-NO ONES POV-

Katara, you and Aang are on a raised, grassy plateau. During the time your friends and Aang spent together. Oddly you and Aang get quite along well to each other.A gentle stream is running out beneath it. Katara is folding one of their sleeping blankets. Aang is lying on the root of a tree with you. Momo screeches and lands on the plateau as Sokka approaches.

Aang: [Enthusiastically.] Great, you're back!

Aang leaps off the root with his airbending, landing beside the Water Tribe siblings as Sokka digs in his bag. You leap off as you walk to your three friends.

Aang: What's for dinner?

Sokka: Digs nuts from his bag.] We've got a few options. First; round nuts. And some kind of oval shaped nuts? And some rock-shaped nuts, that might just be rocks. [Throws the rock-shaped nut toward Momo.] Dig in!

You, Aang, and Katara look at each other then back at Sokka.

Katara: Seriously ... what else you got?

Momo coos, and sniffs the rock-shaped nut, before taking it with one of his paws and slapping it against a stone twice. Attempting to break it, he takes it with both paws and slams it down on the big rock. The moment he does so, however, the entire earth quakes, making Momo shriek and his hair stand up on end.

Sokka: What was that?

Momo, believing he may have caused the quake, cautiously drops the rock to the ground in test. The quake returns, causing Momo to leap away.

Aang    It's coming from over there!

Aang and Katara runs off making you get up and follow them quickly.

Sokka: Shouldn't we run away from huge booms? Not toward them?

The four, joined by Momo, hide behind a fallen tree and spy on a young boy bending boulders into the air and punching them into the side of the ravine.

Katara: An earthbender!
Aang: Let's go meet him!

Sokka: He looks dangerous, so we better approach cautiously.

Suddenly Katara is a few feet in front of them, excitedly addressing the earthbender with you beside her. Having your hands behind your back as you look at your best friend.

Katara: Hello there! I'm Katara! And this is Y/N! What's your name?

The young boy gasps in surprise, dropping the boulder he was bending to the ground. He flees quickly, bringing down an avalanche of boulders with his bending to block his exit.

The two teen boys approach Katara and you; yelling.

Aang: Nice to meet you!

Katara: [Shrugging.] I just wanted to say hi.
You: Maybe he was shy?

Aang: Hey! That guy's gotta be running somewhere. Maybe we're near a village? And I bet that village has a market!

Katara: [Excitedly.] Which means no nuts for dinner!

Aang: [looks at you] probably animal and a bed as well!

You: [eyes sparkle with blank look] Finally...
You,  Katara and Aang chase after Haru.

Sokka: Hey! I worked hard to get those nuts!

Momo flies overhead, chasing the trio.

Sokka: Yeah, I hate 'em too. [Slowly follows you, Katara, and Aang.]

Katara and Sokka stroll through the mining village's streets while Aang speaks with a shopkeeper under a terrace with you by his side.

Aang: Great hat! [Tries on the hat.] I'll trade you some nuts for it. [puts hat on your head]

Katara:[Notices the boy enter a shop. Speaks to herself in surprise.] Hey ...

The boy enters into the dark, wooden building and approaches a woman.

Haru: Hi, Mom.
Haru's mother: Where have you been, Haru? You're late! Get started on your chores.

Katara enters the shop's front door, startling Haru.

Katara: Hey. You're that kid. Why did you run away before?

Haru: Uh, you must have me confused with some other kid.

You, Aang and Sokka enter the shop.

You: No, she didn't. We saw you earthbending out there.

Haru and his mother gasp in horror at his secret being revealed and both the door and window to the small shop are promptly slammed shut.

Haru's mother: [Standing by the window.] They saw you doing what?!

Haru: They're crazy, Mom! I mean, look at how they're dressed.

Aang gazes to your conical hat, shifting it about in confusion. You just stare not offended as Aang holds your arm. Katara awkwardly grasps at her dress, looking with astonishment at herself. Sokka quirks an eyebrow and smooths out his sleeve.

Haru's mother: You know how dangerous that is! You know what would happen if they caught you earthbending!

Tax collector: [Heavy knocks on the door.] Open up!

Sokka peeks through the window's blinds.

Sokka: Fire Nation! Act natural!

Haru's mother opens the door, allowing the Fire Nation tax collector to walk inside. He stares awkwardly at the five children in front of him. Haru grasps his chin and stares toward Katara, cross-eyed. Sokka eyeballs an apple.

Katara hunches forward with her eyes wide open, having stuffed her mouth with berries. Aang has his hand atop a barrel, beaming an immense toothy smile. His pose is short-lived as the barrel's lid spins, dunking Aang's hand into the barrel of water and causes him to fall down. You had a jar on top of your head as you kept a meditating posture. Eyes closed and hands together like a pyramid.

The tax collector stares sourly toward the four children

Haru's mother: [aggressively.] What do you want? I've already paid you this week!

Tax collector:The tax just doubled. [Arrogantly.] And we wouldn't want an accident, would we? [Creates a ball of fire between his hands, making everyone slightly back away.] Fire is sometimes so hard to control.

Haru's mother and the tax collector approach the store's counter, where she opens a small chest and passes a meager handful of Earth Kingdom currency to the tax collector. Haru leans against the counter, staring with contempt toward the Fire Nation man.

Tax collector: You can keep the copper ones. [Walks away, dropping four copper pieces to the floor, exits.]

Sokka: [Door slams.] Nice guy. How long has the Fire Nation been here?

Haru's mother: Five years. Fire Lord Ozai uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships.

Haru: They're thugs. They steal from us. And everyone here's too much of a coward to do anything about it.

Haru's mother: [Angered.] Quiet, Haru! Don't talk like that.

You: [walks normal with jar still on head] But your son is right ma'am.

Katara: [Curiously.] Plus, Haru's an earthbender? He can help!

Haru's mother: Earthbending is forbidden. It's caused nothing but misery for this village! [Casts a meaningful glance toward her son.] He must never use his abilities.

Katara: How can you say that? Haru has a gift! Asking him not to earthbend is like asking me and Y/N not to waterbend.

You raise a brow at what katara said you were about to protest.

You: Now hold on a min-

Katara: It's a part of who we are.

Haru's mother: [Shakes head in dismay.] You don't understand.

Katara: I understand that Haru can help you fight back. What can the Fire Nation do to you that they haven't done already?

Haru's mother:  They could take Haru away! Like they took his father.
———

Scene changes to late evening, viewing farmland and a barn. Appa walks into the barn. Cut to a closer view of Sokka, you, Katara, Haru, and Aang standing inside the barn.

Haru: My mom said you can sleep here tonight. But you should leave in the morning.

Aang: Thanks. I'll make sure Appa doesn't eat all your hay.

Appa engulfs a mouthful of hay. Appa pauses, turning to stare dubiously toward Aang before continuing to chew hay. The scene switches to Katara and Haru taking a walk into the woods outside under the setting sun.

Katara: I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I didn't know about your father.

Haru: That's okay. It's funny, the way you were talking back in the store? It reminded me of him.

Katara: [Flattered.] Thanks.

Haru: My father was very courageous. When the Fire Nation invaded, he and the other earthbenders were outnumbered ten to one. But they fought back anyway.

Katara: He sounds like a great man.
The two approach the top of a steep cliff, gazing out to the setting sun beyond.

Haru: [Stops.] After the attack, they rounded up my father and every other earthbender, and took them away. [Kneels.] We haven't seen them since.

Katara: So that's why you hide your earthbending.

Haru: Yeah. Problem is ... [earthbends two stones in a circle above his hand.] the only way I can feel close to my father now [Crushes the stones to sand with his hands. The sand blows away.] is when I practice my bending. He taught me everything I know.

Katara: [Sits beside Haru, sets her fingertips on her necklace.] See this necklace? My mother gave it to me.

Haru: It's beautiful.

Katara: I lost my mother in a Fire Nation raid. [Hangs her head, turning away.] This necklace is all I have left of her.

Haru: It's not enough, is it?
Katara: No. [Hangs her head and turns away.]
———

The scene switches to Katara and Haru who have continued their walk along the dirt trail. A loud boom sounds and rock and dust blasts from a distant mine entrance. An old man cries out.

Old man: Help, help!

Katara and Haru run quickly to the entrance, which has caved in and left a tremendous pile of rocks pinning the old man to the ground on his stomach. Sand continues to pour down, rocks intermittently falling.

Old man: Help me!
Haru braces his back against the mine entrance. Katara pulls the old man.

Katara: Ugh! It's not working! We have to get help!

Haru: There's no time, pull harder!

Katara: [Getting an idea.] Haru. There's a way you can help him.

Haru: [Guilty fear.] I can't.
Katara: Please, there's no one around to see you. It's the only way!

Haru leaps away from the falling debris, spinning back to face it as he assumes an earthbending form. With a sudden and strong move, he blasts all the rocks down the tunnel, freeing the old man.

Katara: [Excitedly.] Haru! You did it!

The two take place beside the old man and aid him walking away from the mine.

At the barn, Katara is sitting up in her bedroll with a lamp in her lap. Sokka is lying on a square bale of hay with his blanket over him, and Aang is sprawled out on Appa's head with Momo lying on his back and you by his side as you snore.

Katara: It was so brave of Haru to use his earthbending to help that old man.
Aang: You must have really inspired him.

Katara: I guess so.
Sokka: Everyone should get some sleep, we're leaving at dawn.

Katara: [Unhappily.] Dawn?! Can't we sleep in for once?

Sokka: [Commandingly.] Absolutely not! This village is crawling with Fire Nation troops. If they discover you're here, Aang, we'll be eating fireballs for breakfast. Goodnight.

Katara: [Slyly, with a wry smirk.] I'd rather eat fireballs than nuts.

Sokka: [With finality.] Goodnight!

Katara and Aang share a few playful chuckles with each other before she blows out the lamplight to get some rest.
Fire Nation troops march on a mission through the dead of night. The man in the lead raps on a wooden door. Haru answers the door, suddenly gasping in shock as he sees the troops.

Old man: [Points accusingly.] That's him! That's the earthbender!

The Fire Nation leader shoves the old man out of the way and approaches Haru. Haru screams as the man forces Haru into his grip and hauls him away.
———

In the morning, Katara carries a jar outside of the barn. She sets it down beside a water pump and proceeds to waterbend, drawing water out of the spigot and into the waiting pot.

Picking it up, she spots Haru's mother standing with her back to her, gazing toward the distant ocean.

Haru's mother slowly turns around, laying a tearful gaze upon Katara. Katara realizes Haru has been taken and drops the pot, as it shatters to pieces at her feet.

Katara enters barn to see Aang and Sokka folding blankets; emotionally.

Katara: They took him! They took Haru away!

Aang: [Surprised.] What?
You: How?

Katara: [Hurriedly.] The old man turned him in to the Fire Nation - it's all my fault - I forced him into earthbending!

Sokka and you step beside her, taking her hands in his and yours as you put your other hand on her shoulder.

Sokka: Slow down, Katara. When did this happen?

Katara: Haru's mother said they came for him at midnight.

Sokka: Then it's too late to track him, he's long gone.

Katara: [Turns defiantly to the open door, clenches fists.] We don't need to track him. The Fire Nation is going to take me right to Haru.

Aang: [Confused.] And ... why would they do that?

Katara: [Determined.] Because they're going to arrest me for earthbending.

You step up to Katara as you held her hand.

You: if you're getting arrested, so am I.

Katara smiles at you lovingly as she grips your hand in her own.

Aang and Sokka share a horrified look.
———

Scene changes to the water tribe sibling and you working together to push a boulder overtop an air vent on a rocky road.

Sokka: I thought you two were crazy at first, Katara, but this might work. There are ventilation shafts throughout these mines. All Aang has to do is send an air current from that vent to this one right here. The boulder levitates and ta-da! Fake earthbending.

Katara: [Props hands off hips, turns to Aang.] Aang? Did you get all that?

Aang: [Snapping small puffs of air at a sooty copper fritillary butterfly; dismissively.] Sure, sure. I got it.

You: Do you remember your cue Aang?

Aang: [Continues snapping puffs of air; still dismissive.] Yeah, yeah. Just relax [N/N]. You're taking all the fun out of this.

Sokka: [Aggravated.] By this, do you mean intentionally being captured by a group of ruthless firebenders?

Aang: [Humored.] Exactly! That's fun stuff!

Group of firebenders with spears approach.

Sokka: Here they come! Get in your places!

Aang stops playing with the butterfly and Momo tries catching it as it flies away. As the group of spear-wielding guards approach, Katara and Sokka make a show of walking into one another by their stomachs before emphatically shouting. You stood there holding dirt in your hands with a blank stare.

Sokka: ]While angrily pointing at Katara.] Get out of my way, pipsqueak!

The soldiers watch in confusion. One of them even raises an eyebrow.

Katara: [Angrily hunched over.] How dare you call me pipsqueak, you giant-eared cretin!

Sokka: [Just as angrily hunched over.] What did you call me?

Katara: [Far too dramatically as her hair loopies move with her motion.] A giant-eared cretin! Look at those things! Do herds of animals use them for shade?! [Imitates an elephant's ears.]

Sokka: [Towers over his sister.] You better back off! [Slips his hand by his mouth and mutters.] Seriously, back off.

Katara: [More determined, heightens above her now-cowering brother.] I will not back off! I bet elephants get together and make fun of how large your ears are!

Sokka: That's it! You're going down!

Katara: I'll show you who's boss! [Angrily points at Sokka.] Earthbending style!

Katara over-dramatically leaps toward the boulder, clenching her fist upward to which there is no reaction.

Katara: [Angrily.] I said, earthbending style!

At Katara's shout, Aang gasps quietly as he realizes his mistake by missing his cue. The young airbender ceases playing with the butterfly, leaps up, and blasts a strong jet of air into the ventilation duct, suddenly sending the boulder levitating into the air.

This reveals Momo behind the boulder, who has his arms raised, licking himself.

Guard: [Points a finger to the lemur; surprised.] That lemur! He's earthbending!

You, Katara and Momo each remain in their positions. Katara eyes the man in surprise.

Sokka: [angrily, waves his arms toward her and you.] No, you idiot, it's the girl and teen!

Guard: Oh. [Blushes shamefully.] Of course.

Sokka steps beside Katara, laying his hands on her shoulders as the boulder falls to the ground. Katara stands patiently.

Guard: But wait, what about that one? [points to you still holding dirt]

You lifted the dirt in the sky as it just falls down. You moved before the dirt got in your hair.

You: I smashed a rock....

The guards look at each other and nodded.

Sokka: I'll hold them. [Whispers to Katara and you.] You've got twelve hours to find Haru. We'll be right behind you.

The guards escort Katara and you away, leaving Aang, Sokka, and Momo to watch as she takes a final glance back.

Sokka unhappily tugs at his ears, testing their sizes.

Sokka: [Eyeballs Momo perched off of Aang's shoulder. Points accusingly.] Momo, you have some big ears!

Momo folds his ears back, hunches down, and coos in protest.
———

Katara and you is in the back of a Fire Nation transport with other earthbender prisoners. She wears a brown, tattered prison garb over her blue Water Tribe outfit and stares glumly downward. You wear the same thing Katara has over your own stylish water tribe clothing.

Sokka and Aang each have conical yellow hats in a crowd, attempting to stealthily observe her travel. Katara looks longingly over shoulder as you stared long at your feet as you raised your hand not seeing the single water drop. The cart bobs along a pier, heading toward a waiting barge on the ocean.

Aang and Sokka chase the barge, riding Appa through the clouds. The immense, smoking, off-shore Fire Nation prison rig is seen just ahead. Close-up of the rig.

Aang stares nervously at the barge carrying you to the prison.

Sokka: They'll be fine, Aang. Katara knows what she's doing.

After the barge arrives, six prisoners, including Katara and you, line up on the deck of the prison. Spear-wielding guards stand at either side. A prison warden approaches.

Warden: [Smugly.] Earthbenders. It is my pleasure to welcome you aboard my modest shipyard. I am your warden. I prefer to think of you not as prisoners, [Quips smartly.] but as honored guests. And I hope you come to think of me as your humble and caring host. [Paces nonchalantly.] You will succeed here, if you simply abide-

The warden pauses, suddenly interrupted by a prisoner in line coughing. With no forewarning, the warden leaps into the air and aims a blast of fire at the prisoner's legs in anger. The prisoner cowers away for safety as the warden stands defiantly toward the man.

Warden: [Very angrily.] What kind of guest dishonors his host by interrupting him?! Take him below! [Swings his arms. Some guards escort the man away. Mutters.] One week in solitary will improve his manners. [Continues smug gait.] Simply treat me with the courtesy that I give you-

Approaches you & Katara, kneeling to stare into your blank expression. She crosses her eyebrows, scowling coarsely at the man.

Warden: And we'll get along famously.
The prisoners are taken on a tour of the facility. Below, fellow prisoners are seen laboring.

Warden: You will