Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. Yada, yada, yada…

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 Twelve: Destinies

- - - - -

Hisano never considered herself an extraordinary person, despite the overwhelming evidence that proved otherwise.

As a child she would often stare intently at the stars, the ripples in the water, or the colors of fire as though enchanted by a spell of curious wonder. Her family often felt as though the young woman could see and hear things that were beyond normal human senses. Hisano would remark on the changes in the wind's direction, state with youthful arrogance that this event was an omen, and proceed to explain the coming affair in colorful detail.

They would smile and nod, barely listening to Hisano's overactive imagination. It wasn't until her predictions became reality that her relatives took notice. The shock would quickly pass and they would ascribe the phenomenon to simple coincidence. The girl was bright and intuitive, no one doubted that. But as the girl became a woman and her predictions were increasing both in frequency and accuracy, coincidence no longer held sufficient. Hisano was a prophet.

Skepticism followed her career like a shadow, but for every unbeliever there was a flock of followers. People from every nation would travel long distances to the quiet mountaintop in the Fire Nation where she resided in her humble home.

It was her wisdom and clairvoyance that brought Kozue there.

He entered through the door without knocking. After all, if she could see into the future then she should already know about his arrival, right? At first he feared the dilapidated hut was empty. Just as he was about to leave the sound of rustling caught his ear. He moved toward the back of the house and spotted Hisano inside a small room.

Her back was turned to him, long gray hair stretched to the floor. "What you seek cannot be found. You waste your time coming here."

Any doubt he might have had was quashed by this old woman's odd greeting. She finally turned to face him and Kozue was repelled by the sight. Her face had shrunk to a living skull, but her eyes were still very bright and alive.

"I'm a bit disappointed. I at least expected you to read my palm or examine my tea leaves before declaring an ill-omened future for me."

She regarded him like a vulture eyeing its injured prey, "Your flippancy masks your fear."

He had recovered enough from her appearance to challenge her, "One look and you can see into my very soul? I think your arrogance masks your senility."

Angry sparks littered her bright eyes. "You've come a long way to insult an old woman. I've already told you I cannot help you so your presence here is a waste of time."

"I refuse to accept that," he retorted. "After years of studying and searching I refuse to accept that it was all for nothing. Tell me why the spirits refuse to allow me passage to the spirit world. What went wrong?"

Hisano realized the young man could not be deterred by her warning alone. It was going to take a more impressive display of power to convince him of his failure. She took her cauldron with the concoction she had been brewing all day and beckoned Kozue to follow her. She instructed him to build a small fire, then poured some of the foul smelling liquid into it. The flames grew and turned white as Hisano stared into their depths, as though looking through a window into another world. Her eyes were glazed over.

"When the four Houshu are gathered a purification ceremony must take place for a human to pass over the bridge. The anger in your heart was not cleansed and therefore your passage was denied. The spirits require brokenness; your desire for revenge will earn you nothing. It is not your destiny."

"Not my destiny?" He was torn between confusion and anger. "That monster took the lives of the only family I had and the spirits dare to say it is not my right to slay him?"

The flames stretched up higher towards the evening sky in a column of white heat.

Hisano's voice was cold and distant as she spoke. "A time will come when the Avatar will disappear from the world, the heavens will deliver a mighty power to the people of Fire, an entire culture will be wiped from the Earth, ghosts of the dead will return, the moon will vanish from the sky…the world will know suffering and despair…"

The old woman's body began shaking and writhing like she was in pain, but her voice carried on, "The one who will find Koh is not you, but your descendant. The Face Stealer will return to this world and the war of the spirits will begin again…and then death."

With one last convulsion the body of Hisano fell to the ground and the flames dispersed. One of the greatest seers the world had ever known lay dead on the cold earth.

Word spread quickly about the final prophecy described by Hisano. Her legacy carried on for several generations before she eventually became nothing more than a smudge in the history books.

- - - - -

A boulder flew through the air. Fire cut through the fog. Shing and Zuko had become so blinded by their own battle they had yet to notice the absence of the girls.

Shing made good use of the environment. His earthbending skill testified to a young man on the verge of mastery. But Zuko was no amateur. His own bending proficiency kept him on par with his opponent, although he could not deny the fact that Shing was proving to be a challenge. His movements were strong and solid, almost impossible to break.

The fog was becoming a nuisance. The rocks hurled in Zuko's direction were getting harder and harder to see properly. His body was marked with bruises, testifying to the accuracy of Shing's aim, but the fire prince had been able to avoid any serious damage. The earth prince looked equally battle weary; parts of his skin showed definite singe.

There was an opening and Zuko charged forward, his fists aflame. Before he could reach Shing a large boulder crashed into his left side. He fell to the ground and was sucked into its depths until only his head and the tops of his shoulders were above the earth.

Shing hid some of his exhaustion with a smug expression. "That scar of yours, along with being hideously deforming, is a blind spot for you. Remind me to thank your father."

Normally, this technique was capable of holding the most resilient opponent in unbreakable bondage. However, the flame that burned inside a firebender, when properly provoked, could release a heat so strong that it allowed one to escape the earth's bonds. Shing's spiteful remark did more harm than good, for it was exactly the motivation Zuko needed to break free.

The fire emitted from Zuko was so bright that Shing was forced to shield his eyes. The fire prince's impaired vision would be nothing compared to what he planned to do to his opponent. In a state of blind fury he unleashed another vicious attack.

Zuko braced himself in case Shing should decide to use the same evasive maneuver as before and pop from the earth, but when the fire subsided he could see a dark figure emerge.

The earth prince's entire body had turned into a living shield. He had summoned the environment to defend against the flames and he came out of the attack unharmed despite its intensity. The earth that encased him moved to reveal his face, hands, and feet.

"Do you like it?" He teased. "My earthen armor is impenetrable. Your little sparks won't be able to break through my defense, so why don't you save me the time and trouble and just admit defeat? I have an appointment with a certain tree so I don't have time to play around all day."

Zuko could barely keep his temper under control. "You're lying. If that armor of yours was impenetrable then immortality would be redundant. Or is there something you're not telling me?"

"Don't be an ass."

Zuko scowled.

Shing hated to admit to any weakness, but Zuko was more perceptive then he had first given him credit for. He knew that Shing's motivation wasn't purely greed. Now the earth prince's only question was whether or not he would explain himself. All things considered, a fellow prince should understand the political complexities better than anyone.

The Earth Kingdom was divided into several different territories, each ruled by its own king or tribal leader and fairly autonomous, but no one doubted the power of its capital. Ba-Sing-Sei had its own royal family consisting of a single king, many wives from different tribes, and even more children. Unlike the Fire Nation with its relatively few heirs, the king of Ba-Sing-Sei had many possibilities when choosing the one who would follow in his footsteps. As the fourth son Shing was in a very good position to make a claim for the throne, but he was not without competition. With older half-brothers like Devdan, who had already mastered Earthbending and was gaining popularity among the people, Shing had to do something to outmatch his competitors. And his tribe so desperately needed the glory. He just never knew how to rise above his brothers until his spirit guide told him how.

"Immortality will grant me the power to assume the throne. As King my clan can once again lift their heads proudly among our people. And I will unite every tribe for one final offensive. I will drive the Fire Nation barbarians from our land and put an end to this damn war."

"How ambitious," Zuko hissed. "But you forget that you have one very large obstacle to overcome first. And you're looking at it."

"Don't flatter yourself. My destiny will come to pass, I will be the one to slay Koh, and the Tang clan will receive the glory it has been denied for so long."

"Tang?" Zuko furrowed his brow. Wasn't that the name of the Avatar that fought against Koh? Could that possibly mean…

Shing seemed to read his mind. "Before the death of Tang and his wife they had a young son named Kozue. He was never able to exact his revenge in his lifetime, but it was prophesied that his descendant would complete the task for him. I am the one who will eat from Nu-gua and finally defeat that monster. It's my destiny."

"If you truly believe that then you are the ass. Prophesy or no, I make my own destiny and it includes you bowing at my feet begging for mercy."

Shing laughed. "I suppose I shouldn't expect anything differently coming from you. Very well, let's see who will be begging for mercy."

- - - - -

While dodging the lethal attacks from Chen, Sokka managed to take hold of his club once again. It wasn't done without consequences; he had several new cuts to match the one on his neck. He managed to avoid any fatal wounds, but Chen's pace was remarkably exhausting. Sokka wasn't sure how much longer he could carry on like this. He needed to make his move quickly.

Chen's swordsmanship was unmatched and he was well aware of this fact. There was no doubt in his mind that he would eventually kill the boy, but he was turning out to be a bit more troublesome than anticipated. Time after time he moved in for the kill only for the Water Tribe warrior to somehow escape his grasp.

Sokka parried the sword's blow with his club, but each attack chipped away at the boy's tattered weapon. It had managed to be an excellent defensive tool, but offensively it wasn't quite as effective. Chen definitely had the advantage of strength, but in terms of brains Sokka was dominant. It was as if the boy could think just far enough ahead of Chen to anticipate him, and respond accordingly.

The pirate made a graceful arc with the blade aimed at Sokka's neck. He managed to parry it, but was forced to use both hands to keep the sword from advancing any closer. Their weapons were locked and Chen let out a roar as he pushed Sokka back. The warrior tried to brace himself, but his feet slid upon the wet grass until he was pinned against a tree. The club was the only thing between the blade and Sokka's throat. With a hard kick into Chen's stomach, he had just enough room to escape.

Chen recovered quickly. He charged the boy again with a roar, intent on ending this fight once and for all.

Several things happened in a matter of seconds.

The sword, although it missed piercing Sokka's heart, managed to finally destroy the battered club. There was a flash of steel. Chen's unnatural speed allowed him to twist his body at the last second. There was a howl of pain. Blood dripped from the wound. A large hand grasped a smaller wrist and painfully crushed it.

There was another howl of pain as Sokka jumped back out of range. Chen pulled the boy's knife from his abdomen and more blood gushed from the wound.

"You…had that the whole time?"

Sokka stood motionless and completely vulnerable now that the last of his weapons had been taken. "A dagger is meant to be hidden. I waited to use it when the time was right." Unfortunately, he knew he hadn't done enough damage to incapacitate his opponent. If only Chen couldn't move so quickly.

The wound was serious, but not fatal. The pirate could still win, but he would have to do it quickly.

Sokka tried desperately to suppress the panic that was rising in him. His boomerang, the club, and the knife were all out of his reach. He was weaponless; only his mind was left in his defense. He tried to think quickly. What was left for him to do? Chen still had his sword and that unbelievable speed of his. Sokka still couldn't understand it; how could a body that large move like it did? That was when the idea came to him. If he was right then he just might have a hope of coming out of this fight with his life.

- - - - -

The moon was unusually bright, almost as though the lunar goddess had willed it so. Despite the late hour both Iroh and Aang could see the temple quite clearly. The last time the Avatar had visited the shrine it had taken a great deal of effort to break the spell, however the second time proved much easier. A simple touch was all that was needed.

Now they stood inside the temple and Lei was already aware of the situation. As a tool of Nu-gua, her knowledge surprised neither guest. But Aang was tired of being left in the dark. His friends were in trouble, he could feel it. He needed to know exactly what was going on, but he wasn't entirely prepared for the answer.

"A prophecy? Why didn't you tell me this before?"

Aang had become more aware of Lei's unreal indifference as she spoke, "Time was of the essence. I could not afford to tell you more than was needed at the time."

"Well, Shing is moments away from creating a bridge that will bring Koh back. Do you think now would be a good time?" He shot back.

Iroh placed a comforting hand on the young Avatar's shoulder. Aang lowered his gaze.

"It may already be too late to stop it," said the ex-general. "When the moon spirit was killed I realized that Hisano's prophesy was coming to pass, just as everything else she predicted."

Aang couldn't deny that Hisano had been amazingly accurate with her prediction, considering it described events that wouldn't take place until hundreds of years later. But he wasn't ready to accept the fact that they had lost before the fight even began. "But she wasn't completely right. I mean, the moon might have vanished from the sky, but it came back. The moon spirit was brought back to life. And what about the 'ghosts of the dead will return?' That hasn't happened, so the prophecy is broken, right?"

Iroh exchanged glances with Lei. "We can't be sure of anything," he finally spoke.

"So Koh is coming back no matter what we do? I can't believe that," Aang wasn't about to give up hope yet.

"Destiny is beyond our control," Lei said knowledgably. "The fight against Koh is inevitable and if you wish to defeat him then you must be prepared."

Aang hated the way she said "inevitable." So final, so unavoidable. The Avatar had faced many difficult situations in the past, he had come out victorious before and he could do so again. All he needed was a bit of knowledge. "Do you know what Koh's weakness is?"

"No," Lei replied. "To answer that you must see with your own eyes what turned the spirit Koh into the Face Stealer. Then perhaps you will find a clue to his weakness."

- - - - -

Shing idly stared at the dagger in his hand, the Houshu reflected green light in the Sun. He had spent the last twelve hours alone, fasting, and waiting for his spirit guide to appear. His stomach rumbled. What a damn stupid ritual.

He had always considered himself pragmatic. He had never believed in the supernatural. However, as a prince he had certain obligations, and he went through the traditions expected of his position. But that didn't mean he had to enjoy it.

He lay back on the grass with his arms folded behind his head and yawned. Boring, was another word that came to mind. This was stupid and boring. He wasn't sure how much longer he could last like this. Shing closed his eyes and tried to think of a decent lie to go tell his mother. An eagle; that was a good spirit guide. A majestic eagle came to him and told him that he would lead his tribe to victory. A throne was in his future. He smiled lazily as he drifted off to sleep.

It couldn't be a dream, Shing realized. If this was dream a beautiful woman would be standing in front of him, not some strange-looking old man. "Alright, who are you and what have you done with the dancing girls?"

"Shut up, boy. This isn't a dream. I've come to guide you so that your destiny will transpire."

To say that Shing was disappointed would be an understatement. Animal spirits were the common guides of the people of the Earth Kingdom. Every childhood legend described a hero with an animal guide; a dragon, eagle, bison, anything but human. Admittedly, it wasn't unheard of for the spirit of an ancestor to return and aid their descendant, but none of those heroes ever made legend status.

"Don't think lightly of me," the man sensed the boy's discontent. "In my hands you will know victory."

Kozue explained his plans and Shing was starting to rethink his early judgment about his spirit guide.

- - - - -

If Zuko didn't know better he would swear that Shing's armor was alive. Every time he attacked it would block his efforts. If some of it was damaged more earth would be summoned to replace it. If Zuko targeted an area that wasn't covered the armor would move to conceal it. And it was seriously beginning to piss Zuko off.

Unless he could find a way to break through his defense he couldn't defeat Shing. It was time to try something stupid. He gazed at the dark clouds and watched a flash of lightning in the distance.

The ground beneath him tried to pull him under. Zuko kept moving, his feet never staying in one place long. Shing watched with fascination as a pale red aura surrounded his opponent.

Another lightning bolt fell to the earth. Was it just his imagination or was it getting closer?

Among firebenders only masters had any hope of controlling, much less creating lightning, and even then it was a dangerous task. Zuko had little hope of summoning the electricity, but it was the only thing powerful enough to defeat Shing's armor.

When the earth prince realized this he couldn't help but laugh. "You've finally lost your mind."

The ground stilled beneath Zuko. "Maybe, but you're about to lose a lot more."

A bright light and crash of thunder signaled another lightning bolt. The atmosphere was perfect for Zuko.

"You'll kill us both!" Shing insisted.

Zuko couldn't bring himself to respond, because he knew how valid the other prince's statement was. His fear wasn't without reason. But he placed these thoughts and feelings aside. If Shing could perform an attack like the Kuji Kiri, then Zuko should have no problem with this, right? The fire prince was the only member of his family who had yet to learn this technique, but he convinced himself that it wasn't beyond him. If not now then when?

Shing watched with fascination, he almost didn't realize that Yori had returned. "That was quick. Where's the girl?"

Yori stood beside her master motionless. Her silence told him everything.

"What a shame," the earth prince muttered. "A beautiful girl is a terrible thing to waste."

Zuko couldn't help but hear the exchange between his enemies. If the Water Tribe girl truly was dead then his situation just made a turn for the worse. Now he was alone against both Shing and Yori. Great. Even in death she caused him grief.

The red aura around him grew noticeably hotter.

Yori brought out more kunai, "Now is the time to attack, while he's defenseless."

"You think so?" Her master seemed amused. "Go ahead and throw one of your knives and see just how defenseless he is."

Yori eyed Shing thoughtfully for a moment before obeying. She aimed a kunai at Zuko's heart only for it to disintegrate before it reached him.

"Just as I thought," his suspicion was confirmed. "The heat around him is so strong it's acting as a shield. His attention is entirely upon summoning the lightning, but he isn't without defense. We can't attack him now."

"Lightning?" Yori was confused. "I didn't think he was capable of such an advanced technique. Isn't his sister the prodigy?"

A shadow of a smiled formed on his lips. "You're right on both counts. He's going to try, poor fool that he is, and he'll fail. If we're lucky he just might do our work for us."

Though Iroh had explained some of the rules behind the technique he had never actually gotten around to teaching his nephew firsthand. But Zuko had seen it done before and relied upon memory to serve him now. It took a great deal of energy and time to summon it once, but after several successful attempts lightning could be created with ease…if the rest of his family was any example that is.

Zuko wasn't sure if his body could stand the heat much longer, but the fire inside him would have to get hotter if he was to succeed. He pushed himself harder and felt his skin beginning to burn in consequence. His mind was halfway resigned to giving up when a spark of electricity caught his eye.

His opponents looked dumbstruck. "Get behind me," Shing ordered. Yori did as she was told although she wasn't nearly as worried as her master looked now. It was just a spark; it meant nothing.

But the earth prince wasn't so sure. Zuko had surprised him before and he wasn't taking any chances now. Shing planted his feet firmly in the ground. If worse came to worst he needed to be prepared to protect himself and his bodyguard.

There was another spark. It was fleeting and uncontrolled but a spark none the less. It was soon followed by several others. Zuko was overconfident and, thinking that he had achieved his goal, he sent an attack towards his opponents. But the lightning was too weak and quickly broke apart. His plan had failed.

Zuko's body felt weak and listless. His efforts had taken a toll and Shing didn't hesitate to take advantage of the situation.

"A valiant effort," he conceded. "But now there's nothing left to save you." He lifted his arms in preparation of earthbending his way to victory. Just as he was about to attack the fog around him began to swirl and a stream of water knocked him off balance.

Three pairs of eyes stared incredulously at the new arrival. Katara stood erect, and quite alive, before them. The wound in her leg had been healed although her skin still looked slightly discolored as an aftereffect of the gas.

"That's where you're wrong Shing. This fight is far from over."

- - - - -

Author's Notes: And the title "Providence" starts to make sense.

Devdan isn't mine, but property of Hotspur who so graciously allowed me to borrow him for a quick mention.