AVATAR: Murder by Moonlight.

Part 1

AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER

MURDER BY MOONLIGHT.

By Dandalf75

SCENE ONE: EXTERIOR, BA SING SE. AFTERNOON.

(We begin with an establishing shot of the Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se as a lone bird flies above the walls, silhouetted against the afternoon sun. We see a series of shots of people going about their daily lives, such as watering their gardens, talking in the streets and buying cabbages. The camera focuses on a group of kids playing dress up. One boy has a crude airbender tattoo painted on his skin and is waving his arms in front of a boy dressed as Fire Lord Ozai.)

BOY DRESSED AS AANG: It's over, Fire Lord Ozai; your firebending is no more thanks to the power of friendship.

BOY DRESSED AS OZAI (falling dramatically): No, my evilness has been defeated!

(Suddenly, a group of Earth Kingdom soldiers turns the corner and rushes down the street. One of the soldiers spots the children and leaves the line to speak to them.)

EARTH KINGDOM SOLDIER: You kids should go inside now, it's not safe out here.

BOY DRESSED AS AANG: Why, what's going on?

EARTH KINGDOM SOLDIER: Didn't you boys hear? The Earth King has been taken hostage by Ozai loyalists.

THE KIDS IN UNISON: What!?

SCENE TWO: EXTERIOR, UPPER CLASS SECTION OF BA SING SE. DAY.

(We see a crowd of onlookers and a host of city guards surrounding an Asian style mansion. Through the open windows of the top story, one can clearly see a black-haired man holding a knife to the neck of the terrified EARTH KING. We do a quick cut to the interior of the mansion where we see a host of politicians in a similar situation to that of the EARTH KING. There was an Ozai loyalist for every doorway and window, and none of the scared lords would dare to try their luck against them. Meanwhile, outside the building we see THE BOY DRESSED AS AANG sneak his way to the front of the crowd. The boy's eyes light up in wonder as he sees SOKKA of the Water Tribe himself standing at the head of the crowd with a primitive megaphone in his hand. SOKKA holds the megaphone up to his mouth and his magnified voice booms above the noise of the crowd.)

SOKKA (shouting): Come on, Kaizo, this was supposed to be a peace summit, so how about you put down that knife and we can all talk this out peacefully, okay?

KAIZO (shouting): The only person I'm interested in speaking to is Fire Lord Zuko. Now, where is that traitor? I know he's here in Ba Sing Se somewhere. He's here for the peace summit, right?

SOKKA (shouting): He got caught up in another situation and couldn't make it. But he sent a representative in his place.

(Fear crosses KAIZO's face as he realizes how difficult the situation had just become. One of Kaizo's men approaches him on the right.)

OZAI LOYALIST 1: You mean he's not even here?

KAIZO: No, no, it's gotta be a bluff or something. I just got to call it.

(KAIZO turns away from his subordinate to address the crowd below.)

KAIZO (shouting): Liar! You're just stalling for time until the avatar arrives, aren't you? So, help me if I see so much as his tattoo, I'll start executing hostages, do you understand?