-NO ONES POV-

The camera pans upward to sea level, and higher up into the city. The scene changes to where Katara is set to spar with a young boy named Sangok. She eyes her opponent with a look of determination.

Sangok looks at her with a frightened expression on his face, shaking slightly. He summons a globule of water, freezes it into an iceball, and fires it at her.

Katara, however, is quick to melt the iceball and, turning around swiftly, bends a wave of water at him, which she proceeds to freeze, thus suspending Sangok in an icy trap.

Meanwhile, you had finally unlocked your waterbending due to strong emotion, anger, and irritation. You were fighting another boy, you didn't care for his name as you slam your fist down to the snowy ground.

Your ice gloves come around your fists, and the boy sends ice and water your way. You punched the ice shards, and in a motion, the ice gloves came off and you redirected the water at the boy like a whip. The boy fell on his back harshly, knocking the wind out of him.

Pakku: [Displeased.] Nice try, Pupil Sangok and.. whoever you are. [Shows Sangok trying to break free and the boy groaning] A couple of more years and you might be ready to fight a sea sponge.

He unfreezes the ice; Sangok falls to the ground dazed. As the boy you fought gets up holding his back.

Pakku: Would anyone care for a rematch with Katara or The Water Wisteria?

The scene cuts to several students sitting by the sidelines, the camera panning to the right showing all of them to be tired and unamused.

Pakku: Katara, Y/N, you've advanced more quickly than any student I've ever trained.

Cuts to a shot of Katara, who smiles brightly. You had a small smile on your face

Pakku: You two have proven that with fierce determination, passion, and hard work, you can accomplish anything. [Turns to Aang irritably.] Raw talent alone is not enough.

Cut to Aang who is lying on the ground with a lazy smile, floating Momo around on an airball above him.

Pakku: Pupil Aang!

Aang: [Stops bending at the sound of his name; Momo lands on his head.] Yes, Master Pakku?

Pakku: [Sarcastically.] Care to step into the sparring circle? I figure since you've found time to play with house pets, you must have already mastered water bending.

Aang: [Jumps off the ground with airbending.] I wouldn't say mastered, but check this out.

He twists around, bending some snow around him to make a snowman of himself, which Momo knocks over. Cut to Pakku and Katara who wear similar expressions of disdain. Your face had a blank look before you looked at how Aang fell.

Pakku shakes his head in disappointment, while Katara looks on in irritation. You chuckled finding it a little funny.
———

The scene changes to another part of the city where Sokka and Yue are taking a walk along a bridge. Sokka is walking along the top of the bridge's wall while balancing.

Yue: So they don't have palaces in the Southern Tribe?

Sokka: [Sitting down on the ledge.] Are you kidding? I grew up in a block of ice. It's not exactly a cultural hub.

Yue laughs and places her hand on Sokka's shoulder; when Sokka smiles at her, she gets a little upset and looks at him seriously.

Yue: Sokka, this is wrong.

Sokka: [Protesting.] What's wrong? We're taking a walk!

Yue: [Unsurely.] I'm engaged. It just feels ...

Sokka: [Brightens.] I know what you need. [He hops off the rail to stand by her side.] You need to meet my good friend, Appa.

Yue: [Curiously.] Who?

The scene changes to where the two approach the stables, where Appa is resting.

Sokka: [Opening his arms out in enthusiasm.] Appa and I go way back, don't we, boy?

The thunder of Appa's shifting bulk is heard and Sokka's features turn to surprise. Appa enters from the left and lands on top of him and licks him, much to Sokka's dismay.

Sokka: Ah, ah, easy! Down boy! Agh! No, up!

Yue: Looks like you haven't been giving Appa enough attention!

Yue laughs. Sokka attempts to pull himself free of Appa, who continues to lick his face. The scene changes to the two sitting on Appa's saddle, Sokka holding the reins in his hand.

Yue: [Excitedly.] So, how does this work?

Sokka: You holding on tight? [Yue nods; in a cool tone.] Yip ... [Cut to a close-up of Sokka's face.] yip.

The camera zooms out to a shot of the entire city as Appa takes off.

Yue: [Impressed.] Oh ... my ... goodness!

Cuts to where Appa is soaring over the ocean; Yue is looking over the saddle.

Yue: Wow, I can't believe you do this every day.

Sokka: [Stretches.] Yeah, we pretty much live up here.

Yue: Is it always this cold in the sky? [Moves closer to Sokka.]

Sokka: [Happily.] Not when you're with someone.

Yue: [Turning to face Sokka, blushing.] It's beautiful up here.

Sokka: Yeah ...

The two turn to each other and slowly begin to lean in, but at the very last moment, Sokka widens his eyes, turns away, and pretends to act cool again.

Sokka: Woo, yeah! Ahhh, good times, good times. [Snow and black soot start to fall from the sky.] Hey, look!

Yue: [worried.] What's happening?
Sokka: [Nervous.] Oh no ...
———

The scene cuts to where civilians have stopped to observe the sooty snow. Cuts to Aang, who laughs as he gleefully rolls around in the snow in a circular pattern. You stand by him making a snowman, but then kick it down because its head was shaped weirdly.

Momo opens his mouth and catches a sooty snowflake only to bristle and spit out the contents.

Aang stops playing around and looks up at the snowfall with a concerned face. You looked up as well, and your eyes widened. Cuts to civilians standing near a fountain. The camera pans down to show the fountain's water turning black.

Sokka: Picking up a handful of black snow.] Soot.

Yue: What?

The scene reveals Sokka, Yue, and Appa having landed right outside the outskirts of Agna Qel'a, near the shores of the North Pole seas. Sokka is kneeling, observing the snow.

Sokka: I've seen this before, right before my village was attacked. It's soot mixed with snow. [Rises.]

Yue: But, why?

Sokka: [Looking out over the horizon.] It's the Fire Nation. [Looks at Yue concerned.] They've closed in on the North Pole and from the looks of this stuff, [Camera zooms out to show the enormity of the sooty snowfall.] I'd say there's a lot of them.

Cuts to the lead ship sailing toward the Water Tribe, under the command of Admiral Zhao and Iroh.

Zhao: This will truly be one for the history books, General Iroh. [Cuts to Zhao and Iroh standing on deck.] Just think, centuries from now, people will study the great Admiral Zhao, who destroyed the last of the Water Tribe civilization. You're lucky you're here to see it.

Iroh: [Tersely.] Be careful what you wish for, Admiral. History is not always kind to its subjects.

Zhao: I suppose you speak from experience, but rest assured. This will be nothing like your legendary failure at Ba Sing Se. [Walks forward.]

Iroh: [Sadly.] I hope not, for your sake.

Zhao: Tell the captains to prepare for the first strike.

Iroh walks away. Cuts to the bow of the lead ship breaking through thick ice floes floating in the water.

Cuts to the interior of the ship, where Iroh is confronting Zuko disguised as a Fire Nation soldier.

Zuko is forced to wear the disguise to keep the secret from Zhao that he survived an attempted assassination.

Iroh: [Secretly.] We'll be landing soon. Do you have a plan?

Zuko: [Removes his mask to reveal his face covered in cuts.] I'm working on it, Uncle. [Puts covering back in place.]

The two head off in separate directions.
———

Back at the Northern Water Tribe, citizens flee to the town hall, as two watchmen hit a drum to signal the Fire Nation's approach. Sokka and Yue make their way up the steps, but Yue stops the approach.

Sokka: [Trying to drag her along.] What's wrong? [Pointing up to the citadel.] We have to go!

Yue: [Sadly; lets go of Sokka's hand.] No, Sokka, wait, I can't see you anymore. Not at all.

Sokka: [Protesting.] What? We're just friends.

Yue: I wish we could just be friends, but I like you too much and it's too confusing to be around you. I'm marrying someone else! [Turns away sorrowfully.]

Sokka: You don't love him, do you? You don't even seem to like him.

Yue: But I do love my people.

Sokka: [Objecting.] You're not marrying them.

Yue: [Turns to face Sokka.] You don't understand. I have duties to my father and my tribe. I have to do this. Goodbye.

She runs past Sokka up the stairs quickly. Closes up on Sokka, who looks on with dismay. The scene cuts to inside the chief's Royal Palace.

Arnook: The day we have feared for so long has arrived. The Fire Nation is on our doorstep. It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe,

While saying this, the scene flashes from Yue to Pakku to Hahn.

Arnook: but they will never vanish from our hearts. Now, as we approach the battle for our existence, I call upon the great spirits. Spirit of the Ocean! Spirit of the Moon! Be with us! I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission.

Sokka: [Rising from his seat.] Count me in!
Katara: Sokka ...
You: [worried] dude...

Arnook: Be warned, many of you will not return. [Several Water Tribe men rise and walk forward.] Come forward to receive my mark, if you accept the task.

Arnook paints three red line marks with his fingers on one man's forehead. The man walks away, slightly sorrowful. Sokka steps forward and Arnook paints the same three marks. He begins walking away sadly and turns to look at Yue.

After staring at each other for a few moments, Sokka continues walking. Yue averts her gaze, closes her eyes, and begins crying.

The scene changes to outside Agna Qel'a where Aang is perched on a snow mound, holding his staff. Arnook approaches him.

Arnook: The stillness before the battle is unbearable. Such a quiet dread.
Katara and you join them.

Aang: I wasn't there when the Fire Nation attacked my people. [Determined.] I'm going to make a difference this time.

He rises and holds his staff behind his back in a similar pose as seen in the opening sequence. The camera pans upward to the sky. The scene changes to where Aang, you, Katara, Sokka, Appa, and all the warriors are gathered at the wall.

Something distant can be seen soaring toward Agna Qel'a from the horizon. Aang squints his eyes before realizing the object is a fireball. Cuts to Sokka and Katara, who look on in terror. You narrowed your eyes from afar.

The fireball collides with the wall of the city, sending Team Avatar and several warriors flying back. Cuts to the wall of the city damaged and beginning to fall apart.
Cuts to another fireball being launched into the air. The fireball disintegrates a bridge within the city.

Cuts to a trebuchet operator launching another fireball into the air, which hits the wall.

Aang: Yip-yip!

He and Appa take flight, heading toward the fleet. Cuts to the warriors who regather themselves, helping each other up.

Sokka: [Pulls his arm free from the snow.] Katara! Y/N!

Katara uses water bending to free herself from a snow mound she became buried underneath. You punched the snow away with your ice gloves. Sokka smiles and hoists his sister onto her feet. 

Sokka was gonna help you up to already see you were on your feet. He deadpans at your new confidence. The three of them cast their eyes upward, catching sight of two fireballs that soar overhead.

Cuts to Appa who grunts, Aang guiding him, a determined look on his face. Cuts to a bird's-eyes view of the ocean, Aang flies toward a single Fire Navy ship. Two fireballs are launched. The deck of the ship, where trebuchet operators launch another fireball back to Appa and Aang.

Cuts to a fireball soaring straight toward Aang, who uses his glider to direct it into an icy cliff side near Agna Qel'a.

Aang: I'll take it from here, boy.

He jumps down from Appa and flies downward on his glider onto the first ship. Using airbending, he sweeps several trebuchet operators off their feet and leaps onto one trebuchet.

An operator comes forward and slams a sledgehammer onto the machine, nearly striking Aang who manages to back-flip away. Cuts to where he stands on top of the contraption, two more operators approaching him from opposite directions, each holding a sledgehammer.

The one on his right brings the sledgehammer down proceeded by the one on his left. He jumps into the air, avoiding both blows and completely collapses the trebuchet with his glider and the use of air bending.

He lands on the deck, triumphant.
He runs over to an unoccupied trebuchet, already loaded with a flaming boulder. He sticks a sledgehammer in another launcher's chain.

When a soldier approaches him, Aang blasts him away, activating the catapult which launches the fireball straight into the deck, leaving a large hole. The camera zooms out on the damage.

Cuts to Aang, who runs past two operators who quickly chase after him. He arrives at two trebuchets, one before him and one behind him, and tangles their chains together.

He leaps onto the machine before him as the soldiers approach and slams his foot onto the pedal that activates the catapult. The catapult lunges forward, causing the second trebuchet to collide with the first, destroying both.

Smiling happily, Aang proceeds to another machine. Cuts to a burly man, who observes him evilly. Aang prepares to strike the machine with a sledgehammer only to turn around and catch sight of the man who attempts to land blows from afar with two sledgehammers, each attached to long chains.

Aang jumps out of the way of several blows. Cuts to the man who swings the chains around. Aang leans against a beam only for the two chains to wrap around the beam thus trapping him. He struggles to break free.

Cuts to the soldier, who is suddenly knocked over by Appa's paw. The chains snap and Aang breaks free.

Aang: [Brightening.] Appa!

Appa leans over the deck of the ship and tosses the man overboard before turning to Aang, who runs over and embraces him.

Aang: Thanks for the rescue, buddy!

His expression of relief becomes one of alarm when the ship begins to rumble. Cuts to an undamaged trebuchet that collapses when a gigantic spike of ice pierces straight through the hull and deck of the ship. Cuts to dozens of Water Tribe warriors riding on boats, who are using water bending to suspend the ship.

Cuts to the entire ship being uprooted. Cuts to Appa, who stands on the sloping deck, the ruins of machinery sliding downward past them. He and Aang take off. Cuts to the horizon, where an entire fleet comes into view, the ships large in quantity.

Aang: [Shocked.] You've got to be kidding me ...
———

The scene cuts to the training for the mission.

Arnook: Men, you'll be infiltrating the Fire Nation Navy. That means you'll all need one of these uniforms.

The camera pans upward, revealing a young man, Hahn, who appears in the uniform that will be used. Sokka laughs. The rest of the warriors turn to stare at him.

Hahn: [Angrily.] What's your problem?

Sokka: [Fire Navy uniforms don't look like that.

Hahn: [Irritably.] Of course they do. These are real uniforms captured from actual Fire Navy soldiers.

Sokka: [Sarcastically.] When, like, a hundred years ago?

Arnook: Eighty-five.

Sokka: [Walks over and flings one of the shoulder spikes with his finger.] The Fire Nation doesn't wear shoulder spikes anymore. The newer uniforms are more streamlined.

Sokka bends the tip of one of the shoulder spikes back with the tip of his finger and lets go. It bounces back to its original shape with a little comic sound effect.

Hahn: How do we know we can trust this guy? [Turns to growl at Sokka, who glares at him in return.] Such bold talk for a new recruit.

Arnook: Sokka is from our sister tribe, Hahn. He's a capable warrior and I value his input. [Sokka shoots Hahn a smug look; Arnook turns to the rest of the regiment.] Now, our first objective is to determine the identity of their commanding officer.

Sokka: His name is Zhao. Middle-aged, [Tracing imaginary sideburns with his fingers.] big sideburns, bigger temper ...

Arnook: Sokka, I want you to tell everything you know to Hahn. He's leading this mission. Hahn, show Sokka your respect. [Beginning to walk away.] I expect nothing less from my future son-in-law.

Sokka: [Stares at Hahn, mouth agape; points at him and narrows his eyes.] Princess Yue's marrying you?

Hahn: [Irritated.] Yeah, what of it?

Sokka: [Turns away from Hahn, upset.] Nothing. Congratulations.
———

Scene fades to sunset where fireballs are continually launched. A bird's-eye view is shown of the fleet attacking Agna Qel'a. Cuts to several fireballs; camera pans downward to show them hitting the city.

Pakku: [Pointing to the sky.] Stop those fireballs!

Cuts to shot of oncoming fireball. The waterbenders bend up a column of water and freeze it, capturing the fireball. Cuts to side-view of the leading ships of the fleet, the uprooted ship in view. The scene cuts to the interior of Zhao's ship.

Iroh: It's almost twilight, Admiral. As your military consultant, I must advise you to halt your attack. [Cuts to shot of the ship, sailing past a rising moon.] The waterbenders draw their power from the moon, and it is nearly full tonight. You should wait and resume the attack at daybreak. [Cuts back to Iroh and Zhao.]

Zhao: Oh, I'm well aware of the moon problem and I am working on a solution. But for now, daybreak it is.

The lead ship drops its anchor, followed by the rest of the ships, who drop their anchors and cease the attack. Cuts to a shot of Agna Qel'a, smoke billowing from several spots. Yue can be seen looking out over the horizon.

Yue: They've stopped firing.

Yue, you and Katara stand side by side, viewing the city. Appa appears over the horizon, flying toward them.

Katara: Aang!
You: Buddy!

Aang lands on the ground, exasperated. You and the ladies approach him.

Aang: [Clearly exhausted, placing his hands on his head.] I can't do it ... I can't do it.

Katara: What happened?
You: You okay?

Aang: [Dimly.] I must have taken out a dozen Fire Navy ships, but there's just too many of them. I can't fight them all.

Yue: [Pleadingly.] But, you have to. You're the Avatar.

Aang: [Solemnly.] I'm just one kid.

He buries his face in his arms. Katara pushes you gently toward Aang, you sigh kneeling down beside him in an attempt to comfort him.
———

The scene changes to nightfall on the lead ship. Cuts inside a room where Zuko prepares a boat, winding up some rope. Iroh enters.

Iroh: If you're fishing for an octopus my nephew, you need a