Disclaimer: i do not own Avatar the Last Airbender


CHAPTER 4

We got Aang on Appa as gently as we could. Toph earthbended a platform and we were able to place him on Appa's back. I brought him to Appa's head so I could hold on to him, seeing as we didn't have a saddle anymore. Then we took off. I was glad Sokka and Toph let me go alone. I needed this time to think and be alone. Also I had this gut feeling that this was the right thing to do.

After a couple of hours, the Eastern Air Temple came into view. It was set up so similarly to the other air temples I've seen on our journey, there was no doubt that this was the right place. It also seemed that Appa knew exactly where to go too. We landed on this platform where I could see a man meditating.

Appa grunted and the man turned around, as though he was just realizing that he wasn't alone. He had dark skin and was so skinny you could see his bones outlined on his skin. He also had a baldhead and a long white beard. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he was very wise, it was the same look that Gran-Gran gave me right before we left to rescue Aang from Zuko.

"Hi, my name is Katara," I said, "are you Guru Pathik?"

He just stared at me for a few moments, giving me a look as if he already knew exactly who I was. Though of course I had never met him.

"So you're the one," he said.

I had no idea what that meant but I figured that I should just get to the point.

"Ok? Uhm, well I need your help. Aang he's… hurt… and hasn't woken up in days... and I don't know what to do. I was hoping you could help me out."

I then launched into my story about what had happened in Ba Sing Se. Pathik just sat there and listened patiently to my story. When I was done he said, "Where is the Avatar now?"

I pointed to Appa and climbed up to get Aang. When I came down, I gently laid him in front of Pathik. He then closed his eyes and guided two of his fingers across Aang's body.

"Hmmm," he said, "it seems that Aang is in a dream-like state. His spiritual connection to his past lives seems to have been broken, but his mind and spirit are working to put it back together. Until he does, he will not wake up."

"So what should I do?"

"Well, I would say your best chance is to keep healing him. Maybe it'll help him mentally as much as physically. But do not worry. He will wake up. The spiritual water you used saved his life. All you can do now is wait."

"How long do you think it will be until he wakes up?"

"It's hard to say. You just need to be patient. I can sense it will be a while but like I said I promise he will awaken."

"Thank you Guru Pathik," I replied in relief. Even though I had just met him, I trusted his words.

"Of course."

"Can I ask you something?"

He gives me a look as though he already knows what I'm about to ask.

"What did you mean by 'you're the one'?" I continued without waiting for a proper response.

He sighed. "I knew who you were Katara the second I saw your face."

"How? We have never met before."

"As I was helping Aang to master the avatar state, we shared some thoughts and visions. You were in some of them," He looked uncomfortable, as if he was saying too much.

"Well, it looks like he did save you," he continued, "though it seemed to have cost him very much," His eyes shifting to Aang's limp body.

"How did you know that Aang saved me or that I even needed to be saved?"

He sighed. "I guess I should explain what I was teaching the young avatar here. In order for Aang to master the avatar state I explained he had to open all 7 of his chakras. Which are like pools of energy in one's body. By opening them all he would be able to access the avatar state at will and have complete control over. However, when we hit the last one, there were err, some complications."

"What do you mean complications?"

He looked up at me, his eyes sad. "Well, during the final chakra, at first Aang didn't think he could bring himself to do it. In the end he decided that he had to at least try. Well in the middle of it he had a vision about you. You were in danger. Aang immediately stopped the connection and was about to leave to find you. I tried to tell him that he needed to open the last chakra or else he would not be able to enter the avatar state at all. He stopped for a moment but in the end he left."

Could this be true? Did Aang really not complete he task here… for me? Why would he do that?

"But, he did enter the avatar state. For a moment at least," I replied.

"Yes, but now it seems that he is locked out of the avatar state. When Aang is in the avatar state, he is at his most vulnerable. Getting killed in the avatar will not only kill him but also break the reincarnation cycle of the avatar. Lucky for him, you had the spirit water to heal him, but like I said earlier his mind is trying to reconnect to his spirit."

"Can I ask why Aang hesitated to complete his final chakra? You said at first he didn't think he could."

"Katara, I don't know if that would be a good idea. It's like telling you Aang's personal thoughts without permission. In due time, maybe he will tell you."

"What's the chakra even about? I mean by not completing it he almost died! I could have lost him forever! What could be so bad about completing the chakra?"

Pathik just looked at me like he was still confused. If it was wise enough to tell me the truth.

"Katara, the final chakra has to do with cosmic energy but is blocked by earthly attachment. In order for Aang to master the avatar state, he had to let go of something that attached him to this world."

"Which was?"

He just gave me a look, like the answer was right in front of me. It started clicking together. Aang had a vision before he could complete his second attempt of unlocking the chakra. The vision was about…me.

"No," I said, "It's my fault isn't it?"

"Aang made his choice Katara. He clearly cares about you."

I looked down at Aang, still asleep, his chest slightly moving up and down. I place my hand on his cheek. Suddenly my vision changed, I wasn't at the Eastern Air Temple looking at Aang anymore. I was now in space. I looked down and saw the earth below me. I looked back up and saw a purple-lighted path. On the path is Aang, his tattoos are glowing as he walks. Further up, I see a huge version of Aang, who is clearly in the avatar state.

"Aang!" I called out.

He doesn't respond. He keeps walking toward his huge avatar state self and steps into a ball of purple light.

Why isn't he answering me?

Suddenly I hear yelling, "Let me go!"

My head whirls towards the noise and realize it's a vision of me getting captured.

Is this…? A memory? I'm in Aang's memory right now.

I turn my attention back to Aang whose eyes open in surprise and turns to the vision of me. He realizes that I'm in danger. He looks back at his avatar state self and then back to the "vision me". He then turns around and runs toward the vision, his back to his avatar state self. The light purple path then disappears and he is falling towards the earth. Suddenly I'm pulled back into reality.

My head is spinning. Guru Pathik is looking at me with the greatest unease.

"What… what was that?" I said.

"You shared a vision with Aang. That was when he was about to open the chakra, but picked the earthly attachment instead."

Earthly attachment? Me? Aang, could he? Does he? Does he love me?

"He chose me over the avatar state," I whispered.

Pathik nods. "Aang needs to learn that he has to let you go. It seemed that in Ba Sing Se he tried but didn't get to complete it once again."

Tears begin to fall down my face.

Aang. My sweet Aang. There was always part of me that cared for him more than just a friend. But I could never say it. The last thing I wanted him to be was distracted. He had a bigger destiny. And I couldn't bare the thought of having him then losing him. Yet here we were. I almost did lose him. I needed him back.


A/N: Okay! so let me know what you guys thought of that chapter! i'll try to get the next one up soon! but this is all i got so far! Prob wont have too many chapters left maybe 1 or 2 tops. i dont want to drag this out too long. review please :)