Shadow's Return: A Fanfic by Gyppy
Timeline: Based 2 years after 'Crystal Feathers'
Summary: Nebilim's will had been broken for a final time, and Symphonia was finally at peace after four years of hard fighting. The group that saved Symphonia parted ways, expecting to never see each other again.
However, the miasma has returned, and Lloyd has no idea why. The Tower of Destruction's ground is concealed by a rolling shadow, one that threatens to conceal the land. At the same time, the crystals have returned, obviously to defend the land... so there are obviously two opposing forces at work.
Lloyd sets out once again on a journey to save the world. However, this time he will be saving more than just the world...
Pairings: LloydxColette, SheenaxZelos and KylexReala will be the predominant pairings, with a few sprinklings of others, especially LonixNanaly and LeonxMarian.
Author's Note: Okay, this is what you call serious AU. This fanfic is the hotly-anticipated sequel to Crystal Feathers, which was the third in a series dubbed 'Rising Shadow'. If you'll notice, the entire series thus far has had the same rating, with sexual references and language generally increasing with time. I can't guarantee anything about this fanfic, so please expect anything.
There will be big-time spoilers for Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Destiny and Tales of Destiny 2, so if you do not desire to be spoiled on any of these games, do not read on.
In this fanfic, who was Judas in Crystal Feathers is now Leon. There is a reason for this that was easily explained in Crystal Feathers, if you've read the fanfic.
To all you ZelosxSheena haters, I advise you stay very far away from this fanfic. Reason why? Zelos and Sheena are married in this fanfic. Yep, that's right. It happened around a year after Crystal Feathers, which was why it wasn't mentioned in CF.
Some of you may have noticed that although KratosxRaine is indeed an official pairing in this fanfic series, there haven't been very many references to it in the actual series. There is a reason for this that I hope you've realized by now: I do not wish to offend any of the purists who happen to read my fanfic. This is to encourage more readers (and hopefully, more reviewers), while still keeping the interest of those that like the pairing.
This fanfic is based two years after Crystal Feathers, four years after To Kill An Angel, six years after Rising Shadow. For those of you who can't do the math, Lloyd is 23, Colette is 22, Zelos is 28, Sheena is 25, Genis is 18, Presea is 18, Raine is 29, Abyssion is 29, Leviathan is 22, Seles is 20, Allurya is 10, Mithos is 18, Karina is 17, Kyle is 17, Reala is 18, Loni is 25, Nanaly is 21, and Leon is 18. Stahn and Rutee have also removed their Cruxis Crystals, and therefore they are, respectively, 21 and 20. Philia is 21 as well, but she is expected to be featured less than the other Swordian masters.
This fanfic has the potential to introduce some more characters later on; if so, they will most likely be from either Tales of Destiny 2 or Tales of Eternia. I already have planned another Tales of Destiny 2 introduction... you'll see just who later on ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Destiny/Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Eternia, Namco, Final Fantasy or Squaresoft/Square-Enix.
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Prologue: Stubborn Shadow
Mithos' P.O.V.
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
It's been a long time since I last saw one of these crystals. So long, in fact, that it seems it's been forever... it's amazing how just six years can change everything.
Miasma has returned to Symphonia... we're not really sure why. Niflheim was sealed a long time ago... I don't see why the miasma should return. But then again, there must be two forces at work, because the crystals have also returned. It's kinda strange, really...
I once heard from Kyle Dunamis that the more you look at something, the more it's bound to change. It seems that way with Symphonia... we've been looking at it for so long and it's changed so much. But this time, it's back to what it was in the beginning... the same decrepit state that it was six years ago.
Judas has changed his name, back to Leon. With the evolution of his Cruxis Crystal, he's also started to age again. He doesn't seem quite so gloomy and depressed anymore, either... I think with the return of his beloved sister as well as Marian, he's finally been able to become human again. I can't help but feel sorry for him... I understand his hardships, and I think there's really only one person who's held me together this entire time.
Karina... I've finally been able to tell her how I feel about her. She accepted it, taking it in stride, and we've been living fine ever since. It just seems like so much of a change from the ordinary... but thankfully, I've finally been able to live again, for the first time in four thousand years.
Stahn and Rutee have returned to normal as well. They had Cruxis Crystals implanted in their bodies for approximately twenty-three years, and finally decided to remove them after Kaziro's will was broken from their Swordians.
And Garr... he passed on two years ago. He was killed in battle by who was then known as Judas... Philia still mourns his loss, though she handles it as best she can. I received his Swordian afterwards. Igtenos has taken quite a liking to me since... it seems to not mind being controlled by someone new.
Lloyd and Colette are married, and they have been for about one and a half years. I'm glad to see them together... it just seems so natural, y'know?
And Zelos and Sheena... they were married as well. It's amazing how they've managed to stay together, considering how they once acted toward each other. But they seem happy together, and you won't see me complaining...
I haven't heard much from Kyle and Reala, though I'd assume they're living happily ever after. Similarly, I haven't heard much from Loni, but Nanaly is keeping me up-to-date on him. I hope they've all realized what's happening to Symphonia...
Abyssion seems to have disappeared, as has Allurya. I don't know where they've gone off to, but I hope they return soon.
All in all, it's been an interesting past two years. I hope I can meet up with the others and tell them about our danger. Hopefully they'll realize it as well, what exactly is going on, because if they don't... no, I dare not think of what will happen...
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Author's Note: This starts off the fanfic on a relatively light note. Expect that to change drastically in the next chapter.
