Chapter Text
The night air was cool against Aang's skin.
He sat cross-legged beside Pathik at the top of the temple, looking out over the mountains. The moon hung low above them, washing the world in silver.
Aang took a deep breath.
“This is the last chakra, isn't it?”
Pathik nodded.
“Yes. Once you open this chakra, you will be able to enter and leave the Avatar State at will. When you are in the Avatar State, you will have complete control and awareness of your actions.”
Aang's face brightened.
“Then let's do this.”
Pathik smiled.
“The Thought Chakra is located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy, and it is blocked by earthly attachment.”
Aang closed his eyes.
“Think about what attaches you to this world.”
Aang's breathing slowed.
Images began appearing in his mind.
Appa.
Sokka.
Toph.
His friends.
His home.
Then.
Katara.
Aang smiled without meaning to.
Pathik's voice remained calm.
“Now let all of those attachments go.”
Aang's smile faded.
“Let them flow down the river.”
Katara's face remained in his mind.
“Forgotten.”
Aang's eyes opened.
“What?”
Pathik looked at him.
“Why would I let go of Katara?”
“You must.”
Aang stared at him.
“I—I love her.”
“I know.”
Aang shook his head.
“But why would that be a bad thing?”
“It is not bad.”
“Then why do I have to get rid of it?”
Pathik remained patient.
“Attachment is what blocks the chakra.”
Aang stood up.
“But you told me attachment could be a good thing.”
Pathik said nothing.
“You told me that I should embrace the things that connect me to the world. You told me that love was part of being human,” Aang said. “You told me that caring about people wasn't something I should be ashamed of.”
Pathik nodded.
“It isn't.”
“Then how can Katara suddenly be the thing that's stopping me?”
“She is not the thing stopping you.”
“Then what is?”
“Your attachment to her.”
Aang frowned.
“What's the difference?”
Pathik looked at him.
“Love is seeing someone as they are and wishing them well. Attachment is believing you cannot be whole without them.”
Aang's expression softened.
“But I don't think I can't be whole without Katara.”
“Then why are you afraid to let her go?”
Aang opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
He looked away.
Because he didn't want to lose her.
That was the truth.
He had already lost so much.
His people.
His home.
His childhood.
He didn't want Katara to become another thing he'd have to live without.
“I've already lost everyone,” he said quietly.
Pathik's expression softened.
“And that is why you must learn that love cannot be something you possess.”
Aang looked at him.
“I don't possess her.”
“No.”
“But if I let her go…” Aang's voice cracked. “What if she doesn't come back?”
Pathik didn't answer.
Aang looked back towards the mountains.
He could picture Katara laughing with Sokka.
He could picture her sitting beside him on Appa.
He could picture the way she looked at him when she was proud of him.
He didn't want to give that up.
“But she makes me happy.”
“Yes.”
“She makes me want to be better.”
“Yes.”
“She reminds me why I'm fighting.”
Pathik nodded.
“Yes.”
Aang looked at him, frustrated.
“Then how could loving her possibly stop me from being the Avatar?”
“It is not your love that must be released.”
Aang waited.
“It is your fear of losing her.”
The words landed differently.
Aang sat down again.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Finally, he closed his eyes.
“Okay.”
Pathik smiled faintly.
“Try again.”
Aang breathed in.
He pictured Katara.
Then himself.
He imagined letting go.
Not abandoning her.
Not pretending he didn't love her.
Just opening his hands.
The image of Katara slowly drifted away.
Aang felt the energy begin to move through him.
His tattoos started to glow.
He was almost there.
The Avatar State was within reach.
Then.
“AAANG!”
His eyes snapped open.
A scream.
Katara.
Aang's body jolted.
He saw her in his mind.
Chained.
Terrified.
“Katara!”
He jumped to his feet.
Pathik grabbed his arm.
“No!”
“I have to go!”
“Aang, wait!”
“She needs me!”
“You are almost there!”
Aang looked back.
For a moment, he hesitated.
The Avatar State was right in front of him.
All he had to do was let go.
He could finish this.
He could become stronger.
He could protect everyone.
But Katara's voice was still ringing in his head.
“I have to go.”
Pathik released him.
Aang ran.
*********
He stopped halfway down the steps.
His breathing was heavy.
He looked back towards the temple.
Pathik was standing at the top.
“If I leave,” Aang said, “I won't be able to enter the Avatar State?”
Pathik shook his head.
“Not until you have opened every chakra.”
Aang looked down.
His fists tightened.
He had come this far.
He'd spent days opening every chakra.
He'd faced his fears.
He'd confronted his anger.
His shame.
His grief.
And now all he had to do was let go of Katara.
He thought of her again.
Then he closed his eyes.
“I don't want to.”
Pathik's expression softened.
“I know.”
Aang swallowed.
“But…”
He looked at the night sky.
“If this is what I have to do…”
He paused.
His voice was barely a whisper.
“Okay.”
Pathik looked at him carefully.
“Aang?”
Aang wiped his eyes.
“I'll do it.”
He returned to the temple.
He sat down.
Pathik sat across from him.
“Are you certain?”
“No.”
Aang gave a small, sad laugh.
“Not even a little.”
Pathik smiled.
“That is why this is difficult.”
Aang closed his eyes.
“Just tell me what to do.”
“Think of Katara.”
He did.
Her face appeared immediately.
Aang smiled.
Then his smile faded.
“I love you,” he whispered.
He imagined opening his hands.
He imagined Katara walking away.
He imagined letting her live her own life, even if he wasn't part of it.
The pain was almost unbearable.
But he didn't chase after her.
He let the image disappear.
The energy began to rise.
The Avatar State opened before him.
Aang stepped towards it.
His tattoos glowed brighter.
He was almost inside.
Then he stopped.
For one last second, he thought about turning around.
But he didn't.
He stepped forward.
The light swallowed him.
And this time, he let go.
Aang opened his eyes.
He felt different.
Lighter, somehow.
But not happier.
He looked at Pathik.
“Is that it?”
Pathik nodded.
“You have opened the final chakra.”
Aang looked down at his hands.
“So I can control the Avatar State now?”
“Yes.”
Aang nodded slowly.
He should have felt proud.
Instead, his chest felt strangely empty.
He stood.
“Thank you.”
Pathik watched him carefully.
“Where will you go?”
“Back to Ba Sing Se.”
Pathik frowned.
“Why?”
Aang hesitated.
“I need to make sure my friends are safe.”
“And Katara?”
Aang's expression changed.
He looked away.
“I've let her go.”
Pathik nodded.
“Then you understand.”
Aang didn't answer.
He picked up his staff.
“I'll see you again.”
“You may.”
Aang walked towards the edge of the temple.
Then stopped.
He looked back one last time.
“Guru?”
“Yes?”
“Was it supposed to hurt this much?”
Pathik didn't answer immediately.
“No.”
Aang waited.
“It hurts because you loved her.”
Aang looked down.
Then he jumped from the temple and glided into the night.
Pathik watched until he disappeared.
He had mastered the Avatar State.
But the Guru couldn't help wondering what Aang had sacrificed to do it.