For the record, no. This episode is in no way based off the sci-fi movie of the same name starring Bruce Willis. It does however play a very strong role in the plot to come.
I remember writing this episode during Superbowl 2008. This was one where I just couldn’t put it down. I remember going down stairs to the lounge of my residence hall every hour or so to pretend to check the score so I could sneek some free food. Although, that was the year I believe WOU Alumni Kevin Boss made an epic catch for his team.
Not that it relates at all to my story, but I’m just letting you know that I had such a fun enough time with this script to completely disregard the game.
Hopes you all enjoy it too.
(As Mako continues flying northwest, they pass by an all green terrain, stretching out for miles. Leo, at the front of the saddle, begins gazing down at the swamp, almost as if hypnotized. Jamova, polishing his shovel, catches the swamp in the reflection and crouches over to take a look as well. All the while, Tiran is busy wrapped up in his book.)
Tiran: According to this, Earth is more diverse than all the other elements combined. Benders possess a variety of styles and inhabit nearly every biome on the planet, from rocky canyons, mountains, meadows, temperate grasslands, and even…(notices no one’s listening and looks to see everyone gazing down at the swamp) uh, guys? Jamova? Leo?
Leo: Uh… (Shakes out of his sub consciousness) what? What’s going on?
Tiran: I was about to ask you the same thing. Why are we flying so low?
Leo: I know this might sound crazy, but I almost feel like the swamp is… calling to me.
Jamova: I hear you. Getting some weird vibes myself. (Looks down, and hears and echoing ‘whooo’ sound across the plain.) What was that?
Tiran: I don’t know, but is sounds kind of creepy.
Leo: Maybe we should have a quick look, just in case.
Tiran: (Looks over Mako’s back down at the swamp, a little fearful.) Not to cut down your curiosity Leo, but I doubt an earthbending resistance would station them-selves in a place like this. Heck, I hardly see any earth down there at all.
Jamova: In other words, you’re possum-chickening out.
Tiran: …Yes. I am. (Skeeter takes a look and begins scurrying around in fear, and Mako gives a screech of uncomfortably.) See? At least Mako and Skeeter agree with me. Thank you guys.
Leo: Well, I guess majority rules. Later swamp. Yip Yip! (He gives Mako a tap with the straps, and sets them in motion into a higher elevation. But as they begin to pick up speed, so does a giant tornado that pops out of the ground and chases after them.)
Jamova: (turning around to see the tornado) Looks like another vote for us to stay!
Leo: Hurry Mako! (gives Mako another tight whip and, he soars as fast as he can. They attempt to fly higher, over the tornado, but eventually it sucks them in. They all scream and hold on tightly to the edge of the saddle. They twirl around lower and lower, until Leo, Tiran, and Jamova loose their grip and fly off in one direction while Skeeter and Mako fly off in another. Leo, Tiran and Jamova splash into the swamp water.)
Tiran: (gets up from the swamp and attempts to wipe himself clean) Ugh! We just can’t catch a break, can we?
(As Jamova gets up as well and shakes himself off, Leo shoots out of the water, lifting himself up to a tree branch.)
Leo: (looks around) Where’s Skeeter and Mako? (He jumps to a higher branch on the tree. He reaches high enough to oversee the whole horizon of the swamp. Nothing but green in every direction. Leo hops from the tree branch and slides down on a vine.) Bad news guys. Looks like we’re stuck here until we find Mako.
Jamova: I wonder where that tornado came from?
Leo: I don’t know, but whatever it was, it’s gone now.
Voice: (echoes through the swamp) WHOO! (Everyone turns their heads)
Leo: That noise again. Where is it coming from?
Tiran: Personally, I’d rather not wait to find out.
Jamova: Then by all means, (pulls out his shovel) let’s speed things up. (begins walking down the muddy path, and Tiran and Leo follow after.
Meanwhile, on another end of the swamp Mako is swimming along, when he looks up to see Skeeter tied up in a bunch of tree vines. Mako calls for him to come down. Skeeter attempts to get himself free, but can’t reach because his fins are too small. Mako takes in a deep breath, and Skeeter eyes pop open as he knows what’s about to happen…and SPLOOSH! Mako shoots a jet of water right out of his spout, knocks Skeeter out of the vines and into the water.
As the trio continues through the swamp, Jamova cuts the vines out of their path with his shovel.)
Tiran: What are you doing?
Jamova: Looking for Mako and the annoying one.
Tiran: I meant with your shovel.
Jamova: (cuts a vine) Making way… so that we can find Mako. What does it look like? (cuts another vine)
Leo: Do you really think that’s such a good idea? Maybe we shouldn’t abuse the swamp.
Jamova: What is there to abuse? They’re just plants. (cuts again)
Tiran: Maybe he has a point Jamova. We don’t want to anger any…you know… swamp spirits.
Jamova: (snorts) Swamp spirits. Good one T.
Tiran: I’m serious! I remember the stories Grandma use to tell me about this place.
Leo: What stories?
Tiran: You mean you haven’t heard? People have wandered into this swamp and never been seen again. In fact, many of the incidents happen to be waterbenders. It’s said that half the water tribe civilization that migrated from the north pole were lost here on their way to the south pole. (Leo gets a look of nervousness at this statement.)
Jamova: Just late night ghost stories you and your brother were told so you wouldn’t wander into the forest at night. Now come on. (continues cutting through the vines)
Tiran: (Attempts to come up with another excuse, and a thought comes to him.) Oh, and we can’t forget, Moya is still chasing us. We don’t want to leave any obvious trails.
Jamova: Oh please. Like Prissy Princess Ponytail is desperate enough to go skulking through some nasty swamp to come and find us.
Leo: I have to agree with him on that one Tiran. Moya would have to be crazy to follow us in here.
(Meanwhile, outside at the edge of the swamp…)
Blade: Forgive me if I seem forward my princess, but I must speak my mind. If you intend to follow the Avatar in there, than you got to be crazy.
Moya: That is a fair statement Lieutenant. Perhaps I am.
Blade: Moya, please be rational about this. If you go in there, who knows when and if you will come out?
Moya: And if I don’t, we will lose the Avatar’s trail for who knows how long. It’s best I make my move and catch them while I have the element of surprise (As he speaks, a Dai-Li agent marches up to them, leading a mongoose-lizard by a leash).
Lao: (holding out the leach) Here is your mongoose-lizard your highness.
Blade: (pause) Any chance of you letting me go with you, Princess.
Moya: No. I won’t let anyone else risk their lives in this swamp. This is my mission, alone. (walks up, takes the leash and leaps onto the saddle) I’ll be back Lieutenant, after I have the Avatar. (Gives the mongoose-lizard a whip, and it takes off into the swamp.)
(Meanwhile, as the sun sets and the swamp gets darker, Leo, Tiran, and Jamova continue to wander aimlessly.)
Leo: (calling) Mako! Skeeter!
Jamova: We’re never going to find them like this. It’s too dark. Our best bet is to make camp for the night and continue our search in the morning. (They find a patch of land with a nearby tree. Leo and Tiran walk up and begin unloading their things.)
Tiran: Wait a minute, what are we going to do for food.
Jamova: (dumps his left hand into the swamp, and after one second, pulls it out, revealing a giant elbow-leach sucking on his elbow. Jamova pulls it off with his right hand.) Dinner is served. (Tiran and Leo give shuttering looks.
As they get a fire started and the leech is cooking over a stick, they all huddle together as random chirping and howling begin to fill the night air.)
Tiran: (looking over his shoulders in nervousness) I’m telling you guys something’s out there, and I have this cringing feeling that we’re being watched.
Leo: Watched? By who?
Voice: WHOOO! (Tiran and Leo scooch a bit closer.)
Tiran: By whatever made that! That’s who.
Jamova: (his back turned to them, and he puts on a black cloak with a hood) No worries boys. Everything will be all right. Why don’t you just sit back and let the night air fill you as we begin another segment of_ (quickly turns around, revealing his face covered in white makeup in the form of a spooky skeletal design) _TALES FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE!
(Tiran and Leo jump in their seats. Then they look to each other.)
Leo: I knew it was Kyoshi makeup the whole time.
Jamova: (his voice becoming darker and more cynical) Tonight’s tale, the Spirit of the Black Forest.
(Meanwhile, Mako and Skeeter continue to swim aimlessly through the swamp water. Skeeter’s eye catches on a glowing spark. He gazes up at it in aw, as he wanders after it, unknowingly gearing off coarse with Mako, who continues forward. After a short while Mako looks around realizing Skeeter’s no longer with him. He uncaringly brushes it aside and continues swimming.
Jamova stands over the fire preaching his story as an unseen force creeps upon them.)
Jamova: Alone and outcasted, she scavenged the darkest corners of the world, longing for a purpose. For years her search was in vain as the darkness yielded nothing but an empty shell, until one night. One star-lit night that deceivingly concealed any sign of mysterious forces at work. She came to a stop, and stared into the never-ending labyrinth of water and plants that is this swamp. She never would have thought twice about entering such a place, but then she heard the swamp…calling to her.
Voice: (echoing through the swamp) WHOO…WHOO…WHOO
Leo: (bug-eyed and panicky) You mean like that?
Jamova: Exactly! Like a metronome, it pulled her closer, and closer, until finally, a clear path was lost in the fog blanketing the air. Unable to see, unable to find her way out, she waited, hoping that the force calling her possessed the answers she so desperately longed for.
(As Skeeter wanders after the glowing light bug, he hops from Lilly pad to Lilly pad until he lands on the rough, scaly back of a catagater. As the catagater begins to rile around, Skeeter panics, and grabs a hold of the creature’s whiskers. The catagater grows and takes off, waving back and forth in its swim as Skeeter desperately holds on.)
(Jamova’s tale continues.)
Jamova: And there it was! Vines after vines of the most wretched beast ever concocted by nature, as if nature itself came to life. It’s roots growing faster than bamboo, arms thicker than trees, and a face so deformed, it would make even Koh cringe before it’s presence. (As he speaks vines inconspicuously creep upon the floor and slowly coil around his feet.) Compelled by fear she was… but now…she was consumed by it. (Suddenly, the vines yank him by his feet and pull him into the swamp. Tiran and Leo jump up in shock, but before they can do anything, vines spring out and gab them as well, pulling them all in different directions.)
Tiran: THIS ISN’T FUNNY!!! (digging his hands into the earth.)
Jamova: IT’S NOT ME!!!
Leo: THAT’S EVEN LESS FUNNY!!!
(They are all dragged into different directions. Jamova gathers the strength to reach his shovel, cuts the vines from his feet and manages to get up and run. Tiran sticks his hand into the ground, using earthbending to brace himself. He looks around and notices a sharp rock to his side. He reaches out, the rock comes to his hands, and he smashes it on the vines, momentarily paralyzing them. Tiran rolls over as the vines loose their grip, and crawls away as fast as he can. As Leo is dragged through the water, he bends the water to push the vines off of him and gets up. As the vines come after him again, he cuts them with the water. As he makes it back to the camp, he notices Jamova and Tiran are long gone.)
Leo: (looks around) Tiran?! Jamova?! (He quickly grabs his staff and runs off to find them.)
(Meanwhile, on another side of the swamp, two swamp dwellers, a man and a woman, stand on a riverbed looking out in both directions.)
Goz: Now was it this stream…or wait (scratching his head)… was it the one two streams to the right of the possum nest on the corner of the lily pond…with the tree that looks like a fork… with the missin’—?
Reggie: –We pass’ that tree four times already Goz. Can’t believe you loss our huntn’-gater again.
Goz: I’m sorry Reg. Coulda’ swore I left him right here. Ol’ Rex neva ran off bafo’.
Reggie: That’s what you said two weeks ago, pinhead.
Goz: He came back didn he?
Reggie: Yea’, well where’s ‘e now?
(SWOOSH! Skeeter comes ridding down the stream on the catagator, which riles around as Skeeter has hold of his whiskers. Goz and Reg watch as they pass by.)
Goz: Hey! That’s ol’ Rex right thaire. Told ya he come’ back. An’ looks like he’s got dinner on the run too.
Reggie: (takes a second look) Ya ask me, it looks like dinners got ‘him’. (pause) Well, what ya waitn’ for? Go get em’!
(Meanwhile, Tiran finally stops running and leans on an old stump. Attempting to catch his breath. He places his hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat, when he notices something missing.)
Tiran: My necklace! (He feels around for it, and realizes it’s gone. He then shrugs in greif) I don’t believe this. (He sighs, and then continues moving on.) Leo! Jamova! (He looks around he notices a bright light far in the distance. As he walks closer towards it he notices someone standing up on a hill.) Uh hello? Hello! Can you help me? I lost my_(he comes close enough to make out the person’s back side: A middle aged man slightly taller than him with the same hair color, wearing the same black and gold earthbending design on is cloths. Tiran’s face turns to surprise.) Dad? DAD! (Sheer joy spreads across his face as he races across the swamp and up the hill.) I can’t believe_ (once he reaches the hill and walks into the light, he sees nothing but an old stump where he saw his father. His joy leaves him immediately. He looks down and sheds one tear, then covers his sorrow with anger, falling to his knees and slamming his fists into the ground with a BANG! Sending a rift through the earth and through the muddy water.) Twelve years… and not even a word…FOR TWELVE YEARS!!!
(Tiran’s necklace lies on the ground, and a mongoose lizard comes to a stop in front of it. Moya jumps off her lizard and picks up the necklace. She lifts it to eye level and gazes at it.)
Moya: (looks around and notices the cut branches and the ashes that remain of a camp fire) So they were here. (She walks over to the campfire. As she looks down into the ashes, FOOM! Giant flames suddenly burst from the remains. She steps back and covers her eyes, until a deep voice startles him.)
Zuko: Princess Moya! (Moya uncovers his eyes, and flinches in shock as he looks up to see his grandfather.) You disappoint me!
Moya: This… can’t be happening. (Closes her eyes.) Get a hold of yourself Moya. Zuko is dead. It’s the only reason you’re doing what you’ve been doing. (She opens her eyes again, but he’s still there.) Grandpa?
Zuko: Why have you run away Moya? Have you forgotten me already?
Moya: No!
Zuko: You are the princess of the fire nation. You should be protecting your country? Your people? Your family?
Moya: I’m trying. (gets on her knees and kneals) Please forgive me Master. All I want is to restore your honor. (As she looks up, Zuko is gone. From afar, an unseen force slithers toward him. As she slowly gets up, she notices something suspicious.
She quickly turns around as vines spring out to grab her. They wrap around her arms as she pulls against them. She slowly begins to be dragged in and the vines coil further up her body.) No. I will not disappoint you. (opens her eyes in sheer rage) I WON’T!!! (FOOM! Waves of fire blast out of Moya’ hands. The vines uncoil as they catch fire and it spreads up their stems. Moya puts two fingers in her mouth and makes an aggressive whistle to her mongoose lizard, who crawls to her side. She jumps on.) You can run Avatar, but you can’t hide! (Gives her lizard a whip and takes off further into the swamp as the fire continues to grow.
Meanwhile, Leo is walking down a stream looking left and right.)
Leo: Tiran! Mako! (Thinks to himself as he looks upward) Maybe I should have another look up higher. (With waterbending, he lifts himself upward and leaps to a tree branch. Once he gets himself up on the first branch, he looks up and notices someone at the very top of the tree.) Hey! Who’s up there? (Leo grabs a vine. He gives himself some momentum, and swings until he leaps to a higher branch. He bends some water from his canteen and cuts another branch down and climbs up it. He then leaps to the highest branch, grabbing on with both hands and pulling his head up. Once his head reaches the top branch he looks up to see the light of his guardian.) Samos? (He pulls himself up to his feet and approaches Samos face to face.)
Samos: Come to grips with your identity as the Avatar, Leon?
Leo: I still don’t understand what that means. I know I need to master the elements, but how, and why? We’ve already lost Katara, and we’re running out of time to save the Earth Kingdom. I still need you.
Samos: Seek out the Earth Kingdom founding city. There will your past life have the answers you seek.
Leo: But what about you? Where are they keeping you? (He steps forth to reach out for Samos, but as he get’s too close, Samos fades a way, and the tree branch snaps beneath Leo.) WAAH! (the falls and tumbles through dozens of twigs and vines.) Oph! (He drops his staff and his canteen as his foot snags onto a vine and he hangs upside down, slowly spinning around.) Well, at least I still have my personality.
(Meanwhile, Skeeter continues to hold onto Rex’s whiskers. After a while Rex’s manages to shake Skeeter off, who flies strait up into the air. As he falls down, Rex opens wide, ready to swallow him, but Skeeter spreads his limbs across, grabbing hold of his jaws. Rex snaps his jaws close and Skeeter is flung into the swamp water. Skeeter then proceeds to swim for dear life while Rex chases after him. But then, Skeeter swims right into a fishing net, and Goz scoops him out of the water.)
Goz: (looks at Skeeter as he continues to struggle in the net.) You put up a dang good fight little fella’, but life got’s people to feed, an’ you just happen be on the menu. Well done Rex, now lets git before Reg gets mad again. (Before he can go anywhere, the water begins to shake, and SPOOSH! A giant water jet shoots right under Goz’s canoe and lifts him into the air. He falls into the water with a splash, and pops up looking around.) What in the name of… (Suddenly, Mako’s head pops out of the water.) Leapen’ tarter cow pies! It’s a giant fish seakin’ revenge! RUN! (while still holding onto Skeeter in the net, he swings his other arm around in circles, propelling himself forward through the water as Res follows after, and Mako chases after both of them.
Meanwhile, Jamova continues cutting through another corner of the swamp.)
Jamova: Leo! (cuts through some more vines) Ergh! When I get out of here… Tiran! There will be nothing but dry land from now on. No more swamps, no more snow, and definitely no… (he bashes a plant out of his way, and suddenly catches his eye on someone tall in a white cloak carrying a scythe looking back at him from a distance.) What the? (He slowly approaches to get a better look, his shovel in hand. He still cannot make out is face.) You there! (The shadowy figure turns and walks deeper into the swamp.) Wait! (Jamova races to catch up to him. By the time he reaches the spot where the man once stood, he’s gone.) Where did he go? (Jamova looks around and spots him again, standing couple yards away. Jamova races after him again, and he disappears again, appearing another ways away into the swamp.) What are you? (He then proceeds to follow him at a distance and at a much slower pace.
Meanwhile, Leo is still hanging upside down with his foot stuck in the tree. Every now and then, he attempts to get himself free by reaching for the vines and wrangling his foot, but he quickly runs out of steam.)
Leo: (lying there motionless) Some Avatar I am. Samos’ ghost could have at least pointed me in the right direction. I guess all I can do now is wait till someone finds me…
Voice: WHOO! (rustling in the bushes)
Leo: (frightened) …or some ‘thing’. (He looks around as he hears more brushing around and moving vines. They appear to get closer and closer as Leo winces in fear. Then, all the noises stop, and it is suddenly very quiet. Leo opens one of his eyes, then the other, and slowly looks around. And suddenly…)
Tyl: Hi!
Leo: WA! (he flinches for a second, but then looks to see a young girl who has poped down in front of him. She has dirty blond hair, blue eyes, wearing a reef, a green top and bottom, and vines restraining her from the waist down. She appears to him right side up, so she is also hanging upside down. Leo’s mood turns to pleasantly surprised.) Uh, hi. Do you live here?
Tyl: Not this tree, but the swamp if that’s what you mean. My name is Tyl. What’s yours?
Leo: I’m Leo. (looks at her a little confused) I hope you don’t mind me asking, but are you the Spirit of the Black Forest?
Tyl: (looking confused as well) What’s that?
Leo: Oh, just some story my friends were telling me. They say some spirit made of vines lives in the swamp and calls to people.
Tyl: (thinks hard) Nope, can’t say I’ve seen anything like that.
Leo: That’s okay. I wasn’t too keen to meet it anyway. So, if you live here, does that mean there other people living here who can help us down?
Tyl: What’s the matter? Are you stuck?
Leo: Well yeah. Aren’t you?
Tyl: Oh! I just thought you liked hanging upside-down. I find it fun myself sometimes. Just a second. (She takes the vines around her waist and pull herself back up.)
Leo: I guess it’s not so bad once you get use toAAAAAH! (the vines release his foot and he falls from the tree and into the water with a SPLASH! He gets up and sees Tyl gracefully swing down on a vine and land in the water beside him.)
Tyl: Oops. Sorry about that.
Leo: (looks at her in aw) You can bend plants?
Tyl: Sure, for as long as I’ve known waterbending.
Leo: Where did you learn to do that?
Tyl: From Master Huu, the swamps caretaker. He has a spiritual bond with this place, and showed me how to connect my chi with the nature around me.
Leo: That’s amazing. I remember my master telling me that she knew waterbenders who could bend plants, but I wasn’t sure I could believe it.
Tyl: Like my master always said, separation of the elements is an illusion. Plants are just another form of water that has been synthesized into a living organism.
Leo: I see. Is that it? Is this what the swamp was calling me for?
Tyl: Maybe. There’s only one way to find out. (She waves her hands, and vines descend from the trees.) It’s not far from here. Follow me (She leaps from the water and begins swinging from vine to vine.)
Leo: Wait up! (He sees his staff float across the water. He takes it, gets a running start, boards his staff and surfs down the swamp, following after Tyl.
Meanwhile, Goz and Rex continue to swim for their lives as Mako chases them. Further up stream Reggie waits impatiently in another canoe, until she sees Goz running her way.)
Reggie: Well it’s about_(finally notices Mako) Blargian Bull Worms! (Rex swims past the canoe and Goz leaps in and drops Skeeter into the canoe. Both of them begin sweeping motions with their arms and propel their boat forward with their waterbending.
Tyl and Leo continue forward through the swamp. Tyl makes a leap from one vine, grabs two more and slides down to her feet all in one fluent motion. Leo hits the breaks on his board and comes to a stop.)
Tyl: Well Leo, here we are. (she gestures up the branches.)
Leo: (Steps onto the branches and looks up to see the trunk of the largest tree he’s ever seen.) The heart of the swamp. ‘This’ is what’s been calling me here?
Tyl: (nods) The Banyon-grove tree’s branches spread across the area for miles, creating one living-breathing biosphere. I heard it calling me just like you did, and was enlightened at this very spot.
Leo: If it helped you reach enlightenment, then maybe it can help me too. (Get’s on one knee, places a hand down on the floor, and closes his eyes.) I need to find the others. (His hair lights up, and a vision moves him through the swamp, and stops at Tiran, desperately wandering around.) I…I see them. (It then moves again to Jamova, still following after the being in the white cloak.) They’re not far from here, and…(it moves again to Moya, who’s mongoose lizard is sprinting across the water at top speed. Leo eyes open immediately.) Oh no. Moya is coming too.
Tyl: Is that bad?
Leo: It’s not good, (He looks to Tyl, and grins) you mind helping me out with something?
(Meanwhile, Jamova shoves another branch out of his way with his shovel and looks up at the man standing up on a giant tree root.)
Jamova: Why are you leading me here?
Spirit: (turns around and looks back at Jamova. His face still cannot be made out, but a glowing silver right eye peers out underneath his hood.) Are you the one who calls himself the Avatar’s guardian?
Jamova: (Taken aback by the spirits voice, for it sounds just like him, yet he shows no fear.) Yeah. I am. And what do they call you?
Spirit: I am the spirit that bears the deceased to their final resting place, and soon enough, Jamova, you will join me.
Jamova: (tightening his grip on his shovel) Sorry to disappoint you pal, but I have plenty more body’s to bury before you have mine. (Charges at the spirit with his shovel pointed forward. As he is about to strike, the spirit disappears in a puff of fog that blinds Jamova as he closes his eyes and pulls his shovel back, yet keeps running.)
Tiran: Jamova!
Jamova: (immediately opens his eyes) What? (WHOM! He collides right into Tiran, and they tumble in around circles until they fall to the ground.)
Tiran: (Briskly gets up) What in the world Jamova? I was looking everywhere for you, and then out of nowhere, you try to attack me?
Jamova: (getting up) I’m sorry T. I was trying to stop that crazy spirit guy.
Tiran: What guy?
Jamova: He had a big white clock, glowing silver eye, a freaking scythe. How could you miss him? You were standin’ right there!
Tiran: Jamova, I did not see anyone. Sounds to me like you’re getting why too wrapped in your own ghost stories.
Jamova: (looks at Tiran for a moment) You seriously didn’t see anything.
Tiran: No…(then, it comes to him) but I thought I saw my dad a while back.
Jamova: Your dad? But you haven’t seen him in ages. No one has. Does that mean we were both going crazy?
Tiran: I don’t know, but whatever it was, they’ve lead us here. (he and Jamova look up at the Banyon-grove tree) It must be the center of the whole swamp.
(They both gaze up at the Tree, until they hear deep rustling through the water, and Moya’ mongoose lizard leaps out in front of them.)
Jamova: (Turns to face Moya, yet eyeballs Tiran) Hey, what do you know T, she’s crazy too. (Quickly turns his attention to Moya, his shovel out and ready)
Moya: (extremely irritated) Where is the Avatar?
Jamova: I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?
Moya: I’ve traveled miles into the biggest slime trap in the universe, got haunted by my grandfather’s sole, and was nearly consumed to death by plants. Do NOT try my patience any thinner than it already is.
Tiran: Wait a minute; you had a vision too? (Moya is taken aback, not expecting this) That proves it! There is something going on here. All our visions have lead us to this exact same spot. The swamp really is—
Moya: –Be quiet! Stop wasting my time with your ridiculous superstitions. I am not afraid of some stupid myth. There is nothing calling me, and there is NOTHING magical about this swamp!
(SPLOOSH!!! Tiran and Jamova shout in fear as a giant monstrous creature completely made of vines shoots out of the sea. Moya looks up nearly petrified as the creature looks down on him. It raises its right arm of vines and lunges at Moya, who just barely leaps out of the way as his mongoose lizard is swiped away, sent flying far into the swamp. Moya hastily shoots blast after blast of fire at the swamps plant-like hide, but it all quickly douses out on its damp surface. The vines shoot out from it’s center and knocks Moya out into the water. The monster than raises both it’s arms and drops them, sending a wave of water through the stream, catching Moya and washing him all the way down the river. The swamp monster then turns to Tiran and Jamova.)
Tiran: (as he attempts to flee, he trips and falls backwards, as he crawls.) Get away from me! (As he crawls backwards, he grabs chunks of mud and earth from the ground and throws them at the creature. Its vines grab him by his feet and drag him as he reaches into the ground with his hands.)
Jamova: (swings his shovel every which way. Vines coil around his shovel and pull it out of his hands.) Give that back you little—! (As he attempts to reach back for it, he is pulled by the waste and lifted into the air. At this point the swamp monster has both Tiran and Jamova in its grasp.)
Tiran: Please Jamova! I don’t want to be consumed by the swamp!
Jamova: If we make it out of this alive, I swear I will never tell another ghost story ever ever ever… (They all of a sudden here sheer laughter. The vines at the center of the monster open up, revealing Leo and Tyl inside, laughing hysterically. Tiran and Jamova look to them nearly bamboozled.) LEO? (suddenly pretends to look stern) Yeah, that’s right keep laughing!
Leo: I told you it would work. They completely fell for it.
Tyl: Wasn’t the look on their faces priceless? ‘Look at me! I’m the big scary Spirit of the Black Forest.’
Leo: ‘Oh no! Keep it away! Keep it away!’ (They keep laughing.)
Tiran: (nearly in tears, trying to contain his laughter) That was NOT funny Leo! (Busts into snickers, but then catches himself) I’m serious! We were looking everywhere for you. You had me worried sick, and will you please put us down already?
Leo: All right all right, calm down. (Tyl bends the vines, gently putting Tiran and Jamova down to the ground and releasing them.) Guys, this is Tyl. She’s a waterbender, but she can bend plants too.
Tyl: You two must be Jamova and Tiran. (She quickly walks up to each of them and gives them a quick hug.) It’s good to meet you.
Tiran: (un-expecting her abrasiveness) It’s…nice to meet you too…Tyl.
Jamova: Tyl? Is that short for something?
Tyl: Nope. Just Tyl.
Jamova: Okay. So this (gesturing up to the tree) is the all-powerful tree that is, quote-un quote, ‘calling to us.’ (Pause) Yep. Uh huh. Oh! That’s very interesting, tree. Thanks for sharing.
Tiran: It must speak to people through our conscience. That’s how I saw my father. Even Moya said she saw someone.
Leo: And I saw Samos. What does it all mean?
Jamova: Proof that we’re tired, hungry, and spent far too much time here?
Tyl: Well actually, it’s quite normal. The swamp is known to reveal visions to those who wander in its path. Normally of lost loved ones; people we think are gone. The swamp reminds us that we are still connected to them; their strengths, as well as their faults, and while it may hurt to think of the bad, it shows us that life manages to find a way through the hardest of times.
Tiran: (reminded of his bitter feelings towards his father) I see.
Jamova: Okay, but can you explain why my vision was of some freak with a scythe that I’ve never seen in my entire life?
Tyl: Master Huu always said that time is an illusion. Does that help?
Jamova: …Well, he did say something about me… joining him. Are you saying I am going to see him in the future? (She gives him a nod. He looks unenthusiastic.) Had to ask, didn’t I?
Leo: Looks like all we need to do now is—(suddenly Tyl falls to her knees and places her hand on her head as if in pain.) what’s the matter?
Tyl: I… I feel faint. The swamp, it’s in trouble.
Jamova: (turns and points up to the sky) You think that might be the reason? (Everyone looks up to see smoke coming from the distance.)
Tiran: Moya must have must have set the swamp on fire! If it keeps spreading, the entire swamp could be destroyed.
Tyl: (she fights against her fear and stands back up) Not if I can stop it.
Leo: I’m coming with you. (Tyl turns and gives him a look of thankfulness.)
Jamova: That’s great, but how are we going to get there in time.
Tyl: I’ll call a ride. (she leaps to a rock and crouches down) KA-NU-KU-KOO!
(Everyone’s eyes bulge, immediately recognizing that sound)
Leo: What are you doing?
Tyl: Using the nimatoad mating call. There should be one around here somewhere. KA-NU-KU-KOO!
Tiran: Wait! ‘You’ were the one making those noises? The whole time?
Tyl: Yep, that would be me. Ka-Nu-Ku_ hey there’s one! (she leaps into the swamp, noises of vines and rallying go on for a sec. Then she returns on the back of a giant black frog with green spots and yellow eyes.) Quick, hop on!
Jamova: (as everyone gets on the nimatoad) See, completely reasonable! Not a monster, just a regular girl making animal noises. Nothing mystical about it. (He gets on, and Tyl makes a whip at the water behind them and the nematode leaps into motion.
Meanwhile, Goz and Reggie continue to run away from Mako.)
Goz: Nice fishy! Good fishy!
Reggie: Shut your pie-hole, and keep drivin’! (they both keep steering down the stream, until in shear terror, they pull the breaks at a road block of fire. The canoe swerves into a stop, and even Mako leaps up and screeches. They gaze in fear as the fire consumes all the plant life around them.
Tyl’s nematode races through the swamp, leaping atop the water. Tiran and Jamova hang on, uncomfortable with the hoppity feel of the ride. Leo, hanging onto a vine, is skiing in the back on his board. They finally close in on a heap of smoke and bright amber light.)
Tiran: There it is! (As they come to a stop and hop off, Tyl is petrified by the sheer size of the fire. Many swamp dwellers have arrived in an effort to put it out.)
Leo: We got to hurry! (The four of them leap into action. Tiran runs up, sticks his feet in the mud and thrusts his fists forward, covering nearby flames in clots of mud. On another end, Skeeter is seen attempting to hop out of the canoe while still in the net. He is suddenly frisked out of the canoe and lifted into the air.)
Jamova: (looking at Skeeter trapped in his hands.) Awh, who was one step away from being finger food? You don’t know how lucky you are.
(At the heart of the fire, a stout, short, white bearded old man desperately attempts to douse out the flames, yet they continue to spread and he can barely see in all the smoke.)
Tyl: (cuts through the flames) Huu! (She takes his hand and leaps them out just as he would have been burned. She sets him down as he coughs up the smoke.) It okay, master. I got you!
Huu: (forlorn) I’m sorry Tyl. I’m not as strong as I use to be.
Tyl: Don’t be silly. Not even you could survive that.
Huu: I have no choice. This swamp means everything to me Tyl. I will protect it at any cost, even if it means my life.
(On the outside, Leo is giving everything he can to put the fires out, bending the water like a jet. Suddenly out of the water appears Mako, who also begins spraying at the flames.)
Leo: (happily surprised) Mako! (Looks around, observing the area of the fire.) I have an idea buddy. (He hops onto Mako and puts his hands to his mouth.) Everyone! Give me all your bending water! (All the swamp dwellers turn to him.) I’m going above the fire, but I’ll need as much water as I can possibly get!
Reggie: (everyone looks confused and unconvinced, until she speaks up) Y’all heard the kid! Now give him yer’ water, or we all be fried possum-chicken!
Leo: (He swings his arms through the air, absorbing the swamp water and forming it into a giant ball. The swamp benders begin to cooperate and send their water bending into his ball.) Yip Yip! (Mako ascends into the air. Tiran, Jamova, Skeeter, Tyl, and Hue all gaze up as Leo has a hold on his giant orb of water.)
Tyl: Leo?
Tiran: Come on! You can do it!
(Leo and Mako ascend above the swamp, gazes at the Moya of burning terrain. He takes a deep, deep breath, pulls his arms back and…
FHO-SPLOOSH-POOM!!! The water vaporizes the whole fire in one giant wave. Everyone cheers as snow falls from the sky and Mako flies by.)
Tyl: That was… amazing! How did Leo do that?
Jamova: (walks up to her) Eh, you know; Waterbending prodigy from the South. Youngest master in his tribe. Oh, and did we mention he’s the Avatar?
Tyl: The Avatar! Really? (she gazes up at him once more) Why didn’t I see it before?
Huu: I can hardly believe it’s been fifty years since the Last Airbender came to me. Time really is an illusion Tyl. You know that, do you?
Tyl: I know master. I know.
(Everyone is celebrating on the scar, making snowmen, cooking a meal, and playing music. Skeeter himself is dancing to the tune.)
Goz: (singing) Set my lines on the riverbed. Caught ten fish and I killed em’ dead. Gut em’ and skin em’ and I toss the heads in the water to keep them catgaters fed.(laughs at Skeeter dancing.) Yeah, you go little buddy. Sorry bout the whole huntin’ thing.
Jamova: Oh please, don’t be.
Reggie: I’ve never seen snow before. Got lota snow in the South Pole do they?
Leo: Sure. Everywhere you look is a blanket of white snow.
Reggie: Sounds awful purty.
Goz: Yeah, but not as purty as you.
Reggie: Awh, I love you too Gozy, (Goz leans in for a kiss, but she stops him) but yer still an idiot!
Goz: But I’m your idiot.
Tiran: So let me get this strait. You met the Avatar fifty years ago, fought in the invasion of Black Sun, served as a prisoner of war, and then was set free, all this after you actually arrived at the swamp in the first place. (Counts on his fingers) you would have to be at least…eighty, ninety, over a hundred years old!
Hue: (sitting in a leaf hammock with bandages over his arms and chest) Age is an illusion, and so is death.
(After being absent, Tyl arrives carrying a woven bag over her shoulders.)
Leo: Hey Tyl! Where have you been?
Tyl: I’ve been busy. Leo, I want to thank you for saving my home.
Leo: No problem. I’m more than happy to help. I am the Avatar after all.
Tyl: Yes. It is the Avatar’s duty to master the four elements and restore peace among the four nations. I understand that you have a long journey ahead of you. That is why I have decided to say good buy, (Leo looks down a little depressed) to the swamp.
(Everyone looks up, surprised.)
Leo: What do you mean?
Tyl: To return your favor for saving us, I feel it’s my duty to help restore balance to nature. When I came here, I was lost. Now, I am strong, wise, and ready to make a difference. I wish to join you and your friends.
Tiran: (Looks to Leo, who is speechless) We would love for you join us Tyl.
Tyl: (smiles at them, then turns to Huu) Thanks for all your training master. I hope I can make you proud.
Huu: (stands up from his hammock) I am already proud Tyl. I would not have it any other way. (They hug.)
Tyl: Because of you master, my ora has never been greener.
Huu: Please, call me Huu.
Jamova: (perplexed) Huu? (Skeeter laughs.)
(Everyone gathers around Mako as they get ready to depart.)
Leo: Well Tyl, welcome aboard.
Tyl: (Walking up in front of Mako) Hello gravity-defiant sea friend! I am your new passenger. I hope I’m not too heavy. (Mako screeches at her joyfully, and she giggles.)
Jamova: I wouldn’t worry too much about that. It might take some getting use to though, so if you ever feel uncomfortable—
Tyl: Are you kidding, this is a dream come true. (climbing into the saddle)
Tiran: Thank you all for everything.
Leo: Yip Yip!
Tyl: Buy everybody! (Waving as they take off into the air. The swamp dwellers all wave goodbuy as well.)
Reggie: (sniffs a tear) There goes our baby girl, all grown up, flyen’ on a big orca, travelin with the Avatar, and stuff.
(Suddenly, another swamp dweller arrives on the back of a Mongoose lizard.)
Goz: (looks over at his friend) Dib? What in tarnation have you been doin’ this whole time?
Dib: (dull, yet excited) I don’t know…but look who I found? (Gestures to the mongoose lizard) Handy aint ‘e?
(Meanwhile, outside the swamp, Moya, slugs out of the swamp. She is soaking wet, her hair is a mess, and she has an expression of complete distraught. Blade stands outside, anxiously waiting for her as she trudges back to camp.)
Blade: Princess! You’re…okay? (Moya doesn’t answer. Blade holds out his hand to help her.) I’m… taking you didn’t find him? (Moya says nothing, but drops the crystal necklace into his hands. Blade carefully observes the necklace. A Dai-Li agent notices the mongoose lizard is gone, he looks down at what Moya is riding instead. A catgater.
Tyl, at the back of the saddle, lies down and looks up at the sky as Mako flies off in the star lit night.)
To be continued…
I just realized how much I jumped around in this episode. There were probably like over a dozen meanwhile’s in this script. Maybe that’s why I had fun with it. Not saying that all my episodes will be like this. Quite contrary, I’m use to the strict A and B plot structure.
With that being said, I would like to dedicate this episode to my friend Brittanie Andrew. My first fan, and the first person to read my story. Thank you for all your encouragement over the years.
Next time on Avatar:
Ever since his encounter with Samos in the Swam, Leo recieves recieves more and more message from the other side. The pressure is definately on for Leo to discover his destiny… at least after he’s done entertaining the new member of his group.
Last week, you saw the sweeky clean Gan Jins become ninjas. But what has become of the rough and dirty Zhangs?
Pirates!
What were you expecting? Vampires?
Will Leo’s ways of the sea be enough to to Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast these salty sea dogs and their poodlemonkey. Find out next time on Avatar the Chronicles of Leo.
Posted by avatarleo 
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