Fall of the Siege: Secrets Revealed
Riku and Sora went running towards the enemy lines amidst the masses of Imperial troops. As they crossed, they eventually found themselves drawing deeper and deeper behind enemy lines. From the bridges end, they observed the massive structure of the grand gate.
"There it is." Riku uttered. "The teleportation gate."
"It's so big." Sora replied. "It's a bigger gate than I imagined it would be."
"What do you expect Sora, this massive structure could be seen all the way from Hollow Bastion?"-
The gate reached the sky three hundred feet up. The two approached the giant ring to see small insignias and symbols inscribed on its sides. The ring was structured of a flashing alloy. They only gazed at it for a time, looking at the shear size of the metal object.
"Hey you!" a voice suddenly shouted out. Riku and Sora looked to see an officer beckoning them.
"Us?" Sora asked.
"Yes, you two!" the officer replied. "Get over here now!"
"Yes, Sir!" They joined the officer at the base of the gate.
"You two will be in charge of operating the gate!"-
"But we don't know how."-
"Are you kidding? You've never handled a teleportation gate before! That should be a manual procedure in training!"-
"We never really used our gate skills, sir." Riku uttered. "If you would be so kind as to enlighten us, perhaps our memory will kick in."
"Idiots!" the officer bellowed. He lead them up to a small control panel at the base of the gate. On the panel, four buttons were aligned. Three of them were grouped together. A white button, a green button, and a blue button. "It's all very simple. So simple a child could pull it off. When something is incoming, this screen will create a loud beeping sound. Thus, you push the white button to take any incoming supplies and manpower. If you wish to export something from this gate, you press the green button. And to close the gate, you press the blue button. It's all very simple!"
"What about that button?" Sora asked, pointing to a red button, covered by a protective electrical shield.
"That you don't have to worry about." The officer continued. "That's the self-destruction button. We use that just in case the enemy gains control of the gates. By destroying one gate, we completely cut off the access of that pathway. However, in case there are any saboteurs about the place, we made sure to protect it with an electrical barrier. The self-destruct mode and only be activated by the commander in charge."
"I knew we should have paid better attention when we were in the militia." Riku chuckled.
"Oh, so you're militia men. Then that explains it." The officer left. "Well, carry on."
"Why didn't you ask him where the commander in charge is?" Sora asked.
"Because that would only increase suspicions." Riku replied. "These guys aren't exactly stupid you know. Therefore, we have to gain information a little bit at a time. We can't draw attention to ourselves."
"But how'll we find the commander."-
"It shouldn't be that hard, Sora. In all our past experiences, you should know by now that the supreme commanders like to show themselves off by dressing in fancy uniforms. Not browse around and see if you can pick up any further information."-
"Alright." Sora stepped off the platform, but he turned again to Riku. "But what if I get caught?"
"You better hope not! Otherwise, we're both in trouble!"-
"I'll keep that in mind." Sora turned and continued on his way. He walked about the camp, looking to see if he could spot any real officers about. As he walked through the camp, he suddenly heard men talking. He peeped into one of the tents. There, he saw two officers talking.
"I understand that we're looking for something called the Darkness chamber." One officer said.
"That's what I heard from General King." The second officer added.
"What I don't understand is why he of all people was put in charge."-
"King has a reputation for being reckless, you know.-
"He thinks that battles are still some form of romantic events. Doesn't he realize the situation? I mean, he sends in thousands of our best, young men to their deaths for the sake of trying to break the enemy lines. Superior numbers alone won't win the battle."-
"General King?" Sora thought to himself. "He's that one general that we fought back at Halloween Town."
"But you must also understand that the Empire consists mostly of Bio Infantry and mobile droids instead of enlisted men." The second officer continued." And you know how some of these top officers are. Casualty figures are just numbers on paper and nothing more than that."
"Then why doesn't he send in his Gatler tanks?" the first officer said. "Why does he insist of besieging Hollow Bastion with only volunteer infantry?"
"I guess he wants to slowly put the pressure on Hollow Bastion, using the so-called weaker elements into battle first. That way, the lower class soldiers can inflict the most damage to the enemy."-
"But at the same time, our forces suffer greatly. Ten times more than the enemy forces."-
"It's General King's command. We have no authority to question his orders."-
"I have to find General King then." Sora uttered and scurried away to find the general, who lurked about in the camp.
At the same time, Riku waited patiently for Sora to return. He stood vigilantly at the gate. It was then that the screen began to flash and beep.
"Uh oh." Riku uttered. "Something's being imported here." He looked at the control panel. "Which button was I supposed to push again?" He gazed at the buttons, confused about which one he was supposed to push. "I guess it was white." Riku pressed the white button and sure enough, a bright electrical surge erupted from within the ring. From the gate three grand platforms for the construction of the new pontoon bridges and at least three thousand men marched through. As the last of the soldiers marched through, Riku looked up at the screen to see the word complete appear. He then pushed the blue button and closed the gate. He sighed in relief. "That was close."
"Hey you!" a voice shouted. Riku turned to see the officer from before coming towards him. "Where is the other soldier!"
"He said he had to take care of something." Riku lied.
"You militia scum think this is some sort of democracy! You don't waltz away from your military duties whenever you fancy!" The officer stomped away angrily. "If I find that soldier, I'll tear his gizzard out!"
"I think we're in trouble."-
By this time, Sora was browsing around, looking for General King. Sure enough, he saw the grand tent where the general was stationed. Sora observed four guards watching over the entryway.
"I guess that's General King's tent." Sora uttered to himself.
It was at that moment that a form appeared from the tent's entry. It was none other than General King of the 3rd Gatler division. Just then, King's eyes lay upon Sora.
"You there, soldier!" King shouted. Sora looked about him to see if the general was addressing someone else. "Yes, you who's gazing about! I want you to come here!"
"Me, sir?" Sora asked.
"Did I stutter! Yes you, boy! Come here this instant!"-
Sora had no other choice, so he followed King into his tent. He presented himself before the general. General King, dressed in what looked like his campaign frock, began to unbutton himself.
"I want you to get my evening frock from out of the wardrobe. Make it the blue frock." King ordered. Sora went to the wooden wardrobe and pulled out a blue frock, edged with gold trim.
"This is evening wear?" Sora thought to himself. "This is more like something you dress in when going into battle." He turned and presented it before General King. General King had taken off his battle uniform and his white shirt, revealing a smooth, practically unscarred body of a youth. He turned to Sora and took from around his neck what looked like a red card. He handed it to Sora.
"Put this in my safety box." King uttered. Sora took the card. "That is an absolutely vital piece of hardware.
"What does it do, sir?" Sora uttered.
"Are you ignorant? That card is the key that deactivates the protective electronic shield of the self-destruction button." King held out his hand. "Now give me my frock, you imbecile!" Sora sneered behind the tinted glass visor of his helmet. He handed the blue frock to General King and walked over to the safe.
"One other thing boy!" King further uttered. "Turn around and look at me!" Sora turned to see King standing there with his bare chest revealed. "Tell me have you ever seen such a perfect body like this? I think it's the best looking chest and abdominals throughout the Empire."
"It looks great, sir." Sora uttered.
"You don't sound pleased about it!"-
"I am, sir."-
King glared at Sora. Sora felt that this man could see his face behind the tinted visor. But King only smiled and put his blue frock on.
"Alright, you may go." King said.
"Thank you, sir." Sora walked away at a quick pace and exited the tent. He gasped as soon as he exited.
"I tell you," Sora thought to himself, "General King is so vain about his appearance. Talk about really being in love with himself."
Suddenly, Sora felt a strong hand grasp at his shoulder. He looked to see the officer from before gazing at him.
"So this is where I find you, eh!" the officer shouted. "You left your post without being relieved by a superior officer! For that, I will see you flogged!"
"That won't be necessary!" King shouted from his tent. He exited out of the tent and came before Sora and the officer. "This young man was kind enough to give me a hand with my wardrobe and comment on my youthful looks." King turned to Sora. "You are relieved here! Return to your post!"
"Thank you, sir!" Sora replied and hurried off to where Riku was still standing.
Riku only stood around waiting for Sora to return. Sure enough, Sora had returned, though he had returned an hour later than expected.
"Took you long enough." Riku said.
"Sorry about that." Sora replied.
"Well, did you get the card?" Sora took out the red card from his pocket.
"I sure did." He gave the card to Riku. "Also, I received a little information to what the Imperials were looking for. They're searching for something called the Darkness chamber."
"The Darkness chamber?"-
"That's all I know."-
"Then the situation hasn't changed!"-
"What do you mean?"-
"You never bothered to find out where this chamber is located."-
"The Darkness chamber could be found in the chapel of Hollow Bastion!" a voice suddenly shouted. Riku and Sora turned to see General King standing there, armed with his sword. Behind him were thousands of Imperial troops, their swords and blasters ready for battle. They slowly surrounded the duo. "You thought you could get away with this! I commend you for actually emerging into our camp successfully, but you were a little sloppy when it came to getting what you needed. In this case, it was my emergency key for the self-destruction process of the teleportation gate. You knew you wouldn't last long so long as the gate remained open to transport manpower and weaponry to our lines. So you decided to take the initiative and attempt to destroy it. Well, you failed in your mission. And in this situation, trying to fight your way out is probably out of the question."
"Thanks for the information!" Riku said as he pulled his helmet off. "But as for fighting our way out, I think I'll take that chance!" Immediately, King's eyes grew big in fear.
"The Key bearer!"-
"He's not the only one!" Sora shouted as he took off his helmet. "If we could foil your plans with the Apocalypse Cannon in Halloween Town, then taking down a gate should be no different!"
"How in the hell did you manage to survive Caesar and Kahn!"-
"It was just luck!" Riku thrust the card into its info slot and deactivated the shield protecting it. He pressed the button. Immediately, the gate began to sound off with a loud siren. The ring itself began to flash red.
"Now if you excuse us," Sora said, "We gotta go!"
Riku and Sora dashed as fast as they could to the bridge. At the same time, the gate came crashing down, exploding into millions of shards. Those Imperials closest to the gate were killed by the shrapnel. King realized that the explosion had caught the attention of his troops that they didn't bother to stop Riku and Sora from escaping.
"Get them, you idiots!" King shouted. The Imperials began to topple on Riku and Sora. But Sora used the foot stomp he picked up from Lu Bu and blew their attackers away. He then attacked a second time with the Shadow Death Wave, causing twenty, or more Imperials to die instantly. Riku deployed Iceberg Shurikens, Cinder Canister, Hurricane Slash, and the Kuzu ryu sen. He also deployed his darkness energy ball and swift attacks upon the enemy. However, there were only two of them who could only inflict so much damage on the Imperial forces. Their supply of ether and potion was running low and the Imperial forces still continued to mass themselves around the duo.
"We're almost to the bridge!" Riku cried. But as they reached their destination, one of the Imperials aimed on of the cannons at the pontoon and destroyed it half way.
"Damn!" Sora shouted.
They eventually found themselves completely surrounded by Imperials. Eventually, they ran out of energy and could only press themselves back to back.
"Quite interesting how history repeats itself isn't it?" They saw King make his way to the front line and present himself before the two key bearers. "Came so close, and yet so far! Look at what you did!" He pointed to the smoke and cinder accumulating from where the gate once stood. "You've crippled us badly now! And because of the action you took the liberty to engage in, your lives will be eliminated from the face of the living world!" He snapped his finger with a smirk. "Kill them." The Imperials began to come closer, practically touching the outstretched blades of the tow key bearers.
"I would get away from them if I were you!" a voice suddenly shouted. The Imperials looked to see a tall man, over six feet tall, heavily armored, armed with a long halberd, and excessively giant feelers atop his head. "You've got bigger things to worry about!"
"It's Lu Bu!" Sora shouted.
"Lu Bu?" Riku asked.
"Lu Bu!" King uttered, fearfully. "What is he doing here!"
"I'll tell you what I'm doing here! I'm here to give those two some encouragement!" Lu Bu threw out a couple of Mega-elixirs and restored Riku and Sora's strength to their full capacity.
"Excellent!" Riku cried.
"Thanks Lu Bu!" Sora shouted.
"Are you ready to give them hell again, Sora!"-
"Sure am!"-
Sora deployed the Lu Bu foot stomp with all his might and eliminated a great deal of Imperial troops. Riku actually ran into the mass of Imperials that were guarding the wrecked pontoon and deployed the infamous Lu Bu musou, defeating a hundred in one shot.
"Don't stand there, you idiots!" King roared. "Kill the lot of them!"
A mass of Imperials charged against Lu Bu.
"Big mistake!" Lu Bu chuckled. Deployed his foot stomp; he blew away fifty, or more Imperials troops away. He then jumped into the air and slammed at the Imperial ranks at an angle, causing a mass explosion. Five hundred Imperials were killed by the attack.
"You idiots," King roared, "Do I have to do everything myself!
King drew his sword and attacked Sora. But Sora soon deployed another foot stomp and blew even General King away. The general was sent flying over the barracks, down the rising falls and splashing into the water below.
"Hang on!" Lu Bu shouted, grabbing Riku and Sora and tucking them under his arms. Lu Bu then flew back to Hollow Bastion. Sora looked down to see General King still bobbing about like a cork in the water.
"Better luck next time, Kingy Boy!" he chuckled.
"You morons," King shouted angrily, "I swear if I ever see you three again, I'll tear you limb from limb!" King then looked up to see his men staring down at him. "Well, don't just stand there, you blithering idiots, get me out of here!"
Lu Bu landed just on the demolished bridge and lay Riku and Sora on their feet.
"Thanks, Lu Bu." Sora said.
"Humph!" Lu Bu scoffed. "Don't think that I did this out of sheer generosity! I just don't want anything to happen to Riku!" Lu Bu looked at Riku. "Remember, we still have that sold score to settle."
"Determined to take your revenge on me aren't you!" Riku implied.
"No one else is to kill you, but me! I and I alone will take the effort to putting an end to your life!"-
"Even after I decided to spare yours?"-
"You expect gratitude from me? You would have been better off killing me, Riku!" Lu Bu glanced in the horizon. "But then again, if you hadn't, then I probably wouldn't have shaken off my fear of death. But now I fear not even death itself. The only thing I fear is having someone kill you before me!"
"So you want me all to yourself then, is that what you're saying?"-
"Destiny has chosen me to defeat you, Riku! No one else may interfere!"-
"Then, I hold you to your vow!"-
Lu Bu smirked and then flew off into the atmosphere, vanishing into the horizon. Riku and Sora turned towards Hollow Bastion. There, Leon, Yuffie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Cloud went to meet them.
"They're back!" Yuffie cried, as the six ran to meet the two keyblade masters.
"We saw the whole thing!" Leon said. "You managed to bring down the gate."
"The forces of the Empire won't be so wasteful of their manpower from now on." Cloud said.
"Besides the destruction of the gate, did you discover any information regarding the link between Ansem and the Dark Empire? What are the Imperials doing here?"-
"They're looking for something called the Darkness chamber." Sora explained. "They said that this chamber us located somewhere in the Castle Chapel."
"Then what do you say we find this hidden chamber." Riku suggested.
"That's a great idea." Goofy implied.
"If we demolish that chamber, we might be able to stop the advance of the Imperial forces." Donald explained.
"Then they'll have no other choice, but to withdraw." Mickey added.
The group, along with a company of soldiers moved their way up to the chapel. As they worked their way to the chapel, they realized that there were no explosions going off. The cannonade had stopped completely.
"This is the first time in three days that it's been this quiet." Yuffie uttered.
"That's because the Empire no longer has unlimited resources." Riku said. "Now they have to conserve as much supplies and manpower as they can."
"So our little plan worked after all." Sora implied.
The group entered the chapel and gazed around. Sora recalled its mysterious look and how it had remained the same since the day he fought Maleficent.
"Alright, we're here." Cloud said. "Now where do we start looking?"
"King said that this chamber was somewhere in here." Sora explained.
"Alright, you guys!" Leon ordered. "Check every thing in this chamber! Every torch, every stone, every little thing that looks like a button, or lever! Test it and see if you get any results."
"Yes, sir!" the troops replied and they began to browse around the chapel daring to find that single key that would lead them to the chamber. However, as the hour passed, even with fifty soldiers to assist, there was no luck at finding the key to the chamber.
"Well, we're sunk!" Donald uttered. "We've scanned the entire area and found nothing."
"I don't understand it." Sora said. "I heard it from King's own mouth."
"Maybe he was just pulling your leg." Yuffie said. "Villains have a tendency to do that."
"I don't think so. I encountered King personally. He seems like the highly confident type and very vain to top it off. So he would never bluff about something if he knew that his opponents would never have a chance."-
"Maybe you're in denial." Donald uttered.
"What is that supposed to mean!"-
"Calm down you guys." Riku said.
"You know I always find it easier not to look for it." Goofy said. "And when we take our minds off of the issue, the solution presents itself to us."
"So are you saying that we not find it?" Donald asked. "What would we accomplish by not trying!"
"Well…uh. I don't know…"
"Then, we're back to square one again!"-
"Gawrsh fellas. I'm sorry." Goofy lowered his head. Donald sighed in guilt.
"It's alright." He patted his friend on the shoulder. "It's al…" But just as he was ready to finish the rest of his statement, something had caught Donald's attention. He stepped up to the wall to see something sticking out of one of the crevices between the stone.
"What is it, Donald?" Mickey asked.
"I think I might have found something." Donald replied. Plucking out a feather, he used the quill end to dig out the object. Sure enough, it was a piece of paper that had been tightly folded. On it was the traditional seal of Hollow Bastion. "Bingo, Mickey, I found a clue!"
"Let's see it."-
Donald gave it to Mickey and he unfolded it.
"You were right, Goofy." Donald uttered. "All we had to do is get our minds off the issue and the solutions eventually present themselves on their own."
"Oh," Goofy replied, "so does that make me a genius?"
"I wouldn't go that far."-
"Well, what does it say?" Sora asked. Upon the sheet were a few inscribed lines that came in verse.
Beneath this place of mason stone,
Lays the key to darkness thrown.
Where angels fly in the midday sun,
Demons flight in a downward run.
They use the torch to find the way,
To lurk in darkness far from the day.
"By the way this poem is written," Mickey explained, "the chamber is definitely here."
"But what does it mean by 'where angels fly in the midday sun?'" Sora asked.
"Well, there used to be a grand glass window that used to be located over the doorway of the chapel long ago." Yuffie said. "It was designed with cherubs and angels."
"So that's probably what was meant by 'where angels fly.'"-
"It's not just that." Riku implied. "Yuffie, do you recall where the sun beamed in the midday sun?"
"It filled the entire chapel with light." She walked to the area where she remembered the lights presence. "The beams of bright light shined all around this area, practically blinding you. But that was before Ansem ordered it to be destroyed and had the chapel sealed with stone."
"But why would he want to do that?" Sora asked.
"Without a doubt, he wanted no one to see what he was doing in here." Leon replied.
Cloud looked up and down the wall where the light was said to be. Remembering his own experiences in the chapel, he traced back to where the old torches used to be.
"They use the torch to find the way," he quoted, "to lurk in darkness far from the day."
"Have you found anything, Cloud?"
"It has to be this thing." Cloud pointed to an old holster, which was held the old staff torch.
"It looks no different from any of the other torch holsters though." Donald uttered.
"That's where you're wrong." Cloud pointed out that unlike the other torches, this holster had no supports that bolted the holster to the wall, keeping it up in an upright position. "Why else would this torch alone have no support around it?"
"Well, there's only one way to find out." Sora said. He pulled down on the torch and its holster. Suddenly, the torch collapsed downward and a large cracking sound, like something being released, was heard. Soon, the entire chapel began to rumble. It was then from the ground that a large door began to open up from the floor beneath.
"Get out of the way!" Leon cried. "Evading the opening door, the team watched as the stone lifted from the floor to reveal a dark chamber. In it was the sophisticated technology Ansem used to unleash the Heartless. Documents and books and all the entrees he ever made regarding the Heartless were there in the chamber.
"So this is the Darkness chamber." Riku said. "I can see why he wanted no one to look in the chapel. He wanted to keep this chamber secret."
"Uh…fellas!" Goofy suddenly uttered.
"What is it, Goofy?" Donald asked. He gazed down and saw something rather strange. "Well, I'll be…"
"What're you two looking at?" Mickey asked. Sora and the others crowded around Goofy and Donald to see the unthinkable. A Heartless had been trapped inside a cage. Its little black antenna swiveled about and its big yellow eyes looking at the curious prospectors.
"What's this Heartless doing here?" Sora asked.
"I don't know." Riku said. He looked at a small label that was tide around the cage.
Specimen 00001. The first specimen ever recorded.
"This must've been the very first Heartless that Ansem ever discovered."-
"What'll we do with it?" Leon asked.
"You must reveal the light here again." A voice suddenly uttered.
"Who just said that?" Sora asked.
"I don't know." Mickey replied.
"Fellas." Goofy implied. They looked to the cage where the little Heartless was confined.
"Did that Heartless just talk?" Mickey asked.
"Of course I spoke." The Heartless uttered.
"Oh my goodness!" Yuffie said. "The thing can talk."
"I would appreciate it if you didn't address me as a thing. I'm surprised that you wouldn't know who I am."-
"Who are you, little guy?" Sora asked.
"I am the dark essence of the former ruler of this realm." the Heartless replied. "I am the darkness that once came to fill the heart of Ansem the Wise."
"That's impossible." Riku said. "Ansem died a couple of years ago."
"Only in body, but not in spirit."-
"How did you come to be?" Cloud asked.
"When researching the Heartless, Lord Ansem began to experience separation from body and mind as one would experience when being consumed by the darkness. He began to forget the things precious and dear to him. But despite this, he continued to do his research. Until one day, it happened. Ansem's ambition nearly overcame him. He quickly halted further research of the Heartless and had me extracted out of his body. Once he had been purged of his darkness, he decided to imprison me here. But being a Heartless, I could roam about in and out whenever I pleased. The only thing was that I couldn't do that. For some reason, a part of Lord Ansem stayed with me and I became perhaps the only heartless who could think logically. I figure that this was just as good a place as any to be." The Heartless pointed at an old picture. On it was the picture of the wise old leader, the one who was an old friend of King Mickey and sacrificed his life in the realm of the Nobodies.
"To think that that poor man is dead." Sora uttered.
"My old friend," Mickey replied. "If only you realized what effect your death has had on Hollow Bastion. But you have proven that the heart is unpredictable and can make the impossible possible. You gave a heartless a part of your thinking and logic."
"I thought this cage as a prison where I could serve out my penalties and perhaps find my own reason for being." The Heartless replied. "But now that I know it's over, and Ansem will never return, I can at least diminish without fault. If you would care to open my cage."
"I don't know." Leon uttered. "How do we know we can trust you?"-
"If there is the slightest bit of doubt, then I wish you to slay me here and now."-
Sora stepped up to the cage and opened the lid. The Heartless stepped out and presented himself before the company. It inhaled and exhaled strongly.
"Sora, are you crazy!" Donald said.
"I trust him." Sora replied. "I should know how he feels. I too was once a Heartless for a temporary period of time. As a result, Roxas came to exist. But only because I held onto my feelings, I was able to maintain my heart even as a heartless."
The little Heartless jumped out of the chamber and stood where the light used to beam down in the chapel.
"Cloud." The heartless uttered.
"Yes, sir." Cloud asked.
"The time has come. Destroy the wall of stone where the grand window used to be and let in the light. I wish to bathe in the sun's warm beams. Undo the sin that am. I wish to diminish in the light where the darkness emerged years before."-
"Yes, I will." Cloud ascended to the wall above the chapel doorway.
"To think that a Heartless would be so willing to die for the sins of his master." Sora uttered.
"Now that I see him, I pity him." Riku implied. Cloud used his sword and cut through the thick stone. The masonry fell from their foundation and a grand beam of light filled the room. Ansem bathed in the bright light, accepting it openly.
"At last!" the little Heartless uttered. "At last, the warm light has consumed me! I have longed for this day for ages." The little Heartless suddenly transforming into light from the feet up. He slowly diminished little at a time. He turned to the KH group. "Thank you everyone for giving me the chance to truly repent!" He then looked at Sora. "Thank you, Sora, for understanding."
Tears began to drip from Sora's face. He could not believe that a foe that he had fought those many years ago would have so much pity in the end. The Heartless was consumed by the light completely, but this little one gladly accepted it with open arms.
Eventually, the Darkness chamber and everything in it was set aflame by the defenders of Hollow Bastion. Tapestries and banners were cleared before petroleum was poured into the chamber to prevent anything besides the insides of the chamber to catch fire. Riku, Sora, and the rest of their comrades looked on as each journal, each document, and each bit of equipment was consumed by the flames. The smoke bellowed and exited out of the open shaft of the chapel.
"Finally, it's over." Cloud said.
"Well, it's best that we be on our way to Traverse Town to restock in ether and potion." Mickey suggested.
"That's a good idea." Donald added. "We should get the Kingdom repaired for the continuation of our journey."
"Then it's settled."-
"Will you guys be alright though?" Riku asked.
"We'll be alright here." Leon replied. "We've managed to severely cripple the Empire's strength and we eliminated their objective. I don't think they'll be causing a stir anytime soon."
"Then we leave you to your efforts." Mickey said. With that, the KH team once again made their way to the top of Hollow Bastion and climbed on board their Gummi ship. The rockets roared and the Gummi ship made its way back to Traverse Town.
Not long after, when help refused to come to the aid of the Imperial forces, General King ordered that their forces withdraw from Hollow Bastion. There was no longer any need to be there. Seeing that his numbers and resources now dwindled, and he dared not ask for more resources to be burned on a such a meaningless campaign, King made the wise choice and decided to return to Vandor. The siege had ended and thousands of Imperial troops began their withdrawal back to their cruisers. When Cloud and the others emerged from the castle to gaze upon the abandoned ramparts of the Empire, they breathed a sign of relief. After three days of hell, the conflict was over in the realm of their home.
