EXT THE RAZOR MAZE - STORMING NIGHT
Makami drops to all fours with the tethers of the two balances of all spirit energy - Raava and Vaatu - knotting just outside her abdomen before running to just beneath the coral waves.
She sweats harshly with one eye open, the sky in front of her bisected by the blue and red light from either entity.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
Makami, you must let me loose. With Vaatu bound, we can defeat him.
She doesn't move, focusing instead on her breathing.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
There is no time! We must defeat him before we can face-
VAATU (O.S.)
(echoing)
Face what, Raava? Your own demise? Ananta Shesha will not be toppled by you and your vessel.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
You do not know what we have already overcome, Vaatu.
FLASHBACK TO
MONTAGE BEGIN
- The first scene shows when Makami hovered high over Capital City in the Fire Nation, summoning the entire planet's moisture to snuff out the fires. Even younger, she is radiant in power and poise.
RAAVA (V.O.)
Makami is the culmination of the power of the Avatar. Kyoshi gave up her spirit to mentor Makami, and soon after, she held power enough to reshape the world.
- Next takes us to the battle of Makami versus Mei-You-Ran disguised as Pi-Ran in the Spirit World. At the edge of Nandaka's destroyed realm, she battles him before purifying him back to his old self.
RAAVA (V.O.)
She even defeated a former Avatar who had been recruited by Nandaka to replace all the world leaders - to save them from themselves. Fuu-Ki chased Nandaka to the Human World to join forces against Shesha's agent, Fuu-Ki.
- Finally, there is the face-off with Fuu-Ki in his room. Her eyes glow with power and hatred while he looks on with piteous weakness.
RAAVA (V.O.)
Then, Makami put an end to the insidious Fuu-Ki to set the stage for us to save the entire world today.
VAATU (V.O.)
(echoing)
Oh, Raava - how skewed your vision has become.
CUT TO:
EXT THE RAZOR MAZE
Makami's one open eye looks towards the radiating red light. The light concentrates into veins of power that threaten to crack the thick coral walls.
VAATU (O.S.)
(growling)
I am connected to your vessel's spirit now. All these memories, feelings...faces that anchor her to this very world. They've all turned to acidic ash in her lungs.
FLASHBACK TO
MONTAGE BEGIN
- Back now to the ruins of the Air Nation capital as Kyoshi's spirit dissolves into Makami's hugging arms, the fires of Capital City low on the horizon in the background.
VAATU (V.O.)
Yes, this human did shape the world, but only after she lost the first true mentor she'd ever known - one that gave up her very life because your vessel was too weak to save anyone.
- Sitting in front of Kuruk in Roku's chamber, Makami's eyes shake with sadness while he pulls his hood up over his head.
VAATU (V.O.)
And their list of destroyed Avatars is much longer than you say, Raava. The one called Kuruk also fell - three in total before the great battle even begins. All for the greater good.
- In the snows of the north, she faces down Voso, possessed by Fuu-Ki. She is frozen as a scythe swings for her face.
VAATU (V.O.)
And Ananta Shesha's agent took far more from her than just blood in the snow.
- Voso is impaled by his own staff, falling into Makami's arms in the snow.
VAATU (V.O.)
The weight on your vessel's spirit is fixed on the moment when her beloved husband was struck down by his own blade. Another person lost. Another death she could have avoided. Yet, this was the last, wasn't it, vessel? Not the last that will die - the last that your fragile spirit could withstand-
CUT TO:
EXT THE RAZOR MAZE
Makami erupts into the Avatar State, throwing her hands up to unleash a torrent of wind and water.
MAKAMI
(all Avatars)
Enough!
She rises with the storm, pushing away the water from the coral maze while pushing both entities further and further into the shale.
MAKAMI
(all Avatars)
You two will stop this fighting now!
RAAVA
(echoing)
I don't understand what you want, Makami! We must defeat Vaatu before we can face Ananta Shesha!
MAKAMI
(echoing)
No!
VAATU
(echoing)
You have become deaf to your own vessel, Raava! She does not want us to fight!
(grunting)
She wants us to join forces!
CUT TO:
INT SPIRIT TREE
Voso, still atop of Hmuph, floats up gently through the center of the winding, crystalline tunnel. He gently pushes aside each of the slumbering spirits as they do, trying to keep them away from the sides of the chamber as well.
HMUPH
Which belly did you say we were inside of? A Neat-O Sharpie?
VOSO
Not quite - just this very scary set of eyes in the sky. I'm not sure though. These colors don't exactly scream 'Welcome to the Intestines of a Space Eater'.
HMUPH
Dunno about any of that, stranger.
VOSO
I've noticed. What do you remember about before you were here?
HMUPH
Well, it was bright, so I wanted to spread out my lovely gas to cover the poor spirits below. The first time I ever felt like this was-
VOSO
(quickly)
Like, right before you arrived here.
HMUPH
Psh, okay, well that's boring - I was in the sky, I ran into this root, the root made a 'zoop' noise, and here I was-am.
VOSO
A root? I - ow!
Voso pushes them off the wall, rubbing at his head after smacking it against the stone.
HMUPH
Careful, your spirit has physical stuffs in here. Any of that 'ouch' you and other humans had in your bodies will still be turned on here.
VOSO
Yeah, got that. You learned our language pretty well for a spirit.
HMUPH
All I do is float, listen, and excrete all eternity. You wouldn't believe what I've learned just doing two of those things at the same time.
VOSO
(mumbling)
Too talented for the rest of us.
They round another corner to see only more branches of the crystal skin.
VOSO
(quietly)
There are so many spirits here. The way it's all setup, this has to be some sort of energy silo. Or...a waiting room?
HMUPH
Waiting? I hate that.
VOSO
There are worse things, like getting absorbed and removed from existence.
HMUPH
Oh, I hate that too. Is that what happens when you touch the walls?
VOSO
I hope not.
He adjusts his heavy foot and glances at his encrusted fingers.
VOSO
We've gotta go up until we find some sort of door, or...ew, I grossed myself out with what else could be up there...
HMUPH
I don't know how we're going to swerve our way through all those spirits up there. It's a sky-based traffic jam!
VOSO
I'll push some out of the way, just go a little slow...
Around them, the yellow energy crackles in the air. He holds up his hand, which also sparkles with lightning.
VOSO
(quickly)
We've gotta get up there!
He points and looks up, not seeing Hmuph being absorbed into his crystal foot.
VOSO
(loudly)
Let's go, little guy!
HMUPH
(weakly)
I...hate this too.
He looks down just as Hmuph disappears into the crystal and Voso begins to plummet.
VOSO
(panicking)
No, no, no, stop falling!
As if by command, he stops, floating now just above a joint in the long fall.
VOSO
Uh, thanks?
He shoots up as the electric serpents begin to jump down the walls past him.
VOSO
(quickly)
No, no, wait!
The trajectory takes his hand and single foot straight up through the large crowd of spirits like a bolt of lightning. He unwillingly absorbs every spirit the gemstone touches, turning sharply while keeping away from the sides.
After several turns, he sees the end - a brown spindle of roots with a yellow crystal set into the ten-fingered crown closest to Voso's swift approach. He tries to swing himself around.
VOSO
(grunting)
I am not going to be an energy smoothie!
Nothing he does works until the he nears the crystal, the two crystals on his body trying to make contact. His free hand and foot struggle mightily against the attraction.
VOSO
(struggling)
No, you are...not getting this energy!
His eyes dart between the crystals for another moment until his free hand suddenly shoots to his encased fingers. As soon as he makes contact, his spirit sparkles with blue energy that threatens to overwhelm him.
He snaps his hand to his foot as well, absorbing the energy with a pained grunt.
Woozily, he's too slow to react to the ten fingers wrapping around his waist to yank him into the crystal.
INT SPIRIT TREE INNER CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS
Voso appears inside of a loose, blue bubble high above the green crystal ground. The crystal on his limbs dissolves away. The chamber around him is the same green slate faces flashing with the visions of the exterior world.
Long, entwined roots from a tight knot at the apex of the chamber slither down. Bulbs bloom into yellow and red flowers along the roots, spitting forth dripping, leaf-covered spheres.
Voso watches them hover closer, blooming forward green eyes that dart across his body.
He opens his mouth to speak but all that escapes are purple bubbles. The two eyes focus lasers that heat the bubble containing Voso, bringing him to writhe in pain.
CUT TO:
EXT THE RAZOR MAZE
Makami's energy tethers pull tight at either side while she hovers in the Avatar State.
VAATU (O.S.)
(echoing)
There is no path forward for your plan, Raava. You have spread yourself too thin, refusing to see the entirety of your vessel's heart.
Makami looks down with wide eyes as the connection to Vaatu vibrates and cracks, coming through her hand like intruding veins.
VAATU (O.S.)
(rumbling)
How do you think I found you both from the edge of existence? How I was able to so easily attach myself to your vessel's rotting spirit?
Makami grips her hand tightly, falling to the maze.
VAATU (O.S.)
(growling)
Your Avatar is broken!
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
No! She is the beacon of hope and light in her world!
MAKAMI
(echoing sadly)
No, Raava.
Makami comes down from the Avatar State with her face down. The neon rain washes down her shoulders as the veins gain ground on her shoulders.
MAKAMI
(sadly)
I am broken. I've put it all away into dark corners of my mind, but I...I can't anymore.
She rises up enough for us to see her eyes shake.
MAKAMI
(sadly)
You saw it first hand, Raava.
FLASHBACK TO
INT MAKAMI'S HEART CHAKRA
Back inside of her self-constructed room, Makami longingly touches the window looking out towards the Avatars. Our view is square on her face as it degrades from happiness into concern and finally into the depths of despair.
Around the outside of the window, the dark red veins converge unto the sill.
MAKAMI (V.O.)
I showed you what weighed on my mind - how Voso was the floor and ceiling to all the other sacrifices I'd made. And he's gone. You wanted him gone!
FLASHBACK TO
EXT THE APOTH
Makami watches on as Voso, tied to one of the Avatar statues, slumbers as a spirit.
MAKAMI (V.O.)
I brought his spirit to the Apoth, but you just couldn't allow that, could you? You couldn't allow me to have just a little bit of leeway until I processed my husband's betrayal! Instead, you and Yangchen kicked him out!
Around the sides of the screen, the veins continue to spread.
CUT TO:
EXT THE RAZOR MAZE
She rises, her torso almost completely covered in the creeping energy and her teeth gritted harshly.
MAKAMI
(sadly)
You haven't trusted me to be ready for any of this attack, Raava. So, I put out the call for Vaatu.
VAATU (O.S.)
(cackling)
You see, Raava? It was simple to find you attached to this cauldron of negative energy. Now, I will rob you of your vessel to-
Makami snaps into the Avatar State, halting the progress of the veins.
MAKAMI
(echoing)
To what, Vaatu? Defeat Ananta Shesha? You cannot!
The veins begin to rescind.
MAKAMI
(echoing)
Nor can Raava and I - not alone!
She flexes her forearms with the power of ages, wrapping the tendrils tight around the anchor to Vaatu and Raava with a mighty pull. Makami's eyes glow brighter than ever before.
VAATU (O.S.)
(echoing)
No! What are you doing to me!?
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
Makami, stop! You don't have to do this! We can defeat him together!
The two spirits rumble out of the maze, being yanked by her amazing strength.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
I can't be a pure Avatar if my heart is dark, but I can't let this world perish! We three can form a balance. We need to work...together!
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
Your body, Makami!
Both of her glowing eyes begin to crack white energy into her skin, threatening to tear her apart.
RAAVA (O.S.)
No human body can handle being connected to two spirits of our power at once!
VAATU (O.S.)
(echoing)
Silence yourself, Raava. You, vessel!
Makami's eyes flick towards Vaatu, his size shrinking as she reels them in.
VAATU
(echoing)
I will entertain this temporary truce to dismantle Ananta Shesha and preserve my dark dynasty. If you can survive, we just may stop that coiled serpent.
Vaatu and Raava turn towards one another.
VAATU
(echoing)
Can you stomach our cooperation, Raava?
RAAVA
(echoing)
I will do as Makami asks. At the same time, Vaatu.
The two shrink and bolt towards Makami's hands, entering her skin abruptly. She shakes with the power as the cracks expand from her eyes as the red and blue powers expand to cover her body, creating overwhelming light that shines across both halves of the razor maze.
The walls rumble beneath her with the spirit shards breaking away from the shale. They rush to cover Makami's struggling body, snuffing out the light to glow prismatic. After a moment, they explode away from her in all directions.
Breathing deeply now with sweat across her brow, Makami is doubled-over and out of the Avatar State. The cracks around her eyes have deepened and darkened into smoldering scars.
VAATU (O.S.)
(echoing)
Devious of you, Avatar. You used the spirit energy to disperse the excess within your body.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
A good idea, Makami, but it won't last for long. This energy will tear you apart.
MAKAMI
(panting)
I don't care. I'll handle it for as long as I can in the Avatar State.
VAATU (O.S.)
(echoing)
A short-sighted plan.
RAAVA (O.S.)
(echoing)
The Avatar State will help, but not forever and if you perish in the Avatar State...
VAATU (O.S.)
(echoing)
You take us both - and the hope of all - with you.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Then I will not fall.
She staggers to her feet and gathers her strength, turning towards the bright blue column in the distance.
MAKAMI
We need to get back to the Great Tree.
With that, she disappears from the maze, leaving the waves to wash away the remains of this internal battle.
CUT TO:
INT SPIRIT TREE INNER CHAMBER
Voso struggles mightily against the liquid as it continues to absorb the energy from his spirit. The two eyes remain locked with their lasers heating the blue liquid.
Voso's head breaks the surface tension of the outer layer.
VOSO
(silently)
What are you doing to me!?
His eyes stay on anger as he hears nothing out of his mouth.
In the irises around the small lasers, clear visions of Hmuph and the other spirits. They make him relive their absorption, his eyes widening as he realizes that these agents of the tree are trying to do the same to him.
Voso widens his hands and absorbs the energy from his cage, falling to the stone ground. As he lands, the surfaces around show him the many other instances where he's used his power for ill.
Absorbing his spirit friends, taking control of his uncle, forcing Shii to do his bidding - no sin is gone unturned. He comes to his feet, trying to run but they follow beneath him.
The eyes chase him as he smacks against a wall, the entirety of it showing Makami in tears with his letter in her hand. His eyes are wide with his own tears threatening to fall.
The guilt distracting him, the eyes take this chance to absorb him in full. Both fire their lasers again, but this time, Voso absorbs the energy. So much so that the eyes shrivel up and implode.
As he raises his head, he sees a vision of Makami on the crown of the Great Tree.
CUT TO:
EXT CANOPY OF THE GREAT TREE - DAY
Panting, Makami has reached the small alcove just beneath the lush canopy of the Great Tree. She is securely inside the blue funnel that keeps the skies above clear, showing birds flying between the shriveled vines and branches. She peers up, spinning in place on the wooden platform.
MAKAMI
(mumbling)
You really are fighting back, aren't you?
She stops to sit, facing the base of the crown.
MAKAMI
I've come to find out why. If you truly understand what's going on, and if you know how to help in any other way. Oh, my name is Makami by the way.
She waits, tapping her knees.
MAKAMI
The current Avatar, Makami. You've helped past Avatars, and I know you were hurt pretty badly not that long ago. Please, if I can help...wiggle a leaf.
A noise catches her attention from above. She focuses on the rustling leaves. From there lowers a cocoon of green vines. Makami watches it lower, then peel apart like a fruit rind. Then, all is still again.
MAKAMI
(slowly)
You...want me to get inside of that thing?
Vines snap out from the new container, wrapping around her shoulders and dragging her forward.
MAKAMI
(struggling)
Stop this! I don't want to hurt you!
The vines pull white energy from her body into a vortex of their struggle. From behind the pod, the white hands emerge from another wormhole, fighting against the tree. The vines struggle against their combined might and finally snap off.
She's still in the grip of the white hands as they pull.
MAKAMI
(shouting)
Whoa, whoa, hold on!
She is pulled into the portal as it closes.
CUT TO:
INT NEXUS OF THE WORLD
Makami hovers above a pulsating heart with her eyes fluttering open. Her spine is glowing brightly with emanating colors across each chakra point. The heart below has a swirling molten center that pulses out green life with each echoing pump.
She rights herself in this new space, trying to bend but finding it impossible.
MAKAMI
I can't bend? This isn't the Spirit World, then.
A hand touches her shoulder, spinning her quickly to see Voso. He's trying to mouth words, his voice still gone. Makami's eyes shrink as her energy turns red. Voso, in an incomplete spiritual form, floats closer with a frown on what's left of his face.
MAKAMI
(coldly)
You. How did you get here? You took me from the human world. Why?
VOSO
(mouthing)
Listen!
Her eyes sharpen on his lips.
MAKAMI
Why can't you speak?
VOSO
(mouthing)
You have to get out of here! Get away from here!
MAKAMI
What are you trying to warn me of, Voso?
He shakes his head in frustration, finally turning to the wall. He floats around quickly, touching the panels in a certain order, leaving behind signs of their former relationship like snapshots lost in a burning house. He turns to her, sharing her sadness while pointing vehemently.
The memories on the wall spell out "Great Tree Wants You Dead".