.
ZURA
Oooh, yes, yeah! I helped my teacher un-tooth his papers once.
Kin nods with satisfaction.
KIN
Well, good.
She reaches over and places a paper-toother - known to us as a stapler - in front of Zura with a pair of blank papers.
KIN
Tooth the papers.
She picks up the device quickly and ends the drama with a quick snap.
Kin takes the page out of her hands and immediately points to the crooked staple.
KIN
This shoddy work may be good enough for a hopeless teacher, but this is the professional world, young lady. Please tell me you can do better than this.
BAKI
Take your time, Zee.
A worker comes skidding by along the carpet.
WORKER 1
(excitedly)
The comet's coming out of the clouds!
Baki and Kin emerge first with Zura coming up beside her mother.
ZURA
(disappointed)
I thought it was all typing and easy. I'm gonna have to learn all this new stuff now, aren't I?
BAKI
Is that really such a bad thing? Your sister is out there learning all sorts of new stuff I bet. You don't want her to come back smarter than you, do you?
ZURA
Psh-yeah! Like that'd ever happen.
They walk out of the office together.
INT. CABBAGE CORP STENOPOOL - CONTINUOUS
The wonderous red glow filters through the windows. The business-boring atmosphere focuses into toasts commemorating the event. One of the drunken men shoots fire out of his finger in a large blast, roasting an effigy of Kin and bringing cheers.
Kin grabs a ruler and throws it with assassin-level precision. The implement sticks into the man's baggy sleeve and pins him to the wall. He and the others quiet down immediately.
KIN
(sternly)
If we could keep just a modicum of decorum while we have guests in the office...please.
Zura grins gleefully next to her mother while Kin straightens her all-white lapels and crosses her hands.
KIN
(to Baki)
I hope you know that your daughter will see no such tom-foolery, Miss Ayame. She will be given useful skills that she can carry into the workplace.
BAKI
Oh, I'm sure.
KIN
I'm sure you'll agree that proper guidance can mean the difference in a child's life.
BAKI
On that, we agree. Makami was naturally curious and picked up anything I put in front of her. This one usually waits until there's a fire under her butt to do anything.
ZURA
Oh, psh, one time that happened!
BAKI
My point is, I'm glad you're helping. I wish I'd helped out my parents like you are me.
ZURA
Oh, here we go...
She hops up to a desk and looks at Kin.
ZURA
Do you tell your kids all about how hard your life used to be, Ms. Boss?
KIN
I don't have children of my own.
BAKI
(sharply)
Zura, that's rude to ask!
KIN
I've chosen to dedicate myself to my work. It makes me happy, therefore I never focus on anything else. Very simple.
BAKI
What do you say, Zura?
Zura stares at Kin until the woman looks sideways at the child.
ZURA
(overly happy)
My mom says all the time how we ruined her life, so you must be super happy!
Baki slams her face into her hands while Kin turns back to the windows with a wry smile.
WORKER 2 (O.S.)
Hey, the comet's coming around the building!
Everyone walks towards the corner of the building so they can crane around to see the comet. Zura jumps across the desks ahead of her mother and Kin.
Finally, the aura of the passing comet is awe-inspiring, giving everyone the same wide eyes.
Just as suddenly, a white shockwave fills the sky. The center of red is split as the streets blowing dust against the windows like a sandstorm.
Everyone is shocked off-balance, backing away from the windows. Baki has Zura in her arms.
KIN (O.S.)
Everyone into my office - now!
The group quickly run into her office as the building begins to rattle. The windows warp in and out violently as Kin closes her office door and locks it.
As she does, the shockwave destroys the glass, flinging it inward and wavering the building.
INT. KIN'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Baki and Zura are with as many people as can fit under the desk, their eyes closed and bodies braced against the destruction.
BAKI
(nervously)
Hold tight, baby!
CUT TO:
EXT. PRESIDENTIAL PALACE - GLOWING NIGHT
Earth guards run around with their hands over their ears as the nova expands overhead. Adachi tends to his guard that have fallen, hand cover their ears as well.
KHONSU (O.S.)
Adachi!
Khonsu has healing water spinning in his hand as he approaches with Mako by his side.
KHONSU
They fired another rocket?
MAKO
The vapor trail comes from just outside Ba-Sing-Se.
ADACHI
Help me get these soldiers inside.
All three drag the soldiers into Adachi's adobe.
INT. ADACHI'S ABODE - CONTINUOUS
He drops two of his soldiers with the phone ringing incessantly. Mako and Khonsu help them and close the door.
MAKO
Adachi, your phone.
He stomps over quickly and rips up the receiver.
ADACHI
Adachi here.
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE EMPEROR'S QUARTERS - GLOWING NIGHT
Fire Emperor Ichiro hops manically while staring out his broken window at roaring fireballs of rock that fall from the sky. He dons frilled red pajamas.
ICHIRO
(panicking)
What did you DO, Adachi!? The fire is RAINING on our heads, you incompetent oaf!
ADACHI (O.S.)
Sir, this is-
ICHIRO
(panicking)
This is the end of the WORLD, and it's on your head!
CUT TO:
INT. ADACHI'S ABODE
He stares ahead with smoke coming from his clenched fist.
ICHIRO (O.S.)
(loudly)
You are never welcome back-!
KOUICHI (O.S.)
Fire Emperor Ichiro - may I interrupt?
CUT TO:
INT. FIRE EMPEROR PLAZA HALLWAY
Kouichi pants with the phone receiver in his hand. The massive lobby behind him has the doors flung wide, various workers staring out into the falling sky.
ICHIRO (O.S.)
Kouichi? You're in the building?
KOUICHI
Yes, Emperor. Adachi - can you hear me?
ADACHI (O.S.)
Yes, Kouichi, what is it?
KOUICHI
Did she...did she already sign the treaty?
ADACHI (O.S.)
Yes, earlier today.
CUT TO:
INT. ADACHI'S ABODE
His expression shows a man letting the puzzle pieces fall into place - knowing what must be done next.
KOUICHI (O.S.)
Then this is an act of war, and you have your orders in an environment of wartime. Isn't that right, Emperor?
ICHIRO (O.S.)
Y-yes, of course! Bring me that woman in a platinum box, Adachi!
The line cuts off, yet Adachi doesn't relinquish the receiver.
ADACHI
She wouldn't have done this, Kouichi. It was someone else.
KOUICHI (O.S.)
Whomever it was, bring them to Capital City to clear your name. I'm going to help save what's left of it.
He lets the receiver slip down to the cradle. Khonsu and Mako help the soldiers up in the background, all turning towards Adachi as he approaches.
ADACHI
Ambassadors...I think it best that you go to your own houses and lock your doors for this night.
KHONSU
You and your soldiers will do the same?
MAKO
We all saw her sign the document, Adachi. Is this war?
Adachi straightens and lets his arms fold behind him, looking like the military leader he is.
ADACHI
Yes.
Mako and Khonsu look at one another for a beat.
MAKO
Then, consider this an alliance of nations.
Adachi cracks a smile as his soldiers prepare.
CUT TO:
INT. UNDERGROUND SILOS
Voso and Alrund peer up through one of the open silos as the sky falls. His wide eyes follow red lines slicing the night in the far distance.
VOSO
(quietly)
You hit the comet?
He is shocked enough that his hand falls from Alrund's shoulder.
VOSO
(quietly)
That's...that's over the-
A brick of land smacks him in the face.
ALRUND
(shrieking)
Stay away from me! I'll tell everyone the truth! You did this!
He raises himself groggily from the ground, using the railings.
FUU-KI (O.S.)
(warbled)
If she gets away, everyone will know of your involvement. You must get up - GET AFTER HER!
Voso is off with blood running down his forehead.
INT. UNDERGROUND CORRIDORS - CONTINUOUS
Voso turns the corner sharply, nearly sliding on the stone in pursuit of Alrund. She passes the corner ahead of him.
Rounding another one, he can no longer see her, but still chases. He runs past an opening and splashes away. Moving in the shadows is Alrund with her hand over her mouth.
She sighs while reaching behind her ear, pulling out a small transponder.
ALRUND
(whispering to speaker)
Inca. Inca come in! I'm in the tunnels - that Fire Nation boy used some sort of power over me, and-and I couldn't resist. Please...please I just need help. Send just a few guards down here to distract him and-
INCA (O.S.)
Alrund? Is...you?
ALRUND
(whispering)
It's the boy - Voso. We under-estimated him, Inca. He's-
INCA (O.S.)
(through static)
You're not welcome up here anymore. No one is coming to help you.
ALRUND
(whispering)
What? Inca, what did you say?
The microphone whines loudly - like it was crushed on the other end.
She hears Voso's footsteps and has to abandon the mic on the ground.
CUT TO:
EXT. AIR NATION CAPITAL.
In the reflection of Makami's eyes, the rocks fall directly down atop the great Air Nation Capital. The fireball is close enough to make her wince, yet her hands come up to block.
AIR BENDER 3 (O.S.)
WATCH OUT!
She blasts fire from her hands strong enough to destroy the chunk of rock. Other air benders are in the background joining forces to rebound another chunk of rock from the platform.
Toyo and Shii have joined to stop another large one, tipping it over the edge. Makami watches smaller debris crash into roofs, setting fires quickly.
She punches through a flaming boulder.
MAKAMI
(angrily)
RAHH!
Her foot is near the edge, her finger pointing over it.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
We need to get everyone off the platform! Move house to house and find everyone!
A bright red, massive rock falls quickly past her. She watches with wide terror as it is about to hit one of the struts holding up the Air Capital.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
NOW - WE NEED TO GO NO-!
The entire platform shakes with the impact, the weaker rock of the strut crumbling away. People rush to their gliders and sky bison, but the rumbling and fire has the creatures scattering.
Shii and Kota reach Makami before she loses her balance. In the background is another small comet heading for a second strut.
SHII
(loudly)
We have to get to the elevator before it collapses!
KOTA
(loudly)
Too late!
The second rumble knocks everyone off their feet. Looking down, the platform twists in the wind but still holds in the sky.
Makami turns back to the elevator, seeing several hands reaching out from the bent metal door. Without thinking, she scoops up a broken air staff and rushes over.
MAKAMI
(loudly)
Move your hands!
As they obey, she wedges the wood in place and pulls with all of her might.
MAKAMI
(grunting)
C'mon - C'MON!
The metal relents one ache at a time until the air benders can slide through. Makami drops the wood and turns.
What she sees - too late - is another comet falling beneath the platform's horizon, right towards the third strut.
MAKAMI
No!
She blasts wind too late, and the last domino falls. A large chunk of the capital cracks away, free-falling to the ground far below. As Makami slides down the angle towards the long fall, a rock smacks against her head. She struggles quietly before losing consciousness.
SHII
(shouting)
Makami!
He releases his grip on an anchored rock and slides after her. He snatches one of the ripped tarps as his body releases from the ramp after her.
EXT. OPEN AIR ABOVE THE GREAT SWAMP - CONTINUOUS
Shii throws the tarp over his head and angles towards Makami, diving rapidly. The flames of the surrounding debris light the night eerily all around them - even unto the horizon.
Shii grabs Makami out of the air with his legs as she hangs limply. He blows more air into their glider, but they are losing altitude.
KOTA (O.S.)
Aim for us!
Kota reaches up for Makami's foot from the back of a sky bison. Meelo has the reigns.
MEELO
Grab them!
Shii lands softly on the fur amongst several others. Kota has Makami's head in her lap and gently inspects the open wound on her head.
MEELO
(loudly)
Is there any more room?
Shii looks around with fading hope.
SHII
Not enough.
Meelo snaps the leather reigns.
MEELO
(loudly)
We will save all we can.
KOTA
C'mon, Makami, c'mon. Wake up, please!
CUT TO:
EXT. THE APOTH - ETERNAL DAY
In the middle of the deserted starburst center, Makami is sprawled out. A steaming cup of tea is picked up in the foreground by a gloved hand as she finally stirs.
MAKAMI
(drowsily)
Get...everyone - hm? Kyoshi?
Around now, the spirit of Kyoshi drinks her tea calmly. As the cup lowers, her intense brown eyes peer into Makami as she looks around.
KYOSHI
Finally getting up for work, are we?
MAKAMI
Where are the others?
KYOSHI
Who knows what type of distractions they're into. None of them apparently see how lost you really are.
MAKAMI
Wait...am I dead this time?
KYOSHI
You should hope not. Your legend wouldn't even fill a grain of rice at this point.
MAKAMI
(angrily)
What do you want from me? You're the one that brought me here - I need to be back helping my friends.
KYOSHI
Hah, of course you do. The world that is always broken will always need a savior, after all. But what good is one that can only talk and not act?
Kyoshi crushes the tea cup into a pebble in her hand.
KYOSHI
In the time of warlords, strength earned respect.
MAKAMI
This is a new world. There are weapons that can destroy entire civilizations now. I didn't even know about them until a few weeks ago - and now, I have to-
KYOSHI
Respect their power, yes, but you can overpower them easily. With every new link added to our lineage, each of us grows stronger. In my time, I could move islands. Korra was able to stop a blast that could level a city.
The two Avatars level their eyes, Makami naturally finding her torso's full height.
KYOSHI
Imagine what you could do if you truly tapped into your power.
MAKAMI
I...I need to learn. I'm...
(sadly)
I'm out of time to learn. My friends need me, and I'm too weak still.
KYOSHI
You are, yes.
Kyoshi removes one of her gloves, showing scars along her lengthy fingers. The hand reaches halfway between them.
KYOSHI
That is why I will help you. Allow me to inhabit your body.
MAKAMI
You can do that?
KYOSHI
Any portal can also be a vessel. Come now - there is little time left.
Makami reaches out with both hands and clasps. Immediately, her eyes glow and her head falls back.
CUT TO:
EXT. RED SKY - NIGHT
Back in the human world, Makami's eyes shoot open with blazing white.
KOTA (O.S.)
She's awake! Makami?
She sits up and begins to float. Kota grabs her shoe.
KOTA
Hey, Makami, are you okay?
MAKAMI
(deeply threatening)
Release me!
Kota and everyone else backs away as Makami continues to rise atop a whirling tornado. She blasts away, over Meelo's head.
MEELO
(quietly)
Avatar?
Makami blasts over Toyo, who is in a metal basin made of various, smaller sheets. He has Abe and a few others in his boat all trying to wave her down.
TOYO
(shouting)
Makami! Hey!
ABE
Her eyes are glowing again.
TOYO
So what? She needs glasses now!?
Makami uses her Avatar State bending to spin a chunk of the platform in the air, holding it above her head. She blasts massive streams of fire behind her to rocket upwards. The rock piece is released, but she keeps going, spinning slowly in the air before plummeting towards a group of falling people.
She snatches them out of the air with both arms, kicks off a piece of debris and places them upon the platform.
Another blast of air gives her enough momentum to crash through a rock wall to release several trapped people within. She places them on the platform, then kicks ever higher.
Nearby, Paya wobbles and falls with his glider wings broken.
PAYA
(nervously)
Help! Anyone!
Makami is so fast into his face that his eyes widen. Another few seconds has him on the platform. She falls off the side, dive-bombing for Toyo's pod of people.
He and Abe are tying their shirts together to make a parachute.
ABE
Will this work?
TOYO
Not the time to ask an honest man a dire question, Abe, just tie!
All of them are hit by harsh momentum as Makami, anchored by her fire bending, metal bends them up into the air. Abe recovers with a phased smile.
ABE
(shouting)
Go Makami!
They are on the platform as Makami travels just a bit above the dozens that were saved. She slams down into the middle, hard enough for her feet to pierce into the platform. She raises her hands up, slowing the descent.
Everyone crowds close to her at the center as the speed decreases all around them, eventually bringing them to a soft landing on the ground.
All the others that landed safely are swarming close as the shadows of more debris bring pointed fingers.
AIR BENDER 2
(shouting)
It's the platform!
Makami shoots up with her hands outheld. She rockets straight for the falling platform, catching it and all other debris as through there was an invisible net. Suddenly, the night sky is no longer full of clouds and fire, but caught destruction - Makami hovering as a beacon of heroic power.
The ducking crowds come to realize the staggering amount of debris held up over hundreds of feet wide and off the ground.
Paya falls to the ground as he looks up, the sparse star, fire, and moonlight showing through the few cracks in the debris. More and more falls into Makami's wide bending net, more people joining Paya in his craned awe.
All of the rocks fold together above their heads, sounding like an earthquake in the sky. Makami finally has an absolutely massive ball of earth above her head, bringing it to the ground.
Another blast brings her up to the ball's apex where she lands. At first, her glowing eyes turn to the enflamed horizon near Capital City. Kyoshi separates from Makmai's body, with both of them looking weak and Makami's eyes returning to normal.
KYOSHI
(weakened)
It is done.
MAKAMI
I can't...I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you for this.
Kyoshi's spirit stumbles forward into Makami's arms, breaking apart into tatters like a worn flag.
MAKAMI
Whoa - what's happening?
KYOSHI
(weakened)
I...used my spiritual energy to embody you. There were bound to be consequences.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
No, no, you can't accept them for me. Someone has to know how to stop this. We're Avatars - our spirits can't die, remember?
KYOSHI
(chuckling)
No Avatar has ever done what you and I just pulled off. You're in uncharted territory, Makami. An outcast to the end.
Kyoshi's hand takes one of Makami's.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
I can't be, I just can't. What kind of Avatar can I be if I let you die for saving us all?
KYOSHI
(weakened)
There is no shame in asking for help. You need this world, and they need you.
MAKAMI
Because there's always a war, I know.
KYOSHI
(weakened)
Now imagine a world where there isn't war.
Makami can only watch as shards of Kyoshi break apart in the air.
KYOSHI
(quietly)
I believe you can make that real in this world.
She fades away completely after a bursting series of white flashes. Makami's eyes shake while she slowly closes her hands.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE APOTH
Avatars from every age are holding their heads and chests with agony on their faces. The only two that aren't are Korra and Aang - the only two Avatars present to come after Kyoshi in the chain. Both look around helpless before looking up at Kyoshi's statue in the clouds.
Low rumbling shakes the stone, turning it grey against the colorful clouds. Aang and Korra watch as her deadly fans break apart, her glorious crown swirls to dust, and white, formless spirits escape the wreckage.
KORRA (O.S.)
What's happening to her home?
With a sigh, the rock fades away with a last glimpse of a smiling Kyoshi hanging in the dust that intermingles with the clouds.
Aang's knees hit the glass platform.
AANG
(sadly)
It's...Kyoshi. She's gone.
Korra drops next to him, both of them looking lost and confused.