A/N: Thanks to Greatkingrat88 for his work on the chapter, I apologize for the delay but some real life events slowed things down.

In this chapter we'll have Sora heading for the first world on their visit while Lelouch does some research while awaiting the upcoming mock battle. But Heartless will not be the only enemy the two Keyblade Wielders will face.

First let's take care of the only review I cannot respond to.

Captain Imaginat: Well I can't go into that without potentially risking some heavy spoilers later in the story. However, I can say I did think it would make sense for Sora to get some training, at least with magic, to fit with a certain mini game that could be played at Merlin's house including ensuring the story keeps pace between Lelouch's events allowing him a chance to catch up when the time comes for the two parties to meet. Thanks I am glad at how the meetings went, but I do wish I could've done his meeting of the Golden Deer much better. But Donald and Goofy meeting Sora went much better I feel.

I've confirmed more than once Lelouch and Sora's party will meet eventually before events at Hallow Bastion begins, but I will say Alantica will definitely be a world Sora and co will visit. However I haven't decided if Lelouch and party will visit it.

Before letting you guys go into the chapter I will say I had some concerns about some of the dialogue in the first suggestion, but Jameyofthemegacosmos didn't find anything, and Greatkingrat88 polished it as best he could so I hope it works out.

Now on with the chapter, with Sora visiting his first world.

Chapter 8

Unhidden Power

Three days had passed since Lelouch was accepted as a student in Garreg Mach Monastery, and as a member of the Golden Deer House. Wearing the standard uniform for male students, which was similar to what he had worn at Ashford Academy yet more akin to a military uniform, Lelouch was seated at one of the tables at the Monastery's library. If there was one obvious benefit to being a student of the Officers' Academy, Lelouch now had access to a library where he could look up important information about the Keyblade Wielders known in their history, such as the White Paladin. However, during Lelouch's time reading books on the War of Heroes, he couldn't help but notice something.

His tactics have a modern feel that doesn't fit in this world's time, Lelouch thought, as he continued reading. The more I examine them, the more I am certain his tactics were based on modern concepts, like maneuver warfare.The tactic was rarely practiced in history until early modern history, relying on shock, disruption and surprise, minimizing frontal attacks on well-defended position. Fought as much by marching and positioning as by confronting the enemy head on, it relied on flexibility, speed and a well-trained army. This was a mark of a modern army, yet this Paladin had employed it liberally.

That's not all he used. Scorched earth tactics whenever he couldn't hold any locations during the war,for one. Lelouch noticed accounts of how the famed Keyblade Wielder destroyed towns, farms, and supplies to break the enemy's backbone. His goal wasn't just to defeat them on the field, but destroying his enemy's strategic, economic, and psychological ability to wage further war.

How the White Paladin organized his soldiers further made Lelouch suspect he had come from another world. The legendary Keyblade Wielder organized his army into several corps, small armies having their own contingents of cavalry, infantry and archers, all able to operate independently. Then, by living off the land and what supplies they stole from the enemy, they could travel great distances quickly. He would outmaneuver his enemies and catch them off guard when he attacked. Then he would divide an enemy's army and isolate them, killing armies piecemeal, ending most battles quickly and decisively.

If I didn't know better, I'd say the way he organized his troops is similar to what Napoleon Bonaparte did, Lelouch thought, recalling his history lessons of the famed emperor of France, hailed as the greatest general of his time.

"You seem interested in the War of Heroes," Lysithea said, sitting down in the chair next to him.

"Lysithea. My apologies, I was so caught up reading I didn't notice you coming."

"Nothing to apologize for," Lysithea glanced at the book he was reading, noticing the three books near him. "You've been reading a lot on battles and the history of the War of Heroes, haven't you?"

"Yes, because despite all I've been told about the White Paladin, there are some details these books may have that they likely didn't know off-hand. So, these books might fill in some blanks, but…."

"But!?"

"Well, for a start, some of his abilities were very advanced for this era. It's too convenient for his strategies to work perfectly without some continuous information."

"I think you may be overcomplicating things a bit," Lysithea offered. "Of course, I only studied the general details of the War of Heroes and key points of history during that time, such as the Battle of the Tailtean Plains."

"It probably didn't come up, due to no assignments to study him," Lelouch said, to which Lysithea nodded in agreement. "Yet there is this information about him using complicated abilities, one of which included creating a map that gave constant feedback of everything around him, which includes topography, vegetation, and even power levels or force multipliers."

"Force what?"

"It's a term meaning variables or elements that can be used to amplify an army's power. They could be related to power like Crests, technology, or superior combat experience. It could also be subtle, such as morale, making them more dangerous than others. Identifying these must've been key to White Paladin's successes to sorting out and picking key threats during a battle."

Lysithea shook her head.

"Well, he was known to have abilities that we cannot replicate even today. His skill was said to be beyond his level. I don't know what made him so fearsome, but what I do know is that you should avoid discussing him with some people."

"Why is that?" Lelouch raised an eyebrow.

"Are you familiar with the House of Daphnel?"

"Yes. It's one of the houses born from the elites surrounding Nemesis."

"Well, during his golden years, the White Paladin had a lot of trust in them, along with a few members of the elites. Well, that changed once the Elites became corrupt, and he used ruthless methods to hunt them down. His greatest target was the House of Daphnel, which held the weapon Luin."

"If I recall, one member from that House is a respected commander and a major figure within the Leicester Alliance today."

"You're talking about Judith," Lysithea confirmed. From what he understood about the leadership within the Alliance, Judith von Daphnel was one of the top commanders of the Alliance's forces. Initially, she was supposed to reign as one of its five ruling lords, but had chosen to abdicate her seat. "There is another member in the Blue Lions from an branch family that broke away, but as someone who chose the Golden Deer, I'm not surprised you heard of her."

"Her exploits are pretty well known in the Alliance," Lelouch replied. "However, any reason why this White Paladin was so interested in that particular House, as in wanting to destroy them?"

"No, and that's the weird thing. None of the history books gave clues about the guy's motives or actions back then. Regardless, the House considers it a taboo to discuss the whole thing, especially out in the open."

"I see," Lelouch said wondering if something tragic had happened.

"Still, anything else interested you?"

"There is one other thing… strangely, none of these books mention his name."

"Despite his military accomplishments as a general and fighting prowess with his Keyblade, nothing about his background before the war is known," Lysithea placed one hand on her chin. "Now I feel rather awkward, since I've never looked into it."

"Maybe it's something the Church did, but I can only guess," Lelouch said, a little suspiciously.

"None of the professors ever questioned it either. Nobody did."

"That is likely since-" Lelouch paused, seeing Lysithea narrow her eyes at someone behind him.

"Professor Hanneman, I know you're there," Lysithea said harshly. "I can't believe you would hide behind a pillar. Your spying on people, including me, is not welcomed."

"Oh! My apologies, child. I was trying to remain inconspicuous, especially since I didn't want to interrupt your intriguing conversation about the White Paladin," Professor Hanneman said apologetically, coming out from behind his hiding spot.

"Do you normally spy on students?" Lelouch asked, looking annoyed.

"Normally no, but you two are intriguing. You possess the Keyblade, something not seen in a thousand years," Hanneman said before he realized something. "That reminds me, would you mind coming by my lab so I could test you for a Crest?"

"I am doubtful I have one?" said Lelouch sceptically.

"Perhaps, but we know so little about the Keyblade. This experiment is to study if they are linked to Crests at all," Hanneman said, a hopeful glint in his eye.

Lelouch glanced over at Lysithea, who merely sighed, not envious of his predicament. If anything, she was quite sympathetic to the attention he was getting. However, the former prince did wonder what made Lysithea special enough to warrant Hanneman observing her.

"I swear it won't hurt at all," Hanneman said reassuringly.

"What won't hurt at all?"

"He would need a blood sample," Lysithea clarified.

"Yes. If you have a Crest, it would exist in your blood. It's a simple test, and it's painless."

Lelouch was wary of Hanneman, and figured it would be a waste of time. He was born in a completely different world; it should be impossible for him to have a Crest. But it might cause a problem if I refuse, he thought.

"Alright, fine," Lelouch sighed.

"Wonderful," Hanneman said, sounding quite pleased.

"I'll accompany you, to make sure it doesn't put you through more than you're comfortable with," Lysithea said.

"I appreciate that," Lelouch said, relieved. He wasn't nervous about the test itself, but the aged Professor's attitude was slightly off-putting.

Hanneman's lab and office were a short walk away from the library, both on the second floor of the Monastery's main building. The Professor's office was small, with shelves packed with books and scientific instruments. There was a desk sat near the window, and a strange device in the middle of the room. It was built into the floor, a panel-like device with a purple surface infused with magic, judging by the glow.

"Now, before we start, how much do you know about Crests?" said Hanneman.

"Only that they are a special power passed down by blood through family lines," Lelouch answered, recalling Solus's lessons on the subject. "Possessing one is a sign of social status, and grants power in the form of greater strength, longevity, and magical power."

"They are power incarnate, and a fascinating subject," Hanneman replied with fascination. "To understand Crests, you must know where they came from. According to legend, the Goddess gave them to humanity ages years ago. They exist within the flesh and are passed down through blood, as you are aware. Besides excelling at magic and providing greater strength, they can also grant other boons. Every Crest has its unique power, the nature of which is beyond our mortal understanding… for now,"

"You believe I might have one?"

"Perhaps. This is an opportunity to discover if Crests and your Keyblade share a connection," Hanneman said excitedly, before regaining his composure. "However, we won't know for sure until we look into it. As I've said, Crests are passed down through the blood. Not everyone born of someone bearing a crest will inherit it. Sometimes a first-born child won't have a Crest while a second-born child will."

"So, there is no guarantee you'll be born with a crest if your parents have one?" Lelouch said, one hand on his chin.

"Exactly, which would be tragic for some families," Hanneman said with a saddened expression.

"Like, a child born without a Crest in a noble family could be cast out or simply ignored, no matter how talented they are without one," Lysithea said, sharing the same expression.

"I see," Lelouch knew he had found yet another reason to despise the social hierarchy of Fódlan.

"Yes, only a scant few inherit a Crest, hence their value. Of course, it could be possible an ancestor of yours could've possessed a Crest that you have inherited, assuming you have one," Hanneman said.

"I guess checking can't hurt. Do what you can," Lelouch said. He really just wanted to get it over with it.

"Of course, I'll do what I can. Please place your arm over the device on the ground like this," Hanneman said, extending his arm outwards. "Then, using this needle, I'll draw some blood for my device to catch."

It will likely be nothing, Lelouch thought, extending his right arm over the device. Using a special needle drawn from his coat, Hanneman poked the tip of Lelouch's extended index finger, drawing a drop of blood. Suddenly, magic radiated from the device, projecting an image of unusual yet incomplete design.

"Unbelievable. Its design is just like Professor Byleth's. You two share the same new Crest. Incredible, you two are not even related!" Hanneman bust out, completely stunned. "I apologize for losing my composure, but this is thrilling to see."

"You said our professor has a Crest?" Lysithea inquired. "An undiscovered Crest, just like Lelouch?"

"Yes, earlier today, your Professor paid me a visit, and I discovered she too possesses a Crest," Hanneman said, to Lelouch's surprise. "Not just any Crest either, but one that has never been seen before. Lelouch's Crest bears a certain similarity to hers, which is what's so fascinating."

It shouldn't be possible. How do I possess a Crest uncommon in this world, but not mine?

Lelouch regained as much of his composure as he could when he realized both Hanneman and Lysithea were looking at him. He knew he had to respond to what had just happened. He couldn't reveal he was from another world, especially since Hanneman was part of the Church, which didn't look too kindly on outsiders beyond Fódlan.

"I can understand your surprise. Miss Byleth was also surprised to have possessed a Crest. She had gone her whole life up to this point without realizing it, so I understand your shock," Hanneman said.

"Yes, I never knew," Lelouch said. "I wouldn't have imagined I would have one. Could we keep this quiet?"

"Why?" The aged Professor asked.

"I have no desire to be embroiled in politics because of my Crest. You'll forgive me if I say I am not fond of the aristocracy," Lelouch said.

"I understand. I am not fond of politics myself," Lysithea said, with a mild expression of anger. "Nobility has meant nothing but sorrow and hardship for my family."

It was reassuring that Lysithea shared these sentiments; he wouldn't need to worry about her. He was curious about the reason for her dislike.

"Never fear, for I've kept my fair share of secrets," Hanneman said reassuringly. "I'll not say a word to anyone about your Crest."

In the world of Orience, Ieyasu was sitting on a bench in downtown Ingram. Looking upon the deserted streets and empty buildings around him, the Keyblade Master was surprised by everyone's willingness to leave. He had expected a few to insist on staying. Perhaps the better living conditions of the new city were a better incentive than he had thought.

All that remains is evacuating the last of this country's soldiers and those living outside its capital, he thought, before noticing someone approaching him. The new arrival wore a black cloak with the hood covering their face. But as they approached Ieyasu, the hood came down, showing shoulder-length blond hair, a white and silver mask concealing his eyes behind silver lenses.

"I was told I could find you here," the blonde man said, joining Ieyasu on the bench. "I heard you had a job for me?"

"Yes, Rau, I do. I have a task for you. I would like you to go to After Colony Earth. I need you to ensure we obtain what was promised to me by Dekim Barton. It's time for him to uphold his side of our bargain."

"After Colony Earth," Rau Le Creuset said. "Isn't that the version of Earth with space colonies, that have embraced Total Pacifism?"

"The very same, yes."

"A world close to the same technological level as mine, but it has achieved peace by embracing a delusion."

"Yes, but that peace will be shattered," Ieyasu said dismissively. "The civilization of that era has destroyed almost all weapons, dismantling all of their mobile suits. All the while, blissfully unaware of a private army growing behind the scenes to conquer the Earth."

"What kind of force does this army have?"

"Aside from a couple hundred infantry, they are expected to have five hundred of a new heavy assault-type of Mobile Suit called the Serpent." Rau almost laughed.

"Hardly enough to secure a whole planet."

"I know, but Dekim believes the people will accept, especially if that fool Relena Peacecraft crowns his puppet as Earth's new ruler."

"Then shall I feed the planet's heart to the Heartless once we have what we need from them?"

"Yes, but call for Ansem when you are ready for that."

Rau smiled. "There was something else, right?"

"Of course. Ever since the new government adopted Total Pacifism, it left many soldiers without jobs. Some have joined Dekim's private army, but many others are struggling to find a new place in the world."

"I assume you've already sent men to recruit these unfortunate souls?"

"Yes, I did. I'll ask you to take all of the ones they've been recruiting and training. As for Dekim, given how you seem to have a talent of handling revenge-driven tyrants, I doubt you'll have any trouble with him."

"Isn't that one of the reasons you've picked me for the task?"

"It is," Ieyasu said, taking a disk out of a case in his pocket. "This will have all further details you'll need, including where to pick up your supplies and the ships you'll need. It also has all information on coming events, including the conflicts to come in the future, if you end up dealing with Relena."

"Understood," Rau said, taking the item. "I'll take care of it."

"Good," Ieyasu said. "You better leave. It seems we have company."

"What kind," Rau asked. Then, a roar pierced the sky.

"The big kind," Ieyasu said, opening a Corridor of Darkness for Rau to use.

Rau was quick to depart. Approaching the city of Ingram was a huge white dragon with half a dozen feathered wings. The over five-thousand-foot-long dragon approached the city, its roar echoing through the sky. Accompanying the dragon was two dozen smaller dragons, each one with an armed rider.

"I shall invoke the Fabula Pact. The tripartite peace talks shall commence. In the name of the divine Pulse, I order you to cease fire and put down your weapons. I, Queen Andoria of Concordia, declare this battle ended!" Andoria announced through loud speaks from her airship, flying alongside the gigantic dragon.

"As I thought, the Kingdom of Concordia would get involved," Ieyasu said, summoning his Keyblade. "They even brought Soryu the Primus, l'Cie of the Azure Dragon Crystal."

The Fabula Pact was a non-government agreement created by the peristylia of each nation. The pact terms were very vague, and enforcement was arbitrary. It had been written as the war between nations opposed the will of the great deity Pulse.

"That Queen Andoria is bold, isn't she?" Ardyn said, arriving on the scene via Corridor.

"She is, but how much of that is her, or being the Azure Dragon Crystal's puppet? Tragically, she died every single cycle, due to what the Crystals want."

"So, do you plan to kill her and everyone or leave them alone?"

Ieyasu contemplated this for a moment. "I'll speak to her. It would be rude to dismiss her wishes for peace talks."

Aboard Queen Andoria's airship, a short young woman sat upon the throne of the airship's bridge. She was over four feet tall, with brown hair, dressed in a regal light blue dress. Queen Andoria Kaya Tranka Fam Forturio quietly awaited a response. Her brown eyes passively observed the crew steering the airship, her two bodyguards standing beside her. She wore an elaborate blue floral headpiece upon her brow, signifying her authority.

At first the queen appeared to be silent, but her handmaiden understood she wasn't being ignored; rather she was engaged in a conversation with somebody unseen. Not only was their Queen their ruler, but as the l'Cie or chosen of the Azure Dragon Crystal she was linked to it at all times. She was no doubt conversing with the crystal over the unusual state of the Ingram was in.

"Any response from the Empire?" asked Clemente.

She was quite youthful, being in her early thirties. She wore elegant white kimono-like robes, like her Queen, with an elegant black and gold headdress atop her long gray hair. Her brown eyes diligently examined the report she had just been handed.

Not wanting to interrupt her queen's conversation with the crystal, the second of her attendants replied.

"None I am afraid, we are getting no response at all," Claes Celestia Misca Sancest said, shaking her head.

"How can that be? According to our riders, it seems the city is deserted. It is highly unusual," Clemente replied.

"What could have happened? The enemy has launched a full scale invasion of the Dominion to seize much of their territory quickly, but…."

Clemente Yuzuki Nes Peacemaker was a relative of Celestia's, although distantly. You couldn't even tell, with Yuzuki being the younger of the two by almost a decade. Her reddish-pink hair matched her robes, and she had black-rimmed glasses over her brown eyes. Despite her youth, Yuzuki had earned her place by the Queen's side, becoming a rival to the diligent, hard-working Celestia.

"They were repelled at Akademeia, but in the days that followed, they abruptly abandoned all they had claimed," Celestia replied. "It's quite bizarre."

Andoria passively listened to her bodyguards talking among themselves. She wasn't as militarily minded as some in her kingdom, but Andoria understood the confusion behind the Milites Empire's actions. They had no reason to abandon what they had seized from the Dominion. She, and many others, were naturally baffled by their withdrawal.

Outside, the great dragon roared, but Andoria knew the living avatar of the Azure Dragon Crystal was communicating with her. Speaking directly to her, Soryu voiced its confusion. No words were exchanged, but Andoria understood the dragon's thoughts.

"Yes, and there wasn't any sign of battle to indicate they were attacked. Or so it seems, given those creatures appearing in the Dominion's territories," Andoria said to Soryu.

Since the failed attack on Akademeia, mysterious creatures of living darkness had been terrorizing the other Crystal-States' lands. They destroyed them, but like a plague, their numbers have been steadily growing with no one able to learn anything about them. They added to the mystery; had Milites fallen victim to these creatures?

Andoria's train of thought was interrupted as a Dark Corridor opened, and Ieyasu and Ardyn stepped through.

"Intruder!" Celestia shouted, as she and Yuzuki prepared to attack.

"Do not be alarmed," Ieyasu said, raising a hand. "I mean you no harm. I've merely come to answer whatever questions you might be having."

"Celestia and Yuzuki, stand down," Andoria commanded. "He's the one who defeated Lord Zhuyu, but he has no hostile intentions towards us."

"Thank you kindly, Your Highness," Ieyasu said politely. "I am Ieyasu Partas, the Supreme Commander of the Harbingers of a New Genesis, and this is my friend and ally, Ardyn Izuna."

"Charmed, I am sure," Ardyn said, and tipped his hat.

"You're the one who aided the Milites Empire in escaping after their siege on Akademeia?" Yuzuki asked.

"Correct," Ieyasu replied.

"What happened to the people of Ingram?" Andoria inquired.

"They have abandoned the world of Orience for a new, almost virgin world I provided them with," Ieyasu answered. "I helped them move and relocate their people to their new capital city."

"What!?" Yuzuki exclaimed, in shock.

"Impossible," Celestia said.

"It's true, I assure you," Ieyasu replied. "Convincing them it was the best course took a while. But their pre-destined failure to seize the city of Akademeia, including how it would happen, finally convinced them."

"The best course?" Andoria inquired.

"Yes, because I told them the truth. They didn't accept it easily, I promise you. However, once convinced, they couldn't leave this world fast enough."

"What truth are you talking about?" Celestia demanded impatiently.

"The truth about the crystals and their true purpose," Ieyasu said. "I'll even tell you how I knew how events will play out, and I'll give you a piece of information only a very select few know to prove it."

If you cannot fight fate, you use the desired outcomes to control what leads to that outcome.

Ieyasu planned to feed Orience to the Heartless, but while he waited for his ally to come to consume it, he had an idea for an experiment of his own.

What would happen if people started learning the truth of the crystals? How will fate react?

Meanwhile, in the company of Donald and Goofy, Sora exited the Lanes Between, the dimensional plane linking all worlds together.

Sora had learned that while traditional spaceships could reach some worlds, most of them were protected by dimensional barriers, a majority of which has kept out any dangerous intruders. The Gummi Ship, the Highwind, was created from fragments of the shattered dimensional barriers caused by the Heartless, dubbed Gummi Blocks, enabling them to pass through these barriers. Even allowing travel through the Lanes Between, a dimensional plane that enabled to travel to these worlds that a select few can access allowing even faster traveling than most spaceships are capable of.

"So this is another world," Sora said, awed by the sight. As they came into orbit, his eyes were glued to the window. There were whole continents to be seen, but most of all there was water- bright blue water, great clouds, and island chains that grew larger as they approached. Sora had never seen a world at such a distance before.

"Yup, and it's one we've never seen before," Goofy said.

"Now remember, Sora," Donald began, wagging a finger at the boy, "We must preserve the World Order, so we can't tell people about the other worlds."

"Right," Sora said, as Donald piloted the Highway towards the planet's surface.

Donald had lectured Sora on this. The duck had told him letting people know would only cause trouble, but he hadn't elaborated further.

"Golly, that sure is a pretty tall tower," Goofy said, after they cleared the clouds of the upper atmosphere.

"Wow, that's huge," Sora said, awed once more. Even Donald was impressed by the massive structure that came into view. The enormous Crystal Tower was a superstructure, seemingly built out of a light-blue crystalline material. The tower glimmered magnificently in the sun, standing over six thousand feet tall. Sora could only imagine what it looked like at the bottom.

"The people here have to be something to build something that big," Sora said as the Gummi Ship flew closer. He turned to the duck.

"Hey Donald, no one can see us, right?"

"No one should. We have a cloaking device."

"Good to know."

Unbeknownst to them, though, the tower's defenses were being restored as they spoke. Worsening the situation was that the tower's defenses didn't need to see its target, possessing a wide range of alternatives to detect any intruder foolish enough to approach. And Sora and company were those unlucky enough to be considered intruders.

"Ahhhhhh!" Sora and Donald cried out, as a blast of energy hit their ship.

"We've been hit!" Goofy cried out, as the Gummi Ship began spiraling out of control. "The shield generator is fried. It barely saved us from being blown up!"

"The engines are barely working!" Donald cried out, doing his best to keep them in the air.

"We're going to crash!" Sora cried, grabbing the armrests of his seat.

The Highwind was heading for the ground, leaving a trail of smoke as they fought to steer the vessel to safety.

"What was that!?"

On the ground, walking away from the perimeter of the Labyrinth of the Ancients, which surrounded the tower as a second layer of defense, were a trio of friends, just finished restoring the tower's defenses to keep would-be trespassers out.

"That sounded like an explosion," a short young woman said.

She wore a yellow coat with animal ears on top. She had brown hair and blue eyes, and wore a blue dress and black boots. Krile Baldesion was normally more energetic and sharp, but aiding in restoring the tower's defenses had exhausted her. Even so, her mind wasn't inhibited by her body's worn-down state.

The first to notice the explosion was a young adult with red hair and red eyes. He wore red-and-brown traveling attire, a black cloak wrapped around his neck, but most distinctive was his red cat-like ears, tail, and a black staff with a glowing blue crystal on top of it.

"Look, some kind of ship is coming down," G'raha Tia said.

"It's going to land on the northern shore of Silvertear Lake," the last member of the trio said, before running ahead. He was a man in his mid-twenties with short brown hair and grey eyes. He wore European-style plate armor and chain mail, with a blue cape and a shield he carried on his back. The man's face was that of one not just of another adventurer, but also of one who endured more than anyone at his age should.

"I'll come too," G'raha Tia followed his friend.

"Wait for me," a worn Krile said as she tried to follow. "Why couldn't I recover that fast."

A distance away, the Gummi Ship had crash-landed along the shore of a large lake. Sora was the first to recover. Though injured from the crash landing, the boy used healing magic to mend himself.

Sora saw Donald and Goofy were unconscious, but their injuries did not seem serious. If nothing else, it was impressive the Gummi Ship was mostly intact, and it had managed to land along the shore of the lake surrounded by trees. Had the Highwind hit any of the gigantic crystals closest to the tower, the damage could've been a lot worse, maybe even fatal for them.

"Okay, I'll just cast cure on them," Sora said, stepping outside of the ship to check if the fires that had consumed the engines would be a threat. Thankfully, the fires were gone. The water of the lake had doused them. Instead, Sora faced a more immediate threat.

There was a frightening roar, and a Lake Cobra, a giant cobra with fang-filled mouths and red scales, moved toward them from a distance. It got worse when a second one showed up, emerging from the waters of the lake nearby. And then another… and another… and another. It seemed these moved in packs.

"Okay, these things are monsters. Just treat them like the Heartless," Sora muttered to himself.

Sora couldn't leave his new friends at the mercy of these monsters, so he raised his Keyblade, ready to fight. One of the Lake Cobras lunged, attempting to take a bite out of Sora, but he sidestepped it before beheading it in one swift counter-strike. Blood splattered on Sora's face. He felt uneasy, afraid, but he knew his friends depended on him. He could not back down. Another Lake Cobra closed in on Sora, followed by a dozen more. Knowing he couldn't risk being overwhelmed by their numbers, Sora channeled magic into his Keyblade, releasing a bolt of lightning. The attack claimed four, electrocuting then to death. The cobras paused, suddenly hesitant from the display of power.

Knowing it wouldn't last, Sora threw another Thunder spell to slay a few more, before they could regroup. Sora dodged a strike that nearly bit his arm off from behind, before electrocuting it in retaliation with a bolt of lightning. Sora beheaded another Lake Cobra before quickly cutting down another. Their numbers didn't seem to cease, much to Sora's growing worry. Another fell to his Keyblade, but they kept coming.

Suddenly as Sora dodged another attempt by a Lake Cobra to bite him, something grabbed him, wrapping around his chest and arms, yanking him off his feet. Emerging from the lake behind him, a safe distance away, he saw it. Sora had been caught by the long tongue of the biggest frog he had seen, a Nix.

"Ahhhhh!?" Sora cried out. The gigantic frog was about to swallow him whole, until…

At the last second a blade came down, severing the tongue. It was a man in plate armour, coming to his rescue.

"Well done, my friend," G'raha said, blasting the Nix with a missile of raw magic, killing it outright.

"Are you alright?" The warrior asked, cutting off the rest of the tongue from Sora, freeing him.

"I am… fine," Sora said uneasily. He was covered in slimy frog saliva. Grimacing, he got to his feet.

"Stay with me," The warrior advised.

"I can fight too," Sora said, felling another Lake Cobra with a Thunder spell.

"I can see that, but you're wearing yourself down too quickly," The warrior said. "You've done well, but for now, stick with me and we'll clear the rest of them out."

"O-Okay!"

Working together with the Warrior of Light, Sora used another Thunder spell to kill a few more, knowing how vulnerable the Lake Cobras seemed to be to it. The Warrior of Light, Gerard Luxen, rushed forward and slammed his steel shield into a Lake Cobra's head to send it back. He raised his sword, divine energy channeling into it. Seven large swords rained down on the monsters, killing a dozen of them.

The Lake Cobras kept coming, with a dozen more coming out of the lake. Sora and Gerard were undeterred, especially as they no longer had to worry about being overwhelmed. Still, the fact that their numbers weren't diminishing was concerning.

"I'll help," G'raha said, channeling power into his staff. He created a barrier of magical power in their path, the cobras slamming right into it. Gerard rained down dozens of swords, impaling more of the beasts upon them, slaying the remaining monsters to the last.

"I think that's it. But what caused the Lake Cobras to rush the shoreline?" G'raha said.

Somebody cried out, and Sora ran toward the source instantly. He found Krile, surrounded by over a dozen Shadow Heartless. Normally, Krile could've dealt with them, but using up most of her magic earlier and running to catch up with her friends had worsened her exhausted state. She was more of a healer than a fighter, to begin with. Unable to fight back, Krile could only hope Gerard and G'raha would come back for her.

"I got you," Sora said, cutting down a Heartless before cleaving another in two.

The Heartless turned to face the Keyblade Wielder as Sora cut down another one. Channeling magic into the weapon, he vaporized a fourth with a fireball, before striking again. Gerard joined the fray, attacking the nearest monster to cover Sora, while G'raha cast a protective barrier around Krile. Striking again, Sora cut down another with a horizontal cleave, before using another Thunder to smite three more at once. Gerard finished the last of them.

Thankfully no more of them appeared, and Sora took a breath.

"Whew, I am glad it's over," Sora said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Heartless… is that what's those creatures are called?" G'raha asked, approaching Sora.

"Yeah. I guess they're here too," Sora said in between breaths.

"Take it easy," Gerard sheathed his sword. "Were you on board that ship that crashed?"

"Yeah," Sora said, suddenly remembering Goofy and Donald. "Oh, I've got to check on my friends!"

Sora hurried back to the crashed Gummi Ship, but as he put a hand on its red hull, he finally noticed the monster blood he had been splattered in. Exhaustion now mixed with uneasiness began to overtake Sora as it dawned on him that unlike the Heartless, the cobras were living creatures, even if they were monsters. The smell of the dead animals filled the air, and Sora to felt sick. A dizziness overtook him, and he collapsed onto the ground, everything going dark.

Back at Garreg Mach Monastery, the sun was setting. Lelouch sat in the dining hall, enjoying a plate of Beast Meat Teppanyaki, with Peach Sorbet for dessert.

As Lelouch ate his meal he pondered the one thing that had haunted him- besides Nunnally- these last months spent in Fôdlan.

I wish I knew if Milly, Nina, Shirley, and Rivalz survived.

With all of the magic Lelouch had been learning, he wished there was one where he could check if his friends from Ashford were alive, or if they…

"You seem very quiet," Claude said, approaching Lelouch to sit across from him at the table.

"I've been deep in thought," Lelouch replied.

"I can imagine. Based on all I've heard, you've been through quite a lot," Claude complimented. "Tell me, do you trust Lord Souls?"

"That's a sudden question to ask," Lelouch said´, putting a fork full of food into his mouth.

"I am more curious about your opinion, given all he has done for you."

Lelouch contemplated how he should answer for a moment.

"I'll admit I am still suspicious of his intentions. I appreciate what he has done for me. But…"

"But?"

"I don't believe in his initial claims, that his intentions of helping me are just to learn more about the Keyblade for the sake of a play," Lelouch said, chewing down another bite of food. As he chewed, he took a moment to think over what he'd say next. "I suspect he has another motive for helping me, but I have no idea what that is."

"That's reasonable. From what I've gathered, he found you in the middle of nowhere. Just like that?"

Lelouch nodded, taking another bite.

"That is very suspicious. He just… found you?"

"I know," Lelouch replied. "But I didn't have any other options at the time, and no other way of learning how to use the Keyblade."

"So you accepted out of necessity."

"More or less."

Before the conversation could continue, an unexpected visitor joined them. Flayn sat down next to Lelouch, having brought her own food.

"Hello, it's so nice to meet you again," Flayn said, smiling.

"This is rare, seeing the sister of Lady Rhea's right-hand man joining us," Claude said.

"Yes, I am sure my brother was quite surprised when I chose not to eat with him. That being said, I did want to take this chance to speak to you," Flayn turned to Lelouch. "You and the new Professor have caused quite the stir."

Lelouch could only sigh, not wishing to be reminded of the attention the Keyblade had gotten him.

"I think I spent the early part of my stay here being bombarded by questions."

"At least Teach seemed to have taken care of the bulk of interested students," Claude said.

"Yes. I think she is more popular than you, no offense," Flayn said kindly.

"None taken; I am not offended at all by being least popular," Lelouch said, laughing.

"Sounds to me like you feel bad for Teach?"

"Yes. I don't think I've seen Byleth have a moment's peace," Lelouch said, glancing over to one of the other tables where curious students surrounded her.

Yes, Lelouch wasn't envious at all. She had his sympathies.

Back on Hydaelyn, Sora woke. He found himself on a bed, inside a room with close to a dozen similar beds. In the beds next to him he found Donald and Goofy, still unconscious.

"I see you are awake?"

Sora turned to see Krile sitting in a chair on his left, drinking a cup of tea.

"Hi," Sora said, feeling awkward. "What happened?"

"Well, after you intervened against those creatures you called the Heartless, I wager you passed out from a combination of over-exertion and the smell of all those Lake Cobras you killed," Krile said, finishing the rest of her tea. Setting the empty cup down on a nearby nightstand, she gave him a look. Despite her youthful appearance and choice of fashion, Sora couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by her.

"First, let me thank you for helping me. But I must ask, what were you doing, flying around the Crystal Tower?"

"We were just sightseeing."

"I see. Well, I must apologize. My friends just finished restoring the tower's wards to keep trespassers out. So, what happened was bad luck, I suppose, but we had sent out warnings days earlier about restoring the tower's wards. How did you not hear that?"

"Uh, I guess we missed that warning?"

Krile raised an eyebrow, "Really? Tell me, where are you from?"

Right, I can't tell her the existence of other worlds, Sora remembered before scrambling to think of a cover story.

"We were just passing through to see the tower, and trying to find my missing friends," Sora said.

"Yes, but you haven't answered my question."

"I am from…" Sora scrambled internally to think of something. "From the south?"

"Oh, so could you be from Grymoire? The tropical islands?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"That was a made-up place. Try again."

Sora was speechless, but he did not let his emotions get the better of him.

"Well, what do you know? You're just a kid, aren't you?"

"Excuse me," Krile caused Sora to flinch. "You are clearly not of this world if you do not know what a Plainsfolk Lalafell is."

"A what?"

Krile stared at him in silence for what seemed like forever. He could not have known that a Plainsfolk Lalafell is a rotund and diminutive race with a childlike countenance, making it difficult to determine their ages at a glance.

"My point exactly," Krile mischievously grinned. "If you want to protect the world order by keeping the existence of other worlds a secret, you are doing a poor job."

"Wait, you know about that?!"

"Of course. I also know you come from a place called Destiny Islands," Krile said, pointing to Donald and Goofy. "Those two and your ship gave you away, too."

"How did you know that?"

"Let's just say me and my friend have a special ability that lets us peer into the memories and recent experiences of some."

Sora was embarrassed and a little angry. To his relief, Gerard came into the room at that moment.

"Krile, don't you think you're being too hard on him?" Gerard said, as glancing at Sora with a look of pity.

"Sorry. I wanted to hear what cover story he had for himself, and it seemed he had none," Krile smiled.

Gerard sighed, "So young man, are you feeling better?"

"I am," Sora said, remembering the monsters he had slain. The thought of being covered in blood made him feel very uneasy again. "I am sure I am okay, but I feel a little sick."

"I guess that was your first time killing a being of flesh and blood, huh?"

"The Heartless… it was much easier to slay them without thinking about it much."

"I almost would've called them some kind of new voidsent, but they are different," Krile said seriously. "Even more so since these Heartless are capable of consuming entire worlds, just like we saw when your home collapsed around you."

"Your world was so surprisingly peaceful too," Gerard said, having seen glimpses of the Destiny Islands before the Heartless devoured it.

"With that in mind, let's start over," Krile said before introducing herself. "My name is Krile Baldesion, and that fellow is Gerard Luxen, the Warrior of Light."

"The Warrior of Light?"

"It's nothing to brag about," Gerard said modesty.

"Nothing to brag about," Krile nearly chuckled. "You've saved the world how many times now? Not even counting the times you saved the realm from some trouble or calamity."

"Whoa," Sora said, awed at meeting such a veteran hero.

"And you are?"

"I am Sora."

"Very well, Sora," Krile said, "Since we know the truth now, why don't you start at the beginning and tell us what brought you here?"

The following evening on Lelouch's Earth, Sigma stood on a neighboring mountain, observing the Narita Mountains. Peering through the darkness with her magic, she observed the battle. Beyond the sounds of gunfire and explosions, no normal person would have been able to see, but mage-sight made it a trivial matter.

Britannia has quickly adapted the technology we gave them, Sigma thought.

The JLF was using repurposed Glasgows against the Britannians. However, the machines were still Glasgow Knightmare Frames, meaning they were hopelessly inferior to the new RPI-212B Vincent Wards. The new Knightmare Frames were decimating the outdated Burai. The slightly more advanced Burai Kai units were victorious, but even the best pilots of the enemy force who controlled them were overwhelmed after outlasting their comrades.

A corridor of darkness opened behind her, and a new arrival in a black cloak stepped out.

"It seems the Japanese Liberation Front is losing badly," the new arrival said.

"It makes a big difference when the Britannians are being led by someone more capable than Viceroy Clovis and his so-called generals," Sigma said smugly. "Having far better weapons and competent troops helps too."

"So, who is the commander? Someone special?"

"Bismarck Waldstein, the Knight of One," Sigma answered.

"The Empire's strongest knight and both the Emperor's top bodyguard and enforcer," the hooded young man said before removing his hood. "The Emperor must want to secure Japan and put down its rebellious factions before moving on to the rest of the world."

The young man was around eighteen or nineteen, with a sickly pale complexion, and messy white hair to match. His light gray-green eyes and posture made him appear laid back, but a cunning intellect was hidden behind it.

"He's likely to accelerate his conquests to not only gain control over the other Thought Elevators, but to comb the world itself, because the key to his plan has gone missing."

"That immortal girl?"

"Yes, that's the one."

"And without her, the Emperor cannot attempt this rip-off of my creator's plans?"

"This Architect appears to have made sure of that. As for you?"

Sigma took a deep breath, signifying that things weren't going well.

"As expected, the first test model of the Diamond Weapon we sent in was taken down by NERV's Evangelions. The problem is its notable lack of agility and speed. It's just a giant tank with legs."

"I've heard as much, which is why Ardyn requested such a test be done. We had the resources to build the required models for testing, but naturally, the Supreme Commander and Architect are being reimbursed for their troubles," Nagito Komaeda said. "I guess Ardyn must want the Diamond Weapons to be capable of not just leveling Insomia to the ground, but also contend with the Old Wall."

"He has been waiting a very long time for revenge, so I can't say I blame him for the lengths he is going to. I would've done something similar myself. Simply destroying those I resent would not satisfy me.

"I've never considered myself the vengeful type, so I don't get it. But given my recent experiences, I have something of an understanding."

"Why are you so curious, anyway?"

"I was thinking about poking around, but I am sure you don't want someone unimportant like me poking around."

"Unimportant, it's your luck I would be more worried about. You are, as the Supreme Commander says, our wild card. Nagito Komaeda, the former Ultimate Lucky Student of Hope's Peak Academy!"

"My luck can be quite unpredictable at times. But when one of your goals is to destroy fate's grip on the future, having a wild card can be useful."

And dangerous, Sigma thought. Seriously, what is the Supreme Commander thinking, giving someone like him a Keyblade and only tasking him to be a messenger? What is his plan with Nagito?

Sigma knew Ieyasu wouldn't answer. Instead she decided to keep her distance, and see what would happen.

A/N: Well we just saw Nagito Komaeda from Danganronpa appear as a Keyblade Wielder, trained by Ieyasu and as Sigma mentioned likely the most dangerous of his students due to his "luck," but what role he serves among Ieyasu's students and his organization remains a mystery beyond presenting himself as a "mere messanger." One thing can be sure, because of his luck his appearance could bode ill for our heroes or the opposite.

And in that last scene I thought I could provide an update what has been happening on the world of Code Geass since Lelouch was shipped off to Fodlan.

Lelouch discovering he has a Crest is a major shock to him, which he shouldn't have. How he got it will be a plot point for the story that will be revealed much later, and it does tie into how he was chosen by the Keyblade as a hint and something to look forward to.

And things on Orience are shifting drastically from its pre-destined course of events, and what effects will the truth being made know have. With Ieyasu providing a hint to what some of his plans are and how he deals with the binding powers of fate.

And Rau Le Cresuet from Gundam SEED makes his appearance as an agent of Ieyasu's organization who is being dispatched to the world of Gundam Wing months before events of Endless Waltz takes place, which will be a world Lelouch's group will visit near the end before they encounter Sora's group, slight spoiler there. Yet the question will be asked, what did Dekim receive from Ieyasu that demanded such a payment from him?

As for Sora and company they will be spending some time on the world of Final Fantasy XIV, as their first world. It was never tackled much on how Sora does when confronted with living fresh and blood monsters compared to beings like the Heartless he is used to battling so I thought I play with the idea in this chapter. And the expert troll of FFXIV, Krile Baldesion puts poor Sora through the ringer, which was based upon something I am sure a lot of KH players have thought about at one point, for all of Donald's talk about protecting the World Order they've never set up any cover story or, to my knowledge, never tied to hide Donald or Goofy's appearances which would make them stick out like sore thumbs in some places.

Never having a cover story on top of it, I just an opportunity for some good nature humor, which I thought would be amusing and would fit with the scene.

And yes I had to involve a Nix in the battle, the bane of some FFXIV who are annoying with how they can grab you from a distance. I also wasn't trying to protay Sora as weak or anything, but he just took down a lot of flesh and blood monsters, and being a young teen I did want to capture what the first time fighting such creatures would be like for someone like him, don't worry it won't be an ongoing thing but I was trying to make it all more realistic and believable.

The Warrior of Light, now I could've gone with my own character from the game I used, but I thought best to be more neutral and go based off of how he appears in the trailers for the game with Greatkingrat88 providing the idea for the name. He'll be Sora's companion while spending his time on his world, and those who has played the games will know he's a seasoned hero who has saved the world as well as the land from one crisis after another. Of course, for Sora he'll likely need his help later, just wait for a stinger at the end of the next chapter to see why.

Speaking of next chapter, the mock battle between the Houses shall happen, so I'll see you guys then.

I've updated my profile page with some new information on updates for my stories and which three I am focusing on, including how I'll update them until I finish one of them. Thanks for reading and I thank you in advance for your feedback, they help motivate me to keep going with this story so they are much appreciated.

I also have an old pairing poll meant for this story, I didn't want it going to waste and the winners won't decide the pairings but given the sheer amount of candidates they must be cut down. Also those who rank the highest will decide how and when I'll visit certain worlds, and those who fail may be cut from the potential world list much later in the story. It does help in discussions between me and my Beta as we narrow down the best pairing picks, and while I got some ideas in mind I am content to wait until the proper time.