now or never || an atla fanfic

𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔣𝔦𝔣𝔱𝔥 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔨𝔯𝔞

"Now take a deep, focused breath, Aang," the Guru instructed.

They were sitting cross-legged across from each other in the middle of the Eastern Air Temple. A rare summer breeze passed by them, and Aang could feel the soft glow of the sun shining down on his back. It was particularly convenient timing that the Guru offered to help Aang master the avatar state, just weeks before their planned invasion on the Day of the Black Sun.

The Avatar followed his instructions, closing his eyes before deeply inhaling from his nose before exhaling once more. His eyes were closed, palms resting on his knees as his mind cleared instantly.

"The fourth chakra is located in the heart," Guru Pathik explained, "it deals with love and is blocked by grief."

His words echoed in Aang's empty mind, a barren void of darkness as all his thoughts were drowned out.

"Now lay all your grief out in front of you."

Instantly, the familiar faces of his closest friends and classmates from the Southern Air Temple filled his mind. It was one of countless times that his mind was tortured by his past. The careless mistake he'd made over a hundred years ago, running away from his destiny, came back to haunt him once more. Visions of the airbenders he once called his closest friends swirling in his head--but Gyatso's figure was the most prominent of all.

"You have indeed felt a great loss. But love is a form of energy, and it swirls all around us." The Guru's voice filled his mind.

But unlike the visions he had back in the swamp, instead of filling his heart with grief and regret, had transformed into something else.

"But 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."

A warm, fuzzy feeling filled in his chest, and Aang felt the ever-present regret in his chest transforming into something else. A feeling that he hadn't experienced in a long, long time. Before he knew it, hot tears were streaming down his face out of sheer happiness.

Katara. It has always been Katara.

Aang opened his eyes, a small smile on his lips. The remnants of the hot tears were still on his cheeks, contrasted with the glittering warmth and affection in his eyes.

"Good job, Aang. You have unlocked the fifth chakra."

- ♚ -

The Fire Prince tugged the hat lower on his face in his attempt to further conceal his identity. Not that it did much to blend in. Regardless, he was used to getting strange stares from people.

While Sokka and Katara were back at their home, and Aang headed to the Eastern Air Temple, Zuko was left in the Fire Nation with Suki and Toph. The three of them had been getting along just fine these last couple of days, but he wasn't complaining when Suki and Toph left the vacation home for a very much needed "girls day."

Zuko kept a leisurely pace as he walked down the bustling streets of the market, making his way to the town square. After all, someone had to do the shopping for their group, and food wasn't the only thing on their shopping list. His eyes glanced around at the stalls, scanning the merchants for anything interesting in particular. They needed to stock up on small but essential supplies like soap and bandages, and to Aang's insistence, tea bags as well.

As he passed by a particular stall, he heard a voice that instantly caused an unsettling feeling in his stomach. His pace faltered, and the prince walked to the stall adjacent to the source of the voice.