DISCLAIMER: This chapter is going to be a little confusing if you skip over sentences. So I suggest you read all of it.
If you guys have watched LOK you might wonder wether or not the spirits that I talk about are meant to be Raava and Vaatu. They exist in this story but they're not going to be mentioned. The spirits I talk about are different ones. Alright enjoy this chapter! Again I don't own Atla or most of the characters in this story.
"Calm down, Katara. Yes, I know where Aang is and what occurred to him. But more importantly I know how to get him back."
Katara gave a big smile to the man's words and tears of joy began to flow from her face.
"So, what is it that happened to him?" The Guru saw much hope in the waterbender's eyes, "I think it would be best if you sat down for this."
The Guru, Katara, and Zuko all sat down at the meeting table in the throne room. "Alright, as a Guru I have a strong connection to the spirits. A couple of months ago I was contacted by one." Katara and Zuko both looked up in curiosity. "Her name is Janan, she's the light spirit of souls. She informed me of Aang's... situation." Katara felt the need to be worried by the Guru's words.
"There two kinds of spirits, there are light spirits... and there are dark spirits. Many dark spirits have hated the avatar for a long time. And when Aang managed to learn how to bend someone's energy, they became frightened by him and wanted him gone. A year ago when Aang was captured, he was taken by a man named Chang. Chang had made a deal with the dark spirit of souls, Seth. We don't know much of the details of the deal, but we do know that it included taking capture of the avatar's soul." The guru explained.
Katara's eyes widened to his words, "What do you mean capture Aang's soul?!" The guru sighed deeply, "When we humans die, our souls release from our bodies and go to live in the Spirit World for the rest of eternity. Our souls are able to do that because our physical bodies have been worn out. However, there is a way to take a soul from a body without having that body necessarily die, the Arca Linghun."
The listener's mouths opened slightly to the name of the object. "It is a box that was created by some of the darkest spirits that ever existed, to capture a human's soul. It is also what Chang used to capture Avatar Aang's soul. He gave it to Seth and was then killed by the dark spirit. Aang's soul is now in the possession of Seth and other dark spirits, and it will remain there until it is let out. The bigger issue with this is that, since Aang's body is still technically alive but doesn't have it's soul, it's preventing his spirit to move on to the next life. Meaning that for as long as the avatar's soul remains in the Arca Linghun, the Avatar Cycle will not continue."
Zuko and Katara's mouths were wide open and remained that way for about 3 minutes. Guru Pathik just stared at them with a confused look.
"So let me get this straight, Aang's body is somewhere in the Physical World, breathing but it's also unconscious. And it will remain unconscious until his soul, that is by the way in a magical box and is being guarded by some of the darkest spirits to EVER exist, be put back in his body. And if that wasn't bad enough, if he is not let out of that box the Avatar Cycle will not continue and there will not be an avatar to bring peace to the world?!" Katara asked the Guru with crazy and at the same time confused by her own words look on her face.
"That is correct." Guru Pathik replied.
"You said you knew how to get him back, what exactly is your plan?" The firelord finally spoke. "There are rules that prohibit the light spirits from entering the dark spirits' side of the Spirit World, so they need humans to help them. Janan told me to find people who cared for the avatar to help bring him back." Guru Pathik turned to Katara. "So I searched for you."
Katara opened her mouth slightly, "Why did you search for me specifically?" she asked with much curiosity in her voice. "Well, seeing as Aang couldn't let go of you in order to have control over the Avatar State I figured that you would be the best person for the job."
Katara processed the Guru's words and then looked up with confusion, "Wait, what did you just say?"
"That you're the best person to help save Aang," he repeated himself.
"No, before that," the waterbender replied.
"That Aang gave up having control of the Avatar State for you?" the Guru repeated.
Katara's mouth opened slightly to his words once more, she couldn't believe it. He had never mentioned anything about that. "He didn't tell you..."
She shook her head 'no'. The Guru sighed deeply, "When I was helping Aang gain control of the Avatar State he needed to unlock seven chakras. He unlocked six of them, but when we got to the Thought Chakra he wasn't able to. The Thought Chakra deals with pure cosmic energy and is locked by earthly attachments. In order to unlock it Aang had to let go of his earthly attachments, you. He loved you too much to let you go."
Katara stared blankly at the Guru. It was so hard to believe his words. That out of everything and everyone that Aang knew and loved, only she was his earthly attachment. The fact that he chose her over his avatar duty to master the avatar state. And that he didn't even say that to her. She had no idea the power she truly had over him. It had to be the most romantic and sweetest thing anyone has ever done for her.
Some tears flew down her face when thinking of his actions. She wiped her tears and turned her face serious. "Alright, how do we get him back?"
Zuko stared at Katara. He loved that woman but he had to admit that it couldn't compare to what Aang felt for her. I mean if he was in Aang's position, he would've let go of Katara no matter how much it hurt.
"You must travel to the Spirit World. Janan will be waiting for you once you get there and will give you instructions as to how to get Avatar Aang back. However, since you don't have a strong spiritual connection, I would suggest going to a place with much spiritual energy to make it easier to enter the Spirit World. Do you have any in mind?" Guru Pathik asked.
Katara put her hand on her chin and taught for a minute. "The Spirit Oasis! It's in the North Pole. It's supposed to be one of the most spiritual places in the world."
Guru Pathik smiled at her idea, "Perfect! But I must say that I don't believe you should do this alone. Do you have other friends who can help you on your journey?"
Zuko and Katara looked at each other and looked back at Guru Pathik with wide grins. "Oh I think we know just the people to help us." Katara replied.
"Well then, I believe my job here is done. Good luck on your mission." Zuko and Katara nodded respectfully to the Guru's words.