The Search Part One

The Search Part 1 is the first installment in The Search trilogy, a series of graphic novels written as a continuation of the storyline established in The Promise trilogy, which was itself a continuation of the narrative set forth in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Much like in the previous trilogy, The Search Part 1 is written by comic author Gene Yang and illustrated by the art team Gurihiru, and was released by Dark Horse Comics on March 20, 2013.

Plot
The story begins with a single black panel prologue. Only words from a conversation between two individuals are seen. Both apparently know one another. The first individual is imploring the second individual to divulge the whole truth about their past life to the other. The second individual complies with the request and begins telling the tale from the beginning.

Many years earlier in the Fire Nation town of Hira'a, Ikem, an actor in the village's theater troupe is on a makeshift stage in the center of town, holding up a decorative mask reciting lines from a script for an upcoming play about spirits when he is suddenly startled by fellow actress and girlfriend Ursa, wearing a similar style mask. Ursa has brought news that she has scored a major role in the play they are about to give, to which an enthusiastic Ikem congratulates Ursa jokingly stating he now can fulfill his lifetime ambition of kissing her on stage and professing his love for her before the entire village. Ikem and Ursa continue practicing their lines from the play with their masks on and then attempt to kiss one another but the masks get in the way. Ursa removes her mask but is surprised when a still masked Ikem stares at her intently and asks her to marry him. At first, Ursa doesn't think Ikem is serious and believes the proposal to be part of the script. But Ikem responds, using a treasured memory from their shared childhood together, that he has loved her since that moment. Removing his mask, Ikem grabs the hand of a blushing Ursa and asks once more if she will marry him. A beaming Ursa says yes and the two young lovers embrace and share a passionate kiss together.

The story then shifts to the present day of the series timeline, within a meeting chamber of the governor's place in the Fire Nation colony city of Yu Dao. It is some weeks following the events of the Battle for Yu Dao. Avatar Aang, Katara, Sokka and Fire Lord Zuko are assembled at the meeting place together with Mayor Morishita and his wife, their daughter Kori, her boyfriend Sneers and other dignitaries to discuss the future of Yu Dao. The assembly are listening to a lecture of ancient Earth Kingdom theories in government delivered by an equally aged professor recommended by Earth King Kuei.

While the professor drones on, Sokka finds the proceedings dreadfully boring and complains to Aang, who sympathizes believing there should an altogether different approach in healing the divisions of the Four Nations and its colonies following the end of the war. Both are promptly shushed by Katara, who has been intently listening to the lecture. After a snide comment by Sokka aimed at his "boring" sister, he is promptly smacked in the face by Katara with a waterbending-generated snowball. While this bit of commotion is going on, Fire Lord Zuko, himself zoning off during the course of the lecture, snaps back to attention when the professor mentions the word "family" and interrupts the professor by asking him to repeat what he said. The professor, having caught on to the fact that his lecture hasn't caught on with some of the younger members of the gathering, nevertheless complies with Zuko's request reiterating an ancient Earth Kingdom philosophy regarding the nature of family and government and how the two are invariably intertwined. According to the professor, the way ones treats their own family is an essential component of how one eventually governs a nation and if one treats their own family with dignity then said person will govern their nation in similar fashion. Upon hearing those words, As the professor continues with his lecture, Aang catches Zuko staring forlornly into space upon hearing those words and asks what's wrong. Zuko then recounts his family's dysfunctions: an imprisoned father, an institutionalized sister (both by his command) and a banished mother and wonders aloud what that means for the Fire Nation's future. Aang attempts to assuage Zuko's fears when both are interrupted by Sokka complaining about the professor's lecture again saying only people like Katara are taking him seriously to which he is smacked in the face once more with another Katara generated snowball.

The story then goes back into flashback mode, shortly after Ursa had accepted Ikem's proposal of marriage. An ebullient Ursa noisily arrives home to give them the news of the proposal only to see her mother Rina kneeling dejectedly and crying in the living room. Resting atop Rina's lap and cradled within a crimson cloth is the ceremonial headpiece that was lost by her father, Avatar Roku, during the volcanic eruption at their island home many years earlier that eventually took his life. Rina apparently salvaged the Royal artifact during the eruption, originally a gift from Roku's best friend, Fire Lord Sozin, and had been safekeeping it all these many years. Distressed, Ursa asks what's wrong and where her father Jinzuk, the village magistrate, is. Rina tearfully responds that her father is in the greenhouse entertaining some guests and implies to Ursa to go there at once but stops her momentarily to tell her daughter that she loved her.

In a flashback it is shown that Ursa had a regular life in a small town. She had fallen in love with a young man and was happy. He then proposed to her and she became even happier. It was soon after Azulon arrived with Ozai, looking for the descendants of Avatar Roku, that her life changed.