Disclaimer Thingy: I don't own Avatar, and it probably wouldn't have inspired me this much if I had. This is my first story on here, so don't be to mean, but I do appreciate constructive criticism.

Chapter 1: Discovery: A New Element

The Darkness surrounded him, cradling him, holding him, comforting him. The Darkness was familiar to him, although he knew not why. It seemed to call to him; its essence seemed to make him whole. Yet most people would associate such a darkness evil for they associated the darkness with fear. The Firebenders could be one such race of people that would assume this, thus their inner fire always tried to light the darkness, but when the darkness was known, it became comforting. Once you can find your way in the darkness and realize that it was never darkness that was evil; is when you can look into yourself and begin to conquer fear. He realized all of this as he was cradled by the darkness around him.

"Cross, Cross… Wake up you sleepy head!"

He woke from the comforting darkness into a world of light and color, and even though he knew this world and loved it for the wonders in contained, he couldn't help but miss the comfort of the darkness from his slumber. As his eyes flickered open he noticed that something was blocking out the sun above him; that something being his friend Anara's head. Then a small blush crept up his cheeks as he realized just how close her head was to him.

"Um, Anara…" He said slowly

"Hm?"

"Don't you think you might be a tad bit close?"

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't even realize…" As she says this she looks around nervously hoping Cross doesn't notice the slight flush on her face, or how here soft green eyes looking everywhere but at him. He laughs softly and stands up stretching, looking at the grassy plains all around until his eyes finally rest on the girl in front of him. Anara was still on her knees from leaning over his sleeping form and was now looking up towards him, her light brown hair blowing gently in the slight breeze. She was wearing a sleeveless green half robe with light brown working pants underneath and her clothes showed some wear from the work she did around the village. She was the assistant earthbender and would help her master lift metals to the surface from the rocks they were embedded in. She fit in perfectly with the village life unlike him, who had felt urges to be gone from this place from a young age.

He wasn't the village norm in appearance or attitude. He was a complete contrast in fact, with silver hair that went to the middle of his back while in a ponytail compared with the assortments of browns and black , pale skin compared to the slight tan all the villagers had from the sun beating down on them, and his strikingly violet eyes that were a complete contrast the areas assortment of greens and browns. He even dressed differently with a dark brown tunic over a black long sleeve undershirt and dark brown working pants. Most people of the village avoided him making his one true friend Anara. They were both orphans in this world, so they could only rely on each other. Her parents had been lost during a fire nation raid soon after she was born, and Cross had been found a year or so before along the side of a trail. They had been raised together in the village temple, and had become close after Cross had protected her from a group of bullies while they were young.

As they grew up, it was noticed that Anara would be a powerful earthbender, and Cross ended up joining the village militia where he became more than proficient with double curved swords. In fact he wore the swords on his back, since they were a gift from the captain of the militia after his first successful mission against a group of bandits on the road leading to Ba Sing Sei. That was two years ago, and he had only improved since. Attached to the sword sheath was a piece of metal shaped like the cross shaped scar on the back of his right shoulder which was his namesake.

"We should head back to the village, that is if you still want dinner." Anara said as she stood in front of him

"Of course, I'm starving," he replied. They started walking towards the hill that the village was just on the other side of when Cross noticed some smoke in the air. He points this out Anara, and they both start running for the village. As they cross the top of the hill they can see multiple houses on fire and fire nation soldiers mercilessly slaughtering people. They begin running down the side of the hill and a fire nation soldier calls out. Three soldiers run up towards them blasting fire out of here hands, and Anara puts a sloping wall of earth in front of them as a shield. Cross then runs up the sloped wall and leaps into the middle of the three soldiers; as he comes down he slices one's chest effectively eliminating him from the conflict, then he turns quickly and kicks the second in the sternum, knocking the wind out of him forcing him to fall to the ground. The third soldier screams "I've got you!" before flying sideways from the same wall of earth that had protected Cross and Anara in the beginning. Anara runs up and binds the soldiers to the ground with shackles made of earth and they run farther into the village.

They head into the village taking out fire nation soldiers one by one, and make their way to the center while searching for survivors. When they reach the middle of the village, a pyre has been made of all the villagers, and the captain of the soldiers lights it. Next to him, Anara screams, thus attracting the attention of the soldiers around the captain. The remaining twenty soldiers and the captain rush Cross and Anara, and as Anara begins to earthbend, the captain shoots her straight in the stomach. She falls to the ground crying out in pain, and as she blacks out she hears Cross yell and dark waves begin to fly out from him. Then consciousness fades away…

So what do you think? Once again I don't own Avatar, but I do own Cross and Anara. I hope you guys liked it, even if it is a cliff hanger… I'll try to update soon, so R&R please.

T. Riley