Chapter 45: One Shall Stand, One Shall Fall
The trio returns to Hollow Bastion to find Soldiers running around.
Sora: Wait a sec...I thought everything was supposed to be under control here.
A security system appears next to them.
Plucky: Hey, look!
The security system is acting all weird.
Sora: Must be Organization XIII again. We better go see Leon.
The trio went down to the marketplace to find the Warner Siblings running around.
Sora: What's going on, you guys?
Yakko: It's terrible! The security system is outta control!
Wakko: It's now attacking innocent people like us!
Plucky: How come it's attacking you guys?
Dot: We don't know! We can't run our shops like this!
Yakko: Until the situation calms down, our shops are currently closed!
Sora: We better go find out what's going on.
The trio went down to the borough. A security system went flying pass Plucky, making him jump. Suddenly, some familiar Heartless appeared. They are Strafers and Devastators.
Sora: Those Heartless are from Cybertron!
The trio manages to finish the Heartless off and ran towards Mumbo's House. Yuffie opens the door and saw the trio coming.
Yuffie: Come on in!
Sora: Wait just a second...What happened to this place?
Dizzy: Didn't Heartless look like ones from Cybertron?
Yuffie: Come on, just get inside!
The trio follows Yuffie into the house, where Cid is typing on his computer. Mumbo and Wumba are there as well.
Yuffie: Hurry up, Cid!
Cid: Give me a second!
Mumbo: Hurry up, Cid!
Cid: Why, you...!
Sora: What's going on?
Cid: Talk about yer good timin!
Yuffie: The Decepticons are wreaking havoc inside the computer.
Plucky: Not again!
Cid: Accordin to Leon, anyway...
In a flashback, Leon and Aerith are in Ansem's room.
Cid: He went on over to Ansem's study to find out what all the ruckus is about.
Leon went to the giant capsule room to find that there are hearts inside the giant capsules. He ran to the computer room and starts typing on the computer. Suddenly, the door that leads to the lower floor has opened. He ran down to the lower floor to find a machine that looks like a giant red circle with four smaller red circles surrounding. Some Magnum Loaders came out of the small circles.
Cid: Turns out the Decepticons are using the data in that computer to crank out Heartless.
The Heartless attacked Leon, but he easily defeats them with his Gunblade. He then ran back up to the upper floor. Suddenly, the Heartless are invading the town and the security system is acting weird, too.
Cid: Megatron has been messing around with the town's control system, too.
Back in the computer room, the alarm has been set off. Leon ran up to the computer to find a message on it. It says "Pathetic organic lifeforms! Obey Megatron!" Leon tried to do something, but the message still remains on screen.
Yuffie: That Megatron sure doesn't know when to quit, doesn't he?
Back in the present...
Cid: That's a computer program for ya.
Sora: How's Optimus doing?
Yuffie: We can't reach him. We figure he must have been forced onto the game grid.
Cid: And it doesn't seem like a particularly fun game, either.
Sora: We'll go check on Optimus.
Cid: Thanks, kid. We're puttin together a Decepticon Eradication program. I got a hunch it's almost finished, too.
Wumba: Wumba hope Cid's hunch is right for once.
Yuffie: Listen, we're gonna need Optimus's help, when that Eradicator's completed.
Sora: Don't sweat it. We'll make sure to tell Optimus!
Mumbo: Remember, boys. we count on you.
Sora: Roger!
The trio left the house and made their way to the computer room. Along the way, they fought many Heartless. The security system also attacks the trio this time. After going through a long way, they finally reached the computer room, where Leon and Aerith are waiting. The two turns around and Leon got his Gunblade out.
Dizzy: Wait! It only us!
The trio walks into the computer room.
Aerith: You can't talk to Optimus if this room gets taken over.
Leon: Did you check in with Cid?
Sora: Yeah.
Leon: And the Eradicator?
Plucky: It's almost done.
Aerith: Great! Leon, why don't you go work with Cid? I have this place under control.
Leon: Are you sure? All by yourself?
She gave him a glare and puts her hands on her hips.
Aerith: Are you doubting me?
Leon: Sorry. It's all yours.
Aerith smiles and walks to the door.
Sora: How's Optimus?
Leon: We still can't get in touch with him. Maybe you guys should give it a shot.
Sora: No. We'll go talk to him in person.
Leon: Then I have a favor to ask. When you find Optimus, could you tell him to go to the I/O tower? That's where we'll upload the Decepticon Eradication program.
Dizzy: The I/O tower. Got it!
Leon: Thanks. And watch your backs.
Before He leaves the computer room, he gave Sora a Keychain called Sleeping Lion. Sora puts in on and the Keyblade now looks like a sword with a lion on it. Sora walks over to the computer.
Sora: We'll be there soon, Optimus.
He activates the teleporter and the trio are teleported back to Cybertron. They returned to the pit cell area in their robot bodies.
Dizzy: Dizzy hope Optimus OK.
Sora: Me too. Let's head for the game grid.
He walks over to the terminal.
Sora: Great! The terminal works!
Plucky: Let's go!
Sora activates the teleporter on the terminal and teleports the trio to the Cybertron Arena. Meanwhile, back in Mumbo's House, Cid was still working on the Eradication program on his computer, with Yuffie, Mumbo, and Wumba watching. Suddenly, Leon enters the house.
Leon: Is it done yet?
Cid: Would be, if it weren't for old numbskull's magic.
Mumbo:(Angry)Numbskull you say?
Cid: I'm trying to work here!
Mumbo:(Angry)Mumbo show you who numbskull!
He charges his staff with magic and fires a magic ball.
Cid: Now, I'm done!
He got the CD, before Mumbo's magic ball hits the computer, sending Cid down on the floor. He then stood up.
Cid: Here you go, Leon. One homemade program. A loony shaman special.
He hands the disk to Leon.
Wumba: This better work.
Leon: I'm on it.
Wumba: Be on guard.
Leon left the house. Mumbo glares at Cid, who slowly backs away and ran to the end of the house. The computer explodes. Back to our heroes, they were teleported to the Cybertron Arena, where they found Optimus fighting the Heartless.
Sora: Optimus!
Optimus turns to the trio.
Optimus: Careful! Watch out!
A Devastator fires a beam at Optimus, hitting him.
Sora: Hold on! We'll help you out!
Sora slashed at the Heartless, Plucky uses Thundaga, and Dizzy uses Spin Attack. The trio manages to take out the Heartless and teleports out of the arena with Optimus.
Optimus: You really saved me.
Sora: Don't mention it!
Plucky: What's going on here?
Optimus: The Decepticons are ready to declare an all-out war against the universe. They plan to conquer everything and wipe out what they called "lesser lifeforms."
Plucky: Wow! They sound like a bunch of robot Nazis.
Optimus: What's been happening out in the universe?
Sora: Well, there's this machine in Hollow Bastion for making Heartless. It's gone totally berserk...The town's control system is having problems, too. But Cid's putting together a program that can eradicate the Decepticons. Once we pick it up at the I/O tower, he thinks we can use it to stop Megatron for good.
Optimus: Let's try it.
Sora: Great!
Optimus: So, who's this Cid?
Sora: He's a friend of ours. Leon, Aerith, Yuffie, Mumbo, Wumba...They're all back on Hollow Bastion, worrying about you, Optimus.
Optimus: I must have alot of organic friends.
Dizzy: That program must be done by now, yes?
Plucky: To the tower!
Optimus: Let's go!
Sora, Optimus, and the rest of the gang left the pit cell and starts heading for the I/O tower. Meanwhile, back with Leon, he is fighting off some Heartless, as he heads for the computer room. Back with our heroes, they've reached the I/O tower. Suddenly, they got attacked by Heartless.
Sora: Outta the way!
Sora uses Magnera to trap the Heartless in a magnet sphere, Optimus uses his Energon Axe, Plucky uses Firaga and Blizzaga, and Dizzy uses Headbutt. After finishing off the Heartless, they made their way to the communications room. Back with Leon and Aerith, they ran to the computer room. When Leon starts typing on the keyboard, a voice from Megatron is heard.
Megatron: Warning! User control is terminated indefinitely!
Leon slams his fist on the keyboard.
Leon: No good!
Aerith: Leon, let me try.
Leon nods and gave the disk to her.
Megatron: This is your final warning! Stop at once!
Aerith: Bon Appetit!
She puts the disk in the slot
Aerith: Don't talk with your mouth full.
Megatron: What...what are you loading?
Aerith gave a thumbs up to Leon. Meanwhile, back with our heroes, they are back in the communications room. They are at the center of the room, where a teleporter is at.
Optimus: Nothing's come in yet.
Sora: Leon! Come on!
Suddenly, the teleporter activates.
Optimus: There it is!
Sora: Alright!
Optimus opens his chest to reveal an orange orb with a glowing center and two handles. He grabs the orb and puts it above his head. The orb floats above to the teleporter. A few seconds later, it returns to Optimus's hands.
Dizzy: What it like?
Optimus: This is very strange...
Plucky: That's Mumbo's magic.
Optimus: Huh? There's a power booster for me. And flight routines for the solar sailor.
Sora: Meaning...we're set?
Optimus: Well, like you lifeforms say...we won't know, till we give it a try. We'll need a sailor to reach Megatron, so let's get to the simulation hangar!
The gang left the I/O tower and heads for the solar sailor at the simulation hangar. The solar sailor looks like a platform with two sails on the front sides. They got on the solar sailor and Optimus activates it, making it move on a yellow rail that takes them outside the hangar. Sora, Plucky, and Dizzy are looking out at the planet to see that it's all mechanical.
Optimus: You've gotta keep a lookout. The Decepticons aren't just gonna let us waltz in.
Sora just scratched his head, then a Devastator appears behind him. The Heartless lands on the solar sailor, making it sink.
Plucky: Whoa! This sailor is sinking!
Sora: It must be the Heartless. They're making it sink.
Optimus: We must take them out!
Sora: We'll need some extra help!
Sora uses the Keronian Charm to summon the Keroro Platoon. Keroro raises everyone's attack powers, Giroro uses machine guns, Tamama uses Tamama Impact, Kururu, uses electricity, Dororo uses his katana, and Pururu heals everyone. Sora and Plucky uses Thundaga, Dizzy delivers punches and kicks, and Optimus uses his beam rifle. The gang fought off the Heartless for a few minutes, until they are all eradicated. The solar sailor finally arrives at a tower with a red pillar of light inside.
Optimus: Megatron is straight ahead.
Sora: Time to settle things for good.
Optimus: Megatron must be stopped...No matter the cost.
The gang enters the tower to find Megatron on his throne. The room has a giant hole in the middle.
Megatron: Prime!
Optimus: One shall stand. One shall fall.
Megatron: Why throw away your life so recklessly?
Optimus: That's a question you should ask yourself, Megatron.
Megatron: No! My minions shall crush you with their bare hands!
Suddenly, a laser beam shot at the gang's feet. They looked to their left and saw Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave. Starscream has his arm cannon out.
Sora: Who are they?
Optimus: Starscream is Megatron's right hand robot. The other two are Soundwave and Shockwave.
Starscream: Tenacious little bugs! Your time is up! Prepare to be destroyed!
Starscream fires alot of missiles from his chest, Soundwave fires laser waves from his shoulder cannon, and Shockwave fires electric spheres from his arm cannon. The gang manages to dodge all of their attacks. Sora slashed Starscream multiple times, Plucky uses Firaga and Blizzaga on Soundwave, and Dizzy uses Spin Attack on Shockwave. Optimus charges his fist with Energon and slams it in the ground, creating an explosion of fire, and doing alot of damage to Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave. The three Decepticons are panting heavily.
Starscream: You're very persistent, Optimus.
Optimus: I'm also better than the three of you combined.
Starscream: Just as arrogant as always. We...would have made a great team...
Optimus throws his Energon Axe like a boomerang, hitting Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave. The three Decepticons fell on the ground with sparks coming out of their bodies. The gang turns to Megatron.
Optimus: You're next, Megatron!
Megatron: Prime...don't you understand? We don't need weak organic lifeforms in the universe. We're advanced! They're inferior!
Plucky: Wow! He really is robot Hitler!
Megatron: Join me, and together the universe will be ours to control!
Optimus: Megatron, you still don't get it, do you?
Megatron: Very well! If you won't join me, then you shall die! Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave, all my functions are now yours!
He fires purple electricity from his hand and aims it at Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave. The three Decepticons got up with dark aura surrounding their bodies.
Optimus: Sora, Plucky, Dizzy, you three will take care of Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave. I will take care of Megatron.
Sora: Got it!
Sora, Plucky, and Dizzy are fighting Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave, while Optimus is fighting Megatron. Starscream pulls out two beam swords and starts clashing with Sora's Keyblade, Soundwave fires missiles from his shoulder cannon at Plucky, and Shockwave fires crescent energy waves from his arm cannon at Dizzy. The trio took alot of damage from their attacks. Starscream then fires two purple energy beams from his shoulder cannons at Sora, Soundwave stomps his feet on the ground to create shockwaves at Plucky, and Shockwave transforms into a gun to fire a giant purple energy beam at Dizzy. The trio took alot more damage from the attacks and are panting heavily. Meanwhile, Optimus and Megatron are still fighting. Optimus pulls out an Energon Axe, while Megatron pulls out an Energon Mace. It is a purple energy mace. They both clashed their weapons at each other, but Megatron wins the clash and hits Optimus multiple times. He then fires an energy beam from his Fusion Cannon, doing alot of damage to Optimus. Optimus is panting heavily as well.
Sora: Man...those Decepticons...are much...stronger than...last time.
Plucky: They may...be the...toughest foes...we fought yet.
Dizzy: We need...to try...Master Form.
Sora: Right! Let's do it, guys!
Sora, Plucky, and Dizzy merged to become Master Form again. He is carrying the Warpstar and Sleeping Lion Keyblades. He fires multiple Firaga, Blizzaga, and Thundaga spells at Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave, doing alot of damage to them. He knocks them out with his Spin Attack. He then joins Optimus in the battle with Megatron.
Megatron: I see you have defeated Starscream and the others.
Sora: Now, we'll defeat you, Megatron!
Megatron: No! I'm far more powerful than those three combined!
Optimus: We'll see about that!
Sora charges at Megatron with his Keyblades, but Megatron blocks the attack with his Energon Shield. He then fires his Fusion Cannon at Sora, doing alot of damage. He then charges at Sora at really fast speed, delivering punches and kicks at him. Optimus tried to slash Megatron with his Energon Axe, but he dodged it at really fast speed.
Sora: Man, he's not only powerful, he's really fast, too.
Optimus: We'll need to work together to defeat him.
Sora: Right!
Both Sora and Optimus charges at Megatron with their Keyblades and Energon Axe. Megatron blocks them with his Energon Shield, but Sora and Optimus continues attacking, until the shield starts to crack. Optimus transforms into a truck to break through Megatron's shield and slams through him, doing alot of damage.
Megatron: No! How is that possible? My Energon Shield is suppose to be invincible!
Optimus: You'll need to count on more than just your shield, Megatron.
Megatron: That's it! I'll take all of you, along with this planet!
He flies up in the sky and forms a giant Death Ball.
Sora: Now, who does he think he is? Frieza?
Megatron: Say Good-bye to this planet, Optimus!
Megatron throws his Death Ball at Sora and Optimus, who both held onto it. They both managed to push the Death Ball back and punch it into Megatron, creating an explosion, and doing alot of damage to him. Sora and Optimus both fired Firaga spells and beam rifle multiple times, then follows up with slashing him multiple times with their Keyblades and Energon Axe. They landed Megatron on top of Starscream, Soundwave, and Shockwave. The four Decepticons barely stood up.
Optimus: Now, let's finish him off!
Sora and Optimus uses their Limit called Matrix of Leadership. Optimus opens his chest to reveal the same orange orb called the Matrix of Leadership. Optimus holds on one handle, while Sora holds on the other handle. They both opened the Matrix to fire a giant blue energy beam and hits Megatron and his Decepticons.
Sora: TURN INTO LIGHT!
Megatron: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
When the beam dies down, the four Decepticons turned into stone and crumbled into dust. Sora, Plucky, and Dizzy returns to normal. Optimus jumps for joy.
Optimus: We did it!
Sora: I see Optimus has a silly side, too.
Optimus: I learned it from you. Of course, I do have my silly limits.
Sora: OK. Then I'll tweak your program, when I get back to Hollow Bastion.
Optimus: You? Maybe we better not try that.
Sora: Aww...How about it, guys? Singin Optimus! Dancin Optimus! Sound good?
Plucky: Yeah! That sounds like fun!
Optimus laughs.
Optimus: OK, fine. But before I crash...Sora, Plucky, Dizzy...and all organic lifeforms out there...Thank you...You really helped me. You made me so much stronger. You taught me what friendship is all about. And I'll never forget it. As soon as I met you, I knew we were gonna defeat Megatron and free Cybertron.
Sora: Now, we've won the war?
Optimus: Not yet. We may have won the battle, but the war is far from over. Megatron may be gone, but there are many other Decepticon Commanders who will take the title of Emperor of Destruction, like Megazarak, Overlord, and Deszaras.
He walks up to the trio and offers his hand. Sora grabs it and Optimus pulls him in to hug him.
Optimus: Isn't this what lifeforms do, when they're sorry to say good-bye?
Sora: Uhh...it's a first for me.
Dizzy: It like Optimus promise we see each other again real soon.
Optimus: OK. Well, then...
He walks over to hug Dizzy, then Plucky, and then walks back.
Optimus: I promise.
He continues walking backwards.
Sora: Where are you going?
Optimus waves good-bye at the trio and then jumps down the hole. The trio watched in shock and ran to see him go down the hole.
Sora: Optimus...
Suddenly, the whole tower starts shaking and the trio escapes by teleporting away. Back in Hollow Bastion, Yuffie ran to the computer room to tell Aerith.
Yuffie: Things are settling down in town. The only Heartless left are the local variety. And it looks like there are fewer than before.
Aerith: Now, if we can just get those three back in one piece...
Suddenly, the trio returns from Cybertron.
Aerith: You're here!
Yuffie: Welcome back!
Sora looks a little depressed.
Sora: How's the town?
Yuffie: A-OK!
Aerith: Not a single trace of Megatron either. Everything's back to normal. We made it.
The two girls saw the trio's faces and Yuffie walks up to Sora.
Yuffie: Hey, why the long face? What happened?
Plucky: Optimus just disappeared.
Sora: And he promised we'd see him again...
Suddenly, the alarm went off, shocking everyone.
Aerith: What's happening?
?: Greetings, friends. System is up and ready for User input.
The trio gasped in joy.
Sora, Plucky, & Dizzy: OPTIMUS!
Optimus: Stay in touch.
Sora: Yeah!
Plucky ran up to the computer.
Plucky: Oh, boy! Oh, boy!
He touched the keyboard, making Optimus laugh.
Optimus:(Laughs)Hey, stop that! It tickles!
Dizzy: Optimus is ticklish?
Sora walks over to the keyboard.
Sora: How about this!
He taps on the keyboard, making Optimus laugh some more.
Optimus:(Laughs)Please stop that!
The trio laughs.
Yuffie: I think Optimus's been hanging around those guys too much.
Optimus: Wait, wait just a moment. I wanna show you something I dug up from the system archives. You can see the town back when it was first built.
Suddenly, the computer starts shining. Outside, Cloud saw several beams of light in the sky. Leon walks out, too.
Leon: That's right...I remember now.
The beams emits sparkles of light down the sky. Back at Mumbo's House, Cid, Mumbo, and Wumba walks outside. Cid felt a sparkle of light in his hand.
Cid: Just like the old days...
Mumbo: Mumbo be fascinated to ascertain as to when town got such dreadful name as Hollow Bastion.
Back to our heroes, they went out to the postern to see the beams and sparkles of light.
Aerith: You know, this town had another name once.
Sora: Really? What's it called?
Aerith: Radiant Garden.
World: Radiant Garden
That's it for chapter 45. Some of the Decepticon's moves are from the video game, Transformers Devastation. Megazarak, Overlord, and Deszaras are the main villains from Transformers Headmasters, Super God Masterforce, and Victory, the Japan-exclusive Transformers seasons. "Turn into light" is a phrase from Gaogaigar, when Guy finished his foes off. We may have saved Hollow Bastion/Radiant Garden and Cybertron, but our adventures still continues in the former world. Next time, Sora will return to Animal Village to try to restore Ai's memories.