| The comic opens in Ba Sing Se, as Aang, stretching and yawning after just waking up in his bed, looks down to see a note taped to his chest. The note, written with Chinese characters, is capped off with a crude, simplistic drawing of Sokka brandishing his boomerang. | |
| Sokka's note #1 | Please stay in the house! |
|---|---|
| Aang | Wait, they're gone? Why didn't they wake me? |
| Aang pulls off his blanket as he gets out of bed, only to notice a second letter placed on the nightstand. Aang picks up the note, which in this case has a drawing of Sokka gesturing for Aang to stop. | |
| Sokka's note #2 | Seriously, we'll be right back. Don't go anywhere! |
| Aang | I guess they really wanted me to get the message... [Walks toward the door.] Hey, anyone? |
| For the third time, Aang finds a message, this time taped to the door. | |
| Sokka's note #3 | You don't have to follow us. Just hang out here and relax. |
| Aang | [Opens the door.] What is going on? [Walks into the living room to find notes on the walls, floor, and furniture; angrily.] Now I'm really wondering what's going on! |
| Aang proceeds, much to his continued annoyance, to read the various notes around the house, located on the wall, a cushion, the table, and a chair. | |
| Sokka's note #4 | OK, you're allowed to leave the bedroom, but not the house. |
| Sokka's note #5 | There's no need to wonder what's going on. |
| Sokka's note #6 | Stop making this a big deal! |
| Sokka's note #7 | Just sit down and relax! |
| Aang | This is ridiculous! I'm going into town. |
| Reaching for the handle as he readies to head outside, Aang narrows his eyes as he reads the notes haphazardly affixed to the door. | |
| Sokka's note #8 | Please don't leave the house. |
| Sokka's note #9 | Where do you think you're going? |
| Sokka's note #10 | Don't go outside! |
| Sokka's note #11 | Turn around! |
| Sokka' note #12 | Don't do it! |
| Sokka's note #13 | Nothing to see here. |
| Cut to Aang jubilantly walking across the road outside the apartment. | |
| Aang | Ahh! Fresh air! |
| An audible crunch sounds as Aang steps down on the pavement. Raising up his foot and looking down, Aang finds yet another letter crumpled on the ground. | |
| Sokka's note #14 | Aang, go back inside, NOW! |
| Despite all the notes' repeated warnings, Aang's frustrated expression and clenched fists belies his concern.
Cut to Aang flying through the skies on his glider. | |
| Aang | Whatever this is, it must be worth checking out! There's no way Sokka wrote all those notes for nothing. |
| From above, Aang spots Toph pushing a laden cart through a marketplace street. Touching down on the ground, Aang greets his startled friend. | |
| Aang | Toph! [Waves.] Hey Toph! |
| Toph | [Whispering to herself.] I knew Sokka's half-baked plan wouldn't work... [To Aang.] What? |
| Aang | Where's Sokka? He left all kinds of weird notes... |
| Toph | Kinda busy here, Twinkle Toes. |
| Aang | [Points toward the cart.] Oh! What's in the cart? |
| Alarmed at the question, Toph quickly earthbends up a slab of rock behind her to obscure Aang's view of the cart. | |
| Toph | Nothing. |
| Aang | [Peers around the slab.] It doesn't look like nothing. |
| Toph | It's none of your business, that's what it is! |
| Toph bends up another slab along the side of the cart Aang was facing toward. | |
| Aang | Hey! |
| Undeterred by Toph's efforts, Aang continues to try to circle around and observe whatever Toph is hiding, only for the earthbender to raise barriers around the other two sides of the cart. | |
| Toph | Just head back to the house like Sokka said. We'll come and get you later. |
| Aang | Come get me for what? |
| Realizing her gaffe in a jolt, Toph desperately tries to force Aang away. | |
| Toph | Like I said, it's none of your business, Twinkle Toes! |
| Using her earthbending, Toph raises up the ground beneath Aang's feet. | |
| Aang | Whoa! |
| In midair, Aang bats away Toph's whip of stone tiles with his airbending-enhanced glider. | |
| Aang | Okay, okay! It's none of my business! |
| Lowering the slabs around her cart, Toph picks it up by the handles and resumes pushing it down the road. | |
| Toph | [To herself.] I told Sokka and Katara we should've just chained him to the bed, but noooo... |
| Staring blankly as Toph walks away without another word, taken aback at her behavior, Aang unfurls the wings on his glider as he readies to take off. | |
| Aang | [Frustrated.] Fine! |
| Cut to a despondent Aang walking in a forested area of Ba Sing Se. | |
| Aang | What is with Toph today? |
| Looking off to the side, Aang spots Katara waterbending a pond, manipulating the reservoir into several barrels placed in her cart. | |
| Aang | [Runs up.] Katara! |
| Caught off guard by Aang as she streams some water over their heads, Katara's control of the liquid falters, causing it to fall and soak the two of them. | |
| Katara | Sorry! |
| Aang | [Blasts them dry with airbent wind.] Don't worry, I got this! [Points to the barrels.] Need some help waterbending? What are you doing with those barrels? |
| Katara | [Anxious.] Nothing! It's a Water Tribe thing. Don't worry about it. Why are you in town? |
| Aang | What do you mean? [Suspicious.] Wait, is this about what Toph was saying and Sokka's notes? |
| Katara | What did Toph say...? |
| Aang | That I should go back to the house and wait for you to get back to me or something. |
| Katara | Oh! Then you should probably listen to her! |
| Aang | [Frustrated.] What's the big secret? Are you not telling me because you think I can't keep a secret? Because I can! I never told you Toph used your toothbrush to clean her toes last month! See? You can trust me! |
| Katara | She did what? Look, Aang, I'm really busy now. You know, Water Tribe stuff. You should probably head back up to the house. |
| Rejected, Aang walks away as Katara pulls some water out of the pond, filling one of her barrels.
Cut to Aang walking through a neighborhood in the city's Upper Ring, his head bowed in worry. | |
| Aang | [To himself.] Did I do something? [Notices a nearby tea establishment.] Hey, the Jasmine Dragon! [Walks up the steps.] Maybe Zuko and Iroh will tell me what's going on. [Opens the tea shop's doors.] Zuko! Iroh! |
| Caught unawares inside the empty tea shop, Zuko tenses up as he halts his wrapping a party streamer around a table with several plated snacks and a cake adorned with candles. | |
| Zuko | Aang! |
| Zuko rushes toward the door where Aang is standing. | |
| Aang | Whoa! |
| Zuko | [Bars Aang's way.] You're not supposed to be here! |
| Aang | Not you too! [Tries to skirt past Zuko.] I just want to hang out and drink some tea! |
| Zuko | [Angles his body to block Aang.] You can't! We're... ..too busy! |
| Aang | [Frustrated.] You have no customers! |
| Zuko | [Defiant.] Yes, we do! |
| Aang | Oh yeah? Then where are they? |
| Zuko | ... In the back with Uncle. |
| Aang | Why would they be there? |
| Zuko | They're taking a tour... to, uhh, see where the tea is made and where we wash the dishes... and uhh... where we put the trash! They're very interested in the trash! |
| Aang | That makes no sense! |
| Zuko | Y-you don't run a tea shop! How would you know? |
| Aang | [Notices and points to the food behind Zuko.] Hey, what's on the table over there? |
| Zuko | [Furious.] Go back to the house, Aang! [Slams the doors shut.] |
| Aang | [Knocks on the door.] ZUKO! Come on! Let me in! |
| Zuko | Go away! |
| Aang | FINE! |
| Practically fuming, Aang stomps away from the Jasmine Dragon.
Cut to Aang in the marketplace, so caught up in his indignation that he passes Sokka, holding a basket in each arm as he purchases some food from a vendor. | |
| Aang | Monkeyfeathers! Monkeyfeathers! MONKEYFEATHERS! [In shock, Sokka notices Aang.] What is with today? Why is everyone so... so... |
| Sokka | [Dramatically jumps in the air, sending some of the food in the baskets flying.] AANG! Didn't you get my notes? |
| Aang | [Exasperated.] Yeah, Sokka, they were hard to miss. |
| Sokka | Then why didn't you stay in the house? I left very specific instructions for you to stay in the house. |
| Aang | Yeah, I know, but why? |
| Sokka | Uhh... |
| Aang | [Downcast.] Is it because everyone's mad at me? |
| Sokka | What? Mad? We're not mad. Why do you think we're mad? |
| Aang | Well, both Toph and Katara acted like I was bothering them when I tried to hang out. |
| Sokka | Uh, you know them... probably just busy with their bending stuff. |
| Aang | Then Zuko kicked me out of the Jasmine Dragon and I have no idea why! |
| Sokka | [Shrugs.] Zuko's always mad. Who can keep track of what he's mad about this time? |
| Aang | I guess... [Notices Sokka's food-baskets.] Hey, what's all that food for? |
| Sokka | [Tries to hide the baskets behind himself.] Ha... haha! Food? What food? [Aang points to the still visible baskets.] Oh, this food! You mean this food? Who says it has to be for anything? |
| Aang | Are you saying this is all for you? |
| Sokka | Of course! Who else? |
| Aang | I've just never seen you eat this much before. |
| Sokka | I'm a growing man! Boomeranging burns lots of calories! [Brandishes boomerang.] And since when do you care how much I eat, Aang? |
| Aang | [Skeptically looks on.] ... |
| Sokka | [Points to the side.] Hey, look, Aang! Is that Azula! |
| Aang | What?! |
| Taking advantage of his distraction, Sokka rushes down the street, scattering more of his food in all directions. Aang turns to face toward the direction Sokka was pointing to, but as he pivots, he trips on a rock, causing him to fall backward onto a cart of cabbages and knock it and its contents to the ground. | |
| Cabbage merchant | My cabbages!!! |
| Aang | [To the cabbage merchant.] Hey, you're not Azula! |
| Cabbage merchant | Then why did you attack my beautiful cabbages? |
| Aang | [Spots Sokka running.] Sokka? |
| Sokka | Go back to the house, Aang! |
| Aang seethes in silence as his friend runs away. Picking himself up, Aang grabs some of the merchant's fallen cabbages. | |
| Aang | I'm sorry. I can help you-- |
| Cabbage merchant | You've done enough! |
| Realizing he is not wanted, Aang continues his solitary trek through the street. From behind one of the marketplace stalls Aang walks by, Sokka pokes out his head. As Aang heads in the opposite direction, Sokka stealthily tiptoes down the road toward the Jasmine Dragon.
Cut to Aang sitting on a wall across from the Jasmine Dragon as Momo bounds toward him. | |
| Aang | Momo! [Picks Momo up.] Amazing Momo! Wonderful Momo! You won't abandon me! You won't tell me to go away! |
| In spite of Aang's exaltation, Momo responds by screeching in the airbender's ear. The flying lemur abandons his now sullen companion to fly away toward the Jasmine Dragon, having noticed Zuko and Iroh welcoming Toph, Katara, Sokka, and Appa as they bring in their supplies. | |
| Aang | Even Momo is mad at me! [Unbeknownst to Aang, Toph earthbends her and Katara's carts up the Jasmine Dragon's steps.] I haven't even found Appa. I bet he's mad at me too. [Cut to the rest of Team Avatar heading into the tea shop, except Appa.] Maybe they're all right. I should have stayed in the house... Maybe things would have been different... [Appa walks halfway up the steps.] But why did I need to be in the house? Why couldn't I go on errands too? [Coming outside, Zuko tries to push an uncooperative Appa into the tea shop.] Toph being secretive... Water Tribe stuff... Customers checking out the trash? [Zuko angrily gestures for Appa to come inside.] And there is no way Sokka is eating all that food by himself! [Appa responds by shaking his head.] I still can't shake the feeling this isn't about the errands... If it was, Sokka wouldn't leave all those notes! [Zuko and Appa continue to face each other down.] Did I do something? Is everyone mad at me? What could I have done? [The rest of Team Avatar comes out to help Zuko with Appa as Katara tries to calm down the Fire Lord's irate venting over the bison's stubbornness.] If they would just tell me what I did, maybe I could fix it! [Working together, Toph, Sokka, Zuko, and Katara try to physically force Appa into the Jasmine Dragon.] But no, no one wants to talk to Aang! No one wants to let him on everything! [Appa holds his ground against the group's pushing.] We'll just have him wander the streets of Ba Sing Se and just tell him everyone is too busy to hang out with him. [Iroh steps out with a cup of fragrant tea.] That's soooo much better than actually telling him what's going on! [His interest piqued by the tea's aroma, Appa sniffs the air.] I just wanted to hang out... I don't know why that's so bad. |
| With Appa in tow, the group heads back into the Jasmine Dragon. While the bison continues to inhale the scent coming from his proffered cup, Iroh notices Aang in the distance, sitting alone. | |
| Iroh | [Hands Katara his cup and fan.] I'll handle this. You settle Appa inside. |
| Iroh heads across the courtyard and around the wall to greet Aang. Standing in the Jasmine Dragon, Zuko shuts the doors to the tea shop after he sees his uncle make contact. | |
| Iroh | Aang! What a surprise! |
| Aang | Iroh! |
| Iroh | Why do you look so down? |
| From the doorway of the Jasmine Dragon, a spout of fire emerges, along with an accompanying "bang" sound. Though the audible clatter breaks Iroh's calm demeanor, Aang carries on, unaware. | |
| Aang | No one wants to hang out with me and I have no idea why! |
| Iroh looks over his shoulder toward his establishment as a wave of water splashes out from the entranceway. | |
| Iroh | Maybe they're all busy? |
| Aang | I don't think that's it. |
| Iroh | [Notices Zuko at the door as another crash sounds out.] Why don't we talk about it over a nice cup of tea? |
| Cut to Aang and Iroh walking up the steps to the tea shop. | |
| Aang | Last time I was here, Zuko was mad at me for... Well, I don't know what. |
| Iroh | Zuko's always mad. Who can keep track of what he's mad about this time? |
| Aang | That's exactly what Sokka said... [Steps into the dimly lit tea shop with Iroh.] Iroh, why's it so dark? [Iroh shuts the doors.] Iroh? |
| Out of the darkness, Zuko generates a flame in the palm of his hand. | |
| Aang | Zuko?! |
| In a flurry, Zuko divides the flame, and sends the segments flying. | |
| Aang | Ahhh! |
| Aang dodges out the way. He is not Zuko's intended target, however; instead, the small bursts of fire scatter across the room, enkindling the candles on the cake and tables, as well as the paper lanterns hanging from the rafters.
As the room lights up, the Jasmine Dragon is revealed, now furnished with decorated tables, ice sculptures, and a poster of Aang performing his spinning marble airbending trick. In the center of the room, Sokka, Katara, Zuko, and Toph stand around the table and celebratory cake while Momo and Appa watch from the back room. | |
| Team Avatar | HAPPY UNFREEZING DAY, AANG! |
| Aang | [Blushing.] Unfreezing Day? What's that? |
| Katara | [Puts her hand on Aang's shoulder.] To celebrate the day you were unfrozen from the ice, of course! |
| Sokka | [Puts his hand on Aang's other shoulder.] A very special day for our very special Avatar! |
| Aang | [Tears up.] Are you saying this is all for me? |
| Cut to Momo eating an apple in front of Aang's presents and an ice sculpture in the Avatar's likeness. Cut again to Toph putting some food on her plate. | |
| Toph | Anyone else here been frozen for 100 years? |
| Sokka | [Points to Appa as the bison sips his tea.] Well, technically Appa. |
| Toph | You know what I mean! |
| Momo picks up and runs off with Appa's beverage, with the bison rising up and growling in order to give chase. Quickly, Katara puts down a new bowl in front of Appa while Zuko pours some hot tea into the receptacle. The two exhale in relief as Appa settles down and enjoys his new refreshments. | |
| Iroh | In order for the celebration to begin, you must blow out the candles! |
| Aang | [Inhales.] Gaaaaasp! |
| Aang exhales with a mighty breath, blowing the candles entirely off the cake, and sending a chunk of the dessert flying into Zuko's face. Katara and Sokka stifle their laughter at Zuko grimacing, while Toph looks on, unperturbed. | |
| Aang | [Abashed.] Oops. Sorry. |
| Cut to Katara showing Aang his gifts, located by ice sculptures of him and Appa. | |
| Katara | Aang, everyone also brought gifts for you! |
| Aang | Really? [Notices the ice sculptures.] Whoa, wait, is that me? And Appa? Who made the ice sculptures? |
| Katara | [Proudly.] I did! You know... Water Tribe stuff! |
| Sokka | You know, if you really wanted it to be a true Unfreezing Day celebration, Zuko should melt them! Get it? Unfreezing? |
| Katara | [Angry.] Sokka, those took all day to make! |
| Sokka | Zuko, you agree with me, right? |
| Zuko | Please don't bring me into this. [Momo licks some of the confection off his face.] |
| As Toph describes how everyone contributed to the Unfreezing Day preparations, a series of flashback images behind her depict Katara shaping the ice sculpture of Aang with her waterbending, Sokka and Toph individually buying food from marketplace vendors, Zuko wrapping streamers around a table, and Iroh using a pastry bag to apply frosting to Aang's cake. | |
| Toph | Katara made the ice sculptures... Sokka and I were in charge of food... Zuko set up the party... and Iroh baked the cake. We were trying to make it a surprise, but you kept trying to ruin it. |
| Sokka | [Nods.] That's why it was so important for you to stay in the house. |
| Aang | Sokka, your notes didn't really make me want to stay... if anything they made me more curious! |
| Sokka | [In realization.] Oh... |
| Iroh | It doesn't matter. We are all here together and that's what's important. Shouldn't Aang open his presents? |
| Aang | [Opens one of his presents.] I'm not really used to getting gifts. This is exciting! [Holds aloft a boomerang.] Whoa! A boomerang! |
| Sokka | From me, of course. |
| Aang | [Cut to Aang holding a furled scroll.] Is this a... |
| Katara | A new waterbending scroll! |
| Aang | [Cut to Aang holding a Pai Sho board.] Oh cool! A game! |
| Iroh | Not just any game, but Pai Sho, the best game! |
| Aang | [Cut to Aang holding a small rock in his hand.] A... rock? |
| Toph | It's bison shaped! |
| Aang | [Cut to an overhead view of the rock in Aang's palm, its shape vaguely resembling Appa's, including his four legs, horn, and tail.] Oh! I see it now! I love everything! Thank you! |
| Zuko | [Approaches Aang with his own present.] Aang... |
| Sokka steps in between Aang and Zuko, raising his arms in glee in contrast to Zuko's annoyed expression at being interrupted. | |
| Sokka | Time to dig into the food! I'm starving! |
| Cut to the group sitting around a dinner table, having just finished their meal, with Sokka sighing in contentment and sporting a swollen belly. All the while, Zuko looks down at Aang's gift resting on his lap. | |
| Zuko | [Hands Aang the present.] Hey Aang... I didn't give you this earlier, but I did bring you something. |
| Aang | Thanks, Zuko! |
| Zuko | [Rubs the back of his neck, abashed.] Don't get too excited... I'm not the best with gifts. |
| Aang | [Holds up an earthen sphere from the unwrapped box.] Fireworks! |
| Toph | Really? You couldn't get him something that's not loud and annoying? |
| Aang walks away from the table toward the entranceway with the fireworks in hand. | |
| Zuko | Where are you going? |
| Aang | To celebrate some more! |
| The rest of the group moves to join him with the exception of Toph, who remains seated at the table, arms crossed in displeasure. | |
| Toph | Ugh! *Sigh* [Gets up.] Only for Unfreezing Day... |
| Cut to Toph and the rest of Team Avatar lounging on the steps outside the Jasmine Dragon at nighttime, while Iroh and Aang set up the fireworks. Holding a rock, Toph uses her earthbending to shape it into a pair of earmuffs, which she puts on. | |
| Toph | Ahhh, the sweet sound of a silent, dumb rock! |
| Iroh bends a stream of flame at the fireworks, igniting the sphere as Aang runs back toward his friends. Aang, Sokka, Katara, Zuko, Iroh, Momo, and Appa stare up in awe at the sky as the fireworks explode, casting the world in bright hues of color; Toph, in her own space, faces forward, at peace. | |
| Aang | Thank you, everyone! This was the best Unfreezing Day party a guy could ask for! |
| The comic concludes as the fireworks continue to detonate in myriad patterns and colors, showering the Ba Sing Se skyline with streams of light as, together, Aang and his friends observe them from below. |