Previously, on Avatar: The Earth King happened (with an almost-imperceptible change), and most of the events of The Guru have unfolded just as they do in the show. But a couple of humdingers needed some editing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. This episode originally written by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.
Book 2: Earth; Chapter 25: The Guru
Aang sat across from Guru Pathik in the ruins of a temple courtyard.
"The fourth chakra is located in the heart. It deals with love and is blocked by grief," the guru explained. Aang smiled at the notion of love, gazing at a statue of an Air Nomad woman. And then his face fell at the thought of grief and loss.
"Lay all your grief out in front of you," Guru Pathik instructed. Aang envisioned his people before him – Monk Gyatso at the head of a triangle expanding out to include all the monks, nuns, lay people, children – thousands upon thousands of Air Nomads all slaughtered by the Fire Nation. Aang smiled upon seeing them all again but as they each wafted away into wisps of smoke, his grief threatened to consume him. He reached out in anguish toward the disappearing figures, but was unable to reach or hold onto any of them.
"You have indeed felt a great loss," Guru Pathik acknowledged. Aang saw the airbenders floating away in the clouds above him. "But love is a form of energy, and it swirls all around us." The cloud beneath Aang twisted into a pillar and lifted him up to the cloud into which the airbenders ascended. The mist swirled around him. "The Air Nomads' love for you has not left this world. It is still inside of your heart, and is reborn in the form of new love."
From the mist emerged a pair of faces – the first thing Aang had seen upon waking from the iceberg. Katara and Sokka. And then behind them rose up an image of Toph. Behind Toph were pillars of cloud in the shape of human figures without discernable faces, and Aang knew that they were new people that he would meet and love in days to come. Aang rested in the comfort of this new vision, tears streaming down his face as he released his sorrow and embraced the joy of knowing that love goes on.
"Let the pain flow away," came the guru's calming voice. Aang wiped his tears and leaned forward on his arms. "Very good."
Returning to his lotus posture, Aang asked softly, "Can I have some onion-banana juice, please?"
...
Night had fallen. Aang sat with Guru Pathik atop the temple.
"This is the last chakra, isn't it?" Aang asked.
"Yes," Guru 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 with determination and hope.
"The Thought Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment. Meditate on what attaches you to this world." Aang's mind filled with images of those he loved, of his newfound family – Katara, Sokka, and Toph, and of Appa and Momo too.
The guru continued. "Now, let all those attachments go. Let them flow down the river, forgotten."
"What!?" Aang stopped short. "Why would I let go of my friends? I … I love them! They're my family!"
"Learn to let them go," Guru Pathik urged, "or you cannot let the pure cosmic energy flow in from the universe."
Aang was confused and appalled. "Why would I choose cosmic energy over my family? How could it be a bad thing that I feel an attachment to them? Three chakras ago, that was a good thing!"
"You must learn to let go," Pathik repeated.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let go of Katara, Sokka, and Toph," Aang insisted.
"Aang," Pathik's voice was stern, "to master the Avatar State, you must open all the chakras. Surrender yourself. Surrender them."
"Okay," Aang finally conceded, "I'll try." He closed his eyes and maintained his meditation posture, sitting in lotus position with fingers interlaced and pinkies extended.
"Now think of your attachments," the guru began again, "and let them go. Let the pure cosmic energy flow."
Aang envisioned himself letting go of Sokka, Toph, and Katara, and entrusting them to the universe. He saw a bridge that would lead him to Avatar State mastery. He began carefully walking the bridge of cosmic energy, a larger-than-life image of himself in the Avatar State hanging above him. When Aang reached the top of the bridge and the Avatar image, a sphere of cosmic energy enveloped him and his tattoos began to glow. Aang noticed and smiled, pleased that his efforts were working. He closed his eyes to deepen the connection. Suddenly, he heard a cry and his eyes snapped open. That was Katara! he realized in alarm. Then he saw a vision of Katara in chains, struggling against them and screaming to be let go. She's in trouble! She needs me! Aang leapt from the sphere and ran back down the bridge of energy, falling out of the meditation and cutting his connection to the Avatar State.
"Katara's in danger! I have to go!" Aang exclaimed, and he airbent himself down from the temple roof without a moment's hesitation.
"No, Aang!" Pathik called desperately. "By choosing attachment, you have locked the chakra! If you leave now, you won't be able to go into the Avatar State at all!"
Aang paused long enough to let the guru finish speaking. Then he jumped from the building and continued in his race to return to Ba Sing Se and come to Katara's aid. Guru Pathik looked on in dismay.