(A/N: Well, I'm back, everyone! I don't know if many people here actually remember me, because I've been gone for two months, but nonetheless, I'm going to continue with my action/adventure series. Granted, there's no new SSB game for me to explain, but I'm not going to let that stop me. By the way, if you haven't read any of my 6 other action/adventure fics yet (or even just a few), you probably should read them, since my fics tend to use information and characters introduced in previous fics. I wouldn't want you to be confused or anything. Oh, and as long as you're reading them, review them!

Anyways, without further ado, what will arise from the aftermath of the Shadow War? Let's find out.)

Aftermath

by Ryan Myers

Prologue: Nightmare

A room. Blindingly bright, with two distinguishable figures, one in green and one in white. I can't move my arms or legs.

"What's its power output?"

"Normal. Check the motor control."

I hear what they say, but I don't understand. I think they're talking about me.

"Are its visual circuits online?"

"Let me check. Yes, they are."

"Fantastic. And audio?"

"Yes, but-"

"Hello, my lovely creation."

The green thing is in front of me. He's talking to me, but it's all gibberish.

"Sir, its intelligence is still very low. It will be quite some time before it will be able to understand you."

"Fine. Shut it off."

I understand that. I pull really hard, and I can move my arms again.

"He's broken the restraints! Get him!"

The white man grabs me. I push him away, but he goes too far and hits the far-away wall. Then, I can't move again. I see green.

"Maybe we made you just a bit too powerful. We'll, we can't hook you back up to the machine in the condition you left it. This will have to do."

"N-no." Another voice said far away, sounding sad. "Only the machine will-"

"You dare to disagree with me? I am Emerald, the most powerful being in this dimension, and I can do whatever I want!"

"If you insist."

He grabs my arm and squeezes. I try to pull away but he's too strong. Suddenly, I feel all tingly.

"You foolish little creation, I hope you realize that you've set yourself up for nothing but agony."

The tingle turns sharper, and then it starts to really hurt. I try to scream, but make no noise.

"Since we can't give you intelligence with the computer, we'll have to do it the hard way. This is all you need to know: you work for me and do everything I say."

It really really hurts. Suddenly, I can speak, and I do. I scream with all my energy.

"Screaming won't help you. You're the one who was uncooperative."

I manage to lift my arm up and fire a blast at him. The pain stops for a second.

"You're learning fast," the green man says. "Good."

He grabs both arms and squeezes. I can't stand up anymore; it hurts so much.

"Now then. You were created by me to serve me and to help me conquer the cosmos. You serve only me, and if you do not obey me..."

He's talking quietly, but somehow I hear him perfectly over my screaming.

The white man comes up slowly and says, "I don't think he's in much of a position to serve you, Emerald."

"Silence!" Emerald shouts, shooting a green thing at the white man. He disappears.

"As I was saying," Emerald continues, as the pain grows stronger, "this is nothing compared to what will happen if you do not obey me. Your first assignment is to give this virus to a woman in a dimension that I will show you. It will cause the woman to give birth to an…anomaly."

I manage to nod my head through the pain. I can't imagine where he's going with this, but that's none of my business.

"I'll give you further instructions later. For now, all you need to know is your name."

The pain is so strong now that I can't even move. Emerald only grins at my agony.

"Your name is-"

Aelali woke up gasping. Emerald…he thought to himself. He created Anomaly! He looked around, finding himself in the toy dimension, amidst the destruction caused by the war. He shook his head. I'll go back to Eclipsia…and plan my revenge!

(A/N: See what I mean? If you haven't read my 6th fic (Total War) yet, you have absolutely no idea what's going on! Anyway, the next chapter is coming soon (which you will also have to read my 6th fic to understand). In the meantime, you can catch up on my old fics.)