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 JudasxMarian.

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 Judas 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.

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Chapter 4: Warmth

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It was a quiet and lonely night in Triet, and all the comrades were exhausted. They decided to stay indoors, with only a few venturing outside.

Judas, however, insisted on staying inside. He had his own room, and wished to speak a little with Marian...

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"Marian, can you hear me?" Judas whispered quietly.

Marian's form appeared next to the bed Judas was sitting on. "Yes, I can hear you just fine."

"Hello," Judas said, smiling up at his lover.

"Hi," Marian said informally, sitting down next to Judas. "What did you call me out for?"

"Oh, nothing," Judas said. "I just wanted to talk to you for a while, that's all..."

"About what?" Marian gently draped an arm around Judas' neck.

"You can't age now, right?" Judas gazed into Marian's eyes. "What will we do... when I get older?"

"I can alter my physical appearance, you know," Marian said. "So, technically I could live as a girl around your age... but I choose not to, because I know you're more comfortable with me this way."

"Yeah..." Judas blushed a little. "But... y'know... you don't have to go out of your way so I like you more... I love you either way, no matter how old you are or how you look..."

"This reminds me," Marian said, giggling a little. "What do you think will happen with Loni and Nanaly? It's obvious they like each other, but they don't seem to be too comfortable with being together..."

Judas snickered. "Those two will get along just fine in a year or two. Heck, they may even be married. Who knows. But at any rate..." he leaned his head into Marian's shoulder. "Should we get going to sleep?"

"Nah," Marian said, grinning mischievously and pushing Judas down on the bed. "I want to do a little something first..."

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In the next room over, Kyle and Reala were sitting on their bed, side-by-side. They had been chatting for a while, but then Kyle decided to bring something up.

"Reala..." he whispered, almost directly into her ear.

"Yes, Kyle?" Reala perked up.

"Are you happy I'm here?" Kyle asked, leaning a little closer to Reala.

"Of course I'm happy you're here," Reala said. "You're my beloved..."

"Aww, thanks, Reala," Kyle said, smiling. "You know you're so cute..."

"Thank you," Reala said, blushing deeply. "I think you're cute too." She smiled.

Kyle blushed profusely. "Hehe... yeah... I know you think I'm cute..."

"So, Kyle..." Reala glanced away, taking her mind off the subject. "Do you think we'll be okay tomorrow? I mean, we're going out to look for Barbatos, after all..."

"Don't worry," Kyle said. "If that Miktran guy is dead, we should be fine. And he probably is, considering what Judas said."

"Thank you for reassuring me, Kyle," Reala said, leaning against Kyle. "And, by the way..."

"Hmm?" Kyle looked up at Reala.

"I love you," Reala said. "Now and forever."

"I love you too," Kyle said, wrapping an arm around Reala. "My sweet little pink flower..."

Reala blushed. "I'm not that pink, you know..."

"Yeah, I know..." Kyle giggled. "But I felt like being poetic."

"Yes, I understand," Reala said, giggling. "You're so cute when you're happy."

"I'm cute?" Kyle blushed. "Eheheh... thanks..."

Reala embraced Kyle. "You're the cutest..."

Kyle snuggled against Reala, and soon enough the two were laying down in the bed, parallel to each other, gazing into each other's eyes.

"You're so warm," Kyle said, smiling broadly.

"You're warmer," Reala said, giggling.

"Nah, you're warmer," Kyle said, blushing a bit.

Reala blushed. "I still think you're warmer."

"Aww, thanks, Reala," Kyle said, giggling and pulling Reala close. "Goodnight..." he suddenly froze as he heard a rather loud noise from the next room.

Reala sweatdropped. "I think I know what that was..."

"Yeah..." Kyle blushed profusely. "But let's not worry about that now... goodnight, Reala."

"Goodnight, Kyle..." Reala snuggled up to Kyle, a smile on her face.

Together the two drifted off into sleep, still holding each other close.

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Author's Note: Whoo, need to tone down the sexual references a bit. Not sure if this chapter will get me an M rating or not.

Anyway, just a short piece of fluff since I was really in the mood for it.