Avatar - The Last Airbender Fansite

Avatar Episode - The Beach

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Azula, Zuko, Ty Lee and Mai are on a boat to Ember Island for the weekend. Ty Lee is excited but Zuko thinks it is a waste of time. Azula explains that the Fire Lord wants to meet with his advisers alone.
They arrive and are greeted by the two old ladies Lo and Li. They look up the beach and see a tiny shack. The ladies know that they are not happy to be there but that the island is a special place.

Meanwhile, Aang and the others are relaxing in a pool surrounded by rock walls. Toph worries that Aang should be covering up his tattoos but Katara says they are surrounded by walls so they should be fine. Aang goes down a slide of water that he finds. Nearby, two Fire Nation soldiers lay around a small outpost. They groan how boring the job is then they hear a yell and see Aang fall out of the water tunnel.

Aang suggests to Momo that they go again and he leaps up the cliff wall to their hiding place. Shocked, the guards realize that the Avatar is still alive. They get their messenger hawk and tie on a priority message.

On the beach of Ember Island, the group walks up and on the way Azula frightens some small children. A boy runs up to Ty Lee and offers to unpack her bag. She hands him the heavy bag and he falls over. He quickly takes out a beach towel and, at her request, stands in front of the sun to give her some shade.

Zuko sees a shell and offers it to Mai as a present. She doesn’t care though so Zuko throws it away. It falls next to a boy and he looks over. He sees Ty Lee and runs up to offer the shell to her. An argument breaks out between the two boys who are trying to impress her.

Zuko walks up to Mai with some snow cones but as he gives it to her, it falls on her lap. Azula spots some people playing a game further down the beach. She says they are playing next and orders Ty Lee to come over and leave the 3 boys who are taking care of her. Zuko removes his shirt and some girls start giggling.

Azula explains her strategy and the game begins. The game goes fairly quickly and two boys watch their progress. The game ends and the two boys walk over and invite Ty Lee and Mai to a party they are having that night. Azula asks why they didn’t invite her and Zuko. The boys Chan and ronjohn (Chan is the son of Admiral Chan mentioned in the awakening) consent to let them come too.

Back at their house, Zuko asks why Azula didn’t reveal who they were. Azula says that she just wanted to see what it was like. Somewhere else, the messenger hawk is flying with its message when it is attacked by another bird. The other bird, tangles the messenger in its own ribbon then steals its message after it falls to the ground.

It flies back with the message and lands on an arm of metal. It hands over the message to none other than the assassin hired by Zuko. He reads the letter then it starts to burn. Azula and the group arrive at the party but there is no one there yet. Azula tries to compliment Chan but she does not do very well.

As the party gets going, all the boys from the beach ask her who she likes, she gets scared and paralyzes all of them. She walks up to Azula who says that the boys don’t really like her. Ty Lee starts crying and Azula apologizes and explains she is a little jealous. Ty Lee tries to coach her in how to get a boy to like her but Azula has some trouble not being intimidating.

Mai and Zuko are bored so Mai tells Zuko to go get her some food. Azula walks up to Chan who is talking with another girl and asks for a tour of the house. They go out on the deck overlooking the water and Azula manages to keep it together. They kiss and then Azula makes fire in her hands saying that they will rule the world together. Chan quickly runs away leaving Azula frustrated.

As Zuko is walking back to Mai with the food, he is jostled by a boy and the food falls to the ground. Zuko tells the boy off and says the food was for his girlfriend. He points and looks and find Mai talking to the other boy from the beach. He walks over and pushes him out of the way. Zuko warns him not to talk to his girlfriend. The boy walks over again and says that it is just a party. Zuko knocks him backward into a vase.

Mai tells him to stop getting angry over everything. Zuko yells back that she doesn’t even have emotions. Mai says it is over and Chan runs up and sees the vase. He tells Zuko to leave and Zuko says he was already leaving. Zuko walks alone on the beach and arrives at the house where he used to come as a kid.

He walks in and finds a picture of his family and a block with he imprinted his hand as a child. He has a series of flashbacks from his childhood. Somewhere in the Fire Nation, Aang and the others sleep. Toph wakes up and rouses the others saying that a metal man is coming. A beam of light falls on Aang’s face and he sees someone standing up on the cliff wall. The beam of light is coming from the figure’s metal arm.

The man rears back and then shoots a beam at the group from the eye on his forehead. Everyone tries to use their bending to block it but each time the man blasts right through it.

Azula finds Zuko at the house and tells him to come down to the beach. The group is gathered there. Zuko tries to approach Mai but she turns away. He asks her if she is cold but she does not answer. Ty Lee says she is and Zuko says he will make a fire.

The unknown assassin continues to fire blasts out of his third eye. Sokka wonders how they can defeat someone who can blow things up with his mind. Aang says he will distract the man while they get on Appa. With the man in pursuit, Aang leaps over into valley filled with stone pillars. With his earthbending, Aang tries every trick he knows but the man always blasts the earth away. Aang finds an opportunity and uses one of the blasts to shoot himself into the air where Appa picks him up. The group wonders who the man was and why he attacked.

Back on Ember Island, Ty Lee asks Zuko why he is burning the picture of his family. They get into an argument and names are called. Mai joins in and soon the whole group is arguing and explaining about their pasts. Ty Lee suggests they calm down before they break out. Zuko turns to her and points to his scar saying he does not have the luxury of worrying about his face.

Zuko explains that he is angry and he doesn’t know why. The others ask him who he is angry at but Zuko does not know. Finally he can’t take it and shouts that he is angry at himself. He says that he is confused and he is not sure if he knows the difference between right and wrong. Mai says she cares about him and they kiss.

Azula claps at their dramatic performances. Zuko says that she wouldn’t understand. Azula agrees and says that their mother liked Zuko more. She says that their own mother thought she was a monster. Azula admits that she was right but that it still hurt.

Ty Lee comments that the beach did help them learn about themselves just like Lo and Li said. She says she will always remember this. Azula says that they could make the trip really memorable. Chan opens the door and Azula says that they have bad news. They start trashing the place and they leave Chan crying as they leave the house in ruins.

Avatar Episode - Sokka's Master

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:53:00 +0000

Aang and the group are lying down watching a meteor shower. Everyone is impressed but Toph does not really think it is so cool because she can’t see it. Suddenly one of the meteors changes course and heads toward the ground. Sokka tells Toph that this is something that even she would be amazed by. The meteor passes over their heads by only a few meters. It then veers down and hits the ground several miles away.

They fly over on Appa, and see a growing fire surrounding the meteor. Seeing there is a town nearby, Aang, Katara and Toph use their bending to smother the fire. Sokka wants to help but since he can’t bend, Aang tells him to watch Momo. Katara takes water from a creek and puts it over the fire and Toph and Aang cover it with earth. Sokka can only watch. Aang tells Sokka to watch it and he sends a wave of water that turns to snow which buries Sokka.

In the Fire Nation prison, the door to Iroh’s prison is opened. The guard drops a bowl of food and Iroh crawls forward and starts eating it off the floor. The guard is disgusted and says Iroh is a disgrace. As soon as the guard has left, Iroh sits back and eats properly.

In the town, Aang comments on how no one knows how close they came to being burned by the fire. Toph wishes that they could be heroes but they know they cannot draw attention. Sokka scoffs at Toph saying “Ooh, poor heroes.” Katara asks what is wrong and Sokka admits that he feels like he is not able to do anything for the group since he can’t bend. The others try to cheer him up, but he is just down about it. Katara says they don’t think of him as useless and she thinks of something to make him happy.

They go shopping and Sokka gets a smile. He thinks maybe he can get a new weapon but he has trouble with all of the ones he looks at. Aang, meanwhile, surprises Katara when he appears before her in full armour. Finally, Sokka turns and sees a magnificent sword hanging on the wall. When he examines it, the shop owner says that it was made by Pi En Dow, the greatest sword master and sword maker in Fire Nation history.

Aang suddenly realizes that Sokka needs a master because all of them had one and so Sokka deserves one. Katara agrees that it is a good idea while Sokka thinks it over. Finally Sokka agrees. In the Fire Nation prison, Iroh opens his eyes and starts doing sit-ups.

Sokka walks up to the doors of the master and knocks. He has to knock many times before the door is opened. He says he wants to train with the master and the man tells him that Pi En Dow turns almost everyone away. Sokka goes in with the man to see Pi En Dow who is painting. Sokka introduces himself and asks to be trained. Pi En Dow asks him if he is the type who is good so they think that they deserve to train with a master. Sokka kneels and says that he knows he has a lot to learn. Sokka also says that he does not know if he is worthy. Pi En Dow smiles then goes up to Sokka and agrees to train him.

Later on, Pi En Dow tells Sokka that he must think of his sword as an extension of his body. Meanwhile, Aang and the others are lying down bored without Sokka. In the Fire Nation prison, Iroh also trains his body in secret.

Sokka is told by his master that he must practice arts to keep his mind sharp. He is told to write his name but he gets nervous and ends up painting his face and rubbing it on the paper. In a practice match later on, Sokka is quickly defeated by Pi En Dow’s attendant.

Next he is taken blindfolded to a clearing that overlooks a beautiful waterfall. He is given one short look at it then told to paint it without looking. When he finishes he has drawn a simple landscape and added a rainbow. Pi En Dow sighs. In his next practice battle, he does better but is still defeated.

At a rock garden, Pi En Dow tells Sokka that he needs to manipulate his surroundings to his own advantage. Sokka moves a rock and puts a blanket of grass on it. When the attendant sees him lying down he is shocked. Sokka asks for a drink and Pi En Dow asks for a lemon in his.

At the Fire Nation prison, Iroh continues to act like he has gone crazy while exercising. The guard looks on in on him and sees him with a vacant look clapping his hands. The guard mutters to himself and walks away and Iroh smiles. Aang and the others are still having trouble and they miss Sokka.

Pi En Dow congratulates him on his first day and tells him it is time for him to have a real sword. Sokka is told that he will make his own. The next day, Sokka is given different metals and told to choose one for his sword. Sokka looks at them all, then asks to leave and get a special material for his sword. Pi En Dow allows it.

Lying down, Toph suddenly tells the group that Sokka is coming. He arrives and the others hug him. He tells them he needs their help and they walk over to the crash site of the meteorite. With their help, Sokka is able to get the large rock back to the castle. Pi En Dow answers the door and Sokka presents the rock. Pi En Dow says they will make a sword unlike any other.

Over the next while, with Pi En Dow’s guidance, Sokka works on melting down the rock for his sword. Pi En Dow watches Sokka’s hard work looking pleased. Finally the blade is finished. Pi En Dow congratulates Sokka on his hard work and says that he was not impressed by Sokka’s skills but instead by his creativity and intelligence. Pi En Dow then says that Sokka is indeed worthy.

Sokka apologizes and says that he is not worthy. He reveals that he is from the Southern Water Tribe and says sorry. Pi En Dow also says sorry then turns and swings his sword at Sokka. Sokka avoids it and blocks with his own sword. Aang and the others prepare to help but Sokka tells them that it is his battle.

At the prison, the guard walks in and says that Iroh used to be the pride of the Fire Nation and tells him to look at what he has become. Iroh grabs a piece of food through the bars and watches as the guard leaves. He then takes off his robe and reveals his new fit body. As he eats he exercises more.

Sokka and Pi En Dow begin their battle while the others watch. Sokka is hard pressed but he is able to avoid all of Pi En Dow’s slashes. As they fight, Pi En Dow compliments him on his agility and his using of the battlefield to his advantage. As the battle rages on, they go through a forest and Sokka tries to slow Pi En Dow down.

They exit the forest and Sokka narrowly avoids an attack. He then is able to blind Pi En Dow by flicking dust into his eyes. Sokka tries to sneak away but he steps on a twig and Pi En Dow is able to knock Sokka's sword away. After the next attack, Sokka is knocked onto his back.

Seeing him in trouble Aang and the others rush forward. Before they can do anything however, Pi En Dow congratulates Sokka and sheathes his sword. He then comments that he is too old to fight the Avatar. Aang wonders how he knew but Pi En Dow says he picks things up. The attendant gives him a cloth to wipe his face and Pi En Dow says he knew all along that Sokka was Water Tribe from his name.

When asked why he still agreed to train Sokka, Pi En Dow explains that learning the ways of the sword is not something unique to any nation. It is for everyone. Pi En Dow tells Sokka to keep training so that he may become and even greater sword master than he is. He then tells Sokka that next time he should say his name is Lee as there are thousands of Lees. They bow and Sokka leaves with the others.

On their way out, the attendant gives Sokka a small bag telling him that Pi En Dow wanted Sokka to have it to remember him by. Sokka opens it and pulls out a White Lotus tile. He turns and sees the same emblem on the doors of the castle. Sokka then remembers something and gives Toph a piece of the meteorite calling it space earth because he thought she would like it. As they walk away, Katara and Sokka immediately start arguing and Katara comments that she can’t believe she missed him.
Sokka and his master sparred at the end. Sokka battling the best he can. But at the end the master won. His sword at Sokka's neck. Aang, Katara and Toph went to go help Sokka. Then He put his sword aside. Sokka and them confused. As Sokka, Aang,Katara and Toph was leaving, The butler came out to give Sokka a rare coin. As they left to there next rest stop.

Avatar Episode - The Painted Lady

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:02:00 +0000

In a long polluted river, Aang and the others continue their travels toward the Fire Lord. Aang tells the others that he thinks the river is polluted. Katara thinks they will have to find somewhere else to find food but Sokka rolls out a long schedule that he has planned out. Aang spots a village on the river and they head in that direction. They hide Appa and Momo under some heavy grass and walk to the river’s edge.

They see an old man who introduces himself as Doc and offers to take them to the village. Katara tells him that they are from the Earth Kingdom Colonies. On the way, Doc explains that the river is polluted because of the factory that the army uses to make metal, which appeared. The village used to be a fishing town but with the water polluted everyone is struggling to survive.

They arrive at the village and say goodbye to Doc. As they walk around, they see people sitting in the streets looking poor and sick. Katara says that they have to do something but Sokka says no because they have a more important mission. He reminds her that they still have to take out the Fire Lord. Toph covers his mouth and tells him to not be so loud.

They walk over to the market and see Doc. They ask him if he works there too. The man explains that he is Doc’s brother Shu. Aang and the others are confused but they get some fish and ask Shu if his brother could give them a ride back. Shu ducks down and Doc pops up. As they prepare to leave, a small boy runs up and asks for some food. Katara gives him a fish and watches as he runs back to his sick mother with the fish. Doc takes them back to the shore and they go back to Appa to set up camp.

Sokka says that they have thrown off their whole schedule. He suggests they wake up earlier but they say no. He then argues that they could skip meal stops. They all flatly refuse and finally he suggests that they take meal breaks and potty breaks together. Aang and the others are disgusted by this idea. Sokka says no matter what they need to leave first thing in the morning. Katara watches sadly.

The next morning Appa is sick and when Aang checks, he has a purple tongue. Aang is worried and Katara says they should go look for medicine in the town. They go to see Shu and he says that amazingly, food was delivered to the village the night before by a spirit they call the Painted Lady. He explains that she is a river spirit who protects the village in times of need.

Sokka says that they don’t need to help the people because they already have someone to help them. They ask Shu for medicine but he says that the factory takes it all which is why they have so many sick people. Katara says that they need to stay another night to let Appa rest.

That night a heavy fog rolls in and a woman clad in dark robes crosses the river to the village. She enters a house filled with sick people and heals them. Lastly, she comes to the mother of the boy who Katara helped. The boy wakes up and follows her out. He thanks her and she disappears.

In town the next day, Toph gives Shu some money and asks for some more food since their friend is still sick and they can’t leave until he is better. Shu explains that The Painted Lady visited them again and healed most of their sick people. Aang comments that the village seems a lot happier and more festive. At the same time the villagers are erecting a statue of the Painted Lady in the square.

Sokka comments that the Painted Lady better come back everyday or the village will go right back to the way it was. Katara is angry at Sokka for saying such a thing but Sokka counters saying that only way to help the people is to get rid of the factory. He and Aang start joking about using spirit magic and making funny noises. Katara turns and angrily walks away. She walks to edge of the village and looks at the village with a determined look on her face.

That night, she dons dark robes and uses red paint to make marks on her face. As the Painted Lady, she runs off toward the village. Momo wakes up and falls on Aang. Aang wakes up and thinks it is the Painted Lady. He calls to her but she runs away. Aang gives chase through the village. Finally she hides behind a rock. Aang pops up in front of her and she hides her face with her hat.

Katara tries to play it off but Aang thinks she is familiar. She says she is busy and starts to walk away. Aang looks after her with a suspicious look. He sends a gust of wind that knocks her hat into the air. When she turns to catch it, Aang gets a look at her face. Katara turns and says hi to Aang. Shocked, Aang asks her if she is the Painted Lady. Katara says she was just trying to help the village and she wasn’t at first the Painted Lady but it became her disguise.

She explains to Aang that she wants to destroy the factory once and for all. They make their way inside and use their bending to destroy all the machinery. The factory explodes and as they leave, they see the waste entering the river stop coming out of the pipes. As they head back to camp, Katara tells Aang to be quiet so they don’t wake Sokka. As they turn the corner, they see Toph and Sokka standing there waiting and they freeze.

Sokka tells Katara off and says he knows everything about what has been going on. He says that they are leaving right away. Back at the factory, a fire nation soldier comes out of the smoke and looks at the village with rage. As Aang and the others are about to leave, they see a fleet of small boats headed toward the village. Sokka says that they are Fire Nation and he asks what Katara did. Katara explains that they destroyed the factory and Sokka tells her that they are leaving.

Katara refuses to turn her back on the people and she gets ready to leave. Sokka says he is going with her because she needs him. At the village, the Fire Nation soldiers say that they tried to live as neighbours in peace but now they will get rid of the village. They begin to destroy houses and docks. Two soldiers set fire to something but it is blown out each time by a gust of air. Confused, one of the soldiers looks and sees a heavy fog rolling in. There is a sound of heavy footsteps and loud growls. The small boy says the Painted Lady is coming.

Toph, Sokka and Appa are all making eerie sounds to scare the Fire Nation soldiers. Out of the fog, Katara appears in her Painted Lady costume. She charges toward the docks and lands in front of the guards. The leader tells 2 guards to do something. They draw their swords and inch forward. Katara looks up and, under the docks, Aang sends a gust of wind which knocks off the guards’ headbands. They run off scared. Katara uses her bending and sends two of the Fire Nation boats into the cliff wall. She raises her hand and all the guards run away leaving the leader alone. He shoots fire but Aang blows Katara into the air and then blasts him into the river. Katara tells him to leave and never come back. He swims to his boat and leaves.

The villagers thank her and Doc comes forward but sees that it is Katara because her face paint has rubbed off. The boy says that she is the one who gave him a fish. The villagers get angry but Sokka says that even if she is a waterbender she did it for the village. They wonder what to do and from the crowd Toph suggests that they clean the river. The villagers agree and Doc also agrees to keep their secret. Doc says he will get his other brother Bushi to help clean. He switches hats and says he is Bushi. Aang jumps forward and says they are all the same. Bushi says that Doc is crazy and he was always Bushi. This leaves Aang confused and frustrated.

Helping with their bending, Katara and the others all clean until the river is pure and clean again. That night, the real Painted Lady spirit appears before Katara and thanks her. As she leaves into the mist, Katara smiles.

Avatar Episode - The Headband

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:54:00 +0000

In a dark room in the royal palace in the Fire Nation capital, Prince Zuko tosses and turns in his sleep. Unable to beat the insomnia, he heads outside cloaked and hooded to a tower/prison. There he is spotted by a guard, he says nothing and silently turns away.

Later, the gang fly through the air on Appa who is disguised as a cloud. Once landed, they decided to blend in with their surroundings and steal Fire Nation attire from a near-by clothesline after they make camp in a cave, something that Sokka is not pleased about. In town, they buy some more accessories while heading to a meat stand for lunch. Aang would rather eat lettuce from the garbage than then consume meat and waits for the other outside. Guards come forward claim Aang is skipping school (he inadvertently stole school uniform from the clothesline). Without another word they drag him away. He is taken to a school and there finds nothing but discipline and strictness. After school, a girl named On Ji treats him kindly and he is invited to hang-out with some kids.

When he returns to the cave that night, they immediately round on him. Aang tells them what happened and expresses the wish to return, do to the normal childhood that his status deprive him of. Sokka immediately shoots him down but Aang gains his support by claiming they will be learning about a secret river that leads right to the Fire Lord's palace. They agree.

Elsewhere, Zuko returns to Iroh's prison where he is confronted by the guard from the previous night. Upon recognizing Zuko, the guard yields and Zuko orders him to say nothing of their encounter. In the cell Zuko has a one-sided conversation with Iroh in which he justifies his decision. Iroh is unresponsive, and Zuko storms out of the prison in anger.
The next day in school starts off badly for Aang, under the false name Kuzon. At the beginning of class he spoofs-up the oath to the Fire Lord thus earning a pop quiz from his teacher. In the quiz, he speaks out at a question which states that the Air Nomads had a standing army. In music class Aang dances to the beet of the song which gains unwanted attention from the instructor who states that dancing and other forms of self-expression or highly discouraged in the mainland. At the end of the day, after being complimented on his dancing by Onji, her paranoid boyfriend confronts him. Aang effortlessly dodges each blow to the point that the other boy beats himself up. The teachers find Aang standing while the boy lies on the ground half-conscience and ask to speak with his parents.
Aang's "parents" (Sokka and Katara) Chen and Saphire Fire speak with the headmaster who claims that if Aang slips one more time he will be sent to the coal mines. In the capital Zuko and Mai share a moment together before it's interrupted by Azula who uses reverse phsycology to get Zuko to admit he visited uncle. She says she'll keep it a secret and is actually looking out for him. She also warns him not to do anything foolish.
Back in the cave Sokka, acting very much like a father, scolds Aang and demands they leave. Aang protests and says he wants to help these kids who are forced to be servants to the Fire Lord. He wants to throw them a dance party. Once again he wins out and they set up for the party in their cave.
The school kids enter and are wary of dancing for fear of who will catch them. Aang coaxes them to dance by sampling classic Fire Nation dances. Impressed by his skills in dancing they begin to join him.
Zuko revisits Iroh in the prison and is still ignored, Zuko pours out his heart and frustration to his uncle but it falls on deaf ears. Angered, he leaves the prison and Iroh sheds a tear.
In the cave, Aang teaches a partner dance to the group with Onji which catches Katara's eye. Next Aang offers his hand to Katara who is nervously reluctant at first but Aang convinces her with a simple "Take my hand" They preform a synchronized martial arts dance in front of everyone. But the party is broken up when Onji's boyfriend leads the headmaster to the cave. The other kids give Aang cover as he escapes.
Once safe, Toph and Sokka congratulate Aang on his party and Katara thanks him for the dance with a kiss on the cheek. Elsewhere Zuko hires an killer known as the Combustion Man to kill the Avatar whom he believes is still alive.

Avatar Episode - The Awakening

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:04:00 +0000

Aang wakes up, heavily bandaged and, unaware of it, full of hair, and finds himself on a fire nation ship. He tries to get out but can do nothing but limp. He limps out and finds two fire nation soldier. He tries to blow them away with airbending, but they don't get blown away. He limps out of the ship very fast but trips and finds himself in front of two soldiers petting Momo. He wonders what is going then Toph calls out to him and everyone gathers around him. Aang wonders if this is a dream and Katara assures him this isn't a dream. Sokka then greets Aang happily. And Aang suddenly faints.

Meanwhile, on another fire nation ship, Zuko stands out looking at the sea and Mai comes to him and asks him if he's cold. Zuko starts telling that he's been banished from the fire nation for three years. Then he wonders if things have changed. Mai interrupts by saying she was only asking if he was cold not to hear a life story. She approaches near him and tells him to stop worrying and kisses him, then walks away.

Aang asks why are they on a fire nation ship and why is everyone dressing as a fire nation soldiers and why Aang doesn't know about this. Katara tells him to take it easy and explains that he got hurt pretty badly. She mentions that she likes Aang's hair. Aang is surprised to hear it and asks how long has he been knocked out. Katara answers by telling him that he's been knocked out for a few weeks. Hakoda, Katara's and Sokka's father, asks if everything is okay. Katara replies with a slight tone of anger that everything is fine. Hakoda introduces himself to Aang, but Katara tells his father that Aang knows who he is because Katara called him dad with the same tone. Aang replies to Hakoda it is nice to officially meet him. Katara interrupts impatiently that they know each other and asks for privacy. Hakoda walks away and Aang asks if Katara is mad at her father, Katara replies she isn't and asks Aang what made him say that. Aang replies he doesn't know and soon clutches his ribs in pain. Katara suggests that she should start healing him. They go into the same room and she starts healing Aang at the area where Azula struck him. Aang starts telling where it hurts the most. He soon gets a flashback of what happened to him. Katara finishes healing Aang and removes the healing water out of Aang and at that moment, Aang remembers what happened. He remembers that he was gone. But Katara brought him back with healing. He told her that she saved him. Katara tells him that he should get some rest.

Meanwhile, Lo and Li announces about Azula's greatest conquer of Ba Sing Se. They also announce that both Azula and Zuko had returned and slain the Avatar.

On the fire nation ship, Sokka explains to Aang what happened after the escape in Ba Sing Se. They flew to Chameleon Bay and met up with Hakoda and the other water tribe warriors. The Earth King decided to travel into the wild with Bosco. When the Bay was overrun by the fire nation ships, they manage to board one of them and traveled in disguise. Since then, they traveled west; crossing through the Serpent’s Pass and have successfully passed the fire nation ships without being discovered. They also continued to modify Sokka’s plan of invading the fire nation on the solar eclipse. They plan to fight with only their old allies, such as Pipsqueak and the Duke. But to make things worse for Aang, their secret to the plan is that the whole world thinks he is dead. Sokka sees this as an advantage as the fire nation won’t be looking for them, but Aang doesn’t approve of this secret. As a fire nation ship floats by, Aang prepares to fight, but Katara assures him that they’ll talk their way out or their cover will be blown. As the rest hide, including Appa, Hakoda and Bato confronts three fire nation soldier. Hakoda tells that they’re from the eastern fleet so they would be delivering cargo instead of helping occupy Ba Sing Se. The leader almost falls for it. When the discussion ends, one of the soldier tells the leader a piece of evidence that they could be lying. They plan to sink the ship after they make it to their own. Toph discovers that they know that Hakoda was lying and metalbends the gangway down. The fire nation ship fires a giant fireball at the Aang and his friends.

Meanwhile, Zuko is seen at the pond feeding turtleducks like in “Zuko Alone.” Azula approaches to Azula and sees that Zuko is feeling a bit worried and Mai is in an unusually good mood. Zuko confesses that he is worried that Fire Lord Ozai won’t restore Zuko’s honor because he didn’t capture the Avatar. Azula assures him that Avatar is dead but asks him suspiciously that the Avatar could have made it out alive. Zuko recalls Katara telling him about the Spirit Oasis Water with healing power. Zuko lies that there is no way Aang could’ve survived. Azula looks at him suspiciously and tells him there isn’t anything he needs to worry about. She then walks away.

Back at the ship with Aang and his friends, fireballs are still being hurled at their ship. Aang’s friends start fighting back and Toph asks how are they doing. Sokka comments that things couldn’t get worse. Just then, the serpent from the Serpent’s Pass appeared making Sokka say that the universe loves proving him wrong. A fireball is hurled at the serpent and starts attacking the enemy fire nation ship. After they manage to get away, they dock in the port. Sokka, Katara, and Toph comes in and asks if Aang is hungry. Aang wants food but doesn’t want to go out there if he can’t wear his airbending arrow proudly. Katara tells the others to go and talks with Aang. Katara starts off telling she knows how Aang feels about being a secret. Aang confesses that he doesn’t like being a secret because he feels that he did fail everyone who needed him. Aang tells Katara that he should face the fire lord alone because he doesn’t want his friends to fix his mistake. Katara leaves and Aang says that he needs his honor, making him sound like Zuko.

Zuko is seen walking to the fire lord’s chamber. He hesitates to go in there but soon he does and faces the fire lord.

Katara walks into Aang’s room bringing him food only to find he’s gone. Katara knows why Aang has left and runs out of the room while Aang is seen flying off.

Zuko bows to his father and his father says that Zuko has been gone for three years. He tells Zuko that he has redeemed himself and welcomes Zuko home, with his face finally seen.

Aang is seen flying across the sea with his glider. Katara is running to her father and tells what Aang has done and the reason was because he was being selfish. Hakoda knows that she is also describing himself. Hakoda confesses that he was sad and lonely because he misses Katara and Sokka during his time at the war.

Fire Lord Ozai says that he is proud of Zuko that he and Azula conquered Ba Sing Se and that he captured Iroh, considered a traitor, but most importantly, Zuko has slain the Avatar. Zuko knows this is a lie and asks where he heard from it. Ozai tells Zuko he heard it from Azula and compliments him.

Aang is still flying over the sea and manages to pass the fire nation blockade. He manages to speed up his travel using a log and his glider as a windsurfer but loses his glider.

That night, Zuko comes into Azula’s room, while she is sleeping, and asks why she told their father that he killed the Avatar. Azula tells that she wanted Zuko to have some glory so that he had nothing to worry about. Zuko knows that she is planning something but doesn’t know what. Azula asks what she could gain for giving the glory to Zuko that he killed the Avatar unless he survived. The glory would turn to shame then. But she recalls that Zuko told her that there was no way the Avatar survived. Zuko goes out of Azula’s room.

Aang is stranded at sea, without any hope. Aang believes he has failed. Suddenly, Avatar Roku appears to him and confesses to Aang that he is the one who failed, because he couldn’t stop the war before it began. Aang still isn’t confident, but Yue also appears and tells him not to give up. Aang says that she is right and he won’t give up. He waterbends the ocean to make a wave to travel. Yue speeds up Aang’s travel by helping to build the wave. Aang is seen at the shore of the island where Roku’s temple was destroyed. He finds Momo on top of him and Sokka, Toph and Katara finds him too. Aang’s friends tell that they will help Aang on his quest to invade the fire nation. Aang agree's. Then Toph finds Aang’s broken staff and gives it back to him. Aang decides that he can't have it or their plan will fail If the Fire Nation knew the avatar was died. He puts his staff on top of the mountain and lets it burn, ending the chapter.

Avatar Episode - The Crossroads of Destiny

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Everyone races against time to stop Azula's sinister plan. Zuko finds companionship in an unlikely source.Katara spends more time with Zuko, who learns the time has come to make a choice about his future. Aang's destiny hangs in the balance and so does Zuko's, as Iroh tells him "it is time to choose."

Avatar Episode - The Guru

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:24:00 +0000

It is the morning, and Iroh is at work slaving over a hot stove preparing what he calls, “Jook.” Zuko walks into the room, yawns, and comments on the smell of the jook. Iroh says that he will not like the stuff, but Zuko contradicts him, smelling it and saying it smells good. Iroh is somewhat confused, and makes mention of the fact that Zuko has changed greatly since he recovered from the fever he had in The Earth King. Zuko just smiles, and becomes very optimistic: It is a new day, in fact the day of the Grand Opening of Iroh’s new tea shop, and they have a wonderful new apartment, and Zuko only has high thoughts about it all.

At the same time, Aang and Sokka land at the mouth of Chameleon Bay, where they were told that Sokka’s father Hakoda and the rest of the Southern Water Tribe Warriors are. Sokka is very nervous, but Aang tries to calm him down, and succeeds somewhat. Sokka questions Aang on his feelings towards him meeting Guru Pathik to master the Avatar State. Aang smiles, and says that he is ready to master the Avatar State. He then takes off on Appa, shouting back to Sokka that he will see him in a week.
Sokka walks into the base, and is greeted with warm and welcome arms by the warriors of the Southern Water Tribe, who all seem to recognize him. After some laughs, the warriors point him off to a tent. Sokka takes a breath, and walks into the tent. He sees several Water Tribesmen, one of which is Bato, who we last saw in Bato of the Water Tribe His arm is burnt red (apparently the injury he received back in Book: Water) and he nudges a man who is seated center. The man looks up, in surprise, and says in disbelief, “Sokka.” Sokka smiles, and replies “Hi Dad,” and the man (Sokka’s dad Hakoda) rises up to embrace his son, who just smiles and rubs his face against his father’s chest.
Back in Ba Sing Se, the Earth King is entertaining Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee, still disguised as the Warriors of Kyoshi. He tells them of Long Feng, and how he lied to him and had been planning on taking over the city, to which Azula remarks that it is so terrible when you cannot trust those closest to you. He says that there is good news, and proceeds to tell Azula that The Council of Five, the highest ranking Earth Kingdom generals, are planning an invasion of the Fire Nation during the summer, on the Day of the Black Sun; the solar eclipse. Her eyes widen, and she acts surprised, saying how fascinating the plan is.
At that exact moment, the Council of Five is going over the Invasion Plan with Katara and Momo. General How says that General Fong’s base (that we saw first in The Avatar State) will be the staging point of the attack, and they will send in troops: As he says this, he moves three pillars colored green with the symbol of the Earth Kingdom onto the Fire Nation with Earthbending. Momo suddenly appears, running a muck across the war map, knocking down the pillars. Laughing, Katara says that they could just send in Momo; however, the Council does not find this amusing, and with a simple closed fist, all of the pillars stand back up, scaring away Momo. General How takes a scroll and earthbends it to Katara atop a chunk of rock from their table, and says that all they need is the Seal of the Earth King himself to finalize the plan. Katara takes the scroll, and says that she will take it to him immediately.
Aang finally arrives at the Eastern Air Temple, and finds Guru Pathik meditating atop the same pillar we saw him on in Appa's Lost Days. When Aang asks him if he is the same Guru who sent the letter attached to him, and we learn that Guru Pathik was a spiritual brother to the Air Monks, and a good close friend to Monk Gyatso. Aang ask him how he plans on teaching Aang how to gain control of the Avatar State., to which Guru replies that he must first bring balance to himself before he can bring balance to the world. To start it all off, Pathik tells him he must drink this yellow liquid. Just as Aang starts to drink the liquid, he spits it out violently, and says that it taste like, “onion and banana juice.” The Guru tells him that is because it is onion and banana juice, and he puts the bowl on his head and says in a sing-song voice, “Yum yum yum.”
Out on a road, an ostrich is pulling a cart carrying Master Yu and Xin Fu as well as Toph who is trapped within a huge metal box. The two up front are arguing about which to go in order to back to the Beifong estate, Toph’s home, when Toph tells the, “two old ladies” to stop arguing and let her out to go to the bathroom. Master Yu starts to get up to let her out, but Xin Fu tells him that it is a trick, to which he tells Toph he is not letting her out. Toph pounds against the cage she is in, only infuriating Xin Fu more, who tells her that no matter how good an Earthbender she thinks she is she cannot bend metal.
Back in Ba Sing Se, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee are undressing, when Azula presents the s an idea: She says that they have a perfect opportunity to bring down the Earth Kingdom, and that for 100 years, her people have been hammering away from the outside. Now, they are in the inside, the perfect position to stage a coup and overthrow the Earth King. The key to all of this, according to Azula, is the Dai Li, the arm of Long Feng, first seen in City of Walls and Secrets.
Back at the Eastern Air Temple, Guru Pathik is beginning Aang’s instruction of the chakras: Chakras are nexuses of metaphysical and/or biophysical energy residing in the human body. In order to master the Avatar State, Pathik says that you must first open the chakras of the body. First, he asks Aang what he knows about chakras, however, when Aang rubs his eyes and asks what chakras are, Pathik starts at the very beginning. Using a pond clogged with algae he successfully explains to Aang the concept of chakras, and the two move on to open the chakras.
There are seven chakras going up the body, each with a purpose and each with a different blockage: An intense sensation results from the opening of them all, you can not stop opening them once you have opened one until all seven are open. Aang accepts and they begin the process.
The first chakra is the Earth Chakra, located at the base of the spine. It deals with Survival, and is blocked by Fear. Aang goes into meditation, and is surrounded by fire, sitting before a man who appears to be either Fire Lord Ozai or Prince Zuko. After clearing his thoughts, the images disappear, and Aang gives a sigh of relief as he comes out of meditation. Guru Pathik congratulates Aang, and tells him the first chakra has been opened, to which Aang gives another
The second charka is the Water Chakra, which deals with Pleasure, and is blocked by Guilt. When asked what he blames himself for, Aang says it is that he ran away upon finding out he was the Avatar, and that he hurt all of these people at General Fong’s base in The Avatar State. Pathik says to accept the reality that these things have happened, and do not let them cloud your judgment and poison your energy. In order to become a positive influence for the world, Aang must forgive himself for these things. Aang slips into meditation again, and we are left seeing his silhouette.
Back in Chameleon Bay, Sokka, his father Hakoda, and the rest of the Warriors are preparing what are called Tangle Mines. Comprised of a buoyant casing around an e mine, they are filled with Stockfish and Seaweed. Upon detonation, the seaweed entangles the Fire Nation ships, immobilizing them, and then the smell of the Stockfish forces the soldiers to abandon ship. Hakoda calls the plan, “The Stink and Sink,” to which Sokka explodes with laughter, and Bato just sighs and says that Sokka is definitely his father’s son.
A scouting party returns to inform the warriors of the presence of three Fire Nation ships, and Hakoda tells Bato to finish preparing the mines, and the rest of the warriors to prepare for battle. Sokka watches as everyone runs off to get ready, and then asks Hakoda what he is supposed to do. In a slightly irritated, yet jokingly tone, Hakoda says, “Aren’t you listening, I said the rest of you men get ready for battle,” to which Sokka can only smile and follow orders.
Once again, in Ba Sing Se, The Jasmine Dragon is finally opening, and Iroh and Zuko stand proudly as people come into their tea shop. Iroh says that he is in disbelief that as coming to the city as refugees that he would own his own tea shop. He tells Zuko to follow his dreams, and Zuko can only congratulate his uncle, who expresses great pride. Zuko thinks it is for finally owning a tea shop, but Zuko tells him it is from Zuko deciding to share this special day with him. Zuko runs off, with his new found optimism to start making tea, to which Iroh responds with a grin and a shout. “Let’s Make some Tea!”
Third is the Fire Chakra, which is located in the stomach. Aang’s stomach bles, and he says sarcastically, “My Fire Chakra would like to eat something besides onions and banana juice. Pathik laughs heartily, and says, “Good one…Moving along,” and begins to explain the fire chakra: Dealing with Willpower, the Fire Chakra is blocked by shame. Aang has a vision of when he first attempted Firebending, and severely burned Katara’s hands (In The Deserter. He tells Pathik that he will never Firebend again, who just responds that in order to obtain Balance, you must accept all aspects of your life: Aang is the Avatar, and therefore a Firebender. With a slight breathe in and an exhale, Pathik comments that the third chakra opened less like a flowing creek and more like a burping bison.” Aang gives a huge burp, and says that it tasted like onions and bananas, and strangely like something else, which he thinks is pickles,
On the steps of the Palace, Mai and Ty Lee are relaxing. Mai complains about her outfit, and how it is y and she does not understand how anyone can fight in them, and she also complains about cleaning up bear poop. Ty Lee then spills the entire plan, to which Mai tells her to be quiet. We see some agents of the Dai Li climb up some poles, as they were listening in the whole time. Once they are gone, Azula emerges and tells the s good job, and that the Dai Li will surely deliver the message to Long Feng.
Aang and Pathik have now moved on to open the fourth chakra. Located in the heart, this chakra deals with Love, and is blocked by Grief. Laying his grief before him, Aang sees all of the Air Monks he knew, all of whom died because he abandoned them all. They fade away, and become dust. Love, according to Pathik, is a form of energy, and flows around us, and that their Love for Aang is still all around them and manifests itself inside of new love: The Love Aang has for Katara is an example of this new love. Aang, wiping away his tears and with a weakened sweet voice, asks politely if he can have some more onion banana juice.
The fifth Chakra is the Sound Charka, and is located in the throat. It deals with Truth, and is blocked by the Lies we tell ourselves. Pathik says that we must accept what we are, and that Aang must accept he is the Avatar, even though he never wanted to be. With a sigh, and a vision, Aang accepts he is the Avatar, and he opens the Chakra of Truth.
Located in the center of the forehead, the sixth Chakra of Light is responsible for Insight, and is blocked by Illusions. The greatest Illusion is that of Separation: Things you think are separate and different are actually one and the same. Aang mentions the Four Nations, and Pathik says that everyone is part of One People, yet we live as separate people. Even the Separation of the Four Elements is an illusion; four parts of the same whole. He mentions metal, which is simply Earth which has been purified by Fire. We are then shown Toph, who is continuing to bash her hands into the metal walls of her cell, realizing as she continues to bash that the metal contains Earth, which she can bend. Continuing to push, she finally manages to bend the metal, which she exalts that she “rules”
Again back in Ba Sing Se, Katara and Momo, just before going to see the Earth King, decide to stop at a new tea house for a cup or two. When waiting to be seated, Katara hears and sees Zuko ordered tea from Iroh in the back, and she gasps before running off to warn the Earth King.
Finally Aang is at the Seventh Chakra, the last, the Chakra which will enable Aang to be able to go in and out of the Avatar State, as well as having complete awareness of all things occurring in the Avatar State. Called the Thought Chakra, it is located at the crown of the head, and deals with Cosmic Energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment. Aang is asked to meditate on what he is attached to, and only images of Katara flood his mind, and Pathik asks for Aang to let go off his attachments. Aang suddenly becomes angry, asking how he can let go of Katara, when he loves her. He is also confused about why he would take Cosmic Energy over the Love of Katara and how attachment is bad now when attachment was good 3 chakras ago. According to Pathik, if Aang ever wants the pure Cosmic Energy to enter him, he must let go of all earthy attachments, including Katara
Running into the Palace, Katara tells "Suki", that the Fire Nation has infiltrated the city, and that Prince Zuko and Uncle Iroh are here as well. She tells how they need to inform the Earth King, but “Suki” comes forth, Katara immediately recognizes her as Azula, and before she can even attack, Ty Lee hurtles into the air and disables Katara. Lying on the ground in a pool of water, Katara is helpless as Azula plans a little family reunion with “Zuzu.”
The argument continues back at the Eastern Air Temple, with Pathik telling him he must open all of the chakras to master the Avatar State. Aang decides to at least try, and he begins to let go. An image of Katara disappears into space, and Aang is taken high above the planet to walk along a purple stream of cosmic energy, radiating from the Avatar State, which is shown as a shirtless Aang whose s are glowing. Walking towards the Avatar State, Aang is suddenly shocked to see an image of Katara, struggling in chains, screaming for help. He abandons the Avatar State, and begins running back to the planet. The stream of cosmic energy gives out, and Aang falls back. Jolting awake, he says that Katara is in trouble and that he must go back to Ba Sing Se. Pathik stops him, telling him that now, by choosing Attachment, the chakra is locked, and that if he leaves now, he will never be able to enter the Avatar State at all. Aang simple drops his head before leaping away.
Back on the road, there is a loud tearing sound, and Master Yu and Xin Fu decide to investigate. Upon seeing the massive hole in the container, Master Yu says it is a trick, but Xin Fu corrects him rather angry at the whole remark. Just then, Toph emerges to send two giant slabs of rock up out of the ground, trapping the two men, and then throwing them inside the container. Once she closes the metal walls, she exclaims to all the world, “I am the greatest Earthbender of all, and don’t you two dunderheads forget it.” She makes a huge ball of earth, and proceeds to run away atop it, almost like surfing. As she escapes, Xin Fu groans that he is going to be trapped inside the container forever, to which Master Yu moans “I have to go to the bathroom.”
Sokka and the rest of the Water Tribe Warriors are finishing up backing their boats for war. Sokka tells Hakoda that he is going to make him proud and prove what a great warrior he is, and Hakoda places his hand atop his son’s shoulder: Telling him that he has always been proud of Sokka, and he knew he was a great warrior, which was the reason why he left Sokka in charge of the tribe. Just as they are about to embark, Sokka sees Appa and Aang, who land next to him on the beach. One look from Aang is all that was needed in order for Sokka to say, “This can’t be good news.” We see Appa take off, with Sokka and Aang onboard, with Sokka looking back at his father, who is looking back up at his son.
Being carted down the hall by agents of the Dai Li, Azula continues to resist. Taken into Long Feng’s cell, she demands to know why she has been taken out of her bed in the middle of the night, and how this is not the way you treat a Kyoshi Warrior. Long Feng smiles, and tells her he knows exactly who she is and how he wants to make a deal. Since Azula has the Earth Kings trust, and Long Feng promises her the Avatar, she intently listens in.
At the Jasmine Dragon, Iroh and Zuko receive wonderful news: They have been invited to serve tea to the Earth King. Zuko smiles as he continues sweeping the floors, apparently content in his new life. Back in Long Feng’s cell, a deal has been worked out, ands Azula is carted away, a slight coy grin across her face.

Avatar Episode - The Earth King

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:20:00 +0000

The gang is happy to have Appa back and after their fight with the Dai Li, find refuge on a small island on Lake Laogai. With Appa back, Sokka wants to fly to the Ba Sing Se Earth King's palace and give him the information on the eclipse and expose the Dai Li. Although Toph and Katara are first skeptical, they all finally agree after seeing ships that are presumably Dai Li searching for them.

While approaching the palace, they are attacked by earth kingdom soldiers. The gang fight their way through the soldiers all along trying to let them know they don't want to fight them and they should all be on the same side. Once inside the palace, they finally reach an inner chamber where they find the Earth King with Long Feng standing beside him. To show they are not attempting to overthrow him, the kids drop their weapons only to be rock-tied behind their backs by the Dai Li soldiers at Long Feng's command. After finally convincing the Earth King that Long Feng is a liar by exposing the bite that Appa left on his leg, the gang then must convince him that there is a war going on. First they take him to Lake Laogai to show him the prison where all the brainwashing was taking place only to find it has been destroyed already, presumably by the Dai Li. Once they cohearse the Earth King to travel to the outer wall on Appa's back, he finally realizes there is a war going on when he looks upon the drill with the Fire Nation emblem. The Earth King orders the Dai Li to arrest Long Feng to face charges of crimes committed against the Earth Kingdom.
Meanwhile, we see Iroh and Zuko returning from Lake Laogai. Zuko begins to get blurred vision and collapses. He is stirred awake by Iroh explaining to him that his actions in freeing the Avatar's Bison have started a reaction inside him and that once he awakes from his turmoil, he will be the beautiful Prince that he was meant to be. Zuko first dreams has him sitting in the Fire Temple's chambers being addressed as Fire Lord Zuko by a blue dragon with Azula's voice. Zuko's scar is gone and the Blue Dragon is trying to get him to sleep but the Red Dragon, with the voice of Iroh, wants him to stay awake and leave. The Blue Dragon tells him to sleep again, just like his mother. Zuko's dream then changes to a vision of his mother asking him for help which he is unable to give as he gets sucked into a black hole.
Back at the palace, Sokka and Aang fill the Earth King in about the comet and the eclipse. He agrees to provide troops to assist in the attack against the Fire Nation. Their meeting is interrupted by General How, the leader of the Counsel of 5, a group of highest ranking Generals. He advises the group that they found items of interest while searching Long Feng’s office. Aang is given the note from the Guru that was attached to Appa’s horns. Toph is given a letter presumably from her mother asking to meet her at a location in Ba Sing Se. Sokka and Katara are given an intelligence report detailing the location of their father. The group decides to split up to follow these leads with Katara staying behind in Ba Sing Se to assist the Earth King with plans to invade the Fire Nation.
As Aang and Sokka are preparing to leave on Appa, they are interrupted when the Earth King approaches them with news of a group of individuals calling themselves Kyoshi Warriors who are asking for an audience with the king. Sokka assures the Earth King that they are valuable and trustworthy allies in the fight against the Fire Nation and he agrees he will greet them as honorable guests. Before leaving, Aang attempts to tell Katara how he feels about her. Sokka breaks into the moment and the gang shares a tender moment together when they realize the won‘t be seeing each other for awhile. Aang and Sokka are seen flying off on Appa with positive thoughts that everything is finally going in the right direction.
Again, we see Zuko waking up and going to splash water on his face. As he brings his face up to look in the mirror, he is shocked to see that he has an airbender's arrow on his bald head and once again, the scar is not present. Zuko jerks awake to realize it was just a dream. He slowly raises his hand to his face, touching below his right eye feeling where the scar is still present.
The scene shifts to a prison, where we see a Dai Li soldier sliding a dinner plate under a door to Long Feng. The soldier states that the military and the Counsel of 5 are loyal to the Earth King but the Dai Li is still loyal to Long Feng.
Back in Ba Sing Se, we see Toph approach a house and knock upon the door. Entering inside calling for her mother, she realizes something is wrong. A large metal coffin drops from the ceiling, enclosing her inside. We see Master Yu and Xin Fu drop from the ceiling and approach the coffin stating that somebody has been a bad wandering so far from home.
We finally see the procession of 3 Kyoshi Warriors approaching the Earth King. As the warriors march past the soldiers, they bow down to present themselves to the king as he welcomes them. The head Kyoshi Warrior raises her head wearing the head piece of Suki, but instead we hear Azula’s voice say, "We are the Earth King’s humble servants." The 3 Kyoshi Warriors are actually revealed to be Azula, Mai and Ty Lee.

Avatar Episode - Lake Laogai

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:09:00 +0000

The episode begins at the kids' house in the upper ring of Ba Sing Se. Sokka is attempting to draw pictures of Appa for posters Aang would drop around the city. Aang and Katara burst in with a professionally-made poster, featuring a much better picture of Aang's pet than Sokka's crude drawings. The group plans on spreading the fliers all over the city, hoping someone will have some information.
Meanwhile, Iroh's tea-making skills have earned him renown throughout the city. So much so, that a rich patron is willing to give him his own tea shop in the upper Ring of the city, much to the dismay of his present, now former, employer. While this is a dream come true for Iroh, Zuko, of course, is much less enthusiastic. He goes outside to sulk, and one of Aang's flyers falls into his hand, he is now faced with a decision. He has one more opportunity to capture Aang.

Later, Aang returns home, impatient to see if the fliers have had any success. Katara tells him to be patient, when there is a knock on the door. Aang thinks it is someone with information on Appa, instead, it's Joo Dee. She was the first one who met them when they entered the city. She explains her mysterious disappearance at the Earth king's party as having taken a short vacation to Lake Laogai. She informs the group that dropping fliers without clearance is against the rules. Aang has had quite enough of the "rules", and tells Joo Dee off, saying that he intends to find Appa, and that she should stay out of his way. Toph is elated at the opportunity to break the rules, and expresses this joy by breaking a wall in there house. The group heads out, with two Dai Li agents watching there every move.
Elsewhere, Long Feng is disappointed in Joo Dee's second failure to control the Avatar and his friends. Joo Dee worries that the group no longer trusts her, and rightly so. Long Feng simply says, "Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai". Joo Dee's eyes go blank, and she all-too calmly accepts the invitation. Long Feng tells her to await further orders. As she leaves, Long Feng himself reveals that he too is worried that the Avatar may disrupt his control over the city and the king.
Back at their little apartment, Iroh is still excitedly mowing over names for his new tea shop. Zuko informs Iroh that the avatar is in the city and searching for his bison. Iroh warns Zuko that further perusing the Avatar in Ba Sing Se could jeopardize their attempts at rebuilding their lives. Zuko is still set upon reclaiming his believed destiny. Iroh tells him that he should take the time to think about what that means, and why.
Out in the city, the gang is setting up more posters when Katara is approached by Jet. He tells her that he wants to help, but Katara is understandably furious with him, and attacks. Jet deflects her attacks, and tries to prove his honesty by dropping his hooked swords. The others arrive, drawn by the noise of her attack, to find Jet pinned to the wall. Toph, reading Jet's heartbeat and breathing patterns, pronounces that he's telling the truth. Katara is still distrustful, but agrees. Jet leads them to a large empty warehouse, where he says they may have been holding Appa. Toph confirms it by finding a tuft of Appa's fur. A old man who is sweeping comes in and says that he's glad that he doesn't have to clean up after the creatures droppings. The old cleaning man says that the creature was sent off to Whale Tail Island, which would take weeks, maybe months to get to. It is located down near the South Pole. He said it was bought by some wealthy noble for a zoo or something. Aang immediately wants to set off, and Jet offers to come along. But Katara reluctantly says no.
On their way out, the group is sidetracked when Smellerbee and Longshot who happen to come across them. Katara once again turns on Jet, as he had claimed to have left his gang behind. Jet insists that he's been living a peaceful life in the city, but Smellerbee of course says that he was arrested by the Dai Li a few weeks beforehand. Toph says that they're both telling the truth, even though their stories don't match. Sokka quickly realizes that the reason Toph can tell that neither of them is lying is because they both think their telling the truth. Jet has been brainwashed.
That night, a Dai Li agent is walking alone down a street when he's bumped aside by the Blue Spirit(Zuko). He chases the Spirit down an alley and attacks him, knocking the head off a decoy. Zuko quickly captures him, demanding that the agent tells him what he needs, and if he is denied, The Blue Spirit implies that he will cut off the agents head.
Meanwhile, the group, plus Longshot and Smellerbee, are holding Jet. Katara guesses that Jet and the old man were used to try to lead them away from the city on a false lead. Aang, realizing that Appa may be held in the same place they brainwashed Jet, tries to get him to remember where he was taken. When trying to remember the night his home was attacked proves too painful, Katara uses her healing to try to help him out. Jet remembers that he was taken to a secret facility under a water like a lake. Sokka remembers what Joo Dee had said about her "vacation", jogging more off Jet's memory. She said she went on vacation at Lake Laogai. The base is under Lake Laogai.
The group makes their way to the lake the next day, and Toph quickly finds and uncovers an underwater tunnel. They go inside, quietly making their way through the dark corridors. In one room, a group of women are being "conditioned" to be Joo Dees. Jet leads the group to a cell he thinks will be big enough to hold Appa, when he opens. Inside his cell, Appa gets up as his cell door is opened. But it's not Jet who opened this door, but The Blue Spirit.
Meanwhile, the gang find themselves confronted by Long Feng and several Dai Li agents. A battle quickly breaks out. Long Feng starts to leave the room, with Aang and Jet in hot pursuit. Long Feng tries to make one last bargain with Aang, but he and Jet refuse. Instead, he extends the same invitation to Jet that he did to Joo Dee. Jet's eyes go blank, and he attacks Aang.

In Appa's Cell, The Blue Spirit (Zuko) is suddenly confronted by Iroh, who asks who could be behind that mask. Then, Iroh scolds Zuko for not planning ahead, particularly over the time when they were at the North Pole, in which he would have died had the Avatar's friends not come along. He pleads with Zuko to look inside himself for once, and find his own destiny, not the one forced on him by his father. Zuko throws his mask and swords to the ground in anger.
Elsewhere, Aang is trying to get Jet to snap out of his trance, while avoiding his attacks. He finally gets through to him by reminding him of his past as a Freedom Fighter. Jet recovers and Long Feng asks whats he is doing and tell him to finish Aang. Jet quickly hurls one of his hooked swords at Long Feng's head, who dodges and retaliates with a crushing blow. Long Feng escapes as the others enter the chamber. Katara tries to heal Jet, and realizes just how badly he was injured. Smellerbee asks them to go on ahead they'll be fine. Katara tells them that they can't just leave them there but Longshot speaks for the first time and tells Aang and his group that they should go an find Appa, and leave Jet to Smellerbee and himself. He's our leader. Jet tries to assure Katara that he'll be alright, but as they leave, Toph sorrowfully tells Sokka that Jet was lying.
They finally reach Appa's cell, only to find the chains broken, and Appa gone. Thinking that the Dai Li have taken him, they rush back to the surface, only to find themselves surrounded by Long Feng and Dai Li agents. Momo suddenly takes off into the sky, only to have Appa come down and break through two of the walls the Dai Li made and Appa taking out Long Feng by biting him. Toph and Aang take this opportunity to take out the remaining Dai Li on the middle wall and flings them into the lake. Long Feng tries to attack Appa, only to have his foot caught in Appa's mouth, and gets tossed into the lake Laogai, skipping across the surface. Aang and the others joyfully reunite with there Flying friend.
Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh leave the base, barely missing the fighting. Zuko acknowledges his Uncles words, dropping the Blue Spirit mask into the water. He stands looking at it, as it sinks into the darkness.

Avatar Episode - Appa's Lost Days

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:58:00 +0000

This episode spans a period of four weeks, from the end of 'The Library' to just before 'Tales of Ba Sing Se', detailing Appa's adventures after he was captured by the Sandbenders outside of Wan Shi Tong's library.
The Episode begins with Appa's capture in the earlier episode. Sandbenders attack Appa with intent to capture him, while Toph, her hearing is hampered by the sand, and divided by the need to prevent the library from sinking, is unable to help.
The sandbenders drag Appa away, until Ghashiun, the leader of the group, orders Appa's saddle ransacked for any valuables, but nothing more valuable than Sokka's club is found. Appa tries to fight back once more, destroying one of the sand sailer's, but Ghashiun is unfaded, as that sailer had been stolen from another tribe in the first place. He tosses the supplies on the saddle away, and continues with his plan to sell Appa to a group of Earth Kingdom Merchants with beetle-like hats.
After a little debate, the merchants decide to buy Appa, giving the Sandbender's a small chest with the money. The merchants start to drag Appa into a position so they can secure him on a caged sled , but once Appa is fastened into the sled, Aang blows his whistle during his search for Appa. Appa hears the whistle and begins to struggle, lifting the entire sled off the ground. The merchants decided to shoot Appa with some Shirshu spit darts fired from a blowgun. The darts land in Appa's foot and he falls quickly to the ground. Before he is unconscious, he sees the giant cloud created by a frustrated Aang as he hears the two merchants discuss selling him for parts.

Appa next wakes up inside a small cage, along with several other animals. A firebender talks to him and seems sympathize, but it immediately becomes apparent that he is an Animal Tamer, and intends to break Appa to his will. He begins by feeding the other animals, but not Appa. Instead, he lets out a Vulture Griffin and shows how Appa will "earn" his food by sending the Vulture Griffin through hoops. While the Animal Tamer is performing tricks, Appa slyly sucks in air, pulling the cabbages from the cart to his mouth. The Tamer furiously threatens Appa with fire.
That night, the circus is performing in a Fire Nation town. Appa tries to pull a bale of hay closer to him to eat, but it is much heavier than a cabbage. A small boy, waiting for his father to return with some "sizzle crisps," disobeys his father's orders not to move, and helps Appa by moving the hay close enough for him to eat. He stays with Appa, only leaving when the Animal Tamer comes back. The Animal Tamer speaks to the circus' Ringmaster of how Appa is not "ready" to perform and how he needs more time, but the Ringmaster tells him that a circus is, "the home of Fear and Danger," and that Appa will perform that night.
During the show, Appa is introduced as "The Wind Buffalo," and dressed in a garish costume and makeup. The crowd laughs at the sight of Appa, and the Animal Tamer attempts to get Appa to fly by shouting, "Up." Appa spins around, and the crowd laughs more, only infuriating the Animal Tamer, who strikes at Appa with a whip of flame. Appa flies up and goes through a burning hoop and stands up on a high-rising platform, then flies through another hoop. However, Appa's costume catches on fire, and he slaps the hoop to the ground, striking the Animal Tamer on the head and knocking him to the ground. The crowd laughs again. Appa lands, and sees the boy who helped him earlier, who reminds him of Aang. The boy yells at Appa, telling to escape, and as Appa flies up, the Animal Tamers gets back up and is about to strike Appa with the whip, only to have Appa send him flying through the Circus tent. Appa manages to slip through an airhole at the top side of the tent, and escapes, leaving behind his costume for the small boy to watch and smile.
Appa flies back to the spot where the library was, only to find it completely buried. He tries to dig it out, but decides it a futile effort, and flies off. Feeling hungry, Appa lands to find food. He starts to move towards a giant purple egg, and just as he is about to eat it, a bipedal lizard runs off with the egg held above his head. He then turns over and goes to eat a cactus, scaring away a jackalope in the process: However, Appa eats the whole cactus, and gets a mouth full of thorns for his trouble. Appa lifts off again, and finds himself in the Buzzard-Wasp nest that Aang and the gang travelled to, quickly earning the ire of its inhabitants. Appa manages to fight them off, and collapses in the sand, trying to get at the honey on his feet.

Avatar Episode - The Tales of Ba Sing Se

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:13:00 +0000

The Tale of Toph and Katara
The story opens at the location of the gang's house in Ba Sing Se, the whole group busily cleaning themselves up for the day aside from Toph who has yet to wake up. When Katara wakes her, Toph presents herself with her hair a mess and her body covered in dust, considering herself ready. Katara suggests they have a "Girl's Day Out," and takes her to the Fancy Lady Day Spa. Toph agrees, as long as they don't touch her feet. This is a denied request and Toph sends one of the attendants through the wall during a pedicure. The girls then take a mud bath where Toph uses her Earthbending to make creepy faces with the mud and scare away the attendant. The two then relax in a sauna, using their bending to both feed the fire and create the steam.
The girls leave the sauna now with make-up on their faces. Toph comments that while she does not usually do fancy things, it's not something she dislikes. As they cross a bridge, three older girls poke fun of Toph's makeup. Toph is upset by these remarks and Katara tries to urge her to ignore them. Toph, however, laughs back at the girls and then Earthbends the ground from under them sending them into the water below. Katara finishes with her own parting shot by washing the girls downstream.
Katara tries to console Toph as they continue walking on. Toph claims that because she is blind, she does not have to worry so much about personal appearance or the approval of others, the words of the girls still hurt her all the same, and she sheds a few tears. Katara compliments that Toph is not only confident and self-assured, but also pretty. Toph proclaims she would like to return the favor but has no idea what Katara looks like. Katara laughs at this and the story ends with Toph giving her a friendly punch on the arm.

The Tale of Iroh
While strolling through a market, Iroh stops and buys a few things at a street stand. Iroh purchases a picnic basket and when the owner asks, Iroh claims that it is for a special occasion. He then aids the shopkeeper by helping a Moon Flower bloom by moving it closer to the shade. Continuing his walk, he sees a small boy crying and his mother struggling to calm him. Iroh borrows a liuqin from a nearby shop and sings a song to the weeping child. The song tells the tale of a young soldier boy marching home from war. The boy stops crying as Iroh sings to him and he then proceeds to thank Iroh by pulling his beard and laughing.
In a small street alley, Iroh watches some boys play a form of soccer that employs Earthbending. The ball gets repelled of a rock and crashes through a window. He tells them that it is always best to admit your mistakes in order to restore honor. However, the owner appears in the window, massive in size and he retracts his comments and tells them to run. After running down an alley, he is threatened at knife point by a mugger. Unconcerned for his own safety, Iroh tells the mugger that his stance makes him weak to attacks and proves it by knocking him down and stealing his dagger. Iroh corrects the man's stance and comments that he does not look like a criminal. The man admits that he is confused with his life right now and has turned to crime. Iroh and the man share some tea as Iroh suggests that the man would become a good masseur. The man comments that no one has ever believed in him, to which Iroh comments that help from others can be a great blessing. Iroh gave the same wisdom to Toph in the episode "The Chase."
Iroh comes to rest upon a hill with a large tree. He sets up some rocks and pulls out materials from the basket he purchased earlier. The special occasion it was needed for was a memorial for Lu Ten's birthday (the son Iroh lost in the war). Iroh places a cloth out upon the ground along with a picture of Lu Ten. He then lights two incense sticks and places them in a holder. Iron says happy birthday to the image and confesses that he wished he could have helped his own son, as he had helped those along his way. Iroh then starts singing the song he had played earlier for the crying boy, though this time, it is broken up by tears as Iroh mourns Lu Ten's absence.
The Tale of Aang
Flying high over Ba Sing Se, Aang lands at a small zoo looking for Appa, Looking around; he sees a wide variety of animals, all of whom are miserable in their small cages. Many of them are also partially starved and hungry. The Zookeeper tells Aang that the zoo is no longer receiving funding from the Dai Li because it is no longer popular with the children. However in a circle of troubles, nobody comes to the zoo because it does not receive the funding and is quite filthy (one of the cages shows an animal lying near multiple piles of feces). The Keeper would like nothing more than to let his animals run wild in open spaces. Aang suggests moving the animals outside to an open area just outside the city.
The animals prove much more difficult to control than Aang originally thought and they end up running wild over the city, terrorizing the citizenry. Hog-monkies destroy a shop, various animals attack the citizens, and the Cabbage Merchant has his cabbages eaten by a Rabaroo. After trying to restore order, Aang pulls out his Bison whistle and blows a huge burst of air through it using Airbending. He then hops on an air-ball as the animals run after him.
Meanwhile, the Zookeeper frantically tries to get the guards to open the gate. The refuse until they see the oncoming stampede. Once the gates are open, Aang reaches the other side and hops on his air-ball again. Using his Earthbending, he creates a wall around the animals. He continues to Earthbend paths, secluded areas, and habitat accessories. The children and their families come flocking to the new Zoo and the Zookeeper thanks Aang for his help. The Zookeeper tells Aang he should have a job with animals. However, the zoo animals weren't the only creatures that followed the sound of the whistle, as many cats, dogs, and cat-dogs are also inside the animal pens. After that, the Zookeeper decides that Aang should stick to saving people.
The Tale of SokkaIn the peaceful city, Sokka is outside his element of war and battle. His boomerang has become a toy as he walks through the city. Sokka finds a haiku class full of pretty girls. While peeking through the window, enjoying the show, he is shoved from behind by an Ostrich Horse and winds up inside. While explaining the window to the girls he actually rhymes in haiku. The instructor becomes upset with the intrusion and disruption of the class. She is also disgusted with the common place message his haiku presents and presents the rules of haiku to him in a much more formal tone. Sokka soon gets into a contest with the teacher, both of which speak only in haiku. After each of Sokka's, the girls in the class breaks into giggling. After several bouts, with Sokka comically winning each one, he eventually messes up and adds an extra syllable to the final line, causing the class to become silent and hard faced. After counting the syllables, a very large guard throws him out of the class back on to the street. Sokka changed his mind about liking poetry in the end.
The Tale of Zuko
Working at the teahouse, Zuko is worried that a young girl has made him out as being from the Fire Nation. When he tells Iroh about it, Iroh realized that the girl, Jin, simply has a crush on Zuko. This is quickly proven correct when Jin comes to the counter and asks him out after paying. Iroh quickly accepts on his nephew's behalf. They meet after sundown outside the shop.
Zuko leaves the shop, polished in nice clothes and slicked hair that took Iroh ten minutes to fashion. Jin, however, messes it up before they leave. Zuko, not used to something as mundane as a date, is more than a little nervous, and makes a few missteps, but Jin seems to take it in stride. She asks Zuko about his life, which causes Zuko to make up a story that he and Iroh were part of a traveling circus before they came to Ba Sing Se. Jin asks him what he performed as, but she stops him, because she wanted to guess. When Jin guesses "juggling", Zuko flows with it. With encouragement from Jin, Zuko starts and gets himself covered in food claiming a lack of practice as the problem.
Jin pulls Zuko off to one of her favorite parts of the city, the Firelight Fountain. At night, the fountain is usually lit by lanterns in the evening and causes the water to sparkle. But when they get there, the lanterns are all dark and unlit. Sensing her disappointment, Zuko tells Jin to close her eyes. Then, making sure no one else is around to watch, he quietly lights all the lanterns with his Firebending. Jin and Zuko stare into the fountain and Jin reaches out and holds Zuko's hand. Slyly, Jin tries to give Zuko a kiss, but as she tries, Zuko holds up a coupon for a free tea between them and gives it to her. Nonplussed, she tells Zuko to close his eyes so she could present her gift to him. She then kisses him lightly and briefly. Zuko gives her a brief kiss in return, but quickly breaks away and leaves. When Jin asks him why, he simply says that it's complicated and continues to leave.
Back at his apartment, Iroh's query about the night is answered only by a slamming of the doors to Zuko's room. But Zuko opens the door slightly afterwards and tells him it was nice, and then slides the door closed.
The Tale of Momo
Momo dreams about eating fruit from a tree in the clouds with Appa, but wakes up when he is startled by a loud bang of thunder. He leaps into Sokka's bag and comes up with a tuft of white fur on his head. Smelling it, Momo realized that the fur is Appa's. Seeing an Appa-like shadow on the ground, he wraps the fur around his wrist and takes off after it, only to find a lone cloud. A similar sighting only turns out to be a cherry tree.
Disappointed, Momo decides to continue searching the city for Appa. Unfortunately, he soon draws the attention of a trio of Pygmy Pumas, which see him as a potential meal, Momo tries to escape, but the cats work together to try to bring him down. Momo manages to run into a crowd of people, but he is quickly grabbed by a man, fitted with a hat, and set out with a pair of dancing monkeys. The cats chase him out of the crowd and pin him to the ground, but all four of them suddenly find themselves captured.
The four animals are brought to a butcher and the man that captured them begins haggling with the owner. Momo frees himself using his opposable thumb and starts to run off. However, upon seeing the three pumas, he frees them from their cages and all four run off on the rooftops. As they sit on a roof, one of the pumas removes the fur tied to Momo and the three run off down an alley. The cats stop and place the fur in a large three-toed footprint belonging to Appa. Momo does not notice the print as he lands in it. He curls on top of the tuft of fur and falls asleep as rain starts to fall.

Avatar Episode : City of Walls and Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:55:00 +0000

As a reward for protecting Ba Sing Se from the Fire Nation attack, Aang, Katara, Sokka and Toph are allowed into the city and given a house in the inner ring. While the others are optimistic about having reached the city, Toph is none too thrilled- apparently she has been in Ba Sing Se before, and did not find it to her liking. Soon after they arrive, Aang and his friends are met by Joo Dee, a woman assigned to guide them around the city. Attempts by Sokka to try and get their guide to talk about the war and a possible audience with the Earth King are invariably ignored. As they see the many sections of Ba Sing Se, the kids soon find the segregation of rich and poor people is not to their liking. Aang recalls that this may be the reason why he didn't visit the city in the years before his being trapped in the iceberg. When a possible audience with the Earth King is finally mentioned, it is revealed that they will have to wait at least a month. It soon becomes apparent that within the walls of the city, no one wants to talk or even think about the war raging in the rest of the world. Even Aang's attempts to find Appa bears no fruit as no one seems willing to divulge any information to them, thanks to some meaningful glances from Joo Dee.

Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh have found jobs in a tea house, where the former Fire Nation general soon becomes popular for his superior tea brews. Unknown to the two, Jet the freedom fighter is constantly watching them and waiting for either one to show signs of firebending.
When a notice arrives of a party being held in the palace, Katara decides its a good way to reach the Earth King. Toph says that since the gang are mostly commoners, they'd be spotted right away if they went to the event. In the end, Toph and Katara dress up in formal attire and head for the palace as Aang and Sokka wait. The girls are initially refused entry by a guard, who rejects even Toph's family seal. They eventually get inside by tagging along with an official named Long Feng.

Aang and Sokka arrive at the palace themselves and enter the side entrance as servants. All of the kids are soon discovered by Joo Dee, who appears very frightened that they have defied the orders and entered the palace. Aang is soon exposed as the Avatar and a commotion erupts. Sokka, Katara, Toph and Momo are soon gathered gently but forcefully by the guards. Aang himself is confronted by Long Feng, and taken to a room where the others are waiting.

Jet, getting impatient with waiting, finally charges into the tea restaurant where Iroh and Zuko are working. He accuses the two newcomers as Firebenders, but is met only by skepticism by the tea shop patrons. Angered, Jet draws his swords. Zuko draws his own double blades and the two start a prolonged duel. Despite taunts from Jet, Zuko holds his own without using his firebending. Zuko finally disarms Jet at the cost of one of his blades. Guards arrive at the scene and take Jet into custody. Smellerbee and Longshot watch as their friend and leader is taken away. Later, in a darkened room, a captive Jet appears to be subjected to a form of brainwashing.

Inside Long Feng's chamber, Aang and the rest try to talk about the coming Solar Eclipse, but are abruptly cut off by Feng. To preserve the culture and utopian life within the walls of Ba Sing Se, no mention of the war is permitted. It is also revealed that Feng, the Earth King's secretariat, is in charge of handling day-to-day affairs in the city, including all military matters. The King himself is no more than a figurehead, a beloved icon. When Aang threatens to talk and tell everyone about the war, Feng threatens them with expulsion from the city. He then goes on to say that if Aang persists, he may never see the missing Appa ever again.

As they are dismissed, Long Feng calls in Joo Dee to accompany them. Aang stares in disbelief as they all realize that a different woman has taken the place of Joo Dee.

Avatar Episode : The Drill

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:03:00 +0000

The episode begins with Fire Nation tanks moving towards the wall with the drill close behind. Several segments of the drill then extend out making the drill even larger. Steam comes out of pipes and spikes lodge into the ground around the drill. The command module then rises up into the sky attached to the drill like an antenna. Inside the command module is Mai, Ty Lee, Azula, War Minister Ching, and several fire nation soldiers operating the drill. War Minister Ching is bragging about the drill and how it will defeat Ba Sing Se. He says, "Nothing can stop us." Ty Lee then questions whether the earthbenders in the drill's way will stop it. Ching then replies, "The drill's metal shell is impervious to any earthbending attack." and hits the periscope Ty Lee was looking through. Azula doubts Ching and sends Mai and Ty Lee to take out the earthbenders. Mai sighs, "Finally, something to do." Then we see the family Toph, Katara, and Sokka are leading to Ba Sing Se with their new born baby: Hope. Aang flies down on his glider with Momo and lands in front of them. Katara asks what he's doing there. Aang answers Katara and then Toph and Aang are earthbending everyone up the wall. Sokka asks, "Now, what's so big that Appa has to wait?" Aang says, "That." The drill is shown briefly and then everyone is on top of the wall looking down at it with horror. The mother says that they're finally there and that no one is safe. Earthbender soldiers then ask what they are doing there. Aang says that he is the Avatar and asks them to take him to their leader. The general says that their help is not needed and goes on about how the wall is impenetrable.

Toph says that the Dragon of the West(Iroh) got in and the general responds saying that he was quickly removed. He makes a joke about the meaning of the word Ba Sing Se. Toph says that there is still the drill. The general says he has sent out a team of Earthbenders called the Tera Team. Sokka comments on the name being catchy. The Terra Team knocks one of the Fire Nation tanks into the air and out of their way. They bend earth spike-like columns to the drill from the ground. The drill extends again and the columns crumble. They all create earth shields protecting them from Mai's daggers. Ty Lee and Mai slide down the drill's side. Ty Lee swings off a rope onto the ground. She deftly takes out all the earthbenders in seconds. Ty Lee is standing over all the defeated benders. The general sees their defeat and exclaims, "We're doomed!" Sokka slaps him and tells him to get a hold of himself. The general apologizes. Toph asks him if he wants their help again. He turns to Aang and says," Yes, please." Katara, Toph, and Aang all look at Sokka for a plan. Iroh and Zuko are at the underground ferries. The ticket lady says their names and looks at them suspiciously. Iroh corrects her on the pronunciation of their names and she gets mad and asks him if he's telling her how to do her job. Then Iroh compliments her and says she's pretty. She likes it and compliments him back. The ticket lady stamps their tickets and welcomes them to Ba Sing Se. Zuko snatches his ticket out of Iroh's hand and says,"I'm gonna forget I saw that." Jet and Smellerbee talk about Lee(Zuko) joining the new Freedom Fighters. Smellerbee doesn't like the idea. Katara is using her healing powers on one of the Earthbenders that was attacked by Mai and Ty Lee. The general asks her what is wrong with him. She tells him that the earthbenders chi is blocked. Katara asks the earthbender who injured him and from the description Katara knows that it's Ty Lee. She is talking about Ty Lee and says "it's like she takes you down from the inside." Sokka face lights up and he waves his arms in excitement. Sokka says,"What you just said that's how we're gonna to take down the drill. The same way Ty Lee took down all these big earthbenders. Toph chimes in by saying,"By hitting its pressure points!" Aang summarizes what was just said. Toph earthbends a creating an enormous dust cloud for them to use as cover. Toph tells them to stay close. They all run into the cloud. Ty Lee sees the dust cloud through the periscope and says that it's poofy. Azula looks at War Minister Ching and he reassures her that it's nothing.
Everyone is running in the dust and Toph creates a tunnel and tells everyone to get in. Sokka says how it's a dark and Toph sarcastically says,"Oh no, what a nightmare." Sokka apologizes for being so careless. They all come out of the tunnel and are under the drill. Sokka sees an open hatch and Aang helps them all get into the drill. He tells Toph to get on and she explains that she wouldn't be able to see and that she'll help from the outside. Toph wedges a huge rock against the drill and to slow it down. Sokka says that he needs some schematics of the drill and Aang asks where they're going to get it. Sokka swings his machete taking off a wheel to a pipe. Steam starts to rush out of it. At first Aang and Katara don't get why he broke that but Sokka explains and they understand. A firebender engineer walks out of the mist and turns around. Katara freezes all of the steam and the engineer too. Sokka takes a schematic from the engineer and the gang run up some stairs. Sokka examines the schematic and explains that they need to cut through the braces that hold together the inner mechanism and the outer shell. Iroh and Zuko are sitting on a bench. Jet comes over and sits next to Zuko. Jet asks Zuko if he has any plans once in the city. A tea cart comes by and Iroh asks for some Jasmine. Iroh spits it out disgusted and complains that it's cold. Jet asks Zuko if he could talk to him. Zuko heavily sighs. Jet tries to convince Zuko to join the Freedom Fighters but Zuko declined. Jet sees Iroh drinking hot tea and then Jet is sure that he's a firebender. Zuko knocks the tea out of Iroh's hand and scolds Iroh for firebending his tea in public. Iroh says,"I know I'm not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but it's just so sad." Sokka, Katara, and Aang arrive to the braces. Sokka comments on the size of the braces. Aang and Katara slowly slice away at the brace. After half way through one brace both Aang and Katara are exhausted. Sokka tries to cheer them on and almost gets water whipped by Katara. They cut through one brace and they are both beat. Aang and Katara both don't know if they can make it in time. Suddenly, there is a loud rumbling and the entire drill shakes. They think that they finished the drill but then War Minister Ching comes over the announcement system and explains that they have made contact with the wall. Sokka is uselessly pushing as hard as he can against the brace Katara and Aang cut through. Katara says that this is bad. Sokka then says how they're putting everything they have into cutting down the braces. Aang then explains that they don't need to cut all the way through the braces just enough and then he'll give the final blow. Aang reminds them that everyone in Ba Sing Se is depending on them. Toph is still slowing down the drill painstakingly. Aang and Katara are still cutting away at the braces. Earthbenders on the wall are throwing tons of boulders at the drill but to no avail. A soldier informs the war minister that the engineer was ambushed, and another tells him that a brace was cut clean through. Azula says,"Let's go ladies." Aang and Katara are still cutting through the braces. Sokka is in the middle of cheering them on when a blue fire ball comes down. He dodges and screams. Ty Lee exclaims,"Wow, Azula you were right it is the Avatar... and friends." Sokka waves and says,"Hey." Katara pulled him away. Ty Lee dove towards Aang and he airbended her away. They split up and Katara gives her water sack to Aang. Mai and Ty Lee follow Katara and Sokka. Azula follows Aang and says that the Avatar is hers. Sokka and Katara come to a hatch that reads: "slurry pipeline". Katara asks what it means and Sokka says that it's their way out. They jump down into the muddy water and get carried away. Ty Lee and Mai look down into the pipe. Ty Lee tries to get Mai to go with her but Mai persistently refuses. Ty Lee shrugs and jumps in. Mai closes the hatch after her. Aang speeds past numerous engineers and control rooms with Momo on his back. He goes up a ladder to deliver the final blow. Katara and Sokka end up outside of the drill covered in wall sludge with Ty Lee close behind. Katara bends the water in the mud creating a plug with Ty Lee in it. Sokka tells her to keep it up so that when Aang delivers the final blow it'll be ready to pop. Aang picks a spot on the top of the drill to deliver the final blow to. Suddenly, several boulders fall from the sky. One of the boulders nearly hits Aang. Aang tries to tell the general to stop shooting rocks and then right after the general says,"Soldiers, whatever you do, don't stop shooting rocks down there!" Aang uses the water to weaken the spot where he is going to deliver the final blow. Katara is still holding back the slurry to build up pressure. Sokka is cheering her on and she finally gets fed up and pushes him down with slurry. Toph asks if they need any help and Katara asks her to help plug up the drain. Toph earthbends the earth causing the pipes to be about to burst. Aang is still working on weakening the spot and stops to say,"What I'd give to be metal bender." Momo shrieks and they turn around to see a blue fire blast shooting towards them. Aang dodges it. Aang sends Momo away for his fight with Azula. Azula shoots several balls of fire at him. Aang dodges them and shoots an airbending blast back. He uses his water whip to knock Azula's blasts off target. She kicks two fierce blasts and Aang tries to block them with water but it evaporates while he is knocked back. Several boulders start falling again and Aang takes the opportunity to shoot one at Azula. She ducks in time and shoots a fire ball. Aang creates a wall of rubble and shoots rocks from the wall at Azula. She kicks them away and almost gets Aang's head with a kick of flames. Azula somersaults in the air and does a really powerful fire blast destroying his wall. Aang hurtled into the wall and falls unconscious on to the ground. The drill extends again and Azula walks over to Aang to deliver the final blow. Azula picks Aang up and holds him against the wall. She forms a blue flame in her hand while Aang is coming to. He quickly makes an earth glove and blocks her attack which knocks her several feet back. Slurry spews from the wall which causes them to lose their balance and crash into each other. They both begin sliding off the drill. Azula is able to stop herself and Momo helps Aang back on his feet. Aang thanks Momo and runs to the weakened spot. A rock falls right next to him. Aang shapes it into a nail and goes high up on the wall on an air scooter. He races down the wall and successfully gives the final blow just missing getting hit by a fire ball by Azula.
Toph makes an island blocking them from the flood of slurry. Iroh and Zuko are on a train with Hope's family heading into Ba Sing Se. And Zuko still wants to go after the avatar. Sokka still tries to give the team a name but gets no one's approval.

Avatar Episode : The Serpent's Pass

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:34:00 +0000

The scene opens with Aang Toph, Momo and Katara enjoying a short refreshing break in a pool of water at the base of a waterfall while Sokka reviews the maps they acquired from the Spirit Library. After accidentally soaking the maps with a waterbending bomb (similar to doing a cannonball in a pool), Katara uses her waterbending to extract the water from the maps. The group then huddles around the map to discuss which direction they should go – the Serpent’s Pass appears to be the most direct route. Just as they decide Serpent’s Pass is what they will head toward, a group of three Earth Kingdom refugees approach and greet the gang. Hearing Aang’s group’s plans to go through Serpent’s Pass (a route for only the desperate) the Earth Kingdom trio convince Aang’s group to go to Full Moon Bay to take a ferry to Ba Sing Se.

After arriving at the hidden Full Moon Bay Ferry station, Katara is amazed to see how many refugees there are awaiting transportation. Unknown to the group, a ferry which has just departed has not only Uncle Iroh and Prince Zuko disguised as Mushi and Li, but also three former Freedom Fighters, Jet, Smellerbee and Long Shot. Jet manages to convince Zuko into liberating some food from the captain.
Meanwhile, back at Full Moon Bay, the ticket master refuses to allow the Cabbage Guy to bring on any vegetables as they may have parasites. Aang then approaches the ticketmaster and requests four tickets. She refuses as he does not have a passport, no animals are allowed and she refuses to believe Aang is the Avatar as she sees 50 a day. Aang backs away as Toph approaches with her family crested documents and the ticket master practically falls over herself to accommodate Toph by granting passage to the four of them (and allowing Momo as her seeing-eye-Lemur).
Just as Sokka is celebrating their score of the tickets, he’s grabbed at the neck by a guard asking for tickets and passports. Not recognizing her until she kisses him on the cheek, Sokka is surprised by a clean faced Suki greeting them. As they catch up on old times and Suki is told of Appa’s disappearance, the trio that was traveling with Aang’s group calls up to them in desperation as their tickets and passports had been stolen. Despite Aang’s appeal to the ticket master, she will not allow the trio onto the ferry. Therefore, Aang decides he will lead them all through the Serpent’s Pass.
As the group heads to the Serpent’s Pass, Suki joins them although Sokka seems to have some misgivings which he doesn’t voice. The group arrives at the Serpent’s Pass and Katara reads the inscription on the post at the entrance stating they should abandon hope. As they head along the pass, they see a Fire Nation ship in the lake. Suddenly, the rock path gives way underneath one of the refugees, but Toph manages to save him. Unfortunately, the rock fall attracts the attention of the Fire Nation ship, which begins firing at the group. Aang deflects fireballs from the group, but one manages to make a hit. After pushing Suki out of the way of rock debris from a Fire Nation blast, Sokka is sure to be hit, but Toph earthbends a barrier to deflect the rock. Instead of thanking Toph, Sokka focuses on getting Suki out of harm’s way. This rightfully annoys Toph, but she quickly follows the group. As night falls, Sokka again acts overprotective of Suki, which baffles her.
Back on the ferry, Zuko, Jet and Smellerbee sneak up into the captain’s private food storeroom and liberate some food. Long Shot shoots up a line for them to escape, which is then pulled out once the group is back on the lower deck disguising the escape route.
As Aang looks out over the water, Katara lets Aang know it’s alright to miss Appa. She asks why he’s keeping his emotions in check and Aang replies that he didn’t like how anger changed him in the desert. Katara encourages Aang to not give up on hope and attempts to give him a hug, but Aang simply bows and thanks her for her concern.
As Sokka is looking at the moon, Suki approaches him and comments on its beauty. She asks him why he’s being so over-protective and he tries to explain about how he was unable to protect someone at the North Pole and he doesn’t want that to happen to anyone else he cares about. Suki, in a roundabout way, tells Sokka she has missed him and the two almost kiss, but Sokka claims he can’t. Suki apologizes, but Sokka says it’s not her fault.
As the ferry continues its passage to Ba Sing Se, Jet hands out food to other passengers, while Iroh comments that Smellerbee is an unusual name for a young man, Smellerbee says maybe it’s because I’m a girl and storms off. Long Shot seems to calm her down. Jet sits with Iroh and Zuko and thinks about how great it will be to see the wall of the great city. Iroh says it is a sight to behold as he saw it once when he was a different man. Jet says he’s going there for a new beginning and Iroh says to Jet, but appears to be directing the words at Zuko, that people deserve a second chance.
The next morning at the Serpent’s Pass, the group hits a section which is completely submerged by the lake. Initially discouraged, the group is brought together as Katara tells everyone to get in a single file line as she parts the water for them to walk the path. Aang helps out and they create a bubble for them to walk in. Momo jumps into the water looking to catch some fish when suddenly something large swims by. The bubble is burst by the creature, Toph earthbends the floor of the path high enough to get them above the waterline. The creature circles them and then shows itself. As Sokka states, we now know why it’s called the Serpent’s Pass. Aang tells Katara to get the others to safety as he distracts the serpent. Katara makes an ice bridge for the others to cross and then heads out on top of the water to assist Aang. Sokka encourages Toph to cross the ice, but mid-way the serpent smashes the bridge sending Toph into the water. Suki rescues her, but thinking it was Sokka, who had called out to Toph that he was coming for her, Toph kisses Suki instead, an embarrassed Toph says “You can go ahead and let me drown now.” Aang and Katara make a huge whirlpool spinning the serpent, which eventually gets knocked out as it hits one of the pass’ walls. The group completes its trek to the other side of the pass and they see the wall of Ba Sing Se. Unfortunately for Sokka’s smooth sailing plans, the pregnant refugee goes into labor. Katara takes charge again and designates jobs to everyone as they prepare to help the woman deliver her baby.
Jet tells Zuko that from the scar he knows who he is, which immediately put Zuko on the defensive, but Jet says he’s an outcast like himself and they need to have each other’s back. Zuko states he’s realized that being on one’s own isn’t always the best path.
Katara helps deliver the baby and they others go right in to see, except for Aang, but Katara tells him he has to see so he heads in. Amazed, Aang’s expression changes from discouraged to encouraged. As the couple thinks of a name, Aang tears up and says “I’ve been going through a really hard time lately, but you’ve made me… hopeful again.” The mother says she knows what they should name their daughter – Hope. The husband agrees.
Later Aang tells Katara he thought he was being strong, but he was really running away from his feelings. Seeing the family full of love reminded him of how he feels about Appa and about her. They embrace as the others walk toward them. Aang says he’s going to try to find Appa and they wish him luck.
Suki tells Sokka she needs to get back to her warriors and Sokka is surprised to realize she came to protect him. Suki apologizes for the previous night, but Sokka stops her with a kiss.
Aang reaches the wall and majestically ascends to the top only to be shocked to see a huge mechanical drill with the Fire Nation emblem emblazoned upon it. Aang turns to Momo and says “Sorry Momo, Appa is going to have to wait.” The drill moves menacingly forward.

Avatar Episode : The Desert

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:50:00 +0000

The scene opens with the gang stuck in the desert right after Aang, Sokka, Katara and Momo exited the Library before it sank. All but Toph are looking in different directions for signs of Appa. A distraught Aang verbally goes after Toph for letting the sandbenders get away with Appa – accusing her of intentionally letting Appa be captured. Katara attempts to calm Aang down and points out that Toph saved them. Sokka doesn’t help the situation by pointing out they are still in need of rescuing - as they are in the middle of the desert. Aang then lashes out at everyone by calling them selfish. Despite Katara’s efforts to calm Aang, he heads out on his glider to look for Appa leaving the others behind. Katara then decides the rest of them need to start walking if they hope to get to Ba Sing Se and get the solar eclipse information to others.

While riding on the ostrich-horse, Iroh makes many sounds appearing to be pretending to be in pain in order to get Zuko to stop for a break. As soon as the duo stops, they are surrounded by five adversaries on rhino’s – the same ones from Avatar Day. Iroh identifies the group as Colonel Mongke and the Rough Rhinos. Iroh greets them in a friendly manner, but takes note of where they all are as the Colonel has stated they are there to capture some fugitives (Zuko and Iroh). As the group attacks, Iroh and Zuko effectively maneuver an escape. Zuko asks Iroh if he has any old friends that don’t want to attack them, giving Iroh an idea.

Katara, Sokka, Toph and Momo are tiredly walking through the desert. Sokka slows a bit and Toph runs into him prompting an irritable Sokka to begin to say “Can’t you watch where you’re…?” momentarily forgetting that Toph is blind. Katara parts up some of her bending water to help keep them hydrated. But is met with some criticism as Sokka realizes it’s been used in the swamp. Sokka spots a cactus and slices part open to reveal water type drink inside. Momo also drinks some. Katara warns against eating strange plants where they do not know what the effects are when suddenly, Sokka’s pupils dilate and both he and Momo begin acting delirious. Katara decides it’s best if they do not have any more and continue looking for Aang.

Aang glides along looking for Appa – blowing his bison whistle and yelling. He then lands and in his anger he airbends a huge sand mushroom cloud. The others (seemingly a long distance away) not only see the cloud but also feel the air. Unknowingly, they decide to keep walking - away from Aang. Sokka and Momo are still delirious.

Back at the Misty Palms Oasis, Xin Fu and Master Yu get information that Aang and Toph have been there recently, but headed into the desert and may never come back. Just then, Xin Fu notices Fire Nation wanted posters as well as Iroh and Zuko arriving into the Oasis.

Nearing sunset and Aang rejoins the group – without Appa. Aang is very discouraged and seems willing to give up, but Katara pulls the group together again and they continue on even as vulture-wasp like creatures buzz overhead.

As Katara declares “I think we should stop for the night” the others gladly fall to the ground exhausted. Toph asks for water and Katara begins to ration out the last of what she has when Momo runs into the water causing it to sink into the ground. Katara manages to get most back using her waterbending. She asks Sokka for a look at some of the information from the library and Sokka (still under the effects of the cactus) accuses Momo of ratting him out by telling Katara about the information he had – forgetting Katara was with him in the library. Still in his defeatist mode, Aang says the maps won’t help them find Appa, but Katara points out they will help them head to Ba Sing Se by following the stars. Katara says they should start up again in a few hours to take advantage of the cool nights.

Iroh and Zuko are in side the same establishment where Aang’s crew met the Professor in the previous episode. Iroh spots someone at the Pai Sho table and believes this may be the friend they are looking for. As they head over, Xin Fu wants to go after them, but Master Yu points out they may be in over their heads given where they are and they should show patience and wait for the right moment to go after Zuko and Iroh. Iroh approaches the Pai Sho table and asks to play. After beginning with the Lotus tile, the friend and Iroh begin what appears to be a ritualistic game understood by the two of them. Xin Fu loses his patience goes for Iroh and Zuko, but their new friend creates a diversion causing the rest of the people in the establishment to fight with two would-be captors while Iroh and Zuko escape.
Meanwhile, Katara is rousing everyone awake to take advantage of the night. Aang mistakes a cloud for Appa. When Katara asks him to waterbend the cloud into her water-skin, Aang angrily does so. After Katara comment on how little water there was from the cloud, Aang blows up at her asking her what she’s doing… to which he quietly states “trying to keep everyone together”. As they head out, Toph bangs her foot against what she calls a boat and Aang uncovers a glider like the sandbenders used. There’s a compass aboard and the group decides to use the glider to try to get out of the desert. Sokka and Momo are still delirious.

Iroh and Zuko are led into a building (flower shop) by their friend who tells Iroh what an honor it is to have such a high ranking member of the Order of the White Lotus. Zuko, still unconvinced as to how Pai Sho playing will help them, makes a derisive statement about flower arranging. Iroh apologizes to their new friend about Zuko lack of appreciation for their group. After a cryptic exchange through a speakeasy type opening, Iroh and the new friend are let into a back room, but Zuko is shut out and made to wait in the flower shop as it is “member’s only”.

Aang uses his airbending to move the glider over the sand. Katara mentions that she doesn’t think the compass is pointing north and suddenly they see a huge rock formation ahead. Toph is excited to get to the rock while Aang appears to be maliciously hoping there are sandbenders there.

When they reach the top of the huge rock, Toph falls back to make a rock angel to show her joy at being back on solid ground. The crew goes into some caves and Sokka says he thinks his head is starting to clear up, but then proceeds to eat a gooey substance from the walls which tastes terrible. Suddenly, Toph realizes these aren’t natural caves and there is something buzzing that is coming toward them.

Huge buzzard-wasp like animals swarm out. Toph’s aim is hampered by the fact the creatures are flying and Katara is out of water for bending. Momo is snatched by one of the buzzing creatures and Aang goes after them. He successfully frees Momo, while the others work their way down the rock. It appears Aang used his airbending to kill the creature after Momo was freed, showing a sinister side to Aang. The rest of the group are fighting off the swarm when suddenly, huge sandblasts shoo them back to the top. When the sand clears there are several sandbenders, Aang returns and lands in between his group and the sandbenders.

Iroh finally emerges from the back room and awakens Zuko as he’s sleeping standing up. He tells Zuko they will be heading to Ba Sing Se and hiding in plain sight. Unfortunately, Xin Fu and Master Yu are still looking for them.

The sandbenders ask why they have one of their vessels and Katara explains they found it and that their Bison was stolen. Toph recognizes one of the voices as one who took Appa. Suddenly Aang demands to know where his bison is and when his accusation is challenged he destroys one of the gliders and makes his demand again.

Xin Fu and Master Yu head into the flower shop looking for Zuko and Iroh, but they are not to be found – even after Xin Fu knocks down the door to the back room. A cart with two potted plants is being taken out of the Oasis and suddenly we see Iroh and Zuko are hiding in the pots.

Aang again demands to know where Appa is and destroys another glider. The leader turns to his son and asks what he did. The son denies any wrong doing, but Toph she heard the son say to put a muzzle on Appa, Hearing this, Aang gets angry and goes instantly into the Avatar state and destroys another glider. The son confesses he took the Bison, but didn’t know it was the Avatar’s. Aang (in a menacing Avatar voice on top of his own) demands to know Appa’s location and the son says he traded Appa to merchant and that he’s probably in Ba Sing Se by now. Avatar Aang begins to form an air ball around him similar to when he was in the Southern Air Temple and had found Gyatso. Sokka takes Toph by the shoulders and says run. As Avatar Aang begins rising into the air, Katara approaches him, grabs his wrist, pulls Aang down and embraces him – eventually bringing Aang out of the Avatar State and it is revealed that tears are streaming down his face.

Avatar Episode : The Library

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 03:00:00 +0000

The scene opens with Aang sitting in the ground looking over a vast open savanna type landscape. The scene then shifts showing the gang standing behind the seated Aang, who is holding a flute in his hand and Sokka asks “What’s out here?” As Toph bends down to touch the ground, she responds “A lot actually.” Just as she’s about to elaborate, Aang interrupts her telling her not to ruin the surprise. Aang make a musical note with the flute and then a ground-hog type creature emerges and repeats the same note. After several more notes, a frustrated Sokka pus his finger into the end of the flue and states they need to make pans. Toph points out they are making plans - mini-vacations plans. Sokka doesn’t feel they have time for vacations. Aang points out he is working his “arrow off” diligently with Toph and Katara to master the elements and Katara agrees there’s nothing wrong with enjoying themselves during their downtime. Sokka is very concerned they have no inside information about the Fire Nation and that even if Aang masters the elements then what do they do as they have no idea how to even find the Fire Lord let alone defeat him. Sokka states they need intelligence (information) in order to win the war.

Katara aptly states “Alright, we’ll finish our vacations and then we’ll look for Sokka’s intelligence.”
For her mini-vacation, Katara chooses the Misty Palms Oasis from Aang’s map. However, the gang soon finds out the Misty Palms Oasis has gone downhill in reputation in the past 100 years. They go into a bar-like establishment where an employee prepares a fruit beverage using broadswords in almost a teppanyaki style preparation. The customer being served accidentally bumps into Aang spilling some of his drink onto Aang. Aang uses his airbending to dry himself. The customer, excited to meet an airbender, introduces himself as Professor Zei of the Ba Sing Se University. He begins quizzing Aang as though Aang is a science specimen. Sokka inquires as to whether the Professor has a more recent map and the Professor unrolls a map showing a vast desert with routes marked where he has gone in search of the Knowledge Spirits library. With the possibility that the library may have information to be used against the Fire Nation, Sokka dramatically announces his choice for the next mini-vacation to be the library. The Professor states it is impossible to cross the desert and the gang then introduces him to Appa. Sandbenders, who are Earthbenders who specialize in bending sand, are trying to take Appa, but the Professor shooed them away.

The group heads out in search of the large library. After a long search, Sokka finally spots something that looks like a tower sticking out of the sand. Just as they are about to give up, a fox carrying a scroll walks up the side of the tower and into a window at the top and Sokka realizes this is the library. Devastated that his life long dream of finding the Knowledge Spirits library is buried, the Professor drops to the ground and begins to excavate. Toph puts her hand on the tower and announces the library is intact under the sand. All but Toph and Appa head into the library.

After entering the library, they hear something approaching and hide behind ornate columns. A huge black white-faced owl comes out. After a few moments taking in his surroundings, the owl speaks, telling the group he knows they are there. Professor Zei comes out excitedly and introduces himself. The owl is less than impressed and tells the Professor he should leave or he will stuff him like an animal trophy. The others come out from hiding and Sokka asks if he is the spirit who brought the library to the physical world to which the owl says yes. The Knowledge Spirit then informs them that humans are not permitted in the library anymore because they abuse the knowledge in his library. After Aang promises they will not abuse the knowledge, the owl relents but only after each provides some knowledge for the library. The Professor offers a first edition book; Katara offers a waterbending scroll; Aang offers his wanted poster and Sokka offers a specialty tied knot. After accepting these donations to his library (some of which he is less than impressed with), the Knowledge Spirit descends into the lower levels allowing the group to look around.

Meanwhile, Toph attempts to make small talk with Appa outside. She explains to Appa how because the sand is loose her “seeing” abilities are blurred (similar to when a person who wears glasses removes them).

Back inside the library, the group looks around and we learn that in a previous life, Aang was once left-handed. Sokka finds a parchment stating the darkest day of the Fire Nation with a date. The group then goes in search of a Fire Nation wing of the library. Once they find it, they are shocked to discover everything has been destroyed by firebenders. From nowhere a fox appears and indicates that it will lead them to where they can get more information. The fox opens a door to a planetarium and shows them how to use it. Katara suggests putting the date from the parchment and then run the machine. Once this is done, they realize a solar eclipse will incapacitate the firebenders in a manner similar to how the removal of the moon affected the waterbenders. Just as Sokka is gloating about how the firebenders going down, the Knowledge Spirit appears. Understandably angry, he flaps his wings and begins sinking the library. The group begins to flee with the owl chasing them.

Outside, Toph realizes the library is sinking. Her initial attempt to stop the sinking proves fruitless as she begins to sink herself, but she then manages to solidify some sand around her feet while using her fists to slow the library’s decent.

As the chase inside the library continues, Sokka has Aang come with him back to the planetarium so they can see if or when the next solar eclipse will happen before the return of Sozin’s comet. The spirit continues to chase Katara and the Professor as Aang and Sokka head back.

While continuing to hold up the library, Toph becomes aware that others are there. Sandbenders arrive, but Toph can not make out who is there or where they are.

Aang and Sokka begin checking dates from that day to the arrival of Sozin’s comet and eventually find the date of the next solar eclipse, which is in a few months away.
Alternating between holding up the library and shooting random shots at the sandbenders, Toph loses her battle to protect Appa while continuing to hold the library up from sinking.
The Knowledge Spirit catches up to Katara and tells her he is versed in all types of waterbending styles and her bending will do her no good. Suddenly Sokka drops down on the owl and knocks it out. As they begin to ascend the rope, Sokka calls to the Professor who refuses to leave. The spirit regains consciousness and shakes Sokka and Katara off the rope, but Aang manages to catch them and flies them out of the library. Realizing they are out, Toph releases her grip on the library and it vanishes into the sand. Although initially happy at the discovery of a weakness to the Fire Nation, the mood changes once hey realize Appa is gone. A tear goes down Aang's face and the camera pans to the sun and fades to black.

Avatar Episode : Bitter Work

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:56:00 +0000

The episode opens with a whoop from Aang as he celebrates the first day he begins instructions in Earthbending with none other than Sifu Toph, who appears to be equally enthusiastic as she explodes out of her tent, greeting her pupil, and even dedicates a moment to give Sokka a nice wake-up lift.
Meanwhile, back in another part of the desert, Zuko explains to a waking uncle Iroh that Azula had unleashed a surprise lightning attack on him (which, in fact, wasn't all too much of a surprise). After a bitter taste of Zuko's home-made tea, it is agreed that Azula needs to be brought down, and to do so, Iroh will resume training Zuko in firebending. It looks like they'll be turning up the heat to match that of Azula, but doing so requires prince Zuko to face his shame and embrace humility.
Things aren't looking so great for Aang when it becomes apparent that he can't move boulders, but they move him as his first attempt to imitate Toph in smashing a giant rock into the cliff turns into him airbending himself right into Appa. "Rock beats airbender" says a hungry Sokka, who goes off to look for some grub.

As Sokka nears his next meal from afar in the tree tops, he prepares a jump that will secure his meal, but secures himself into a crevice instead. A nonchalant attitude sons turns into panic as he realizes he's gotten himself into a real jam that could very well spell the end of his days as a sarcastic meat-eater, or his own life if doesn't get out.
Toph begins to put Aang through a series of trials in earthbending, each more trying than the one before it, but it appears to be improving his ability to sense the Earth, or so it seems. After a particularly rough few words from Toph, Katara pulls her aside and advises her to be gentler with Aang as he responds better to kind encouragement and a gentle nudge in the right direction.
Seemingly agreeing with Katara, Toph blindfolds Aang, and tells him to stop a rolling boulder speeding toward him from the cliff top. At the last moment, he airbends above it, disappointing Toph to the point that she berates him even further. Aang trudges off with Katara to practice waterbending to take a break from something he obviously cannot master. The two talk and Katara reveals that just as Fire and Water are opposites, so are Earth and Air. As an airbender, earthbending will naturally come harder, but if he tries thinking differently, it will come to him.
Sokka, still stuck in the ground, has befriended the little cuddly animal now resting upon his head, and shares with it his tale that if he ever gets out, he promises that he won't ever eat another piece of meat again, nor will he crack a wind of sarcasm either. Great, the two distinguishing features of his personality, now going to waste. As if to console him, the animal brings back an apple...which Sokka can't even reach.
Zuko becomes frustrated that he can't seem to manipulate the energy and its balances correctly to create lightning, always receiving a blast in the face full of fire. Uncle Iroh reveals that he was afraid this would be the fate of his lesson. Zuko cannot master this technique because he still has too much turmoil inside of him that he must let go, allowing himself to be humble. Zuko seems to only partially understand as he confuses his pride for humility. Uncle finally imparts upon him the philosophies of the different groups, from fire nation to the very own water tribe. Zuko, confused, wonders why Uncle Iroh is teaching him about matters that would seem only relevant to the Avatar. He learns from his uncle that knowing more about who you deal with makes you a stronger contender in the long run, and leads him to learn how his Uncle created his own move to deflect lightning from the very waterbenders themselves. This pleases Zuko greatly.
After an extremely annoying Toph reveals she has taken it upon herself to not only eat Aang's walnuts, but also of using his staff as a nutcracker, he becomes aggravated but continues his meditation. Yet again he is disturbed, but this time from Katara, who worries about Sokka and how although sunset is approaching, he has yet to come back. Aang decides it would be quicker to find him if they split up.
Aang finds Sokka nestled in his little crevice with his snuggly little animal, but despite his airbending efforts to free him, is unable to ultimately get Sokka out of his jam. Sokka advises Aang use his newly found art of earthbending, but a depressed and disappointed Aang not only refuses to help because he can't, but also does not seek out Toph either. It is only when the snuggly little animal's mom comes around that both realize that Sokka's life is in jeopardy unless Aang can do something else beside his airbending. In a final attempt to stop the beast, Aang miraculously earthbends a wall that the creature runs into, and is shocked to discover Toph was watching the whole time. After a heated demand of an explanation of why she didn't do anything to help, she helps him realize he can earthbend now because he was able to stand up to her. Toph is the one to free Sokka from the ground because Aang, while he finally achieved earthbending, still could wind up crushing his poor friend.
Zuko, armed with the knowledge that his uncle left him (in the deflecting lightning requires that you feel the energy travel from your fingertips, to your stomach and out your other hand - but never past the heart!), heads out into a developing storm. He had wanted his uncle to shoot lightning at him so he could deflect it, but after his uncle refused, he insisted he would find another way. Atop a mountain in the raging storm, he begins to tear as he realizes he might not get his chance to prove himself, as always seems to be the case for so much of his life. With that note and a blazing storm in the background, the episode ends...

Avatar Episode : The Chase

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:42:00 +0000

Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph have landed in a clearing where they begin to unpack. Toph comments on their superb campsite finding abilities as she fells the "soft grass." But Sokka corrects her that it's not grass but Appa's shed fur. This comment is not received well by Katara who believes it gross. Katara vocalizes her happiness of having another girl in the group because of the boys' immaturity. But, those hopes are shattered as Toph walks up and she like Aang and Sokka is playing in the fur. Aang and Sokka laugh, and Katara has no choice but to giggle too.
Night has fallen as he group sets up camp. Aang pitches a tent, while Sokka's unraveling sleeping bags, Katara as filling a pot with water, and Toph is lounged lazily against a rock. Katara comes over and begins to explain the group's normal system of setting up camp: they divide up the work, for example while someone pitches a tent someone else might get food or water. Toph doesn't take the hint and tells her she's already collected her food and water. Katara gets slightly frustrated and tries re-explaining the system but Toph becomes aggravated and snaps at her. Katara storms of.

Later that night, Aang and Sokka are setting up the last of camp as they de-saddle Appa. Katara comes over to apologize to Toph. Toph again agitates Katara by turning the apology around on her. Now even later that night, Toph is silently sleeping in her Earth made tent when she is awakened by a vibration in the earth. She rushes to tell the others. She tries to see if she can identify it, she says "It feels like an avalanche, but also not like an avalanche." Sokka congratulates her on her "frightening" powers of perception. They decide leaving the campsite is the best choice.
Of in the distance the get a slight glimpse of what’s following them: a large, tank-like war machine is moving fast across the desert terrain. After hours of flying the group's exhaustion plays out on their faces as they each have dark circles under their eyes showing from their lack of sleep. Finally they settle on a spot. Toph makes her way over to where she plans to sleep but Katara again asks her to help and Toph declines. Katara is again displeased by this and decides enough is enough and confronts Toph about her lack of help to them.
Toph argues back before "slamming the door" in Katara's face as she Earthbends a tent and Earthbends the door right in front of Katara. Aang decides to play peacemaker and asks them both to calm down. But, Katara's on surface emotions due to lack of sleep cause her to snap at Aang. Later, Aang and Sokka are seemingly fast asleep as Katara stares angrily at the night sky. She loudly comments on how beautiful the stars are and how Toph won't be able to see them in her tent. In response, Toph earthbends Katara airborne, a few feet before she lands on Sokka.
Sokka's also on surface emotions cause him to snap from being woken-up. But there's little time to argue as Toph informs them the machine is back. The again fly away on Appa. While in the air they debate about the machine and how it continuously finds them. Finally finding a spot that as seemingly lost the machine the groups decides to not even set up camp but to sleep. They again debate for a minute on how or what the thing is. Katara brings up the possibility that it's Zuko, given they haven't seen him since they were up north. Unaware of whom Zuko is Toph inquires about him. Sokka answers that he's "just some anger freak with a ponytail who’s tracked us all over the world."
But, their debate is cut short as Momo senses the machines approach as does Toph. They see the machine moving forward in the distance as it kicks up dirt behind it. Aang believes they should face them and find out who they are. The tank comes to a halt and the door opens. Three large basilisk lizards emerge from it. Their riders and the cause of all the tension between everyone in the gang are revealed to be Ty Lee, Mai, and Azula.
Toph believes they can take them as she calculates the odds: three on three. But, Sokka corrects her telling her their's actually four of them. After a small argument Toph recalculates: three on three plus Sokka. Sokka is infuriated but he's no time to argue as Azula's group draws closer. Toph sends the first strike as she Earthbends boulders down at them but their lizards easily climb over them.
They decide it's safer if they left so Aang, Katara, and Sokka head back for Appa. Toph tries to buy them some time by creating a large rock wall separating Azula from them. It seems to work until Azula sends a bolt of lighting at it blowing a huge hole into the wall. The gang barely escapes as Azula sends one more jet of electricity at them as they fly off. She stares after them, failure is not an option.
Meanwhile Appa too is tired and is rapidly closing and opening his eyes, trying desperately to stay awake. Again they debate on what to do and Katara reveals her fear of Ty Lee taking her bending away again. To Sokka's horror the sun rises over a mountain in the distance signaling they've been up all night. They decide to keep flying for as long as possible, but Aang warns them that they can't keep flying forever.
As the sun rises Azula's machine is racing to catch up with the gang. But, they're not alone; Zuko follows the machines tracks not far behind. Appa, meanwhile, is having even more difficulty staying awake and finally gives in and falls asleep. This sends Appa and the gang plummeting towards the ground. Aang tries desperately to wake him as they continue to race towards the ground. Finally Appa awakens and stops just above the trees but is unable to keep airborne and they crash land in the woods. Aang states the obvious: "Appa's exhausted."
More high tension causes another fight to break out between Katara and Toph but this time Aang joins in when Toph blames Appa for their predicament: his sheddings are leaving a perfect trail for Azula and her gang. Toph, out of aggravation, decides to leave, as Azula's machine picks up speed upon seeing the fur flying through the air proving Toph was right. Aang is furious with himself for yelling at his Earthbending teacher and Katara too is disgusted with herself because of her actions. Sokka is of little comfort as he agrees that they "were jerks."
They decide to find Toph and apologize but to first wash Appa. Now clean and shedded fur-less Appa is deemed ready to fly by Aang as long as they leave his saddle and everything else off. Aang decides to give Azula the slip and take what's left of the shedded fur and lead the tank of course. Appa flies off in one direction (hitting trees on take-off) and Aang in another.
Toph has now walked for sometime and gained much distance. She stops suddenly upon feeling a vibration. She hits the ground knocking the unknown pert off his feet. But he's revealed to by Iroh. Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee have reached the spot of Appa's bath and found the wet fur deposited into the stream. Ty Lee debates with herself as to whether the "wads" are "bundles" or "bushels" of fur. Mai helps her along deeming them "clumps." Ty Lee excitedly hugs Mai before she can contradict the action. She pushes Ty Lee off and tells Azula the trail heads off in a direction to the right. But, Azula notices the broken trees from Appa's shaky take-off and is suspicious of Aang's plan to divert them. She tells Mai and Ty Lee to head in the direction of the broken trees and she'll follow the fur trail.
Aang, exhausted and low on momentum, lands in a small abandoned Earth Kingdom town. He slumps on to the end of the town, there he dumps the remains of what fur is left and sits there, waiting for Azula. Back on Appa, Momo lets out a screech signaling the return of Mai and Ty Lee. Katara desperately tries to get Appa to move faster but to no avail. He shoots like a stone being skipped across the river to where Sokka and Katara believe they're safe. But their hopes are shattered as the basilisks reveal their most astonishing ability: they're able to run on water.
Ty Lee heads for Katara. Once there she begins darting her hands to pressure points but Katara's smarter this time and dodges more easily. After a small battle Katara ends up pinned to a tree by the hem of her sleeves and Sokka's almost completely paralyzed by Ty Lee's strikes. But, Appa proves to be a saving grace as he smacks his tail to the ground shooting Mai and Ty Lee in the river.
Back in the town, Azula has reached the end of the trail where Aang is waiting for her. She dismounts her lizard. Aang, tired and sleep deprived, tries to seek diplomacy and asks who Azula is and what she wants. She's surprised he hasn't guessed yet so she gives him a hint: she covers the left side of her face with her hand and deepens her voice to somewhat match Zuko's and says "I must find the Avatar to restore my honor." Aang doesn't respond.
Toph and Iroh are sharing a cup of tea on cliff over-looking a farming village. Iroh finds similarities between Toph and his nephew. Toph asks where his nephew is and if he's lost. Iroh responds that he's "a little lost," he tells her his life has recently changed and now he's trying to find who he is. He also advises her not to contradict when people that love you try to help you. She takes this into consideration and heads off to find the gang.
Azula and Aang stand facing each other at a stand off. She asks Aang if he really wants to fight her, right on cue Zuko busts through an old building and lands between the two. It's a three way stand off as Zuko holds his position between Aang and Azula keeping his battle stance poised at both of them. Azula fires the first shot, hitting Zuko hard and knocking him back.
All three exchange blows until the duel is joined by Katara, Sokka, Iroh, and Toph. The six of them (Katara, Aang, Sokka, Toph, Zuko, Iroh) create a perfect perimeter in front of Azula and back her in a corner. She surrenders, and for one brief second Iroh lets his guard down and turns to see his comrades. Azula takes advantage of this and fires a jet of electricity at him. Zuko lets out a horrified cry and all four benders unleash their power against her. After a large explosion Azula disappears.
Zuko rushes to his uncle's side. Zuko presumes him dead as he's laying there not moving, and let’s out another angered cry. He senses the others behind him and orders them to leave. Katara comes forward and offers to help but before she can explain how Zuko's frustration causes him to let out a violent burst of fire and he orders them to leave again. Later that night the gang finally finds peace as they are fast asleep.

Avatar Episode : Zuko Alone

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Zuko is traveling by himself through dry desert-like terrain on his ostrich-horse. He stops suddenly at the smell of something; he looks over to find a man cooking a large piece of meat over an open flame. Zuko puts a hand over his gurgling stomach and then moves the hand to his sword hilt. But upon seeing the man is traveling with a pregnant woman, he continues on. Now more tired than ever,Zuko is carefully walking a razor's edge of passing out, his vision becomes blurred as he presses on and he closes his eyes; a woman walking down a dark hallway with a hood appears. Zuko opens his eyes suddenly, but keeps his head down.

Finally Zuko has come to a village. On his way in he passes some Earth Kingdom soldiers; they lock eyes for a moment before Zuko presses on. He dismounts his ostrich and walks to man standing behind a counter. He asks for water, hot meal, and a bag of feed and extends his hand forward revealing a small amount of coins. The man tells him that he doesn't have enough for a hot meal but he can give him two bags of feed. As the man goes to retrieve Zuko's feed two boys hiding beside the counter through eggs at the soldiers just behind Zuko and run. Thinking Zuko threw the eggs the soldiers make their way over angrily, the interrogate him. Zuko covers for the boys saying he saw nothing and tells them a chicken may have flown over, as the man brings Zuko's feed out, one soldier takes it and thanks Zuko for his "generous contribution to the army."
As Zuko re-mounts his ostrich-horse the boy who threw the egg pops up from behind it and thanks him for covering for him. Zuko doesn't reply and moves forward on his ostrich, the boy follows him and offers to take Zuko to his house and feed his ostrich-horse for him in return for not ratting him out. Zuko allows the boy to lead him.
Zuko and the boy approach a large farm full of two kinds of hybrids between a pig and a cow and a pig and a sheep. The oink loudly as Zuko and Lee approach the house, Lee says it’s good because no one can ever sneak up on them. Zuko replies "No kidding." As Lee goes to put Zuko's ostrich in the barn, his father approaches Zuko, Lee re encounters Zuko's small confrontation with the soldiers. Lee's mother comes asking Zuko's name, unable to give his usual false name for obvious reasons Zuko stutters for a moment before Lee's father comes to the rescue saying "He doesn't have to say who he is if he doesn't want to."
The family explains how the real soldiers, like Lee's older brother Sen Su, are fighting in the war while these thugs stay here. She asks if Zuko wishes to stay for dinner, he declines her offer. After a brief pause she says that Zuko can help Lee's father roof the barn and then they'll eat. Zuko scowls for a minute at this before nodding. Zuko's handicapped skills with a hammer, as a result of not having to do any work what so ever his whole life, show through here as he hammers wildly on the roof at about six bent nails.
Behind him Lee is asking him rapid fire questions: "Where are you from? Where are you going?" His father silences the boy but he persists with: "Where'd you get that scar?" At this Zuko lets out a small groan as he hammers his own thumb. Lee's father tells him i's not polite to ask so many personal questions and that Zuko's past was his business. As Zuko continues hammering he's thrown into a memory.
A young Prince Zuko and his mother are sitting by a small pound in a garden somewhere in the palace grounds, feeding turtle-ducks. Zuko offers to show his mother how Azula feeds them and throws a rock at a one. His mother scolds him for it as the mother turtle-duck comes forward and bites down hard on Zuko's foot. He yells in pain as his mother detaches the small creature. "Stupid turtle-duck! Why'd it do that?" he asks his mother. "Because Zuko, that’s how mothers are: you mess with their babies and they'll bite back." She and Zuko laugh for a minute before returning their gaze back to the pound.
As Zuko and his mother walk back through the garden we see a young Princess Azula attempting a cart-wheel but falls to the ground with a thud. Behind her a young Ty Lee, runs forward and performs the move with ease; Azula pushes her over and laughs. A young Mai sits against a tree watching them; she turns and sees Zuko walking through the garden she turns her gaze away and blushes, smiling to herself. Azula notices this and whispers to Ty Lee "Watch this." Ty Lee giggles as Azula runs up to her brother and mother asking if Zuko would come play with them. After a small argument between Zuko and Azula their mother makes Zuko go and play with them.
Azula explains how the game goes: you try to knock the apple of the other person's head. She sets an apple on a very bored looking Mai's head and sets it ablaze. Zuko rushes forward trying to knock the burning apple of her head, but trips and they fall into the fountain landing on top of each other. Ty Lee comments on how cute they are and Zuko storms off angrily (and wet) while Mai, also anger, says \"You two are such-!\" Zuko's mother informs him that she's received a letter form Uncle Iroh in Ba-Sing-Se.
Iroh says in the letter that if the city is as beautiful as its walls then it would really be something to behold. He also says he hopes they can come and see it one day if he doesn't burn it to the ground first (Zuko and Azula laugh at that). He has also sent gifts for his niece and nephew for Zuko: a pearl dagger that belonged to the general who surrendered when Iroh broke through the outer wall. The inscription on the dagger reads: Never give up without a fight. For Azula: an Earth Kingdom doll "wearing the latest fashion in Ba-Sing-Se.\"
Azula comments that if Iroh didn't make it back from the war then her father would be next in line to be Fire Lord. Her mother scolds her for saying such a thing as Zuko asks her how she'd feel if Iroh's son, Lu Ten, wanted their dad to die. She says in reply "I still think our dad would make a much better Fire Lord than his royal tea-loving kookiness." She sets her new doll ablaze.
Present day Prince Zuko is sleeping soundly on a pile of hay in the family's barn. Lee enters silently and takes Zuko's swords and silently slips out. Zuko's eye opens. Lee takes the swords outside where he begins to hack wildly at a field of daisies. From behind him Zuko says he's holding them wrong and explains that he has to think of them as a whole because they're two halves of the same blade.
The next day Zuko mounts his ostrich-horse and prepares to set off, Lee's mother gives Zuko some food. Just then dust kicks up in the distance; the soldiers from the village came with grave news: Lee's older brother's battalion was captured. Zuko's brought back to the memory of his cousin's he and Azula are playing together in the garden while their mother is sitting near the pond. A servant delivers a message to her, she reads it and looks up, and a tear drips down her face. She informs Zuko and Azula their cousin didn't survive the battle.
Le's father declares he's going to the front to look for Sen Su. Li asks if Zuko will stay after his father leaves, but he declines and gives Li his dagger his uncle gave him. As Zuko rides off he's thrown into another memory: Zuko is practicing with his knife while Azula watched from a chair. She said "You waste all your time with knifes, you're not even good." He replies "Put an apple on your head and we'll see how good I am!" She informs him Uncle's coming home, she also informs him of her opinion of Iroh: "a quitter and a loser. "
Their mother enters the room and tells them their father has requested an audience with their grandfather Fire Lord Azulon. Azula comments on how he's not the powerful Fire Lord he used to be and that someone was probably going to end up taking his place soon. Azula's mother once again scolds her and says to herself "What is wrong with that child?" In the Fire Lord's war room Ozai is asking questions of Zuko and Azula: "And how did Great-Grandfather Sozin win the battle of Hahn Ti?" While Zuko stammers for an answer Azula answers for him: "He carefully calculated his advantages: they were up wind and there was a drought. " Ozai is pleased with his daughter and asks her to show her grandfather the new moves she strated for him.
As Azula gracefully performs her Firebending move a smile creeps across Ozai's face. He comments on how she is a prodigy like her grandfather for whom she's named. As Azula retakes her seat beside Zuko she whispers in his ear: "You'll never catch up." Zuko rises and asks to strate what he's been learning; the smile on Ozai's face vanishes. As Zuko stumbles with his form Azula smirks. "I failed" Zuko says as he hits the ground after trying to no avail.
His mother comes forward and tells him "No Zuko, that's who you are: someone who never stops fighting even though it's hard." Impatient, Azulon dismisses Ursa, Zuko, and Azula and asks Ozai to tell him what he wants. As they make for the door Azula grabs Zuko's hand and leads him behind a curtain where she plans on eavesdropping on there father and grandfather's meeting. Ozai said with Lu Ten gone Iroh's bloodline has ended and he was away at war. But, Ozai was here and his children are alive. Again impatient, Azulon asks what Ozai wants. Ozai says \"Revoke Iro's birth right, I'm your humble servant here to serve you and our nation. Use me\" Angered by his son's arrogance and lack of sympathy for Iroh's loss, the Fire Lord tells Ozai that Iroh has suffered enough but his punishment has barely begun.
Zuko runs away frightened before he can hear what it was. In his room Zuko lays in his bed frightened of what he just saw. Azula enters with an evil smirk singing "Dad's going to kill you" but becomes serious\"Really he is." She reveals Ozai punishment to be sacrificing Zuko so he may know the pain of loosing a first born son. Zuko doesn't believe her. Ursa enters the room demanding to know what’s going on and pulls Azula away angrily saying "It's time for a talk." Zuko remains in his bed saying "Azula always lies, Azula always lies."
Present day Zuko is laying on grass, eyes closed, repeating those same words when Lee's mother comes and informs him that when the soldiers from the village came demanding food, Lee pulled a knife on them. They then took him away saying if he was old enough to fight than he was old enough to join the army. He begs for his help through her tears. Zuko agrees to help. Zuko rides up to the soldiers where Lee is tied to a poll and is extremely happy to see Zuko. He dismounts and removes his China-man's hat.
He orders the soldiers to release Lee, but they ask who he thinks he is ordering them around. Zuko replies "It doesn't matter who I am. But I know who you are: you're not soldiers; you're bullies, free-loaders abusing your power mostly over woman and kids. You're sick cowards; you don't want Lee in your army. You're just messing with a family that’s already lost one son to the war." The leader asks the other soldiers if they're going to sit there and let Zuko insult them like this.
One rushes forward: Zuko knocks the man of his feet and back about 10 yards with a simple hit from his sword hilt without even having to remove the sword from its sheath. The next one runs at Zuko, without much effort Zuko performs a simple self-defense move knocking the man to the ground. The third runs at him and Zuko simply performs a front kick, breaking the man's spear and scaring him into running away one more to go. The leader, whose last, pulls out two large hammers; Zuko pulls out his swords. He smacks the ground with his hammers and sends a rock pelting towards Zuko who breaks it easily.
The next few blows appear more difficult to block. Meanwhile from the side-line Zuko is getting cheer from an elderly man and his wife. Now the man is hitting harder. Zuko is barely able to block the rocks that are pelting towards him until finally he's hit with a final blow that knocks him airborne and back about 10 feet. He hits the ground hard and is blasted into another memory. Zuko is sound asleep in his room when his mother gently wakes him. She tells the half-asleep Zuko that everything she's done has been to protect Zuko and to no matter how things change to never forget who he is. And with that she disappears down a dark corridor.
Present day Zuko is lying on the ground, seemingly passed-out. The man moves forward for the final blow when Zuko opens his eyes and decides. He sends a ring of fire pelting around him as he jumps up, Li looks at him terrified. As Zuko moves forward he resembles his father as we often see his silhouette standing before a wall of fire powerfully. He sends blasts of fire towards the man as he swings the blades. He tried to stand and fight but to no avail and he's knocked back hard.
He asks Zuko who he is and Zuko gives him his full title "My name is Zuko, son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai, Prince of the Fire Nation, and heir to the throne." The man who had recently been cheering Zuko tells him he's heard of Zuko: "An outcast, his own father burned and disowned him!" Zuko ignores the man and retrieves his dagger. Zuko walks toward Li, but his mother steps between them and tells Zuko not come a step closer. Obeying Zuko kneels and offers the dagger, Lee tells him no and that he s him.
Zuko is now haunted by his turbulent past. He wakes suddenly from his bed yelling for his mom. He runs down the hall only to find his sister Azuala playing with his knife. He asks her about there mom. She replies suspiciously that nobody knows and that their grandfather passed away last night. Zuko tells Azula that she's sick; then takes his knife and runs to find his mother. Finding his dad instead at the pond were he is standing silently staring into it. Zuko asks him where his mother is but he doesn't reply. Zuko bows his head.
Then the fire sages have a special ceremony for the Fire Lord. All Zuko's family are present, for Zuko everything is ablur, he is unsure of the events that have just taken place. He looks on to the long journey awaiting him.

Avatar Episode : The Blind Bandit

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:10:00 +0000

The scene opens with a sweeping pan over a lush Earth Kingdom valley where a large town is situated. This appears to be a bustling community with merchants and schools. We catch up with Katara, Aang and Sokka as Sokka is contemplating the purchase of a bag. His indecisiveness bores the other two, but they try to be supportive as Sokka weighs the pros and cons of the purchase. Aang and Katara start walking away and while Sokka finally makes his purchase, the other two are approached by a man handing out flyers for a local earthbending teacher. Katara convinces Aang to give it a try.
At Master Yu’s Earthbending Academy, Aang uses the flyer’s coupon to receive his “free” lesson. However, it appears all Aang gets is a face full of dirt and rock and Master Yu’s attempts at selling him a year’s worth of lessons. As the trio departs Master Yu’s, they overhear two young men discussing Earth Rumble Six, an earthbending tournament. When Aang asks them where it is located, one of the young men says laughingly “It’s on the island of Nunya… Nunya business…” and the two walk away. Katara follows them around the corner (leaving Sokka and Aang behind) and manages to get the information from them by encouraging them with her waterbending skills. The scene cuts to the guys encased in ice up to their necks horizontally attached to the sides of the buildings – heads touching each other.

Earth Rumble Six is held inside a jagged mountain, the stage illuminated by many glowing crystals above. The trio looks for seats, wondering why so many front row seats are vacant. Suddenly a rock comes crashing toward them providing a clear explanation as to why the seats were vacant. From center stage, a huge column of rock comes up with an announcer on top (who then pushes the column back down into the stage) welcoming viewers to the event and announcing himself, Xin Fu, as the host.
Bored with the upcoming rock-chucking festival, Katara turns away. However, as the action begins and The Boulder (kind of a cross between several wrestling stars such as The Rock with a Hulk Hogan-like voice) begins battling his opponents, Katara’s interest appears to be at least somewhat restored. Aang doesn’t seem too impressed with The Boulder because, as Aang puts it “Bumi said I need a teacher who listens to the earth, he’s just listening to his big muscles.” Sokka, on the other hand, has become The Boulder’s newest #1 fan. After defeating several challengers, it is time for The Boulder to take on the current champion, The Blind Bandit.
On center stage is a young girl holding her champion belt over her head in pride as the crowd cheers. Her eyes are clouded and seem to indicate to the viewer that she is blind, despite Katara’s wondering if she's really blind or if it is just an act. The Boulder briefly has reservations about fighting a small blind girl, but soon those vanish as The Blind Bandit taunts him by saying it sounds as if he’s scared to fight her. As she laughs at The Boulder, Aang hears something familiar in her laugh and realizes she’s the girl with the flying boar in the vision he had in the Swamp. The viewer is then shown how The Blind Bandit senses the vibrations and uses the information to strategically make her move; easily defeating The Boulder. Sokka is devastated, Katara is amazed and Aang appears to be happy as he explains to Katara, “She waited and listened.
Xin Fu then offers a bag of gold pieces to anyone who can defeat The Blind Bandit. After a short silence, Xin Fu dramatically says “What? No one dares to face her?” Aang pipes up, “I’ll will.” Aang tries to explain to The Blind Bandit that he doesn’t really want to fight, but talk to the champion. However, the champion begins to fight. Aang manages to use his airbending to evade the champion’s attacks and she is clearly unsettled by her inability to fully track him. As she hurls a rock at Aang, he defensively uses airbending, but in the process, manages to push the champion off the stage and erroneously (as he did not use earthbending) wins the match. Aang rushes to catch the Blind Bandit to tell her he thinks she’s supposed to be his teacher, but she won’t stay and listen. Disappointed, Aang heads back on stage, where Sokka collects the gold pieces and belt.
The next day, the trio heads to Master Yu’s earthbending school in search of The Blind Bandit. Katara tries her intimidation tactics on the young men she froze the day before, but they end up not having the information she asks for. Aang then realizes they are asking about the wrong person. When he describes the girl from his vision, the young men don’t recognize the description, but they do know a local family who’s symbol is a flying boar – like the one in Aang’s vision. The trio leave to check out the lead, but not before Katara enforces her intimidation on the two young men by telling them, “Hey! I’ve got my eye on you.” Leaving the class, while Sokka whispers "Water Tribe.
Back at the arena, The Boulder tells Xin Fu that there was no earthbending being done in the defeat of the champion, which leads Xin Fu to believe The Blind Bandit intentionally lost in order to split the money with the challenger. He is not happy at this apparent cheating.
The trio looks at a guarded entrance gate with a flying boar symbol above it and Aang indicates this must be the place. They head around back and climb over the outer wall into a garden area. Suddenly, the trio is thrust into the air by the earth being pushed up from underneath them and lands in various bushes (with the exception of Sokka, who hits the ground). The Blind Bandit asks what they are doing there and Aang counters by asking how she knew it was them. Aang then explains that a crazy king and a vision led him to believe she was to be his earthbending instructor. The Blind Bandit tells them to leave or she’ll call the guards and after they try to talk to her again, she comes through and yells “Guards, guards, help!” which causes the trio to scatter. When the guards arrive, her name is revealed - Toph. Observing this, Aang smiles and appears to have an idea of what to do next.
Toph’s father and mother are meeting with Master Yu to confirm that she is not trying anything dangerous in her lessons and Master Yu assures them that he has kept Toph at the basic level. A servant comes in to tell them a visitor has come – the Avatar.
At dinner, Aang, Katara, Sokka and Master Yu have joined Toph and her family. Toph’s father inquires of Aang how long he feels the war will go on. Aang explains he hopes to defeat the Fire Lord by summer, but still needs an earthbending teacher. Although Master Yu is mentioned as a candidate by Toph’s father, Aang attempts to bring up the possibility of Toph as a teacher, but is thwarted by Toph who eventually pulls Aang’s face into his soup. Not to be outdone, Aang returns the favor by sneezing and airbending Toph’s soup at her (as well as Master Yu and Toph’s mother). Toph’s father seems confused by both their behavior.
Later, Sokka, Katara and Aang are getting ready for bed (as guests of Toph’s family) and Aang is surprised by Toph’s sudden appearance. She calls a truce and the two of them walk the grounds of her family’s estate while she explains to Aang how she uses earthbending to see. Toph appears to envy Aang’s carefree life, but knows she has commitments to her family that prevent her from just leaving. Just then, the two of them are ambushed by Xin Fu and his wrestling thugs. A ransom note is left demanding 500 gold pieces for the safe return of their daughter. Toph’s father enlists Master Yu’s help and Sokka and Katara state they are coming as well.
They arrive at the arena with the ransom and Toph is lowered down and she and her father and Master Yu begin to leave. When Katara asks about Aang, Xin Fu states that he plans to turn the Avatar over to the Fire Nation for reward. Katara runs after Toph to enlist her help and despite her father’s protests that she can not help, Toph says “Yes. I can”. Toph heads back into the arena demanding Aang’s release. The Earthbenders begin to attack and Toph forcefully tells Sokka and Katara, “They’re mine.” As Katara and Sokka work to free Aang from the metal case, Toph defeats each opponent almost effortlessly. This amazes and shocks Toph’s father and Master Yu. Finally, Toph faces off with Xin Fu, but again easily defeats him. Master Yu exclaims, “She is the greatest Earthbender I’ve ever seen.”
Back at home, Toph tries to explain herself to her parents stating that she’s kept her abilities secret from them, but they have kept her secret from the world and hopes that what they now know about her will not change their feelings about her. Her father says they won’t, but then decides that Toph has had too much freedom and must have tighter controls on her, much to Toph’s dismay. Aang, Katara and Sokka are then told to leave and Toph sheds a tear at losing the possibility of gaining friends and what little freedom she had.
They prepare Appa to leave, but are surprised when Toph comes running up to them telling them her father has changed his mind. Aang excitedly jumps off Appa when Toph says she wants to show him something - only to be shot up into a tree by Toph as payback for knocking her off stage at the championship battle. Toph then requests the belt back and Sokka tosses it down to her, forgetting she can not see, and the belt hits Toph on the head. Sokka sheepishly says “Sorry” to Toph and then Aang falls out of the tree.
Toph’s father brings a small chest to a table in front of Master Yu and Xin Fu saying he knows they are different, but have a similar interest. He then opens the chest to reveal gold. He’s offering it to them for the safe return of his daughter, who he states was kidnapped by the Avatar. As the quartet fly away on Appa, Toph appears to be enjoying her first taste of freedom.

Avatar Episode : Avatar Day

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:12:00 +0000

Aang, Katara, Sokka, Appa, and Momo are sleeping, when Momo finds a spider has spun a web in Sokka's open mouth, but when he snatches the spider and its web, he wakes up an irate Sokka in the process. Soon after that, the rest are awakened by four Fire Nation men on rhinos who surround them and begin to attack them. Upon trying to escape, Sokka is forced to abandon his boomerang, which makes him very upset.
While buying produce from an Earth nation man, Sokka laments on how losing his boomerang amounts to losing his identity. After happily accepting Katara's Water Tribe money and giving the group their produce, the man wishes them a Happy Avatar Day and asks if they are going to the Avatar Day festival in the nearby village. After arriving at the village, they see giant paper floats of Avatar Kyoshi, Avatar Roku, and Aang brought to the town square. A short time later, a man with a torch runs up to the first two floats and sets them on fire. To the trio's dismay, the townspeople begin to chant "Down with the Avatar!"

Meanwhile in another Earth Kingdom city, a couple carrying food is robbed by Zuko in his Blue Spirit costume. After hiding his mask, he gives the food to Uncle Iroh. Iroh is suspicious of the source of the food, but enjoys it anyways.
At the festival, the Mayor Tong signals to the man, who throws the torch at Aang's float. Katara runs up to the floats and uses her waterbending to put out the fires. As the people begin to complain, Aang leaps to the top of his float and reveals himself. The people become fearful, thinking that the Aang has come to kill them but he and Katara try to persuade them that the Avatar helps people. The Mayor then tells that over 300 years ago, Avatar Kyoshi killed their leader, Chin the Great.
In an effort to clear the Avatar's name, Aang agrees to follow the town's laws, which include standing trial (and awaiting his trial in jail, on bail). Unfortunately, they don't accept Water Tribe money. When Sokka insists that Aang use his airbending to escape jail, Aang refuses and asks for Sokka and Katara's help in clearing his name. Sokka is then convinced to become a detective. After donning a funny hat with a magnifying glass on the brim, he gets to work on the case.
On a forest road, a rich Earth Kingdom noble is traveling with a chest full of gold. When the driver is attacked, he cowers in fear and locks the chest. Zuko (in his Blue Spirit costume) cuts a hole in the roof and takes the chest.
Katara and Sokka examine the cliff, where Avatar Kyoshi supposedly killed Chin the Great. The Mayor says that Avatar Kyoshi emerged from the temple and struck down Chin, and afterwards they built a statue of him to commemorate him. Sokka observes that the statue and the temple are made from the same stone and that they were built at the same time. When Katara tries to help him get to the point, Sokka yells at her, claiming that it's his job to come to the conclusion: Avatar Kyoshi never set foot in the temple. Sokka decided that he and Katara need to go to Kyoshi Island for more proof.
n jail, Aang meets another one of his cellmates, a bald man with tattoos. He charges at Aang, but the chain and collar on his neck keep him at bay. He tells Aang creepily that he will fit in nicely in the jail cell.
When Katara, Sokka, Momo and Appa arrive at Kyoshi Island, the natives flock with excitement, but soon leave in disappointment when they learn that Aang's not with them. They greet Oyaji, the village leader and tell of Aang's plight and he offers to take them to Kyoshi's shrine. On the way to the shrine Sokka asks about Suki, the leader of the female warriors of Kyoshi who he had befriended before. Oyaji tells that after their visit, Suki and the other warriors felt inspired to go and help fight in the war. They reach the shrine and go inside.
Inside a room in the shrine, Oyaji displays some of Kyoshi's old things. After seeing Kyoshi's boots, Katara remembers the footprint at the tip of the cliff where Kyoshi was said to have stood. Before she can express her revelation, Sokka insists that since he is the "detective" he make it instead: the Kyoshi's feet were too big to make that footprint.
Back in the jail we see that Aang has befriended all of the inmates, who proceed to give him advice on his relationship with Katara. Even though he is unsure, they reassure him that he's smart, handsome, funny, and the Avatar. One teary-eyed inmate encourages Aang to tell Katara how he feels.
Back at Kyoshi, Oyaji shows Sokka and Katara a painting of the day that Kyoshi Island was founded. It was painted on sunrise on the same day 370 years ago to the present day. After noticing the position of the shadows of the people in the painting, Sokka (after pushing Katara to beat her to the punch) says that since Kyoshi was on Kyoshi Island at sunset then she couldn't have been at Chin committing the crime. The two return to Chin, and tell Mayor Tong that they have a solid defense for Aang built on good evidence. The mayor then tells them that the way the trial goes is that he tells what happens, and then they tell what happens, and then he decides what's right: justice, or "just-us" he claims.
At the trial on the next day, the Mayor gives his biased account on what happened, and then proceeds to let Aang give his story. Aang displays a feeble attempt to memorize the evidence that Sokka and Katara have gathered. Sokka and Katara agree that Aang's dead.
Back at their hideout in the forest, Uncle begins to wonder about the new things that Zuko is bringing everyday. He tells Zuko that there is nothing shameful about having nothing, and to keep hope that he will be able to go home one day. Zuko walks off to think about his uncle's words.
At the trial, Katara calls a surprise witness: Avatar Kyoshi! It is then revealed just to be Aang dressed in Avatar Kyoshi's clothes and face paint, which Katara believes will trigger something. Mayor Tong complains that this is a mockery on the city, and prepares to sentence Aang when a giant whirlwind appears around Aang. A shadow appeared over the whole village and the whirlwind disappears to reveal Avatar Kyoshi herself. She then states, "I killed Chin the Conqueror."
She proceeds to tell the tale of Chin, an Earthbender tyrant who waged a campaign to conquer the continent. When he came to the peninsula where Kyoshi and her people lived he ordered her surrender, but she refused. Not backing down, Chin stood poised to fight her, and she replied by using her fans to airbend his clothes off. She then uses her earthbending to form a canyon between them, her firebending to cut off her side with magma, and airbending to blow her side of the peninsula away, creating Kyoshi Island. Chin screams and the cliff he stands on crumbles and drops him into the ocean.
She says that she created Kyoshi Island so that her people could be safe from invaders, and in another whirlwind she vanishes and the shadow is lifted. In light of Kyoshi's amazing testimony, the Mayor still finds Aang guilty, and orders that "The Wheel of Punishment" be brought out.
Zuko comes back and tells Iroh that he thought about what he has said and realizes that they have nothing to gain by traveling with each other. Claiming that he needs to find his own way, he takes his things and leaves. Iroh gives him the riding animal that Zuko stole and sends him on his way.
Aang now has to spin the Wheel of Punishment to determine his sentence. After the wheel lands on "Boiling in Oil", the village is attacked by the same group of rhino-riders from the Fire Nation, or "Rough-Rhinos." They destroy the temple and Chin's statue and demand to see the Mayor, who hides behind the wheel and begs Aang to save them. After Aang explains that he's "supposed to be boiled in oil" Mayor Tong moves the wheel to "Community Service" and tells Aang to serve to community by defeating the invaders. After Aang knocks one of the riders off of the cliff, the rest of the riders proceed to destroy the town.
Katara and Sokka defeat three of the riders and in the process Sokka reclaims his long lost boomerang, which "always comes back". After Aang defeats the leader of the riders, the town decides to change from hating the Avatar to celebrating the Avatar. The three are given the new festival food: un-fried dough cookies shaped like Aang, to remind them on how on that day, the Avatar was not boiled in oil.

Avatar Episode : The Swamp

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:07:00 +0000

The episode opens up with Zuko and Iroh in a village street begging for money. Zuko refuses to gravel, trying to keep grasp of what dignity he has left while Iroh has more willing accepted their new lot in life. A swordsman approaches Iroh and has him sing for a coin. As Iroh sings the swordsman swings his blades at Iroh’s feet to have him “dance.” As the swordsman leaves, Zuko is angered and humiliated by his uncle’s degrade.
Meanwhile Aang, Katara, and Sokka are seeking an Earthbending teacher for Aang they fly over a swamp. Aang thinks the swamp is calling to him but due to the reluctance of his friends agrees to leave. Suddenly a tornado appears, swallowing everyone. Aang uses Airbending to free them. Unfortunately he separates humans and animals into two separate groups.

The human group begins looking for Momo and Appa. Aang and Katara are weary of the environment, sensing something ominous about it. Sokka uses his machete to hack through the swamp, clearing a path. He gets annoyed at his sister and friend’s warnings. Sokka states there is nothing out of the ordinary about the place.

With the Momo and Appa the two animals are also looking for the other members of their group. Unknown to the flying bison and winged lemur natives of the swamp are hunting them for dinner.

Aang, Katara, and Sokka make camp for the night. While they are asleep a swamp monster attacks them, which ends in a further separation of the group. Alone in the swamp each person experiences a vision of a person. For Katara she sees her mother, and momentarily believes she has returned. Sokka envisions Yue in spirit form who says hauntingly to him “You didn’t protect me.” Sokka refuses to believe what he witnesses, clinging to the belief there’s a logical explanation. Aang spots a laughing young girl and a flying pig in the swamp. It’s no one he recognizes. He calls out to her but she runs away. Aang begins to chase after her.

Returning to Momo and Appa, the two animals are confronted by the swamp-dwelling hunters Tho, Due, and their brethren in canoes. Tho attempts coaxing the animals to him but unaware they understand human speech mentions eating them, Appa and Momo flee. Due shouts angrily at Tho for his insolence, Tho defends himself by saying how was he to know. To catch up with Appa and Momo Tho begins Bending the water around his canoe causing it to sped forward rapidly after the animals.

Aang is seen still chasing the girl. Eventually when he thinks he corners her it turns out to be Katara. Sokka drops in (literally). Each confesses their encounters. Aang and Katara wonder how the swamp is doing everything but Sokka continues to insist nothing is out of the ordinary when a giant swamp monster attacks them. It takes some time but they are able to defeat it thanks to a finishing move by Katara. The swamp monster turns out to be a Waterbender who was controlling the water in the plants surrounding his body.

They demand to know who the Waterbender is, Sokka reveals that Aang is the Avatar and stuff like this happens “a lot.” The Waterbender says his name his Hue. He reveals the reason why he attacked them was that he was protecting the swamp which Sokka was harming. He takes the three friends to the roots of an enormous tree, the heart of the swamp. Hue’s story is that he achieved enlightenment under this tree, and how the swamp is the roots of the tree spreading for miles. He says that everything is connected, how time and death are only illusions, and that the swamp shows us our dead loved ones are not as gone as we think they are. Aang asks about the girl he saw, stating it was no one he knew but eventually he figures out the girl is someone he will meet. Aang touches the tree, connecting to the swamp. Far away he sees Appa and Momo being chased. Aang, Katara, and Sokka then rush to the animals’ aid. When they finally arrive Aang and Katara use Waterbending against Due and Tho but the swamp-dwellers use Waterbending themselves. Upon this discovery the fighting stops. Tho and Due unite with Hue who had followed the gang showing the Waterbenders know each other.

The scene switches to Aang, Katara, and Sokka sitting around a fire in the swamp-dwellers’ camp. Aang and Katara continue to wonder about the swamp but Sokka is steadfast that there is nothing out of the ordinary. The next moment shows a bird perched on a root; a vine rises from the ground then lashes out at the bird making it to take off. Sokka doesn’t seem to be as right as he thinks he is.

The last scene shows the swordsman who mistreated Iroh and Zuko in a dark alley way. He senses someone there. The man pulls out his blades and demands that the person show themselves. Hands grab his wrist making him release the blades. He’s thrown into a stack of crates. The culprit is the Blue Spirit.

Avatar Episode : Return to Omashu

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:49:00 +0000

After seeing the shocking news of Omashu's siege Aang still insists, against Sokka and Katara's warnings, to enter the city in search of Bumi. While in the city, Sokka gets small purple octopus like creatures attached to his face, after removing them, Fire Nation soldiers believe he has disease due to the small pox-like spots left on his face from the small octopus like animal and run, buying the kids some time.
Meanwhile, back on her ship, Azula seeks the advice of her trainers about capturing her brother and uncle. They tell her: "When tracking your brother and uncle the royal procession may no longer be an option. You must be wise if you wish to keep the element of surprise." She takes their advice and decides to put together a small, agile team to track them.

Back in the city, Aang, Katara and Sokka make their way through and decide that wherever Bumi's being held prisoner, is made entirely of metal to prevent his Earthbending. Just below them, the governor’s wife and children walk; his eldest, Mai, complains about how boring it is in Omashu is, completely unaware that above them two Earthbenders from the resistance have sent large boulders plummeting towards them. Aang sees the rocks heading towards the people below and shoots them out of the way; then people below notice this and attack them. Eventually the resistance rescues the gang.
Azula, meanwhile, has tracked down her first companion for her team: Ty Lee, the daughter of a nobleman who has apparently joined the circus. The two went to the Royal Academy for Girls together. Azula informs her she wants her help in tracking down her, "fuddy-duddy" uncle (but leaves out Zuko). Ty Lee declines her offer and Azula accepts her decision but informs her she staying to watch her show; Ty Lee is not thrilled by this (possibly aware of Azula's motives).
After being rescued Aang is informed that, before even fighting, King Bumi surrendered the city. Aang decides the best thing to do is get everyone out of the city so they can "live to fight another day." Against the leader's protests, they agree. Sokka comes up with the idea to re-create his make-believe, deadly case of "Pentapox" so that the soldiers will allow them to leave the city. After the citizens re-create the spots on their face Aang goes in search while the guards are distracted.
Back at the governors palace, he and his family watch as the "sick" people roam the streets; he orders the guards to drive them out of the city to prevent it from spreading and be careful not touch them. They're all completely unaware that his infant son has wondered off.
Aang has come across Flopsie in his search; thrilled to see him Flopsie rushes forward but is held back by a chain. Aang frees him by freezing ice to the chain and then smashing it. The two go in search of Bumi.
Momo, who's hungry, finds some berries near where the young infant has wondered off. Interested by Momo's tail, a young boy latches on to him. The two fly throughout the city until the boy finally releases Momo and wonders off further... towards the city's gates.
Back at the circus, the ring master tells Azula how honored he is to have the Fire Lord's daughter at his circus, he informs her to let him know of anyway he can the show more enjoyable for her. She smirks while accepting his offer. Up on the high wire, Ty Lee is balancing on a pole that is on top of some kind of round pot. Azula asks the ringmaster if he thinks she'll fall; he replies: "of course not." In that case Azula decides it would be more interesting if she did it without the safety net or better yet set it on fire. Not about to refuse and order from a Fire Nation Royal he sets it ablaze. Ty Lee grows very nervous as it becomes obvious to her that Azula is threatening her to help her in her search. Azula then orders all the animals the circus has to be released inside the tent.
After getting out of the city safely the resistance leader informs the gang that they have one more person then they should. The governor is now aware his son is missing and believes the freed citizens have kidnapped him, and ponders on how to get him back.
Back at the circus, Azula congratulates her friend on the show; Ty Lee decides the universe is telling her to go with Azula.
Katara is playing with the small child and thinks he's very cute, but the leader says he won't be so cute when he's older and a killer. Then a messenger hawk arrives telling them that the governor will trade King Bumi for his son. As they accept the offer, Sokka believes they're walking into a trap, but Aang says he's got a good feeling about this.
Back inside the city Azula, entering in her throne, and Ty Lee approach Mai. Mai, jokingly, asks hopefully if Azula was here to kill her; the two friends hug. Mai is thrilled to help Azula on her mission, wanting anything to get her out of Omashu. Azula confronts the governor who pleas with her, and asks for forgiveness. But Azula, having too much of her father in her, tells the governor he's making a mess of things and also corrects him that there was no more "Omashu." She re-names the city in honor of her father: New Ozai. She decides Mai will handle the trade so he doesn't mess it up.

In front of Fire Lord Ozai's statue Aang, Katara and Sokka approach Azula, Ty Lee, and Mai; ready to trade and they lower Bumi who’s trapped in some kind of coffin. But, Azula believes trading a powerful, Earthbending king for a two year-old isn't a fair trade and Mai calls of the deal. They raise Bumi and Aang, angered by this, rushes for him. But unfortunately his turban slips off and Azula sees his arrow and recognizes him. Without a second thought she abandons the original plan and rushes for him. Aang jumps onto Bumi's coffin and attempts to free him the same way as he did Flopsie but Azula is hot on his trail.
Back down on the platform Katara assumes an attack position towards Ty Lee and Mai while Sokka calls Appa. Ty Lee rushes for Sokka; after blocking the attack from Mai, Katara gives Sokka some cover so he can get the baby out.
Nearly to the top of the statue, Aang has almost completely frozen the chain but Bumi tells him to stop but before he can react Azula shoots out of the top and shoots a blast of electricity at the them braking the chain and sending them plummeting towards the Super Slides. Azula jumps into a cart and rides after them. Aang is happy saying "It's just like old times" but Bumi says he needs to talk to him, but Azula blasts at them before he can speak. She continues the chase all the way down the slides.
Back at the platform Katara and Mai exchange blows but from behind her Ty Lee strikes Katara in three different pressure points causing her to be unable to bend. With no way of blocking any attack, Mai pulls out a three-pronged knife but Sokka throws his boomerang and knocks it from her hand. Appa smacks his tail to the ground and knocks Ty Lee and Mai from the platform. Katara and Sokka find Aang being chased by Azula; once close enough to Appa, Aang shoots himself and Bumi of the slide but over shoots Appa and are back on track with Azula. She continues blasting at Aang, Bumi reveals his able to Earthbend by using his uncovered face and Azula is forced to come to a stop.
At the bottom of the slide Bumi explains to Aang the concept of jing: choice in battle. Aang says he knows about it: fighting is good jing and retreating is negative jing, but Bumi reveals the third jing: neutral jing, which consists of doing neither and waiting for the opportune moment to strike, which is why he surrendered the city and why he must go back to his capturers. But before leaving, he tells Aang he must learn from a master whose mastered neutral jing.
Now leaving the city, Azula in her throne, with Mai and Ty Lee beside her the converse about their mission. Mai says "It'll be interesting seeing Zuko again, won't it Mai?" and turns to Mai slyly who smiles to herself, possibly harboring a crush for Azula's brother. Azula ignores the comment and tells them that they now have a third target, the Avatar.
Back at the Governor’s house, the Governor and his wife are still worried and Aang silently returns Tom Tom to them.

Avatar Episode : The Cave of Two Lovers

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:17:00 +0000

The episode opens at a shallow area of a lake with Aang and Katara working on their waterbending while Sokka (with a sleeping Momo on his chest) relaxingly floats on his back on a huge leaf in just his underwear. Sokka tells Aang and Katara they need to think about going soon if they want to get to Omashu that day. Katara is showing Aang a move called the Octopus and Aang blushes as Katara moves his arms into a proper stance. Aang performs the move as Katara throws icicles at him. He manages to effectively defend himself with the move.
Suddenly, they hear music as a group of people approach playing instruments and singing. The leader introduces himself and his group as nomads wandering wherever the wind takes them. The group seems reminiscent of a hippie like group: carefree, and unconcerned with material things. The leader (Chong) appears to have some short-term attention/memory issues as he repeats himself from time to time and jumps from subject to subject.

Meanwhile, Iroh is looking at a beautiful flower telling Zuko that it is either the White Dragon bush which produces a wonderful tea or the White Jade bush which produces a deadly poison. Zuko impatiently announces he is going fishing as they need food not tea. Iroh is left contemplating which plant it may be "Hmm, delectable tea or deadly poison?"
Back at the lake, Sokka and Momo approach the others who are having flowers made into adornments for their hair/head (including Appa). Aang excitedly tells Sokka that the nomads offered to show them some sights, but Sokka again says they need to get going and have no time for the sightseeing. Katara agrees with Sokka. Chong tells them about secret pass through the mountains to Omashu - calling it a real legend. Aang agrees that going underground will not work for them as Appa doesn't like being underground and they need to do what makes Appa comfortable. After a brief scene with the Fire Nation firing at them as they try to fly, the gang decides to go with the nomads through the tunnel as Sokka states "Secret love cave, let's go."
Zuko returns to Iroh with his catch, a very small fish, only to find his uncle has ingested the plant, which turns out to be poison. After his uncle begins again to guess about plants properties, Zuko decides enough is enough and they need to look for help. As they consider their options, Zuko states, "If the Earth Kingdom discovers us they'll have us killed." To which Iroh states, "But if the Fire Nation discovers us we'll be turned over to Azula." They decide to take their chances with the Earth Kingdom.
On their way to the tunnel, the gang finds out it's not just one tunnel but a series of tunnels designed by the two lovers in the legend to thwart anyone following them. Chong explains that the cave's curse says they must trust in love to find the way through or be trapped for ever and die. As they see smoke from the Fire Nation approaching, the gang decides to head into the cave anyway. As the Fire Nation approaches the cave after the gang had entered it, they decide to destroy the entrance and trap everyone inside rather than take their chances with the curse.
Although shaken by the turn of events, the trapped group decides to work their way through. Sokka will keep track of where they are going so they can solve it like a maze.
In an Earth Kingdom healing facility, Iroh is attended to by a young Earth Kingdom girl who realizes they are not from around there as villagers know not to touch the White Jade bush. The camera shows Iroh has had a severe reaction including swelling and redness, but is still his jovial self as he says "oops" to the young woman's comment. Zuko tells her his name is Li and his uncle is Mushi. Iroh tells her they just call "Li" Junior as he is named after his father. The young woman introduces her self as Song and offers for them to come for dinner. "Junior" initially refuses, but once roast duck is mentioned "Mushi" asks for directions to Song's house.
After it appears Sokka's map making doesn't seem to be getting them anywhere, Sokka determines there is only one explanation - the tunnels are changing. Suddenly, the earth quakes beneath them.
At Song's house, her mother serves dinner, while Song tells of how they used to be refugees after the Fire Nation raided their village and took all the men - including Song's father. Li (Zuko) says he also hasn't seen his father in years. When Song asks if his father is fighting in the war, Li (Zuko) hesitates and then just says "Yeah".
Back in the tunnel, the nomads begin to panic as they hear strange noises approaching. Suddenly a wolf-bat flies past them and as Sokka attempts to fight it off with a torch, the torch falls at Appa's feet. A frantic Appa then begins running around hitting the sides of the tunnel which not only scares off the wolfbat, but causes a rock slide. Aang manages to blow the nomads, Sokka and Momo to one side then pushes Katara to the other side with Appa as the rockslide separates the two groups.
Outside Song's house, Zuko appears to be meditating. Song asks to join him. She attempts to touch Zuko's scarred face, but he stops her. She tells him she too has been hurt by the Fire Nation and then lifts her pant leg to reveal scars on her leg, which shocks Zuko.
Momo sits on Sokka's shoulder as he walks with the nomads as they play music and sing. Sokka is clearly annoyed, but says nothing.
Aang, Katara and Appa attempt to make their own way through the maze when they see a door. Thinking it is the exit, Appa charges the door, but they discover it is the tomb of the two lovers from the story. Katara reads the story. They met on a mountain which divided their two warring villages. By learning earthbending from the Badger-moles, the two built the elaborate tunnels so they could secretly meet, but prevent anyone from following them. One day the man did not show up because he had been killed in the war. The woman unleashes powerful earthbending, but instead of harming anyone, she declared the war over. The two villages helped her build a new city where they would live as one. It was named Omashu after the woman (Oma) and man (Shu). Katara then reads "Love is brightest in the dark"
A nomad (Moku) expresses frustration over Sokka leading them to another dead end. Sokka tells Moku that at least he's trying to come up with ideas. Chong then says he's had an idea for an hour, but didn't know they were trying to come up with ideas. Chong idea is if the answer is to trust in love then they should play a love song and then begins to play music as Sokka smacks himself on the forehead in frustration.
Next, it's time for Katara to voice her own crazy idea. Maybe the answer is for Aang and her to kiss. Although excited by the idea, Aang attempts to hide his feelings and manages to put his foot into his mouth by saying he definitely wouldn't want to kiss Katara. Realizing he said the wrong thing, Aang questions himself "What is wrong with me?"
As Li (Zuko) and Mushi (Iroh) depart from dinner at Song's house, Song tells them there is hope - the Avatar has returned. Unknowingly, Song has touched on a bad subject and Zuko bitingly says "I know". After going through the gate, Zuko sees the family's ostrich horse and decides to take it despite Iroh's protest over stealing from people who just showed them kindness. However, Iroh relents and also mounts the animal. From an opening in the door, Song watches them leave - her disappointment evident, but without saying anything.
As the light from the torch is about to run out, Aang and Katara move in closer to one another for a kiss, but the viewer can not know for sure if they did. Shortly after the light is gone, luminescent crystals begin to glow on the ceiling of the tunnel.
Sokka, Momo and the nomads are attacked by a swarm of wolf-bats, but Sokka soon realizes the wolf-bats weren't attacking them, but running from something else. Suddenly, huge badger-moles appear, but just as Sokka is about to be attacked, his finger touches an instrument and a musical note is made which seems to calm the badger-mole. The nomads begin to play music to calm the creatures.

Aang and Katara realize the crystals were used by the lovers to guide them to each other and that they show the way out. They rush out of the tunnel, but then wonder where Sokka may be. Suddenly, two huge tunnels appear (one on each side of the exit) and the badger-moles come out carrying the missing group members on their backs. After dropping the group off, the badger-moles head back into the mountain; closing the tunnels they created behind them. The nomads head in their own direction as Aang, Sokka and Katara head to Omashu.
However, as they crest the final ridge to see Omashu, they see the city has been taken over by the Fire Nation.

Avatar Episode : The Avatar State

noreply@blogger.com (popo) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:14:00 +0000

Steadily, the obscure images come into focus. Aang is at the Southern Air Temple where he finds his own self-looking at the skeleton of Monk Gyatso, the guardian who cared for Aang 100 years ago. The ‘other Aang’ turns around and glares with his eyes and tattoos glowing from being in the Avatar State. Suddenly they are outside, and a powerful sphere of energy surrounds the ‘other Aang’. Katara and Sokka are watching from behind the rocks, when the other Aang releases the energy and blows everyone away.
The winds from his avatar self blow Aang into the Fire Temple on the crescent-shaped island previously visited in Episode 8. Aang watches as the door opens to reveal his other self once more in the Avatar State. The Avatar lashes out and the floor splits open beneath Aang. He lands on a Fire Navy ship in the North Pole when the Ocean Spirit faces him with the water encasing his avatar form. With a slice from the Ocean Spirit and his Avatar self, Aang springs awake. After he catches his breath, Aang makes his way up the ladder. Katara awakens by the sound and follows suit.

She follows him to the deck of the Water Nation boat and asks Aang if he wants to talk about it. Aang tells her no, saying it was just a nightmare. He continues to tell her how he was in the Avatar State, but he was outside his body watching himself. “It was scary. I was scary.” She comfortingly puts her hand on his shoulder.
The next day, the three travelers are given gifts from Master Pakku. Katara receives an icicle-shaped amulet filled with sacred water from the oasis, and is capped with a crescent-shaped lid. Aang is given a box of scrolls that will help him in his waterbending training. Lastly, Sokka comes up beaming, expecting similar gifts, but instead he receives a pat on the shoulder and told to take care of everyone. Afterwards, Master Pakku instructs them to head east to the Earth Kingdom Base where General Fong will provide them escorts to King Bumi in Omashu. There, Aang will be safe and able to learn Earthbending. As the three travelers (and Momo!) take off on Appa, Katara shouts back to Master Pakku to “say ‘Hi’ to Gran Gran!” for her.
Pink cherry blossoms fall lightly on a town located on top of a river, where Uncle Iroh receives a well-deserved massage after “three weeks without food and water and sea vultures ready to pick out their liver.” Zuko is sitting down and leaning against the wall while wearing a ‘China Man’s’ hat. Uncle Iroh comes up to him and says, “It’s the anniversary, isn’t it?”
"Three years ago today I was banished. I lost it all. I want it back. I want the Avatar; I want my honor, my throne." Zuko concludes sentimentally, "I want my father, not to think I’m worthless."
At this, Uncle Iroh attempts to cheer Zuko up by saying that why would his father banish him if he didn’t care, but Zuko stands up and walks off. Iroh glances towards the masseurs and mutters that that came out wrong.
And now, a new character enters the Avatar story. We see a large Fire Nation ship and on it two long rows of soldiers bowing down, facing each other. The door opens and four men carry out a covered sedan chair. Two of them pull back the front curtain and an attractive girl in Fire Nation apparel steps out. She motions for the soldiers to rise, and narrates on how her brother and uncle have disgraced the Fire Lord and brought shame to all of them. “You may have mixed feelings about attacking members of the royal family, I understand. But I assure you, if you hesitate, I will not hesitate to bring you down. Dismissed.”
As the soldiers depart, the captain comes down and reports to Princess Azula that the tides will not allow them to dock before nightfall. She acts obtuse and asks him to explain. Then she asks him, “Do the tides command this ship?” At first the captain does not understand, but Azula makes her point quite clearly in her next few words. All you need to know is that when Princess Azula’s eyes are set on the goal, it doesn’t matter if she has to throw a few men overboard.
Meanwhile, Appa soars through the sky and Sokka points out the Earth Kingdom Base. A circular stonewall surrounds it with a pagoda in the center. When they land, they are greeted by General Fong and his group of about 20 men, who address them with respectful titles. Fireworks then burst into the sky from green capsules shot by Earthbender soldiers.
In a dimly lit room at the top of the pagoda, General Fong divulges his knowledge about the Northern Water Tribe attack and how Aang single-handedly took out the Fire Navy fleet. His point is that he believes Aang is ready to face the Fire Lord. Aang has this flabbergasted look on his face and Katara backs him up by saying that Aang still has to master all four elements. General Fong persists, saying that with Aang’s powers to wipe out hundreds of battleships in minutes, he can defeat the Fire Lord now. Sokka interrupts saying that Aang can only do that when he’s in the Avatar State. General Fong says he’s well aware that Aang’s eyes and tattoos glow and when he is in that state, he possesses unbelievable power. He continues, saying that with that power leading the way, as the “ultimate weapon”, the Earth Kingdom soldiers could go straight to the heart of the Fire Nation. Aang hesitates, saying that he doesn’t know how to get in or out of the Avatar State, and General Fong quickly says; “It’s decided then. I’ll help you figure out how to get into the Avatar State and then you’ll face your destiny.”
At this Katara counters back, saying that they already have a plan. Aang will face his destiny his own way. General Fong says that while they take their time learning the elements, the war goes on. Aang is brought to a window and General Fong shows him the wounded soldiers returning from the infirmary. “Those are the lucky ones. They came back. People are dying, Aang. You could end it. Now.”
Nearing sunset on the Fire Nation ship, Azula trains on the deck while two identical old ladies with their gray hair in buns scrutinize her movements. She shoots a beam of lightning into the open air and one of the ladies says, “Almost perfect.” While the other lady states “One hair out of place.” A crazed look enters Azula’s eyes as she glares at the misplaced hair and says, “Almost isn’t good enough,” and pushes the hair back. (Such a perfectionist). She does the lightning attack once more and Iroh wakes up in the place he and his nephew are staying at.
It is dark at the Base, and Aang tells General Fong that he’s in -- that he’ll fight the Fire Lord in the Avatar State. He returns to bed and tells Katara and Sokka. Katara strongly disagrees that this is not the right way, but Sokka reminds her of how incredible Aang was when he took out the Fire Navy. She argues that the right way takes practice and discipline, but Sokka counters with “Or, he could glow it up and stomp that Fire Lord!” Katara shouts that if they want to throw away everything they’ve worked for then fine, and exits the bedroom angrily. Aang calls after her that they don’t have time to do things the right way, but to no avail.
The next day Aang goes through several tasks, all of which don’t succeed. He is given this rare chi-enhancing tea that is supposed to increase his strength ten-fold, but instead it increases his energy and chattering. “I guess he could talk the Fire Lord to death…” Sokka mutters. For the second task Sokka tries to shock Aang into the Avatar State. Katara covers Aang’s eyes with her hands and when she moves he sees Sokka with Momo’s head screeching at him. Although it scares Aang, he doesn’t turn glowy. Sokka ends up losing balance and falls to the side. The third task is a ceremony. Aang is wearing a ceremonial piece of clothing from each of the bending nations, including an Earth Kingdom hat and a Water Tribe robe. An old man mixes the four elements of earth, water, fire, and air into a bowl and splashes it onto Aang, who says it’s just mud. “…Well, do you feel anything?” The old man asks. A moment of silence impends until Aang ends up sneezing, and the mud splatters all over Katara, Sokka, and General Fong. “We have to find a way.” He says.
Back at the tranquil village, Uncle Iroh drops his bag and shells pour out onto the wooden table. He picks some of them up saying how he’ll enjoy them for years to come, but Zuko scolds him because they have to carry everything themselves now. Across the room Azula’s voice is heard greeting them. The two turn around and Zuko asks her what she is doing here. She walks toward them, saying how ‘in her country’; pleasant hellos are exchanged before asking questions.
"Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zuzu?" She asks, and Zuko yells to not call him that. Uncle Iroh enters the conversation in a more respectful tone, but she crushes one of his shells, saying it must be a family trait to get straight to the point. She tells them that she came with a message from home. There are rumors of plans to overthrow their father, and that family is the only ones you can really trust. The mood changes when she says, "Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home."
At this unexpected news, Zuko’s expression softens and he looks out of the window, deep within his thoughts. But Azula is impatient for an answer and when Uncle Iroh tells her that Zuko simply needs a moment, she snaps at him. She continues to prod Zuko for an answer, but sees that he needs more time. She tells him that she’ll come back for them tomorrow.
Aang and Katara are gazing out at the mountains at the sunset, leaning against the parapet. Katara asks if he remembers when he saw Gyatso’s dead corpse at the Air temple. How traumatic it must have been for him, and how she saw him get so upset that he wasn’t even himself anymore. "I’m not saying that the Avatar State doesn’t have incredible - and helpful - power, but for the people who love you, watching you be in that much rage and pain is really scary." At these words, Aang thanks her, but still continues to go on with the training for the good of the people who die every day. "I’m already a hundred years late. Defeating the Fire Lord is the only way to stop this war. I have to try it!" Katara resigns and tells Aang that she won’t be coming to watch the next day.
It is nighttime at the village, and Zuko is ecstatic and packing his stuff for the next day. But his blissful mood makes him blind to Iroh’s advice, "I think it may not be for the reasons you imagine. In our family, things are not always what they seem." Zuko bursts out in rage and calls his uncle a lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who’s always been jealous of his brother. In order not to increase Zuko’s ire, Uncle Iroh says no more.
Back at the Base, Aang’s dream continues. This time, he sees himself in the water typhoon shown in Episode 2. Aang is knocked overboard by his avatar self and the avatar turns and glares at Zuko. A look of fear enters Zuko’s eyes, and he attempts to escape when his avatar self slashes out at him, causing Aang to spring awake. He then wakes up Sokka and tells him that he doesn’t want to bring on the avatar state, and asks if he thinks the General will be mad. Sokka says, "What can the General say? You’re the avatar; who knows better than you." But Aang still looks a little unsure.
Cherry blossoms fall gently on the stone steps as Zuko descends the next day. He sees the ship in the port and Uncle calls down to him to not leave without him. Zuko has this joyful look on his face (don’t see that often) when he hears his uncle’s call. "Family sticks together, right?" Uncle places a hand on Zuko’s shoulder and a memory of his father doing the exact same thing while they look out over the hill enters his mind. (The same memory shown in Episode 12) "We’re finally going home," Zuko says and gazes down at the ship once more along with his uncle. But as Zuko continues down the steps Iroh looks at the ship suspiciously.
At the Earth Kingdom Base, Aang tells General Fong that he has decided not to go through with the tasks anymore. The benevolent face of General Fong looks disappointed and asks him once more if he is certain. Aang tells him that the only way that he can only reach the Avatar State when he’s in genuine danger. General Fong says he was afraid of this, and Aang is completely taken by surprise when he sends his desk flying into Aang who is sent out of the top of the pagoda. Aang airbends to soften his fall and rolls out of the desk’s path just before it crashes to the ground. General Fong then gives the order for his soldiers to attack the Avatar.
Aang looks around at the gathering soldiers in disbelief, when General Fong jumps out of the pagoda and uses earthbending to land safely. Aang asks him what he’s doing, and he says, "We’re about to get results." Desperately, Aang dodges giant coin-shaped stones (the ones with the square hole in the middle) that are sent at him from every direction.
Sokka is being held captive in the pagoda by two soldiers, but kicks back with his heels to force the men to drop and release him.
Meanwhile, Aang air scooters and dodges stones and earthen walls jutting out of the ground. He scooters up the wall surrounding the city, but two Earth soldiers riding ostriches pursue. As the air ball runs out he continues running up the wall, but the two soldiers swing their weapons ahead of him and he back flips onto the ground once more. He dodges their attack again and runs across the field where a stone coin rises up around him and he’s pulled in front of General Fong. The general yells to him that he can’t run forever, and Aang shouts back that he can’t fight forever. At the port, sentries filed in two lines meet Zuko and Iroh. They walk in between the still sentries, Iroh gazing warily from one guard to another. The two stop before the ship and respectfully bow when Azula welcomes them. The captain asks her if they are ready to depart, and Azula sweetly says, "Set our course for home." At the word "home," Zuko repeats it reminiscently. Azula’s plan would have gone perfectly had it not been for the captain who orders the men to take the "prisoners" home. After a moment of silence and a death glare to the captain from Azula, Iroh leaps at the soldiers, sending one guard after another into the water. "You lied to me!" Zuko shouts to Azula in rage, and he battles his way up onto the deck of the ship.
As Aang continues to dodge the giant stones sent at him, Katara lies in her room when she hears the ominous shuddering. Wanting to make sure Aang is okay; she gets on her feet and exits. When she reaches the bottom of the outside stairs, she meets up with Sokka and he tells her what’s going on. Together, they enter the fight. Sokka manages to mount onto an ostrich. Katara uses the water from her gourd, but ends up being surrounded by the giant stones.
It’s her against General Fong. She sends a stream of water towards Fong, but is countered by dirt rising from the ground, which turns into mud instantaneously. Ruthlessly, General Fong sinks Katara’s feet into the ground. This action makes Aang throw air at the General, but he evades it by sending up an earthen wall. Sokka attempts to rescue his sister, but General Fong sinks the ostrich’s feet and he is sent flying off and into the square hole of the coin.
By now, Katara has sunk almost halfway into the ground and Aang is begging the General to let her go. He remains implacable and says to Aang that if he were in the Avatar State, he could save her. Tears stream out of Aang’s eyes as he says he’s trying. Now only Katara’s head is above the ground, and Aang is on his knees shouting that the General doesn’t have to do this. “Apparently, I do.” He says, and Katara is completely sinks into the earth. Aang attempts to grab her before she sinks, but he is too late. His whole body shakes uncontrollably and when Aang turns around, his eyes and tattoos are glowing and a look of hatred and rage shows clearly on his face. The general grins with delight and triumph that it worked, but his expression changes when he is sent flying into the wall.
At the port, Zuko is successful on reaching the deck. He kicks out both ways, sending the two guards overboard. He steps towards Azula and dagger-like flames appear behind his fists. On the dock, Iroh is fighting more of the guards and sending each of them into the water. He looks toward the ship and shouts, "Zuko! Let’s go!" before continuing to fight.
On deck, Zuko sends a flurry of firebending slashes at Azula, who dodges each attack easily with that smirk on her face. To add salt to the wound, Azula tells Zuko that their father blames Iroh for the loss at the North Pole, and that he believes Zuko to be a "miserable failure for not finding the Avatar. Why would he want you back home, except to lock you up where you can no longer embarrass him." She grins maliciously, and enraged Zuko persists in his offensive slashes. Azula continues to dodge his attacks, and scratches his forehead with her long nails. They battle up the steps until Azula decides to stop toying with him and grabs his wrist. They look at each other; Azula with her confident grin, and Zuko wondering what her next move will be. Rapidly, she sends a stream of blue flame out of her fingertips that sends Zuko flying onto the bottom deck. Zuko hazily looks up at Azula, who is generating a deadly lightning attack. But before Azula finishes can finish her brother off, Iroh absorbs the bolt and directs it into a cliff. He throws her overboard and he and Zuko run far away from the boat.
A dirt tornado surrounds Aang and General Fong calls out to him, explaining that it was all at trick to trigger his avatar state. Katara is brought out of the earth, breathing heavily and Aang descends down, sending a powerful earth force that obliterates the area.
Suddenly his spirit separates from his body and rises into the sky where Avatar Roku picks him up on his dragon. "It is time you learned," Avatar Roku states.
The two are taken among the yellow clouds and Avatar Roku explains to Aang the purpose of the Avatar State: it is a defense mechanism, designed to empower him with the skills and knowledge of all the past Avatars. "At the Avatar State, you are at your most powerful." When he explains the glow, four images are shown: one of Kyoshi levitating gargantuan statues; another showing a Waterbender sending a tidal wave; a third showing an Airbender directing wind powerfully against grass and trees; and a fourth showing a Firebender sending magma flying out of volcanoes.
"But, you are also at your most vulnerable."
Reincarnations of his former self are shown among the clouds. The previous avatars then line up and one by one disappear. Avatar Roku explains that if Aang is killed in the Avatar State, the reincarnation cycle will be broken and the Avatar will cease to exist.
So now Aang understands the importance and caution he must take when he is in the Avatar State. His spirit descends down into his body that is surrounded by an air shield, and Aang gazes shamefully at the devastation he has caused. Katara runs to Aang and comforts him and he apologizes to Katara, hoping that she will never see him like that ever again. But General Fong comes up at that moment, and tells Aang that his avatar state was almost perfect and that they just need to find a way to control it (can you believe him?). In his fervor, General Fong doesn’t notice Sokka riding on an ostrich and knocking him unconscious from behind. Sokka asks if the other soldiers have a problem with that, and they quickly shake their head no. The three are ready to depart for Omashu.
In the tranquil village, Azula holds up a wanted poster with the faces of Zuko and Iroh and warns the villagers that if anyone were to harbor these traitors, they would face the Fire Lord’s wrath.
Between the sakura trees, Zuko and Iroh still run onwards until they reach a glade. Here they kneel down to rest by the river. Solemnly, Zuko takes out a knife engraved with symbols on the blade and waits a moment, before cutting his hair. With that one cut, he has thrown away his honor, his throne; everything that he had been fighting for in the past since his banishment. He passes the knife to Uncle who understands as well. Both drop their cut hair into the river and the two stand together in the glade: two outcasts, two refugees.