Me: You guys ready?

All: YEAH!

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BOOK 3: FIRE.

CHAPTER 13: THE FIREBENDING MASTERS

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Zuko and aang: oh.

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(The episode opens up to the sky and the camera slowly pans down to an upside down pagoda in The Western Air Temple)

: (off screen) I know you're nervous, (the camera stops and reveals Zuko and Aang standing at the balcony of one of the pagoda's) but remember... firebending in and of itself is not something to fear.

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Aang: definatly.

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: (Cut to close-up shot of Aang who sighs and looks hesitant) Ok. Not something to fear. (he still looks unsure)

: (Cut to Zuko crossing his arms) But if you don't respect it, (raises his voice, camera zooms in on his face to emphasize the point of treating fire with respect) it'll chew you up and spit you out like an angry komodo rhino!

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Katara: Zuko!

Zuko: hey I'm just being honest here.

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(Cut to Aang who gives a yelp of fear)

: Now show me what you've got. Any amount of fire you can make.

(Aang exhales, takes in a nervous breath and attempts to firebend. The camera cuts to his palm which releases a small cloud of smoke which dissipates within a second. Camera moves to the left to show Aang smiling sheepishly.)

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Toph: hahahahahahaha

Sokka: hahaha

The rest chuckles.

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: Maybe I need a little more instruction. Perhaps a demonstration?

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Toph: probably.

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: (Camera zooms up to show an aerial view of where they're standing) Good idea. You might want to take a couple steps back.

(He gestures Aang to move backward and Aang does so. Cut to a close-up of Zuko who takes in a breath, grunts and proceeds to firebend. Camera zooms out to show that the result is a rather small pathetic burst of flame. The music emphasizes his failure in a comical way. Aang applauds.)

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Toph: hhahahahahhaha.

Sokka: hahahaha

the rest chuckle.

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: (Zuko recoils back in confusion) What was that?! That was the worst firebending I've ever seen! (moves his hand in a "What is wrong?!" gesture)

: (looks to the floor) I thought it was, (looks back at Zuko) nice. (shrugs)

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they all chuckle.

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(Zuko grunts again and firebends in rapid succession. All his flames are small like the first. He grunts in frustration and stares at his palms)

: (angrily) Why is this happening?!

: Maybe it's the altitude.

: (turns away from Aang) Yeah, could be. (looks unsure and lost)

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Katara: yeah I don't think so.

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(Camera pans around the temple and drops down to Zuko and Aang, who have found a spot lower in altitude. Aang is sitting on a broken pillar and watches Zuko firebend with the same results. Zuko grunts in frustration and unleashes another blast with no improvement. Aang yawns and lies down.)

: Just breathe, and... (pauses to firebend again.)

(Cut to Aang who sits up)

: That one kind of felt hot.

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Toph: omg hahahahahaha.

The rest chuckle.

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: (lashes out) Don't patronize me. You know what it's supposed to look like! (throws his hand out)

: Sorry Sifu Hotman.

: (raises his arms and shouts) And stop calling me that! (Aang cringes)

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They all laugh.

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(Cut to Sokka walking into screen and biting on an apple. He finds a spot and sits down to observe the two.)

: Hey, jerks. Mind if I watch you two jerks do your jerk bending?

: Get out of here! (makes a "Get lost" movement with his arm)

:(looking amused) Ok, take it easy. (drops his apple core, waves his hand in dismissal) I was just kidding around. (stands up to adjust his shirt) Jerk bending, still got it. (Zuko drops his head down and moans while Aang looks on)

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Sokka: Yeah still got it.

The rest: .....

Sokka: oh come on.

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(Scene changes to night at the temple. Appa is seen resting near one of the fountains. Camera zooms in to Appa licking a small bale of hay. Camera moves to the right to reveal Zuko leaning on a column with his arms crossed, deep in thought. He turns his head back to the campfire where everyone is settled for dinner. He walks toward them.)

: Listen everybody; (everyone turns their head towards him) I've got some pretty bad news. I've lost my stuff. (drops his head dejectedly)

: (cut to Toph who raises both arms to show she's innocent) Don't look at me. I didn't touch your stuff. (folds arms)

: I'm talking about my firebending. It's gone.

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They all laugh.

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(Camera moves out to show Teo, Sokka, Haru and The Duke looking at him. The Duke attempts to sit up. Katara laughs maniacally. Camera pans to show that everyone is looking at her. Cut to Zuko who looks annoyed.)

: I'm sorry. I'm just laughing at the irony. You know... how it would have been nice for us if you lost your firebending a long time ago?

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All: oooh.

Suki: ooh katara.

Katara: yes yes I know.

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: Well it's not lost. It's just weaker for some reason.

: (holding up her bowl and glaring daggers at Zuko) Maybe you're just not as good as you think you are.

: Ouch.

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Toph: yeah OUCH.

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: I bet it's because I changed sides.

: That's ridiculous. (drinks the contents in the bowl)

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Zuko: nope.

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: I don't know. Maybe it isn't. Maybe your firebending comes from

rage, and you just don't have enough anger to fuel it the way you used to.

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Suki: makes sense.

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: (Cut to Sokka who enters comically into screen) So, all we need to do is make Zuko angry... easy enough.

(He proceeds to nudge Zuko in the waist and head with the hilt of his sword several times.)

: (bellows) Ok, cut it out! (Sokka stops what he is doing and his sword falls on his head)

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They all chuckle.

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Look... even if you're right, (rubs the bridge of his nose) I don't want to rely on hate and anger anymore. There has to be another way.

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Aang: there sure is.

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: You're gonna need to learn to draw your firebending (Sokka enters the screen, rubbing his head) from a different source. I recommend

the original source. (puts food into her mouth and chews)

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Toph: defianatly.

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: How's he supposed to do that? By jumping into a volcano?

: (swallows her food) No. Zuko needs to go back to whatever the original source of firebending is.

: So is it jumping into a volcano?

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Katara: I don't think so.

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: I don't know. For earthbending, (Camera slowly zooms in on Toph's face) the original benders were badgermoles.

(Cut to a flashback. A younger Toph in her fancy gown is seen kneeling in a dark cave.)

: (voiceover) One day, when I was little, I ran away and hid in a cave.

(Cut to young Toph who is crying. The screen suddenly rumbles and a wall behind Toph explodes. She opens her eyes in shock and fear. Camera cuts to the back of Toph. The cloud of dust settles and a foot of a badgermole stomps into screen.)

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All: awwwwww

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: That's where I met them.

(Toph cringes in fear. The badgermole's snout comes into screen and sniffs the little girl. Toph sniffs back and the badgermole licks her cheek with its giant tongue and she giggles with delight. She feels the badgermole's snout with both hands before licking it and giggles once again.)

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All: awwww

Aang: that's really cute and amazing

Katara: it is.

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: They were blind, just like me, (The badgermole moves away from Toph and she attempts to crawl after it) so we understood each other. I was able to learn earthbending, (Cut to the top view of the badgermole which moves its paws in a sweeping motion) not just as a martial art, but as an

extension of my senses. (Camera fades in to the top view of Toph who is mimicking its actions) For them, the original earthbenders, (The badgermole senses a pile of rocks and earthbends them to the side) wasn't just about fighting. It was their way of interacting with the World.

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Suki: and that's how you interacted with the world.

Toph: yup.

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(Toph stops crawling and stands up. She earthbends a small boulder and smiles at her success)

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all: awwwww

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(Camera fades back to Toph in the temple)

: (off screen) That's amazing, Toph. I learned from the monks, but the original airbenders were the Sky Bison.

(Camera slowly zooms out from the group to show a mural of 3 sky bisons overlooking the campfire.) Maybe you can give me a lesson sometime buddy.

(Cut back to Aang who leans back to address Appa. Appa growls in acknowledgement.)

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They all chuckle.

Suki: awww

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: Well, this doesn't help me. The original firebenders were the dragons, and they're extinct.

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Zuko: yeah.....

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: What do you mean? Roku had a dragon, and there were plenty of

dragons when I was a kid.

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Sokka: still are.

Aang: A younger kid.

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: (defensive) Well, they aren't around anymore, ok?

: Ok, ok. (moves his arm around in an appeasing gesture) I'm sorry.

: But maybe there's another way. (walks towards the fountain) The first people to learn from the dragons were the ancient Sun Warriors.

: (He comes into screen and joins Zuko) Sun Warriors? Well, I know they weren't around when I was a kid.

: No, they died off thousands of years ago, but their civilization wasn't too far from where we are now. Maybe we can learn something by poking around their ruins.

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Katara: ooh this is exciting we get to see how you guys learned your firebending.

Zuko and aang look at each other nervously then back at screen.

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: It's like the monks used to tell me. Sometimes, the shadows of the past can be felt by the present.

: (off screen) So, what? (Zuko and Aang turn their head towards the voice) Maybe you'll pick up some super old Sun Warrior energy just by standing (moving his hand in a fluttering motion) where they stood 1000 years ago?

: More or less. Either I find a new way to firebend, or the Avatar has to find a new teacher. (Aang looks worried)

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Suki: oooh well good thing you found away.

Zuko: yeah.

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(The show returns to Appa flying over a vast ocean. Cut to Zuko who looks bored)

: We've been riding for hours. I don't know why, but I thought this thing would be a lot faster. (He looks down and the camera zooms out to show Appa's underbelly. Appa growls.)

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Suki: Zuko!

Zuko: hey while chasing them they always get away and they were fast.

Suki: Appa is pretty fast it was just you were slow.

Zuko: ....

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: Appa's right, Zuko. In our group, typically we start out our missions with a more upbeat attitude.

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katara: usually.

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: (in a low voice) I can't believe this. (sighs and rests his head on the boat)

: Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it.

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they all chuckle.

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(Appa pushes his tail down to gain some speed and soars through the cloud at a faster speed. Cut to Appa nearing an island. Cut again to him nearing a bunch of ruins with a very impressive architecture similar to that of the Mayans.

Simultaneously, with looks of surprise on their faces)

Whoa!

(Cut to Appa descending on to the ruins)

:(off screen) Even though these buildings are ancient, (The camera is facing a vast plain of grass, it slowly pans down towards the ruins. Aang and Zuko are seen walking in a small "valley") there's something eerily familiar about them. I can tell the Fire Sages' temples are somehow descended from these.

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all but zuko and aang: wow!

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:(off screen) Ok, we learned something about architecture. (The camera pans around the various structures. Cut back to the duo.) Hopefully, we'll learn something about firebending too. The past can be a great teacher.

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Katara: it can.

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(Aang's foot nears a black wire and he trips it. He yells in surprise. The ground in front of them drops to reveal a bed of black, deadly spikes. Aang exhales a huge gust of air from his mouth to prevent himself from falling into the trap and propels himself across it, landing rather shakingly to the other side. He struggles to control his balance, flailing his arms about. Aang pushes himself forward and regains control.)

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Toph: well that was close.

Aang: too close.

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: (frightened) Zuko, I think the past is trying to kill me.

: (He kneels down and inspects the wire) I can't believe it. This booby trap must be centuries old, and it still works.

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Sokka: it should have been worn out if it's that old.

Aang and zuko: yeah.....

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: There's probably a lot more. Maybe this means we shouldn't be here.

(Zuko takes a step back and starts to run on a wall and lands in front of Aang.)

: (dusting himself) Where's that upbeat attitude you were talking about?

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Toph: yeah twinkletoes.

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Besides, people don't make traps unless they've got something worth protecting.

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Sokka: so true.

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(Camera slowly pans upwards to a rather grand and elaborate structure that seems to be intact. Cut to Zuko and Aang making it to the top of the structure.)

: Look. This seems promising. (Camera zooms out to reveal a carving of a person in the middle being surrounded by concentric circles of fire breathed out by 2 dragons on each side of him.) Though I'm not sure what this tells us about the original source of firebending.

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All but Aang and Zuko: hmmmmm.

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: They look pretty angry to me. (Cut to a close-up of the carving)

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Toph: I mean they do.

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: I thought the dragons were friends with the Sun Warriors.

: Well, they had a funny way of showing it.(he looks away and takes a few steps before he's interrupted by Aang)

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Katara: they sure did.

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: Zuko, something happened to the dragons in the last 100 years. Something you're not telling me.

: My great-grandfather Sozin happened.

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Sokka: okay and?

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(Cut to the boys walking across a stone bridge with dragon protrusions at the side.)

: He started the tradition of hunting dragons for glory. They were the ultimate firebenders. And if you could conquer one, your firebending talents

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Suki: well that's horrible.

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would become legendary, and you'd earn the honorary title "Dragon". (They reach the end of the bridge. They're 2 dragon statues at the end. One of the statues is missing a head.) The last great dragon was conquered long before I was born, (Cut to the dragon statue's eye and Zuko pats the eye of the decapitated head) by my Uncle.

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all but aang and zuko: ????

Toph: I thought-

Zuko: yeah I know just watch.

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: But I thought your Uncle was, I don't know, good?

: He had a complicated past. Family tradition, I guess. Let's just move on.

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Toph: everyone in your family have a complicated past.

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(Camera zooms out to show the distance between the dragon statue's head and its neck. Fade out to a column with a red jewel embedded in the centre. The column is positioned in front of a structure with 2 yellow doors. Zuko and Aang walk towards the doors. Aang walks towards them, drops his staff and attempts to open them with his bare hands to no avail.)

: It's locked up.

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Toph: no kidding.

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(Zuko touches his head, looks behind and steps aside to reveal the red jewel from the column beaming light on his head.)

: Wait. (He steps aside to reveal the beam of red light resting on a circle on the ground) It's a celestial calendar. Just like the Fire Sages have in their temples. I bet that Sun Stone opens the door, but only when sunlight hits it at just the right angle, on the solstice. (Camera cuts to a red stone on the door)

: (exasperated) Monkey feathers! The solstice again? We can't wait here that long.

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Sokka: definatly.

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: No we can't. (unsheathes his broadsword and lays it in the path of the red beam.) But we might be able to speed time up. Let's see if we can outsmart the Sun Stone.

(He attempts to adjust his sword. The beam of light is seen moving shakily across the doors and successfully hits the Sun Stone. It glows brightly.)

: Nothing's happening.

: (Cut back to Zuko who is holding his sword in place) Come on...

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All but aang and zuko: Nice.

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(The screen starts to shake and the camera cuts to the area behind the door. The rumbling stops and the door opens to reveal Aang standing in front of it.)

: (picking up his staff) You know, Zuko, I don't care (Zuko sheathes his sword) what everyone else says about you, (nudges him) you're pretty smart.

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They all try to keep their laughs in.

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