Note: Honestly, I don't know what took me almost 2 weeks to post this chapter. I was feeling incredibly unmotivated to do any editing or to write. Every time I turned on my computer, I just stared at the screen before closing it back. But now, I think I got over it, and I still have many ideas for the story. It has just been a tiring week, and now I am back with a new chapter, that hopefully you've been waiting for. Enjoy!

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Sozin stood there in complete shock and disbelief. His friend was the Avatar? Roku was the Avatar? The same Roku that he knew for almost his entire life, the Roku who can't even form a coherent sentence around the girl he liked, the Roku that gets bested by a tree root, was the Avatar?

He looked around to realize that everyone in the crowd had bowed in front of the new Avatar, except for him. Quickly, the Prince gathered his composure, and kneeled down in front of his friend as well, keeping his head low on the ground.

For their entire lives, even though they were friends, Sozin had always been Roku's superior, being the Crown Prince of their nation. But now he was bowing in front of him, something he had never asked of Roku to do. And it felt strange, thinking his friend being superior to him. Was that what Roku had always felt?

He was used to being the most important person in the room, after the Fire Lord himself. But now, everyone was showing their respects to Roku, it was him who they wanted to see, not Sozin. Even though he didn't like to admit it, he couldn't help but feel some jealousy deep down. But he quickly pushed the thought away, Roku wouldn't have gotten jealous if Sozin had turned out to be the Avatar. Then he wouldn't either, his friend deserved at least that much.

Roku was just standing there, frozen in his place, still not being able to believe that this was actually happening. He couldn't have been the Avatar. He was just Roku. Not Avatar Roku. But the crowd in front of him, which also included his best friend for many years, said otherwise. The future Fire Lord was bowing in front of him. Even though being friends with the royalty caused him to constantly be in front of the public, he still felt uncomfortable being the sole center of attention. When he was with Sozin in public, he was just a shadow next to the Fire Prince, someone standing near the one they wanted to see. But in that moment, it wasn't like that at all. It was as if people had forgotten that this was the Crown Prince's birthday. He wondered how Sozin handled being the focus of the crowd everyday, to Roku it was just embarrassing, men and women, old enough to be his parents, even grandparents, were bowing down in front of a sixteen year old boy.

He wasn't even sure if he had what it took to be the Avatar, if he could handle such a big responsibility. He was just a teenager dealing with normal problems just yesterday, now he had learned that he was going to turn out to be the most powerful bender ever, who was tasked to keep the world in balance. He wasn't even able to beat Sozin at firebending, how was he supposed to master all four elements?!

If it was something he could refuse, he thought that he actually would, passing down the opportunity to someone more competent, more willing, more talented… But there was no way he could change this, it had long been determined, and he just had to accept that, however hard that would be.

…

They barely talked during the celebration, an air of awkwardness hanging between them, as both of them could feel how people were looking at Roku, observing him with curious eyes as they were whispering into each other's ears.

After everyone left, Roku sat down on the steps, trying to think rationally about this whole thing. Sozin sat down next to his friend, but kept quiet, not knowing what to say. What would be the appropriate thing to say? Congratulations? It was hardly and achievement. I am happy for you? It didn't feel right to say for some reason, as the Prince debated over the fact that if he was really happy or not.

"I can't believe it." He finally decided on the truth, it had been a shock for both of them.

"You are saying that to me?" Roku snorted, taking his head into his hands. "I am really nervous about this."

"Don't be. You are going to be a great Avatar." Sozin put a reassuring hand over his friend's shoulder. "Much better than those other Avatars before you that we had to learn for our boring history lessons. One day, the history books will talk highly of our great achievements. Can you imagine? The Avatar and the Fire Lord!" He elbowed him playfully, faking happiness was the least he could do for his friend, especially when he seemed to be so gloomy.

Roku wasn't sure if that was what he wanted for himself, being remembered for his great achievements. For his good deeds, maybe. But greatness had never been something he had sought. He would much rather have a simple and happy life, surrounded by the people he loved. But he didn't say any of that out loud, realizing that how ungrateful he would sound. He had something most people would be delighted to have; power, recognition, respect of the people… And he was feeling an immense guilt for not wanting any of them.

He decided to play along, to try and get his mind off of things. "And what would be those great achievements of ours?" He asked, lifting up his head to face his friend.

"World domination." Sozin said simply, looking at Roku's shocked face with a serious look on his own.

"What?" Roku asked, dumbfounded, before Sozin bursted into laughter, not being able to hold himself any longer.

"Oh, the look on your face, Roku! You must have seen it. I was kidding, obviously!"

"Oh. Yeah, right." Roku chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling incredibly awkward and stupid.

"But we could totally do that if we wanted to." Sozin winked as Roku hit him on the arm. "Yeah, okay have your fun." He rolled his eyes, a sarcastic tone in his voice. "But if you decide to take over the world, know that I won't help you do it."

"Fine, I'll do it on my own then." He joked as he chuckled, causing Roku to do the same, even though he tried to keep a serious face at first. He was feeling slightly better now as well. Sozin had managed to cheer him up, even if just a little bit.

"Honestly, though, all jokes aside," Roku spoke again after their chuckles ceased. "I am kind of terrified."

"Oh come on. What's there to be terrified about?" He didn't really understand Roku's reluctance, if he was the Avatar, he would be ecstatic about it. "You are going to be the most powerful bender in the world!"

"What if I don't want to be?" Roku murmured quietly. "I love my life here. I love the Fire Nation, I don't want to leave people I care about."

"Leave?" Sozin asked curiously. "Why would you have to leave them?"

"You know, I'll probably have to be away for years to try and master the elements. And even then, I don't know when, or if I ever be able to return home. The Avatar must have many duties..."

Sozin just stared as realization hit him, Roku would have to leave for an indefinite amount of time. He always knew that the day Roku would leave him would come, but he had never guessed that it would be under these circumstances. He had always assumed that he would get married and leave to start his own family, never would he have guessed that he would leave to master the elements as the Avatar.

"Well, look on the bright side." The Prince said to cheer his friend up, as Roku had always done for him. "With you being the Avatar now, Ta Min will be all over you!"

"Ha ha, very funny." His friend rolled his eyes. "If she doesn't find anyone else before I return."

Sozin frowned, he was not used to Roku being so negative. And it irritated him a little, he was going to be powerful, he had everyone's respect, he was important, he was someone, what more did he want? He had all the power in the world and he was worried about a stupid girl getting married to someone else? He doubted that he would ever understand Roku.

"You know what, I thought you would be more happy about this." He said finally.

"I don't know how I feel..." Roku sighed. "I am not exactly sad, but I am not happy either. It is what it is."

"Come on, I bet you will be totally ecstatic when you start to learn all the other elements and be the most powerful bender alive! What you are saying will totally sound ridiculous then."

"Maybe..." He said quietly. "But I don't seek power, Sozin. I was fine with just being a firebender, not even a great one. A mediocre one would suffice."

The Prince sighed. "Okay, I'll play along then. Let's look at this from your perspective. You'll meet lots of new people, learn lots of new things, see all kinds of different cultures. Does that sound better?"

"It does, actually." The young Avatar tried to smile a little. "Thanks." He was aware that Sozin was trying his best, he couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking about this.

"Sure anytime. Just stop being a pussy and try to enjoy this a little." He playfully hit his friend's arm. "This is an opportunity only one person could have!"

Roku nodded as he smiled, starting to feel a little better. This was just the initial shock, he would get used to the idea. At least he hoped he would. And who knows, maybe it would be fun?

After a long pause, passed with thoughtful silence, Roku spoke again. "So... what do you think about this?"

"What do you mean? What's there for me to think? You are the Avatar. Simple as that."

"Come on, I thought you wouldn't lie to me anymore. We both know that it is not as simple as that. It's just been announced that your best friend is the Avatar, you must at least feelsomething about this."

"What do you want me to say? It's great, amazing, wonderful." He said in a voice that didn't match his choice of words. He didn't bother to speak with the fake enthusiastic tone when he had tried to cheer up his friend, knowing that it would most likely sound fake. "Honestly, Roku, worry about yourself. Don't be so selfless all the time. What I feel doesn't matter."

"It does to me." Roku protested. "And it's not like I can just stop being the Avatar if you don't like it. So just tell me, what either of us feel won't change anything anyway."

Sozin sighed, not wanting to admit the slight jealousy he was feeling. His friend would probably laugh, he was already the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, he didn't need to be the Avatar too. And what kind of a friend would he look like, if he envied something Roku had no control over? And it wasn't that he was jealous of him being the Avatar, he was jealous that Roku would get all the attention when they were together. Truly a terrible friend...

"I am happy for you." He said finally, adding a smile to enforce the effect of the words. "Though I can't say that I won't miss messing with you while you are gone." This was the closest thing he could say to "I'll miss you". And that was true, he would miss him. How could he not? They used to spend almost everyday together for the last ten years. His absence was going to be jarring. Sozin hoped that this piece of the truth would be enough to deter him from the fact that he wasn't telling the whole of it, admitting his envy over something his friend didn't even want sounded unbelievably selfish even to his own ears.

And it worked. "I will miss you too."

"Okay, enough with the mushy stuff, let's get going." Sozin got up after a few moments of silence, dusting off his robes with his hands before he turned to his friend with a teasing look on his face. "Avatar Roku."

Roku rolled his eyes, getting up as he chuckled. "As you wish, Prince Sozin."

They both laughed and for a moment, everything was like how it used to be. None of them knew that nothing would ever be the same…

...

End Notes: Okay, so I hope you liked the chapter. Even though I usually write from Sozin's perspective, for this chapter, I thought it was fitting to add Roku's thoughts as well. I made him to be not super excited about being the Avatar, because in the show, though not specifically stated, he seemed kind of down to me. That's why I chose to write it that way, I hope you like it! Let me know what you think :)