THE FALL OF TAKU (ep. 4)

Summary
The distraction caused by the battle on the commander's ship causes the boats on the blockade to turn around and send smaller boats to investigate.

Meanwhile, the group is escaping the scene on a dingy. They see, in the distance, closing in, several Fire Nation ships coming. Aki recognizes them as reinforcement forces and reckons the Fire Nation must have decided not just to replace Shu — whose disgrace she's caused — but also to attack and finally end their long siege.

Whatever happens next to Taku, Yiri is now probably safely on her way to Ba Sing Se.

With the group stressed out, Aki directs the dingy to the shore. This is not good; this invasion is going to be really fast if people aren't ready.

Rill, for whom Aki's role in current events is starting to slide into place, asks her about her people's — she is still wearing her Fire Nation uniform — plan. Aki looks like she's not very sure what will be coming, and her words confirm it: they may ask that Taku surrender ... I don't know, I used to just follow the orders. Still, Shu's downfall has probably embarrassed the Fire Nation enough that time has come for them to deal with it decisively, despite its low strategic importance: go in and attack, that's what they did to the Air Nomads.

Rill adds that Taku does have the renowned Herbalist Institute, known for cherry-flavored medicine. They reckon it's time to bring in the Resistance. Let's act quickly, Aki insists.

And, with Cerise asking them to Lead the way, Rill takes the group through passages to set up a meeting with Zira. The underground tunnels lead them to a room with barrels that smells of cerise liqueur.

As they enter the room, they see a map, figurines and rocks, scattered on a table. Three people are focused on the map. Zira, the no-nonsense, tall, Resistance leader, is talking to two people. She dismisses one of them as she sees Rill's group coming. Do you have a report for me?, the leader asks, then inquires about Aki in her Fire Nation uniform and Cerise in his burnt Olive Fox cosplay: "Who are they?"While Rill wants to be seen as doing good, and is sweating — they are a puddle in front of Zira —, Cerise is crying a bit: there is something not good on his covered face, and he's not used to this kind of pain — he's still a child.

As Zira is standing, arms crossed, Rill explains they have a Fire Nation informant; they report that Fire Nation ships are rallying around and"The time to move is now!"Zira, who already got a report about the explosion and the ships, keeps a straight face. The leader asks about Yiri; Rill answers that this is the distraction that we took and is proud that it worked so well.

Zira then asks Aki about the additional ships, and about evacuating Taku.

Aki thinks backing out fast sounds like a good idea.

Zira agrees that they need to evacuate as fast as possible: We're not large enough to take out the fleet; we expected troops; what we have here is dwindling. Indeed, as they speak, Fire Nation soldiers are disembarking and their ships are firing from a distance, thus preventing people from leaving.

Aki still has time to recommend they lay snares before Zira calls in the generals to make a decision and dismisses the group, who start pondering their role in the evacuation. The city won't be evacuated by sea; they could clear the background as best they can. Ba Sing Se is far from Taku but going there may be the safest way out. When Aki mentions they could surrender, Cerise makes it clear he is not interested in surrendering; he visualizes a plan that would work; he's just focusing. Aki points out that that tactical option would be bad for her.

What would the Olive Fox do?, Cerise asks. A puzzled Sena looks at Aki, who realizes this is about Cerise's vision of the Olive Fox rather than the real Olive Fox.

Cerise insists:"What would you do? You are the Olive Fox?"And he asks, again, What would the Olive Fox do?

Aki pauses and hesitates as she sees Cerise, looking sad, with knuckle marks, a dirty black eye and burned off brow. The Olive Fox, she finally says, would act for themself; hit and run; fight and retreat; disappear into the night because "It's different when it's an army, a full landing force coming here, firebenders who'll burn the city to the ground if they have to. Fighting them in the open would be ridiculous. The safest is evacuation: fight and retreat. This town is not up to this: they're merchants, farmers..."They're survivors, Rill points out, our spirits would be broken if we surrendered.

What if we ..., Cerise thinks aloud, what if we ambush them while people flee on the other side? He is ready to use — and even lose — the family farm to help.

Aki, whose deception ability could be helpful, elaborates on this : they could have an informant — say, Aki — give the Fire Nation information about a place where people fight back, or retreat, and have people ready when the Fire Nation come. The farm's cave is, indeed, a right spot for that. The goal is to cause a distraction for a small part of the Fire Nation forces.

Sena lays out that when people evacuate, they won't come back, as Taku will fall for good.

Zira supports this plan; she likes the idea of drawing troops in a conflict. Zira enrolls the group to get the word out.

Sena proceeds to check in with the spirits, so as to determine the best route to evacuate and relay the information to Zira. Unfortunately, they are still underground, which causes static in the signal : all Sena perceives is panicked spirits who have nothing more useful to say than They're coming! in a high-pitched screech.

I don't think they know anything, Sena concludes, they're very scared right now.

As Aki looked like a defeatist earlier — and still wonders Maybe we should just be defeated —she will rather lead, and wire-fu if needed, the Fire Nation to the cave than get involved in organizing the evacuation. Aki suits up Olive Fox-style to draw Fire Nation eyes.

Meanwhile, Cerise offers himself to deceive the informant ... or be the informant himself — which, Rill reckons, is a big responsibility. Cerise asks that they don't tell his grandma about the hit he got and just lead her to safety, then grabs Rill by the hand for a complicated handshake.

As he urges Sena to Take care, you too, she assures him We'll see you soon and You can do this.

The recent revelations haven't shaken Cerise's admiration for the Olive Fox: he still has his Olive Fox mask in his pocket and still believes in Aki.

Rill meets with their cell — six people and two extra people now — and firebenders they can requisition.

As Rill and Sena go meet Grandma Avo to request permission to lay traps in her cave, Sena makes sure to stay behind Rill — she still fears being hit with a ladle.

As the grandma welcomes them with a Come in! and Sena reckons she shouldn't let random people in, the grandma retorts: "They wouldn't knock if they were Fire Nation; they would just knock down the door."As Grandma Avo is making soup, in what will be an eight-hour process, she doesn't pay attention to her hosts and keeps chopping onions instead.

Rill warns her that the Fire Nation is coming.

The grandma doesn't want to hear about an evacuation: "I'm not leaving this farm!"Rill passes Cerise's message that he doesn't want her to die here; they lay out their plan, to which Grandma Avo objects:"But my soup is not finished ... I'm not packed. I'm not a young sapling like you."Rill reckons Cerise's job is the safer one — compared to this one.

You're well-meaning, Grandma Avo continues, the farm has been in the family for generations: we have memories here.

Rill takes her hand to explain that Cerise is hurt and okay. this is serious, they plea, please help us. The grandma finally relents, will let Rill and Sena get her to safety, but:"On one condition: don't let this soup burn!"This, she says with ladle in hand.

Sena and Rill agree.

Grandma Avo reckons the villagers need some leadership anyway.

Before she leaves, she insists You don't let Cerise get burnt again and allows Sena to summon a panda ... one time. As she shuffles her way out, she reminds Rill and Sena about the soup: Don't let it burn!

Later, Rill and Sena hear a caravan leave: they have the farm to themselves now. They can ponder what the panda is going to do — definitely not stir the soup — and how it would understand ''Take care of them! ''and start laying traps to prepare the farm for the attack they expect.

Sena also summons sentinel spirits — one bunny spirit at least. I'm on it, the bunny says, I'm watching. It takes this bunny time to understand they're supposed to yell when something happens, and only when something happens — not right now. Sena appreciates the sentinel's attention to detail when they start taking notes.

Meanwhile, Aki keeps an eye on Cerise from a rooftop as he looks for a person with authority — loudly, like everything he does: he walks around, yelling:"Fire Nation troops! I can help you [...] Secrets!"Cerise successfully attracts the attention of a patrol comprising three soldiers led by a captain. They surround him, asking:"What do we have here? You're causing quite a ruckus."Cerise is nervous. He touches the Olive Fox as he says:"I'm so glad I found you. I need your help."Cerise lays out a plan for the Resistance to overthrow the Fire Nation and goes down on a knee, crying.

The captain, in response, tries to intimidate Cerise into revealing how he got this information.

Cerise, full-on acting, sniffles, and says, of the meeting at the cherry farm, it's terrible. He makes sure he gives directions to the cherry farm.

As the captain pulls him up by the shirt, Cerise explains he wants his grandma out; she's old and she needs help. Okay, please?, he pleads at the end.

Aki, sensing that Cerise needs all the help he can get in making his speech convincing, comes into view and gives him a supportive gaze.

When the captain is satisfied with the information Cerise gives him, he releases Cerise and sends him back to get his grandma out; he also promises he will make sure they escape.

Cerise pulls up a map. He tells the soldiers to come just after sunset, as agreed with the group beforehand: by that time, the cherry trees will look like people and the soup will be finished.

Cerise then thanks the captain. Get out of here!, comes the answer. An unfazed Cerise replies:"You're welcome, your honor."The captain leaves with his patrol, thinking he'll be the new commander — Shu lost his ship, he reckons, it will be my ship now.

Cerise makes one stop of the way to the farm. He retrieves his cherry suit.

On his way, he sees people getting ready to leave: having already prepared for the inevitable disaster, they have their three-day emergency kits ready. Cerise runs with his cherry suit costume; it is not subtle — doesn't need to be.

Aki keeps an eye on the new commander, Boot. Aki needs to be in position to lead people.

As sunset approaches, a perfect, delicious soup is served in bowls in the cave just outside the cherry farm; Aki is in position and Grandma Avo throws rocks at Fire Nation patrols.

Pit traps will make it hard for the Fire Nation troops to even get to the cave, that is eventually going to collapse on them after they've been lured in.

Cerise, having returned, gestures for Rill to follow him to the back of the cave: he wants to show them something. They make their way to Cerise's favorite place he'll see for the last time. There is a spot big enough for his hand, of which he tells Rill: "All these years ago, this is the exact spot where my grandpa was killed. He would have wanted us to destroy them."Cerise adds that his grandpa would be okay to destroy the team in the process. He starts crying and asks Rill: Can we just sit here for a moment?

Of course, Rill agrees, and adds: "You've left your mark on this place too; your grandpa would be proud."Having said that, Rill wears away at the stone near the handprint to leave their own handprint. Cerise, still crying a bit, thanks Rill, who picks a cherry and tosses it.

Cerise is ready:"Let's do this!"After making sure that the bunny spirit is super-ready, Sena meditates to bring the panda spirit. Sena is calling for them in the spirit world: "We could really use your help defending the good people of Taku and protecting this farm."The tree next to her shakes a little bit as there is a panda bear scratching its back. The tree bends and snaps; the panda chews on a branch and says:"These are the best cherries in the entire Earth Kingdom."Sena sees an opportunity to seize:"Bad people will try to take your cherries."She starts to explain the panda what to do: he will first eat the cherries from the back...

Will she be there?, the concerned panda asks about grandma Avo. The rocks didn't taste good.

Sena reassures him she's left already. She writes his name — Hei Bai — and cherry farm in the mud to show him he can have all the cherries. The panda understands that all the cherries are his, that he'll eat the cherries in the back, stop the people coming, and eat the remaining cherries ; he understands that the farm is now his. As he starts eating cherries, people only see them disappearing.

Meanwhile, Aki, overlooking the shoreline and watching the boats coming, ponders her choices: I am alone in this; if I wanna survive, this is the time to triple agent; my revenge is complete: how guilty will I feel doing that? In this moment where hope is low, a Cerise Wanted poster blows by her. Aki grabs the paper, sees it's the poster and stares at it for a few silent moments as it flutters in her hand. Then she comes to a decision : she could just go back working to the Fire Nation, with people like Shu ... there would be guilt. So she puts on the Olive Fox mask and looks for a spot to catch Fire Nation attention.

Aki sees the person Cerise talked to earlier, leading Fire Nation soldiers. They all take defensive positions when they see the Olive Fox standing in the middle of the road with their sword, shrugging at them. The captain demands:"Surrender, or we will kill you!"Aki stands, doesn't move for two seconds, then just bolts. The captain protests:"That's not one of the things that I said!"The captain, recognizing the Olive Fox, runs after them. Aki is too fast for them, and successfully runs to the farm, attracting even more Fire Nation soldiers on the way. Aki, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, leads the soldiers to the trap.

Back at the farm, the bunny spirit starts yelling: Something is happening. It is a rumble; it is ... an earthquake.

The Olive Fox comes barreling through, hops over the traps, and takes a position. The whole group take their positions. For Rill, it means standing outside the cave to create mud. The panda spits cherry pits that serve as caltrops.

All in all, the traps are good but some are placed in non-useful places. The approaching Fire Nation soldiers scream as they're taken in traps. Their numbers thin out, those that keep advancing have sticks and stuff in their clothing. It is time for Rill to waterbend mud into existence, with the help of people who manage irrigation: And go! There is a traitor in their midst, though, which throws Rill off their game : the waterbending goes sideways, it falls apart. Rill retreats in in the cave.

Cerise, who is in the cherry gear, runs like a lizard. With others, he hurls rotten fruit at the the Fire Nation soldiers, who find themselves goaded.

Soldiers rush into the cave; there are more of them than the group wanted. They are very goaded, and as their numbers keep increasing, Cerise tries to lure them far into the cave. To get them there all at once, he wants to convince that the Resistance chief is there. Aki tries — and fails — to help by getting soldiers to chase after her: the soldiers are too fast for her. Cerise does succeed in corralling in the frenzied soldiers. They flood into the cave and get lost because it is full of trees and they don't see well.

The panda spirit swipes a bunch of soldiers with a tree:"Don't touch my cherries!"Then he returns to eating cherries — while smacking with trees.

As the other soldiers are taken by the Resistance, the time comes to collapse the cave from the outside. Once they get the signal, the Resistance fighters have a way out in the back of the cave. Aki knows how she'll go out.

Cerise goes back to the two handprints, sits next to them, puts on the Olive Fox mask, takes a deep breath and runs to the hole for safety.

The cave collapses, slowly at first, rapidly then.

All in the group tumble outside, or exit gracefully. Cerise, who's decided to be cool and be the last one out, needs Rill's help to escape.

The captain, seeing Cerise, shouts You! as rocks crash on him.

There are cries and yell before the quiet stillness of the night sets in.

The panda emerges, walking over outside. He tosses a Fire Nation soldier to the side and Sena sees him resume eating.

Rill reckons"It's time to take a last look at the city before we leave."Aki wire-fus to the rooftops one last time; she looks at the caravan of people leaving — lanterns in the night. These few twinkling lights wind their way past the mountains, through the fields, and off into the distance.

Epilogue
The inhabitants of Taku who escape the Fire Nation army go to Ba Sing Se. Taku is ransacked by the Fire Nation.

Time passes.

Aki becomes the Olive Fox for surviving; the Olive Fox goes elsewhere, keeping an eye on places where the Olive Fox can make a difference, hoping to create a story in every place with someone watching; a more mature Aki is still doing Olive Fox legend five years later.

Sena is torn between staying with Cerise or going to a portal in the Water Tribes area. She'll head north with Cerise after a time.

Decades later, in Ba Sing Se, Rill is in lovely Earth Nation robes with Water Nation colors, training a group of refugee waterbenders trying to keep the tradition alive. Rill also makes arts and has their students tend a cherry tree. Rill has found a way to unite all the pieces of them.

There is an older Cerise there with Rill, still missing part of an eyebrow and with a scar, wheeling a wheelbarrow around; he's working with olives now.

Cerise wants to make an olive garden in honor of the Olive Fox. Rill loves the idea: people will talk of this olive garden. As he looks at the trees, Cerise tells Rill BFF till death. The students, seeing the secret complicated handshake that ensues, ask:"Is this gonna be in the final?"

Parting words
Lauren reckons that that was beautiful.

Markus explains he chose to play a peasant to bring silliness, and this has been wonderful.