Katara: Water. Earth. Fire. Air. Long ago the Four Nations lived-

Aang: Katara, wait!

Katara: Aang, what is it? I'm trying to tell our story.

Aang: But sweetie, they know our story already!

Katara: They do? How?

Aang: I don't know, but I think they'd like to hear something different.

Katara: But Aang, I don't know any other stories about us.

Aang: Hmmm. Ooh! Ooh! What about the Myth of Arachne? You haven't told that one before.

Katara: The Myth of Arachne? What are you talking about, sweetie?

Aang: She's how Pavitr got his spider powers!

Katara: Pavitr? Spider powers? Oh, right! Him.

Aang: Yeah, Katara! Tell them how he became Spider-M-

Katara: You know what, sweetie? Maybe he should tell the story himself?

"We're waiting, Pavitr. Recite the words.", Mrs. Gao, the impatient teacher of Pavtir Prabhakar's class said. The awkward teenager stumbled to the front of the stage, adjusting his spectacles, and spoke shakily, but clearly, "The Myth of Arachne. A Tale of Transformation...and spiders. There was this girl and everyone said. She made miracles, marvels with nothing but thread. A weaver who wove like a god, made you feel. Made you swear that her pictures were realer than real. Amazed, the world gazed at her tapestries, trapped by her artistry. And her name, her name was Arachne."

Suddenly, the scenery behind him parted to reveal a chorus of dancers in ceremonial robes swinging from aerial tapestries as bottom layers of cloth ascended from the floor, forming the illusion of a woven work of art. Then, from above, descended the figure of a girl in a web patterned dress sitting at a weaving loom and she said, "Behold and wonder. Beheld by my creations. But I can sew through time and space. I alone possess the talents to command your race." As the girl playing Arachne pretended to weave at the loom, one of the dancers spoke, "Arachne's boastful words reached the Painted Lady, who demanded a weaving contest to prove Arachne was misusing her talents. Arachne accepted the challenge, but, in her arrogance, she wove blasphemous images into her tapestry to mock the spirits." They all joined in a chorus of, "The powers have been abused. The spirits are not amused.", as a massive specter of the Painted Lady descended over the tapestry and raised its arms, causing it to fall.

The girl playing Arachne lamented, "I have wasted my art. So what good is my thread? My pride overruled my heart. Now, it's shamed. I should be dead."

Just like that, a silk thread, meant to represent a noose, descended from above the stage which the actress wrapped around her neck. "And the girl falls from the sky.", the dancers said unison, before one of them continued with, "But before Arachne died, the Painted Lady transformed her." This would usually be the part of the performance where spider legs would emerge from her back and the chorus would continue, but the legs weren't extending for some reason. Backstage, Pavitr was captivated watching Arachne's performance and didn't pick up on his cue. In his mind, Pavitr said, "Spirits, she's amazing. No wonder everyone on this island worships her. Sometimes I wish I could be like a spider: strong, quick, cunning. All things that I'm not. All I get for being smart is a knock on the head from Falak Thaman."

"I said, The Painted Lady transformed her.", repeated the dancer, which Pavitr actually heard and began fiddling with the ropes and pulleys that would extend the spider legs, but nothing was working. Eventually, the rope suspending the Arachne performer snapped causing her to fall onto the stage and take everything with her. The entire audience gasped at the chaos and when the dust cleared, Mrs. Gao screamed at the top of her lungs, "PRABHAKAR!" Pavitr was cowering in the corner, hoping that no one could see him. But, of course, they did and immediately the insults started flying, with taunts like, "Nice going, Puny Prabhakar!", coming from Falak Thaman and, "You wrecked our play, Mondo Nerdo!", coming from Lipika Ahluwalia, who was one of the dancers.

Pavitr hung his head in shame and started trekking for the home of his Uncle Bhim and Aunt Maya, dodging hurled cabbages as he went. "One of these days, those guys are gonna be sorry for the way they treat me. One day, I'll rise above all this and be better than them."

Next Time: Family and Friends