Me: Okay so are you guys ready for this episode?

All: YEAH!!

Me: okay lets start.

_

BOOK2: EARTH.

CHAPTER 18: THE EARTH KING.

_

(ends 1:42)

(The scene opens over the vast waters of Lake Laogai. Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Appa and Momo have stopped on a tiny islet in the center of the lake. Aang is embracing Appa, clinging to the fur on the bison's massive brow.)

(ardently) I missed you more than you'll ever know, buddy.

(Momo alights next to Aang, also hugging Appa. Appa licks a laughing Aang off of his face with his huge tongue. Pulling back, we see Sokka walk over to talk with Katara and Toph, who is sitting on the ground.)

_

All: awww.

_

(confidently) Look, we escaped from the Dai Li, we got Appa back, I'm telling you, we should go to the Earth King now and tell him our plan. We're on a roll.

(critically) One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll.

_

Zuko: definatly not.

_

We can build on it. If we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens, we need the Earth King's support.

_

ZukoL I don't know.

Suki: I mean maybe.

_

(Aang continues petting Appa in the background.)

What makes you think we'll get it? I don't know if you've noticed, but things don't usually go that smoothly for our little gang.

_

Zuko: Most definatly not.

_

I know, but I've got a good feeling about this. This time will be different.

(unconvinced) Sokka, Long Feng is control of the city. His conspiracy with the Dai Li is too powerful. I think we should just keep flying and leave this horrible place behind us.

I'm with sweetness. I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se, (raises arms and opens eyes wide) and I can't even see!

_

Toph: well I have definatly SEEN enough of ba sing se and we aren't even there.

_

(leaping into the scene) But now that we have Appa back, there is nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth about the conspiracy and the war.

_

Zuko: there is quite alot of things that can stop you.

Sokka: Like?

Zuko: their gaurds and the dai li still exsits and so does long feng.

Sokka: okay true but..

_

See, Aang's with me. (puts arm over smiling Aang's shoulder, flashing a wide grin) It's the whole reason we came here in the first place, we have to try.

(thoughtfully) Well, I guess if the Earth King knew the truth, things could change. (both boys smile again)

(rising to feet) I don't trust the new positive Sokka. (points accusingly) Long Feng brainwashed you, didn't he!

_

They all chuckle.

_

(Aang suddenly notices something off to his left. He rushes to the edge of the water, and we see that he has spied three Earth Kingdom ships off in the distance. Katara and Sokka rush up beside him.)

That's probably the Dai Li searching for us. (turns to Katara) So?

(pauses, then decisively) Let's fly!

_

Suki: YEAH!!

_

(Cut to Appa, soaring toward the palace of Ba Sing Se. He roars defiantly as he turns to start his descent. The heroes are clinging to the fur on his back, with Aang riding on his neck. Toph in particular is holding on for dear life.)

(pleading) Can we please buy a new saddle? Riding bareback is terrifying! (buries face in Appa's back)

_

Zuko: Looks scary.

Toph: it's scary than it looks.

_

(In another shot, we see Appa descending toward the distant palace, a massive complex at the center of the city, surrounded by a circular wall.)

There it is. That whole thing is the palace. The Earth King's chambers should be in the center. (another shot of the palace, and the vast open plaza in front)

We have to be careful. Long Feng's probably warned the King that we're coming.

Why would you assume that? If you ask me, I think we're just gonna sail right in....Ahhh!

_

Zuko: I knew it.

_

(Appa evades a massive stone that streaks up and past them, leaving a billowing trail of dust behind it. The sky-bison emerges from the smoke cloud with a growl of defiance.)

(shouting over the wind) What was that?!

(shouting in alarm) Surface to air rocks! (below, several rows of massive, puck-shaped boulders are being launched skyward by teams of earthbending troops) More incoming! Ahhh!

(Appa manages to evade several more of the streaking missiles, which are being shot in rapid succession. Two earthbenders lift the Appa-sized stones from the ground, and two more rush forward to send one hurtling toward the heroes.Aang stares steadily ahead at the palace as the fly over the launch sites. One of the massive stones arcs directly at him, but he backhands it casually, shattering it without even glancing away.

_

All: WOAH.

Suki: that was cool.

Aang: thank you.

Toph: niceone twinkletoes.

Aang: thanks.

_

Appa emerges from the dust once more as more projectiles streak towards him. Aang splits a boulder with a strike of his staff, sending either half safely to the side.

Below, an earth kingdom commander, mounted upon an armored ostrich-horse, signals to the scores of earthbenders arrayed behind him on the central causeway. Appa continues to plunge toward the palace, with Aang perched on his left horn.

The Avatar leaps downward to land directly in front of the commander. Striking the ground with the full force of his descent, Aang earthbends a cascading ring of rising stone blocks, which spread outward like a shockwave. The earthbender troops are flung into the air like rag-dolls, to drop insensible to the plaza surface.

Appa lands directly in front of the mounted commander, and bringing his huge face close, knocks him off his mount with a mighty roar. The ostrich horse flees in panic, and the commander crawls away.

Aang stride forward with an intense glare, as behind him the others leap to dismount from Appa's back. Everyone dashes together toward the palace stairs along the block-paved causeway.

Ahead, more earthbenders line either side of their path. Acting in unison, each bends up a head-sized block of stone, and punches it at the heroes. Aang swipes some of them from the air, while Toph pushes up projections of stone to block others. Twirling his staff around his body, the Avatar causes the large stone blocks of the causeway to rotate, shielding them from yet more of the attacks.

_

Suki: yeah!!!!

_

Meanwhile, Katara is stunning the men with vicious cracks of her long water whip.)

Sorry! (winces at the soldiers cries of pain)

(Yet another group of earthbenders rush down the causeway toward them. With a single earthbending move, Toph flips the causeway up like so many dominoes, then topples them backwards. The soldiers are pinned helplessly at the waist by the large sheets of stone. Katara addresses them as she rushes past.)

Sorry! We just need to get through to see the Earth King.

(From a high view, we see the heroes approaching a moat at the foot of the wide stairs. More earthbender troops wait up the first flight of stairs, and dozens more approach from either flank. With a tremendous effort, the benders on the stairs lift a pair of enormous badger-mole statues. They hurl them from atop the stairs to plunge down at the heroes. Sokka looks up in horror as the statue's shadow falls over him. Toph and Aang quickly bend up a massive barrier of stone blocks over everyone, and the two statues ricochet off it with ground-shaking crash.

_

Suki: you guys are so in sync.

_

Spotting another group of soldiers, she sends out a tentacle of water to snatch them into the moat as well.Emerging from behind the barrier, Katara dashes forward, drawing her water once more from her reserve. She crafts a narrow arcing ramp on the edge of the moat ahead of her. She uses it to launch herself up and over the moat, simultaneously drawing a tendril of water from below her. She twirls in the air, imparting a spin to the long strand orbiting her. Landing gracefully, she slaps them into the moat, tumbles and lands in a defensive stance.

_

Suki: that was good move.

Katara: Yes it was and thank you.

_

Aang leaps across the moat, and with a frigid gust of wind he freezes the surface of the water, trapping the guardsmen. Appa and the others make their way across the bridge behind him. The heroes regroup on the other side of the moat, as more rocks rain down from atop the towering main palace stair. Yet another wave of warriors pours forth from the palace, racing down the stairs to join the battle. With a mighty expression of earthbending power, Toph causes the entire length of the great stair to begin folding in on itself, leaving a smooth stone ramp. The earth guard begin to slide helplessly downward, as Toph and Aang bend an elevator platform of stone and begin ascending the ramp. Dozen of soldiers fall past them as they rise.)

_

SUki: that's pretty cool.

Zuko: that must've hurt.

Toph: maybe.

_

Seriously, we're actually on your guys' side. (soldiers continue to slide past) Sorry.

(As the earthbending elevator reaches the top of the stairs, another dozen earthguards close in from either flank. Toph and Aang each bend up a wall of stone, and use them to drive back the approaching warriors. Finally, the team reaches the entrance to the palace proper, and hurry inside.)

In there.

(Rushing down a long hall, they come to a four-way intersection in a large vaulted room. More guards issue from the other three passageways. With a stomp of her foot, Toph pins several of the to the ceiling with up-thrust pillars of rock. As she continues to wield her powers against them, Sokka addresses her.)

Toph, which way to the Earth King?

How should I know? I'm still voting that we leave Ba Sing Se.

(As she finishes speaking, Toph drives two guards back with a rippling wave of stone. As the other continue the fight, Sokka starts pushing open doors. Inside the third room, a woman in an elegant dress is standing before a long mirror.)

(screaming) Burglar! (tries to run, trips and falls on her face)

_

They all chuckle.

Aang: hope that lady is fine.

_

(closing door behind him) Sorry, wrong door.

(ends 1:25)

(The scene changes to the exterior of the apartment buildings where Zuko and Iroh stay. Looking through their window, we see a downtrodden Zuko enter the apartment, followed by a pleased-looking Iroh.)

You did the right thing, letting the Avatar's bison go free. (closes door behind him)

(feebly) I don't feel right.

_

Sokka: you don't look good.

_

(From Zuko's point of view, we see his vision begin to blur and grow dark. He suddenly collapses unconscious to the floor, breaking a vase in the process.)

(alarmed) Zuko! (rushes to his nephews side)

_

All but zuko: oh!

Aang: What? why did you faint?

Zuko: turmoil.

All but zuko: ???

_

(Returning to the Earth King's palace, we find the heroes standing in a vast hall. Behind them the passage is choked with rubble and wreckage. Turning, Sokka climbs atop the debris to look past it. Down the passageway he spies a massive set of double doors, clad in gold.)

_

Suki: That might be the door.

_

Now that's an impressive door. It's gotta go somewhere.

(Leaping down and sprinting down the hall, Sokka launches a flying kick at the colossal doors. His foot impacts with absolutely no effect, and he hangs in the air a moment before dropping comically to the floor. )

_

All but sokka: chuckles.

zuko: that was sad.

_

(He jumps up and begins pushing ineffectually at them, just as Toph and Aang close in behind him. They strike the doors with their bending powers, causing them to explode off their hinges. With a startled cry, Sokka is flung inward with the doors, and skids to a stop on his face.)

_

Zuko: ouch.

A little warning next time! (rubs the back of his head as he rises)

_

Aang: sorry.

Sokka: it's fine.

_

(The heroes rush past the fallen doors into a vast chamber lined with ornate pillars and lit by hanging lanterns. The draw to a stop before a large dais, weapons at the ready. Seated upon a golden throne is the Earth King himself. He is a bespectacled young man wearing a simple crown and necklace of jade beads. Long Feng suddenly interposes himself in front of the king, followed by a protective line of Dai Li agents. Both sides seem prepared to join battle.)

(urgently) We need to talk to you!

(turning to the king) They're here to overthrow you.

_

Suki: what a liar.

_

No, we're on your side. We're here to help.

(appealing) You have to trust us.

(rising with an aggravated tone) You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?

_

Zuko: he does have a point.

Toph: exactly.

_

(sardonically) He has a good point.

If you're own my side, then drop your weapons and stand down. (one by one, the heroes drop their weapons to the floor)

(attempting charm) See, we're friends, your Earthiness.

(The King, unimpressed, continues to frown grimly. With a wave of his arm, Long Feng signals for the Dai Li to attack. They project their stone gloves at the startled heroes, binding their arms behind their backs. As Aang strains against his bonds, Long Feng smiles wickedly, and the scene fades to black.)