A/N: Thanks to Greatkingrat88 for his beta work and help with some scenes and thanks to JameyoftheMegacosmos as well too.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter, and before we get into it let me address the reviews I cannot PM a response to.
Guest: I plan to, I might continue the story or do a new one from scratch depending if I can find a beta to help out especially with the upcoming killing game.
Captain Imaginat: Thank you, and you'll be seeing some more of what you saw with Maleficent's allies in this chapter. I won't say much more to avoid spoilers.
Also that will be seen and expanded upon a little more, which I will keep my lips sealed so you can see for yourself. I'll reveal the identities of the masked men later on to avoid spoilers, and thank you for your comment on the mock battle, much appreciated and I was slightly disappointed there were no more reviews or comments on it. I don't know if Mermaid Nunnally is in the cards, but we'll see since that is a very long way off and yes She-Ra's world and more of its cast will appear in the coming chapters.
Chapter 10
Shocking Unfamiliar Lands
The day following the mock battle, the Golden Deer House was relishing in the praise for its victory. Byleth had proven herself more than capable of teaching and leading the students, and even her most vocal critic dropped most of their concerns. However, the critic in question retained some doubts, especially regarding Rhea's unexplained reasons for making Byleth a professor.
As for Lelouch, much to his chagrin and annoyance, his actions had only made him more popular among the student body. He was left wondering if he shouldn't just have thrown the battle after all.
To escape his growing number of admirers, he had retreated to his dorm room on the second floor, reserved for those of noble birth. He was an exception to this thanks to Solus, which gave Lelouch a comfortable and, most importantly, private room. The commoner dorms on the first floor usually had many students outside passing by and often chatting on the stone benches.
At least classes are done for the day, he thought. He was free to relax and read the stack of books he'd gotten from the library. But the joy of peace was doomed to be short-lived.
There was a sharp knock on the door, and Lelouch suppressed a groan. His dreams of a quiet afternoon, it seemed, were to be dashed before they had even taken off.
"Lelouch?"
The voice coming from across the other side of the door was unmistakably Ingrid. She rapped at the door again, more insistently. Inwardly, Lelouch contemplated not answering the door at all. Maybe she'd just… go away.
"I know you're in there, Lelouch. I want to have a word with you!"
Lelouch sighed and took a deep breath. So much for that. She sounded so chipper. It reminded him of Milly, although not quite as mischievous- but something told him it would be no less obnoxious. Dragging his feet, he walked to the door and opened it.
"…yes?" he said. He came face to face with the girl, who had a strangely bright look on her face. He'd suspected she might have been bitter about having been bested, but it certainly didn't look like it. If she had a grudge, she hid it well.
"I'd like you to come to the training field with me."
"…as in tomorrow, or…?" Lelouch said hopefully. Maybe, just maybe he could-
"Right now," Ingrid said firmly, dashing Lelouch's hopes quite expertly.
"Er. You're not holding a grudge because of the whole… defeat thing?" He said awkwardly.
"On the contrary, it takes skill to set up and execute an ambush like that," Ingrid beamed at him. How did you do that?"
"Well, we uh, we knew you had a really impetuous classmate eager for a challenge, so we gave him one. If you give people what they want, they tend to go for it. The rest was just setup. Freezing the forest floor was easy enough. I only worried he might see it before it was too late."
"That's Felix alright," Ingrid huffed, shaking her head. "Never a team player, always out to show how strong he is by beating an even stronger enemy, and look where that got him. But it was devious of you, it really was."
"I can't take all the credit. Claude's info made it all possible," Lelouch said dismissively.
"I see. Well, will you escort me down to the training field? I'm sure we could learn so much from each other."
There was an almost manic glint to her eyes, and her smile was starting to look sharkish. To himself, Lelouch wondered what would happen if he said no. Tied up in rope, dragged there kicking and screaming? It seemed only halfway implausible.
"Look-" he started cautiously, but before he could even begin a half-hearted excuse, Ingrid cut him off.
"I have professor Byleth's blessing. She said she thinks you need to not slack off, or you'd end up as scrawny as you were before." Ingrid looked him up and down. "And no offense, but you're not exactly that athletic right now."
Lelouch flinched. She was not wrong, but the honesty was brutal.
"Er, I-"
"Alright, great," said Ingrid cheerily, as if he'd just said 'of course, I'd be happy to go down and get pummelled by you for hours on end', "let's go then."
Before Lelouch could do anything she'd grabbed him by the collar and started walking.
"Hey- hey wait- damn it stop-" Lelouch protested, almost pulled off balance as Ingrid started walking him, dragging him with the inexorable force of a landslide. A fairly pretty, cheery landslide, but a landslide nonetheless.
"No, no, the professor insists," Ingrid said conversationally, seeming to entirely ignore his protests. Is this normal for you? Do you… DO that with people a lot?
"Look-"
"She also believes you need to work on fighting enemies with a lance," Ingrid brushed him off. "You struggled with that. Winning doesn't mean you can relax, you know. You always have to look at your weak spots."
"Oh, so- so will I be critiquing yours?" Lelouch sputtered. She still hadn't let go, and he was dreading the staircase down the hall.
"You would if it wasn't perfect in every way," Ingrid said dismissively. "Come on now. Maybe if you grew a bit more muscle, you wouldn't be getting manhandled by a girl."
"I'm trying, damn it!" Lelouch said exasperatedly, resigned to his fate.
Across the vast universe- or more specifically upon the world of Hydaelyn, in the town of Revenant's Toll- Sora, Donald, and Goofy sat at a round table. They were in a place known as the Rising Stones, the headquarters of the Scions of the Rising Dawn. Opposite them sat the Stones' leader, along with Gerard and one other.
Sora felt comfortable, except for the fact Donald was angry. Not necessarily at Sora; rather he was irate that their first visit to an unknown world had such a terrible start. Not only had they almost been killed, but the fact of them being aliens to this world- a secret meant to be kept- had been found out all too easily.
"If it's any consolation, we'll keep the word of your origins quiet and concoct a convincing cover story," the young man sitting opposite Sora insisted. "Still, I do hope we could help one another, given the threat the Heartless represents."
He was just two years older than Sora, with blue eyes and white hair tied into a small and thin ponytail. He had pointed ears, a sign of his Elezen heritage. His attire fit the calm and diplomatic air he projected despite his age: a white tunic with matching pants and boots, a blue coat with a black hood, and black gloves.
Alphinaud Leveilleur, the leader of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, led an organization that transcended political boundaries. His primary objective was preserving the future of their world and handling threats and problems the nations couldn't handle easily. The scions had achieved their objectives numerous times, even playing the role of liberators on occasion. Sora was impressed that someone only two years older than him commanded an organization with such a prestigious reputation. Although, according to Alphinaud, much of their achievements were credited to the Warrior of Light.
"Yeah, the Heartless can consume a whole world", Sora said. "I saw what they could do to a person. They take your heart, and then you become one of them."
"I am sorry for your loss," Alphinaud said sadly, having been filled in on what had happened to Sora's home. "Especially as it was very peaceful compared to ours."
"It just happened with no warning," Sora said. "I hope Kairi and Riku are ok, but I don't know if my mom or dad made it."
"I know you are hoping to find them. They, like you, could have ended up in another world," Alphinaud said, taking a sip from his cup of tea. "We could use our contacts to see if anyone has seen your friends, and the king you are also seeking."
"That would probably help. It beats just wandering around any world and hoping to get lucky," Goofy said.
"I had hoped exploring would be easy, but this world seems a lot bigger than the one I ended up on," Sora said.
"Why would you expect it to be easy?"
The last one sitting at the table chose this time to speak. The woman looked identical to Alphinaud; she was his twin. She wore a tan trench coat, a gray cloak wrapped around her waist, and gray knee-high boots.
"None of the times we had to save the world were easy," Alisaie Leveilleur said, folding her arms over her chest.
"You're not wrong, Alisaie, but this is something much bigger," Alphinaud said.
"Well, trying to search the worlds would take too long," Sora brought up. "It would be nice if there was a quicker way."
Searching whole worlds one by one could take months, if not years. Given the threat the Heartless represented, that was unacceptable. Not with all these worlds on the line, to say nothing of his friends.
"Then fortune is smiling upon you, because I just returned from Master Matoya with unexpected information."
As if she had just arrived and overheard part of their conversation, the new arrival was a woman in her early twenties. She was striking with her short white hair, light brown skin, and pale white eyes. Her cat-like ears and tail were quite noticeable, along with facial markings common for a Miqo'te of the Seekers of the Sun. Her outfit consisted of black robes, gray fur around the collar, and high-heeled boots. In one hand, she held a black staff with a purple gem.
"Y'shtola, you say Master Matoya knows something?" Alphinaud asked.
"Yes. I went to her to inquire if she knew anything about the Keyblade. It would seem you are not the first person to come to this world with such a weapon," Y'shtola Rhul said, directing her attention to Sora. "Master Matoya was visited by the king you are searching for."
"Really?" Goofy exclaimed, jumping up with a start, with his hat flying a bit.
"Looks like we've got a lead!" Sora exclaimed.
"She has asked you three to visit her," Y'shtola said. "Master Matoya has special instructions for you from your king."
"What kind of instructions?" Donald asked.
Y'shtola shook her head. "She wouldn't say. She insisted on giving them in person."
"It must be really important, then," Goofy said.
"Fortunately we were already planning to make a trip to her home to see her. I contacted her in advance before I made my inquiries," Y'shtola said.
"The only problem is there aren't attuned to the aetheryte at Idyllshire," Alisaie pointed out. "They'll have to travel the old-fashioned way."
"Aetheryte?" Sora said.
"Idyllshire?" Goofy asked. The both of them sounded puzzled.
"Ah right," Alphinaud retorted. "Aside from more traditional means of travel, most people use teleportation magic to move between cities and towns. It's only possible if you attune yourself to an aetheryte, a giant crystal that acts as a beacon of teleportation. Without attuning yourself to that town's aetheryte, the spell will not work."
"So we've got to walk there?" Goofy asked.
"Not really," Gerard replied. "Cid and his Ironworks have maintained good relations with the treasure hunters living at Idyllshire. He has an airship to pick up and transport supplies for trading. I could ask him if we could hitch a ride on one."
"Yes, that could work," Alphinaud placed a hand on his chin. "I know Cid has been working to repair their ship."
Cid Garlond was a brilliant Magitek engineer and innovator. Formerly the Minister of Industry within the Garlean Empire, he defected following a tragic incident, establishing the private ironworks bearing his name. Once a member of their regime, Cid had since lent his genius to those opposing the Empire.
After their crash landing, Gerard had asked Cid to see if he could repair the ship. Since they arrived, Cid and his trusted friends had been repairing the Highwind.
"We should probably ask first, before we get too hopeful," Alisaie warned.
"True. He should be by their ship," Alphinaud said.
Sora, Donald, Goofy, Alphinaud, Alisaie, Gerard, and Y'shtola went to the crash site of their Gummi Ship. Since the crash, a work camp had been set up. There were several armed guards protecting the site from possible monster attacks. Next to the ship were five tents, making up a small working camp.
Seeing the group coming, a man in his early thirties went to greet them. He had center-parted white hair and a beard, white eyes and a muscular build, with blue-tinted goggles resting over his forehead. His white shirt was partially covered by a black padded top, similar to the padded gauntlet on his left arm. He wore black pants, a belt with several pouches, and heavy boots.
"Well now," Cid said as they came closer, "Come to check on our progress?"
"Not quite," Alphinaud shook his head. "We came to ask if you are still transporting goods with Idyllshire? Sora here and company need to see Master Matoya."
"Aye, we still are. I could just take you all with the Enterprise," Cid smiled back. "Thanks to you three, we've got something new to research and tinker with. Plus, we've made some new friends."
"New friends?" Sora said.
"Hey, Sora!" Entrapta said cheerily, popping up from behind Cid.
"ENTRAPTA!?" Sora and Donald exclaimed in shock.
"How did you get here?" Goofy asked calmly, opposite of his friends.
"You know each other?" Alisaie asked.
"Yeah, I met Entrapta and her boyfriend at Traverse Town," Sora said. "She, Hordak, and Merlin helped me learn how to use the Keyblade."
"Her boyfriend, as you say, is helping Biggs and Wedge," Cid grinned. "It would've taken us longer, but with them helping, we should have your ship up and running again by tomorrow."
"Okay, but how did she get here?" Sora said, very confused.
"Wedge happened upon a switch called Road Side Assistance. After pushing it, a communication line was established between her and us," Cid explained. "We told her what happened, and thanks to a spell cast upon the ship, she and Hordak were able to teleport here. They even brought along spare parts, too."
"Did you know the ship had that kind of button?" Sora said, looking at Donald and Goofy.
The two shook their heads. Eagerly, Entrapta piped up.
"Well, I guess no one checked the new manual explaining the new features I installed. Besides a shield generator, it includes an auto-pilot system, optical camouflage, and a teleporter. You see, it's really quite fascinating this technology, it seems to be similar to-"
"The ship has a teleporter?!" Sora exclaimed, cutting off Entrapta before she could really get sidetracked.
"Of course!" Entrapta declared, spreading her arms wide with excitement. "The planets you will visit will require you to keep the existence of other worlds secret, right? So with a teleporter you won't need to land, especially if you can't find a suitable landing zone. The autopilot will keep the ship from bumping into anything while you guys are exploring, and the camouflage will hide it from sight and most sensors that could find it."
"I didn't know you did all that," Sora said, impressed. The princess' technical know-how was downright astonishing sometimes.
"Well I started thinking about what kind of improvements you could make to the ship, how that'd work, and I just got carried away. But it worked out, so all's well and good," Entrapta said excitably. "This way you'll have the best tools for the job, with your… mission thingy."
"I am a little worried for the worlds out there," Alisaie muttered.
"That's quite a lot you fit into that ship," Cid became impressed. "How about we talk more on the way? Biggs, Wedge, Hordak, and Entrapta should be fine on their own."
Back in the world of Orience, Queen Andora contemplated her encounter with Ieyasu. These revelations he´had shared had been shocking, to say the least. Under normal circumstances, such claims would have been dismissed, but the mass exodus of the Milites Empire had caused those present at the time to wonder if there was some truth to Ieyasu's claims. To avoid a panic, the Queen had tried to keep her guards and attendants from spreading what they had heard.
Unfortunately, they didn't realize until it was too late that Ieyasu, through a spy, had the same system broadcast for the dragon riders. Andora had forbidden them from sharing what they heard with anyone, but the Empire's sudden departure fueled much fear and uncertainty. If not for that detail, they could have contained the rumors now left to circulate.
And containment was impossible once word of what happened had reached the merchants.
The rumors soon reached all corners of Orience, especially Akademeia. Among the rumors spreading were the secrets behind Class Zero.
As if the troubling revelations hadn't caused enough of a stir, this new scandal succeeded in causing discontent within the Dominion, from the civilians to members of the Consortium of Eight, especially those who were a critic of Class Zero and their mother. The uproar had made it harder to reclaim their lost territories as the head of the Dominion's military clashed with the Division of magic. It took the chancellor stepping in to remind them of what was at stake to stop the needless disruption of reclamation.
Lacking the numbers to reclaim each town and hold them, the Chancellor had chosen to focus on the reclamation of key towns and cities first. Class Zero has been dispatched to Togoreth, a fortified stronghold of invaluable strategic importance to the Dominion. Given its importance and the fact it could serve as a staging area to reclaim much of the surrounding towns and lands, Class Zero was picked to oversee the reclamation effort.
Class Zero and their commanding officer, Kurasame Susaya, stood ready.
Being the oldest and most veteran warrior among them, he had been tasked by Dr. Arecia Al-Rashia to serve as their class instructor and superior on the field. The blue-haired masked veteran was only in his early twenties, but he had proven his credentials to his class when questioned.
As Kurasame surveyed the area ahead of them while waiting for Trey to return from scouting, the other Class Zero members began talking among themselves.
"I can't believe the secret of Phantoma and how we use magic got out," Jack complained, leaning against a large rock.
"I know, right?" Nine said, gripping his spear tightly. "I want to find out who spilled it and cut them down for mother!"
"Mother wouldn't have allowed such knowledge to have gotten out easily. I doubt it was a spy, given how cautious and observant she has been over those with direct knowledge," King retorted.
"Uh, should we talk about this in front of them?" Cater pointed to Rem and Machina, the newest Class Zero members. They had joined only after the invasion.
"Kinda pointless. The cat is out of the bag," Jack said.
"He has a point, everyone knows," Ace reluctantly agreed. "It has already caused enough of an uproar, and mother has been working on damage control ever since."
"I am not upset about all of you keeping such a secret. As I understand, this was classified information that only your mother and the chancellor knew about." Rem said, always the more understanding kind.
"Still, I doubt the same can be said of anyone else," Machina said, folding his arms over his chest. "Given what absorbing Phantoma implies."
The secret to Class Zero's ability to use magic lay in their ability to absorb the Phantoma of slain enemies, their departing life essence as it left the body upon death. The Chancellor had the information classified to prevent it from causing unnecessary division among those who might be worried about the moral implications of taking the lifeforce of those who died, even if it was an enemy. Even if the dead were forgotten in this world, some would wonder what became of themselves after death. The knowledge that people could do magic using their departing essence as fuel was no doubt likely to unnerve many.
"He's right," Queen replied. "Even if we forget the dead, many naturally worry over what will happen when they die. Having everyone forget you was tragic enough for many. Taking their essence away, which could affect what they become, that could eat at your mind."
"That's true," Ace admitted with some reluctance.
"This has to blow over, right?" Cater said, raising her arms behind her head.
"Somehow, I doubt it's going to be easily forgotten," Machina said.
"We're back," Kurasame announced, rejoining the group alongside Trey.
"So Trey, is the fortress deserted?" Cinque said.
Trey shook his head, to the surprise of his fellow students.
"It's not abandoned at all. There are dozens of those mechanical soldiers that invaded Akademeia."
"Why?" Deuce inquired. "The Empire abandoned their lands and what they had conquered. Why is Togoreth still occupied?"
"That is a good question, and we'll find out. Our overall mission hasn't changed, but we'll survey the enemy. Determine their strength and what their purpose is," Kurasame said sagely. "Understanding their objective and what kind of force we're facing will help us plan an attack."
"Why don't we just kill them all?" Sice suggested. "They don't even know we are here."
"Exactly why we must plan accordingly," Kurasame said. "If we know the Empire's purpose and fighting strength, we'll know where we can inflict the most damage."
"We have the element of surprise, so we should make the most of it," Queen said.
"Well said," Kurasame agreed. "There is a dried-up riverbed that connects to a hidden passageway leading into the stronghold. Using that, we will get inside."
Far above the group, a raven-shaped drone honed in on them.
Later that afternoon, Cid's airship, the Enterprise Excelsior, flew around Mt. Gubal, allowing Sora and friends to look upon the Dravanian Hinterlands. It was a land blessed with lush vegetation, thanks to the rivers of fresh water channeling through the highlands, gathering in a deep lake at their heart. Years ago, the highlands had been home to the city of Sharlayan, once a colony that grew into a prosperous city, sporting some of the most prestigious academies in the nation. The Sharlayans had been keepers of old and new wisdom. Their mastery over magic and aether was unsurpassed, and so many pilgrims and scholars once traveled far and wide to study under the sages living in the city.
Sadly, the Garlean Empire's desire for conquest ended those days. Upon the conquest of Ala Mhigo, one of the great city-states of the continent of Eorzea, its ruling government opted to abandon the prosperous colony. The city was abandoned, as its inhabitants fled back to their homeland across the sea. Sora could see that nature had reclaimed much of the city, as vines and moss covered the once pristine white buildings, yet the abandoned city had a serene beauty to it, despite the monsters that could be seen roaming its ancient streets.
As they approached the final stretch of their journey, Cid started to fly lower. Their destination was upon a fairly small island, inaccessible to a craft this size. They would have to land outside, and walk the last stretch. As they approached, they finally got a good look at the ruins underneath them.
"Other than the monsters, it doesn't look like the Empire got this far," Sora commented. The buildings were in good condition, despite nature reclaiming them.
"Thankfully, they weren't able to reach these lands, but others weren't so lucky," Alphinaud said, glancing down at the ruins.
"In the time since the colony was abandoned, the ruins have been inhabited by treasure hunters and nomadic goblins. They eventually created the settlement of Idyllshire," Gerard said, pointing to an area on the edge of the cliff overlooking the sea, where a tall structure stood.
Suddenly Cid turned his airship sharply, announcing,
"Sorry for the detour, but I think some of our goblin friends might be in trouble!"
"Goblins?" Sora inquired, he had seen goblins in storybooks his mother showed him, but that didn't mean they could be the same.
"They are one of our world's many beast tribes, a nomadic people known for being merchants and skilled craftsmen," Alphinaud said, looking over the edge of the airship's railing. "Either they are under threat from the bandits or… the Heartless."
Sure enough, they spotted a group of goblins, carrying large knapsacks. Sora, Goofy and Donald joined Alphianud looking over the airship's railing on the ground below, spotting the group from wore large gas masks with a black lens covering their face, save for their long ears poking out. They were running for their lives, a pack of Heartless chasing after them with at least a dozen Shadows. The goblins looked like merchants, unarmed and defenseless. As the airship closed in, the Heartless caught up, quickly surrounding the goblins. With no time to waste, Sora, Gerard, Donald, Goofy, Alphinaud, Alisaie, G'raha, and Y'shtola leaped to the ground from the airship the moment it flew low enough.
Gerard and Sora split up, knowing the Heartless always attacked with swarm tactics, using their numbers to surround and overwhelm prey. The pair silently agreed to attack from the left and right sides to break up the Heartless surrounding the goblins. Donald and Goofy went to support Sora, as the young man used his round shield as a projectile weapon, hurling it at a Heartless. Donald unleashed a torrent of lightning bolts at the monsters to keep them from attacking the cowering goblin merchants.
Supporting Gerard were the Leveilleur Twins. Alisaie opened up with a blast of Jolt II, raining spheres of lightning from her magical focus, attached to the pommel of her crystal blade. Once the casting was complete, the magical focus detached to float near her as the spheres of lightning hit their mark, scattering the Heartless. The red mage followed up her strike with a Corps-a-corps, rushing the nearest Heartless with blinding speed, striking with her Hailstorm Rapier. Gerard followed up Alisaie's lightning assault with Blade of Truth, cutting a bloody path through their ranks, leaving half a dozen slain.
"This way," Alphinaud shouted to the Goblins.
The goblins hurried towards him as he gestured for them to follow him to safety.
Y'shtola and G'raha used their respective magic to cover the goblins' escape. G'raha used Holy to dispatch any monsters attempting to pursue. In turn, Y'shtola cast Flare, quickly followed by Freeze, the latter of which not only froze the Heartless caught by the blast of ice magic, but also created a barrier blocking them from pursuing the goblins.
Donald, not wanting to feel overshadowed by the veteran adventurers, cast Meteor, summoning four flaming asteroids from above. They struck the Heartless, further disorganizing their ranks to rob them of their advantage in numbers. Scattered and disorganized by Donald's attack, the Heartless were easier to split up and take on a few at once. Sora struck down another Heartless, moving on to another, but a new type suddenly appeared to join the battle.
Unlike the Heartless he had seen so far, the Large Body was unusual. It stood eight feet tall, with a round body and small head, with arms and legs. It wore purple and blue clothing trimmed with gold, and a metal helmet. It had a black heart emblem over its chest, trimmed in red. Alisaie cast Verfire, but the flames died out harmlessly against the creature's chest. Despite its short legs, the Large Body ran quickly towards Alisaie, attempting to ram into her. The young woman dodged it easily, but a second large body ambushed Sora from behind.
"Look out, Sora!" Goofy shouted.
Dodging the unusual Heartless, Sora narrowly avoided being trampled. The Keyblade Wielder swiftly retaliated, shooting a bolt of lightning into the back of the monster. The Heartless was slain, which caught Alisaie's eye. The Large Body she attacked earlier came around to run her down, but she side-stepped the monster, getting behind it before striking with Enhanced Redoublement into its back, cutting deeply.
Following suit, the Warrior of Light targeted the back side of another Large Body, as three more appeared to replace the two slain. Seeing even more Heartless appear, the Warrior of Light sheathed his sword, and a bright light engulfed him. Emerging from the light, Gerard wore dark blue armor, more streamlined with a draconic design, and he came armed with a lance. Moving faster than before, Gerard leaped high into the air before coming down behind the Large Body Heartless. He unleashed a burst of fire, which sent the Lesser Heartless creatures flying, scattering them, before impaling the Large Body from behind with a powerful thrust.
With the Heartless scattered, the rest of the group focused on eliminating the monsters before they could regroup.
Sora, G'raha, and Donald combined their magic with Y'shtola, who unleashed a powerful Thundaga spell, sending thunderbolts that covered the battlefield at the dispersing horde. Meanwhile, Alisaie, Goofy, and Gerard finished the last of them. When no more Heartless appeared, it was clear the battle had been won.
"Thank you very much for saving us, friendly uplanders. Uplanders saved gobbyflock from ink beasts!" proclaimed the lead goblin, approaching Sora and Gerard, dancing to express his happiness.
"Don't mention it. We'll ensure the area is cleared of the creatures," Gerard said. "You lot should hurry on towards your destination."
"Yes, yes, we gobbies have many treasures to trade. Goodbye, friendly uplanders," The lead goblin said before hurrying off to board the Enterprise.
"I'll make sure they make it to Idyllshire," Cid called from his airship. "But I'll wait for you to finish your business with Master Matoya."
"Uh, they have an odd way of talking," Goofy said, observing the goblins.
"They tend to mix words from whatever language of those they encounter, sometimes even making up their own words. It varies from Goblin to Goblin," Alisaie said. "Most of them are friendly… most of them."
"But that was an abnormal amount of Heartless," Sora said, thinking of the Large Body. "I've never seen so many except on my island, and those were big ones we just fought."
"Yes, those large ones were very different from the ones we've seen so far. There are other types, then?" G'raha said, placing one hand on his chin.
"Hold those thoughts for now," Y'shtola said, having noticed someone approaching, with two Heartless flanking him. "I think someone is directing the Heartless, and they are coming toward us."
"So, you lot destroyed all of the Heartless I was gathering?" A certain cat declared angrily as he approached the group, flanked by two Heartless.
He was rotund, a large humanoid with cat-like features. He wore dark blue and red clothing, suspenders holding it together around the chest and shoulders. Yet despite his appearance, he gave off an intimidating aura, as he was flanked by his Heartless bodyguards.
The Armored Knights were a type of Heartless with humanoid bodies and thin limbs, clad head to toe in full plate armor, wielding swords. Two flanked Pete, with five more behind them, prepared to defend him.
"Now, how will I turn that old crone living in that cave into a Heartless? She would've made a powerful one, if what I heard is true!"
"PETE!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed.
"Wait… hold it! What are you two nimrods doing here?!" Pete exclaimed in surprise.
"What are YOU doing here?" Donald demanded.
"You guys know him?" Sora asked.
"We sure do," Goofy said before explaining. "Pete has been causing trouble for ages. His majesty banished him to another dimension over ten years ago when he went too far."
"How did you escape?!" Donald snapped, wagging his finger at the cat. Pete laughed.
"You want to know how, eh? I'll tell you how. Maleficent, Mistress of all evil, busted me out. Soon your world, no, no, no… all worlds will belong to her and me. Together we're going to conquer them all!"
"Really." Alisaie was less than impressed. "You and what army? Because your lackeys aren't very impressive."
"Oh yeah?!" Pete snarled, balling his right hand into a fist.
"You're threatening my teacher. Although I highly doubt you would get the better of her, I cannot allow such a threat to slide," Y'shtola said, readying her staff as she began channeling magic.
"You are not going to create any more Heartless," Gerard said, and another bright light enveloped him. This time he wore red robes, with a black cloth wrapped around his neck and sandals, and he was armed with a katana.
"Then I will have to finish you lot off, with me and my HEARTLESS!" Pete shouted as the Armored Knights surged past Pete to engage Sora and company.
Not only were the Armored Knights joining the fight, but a dark portal opened up behind Pete as an enormous Heartless emerged. It hovered above the ground, a pink sphere where its legs should have been. The upper body was humanoid, dressed like a witch, save for the bright color palette of the outfit. It was pink with gold and black trimming, carrying a staff for a weapon. The Jeweled Sorceresses also had the Heartless emblem upon its chest.
"Too afraid to face us yourself?" Alisaie scoffed.
"Just a moment ago, you outnumbered me, so I think this is fair!" Pete shot back.
The Jeweled Sorceress unleashed a small thunderstorm, forcing the heroes to scatter, and in its wake the Armored Knights charged. G'raha cast Holy upon the advancing Heartless. The eruption of divine energy consumed several Armored Knights and stunned a few others. Sora and Alisaie didn't waste the opportunity, and neither did Gerard. With fast, powerful blows, he decapitated the stunned Armored Knights easily. Their armored bodies might have protected their heads, but their joints were a different story.
Feeling inspired by Alisaie and Gerard, Sora begins channeling magic into his Keyblade, specifically Thunder magic. Upon clashing with an Armored Knight, the magically empowered blade cut through the Heartless's sword, and the dark creature wielding it. As the monster fell, Sora eyed another Armored Knight over his shoulder, and he quickly turned and cut the Heartless in half. Meanwhile, G'raha and Y'shtola were attempting to overpower the Jeweled Sorceress with their magic. The caster matched them in power, weaving a spell that canceled out their attacks in a furious explosion. Y'shtola and G'raha were forced to shield themselves from the blast, and the magic-wielding Heartless counterattacked with freezing hurricane-strength winds from a blizzard spell.
The two Scions managed to weather the storm as Alphinaud aided them, raising a barrier to shield them from the worst of it. Switching to Paladin again, Gerard hurled his shield, striking the face of the Jeweled Sorceress to draw its attention to him. Hurling his shield to inflict some damage and make certain he had gotten the large creature's attention. Goofy joined the Warrior of Light, diverting the Heartless' attention, allowing G'raha to cast Holy again inflicting considerable damage.
After reeling from the blast of holy magic, the Jewelled Sorceress turned its attention to G'raha attacking with blasts of magic from its staff, forcing Goofy to hurry to his aide to help protect him from the Heartless's counterattack while leaving the pair unable to fight back.
Then at their time of need, Y'shtola cast Flare while the Heartless was attacking Goofy and G'raha, forcing it to focus on its current attacker. Y'shtola's spell hit, but despite the destructive power of her magic, it was not enough to slay the creature. Donald came to Y'shtola's aid throwing a Blizzard spell to freeze Jeweled Sorceress's head, trying to slow its spellcasting. Seizing on the opening Donald created, Gerard attacked the Sorceress with holy swords conjured from the ground. Despite their attacks and efforts to impede her, the Jeweled Sorceress still conjured a thunderstorm, showering the area with thunderbolts.
Goofy used his shield to deflect an incoming lightning bolt, as did Gerard, but everyone else had to dodge while fending off the Armored Knights. More were appearing behind Sora's group, the Heartless trying to flank them.
Maybe I should deal with the one controlling them, Alisaie thought, and began searching for Pete. He was standing safely away from the fighting, clearly pleased with himself as he rubbed his hands together.
"No matter what they do, all I gotta do is keep summoning more Heartless, and they'll wear themselves down," Pete cackled.
"What happens then if I take you out!?"
His gloating was interrupted as Alisaie came at him, blade in hand. At the last moment Pete dodged, having a sixth sense when it came to danger. She pressed the attack, forcing the cat back. Even worse for Pete, in his eagerness to eliminate the group he had left himself with no Heartless to protect himself. Even if he tried to call them, it would take them too long to come to his aid. Alisaie was relentless in her attacks, but despite his size, Pete was barely dodging all of her attacks.
How can someone so fat be this agile?
As Pete dodged, he used an unseen gesture to open a Corridor of Darkness.
"Oh no, you don't," Alisaie snapped, following the fleeing Pete into the Corridor. Her swing nearly beheaded him- nearly. In frustration she threw Verfire at him. It hit home, but did not kill him outright. The magic set his back on fire, though, and a panicked Pete ran screaming further down the Corridor. Recklessly pursuing him, Alisaie paid no heed to the door closing behind her.
"ALISAIE!" Alphinaud shouted, horrified when the portal closed.
He wanted to rush over but couldn't get past the Armored Knights and the Jeweled Sorceress. However, the battle was turning in their favor, with Sora and Gerard clearing the last of the Armored Knights with help from Goofy. Y'shtola and G'raha, aided by Donald, combined their magic. Together they overpowered the Heartless' magic, allowing them to deal a staggering blow against it. Seeing an opening, Gerard transformed into a Dragoon once more, leaping into the air and ramming his spear into the Heartless' chest, forcing it to the ground. From there, Sora hurried and beheaded it.
The Jeweled Sorceress dissolved into shadows and faded away, a glowing heart-shaped object ascending skyward as the monster fell. With the leading Heartless gone, the last of the Armored Knights were left without direction, and were quickly dispatched.
"Alisaie!" Alphinaud shouted, hurrying to the corridor site.
"What happened?" Goofy asked.
"Alisaie went after Pete when he tried to flee, but I don't think we can follow," Alphinaud said, sounding shocked.
"I see no trace of the portal," Y'shtola said. Due to her blindness, she perceived the world through sensing the aether energy around her, giving her a unique insight in matters magical.
"Is there anything we can do?" Gerard asked.
"No, I am afraid not," a voice said.
All eyes turned to see a young man approaching them, dressed in black robes with a white toga. His black hair and dark eyes were intense, but despite the dark power he radiated, he maintained an approachable demeanor. The mage kept a respectable distance, stopping a good twenty paces away.
"What she entered was a Corridor of Darkness, a gateway that allows travel between worlds. However, while a Corridor of Darkness allows for the fastest travel to another world, it's the riskiest. Entering a Dark Corridor means passing through the Realm of Darkness, where an unprepared and unprotected traveler risks corruption by the darkness," The mage explained with both hands held behind his back. "Given what I've heard about Miss Leveilleur, she may be strong enough to survive a first time unaffected. Where she ended up is another question, although Pete likely fled back to his master, Maleficent."
"Who are you, and how do you know so much?" G'raha said, holding his staff at the ready, just in case.
"I am Zeref," the mage introduced himself politely. "And I know of you, Scions of the Seventh Dawn, and you, Warrior of Light. Emet-Selch told me much about you all."
"Emet-Selch… are you with the Ascians?" Gerard asked, assuming a defensive stance.
"No, but we were close allies. Please, relax," Zeref said, gesturing for the Scions to lower their weapons. "I didn't come here to seek vengeance for Emet-Selch, but to offer useful information to that boy," Zeref said, nodding at the keyblade wielder. "Sora, was it?"
"Me?" Sora said, blinking.
"Wait, where can we find my sister?" Alphinaud said, still worried.
"I cannot say where she ended up for sure, but if you agree to hear what I say and consider my offer, I'll ask around. I know people who might know."
"Uh…" Sora was uncertain what to do, looking to the others.
Gerard didn't like it, but there wasn't much they could do. Alphinaud liked the situation even less, but there was no choice but to humor Zeref. Everyone wordlessly agreed, with no signs of objection from Gerard.
"Alright, what is it you want to share?" Sora said.
"I have information that can lead you to the friends you seek, Riku and Kairi," Zeref said. Sora gaped in shock.
"Really?" he said hopefully.
Y'shtola held up a hand, cautioning the young man.
"Your arrival is rather convenient. Given the information you have, one has to consider if it's genuine, and how you gained such information," she said. Zeref smiled.
"Of course. My sudden appearance and offers should make anyone suspicious. I do not fault you for that. However, how do you expect Sora to find his friends all on his own? Or Miss Alisaie? The search could take a lifetime. I am afraid you have no choice but to trust me a little."
The mage had a point. They simply had no means of tracking down Sora's missing friends and locating Alisaie, assuming she ended up in another world or worse.
"Is there a way we can tell if he's telling the truth?" Sora asked.
"There might be," Gerard approached Zeref.
"I know what you intend to do, but I would advise you to keep a safe distance from me," Zeref warned. "I am cursed, you see, and should you approach me carelessly, my curse will kill you."
Still, Gerard didn't need to be too close as the Echo reached out, delving into the mage's memories. He couldn't command it to do so, but it seemed it responded to his desire to see the mage's memories.
"So, the newest Keyblade Wielder has traveled to Hydaelyn instead of one of the various versions of Earth?" Ieyasu said. He sat on a bench in downtown Ingram, receiving his report.
"I was quite surprised when news of this reached us through our informant," Zeref smiled. "Maybe this is a sign of your plan to upset the powers of fate, ultimately breaking them."
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The powers of fate are not so easily overthrown," Ieyasu cautioned. "I'll arrange for someone to go to Hydaelyn and track down Sora."
"I'll handle it," Zeref replied. "I am interested in meeting the Warrior of Light, considering their reputation."
"Alright then, I'll leave it to you," Ieyasu said, using magic to create a map with coordinates written on it. "Give Sora this map. This trail of worlds will lead them to those they seek at its end, provided they meet the one who tells them where."
"The one? Who?"
"They'll meet him," Ieyasu said with a knowing smile. "But since you'll meet the Warrior of Light, be sure to inform him and the Scions of Maleficent's new allies. That will be something they'll need to be warned of, but assure them that the Keyhole of their world was sealed long ago."
"Understood," Zeref said.
The memory ended, and Gerard's thoughts returned to the present.
"I guess you saw what you needed?" Zeref said.
"Yes. What exactly were you doing with the likes of Ieyasu?"
"A valid question, sir knight. Not one you will have an answer to, but a valid question all the same."
Gerard's eyes narrowed. This man was clearly not trustworthy, but what choice did they have?
"Know it is in both our best interests to see Sora succeed, though," Zeref continued. "However, he lacks the experience and wisdom to carry out his mission properly. Although his skills and powers continue to grow at an impressive rate, growing up on an island that has never known war or conflict has left him unfamiliar with the kind of struggles we have known. I almost envy Sora for having lived such a peaceful existence."
"What do you mean by that?" Sora demanded.
"Something you'll come to understand on your journey, as you see more worlds," Zeref replied.
"How do you plan on locating my sister?" Alphinaud demanded.
"My friend has a way, but before I contact him, I should give you this," Zeref said, drawing a scroll and a small book from his robes. "This scroll has a map of which worlds will have clues to the whereabouts of King Mickey and Sora's missing friends. The book has intelligence regarding Maleficent's newest ally. Someone you are familiar with: Zenos yae Galvus."
The Scions reacted with surprise, their expressions varying in between concern and horror.
This process might take some time, Zeref thought. But it will be worth seeing if this Warrior of Light might be capable of slaying Acnologia.
Meanwhile, miles away in a city recently torn apart by civil war, an enormous, menacing tower was under construction. The demonic structure, although unfinished, loomed over much of the ruined city. Deep within the ominous structure, Fandaniel was leading Maleficent toward their destination.. She was accompanied by three others, recent allies.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I shall show you the centerpiece of the Tower of Babil," Fandaniel gleefully said, guiding them to the tower's heart.
The most prominent of the group was a man with chalk-white skin. His hair was the same, save for a black streak. He had milky white eyes, yet he was not blind. At six feet, clad in black armor and a matching cape with mahogany black feathers, he was quite a striking figure. His companion, acting as his bodyguard, was five feet tall with shoulder-length orange hair, red eyes, and chalk-white skin, dressed in a skin-tight outfit.
The second group was led by a tall and slim man with gray skin, black hair and beard, dressed in black and purple robes revealing his chest. In his hand, he held a staff. Following him, seemingly as a bodyguard, was a young woman whose identity was hidden by the purple hood and robes they wore, with brown boots, white pants, and a shirt.
"Behold, Anima!" Fandaniel declared with a pompous gesture, like a salesman presenting a prized ware.
An enormous set of doors opened to a gigantic chamber. On a platform ahead a monstrous creature looming over them, just its head and torso approximately thirty feet tall. The rest of the creature seemed stuck on the other side of the portal to which it was chained; who knew how big the creature was in its entirety.
The demonic creature's face was covered in bandages, with only its fang-covered mouth and glowing yellow eyes visible. Anima's body was restrained heavily with thick chains, its hands bound with metal cuffs built as a single piece of metal. Anima roared at its visitors, but didn't attempt to attack them.
"How was this Anima created?" the pale-skinned man inquired.
"I created him from the corpse of Varis yae Galvus, the slain Emperor of the Garlean Empire," Fandaniel explained. "You see, the key components to creating a Primal are crystals brimming with lots of energy, and religious faith to provide form, purpose, and sentience for the Primal. Garleans lack popular religion, but their belief and desire for their slain beloved Emperor to save them was a serviceable substitute."
"So religion isn't a required part of a Primal creation?" The man with pale skin in black armor asked.
"That is right, Lord Thales," Fandaniel gestured for everyone to gather near a console outside Anima's chamber. "Although it makes the process much easier, having a viable reference for the summoner to use makes gathering followers whose faith can help strengthen the Primal easier. After summoning, they'll need a constant supply of energy to sustain it. We even have a perfect opportunity for all of you to observe the birth of one."
As he put in a few commands, a monitor turned on to reveal the interior of a chamber akin to the one Anima resided in.
"Now watch as a new Primal is given form, using the memories and faith of those in the new tower that we've created on Etheria," Fandaniel exclaimed as energy gathered into a sphere. Before their eyes, a humanoid shape began forming.
In a flash, a brand new Primal was born. It appeared as a woman, nine feet tall, with long, wild, white hair, pale skin, and red eyes. It wore black pants, matching boots trimmed with gold, a white sleeveless top, and a cape. It wore a gold crown on its head. With an inhuman cry as it gained awareness, the newly born Primal conjuring a black sword into one hand before leaving the chamber.
"Under normal conditions, if there were followers with the summoner, the Primal would've tempered them, radically altering their souls to become fanatically devoted to it, thereby securing continued worship and faith to strengthen it. Now it will drain the land it stands on of energy to sustain its form and power, which could turn a lush forest into a desolate landscape." Fandaniel said. Thales seemed the most intrigued among those following.
"I would appreciate it if you could teach me more about Primal summoning," Thales said, smiling sinisterly. "I just happen to have pawns and a location where the conditions are right for a new Primal to be made."
"Why, I would be more than happy to, and I am most curious what you'll do with it," Fandaniel grinned. "Anyone else?"
Maleficent quietly smiled. Thanks to Fandaniel, she would be able to secure alliances with Thales's secretive order and Validar's cult.
Yet what destroyed his organization's home base, I wonder? Maleficent thought.
At first, Thales had rejected Maleficent's proposal for an alliance, feeling his group, Those who Slither in the Dark, would gain nothing from it. But Thales had reconsidered when someone or something had wiped out their home base in the ancient city of Shambhala and slaughtered its inhabitants. The only survivors were those who had been away from the underground city. All its resources were taken, without any sign of who might have been responsible.
Perhaps Thales' use of a Primal might smoke out those responsible for helping further cement his allegiance to me. Then perhaps I should be able to better contend with the Harbingers, Maleficent thought.
Although she and the Harbingers had a non-aggression pact- and thanks to them, Maleficent had found some of the Princesses of Heart- they had conflicting interests. It was only a matter of time before they would come to blows, and Maleficent wanted to have the means to crush them when that time came.
Reaching the exterior of the cave where Master Matoya lived, Sora, Donald, Goofy, Gerard, Y'shtola, G'ahara, and Alphinaud followed Zeref at a safe distance. He had received troubling intelligence about Zenos and Maleficent becoming allies, facilitated by his new Asican supporter Fandaniel.
"Okay, so I understand what a Primal is, but who are these Ascians?" Sora asked, walking alongside G'ahara, who had just finished explaining the concept.
"They were once a cult of a dark sorceresses who worshiped the God of Darkness, Zodiark. They were the ones who spread the knowledge of summoning Primals to the Beast Tribes to create conflicts and trigger a calamity," G'ahara replied.
"A calamity?"
"Well, I should explain their history first. Thousands of years ago, there was a thriving civilization, known to us as the Ancients. They understood magic and many other abilities that very few possess today. Their civilization was prosperous and peaceful, every ancient capable of creating whatever they wanted through their mastery of creation magic. They lived for thousands of years."
"So they could create anything?" Sora asked, in awe.
"Yes. Living creations, and objects. The only limit was their imagination, the energy required for the task, only needing to work together for large-scale projects. Anyway, despite their prosperity, the ancient civilization was overtaken by a sudden apocalyptic event known as the Final Days, which brought it all to an end."
"The Final Days?" Goofy asked.
"Yes. It was a cataclysmic event. No-one knows how it started, or why. We know that earthquakes and meteors from the skies ravaged the land, and the magic of the Ancients went out of control, driving them to unwillingly create monsters made from their despair, and nightmares that were given form."
"So, how did they stop it?"
"I don't have the full details, but they created a Primal to stop the Final Days. Sadly, an enormous amount of energy was needed to create a Primal capable of affecting the laws of nature and reality. So half of the total population willingly gave up their lives to fuel the ritual."
G'ahara's words stunned Sora and his friends.
"Over half of their population, and they did it willingly?" Sora said, stunned.
"At least thousands, if not millions, gave up their lives," G'ahara said somberly. "It was a sign of how dire their situation was."
"Hard to believe so many people gave up their lives like that," Sora said, uncertain how to react.
"I know it's difficult to grasp. But after that Zodiark, God of Darkness, was born," G'ahara continued. "Thanks to his summoning, the Final Days were averted. Unfortunately, due to the mass devastation, much of their world was barely habitable if not completely barren. Another great sacrifice was needed to restore the world to its original condition, so another half of the dwindling population gave up their lives again so Zodiark could restore the land."
"That's crazy! Was there no other way?"
"It seems not. But with such a tragic sacrifice, the Ancients wanted to offer another sacrifice to restore those who gave up their lives. To do so, they turned to the new lifeforms and races that began to appear after Zodiark restored the world instead. However, a small group of Ancients opposed this, feeling that there had already been enough sacrifice. When their fellows refused to see reason, this group, led by a woman named Venat, guided them to summon another Primal to keep Zodiark in check. The Goddess of Light, Hydaelyn.
"Despite not having the same raw power as Zodiark, Hydaelyn was capable enough to battle Zodiark on equal footing, fighting in a titanic clash until Hydaelyn struck Zodiark with a mighty blow. It shattered reality, dividing our world into fourteen reflections of itself, with us left on the original world."
"Your world was divided into fourteen whole worlds?" Goofy said in stunned surprise.
"Yes, but not only was our world divided, but the ancients and Zodiark himself were divided into fourteen pieces of himself, all of which Hydaelyn sealed away. The Ancient caught in the blast of Hydaelyn's blow weren't just divided. They became no different from you and me, having lost most of their powers, memories, and longevity."
"So they just became regular people?" Goofy asked, scratching the top of his head in contemplation.
"Not quite the term I would've used, but I suppose that is one way to put it."
"But not all of them ended up like that, did they?" Some had to have escaped Hydaelyn's blow.
"You are correct. Three ancients escaped intact, and soon they founded the Ascians to restore their world to make it whole again and free Zodiark. However, restoring the world is easier said than done. The Ascians' first attempts failed in turning the fourteenth shard into a void by overflowing the world with darkness. However, they learned from their mistake to begin the process of unifying our world with the other fragments. They found that there had to be a similar disaster happening on the shard and the source matching a specific element to ensure rejoining. The Ascians have caused seven calamities, each with a different elemental aspect beginning with Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth, Ice, Water, and Darkness. They rejoined seven of the shards with our world, but doing so results in the demise of every living thing on the shards. Entire civilizations, gone in an instant," Sora, Donald, and Goofy's were shocked.
"Their uniting of the fragments of the world killed everyone on the shards when they rejoined?"
G'ahara nodded. "Yes, but we finally managed to stop that. That is why the Scions of the Seventh Dawn was formed. It was to stop the calamities that have claimed not only the shards, but many lives and nations in our world. The Primals that the Ascians taught to the beastmen tribes and others were part of a plan to drive conflict, to create the right conditions for triggering calamities."
"Are all of the Ascians besides this Fandaniel guy gone?" Sora asked.
"Their founders and core leadership are gone, and so are most of their key members. Some Ascians are still active, but they are not capable of adding more to their ranks, nor are they capable of causing calamities without the guidance of their leadership," G'ahara said. "Yet if Zeref's warnings are to be believed, then Fandaniel is dangerously different. And without the Asican leaders to hold him back, he is now free to do as he wants."
"Why would he want to destroy the world, though?"
"A good question, but we can only guess until we meet him," G'ahara said, as Sora and the others walked across a wooden bridge leading to a small canyon surrounded by pools of water. "I guess we are here."
"I'll return once I have word of your sister's whereabouts," Zeref stated. "Besides, it would be unwise for you to have me in an enclosed space with many people,"
"Do we have your word?" Alphinaud asked. Although he didn't like trusting Zeref, he knew he had no other means of finding his sister.
"You do. It will be a show of good faith that my friends and I do not wish for any conflict with the Scions at this time." He made a gesture, and behind him a Dark Corridor opened. He stepped inside, and was soon gone. Alphinaud's hands tightened in frustration, but Gerard put a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't like it any more than you do. Let's hope he comes through, for Alisaie's sake."
"I know, but still, that shouldn't have happened."
"For now, we must continue onward," Y'shtola gestured for everyone to enter Matoya's cave. "Come, Master Matoya awaits."
Later that evening on Fódlan, Lelouch finally collapsed onto his bed, hoping for a good night's sleep. Ingrid had trained with him all afternoon, and it had pushed him to his limits. Even with healing magic, he couldn't recall a time he felt this exhausted.
That woman, I thought she would make me spar with her through the night,he thought, laying back.
Lelouch allowed sleep to take him. Yet, he should have known there was no rest for the weary. As Lelouch awoke, it was not his usual dreamscape. He found himself lying in lush green grass with a pleasant smell filling his nose. As the exiled prince rose to his feet, Lelouch looked around to see forest as far as his eyes could see. There were colorful flowers of different varieties, and tall trees, each coiled by veins with white flowers blooming from them. Across the landscape were little grassy plateaus with toadstool mushroom steps on the sides, and houses covered in moss. It was like something out of a fairy story. But as Lelouch rose to his feet, he heard his unseen benefactor within him speaking.
"That girl put you through quite a lot," the voice teased. "I wonder if she is interested in you."
"I wonder more if she was paying me back for how I bested her," Lelouch groaned.
"No, I sensed no malicious intent from her. Only curiosity and maybe more," The voice said amusedly.
"Oh, please, we only just met."
"Lighten up. I only jest."
"Right, so I assume this is a dream? But why the change in scenery?"
"Well, we're going to change things up a little. I plan to have you visit a world beyond Fódlan, but since your body cannot go to another world, we'll have to use another method. This world can only be visited through dreaming, so here we are."
"What do you mean?"
"First, allow me to introduce you to a friend who happens to be an associate of a friend I knew a long time ago," the voice said before someone else made their presence known.
"Good morning," a young girl behind Lelouch said.
Turning around, Lelouch saw a fair-skinned girl around his age with long sand-blonde hair styled into a pair of drill-like pigtails on the side of her head. She wore a floral dress, made of yellow and white flower petals and long thigh-high black boots. She looked almost human, except for the fluttering golden butterfly-like wings and pointy, elf-like ears. By her side, she held a sphere with a glowing green seed-shaped center, which Lelouch assumed was a source of power or a magical item.
"Uh… good morning. Are you a fairy?" He said confusedly.
The girl laughed, amused by his befuddlement.
"No, I am Peony of the Sweet Dream, and I am to be your guide!"
A/N: well that, Lelouch has taken his first steps into another world through dreams. Now visiting the world of Zenith, Fire Emblem Heroes, via Ljósálfheimr the Realm of Dreams which is connected to the Realm of Sleep. And no I am not giving Lelouch the Power of Waking this early in the story, but the unique nature of the Realm of Dreams will allow me to have a whole adventure in another world happen within a single night without having to leave the world of Fódlan.
Sora and company had their first run in with Pete and his Heartless, much earlier than in game while Maleficent has gained even more allies with Fandaniel sharing the secrets of Primal creation, which means Primals will become a threat Sora and Lelouch's parties will face in the future.
Meanwhile Alisaie has become lost in a Dark Corridor, so what shall be her fate, find out next chapter.
Also I have helped expand the Tv tropes page, its character page while avoiding spoilers from KH not introduced in story yet, after its page was created so check it out and if there is a trope I missed let me know or updated if you can, it would be much appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your reviews, favorites and follows because they help me keep moving forward with the story.
Next on my rotation is Code Geass: Lelouch of the Grand Order next for an update and being worked on by my beta. I'll post the chapter as soon as he is done with it, but I must wait until he does work for another person he beta for so it should be after a week or so.