TOKI TOKI — SEASON 2, EPISODE 8

“Black Market Blues”

COLD OPEN

EXT. MOUNTAIN ROAD – NIGHT

A convoy of dark armored trucks rattle along a dusty forest road. Each truck has a glowing green symbol — Shen’s corrupted spirit-energy mark.

Inside one:

A golden monkey spirit-beast, trembling and bound by electro-vine restraints. It whimpers softly as a harsh mechanical voice says:

Poacher Pilot (over radio)
Cargo acquired.
Delivering the specimen to the Market Hub now.

The monkey’s eyes glow faintly—sending a psychic ripple through the forest.

Cut to:

EXT. RANGER CABIN – SAME TIME

Toki jerks awake, sensing the distress.

TokiToki rushes to him.

TokiToki
Toki? What’s wrong?

He turns toward the mountains, determination in his eyes.

CUT TO TITLE CARD:
“BLACK MARKET BLUES”

ACT I

SCENE 1 — THE DISTRESS SIGNAL

Inside the cabin, Maya listens as Toki demonstrates the distress via glowing pulse.

Maya’s scanner interprets the signal.

Maya
It’s a golden spirit-monkey.
They’re rare… and powerful.
If Shen captures one—
the energy he can extract…

Kin finishes grimly:

Kin
…could power the Shattering Pulse.

Ranger Liu loads his ranger gear.

Ranger Liu
Then we’re stopping that convoy.
Tonight.

Toki thumps his chest once — “Let’s go.”

SCENE 2 — THE BLACK MARKET

EXT. MOUNTAIN BLACK MARKET HUB – LATE NIGHT

An enormous hidden clearing lit by neon-green lamps and glowing lanterns.

Stalls line the area, trafficking illegal:

• spirit-beast eggs

• enchanted flora

• corrupted tech

• stolen drones

• bamboo core crystals

A band plays eerie metallic blues — the episode’s namesake vibe.

TokiToki’s jaw drops.

TokiToki
Dad… this place is HORRIBLE.
And kinda cool-looking… but mostly horrible.

Ranger Liu frowns deeply.

Ranger Liu
This is the Black Market.
A poacher-operated hotspot.
We’ve tried to shut it down for years…
but they move every season.

Kin tenses.

Kin
This place defiles the spirit world.
We must tread carefully.

Maya pulls out disguises.

Maya
Okay, everyone — wear these.

She hands Toki a giant trench coat and sunglasses.

TokiToki
(stifling laughter)
Oh.
My.
GOODNESS.

Toki shrugs and puts them on.
He looks like a very large, very fashionable bear.

SCENE 3 — INFILTRATION

They enter the crowded market.

Strange creatures hang in cages.
Poachers haggle loudly.
Shady figures in cloaks whisper deals.

Toki tries to walk casually. His sunglasses slide off immediately.

Maya
Keep them ON, Toki!
We do not need attention!

Toki puts them back on upside down.

TokiToki tries not to explode in laughter.

Kin stays laser-focused.

Kin
The monkey’s aura is close.
I can feel its fear.

Ranger Liu nods.

Ranger Liu
Stay sharp.
We split up in pairs.

Teams:

• Toki & TokiToki

• Kin & Maya

• Ranger Liu alone

They separate.

ACT II

SCENE 4 — TOKI & TOKITOKI’S FIND

Toki and TokiToki wander past cages of rare butterflies and glowing fish.

TokiToki presses her face against each cage like she wants to adopt everything.

TokiToki
We’re coming back for you guys!
I’ll bring snacks!

Toki gently pulls her away.

Suddenly—

A corruption spike pulses through Toki’s staff.

He turns sharply toward a sealed tent.

Inside: the golden monkey, trembling in chains.

Toki growls softly, wrath rising.

TokiToki places a hand on his arm.

TokiToki
Hey…
We’ll get them out.
But quietly.

Toki exhales and calms.

SCENE 5 — MAYA & KIN’S DISCOVERY

Maya and Kin hack a guard console.

Maya pulls up schematics.

Maya
The trucks carry three cages.
One monkey…
one aura-distorted fox…
and…

Her face drops.

Maya
Someone requested a panda specimen.

Kin’s expression hardens.

Kin
They hunt Guardians.
Shen’s influence grows.

Maya grips her tablet tightly.

Maya
Not happening.
Not while Toki is with us.

SCENE 6 — THE CAPTURE

INT. STORAGE TENT

Toki and TokiToki sneak inside.

The golden monkey whimpers.

TokiToki shushes it softly.

TokiToki
We’re gonna bust you out.
Just don’t scream, okay?
We’re undercover.

The monkey screams.

Guards rush in.

Guard #1
Is that a PANDA in sunglasses?!

Toki steps forward and removes the sunglasses dramatically.

TokiToki sighs.

TokiToki
Well.
So much for undercover.

Fight erupts.

Toki knocks poachers aside with non-lethal swipes.
TokiToki uses vines as whips.
But more reinforcements arrive.

Ranger Liu storms in.

Ranger Liu
GO! I’ll cover you!

He tackles two guards.

Toki grabs the monkey cage.
They run.

SCENE 7 — BLACK MARKET CHAOS

The chase explodes into the main market.

Vendors scream.
Stalls collapse.
Spirit-beasts cause havoc.

Kin leaps onto a rooftop, using his flute to disrupt drones.

Maya disables a generator, shutting down electrified fences.

Toki barrels through obstacles while TokiToki rides on his back, whooping with adrenaline.

TokiToki
This is the BEST WORST DAY EVER!!

Toki agrees with a determined grunt.

ACT III

SCENE 8 — ESCAPE BLOCKED

They reach the exit—

But a massive armored truck blocks the path.

The poacher commander, General Sable, steps out.

(We met her briefly in Episode 7’s lore.)

Her eyes cold.
Her armor infused with Shen’s corrupted tech.

General Sable
I see the panda has grown bold.
Good.
The doctor will be pleased.

Toki snarls.

Kin steps beside him.

Kin
You will not take him.
Not today.

General Sable fires a shockwave cannon.

Toki shields TokiToki.

The shockwave cracks the earth.

Maya ducks behind cover.

Maya
Her tech is powered by corrupted aura!
It destabilizes everything it touches!

Sable fires again.

Kin blocks it with a resonance note—
But the strain cracks his flute further.

Kin
I cannot hold her off long!

SCENE 9 — TOKI’S NEW POWER

General Sable charges.

Toki stands firm.

His staff glows brightly—
Not just from his power…
but resonating with the golden monkey’s aura.

Toki slams the staff into the ground.

A vine-wall bursts upward, blocking Sable’s path.

Sable recoils, stunned.

General Sable
Impossible.
He’s growing stronger?

Toki lets out a fierce roar.

TokiToki beams.

TokiToki
YES! TOKI! LET’S GO!!

Kin plays a reinforcement melody, creating a window of opportunity.

Maya hacks the truck behind Sable—
It rolls forward.

Right toward her.

Sable leaps aside.

Ranger Liu
(shouting)
MOVE!

The team bolts through the exit.

SCENE 10 — ESCAPE & RESCUE

EXT. FOREST EDGE – DAWN

The team emerges from the forest with the golden monkey freed from its restraints.

The monkey bows to Toki gratefully before darting into the trees.

Toki watches it go, relieved.

Kin approaches the group.

Kin
You fought well as one.
Today was victory…
but the shadow grows.

Ranger Liu nods grimly.

Ranger Liu
Sable is back in the field.
And if Shen is using her—

Maya finishes:

Maya
—then the Shattering Pulse is close.

TokiToki takes Toki’s paw.

TokiToki
Whatever comes next…
we’re ready.

Toki lifts his staff.

It glows brightly — stronger than after the reforging.

The camera rises as the group walks toward the sunrise.

FADE OUT.