Chapter III.

Destruction's Right Hand

"I think you're crazy to be out here," Cyclonis whispered as she and Ace ducked through the dark and shadowy alleys of the industrial city. Both were cloaked, but still happened to look conspicuous.

"Stowe it," Ace replied, coldly, looking around the alley corners for any signs of sentries. The coast was clear, so he gestured Cyclonis to follow him out into the street.

"I doubt whoever that was is going to be in the same place twice," Cyclonis began, noticing that they were heading back to the same blocked off alleyway.

"Of course not Miss Cyclonis!" Sherekan squeaked, poking his head out from under Ace's robes, "But she might have gone in deeper!"

"Sherekan!" Cyclonis exclaimed, "What are you doing here? And what do you mean by that?"

"Watch and learn," Sherekan smiled, leaping off of Ace's shoulder, and scampering to the wall. He leapt into the air, and pushed his paw against one of the higher bricks. The brick indented into the wall, and the barricade melted away, "Look familiar?"

"It's the same type of pseudo-wall we use at the resistance hideout," Cyclonis stated, as the trio headed down the dark alleyway now before them. As they entered the passage, the wall resealed, and they continued onward. There was a faint orange light at the end of the corridor, to which they walked towards.

"It's a safe bet that this is where they'll be." Ace nodded to Cyclonis, who rolled her eyes at him.

"Who the hell are you!" a voice exclaimed, seemingly leaping out of nowhere, as the figure wrapped their arms around Ace's neck, and held a knife up to his neck.

"By the Gods!" Sherekan gasped, rushing towards Ace and the assailant.

"Relax!" Ace called, still in the assailant's grasp, "We're friends! You rescued us from Cypress' sentries a few hours ago!" Ace explained, recognizing the assailant's voice.

"I rescue a lot of people from those bastards," The figure replied, pushing Ace back towards Cyclonis, "What do you want from me! Here to recruit me for-" She continued, getting a good look at the faces before her, "Oh my god…"

"Oh miss Sora!" Sherekan then shouted, leaping towards the assailant, "It is you! Oh master Anteres was right all along! How fortuitous indeed!"

"Sherekan!" The assailant smiled, lifting the creature into her arms, "I've missed you so much! It's been years!"

"Only two," Sherekan stated, looking the newfound Sora over, "Good heavens my dear what happened to you?"

"What happened to all of you," Sora stated, looking to Ace and Cyclonis, "It's no wonder I didn't recognize either of you…you both look terrible."

"You don't look so great yourself," Ace stated, taking a good look at the new Sora. She was older now, in fact, she looked to be about twenty. This certainly wasn't the little girl they had met on terra Wyndia anymore. Her long magenta hair had been poorly sliced off and she looked angry and vindictive, "What happened to you Sora?"

"I don't know," Sora sighed, lifting her infamous satchel off of the ground, "I guess when we went through the time rift, it effected me. When I came out on the other side…I was ten years older. I tried finding you all…I really did…"

"How were you able to keep your crystals!" Cyclonis stated with some shock, looking down at Sora's satchel.

"When I came out on the other side," Sora stated, "I quickly figured out that this nightmare was actually Atmosia, just ruled by Cypress. No one would be looking for me though, because my face on the wanted posters was my ten year old self. So taking that knowledge in hand, I took all my stuff and hid. I know Cypress would love to throw me in her stockades. I've been helping innocent people who were wrongly accused escape the sentries for the past two years. Had I recognized you guys though, I would have taken you to this place I call home. But Ace…how did you know it was me?"

"Call it an intuition," Ace replied quietly, "I just knew…"

"Something doesn't add up though," Cyclonis stated, scratching her head, "How was it that Aerrow wasn't able to sense you?"

"I'm ten years older instantly," Sora stated, "Maybe he's only sensing my ten year old self. I'm a scientist remember…I don't follow all that magic mumbo-jumbo…that's your department."

"It doesn't matter," Ace began, shaking his head, "Not right now anyway."

"We should all get back to the resistance hideout," Cyclonis nodded, "Nova and Ravess will be thrilled to see you."

"And I'd love to see the look on that punk Matteo's face," Ace sneered, crossing his arms and heading down the corridor."

"Have you found anyone else yet?" Sora inquired, as Sherekan snuggled up on her shoulder, "Or is it just the four of you then? And who is Matteo?"

"He's the resistance leader unfortunately," Ace replied, scoffing at the idea.

"And as far as the others go," Cyclonis sighed, "Most of them are in Lumina City…but as far as the guardians go, it's us, Aerrow, and Piper…"

"You think they might be in Lumina City?" Sora asked, "I know about the communications monitoring that Cypress instated a few years back, so you wouldn't be able to know for sure."

"You hit the nail on the head with that one," Cyclonis sighed, as they reached the barricade again, "The last two years have been rough…"

"You're telling me," Sora stated, crossing her arms as they headed out of the hidden alleyway and back into the streets of New Atmosia.

"We shouldn't waste any more time," Cyclonis stated, gesturing everyone to follow her, "This place is crawling with Cypress' goons." She whispered as they walked out into the street, Ace putting up his hood as he did so.

"The resistance has a plan," Ace whispered in Sora's ear, "They intend on smuggling us and what's left of the resistance here in New Atmosia on to a cargo transport in Lumina City. We'll all be safer there."

"Then I suppose I should be saying thank you to you guys," Sora whispered back, laughing slightly, "No way I'd want to be stuck in this hell hole."

"Well well," An all too familiar voice laughed, walking up behind them, "I suppose I should thank you lot…saving me the trouble of hunting you down." She laughed. The group turned to find Meno herself standing amidst the street with a small collection of sentries behind her, "I've missed you in my corrections facility Dark Ace…I can't believe you'd run away. Even with all of the fun times we had."

"Piss off Meno!" Cyclonis hissed, stepping before Ace.

"That's no way to talk to a city official!" Meno hissed, sending a jolt of reddish, visible energy through the air, striking Cyclonis down, "This will be hardly a fair fight…given that you're all weaponless."

"So you think," Sora stated, reaching for something within her satchel. Meno let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, as she extended her hand in front of her, and called Sora's satchel to her grip, ripping it off of her shoulders.

"You shouldn't even have these," Meno sighed, tossing the satchel to one of her sentries, which now surrounded the group.

"Now what!" Cyclonis growled, taking a step closer to the center of the entrapment.

"We fight," Sora shrugged, as the sentries came in closer to them.

"How noble," Meno smiled, walking in towards them, "But my Sora…have you grown up. I've been so foolish, searching for a little girl, when I've really been searching for the miscreant who's been setting all of my arrestees free."

"I can't believe it took you this long to find me," Sora snapped, swatting Meno's hand away from her face.

"I'll take pleasure in ending you lives once you've been properly detained," Meno growled, slapping Sora across the mouth, "As for you Dark Ace…I so look forward to having you back under lock and key. Master Cypress even said I could keep you alive for my own personal enjoyment. You'll make a suitable addition to my collection of mates. Although, that abhorrent druid you're so fond of must be dealt with first."

"You leave Cloud out of this!" Ace growled, staring Meno down.

"I love it when you get so passionate," Meno laughed darkly, "You'll be fun in the bedchamber…I can tell."

"Shut up!" Ace growled, as he began to glow a dark bluish color. Cyclonis and Sora took a step away from him, feeling an energy like that only once before. It was similar to the waves emitting from Cypress' old sanctum. Sora looked down at the old burn mark on her hand, that the stone had left there several years back.

"What in god's name-" Meno began, as Ace's eyes were consumed in blackness. And like the claws of an animal, thick, black, razor like appendages, nearly two feet in length retracted from Ace's fingers. He leapt towards one of the sentries, thrusting his claws into the skull of the nearest guard. He slashed through the bodies of every sentry within his range, as he did so, the civilians of the city were screaming and running for cover. The sentries nervously backed away from the girls and Sherekan, moving to retreat. All except Meno, who stood her ground, even as he approached.

"What did she do to him…" Cyclonis whispered, as the energy emitting from Ace's body began to shatter the ground below them.

"fall back…" Meno began, taking a step away from Ace, "I said fall back!" She commanded as the remaining sentries headed in the other direction, Meno following after, "We'll meet again Dark Ace!" She growled, before hopping on to what looked like a Sky Shark and flying back towards the floating citadel.

"What the hell was that!" Cyclonis exclaimed as she, Sora, and Sherekan made and effort to keep their distance from him.

"Cypress…" Ace growled, as his claws retracted back into his hands, and his eyes returned to normal, "She did something to me…something I can't fight back!"

"We can talk about this later!" Sora exclaimed, "we should hightail it outta here before they get back!"

"Sora's right," Cyclonis nodded, taking Ace's arm and draping it over her shoulder, as she noticed he could barely stand.

"You did what!" Matteo growled as they walked back into the hideout.

"I know what you're thinking," Cyclonis scoffed, rolling her eyes, "But, we found something you might be interested in." She smiled arrogantly as Sora walked into the hideout behind her.

"Sora!" Piper chimed rushing to her, but then stopping once she noticed what the time rift had done to her, "You look…different…"

"It's been a tough ride," Sora replied, looking down to the floor.

"Either way," Sherekan purred, "We're so happy to have you back my dear!"

"It's good to be back," Sora smiled, stroking his large ears, "Cyclonis filled me in on what's going on here. Is it really true that the others are missing?"

"Stork, Finn, Cloud, and Junko," Aerrow sighed, shaking his head slightly, "But you've no idea how good it is to see you Sora!" Aerrow then chimed positively, "At least we can now head to Lumina city with a clear conscious!"

"We should start heading out soon too," Nova then sated, noting what time it was, "If we wait any longer, the cargo drop ship will take off without us, and Cyrus' security clearance is only good for tonight."

"Then what are we waiting for," Ravess began, throwing a satchel over her shoulder, "Everyone, keep your head low and maintain a low profile."

'You don't have to tell me twice," Nova smiled, taking her packed belongings over her shoulder as well.

"You should tell them about what we just saw back there," Cyclonis whispered, placing a hand on Ace's shoulder before he could leave.

"And give Matteo another reason not to trust me," Ace whispered back, pushing her hand off of his shoulder, "I don't think so…I bet it won't even happen again."

"I disagree," Cyclonis sighed, shaking her head as the group left the safe house.

"Come Radarr!" Sherekan chimed, standing in the doorway of the hideout, "There's no way I'm leaving you behind. After all, I'm going to need someone to keep me sane on the flight to Lumina city!"

"Where would you be without me Sherekan," Radarr laughed, shaking his head as he headed to the doorway of the safe house, following after the human members of the group.

"Everything went according to plan," Meno stated direly, walking into Cypress' throne room, "As it turns out, all you have to do is make the Dark Ace angry…something that shouldn't be too hard to do, given his temperament."

"Excellent," Cypress smiled, sitting upon her frost coated throne. Meno and her then watched as two sentries heaved a large stone archway into the center of the throne room. Meno looked to it curiously as Cypress smiled at the artifact, "Do you like it? Thankfully for me, the door to the far-side, and my reliquary aren't the only entrances. This was created by the dark God himself."

"Do you think it a bad omen to keep that demon around in the citadel?" Meno began, looking to the green orb in the center of the throne room, then to the arc.

"Leave your superstitions to the scryers Meno," Cypress sighed, rolling her eyes, "Dar'khan has helped us get this far in our conquering Atmos."

"Forgive me Master," Meno began darkly, "but I don't trust him…"

"It's not your job to trust," Cypress smiled, not looking at her, "But I do have a new task for you and your men."

"What would that be Master?" Meno asked.

"The Red Palace Tournament," Cypress smiled, turning to her, "I want you and your men to travel to Lumina City and enter."

"Why Master?" Meno inquired, raising an eyebrow, "That seems a bit frivolous to me?"

"It will make sense in due time," Cypress smiled, "As long as Carver remains champion of the tournament, all will be fine, but I do wish for you to enter. Let's just say it will give you the ample opportunity to dispose of miss Cloud, like you've been wanting to do for years now."

"Where do I sign up?" Meno laughed darkly.

"Don't sound so eager," Cypress replied, walking over to the archway, "The tournament is a few days away." She sighed, walking towards Meno. She placed something in her hands and then walked back to the arch, "That security pass will get you access to the transports to Lumina City. I want you to go there and register. Carver will be meeting you at the shipyards of Lumina. If you encounter a Twilight Knight, or member of the resistance, bypass them…lull them into a false sense of security. Let them get comfortable in Lumina…"

"Only to have their lives end in the tournament," Meno laughed, "How perfect this will be!"

"I don't really care who wins the tournament," Cypress then stated, "Anaxagoras and his brothers will be entering too, and I could care less which of you five wins…I just want to make sure all of those twilight knights lose…understand me?"

"Perfectly," Meno smiled.

"Oh, and take Cyrus with you," Cypress smiled darkly. Meno turned to Cypress, looking confused, "I need her to enter the tournament as well…if she declines, tell her it's by my orders."

"Yes Master Cypress," Meno added, bowing her head before her as she moved to leave the throne room. The door slammed behind Meno, leaving Cypress alone in the throne room. Once she was alone, Cypress took the green orb sitting on the pedestal and removed it. She walked over to the archway, at the top of which was a large. concave indentation at the crest. The orb drifted out of her hands and into the indentation, nesting itself within the arch. A vortex appeared within the archway, as Cypress took a step backwards. The portal within the archway flickered and glowed in sync with the old reliquary hanging on her hips.

All of the pieces will fall into place soon enough, Cypress thought triumphantly, Now that the wheel is set into motion…

[Message from Kingdom Come]: Hi guys! So we now have chapter three of the oh so exciting Regiment of Twilight. The first thing you might be confused on, is the title of this chapter, I.e. why is it called Destruction's right hand? Okay, so without going into too much detail about it, because it's your job to interpret what I might mean (who knows what I really mean anyway! I'm sure 90% of every interpretation made about a book has like…nothing to do with what the original author thought…) Anyway, I will tell you that it has something to do with Cypress and the Dark Ace…but that's all. Second on the agenda, the next chapter of Overture is up, so go read it D: lol just kidding! Anyway, one question though, who would be interested in a more polished/edited PDF copy of volume 1? Because if no one wants it I am not going through re-editing it and making a spiffy PDF download if no one wants it. Also, I have to say, I am like, seriously impressed guys! There has been a massive amount of hits/visitors from all over who have stopped by to read. Let's just say, the average amount of hits I get on this story per month, I have gotten in the past 11 days. So wow! Thanks to all those who are reviewing/stopping by for a read! And that's all I have to say! I'll update either this or overture sometime soon guys! So I'll see you soon!