Author's note: The section in italics in the beginning is a voice talking over the scene.

The Cerulean Jewel has been found. It is on a mere, little, HUMAN world. Its holder thinks she is safe there, but our ally knows its power like she never will (here it shows a throne with some creature sitting on it, but it is hard to see exactly who or what it is since the throne's back is turned. The figure is talking to someone in the back) The figure hand is holding a futuristic, angular scepter which he loudly taps on the ground. As he does, a shadowy, insectoid figure approaches and kneels before the throne). My hunter is ready, and my force, my army, will follow. Their world will be mine, and the jewel, yours. And what of the humans? They will have nothing else to do, but BURN! Here a small, angular craft is seen flying out of a larger cruiser and hurtles away.

…

On Earth, a S.H.I.E.L.D quinjet is seen flying towards the city of Musutafu. Satellites had shown an unknown, alien ship having landed in that area, and S.H.I.E.L.D agents had immediately been sent to investigate. As the jet gets closer towards the area, it sees a small crater where a pod of some kind seems to have crashed. Police and spectators surround the area, with a small group of them clearing away to allow the jet to land, which it promptly does. As the exit ramp lowers, a team of elite S.H.I.E.L.D agents exit, with Agent Phil Coulson leading them. As they get closer to the site, they are met by the head officer and the hero, Midnight.

"Who are you?" the officer asks.

"Agent Coulson, of S.H.I.E.L.D," Coulson replies, "We were sent here to investigate a strange object that landed here, presumably that one."

"Well, have a look if you want," Midnight said, "We still can't make out what it is exactly and it hasn't done anything since it landed here."

Coulson nodded and moved in with his team. As the agents scanned the pod with their gadgets, it became clear that the object was alien. It was also a ship of some kind as a life form was detected inside. Just then, a part of the ship hissed and swung open. Everyone stepped far back in shock or fright. As the door finished opening, a clawed hand reached out, then, bit by bit, the rest of the being came out. It was about 8 ft tall and insectoid, with a hard exoskeleton. It had four, crab-like legs. The head had a large frill at the back, like a crown, and its eyes were narrow and white. It was a dark grey color, with black veins webbing around its entire body.

Coulson slowly approached the creature. "Excuse me," he said, "My name is Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D, and you have entered a populated civilian area. Identify yourself."

The creature turned to Coulson, and then spoke: "Greetings, Agent Coulson. I am Shade, a hunter sent here by the Trisectoid leader, Dex'tro. What for is none of your business."

"This is our planet, pal!" Midnight spoke up, "Whatever you plan on doing here is very much our business."

"Fiery, I see," Shade hissed, "Impressive, but I know how to handle that."

Suddenly, a black tendril shot from Shade's arm and swatted Midnight aside into a wall, knocking her out cold.

"Engage!" Coulson yelled, and he and the other agents opened fire with their plasma guns as the bystanders ran in panic. Shade held up his arm, forming a shield out of the black matter surrounding his body, blocking the shots.

"Fools! I don't have time for this!" Shade yelled, and, morphing the shield into a whip, he swatted the other agents aside, Coulson ducking for cover to avoid the blow. With the attackers distracted, Shade took the opportunity and jumped away from the area with an incredible bound, somehow turning invisible as he did.

Coulson got back up and assessed the damage. A few cars were destroyed and the other agents were dazed and wounded, but it could have been worse. Much worse. He ran over to Midnight to see if she was okay. Shaking her a bit, he was able to help her regain her senses.

"You alright?" he asked.

Midnight weakly nodded: "I've been hit by worse. What was that thing?"

"I'm not sure. But whoever that Shade character is, something tells me his intentions are far from peaceful."

"What do you plan on doing?"

Coulson thought for a bit, then said: "I gotta bring this up to Fury, he needs to know what we're dealing with."

Midnight nodded, managing to stand up: "I'll go see if anyone is hurt." She said walking towards the damage. Meanwhile, Coulson pulled out a radio and signaled Director Nick Fury.

"Director," he said, "We may have a problem. A level 7 problem."

"I saw the footage," Fury replied from the other end, "Who do you suggest we call? The Avengers?"

"No, not this time. I think we try something else. Someone else."

"Who did you have in mind?"

Coulson though for a bit. Then, he remembered a small group of heroes that S.H.I.E.L.D had just started watching. If they could be brought together, they might be just what S.H.I.E.L.D needs to counter this new alien threat.

Author's note: Shade, along with a few other characters in this story, were all created in collaboration with the genius mind of writer gabeherndon308 and I have him to thank for laying down the foundation for which this story would rise. This story is going to be a saga of sorts, divided up into 3 main stories and a handful of side stories all in one place. Since this is also in anime style, I might also consider adding a few chibi mini episodes into this just for fun, but I'm not quite sure yet. This chapter begins the first main story: First Alliance.