'Nightwing has stirred, and taken to flight
The silence is over, he's shattered the night
No other hunter has the power or the grace
He is the master of this place'

Nightwing, Black Sabbath

Chapter 1: Fall of the Black Phoenix

Nightwings.

Thousands of them.

Painting the grey clouds overhead in pure black.

Trey gazed around him, knowing that they were to thank for the victory. Especially with the Guardian's appearance, there was no way he and Hakalahs could have won alone. Even the immortal warriors had their limits.

He thought back to his battle with Sydney, that young Guardian. Obviously an amateur in combat, but he still possessed incredible power. He wondered what would have happened if he faced a more experienced Guardian, if he could have been beaten or possibly even killed. It had been some time since he actually had to push himself to win, but he was worried of how strong they could be.

It wasn't just the fact that Sydney was so weak that made Trey thankful. He could also protect the young warrior; ensure that he got out of that battle alive. He knew Hakalahs and the Nightwings would not have been so merciful. They never hesitated when it came time to kill, many of them enjoying it.

In many ways, Trey was no different. He had killed thousands in his time, more than he wanted to remember, but even now, after centuries of life, his heart still broke for the young. They had their whole life in front of them, but too often, they were caught up in a war they could not understand. Driven by passion and patriotism they took up arms and fought. And many times died.

Sydney was no exception to that blind heroism.

It was obvious the Guardian fought wanting to make a difference, to save the innocent. A noble goal to be sure. But, he had no idea what the risks were. War wasn't a game for little boys to play. It wasn't about being a hero. No, it was about surviving, killing your opponent before they could kill you. It was a clash of ideals fought with physical force. The winner's ideals would carry on, the losers would be forgotten, their bodies left to rot.

He hated it.

Especially when it was a child's death.

He thought about Adian, that young dimensional, his eyes full of promise, of joy, eager to make a difference in the world. Those eyes seemed so much like Clay. But now, neither of them would open again.

He thought about Zack and Cody. Twins forced into a life they didn't deserve. He stood back and watched as John put Cody through hell and did what he could to mislead John as the little boy ran away. He rooted for that boy too, wanting him to overcome such a monster. And then when Cody was reunited with Zack, he saw the bond between the brothers that could overcome anything. He honestly regretted having to use such a bond to revive Hakalahs, but knew it was the best chance. And, he had thought that the twins would return to life as normal.

Instead, they were dragged up in another battle they had no place in. And worst of all, they were strong and determined enough to be worth eliminating. From a tactical perspective, it was key to eliminate them before they became aware of their true powers. As dimensionals, they were strong, two of the most powerful Trey had ever seen. But if that was all they had, then they still would be able to be taken down easily. They had nearly killed Hakalahs though, and that was just touching on their true powers. It was a good thing they didn't know the power they possessed, or they could be strong enough to ruin everything Trey had worked for. And because of that, they had to die.

He then thought about his own comrades in this battle. His small army had been many years in the making. He first found David in that government prison, locked up and erased from society. Said to be a dangerous criminal, murderer of families, children and all. In reality, just a kid who did not know how to control the powers he had. Trey found him, and gave him hope to change the world. He showed David that he wasn't a monster, but instead a hero. He was meant for something great, to be one who would bring about a world where all could live freely, without the fear of losing everything because of a government's fear.

And now, that hero was gone as quickly as he came into the world. Killed by a tactical mistake. Trey thought that it would be best for the ancients to split up through the city, that they could crush the resistance wherever they went.

He underestimated the foe, and because of that, his best friend was killed.

Trey wanted to consider himself lucky that both Ryo and Sharale made it through the battle alive.

Ryo, one who had learned control of his powers far earlier than David. He knew the power he had and how to avoid attracting attention to himself. When Trey heard rumors of such a person, he sought him out, finding an elemental cast aside by those he called family. Some would say Ryo's loneliness twisted him, causing him to use his powers to get revenge on those he hated and take all he wanted from those around him.

Trey hesitated about joining forces with such a man, but with that kind of power fused with a merciless heart and a cunning mind, he knew Ryo could help to bring about the change he wanted.

And then there was Sharale. The shadow warrior, the only dark elemental Trey had even met. Trey still didn't know much about him. Only that he would kill all those in his way and that his loyalty to Trey was unquestioned. Perhaps it was unwise to trust such a shady man, but Trey knew that it was key to make use of all available resources, especially an elemental with gifts that rare.

Trey gazed up at Hakalahs as they continued up the mountain, amazed that such a mighty warrior could be brought this close to death. He wondered for a second if Hakalahs could truly be the one to bring about the world he dreamed of. Hakalahs was powerful, that was for sure, but the fact that Altinia killed him made him doubt. And even with the full powers of the Nightwing, a single Guardian had nearly killed him again.

Still, it was far too late to doubt, to abandon his plan now. And now, with the Nightwings on their side, not even the Guardians could stand against them. The battle might be harder, but in the end, they would win.

Trey and Hakalahs reached the plateau, which had been turned into a throne room for Ulquiorra, the king of the Nightwings. It lacked the splendor of his normal throne room, this one barren of precious stones and architectural wonders, but the presence of their king alone gave it a royal aura just the same.

General Mystogan stood by the king's side, informing the ruler of the results of the battle, while sparing a glance for Trey and Hakalahs, acknowledging their presence, but alerting them that their time with the king had not yet come.

"I see," Ulquiorra said as he walked over to the two newcomers, a look of stone like resolve across his face.

Hakalahs bowed down before the king, causing Trey to do the same. Trey had only met the king once before, during the planning stage for this invasion nearly five years ago, and from that day, decided he hated the king. Still, he knew Ulquiorra's strength and lust for power would be what they needed to bring the earth under Hakalahs' control.

"You may rise."

"Thank you my lord," Hakalahs said. Trey thought it weird that the one who would soon rule this world would be addressing another as such, but he knew that all their success so far was because of the Nightwings. From the armies of monsters they were given to the mere fact Hakalahs was alive after his battle with Altinia was a gift from them.

"Phase one has been completed, our forces are continuing to pour into this world, and we shall soon darken the skies of Earth with the Nightwings. For your assistance in this operation, you have my gratitude," Ulquiorra explained with royal professionalism. Trey hated how uncaring and distant Ulquiorra could be, his thoughts not even spared for his own people who fell. He was driven only by his need for more, for his kingdom to grow. Despite his hatred through, that was exactly why Ulquiorra was so important to this plan working.

"It was a pleasure to-"

"However," Ulquiorra held out his hand, silencing Hakalahs. "The terms of our agreement were that upon successful opening of the portal between our worlds, you would be granted the full power of the Nightwings."

"I underestimated my opponent," Hakalahs said, hating himself for falling to one as weak as Altinia.

"Indeed. And because of that, you were killed by a mere human." Ulquiorra held his hand out and placed his middle finger against Hakalahs' chest. "A Nightwing general is to be the most powerful warrior the universe as ever seen. I could possibly understand one without our full power failing to defeat a Guardian. But a human? Pathetic."

Trey's eyes went wide as he realized where this could be going. He quickly surveyed the area; ready to strike if need be to save his master. There were about 20 Nightwing solders on the mountaintop, nothing he couldn't handle easily enough. Though, with Ulquiorra and Mystogan also there, he knew he couldn't kill them alone.

He'd have to run.

"I am sorry my lord."

A red glow began growing at Ulquiorra's fingertips.

"You are of no further use to us."

Before Trey could blink, the king fired a neon green bolt of magic from his finger, tearing through Hakalahs chest and painting the sky behind him emerald. Hakalahs tried moving as his blood splashed along the ground.

His eyes went wide as his brain tried to comprehend the exploding pain through his body. He moved his hand up to his wound, trying to understand what just happened, and then began leaning forward, unable to breath with his lungs torn to shreds and unable to even think as he lost consciousness.

Trey fired a time blast at Ulquiorra, forcing the king to jump back to avoid the attack, putting some distance between him and Hakalahs. Trey caught Hakalahs as he fell unconscious and burst from the mountain, harnessing his speed to the fullest to get the two of them away.

"Mystogan," Ulquiorra said, "I want those two dead."

"Understood."

A/N: So who thought this story would never be posted?

Who guessed that I'd start off with a cliffhanger like that?

This story will be a bit different than the others in the series. For one, it's focus will be on Trey, and because I'll only add chapters as necessary to fill in the holes the other stories will leave, it's written as if you are reading the parallel fics to this as well (Red and Unclouded by Hate). So if you want to just jump into the series…I would suggest starting elsewhere, otherwise you will be very confused (even more so than my normal readers)

I'll try to get chapter two up within a week of this too.