A/N: The final chapter! Enjoy! :)
The next day, the Acolytes had another class near the stream. They sat in rows with Aang at the front. Despite her grudge being held against Aang, Katara still was off to the side, watching on a column as Aang taught expertly about the chakras.
"I understood that some of you were having a bit of trouble understanding the chakras. And trust me, I did too. I used to think it was just for the Avatar. But over time, I learned that to reach enlightenment, most older Monks would try to open their chakras with help from Gurus. Today we are going to have an extended class to discuss the chakras."
The Acolytes moaned, but continued to listen attentively, scribbling notes on their pads.
"Most Monks would take the opening of their chakras as the final step to enlightenment. For anyone to succeed in opening all of them, they must have mastered all other steps of enlightenment. This takes many years of training, and most do not even begin to open the chakras until they are at least 30."
"Sorry to interrupt, Avatar Aang." Una stood to bow. "But didn't you open all your chakras with Guru Pathik? Wouldn't you have to go through each step of enlightenment with him as well?"
"That's a great question, Una. Since I became the Avatar at a desperate time, the monks started pushing me through enlightenment processes as soon as I could stand on two feet. This helped me with my airbending, and I became the youngest airbender to master the art. By the time I was 12, I had almost reached full enlightenment. But I ran off before it could be finished. Guru Pathik helped me take the final step of enlightenment, taking me a step further so I could control the Avatar State."
Many Acolytes whispered furiously, hoping that they would get a demonstration from Aang of the Avatar State.
"Quiet, Acolytes. Let's begin with the first Chakra. This chakra deals with…"
"But what about the onion banana juice!" Una exclaimed, standing up yet again, then covering her mouth. But Aang smiled.
"Yes. I almost forgot! To balance and cleanse our chakras beforehand, onion banana juice is commonly used. It's disgusting, but I believe it helped. It consisted of smushed bananas and a blended ripe onion."
The Acolytes cringed.
"Now. The first chakra. The earth chakra. This chakra is located at the base of the spine. It deals with survival, and is blocked by fear…" Aang began explaining each chakra in full detail, just as Guru Pathik told him. The Air Acolytes listened with great interest as Aang talked about what he had to let go throughout the process. Finally, Aang reached the last chakra.
"This is the seventh and final chakra. The thought chakra is located at the crown of the head. It deals with cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachments." Aang looked to the ground. This chakra made him feel guilty. "In order to fully open this chakra, I needed to let go of what attached me to the earth."
"And what was that?" Una asked.
"Love." Aang said quietly. Katara straightened against the poll.
The Acolytes gasped.
"You had to let go of love?" Penelope was astounded.
"Yes. More specifically, Katara." Aang looked to Katara, who was hearing this for the first time. She looked away from him.
Some Acolytes swooned and gasped. Others simply rolled their eyes.
"At the mention of this, I was outraged. I told Guru Pathik that I wouldn't do it. I told him that I could not let go of Katara." Aang walked over to his girlfriend and placed both of his hands in hers. She let him, but she still did not meet his eyes. "I told him that I loved her." At this, Katara moved her eyes to meet Aang's. They held it there for a second, before Katara's eyes filled with tears, forcing her to look down.
"And I still love her." Aang turned to the Acolytes, his warm hands still clenching Katara's. "I need her more than anything else. She lights up my day. She makes me smile. She makes me laugh. She makes me want to be a better person. For her. I couldn't tell you how long ago I realized it, but I love her more than anything else. Lately I tested that love. I gave her reasons to believe that I did not love her as much as I did. I didn't believe her when she told me the truth. I was blinded by my own self-worth." He looked back to Katara. "Too blind to notice that she was hurting. And I'm sorry for that, Katara."
"But how did you master the Avatar State if you are still so connected to Katara?" Una asked, always wanting answers, even in the most emotional moments.
Aang smiled at her. "Avatar Roku once told me that 'When love is real…" He looked back at Katara. "…It finds a way.'"
Katara looked up at Aang and smiled, tears pouring from those beautiful eyes. She threw her arms around Aang's neck and he put his around her waist, in their usual, comfortable position. Aang buried his face in Katara's hair and Katara smiled into him.
"I'm so sorry Katara." He whispered.
"I love you too, Aang." She whispered back.