Ellora hosts envoys from other Havens with hopes to receive aid from their estranged neighbors. Nisha takes a trial to determine her future as an Avatar, while Pavi looks for clues about her past.
Nisha believes she's ready to show the world that she's the Avatar. Karthik believes she isn't. Pavi doesn't even want that attention. Nisha is determined. She presents herself to the Head Lotuses from the other Havens. She wants to take The Trial. Karthik doesn't believe it's the right time. The summit is fragile as is. He's expected to be by Kayoko's side as she navigates this uncertain time. Not every Haven sent representatives. Those that did show did so out of curiosity. The Havens don't rely on each other. They survive on their own. They face similar problems. Benders are dying out everywhere. It's not unique to Ellora. Benders are meant to keep this place safe. The Brigade must work as a team to conquer the storm. Even that has proven to be not enough. That's why Kayoko sent out this message. She needed more. She expects benders to be delivered. She doesn't explain the Anomaly or the Faceless. The threats are mounting. Now would be a good time for the Avatar to arrive. Nisha can't deliver. She passes Karthik's test. She fails the others. She's suppose to be a natural earthbender. She struggles immensely. She can't stand her ground. She doesn't have control over herself. She doesn't know what's fueling her.
Nisha pushes Pavi away again. Pavi is determined to find their parents. That's all that she cares about. Karthik doesn't want the other members of the White Lotus to know she exists. He hasn't shared that detail. He aims to protect the girls for as long as he can. The White Lotus seeks control over the Avatar. They can't have another one go rogue. Korra was given the freedom to make her own choices. Even though the White Lotus celebrates and trains the Avatar, they don't trust Nisha to make the right decisions. She might be better served with new teachers in a new environment. She's made some progress. She believes she can handle any obstacle. She can't. She still has so much more to learn. She's driven by fear. She was abandoned by her parents. That has left a lasting impact on her. She doesn't want to find them. That will only invite more pain in. Pavi discovers their names: Saumya and Pramodh. They are metalworkers from the Eastern Outskirts. She remembers the tree that forges the brand on her brooch. She realizations Karthik was sent to find the Avatar at their home. The storm prevented him from reaching the destination. He found Nisha in the desert. Something caused the girls to be separated. They eventually found each other. They have different aspirations. They expect to be united. They can't handle any disagreement. That only erupts into fighting.
The timing is great as Karthik doesn't have to explain Pavi to the Head Lotuses. He presents Nisha as she's the one actually training to become the Avatar. He hasn't given up hope for Pavi. It isn't her time yet. He sees the power of this connection. The other Head Lotuses believe attachment has limited Nisha. She's achieved all she can with Karthik as her teacher. She needs to continue growing. She also needs to be under the influence of the White Lotus. That's the only way to ensure another Cataclysm doesn't occur. The group is concerned about a potential future problem. They are ignoring what's happening right now. Jae commands attention of the room. He doesn't know what to do. His words inspire action. He believes in the power of collective action towards something greater. He believes in the survival of Ellora. Kayoko does as well. She will do anything to make that happen. She will keep Zi imprisoned until she shares what she knows. She has no problem with that. The Faceless have been terrorizing the Haven for long enough. Kayoko's confident an attack isn't coming. She's mistaken. Jae sees the warning immediately. He recognizes Uki amongst the staff. She chose to join the Faceless. This isn't freedom. It's simply a different kind of service. The world would be better off if the Havens learned how to work together. That agreement was reached. And then, it was disrupted by the Faceless Queen demanding attention.
Zi isn't the leader of the Faceless. Agam is. She hasn't been a prominent character so far. She's shown an affection for Pavi though. That's been true since the series premiere. She gave Pavi food when she was hungry. Pavi was living on the streets and Agam nourished her. Agam has fed the Haven. She's trusted to cater the summit. That provides access for this attack. She's no longer trying to hide her identity. Zi trusted her to free her. She didn't have to wait long. She enjoyed Daemin's company. He didn't deliver what she expected. That was refreshing even though he wasn't a threat when the strike occurred. Jae does his best to alert the Haven to the siege. He's successful. He sounds the alarm. Pavi, Nisha and Karthik are in separate locations. They all hear it and know what it means. They must rush into action. Karthik wasn't at the summit to protect the Chancellor. They made plans for after all of this was finished. Those may never occur. Their flirtation may go unrealized. Meanwhile, Nisha may see this as the perfect opportunity to prove herself. She'll fight to defend Ellora. She's a worthy Avatar. Pavi won't let her friends face this alone. That's all incredibly promising. The twist hopefully provides more depth as to the conflicts between the characters. More nuance would allow the show to reach a higher level of greatness that has been on display previously in this franchise.
