Disclaimer: I do not own either property as they are respectfully owned by Square Enix, Disney and Spike Chunsoft. While this will follow the story of the original Kingdom Hearts, my own little spin will be put on the formula many have gone over before, at least I hope I'm not repeating anything. Also, I won't be following the KH story to a T here, so expect a few noticeable differences from the get go. Anyways, I hope you enjoy the story.

?: (The massive high school towers all over the other buildings in this bustling urban area.)

?: (It's like the school stands at the center of the entire world.)

(Camera shows a school building then pans closer to it)

?: (Hope's Peak Academy…)

?: (It brings in top students from every field imaginable. A government-funded school of privilege…)

?: (They say that if you come here and manage to graduate, you'll be set for life.)

?: (With hundreds of years of tradition, it sends the cream of the crop into the work force every year.)

?: (It was built to raise hope in the nation's future. Which makes Hope's Peak a pretty fitting name.)

(Scene pans to the front of the building, showing the symbol atop the building)

?: (There are two things you need to attend this school…)

?: (One, you have to already be attending high school. Two, you have to be the very best at what you do.)

?: (No ordinary student could enroll here. The only way in is if you're scouted by the school itself.)

?: (And standing there at the gate of the ultimate school filled with the ultimate students…)

(Camera pans down where a young brown-haired boy with a green hoodie and black jeans stands in front of the gate to the school)

?: (...was me.)

Makoto Naegi: (Before we go any farther, I guess I should introduce myself. My name's Makoto Naegi.)

Makoto: (As you can see, I'm nothing but a hopelessly average high school student.)

Makoto: (Average on the outside, average on the inside.)

Makoto: (I really don't have much going for me when it comes to grades, special abilities, even personality.)

Makoto: (I mean yeah, I have hobbies and stuff I like to do, but it's not like I'm a psychic or mutant or whatever.)

Makoto: (Like, if you asked me what my favorite song was, or my favorite movie or TV show…)

Makoto: (They'd all just be whatever's most popular at that particular moment.)

Makoto: (Even among the average, I'm completely average. So I can't even say I'm your "everyday hero" type.)

Makoto: (That's just who I am.)

Makoto: (Anyway, I figure it's always good to introduce yourself right off the bat.)

Makoto: (But you know, if I have any kind of "strong point," so to speak…)

Makoto: (I'd say I'm a little more gung-ho than other people…)

Makoto: (I mean look at me. I'm completely ordinary, but still…)

Makoto: (Here I am, standing in front of the anything but ordinary Hope's Peak Academy.)

Makoto: I still can't believe I'm standing here. I wonder if someone like me can survive in a place like this…

Makoto: (It's got this overwhelming presence... like it's trying to swallow me whole.)

Makoto: (But it's no wonder I would feel that way. What you have to understand is…)

Makoto: (Well, let me just tell you about the "preparation" I did last night to get ready for today.)

Makoto: (Hope's Peak only invites those students who are the truly elite in their field.)

Makoto: (It's such a popular topic, there are threads online dedicated to talking about the school's attendees.)

Makoto: (So to prepare, I looked up some of those threads.)

Makoto: (And all I saw was talk about "ultimate" students, who were way beyond your average high schooler.)

Makoto: (For example, one incoming student is the "Ultimate Pop Sensation.")

Makoto: (I guess she's a high school girl who's also the lead singer for a pop group famous all over the country.)

Makoto: (There's also the "Ultimate Baseball Star.")

Makoto: (He was the cleanup hitter for the national high school champs. Pro teams already have their eyes on him.)

Makoto: (Then there's the "Ultimate Fashionista.")

Makoto: (She's been on the cover of tons of fashion magazines. She's what every high school girl wants to be.)

Makoto: (Oh, and they mentioned the "Ultimate Biker Gang Leader" too.)

Makoto: (The scary thing is, he's the de facto leader of every biker gang in Japan. Gangs everywhere love the guy…)

Makoto: (On top of that, there's the Ultimate Martial Artist, the Ultimate Fanfic Creator, the Ultimate Gambler…)

Makoto: (The Ultimate Swimming Pro, the Ultimate Programmer, the Ultimate Clairvoyant, and then some…)

Makoto: (Reading that made me realize how totally powerless I was. It was the country's finest, top to bottom.)

Makoto: (I felt like a tame little house cat who'd wandered into a pride of lions.)

Makoto: (But still, there was something I couldn't stop thinking about.)

Makoto: (You see, there were a few students who I couldn't find any info on, no matter how much I looked.)

Makoto: (With all those "ultimate" students, I'm the only one without any kind of worthwhile talent.)

Makoto: (But then, what about those other new students who didn't seem to pop up anywhere?)

Makoto: Could they be just average students like me, without any talent or anything?

Makoto: (That thought was kind of encouraging. I mean, I know I don't have much in the way of personality.)

Makoto: (But beyond that, there's an even bigger issue…)

Makoto: (How did such an unbelievably average student like me get picked to come to this "ultimate" high school?)

Makoto: (I mean, I guess there *is* a reason…)

Makoto: (You just have to take one glance at the acceptance letter they sent me to see why.)

Makoto: ("We recently held a lottery to select one ordinary student to attend our school.")

Makoto: ("As a result, you have been selected, and we invite you to join us as the "Ultimate Lucky Student.")

Makoto: (They spelled it out plain as day-I got invited by pure luck.)

Makoto: (Honesty, I probably would have been better off just declining their offer.)

Makoto: (But after hearing how graduating was a "guarantee for success" later in life, I just couldn't say no.)

Makoto: (But then, actually standing there in front of the school…)

Makoto: (I started to feel lost, like I didn't belong there. I could feel myself losing my nerve.)

Makoto: But still… I can't just stand here in front of the gate forever…

Makoto: (Frozen in place, murmuring to myself, I looked down at the acceptance letter clutched in my hand.)

Makoto: (It said there'd be a meeting for all incoming students in the main hall at 8 a.m.)

Makoto: (The meeting still isn't for a little while, but…)

Makoto: I should probably just head in.

Makoto: Yeah… Yeah, let's do this!

Makoto: (I gathered up all my determination and tried to act like I'd done this a million times before.)

Makoto: (And I took my first step towards the main hall...)

(Makoto goes through the gates and enters the academy, arriving at the main hall)

Makoto: This is where we're supposed to meet, right? I guess I'm the first one here.

(He turns his attention to the nearby clock)

Makoto: (There's a really elegant clock over in the corner. It says it's 7:10 a.m.)

Makoto: (The meeting doesn't start until 8 o'clock. So there's still a full 50 minutes left.)

Makoto: (It makes sense nobody else would be here yet…)

Makoto: I was so wound up, I got here way too early.

Makoto: (I have plenty of time before the meeting. Just standing around waiting isn't exactly…)

Makoto: (I should take a look around the school. Maybe that'll help me calm down a little.)

Makoto: I *am* a student here now, so there shouldn't be any problem with me having a look around, right?

Makoto: (It'll help me kill some time, if nothing else.)

Makoto: (Trying to play it cool, I took my first step into Hope's Peak Academy.)

Makoto: (It was also my first step toward starting a new life at a new school.)

Makoto: (...At least, that's what I was hoping for.)

(Makoto suddenly holds his head like he's in pain, and his imagery starts to get distorted)

Makoto: What the-!?

Makoto: (But the instant I took that first step forward…)

Makoto: (My view became warped, twisted.)

Makoto: (It was like some kind of delusion, melting away and mixing together into something else.)

Makoto: Spinning, mixing, melting away, then spinning again…

Makoto: (And the next moment…)

(Makoto then passes out on the floor)

Makoto: (Everything went black.)

Makoto: (That was how it all began…)

Makoto: (And how life as I knew it came to an end.)

Makoto: (At that point, I should have realized…)

Makoto: (The reason I was brought to Hope's Peak Academy wasn't because I had ultimate good luck.)

Makoto: (It was so I could experience ultimate despair… and true darkness…)

(What seemed like a long time later... )

Makoto: …...Nng?

(...Makoto awakens, but finds he's in nothing but darkness, nothing visible in the distance)

Makoto: Huh? W-What is this place?

(He then looks down, only to find he's standing on a circular platform with a mural of what looks to be a beautiful young girl with a blue and yellow dress holding an apple, with various smaller frames of strange looking men and animals surrounding her)

Makoto: Hey! Is there anyone there?

(His voice echoed, showing it was only him. Then suddenly…)

"So much to do, so little time…"

Makoto: !

(A strange voice spoke, seemingly from nowhere, but heard from everywhere)

"Take your time. Don't be afraid."

Makoto: Hey, where am I? What happened to the academy?

"The door is still shut."

Makoto: Door? You mean…

"Now, step forward. Can you do it?"

(A light suddenly appeared on the other side of the platform)

Makoto: ….I guess I better follow it?

(He walks towards the center of the light, then all of a sudden, pedestals start arising from the ground. One containing a shield…)

"Power sleeps within you."

(...One with a sword…)

"If you give it form…"

(...And one with a staff)

"It will give you strength. Choose well."

Makoto: (What's going on, either I'm dreaming or…)

(Makoto pinches his arm to make sure, but all he felt was a sharp pain)

Makoto: Wait, this… is real?

Makoto: Well, I guess I'm supposed to pick one of these…

(He thinks carefully, but ultimately settles on the staff, walking towards the pedestal that held it and grabbing it)

"The power of the mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin."

"Is this the power you seek?"

(Makoto thought long and hard, but eventually made his choice)

Makoto: Yes, it is…

(The staff suddenly disappears in his arms)

"Your path is set. Now, what will you give up in exchange?"

Makoto: Give up?

(Looking at the remaining options, Makoto chooses to give up the sword as he didn't feel he was much of an aggressor. He runs over to the pedestal and grabs the sword)

"The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction."

"You give up this power?"

Makoto: Yes.

(And like the staff before, the sword disappears)

"You've chosen the power of the mystic. You've given up the power of the warrior. Is this the form you choose?"

Makoto: Y-Yes.

(After answering, the pedestals start sinking to the ground, forcing Makoto to jump off the one he stood upon. To his shock, he suddenly sees the platform breaking from both sides, quickly closing in on him)

Makoto: W-What? What's going on?

(The floor beneath him breaks, and Makoto is sent falling into the darkness below as he screams for help.)

Makoto: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

(The lucky student looks beneath him as he falls head first below, but spots another glass platform beneath him. This one of a blonde-haired beauty in a bright ball gown with various smaller pictures depicting high-heeled shoes, dancing and others around her. Just as he closes in, he flips to land on his feet and lands slowly and gracefully)

Makoto: What was that all about?

(Suddenly, a light appears and something starts forming in his hand. When the light flashes, Makoto finds a large key in his right hand.)

Makoto: A-A key? What's this thing for?

"You've gained the power to fight. Use this power to protect yourself and others."

Makoto: "Others?" Wait, you mean the other students of Hope's Peak?

(Worried about the potential newfound responsibility, he suddenly spots shadows flat on the ground, independent of anything… which then pop out of the ground.)

Makoto: Ah! W-What the-

"There will be times you have to fight. Keep your light burning strong."

(The shadows appeared even smaller than him, with claws, antennae and soulless yellow eyes that could pierce his soul.)

Makoto: My… light.

(One of the shadow creatures jumped towards him, but suddenly a determined look appeared on his face and he used the large key to destroy the shadow with multiple swings)

Makoto: Huh? What just happened? Was that…

(The shadows then flattened and disappeared)

Makoto: Wow, I- I didn't think I could… do that.

(Surprised at his sudden skill, another shadow appeared and while still flat, creeped along the ground before rising out behind Makoto. As it jumped out…)

"Behind you!"

(The voice called out to Makoto, and he dispatched the creature)

Makoto: Phew, that was close. But, that can't be all of them can it?

(As if right on cue, more shadow creatures popped out of the floor, ready to attack)

Makoto: *gasp*!

(Although surprised at their sudden appearance, Makoto quickly composed himself and began attacking them, and despite them getting a few successful swipes at the student, he managed to defeat all but one. However, the last one disappeared in a pool of darkness, suddenly more appeared all over the platform closing in on Makoto)

Makoto: Whoa! What the-

(Before he knew it, darkness appeared at his feet and he began sinking in. Despite his struggles, it eventually swallowed him. Not long after he appeared on another platform, suddenly waking from his hazy encounter with darkness…)

Makoto: Okay, this is starting to get weird…

(This time, he appeared on a pink platform with three large hearts. In front of him laid a door...)

Makoto: Is that… a door?

(He walks towards it, and as he approaches, the door opens, catching him in a blinding light. Mesmerized, Makoto walks towards it, and as the light dissipates he finds himself… back at the main hall?)

Makoto: Wait… the main hall? Am I back?

(He finds three other people there, a suited blonde haired man with glasses, a girl with long blue hair and a school uniform, and a lavender haired girl with a purple jacket and gloves)

"Please, tell me about yourself."

(Knowing the voice was still there, Makoto assumed he was still in this weird sequence going on)

Makoto: Well… okay.

(He first walks up to the suited man)

Makoto: Hello, I-I'm Makoto Naegi. And you are?

(The man then looks at Makoto, but simply says)

?: What are you so afraid of?

Makoto: Me? Well, right now I guess I'd say… being so different from everyone else here.

?: Being different? Is that really so scary?

(The man closes his eyes in thought. Confused at his reply, Makoto then walks toward the blue haired girl. He felt he recognized her, but before he could speak she asked...)

?: What do you want out of life?

Makoto: If anything, I just want to… hmm. I guess I want to get out there and broaden my horizons, see what things are like all over the place.

?: To broaden your horizons, huh?

(The girl giggles, causing Makoto to blush. He decided to ask about her when or if he returned to his normal reality, and approached the lavender haired girl)

Makoto: Hello, is there something you wanted to ask me?

(The girl looks hesitant, but eventually looks Makoto's way and asks…)

?: What's most important to you?

Makoto: I… don't really have much. But if I could pick one thing… I'd say friendship, memories like that aren't easy to disappear.

?: Is friendship such a big deal?

Makoto: It's… all I can hope for.

(The girl lightly smiles, then the three people suddenly disappear. Reasonably shocked, a bright light suddenly envelops the entire area. Makoto then reappears on another platform, one of a purple dressed woman with long blonde hair, sleeping...)

Makoto: Hmm, that gave me a lot to think about…

(Suddenly, a light appears before him and goes off the platform, revealing a long pathway of stained glass going up towards another platform. Makoto follows the path and eventually ends up on another platform of a brown haired woman in a golden yellow dress. As he approaches the center… the voice speaks again)

"The closer you get to light, the greater your shadow becomes."

Makoto: My… shadow?

(Makoto looks behind him and spots his shadow, elongated over the platform. And suddenly it pops out of the ground, getting even bigger, it's form changing. Scared, Makoto walks backwards, visibly frightened…)

"But don't be afraid. And don't forget…"

(Having had enough, Makoto tries to run, but quickly runs out of platform. He looks back to find what was once his shadow, now a gigantic monster which towered over the student. Its head was covered by long locks of what appeared to be hair, small wings appeared on its back, and a gaping hole shaped like a heart over its chest as its glowing yellow eyes stared into Makoto...)

Makoto: (What's going on, I can't fight that thing! If I do I-)

(Suddenly, an image flashed through his mind…)

Makoto: Huh?

(It flashed through again, seeing the creature again at the academy with the smaller shadows from before… and the place demolished, with everyone laying there seemingly dead. Seeing that image, Makoto swallowed his fear and looked to the towering monster, with hope he could vanquish it.)

Makoto: I can't just walk away from this, because if I don't…

Makoto: ….Then WHO WILL!?

(Key in hand, Makoto charged towards the large shadow. Hitting its legs did nothing, but found he could damage its hands easily. As the beast knelt down, Makoto tried swiping at its head, and it appeared to do plenty of damage. All the while, the smaller shadow creatures appeared and began attacking, Makoto temporarily leaving the big guy alone to deal with the smaller beasts before returning to his primary objective.)

Makoto: I can't give up, I can't let it hurt my friends! Wait, my… friends?

(Confused, the beast began stumbling from all the damage Makoto gave it. However, his hope was short lived as the key suddenly disappeared from his grasp)

Makoto: Huh? NO!

(Now defenseless and fearing for his life, the beast swung down at Makoto again, fortunately he dodged it in time. The dodge caused him to land on his butt as he crawls back in fear of the large shadow)

"-But don't be afraid"

(Beneath his body, a pool of darkness begins forming around him. And suddenly grabs a hold of his leg)

Makoto: No, not now! Please!

"You hold the mightiest weapon of all."

(He struggles to escape and darkness and the shadow behind him, but all is in vain as it continues enveloping his entire body. As he struggles, more images flash through his head, ones he doesn't seem to recognize…)

Makoto: Wait… my… class?

(As the images of Hope's Peak and his fellow students flash through his head, memories he can't seem to recall, the darkness continues to grasp at him and the looming shadow behind him prepares to strike.)

"So don't forget: "

(With no way of defending himself and no way of escape, Makoto simply turned to the monster, afraid and hopeless. Darkness and despair clawing at his soul as if to drag him away. And as it takes him and his vision becomes dark, he hears the voice one final time…)

"You are the one who will open the door."

(And with that, Makoto Naegi is swallowed by darkness once again…)

Well I hope that was a good start to this, next up we meet everyone else... and Makoto shares his story with them.