A.N.: J.K. owns everything, lol, so here is the next installment. I'm kind of excited about this, its fun imagining Harry getting to know all these great characters. If you guys have any worlds you would like to see Harry enter next drop it in a review and I'll see about getting it in here! So excited! Lol Haven't decided on the pairing yet, I was thinking I'll put a poll up sometime and have you guys duke it out.

Chapter 2: Forging the Way.

-xSoulEaterX-

This world was a curious place, it wasn't quite like Wonderland or Neverland, and it was thankfully nothing like the place that had kept him as an experiment. The people here where odd, not quite as odd as the residents of Wonderland but still they had their own brand of oddness. The first time he had seen a person change into a weapon Harry hadn't been sure what to think but he had seen stranger things…himself being one. Harry was trying to get a good grip on what this world was about and it was slow going to say the least.

There were three types of people (living that is) as far as he could tell, there were Meisters, there were demon Weapons, and then there were witches. Meisters wielded the weapons, using them to defeat evil souls with the ultimate goal of someday bagging a witch soul to turn their weapon into a Death Scythe. Demon Weapons were people with a 'weapon gene' that could change into a weapon at will and usually couldn't fight without someone to wield them.

Witches were 'evil' they cast magic, were the ones to originally create the weapon gene and were generally up to no good. It was an interesting world but Harry wasn't sure he would be there very long all things considered. He didn't think he could learn much from them, since he was hesitant to approach the witches and Meisters tended to stick together at the Death Weapon Meister Academy. That all changed when he met Clara Blue, she was a girl about seven in appearance that had dirty blonde hair and pale purple eyes.

Clara was an orphaned weapon who didn't know to take care of herself, too young for the academy and too scared to ask for help. Clara found him while he was wondering, and took to following him around asking about his soul. Apparently his soul was unique, not quite a witch soul, not a human soul, with elements of a kishin egg that skimmed along its surface. It was a very powerful soul, "You stand out like a bonfire in the night," Clara said staring up at him.

"We have a soul resonance, you know?" Clara said as she tugged at his hand. "What's a soul resonance?" Harry asked allowing her to hold his hand. "It means we are com-pat-ible," Clara struggled with the word, "it means if you wanted we could be partners." "What's that mean?" Harry asked curiously crouching to look Clara in the eye. "Means, that I could be your weapon, we could fight together." Clara said with an unabashed hope in her eyes.

She was a small girl, fragile looking, with too big eyes and an underfed look. A lot of weapons dreamed of finding a partner they could resonate with to fight together. Clara also knew that it was rare, especially for someone like her to be chosen as a partner. This strange boy, Harry, with his soft white hair, striking emerald cat eyes and huge soul would be a powerful partner. A partner some weapons would fight to the death to obtain. "What sort of weapon are you?" Harry asked curious enough to entertain the idea of having a partner…someone who he could have all sorts of adventures with.

Clara smiled at him and glowed a bit before her body changed into her weapon form. She was a beautiful broadsword, the grip fit into his hand like she was made for him, a jewel that matched the purple of her eyes winked at him from her pommel. When Clara turned back Harry was surprised to note that he missed the feel of holding her in his hand. "So what do you say? Take me with you and I'll be your weapon forever! I'll stay by you, fight with you, and I'll forget this whole death scythe business." Clara asked him hopefully.

Harry checked his pocket watch, noticed that in his world only a few months had passed even though it had been years and years for him. He checked the other dial, curious on how long it had been, and found that he had experienced 450 years already. Idly, Harry thought that a majority of that had been spent in Neverland and Wonderland. So even though he still looked as young as he had when he had jumped into his first pocket portal he felt much older.

Clara needed a partner, someone to take care of her, and he was lonely going about this on his own. "You know I have Magic right? That if we resonate enough your soul might just change too? Might become just a bit magical also? That doesn't bother you?" Harry asked. "Not really, I'd rather live with you then here anyways. You seem…interesting." Clara said. Harry nodded and smiled at her taking her hand firmly in his, "I'm about to show you a whole new world of possibilities." "Bring it on!" Clara said pumping her fist in challenge.

-xRobinHoodx-

Clara wiggled on his back, she was looking much better than she had when they first had gotten together…of course that was a few worlds and many years ago. She was wearing a pair of formfitting shorts, a loose white shirt and his old moccasins he had given her, the ones he had gotten from Neverland. He had managed to shrink them to fit her and they served her well, though he had gone bare foot for a while. Robin had given him a new pair of leather boots that matched the sheath strung across his bare chest that sometimes held Clara.

Robin had been teaching him how to shoot a bow, to Clara's never ending frustration, and he was getting very good at it. It was very fun, stealing, even if they gave out the stolen treasures as freely as they took them. Robin was a good man, his nickname Robin Hood, suited him like Harry LostBoy suited him. At first Clara had a hard time getting all the way through the portals, until she learned that trick to stay in her weapon state.

Just recently Clara had begun to notice that not only could she change into her sword form but she had also had somehow acquired the ability to turn into a bow also. Harry had jokingly said that her jealousy over him using another weapon had made her soul use the build up of magic in her soul to add the new form to her weapon repertoire. They had been keeping track of the effect of the soul resonance between their souls onto Clara's soul considering his was naturally magical. Clara's soul wasn't absorbing the magic, just storing it, and besides the added form it hadn't changed her much.

Clara had taught him how to see souls, after discovering that he didn't do so naturally like the Meisters in her home world. This world was very similar to Harry's home world, though it was more similar to his world's past then its present. Robin Hood was a very charismatic man, an educated son of a lord and he was eager to teach them things. He lead a class every so often filled with people who wanted to learn the various things he was willing to teach. He had even begun teaching Harry and Clara Latin and French.

The most important lesson was something Harry had taken from one of the discussions he had with Robin around the campfire. "If there is anything I have learned from taking up this cause it is this, when a system of authority is abusing its power to the detriment of the people it rules over, you must rise up against such authority. It must be you, because if you don't take responsibility for changing something unjust then who will? Every cause needs a leader, because there has to be that first person to stand up against the odds for any cause to start." Robin Hood said.

"That's not just for overthrowing an unjust King or ruling body, that is something you can live your life by. If you see injustice, if you see someone using their powers against the weaker to harm them, then, if it is your power to do something about it…it is your duty to do so. Chivalry isn't just something knights live by, it something all people can live by." Robin said solemnly. Harry found that with every world he visited there was always something of value to take away from it. Whether it was something physical, like learning swordplay or simply a belief worth living your life by.

"It is never a good idea to rule through fear, Harry, fear can control a people only for so long. Fear can be conquered, fear can cause people to lash out…fear is only useful for a short time before it comes back around to defeat you. Respect and honor, if you rule a people with those…then you will remain in power for much longer. Respect lasts longer, if they respect you then they are less inclined to rise up against you." Robin Hood said. Harry learned a lot from Robin, he was a great leader and a good man.

Though, some things were hard lessons to learn like being captured and held against his will for an undetermined amount of time. He still had trouble with the changes to his body, he was stronger, faster, had better senses and quicker reflexes. However, not all the changes were good, he got headaches and often had to ignore a persistent presence in his mind trying to corrupt his way of thinking. That was getting weaker with every jump but it was still annoying. Harry had kept the folder of the Jenova Project in what Cheshire called the Neither space, as in it was Neither Here nor There.

It had taken Harry a long time to figure out how to access and use the Neither space but it was well worth it as it allowed him to keep souvenirs as well as supplies in it. It was not as hard to access Neither space as it was to learn how to evaporate like Cheshire could but both were very valuable skills. Unfortunately, Clara was not magical, even with continued exposure to his magical soul and even with the build up of magic around her own she could not learn any magic. Not for the lack of trying on either of their parts but it was something they both had come to accept.

Clara was mostly excited about the prospect of gaining more forms for her weapon transformation because in her home world such things were incredibly rare. It had taken her some time to learn to change into a bow; longer still on how to switch between forms but Clara was a dedicated worker. Eventually she managed to master it and Harry began to practice archery with her when no one was around. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that Clara had an infinite number of arrows connected to her form it seemed and all he had to do was draw the bow back to summon one.

Harry wasn't sure if the arrows came from the magic that was being built back up on Clara's soul or if it came from Clara's own soul power of weapon transformation. Not that it really matter either way. Clara was turning out to be a valuable partner, in not just battle, but in life as well. They had become very good friends and Harry found that it was nice having someone he could depend on other then himself.

-xNightmareBeforeChristmasx-

The forest they had landed in was very still and quiet, as if there was nothing living for miles around…not even the smallest of bugs. Harry glanced around the little clearing, circling them where trees each with a door of some festive type facing them. Clara had moved away from him to stand before a door that was shaped like a Jack-o-lantern. "This one feels like my home world somehow, its has a similar…soul…if world's can have a soul." Clara said absentmindedly reaching up to the knob that was the Jack-o-lantern's nose.

Harry heard a faint sound of music begin playing from within the darkness the door had exposed when Clara opened it. "This is odd, I've never been to a world that had a bunch of portals to other worlds connected physically to it. That anyone can touch." Harry said as he approached the opened door to stand beside Clara. Suddenly the door snapped shut behind them pushing them into the portal and very faintly Harry heard a voice.

You've probably wondered where holidays come from,

If not, perhaps it is time you've begun!

They were falling slowly; Harry grabbed Clara and began to fly a bit to slow them down so they could have a soft landing. Harry had decided it was probably best if he didn't resist the flow of this world too much to fly completely since the fall itself seemed important somehow. Then faintly they began to make out a cemetery, the sound of musical instruments became louder and voices began to sing. Harry and Clara had learned to just enjoy it when one world or another had its people randomly brake out in song. It was a surprisingly normal experience considering that in both their home worlds such things would have been considered ludicrous.

Boys and girls of every age

Wouldn't you like to see something strange?

Come with us and you will see

This, our town of Halloween

This is Halloween, this is Halloween

Pumpkins scream in the dead of night

Halloween turned out to be a very interesting town, full of countless monsters, vampires, werewolves, ghouls, ghosts, stitched together people, corpses, and other such terrifying creatures. Clara felt right at home and Harry was, shall we say, easily adaptable. The most interesting person, or creature, for Harry was the Pumpkin king, Jack Skelington.

Skeleton Jack might catch you in the back
And scream like a banshee
Make you jump out of your skin
This is Halloween, everyone scream
Won't ya please make way for a very special guy

Our man Jack is king of the pumpkin patch
Everyone hail to the Pumpkin King now

Clara got an entirely new outfit from Sally, a stitched together woman that was stuffed full of leaves and somehow alive. Harry was surprised about how hospitable everyone was here in Halloween considering that this place was proud to be scary. Clara's new outfit suited her, and reminded him a bit of Jack's own outfit. It was a tailored tightly form fitted suit, the top was a white button up white shirt with a fitted black jacket over that had twin coat tails that trailed down to her ankles in the back. A pair of form fitted black shorts and black boots finished her outfit off.

Sally had even given him his own pair of form fitted green black pants that went with the boots he had gotten from Robin and the fedora from wonderland. Since Clara liked it in Halloween they decided to stay for a while and see what they could learn. This was where they got lessons on intimidation, how to frighten people by doing nothing more then standing menacingly before them. Harry found this to be surprisingly easy because his eyes were so inhuman looking and tended to frighten people anyways.

-xSpiritedAwayx-

The train they were on was interesting; the people on it (if you could call them that) were mere shadows that had no real distinguishable features. Clara had wanted to jump onto the next world since this one seemed almost as odd as Wonderland and she had trouble adjusting in those worlds. Harry wanted to wait a bit first because he sensed there was so much to learn here. All around the tracks outside the train seemed to be an endless ocean with little dots of land and so it was a surprise when a solid looking girl got on at one of their stops.

She had brown hair, brown eyes and a very ordinary looking outfit on that made her stick out like a neon sign. There was a fat mouse on her shoulder that had a tiny bird on its head that could almost be mistaken for a horse fly. A shadow like creature followed in after her that had no features but a blank looking Mask. When the girl spotted them, as the only corporal people not hard, she immediately sat down beside them.

"Hello, I'm Chihiro," she said in Japanese. Luckily Harry had already learned that language in a previous world and could respond. "I'm Harry and this is Clara," Harry smiled at her politely as he watched her avoid looking at his bare chest. "What brought you into the Spirit World?" Harry asked curious since Chihiro felt human, well mostly. She launched into a story about accidentally stumbling upon a gateway with her parents, and how they soon turned into pigs from eating the food. She told them about Haku saving her, about Yubaba, and her adventures in working for the bathhouse.

Eventually she told them about Zeniba and her hope that returning her magic seal would save Haku from certain death. All through her story Harry listened quietly and took everything in, "I know you haven't asked for my advice but I feel I should give it anyways, for I feel soon you will need to make a choice. I have traveled to many worlds, seen many things, and I must tell you that transversing worlds leaves its mark on a person." Harry began.

"You might not know it now, but soon you will begin to notice a change inside yourself. It will make you very different from the people you left behind in your home world. I feel soon you will be faced with a choice, going home with your parents or staying here in the Spirit World to live with Haku. I will give you this warning, should you return home you must do so knowing that you may never see anyone from here ever again. It is an extreme possibility that you might not ever get the chance to come here again. My advice is this, when it comes time to choose give it some real thought because your choice cannot be undone." Harry said solemnly.

Harry and Clara followed Chihiro to Zeniba's house because Harry hoped to learn some magic from the witch. Chihiro warned him against signing a contract or giving the witch their true names. Names had power over you, if someone took your name from you they owned you and that was not something easily undone. She gave her own situation as an example, saying that to everyone else here her name was Sen since Yubaba took everything else.

Zeniba seemed a bit reluctant to teach him anything, at least until Harry told her that if she did he would show her how to travel through worlds. It seemed like an even enough exchange of secrets. The spent a long time with Zeniba, since she had so much to teach and while they were in the Spirit world Clara gained another weapon form. She gained the ability to turn into a scythe, which she thought was a bit ironic. It wasn't until almost a month later they heard the news about Chihiro, it turns out that she chose to stay after all and it surprised a lot of people. Her and Haku began to visit them at Zeniba's.

It was interesting meeting Haku, and learning about how he changed forms from a human to a dragon. Convincing Haku to show Harry how to do that also took some doing because he was a bit upset on the part Harry had played keeping Chihiro in the Spirit world. In the end he did teach Harry how to transform, because even if he refused to admit it out loud Haku was happy Chihiro had stayed with him. One day Harry looked at his pocket watch, and noticed that he had turned nine somehow in his home world. He had spent a total of 700 years in various worlds and his madness level was only halfway from insanity. The various charms clinked together as he settled the watch back over his head, since he had so many now from all the worlds he had visited.

-xBeautyandtheBeastx-

The library in this castle was something of a wonder; it was one of the biggest collection of books Harry had ever seen. He had already lost Clara to Bell, they had wandered into the fantasy section a while back and he hadn't seen them since. The flowing white silk shirt slid against his skin making him rub the offending area. He was not used to wearing a shirt but there wasn't much more he could do about getting rid of it now.

The short-sleeved shirt with the v-collar was a gift from the king and Harry couldn't find a proper excuse to be rid of it. On the bright side it went with his pants and was loose enough not to be too much of a bother. Clara giggled at him occasionally saying he looked like a dashing prince from some romance novel with it on but he tried to tune her out. This world was a pleasant mix of ancient civilization and magic, it was peaceful.

It was one where everyone tended to burst into song at a moment's notice, so Harry had taken to being tutored in the piano while he was here. There were a few books on magic in the extensive library and the King had taken to teaching him some more combat moves on his free time. Bell was forcing him into dance lessons and Cogsworth forcibly taught him etiquette and manners. Harry couldn't help but wonder what Peter Pan would say seeing him now.

Clara was enjoying her time here; Bell had taken her under her wing and had begun to teach her how to sing among other things. Bell had even taken to teaching him to sing, and he was getting quite good at it. This world seemed to view orphans differently, like they were something great and the royalty was known for adopting. Some had begun to think that the King and Queen had adopted them since their apparent age was so young.

It was a bit odd, all things considered that people started calling him little prince and her little princess. There time here was well spent, Bell had given him a magic mirror that showed him anything her asked for and Harry was having fun recreating its enchantments. There was so much to read, to learn, and to experience here that they had decided to stay for a while longer. They stayed long enough that both Harry and Clara felt confident enough to join in the singing. Harry was more startled then Clara was to find that he very much enjoyed singing.

-xHowlsMovingCastlex-

The Wizard Howl was an interesting person, Harry wasn't sure how they had gotten into this staring contest but it had been going on for a good twenty minutes now. Clara and him had landed in their living room from their latest jump. It was lucky this world was so used to magical things that everyone here had barely batted an eyelash and had simply introduced himself or herself. As soon as Harry had heard that Howl was a wizard he had set out trying to convince him to teach him a bit of magic and that was harder then he had thought it would be. Clara had simply rolled her eyes at him and turned her attention to Sophie who was making lunch.

"How about this, I'll teach you something and in exchange you teach me how to make my own magic house?" Harry tried negotiating. Howl smiled mischievously at Harry, "I have some doubt a boy like you could have much to teach yet." Harry smirked, "I'm older than I look." "Ah, perhaps you should tell me what you would be willing to teach me in trade?" Howl said with a childish air about him. "Depends, I'm not sure what you know already. Why don't you tell me some of the things you know how to do and I'll see if I have something new for you?" Harry said still smirking.

Sophie looked at Clara in exasperation, "Sorry about him," Sophie said. "Don't worry about it, Harry is always like this. You see what I have to deal with," Clara said with a long-suffering sigh. "So is Harry your brother or…." Sophie asked. "Oh, no, Harry's my partner but he isn't my brother. Like a brother more like but we are from different parents." Clara replied while helping her cut some bread for sandwiches.

Harry stared, Howl stared right back and suddenly Harry grinned devilishly, "How about this? You teach me how to build a house like this and I'll show you how to turn into a dragon." Howl scowled, "I don't want to know that, I wont be able to change back from a creature like that." Harry smiled widely, "Oh sure you will! I learned how from a river spirit and I have been able to change back easily every time!" "Show me!" Howl said excitedly leading him out to the small yard.

Harry took a deep breath, the sensation of changing was always a bit disconcerting but once it was over the form felt as natural as if he had been born a dragon. His dragon form was very similar to Haku's, however there were a few key differences. His form was pitch black were Haku was white and his mane was white were Haku's was green. In all Harry was happy his dragon form struck a very regal figure and in this form you couldn't tell his age. That was one thing that was becoming annoying, his physical body was only nine but he had experienced more than a few lifetimes already.

Every world with non-mad adults treated him like the child he appeared to be but his mind was older, sometimes far older than the adults surrounding him. He released his breath a flew up into the air reveling in the feeling of the power of his body as he twisted in the air before flying back to Howl's flying castle. He released his form as he landed; form falling away in a shower of inky black scales. Howl was suitably impressed and clapped happily from the lawn as Harry grinned taking a bow.

Clara rolled her eyes as she followed Sophie out holding a tray of drinks to go along with Sophie's tray of sandwiches. Howl was happy to negotiate terms of trade for their respective knowledge, and Harry was glad to have found such a strong sorcerer on this jump. Clara was listening avidly as Sophie told her story about being cursed by the witch of the waste and her adventures trying to get Howl's heart back for him. Harry was glad to have come to this world, it seemed wild with magic, no random singing yet but there was still time.

Harry popped open his pocket watch to look at it, the charms on the chain chimed pleasantly together as he moved it so he could study the dials. He was six months away from becoming ten in his world, he had experienced 894 years in the various worlds he had visited, his madness level was at sixty percent today and Clara was due to discover another weapon form any day now. Life was certainly going well, he was learning more and more every day.

His partnership with Clara was getting better every day, and they were becoming more in sync with less effort. It was times like this he thought back on his life with the Dursleys'; his memories of that place were foggy and faded. He remember the pain mostly, the hunger, the thirst, and the feeling of being unwanted. It was not pleasant but Harry was passed such things now. Harry knew that the things he had gone through there had been wrong and difficult; however he refused to dwell on such dark things. He had saved himself; he was making a life for himself all on his own and needed no one to hold his hand anymore. Harry didn't want nor need someone to look after him, he didn't want to be someone's child and have parents to look after him. He had long since grown past such childish dreams.

Now all he wanted was to see what the various worlds had to offer, to explore, discover new and wondrous places. Learn things no other being has had a chance to learn and maybe teach in turn them things they wouldn't know otherwise. It was an amazing feeling having so much freedom, and Harry wasn't sure he would ever give such a thing up.