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BOOK 3: FIRE

CHAPTER 11: THE INVASION PART 2: THE ECLIPSE

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Sokka: here we go.

Aang: yup.

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(The episode opens with a shot of the sun with the moon just beginning to overlap it. )

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Suki: ooh it's gonna start soon.

Sokka: yup it is.

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(Cut to a shot of the submarines at the water, guarded by Hue and six other warriors. The camera tilts up to the plaza. Destroyed, smoking tanks are strewn about. Cut to an overhead shot of the plaza. Fire Nation tanks and soldiers are shooting fire blasts at the caterpillar tanks, which have formed a semi circle against the plaza wall. Cut to a close up of the caterpillar tanks. The sides flip open and earthbender lob stones at the firebenders. Cut to a shot of a Fire Nation soldier signaling the catapults to fire. The projectiles fly through the air as the earthbenders' stones and shockwaves destroy the catapults.

Cut to a shot of and zoom in on Sokka, Bato, and an earthbender examining a map on the ground from behind the tanks. Behind them, Toph shoots a rock through the side of the tank just before a fireball collides with into the tank. Sokka winces at the loud explosion. Sokka looks up and sees Katara helping Hakoda through the plaza's large doorways. He is holding his side, still wounded.)

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Suki: oh and there is hakoda and katara.

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: Dad! You're on your feet again.

(Sokka and Toph run towards Katara and Hakoda. Katara lets Hakoda sit down.)

: Thanks to your sister. I'm in no shape to fight but maybe there is someway I could help.

: Everything's going smoothly and the eclipse hasn't even kicked in yet.

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Zuko: but it sure is kicking in soon.

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: Let's hope our luck holds out. Katara, you seem distracted. Is something wrong?

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Suki: aang.

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(Katara takes a few steps forward and looks out in the distance.)

: Yeah... Is that... is that Aang?

: What?

(Aang can be seen gliding towards them, dodging the numerous fireballs. He lands in front of his friends.)

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Suki chuckles

Suki: oh I was right it was aang.

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: Please tell you're here because the Fire Lord turned out to be a big wimp and you didn't even need the eclipse to take him down?

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Toph: Nope everyone is GONE.

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: He wasn't home. No one was. The entire palace city is abandoned.

(Cut to a close up of Sokka's profile. The camera rotates around to his front as he comes to a realization.)

: They knew.

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Zuko: of course they did.

Toph: A z u l a what does that spell Azula!

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: It's over. The Fire Lord is probably long gone. Far away on some remote island where he'll be safe during the eclipse.

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Zuko: more or less.

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: No. My instincts tell me he wouldn't go too far. He would have a secret bunker. Somewhere he could go so it'll be safe during a siege but still be close enough to lead his nation.

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Zuko: nice.

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: If it's an underground secret bunker we're looking for, I'm just the girl to find it.

(Sokka pulls out a small device resembling a pocket watch. It ticks, and there is a dial and notches on one section of it.)

: The Mechanist gave me this timing device. It looks like we've got about 10 minutes until the full eclipse. 10 minutes to find the Fire Lord.

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Suki: but sadly that didn't happen.

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: We can still do this. We can still win the day.

: Wait. If they knew we were coming, it could all be a trap. Maybe we should use the time we have left to make sure all of us get out of here safely.

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Zuko: that's probably a good idea but we all know that's not what happened.

Toph: no kiddinhg.

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: Everyone who's here today came prepared to risk everything for this mission. They know what's at stake. If there's still a chance and there's still hope, I think they would want Aang to go for it.

: What do you think? You're the one who has to face the Fire Lord. Whatever you decide, I'm with you.

(Aang stands up and faces toward the battlefield.)

: I've got to try.

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Suki: WOOHOO.

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(The camera zooms out and the scene fades to a shot of Appa flying towards the top of the volcano where the Fire Nation capital is. He lands on the side, and Aang, Sokka, and Toph jump off him.)

: Do you feel anything down there?

: (her hand to the ground) Yep. There are natural tunnels criss-crossing through the inside of the volcano.

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Suki: those ho;es are probably man made. Must have been really hard to make the holes.

Sokka: and hot.

Suki: yeah.

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: Anything else? Is there a structure somewhere?

: (she extends her hands to each side before plunging them into the ground, gripping the earth with her fingers) There's something big, dense, and made of metal deep in the heart of the volcano.

: Sounds like a secret bunker to me.

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Katara: sure does.

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(Toph thrusts her hands forward, bending a hole into the side of the volcano. Momo chirps and curiously sticks his head out from behind the headpiece on Appa's armor.)

: Stay safe. We'll be back soon.

(Toph, Sokka, and Aang enter though the hole into a dark tunnel. Toph kneels down and feels the ground before running down one side of the tunnel. Sokka and Aang quickly follow.)

: This way! That one's a dead end.

: What would we do without you?

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Toph: would be dead by now.

Suki: welll.... yeah that's about right.

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: Perish and burn in hot magma.

(They crawl past a small stream of lava and Sokka flinches away from it.)

: Yeah, pretty much.

(The three of them come to a cavern filled with active lava vents all over the floor.)

: The tunnel continues on the other side and it leads right to the bunker.

: We'll have to be fast but careful.

(Sokka attempts to run across, but is immediately stopped by one of the vents erupting. He yells in surprise and shields himself as Aang swings his staff at it, bending a gust of wind and cooling down the lava.)

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katara: that wasn't careful.

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: How was that careful?

: I was wrong. We need to be fast, careful and lucky.

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Katara: really lucky.

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(Toph, Aang, and Sokka run across the cavern, carefully dodging the steam and lava coming from the vents. Cut to a shot of the three from the front, covered in a red glow. They all stop and look dismayed. The camera quickly zooms out to reveal them standing on a small cliff above a large river of lava.)

: There's no floor! It's just a river of lava.

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Sokka: how did they get through this.

Katara: they probably didn't have too cause they probably have another entrance to the bunker.

Zuko: we did.

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(Aang spins his staff and extends the glider wings.)

: Climb aboard and hold on tight.

(Cut to a shot of Sokka and Toph holding on to the top of Aang's glider as he glides through the lava tunnel, screaming with fright. Aang banks left and right, avoiding a stone column and a lava explosion. They all make it to the other side and land easily before continuing on foot.

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Suki: well that's scary.

Sokka: it was.

Toph: especially for me.

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Cut to an overhead shot of the cavern floor. The camera zooms out and tilts up to show Aang, Toph, and Sokka running up to a large metal bunker built against the cavern wall.)

: That's some door!

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Katara: sure is.

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(Toph walks up to the door, places her ear against it, and knocks on it, producing a metallic thud.)

: Not a problem.

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Katara: I bet.

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(Toph takes a step back before bashing her elbows into the door, fracturing and denting it. She takes another step back, kisses her middle and index fingers, and forcefully stabs them through the middle of the door. Toph kicks a hole through the metal. Cut to a shot of the other side of the door as Toph's leg bursts through. She widens the opening and steps through. With sound effect added, Toph points in a direction and takes off, followed by Aang and Sokka.)

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Zuko: well okay.

Suki: wow.

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: I am so glad we added you to the group.

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Katara: yeah me too.

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(Cut to an overhead shot of the Fire Nation capital. The camera tilts down to the invasion force making their way up the path towards the top. Cut to an overhead shot of three caterpillar tanks and a legion of soldiers moving up the path while fireballs are flung at them. Cut to a shot of a Fire Nation battlement from below as a firebender throws fireballs from it. The camera zooms out to show the fireball hitting the metal shields that the earthbenders are carrying over their heads. The Boulder and the Hippo run towards the cliffside under the battlement, slap their hands against it, and earthbend an avalanche, demolishing the battlement.

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All: nice.

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The same is done to another battlement. Cut to a shot of one of the Fire Nation commanding officers. The camera rotates around him as he turns around and looks at the sky. The moon is slowly starting to move over the sun.)

: Retreat! Everyone move to secondary defensive position! Retreat!

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Katara: is this when-

Zuko: yup.

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(The battlement behind him tips over and falls over. Three firebenders retreat as three caterpillar tanks draw close to them. Cut to a shot of Bato hanging on the back of one of the tanks, addressing the other soldiers.)

: The eclipse is only minutes away. We should be able to make it up the hill by the time it starts and secure the entire palace by the time it's finished!

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Suki: I know what happens but YEAH!!!!

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(The soldiers all give a hearty battle cry. Cut to Katara holding Hakoda over her shoulder.)

: We can wait here if you want.

: No. I want to press forward with the others.

(Katara and Hakoda continue forward. Cut to a shot of the rafters inside the Fire Nation bunker. The camera tilts down to War Minister Qin walking down a tunnel. The camera zooms out to show Aang, Sokka, and Toph running down a tunnel on the other side that merges with the first one. Qin whistles a tune just as he comes to the end of the wall and the three kids run past him. He gasps in shock, alerting the three to his presence. The turn around and brandish their weapons at him, Toph stomping the ground and popping a rocking into the air. Qin presses his back against the wall and raises his hands in surrender.)

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Katara,Suki: oh?

Katara: I thought he wouldn't well you know.

Suki: me too.

Sokka: yeah it surprised me too.

Aang: same.

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: The Fire Lord's chamber is that way down the hall to the left and up the stairs. You can't miss it.

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Zuko: well that's not where it is, it's on the other side down then to the right.

Sokka: dang it!

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(Aang, Sokka, and Toph all step in closer to him. Cut to a shot from just above Qin's head of Aang and Sokka glaring up at him.)

: (suddenly smiles cheerfully) Thanks.

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they all chuckle.

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(They leave Qin, Sokka giving him one last dirty look. Once their gone, Qin breathes a sigh of relief, looks left and right to make sure no one saw anything, composes himself and continues walking and whistling as if nothing happened. Cut to a shot of the tunnel floor's level as Aang, Sokka, and Toph run past. Sokka pulls out the Mechanist's device and checks their time.)

: Only 30 seconds until the total eclipse.

(Cut to a shot of the three coming to another large door with a flame symbol on the front and at the top. Aang takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. Cut to a close up of Aang.)

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Zuko: that's defiantly not the door.

Sokka: no kidding.

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: I'm ready. I'm ready to face the Fire Lord.

(The camera zooms out just as Aang spins his staff up and forward. Cut to a shot of the other side of the door as it is blown off its hinges by Aang's blast of air. The camera zooms way out to show that the room is one large hall supported by thick metal beams on both sides, lit by torchlight. There is a single throne at the end of the hall. Cut to a shot from the front of the hall as Aang, Sokka, and Toph run inside. Azula is lounging on the throne.)

: So, you are alive after all.

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Aang: I sure am.

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(Cut to a shot of Aang in utter, speechless shock. Zoom out to show all three of them. Sokka is as shocked as Aang. Cut to a shot of the bottom of the throne and tilt up towards Azula.)

: I had a hunch that you survived. It doesn't matter, I've known about the invasion for months.

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Toph: no kidding.

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(Cut to a profile shot of Aang, still shocked, before the scene cuts to a shot of Zuko from behind, standing in front of a much smaller door within the tunnels. He has his broadswords slung on his back. Cut to a shot of him from a low angle.)

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Sokka: now that's a fire lord looking door.

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: I'm ready to face you.

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All but zuko: oh.

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(Cut to a shot of the other side of the door and zoom out as Zuko slides it open. There are elite guards with spears standing at the front. Cut to a shot of Fire Lord Ozai. He is just about to take a sip from a steaming cup of tea when he notices Zuko.)

: Prince Zuko, what are you doing here?

(Cut to a shot from behind Ozai and zoom out. Zuko walks towards the line of guards.)

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Zuko: here we go.

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(The show returns with a shot of the moon passing over the sun, covering almost all of it. Cut to a far, overhead shot of the invasion force on the side of the volcano. The camera shifts over to focus of the capital in the crater. Shift to a close shot of water tribe warriors marching up the volcano. A tank passes by on the other side. The Mechanist walks on screen and looks back.)

: The eclipse is starting. Put on your eclipse glasses.

(The Mechanist takes off his monocle and places a visor with thin slits over his eyes. The warriors stop marching for a moment and do the same before continuing on. Cut to a shot of Katara and Hakoda with their eclipse glasses on as they look towards the sun. )

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Suki: not gonna lie the eclipse glasses look weird .

Katara: yeah.

Sokka: but it works.

Suki: yeah I guess.

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(Cut to a shot of the eclipse as the moon completely blacks out the sun. The scene cuts to Zuko standing in front of Ozai and his guards.)

: Why are you here?

: I'm here to tell the truth.

: Telling the truth during the middle of an eclipse. This should be interesting.

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Sokka: must be.

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(Ozai waves his hand and his guards leave through doors on both sides of the chamber.)

: First of all, in Ba Sing Se, it was Azula who took down the Avatar, not me.

: Why would she lie to me about that?

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Sokka: cause she wants to blame zuko if aang were alive and well he is soooo.

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: Because the Avatar is not dead. He survived.

: (alarmed) What?!

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they all chuckled.

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: In fact, he probably is leading this invasion. He could be on us right now.

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Aang: sadly no.

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: (stands up and points, furious) Get out! Get out of my sight right now if you know what's good for you.

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Aang: this is what's good for him.

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: That's another thing. I'm not taking orders from you anymore.

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All but zuko: YEAH GO ZUKO.

Zuko: :)

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: (seething with rage) You will obey me or this defiant breathe will be your last!

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Toph: ha jokes on you.

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(Ozai begins to walk towards Zuko, until Zuko unsheathes his broadswords and brandishes them at him.)

: Think again! I am going to speak my mind and you are going to listen.

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All but zuko: YEAH GO ZUKO!!

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(Cut to a close up of Ozai as he sits back down before the scene cuts to a shot of Aang, Toph, and Sokka, ready to fight.)

: Where is he? Where is the Fire Lord?

: (sarcastically) Hm, you mean I'm not good enough for you? You're hurting my feelings.

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Toph chuckles.

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: (brandishes his sword) Stop wasting our time and give us the information. You're powerless right now so you're in no position to refuse.

: And stick to the truth. I'll be able to tell if you're lying.

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Zuko: I don't think so.

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: Are you sure? I'm a pretty good liar.

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Zuko: no kidding.

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(her face becomes completely expressionless) I am a 400 foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings.

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Suki: she really said that expressionless.

Zuko: yup.

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: (after a brief pause) Okay you're good, I admit it. (bends the earth underneath Azula so that it encases her is a conical shape) But you really ought to consider telling the truth anyway.

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Zuko: like she'll comply.

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(Azula gives a small smirk. The camera zooms out from her as the stone trap shatters. Sokka, Aang, and Toph are all shocked. Azula keeps smirking as she brushes some rubble off her shoulder.)

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Katara and suki: ???

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: When I left Ba Sing Se, I brought home some souvenirs. (two Dai Li agents drop from the ceiling and land in front of her) Dai Li agents.

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Katara and suki: oh.