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(Revised 3.13.20)
Clara had to suppress her gasp when she saw the guru, Guru Pathik. He reminded her of the old world war two photos of the Holocaust victims.
"Um.. Hello? You're Guru Pathik, right? The person who attached the note to Appa's horn?" Aang said as he and Clara made their way up the last few stairs. In the series, the stairs didn't look as grand as they did here. Clara noticed little differences as she took in the details of her surroundings. The show had made the Eastern Air Temples look crumbling and very old and while they did look old there was still beauty all around her.
"Indeed, I was a spiritual brother of your people and a personal friend of Monk Gyatso. I can help you achieve access to the Avatar State," Guru Pathik opened his eyes and smiled softly at Aang before his eyes landed on Clara, "Hello there young one. Do you wish to find spiritual enlightenment?"
She watched as his eyes focused on her and how they widened slightly.
"This is Clara, she's not from this world and is trying to find her way back. We were wondering if you could help her do that," Aang sat down cross-legged and Clara did the same, although she wasn't very comfortable.
Last time I had to sit like this was middle school gym class...
Guru Pathik continued to stare at Clara, looking her right in the eyes, a little crease forming between his eyes. The stare was intense like he was looking at her very soul.
"That might explain why your aura is as such. I do sense something very different about you child. However," Clara watched as his expression became a little sad, "I cannot send you back to your world. I do not have that power."
Her heart, she could feel it literally breaking at the man's words. Images of her mom and friends flashed in her eyes. Tears formed and she let out a quiet whimper. Aang put his arms around her, trying to give her some comfort. For what seemed like hours but was probably only minutes Clara wiped her eyes. She was grateful for their patience.
"I am sorry child, but I can still help you. You have found a great ability within yourself that you are only beginning to understand."
Her mind coming back to the present Clara nodded, still wiping at her eyes. Now that she had some confirmation that she would be stuck in this world, her ability to fly was definitely something she needed to work on. She would need to know how her ability worked in order to help the GAang in their fight against the Fire Lord.
"But I sense that there is another power you have yet to discover," the scarily thin man said, closing his eyes again.
"Is she an airbender?"
The Guru shook his head no, "But she is a bender."
"I am!?" her confusion must have been funny because Pathik smiled.
"You are but not an airbender. You, my dear, have the ability to firebend."
"What?" Clara's whisper was barely audible, her shock cutting her voice off almost completely as she took this in.
"But what about her ability to fly?" Pathik continued to calmly smile like he heard this kind of thing every day.
"That is what is so unusual about you my dear. Your aura and what I'm reading from you, you have this invisible energy surrounding your physical form, protecting you. I believe that you will be able to control this force at will and with my help, you will be able to do more than simply levitate. And, I cannot be certain but..." Aang and she waited as Pathik debated whether or not to say something.
"It may be the key to sending yourself back to your world. I cannot say this is for certain but it may be a good chance at that."
Clara tried to wrap her brain around this, she wanted to jump on this possibility to see if it was true or not but also wondered for a moment before asking, "How come I can't feel this energy force around myself?"
Guru Pathik smiled at her softly, "With my help, you will."
Clara listened to Pathik as he explained to Aang and her that in order to gain access to the Avatar state and her ability to firebend they must first find balance within themselves.
The first step, something Clara remembered gagging about just the thought of tasting, was the disgusting onion and banana juice. Both Aang and Clara spit it out but Clara wasn't as dramatic as Aang since she had been expecting it to taste awful.
After meditating for what felt like forever, Clara opened her eyes as Guru Pathik led them to a big area where there were small pools of water all linked together. Aang kept yawning and Clara could tell that the boy was tired. She was too but being a little older she had stayed up all night many times. It had mostly been to finish and perfect her homework and projects for school so she was guaranteed an A. It always made her mom happy to hear about things like that. But Clara was only able to do this at the start of each semester before she burned herself out and began slacking due to exhaustion.
Guru Pathik was explaining to Aang about chakras and what they were. Clara recalled from the show how important the chakras were and how they were the key to unlocking the Avatar state.
"... However, life is messy and things tend to fall in the creek. And then what happens?"
"The creek can't flow?" Aang answered, one eyebrow raised.
"Yes. But if we open the paths between the pools-"
"The energy flows!" Pathik smiled at Aang, proud that he was grasping the lesson.
"Clara, in order for you to firebend and learn more about the energy around you, you must unblock your chakras too." She smiled as she watched Pathik unblock the gunk so the water flowed down the stream, it was beautiful to watch the water go from muggy to clear.
The different locations during The Guru episode of the series had made Clara wonder how long it took for Aang and Guru Pathik to get to those locations. Well, she now knew and the track up into the cave where they would begin taking at least an hour. She wished she had brought her phone so she could do something as they walked. It amazed her that it was still fully charged even though it had been two days now. It was late at night too so Clara could feel herself want to nod off to sleep. The only thing keeping her awake was that this was important and could possibly be a way of sending her home.
"There are seven chakras that go up through the body. Each pool of energy has a purpose and can be blocked by a specific kind of emotional muck. Be warned," Guru Pathik looked to both of them very seriously, "Opening the chakras is an intense experience and once you begin this process, you cannot stop until all seven chakras are open. Are you ready?" Clara took a deep breath before she looked at Aang who was looking at her. They nodded to each other before looking back to Pathik.
"I'll do whatever it takes," Aang said, a determined look on his face. Clara nodded before closing her eyes.
"First we will open the Earth Chakra, located at the base of the spine. It deals with survival and is blocked by fear. What are you most afraid of? Let your fears become clear to you."
Clara remembered what Aang would see from the show, however, she hadn't expected herself to have a vision as well. She saw herself back in her hometown during high noon but with no one around. No cars on the street, no animals or birds making sounds, and no people anywhere to be seen. Clara could feel herself panicking, running around trying to find someone. She froze when she heard her brother Malcolm's voice.
"If you're not good and quiet I'll leave you alone and no one will ever find you. You'll be invisible!"
Suddenly there were people everywhere, people Clara recognized. From school and her family. She felt herself start to cry as she saw herself run to her mom but fell through her like she was a ghost. Catching herself before she fell to the ground someone walked up to her. She then saw her brother standing over her, the sky turning dark behind him. He looked exactly like he had the last time she had seen him. The last time she thought she would ever see him. He had on his favorite green shirt and leather jacket, motorcycle helmet in hand. That familiar wicked smirk on his face.
Their surrounding changed and they were indoors, in the hallway of their home.
"No one wants you, that's why dad left and why mom works all the time, so she doesn't have to deal with you!" Malcolm taunted, his voice cracking a bit. He looked a lot younger than he did a moment ago.
"That's not true! You big liar! Mommy loves me!" Clara heard herself say, her voice child-like and she then saw how small her hands were. A moment later, it was like she was an astral projection as she watched herself and Malcolm. The little girl was close to crying as she looked up at the cruel boy. She screamed in fright as he shoved her inside the dark closet, leaning against the door so she couldn't come out.
Is this a memory?
Clara could feel herself trembling before she heard Guru Pathik talking to her.
"Clara, the last part of your vision is indeed a memory but don't let the fear consume you. You're afraid of your brother and what he did to you when you were little affecting you for the rest of your life. Making you feel unwanted and unloved. Insecure with how people see you and it has made you always second guess your decisions. You know that what he told you is not true. Let go of those thoughts and never let them hurt you again. Only then after that can you stop letting these things haunt you." Taking a deep breath, Clara focused.
You are worthy of love, mom always loved me... Malcolm was wrong. He was always wrong!
Her eyes were drenched when she opened them.
"Very good both of you. You have opened your Earth Chakras." Aang wiped the sweat from his forehead as Clara dabbed her eyes, her tears slowing.
"I don't know if I can do this..." her eyes were still wet.
"You cannot stop now my dear. Once this is all over you will be at balance within yourself. I sense it is not something you've had for a very long time."
Clara took a deep breath again before nodding.
I'll see this through and help Aang if I can along the way.