Well, a main character could be a former follower of the dark lord who has had a change of heart. They know the dark lord's weaknesses and plans from the inside. Also, a peasant girl who witnesses the early signs of the dark lord's rise and decides to take matters into her own hands. She could be a symbol of hope for the common people. And a wandering swordsman who has a code of honor and is drawn into the conflict against the dark lord by his sense of justice.
In 'dark lord rising fanfiction', a possible main character could be a seer. This seer has been having visions of the dark lord's rise and is trying to warn others, but is not being believed. Another option is a half - human, half - demon character. They are shunned by society but their unique heritage gives them powers that could be used against the dark lord. There could also be a group of thieves who initially are only interested in their own gain but are forced to side with the good side when they realize the threat of the dark lord's rise to their own existence.
Perhaps it has an anti - hero as a main character. Someone who is initially drawn to the rising dark but then has a change of heart. Or it could be a group of characters, like a band of rebels in a dystopian - themed fanfic related to the 'rising of the dark' where they are fighting against an oppressive dark regime.
Maybe a powerful wizard who is jealous of the power of both the Shield Hero and the Dark Lord. He wants to eliminate them and take their powers for himself. He could be creating false rumors about the Dark Lord to keep the Shield Hero against him while he plots his own takeover.
I'm not sure specifically, but probably there's a hero or heroine who stands against the dark rising.
In 'the dark is rising novel', the main character is Will Stanton. He is the one who experiences the most growth and transformation throughout the story. Merriman Lyon is crucial as he has a great deal of knowledge about the magic and the battle. Then there are the villains. The forces of darkness are represented by various characters whose goal is to bring chaos and destruction. Will's friends also play a role, as they provide support and sometimes comic relief in the face of the dark and dangerous situations.
Since it's a fanfiction, the main characters could vary greatly. It might introduce new original characters who are somehow related to the dark phoenix concept. However, it's also likely that popular characters from the original series like Ron would be involved. He could be by Harry's side as they both encounter the challenges brought by the dark phoenix rising. It could also involve some of the Hogwarts professors, like Dumbledore in spirit (if it's set after his death) guiding the students to face this new and dangerous situation.
In the Pokemon Dark Rising story, the main character is a trainer who has a strong will to face the challenges. Alongside the trainer, there could be a mentor - like figure, perhaps an older and more experienced trainer or a Pokemon expert. There are also the Pokemon themselves, especially the ones that the main character catches and forms a special bond with. These Pokemon play a crucial role in battles against the antagonists in the story.
In the 'Dark Water Rising Story', the main characters might include a group of survivors. There could be a strong - willed leader among them, perhaps a former military person, who takes charge and tries to organize everyone to escape the rising dark water. There might also be a local historian who has knowledge about past events related to the water and uses that knowledge to help the group. Additionally, there could be a journalist who is documenting the whole event and trying to get the word out to the outside world.
The main character is a trainer who sets out on a quest to save the Pokemon world. There are also some important supporting characters like the Gym Leaders who may help or hinder the main character's journey depending on their own motives.
I'm not sure specifically as I haven't read the novel in detail. But usually in such a story, there could be a protagonist who is a local resident trying to protect their family from the rising water.
Obviously, Naruto would be one of the main characters, just in his new 'dark lord' role. Sasuke could also be a major character, as his relationship with Naruto is so central in the original series. Their dynamic would likely be very different in this fanfiction, perhaps becoming more of an adversarial relationship.