Chapter 10: Invasion
"Location: Ink World, the Nintendo Realm of the Dream World, November 27th 2110"
Moira, Luna, Agent 3, Agent 5, and Agent 6 reentered Inkopolis Tower to make sure the Inklings inside were safe, while Callie and Marie stayed outside in order to make a broadcast. When they got inside, they entered the area where the second Turf War stage, which was Kelp Dome, was. All on the floor were injured and weak Inklings.
"Did the Octarians get in here already?" Luna asked.
"I don't know, but if they were splatted, then should have gone back to spawn." Agent 3 replied.
He and the others suddenly heard the beeping of a stray Ink Mine, it's explosion, and a cry of pain. The group turned around and looked behind them. There, lying in ink not of their color, was a heavily dressed Inkling, except she wasn't heavily dressed anymore. Her headgear and jacket had fallen off and gotten ripped from the explosion. Under that was a crying Octoling, clutching her stomach. Her tentacles and Octoling gear were clearly visible.
"Does that confirm your question, Luna?" Moira asked.
She, the other four, and all of the Inklings were immediately teleported out of the stage and back into the lobby.
"Location: Olympus, The World Of Disney, November 27th 2110"
George had just won the ninth round of the Destiny Cup.
"Alright. Not bad, kid. One round to go." Phil said.
"Cool. Chalk up another one for George the Great." George said.
"The great-in-trainin'. Remember, there's always a higher power. Don't think that you're the strongest. Overconfidence can lead to a very early grave." Phil said.
"Right." George said.
"You're next match is a doozy. Some kid came in here right before the last match started and wanted to battle you. This here's what you call a 'personal challenge'. In this type of bout, you can only fight alone. If you lose, you won't lose you're place in the Cup. It's just a test of strength." Phil explained.
"Okay." George said.
"Speakin' of the kid, here she is now." Phil said, pointing to the arena's edge.
Xylnn, who now had yellow eyes, jumped down into the arena's main area. Phil stepped out of the way and looked on at the two.
"So, you're the guy going around destroying worlds. Name's Xylnn." Xylnn said.
The girl summoned a giant boomerang and rested it above her shoulder.
"I'm going to be the one to lay the world in darkness. Let's see if I'm worthy or not." Xylnn said.
"Are you a Nobody?" George asked.
"Yep. Some brown haired girl lost her heart to some other enemy when their town fell to darkness. I was created when she died." Xylnn replied.
"Brown haired girl?" George asked.
He then realized that Xylnn looked exactly like Lynn, as he knew the Lynn from his time, and his eyes widened.
"Wait... Lynn, is that you?" George asked.
"Enough chitter-chatter. I'll tell you more if you beat me." Xylnn replied.
"Fine, but I shall be the one to destroy the light." George said.
He summoned his Dark Keyblade and lunged at Xylnn. The girl sidestepped out of the way and threw her Boomerang at the boy. George caught the weapon and threw it to the side. Xylnn stretched her arm out and summoned the weapon in her hand once more, before rushing at George, full-throttle. The two ended up clashing weapons, before George jumped back and started launching dark projectiles. Xylnn, using her boomerang, slashed and destroyed the projectiles while they flew at high speeds.
"You're not bad. This may actually be fun." George said.
He and Xylnn leaped around the Arena, exchanging various blows of their weapons, before he broke the senseless cycle.
"Calamity Drive!" George shouted.
He lunged at Xylnn at various angles, leaving afterimages in his wake. The girl blocks most of them, but one blow connected with her abdomen, making her cry out. George then jumped back and pointed his Keyblade at Xylnn.
"We've just warmed up. Dying on me already?" George asked.
"Nope. I'm in pure ecstasy." Xylnn replied.
George gave her a quzzical look.
"I love the pain. Hurt me more!" Xylnn shouted.
She lunged at George with newfound power. Meanwhile, Tommy, Chuckie, and Nihil watched on from the stands as the two fought.
"They're really into this, huh, Chuck?" Tommy asked.
"Yep. I sure hope George is going to be okay." Chuckie replied.
"He will be. There can only be one person to reclaim the darkness." Nihil said.
Tommy and Chuckie turned around and looked at Nihil.
"What do you mean?" Chuckie asked.
"George has been chosen." Nihil replied.
"For what?" Tommy replied.
Before Nihil could reply, Tommy and Chuckie's attention was directed back to the battle. Xylnn was on the defensive, while George, who was emitting a pitch-black aura, was ravaging the girl with merciless attacks, each barely being dodged by the latter.
"You're very good! More! I want more pain! More power!" Xylnn shouted, dodging the white haired boy's attacks.
"Why will you not die?" George asked, Xylnn's efficiency only making him angrier.
"I don't want to! I want to be the one to cover the lands in darkness! I want that infinite power!" Xylnn replied.
George jumped back and started casting magic.
"Diamond Dust!" George shouted.
Xylnn dodged many large sharp icicles that fell from the sky. While she guarded against the ice, George took the opening given and moved in to attack Xylnn's back.
"Ars Arcanum!" George shouted.
He released a flurry of slashes upon Xylnn, as a combination of his techniques and the icicles from the Diamond Dust assault. Eventually, the fighting stopped as Xylnn was brought to her knees.
"That... was awesome." Xylnn said.
"I hope you liked the spectacle. Because this is where you fade back to the darkness." George said, bringing his Keyblade inches from the girl's head.
"Do I have to? I wanted to be able to experience every emotion there is. Anger, sadness, pain, happiness. That's what I wanted. Must I be stopped from achieving that as well?" Xylnn asked.
George stopped, silently pondering the girl's words.
"You are a Nobody. You can't feel." George said.
"I want to learn how. Let me join you." Xylnn said.
"Why? What have you to offer?" George asked.
"My powers, my company, and what little Nobodies that I may be able to command." Xylnn replied.
George un-summoned his Dark Keyblade and extended a hand to Xylnn.
"Very well. Take my hand, and I'll show you every feeling there is. Then, when all of the worlds have been consumed by the darkness, we can battle one more time. If you win, you can revel in all of the infinite power that the darkness holds." George said.
Xynn took George's hand and was helped up by him. Tommy and Chuckie looked at each other, shocked.
"George! You're really a part of Avina's forces now? What about us and the rest of the gang?" Tommy asked.
"I've no need for such petty attachments. I only care about myself and keeping Abigail safe." George replied.
"George..." Chuckie started to say sadly.
"Why don't you two come with me? We can conquer all of space and time together. Help me and join Avina, and we can make things the way we want them to be." George asked.
"George, we can hear what you're saying, but we can't follow you. You've changed." Chuckie replied.
"Why would we join you?" Tommy asked.
"Well then, I'll kill you both. I'll add you to my army of Heartless and ravage the worlds." George replied. He then ordered "Nihil, Xylnn, to my side!".
Nihil and the recovering Xylnn flocked to George side, Nihil on the left and Xylnn on the right.
"We are the three Swords of the Darkness! We shall pierce through the never-ending light and extinguish the universe!" George exclaimed.
"Then we'll stop you." Tommy said.
"For what we had, and what we shared, and even if you are my own nephew, we will stop you from destroying that!" Chuckie said.
"I'll let you guys think it over. Nihil, summon Monstro." George ordered.
"Doesn't Avina want you to destroy this place?" Xylnn asked.
"Eventually. We'll leave the rabble to congregate. We will return to kill Hercules. Until then, my former friends!" George replied.
Nihil summoned Monstro. The whale entered the arena with a blood-curdling howl. Phil and Hercules entered the Arena, watching in shock as George and his evil cohorts left the world.
"Tommy, Chuckie, what's going on here?" Hercules asked.
"George has turned dark!" Tommy replied.
"Are you sure that was a good idea, George? To leave such a world standing?" Nihil asked.
"It's temporary, don't you see? He's waiting until his friends leave that world, and then he'll swoop down and strike." Xylnn replied, answering for George.
"This war with the Light will soon come to an end." George said.
"Location: Ink World, the Nintendo Realm of the Dream World, November 27th 2110"
The lobby was crowded. There was only one path from the kettle spawners all the way to the elevators on each floor. All the injured Inklings were laying on the floor, while many uninjured ones tended to them.
The Jumbo Tron screen turned on, catching the attention of all of the Inklings. It showed the plaza through the glass doors of the Squid Sisters office. Callie popped up on the screen. Her black hair was down from it's usual style and she held a gun in her hand.
"Everyone, calm down! For the time being, shoot all of your ink on the floor and tell the injured to swim around in it! It will help! We've called all the available ambulances for aids!" Callie shouted at the camera quickly, her face serious as ever.
"CALLIE, MOVE!" Marie shouted.
The camera shook and was blown off the pedestal. It laid on the floor, a splat of ink surrounding it. The view shook as Callie picked it up.
"What the he..." Callie started to ask.
She focused the camera to the broken glass window. Groups of Octarians surged into the plaza, some exiting out to go to the city. There were thousands of them.
"No." Callie whispered.
"Callie, get ready! This is happening right now!" Marie yelled offscreen.
Callie looked at the camera.
"DON'T EXIT THE LOBBY! I REPEAT, DO NOT EXIT THE LOBBY! WAIT FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM ONE OF THE AGENTS OR MOIRA! ANY UNINJURED CHARGERS, TAKE THE ELEVATOR UP THE TOWER! ANY DEFENSIVE WEAPONS, SUBS, OR SPECIALS UNINJURED, GO TO THE ENTRANCE! AWAIT INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE AGENTS OR MOIRA! AS FOR YOU GUYS AND LUNA, GET YOUR PHONES OUT. I'LL TELL YOU HOW TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF YOUR INK." Callie ordered.
As that happened, many of the Inklings started to panic. Agent 3 raised his voice.
"STOP!" Agent 3 shouted.
Everyone silenced.
"Snipers, set up. Bubblers and Splash Walls, ready up and defend the lobby." Agent 3 ordered.
Many chargers began heading towards the elevators, while many Bubblers and Splash Wallers went to position at the entrance. Agent 3 looked at the crowd that remained.
"Stay here and help heal. If any Octarians come in, shoot them. Now, any A through S ranks, or levels 30 to 50, come here!" Agent 3 ordered.
Out from the crowd came many Inklings that seemed ready to battle.
"Everyone will be silver inked to prevent friendly-firing." Agent 3 explained. He swiftly dialed Callie's phone number and asked "How do you change color?".
"Just run across a kettle. I've programmed them to default to silver." Callie replied, the sound of a metal door panel shutting behind her.
"Thanks. Everyone, make a single file line and walk over the closest kettle and ready at the entrance." Agent 3 ordered, keeping the phone at his ear.
All the Inklings that had been called forth began walking over each of the kettles, which changed their color to silver.
"Callie, tell me when it's ready to come out." Agent 3 said.
"Fifteen seconds." Callie said as she got her gear and weapons ready.
Agent 3 and his group had their backs against the wall, behind the defenders. They held their own weapons. Agent 3 had his Hero Shot, Agent 5 had his E-liter 3K, Agent 6 had a .52 Gal Deco, Moira had her Hero-Scope, and Luna had her Carbon Roller.
"Ten seconds." Callie said.
Agent 3 looked over all the fighters and healers in the lobby calmly before settling his composure. He nodded at Agent 5, Agent 6, Moira, and Luna. Each gave a nod back in return.
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
"GO, GO, GO!" Callie shouted through the phone.
At that, an Inkling kicked the automatic sliding doors down, and the Bubblers and the Splash Wallers surged forward without hesitation. In front of them were about more than two hundred Octarians pointing their guns at the entrance. Immediately, ten turned into an Octarian version of the Kraken, fifteen took out Inkzookas, twenty activated bomb rushes, and chargers sniped the Inklings' Splash Walls away.
"No way!" Agent 6 exclaimed.
Moira's eyes scanned for an Inkling in the crowd of Inklings, and she spotted a younger boy holding a Splattershot Jr.
"Hey, you!" Moira shouted quickly.
The boy turned his head towards her nervously as the Krakens and volleys of bombs came closer.
"Run to the front and Bubble, now!" Moira shouted.
The boy immediately activated it and ran to the front of the Inklings right before the Krakens hit and the bombs exploded. He stood at the front with a jubilant smile on his face as he shared his Bubble with the army.
"CHARGE!" Agent 3 yelled from his bubble.
The Inklings surged into the battlefront, shooting any person vulnerable, such as chargers, Inkzookas, bomb rushers, and worn-off Krakens. The group then split off, covering more area, with silver snipes coming from Inkopolis Tower. Then came a row of Luna, Range, and Rapid Blasters.
"We need another Bubble and some Splash Walls!" Agent 3 shouted.
The whole group immediately shared one Bubble and shot the Blasters. Because the Inklings split up, most of the two hundred Octarians either were injured and laid in pain on the ground or retreated out of the plaza. Agent 3 stood there, silently watching as the others cleared out the area. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a Splat Roller Octoling jumped out of Octarian ink and swung at him.
"Agent 3!" Luna shouted.
As fast as lightning, the Octoling was suddenly splatted in the air. The Agents, Moira, and Luna turned around and saw Skarlet standing outside of Ammo Knights, having shot the Octoling with her N-ZAP '85. Filing out of the weapons store were Jelonzo, holding a Blaster, Crusty Sean, a Dynamo in his hand, and Annie, a Splatterscope in her hands. Behind them was Sheldon, handing out equipment.
"Location: TheDisneyFan365's Realm, November 27th 2110"
Iniabi's eyes flew open, and the world was incredibly bright. He closed his eyes again, his head searing in pain, and then opened them more slowly, blinking quickly as his eyes adjusted. He stared at the lights that lined the ceiling and followed it with his eyes across the room to the far wall.
He pushed himself upright as his eyes scanned his surroundings. He appeared to be in some sort of recovery room. There was a machine beside him that seemed to monitor him. He followed the wires that came out of the machines and were stuck to his skin all along his body. But, why was he there?
His eyes moved to the door. There were muffled voices coming from outside the room, and he strained to hear them, but he could not make out their words. After a moment, there was a pause and the door opened. Cynthia poked her head in, before making her way to his side. Iniabi watched her curiously.
"You're finally awake. I was so afraid that we were going to lose you. How do you feel?" Cynthia asked.
Iniabi hesitated and looked around. He felt confused.
"Do I know you?" Iniabi asked.
Cynthia's eyes widened, and she hesitated before stepping into the room. She let a light shine in his eyes and he moved away with irritation.
"Do you know your name? Do you know who I am?" Cynthia asked as she checked him over.
Iniabi hesitated. He didn't know his name or who he was, and he certainly didn't know who she was.
"No, I'm sorry." Iniabi replied.
Cynthia began to cry.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Cynthia cried out.
Iniabi hesitated, before hugging her.
"It's okay, Cynthia. It's okay." Iniabi said.
He didn't know why he said the first name that came to mind. He didn't ask either.
The whole room was in shock from Cynthia's story. They knew Robin and Morgan had gotten amnesia before, but they never had thought that Iniabi himself would have gotten it as well. Jack Skellington was the first to recover.
"Oh, I'm sure everything will work out. While most of us haven't really known Iniabi that long, we do know that he's a tough fellow. If we just give him some time to get his strength back, I'm sure that he'll be right as rain in no time. Then, when that happens and Sugar Rush is reunited, we can really give that witch a scare!" Jack said.
"I hope you're right, Jack. If not, then all the worlds are in big trouble." Celrock Universe Triton said.
TheDisneyFan365, who had so far been silent, decided to voice his thoughts.
"This is indeed a grave matter. If Iniabi has truly lost his memories, then this may give Avina a big opportunity to strike further. And it may take too long for Iniabi to regain his memories. Or he may never even regain them at all." TheDisneyFan365 said.
Some of those in the group reflected on their own worlds.
Celrock Universe Triton's thoughts were focused on Celrock Universe Ariel, and he hoped that she was keeping the palace safe with the help of her sisters. Before leaving, he had placed a protective barrier to keep out anyone with ill intent, but it was up to the light from his children's hearts to keep it strong. He had confidence in his youngest, as she was quite spirited and didn't give in easily.
Jack wondered about Sally and all of the other residents of his beloved town. The Mayor panicked easily after just worrying about normal Halloween preparations, but Jack had no idea how he or the others in the town would handle an army of Avina's followers charging through. Thankfully, Dr. Finkelstein had built some defenses for the town that would at the very least slow the enemy down, and Santa had agreed to offer the town's people a place to flee to if they needed to evacuate.
Mulan worried about her home and family, but Shang assured her that they would be fine. The Emperor's palace was well guarded and her family had been sent there to keep them safe.
Celrock Universe Aladdin wasn't that worried. He had told Celrock Universe Genie to stay behind and keep his Agrabah safe, and despite the big blue guy's tears that threatened to fill the room, he finally agreed and promised that nothing would happen as long as he was around.
Celrock Universe Phil wasn't worried either. He knew his star pupil was more than enough the take on anything that dared set foot in his world.
Adam wondered how Belle was holding up. Before he left, he had given all of the silver guard statues to keep everyone safe until he returned. She told him they could handle themselves and had hoped that he would trust her. He did trust her, but he was also worried for her safety. In the end, he agreed as long as she didn't do anything dangerous.
Scrooge was a bit concerned for his nephews, but they were strong lads, and he was confident that they and the others in Toontown could handle themselves.
"We must plan our next actions carefully. Avina has no doubt began putting new plans in motion, and I strongly recommend that we all take care while we figure out what we'll do next." TheDisneyFan365 said.
Severa thought over Cynthia's story one last time, before standing up and leaving the room.