Sorry its been a while since I updated this…but I was stuck on it for a while with a bad case of writer's block and then I also got sidetracked with another story…You could say I was blocked because the other story was taking up all of my brain cells. Lol. Anyway here is Chapter 25. hope you like it. The next one will not take so long I promise.
Chapter 25 The Dilemma
"So let me get this straight," Sokka said, "Zuko attacked you in the woods?" Aang nodded in Sokka's direction. "I don't get it," Sokka continued, "I mean I know Zuko doesn't have the greatest track record…but he's gone to a lot of trouble to atone for the things he's done in the past. To be honest if it wasn't for Zuko you would still be trapped in the avatar state…and Katara and I would still be in the south pole." Aang rolled his eyes as he stood quickly and began to pace. Everything Sokka had said was true. He knew he should feel grateful to Zuko and he really was grateful but at the same time he just could not forget what happened between the former fire prince and Katara. No matter how he tried he could not push the image of the two of them in Zuko's chambers wrapped in one another's arms from his mind. Just the thought alone made his heart ache. Katara's words from their previous argument suddenly flashed through Aang's mind.
"Zuko is my friend for spirit's sake…of course I'm concerned, and of course I have feelings…feelings of friendship! Zuko helped me through the most horrible time in my life and I will always care about him but that doesn't change anything between you and me. I admit, things got complicated between me and Zuko; but what happened was a mistake and I wish so badly that I could take it back."
Aang knew Katara was truly sorry for what had happened but her remorse did not change the fact that it had happened and it certainly did not stop his mind from envisioning her and Zuko holding one another close, kissing passionately, nearly making love... Aang huffed in frustration. He crossed his arms over his chest as feelings of insecurity and jealousy pervaded his heart. He paused for a moment and just stared in the direction of the woods. A part of him would always be thankful for all that Zuko had done to find him. But the other part of him could not get passed the fact that Zuko and Katara had become so intimately close in his absence.
"It couldn't have been Zuko," Iroh's voice interrupted Aang's thoughts. Aang, Sokka, and Katara turned simultaneously in the old man's direction. "My nephew would not do such a thing…something else is going on here…something must have happened to him."
"I'm sure it was Zuko," Aang replied firmly.
"Aang," Katara protested. Aang quickly turned to her as he held his hand up bidding her to be silent. He turned back to the old man.
"There was something off about him," Aang went on, "he wasn't himself…I can't explain it…it was almost like…."
"Like he was being controlled," the old man replied. Aang just stared at the old man unemotionally.
"Like he was possessed," Aang replied.
"Possessed," both Katara and Sokka replied simultaneously.
"You mean like an evil spirit has control of Zuko," Sokka questioned, "can they do that to a living body?" Aang ignored Sokka and continued to stare in Iroh's direction searching the old man's face for answers.
"It is possible," Iroh replied, "and probably the only logical explanation."
"Okay," Sokka interjected, "what does all this mean…how can we un-possess him?" Iroh glanced at Sokka and then turned back to Aang.
"I told my nephew to be careful of his thoughts and feelings on this island, "he went on, "I told him that the spirits could use his feelings against him. Under the circumstances Zuko is vulnerable to them. His anger, heartache, jealousy…it all makes him vulnerable. The spirit that has taken him is using all those feelings against him…using them to its advantage."
"How can we stop it," Aang questioned, "how do we get the spirit to leave Zuko's body?"
"It has to leave willingly," Iroh replied.
"Are you saying we have to bargain with an evil spirit to leave Zuko," Sokka questioned, "how is that even possible…why would it willingly leave…why would it do what we want it to at all?"
"If you have something it wants," Iroh went on, "it might consider a trade…Zuko's soul for another…or for something it wants or wants done…it's possible the spirit could be willing to bargain then."
"Forget it," Aang fumed, "I refuse to bargain with an evil spirit!"
"Aang," Katara protested, "what about Zuko…are you willing to sacrifice his life because you refuse to bargain…what if it's the only way to save him?"
"Katara," Aang yelled in frustration, "there is only one thing that it wants…it wants to destroy the balance of the world; it wants to kill you and me to do that. There is no way I will ever give it what it wants." Katara fell silent in the midst of Aang's outburst.
"Well there has to be another way," she replied with determination in her voice, "we can't just let it keep control of Zuko."
"There may be one way," Iroh replied. Both Aang and Katara turned in the old man's direction. "there is a way to force an unclean spirit from a person's body…but is very risky…it can only be done by a fully realized Avatar."
"Okay," Aang replied, "how do we do that?"
"Energy bending," the monk replied simply.
"Energy bending," Aang questioned, "how does that work…how is that possible?"
"A fully realized and spiritually enlightened avatar has the power to bend the energy of the possessing spirit…to loosen its grip on the individual it is possessing and pull the spirit away from the host's body and soul."
"How is it done," Aang questioned.
"To understand the process, you must first understand the possession itself," Iroh went on, "possession affects 2 of the seven chakras, the chakra of the mind and of the heart. It is these two chakras that the entity attaches itself to. The mind chakra controls the senses and an individual's perception and self-awareness. The heart chakra deals with one's perception of love and relationships with individual's close to one's heart. If either of these chakras is blocked for any reason then that individual is vulnerable to possession."
"So what you are saying is that Zuko's mind and heart chakras are blocked," Sokka questioned, "and the evil spirit used that to control him?" The old man nodded in Sokka's direction.
"Though Zuko has struggled all his life to find peace," Iroh replied, "his chakras remain clouded."
"It's because of me," Katara muttered to herself, "It's because of me that his chakra was blocked, that he was vulnerable…" Aang turned to her; he could see she was consumed with guilt.
"Katara," Aang replied, "none of this is anyone's fault…"
"Yes it is," she replied emotionally, "Zuko loves me…his chakra is blocked because of his feelings for me."
"Katara," Aang protested. He could feel his frustrations bubbling up again. Every concern Katara showed toward Zuko caused Aang to feel more and more like he was loosing her. Katara moved past Aang and faced Iroh.
"Tell me," Katara demanded as she gazed at the old man, "am I the reason his chakra is blocked?" The old man nodded slowly.
"My nephew's feelings for you are only a small part of the many reasons that he has been unable to clear his chakra," Iroh replied, "most of the reasons stem from Zuko's childhood and his dysfunctional relationship with his father and sister. There is nothing you could do could to change that…even if you loved Zuko in return…the problems within his own heart and soul would still remain." Katara nodded silently. Aang stepped up beside Katara and focused his attention to Iroh.
"Do you know how to do this," Aang questioned, "how do I energy bend the spirit out of Zuko's body?"
"You must acknowledge the chakras which are located in the mind and heart. You would place one hand upon his forehead and the other upon his chest. Then you must focus your energy…as if you going to travel to the spirit world but instead of entering the spirit world you would enter Zuko's soul. Then you must locate the two affected chakras and remove the negative energies that the evil spirit has attached itself to. Once the spirit is detached from the chakras you will be able to bend its energy. You basically attach your spirit to it and as your spirit comes out of Zuko you will bring the spirit out of Zuko's body with you." Aang nodded as he processed the information Iroh had just given him.
"It seems pretty straight forward," Aang replied, "you said it was risky…what did you mean, what are the risks?"
"As I said before the individual performing this exorcism must be a fully realized and spiritually enlightened avatar. The avatar must be pure in heart, and have both a clean soul and spiritual strength. You must hold no ill thoughts toward the host." Aang could feel his pulse speed up as the old man explained. He remembered Yue had explained to him that he could not enter the spirit world because his spiritual abilities were still weak. He wasn't sure that it would be possible for him to do this.
"What would happen," Aang questioned, "if I were lacking in any of these requirements."
"The unclean spirit could attach itself to your soul while you try to remove it senses any kind of weakness. There is a chance that you could become possessed."
"I see," Aang replied. Katara gasped as she gazed at Iroh in fear.
"Relax Katara," Sokka stated, "If Aang gets possessed he can just energy bend the spirit out again…am I right?" Sokka looked to Iroh questioningly.
"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Iroh replied.
"What do you mean," Sokka questioned.
"It the avatar would ever become possessed," Iroh paused, "there would be no way to remove the evil spirit. No spirit that could possess the power of the Avatar would ever willingly leave and there would be nobody in the world with the power to energy bend besides another avatar. The only option would be to kill the avatar to remove the spirit. The avatar would then be reborn with a clean soul." Aang just felt frozen as he listened. He didn't know what he was going to do.
"So you are telling me that if I try to save Zuko I could become possessed and ultimately I would be ensuring my own death." The old man nodded. Aang sighed heavily and walked away from the old man. He paused and gazed blankly into the woods once more.
"No," Katara cried in fear as she gazed up at Iroh pleadingly, "this can't be the only option…it just can't be." The old man gazed back at her with remorse in his eyes.
"I'm afraid it's the only way." Katara turned her attention back to Aang. He stood motionless with his back facing her.
"Aang," she nearly sobbed, "what are you going to do?"
"There is no other choice Katara," Aang replied unemotionally, "we have to save Zuko."
"But Aang…," Katara protested.
"I just need some time," Aang continued as he turned back to face the monk, "I spoke to the moon spirit last night…she told me my spirit is still weak from being in the avatar state for so long. I just need some more time to build up my strength again." Iroh nodded in silence.
"In the mean time," Aang continued, "I think we should pay Zuko a visit…try to find out what exactly the spirit wants…if it's something we can bargain with…if not…then I will have to energy bend."
To be continued….
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