DISCLAIMER: High School DxD belongs to Ichiei Ishibumi and Star Wars belongs to Disney (Unfortunately). The scenario and original characters are mine.

Chapter I

Purpose

Outskirts of Kuoh Town, Japan, 2002 A.D. (6ABY)

The modified J-Type 327 Nubian Starship landed with a soft thump in the dark forest. The ship's ramp lowered to the ground while steam billowed out of its now open and depressurized cargo hold. A dark figure walked down the ramp, his gaze roaming as he reached the bottom.

Khooh Puuhr

His mechanical breathing was the only sound that could be heard in that part of the forest. The animals in the area had been spooked by the starship. More ships, Sentinel-Class Landing Craft, soon followed, packed with soldiers that were personally loyal to the dark figure. They were men of various units, though most hailed from the 501st Legion. Many of the men in that group were old, by this point, but the dark figure didn't care. He'd served with them the past twenty years from his time as a Jedi to his time as the Emperor's slave.

"I am a slave no longer," the man, the former Dark Lord of the Sith known as Darth Vader, thought bitterly as he squeezed his repaired hand before lowering it next to his recovered lightsaber. He'd dealt with that issue himself shortly before the second Death Star was destroyed.

It had been almost too easy. As soon as he saw Palpatine trying to shock his son to death with Force Lightning, he broke free of the elder Sith Lord's hold on him and called his son's lightsaber to his remaining hand before plunging its blade into the Emperor's back. How the Emperor hadn't heard the weapon's tell-tale snap-hiss of activation, Vader would never know.

Snagging the Lambda-Class shuttle from the hangar was a simple matter due to the chaos and panic of the station's personnel. Once on Endor, Luke and Vader discussed their next steps. Vader knew that despite what his son thought, the Rebellion wouldn't hesitate to execute him as a war criminal. That was their right considering all he had done. Vader was not ready for death, however, and thus talked his son into allowing the galaxy to believe that Darth Vader died with the Emperor. That was true... from a certain point of view.

Vader then made contact with the remnants of the 501st before stealing a pair of shuttles and traveling to his home on Mustafar. There, Vader collected more of his men, men he knew wouldn't be able to survive the fracture of the Empire and set off into the Unknown Regions. In total, Vader brought four hundred men, women, and droids with him into exile. He'd sent some ahead to lay the groundwork for their stay on this world roughly two years ago now. From the reports they'd sent back, they had ownership of a large building near the mountain that Vader and his men landed on. They chose the building due to its closeness to a nearby city, strangely called Kuoh Town, and the fact that it was large enough to mask any ships coming into it from view. Vader would've gone straight there but he and two shuttles had peeled off after he felt a presence in the Force nearby.

"Milord?" a filtered voice asked behind him. It was obvious to the former Sith it was a Fett Clone. Judging by the Clone's presence in the Force, it was CT-0000/1010, or 'Fox' to the rest of the 501st.

"Secure the area, Sergeant," Vader dismissed the Clone Sergeant as he continued to scan the area.

Vader heard the sound of a blaster rifle hitting the Stormtrooper's chest plate before he heard Fox's reply. "Yes, milord."

The Clone Stormtrooper walked away as Vader focused on the presence he felt in the Force. The presence was strong for one so young. He believed the presence was no older than six. What Vader didn't understand was the fact that besides maybe one or two other Force presences besides the one he sensed and himself, this world was practically devoid of the Force. How had that happened? Some cataclysm or war? If it was a war, how large had it been to exterminate most who could be Force-Sensitive? It couldn't have happened recently, surely.

Vader felt the presence shift ever so slightly. It felt like the presence was growing more tired. Knowing that his curiosity couldn't be sated by simply standing in this place, he began to walk towards the presence. Before he left, however, he informed his men to patrol the perimeter and ensure they remained undetected for the time being. Vader knew of course that it was only a matter of time before they were discovered but he would prolong their anonymity for as long as he could. No civilian deaths were to be permitted. That would only cause questions to arise.

The boy was starting to get tired from sitting close to the fire, next to his father. His father, Gorou, and mother, Miki, had taken him along on this trip to get his mind off Rin moving away. It wasn't working all that much if he was being honest with himself. Camping wasn't really his thing. His grandparents were also doing their best to cheer him up, but it also wasn't working great. He still missed his friend. It also hadn't helped that every now and then he'd have these strange feelings that no one believed him about.

The feelings started small at first. Little hints that kept him away from bad situations, like walking near the abandoned church in town, to full-on discerning the thoughts and feelings of others just by looking at them. The feelings also hinted vaguely that he wasn't always alone. At points, where he knew for sure that he was alone, he felt a presence nearby. It was an ancient and powerful presence, biding its time until he either called it out or it believed he was ready. He was annoyed by the feelings, especially now.

The feeling was telling him that an older, though not as old as the vague presence, and darker presence was nearby. The presence didn't seem to harbor any ill will towards him, as far as he knew, but he definitely knew it was coming closer. He could feel its journey through the forest beyond his family's campsite.

"-sei? Issei, did you hear me?" his mother asked, giving the young boy a gentle shake.

Issei Hyōdō shook himself and looked up at his mother, tilting his head slightly. "Yes, Mom?"

"It's time for bed, honey. Do you need to go before we head back to the tents?"

"Um…"

"You probably should. You may need to and might not realize," his father offered as he stood up.

Issei nodded as he started toward the public bathrooms. He could hear his parents packing up for about thirty feet before he reached the bathroom. It took only a second to do his business and clean his hands in the somewhat dirty sink. As he started back towards their campsite, he stopped. Something was pulling him in the direction of the deeper forest. He didn't know what to do at first but knowing that his feelings had never steered him wrong before, he followed the pull into the forest. He went into the deeper part of the forest by about twenty feet when he suddenly felt something else: the presence from before. He thought about running away, only to realize there was a new sound in the forest.

Khooh Puuhr

Issei had no idea what that noise was, but it sounded almost like something… breathing? He soon had his answer as a figure appeared from out of the darkness. The figure was tall, nearly seven feet, and completely black in appearance. The figure's head, or rather the helmet the figure was wearing, was skull-like in appearance. There was a box on his chest that had several blinking red and green lights. A silver and black cylinder was hanging from the left side of the figure's belt. The figure also hadn't stopped making the sound. It led Issei to believe that the noise really was the figure breathing.

After another few feet, the figure stopped, placing his hands on his belt as he looked around, searching for something. The presence Issei felt earlier seemed to expand before it focused completely on him. The figure focused his attention on Issei at the same time. Issei cowered slightly as the figure approached, coming close enough that he had to look up to look into the black lenses of the figure's helmet. Issei could feel that the figure meant him no harm still, but he hadn't expected to meet the presence's owner, which he assumed was the figure before him, so soon. The two were completely silent for a few moments before Issei broke the silence. "W-w-who are you?"

"My name is Vader, little one. What is your name?" the figure asked, his voice deep and synthesized, in what sounded like accented Japanese. Issei guessed that Japanese wasn't his first language. From the way the accent was, Issei further guessed the figure's main language was English.

"My name is Issei Hyōdō." Issei replied timidly. The figure was kinda scary, if the young boy was being honest.

Vader spoke again, this time in English, "Are you fluent in Basic? I'm afraid Neimodian is not my strong suit."

"B-basic?"

"I will take that as a 'no'. Very well. My Neimoidian is at least passable."

"'Nee-moid-ee-an'? Do you mean Japanese?"

"Japanese… I've never heard the Neimoidian native tongue referred to as such before. No matter. What is the name of this place?"

"Uh, you're in Japan."

"Japan? Is that the name of this world?"

"What? No, this world is called 'Earth'…"

"'Earth'? How… original. Tell me, why are you here?"

"I felt a pull to come here."

"A pull? Then you are indeed the one that I sensed. Tell me, was this your first time feeling this sort of pull?"

"Yes, but I've felt other things before. Things like ideas and feelings other people have."

"I see. Do you know the name of those… 'feelings'?"

"N-no. Should I?"

"So, you have no knowledge of the Force, then."

"The Force?"

"Those feelings you have. They're a small part of it, as well as that pull you felt."

"How do I make them stop?"

"Stop? Young Hyōdō, you have been given a gift very few on this world and those in the wider galaxy have. Besides you, there are perhaps three beings at most who can wield the Force, not counting myself."

"You have those feelings too?"

"Yes. Perhaps-" Vader would've continued had it not been for the voices coming closer.

"Issei? Where are you?" Gorou Hyōdō called, worry evident in his voice. Issei's mother called soon afterward.

"I'm sorry, but I gotta go. My parents will get worried…"

"Do not worry, young Hyōdō. I understand. Perhaps we shall meet again soon."

"Maybe. See you later!" Issei called as he retraced his steps back towards the main path.

Vader watched Issei go, stepping back into the darkness. Vader was intrigued by the boy, to say the least. The boy's parents didn't have a presence that indicated Force sensitivity, yet Issei's potential was only slightly less than his most recent apprentice's, Galen Marek's, potential had been. Vader knew that kind of Force potential was very rare in this day and age, thanks to both his and the Empire's efforts. But the more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Why wouldn't the Force create backups to topple the Emperor if he hadn't? It had already with the survival of Luke and his sister.

Had Luke fallen aboard the DS-2, he wouldn't be surprised if the Force began guiding Luke's sister on the path to becoming a Jedi. Would Issei have been her replacement if she fell too? He wouldn't be surprised. The Force needed to be in balance. That was why the Jedi purge had gone on so long, and why there was such a high price for Jedi in the early days. Any large number of them, had they banded together, would have destroyed the Empire and restored the Republic. Palpatine wouldn't allow that.

Vader continued to watch as he pondered on what he was meant to do now. The Force had guided him to the boy, but what more did it want of the former Sith Lord? Surely it wasn't to train him in the ways of the Force? Vader had only just shaken off the hold the Dark Side had held over him for so long. He couldn't- no, wouldn't train the boy so soon after that. The more he watched, though, the more he felt that that was exactly what the Force wanted.

The next time the two would meet, Vader would offer to guide the boy. Now, however, there was too much going on, and he wouldn't steal the boy from the only family he'd known. That was a mistake the Jedi had made, one of many that began their downfall. He would not make the same mistake on this world. He also knew that training the boy solely in the Dark Side was not an option. He would not help create the next Sith, but he also knew that too much training in the Light Side would hinder the boy as well. The idea that hit him next wasn't completely his own: train the boy in both. Make him truly balanced in the Force, and ready for whatever may come.

Vader was no fool. There had been another reason as to why the Force had brought him to Issei. He couldn't see it, not clearly, but he felt that much was in store for Issei Hyōdō. With a nod to himself, Vader began his trek back to his men and ship. He knew they would meet again, soon, but it wouldn't hurt to keep tabs on the boy. Vader knew from experience that not everything should be left wholly to the Force, after all.

Near Kuoh Town, Japan

The hangar was alive as the men that Lord Vader had brought with him after the disaster at Endor busied themselves with making the area as presentable as possible. Hard to do when they'd only recently turned this area into a hangar. It had started its life as an abandoned building's backyard, after all.

Admiral Firmus Piett looked on as the survivors of the Executor, Stormtroopers of various units, mostly from the 501st Legion, and random engineers, droids, and what have you worked to complete the hangar. In total, they numbered close to four hundred people. How they'd managed to sneak down to Earth had been a miracle, if one were to ask Firmus, as was the fact that he and thirty others had managed to escape the destruction of the Executor.

He still didn't know how he'd managed to get off the bridge as the out-of-control A-Wing hurtled towards the Executor's bridge. Perhaps he'd been closer to the door? He didn't fully know at the time, but he knew then and still now that it had been a very close thing. The ship's crash pushed his fleeing form and that of another officer into the elevator that connected the bridge to the rest of the ship. The elevator then dutifully took them both to the floor closest to the escape pods. Firmus carried the man who'd been with him, knocked out by the explosion, the rest of the way to pods. Others had seen him and made for the pods as well after the alarms began sounding. He managed to get the pod running and had it set to Endor. He knew for a fact that the battle was already lost when he glimpsed the Millennium Falcon and other Rebel ships enter the DS-2's core. Setting the escape pod to head for Endor and away from the imminent destruction of the Emperor's Second Death Star seemed the best option.

From there, he and the other pods landed on the outskirts of the main battle. They'd then gone undiscovered until Vader found them only a few hours after Firmus saw the beginning of the Empire's slow and painful demise play out above. Vader then directed the survivors to the few ships still on the planetary shield's landing pad. The rest was history.

If one were to ask any of the other men, they would say it had been due to timing, luck, and careful usage of jamming signals on Vader's part. The sensing equipment of this world was highly outdated, the satellites orbiting the planet so old compared to the wider galaxy that the jammers aboard Vader's Starship easily overpowered them. Several Sentinel-Class Landing Shuttles had made it to the planet, though they'd originally stayed in the forest outside Kuoh Town. It took barely any time at all to amass the funds to buy the building they were currently in.

The building had been abandoned for years, and it showed, hence the low price of purchase. It had taken a good chunk of funds the Imperials had pooled, but once the building was bought and as soon as it was night, they'd begun work on the hangar. They still weren't done yet, but they were close. The hangar's construction was easily explained away by rumors of renovating the building into a hotel. That was only the cover-up, though.

In truth, the building was being renovated to be both that and a home for the displaced Imperials. The upper levels would be open to the public, while the lobby, basement, and even further down would be the Imperial home. It would take a long time, but it had to be done if they wanted to be able to have a home on Earth.

A voice brought Firmus out of his thoughts. "Admiral?"

"Yes, lieutenant?" Firmus replied, turning to the man, the member of the Executor's bridge crew that Firmus had saved before escaping.

"Call for you sir, it's… Lord Vader."

"Very well. I'll take it outside."

"Yes sir."

Firmus left the construction site and entered the quieter basement, taking the call on his holoprojector. A miniature version of the most feared man in the Empire appeared, sitting in his starship's cockpit.

"My lord?"

"Apologies for my tardiness, Admiral Piett. I had… business… to attend to. I shall be arriving shortly," Vader said as he looked into the holoprojector on his end. Firmus was stunned for a few moments. In all his time serving Lord Vader, he'd never heard the man apologize to a subordinate.

"It's… not an issue, milord. Be careful as you land, sir, we're still not finished with the hangar," Firmus cringed as he glanced back toward the hangar.

"That is no problem for me, Admiral. Tell the men to cease construction efforts and assemble."

"Yes, milord."

Vader cut the connection as soon as Firmus had finished speaking. The Imperial Admiral was still thrown off balance by Vader's apology. What happened between coming to Earth and now? Firmus had noticed changes in Vader's behavior before, mainly in that no one had died under him since Endor for some perceived failure or incompetence, but to outright apologize to an underling? That was a first for his commanding officer. Intent on keeping the Vader subordinate death streak to zero, Firmus quickly headed back to the hangar and did as he was told.

What followed next was something none of the Imperials under Vader had expected.

Vader faced the Imperials who'd followed him to Earth, thinking carefully about what to say to them. The debate between keeping secrets from them and telling them everything, such as the truth behind the Clone Wars, had strong points for both sides. Letting the men under him continue under the belief that the Empire had been a force for good in the galaxy would make them easier to control, but the downside would be their attempts to return to the wider galaxy, disrupting Vader's exile and exposing Earth to a galaxy still at war. Telling them the truth, however, could also lead to disaster. Telling the truth would mean telling the men in front of him that he had been the one to kill the Emperor, not his son nor the space station's destruction.

The debate continued for only another minute or two before Vader decided on the truth. He knew that lying to them would only work for so long before it blew up in his face. With the truth, he would know for sure the loyalty of those here with him now. And so, Vader told the truth. He explained how the Emperor had manipulated galactic events to create the Empire, starting from the Trade Federation's Naboo Blockade to how the Emperor controlled the entire Imperial military through the usage of battle meditation. Vader even told them who he had been before he became the Vader they all knew.

It was a great risk, to be sure. Of all the things to tell the truth about, Vader had hoped to keep the fact that he was Anakin Skywalker a secret. He already knew the men of the 501st knew that Anakin and Vader were one and the same, it was obvious. He'd led them under that moniker during Operation Knightfall. He suspected that the Force had played a hand in his telling them his past, otherwise, he'd have kept his wish to separate himself from Anakin. Even further, Vader would've chosen to both lie and tell the truth, but the Force had other ideas.

As he finished speaking, he looked upon the faces and faceplates of those in front of him. They were all stunned into silence. He couldn't blame them. He'd just turned their entire world upside down. It was several minutes before Admiral Piett stepped forward.

"How are we to refer to you, milord? Would you prefer us to refer to you as 'Lord Skywalker' or continue to refer to you as 'Lord Vader'?"

Of all the questions Vader had been expecting, that hadn't been one of them. He expected outrage or elaboration as to how he knew what he did about the Emperor or how it was possible that he was Anakin Skywalker. Rumors had stated that Anakin had died defending younglings at the Jedi Temple during Knightfall.

"'Lord Vader' will suffice. I no longer have the right to go by the Skywalker name. Not after what I have done to the galaxy," Vader replied grimly, his head dipping slightly.

Piett nodded before looking behind him, getting nods to an unspoken question. "Very well, Lord Vader. We are yours to command. We may have sworn loyalty to the Empire, but to us, you are all that remains of the Empire that we served, not the fools currently squabbling over the Empire's carcass."

Vader waited for a few moments before he moved toward the assembled Imperials. He looked Piett squarely in the eye before offering his hand. Piett took it without a second thought. The two men shook, not as master and servant, but as friends.

The former Sith Lord spoke as he ended the handshake. "I am honored that all of you feel the same. I will do my best to ensure that your loyalty to me is not misplaced. You are all dismissed for the evening. We shall continue our work to turn this place into our new home tomorrow. We have much to plan in the coming days."

As Piett turned to leave, however, Vader stopped him while the other Imperials went away.

"I have an order for you, Admiral."

"Yes, milord?"

"I want you to begin tracking the movements of an Earth family."

"Milord?"

"Their son is strong with the Force, Admiral. I want to keep tabs on him. The Force has plans for him, though what those plans are, I am unsure."

"Of course, milord. Their name?"

"Hyōdō."

"I'll get started on it immediately, milord."

"Good… and thank you, Admiral."

"My pleasure, milord," Piett replied as he began walking towards the hangar exit.

Vader watched him go before he turned back to his ship. The former Sith walked back into the ship and began work on a gift for the boy when the time was right.

Two Years Later…

Kuoh Town, Japan, 2004 A.D. (8ABY)

The Hyōdō home was silent and most of the residents were asleep. All but one that is, as Issei Hyōdō, now eight years old, didn't want to sleep. The reason for this was simple: sleeping brought the dreams. Issei didn't know what else to call them, so dreams sufficed, but they felt more like snapshots of events to come. The one he'd had last night was still weighing on his mind.

He was standing in front of the fountain at Kuoh Park. The day was ending and he felt a keen sense of dread as the sun descended. Before him was a woman cloaked in shadows. A pair of wings stretched out behind her, and he could see she was forming something in her hand. After a moment it became a strange spear that glowed red. She lunged forward with the weapon, intent on skewering him until he stretched his hand out and felt the air in front of him push outwards. The woman went flying backward, over the top of the fountain, until she used her wings to catch herself. He felt anger replace the arrogant coldness the woman had when she went to stab him. She then went to throw the spear at him, and he felt pain lance through his cheek. Before he could even blink, the woman rushed forward and plunged two spears through his arm and his gut.

Issei woke up with a scream last night, checking his body for the hole he felt certain was there. His parents had come in as he did this and asked what was wrong. He kept the answer simple, citing that he had a nightmare. The description wasn't entirely wrong. Now though, knowing it was a vision of the future, he didn't know what to think. As he sat there pondering about what to do with the information, he felt a presence.

This presence was nothing like Vader's. Issei could still feel Vader in Kuoh, and he was sure Vader could feel him. This presence, however, was nothing he'd ever felt before. It felt… dark? No, that wasn't right. It was almost like a dim light bordering on darkness, filled with nothing but murderous intent. Issei's fear intensified when he realized the presence was heading toward him.

The Hyōdō boy hopped off his bed and bolted to his parent's room. He banged on the door rapidly, desperately trying to wake them up. He saw the light come on underneath the door and knew his attempt was successful. The door opened and his father was standing there, looking haggard.

"What's wrong, Issei? Another nightmare?"

"We have to go, now! Someone bad is coming here!" Issei told his father, desperation evident in his tone.

"What, how can-"

"It's one of my feelings, Dad. We have to leave!"

Miki Hyōdō groggily spoke up, "Gorou, what is it?"

"Issei's had another one of his feelings."

"Honey, we've told you the feelings aren't real, go back to bed."

"Mom, Dad, ple-" Issei never got to finish as the door to their home was violently torn apart. The cracks, crunches, and splintering wood were audible even upstairs.

"Find the family! Lord Kokabiel demands their heads!" a gruff voice called out as rushing feet sounded below.

Gorou immediately pulled Issei into their room and switched the light off. He then pulled Miki off the bed and dragged both into the closet nearby. "Both of you hide right now. I'll call the police."

Issei's fear was at its peak as his father began fishing for his phone.

Near Kuoh Town, Japan

Vader's eyes snapped open from his meditation, feeling the boy's fear. A quick probe through the Force revealed why: Issei's home was being invaded. Vader stood up quickly and ordered a speeder to be prepared for him immediately. He would not let a repeat of what happened to his mother happen to the boy. This time, he would be there to stop it. He moved as fast as his armor would let him, his cape billowing out behind him. He called his lightsaber to himself and clipped it to his belt as he moved down the ramp of his starship. The speeder was driven up by a Scout trooper who hopped off as soon as he stopped next to Vader. The former Sith nodded in gratitude before speeding out of the completed hangar. In moments he was out in the open air and sailing towards the Hyōdō home.

Piett had done well in tracking the family. He'd found the home's address almost immediately the day after the rest of Vader's Remnant forces arrived. From there Vader watched over the boy through mini probe droids he'd had aboard his ship. From Vader's observations, Issei was depressed over his childhood friend moving away. Despite what his grandparents and parents tried, he couldn't lift himself out of that sadness. Vader knew how dangerous depression could get, so he began using the Force to try and comfort the boy. It seemed to work.

The boy's demeanor changed drastically over the two years Vader had watched over him. Now Vader had to go to his home and save the boy before it was too late. He knew the danger of being afraid. Grandmaster Yoda had said it best; "Fear leads to Anger, Anger leads to Hate, Hate leads to Suffering". Vader would do everything in his power to ensure the boy didn't fall. The Dark Side offered power, yes, but it also led to eternal damnation. He was living proof of that.

The speeder bike hovered in the air only for a moment before falling to the street below. Vader cushioned the speeder's descent with the Force before pushing the speeder to its top speed. He and the speeder became a blur as the bike accelerated, the speeder's engine's howling whine echoing off the buildings.

Lights turned on as people were woken up by the noise. Some opened windows and watched in confusion as they saw the black and brown blur speed by. Calls to the police about the blur were met with disbelief or the night playing tricks on the people who called. Either way, no one investigated the blur seriously, but they took more notice when it appeared on camera footage. The mystery surrounding the former Sith's race to the Hyōdō home would remain for at least a year before finally dying down.

Vader saw the house approaching just up ahead and slowed down as to not pass it. He could feel the other presence in the house already searching for and preparing to strike down the boy and his family. He would not allow it.

Kuoh Town, Japan

Giacinto Chiodini kicked down a door, hoping to find the brat and his family. The excommunicated priest was looking to spill blood tonight, having been held back at the church for so long. He had wanted to strike at the Devils rather than some supposed Sacred Gear user, but blood was blood. Besides, it wasn't as if this night was going to be a total loss. One less non-believing family in any country was a good thing. As he entered the room, he leveled his Exorcist Gun at… a washer. The native Italian's eye twitched as he lowered his gun and exited the room, turning to look at the one place the others had yet to search: the upper floor.

As Chiodini began to walk up, he failed to notice a weird humming sound coming from outside. Had he stopped to look, he would have seen Vader arrive outside the home and march toward the broken-down door.

Issei felt Vader's presence arrive and felt his fear start to drain. Vader had made it to them! How Vader knew that he and his family were in trouble at that moment was a mystery to the young Hyōdō boy but not one he cared about at the moment. That was when he heard one of the home invaders climb up the stairs.

"Gorou, one of them is-" Miki began before Gorou shushed her. He nodded and sighed in defeat as he looked down at his phone.

The phone wasn't connecting for some reason. It was as if something was blocking any cell signals from getting out of the house. Nodding to himself, he set the phone down on one of the nearby shelves and grabbed a wire hangar off the clothing rack above him. He quickly fashioned it into a dubious-looking stabbing weapon. He got his son behind him and into the arms of his wife just as he heard the door to their bedroom get kicked in.

"Whatever happens, you keep Issei safe," Gorou whispered fiercely as he prepared to strike whoever dared come in.

That was when Issei and the others who occupied the house heard it. Issei recognized it immediately but to everyone else? They had no idea what to think of the sound.

Khooh Puuhr

Chiodini bolted down the stairs, intent on killing whatever was making that noise. He didn't know how but somehow he stopped and was flung backward. He hit the wall behind him with a thud as the owner of the strange noise unclipped something from his belt. Chiodini didn't know what happened next as he fell unconscious.

Vader glanced around at the ransacked interior of the Hyōdō home. He heard the sound of men rushing toward him as he ignited his lightsaber with a snap-hiss. The red blade illuminated the space and cast terrifying shadows all across himself. The first man to appear was stunned before he raised what Vader assumed was some kind of projectile weapon and fired.

The projectile resembled a blaster bolt, and out of reflex, Vader swung his blade. The blade deflected the shot into another man coming from his left. The shot hit the man squarely in the thigh. The man that had charged from Vader's left let out a cry of pain as he went down, clutching at his bleeding thigh. The first man fired again and this time Vader simply used the Force to stop the projectile, knowing now it was simply a bullet. He then swung his blade through the man with the weapon, bisecting him and letting the projectile impact the other wall. A third man armed with a sword that seemed to act like a lightsaber rushed at Vader next.

The former Sith wasted no time and sidestepped the stab the man had meant for him. He then grabbed the man's hands and crushed them around the sword. The sword was destroyed in an instant, the man screaming in pain before Vader forced the man's arms up and swiftly stabbed the man through the chest. The man's cries died in an instant as he slumped. A fourth and fifth man appeared and rushed Vader as the third had. They didn't get far. With a simple gesture, Vader decapitated one as he took the other by the throat. The fifth man struggled against the former Sith Lord's grip for a few seconds until Vader crushed the man's windpipe. The man was then thrown over one of the few pieces of furniture in the living room as a final sixth man came forward.

Vader paused and looked again. This wasn't a man, at least not entirely. Men didn't have the presence that this man did. The man snarled and formed a spear similar in composition to the swords of the men Vader had just killed. Black feathery wings also appeared behind the man, further reinforcing Vader's belief that he was not fighting a human being.

"You should learn not to meddle in Grigori business, human. I am Ophanim. For your interference, you will die," the man growled as he lunged at Vader with the spear.

Vader blocked the strike easily, forcing the Grigori to close so that he could try and push through the former Dark Lord's defenses. "Impressive. I expected that spear to be as useless as those swords those men used. Clearly, I was wrong."

The Grigori snarled before he backed off and summoned a sword in his free hand, dual wielding them as he came at Vader again. The former Sith easily deflected both away, seizing one of the Grigori's wrists as he did so. With a simple squeeze, the wrist was shattered causing the Grigori to shout in pain and rage.

"You'll pay for that, you bastard!" Ophanim screamed as he charged Vader once more.

Vader said nothing as a flourish with his blade swept through the Grigori's undamaged wrist, lopping it off and sending it flying toward the broken front door. The Grigori fell to his knees, screaming in pain as he attempted to hold his wrist close to himself.

"Wh-what are you? You aren't a simple human, you can't be," the Grigori chattered madly, his eyes filled with fear at the prospect of being killed.

Vader simply used the Force to begin choking the Grigori, lifting Ophanim off the ground. "No, I am not a mere man. My name is Vader, and I am the last face you will ever see."

The Grigori tried to throw off the invisible hand holding his throat as he looked into the lenses of Vader's helmet. The former Sith continued to choke the Grigori as he heard the sounds of someone coming to upstairs. He waited patiently for the man he'd casually pushed into a wall up there to come down and witness the fate of those who crossed the former Sith.

Chiodini stumbled down the steps, still disoriented from the probable concussion he'd gotten from hitting the wall, and into a bloodbath. He saw the other Stray Exorcist on the ground first, blood seeping through his vestment pants from a hole in his thigh. He continued forward intent on killing the one who injured a fellow excommunicated priest, when he came upon a tall figure as black as night. The only light in the room came off the figure's light sword, but it was different from the ones he and the other Stray Exorcists used. This one was red, and it did horrifying things to the figure's visage.

He then saw their Fallen Angel leader held aloft by nothing, both his hands damaged with one missing entirely. He was struggling in midair and seemed like he was being choked by something. That was when the figure turned his helmeted head and stared right into Chiodini's soul. The Stray Exorcist dropped his weapons and immediately crossed himself, praying that he wouldn't end up as the other exorcists did.

"You will take your wounded fellow and leave this place. Warn any who would dare come here that they will share in your comrades' fate. Is that clear?" the figure ordered, cutting through Chiodini's prayers.

"Yes! It will be done as you said!"

"Good. Now leave, before I change my mind."

Chiodini nodded and he quickly scrambled to collect his fellow Stray Exorcist and escape. He never once looked back at the Hyōdō house as he carried his wounded fellow back to the abandoned church.

As soon as the man had left, Vader turned back to the Grigori. The former Sith doubted his warning would be listened to, considering the example he was currently choking. He contemplated letting his opponent go before dismissing the idea. Men like this rarely ever took defeat well. He would be back not only for the boy's head but also Vader's. The former Sith wouldn't allow that. And so, without any more hesitation, Vader clenched his fist and snapped the Grigori's neck.

Vader immediately began to move upstairs as the body dropped. He deactivated the blade as he walked upstairs, not wanting to frighten the boy with the weapon. He began searching for the boy's presence and followed it into a bedroom six feet to his right. He walked inside and gazed around the room. It was quaint, just as the rest of the house was. Picture frames lined some of the furniture inside. As he gazed around, he saw a single door.

"All of you may come out now. The ones who invaded your home have been dealt with."

The door creaked open and a man with brown eyes and hair, wearing glasses, and dressed in sleep clothes emerged. He was followed by a haggard-looking woman with hazel eyes and brown hair, and finally the boy. Issei looked relieved to see the former Sith and rushed forward.

"Thank you, mister Vader," the boy said before his parents could say anything. Vader smiled underneath his helmet at the praise before he saw the boy's parents' shared look.

The former Sith Lord nodded as he clipped his lightsaber back onto his belt before answering the boy in near-perfect Japanese. "I am pleased to see you are unharmed, young Hyōdō. I assume these two are your parents?"

"Y-yes. I'm Gorou, and this is Miki. How do you know our son?"

"We met two years ago, in the forest outside of town. You were camping together at the time. We talked for a short period before you came looking for him."

"That was why you went deep into the forest? You told us you saw an animal, Issei. Why would you lie to us?" Miki asked her son, a hurt expression marring her face.

"I didn't think you would believe me. Especially if I told you that he and I have the same 'feelings'."

"Wait, you mean-"

"Yes, mister Hyōdō. Your son's feelings are real, though there is more to them than simply being a feeling."

"I don't understand. How is that possible?"

"Your son holds within him a power that is directly tied to the very fabric of life itself: the Force. In point of fact, he is the only one that I have found here that has the potential to be an extremely powerful Force-User. I assume, though, that you would like proof?"

"Yes, we would," Gorou said firmly, gesturing with a piece of wire in the vague direction of Vader.

Vader nodded as he held out a hand. "As you wish."

One of the picture frames began floating off the nightstand and into Vader's open hand. It didn't enter his open palm and hung there for only a moment or two. He then gestured upward and the picture gently floated upwards. Vader then lowered his hand, but the picture didn't drop. Instead, it began to spin slowly before moving left. It stopped after a couple of feet and sedately went back to its original position on the nightstand. Vader raised an eyebrow behind the lenses of his helmet, though none of the Hyōdōs saw it.

"Would you like a further demonstration, mister Hyōdō?"

"I-I'm good," Gorou squeaked as he dropped the wire, and his wife went over and held him tight.

She looked into Vader's eyes as she chose her next words. "Our son can do that too?"

"That and much more, miss Hyōdō. That is, of course, his decision, but that is a discussion for a later time. For now, though, I would suggest we all leave. It is clear that your home is no longer safe. My home is close by, should you wish to follow me. You can hide there for a few days and then return here. I would suggest moving away from this place once you return. I sent out a warning to whoever sent these men here, but I doubt it will be listened to."

"Can we please go with him? He saved us, it's the least we could do after what he's done for us," Issei pleaded, his eyes big and bright from the demonstration of Vader's abilities.

"I… I don't see why not. Go get your stuff together," Gorou said with a tired smile, Miki sharing the same expression.

"Yes!"

As Issei left the room, Vader approached the Hyōdō husband and wife. Ensuring the child was out of earshot, he began to speak.

"I want one of you to cover your son's eyes as we go downstairs. He is too young to see what is down there."

"What do you mean? What did you do?" Miki asked warily, looking frightened.

"I had to kill most of the intruders. They did not die… cleanly. My anger got the best of me. This is not the first time I've dealt with a home invasion, though in my case I dealt with my invaders long after the invasion. Please shield him from what I did down there?"

The parents nodded before Gorou spoke again. "Of course… and thank you. We wouldn't have survived if you hadn't arrived."

Vader was silent as he backed up and Issei came back into the room, citing he was ready to go. The parents nodded and led him downstairs, Miki covering his eyes with an explanation that Vader had asked her to. Issei didn't argue. Back in the bedroom, Vader was contemplating what Gorou had said. This had been the first time in years someone had truly thanked him for what he had done. He didn't know what to think about that.

Vader himself believed he wasn't worthy of anyone's gratitude, not after years of service under the Emperor. It was nice but he didn't deserve "nice". If he was being honest, he should be treated with revulsion. He was a monster who had killed his wife in a rage and harmed his son, cutting off his right hand. Only moments ago he had slaughtered all of those men without a second thought, and he had enjoyed it on some level. To be thanked for something like that felt wrong.

Not for the first time, he questioned the Force's role for him on Earth. He still wasn't sure if the Force had made the right choice in selecting him to train the boy. He'd failed twice before, with Ahsoka and Galen. How could he succeed with Issei with that track record?

"Why does the Force want me to train the boy," Vader thought to himself as he clenched his fists at his sides, "when all I am good at is killing?"

"Because you are the balance between the Light and the Dark, my old padawan," a familiar and older voice replied, causing the former Sith to look up in shock.

There, standing before him, was one man. He was an older man, with battered and worn robes. His hair was parted neatly and white, and he had a trimmed beard. There was a smile on his face, he glowed with an otherworldly blue light. He was also transparent.

"Kenobi?" Vader asked softly, shock still evident in his tone from seeing his former master.

"Indeed, Anakin," Obi-Wan Kenobi said gently as he stepped forward and placed a hand on Vader's shoulder, "I cannot stay for long, my old friend, but I am here to tell you that the Force did not make a mistake. It wants you to train the boy. There will come a day when he will be needed to stop a great evil from this part of the galaxy. The boy cannot be trained solely in either the Dark Side or the Light Side if he is to prevail. Only balance will help him defeat this enemy."

Vader shook himself and straightened. "What enemy?"

"The Emperor is not fully dead. A part of him remains in this part of the galaxy, just as it does in the Deep Core. That, however, is not your problem to solve. Luke and his friends will end the Emperor there while you end him here. Then the galaxy will be rid of his evil for the rest of time."

"So I failed, again," Vader muttered angrily before he felt a squeeze on his shoulder.

"No. You have severely weakened the Emperor, Anakin. He will not be as powerful as he was when you ended him the first time. Luke and his friends destroying the one in the Deep Core will further weaken him. He will then be able to finally die when you and the boy destroy him here. So train the boy well, and prepare for the Emperor's eventual return here. May the Force be with you, Anakin," Obi-Wan replied before stepping back and fading from Vader's view.

"Mister Vader, are you still up there?" Miki Hyōdō asked from downstairs. Her voice snapped the former Sith out of his thoughts and he walked downstairs.

"Apologies. I was thinking about something."

"I heard part of that conversation, you know," Miki said quietly as Vader passed her.

Vader turned sharply and saw the determination in her eyes. She was going to have answers about the full conversation, especially since it pertained to her son and his future. With an unspoken vow, Vader agreed to answer any of her questions, though not here. They would travel to his home first.

With a nod, Miki went upstairs and gathered the essentials: photos, clothing, etc. Gorou joined her a moment later while Vader went outside and watched for signs of people noticing the home invasion.

He felt a hand tug his cape from behind him. He looked down and saw Issei looking up at him, worry in his eyes. The boy let go of the cape and began to speak.

"Are you okay? You felt… sad… and angry," Issei asked as he once again looked into Vader's helmet lenses.

Vader frowned underneath his helmet before replying. "I am fine. You do not need to worry about me, young one."

"Okay."

"When we arrive at my home, do not be alarmed by anything you may see. I will explain it all once we arrive."

"Okay."

"I have a question for you, and I want you to answer truthfully. The question will impact the rest of your life so be sure to think about it carefully. Do you wish to be trained in the ways of the Force?"

Issei was silent for a few moments before nodding vehemently. "I want to protect Mom and Dad from the bad men. I know they were here for me, and I wouldn't have been able to do anything to stop them. I don't want to feel that powerless ever again."

"Then, Issei Hyōdō, from this point forward, you are my apprentice. You will refer to me as 'Master', and you will do as I say when I say it despite what your family wishes. Am I understood?"

"Yes master," Issei replied before yawning. The night's events had worn the boy down.

Soon afterward, the Hyōdō family followed Vader as he went back to the abandoned building that had become home for himself and other Imperial survivors. In the days to come, Issei would be trained as Vader's final apprentice. The training would be long and difficult, but in the end, Issei Hyōdō would become known as the Red Dragon Jedi.

Author's Note: Hello all! This is my first fic doing major characters (that are really popular). If I did something or wrote something that seemed out of character for anyone here, let me know. Also, first time doing a crossover fic for DxD, so we'll see how that goes. This could possibly be the only chapter of the story as I already have one I'm working on. By the way, this story will have both Canon and Legends elements in it, but lean more toward Legends as I'm more knowledgeable on Legends than Canon.

Anyways, Issei Hyōdō is not only the Red Dragon Emperor, but also an apprentice to one of the most powerful Sith to exist in Star Wars. How does the world of DxD change when Vader enters the supernatural world? How does the Red Dragon Emperor change when he has a second powerful ability: the Force? Finally, what is in store for the Gremory Clan when they are forced to work with a former Sith Lord?

Please review and tell me if this story is bad or not. I really need to know if I can write major characters without making them too OOC.