Chapter V: Confrontation
Knowing exactly where their target was, Ushio and Perry rushed up the building. The job was simple enough: destroy the Heartless-inator and then the remaining Heartless.
As they ran, Ushio thought about the woman they'd encountered. She'd been wearing the same outfit as that man who'd been on her home world when it was attacked. With all the bad vibes she got, the brunette was certain she was a future threat. She made a mental note to mention her when she did a check in with her parents.
Finally reaching the top, the pair rushed into the room that housed the machine. However, someone was awaiting their arrival.
"Hello Perry the Platypus. Doctor D. told me you'd be arriving here with a friend." said a giant, robot man.
"And just who are you?" Ushio asked.
"Hi there, teenaged girl, my name is Norm." he replied. "Unfortunately, my instructions were clear. I must keep the Heartless-inator safe. Fortunately for me, I have upgraded all my weaponry to assist in this effort."
The pair watched as Norm began to slightly transform. His right hand turned into a canon as his left became a laser zapper. In addition, two laser arrays came out of his back.
"Umm, this is a first." Ushio said wide eyed. "Please tell me you have experience with this." She looked to the side, getting a nod from Perry. "That's good. Guess you should take the lead this time."
Taking her suggestion, Perry leap towards Norm. He charged his laser before firing it towards the platypus. The greenish mammal was quick to dodge the blast. Once more, he continued to dodge as he tried to strike back.
Ushio took her chance to begin her own assault. With Perry taking the lead, she formulated a plan. Norm was distracted trying to defeat the secret agent, so she could sneak behind and perform a pincer attack. Running further away, she started to come up to him from the back. As she got close, Ushio was knocked onto her behind as lasers shot at her.
"That was a nice try, but I cannot allow you to defeat me." Norm stated. "My sensors can easily pick you up."
"Great, there goes that idea." Ushio muttered.
Looking across the room, she could see Perry was experiencing just as much trouble as she was. Avoiding a canon blast, Perry slid next to Ushio.
"Seems like he's fully prepared." she said. "Are there really any weakness you know of?" Getting another nod and noise from Perry, he point towards Norm's chest. "Well, that doesn't really help. Okay, think Ushio. If you can't get close to him, how do you hit him?"
Thinking to herself, she recalled a technique her father had showed her. Deciding to take a gamble on if she could do it, she aimed her Keyblade at the laser arrays.
"It's now or never." she said, taking a breath. Focusing her energy on the end of her weapon, she recalled the word. "Blizzard!"
From the end of her Keyblade, a blast of ice shot forth. Upon hitting the laser array, it immediately froze it solid.
"Yes, it worked!" Ushio called out. "How about another one…Blizzard!"
Once more hitting its target, Norm's second laser array froze. With the two rotational weapons disabled, Ushio and Perry knew they could get closer. Dodging the laser and canon, the pair rushed the robot. Hitting him twice, Ushio threw Norm off his balance. As he fell backwards, Perry pulled open his chest to reveal a squirrel running on a wheel.
"Ah, that's what he meant." realized the girl.
Norm started to get to his feet once more as Ushio ran at him from the side. Throwing her arms forward, she rolled forth as she reached him. Giggling, she pulled her arms away from her chest to reveal she'd taken the squirrel from his power source. With no power being supplied, Norm fell backwards, powerless.
"Run along now." Ushio said as she let the animal go.
Now that the threat was gone, the pair walked over to the machine.
"Right, now how do we destroy this?"
Looking over at Perry, she noted what he was pointing at. Situated on the control board was a big, red, labeled button.
"A…self destruct button. Wow, that's kinda lame." Ushio sideeyed. Taking her Keyblade to give her some distance, she pushed the button as the machine exploded. "Okay, that's that. C'mon Perry, let's take care of the rest of the problem."
—
Walking down the streets of the city once more, Ushio started hearing a loud sound. Looking forward, she noticed a figure coming around a corner, screaming all the way. As it came closer, she was able to make out that the figure was the evil scientist from before. Summoning her Keyblade, she assumed a fighting stance only to have him run passed her before stopping.
"What the…"
Turning towards him hiding behind a nearby car, she walked over with Perry.
"So, are you ready to admit defeat?"
"Absolutely, just save me." Doofenshmirtz called out. "It just started trying to attack me out of nowhere."
"Wait, now you're asking for our help?"
"Yes, yes I am. Now just save me from it." he pointed behind her.
Now hearing another loud sound, she turned to spot a large swarm of Heartless approaching. Ushio recalled the foe, the same Demon Tide from before.
"Looks like this is our final challenge. Are you ready, Perry?" Ushio asked.
Getting an affirming reply, Ushio stared down the enemy.
The large swarm of Shadows flowed forth as it began its assault. Ushio started on the defensive, blocking its initial push. Once she got an opening, she rolled out of the way before striking it in quick succession. While the attacks damaged it and destroyed a couple shadows, the horde was big enough that it didn't slow it down.
As she ran around it to avoid its attacks, Ushio could see an orange light within. Using that as her target, she swung forward with force. Once again, Shadow after Shadow disappeared as the Demon Tide took the brunt of her blade swings. It seemed to settle into a routine as Ushio would dodge until she got an opening to hit it back.
The monotony of the fight was broken as the Demon Tide seemed to have enough of her. Diving into the ground, it rose back up into a funnel pattern. Taking the form of a tornado, she was forced back at the unexpected development.
However, Ushio could still see the core of the swarm. Taking the initiative, she charged forth as she attacked the glowing, orange center. Despite being buffeted herself, she continued on. Swinging with all her might, her key collided with the center as she cleaved through it. With the core destroyed, the rest of the foe couldn't handle it as it dissipated into a shadowy smoke.
Falling onto her back, covered in scratches, she thumbed under her nose as she uttered a simple chuckle.
—
"Looks like the city's safe now, Perry." Ushio remarked as she caught up with her companion after the battle. "Though it looks like Dr. Doofenshmirtz got away." Receiving a reply from Perry, she looked him in the eyes. "Y'know, I might still not fully understand what you say, but I could tell that time. I know if he is ever up to no good again, you'll be there to stop him."
Ushio stared up at the sky. To think all she'd done was over the course of an afternoon.
"Well, I best be off. It was great to be able to team up with you. If I ever stop by again, hopefully we'll be able to enjoy our time."
Perry smiled as he seemed to return the sentiment. Spotting a duo of kids walking a nearby street, he waved goodbye to his new ally. Before reaching them, he removed his hat and assumed a four legged stance.
"Ah, there you are, Perry. Let's go home." Ushio heard one of the boys say.
Left alone, Ushio knew her time helping and visiting this world was over. Getting into her Gummi Ship, she took off as she chatted out her next course.
—
Floating in the Space Between, Ushio looked out at the horizon as she looked for new worlds. Her Gummi Ship carries her as the vast expanse continued around her. Before long, she spotted something.
The object wasn't a new world like she was looking for. Instead, it appeared to be a massive ship. The exterior seemed completely grey except a huge logo and a name. The logo was a simple red circle sporting the letters B&L while the name Axiom was in black.
Deciding to check this out, she plotted a course for the big vessel.