Hello everyone. It's been quite a while hasn't it? Well I'm sorry. I've been busy with college and work for the longest time. But that doesn't mean that I haven't been working on the Darkness Saga. I finished the outline for this story and most of the outline for the "Finale" of the Darkness Saga. Please note that this story will be the last one to have the Darkness Saga in the title.

Note: I do not own anything related to Avatar: The Last Airbender (AKA The Legend of Aang)

P.S. For those who were looking for just a Avatar Fic, note that this is the third part of a large series called the Darkness Saga. The first two parts are on my profile.

P.P.S. Please enjoy and review!

Chapter 1 Awakening

A time of peace and prosperity has enveloped the world. The Phoenix King Ozai has been defeated and his Bending taken away by the Avatar, an Airbender named Aang. After an intense battle, Aang was able to win and end the Hundred Year War without taking a life. Zuko, the son of Ozai and the heir of the royal crown, defeated his deranged sister Azula with help from the Waterbender Katara.

A year after the end of the War, there was a conflict in the Fire Nation colony of Yu Dao. The city is comprised of people descended from both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom, Firebenders and Earthbenders were in the same family. Fire Lord Zuko wanted to move the Fire Nation citizens out of the colony, but then the colonists demanded to stay, as they belong to both Nations. After a terrible moment in the world where another war loomed, and Aang had to make a choice whether or not to kill Zuko like he promised or let there be a war. In the end, Aang had made a solution- allow the unity of Yu Dao to continue and allow it to grow and prosper. Thus began the creation of Republic City.

Three years have passed since then. Republic City is still in the process of expansion. In recent times, some people started to take interest in treasure. Benders have formed teams and became treasure hunters. These teams consisted of three Benders, one from each Nation. Currently, there is a team of treasure hunters sailing the ocean between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom.

The Firebender, Fennu, is the leader of the group, with spiky brown hair and grey eyes. He usually wears a loose red shirt, black pants and brown boots. He is friendly and very protective of his two teammates. However, he is quick to anger and dangerous when he gets angry. Right now Fennu and his team are in their small ship in the middle of a storm. The waves pounded on the ship and lightning struck the water, just missing the ship.

"Kongju!" screamed Fennu. "Get the water of the ship!"

"Got it!" responded the Waterbender as he moved the salt water out of the ship. Kongju was born in the Northern Water Tribe and is considered a coward. However, he just believes that it's better to run then fight. Kongju's clothes, which consisted of a purple and blue kimono like tunic with white fur trimmed leggings and knee high boots, were completely wet.

"Fennu!" yelled the Earthbender named Tanxin, who was steering the ship. "Keep the engine dry and keep the fire going!"

Tanxin was always the one who piloted the ship. He loved treasure more than he loved most people. In fact, he only liked his friends Fennu and Kongju more than treasure. He has shaggy brown hair and brown eyes which went along with his style of clothing: a dark green vest that revealed his toned arms and light brown vests and sandals.

They kept this up for a while, but the storm just got worse and worse. A large wave formed and battered their small ship. If it wasn't for Kongju's last minute attempt to save the ship, they all would have been dead in the water. When all hope seemed lost, Kongju saw an island. Tanxin saw it too and steered the ship towards the island.

When they arrived, they noticed that the storm stopped around the island. It actually seemed that the storm was avoiding the island. This island's beach had black sand, darker than a nightmare. The water was eerily calm around the island. As they walked to get some shelter, the three treasure hunters noticed that there was ancient, yet petrified, plant life. Some of the trees still had leaves on them, but others were bare. They noticed that there were several broken down buildings around them. These buildings were covered in coral and barnacles.

"We need to find someplace to stay for the night." said Tanxin. "We must be in the eye of the storm, so staying here for the night would be best."

"Right, but where?" asked Fennu. "All of these buildings are broken down."

At that moment, a large lightning bolt illuminated the sky. Kongju jumped when the thunder was heard. With the light from the lightning, they all saw a black spire not too far into the distance. Tanxin believed that it would be their best bet to ride out the storm. As they got closer, the air got colder and the shadows made by Fennu's flames were moving unnaturally.

As they got to the spire, they noticed that it was indeed intact and covered with many ornate symbols carved into its obsidian structure. At the only door into the spire, there was a large chain and ancient charms that Kongju deciphered.

"These charms…" said Kongju. "They say 'Seal'."

"Why are there here?" asked Fennu.

"Don't know." said Kongju. "Some ancient cultures believed in curses. And this writing is the most ancient I have ever seen."

"Perhaps there is treasure in there!" exclaimed Tanxin. "Why else would anyone say there is a curse and lock up a tower?!"

Before Kongju could tell him to stop, Tanxin ripped the chains off of the door and Earthbended the door open. A large gust of wind blew the three of them into the building, as if air hasn't been in the tower for years. When they picked themselves up, they saw that the room was empty, except for a single stairwell that led down. Not seeing anything better to do, they descended.

The staircase descended in a swirl. The air was thick and musty. They walked down the stairs for what seemed like ages. Soon they came to another chamber with another door, with even more 'Seal' charms on it. Tanxin broke door down without a second thought. With Fennu's flame illuminating the room, the three treasure hunters gasped in surprise at the sight before them.

The room was filled with treasure. Gold, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and many, many more different types of treasure. Tanxin instantly went for the treasure and stuffed his pockets. Fennu lit the torches that were in the room and began gathering the gold and jewels as well. Kongju was the only one who was weary. He then felt a chill shoot through his spine. Looking ahead, Kongju saw a black stone sarcophagus. This thing had no special markings on it from afar, but upon closer inspection there were glyphs carved into it. The sarcophagus gave off such a negative feeling that Kongju backed up till he bumped into Tanxin.

"Are you all right Kongju?" asked Tanxin. "Did you find anything?"

"No-nothing." said Kongju. "Just that thing." He pointed at the sarcophagus.

"Y'know, I heard stories from other treasure hunters that they found royal jewels and crowns in these types of things…" said Tanxin. "Let's open it!"

"Tanxin, don't!" yelled Kongju. Fennu ran toward them as Kongju warned Tanxin. However, Tanxin had already ripped the lid of the sarcophagus. The negativity that Kongju felt increased tenfold.

Inside the sarcophagus was a dry, withered, and decayed corpse. This corpse was wearing regal black robes that were torn and dusty. It wasn't wearing much jewelry, but it had a few rings and a crown. The crown consisted of a dark gold band with black diamonds. Tanxin reached for the jewels.

"Tanxin stop!" screamed Kongju.

"Calm down Kongju!" yelled Tanxin, getting really annoyed. "What do you think is gonna happen? Do you think that this dead guy is gonna come to life and eat my brains? Man you need to grow a spine."

Tanxin reached towards the corpse again. He reached for the rings first. As his hand almost grabbed the first ring, the decayed hand grabbed Tanxin's wrist. The treasure hunters screamed. Tanxin tried to pull his hand away, but the grip was too strong. As he tried to pull away, Tanxin noticed that the face of the corpse was staring right at him.

"Your Heart is filled with Greed." spoke the corpse with a dry and raspy voice. With its other hand, it reached into Tanxin's chest and took out a pink, Heart-shaped crystal which was then dimmed and turned to crystal dust. As soon as the crystal Heart broke apart, Tanxin's body faded away.

"TANXIN!" screamed Fennu and Kongju. The corpse didn't react to their screaming. It just flexed its hand. Fennu grew angry and blasted the corpse with fire. He didn't stop the fire until he was positive that the corpse was ash. However, that was quickly dismissed as the corpse brushed the flames away. Kongju backed up to the wall.

"You." said the corpse, its voice sounding a bit less raspy. Its body looked less decayed as well, and it was walking towards Fennu. Fennu started blasting more fire at the corpse, but it just walked towards him. "Your Heart is filled with Wrath."

The corpse grabbed Fennu's throat and lifted him off the ground. It then reached inside Fennu's chest and took out another crystal Heart which then dimmed and turned to crystal dust. Shadows started to converge on the corpse and it looked more energized. It had white hair and sunken eyes. Its skin looked a lot less decayed and its robes looked repaired.

"I can see your Heart." said the corpse. It was smiling. "I can see what you're truly feeling. Yes you're feeling anger for me killing your friends, but I can practically taste the Fear emanating from your Heart."

Suddenly, Kongju was lifted off the ground. He tried thrashing about and saw that he was tied up by shadows. The corpse just looked at Kongju, still smiling. It reached its hand forward, ever so slowly. Kongju screamed as loud as he could as the corpse slid his hand into his chest and removed Kongju's crystal Heart. As it turned into dust, the corpse completed its regeneration process.

Fully regenerated, the corpse looked like a young man, around the age of twenty. He had pitch black hair and pure black eyes. His skin was as pale as milk. His robes were like a priests' robes and were as black as night. He stared at his hands and smirked. Darkness enveloped him and he appeared at the top of the spire.

"Its' been a long time since I've been out of that stuffy coffin." said the former corpse as he stretched. "Oh, I can't wait to rip this world apart. Good thing finding this World's Heart will destroy it painfully. But first things first…"

Raising his hand, the regenerated corpse gathered Darkness into his hands. The Darkness swirled around till it formed one large sphere, which began to condense in size. Closing his fist around the orb, he jumped into the air and threw it at the spire. As soon as it hit the spire, there was an explosion that grew and grew till it enveloped the entire island, disintegrating everything. The former corpse could feel the shockwaves from his high vantage point, so he knew the world itself has felt it.

"Now, time for some recon." said the former corpse as he opened a Corridor of Darkness around himself and disappeared while the ocean filled the large crater that was his former prison.