The Black Side of the Moon~ Prelude to Sunset

A/N - I started this fic back in early 2013 then dropped it after a few months. I came back last month to finish it and am going strong. I plan to rewrite the first couple chapters since they do not match the quality of my newer chapters. Chapters 1-7 were written in early 2013, everything else is new. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my story.

One step forward,

Never able to go back,

To an universe drenched in a sea of blood.

~Yhwach

The play has been set. The Vandenreich have finally made their long awaited attack.

Led by a tall Quincy with long black hair and a dark beard, his name is Yhwach.

He sighed inwardly as he stood over the bisected corpse of Yamamoto Genryuusai Shigekuni, the Captain Commander of the Gotei 13.

Dark clouds gathered in the sky and rain began to pelt the ground gently, creating a relaxing atmosphere that contrasted the destruction marring the Seireitei.

His sanguine frown never left him as he walked slowly over to his adjutant, Haschwalth, who carried a perpetually doleful expression. He then turned his back to him and stuck out his finger, unleashing a blinding light of reishi condensed into what is known as heilig pfeil, vaporizing the fallen Shinigami's remains and soul.

The Quincy's long black cloak billowed in the wind. As he stared solemnly into the sky, he slowly took into account his repayment of the thousand year old debt to his sworn enemy. This very event has signified the beginning of the end.

The inevitable fall of the Soul Society was upon them.

"It is done." Announced Yhwach, his voice resolute. "Convey to all of the Sternritter. We are going to reduce the Soul Society to rubble."

He looked off into the distance with indifference; he could feel the fierce battles raging on between Shinigami and Quincy.

Haschwalth simply nodded. "Yes, your majesty."

Through a form of telepathic communication, he informed their ground troops. He called forth the soldat, a large force of ground troops. Screams and panic filled the air as countless Shinigami were slaughtered like domestic cattle.

Unfortunately, there is no mercy in war, only death and utter destruction.

Yhwach plastered a triumphant smirk on his face as he took a long, deep breath. Their assault had gone more than smooth, everything was proceeding accordingly.

"I wonder how Kurosaki Ichigo is doing." He said. "After our assault is over, go and remove him from his cage. We must take him back to the palace and re-educate him on the situation."

Haschwalth nodded once more and began to relay some more information to the Sternritter.

The invasion was almost over, most of the captain class Shinigami were losing their battles and some were even nearing death. So far, Kuchiki Byakuya, Captain of the 6th division and Yamamoto were the only notable casualties.

Haschwalth turned his head over towards Yhwach who looked to be contemplating something deeply.

'Kurosaki Ichigo will be a valiant ally,' He thought inwardly, "It is a shame that Aizen Sousuke denied our offer, he could have made all the difference in this war, I may end up needing more help against the Royal Guard."

He kept on thinking for some time until he eventually ran out of ideas. His special War time potentials were dwindling. Sadly, only a couple were living up to their expectations, but in due time things would play out accordingly.

Yhwach motioned to Haschwalth to come here and he did so.

"Haschwalth," he called, "We may need to gather more allies to our cause, do you have any suggestions worthy of mentioning?"

Yhwach always looked to Haschwalth for advice, he was his right hand man, and he almost saw him as an equal...almost.

Haschwalth's eyes became distant for a moment as he thought, and then said, "Yes, your majesty, have you ever thought about recruiting Ishida Ryuuken to our cause?"

"Of course," he replied almost instantly. "He has been on my mind much as of late, he was even more powerful than me before I acquired Zanka no Tachi, but sadly he has been in hiding for some time."

Haschwalth nodded in understanding as Yhwach continued. "I have not had any leads on his whereabouts since I last saw him 400 years ago, and let me tell you, that was not a pleasant meeting. His views are too cynical for my tastes anyhow, so it is of no consequence."

Ishida Ryuuken, the "Last of the Quincy" he calls himself. He is very much the most powerful and skilled Quincy in existence at the moment. In truth, Yhwach would do anything to sway him to his cause; the destruction of the Soul Society and the Shinigami. However, Ryuuken is long time best friends with a Shinigami, who just so happens to be Kurosaki Ichigo's father.

Suddenly, a large shadow spilled out of the ground and engulfed him.

"Shit." He cursed. "Impossible, we should still have more time."

Haschwalth looked unconcerned. "We have indeed reached the time limit for operating outside of the "Schatten Bereich" area, we must return to the Vandenreich immediately your majesty, forgive me for not updating you on the time limit."

He thought for a short moment, his eyes widened at his conclusion. "Dammit, I see, this is Aizen Sousuke's doing. In the few minutes we were in contact, he managed to disrupt my senses."

The shadow began to pull him into the endless hole.

"I wonder if…" Yhwach thought. "Haschwalth, recall the Stern Ritter immediately, we're leaving. The Royal Guard will show up soon anyways."

Haschwalth complied and immediately opened up the dimensional rift that led to the Vandenreich palace. They both entered quickly, leaving a crumbling Sereitei in their wake.

.

o o o

.

Kurosaki Ichigo stood in the jail of Quilge Opie, stuck between the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo. He was panting, nearly out of breath. He has no idea how long he has been stuck in here, but he can only feel like he has failed everyone.

"Fuck... Fuck…FUCK!" Ichigo cursed, swinging madly at the Jail's wall. "Why can't I break this? WHY!? Rukia… Renji… everyone... I WILL PROTECT YOU!"

Ichigo could feel the pain and suffering the Shinigami in the Soul Society was enduring, he could barely feel Rukia's and Renji's reiatsu. It was nearly depleted. Ichigo wouldn't know what to do if he lost Rukia. She means so much to him; he wouldn't be able to bear it.

He HAS to save her, he HAS to save everyone, he WILL save everyone.

In a last ditch effort, he unleashed nearly all of his reiatsu, channeling it through his zanpakutou, Tensa Zangetsu. A blinding explosion of black reiatsu engulfed everything around him. Miraculously, he was unharmed. As the smoke cleared, the gate to the Jail lay broken.

"How..?" Ichigo stammered, "Why after all this time it finally breaks? Shit, I'm so tired, I don't think I will be able to keep this up for long."

Ichigo jumped out of the cage and through the senkaimon awaiting him a close distance from the ripple back into Hueco Mundo. He was completely unprepared for what he will find on the other side.