A/N: Thank you to Greatkingrat88 for his work on the chapter and Jameyofthemegacosmos for ideas and suggestions.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed and followed the story, I was a tad disappointed by the lack of further feedback, because I do have some lingering concerns about using an OC as a main villain and there have been some you had some criticism about him. Now I do not want to rewrite this story again, so I am going to press on and keep my back up choice handy. Since I don't think I'll see much feedback I've reluctantly put up a poll so I gauge what people think.

Now before moving onto the chapter itself I need to answer the only review I couldn't answer via PM.

Captain Imaginat:

The involvement of the Society Of Mana is still a ways off, and I can't talk about them without giving out spoilers. Same with the Foretellers, so I must remain silent. I do have a lot of plans in mind and it would take me took long to dive into it.

As for the bit about Hades, that also leads to spoilers which I also cannot discuss since to explain why I wouldn't do it could lead to me discussing what I got in mind. I mean I have a LOT going on right now with events of the story happening and another new world to add in this chapter alone.

Thank you for that and I hope I can keep trying not to disappoint.

Now on with the chapter.

Chapter 6

Keyblade Legends

In vast reaches of the universe and beyond laid a world, once akin to Earth, until violent wars left much of the surface barely habitable. The Goddesses who watched over them then elevated five interlinked continents high into the sky above the clouds to preserve what remained of the human race in that world. Under the care of their protectors the humans started anew, calling their new land Yggdrasil.

In the center of Yggdrasil was the central continent of Valhalla. Naturally, it was the most heavily guarded country on the entire continent, protected by elite warriors and divinities that dwelled in their most sacred areas. One such area was the Valhalla Palace, the home of the Chief God who created the floating continent above the ruined landscape. Despite her importance, the Chief God was not the true core of the continent, merely its primary guardian. Thus she remained in her home, just as the other goddesses had theirs.

None could enter the main palace where pure water fell from the heavens, into the pools and banks lined around its architecture. While none could even set foot in the capital without permission, the throne room was a marble hall of Nordic architecture reserved only for goddesses. In the center, there lay a large circular, concentric concrete slab with a sky roof above. The walls were golden with etched markings, showered by rain from above. The water went down the streams on both sides along the pathway to outside. Despite having no seats, this hall was where all meetings between the five deities were held.

"We haven't gotten together since the Sacred Tree Festival, have we?" One voluptuous Goddess spoke. She had black hair going down to her ankles, and blue eyes. She wore a red wine-colored blouse and white fingerless gloves with gold emblems. White pants went down to her dark red sandals. Her body was covered in jewelry, with gold moons as earrings, a belt, and the emblem on her silver armored tiara.

"If only this were a time for celebration."

"It's kinda boring when you think about it," spoke another goddess. "Now, if you had a fighting tournament with some meat on the fire, then that would be just right for me."

Across from the dark-haired deity was the second goddess present. She had long blonde hair and teal eyes, dressed in red and yellow wrappings around her chest, arms, and waist. Her only regular clothing was the red loin and lace-based thigh-high stockings under her silver greaves and sabatons. She held a large metal gauntlet on her right arm and wore a dark grey tiara with two-pointed antenna.

"The celebration was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves," the voluptuous Goddess said, seemingly hurt by the comment.

"The food was nice, Freya, but you know I love a good fight. It helps keep my skills up and gets the blood pumping!"

Freya, the Harvest Moon Deity, Goddess of autumn and ruler of Folk, could only sigh in disappointment.

As one of the five Goddesses, the nation of Folk was the largest on the continent, located on the west side of Yggdrasil. Thanks to the vast territory it owned, mainly composed of fertile land, her country had the largest population overall and essentially led in agriculture. It wasn't unheard of for Freya to throw the occasional festival like the Sacred Tree Festival every once in a while, inviting others, including her fellow Goddesses, to attend.

"So do we have some uninvited guests, like a demon invasion from those jerks of the Urtgardian Empire?"

The Urtgardian Empire was a nation for demons, said to come from another world and sometimes dwell on the surface. Just like how they once waged war against the goddesses, the demons have since attempted to continue the conflict by occasionally trying to invade Yggdrasil. Despite the significant difficulties, the demons making up the Empire managed to survive through their strength, and developed new magic and technology.

However, the demons were not the instigators of the war. The Ragnarok War had been started by humanity. The three-way war ultimately ended badly for them, and the humans who had survived agreed to live under the protection of the Goddesses as penance for their sins against them. It would later help them against the demons, who had gained control of most of the ruined surface world and continued to invade from their world.

Since then, the demons had launched attempts to invade Yggdrasil, but most of them were small and easy enough to repel. None of these invasions had ever been enough to prompt an emergency meeting to be called by the Chief Goddess.

"I haven't heard any reports of demons invading," Freya said. "This must be something else."

"Really?" the blonde Goddess said disappointedly.

"Must you always seek a fight?"

"Of course. My warriors will lose their edge without a good fight."

"I suppose a good fight is always you seek, isn't it, Thor?"

"Of course," Thor replied with a big smile.

Thor was the Radiant Lightning Deity, also called the Goddess of Summer and ruler of Thrudheim in the south. Her nation acted as a first line of defense with its military power, boosted by its mining and metalworking industry.

"If it isn't the demons, then what brings us together on such short notice?" The third Goddess among them asked.

The Goddess in question had the appearance of a young girl with white pigtails, her red eyes shut in contemplation. Her skin was quite pale, making her stand out even among her fair-skinned colleagues. The Goddess wore a light purple strapless mini-dress with long white stockings. She wore armor: purple spaulders, silver armored evening gloves, and purple metal shoes with white feathers. She wore a silver choker with a blue pearl and a silver forehead necklace with red jewels hanging from it.

"Could it have something to do with those strange blocks your miners found recently, Thor?"

Thor shrugged.

"I don't know, Rigret. The miners have been playing around with them, seeing what they can make, but those blocks are bizarre."

Rigret, standing next to Thor, was the Snow Guardian Deity and the Goddess of winter. Her nation of Glads had an eternal winter up north, which produced very effective warriors who could fight in frigid conditions. While immature for her age, she had the nation's mythical creatures to protect her Kingdom in times of need. They and the ancient ruins left undiscovered inspired her people in arts and crafts.

"Could it have something to do with that strange material we have been finding? Ever since that meteor shower years ago, we found more of these strange blocks that my people said to have been falling from the sky?"

All eyes turned to the last of the four-Season Goddesses among them who had spoken, a woman with purple eyes and green flower earrings. Her long brown hair was in twin tails, held by hair ties, and she had a gold headband with green armor and white wings. She had a green tunic, pleated skirt and a tank top. Her armor was composed of spaulders, tassets, and sabatons with white feathered fins, like a Valkyrie from Norse Mythology.

"I am doubtful that would prompt a meeting like this," Thor put both hands on her hips. "That meteor shower and those strange blocks have been appearing for the past couple of years since then. I think you might be off the mark, Tyrca."

Tyrca was the ruler of Edda in the east, having several nicknames such as the Spring Valkyrie, Windy War Deity, and Goddess of spring. The Goddess was inexperienced compared to her sisters, nearly the same level as Rigret when she felt like she could not offer a proper answer.

"Actually, that is part of the reason I've called this meeting."

Joining the gathering was a girl far shorter than Rigret, quite distinct from the other goddesses. Besides her unexpected child-like appearance, she stood out with her heterochromatic eyes of amber and purple, as well as the red foot-shaped tattoo on her forehead. She wore a white sleeveless dress with a purple tabard, white bridal gloves, and a cream-colored dress so long it dragged onto the floor. She wore her hair in two braided hoops, held by red rings and white ties, which had straps going down her wore two long gold and white waist guards that protected her lower body, and four white swords that hovered around her, radiating with blue energy.

"The appearance of this strange material, I've realized, was an ominous portent," the girl said as she held a Gummi Block in one hand. "Only recently did I discover what these blocks are."

"What are they, Chief Goddess?" Rigret spoke respectfully.

"These blocks once made up the dimensional barriers that protected our world," Odin explained with a grim expression upon her youthful features. "What caused the barriers to shatter, I do not know, but it signaled the loss of other worlds beyond our own."

Chief God Odin, also known as the Heavenly Absolute Deity, was the overall ruler and creator of Yggdrasil. While she looked like a young child, her power was immeasurable, far beyond even the four-Season Goddesses combined. Long ago, the Chief God looked far older, and had even more power than no. That had been lost upon the creation of the continent of Yggdrasil and the Season Goddesses. Despite this depowering, she still overshadowed everyone else on the continent, making her the ultimate watcher of those who lived on it.

"Worlds beyond ours?" Freyja inquired, her tone respectful. "More than Utgard, you say?"

"To answer that, I must explain details that only I can recall. You ought to know there were many worlds beyond ours that demons do not know of, although reaching them is very difficult, mainly due to the vast distances between them. These other worlds are harder to reach, even with more traditional methods of travel across the stars. However, there is a dimensional plane called the Ocean Between that connects all worlds, but access to it is hindered by the barriers that prevent outside interference."

"Then that block is a piece of that barrier," Rigret said, which Odin confirmed with a nod.

"Yes. I even modeled the barriers protecting our land from the demons after them," Odin said, disdainfully. "Regrettably, I was unsuccessful in replicating the barriers."

Odin was a very rational goddess with considerable courage in the face of danger, but she was prideful at times. Noticing this, Freyja intervened.

"You had already used up much of your power by that point, Chief God," she said politely. "Perhaps barriers of such strength are not so easily recreated with your power."

"I suppose," Odin said, accepting the opportunity to protect her pride. "These barriers are so powerful that even I could not easily breach them in my prime. I suppose recreating them was a doomed effort, as the Demons developed a means to move through dimensional space."

"Uh, aren't we getting a little off-topic?" Thor said, before flinching under Odin's gaze.

"I suppose we are," the Chief God agreed. Thor was thankful Odin didn't try to discipline her for speaking out of turn. "However, there are exceptions to this rule. Among them is that creatures known as the Heartless can travel the Ocean Between and slip past these barriers."

"The Heartless?" Tyrca said.

"Yes. They are darkness incarnate, living darkness driven by instinct to consume the hearts of others in a vain effort to regain what they've lost. These creatures existed long before demons walked this world, a primordial evil that has plagued other worlds. They are capable of consuming them entirely as well, because even worlds have hearts, should a Heartless find them."

"Did you encounter these creatures before?" Rigret inquired, suspecting the answer.

"Yes. Once upon a time when I was young, they invaded this world. The lesser Heartless I could deal with easily despite their numbers. However, the Heartless born from hearts dripping with evil were harder to kill. More so was a Heartless born from the Heart of an evil god. Even with my power, it couldn't be felled so easily, but Warriors wielding Keyblades were able to slay it with my help."

"Keyblades?" Freyja asked curiously.

"The warriors who came to my world came from another world, said to be the first world to exist before ours came to be, and wielded strange yet powerful weapons. Its name comes from the fact it's a hybrid between a sword and a key, but it has considerable powers. Among these powers is the ability to open pathways to the Oceans Between to travel to other worlds. They can even bypass the barriers protecting them."

"It sounds like these Keyblades are the best weapons against the Heartless," Thor observed.

"They are. The Keyblade can liberate the Heart that makes up the Heartless, thus destroying the Heartless for certain. Most important is that they can seal the path that leads to a world's Heart, protecting it from the darkness."

"You're concerned the Heartless might invade our world?" Tyrca asked.

"We have already encountered a few," Odin said, looking to Thor.

"You mean those black creatures with yellow eyes we found were the Heartless?" Thor said, realization dawning on her.

"Yes. After what you told me, that confirmed the creatures that wiped out a town in your territory were the Heartless. Thankfully they were lesser Heartless, easy for us to dispatch. If we left them alone, they could've become a problem," Odin said. "We've contained the problem for now, but this means more Heartless will appear. I care not for the demons, but should Heartless succeed in consuming them, then the Heartless born from them could be a threat to us."

"So, you wish to take the initiative and seek out a Keyblade Wielder. Do you know where to find these warriors?" asked Rigret.

"I wish to have the Heart to our world sealed. I will enlist their services as a further precaution if I can. However, I am troubled." Odin replied.

"Troubled? What do you mean, Chief God?" Freyja said.

"Every star in our sky represents a world, but the past few years, I've noticed the number of stars decrease. In the last year alone, the number has been growing steadily at an alarming rate. I am concerned something might've happened to the Keyblade Warriors, which could explain why this outbreak of the Heartless has claimed so many worlds."

"You want us to find out what happened to these Keyblade Warriors?" Tyrca asked.

"No. I need you to track one down, then convince this warrior to return with you and close the path to our world's Heart. However, if you do come across any information regarding what happened to the other warriors, then it would be appreciated," Odin replied. "Regardless, we'll need a Keyblade Wielder to better our chances of dealing with the Heartless. While I have the utmost confidence in our abilities as Goddesses to defend our lands. I fear a forever war would be upon us, should the Heartless consume all other worlds, and the resulting billions from those destroyed worlds could eventually overrun us."

"I see. Which of us do you charge with finding such a warrior?" Freyja asked. Odin began eyeing each of the four goddesses in the room.

Thor is easily the strongest and most capable among them, and she has trained many formidable warriors. As such, she's always aware of her troops' strengths and weaknesses, Odin thought. However, Thor is also a muscle head, and despite her appreciation for strong men in the military, her society's pretty much matriarchal. I've even heard she has many admirers she tends to fool around with in private, yet hopes to find a man strong enough to beat her to claim as her lover. I fear she might become distracted by the desire to find a strong warrior as a husband, and the possibility of an enjoyable fight.

She was more of a liability in Odin's eyes.

Maybe it will be best I keep her here to aid in covering our defenses anyway.

The Chief God switched to the oldest Goddess in the room.

Freyja would be an ideal choice as a diplomat. She is kind and loves humans greatly, making her ideal among the four who could be best at convincing a Keyblade Warrior to aid us. Even her skill with a bow is unparalleled; she could defend herself. Unfortunately, she is more of a defensive fighter and prefers to negotiate with enemies than battle them. That can be problematic when traveling to a world where unknown dangers and foes could exploit her kindness.

Disappointed the elder Goddess wasn't a more viable choice, Odin moved on to the next one.

At least Rigret doesn't have Thor and Frejya's problems. She is a capable leader, despite being the youngest among us. Her divine weapon Gjallarhorn enables her to strengthen allies and curse enemies from a distance. Her young age might make her easier to approach for a Keyblade wielder, and her innocence has made her popular among humans, Odin thought. Rigret was, additionally, the most intelligent of the four-Season Goddesses, and her ability to keep cool in situations was notable. Unfortunately, her self-esteem is a problem, which has her relying on her fellow sisters. I worry how she would do far away from them.

It was unfortunate Rigret wasn't more confident in herself or timid at times. In turn, Odin had only one viable choice left.

Despite not being on the same level as Thor, Tyrca is a formidable warrior and leader, commanding a private army of Pegasus riders. She might be a little inexperienced as a goddess, but she lacks the self-esteem issues Rigret has. She has a motherly personality to her allies and humans under her rule, making her popular among the people. Adding her independence and the fact the Trade Guild can run Edda in her place while she's away, she is the best and only candidate I can send.

"After some consideration, I have chosen Tyrca to send forth into the worlds to find a Keyblade Warrior," Odin declared.

"M-M-Me?" Tyrca said, surprised, pointing her right index finger at herself.

"I believe you are the best candidate to complete this task."

"T-Thank you for your confidence in me, Chief God, but forgive me. Are you sure I am the best choice?"

"Stop being so modest. Rest assured, I've considered your fellow goddesses carefully before making my choice. Unfortunately, they are not as well suited." Odin said.

"But you could send me!" Thor burst out.

"I need you to here to ready our defenses, and I'll need you and Freyja to send troops to help protect Tyrca's lands while she is away," Odin said. "The last we would need with the looming threat of the Heartless is for the demons to attempt an invasion upon us."

"Of course, I'll happily help and look over Tyrca's land while she is gone," Freyja said with a smile.

"If I may ask, Chief Goddess, how will Tyrca travel to these other worlds?" Rigret said with one hand on her chin.

"I have fashioned a special charm, using the pieces of the broken barrier. It will allow you to pass through the Ocean Between, but I am afraid which world you'll end up in will be random. However, once you find a Keyblade Wielder, they can open portals to any world through the Ocean Between to return here," Odin said, approaching Tyrca with a charm in the shape of a blue and gold star in the palm of her hand.

"I understand," Tyrca said, accepting the charm.

"There are a few things we'll need to discuss before you leave," Odin advised sagely. "In the meantime, I would prepare for the journey and take care of any duties that need your attention."

"I understand, Chief God. I will not fail you."

Elsewhere, across the cosmos, another world reacted to the Heartless threat in response to the increased rate of worlds being consumed. In a world thought to be very peaceful and prosperous, a humanoid duck was running through the halls of a towering white castle. He ran past some of the enchanted brooms, animated by magic to take care of all the cleaning. The duck in question wore a blue and gold-trimmed uniform with a wizard's hat on top, hurrying through the castle holding an opened letter.

Donald Duck was the Court Magician and Advisor to the King. When he had arrived at the throne room to give His Majesty the daily reports and handle other daily affairs of state, the King had been nowhere to be found. Approaching the throne, Donald had discovered a sealed letter upon it. He had opened it, and upon reading its contents, the duck wasted no time locating the Captain of the Castle Guard.

The castle garden was located near the Heart of the castle, surrounded by white walls and accessible from the castle's interior. Donald found the captain where he had expected to see him, after passing through the hedge maze that surrounded much of the garden.

Sleeping near the base of the replica of the castle was a humanoid creature, a strange dog with black fur, long ears, and a lanky figure with black eyes when they are open. The captain's attire consisted of a blue and brown uniform with armored boots, some armor on his body, with his left arm encased in armor. On his head was a helmet too small for him, worn like a hat.

"Goofy, wake up!" Donald shouted at the sleeping Captain of the guard. "This is serious!

Goofy continued to snore, peacefully sleeping on. Donald glared at him. Losing patience, he raised a hand and a bolt of lightning came down. It wasn't lethal, but it was enough to shock the sleeping Captain awake. Goofy awoke with a shout, unharmed, and greeted the annoyed Court Magician as if he had just awoken from a nap.

"Oh, good morning, Donald."

"We got a problem, Goofy, but you can't tell anyone!"

"Queen Minnie?"

"No, not even the Queen!" Donald snapped.

"Daisy?" Goofy asked

"NO!" Donald shouted. "This is top secret!"

"Good morning, ladies," Goofy said. Donald realized they were behind him.

Upon turning around, it was indeed the Queen and her Lady-in-Waiting, likely here to investigate the racket. Queen Minnie was a humanoid mouse with black skin, round ears, and black eyes, wearing a pink and red ballgown. The Queen's Lady-in-Waiting, Daisy, was a duck similar to Donald, with blue eyes, wearing a blue and purple dress.

"You know, if you wanted to keep something secret, you shouldn't be running around the castle like someone with their tail feathers on fire and using lightning to wake someone up from a nap," Daisy scolded Donald, both hands on her hips.

"So, what is this secret?" Queen Minnie asked.

"Well," Donald said. But before he could come up with an excuse, Daisy looked at him sternly, causing him to relent. "Here…"

Donald handed Queen Minnie the opened letter the King had left, who drew it from the envelope to read its contents.

-Donald

Sorry to rush off without saying goodbye, but there is big trouble brewing. I don't know why, but the stars have been blinking out one by one. That means disaster isn't far behind, so I had to look into this and leave this task to you. There is someone with a weapon called a Keyblade. That Keyblade will be the means of our survival. I need you and Goofy to find this Key and stick with the owner.

Head to a place called Traverse Town and look for Merlin. I heard a boy with the Keyblade we need has been found there. Head over there, and if he does have a Keyblade, then stay with him. Without it, we are doomed.

P.S. Would you apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.

"Oh dear, what could this mean?" Daisy said.

"It means we'll just have to trust the king," Minnie said confidently.

"Gawrsh, I sure hope he's alright," Goofy said.

"Your Highness, don't worry," Donald said. "We'll find the King and the boy with the Keyblade."

"Thank you, both of you," Minnie said.

"Daisy, can you take care of…"

"Of course, I can!" Daisy interrupted Donald. "You two, just be careful out there!"

"Before you go, I think you'll need someone to help chronicle your travels, and I know just the person for the job." Queen Minnie said with one hand on her chin.

"Who do you have in mind?" Goofy asked.

"You two should prepare for your trip," Minnie said. "I'll have him meet you when you are ready to depart."

The following day, it was just two hours before dawn. Lelouch had to wake up early because, according to Byleth, they were going to head to the Kingdom of Faerghus. To reach their destination on time, they would have to leave before dawn. Just as Lelouch was getting ready, he heard something outside, followed by a knock on his door. The former prince made his way to the door. It was Solus on the other side, with a concerned look on his face.

"Better get your weapon ready, lad. We might have a problem."

"What's wrong?"

Solus gestured for Lelouch to follow him, where he saw what appeared to be a meeting between Jeralt and Byleth with three individuals was about to take place. They were around Lelouch's age, but their well-made attire made them stand out. Lelouch and Solus stood their distance, but they watched as Byleth and Jeralt approached them.

"Are they nobility?"

"Close. Remember when I told you about Princess Edelgard and Prince Dimitri?"

Realization dawned on Lelouch as he turned to Solus.

"Wait, are they really-"

"Oh yes, they are," Solus nodded. "That's the princess right there."

Princess Edelgard von Hresvelg was a seventeen-year-old girl with striking white hair, pale skin and lilac eyes. She wore a black uniform trimmed with gold, integrated shorts, white gloves, red tights, black heel shoes, and a red cape over her left shoulder. She hefted a battle axe over her shoulder. Being the only female of the trio made her easy to identify the heiress to the Adrestian Empire.

"The fellow with blonde hair is Prince Dimitri," Solus whispered.

To Edelgard's right was Prince Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, who, as Solus pointed out, had short blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore a black uniform trimmed with silver and a blue cape. He wore armored gauntlets and carried a sword on his side in a sheath, and a lance in his hand.

"So, the last one is…."

"That's right, the likely next leader to the Leicester Alliance," Solus said.

Claude von Riegan stood out, thanks to his tan complexion, green eyes, and unkempt short brown hair, contrasting Dimitri's neatly combed blonde hair. His uniform was similar to Dimitri's, but had yellow lines instead of silver. He wore black boots and no gloves, but Claude wore a yellow cape. Claude's weapon of choice was a bow, with a full quiver of arrows on his back.

"So, they are likely here because of some kind of trouble," Lelouch reasoned.

"Most certainly," Solus said in agreement. "The three leaders of a country just don't show up at random at a small village without proper escort just for a late-night stroll."

"Please forgive the intrusion," Dimitri said, with a polite bow to Jeralt and Byleth. "We would not bother you if our situation wasn't dire."

"What do a bunch of kids want at this hour?" Jeralt asked, seemingly unaware of their true identities.

"A group of bandits is pursuing us," Dimitri said. "I can only hope you would be so kind as to lend us your support."

"Bandits, here?" Jeralt said.

"It's true. Bandits attacked us while we were at our camp," Edelgard said with a nod. "We were all resting when the attack happened. During the confusion we were separated, forced to flee."

"We are without our companions and outnumbered," Claude said. "No doubt these bandits are after our lives and our gold."

"I'm impressed with your calm, considering the situation," Jeralt said. "Wait, those uniforms…."

"I am surprised he didn't recognize them," Solus said to Lelouch. "I guess he's a bit out of touch."

"Sir, we just spotted bandits," one of Jeralt's men reported, running up to him. "There are a lot of them, approaching the village."

"I guess they followed you all the way here," Jeralt said, taking a deep breath. "We can't abandon this village now."

"This is your time to shine," Solus said, turning to Lelouch.

"Let's deal with these bandits before they overrun the village," Jeralt said, as he began giving orders. "We'll deal with the enemies as they approach the village."

"It doesn't sound like many of them stayed to deal with their companions. These bandits are after those three." Solus deduced, pointing to Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude.

"So someone hired them to kill the three?" Lelouch asked.

"Yes, and if they had enough to separate three future leaders of their respective nations from their comrades and guards…" Solus said before Lelouch realized what he was getting at.

"Then they likely splitting their forces to come around to cut off our retreat."

"And to flank us from behind. I am certain of this," Solus agreed. They watched as Byleth accompanied Dimitri, Claude, and Edelgard, followed by her father. Some of Jeralt's men followed them, but others took up positions to protect the village.

"Solus, Lelouch, take a platoon and head into the forest. See if you can push back the first wave. If we can bloody their vanguard, they might think twice about a big attack. If you're getting outnumbered and surrounded, fall back to the village. I'll secure the nobles," Jeralt ordered.

"Yes, sir," said Solus. As Jeralt marched away, he muttered, "safe and sound back here while we go out on the front lines, huh?"

"The bandits are advancing on the village. Concern for the villagers might be pushing them," Lelouch said in defense of Byleth and her father.

"Maybe so, but they really should have looked before they leapt."

"Fair enough," Lelouch said, summoning his Keyblade.

Solus commandeered a platoon, ten archers and ten swordsmen, and together they marched toward the woods to meet the approaching bandits. They formed a line by the trees, awaiting the coming rush of bandits. A party of them had moved ahead of the rest, a good twenty or so.

Raising his Keyblade, Lelouch closed his eyes, focusing on channeling power into his weapon. It was small, but soon magic rushed into the blade, and it began pulsing with energy. Within his mind, Lelouch heard the voice that guided him to master the arcane powers that his weapon gave him access to. As the first bandits came into view, a dozen brandishing battle axes and swords, Lelouch swung the blade down and released the accumulated energy. The blast shot forth, some of the bandits diving out of the wave in a panic, but some could not get far enough away. It struck the ground in the middle of the bandit line, causing an explosion that sent six of them flying.

"Attack them now, while they are disoriented," Lelouch commanded.

Solus nodded when his bodyguards turned to him, smiling with approval. Lelouch led the charge. The bowmen quickly picked off the ones trying to pick themselves up, while the swordsmen charged. Even Solus joined in, striking down a recovering bandit with a bolt of lightning before he could get back up.

More bandits emerged from the forest to engage the platoon. One of them attacked Lelouch, but the young man deflected the sword swing before applying magic for an empowered counter strike, pushing both the bandit and his sword back, before Lelouch seized upon the opening and cut the man down.

Impressive, Solus thought, clearly pleased. He has figured out how to use the magic of the Keyblade to empower himself.

According to the lore, the more a Keyblade Wielder used the weapon, its power would gradually strengthen its wielder. Not only in their ability to use magic more naturally, but the wielder's body would become stronger and faster over time, eventually allowing for superhuman-like feats.

He has a way to go, but he is making excellent progress.

Seizing the opportunity, Lelouch noticed two enemy bandits hesitating and worrying about the archers targeting them. He stepped back to avoid becoming surrounded. But as he did, an arrow flew over his head, killing one. The second enemy bandit tried to avenge his comrade by attacking Lelouch, but the prince grinned, infusing his Keyblade with lightning. Upon striking the Keyblade, the bandit electrocuted himself into death.

The fighting had been quick. The bandits had not been prepared to face professional, disciplined, well-armed soldiers, and had broken against them like waves against a rock. The rest of the platoon had already picked off the remaining bandits. It seemed the ones attacking Byleth's group were all that was left fighting. There were some stragglers, but they turned tail before running away. Solus summoned an explosion of dark magic that killed three bandits at once, and it turned into a rout as the remaining stragglers ran in panic.

"I would say we are victorious," Solus complimented, approaching Lelouch.

"Yes, but it seems Byleth and the others are still fighting," Lelouch said, pointing in their direction. From the village, the sounds of battle could still be heard.

"Then perhaps we should go and see if we can help wrap this up," Solus said, and together they formed up and hurried to join the others.

Upon arriving at the village, Solus and Lelouch found the battle was beginning to wrap up. Bandit bodies littered the streets, and it seemed the fight had been going well, but it some bandits remained. As Lelouch and Solus advanced to the line of battle, they found Edelgard and Byleth near one another. On the ground near them was a particularly large, bearded bandit with an axe lying near him. It seemed he had been knocked to the ground, but he was still breathing. The bandit leader opened his eyes, leaping back up to his feet with his weapon in hand. With a grunt, he charged at Edelgard. She had lost her axe during the battle, and had to draw a dagger to fight back. That would not work well for her, and it seemed Byleth had come to the same conclusion.

She is going to take the blow, and it will kill her!

Horror flooded Lelouch's mind. Flashes of the attack of Ashford Academy flew into his memory, including the hooded woman mocking him. Unwilling to do nothing this time, and allow his friend and teacher to die, Lelouch ran forward. His emotions and desire to save Byleth caused a surge of power to be channeled into the Keyblade.

"NOT ON MY WATCH!" he cried.

Swinging the blade with determination and furious anger, Lelouch released a destructive blast of dark magical energy, intertwined with light magic. The bandit leader stopped in his tracks to turn his head at the incoming burst of energy before it engulfed him. As the energy passed through him, he was reduced to ashes, completely evaporated. The blast was strong enough to leave a wide scar upon the Earth, and it consumed several nearby bandits. Upon hitting a large hill and some trees, the released energy exploded, and a thundering boom echoed throughout the area. Lelouch dropped to his knees, having expended all his magic and strength with that one swing.

Byleth and Edelgard hurried to a collapsed Lelouch. The two were unharmed, thanks to Solus, as he had conjured a barrier to shield the pair from potential harm from Lelouch's last attack.

"Lelouch, are you alright?" Byleth asked, trying to help Lelouch back to his feet.

"That was quite the attack, but thank you both for your intervention," Edelgard said.

"I didn't think you would be reckless like that," Lelouch said to Byleth. He was barely standing, his legs trembling.

"Sorry, I just had to do something. Otherwise, she might've been seriously hurt," Byleth apologized. "But thank you for saving me."

"What an unusual weapon," Edelgard said, having noticed Lelouch's Keyblade. Her expression changed to one of shock as realization dawned on her. "Wait…is that a Keyblade?"

"Yes it is, your highness," Solus said, approaching the trio. "I must say, Lelouch, that was an impressive display. You sent the rest of those bandits running scared. But we should work on your finesse when it comes to magic a little more."

"You, you're Lord Solus zos Galvus," Edelgard said, recognizing the man.

"A pleasure to see you again, Your Highness," Solus said, politely bowing.

Before the conversation could continue further, Claude and Dimitri arrived.

"Hey, what was THAT?!" Claude burst out, kneeling to inspect the scar in the ground that Lelouch's last attack had left.

"I've never seen anything like that," Dimitri said. "More importantly, is everyone all right?"

Jeralt joined the gathering from atop his horse.

"Hey, did you just-" Jeralt begun, but another party had arrived. Heavy cavalry had ridden up behind the bandits, approaching the mercenary band.

"The Knights of Seiros are here! We'll cut you down for terrorizing our students!"

The man leading the knights was in his early forties with brown hair, blue eyes, and a beard. He wore white plate armor trimmed with gold and a matching cape. He wielded a battle axe, like many of his subordinates. Something about this man made Lelouch roll his eyes at him; his boisterous personality seemed a little over the top, somehow.

You're very late to this gathering, Lelouch thought.

"Hey, those bandits are getting away. After them!" the lead knight commanded. The bandits had already been decimated by the mercenaries, and the arrival of knightly reinforcements had been too much. The bandit line was fleeing. Some knights hurried off after the remaining bandits, but their leader and few remaining knights approached Jeralt and the others.

"The students are thankfully unharmed. Who is this?"

"Ugh, why him?" Jeralt said with a groan.

"Wait…Captain Jeralt," The lead knight recognized who was once his superior. "It is you! Goodness, it has been ages! Don't you recognize me? It's Alois, your old right-hand man! Well, that's how I always thought of myself, anyway."

"This guy seems full of himself," Lelouch said quietly.

"He isn't so bad," Solus commented. "His heart is in the right place. He's just very loud, and known among the Knights of Seiros for his bad puns and even worse jokes."

"It must've been twenty years ago since you went missing without a trace," Alois said happily. "I always knew you were alive."

"You haven't changed a bit, Alois," Jeralt said with a sigh before burying his face in his palm for a moment. "Just as loud as ever. But drop that captain nonsense. I am not your captain anymore. These days I am just a wandering mercenary, one who has work to do. Goodbye, old friend."

"Right, goodbye. Captain," Alois said. "Wait, that isn't how this should end. I insist that you return to the monastery with me!"

"Garreg Mach Monastery," Jeralt said with a look of resignation. "I suppose this was inevitable."

"And how about you, kid? Are you the captain's child?" Alois turned to Byleth.

"Yes, I am," Byleth admitted.

"Is that so? Well, physical differences aside, your mannerisms do remind me of the captain. I'd love for you to see the monastery, too. You will join me, won't you?"

Before Byleth could answer, Solus intervened.

"What about our arrangement? I believe you are still training Lelouch, but you can't if you end up rejoining the Knights of Serios."

"Yes, that is true," Jeralt folded his arms, which made Lelouch wonder if he was seizing upon it as an excuse to avoid going to the monastery. "He has made some impressive progress, but he is far from being ready to strike out on his own. Sorry Alois, but I do have an obligation to fulfill. He has hired me to train that young man, and he has paid a lot."

"What?" Alois said. Looking at Lelouch, he stumbled back in shock. "By the Goddess, that boy has a Keyblade! That is such a weapon, right? A weapon that is like a sword, but combined with a key!"

"It is the real deal," Jeralt said with a confirming nod. "The first Keyblade Wielder to appear in a thousand years."

"This is huge," Alois said, clearly not giving up on not having Jeralt and his daughter accompany him. "All of you should come to the monastery then!"

"You just don't give up, don't you?" Solus shook his head.

"Never," Alois said with a big smile. "Anyway, if that is the issue, the monastery has plenty of teachers who could help the captain. A little variety in his training could benefit him."

"You have a point," Solus conceded with a nod. "Still, I do expect Jeralt or his daughter to finish the boy's training. They've done a very good job with him, as you can see." He pointed to the damage Lelouch's Keyblade had left.

"So that is what caused that explosion," Alois said, surprised. "I heard the legends myself. If a Keyblade could do that, I wonder how much truth there is to the old stories?"

"My thoughts exactly, which is why I've invested so much," Solus said.

"Well, in that case, I am sure we can reach a beneficial agreement with the archbishop."

Jeralt sighed, seeing his only chance at escape vanish.

"What's troubling you, Captain?" Alois noticed. "I hope you aren't thinking about running off again?"

"Even I wouldn't dare run from the Knights of Serios," Jeralt answered.

During the conversation, Byleth was occupied. Lelouch wasn't the only one who had a voice speaking to her. Within the depths of her mind, the vision of a young girl wearing elegant blue robes with long green hair and light green eyes decorated with jewels and a golden headpiece spoke.

"The Knights of Serios are quite skilled," the girl spoke. "When you have time, you should thank that boy for saving you."

"I can hear you now, outside of my dreams?"

Byleth was caught off guard by the girl, now speaking to her outside of her dreams. It had begun only recently when Byleth would awaken in what seemed like an ancient throne room, where he would find the girl asleep on the throne.

"Is it so shocking to you?" the girl replied playfully. Her tone quickly changed, becoming strict and scolding. "Furthermore, you'll be hearing a lot more from me. Throwing yourself to protect that girl like that was stupid and reckless. The boy saved me the trouble from intervening this time, but honestly, were you trying to get us both killed?!"

"I…" Byleth thought. "I am sorry."

The girl sighed, rolling her eyes.

"If you do not know the value of your own life, you are not likely going to protect it well. From now on, I am going to guide you. Just so you know, my name is Sothis, but I am also called the Beginning."

The girl paused for a moment, as confusion and then realization dawned on her.

"Sothis, yes, that is it. My name is Sothis."

"Sothis?"

When Byleth first encountered the girl in her dreams, she had no memory of who she was, not even her name.

"Yes, I just remembered it just now. But why would anyone call me The Beginning?

"What do you mean?"

"I just wasn't able to recall my name until now, so just like that, it came to me. How odd," Sothis said, before glaring at her host. "That look upon your face- do you think me a child? A mere child who forgot her name?!"

Byleth said nothing in response.

"Phooey! Rest assured, if that boy hadn't saved you, I would have. Keep that in mind and be more mindful of your safety. I'll intervene whenever you are in danger. I can stall the flow of time for you. Maybe I could reverse it, but only so much… odd, I did not realize I could do that."

Sothis shifted back to confusion, as more of her memories returned.

"Is time frozen now?"

"Yes, it seems I froze it by accident so we could speak uninterrupted. But worry not, I can undo it," Sothis said. "Just remember I'll be here from now on, and I'll make sure to guide you."

As their conversation wrapped up, none of them noticed that while time was frozen, Lelouch was unaffected. He merely avoided to move or speak, at the instruction of the voice within his mind.

"What just happened," Lelouch thought, speaking to the voice within him.

"It seems the girl slumbering within Byleth has awakened, and is regaining some of her power."

"The girl?!"

"You're not the only one who is now hearing voices in their head, if that is comforting to you."

"Well, you have helped me understand magic."

"Yes, and now you should know whenever she uses the power to freeze and rewind time you will be unaffected, retaining all memory of events that happened before."

"She can rewind time?!"

"Yes, but by only a very limited amount, enough to correct one fatal mistake. I can do so as well for you too, but don't get dependent on it."

"I'll make a note of that."

"Most importantly, tell no one of this," The voice warned. "Best to keep this trump card close to you."

"I get the impression you know much more than you are telling me."

"I do, but for now, you should remain ignorant. Master the Keyblade fully, and I promise to tell you everything."

Lelouch wanted to question the voice within him more, but he noticed the time flow starting to resume.

"We'll talk more later, but right now, there are others who wish to speak to you."

Time resumed with only Lelouch and Byleth aware of what had happened.

"What you did with that Keyblade was impressive," Edelgard said, approaching Lelouch while Dimitri and Claude followed her. "I apologize. We didn't have a chance for proper introductions, but I am Princess Edelgard, and these are my classmates, Prince Dimitri and Claude."

"That hurts a little, Edelgard," Claude said jokingly.

"I am Lelouch Lamperouge," Lelouch said, politely bowing.

"Your weapon is fascinating. To think we would see a Keyblade, after its last known wielder in this land died a thousand years ago," Dimitri said, in awe.

"Thank you, but I owe this feat to my teachers, Jeralt and his daughter," Lelouch said.

"So that woman is Jeralt's daughter? He's the man known as the Blade Breaker," Edelgard said, intrigued. "Former Captain of the Knights of Serios, he's praised as the strongest knight to have ever lived."

"Yes, that is about what I have been told," Lelouch replied, as Byleth approached the group to join the conversation.

"I guess she taught you well," Claude said to Lelouch. "She was quite the force to be reckoned with out there."

"Is something wrong?" Lelouch asked, noticing the look of confusion on Byleth's face.

"I was only told not too long ago my father was a former captain and a famous member of the Knights of Serios, but to hear it from a Knight of Serios is surprising still," Byleth admitted.

"He never mentioned that," Edelgard said, surprised but intrigued.

"Hey!" Claude intervened, "Both of you are coming with us to the monastery, right? Of course, you are! I would love to bend your ears as we travel."

"Of course," Lelouch said, realizing it was going to be a long trip.

"You've likely figured it out already. All three of us are students at the Officer's Academy at Garreg Mach Monastery," Claude said. "We were conducting some training exercises when those bandits attacked. I got the worse of it."

"That would be because you ran off," Edelgard glared at Claude.

"Too true, I was the first to make a strategic retreat," Claude said before adding. "Everything would've worked out if these two hadn't followed me and ruined everything. Because of them, every single one of those bandits chased after us. How utterly ridiculous."

"Ah, so that's what you were thinking, Claude," Dimitri raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought you were acting as a decoy for the sake of us all."

"His intentions were as clear as day," Edelgard said, her voice full of disapproval. "You will prove a lacking ruler if you cannot see the truth behind a person's words."

"Heh," Dimitri said before countering. "You will prove a lacking ruler yourself if you look for deceit behind every word and fail to trust those whom you rely on."

"Oh, joy," Claude shook his head. "A royal debate between their highnesses. I wonder how being completely predictable affects one's ability to wield power. Personally, as the embodiment of distrust, I say your little exchange smacks of naivete."

"Me?" Edelgard took offense. "Naïve? Tell me, are you actually incapable of keeping quiet, or is your lack of self-awareness a condition of some sort?"

"In any case," Dimitri said, deciding to defuse the situation before it could escalate, "Forgive our digression. Miss Byleth, I must speak with you if you can spare a moment."

"Of course," Byleth said.

"The way you held your ground against the bandit leader was captivating. You never lost control of the situation. It showed me I have much to learn," Dimitri said.

"Your skill is precisely why I must ask you to consider lending your services to the Empire," Edelgard said, extending a hand to Byleth. "I might as well tell you now that I am no mere student. I am the Adrestian Empire's-"

"Halt. Edelgard, please allow me to finish my proposition," Dimitri interrupted. "Besides, I think they know who we are already, so introductions are no longer necessary. The Holy Kingdom of Faerghus is in dire need of exceptional individuals like yourself. Please, would you consider returning to the Kingdom with me?"

"Talk about being tactless, especially when you just met," Claude said teasingly. "But, Dimitri, I almost would say flirting with someone you just met is even worse," Dimitri to almost recoiled in shock at the accusation.

"Claude, respectfully, I wasn't flirting!"

"Could've fooled me," Claude said with a playful wink. "For me, I was personally planning to develop a deep and lasting friendship on our journey back to the monastery before begging for favors. Of course, if you two want her, then you two wouldn't mind if I try building a bond with the young Keyblade Wielder, whose swing pulverized that large hill."

"Isn't she teaching him?" Edelgard said. "And from what I've gathered, she has done an impressive job. I doubt they will part until she finishes teaching him."

"Ahem," Solus began, "Might I add she got him to this state in just two months, after he was in poor physical shape for so long?"

Why did you say that? Lelouch thought, knowing that was likely to make things worse.

"Yes, which is proof of her natural skill as a teacher and a warrior," Dimitri said with one hand on his chin. "She would probably make for a better professor than the one who fled during that bandit attack."

"I think we can all agree on that," Claude said before turning to Byleth. "So, since no one here is going to let you have a chance to get to know us properly, where would you say your allegiances lie?"

Before Byleth could answer, Alois stepped in.

"All right, that's enough with the small talk! It's time to head back to the monastery!"

"I guess we'll have to pick this up another time," Claude said.

"Yes, but I believe Lord Solus was the one who financed the boy's training, did he not?" Edelgard inquired, glancing to Solus, who had been amused by the exchange happening before him.

"Yes, I did," Solus admitted. "I have helped him learn how to learn some magic, but it's a work in progress."

"Work in progress, huh," Claude glanced back at the scar Lelouch had made.

"If he has gotten so far in such a short amount of time, then his teacher is more skilled than I thought," Dimitri said. "I wish to learn from her as well, and maybe ask if the Keyblade Wielder could join my Kingdom."

"I said Lord Solus paid for his training, so I think he is aligned with the Empire already," Edelgard said. Lelouch stood back, feeling annoyed.

"This conversation is going to keep going until we reach the monastery, isn't it?" Lelouch said with a groan.

"Well, this is why I wanted to keep your training low profile," Solus said. "But get ready. You are about to get a lot more attention."

Lelouch wasn't looking forward to it, but there was little he could do about it except follow the group to the monastery, where the next stage of his training would begin.

A/N: well the events of Fire Emblem Three Houses is now beginning with Lelouch likely to be the talk of the monastery alongside Byleth.

In other news Donald and Goofy are heading out likely to meet Sora in the coming chapter.

Also at the beginning of the chapter we are introduced to the five Goddesses of Yggdrasil from Venus Blood Frontier, and Tyrca is going to be in for a rough ride for those who remember a certain Keyblade user who had once used something that sent him to a random place.

Its going to be awhile before she finds someone, so I hope this method might work as a better alternative for a soft introduction for worlds.

And as a reminder of worlds introduced and/or mentioned so far.

- Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion

- Final Fantasy XIV

- Final Fantasy XV

- Final Fantasy Type-0

- Fairy Tail

- Fire Emblem Three Houses

- Kingdom Hearts

- She-ra Princess of Power

- Sunrider

- Venus Blood: Frontier

So thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed it, and this story will prove to be something worth continuing. Next to be updated will be my Fate/Grand Order crossover as soon as Greatkingrat88 finishes editing and doing the beta work on it.