I'm sorry if this comes out later than you hoped. I also apologize if it seems short. I had to deal with some school stuff now that classes are back in session. I'll try to make sure chapters keep coming, but I can no longer promise a full schedule. At least until winter break.

Anyway, I do not own Avatar. It is the property of its rightful owners.

Enjoy!

Toph didn't know what to expect when she came to the source of a weird twanging sound. She didn't expect a man with little clothes leaning back on a giant Gator-Cat playing... a weird string instrument.

"OOOOOHHHHHHHH!"

She also wasn't expecting that ear-piercing shriek that came out of his mouth. (She assumed it was his mouth. The mud still made seeing difficult, but she doubted he could sing from his stomach.)

"Oh, my name is Due, the son of Due."

He was singing. That would explain why Toph suddenly wanted to rip out her ears.

"He taught me to hunt, he taught me to waterbend, he taught me SSSIIINNNGGG!"

"STOP! My ears are about to start bleeding!"

Toph yelled before she could stop herself. And even with her vision impaired, she knew that the man had now noticed her.

"Well, I'll be. I didn't know we was having guests today. Who's cousin are you?"

Toph frowned, but she decided not to earthbend a rock into his face.

"No ones. Probably. Maybe? I never asked. I just walked into this swamp with my friends."

The man's rising heartbeat indicated that he was happy at the news. "We got more guests? OOH, I have a feeling Huu is going to love this."

"Huu?"

"Yeah. Oh, he might be busy with the tree."

"Tree?"

"Oh, you should meet him. He could help you."

"Help me?"

"Wait, you said you came with others. Where are they? They can meet Huu too!"

Toph wanted to launch a rock at this guy's mouth. Maybe then he would make sounds that would make more sense. She had no idea who Huu was. She didn't know why a tree was important. She didn't want to know why this guy was apparently not wearing pants.

But what she did know was that Zuko also didn't know.

So if she did introduce him to Sparky and Uncle, they would end up flustered and annoyed. And she wouldn't be bored anymore.

"You said your name is Due, right?"

"That is right little missy."

She might have to hurt him for calling her little missy later. But for right now, she could just enjoy the thought of making Sparky deal with him.

"My friends aren't far. Come on Swamp Man."

"If she was a human, I am certain she would be a whore! And not just any but the worst of them! A whore that would repulse all humans!"

For the first time in several minutes, Zuko's eyebrow raised. He wasn't even sure how Vaatu knew about whores, but that was hardly the worst thing he had heard him say.

"No, if she was a human, she would make herself a ruler. The kind that the humans would be overjoyed to overthrow!"

Ever since Zuko had seen him, the spirit did not even stop to acknowledge his presence. He simply continued to spout different profanities and slanders against... whoever he happened to be angry at.

"She always said, "The world must be kept in balance". LIES! She only cares about keeping me away from everything! She won't let me have any fun!"

"Are you talking about your wife? Or is it your mom?"

Vaatu reeled, turning to see Zuko sitting down behind him. The human vessel simply waved noncommittedly.

"Vessel? I did not sense you there? How long have you been there?"

"Almost half an hour, actually. Who are you mad at?"

Vaatu deflates at the question. He seems to have lost a bit of his earlier energy.

"My other half. She has, how do I put this? Broken one of her own rules. Something she would berate me for centuries if I did."

Zuko frowned. "Other half? Who is that?"

"Ask your uncle. He knows the story, he can explain to you."

"Story? Wait, you mean the story of Wan? The one where he...?" Zuko's eyes widened in realization. "Do you mean Raava? She did something?"

Vaatu's body was beginning to drip with energy again. And anger.

"Yes. She has."

"What did she do?"

"Figure it out yourself vessel. I wish for no more conversation on this topic."

"No more- Vaatu, I can hear to find you because you haven't spoken to me in months. I'm just learning now that Raava is the cause, and you don't want to elaborate? Not even a little?"

"That is precisely correct. I will say nothing of this until it becomes relevant."

Vaatu turned to Zuko directly.

"If you are worried about my absence, I can promise to return to your dreams. But keep the name of my other half away from your tongue until I can bear to hear it. Am I clear?"

Zuko wanted to shout back, but he decided against it. He was lucky enough to be seeing Vaatu again. He didn't want to risk losing him again. So he would put up with it for now.

But that didn't mean he couldn't ask other questions.

"Alright. I won't ask about... that. But what's the last thing you remember before you started your little... tantrum."

"I am the spirit of chaos vessel. I don't throw tantrums."

"It looked like one to me," Zuko said.

"I would know," he thought to himself.

"If you must know, the last I recall of you is that you were learning earthbending from the young badgermole. How go the lessons?"

"Vaatu, we left Gaoling months ago. We fought bandits in a dirt town. Druk is bigger. We're in a swamp now."

"A swamp? Oh yes, I noticed that the air felt different."

"Different? You mean hotter?"

"No, not hotter. Clearer."

Zuko frowned. "What do you mean?"

"This swamp. It is clearly filled with spiritual energy. Yes, I hadn't noticed it, but my presence has felt stronger than before. I had assumed it was my anger."

"Wouldn't you know if it wasn't? You're a spirit."

"I was distracted. But that is neither here nor there. No, the only important fact is that this location is excellent for your waterbending training."

Zuko recoiled. "Waterbending? Vaatu, I'm still in the Earth Kingdom. How am I supposed to find a waterbending teacher here?"

"I would suggest asking your master Toph. She seems to have made a head start in that search."

"Toph?" Zuko searched his memory. Before he started meditating, what had she said? Something about looking for excitement.

"Wait, are you saying she is going to find a waterbender? Out here?"

"That is for you to discover yourself Vessel. It would seem my time here is done."

"Done? Vaatu, what do you...?"

A white light suddenly flashed the area. Zuko was blinded by it.

"GAH!"

"Zuko? What is it, nephew?"

Zuko groaned as he gathered his bearing back together. His previous conversation still ringing in his mind.

"I found Vaatu Uncle."

Iroh's eyes widened. "What did he say?"

"He hasn't been talking to me because he's been angry."

"Angry?" Iroh frowned. "Over what?"

"He says that his "other half" did something. Something that offended him."

Iroh's eyes widened. "Raava? What has she done?"

"He wouldn't tell me. He said that he would only discuss it if it became relevant later on," Zuko rubbed his head. "He did say that she broke a rule. Or something along those lines."

Iroh's frown deepened. Zuko's message from Vaatu could hold many different meanings. Spirits, especially the most ancient and powerful of them, followed rules that dictated their existence. Vaatu was likely the only exception, being a being of chaos. But Raava was the incarnation of order. For her to have broken a rule, especially a rule of her own making...

That did not bode well.

"Did he say anything else?"

"Not much," Zuko said as he stood up. "Actually there is one thing."

"What was it?"

"He said that this swamp was perfect for learning waterbending."

Iroh frowned. How did Vaatu expect his nephew to learn waterbending in an Earth Kingdom swamp? Unless..."

"Well, I'll be. There are more people here."

Both Zuko and Iroh turned around to see Toph. And a mostly naked man wearing leaves walking next to her.

"Been a while since we had company. How you good fellers doin'?"

Zuko turned to Toph. "Who, and what is that?"

Toph shrugged. "You ask him."

"My name's Due. Nice to meet you, fine peoples." The man walked over and swiftly grabbed Zuko's hand. Why was there a Cat-Gator next to him? And why was Druk staring at it?

"Um, hi," Zuko said as he pulled his hand away. There were sweat and dirt on it now.

"Say, would you like to meet Huu? He can show you the tree."

Zuko's mind stopped working at that moment. He had just woken up from dealing with Vaatu's tantrum. Now he had to deal with... this?

"What?"

"Come on. I know a quick way to the tree. You're all going to love it."

Due was now walking away.

"Do you think we can trust him, Uncle?"

"I sincerely doubt he is a threat. And I would like to know why a tree is so important. Even so, I expect you to be cautious."

"All right uncle."

Zuko, Iroh, and Druk began to follow Due and Toph. They went to see what the big deal over this tree was.

"We will be arriving soon."

The moment Sokka heard those words, he was ready to perform a dance routine on the edge of the boat. He settled for yelling "YES!" to the sky.

"Finally! I won't have to die on this boat."

"Sokka, we've only been moving for three days. You weren't going to die here," Katara said.

"How do you know? Huh?"

"We have plenty of food and water. You weren't exactly going to starve."

"Says who?"

"Hey guys," Aang said, trying to stop the argument. "There's land over there."

Eyes widening in joy, Sokka was the first to get off the boat. He did so by literally jumping off the edge and landing on the ground.

"A solid surface. I never knew how much I could..." Sokka abruptly stopped as he felt the ground. It wasn't cold. And there was green stuff growing on it. Grass?

"This isn't my solid surface."

"No Sokka. It isn't," Gyatso said as he calmly stepped off of the boat. "This is Kyoshi Island. It is where we will be staying for a short while before heading to the North Pole."

"Why are we waiting? Shouldn't we head north now?" Katara asked.

"We could. However, the journey would be long and tenuous. We are here on Kyoshi Island to acquire something that could help make our journey safer."

"What are we getting?" Aang asked.

Gyatso grinned. "Wait and see."

"Well, while you two are waiting for... whatever, I am going hunting."

"Sokka, that is not necessary," Gyatso began. "The monks and I..."

"I know, I know. You are guys are vegetarians. I don't understand it, but I can respect your life choices," Sokka said with a wave of his hand. "But I, am a man. A man needs meat. And I am going to get some."

Aang looked concerned. "Sokka, I don't think..."

"Don't worry Aang, I'll make sure their deaths are quick and painless. And you won't have to watch."

"Sokka, that isn't..."

"Meat Awaits!"

The moment he turned around, Sokka made haste towards the trees. His boomerang was already in his hand.

"Sweet delicious meat. I'm coming for- Wahh!"

When Sokka stepped on the side of the tree, the trap sprung loose. A rope wrapped around his foot, and it lifted him into the air. He was now dangling upside down under a branch of a tree.

"Hey! What is this?"

"It's a trap for outsiders," A voice suddenly said. A figure stepped out of the forest. It was a girl. A girl in green armor and white face paint. She was followed by more girls in similar outfits. They were all looking at Sokka.

"They work especially well on noisy outsiders with little skill."

Sokka's eyes bulged. "Excuse ME?!"

The head girl, the one with brown hair, turned to the rest of the group.

"I'm seeing two Airbenders. Is he the one?" The girl pointed at Aang.

"Um, yeah. That- that's me."

The girl walked up to Aang. She bowed slightly. That surprised Aang, along with Sokka and Katara.

"My name is Suki. It is my honor to welcome you to Kyoshi Island."

"Um, thanks," Aang said as he rubbed the back of his head. He wasn't sure how to respond to this new form of attention.

Aang's teacher stepped forward. "My name is Gyatso. I am his Airbending master. I was wondering if the asset was prepared."

"We received your message. And yes, it is ready. You can follow me."

The group walked behind Suki. No one paid any mind to Sokka.

"Hey! I'm still up here! Can I get down?"

Suddenly, Suki threw a knife. The blade cut through the rope, letting Sokka free. He fell headfirst into the ground.

"Ow."

"Follow me. I can get you what you're looking for."

The group followed Suki to the center of the island. They had something to acquire. Something for Aang.

Originally, I was going to have Vaatu not tell Zuko anything, but then I remembered that Zuko already knows the story of Wan. he knows about Raava. So all Vaatu will do is not fill in any blanks for Zuko. He, and everyone else, will have to figure things out by themselves.

With the Swamp Benders, I decided to have Due make the first contact because he seems to be the nicest of the Swamp Benders we meet. He may not be the brightest, but he is easy to get along with. So who better to be the first to meet the rich runaway and Fire Nations princes?

Back to the Gaang, Sokka is due for having his misogyny beaten out of him. I'll be having some fun with Suki while the group is on Kyoshi Island.

Next chapter, an important character will show up. I'll accept guesses on who it is.

Please leave reviews, tell me what you think, and I will see you all next time.

Bye!