Element Academy: The Light of the Avatar

Center Stage...Crystal

The room is big enough, intimidating with its camera equipment and light stands.

So this is their plan, to record them? Is recording her death supposed to change the world?

"I don't get it," Talula confesses, as if reading Crystal's mind. 

"What's not to get?" Nathan asks with a sinister grin. "It's a little simple looking, but this is going to be the greatest show the world has ever seen! I will bring both worlds to their knees! With this video no one can stop me! Not even the precious little Avatar."

"Enough with the bad guy talk!" Jane shoves Crystal and Talula forward. " Let's get this started so I can finally kill the little brat."

"Patience," Nathan warns. "We can't deviate from our instructions."

Jane scoffs. "This whole thing better work."

"It won't," Crystal tells them. "The government already knows about benders and your video is just going to be brushed off as just having really awesome special effects. You won't win."

"But how many people do you think won't be convinced by that excuse?"Nathan questions. "Thanks to the trouble riled up by Jane with the Underground these past few weeks, this video will be the confirmation the public has been waiting for."

Suddenly, the whole building quakes. Talula grabs a hold of Crystal for balance. The camera stand starts to wobble and Nathan grabs a hold of it just before it totters over.

"They're getting too close," he realizes. "We need to start this now."

"Finally!" Jane rubs her hands together in anticipation. "Start rolling."

Nathan nods and jumps behind the camera, urging the equipment to life.

Jane steps to the side so she's out of the shot that's trained on the pair. Crystal's grip tightens around Talula's when several boxes around the room start to shake.

Water! What else could be in them?! Crystal grits her teeth. They never suspected a thing!

"What's it going to be ladies? Defend yourselves..." The crates burst open and icy claws shoot forth, surrounding the girls, and leaving them with no visible way out. "Or accept an icy death?"

Crystal desperately searches for anyway to get out of this without giving in to Nathan's plans.

"Last chance," Nathan says.

The ice shards sharpen with a flex of Jane's hand.

In a final act of stubbornness, Talula stands straight and flicks her hair. "I won't give in to traitors like you."

"Then die!"

The ice poises to strike when it suddenly evaporates.

"Not today!"

Nathan swings the camera around, capturing Page as she drops her hands from where they are poised from stopping the ice. Gray dusts her spikes, her eyes shinning under the blaze of the camera lights.

Mahoney takes a place beside Page, preparing to back her up.

Jake plows through at the same time, not stopping next to Page."Get away from my sister!"

"Jake!" Crystal shouts.

He lunges forward, landing a hard punch on Nathan's face before tackling them both down to the ground.

Jane sneers at the disruption. She plants her feet, shaping her hand into a claw. Slowly it raises in the air. Jake cries out, his body lurching.

"Blood bending!" Crystal gasps. Talula asks her what the heck that means, but there's no time to explain. She stomps of the ground causing a large crack to shoot out towards Jane. The floor beneath her gives way, dropping her to the depths of the lower floor.

Jake drops to the ground, curling in on himself and gasping for air. Crystal is beside him in seconds, commanding for Page to take care of Nathan and Talula the camera.

"Jake? Please tell me you're okay," Crystal urges.

Her older brother flashes his signature grin and raises a thumbs up. "Fantastic...you so gotta teach me that move later."

Crystal arches a brow and opens her mouth to speak, but the action is cut off by another violent shake of the building. Shattering glass and the sound of crumbling stone fills the air. In the distance Page's name is called out and a warning to get out of the building.

"The benders must have broke through the defense!" Mahoney shouts. "We gotta go!"

"Help me with Jake!" Crystal shouts back. Together, she and Mahoney help Jake to his feet, staggering under the unsteady jerking of another tremor. This rescue is definitely getting out of hand.

The whole building jerks again, this time with the whole Crystal made aiding in the destruction. The floor starts to give way beneath Crystal's feet causing panic levels to skyrocket in the room.

"Guys!" Page screams. She reaches out, grabbing a hold of Talula, the only person within reach and tugs her to safety. Before she can rescue any others Mahoney, Jake, Crystal, and Nathan are plummet to the darkness below.