This idea came to me many, many months ago, before my computer broke. The idea is that Aang actually let go of Katara during his lesson with Pathik, and therefore didn't see the vision of her in distress. This will, naturally, change a lot of things. For one, Aang won't be fatally wounded, and also Sokka will still be with the Water Tribe warriors, for quite awhile I might add. Only Toph will make it back to Ba Sing Se, and only she and Iroh will rescue Zuko and Katara.
The prologue is the last thing in this story that follows cannon, (except Sukka) but I really wanted an exact replica of Aang and Pathik's conversation for this. So please enjoy.
I don't own Avatar, this one or James Cameron's! (which I haven't even seen)
Earthly Attachment
Prologue
"In order to master the Avatar State, you must open all your chakras. Aang, tell me everything you know about chakras."
"What are chakras?" Aang asked, rubbing his eye.
"Oh, I see," Guru Pathik noted glumly. "I guess we'll start with the basics."
The old man bent down and prodded the water in the pools with a stick and spoke, "The water flows through this creek much like the energy flows through your body. As you see, there are several pools where the water swirls around before flowing on. These pools are like our chakras."
"So, chakras are pools of spiralling energies in our bodies?" Aang asked.
"Exactly!" Pathik acknowledged. "If nothing else were around, this creek would flow pure and clear. However, life is messy, and things tend to fall in the creek. And then what happens?"
"The creek can't flow?"
"Yes. But, if we open the paths between the pools…"
"The energy flows!"
After sharing an understanding look, the two of them made their way underground, and Aang sat waiting patiently for his new mentor to start. He didn't have long to wait, either.
"There are seven chakras that go out the body," Pathik said. "Each pool of energy has a purpose, and can be blocked by a specific kind of emotional muck. Be warned; opening the chakras is an intense experience, and once you begin this process, you cannot stop until all seven are open. Are you ready?"
Aang looked up, a little nervous. "I'll do whatever it takes," he declared.
"First we will open the earth chakra," Pathik said, "located at the base of the spine. It deals with survival, and is blocked by fear…"
Instantly Aang was drawn into himself, and he heard Pathik's voice echoing through his head, "What are you most afraid of? Let your fears become clear to you."
Terrible visions swam in Aang's head, visions of Zuko, of Katara being hurt… of the Firelord. Then Aang screamed. "Aang?" he heard Pathik say. "Your vision is not real. You are concerned for your survival, but you must surrender those fears. Let your fears flow down the creek."
Aang relaxed and focused on banishing his fear. Once done, he opened his eyes and Pathik said, "You have opened your earth chakra."
Next, Pathik took him off to a waterfall, and they sat there. "Next is the…"
"Water chakra?" Aang guessed.
"Brilliant!" Pathik declared. "Maybe one day you will be a guru too! This chakra deals with pleasure, and is blocked by guilt. Now, look at all the guilt which burdens your soul. What do you blame yourself for?"
The vision that swam in his head this time was when he ran away from being the Avatar, and became trapped in ice. "I ran away," he said.
A moment later the visions cleared and he said, ''I hurt all of those people.''
''Accept the reality that these things happened,'' Pathik told him. ''But do not let them cloud and poison your energy. If you are to be a positive influence on the world, you need to forgive yourself.''
Aang took a deep breath and released it as he did as he was instructed.
After moving outside once more to a cliff face, Pathik said, ''Third is the fire chakra, located in the stomach.''
''My fire chakra would like to eat something other than onion and banana juice,'' Aang declared.
Pathik chuckled. ''Good one!'' he said. ''Moving on...
''This chakra deals with willpower, and is blocked by shame. What are you ashamed of?''
Once more, visions filled Aang's head, and he saw the time he hurt Katara with his firebending. ''What are your biggest disappointments in yourself?'' the Guru's voice echoed.
''I'm never gonna firebend again,'' Aang spoke softly. ''I can't.''
''You will never find balance if you deny this part of your life,'' Pathik said wisely. ''You are the Avatar, and therefore, you are a firebender.''
Once again Aang took a deep breath and let go of this part.
''Hm,'' Pathik mused. ''That chakra opened less like a flowing creek and more like a burping bison.''
Right on cue, Aang let out a huge burp. ''Tastes like onions and bananas,'' he said, ''but strangely, something else. Pickles?''
Pathik just shrugged.
They relocated once more, this time to a ruined part of the monastery. ''The fourth chakra is located in the heart.'' Pathik said. ''It deals with love, and is blocked by grief. Lay all your grief out in front of you.''
Visions of his lost friends and the monks of the temples swirled in Aang's mind. ''You have indeed felt a great loss,'' came Pathik's voice, ''but love is a form of energy, and it swirls all around us. The Air Nomad's love for you has not left this world, it is still inside of your heart, and is reborn in the form of new love. Let the pain flow away.''
Katara's face swam before his eyes, and tears formed as he let go of his grief. ''Very good,'' he was told.
''Can I have some onion and banana juice please?'' Aang asked politely.
They moved deeper into the temple, and Pathik said, ''The fifth in the chain is the sound chakra, located in the throat. It deals with truth, and is blocked by lies. The one's we tell ourselves...''
A vision of Katara asking him why he didn't tell them he was the Avatar came to him and he answered aloud, ''Because I never wanted to be.''
''You cannot lie about your own nature,'' Pathik told him. ''You must accept that you are the Avatar.''
Aang breathed in and accepted this, and Pathik said, ''Very good, Aang, you have opened the chakra of truth.''
They moved outside, and the lesson continued. ''The sixth pool of energy is the light chakra,'' the Guru said, ''located in the centre of the forehead. It deals with insight, and is blocked by illusion. The greatest illusion of this world is the illusion of separation. Things you think are separate and different, are actually one and the same.''
Aang closed his eyes and allowed a vision of the world to enter his mind. ''Like the four nations,'' he observed.
''Yes.'' Pathik agreed. ''They are all one people, but we live as if divided.''
''We're all connected,'' Aang observed. ''Everything is connected.
''That's right,'' he was told. ''Even the separation of the four elements is an illusion. If you open your mind, you will see that all the elements are one, four parts of the same whole. Even metal is just a part of earth that has been purified and refined.''
It was night now, and they had relocated to the highest point of the temple. ''This is the last chakra, isn't it?'' Aang asked.
''Yes,'' Pathik confirmed. ''Once you open this chakra, you will be able to go in and out of the Avatar State at will. And when you are in the Avatar State, you will have complete control and awareness of all your actions.''
''Let's do this!'' Aang said determinedly.
''The though chakra is located at the crown of the head,'' Pathik said. ''It deals with pure cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment. Meditate on what attaches you to this world.''
Aang allowed himself to close his eyes to meditate, and instantly saw Katara. ''Now,'' Pathik said, ''let all of those attachments go. Let them flow down the river, forgotten.''
Jerked from his thoughts, Aang demanded, "What? Why would I let go of Katara? I-I... I love her!"
"Learn to let her go," Pathik told him, "or you cannot let the pure cosmic energy flow in from the universe."'
"Why would I choose cosmic energy over Katara?" Aang demanded. "How can it be a bad thing that I feel and attachment to her? Three chakras ago that was a good thing!"
"You must learn to let go," Pathik said.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let go of Katara," Aang decided.
"Aang," Pathik reminded him, "to master the Avatar State, you must open all the chakras. Surrender yourself."
"Okay," Aang conceded. "I'll try."
"Now think of your attachments, and let them go. Let the pure cosmic energy flow."
Aang felt he was floating over the entire planet as he let Katara go, and soon a path to the whole universe opened up to him. A vision of himself in the Avatar State appeared and he began to make his way towards it. Slowly the arrows on his body began to light up, and he soon became one with his Avatar State...
So, Aang let go, and things are going to be different now. Review please!