Disclaimer; I don't own anything from 'Avatar: the Last Airbender'. I only own the concepts of this fanfic, including my character Shin.

Notes: Firstly, I've had this idea rolling in my head for a while, but when I was the 'movie special' (episodes; the Library and the Desert), I knew it would be a good place to start my story. Second and lastly Shin is pronounced 'shee-n', and is the Japanese word for 'new' just if you want to know.

Shared Fates

By Ryoko Porter

Prologue – A Vision of Warning

"He said to put a muzzle on him!" Toph accused; she was eager to witness the hurt that would be put upon the Sandbenders. After all, it was their fault that she and the others had been suffering the wrath of both the desert and Aang for the last few days.

"You muzzled Appa?" Aang raged. Oh, they were in for it now! She wished for a moment that she had the gift of vision, so that she could see their panicked faces. But the blind girl could feel the air bring the sand over her feet, and hear the terrified murmurs of the tribes' men. "Where is Appa? WHERE IS MY BISON?" Whoa, who knew twinkle-toes had it in him? Toph was impressed; she even might've been frightened if that same fury had been aimed at her.

The Earthbender's musings were suddenly interrupted though, as a hand took her by the arm and pulled her into a run. "RUN!" Sokka then, must have been the one guiding her away from the great power that she could sense growing. Again she heard the older boy order everyone to run, but this time it was harder to hear over the growing sound of howling winds. Never in her life had she observed such a reckless, uncontrolled power such as this. And for a moment the tough girl almost regretted goading the Avatar into such a fury. Almost, but not quite.

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"Where am I?" Aang muttered as the haze gradually cleared from his mind. The answer he got was a loud and familiar rumble, and a great tongue run over his entire body. "APPA!" the light Airbender cheered as he took a great wind-assisted leap from his place lying on the ground to his bison companion's face. Clinging onto the thick fur like a monkey, Aang let tears of joy and relief at seeing his lost friend yet again flow. "Oh Appa! I'm so glad you're okay!"

Appa then finally had enough of his master clinging to his face, and used his great force to throw his head and his master back. As Aang softly landed onto his usual place atop his friend's head, he finally noticed that his other friends were not in sight.

"Appa, where are the others?" Aang asked as he crawled close to the bison's ears.

The reply that the Avatar got was the sudden take off by the flying bison into the air. Aang held on as they flew quickly over the desert he'd been stuck in, the scenery changing very little as they went. Then he saw that they were coming to the great rock plateau that he'd just been at, and where he'd last seen the rest of his friends. He tried to guide the bison down to land so that he could get Katara and the others, but the great beast had other plans. Flying right over and past the plateau, Appa headed north, judging by the sun.

It wasn't long that they continued to fly over baron sands, until another strange landmark was in sight. It was a great tree, one that had no place in such a dry place, but still seemed to be thriving. And at the base was a person, shrouded in white to keep the sun off. Appa hovered, letting Aang watch as the person pulled back the hood to reveal a woman's face. Still too far away to see any details; Aang could see that she had long black hair and tan skin. Then as he tried to fly Appa closer, Aang realized that the woman was looking right at them. And that her eyes were glowing with the white Avatar light!

AVATAR.thelastairbender.AVATAR.thelastairbender.AVATAR.thelastairbender.

Katara watched as her friend came through, tears pouring from his eyes. And though he'd only been in the Avatar State for a couple of minutes, she couldn't help the feeling that he'd just returned from a long spiritual journey.

End prologue.

Well I finally started my Avatar fic! Though because of goings on, this might take a while to finish; just so you're warned. Now this is important! I've decided to be nice, and in later chapters to write 2 versions of that single chapter. For examples; chapter 3A, or chapter 3B. "A" versions will have yaoi/shounen ai/gay romance. "B" versions will have no pairings at all. So no one can complain, I'm being very generous.

So anyway enjoy! And I hope to get many reviews.

Ryoko Porter