Me: okay are you guys ready?

All: yeah!

Me: okay lets start.

_

BOOK 3: FIRE

CHAPTER 10: THE INVASION PART 1: THE INVASION

_

Sokka: here we go.

Aang: yup here we go.

Katara looks at aang then back at the screen

Katara: yeah this is the start.

Toph: I more than ready for this.

Suki: I'm excited!

Zuko: yeah me too.

_

(The episode opens up to a crescent-shaped port on the island previously seen on >Nightmares and Daydreams. Cut to a shot of 3 maps overlapping one another, 2 of them are maps of the Fire Nation while the other is a map of the World. Cut to a shot of Sokka in his Water Tribe gear studying the maps with intense concentration and wiping perspiration off his forehead. A hand wearing wrist guards holding a cup appears on screen in front of Sokka and proceeds to place the cup into his hands.)

_

Suki: here we go!

_

( Camera zooms out to reveal Katara being the owner of the hand and she's donned Water Tribe gear as well. Appa is seen sleeping in the background while Toph is resting on a nearby rock in her Season 2 outfit with Momo resting at her feet. Aang jumps out and lands beside her.)

: (Momo scurries to his shoulder) Top of the morning, Momo!

_

Suki: wow you slept well.

Aang: sure did.

_

: Sounds like you slept well.

: Like a baby mooselion. I'm ready (in an attacking position) to face the Fire Lord.

: So what's your strategy for taking him down? Going to get your glow on (her fingers flutter in front of her eyes) and hit him (punches the air repeatedly) with a little Avatar State action?

(Cut to a close-up shot of Aang looking down dejectedly)

: I can't. When Azula shot me with lightning, my 7th chakra was locked, cutting off my connection to all the cosmic energy in the Universe.

_

Suki: okay wait wait correct me if I'm wrong so right the 7th chakra is the one with the earthly attachment which was katara but you let her go sooooo how did azula's lighting block it all.

Aang: all is correct and from all my meditating my reflection is that I was blocked by all my feelings about my previous situation that I blocked my chakra.

Suki: oh.

_

: You know what I just? heard Blah blah spiritual mumbo jumbo blah blah something about Space.

_

Toph: that is exactly what I heard again.

_

(Camera pans out to reveal something foggy near the horizon)

: Oh no. Sokka, do you think the fog will delay the invasion?

_

Zuko: no?

_

: No, that is the invasion.

(Cut to the camera revealing 5 Water Tribe ships appearing out of the fog. Cut to Hakoda peering through a telescope with Bato standing beside him. Both are wearing Water Tribe warrior armor.

Cut to a shot of Aang and Toph at the port, earthbending some docks. Camera pans out to reveal an aerial view of the ships docking. Cut to Katara and Sokka running towards their father with Katara proceeding to embrace him. )

: You made it Dad!

: Were you able to locate everyone I told you to find?

: I did. But I'm a little worried, Sokka. (Looks behind at Due and Tho who are descending from the ship) Some of these men aren't exactly the warrior type.

: (Excited and full of energy) Whooo-wheee. This place ain't

nothing like a swamp. (Points to a rock) What'd you reckon that is, Tho? Some sort of exploding Fire Nation exploding trap that would eat ya?

_

Suki: oh them.

Zuko: why them?

Sokka: hey more waterbenders and more people the better and they have a friend that will be really useful.

Suki: is it that vine guy that attacked you guys.

Sokka: that's right.

_

: It's just a rock, Due.

: Well, I'll be.

: (skeptical) Is it just me, or are those fellas a little loose in the leaf head?

_

Zuko: maybe.

_

: I just wish they would wear pants.

(Cut to Hue scratching his abdomen)

: Pants are an illusion and so is death.

(Cut back to Hakoda, Bato, Katara who have confused and worried looks on their faces. Only Sokka is smiling widely. Camera fades out and reveals Katara, Aang, Toph and some swampbenders standing at the docks.)

: (off screen) Hi, Katara. (Cut to a shot revealing Haru's face. He has grown some facial hair.)

_

Toph: oh and here is haru. hehehehe.

_

: Haru, (runs and embraces him) it's so good to see you.

: (walking towards Haru

and giving an introduction) Toph, this is Haru. When we met him, his town was controlled by the Fire Nation. So we had to hide his earthbending.

: Katara inspired me and my Father (Tyro comes into screen. Katara is seen blushing.) to take back our village.

_

Toph: oooh she blushin.

Katara: I'm just flattered that's it.

Toph: sureeee.

Katara: toph.

Toph: what?

Katara: I thought we discussed this.

Toph: discuss what?

Katara: oh my gosh. Are you kidding me?

Toph: maybeeeee.

Katara: ....you know nevermind.

_

: (places a hand on the her shoulders) You helped us find our courage, Katara. Now we're here to help you.

(Cut to Toph who looks surprised)

: No way. (Gets into a defensive stance) Is that... (A pair of huge hands appear on screen and carries Toph up. Camera pans out to reveal The Hippo.)

_

Suki: oh dang.

_

: (embracing Toph) Hippo happy to see Blind Bandit!

: (angrily) You guys here for a re-match?

: (Cut to a shot of Boulder standing behind Hippo) Negatory. The Boulder and The Hippo no longer fight (making "no" gesture with his hands) for others' entertainment. Now, we fight for our Kingdom! (raises both arms up in enthusiasm.)

: Sweet. (smiles)

_

Suki: that's cool.

_

(Camera pans out to reveal Sokka watching the whole scene a short distance away. He turns his head towards his Father. Suddenly, a boat explodes behind Sokka and Hakoda, shocking them both as they proceed to run towards it.

_

Suki: what was that??

_

Cut to a shot of The Mechanist appearing from the lower deck, his face covered with orange goo, coughing. Cut to a shot of Teo wheeling his wheelchair down the gangplank. His father, The Duke and Pipsqueak trail behind him.)

: Was that a new invention?

: Yes. (Teo is seen licking the orange goo off his hands) But unfortunately, the incendiary capabilities of peanut sauce proved to be a failure.

_

Zuko: peanut sauce?

_

: You're making peanut sauce bombs?

_

Suki: sounds delicious.

_

(Cut to The Duke piggybacking on Pipsqueak's back. Their faces are covered with peanut sauce.)

: They're destructive.

: (continues) And Delicious! (Both proceed to lick sauce off their faces. Momo jumps on Pipsqueak and tries to lick his face to the amusement of both boys who laugh.)

: Were you able to complete work on the plans I sent you?

: Yes, I was and I think the Fire Nation would be quite surprised.

_

Zuko: oh they were.

_

: Aang, (takes a pole-like object from his wheelchair) my Dad & I made this for you.

(Cut to a shot of Aang's hand taking the object.. Cut to a shot of blue "wings" popping out from the sides.)

: (Camera zooms out to reveal Aang admiring his new glider) A new glider! This is amazing.

: And as a special feature, I added a snack compartment. (Places his head under the handle and pulls it. Peanuts tumble out of the compartment into his mouth.)

: Oh well, I'm sure that will come in handy.

_

Sokka: I love that feature.

Toph: of course you do.

Sokka: Hey I could snack on some snacks in the sky if I were hungry or if I could glide but in general I love that new feature.

_

(Cut to a shot of the Fire Nation prison seen in The Headband. Cut to a shot of someone filing his nails.)

: (voice over) I bet you're tired to be in that cell, old man. (Camera zooms out to reveal Warden Poon sitting on the floor doing his grooming.) Well, too bad. (Cut to a shot of Iroh in his cell) You're never stepping outside these walls again. (A guard enters the room with a tray of food.)

: Breakfast.

: (Stands up) Careful, Ming. Don't get too close. His stench will knock you right out. (He cackles and exits the room. Cut to a shot of Ming looking at him, annoyed.)

_

All: oop.

Zuko: I'm gonna really fire that guy.

_

: I snuck in some white jade tea. I know you like rare teas.

_

Zuko: I could replace him with her.

_

: Thank you, Ming. (takes the cup of tea) Ever since I was put in here, you have been very kind to me. (Ming tilts her head and smiles embarrassedly.)

_

Zuko: yup replacing him with her.

_

(Cut to a shot of a group of Water Tribe warriors and Earth Kingdom soldiers having their meal. Cut to a shot of Sokka with scrolls in his hand and gulping nervously.)

_

Suki: YEAH go SOKKA!!!

_

: Don't worry, you'll do great.

(Sokka takes a deep breath and walks to the platform.)

: Good morning, everyone!

(He trips and starts to pick up his fallen scrolls hurriedly.)

_

Toph: here we go.

_

: Uhm... So, as you know today we're invading the Fire Nation. I mean I know you know that. (laughs nervously) Because otherwise why else would you be here Anyway... (Clumsily drops more scrolls.

_

Sokka: go sokka!!!

_

He picks them up and places it on a board.) The Fire Lord's palace is here. (Points to the map)

_

Zuko: nope.

_

Uh no, uh wait, (flips to another map) uh wait (flips again), uh wait (flips for the final time). It's here (points to the correct map. Cut to a shot of Due, scratching his head and looking rather confused) and uh there's an eclipse today and Aang's going to fight the Fire Lord (he starts to panic) and the firebenders won't have any fire to use so that's good for us and uhm... (Cut to Teo and The Mechanist who look bored.) I'm sorry, let me start at the beginning.

_

Sokka sighs.

_

(Sokka looks down and tries to compose himself.)

: (rapidly) Katara and I discovered Aang frozen in an iceberg.

_

Zuko: that's too far into the beginning.

Sokka: yeah...I know.

_

Now I didn't like Aang at first but I grew to love him over time. Then we went over to the Southern Air Temple where Aang used to live and then

we met Suki, who is a Kyoshi warrior. (Cut to a Water Tribe warrior yawning) She made me dress like a woman and then she kissed me

_

Suki: hahahaha. Then she kissed him on the cheek.

_

: (quietly to Aang) Wow, he says beginning, he means beginning, beginning.

: ...and then Aang's friend was a crazy old man and then Katara got Haru arrested and then now he's grown a mustache (Camera pans out to reveal Hakoda approaching Sokka) and if you look in the front row you can see him...

_

Toph: what were you going to say?

Sokka: well the mustache doesn't really fit all that much but if wants a tache then he wants one.

_

: Thank you, Sokka. (places a reassuring hand on Sokka's shoulder) It's okay, why don't you take a break? (Sokka looks rather disappointed and obliges.)

_

Suki: it's okay sokka you'll get your chance.

Sokka: and I did.

_

Let me just clarify a few points for everyone. Today is the Day of Black Sun (Cut to a group of Earth Kingdom soldiers, Haru and Tyro starts to take interest in what he says) and I want to thank you all for your self sacrifice and your courage. (Camera slowly pans pass a group of Water Tribe warriors who are attentively listening to their leader.) They're two steps to the invasion. A naval stage and then a land stage. To gain sea access to the Fire Nation capital, (Cut to the gang who are paying attention though Sokka looks rather downcast)

_

Suki hugs sokka.

_

we have to get pass our first major obstacle here. (points to the centre of the map) The Great Gates of Azulon. Next, (flips to another map) we hit the land and we hit hard (throws his fist against the map to emphasize his point). We must fight past their battlements and secure the plaza tower (his finger points to tower on the map). Once we do that, (his fingers move up the map to a structure on the map) it's up to the royal palace. At that point, the eclipse will begin.

_

Suki: sounds solid and would have worked if they didn't know.

Sokka: sadly but it all worked in the end.

_

: (raises a hand to ask a question) Excuse me, The Boulder is confused. Isn't the point to invade during the eclipse? When the firebenders are powerless?

_

Suki: invade before eclipse

_

: The eclipse only last 8 minutes. Not enough time for the whole invasion and the royal palace is heavily guarded by firebenders. So that's where we'll need the eclipse advantage the most. When this is finished, the Avatar would have defeated the Fire Lord. We would have control of the Fire Nation capital (Cut to a shot of Haru and Tyro with serious looks on their faces) and this war will be over!

(Everyone cheers. Cut to The Duke and Pipsqueak who are cheering wildly. Cut to the gang who join in the shouts. Sokka is still looking downcast.

_

SukI: well not exactly.

_

Cut to Katara waterbending water from the river into her pouch. Cut to Toph putting on a wrist guard. Cut to Hakoda putting on his head gear which resembles a wolf's head. Cut to a shot Appa's armored foot stamping the ground. Cut to the camera trailing down a golden arrow which glints in the sunlight. Cut to Appa's eye. Camera zooms out to reveal Appa in his custom made armor. Appa growls.

_

Suki: yeah go appa!!!

_

Cut to Aang shaving his head by the river and he's wearing a toga which resembles his air nomad robes. He shaves off the remaining of his hair to reveal his tattooed arrow. He stands up on cue to the dramatic music in the background, glider in hand, ready to enter battle.

_

Suki: and the arrow is back! Though I will miss the hair.

Katara: same.

_

A koala sheep appears beside Aang and bleets while Aang pats its head.

_

they all chuckle.

_

Cut to an overhead shot of Zuko's bedroom as he stands near his bed. Cut to a shot of his hand as he removes the pin that fastens his crown in place with one hand and the crown with the other. His hair falls back to its original place. He places both objects into his belt. Zuko proceeds to remove the shoulder padding from his armor and sets it on his bed. Cut to a shot of calligraphy brushes, an ink plate and a piece of paper with 2 wooden paperweights on it. Zuko smoothens the paper with one of the wooden blocks. Cut to a shot of him staring at the paper. Cut to a close-up shot of a brush being dipped in ink. Camera slowly zooms out to reveal Zuko has begun writing and focuses on his shoulder plate armor that is on the bed.

_

Sokka: oh here it is.

Zuko: yup. This is the start.

_

Cut back to the port. Camera slowly moves to a hand holding a Water Tribe headgear. Cut to Sokka who is looking at it despondently. Aang flies into screen with his glider and lands beside Sokka.)

: We've been looking everywhere for you. The boats are ready to leave.

: (still disappointed with himself) I messed up, Aang.

_

Zuko: you did but it's okay.

_

: What?

: The invasion plan was my moment of truth. And I completely flopped it. I just fell apart.

: Sokka, (walks up to him and places a hand on his shoulder) that speech wasn't your moment of truth. That was just public speaking and nobody's really good at that.

_

Suki: so true.

_

: My Dad is. He explained the plan perfectly and inspired everyone. Like a real leader should.

_

Zuko: probably had a lot of practice.

_

: Look, your moment of truth isn't going to be in front of some map. It's going to be out there, (points to the vast ocean in front of them) on the battlefield.

_

Suki: sure will be.

_

: You seem so confident about everything. How do you know we're going to win?

: Because I already failed the world once at Ba Sing Se. I won't let myself fail again.

_

Toph: oh well.

_

(Cut to the 5 ships heading out into sea.)

: (voiceover) There they are. (Cut to Bato's point of view through the telescope which reveals a statue of Fire Lord Azulon surrounded by fog) The Great Gates of Azulon.

: (voiceover) I don't see any gates.

_

Zuko: just wait.

_

(Bato scans to the right and spots a dragon statue with a net outside its mouth. Cut to Katara and the swampbenders trying to peer through the dense fog.)

: Katara, you and the swamp benders whip up a fog cover.

: We'll sneak by that statues just like we sneaked by that fire navy blockade.

(Cut to Katara and the swampbenders jumping into position, spreading their hands apart at the same time. Cut to a shot of the boats being rapidly covered in fog. Cut to a statue of Azulon, nets can be seen coming out from the statue's sleeves)

: Keep it up, we're almost through.