INT ROOT CHAKRA, ZEN GARDEN - NIGHT
Makami and Raava step out into the quietest night imaginable. Above, multis moons shine down like unblinking eyes, watching what their next move will be. In front of her, there is a well-maintained, wide garden of raked sand. Every ridge seems symmetrical, every grain perfectly balanced.
Somewhere in the night, there is the slap of a piece of hollow bamboo against wood, ticking away some ominous time.
MAKAMI
(whispering)
This is the last chakra, right? It has to be here.
RAAVA
(struggling)
Be careful. It will have accumulated all darkness from the other chakras into itself by now.
MAKAMI
Stay back, I'll handle it.
RAAVA
(weakly)
Makami, please-
She takes a step forward, her foot toppling one of the sand ridges. Another and another follow with the silent night heightening her anxiety and bringing her senses alive. Eventually, she moves towards the bonsai tree in the center with bare roots hanging down and burrowed into the ground.
The sound of faint, deep sadness catches her ear. Leaning closer to the tree, sobs emanate from its branches, the leaves trembling.
MAKAMI
(whispering)
Why are you crying, uh, living tree?
LIVING TREE
(drying)
I'm cold. My roots...dig but it's still so cold.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
Makami, look out!
Makami jumps back as a typhoon of ice comes down, barely missing her. While she lands readied, her guard drops when she sees the blob has formed into DARK KURUK, red eyes glaring back at her.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Why do you look like Kuruk?
DARK KURUK
(growling)
You stay away from her!
MAKAMI
I don't want to hurt your...tree friend!
DARK KURUK
(furious)
You stay away from Ummi! She is lost and must be allowed to grow. I will protect her until she grows!
He pushes silver fire around her feet while Raava struggles to stay afloat, now no larger than a bird. Makami dances away, trying to bend the flames but having no luck.
MAKAMI
(desperately)
I can help her! Do you want her to be trapped here forever?
DARK KURUK
(viciously)
No one can save her! No one!
A blast of air sends Makami sliding across the sand. As she grimaces towards the sky, she sees the other Avatars coming into shape behind the moons in the sky. Korra's face glowers down at the battle.
Raava breaks her line of sight.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Remember, Makami!
She nods, standing and wiping some sand from her face.
MAKAMI
Who I am.
She glances at Raava for a moment, smirking.
MAKAMI
I am not just a protector, Raava. Whenever I've looked into the mirror lately, I've seen you behind my eyes. It makes me feel...complete. Like I have every weapon I'll ever need.
RAAVA
(echoing)
Do not say that, Makami.
MAKAMI
Why not?
RAAVA
(wavering)
Because...because I am the reason for this pain and suffering.
Raava bolts like lightning towards Dark Kuruk.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Raava, no!
The spirit absorbs itself into the body, the dark eyes cracking with light.
RAAVA (V.O.)
(echoing)
My dear Kuruk...
CUT TO:
EXT THE APOTH - SPIRIT WORLD
The Avatars of old are meditating as a single group. One, Kuruk, is in the background, sweating profusely while clutching at his chest.
RAAVA (V.O.)
We have both made mistakes that have changed the course of entire civilizations. I wish...I now know that I needed to say more. You needed my guidance, but I sat back in silence.
Kuruk hobbles away from them, climbing over the edge of the Apoth. Yangchen opens her eyes, turning to watch after him.
RAAVA (V.O.)
The only way to save the others now is if we work together - even if it's just to protect that which we love.
KURUK
(whispering)
Heh, you got it, Raava.
The old Avatar leaps from the edge of the platform, down into the unknown clouds. Yangchen stands, looking on sadly with an out-stretched hand.
CUT TO:
INT ROOT CHAKRA, ZEN GARDEN
Dark Kuruk is immobilized by Raava, the blue beginning to crack further and further across its dark skin.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
Makami, I can't hold the creature much longer. Please, help me.
MAKAMI
Always, Raava.
Makami comes forward, plunging her hand into the creature's chest. Black ichor slithers across her forearm, but more importantly, so does the power of Raava.
Makami turns towards the tree with one palm out. She opens her mouth and blasts out a cleansing nova. The leaves of the tree strip away, swirling into a dark mist that rides the breeze into oblivion. With that, so goes Dark Kuruk, dissipating into shards of relieved pain.
Raava's blue energy flows through Makami's arms like blood, meeting and highlighting Raava's distinct pattern upon her chest as her eyes illuminate straight upwards like a beacon.
CUT TO:
INT ROKU'S SOLSTICE CHAMBER - DAY
Makami comes out of her trance slowly, sighing and stretching.
MAKAMI
Well, that's a job well done, huh, partner?
KURUK (O.S.)
Not yet it ain't.
Makami's eyes open to see Kuruk's spirit in a meditative pose before her. He has a pained smile on his ragged face.
KURUK
You and the blue one were busy, eh?
MAKAMI
Kuruk? How did you get here?
KURUK
Old fashioned ways that you haven't found yet, newbie.
He grunts and doubles over for a moment before coming back up, his hands unbuttoning his parka.
KURUK
(hoarsely)
Looks like you re-opened some old wounds of mine.
He pulls the flap aside to show a festering glob of darkness undulating where his heart should be. Makami recoils.
MAKAMI
But we just purged the darkness. It was...you're the source, aren't you?
KURUK
For many years now, yes. I...I swear to you, I didn't know how deep the darkness had run. Thank you for healing everyone else, yourself included.
MAKAMI
I can heal you too, Kuruk.
KURUK
No, I don't believe you can.
He stares down, his hands braced against his knees.
KURUK
I was such a stellar, prideful fighter - you think I wanted to go out a weakling? No, when I saw where the infection was headed, I, well, I...took another option. Since I did, I guess I'm just stuck with this for as long as my spirit survives.
Raava appears out of Makami's shoulders, regained to their previous size and strength. Kuruk smiles at the sight.
KURUK
I guess you want an apology too, right?
RAAVA
(echoing)
Kuruk, I...
KURUK
Oh, I know - enough of that. I'm all about going out with my fangs bared anyways. But this time, I need your help, Raava.
He meets eyes with Makami through Raava.
KURUK
I need both of your help. Please?
Raava ducks their torso while slowly receding into Makami. She keeps a straight, stone face while her eyes betray the pain of his request.
KURUK
Hey, between us Avatars, what do you think is after the Spirit World?
MAKAMI
(sadly)
I think...I think you'll find Ummi there.
He smiles bitterly, shaking his head.
KURUK
I don't know that I wish that anymore. Perhaps, if she has a memory of me, it's best that it stays that way instead of...seeing me as I am now.
MAKAMI
(smiling)
Then make yourself presentable, you slob.
She bends together some water around her into a smooth, reflective sheet of ice and holds it up in front of his face. He chuckles once, scoffing in disappointment.
KURUK
What has become of this old hunter?
He goes about straightening his hair, tightening his collar, and pulling up his fierce, fanged hood. Then, with a serious shift in his eyes, he gives one last smirk to Makami.
KURUK
(confidently)
I'm ready.
EXT CRESCENT MOON BEACH - MIDDAY
Abe and Alrund sculpt an ashen snowman when Makami comes jetting out of the water. She spins to them with the white eyes of the Avatar State.
MAKAMI
(echoing in Kuruk's voice)
Get to the points of the island and keep it steady!
She splashes back down into the water. Abe and Alrund look at one another for a moment before Abe sighs and takes off.
ABE
I've had fun more since meeting her than ever in my life.
ALRUND
Stop waxing, get moving.
CUT TO:
BENEATH THE ISLAND
Makami has her hands clawed in front of her, facing the central pillar of Crescent Moon Island. Behind her, the spirits and their icy blocker loom in writhing desperation. The thin pillar of the island begins to rumble.
CUT TO:
EXT CRESCENT MOON BEACH
Toyo and the sages run around like mad people.
TOYO
(shouting)
The volcano is erupting - everyone downstairs!
He is jerked off his feet by another rumble.
CUT TO:
INT SHII'S ROOM
Shii rolls around in a tied hammock with pillows still tied to his ears. They seem very effective as he snores soundly. Around him slides various packs and a half-eaten chunk of his special cake.
CUT TO:
BENEATH THE ISLAND
Soot begins to flow out from the torn island shelf. Makami's glowing eyes peer behind where the school of dark spirits writhe through the ice. She gathers a white aura around her body before shooting out a wide blanket that purifies the first wave.
Makami shoots herself up to the surface.
EXT CRESCENT MOON BEACH - CONTINUOUS
Toyo comes closer as Makami dolphins herself onto the beach, landing with the showy-strength of Kuruk.
TOYO
(shouting)
If you think erupting a volcano will suddenly materialize a plane-!
MAKAMI
(echoing)
Bend the island forward!
TOYO
What?
The spirits flop onto the land with sprouted legs as Makami stands, blasting them backwards.
MAKAMI
(loudly)
Do it!
TOYO
(scoffing)
I can't bend a whole...I'll try.
While Makami holds them at bay, Toyo digs deep, crouching low to the ground before shooting his body forward and up diagonally. The sands around them budge but not the island.
MAKAMI
(echoing)
Again!
Toyo scoops down and back up again, and again until finally, with sweat flying from his brow, the island lurches.
TOYO
(shouting)
I think it's stuck!
MAKAMI (O.S.)
(echoing)
AGAIN!
TOYO
Okay, you don't need to...
He turns to see her glaring every possible glowing dagger at him.
TOYO
Go so light on me - here we go!
Makami's feet slam down like a sumo wrestler, rocking the island one way, then the other.
CUT TO:
EXT CRESCENT MOON ISLAND NORTHERN TIP
Alrund holds tight to her own power, pushing hard to keep the island in the water as rock chips away all around her.
CUT TO:
EXT CRESCENT MOON ISLAND SOUTHERN TIP
Abe churns a vast cylinder of water over the island's tip to keep it sea level, even as squirrel-crabs fall upon their head.
CUT TO:
EXT CRESCENT MOON BEACH
Makami blasts another wide burst of white light to buy them just enough time.
MAKAMI
(echoing)
Now!
She and Toyo move as one, and the island snaps free. Her hands go to work, bending a massive cyclone of air to push the newly-freed island across the top of the ocean. As they do, lava bubbles from beneath the ocean to restart the cycle.
TOYO
(shouting)
What in the world did we just do!? WOW!
He spins around to see Makami missing.
TOYO
Makami?
Further down the beach, she is turned away from him, watching after Kuruk's spirit. He slowly removes his carved bone club and spear, taking one in each hand and staring out at the dark creatures. Then, he begins to shake, his spirit unraveling.
At last, he looks back with a smirk just before he disappears in the same fashion as Kyoshi.
Makami's fist shakes at her side.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
The work is done.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
And just starting.
TOYO (O.S.)
Makami! Wasn't that stupid cool!?
She turns, wiping away a tear to smile at Toyo's excitement.
MAKAMI
(laughing)
Yeah, pretty cool.
Toyo slides down the beach towards her as the island begins to slow, catching upon the nearest current.
TOYO
(excitedly)
I don't even know why we did that, but I'd do it again! Wait, why did we do that?
MAKAMI
Because you destroyed the plane.
TOYO
Ah-ha...
Realization of her true power hits him into a nervous smile.
TOYO
Remind me to never make you angry, huh?
MAKAMI
You can make me angry, but don't ever give me a challenge.
She slaps him twice on one cheek while moving up the beach side.
CUT TO:
EXT THE APOTH
The Avatars are gathered around in distress and mourning. Roku and Aang are in front of Kuruk's fallen statue. The two of them kneel down and begin to gather the rocks for another memorial. Yangchen, standing next to Korra, bites back bitter anger.
YANGCHEN
No more fallen saber sharks.
The crowd agrees quietly.
YANGCHEN
No more Makami.
There are fewer agreeing murmurs, but still enough. Korra and Aang share a concerned look as they kneel down to help.
Roku, left standing, looks off-panel at something or someone with wide eyes. Flipping around, we see it is Makami, who looks betrayed by what she's over-heard, looking around emptily. Finally, she and Roku lock eyes - she asking across the space for some sort of defense against this piercing blow.
He closes his eyes in pain, turning back to the group in helping to gather Kuruk's memorial.
Without another second amongst those that reject her, Makami fades out, two lost tears dissipating in the spiritual air.
CUT TO:
EXT EARTH KINGDOM FIELD - NIGHT
Kozan, Yasuhiro, and Ju-Fen collect the scientists together in the combined headlamps of three cars. Voso watches carefully, marking off people from a centralized list. Each of them are bound around their wrists and ankles.
Ju-Fen walks by Voso with Kozan, looking him up and down.
JU-FEN
(signing)
Seven out of ten.
Kozan nods, grabbing Voso's attention.
VOSO
Keep it quiet and focused. We're missing one. Show me your lists.
All three hand them over, Yasuhiro's dripping wet and ruined while Kozan's is covered in stains.
VOSO
(to Kozan)
What'd you do?
KOZAN
(signing)
I needed a napkin.
Voso turns to Yasuhiro.
VOSO
And you?
YASUHIRO
(signing)
I went through the perfume section of a department store.
Voso rolls his eyes, going back to his master list.
VOSO
Then, help me find the missing name.
As all of them look at the list, they miss the scientists phasing out of their bonds and standing. Kozan brings out a long blade, dripping with green poison, pointing it over Voso's shoulder to turn everyone.
SCIENTISTS
(in unison)
WHERE IS THE AVATAR!?
Kozan lunges after the closest one, but Voso catches his wrist.
VOSO
(shouting)
No, no killing-!
The others swarm without regard for their bodies, moving Yasuhiro and Ju-Fen away. Voso is snatched around his mouth to prevent him from speaking and whisked into the night by the entire group. The three servants are left only to gawk into the darkness with Voso nowhere to be found.