Spirits and Redemption

Author's Note: This story takes place in a slightly altered version of my Knight-Avatar universe. Though the Knights are still there, events have progressed identically to the show. It begins about a week after the last episode.

Part 1

The Mission

The Fire Palace glowed brightly that night, it's spires and peaks all shining with candles and torches and all manner of light-making flames. It was rare that the Palace was brightened in such a way, for it was a large and daunting task. But there were occasions that called for it, and this night was no exception. For tonight, the Fire Nation would celebrate the coronation of its new Fire Lord, with a celebration that would last for much of the night. Everyone inside the palace was looking forward to the event, imagining the grandness of the party, the joy and the happiness, especially after the years of war under Fire Lord Ozai. But that wasn't entirely true. For there were some in the palace that had other thoughts on the party…

"Do we really have to go to this?" Mai asked, rolling her eyes as she looked at the long, bright, and far to elegant dress that she had been given for the night.

"I'd think you'd want a party after all that time in prison." Zuko replied, as he worked over the drawstrings of his ceremonial outfit, which was also far too overdone to be comfortable.

"Oh yeah. Spending a lot of time with strangers in a large building is a great alternative after jail."

Zuko would've replied, but was far too distracted by the confines of his outfit to give a real response. He grunted instead, as he fiddled with the strings and buttons. But thankfully, Mai understood him well enough, as she went over and loosened a single button for him. Of course, this caused the outfit to fall to the ground in a heap, leaving Zuko in only his underwear.

"Now, if we celebrated with you like that.." Mai said, tracing her finger around Zuko's chest.

"I'd like that too. But we need to save something for afterwards." Zuko said with a smile, as he took Mai's hand in his own. "Besides, I need to win over a lot of people at this celebration. I don't want anyone to think that I can be manipulated.

"All right." Mai sighed, as she bent down and grabbed Zuko's clothes. Zuko held out his arms and stood still, as Mai pulled the outfit over him, tightening and fastening with speed that Zuko couldn't have emulated even if he knew how the outfit functioned. Within a few minutes, Zuko was clothed in the royal outfit, looking every inch the Fire Lord.

"I still can't believe you can make this thing work." Zuko said, as he marveled at his finally complete outfit.

"Thank my parents. You wouldn't believe how many dresses and gowns I had to put together as a kid." Mai replied. "This is nothing compared to that."

"I can imagine." Zuko said, as he put his arm around Mai. "So do I get to dress you now?"

Mai smiled and started to reply, but then a knock sounded from the door. Zuko sighed and said, "Enter."

The door creaked open, as Fuego poked his head inside the doorway.

"Sorry to interrupt, but they're startin' ta wonder where ya are." The lava-man said. "A couple of 'em even think that yer workin' on the next heir to the throne."

"And it's getting harder with these interruptions." Mai said dryly.

"We will be down in a few minutes." Zuko replied. "Were you able to make that drink you spoke about?"

"Oh yes." Fuego replied with a grin. "I warn you though, we will have to ration the tequila."

"See to it." Zuko said with a grin.

The red man nodded, and then shut the door. Turning back to the hallway, he moved down it and then up the stairway, to the very spacious room the Knights had been given. They all sat around the room, preparing in their own ways- Oscuridad, Bat of Shadow, Agua Cat of Water, Tierra, Dog of Earth, Aire, Falcon of Air, Bosque, Squirrel of Forest, Tureno, Ram of Thunder, Hierro, Spider of Metal, Luz, Fox of Light, and Desierto, Wolf of Desert. For a moment, Fuego looked in and wondered how such an oddball group had been chosen to help humanity keep the balance of good and evil. But that past quickly enough- after all, he was part of that group.

"So is 'e ready yet or what?" Agua asked, as he adjusted his cloak in the mirror. The cat paused a minute to look again, then licked his hand and began to adjust his whiskers

"I caught 'em in the middle a somethin' but I think they'll be ready." Fuego replied.

"Sweet. This should be an awesome party." Aire replied, as he rubbed his hands in anticipation.

"Yer tellin' me. I'm finally gonna get some real booze in dis place." Tierra added. "You'd think they coulda found beer by now."

"I think the whole war effort thing might have thrown a gear in there." Luz said shaking her head at her brother's stupidity. "Besides, you wanna be around a bucncha drunk guys that shoot flames from their hands?"

"We've seen worse." Oscuridad said, standing up from his chair near the window. "Now come on, let's get going so we don't see too much worse tonight."

"God help us if Aang or Sokka find that stuff." Bosque added, as the rest of the Knights turned from their spots towards the door. But before they reached it, the fireplace suddenly sparked and snuffed out, without a breeze or anything else, bringing the room into darkness.

"Very funny Fue." Hierro said. "We've never been locked inside a dark room before."

"Uh, that wasn't me." Fuego replied.

"Don't look at me." Aire replied. "This is way too easy for my skills. Maybe Truneo would do this if he could."

"If I could look at you, I'd hit you." The dog snapped.

"Enough guys." Desierto said. "Let's just find the door and get going."

"Not yet." Whispered a voice from the dark. The Knights halted instantly, recognizing the voice instantly. Slowly, they turned to see a pillar of black and blue flame emerge from the shadows. It twisted and turned, changing form even as the flames lessened and dimmed. Finally, they vanished almost completely, creating a small ring of flame around a cloaked figure dressed in black robes. As the figure moved to pull back it's hood, the Knights all fell to one knee as the hood came off, revealing the face of Rastla, Architect of Shadow and the patron of Oscuridad.

"Mother. We are honored to see you again." Osc said. "What brings you to this place?"

"Are you here fer da party?" Tierra asked. "Cause we'd like ta go to and…"

"I came to give you a task." Rastla said, not unkindly. "One that shall bring joy to one of your friends."

"What is it?" Osc asked.

"Fire Lord Zuko has carved a fine and honorable destiny for himself. We have seen that under his reign, the world shall be improved to the place it once was. With his help, the Avatar shall even be able to rebuild the Airbenders. As such, we have deemed him worthy of his heart's desire."

"Well that's great!" Fuego said. "What do we need to do?"

"We have located what he seeks, but it cannot be brought to him without a price being paid. This is what you must do. This night, you must travel to an island west of here, called Sea-Skull. There, you must find a lost soul, and bring her back to the world."

"I think I understand." Oscuridad said. "Don't worry, we'll find Ursa."

"That is not the one I speak of." Rastla replied. "But you are not far from it."

"But then who is it?" Luz asked. ""I mean…. wait a second….Sea-Skull,… isn't that a mental institution?"

"Yes."

"Oh dear God." Trueno breathed. "It's more then that. That's where they put…. Her."

"Who?" Aire asked. "Who would Zuko know in a mental institution?"

"As of a week ago, one person." Hierro replied.

"Wha.. No. Now way."

"Yes. Your task is to restore the sanity of Princess Azula." Rastla said. "Only then can Zuko have his heart's desire."

Now the Knights had grown to think of Zuko as a friend and a good one at that. He had grown from an angry young man into a calm and wise ruler, and they were all proud of him for it. They wanted nothing more to see him succeed, and agreed he deserved a reward for attempting to undo his father's world. And when they heard what needed to be done to help him, there was only one response they could give.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR GODDAMN MIND?"

"This is the price. It cannot be avoided." Rastla said calmly.

"Oh come on, there must be something else." Aire said.

"There is not."

"But Mother, think of what you're asking." Osc said. "You know how dangerous it was to…"

"Do you think that what is asked cannot come with compassion?" Raslta asked. "You are charged with returning what was lost, not only recently but from years past."

"Huh?"

"Azula has seen the error of her ways. But unlike her brother, she cannot admit her faults. She is trapped there because of this failing. If you can make her understand, then she will no longer be the person you feared. She will someone new, someone eager to help undo the pain she has caused."

"If it was anyone else, I'd agree." Osc argued. "But Azula.."

"It matters not." Rastla said. "This is the price for Zuko's happiness. You must cure Azula of her madness. It is the named price."

Osc started to say more, but then the shadows swirled around Rastla, and within moments, the Architect had vanished once again.

"Well, that's great, innit?" Bosque muttered, as the bat fell back into his chair.

"You are never allowed to complain about my mother again." Luz warned.

"I still don't get why." Trueno said. "I mean, I'm not against trying to help someone, but why Azula? Why would your mother want us to help her?"

"Do you think I know?" the bat muttered.

"Well hold on a sec. Let's not talk about this like we're actually gonna do it!" Des said. "I mean come on! Do we want Azula back?"

"Not the one we knew." Trueno said. "But you heard Rastla. Maybe we can help her. I mean, if we could get her on our side, can you imagine?"

"They'd never accept her." Bosqie said. "It's crazy to even talk about it."

"And there's still one other question to consider." Hierro added. "How in the dickens are we going to do it?"

"I don't…." Oscuridad said, but then a light crept into his eyes, as a smile wormed its way across his face.

"Uh-oh." Luz said. "He's got the 'an insane, screwed up plan is forming in my head' look again."
"Osc? Do you have an idea?" Agua asked.

"Oh yeah." The bat replied, his grin growing bigger and bigger. "Let's get going. And tonight, we go literary!"