So we're back! It's been a week and I have been thinking a bit.. I need to introduce some more characters. I don't mean side characters like Peliz or anyone else, I mean some people who Aang considers friends, similar to the gang in the tv show. Sokka, Toph, and hopefully someone similar to Zuko, because he is my favorite ATLA character. His struggles throughout the series are just amazing! Anyways, you can leave your suggestions in the review and I will take them into consideration as I progress the story.

Spring, 0 ASC, on one of the southern Earth Kingdom islands, 3 days later

As we landed on the outskirts of a small town as to not draw attention to our sky bisons, I admired the terrain of this island. It was cut into 3 pieces by a river and was just east of the southern Air Nomad territory. I am so close to home and Gyatso, but I can't go see him to tell him that I am okay. That frustrates me even more than having to learn the other 3 elements and defeating Sozin.

"Aang, come on, we are still on a schedule! We need to restock and continue on our way in less than 4 hours, no time to dilly dallying!" This caught me out of my daydream and I fell off of Appa abruptly and landed in a mud puddle.

"Ugh! This will take forever to wash out!" I chastised myself for being so unaware of my surroundings and letting myself lose awareness. If I am to defeat the firelord, this cannot happen again!

"Great, even more time we have to spend here." One of my escorts said.

"Wait.. this may be a good thing. We need to disguise ourselves; we never know who is a Fire Nation spy. They may be trying to keep a close eye on you, Aang, to make sure they do not have to initiate their plans sooner. The comet is just the best attack they can use, but I am sure if they are forced to act sooner so you do not have the abilities to defeat Sozin, they would."

"Good point Naqz, they probably are already paranoid now that he has disappeared from the Southern Air Temple. Let's go find some disguises."

I hope I don't have to look too different with my disguise.

Jatsu's POV

"Come on lad, you know I cannot increase your pay. The business is barely holding up as we speak, with these pirates always around waiting to loot a good stock of fish! I have to hide them and sell them in small amounts so they don't consider me worth looting."

"I know I know I am just saying I would like it if you could."

"Yeah, well you don't see me going around saying what I want, otherwise all the women in town would beat me up for saying what I want from them."

I looked at him for a second with my eyebrows raised and..

We both cracked up laughing so hard the people on the docks were looking at us like we had gone insane.

"Say… let me buy you a drink Jatty, you-

"DON'T CALL ME JATTY" I rolled my eyes at the old coot.

"Alright Alright, Jatsu then, jeesh you need to control that temper or else you will never get that lassie to fancy you, oh what's her name… Obie, is it?"

My cheeks went bright red, "Can we not talk of her?"

Huyne smiled halfheartedly, and then his eyes wandered up to the hill, where 3 strangers were approaching.

"Who's that ya think? Tourists?"

"Don't be daft Huyne, we never get tourists. We only get the tax collectors."

"What in the holy name of the spirits are they wearing?"

I looked more closely at the strangers and noticed what he was talking about. They were wearing dark clothing, never mind that, it actually looked like the color of polluted water. They had oddly shaped hats too, The shortest stranger had on a triangular hat which covered the majority of his head, excluding his face.

"Whoever these people are and whatever their culture is, I hope they like fish. Spirits knows how much I need people like that!"

"Besides," I interjected," Who are we to judge on what they look like, remember 5 years ago when you came into town drunk as a skunk and smelling even worse than one!"

Huyne looked around quickly and nervously and then slapped me across the head.

"Golly shut up boy, that's ours and only a few other people's secret."

I laughed.

"I'm going to go say hello to them; maybe they'll tip me if I help them around town."

In all my 15 years of life I have never felt this good to see strangers. Mama and Papa were on the brink of losing their house. Tax collectors were greedy and smug when they came and Mama had to restrain me more than a few times before I assaulted the sick bastards.

Aang's POV

The town was of decent size considering it was one of many businesses in this part of the island, the mouth of the river in the center of the island. All the other fishing ports didn't have clothing shops, only baiting shops and a cook. That is the reason we decided to stop here and not anywhere else. I have never tried fish before because the monks were vegetarians, but I might try to sneak in one or two if they weren't looking. Unfortunately they were mostly always looking.

I stopped in my tracks as I saw a teenage boy running towards us.

"What should we do?"

"He doesn't look like he means us any harm." I said.

"Yeah well Aang, don't let appearance fool you. Some people hide the killer inside until they are close enough to strike, especially when your guard is down." They walked ahead to intercept the teenager and muttered very quietly so I wouldn't hear, "The kid's an Airbending prodigy and he still forgets the basics. Just goes to show even the greatest of benders can still lose to a novice."

I took a deep breath and slowed down significantly. Even my escorts insult me behind my back. If only Roku didn't talk to me in the storm, then I would be away from all this.

"Hello and welcome to our village!"

The voice woke me out of my daze and I concentrated on the teenager. He was 5 and a half feet tall and was wearing green trousers and a grey long sleeved shirt with some patches in them. He obviously was a hard worker. He also.. what is that? He smelled like the ocean. He must be a fisherman!

"So, do you guys need any help around the village? I can show you everything in half the time it would take you to learn on your own, and only for 5 coins. It is quite a bargain these days, especially with the pirates who are just looking for anyone in town who is worth stealing from.

"We just need to restock on food and water mostly, maybe some reading material." Naqz told him.

"You folks are in luck then, the pirates have no interest in reading. They get all the entertainment they need from scaring townspeople. Anyways, follow me and I will show you where you can buy the goods you need."

"So what's your name?" I asked him.

"I'm Jatsu, and you are?"

"I'm Aang," Naqz glared at me for telling him my real name.

"It's nice to meet you Aang, and people don't say that often. Everyone is always at each other's necks around here, accusing them of stealing and other crimes."

We walked through the town gate and saw..

OH NO!

"Not now!" Jatsu yelled and ran at them.

Oh I am sorry for the cliffhanger but I just couldn't help myself. I just didn't feel like writing a boring dialogue of Jatsu showing them around town. I still need some action in the story, don't I? I try to fill it in with comedy in the absence of it, but I can only do so much, am I right? I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I realized that I can't just skip everything that happens on Aang's journey and just have the story be him learning all 4 elements and defeating Sozin. There has to be drama, comedy, his friends, etc. just stuff we had in the tv show that made it so good!

Anyways, please review to make the story better and I hope you enjoyed the slightly longer chapter. I hope my writing is improving and not getting worse!

-Cheers, Nytherinz