Returning Darkness (Prologue)

Twilight Shadow snuck around the corner, afraid of his return. Aria smiled fondly to him.

"Twilight Shadow, there's no reason to hide, we're all friends now, remember?" she said as Ultimate glared to the guest in anger, turning away. Aria tugged at his arm.

"Don't mind him. He's being more protective now after what she did." Aria said as Twilight Shadow sighed.

"I understand. I was wrong to trust her. But there's this hole in my heart I can't push aside..." he said as Aria sighed.

"I'm guessing that's how a breakup feels. I know this because Slice went away for 2 years to train. I had the same feeling, like nothing but him would make me happy. Well that and Ultimate, but besides that, when he returned, that hole was finally filled." she said as Twilight Shadow sighed.

"Alright. Ultimate? Do you have anywhere I may reside?" he asked politely, bowing to Ultimate's superior power over him. He sighed angrily.

"Yes, but you'll have to swear loyalty to me and Ari, and to swear to never harm anyone of this family or anyone ever again."

"Does meat count, your majesty?" Twilight Shadow asked, looking up respectively to him.

"No, it's food, not people you idiot. Now go rest up." he said, pointing to the hall his room was located in. Twilight Shadow nodded, bowing a final time and whispering another "Yes your Majesty" to him before walking silently away. Ultimate sighed.

"Remind me why he's sharing a roof with us, Ari." he said, turning to his wife.

"He had nowhere else to go, and was too heartbroken to take his old kingdom back. You offered him the room here, remember?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips as Ultimate sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"I remember just fine. I'm just worried about you and our kids. I don't want them, or you, hurt. It would just pain me too much."

With those last few words, Ultimate drew closer, hugging her, and grazing his fingers through her hair.

"It'll be okay, Ulti, I promise." she said, kissing him briefly before smiling.

"And if anything, anything doesn't feel right to you, I'll do my best to make it better." she said as Ultimate sighed, smiled and kissed her back.

"Thank you, Ari. I'll try and keep my cool around him, but if I must wound him to protect you, I'll do just that." he said as Aria nodded and kissed him again.

"Alright, babe. He just arrived, but it's already sunset!" she said, pointing to the window as the blast of colors peaked through. Ultimate nodded and picked Aria up, kissing her before walking towards their room. Placing her gently on the bed, he crawled in by her side, snuggling her to keep her warm. As they slept, Twilight Shadow snuck in, sighing.

"I remember when me and Kyoki were just like them...but she had to stab me in the back like that...what a jerk." he said to himself as he sighed, leaving to his room. He unpacked his stuff, one of the items was a photo of him and Kyoki smiling brightly. He got enraged at Kyoki's smile, punching the photo and breaking it.

"All those lies! they're like blocks! All stacked up inside me! It's frustrating!" he screamed quietly enough so Ultimate and Aria wouldn't awaken. As he picked up the broken glass shards, a ninja-like being stood perfectly still atop a building.

"Poor dude...I wish I could help...but I have a world-that-will-soon-be-demolished job to do...No time for love." she said silently as she took her grappling hook and glided away. Twilight Shadow saw the female for a glimpse before shrugging it off sadly . He threw the shards away and teared the picture in half, throwing it in the trash and stomping back to bed. He tugged the warm covers around himself and felt a spark inside his heart, a spark of rage, of destruction, on revenge, all for Kyoki.