Chapter 1
Rise

The moon was full, and its light illuminated the royal family burial grounds of the Fire Nation. Guards quietly patrolled the area, a rather uneventful night. However, high above the clouds, a buzzing sound began to echo through the air.

The guards ignored the sound, mistaking it for the sound of summer cicadas. However, the noise grew louder and louder. Eventually, a black object came crashing down. There was a deafening boom as the object impacted the earth.

The guards quickly rushed down to examine the crash site. The crater was no more than a meter in diameter, and its epicenter there was a black metal rod protruding from the ground. However, one guard noticed something even more peculiar, "It landed right on Fire Lord Ozai's grave…" The other guards quickly noticed. The accuracy of the foreign objects landing was too precise.

The buzzing noise began again, and the guards assumed a battle stance. The buzzing grew louder and louder. The source of the noise was clear, the metal rod. They all braced themselves, but there was no reaction. Just the sound of buzzing. The guards cautiously got closer to the road.

Ozai. RISE. The guards jumped back. A couple of them readied fire balls in their hands. The ground began to shake. The dirt above the Fire Lord's grave began to crack. Finally, a hand burst through. The guards all stared in awe as they saw him, the reanimation of Fire Lord Ozai. His skin was pale and grey. His teeth seemed to be breaking apart, and his gums were a dark shade of black. He was wearing his royal robe and crown when he was still the Fire Lord; however, the color pallet consisted of black, grey, and white. On his belt, there was a black and grey emblem that rested as a belt buckle. The emblem was a triangle with an end pointing down and five bars resting on the base of the triangle.

"I… have… RISEN!" the Fire Lord groaned. The guards all trembled before him, they could not believe what they were seeing. Ozai gazed upon the guards and his eyes hand same emblem portrayed on the surface of his eyes. "Fear" he groaned. He raised his hand, and from the ground the metal rod shot up into his hand. Unsurfaced, the guards realized that the rod was, in actuality, a black scythe.

One of the guards shot a blast of fire, but the Fire Lord sliced the flames with the blade of his scythe. With blinding speed, Ozai rushed the Fire Bender, and he ripped out his heart. Power 0.01%, his scythe spoke. Two of the guards ran away, and Ozai began to laugh maniacally. He extended his arms out, and he began to fly, "So… much…. FEAR!" He inhaled deeply, and with his exhale he ignited the air with scorching white flame. The two guards that ran away were burnt to ash. The last remaining the guard reached for the radio that rested on his hip, and she radioed for reinforcements.

Ozai flew at her. He grabbed her by the throat, "Fear." He plunged his hand into her chest, and retrieved her heart, which quickly turned to ash.

Power 0.02%

Ozai began laughing once again at the terror he was releasing. However, he was interrupted by the sound of a mighty roar. He turned his head to the sky and saw a red majestic dragon, and mounted on the dragon was none other than the Fire Lord, Lord Zuko. Ozai gazed deeply at the Fire Lord, "Will."

At the same moment, Ozai was surrounded by a small army of guards. Ozai turned his attention to the guards and rushed them. However, his feet were held down by the earth beneath him. He turned around and saw four members in white and blue robes, The White Lotus. Ozai aimed his scythe and the Earth Bender. With a thought, the blade of scythe was released from the handle. He began to fly as a barbed chain linked the blade to the rest of the weapon. A White Lotus member flipped in front of the Earth Bender, and with a whip of his arms released a gale of air. The gust of wind threw the blade off trajectory, and caused the blade to plunge into the soft earth.

Ozai pulled his weapon back, and the chain reeled in the blade. Once his weapon was whole again, Ozai had no time to react to the massive attack, the dragon had whipped his tail at Ozai. The monstrous attack sent the former Fire Lord across the graveyard, slamming him against a stone wall. Zuko jumped off his mount and prepared himself, "Whoever you are, you must be foolish for attacking the royal palace. "

There was burst of laughter in response. From the ruble, an armless Ozai rose. Zuko and the others stood in awe as the lost arm began to regenerate itself. "Oh Zuko, how you have grown…" Ozai grinned.

Zuko sized his opponent up, "Who are you?"

The undead Fire Bender sent a volley of fireballs at the Fire Lord. Zuko countered the same and his dragon shot a massive blast of fire. The dragon's fire met its target and resulted in an explosion. The Fire Lord and his White Lotus companions eased in to check if the blast was fatal. The air was hot from the dragon's attack that they were all receiving slight burns from the air itself. "No one could have survived that, "the White Lotus Water bender spoke.

The group stood above charred remains, "You did it your majesty, "the Air Bender spoke.

"Hope,"there was a groan, which was followed by the skeleton of Ozai ripping the heart out of the Air Bender's body. The Earth Bender screamed as she saw her colleague die. "Fear" Ozai yelled out. His body was quickly regenerating. As he lunged out for the Earth Bender, the Water Bender of the group held Ozai in place. Ozai smirked, "Ah… Blood Bending… It truly has been awhile." Ozai closed his eyes, and the handle of his scythe flew through the Water Bender. The scythe met his owner's hand, and Ozai stood in a battle stance.

"Just who – what are you?" Zuko said as he was actively trying to keep his composure.

Ozai's body was now fully recovered. His pants and belt were even recovered, but his shirt was not. Ozai smiled, "Zuko… You're hurting my feelings. I thought this would be a momentous occasion for you… I mean… How many people get a second chance to make amends with their father?"

Zuko trembled and his eyes widened. He touched the burn mark that rested on his face, "No, it can't be you." The Earth Bender used the conversation as an opportunity to create a prison of earth around Ozai, leaving his head the only thing visible. "How!?" Zuko demanded. Ozai's scythe fell to the ground, and Zuko noticed the same emblem that was on Ozai's belt was also on the handle of the scythe. "It's this isn't!?" the Fire Lord yelled while pointing to the scythe.

Ozai laughed, "How perceptive, Zuko!" Zuko grinded his teeth. "Let me tell you its secrets. No harm in telling a dead man your plans," they all flinched and Zuko's dragon roared in anger. "That weapon is The Scythe of Death, and it has reanimated me. It is one of most powerful weapons ever forged, and with it… I will bring end to the light."

Zuko prepared a fireball, "I'm sorry father, but I'm afraid I have to cut our reunion short." Zuko shot a blast of fire onto the scythe; however, the blade separated from the handle in the same manner as it did earlier. The handle shot at Ozai, crumbling the earth prison.

Now free, Ozai hurled the handle at the Earth Bender. The Earth Bender rose a wall of earth, but the handle crashed through, and it slammed against her throat, killing her. As the handle flew, the blade reached Ozai second. He quickly spun around, and made a vertical slice across the body of the Water Bender. Zuko shot a stream of fire, but Ozai caught the flames with his hands. He slowly moved through the flames as if it was water. Zuko's dragon grabbed Zuko and flew high in the sky.

"Not so fast," with a flick of his wrist the scythe came back together. Ozai bent his knees, and with a might push, he shot into the air. The dragon exhaled a stream of fire, but Ozai easily maneuvered around the flames. He quickly caught up with Zuko and his mount, and he managed to flank the mighty beast. In a blink of an eye, Ozai plunged his blade into the heart of the dragon.

Zuko began to fall rapidly; however, Ozai caught his son. He held the Fire Lord by the collar, "Zuko… Die!" Gazing deep into his father's eyes, Zuko's eyes projected the same black emblem as Ozai. He felt his heart beat for the last time before slipping into darkness.

The guards quickly gathered just below wondering what would happen to the Fire Lord. Zuko's body quickly slammed onto the earth below. The guards gathered around to see that there was a hole over his heart that was oozing a black sludge. The guards stood in horror. With no time to react, The Scythe of Death landed right on the whole of the recently deceased Fire Bender, and Ozai landed on his weapon of death. He grinned from ear to ear.

Ozai looked out onto the frightened guards and began to chant, "The Blackest Night falls from the skies, the darkness grows as all light dies, we crave your hearts and your demise, by my black hand, the dead shall rise!" Zuko's body quickly began to bubble and it became a pool of black sludge. The guards ran away as fast as they could. "Fear" Ozai groaned.

Connection made. Die. The Scythe of Death spoke, and from the pool of sludge a swarm of black rings with that carried the same emblem as Ozai, shot into the air. Each ring made contact with the guards that retreated. Each ring forced themselves onto the fingers of the guards, killing them. The guards were then reanimated.

Power 5.009%. The black rings took the air, and zoomed off into the night sky. Searching for suitable hosts, the rings said in a buzz. Ozai stood there above what was left of his son, and a black ring came to the remains of Zuko. Zuko, RISE, the ring floated in mid-air as the remains of Zuko began to regenerate. Eventually, the remains reanimated the recently deceased Fire Lord. Welcome to the Black Lantern Corps.

On Air Temple Island, Jinora quietly meditates alone. Her clear mind slowly becomes clouded, and images begin to enter her mind. Black rings falling from the sky. Enemies who were once thought dead returning, and being stronger than they were before. Life ending. A vision of Korra wielding an emerald blade alongside an array of multi-colored warriors. The spirit world begins to rot.

She snaps out of her meditation, gasping for air. She shakes her head trying to make sense of the images. She goes outside, and looks into the night sky, looking for answers. However, this is when she realizes that what she had was a vision of what is to come. Black rings begin to rain down on Republic City.

Jinora. You have power to instill great hope. She turned around to see a blue shield with a strange emblem that she has never seen before.

"What are you?" she asked.

I am The Shield of Hope. Will you wield the power of hope?

Jinora felt her mind clear and the weight of her heart begin to lift as the shield glowed a warm blue light. "What's going on? What are those ring?" the shield did not answer. However, Jinora failed to feel any form of frustration. She reached out to touch the shield. As her hand made contact, an explosion of blue light engulfed the young air bender.

Welcome, Wielder of Hope.

Jinora was temporarily blinded by the light, but as her vision returned, she realized that she was wearing her old Air Bender monk clothes, but the pallet was switched to blue and black. Around her neck, the same blue emblem that was on the shield was on a clip that rested on her neck.

"What's going on?" Jinora asked.

The Blackest Night is coming.

In the distance, people were screaming, and the buildings began to catch fire. "Is it because of the black rings?"

Affirmative. The Black Lantern Corps has been summoned by the Wielder of Death. Must find The New Guardians.

"Who are they?"

Wielders of the emotional spectrum. They are wielders of The Weapons of Light, each weapon harnesses a different emotion.

"Is Korra one of them?"

Not Confirmed.

"How do you know all of this? Why come to me?" the Air Bender began to demand answers.

I was created by The Entity. The first life form in the universe. I was designed to activate and search for a suitable wielder in the occasion of the Black Lantern Corps resurgence.

"But why me?"

You have power to instill great hope.

JInora's eyes widened. So much was happening so fast. Her family was still asleep, and the city was already under assault. "So, you expect me to fight an army of Black Lanterns? What are they even?"

The Black Lanterns and the Wielder of Death are those who have passed. They are a reanimated army of the dead. There primary objective is to end all life in the universe. They seek to feed, and will find anyone who gives off light from one of the cardinal emotions.

Jinora rubbed her temples, "So, you want me to fight an army of zombies!? What if I fail!?"

All will be well.