Avani had a lot to think, her mind overwhelmed for what she had found about herself, about who she was. The rocks were still on her hand clutched tightly, and she didn't seem to be ready to throw them away, glaring at them

"You're not so special" Avani spat, bending the jade gem, aware she couldn't bend the other three at the same time. Or more like she hadn't tried, she had quickly assumed she couldn't. "You don't tell me of my destiny"

She slid over the ground, leaning against a tree, tucking her legs to her body, placing her chin on top of her knees, staring at one point of the small river, eyelids suddenly growing heavy until without realizing she fell asleep

~8~

The next time Avani woke up, she became alert as she didn't recognize the place, standing, picking up a defensive stance

"You have nothing to fear Avani, for I won't let anyone happen to you in here" A woman's voice sounded from behind her making her annoyed at people sneaking up behind her, whirling around, thrusting her feet to the ground, only nothing happened. The woman chuckled in amusement "You can't bend in the Spirit World, trust me, I came to terms with it a long time ago reluctantly"

"The Spirit World?" Avani repeated, looking around now realizing the aura surrounding the place, turning back to face a dark skinned woman with Water Tribe factions, her striking blue eyes were what stood up for Avani, staring at her as if in recognition "Korra?" The name rolled up her tongue without her being conscious of

The woman, Avani's past life -Avatar Korra-, smiled "See? And you say you aren't the Avatar, yet you recognized your own soul" Avani stood there, stunned, shaking her head. Korra became serious, "Now, I need you to listen to me very carefully, Avani"

"Why?" Avani asked "I don't have to"

Korra took a deep breath, trying to stop herself from snapping at the young girl 'was I like this when I was young and naive?' She thought to herself, 'No wonder I was Tenzin's headache for a long time'. "This isn't about you. This is about the world needing you, needing the Avatar"

"Then pick someone else" Avani replied. Korra frowned "I'm not leader material, nor someone to bring peace. I wouldn't know how to bring it either"

Korra relaxed, nodding slowly "Neither of us knew. Aang didn't either yet he stopped a war. You can do it too"

"Then bring Aang to give me advice" Avani told her, pausing sarcastically "Oh, wait. We can't because you destroyed your connection to past Avatars"

Korra looked down guiltily, "I know I don't have a lot of experience with wars like Aang did but I know a lot about differences between benders and not benders. I can guide you, I can help you"

"What I need help with is for you to leave me alone" Avani snapped, "I shouldn't be the answer to problems you had to resolve"

"I know what I had to do and didn't" Korra told her, bitting her cheek, "I know my mistakes shouldn't be passed onto you but sadly, that's how things are and we can't change the fact you're the Avatar now"

Avani bit her lip, "Can't you choose anyone else?"

Korra sadly shook her head, "If it were by me, I wouldn't wish upon anyone to be the Avatar" Avani looked up surprised "Sure, being the only one in the world able to bend four elements is really cool, gives you a lot of advantages and people look up to you everyday, but..." Korra looked away, her eyes holding a faraway expression, "Then you're also target of enemies who want to take you down. Roku was destroyed by his one friend. Aang was hunted down by the Fire Nation for being the only one able to stop them and I-" she sighed, turning back to face the young Avatar, "I had to deal with countless of enemies, one of them able to take my bending away. Being the Avatar gives you a target on your back. After the first year, being the Avatar was no longer as exciting for me as it was when I was young, before I was forced to learn airbending"

"See why I don't want to be the Avatar?" Avani told her quietly. Korra looked down at her "I know history. I know what happened to you and several past Avatars. The hardships they had to go through. And I don't say that to be selfish, I just..." she sighed tiredly "If I'm the Avatar and people needs me, they'd want me to act certain way and what if I can't be what they want me to be?" Korra looked at her blankly "I can't and won't be their Avatar. You can't change my mind"

Korra stared at the earthbender in exasperation, knowing thanks to her experiences of meeting Lin Beifong that once an earthbender decided something, it was difficult for others to make them change their minds. It was something they had to do on their own. They were stubborn like that.

Korra nodded "I know I can't. I hope soon you realize how much you're needed" Avani sighed, closing her eyes "Until you do, I'll be here for you. If you want to talk to me, you know what to do, you can look inside of you"

Avani opened her eyes "Can I go now?"

Korra nodded sadly, hoping it didn't take too long for the girl to accept her destiny before she had to take a more drastic way.