AVATAR: EMPIRE OF ICE
BOOK 3: JUSTICE
CHAPTER 3: INSIDE AND OUT
Jinhai
Let's see what you got.
Jinhai opens up a scroll, revealing an ink drawing of a man holding a large melon.
Jinhai's friend, Sana, starts cackling and butting Jinhai with her shoulder.
Jinhai
(Laughing) What? A man with a melon?
Sana
You had to be there!
Sana laughs so hard that she falls over. Jinhai then folds the note up and stuffs it in Sana's bag.
Jinhai
I really do not understand you two.
They are on the surface, perusing through a cache of secret deliveries. The messenger finishes drinking out of a flask, before he nods at the two of them.
Messenger
Afternoon, ladies.
Then he sprints out of there.
Sana
Come on, let's go back.
Jinhai and Sana stuff their bags full with mail, then they walk back toward the ancient decoy town. We see their feet cross the seam between the ground and the trap door.
Sana
So, Mushi, huh?
Jinhai
(Grinning) Yeah, yeah…
Sana
How's that going?
Jinhai
Well… It's-
Yamani
-Alright earthboy! Let's see what you got!
Yamani watches as a mighty boulder wobbles off of the ground before her.
Yamani
Okay, lookin' good so far.
Kato brings the boulder towards him. It's slightly too big to bend comfortably.
Kato
So, what? Do I throw it at you?
Yamani
Yeah! Pretend I'm trying to kill you.
Kato
But, I don't want to hurt you…
Yamani smirks. He winds up and tosses the boulder across the dojo at her. She doesn't move and the boulder misses her by a foot.
Yamani
(Thumbs up) Nice! Let's try again.
Kato
Okay… What if I…
Kato walks towards Yamani, bending the rock across the ground at her.
Yamani trips Kato with a gust of wind, then jumps out of the way. The boulder is now heading toward him. He tries to catch it with his bending from the floor, but Yamani has to push him out of the way with another air blast.
CRASH
The boulder slams into the wall of the dojo. They wait for the room to stop shaking.
Kato
Okay, what if I…
Kato pries the boulder off of the wall and sends it toward Yamani. She effortlessly creates an updraft that lifts the boulder just high enough to graze the top of her head, then-
CRASH
Before Kato can turn back, Yamani has already arrived. Her hand swings right up against Kato's neck.
Yamani
And….. One, zip. Point Yamani.
Kato nods, exhaling.
Yamani
Again.
Batua shrugs and moves a Pai Sho piece across the board. Captain Shamo observes, nodding his head.
Shamo
Excellent move. You've got me on the ropes.
Batua
(Skeptical) Really?
Shamo
No, but you are the Emperor.
Shamo moves another piece half-heartedly. Batua looks down at the board, then back at Shamo.
Batua
Even I know that move was terrible. What are you doing?
Shamo
I'm giving it my all. (Wink)
Cut to Batua flagging down Kamui. All around him, the palace dining hall is filling up with high ranking captains and their entourages. Kamui steps away from a conversation and meets him.
Batua
What's with that guy? (Points)
Kamui
Captain Shamo? He hated your father. Beat him in Pai Sho one time, and Atakui never let it go.
Batua
…Is that why he challenged me?
Kamui
He'll be on our ship.
Kamui tries to walk away, but Batua stops him.
Batua
Um, I don't want him on my ship. Put him somewhere else.
Cut to a shot of Captain Shamo making faces at himself in a small mirror, then he turns to look at Batua.
Batua
Look at him. He's gonna sneak into my room with a hatchet.
Kamui
(Nodding) Yes, that is a possibility.
Batua
(Stepping back) Excuse me?
Kamui
It's a joke, my boy! Just a joke. Listen, I wouldn't worry so much about who your bunkmate is. The open sea is a perilous enough adversary all on her own. (Winks)
Batua trembles at the thought.
Kamui
You'll see. (Turning) Go finish your game.
Batua
Wait.
Kamui stops and raises his eyebrow.
Batua
You wanna… (Shrugs) Play a game later?
Kamui politely smiles, then shakes his head.
Kamui
No.
Then he walks away. Batua stares at Kamui and smirks, then he turns to the entrance.
Cut to a wide shot of the Capitol. Every port is stuffed full of ships, and more are on their way. Every nook and cranny of the plaza is thick with captains and stewards and sailors and servants.
Cut back to Batua in the dining hall. He avoids Captain Shamo's gaze and watches as countless important military men walk by him.
Then Batua looks back at Kamui. Kamui is chatting with a group of highly decorated captains, laughing about something. Batua narrows his eyes and walks over to the group.
Captain 1
I know! You couldn't even tell what his face looked like.
Kamui and the other captains nod and laugh, and then suddenly Batua pokes his head into the circle.
Batua
Hi.
Captain 1 raises his eyebrow.
Captain 2
Your grace.
Batua
So… What are we talking about?
Awkward silence.
Batua
Well?
C1
Your uncle was spinning a yarn from the old days.
Batua
Oh, an old yarn, huh? We got some captains here or a bunch of kitty cats? Get it?
Crickets.
Kamui clears his throat
Kamui
Batua… Maybe-
Later, Batua stands in the corner, scoping out the crowd. He happens upon Tahno chatting with a bunch of new recruits.
He hesitates, before he decides to walk over to the group, feet full of swagger.
Recruit 1 takes out a brass coin from his pocket and passes it around. Tahno looks down at the coin, which features the profile of a naked lady.
Tahno
Where did you get this?
Recruit 1
I told you my dad works at the mint. Shh. Hide it.
Batua sticks his head into the group, intrigued.
Recruit 1
(Nods) Your majesty.
Batua
Uhuh. (To Tahno) What were you just looking at?
Tahno
Nothing, your grace. It certainly wasn't contraband.
Batua
(Confused) Contraband? No, I…
Batua looks around the group. They are all eyeing him uncomfortably. Tahno is looking away. Batua shakes his head and forces a laugh.
Batua
Guys! Me and Tahno were in the academy together! I was just curious.
Recruit 2
Of course, your grace.
Batua glares at R2, then looks back at Tahno.
Batua
So what was it? Another note from your mom?
Batua grins and pokes Tahno on the shoulder. Tahno politely chuckles.
Tahno
We promise to serve you and the Empire proudly in this war. Right, boys?
Recruits
(Beating their chest) For the Empire!
Batua rolls his eyes.
Batua
Great. Thanks.
Cut to Batua back in his bedroom, tossing shirts out of his closet. In the background, Umi is applying makeup.
Close up of Umi's eye in the mirror. She outlines it with a black piece of chalk, before scraping the chalk off to the side to form a wing. Her eye moves, noticing Batua behind her, and the camera shifts focus to Batua's reflection as he throws an ornamental green cloak over his shoulder.
Umi
What are you looking for?
Batua
Something less… Emperor-ish…
Umi
(Nods) Mhm…
A cloud of smoke wafts by Jang's face. He looks around Tang's office, taking it all in.
Jang
Quite a collector.
His eyes pass from a stringed instrument made of a turtle shell to a small hourglass. Jang picks up the hourglass, staring at it.
Tang
Time.
Tang takes the hourglass and flips it over, setting it back down.
Tang
There's only so much of it.
Jang nods, eyeing Tang.
Jang
More for some than others.
Tang
Come on… You're not that old.
Jang laughs and sits back with his arms crossed, waiting for Tang to get on with it. Tang takes another puff of his pipe and leans back.
Tang
(Exhales smoke) I've heard some things about you, Jang.
Jang
Like what?
Tang
Well… Kato tells me that you're good at killing fish-heads.
Jang looks to the side, then he shrugs.
Jang
Could be. (Looks back) By the way, he's going by Mushi now.
Tang
(Nods) Right. Probably safer that way.
Jang
(Raises his eyebrow) You think he would be in danger if they knew?
Tang
Would you blame them?
Jang tilts his head, thinking about this.
Tang dumps the ash out of his pipe, then he refills it. He strikes a flint and nurses a small ember in the pipe, before taking a long puff.
Tang
Jang… Have you ever fought in a war?
Jang nods.
Tang
I thought so.
Jang
I fought them when I was fourteen. I was trying to reclaim my family's ancestral temple. And I lost. They pushed us back into the forest.
Tang nods, puffing on his pipe.
Jang
And I fought them many times since.
Tang narrows his eyes.
Jang
Have you ever fought in a war?
Tang sets his pipe on the table and shakes his head.
Tang
Technically no. Not yet.
Grain by grain, the sand falls through the hourglass.
Tang
Maybe I can learn a thing or two.
Yamani
Alright rock-head! Let's see what you got!
Kato lifts 3 smaller stones off of the floor and circles them around his head.
Yamani
Oh yeah, oh yeah, fancy bending!
Kato
That's right. Now I can-
Kato brings his hands back, pulling the 3 stones down like a spring. He shifts his weight and leads them around and forward, striking like a whip.
Yamani dodges the strike, then she flips over, kicking a gust of air at Kato.
Kato ducks out of the way. Then he brings the 3 stones around him in an arc.
Yamani
Nice!
He guides the rocks on a path towards Yamani, but she counters with a pulse of air. The pulse knocks the 3 stones together like a newton's cradle and Kato loses his grip over them.
Kato
Wait!
The stones bonk into the walls and each other.
Kato
I got this!
Kato grabs control of the 3 rocks separately, spreading them apart and rearranging them. Then he looks at Yamani, who is suddenly right next to him.
Her arm swings around, but Kato ducks and rolls out of the way.
Yamani
Mhm.
Kato pulls on the rocks, and they snap onto a path. The first one hits Yamani on the arm, the 2nd one she cushions with air and catches in her hand. Then she airbends Kato into the path of the 3rd one.
Kato
Nope!
He grabs control of the 3rd one and sends it to Yamani. The camera pans over, following it, and she throws the 2nd rock into its path. The two collide and break into pieces.
Yamani tries to disarm Kato with another airblast, but he rolls out of the way, then he bends the 1st rock back to him.
He swings the rock around toward Yamani, but she sends a bit of air at his hand, moving it out of position. Then he accidentally bends the rock into the wall. Yamani bolts for him. He tries to dodge and pry the rock out of the wall at the same time, and he does, but it hits him on the side.
Kato
ACK!
Kato reels over in pain, then blocks Yamani's chop with his elbow. He tries to grapple Yamani, but she turns around and pulls him over her back.
THUD
He lands on the floor of the dojo. Yamani's foot swings and lands just over Kato's neck.
Yamani
And… Eight, zip. (She leans over) Point Yamani.
Kato sighs.
Yamani
Let's take a break.
Some conversation is happening, but Batua isn't paying attention to it. He's looking over a Captain's shoulder at Tahno and his little group of new recruits. Hakoi has joined the group, sharing stories with Tahno about the academy.
Batua
(Narrow eyes) Hakoi?
Umi shakes Batua back into the conversation.
Batua
Huh?
Captain
I just hope Master Kitu is as good as they claim. My son has spent an unnerving amount of time under his tutelage. And now this happens?
Batua
Right. This happens.
He looks at the Captain, and then back at Umi. The Captain takes a sip of wine.
Captain
But the other boys, they haven't seen you at the academy. How have you been occupying your time, my liege?
Batua
Well… I've been… Um… (Scratches his head) Studying plants.
The Captain raises his eyebrow. Umi facepalms.
Captain
I see…
Batua
Yeah! I found some fascinating medicinal properties. For instance, did you know that the bark of a cherry tree, when submerged in a lye bath- (Looks at Umi) What?
Tang
Classic Yamani! Classic!
Yamani
(Bows) Thank you.
Then she takes her blueprint off the wall and rolls it up, sitting down in front of Tang. He puts down his pipe and breaks out a small ceramic bottle, putting it on the table, along with 2 cups.
Yamani
Wow… The good stuff.
Tang carefully pours a green liquid out of the bottle and into the two cups, handing one of them to Yamani.
Clink!
Tang
You deserve it.
The two down a shot of the stuff, and then both of them cough.
Yamani
Oh, wow…
Tang
Yeah. (Shivers as it goes down his gullet) It's bad.
Yamani
Another one?
Tang
Sure.
Tang pours another two shots. Clink. Then down it goes. Yamani finds her way to her seat and falls onto it. She looks up at Tang, who is staring off with a proud smirk.
Yamani
You look happy.
Tang
Well, you know I love civil engineering, and we've been in a drought since you left.
Yamani
Yeah, I noticed the lack of maintenance.
Tang
(Shrugs) Nobody wanted to touch your stuff.
Yamani
But I left specific instructions… It's fine. That stuff is outdated anyway. I'm cooking up some brand new ideas right here. (Points to her head)
Tang
I'm sure you are!
Yamani
But, before that… I think we need to discuss something a little less fun than civil engineering.
Tang raises his eyebrow and picks up the bone pipe.
Yamani
Our response.
Yamani presents an enormous binder and drops it down on the desk.
SLAM
The front reads 'How To Follow Up Our Victory Over the Kamakoi; a 6 Part Saga'. There are loose pages and notes pointing every which way out of the enormous stack.
The camera pans up to Tang, who looks down at the binder, then strikes his flint, lighting the contents of his pipe.
Tang
Yamani…
Yamani opens up to the first page.
Yamani
So here are my first thoughts. One,-
Tang closes the binder, just as a cloud of smoke drifts past Yamani.
Yamani
What's wrong?
She looks up and Tang appears as the smoke dissipates around him. His expression is odd.
Tang
The truth is, I'm not sure that this conversation is necessary.
Yamani
…But-
Tang
Doesn't our victory speak for itself? Let's not reinvent the wheel, here. (He lightly shoves the binder toward Yamani) I'm sorry you went through all the trouble.
Yamani looks baffled by this.
Tang looks away, taking another puff on his pipe. When he flicks his eyes back toward Yamani, she's studying his face, seeing something in it.
Yamani blinks and tilts her head.
Then Tang suddenly gets out of his seat and faces the other way, toward the window.
Tang
Well, I suppose you've got a busy day. (Puff)
Yamani nods, slowly grabbing her enormous binder and stuffing it in her bag.
Yamani
Yeah…
Then she stuffs her rolled up blueprint into the bag and stands up.
Yamani
I'm gonna…
Tang
Yeah…
Yamani walks towards the door, but she stops and takes one last look at Tang, who is still puffing away by the window.
The camera slowly zooms in on Yamani's face.
Flute Music, but it's off…
The camera zooms out, and now Yamani is in her subterranean apartment. She looks down at her flute, shaking it. Ziri is next to her, chopping scallions.
Chop, chop, chop…
Yamani
Something is stuck in my flute.
Ziri
I noticed. Why don't you- (Whoosh, imitates airbending)?
Yamani
I tried. I think I'm gonna have to take the whole thing apart.
Ziri
You love that flute.
Yamani
I do.
Ziri
Be careful.
Yamani
I usually am.
Ziri
I hope.
Yamani chuckles and places the flute on the table. She looks up at Ziri with a smile, but it's a strange one.
Yamani
It's so weird to be back.
Ziri nods, waiting for Yamani to continue.
Yamani
I think I forgot how things work around here.
Ziri
I see… You feel out of step, somehow? Out of the loop?
Yamani
Hmm, maybe more out of the loop than out of the step.
Ziri
You don't want to miss that step. (Does a bit of a dance) It's an integral part of the routine.
Yamani
(Giggling) Nor do I want to be out of the loop. That's the turn-around.
Ziri
(Nodding her head) Try to stay on the one.
Yamani laughs, leaning against the stone wall. Ziri brushes her hand against Yamani's shoulder.
Ziri
Just give it time.
Yamani
Perhaps… (Pause. Deep thought) Listen… Do you think Tang has changed?
Ziri turns to look at Yamani, eyebrow raised.
Ziri
Yeah… He started wearing these long capes. I told him he looks like a praying mantis, but he didn't listen.
Yamani smirks, sharply. Her eyes dart from Ziri to the scallions and then a random spot on the wall.
Yamani
I don't know if I can trust him.
Ziri
Hmm?
Ziri gathers the scallion strips on her hand and then dumps them into the simmering pot. She leans over, examining the flame underneath.
Ziri
This could be a little…
With a wave of her fingers, the flame hungrily consumes the air, growing larger.
Ziri
…Hotter.
Then she straightens up and begins chopping some carrots.
Ziri
You don't think you can trust Tang? (Yamani nods) He's practically your father.
Beat.
Ziri stops chopping, realizing what she just said. She looks up at Yamani's frown.
Yamani
Then why did I leave?
Ziri
Wait, I… That's not what I meant… I just mean-
Yamani
Yeah, yeah, I know…
Ziri watches Yamani closely. Eventually, Yamani steps away from the wall, pacing around the room.
Yamani
You were on Tang's dinghy, weren't you? For the pincer?
Ziri
Yeah…?
Ziri turns back and resumes chopping the carrots.
Yamani
What happened to the survivors? If there were any.
Ziri
There were. Fourteen of them. Tang and his boys gave 'em the ether, then took them somewhere for the execution. I didn't stay and watch. I don't know what that says about me, but-
Then Yamani stops.
Yamani
Ether? Why would he knock them out?
Ziri
(Shrugs) Maybe he didn't want to hear them screaming and crying all the way home. (Throws the carrot slices in the pot, turns back to Yamani) I know I enjoyed that.
Yamani grins.
Yamani
Did you, now?
Ziri
Mhmm.
Yamani walks past a handsy Ziri and gets a waft of soup. She stirs it in circles with her airbending.
Yamani
Smells like some good stuff. Some good eatin'.
Ziri
(Laughing) Shut up!
Ziri takes Yamani's face in her hands.
Ziri
Don't change the subject.
Yamani
I'm done interrogating you. Now I'm hungry.
Ziri's grip becomes so intense that it glows up hot for a moment. Yamani winces in pain. Then Ziri cools down, moving close to her.
Ziri
Sorry…
Yamani shrugs.
Ziri
Do you trust me?
Yamani eyes her for a moment, but ultimately nods yes.
Ziri
I trust him.
Yamani sighs, looking away.
Ziri
But… (Yamani looks back) I trust you too.
Yamani accepts this with another nod.
Ziri goes in for the kiss.
And suddenly, it's Umi's lips on Batua's cheek. The two are standing in the plaza. Some merchant and his wife are chatting them up, currying favor. They hope Batua will do something for them.
Batua nods, sporting a paper-thin smile.
Batua
Let me tell you,-
Cut to night time. Batua and Umi are in bed. Batua is staring at something out of focus on the night table.
Suddenly, Umi turns over.
Umi
You are always staring at that necklace. What is it? Is it cursed? Did you find it stuffed inside a Silver Spotted Horned Lemon? Oh, wait. (Rolls her eyes) Citronum Argentithium.
Batua looks back at Umi with a grimace.
Batua
-Tinium.
Umi
Medicine-man Batua. What's the scientific name for ugly jewelry?
Batua
That's really uncalled for…
Batua clutches the half pendant stone necklace in his hands.
Batua
What does it take, huh? What can I do? I've been nice to you! Remember your birthday present?
Umi
Garcinia Umiensis. How could I forget? That's what every girl wants, to have a fruit named after her.
Batua
Yeah! Why not? That's a great gift!
Umi
No, Batua! A real girl- An Empress? She deserves to have a colony named after her. New Umi… City. I don't know.
Batua
What?
Umi
That's right, confusion. That's your problem. You just don't get it.
Batua
What don't I get?
Umi
Well, for one, you don't just get to be the Emperor.
Batua
…Huh?
Close up of Umi behind Batua.
Umi
You know what you have to do, right?
The camera slowly pans down to Batua, who shrugs it off.
Batua
Please… I don't have to do anything.
Umi
You have to win this war.
Batua frowns.
Umi
Which we will, because, duh. But after that…
Batua
What after that?
Cut back to Umi.
Umi
(Quietly) You're going to face Tang. This lunatic who sent the Empire a head in a box.
Batua gulps.
Umi
You'll have to dethrone him in front of his people. You know what that means?
Batua
I have to emasculate him.
Umi
(Nods) And then you have to kill him, to really rub it in their faces, the whole inferiority thing.
Batua narrows his eyes.
Umi
Are you prepared to do that?
Batua
…What if I'm not?
Umi
Then you don't deserve to be the Emperor.
Batua considers this. Then he shakes his head.
Batua
Shut up. (Groans) This is all because you wouldn't let it go with those stupid earrings. I don't even think this war is a good idea.
Umi shoots up.
Umi
I knew it! I knew you felt that way!
Batua
Yeah, so what?
Umi
With you leading the vanguard? Yeah, it would be a bad idea. Luckily, all you have to do is blow the war horn. Think you can manage that?
Batua
Oh, shut up.
Batua turns over, burying his head into the pillow.
A moment passes, then Umi leans in close to Batua's ear.
Umi
Being the Emperor means being a conqueror.
Batua groans into his pillow.
A moment passes, then Batua suddenly stands up out of bed. Umi watches as he puts a shirt on.
Umi
Where are you going?
Kamui is scribbling something in his notebook, lit only by the moon behind him.
He sighs and replenishes ink from a small bowl, gathering it up on an airborne stream between his fingers and then onto the page.
Suddenly, a yellow light drifts across Kamui's forehead and then he looks up to see Batua's silhouette in the doorway.
Kamui
Nephew, come in.
Kamui hides his notebook in a desk drawer and invites Batua into the room. Batua walks inside and takes a seat across from him.
Kamui
So?
Batua shakes his head in awe.
Kamui
It's very late, Batua…
Batua sighs.
Batua
I guess there's really no way for me to stop this war, is there?
Kamui leans back, confused.
Kamui
Why would you want to?
Batua
Pfft. Come on.
Kamui narrows his eyes, leaning in again.
Kamui
Why?
Batua doesn't flinch. He just stares at Kamui.
Batua
I won our battle, but it still feels like you have all the power. What's that about?
Kamui snickers and stands up.
Kamui
How quickly you forget. It was a stalemate.
Kamui walks over to his bed and gestures for Batua to leave. Batua watches him warily, then he turns to the door, closing it behind him.
Kamui
Goodnight.
Cut to Kato in bed. He pulls the blanket over his eyes to avoid the light from the torch that Jinhai is waving around.
Kato
(Groans) I don't want to go… I want to stay here…
Jinhai pulls the blanket off of him and leans over him.
Jinhai
Wake up.
Kato
I quit. I don't want to do this.
Jinhai
You told me to force you to go, even if you say the words 'I quit'.
Kato sighs.
Jinhai
Come on. I'm gonna go out with Sana and deliver more mail.
Kato leans his head back one more time and groans, then he lazily slides out of bed.
Cut to the head of a large clay sculpture. A woman. The face looks vaguely familiar, until Baka's thumb arrives and cuts a blunt diagonal line over her features.
Baka
No… That's not what you looked like.
Then he grabs at the face and smooths it out completely, starting from scratch.
He watches as Kato walks across the bridge, and calls out to him.
Baka
Mushi!
From a distance, Kato takes a moment, then suddenly looks and sees him. He waves and keeps walking.
Baka
Where are you going?
Kato
I gotta train! Save me! No, but really, I gotta do it…
Baka laughs and watches Kato head off in the direction of the Dojo. Then he looks back down at his featureless maiden.
Yamani
Alright, stone.. Meister… Let's see what you got!
Kato looks around at the dojo floor, seeing a lack of throwable objects. Yamani watches him closely. Kato thinks for a moment, then he suddenly smirks at Yamani..
Kato
Well, I guess I could just-
Kato lifts a sizable chunk out of the stone floor and brings it into the air.
Yamani
Yes! That's what I was waiting for!
Kato
Well, it's not like I didn't know! (The chunk falls back down)
Yamani laughs.
Kato
I just didn't know if you cared about the integrity of your dojo floor!
Yamani
I don't give a carp about my floor, to borrow the expression.
Yamani flies into action. Kato nods and lifts the chunk back up into the air. Then he gets into a solid stance and, with a punch, earthbends the chunk toward Yamani.
Yamani glides out of the way, then she busts out her staff and twirls around, letting her staff cut a slice through the air. The blast knocks Kato off balance.
SMASH!
The stone chunk cracks the wall where it impacts. Kato hits the floor, then he pops that part of the floor up and over, putting him back on his feet.
Kato grins and the part of floor falls back into place with gravity. Yamani cracks up, before she gets the piece aloft again and uses it to smack Kato on the back of the head.
Kato
ACK!
He shambles over in pain.
Yamani
Whoops!
Kato turns to Yamani with a smile. Then he quickly busts a part of the wall out, heading straight for her head.
The projectile takes Yamani by surprise, but she still manages to slide out of the way to avoid it. She sweeps under Kato's feet, knocking him to the floor.
By the time Kato looks up, Yamani's foot is swinging toward him. He rolls out of the way, then brings a part of the floor out to catch her leg, but he misses and it flies up into the air.
Yamani cuts through the air with her staff and Kato once again rolls out of the way, and then quickly jumps to his feet.
As the chunk of floor falls back down, Yamani uses her staff like a pool cue to knock it towards Kato.
Kato plants his feet and brings an entire wall up in front of him.
SMASH!
Kato earthbend-punches out holes in the wall and then sends them at Yamani one after another.
Yamani
(As she's dodging) Yes! Use the rock! Bend it to your will!
Then Kato lifts the remaining rock wall out of the ground, struggling and sweating.
Yamani looks up in respect.
Kato tears the thing in two and tries to control them like a pair of giant fly-swatters, but they end up knocking into the walls of the dojo.
SMASH, CRACK!
Yamani is on her glider. Kato breaks off a corner of the wall and tries to just aim it at Yamani as she flies toward him. He goes through his stances, and confusingly, the rock orbits around her like a drunk moon.
Kato
Come on!
He gets frustrated and starts haphazardly tearing off chunks of the wall and hoping they hit, but they don't.
Yamani lands on Kato, grappling him and getting him in a leg-lock.
THUD
Yamani keeps him locked up until he starts hitting the floor.
Kato
Uncle! Uncle!
Yamani smiles and lets him go. He stands up in a daze, then she follows him.
Yamani
What was that? Fifteen, Zip? Point Yamani!
Kato chuckles and then starts to cough.
Yamani
Again?
Kato looks up in disagreement, when suddenly the walls of the dojo start to make noises.
CRACK…
Yamani
Hmm… (Looks around)
Kato glances at the splitting wall.
Yamani
You know, you really don't bend like an earthbender.
Yamani and Kato are walking on the surface, heading into a forest on the edge of Lake Laogai.
Kato
That's bad, right? That's why I'm terrible at earthbending?
Yamani
I see flashes of it sometimes. When you remind yourself, "Hey, this is earthbending!" And you get all-
Yamani gets into a wide stance and grunts as she shoves her elbow through the air.
Yamani
-But then when you're on the ropes, out come the academy forms. You know,-
Yamani gets all circular, shifting through the byzantine stances of Kamakoi ceremonial waterbending.
Kato
(Looks down) Yeah… It's like a reflex.
They walk into a clearing, and Kato sits down on a log. Then Yamani sends a little air blast his way.
Yamani
Come on, again.
Kato
Why? Why are you so obsessed with this? There are plenty of talented earthbenders around here…
Yamani
True. But, if I'm being honest… There's something on my mind that I'm not even remotely prepared to deal with… So, I need a distraction. Solving your issues always gets my brain juice pumping.
Kato
Right, because I have so many issues…
Yamani nods.
Kato
Okay, so how do we start?
Yamani
Well… When did you feel your bending was at its strongest?
Close up on Kato. He thinks about this.
-Flash back to Kato surrounded by the Si Wong desert. (Remember? Season 1?) He pummels Muzo's lackey with a powerful blast of sand. He raises the sand like a wave. Blood drips from his mouth.
Cut back to the present.
Kato
The desert. The sand.
Flash back to sand sifting through Kato's fingers.
In the present, we see a wide shot of the green forest. Kato and Yamani are surrounded by various shades of green and brown. A bird chirps.
Yamani kneels down and picks up a dirt-clod.
Yamani
What about dirt?
Kato lifts some dirt out of the ground, twirling it around.
Kato
Yeah, I've tried it.
He tries to do a dirt-slice to a tree, but the dirt just slaps against the surface of the bark.
Kato
It's too soft. It's not like sand.
Yamani nods, pondering this. Then she looks around, spotting several rocks in her eyeline.
Yamani
Hmm…
Yamani walks around, making circles in the air with her index finger. Then she looks back at Kato.
Yamani
What is a rock made of?
Kato looks confused.
Kato
Um… Earth?
Yamani
Right! A rock… Is made out of more rocks! It's rocks all the way down…
Kato
Huh?
Yamani
Listen. What happens when you break a rock?
Then she throws the rock at a tree, before walking over.
Yamani
You get two of 'em. Every rock is just made up of smaller and smaller rocks.
Then Kato narrows his eyes, starting to understand. He spots a medium sized rock to his right and carefully lifts it into the air.
Yamani
Kato. Here's what I want you to do. I want you to take that rock and look inside of it, but not with your eyes.
Kato
Not with my eyes.
Yamani
No. With your earth sense. Does that make sense?
Kato turns his attention to the stone hovering before him.
Kato
I need to look inside of it with my earth sense. Okay…
Yamani
I don't know if it's possible, but… Maybe you can find the structure within. Maybe you can break that structure apart.
Kato stands there, concentrating… Concentrating…
Yamani
And then, what do you get?
Kato taps into something for the first time. This chunk of earth, in fine, needlepoint detail, seen through the hands and the senses via earthbending. Every speck of it, inside and out, every grain.
Kato
I see it!
Kato positions his hands for maximum leverage, and with a little struggle… He tears the rock apart, leaving a streak of sand in its wake.
Yamani's eyes go wide with excitement.
Kato
Like that?
Kato takes control of the streak and starts playing with it, drawing zig-zags and sand-squiggles in the air as his fingers bob up and down like they're conducting an orchestra.
Yamani
Exactly.
Kato grins and proudly brings the sand back down. Then Yamani flies into action.
Yamani
AGAIN!
TO BE CONTINUED…