NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: By invitation only. Do not post unless invited to do so.

IC:

I speak to my disciples
In the future I see the destruction of the Sangai.
When the sound of the revolving drum reaches the ends of the universe,
the Eastern Palace will enter into the Taizo with glory.
The people of the world will become as red souls through Daihi,
and the throng of demons will follow this transformation.
The secret master will stand before the souls' Renge and announce a Kotowari.
This will become the Law of the Creation of the world.

*~*

Exetergrecia, Draconis Nightcrawlis

Kurt yawned. Being King did have it's boring parts. Thankfully the days work was over and he could enjoy Kurt-time. The door to the throne room opened and Quatre, Kurt's husband, walked in. The young blond had a smile on his face.

“Gabriel is doing much better after his ordeal,” he announced.

Kurt was glad, their son had been through a terrible ordeal and he had been worried that young Gabriel would never get over it. Hopefully this would prove him wrong.

“I do believe that Kazuma's influence has helped a lot,” Quatre added. “As has that of Eamonn and Temari.”

Kurt just nodded.

Elsewhere in the castle, their son was talking with his two ninja team-mates, Katana and Katsuo. Both were pleased and extremely glad that he had safely returned, though Katana didn't show it but then she never really did show much emotion.

His gourd stood on the floor in front of him and he just stared at it.

“You've been staring at that for ten minutes now,” Katana remarked. “Nothings going to happen if you take you eyes off of it.”

Katsuo glared at her. “Come on, lay off him.” he looked toward the young prince. “Don't let her get to you Dan.”

Daniel, Dan for short, was Gabriel's middle name and was what he prefered to go by much to Kurt's disappointment.

The older girl just shook her head. Katana was the eldest of the trio and as such she tended to boss them around a bit. Or rather at least try to.

“Besides, Travis should be here soon, you want to see him don't you?”

Daniel just nodded. There was one thing about seeing Travis again, it brought back a lot of the memories of his capture. Mostly the torture by Masato, Mordred as his true name was.

He was a ninja in training, so he couldn't let anything like that get him them. He had to face forward, train harder and show them what he was made of. That was easier said then done.

Unbeknown to him, things were about to take a strange and rather important turn. A change that would change everything.

Daniel looked up. “I sense a ship approaching.”

"Are you sure you want us to do this?" Travis S. Masaki asked his Master, Uzumaki Naruto as they descended the atmosphere in their ship, the Nine Tails.

Naruto scowled. "You said that a thousand times and need I repeat a thousand times, yes! I need to find Gaara and you need to get in touch with Dan again. Besides your father agreed with this."

"I suppose." Travis said as his teammates Kagome and Nick sat more quietly.

The ship, a heavily modified freighter optimized for stealth and fighter combat, descended through the atmosphere, reaching the landing pad rather quickly. Soon, Team Seven will meet their Sand counterparts at Exetergrecia...

Daniel walked out flanked by Katana and Katsuo. He looked toward Travis and gave a silent nod.

"Arrived safely then?" Katana remarked. "Hope you didn't run into the doomsday cult that has a ship in orbit."

Daniel stepped forward. "Ignore her," he said. "They're harmless, just a bunch of crazies waiting out Ragnarok." His gaze stayed on Travis. "I'm glad to see you again."

"What doomsday cult?" Nick asked.

"Nice to see you again too. Hopefully, thinks will be better this time around." Travis beamed.

"Well, I'll leave you guys around. Don't get in trouble!" Naruto chuckled, disappearing in a flash of yellow light.

"Now he jinxs us..." Kagome muttered.

"The usual crazies going on about Ragnorok, nothing to worry about really," Daniel told him.

He nodded at Travis. "Not going to get captured by a spy in Suna again, that's for sure." He looked back at the castle. "Well defended here, want the guided tour?"

"Sure, no problem." Travis grinned as the others nodded as well.

Daniel raised his hand and turned around.

"Right this way then," he said heading back inside the castle.

The main hall was large, there were stair cases going up to the next floor on each side. Opposite the main doors which they had only just come in through was a large painting of King Kurt II stood with Quatre and Daniel. Next to it was a painting of the king with his parents, his sister no where to be seen.

"Main hall, not much to see," he said. "The painting are traditional, no nanotech in them so they're still and boring."

"Ah. Have you thought about enchanting them?" Travis asked. "I know the Coredian Hall of Heroes have that luxury."

"Father decided against it," Daniel sighed. "Some bollocks about royal family paintings in the main hall being traditional."

Katana smirked. "The Kings language it's a good thing, some visitors have weak minds."

"The library paintings on the other hand... want to see?"

"Heh. Not a problem." Travis grinned.

And so Daniel led them along a darkened hallway to the library. Stacked high to a very high ceiling some thirty feet high were books, some of which looked ancient. In the centre was a table and several armchairs facing a fire place at one end. Above it were more paintings, some featured moving landscapes, others had familiar people in who moved to see whom had entered the library and a few frames appeared to be empty. It all appeared quiet...

"INCOMING!!" came a voice remarkably similar to Daniels.

Looking up, Daniel held out his hands and caught a rugby ball. Evidently someone had took it upon themselves to turn the library into a rugby pitch. Someone else in the library wasn't pleased.

From behind one bookcase, a tall blond man known to Daniel as Yoshikuni Kazuma appeared from behind a bookcase.

"You, get back in your painting we have guests and this isn't the place to play rugby," he yelled.

In a flash of smoke and the smell of sulphur, Daniel strangely appeared wearing a Draconis Nightcrawlis rugby shirt in front of them despite the fact he was already there. The two Daniel grinned at each other before the doppleganger in the rugby shirt took the rugby ball and teleported away.

Daniel laughed and looked at Travis. "See what I mean?"

"Heh." Travis grinned. "I see what you mean."

Of course, his friends were none too pleased.

"Can we get on with it?" Kagome asked tersely.

Daniel smirked. "Now the library isn't all that big," he then said. "The one at the Exetergrecia Academy is much bigger."

Then came the sound of a stomach growling. Katana rolled her eyes knowing who's stomach it was.

"Perhaps your next stop will be the dining hall," Kazuma suggested, walking towards them. His cold grey eyes fixed firmly upon the prince. "You are going to need it."

Of course, growling also came from the Coredian side. Travis rubbed his head. "Hehe! Sorry!"

"You know, it makes me wonder about heir apparents. Do their parents starve them when we're not looking?" Kagome asked.

"No idea. Maybe they just eat alot. Of course, how they never get fat is another great question." Nick replied.

"Hello! I'm standing here!" Travis waved his arms, as if his friends were blind.

"You hear something?" Nick asked Kagome.

Kagome smiled as she appeared not to listen. "Hmph. Must be the wind."

Travis groaned.

With the tour headed to the dining hall, Katana walked close to Nick and Kagome.

"You'll find that Daniel, like his father Kurt, has a very high metabolism," she explained. "It's all that teleporting and running about."

Soon they were in the dining hall. A large room with dark green walls and one central table that could probably cater for dozens. Daniel quickly teleported to the King's chair at the closest end of the table.

"Order anything you want," he said as the others went to sit down. "Anything, almost, will appear in front of you."

"I'll have the shrimp ramen." Travis grinned. No surprise there.

"Fettuccine alfredo." Nick ordered.

"Poached salmon in lemon sauce and white rice, please." Kagome smiled.

"And Butterbeer! Don't forget the butterbeer!" Travis almost yelled. Yep, don't forget that!

All their food appeared on the table in front of them. Kazuma stood in the doorway watching them, every now and then he would look down at his watch.

Daniel dug into a huge plate of pancakes, exactly what he'd had for breakfast. The other two however two went for Suna style fish, fried in batter and several hot spices.

"So what do you think of the castle?" Daniel asked, his mouth full.

"Amazing! Dad talks about DN all the time, but it's nothing like experiencing it all firsthand." Travis said after slurping up some noodles.

Daniel grinned. "'Course," he said, his mouth once again full of pancakes. "Like my dad always said, there is no better teacher than experience."

He let out a slow belch which prompted Katana to hit him over the head.

Nearby Kazuma looked up at the ceiling. "A world that loses its power will fade away into nothingness."

Daniel thought it was a strange thing to say and rubbing his head, he went back to shovelling down his pancakes.

"Huh? What's he talking about?" Travis asked his friends as he drowned his ramen in some butterbeer.

"No idea." Nick shrugged.

"Ditto." Kagome said.

Kazuma looked towards them. "Something that I have seen before," he said.

He turned towards the door, shaking his head.

"Once it starts it cannot be stopped. Best to watch it from the roof."

And then he was gone. Daniel looked at the others.

"He's never been strange like that before."

"I suppose. I wonder if we're supposed to watch something from the roof of this castle..." Travis mused.

Daniel watched the door. "Well I guess we could go see what he was on about," he thought. "What do you say?"

"Guys?" Travis asked.

"Well, not like there's anything better to do." Nick shrugged.

"Meh, might as well check it out." Kagome said.

"Agreed. Let's go."

OOC: Had to get them a bit of screentime, heh.

It was windy upon the roof, Kazuma stood and watched out at the city spread before the castle. He briefly looked up as the six nin arrived.

"So what is starting?" Daniel questioned him.

"Wait," Kazuma replied looking up at the sky.

Daniel too looked up but saw nothing.

Travis and company looked up at the sky as well, but saw nothing.

"I'm waiting!" Travis tapped his foot.

Kazuma glared at him but stayed silent. The ground shook and the sky grew dark. The sound of thunder soon followed.

Daniel was afraid, he didn't understand what was going on. Black lighting appeared from the sky and one by one buildings were being destroyed. Above the castle was a bright bluish ball of light, it was from here that the black lightning came.

A new weapon, Lady Nocturne's?

The city seemed to be disappearing before him. The castle now seemed to be contained within a blue ring that appeared to be shrinking.

Daniel looked toward the tall blond man. "What's happening?"

"The end of the world..."

"What the hell? Are we shrinking or something?" Travis asked.

"Well, you did want something to happen..." Kagome needled him, even though she too is nervous at this new thing happen.

"Yeah, but not like this!!" He yelled back.

"No, you're not shrinking," Kazuma said. "This castle is central to The Conception. That blue ring you see is destroying everything outside of it, only this castle shall remain intact."

Daniel shivered at the thought as the ring grew near. Now and then the would would seem to flash black and white, sort of like a negative. The end of the world, the end of Draconis Nightcrawlis was a frightening thought and all he could do was stand and watch.

"It was the same way for my world when the Dark Lord destroyed it."

"I sympathize." Nick said.

"So what are we gonna do now? Kick this latest wanker in the ass?" Travis asked.

"What has been done cannot be stopped, the Draconis Nightcrawlis you know it gone," Kazuma said. "The Conception leads to a new world, one shaped by a single person. My world was reshaped by the Dark Lord, few escaped his pure evil and managed to make it to this world."

His cold grey eyes turned to Daniel.

"We can only hope that Gabriel is the one to reshape this world."

"What?" Daniel said almost choking, too much pressure.

"We're doomed," Katana groaned.

"What?!" Nick and Kagome yelled.

"Man, I feel you." Travis shook his head. "We get all the big projects in that box labeled "Hero", don't we?"

Daniel just placed his head in his hands.

"And now the final phase of destruction is finishing, the world turns in on itself," Kazuma mentioned looking up.

It was like being on the inside of hollow ball. Far off lands were easy to see where sky had once been. The nearest parts showed just how destructive it had been. In amongst the vast desert there were the ruins of Exetergrecia, lifeless and empty.

The tall blond man looked over at Travis. "Your father helped destroy my world, you can help rebuild this one."

"Whaaaat?!" Travis yelled. "Why me? And how did Dad destroy your world?"

"He was the one who formed the DA, Death's Army," Kazuma said. His grey eyes grew colder and his face became a sneer. "Thing's like that you don't do when visiting other Verses."

Travis' head felt like spinning. This was getting waaay over his head. "Geez. What the frak are you talking about?"

Kazuma stood back. "Next time you see your father you should ask him about the DA," he replied. "This castle is the only safe place for now, out there demons roam."

Daniel gulped.

"It is likely there are some that you will have to fight in order to recreate this world."

"Well, best make the best of it, I suppose." Travis sighed, then reverted to grinning like a mini-Naruto. Then he made a dramatic pose with flames in the background. "After all, demons are our speciality!"

"Since when did demons became our speciality? I thought it was the Sith." Nick said to Kagome.

"Beats me." Kagome shrugged.

"Hey! Don't ruin the moment!" Travis yelled.

"You could equate Sith as being demons," Kazuma said. "Should head back inside, you need to plan what to do."

Saying nothing furthermore, the tall blond man headed inside. Daniel meanwhile was still transfixed on the ruins of Exetergrecia. It was just unreal.

"This is just a bad dream, I'll wake up at any moment," he quietly said, looking up at the lands above them.

After a few moments Daniel followed Kazuma and headed back inside. When the others followed they found that the tall blond man was nowhere to be seen.

"He's gone," Daniel said. "I can't feel anyone else here."

He was interrupted by a loud howling that sounded as though it was somewhere in the castle. Daniel shivered.

"Kazuma said there were demons outside the castle, sounds like there's one inside here as well," he then said looking toward the others. "So do we stay here or chance it out there?"

"The earlier we can get to the bottom of this, the earlier we can restore everything to normal." Travis grinned. "Besides, we're not trained shinobi for nothing!"

"Trained genin! Don't forget the genin part!" Kagome corrected.

"So? Genin are shinobi, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then we have nothing left to lose! Let's go!" Travis pointed dramatically.

"Hmph!" Katana remarked. "You don't even know what the demons are like, we need to plan this and go block by block."

Daniel groaned, she was right there.

"We need supplies," he then said. "Katana, you and Kagome head to Kazuma's quarters, he has potions and medical supplies."

Katana nodded and looked toward Kagome.

"Katsuo, you and Nick head for the guards quarters, we might need a few more weapons just in case."

"Hmph!" Katana remarked. "You don't even know what the demons are like, we need to plan this and go block by block."

Daniel groaned, she was right there.
"Uh...well...heh, I suppose." Travis chuckled, rubbing his head.

"We need supplies," he then said. "Katana, you and Kagome head to Kazuma's quarters, he has potions and medical supplies."

Katana nodded and looked toward Kagome.
"All right." Kagome nodded.

"Katsuo, you and Nick head for the guards quarters, we might need a few more weapons just in case."
"That reminds me..." Nick grinned, fingering a scroll in his pocket.

Katana headed to Kazuma's quarters, the tall blond man wasn't there. His quaters were largely intact save for a few spilled potions.

"Look out for white boxes with a red Mjolnir on," Katana mentioned. "I'll go through his potion room."

Katsuo nodded and looked toward Nick. "Can't hurt gaining the guards Zat's," he said and ran off in the direction the guards quarters.

"And that leaves us," Daniel mentioned, looking at Travis. "Food."

Katana headed to Kazuma's quarters, the tall blond man wasn't there. His quaters were largely intact save for a few spilled potions.

"Look out for white boxes with a red Mjolnir on," Katana mentioned. "I'll go through his potion room."
"All right." Kagome looked around the room and didn't take long for her to find a box. "Like this one?"

Katsuo nodded and looked toward Nick. "Can't hurt gaining the guards Zat's," he said and ran off in the direction the guards quarters.
"Yeah. It's one of those weapons with three settings, right?" Nick asked, showing his interest in firearms of all types.

"And that leaves us," Daniel mentioned, looking at Travis. "Food."
"Aye. Field mixes, MREs, and of course, ramen." Travis grinned.

"Exactly, pick up as many as you can find," Katana replied. "Should be a few."

She held up a small vial.

"Plus these healing potions, never know what nasties are out there."

Taking out a scroll, she began placing various vials onto it.

"Only way to carry them."

-----------

"Actually just the one setting," Katsuo said upon entering the guards quarters. "One shot stuns, two kills and three disintegrates the bodies."

The guards quarters were empty but the weapons were still in their places on the wall.

"But demons... who knows what they could take."

------------------

Daniel teleported himself and Travis to the kitchens. Bad mistake, there was a large troll-like beast rummaging around the kitchens with the same idea as they had.

"Oh... shit..." Daniel swore.

The troll-like beast looked towards them, it's eyes as bright as the sun. Not even moving towards them, it let out a huge roar. The stench of it's breath was repulsive.

"Exactly, pick up as many as you can find," Katana replied. "Should be a few."

She held up a small vial.

"Plus these healing potions, never know what nasties are out there."

Taking out a scroll, she began placing various vials onto it.

"Only way to carry them."
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Kagome said, finding more boxes and stuffing them inside a scroll of her own.

-----------

"Actually just the one setting," Katsuo said upon entering the guards quarters. "One shot stuns, two kills and three disintegrates the bodies."

The guards quarters were empty but the weapons were still in their places on the wall.

"But demons... who knows what they could take."
"Overkill, it's the only way to be sure." Nick grinned. "You might remember the time that I had that rifle that shot white globs of energy, right? Well, I also have scrolls containing a host of weapons. Anytime I need a weapon, I just release them. Chalk that little plan up to Tenten-sensei."

------------------

Daniel teleported himself and Travis to the kitchens. Bad mistake, there was a large troll-like beast rummaging around the kitchens with the same idea as they had.

"Oh... shit..." Daniel swore.

The troll-like beast looked towards them, it's eyes as bright as the sun. Not even moving towards them, it let out a huge roar. The stench of it's breath was repulsive.
"Peeyeww!" Travis pinched his nose, then felt tears coming out of his eyes, then formed the handseals for Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. "Guess it's our first kill of the day. I'll hold him down with my clones, you hit him hard, got it?"

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Several clones appeared and immediately attacked the troll.

"Right, I think that's everything," Katana mentioned. "Time to head back."

Katsuo threw a Zat'ni'katel at Nick. "Here you can add a Zat gun to your arsenal."

The troll let out another roar and charged at them causing the kitchen to shake.

"You distract him, I'll take him from behind," Daniel said and teleported himself to the ceiling behind the troll.

There he took began to prepare his sand for battle.

"Right, I think that's everything," Katana mentioned. "Time to head back."
"All right." Kagome said. Then she felt something. "Sheesh. Travis' signature is building. Can't he conceal it right?"

Katsuo threw a Zat'ni'katel at Nick. "Here you can add a Zat gun to your arsenal."
"Thanks. Let's go back to the others."

The troll let out another roar and charged at them causing the kitchen to shake.

"You distract him, I'll take him from behind," Daniel said and teleported himself to the ceiling behind the troll.

There he took began to prepare his sand for battle.
"Right, guys! You heard him! Charge!" Travis yelled at his clones.

"Raaaagh!" His clones howled as they attack the troll head-on, feet and fists flying.

"Idiot like Daniel," Katana remarked.

She rolled up the scroll and placed it with her fan before heading off.

Katsuo just nodded and headed off. It wasn't long before they met up with Katana and Kagome. Of course the sound of the troll kept echoing through the castle.

"That sounds bad," Katsuo gulped handing Katana and Kagome an Zat'ni'katel each.

The troll beat back each of the clones. It was enough for Daniel to get an opening and cover him with sand.

"Shit," he swore, "can't even crush him, he's too fucking tough."

Daniel struggled to hold the troll in place.

"I can only slow him down."

"Idiot like Daniel," Katana remarked.

She rolled up the scroll and placed it with her fan before heading off.

Katsuo just nodded and headed off. It wasn't long before they met up with Katana and Kagome. Of course the sound of the troll kept echoing through the castle.

"That sounds bad," Katsuo gulped handing Katana and Kagome an Zat'ni'katel each.
"No time to waste then. Let's go!" Nick said.

"Right!" Kagome nodded.

The troll beat back each of the clones. It was enough for Daniel to get an opening and cover him with sand.

"Shit," he swore, "can't even crush him, he's too fucking tough."

Daniel struggled to hold the troll in place.

"I can only slow him down."
"Should be enough...Just keep him occupied!" Travis grinned as he stepped back into a back stance and cupped his hands, forming whitish energy. "Psybolt...Alpha!"

Travis released a white beam of psychokinetic energy out at the troll's face...

The trolls head exploded, sending bits of skull and brains over the two boys. Daniel's sand returned to the gourd and he lept down as the trolls body crashed to the floor.

"Well that got the job done," he smirked.

It was at that moment that the others arrived on the scene. Katana shook her head.

"No sign of Kazuma," she said. "He's left the castle it would seem, we should do the same."

"Yeah. Thus begins our journey to save this world!" Travis grinned, and made yet another dramatic pose to the chagrin of his teammates.

Daniel scratched his head, knocking a large piece of troll brain out. "Well where should we heard for first?" he wondered. "Not like we can leave the planet by the look of it."

"Dunno." Travis shrugged. "We should head out of the castle at least."

Daniel checked the zat'ni'katel Katsuo had passed to him. "Maybe Embassy Square if it's still there," he wondered. "Wait, perhaps the old academy building. If that's still standing then there will probably be answers there."

"Right then, it's decided," Katana said, already heading to the exit. "The old Exetergrecia Academy."

"No objections there." Kagome noted. The boys nodded as well. It was better than nothing.

Daniel wiped his hand across his forehead. "Right lets go then."

Heading out into the streets of Exetergrecia showed them just how bad things had become. Everywhere the buildings were in varying states of ruin, from hardly damaged to nothing more than being reduced to rubble. The further along they went they came across a desert, there had never been a desert in the city and so this had come as a complete surprise. Not to be the last.

"Fuck," Daniel swore. "How are we going to find the old academy if there's no road to follow.

A shape loomed behind them.

"This... is Exetergrecia?"

It was familiar.

"Not how I remember it. Not that I came here often."

Daniel and the others turned around to find another furry blue elf stood behind them. Only he had black hair instead of Daniel's blue. A bandaged up sword was hung over one shoulder.

"You!" Daniel yelled. "Of all people? You!"

The anger from the memories of his year captured and the tortures he'd suffered at the hands of his cousin came flooding back.

Mordred smirked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Travis yelled. He too, remembered that Mordred was party to his own slavery.

Mordred chuckled. "And you're here too," he remarked. "A quest by mother, I think she just didn't want me around since that little runt escaped."

"Fuck you," Daniel swore.

Again Mordred chuckled. "Touchy, seems I came at the right time. Very interesting goings on here, a lot of nasty demons running about."

"Like you," his cousin scowled.

"Oh I'm not bad, these demons make me look as pacifist as Baldr was," Mordred smirked. "You need me and besides, I'm heading to the one place the demons can't attack, the old dragon academy and it's dead in the middle of that desert."

"Don't listen to him! I wouldn't touch this bastard with a sterilized ten-foot pole!" Travis advised.

Mordred chuckled. "Suit yourself," he said and walked off.

Daniel watched him wander off into the desert.

"I hope he dies out there before he reaches the academy," he said.

The blue elf groaned and shook his head.

"We need to cross that desert ourselves."

"We have enough water to cross this desert, right?" Nick asked, matter of factly.

"Plenty," Katana replied. "Camel boy over there." She nodded in Daniel's direction. "Can go longer without water then we can."

"But I'm thirsty already," Daniel remarked.

Katana ignored him. "A compass will not work," she then mentioned. "Especially since the planet has turned in on itself."

Taking a small PDA out of her pocket she looked at it for a moment.

"This is our best bet and I don't think it'll be all that reliable."

Out in the distance, Mordred was continuing to walk away from them into the desert.

"Or we take a chance and follow him."

"This is one of those times when I wish Naruto-sensei was here..." Travis grumbled, kicking sand around. "All right...I'm going to take a gamble here."

He took out a coin. "Heads for going our own way. Tails for following Mordred and watching his every move along the way."

The coin was flipped and it was hurled into the air before falling down on Travis' palm and slapped onto the back of his other hand. He grumbled quietly. "Tails. No choice, then."

Daniel mumbled something under his breath to which Katana promptly hit him over the head for.

"Lesser of two evils, he looks like he knows where he's going and he said he was heading for the old academy building," she mentioned. "It's a risk since he could be setting up a trap but unless he's taking a wild guess he doesn't know we were heading to the old academy building."

And so they hurriedly went to catch up with Mordred. Though they kept their distance he was still able to notice them and looked over his shoulder.

"So you decided to follow after all," he smirked. "Pretty cold for a desert isn't it, at least dehydration won't be a worry."

"Shut up and keep walking!" Kagome hissed at him as the threesome followed Daniel and his friends over the surprisingly cold desert.

Mordred chuckled as he placed one hand into a pocket while the other held him sword steady. Instead of continuing to walk, he stopped.

"Hey, what's the bright idea stopping like that," Katana yelled at him.

Mordred moved his sword and held it outward. "Company."

Marching towards them were scantily clad woman in what could be described as bondage outfits with angel wings spouting out from their backs.

"They're nasty," he warned. "Bumped into a couple before."

There were perhaps a dozen making their way toward them.

Ignoring Mordred, Daniel moved forward. His sand already flowing free from his gourd.

Katana opened out her fan and watched the angel's. "Perhaps if we attempt to surround them, attack on all sides."

Mordred being Mordred wasn't taking orders, he was going his own way and they were following him after all. The bandages came away from his sword and it appeared in flames. Black flames.

"Black dragon flame!" he yelled.

A dragons head made of the black flame then shot from the sword and impacted upon the angles. It stopped only a few, the black flames eating away at the angels until there was nothing left of them. The other angels kept on marching toward them.

"Of course, where are we?" Daniel grinned.

He raised his arms outstretch and the sand below the feet of the remaining angels became quicksand. quickly it gobbled up the angels.

"Heh, so long as they don't control sand themselves I can beat them."

The threesome made short work of their own respective enemies with judicious application of fire, lightning and blaster bolts. Now it was time to continue onwards...

OOC: Sorry about the lack of post.

Mordred rebandaged his sword and headed off without uttering a word.

It felt like ages before a building was clearly seen beyond the dunes. It was an old looking building, from there they were it looked empty.

"That's the old academy," Katana mentioned.

As the moved closer they could see that they wouldn't be alone. As Mordred stopped walking, the others did the same. Katana brought out binoculars to see who it was stood at the academy gates. Zooming in she could see those on guard clearly.

"If I remember my history correctly, those are Lady Nocturne's cloned soldiers," she said. "The type she used in the attack on Tortuga."

"Nothing to do with me," Mordred remarked, placing his free hand behind his head.

"Shouldn't be too hard to take out." Travis smiled.

"Not without a plan, baka." Kagome pulled at his shirt to prevent him from getting forward. "We don't want to spring any traps."

Daniel cracked his knuckles. "You guys check out the traps, I'll take out the guards," he grinned. "Sand, sand everywhere I'm in my element."

"Don't get careless," Katana scolded him.

Mordred took his own pair of binoculars out. "Hey, those aren't my mothers soldiers," he remarked. "They aren't dressed like that."

The others ignored him.

"So plan is, we quietly take out those guards and sneak in," Katana mentioned. "Find out who they're working for then take them out, any questions?"

"All right. Nick?" Kagome asked as she held a squirming Travis tight to keep him from getting caught in any traps.

"Got it." Taking out his rifle, Nick began scanning the sniper scope for possible traps before the three started moving closer...

There appeared to be no traps. At least not on the outside or in the enterence anyway.

Daniel began to get itchy, he was eager to drag the guards quietly into the sand.

"Any traps?" he asked.

"None so far, but you never know. I recommend Kage Bunshins." Nick said, now training his sniper scope on the guards. "Ready when you guys are."

"I'm ready." Travis nodded. Being Naruto-lite has its perks with Kage Bunshin after all.

"Right," Daniel said, raising his hands.

Soon the guards were engulfed by sand and swept away.

"Coast is clear, they can now head in no guards to pass now," he then told him.

"Heh. No need to spray their brains, then." Nick chuckled.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Travis yelled. "Go in and report back on any traps!"

"Yes, sir!" The five Clones shouted and zipped towards the entrance.

They would find no traps. It also appeared that no one else other then those guards were in the vicinity of the academy and its grounds.

"We can go in after them," Katana mentioned. "They've made it far so there probably won't be any further possible traps."

Daniel nodded and they headed inside the academy. The front hall looked pretty ruined, there was rubble and sand everywhere.

"You should get your clones to find the library as well."

Travis nodded and mentally directed the clones to search for the library.

After some searching, one of the clones found the library deep inside the academy. Meanwhile the others were already walking through one of the hallways.

"Never would have thought me first time here would be under such circumstances," Daniel sighed.

Mordred quietly grinned to himself but the others were still ignoring him, hoping that now they had arrived at the academy he would go off on his own.

"I wonder what they wanted at the academy," Katana mentioned. "They weren't protecting anyone, I can't feel anyone else here."

Daniel shook his head. "I can only feel Travis' clones running about."

Then, a clone appeared from one of the corridors. "Found the library. Come on!"

"Let's go." Travis said. He wondered what else the other clones found.

Empty room, the dining hall, empty classrooms and empty dorm rooms but nothing of note was to be found anywhere other than in the library. Everything else had previously been moved to the new academy.

The group, including Mordred, made their way quickly to the library. It too had suffered during The Conception and most of the books had fallen from the shelves. Toward the centre of the library many of the bookcases themselves had toppled over like domino's.

Daniel scratched his head. "Well this is a mess," he remarked. "Would be bloody hard to find any books on this event."

The clones returned to the library, finding nothing.

"So what book are you looking for again?" Travis asked. He'll have the clones help in the search.

"Anything to do with The Conception or Ragnarok," Katana replied. "Pretty much all your end of the world works."

Daniel shivered as he began to look through the books.

Mordred noticed and chuckled. "Yeah, I felt it too," he said. "The pressence of a Sith."

Working through the hours, the kids and Travis' clones searched for any reference to the end of days. In a moment of frustration, Travis slapped his head against a bookcase that was still standing. Unfortunately for him, that loosened a thick, leatherbound book that landed on top of his head.

"OWW!" Travis yelled and crumpled to the ground. "What the hell?!"

Rubbing the bump on his head, Travis read the title of the book that nearly killed him. Then... "Hey, guys! I think I found something!"

"What is it?" Daniel asked coming over.

He was still mindful of the feeling he'd had before but dismissed what Mordred said.

"Conception or Ragnarok?"

"It says Conception." Travis replied, then used a minor healing jutsu to get rid of the bump on his head. "Ahh, that's better."

"That's what we need," Daniel said. "Don't need what happens, we need to know how to fix it."

"Easier said then done," Katana remarked. "Here, give me the book."

"All right." Travis gave over the book to Katana.

Katana took the book and began looking through it. "This might take some time," she admitted. "It's a big book, perhaps there's more books like it."

Daniel groaned knowing that she meant 'keep looking while I read'. As he went back to looking, he noticed Mordred stood doing nothing other then looking toward the doorway they had used to enter the library.

"Sith presence, my arse," Daniel muttered.

"Well, let's keep looking." Kagome sighed as Travis agreed.

Daniel looked up. "I do feel we're not alone," he warned the others.

Katana picked up a nearby chair to sit on as she read.

"It's dark, but kind of familiar."

"You're just paranoid," Katsuo remarked. "Got some books on Ragnarok and one on Suna and The End Of The World."

"Let's read 'em and see what we can find from them." Travis said. He made a mental note about Daniel's feelings, appearing to brush them off for the moment.

From somewhere there was a roar. Daniel gulped and instantly looked towards Travis.

"Now that sounded like that troll thing we battled," he mentioned.

"It sounded distant," Katsuo remarked, passing the Ragnarok books out to them.

"Didn't I just kill that with Psybolt?" Travis asked.

"Alpha or Beta?" Nick asked.

"Alpha."

"Go Beta next time. Hell, didn't you pick up some support techniques from Kensuke?"

"Paralysis, Hypnosis, and Flash." Travis nodded.

"What levels?"

"Uh, let's see...omega for the first two. Flash Beta as well."

"Hmm." Nick went back to reading a book.

"Why?" Travis wanted to know.

"Eh, I think you need to put more strategy into your attacks. Sooner or later, you'll run into someone that needs more than just brute force."

"Well, I...hey! I'm fine!"

Nick shrugged. "Your loss."

"Of course you killed it," Daniel said. "I saw it, guess the missus isn't happy about it."

The library was rocked by a loud explosion that sent more books and dust to the floor.

"Bugger," Daniel said looking down at one of the books that had fallen. "Hows that for luck? A book on The Conception."

As he bent down to pick it up, another fearful shiver went up his spine. A bad omen? He hoped not as the sound of footsteps were heard in the hallway outside the library.

"Now that's not a troll."

Daniel reached for his zat'ni'katel.

"All right, you know what? I'm going to hit whatever comes with Flash." Travis said to the others. "When I signal, cover your eyes, guys!"

"Got it!" Kagome and Nick nodded.

The footsteps grew louder and louder until a robed figure appeared in the library flanked by several clone guards. All that could be seen under the hood were piercing yellow eyes that appeared to turn red before Travis' impending attack. The figure raised an arm.

"Now!" As his friends closed their eyes and he put on shades, Travis launched a blinding flash of white light sizzling for the bad guys' eyes...

The robed figure blocked the white light from ever reaching his eyes and thus wasn't blinded. This was no weak enemy they found themselves up against and in retaliation the robed figure attempted to knock Travis back with what appeared to be Force Push.

"Waah!" Travis was thrown back by the Force Push, but got back up. "Dammit! Raikurai!"

"Eat this!" Nick yelled, blasting away with his twin blaster pistols.

"Fireball!" Kagome yelled as the tip of her staff glowed and shot fireballs at the guy.

Lightning, blaster and fire lit up the dark library as they attacked the robed figure...

Again the robed figure easily blocked their attacks.

Mordred chuckled. "He's too powerful for you," he said. "You're screwed if you keep trying to fight him."

The robed figure raised his hands up and all seven soon found themselves lifted up from the ground high into the air.

Katana saw the eyes clearly. "Sharingan eyes."

"Do not mess with me," the robed figure warned.

"Eamonn-sensei? Nah couldn't be," Daniel said to himself.

The robed figure continued to look up at them. His eyes seemingly moving between Mordred and Daniel, he obviously recognised the blue elf form.

"I was not told that you would be here," he continued. "Why did you attack me, you are not planning to overthrow your father are you?"

"What? No, never," Daniel gulped.

Perish the though of himself being anything like his great-grandfather was.

"I'll let you down then if you promise not to try and attack me again."

"What? He's your sensei?" Suddenly, Travis felt sheepish and chuckled nervously. "Uh, whoops?"

"We're sorry!" Kagome said.

"Sorry about that." Nick said contritely.

Once again he looked at Daniel and Mordred. "If you plan to defy your father I will end your lives myself," he warned.

Not the Eamonn I remember from the ninja academy, he's not who you think he is, the others heard Mordred warn them in their heads. This is the Sith presence felt earlier you had all better play along and best hope to not slip up.

Sith-Eamonn looked at the others. "Friends of yours?"

Daniel just nodded.

"Yeah, um. We just got attacked by a troll a while back." Travis rambled. When faced with a guy they couldn't defeat -at least not right now- it was time to talk your way out of trouble. "We didn't mean you any harm, honest."

Sith-Eamonn glared at him before looking at Daniel and Mordred once again. "Are you here under your fathers orders?"

Daniel shook his head feeling it would be better to say no.

"Then stay out of my way Jacen and you Mordred. Your father will indeed be displeased should you two and your friends get in the way."

Daniel looked in shock at Mordred who just ginned at him. Sith-Eamonn then turned and left the library, the clone soldiers followed behind.

"Well, um...that was weird." Travis thought out loud.

"You're telling me," Daniel replied. "I'm going to have to remember that name if we bump into him again."

Katana nodded and went to pick up the books. "We should go back to getting the book."

"Yeah. Before something else weird comes along..." Travis said. Man, Dad was right. He didn't say Draconis Nightcrawlis was weird for nothing.

Mordred chuckled to himself as he walked off to another part of the library.

"Seems to be a manifestation of Eamonn-sensei's deepest fears," Katana told the others. "Perhaps it's part of The Conception."

Daniel ignored her as he began shifting through another pile of books. "If Kazuma was here he'd know what to expect," he said. "I wonder where he went to."

"Who is he?" Travis asked as he helped to dig through the pile of books.

"The tall blond guy who was at the castle earlier when all this happened," Daniel told him. "He said he'd been through this before."

"Oh. Yeah. We could use his advice on how to get out of here." Travis said.

"I think he left the castle before we did," Daniel said. "No sign of him after he went back inside."

He looked down at the book he'd picked up. 'A Theory Of Alternate Universal Travel'.

"I wonder."

"Wonder what?" Travis asked, then checked out the book. "Hmm...interesting. Let's see what's in it."

Daniel looked at the inside and confusion was evident on his face.

"Bugger, it's full of words that scientists use to make themselves look even brainier," he remarked. "Still it does make me wonder about what happened, alternate universe Eamonn-sensei."

He paused for a moment.

"Maybe this is an alternate universe as well."

Travis just blinked at that. "Sheesh. As if it can't get any weirder. Is there anything about getting out of alternate universes?"

Daniel blinked at him. "I'm supposed to be able to read that?" he questioned him.

"If you can't, Katana probably will," Katsuo mentioned.

"Well, let's take this to her." Travis suggested.

Daniel nodded and walked over to Katana who just gave him a cold stare.

"You might be interested in this book as well," he said, obviously avoiding the fact that it was complete gibberish to.

She quietly took the book from him and began flicking through it. She waved them away. Daniel walked away.

"I don't know how much it'll help," he admitted to Travis. "But this place doesn't seem safe like Mordred claimed it would be."

"Well, we'll have to do all we can here and then move on." Travis shrugged.

Daniel nodded in agreement. "We'll have to plan where to go next though," he said. "Hopefully it'll be from something we find in one of these books."

"Yeah, hopefully." Travis nodded.

"A-ha!" Katana yelled suddenly.

It caused Daniel to jump in surprise. "What?"

"There's a test here to prove this isn't our universe," she explained. "First we need a Synth-crystal."

"What is that and where should we get one?" Travis asked, folding his arms.

Mordred sighed. "I have one," he said and pulled out a lightsaber. "Heh, wouldn't have thought it would need a synthetically reconstructed crystal."

Katana nodded. "Now we need to create a pentagram and each of you will need to allow a few drops of your own blood into the centre onto the crystal."

"Well not like it's the only one I have," Mordred grinned as he began to take the hilt apart.

"Oh." Travis said, realizing that it meant a synthesized crystal. "Well, let's do this..."

Mordred quietly chuckled to himself and by the time Katana had drawn a pentagram in a space on the floor, he had retrieved the red Synth-crystal.

"Surprise, surprise," Daniel muttered under his breath.

Mordred rolled his eyes as he placed it in the centre of the pentagram. Leading the way pulling a small knife ot, Katana cut her left index finger and allowed blood to drop onto the Synth-crystal.

"Now the rest of you do it."

Daniel took out his own knife, as did Katsuo. One after the other they did the same letting their blood drop onto the Synth-crystal.

However, Mordred looked a little reluctant as he bit his finger to draw blood and do the same.

The three Coredians bit their thumbs as if beginning the Kuchiyose technique and squeezed a drop of blood each.

"Well if this all works then those belonging in this universe will glow red," Katana then said.

She knelt down and uttered an incantation.

"Qua vos adveho ex operor vos loco degell in."

Daniel looked at his own hand, it began to glow red. "Bollocks."

The others too were glowing red.

"That's settled then," Katana said with a grim look. "This [I]is[I] our Draconis Nightcrawlis."

Daniel just shook his head, Kazuma had been correct.

"Great." Travis grumbled. "I was hoping it'd be otherwise. Have you found anything else of use yet?"

"Might just be easier for us to not have come here from another universe," Katana mentioned. "It takes a great deal of technology and power to cross universes and I don't think that Sith will let us use theirs."

Daniel scratched his head. "So it's up to us to fix this?"

Katana nodded. "So far I've found it involves that blue orb in the centre of the inverted world," she then said. "I still need to research more."

"In the meantime, what do we do?" Travis asked, getting restless.

Katana looked up at him. "You could train if you wanted, go through the other books or you could go to the top of the academy and scout out the area."

Daniel looked up and then looked toward Mordred who was inspecting the Synth-crystal they had used.

"I'm scouting," he said. "It'll get me away from him."

Daniel seemingly went up to the roof alone. Nothing to see but endless sand dunes as far as the eye could see. Nor was there any sign of Sith-Eamonn and his clone soldiers.

Looking up all he could see what that giant blue orb and it got him thinking. Perhaps that was the source of power around here, the object needed to change all this. But how could they get to it and how would they even start using it.

Now that he was deep in thought he became oblivious to everything around him.

Travis was bored, as his friends decided to play card games. He headed up to the roof with Daniel. "Credit for your thoughts?"

Daniel almost jumped as his train of though was derailed. Looking over he saw Travis had joined him.

"I was thinking, that blue orb thing up there," he said. "I think that might be the key to all this."

There was the sound of a meow and a small blue figure leapt down from the higher roof.

"So you survived after all, that's good," Shadow said.

"Really? Maybe." Travis looked up at the blue orb, then noticed the cat. "Oh, you're Shadow. Dad's told me a lot about you too."

Shadow looked up at him. "I hope you are prepared for what you have got yourself into Masaki," he said. "You too Daniel."

Daniel just nodded. "How long have you been here?"

"Just arrived," he said. "Gaara is making his way to Suna, or whatever is left of it. It will be better there because there are outsiders not of this universe here."

"We've bumped into them," the young prince interrupted.

"Lead by Darth Megaten I would assume you mean the Sith."

Daniel cringed at the mention of it.

"I have come across his master Darth Karask when my world was destroyed," Shadow explained. "It seems they have a means to cross universes in order to gather excessive amounts of resources. At all costs we need to avoid them." He looked between the pair. "The others are inside? We should gather them and head for Suna."

Somewhere beyond the ruins of Exetergecia, Gaara sneezed as he trekked along a ruined motorway that was strangely devoid of cars.

"Oh. Jeez..." Travis grumbled. "This keeps on getting better and better. At least we have somewhere to go now. I wonder if Sensei's going to be there, too."

At the same time, a certain orange-clad ninja master also sneezed as he ran throughout deserted streets, trying to pick up the scent of his old friend. Then...what is this? It's very faint, but...yes...

Naruto picked up the pace and shifted direction, following the scent of a tanuki...

Shadow leapt up onto Daniel's gourd. "I'm knackered," he said as they headed back down to the library.

While Katsuo was busy tweaking one of his puppets, Katana still had her nose in a book. Still she looked up upon their return.

"Shadow..." she said noticing the cat with them.

"Pack up, we're heading out," the cat warned them. "To Suna. Grab what you want now I doubt we'll be returning."

Elsewhere, Gaara could sense someone approaching. He turned around but who ever it was wasn't in viewing distance yet. As he waited for them to approach, his sand began to stir behind him.

Shadow leapt up onto Daniel's gourd. "I'm knackered," he said as they headed back down to the library.

While Katsuo was busy tweaking one of his puppets, Katana still had her nose in a book. Still she looked up upon their return.

"Shadow..." she said noticing the cat with them.

"Pack up, we're heading out," the cat warned them. "To Suna. Grab what you want now I doubt we'll be returning."
Travis' team was visibily relieved at going somewhere familiar. They decided to take books that looked interesting out of the library. At least they didn't have to check them out.

Elsewhere, Gaara could sense someone approaching. He turned around but who ever it was wasn't in viewing distance yet. As he waited for them to approach, his sand began to stir behind him.
Closer and closer Naruto ran as the scent grew stronger with every mile. Soon, it was unmistakable. Gaara! He was close, so close...

Shadow eyed them taking the books. "Well I guess it couldn't hurt," he said.

Katana meanwhile placed the books she had been studying inside her fan.

"Hmph, Suna it's been awhile," came Mordred's sly remark.

As Daniel was about to tell him to go away, Shadow cut in.

"It would be foolish to cut the party down by one, this is a very dangerous place," he warned. "No matter who they are we need all the fighting power we can muster." Ignoring Mordred's smirk he carried on. "Now if you have everything we'll leave."

Daniel didn't want to wait and turned to leave the library.


"Naruto," Gaara said, seeing the familiar figure coming towards him. "A surprise to see you here."

Shadow eyed them taking the books. "Well I guess it couldn't hurt," he said.

Katana meanwhile placed the books she had been studying inside her fan.

"Hmph, Suna it's been awhile," came Mordred's sly remark.

As Daniel was about to tell him to go away, Shadow cut in.

"It would be foolish to cut the party down by one, this is a very dangerous place," he warned. "No matter who they are we need all the fighting power we can muster." Ignoring Mordred's smirk he carried on. "Now if you have everything we'll leave."

Daniel didn't want to wait and turned to leave the library.
"I suppose." Travis sighed about Mordred. "Let's go."

After everything was packed up, they got ready for a trip to Suna.

"Naruto," Gaara said, seeing the familiar figure coming towards him. "A surprise to see you here."
"Same for you." Naruto replied. "We've got a lot to talk about."

The problem was once again the desert surrounding the old academy building and crossing it. Fortunately Shadow was of some help in leading them in the right direction. After what seemed like hours, time wasn't easy to keep track of in the vortex world, they reached the outer fringes of the Exetergrecia ruins. Outside a bus station Daniel stopped to catch his breath.

"We should stop and rest for a while," Shadow suggested.

***

"Indeed," Gaara replied. "I suspect you have been oblivious to everything around you once again?"

The problem was once again the desert surrounding the old academy building and crossing it. Fortunately Shadow was of some help in leading them in the right direction. After what seemed like hours, time wasn't easy to keep track of in the vortex world, they reached the outer fringes of the Exetergrecia ruins. Outside a bus station Daniel stopped to catch his breath.

"We should stop and rest for a while," Shadow suggested.
"Allright." Travis nodded, catching his own breath.

***

"Indeed," Gaara replied. "I suspect you have been oblivious to everything around you once again?"
"Huh? What?" Naruto looked around, then finally noticed that everything was ruined. "Jeez. What happened here?"

"Hey, there's no vehicles around," Daniel suddenly realised. "I don't recall seeing any either."

"He's right," Katana said. "And it's a long walk to Suna."

***

"...." Gaara shook his head. "From what Shadow told me it is an event known as The Conception, Draconis Nightcrawlis as we know it is no more."

"Hey, there's no vehicles around," Daniel suddenly realised. "I don't recall seeing any either."

"He's right," Katana said. "And it's a long walk to Suna."
"Hmm. Why not use short-range teleportation every so often to quicken the pace?" Travis asked.

***

"...." Gaara shook his head. "From what Shadow told me it is an event known as The Conception, Draconis Nightcrawlis as we know it is no more."
"What?!" Naruto was shocked. "How the hell did that happen?! What about my apprentices, who I left with Daniel?!"

"Because you wouldn't know what you're teleporting yourself into," Shadow warned. "Yet I'm sure that the outsiders might have their own forms of transport. I've seen different groups of those soldiers around, hopefully we could steal a vehicle from them."

"Hmm, could always pretend to be this Jacen kid," Daniel mentioned. "I'm sure the soldiers would be dumb enough to hand it over."

***

"How it happened I don't know," Gaara explained. "I'm heading back to Suna... if anything is left of it. Shadow believed he felt Daniels pressence and headed off to find him. If they were with him and Daniel survived then I would expect that they did as well."

"Because you wouldn't know what you're teleporting yourself into," Shadow warned. "Yet I'm sure that the outsiders might have their own forms of transport. I've seen different groups of those soldiers around, hopefully we could steal a vehicle from them."

"Hmm, could always pretend to be this Jacen kid," Daniel mentioned. "I'm sure the soldiers would be dumb enough to hand it over."
"Better than nothing, I suppose." Travis scratched his head.

***

"How it happened I don't know," Gaara explained. "I'm heading back to Suna... if anything is left of it. Shadow believed he felt Daniels pressence and headed off to find him. If they were with him and Daniel survived then I would expect that they did as well."
"I suppose if that's the case, they'll figure to go to Suna as well. We should probably get there too." Naruto said. "By the way, what have you been doing since you resigned from the Kazekage?"

"Just keep your eyes out," Katana said, "I'm sure not all tech magically disappeared. It's just a case of whether or not anything we do find works."

Shadow leapt back up onto Daniels gourd. "We've rested long enough."

***

Gaara nodded and began walking again. "We have alot of ground to cover and dangers ahead," he said.

He briefly glanced at Naruto.

"I have been finding myself, wandering. I have only just come back here from the colonies when this happened."

"Just keep your eyes out," Katana said, "I'm sure not all tech magically disappeared. It's just a case of whether or not anything we do find works."

Shadow leapt back up onto Daniels gourd. "We've rested long enough."
"Let's go." Travis nodded.

***

Gaara nodded and began walking again. "We have alot of ground to cover and dangers ahead," he said.

He briefly glanced at Naruto.

"I have been finding myself, wandering. I have only just come back here from the colonies when this happened."
"Yeah, um...I've been meaning to talk to you about that." Naruto said, walking alongside his old friend. "Why did you leave Suna in the first place?"

No sooner had they began to head off then Daniel started felling as if they were being watched. He couldn't see anything as he looked around.

"Do you guys get the feeling of being watched?" he asked the others.

Katana was quick to shake her head. "You're being paranoid as usual."

Something moved atop one of the nearby ruined buildings.

"There see, not paranoid."

***

Gaara's face turned cold, well colder than usual.

"Because I failed in my duty," he explained. "One simple job of looking after someone very important and I allow a spy to trick me into leaving him. I allowed that spy to stay within Suna and never notice that he was not who he said he was. I failed Suna in that regard."

No sooner had they began to head off then Daniel started felling as if they were being watched. He couldn't see anything as he looked around.

"Do you guys get the feeling of being watched?" he asked the others.

Katana was quick to shake her head. "You're being paranoid as usual."

Something moved atop one of the nearby ruined buildings.

"There see, not paranoid."
"Hmm..." Travis wondered, then sent a clone after the shadow. "Well, we'll see what happens then."

***

Gaara's face turned cold, well colder than usual.

"Because I failed in my duty," he explained. "One simple job of looking after someone very important and I allow a spy to trick me into leaving him. I allowed that spy to stay within Suna and never notice that he was not who he said he was. I failed Suna in that regard."
"Gaara, Gaara, Gaara..." Naruto shook his head. "We were all duped by Nightshade's plan. Janus and Jesse were in on the whole thing and they duped us as well. That doesn't mean we have failed. That just means we have to work harder on our security. A leader learns from his mistakes, and becomes the stronger for it."

From where the shadow had been and where Tavis' clone had gone, an explosion rang out.

"Fuck," Daniel swore.

"We should keep moving," Shadow suggested. "Whoever it is we should wait for them to make the next move, keep your eyes out for a possible attack."

***

"Mordred capturing Daniel was not part of her plan," Gaara replied. "It was Lady Nocturne's, Mordred just found it the perfect oppertunity for it to take place. That is not Konoha's fault. Mordred was under my radar for years and I never saw the underneath, that is my failure."

He looked towards the blue orb as they continued on their way.

"Besides, Temari is a much better canidate for Kazekage and up until The Conception, she was doing a very good job."

From where the shadow had been and where Travis' clone had gone, an explosion rang out.

"Fuck," Daniel swore.

"We should keep moving," Shadow suggested. "Whoever it is we should wait for them to make the next move, keep your eyes out for a possible attack."
"Yeah. Let's." Kagome nodded and she and her friends began picking up the pace.

***

"Mordred capturing Daniel was not part of her plan," Gaara replied. "It was Lady Nocturne's, Mordred just found it the perfect oppertunity for it to take place. That is not Konoha's fault. Mordred was under my radar for years and I never saw the underneath, that is my failure."

He looked towards the blue orb as they continued on their way.

"Besides, Temari is a much better canidate for Kazekage and up until The Conception, she was doing a very good job."
"I liked you as Kazekage. It just isn't the same without you around." Naruto sighed. "You just need to prove to yourself that you can do it. Suna needs you, whether you believe it or not."

As they began to head off, the figure reappeared. It watched them from the rooftop, jumping across to another to keep up. Shadow kept an eye on it as the others moved forward.

A second figure appeared in front of them. Silver hair glinted in the light from the blue orb and silver hair meant only one thing.

"A Cyredathem," Katana said.

"Heh, wait, hey kiddo fancy meeting you here," the figure replied, looking at Daniel. "Even in Ragnarok the vampires hunt it would seem."

***

"...." Gaara thought for a moment. "Now it doesn't matter, what matters is what happens during the rebirth and what the new world will be like."

As they began to head off, the figure reappeared. It watched them from the rooftop, jumping across to another to keep up. Shadow kept an eye on it as the others moved forward.

A second figure appeared in front of them. Silver hair glinted in the light from the blue orb and silver hair meant only one thing.

"A Cyredathem," Katana said.

"Heh, wait, hey kiddo fancy meeting you here," the figure replied, looking at Daniel. "Even in Ragnarok the vampires hunt it would seem."
"Oy! Who are you?" Travis asked in a loud fashion worthy of Naruto himself.

***

"...." Gaara thought for a moment. "Now it doesn't matter, what matters is what happens during the rebirth and what the new world will be like."
"I guess." Naruto said. "All this end-of-the-world stuff is really strange."

The figure chuckled. "Zathar Cyredathem at your service, killing your vampire's since the year fuck knows when," he smirked. "Guess I'd better stay with you, your father would never forgive me for leaving you in such an inhospitable place."

Katana groaned.

"We need to keep moving," Shadow reminded them.

***

Gaara looked up as he walked along. "It'll get stranger," he warned and noticed the approaching desert. "There is a much faster way but you'll need to double your guard."

The figure chuckled. "Zathar Cyredathem at your service, killing your vampire's since the year fuck knows when," he smirked. "Guess I'd better stay with you, your father would never forgive me for leaving you in such an inhospitable place."

Katana groaned.

"We need to keep moving," Shadow reminded them.
"The more people, the merrier, I guess." Travis scratched his head.

***

Gaara looked up as he walked along. "It'll get stranger," he warned and noticed the approaching desert. "There is a much faster way but you'll need to double your guard."
Naruto nodded. "All right."

As soon as Naruto touched his fingers together, a clone arrived on the scene in a poof of smoke. "Yo."

"Now if you'll excuse me for a moment..." Zathar began.

Pulling out a high tech crossbow, he loaded it and pointed it up towards the top of a nearby building. Within moments of him pulling the trigger, there was a yell and the sound of something bursting into flames. The flaming corpse then fell from the building.

"See, vampire," he said. "Because there's no sunlight, they're coming out in what feels like day."

They began to walk off, leaving the flaming vampire corpse behind.

"So... ninja friends of the prince right?"

***

Gaara sighed. "Of course."

He then knelt beside the motorway and placed his hands upon the sand. Gathering it up he disappeared into what could be described as a sandcar, an interesting way to travel. The sand outside was hardened but the sand seats inside were soft.

"Don't know why I hadn't thought of this before."

"Now if you'll excuse me for a moment..." Zathar began.

Pulling out a high tech crossbow, he loaded it and pointed it up towards the top of a nearby building. Within moments of him pulling the trigger, there was a yell and the sound of something bursting into flames. The flaming corpse then fell from the building.

"See, vampire," he said. "Because there's no sunlight, they're coming out in what feels like day."

They began to walk off, leaving the flaming vampire corpse behind.

"So... ninja friends of the prince right?"
"You could say that." Travis said. "Travis Masaki, my friends Kagome and Nick."

"Nice to meet you." "Charmed."

***

Gaara sighed. "Of course."

He then knelt beside the motorway and placed his hands upon the sand. Gathering it up he disappeared into what could be described as a sandcar, an interesting way to travel. The sand outside was hardened but the sand seats inside were soft.

"Don't know why I hadn't thought of this before."
"I dunno, but this looks cool." Naruto grinned as he jumped onto one of the seats. "Let's get going!"

Zathar placed his crossbow over his shoulder. "So, where we headed?"

"Suna," Daniel told him. "We believe there are answers there."

Zathar nodded and looked toward Travis. "Huh? I think I remember you now," he said. "Daniel Masaki's kid right? My nieces keep droning on about you."

***

The speed Gaara could fly the sand car meant that their journey was shortened substantially. It could have taken hours by foot but they were outside Suna in just over fifteen minutes.

The entrance to Suna was quiet and forlorn as Gaara looked up at it.

"I don't like the look of this."

Zathar placed his crossbow over his shoulder. "So, where we headed?"

"Suna," Daniel told him. "We believe there are answers there."

Zathar nodded and looked toward Travis. "Huh? I think I remember you now," he said. "Daniel Masaki's kid right? My nieces keep droning on about you."
"Yeah, that's me! Travis S. Masaki, esquire!" Travis beamed and gave the V sign. For a moment, because of the way his blue hair was laid out, he looked like a mini-Naruto with a rattail. And to top it off, a sudden breeze wafted around him.

Kagome and Nick sighed in exasperation. "Like Master, like apprentice!" "Indeed."

"Oy! Don't ruin the moment!" Travis grumbled.

***

The speed Gaara could fly the sand car meant that their journey was shortened substantially. It could have taken hours by foot but they were outside Suna in just over fifteen minutes.

The entrance to Suna was quiet and forlorn as Gaara looked up at it.

"I don't like the look of this."
"Hmm..." Naruto formed the Ram seal and then muttered. "Eyes and Ears of the Fox."

Suddenly, his hearing was heightened to a sharp point and he could now listen for the tiniest sound, like a fox does when hunting mice...or men. Likewise, his sight was increased, although not as much as if he had a hawk familiar, but it did allow him to see into the infrared, knowing the Kyuubi's talent with fire.

Zathar placed his hands behind his head and looked at him. "Personally I don't see what they fuss about," he remarked and turned away.

"...." Shadow stared at the vampire hunter. "Found any transport in your travels?"

"Nope, even my car disappeared along with most of Exonia."

***

Nothing stirred within the entrance or beyond.

"No one home," Gaara mentioned, listening carefully. "Traps? I doubt it but you can never be too careful."

Zathar placed his hands behind his head and looked at him. "Personally I don't see what they fuss about," he remarked and turned away.

"...." Shadow stared at the vampire hunter. "Found any transport in your travels?"

"Nope, even my car disappeared along with most of Exonia."
"Sheesh. Does this mean we'll have to walk all the way to Suna?" Travis asked.

***

Nothing stirred within the entrance or beyond.

"No one home," Gaara mentioned, listening carefully. "Traps? I doubt it but you can never be too careful."
"Empty as far as I can tell." Naruto said. "But..."

His clone needed no order to go and check the village for anything untoward.

"We'll find something," Shadow said. "I sense more activity nearby."

Zathar moved his crossbow forward just in case of confrontation.

***

No traps but Suna was entirely intact. With no one around it was now a silent ghost village.

"We'll find something," Shadow said. "I sense more activity nearby."

Zathar moved his crossbow forward just in case of confrontation.
The three members of Team Seven prepared themselves as well.

***

No traps but Suna was entirely intact. With no one around it was now a silent ghost village.
"This place sucks." The clone spoke as he came back. "There's nothing. It's like everyone packed up and went. So depressing!"

He disappeared, and Naruto gained the knowledge the clone learned. "Damn. There's really nothing here."

Was that an engine? Daniel certainly thought so. Slowly he and the others turned around the side of a building. There sat a large 4x4, certainly not of this world and there were several clone soldiers like the ones they had run into before.

Daniel licked his lips. "So what do you say, take it from them?"

***

"So no one here and no traps," Gaara said and began walking into the entrance to the hidden village. "We have to wait here anyway, if Shadow finds them then he will bring them here."

Was that an engine? Daniel certainly thought so. Slowly he and the others turned around the side of a building. There sat a large 4x4, certainly not of this world and there were several clone soldiers like the ones they had run into before.

Daniel licked his lips. "So what do you say, take it from them?"
"Hmm..." Travis thought. "Sure! They're just mooks, so it shouldn't be a problem."

***

"So no one here and no traps," Gaara said and began walking into the entrance to the hidden village. "We have to wait here anyway, if Shadow finds them then he will bring them here."
"Yeah, gonna be boring though..." Naruto grumbled as he followed.

"We could get this without starting a fight," Daniel mentioned. "What did he call me again... Jacen was it?"

Mordred smirked.

"I'm sure they'll give it to me if I pretend to be him. Just in case, the rest of you had better prepare just in case."

He looked toward the 4x4 and then back at the others.

"Wait here, if I yell I'm in trouble."

***

"...." Gaara eyed him. "Well not much we can do about that."

He looked around the now deserted hidden village and shook his head. It was depressing, it had survived so many attack attempts and had always prevailed. Now it was a sitting duck to all the demons and everything else that was wandering the vortex world.

"But we are safer in here. There are demons and Sith out there."

"We could get this without starting a fight," Daniel mentioned. "What did he call me again... Jacen was it?"

Mordred smirked.

"I'm sure they'll give it to me if I pretend to be him. Just in case, the rest of you had better prepare just in case."

He looked toward the 4x4 and then back at the others.

"Wait here, if I yell I'm in trouble."
"Ok!" Travis nodded.

***

"...." Gaara eyed him. "Well not much we can do about that."

He looked around the now deserted hidden village and shook his head. It was depressing, it had survived so many attack attempts and had always prevailed. Now it was a sitting duck to all the demons and everything else that was wandering the vortex world.

"But we are safer in here. There are demons and Sith out there."
"Yeah. I worry about Team Seven though..." Naruto sighed looking out at the blowing sand.

Daniel nodded and headed off. As he neared the soldiers it looked like there were about to attack but quickly stood down.

"Can't hear anything," Katana complained.

But sound wasn't needed to understand what was going on. Sand suddenly came from Daniels gourd and hit one of the clone soldiers, knocking the soldier down. The others quickly stepped back and allowed Daniel to climb into the 4x4.

"I can't believe it," Katana said as the 4x4 began to move. "He did it."

***

"As I do about everyone," Gaara admitted. He took something out of a pack he had with him. "Drink?"

Daniel nodded and headed off. As he neared the soldiers it looked like there were about to attack but quickly stood down.

"Can't hear anything," Katana complained.

But sound wasn't needed to understand what was going on. Sand suddenly came from Daniels gourd and hit one of the clone soldiers, knocking the soldier down. The others quickly stepped back and allowed Daniel to climb into the 4x4.

"I can't believe it," Katana said as the 4x4 began to move. "He did it."
"Never had a doubt about that." Travis grinned.

***

"As I do about everyone," Gaara admitted. He took something out of a pack he had with him. "Drink?"
"Sure, thanks." Naruto suddenly found that he was actually thirsty and drank it down.

Daniel pulled up in front of them and upon opening the door, a set of steps emerged.

"It's not fast," he admitted, "but it beats doing a ninja run."

***

Gaara managed a smile. "Knowing Katana, if she is with them, she'll have had them already researching what happened," he said. "Shadow has already told me much of what he knew from previous experiance."

Daniel pulled up in front of them and upon opening the door, a set of steps emerged.

"It's not fast," he admitted, "but it beats doing a ninja run."
"Yeah." Travis grinned as he and his friends got in.

They're now on their way to Suna!

***

Gaara managed a smile. "Knowing Katana, if she is with them, she'll have had them already researching what happened," he said. "Shadow has already told me much of what he knew from previous experiance."
"This has happened before? Oh, I remember the Norns and all that, but this particular incident?" Naruto asked.

For something that carried clone soldiers the seating and interior was rather comfortable. Perhaps it's real purpose was for something else.

"There, take that motorway," Shadow instructed. "I sense Gaara has been this way and he's met someone, I'm not certain who but they're friendly."

"Not vampire or demon then," Zathar remarked.

Daniel put his foot down to make the vehicle go as fast as possible.

***

"Shadow is not from our universe, I'm sure you've heard of alternate universes," Gaara explained. "This happened to Shadows home and it was destroyed completely, uninhabitable I am told and somehow he managed to get to our universe."

For something that carried clone soldiers the seating and interior was rather comfortable. Perhaps it's real purpose was for something else.

"There, take that motorway," Shadow instructed. "I sense Gaara has been this way and he's met someone, I'm not certain who but they're friendly."

"Not vampire or demon then," Zathar remarked.

Daniel put his foot down to make the vehicle go as fast as possible.
"Y'think it could be...?" Travis asked his friends.

"Only one way to find out." Nick replied.

"Yep. Step on it!" Kagome said, but saw that Daniel already did so and felt a bit sheepish.

***

"Shadow is not from our universe, I'm sure you've heard of alternate universes," Gaara explained. "This happened to Shadows home and it was destroyed completely, uninhabitable I am told and somehow he managed to get to our universe."
"Interesting." Naruto said.

Daniel grumbled to himself. The dashboard bleeped at him and a screen popped up. His heart skipped a beat as he saw a face similar to his own appear.

"Hehehe, busted," the figure said. "So there is someone going around posing as me and you took my vehicle and left my soldiers behind."

Daniel gulped, he didn't know how to reply to this and looked toward the others.

"We can outrun them right?"

"Hmph! I should kill you but I find the idea of a doppleganger very interesting."

***

"And only one person has the chance to shape the new world into their wanted state," Gaara warned. "It must be Daniel at all costs. There will be others looking for a way to shape it to their own wishes and we must stop them, the consequences would be dire for all of us."

Daniel grumbled to himself. The dashboard bleeped at him and a screen popped up. His heart skipped a beat as he saw a face similar to his own appear.

"Hehehe, busted," the figure said. "So there is someone going around posing as me and you took my vehicle and left my soldiers behind."

Daniel gulped, he didn't know how to reply to this and looked toward the others.

"We can outrun them right?"

"Hmph! I should kill you but I find the idea of a doppleganger very interesting."
"Yeah, I think we can do it. If we can get within twenty miles of Suna, we could make it..." Travis thought out loud.

***

"And only one person has the chance to shape the new world into their wanted state," Gaara warned. "It must be Daniel at all costs. There will be others looking for a way to shape it to their own wishes and we must stop them, the consequences would be dire for all of us."
"Sheesh. First Kurt, then Daniel. They never really get a break." Naruto shook his head.

Onscreen Jacen chuckled. "Suna... we'll just have to find it."

"They'd never get in though," Katana remarked from the back.

***

Gaara nodded. "It is a tough job to be a leader," he said. "You have to be in the right frame of mind."

Onscreen Jacen chuckled. "Suna... we'll just have to find it."

"They'd never get in though," Katana remarked from the back.
"Well, we'll just have to outrun them! Step on it!" Travis yelled.

***

Gaara nodded. "It is a tough job to be a leader," he said. "You have to be in the right frame of mind."
Naruto nodded. "That's true."

"I am going as fast as it'll let me," Daniel protested and hit the screen.

It flickered and went out.

"Guess that confirms I do have an alternate version of me running about."

***

Gaara looked out of the entrance. A sand storm had kicked up.

"I just hope they can make it here through this."

Somewhere over the howl of the wind came the howl of an unknown demon.

"And I hope they can avoid the demons as well. I should have taught Daniel that trick as well."

"I am going as fast as it'll let me," Daniel protested and hit the screen.

It flickered and went out.

"Guess that confirms I do have an alternate version of me running about."
"Yeah, I just hope we don't have duplicates too..." Travis sat back.

***

Gaara looked out of the entrance. A sand storm had kicked up.

"I just hope they can make it here through this."

Somewhere over the howl of the wind came the howl of an unknown demon.

"And I hope they can avoid the demons as well. I should have taught Daniel that trick as well."
"Don't worry about them. They have Team Seven with them and I have no doubt they'll get here." Naruto smiled. "Being a leader does mean you trust your subordinates to succeed in everything they do, after all."

"Wouldn't be surprised if there was," Shadow mentioned. "However I doubt we'll be running into the alternate versions of anyone other than those we already know about."

"Oh great, another Mordred," Daniel groaned.

Behind them, Mordred chuckled. That prompted Zathar to point his crossbow at the black-haired blue elf.

"Just because you're here and not a vampire, doesn't mean I won't kill you. You probably thought I might not have known who you are, I do but I'm not going to question their judgement in a fucked up place like this."

Mordred just raised a finger to his lips and stayed silent.

***

"Some of the demons I have seen were too much for even myself to handle," Gaara warned. "They will have to be sensible and avoid any demon that may be too much for them to handle."

"Wouldn't be surprised if there was," Shadow mentioned. "However I doubt we'll be running into the alternate versions of anyone other than those we already know about."

"Oh great, another Mordred," Daniel groaned.

Behind them, Mordred chuckled. That prompted Zathar to point his crossbow at the black-haired blue elf.

"Just because you're here and not a vampire, doesn't mean I won't kill you. You probably thought I might not have known who you are, I do but I'm not going to question their judgement in a fucked up place like this."

Mordred just raised a finger to his lips and stayed silent.
Travis continued to watch for enemies as they headed down the road to Suna.

***

"Some of the demons I have seen were too much for even myself to handle," Gaara warned. "They will have to be sensible and avoid any demon that may be too much for them to handle."
Naruto furrowed his brow. "You're talking A or S class demons...other than the tailed ones we know, I can't believe that they're roaming around at will. Is the fabric of reality that weak?"

"Hand onto your seats," Daniel warned. "Looks like theres a huge sandstorm heading our way. Can you find the way through it Shadow?"

"Positive," the cat replied.

***

"You could say that I guess," Gaara said. "They're here mostly to feed off the souls of those lost to The Conception but according to Shadow, they prefer those who somehow managed to live through it. Like us for instance."

"Hand onto your seats," Daniel warned. "Looks like theres a huge sandstorm heading our way. Can you find the way through it Shadow?"

"Positive," the cat replied.
"Sandstorm?!" Travis asked.

"Reminds me of that time we went on that worldjumping mission." Kagome said.

"Yeah. Didn't Travis use some wind technique to make a hole through that sandstorm?" Nick asked.

"Sounds about right. Wonder if he can do that again here."

"Oy! I'm here, you know!" Travis grumbled. "And yeah, I'll probably do it if need be."

After that, they covered themselves with their robes. Sandstorms can scour skin, mmmkay?

***

"You could say that I guess," Gaara said. "They're here mostly to feed off the souls of those lost to The Conception but according to Shadow, they prefer those who somehow managed to live through it. Like us for instance."
"No way they'll get me! Besides, I'd probably give them indigestion!" Naruto grinned.

"I'm sure the armour can hold up," Shadow mentioned. "No harm in trying."

Daniel meanwhile concentrated on pushing the vehicle forward.

***

Gaara looked back to the empty Hidden Village. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"I always thought I'd only come back here when I'd found myself once again," he admitted. "Could it be that I have?"

"I'm sure the armour can hold up," Shadow mentioned. "No harm in trying."

Daniel meanwhile concentrated on pushing the vehicle forward.
And they all prepared to enter the blinding sandstorm...

***

Gaara looked back to the empty Hidden Village. There was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"I always thought I'd only come back here when I'd found myself once again," he admitted. "Could it be that I have?"
Naruto shrugged. "There's only one way to find out. Search your feelings, as the Jedi say."

He grinned at that.

The vehicle hit something solid and they were all thrown forward.

"Oww, fuck, my head," Daniel complained having hit console in front of them.

"Is everyone alright?" Shadow asked.

"I think so," Katsuo said, rubbing his head. "What was that?"

"I think we should go and find out," Zathar suggested.

"What if it's him?" Daniel gulped.

***

Gaara sighed. "That's all I've been doing," he said. "Never found the answer yet."

The vehicle hit something solid and they were all thrown forward.

"Oww, fuck, my head," Daniel complained having hit console in front of them.

"Is everyone alright?" Shadow asked.

"I think so," Katsuo said, rubbing his head. "What was that?"

"I think we should go and find out," Zathar suggested.

"What if it's him?" Daniel gulped.
"We're fine." Travis rubbed his head. "What's going on here?"

***

Gaara sighed. "That's all I've been doing," he said. "Never found the answer yet."
"Well, I have no doubt you'll find the answer." Naruto said.

"Flat out in zero invisibility was an idiotic idea," Katana said, ignoring a groan from Mordred next to him.

She leaned over and hit Daniel over the head.

"Hey, the engines still running that good right?" he replied.

Shadow moved forward. Through the sand he could just make out a large red, possibly metal, wall.

***

"In the vortex world, I guess this is where I am fated to find that answer," Gaara replied. "I sense that demon from earlier is moving away."

"Flat out in zero invisibility was an idiotic idea," Katana said, ignoring a groan from Mordred next to him.

She leaned over and hit Daniel over the head.

"Hey, the engines still running that good right?" he replied.

Shadow moved forward. Through the sand he could just make out a large red, possibly metal, wall.
"Ok. For some weird reason, there's a red metal wall in our way." Travis muttered as they saw it. "What's next, an iron pencil?"

***

"In the vortex world, I guess this is where I am fated to find that answer," Gaara replied. "I sense that demon from earlier is moving away."
"Mmm. Yeah. He's moving." Naruto nodded, sniffing the air.

"Red metal?" Daniel thought.

For a moment he was lost in thought before his eyes went wide.

"The Kukai Foundation were due to visit Suna to talk ship building, I think we're here."

***

"At least Suna is still hidden even after The Conception," Gaara then said before turning away as the sandstorm intensified. "I think he should head into the village, the entrance may get buried."

"Red metal?" Daniel thought.

For a moment he was lost in thought before his eyes went wide.

"The Kukai Foundation were due to visit Suna to talk ship building, I think we're here."
"Really? Then maybe we got some help here!" Travis grinned.

"We should be careful, though. No telling whether they're the Kukai Foundation we know, or the Foundation that's part of Sith Daniel's empire." Kagome pointed out.

"Geez. Don't ruin my hope!" Travis grumbled.

"Just being realistic here!" Kagome shot back.

***

"At least Suna is still hidden even after The Conception," Gaara then said before turning away as the sandstorm intensified. "I think he should head into the village, the entrance may get buried."
"All right." Naruto nodded. He looked out at the blinding storm, hoping that Team Seven would find their way here soon, then headed into the empty village.

"Oh crap I hope not," Daniel groaned.

"I very much doubt they'd have a red ship anyway," Katana pointed out and moved toward the door. "Unless of course the alternate verse Foundation are the good guys here to battle the Sith."

Shadow meanwhile burrowed himself into Daniels hood. "Cover up out there."

Being from Suna, the sandnin carried goggles and of course had an extra pair.

"Right everyone ready?" Katana asked.

***

Entering the empty village properly, Gaara looked around. It was largely just as it had always been. But the lack of other people made it feel odd, the silence was deafening. He led Naruto up to the Kazekage building. The sight of one of the doors half open concerned him. Perhaps it was nothing but you could never be too sure.

"Hang on, this is making me uneasy," he warned. "Might be nothing but you can't trust anything here right now."

"Oh crap I hope not," Daniel groaned.

"I very much doubt they'd have a red ship anyway," Katana pointed out and moved toward the door. "Unless of course the alternate verse Foundation are the good guys here to battle the Sith."

Shadow meanwhile burrowed himself into Daniels hood. "Cover up out there."

Being from Suna, the sandnin carried goggles and of course had an extra pair.

"Right everyone ready?" Katana asked.
Travis took out a pair of yellow goggles from one of his pockets. Surprisingly, it went well with his blue hair as he covered his eyes with them. "I should wear these more often, heh."

The other two took the goggles from the Sandnin and thanked them before all three headed out.

***

Entering the empty village properly, Gaara looked around. It was largely just as it had always been. But the lack of other people made it feel odd, the silence was deafening. He led Naruto up to the Kazekage building. The sight of one of the doors half open concerned him. Perhaps it was nothing but you could never be too sure.

"Hang on, this is making me uneasy," he warned. "Might be nothing but you can't trust anything here right now."
"Right." Naruto said, extending his senses outward again.

Outside they were lashed by the sandstorm. That didn't stop them from seeing that the red wall was in fact The Durandal. Being on it's side one could guess that either it had crashed or that it had toppled over during The Conception.

Not being able to hear much, Katana motioned for the others to follow. Of course with the low visibility they had to make sure they all knew and understood. While the doors didn't open there was an emergency door that they could used. Katana unscrewed it and the door creaked open. So far nothing was out of place and it seemed safe. Fortunately for them the floors were the right side up and when everyone was inside, she closed the door and the winds were barely heard.

"I think we can safely say this is our Kukai Foundation," she said.

***

Gaara slowly entered. Nothing out of place, it all seemed as it should be.

"We should stay here," he suggested. "They should know to come straight here when entering the village."

Outside they were lashed by the sandstorm. That didn't stop them from seeing that the red wall was in fact The Durandal. Being on it's side one could guess that either it had crashed or that it had toppled over during The Conception.

Not being able to hear much, Katana motioned for the others to follow. Of course with the low visibility they had to make sure they all knew and understood. While the doors didn't open there was an emergency door that they could used. Katana unscrewed it and the door creaked open. So far nothing was out of place and it seemed safe. Fortunately for them the floors were the right side up and when everyone was inside, she closed the door and the winds were barely heard.

"I think we can safely say this is our Kukai Foundation," she said.
"Good." Travis said. "Then perhaps they may help us get to Suna faster...as well as figure out how to restore everything."

***

Gaara slowly entered. Nothing out of place, it all seemed as it should be.

"We should stay here," he suggested. "They should know to come straight here when entering the village."
"Yeah." Naruto nodded.

"Yeah!" Daniel agreed.

"Hmm, seems all the computers are offline," Katana warned. "Some electricity and life support but no artificial gravity."

She continued to poke through the system with her own PDA. The others hadn't noticed her start doing it.

"Seems the ship put itself into low energy usage mode itself, be careful."

***

Gaara placed his gourd on the ground and side as he moved over to the window. For a moment he swore he saw a shadow move.

"...."

Perhaps it was nothing.

"Yeah!" Daniel agreed.

"Hmm, seems all the computers are offline," Katana warned. "Some electricity and life support but no artificial gravity."

She continued to poke through the system with her own PDA. The others hadn't noticed her start doing it.

"Seems the ship put itself into low energy usage mode itself, be careful."
"All right." Travis said.

***

Gaara placed his gourd on the ground and side as he moved over to the window. For a moment he swore he saw a shadow move.

"...."

Perhaps it was nothing.
Naruto noted something out of the corner of his eye, but assumed it was a cobweb.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Daniel said as Katana led them down the corridor.

"Don't say that," Katsuo replied. "Jinx us and we're screwed."

In front of them Katana just sighed. She carried on leading them until they had at last reached the bridge. Like the rest of the ship it was completely devoid of life and was on low lighting. They could see that even the Realians were gone.

"I think it's safe to say that the Kukai Foundation won't be offering us any help," Katana mentioned. "But it's strange that there were no cars anywhere or other ship for that matter but The Durandal. Still working somewhat as well."

***

There is was again. A shadow out of the corner of his eye, something most people wouldn't take notice of. But Gaara was a ninja and this was of course a ninja village, one could put two and two together.

"I don't think we're alone here," he warned.

He looked out for the shadow again but couldn't see it.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Daniel said as Katana led them down the corridor.

"Don't say that," Katsuo replied. "Jinx us and we're screwed."

In front of them Katana just sighed. She carried on leading them until they had at last reached the bridge. Like the rest of the ship it was completely devoid of life and was on low lighting. They could see that even the Realians were gone.

"I think it's safe to say that the Kukai Foundation won't be offering us any help," Katana mentioned. "But it's strange that there were no cars anywhere or other ship for that matter but The Durandal. Still working somewhat as well."
"Yeah. Even I can tell it's strange. Where's that guy Jr? Where's the Realians? Something's not right..." Travis mused.

***

There is was again. A shadow out of the corner of his eye, something most people wouldn't take notice of. But Gaara was a ninja and this was of course a ninja village, one could put two and two together.

"I don't think we're alone here," he warned.

He looked out for the shadow again but couldn't see it.

"You can say that again." Naruto slowly pulled out a kunai, his eyes scanning for danger...

"We could do with Namus here," Zathar remarked. "Could have done with his computer skills. Any of you any good with computers?"

***

Gaara kept an eye out and stayed silent for a few minutes. Nothing further more happened.

"Not a trick of the eye," he said. "Nor a demon, more likely a fellow ninja. Even then we must be careful, they may not be on our side."

Creating a hand seal, Gaara closed his eyes and created a third eye out of his sand. Slowly it went out of a half open window.

"That should find the source."

"We could do with Namus here," Zathar remarked. "Could have done with his computer skills. Any of you any good with computers?"
Nick raised his hand. "I'm pretty good with computers. Where do you want me?"

***

Gaara kept an eye out and stayed silent for a few minutes. Nothing further more happened.

"Not a trick of the eye," he said. "Nor a demon, more likely a fellow ninja. Even then we must be careful, they may not be on our side."

Creating a hand seal, Gaara closed his eyes and created a third eye out of his sand. Slowly it went out of a half open window.

"That should find the source."
"I remember that jutsu." Naruto smiled slightly.

"Up here," Zathar said from the platform. "Just see what you can find from the ships logs."

***

Gaara stepped away from the window.

"It has served me well," he said. "It should find the source of the shadow in no time."

"Up here," Zathar said from the platform. "Just see what you can find from the ships logs."
"All right." Nick said and hopped up to the platform. He began accessing the ship's computers...

***

Gaara stepped away from the window.

"It has served me well," he said. "It should find the source of the shadow in no time."
"Let's hope so." Naruto said.

All the ships controls were in Japanese. In one corner a warning sign was flashing.

***

Gaara closed his eyes.

"It moves quick but I've seen a glimpse, a human. I'll try and catch up."

All the ships controls were in Japanese. In one corner a warning sign was flashing.
Of course, Nick didn't have a problem reading Japanese and he noted the warning sign and began calling up the reason for said warning, as well as the ship's log.

***

Gaara closed his eyes.

"It moves quick but I've seen a glimpse, a human. I'll try and catch up."
"Alright." Naruto nodded.

Trying to get into the logs just moved the warning sign to the centre and the control panel began beeping.

"Hey what did you do?" Katana remarked.

Below the warning sign part of the log was visible.

Conce
Warni
Runni g program



Run program? YES/NO

***

"Matsuri?" Gaara said opening his eyes. "One of our own, a survivor?"

Trying to get into the logs just moved the warning sign to the centre and the control panel began beeping.

"Hey what did you do?" Katana remarked.

Below the warning sign part of the log was visible.

Conce
Warni
Runni g program



Run program? YES/NO
"Don't worry! I know what I'm doing!" Nick said. He decided to run the program and cross his fingers...

***

"Matsuri?" Gaara said opening his eyes. "One of our own, a survivor?"
"This person...where is he?" Naruto asked.

"Right," Katana remarked with a roll of the eyes.

Upon running the program the control beeped and a hologram appeared. Jr stood before them.

"If you are seeing this then I am afraid we have foiled to prevent The Conception. A month ago we got word that a Sith Lord from an alternative universe was attempting to bring on The Conception in order to take our universes resources.

"You must find Prince Gabriel Daniel Wagner if you wish to defeat Darth Karask. Only with him do you have any hope."

"Found me," Daniel grinned.

The hologram was still there as if waiting further instraction.

***

"She," Gaara corrected. "She's gone into the academy."

"Right," Katana remarked with a roll of the eyes.

Upon running the program the control beeped and a hologram appeared. Jr stood before them.

"If you are seeing this then I am afraid we have foiled to prevent The Conception. A month ago we got word that a Sith Lord from an alternative universe was attempting to bring on The Conception in order to take our universes resources.

"You must find Prince Gabriel Daniel Wagner if you wish to defeat Darth Karask. Only with him do you have any hope."

"Found me," Daniel grinned.

The hologram was still there as if waiting further instraction.
"He is here with us." Nick told Jr's hologram. "What must we do next?"

***

"She," Gaara corrected. "She's gone into the academy."
"Ah. Any idea what's she doing there?" Naruto asked.

For a moment the hologram didn't say anything.

"Only with the prince can you enter the ruins under Suna. Because we haven't been able to get in there you'll have to find out what you need to do for yourselves."

A small PDA appeared from an opening in the control panel.

"You can find out anything you need further from the database. The prince should realise what needs to be done when you arrive in the ruins."

And then the hologram disappeared.

"We're screwed," Katana remarked.

Daniel glared at her.

***

"She's going into a trapdoor but I can't see anything it's too dark down there."

For a moment the hologram didn't say anything.

"Only with the prince can you enter the ruins under Suna. Because we haven't been able to get in there you'll have to find out what you need to do for yourselves."

A small PDA appeared from an opening in the control panel.

"You can find out anything you need further from the database. The prince should realise what needs to be done when you arrive in the ruins."

And then the hologram disappeared.

"We're screwed," Katana remarked.

Daniel glared at her.
"No matter. It's clear that we need to get to Suna." Travis said. "Where is it in relation to here?"

"Checking..." Nick began pulling up the information needed from the PDA.

***

"She's going into a trapdoor but I can't see anything it's too dark down there."
"Hmm. Is there anything under Suna that's important?" Naruto asked.

The PDA showed that Suna was about a mile north of their location.

***

"Well, the Kukai Foundation were investigating some ruins found below the village," Gaara mentioned. "But they've shown that it was impossible to get to. A magical barrier seemed in place."

The PDA showed that Suna was about a mile north of their location.
"It's not far now." Nick said. "A mile north of us."

"That close?" Travis asked. "Let's not waste any time. Let's go!"

***

"Well, the Kukai Foundation were investigating some ruins found below the village," Gaara mentioned. "But they've shown that it was impossible to get to. A magical barrier seemed in place."
"I see." Naruto said. Then he perked up. "I sense something familiar...I think Travis is near."

There was an exit in the bridge and they quickly left. Though now half buried, they had no problem getting out and they were glad to find that the sandstorm had passed. Visibility into the distance however wasn't that good.

Daniel looked up. "Which way is north?"

***

That quickly grabbed Gaara's attention. "Then perhaps we should instead return to the entrance."

There was an exit in the bridge and they quickly left. Though now half buried, they had no problem getting out and they were glad to find that the sandstorm had passed. Visibility into the distance however wasn't that good.

Daniel looked up. "Which way is north?"
Travis scratched his head, looking this way and that. "Uh...I dunno."

Kagome sighed and pointed north. "You two idiots want to save the universe and you don't know which way's north? It's that way."

Nick checked his compass. "Yeah. She's right. Let's go."

Warning! Girl with excellent sense of direction near! Tread with caution!

***

That quickly grabbed Gaara's attention. "Then perhaps we should instead return to the entrance."
"Yeah." Naruto nodded. "They need someone familiar to greet them. This whole thing must have spooked them good."

And so they began their trek north. Daniel was still mindful of the threat from his alternate universe self. The thought of him and those soldier coming after them was very worrying.

After what seemed like ages they soon found the outer edge of Suna up ahead. The high rock face looked rather forlorn.

"There it is," Daniel said with a sigh of relief. "I can see the entrance too."

***

Gaara nodded and headed out to the entrance. So far he couldn't see anything other than shapes in the distance. The former Kazekage prepared himself, it wasn't guaranteed to be them.

"Hopefully that's them."

And so they began their trek north. Daniel was still mindful of the threat from his alternate universe self. The thought of him and those soldier coming after them was very worrying.

After what seemed like ages they soon found the outer edge of Suna up ahead. The high rock face looked rather forlorn.

"There it is," Daniel said with a sigh of relief. "I can see the entrance too."
"At last, we made it!" Travis cheered. He began sensing someone familiar near. "I think...Naruto-sensei's here!"

***

Gaara nodded and headed out to the entrance. So far he couldn't see anything other than shapes in the distance. The former Kazekage prepared himself, it wasn't guaranteed to be them.

"Hopefully that's them."
"Yeah, I'd know those signatures anywhere." Naruto grinned. "It's them."

As those shapes came closer, they became more distinct...

"Gaara..." Daniel said.

Even though Shadow had mentioned him he hadn't believed it until now. Walking up to the entrance, the young prince was relieved.

"Get inside," Gaara suggested. "The demons don't seem to go inside Suna so you'll be safe in there."

"Naruto-sensei! This place is weeeird!" Was Travis' first comment upon seeing him again.

"That's Draconis Nightcrawlis for you." Naruto grinned as he ushered the kids inside the village. "Get used to it, kid. If your father's and my past experience mean anything, this place will only get weirder before normalcy returns."

"Aww..." It's clear Travis wasn't pleased with that.

"This is normal," Gaara remarked. His eyes turned to Daniel and Shadow. "I am glad to see that you survived The Conception and that Shadow found you."

Daniel just managed a smile as they headed inside.

"I will not question why Masato is here, in ordinary circumstances I would have killed him the instant I saw him," Gaara then mentioned. "I'm sure the rest of you need to get some rest."

Out of his sight, Mordred had a huge smirk on his face.

"Yeah. Go on and rest." Naruto said, glaring at aMordred. "You guys look like you need it."

"Yeah." The kids grinned tiredly as they headed inside.

The atmosphere of an empty Suna caused Daniel to shiver.

"At least I'd be able to sleep in my own bed," Katsuo yawned.

His own cat yawned as well from inside his robe.

"I've got plenty of space for the rest of you to crash as well."

"Same here," Daniel mentioned. "Was a home away from home, it's pretty big."

The threesome were also getting tired as well. Perhaps it was indeed time to get a bed...

After a while it was agreed for Kagome to go with Katana, while Nick, Katsuo and Travis went with Daniel. Whilst Zathar didn't need rest, Mordred was told to go and find his own place. Which incidently was still left abandoned when he turned traitor against the village.

Katana's room was within the Kazekage building. Daniel's place was rather smart, kept that way by maids since Quatre hadn't wanted him living in a pig sty.

"Make yourselves at home," Daniel suggested.

"Hmm, so what should we do about Matsuri?" Gaara pondered.

After a while it was agreed for Kagome to go with Katana, while Nick, Katsuo and Travis went with Daniel. Whilst Zathar didn't need rest, Mordred was told to go and find his own place. Which incidently was still left abandoned when he turned traitor against the village.

Katana's room was within the Kazekage building. Daniel's place was rather smart, kept that way by maids since Quatre hadn't wanted him living in a pig sty.

"Make yourselves at home," Daniel suggested.[/quote]
"Nice digs." Travis commented.

"Indeed. Better than Travis'. It's actually clean!" Nick grinned.

"I like my place just fine!" Travis grumbled.

"Hmm, so what should we do about Matsuri?" Gaara pondered.
Naruto shrugged. "We'll just have to keep an eye out for her."

Daniel chuckled as he pulled down large pictures on the walls to reveal extra beds.

"Father had plenty of secret area's built into this place," Daniel mentioned. "I think he was in an odd mood because I'd kept bugging him into letting me join the ninja academy."

***

Zathar wandered in to join Gaara and Naruto.

"Well seems Daniel is the key to returning things to normal," he told them. "At least according to the Kukai Foundation. Something to do with ruins under Suna."

Gaara nodded. "Where Matsuri must have headed."

Daniel chuckled as he pulled down large pictures on the walls to reveal extra beds.

"Father had plenty of secret area's built into this place," Daniel mentioned. "I think he was in an odd mood because I'd kept bugging him into letting me join the ninja academy."
Travis bounced on one of the beds while Nick took another. Travis chuckled. "Pretty good bed, too."

He yawned. "Well, I should turn in. Is there a shower around here?"

***

Zathar wandered in to join Gaara and Naruto.

"Well seems Daniel is the key to returning things to normal," he told them. "At least according to the Kukai Foundation. Something to do with ruins under Suna."

Gaara nodded. "Where Matsuri must have headed."
"I suppose we can deal with it in the morning." Naruto said.

"Right through that door, but I doubt there's any water," Daniel told him. "There's no electricity so hot water is definitely out."

***

Gaara looked toward him and nodded.

"As usual I will stay awake and watch over everyone," he said. "There are guest rooms in the Kazekage quarters."

"Right through that door, but I doubt there's any water," Daniel told him. "There's no electricity so hot water is definitely out."
"I'll survive." Travis said bravely and headed for the bathroom...

***

Gaara looked toward him and nodded.

"As usual I will stay awake and watch over everyone," he said. "There are guest rooms in the Kazekage quarters."
"All right. Thanks." Naruto nodded. Then he headed for the guest rooms.

Unfortunately Daniel had been correct about the water. There was none.

***

Zathar stretched and yawned. "Perhaps I'll turn in as well."

Gaara just nodded as the vampire hunter left. While the others slept he kept an eye out for Matsuri, she never made another appearance whilst they slept and Gaara suspected that she was doing the same.

Alone he patrolled the streets of Suna making sure that the others were safe. The light from the blue orb kept everything lit up, it was almost like a sun. The light didn't have a blue tint to it, instead it just gave off the usual desert-like light.

He continued to patrol until the others awoke, whenever that might be.

Unfortunately Daniel had been correct about the water. There was none.
Travis groaned at the lack of water. "When they call this the Village Hidden in the Sand, they weren't kidding."

And with the lack of electricity, of course there would be no sonic showers. He grumbled and just TK-pulled water out of a canteen and used it to wash his face before air-drying it and heading to bed.

***

Zathar stretched and yawned. "Perhaps I'll turn in as well."

Gaara just nodded as the vampire hunter left. While the others slept he kept an eye out for Matsuri, she never made another appearance whilst they slept and Gaara suspected that she was doing the same.

Alone he patrolled the streets of Suna making sure that the others were safe. The light from the blue orb kept everything lit up, it was almost like a sun. The light didn't have a blue tint to it, instead it just gave off the usual desert-like light.

He continued to patrol until the others awoke, whenever that might be.
The next morning, Nick and Kagome were the first to awake at the crack of dawn. They knew that Naruto-sensei and Travis would awake later, being a lazy master and apprentice duo, so they didn't waste any time in going out for morning stretching and random things.

Katana was also one to wake at the crack of dawn, not that there was a dawn anyway. He first thought was to go over to Daniel's place to make sure that they were all awake as well. After hammering on the door, Daniel appeared at an upstairs window.

"All right we're awake, don't make so much noise," he complained and disappeared back inside.

After that Katana went to find Gaara. She found him stood outside the academy calmly watching it. So far there had been no sign of Matsuri nor anyone else save for Mordred who was perched on the roof of the academy looking down at them.

Daniel kicked Katsuo to make sure that he didn't fall sleep again.

"Come on, we have to go guys," he said. "Looks like Nick went out already."

Katana's banging also roused Travis, who realized that Nick was already out. He pulled on his vest and put on his cap, adjusting it to make sure it's properly backwards. "Morning, guys."

Once The three were ready they headed out. They found Gaara stood outside the academy. Zathar had now joined him and Mordred there, as had Shadow who was busy licking his back. Katana was just inside the academy checking things out.

"Still need to wait for Naruto, Kagome and Nick it seems," Gaara mentioned.

"We're right here." Nick and Kagome walked up to them.

And finally, Naruto came out yawning. "Everyone awake? Good. What have we got so far?"

Katana ventured out to join them.

"The trapdoor is still there and closed," she told them. "But I wasn't going to open it on my own."

Gaara nodded.

"That's what we have, a trapdoor down to the ruins below Suna and I believe Matsuri is still down there," he said.

"The ruins is what we were told about so that's where we should go," Shadow said. "The sooner Daniel gets to his destiny the better it is for all of us."

"I see. Daniel?" Travis and his friends looked at the furry blue elf.

Daniel sighed. "Well I guess we venture down there then," he said.

"Naruto and I will stay up here and keep watch," Gaara suggested.

"Yeah. Go down and kick whatever ass is down there." Naruto grinned.

"Right, sensei!" Travis grinned back. His teammates still couldn't tell the difference between them when they did that, except that one had blond hair and one had blue.

Now they were ready to roll!

Heading inside, Katana was first to the trapdoor and was the one to open it. Fortunately no one had bolted it from the otherside. There was a rather old looking wooden ladder leading down below where a torch was burning fiercely.

"Better go down one at a time," she suggested.

She was then the first to climb down. When she reached the bottom, the next person went down and so on until they were all below leaving only Gaara and Naruto above.

The tunnel they now faced seemed to go on endless, lit by torches as far down the tunnel as eyes could see. The torches flicked as a draft blew past.

"Just the air sucked out by the open trapdoor," Katana said.

A shape appeared further down the tunnel.

Gaara suddenly closed the trapdoor and moved toward the door leading out from the ninja academy.

"Do you feel that?" he asked Naruto. "Murderous intent..."

"What?" Naruto asked sharply.

=====

As they passed the drafty trapdoor, the young apprentice noticed something further down the tunnel. "What's that?"

"I feel murderous intent, someone has entered Suna," Gaara said. "Once upon a time that was how your Kakashi noticed me spying."

***

Katana drew her fan as the figure drew near yet was far away enough not to be recognisable.

"Identify yourself?" she yelled.

The figure stopped. "Katana?"

Katana was quick to recognise the voice. "Gaara was right, Matsuri," she said and held her fan behind her. "You're safe with us."

Matsuri drew near, she was definitely their Matsuri. A little rough, she looked as though she hadn't been sleeping much. Then again, who would when they were seemingly alone.

"It is you," Matsuri said. "Daniel... Konoha..."