A/N: now that Lelouch knows where his sister is it should be just a leisurely trip home right, or will the forces of darkness retaliate? Thank you to everyone who reviewed.


Chapter 12

Coming to the Crossroads

Hours passed at the abandoned shipyard as work on Lelouch's vessel was well underway. As he and his group waited for repairs to be completed the trio along with Xanatos himself and his aid Owen Burette had retired to a short of waiting room within the facility awaiting news of the completion of the task set before the work crews.

To pass the time Lelouch and Xanatos engaged in a chess game with Xanatos controlling a set of black chess pieces modeled after the upgraded Pack while Lelouch had a collection of dull gray gargoyle pieces for him to use…they were of course based off of Goliath's clan, the young prince easily recognized some of the chess pieces.

The two players held a fixated stare between one another as Xanatos allowed the young man to go first, who surprisingly moved the king first…a move he had never seen anyone open with.

"That is an interesting move, the king...the most important piece on the board, so why are you moving him?"

"If the King doesn't lead, how can expect his subordinates to follow?"

Xanatos smiled in fascination, "Interesting concept."


Meanwhile back at Disney Castle; Nunnally was eagerly waiting to depart from the planet. It wasn't that she didn't like staying at Disney Castle, but she wanted to be reunited with her brother as soon as possible. As she happily waited to leave Mickey and Merlin were inside the King's study having a conversation in regards to Nunnally and Lelouch as well as the recent activity of the dark powers at work behind the Heartless.

"There is no doubt Maleficent is after something other than amassing more Heartless to conquer all worlds. I have checked with Leon and investigated the matter myself…Maleficent and those serving her such as Pete have been behind the abduction of some little girls from different worlds each of them were pure of heart." Merlin began as he sat in a chair while Mickey was seated behind his desk.

"I have also encountered a similar situation on another world…they capture instead of devouring the girl's heart. Maleficent's minions went to great lengths trying to keep the captive in their possession."

"So far I haven't been able to uncover anything relating to why Maleficent would engage in such an activity, but we both know she isn't collecting these girls to raise her own family…there is something else…something we're missing."

"I know, but so far we don't know what her true aim is," Mickey answered yet a part of him feared he knew what her objective was.

No that can't be it, how could she have even known?

"Indeed, but now what about Nunnally and Lelouch I am surprised such a powerful little girl has already developed such skills in magic. But given her brother's rapid development as a Keyblade Wielder and magical abilities, while not as potent as his sister's, but nevertheless he is considerably powerful in his own right."

"So what do you make of that then?"

"I am not quite sure, but I am beginning to suspect much of their talent is likely from the bloodline they are tied to."

"Bloodline?"

Merlin realized he had said something he shouldn't quickly push it aside. "It's nothing forget I said anything. But moving onto another subject relating to her brother there is something very unusual about him."

"What do you mean?"

"In him, unlike other Keyblade Wielders I have met he was balanced in light and darkness, it's not perfect…yet, but it's an almost perfect balance."

"But I thought only Keyblade wielders could be found within the realm of light, only could wield the Keyblade?"

"Well that is not entirely true…there have been some occasions where Keyblade Wielders with hearts filled with darkness could wield the Keyblade, so I had suspected at first Lelouch might be a Keyblade User for the Dark Realm, however, I may be wrong on that account? Someone possessing a balance of light and darkness within his own heart, neither one dominating over the other…it's unheard of."

"Are you saying then he is some kind of Keyblade Wielder of the In-between Realm, between Light and Darkness?"

"Yes, a wielder who walks the path of twilight the road in-between light and darkness. I can't prove it, but that is what I suspect."


Almost two hours later back on the planet Lelouch was on with his traveling companions. The chess game between Xanatos and him evolved from a simple, friendly game into what seemed to be a conflict of philosophies between the two cunning minds. The game was coming down to the wire as their pieces had been reduced by more than half since the game began, but moves were starting to take longer as both players were putting all of their mental efforts into countering every move of their foe.

"So tell me Lelouch as a banished prince I wonder if you intend to take back your place in the royal family?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Because it would mean becoming a political tool again regardless of my new found powers and I don't like being the pawn of another. After what that man did to me I would rather see he and his country go down in flames, but all that is in the past."

"So you are going to ignore it."

"Dwelling on the past it's pointless, except as an example of what to avoid as you move on the present, and forge the future. Besides first and foremost I will make sure my sister is safe then I'll deal with the Heartless and the dark powers behind them using them as their pawns."

"So you have no ambitions for the throne or anything else?"

"Not exactly, but I do intend to do something about the world Britannian was creating."

"I see."

"I will destroy it and then create it anew for my sister and everyone else I left behind," Lelouch said as he thought about Euphemia and Suzaku. "Oh and by the way…checkmate!" Lelouch said with a smirk as he claimed Xanatos's king in a surprising move using his remaining knight.

"Well played."

Once repairs and necessary maintenance were completed the following day, the blue vessel took off and departed the planet leaving it behind, but as they disappeared beyond the clouds as Xanatos and Owen watched the ship fly away the two men shared a conversation as the billionaire sported a grin on his face.

"Was our technicians successful in downloading the ship's technical specs and data?"

"Yes, they were sir…we have all of the data we need."

"Very good I am sure once we reserve engineer the technology we can bring production of our own ships in good time."

"I am sure we will…by the way Mr. Xanatos, I will taking a short leave of absence after today I have family business I need to tend to."

"That is unusual of you."

"Forgive me sir, but I am…rather compelled by a higher power as it were."

"I see…" Xanatos said taking a few moments to consider the real meaning behind Owen's words before saying. "Well, I think I can handle things here, please return when you can."

"Thank you, sir."


In space traveling across the stars heading for Traverse Town; Lelouch sat in the pilot's chair handling the controls as he remained alert for anything that could attack him or prove to be hostile to him as they made the journey back home…three days had passed since their departure. A short time later as the ship was now continuing on its course via the autopilot function Lelouch engaged to take a break as he decided to look over some of the notes he recovered when he defeated Aeleus's Heartless.

Lelouch shifted through the notes and found what seemed to be the first page which he began reading to himself as the note he held read.

Much of my life has been dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. That knowledge has guarded this world well. Not a soul doubts that. I am blessed with people's smiles and respect. But though I am called a sage, there are things I do not understand. I believe darkness sleeps in every heart, no matter how pure. Given a chance, the smallest drop can spread and swallow the heart. I have witnessed it many times. Darkness…Darkness of the heart. How is it born? How does it come to affect us so? As ruler of this world, I must find the answers. I must discover them before the world is lost to those taken by the darkness.

Putting the first page aside Lelouch began reading what he believed was the second page, but as he read it something seemed different.

It is my duty to expose what this darkness really is. I shall conduct the following experiments:

Extract the darkness from a person's heart.

Cultivate darkness in a pure heart.

Both suppress and amplify the darkness within.

The experiments caused the test subject's heart to collapse, including those of the most stalwart. How fragile our hearts are! My treatment produced no signs of recovery. I confined those who had completely lost their hearts beneath the castle. Sometime later, I went below and was greeted by the strangest sight. Creatures that seemed born of darkness...What are they? Are they genuinely sentient beings? Could they be the shadows of those who lost their hearts in my experiments?

Lelouch soon held the first page and the second page noticing something different between them. After a moment he set them aside and read the third page of the report.

The shadows that crawl beneath the castle... Are they the people who lost their hearts, or incarnations of darkness? Or something entirely beyond my imagination? All my knowledge has provided no answer. One thing I am sure of is that they are entirely devoid of emotion. Perhaps further study will unlock the mysteries of the heart. Fortunately, there is no shortage of test samples. They are multiplying underground even as I write this report. They still need a name. Those who lack hearts... I will call them the Heartless.

As Lelouch pondered over the notes, an alarm inside the cockpit began going off causing him to divert his attention when he noticed a planet near them. It was then he saw a horrific sight the planet was starting to crumble as a swirl of darkness was surrounding it.

"That's the Moogles' world…oh my god the darkness is consuming it. The Heartless must have found the planet's heart." Yuffie said terrified by what she and Lelouch were witnessing.

"The sensors are picking up ships fleeing the planet,"Lelouch said as he hurried to the control console and went over the reading on the sensor display while Liu Mei bore silent witness to the end of a world.

"At least the Moogles have access to Gummi Ship technology so they can escape, but how many will actually make it," Yuffie said as a light on the control console began blinking. "We have an incoming message from the surface, it's all on channels...I am putting it through."

On an overhead viewer, the image of a Moogle appeared.

"Please kupo help us our engines were damaged, and we're being besieged by the Heartless, someone who can hear this please help kupo."

"Hang on we're going in," Lelouch said as he gripped the control stick tightly before taking the ship into a dive heading into the planet's atmosphere as it was already beginning to crumble apart. "Yuffie find the source of that signal and make it fast ok."

"Sure thing," Yuffie answered before hurrying to take care of her task as the ship made its descendant into the atmosphere of the doomed world.

As they approached the target coordinates, Lelouch turned to the ninja in training.

"Yuffie get ready to take the controls I am going to have to head to the cargo hold and fend off the Heartless while we rescue the Moogles. Lay down some fire with the ship's weapons before opening the hatch alright."

"Ok!" The young ninja girl replied as she leaped up to take the controls while Lelouch hurried to the back of the ship to get ready to defend the fleeing Moogles from the Heartless that would no doubt be trying to chase them down. They flew through the turbulent atmosphere as dark winds were ravaging the planet with lightning bolts striking from above.

As they closed in on the crippled ship, Yuffie unleashed a barrage of energy fire from its cannons and guns clearing away most of the Heartless that had begun surrounding the vessel before they had a chance to storm it and consume those aboard. Turning the ship around next to the downed craft the cargo bay hatch opened as Lelouch stepped out to fend off the Heartless while shouting to the Moogles hiding in the crippled spacecraft.

"Hurry and get on board!"

In an instant, Moogles began running out from the crippled ship frantically hurrying to the vessel trying to get aboard while Lelouch dealt with the hundreds of Shadow Heartless closing in around them. Using Fire spells, he blasted the Heartless using his ranged magic spells to keep them a safe distance away while staying close to the boarding ramp so as soon as the last Moogle was onboard, they could take off and escape.

"MOVE IT!" Lelouch shouted as he continued machine gunning one fire spell after another blasting away as many incoming Heartless as he could while trying to hold them back.

After the last Moogle made it on aboard the young Keyblade wielder hurried aboard the ship while using what magic reserves he had left to keep the last group of Heartless away as he closed the hatch. Once the hatch was closed it was signal to Yuffie to take off and flee the planet, the ship ascended high into the sky moving as fast as its engines can carry the craft while the entire world was crumbling as the darkness was finally about to consume it.

Lelouch made his way back to the bridge breathing hard as he was just in time to see a horrific sight…the planet disappearing into darkness and anything left on the planet was gone along with it. No words could describe the expression of horror on his face as he watched the world disappear, but as much as he wanted to look away, he felt compelled to keep his eyes locked onto the sight in front of him.

He didn't take his eyes away not until the planet was utterly gone, consumed by darkness. Had he been there sooner could he have made a difference, but at least he was able to save a number of the world's inhabitants.


Two days later arriving in Traverse Town was King Mickey and Nunnally along with Stitch as the Gummi Ship they were in landed at the port before the trio disembarked from the vessel. The moment the ship was docked the little girl mage in training hurried off the ship excited as a child going to the amusement park, but she did pay mind to stay close to King Mickey…they did know Lelouch was supposed to be in town, but they didn't know where in town exactly.

"I wish Merlin told us where Lelouch lived?" Nunnally wailed.

"I am sure we'll find him…let's find Leon, and then he can tell us where we can find Lelouch."

"Alright," Nunnally said with a smile on her face as the trio proceeded into the town itself.

After leaving the port another ship arrived, on board were Jumba and his reluctant partner in their doomed mission to recapture Experiment 626. Their smoking wrecked spacecraft quite literally came apart a few moments after the two aliens disembarked from the craft. Jumba merely cast a glance at their broken down ship while Peaky was horrified at the destruction of his spaceship.

"See I told you repairs would hold until we reached a safe port."

"But just look at my ship!" Peaky wailed as tears were streaming down his face from his single eye.

"Forget about it…our target is straight ahead!" Jumba said as he pointed to Mickey, Nunnally, and Stitch as the two just entered the town passing through the main gates. Drawing out his plasma rifle he gave chase while removing the safety from it preparing the weapon for the battle ahead. Moments after passing through the gates Jumba hurried on through and fired off a round from his plasma cannon at the trio stopping them in their tracks.

"Are you insane?" Peaky shouted, but was pushed aside by Jumba.

"Enough running; we're capturing Experiment 626 NOW!"Jumba roared as Mickey and Nunnally looked at Stitch as the small flurry creature started speaking in his natural language while hugging the ash-blonde haired girl closely.

"What…so that man made you?"

"I did, and I want my creation back…I am going to trade him for my freedom!"

"No, you can't have him!" Nunnally snapped taking up a battle stance.

"Stand aside little girl."

Stitch growled at his creator before throwing an insult at him, which made even Mickey and Nunnally look at him in surprise.

"HEY leave my mother out of this!" Jumba snapped before firing a shot off with his plasma rifle, but Stitch caught the small glowing sphere before hurling it back at the mad scientist and hitting him in the face. After Jumba was knocked onto his rear, he tried to get back up while Stitch shouted a few more words at the overweight scientist.

"I'll put you back together again, so there is no need to worry. I'll make you taller with lots of fluffy!"

"I like fluffy!" Stitch declared while the little mage replied.

"Stitch is fine the way he is!"

"Hey a makeover will do him some good I tried to give him my good looks, but some things went wrong."

"Nunnally take Stitch and go find Leon I'll handle him," Mickey said as he looked ready to jump headfirst into a fight with the mad genius.

"But will you be alright?"

"Don't worry; I'll be finished with him in a couple minutes."

"Ok come on Stitch!" Nunnally said as she practically had to drag the little experiment away before he had a chance to leap into the action with King Mickey as Jumba and the Boat Boy king began exchanging blows. The two fled into the third district hoping to swing around and head into the second district and locate Leon at the hotel located there.

As the two ran through the Third District, Nunnally was shoved aside by a very tall and sizeable shark-like creature wearing some kind of black uniform. Stitch was hit by a powerful plasma cannon shot, one larger and packing more of a punch than the one Jumba was using. The large shark-like man wasted no time locking Stitch inside a container vessel before preparing to leave.

"I finally caught you…you damn abomination." Captain Gantu declared proudly at the capture of his quarry.

"Let go of my pet!" Nunnally shouted while she picked herself up and dusting her outfit off.

"What is this, a diminutive blonde monkey?"

"WHAT? You don't make fun of me my brother wouldn't like that."

"Heh, then your brother is probably more of a diminutive chimp and pathetic excuse for a life form than you…now you stupid monkey stand aside!"

"WHAT," Nunnally said losing all of her cool in one go as her face turned bright red before shouting. "ULTIMA!"

In the distance, a massive explosion was felt through the town as windows within a two block radius were shattered while what appeared to be a mushroom cloud could be seen rising up from the Third District as everyone including Mickey, Leon, Aerith, and Cid came running to see what had happened. They arrived and saw Nunnally laying on her back wholly exhausted while nearby in the middle of a black crater was Gantu…specifically his burnt and barely living form.

Merlin was among the first on the scene as his face turned completely pale upon recognizing the spell that had been cast which generally would kill even the most experienced mage if not performed right and lacking the magical reserves to cast it.

Ultima…such a dangerous spell to be attempted by one so young, but…all things considered, perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised, considering her ancestor's same penchant for exploding if infuriated in the wrong way.

Merlin hurried to the girl's side while Mickey did the same, but behind the group, a beaten Jumba was crawling on the ground trying to catch up with the group. Mickey had clearly bested him in brief time. At that moment through a series of explosions began ripping through the town as Traverse Town was being bombarded by cannon fire.


Flying over the town itself was a familiar pirate ship with groups of Pirate Heartless dropping from the Jolly Roger above while aerial coverage was being provided by Battleship Heartless covered by Air Pirates providing reinforcement for the floating mini-ship like Heartless. Standing by the helm of his vessel Captain Hook with Smee behind the wheel observed as the Heartless invaded Traverse Town.

"Smee watch the ship. I am going down there to supervise the capture of the target."

"Yes, captain."


Meanwhile, at that moment the ship commanded by Lelouch arrived as it was about to land at the port with the Moogles the young man rescued disembarking…all of them grateful for being saved by the young man.

"Such cute creatures! You could make quite a lot of money with merchandise based off of them," Liu Mei replied as she followed Lelouch off the ship accompanied by Yuffie.

"We really packed the ship…I am glad we managed to rescue all of them."

"Now that we have managed to arrive safely I can find Nunnally." The young prince commented while releasing a deep sigh from behind his lips. Suddenly the Moogles had turned around and begun running back towards the ship. "What's wrong we're at a safe heaven?"

"Heartless are attacking the town, kupo!"

"What, but how?" The young prince said as sure enough, he saw a group of Pirate Heartless coming straight at them. "Damn it!" Lelouch summoned his weapon into his hand as he attacked unleashing a torrent of lighting via a thunder spell stunning the Heartless for a few seconds before finishing them off swiftly with skillful use of his fire spells and Keyblade swings.

"Liu Mei stay with the Moogles aboard the ship," Yuffie ordered, "Lelouch and I can handle this."

"Close the hatch! Signal us if there is trouble." Lelouch added before he and Yuffie took off to deal with the invasion while the young girl hesitantly closed the ship's hatch before retreating to the bridge to watch events unfold while worrying for the well-being of the young ninja girl in training and the banished prince.


In town, everything was in disarray with the unarmed townspeople locking themselves within their own homes in an attempt to avoid losing their hearts to the Heartless while those unable to reach the safety of their homes were trying to get someplace safe to escape the dark creatures. Merlin and Leon wasted no time confronting the invaders as did Mickey and Cid while Aerith was tasked with taking Nunnally to Merlin's home with Stitch teaming up with Mickey to deal with the waves of sword-wielding pirate Heartless.

Leon and Merlin had pushed back the Heartless swarm to the alleyways of the Second District with the aged wizard providing the Gunblade wielder with magical support in the form of Thundara spells and Blizzara spells including casting Haste and Barrier on Leon to aid him in battle. Although the fight was going well for them, the number of enemies was steadily growing as the pirates were now being reinforced by Air Pirates from above and an unusual Heartless approaching from above as well.

It was a gigantic sphere shaped Heartless with a Skull and Cross-bones emblem on the center of its body with the Heartless emblem in-between the eyes. Similar to the Large Bodies it had a small head that appeared more like a little bump atop of its body with two yellow eyes and no visible limbs.

"What kind of Heartless is it?"

"I am not sure Leon, could be a long-range attacker," Merlin replied.

Suddenly four small holes on its body, two on each side of its body appeared moments before long limb-like appendages in the shape of multiple Minute Bomb Heartless. Each one was attached to one another dangling from the holes hovered above the two heroes before it began detecting the Minute bombs from its body with the fuses on the tops of their small bodies already lit.

Merlin and Leon backed away while the wizard using a barrage of Blizzara spells to quickly finish the suicidal creatures before they could get into range to inflict serious harm to the duo. But the more they destroyed, the more the Bombardier Heartless kept releasing more Minute Bombs. However, their situation grew worse as more Pirate Heartless began closing in on them from behind.

It wouldn't be too bad if this battle were taking place in a wide open area, but because the alleyway was enclosed allowing only a small amount of movement this was a dangerous situation for the two between trying to deal with Heartless coming at them from one side while exploding Heartless were coming at them from another.

The Bombardier was also instantly reproducing new Minute Bombs from within its body seemingly regenerating its limbs and providing a seemingly endless supply of Minute Bombs to send against the heroes.

"So it's either get cut apart or blown up."

"I chose neither," Leon replied as he rushed the horde of Heartless Pirates and began hacking away at them while Merlin started attacking the Minute Bomb Heartless and the floating sphere shaped Heartless. Their plan was successful until the Bombardier changed tactics and started swinging two of its upper limbs sending Minute Bombs flying into the air at the duo.

Now faced with fending off attacks from both the air and ground from suicidal dark creatures Merlin was starting to feel worn down and tired from casting so many spells in quick secession. Not to mention the difficulty of aiming his spells to make sure he hit the flying explosives before they could land on him or Leon.

However, a blizzara spell struck the giant Heartless in the back followed by a couple of ninja shuriken hitting the beast's small head. The attack was followed up by a Fire spell aimed at the monster's limbs triggering the premature detonation of the suicide Heartless including some of the Minute Bombs that had barely been released from its body mere moments ago.

Damaged and stunned Leon saw his chance and leaped over Merlin and cleaved the beast in two before it could recover while Merlin using his magic to levitate and hurl the remaining Minute Bombs at the Pirate Heartless before using a Firaga to instantly finish them off and destroying most of the Pirate Heartless in the ensuing explosions.

"I guess you two have your hands full!" Lelouch said as he approached the two with Yuffie alongside him.

"It's nothing we couldn't handle, but your timing was perfect…now we can finish these guys off a lot faster with the Keyblade Wielder back in town." Leon remarked with a sarcastic grin on his face. "But…we're going to have a talk afterward Yuffie."

"Well geez, I am like sorry ok!"

"This isn't the time for this we have to clear out the rest of these Heartless," Merlin said stepping in to prevent an argument from breaking out.

"I agree…by the way did my sister come to town?"

"Yeah, in fact, she had just barely shown up in the company of King Mickey and a new pet I guess she picked up along the way."

"I see, but where is she now?"

"Aerith is taking her to my house to rest and to take refuge."

"Hey, Lelouch haven't we seen that pirate ship before?" Yuffie said pointing to the ship hovering over the town.

"Yeah…come to think of it wasn't that ship the same one that nearly destroyed our ship, but why is it here?" The prince began taking a moment to consider possible reasons for the ship's appearance until he recalled what Liu Mei had told him when they had first found her. "No, it couldn't be…Leon have everyone look after any child, specifically young girls with pure Hearts. I think this ship is here for any girl possessing a pure Heart."

"That's right! Liu Mei said she was taken captive by pirates." Yuffie said realizing what Lelouch meant.

"Pure-Hearted young girls, and who is this Liu Mei?" Leon asked raising an eyebrow.

"Long story, but if that ship is here then whoever is the captain is after a girl possessing a pure heart," Lelouch answered, but soon a feeling of dread washed over him when a potential target came to mind. "Oh, no…they might go after Nunnally!" Without another word and ignoring the shouts of Leon, Yuffie and Merlin the young man hurried over to Merlin's house.

Lelouch fiercely fought his way through any Heartless he ran into as he rushed through the Third District and straight across the small floating islands making up the pathway leading to the house situated on the island in the heart of the small lake.

When the young man entered the house through the hole in the side of the structure the former Britannian Prince's heart sank with his face turning white when he found Aerith on the ground surrounded by Heartless. On reflex, the young man quickly cut them down before they could steal the young woman's heart.

"NUNNALLY WHERE ARE YOU!"

When he heard no replied he instantly feared the worse, but when Lelouch heard Aerith stirring, he knelt down next to her and began asking.

"Aerith where is my sister where is Nunnally?"

"They…they…have…taken her."

"DAMN IT!"

"Lelouch!" Leon began but hurried to Aerith's side when she saw the woman on the ground. "Aerith!"

"They took Nunnally…pirates came…their leader was dressed in red with a hook on his hand."

"Captain Hook, one of Maleficent's lackeys," Merlin said stepping inside his house to find the place ransacked. "Not too long ago the Heartless suddenly left the town after you had hurried over to my home…which means your sister was their target."

"Where did he go?"

"My guess he is likely heading back to Neverland…it's his main base of shorts, but-" Merlin began, but when he looked again at the young man he found that Lelouch was already gone. Lelouch was no doubt running back to his ship to go after Hook to rescue his sister, but before Yuffie had a chance to join him, he was stopped by Leon.

"Oh no, you are not running off again this time Yuffie."

"Lelouch will need help!"

"The King will be with him."

"Huh?"

"You didn't notice the King with us!" Merlin pointed out as a smile appeared on Leon's face.


Near the ship, the young man was about to board the vessel as Liu Mei lowered the ramp for the young man, but before he could board King Mickey and Stitch were quickly approaching the young man catching up with him.

"Hey hold on!"

"What do you want?" Lelouch snapped clearly impatient.

"I am going to help you rescue Nunnally, I promised her she would see her brother again and by golly, I am not about to break a promise to anyone," Mickey said summoning his Keyblade back into his hand while Stitch looked ready for battle.

"Who is that?"

"Oh, this is Stitch he is Nunnally's pet."

"I see," Lelouch said not wanting to waste any more time, "well let's go."

The group boarded the ship with Liu Mei sitting in the EXO seat of the vessel when Mickey and Stitch joined them with Lelouch taking the pilot seat. Mickey and Stitch took seats as the young prince powered up the engines.

"So what is the name of your ship?" Mickey asked.

"It doesn't have one," Lelouch answered.

"Its bad luck to not have a name for your ship."

"Maybe it might be a good idea to change that," Liu Mei added.

"Given the situation, I guess I can use some luck right now…the Marianne…that is the name of this ship, and its first official mission will be to track down Hook's ship and rescue my sister from that pirate's clutches."

"Sounds good to me!"

"Let's go!" Mickey added as Stitch howled out in agreement.


As the newly christened Marianne prepared to leave in pursuit for Hook's ship…inside a darkened alleyway somewhere in the Town's First District Braig was stepping out of a dark corridor to confront a fellow near-human Heartless. Unlike him, he wore a black lab coat with a black tie that bore the Heartless emblem on it while half of his face save for his mouth was a mutilated merged Heartless head with his blonde hair.

"You did it didn't you!" Braig said with a sneer on his face.

"What do you mean?"

"Come Even don't play dumb with me I know you told Hook about the girl lying to him she is a Princess of Heart."

"And what of it?"

"We had orders not to mess with the Keyblade Wielder."

"But I didn't manipulate him…not directly at least."

"I don't know if the boss will see it the same way, besides that Lelouch kid finished off Aeleus that alone is a feat upon itself for a young brat."

"It's all part of my research."

Braig was obviously annoyed, "There you go again."

"You lack the proper intelligence to understand its importance."

"Really…well at least I got common sense, and I think that's very important. Fine, I'll let you play your game, but don't come crying to us when it all blows up in your face. The boss had good reason ordering us not to mess with that kid, so whatever happens…happens."

"Is that a threat?"

"Nah…no way Even…just think of it as a friendly warning from a co-worker."

"Friendly…hah…now that's funny coming from you."

"Whatever!"


At that moment inside a hidden stronghold, another pair of dark beings was holding a meeting of their own, one of them was a young man in his late teens wearing a lab-coat identical to Even's. However, instead of a half-Heartless face, this boy had glowing yellow eyes and black shadow claws for hands, but for human features, he had long purple hair in a page-boy style with bangs covering one side of his face. The meeting was taking place in a large darkened cylinder shaped room with six thrones surrounding it along with a more massive throne in the middle of the six bearing a sizeable Heartless emblem.

"Even is being reckless and he has defied your orders." The young man began while the being on the largest throne silently listened. "We lost Aeleus to that child, but it's inconvincible how could someone so young possess such power."

The being upon the throne was silent for a moment until he spoke, "I am going to allow Even to continue with his experiment. If he is so reckless, then I'll let him learn his lesson the hard way. "

"Are you sure?"

"Yes…in fact his disobedience," The being, their leader, replied with a devious smile, "I'll make use of it. Yes, this could work perfectly."

"May I inquire to what you have in mind?"

"I'll surprise you, but let's just say this could help speed up our plans a little."

"What about the loss of Aeleus?"

"His lost means nothing…he chose to fight the Keyblade warrior and so lost to his power."

The young man was shocked by his superior's lack of concern for the loss of their fellow Heartless, but he was in no place to argue. Unlike the others, their leader was a perfect human Heartless with no deformities whatsoever, which was thanked to specialized shells they all used yet obtaining a complete human form wasn't assured. No one would even guess at first glance that the man on the throne was the most powerful of the Heartless among them.

"So what do we do now?"

"Observe and let events unfold…I am sure Even will eventually bring the girl here, and in turn, the Keyblade Wielder will follow."

"I understand…Ansem."


Back aboard the Marianne the ship had left Traverse Town, but not before letting all of the Moogles they were transporting off the vessel. However, before the spaceship could depart a small group of Moogles insisted on remaining aboard with the young prince meeting with them in the cargo bay. Mickey was also present with the young man.

"Why are you refusing to leave the ship?"

"We want to help kupo!"

"What, but!"

"You risked your ship and your life to save us when our world was disappearing and a ship this big needs a crew."

"But I can't pay you for your services or anything like that."

"Our service to you will be our repayment for what you did for us and our families' kupo."

"I don't know what to say, but I obviously can't refuse now can I."

"We won't take no for an answer, sir."

"Very well then...in that case welcome aboard the Marianne."

"We are glad to be aboard kupo."

"Then our first mission will be rescuing my sister…we're going to Neverland!"