Chapter XXII: Keep Moving Forward

"I bet you're glad to see me." Wilbur called out as the three continued moving on Carl.

"That's for not locking the garage door." Lewis punched the boy.

"You know about that?" Wilbur asked, rubbing his shoulder.

"I know everything." Lewis responded.

"You gotta admit, this will be a great story to tell me someday." Wilbur said.

"Wait, he's your father?" Ushio added.

"Yeah." Wilbur answered.

"Okay, okay." Ushio said. "I mean, with the whole past thing and people reactions, I thought something like that might be possible, but it's still interesting that it's true."

Everyone continued forward as the Robinson home came into view. Their destination was there at last.

"Look at that, boys and girl. We're almost home free-" Carl got cut off.

A hook flung through his chest as he went offline and fell. The three he was carrying hit the ground as the invention was caught in midair by DOR-15. The hat flew off as the trio were forced to deal with the situation.

"Oh no!" Wilbur cried as he looked at Carl laying on the ground.

"Take a good look around, you three." the Bowler Hat Guy said, pulling up in his time machine. "Your future is about to change."

The time machine flew off and teleported in time, leaving them alone.

"Lewis, you have to fix the time machine." Wilbur stated.

"No. No, I can't!" Lewis responded.

"No, you can do it, Lewis." Ushio tried to assure him.

"I can't." Lewis continued. "Wilbur, what about your dad? You could call him."

"You are my dad." Wilbur pointed out.

"But that's in the future." Lewis reasoned.

"There won't be a future unless you fix the time machine. Look, I messed up. I left the garage unlocked and I've tried like crazy to fix things, but now it's you to you, Lewis. You can do it, Dad." As Wilbur stated those words, he began to fade away. "Lewis? Ushio?"

"Wilbur!?" the two called out as he disappeared.

A strange green glow began swirling in the sky as Lewis and Ushio ran towards the house. Lightning struck as they entered the house in search of others. However, they couldn't find any as their surroundings began to change.

Finding themselves in a dark room with their time machine, a projector started up. The screen showed the changed past as the Bowler Hat Guy was able to pass Lewis's invention as his own. From there, he had the company start mass producing DOR-15s. The scene changed to show the copies begin to take over the cities before turning on him. The screen went black as the original DOR-15 crawled out of the shadows.

"No. No, this can't be happening! No!" Lewis said, backing up.

Ushio stood in front of the boy, getting her Keyblade ready for combat.

"Oh, it's already happened." the voice of Franny called out.

Stepping out of the shadows, the entire Robinson family was being control by DOR-15s. The pair back up, Ushio finding herself unable to fight them. Reaching the time machine, Lewis climbed in as Ushio followed his lead. The cockpit closed as the mind controlled family attempted to get at them. Realizing the predicament, Lewis began to work on the machine.

"I hope you get it this time." Ushio said. "I don't think we can hold out for much longer.

Lewis worked as the family continued trying to get at them. All the banging on the machine was causing it to begin to fall off the platform it was on. Lewis hopped back up and started it just in time as it fell.

"Yeah, way to go!" Ushio cried out.

Finding an opening, Lewis flew the pair out. Taking off into the ruined, industrialized cityscape, the DOR-15 shaped building they were in began to chase after them. They continued their path through the smog covered city, seeing all the people being control and forced to work. Yet, the giant walker building seemed to be slowly gaining on them. A giant red light fell over the two as replica DOR-15s began to swarm them. Spotting a tunnel, Lewis flew them through as the narrow passageway caused the attacking hats to collide with the tunnel's top, destroying them. Reaching the end of the tunnel, the giant building stared them down, having gotten ahead of them. Backing up, a swarm of DOR-15s started to box them in.

"Lewis, I've got this." Ushio said, beginning to get up. "I'll hop out and deal with these while you see about going back and fixing all this."

"But don't you realize how dangerous this is." Lewis pointed out.

"Yeah." Ushio nodded. "But all I have to do is hold them off long enough for you to do your thing. If you're able to change time, all this will go back to normal."

"Okay. Stay safe, Ushio." Lewis said after thinking for a second. Opening the cockpit, she hopped out as Lewis started to take off.

"Hey, you stupid hats, over here!" Ushio called out as the swarm began approaching. "If you want him, you'll have to go through me!"

The hats seemed to take her word as the massive horde started their way over to her. By Ushio's measurements, there had to be well over hundred of them as the number seemed to be growing with each passing second. The hats charged her, their claws at the ready, as she whacked them out of the air. With each swing, they seemed to go down. Ushio took solace in the fact that at least individually they were hard to take down. Numbers seemed to be their greatest asset as they continued to pour in.

Ushio felt a sting on her cheek as a metal claw whizzed by. Despite her continued strikes, the hats still were able to start surrounding her. Deciding to attempt something new to aid her, she prepared her magic.

"Thunder!"

Bolts of lightning came down, striking multiple foes around the girl. Doing it once more, she was able to clear a good ring around her.

The DOR-15s continued with no sign of stopping. As Ushio fell what felt like her hundredth one, her exhaustion started to set in. She knew it was a losing battle, but one she had to continue. The hats pressed on as she found herself being occasionally slashed by their claws. Yet, her Keyblade kept working on thinning the horde.

The battle didn't seem to want to let up. It pushed on as she found herself hoping everything was going right for the boy. Yet, despite her hopes, they continued to surround her. Circling around her, her exhaustion was proving too much as she swung her Keyblade more lethargically. With this, they began to circle in closer.

At that moment, a miracle seemed to occur. The many DOR15s surrounding her began to fade away. Seeing this, Ushio got a second wind and ran towards the tunnel's exit. All around her, the world began to change to the state is once was.

"Looks like you did it." she said as she saw the time machine fly by.

—

Michael Yagoobian, the Bowler Hat Guy, walked away from the Robinson home. A look of sadness and regret was displayed on his face.

"Looks like this is where we ways." a voice said behind him. Turning around, he spotted Kyra standing there.

"Indeed." he said in a dejected tone.

He walked away, leaving the woman by herself.

"Though I suppose you were just along for the ride. The true person they others wanted me meet with was that mechanic hat. With her out of the way, there's really no reason for me to be here anymore."

She spawned a Corridor of Darkness as she began her exit.

"Still, we got what we wanted. Light and darkness clashed. Those people confronting her dark future was the plan all along. I hope you'll entertain me once more, Ushio."

—

Ushio arrived back at the Robinson estate to find Lewis talking with the family. Though she was covered in scrapes and scratches, it was nothing she couldn't fix later. For now, she need to see this through.

Reaching them, she noted that everyone's attention was turned towards the door.

"Franny, where are you? The time machines are gone!" a voice called out. The garage door swung open as a similar looking person came out. Upon walking out, he spotted the entire family and Ushio standing there. Seeing at his past self, the two awkwardly chuckled.

Looking to his wife, she and the others parted as to reveal Wilbur and Ushio. Ushio got what was going on and left Wilbur there, trying to sneak away. He was pulled forward as the older Lewis seemed to already know it was him.

After everyone greeted each other, Lewis seemed to be offered to go someplace else with his future counterpart. However, the future Lewis had one last stop before then.

"Hello again, Ushio." he said walking over to the girl.

"Wait, so you-"

"Of course, after everything we went through, how could I forget you." he said. "Even after all these years, I still remember that strange girl who showed up and helped me out."

"Yeah, I suppose you would."

"Though that's not the only reason. We're still friends, right. Even if it's barely been anytime for you, it's been a while for me. Everyone has some special out there, and even if it's just a friend you met for two day, they're still in your heart."

"So, some of what I say to you did rub off." she said. The pair laughed.

"Before you go, I have a question to ask." he said. "The reason you suddenly showed up and left is because you're from a different world, right?"

"Wh-What!?" Ushio was shocked.

"See, lately I've been thinking. As big and grand as our world is, there seems to be others. And if your reaction is anything, looks like I'm right."

"Yeah, it's true." Ushio said, drawing him close. "But just try to keep it on the downlow. My family and their friends say we should keep it a secret to preserve some world order. Though, I suppose your family could know about it."

"Thanks." he smiled. "Also, I've been thinking about making some kind of vehicle to travel between them eventually. Think you could help?"

"Sorry, that's a no from me." she smiled. "You gotta find your own way to that. Keep moving forward and whatnot." As they began walking over to the rest of the family, she looked at him one last time. "Though if you manage to make one, maybe we'll meet again. Just don't let your son get it stolen."

Telling the family that she had to go, they all said their goodbyes. Ushio walked over to the younger Lewis and Wilbur, ready to depart.

"It's been great being with you two. I guess this is goodbye."

"See you." Lewis said. "Though who knows, maybe we'll see each other again."

"Yeah." she nodded. "And you. Try not to cause your father so much trouble."

"I try." Wilbur replied. Ushio could tell the boy seemed to be thinking of something, but she had faith it wasn't bad.

Ushio walked off as she saw the family wave goodbye. Maybe it was time she got in touch with her again. With those thoughts in mind, she took off as her journey continued.