The top of Olympus was the peak of the world. As the son of the ruler of this world, Hercules would still come and go from the peak of the mountain to be with his godly family, down to the bustling mortal city of Thebes to be with the others he loved and protected. But this time he had come because his father had summoned him here.

And for good reason.

"Hades." Hercules clenched his fist. His father, Zeus the King of the Gods standing before him nodded "Up to his old tricks again."

It seems no matter how or where they beat him, whether it was alone or with allies in the Underworld, the arena in the coliseum or this very mountain itself it seems he always found a way to come back.

"Worse than that, my boy." Zeus said. Hercules grip lessened as he looked up to his father. "Hades proposed a tournament. One where the whole world would be the arena. From the Coliseum, Thebes, Phil's island, the Underdrome or even Olympus itself." The stakes were high here. Everywhere would be a battle ground.

"Alright," Herc crossed his massive arms "So where is he? I'll find him and beat him now. He has to be in the Underworld. " Herc said ready to leap off the mountain and head straight there himself.

"It won't do any good." Zeus warned stopping him "Hades won't be participating. Nor will I."

"But-"Herc stalled as he turned around to face his father, his blue cape getting tangled around his body as he turned around. "He challenged you! And you agreed!"

"He challenged me to find the greatest warriors to defend against his." Zeus clarified. "Should I win, he'll end his grudge against Olympus forever."

"I know that won't last." Herc crossed his arms "Forever is too long a time for him." he managed a smirk.

"Better than his victory and he takes it for himself." Zeus said wisely. Herc couldn't disagree to that. His mind had long been made up.

"Alright." he uncrossed his arms "So what's the plan?" a cheeky grin shined through his fathers beard, the gleam of it overtaking his godly aura.

"Well," he said "Hades said to bring together a collection of great warriors. So that's exactly what I did!" Zeus told proudly.

"Great!" Herc exclaimed "Where are they?!" he asked looking from side to side. Despite his fathers declaration, he saw no one here but them.

Zeus chuckled "I think you already know one." his eyes beamed proudly at his son who stood confidently seeing his reflection in his eyes. But then the look changed, not due to Hercules, but some other unseen force. The shine in Zeus eyes began to dim, and he dropped his eyes "The other well.." Zeus paused uncomfortably and Hercules could see uncertainty had come over him "that's more tricky."

"Hm?" Herc let out confused "How?" If his father was the King of the Gods, certainly it wasn't something too tricky. Hercules just continued to stare at his father who had no choice but to give an answer.

"Well, with everything at stake, I had no choice but to bring them here to fight on my behalf." Zeus explained somewhat sheepishly, his arms motioning around as he explained himself. But his demeanor along with his voice almost made it seem like he was rationalizing a wrong that was done. "All the way from their own world." That seemed to make sense in Hercules eyes. If Hades could summon a fighter from the depths of the Underworld and Merlin could pull a Gummiship all the way to Hollow Bastion, it made sense Zeus could bring a fighter from their own world to here just as easily if he needed to. And in this case he did.

"I'm sure they'll understand." Herc said agreeably. He certainly did.

"But of course." Zeus began "She didn't." he admitted, and Hercules jaw almost hit the floor.

"Why not? Don't they know what's at stake?!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

"I warned you, dear." a woman's voice said braking between the two. Hercules looked to his fathers side as Zeus looked over his shoulder as Hera approached them, a bright pink aura radiating off of her as she came to join the two "You picked the right one for the fight, but the wrong one to listen." she said pointedly with a wave of her finger.

"Well, where is she now?" Herc asked as he looked around for any trace of this warrior, but still saw only them. The only woman that joined them was his mother.

"Back down the mountain." Zeus pointed off back the way Hercules came. "I don't suppose you saw her on your way up." he asked already knowing the answer.

Herc didn't and who knew how far she made it by this point. "But why?! Doesn't she know what's at stake?! What we're fight for?!"

"Well son" Zeus began pausing a moment to look over his son as he contemplated his own words "this was one bolt of lightning your father couldn't control." he managed a chuckle.

Hercules wasn't sure what he meant by that, but he had no choice but to find out.

As soon as they were done, he climbed down the mountain, but his descent yielded no results. Reaching the flattened rocky base, he continued on ahead. If his father said he needed this woman's help then Hercules would get it. It was the only way to save his world.

Of course, he had backup plans as well.

If this didn't pan out, there would be others he knew could help. Ones whose capabilities he was already familiar with.

Hercules strolled along, but was far from idle. Though he kept his eyes open for anyone, he counted on his fingers, currently reaching three "They may be junior heroes but there still heroes." he admitted aloud. He counted two more off completing the hand as he said their names aloud "Cloud, Auron." he paused as he turned his head to another hand holding out. Seeing his thumb and thinking of a long lost hero. And a long lost friend. "Zack." Herc said mournfully. He wondered what ever happened to him. Since one day he all but vanished. Extending his pointer finger upwards his thoughts of Zack lead him to another great hero. One who disappeared just as mysteriously. But if his father didn't call him back, where was he? Herc opened his mouth "Terr-" he was cut short by a loud rough snort and a stomping of loud feet through water. "Hm?" Herc brought his head up. The stomping continued in quick, but heavy succession. Cautiously Herc rounded the rock to see a break in the grass and rock; a river flowing from a waterfall. It was in fact the very first spot where he had met Meg.

Looking at it now there was another woman standing on the edge of it. She wore a white jacket, with a thin red cape that fell from her back. Her right arm rested on something attached to her hip. A satchel was hanging from her waist and strapped to her left leg which like the other was bare, save for the short brown skirt they sprouted from and the brown boots on their feet they lead into. More distinctly though was the wavy pink hair that fell from her head. She was standing still no doubt trying to cross the river. But there was something in her way, and it wasn't the water.

Standing on four hooves but with a human torso, his skin color was blue like the river he stood in. Herc had met him before, and he knew what was going on here.

Clenching his fist, he stomped towards them ready to take action. No matter what was happening, he couldn't leave this woman to the hands of Nessus. His approach had gone unnoticed.

"Come on sweetheart." Nessus urged from above as he stood over her. This woman, however, didn't seem fazed by him. She wouldn't move her head to make eye contact. Her stare remained blank as if she was standing before a wall or nothing at all.

"You're in the way." she droned beneath him. "Move." she stated, but it was no less a command. Her hand rested on the hilt of something on her belt.

Nessus chortled above her "Come on." he snorted "If you don't wanna fight in this tournament, then I don't either." his torso lowered down to her and a large meaty arm reached out to her "There's always something better we can do."

"I have no part in this." she told dryly "But I didn't say I wouldn't fight." she said her right arm pulled on the end of what it rested on.

"So there's a fire in you after all!" Nesses cheered elated as his hand came closer to her, his fingers on the verge of wrapping around her like a snack. The woman gripped what her hand was resting on. She then raised her hand bringing up a sword with it.

She pulled out a sword. One more angular and jagged than Hercules own, but a sword, nonetheless. It flashed against the sun in a blinding streak of light. At the sight of it Hercules came to a sudden stop but Nessus never saw it coming.

The light from the sword slashed across the air and when it was over she was on the other side of the river like she meant to be and Nessus was face down in it, his large lumbering body planted in the middle of the stream.

She stood up to her full height and returned the sword to its sheath. She didn't bother to look back ever she left Nessus as if she knew she did all she needed. With hardly a word said and with the deed done she walked away continuing on her path, wherever it lead her.

Hercules stopped dead in his tracks in awe of what he just saw.

"Wow!" He gasped as his head leaned forward to take it all in. Nessus was no pushover, even giving him a hard time when he first fought him and even a few times after in the arena. He starred at the scene in a shocked silence. But, he realized his presence had gone unnoticed when the woman with her back to him walked away.

"Hey!" he called "Wait up!" He then began running towards her. She must not have heard him for she kept walking away. He bounded up launching himself over the river with Nessus lodged in it to land on the other side. He landed hard on the ground shaking it, but when he looked up he saw she was still walking away. "Wait up!" He called again and dashed off like a marathon runner after her.

She was already further into the woods than he expected. But giving chase, he caught up with her quick enough.

"Slow down!" He called and this time she responded. Not with her own words, but by stopping completely. She still did not turn to face him but gave him enough time to catch up to her. He came to a stop and not wanting to run the risk of losing her again let his thoughts be heard. "I saw what you did back there by the river. " he told pointing back with his thumb.

It was now that she finally turned to face him. A pale, but pretty face set under pink hair, the longer strands of which fell down the left side of her face and to her neck over her shoulder. Her stare was static, her stance and demeanor distant. The exact opposite of the bright and sunny Hercules. Her hand remained resting on the hilt of her sword as if she would need it again. But she had nothing to fear from him.

"I mean you were incredible!" his praise continued. She stirred now, turning her head away from him hiding her face under her pink hair. Herc was sure perhaps she was just embarrassed by the praise.

"And..." she spoke allowing him to hear her voice for the first time. One hard and standoffish "who are you?" she asked. Confidently he was ready to answer her.

"Hercules!" he announced putting his knuckles to his hips and pushing his chest out more. She turned back to look at him but that same look on her face didn't change when he told her "Hero." he added for extra emphasis. His bright disposition changed as he saw her starring back at him less than impressed "You haven't heard of me?" he asked a bit surprised.

"No." she said flatly.

"Then you must not be from around here." Herc mused. Not arrogant or boastful, but as the son of a god and champion of the coliseum his name was known world wide. So that can only mean one thing "You're from another world aren't you?" he asked, but felt there was no other alternative.

She seemed startled by the accusation, but more so because he figured it out so quickly "Yes," she confirmed drly. "and I'd like to be returned to it."

"How'd you get here?"

"I was brought here."

"Brought here?" he repeated There were only two people in this world who had that power "By Zeus."

Her grip on her sword tightenend as did the cold glare in her eyes "Yes."

A thought flashed back into his mind. His father said he tried to find a great warrior to fight alongside him against Hades rabble. Hercules was surely one. But the other…

'This was one bolt of lightning your father couldn't control.' he remembered his fathers words.

"You must be Lightning!" Herc exclaimed pointing a finger to her. A foreign flash of emotion washed over her as shock appeared on her face.

"I am." she confirmed.

"Then why run off? You're a hero too or else you wouldn't have been brought here. You can do a lot of good." Lightning moved towards him now stomping a foot and cutting him off.

"I'm no ones pet!" she aggressively "No one decides my fate. Not any gods from any world."

"Hey!" Herc let out offended " That's my father!" She was stunned into silence for only half a moment.

"Your father?" She repeated before her eyes were set dangerously on him "So your with them."

"I'm one of his champion in the games to come." Herc said flexing his muscles gleefully "Same as you."

"And he sends you after me." Lightning concluded.

He put his arms out and nodded to her. "Well I happily volunteered." At that conclusion she drew her sword moving even quicker than she had against Nessus and pointed it down at him. "Whoa!" He raised his hands back up defensively "What's that for?! I didn't-"

"Stay back!" she threatened.

"Lightning," he put his hands down "I don't want to against you. I want to fight with you."

"I told you," Lightning said "no one decides my fate." Hercules grumbled to himself as he starred at her over the edge of her sword.

"Doing this it makes me think you'd be better off with Hades." he concluded. He ben down spreading his feet across the ground. Ready for a fight if one needed to come, though he didn't want it.

Suddenly a loud eruption was heard in the distance. It was followed by another that shook the ground and their placement on it. Steadying themselves the two turned their heads from each other to see it was not an explosion or series of eruptions that was making the sounds but footsteps. Massive ones.

Even from here under the shadow of Olympus, they could see the town of Thebes. But it was dwarfed by the new massive moving monument that was trashing through the city.

The cyclops.

"No." Herc grunted in frustration. "This must be the first match. And he set it in Thebes of all places." he clenched his fist and gritted his teeth. He glanced over at Lightning for a second, but seeing her stand off against him only made up his mind easier. Seeing the peril in the distance Herc wasted no time in moving. This time he was the one racing away from her as he headed towards the city.

Lightings head followed him as he ran.

"Where are you going?" she called back to him. Herc stopped to look back at her, having made up his mind on what to do.

"Stay of you want. If you don't want help to me, fine." he turned back to the horizon to the city in distress "There are other people that need my help." With nothing more to be said he ran off towards Thebes.

From behind she watched him go, their positions having been switched now. He was getting smaller as he headed into the distance but the massive titan only remained the same mountainous size. Only the buildings of the city shrunk as he smashed them. Finally Hercules disappeared into the woods they found themselves in and was soon out of her sight. Her eyes lingered on where he was and what he was heading towards for a few more silent moments.

But eventually with Hercules gone, she slunk into the bushes.

Hercules made one last bound through the gates of Thebes to land within the city. The tiles cracked from his strength slamming down on top of them, but it was the least of the damage done.

All around him everything was cut down to nothing; whole buildings were eradicated and fires ablaze everywhere. A large shadow would loom over the city and disappeared the next as the cyclops swing his arm to flatten it even more.

Hercules grilled up at the massive one eye opponent who hadn't taken notice of him yet. He had beaten him once and would do so again.

"Wonder boy!" "Herc!" two distressed voices cried out among the carnage.

Herc's attention was brought down to his level as two people rushed towards him. A woman and a small goat man heaving to keep up with her. But they were not any regular civilians seeking shelter. It was none of their than his trainer Phil and his love Megara.

Meg dove to the cover of his arms as he wrapped them around her, she disappeared into his grip as Phil came down beside them.

"Are you two alright?" he asked full of concern.

"Yeah, but not for long." Meg said looking up to him. Herc looked up from Meg to the looming presence of the cyclops as he continued to thrash his way through the city. But the three of them were not the only ones doing so.

"You're late." a bland woman's voice droned beside them. Herc was shocked at what he heard. That voice, it sounded familiar. But it couldn't be who he thought it was. Looking over to their sides, they saw a woman standing beside them her attention on the cyclops. Meg and Phil didn't recognize who it was, but Herc couldn't believe who he saw.

"Lightning!" He said exclaimed in shock, but couldn't suppress the surprise and joy in his voice when he saw her. She said nothing to him as she gazed up at the cyclops. "Your here!" He let go of Meg and walked passed Phil to go towards Lightning. The two he left behind exchanged perplexed looks to each other and then back to the scene unfolding "If you wanted to help you should've just gone with me." he pointed with a thumb to himself as he came beside her thought she did not look to him.

"I would have gotten here late then." she told looking up. Herc fumbled realizing she was right. "Now get ready." Hercules was ready to act on that, but there were others unsure about what was going on.

"Herc!" Meg's voice called out behind him. Turning over his shoulder he saw Meg and Phil approach him again though they looked more curious now than anything else. To Lightning beside them, she hardly moved to take notice of them as if she was one of the statues there.

"Don't worry. We got this!" Herc said confidently as he motioned over to the statue standing next to him. Meg peeked over his round shoulder to notice her for the first time standing there.

"And.." she pushed off Hercules to look at Lightning "who is this?" She put her hands go her hips. Realizing it was her time to answer Lightning did just that.

"Lightning." she droned. Meg looked her up and down trying to register what she just heard. A sardonic comment was likely to follow if Hercules hadn't cut in.

"She's a hero," Herc told Meg filling in the blanks for her "just like me!" Megs eyes darted from the bright and optimistic Herc to the dour and distant lightning. Contesting between the two.

"And" she began "how do you two know each other exactly?" Before she could get her answer another one called out in agreement.

"She's a Hero alright!" Phil exclaimed looking up to her "With a Capital H!" Everyones eyes went to him, Lightnings being the first passing down her leg to see him standing beside it hardly reaching up to her knee "Course that H has to stand for something else." he said as his eyes traced up and down her pale leg. Licking his tongue he ran it across his bald head "So hey Hot stuff," Phil sauntered up to her "you ever wanna trainer, you might wanna consider me. I've trained quite a few in my time."

Lightning's neutral state hasn't changed save for one confused eyebrow that raised itself on one side.

"We don't have time for this." she snapped as she brought a leg forward only hit Phil to walk into it and he knocked onto his back.

"We?" Herc questioned, his enthusiasm growing.

Meg glanced at him and rolled her eyes "Easy wonder boy." She said jealously "Eye on the prize." she raised a hand to squeeze his cheeks and tilt his head up towards the ever looming cyclops.

"Wi dowd forget" Herc said through puffed up lips before he stepped out of Megs vice grip and forward to stand by Lightning.

He looked down at her with a eager smile and ready to take this threat on. The Cyclops or hades wouldn't know what hit them.

Lightning looked up to him now. She didn't share that starry wide eyed wonder. She was serious and disengaged. But she gave d him a nod of confirmation and it was all he needed. He returned one, and they looked ahead to the cyclops feet grading their way.

"Let's go!" Lightning shouted as she broke off towards the beast.

"Heroes United!" Herc cried as he ran with her towards the danger.

Tomorrowland

Casey ran across the flattened perfect pavement under the streamlined white perfection that was the world. Or really the future of it. The world as it could be. As it would be.

She looked up as she ran, looking past the rim of her cap as she did. The towering sky scrapers of Tomorrowland pierced the sky as if showing the boundless potential there was in the world.

Or rather 'worlds' as she had recently discovered. There were in fact countless other worlds out there. One for every star in the night sky.

She steadied her gaze ahead to the main building; the very one she had been called to. She kept running, but her gaze moved upwards on the building, finding at the top that everything looked cleaner and without that dangerous monitor projecting the end of the world a lot more pleasing to the eyes.

With that long gone the only thing to do was dream up a better future, and then make it.

So when she received an interesting call from Frank telling her to come immediately, she acted on it. He didn't say much, but it no doubt had to be of some great importance. It's not that it sounded scary; he was definitely beyond that. Certainly more upbeat, but cryptic at the same time. So she wasted no time in getting to him to find out for herself.

The world went dark as she passed through the wide open door entering the main building. And as soon as she entered it, she noticed all had gone deathly silent. So much so that it caused Casey to slow her run down to a walk and then to stop completely. It was certainly jarring given the last time she was here. Looking back through the door to the outside world still seemed bright and full of possibilities. Here it was dark almost suffocating. It didn't so much as unnerve her from going forward, but put her on edge, like if she was watching a scary movie.

She crept forward at a more reserved pace, the dimmest of blue lighting marking some kind of way as she walked down the hall. But there was more to it now. She heard two voices from up ahead. One she recognized. One she did not.

One was surely Frank Walker, the very man who called her here. Older, a bit rougher, but introspective and full of thought at the same time.

The other voice was younger, more lively and more importantly not known to her. Yet this was the one answering all the questions the other asked.

Her curiosity peaked, Casey hurried forward as the echo from the voices carried less and she heard them more in their purest form. Slowing her steps she heard them more clearer. A bright light shined from around a corner and she saw two shadows cast amongst it, spilling out into the darker hallway she was approaching from.

She leaned her head forward as she came closer, going head first passing under another archway and rounding a corner she came upon it.

The portal.

Shaped like a vase except it was empty on the inside. And that inside allowed you to travel to any time in the world. But the most important part was the future.

And standing before it was the two men. Casey stopped to look at them hearing more of their conversation. Frank was facing her direction, his hands tucked into his pockets, looking calm, but intrigued even a little amused as he starred at the man he spoke with.

The figure before him naturally had his back to her, so she could not make out who he was. Facing away from her, he only listened as Frank spoke, nodding to what he said instead of adding anything.

"I used to think the future was scary too." Frank said. Once he had said that, he looked over the mans other shoulder to see Casey had arrived peeking out from the side to look at them. "And there's our little dreamer." he said with a wry grin. As soon as he did the man he was talking to turned his head to look at her too. Casey went still as he regarded her with half his face.

"So it's really her." the man said looking at her. Puzzled Casey stopped in place trying to understand what that could mean.

A few stray moments of silence passed as they did before Frank spoke again breaking it.

"Come on!" he called nodding his head to her "You'll want to see this." he said waiting for Casey to move toward, creeping from out of the shadows to come into the light with them. Giving her time to do so as she closed in on the two of them they moved. Frank went to occupy the monitor beside the portal while the new man shifted to face it. Lining up across from him Casey did the same.

He looked to Frank at the control panel, but she looked at him.

Older than her, but younger thank Frank with brown hair, he was dressed- differently from them. It was strange. It was likely normal where he was from but compared to them with button downs and jeans it looked quite different, and he stood out more. Most noticeable however was his back which she had already gotten a good look of. On it there was a large sword he carried, but she could see two hilts on it, making her think the swords were connected in some way.

Her eyes traced the swords some more, just as they had done with the buildings outside. Though slower, more cautious now trying to take it all in as her mind ran wild with questions that no one seemed intent on answering. Of course she didn't ask them yet. But she was ready to.

"What's going on?" she asked meaning for Frank to answer since he was the one who called her here, yet this new man, who was closer thought it was meant for him.

"Well, that's what he's here to show us I guess." he said turning to her, startling her a bit as she was expecting Frank to answer. Turning over to answer, but seeing only her shocked expression he looked down to her with some level of concern. "Hey, you ok? he asked "I know it's a lot to take in, but he hadn't said anything yet."

"And what is that exactly?" she squeaked "And what does it have to do with you?" she asked. Now he seemed startled by the questions taken somewhat aback by what she said.

"Hm." he let out "More like what it has to do with you." That just confused Casey more, but at that moment Franks voice rang out to them.

"Good idea!" Frank called from the control panel and they both looked over to him now "Why don't you two get introductions under way while I get this going." he suggested turning his eyes back down to it. Casey turned now to see ,he had already done it.

"Noel Kreiss." be pointed a thumb to himself, more lively than before.

"Casey Newton." she said as she looked him over "So where did you Frank recruit you from?"

Noel shifted around strangely and lifted a hand to scratch the back of his head "When's more like it." he said as if correcting her.

"Huh?" Casey let out.

"Got it." Frank called from the monitor interrupting another question she was going to ask. At that moment the portal flickered and between its vase like frame showed a world. Only, not one Casey recognized. "Better than a Gummiship or corridor of darkness that's for sure." Frank commented as they all gazed at the door now.

On the inside between it's frames was a city by the sea. The buildings were old, ancient even. Everything there had a dark green tint to it making it feel even more foreign to her. But despite how different it looked and even felt to look at someone in their group gazed at it with a sense of familiarity.

"How's that?" Frank asked turning over to them. Casey wasn't sure what to answer, until she realized it wasn't a question for her, but to Noel "Look familiar?" She looked up to him to see Noel gazed into the doorway, never breaking contact with it or the world on the other side.

"That's it." Noel said with more seriousness in his voice "Valhalla."

Frank brought his head down to the control panel again "I thought so." he two of them seemed to be of the same opinion but Casey wasn't. Not yet at least.

"Uh hello!" she called out and waved her arms getting their attention again "Anyone want to bring me up to speed?!"

"Of course. Sorry." Noel apoligized quickly. "It's it's.." he paused and pondered "how to begin?" he wondered aloud.

"At the beginning." Frank said and was going to move to tell more until Casey cut him off this time.

"Well, I know how you start stories off." she pointed off "Scary doom and gloom." Frank shot her a half amused half scolding glare but it only got a chuckle from Noel.

"It's kinda long." he admitted "700 years in the future long. And a world away."

A strange comment to make. But it didn't catch Casey off guard. In fact she almost expected it. From the strange appearance to his clothes and secrecy, there was something off about him. And she had a feeling she knew what it was the moment she saw him. And he just confirmed it himself.

"I knew it!" Casey exclaimed "I knew you weren't from this world!"

"Or from this time." Frank added pointedly. In astonishment Casey looked at Noel in pure wonder now.

"It's even more than that." Noel admitted "I was chosen-well assigned to find somebody." he told "And sent across time to do it."

"So you were chosen." Casey said the excitement in her voice dying down, but not in her face "You're a dreamer."

"Hm? I guess you could say that. Yeah." he agreed, coming around to her idea.

"And what about the person you needed to find?" she asked. If he had come all this way, it would have seemed half of his job was done. But what about the other?

"Well," Noel began "It's you." Stunned into speechlessness Casey's jaw dropped. Gaping she looked over to Frank who paused from accessing the monitor only to shrug at her with a grin before continuing on with his work. Flattered Casey turned back to him

"For me-for what?" she stammered. Noel's eyes dropped now to go to his hands.

"They told me I passed through the Void to reach Valhalla." he said "That I had the power to change the future." his eyes trailed back up to look at Casey "But they told me I'd need to find someone to help me do it.. someone like you."

"You mean like me- or actually me." Casey said flattered and overwhelmed at the same time "This is an awful lot to take in now."

"I'm certain it's you." Noel nodded trying to ease her down " All I had was a name, and you two confirmed it for me." That helped to settle Casey's mind into this a little more.

Casey knew what she had to do now. They didn't start remaking these for nothing. She dug into her pocket, feeling it fall into her palm ger fingers wrapped around it. With it safely in her hand she brought it out of her pocket and brought it up to him.

"Here," she held out a hand to him with something nestled between her fingers "you'll need this." she said opening it.

"Hm?" he let out but peering down to inspect beneath her hand saw she held up a round pin, with nothing on it, but a noticeable blue 'T'.

"A pin." he stated but more like asked. Casey nodded excitedly to him.

Watching it all unfold, Frank smiled behind them "I think he's earned it."

Noel looked to Frank for some more kind of confirmation. Looking it out to him Casey waited for him to take it. After turning his head a few times, he finally settled onto her hand and reached his own up to take it from her. He rolled it through his fingers, getting a better look and feel for it until he put it in its proper place; fastening it to his chest.

"It suits you." Casey said seeing it on him now, adding a short of sparkle to it "The colors." she pointed between him and the pin.

"If you say so." he admitted somewhat sheepishly "But I gotta say it's your portal that's much better." he said looking back to it and Frank beside it. Casey turned to look at it again with him. "With something like that, it makes what I have to do so much easier."

Casey's face turned to puzzlement again, though Noel couldn't see it. She turned back to look at him now, his stare more confident and daring as he looked at the portal. The pin flashed even brighter on it.

"There's something else." Frank spoke in more natural gravely voice getting their attention "The Paradoxes right?" Noel's stare hardened a bit and he nodded to him "I see."

"Wait." Casey cut in again "Are you guys leaving me out again? What paradoxes?" They two turned back to her again, and this time she wouldn't let them continue on without her. All those answers she needed, she'd have now.

"I guess it's time to come clean." Noel said with a sigh lowering his head, but when he brought it back up he explained everything "I told you already that I came from the future."

"Hm mh." Casey nodded "And another world." she added pointedly.

"Right." he nodded too "Well, I did it by going to the past to change my future. But could only to so by using artefacts. Things from different times that allow you to travel through time."

"Wow," Casey let out astonished "the pin really is easier." she said as some of that astonishment faded.

"Anyway," Noel rolled his shoulders "I used one and it brought me here. After that I met these little kids, but they weren't kids they were robots!" his voice rising as he told what he would consider the more fanciful part of teh story, but Casey was still caught on the artefacts "They're the ones that brought me here to Frank." he motioned over to him "And he told me about you, so I knew I was on the right track. So here we are now." he said as if relieved it was all done. But he was't yet "All I have to do once I find them is get rid of the paradoxes."

They confused Casey even more now, and she looked back to Frank for some kind of confirmation but didn't get any as he listened on himself. Without him though it got Casey thinking.

"So he's here to remove these paradoxes." Casey concluded.

"That's what I said." Noel said simplifying his story "Parodoxes is the anomaly, the energy from one time that appears into another."

"Paradoxes?" Casey questioned. If there was one that brought him here that must mean there was one. Was that is. "Like the monitor?" That seemed to stir something in Noel and Frank too.

"Sounds like something that would be one. Yeah," he said "considering this is the gate and Frank told me it wasup there." he said looking up to where the monitor once was.

"Well we beat you to that one." Casey smiled "You're welcome."

"Well that's good." he admitted "I'm not done yet, though."

"Well," Casey said "feel free to use our portal to make the best future you can."

"He'll need it," Frank admitted "but there's something else." Frank spoke his voice deeper and more serious now. It caught Casey off guard. She looked over to see some kind of hidden anticipation all over his face.

"You already said that." Casey pointed out.

"Well there's even more." Frank added.

"What could it be now?"

"Something I only found recently. Helped by his sudden appearance." he moitoned to Noel quickly before returning to plug away at the monitor. "As we all know" he said as he clicked away "there are many worlds. Each star in the sky is one." he explained.

Casey couldn't suppress a smile which beaned as bright as a star itself, remembering the video of her with her parents when she said she wanted to be among her stars.

'Everything really is up there.' she thought.

"Each world has its own flow of time," Frank continued. "but look here." he stopped directing their attention to the portal again. He clocked away at the monitor and the world visible through the door, this Valhalla was gone. Shown in its place was a new world.

This one showed the deep jungle and a village in the middle of it. A small river trailed beside it as the jungle foliage overtook it on all sides. On the cusp of the river a small boy looked back at a bear and panther, leaving them behind as he wandered deeper into the village with a water jug on his head.

"What's this have to do with anything?" Noel asked.

"Is there a paradox or artifact there?" Casey asked.

"Hold on." Frank cautioned them as he typed away. The door simmered and faded before flashing to a new world. No- it was the same one. But it looked different than before. Yet there was the boy they had just seen with the bear and panther again. Only this time he wasn't leaving them behind, he was staying with them. The three nestled together comfortably in the same tree.

"It's different..." Casey said as she peered forward "but how?"

Noel was curious himself, but Frank clicked away to show a new image. Cutting away again this one revealed a young boy standing beneath a green friendly dragon. Standing beneath him the boy cried and waved as the dragon took to the air and disappeared from sight.

Frank paused to let them take it in before changing it again. To once again show something similar.

A young boy and his great green dragon again. Only the boy had two doting parents with him and the green dragons were numerous flying overhead. Seeing one world look so similar and so different once made Caseys head spin, but seeing two made her come to a conclusion.

"It's the same world at different times." Noel rationalized seeing a similar sight again

"No," Casey realized. The longer it dragged in the less similar it became "it's something more than that."

Frank grinned. They were catching on. He typed away at the monitor and changed the world again. But this time showed only a single solitary figure. A blackened shape in an even darker room.

Their own room seemed to darken as a shadow cast from the other side crept out if the doorway to cast it into their world. Standing in the doorway gazing at then was a dark horned figure. Her long robe stretched across the ground like a terrible shadow. Yellow eyes locked into her

She started at them knowing what it was happening immediatly. A thin evil smile graced her lips.

It was her.

"Maleficent." Casey whispered in pure horror as she went cold. Even Noel beside her moved a hand towards his weapon anticipating he would need it.

Quickly as if sending the danger Frank cut away to any other world. But looking into the portal ahead, they saw, it was her again.

Yet the world was brighter, she was outside now in a swamp. Not focused on them, but instead on the very girl she had cursed. Standing over her not in victory or defeat, but with a parental loving gaze.

But.. that wasn't the Maleficent she knew of.

"Frank..." Casey asked "what is all this?"

"I guess it drives the point home huh?" Frank asked before he shut it off snuffing out the last world abruptly "It's a new discovery I made. Of course I couldn't have made it without Noel here." he motioned to him.

"You think this has something to do with the paradoxes?" Noel asked.

"It might." agreed before thinking it over "What you just saw were several pairs of worlds. Similar in many ways yet starkly different in others. The same people may occupy those worlds, yet they may not be the same in each."

"Are you saying there are more than one of each world?" Maybe the artefacts allowed to to traverse between the two?

"Perhaps, though I wouldn't go that far. But different timelines of each world absolutely. But not in the same realm."

"Realm?" Casey asked. There were three everyone knew of; Light, Dark, and in between.

"And I think it all comes back to this." Frank said as he typed away.

They looked to the door again to see a black endless abyss with one a hint of white winding trail that hung among it, having no beginning or no end.

The Realm of darkness.

Light and darkness. The source of all worlds. Casey understood it well. Just as every world had a keyhole and everyone has a heart so too did they know the origins of the worlds.

Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light. Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves. And darkness was born in their hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people's hearts. It covered everything, and the world disappeared. But small fragments of light survived... in the hearts of children. With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It's the world we live in now. But the true light sleeps deep within the darkness. That's why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other. But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open. And the true light will return.

It was a long story. She preferred her fathers way of telling it. It was shorter and to the point.

"My father always said light and darkness were like two wolves. Both fighting each other. So which one wins?"

"Well here's a third one." Noel said stepping up and getting her attention "Consider it a lone Wolf. " he motioned towards the portal and there they saw it. The realm of darkness faded now to reveal something else.

A city. A city at night. Lights shined from the darkened buildings brightening them further. It was as splendid to look at as Tomorrowland in the daytime. Perhaps this was the Tomorrowland at night.

But then what was this place that had fascinated them so.

"What is this place?" Casey asked.

From behind the monitor looking down at the controls Frank let out a deep breath.

"Just as there are other worlds" he explained "there are other timelines. As our friend here has shown." He pointed to Noel. "And this." His eyes glued towards it pausing to take in every detail, though by now he had seen this place countless times. As illusion as Tomorrowland and seemingly holding the same fixation. "It may be the key to all of it."

But for what?

"What is it?" Casey asked and then asked another more obvious question "Where is it?" She and Noel leaned in to try and see it better and understand it more.

"It's a world." Frank leaned in for a better look. "But not like the others."

No worlds are alike. Yet what he's shown her before were worlds that bore striking similarities. And what did it have to do with this?

"How so?" Noel asked.

"It's a world alright," Frank agreed and Noel did too "but one outside of darkness light or anything between. Something on the other side of reality." he explained and then took a deep breath as if on the cusp of a great discovery "A world of fiction."

"The other side of reality?" Casey repeated confused.

"Fiction?" Noel did the same.

Frank nodded "I'm calling it..." he said but paused going to silence. He seemed as if puzzled as the reflection of the sky scrapers lit up in his eyes. And with that light his puzzlement turned to strange wonder and a satisfied smile "Unreality."

Character Appearances: Hercules, Zeus, Meg, Phil, Nessus(Hercules) and Lightning(FF13)

Casey Newton and Frank Walker (Tomorrowland) and Noel Kreiss(FF13-2)