[B][I]Renovation, Palace of the Blachrenae, Byzantine Empire[/I][/B]

Seth, wherever he was, would have been given a letter by a random Moogle - the trading creatures had not approached him this way before - which said:

[i]Come to Renovation, to the Palace of the Blachrenae. Here's a picture; travel there using whatever method you choose.[/i] And the picture showed a building made from brick and marble, with red tiles for the roofs, all laid out in the original Byzantine style, with exquisite gardens of mediterrenean plants; acacia, cedars, roses and lilies, as well as irises from Egypt, all bordering grass lawns that were all neatly trimmed. It looked like a grandiose vacation spot...but knowing him, Seth would probably just see another employment opportunity from some desperate local potentate, looking for an advantage in the Multiversal brushfire wars that seemed to be cropping up everywhere.

Well, he was in for a surprise; the moment he got to his destination (again, using whatever method he preferred), he would encounter not just the open palace doors (made from New World Dyewood), but an armed camp, brimming with elite special forces and guard regiments, as well as surveillance cameras and drones. However, none of the machines or soldiers would bat an eye at his coming - he had been expected. 

Suddenly, a Corridor of Darkness would open beside him, and an 18-year old white male with black eyes and messy black hair, wearing a black robe much like his own, would lead out two other figures, one was a girl only slightly older than him, and another was a 34-year old who looked much younger, due to his rail-thin, but lean and full, physique, clad in a mafioso's fedora and suit. The boy would say:

"Good, you three are finally here."

[b][I]Flashback - Alternate Post-World War II, New Shinsengumi HQ, Japan[/i][/b]

Mai would be called to the office of the New Shinsengumi High Command, a stone building built in the western style, only with no elevators; the rationale was that climbing up the tall and wide stairs built character. Nevertheless, once she reached the room where her commander, a narrow-faced, sharp-eyed man in traditional japanese clothing except for glasses, was conferring with a young man, 18 years of age, of average height and whose black eyes were sharp and sparked with...energy. He was wearing a purple T-shirt and black jeans, and on the back of his seat was draped a black robe, one that looked....suspicious.

"Ah, greetings, Mai*," said the New Shinsengumi commander. "As usual, you are prompt. And that is good, because I have a mission for you." He then gestured to the 18-year old boy.

"Tocsax here is a World Traveller and a Keyblade Wielder, like you. He is a representative of a world where there is a relative abundance of them, and he's agreed to have his world put them in our service...in exchange for a pupil." Mai's eyes would or should be turning upwards at this point. Could the New Shinsengumi commander really be meaning [i]her[/i]? But the boy was even younger than her, what could he possibly teach?! But, it was too late for Mai to object, as the New Shinsengumi commander would then confirm what could be her assumptions:

"So, your current mission is to go with him on a quest he is embarking on, and learn from him as much as you can. Tocsax, you can bring her to your next destination now."

"'Thank you," the boy stood up, bowed deeply, used the right honorifics, then with a quicksilver motion, put on the cloak and dragged Mai into a Corridor of Darkness.

Hopefully, the shock would prevent her from lashing out.

[b][I]Flashback - Alternate *Ongoing* World War II, Madrid[/i][/b]

When the Nazis had called on the forces of Darkness, Catholic Spain had cut off all ties with them, only to be invaded once France was overran again by the Heartless hordes. Now, Francisco Franco was making his final stand at the city where once, the Spanish Republicans had futilely defied him, and Fredrick had been sent to help the evacuation efforts for the civilians.

However, it was not going to be easy. 100,000 Heartless were heading straight for the city, with no need for supply lines and logistics. Magic - which the Church in this world had not objected to using because things were so desperate - would help even the odds, as well as flamethrowers, but the fact remained that only the Keyblade can [i]permanently[/i] kill Heartless unless one merely settled for discorporating them so that they can reappear elsewhere. That was why it was an evacuation, not a battle.

Then a Corridor of Darkness opened, and a Nobody - Fred can tell - and a young Jap girl walked out. The Nobody then turned to Fred and spoke:

"Are you done evacuating the civilians of Madrid?" Said civilians had been headed for a fleet of Gummi Ships that would take them to America, which was fast becoming the refuge for the remnants of Europe, and as far as he knew, that fleet had received all the population it could. He was finished with that, and the Nobody knew it.

"Good," said the Nobody, an 18-year old who nevertheless looked like he had been fighting all his life - which he probably had. "Let's go." 

And with that, he would drag Fredrick with surprising strength through yet another Corridor...

[B][I]Present Day, Renovation, Palace of the Blachrenae, Byzantine Empire[/I][/B]

A line of black-clad special forces would then approach the three, followed by two butlers carrying wine and greek-looking pastries, their captain, denoted by the greek script on her helmet, would then say:

"Would you mind following us inside? The [i]Basileus[/i] is waiting."

*Let's pretend they're using honorifics.

Edit: Gave minor edit to the last sentence, so that 'The Basileus is waiting' is within the quotation marks.