A Nobody

by Jebest4781

Living a new life in another reality, Naruto now must handle a lot of complications of him interacting with various heroes, villains and anti-heroes. How will things go with them interacting with a Nobody. NarutoXHarem Rated M for language, violence and lemons. NarutoXDC ComicsXKingdom Hearts Please leave reviews. On Hiatus.

55. Destati

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Naruto, Disney, Square Enix or Detective Comics. They rightfully belong to their respective owners.

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Radio/TV

"Headset/Flashback"

-Scene Shift-

Chapter 55: Destati

In the beginning, there was nothing.

An empty Void filled with the deepest Darkness and Chaos held sway. An eternal abyss where time was irrelevant as if one were to be there; mere moments could in fact be days, weeks, months, or even years.

If one were there -at some particular moment in the infinite void- they'd feel a Presence there. It hasn't made itself known, but you could feel it. With nothing happening all around oneself, one's senses are heightened considerably so you would obviously feel that.

Then out of out nowhere His Voice spoke: Let there be Light.

Several things occurred at that very moment: First was Destiny being born from nothing as he went to record His first sentence in his chained up book; in fact, it's on the very first page. And the second -with a Heartbeat and a snap of His fingers- a blinding flash of Light erupted all over.

Some called this event Genesis and some called it the Big Bang. It has been given many names throughout countless eons, but one thing was certain: there was indeed Light!

From that Light came all the matter and energy that was the Universe. The stars and quasars. The planets and galaxies. The rocks, the fields, the streams, the deserts. The things that crawl amid the dust to the things that fly through vast reaches of space.

And along with that Light coming from the Darkness came Order to help combat against the Chaos. Conflicts arose with each not truly working hand in hand with the other. Soon enough, they sought to see which came out from top and what would be left to fester and die. Yet each tend to forget that both sides need each other in order to survive, for one can't exist without the other.

Despite this fact, Order and Chaos… Light and Darkness clashed in their never ending war. Always in a state of discord while rarely working together in harmony.

As time went on, parts of the Light and Order tend to be corrupted as they become too blinded with their actions. And parts of the Darkness and Chaos sometimes gets cleansed and actually make amends in order to see the bigger picture at large.

And one thought one's inner struggle with their personal Light and Darkness was confusing enough.

...Asides from this, worlds have been made by these acts. Some for good, some bad, and mostly out from natural ways. All are connected, one way or another. Some are well know, others are kept secret while the rest are unknowing.

Through it all, they all originate from one… particular place. The Cauldron… The Forge… The Root… these are merely just the few names it's been known for in the countless eons since the start of it all.

Yet it has been called by one other.

And it was from here -during the Great Creation- one piece of primeval matter left and wandered throughout the cosmic universe. Through some quirk of blind chance -or some miraculous circumstance- took a shape one day became not that of an undefined piece of molten material of the highest degree. But through the foundry of space and the temperance of time -untouched by living hands- took the form of something… unique.

For countless years, the ancient relic slashes it's eternal path amongst the vast ocean of stars. It never had any clear destination. Merely wandering, yet avoiding in being pulled into a planet's atmosphere or any spacecraft out there. It's as if the ancient relic was hoping to find something, but there is no clear answer as no one has been able to get remotely close to it.

That is… until now.

Coming across the Milky Way for the upteenth time, the cosmic item was going to make another pass right through it. Swinging across one end to the other before going onto the next galaxy… the relic felt a tug. It was subtle at first with it always being tugged all over the cosmos in order to get away from unworthy pursuers. But as it passed through more interstellar dust clouds -which left quite a coating layer on its surface- the tug became more apparent, like it was calling out to it.

The ancient item was drawn closer and closer to the end of the 'rope'. Riding through one of Orion's arms, the material came across a small solar system before taking a swift turn to enter it.

For the first time in eternity, the cosmic relic was going to land… be found… and be used by one that was worthy of its power.

Floating in a sea of Darkness, Naruto opened his eyes with a blurred vision. He felt like he was waking up from a long nap, yet feeling not all that rested. The Uzumaki always hated that feeling.

Shoving that thought aside, the former shinobi was curious as to why he was in this position with his eyes wandering about. He couldn't exactly try to get himself upright with his body occasionally drifting all over.

'This… feels familiar.' Thought the former shinobi as he slowly remembered the experience. 'It's not falling…' He momentarily opened his mouth before feeling water rushing down his throat, making him not breathe at all. 'SHIT, I'M SINKING!'

Naruto almost drowned a bad number of times and he didn't want to experience that crap again! The whiskered publisher quickly closing his mouth and covering his mouth and nose in order to preserve his oxygen and tried to stay awake as his fatigue crept back up. But the former shinobi had to stay awake or else he might die!

Whirling his head around in order to find where he was, a small form of realization came to mind. 'I must be dreaming.' Naruto soon growled. 'This wouldn't be bad at all, except I can get seriously hurt here!'

Drifting further and further down, the whiskered Uzumaki tried to calm down his heart but to no avail. 'I really hate this kind of dream.'

At one point -which felt like an eternity- his back impacted something solid in the ever expansive void. Naruto coughed into his hand from the feeling, widening his eyes from almost losing his breath. Closing his optics, he tried to focus on waking himself up, but it wasn't working!

'Am… Am I gonna die?!' Naruto thought as he felt his eyes sting from newly made tears, along with his lungs from not being able to receive a supply of oxygen. 'I… I know seeing Didi again would be nice, but not like this!' Images of his friends and loved ones passed through his mind. 'I don't wanna leave them!'

-Insert Kingdom Hearts 1.5: Dive into the Heart -Destati Extended-

'Calm down.'

The sudden voice got Naruto to open and widen his eyes in alarm. 'Who?'

'You should be able to breathe.'

Naruto hesitated for several moments with his heart racing. If he moved his hands from his mouth and nose, the water will drown him by losing his precious oxygen. The Uzumaki didn't know if he should trust… whoever just spoke, but what choice did he had?

Slowly removing his hands from his face, waited and waited for the water to take him, yet it didn't come at all and he was able to breathe… somehow… Naruto then realized he didn't feel the water touching him at all!

'Well?'

Looking all around, the whiskered man tried to find the source of the voice. Yet with this endless abyss, it was rather hard to do so.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked with a narrowed glance. "And where the hell am I?" All the publisher got was a feint chuckle. "Do you think this is funny?! I could've died!"

The former shinobi merely laid in his spot while glaring at the abyss above him, not hearing any response back from the particular voice. He was like that for several moments before getting onto his feet. Naruto moved around in order to make heads or tails in where he's at. Though after several moments, the Uzumaki realized he was in a familiar place as he was here before.

In fact, he'd been here countless times!

The moment he took a step forward, the solid surface he was standing on quickly lit up. The intensity of the light was so bright that he shielded his eyes with his hands or else he'd go blind. And after several moments, Naruto briefly saw the light dim down from underneath his hands. Bringing them down, his gaze immediately looked down and was surprised to see what was before him.

Naruto was no stranger to the Heart Platforms in his mindscape as he saw the ones for Pam, Harley and Selina. Each were magnificent and beautiful in their own right as they represented his three girlfriends with how they were connected to his heart.

But what he was standing on was something very unexpected to him.

The design of the platform was primarily green in color with some sort of island fortress appearing in the background. Surrounding it were the small circles framing the platform which the silhouettes of various weapon. Walking further up towards the upper circles, Naruto saw portraits of the familiar of Nyssa, Ra's and a beautiful woman. And the focus of the platform had his former teacher in her assassin attire with her compact bow in her right hand as her image seemed to be asleep.

"Talia…" He muttered with a sorrowed gaze. "Why are you here?... Did you truly mean so much to me?"

Ever since Talia sent him their old motorcycle for Christmas, the former shinobi had a hard time not thinking about her. He had been prolonging to open up her letter and read its contents as he feared on what words were written inside. It was a silly thing to be all into, but to him it was a lot.

Naruto had hoped on seeing her again since they never really said goodbye when they last saw each other back in the Sahara. But was her sending him their motorcycle her way in doing so? He didn't want to believe that at all…

'So much to do, so little time…'

The Uzumaki jumped a little and briefly whirled his head around to find the source of the voice. It felt familiar to him now that he thought about it. Thinking back, the whiskered publisher remembered it was the same one he heard when he got his Kazekage lance -with the Man-Bat incident- and his Void Shots when he was back in Starling City.

The former shinobi could feel some sort of Presence there, but he didn't know where it was at.

'Take your time. Don't be afraid.'

"For what?" Questioned the Uzumaki as he went towards the center of the Heart Platform.

'The door is still shut.'

Naruto then felt the stained glass floor softly shake with him wondering what was going on. Not knowing what would happen in this situation, he went into a fighting position in order to prepare himself for anything.

Instead of a threat coming at him, his eyes saw three pedestals rising from pools of light which formed on the stained glass surface in order to surround him. He took notice of one of them -as they appeared to be of the same material and design- and saw it was made out of marble as they were about half his height. The design wasn't complicated at all, for whirls took up the space with an intricate crown placed in the center. And to finish off the marble pedestals were small spikes coming out from the top corners.

'Power sleeps within you.'

Suddenly -in a flash of light- an object appeared above the pedestal on his left which appeared to be some medieval kite shield merely floating there. It was primarily obsidian black for its base color with a red outline. On each corner lied a bronze bolt punched into the onyx material. And in it's center got Naruto to raise an eyebrow to express some confusion that quickly rose inside of him.

'Why… is the Mickey Mouse symbol there?' Was his thought before he saw another flash of light appear from the corner of his vision.

Whirling his head towards his right, Naruto saw some sort of combat rod floating above the marble pedestal. The majority of the handle was green in color with some metallic gold material at each end. Yet on the top, it was the same Mickey Mouse symbol as before, but it was more three-dimensional and blue in color.

'If you give it form, it'll give you strength.'

One final flash of light appeared on the final pedestal, which sat around where Talia's head was at on this platform. Like the other two objects, it merely floated there as it briefly rose and up and down from it's spot. There lied a short sword which it's blade seemed slightly longer by about an inch or two from it's standard length. It's handle was blue with a golden bronze hilt with a matching pommel for the material. In the center design was a red circle… with a black Mickey Mouse symbol in it.

"Okay… I have no clue why they have that symbol -of all things- on them." Naruto muttered.

'Choose well.'

The Uzumaki rose a brow. "Choose?" He questioned. "I'm supposed to choose one of them?" He waited for the voice to respond back to him, yet all he was met with silence. "Of course." He looked down onto the platform before he let out a small chuckle. "Should be oddly appropriate since Talia did the same thing when she started teaching me how to properly use weapons."

Moving his head to each one, he decided to go to the shield first. Taking hold of it with both of his hands, he twirled it around to see both sides of it. On it's back were two leather straps bolted into the metal and saw on the back it was vaguely similar to the front, minus the Mouse symbol.

'The Power of the guardian.

Kindness to aid friends.

A shield to repel all.

Is this the power you seek?'

Naruto cocked his head before shaking his head. "If you're providing details… Not yet. I wanna know about the other two before I decide." He said before putting the shield back in its place. Once letting go, Naruto saw it floated once more.

Coming across the rod, he grasped it's pole and swung it a little. He then turned it all around to see if there were some irregularities to it, but found nothing at all.

'The Power of the mystic.

Inner strength.

A staff of wonder and ruin.

Is this the power you seek?'

The Uzumaki shook his head 'no' as he needed to see the final option. Putting the mystic rod back onto the pedestal, Naruto went towards the sword to finish off the inspections. Once taking hold of the leather handle, the former shinobi felt it's weight and swung it a little to see what it was like. After that, he spun the weapon before it ended up in a reverse grip.

'The power of the warrior.

Invincible courage.

A sword of terrible destruction.

Is this the power you seek?'

Naruto thought about it and wondered which of the three he should take. He pondered for several minutes before he came to his decision. Twirling the sword in his grasp to have it in its normal position, Naruto held it up.

"I'll choose this power."

In a flash of light, the weapon disappeared from his grasp as he felt the weight leaving him.

'Your path is set. Now… what will you give up in exchange?'

The Uzumaki sighed. "Of course it wouldn't be that simple." Tapping his foot a little, Naruto pondered once more. Once done, he walked over to the shield. "Hey! Whoever you are! I give up this!"

"Are you sure you want to give up that power?"

"…I don't need a shield to protect what's important to me." Memories of his life flashed through his head on what he exactly did to protect those precious to him. "I know a shield can represent protecting others… and myself. But I'm already doing that by fighting back. I can't always rely on being on the defensive. I need to fight for what's right, which to me is how I can protect anything these days." Looking at the black abysmal sky, Naruto spoke with determination. "So yes, I will give up this power."

'Hmm… Well said.'

And like that the shield vanished in a flash of light. As this happened, Naruto smirked when hearing the pleased tone from the person's voice.

'You've chosen the power of the warrior.

You've given up the power of the guardian.

Is this the form you choose?'

"Last chance to back out, huh?" Thinking about it a bit more, Naruto realized he wouldn't get another chance… for whatever was going on right now. But there was no backing down now! Giving out a nod, he spoke. "Yes! I choose this form!"

Suddenly, the pedestals started to sink into the stained glass ground. Naruto looked around while preparing himself for whatever might happened next. But what came caught him off guard with the ground shaking like crazy… before it shattered!

With nowhere to go, he could only stand there as the floor he was standing on disappeared. He blinked several times and felt all blood rushing out of his head.

"Oh SHIIIII-!"

And like that, Naruto fell into the abyss.

The Uzumaki kept spinning around as he let out a momentary scream. He tried to get himself upright, but to no avail. He didn't know when he'd crash into something, but he felt himself speeding up to his inevitable crash.

Suddenly, his vision caught onto a Heart Platform that appeared from out of nowhere. Though it was rather hard to focus with all of the damn spinning! Coming closer to it, Naruto was able to get himself to stop twirling all over by shifting and throwing his weight at the right moment.

There he was able to see a light purple platform with the repeating circles framing the structure having the same mark. The design almost looked like a blockish-looking heart, but the bottom came out it three spikes with two going off to the sides. In the center -instead of there being a person- lied three large different colored circles; which were rustic orange, light green and crystal blue. And inside of each of these circles was some oddly shaped star with the same blockish heart placed into their center.

With the platform rapidly approaching, Naruto was sure he would hit it with his current speed. Yet suddenly, his descent slowed and he was able to gain control of his landing. Flipping over so he landed on his feet, the touchdown was feather light.

"Soooo~ now what?" A flash of light appeared in his hand. Once it died down, he saw that the sword from before had returned. "Okay… what's this for?" He said before doing some experimental swings to get a better feel of it. It was rather light and could deliver some swift blows from what he could make out of the weapon.

'You've gained the power to fight… Use it to protect yourself and others.'

"Well duh~" He muttered before he blinked. "Wait… Protection from what?"

Suddenly, he noticed something strange appearing on the stained glass platform. A shadow had formed on the ground nearby and it was shifting around as if it was alive!

'There will be times you have to fight.'

The weird shadow suddenly rose and grew out of the ground! It looked like some kind of bipedal impish, giant ant. It had clawed hands and feet. There were jagged antennas coming out of its head, where two glowing yellow eyes appeared on its inky black face. There wasn't anything like a mouth or a face. Another ant-thing soon joined it… and another… and another!

'Stay strong and keep moving forward.'

Naruto could only look on as several dozen of these odd Shadows popped out and surrounded him. He narrowed his gaze as they suddenly lunged right at him. Quickly swung his sword, the strikes connected with them which sent each back a bit. Yet he didn't let up on the assault as he took them down with these Shadows going up in blackened vapors.

Naruto was aware of his surroundings and saw a few trying to strike him from behind. The whiskered man flipped to avoid their attack while swinging the blade right through them.

After defeating a few more of these impish creatures, pools of darkness started to converge and cover the entire platform he was standing on. When it reached him, Naruto began to sink into it as he struggled in attempting to pull himself out.

But where would he pull out to? There was nothing else at all! And before long, his entire body sunk into the abyss…

Next thing he realized -upon jolting awake- Naruto saw he was on a completely different platform, again.

This one was slightly pink with a splash of magenta in the primary color. The surrounding circles took on a design similar to the fleur-de-lis with it being thinner and more curved. In the center of the platform were seven large hearts with a female silhouette -in a gradient turquoise blue color- placed in each one in front of a yellow background. And in the far off side of the Heart Platform was a transparent, creamy-purple colored double door.

Flashes appeared before his gaze. Replacing the doors before him was an extremely tall ivory white double door floating in the endless abyss. There was quite the intricate design along it's surface with its elegant grooves and golden studs. Yet -for some reason- they lacked a knob or handles, making him wonder how one could open them. On the quarter of the way up, both doors had stained glass in them in a kaleidoscope of colors. And in the center of the glass art was a heart.

"The hell was that?" Naruto questioned.

'The door…'

Walking towards the intricate purple doors, the former shinobi spoke his curious thought. "The door… to what?"

'The door to all… but that won't open just yet.'

This merely left more questions than answers for him, which weren't going to be clearly given anytime soon.

'And be careful… Beyond that door lies a completely different world.

So don't be afraid. Don't stop walking…'

Shaking his head of the warning, a thought crossed Naruto's mind once coming to the passage way before him. 'Is there any way in opening this? I mean, all I'd do is end up walking right through it without-' The door suddenly flashed for a brief moment. As it died down, the entrance to… somewhere… became solid. 'That solves one problem.'

Grasping the handles, Naruto pulled and found some difficulty in opening it. The Uzumaki narrowed his eyes and wondered if it was locked. There weren't any visible keyholes or any switches. He moved around the sealed off door and saw nothing to indicate the problem.

Naruto soon adopted a thinking position. 'There must be something involved in opening this thing.' He tapped his foot against the stained glass ground. 'Can't force myself through as that never really solves anything. But there must be some way.'

Small figments of memory surfaced at the time when Morpheus opened up a doorway to Bruce's dream. And after that, Naruto tried to copy the Dreaming Lord's method in opening pathways into the others' dreams.

Later attempts were successful, but the first merely formed that darkened portal of sorts.

Naruto hummed before his eyes went back at the door. 'I never really used that thing before. Only opening it once. Been meaning to look more into that, but kept delaying it.' He sighed before scratching his head. 'The only person I saw use that thing was that hooded asshole that attacked me three times so far.'

Seeing as there was nothing to lose, Naruto held out his hand and aimed it towards the purple doors. Closing his eyes, he concentrated and focused in remembering the feeling from all those months ago when making that doorway.

He can distinctly see it now with it being an inverse of fire. Instead of bright and warm, it was dark… and cold. Even it's colors didn't fit right with normal fire. Instead of reds, yellows and oranges; it was primarily black with purples and blues buried in its middle.

Opening his eyes, Naruto saw a plumb of darkened vapors rising from underneath the purple door. Before long, the passageway was consumed by the darkened flames before becoming a black dome -with purples and blues in it's center- as vapors rolled off its edges.

Naruto was about to walk into it when he saw something shine brightly from inside of the dome. The light grew and grew and before the Uzumaki knew it, a strange occurrence happened: the Light and Dark swirled together. The dark flames slowly mixed with the silvery white ones that formed from its center.

Naruto admitted the little spectacle looked pretty. Yet this didn't answer what was going on, especially seeing the Dark overwhelming the Light before it started to switch around every few seconds. Looking back at his hand, an idea formed on what he needs to do for this situation. Sinking his appendage into the swirling dome, Naruto focused in making things right; to find balance in the different colored flames.

And several more moments of deep concentration, the swirled flamy vapors dissipated to reveal the purple door. From here, a loud click was heard coming from the entryway.

"Huh, so it was locked." He muttered out. "But I needed to make the means to unlock it." As he soon grabbed the handles, one final thing left his mouth. "I definitely need to start working on that dome thing after this."

Pulling the door open, a bright light bursted from the cracks before his vision was bathed in it.

-Insert Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Back Cover: Cases of Foretellers-

Once the light died down, the former shinobi rubbed his eyes to help clear his vision. The intensity of the light hurt his optics pretty badly, like when he stared up at the sun for too long when he was a kid and didn't know any better.

Removing his hand from his face, Naruto saw he was in his loft. He rose a brow and briefly wondered if he woke up from the Dreaming. He did see the familiar details of his residence from the same layout to all of the placements of many miscellaneous items placed by his three lovers and both his ward and daughters.

Yet something felt amiss in this picture.

The Uzumaki remembered himself training Rachel in better use of meditation. And what better way than doing so than with the meditation techniques he had learned during his Sage training. Fully immersing yourself so you might seem dead to the world, but you weren't. Having a far better connection with one's surroundings by seemingly losing yourself in order to draw it's energies. But not too much or else one becomes consumed by it and suffers the consequences.

Rachel was fascinated by the meditation technique Naruto presented. She felt it would truly better her skills she learned from both at Azarath and under Jason Blood's teachings. Not to mention the activity would be a better bonding moment between the guardian/ward pair.

So question was: where was she? Rachel was supposed to at least be meditating near him. If she wasn't doing that anymore -for the time being- his ward would've been somewhere in the loft to take care of her other studies.

And it wasn't just the ashen child, but where was Pam and their daughters? His little girls would be fussing over him by now that he's woken up… or at least messing with him like the past few times. For instance, hanging him upside down with their plants or drawing on his face because of Harley's influence. And if they were gone, Pam would've left a note on where she took them. Either to work, the greenhouse or to the park as mere examples.

Getting up from the floor, Naruto moved to find out what was going on. Though when he moved his head around, the Uzumaki confirmed his suspicions were indeed correct. For when his gaze went past his patio window, he saw the normal buildings of Gotham…

But the familiar landscape of his old home of Konoha.

"I'm still in the Dreaming, aren't I?" He questioned himself.

'Hold on.

The door won't open just yet.

First, tell us more about yourself.'

"Us?" Muttered the publisher. He turned around and saw three new additions appearing inside of his loft. "Oh… them?"

The first one was a fair-skinned young woman that appeared to be slightly older than Barbara. Her rich blue eyes matched the same colored hair which reached past her neck as it seemed to spike near the end along with the sides of her head. She wore a black and blue, high-collared halter top with black shorts. Over the top were two pink intersecting belts over her chest that in the center was the same blocky heart design he saw earlier. It was from there she appeared to be wearing silver segmented pieces of armor over several parts of her attire. From the white bell-sleeves and fingerless gloves, her black stockings -which reached halfway up her thigh- her battle cloth around her waist and her boots.

The second person was a tall, tanned-skinned young man with blue eyes and dark brown hair reaching the base of his neck as it was styled in a way that reminded Naruto a lot of Sasuke's haircut from his home world. He wore a skintight, grey and black high-collared muscle shirt with a pair of red suspender belts intersecting across his chest. The man wore sand colored hakama pants with it being grey on top with a belt running through it. And there he saw the belt buckle being the same blockish heart as before, but it was gold instead of silver like the previous person. There was also segmented armor shown on his feet in a gold brown color and completely on his left arm with gold, bronze and brown colors working together.

The last one was a mid-teen boy with blue eyes and spiky, dirty blonde hair. His clothing was rather odd with the red collared jacket's right side of his jacket being white while the left was black that was reminiscent of Yin and Yang. Underneath the jacket was a grey vest with several white, angular patterns on it. The boy wore balloon pants -that closed up halfway down his legs- which had shades of grey, black and white. And over his chest was the same blockish heart as it was connected to a pair of intersecting straps. With a similar theme to the other two, the boy wore segmented armor -which was dull green, blueish-silver and black in color- on his midsection underneath his vest, a pauldron on his left shoulder and on his boots.

It was quite odd seeing these people for the first time and thought of them being from some sort of fantasy novel series with how they looked. Then again, he'd seen odder in most parts of his life. And looking upon the three people, Naruto would've thought they would've been statues if it weren't for the fact that he barely saw them move in their spots.

Being curious on what's going on, he went to the woman in blue -who was over at the bookshelf- before speaking to her. "So-"

"What is it that you're so afraid of?"

"...What?" Naruto looked down and thought the question through. It was strange being asked this. He thought it would've been easy to answer, but in fact it wasn't. Looking up, the whiskered man answered. "Losing something important, something that's precious to me… If I lose those that I considered precious, I don't know if I'll be strong enough to support others."

"Is that so bad?" Asked the blue woman with a small smile.

"...The hell is that supposed to mean?" He responded back with a raised brow. "You asked the question, I answered and you only gave me another one in return."

She didn't say anything at all, causing Naruto to groan as he walked over to the mid-teenager who was over by the kitchen.

"What's the one thing you care about more than anything else?"

The Uzumaki breathed out a sigh. He had a slight downcasted look as he thought back on things. Before long, he gave his answer. "It would be my bonds towards others." The teenager merely looked at him that practically read 'explain'. "Throughout my life, I hated being alone. It hurt so much and I sought after it. As time passed, I gained friends and loved ones which soon gave me experiences I'd forever treasure. And because of that, I gained a bond with my loved ones as they are truly a big part of me with who I am today."

The teenager merely nodded in response.

After that, Naruto walked over to the final person in his loft as he merely sat by the stairs. Coming up to him, the former shinobi spoke up. "What are you making me question now?"

"Between the road to Light," moving the left hand, the being waved it slightly before doing the same towards the right, "and the road to Darkness. Which one would you walk?"

This question caused Naruto to step back a bit. It was something quite unexpected for him to hear. Not to mention that the question was something that'll truly push his mind to the limit.

After thinking for a minute, the whiskered Uzumaki replied the man's question. "Neither." The duck-butt haired man was surprised by the publisher's answer. "One cannot exist without the other. Every light creates a shadow. If there is a shadow, there is a light. They're inseparable."

"Then which road would you take?"

"I'd rather take the middle road."

The young man tilted his head. "Do you mean the Twilight road to Nightfall? Or the road to Dawn?"

Naruto merely rose a brow. "...Really hard to decide as one can't exist without the other. So why not both."

Without warning, the man sitting at the stairs faded away like he was never there. Naruto was curious on what occurred and turned around and saw the other two occupants were gone as well.

'What the hell is going on here?' He thought as he moved around his loft. Before he could move any further, Naruto felt something appear behind him. Turning around, the Uzumaki saw the same girl he saw in that odd memory when he chatted with Didi standing a foot away from him. "Who... are you?" Naruto asked the orange eyed, ashen child. "It feels that I know you... somehow."

"Naruto, what do you wish for?" The former shinobi rose a brow at the little girl's question.

"More questions, huh?" He muttered while racking his mind to find an appropriate answer. "Honestly? I don't really know for sure."

"How so?"

"Well there's a few wishes that somewhat come to mind." He said before listing off one from the top of his head. "World peace -for one- so everyone could be happy. No one to ever suffer again life's problems." Naruto sighed as he sat on the arm of his couch. "But there lies a problem in that as conflict must happen for everything to move forward to make things better for all. It's a great goal, but should not be a means to the end. If progress does not occur, then everything becomes stagnant and no one wants that."

The little girl gave the same look the teenage boy made earlier for Naruto explain his reasons. "Causality is a universal concept and no one can change it. Always occurring whenever people start moving forward in order to progress with one's beliefs, ideologies, goals, etc. For that brings in challenges, which incites conflict. And yes I know conflict breeds catastrophe, but... but despite what catastrophes occur, people hope they can work together to make things better. So if I wish to end all of that, then what will people learn from all these problems. Not to mention that I'd have no confidence whatsoever in humanity for asking that wish. Everyone fights against their problems to make themselves better."

The Uzumaki then shook his head. "It's not just that, but a world without pain or death or actual problems would actually bring chaos from the facaded order. Sure… it's an idealized dream many have sought for, but it causes confusion and everyone would want to change that. It's unnatural and unsettling for any living, breathing being out there.

But if everyone was given immortal so quickly and easily, they'd stop in their potential all together. Should that happen, everyone would be too contempt with what's been given to them, making their lives meaningless."

The Uzumaki held his head as his hands tightened. "And there are things no one can solve, no matter how hard they try. Like good repelling evil. It's sadly the truth as things can't exist without the other. There's a fact that people do strive to be good, despite many having their faults and what they see are justified while others see their actions are not."

Naruto then held a hand over his heart. "I admit, I'm not perfect. In fact no one is as everything makes mistakes. However, all I want is to do what I can to help fix those problems in a reasonable manner."

After several moments, the publisher collected his thoughts and spoke again. "Another wish I have is… wondering what happened to everyone back in the Elemental Nations after Kurama and I came to this world." He said before letting out a sigh. "I know the 4th War was still going on as everyone was fighting the reanimated dead, Tobi -the fake Madara- and the infamous Madara himself; but with our sudden disappearance I don't know what happened afterwards.

Did the united shinobi forces win? Did they lose? Everything held at a stalemate since Kurama and I are no longer there for the Moon's Eye plan to commence? It's those questions that plague my mind every so often and I wonder what the answers are. But in the end, I had to move on with what I need to worry about now here in my new home."

The child merely stared at the man before her. "What do you really wish for, then?"

"...If I were to guess, I feel I should wish to gain back what I lost. And if I were to guess, it would have to be memories."

"Why'd you say that?"

"I feel… there's several things missing from my head and I'm confused as hell on what they are." He answered. "Are they bad? Are they good? Doesn't really matter to me. They're apart of me and having them be missing seems to make me feel… incomplete."

The orange eyed, ashen child didn't say anything. Only turning around from her spot and rushing out of the door. Naruto quickly followed after her and was blinded by the light.

As it died down, the former shinobi saw her outside… in a secluded part of the Konoha woods with his younger self playing with her. The pair were currently playing in the snow as evidence showed them making snowmen, having snowball fights and making snow angels. Both children had clear signs of exhaustion across their features, yet it was buried down with how much fun they were having.

Lying on the ground, the younger Naruto kept breathing at a rapid pace in order to catch his breath. "So tell me, ▄▅▂▃▄, why were you all alone earlier when I saw ya with them bullies?" He asked as his head was turned to her.

"I dunno." She muttered as she sat against a tree to calm herself down. "I must've lost track of mother. One minute I was with her. Next thing I knew I blacked out before waking up here of all places. When I went exploring, those mean kids found me… and you know the rest." Her orange eyes stared right back at him. "What about you, Naruto?"

"Same for me... sort of. I don't have anyone to be with really." This got a sad look from her face. "But I'm not lonely at all anymore!"

The ashen child blinked in confusion. "Why's that?"

"It's because I met you! My first friend ever!"

This brightened her a lot. He thought of her as his friend? Just after meeting for the first time earlier?

In a bashful look, she spoke in an innocent proclamation. "T-Then we'll be together forever?"

In blissful ignorance, the younger Uzumaki rolled onto his stomach before getting onto his feet. "Heh~ Of course we will, ▄▅▂▃▄! It's a promise of a lifetime!"

The two self proclaimed friends soon faded from Naruto's sight as the snow drifted down from the sky.

The publisher then felt something wet rolling down his cheek. Bringing up a hand, he felt it came from his eye and realized he was crying. And it was not just that, but he felt a small tug in his heart as Naruto realized he must've broken his promise… to a long forgotten friend… that he can't even hear her name at all…

'You cherish your bonds with others.

You're afraid of losing those precious to you.

You want to walk the path of Twilight.

And you wish to gain what you've lost, if there was any to begin with.

Is this correct?'

Wiping away what tears were forming from his eyes, Naruto nodded in acceptance.

'Your life will further change at Twilight.

The day you will open the door is both far off and very near.'

"The hell do you mean by that?"

'The Darkness awakens with the Light from within… which shall lead you to the Key.'

"...Now I'm even more confused."

After that was said, the world before him was bathed in light again.

Once again as the light died down, Naruto reappeared standing on a platform in the blackened abyss. And like usual, it was a new platform with quite a unique design. Yet this time had a somewhat familiar face as its main focus.

The enlarged platform was primarily rustic orange in color with the brown duck-butt haired man leaning against the side carrying a large sword on his back. Said sword was lightly bronzed on the extravagant blade with teeth on both sides at the tip of the blade. The turquoise colored hand guard also elongates to form a wing-like shape of sorts. Surrounding the edges was that same blockish heart as before and in the background had a darkened castle set in front of a sunset. And towards the top had headshots of the woman in blue and the dirty blonde teenager with one other being a dark haired man with a goatee… and a bald man with a white goatee that screamed cliche villain.

After the little inspection was over, Naruto saw a light shine down from above to the platform's center. Upon reaching it, a pillar of light appeared in his hand before the sword he used before entered his grasp.

-Insert Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: Night of Tragedy Extended-

Darkened shadows soon started to appear and shift all around before rising from the stained glass surface. And by the looks of it, they were the same ant-like Shadows from earlier.

One of them was the first to act as it leapt at the whiskered publisher. He quickly spun and sliced the shadowy creature in two before it dissipated into vapors. From there, many more followed suit to avenge their fallen comrade. Yet they too met the same fate.

Things started to change as the shadowy ant-like imps started to change sizes from either twice or thrice their original size.

Taking a quick look of them, Naruto clicked his tongue in mild annoyance. "Eh~ I've faced bigger." He quickly rolled and sliced the head off of one of them. "And tougher, I might add."

The enlarged Shadows didn't take too kindly being told that, causing them to charge.

Naruto jumped over one and hit it's head with his sword pommel as he slid over it. Once landing, he sliced it's exposed back before whirling around to avoid one of the enlarged shadow's attacks. The Uzumaki soon stabbed another before sliding underneath an incoming attacker. He used this opportunity to slice it's belly.

Quickly getting onto his feet, Naruto saw the dark vapors from the destroyed shadow creatures. He was soon tackled to the ground by a pair of the enlarged Shadows as they tried to swipe at him. Naruto retaliated by using much of his strength to push them off. From there, he swiped his sword horizontally, killing them.

Some of them were able to get behind him in order to surround their target. Yet Naruto made quick footwork in order to quickly side around one of them before striking it down with a powered swing. Once that creature was turned into vapors, the Uzumaki quickly delivered several strikes at the remaining Shadow. With the last few, they decided to jump him. Yet he ducked down and spun his weapon to slice through the last of them.

After the shadow creatures were gone from the Heart Platform, Naruto looked at the sword in his grasp. "Sucks that I don't know how to properly use one of these." He muttered out. "Really wish Talia could've taught me the proper basics back then. All I did was merely going with the flow and going with my instincts. Just like when I fought Ra's." The Uzumaki then noticed another platform in the distance, making him know where he had to go to next.

Yet before he made the chance to do so, his eyes wandered downward and reared his head back in confusion.

For some reason when looking back at the brown haired man's image, Naruto swore the man's hair seemed to change into silver with his eyes turning from deep blue to acidic yellow. The platform's sunset background was replaced with a darkened, desolate ruin. And as for the man's sword, it turned into something black and demonic looking sword.

Said weapon has a dark black handle with a raised spiral carved around it. Its pommel and guard resemble black, demonic wings. The base of the blade is an etching of an evil goat and the shaft is formed from two black, barbed blades, etched with a white icon resembling a bramble of thorns. The teeth at the blade's end are formed in the shape of a demonic wing, and are set with an devilish blue cat's eye.

"Okay… that is weird." Came his response.

Shaking his head, the former shinobi ran towards the platform's edge as a stained glass stairway formed soon after. He didn't wait for it completely form as he dashed across its surface. He did have to be careful or else he'd fall into the abyss below.

At one point, he glanced back and saw more of those Shadows following after him. He tried to form some of his throwing weapons, but to his shock they didn't appear at all.

"That's fucking bullshit!" Naruto yelled before he readied himself and swung his sword. As the blade struck, he swung at another. "Should've realized that sooner!"

By the time he destroyed his incoming attackers, the rest of the stained glass pathway was formed. He quickly ran across its surface in order to get to the next platform. Once making at it's edge, Naruto quickly struck the rest of the incoming attackers before seeing if any more were coming his way.

Letting out a little sigh of relief, he looked at his vacant hand and tried to form one of his known weapons. But to his dismay and frustration, either of them didn't show up at all! Even when he focused more power into his hand to the point of almost having a massive headache.

"THE FUCK IS GOING ON HERE?!" Naruto roared out, almost ripping his silvery hair out from his scalp. "I WAS FINE GETTING THEM OUT ON PREVIOUS TIMES, BUT NOW-REAAAAAAAAAHH!"

After releasing some pent up anger, his eyes landed on the surface of the platform he was currently on.

It was primarily blue in color with the blue woman seemingly falling holding a particular looking sword downwards… which looked like it meshed with some artistic key. It's guard was circular and somewhat jagged around its edges. The upper half of the guard is black, the center is grey, and the bottom of it is white. The handle is a featureless, grey rod. The shaft of the sword was thin and navy blue in coloration, except for the tip, which is silver. The base of the shaft also sports two diamond-shaped bumps. The sword's teeth were comprised by a rectangular frame lined with four short, blunt spikes. There's also three silver pieces bent at right angles; two on the inside corners of the frame and one on the inside center of one side.

And like the previous platform, it's edges and headshots were all the same… well minus the duck-butt haired man replacing the woman's image and the background image was had more of a sunrise than sunset. The last thing to note was the odd faded out image on one of the portrait spots that it was hard to make out who was inside of it.

Naruto was distracted long enough for more shadows to form and rise out of the stained glass surface. But instead of the ant-like, impish looking creatures, these were taller and thinner with a more humanoid body structure. Their antennae were quite longer and fell back against their muscular frame. Their hands had sharper claws with bluish veins running along their arms to meet up with the rest of their respective bodies.

Just when they were about to pounce, Naruto's instincts kicked in. He swirled around and blocked a clawed strike from one of them before kicking it away. Getting a quick look of them, he saw they were more intimidating than those ant-like creatures he fought moments earlier.

"Show me what you got!"

The humanoid shadow creatures -these NeoShadows- ganged up on him in compliance. Several leapt forward with a swipe of their claws. Naruto had been able to either evade or parry the blows before delivering ones of his own. Yet no matter how strong his attacks were, these humanoid shadows were more durable than their ant-like counterparts.

Naruto did stagger as he was struck from behind. Falling to the ground, he performed a recovery roll before quickly jumping up to slice at a NeoShadow. One of them seemed to have been defeated with it disbursing into blackened vapors. Yet through said vapors, odd olive-green hearts -within bubbles- were formed before drifting onto the stained glass floor.

And it was there, Naruto saw more of their humanoid Shadow kind start to form.

"Oh that's BULLSHIT!" He yelled, trying to strike another one of them with his sword. Yet it quickly sunk into the ground with several others following suit. "OH COME ON!"

The darkened pools rushed all over the ground before one of the NeoShadows quickly popped out and spinned kicked Naruto back into another, which hit him as well. As he was about to get struck again with a similar attack, Naruto blocked the kicks with either his arm, leg or sword before striking back.

With another one of them defeated, the whiskered man quickly struck the olive-green hearts in order to halt more from coming. He was successful as they turned into green vapors before he was sent tumbling onto the ground.

As he fended off his attackers, Naruto gritted his teeth. 'I need more than just this sword.' He thought in frustration while kicking another NeoShadow away. 'If I had my other weapons, then things might be easier.' Naruto channeled more power into his swings and blows while focusing harder towards his vacant hand. 'Anything will be fine to quickly take these guys out!'

Once his empowered fist struck a NeoShadow -sending it flying over the platform- Naruto saw his powers manifest something in his grasped. For a brief moment, the Uzumaki thought it was one of his configured weapons, but he was slightly disappointed as it appeared to be another sword.

The designs and measurements were quite the same as the other sword. But unlike the one he originally got in this odd dream of his, this one had a blackened blade. It's handle was red with a bronze colored hilt with a matching pommel. And the center design had a black background with a red Mickey Mouse symbol on the foreground.

Naruto quickly swung his new weapon at a diving opponent, which caused it to dissipate into smoke. "Well… another sword doesn't hurt, I guess." Was all he muttered out before leaping at a group of NeoShadows.

Naruto swung his swords at his opponents while kicking any that tried to get in for a surprise attack. Each quickly maneuvered around him in hopes of throwing off the Uzumaki, yet his previous training helped out a lot to deal with their tactics. After destroying more NeoShadows, Naruto made quick work in getting rid of their olive-green hearts so more won't appear. Others tried to evade the whiskered man's attacks by sinking back into the ground to attack in another manner.

Yet Naruto wasn't having any of that.

Diving towards their flattened spots, he drove his blades into the stained glass surface in order to skewer them. This small act seemed to work as several either took massive damage or was quickly killed off with no olive-green hearts appearing at all. The publisher gave out a fox-like smirk before repeating this action a few more times as the NeoShadows sunk back into the ground and moved around.

After several more moments of fighting, the rest of the humanoid Shadows were gone from the platform.

Hunched over, Naruto took in several breaths to calm himself a little. This act soon got him to notice a few changes on the platform's design. One being the sunrise background as it was replaced with that of a darkened realm. And the blue woman's sword of choice changed all of a sudden.

Instead of the water themed sword, this one appeared to be more akin to a blackened skeleton key at first glance. It has a smooth, cylindrical grey shaft that tapers outward at both ends. It has a boxy guard that's made up of two small, light grey boxes and copper rod. The base of the guard connects to the grip, and both sport several small indentations lining them. And as for the teeth of the sword, it took on the shape of the letter 'E'.

Naruto merely rose a brow on this before shaking his head. Looking back up, he saw a stained glass pathway form nearby to another Heart Platform. And instead of rushing on ahead, the former shinobi walked at a quickened pace while being aware of his surroundings in case more of those shadow creatures were to show up from behind.

Luckily for him, none appeared by the time he reached the next platform.

...And there seems to be a common theme with this new platform with the other two as the dirty blonde teenager was leaning back -and seemingly asleep- as he held an odd key-shaped sword in a reverse grip.

Said weapon had a black handle is offset with it's guard being in a dull gold color and joins with the shaft of the sword to fully enclose the handle. The shaft is grey, thin, and has a very slight curve outward. There were three thin, dull gold lines that decorate the middle of the shaft. Two short bars connect the main blade to the teeth, which were grey like the blade and have a wing-like shape as they're comprised by five curved bars that decrease in size the lower they are on the sword.

The main color scheme of the platform was predominately green with a touch of light-blue. Instead of a castle for the background, it took place in some sort of rocky desert. And the portraits… only had the duck-butt haired man and woman in blue while the other spots were filled with some oddly designed stars in rustic orange, light green and blue.

After the inspection -like before- Naruto noticed a darkened pool appear from the platform's center. Purplish-blue and black vapors lazily rose from the spot before becoming more violent. And it was there that both Shadows and NeoShadows were spat out and fell over with a smoky trail behind them.

Upon landing, they turned their sights at the whiskered Uzumaki and rushed right at him.

Naruto spun and sliced through the Shadows -of various sizes- and NeoShadows with his two swords. He slid and rolled away from some of them, but they were quite overwhelming with how many kept coming out from that black pool. Frustrations and anger rose from within as he kept working through many of these shadowy creatures.

Without realizing it, Naruto's eyes glowed with a dark aura started surrounding his form.

The NeoShadows were quick in their swipes with their lesser cousins being very annoying with their numbers. Naruto was getting tired with this incoming assault as there seem to be no end of them. He would've been able to handle things better if he could access both his other weapons and powers. But without them, he was losing in this battle against these things.

Naruto was distracted by slashing through a pair of NeoShadows that he didn't notice a handful of Shadows coming up from behind. They jumped on top of him, causing him to fall onto the ground before more started to dog pile him. Naruto struggled to get free, but him being pinned down all over was truly hard.

All of this caused his darkened aura to grow and grow and with a roar, the Uzumaki let out the feelings from inside.

A blast a Darkness sent a shockwave to send the shadow creatures back and off of him. Standing up from the ground, Naruto quickly looked at himself to see the black aura radiating off of him. He could feel the power as it was connected with his own.

'Possibly something I haven't tapped into yet.' Came the thought before seeing his opponents surrounding him. 'Better time as any to test this out.' A wild smirk was formed on his face. 'By letting out my AGGRESSION!'

Naruto reared his arms back as the shadow creatures leapt at him. Throwing his arms out front, his swords let out an energy wave that cleaved through a dozen of them. With more room now on the platform, Naruto rushed through with his dual swords which smashed or diced on each opponent.

He then saw a handful of NeoShadows leap into the air for a dive bombing-like attack. To counteract them, Naruto jumped and sliced through them. Yet more seemed to come from out of nowhere, causing him to throw his swords at them. The pair spun around and destroyed the shadow creatures before they flew further into the darkness. The Uzumaki clicked his tongue that he might've lost his only weapons. Yet to his surprise, they spun back and came back into his grasp like a boomerang after slicing through more Shadows and NeoShadows.

Landing back onto to the platform, Naruto gathered more power into his blades as he swung them up. The energy cleaved through more and more as he kept on spinning before slamming the blades down for a small shockwave. Leaping once more, he used his blades as an impromptu pogo-stick by stabbing on top of the large Shadows as they disintegrated into vapors.

After this little activity, Naruto followed his instincts by bringing his swords together before rushing forward in a stabbing motion. To his surprise, the Uzumaki seemed to be all over the place as he kept disappearing and reappearing -in terms of speed- in order to destroy the last of them. Reappearing one last time, he stabbed his blades into the darkened pool, causing it to dissipate into nothingness.

With the Heart Platform clear of those creatures, Naruto let go of his swords. This was because of him leaning down and resting his hands on his thighs in order to pant in exhaustion with the dark aura surrounding him disappearing. With that disappearing, much of his strength went along with it.

"Wow… that took a lot otta me." He wheezed out. Slowly opening his eyes, Naruto jumped a little as he felt really uneasy in what he's seeing now.

The Heart Platform dramatically changed as the dirty blonde teenager now had a different sword. It was predominantly silver and ivory-colored with it's shaft being thin and smooth with a fleur-de-lis-shaped spike at its tip. The sword's teeth were comprised by a pair of uneven, silver wings framing a broken, bright red heart. The base of the blade is adorned by a simple, grey heart, and the handle is black. Two uneven wings decorate the sword's guard, with the larger wing being on the same side of the weapon as the teeth.

But that wasn't what startled Naruto off at all, but it was what the dirty blonde now shared the image now was… a black haired boy that basically screamed corrupted evil.

The stained glass image seemed to be sliced in half with the left side being red and dark blue in color. What replaced the desert background was now some sort of graveyard with odd looking swords serving as grave markers. The portraits were now replaced with odd designs, especially the center one with two odd skeleton keys crossing over a heart. The framing designs on the black haired teens side had some evil looking heart that seemed way too pointy.

In his hand was an odd looking sword where the teeth were black with red outlines and possessed a round, cog-like shape. The handle was red while the guard was identical in design to the teeth. The shaft was majorly colored in shades of grey, but had a copper gear in the center. Wrapping around the shaft were two intersecting black chains. At the head of the blade was a devilish blue cat's eye, while an identical eye was embedded in the hilt.

Yet what really seemed to set him off was that the teen was wearing… a crimson red, black and navy blue version of his Vanitas outfit!

"Okay, this is getting really unsettling now."

Needing to get his mind off this latest image, Naruto kept his eyes forward and went to the next stained glass stairs leading to another Heart Platform in the distance. With his dual swords in hand, he walked at a steady pace -while not in a rush- in getting there. Like before, he kept vigilant of his surroundings if any more shadow creatures were to show up and attack.

Upon getting closer to the next platform, Naruto paused his movements and saw… nothing on its surface; like at all. All white as if it was some blank canvas.

"Why would I end up back here?" He questioned with a wandering glance. "Been here plenty of times, but what makes this platform so… special?"

Naruto saw faint marks littering every other inch of it's surface. Was rather easy to miss with how stark white the platform top, unless one were more attentive. He kneeled down and traced his hands over them and felt they were like scars. Appeared to be healing for years now from whatever damage was done here.

'Scars on the mind can scar the soul.'

Naruto rose a questioning brow upon hearing this. Looking up, the Uzumaki saw a faint pillar of light shine down from the darkness above. He gazed down to where it landed and saw it was placed dead center of the stark white platform. Curious as to what it's for, Naruto walked closer before standing inside of it.

It was there he felt it. Feeling himself… energized and rested? It's as if all forms of exhaustion and injuries were never there to begin with ever since coming here earlier.

'The closer you get to the light,

the greater your shadow becomes.'

'The greater my shadow becomes?' He questioned in thought. 'What does that mea-' Reading between the lines, Naruto quickly spun around to get a look at his shadow.

Looking upon his shadow, the Uzumaki saw it was now moving on it's own; regardless of himself. After a moment, it began to rise from the white surfaced platform. As it stood, Naruto saw it took on form that looked like a mix of the NeoShadows and himself. And once it formed, it began to grow bigger and bigger, which caused the whiskered man to take a few steps back.

'But don't be afraid.'

He wasn't, just unsettled of seeing his his shadow detach from him and become something else; that as it kept growing, the shadow took on a different form entirely. Despite what was happening, Naruto stood his ground with his swords ready.

The shadow just kept growing, by the time it was done, Naruto was only as tall as its foot. Not wanting to fight that, he turn around and ran. That was when he remembered that he was on a platform that was in the middle of a black abyss. Skidding to a stop, he looked around for an escape.

The shadow creature was quite massive and muscular which Naruto had to figure he was as tall as around it's calf or knees. And that's saying something as it's legs were rather short and its feet were very thin and curl upward like jester shoes. Its arms were quite long and has two relatively small, twisted wings on its back. The hair on top of it's head formed into tentacles, which most wrapped around it's jaw and neck for an impromptu scarf. And in the center of its chest was an extremely large heart-shaped hole, which penetrated straight through from it's front to it's back.

-Insert Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: Destiny's Force-

It's small, glowing yellow eyes bore right at him before it reared it's right fist back in order to strike the Uzumaki down. As it did, thick wisps of dark energy gathered in its massive fist before striking the white platform.

Naruto was sent back a bit from the resulting shockwave. Steadying his footing, he saw a swirling pool of darkness form from the shadow creature's fist. And it was there a bunch of Shadows and NeoShadows rose up ready to attack.

'Well ain't that perfect.' Naruto sarcastically thought.

Rearing his swords back, the Uzumaki soon sliced at the creatures that jumped right at him. Naruto spun around to avoid claw swipes of a pair of NeoShadows before kicking them off the platform. Coming back around, he started working through the smaller creatures while thinking of a way to take care of the much larger one.

'If those fists can make more of these pools,' he started in thought while rolling away from an opposing tackle, 'then they've gotta go.'

Once the smaller shadow creatures were gone, Naruto started to hack and slash at the enlarged fist still on the platform's surface. After several moments on his empowered onslaught, Naruto saw the creature bring it's right hand back before sending down it's left. Seeing this coming, the former shinobi crossed his swords and braced for impact.

The moment the blow was struck, Naruto gritted his teeth with how powerful it was. He skidded across the platform's surface before feeling being pushed back further and further. Not wanting to be thrown off and falling into the abyss below, Naruto decided to push back. It took some effort in doing so, but he was successful in pushing it away in order to roll away.

Getting up, Naruto quickly slashed his swords at it's hand and wrist. And he kept going at it as the enlarged shadow creature brought it's arm back. Jumping into the air, the whiskered man kept attacking it. Soon landing on its arm, he ran up it's length and soon started assaulting it's head.

Naruto's attacks came to a halt with the enlarged creature taking hold of him. He struggled in it's grip and tried to phase out, but his attempt was not working. Yet Naruto didn't have to wait long to be out of it as he was tossed high into the air.

Falling back down towards the platform, Naruto saw the giant shadow get on it's knees and rear back as a glowing red and black sphere of darkness form in its abdomen. It quickly fired right at him, causing the Uzumaki to widen his eyes and twist his body to avoid from getting hit. As he plummeted down, Naruto spun and adjusted himself to strike the shadow creature in the head.

Yet the creature's attack exploded from behind caused him to fall off course… by several dozen feet away from the platform.

"SHIT!"

Twisting around and reaching out, the Uzumaki focused his powers while hoping for anything at all to get him back to the platform. If not then he'd end up falling into the abyss and possibly die. Desperation filled his very being as he might not be able to make it… until he felt something warm spread from his heart and crawled from underneath the skin of his arms.

Suddenly, ethereal silvery-white chains shot out of his limbs and flew through the darkness before imbedding themselves into the platforms circular, curved wall which was going into the abyss.

Naruto was going to question about it, but he was quickly yanked forward as he reeled in like some fishing line at extremely fast speeds. Getting closer, the Uzumaki quickly brought his weapons up before driving his blades into the stained glass walls. Once there, he saw the chains recede back into his body as an odd tingle was all that remained before looking up and saw quite a distance from the flat, white surface above. Pulling out one of his weapons, he stabbed upward in order to climb back up.

'Wonder what the hell those chains were… And really wish I had my chakra right now,' came the thoughts when scaling the wall. 'Or at least my powers having the capability to fucking walk this-' "OH FUCK YOU!"

Reason for this sudden outburst was the fact that coming down from above, purple and black orbs were coming right after him like homing missiles!

Pulling out his swords, Naruto somewhat fell and threw himself some feet away -to avoid a 'missile'- before digging back in the wall to resume climbing. During this process, more Shadows and NeoShadows started to appear and crawled towards him. As they started to come too close, Naruto used one of his swords to slash them while avoiding the energy missiles. But this didn't mean he got out unscathed as a few of them either got too close -which the small explosion knocked him around- or landed right on him to deal some serious damage.

Once getting back onto the flat even surface, Naruto saw more missiles pop out from the giant's abdomen -as it kept leaning back- and kept coming his way. He dashed away with each crashing into the ground. But with the influx of the energy attacks, Naruto kept getting hit once more.

Getting tired from these missiles, Naruto swatted one away with an energy coated sword. To his surprise… they went back to their sender?

The Uzumaki blinked in mild shock but formed a small smirk.

As more of those attacks came his way, he used his swords and batted them back to deal quite some damage at the giant shadow. After getting hit by many of its own energy missiles in a short period of time, the creature stood back up as darkness formed in it's right hand. Knowing what was going to happen next, he jumped once the fist crashed into the platform before landing on it's limb. Running up it's length again, Naruto assaulted the giant's head from slashes to stabbing deep into its eyes.

The later act caused it to recoil in absolute pain, bringing it's hands up to its face in response. Before getting smashed, Naruto quickly got out of the way before stabbing once more into the back of the giant shadow's head. As a final result, the creature fell down onto the platform's surface as a large pool of darkness formed.

Naruto was about to leap away, but his leg was snagged by the giant's tentacle-like hair. The darkness then started dragging him in as his swords suddenly disappeared in small balls of light and dark. He panicked and fought and struggled to get free, but the pull was too strong.

'―But don't be afraid.'

'Easy for you to say!' Came the thought as the darkness started to envelop him.

'You hold one of the mightiest weapons of all.'

Naruto kept fighting, but it was all in vain.

'Your heart is your own.

And remember:

For every light, there is a shadow.'

Despite fighting against the tethering shadows dragging him down into the pool, Naruto processed what the voice spoke to him. 'For every light, there's a shadow?' He thought in mild confusion. 'Wait… My chat from earlier… one can't exist without the other.' His vision started to darken at this point. 'I… had to deal with this back at the Waterfall of Truth before controlling Kurama's chakra… I wonder…'

Despite most of his mind screaming to fight back, he refused to do so. All he did was just accepting the darkness as he sunk deeper into the pool. After several moments -once he was enveloped by the dark- a light started to shine all around.

'The Darkness can be all consuming, if you let too much in.

The same will happen with the Light.

And don't forget: you are one who was chosen by the hearts.'

-Waking World, Uzumaki Residence-

Hazel eyes shot open as their owner gasped and took in an influx of air into his chest. Naruto brought a hand to his chest in order to calm down his racing heart, yet oddly felt it was at a steady pace. With his eyes going down, he saw Isis looking up from him on his lap.

'Was any of that real… or not?' He thought before scratching behind the cat's ears. 'Something important or merely a nonsensical dream?'

"Hey, are you okay?" Rachel asked her guardian from the kitchen counter.

"Yeah, I guess so." He said, standing up -with Isis jumping off of him- while feeling his legs were slightly stiff. Looking over to the nearby clock, Naruto blinked in surprise. "I was meditating for that long?"

For their joint meditation time, Naruto and Rachel agreed on doing it for roughly half an hour because of their respective schedules. But from what the whiskered guardian noticed was that he did it for an hour today.

"I'm just surprised you didn't wake up when I kept nudging you." Said the ward, finishing up a piece of toast. "Or with Rose and Hazel playing around with you."

"...What you mean by that?"

"Check yourself in the mirror."

He did and soon rolled his eyes -with a sigh- on his current appearance. His clothes were disheveled -with small traces of plants stuck on him- his hair had small bows in it and his face was drawn with markers.

'I somewhat blame Harley for this.' He thought as he started pulling out the hair ties from his silver hair. 'But I really can't as the girls should be naturally acting like that.' He did cringe a little with some hairs being pulled out in the process with how they were tightly snagged. 'Though I'm glad Thorn isn't taking Bubbles' influence too much or else things will go too crazy here.'

With how fast his three girls were growing, Naruto and the others decided it would somewhat be best to let things run its course with how they act. But neither person wants the sporelings to get too out of control in thinking they can do whatever they want while they were quickly aging or else their personalities would be spoiled or something.

Going over to his kitchen sink, he poured some soap into his hand before he started cleaning his face from the marker drawings. "Hey, Raven."

"Yes?" She responded while continuing her breakfast consisting of oatmeal and jelly topped toast.

"Where's Pam and the girls?" He asked after scrubbing his face a little.

"Pam took them out for training and to run more tests on their rapid aging."

"At the greenhouse?"

"Where else would they go to anyways? Her work?" She rhetorically said as they know that would never happen.

'Then she has a plant clone at the gardens today.' He thought with a small smile. 'Good. At least she can make things more personal with the girls.'

"So, Naruto."

"Yeah?"

"Any reason why you were so deeply meditated?" He grabbed a nearby towel and started drying off his face before turning to face his ward. "Were you fighting Nightmare spirits or some agents of the Black and Grey?"

"Not the later, Raven." He answered. "Those guys usually show up if I'm meditating in the greenhouse, the botanical gardens, the parks or rich environments." Pulling the towel away from his face, he walked over to the nearby mirror to double check for any marker drawings. "Besides, those guys haven't been showing up for a while now in the dreamscape… for some reason."

"Why's that?"

"Thought that since Hazel, Rose and Thorn were born, the Black and Grey would've been more active and possibly try to harm them. Since -you know- they're considered new Green champions."

This was true. During the time of them developing in their sporeling pods; Naruto, Pam and Selina had to occasionally go into the dreamscape in order to combat against the enemy nature groups. Everything was secure in the waking world to ensure their protection, but the Dreaming was still a vulnerable place which the Grey and Black could exploit in harming the unborn sporelings as they'd be a great threat to their groups.

Going back to the kitchen sink, Naruto started to wash his face again -since he found a few stray marks- as Rachel spoke once more after finishing the rest of her toast. "That still doesn't explain why they weren't showing up."

Her guardian scrubbed and scrubbed again for several moments before turning off the sink's faucet. Grabbing the towel once more, he gave the answer. "I've got no clue. And neither does Pam and Selina." Drying his face, Naruto continued. "But Harley brought up an idea. The Black and Grey could possibly be building up their forces and would attack when we least expect it."

Rachel nodded as it did make sense. The three sporelings have the potential on being really powerful Champions with them being the spawn of Pam -an agent of the Green- and Naruto… enough said. Each are a great threat to the Rot and Fungus groups of Nature if left alone long enough.

'If I were associated with them -figuratively- it's best to be rid of the problem now than later.' The half-demon thought as she swallowed a spoonful of oatmeal. "So if you weren't fighting the Black and Grey, then you were fighting Nightmares?"

This got Naruto to scratch the back of his head. "They might've been Nightmares."

Raven blinked in confusion. "Might've been?"

He gave a shrug. "Well I honestly don't know. They weren't in cute animal like forms, dark color variances or had the Nightmare marks on them."

"Then why did you think they were Nightmares?"

"They seemed Nightmare-ish." He said while knowing the answer wasn't all that great.

Summoning his Lexicon in his hands, Naruto quickly flipped through the book before getting to the Heart Platform entries of his. Once sitting next to his ward, the whiskered publisher started drawing inside the empty pages. He made quick work on each of the platforms he saw. And it wasn't just those; but the three weapons -which she did ask about the Mickey Mouse symbol- the shadow creatures and the people who asked him questions.

As he drew all of this, Naruto told Rachel of what exactly happened during his meditation.

Questions were formed in the ashen child's mind while some still lingered in her guardian. It was a bit hard to make heads or tails on the purpose as to what occurred. And in the end, nothing was ever really answered as only Naruto gave his own to the entities in that dream of his.

Rachel adopted a thinking position when the explanation was at its end. After processing for several moments, she gave her opinion. "Possibly some sort of test?"

Naruto scratched his head and gave a small nod. "I guess. But If so, then for what?"

Once again, nothing was answered; leaving lingering thoughts in their wake.

*DING-DONG* *DING-DONG*

The sound of the doorbell going off broke their discussion. Wondering who it is, Naruto got up from his seat and walked over, after dispelling his Lexicon so no one else could see it. As this happened, Rachel went back into finishing the rest of her breakfast.

Upon unlocking and opening the door to his home, Naruto quickly widened his eyes in surprise… in seeing Lois Lane -his old friend- standing right in front of him.

"Hey, Naruto. How's it going?" Instead of a formal greeting, Lois was met with Naruto slamming the door -before it quickly locked- in her face. "WHAT THE HELL?!"

'SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! What the fuck is she doing here?!' Naruto mentally screamed while whipping his head all over. 'I gotta hide the baby stuff!'

The Uzumaki never told Lois and Cat about him having kids now. He could, but it would be extremely hard to explain the circumstances on why his three daughters look much older than what they're supposed to be. And that would raise questions, which he was far beyond ready from telling his two old co-workers.

If one were to look at him, all they'd see Naruto as a blur. Zooming all over his loft and quickly grabbing up anything relating to his daughters before hiding them. From closets to his sporeling daughters' bedroom to even phasing them through the floor in order to land in Selina's loft.

Though in his rush to get rid of this evidence, Naruto failed to realize he ended up snagging Rachel from the kitchen counter -with a resounding, surprised 'eep'- and shoving her into a closet. And by a quick mistake, he also snagged Isis and shoved her into the same space.

Seeing his loft was all nice and clean of all evidence of his daughters' existences, Naruto let out a held breath in his chest. He then walked over to the entrance of his home and calmly opened the door with a wide smile on his face.

"Lois! What a pleasant surprise!"

Suddenly, Lois grabs ahold of his nose and pinches it in the right way that causes him excruciating pain with an audible snap made in the process. Tears were freshly made from his eyes because of this as he yelped while trying to pry off her fingers. Yet her hold on him was too strong and painful to do so.

After what felt like forever, Naruto gave in.

"AH! AH! PEACH PIE! PEACH PIE!" The ravenette reporter let go, causing him to hunch over and turn away slightly in order to keep his nose away from her. "Damnit! I hate it when you do that!" He said with an annoyed pout.

"That's what you get for slamming the door in my face." Lois said with a narrowed glance. 'Not to mention with how long he took to open up the door makes me think he hid something and didn't want me to see it.' Came the thought before she spoke. "Also, seriously? You still use that stupid safe word of yours?"

Back when he used to intern at the Daily Planet, Lois would have some means to get his attention or to at least shut up. One rarely involved some physical violence as she'd smack or punch him across the head and she'd get the response needed from him. And sure it would seem too unorthodox as this could get her reprimanded on the actions, but Naruto always bounced back soon after…

"Well it's effective in the bedroom, Lois." The whiskered man wiggled his eyebrows in a overly-exaggerated way.

Sometimes in an annoying fashion.

She groaned. "I don't wanna know how that goes."

He rolled his eyes. "Oh please~ you'd jump at the first chance you'd get."

Lois gave him a dry look. "With you, no." Of course, she did had the occasional stray thoughts in the past as the reporter wondered how good he'd be in the sack. But if she told him, he would never let it die.

Naruto snorted. "Good. Because it would be creepy as hell if I slept with a sister figure in my life." Lois stares at him. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You know -I'm just gonna throw this out there- I could sometimes see you as a girl when you were younger." Started out the reporter. "Or at least having a sister that scarily looks like you, though insanely good looking at the same time."

"Lois… I know I'm not one to say this but you have a crazy imagination sometimes. And I worry about that." He said before a thought crossed his mind. 'Thank Kami I don't have chakra anymore or else my Sexy jutsu would blow her mind.'

"You're right, you're not one to say that."

Naruto smirked at the jab before retorting back, "Uh, huh. Says the woman who wanted me to sign her copies of Icha Icha."

She sputtered with her face going all red. "YOU SWORE YOU'D NEVER BRING THAT UP AGAIN!"

"In public." He corrected before holding his hand up to his ear. "Oh, what was that? You want an advance copy of the deluxe edition with new content plus new chapters of the next volume? Oh, Lois, I had no idea you were so frisky and kinky. Oh wait, I absolutely did." A devilish grin crossed his features. "My oh my, what would your boyfriend think? Oh wait, you don't have one." He then gave her a knowing look. "So this means you're really rusty in the relationship department then?" Lois glared at him, causing him to flinch a little. "What~? You've been in how many relationships since I've known ya? And for how long?... Not to mention on any at all since I visited you lasted year." She didn't say anything at all as a rapid twitch came in her eye. "Then again, you're really controlling and disapprovING! OH COME ON!" He yelled once more as she grabbed his ear and twisted it.

Stepping further inside his loft, the ravenette reporter dragged her old co-worker along after closing the door. "Apologize and I'll let go. If not then we'll get to see what ten pounds of tork does to a human ear."

"OKAY! OKAY! I GIVE! I'M SORRY!"

Lois then gave another cruel twist. "And no more mention that little favor, public or private!" She declared.

"I WILL! I WILL! JUST FUCKING LET GO! I CAN FEEL IT TEARING!"

She rolled her eyes as she let go. "Oh don't be so dramatic."

"It's apart of my charm, ya'know." He grumbled while rubbing his tender ear. Before long, Naruto smiled before giving her a hug which she returned in kind. "It's good to see you, Lois."

"You too, whiskers."

Breaking away, the publisher asked the obvious question. "Not that I mind seeing you after so long, but what are you doing here? And why didn't you tell me you were coming?"

Lois smirked. "Consider it payback on your surprise visit last year without informing me."

He merely gave a chuckle in response. "Hey, would you like some tea? I was planning on finishing up my one pot of ice wine herbal tea."

"...That sounds rather fancy, isn't it?"

"It does, but it's not. Pam got us some and it's rather nice. You should try some."

"Probably should. But honestly is it like something distilled in a freaking glacier?"

All she got in return was a hearty chuckle from him. And when getting to the kitchen area, Naruto spoke. "You still didn't tell me why you're here all of a sudden."

Sitting down on a stool, she answered. "Mostly cashing in some vacation days since we're in a slow period right now at the Planet; with only a handful of reporters are at the office right now. And since I've been skipping out to enjoy myself on most holidays, Perry decided to send me out to relax."

The publisher nodded in understanding as he pulled out some cups. "I hear ya. Right now it's like that as well back in the office with us already getting some books out in the market for the holidays." He then started pouring the peppermint tea. "Not to mention there not being many projects to work on at the current time, asides from the newspaper and magazine portion of my company."

"So from the top of your head, it's just paperwork and anything else that comes across your desk?" The publisher nodded while handing over his friend her cup. "Then lucky you."

"Yeah and I don't feel jealous of Perry and Cat at all if I get all my stuff done on time."

Taking a sip of the herbal drink, she gave off a pleasant hum and held up a finger. "Smells and tastes de-light-ful! It's like a comforting hug rushing down my body." Putting down her cup, she brought up her previous topic. "Now second off that speaking of Perry, he asked me to personally check up on the progress of the new Daily Planet location while I'm here visiting."

"Figured as much." He muttered out before drinking a bit more of his tea. "So what are ya gonna do while you're here?"

"Asides from Perry's favor and seeing you, not much." Came the reporter's reply. Taking a brief look around the loft from her position at the kitchen counter, a thought came to mind. "Hey I've gotta ask, but where's your girlfriend?"

Naruto thought for a brief moment on which one Lois was referring to. "Pam's currently working at the botanical gardens today."

"Currently? Not just at?"

"She had gotten a promotion as head administrator last month due to… circumstances. And part of said position has her going to other places other than the gardens for a buttload of meetings on top of her prefered scientific work."

"Okay… And how'd she get that position? If I remember right, you said Pam started working there mid-last year as one of their scientists. There's no way she could get such a position so soon."

"Through a friend."

"And who would this friend be exactly?"

"Bruce Wayne."

Lois rose a brow. "Really?"

"Yes, really. Why, you don't like him or something?"

All he got was a narrowed glance from her purple eyes. "I've heard he's nothing but 'Gotham Trash' with him being richly spoiled."

"Now that's just profiling, Lois. Bruce isn't really like that." Naruto defended as he knows his friend somewhat seems like that in order to cover up his 'nightly' activities. "Besides, you never met him."

"Well I'll believe it when I see it." Taking another sip of her drink. "Anyways -if possible- I'd like to meet Pam while I'm in town."

"I'm sure you will." He said as he poured himself another cup, finishing up the rest of the tea.

"Oh and speaking of meeting people, I wanted to meet this Rachel kid you wouldn't shut up about."

"Oh she should be right…" Naruto looked over to where his ward previously sat at and blinked in confusion.

"Missing someone?" She rhetorically asked.

'She was right here.' Was the publisher's thought. Before he could question where the half-demon went off to, he heard one of his closet doors creek open with several items he rushly stored in there tumbling out in the process.

"Oh… hey-"

"Not… now…" Rachel growl as held her bowl, miraculously, not spilled as she went to the table and continue to eat her soggy oatmeal. Naruto was going to speak up, but his eyes glanced down and saw his ward's shadow… which looked rather malicious with waving tendrils coming off from it.

Naruto cried waterfall tears as he tried to reach her, "I'm sorry~" However he stopped as her shadow gained red eyes the moment the ashen child glared at him. "Red flag!" He comically yelled out taking a step back from her.

From her seat, Lois rose a brow at her silver haired friend's reaction.

"N-Nothing, it's a thing on TV." Naruto laughed awkwardly. He heard something soft land on the kitchen counter and saw Isis seemingly glaring at him. The Uzumaki was gonna question it until the black furred feline jumped onto his face and started clawing at him. "WHY, ISIS?! WHYYY?!"

"...Should we help him?" Lois asked in concern as her old friend rolled all over the floor as the green eyed cat kept attacking him in a rather pissed off mood.

"No." Came the half-demon's simple answer.

The reporter sighed and shook her head at Naruto's old predicament before turning to his ward. "Hello there. I believe you're Rachel, right?"

"That I am." Said child looked over and gave a reporter an inspection in order to know who she was. After a few moments, Rachel spoke. "And you're Lois Lane -the reporter- correct?"

"You've heard of me?"

"Yeah." She pointed towards her guardian. "Mostly from the whiskered idiot here."

Upon prying Isis off his head, Naruto felt a harsh, stabbed feeling running through his chest upon hearing this. He hunched over and gasped in mocked pain before letting out a sniffle. "Why'd you have to be so mean~"

He then received a look from his ward that screamed 'don't talk to me right now'. Naruto compiled, gently placed Isis back on the counter, went to over to the opened closet and cleaned up some of the spilled mess that was let out. And luckily for him, it was at a spot where Lois would've had a hard time seeing the objects.

From her spot at the kitchen counter, Lois let out a little chuckle in seeing her old friend's reaction. "I do admit, he can be quite the idiot at times."

"Please~ don't encourage her, Lois." He whined out.

"You, shoosh. We're talking here."

Naruto grumbled and went back in order to properly take care of his children's belongings.

Despite being slightly curious on what said items are -as they might pertain with what took Naruto so long to let her in- Lois was more focused on his ward. "So what did he say about me, if you don't mind me asking?" She questioned before slowly reaching out and gently petting Isis' head, which made the cat's mood better than before.

"That you're a determined, strong-willed reporter that's extremely dedicated to her assignments." Stated the ashen child while scooping some of the last spoonful amounts of her oatmeal. "Whether it is literally facing danger to being very thorough in your investigative work."

Lois smirked. "Right on the money there, Rachel. Anything else?"

"Being rather impatient at times. Jumping ahead on things, which puts your life at risk quite often. Sneaking around in places where you shouldn't be while hardly being caught." Listed off the young ward.

The reporter let out a small laugh at that. "I guess so." She turned her head at Naruto -who just came back down from the stairs- sending him a small glare. "Is there anything else bad you told her, Naruto?"

The publisher flinched a little in response. "To be fair, Lois, you somewhat got some of those habits off from me."

"Which means you're the one to blame… Wait. Somewhat?

"...You were developing those traits when we first met-" Naruto was soon caught off guard with Lois throwing an apple -which was on the kitchen counter- right at his head. He moved his head out of the way before catching the piece of fruit. "That's not very nice, ya'know."

"Well don't say any blatant lies."

The former shinobi rolled his eyes. 'Someone's in denial, that's for sure.'

Not knowing his present thoughts, Lois turned her attention back to Rachel, who was now standing by the sink to wash her dishes. "Asides from what you've heard from him, you know me from somewhere else? Like any articles I wrote?"

Without having to look back, the ashen child gave her answer. "Yeah, I did."

"Like which one?"

"The article you wrote about my friend, Perdita. I thought it was really good and she said both you and Cat were quite patient with her on the interview."

Lois quickly processed what the ward said and remembered Naruto telling her that Rachel and one other girl became phone-call pals with the Vlatavan queen. And the reporter thought it was rather sweet for Perdita to at least have some friends, even if the three girls haven't physically met each other yet.

"Glad to hear such praise from the young queen." The ravenette soon pouted. "Though I wish I could've had the chance to talk to her -in person- when her coronation went on last year."

Naruto shook his head. "I still think Perry sending you to the event would've been a better choice than Angela Chen."

After Cat Grant left the Daily Planet to pursue her own line of work -which later became the media company she runs today- a void was formed in who would be Lois' rival. The spot was eventually filled in by none other than a new rising reporter, Angela Chen. Lois wanted to be a good co-worker with her and possibly have a decent office relationship, like how things eventually went with Cat. But things went sour as their personalities clashed as neither could really stand each other. And it's to be noted that this rivalry has been going on for years, far longer than what Lois and Cat had when they worked together.

Lois scoffed. "Yeah, with miss gossip columnist wanting to hog a lot of the spotlight when doing her live reports." She then sighed. "Then again, Perry wanted a live news reporter on the scene and I'm more used to being behind the scenes when doing my articles."

"Well something else might happen later on to help make up for you missing out on the opportunity."

"Eh~ maybe." She soon snorted on a stray thought. "I mean it's not like a great story is gonna land on my lap anytime soon."

All Naruto could do was shrug. "Just keep dreaming on that Lois and it might just come true."

What Naruto failed to see was the blatant flinch Raven displayed upon him mentioning that which you see at night when you sleep. He did however notice an overbearingly negative aura surrounding his ward. More so than usual.

That along with the fact that her eyes were now on him, boring into his very being.

"Dreams are a wonderful thing, Naruto, lest they turn into nightmares." Raven said cryptically, greatly unnerving her guardian. With her piece done, the half-demon child picked up her dishes and went towards the sink to wash them.

Seeing the little moment coming from her old friend, Lois got a rough idea on what's going on and decided to tease him. "So you're having weird dreams?"

His eye twitched before turning his attention towards her. "Lois you're a reporter, not a therapist. Don't psychoanalyze me."

The ravenette gave out a fake gasp. "What? Me? Do that? Naruto please, are we not friends?"

"Harley does the same thing, I can smell it from a mile away."

Lois blinked a little before forming a small smile while holding onto her chin. "Ah, yes... This Harley you've talked about before. Would like to meet her as well."

"Well I don't know if she's working or not today. And I don't want to continuously know every action she does." He said before thinking to himself. 'Unlike certain people I know.' Looking to the nearby clock, Naruto took notice of the time and spoke to his ward. "Hey, Rae-Rae, it's almost time to head on out to Jason's place."

Rachel looked over to the clock and saw it was indeed getting closer to her magic lessons. Quickly rushing out of the kitchen -and avoiding stepping on Isis- the half-demon ran up the stairs to gather up some of her clothes from her room. From there, she went towards the bathroom in order to brush her teeth and shower.

"And what's she in a rush for?" Voiced the reporter, curious on what was going on from the recent display. "Going to play with her friends?"

"No, just her weekend lessons."

"...Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't grade school start next week? Not to mention it's a weekday."

"I know that, but it's just some extracurricular thing she was highly interested in and I didn't want to cut her off from it."

"Okay." Lois drooled out. "And what's these lessons she's so interested in?"

"Illusionist." Was the answer. "I would say magic lessons, but you know how it is."

The reporter snorted. "Yeah, I do with many magicians out there are just fooling people with smoke, mirrors and sleight of hands. Don't know why you're encouraging it since that stuff's not going to fly later on."

"And deprive my sweet Rae-Rae some joy in her life?" He dramatically gasped. "NEVER!"

Lois shook her head with a small snort on how Naruto acted. Spinning around in her seat, her eyes landed on something… she didn't expect to see coming from her former co-worker. Getting up from the seat, the ravenette walked across the loft to see if she wasn't seeing things.

And sure enough, her little assumptions were right.

"I didn't know you played the guitar." Said the reporter as she gave it a mild exception. "Since when did you start?"

"Some months now."

"You good at it?"

Naruto merely gave his old friend a smirk. Walking over to the stand, he picked up the instrument and strum the chords a little before tuning it up. After things were as it should be, the publisher started to play a song on the top of his head.

It was a little upbeat from what Lois could tell and it was rather fun. This caused her to question on what song it was exactly. But she was lost in the little melody that she forgot to ask about it until the end of the number. Until then, all she saw was how her former co-worker was so into playing the music now.

"What was that, Naruto?" Chimed the reporter as she sat down on the couch arm rest.

"Not entirely sure." He admitted with a sheepish grin. "Just a little melody that came to mind recently when I started writing my next Final Fantasy novel."

This peaked her interests. She did enjoy his Loveless novel and with his follow up one of Final Fantasy. But to know that he plans on making a series out of the later, which would be rather surprising for someone not in the know.

"Really?~"

"Yeah. Had the brief thought of it being some sort of theme cover or something." Naruto strumbed several more chords again as he kept talking. "Though -from what eventually came to mind- it would've sounded better if I played it on a bass guitar."

"...If you say so."

Lois was not all that knowledgeable in the musical arts, like at all. She tried playing the piano instrument when she was younger, but turned out she was rather sucky at it. The reporter wanted to do it when her mother was alive and play for just her. Her mother appreciated the effort and loved her just the same, even in her final days in this world.

As years went by, Lois had attended a good number of concerts in both the popular band groups to the orchestral ones. Some by herself, some with friends and only a handful while out on dates. Though with her last boyfriend, it was mostly towards the orchestral variety because of his public image.

Effortlessly going into another nameless song, Naruto was a bit more engaged while he kept talking. "Sometimes I'll just start playing and something new will come out." His hands then strumbed a set of notes before getting into a guitar riff that was reminiscent to the Beatles song: Blackbird. "It's like my hands have minds of their own."

"Huh," She responded with a smile. "That's interesting. But nonetheless, it sounds great."

"Thanks."

His fingers moved quicker as his motivation to play heightened. The melody picked up as the Uzumaki put more effort into the song which he still couldn't tell the name of. His fingers could execute a decent tune when he wasn't focusing on it -as he was absent minded in the past when playing- but when his mind was in the music his fingers moved with such precision that Naruto doubted that anyone could replicate it.

Then again, there could be other musicians out there that could but that's just a bit of his pride doing the talking.

After he stopped playing in order to give his fingers a break, Naruto saw Lois give him a small moment of clapping. "Wow~ That sounded awesome."

The Uzumaki's grin widened as he resumed playing another nameless song, which had an intricately designed piece utilizing the higher notes in an effort to make the melody come off as less intense.

As the publisher continued to play, Lois spoke something that briefly came to mind. "I know this might seem out of the blue, but during the last time I chatted with Cat she told me she was happy that you sent that Donna girl -goes by Foxglove- her way as a lot of her music was rather great."

"Did she now?" He said as he momentarily stopped playing. "All I heard from Hazel -my employee- was that Donna merely sent over a demo tape of what songs she had recorded in her spare time. Didn't know on what came afterwards."

"Then it seems Cat should've kept you up to date. Either that or she probably wanted to keep it a surprise for ya."

"Maybe." He said as he went back playing his guitar. "I'll have to talk to Hazel when I next get to work to see what's up."

As Lois sat there in listening Naruto getting into another song, to her surprise he started to sing.

I need more affection than you know

In you and I there's a new land

Angels in flight

I need more affection than you know

My sanctuary, my sanctuary, yeah

Where fears and lies melt away

Music will tie

I need more affection than you know

What's left of me what's left of me now

I watch you fast asleep

All I fear means nothing

In you and I there's a new land

Angels in flight

I need more affection than you know

My sanctuary my sanctuary yeah

Where fears and lies melt away

Music will tie

I need more affection than you know

What's left of me what's left of me

So many ups and downs

My heart's a battleground

I need true emotions

I need more affection than you know

I need true emotions

You show me how to see

That nothing is whole and nothing is broken

In you and I there's a new land

Angels in flight

I need more affection than you know

My sanctuary my sanctuary yeah

Where fears and lies melt away

Music will tie

I need more affection than you know

What's left of me what's left of me now

My fears my lies

Melt away

I need more affection than you know

After the last few strings were strung, Naruto smiled when seeing Lois being impressed on what he played.

"That… was great, Naruto." She said, giving him a small form of applause.

"Thanks. And if you want, I could play this song again in my native language."

"Really?~ Wonder how that'll sound like?"

He didn't say anything else as he strummed his guitar and went into the next song.

-Harley's Apartment-

"...So Dick, what was your childhood like after Brucey took you in?" Harley asked as she munched on the last of her fries.

Sitting in her living room at opposing pieces of furniture, Harley was having another therapist session with Dick Grayson. This started up after his last go around with the Scarecrow -before the Fall Semester finals- as the Grayson was infected with the criminal's Fear Toxin. Even though his body was clean from it, Dick's mind still had some psychological wounds and needed to take care of them.

Best solution: go see a therapist. But where would be one that he could trust? Why Dr. Harleen Quinzel, of course! And the best payment option? Get her some food for a session.

Best money well spent. And cheap too to boot.

"It was rough." Came the simple start of the answer. "Having the change of lifestyle after my parents' passing was a bit of a struggle. From being in the circus since I was born to living in a mansion was quite off putting."

"I'd bet."

"Yeah, not to mention having to leave the extended family I had with Mr. Haley and those of the circus group was hard to do. But what could I have done otherwise? Live there longer and not being a better person, despite living in a good environment with them?"

"It's hard to say with all of the 'what if's', Dick. And no one's really sure on such things." Said the bubbly blonde. "Anyways, continue."

The Grayson complied. "Living with Bruce was not easy -from the start- as I had to heal from the recent events. For instance, I kept having nightmares of that night and I felt tired waking up so early; resulting in me not getting enough rest." He took a sip of his soda to take care of his parched throat. "Sure he slowly taught me things before and after I learned he was Batman and as things were still tender, I… lashed out my anger." Harley nodded as she wrote things down in her little notebook. "I tried to keep most of it in, but when I first started attending a private school… things got loose. I received unwanted attention since I was both the new kid and got a sudden upbringing, which got a handful of bullies to start picking on me. I did my best to ignore them, but as they soon brought up my parents… you can get the general idea on the results."

The Arkham employee let out a small sigh. "Indeed I do."

Back when Ino -her adopted sister- died, Harley too had a hard time healing. She became a bit rebellious to cope with her emotional pain. It's a natural thing for many people out there, yet each person are sometimes ignorant while proclaiming the usual spiel of 'You don't know how I feel' or something along those lines and field.

"Obviously I got in trouble and sent to the dean's office on those early times attending that school." Said the Grayson before he popped the last of his burger into his mouth. He then continued to talk after swallowing the last of his meal from Big Belly. "But they became less and less as time went on as I was more focused on my studies, Bruce's training and going out on patrols as Robin."

Harley nodded again as she wrote up more information in her notebook. Once done, she looked over and saw the time shown on the nearby clock. "Seems our time is up, Dick."

The college student looked over and saw the blonde was right. "Huh. Time does fly fast when spilling out your problems."

"Of course it does. Most conversations do that." Harley stated, closing her notebook.

Dick nodded, standing up to stretch his legs. Soon grabbing the bag of food -now filled with trash from their meal- the Wayne ward went over and started taking what was left lying around. "So next time next week then?"

"Unless something comes up at Arkham, of course. Not to mention the new semester starting up really soon." She said before walking towards her apartment door and opening it. "We'll figure things out when the time comes."

"Thanks again, Harl. This is helping out a lot." He said as he walked out of her home.

"It's no biggie, Dicky." She gave a small wave. "And thanks for lunch. I really needed it."

One thing she's gotta hate about her life now is her high metabolism. She already had a decent metabolism before Pam injected her with that serum of hers last year. Having better durability, flexibility, strength and all that fun stuff is great during fights and certain situations -like in the bedroom, for instance- but it sucks as she's hungry quite often. So while at Arkham, Harley always had to snack on something to keep on going through the day while some of her female co-workers always wonder how the hell she is so fit and thin while eating all that food.

Though this detail is going to reallys suck when she gets pregnant one day. That's for sure.

Dick nodded before making his way down to the lower levels of the apartment complex in order to get back to his motorcycle and taking care of his other errands for the day.

As this occurred, the opposing door to Harley's apartment opened up to reveal Lawrence stepping out. The bubbly blonde gave him a small wave, which she ended up receiving a harsh gruff from the Crock patriarch before he headed down the stairs with a pair of suitcases on hand. Harley was somewhat used to seeing her neighbor like that -as it was apart of his personality- but it seemed a bit more harsher than she usually saw.

As Lawrence disappeared from her sight, Harley saw the door to the Crock residence still opened, causing her curiosity to heighten a little. Taking a peek inside, the blonde psychologist barely saw Paula sitting at the kitchen table with an exhausted expression.

"Hey, are you okay?" Harley called out in concern.

The Vietnamese woman looked up and tried to put up a smile, but it was a bit useless at this point. "Not really, Harley."

Stepping inside and closing the door, Harley asked the obvious question that came to her mind. "You two fought again, huh?" Paula nodded. "What was it this time?" Harley looked around and saw no evidence of her surrogate nieces were around. "And where are Jade and Arty?"

"We sent them out so they wouldn't hear us talk." Paula answered the second question. "Gave them some money to either go see a movie or go to the arcade."

"And why didn't you have them stay with me?"

"Because you were having another therapy session."

This made Harley somewhat sheepish on the answer. "Yeah… sorry about that."

"It's no problem. You didn't know." Paula sighed and ran her fingers through her dark hair. "And as to what we were fighting about was about work… well the lack thereof."

"What ya mean by that?"

"...As you know, Lawrence primarily does security work and things have been hard with hours being cut and all."

"Ouch…" The psychologist stated understanding the problem. "But what was with him and that suitcase he took with?" She quickly popped out her blue eyes. "Don't tell me he's-"

"Leaving us? God no, Harley. He's not." Paula assured her former student. "He's just… finding more work and there's no telling how long he'll be gone. And I don't want him to be gone for too long without worrying our girls."

This was partially true. What Harley doesn't know about her neighbor's real occupations have been affected by what her boyfriend did after her kidnapping. With Ra's al Ghul gone, the League members had to go into certain protocols until further notice. This rendered many agents without work, which resulted in relentless unrest.

And the Crocks were in such category.

Paula was fine with not having to do many assassin jobs as she and her husband are sitting on quite the nest egg that'll last them for quite a very long time; due to their many past jobs. Not just that, but this gave the Vietnamese woman more time to be with her daughters and focus on her part-time cover job.

Lawrence -however- was another story.

There are those that enjoys working way too much in their profession. Thinking about the job and planning right through it quite often in order to make things effective towards it's completion. Living and breathing it, rarely settling down and relaxing in the normal way as their preferred way is doing more work or at least preparing for the next part of it.

Lawrence is one of those people.

The former soldier could only handle not doing any League jobs for so long before suffering through his case of cabin fever. Getting tired from waiting, Lawrence was going to the nearest League outpost and contacting the higher ups. If they would not respond from there, then he'll head over to either Nanda Parbat or Infinity Island to seek out jobs and find out what's taking so long before the hiding protocols are over.

"I'm sure things will turn out alright, Paula." Harley said with a reassuring smile. "If you need help, you know I'm there for you and the girls."

"Thanks."

"But is there anything-"

"None right now." Said Harley's neighbor. "I need to settle down this headache and take a nap before the girls get back."

Harley nodded and said a brief goodbye before heading out of her neighbor's apartment. With closed eyes, she let out a frustrated sigh while wondering what other mess was going on with Paula and Lawrence. They've been acting more differently each day ever since she came back from the League stronghold in the Sahara Desert. Harley's been trying to figure out this problem -either from therapy sessions or by offhanded conversations- but to no success.

'It's like they're worried that whatever their keeping is gonna-'

"Did I come at a bad time?" Said a familiar voice. "I mean, it looks like it."

Snapping out of her thoughts -due to the voice- Harley looked towards the source and saw someone… unexpected not a foot away from her.

"Bruce?" Harley said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

The Wayne rubbed the back of his head before answering. "I was wondering if that therapy offer was still on the table." He held up his other hand to show a bag of Big Belly Burger. "I got your payment."

Feminine, blue eyes blinked in momentarily confusion before dumbly nodding. She opened the door to her home and went inside with the dark haired billionaire following behind.

Harley closed the door soon after before speaking to the man before her. "I'm… surprised you wanted to accept my therapy sessions, Bruce. You're not the type of person to go to one unless it's for an ulterior motive. Like when you briefly dated and had sessions with Bethanie Ravencroft because of Magpie."

Bruce cringed a little. "True, but there's nothing bad on my intentions here, Harley."

Harley looked at him for several moments before snagging the bag from his hand. "If you say so." She then pointed her thumb to one of her couches. "Sit down so we'll start." He complied as he saw the bubbly blonde open up the bag and pulled out a bottled soda. "So tell me, Brucey, what got ya to change your mind on the offer? I mean from what I know from Alfey and Dick, you refused to see a shrink for the years in order to protect yourself."

The secret vigilante blew out a puff of air from his mouth before answering. "Recent events… got me thinking on things." He ran a hand through his hair in slight frustration. "I thought I could figure it out on my own, but I needed a different opinion -a professional one- to help straighten and sort them out… if that was possible."

Harley drummed her fingers on the bag's surface as she processed what the billionaire said. 'This must be serious.' Was her thought. Grabbing her notepad, she then sat down on the single seated couch she had in her home. Placing the bag of food next to her, she placed all of her attention now at her puddin's friend. "Alright, Bruce, I'll help you out on this. But in order to deal with it, I believe we need to start at the very beginning of all of your problems. And I mean it."

Bruce hesitantly nodded and let out a sigh. "As you know, a man killed my parents. We were coming from the movies and we went down this alley as a shortcut to get back to our car." Memories of that moment flashed across his eyes once more. "He had a gun. Dad yelled something, which caused the man to shoot him as a result. The thug tried pulling the necklace from my mother and when it got tangled, he shot her too. And all I could do was watch... and scream in absolute agony while on my knees."

Bruce tightened his hands on the feeling. "That moment. That fear. That scream. I was so scared. And he ran... and then he was gone." He took a breath in order to calm himself down. "That night changed me in more ways than I could ever imagine. And as I got older, I grew tired and relentless on this city not changing. Prompting me that I need to be something more and become something else."

Harley nodded as she quickly wrote this information down.

"Before and after becoming Batman, I was tried and tested time and time again. I've been on this ride that's had it's literal ups and downs. I've gained the experiences that I would never trade as they're influential to who I am. And in that time, I've had... love." Memories of his time with Andrea came to the forefront of his mind as they were the happiest he'd ever been. He would've given up his crusade for her in order to become happy, but then she left.

"In a snap, something could happen. You lose something or... someone... and that dreadful moment I lived through happens again with my parents' murder. I'm eight and I'm on my damn knees. And I'm scared out of my damn mind. And feeling that, I say… I become… something and I do things… I'm not… I am myself. But I'm not what I want to be or what I should be." Bruce's blue eyes met with Harley's in order to show his vulnerable side. "I'm scared, Harley, and I'll do anything to get out of the fright."

Harley widened her eyes for a brief moment before gazing down and started writing this interesting piece. 'Who would've thought that was an extension of Bruce's fears.' Was her thought before something crossed it. Looking back up, Harley voiced it. "So is that the reason why you sometimes beat people up as the Bat? Venting out your fear that way instead of just talking about it?"

She leaned forward a bit with a narrowed glance to peer deeper into her new patient. "Hell, from what I could tell when you're trying to get information from many thugs in the past, they'd give you a confession that either makes sense or doesn't mean a damn thing as to what your really searching for. Anything at all would somewhat satisfy you in your nightly line of work so they can get out of the fright. So tell me this -as the Bat- would you be wrong, bad, incompetent, horrible, out of control… Not the hero this city rightfully deserves later in years to come if he ends up going over the line you so happened to make?"

"...I honestly don't know."

"Then can you prove to me that you can be better than that? Can you prove that, Bruce?"

Bruce thought for a moment before he gave her a nod. "I think I can."

"Then work in bettering yourself so that might not ever happen. Don't become some sort of wrathful god that'll drive everyone else away as they can no longer stand your presence or fear you to their graves." Harley dived her hand into her bag of food and pulled out the container of fries and bit into one of them before putting it down on her lap. "Now, I've got a question for ya: Are ya making them pay? The criminals, I mean."

The secret vigilante tilted his head with a raised brow. "For what? Their crimes against the innocent?"

"Well that too, but I'm more talking about the lines with your parents."

Bruce sat there as he looked at the floor as if it was the most interesting place to see right now. Yet in this time, the billionaire thought through before answering. "I have, but they… can never be enough. They can never pay enough."

"I thought as much, Bruce." Said the psychologist as she took a swig of her bottled drink. "Things can never feel satisfying."Tightening the cap, she then saw Bruce looking right at her. "The man who took them also took away a life you possibly could've had while you forged something else to take its place."

He let out a bitter chuckle. "It wasn't easy, that's for sure."

"Right you are. But I get the feeling that each and every night your out doing your hobby, practically every thug you confront you'd imagine either of them being your parent's killer. And after fighting them off, the pain temporarily goes away." Harley quickly noticed his change of demeanor. "Oh please, I could already figure bits of you out ever since learning who you were; even now for instance. Hell, it somewhat helps with what patients and inmates I work on back at Arkham."

"...And this is the reason why I try not going to therapists."

"At least you've got me to help ya out, Brucey. With the whole doctor/patient confidentiality."

"Uh huh…" Bruce blandly said with an eyeroll. Looking back at the Arkham employee, he decided to share a bit of insight of his work. "With me imagining my parent's killer with almost every thug I come across, that did happen… for a time."

Harley quirked a brow. "And when was this?"

"Around the time I first came back to Gotham when I traveled all over to most parts of the world." Came the answer. "Haven't became Batman quite yet as I was trying to find my image back then. With all my training, I felt ready to go out on the streets and start saving my home. But problems arose -due to my impatience- and I didn't know how to work with it."

"Like what?"

"I… almost killed a man." Bruce confessed, much to Harley's suppressed surprise. "I ended up envisioning him as my parent's killer when he tried to take a small family's possessions one night. The same situation was almost on point and… I snapped. I had beaten him up to an inch of his life and when I realized what I had done, I ran away."

The Wayne swallowed a bitter lump down his throat. "Because of this, I have to keep paying attention of my actions. I might end up killing a thug as the image of the man who took my parents would merely fade away at the unlikely end. If I get too deep, then that might become another and then another. I'd end up prowling through the night and endlessly search for him in order to seek revenge." Bruce looked down at his hands as they momentarily shook. "And if that does happen -then sooner or later- I'd realize revenge would've become my whole life… and I wouldn't know why."

Harley took a moment to digest this information before she once more wrote in her notebook. As she was halfway jotting down her present details, the psychologist spoke. "From what I possibly see so far, Bruce, you're in a unique point in your life where you see yourself lost. Lost like when you're parents died before your very eyes. No idea on where to go or what to do. Your natural instincts would soon take over and move you when you least expect it. Yet your inhibitions are screaming you from acting certain ways, yet you'd ignore them."

Once done writing in her notebook, she looked back at the billionaire. "You'd rely on what training and disciplines you've undergone in order to keep things under control. But I guess -at one point- you'll forget them and things will take a dark turn."

Bruce leaned back and nodded. "That's pretty much what I thought as well. I don't know if things will get better or worse as time lets on. And I'm afraid if I don't keep things in check."

"Good." Harley ate the rest of her fries before washing them down her throat with her bottled drink. Putting the fry container back in the bag, she pulled out the burger box and placed it aside. "Now then, Bruce, I believe you came here for another reason; correct?" The 'playboy' soon nodded as he momentarily forgot about his reason in coming here. "With that very old problem talked about, what is your recent one?"

-Cafe Triste-

"Ah." Naruto exhaled in satisfaction, enjoying the warm sensation of the hot large mocha he had gotten from the cafe he currently sat in front of in one of the outside tables. And lying in front of him on the partially snow covered table was a bag of the treats Lois picked out for them to have while continuing their walk around Gotham today.

After dropping off his ward at Jason Blood's place, Naruto played tourguide for his old co-worker. He took her to several places she planned on going to and it was nice to see things through her perspective -once again- when it pertained to certain landmarks. Lois had wanted to see Naruto's workplace, but he suggested they go there when he goes to work next. She was fine with that as they traveled around for old times sake.

But after their current stop, the reporter wanted to see a few other places before wanting to finally meet his botanist girlfriend.

Glancing behind him, he saw that the cafe was crowded this fine morning with many still on line awaiting their turn to have their order taken. Lois was currently in the bathroom right now and he knew that was gonna take a while. She had some of her make up smeared on accident in the crowd and went to reapply it.

The Uzumaki shook his head, honestly wondered how men put up with that. Then again, it was their unspoken duty -in many ways- as women do the same with them in certain cases.

Letting out a sigh, Naruto idly stared up at the sky watching the snow slowly float on down from above. The crunch of the snow beside him indicated that someone was briefly standing before sitting down in the vacant seat beside him. He made a casual glance to the guy before returning his sight back to the clouds above, figuring the man needed a place to sit with how crowded it was inside.

"Lovely day, isn't it?" The stranger beside him spoke up with a chipper tone.

Naruto turned to him to fully take a good look at the guy. He was dressed strangely, yet not at the same time if that made sense. The distinction of his all black attire was one to stand out, but not enough to truly draw attention to himself. His attire consisted of a pair of basic black pants and boots with a thick trench coat, complimented with the hood he currently put up; which obscured most of his face save for his mouth and chin.

"If you like the cold, I guess." Naruto said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Ah~ I've been around for a while and I always like the more peaceful times of weather." The stranger said, inhaling the cold air.

Naruto couldn't help but quirk a brow at the mans unusually eccentric behavior.

"If you say so." Naruto said, taking a sip of his warm drink.

"Man," the stranger went on, "just look at everyone. Happily going about their lives without a care in the world."

As the man finished this sentence, a child tripped and fell into the snow with his father pulling up a now crying little boy who wiped the snow away from his face.

"Right." Naruto wryly said, while the stranger only chuckled at the small misfortunate turn of events.

"Still… must be nice not worrying about much." He said wistfully. "Just going about your day worrying about what you'll eat for lunch or when you'll see your loved ones next. Not a care in the world."

The Uzumaki was starting to get some seriously weird vibes from the guy the more he talked. The stranger wasn't dangerous, that was for sure… At least for the moment.

Though cause that could change on a whim as Naruto had learned in his life. There was also the added fact that he couldn't see his face properly whatsoever. Even with him moving and looking around in what Naruto assumed to be 'wonder' the damn hood magically stayed in place somehow.

Then again, he has seen stranger things. Like that weird ass dream he had while meditating earlier. If he could even call it that.

"I always wanted a dog you know." The Stranger said with a false sense of dramatic longing. Naruto spotted a man walking his enthusiastic husky who was jumping about in the snow making its owner laugh. "Just that true, undying loyalty and unconditional love." He went on. "Just to make sure that the little guy could do its best in making their owner happy. Such devoted love and trust." The hooded man sighed. "If only i could have had that with my own students."

"You're a teacher?" Naruto found himself asking.

"Eh~ Something like that." The Stranger said with a shrug. "Though whether or not I was a good one remains to be seen in the long run. Only two that I could think of lived up to their full potential."

"Two? Selective teacher then?" Naruto said, spitballing the idea.

"Yes actually I- OH Look! A Rainbow in the snowy air." The Man exclaimed excitedly, pointing to that which now caught his attention. "Wow, I've never seen something like that before. So beautiful. Wonder what'd you call that? A rainbow during a snow day… A Snainbow?" The hooded stranger shook his head. "No, that sounds to ridiculous… Snowbow? Wait, that's just dumb." He then groaned. "Aurgh! The small things that plague one's mind!"

Naruto felt as though now was his time to skedaddle on out of there though the fact that Lois was still in the bathroom prevented him from doing so! Seriously! What the hell was the universe intentionally doing this to him?!

"Kinda like those weird Deep Dive dreams those chosen have." The Man said with a whimsical tone. "That always trips them out."

Naruto faced the man now who held a small smile underneath his hood.

"Pardon?" Naruto said with a raised brow. "What do you mean by Deep Dive?"

"Oh, that's what I call them." The hooded man said with a shrug. "Those dreams that occur within their heart, unseen to all save for those connected to it." He pointed out with a small wave of his hand. "The heart is a mysterious thing and it speaks a great deal on the person when given the chance for its own voice."

The air around the stranger shifted a great deal, unnerving the former shinobi to a large degree. Narrowing his eyes, his wariness began growing as there was an unusual gut feeling about the guy knowing that he knew more than he let on. Naruto already dealt with this several times before and he's already gotten sick of it.

"Hey." Naruto said in a very serious tone. "What do you mean by Deep Dive?"

The Stranger only chuckled in response. "Now why would you want me to spoil the surprise?" He cheerfully said. "After all, being self taught is something that's a very rare trait and occurence. I have to see it for myself." Spoke the hooded man with a whimsical tone. "It's sometimes better to be hands off and let nature run its course with those who defy it."

Now Naruto was on edge. Opening his mouth to respond -while preparing his hidden dagger from underneath his sleeve- the entire mood was cut off by Lois at long last coming out of the cafe with her drink in hand and make up intact.

"Whew, sorry about that Naruto." Lois said sheepishly. "It's a madhouse in there I tell ya, a madhouse."

Naruto turned to speak with her. "Lois can you get me some sugar." He said sternly. "I need to finish… talking… with…"

Looking back, he saw that the Stranger seemingly vanished into thin air. Taking a moment to look around wildly, Naruto saw that he was completely gone not even getting a sense of the guy. Even the spot where he stood was untouched as the snow looked freshly fallen.

A bit bug eyed and unnerved, Naruto could only gape a bit at what had transpired.

"Talking with…?" Lois said, rolling her hand for Naruto to finish.

"The… The guy that was… Gah, never mind." Naruto said, rounding on the reporter. "What took you so long, that was nearly twenty minutes!"

"Well excuse me, I'll have you know as a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, I've got appearances to keep up." Lois shot back.

While the two bickered, they remained none the wiser of the hooded stranger Naruto had spoken to standing atop one of the building overlooking the cafe.

Gone were his more street clothes with a more streamlined trench coat that went all the way down to his ankles and his hood now obscuring his entire face.

"Naruto Uzumaki, eh?" The Stranger mused aloud. "What an interesting guy."

Looking up into the sky, the man skirked with his eyes seemingly locked onto something. Then -seemingly from nowhere- a block ovular dome like darkness surrounded the man before he vanished entirely with momentary wisps of darkness floating before they too vanished, leaving nothing behind to indicate that someone had stood there.

-Blood Residence-

If one were to enter the renowned occultist's home and go through a particular door leading to the basement level, they'd be rather confused with what's before their very eyes.

Instead of a stereotypical storage basement -or at least a refurbished one- in Park's Row, there was a wide open area which stretched on for miles. It was brightly lit and the temperature was just right, one would've mistaken it as a perfect Spring/Summer day. Yet the area was filled in a barren, rocky wasteland with hardly any plant-life present at all. The ground was cracked and dry as if deprived of water for eons amoun eons.

This… unique basement level was in fact a magical space, originally created by Jason some years ago as a place to vent his frustrations. He would've done so at a remote, secluded area but it became harder as the years went by. And after taking the half-demon child of Trigon under his tutelage, the ancient knight of Camelot decided to make more use of this space as it'll help in their training when it pertained to certain spellwork.

Which was currently happening right now.

"Alright Rachel, since we've gone over all of the basic routines in here for today I think it might be time for me to show you another type of spellwork."

Straightening herself out, Rachel looked over to her teacher in the magical arts and nodded. Seeing this, Jason gathered mana into his hand and snapped his fingers. Soon after, a glowing circle appeared on the floor right in front of them.

"What's this?" She asked, squatting down in order to get a better look of it. Yet she kept herself away at arm's length in case of anything.

"This here is Mine Magic." He walked over to a nearby rock that was the size of his fist. Picking it up, he ushered his student to move back before chucking it to the glowing circle where it soon explode upon impact. "As you can tell from the name, it's practically a magical landmine." He snapped his fingers again as a row of glowing mine circles appeared across the ground. "This spell focuses on trapping your opponents and protecting you from them. And they come in a few varieties, like this mine shield." Rachel saw her teacher snap his fingers again as the magical mines surrounded them in a box-like formation. "Or this square. And I can be able to have them to seek out any opposition if they so happen to come too close for comfort."

Digesting this bit of information, Rachel asked the next thing that came to mind. "And how can I properly cast it?"

"There are a few things." Jason then listing off the details. "One pertains to the magical input as the spell actually stores what amount you put into it. Another goes into how many you create as the power would get divided amongst each one. The formation and possible movement speeds are also factors to take note of." Said the immortal before showing Rachel how to properly cast the spell.

It was quite different than from some of the elemental and healing spells she learned from him. Yet the Mine spell was somewhat similar to the Balloon variants as they help stun one's opponents. But instead of popping and more Balloons flying all over to strike and stun enemies, the mines are either stagnant or could only move around certain surface.

After getting the full specifics and learning how to cast it, Rachel felt ready to make it work.

"Now take your time, Rachel. There's no need to rush."

The ashen child nodded and did as instructed. Since it was her first time performing this spell, she had to take it slow just like the previous ones under Jason's tutelage. And not just that, but precise focus on this attempt.

As she formed the mine's shape and poured the power inside of it, her mind briefly wandered elsewhere. The thought became rather deep as it stated to distract her. Much so in fact as the spell started to fluctuate and greatly pulsate in front of her.

"Rachel. You need to stop now!" Jason warned. "You're gonna-"

It was too late as the spell backfired, sending his student flying back several feet as it blew up in her face. She tumbled across the barren ground for several moments before coming to a complete stop. Coming up to her, Jason heard her groan and cough for several moments.

The demonologist let out a sigh in knowing she was fine, just rather bruised up. Not wanting to hamper things now, he held out his hand and spoke. "Cura."

Right above the pair, green ethereal flowers bloomed over Rachel's head and started pouring their pollen onto her. The effects were instant as the half-demon briefly glowed as all her visible injuries seemed to have vanished.

"Are you alright?" He asked out of concern.

She groaned. "Yeah, I am."

Jason helped her up as she soon dusted herself off. "I believe that'll be enough magical training for today." He said before escorting her out of the magical training ground.

The two walked up as transparent stairs appeared, the same way that helped them when coming down the first time. After barely a minute, the two reached the door that lead to Jason's living room. The immortal smiled as he nodded to Rachel who moved ahead allowing him to locked the door, and then open it to show his closet. "Thank Merlin for teaching me how to make magical locks instead of me having to learn it from his books."

Rachel looked around as this wasn't the first time she looked at the particular area of her teacher's home. But each time she took a glance at different parts of it, there was something new that wasn't there before.

Jason wasn't one to talk about his past -much like her- but the items around her told current room was large, almost double the size of average home. Not a single space where furniture was wasted, but tactifully enough to be called cozy rather than cramped. On the coffee table laid books from many cultures, one caught her attention as it said 'The Shinsengumi History' another 'The Journey to the West'; knowing those two were among Asia's culture.

Jason smiled as he went to the kitchen to start brewing tea for him and Rachel. It was rather quick after a few casted spells as the water got to the right temperature with the blend set just right. As he was gathering the rest of his things for tea, his eyes caught onto what Rachel was looking at. "Journey To The West is good pass time for reading."

The girl only nodded to his words before looking at a nearby shelf that held a odd sword handle, it looked dragon-like mouth opening. "Jason, what's this?"

The man came back with a tray of tea, along with milk, sugar and treats. Looking over to his student's line of sight, he spoke. "Ah, that was Merlin's failed attempts on making a new sword." He placed down the tray as he continued speaking. "It was a odd past time of his to create something good or close to Arthur's blade. It was suppose to use water and make it tangible for a blade, and never become dull as the moisture in the air would sharpen it. But the blade gave a water effect that made it unable to hurt sea monsters well."

Rachel eyes show slight awe to the idea. "Merlin seems so amazing."

A small chuckled left the man's mouth, "More like bored. Merlin wasn't always do things for good. It was all general with him because he was bored; always finding something to cure him of it. He liked challenging himself before disappearing for days to help a friend of his." The man remember that Merlin always did have a bad habit of getting bored and if he wasn't…

Rachel just watched as Jason paled comically and shivered from his old memories. "I take it that Merlin is like my guardian?"

"In most aspects, frighteningly so…" He said before pouring the tea into the cups. "But throughout my long life, I have taken many trinkets to let me study for anything against Morgan and to learn about this ever changing world." He pointed to the fireplace that had a coat of arms having a odd comma like symbol in the design. "I gained that in China learning about Taoism, where they told me that items can gain a soul or spirit from strong feelings."

Now it was Rachel's turn to shiver at the thought of ghosts, "I… see…" Shakingly dropping some sugar cubes to sweeten her drink and lower her stress will help. She smiled as Jason seem to be happy to talk about his journey, "Where was the place that influenced you the most?"

Jason smiled bitterly at that. "My home, or rather former home, Camelot…" He said leaning into his leather chair. "And yes, I know there are other places that are influential to my life, but it will always be the one I'm most fond of... It's as if… I never left home when I close my eyes…" The demon host stated. "I can hear Galahad throwing curses at his father helping a above-pretty woman easily, Gawain training in order to become Arthur's best knight while helping the novices." He said sipping his tea eyes now becoming tender at the walk down his old past. "I can even see remember even Sir Bedivere following Arthur like lost puppy!" He chuckled remembering the most devoted to the King, who often was more like a butler than a knight. "Or even finding Sir Tristan often napping in godforsaken places, or even Mor-" The man caught himself before sighing. "Mordred…"

Rachel eyes narrow at the sudden change of tone… "The Knight of-"

"Betrayal…" The man nodded, taking a deep breathe. "He wasn't always like that, when joining us. Mordred truly love working side by side with us… I dare say he saw us as his true family." He softly said placing his cup on its saucer. "Lord knows that Agravein actually like the novice and he made it hard to be friends…" Glaring at the floor his hand formed a fist, knowing who made everything happen from Mordred's rebellion to Arthur's demise.

Morgan...

It took all of his mental strength to reel in his raw anger, almost losing his anger as calmness took over. Jason remember it was not only Morgan who destroy what he loved, but it was his own doing as well on how the envisioned kingdom fell. "Let's not talk about that. Tell me what got you distracted earlier when you tried the Mine Spell."

The young half-demon fidgeted in her spot as she gave a nod. "It was something Naruto said earlier today after our meditation time." Jason ushered her to go on. "He had an unusually bad dream… or a nightmare from what it seems. And it made me think when told me something… which made me lose focus today."

"Like what exactly?"

"Facing against Darkness." Came the answer. "Or something along the lines of it." Jason blinked as he became curious about what his pupil just said. "He told me that… Darkness isn't something to fear, rather fearing it was the problem. That people misjudge it and that we all have darkness. He even said that he accepted his darkness at one point." She explained as the teacher nodded.

"And why would be bring that up?"

Rachel took a sip of her tea, knowing her throat will be dry if she didn't partake any liquids before telling this tale. "Over a decade ago, he literally faced his own Darkness from a place he called the Waterfalls of Truth. Naruto confronted himself as they argued which one was real and the other was fake. His Darkness stating that he was the real Naruto as all of the harsh emotions he kept away over the years was all him while the one you know was merely a facade. With all the pain and suffering he dealt with manifested into a darker side of him from within the deepest parts of his heart."

The ashen child sighed before taking another sip of her drink. "My guardian had first thought of his Darkness was a burden to deal with upon their first confrontation. But he soon came to realize he needed to accept his Darkness in order to progress with this… thing he had to deal with at the time." She said, not telling her teacher the full reason on that particular part of her older brother/father figure's past.

"And why is this relevant on the dream you spoke of?"

"Naruto said he needed to find balance between his Light and Darkness against these things he was facing against along with this odd test he mentioned. And in that time, he reminisced on what happened when he was at the Waterfalls of Truth as some sort of inspiration to move forward on this dream of his. He can't doubt himself on accepting his darker side since they're one in the same. That if you don't see things differently and accept them, then you won't become a better person."

The immortal knight nodded, but rather to Rachel as it was more towards himself. "I also had to choose a similar way, having Etrigan sharing this body at first was tempermental to say the least." He started as he took another sip of his tea. "We desperately tried to take reins to control the body. It was quite the struggle as both of us considered each other a burden to deal with. However we both compromised that in order to both get what we want… it was only beneficial for us to work together."

The man continued as he poured himself more tea before grabbing the milk and added some of it to his cup. "There's a proverb in the orient, 'Two in Harmony shall surpass One in Perfection.'" He stated as he stir the beravage. "I believe Naruto is right, many things can be better if you don't be narrow minded and expand to new things. Such as I and Etrigan did for each other, we bicker yet we done more with each other rather than separately."

"Then… what about your own Darkness? I mean, have you accepted it?"

The man shook his head, "I fully cannot… not until Etrigan and I fulfilled our duty. If I do, I fear my mission would be affected and I swore to Merlin that it comes first." But his lips pursed upwards, "But when it has been done, I would ask Naruto if he could teach me to forgive myself and tangle my darkness."

"But with your long life, haven't you at least-"

"Sad to say, but no. It's a burden for me to bare and that's the only thing I have accepted from what I've done." He placed his cup back onto his saucer. "If I must suffer this curse of wandering the mortal plane for all eternity, then I shall in order to truly forgive myself of my misdeeds."

Rachel couldn't understand why would he inflicted suffering like this, "You know that darkness is there, but won't face until the demons- ahh I mean, the misdeeds have been undone?"

Jason let out a bitter chuckle on her quick correction. "I will once Morgan Le Fey is long gone."

The half-demon didn't say anything, only listening and playing back the words many times inside of her head. Many things ran on though and she didn't know what do make of them. Even things that related to the present topics, while not at the same time.

Jason took notice of her contemplation and spoke, "Is something amiss?"

Rachel rubbed her arm and looked away. "Well… I don't know if I could… I mean… Can Darkness be evil?"

"Is Darkness evil?" Jason said, repeating his pupil's question. He took a moment to think before giving her an answer. "Darkness is only evil by those who use it in such ways. So am I evil to you?"

She blinked in surprise. "You use darkness?"

"Well Etrigan mainly uses it," he held up his unoccupied hand as a purplish-black aura appeared around it. "And as for me, I use it through him." He shook his hand as the power left as a realized thought crossed his mind. "I can understand you being weary of darkness as you might become closer to your father." He said, causing the half-demon to hesitantly nod. "But it's not really specified to certain beings. And sure it's been known that demonic forces associate themselves with it, but it's not strictly with them all the time." The occultist took up his tea cup and took a sip. "Since you have a demonic heritage, Darkness is apart of you -just like everyone else- but in larger quantities; and if you fight it then you'll only hamper yourself. But if you can control your inner darkness and work with it, then you'll become much more powerful in using it."

"Not sure if I ever can accept it… even a fraction of it." She retorted as Jason gave a small chuckle.

"Well… as many people would say: 'Rome wasn't built in a day'." He quoted and gave a look to Rachel, a look of pride. "Even geniuses must take a step like everyone else to learn something new."

"Then how are you able to use Darkness if you don't accept it?"

"Like I said before: through Etriga-"

Jason paused his speech as his eyes widen to alarming rate. In his shock, he dropped his teacup as it fell onto his lap. The demonologist ignored the hot pain on his breaches as Etrigan's roars were more troubling. His tenant's cries were defensive like a beast daring another to step into his domain.

But this doesn't make sense the last time something affect both Etrigan and him was when-

"Merlin… has the sword you've been waiting for arrived?" He said astonished that the time a new legendary blade was going to be made, twice in his lifetime immortal or not.

Rachel questioned on what her teacher meant. Before voicing it, the half-demon felt it as well, like something to froth over… and the feeling alone was enough to make wet her tongue. The power in that second made her lose her calm mind to feel her inner demon want more. It was like basking in the glory of the sun and unable to be burn from it… glorious… that was that raw feeling she felt.

But even it lastly a second, the two minds made it last longer until the feeling was gone… leaving them -save Etrigan who slowly calmed down- slightly hollow to lose that feeling. Jason saw Rachel's heavy pants, which was understable given her nature and first time feeling untapped power that held no Darkness or Light, something like was enough to make any magic user crave more.

"I… take it you felt it as well Rachel?" Jason said now slightly gritted teeth as the pain from the tea finally hit him.

"Y-Yeah, but I didn't-"

"It's alright if you did… I felt a similar feeling when I was your age." Jason said knowing that Rachel felt her demon side winning for that moment. "Etrigan did just now, wanting to keep the feeling from leaving his area."

"Sorry… I just...what in the world was that?!" She stated losing her stoic tone "It was like all the wrongs in the world mix with the good and… and…"

"Rachel." Jason gave a firm tone, as he saw many of his items float. "Steel yourself… I know, what you felt is something that one other can possibly know." The man stood up as he looked at the fireplace, "The age of a new sword that will usher a new legend… The sword that can rival those in myths… surpass even Merlin's greatest blade for his greatest hero…"

Rachel mind was nearly blow away as each sentence made the answer closer and closer to her mind. Is he telling her… that raw power was… "A new Holy Sword?" she stated, but quickly realize that she and Etrigan felt it. "Or…"

Jason looked back to her and nodded, not wanting a Demonic sword to be formed of this magnitude and be wielded by those of nefarious intentions. "We must go and find where the sword might arrive… before someone horrible takes it."

-Meanwhile, Elsewhere-

"...I don't know why we had to rent that Monty Python movie!" Morgan glared at the VHS case she had in her hands. "I mean it was Galahad who looked for the Grail, not the others!" She tossed the case aside and clicked her tongue. "The guy had an awesome shield that was used for the Round Table! How does that go from that to, a freakin bunny eating the bodies off..." Morgan soon trailed off as her mind went elsewhere. And in that process, the wild blonde couldn't help but gave a smirk, thinking of a few knights in place of that scene. "Actually that scene is funny… but still!" She continued onwards, complaining that Galahad was a more just and noble guy to do something so dumb.

Barbara couldn't help but laughed awkwardly as she knew things with medieval times made her friend get angry.

Things started out quite well as the day went on as the pair hanged out. For the first time since knowing her friend, Barbara was invited over to Morgan's place while her mother was out for the day. The wild blonde already spent plenty of time at the redhead's home, so it was only fair for Barbara to see her friend's home. And it was supposed to a simple hangout while watching some movies -which the pair rented beforehand- in the entertainment room Morgan spoke of in the past.

Before seeing the movies, Barbara was given a small tour of Morgan's home… with some restrictions for family privacy; which the redhead was fine with. And the college student couldn't help but look in a state of awe when seeing the various artifacts kept in the estate.

After the tour, the two friends started to watch movies with the first being The Breakfast Club and latest one being Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

'I know there are people out there who are into the correct things on an extreme level. Just didn't know Morgan fitted in that category.' Thought the Commissioner's daughter before turning to her friend. "You know that-"

Morgan's green eyes were lit with flames of vengeance. "It's the truth. I don't have a problem with storytelling... Just freakin' get the shit right!"

"It's a joke movie-"

"It's Mordred! How does he not even get mention!?" Bellowed the wild blonde. "I mean that's not fair, he was best knight… ahem from my point of view." She then glared at the spawn of Hell in her hands. "It must burn~!" Morgan said with a disturbing smile at it. "Burn as Lancelot morals were!"

Taking it out of her friends hands -while somehow not noticing feint arcs of red lightning coming off Morgan's form- with a stern look, "No way! I'm not losing my membership just because you're OCD on Knights of the Round isn't perfect. I just got into the platinum level!"

"But it must die-" She stopped in mid-sentence as wild blonde comically shook in place.

Barbara left eyebrow was raised as she saw Morgan paled into a white ghost. "Mor-?"

"M… M… Ma…"

"Ma?" The commissioner's daughter questioned as she saw Morgan smile nervously.

"Mama… Y-You're home early…"

Blinking in confusion, Barbara turned around… before blushing at the magnificent sight before her.

It was woman, whose aura raidated with experience and maturity yet with the skin and looks of someone in her mid-twenties. This woman hair had a lighter shade than Morgan's, almost the pale form of gold; which wasn't hard to believe on how lucious and full of life it had as the sun seem to make it more dazzling. Her hair in the front was loose and covered her forehead in a elegant manner and her bangs were a cute yet sexy combination to frame her face well. In the back, it was long enough to reach slightly beyond her rear end. Barbara also noticed the woman wore a braid made from her own hair, keeping the long hair bound and well-kept. She wore a black business suit that was open to show a black lacy corset that hugged her hourglass figure perfectly. Around her neck was a golden necklace with an emerald placed in it's center. Her dress pants hugged her womanly hips to the point men would walk into the street to gaze at it forever.

Barbara nearly blushed as her face flushed when looking at what visible skin there was as no imperfections were ever present. It was like looking at the finest porcelain doll ever made. Although what caught out of her stupor was the face, it was almost exactly like Morgans! Just more… mature and calm.

"Mord- *Cough* Morgan?" The woman smiled with the most motherly smile Barbara ever seen… until the woman eyes open showing lifeless, green orbs that seem to unsettle the redhead. "Didn't I tell you to prepare for the trip?"

Barbara took a step away as the woman started to move closer almost gliding towards her 'daughter'. "Morgan, w-who is this?"

Despite her comically sweating form, the tomboy spoke, "T-This here is my w-wonderful mother… Morganna." The wild blonde then turned over to present her friend. "M-Mother, this here is my friend, Barbara."

Morganna just moved to Morgan a hop with each step, showing her happiness from the compliment which seemed to have work as the mother reached Morgan to pat her head, "Aww, Morgan, you such a sweet child!" She said hugging the younger blonde...before the eyes of the dead reappear. "Too bad you left me to do the work…"

Barbara paled as the woman tighten her hold on her friend's neck as the poor person in question turn blue… and then…

DONG~!

Barbara felt scared as a knock-out Morgan went limp in her mother's arm. "My oh my, it seems she was a bit tired." Morganna placed the younger blonde to a nearby seat, before looking at Barbara. "I am so sorry. I had to get my rebellious child, we're-" She said grabbing Morgan from falling down, and setting her back up. "Going to visit some family members."

"Oh, I'm sorry if I-"

The woman stared at the young lady, as if to tell her to be quiet… in which the spectacled redhead did. "Fufufu~ I take it you're this 'Babs' that my child is so happy to be friends with?" She asked to looked at the girl. As if studying her, "Hmm, not bad… not bad… I can see Morgan liking you."

Barbara placed a hand on her hip, being a bit annoyed with the judging eye, "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, Morgan loves red." The woman replied as red haired woman comically cringe at that remark. But a kind smiled from the older woman. "Please continue to be my child's friend. Morgan hasn't a real friend for years. Not since I divorced her father… hateful man..." Morganna spitefully spat out.

That last bit of information somewhat caught the girl off guard, but nonetheless she nodded. "Of course, even if you didn't want me too! Either way I was thinking Morgan would drag me out to hang out still."

"Sad to say, I agree…" Morganna smile seem to be evil as she looked at her child's friend, "Wanna do something mean to Morgan? A punishment for letting me do all the packing?"

Barbara couldn't help but feel like getting back at Morgan at the Naruto teasing… "What do you have in mind?"

After a while, people who were at one of Gotham's parks, which was a few miles away from the estate, were enjoying the peace until…

"WHAT THE HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL~!?"

Barbara and Morganna were busy trying not to laugh as the wild blonde was glittering like a star from the make-up that was done masterfully on her face. Along with a frilly and girly wedding dress, white as the purest snow. On the back of her waist was a black bow, and her wild hair style was now comb down and done with the same black bow. And that wasn't enough injury to insult, the wild blonde pulled her skirt and blanch at the sight… sexy lingerie?!

"Gonna… kill someone…"

CLICK~!

The wild blonde gapped as she saw Morganna drooling as she held a camera in her hands. "Now I can send these photos to my friend in Australia. Annastasia does good work with dresses~" She said with a blissful smile. "Wanna a copy too, Barbara?"

All Barbara could do was give out a triumphant smirk. "Yes please, if she ever teases me again."

"You got ammo!" The older woman quipped with a lovely look.

"MOTHER~!" Morgan cried out waterfall tears. "I'm sorry! I won't skip out chores again!"

"Hmm? Odd I thought I heard someone saying 'Send this to every hunky, single boy in the vicinity?'" Morganna teased as Morgan comically threw up blood!

"HELL NO! GIMME THAT SOUL-SUCKING BOX!" The wild blonde tackled her mother, who simply take a simple side step as Mordred crash into the fireplace. "Mother! Please I swear I won't do it again~! I rather not have stalkers here! And also who says hunky anymore?!" The voice echoed as Barbara giggled.

"You two are-" The woman stopped as she and Morgan -who now pulled herself out- stood in silence… they then glance at each other. Morgan stood up dusting her wedding dress, with a wide apologetic smile.

Weirded out on the oddly silent moment, Barbara spoke. "Is… something the matter?"

"Sorry~! But the trip is going to be earlier than expected!" The wild girl said, bowing out of respect for breaking her promise to hang out. "When I come back, we can get smashed at a bar or get you married to Naruto with this vile thing! Hell he might just jump on you if you just wore the underwear~!" Barbara suddenly went red faced when hearing that. "But this trip is beyond important!" The wild blonde clapped her hands with closed eyes. "Rain check?"

"Eh… Yeah~ sure. Why not." Barbara replied before gathering the rented movies and the rest of her things. "Call me when you're done, alright?"

"Thanks okay!" Morgan shouted with a smile while escorting her friend to the door. "And don't worry, I promise to get you laid when I return! I mean if Gala- I mean a certain squirt was done, then it would a walk in park for you~!" With that last teasing and her friend out the door, she slammed the door shut. "Whoo… gonna regret that when she's going to be fucked in a coma-"

The mother/daughter pair suddenly covered their ears as they felt a large boom, yet it wasn't anything normal as nothing was affected. "IT'S HERE NOW!?" The wild blonde stated as she looked to a grandfather clock to pulled out a silver sword!

Morganna gave a glare to her child. "Mordred, calm yourself. It would take a skillful mage like Merlin to do anything remotely as to change the shape of that object. We have time…" The mother said as she looked into the nearby mirror. "A shame though, I rather was getting used to my old looks again. Even Merlin thought I was the female version of Arthur…" She smiled as she waved her hand over the mirror to show someone else.

Her silvery, blonde hair darkened into midnight black with a faint grey streak running through it. Her figure didn't change much, yet it still had the body which many women would kill for and men would lust for. Her soulless, green eyes changed into sinister green as her business suit went into an attire fit for royalty.

"Should I keep it, Mordred? Since they are no real people from our time that could pick me out from the crowds?" Morgaine questioned as she kept checking herself out before scrunching her face once touching her necklace. "Well all except Jason Blood, of course."

Mordred scoff as she shook her head, "Do whatever, I just want my Sword in the Stone… you sure you can do what Merlin did and make a heroic blade or whatever?"

The woman nodded. "It won't be the as the Sword of Promised Victory or the Sword that Chooses Kings -as those were made by the highest of the Fae- but from what we've sensed, this object would be close if not better in the finished results." She noticed Mordred's crestfallen sword. "What is the matter, my sweet child?"

"It won't be the same if the sword isn't like Father's…" Morgan smiled kindly at her daughters sweet nature, to call her monster of a brother, a father despite being killed by Arthur. "Then how will I know if I am truly a King?"

Morgan bit her lower lips, even if Mordred did take the throne and had all the knights choose her. That ridiculous dream of taking Arthur's place when unsheathing Ex- That Blade made her often want to pull her own hair out. Was this a knight thing to have one code of honor? "Mordred, you have Arthur's blood and my support as a mage. You are a King!" She whispered as Mordred's eyes became slightly dazed. Magic-laced words to help her convince her daughter, "A king make hard choices and this is one…" She said as the words ring into her prince's mind. Before stopping with a smile as she shook Mordred awake.

"Now come. We must quickly finish preparations to acquire your new sword."

-Gotham Botanical Gardens-

"...I gotta say, whiskers, this is the most spectacular tree I've ever seen in my entire life."

He chuckled a response. "Glad that you approve."

The botanical gardens rarely had visitors during the winter season, with much of the plant life not being in all of its splendor outside of its climate controlled walls. With the trees shedding their leaves and most flowers closing themselves off before blooming again in warmer times as their bulbs and roots survive until Spring. For the ones inside are still blooming and held strong as if the cold never affected them in the slightest.

Despite that there wasn't much to be seen outside, it was a magnificent sight as to where the main attraction was located. The fleshly powdered show clinging onto the ancient tree large branches and clinging vines with icicles hanging off of it's splendor. Even with the flower bulbs closed off for the season, it was still a lovely sight.

"Can't wait to see this during the Spring."

Naruto opened his mouth and was going to speak when a familiar voice beat him to the punch. "Then come on by when this beauty is in full bloom."

The two old co-workers turned around and saw Pam -more exactly her plant clone- walking towards them in her lab attire.

Naruto smiled, came up and gave her a chaste kiss. "Glad that you're here. Makes things less tedious in finding ya." Pam's plant clone gave a small chuckle as he turned over to the reporter. "Lois, I'm happy to finally introduce to you my girlfriend, Dr. Pamela Isley."

The botanist held out her hand towards the ravenette with a warm smile. "How do you do? I've heard much about you."

"Nice to meet ya. And I hope it's nothing but good things." Lois said while shaking the redhead's hand. "So you're the woman that stole Naruto's heart away and made him happy."

The Green champion gave a small, genuine smile. "Guilty as charged." She then ended the handshake. "Though to be fair, he seemed to have stolen mine first."

"Corny, but I'd let it slide as I believe it."

Pam kept up her smile. "Naruto told me over the phone that you were coming, but I didn't know when."

Earlier today, the Uzumaki called up his red haired girlfriend shortly after leaving the loft to inform her of Lois' arrival. She wished she could personally be there to greet her, but Pam had to put the majority of attention today on their three daughters. But she made a mental link with her clone to help compensate this so she won't miss a beat on the interaction, in real time.

The Green champion usually does this at the end of her day in order to process all of it's memories, but today she'll make a rare exception.

"You can put some of the blame on me since I wanted to see a lot of places here. So sorry if we kept ya waiting or anything."

The plant clone waved her off. "You didn't. Been busy in several projects."

"Oh~ like what?" Lois asked with her interests mildly peaked.

"A few things I wanted to continue after my late-superior's passing." Pam said in a solemn tone. "There was quite a lot she wanted to work on or was still on, but obvious reasons stopped that."

The reporter cringed a little upon hearing this. "I remember hearing and reading about the incident… I'm sorry for your loss."

The botanist's clone breathed out a sigh. "The wounds still fresh and it'll take time for it to heal." Green eyes then met violet as former bore into the later. "And I know you don't really know Luisa, but I appreciate the concern."

"Thanks… I guess."

Naruto jumped in and said an apology. "Sorry about that, Lois, but Pam's rather sensitive about the subject."

"No, it's fine. I understand completely and you don't have to fuss over it." Lois started with a shrug. "I deal with that quite often when I'm doing my work and writing my articles. So it'll be strange if I'm not used to it by now."

The botanist's clone nodded before guestering them to come inside and get out of the cold. "I've gotta ask, but how are you liking Gotham so far?"

"Asides from the fact that this city is one of the most crime ridden places in the country, it's rather fine." Responded the reporter. Getting to the nearby doors, she opened them as the three entered the warm building. "Sometimes I find it hard to believe Gotham is able to manage it's crime rate with the likes of Batman, Robin, Vanitas and them Siren women taking care of things."

For months now -ever since Solomon Grundy's attack and Killer Croc's flood- the city has occasionally seen a trio of costumed women help fight crime alongside the Dynamic Duo and Vanitas. Catwoman was more well known while Ivy and Harley -who still hasn't been given a hero name- were hardly known, but made occasional appearances in the news while helping out the police. And it's been thought to be believed the new Batgirl was either a new addition to the Siren ranks, a new member of Batman's team or just a solo act.

"I agree as well." Pam said with a smirk. "Then again Batman had laid out the groundwork. Hell, I don't know what would happen if he wasn't here to begin with."

"Yeah, I wouldn't wanna know." Naruto added in. "Just thinking of all of the possibilities might give me a headache."

"Heh~ true." Walking down the garden's hallways, Lois continued. "What I would like to know are a few things." She then listed them off. "For one, how the hell does he afford all his gadgets with how expensive they might be? And why bats as his motif; just because their scary?"

Naruto held out his hand and counted them out. "Sound investments and personally building them in order to hide better from those investigating his identity." He then gave her a raised brow. "And bats being a way of putting fear in criminals."

Lois rose a brow. "That was rather quick on the answer, whiskers."

"Eh~ Had a lot of time to think on those questions." Came the vague answer, due with him -alongside his red haired girlfriend- already knowing the truth. "Besides, there's a lot of people out there having the same ideas for answers."

"Eh~ your probably not wrong on that one. Got a few people back at the Planet who thought of the same thing. Even with the Hood guy over in Starling." The ravenette then scratched her head. "Not to mention others who have nothing else to do and contemplate on the idea… Or have those crazy ass conspiracy walls."

"Didn't you say your cousin -Chloe- have one such walls?"

Lois merely groaned. "Yes, she did. Thank god she stopped doing that after high school." She then had a disturbing thought and shivered. 'Unless she still has them and is just hiding it in some locked up room.'

"You okay there?" Pam asked.

Lois waved off the botanist. "It's nothing. Just adjusting to the warmth."

"Or someone has a wall in their room~" Naruto sang out as Lois glared at him, making the whiskered man chuckle as he casually looked away. "Don't worry, we all have those moments…" He sagely nodded to himself as he patted the woman's shoulder.

Lois could only give him a deadpan expression with tone to equal her facial feature, "Why does everything you say sound condescending right about now." She gained a thought that gave her an edge to shut him up. "Hmm, I wonder what kinda moments you have… like this morning?"

"Blah!" Naruto comically gasped out, as he totally didn't see that hit coming! "N-Nothing… illegal that is…" He stated truthfully, but slapped his face… one hint was enough to hound him by the journalist.

"What about this morning?" The red haired beauty asked as she was wondering why was her- 'Ohhh~ now I know what she's talking about.'

"Hmm? Your face says something, Pam." Lois inquiries as the plant clone sighed.

"It's just some… stuff from last night…" She forced her cheeks to flush thinking about certains with a certain silver-haired man to make it as realistically as possible. "And I call him to put them away if guests -or God forbid- Rachel saw it."

Lois' grin couldn't be any bigger. If she had red haired, Naruto would've believe she was an Uzumaki. "Hohohoho~! Kinky stuff? What cops and robbers? Or maybe Naruto likes to take it in the-"

"HELL~ NAW~!" Naruto face turn green as a frog as he felt actually sick at the idea of being prodded like that. "Some things must not be said!"

The two woman laughed at the man's disgust at the 'fun' they were talking about, enjoying that the occasional prankster of the three was caught off guard by the suggestion.

"Oh soo~ a whip and leather corset more your thing? Like 'footstool' play, perhaps?" Lois smiled evilly as she imagine Pam whipping a Naruto who is comically smiling in joy. "Or maybe some naive foreigner getting lost in the city?" She stated now turning red and eyes turning into cartoonish swirls. "Or- Or, some kind naughty teacher~!?" At this point the two lover saw fire on her hair, "HOLY CRAP MAYBE SOME INC-"

"CHOP~!" Naruto comically hit her head as the flames suddenly died out as she grabbed her head with a spurt of blood shoot out. She rolled around the ground crying out and spilling blood everywhere.

"The hell man!?" She cried out, now having a anime-esque bandage on her forehead.

"And you say you're not a closet pervert because of my godfather's books." Naruto said before rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Don't know if I should help her get laid with someone."

"With those many kinks, I fear the guys would leave before the date starts!" Pam stated whispering so Lois wouldn't hear them. "Might be part of the reason why her last relationship ended."

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!"

"Or god, maybe we find the missing link to her. Think about a boy version of perv-vette here." Naruto teased lightly as a arrow that said 'Perv-vette' went through her. "But that'll be highly unlikely. If there was, then I fear what their children will be like."

"O-Oww… my pride…" She whimpered as she had yo-yo-like tears dangling from her eyes.

Despite enjoying the little moment, Lois felt as if there was more to what was going on being covered up by the small change in subject. 'They're hiding something, that's for sure.' Was the thought as they entered the cafeteria. 'But I can't egg them for that particular information right away or else things will get complicated and I'll get shut out. But for now…' "Hey, Pam. I've got a question for ya."

"Which would be what exactly?" Pam's clone asked before asking one of her own. "Also would you like anything to drink or snack on?"

"I'm good on food since Naruto and I snacked on some food earlier before coming here. But I'm fine with something warm to drink." Lois responded before asking her intended question. "I've gotta ask, but have ya been with anyone before Naruto?"

Pam blinked alongside Naruto on the sudden question as the three got in line. Before long, the botanist shook her head. "Afraid not, Lois. I never really been with anyone at all when growing up and throughout college. But Naruto's the only man I've ever been in a relationship with."

The reporter was mildly surprised on the response. "Huh, I would've thought you had like one or two guys at least."

"School and work were my primary focuses, Lois. I hardly had time for a social life."

The reporter nodded. "Yeah, I can understand to some degree." Pam looked at Lois in curiosity with Naruto already knowing what was about to be said. "Mostly raised by a single father -a military one at that- things were difficult. Sure my younger sister, Lucy, and I didn't move that much as our dad didn't want to stress us over with constant moves with his growing position and ranks. You can blame our late mother for that." The reporter gave a small chuckle. "She fought tooth and nail, reeling him into agreeing with her terms."

"Must've been some woman."

Lois kept up the smile. "That she was. So much so that both me and my sister were able to inherit that trait. We can be able to beat him up, have him wrapped around our fingers and put him in his place… to some degree, that is."

Pam then formed a smile of her own as she grabbed an orange from the open fridge with Naruto snagging an apple. "I remember Naruto telling me about that when we first started dating. And suffice to say, I found it rather funny. No offense."

"Eh~ None taken." Getting to the front of the line, the three gave their drink orders before standing nearby the counter not far away. "Getting back to my social life, it was a bit hard to manage after my mom passed away. Had to fill in my mom's shoes as I helped take care of Lucy alongside my dad. Not to mention using up all my after school free time to work on scholarships and internships. And it was quite the pain in the ass."

"So you're like me back then? All work and no play?"

"Pretty much."

Naruto chuckled a little. "I remember your dad telling me he tried setting you up on several dates in the past, but they didn't turn out all that well."

"Oh, they did. But I just wasn't all that interested when I was in school. Lucy was like that at first, but she eventually relented with this one guy for a time. In the end, things didn't work out with her and she called it off."

"Yeah, needed that little reminder." He said, taking a bite of his fruit. Swallowing the bit of food, Naruto remembered a little detail. "Was the guy some sort of secret loan shark?"

"Oh yeah and dad was absolutely pissed. Guy tried to run off with this money he took and dad intercepted him with a tank."

Pam's clone almost choked on her orange slice with what she heard. Coughing a little -with Naruto patting her back-to help clear the airway. Giving her boyfriend a nod of thanks, the botanist looked at the reporter in bewilderment. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly." Lois said with a blown smile. "Saw the whole thing and I laughed my ass off as Lucy's ex tried to speed away. Wasn't long after a tank round hit the nearby road did he stop his car and shit his pants." As the drink order was called, Lois soon grabbed her drink and took a small sip of the warm brew. "Suffice to say, a small rule was made."

"Don't screw a Lane or something along those lines." Naruto stated as Pam got a good kick out of that.

"Basically it."

"And what's Lucy doing now?" Pam asked as the three sat down at the nearby table.

"She's working as a judge advocate under their dad." Naruto answered as he sipped his own drink. "Lucy's gonna be one hell of an intimidating woman if one wants to date her."

"Right you are. And just like me, she's dedicated to her work to see things done right in the world. But instead of going out in the field and investigate, Lucy advises dad and several others in the military while cleaning it out of filth."

"Sounds like you from what I've heard from Naruto." Lois smiled to Pam whose smile was slightly strained. It was true now she was changing herself for the better, the fact is that she has done some terrible things after her change before being admitted into Arkham. Naruto noticed as he place his hand on top of hers gently and unnoticeable to Lois.

"Well good for your sister." Pam said in feminine pride, covering up the bit of pain a moment ago. "I don't know about you, but there's gotta be quite a lot of corrupt-"

*SCREEEEE-BOOOOOOOOM*

The loud screeching boom sound startled what people were in the cafeteria. It was rather loud and deafening as many wondered what happened. Did a nearby building blow up? Was a robbery taking place? It was hard to really tell.

But looking through the nearby glass walls -which now sported a series of cracks due to the resulting 'boom'- they saw a large hole through the dense clouded sky revealing the twilight colors from up above. But it wasn't just that, but there was a large smoky streak emanating from said hole as it trailed across the sky and into the horizon.

Before anything else could be done, the cafeteria's occupants felt an odd shockwave running through the building. The force behind it then caused all of the windows -even the glass walls- to suddenly break, sending itty-bitty shards all over.

If the previous sound didn't startle them, then this recent event did.

"What the hell was that?" Lois asked as she tried calming her beating heart.

"I don't know." Pam responded as her eyes trailed the smoky path. "Whatever it was had to be big."

"A satellite or a meteor, perhaps?"

"Probably."

"Right Naruto-?" When Lois tried to get Naruto's opinion she saw a dazed look in his face, as if in a deep trance. "Hel~lo?" She waved her hand in front of him and snapping her fingers trying to get his attention. "Man. That sound must've really shocked him or something."

Pam however didn't buy it as her lover's eyes were completely gone. She would know as she knew those eyes really well. He wasn't all there… he has gone into deep parts of his mind.

When Naruto was in one his meditation times with Rachel, Harley was slightly curious on what his eyes were like. Mild, child-like curiousity at best, the bubbly blonde slowly pried opened his eyelids and saw the light leave them; which made things rather unsettling. And it wasn't just those times, but when meditating at certain areas around the city in order to help out the Green in taking care of several problems against the Black and Grey.

'What caused you to be like this?' Pam thought out of concern.

Before anything could be acted upon this, the cloned botanist quickly saw the light return in her love's eyes as he quickly gasped and inhaled a large intake of air.

"Whoa there, whiskers." Lois said as she kept him steady. "Had us worried there for a second."

"Uh… Y-Yeah, sorry, guess I was in shock or something…" He stated before hearing his phone was ringing, "I'll get that." He stated knowing that it was probably something about the crash, checking in the people. When pulling up the device into his ear, he spoke into it. "Hello?... Yeah… No… Really?... Ahh… OK… Fine~" Naruto said softly before hanging up, turning to the two women he pointed at the phone. "Uhh, Jason called said that he needed me. Something about the shock breaking some parts of his attic. Cool if I go, since I can pick up Rachel as well? No doubt unsettled with what happened." He said as he pulled on his collar as he sighed a bit too convincing. "Good since the heat is getting to me."

Pam knew that Naruto was faking it, soon figuring out that the crash is something to do with his heroic life. "Oh, I hope they're fine. Go on!" She urged as the silver haired man have his signature thumbs up before leaving.

Lois looked on with a raised brow and wondered what else is going on. But it didn't matter now as she looked outside and saw what took place around the city. Windows were broken as far as her violet eyes could see and car alarms were blazing like crazy. People started to evacuate the buildings for safety protocols while the reporter could faintly hear people talking about what just occurred.

'Naruto is acting to calm in this chaos...something's not right…' Was Lois thoughts as she saw Naruto's frame disappearing out of the cafeteria doors. 'But that doesn't matter now, I should probably get a coverage as to what happened or something.' As she silently walked, she then stopped and facepalmed. 'Wait, I almost forgot the Planet's not fully stationed here yet and I don't have access to a helicopter.' The ravenette hummed in thought. 'Maybe I could find the Gotham news crews and see what could be done from there.'

-Off the coast of Gotham-

What was once the home of the defamed scientist, Dr. Emile Dorian, a privately owned island for his feline experiments was now a literal shadow of its former self.

Sure, the land was rather uninhabited of human life, except for the experimented wildlife, but it was quite the forested landmass. The only sign of any human presence there was the burnt down and destroyed home of the island's previous owner before he was sent to prison for his inhumane crimes.

But now… about a third of the island was now a wreck with the rest being smoldering mess. A large fire consumed the vast acres covering the land and no doubt ended the lives of many animals. The geographic layout was drastically changed with many ridges, cliffs, mountains, and grounds were either upheaved, fallen, sunk or risen unnaturally. Even new rivers and streams were changed as a result.

The reason?

If one would look towards the edge of the farthest side of the island -away from Gotham's lights and line of sight- lies a vastly dense crater. It was only a few miles large, but seeing the outside devastation of the meteor's blast radius would say otherwise. And the only remaining piece of land that was barely affected by recent events was on the other side of the blast zone.

Sounds of clanking metal stepped closer and closer to the blast's edge. The source came to a stop as a medieval armored knight looked on in awe.

"Holy hell that's a lotta of damage!" Mordred shouted as she looked at the landscape totally… well totaled! "Thank God that none of my subjects were anywhere near this!"

"Indeed." Spoke the treacherous knight's mother as she stepped beside Mordred. "If this were to happen in the city, it would've been decimated in an instant." Morgan stated with a raised eyebrow. "Raw power alone didn't do this. It was message from the ore itself stating 'I have power, and I need it to be wielded.'" She said with a smile.

The witch then wave her hand as purple colored lines appeared several feet away from the crater's edge before surrounding the entire area, creeping slowly towards as much as the damage land it could reach. Before long, a faint shimmer rose from the ground as it reached towards the sky and curved to meet at the crater's center.

"What did you do mother?" Mordred question her new mage of the court knowing that magic wasn't in her area.

"Making sure everything here won't be interrupted by the unsavory sort." Was her answer. "Now come, we must tread carefully to acquire the source of all of this. And place your helmet on now..."

Mordred watch as she glided forward, before huffing at being still treated as a child, even when something like this came up. Clicking her teeth, the knight snap her fingers as the helmet quickly formed around her head. "Tch, yes mother…" The steely voiced of the Knight of Betrayal was masked due to its magic ability.

On the other side of the island, Vanitas had his card platform fly across the land as he and his fellow travelers saw the sight before them.

"Holy Hell! That's a lot of destruction!" The helmeted hero yelled out, astonished at the sight. "Like fire everywhere man!"

"And to think that if it landed in the city, it would've been hardly standing." Jason muttered as he stroked his chin.

"...Oh crap you're right!" Vanitas shouted, "Well, we got lucky~!" He quipped smiling underneath his helm.

Jason however sighed, before turning to his student, they had to take her if the power made her unstable back home. "Rachel, can you stand the essence in the air?" He asked as the girl nodded within her purple, hooded cloak.

"Yeah, it's like smelling waffles or something delicious and trying to fight the urge to find it." She joked as the feeling of the power was starting to become easier to get acquainted with. "Jason, are we going to hide this thing?"

The man shook his head as he pulled out a book from the inside of his jacket. "We're not, we're going to transmuted that ore into a sword, or at least a stable form that the power won't leak out." Flipping through the pages, the occultist sighed. "If Merlin was here, he would have already summoning the ore here and snap his fingers. I have to use Alchemy and few other skills just to contain it… if it works that is." He said as Vanitas looked at him.

"Wait Merlin made the sword of the stone? I thought it was there beforehand?" He stated as the vigilante knew the legends.

"Common misconception, but in truth, it was more of a joint project with him and the fae as it was there beforehand. In the end, Merlin himself wanted a hero to find it."

"Sounds like the guy was just doing his part and was to lazy to finish it." The masked man stated as he lowered his card platform a good dozen feet away from the crater's edge. "And damn, that's quite an impact site."

"Merlin might act like a fool, but the man has the ability to see far ahead in time." Jason proudly admitted. "Save for one incident…" The man sighed as he walked forward, before hitting his head on… nothing? The man gave a confused looked and looked down. "No… she's here…" He gritted his teeth as Etrigan desperately wanted out.

"Who- oh no…" The masked hero knew that one person was going to need a blade more than anyone given by Jason's current expression.

"Morgan…" Rachel shallow some fear down her throat knowing that last time, the woman gave her a chance to live due to Naruto and her familiar status, but the fact the sorceress was here still scared of her.

"Wait, what's the point? The sword is useless for her. Aren't magic-users like glass cannons from what you told me? Powerful yet weak?... No offense Jason." Vanitas stated as the man waved it off, sweated as he was keeping his demonic ally at bay.

"Perhaps, she is thinking that power could be used for the artifact we destroyed the last time the three of us fought her together last. Or using the sword to go back to time. The possibilities with such power can be endless." The man said more and more worried at the possibility of the misuse of a grand weapon. "We have to stop her. But fortunately for me, alchemy is a good strength against magecrafted barrier." He stated drawing a circle on the ground and placing his hand as blue lighting appear for a moment, and the lines started to wave. "We must go. The second we step into the barrier is when Morgan knows we are here. And Rachel, stay behind us if Morgan has allies and unsavory forces. Is that understood? Provide assistance when we are sure that her allies aren't going to overwhelm us."

The apprentice wanted to fight back, but nodded as Morgan had centuries -if not more- worth of experience on her. "Right." She muttered.

"Naruto, I hate to ask but I need you to run as much interference as I transmute the ore. The second that I grab it and switch with Etrigan is when we can deal with Morgan. The power is the first priority." The former knight declared as his instincts for battle were coming up, knowing that he and Morgan Le Fay was going to battle once more.

-Insert Kingdom Hearts: Strange Whispers-

"Now… now, Jason… did you actually think I'd let you catch me off guard?" The three eyes widen in dread as they turn to see Morgan floating in front of them on a purple magical circle. "And to think you used to know me so well…" She crackled darkly as the immortal knight's jaw tightened in raw anger at the woman in front of him… the one who took everything from him.

Morgan's sinister green eyes then landed on two familiar faces. "Ahh the demon child and the man of the void." She greeted with a smile. "I must say, welcome to the New Camelot that will be soon to come in fruition." The legendary witch bowed respectfully at the two people giving her child back to her. "Have you come to swore your undying allegiance?"

"No, that was the other two… we're the evil twins who love goodness and ponies." The helmeted hero stated as he pulled out his Void Shots. "I still got one for you, when trying to harm my ward!"

The witch gave a mock pout. "Oh~ too bad then." She placed a hand on her cheek and sniffled a little before she cackled. "At least there will be less people to worry about now."

With a wave of her hands, a series of enlarged magical circles appeared across the slanted ground. The light quickly grew bright before dying down, revealing what Morgan just did. And before Jason, Vanitas and Rachel's eyes, an army of monsters appeared in the area.

There was a mix of sizes, but all of them wore various medieval styled amours. Each of the creatures had grey and dark paled green skin as they held a variety of weapons. The big tall ones had swords and maces, the small ones had bows and arrows and the bulky ones had morningstars.

All of them growled and hissed and approached Vanitas, his half-demon ward and Jason with their weapons drawn. In an instant, Morgan's summoned monsters charged at the three, who began to defend themselves but as it turned out that these creatures were as deadly as they were ugly. Jason quickly blasted them with magic alongside his student; he did his best to keep the creatures from getting too close but it wasn't working.

'Seems you'll be coming out sooner than expected.' Jason thought to his demonic tenant. Opening his mouth, he started to chant. "Gone, gone the form of man! Rise the demon Etrigan!"

Demonic fire soon consumed him before his body quickly shifted and churned into that of his demonic counterpart. And Etrigan was pleased to be let out as he roared and charged forward with his trusty broadsword in hand. Slashing through several of Morgan's summonings, he then called out one of his signature spells. "DEMON FLAME!"

As the demonic flames spread like wildfire, Vanitas was firing off his laser arrows while up in the air. Several tethering a handful of the enemy forces while others were disintegrated. Landing back on the ground, the hero quickly switched out his arrowguns for his daggers. Rushing forward, he channeled power into them as lightning coated the blades. Slashing at Morgan's summons, they were either electrocuted to death or paralyzed long enough to be knocked away to clear the path ahead of them.

Rachel sent dark energy blasts at every other direction. Dodging and sliding away from some of the ogre-like monster's bladed weapons, the half-demon sent a blizzard spell towards the ground in order to slip up her opponents. Quickly getting back up she barely dodged a volley of arrows aimed right at her. Yet an arrowhead sliced a small part of her cheek, having blood slightly roll down her face.

The ashen child hissed in the recent pain before being knocked onto the ground. She punched her assailant with a magical encased fist to send the monster flying back. Gritting her teeth, she channeled more magic into her hands as her eyes darkly glowed while chanting her old home's signature spell. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

Releasing the spell, the blast sent a horde of Le Fay's monsters away as they were severely injured as a result. She panted out of exhaustion, but had to quickly endure. Jumping back from one of her opponents, she pulled out an Elixir from her belt and quickly chugged down it's contents in order to help refill her magic reserves. Once empty, the half-demon smashed the bottle on the monster's face. As it tried to wipe away the imbedded glass, the grey-green skinned monster was blasted away with a Fire spell.

"Do try to keep up, Jason's student." Etrigan growled out as he landed near the half-demon.

"I'm trying my best, Etrigan." Rachel sent out a stream of Thunder spells to Morgan's monsters with several going down while others held their ground. "But these guys are rather tough to take down and there seems to be no end of them."

"No kidding." Vanitas said, sending a wave of ice spikes across the ground to either skewer or knock away Morgan's summons. "She's pulling all the stops on this one to hinder our progress from getting that ore."

"Oh no, don't think I am stalling you or anything." Spoke the Witch of Camelot from up high. The others barely focused on her as they kept defending themselves from her monsters. "I was just doing this to see if one of you were worthy of his attention." Morgan started with a cruel smile. "After all, it was my new king's wish to see if the demon child and the void user were worthy as new members of the Round."

Etrigan gave a confused look wondering what did she meant by that. "Foul witch! Speak true, lest you wish to speak with no voice!" The demon declared before he felt something off, like the ozone was burning.

"I wouldn't dare deprive my king, to speak his glorious voice…" The woman stated as she took a step to the side as something the demon and his host both were immensely were shock by.

"Hooo?" The voice let out amused at the sight of the demon, "Jason, is that you? Man, the years have not been kind to you! Ha, you were at least close to Gawain and the King's level of looking good."

Both Rachel and her guardian stopped their attacks as the monstrous hoards all stop moving and took a knee. "Etrigan, who is that?" The costumed Uzumaki asked, walking to the demon in case the attack resume, as did Rachel.

Etrigan, in all the short time Naruto know him, looked stun, "It cannot be… he lives?" The demon whispered, as Naruto watched as the metal being before him. Never in his time in living was a perfect and also intimidating armor stood before him. It was like the armor for Etrigan, however the witch smiled sweetly.

"Man of Void and Demon Child… it is thanks to you, my dream has been accomplished… My son...Mordred Pendragon lives!" She shouted as Etrigan quickly turned back to Jason -without speaking a word- whose eyes were horrified at the fact an old ally -turned enemy- of his was alive.

"Mordred, is that really you?" He asked as the knight simply waved to him, as if greeting an old friend.

"Of course!" The knight cheerfully stated, before raising a sword that Jason paled at the sight. "Unless you know another worthy of my blade?" The armored, wild blonde said as the former apprentice of Merlin pointed at her with alarm in his eyes.

"How in the nine hells are you alive?!"

"Like I could tell ya that. Even if I wanted to, it's all too confusing for me to answer." The Knight of Treachery jabbed 'his' gauntleted thumb towards 'his' mother. "If you want answers, ask her."

"Oh~ I merely worked with what was given to me." Morgan vaguely stated as her eyes -her real eyes- flashed for a moment, making the older magic user take a step back.

"Vanitas... we can't take on Mordred, he is impossible to defeat." Jason stated as his fists tightened enough to draw blood. "All we can do is head for the meteor and transmutate it as quickly as we can. Even drawing them away from each other is the best option for now."

The hero gave a shocked look beneath his glass domed helm. "Is he that strong?"

"No, if Lancelot or even his son were here and alive, Mordred would fall. But Morgan's armor for him allows the knight to be on par with his father. And with this many centuries of hiding, Morgan might've set aside store magic just for today to make her son unbeatable." Jason cursed as Mordred simply walked down a series of magical platforms, just the sight was giving him horrid flashbacks of the flames where Camelot fell. "Mordred, fight her spell! I know you dream of being king, but she lies! Excalibur is gone!"

The knight stopped gave a snort that was full of laughter once touching the earth. "You really think I expect that Sword to be around? No, that one-armed freak gave the blade to father in his last moments… I wouldn't even disturb a fallen King's grave for that… but making a better sword is a much better idea." She started walking forward again. "And showing that foolish man, I deserve that throne! That kingdom! MY RIGHT!"

"Mordred…" Jason said with sad frown. "He was our King…"

"Not… any… more…" The revived knight spat out each word with the utmost hate she can muster into them.

The witch of Camelot took this moment to speak. "And like Arthur pulling Caliburn out of the Stone, my 'son' shall take that empowered ore over yonder and rule all within his wake."

"Well if that soon-to-be Sword is gonna be like Arthur's, then Mordred's gonna earn it." The masked Uzumaki stated, training his weapon right at them. "And if I know any better, you'd rather have him be a conqueror than being a just ruler."

"And what's wrong with that dome-head?" Mordred declared, "If he did so, Camelot would still be around." Morgan's child then turned towards 'his' once former comrade. "Jason, you yourself knew that if he had punished Lancelot for sleeping with his wife… none of the events leading to Camelot's end would have happened."

That struck Jason hard.

While it was true Morgan took that one incident into the most detailed rebellion ever… it was only true. Lancelot was a driven man, killing the knight of the sun, causing Galahad death as well… among the rest that followed…

"Jason!" Vanitas shouted causing the man to shake his disturbing thoughts. "We make mistakes, but did you really think that Arthur would be fine with punishing his own allies? Watching them over like hawks to give them horrible punishments for mistakes we all do?"

That was true, the knight turned mage remembered one knight… Arthur told him to lay waste onto a village and if he failed. He was going to leave in shame, but no death or exile, just no longer a soldier… that's why others bannered under his King. "Mordred, I… I do not know if Arthur was truly a great king… but he was -at the very least- a good man."

The treacherous knight chuckled. "Aww, fine… I give you at least one choice leave and hide or…" she brandish her blade -Clarent- reading it with her unusual way of fighting with it, "turn into a beast."

Jason just nodded as he focus all of his magic into Etrigan knowing that the demon is going to need everything just to fight Mordred. "Gone, gone the form of man! Rise the demon Etrigan!"

Morgan shook her head as demonic fire consumed her former lover… well, more like boy-toy. "Foolish as always… Mordred, I can handle the demon child and Etrigan. The Man of the Void is a more alarming threat."

The knight smirk crazily underneath her helm. "Aim at the helmet fucker! GOT IT!" She rushed at Naruto, but only to be tackled by the Demon. "Oy, baldie! FIGHT ME!"

"Mordred, I shall end you to stop Morgan's lies in your head!" He roared slamming the armored body into the ground creating a large crater -within the crater- in the process.

WHAM~!

The Merlin's demon was sent flying as Mordred groaned. "Oww, was not expecting to get sacked like that…" The armored woman seeth in anger from being derailed like that. "Okay where is that ass-"

Tink~!

"The hell?" The woman looked down to see a pebble was on the ground, slightly a different color than the earthy ground ones, looking the direction it was throw was Naruto flicking her off.

"Kiss my ass." The masked publisher taunted before summoning a wind spear and took off across the massive, desolate crater. "You're more of a woman than a man hiding underneath all that armor!"

Oh no…

Those were the thoughts of Morgan and Jason inside of Etrigan, knowing that if you call on Mordred's manhood -despite being a girl that the mother only knows- greatly infuriates her-

"I'LL KILL YOU! COME BACK HERE YOU CHEEKY SONUVABITCH!" The knight roared as red lightning coated her armor before she ran after Vanitas, leaving them further away from Etrigan, Rachel, Morgan and her summoned army!

"SUCK MY DIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-"

The others merely sweatdropped hearing the helmeted hero's voice echoed throughout the area.

-Insert Fate/Stay Night UBW: Into the Battles-

"Mordred no-!" Morgan stated before feeling a burning blast of magic behind her shoulder, glaring at Etrigan and Rachel, she smiled darkly. "Alright, I was going to need some relief…"

"Girl… get ready…" Was all that Etrigan could advised the demon-hybrid.

Morgan simply waved her right hand as she conjured three purple magic circles as powerful lighting came out from them. "Dark Thundaga!" She chanted as the attack jumped to Rachel, who raised her hand.

"R-Reflect!" A small sphere made of white hexagons appeared around the spell-caster as the lightning stuck it and slowly white orbs appeared before shooting out at Morgan.

The ancient woman merely lifted her hand upwards before speaking, "Crampoane! (Spikes!)!" She called out ten earth spikes to stab each orb before hitting her as the tips of the spikes were blown off as a result. "Jason, I'm surprised that you thought the young lass such a decent, advance spell. She could've easily ripped her own head off if it was too small." She chided darkly as Rachel wince at her words.

Etrigan growled as he let out a breath of demonic flames at the woman, who forced her summoned pawns to take the damage as she move back. "Such a bore…" She woefully stated, "If you only had Jason here, maybe you had a decent- gah!" The woman feet was forced to touched the ground as she felt her weight suddenly increase all of a sudden!

"Force!" Yelled the half-demon as a black orb crackling with dark blue lightning was the reason why Morgan was unable to move.

"So gravity as well? Too bad it isn't good enough!" The witch roared snapping her fingers as the orb Rachel yelled exploded as she held to her injured hand. "Use enough strength can nullify any spell."

"Not yet! Fire! Thunder! Blizzard!" Rachel lifted her only unharmed hand as the three spells were shot out in rapid succession.

The older woman simply move only her head as spells missed her. "Pathetic!" She laughed.

"MINE SQUARE!"

The woman almost lost it, as nothing appeared around Rachel. She then snorted a cackle. "My word~ You can't even produce a single mine? So… disappointing."

Rachel could only grit her teeth before having to evade several attacks from Morgan's forces. She had to use her mana sparingly or else she'd get exhausted too soon. 'If only I had brought an Elixir or two, then I could hold out against her,' stressly thought Trigon's daughter as she backed away, 'only for a little while. But for now… I just hope she falls for this.'

The witch of Camelot rushed to her with a knife in hand. "Magic is wasted on you! Now die-" She stopped her moments trying to figure out this sudden noise… it was like a incoming tornado, louder and louder at the same time. Quickly looking down she saw a white glowing circle, then immediately she was surrounded by eleven more! "They were hidden? But even then that takes real-" Her eyes only grew larger as she quickly made her hands starting to wave around in a desperate attempt to survive. "Mille Gladii Obsidianii! (Thousand Obsidian Swords!)" She called as thousands of tiny blades appeared and stabbed the ground each hitting a mine before the sound was soon died.

Morgan gave a sigh of relief. "My, that was clos-oof!" The woman words were halted as Etrigan shoved his fist into her cheek sending her away.

"Thanks for the destruction, demon spawn." Said Merlin's demon as he briefly turned towards Rachel.

"To be honest, I thought it wasn't going to work. I used some left over Gravity to push the mines deeper to make her think it wasn't working." Rachel said with a small smile to earn Jason's demonic companion a compliment.

Their little moment ended as many obsidian swords came crashing down at their position from above, courtesy of their main adversary. The demonic pair leapt out of the way as Etrigan formed a magical shield to help block some of the offending weapons. Yet this wouldn't do them much good as more of Morgan's creatures came in close and attacked.

Dropping the shield, Etrigan breathed out a torrent of hellfire from his maw as it helped mow down a small wave of forces on one side. On the other, Rachel quickly pulled out two glowing blue cubes -which she made under Jason's studies- from her belt, crushed them and quickly felt most of her magical reserves return before sending out a Balloonra spell.

'Wish I didn't have to use these Ethers up so soon.' Thought Trigon's daughter as she saw her spell spread around and stunning a large amount of enemy soldiers. 'But they'll serve their purpose.' She then held out her arm and grasped it before pouring in a lot of magic while chanting a spell. "Undetriginta spiritus ventus. Sagitta Magica, Series Lucis. (29 spirits of wind. Magic Arrows, Series of 29 Light Arrows.)"

Hearing the spell, Etrigan looked over and saw about thirty magical projectiles made of wind shoot out of Raven's palm. They zoomed across the battlefield, skewering through many at high velocity while some tried to land on Morgan. Yet to the demonic pair's disappointment, the old witch knocked them aside which exploded soon after.

"Never thought you would've taught her that spell, Jason." Morgan said while mildly impressed. "Though let me show you what a far better spell is like, child!" The Witch of Camelot raised her hand as a large, purple magic circle appeared before her. "Septendecim spiritus fulguralis, coeuntes. Sagitta Magica, Series Fulguralis. Sagitta Magica, Convergentia Fulguralis! (Gather, 17 spirits of lightning. Magic Arrows, Series of Lightning. Magic Arrows, Convergence of Lightning!)"

A large volley of lightning encased arrows shot forward as they sought to harm their caster's targets. Etrigan got in front of Jason's student and threw up a magical seal barrier to block the attack. But the strength put behind each bolt was tremendous, causing the barrier to crack.

As Merlin's demon poured demonic power into the seal to keep it from failing, he turned towards Rachel. "Jason asks how you learned that spell. He never taught you that."

"Found that -along with several others- while browsing through his library one time." Admitted the half-demon. "Thought they were good and I wanted to-"

"Vigintiduo spiritus aeriales, vincula facti inimicum captent. Sagitta Magica, Aer Capturae. (22 spirits of wind. Make shackles to capture my enemy. Magic Arrows, Capturing Wind.)" Threads of wind quickly ensnared the demonic duo when they least expected it. Despite its lack of force, the bindings were nothing to scoff at as both felt they were extremely strong. Both Raven and Etrigan tried to break free, but they soon heard Morgan call out another spell. "Cușcă Magică De Lumină, Îmi Prind Inamicii! (Magic Cage Of Light, Entrap My Foes!)"

Before they knew it, Rachel and Etrigan saw bars of purple light surrounding them before connecting at one point above them. Said magical construct dug into the earth before the gaps in the cage started to become thicker and more complex. When Etrigan broke free of his wind bindings, he slammed against the light cage, only to reel back and hiss in pain.

"That will at least keep you two contained while I assist my precious child." Morgan said as she gave them a cruel grin. "Though by now, that might not matter as your friend might meet his end soon enough with what power I gave Mordred in this endeavor."

Without giving them a second glance, the witch of Camelot spun around and was lifted into the air by her magical seal as she went towards the other fight currently going on. All the while having the remainder of her summoned army surround her captured opponents for good measure, just in case if either of them were able to free themselves of the double entrapment.

Gritting her teeth as she couldn't do anything in Morgan's prison of light and wind bindings, Rachel saw Etrigan trying to force himself out but to no avail. The power behind it was strong and possibly is getting stronger with each passing hit. The half-demon could try to help, but she is not to the capacity in being able to aide her compatriot.

'I need more power.' She thought, gritting her teeth in frustration. 'But what can I do?... What to do… what to do...' Raven pondered and pondered as the gears in her head went into overdrive. 'If we don't break out of her soon, Morgan will assist Mordred and Naruto's no match for the both of them, I think.' Tightening her fists, all thoughts and ideas in getting out of this magical prison is all for naught…

'Except…' The ashen child frantically shook her head 'no'. 'I can't. it's too damn risky!' She then swallowed a lump in her throat. 'But… what choice do I have.'

Sitting down on the rubbled ground, Etrigan saw Jason's apprentice kneeling down on the ground as she sat on her feet . "What are you doing, demon brat?"

"Shush! I'm trying to concentrate."

Ignoring the rants of Merlin's demon before he went back into slamming against the cage of light, the daughter of Trigon needed to put Naruto's lessons to good use… in order to dwell out something horrid.

With her violet eyes closed, Rachel envisioned herself in some sort of ocean or lake. Floating at the top, either from a boat or on her back, the ashen child kept up her concentration so she would stay at the watery surface between her inner Light and Darkness.

And before long, she let herself go as she let herself be drowned.

Rachel knew that her mother loved her greatly, yet she knew Arella hated herself for her mistakes that lead her to that godforsaken night. And it seemed this little trait was apart of what Rachel inherited from her, causing the eventual downfall of her first home of Azarath... and the death of her loving, caring mother in the process.

Grief and anger grew and blossomed since that very day and she hated herself because of it. When Naruto learned of this, he comforted her saying that the pain seems endless and feels impossible to run from; but if you can live in that pain then it'll tear into you until there's nothing left to be recognized. Her brother-like guardian had been in her shoes and decided to live for others so it'll hopefully never happen to any other. Rachel understood this as it at least helped her in the healing process.

Yet she feared that in what she was about to do might undo all she had done, causing her to start all over to become the Rachel Roth she knew today once more.

Sinking deeper and deeper into herself, Raven had to swallow the bitterly sour pills as she started to let the darkness inside of her take over. The half-demon outright feared that the powers she might partake will overload her human side... and lose her humanity in the process. Despite it being a great asset of power, it was a great fear she harbored.

'When this is over, I'll need Naruto's help in calming down.' Raven thought as she felt her magical reserves slowly fill back up before it started to quicken it's pace. 'Not to mention try to find an appropriate limit so I won't get drunk off of it if -or rather when- I do this again.'

She was afraid of the kind of power that'll wipe away her own identity as all that'll remain is her father's daughter, a weapon of the darkest energies to be unleashed on whenever direction Trigon desired.

'I need to focus on my darker self, nothing else... and embrace it.' The ashen child gritted her teeth as the power rushed right through her like a raging river at this point. 'But I cannot be like him. I am my own person and I... will not be taken by the likes of that bastard.' Her body trembled, her heart rate jumped rather high, and if she were looking at herself she would've seen darkened whisps rolling off her cloaked form. 'Naruto dealt with this before, so why can't I?' A torrent of demonic power then rolled off of her in waves as she gritted her teeth. 'But one thing's for sure: I'll never be alone in properly facing this.'

Both inside and out of Morgan's cage of light, Etrigan and the witch's summons felt the power coming off of Rachel. The summons staggered back with how foul it felt, even with how small it felt from it's full potential. And as for the demon, he growled and wanted to skewer Jason's student with his sword with the power she was using.

'Just what in the hell is she bloody doing?'

'Embracing her darkness -her demonic side- I wager.' Jason responded back. 'Figured the dire situation would force her to do so.'

What both Etrigan and Jason expected to see when she opened her eyes were a pair of violet orbs. Yet they were thrown off in seeing not one, but two pairs of red eyes underneath her darkened hood. As they glowed a bright light, the half-demon's purple cloak seemed to become more lively with darkened tendrils popping out from the inside. Each soon latched onto the wind bindings -quickly snapping them off- before the cage bars as sounds of groaning could be oddly heard coming from the magical construct.

'Using her untapped demonic power to overpower Morgan's cage. I commend her for that.' Thought Jason inside of Etrigan's body. 'Though I worry what might happen after this.'

It wasn't long before the magical bars were snapped and broken. With the magical specks faded away, the dark tendrils quickly shot towards many of Morgan's summoned soldiers and went for the attack. Handfuls were either smacked away or impaled by the half-demon's assault, but the assault was going to be overwhelming.

After being held back from fighting for so long, the demon's hands were coated with dark sparks of energy before roaring out a spell. "împinge înapoi! (Push Back!)" A wave emanated from the dark sparked hands, sending the witch's forces away to help clear up some room. It also helped as many of them were paralyzed with darkened sparks arcing over their bodies.

As they were held down by the recent spell, Raven called forth another with her demonic powers fueling her. "Centum Lanceae Umbrare! (100 Shadow Lances!)" Shadows from within her cloak and underneath the summoned opposition sprang forth as they solidified and pierced through hardened bodies. Much of Morgan's forces roared in agonizing pain while others leaped out of the way to avoid the attack. Yet the shadow lances were quite agile and fluid, bending and quickly following after their prey in order to kill the rest of them.

Wanting to avoid getting hit by the half-demon's attack, Morgan flew through the sky as she maneuvered her way around them. Some tried to land on their mark, yet all they met were magical shields, blocking the assault as they grinded against the surface.

"You've gotta do better than-"

"Τὸ τεῖχος διαῤῥηξάσθω (Pass Through the Wall!)"

Suddenly, the shadow lances were coated with an intense reddish aura as the attack dug right through her barrier with quickened ease. The witch widened her green eyes in alarm as a few pierced through her body, causing her to scream out in pain.

'She… She broke through my barrier?!' Morgan roared inside her mind. 'My very dense five layered barrier?!' Flaring her power, the dark haired woman broke the half-demon's magical constructs before healing herself. 'Seems there's more to her than I thought since she destroyed the rest of my forces.' Magical seals appeared before her hands as she glared at Etrigan and Raven. 'I'll need to take care of them now than later.'

Seeing Morgan's actions, the demonic pair were about to clash against the witch… when they felt it. The surge of familiar, yet unknown power could be felt coming from the air at a far distance away. Neither of the combatants knew who acquired the ore that came from the heavens first, but…

'I must get back to Mordred.' Thought the witch. Before she made the attempt, she was blasted off her magical seal and fell some distance towards the ground. Stopping herself, her sinister green eyes harshly glared at Etrigan, who's clawed hand was smoking.

"We must not let her get there, child. Now more than ever."

"I know." Raven responded with her voiced seemingly changed, due to her tapping in her demonic heritage. "We'll have to stall her more, just in case."

Morgan never felt more interested in this current century. She was suppose to be there with her child, crowning her King! She soon gave a disturbing smile as she floated safely down to the ground. "You know what? I'm tired of playing around a half-breed and a foolish, fallen knight. So I might as well bring this old thing out!" She declared as she clapped her hands as before her a green circle soon a wooden object appear.

As the seal disappeared, the object plopped onto her palm. "Ah~ my old wand" She purred while caressing the old magical tool. "I haven't used wand magic in eons, but as you know when spellcaster doesn't need wands they only used to them to focus all of their remaining power for one spell." She said, smiling half-crazed at her foes pushing her this far, a former student of Merlin. "So time to say your- well prayers aren't good for a couple of demons right?!"

Holding up her wand, she started chanting. "Oh heavenly light and darkness sin…" Was the only thing they could catch as her mouth seem to blur and words melded together as she chanted faster and faster to finish the grand spell she had coming.

"Whatever that spell is, we'll need to stop her."

"Don't have to tell me twice, Etrigan." Said the half-demon. "But tell me, can you help me in something called Blazing Heat?"

Etrigan rose a brow upon hearing it as he knows of this through Jason. "Yes, why?"

"Read about it once, so hope it works on us working together on it; even if stopping her for a time."

"Just die and let me crown my da- son!" The witch stop her high-speed chanting, and resume before the spell died. "And thus the two shall meet at the base of the Rainbow! Sacred Spell of the Curse God's…"

"It's either now or never Etrigan!" Rachel announced as she gather as much energy to fully charge the spell as a full incantation would be impossible by now. "Just the spell, and use everything!" She then began the spell in ancient Greek while channeling her demonic power through herself. "Τὸ συμβόλαιον διακονήτω μοί, ὦ τύραννε φλογός. (Heed the Contract and Serve Me, O Tyrant of Flame!)"

Etrigan then picked it up from there as he channeled his magic towards his vessel's apprentice for a temporary connection. "Ἐπιγενηθήτω, φλὸξ καθάρσεως, φλογίνη ῥομφαία. Ῥευσάντων πῦρ καὶ θεῖον, ἃ ἐπέφλεγον Σόδομα (Come, flame of purification, fiery broadsword. Fire and brimstone surge forth, burn (down) Sodom)"

The demonic pair then spoke in rapid synch as heat started to rise around them with fiery sparks rapidly forming off their bodies. "ἁμαρτωλούς, εἰς χοῦν θανάτου! (Turn the sinners into the dust of death!" Both shot their dominant arms forward as they finalized the spell. "Οὐρανία Φλόγωσις! (Blazing Heat in the Sky!)"

The two were suddenly engulf in flames as they became white hot, then slowly the flames turn into a foreboding dark. Needing a way to vent off the spell, the demonic pair shot their dominant arm towards their enemy as the powerful firestorm streamed out of them.

"Dammit!" Morgan cried as she held her wand at them. "Cursed Wave!" She finally finished the chant as grey waves of energy flowed out of her seals before coming right at them, similar to a tidal wave. Reaching higher and higher, the witch's spell soon collided and crashed at their co-chanted spell. The flames became united as they spread around like a disease devouring the air, space, and even life around them to continue to grow! The waves however reached them as as Morgan smiled at her timing. Taking a knee at the full incantation and most of her power, the witch smirked, "Not even Merlin can survive this without using his own wand… and die while telling Merlin his sword has finally been outmatched!" She stated watching the wave swirling around them cutting out any chance to escape.

The waves however… never made their thunderous crash, rather the waves made a horrid hissing sound that it was soon steam was emitting from the glowing orb that stood in the ocean of pure energy. Morgan stood in amazement as the powers were colliding in everlasting harmony, if she was younger self the woman would cry from the sheer beauty of opposite elements attacking each other…

Yet… much to her disappointment, the witch's green eyes saw her two opponents didn't die like she had hoped. Though it was rather hard to tell towards the half-demon as she was lying on the ground and unmoving. Reinforcing her eyes and looking towards the cloaked child, Morgan barely saw her chest move up and down to clearly show she survived, despite being knocked out of the fight.

As for Merlin's demon, he was gone as Jason was there in his place… Oh how she wanted to snap their necks, but as a proud mage she lifted her wand and mead their clothes… "At least they would look nice before death comes to collect their souls." She stated as she coughed noticing some blood hitting the ground. "Only one more spell, or else I can't change the ore into a sword so soon."

Lifting her hands towards the sky -with one of them holding her wand- in order to channel as little magic she could muster, she spoke the last spell she could do for tonight. "Veniant spiritus aerialis fulgurientes! (Come, spirits of air and lightning!)" Clouds appeared above them as they darkened and condensed. "Cum fulguriationis flet tempestas austrina. (Let the Southern Storm Blow With Lightning.)" Faint snowfall was now replaced with sparks as they became more and more apparent to electrify the atmosphere. Leaping away and forming a condensed barrier around herself, Morgan saw the lightning become more refined in its wild state; knowing that it was impossible to save Jason and his apprentice.

'Pity, I would've liked her to work with me.' Thought the witch. 'She could've been a nice successor if I wanted to finally retire.' She then aimed her wand at the unconscious pair with her other hand still held up high, calling out the rest of her spell. "Iovis Tempestas Fulguriens! (Jupiter's Lightning Storm!)"

The conjured lightning came crashing down and was aimed right into Morgan's opened palm. The power behind it flowed through her body as it was soon redirected towards her wand. And at it's very tip, a condensed stream of the amplified lightning shot out as it screeched right at the unconscious duo, ready to end their lives.

"Yare… yare…" Jason eyes open up to show a misty blue eye color. And lifted his hands to redirect the ancient lightning with ease until the spell died and the only thing was harmed was the ground around them. "Jason, I never thought my spell to save you in case of Morgan knocked out Etrigan would come…" The fallen knight's voice was no longer his, but rather a calm and yet whimsical voice came. He took a deep breath and gave a pleasant sound. "Hmph, such rich smell of magic." He grinned widely which was unlike him. "Kinda wish I was still here instead of that town!"

That voice… that attitude…

Upon realizing who it was, the witch of Camelot widened her eyes in absolute shock. "...H-H-How…"

"Oh~ I'm not here, Morgaine. I'm only using my old scribe as a simple telegraph… or something like that. And it's only a one time thing, unless I somehow come into personal contact with ol' Jason here again." He gave her a cocky smirk which always pissed her off. "So if you try to 'harm' me now, it wouldn't really work."

The woman fell back eyes full of raw fear at the voice… "Haa… haa…"

The man pouted almost like someone kick him aside, "Rude~ What happen to my darling pupil." He then spoke in a mockly-feminine tone. "Oh Merlin, can you not take me to my bedchambers and~"

BANG~!

"OWW!~" The man head wobbled back and forth comically as a high-heel from his student hit his head, "Hmph, despite what you have done… I'm somewhat glad you're still alive. But you already lost as this power wasn't meant for your brat." He declared standing up and dusting his suit. "Egad, this clothing is rather tight. What happened to good ol' robes? Then again, where I'm at I'm the one that stands out a lot with my own attire." Snapping his fingers, Jason now wore a white robe with long loose pants instead of his usual suit.

She raised her wand, despite the fear she had, she knew that-

The possessed Jason lifted his hand as the woman dropped her wand and fell to her knees, "No… no more fighting…" His voice was now steele and serious as he stood up and walked towards her. "No more…" He repeated as he was now clutching her neck. "Understood?"

She didn't speak or look into his gaze, as she didn't want to admit defeat perhaps his old kind- She stopped that train of thought as he grip became nearly the end of her life.

"I said is that understood?!" He roared as the flowers around them, which came from his gentle stride to her, died off slowly.

Morgan didn't say anything, only gritting her teeth as a magical seal appeared beneath her. And before anything else could be done, her seal swallowed her up and disappeared from the battlefield… no doubt to possibly acquire Mordred no matter what.

The man possessing Jason's body merely chuckled before looking at the unconscious, ashen child nearby. He gave her a small inspection on both her appearance and magical essence.

"Hmm~?" He exaggerated on looking at her, before popping at different angles to look at her. "Hmm? HMM~!?" He stopped before sighing. "This was more fun when they are uncomfortable with my actions." He stated, with a comical tears flooding down.

The man stopped his current act and looked off towards the distance, sensing as to where the sought after power was at. He suddenly dropped Rachel comically (as a large bush suddenly bloomed to catch her body) as he looked at the scene where the energy -and combating light show- was coming from. "Wooow~! They are really going at it… like twins finally able to pal around!" He joked losing any trace of his serious mood just moments ago. "God, if they court each other, the sex must be either awesome or scary, ha!"

The being sighed, knowing that anything was impossible as the spell was only enough to save Jason by teleporting not for real battles. Scratching the back of his head, the man groan out his thoughts. "Don't know if I can do anything else now since my spell on dear ol' Jason is finally wearing out." Looking at the body he was using, he shook his head as he felt himself going limp. "Oh well, I wonder if that young man will be a hero like Arthur…?" He wondered with a small smile, as his whole body glowed with a golden aura around him. "Man of the void… you have been given the chance to protect not this World but-"

Jason's body stopped glowing as he fell to his knees and smiled. "Merlin… thank… you…" He whispered before falling towards the sea of the unconscious void.

-Earlier and Elsewhere, Insert Fate/Apocrypha OST: The Knight of Rebellion-

The costumed Uzumaki was sitting down next to some trees as he heard Mordred cutting down some other trees as she was hunting him down with Clarent. "Hmm… he's angry.." Naruto joked before sighing.

When Mordred was chasing him down like a dog, the former shinobi had to use some of his weapons and own skills to slow the Knight of Treachery down. And hid to recover and… "Goddammit. I just remembered I have a Potions… a few Ethers… and the one Elixir in case of emergencies for the emergences…"

Said items were given to him by Rachel as a small birthday present. It took her a long time to make and perfect as the resources were very scarce while under Jason's tutelage. He never used them since then -due to his healing factor- but it seems he'll need to start using them now.

"Excuse me, do you have the time?"

The hero nodded as he looked to his left, "Yeah should be… HOLY SHIT!" He jumped back as he saw Mordred looking at him with dead eyes underneath her knightly helm… the same when the girls in konoha gave him when they thought he peeped on them during hot springs times.

"I found you~!" She whispered sinisterly as armor helped on the creepy effect. "I was busy looking for you and all these poor, untarnished trees had to die."

Vanitas looked over her shoulder and glared as he saw enough for mansion made of wood was lied all over the field. "You know, some anger management can do some wonders! And I know some distinct people that would be pissed off on what ya-"

WHAM~!

The hero was sent flying to a clearing as he created a large crater in the ground. "Note to self… never call a knight's pride into a fight."

He then heard a harsh thud not far away. Looking at it, Vanitas saw Mordred stalking towards him as she was popping her knuckles. "Now then, poser, time to get your just deserts before I get my Sword." But before she could do anything she watched as her opponent's left hand was stretched outward.

Vanitas quickly got up and summoned his ice shield, knowing that this knight wasn't holding back or going to go easy on him.

"Also, I want you to join my new Knights of the Round." The metal clad being stated, soon stabbing the blade it had into the ground and casually use the left elbow to balance herself to lean lazily. "You got skills to make the top knight and more tricks than that horn dog of a mage." The knight stated. "Whaddya say?"

The masked Uzumaki didn't once let his guard down, as he spoke. "No way in hell. That sword you plan on making is not going to be hands of a tyrant!"

The knight gaze felt scolding. The masked Uzumaki could definitely tell that person was glaring at him now. "It is the only way for a King to be… my father was a fool for being a kind for all-"

Vanitas didn't hear anything else as he charged, dashing as fast and hard as he could possibly go! The whiskered man -however- was greatly surprised when the Knight of Betrayal place a hand on his battle shield, stopping the attack with ease. "Crap!"

"Hoho, I like you!" The voice said with utter glee as the arm lifted Vanitas up and slugged the center of the shield, sending the hero away like a fly while noticing the frost on the metal hand. "Hoo?" The knight clenched its hand to destroy the icy fragments. "Better not take that mask freak lightly…"

"Better not take that mask dick lightly…" Vanitas declared after pulling himself from a rock wall. He didn't think that armor would amplified the knight's overall power. He was going to estimate the gap between powers, but from the way his shield barely freezed the metal clad knight and with the powerful hit -even though the shield took most of the blow- he felt a little winded.

The blonde threw his shield, before quickly summoning his Foudre daggers, and focusing as much energy into his speed. As Mordred blocked the attack, Naruto came from behind the knight turning his body in midair to slam his heel into the knight's helm, sending him into the wall this time. "Ha, payback!"

The Knight of Betrayal however quickly balance himself as he grab the ground clawing at it to prevent the impact of the wall, slowly succeeding as the knight stop just an inch away from it. Red arcs of powerful lightning started to dance around the armored knight as it summon its blade. Rushing towards the silver haired man who back off. The being let out a small chuckle as it dug its foot into the ground and kick up dozens of huge rocks!

"Tch!" The former shinobi gritted his teeth at the cheap move. Jason wasn't kidding Mordred is the type of guy to use anything to win… if they weren't enemies. Naruto could've been friends with this guy.

Throwing his daggers at them with great strength, shattering them into pieces as Mordred rush into the blades as they simply deflect from his magically armor. But continued as he slammed into the hero -horns first- into his chest! "Got ya~!" Vanitas chuckled -despite the pain he was in- as he gripped the neck of his enemy and send every bit of his energy to twist the metal which he felt was happen.

The man could feel Mordred stunned at his attempt before trying to punch and move away, but the position is impossible. Even if the helmet could be ripped off so the knight can have some space to get out, the metal was warped from the raw power from the void-user!

Naruto continue to choke Mordred out, stretching his back out in order to aid his ability as putting more strain on the knight of betrayal's throat would knock him out.

'Gotta… do… something… ANYTHING!' Mordred roared in her mind, as her thought process was a hard challenge due to the lack of air in her brain. She could feel her eyes about to pop out, her teeth going to shattered from the immense pressure the blonde knight was putting on. 'Wish that… we had an archer to teach me something besides… wait… that's it…'

CRACK~!

Naruto footing was lost as he stumbled a bit, causing his hold on the metal plated neck to be slight undone. Mordred kick Naruto away the second that opening appear and smiled beneath the helmet, looking down the metal hand of the armor was sticking out. Looking at her small and soft hand allowed the missing piece to fly and shuffle its plates to reclaim its spot. 'Good thing hanging out with Babs gave me some ideas to improve the armor.' Mordred made a thankful note to repay her friend from listening to the ideas for her story and reading the man, allow her to make her mother make her arm parts detach for a powerful blow.

Stroking her armored neck, the knight groan in from the way the metal was now tightly close to her throat. 'Another minute and I would've been out cold… or dead if the metal somehow snap and pierce my neck.' The more Mordred fought against this odd being, the more reason to make him join her new kingdom. "What was that? That choking thing?" 'This person has better skills than Lancelot ever did..'

"A front hold choke. Was taught by a former teacher of mine." Vanitas said panting from the intense strain on his arms to knock out the knight. 'Didn't expect the guy to shoot out his arms like that…' He thought before quickly pulling out a Potion and downing it's contents to help him out a little.

This guy could be the death of him/her!

This was the same thought process that both opponents had on their minds. One excited from the powerful man before her, and the other cautiously estimating the knight.

"Bwahahaha! Man, I am so lucky to have a second chance like this! Besides my old man, you're the only one who push me so back and yet… keep me guessing!" Mordred stated, this time moving her left arm in a circular motion. "OK! Gonna knock you out and take you to Mother. Once she's done with you, I got my right hand man!"

Naruto threw more knives, watching as the weapons were slowly changing direction to hit the joints were the armor was least protected. But once again the metal clad traitor was charging shoulder first as he was able to not only deflec the attacks but shatter them on impact! "Useless!" Mordred roared as her opponent resummoned Yuki to stand his ground and-

-CRASH~!-

'Two!?' He thought, astonished two of his weapons were so easily shattered by the simply elbow rush. Quickly summoning his arrow guns, the hero let out as much tether bullets as he could to detain the being, only to watch as the wrappings were instantly shredded by the knight simply spreading his arms out.

"My turn…" Mordred announced as the being threw the silver blade at Naruto -who couldn't try to resummon Yuki- letting go of his Void Shots before summoning Lunar Rose. White petals falling down as he tried to slam the heavy claymore at it, only to be shocked as Mordred instantly appear to grab the blade and slammed it with full force against his own. "WEAK!" She screamed as Naruto pure power weapon was easily broken. However the revived knight was leaning down as Naruto was still up. He roared, summoning his wind spear before slamming it towards the knight's helm.

"Heh~" The woman grinned underneath her metal clad armor, as she dodge barely, as she grab the spear between her cheek and shoulder. "Pop goes the weasel!" She chirped as the metal pole snap easily. "This armor is super-charged today, Vanitas. Mother made sure I'm fighting at full power!" With that said, she slammed both hands into his chest, hearing bones pop and crack from the hit alone.

"Blah…" He spat out blood as he felt his innards being crush from the impact. Recovering as he barely grabbed ahold of a Potion from his belt and felt a little better soon after. "Nothing's working… my weapons are like glass against him…"

Standing up, he was going to a least keep Mordred bust until Jason can transmute the ore… which he still needs to acquire. He felt a little daunted but at the same time happy, he stood up… before noticing silvery-white vapors around him, and soon his wounds seem to recover even more. "Alright… gotta use some aikido…" He said as the former shinobi was going to use some old tricks to get back at the knight.

"Oi~!" Mordred walked towards him. "Wanna join now or get back to being beaten black and blue?"

The void warrior didn't say anything as he got into a basic stance. "Come on…" He stated as the knight dashed forward, thrusting the blade first. Naruto eyes widen underneath the dome of his helmet as he slowly moved away from the attack and grab the wrist-

"No way!" Mordred said grabbing onto Vanitas' battle skirt as he was also dragged into the toss. "WHOO!" She screamed as the two were thrown into the air.

"This dude's INSANEEE~!" The silver haired man stated as fell onto ground rolling over as Mordred slide down landing on her feet. "Nothing works!" He roared as nothing seemed to be the answer.

The armored woman soon grabbed Vanitas and lifted him to her eye level. "Alright, it's been fun… but you have two options: join me or my mother mindfucks… RAW!" She threatened as she shook him. "Now what is it? Willingly or having my mother finger your mind!?"

"In the words a famous show character… 'Eat me'." He chuckled before Mordred lean back and slammed her helm against Naruto's cracking his black glass dome enough for a hole to appear.

"Wait…" She stated, looking into his single eye, "Huh… you look familiar…"

"Heh, *cough* don't swing that way." He chuckled as the knight kneed his stomach, sending him away from her. "Worth… *Cough* it!"

"As much as kicking around is cartarstic, more than kicking dad's butt in training, but I'll be taking my blade… and someone needs to watch." She said grabbing his leg and hauling him to where she was going to get her new weapon.

"Why won't you just kill me!?" Naruto whined as he continuously to hit his head on rocks. With each occasional slab of earth his helmet came into contact with, more cracks formed which expanded the ever present hole.

"Not yet. I need a witness to see my ascension."

"Why~!?"

"Be lucky, dad didn't have anyone save the pervy mage."

"You have a lot of daddy- OWW!" The man cried out as the armored woman swung him into the ground, "...Issues…"

"God, you're so annoying."

"By the way…" Vanitas slammed his fist into the ground sending him up as he snaked his arms around Mordred neck. "NEVER LET A FIGHTER'S HANDS BE FREE!" He roared choking the woman as the knight once again was losing air. She stood up, moving hands to reach Naruto at her back only for him weave away, she jumped up to slammed her back into-

"Gah!" She cried as she felt ice entering into her armor, turning her head the void user was on the side smirking using Yuki to stab into the ground. "H-How, I shattered-"

"I can remake them." He said, "I used flash freezing, your armor is frozen into the ground." He smiled, before watching the knight slowly moving up. Red lightning soon danced around the armor as it started to melt the ice, "And apparently you can make lightning."

"SHIT!" Mordred screamed as she stood up, ignoring the pain as the skin was burning from the ice. "You know what? Mother must know spells to reattach limbs. Cause you're going to need them once I DISMEMBER YOU!" Breaking free from her ice entrapment, the knight sped forward with Clarent in hand with a trail of red lightning following behind her..

'Shit! Mordred's like Minato!' Naruto thought in alarm. Bringing Yuki back up, he swung into another trip flying. 'If this is him going easy, what can actually harm the bastard? The armor cancels out most of my weapons!' He thought before landing on his back using Yuki to create to make snow to lower the impact. 'Magic is out since I don't know how to properly cast them. I don't know if I can properly land a hit with my Rasengan with 'his' speed and I think my summons aren't going to do much. What's the weak point!?'

Mordred was in front of him sending the armored fist downward, attempting to punch through his chest. Rolling away and switching his shield with Kazekage, Naruto threw it at the neck only for Mordred to vanish where she once stood. "Stop with the weak attempts!" She roared.

CRASH~!

Naruto spat out more blood when she step on his stomach. 'There!' He thought, throwing Foudre daggers at the eye holes of her helmet.

"Shit!" Mordred leaned back, until feeling her head suddenly being forced back. "Gah!"

Slamming into a nearby fallen tree, she saw Vanitas jumped back up holding Lunar Rose. Pulling out his Ethers, the costumed Uzumaki crushed them, soon feeling himself feeling a bit energized. Smiling at his second wind, the two were back and ready to fight.

Dashing towards each other with their desired weapons on hand, they clashed with sparks emanating from them. Each blow was harsh and destructive towards the environment around them. Their swings were getting overpowered as they channeled their respective energies into their weapons in hopes of overpowering the other.

Leaping into the air, Vanitas channeled power into the scythe's blade and swung down to send energy attacks at Mordred. The knight evaded the attack, speeding around with red lightning still tailing her. Getting close to his landing position, the armored woman coated Clarent with power and swung down, drastically shifting the earth while sending a shockwave at the helmeted hero.

Vanitas grunted in pain as he was electrified while being sent back quite a distance away. Trying to recover, he spun around and channeled more power into Lunar Rose before slamming it into the battlefield. As he skidded back, enlarged roots shot out of the earth and shot towards the treacherous knight.

'Well aren't you full of surprises.' She silently mused, jumping out of the way from the assault before landing on the sentient plant. Rushing forward, Mordred sped as she hacked away at the offending roots that tried to take her down. As many came at her at once, the knight spun around to quickly destroy them.

In this moment, the hero created several clones and sent them out to distract Mordred. This was in order to buy him enough time to get to the ore in time. Sounds of screams and roars could be heard behind him, but Vanitas was too focused to see if they were successful or not. Speeding towards the prize, the costumed Uzumaki was getting closer and closer upon seeing the still smoking meteorite quite a distance away. And it was there he could really feel the power behind it...

Along with its unique appearance.

Before he could pause and examine it, the vigilante felt a force slam against his back. He grunted and coughed up blood as he crashed into the ground. Tumbling across the field, his glass domed helm broke further apart to reveal more of his features, but not clearly enough.

"Huh, seems Mother doesn't have to do much work on the ore than I would've thought." Commented the Knight of Betrayal. Stepping onto her opponent's chest to hold him in place, she grinded her armored boot as she continued to speak. "I mean it almost looks like a roughed up sword at this point."

Indeed it was for the ancient space rock took on a form of a straight sword. It wasn't pretty at all as the shaped out weapon wasn't cleaned up at all. The relic from the stars was forged into it's desired, yet roughed out shape but wasn't smoothed out at all as it still kept all it's pebbles from the countless years being smacked around by asteroids and space debris. With it still steaming -ontop of it's faint glow- it seemed the snow that was here before the crash and falling from the sky was quenching the material.

"Just need to make some fine grinding and cleaning and it's all ready to go for my ascension to the- *BOOOOM* GAH!"

Mordred was sent flying away across the cratered earth and slamming some distance away. Shaking her head, she looked down and saw part of her armored leg was warped, dented and smoking. Looking at the obvious source, the knight saw Vanitas struggling to stand up with his hand smoking.

"What the fuck was that?!"

"I had to get you off my chest, asshole." He responded, rubbing his tender spot a bit but couldn't do much with bodysuit being in the way.

"You could've just asked."

"No, you wouldn't."

"Heh~ True."

-Insert Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: The Key-

The fight was starting to show its marks upon the unmasked Uzumaki. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself back into a fighting position -despite the pain he was feeling- with eyes glaring at his enemy.

Mordred only chortled at his expression, finding great joy at his weathered state.

"I must admit, I haven't had this amount of fun in some time." Mordred haughtily declared. She wished to remark upon his current state, though she knew she was no better than he was. The fight was starting to take its toll on both combatants.

Both knew that they still had a fight left in them, but that can change on a whim within one false misstep or on well placed strike to change the tide.

Mordred spun Clarent around several times before getting into a stance, signaling her readiness to continue the fight.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at the Knight of Treachery, finding himself frustrated at the lack of progress in the fight. No matter how many times he thought he had her pinned down, that damned sword of hers or her own ingenuity knocked his ass back to square one. He was doing damage, no doubt. But if this went on, even he doubted that he would come out on top.

'Really wish I can beat this guy.' Naruto wryly thought to himself. 'Or at least have something that'll go toe to toe with him.'

"Are you just gonna stand there glaring at me like a child or are we gonna continue fighting?" Mordred called out to him, clearly becoming impatient with his silence

'You'd like that, wouldn't you asshole.' He internally insulated, shifting his feet apart and reached for the back of his belt.

He had his hand on several physical kunai -none of his manifested creations- prepared to throw them for a distraction but quickly back tracked on the idea. The knight could easily deflect the damn things and he may not be fast enough this time around to get to 'him'.

'Dammit, I am not gonna let this smug asshole take that ore and me back to wherever the hell he wants to take me.' Naruto felt his heart rate begin to increase. 'I got to many people here waiting for me to come back.'

He felt his willpower begin to take root within his… his heart?

Ba-bump~

Blinking, Naruto froze upon seeing black, white and grey wisps begin emanating all around him. And it wasn't just from him, but his eyes moved to where the wisps were going to. The black, white and grey forms of light connected to the sword-shaped meteor Mordred and Morgan Le Fay was seeking as it soon glowed in similar lights. Before long, the ancient space rock disappeared in flecks of light as they soon shot forward and entered the whiskered man's body.

Ba-bump~

Mordred paused, also noticing the strange phenomena occurring around her opponent.

"What is this?" Mordred inquired. "What are you doing?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY SWORD?!"

Ba-bump~

The costumed Uzumaki remained silent, a powerful sensation beginning to pool within his heart. There was a really weird tugging sensation from the back of his mind that made him cringe momentarily at the uncomfortable force behind the pull.

BA-BUMP~

He raised his hand in order to place it upon his head only for him to jolt to a stop. A bright, beaming light exploded from his hand, blinding both him and Mordred momentarily. Unconsciously, Naruto's hand gripped a handle that appeared before it in the midst of the light extending into a longer more defined shape. The light subsided at last and the Uzumaki exhaled a breath he had been holding.

He felt a weight gripped in his hand and glanced down to see… a giant key?

Naruto didn't know what was going on. He felt a surge of power coursing through him in some sort of reawakening. Was it of his own doing... or is it the power of the starborn artifact in his grasp.

The artifact took on an odd refined design, depicting a classic skeleton key. To his estimations, he figured it was roughly 3.5' long with a bronze heart-shaped keychain extending from the hilt. Both the teeth, which was hollowed out into a stylized crown, and blade of the unique looking sword was like whitish-gold with it's rainguard being a dull grey -almost titanium- in terms of coloring. The handle was wrapped in black leather with the surrounding guard being deeply black.

'Keyblade…'

'What in the world?' Naruto heard… was it a voice? For he didn't hear anything. Yet that word popped into his mind

'Keyblade.'

'Is… that what it's called? Keyblade?' He received no other answer, only a feeling of confirmation. 'Whatever it's called, I don't care.' Getting into a battle stance with both hands holding onto his newly acquired sword, he stared down at the bastard son of Arthur Pendragon.

-Insert Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: Dismiss-

"Hey Mordred." He said, drawing his Keyblade in front of him. "Come here for a moment, I wanna test out my new toy."

"You bastard!" Mordred growled, gripping her trusted blade. "You have some nerve to use my Sword against me"

"Oh like I give a shit right now." Naruto shot back as his helmet fully reformed around his head. "But if ya want it, come and get it."

"Gladly." Mordred roared, dashing right at Naruto with her sword raised over head.

She brought Clarent down with lightning speed and force, which Vanitas was barely able to deflect her blade. He stumbled back from her attack, the knight going on the offensive. Though it may seem like she was swinging wildly from side to side, the angle of which she directed them from were anything but uncoordinated. Her sword swings were intentionally arcing wider than usual as it helped in keeping her distance from Vanitas while also allowing her in delivering powerful blows.

Teeth clenched, the vigilante remained on the defensive as he kept moving back managing to reflect most of her attacks at the last second. He realized he shouldn't have challenged her like that. But after seeing her initial reaction upon him receiving his new weapon, the old prankster just couldn't help himself.

Returning his thoughts back to the fight, Naruto scrutinized her attack pattern, trying to discern the right time to counter attack.

He knew whatever he does would be a gamble. She may be attacking in wide swipes that seemed to leave her wide open, but he knew better. Mordred was baiting him to try and go in close where she had something planned for him.

So what was he to do? Easy. Meet her with just as much force as she was showing.

Her latest strike struck his Keyblade, sending his arm out to its full length.

'Now!' Naruto mentally exclaimed. Gritting his teeth, the costumed Uzumaki put his full strength into this swing.

Both Keyblade and Clarent met in between the two, sparks flying upon contact. And both were jolted back, momentarily stunned when their eyes met.

Tension crackled between them and without waiting for recovery, both began swinging their weapons at one another in hopes of gaining advantage over the other.

*CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG* *CLANG*

Naruto hit Mordred's sword down to the ground, the tip getting embedded into the floor. Still gripping her balde, Mordred looked up Naruto in momentary dread.

Growling, Naruto elbowed her across the cheek and then with the same arm that held his Keyblade, struck her with a powerful outward slash which sent her careening down onto her back.

"NOT YET!" She screamed, backing off when Naruto tried to thrust his blade, hitting down hard on his elbow. Using her free hand, she slams her fist into Naruto's face, once! Wham! Twice! WHAM! THRICE! WHAM!

Vanitas then lashed his boot out at her exposed stomach, causing the two let each other go… which they soon groaned and honest to good whimpering on both sides were heard. They were the same… they actually respected each other that had to give it their all despite the goals they strive for…

With the vigilante, his form radiated specks of black, grey and white light. He was dead focused on taking down the Knight of Treachery that he unconsciously poured power into his newly acquired Keyblade. It's bronzed blade glowed a bright light which helped light up the dark atmosphere. And on the opposing side, red lightning started dancing around Mordred as it glowed brighter and brighter, bathing most of the surrounding area in it's crimson glow. Both forms of light seemingly going against each other to see which was more dominant than the other.

'I'm going to get my Sword and I'll do anything to do so.' Mordred thought as she tightened her grip on Clarent's handle, flooding her weapon more of her power. 'Even if that meant prying it out of this bastard's dead hands!'

With no other notice, the two combatants leaped at each other with roars emanating from their throats. Their blade's clashed, causing a small shockwave to emanate from them. Each were pulled back before being slammed into each other again and again

Parries, blocks, swings, stabs, slashes and evasions wee acted upon, but the fighters were occasionally met by the opposing weapons to deal with quite the damage on them. Both bit down the pain as they wanted to keep on going while momentarily breaking away their matching gazes for specific movements.

No words were exchanged between them, not even any insults or boasts; just mirrored expressions of determination on both their faces -despite them wearing helmets hiding away this fact- as the two forces tried to break the stalemate.

At one point, Mordred disappeared in a burst of speed, reappearing right behind her opponent with one fluid movement aimed straight at his left shoulder. Despite Naruto quickly reacting and catching the slash with his Keyblade -in a backward motion- the strike hit home as the tip sliced in deep past his bodysuit due to the force of the blow to make a shallow cut against his flesh. The costumed Uzumaki gritted his teeth when gaining his newly made flesh wound as he turned at the waist, channeling the momentum into his swing for retaliation. The attack reached Mordred's chest plate in it's upward motion, where it made a vertical cut in the material.

The two eventually grappled every so often with intentions taking the other to the ground, more so with Mordred in hopes of stabbing Vanitas through the chest. And stumbling each other was met with hardly no success as both would either move back for a temporary recover or quickly adjust their position before making the necessary strikes.

Upon separating his Keyblade from Clarent, Naruto kneed Mordred's head before punching her away. It did little to hurt her through her armor, but she retaliated by delivering a spin kick to his center. But this costed the armored woman as her boot was caught before she was thrown away.

Seeing his flown target in the air, the vigilante unconsciously shifted his body, brought his Keyblade back and heaved it forward. He wondered why he did this, briefly thinking that he didn't want to lose a hit against the knight. But his eyes widened in surprise that once the attack met the armor, his newly acquired weapon spun back as if like a boomerang.

Quickly catching the guarded handle, Vanitas gave it a quick look over and snorted in amusement. 'And here I thought that only happened back in my dream earlier.'

Slamming against the ground, Mordread hissed at her opponent as she got back up. Not saying anything, she rushed at him once more with a trail of red lightning following right behind her. She tried to get behind Naruto's unprotected back once more to deliver another blow. Yet she was caught off guard when he spun about and met his blade with her own with sparks emanating soon after.

"That trick isn't gonna work the same way twice, Mordred."

Before the Knight of Camelot could retort and react, Naruto already scored another blow and this time was done across her flank when he spun around her. The force of the blow sent her away once more and before she attempted to recover, the hero rushed forward -with a brief glow around him- and quickly delivered a six-hit combo across different parts of her armor. Dents were made with how much power he delivered in each blow. And on the last one, Mordred was sent tumbling down into the ground with a dust cloud forming soon after.

Landing back down on the ground, Naruto soon panted as he started to feel he was no longer at his best. He was quickly using up too much power and it was taking its toll on him. His mind was racing and was getting a headache as a result, causing him to not thinking properly.

From her spot in the cratered battlefield, Mordred was panting as she coughed up blood -which soon spilled from underneath her horned helmet and using her sword as a crutch to stand up. "I guess it's time to step this up a notch." Grinned the Knight of Betrayal, seemingly uncaring about the damage she had sustained.

Straightening herself out, she twisted her sword's handle as parts of the guard opened up. Red power flowed right after like a torrented storm wanting to be unleashed. Naruto quickly went on guard as his breathing felt harsh, but he had to be ready for whatever the Treacherous Knight had in store.

"Rebellion Against My Beautiful Father..." Growled Mordred as the crimson lightning condensed onto her loyal blade's end. Raising up her weapon, parts of her horned helmet receded back to reveal her wild blonde appearance, but it was quickly covered with the storm she was generating. "Clarent Blood-"

Before Mordred could finish calling out her most powerful attack, a magical seal appeared right next to her with Morgan partially coming out of it. Her mother quickly grasped her arm, causing the attack to be put into a halt, which left much confusion towards the combatants.

With her horned helmet reforming around her head, the wild blonde looked at the sorceress. "What the hell, mother?!"

"We need to leave, now!" Morgan growled.

"What?! Why?!" Mordred asked in bewilderment.

"I'll explain later!" The witch then tugged her daughter, who was fighting to get free from her grasp. Looking over, Morgan saw the weapon in Vanitas' grasp and widened her eyes a little. 'That sword… it looks like his…' Shaking her head a little, she spoke. "We'll meet again, Man of Void. And when we do, I'll take your sword so my 'son' can rightfully have it."

Soon enough, the witch's magical seal expanded and swallowed the mother/child pair up and disappeared just before the vigilante could have a chance to go after them.

With his adrenaline coming down as the fight suddenly ended, the costumed Uzumaki gasped for breath after he dissolved his glass domed helmet. And it was at this moment that he finally remembered he had an Elixir on him, which could've helped him out in the recent confrontation.

'Damn, I'm beat.' He thought as he slammed his Keyblade into the earth, leaning against it for support. 'I need a good night's rest.' He shook his head a little before looking around. 'I need to find Rachel and Jason… or Etrigan… whoever is in control now… and see if they're alright.'

Using his newfound weapon as an impromptu crutch/cane, he made his way out of the crater and went to find his companions. He didn't need to use it in such a way, but despite him taking his Elixir, he still felt extremely winded and he needed to travel at a safe pace in case of anything.

…..

…..

…..

…..

…..

Off some distance away from the battlefield, the sound of a heavy tome closed shut with chains rattling soon after.

The source? A man wearing a heavy, hooded cloak around his form. The material's color was hard to determine that it shifted between hues of brown, grey and sometimes purple. Attached to his right wrist is a prisoner's shackle as it was connected to an enlarged book.

Wrapping the chain around his withered out tome, the man's pale white eyes peered from underneath his darkened hood -which obscured all of his features- at the retreating hero who sought after his companions.

Tucking his chained up book underneath his arm, the man slowly faded from the area. His task of recording the recent event was over and it was time to move elsewhere. For his duty is to merely read and observe through his book, for everything appears within his book before they ever happen.

But every great once in a while, something will make him step beyond his comfortable bounds of his duty and personally record them. For certain events can even surprise Destiny himself.

-End Chapter-

AN:

Gotta hate writing chapters that are completely original content with very few things to work with. Takes so damn long but it hopes to be done well as the end result. Not to mention work killing my writing buzz, which only makes me write very little per day. But I gotta thank Azure King and free man writer for their help once again on several scenes to make this great.

Now y'all are probably wondering why the Keyblade has made its appearance. Reason? Why it's because I've been planning this for an extremely long time, folks. And before you guys complain about it, you'll need to remember this story has Kingdom Hearts elements in here and it's just to help ease things along for what I have planned coming up soon. From going to other 'Worlds', fighting against Heartless and meeting certain characters.

Also, just to note, this story will lead into KH1 events but that'll take a while to get into since I still want to ease out what I planned out properly from my timeline.

So… TellTale Games Studio shut its doors with a very, very small staff working there now. 225 employees were laid off while they've been working on the rest of the final Walking Dead season and were developing the additional stuff for Wolf Among Us Season 2. Sucks that we're not going to see the rest of that stuff now since they've been doing multiple projects at the same time.

This means we won't see Clementine's story come to a proper end, no Bigby Wolf doing god knows what the studio had planned and I don't even know what the studio would've done for the next Batman and Game of Thrones seasons that I heard their scripts were being written.

...On a lighter note, happy to see the new trailers for Devil May Cry 5 along with the new Captain Marvel movie trailer. Not to mention new KH3 stuff made me so fucking hyped! Though the recent Venom movie was… alright at best because I put the bar for that rather high and was a tad disappointed on several parts.

Another thing I need to bring up is that I plan to rewrite my Dragon's Guardian story. I need to fix quite a lot of things and clear things up on specific chapters. There've been quite the confusion on several chapters as they either frustrated readers when not told sooner or whatever else. I do agree with many of you readers that things need to be developed more and I wish to make it better. Some things will be the same and others will be different, changed, added and get expanded upon. When I originally wrote it, I was a tad impatient on certain details and was confused on several things as I wasn't all that knowledgeable on the series outside of the show. But after doing quite a lot more research on GOT/ASoIaF, I need to properly do this better.

Anyways, be sure to review this story guys! Would like the criticisms. Please and thanks you!

R&R