Disclaimer: I own nothing. I suck at life.

Summary: Koh the Face Stealer threatens to return and finish what he started centuries ago. New alliances will be formed, friendships will be tested, and characters will be challenged like never before.

Providence

Chapter Nine: Separations

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Yi Min, first apprentice and modestly self-proclaimed best earthbender under Master Lung Mei, kicked a stone on the dirt path with a viciousness that was uncommon of the usually peaceful boy. He had better things to do than run errands for his Master! She should be teaching him some more advanced bending moves! But Lung Mei had approached him with a look in her eye that promised that any chore she could possibly offload onto him, she would.

"Clean the floors, Yi Min! Chop the firewood, Yi Min! Get some water from the river, Yi Min!" His voice screeched higher in what he thought was a passable impression of his earthbending teacher. He paused at the river's edge with one hand on his hip as he waved the empty bucket around with the other. "If you ever want to be a great Master you must learn discipline!" He mimicked. The boy bended another stone up into the air and hurled it into the large river.

A crash of thunder brought him back to earth with a jolt. Not only had he been a little unfair to his teacher, but if anyone had seen his over-exaggerated imitation they would surely think he looked like an idiot. He turned guiltily and saw dark clouds usurping the late afternoon sky. Before he turned back to the river to complete his chore something rather peculiar caught his attention. He squinted. Something white and furry was floating east in the sky. He shook his head and looked again. Was he seeing things? Yes, he thought. That must be it. Everyone knows bison can't fly.

Speed was rarely a problem for Appa. After all, his usual load was only three young people and a lemur. But today he felt the weight of a much larger group and it was affecting his typically swift pace.

You could cut the tension with a knife. Iroh, Zuko, Shing, Yori, Sokka, Katara, Aang, and Momo all occupied the saddle of the flying bison in complete hostile silence. The reluctant alliance may have called a truce for now, but no one was optimistic enough to think it would last very long. Zuko was glaring so intently at the prince of Ba-Sing-Sei that it was a wonder a hole hadn't burned through him. Sokka was eyeing the firebender suspiciously; he didn't trust Zuko, not for a second.

Aang scratched behind the large ears of the lemur and elicited a soft murmur of thanks. They would be following the river for a while and the monk wasn't sure if he could stand this uncomfortable silence any longer. He had to say something, "Uh…Iroh?" He turned to the old general. "Why was Skoll guarding the Fire Nation's Houshu?"

Iroh didn't seem the least bit anxious by the interrogation. "Skoll is the son of the spirit of Fire, or Agni as he is sometimes called. He would not have dared let harm fall to the Houshu created by his father. He had suffered his wrath once before."

Aang nodded and tried not to look ignorant.

"Would you like to hear the story?"

He nodded again.

Zuko stared intently at his uncle. To be honest he was curious as well, but he didn't dare let the others know he was just as clueless.

"The spirit of Fire, Agni, had three children; Surya the sun, Skoll the wolf, and Fenghuang the phoenix. Surya was the most favored of the three and his father loved him very much. 'Look,' he would say to Skoll. 'Do you see how your brother awakens every morning to bring light to the world?' The wolf became very jealous of Surya because no matter what he did he could not outshine his brother." Iroh chuckled at his own little joke.

"Skoll was a skilled hunter and he would bring back large game to Agni as offerings, but the spirit of Fire would only scoff at him. 'Is this all you have to offer? Your brother offers light and warmth to the earth. Even you sister Fenghuang can give me joy with the sound of her voice and her immense beauty. You are a disgrace.' This enraged Skoll so much that he attacked his brother. As you can imagine he was not able to defeat him. Agni punished Skoll by caging him on that island where he will serve his life sentence."

"So he's trapped," Aang said. "I kind of feel sorry for him."

"What about the village?" Katara asked. "Weren't there people living on that island?"

Iroh turned to the waterbender, "Yes there was. In fact, Skoll fell in love with a lovely young woman who lived there and she gave birth to a son."

"Okay that's enough." Sokka couldn't stand this anymore. "Do you honestly expect us to believe this fairy tale?"

"Are you calling my uncle a liar?" Zuko shot back despite his own skepticism.

"What if I am?"

Katara placed a hand on Sokka's shoulder. A stern look from his sister warned him against a fight.

"So," Shing urged Iroh on. "What happened to his son?"

"No one is quite sure why, but the woman took their son and left the island. In a fit of rage at his lover's betrayal he sent his wolves to kill the rest of the villagers."

Shing grinned, "That's quite a temper Skoll has. He reminds me of someone." He locked gazes with Zuko.

The prince felt his blood boil and was about to retort when Shing's words sunk in. He remembered how the people used to refer to the royal family, "the descendants of Agni". Zuko had never given it much thought, dismissing it as nothing more than superstitious worship, but could it possibly have been literal? Then he remembered Skoll's glowing amber eyes. No. It couldn't possibly be true. But when he looked at Iroh and saw him offer a ghost of a smile Zuko wondered. His head was spinning. He wanted so much to return to a world where things made sense. Not sitting on a flying bison, working with his enemies, and realizing that a spirit was his ancestor. This must be a nightmare; that was the only rational explanation. Any minute he would wake up and things would be normal.

Yori spoke for the first time since she boarded Appa, "Someone did realize the possibility of Chen following us, right?"

They stared blankly. She pointed toward the river and they saw a ship moving through the water.

"Impossible!" Zuko stood to his feet. The engine of Chen's ship couldn't possibly be working without oil. He and Iroh had made sure to take care of that. Then Zuko remembered that one waterbender had stayed behind while the rest joined their leader on the island. He must be a Master to be able to move the ship with that kind of speed. Or else Chen had a sword to his throat.

"Apparently not," Shing's eyes narrowed at the sight of his former boss. "This isn't good."

"At this rate we'll lead him right to the temple," Katara was surprised by the composure in her voice. "We have to do something."

"How brave of you to volunteer!" Shing took both of the Water Tribe girl's hands in his. "Your courage is only matched by your beauty. Waterbending would truly be the best offensive; I wish you and Aang the best of luck."

Aang and Sokka looked torn between confusion and anger. What did he think he was doing touching Katara?

She ripped her hands from his grasp and gave him a dirty look. "I didn't mean just me and Aang. I meant everyone."

"You coward," Zuko joined in. "You're afraid to face Chen again because you know he'll kill you in retribution."

The only thing that stopped Yori from attacking the fire prince was a stern look from her Master. Shing turned back to him, "Once again you thought wrong, Zuko. Now that I've fully recovered my strength it would hardly be much of a fight."

"Really," Sokka still looked angry. "Then why don't you go down and fight him. You were a part of his crew after all, I'm sure you must know his weakness." It may have seemed complimentary, but in those words lay a challenge.

The earth prince regarded him evenly. "I may have been part of the crew, but even I don't know everything there is about Chen after only two months. But that's beside the point. If you manage to put him on dry land I'll take care of the rest."

It was back. That feeling Zuko had was back. A tiny voice in the back of his head was screaming a warning at him. And then it hit him in all its hideous glory, the thing that had been bothering him since he heard Shing's testimony back on the island. A smile of satisfaction spread on the prince's lips, now it all made sense.

"Tell me, Shing." His amber eyes looked eerily similar to Skoll's. "How long have you been pretending to be a pirate?"

Yori eyed both princes, sensing that this could turn ugly. Shing's body tensed, but his face was impassive. "Are you deaf? I told you that I've been working for him for less than two months, not long after our people's Houshu was stolen."

"Is that so? Then how about explaining why you told me that you've been on that ship for three months, which would put you there before your people's Houshu was stolen?"

Wide eyes focused in on Shing, waiting for his response.

"A slip of the tongue," he covered. But no one believed him.

Iroh shook his head ruefully, "Of course. I should have known. Who better to give Chen a book with such rare information about Nu-gua than a prince with unlimited resources?" He almost admired the ingeniousness.

The silence was broken by Shing's laughter. He threw his head back as though this was the funniest joke ever told. "I'm impressed," he calmed down and looked at Zuko. "I didn't think you were listening to my 'mindless dribble', as you so affectionately called it."

"You talk too much," Zuko stood to his feet and took a fighting stance. He extended his arm to release a jet of fire, but in such close quarters Yori was too quick. She kicked his hand away and the fire shot harmlessly into the sky. She jumped back, placing herself in front of her Master.

"Using a woman as your shield? You really are a coward."

"Why?" Aang pleaded to the prince. He couldn't understand what was going on. "Why would you help Chen steal the jewels? Your own people's Houshu?"

"You mean these?" Shing pulled a pouch from inside his jacket; the outline of a dagger and cup could be seen.

"Bastard! You've had them the whole time?" Zuko shouted.

"Chen was nothing more than a means to an end. The Houshu are now in hands of the man who deserves them. It's my destiny."

"Destiny? Don't make me laugh!" Sokka growled. "You're just as greedy as that pirate. All you want is immortality!"

"Look!" Katara pointed over the edge of the saddle at Chen's ship. A catapult had been loaded and a large fiery mass sent hurling towards them.

Aang took hold of the reins and steered Appa to the left, narrowly avoiding the attack. The passengers braced themselves and tried not to be thrown from the bison.

"Persistent bastard," Zuko hissed at the pirate. He faced Shing again, prepared to take him down once and for all, but the whistling sound of another approaching object returned his attention to hanging on for dear life. Appa twisted, avoiding the second attack, but he wasn't as quick the third time. It smashed into the side of the flying bison, sending him flying to the right with such intensity that his occupants were thrown from the saddle.

The next thing that registered in Aang's mind was rain. It was going to rain. The dark clouds above them testified to an upcoming storm and he had always hated storms. They seem to bring nothing but painful memories.

He turned to the others and saw them floating helplessly downwards, the ground ready to catch them. They were pulled by the invisible force of gravity; nothing and no one was outside its reach. Even the wounded Appa could not find the strength to fly. They were going to die, he thought. Unless he did something they would all die. His fear was quickly replaced with righteous courage. The arrows on his body began to glow with the light of his spirit as he entered the Avatar state. A mighty wind was summoned to cushion the fall of his friends and enemies, a gale so strong that it scattered them across the forest.

And the rain began to fall.

- - - - -

Katara moaned. Her brilliant blue eyes opened slowly to see where she had landed. A light drizzle of rain soaked her aching body and she felt slightly relieved. The water seemed to soak the pain away.

"Aang?" She stood to her feet and called out into the forest. "Sokka?"

No reply. She was alone and this realization frightened her. What was she supposed to do? Katara took a breath and tried to analyze her situation. She was alone, in the forest, Shing and Yori had betrayed them, they had three of the four Houshu and were probably making their way to the temple for the final jewel.

This wasn't helping.

Fear gave way to anger and she stomped her foot in frustration. She was helpless. She hated that feeling.

The waterbender stepped into the forest, continuing to call out to her friends hoping that they were okay too. Her logic told her that it was useless, the power of the Avatar was great and had undoubtedly scattered them all miles apart from each other. She should be heading towards the temple, as the others were most likely doing themselves, but how could she reach a destination without directions? She didn't know where it was and inwardly cursed herself for falling asleep on the journey before. This wasn't good.

Just as she was about to loose hope a faint grunting sound caught her ear. She stilled and strained to hear. Katara could definitely hear the sound of someone's painful moan. Could it be Sokka or Aang? She rushed towards the noise with newfound expectation.

She ran through the light drizzle, weaving in and out of the trees. The sound was slowly getting louder then it stopped. Her heart beat loudly in her chest. "Sokka! Aang!" Please, she thought. Please keep making noise so I can find you. But there was only the sound of the rain drumming the forest floor. Disheartened, Katara scanned the environment hoping to catch sight of blue or yellow. Nothing.

She was about to turn around when a dark heap on the ground moved slightly. Was it just her imagination? She watched as it moved again. No, she was not alone. Katara hurried to the heap of dark clothes then stopped dead in her tracks when she recognized to whom they belonged.

The waterbender briefly wondered which spirit she had offended to warrant this kind of punishment.

- - - - -

His small body felt drained. Aang always felt a bit weak after entering the Avatar state. The monk's voice seemed hoarse as he called, "Katara! Sokka!"

There was no reply. Aang patted the wet fur of Appa and comforted him with soothing words; his broken staff lay feebly at his feet. The bison had been hit hard by the attack, his right side was burned and bleeding, he couldn't move. Tears filled the young Avatar's eyes; there was nothing he could do. If Katara was here she could have healed Appa with her waterbending. If Sokka was here he could have offered a plan of action. But they weren't. He was on his own.

Part of him wanted to search the wooded area for his friends, but he hated to leave Appa alone.

Chen was still out there. Shing and Yori were still out there and one Houshu away from creating a bridge to the spirit world that could allow Koh to return. He was the Avatar; it was his responsibility to bring peace to the world and protection for the innocent. He secretly despised that responsibility. Aang had never asked to be the Avatar all he wanted was to be a normal kid! But this was the life that fate had dealt him. He couldn't afford to feel sorry for himself. People needed him and he couldn't let them down.

"I'm sorry, Appa." He stroked his soft fur. "I promise I'll be back soon."

"That's the spirit!"

Aang whipped around and saw Zuko's uncle limping through the forest towards them. "Iroh!" He felt slightly comforted that he wasn't alone.

The old man smiled. "That was an impressive display of power, young Avatar, although you could have been a little gentler with your elder."

"Oh. Sorry," he grinned sheepishly.

He waved the apology aside with a sway of his hand. "It's no matter. We have more important things to do."

"Are we going to find the others?"

There was a pained expression on the ex-general's face. He wanted to see his nephew and know that he was okay, but he had faith in Zuko and the Avatar's friends. "I'm sure they are fine. As are Shing and Yori."

Aang grimaced.

"I know you feel badly about leaving your friends behind, but if the earth prince should reach the temple before us…" His voice trailed as though he refused to acknowledge the potential danger of the situation.

"But…" Aang desperately wanted a reason to find Katara and Sokka first. "What about that spell? I mean, we couldn't even see the temple until my Avatar spirit overpowered it. I bet Shing won't be able to find it."

"Perhaps. Perhaps not," Iroh stared intently into the sky.

Aang wondered what was going through the man's mind. He remembered Iroh's sudden arrival at the oasis, how he threatened Zhao not to kill the moon spirit, and then fought those firebenders when the Admiral did so anyway. He had helped them. Something inside him told Aang he could trust this man. Then again, another voice was telling him to quit being so naïve, that he had thought the same thing about Shing and Yori. It sounded strangely like Sokka.

The Avatar sighed. He hated himself for what he was about to do, "Alright. Let's go to the temple."

- - - - -

Author's Notes: I think my chapters keep getting shorter. Sorry about that, but I wanted to end it here.

The legend that Iroh told them about Skoll was created by me, but I was inspired by several different things. According to Wikipedia in Hinduism, Surya is the chief solar deity. The name Skoll comes from Norse mythology, he was a wolf that chased the sun through the sky every day, trying to eat it. (By the way, this story will be further influenced by Norse mythology just in case anyone would like a hint). Fenghuang is a mythological Chinese firebird and she will be mentioned again in future chapters.

So what on God's green earth possessed me to make Zuko's ancestor a spirit? I really have no idea. I suppose I wanted to show the pattern of sibling rivalry that seems to plague this family. Iroh and Ozai, Zuko and Azula, Skoll and Surya.

But like I said before, I think this story is writing itself.

Anyway, a big thanks to me-obviously and Hotspur for your loyalty. Your reviews are what helps keep this story going. Also, credit goes to my wonderful beta reader who is doing such a great job. Ardy, your expertise deserves praise.