[3:20 am, everyone was sleeping, Saito, awake came to Kiro's bed]
[Saito whispering] Kiro.
Psst! Hey, Kiro.
[groans groggily]
[Saito] Oh, good, you're up. Come on, I have an idea.
[Kiro] Whatever this is, it better be good.
[Saito] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. Listen. All right, what if… what if… what if tomorrow we ran in the Republic City 5000, huh?
[Kiro] What if I kill you for waking me up?
No, no, no, hear me out. We don't even have to win!
[Kiro] Oh, that's good, because we wouldn't.
[Saito] But… But if we beat just one bender, it proves we're just as good as they are. Not only would we go down in history, the miners that did the impossible, but we would show everyone that we're… we're capable of so much more!
[Kiro] Or we get publicly humiliated and then busted back to tier one.
[Saito] Yeah, but at least we would've done something, you know?
[Kiro] Sai…
[Saito] Come on, Kiro.
[Kiro] Sai. We're simple miners who can't bend elements.
We can't fly, we can't roll, we can't race. Come on, let's go.
[sighs]
[Saito] All right, fine. Yeah, maybe you're right. Maybe…
[Kiro] The Republic City 5000 is finally here!
[Saito] I have a surprise for you. Come on.
[Kiro] Where are you going? The stadium's that way.
[Saito] Yeah, yeah, I know. Follow me.
[Kiro] Great. We're gonna be late now. I wanted some good seats, and thanks to you, we're going to have none. We came all this way to miss the opening ceremony. This is wonderful!
[Saito] Trust me, I know what I'm doing. Hold up!
[electronic pulse] [groans, sighs] Get caught in one of those, it'll launch you halfway across the city.
[Kiro] Okay, where the heck are you taking me?
[Saito] Don't be a wuss this will be totally worth it. Trust me.
[Kiro] Hey, you don't get to call me a wuss. Look, I know this is, like, fun for you, like, we're joking around, but if you make me miss any part of the Republic City 5000, I swear I will smelt your face right off your…
[Turns out Saito took Kiro to see the race inside the starting light where they can see the race.]
[announcer] Welcome to the Republic City 5000. There they are. Put your hands together as today's competitors are taking the field.
[Kiro, looking around in awe] I can't believe it… We're actually in the Republic City 5000. I mean, look—there's Kung-Fusion Man and Earth Rhino! This is unbelievable! I feel like… I'm really part of it all.
[Kiro, turning to Saito, his expression softening] You did this… for me?
[Saito, grinning and shaking his head] No. I did this for us. We're a team, right? I wanted us to have our shot—to prove to everyone, including ourselves, that we're capable of more than just mining.
[Kiro, touched but trying to hide it] You're an idiot, you know that?
[Saito, laughing] Yeah, maybe. But I'm your idiot.
Before the race starts, Xiao Jun makes an entrance
[announcer] And now the moment you've all been waiting for. The icon of Ba Sing Se! The savior of Republic City! The Red Lotus fear him, but we love him! Our guide, the one and only… Xiao Jun!
[cheers, applause] I love you, Xiao Jun!
[Xiao Jun] Yes! It feels so good to be here with you all today.
[raucous cheers]
My friends. My extended family.
[crowd quiets]
It has been precisely 22 years since the attack of our home. 22 years since we lost the harmony we had with the spirits and the Spirit Portals closed up. 22 years since the battle that killed Avatar Korra, one of our greatest heroes from our modern times. Today we honor Korra and the past Avatas who gave their lives for ours and we show them that the light of Raava will never be diminished.
Racers, on your marks!
[The racers then started to use their elements.]
[Kiro, excited] I can't believe we get to watch the race from the starting light. You really have chosen the best seats in the house! [beeps, whirs] Why'd you bring jet boots?
[announcer] Get set!
[Saito] It's time to prove to the world that we could be so much more than what they say we are.
[Kiro] Oh no, here we go again…
[electronic pulse]
[announcer] And they're off!
[yelps, grunts]
[grunts, yells]
[Kiro] ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!
[Saito] Sure feels like it.
[announcer] The Republic City 5000 has begun!
[Xiao Jun] I'm sorry, are those miners in the race?
Miners! Those are miners, like us!
[announcer] I can't believe what I'm seeing here! Miners trying to run
in the Republic City 5000!
[Maya] Typical Sai… unbelievable.
[announcer] This is insane!
There are miners in the race! Miners?
No way! They can't even bend!
It's Saito and Kiro!
[announcer] This is a first in Republic City 5000 history. How are they going to survive?
[Kiro, dodging a wall of fire from a Firebender racer] IF WE SURVIVE THIS, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!
[Saito, grinning as he ducks under an earth pillar] accept your terms!
[He lets out a chuckle, clearly enjoying the thrill of the race, while Kiro glares at him in disbelief.]
[Kiro, barely avoiding a blast of water]
You're insane, you know that?
[Saito, dodging with ease] You love it!
[Kiro, muttering] Remind me to never let you talk me into anything again.
[Saito, laughing as he leaps over another obstacle] Noted!
[announcer] It's Gyanzel pulling into the lead down the main stretch, followed by Nazu and Geng Rena!
[electronic pulse] [yelps]
[Kiro, dodging just in time] Hey, look out!
[Saito, narrowly avoiding an earth spike] I owe you one.
[Kiro, catching his breath] More like a thousand.
[Meanwhile, Xiao Jun observes the race, a smirk on his face as he watches the two miners defy the odds.]
[Kiro, glancing around in disbelief] I can't believe we're not in last place!
[Suddenly, Gongmen, another racer, rams into Kiro, making him stumble.]
[Kiro, grunting as he regains his balance] Gah!
[Gongmen, sneering] Eat it, miner!
[announcer] Gongmen delivers a devastating blow!
[Saito, catching Kiro before he stumbles too far] Gotcha!
[Kiro, smiling with a mix of gratitude and adrenaline] Thanks, Sai.
[Saito, determined] Let's show them what we're made of.
[Kiro, panting, in disbelief] We're not fast enough!
[Saito, grinning] If you don't have a plan, improvise!
[Kiro, as he grabs onto other racers for a boost] Hey! Isoru! Big fan!
[Isoru, annoyed] Hey! Get off!
[Kiro, moving to another racer] Toroleq! I'm so sorry. Big fan!
[Toroleq, swatting him away] Hey!
[Kiro, yelling as he lets go, catching his breath, laughing] This is insane!
[Saito, calculating their timing] Time it just right! And… now!
[Kiro and Saito leap forward, maneuvering through the chaos]
[Hatsi, shoving them aside] Move!
[pained yell as they get jostled]
[announcer] And the miners have fallen way behind. We can now focus on the real contenders in this race.
[Kiro and Saito, panting, falling behind as a mechanical pulse swells in the background]
[electronic pulse, both yelling as they launch forward]
[Gongmen grunts as they bump into him, knocking him off balance]
[announcer] I don't believe it! The miners take down Gongmen!
[Gongmen, scowling as they pass] Oh, miners!
[Saito, cheerfully] Great effort, Gongmen! No hard feelings!
[Kiro, surprised, laughing] That worked! It actually worked!
[Saito, slightly breathless] Is this the dumbest thing we've ever done?
[Kiro] Oh, yeah, it's up there!
[They enter the spirit vine tunnel, dodging wildly as spirit vines start appearing and ensnaring racers]
[racers screaming in panic as the vines trap some]
[Both Kiro and Saito yell as they barely dodge the vines]
[Saito, urgently] Wait! Go, go, go!
[announcer] A four-racer pileup in the spirit vine tunnel and the two miners are now in first position! This is unbelievable!
[Suddenly, a chunk of earth flies towards Kiro, hitting him hard]
[Kiro, gasping in pain] Ah!
[crowd gasps]
[Saito, looking back in horror] Kiro!
[Kiro, struggling to speak] No. Go. Leave me!
[Saito, resolutely] No, we do this together.
[announcer, excitedly] One miner is now carrying the other mere steps from the finish line in the most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of…
[As they hobble towards the finish, Ren suddenly races past them, taking first place]
[announcer] We have a winner! Ren comes from behind to take the prize. Talk about a Republic City 5000 for the ages.
[Kiro and Saito, both panting as they cross the line, exhausted]
[Saito, with a sheepish grin] Well, I've heard second place is still pretty good.
[The racers then passed by Saito and Kiro.]
[Kiro, giving Saito a death glare] You. Are. Unbelievable.