Fallen Kingdom, Mended Hearts
Crossovers: Code Geass, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy
Pairings: Naruto X Euphemia
Many years ago
Two small children sat in a field of flowers. Both watched the sun as it started to set. One was a girl that had long beautiful pink hair with purple eyes. The other was a spiky haired boy with blue eyes.
"Hey Euphie, I had a really nice dream once." the boy said.
"Really Mael? What was it about?" Euphie asked.
Mael nodded, "You were in it and so was father Charles. Except he was younger, he was really kind too and wasn't the king of Britannia. He was the king of this land, a kingdom with a big heart." he started to explain.
"What does that mean?" Euphie asked.
"It was kind of hard to understand, but he said that he wasn't all powerful like "Heartless Charles" as he called the one in the real world. He said that no matter how strong Britannia becomes, without a strong heart, dream Charles will always be stronger." Mael explained.
"Father said that force is always the strongest as it can scare people. It also does bad things to others but Cornelia never wants to tell me. Do you know the bad thing is by chance Mael?" Euphie asked worriedly.
"I don't know, but I think dream Charles doesn't want me to know yet. He said that before I could learn anything about the scary parts of the world. I have to promise to be strong and be the knight to protect my precious people." Mael answered.
Euphie smiled as she stood up, "Well then, what are you waiting for? I don't want to be helpless and weak, but that doesn't mean I can't depend on people." she said. "Now you mister, I know we aren't family by blood. But you're still loved and I bet you'd make the perfect knight for everyone!" she said.
Mael nodded as he stood up only to take a knee and place a hand over his heart, "Then will you Princess Euphemia, accept me as your knight? To have faith that I will protect you and your family to my dying breath?" he asked.
Euphie quickly grabbed a long dandelion and swung it over Mael's shoulders, "Yes, I hereby name you, Sir Mael. My personal knight and future knight of not only the next emperor of Britannia, but knight of all my brothers and sisters." she said happily.
Mael stood back up, "Thank you milady." he said as he took her hand and kissed it.
Euphie giggled, "Promise to never leave me Mael." she said.
"I promise I won't leave Euphie." Mael said as he hugged her.
However some things can make even the strongest bonds and promises to break.
Years later (Mael's POV)
Things changed, sure I kept my promise to Euphie. Every day I trained to my fullest. To the point where I thought my body would break. When it should have, my body repaired itself. I promised that I would be everyone's knight one day.
Then I realized that some things weren't worth fighting for.
By the time I learned the real men that Charles and Victor zi Britannia were. I knew it was time for an escape.
I knew I would be hated.
I knew I would be alone.
I knew I would be in danger.
But I never knew that I would be forgotten.
That's right, eventually I found Euphie but she didn't recognize me. I came across Cornelia, I was right when I predicted her to hate me, but she acted as if I was not only a threat, but a complete stranger.
However I knew something was wrong and it wasn't because of some deranged conspiracy theory formed from my potential insanity.
It started when I found Clovis. The man had panicked and begged for his life until he recognized my face. After a long moment of threats and pleads, Clovis actually recognized me.
Which confused me until he pointed out the random memories of me with Euphie, Lelouch and everyone else. He stated that things became hectic after my escape and Marianne's death. Mostly because he stated that Cornelia wouldn't mention me as if I didn't exist whereas Guinevere chalked it off as Charles making it forbidden to speak about me and Odysseus just assumed that was the case.
Clovis also assumed Schneizel was also in on this as the man frowned whenever my name was mentioned. So that meant that aside from Clovis, three people were aware of my existence and it was almost as if it were a secret. I tried asking him about Marianne but said that if anyone knew anything, it was likely Cornelia since she was a part of Marianne's protection detail.
Before I could figure anything else out, a bullet slipped past me and hit Clovis in the chest. Turning back, I saw two Britannian soldiers with one aiming for me while the other had shot the first one.
Surprisingly enough, that was Lelouch in disguise. Apparently the boy was aiming to find answers about his mother's death. Then again I wasn't too focused on that as I was surprised to see that Lelouch was alive and Nunnally was hiding out with him in an academy that hid his identity.
Regardless Lelouch couldn't remember me either, no matter how much I tried. Putting that aside, Lelouch did say there was something wrong as he listened to Clovis's last words as the man died shortly after taking the bullet to the chest. So for now, all I could do was work with Lelouch and later with his alter ego.
...Zero.
A few months passed, Zero declared war on Britannia. For this time, we worked on ways to combat Britannian forces and created the Black Knights. Eventually working with other forces against Britannia, we lead our final assault on Saitama. However something almost stopped our plans.
A child named V.V. Had taken Nunnally, I knew who he really was. He was Victor, the supposed elder brother of Charles. This man had a tattoo similar to another girl we met named C.C. which meant that he was immortal just like her. After a mess of a fight with Cornelia, Lelouch had left the battle to find Nunnally. I followed him and ended up saving his ass from his friend Suzaku Kururugi. Who by the way, ended up figuring out that Lelouch was Zero after splitting his helmet open.
The idiot was acting high and might and talked about not wanting more bloodshed when he caused this war. Suzaku was the real hypocrite as he was the son of the deceased prime minister who was said to have committed suicide. When in reality, Suzaku stabbed him in the gut when his guard was down. The fool created more deaths and suffering and lived with the lie that things will be better when things have only gone worse for the past decade. Naturally my superior training easily outmaneuvered him and he was unconscious on the ground within the minute.
Surprisingly enough, Kallen was also there who was just as shocked. We told her that she should have to worry about everything after we leave with Nunnally. From here on out, this is where the new chapter of my story took place.
Then again, it also gets hazy from here.
Elsewhere, in a new world
Eiko Namikaze is a young naive girl who has yet to truly experience the hardships of the world she lives in. She isn't spoiled to say, but she is absent minded a bit too optimistic as to how things work. So naive that when she passed her academy exams and became a ninja, one of her teachers tricked her into stealing the forbidden scroll of seals. As mentioned before she is naive, but not completely stupid as Eiko thought it was strange that she had to steal an important document containing powerful and unstable jutsus.
So that's why she left a detailed note for her father, Minato Namikaze, in the vault where she stole it and where to find her.
You're probably wondering why Eiko would steal the scroll despite having passed.
"Because there is no way Sakura-mesuinu would be kunoichi of the year. Maybe Hinata, if she didn't turn into a shaking tomato with how red she turns." Eiko said to herself as she looked over the scroll's contents. "Ok, just one jutsu and I get the title. I bet tou-san will be shocked to see how amazing I really am. Kaa-chan too when she sees that I become the first female hokage!" she said as she found a strange and intricate seal.
Feeling curious, Eiko opened the seal to find a note with another seal inside.
"The Shinigami was said to take a price upon his summoning. I expected myself to die so long as my village, my citizens and my family should live. I never wanted him to take my firstborn since I was a child, I was taught about the Will of Fire. That family comes first, a philosophy established by the shodaime hokage.
Now as I sacrificed my own son, I'm left with a hole in my heart. In my wife's heart as well. We love Eiko to death, but we can't help but to worry as to what happened to Naruto-kun. Please be safe Naruto, I hope someday we can find you. For now, we'll keep your sister safe. I know she'll miss you even though she never met you.
All we have now is a seal that the shinigami left behind and not even the combined might of myself and Kushina-chan could figure it out. Maybe someday we'll crack it and find my son someday."
Eiko wiped her tears away as she read that note. Now all she could focus on was her missing brother who was taken away at birth.
"I promise I'll find you someday onii-chan." she said in between hiccups.
However that's when she started to notice something about the seal. Eiko looked closely as she placed both hands on the seal. Before realizing it, everything started to become blurry and spinned around.
'Dizzy.' Eiko thought before hearing strange voices.
"Open your heart."
"Eh?" Eiko asked.
"Open your heart princess. The only way to find what is lost with your heart."
"I don't need open heart surgery." Eiko muttered as her eyes started closing.
If the voice had any emotion or a physical body for that matter. It would have likely frowned at her ignorance.
"May your heart be your guiding key."
"What's so special about my heart?" Eiko asked as she clutched her chest before collapsing into a deep sleep.
Back with Mael, in another world
Waking up, the blond young man found himself sitting in the middle of some alley way. Shaking his head, Mael peaked around the corner to find himself in a small looking town that looked practically empty. As he carefully walked around, Mael heard some loud footsteps heading his direction. Reaching for his back, Mael tried to reach for a weapon only to find nothing there.
Due to his distraction, Mael was too late to notice that the owner of the loud footsteps had crashed into him and fell.
"Ouch! Watch where you're going!" said a young voice.
Mael looked down to see a red haired girl with a headband over her head with a metal piece on the front, "You watch where you're going brat." he replied.
The girl stood up and put her fists on her hips, "My name is not brat, I'm Eiko Uzumaki Namikaze dattebane!" she said.
"What the hell kind of name is dattebane?" Mael asked.
"It's not a name it's my verbal tic! Don't make fun of me because of how I talk dattebane!" Eiko exclaimed.
Mael sighed, "Whatever, I'm out of here." he said as he moved away from her and went on his own.
"Hey wait! I'm sorry, can I follow you? I also got lost!" Eiko asked.
"Ok fine, I don't even know where the hell we are. So I might as well find a map or something." Mael said before noticing a large sign as he went of the stairs.
Welcome To: TRAVERSE TOWN
"What the hell is Traverse Town?" Mael asked. "Speaking of which, what's with the stupid outfit?" he asked as he noticed Eiko's choice of outfit.
Besides the strange headband, she had an orange jacket with short shorts and blue sandals. Then again, Mael didn't exactly look like he was the type of person to give fashion advice in Eiko's mind. With his outfit consisting of a black sleeveless shirt, baggy black pants and black army combat boots. The weird glove on his right hand wasn't necessarily cool in her mind either.
"I'm a ninja, the very best kunoichi in Konohagakure dattebane!" Eiko replied.
"Ok one, ninjas where dark colored clothes which cover up their bodies. Second, you're clearly japanese and Japan isn't too far away. So I don't know what kind of game you're playing..."
"What the heck is Japanese?" Eiko asked.
Mael groaned, "It's the language you speak, your culture and... wait now that I think about it. How come Britannians, Japanese and Chinese understand each other? If we're supposed to have different languages, how do we understand each other? So I guess..."
"You're boring me here spike head." Eiko said.
Mael sighed, "My name Is Mael, Mael Strom." he said.
"Hey that name is super fake! That would mean your whole name is Maelstrom! Tell me your real name!" Eiko demanded.
"I can't remember, but I do know it meant maelstrom." Mael replied.
"How do you not remember your own name!?" Eiko asked as if he were an idiot.
"Because I'm an orphan and no one loves me. Neither does my adopted family." Mael answered bluntly but Eiko was also an Uzumaki which made her a natural sensor.
While blunt, Eiko could sense that his words actually had emotion behind them. Both truth and a hint of real despair. Hearing that, Eiko knew it was best to stop pestering her new companion for a bit. She knew being an orphan was hard and for complete strangers to raise you must be as difficult.
Second District
"Ok, so now we're in the shopping district and hotels." Mael said as he took a look at his surroundings. Sighing, he decided to go to the shops and tried to see if he could talk to anyone only to find the doors locked, "They're closed. Let's try the hotels." he suggested as he went across the road.
"Hey uh, Strom-san. This may sound weird, but you kind of look like my tou-san in a way." Eiko said.
Mael stopped and turned to her, "I look like your father?" he asked.
"Yeah, but he's old and he doesn't have scratches on his faces." Eiko said as those mark looked familiar.
Mael reached for his cheeks, "I was born with these." he said before noticing that Eiko had the same whisker marks. "Let's get moving." he said as he didn't want to worry about the coincidences.
Upon entering the first hotel, Mael was greeted with the sight of a man reading a newspaper. Smiling at the good fortune, he approached the man and gently tapped his hand on the counter. The man put down his newspaper and revealed his face. He was roughly around his mid 30s, had long brown hair and a small beard forming on his chin. Mael jumped back and got into a defensive stance.
"Do you know him?" Eiko asked nervously.
"Charles Zi Britannia, the tyrant emperor of the Britannian Empire." Mael said with a lot of malice in his voice.
"Close, you knew me once as "Dream Charles", Mael." Charles replied.
"What?" Mael asked before gripping his head in pain.
Charles sighed, "It's your memory that's returning. If it hurts you now, it will hurt Euphie and the others even more." he said.
"Euphie's here?" Mael asked before being bombarded by a more recent memory.
As Zero, Lelouch planned to manipulate Euphemia into shooting him to ruin the credibility of the Britannians. Instead it ended with a near incident where he lost control of a his Geass, a strange power that came from his eye, that almost ended up with Euphemia nearly being ordered to wipe out the Japanese in an act of genocide. Luckily Euphemia had ironically looked away for a split second before pointing out Lelouch's eye.
However that didn't stop as Euphie was framed for a genocide that was committed anyways. Apparently Britannia had planned to invoke their wrath on Japan by having a double with the appearance of Euphie who ordered the mass murder. Among the chaos, the real Euphie was shot and Mael had to perform some medical treatment of his own before forcing some more trustworthy Britannians to give her better healthcare. While people were skeptical, Mael had presented evidence that Euphie had nothing to do with it.
Of course, Britannia couldn't deny the claim as Mael publicly presented the body of the impersonator. Which later developed some trust issues with the other princes and princesses of Britannia. With all that aside, Mael has not seen Euphie since she was taken away to receive the proper treatment.
"Yes, Euphie is fine. So is Nunnally and Lelouch. The latter having felt the same way as you when I revealed myself." Charles stated.
"Wait, how can you be Charles if the real man is in his 60s and has aged?" Mael asked.
"As I said, I was known as "Dream Charles", however before I explain that. I suppose it's time to wake up Euphie." Charles said as he got up from behind the desk and gestured for them to follow him. "First, we should let the other two know." he said as he opened the door to the green room.
Upon it opening, Mael saw Lelouch was still in his Zero outfit minus the helmet. However what surprised him was Nunnally, she was standing up and had both eyes wide open.
"Strom?" Lelouch asked.
"Mael!" Nunnally called out as she ran up to him and hugged his waist. "I finally remember you! It's been so long!" she said happily.
(Kingdom Hearts OST - Always On My Mind)
Mael looked gobsmacked before he started to feel a single tear fall down his eye, "You really remember me Nunnally?" he asked.
Nunnally looked up to him, "Of course, you're Euphie's knight and someday you would be the strongest so you can be everyone's knight." she said. "Although in the end, you were at least Lelouch's knight." she added as she kept her arms wrapped around him.
"Thank you Nunnally." Mael said as he wiped his tear away.
Charles closed his eyes, "Despair, to be forgotten is worse than death." he said.
"Are they really close?" Eiko asked.
"Of course, they were the ones who adopted him and when their memories were replaced. Mael had started to lose hope." Charles said as he turned to the red room door. "Now then, for our last guest. I think it's time for Euphemia to awaken from her beauty sleep." he said as he revealed the red room.
Upon entering the room, everyone surrounded a large bed and looking closely. They saw Euphie was in her royal garb and had her hands intertwined over her abdomen. It was almost as if the group was witnessing a page out of a fairy tale. Charles had stepped forth and pulled out a small bell.
"Mael, this will be the tricky part. For you are the only one who will be able to awaken Euphemia." Charles began to explain. "While Nunnally, Lelouch and especially Cornelia are close to Euphie. You are the only one with the strongest heart to awaken her." he finished.
"Me? How?" Mael asked.
"Your hearts are interconnected. Not only that, but because of her. You have not been consumed by darkness. Euphie is no ordinary princess as her heart is so strong that it cannot be consumed by darkness." Charles answered.
"What do you mean our hearts? What's so special about them?" Mael demanded as Charles was only confusing him.
Charles sighed, "Mael, the first step involves you learning the truth. What the true Charles doesn't know is your origin, whereas I do." he said.
"Wait are you telling me you know where Mael came from?" Lelouch asked.
"Indeed Lelouch, more importantly. It ties as to why Eiko is here and what she is looking for." Charles said as everyone looked at the red haired girl.
"I'm only here because something told me to open my heart. That I would find what I lost and the only thing I'm looking for is my missing sibling." Eiko replied.
"The answer is in this very room Eiko and most importantly. It's in your name Mael and I'm not speaking about your ridiculous moniker." Charles said.
"My name? Mael..." Mael started out. "I went by the last name Strom because I ran away and because my real name supposedly translated to Maelstrom." he said.
"Your name means maelstrom but your whole name is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze." he said as Eiko gasped.
"Um dream father, that's a really long and strange name." Nunnally said.
Lelouch also started to feel skeptical, "That name kind of sounds Asian. Isn't Mael European?" he asked based on the teen's looks.
"No, that is his real name and where he comes from. The land is vastly different. Mael's true name is Naruto and Eiko is his younger sister." Charles explained as Eiko's eyes started to tear up.
Once again the Uzumaki sensory skill was not so easy to manipulate or deceive. It started to make sense, the blond hair, blue eyes and even matching whisker marks. Mael was a carbon copy of Minato with markings on his cheeks. But why was her alleged brother older? He looks closer to being an adult. The real Naruto should only be 12 years old and 13 in October.
Mael or Naruto as he truly called can't really believe it, "If that's true then how did I show up in Pendragon?" Mael asked.
"It's a strange anomaly that had transpired on the day of your birth. For now, all I can say as that within you is an entity filled with malice and without Euphie. You would have succumbed to darkness many years ago." Charles answered.
"So I'm from some foreign land?" Mael asked.
"Not quite, you are from another world known as the Elemental Nations. However from the looks of it, time had been altered between both worlds. So in actuality, you've been missing for 12 years." Charles answered as this just left more questions for the poor blond boy.
That's when Nunnally had enough, "I understand that this is only creating more questions than answers, but can we get back to Euphie?" she asked.
"I'm already feeling really messed. This is too much too handle!" Eiko said as she gripped her head.
"Very well then, as I stated your hearts are interconnected. While Euphie may not be consumed by darkness, that does not mean that it cannot surround her. In this case, you need to awaken her with a heart filled with light. In order to help her find her path back, you will need to be the light that guides her." Charles explained.
"You keep talking about my heart, but I don't know what you want me to do." Mael replied defiantly.
Lelouch shook his head, "Look, I still don't see what kind of logic you're trying to give us. But Euphie is in a coma and won't wake up because of some fancy magic you're making up!" he argued.
"It's not magic Lelouch, you only call it that because you and Mael or Naruto, fail to understand what I am saying." Charles replied.
As the arguments continued, something popped into Eiko's mind, "Wait I think I understand it now!" she said.
The older boys gave her a surprised look, "Seriously?" they asked.
"Yeah, its the same way I got here. All I thought about is what I wanted and before I realized it I passed out and when I woke up. I just knew where to go and that's how I found him!" Eiko explained as she pointed at Mael.
"I get it." Nunnally said while Lelouch and Mael face faulted.
"So you "knew" because you "felt" it?" Lelouch asked with much skepticism.
Mael sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "Ok, so to use my heart. All I really need to do is just "feel" wherever Euphie is?" he asked.
"You also have to put it in your mind. You have to think about what you want and why you want it." Eiko said as she tried to explain it as best she can.
"Fine, I'll try to use my heart or whatever." Mael said as he approached Euphemia's unconscious body.
"Mael, if that doesn't work. Maybe kissing her will wake her up." Nunnally said as Lelouch banged his head against a wall.
Once again pinching his nose, "Nunnally, why would a kiss wake anyone up?" Mael asked.
"Well I always saw you with Euphie the most. So I thought you being her knight was a metaphor for marriage." Nunnally answered as Eiko and Mael blushed while Lelouch look dumbstruck.
Mael shook his head and slapped himself, "Ok, first we wake up Euphie and then worry about Nunnally's delusions." he said as he closed his eyes and took deep breaths.
"It's not a delusion, if you think about it. Suzaku was all about honoring Britannia and was Zealous being a knight. Except Mael would actually hurt himself." Nunnally said.
"Concentrating! Need! Silence!" Mael said.
Nunnally elbowed Lelouch's arm, "Personally, now that I remember. I like Mael better." she whispered.
No one saw it and neither did Lelouch for that matter, but Lelouch's big brother mode started to activate. Meanwhile Eiko just watched as her alleged brother had began to enter some sort of trance.
"It has begun." Charles said.
In the void
(Kingdom Hearts OST - Dive Into The Heart)
As Charles said, it was dark. An endless corridor from the looks of it and not even an ounce of light.
"What are you looking for?"
"Euphie of course." Mael said to himself before noticing a light that was as small as a grain of sand in the distance. "That's far, but it will do." he said as he aimlessly followed the light.
After much travelling, Mael eventually started to see the bright light glow brighter as he came closer. With every step, he could begin to identify the shape and saw something inside. Approaching what appeared to be a sphere, Mael was able to look inside and found a living person inside.
"Could it be?" Mael asked himself as tried to look deep inside the sphere.
Inside was none other than Princess Euphemia who floated within the sphere and appeared unconscious. Mael immediately attempted to use force to open the sphere with no result. In an act of frustration, Mael slammed his fist on the dome without doing as much as leaving a scratch.
"Open your heart."
"There it is again! Why does everyone keep talking about their hearts!? What is so special!?" Mael asked in a frustrated manner.
"Your heart is the key."
Mael gripped his head as he sat down on the floor, "Why can't you understand that I can't do what you expect of me?" he asked.
"For it is what gives you strength. For what has saved you from darkness from consuming you."
Mael had ignored the voice this time. Instead he just continued to grip his head in frustration and confusion. Unaware of the darkness that surrounded him had begun to wrap around his body. As Mael had unintentionally begun to give up, so did his heart and left him open to darkness. When one heart was devoured, it would move onto the next one.
With all it's might alone, Euphemia's light would not be enough to stop it. While Euphemia's heart may not be devoured, it would at least extinguish her light. With one last effort, her heart portrayed an image in hopes of strengthening Mael's heart.
"So who might you be?" Mael looked up to see a moving image of him and Euphemia as children.
"I'm M-Mael."
"I'm Euphemia, but you can call me Euphie. What do you do?"
"Um I-I, learn to fight."
"Like a knight?
"I-I t-think so.
"Well I hope so. You would make a great knight Mael."
"T-Thank you, princess."
"Please call me Euphie, we're friends after all."
"F-Friends."
Mael shook his head as he stood up and saw another memory. From there he saw his promise to Euphie to be her knight. Another of when he was training and lied about his wounds. One more where he had shown off his abilities in a testing arena to other princes and princesses. However it was the last one that really affected him.
"What is love?" Mael asked in the memory.
Euphie smiled there, "It's when you deeply care about someone. When you want to be around them and have a strong bond. Sister Cornelia said that eventually we grow up and fall in love with someone who we want to be with." she explained.
"So why do we fall in love?"
"Because silly, otherwise we would be lonely. Falling in love is when we find someone close who are heart beats for. A true love story never ends either."
"So what's the best way to show love?"
"Marriage I think, even though father thinks it should be used for benefits. I like the version in the fairy tales Cornelia reads me."
"So marriage is the best way of expressing love?"
"Of course Mael, promise me that you'll find love to. You don't deserve to be lonely."
"So when I find someone I love. I should marry them?"
"Of course, as princess of Britannia. I order you my knight to seek happiness and marry the one you love!"
A single tear fell down from Mael's eye as he knew what would happen next.
"Then Princess Euphemia li Britannia. Will you make me the happiest knight and marry me?"
For a moment Mael laughed at his younger self's forwardness as young Euphie blushed.
"Ok, you make me happy too. I humbly accept your proposal, although I feel as if Cornelia will have a fit."
Mael nodded, "Cornelia was very angry. It was thanks to Odysseus that I didn't die." he said before realizing that he was being surrounded by light.
"Have you found your reason to save Euphemia?"
Mael had realized his answer, "Of course, not only is Euphie important to me. She's important to everyone else and needs our help." he said as he got up and looked at orb containing her. "Starting with me." he said before having a heavy feeling in his chest.
"The next step, open your heart."
"My heart? My heart! I think I get it now!" Mael said as he suddenly felt something in his hand.
Looking at his hand, Mael had witness a large gothic style key in hand. It didn't look like an ordinary tool nor did it feel as if it was a weapon like a gun or a sword. It felt natural and as if it were as vital as the function of his internal organs. Mael watched in awe at the beauty of the tool and lost all the tension in his body as the aura in the tool had surrounded him.
"Now save her."
Mael nodded as he pulled back the key like tool and jabbed it through the sphere. Thus unleashing breaking through the sphere and unleashing it's light upon the endless dark void.
(End of Song)
Traverse Town, Hotel
Mael opened his eyes and gasped before taking a knee and taking deep breaths.
"You did it!" Eiko called out.
"What?" Mael asked confused.
Eiko ran to his side and helped him up, "It was amazing! You stood there with your eyes closed for five minutes and then this bright orb came out of you and into Euphie!" she said excitedly.
"There's also the strange key in his hand." Nunnally pointed out.
Mael looked to his hand and was shocked by the sight, "What is this?" he asked.
"A keyblade, a mysterious weapon granted to a certain few. All I can tell you for now as that they have the ability to open many things and require a strong heart to wield them." Charles answered as Mael looked over his sword.
"Well then, a good weapon needs a name and for a second there. I was almost lost in that void." Mael said as he wielded it over his head. "Oblivion will be it's name." he said as Nunnally and Eiko laughed at his pose.
"If you really are my onii-chan, you're really lame." Eiko laughed.
Lelouch kept sighing, "Well if we're done here. Shouldn't Euphie be waking up now?" he asked.
Everyone turned to the girl who opened her eyes and yawned, "Good morning everyone." she said before realizing that she wasn't in her bedroom. "Lelouch? Nana? FATHER!?" she asked in a panicked tone.
"Not entirely Euphemia, but I will explain myself later. Do you you remember anything?" Charles asked.
Euphie stayed quiet before smiling, "That's right, we should be preparing for the special zone for the Japanese! Lelouch... I mean Zero was going to appear in person." she said as everyone minus Eiko frowned.
"I see, that memory must have blocked itself. However it may be a good thing for now." Charles said.
Eiko tugged on her brother's sleeve, "Did something bad happen?" she asked.
Mael sighed, "There was an accident that was beyond our control and lots of people got hurt. Euphie had good intentions but not everyone is like her and would do the most horrible things to keep others from being happy and free." he explained as he hoped she was naive.
While Eiko was naive, her parents were war veterans and understood the pain caused by wars. The Uzumaki Namikaze child was well aware of what Mael had meant.
'Innocent people died.' Eiko thought.
"Putting that aside, Euphie do you recognize this blond man?" Charles asked as he gestured to Mael.
Euphie stared at Mael with curious eyes, "Yes, you're Zero's sword and shield! You're his knight and if Lelouch is here than that means everyone knows about him! So that means..."
"Big sister, Mael isn't just Lelouch's knight! He's your knight too!" Nunnally said.
"What do you mean Nunnally? Suzaku is my knight. Is he here too?" Euphie asked while not noticing the sad face on Mael's face.
"Then why is Suzaku your knight? Why did you choose him?" Charles asked only for Mael's frown to worsen.
As Euphie thought it over, Nunnally and Eiko did their best to cheer Mael up. However Euphie started to develop a slight headache as she went deep into her thoughts as to why she was adamant as to wanting Suzaku to be her knight. Something about him had caught her attention and yet, it feels like he's real and forcing herself to accept him while trying to block out some lost fragment in her mentality. Even Cornelia was highly against Suzaku being a knight but for some reason, it's almost as her xenophobia wasn't exactly at play here.
"Well Suzaku is kind, honorable and respectful. He fights in honor of my family name. Except, for some reason I want to say I like him and I want to keep him close, but... I can't explain it." Euphie said in a confused tone. "I want to tell myself that I love him, but his smile feels fake. I know it's real and so are his intentions, but it's as if I've seen it before. I can't explain it." she continued.
"Wait, Euphie I remembered an important detail. You were only just friends with Suzaku and yet you gave him that one order so he would stay permanently as your knight." Lelouch said as he also had a strange feeling inside of him.
"That's right, I ordered him to love me." Euphie said only to hear Mael slam his head into a wall.
Eiko nudged her shoulder to Nunnally, "Isn't there a way to restore Euphie's memory?" she asked.
Nunnally smiled as she remembered something important, "Euphie, do you remember when sister Cornelia was at her angriest point in life?" she asked.
"Gee Nana, that could be just about anything. Although, I think when I was 7 or 8. There was..." Euphie gripped the side of her head as it thrubbed it in pain. "A boy! There was a boy! I told him about love! I remember now!" she started to say.
"What else?" Nunnally asked.
Euphie smiled, "He asked me to marry him. I even have the ring... right... here..." she said slowly as her eyes started to water.
(Kingdom Hearts OST - Simple and Clean, Orchestral Version)
Euphie revealed a piece of metal that was in the shape of a ring that she kept around as a necklace. Looking at it, the memories flooded back. Euphemia li Britannia, had remembered everything. Mael, the boy with no real name. The boy she befriended. The boy who promised to become her knight. The boy who trained everyday to become strong and one day be stronger than even the Knight of One.
That's why she loved Suzaku, it wasn't real romance. While she did feel close and respected her relationship with Suzaku. Her heart belonged to someone else who had always been there for her and would always push himself to do better instead of quitting. Someone who had suffered for the happiness of others. Even now, as Euphie had forgotten him.
Her knight was still here and still keeping his promise.
"Mael..." Euphie stuttered as she quickly got up from bed.
Mael stopped being depressed for a moment as he turned and was caught in a hug. Before he realized it, Euphie was crying onto his chest and begging for forgiveness.
"Mael, I'm so sorry! I never meant to forget you! Even now, I can't excuse myself for trying to replace you with Suzaku." Euphie cried.
Mael returned the hug as he gently stroked Euphie's long pink hair, "It's ok Euphie, I forgive you. Please don't cry. It hurts more when I see your sadness." he whispered as she started to calm down.
"Please don't leave me again and I promise I won't forget you again." Euphie pleaded.
Nunnally, Lelouch and Eiko smiled at the sight. Eiko especially happy as she could sense special intentions between the two. However this reunion was interrupted by Charles who coughed into his hand.
"Seeing as your minds have been restored. Except for Lelouch that is, I think now is the time for you to return home with Eiko." Charles said only for Mael to hold onto Euphie tightly.
"I'm not leaving Euphie or anyone else behind!" Mael said.
"That won't be a problem. Because they are following you home." Charles said.
(End of Song)
Lelouch shook his head, "We can't, there's a war going on in Japan. We should see it through and make sure everything is ok in the end!" he argued.
"I'm afraid that's impossible Lelouch. For there is a special reason Traverse Town exists and why you are all here." Charles said.
"What do you mean?" Lelouch asked.
Charles took a deep breath, "Lelouch, as I mentioned. The heart can be consumed by darkness and that is exactly what happened to your world." he said.
"That doesn't clear anything up!" Lelouch said impatiently.
"My counterpart was reckless and instead of achieving his wildest desire. He opened a whole in the earth and unleashed sentients known as the heartless to enter. Thus the world was devoured and the four of you were forcefully sent into this world." Charles explained.
"But wait! Does that mean Eiko's world is gone too?" Mael asked as Eiko looked scared.
"I'm afraid not, while Traverse Town is basically a refugee camp. Eiko only arrived here because it was her desire to find you. However as you recover your memories Mael or rather, your memories Naruto-san. You will realize that you've been here before and that is because the world has been attempting to pull you back." Charles explained as Eiko sighed in relief.
That didn't mean anyone else is any better, "But Cornelia is still there along with our other siblings!" Euphie said.
"So is everyone back in the academy!" Nunnally said with some dread in her voice.
"And Kallen, she was with us! How come she didn't get pulled in!?" Lelouch asked.
"I am not sure, but there is a limit as to how many people can be saved. Though it may take time for some of them to show up as the world shouldn't have been devoured so quickly." Charles answered.
"So that means our home is gone." Nunnally said as she started to cry while hugging her brother's waist.
Lelouch's mind was having trouble just thinking about it, "If' that's true. All we can do is hold out and see who came out alive." he said sadly. For once, his vengeance had to be put on hold and had to remember his other mission, "Nunnally, all that matters is that I keep you and Euphie safe and Mael is going to help us." he said.
"That's right, Eiko-san. How do we get back your... I mean, "our" home?" Mael asked.
Eiko stared at her long lost brother and merely blinked, "I don't know dattebane." she answered with a shrug.
"Please don't tell me I have more siblings that are this ignorant." Mael said to himself.
"Hey are you calling me stupid!?" Eiko asked as her hair took a life of its own.
"Everyone calm down, I know you are all under a lot of stress. For now, I can help you all make it back to the Elemental Nations." Charles said as everyone stopped and turned to him. "Good, the way back to Eiko and Naruto's world is the same way Eiko came in. Only now Naruto's heart has to connect with Eiko's so she could register that she has what she is looking for." he explained.
"Not this again." Lelouch said tiredly.
Mael, or rather his real name Naruto, lowered his head, "I only figured it out because I was almost swallowed by a black hole." he said.
"It's ok Mael, you saved Euphie. So now you need to open the way back to your home." Nunnally told him.
Naruto sighed as he kneeled down to Eiko's level, "Ok, open it up. Let's go home or whatever. I'm tired physically and emotionally." he said as he raised his hands.
Eiko clapped both hands, "Is that good enough?" she asked.
"When you asked me earlier, the answer to whether I think you are stupid is a definite maybe." Naruto said Eiko puffed her cheeks.
"Now is not a good time to fight you two. Just do what you did when you opened your hearts or whatever." Lelouch said.
Naruto and Eiko nodded as both closed their eyes and took deep breaths before pressing their hands against each other. In a matter of moments, bright lights started to come out of their chests. The next thing anyone knew, Eiko's headband fell down before she placed her forehead against her brothers. Letting go of each others hands, both of them extended out a single arm. Naruto's keyblade appeared and was followed by Eiko who also manifested one.
It wasn't long before the whole room was lit up with a bright golden light.
"Home is where the heart is." they said at the same time.
Back in Konohagakure
Eiko opened her eyes to find herself back in the forest with the forbidden scroll. As she looked around, she noticed that the seal she used had immediately started to burn away. Thus she scrambled to try to save the seal.
"No no no no! I need that to summon onii-chan!" Eiko said only to hear stumbling in the forest. Looking in the distance, she saw a familiar shade of spiky blond hair, "Onii-chan?" she asked.
And she was right, unlike her father's dumb coat. Naruto had appeared wearing his strange black makeshift military style outfit.
"Yeah I'm here. I think Lelouch and the girls are around here somewhere." Naruto replied as the girl quickly ran up to him and hugged his waist.
"Onii-chan, you really are here!" Eiko said as she started to cry.
"Hey don't cry, besides you're going to stain something." Naruto said as he tried to calm the girl down.
Only for a man with a scar across his nose to appear, "Eiko what the hell are you thinking!? Why would you do something as stupid as stealing the forbidden scroll and leaving a note admitting to it!?" the man yelled.
"I-Iruka sensei!" Eiko yipped in surprise as she wiped her face.
The man known as Iruka slowly approached Eiko before noticing Naruto and bowing his head, "H-Hokage-sama, I see you found Eiko first. Although it shouldn't a surprise as you're the fastest man in the village and she is your daughter." he said.
Naruto just blinked twice, "Ok first I'm your brother, now I'm your father?" he asked Eiko.
"Iruka sensei! He's not my tou-chan! Tou-chan doesn't have whisker marks or closed toe sandals!" Eiko exclaimed.
Iruka quickly looked up and noticed the difference when looking at Naruto, "Who is this man Eiko!?" he demanded.
Before anyone answered, Naruto lifted up Eiko and jumped away as large fuma shuriken almost hit them. Iruka took cover and saw the attacker was none other than his coed, Mizuki.
"Mizuki! What the hell are you doing!? Also why did you tell Eiko to steal the scroll!?" Iruka asked furiously.
Mizuki smirked, "Obviously I'm tricking the Hokage's dumb brat so I can take the scroll for myself. I was also hoping to knock her out and sell her to Kumo. But I can see with you in the way, that's not gonna happen." he explained.
"You're betraying the village?" Iruka asked with wide eyes.
"Of course, I'm taking the scroll to Orochimaru to gain real power! Now get out of my way!" Mizuki yelled as he tossed another fuma shuriken at Iruka.
Naruto had quickly jumped out from his hiding spot and grabbed the shuriken before going back down and collecting the other.
(FF7 Remake OST - Let The Battles Begin)
"I have no idea what the hell is going on, but this guy tried to kill my family. So I'm returning the favor!" Naruto said as both fuma shuriken started to mold together and take the form of a heavy sword.
"Pfft, I don't know who this yondaime look alike is, but you're just some weak wannabe with a fancy bloodline." Mizuki said arrogantly as dashed at Naruto with a kunai in his hand.
Naruto quickly predicted the violent stabbing motion Mizuki went for. Instead he proved to have better reflexes by twisting the white haired man's arm the wrong and slashing at his chest. Mizuki quickly retreated back as he tried to nurse his large wound before throwing a few stray shuriken towards Naruto who blocked them all with his massive sword.
Having an opening, Naruto quickly dashed at Mizuki who tried to gain higher ground by jumping higher into the trees. Only for Naruto's superior speed to catch up with him and slash his body. Instead the blond was surprised to see the man explode into smoke and being replaced with a sliced log.
"I have you now! Fire Style: Great Fireball!" Mizuki yelled as a medium sized ball of fire flew towards Naruto.
"He stole and Uchiha clan technique?" Iruka asked with surprise in his voice.
Naruto did raise an eyebrow by the strange technique but managed to avoid the attack by disappearing in a plume of smoke as well and having rocks appear in his place. Mizuki drew out more shuriken and prepared to throw them once Naruto appeared in his sight only to be attacked from behind. Mizuki lost his balance and fell down each branch before falling hard onto the ground.
"Just who is this?" Mizuki asked before seeing two Naruto's jumping down and trying to stab him.
With a quick roll, Mizuki avoided impalement and sighed in relief as he reached for a kunai with an explosive tag. Naruto and his doppelganger tried to block the attack with their swords only for the doppelganger to explode into smoke while the real Naruto crashed into a tree due to the impact. Mizuki smirked as he tried to run at Naruto in hopes of stabbing him again only to be kicked in the stomach once he got too close.
"I think this fight has gone on way too long." Naruto said as he ended the fight with one last slash that left a giant cross shaped mark on Mizuki's chest.
(Final Fantasy Victory Fanfare Sound effect)
"Onii-chan did it!" Eiko called out only to see take a knee and pant. "You ok?" she asked.
"I'm just tired Eiko. The trip here was a pain in the ass. Also, why does the oxygen feel painful?" Naruto asked before the ANBU and Eiko's father appeared. "Forget my question, I need a nap." he said before face planting into the ground.
"Onii-chan!" Eiko called out as she rubbed Naruto's back.
"Eiko! What were you thinking young lady!?" Minato asked.
"Tou-chan, we can worry about me being awesome later! Right now onii-chan needs help!" Eiko said as she tried to pick up Naruto's heavy body.
"Eiko what are you talking about? Who is this young man?" Minato asked.
"It's onii-chan, I found him after I used that seal from the shinigami." Eiko replied as Minato paled.
"Eiko, you have a lot of explaining to do after..." Minato stopped himself as he saw more people coming out of the woods.
Eiko looked in the same direction, "Euphie, Nana and... I forget his name." she said as Lelouch sighed.
"You know them Eiko?" Minato asked.
"Um tou-chan, I think I have to explain a lot and you should tell kaa-chan to come too." Eiko said.
A while later, hospital
After settling Naruto into a bed. Eiko proceeded to explain her initial wild story involving the hearts, Charles and Traverse Town. Which Minato initially scoffed and assumed Naruto to be someone using a transformation jutsu but couldn't seem to dispel it. So he had Tsunade wake up and do a quick DNA test which they've yet to hear about. Especially since they had to worry about Naruto's group from the counter earth along with Kushina who is about to arrive.
"So... basically we're stuck in a world. Where everything is based on Feudal Japan." Lelouch said as he looked out the window. Suddenly he gave a light chuckle signifying the end of of his sanity, "At least I don't have to worry about trivial things such as television. Nunnally was blind before so she didn't need to worry about that." he said before his madness started to affect his mind.
"I think he might need to see a Yamanaka to see his mind." Minato said.
"Oh good, now in this world. We have real life mind readers." Lelouch said as he landed face first on an open bed. "I wonder if this is how Mael felt when he left Pendragon." he muttered.
"At least big brother is remembering Mael now." Nunnally said optimistically.
Eventually Kushina arrived with a sleeping blond infant in her arms, "What's going on Minato?" she asked as she looked around.
"Kaa-chan! I found onii-chan!" Eiko said as she led him to Naruto's bed. "See it's really him. He looks like tou-chan with whisker marks!" she said excitedly.
Kushina carefully gazed Naruto but didn't want to get her hopes up, "Um Eiko-chan, there's no need to jump to conclusions. He could be a man from Kumo. There's many blond haired men from Kumo too." she said.
"Kaa-chan, you're not listening! He's really Naruto onii-chan! You guys haven't even bothered checking to see if he has the kyuubi in him!" Eiko whined.
This logic did actually get through to their heads, "Minato do it!" Kushina said.
"What?" Minato asked.
"Minato, if Eiko wants to validate any evidence. Then a DNA test and the seal should be enough." Kushina said as part of her mind didn't want to believe Eiko to avoid disappointment by being filled with false hope.
Minato sighed as he lowered Naruto's bedsheets. It kind of made him uncomfortable to remove another man's shirt. Even if it was his alleged son that had been missing for so long.
"Eiko-san, what exactly is your father doing?" Euphie asked.
"Naruto onii-chan had a demon sealed in him." Eiko answered only to receive horrified faces from the Britannians.
"Why would you put something like that in your child!" Euphie yelled only for the infant to start to stir awake. "I'm so sorry, I just lost control of my emotions." she said in an apologetic tone as Kushina hushed her child.
"There there Roxas, she didn't mean to wake you up." Kushina said as her sensory skills could feel Euphie's remorse and concern.
Meanwhile Minato did find something on Naruto. After going through a few issues, a seal in the shape of a whirlpool did reveal itself in his abdomen.
"Kushina, take a look at this." Minato said as his wife walked over and covered her mouth in surprise.
"Minato is that... the kyuubi's seal?" Kushina asked in between gasps.
Then Tsunade walked in with results, "Hey I have those results." she said as she opened the file and placed them on a table. "This is your son. Your real son." she said as Eiko still felt annoyed.
"Oh my... Minato." Kushina said as tears started to stream down her eyes.
Euphie and Nunnally smiled at the touching scene. Lelouch was still in his own little world as he tried to contemplate his next course of action. Meanwhile Kushina looked towards Euphie as she could sense a lot of emotion coming from her as she looked at Naruto.
"Excuse me, I think we got on the wrong foot earlier with Roxas waking up. My name is Kushina and who might you all be?" Kushina asked.
Euphie smiled, "I am Euphemia li Britannia and these are my half siblings, Nunnally and Lelouch." she replied.
"Oh my! Those are very exotic names. Pardon me if this is a bit forward, but what is the relationship between all of you and my son?" Kushina asked.
Euphie blushed, "Well Mael, as we called him at the time, was a close friend. He was taken in and trained to be a soldier, but I decided to teach him the basics of friendship." she started although Kushina started to frown at the idea of someone turning her lost child into a weapon.
"Is that so?" Kushina asked.
Then Nunnally decided to speak next, "And Mael promised to be Euphie's knight right before asking for her hand in marriage." she spoke up as Euphie was redder than Kushina's hair.
"Is this true? I'm a sensor! I will know if you are trying to decieve me!" Kushina said critically.
Nunnally nodded but maintained her smile, "It is true, Euphie even accepted and keeps the handcrafted ring he proposed with." she said as Kushina went wide eyed.
"No it's just a misunderstanding! I didn't really accept anything!" Euphie said in denial.
"That's a lie right there. What are you hiding?" Kushina asked as everyone else laughed.
'This is one interesting family you have Mael.' Lelouch thought as everyone picked on Euphie.
In Naruto's mindscape
Naruto opened his eyes and found himself staring down at a cage. The cage itself looked to be made of copper or a brown metallic material. There was no locking mechanism aside from a seal attached to the doorway. Before Naruto could comprehend what was so important that it had to be locked away. The young man was greeted by the terrifying sight of red slitted eyes with a feral grin.
"So we meet for the first time ningen." the beast said.
"What are you?" Naruto asked.
The beast blew air from it's nostrils and raised its head, "Your prisoner, son of the yondaime hokage." it replied.
"I don't understand. What sort of dream is this?" Naruto asked.
The beast chuckled, "You may have your father's mindset, but you are as naive as your mother." it said before slamming down nine tails in the back of the cage. "We will meet again. For now, everyone else is awaiting your recovery." it said.
"Wait, just what are you?" Naruto asked as he reached out.
"Another time ningen, farewell." it said before chuckling and forcefully kicking Naruto out of his mindscape.
Reality
Naruto started to stir awake and attempted to keep his eyes open. Meanwhile there was some mumbling in the background as he could tell more than one person was talking in the back. He just wasn't sure who it was or what they were talking about. All Naruto could understand that he was in some sort of hospital with less modernized equipment.
Then a man with a similar appearance as his own appeared and walked up to him. Naruto could tell that he was nervous.
"Hello there, my name is Minato Namikaze. I'm the leader of this village." Minato said. "Can you tell me your name?" he asked.
"Mael Strom..." Minato snorted at the stupid name. "But the red haired girl, Eiko I think, said it's Naruto something something. She claims to be my sister." Naruto answered.
"Well then Naruto, this may be hard to believe but, Eiko is your real sister. Not only that, but she's my daughter." Minato said as he reached for the folder and revealed paternity results along with an extra one for Eiko.
Naruto's vision adjusted to where he could see the information had proven to match. All of it was 50% which is enough to categorize siblings and parents. Naruto sighed as he tilted his head up.
"So I'm supposed to call you dad now? Forgive me if I'm rude leader-sama, but I had a lot of bad experiences as a child. With a certain person being the light in my darkness." Naruto replied as Minato nodded.
(Final Fantasy IV OST - Theme of Love)
"That reminds me, I have even bigger news. You've actually been in a coma for about a year, but don't worry your friends are in safe hands. One of them is actually here waiting for you." Minato said as he gave them the signal to come in. "They also have big news for you." he said as the door opened to reveal Euphie holding a blond baby.
"Euphie!" Naruto called out as he sat up in bed.
"Mael or Naruto, I missed you." Euphie said with a sad smile.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the sight of the familiar looking baby, "Euphie, why are you carrying that baby?" he asked.
Euphie sat by Naruto's bed side andlied her head on his shoulder, "I'm sorry Mael, you missed it. Although, I can't say that I'm not happy in general. While you were gone, you couldn't fill your role but I had to press on with help from Nana and Lelouch with some guidance from your biological parents." she explained.
"Euphie what are you talking about?" Naruto asked with some fear in his voice.
"Mael, no. Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze, meet our son Roxas!" Euphie exclaimed as Naruto started to shake in fear.
The baby was blond and had blue eyes. From the looks of it, Roxas had light skin and had no whisker marks. This child could basically be sharing looks from both his parents. It was too much for Naruto's brain to handle at the moment that it only made him feel further confused as to why Minato was stifling a laugh.
"Wow, he looks like his father and grandfather. Doesn't he?" Minato asked as he bit his knuckle.
"Here Naruto, hold our baby!" Euphie said as she also tried to stop herself from laughing.
Naruto held the baby and just felt horrified, "I remember proposing but... when did this happen?" he asked with a scared smile.
(End of Song)
Euphie then let out a giggle, "It never happened!" she said as her siblings and Kushina came in laughing.
"What the hell?" Naruto asked as he was hopelessly lost.
"I'm sorry, but they put me up to it Mael." Euphie said as she kept laughing.
"Then who's baby is this!?" Naruto asked.
Minato wiped a tear out of his eye, "We knew you would be disoriented. So Kushina, your birth mother, is a natural prankster and wanted to give you a scare. This baby is actually your 16 month old brother." he explained as he picked up Roxas who was also giggling.
"I hate you people." Naruto said before burying his face with a pillow.
"Here let me try." Kushina said as she took away the pillow. "Come on, it's just some harmless fun." she said.
"And who are you?" Naruto asked.
Kushina smiled, "I'm Kushina Uzumaki. I'm your birth mother Naruto-chan." she said as Naruto's face softened.
"You are?" Naruto asked.
"Yup, I'm the one that carried you and Eiko-chan for nine months straight." Kushina said before being enveloped in a hug. "Oh, someone's affectionate." she said before feeling a few tears fall onto her shoulder.
"I think these two need some alone time." Euphie said as she lead everyone out knowing a child meeting his mother for the first time.
After they left, Kushina returned the hug and stroked her son's spiky hair, "It's ok baby boy. Let it all out." she said as she heard some sniffling. "Mommy isn't leaving you any time soon." she said in a comforting tone as Naruto cried for the first time in years.
"I... I hate sand." Naruto muttered.
"I hate sand too sochi-chan." Kushina replied
TO BE CONTINUED?