Hi there! This is a story from the more serious and dark side of me (yeah, I know, it's hard to believe that I have a dark side, but you better believe it!). While I love making funny stories, it's also enjoyable to write a more sober one. Just keep in mind as you read that this is only the beginning, and that the real story comes into play in Chapter 2.This piece is for the more serious reader. Hope you enjoy!

We Are All One

A young boy sat alone on a high cliff. Thoughts raced through his mind as he absently traced the distinctive blue arrow that marked his forehead. He placed his hand upon the earth and looked along the distant horizon.

For a long time, the boy did not move. He sat motionless with his palms pressed lightly upon the ground, bland face turned toward the setting sun. Knees were pulled inward and he rested his chin on them, while once again lightly fingering the prominent tattoo located upon his brow.

"Aang, are you OK?" A slender girl approached the silent boy and sat down beside him, carefully watching for any sign of a response. She curled up beside him and surveyed the distant sunset. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Aang did not answer. He was deep in thought, half-closed eyes still inattentively staring off into the distance. Memories from past experiences grazed his mind, and he hoped for a spark of understanding or comprehension. None came. The boy continued to gaze at the surrounding landscape, though his eyes saw nothing.

"Aang, is something wrong? You've been awfully quiet lately." The girl repeated. Her forehead became creased with concern to see that, once again, he was not listening. She tucked a light wisp of dark hair behind her ear and shifted her vision to the darkening horizon. "Come on, it's getting late. We better head back to camp." The girl held out her hand to the young boy, who tore his view of the horizon to look at her. He smiled slightly, just enough to give an indication that he needed some time alone.

She smiled back. "OK, Aang. Just don't be too late."

Aang watched as the girl sauntered off in the direction of their campsite. He returned to watching the sun as it slowly disappeared beyond the trees, and hugged his knees to his chest.

"A dangerous task lies ahead." The words echoed in Aang's mind. "Your job as the Avatar is to restore balance to the world." He tucked his head into his chest. "By next summer's end…"

The boy stood up slowly and glanced once more at the ghost of the sunset. He then turned and made his way back to camp, feeling tired and depleted.

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Katara raised her head from what she was doing to see Aang slowly treading back to the area where they set up camp. His shoulders sagged, denoting the fact that he was worn-out and fatigued, and his pace was somewhat sluggish. She rose and walked over to him, and put her hand upon his drooping shoulder.

"Aang, are you feeling OK?"

He looked wearily at her, and gave a faint smile. "Yeah, Katara. It's just that I have a lot of things on my mind right now."

A grin gently tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Well, it's good to know that you're alright. Are you hungry? We have some food." Katara held a bag up and offered its contents to him. "They're moon peaches."

Aang raised a hand and shook his head. "Naw. Where's Sokka? I thought he might've been back by now."

The girl just frowned at the mention of her negligent and immature older brother. "No. Figures, though. He's never been known to keep his word about anything, especially when it has to do with returning back at a certain time." She scowled at the remembrance of her brother's irresponsible actions.

"Well, I'm going to stay up and wait for him. You sure you don't want something to eat?"

"Yeah. I think I'll just go to bed."

Katara watched as he leisurely rolled out his fur blanket and spread it upon the dirt floor, then lied down and fell asleep. She experienced a feeling of pity for the young airbender, knowing how hard it must have been on him to know that the world's fate rested in his hands. She sighed tiredly and sat back down to await the return of her brother, who had been out two hours scouting for food.

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A short while later, a boy with his short brown hair pulled back in a ponytail trudged into view. He collapsed upon the ground and pulled some berries out from the pouch he was carrying, looking rather ravenously at them.

"Good, you're back," Katara mused, standing up to walk over to where her brother was sitting. He glanced up from the small red fruits lying in his palm and looked at her.

"I wasn't very successful in finding any real food, but I did come across a few leechie nuts. He held up his hand and presented the berries to his younger sister. She huffed and crossed her arms, looking aggravated. "What?"

"Sokka, you were supposed to be back here half an hour ago. Can't you ever stick to what you say you'll do?" She said, irritated at his irresponsible behavior.

The boy frowned at her. "Well, I would have been back earlier if you hadn't sent me to search for food in the barest area in the entire forest!"

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Aang had been lying awake ever since Sokka returned to camp. He squeezed his eyes shut against the sound of the bickering siblings, and tried to return to sleep. It was not possible, however, with a troubled mind and two infuriated people quarreling heatedly in the background. He rubbed his eyes wearily and rolled over, hoping to find a more comfortable position to fall asleep in.

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The movement coming from Aang attracted the attention of the two siblings, whose squabble was silenced.

"Aang, are you awake?" Katara asked. She looked over at the boy, who lay turned away from her. He didn't answer, and proceeded to curl himself up into a ball. The girl's face fell, and she lowered her gaze. "I'm sorry if we woke you."

Sokka was wearing a similar expression. He sat back down upon the earth and watched as Aang's lemur snatched the leechie nuts from out of his hand and scurried back up a tree. Momo chirped at him as a thank you for letting him have the berries, and disappeared beneath the red and gold leaves.

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"I fear war may be upon us, young Avatar." Aang pulled his knees closer to his chest and tried to forget. "We need you, Aang." Even after Katara had convinced him that everything was happening the way it should, he was still filled with doubt and uncertainty. But he knew one thing; it was he who would determine the world's destiny. He was the one to make everything better. "The world needs you now. You give people hope."

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Zuko stood leaning against the side of the ship, narrowed eyes scanning the horizon. His scowl darkened, seeing no sign of the Avatar or his bison, and his stony expression did not change as Iroh strolled up to him.

"Prince Zuko, you should really give your eyes a rest. It's been nearly three days and you haven't put your feet up from hunting the Avatar."

The prince continued to glare at the rising sun. "Uncle, I don't need a break."

The retired general was unfazed by this. "Wearing yourself out like this is not going to do you any good, nor will it bring you the Avatar any faster. I suggest a nice cup of tea and a nap."

Zuko's fierce amber eyes flashed as he turned upon the older man. "I told you before, I don't need a break! If you have nothing better to do than to hound me, then go bother someone else. I don't have time for your petty interruptions!"

Iroh looked to Zuko's face, which wore a fervent mixture of impatience and frustration. His golden eyes were blazing brightly and his lips were curled upward to reveal clenched teeth. The general sighed and walked off, not having the energy to fight his nephew's defiant and headstrong spirit. The prince slouched. He forced his taut and rigid muscles to relax, and once again gazed out into the ocean.

A man strode up to Zuko, wearing a thwarted expression upon his face. "Sir, there is some bad news that General Iroh requested I give you." The boy continued to stare out to sea. "I'm afraid that the Avatar has not been spotted in any area for some time now. We've lost complete track of where he is."

"Lieutenant, how long have you known this?"

"For a while. Your uncle had said to wait a few more days to be sure, but we've had no luck in locating him."

"Thank you for your report."

Lieutenant Gi bowed and sauntered off, somewhat confused as to why the prince had not blown up at him or at least made an excuse to butt heads.

Zuko returned his weary vision to the horizon, and continued to survey the distance in hopes of catching a glimpse of the Avatar. He was not so lucky, but he persistently kept to his undertaking. The prince half-heartedly maintained his tired gaze, still hopeful for sight of the Avatar flying over the sea on his bison. Zuko inattentively fingered the unsightly scar that was branded across his face, and looked far out to the horizon.

Well, that's it so far! A new character is going to be introduced in the next one, and there's more to her than anyone would ever suspect…Remember, I love reviews; they inspire me to write more! See ya!