Izo didn't particularly have a destination in mind as he wandered the Vault's depths. Walking helped him think, and he had a lot of thinking to do.

So, I'm the Avatar, he thought. He tried to sift through the cascade of thoughts and emotions pouring through his mind. Eventually one made it to the forefront. I need an animal companion.

Really? his internal critic replied. The fate of the world has been placed in your hands and the first thing you try to process is an animal guide. How very you.

Hey, you have to start somewhere. A new voice joined the conversation, one that was female and very much not Izo's. I had Naga and Pabu, he had- what was that hippodile's name again?

Korra, you're literally me. I find it hard to believe you forgot Ammit's name.

Shut up, Taijin. You'd turn him down the wrong path, just like you.

You and I both know it's more complicated than that.

BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP! Izo mentally shouted at the bickering Avatars. Okay. How are you only now inside my head? Where have you been all my life?

We honestly don't know. I suspect that when you realized who you were, some part of your subconscious started digging through itself to find us, but that doesn't really matter. Taijin's voice was reassuring and deep as the Vault.

Thank you. So what do I try to tackle first besides companions?

There was silence within Izo's mind for a moment. Then Korra spoke up. I think you should start by working out how to feel about all this. We can't answer that for you, and it's easier to talk to you when you're asleep anyway. We'll talk more tonight.

Wait! I- The presences of the past Avatars faded, and Izo was alone in his head once more. Eventually, Izo managed to collect his thoughts. Well, that was random and brings all sorts of implications into my life that I'd rather not touch. Moving swiftly on. He took a look at the signage next to him, took a moment to plot a route, and set off in the direction of the cafeteria. Ok. So-

You can't communicate coherently even to yourself, cut in the internal critic.

SO, let's go about this logically. Take a step back from all the mess of feelings and sort shit out. He sifted through his consciousness again, trying to find a feeling to latch on to, and eventually settled on shock. Okay, I'm the Avatar. OH AGNI WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS HAPPENING TO ME? DON'T YOU NEED SUNLIGHT TO BE THE AVATAR? ISN'T THERE NOTHING LEFT TO BRING BALANCE TO? OH spirits everything is pointless he's going to send me out there and I'm going to die and the Vault's gene pool will dry up and the final word in humanity's story will sound and-

Calm down, for fuck's sake. The voice of reason spoke up. There are almost definitely going to be people up there. We all know the blasts ruined the sensors and it's a miracle we got radiation readings at all. Even if you die, and since you're a master Firebender that's pretty unlikely, humanity will live on and rebuild. We survived two Hundred Years Wars, we can survive this even if I don't.

But what if I'm not enough? Avatar or not, I'm most likely to have my soul eaten by a dark spirit or die of radiation poisoning or even just starve to death.

Then be enough, replied the voice of reason calmly. Rise to the challenges of the wastes. Gather your companions, master the elements, trust in the Overseer and yourself, and bring balance to the world.

The critic only half-began a retort when Izo's internal dialog was rudely interrupted by the cafeteria door. "Tzao's feathers!" he spat as he picked himself up and gingerly touched his aching nose. "That'll leave a mark." he complained as he pulled the door open.

"Hey, there he is!" The cafeteria was sporadically peopled, but near a corner sat Izo's friends Liren and Shozo. Liren was a round, bald girl with wire-rimmed glasses and Shozo a tall boy who had accomplished the impressive feat of looking even more unnaturally stretched out than the Overseer. "Hey, we haven't opened the cake yet, get some lunch and get over here!" Liren motioned him over.

Izo walked over and set down the ancient blades beside him. "Let's eat first, then I'll explain the swords." On the table sat a large cardboard box labeled CHOCOLATE CAKE- DEHYDRATED- KEEP DRY. Shozo didn't bother with breaking the seal and tore the box open, leaving a misshapen, torn blob of cardboard around the cake, and brushed a few bits of packaging off the shrinkwrap. As he pushed the cake into the rehydrator, Liren Airbent the shreds of cardboard off the table.

The two of them sat in awkward silence as the rehydrator hummed away.

"You, um, didn't miss much in class. Algebra was a waste of time as usual, and chem was just a rehash of stoichometry."

Izo coughed. Just tell them, he thought. Bite the bullet, I can't take the silence anymore.

The rehydrator dinged and Shozo walked back to the table with a cube of cake topped with chopped nuts. "So how late did you sleep in?"

"This time, it was 'only' three hours. But the Overseer wanted to see me." replied Izo. Liren froze mid-sip of tea. "The Overseer? What did he want? Wait, let me swallow."

"I, uh…" Izo's stomach churned. WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? SPIT IT OUT ALREADY! Izo breathed in deeply.

"He… HesaidI'mtheAvatar." An oppressive silence surrounded the table. Shozo slowly set down his teacup, looked directly into Izo's golden eyes, and burst out laughing. "You? THE AVATAR? That's the best thing I've heard all day!" Izo tried to collect himself, failed, and just sighed. "It's not a joke, Shozo. He gave me these swords and tomorrow I have to leave the vault-" At this Liren choked on her tea and tried to form words through the coughing with shock on her face. "Okay, maybe I should have taken this slower. Should we, um, cut the cake?"