Chapter One - Seven Years of War…

Chapter One - Seven Years of War…

"Our forces in the north have fallen," An elderly man said as a table of important rulers convened.

"Are there any survivors?" The small but authoritative King Mickey asked.

The man said nothing, but the lack of eye contact that the Sultan was giving Mickey; no words were needed. It had been seven years of reports like this, watching friends and heroes fall alike. These men had formed this alliance to be a beacon of hope, a source of light that could never die. However these days the optimism that they all had started this alliance with seems like many life times ago. Each battle report was looked upon as nothing more than a prelude to hearing that another one of there champions had fallen.

"We still have Hercules holding his own in the south," King Tritone said trying to maintain a sense of morale.

"Hercules," The proud lion King Simba roared, "… He is the only thing holding our fronts together… and he will eventually fall."

The other kings in the room knew that Simba was right. They tried to bury such thoughts deep in their minds but the hope of victory had not been seen in years. The seven years of defeats that this once great alliance had suffered brought with it a horrific realization; there was no end to the war in sight.

"Listen to me," King Mickey said in the most commanding voice a mouse could have in a room so big, "This war is not without a hope of victory… if we can gather some troops from some of the smaller worlds then we can…"

"You can send them to there doom," A man said as stormed into the room.

"Leon," King Mickey yelled angered that Leon didn't respect the sanctity of this meeting, "You know you are not allowed to be in here."

"It's been seven years your majesty… for seven years we have been fighting this war. When this alliance began fighting there were eight great leaders that sat around this table," Leon said as he looked around at the four that remained, "Now they're four of you… the others have lost faith in what this alliance stood for. They use there own armies to defend their own borders… and it's not working."

"What do you suggest we do then Leon," The Sultan asked inquisitively.

"There is only one thing that could possibly bring the others back and turn the tide of this war… or should I say one person, I…"

"No," King Mickey said unhappily, "We are not bringing him into this."

"We don't have a choice your majesty, if we…" Leon tried to state before the king interrupted.

"This matter is not open for discussion Leon,"

"You're not the only person this affects your majesty," Leon yelled as he slammed his palms on the table, "We have been fighting, and for what… barely any of us remember anymore."

The four kings sat in silence; had there alliance failed so completely that now all hope could rest on one man. "I understand why when the war broke out didn't bring him into this… he was just a child," Leon said moving closer to King Mickey, "But now… all hope could ride on having him fight with us."

"I think," King Triton said regrettably, "That Leon is right… we…"

"I will not be responsible for any child's death!" King Mickey roared louder than any of them had heard him in the past.

"Then you have doomed us all," Leon said as he started his way out of the room.

Before he could take another step, they felt tremors from explosions. "They couldn't have found us this quickly…" Simba said as he looked around watching debris fall from the ceiling.

"My lords," The captain of their security said charging in the room, "We are under attack, you must make your way to the escape routes; they will be here soon."

"Auron," King Mickey yelled as he gathered the other kings, "What about all the people out there… we have to help them."

"It's too late for them," Auron said as he grabbed King Mickey yanking him away from the battle trembling door, "The alliance is all that is important."

As Auron and Mickey made there way past Leon, the king grabbed Leon pulling him close, "You must promise me you will not go to him… Promise me!" Mickey pleaded.

Leon was quiet for a moment, seeing that Auron needed to get the head of the alliance out of there headquarters before they were completely over run and said, "I will do what my heart tells me I must."

With those words Leon ran his way back to his ship, still being able to hear Mickey's plea over the battle occurring in the background. Quietly Leon said, "I am sorry your majesty."

Moments later the enemy flooded the main chambers where the kings had just been. Amongst these enemies stood a man of distinction above the others; the man looked human, his face covered in scars, with an unshaven face, and a metal gauntlet covering his left hand, and his body covered in a black trench coat. The man was angry hoping to capture that last remaining leaders of the alliance with there attack on there hidden base. "Find them, and kill them." The man said as he saw an icon in the center of the kings table. It was an icon that he had seen before, the icon of the alliance… well the former alliance.

The man picked up the icon and held it in his left hand; he smiled only slightly before crushing the old relic in his hand, and as he wiped the dust off he said, "This alliance has fallen."

Leon made his way to his gummy ship which due to his unnaturally high paranoia he had ordered his crew to set down away from the castle. He saw Cid preparing the ship for launch as he got closer. Leon knew that if the enemy wasn't already behind him they would be shortly and he couldn't risk them being followed. Quickly Leon boarded the ship and ordered Cid to take off.

"Where are we setting course to Leon," Cid asked.

"Destiny Island,"