INT HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
The phone rings in the common room. Toyo stumbles out with a sleep shirt halfway off his head. He trips across several more items on the floor before finally coming to the phone.
TOYO
(mumbling)
Who?
VOSO (O.S.)
It's me. Is Makami with you?
He puts the phone to his chest.
TOYO
(loudly)
Makami!
A moment of silence follows before he puts the phone back to his ear.
TOYO
No, I don't think so.
VOSO (O.S.)
Did you get it?
TOYO
Uh, no, I tried but...room service came knocking and I had to wait.
VOSO (O.S.)
Room service? In the middle of the night?
TOYO
Akna wanted us to have fresh towels, what can I say? We're both getting fat on pillow mints.
CUT TO:
INT ROOM ONE-TWO-TWO-ONE - DAY
Voso has his phone against his ear while staring off with evolving anger on his face. His clothes are more formal, Voso now slid directly back into the role of the Emperor.
VOSO
(seething)
Do you not understand how to do a simple task? Or what's at stake here? This isn't just another thing you can fail, Toyo!
CUT TO:
INT HOTEL ROOM
Toyo's grip on the phone tightens.
TOYO
(sternly)
Code names, please.
VOSO (O.S.)
Decipher this code - if you fail to protect my love, then I will make sure yours suffers even more than she did before. Destroy the letter, now!
Toyo drops the receiver, not bothering to hang it up. He orients his shirt, walking quickly into Makami's room and riffles through her bag for the note. He comes up with it, bringing it out to a small, lit candle.
Yet, he stops just before, holding the note up. Finally, he unfolds it to read for himself.
CUT TO:
EXT BENEATH THE TRACKS - DAY
Adachi flies through to the center of the four-way intersection. He tumbles around the cars, shooting his flame straight into the bottom of the traffic signal to light a four-way stop.
Injaya lands behind him, sweeping a gash of air aimed for his head. Adachi ducks backwards, shooting several flame blasts with tremendous flexibility.
When he leans back up, his back audibly cracks several times.
ADACHI
(in pain)
Ow!
INJAYA
(loudly)
Face it...
She slides along the ground, taking out his feet, then, in one motion, pops up and spins to slam him to the ground with air. The stream of air is constant, keeping him locked to the ground.
INJAYA
(loudly)
You can't keep up anymore!
A blast of ice encases her face as Abe flips onto the scene with a long trail of water. Kota is right behind them, rushing to help up Adachi.
Injaya aims for them, but Abe churns water quickly in thick streams for protection. Bounding over, Abe lands with water continuously moving, keeping up with her dodges and swift hands.
Injaya steps back, blowing through one of the streams to create small shards of ice. Abe has a jet of water for each finger, freezing her hands for a brief moment before slamming her hard in the legs.
Finally, Injaya leaps backwards and shoots a concentrated blast of air that Abe avoids. The trail of the powerful blast is seen through several paths of water and the metal beam behind Abe. They spin back with a shocked expression.
She sends another and another, taking off tops of cars and more steel beams. Abe lands and gathers water fluidly as she loads up another piercing blow.
Their blasts clash into point-blank mist. The loud hiss crashes through windows around the battle as the fog fills up the area. The hissing dissipates, Kota running up with a pipe in hand.
KOTA
Where'd she go?
Abe leans up, looking at the space in the tram tracks above them.
ABE
(sighing)
She hopped a train.
CUT TO:
EXT SOUTHERN METROPOLIS HARBOR - MORNING
Makami stands at the melted edge of the icy dock alone. She has a steaming cup of coffee in hand. The sun is just starting to rise, shining beautiful purples and oranges along the sloshing water.
She looks up into the water as Aang, Korra, and Roku appear before her, seated atop the waves with straight backs and warm smiles.
MAKAMI
(confused)
Fellow saber sharks...what brings you here?
Korra elbows Aang.
AANG
(clears throat)
Ahem, we're here because Raava asked us to be. You seem to be giving up the way of the Avatar.
MAKAMI
And what way would that be?
KORRA
The real way - protection at all times.
MAKAMI
Oh, you mean the watered-down over-dependance that turned you all into one-person police force?
KORRA
I mean the darkness growing in your heart.
She looks into her coffee while sitting down, her legs dangling over the sharp edge.
MAKAMI
I get like that before my coffee.
ROKU
Makami, I know you don't trust our intentions, but none of us can choose our lot in life. The world needed all of us much as this one needs you now.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Do you know what Kyoshi believed? She told me that I could be the Avatar that puts an end to that need. That I could end all this needless war and destruction. That true balance was possible.
AANG
What you're thinking about doing is running away from the problem, not solving it.
MAKAMI
Even if I stop Fuu-Ki, that energy around Ananta Shesha will take time to dissipate.
ROKU
(sternly)
You are using that as an excuse! You cannot live on an island while the world needs you!
Makami takes a sip of her coffee before laughing and standing from the sack.
MAKAMI
(sarcastically)
I learned from watching you, okay!?
She finishes her laugh while all three former Avatars look on angrily.
MAKAMI
(calming)
But seriously, I am beside myself at the thought of you all telling me to get my head out of the sand and help.
KORRA
(loudly)
How can we help?
Makami rocks onto her backfoot in surprise.
MAKAMI
I'm sorry?
AANG
Since you're so close to the southern portal, we can travel through there instead of using you as a conduit.
Aang and Roku look at one another, then to Makami resolutely. She shakes her head a few times and finishes her coffee.
MAKAMI
I need help finding the knot of black energy here in the city. He may be the key to finding Fuu-Ki.
ROKU
We will see it done.
With that, the three fade away, leaving Makami with a smile on her face.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Finally...
CUT TO:
INT ROOM ONE-TWO-TWO-ONE
Voso packs his bag to leave, his spirits helping him with the smaller trinkets. A soft knock comes at his door with a nurse letting herself in.
NURSE
(sweetly)
Hello there, you have a guest to take you home.
She moves aside, letting Injaya in with a wide smile.
INJAYA
Thank you.
NURSE
(sweetly)
Oh, no problem at all. I'll be right back with a wheelchair - hospital policy!
She leaves the room, Injaya closing the door behind her.
INJAYA
You need to leave, now.
VOSO
What does that mean? You didn't handle him?
INJAYA
Your grandfather had some help, and I couldn't risk being recognized squabbling on the street.
VOSO
(bitterly)
Some help you've been.
INJAYA
I'm here to warn you that he's on his way, and going out the front door in a wheelchair is a bad idea.
VOSO
You came to tell me strictly the obvious, thank you, Madame President.
INJAYA
(grumbling)
You can't please some people.
He goes past her and out the door. Injaya follows, looking before she enters the hallway.
INT SHII'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Voso grabs the sleeping man's wrist while Injaya watches from a safe distance.
INJAYA
(whispering)
What are you doing?
VOSO
(whispering)
I still need Zura, and we're not going to be able to grab her without a fight.
INJAYA
(whispering)
My part in this is done, I did everything I could-
He raises his hand and she flinches backwards.
INJAYA
(whispering)
I know what your power does, so keep away from me.
VOSO
(whispering)
I'm not going to try and control you. I need you to see the bigger picture here.
He turns to Shii.
VOSO
Wake up quietly.
Shii snaps up with his eyes glazed over.
VOSO
Get dressed and come with us.
He turns to Injaya.
VOSO
You and I have one more fight that we have to win.
CUT TO:
EXT SECRET PRISON - EVENING
Zura stretches and shrugs off Al's jacket that was serving as a blanket. She is resting at the edge of a very secure fence. A few guards are eating lunch by her on the other side of the fence.
ZURA
(mumbling)
She back yet?
GUARD 1
Nope, but shouldn't be too long. Security clearance for civilians takes some time to clear.
She nods and stands, rubbing at her eyes.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(man echoing)
Are you well rested, Zura or Zee?
ZURA
(chortling)
Yes, Nandy. I'm fit and ready. Did you...uh, do you sleep?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Rest is not a concept I ever encountered before meeting you.
ZURA
(whispering)
Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.
She throws the jacket around her shoulders, wandering away from the guard station.
ZURA
I wish she'd hurry up.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
I do not understand why we are waiting at all. Can we not simply scale the metallic surrounding?
ZURA
You know, I've thought about it but going to prison doesn't sound fun for either of us. Are you in a rush to get in there?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
I am...strangely excited to understand more of human emotion. It has been an unexpected benefit of leaving the Spirit World.
ZURA
You mean you didn't feel anything before recently? Even when calling out to Makami?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
Reaching out to Raava...I...it wasn't fear that drove that decision.
ZURA
Then what was it?
NANDAKA (O.S.)
I am trying to decipher that answer through your experiences, Zura or Zee.
ALRUND (O.S.)
Hey, Zee!
Zura turns back and jogs up to Alrund. She hands Zura a pass through the fence to clip to her shirt.
ALRUND
Ready for whatever this is?
ZURA
It'll be great, c'mon.
They walk into the enclosure and down the long pathway to the front of the prison.
CUT TO:
EXT MOOCHI SHOP STREET
Abe brings a tarp over the burned husk of their car. Kota tends to some scrapes on Adachi's arm not far off.
ADACHI
(mumbling)
Did Abe have a pet in that car?
KOTA
No, Grandpa. Abe's just...lost a lot of cars.
ABE
(sadly)
Kooooottttaaaa?
KOTA
Yeah, Abe?
ABE
(sadly)
I just want a bicycle.
KOTA
That sounds much safer at this point.
She looks up and smiles widely as Shii comes around the corner. He looks natural, healthy, and even sports his old uniform.
KOTA
(excitedly)
Shii!? What are you doing out here?
Adachi takes the bandage and stands while she embraces Shii tightly.
SHII
I was let out of the hospital.
Adachi stops healing a bystander, taking Shii's hand to shake exuberantly. Abe gently shakes Shii by the shoulders.
SHII
It's good to see all of you...around yet another destroyed car.
ABE
(loudly)
Eyes over here, old man!
KOTA
Abe's glad to see you and will be looking for bicycle recommendations.
SHII
(chuckling)
I'll help you do some research.
He looks around for a moment.
SHII
Where's Zura?
KOTA
She's with Al, but I don't know where they went.
SHII
(disappointed)
Ah, well Makami wanted me to look after her. I'll go on a search.
ADACHI
There is one place where she usually is. A few old guard friends of mine have been asking me if it's okay that she's there.
Shii turns to Adachi.
SHII
And where would that be?
CUT TO:
INT SECRET PRISON
Zura sits sideways, halfway between Al and Inca. Inca is looking Zura up and down from behind her bars while Al watches her sister's face closely.
INCA
So, you're some kind of child prodigy spirit talker? Are we going to call up Grammy and ask her where the buried treasure is?
ALRUND
I don't know what's going to happen.
ZURA
I am here to bring peace between a pair of sisters. Trust me, I know dysfunction when I see it, and you can't spell dysfunction without Inca and Al.
ALRUND
(softly)
You can, actually, but-
INCA
What does this hatchling know about you and me?
ALRUND
Everything that I know, apparently.
Zura holds one hand out to either of them.
ZURA
Once you place your hands in mine, we can start the mending process.
INCA
You raided the loony bin for a real winner.
ALRUND
She's special, Inca, and she dragged me here with some hope that you and I can repair this bridge.
She takes Zura's hand.
ALRUND
So, you're going to give this a try with me or I will show you my back for the rest our lives.
INCA
Empty threat. You need to blame me.
ALRUND
Wrong, I have other parts of my life. And you might be able to see a lot of those if you trust this harmless girl for five minutes.
Inca flops down to the floor of her cell, looking between her sister and Zura's hands on the cusp of the bars.
She snorts and grabs Zura's hand roughly.
INCA
Fine, show me my lucky number and favorite color.
Zura's eyes are already closed in concentration. Enough time goes by that Alrund leans forward, staring at Zura.
ALRUND
Zee, you okay?
INCA
She's a quick sleeper.
Both sisters straighten at once as Zura's eyes open with a purple film over them.
NANDAKA (O.S.)
(female echoing)
I feel a closeness that has strained. A willingness to forgo self-satisfaction. Heartbreak that defined a relationship. There...
CUT TO:
INT ZURA'S SPIRITUAL SPACE
Nandaka watches the formation of a galaxy of memories made from two lives. Cosmic arms swirl from both sources, coming out as stardust. Nandaka's face angles up to watch them come together, the lights flashing along different colors as planets, memories, and stars all align.
Inside the light, Nandaka sees Raava's form.
NANDAKA
I understand now.
CUT TO:
INT SECRET PRISON
Inca pulls her hand away and skitters to the back of the cell, panting. Zura comes out of her trance while Al stands and approaches the bars.
INCA
(panting)
Wh-wh-what did you just do to us?
ALRUND
See? Now you know what he did to me - how he brought us against each other. It's even worse than I ever thought, Inca. He has to be stopped.
Inca collects herself and wipes away the sweat on her brow.
INCA
And...and you think it has to be us?
Alrund holds out her hand.
ALRUND
Who better than us?
Inca looks at the hand conflicted. After a moment, Zura slides in, pointing to the hand repeatedly.
CUT TO:
INT HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Makami comes in, throwing away her coffee cup. Toyo sits with a dour look and his hands flat together.
MAKAMI
Good news, we're getting help in bringing in Pi-Ran. You probably don't want a headache, so I'll just describe the whole thing as 'Avatar stuff happened'.
TOYO
Good, great.
He stands up while she walks further into the room.
TOYO
You know, you never told me why we're doing all this. The super-real reason.
MAKAMI
That's a long story too. I have to meditate to maintain communication with my friends, so after that, we'll have the whole journey back to talk it out.
TOYO
No. No, I need to know now. Why are we hunting this guy? What is all this about?
MAKAMI
(slowly)
Okay, well...the summary is that all of existence is going to end if a certain spirit gains enough energy. Fuu-Ki is trying to unleash that spirit because he and his people are crazy-coo-coo.
TOYO
(sternly)
How do you know the world will end? Who said?
MAKAMI
(confused)
Some very reliable spirits. What is this about, Toyo?
TOYO
(nervously)
I...I am Toyo, right now. I don't always go by that name.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the picture of their secret meeting, handing it to her.
TOYO
(voice breaking)
I sometimes go by Kin-Ki. Sometimes, I meet with individuals that go by different names too. Like Kouichi as Ognyo-Ki. Or Voso.
Her stare goes cold and vacant into the image.
TOYO
(nervously)
Also known as Sui-Ki.
Makami doesn't move. Her shoulders don't rise for breath. Her hand begins to twitch until she finally cracks.
MAKAMI
(chuckling)
Good one, Toyo. Really, I don't know how I almost fell for that.
TOYO
(quietly)
It's true.
MAKAMI
(chuckling)
Right, I'll arrest you all later after I catch Pi-Ran.
TOYO
(quietly)
It's Kouichi we're after. I met him the other night for the first time since Fuu-Ki ordered me to take him out-
MAKAMI
Alright, whatever.
TOYO
(quietly)
But I didn't. I told him to run, but he gave some package to Adachi.
MAKAMI
Oh, now Adachi's in on this joke?
TOYO
(nervously)
He gave me that picture, and he has more - enough, I think to prove it all. Call him.
MAKAMI
(annoyed)
I'm not calling anyone to continue a joke.
TOYO
(quietly)
I wish I was, Makami.
She slaps the picture against her fingers while clicking her tongue.
MAKAMI
You-your commitment to this one is top-notch, my friend. If you were a part of Fuu-Ki's gaggle-
TOYO
Master Paya.
Makami's expression deadens in contemplation before she bursts a smile again and shakes her head.
TOYO
(quietly)
You have to believe me, Makami. You don't understand how high this goes.
MAKAMI
(chortling)
Apparently all the way to the top of your dizzy head. Paya has helped his people for a long time despite being a jerk, and Voso has been fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with us against Fuu-Ki.
(quickly)
I know that man inside and out. He'd be laughing right now at this whole thing, head turned sideways as he tries to figure out what you'd accidentally taken to dream this up. He'd deny it completely-
TOYO
(shouting)
He'd be lying!
Makami struggles to keep her anger down.
TOYO
(shouting)
We both have been for years to people that count on us, and I think we've been helping the world end for a ruthless, evil man that's been under our noses the entire time!
(calming)
Now, he's after Zura-
MAKAMI
(simmering)
This isn't funny.
TOYO
(shouting)
He knows about Nandaka - the-the spirit inside of her! He's convinced that one of you have to go back to the Spirit World to release the end-of-days spirit.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
Why are you saying these things?
TOYO
(sadly)
I need you to believe me, even if you hate me after.
She watches his hands shake.
TOYO
I'm in too deep, I don't...no way is out to me. I'm sorry that I need your help again.
MAKAMI
(quietly)
To do what, exactly?
Toyo flails his hands frustratedly before grabbing his temple.
TOYO
(sadly)
You only have a few options. We can wait here for your friends to find Kouichi and he'll back up everything I've said and way worse. Or you can go, as fast as you can, back to Capital City to save your sister.
She breathes deeply, clearly on the verge of an eruption of emotions.
TOYO
(quietly)
Go, Makami.
She walks stiffly, making for the door.
MAKAMI
Even if this somehow, someway proves to be true, and this is you falling on the sword, I will never want to see you again, Toyo.
The door slams shut, leaving him and his shoulders to deflate.
TOYO
(quietly)
I know.
CUT TO:
EXT SECRET PRISON - EVENING
Alrund and Zura are walking back towards the fence with Inca beneath a lengthy brown robe.
INCA
(whispering)
The guards are just going to allow this?
ALRUND
Probably not, which is why we're going...to...
She slows, holding her arm out to stop the other two. Looking towards the fence, there is one of the guards laid out, unconscious.
ZURA
What happened to them?
Through the gate comes Voso with his hands up at his sides. He has a confident smirk on his face when he stops.
VOSO
This is not the reunion I expected to have today.
Inca and Alrund bare their teeth.
VOSO
And this doesn't have to escalate. I'm here to bring Zura to Makami.
ALRUND
(shouting)
Shove your lies, you scum bag. She's not leaving this courtyard with you.
INCA
(angrily)
I'm going to end your reign like you did mine!
VOSO
Well, I don't plan on leaving here empty-handed.
He puts his hands down. To his left and right land Shii and Injaya, suddenly leaving the two earth benders outnumbered.
Al and Zura look to Shii with shock while he stares back with blank eyes.