Kingdom Hearts What If?: Guardian Of The Depths

by SORARULES23

Taking place twelve years after the Little Mermaid. What if the reasons Melody was kept away from the sea were different? What if there Atlantica's Legacy was bigger? What If the Maverick ended up in the ocean instead of on land? (This is a third alternate version of my current Maverick stories.)

18. An Echo From The Past

WE'RE BACK FOLKS!🎉🎉🎉

And I gotta say. Final Fantasy 16 is probably the longest one I have ever played. And it kinda influences the tone of how I write most of my FF related couples. Just on 'adult-like interactions'. I mean if CW and Netflix can write obligatory PG 13-ish NSFW content then so can I.

"He's basically a total perv who wants to write S scenes without putting all of the S action in there." Maverick teased the author.

Ignore him!

Also This chapter is going to be a big one but not too big. And I had difficulty writing it on account of my laptop needing to be replaced. But that's all water under the hood now.

But before we proceed, let's answer some comments.

SPYRO 101: Thanks pal! I appreciate your assistance and support as always. You're not wrong about Squall and Cor. There is some rough history between them. But you'll hear why in this chapter. 👍

RustyPete12: Thank you! I actually had Red Dead Redemption II and Sly 2 Band of Thieves in mind when it came to the bear. But I wanted to keep the KH theme of making it a Heartless Bear. And Ardyn Izunia is actually an iconic Antagonist from Final Fantasy 15. He did a lot of damage in that game. But rest assured all of my fellow readers. Lunafreya will be alright. And yes Connor had a rough bitter start. But so did Namor in the comics. You'll hear about that in this chapter. 😉👍

There's even a nod to the animated short that played before Encanto. And the Aquarium scene from Aquaman. 😉

Alright! Now that we're all here!

LET's GET DANGEROUS!😎

---

An Echo From The Past.

Back at Cor Leonis' Camp...

It was getting late that evening as everyone was back at Cor's camp. It was pretty wild for Maverick's group to deal with a Heartless Bear and for The Lone Ranger to deal with a shoot out along with Zorro. But they all dealt with those odds. At this point. He and Tonto are under the impression The Guardians and Cor Leonis' Resistance army are all aliens from outer space. If he only knew. That and he's dealt with weird mumbo jumbo over before. Especially with other native tribes like Tonto.

For the Maverick and the Guardians those odds were barely hard. But dealing with Ardyn Izunia is a different kind of headache.

While the Guardians along with Mini-Mav and Dug this time, were either sitting or standing around the campfire with Gladiolus. Ignis and Prompto. Along with Squall and Rinoa. While Cor Leonis stood with Aranea Highwind. As they weren't glad to hear the news about Ardyn's return.

"Ah shit." Maverick exhaled in despondency.

"This whole debacle has just gotten a lot worse." Cor muttered with a grim look on his face. "Of all the monsters resurging, it just had to be Ardyn."

"Um... I'm sorry. But I'm a bit lost here. Who's this Ardyn you guys are talking about?" Tsunami asked.

"If you thought Attuma is the biggest corruption in Meridia. Ardyn is in true competition for the title. He is the chancellor and supreme archivist of Meridia. And my ex husband." Aranea seethed at the thought of seeing that man again.

"Sheesh. There goes my theory of you being Ardyn in disguise." Mini-Mav winced.

"Shhhh." Maverick shushed.

"He calls the shots for Sea Slayer. In fact he's the one who trained and made Sea Slayer who he is." Cor revealed.

"Seriously?" Tsunami said in shock. "Wow. I hope we don't end up running into him anytime soon."

"Mel. If the Last Temptation Recruit mentioned his name. Ardyn is definitely involved with Juan." Maverick pointed out while referring to the now deceased Jesús.

"Exactly how dark is this guy?" Lone Ranger asked.

"Ardyn gave dark a different signature. I've dealt with him several times over my Mav years. Not only does he have his ways to reshape the room. But whenever someone flushes a toilet in hell, it comes straight outta Ardyn Izunia's mouth whenever he talks." Maverick declared with colorful words.

"Ew." Tsunami muttered and shuttered at those details.

"Okay, that was both very enlightening how evil this guy is, and very disturbing." Lone Ranger said with a shudder at the visual image now stuck in his head.

"Also, highly unsanitary." Tonto commented.

"Seriously though. The guy has a sick way of getting inside your head and freaking the shit out of you six ways from Sunday. All of us have similar stories about how he almost killed each of us." Prompto revealed.

"Same here." Maverick nodded.

"Over here." Mini-Mav held his hand up.

"You mean this guy almost killed you!?" Tsunami asked Maverick in shock, and horror.

"Oh yeah. He's a mastery of manipulation and the dark arts. He once casted a hallucinogenic spell on me that caused me to see Heartless everywhere, while I was at the Coney Island beach front. And so I started attacking them all. But they were never really there. My uncle the Submariner came and tried to snap me out of it. Hell the entire Illuminati did. And I fought back. Giving them a hard time, thinking that they were all Heartless. And if I kept fighting. The spell would've poisoned me eventually." Maverick explained.

"Oh no." Donald said, dreading in his heart at hearing just how dangerous Ardyn is.

"Gawrsh. That would have been bad." Goofy said with the same amount of dread.

"Oh my God. That's just horrible." Tsunami gasped in horror. "But, when you say you could've been poisoned, do you mean it would have killed you, or corrupted you into becoming evil?"

"No, Mel. Poison means I could change colors and vote for Kamala Harris. Yes I could've died." Maverick sarcastically replied and quickly corrected herself. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Tsunami softly smiled as she rubbed his shoulder.

"With that said. If it weren't for Reed using his Marvel licensed Plastic Man abilities to suffocate me until I was KO'ED. I wouldn't be here." Maverick revealed.

"In order to get out of Ardyn's spell. You have to either be knocked out or smacked hard enough in the head." Gladiolus pointed out.."When I was much younger. I snuck out of our Main Rebel Base to go see my parents' cemetery. But when I got there, I could see them standing there. Looking pale and decomposed like Zombies."

Gladiolus looked grim when he revealed that.

"I found him running across that graveyard knocking down tombstones and causing a scene. Thank the Maker that no one was there. And I was able to sedate him before the Meridian law arrived." Cor stated out of care.

"I got put on probation after that. It could've been worse. I could've ended up back in that nightmare of a spell." Gladiolus shrugged.

Tsunami shuddered at the thought.

"That sounds like a very horrible way to go." Tsunami muttered. "Trapped inside a literal nightmare."

"I remembered three years ago. I was on a mission to escort some confiscated cargo from a Meridian armory. When Ardyn made me believe that I was blind. He tried fighting me without my eyesight. But he had no idea I was trained to listen to his movements." Ignis stated.

"The classic caucus bellator course? I took that training eight times." Maverick remarked.

"Ten." Ignis grinned.

"Wow. That's pretty cool. Maybe I should take that training when I get the chance." Tsunami said.

"Yeah...You already took the first course when I had you both blindfolded at the Hollow Bastion shooting gallery." Prompto admitted amusingly.

"Yeah. But that was only one lesson. I need to do multiple lessons if I want to be skilled enough to fight actual combat in the future." Tsunami said.

"There's nothing better than an 'on field experience'. It's how I managed to escape my encounter. I was out driving down the roads of the Meridia's dessert border. When Ardyn plagued the streets with Zombies Heartless. I managed to do some sick road rage tricks like the demolition derby. And killed over a thousand!" Prompto proclaimed in excitement.

"Only for it all to turn out to be fake and he almost crashed into a ditch." Gladiolus deadpanned.

"I survived by driving over it to the other side, and I wanted you to leave that part out!" Prompto exclaimed.

Everyone gave Prompto a look.

"Of course mine is the worse. Imagined being married to a man with dark layers like Ardyn." Arenea rolled her eyes.

"I think you win the worst nightmare contest." Tsunami said to her with great sympathy.

"Thank you, Dear. But if anything. It wasn't always like that with him. He and I used to share the same dream of processing power. We just had different reasons. I had a clear desire to write my name in the stars and sit back in luxury. While Ardyn had a dream of having his enemies live in fear. Pretty soon. Everyone became his enemies." Arenea said with a smooth foxy tone.

"Attuma has great use for a man like Ardyn Izunia. In fact it was Ardyn who helped Attuma gain his power over darkness. Only Attuma is more physical than Ardyn." Cor stated.

"What's a guy like this doing here in our world?" The Lone Ranger asked with a serious tone.

"It is obviously not for power. He already has that." Tonto simply said as he fed his dead bird.

"Simply put. Attuma heard of these purple switcheroo rocks. And he wants them to make his journey to find the tridents easier." Arenea declared her theory.

"I doubt it. I tried using a couple of rocks last night to summon the rest of the pearl shards. But that didn't even work." Maverick pointed out.

"That's because it can only work on objects in the current world you're in. You have to be on those other worlds for it to work. " Tonto revealed.

It's obvious that even though the Lone Ranger assumed 'aliens'. Tonto knew otherwise. Especially since he has heard stories of this 'Jawanio Akicita'.

"Alright but it's still an easy way to cut our journey short." Maverick shrugged.

"Or Attuma's." Gladiolus said grimly.

"There is a solution." Tonto spoke. "If we find and kill the mother of rocks, then rocks' powers will be gone forever. But no one in this world has the light that is strong enough to destroy it. Until now."

Hearing this. Both Maverick and Tsunami began to realize that there's a solution to keeping this power away from Attuma. Sure it could make their jobs easier. But maybe that's the temptation of slipping up and having their enemies obtain this power.

"Why...Would we do that? I mean if it could make our jobs easier then-" Prompto almost inquired.

"We can't. That kind of power is just way too dangerous. I mean, take a look at what it drove these creeps to do." Tsunami began in a serious tone. "So many people out here were being worked to death to obtain this power. No one should have it. And if Attuma wants those rocks, then they really should be destroyed."

Attuma had managed to take King Triton under the Maverick's watch. Who's to say he won't do the same with those rocks?

"She's right. We've all come this far on our own course. We don't need those rocks." Gladiolus agreed as he looked at the others.

And Cor saw that the Princess was right as well.

"Very well. Maverick. You will take your team to our lead at the ruins of Montezuma. And find the source of these crystals. While the rest of us will head to Juan's base in Phoenix and see what we can find." Cor stated what the plan will be.

"I'll go with you to help you find where the bastardo is hiding." Zorro offered.

"I'm also comin." Squall spoke up.

"Same here." Rinoa agreed.

"And it's best if Tonto and I head with Mav's group. We ain't done so well in large towns given that we're outlaws." Lone Ranger offered his aid to the Guardians.

Tonto was in agreement. Which showed from seeing him feeding his dead bird.

"Alright. And we all better head out in the morning. They're will be less patrols around Juan's base with all the Dailycrowd around Phoenix." Squall suggested.

Given that in most cases. Going at night would be too obvious for a military man like Juan Moreno. But during the day is when they would least expect the action to start. Sometimes for complicated men, the most obvious times of the day are the least obvious.

"Agreed. Everyone gets some rest. We all have a big day tomorrow." Cor said as he stood up and everyone began to walk away around the camp.

---

Gladiolus was the last one to stand up to leave, as he didn't even look at Aranea who had a grin on her face at him.

"My, Gladiolus. You've certainly gotten bigger since we last met." Aranea said in a seductive tone.

"You mean the extraction job? In Coruscant? Where you were sent to kill my troops?" Gladiolus scowled over at her.

He wanted to trust her. But he wasn't so sure. Arenea wasn't gonna give up though. She really wanted good old Gladio.

"Oh, but have you forgotten that I'm the reason you were able to complete that mission?" Aranea said with a sultry smirk as she walked over to him with a sway in her hips. "Especially since you and your Jedi contacts refused to kill little old me."

"That didn't stop you from sending in those elite guards to kill us." Gladiolus scowled.

"And yet they barely held their own against you swinging that large club around." Aranea said as her smirk faltered a little. "Besides. You're not the reason I lost my position as commodore. I left because I was a cold case with a lust for power. And my ex-husband had twice the cold."

"Is this your attempt to make me feel bad for you?" Gladiolus snorted which made her chuckle a bit

"Not at all. The point is, I didn't have a balance. At first it got boring. Then it got uncomfortable. And pretty soon. No one was getting a benefit out of Highwind and Izunia's unity. So the day I resigned was the day we divorced. And I left the grid. That was way after your little big heist." Aranea winked.

Gladiolus was starting to get the sense that she was sincere. Especially since Maverick told him in their last conversation that he didn't detect a lie in her statements.

In fact Maverick was still outside and he still couldn't detect one.

"So why join us? Why not live off of your retirement funds or go find bigger fish to fry?" Gladiolus asked as he was sounding less skeptical and more curious as they started walking towards Gladiolus' personal tent.

"Because I'm a woman with power, who craves much power while the Meridian Resistance wants to push that power in the right direction. And you're a perfect example." Aranea said seductively while running a hand up and down her own body suggestively before running her other hand along Gladiolus' arm muscles. "You can be the yang to my yin. After all, with light and darkness, you can't have one without the other."

Gladiolus looked down at her. It was clear to him now. This woman doesn't want to fight or use him. She just wants him.

Gladiolus gave a quick glance over at Maverick who was standing way over behind Aranea. As he gave a wink and a thumbs up. While Mini-Mav walked away with Maverick while holding up a neon picket sign that read *'JUST GO FOR IT ALREADY!'*

"I'm not aiming to be anyone's replacement." Gladiolus said quietly as he looked down at her. Her hands were starting to feel good. And her smell was making his head spin.

Of course for Aranea. She never had this kind of passion for anyone. Not even for her ex husband.

"You can't replace something you never had." Aranea said softly before seductively whispering in his ear. "Am I invited to inspect the package?"

Gladiolus let out a small sigh as he realized. Trying to get rid of this lady was a losing battle. Because he doesn't want to now.

Then Gladiolus opened up his tent and went inside with Aranea following. As she saw a mattress on the ground with a black blanket and two pillows for support.

In the corner was Gladiolus' gear. Along with his main weapon.

"For the record. It's a heavy sword. Not a club." Gladiolus corrected in a small voice.

"With how big your muscles are, it might as well be a club." Aranea said seductively as she removed his shirt, revealing his eight pack and a tattoo of an eagle across his back and upper arms. "Hmmm. I'm really liking what I'm seeing."

"I almost went with a phoenix. But I decided to go for a bird that's familiar to all the worlds." Gladiolus explained the tattoo.

"It's very nice. But I think I'm more interested in what's beneath the tattoo." Aranea said seductively while running her fingers down his chest.

Gladiolus closed his eyes and breathed as he wouldn't admit it. But Aranea's fingers felt great. After years of the gummi ship race circuit and being a boxer.

This felt more like the true prize.

"Be honest. Before we go any further. Do you really want this?" Gladiolus whispered. He wanted it. He wanted to make sure Aranea did too.

"No tricks. By the time we've erased Ardyn from existence, I want no memory of that bastard. And you're the perfect medicine to help me forget." Aranea said seductively as she removed her cowgirl hat and shirt. "I want it. I need it."

Gladiolus looked at how perfect her upper body was. She was wearing nothing to hide what was being held up in front. And they were in great shape as she pressed her cleavage against his muscular chest and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"That kid...The Maverick. He thinks I should trust you. But trust is something I don't give for free." Gladiolus said as he placed his hands on her hips.

And Aranea smirked.

"Then allow me to begin to earn your trust, starting now." Aranea said before kissing him passionately.

Gladiolus kissed her back without hesitation. For a tough as nails hardcore fighter. He sure has a soft spot he never thought he owned.

And this was only going to get better.

---

Meanwhile at a tent on the other end of camp...

Squall and Rinoa were together alone in their own tent. Which was furnished the exact same way as Gladiolus' tent. The mattress was the same size. Only the blankets were beige instead of black and with three pillows.

And Squall was on top of it. With Rinoa on top. As they weren't wearing any clothes whatsoever. They have some complicated history. And yet in spite of it. That doesn't stop them from ending back in each other's arms.

Rinoa was on top of Squall. Sharing a deep kiss with him as he had his hands on her curves.

"Mmmmmm...I'd take it you're here to try and recruit me again?" Squall mused as they kissed.

"Why does it always have to be business?" Rinoa said flirtingly as they kissed. "Why can't it be that I just wanted to see you?"

Squall hummed as they kept kissing and pressing each other's bodies together.

"You don't say." Squall scoffed as he rubbed on her curves.

"Honestly, my friends in the resistance are all about business these days. And we both know that when it comes to war, there's a crowd." Rinoa said as she ran her hands over his chest.

Squall placed his hands on top of hers as he stared at her with love and yearn.

"Does this mean you're staying this time?" Squall asked her.

Which made Rinoa's smile falter a bit.

"The war isn't just affecting Atlantis anymore. It's affecting all the worlds." Rinoa said, resting her head on his chest as silent tears fell from her eyes. "My home world as well as many others have faded into darkness because of the Heartless. My own parents fell with my world."

given that the stars are falling significantly due to the Heartless taking down those worlds. It would make sense that Rinoa's home world fell as well.

But Rinoa. She's been with the Resistance since the beginning. It's why she didn't fall with her world because she wasn't home at the time.

"What?" Squall asked as he didn't see that coming.

"But there's hope. We can get them all back. That's what Connor and his team are trying to do." Rinoa said, looking up into his eyes. But it would be a lot easier if I wasn't trying to do this alone, especially with the Resistance already having their hands full."

Squall had some personal beef with Cor Leonis. But the more he realized that it wasn't going to do anyone good. Especially not Rinoa.

"Alright. You're not flying off this world on your own this time. But I'm joining in the fight for you. Not for Leonis." Squall affirmed as he had his hands around her.

Rinoa smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you Squall. That's all I ask." Rinoa said softly.

Squall hugged his lover back in his arms. He silently swore not to fail her again. And not let his personal issues get in the way.

Squall owes Rinoa that much.

---

Meanwhile in Connor and Melody's tent...

While Dug was already fast asleep in a neon doggy bed and Mini-Mav was charging in the corner next to the dog.

Maverick was shifted back into Connor who was wearing a simple navy blue t-shirt with black shorts while Tsunami was shifted back into Melody who was wearing her usual white underclothes.

She was already sitting on her neon bed while Connor was sitting on his reading a file he received from what FELICITY searched on Squall Leonhart and whatever happened between him and Cor Leonis.

Plus Connor is so glad his neon abilities can block the extra noise from his super hearing. That's why he put a small layer around the outside of the tent to keep himself from hearing the sounds of the birds and bees that were happening at the moment.

"Hey, Connor. Whatcha reading?" Melody asked.

"Oh I'm reading your diary. It was left open on the ship, I took a peak and now I can't put it down." Connor smirked mischievously.

"What?! Why you..." Melody said with playful anger as she got up and punched Connor's arm which made him snicker, before looking over his shoulder at what he was looking at. "I know that's not my diary. So, what is it?"

"Alright. Don't flood your fumes. It's actually all the info I could get on Squall and what went down between him and Cor." Connor admitted as he sat next to Melody on the bed.

"Really? Does it explain why things are so tense between them?" Melody asked.

"Let's find out..." Connor said as he began reading. And he found something out. "Apparently Squall was recruited by the Resistance eight years ago. But then he resigned six months afterwards."

"Does it say why?" Melody asked.

"Okay well...It says that Squall was given a mission as part of an invitation involving the capture of Ardyn Izunia. Squall and Rinoa were sent to bring his ass in. But they ended up chasing Ardyn into the Meridia outskirts. It took weeks, but they won the fight, double but, Ardyn managed to slip away. And to make matters worse. There was a fire at Squall's farm and his mother didn't make it out. The farm was left defenseless because he wasn't there. And Cor didn't spare any men to watch his farm when it was being attacked by bandits." Connor read the details and he was starting to understand why Squall resented Cor.

"And so he blames Cor for letting it happen." Melody said, with a sad look.

"Cor couldn't spare any of his recruits because they were spread thin and on the hunt. And Rinoa stayed because she was needed. Which caused some tension between them too." Connor revealed what he read up on.

"That's horrible." Melody muttered.

"From what I've heard. He and Rinoa are back together. And trust me I've heard just enough." Connor said and cringed at the last part.

Especially since the neon layer on the tent is blocking the sounds of what Squall and Rinoa are doing right now.

"They really deserve to have each other." Melody said smiling.

"Thank God she missed those hints." Connor muttered to himself about Melody missing the sex remarks.

Then Connor got into his bed and relaxed with his eyes closed. But then he felt someone sitting next to him on his bed. He opened his eyes to see Melody sitting next to him and smiling down at him.

"What?" Connor inquired.

"Can I have another story, Sweetie?" Melody asked with a cute smile.

Connor playfully rolled his eyes as he picked Melody up in his arms and stood up as he teleported and appeared laid back on her bed with Melody in her arms.

"Alright. This story is called. Far From The Tree. On a local beach, there was once a baby raccoon and her overprotective father, who had a scar over his left eye. They both ventured out from the woods in search of food at the beach. While the baby raccoon was quick to get distracted by the water, or the birds, and she would often veer away from her father's view, her father kept aggressively trying to get her to stay put under a small rock formed shelter. While he goes out to search for food." Connor said as he was telling the story.

"Sounds a lot like my parents, being very protective." Melody commented as she draped her arms around his neck and leaned her head against his chest.

"Who's parents aren't. Besides, my dad was a cop. And yet he was a mild stone compared to Penny's Dad...I keep up with the Proud folks from social media. Uncle Oscar practically gets vexed out every time Penny talks to a boy. Or askes one what time it is." Connor snorted.

"Seriously? Wow. I feel so sorry for her." Melody said with a slight giggle.

"And she's not allowed to date until she's 16. Though Uncle Oscar in his mind probably prefers that she's 35." Connor remarked. "That's why I need to approach how I reveal myself carefully. None of them would recognize me like this. And he'd more than likely call the cops thinking I own a white van."

"Wow. My parents are the complete opposite." Melody said in regards to her dating.

"Yeah well, your royalty so most dudes aren't brave enough to risk a noose to break your heart. That and your society doesn't have a large population of low class men who would take advantage of potential women with hearts that can break easily. Especially black kids around my age. But unlike a lot of them, I think I did more than my fair share of proof when we met." Connor remarked. "A lot of guys aren't exactly prepared to bleed and take punches for someone they just met. But you and me. We've been isolated by war. And somehow we were able to find each other. Connect. Break through some barriers. And do things that people older than us dreamed about doing."

"And I'm glad we did." Melody smiled, looking at him lovingly before reaching up to kiss him.

Connor kissed her back. As he held her close in his strong arms. Melody felt so safe and content in the arms of her crazy knight in glowing armor.

"Anyway. Getting back to the story. The baby Raccoon kept wandering off from her safe post and her father kept dragging her back and scolding her. But she kept trying. When she wandered off and found a seashell to listen to the ocean. The father panicked when his daughter wasn't there. But when he found her, he yelled at her and knocked the seashell away, smashing it to pieces." Connor resumed the story. "But then the doctor still kept what was left. And had it taken by a seagull that flew off. The baby Raccoon followed the bird to its flock. Until she ended up in the crosshairs of a vicious and hungry coyote."

"What happened?" Melody asked while she was into the story, looking worried about what might've happened to the Baby Raccoon.

"The coyote attacked the Baby Raccoon. Giving her two scars above her nose. But the father came in and defended her and brought her to safety on a tree. angrily scold the raccoon for leaving, pointing out his scar as a reminder. Thus she was traumatized into never disobeying again." Connor revealed. "Then years later. The Baby Raccoon grew up into a mother and had a Baby Raccoon of her own."

"Really?" Melody asked with wide eyes.

"Yeah. So one day she went to the same spot to search for food. But her daughter acted much like her mother did at her age. And when her daughter attempted to follow after some seagulls into the shore like she did, she dragged her daughter back and angrily scolded her. But then she caught what she was doing. When she saw her baby's tears. She realizes she is no different from her father." Connor declared."Thus she finally understood her father. But she decided to do better."

"It sounds a lot like my mother with her father." Melody commented.

'Precisely.' Connor thought.

"The mother reconciles with her daughter and takes her up the same tree where things went bad between her and her father. And she shows her daughter a coyote searching for prey from their safe distance and she points at the scar on her nose to explain what happened to her. Her daughter felt awful and touched her mother's scar for comfort. After that, she taught her daughter how to stay safe and forage for food with her. And also allowed her daughter to ride on her back for protection while they ran. Played. Have fun." Connor said as he was concluding the story. "But at the end of the day. The mother shared a sea shell with her daughter. And they both listened to the sound of the ocean as the sunsets. Knowing they would both have a brighter future."

Connor projected an image of the mother racoon leaning her head against a sea shell while the baby racoon held it up with her hands. And the mother held her daughter close.

"Aww. That's just so sweet." Melody gushed at the sight with misty eyes.

"So. Who does the story remind you of?" Connor asked as he kept holding her in his arms.

"Reminds me of me and my mom." Melody said softly.

Connor nodded as he intended to help Melody understand. As he needed to understand his dad.

"She went through something worse than you and in her sweet sixteen phase. Maybe one of the main reasons she's supporting you...Supporting us on this journey. Is because very few people supported her when she was trying to get together with your father. And she doesn't want you to feel the same resentment or have to run away to pursue your dreams. But in the end. She helped you understand the danger and went at an angle that was better than what you had hoped." Connor stated as he was using the moral of the story. "Just like the raccoon on her daughter."

"Yeah. You're right." Melody said softly. "She has supported me."

"If anyone who's suffered it would be your Grandfather. I spoke to him before we met. The guy looked like he was on edge. And tired. Like someone who's lost years of his life to a war he never expected. Either that or they don't have a soundproof ocean in this world to block the Paris noise. But either way. He lost years and time he could've spent with you. He never got to watch you grow up. And worse, he lost his first daughter." Connor said as he was thinking. "If anything. He's the one that's suffering. In the back of his mind, he probably thinks he had it coming for what he put your mom through."

Connor has a way of reading people through the heart. Like a therapist but less condescending.

"But he doesn't deserve that. He was only trying to protect my Mom, right?" Melody asked.

"Well...Let's just say back in the early days. He used to hate humans. He even was angry that your mom saved your dad's life and lashed out in her secret grotto of human collection." Connor revealed.

He read up on the files he had on Triton. He was able to get a copy of all the records from the Atlantica palace.

"He did? Why?" Melody asked.

Connor read up on why. He had no reason to keep a secret.

"Because of a group of whalers...They're like poachers who hunt the sea for whales. They once found your Grandmother. King Triton's wife. Back when Ariel was just a toddler. And when she and her sisters would play on the service. They were spotted and those whalers tossed harpoons ro capture one of the girls. But your grandmother, Queen Athena intervened to save her girls. But she ended up getting impaled. Just as Triton arrived with the troops. He raged out and killed everyone on board for killing his wife. Ever since Triton held a resentment towards humans. Until your father Eric saved everyone from Ursula's hostile takeover." Connor stated.

"Oh my God. No wonder Grandpa was like that." Melody gasped in sadness for her grandfather. "At least Daddy was able to help him to begin trusting humans again."

"My Uncle Namor was a bigger chore if you read the comics." Connor remarked.

"He was? Why's that?" Melody asked.

Connor wondered how to answer this.

"Do you...promise not to tell anyone about this? My Uncle's kinda ashamed to say it." Connor asked before he could say.

"My lips are sealed." Melody promised.

"Alright. Back in the early days. Namor's mother ruled Atlantis. The latest in the royal family. But that was back in the 19th century of the marvel world. Namor was born in 1920. He fought in World World II along with other folks who were around at the time." Connor revealed.

"Really? He fought during World War II in his world?" Melody asked.

"Which also means he fought side by side with your great grandfather during the battle against the Skarka. King Triton would've been a total tween back when he first met the Submariner." Connor stated.

"So they were both Allies. That must have been a pretty cool team up." Melody said.

"Yeah but Namor...There were times when Marvel publishers were inspired by the heart of the marvel world...Let me put it this way. Every fairy tale author. In fact most authors were and are inspired by Kingdom Hearts. The Heart of all World's shares its knowledge of said worlds through the magic of inspiration. For example if you were to write a story about a mouse who's a detective like Sherlock, maybe draw a story or make it into a cartoon or animated movie. Chances are that's actually the story of another world." Connor explained about the magic of Inspiration across the Multiverse.

"Woah. That's amazing." Melody said in awe. "So, there's a chance there's a story about my mom and or I in some world out there?" Melody asked.

"Maybe. Or maybe this is the story written by some fanfic writer who sometimes can't afford the gum under the stadium seats." Connor snorted."But I digress. My point is. Uncle Namor. He used to be what many folks would consider as a villain."

"What?" Melody looked very surprised by this declaration. "He was seen as a villain? Why?"

"Because he did some horrible things before I was born. He grew resentful towards the human race or the surface world as he calls it. Because after WWII. He tried to help Atlantis be discovered and recognized as an ally to the surface. But Atlanteans dealt with some hard bigotry. It was ***ked up if you asked me. One guy, I think his name was Paul Destine, AKA Destiny. A total mutant telepath who joined up with a Military funded expedition. He joined a side of folks who were against Atlanteans because it was around the age of when Mutants were being discovered and rejected for being different." Connor started telling the reasons why. "In fact Uncle Namor is half mutant because in a total close home fact. His mother Princess Fen was Atlantean while his father Leonard Mckenzie was the captain of a research ship called the Oracle. And this guy had the mutant genes to slow his age rate down locked into his gene code. Only to be unlocked inside his son once he and the Princess of Atlantis met."

"What happened?" Melody asked.

"Let's just say there was drama between Mckenzie and Atlantis but Princess Fen nursed Mckenzie back to health after his ship sunk and they were secretly married under Atlantean law and gave birth to Namor. But many many years later. When Namor ruled Atlantis. The guy I mentioned Destiny. He manipulated a large group of total radicals against Atlantis. Especially considering that he was a part of the same research team led by Namor's father years ago. Destiny despised Atlantis, believing they caused the Oracle to crash when in reality it was an iceberg." Connor explained some more.

"Oh no." Melody muttered. "What happened after that?"

"Destiny stole an Atlanteans artifact called the Serpent Crown. And used its power to cause an Earthquake. Killing many Atlanteans. Including Namor's mother. Making him the last of the royal family. And when he saw humanity cheering for their destruction. Something snapped inside Namor as he saw his mother's corpse, being defiled by a mob of bigots." Connor stated grimly.

"Oh my God. That's just terrible." Melody gasped in horror and sadness.

"Yeah...And because of that. He slaughtered all of those people. Even decapitating Destiny and taking the crown back. From that moment on. He declared the surface world as an enemy as he took the throne of Atlantis." Connor sighed as he wasn't fond of this story either.

"Oh." Melody muttered sadly.

"Oh you have no idea. Namor later on did some wicked shit over the years. Like one time he released a Sea Monster to attack New York. Only to be stopped by the Fantastic Four. He even tried to seduce Sue Storm the Invisible Woman, wife of Reed Richards, to become his queen. Only to be stopped by her brother Johnny Storm the Human Torch. Namor also teamed up with Doctor Doom and went to war with the Avengers, all because Shield was trespassing on Atlantean borders. He even had an alliance with Magneto and went to war with the X-Men, causing the death of two of their members. Morph and Darwin." Connor listed the evil deeds of his Uncle.

"That's horrible." Melody gasped in horror. "What finally got him to change for the better?"

"There were...Times that the heroes of the Marvel world always had to settle their differences. In the end every battle Namor dealt with always ended with a truce. Despite how many people resented him. But in the end. It was when Doctor Doom formed the Masters of Evil and all of the Marvel World's heroes came together to stop the biggest villain cast in history. During that time, The Masters of Evil invaded Atlantis for the Tomb Of Asarius. And handed the authority over to Attuma who controlled the Atlanteans using Sonic eruptors to control their minds. They imprisoned my Uncle into a air bubble and had him tortured for days." Connor explained.

"How did he escape?" Melody asked.

"That Shield outpost in Atlantis I mentioned earlier. It used to be a secret outpost. At the time the Avengers used Nanites to breathe and move under water. And they infiltrated Atlantis and set Namor free. My Mom, Namorita helped guide them and they had to use some Walek seaweed to help heal him. And they helped drive Attuma out of Atlantis. Even though Namor wouldn't admit it fully at the time. Atlantis would've been lost if it wasn't for the Avengers. More importantly 'surface dwellers' . But eventually he decided to abandoned his bigotry against humans and eventually he joined the Illuminati. We didn't have to deal with Attuma. That is until the war start." Connor stated as he kept Melody in his arms.

"You mean when he came back." Melody muttered.

"Exactly. You know the rest. Attuma took Atlantis. My Mom came back home like from the dead. I eventually came in after the plane crash. And so on." Connor shrugged.

"That must have been hard. Both of you, losing your homes like that." Melody said.

"To be honest. I never lived in Atlantis. Sure I came from there. But I guess we never really got to experience our real home because of the war. We both lived as human beings despite never really being completely human. It's like an egotistical pattern with a nerf bat. But if anything, It's been harder on Namor because. He spent almost fifteen years with his throne taken. And he had to rely on the aid of humans to help him with this war." Connor stated as he looked out a bit. "But in the end. I'm the one that changed him."

"I'm not surprised there. You always have a positive effect on people." Melody said with a smile.

"And I didn't really have to try anything with him. To be honest, I never really saw that evil side of my Uncle. But he regrets who he used to be and he doesn't want to be remembered as who he was. That's why I'm asking that you don't tell anyone else. Especially your family, unless they already know or he told them but either way. The Submariner wants to be remembered for who he is now. Not what he used to be." Connor pointed out.

"Don't worry. I won't tell anyone. I promise." Melody said.

Connor was glad to hear it. He knew what it was like to be seen as a monster and did some horrible things during his early days as the Maverick. Being resentful over his father's death. But in the end he became better. In a way. Namor and Connor improved from learning from each other and the people who supported them.

"Alright. Let's doze off. We got one last ride in the west before we hit the stars tomorrow." Connor said quietly as he got up and placed Melody in her bed and tucked her in.

"Okay." Melody said before settling into bed. But then she realized something. "So you're part human. Part Atlantean. Part clone and part Mutant."

"Actually just those first three parts. Uncle Namor's slow rated age shtick just belongs to him. Besides if I did, I'd still look like this by the time you reach 89." Connor stated humorously.

"Wouldn't that be a lot of unwanted drama." Melody nervously giggled.

She's actually glad to hear it. She'd rather they both age slowly or none at all. The Princess wants to grow up at the same time as her beloved Maverick. Never missing a single journey of adulthood. Or having him live without her. It must've been hard on his Uncle. To make friends and family only to watch them grow old and die. Connor and Melody wouldn't want that.

"Tell me about it." Connor agreed.

Then Melody yawned cutely and laid her head down as her eyes started getting droopy.

"Goodnight, Connor. I love you." Melody whispered sweetly.

"I love you too, Babe." Connor whispered as he pecked her lips and went over to settle in his own bed.

Everyone was finally asleep as they were going to be ready to stick it to Juan Moreno tomorrow. And hopefully save everyone from what that corrupt rogue military leader of the Mexican government is planning.

On some nights however. Big dreamers like Melody have a heart to connect with those she loves and Connor is no exception. Especially for a night like this.

---

Inside Melody's dream...

Melody was walking down the tunnel of an open sea aquarium tunnel. Where the glass was bulletproof but clear to see all of the aquatic life that swam in the ocean. She was wearing her keyblader outfit. As she walked down the tunnel in awe.

Then she saw a tour being led by an aquarium attendant who was showing them the many wonders of the sea within the exhibit. A bunch of children were attending this tour. But one boy in particular got Melody's attention.

She saw a five your old dark skin boy with short hair. Wearing a red jersey shirt with the number 80 for Jerry Rice from the 49ers. And a pair of black shirts with red sneakers.

The toddler was looking at all the fish as he was standing there. Waving at them.

"Hi fishy...Hi...How are you?" The boy chimed sweetly as some of the fish would stop to look at him. As if they were greeting him.

Then the boy noticed Melody who walked up to him. He gave her an intrigued and yet sweet expression. Melody's bare feet barely made a sound as she walked over. She found the boy to be very familiar.

"Hi." The boy waved at her sweetly.

"Hi there." Melody smiled as she squatted down a little to his height. "This may seem like an odd question, but where is this?"

"This is the Wizard Kelly aquarium." The boy chimed. "I'm here for a school trip with my cousin."

"That sounds fun... I'm sorry, but what's your name?" Melody asked as she was trying to figure out why she was there.

"Connor." The little boy said sweetly. "What's your name?"

Melody's eyes widened in surprise at this, realizing this was a younger version of her boyfriend.

"Oh, um, I'm Melody." Melody introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you. You look very pretty." Connor gave a sweet smile.

"awe, thank you." Melody smiled bashfully with a slight blush. "Aren't you sweet."

"I was saying hi to my new friends. Wanna meet them?" Connor pointed enthusiastically at the fish swimming around.

Oh, sure. I'd love to." Melody kept smiling.

The five year old boy took Melody's hand and led her over as she couldn't help but smile.

"That's SpongeBob. And that's Patrick. That's Mr Puff. And that's Gary." Connor pointed at a yellow fish and a pink pish. And a puffer.

Melody realized he named them after the characters from her favorite cartoon show she watches with her boyfriend. She couldn't help but giggle at just how adorable this is.

"Those are great names." Melody giggled a little.

"Uh huh. Mrs Puff. Don't be mad. SpongeBob will pass next time." Connor said to the puffer sweetly.

Just then. Two older boys mischievously approach the little boy as they pass by Melody like she was a ghost. Melody was looking concerned and she was going to get Connor away from these boys. It was obvious these two boys were bullies.

"Come on Connor lets..." Melody almost said but gasped as her hand passed through Connor's hand. She waved her hand as it was passing through Connor's arm and head like air.

And what was weirder is that Connor couldn't see her anymore.

"Check it out! Con Bon's talking to the fish." The blonde Bully teased with a smirk.

Connor was looking scared

"Such a freak, Ramsay." The taller bully mocked as he pushed Connor hard against the glass.

"Let go!" Connor cried out as they were teasing him.

"Hey! Leave him alone!" Melody snapped at the two boys, trying to grab them, only to gasp as her hands passed through them.

"Whatcha gonna do about it, freak?!" The blonde bully kept him cornered.

Melody looked anxious to save the boy as she noticed what was in the glass behind Connor. And she backed away a bit.

"Stop it! Let me gooooo!" Connor yelled and whimpered.

Then...

***BAM!***

A great white shark bummed hard against the glass. Causing the bullies to gasp in horror as they backed away and looked scared.

Then the Great White shark swam around and charged into the glass again. Knocking against it as it cracked a bit. Everyone gasped and screamed as the people on the tour looked alarmed.

Melody looked at the scene in shock, watching as the shark smashed against the glass.

The shark was trying to protect Connor. Obviously trying to eat the boys that were bullying him.

But then Connor had a straight expression as he turned around and held his hand out to the shark. And he began to telepathically speak to the shark. Telling him to stop.

*'It's okay. Please don't hurt them. I'll be okay.'* Connor said in his thoughts.

The shark listened and calmed down before it swam away. Everyone was in total shock and eye as Connor turned around and stared at everyone with glowing bluish gray eyes that were similar to Namor's eyes.

Melody brought a hand to her face as she realized she just witnessed Connor communicating with the shark.

---

Just then the memory changed around Melody as she was standing on the outside of the Aquarium tunnel and onto the lobby where security and cops came in with other officers to secure the area. They put up yellow tape around the entry to the aquatic tunnel. To get repairs around the cracked glass fix and to keep others away.

Melody looked over at the Aquarium lobby near the exit where Connor was being looked after by another dark skin girl around his age. Who was wearing a velvet shirt with a white skirt and with pink tail braids curled around her hair.

Melody recognized her as Penny. A younger one at least.

She walked over to hear what they were saying.

"Dang!...You could've gotten drowned. Are you sure you're okay, Cus?" Penny asked.

"Yeah." Connor nodded as he seemed okay despite that his cousin seemed concerned

Just then. A slender light-skinned, African-American woman with chin-length brown hair and hazel eyes came running in. She was also wearing lipstick, a lime dark jacket with a long-sleeved green shirt underneath, black high heels and tight khaki pants.

Melody recognized her as Trudy Proud. Connor's aunt.

"Mama!" Penny's eyes lit up.

"Oh, Penny, Connor." Trudy said with great relief as she ran over and checked on them to make sure they weren't hurt. "Are you two okay?"

"Yeah Mama! We're fine but Connor! He was being picked on and a shark was banging on the glass behind him! It was so cool, cause he made that thing stop!" Penny talked while getting real excited.

"Oh, Penny, always with an active imagination." Trudy said good naturedly before becoming serious as she checked Connor over. "Connor, were those boys really picking on you? Are you okay?"

"Uh huh." Connor nodded as he seemed okay. "Shredder almost ate those bullies for hurting me. He scared them off. ?But I stopped him before he'd break the glass."

"Shredder? Who's Shredder, Sweetie?" Trudy asked.

"He's my new friend. He's a shark." Connor said simply in a cute way as he whispered to Trudy. "Don't tell anyone. But he's in love with the new lady shark. He's gonna ask her out."

Connor heard the Shark's thoughts on the new female Great White that was brought in. Trudy couldn't help but chuckle. Of course she didn't believe the boy. How could she? But she was always encouraging and knew Connor's perspective was an innocent one. That can only lead to something good.

"I promise not to say anything, Baby." Trudy smiled with amusement. "Come on. I'll drive you home. Your Daddy will be there when we get there."

"Can Connor still come over this weekend?" Penny sweetly asked as they followed Trudy out of the building. Connor nodded as he looked eager to come back over.

"Of course, Baby girl." Trudy said to Penny.

As they were walking out. Melody began to hear a voice calling her. As her dream began to fade. And she was being brought back into reality.

*'Melody? Melody wake up'*

---

That morning in the tent...

Melody was gently being shaken awake as her eyes opened up and fluttered to see her boyfriend already in his cowboy attire.

"Morning, Mel. They're gearing up to ride already." Connor informed her and asked. "Are you okay?

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine, Sweetie." Melody said while rubbing her eyes. "I just had quite a dream."

"Awe. Was it your turn to follow the white rabbit?" Connor teased as he referenced their Wonderland visit.

"No. It was actually about you." Melody said as she sat up.

"Oh you really are into me. What color were the curtains? Don't answer that. Was it a warning from the future, Louise Banks?" Connor quipped as he asked. But it sounded interesting.

"Actually, it was you, at some place called the Wizard Kelly Aquarium, with your cousin, Penny." Melody said.

Connor almost forgot about the legend of how the paopu fruit not only intertwines the destiny between two people who are in love. But it also will cause certain ones to share a glimpse of each other's past.

"I'm guessing you saw the shark that was getting an acquired taste for d-list bullies?" Connor asked as he wondered if she saw that.

"Yeah, I did." Melody said with a nod. "I'm just confused about how I had a dream of your past."

"Our hearts are connected. Destiny's intertwined. Could be a number of reasons. But let's be honest, telepathically talking to sharks, that was just stage one and I didn't even know it at the time. It's how I was able to communicate with Monstro the Secret Red Lobster menu. Hell I can get any aquatic creature to do anything in their ability." Connor stated some facts.

"Wow. That's amazing." Melody said in awe.

Connor checked his phone to see what time it was. "Shit. We're on the clock. Quickly get your outfit on. We need to be in Montezuma in ten minutes." He urged as he shifted into his Maverick form in his western attire.

Just then Mini-Mav in his cowboy attire hopped on Melody's bed with a pose and smoking a neon cigar.

"I came here to kick bubblegum and chew ass. And I'm all out of ass." Mini-Mav humorously mimicked Roddy Piper.

Too bad he got the quote backwards.

Melody gigged at his antics.

"Don't worry, Mini-Mav. We're gonna be finding more to kick, very soon." Melody said.

After that, Melody quickly got into her western attire and shifted into Tsunami. And they both went out to go to their horses to ride off. Once they stepped out of their tent to see Donald and Goofy already stepping out of their tent.

"Donald. Goofy. Has Squall and Gladio's group already left?" Connor asked.

"Yeah. Gladio and Squall's group are already on their way to Phoenix to find that hidden base under city hall." Donald said with a nod.

"Yep. And The Lone Ranger, Tonto, and Zorro fellers also left, heading towards another direction to find a ship owned by the Latino Rogue." Goofy added.

"What do they expect to find on that ship?" Connor asked.

"Well, Tonto believes that their last shipment of purple rocks are on that ship." Goofy said." And the Lone Ranger plans to stink it."

"Sink it!" Donald snapped.

"Oh right, sink the ship. Ah-yuck Hoo hoo hoo HOO!" Goofy said with a chuckle.

"That's... dark but I'll take it, they've done worse." Connor remarked that the evil passengers probably won't survive. Before he added. "Anyhow. You two plan to come with us? Cause I have an important task for you two while Mel and I go and destroy the rock's Mom."

"Okay." Donald agreed.

"Whatever you need, we'll do it." Goofy said in agreement.

"Alright. your horses. We ride now." Connor said as he shifted into the Maverick. And he looked at his dog. "Dug? You're in charge of the camp while we're gone, boy."

That way the dog will feel important.

"Oh boy!I'm in charge of the camp." Dug exclaimed happily as he ran around. "I'll run this camp better than Lady Gaga."

At least he won't do anything irresponsible as long as he thinks he's in charge.

"Mini-Mav. You're with me this time. With Cor's elite troops guarding the camp. They all should be okay now." Maverick said to his little robot sidekick.

"To hell and back! Or more like back away! Seriously don't go there, it's too hot! Drugs are not worth it!" Mini-Mav declared as he ran off ahead of them to their horses.

Then the Guardians of the Depths took their horses and rode off for Montezuma. Ready to finally conclude the reasons for being in this world.

---

Meanwhile down at downtown Phoenix Arizona...

Downtown Phoenix was probably the most urban looking town in the state of an old western Arizona. Filled with industrial businesses that were smoking the sky mildly. A trolly running across the streets. Carriages and people on horses going about on the road. And train tracks outside the shipping yards. With small businesses everywhere on the buildings that were no bigger than two or three stories high.

Gladiolus. Ignis and Prompto were with Squall and Rinoa.

Aranea was somewhere around here doing God knows what. But Gladiolus is learning to trust her after the night they had together.

Just then they passed by a red brick building that resembled sort of like a school house with white stone pillars from the front double door entry and a clock tower on top.

"There it is. City Hall." Rinoa said.

"Squall. Rinoa. You two look for a back entrance." Gladio said to the two.

"You got it." Squall and Rinoa nodded as they rode out to behind city hall.

"I'll take the front entrance as the rule of an upstanding citizen. You and Prompto can go for the indirect approach through the sewers." Ignis suggested the part of the plan they discussed earlier.

The schematics Aranea Highwind provided to them earlier showed them that there's a secret entrance underground. But someone needs to open it up from the inside to avoid being caught or sounding an alarm.

"Gotcha. We'll move quickly and quietly." Gladio said.

"Unless we run into an alligator, or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Then all bets are off." Prompto said humorously.

On that note. Ignis walked through the front entrance of City Hall. As he walked in wearing a brown western businessman attire, with a briefcase. The guards didn't stop him believing Ignis was a businessman. The main hall was where people would either wait or go to admire the items and busts on display. But his destination was at the back of the public library.

---

Meanwhile on the roof. Squall and Rinoa found an open window. And they both climbed up to it while no one could see them from the back of the building.

Rinoa saw two guards inside guarding the main office entrance from the hallway outside. But thankfully the Governor's office has a window.

Being flexible. Rinoa slit the window open after using her expert skills of using a wire to open the lock. Then she climbed through and Squall waited on the roof for her.

The governor Travis Dixon was nowhere to be found. And yet the office has guards outside. Either he doesn't like his office touched or the Governor has something to hide. Maybe this is protocol for all other small rulers of a nation. Or there's something else he's hiding.

Rinoa quietly searched the drawers and found mostly old age items. And a flask or trinkets and personal items like a pocket watch. City records which weren't important. Daily records which were even less important.

But then she found a 21st century looking file. Along with a small electric key attached to it at the bottom right drawer.

Sloppy because this guy should've had a lock to the drawer.

'Bingo.' Rinoa grinned as she quickly got out from the window she came from and to join back up with Squall.

---

Meanwhile, Ignis found the utility closet at the back of the public library. And quickly closed the door.

Using the info provided by Aranea. He found a panel and slipped a glove on with Ardyn's finger prints on it. And used it on the scanner within the hidden panel. Then the wall behind him slit open. As he dropped the empty briefcase off and walked through.

Ignis adjusted his glasses as he walked down what looked like a metallic looking hallway. But no guards around, yet.

"Alright. I'm in. I should be heading to your positions now." Ignis called in Gladiolus and Prompto quietly.

*"Copy. But hurry. This place smells like my grandma's leftovers."* Prompto responded.

Ignis took his cane and separated it into two escrima sticks as he peaked over and saw what they thought they would see. Five guards. All wearing black Meridian attire from Ardyn' unit.

Ignis grinned. As he walked over and alerted them.

"Gentleman. My apologies. Is this the line to the ER?" Ignis inquired amusingly.

"Intruder!" They held as they ran over with batons and daggers.

But then Ignis moves swiftly as he swung his escrima sticks to bash their skulls with swift combat skills and perfect training as he knocked the first guard down and walked over him to kick the next one down. Then the third one he backhanded punched him and used the end of his stick to shock the fourth guard before he slammed the third guard's head into the wall.

Then he tossed his escrima stick to bounce and ricochet on the walls and slam into the last card. Knocking him out cold.

With the guards dealt with. Ignis adjusted his vest and cleared his throat, the last part he did because he noticed Aranea walking in from behind him with an amusing grin.

No she won't double cross them. Aranea is just impressed that Gladiolus recruited some talented folks.

As Ignis pushed the switch and caused the secret entrance doors to open. Showing Gladiolus and Ignis on the other side of the doors.

Aranea walked over to Gladiolus as he and Prompto walked in. And Ignis sealed the entrance back up.

"Should we hide the bodies?" Prompto asked about the guards that were out.

"No need. We'll be long gone by the time they notice." Ignis answered.

Gladiolus gave Aranea a bemused look. "You're late." He said.

"Actually, I was here first. You're the ones who are late." Aranea said with a smirk.

"She's got a point." Prompto shrugged.

"Just show us where Ardyn is." Gladiolus sighed.

"If we're lucky. He'll be in the command center. Follow me. And get your weapons ready, unless you wanna see me have all the fun." Aranea said and then mused seductively.

Just then. Rinoa and Squall came down the same way Ignis came through. Thanks to a back exit Ignis left open for them in the library.

"Sorry we're late." Rinoa said as she was catching her breath.

"No worries you're early." Ignis assured.

"Come on. Aranea knows where the Command Center is." Gladiolus insisted on running.

"Aranea? You're on a first name basis now?" Rinoa teased with a knowing grin as they started running down the hall together. Gladiolus rolled his eyes at his sister, while Aranea found it amusing.

Then Squall. Rinoa Gladiolus. Ignis and Prompto followed Aranea down the hall and towards where the Command Center would be. If they're lucky. They'll find Governor Dixon along with Juan Moreno and Ardyn Izunia. Hopefully there are no tricks and obstacles that will get in the way.

---

Meanwhile at the Montezuma Castle National Monument….

The Guardians have made it to Montezuma Castle, which was a castle that was carved out of the side of a large cliff side, with another part of the cliff above the castle, shading it.

"Woah."

Melody muttered while looking up at the monument.

"Uh huh. That is one impressive tourist sight." Donald commented.

"Gee, I wonder how long it took to build that." Goofy wondered.

'Montezuma Castle National Monument protects a set of well-preserved dwellings located in Camp Verde, Arizona, which were built and used by the Sinagua people, a pre-Columbian culture closely related to the Hohokam and other indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States, between approximately AD 1100 and 1425. The main structure comprises five stories and about 20 rooms and was built over the course of three centuries.' FELICITY stated some facts from Connor's Mav ring for them to hear.

"Or at least that's what the library and internet told us. Still they never said anything about a hidden chamber behind this place." Connor said as he looked around it from a distance.

"Well, Aranea did say that Montyzume Castle is different from the one from your world, right?* Goofy said.

"That's 'Montezuma' you big Palooka." Donald groaned in annoyance.

"Oh right. Montezuma Castle." Goofy said with a chuckle. "Ahyuck!"

Connor was about to retort when he noticed that there was a small bolder below the left end corner of the monument. He wondered as he teleported over and before his friends and girlfriend could question it. He used one hand and his raw strength. He pushed the large rock out of the way and found a hidden staircase that looked ancient.

"Slobby...And yet. Clever. Wonder if Dad liked his magazines that way." Connor muttered to himself.

"Great job. You found a way in." Melody said as she walked over and looked at the revealed entrance.

"Here's hoping we don't gotta solve more mediocre generated riddles." Connor remarked as he looked at Mini-Mav. "Mini-Me. Stay here and guard the entrance. No one in or out except for us."

"Sí, Señor!" Mini-Mav exclaimed in Spanish while Saluting

"Ese es el Sr. General campeón sabio Maverick para ti!" Connor exclaimed back in humorous correction. And then muttered to the others. "We really need to work on protocol."

"Oh brother." Donald rolled his eyes while Goofy chucked and Melody giggled at the boy's humor.

Then they went inside while Mini-Mav stayed on alert from the entrance as he held up a neon shotgun. Looking edged and ready to shoot anything that tries to pass by him.

---

Deep inside the cave...

Connor led Melody, Donald and Goofy deeper into the cave as they ascended up a steep slope of nothing but rocks and stone. The air was still blowing from outside so they could breathe. But it took about five minutes to finally reach the end of the tunnel.

"I should've brought some magazines." Connor remarked as they looked around to see an empty crypt of what looks like an ancient Hispanic tomb with bones everywhere.

"Where do we go now?" Donald asked while failing to sound patient.

"Down the county line, Don." Connor mused as he pointed down another tunnel that was completely dark compared to the last tunnel.

Which made Goofy and Donald gulp at how dark the tunnel was. Melody was brave and so was Connor but that doesn't mean they're oblivious of the potential dangers of darkness.

So Melody formed a large water orb the size of a bowling ball and Connor filled it with neon light. Then she sent it down the tunnel and thus the entire tunnel lit up blue.

"I tried this once using a toy car with lights and a black driver, but it kept getting pulled over." Connor remarked.

"Let me guess, you got a ticket for speeding." Melody said jokingly.

"No, I got a ticket for breathing." Connor deadpanned humorously as he went ahead to lead the others.

"Well, no turning back now." Melody said as she followed Connor.

Just as they were going down the next tunnel. It was only dark for a few more minutes. And then. They stopped at a hole. Or rather the pit of a water tunnel.

"How good are you at swimming?" Connor asked Donald and Goofy.

"I'm a duck. What do you think?" Donald said in an exasperated tone.

"I took some swimming classes. So I should probably be fine." Goofy said nonchalantly.

"You had a picnic underwater." Donald crossed his arms at Goofy.

"I know. And I forgot a chair and napkins." Goofy said with slight disappointment at forgetting those things.

"Mmkay." Connor muttered and asked Melody. "Do you wanna use fins or feet? Cause I don't think it's a long swim."

He was asking if she wants to swim as a natural mermaid or a natural human.

"I'd say feet. I'll save my fins for longer swims." Melody said.

"Cool. Save the passion." Connor shrugged as he quickly took off his hat and vest. Along with his shirt. And he folded it into a neon bubble he formed to hold his clothes. "Only wear what you don't want to soak."

"Gotcha." Melody said before she took off her collar, hat, and boots and put them in the neon bubble. "Okay. I'm ready."

"And you too..." Connor almost said to Donald and Goofy as they already dove into the water tunnel which made Connor sigh. "Sure."

Then he dove into the water and swam into the tunnel.

"Wait for me." Melody said before jumping in after him, using her expert bare feet to keep up with him.

Connor of course being Atlantean with or without a merman tailfin. He can breathe just fine. While he passed by Donald who was holding his breath and burbled underwater.

"What was that? Did you say something?" Connor smugly asked as he swam backwards while smirking at Donald.

"Brbrbrbrb!" Donald muttered underwater while holding his breath.

"What? You have a date with beth?" Connor inquired teasingly.

"Bbrbrbrbrbrlth!" Donald shook his fist glaring at Connor.

"You're trying to picture death?" Connor inquired what Donald said.

"BBLBLBLBLBLMYBRTTH!" Donald screamed underwater while holding his breath.

"Dude! You shouldn't be taking meth! What would your mom think?!" Connor faked a gasp. And added. "What would Daisy think?"

A second later, Donald cast a breathing spell on himself and Goofy.

"I SAID I WAS TRYING TO HOLD MY BREATH!" Donald yelled before he paused in realization. "Oh yeah. I didn't have to with the breathing spell."

Donald's spell worked on Melody as well since she was swimming next to Goofy.

"Uh huh." Connor mused as Melody swam up to him. And he said to her, "This spell's temporary so don't try to break a world record later, otherwise you'd just look like an asshole who doesn't know she's gonna drown."

Melody laughed at his joke.

"Don't worry sweetie. I'll be just fine." Melody said softly while she kept swimming.

Just then they saw the end of the tunnel. And Connor swam ahead to check and see if it was safe. He swam up to the hole above the stone tunnel and peaked his head out and looked around.

"All clear!" Connor said underwater to let the others know.

He helped Melody out of the hole and used an instant dry from a wind spell to dry them both. Then he took the floating neon bubble and handed Melody her clothes back while he placed his back on, along with his shirt and hat. Melody placed her items back on along with her boots and hat.

And then Donald and Goofy came up and the duck used a spell to dry themselves as well.

*"Padre! I think I see an intruder! There's a small predator with eagle like eyes that's fluttering around the sunflowers like it's devouring-"* Mini-Mav called.

"It's a butterfly." Connor deadpanned.

*"...Oh. Yeah it is. Proceed Creator!"* Mini-Mav responded.

Just then. Connor walked ahead and saw that the entire cave was actually an underground chasm. With just enough ambient light for them to see everything.

The ceiling of the chasm was hundreds of feet above their level with stalagmites hanging from above.

But that's not what shocked Connor.

"Holy mother ***king Discovery Channel!" Connor gasped in shock as he looked up.

"What is it?" Melody asked as she looked up, letting out a gasp at the sight. "Oh my God."

---

In front then from above were many pillar and cone like structures that were built around a surrounding forest with waterfalls. What they found was Ruins of Atlantis, or rather, Ruins of the lost first kingdom.

The structure was over fifty to eighty stories above them. As the waterfalls were surrounded by eroded ruins of golden steep poles. And the ruins of large buildings surrounding so much green and trees everywhere. Like a post-apocalyptic major city.

"Ladies and gentlemen. I give you the lost first kingdom of the Original Atlantis. Or at least a part of it." Connor said in awe.

While he noticed the stone wall of a mountain behind all of the buildings to indicate this is not all of the original first kingdom. Only part of it. Meaning that the original lost kingdom is still out there lost in the Multiverse. But perhaps what they find here can help them find it.

"Wow. This is amazing." Melody breathed in awe at the sight before her.

"Look at the size of this place." Donald muttered while looking around.

"Gee, I wonder how it all got here in the first place." Goofy scratched his head. "Or how nobody found this place before."

'Hmmm...Interesting. I have been scanning the foundation of this entire chasm since we've entered the cave. Apparently the matter structure and foreign residue as well as the structure are not indigenous to the structure of this world or the mountain.' FELICITY stated to the team.

"What does that mean?" Melody asked.

"Let's get a closer look." Connor said as he took Melody's hand and he held his hand out to Donald and Goofy and teleported them up to the platform set of stairs dangling from the exterior of the ruins. There were walkways and steps in between the waterfalls. And Connor teleported them up towards the middle walkway.

While everyone was looking around. Connor stood on the waterfalls and greenery around the place. Holding his ring out to scan them and he grinned.

"Just as I thought." Connor said.

"Oh, I see. You're right." Goofy said, nodding along.

"You have no idea what he's talking about, do you?" Donald said with a deadpan look.

"Nope." Goofy admitted, making Donald groan.

"Alright I'll explain it. Noticed that this entire area has greenery and a water source like an oasis. In the middle of a mountain. Inside the hottest state in America." Connor pointed out the rich green trees and waterfalls. "In fact these trees shouldn't even be that green."

"I did notice that, yeah." Melody said with a nod.

"None of this should be here. Dropping these things here is like dropping Big Ben in Paris, or a clansman meeting in West Oakland or a pride parade in Iran." Connor emphasized while adding a little humor and he explained. "This entire area we're standing in. Is a large fragment of another world, fused into this one. And somehow this area is still locked in its original world's current location, like a quantum connection. Still going. The water we're seeing. It's not flowing from this world.

"So, are you saying if we were to keep going, we could find ourselves in the world this place is actually a part of?" Melody asked in surprise.

"No. Because while this place is quantum connected to its original world, it's still physically severed. It's like a signal to the old Kingdom. But maybe something here can help us find it early." Connor explained and took a guess.

"Oh boy!" Donald cheered.

"Great! That'll make this journey even easier." Goofy added.

"Spread out and look around. See if you can find anything here." Connor said to Donald and Goofy.

He figured that if this place is part of the old Kingdom. Then they must have something here for them to find.

"On it." Donald said.

"We won't leave any stone unturned." Goofy said before he and Donald went in different directions to search while Melody stayed close to Melody.

"Is there anything you're hoping we'll find here?" Melody asked.

"Any pure untampered source of the Old Kingdom can take us instantly to their world. The pearl shards we've been collecting are so far the only thing. But without it completely being whole. Collecting those shards is all we have." Connor said as he climbed up some steps while scanning the area. "Unless someone's left some valuables that were evicted."

As Connor was looking around the old streets. He noticed most of it was cut off by fallen debris and old rocks from time passing by. Even most of the monuments and statues were covered in old algae. And the buildings were empty and eroded beyond recognition.

Connor curiously bent down and picked up a beige looking item that looked like a plate.

"What'd you find there, Sweetie?" Melody asked, looking at what Connor picked up.

Connor at first thought it was a plate. But then he broke it in half like a big piece of stale candle wax.

"It's a loaf of bread. But a millennia pass it's expiration date." Connor stated as he looked at the empty building inside. And saw the structure of what looked like an open campfire. Or rather a fire meant for cooking. "This used to be an inn."

"Really?" Melody said, looking around. "Wow. This place really looks ancient."

"Is there anything that's covered in stalagmites, erosions and fossilized bones that isn't ancient? Besides EA Sports?" Connor snorted as he walked up the steps.

Just then they both saw one of the buildings that looked old and faded in its art design. But was still standing and intact.

"Hey Donald?! Goofy?! I think I found something!" Connor called them over from where they were searching.

"Hey! So did I!" Goofy's voice echoed. "Whoops!"

**CRASH!**

"WAAAAK! GOOFY YOU IDIOT! YOU DROPPED IT ON MY FOOT!" Donald screamed in both pain and anger.

"Oops! Sorry Donald!" Goofy's apology echoed.

Connor didn't have to wait for the boys to straighten themselves out long. But little did they know. As they were getting ready to head inside the old building. Someone was watching them from above one of the rooftops of the old city. And that someone. Was Sea Slayer. Ready to spring for the next round.

---

Meanwhile at Watson Lake...

A group of Latino Rogue troops were patrolling a cargo ship filled with wooden crates. As they were making their way to a checkpoint to deliver the purple rocks Juan wanted to complete his plans.

There were over thirty to forty Rogue members patrolling the ship. Some were on break. And they didn't realize that before they went sailing. Three men had already snuck on board.

One of the guards that were standing near the railing on the east side of the top deck. Felt the pollen in the air and caused his nose to itch.

"Achoo!" The guard sneezed.

"Salud." He heard Zorro say behind him.

"Gracias." The guard thanked him. Then his eyes widened as he turned to see Zorro who punched him in the face. "Ugh!"

Then the guard fell into the river.

Suddenly and for no reason to sneak around. A gun battle took place as the Lone Ranger and Tonto hopped off some crates and started shooting at the guards while they were shooting back. Zorro used his sword to flip a pistol in the air and he grabbed it as he ran fast past the bullets.

Zorro flipped forward and landed behind Lone Ranger and Zorro. Then Zorro began to shoot at the guards from behind them. As they stood back to back, using the crates for cover so they could avoid the bullets.

Together they managed to shoot and take down at least ten guards before more were coming.

"Do you get this much activity in Mexico?!" Lone Ranger asked as they were shooting at the guards.

"I live in Los Angeles, Amigo!" Zorro said to the Lone Ranger. "And this fight doesn't even cover what happens back home!"

Just then three troops were running up from behind Zorro and Lone Ranger shot the rope off of three crates. Causing those crates to fall. Crush and kill those three troops.

***Crash!***

"Sorry my bad!" Lone Ranger responded with a double meaning as they continued the gun fight.

---

Meanwhile back in Phoenix...

Gladiolus' group was busy taking down some guards that were in the way. Stealth wise. And they did a decent job at not alerting the whole underground base as they were standing in what looked like a hanger with a portal for gummi ships to fly through.

Squall managed to shoot three guards against the wall using his silent ammo. And Prompto stealth killed the last guard by jumping in the air and going for the head before he flipped and landed.

"Nice one." Aranea complimented.

"Thanks." Prompto grinned as he spun his hun and stood up.

"Have you identified anyone in the local law enforcement that could do some good around here?" Ignis asked Squall.

"Just one. The Police Commissioner is actually my Uncle. If anyone can handle cleaning up. It's him." Rinoa revealed as they went in further.

Judging from the security. They were getting close.

---

Meanwhile back in the Chasm of the Old Kingdom...

Connor had managed to rip open the large steel doors blocking their way inside the building using his raw strength. Only to see that the entire building appeared to be some kind of temple. But not just any temple. The temple of a giant purple crystal Connor was familiar with.

"Holy..." Connor muttered in shock.

"Wooow." Goofy and Donald widened their eyes in awe. They had no idea what it was. But it looked huge.

In front of them, at the top of a set of stairs, was a large purple crystal, the size of a large pillar, with shining streams of purple lights coming from it to light a water fountain. It spun to the left at a very slow rate, but it gleamed over the entire room like a diamond chandelier.

"Wow. It's beautiful." Melody muttered as she gazed upon the large crystal. "Is this the mother of the purple orbs?"

Connor is the only one that isn't in awe. But disgustful dread.

"Even worse. It's a False Mother Crystal." Connor revealed.

Melody's gaze turned towards him in shock.

"This is a fake?" Melody gasped in shock. "Why is there a fake one here? And where's the real one?"

"No Mel. A False Mother Crystal is a dark forgery of the Mother Crystal. The life source of the third kingdom of Atlantis." Connor explained.

"So this is the source of the purple rocks." Melody figured.

"Exactly. The real crystal is under the protection of the third Kingdom. They call it the Heart of Atlantis, but now it's for their Atlantis since the other kingdoms evolved beyond the need of the Mother Crystal." Connor explained.

"And what does this one do?" Melody gestured to the False Mother Crystal.

"This one is one of the many temptations of Darkness. In fact this is the third False Mother Crystal I've encountered. It offers an alternate power instead of life. Like taking the place of any chosen objects." Connor explained.

"So this is the source of the purple rocks. We destroy it and Juan Moreno loses." Goofy realized.

"Sounds about right." Donald said, nodding.

"Okay. So, how do we destroy this thing?" Melody asked with a serious tone.

"About that. We can't. We can break Thor's hammer with a butter knife before we can destroy this thing. We need a pure source of light." Connor said as he looked at Melody.

"You mean like me." Melody said in understanding.

"No. I mean you. You're a Princess of Heart. That means you're someone of the purest source of light. That can dispel all darkness. Like Oxi Clean for darkness.." Connor explained and gestured.

"That's right. I'm pure in light." Melody said in awe, before looking serious again. "Okay. What do I have to do?"

"That's the hard part. And by that I mean very simple. Just place and hold your hand on the crystal until it stops glowing. It will take a while but it's not like there's anyone down here like a cable salesman to interrupt." Connor gestured to the false mother crystal.

"And there you go jinxing us." Melody said teasingly.

then Melody went over and touched the crystal and held her hands on it. The Crystal stopped streaming and spinning. And she kept her hand held there. Much to everyone's awe.

"Technically we're in a place where jinx wasn't invented yet. So I'm off the hook." Connor shrugged.

"Well, I hope you're right. Otherwise, you'll owe me another massage." Melody said teasingly as she kept her hands on the crystal.

"Yeah well you can take that massage and-" Connor almost snorted as he felt a sharp pain on his left shoulder. "Ugh!"

*STAB!*

And then he was yanked out of the building by an electric tether cable pulling him out fast.

"CONNOR!" Melody cried out to her boyfriend, ready to let go of the crystal, until Donald stopped her.

"No, Melody. We need you to not let go until this thing is finished. We'll back Connor up." Donald said before turning to Goofy. "Come on, Goofy."

"Right behind you Donald." Goofy said before the two ran towards the exit and towards the battle, leaving Melody with a conflicted look, wishing she could help her boyfriend but knew she had to do this to stop the orbs.

Outside the temple. Connor was yanked in the air as he glared forward seeing Sea Slayer. Connor lost his hat as he summoned his keyblade and slashed at the cable before he spun to avoid a photon shot from Sea Slayer's gauntlet and Connor delivered a neon fist to Sea Slayer's chest. Knocking him off the roof. As Sea Slayer grunted and crashed on the ground.

Sea Slayer flipped back up as he shot two stun shots at Goofy and Donald who were both charging from behind. Knocking them down. Connor got angry seeing his friends hurt as he shifted his keyblade into a trident and Sea Slayer pulled out his two katanna's.

They both dueled into clashing their weapons as their clanging echoed the entire chasm. As Connor would flip and twirl to avoid all of Sea Slayer's fast combos. Just then. Connor quickly found an opening and slashed across his mask. Making Sea Slayer growl as he retaliated with a headbud staggering Connor. And then he slashed his katana across Connor's chest and shoulder.

"Ugh! Cheeshot, bitch!" Connor howled in an angry amount as he built up some water and sent it with a thunder spell to stagger Sea Slayer.

But Sea Slayer gained back his stance and spun his katanas and swung them at Connor who teleported rapidly to deliver a slew of combo kicks and slashes. Sea Slayer took some of the slashes but most of the kicks as he blocked others. He was determined to fulfill his mission. And if he doesn't succeed in killing the Maverick, he has another specific order. Attuma had full confidence in Sea Slayer even if he didn't destroy the Maverick yet. The Maverick's life is reserved for either Sea Slayer or Attuma. Something Tiger Shark had to learn the hard way earlier.

Then Connor delivered a triple air kick and then he slashed his trident to send Sea Slayer growling as he crashed through the wall into the temple.

Connor teleported in and landed as he glared at Sea Slayer. Who apparently lost his helmet from the crash. As he stood up with his back to Connor. Melody and Connor glared at Attuma's main killer. As he turned and Sea Slayer revealed his face.

Connor shifted from angry to total shock as he stopped breathing. And the world around him paused. As he felt like time and reality was at odds with him right now.

'No...It can't be.' Connor thought.

"Noctis?" Connor exhaled in shock.

Yes! Sea Slayer is his best friend that he thought was dead. Noctis Lucis Caelum.

"Who the hell is Noctis?" Noctis asked in a confused glare.

Melody let out a horror filled gasp, her free hand rushing to her face, right over her mouth at the sight, wondering what was going on, and how Connor was taking this, all while still having to keep contact with the crystal.

The False Mother Crystal was starting to lose its purple color as this was going on.

Noctis shook out of his confused stare as he aimed his pistol at Connor. But then his suit's Meridian emblem on the belt lit up.

"No wait!-" Noctis almost yelled before he was beamed out of the room by someone's signal.

Connor ran over to try and stop him. But Noctis was gone at that moment. And he stood there. Looking still just as extremely dumbfounded and shocked as ever.

"Connor!" Donald yelled as he and Goofy ran over.

"Are you okay? That guy really did a number on ya." Goofy said with concern.

"You don't know the half of it." Connor said in a low tone in his shocked breath.

Then suddenly the crystal stopped spinning in place.

"Mel, stand back." Connor said as he was trying to sound stable while he walked up to the crystal.

"Alright." Melody said as she stepped back, looking concerned. "Connor, are you okay?"

"We'll talk about it later." Connor said with a stern tone that nearly cracked as he then slashed his keyblade at the crystals.

Causing the entire False Mother Crystal to shatter completely as it faded into dust. Thus the effect of the purple rocks faded as well. Then suddenly the world's keyhole appeared. Doing his duty as a keyblade guardian. Connor shifted his trident back into a keyblade and aimed the tip at the keyhole. He shot a white beam into the mystical keyhole, causing the sound of a lock turning to echo. As it faded completely. Thus the western world was saved.

While this world's crisis seems to be over. One big problem remains for Connor. How is his best friend still alive?

And better yet. How is he the Sea Slayer?

---

Meanwhile at the hidden Base in Phoenix...

Inside the secret office of Governor Dixon. The corrupt Governor himself was sitting in his chair. With a faded bald area and a clean shave while wearing a western suit with a neckerchief for a tie. While standing on his left was Juan Moreno himself.

As they were talking to some man standing in the shadows near the corner.

"I understand the terms with Meridia. But I believe that there's more to its potential as well as yours. If we were all in it together." Governor Dixon said with a grin.

"Which is why I believe that this world and whatever we may achieve here doesn't amount to what your world is all about. My grandmama spoke about the stars and keyblades for years, back before I could barely walk." Juan Moreno declared with a sinister passion. "So whatever your Emperor has planned for such feats. I want in. As well as my friend the good Governor. We promise to add our resources if it will make your jobs easier."

The man in the shadows clicked his tongue. "Well. Actually I know what he would say. That...We should kill you." The mysterious man stated.

Juan Moreno chuckled at that, taking it as a joke.

"That's a good one." Juan said while chuckling.

"Even he doesn't wanna do that. Not to someone of my potential." Governor Dixon snorted.

Just then. The man stepped out of the shadows with a subtle smirk.

This man was Ardyn Izunia, who had a slight tan and messy brown hair. He wore a black trench coat and pinstripe trousers, black fingerless gloves, a red scarf and a hooded, gray and white flower-print mantle. He also wore a black fedora.

"Would you like to meet my employer?" Ardyn asked with a sinister smirk.

Ardyn then picked up a photograph from his coat pocket of a shadow in the image.

"Granted he once had a figure like the rest of us, a more unorthodox one I must say. But he prefers to make himself known by his works then his looks." Ardyn stated with a grin.

"And what works would those be?" Juan inquired.

Then suddenly the room got foggy and filled with dark clouds as Ardyn's face turned pale and his iris in the eyes turned dark. He looked almost like a demon as the Shadow King jumped out of the image and snarled at them with a monstrous growl.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Both Governor Travis Dixon and Juan Moreno screamed in terror and agony as they were staring at the Shadow King who filled them with their worst nightmares.

"This is how I like my meals. Lean and scream deliciously." Shadow King said darkly as they kept screaming while Ardyn was smirking like a demon by his side.

---

A few minutes later. Gladiolus knocked the door down and came in totally surprised to see that not only was the room empty. But Juan Moreno was on the ground with Governor Travis Dixon. Both were twitching and bug eyed like they weren't coherent. And they were drooling in shock. Grunting as they were vexed beyond belief. And their faces were in a cold sweat.

"What the hell happened here?!" Prompto said in shock.

"Ardyn." Aranea seethed with narrowed eyes. "This has his name written all over."

"Even worse. This is him. The Shadow King's work as well." Ignis noticed the dark residue.

"So Ardyn's made a deal with the Shadow King? He's more dangerous than ever." Gladiolus realized.

"My ex-husband truly is a foul soul." Aranea muttered with a dark look. "I'll admit we both shared a lust for power. But even I would never hunger for darkness, especially to this degree."

Squall looked behind the Governor's desk and had all the records on everything Travis Dixon did with Juan. From human trafficking to troop smuggling. Even a couple of reports of espionage with his hand writing on it.

"Looks like we found our silver bullet." Squall smiled as he felt like he hit the jackpot.

"Great. With this, we can finally arrest the Governor and send him and Senior Radical Juan here to the slammer." Rinoa said.

"Let's wrap up here and report back to Cor." Ignis suggested which they all agreed.

On that note. Gladiolus helped carry the dirty Governor out along with Juan while Squall gathered all of the records and documents to send those dirty low lifes behind bars once and for all.

This might have been an easy victory. But dealing with Ardyn. It was about to get tougher.

---

Back over at Watson Lake...

Tonto had finished planting the dynamite around the shipment. And Zorro already was finishing up the last of the guards with his sword as they didn't stand a chance. The Lone Ranger had taken out the driver and steered the ship into the hard rocks near the banks of the lake. So they could get off to safety.

Just then a man with a knife was sneaking up on the Lone Ranger. When suddenly the man was shot with a sniper bullet. Crashing from the front windows. Lone Ranger turned and noticed. Only to see turned ahead and see. That Linda Vidal, standing on the hill with a smirk and a hunting rifle. The girl she met in town. Who gave him a bath. And a good time afterwards.

And now she's the girl that saved his life. Lone Ranger smirked back at her.

Just then Tonto came running right in.

"Charges are set, Kemosabe. Best get off the ship fast." Tonto said in a calm voice.

"Don't have to tell me twice!" Lone Ranger yelled as he ran and jumped out of the window. Tonto followed suit.

Zorro ran over the rails of the upper deck and jumped off the boat. Their horses were down below near the shore. As they all ran for their horses the explosion went off and suddenly caused them to fall backwards.

***BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!***

It knocked them over on the ground. Causing them to grunt as they looked up to see the ship completely on fire and it was suddenly sinking. And yet the three of them are alive to witness the spectacle of the destruction.

"How much money do you think they just lost?" Lone Ranger asked.

"Oh please. This is nothing compared to the number of days behind bars that's coming for the rest of the Rogue." Zorro said smugly.

"True. Though there's a big chance Tonto and I might take the blame for the damages." Lone Ranger bit his tongue.

"I wasn't the one driving." Zorro shrugged.

On that note. They shared a laugh. While Tonto just fed his bird.

"We are the only two grown-ups in the trio." Tonto said to his bird.

After that, The Lone Ranger. Tonto and Zorro got on their horses. And met up with Linda eho was already on her horse as they let her follow them to where Cor Leonis told them to rendezvous.

---

Meanwhile back in Phoenix...

Juan Moreno and Travis Dixon were both being bound and loaded in a prison transport carriage by several officers of the law. The citizens of the town were gathered around and could not believe it. Their beloved Governor not only betrayed their country. But betrayed the trust they once had for him.

But Travis Dixon was completely zoned out after the experience he had with the Shadow King. They both were. Gladiolus knew these effects would last only for a couple of days.

But that was the least of what Juan and Travis had to worry about.

Squall and Rinoa were standing by the sidewalk near the city hall. Talking to a middle aged man with sideburns a goatee. Wearing a black police commissioner's uniform.

This was Commissioner Daniel Heartlilly. Commissioner of the Phoenix Police Department.

"The rest of Travis Dixon's assets are confiscated. If he's lucky. He'll avoid the noose if the judge decides it. Though I can't say the same for Juan Moreno. He'll be sent back home to face judgment by the people of Mexico." Daniel said to Squall and Rinoa.

"I figured as much." Squall nodded.

"The people of Arizona owe you a debt of gratitude it can never repay. Especially you Rinoa." Daniel shook Squall's hand while he smiled at Rinoa.

"Awe well. I look forward to seeing how you'll repay me. But it'll have to be much later on though. Squall and I are back in business." Rinoa sweetly said as she held Squall's other hand.

Daniel shot them both a smirk. "You two against the stars again?" He said. Quoting an old saying Squall and Rinoa used to say as kids.

"Pretty much. Only I don't plan on breaking her heart again any time soon." Squall promised.

"See that you don't. And I won't clean up the cell reserved for ya." Daniel warned with a grin.

"Easy Uncle Dan. If anything I broke his heart last." Rinoa assured amusingly.

"Oh well then by all means I'll burn that cell then. You two have fun. I'll have a celebration waiting for you when you get back." Daniel smiled as he shared a hug with his niece.

On that note. Squall followed Rinoa out of the city. And back to Cor's camp. Where a ride was waiting for them. This time Squall will finally help the Meridian Resistance. But he will only do it because Rinoa needs this.

But don't worry. He'll warm up to everyone else soon.

---

Meanwhile up on the hills...

Standing on one of the small hills outside of Phoenix was Cor Leonis on his horse. Along with Gladiolus. Ignis and Prompto. And Aranea was on her horse next to Gladiolus and his horse.

The Lone Ranger. Tonto. Zorro. And Linda rode up to the group. And Cor stepped off his horse just as Zorro and Lone Ranger stepped off of theirs.

And Cor shook both of their hands.

"I owe you both big time. With that ship down, and the shipping records you took from it, the law will trace back all of the locations of the remaining Rogue hideouts." Cor said genuinely as Zorro handed the records over to Cor.

"Todo en un día de trabajo." Zorro said in Spanish. Translated: 'All in a day's work'.

"It's what we do. We tear down those above the law by standing outside the law." Lone Ranger grinned.

"Sounds like a certain someone I know." Cor smiled as he thought of the Maverick.

"Speaking of which, where is the Maverick and his team, anyway?" Lone Ranger asked, looking around.

Just then. The Maverick and Tsunami rode up on their horses Sorbo and Camelia.

"You hollered?" Maverick inquired with a little wit as he stepped off his horse.

"There he is. Good to see you guys made it back in one piece." Lone Ranger said as he shook Maverick's hand. "So, I take it everything went according to plan on your end?"

"A little dramatic beyond what I was expecting with a bottle of peroxide after spelunking. But otherwise we're good." Maverick said as he shook his hand and looked at Tonto. "And that 'mother' you told me about. It was much worse. But it won't bother anyone again."

"Thank the spirits. We are forever in your debt for this." Tonto said.

"Cool. Then..." Maverick smugly almost asked.

"But you can't have the bird." Tonto quickly added.

"I was gonna ask for it's identical twin, but it's fine. I'll order some chicken." Maverick shrugged before he looked at Zorro. "And it was a thrill meeting you as well. I mean seeing the legendary Zorro and the Lone Ranger fighting side by side. Sounds like a five star book beaming over the horizon."

"Si. I will admit. It was muy bueno teaming up with you." Zorro said, glancing at Lone Ranger.

"For once, I agree." Lone Ranger said with a smirk.

Good thing one of Maverick's drone's caught all the action between them on camera. And recorded everything while the Guardians were doing their mission. Who knows? This could make a cool film one day.

"We should all be on our way now. We have much to do." Cor stated.

"Yeah. My long journey ain't actually at the half point yet." Maverick admitted.

"Consider yourself fortunate. At least you know where your journey end. Tonto and I. The journey is our life. And always will be. But seeing the good we do for those who can't stand outside the law. It's worth it." Lone Ranger said as he looked out at the horizon.

"And it keeps us alive, Kemosabe." Tonto agreed with him.

"It's the same for me back home. But that doesn't mean you're not entitled to live. Take it from me, Amigo. Ride the journey. But never ride it alone." Zorro said as he shook Lone Ranger's hand.

The Lone Ranger glanced up at Linda Vidal who was smiling the whole time.

"I'll keep that in mind. I reckon you're heading back where you came from?" Lone Ranger asked with a smirk.

"Si. But if ever you're in tone. Let's try to exchange shots instead of getting shot." Zorro grinned back and winked.

Now they're officially friends.

On that note as everyone was getting ready to leave. As Maverick was getting on his horse. He remembered something important he wanted to ask Tonto. "That ancient Keyblade warrior you mentioned earlier. Jawano Akeyda?" He asked.

"Jawanio Akicita." Tonto corrected.

"Right, my bad. What was he also called?" Maverick asked.

Tonto smiled a little. "He was called the Maverick." He stated proudly.

Maverick's eyes looked surprised. He knew his legacy as the Maverick was a big deal. But he never expected it to reach a world like this. That ancient warrior Jawanio Akicita was a Maverick centuries before him. And yet Connor was able to destroy a thread that was right under his predecessor's nose. In spite of discovering that he is a true successor. He didn't feel like a success. Because of what he discovered about his best friend.

Gladiolus looked at Aranea.

"There's room on our ship for another crew member. You've earned that much." Gladiolus said, and for once smiled at Aranea. Truly smiled.

He can finally trust her.

"Ooh? Can't get enough of me, huh? How can I refuse such an offer?" Aranea said teasingly, accepting the offer.

And Aranea shared a kiss with Gladiolus who kissed back.

Gladiolus' sister Iris came up to them on her own horse at one point. As she was standing behind her brother the entire time. Smirking at him

"Achem?" Iris amusingly cleared her throat

Making Gladiolus turn. "Iris? I thought you were on the ship." Gladiolus frowned.

"Oh just making sure I didn't leave anything important behind." Iris playfully teased as she grinned at him and smiled at Aranea. "You have my blessing. Just don't do anything stupid or I'll mount your head on the wall. This big dope means the world to me."

"I believe you. And don't worry." Aranea smirks with a chuckle. "I assure you that I have no plans to cause any trouble for him."

"Good. I've already set up your room on the ship." Rinoa smiled and she whispered to Aranea. "And I also left a backup key to my bro's room." She winked.

"Is that so?" Aranea smirked. "I think I like you already."

She will definitely have plans with that spare key.

After everyone said their farewells. The Lone Ranger rode off with Tonto. And Linda. Now a trio of the wind. Zorro rode off in another direction. And everyone else waited to see them disappear over the horizon.

Before Maverick and Tsunami were beamed back on Stingray. And Cor's group rode off back to camp where their gummi fleet was waiting.

---

Back on board the Stingray...

Donald and Goofy were back into their normal attire as they waited on the couch. Feeling worried about Connor. They both got the news about Connor's best friend alive and as the enemy. And they wondered how he was taking it. Mini-Mav was pacing around the coffee table. Wondering when they'll be back. While Dug was feeling concerned around the room as he laid and faintly whimpered, looking sad on his doggy bed.

His ears perked up when Connor and Melody walked into the room. Back in their keyblade attire as Connor looked anxious. And Melody looked worried as she followed him.

"Hey, Connor. Wait up." Goofy said, making the Maverick stop as he pulled out a pearl shard from his pocket. "Look, it's another one of those pearl shards we were looking for. It fell outta Sea Slay- I mean Noctis' pocket."

Connor received it. And sighed as he looked at it. Noctis must have picked it up in the Old West world. Or maybe from some other world he was on.

"Good job, Goof. I'll run the scanners to select the next world." Connor nodded as he turned and went into his room.

But thankfully he didn't lock the door. Because Melody walked in and saw him place the shard in the secondary ship scanner he kept in his room to save the walk.

But then as the ship began scanning it. And driving out of the waters of the mountain and across the stars of the Multiverse.

Connor slumped forward against the wall and leaned his head against his forearm

A second later, he felt Melody wrap her arms around him from behind.

"Are you okay, Sweetie?" Melody asked softly with concern in her voice.

Connor didn't resist his comfort.

"I don't know. Would anybody be if they found out the one person that kept them alive during hard times?...The one they looked up to and was always there for them?...My homeboy...Would anybody be okay if they found that their best friend was now with the enemy trying to kill them?" Connor said with mild disgust but mostly a heart broken tone.

"I'm so sorry." Melody muttered as she snuggled closer. "Are you sure it was him though? He seemed confused when you called him Noctis."

"I know Noctis. He'd...I didn't see his body when the plane crashed. I saw his parents die. My Dad...But I couldn't find him as I was falling in the water. Maybe...maybe that's when they got to him." Connor said in deep thought as a neon tear fell down his cheek. "Even during times when I had no one. I always had Noct."

When Connor was alone at school or being picked on. Noctis was always there for him.

They obviously erased Noctis' memories. And turned him into...Whatever he is now. Because Attuma saw that he survived. And saw potential to use him.

"I know it hurts, Sweetie." Melody said as she wiped away the tear. "But it's going to be okay. Whatever they did to him, we're going to fix it. We're going to bring your friend back, and make those monsters answer for what they did."

Connor shifted from heartbroken to determined. What kind of friend would he be, if he wasn't there for Noctis now. It's just as Melody said. 'We're going to bring him back.'

Just then the scanners picked up the location of the next shard. Connor read the screen. And looked surprised.

"I know where we're going next." Connor said.

"Really? Where?" Melody asked as her eyes lit up.

Connor then displayed the Kingdom of Atlantis from the Marvel World. Which made Melody's gasp in a surprising thrill.

"Home." Connor answered with a grin.

---

Meanwhile in Meridia...

Noctis was sitting inside of his room of the apartment he shares next to the temple of the Oracle. Sitting at his bed. As he was leaning forward. The upper part of his armor was off and he was completely shirtless. As he was starting to wonder who that boy was. Was he really someone he once knew?

The only thing he could ever remember was Attuma being there for him when he lost his memories. Broken and alone. With nothing to go back to. He was there for him.

But what was it all for? To kill and destroy? No! He had to serve for the great Empire. For the glory of Attuma! For the greater good!...right?

Just then. Lunafreya the oracle. Walked in and knelt down in front of Noctis. She was the one person Noctis during these last few years considered family. Because she helped nurse him back to health when he was found. Physically and mentally.

"Ragnum? Are you alright?" Lunafreya asked softly as she touched his cheek.

Ragnum was the name Attuma gave to Noctis. Which was Latin for Kingdom and Meridian for Land. Because Noctis was going to be the one that made this Empire possible.

"Who was that boy? The one who called himself the Maverick?" Noctis asked as he looked at her.

"His name is Connor Ramsey." Lunafreya said softly as looked up at him as she kneeled on the floor. "He's the nephew of Namor."

Noctis looked at her.

"He is also supposedly the chosen wielder of the keyblade. Who the signs state...The one that will close the door to darkness." Lunafreya answered.

Noctis nodded as he looked off a bit.

"I think...I think I knew him." Noctis admitted.

Like an echo from the past.

"Really?" Lunafreya was surprised by this but was calm as she touched his cheek. "How do you know?"

"Maybe...In the life I had before. I think...We were friends." Noctis struggled to say as he was thinking.

Lunafreya was wondering about this. Before she could say anything. The doors slid open as Attuma walked in. Noctis quickly rose up and knelt before him while Lunafreya stood looking concerned.

"I did as you said, Master. The Maverick has the other shard I left for him. And he's bound for the Second Kingdom." Noctis declared.

"Excellent. You've done well. We're one step closer to victory." Attuma said with a smirk. "Remember, your mission is of most importance. I'm counting on your success."

Noctis had an uneasy feeling. If this Maverick really was someone he once knew. Could he really carry this mission out? And if he doesn't he will fail the same Emperor he owes his life to.

Once things for sure. When the time comes. Noctis will have to make a choice. Who will he be loyal to? His service to the Meridia? Or who he really is?

Lunafreya has faith despite his ruthless record. Noctis, or rather, Ragnum will do what he believes is right. She can only hope he won't stop now.

---

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS!🎉🎉🎉

I bet some of you didn't see that coming. Noctis is Sea Slayer?! 😱

"I think the readers are familiarized enough because of Under The Red Hood and the Winter Soldier." Maverick teased.

Whatever.

And if you noticed in that 'Mild Hanky Panky' scene between Gladiolus and Arenea. Yes Coruscant. As in the world of the Jedi Temple. YES! I AM FINALLY ADDING STARWARS TO MY STORIES!😆

But before we go there. Connor has some loose ends to tie up in his home world of the Marvel Universe. Like helping out some famous heroes, finding the next shard and dealing with his best friend that came back from the dead as an friendemy with no memory. However collecting the shards is about to become complicated due to Tiger Shard's plan.

What plan is that you may ask?

Find out in the next chapter!

Thank you all so much for reading! Be sure to Fave and Follow if you like what you've read and be sure to leave your thoughts and comments down below.

And as always Disney/Square Enix Fans!

FISTBUMP!👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊