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.

There will be a few changes in this chapter, you'll see soon...

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 ;)

Just a side note, I'm going to be adding some more Tales of Destiny 2 techs. I'll describe them in detail when the time comes.

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

Chapter 3: Return of the Masked Swordsman

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Lloyd had been wandering around aimlessly with Colette when they had suddenly been ambushed by a mysterious person. This person bore a Crystal of the Underworld, and that was all they needed to know about him.

He called himself Miktran, and he bore a dark sword.

abc

"Just what do you want with us?" Lloyd was furious as he attempted to dodge a Double Demon Fang that had been sent his way.

"Absolutely nothing with you," Miktran said, sending a Chaos Pulse out. "It has to do with that young boy that you've been working with."

"Kyle?" Lloyd jumped back, managing to dodge the Chaos Pulse. "What about him? What do you want with him?"

"Nothing that should concern you," Miktran said. "I've been looking for him a lot as of late. And I know you're acquaintanced with him."

"You bastard!" Lloyd launched a Double Demon Fang at Miktran, which struck true and knocked the foe back.

"You'd better not be affiliated with Atamoni!" Colette was thoroughly enraged, an unusual state for her, as she launched a Torrential Para Ball at Miktran.

The foe, however, dodged the attack. "And so what if I am?"

"Then we're just going to have to kill you!" Lloyd performed Hurricane Thrust, which also missed. "Dammit!"

"You can't possibly kill me," Miktran said. "If you somehow did, we'd fight on in the afterlife!"

"You can obviously take on two angels," a new voice suddenly said, one that both Lloyd and Colette recognized. "But can you take on three?"

And with that, a familiar masked swordsman appeared out of seemingly nowhere, wings and swords drawn.

"Leon!" Colette looked at the newcomer confusedly. "You've come back?"

"Why are you wearing your old clothes?" Lloyd questioned.

"It's a long story," the masked swordsman said. "For now, watch your back!"

Lloyd turned again to Miktran, but was caught off-guard by an Execution attack, and fell back.

"You stupid humans," Miktran said. "You don't know your limitations yet!"

"As if!" The masked swordsman snorted. "You're just as worthless as you were ten years ago."

"Juudas..." Miktran glanced up. "It's you again..."

"Yes, it's me again," Judas said. "And this time, my name is to stay!"

Judas leaped forward, swinging his longsword and creating a circle of dark energy on the ground. He jumped back and swung both his swords, causing the circle to explode upwards in a burst of dark energy, which he called Majin Meisatsuen.

"Nice one, Judas," Lloyd said, immediately recognizing his friend by his old name.

"Fighting fire with fire, eh?" Miktran snorted. "Soon you'll be on the ground begging for mercy."

"Oh yeah?" Judas smirked. "Let's just say Chaltier here has something to say about your antics."

And with that, Judas leaped forward again and thrust Chaltier's blade into Miktran's abdomen.

"Graaaaaaaggghhhhhh!" Miktran quickly fell back and off of the sword's blade. "You won't get me next time!" And with that, he disappeared, leaving no trace.

"Hey, Judas," Lloyd said, casually sheathing his swords.

"Funny you call me Judas now," Judas said, sheathing his own swords. "Well, I guess I really am Judas after all... one little name change isn't gonna change anything."

"Why did you switch back anyhow?" Colette asked, putting away her chakrams.

"Marian preferred me as Judas," Judas said, smiling.

"You'll do anything for Marian..." Lloyd smiled.

"Yeah..." Judas tilted his head. "How's Kyle doing?"

"He's just fine," Lloyd said. "Although we kinda walked in on him and Reala last night..."

Judas sweatdropped. "Don't mind those two, they're always like this."

"So I noticed," Lloyd said. "Well, you want to get heading back to Triet?"

"Sure," Judas said. "Just so long as you have a room reserved for me and Marian..." he blushed a little.

"Oh, of course," Lloyd said. "Anything for a friend."

"Thanks..." Judas blushed some more, hanging his head a little.

"Aw, it's okay," Lloyd said. "No need to be so embarrassed about it."

"Let's head back now," Judas said. "The others are probably worried about you."

"Yeah..." Lloyd hung his head.

Together the three walked back to Triet, all lost in thought.

abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Author's Note: Okay, a few notes for all of you. I've beaten Tales of Destiny 2, so I now understand a lot more about what's going on.

1. Miktran is the Japanese name of one of the villains from Tales of Destiny. The reason I'm using the Japanese name instead of the English name (Kronos) is because I've grown more familiar with the name Miktran since he's featured in Tales of Destiny 2, and I think it sounds better.

2. Majin Meisatsuen is the base skill for Giren Shoureizan and Majin-Rengoku-Satsu in Tales of Destiny 2. It's also Judas' ultimate tier 2 skill.

3. Instant Nova is actually Ancient Nova. My mistake. Hehe.

4. There's going to be a lot of fluff in the next chapter.

Just wanted to tell all of you guys. :)