TOKI TOKI — SEASON 2, EPISODE 4

“The Song of Elder Shan”

COLD OPEN

EXT. LÓNGSHĀN FOREST – DUSK

Fireflies drift over a serene pond. The forest seems calmer tonight—no distortion, no corrupted creatures. A warm breeze carries the scent of lotus blossoms.

Toki stands by the water, touching his newly restored staff. The runes glow softly, reflecting in the pond.

A faint flute melody drifts through the trees—soft, wistful, haunting.

TokiToki appears behind him.

TokiToki
(whispering)
Toki… do you hear that?

Toki nods slowly.

Another gentle flute note echoes… and the water ripples unnaturally.

CUT TO TITLE CARD:
“THE SONG OF ELDER SHAN”

ACT I

SCENE 1 — A MYSTERIOUS MELODY

EXT. FOREST PATH – NIGHT

The group walks toward the source of the flute.

Maya adjusts a recording device.

Maya
This melody…
It’s affecting the forest’s energy levels.

Ranger Liu
Changing them? Or guiding them?

Maya listens.
The melody rises and falls in rhythmic pulses.

Maya
Guiding.
This flute isn’t just music—
it’s a signal.

They step into a clearing glowing with pale blue fireflies.

The flute stops abruptly.

Toki’s staff glows in response—
projecting a silhouette of Elder Shan in faint green light.

SCENE 2 — ELDER SHAN’S RETURN

Elder Shan’s spirit appears fully, shimmering like mist illuminated by moonlight.

Toki bows deeply.

TokiToki waves awkwardly.

TokiToki
Uh… hi again!
We found the city!
And the new staff piece!
And almost died!
(whispering)
Twice.

Elder Shan smiles warmly.

Elder Shan
You have walked paths long forgotten.
And your bond grows stronger still.

He turns to Toki.

Elder Shan
Guardian…
your mother’s spirit lingers.
Calling to you.

Toki’s ears perk, eyes wide.

TokiToki gasps.

TokiToki
Toki’s mom?
She’s… still here?

Elder Shan nods slowly.

Elder Shan
Her song echoes through the forest.
It warns of danger yet to come.

Maya leans in, intrigued.

Maya
The flute…
Is that her?

Elder Shan’s expression grows sorrowful.

Elder Shan
Her voice… but not her hand.
Another plays her melody now.

TokiToki looks around nervously.

TokiToki
Someone else is playing it?
But… why?

Toki clutches his staff harder, sensing the answer is painful.

SCENE 3 — THE ECHO OF A MEMORY

Elder Shan lowers his head.

Elder Shan
There is a memory you have yet to face.
One tied to your mother’s last day.

The clearing grows dark.
Roots lift gently from the soil, weaving images in the air.

MEMORY PROJECTION:

A mother panda running through the forest.
Carrying something wrapped in leaves.
The sound of poacher traps snapping.
A cry—
A fall—
Then darkness.

Toki trembles.

TokiToki squeezes his paw.

TokiToki
(softly)
You don’t have to watch alone.

Toki nods.
He lets the memory continue.

The mother panda places the leaf-wrapped object—
A baby Toki—
in a hollow tree, hiding him.

She looks back at him with love—
Then charges toward the poachers…
To protect him.

The projection ends.

Toki collapses to his knees, trembling.

TokiToki hugs him tightly.

TokiToki
Your mom was…
so, so brave.

Ranger Liu places a gentle hand on Toki’s shoulder.

Ranger Liu
She saved you.
And I found you because she wanted you safe.

Toki lifts his head—eyes burning with sadness and determination.

Elder Shan steps close.

Elder Shan
Her song seeks you now.
For the darkness that took her…
returns.

ACT II

SCENE 4 — SONG TRACKING

Maya calibrates her device to track the melody.

Maya
Okay… if I match the frequency of the flute,
we can locate whoever is playing it.

TokiToki looks hopeful.

TokiToki
Maybe it’s someone who knew Toki’s mom!

Ranger Liu nods thoughtfully.

Ranger Liu
Or someone using her song for reasons we don’t understand.

The flute plays again—
A soft, rising three-note melody.

Maya points.

Maya
Got it!
It’s coming from the Willow Vale.

Toki lifts TokiToki onto his back.

They sprint through the forest.
The music grows louder, more urgent.

SCENE 5 — THE WANDERING BOY

EXT. WILLOW VALE – NIGHT

The willows glow faintly with silver light.
A lone figure stands beneath them…

A boy.
Around 10.
Barefoot.
Wearing worn forest-cloth clothing.
Playing a bamboo flute carved with ancient symbols.

He stops playing when they approach.

TokiToki steps forward cautiously.

TokiToki
Hi there…
Um… we’re not here to hurt you.

The boy stares with calm, unreadable eyes.

He points his flute at Toki.

Boy
You are the Guardian.

Toki nods slowly.

The boy lowers the flute.

Boy
Then I am not too late.

Maya blinks.

Maya
Too late for what?

The boy looks toward the sky.

Boy
For the Shattering Pulse.

Ranger Liu tenses.

Ranger Liu
What is that?

The boy’s flute glows faintly.
He speaks with unsettling calm.

Boy
A weapon.
Forged by the one you call Shen.
Powered by the spirit he stole.

Toki growls low.

The boy continues.

Boy
If he completes it…
the forest’s heart will break.
And the Guardian bond… with it.

TokiToki gasps.

TokiToki
No.
We just fixed Toki’s staff!

The boy looks at her with deep sadness.

Boy
There is more to mend.
So much more.

SCENE 6 — WHO IS HE?

Maya steps closer, scanning him.

Maya
Your aura signature is… strange.
You’re human—
but not fully.

The boy nods.

Boy
I am Kin.
Last apprentice of the Panda Guardians.

Everyone freezes.

TokiToki’s jaw drops.

TokiToki
A human apprentice?!
That means…
you were part of the old Guardian order?

Kin nods.

Kin
I learned their songs.
Their rituals.
Their way of seeing.
But I was too young when the order fell.

He looks at Toki.

Kin
Your mother was the last Guardian Master.
She taught me the Song of Calling.

Toki’s eyes widen with grief.

Kin lifts his flute.

Kin
Her spirit sings through the forest.
And she calls for you, Guardian.
Time is short.

ACT III

SCENE 7 — THE SONG TEST

Kin steps forward.

Kin
Guardian…
show me your bond.

He begins playing the flute again.
The melody makes the trees sway in a rhythmic pattern.

Toki tries to sync his staff to the rhythm—
But the energy is unstable.

Toki stumbles.

The staff flickers.

Kin stops.

Kin
Your connection is fractured.
Renew it—
or Shen will exploit it.

Toki looks uncertain.

TokiToki rushes to him.

TokiToki
Hey.
You’ve come this far.
You’re stronger now.
We’ll do this together—like always.

Toki straightens.

Kin nods.

Kin
Again.

He plays.

This time, Toki moves smoothly with the rhythm.
His staff glows brighter—
Stabilizing—
Resonating with the flute.

The forest lights up in swirling green energy.

Kin stops, impressed.

Kin
Your bond holds.
But you must learn the Guardian’s Heart-Song
if you wish to survive the coming storm.

Ranger Liu steps forward.

Ranger Liu
Kin, will you guide us?

Kin looks at them all—
Then nods.

Kin
I will.
But know this:

He stares into the shadows of the forest.

Kin
Shen has already begun the Shattering Pulse.
And when it completes…

He looks directly at TokiToki.

Kin
The first thing to break… will be the bond between Guardian and child.

Toki growls fiercely, gripping his staff tightened.

TokiToki steps closer to him, defiant.

TokiToki
Then we won’t let it happen.
Right, Toki?

Toki nods firmly.

Together, they face the dark forest ahead—

Ready for their next challenge.

FADE OUT.