Some people run in the forest in Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 episode 1. The man trips. The woman helps him take a break on the rock. She persuades him that they need to keep going. But he thinks they don’t have to do that. She knows he’s in pain. She reminds him that the soldiers are hunting them. Kyoshi Warriors will come to save them. He tells her that nobody will come to save them. He doesn’t understand why they ran. He thinks they would die fast if they got burned by fire.
The woman tells the man that they can save themselves. Even if the enemies kill her, she won’t die easy. She will die on her feet, fighting. She reaches out her hand to him. He takes her hand. But they’re hit by the fireball. They fall on the ground together. The woman gets up from the ground. She sees the soldiers in armor. The captain makes a fireball in his hand.
But the Avator Aang lands after he jumped off his sky bison. Katara and Sokka join the leader. They’re ready for the fight. Aang throws his stick to Sokka. He throws some water at the captain’s face. Aang didn’t use the waterbending well. It didn’t hurt the captain. Katara teaches her boyfriend the right posture. She smiles at him. The captain is hit by the waterbending this time. He’s knocked away. He lets out a scream when he lies on the ground.
The soldiers fight Aang, Katara and Sokka. Some of the soldiers go to chase the running people. Sokka kills the soldiers. He helps the people flee. But another team of soldiers comes. Suki uses her fan to kill the soldiers. She asks Sokka if he lost something. He stuns the soldier who tries to attack him from behind. He tells her that he lost track of his many victories. She’s happy to hug him.
Katara checks the man’s wound on his back. She asks Aang if he wants to help her heal the man. He shakes his hand. She tells him that he has to learn it one day. She heals the man then. He’s surprised after he was healed. She suggests that he should take a break. But he wants to do it after the war is over. He walks away.
Sokka mentions he hasn’t seen Suki for a long time. She noticed that he shot up like a bamboo sprout. She asks the Avatar Team why they returned to the Earth Kingdom. Aang explains it to her that he wants to go to save his earthbending master. He asks her if she knows where Bumi is being held.
Sai knows it. He reveals Bumi is locked in a metal tower in Omashu. Bumi cannot leave the place with his earthbending. Aang doesn’t care. He points out that he needs to learn earthbending and save his friend.
Aang flies into the metal tower with his pet Momo. He tries to open the door to the cell. But the two guards stop him. He guesses one of them has the key. He kills them. The guard tries to attack him from behind. Aang stuns the guard. Momo gets the key from the guard. He throws it to Aang.
Aang opens the door. He gets in the cell. Bumi calls Aang. He thinks he shouldn’t be there. He tells him that he came too soon. He mentions he usually waits a century between visits. The years are catching up with him. Aang asks Bumi to leave with him. He will teach him earthbending. Then they will fight the Fire Lord. Bumi rejects it. He claims that he’s very busy. Aang tells his friend that it’s not time for jokes. Bumi asks Aang to leave immediately.
He wants to stay there so that he surrendered. Aang brings up when Bumi was in the fight when he left. Now Omashu is in ruins, and his people are refugees. He asks him what he did. Bumi stands up. He tells Aang that he did nothing. It was the hardest thing he has ever done. He could have taken up arms, and his people would have followed and died for it. To save them, he did nothing.
He asks Aang if he understands that he had to feel everything so that he could feel nothing, which is the key to feel everything. He asks him what he knows of Jing. Aang mentions the monks said it’s the energy used to fight. Positive Jing when he attacks. And negative Jing when he retreats. Which they should be doing right now. Bumi asks Aang about neutral Jing. Aang is surprised that there’re three kinds of Jing. Bumi tells Aang that there’re 85 different kind of Jing. Momo knows it.
Bumi throws the snack to Momo. The money eats it immediately. Bumi tells Aang that people use Jing everyday, and they’re not aware of it. But Aang must become aware of it. He must master neutral Jing to learn earthbending. Aang realizes that he must master doing nothing. Bumi tells Aang that he needs to wait and listen for the right time to strike. Aang thinks it’s the moment. He tells Bumi that he can come with him, and they defeat the Fire Lord together. He asks him to be his master. Bumi tells Aang that his master will be a master of neutral Jing. A master who waits and listens. She will be a friend of Aang. Aang should leave. The guards will be changing their shifts soon. The new guard breaks into Bumi’s cell. He finds out that the guy is eating in the bed. Bumi asks the guard if it’s time for tea.
Iroh and Zuko pick melon yams in the field. Iroh asks the farmer if the rain feels glorious. Zuko tells his uncle that he needs to move faster. But Iroh points out that he will miss the waft of rind on the breeze if he rushes. Zuko mentions every time Iroh helps someone else, his own bag gets emptier. He thinks the world is terrible. This place is terrible. They started out picking melon yams. Then it was kale and tomatoes. Then mung beans and pepper plums and cabbages. And now they’re come back to melon yams. He asks his uncle how long they can do this. They hide out like fugitives. Iroh tells Zuko that they’re fugitives.
In the Fire Lord’s palace, the general decides to tell the truth to the Fire Lord Ozai. Ozai shows up. He asks General Li about the status of their holdings in the Earth Kingdom. General Li reports to Ozai that after Princess Azula’s brilliant conquest in the city of New Ozai, certain skirmishes continue. It’s losses. The madam behind Azula says that pretty language is enough for last words.
Ozai tells General Li that he’s relieved of his command. Admiral Kaga is the same. General Li and Admiral Kaga leave. The madam thinks the two will be new prison guards. She laughs. Azula laughs as well. Her father asks her to say something. Because she’s very smart. She thinks the general has waged a show and ponderous campaign bogged down in the wilds of the Earth Kingdom. She tells her father that her forces have used the imprisoned Earthbenders to make swift progress to the territory. Soon, they will be in a position to move heavy artillery directly from their ships at sea over land to their very doorstep.
He thinks the decision letting her attack Omashu continues to yield dividends. Azula says that they will take the Earth Kingdom by ripping out its heart. The so-called impenetrable city. The unwieldy metropolis. The seat of earthbending power. Ba Sing Se will fall.
The madam mentions even the Dragon of the West failed. Another madam wonders if nobody reads history anymore. Azula knows their last siege of Ba Sing Se was a colossal failure. Doomed from its planning and abandoned in its execution by the traitor General Iroh. Ozai asks his daughter how she will do since nobody achieved it. She tells him that she will use what she learned from him, and enhance it. They amass an overwhelming force outside the walls, drawing attention through drill tanks and war balloons. Then they strike from beneath. Her earthbending prisoners will tunnel under the walls, and their troops will ravage the city from the inside out. Their enemies will never see it coming.
There but three people in the world who have the power to determine its future. The three people are him, the Avatar, and the Earth King. It will neutralize the Earth King. And his power can only grow. She can take action right now as long as he nods. He thinks it’s a solid strategy, and he would plan it in such a way. He agrees with her plan. But he gives the job to General Tran. General Tran promises Ozai that he will do his utmost to repay the trust he has bestowed upon him tenfold.
Azula tries to leave with the people. But Ozai stops her. He thinks she has feelings about his decision to put General Tran in charge of her mission. She can speak freely. She tells him that she trusts his judgement. It promotes him to think that she’s blessed with the blood of her ancestors. She wants to fight and conquer. But he has a special mission for her. She brings up that he gave Ba Sing Se to Tran. And she cannot conquer Omashu twice. She wants to know what he thinks.
He mentions her brother, Zuko. She thinks Zuko is dead. He died in the North after turning traitor and attacking Admiral Zhao. Even Zuko was alive, Ozai himself declared him a war criminal. But Ozai decided to pardon his son. He tells Azula that her brother is alive. The guy hides out in a far-flung corner of the Earth Kingdom. Ozai wants Azula to take the guy back. He thinks it’s time to get their family in order.
Azula is furious to leave her father’s palace. Tran follows her. He thinks he’s deeply unworthy. He tells her that her plan is perfect. He will devote himself to it. She tells him that flattery is a mud. He points out that only in the foulest mud can the perfect crimson lotus grow. With the blood of their enemies. He asks her if she knows what those guys are calling her. She says that she doesn’t pay attention to court gossip. He tells her that she’s called The Bane of Omashu. She thinks it’s no Dragon of the West. He tells her that whatever victories they achieve will be in her name. Every conquest will serve to glorify her. She says that they will consider any accolades he wishes to bestow upon them.
In the field, Foreman gives Zuko some coins. But Zuko thinks he deserves four coins. He mentions yesterday it was three. Today it’s two. Foreman tells Zuko that Four for the day, minus one for rent, one for the broken handle. Zuko points out that the spade was broken up when he picked it up. And as for rent, he doesn’t sleep inside. He sleeps under the stars like an animal. Foreman tells Zuko that it’s all company land no matter where he sleeps. He asks him to move along.
Iroh joins Zuko after he got his coins. Zuko asks his uncle what kind of a prince sweats all day for pennies. Iroh thinks it’s a wise prince. He tells Zuko that the prince knows the value of hard work. He respects the struggle of his people because he has shared in those struggles. Zuko thinks his people are beneath him.
In the evening, Katara has dinner with the refugees in the wild. She notices that the refugee is praying. She asks her if she’s hurt. The refugee denies it. She says that she was talking to the flower. She asks Katara if it’s weird. Katara has never seen a flower like that. The refugee reveals it’s a painted lady. She just had to say a little prayer. Look at her. When she was little, her mother told her that these flowers would grow wherever the Painted Lady touched the earth. Painted Lady is a river spirit. She appears in the rolling mists and takes the form of a woman painted in red and gold. Outside their village, these flowers grew like a performed blanket until one day they all withered. And her mother understood the sign. She packed them up, and they left. Then a week later, the Fire nation burned their village to the ground. The refugee’s family survived because they got the message from Painted Lady. It’s the first one that the refugee has seen since then. She tells Katara that it’s a blessing when she sees a painted lady. It means they’re going the right way.
Suki removes her makeup. It startles Sokka. She greets him when she calls him stranger. She tells him that she’s fine. She takes out a peach pear. She asks him if he wants to eat it. He refuses to eat it. He mentions there’s a limited amount of food and a lot of people. She tells him that it’s her peach pear from her rations. He suggests that she should eat it. She tells him that he’s being very rude about her peach pear. He denies it. He says that he loves her peach pear. But he’s not hungry. She points out that he’s always hungry. She mentions he threatened to eat Momo. She persuades him to give it a try. He takes over the peach pear from her. He bites it.
She asks him to get together with her. He makes an excuse that Aang is back. He should go. He walks away. Katara sees Aang. She asks him where is Bumi. He complains it to her that Bumi doesn’t want to leave. Sokka shows up. He tells Aang that Sai said he had something important to tell them. But the guy tells Aang that they need to move. He scouted the southern shore, and it’s overrun. That was the only path to get everyone to safety. Sokka guesses Fire Nation wants to box them in. The entire territory is covered. Aang thinks there’s only one way left to go if those guys are blocking the southern shore.
The next day, Aang takes his people to the place. Katara sees the Plaque. It’s written the words, “Abandon all hope.” Sokka thinks it’s not a good sign. Katara wishes someone could fly up there and take it down. Aang knocks the plaque away. He thinks it’s good for morale. He asks everyone to stay together. Because Fire Nation is on their heels.
Sokka tells Katara that the path winds like a snake. This is why it’s called Serpent’s Pass. The people walk on the path. Sokka tells everybody that Azula slashed and burned the city. Katara learns that the girl is worse than Zuko. He reveals Azula can throw blue fire. She asks him if it’s metaphorically. He tells her that it’s literally like blue flames. The blue fire is very hot. It went all the way around the rainbow and started over again. Aang got it that Azula is Zuko’s scary sister. He adds it to the list.
Aang urges the people to move fast. But the two kids stop. The boy tells Aang that it’s too high. He’s just a kid. But Aang talks back that he’s a kid as well. He tells the boys that sometimes, even Airbenders can be scared of heights. He promises him that he won’t let them fall. He takes the boy’s hand. The boy takes his sister’s hand.
The group reaches the beach. But they’re blocked by the sea. Sokka wonders how they can get through. Katara reminds her brother that Aang and she both waterbenders. But they need an earthbender to bring the path. He realizes it then.
Katara tells Aang that it looks pretty deep. So they need to work together. He’s ready for it. But she asks him not to play with Sokka. Because he became someone bad. They create a path so that the people can get through the sea. But they’re attacked by Fire Nation.
Katara tells Aang that she can hold it on her own. She asks him to go help at the back. He blocks the fire balls Fire Nation threw. He runs away after everyone was safe. Sokka notices that the soldiers are firing at the creature. The creature is fighting the Fire Nation. Sokka guesses the creature is on their side. But the creature sees Sokka. He swims to them. Katara thinks the creature is on its own side.
Aang decides to take care of the creature. He asks Katara to take everyone away. Sokka suggests that Aang should hurry up if he wants to get in the Avatar State to defeat the creature. But Aang doesn’t intend to use the Avatar State. He flies to the sea beast. The sea beast tries to bit Aang. But Aang doesn’t give the sea beast the chance.
Sokka watches the fight. He worries that his friend will be eaten. Suki leads her team to go to help the Avatar. They cast their fans into the sea monster’s mouth before it eats Aang. The sea monster falls into the sea. But he shows up in front of Suki and her girls. He attacks Suki. Sokka worries her girlfriend when he calls her name.
Aang files to the sea monster. He hits his head. The sea monster falls into the sea again. Sokka finds Suki. She’s fine. Aang still fights the sea monster. Katara goes to help the Avatar. She asks Sokka to get to the shore. He complains it to her that there’s no way that’s safe. The sea monster tries to hit Aang. But he falls on the beach. Aang tells Katara that he didn’t want to kill the guy. She notices that the sea monster is still alive. He asks her to heal the sea monster with the water from the Spirit Oasis. She rejects it. She offers to heal it together.
Katara teaches Aang how to heal the sea monster. The sea monster recovers. He leaves. Aang thanks Katara for saving him from the iceberg. She thinks he was pretty lucky.
Katara treats Suki’s arm. Suki tells Katara when they showed up on Kyoshi Island, it opened up the whole world to her. She didn’t know it would include steam-spewing sea beasts. But it’s good. Even the monsters. They have been able to help a lot of people. They have to take those guys to Ba Sing Se. She thinks they should thank Katara if they can make it.
Katara tells Suki that Sokka wanted to go home before he met her. Because they tried their best to protect them. It made Katara see that she wasn’t dumb for believing the Avatar. For having hope that any one person can make a difference. Suki invites Katara to join the Kyoshi Warriors. They need a doctor. Katara thinks it’s impossible. She mentions she’s a Waterbender. Suki points out that Kyoshi is a Waterbender as well. She walks away. Katara sees the flowers on the ground.
Aang tells Sokka that he’s confident after he defeated the sea monster. He didn’t expect he could heal. Sokka explains it to Aang that he wanted to use the Avatar State because he was too powerful in the North. But Aang says that he didn’t. He just surrendered to the Ocean Spirit, and it used him to channel its power to defeat the Fire Nation. He let it happen even if Avatar Kuruk didn’t want him to do that. When he merged with the Ocean Spirit, all he could feel was the spirit’s need for revenge. He could see the destruction that it was causing. He couldn’t stop it. He doesn’t want people to get hurt, and he doesn’t want people to die. Sokka thinks it must have been terrifying. Aang doesn’t want to feel that way ever again. He knows he can enter the Avatar State, but he won’t try it until he has full control over all four elements. Sokka tells Aang that they’re in the Earth Kingdom. The place is probably lousy with earthbending masters.
In the field, the guy picks the melon yams on Zuko’s line. Zuko tells the guy that it’s his line. The guy says that there’s a bunch of unpicked lines in the east field. He asks Zuko to go there. But Zuko doesn’t want to lose half an hour walking. He tells the guy that he shouldn’t break the order. He fights him. The foreman stops the two. He asks Iroh to get his son in line.
In the evening, the Avatar Team takes a break after they traveled a long way. Sokka praises his sister for defeating the Serpent. He asks her to have a seat with him. She does it but she falls on the ground. He teases her. She sits with Aang.
Sai shows up. He tells Aang that it’s not a good news. He reveals when Omashu fell, the Fire Nation generals made him track celestial movements against their own historical records. It was an imperfect picture since the smog blotted out the stars. But now, he can see more clearly, and he believes he has put it all together.
Sai lets Aang take a look at the sky with the telescope. Aang sees a red dot with a tail. It’s the Great Comet. In the Fire Nation, they call that Sozin’s Comet. Because last time, Fire Lord Sozin used it to kill every Airbender in the world. Except for Aang. When the comet reaches its apsis to their world, it will increase the power of every Firebender 100-fold. It will be catastrophic. Katara asks Sai how long until it gets there. He’s not sure. A few months, a year, maybe. He needs the time and equipment to make more precise observations.
Aang tells his friends that the plan is changed. They’re going to Ba Sing Se with all the refugees. He wants to bring Sai to the Earth King to tell him about the comet. The Earth King’s armies will help them. Katara asks Aang about the earthbending. He decides not to look for an earthbending master. It’s still on the list. But it’s behind the catastrophic comet.
Sai joins the flower seller. He tells her that he wants to know her better. Sokka joins Suki. He holds her hand. Aang walks to Katara. He tries to tell something to her. But he doesn’t have guts. He says good night to her.
Azula finds her partners, Ty Lee and Mai. Ty Lee asks Azula if it means Zuko’s banishment is lifted since Fire Lord wants him to come back. She thinks the guy isn’t coming home in a good way. Azula doesn’t know it. Her father’s intentions are a mystery. Mai mentions New Ozai’s fallen apart since Fire Lord left her father in charge. If she never sees another crumbling boulder again, she might almost be happy. She heard that Azula saved Ty Lee from the circus.
Azula knows Mai used to have a crush on Zuko. She asks her how deep her feelings run. Mai learns Azula means if she and Zuko were both drowning, who she would save. She tells her best friend that it’s Zuko. She explains it to her that she has known her long enough to know she doesn’t need saving. Azula thinks that sounds like logic and not feelings. She asks Ty Lee and Mai to kill each other. She threatens them that she will burn them if they don’t do that. Ty Lee and Mai attack each other. Azula stops them before they die. She applauds. She knew she could trust them both. But she needed to know they could go all the way for her. She reveals she has a plan to find Zuko. A way to bring the guy to them, in fact. They’re going after the Avatar.
Zuko knows nothing about his sister’s plan. He takes a break in front of the bonfire. Iroh joins Zuko. He mentions he hasn’t been eating. He explains it to him that they were forced to work because they’re in hiding. Fugitives from their own nation. He knows the work is hard. But there’s a simple joy to be had in the sweat, the creaking of bones, the slow progress towards something that matters. Living the austere life.
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Iroh tells Zuko that he wants to open a small tea stall in a small town. He could tea him to brew the tea. He persuades him not to waste the chance that heaven gave them. Zuko takes over the food from Iroh. He reminds him that he’s not his son. He tells him that those guys will look down on him if they know his identity. But Iroh doesn’t regret for spreading joy. Zuko tells his uncle that he doesn’t deserve it. He thinks it’s all his fault.
Iroh is surprised. He points out that he didn’t banish Zuko. Zuko tells Iroh that he failed. He thinks he was meant to be Fire Lord, not his father. If he hadn’t failed in the siege and retreated. If he hadn’t stood by and done nothing when his father usurped him. Then he wouldn’t never been in that war council. In that Agni Kai. On that ship. Iroh tells Zuko that his son Lu Ten died. He tears up. Zuko says that he will go to look for the Avatar. He will go home. He says goodbye to Iroh.