[b][i]The Next Day[/i][/b]

Ursula and Rei had left; Emperor Michael had decided that those two would be useful for an ambassadorial job - aka increasing his influence on their homeworlds - instead. The remaining members of the group, Jupiter, Ninty, and Henry, were gathered near the Gummi Cruiser that they would stay on for the duration of the journey, where Emperor Michael would introduce a new member to them.

"Everyone, this is a late arrival, Mackinzie Little," the Emperor then gestured to a 17-year old who walked on artificial legs. "He isn't a Keyblader, but he is an expert in technology, and, like Jupiter, has a strong Heart that can manifest a Keyblade eventually." He then smiled. "Anyway, you'll find the required information about 'Reign of the Confederacy' on the ship."

And with that, the 14-year old left the group to get acquainted with Mackinzie, as well as enter the ship. In said ship, which was piloted and crewed by Moogles, were the same luxury facilities that were in the palace, as well as an arsenal, a navigation computer that controlled the larger guns and the stealth shield, and of course, a library that contained digital and paper versions of books.

Within those books, they would find out that the world of 'Reign of the Confederacy' diverged from the Original Timeline when Lee won at the Battle of Gettysburg, securing Confederate Independence. The Confederates then became a Pariah State due to their retention of Slavery, especially when they invaded Mexico on a pretext, winning large swates of territory, before failing at Cuba due to their undersized navy.

Now, it was twenty years after Gettysburg, 1883, and the Confederates have become a Police State as well as a Pariah Nation, using violence to cow both Black Slaves and Poor Whites, maintaining themselves only through political inertia on part of the Union...an inertia that is ending right this moment, as the Union readies a full invasion of the Confederate States in conjunction with a Black Slave Revolt.

However, the coming of Magic and contact with other Timelines was changing things; the Confederates were recruiting the traditional 'losers of history' from more 'modern' timelines to help them fight against the coming Union assault. South African Afrikaners, Neo-Nazis, French Algerians, and traditional Nazis were gathering at Richmond in a great symbolic 'White Alliance'.

But, at a plantation at the far outskirts of the city, Heartless were battling, and consuming the local guards, traditionally used to keep the slaves in line. There were Shadows in flying masses, and Air Soldiers, and Hook Bats in the air, while on the ground were Soldiers and Large Bodies, along with Red Nocturnes who were setting the place on fire. Not merely that, but the sensors can also detect the presence of a Princess of Heart there.

So it was time, time to defeat the Heartless and Slavers, and rescue the first of their targets, and perhaps (Henry would probably insist) a flight to Richmond in order to decapitate the burgeoning threat. Either way, they had to decide fast, not just on how to rescue the Princess of Heart, but also how to do so without attracting the attention of the forces mustering in the nearby city.

"Remember," said a voice over the Speakers; it was Emperor Michael, "I, Damianos, Giorgios, and the Senate-appointed commanders are coming close to you with a fleet of Gummi Ships and troops should you guys need it. I'm also negotiating an alliance with the Union and Mexico; it's not just the Confederates who are seeking allies. Nevertheless, do your best, and don't forget the disguises, should you need them!"

The plantation came into view; it was a paradoxically wonderful-looking victorian neoclassical mansion surrounded by fields of wheat and sugarcane, except for one quarter where the Slave Huts were. In these huts, the slaves were putting up as brave a defense against the Heartless as they could, although by rights, they should have fallen by now...fallen by now if not for a girl, of about 16 and wearing only rags, radiating a soft light that repulsed the dark creatures, while at the same time attracting their attention.