Chapter 2: So It Begins

Byleth groaned as he recovered from the shock when he hit the ground. After jumping into the portal after Cloud and the others, Byleth remembered flying around as if he were in a fast water slide, color swirling and blurring past him, but then everything went dark. When he finally came to, he noticed light at the end, and when he looked closer, it went straight down, which is when he braced himself as he did.

Now, standing up and looking above him, the portal disappeared. Byleth put away his Aymr and looked around at his new surroundings: a park just behind him, a whole row of buildings in front of him, and a bunch of people who either stood and stared and him or ran away screaming. He also noticed a couple individuals on top of building several feet in front of him, he couldn't tell what they looked like except that one was a boy and the other was a girl. What he found strange was that the boy looked like he was dressed like a cat . . .

"Whoa, easy there, Byleth! You had quite the tumble!"

Byleth quickly looked beside him and saw Sothis standing there.

"Sothis?"

"The one and only!" Sothis curtsied.

"Where are we?"

Sothis looked around and said, "For once, I don't know! This is a new one for me!"

Byleth rubbed his aching head and said, "Then it looks like Sephiroth's machine really did transport us to another dimension." Byleth's eyes suddenly widened. "Sephiroth!"

Byleth whipped out his sword and pointed it in front of him, making the remaining spectators scream and run for their lives. Byleth slowly moved the blade around, but saw no sign of Sephiroth.

"Whoa! Easy there, tiger!" said Sothis, "I'm pretty sure the unarmed civilians, who are running for their lives, can't hurt you."

"We all jumped into the portal together, so Sephiroth has to be close by!"

"If he were, wouldn't he have ambushed you by now?"

"Maybe, but Cloud always warns us how cunning Sephiroth is. He could be somewhere around here, waiting for the right moment to strike."

"Okay, but if you think Sephiroth is here with you, shouldn't your teammates be here, too?"

Byleth suddenly looked around him and couldn't see Joker or any of the others.

"You're right, Sothis. This doesn't make any sense, we all entered the portal together, so why didn't we emerge together?"

"Got me!" Sothis shrugged.

Suddenly, sirens wailed and flashed to the right of Byleth. He looked and saw multiple police cars and vans screech to a halt, and multiple officers with guns piled out and aimed their weapons at Byleth. Roger Raincomprix stepped out of his own car with a bullhorn.

"This is the Police! Put down your weapon and put your hands in the air, or we'll be forced to shoot!"

"We don't have time for this," muttered Byleth.

"But, Byleth . . ."

Byleth wouldn't let Sothis finish, as he whipped his sword, transforming it into a whip, and latching it onto the nearest rooftop. Then Byleth zoomed onto the rooftop as the cops started shooting him, but they all missed.

Immediately after landing, Byleth ran across the rooftops.

"Um, Byleth, I'm pretty sure they were the law enforcement around here," echoed Sothis' voice inside Byleth's head.

"Sephiroth is on the loose in some unknown world and my teammates are missing! If Sephiroth is as dangerous as Cloud says, then I can't afford to waste any time dealing with the law or whatever! I have to find everyone and Sephiroth before he can do any damage!"

"That's right, he said he found ultimate power in this world. What do you think he meant?"

"I don't know, but I'm not going to let him find it!"

A few minutes ago, while Byleth was still looking around, we see Cat Noir and Ladybug still standing in their spot.

"Who is that?" asked Cat.

"I . . . I don't know! I've never seen anyone like that!"

"It's probably another one of Hawk Moth's minions! 'Guess he wasn't as weak from Nooroo's spell as I thought!"

"Maybe, but why hasn't he attacked anyone?"

"Obviously because he's looking for us."

That's when they saw Byleth pulling out his sword and pointing it at the people.

"See? Akumatized!" said Cat.

"You might be right, Cat Noir! We better get down there!"

Then the police cars pulled up, and Roger shouted at Byleth through the bullhorn, but Byleth whipped his sword and latched onto a building and escaped.

"He's on the run! Quick! Let's go after him!" said Cat, preparing to jump.

However, Ladybug grabbed onto his arm and said, "Hold on, Cat Noir, we need a plan before we rush in guns-a-blazing!"

"I already have a plan: attack and improvise!"

With that, Cat nudged himself free and jumped off the building, extending his staff downward to help him leap to the building where Byleth was last on.

"Cat Noir! Ugh! Why is he being so difficult today?"

Suddenly, Ladybug heard more rumbling behind her, so she looked back and saw another wormhole. This time, it was above her parent's bakery!

Ladybug gasped. "The Miracle Box!"

She immediately ran back towards the bakery.

Meanwhile, at the portal above the bakery, the wormhole stretched down and opened inside Marinette's room! That's when none other than Joker tumbled out from the wormhole and crashed underneath her bed, then the portal disappeared.

Joker groaned and held his head, then he got up and looked around.

"Oh, great. I'm in a little girl's room!"

"Marinette! Are you okay, up there?" called Sabine from the floor below.

"Crap!" whispered Joker. Then he was about to leave, until his foot got caught on a board. When he looked closer, he noticed it was loose, like it was covering something. His curiosity getting the better of him, he removed the board and saw a strange, oval-ish, red box with black dots. He lifted it out and said, "What the heck is this? And why hide it like this?"

Suddenly, there was the sound of footsteps running up the stairs. Acting on instinct, Joker held the box tightly and rushed out the window, then jumped onto the roof. Then he heard two people talking in the room he was just in.

"Marinette? Marinette! Where are you?" called Sabine.

"Sabine, we have to call the police!" said Tom.

Joker listened and heard the sound of footsteps running down the stairs, and when he was sure that all was quiet, he finally sighed with relief. Then he picked up the box and looked at it, turning it over as he confusedly surveyed over each side.

"Put that down!" yelled a voice.

Joker looked up and saw a girl in a ladybug costume in the air, whipping out a yoyo or something and launching it at him. He immediately dashed out of the way, put the box behind him, and whipped out his knife.

The girl landed down onto the roof and twirled her yoyo at blinding speed.

"So, looks like Cat Noir was onto something, after all! Hawk Moth must have become Scarlet Moth again and akumatized another army, sending that other one with blue hair to distract us while the others find the Miracle Box!"

"Um, okay . . . look, I have no idea who you are or what this is, but . . . if this really is as valuable as you make it seem, then how about you trade me something that's just as valuable and we call it even?"

"I do not make deals with villains!"

"'Villains?' Okay, I know I'm a thief but that's offensive! Look, lady, I don't want any trouble!"

"Too late! You just found some!"

Ladybug whipped her yoyo at Joker, but he dodged the attack and shot a small blast of red and black energy. However, Ladybug whipped her yoyo back and spun it rapidly as a shield to block.

"Well," he grinned, pulling out his gun and knife, "This should be interesting."

Meanwhile, at the museum, we see a group of people inside standing in front of a large hieroglyphics exhibit. Kagami stood at the front of the group, the beaded choker of the dragon miraculous around her neck as she took notes during the tour guide's description.

" . . . Now," continued the guide, "Since these hieroglyphics were just recently discovered by our partnering archaeologist group, we don't know what these symbols mean, but some of those archaeologists will stop here later this week and conduct further studies. Now, ladies and gentlemen, if you'll follow me to the next exhibit, we'll be able to see what Egyptian tombs looked like . . ."

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and most of the people fell to the ground! Kagami steadied herself and began helping people up, but then a gigantic wormhole appeared. Everyone cleared the way just as The Hero landed on the ground, sword implanted in the ground.

Everyone screamed and ran away, but Kagami hid behind a pillar further down the hall.

Kagami opened her purse and Longg flew out.

"Do you think this could be trouble, my lady?" asked Longg.

"I believe so," she replied, "I don't know what kind of akumatization this is, but I'm not going to give him an opportunity to do any harm! Longg, bring the storm!"

Longg swirled until he disappeared inside the choker, which is when Ryuko's uniform spread across her body and the mask covering her eyes.

Meanwhile, the wormhole disappeared, and Hero stood back up and ripped his sword out of the ground.

"Huh? Where is everyone?" asked Hero. "Cloud? Joker? Pyra? Anyone?"

Suddenly, a blast of lightning shot at Hero and shocked him until he collapsed to the ground. Then Hero saw the lightning gather until it transformed back into Ryuko.

"Whoever you are, stand down now, or else I will make you," said Ryuko.

"A minion of Sephiroth no doubt," muttered Hero, "If he landed in this world separated like everyone else, he must have created this thing to slow us down." Hero stood up and pointed his sword at her. "I will not yield!"

"Then your fate has been decided."

The two fighters sped toward each other, swords clashing!

Meanwhile, at Alya's apartment, Alya was watching the news with her older and younger sisters.

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news!" said Nadja Chamack from the TV, "After the strange portal that appeared in front of the park, we've been getting reports of even more portals opening across Paris, with strange beings coming out of them! Are these new akumatized villains? Are they people from another world? Stay tuned as we find out more!"

"Oh no! Are the strange things coming to get us?" asked Ella.

"We're doomed!" wailed Etta.

"Not on my watch!" Nora stood up and crossed her arms. "I'm not going to let anything, especially those freaks, come anywhere near my family!"

"Neither will I!" said Alya, the fox miraculous snug around her neck.

"That's very nice, Alya, but you should let me do the protecting, I don't want you to get hurt!"

"Nora, they're my sisters too! You can't just keep worrying about me all the time like I'm a toddler! I can take care of myself!"

"Against things like that? Yeah, I don't think so!"

Alya growled, wishing she could say that she could because of her miraculous, but can't because she promised Ladybug not to reveal her identity to anyone besides Nino.

Suddenly, another portal appeared inside the living room! Ella and Etta screamed and hid behind Nora.

Nora yelled, "Alya! Get behind me!" Then she grabbed Alya and forced her back.

That's when Terry Bogard emerged from the wormhole, with it disappearing immediately after.

Terry looked up at Nora, arms poised in a fighting stance. "What the . . .?"

Nora kicked him in the face, sending him back to the floor.

As Terry held his jaw, Nora yelled, "Stay down, flyweight! And I just might let you walk out of here in one piece!"

Terry opened and closed his jaws, then he turned around and faced Nora, fists sparking with fire and eyes glowing. "Well, alright then!"

Terry ran to Nora, trying to punch her, but she kept evading his blows. She tried hitting back, but he would dodge as well. While they were fighting, Alya quickly grabbed her sisters' hands and hurried them into their room.

"You two stay here! I mean it!"

"But what about you, Alya?" asked Etta.

"I'm gonna go get help!"

"But . . ."

"Stay. Here!"

Alya slammed the door and hurried to her own room, then she opened her purse and Trixx flew out.

"We gotta help Nora, Trixx! Trixx, let's pounce!"

Trixx swirled into the necklace, the mask appearing on Alya's face as the uniform spread across her body and the ears stuck up from her head.

Meanwhile, Nora and Terry were exchanging blows, until Terry finally grabbed Nora's fist as she tried to land another hit. Then he punched her in the gut with a fiery fist, then kicked her leg and sent her crumbling to the floor.

"Ha! Who's the flyweight, now?" asked Terry.

Suddenly, Rena Rouge jumped onto Terry's back and wrapped her legs around his neck, choking him and making him fall to the ground.

Rena Rouge looked up to Nora and said, "Go! I've got this!"

"If this is about the leg, it's fine! I don't even feel it . . ."

"Just go! Now! Protect your family! They need you!"

Nora was about to protest again, but closed her mouth and nodded. Then she got herself back up and ran for Ella and Etta's room.

Then Terry grabbed Rena Rouge and threw her off.

"You made a big mistake, fox lady!"

"I think it's you who's made the mistake!" she said through gritted teeth.

The two clashed once more . . .

Still elsewhere, Nino was sitting in the living room of his home, trying to play on his new PlayStation5, except . . .

"But, Nino!" whined Chris, "You've been playing on it all day! I want a turn!"

"Chris, I told you, I just bought this and I just want some alone time, little dude!"

"Don't call me that! And come on! At least for an hour!"

"Dude, for the last time . . ."

The ground shook once more, and rumbling could be heard from outside. So Nino and Chris rushed to the window and saw a wormhole opening on the street, and Min Min leaped out of it and, after quickly looking around, ran off.

"Uh, on second thought, here," Nino shoved the controller into his brother's hands, "You can play, I gotta . . . um . . . go!"

With that, Nino rushed out the door, while Chris just shrugged and started playing.

At the pool, Kim was swimming with Ondine, playing their game of throwing notes into the pool and fetching them. Kim was about to throw his note in, but then a wormhole opened right beside them. Banjo fell out, with Kazooie still in his backpack. Banjo got back up and looked around worriedly.

"Whoa! Where are we, Kazooie?"

"Beats me, Banjo!"

"Well, we gotta get outta here and find the others!"

Banjo rushed past Kim, who said to Odine, "Stay here! I'll go get help!"

Then he rushed into the boys' locker room.

At Luka's boat house, we see Luka sitting on his bed tuning his guitar. Juleka was brushing her hair and putting on makeup, then wondered if she should leave her hair on her eye or off.

"You don't have to worry, you know, sis," said Luka calmly.

"I know," she replied, "But Nathaniel wanted to take me to a movie tonight, and, I don't know, I just wanna look my best or else, he . . . might not want anything to do with me." Her face fell.

Luka smiled and walked over to his sister, then he lifted up her hair and set it with a brunette. "You shouldn't be so concerned with your appearance all the time. Nathaniel loves you for who you are, not how you look. And if he can't see the amazing, brave, and beautiful soul inside you, then he's completely blind!"

Juleka smiled and got up to hug her brother. "Thanks, Luka! You always know what to say!"

"I'll always be here to support you, Juleka!"

Suddenly, the whole boat shook but soon settled down.

"Stay here," said Luka, "I'll see what's going on!"

Juleka nodded and Luka hurried upstairs. When Luka reached the top deck, he saw a gigantic wormhole, and his mom was standing with a shocked face.

Pyra emerged from the wormhole and landed in a heroic pose, then she got up and looked around.

"Wait, where is everyone? I was sure we all entered the portal together!" she said.

"I'm not sure," said Mythra's voice inside Pyra's head, "But I wouldn't stick around here. This is unfamiliar territory and Sephiroth is still on the loose!"

"Maybe you should drive? With your speed, we could find the others a lot sooner."

"Good idea!"

As Luka and his mom confusedly stared at the girl as she seemingly talked to herself, Pyra's gems began to glow until Luka and his mom were forced to cover their eyes. When the light died down, they saw Mythra standing in Pyra's place.

Then Mythra turned toward the shore and said, "I have to find them!"

With that, she jumped off the boat and sped away.

"She must mean Ladybug and Cat Noir! I have to warn them!" he muttered.

Then he rushed off of the boat, with his mom yelling, "Luka! Where are you going?"

"To get the police! I feel like Ladybug and Cat Noir are in danger!" Then he rushed off, ready to activate the snake miraculous bound on his wrist.

Lastly, we see Max and Markov in front of their computer at home.

Max also saw the news and said, "Wow! If only I could analyze those wormholes! Think of all the scientific discoveries we could make that would benefit mankind! They could be sources of new clean energy, or they could lead to parallel worlds, or maybe . . ."

"Max, focus!" said Markov, "This could be an akuma attack! You might have to intervene!"

"You're right! It's time to transform!"

Kaalki immediately flew by his side. Then Max put on the glasses and said, "Kaalki, full gallop!"

Once he transformed into Pegasus, Max opened the window and was about to leave, when he saw a wormhole open on the street in front of his house. That's when he saw Steve crash out of it, but then get up, create a mine cart, and zoom away.

Max blinked in surprise. "Did . . . did I just see what I think I saw? Is that the guy from Mine—ah, never mind! I have to go after him before he causes any harm!"

With that, Max leapt out of the window and chased after Steve, while Markov stayed behind.