Me: ok are you guys ready for the nest episode.

suki: considering the last episode maybe not.

Aang: I don't know.

Toph: I am kinda ready.

Katara: same.

zuko: same.

sokka: same.

Me: Okay lets start.

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BOOK 2: EARTH

CHAPTER 11: THE DESERT.

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(ends 1:53)

(Camera pans an endless expanse of sand dunes and open sky. The wind blows loudly around them. As the view swings to the right, Momo, then Katara, then Sokka, Toph, and Aang come into view. Each looking in a different direction. Aang is clearly still angry, and Toph appears forlorn. Aang approaches Toph in an aggressive manner.)

(enraged) How could you let them take Appa Why didn't you stop them?!

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zuko: well she didn't let them take appa

toph: nice one captain obvious.

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I couldn't! The library was sinking! You guys were still inside and -(Toph swings her arms wide.)

You could have come to get us! I could have saved him!

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Suki: if toph were gonna get you wouldn't you all get sunken since no one is outside to stop it.

sokka: probably.

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I can hardly feel any vibrations out here. The sandbenders snuck upon me and there wasn't time for -

You just didn't care! You never liked Appa! You wanted him gone!

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suki: well that's defiantly not true.

Aang (said quietly): yeah I know.

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(Katara approaches the two in an attempt at peacemaking, and places an arm on Aang's left shoulder.)

Aang, stop it. You know Toph did all she could. She saved our lives.

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Suki:s she sure did.

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Who's going to save our lives now? We'll never make it out of here.

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zuko: yeah you can.

sokka: well at the time we didn't know that.

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(Camera swings to Sokka, who turns towards the others and motions to the endless desert with an arm.)

That's all any of you guys care about: yourselves! You don't care whether Appa is okay or not! (Aang stalks off, sulking angrily.)

We're all concerned, but we can't afford to be fighting now.

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suki: Very true

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I'm going after Appa.

(Aang flies off. Katara calls after him, running towards the spot from which he took off.)

Aang, wait!

(Cut to a view of the sky, with a view of the crater where the Library had been and Aang flying off.)

We'd better start walking. We're the only people who know about the solar eclipse. We have to get that information to Ba-Sing-Se.

(Camera, looking up towards the sun, returns to Katara, with Sokka visible to the right. The group wanders out into the desert.)

You think if we dig out the giant owl, he'll give us a ride?

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zuko: no

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(Cut to Zuko and Iroh. Scene changes to a close up of a cactus growing in a clearly more lush environment. Camera swings to the right where we see Zuko and Iroh on their ostrich-horse riding through a small cleft in the valley. Iroh is clearly in discomfort.)

Maybe we should make camp.

(in a pained voice) No, please, don't stop for me!

(Iroh lets out several more pained groans. Zuko pulls the reigns of the Ostrich-Horse, stopping it. He and Iroh dismount. Iroh groans and takes a seat on a large flat rock. The Ostrich-Horse perks up, pricking its ears. Clearly, it detects something unusual. Zuko takes a defensive posture.)

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Sokka: he difantly wants you to stop.

zuko: no kidding.

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(annoyed) What now?

(Rough Rhinos streak through the foliage around them. Colonel Mongke's rhino stamps the ground forcefully, breaking the surface crust. Camera swings up to Cololonel Mongke pulling back on the rhino's reins. Zuko continues his defensive posture. Iroh brightens and places a hand on Zuko's shoulder.)

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aang: the rough rhinos

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Colonel Mongke! What a pleasant surprise!

If you're surprised we're here then the Dragon of the West has lost a few steps.

(Mongke looks stern. He emphasizes his remarks by making sparks with his bracers. His men ready their weapons.)

You know these guys?

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Sokka: obivously.

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Sure. Colonel Mongke and the Rough Riders are legendary. Each one is a different kind of weapons specialist. They are also a very capable singing group.

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toph: of course they are.

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We're not here to give a concert. We're here to apprehend fugitives!

Would you like some tea first? I'd love some. How about you, Kachi? I make you as a jasmine man. Am I right?

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Aang: maybe he kinda does look like a jasmine man.

sokka: how would you know.

aang: its just the energy I get from him.

sokka: okay....

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Enough stalling! Round 'em up!

(The dark skinned, pony tailed fighter swings his ball and chain at Iroh. Iroh kicks the ball away. The ball, redirected, wraps its chain around the foot of another warrior's rhino. Iroh dodges the fire blasts by tumbling along the ground. )

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All except zuko: waohhh!!!

aang: iroh is so cool.

katara: he really is.

zuko: that's uncle iroh for you.

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(He rises back up to swat the rump of the rhino that had been chained. The rhino runs off, yanking the dark-skinned warrior who had one end of the chain attached to his belt as well as its own rider. Iroh waves as he watches them go.

The archer shoots a lit arrow at Zuko's back. Zuko senses the arrow, turns, and breaks the arrow apart as it approaches him. Zuko then lets a fire blast loose, which burns a hole in the archer's bow, a hand's width above the archer's hand. The blast passes through the bow and breaks the string.

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suki: ooooh nice one.

sokka: yeah it was a clean shot.

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Mongke is seen letting loose fire blast after fire blast at Iroh. Iroh deflects each. Zuko runs up and jumps on the back of Mongke's rhino behind him. A brief duel ensues, with Mongke quickly being kicked off the rhino by Zuko.

Iroh runs up to the ostrich horse, jumps up on the saddle, and rides to Zuko. Zuko jumps from Mongke's rhino into the saddle as Iroh gallops by.

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Aang: ok that was all really cool.

suki: it was.

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The armored warrior, riding in pursuit, throws a grenade at the fleeing ostrich horse. The grenade explodes ahead of the ostrich horse, )

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all but zuko: oh

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(but Iroh and Zuko are able to ride through the explosion.)

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all but zuko: nice.

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It's nice to see old friends.

Too bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you.

Hmm... Old friends that don't want to attack me...

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they all chuckle.

sokka: okay that is kinda sad.

zuko: i guess.

aang: yeah thats kinda sad

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(Cut to Katara, Sokka, and Toph. Katara is seen leading the rest of the crew, minus Aang and Appa, thought the desert. Occasional small plants dot the dunes. They are clearly hot, dry, and tired. Sokka tries using Momo and his wings as a hat. As he slows, Toph bumps into him, knocking Momo off Sokka's head.)

(breathing hard) Can't you watch where you're -

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zuko: no she can not.

sokka: I know that.

zuko: then why did you say that?

sokka: cause I forgot.

zuko: sad.

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No.

Right. Sorry.

(Katara turns to encourage the others.)

Come on guys, we've got to stick together.

If I sweat any more, I don't think sticking together will be a problem.

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zuko: that is kinda gross.

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(Sokka tries to gently pull himself and Toph apart, but Toph cuts to the chase and knocks Sokka down, disconnecting them.)

Katara, can I have some water?

Okay, but we've got to try to conserve it.

(Katara bends water from her bag and suspends it between her and the others. She then directs it to each mouth except her own. Sokka swishes the water a bit, and then swallows with a face. He clearly is not impressed with the taste.)

We're drinking your bending water? You used this on the swamp guy!

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suki: ok yuck.

zuko: Disgusting.

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It does taste swampy.

(Cut to a shot of Momo smacking his lips before he lets out a displeased burp. Katara motions her sense of helplessness.)

I'm sorry, it's all we have.

Not anymore! Look!

(Sokka makes a discovery, pointing to a large cactus a little off their path. He walks up to it, cuts a piece off with his knife, and drains the liquid content into his mouth. Momo does likewise.)

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sokka: oh yeah cactus juice.

Katara: oh gosh.

aang: I always wondered how sokka was on cactus juice.

toph: i wondered how he looked on cactus juice.

katara: one word. crazy

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Sokka, wait! You shouldn't be eating strange plants! (Katara grabs Toph's wrist and runs over to Sokka and Momo.)

There's water trapped inside these! (Sokka holds up some cactus for Katara, but she backs away, pushing Toph back as well.)

I don't know...

Suit yourself. It's very thirst-quenching, though.

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(The camera zooms in on Sokka's left eye. The pupil dilates rapidly. The camera backs away and we see Sokka's expression become blank. He shakes his head rapidly. The world then gets bizarre.)

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suki: oh.

zuko: that can't be good.

katara sighs

katara: no it is not.

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(In a strange, echoing voice) Drink cactus juice.

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it'll quench ya! Nothing's quenchier. (moves across the sand like an inch worm)

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Aang: where did you learn how to do that worm thing? oh and teach me.

sokka: I don't know how to do that. it was the cactus juice.

aang: aww. Why don't you try it now.

sokka: no.

aang: come one sokka. PLEASEEEE.

sokka: okay okay fine.

sokka stands up and lies on the floor face down and aang looks excited.

sokka tries to do it but instead of looking like a worm he looked like a flopping fish and also landed on his face.

aang looked a little disappointed but sokka did say he didn't know how.

Everyone just chuckled.

toph: hahahhaaha. That was sad.

sokka got up from the floor.

sokka: well I did say I didn't know how to do it.

_

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It's the quenchiest!

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suki: yeah katara was right. The one word to describe you on cactus juice is crazy.

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(time stamp 1:53)

(Katara takes the proffered cactus bowl and pours it to the ground.)

Okay, I think you've had enough.

Who lit Toph on fire?

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They all chuckle.

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(Momo spins in a circle in the air and dive bombs to the ground.)

Can I get some of that cactus?

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suki: yeah I don't think so.

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I don't think that's a good idea. Come on, we need to find Aang.

How did we get out here in the middle of the ocean?

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they all chuckle but at the same time: 🤦 🤦🤦 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Uhhh...

(Cut to Aang, who flies across the desert on his glider and blows into the bison whistle. He glides down and lands on a dune.)

Appa! Appa! (Stares across the horizon but sees nothing)No... NO!

(Aang slams his staff into the sand, creating a large mushroom cloud of sand. Cut to a shot of the cloud from a distance as Katara, Sokka and Toph climb over a dune. Dust that was kicked up blows over them.)

What is that?

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everyone but aang: woah.

katara: t-that was you?

aang: yup

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What? What is what?

It's a giant mushroom! Maybe it's friendly!

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They all chuckle.

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Let's just keep moving. I hope Aang's okay...

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Suki: he is kinda okay.

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: (in the echoing voice from before) Friendly mushroom!Mushy giant friend!

(Sokka waves his arms back and forth, and the music from the cactus juice scene begins playing.

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