Danger (ATLA Sokka X OC fanfiction)

Chapter 2 - The Guru

Dedicated to vinchgec who's been asking for a chapter. So sorry for taking me that long, but there you have it. Merry Christmas!

(Unedited)

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Iris traveled underwater, using her water bending, from the Fire Nation to the Eastern Air Temple for almost three days. She had to make sure no one would see her.

She finally arrived at the old Temple that was surprisingly still standing. She walked towards the front yard, where she'd spotted the figure of an old man.

He had a long white beard, and the thinness of his body exposed his old age. He was possibly more than one hundred years old.

"Ah, Defender Iris," The old man said surprised.

"I guess you're Guru Pathik," Iris said.

"Your brother told you about me. I was close friends with Monk Gyatso and Monk Chengyu, and I was also spiritual brother of your people. I knew it'd take longer to have you visiting me. But you're the Defender. In this case, the Avatar's safety it's what matters the most," The Guru said.

"Aang said you can help me master the Defender State," Iris said.

"I can, but you and I both know that you've already taken care of that," Guru Pathik said.

"How do you know?"

"My dear, I would have sensed the dark entity every Defender used to bear, just like every other spiritual mind does. But this time, it feels like you just... tore it out of you. I'm surprised you survived this," The Guru said.

"I've survived a lot more in my life," Iris said darkly.

"And there are still much you have yet to get through," The old man said.

Iris gritted her teeth angrily and her fists clenched. How much pain did she have to feel to reach the 'Happy End' of her life? Probably her life didn't have any of it.

"I can feel the conflict inside you, child. Show me," Guru Pathik said as he focused his gaze on the white mask that rested at the left side of her face's burned flesh.

Iris placed her hand on the mask, hesitating to take it away. For a moment she thought that the atrociousness of her face would scare him away.

"Don't be afraid. Accept who you are, embrace it. Don't let it consume you," Guru Pathik said.

Iris drew in a shaky breath and she took the mask off revealing the melted skin.

"Iris, you need to accept who you are if you want to continue this journey," He said.

"I can't accept that,"

"You have to. That face is yours. It's part of you,"

"What if I don't want to continue?"

"You know you can't stop now. There are still many to be done for bringing peace back to the Nations," The Guru said.

Iris sighed deeply.

"Come, let's begin,"

~*~*~*i*~ (0) ~*i*~*~*~

"There are seven chakras that go up the body. Each pool of energy has a purpose and can be blocked by specific kind of emotional match. Beyond, opening the chakras is an intense experience and once you begin this process, you cannot stop until all of them are open," Pathik instructed. "Are you ready?"