Chapter 41: Castle of Bygone Fortress
Somewhere outside the castle of Bygone Fortress in a crest area Siegfried, Paula, Jeff, Poo, the woman, and the man continue to make their way through the castle while still fighting off Black Xetis and Heartless in their way and they arrive at a bridge area of the castle but then several Black Xetis and Heartless appear and surround them and then something comes down at them.
"Look out!" Jeff said as he sees it's a dark shot coming at them.
They dodge but the shot landing between them causes separation from Paula, Jeff, and Poo and Siegfried, the woman, and the man.
"Oh, no!" The woman said.
"Who has caused this?" Siegfried asked.
Just then something appears and it's Mental.
"Mental..." Poo said.
"No...that can't be it..." Paula said.
"Well, well, well. I was wondering who was goin' through our castle. I can't believe it's you pests again." A voice said and it's Porky.
"Porky." Jeff said.
"You three just can't QUIT, can you? Do you want another beating from Mental?" Porky asked.
"You seem like you can't defeat us yourself." Poo said.
"I'd hate to get my hands dirty to kill my targets. Mental, annihilate them and do it right this time." Porky ordered.
"We need to help them." The woman said.
"Please don't worry about us. We'll handle Mental. You go on ahead." Paula said.
"Very well. Do not get killed." Siegfried said as he leaves through the bridge area.
"Please be careful. Let's go." The woman said and the man nods and they go.
"You three are so doomed! Mental has both the power of darkness and even has PSI abilities! Do you truly think you can take him on?" Porky asked.
"Whatever it takes to save our friend." Paula answered.
"Fine. Have fun dyin'." Porky said as Mental attacks the three.
Meanwhile Noel, Ken, Banjo and Kazooie, Grace, Espio, Cream and Cheese, Knuckles, Carmelita, Alibaba, Morgiana, Aang, Katara, and Zuko leave the hallway and arrive at a room that has almost nothing around but walls but as the group look around the room Noel sees some small stones forming into what looks like a spiral staircase and so the group climb up the stoned spiral staircase and make their way to the upper part of the room but then Defender Heartless appear and attack the group with their shields but Noel triple slashes at the Defender Heartless from behind with Radiant Salvation while Ken casts Earth but the Defender Heartless unleash fireballs from their shields but Zuko manipulates the fireball and throws it back at the Defender Heartless but the Defender Heartless use their face shields to bite at the group but Grace uses Growl while Morgiana delivers a somersault kick while Espio slashes with his shuriken but the Defender Heartless unleash a stream of ice but Katara uses Freeze allowing Knuckles to use Drill Punch while Carmelita shoots electric shots from her shock pistol but the Defender Heartless keep attacking with their shields but Alibaba slashes with his knife while Banjo has Kazooie shoot eggs while Aang unleashes whirlwinds while Cream sends Cheese to attack and the group defeat the Defender Heartless and keep going but find a pit but then more small stones form a bridge allowing the group to cross and they reach a door and Noel opens the door leading out of the room.
The group are now in a different room and it has many doors and the group don't know which door to open since they all look the same and so Noel opens a door but it shows nothing in the door and so the group go for the next door and Noel opens it but it shows only rocks blocking the way and so the door closes and the group keep opening door after door but they show nothing, spikes on the walls, and even Black Xetis that come out of the doors but the group defeat the Black Xetis and continue to find which is the right door and Noel finds the only door that's not opened yet and so Noel opens the door and it leads the group out of the the room of doors and are now in a different room that's a hallway and they go through the hallway but then Wraith Black Xetis appear and attack the group with their skeletal claws but Noel uses Blitz while Ken shoots magic music notes but the Wraith Black Xetis throw dark discs at the group but Banjo and Kazooie roll while Grace uses Tackle but the Wraith Black Xetis attack with their skeletal claws but Espio throws shurikens while Cream unleashes Omochao Bomb and it explodes while Knuckles double punches but the Wraith Black Xetis keep attacking with their skeletal claws but Carmelita pistol whips while Alibaba uses Amon's fire to strike while Morgiana uses Battle Cry but the Wraith Black Xetis throw dark discs but Aang unleashes rocks and throws them while Katara throws water discs while Zuko unleashes a barrage of fireballs and the group defeat the Black Xetis and keep going through the hallway and find another door and leave the hallway.
The group are now in a different room that has many lifts and Noel finds a lower lift and so she decides to use it and the her friends follow her to the lift and the lower lift takes the group to the upper part of the lift room and move through the upper lift room but then Dark Knight Black Xetis appear and slash at the group with their swords but Noel horizontal slashes with Radiant Salvation and then uses Spin Slash while Ken bashes with his guitar while Banjo has Kazooie charge while Grace tail whips while Espio delivers multi ninja kicks while Cream and Cheese spin together and strike at the group while Knuckles uses Uppercut while Carmelita shoots four electric shots from her shock pistol while Alibaba roundhouse slashes with his knife while Morgiana delivers a strong flip kick while Aang delivers air slashes while Katara water whips while Zuko delivers a flame kick and the group defeat the Dark Knight Black Xetis and keep going through the upper lift room and they find an opened hole and go through it leading to the exit of the lift room.
The group are now outside of the castle and they find stairs leading upward and they go the upper part and Noel finds what looks like a crystal and so she examines the crystal but then it begins glowing and it transports Noel and her friends out of the outside of the castle and they are now transported to the higher part of the outside of the castle and while looking around the group begin hearing noises.
"What's that? Where's it coming from?" Knuckles asked.
"I think it's coming from up there." Noel answered pointing up at the upper part of the outside of the castle that has a bridge.
"It sounds like fighting up there." Alibaba asked.
"Maybe someone's in trouble..." Cream suggested.
"We should find our way up there and see what's happening." Noel said.
The group go through the outside of the castle and they find another crystal item and Noel uses it and it releases an ethereal trail and so the group walk along the ethereal trail and they reach the end and make it to the other side of the area of the outside of the castle but then Wyvern Heartless appear and dive attack at the group but Noel aerial slashes with Radiant Salvation and then casts Gravity while Ken casts Thunder but the Wyvern Heartless attack with their feet but Banjo has Kazooie shoot eggs while Grace uses Growl but the Wyvern Heartless spin attack at the group but Espio uses Leaf Swirl while Cream delivers a flying kick while Knuckles uses Uppercut but the Wyvern Heartless fly all over the air but Carmelita shoots electric shots from her shock pistol but the Wyvern Heartless dive attack again but Alibaba triple slashes with his knife while Morgiana delivers two strong punches and then a strong kick but the Wyvern Heartless attack with their feet but Aang uses Momo to distract and then unleashes whirlwinds while Katara throws ice daggers while Zuko unleashes a jet of fire and the group defeat the Wyvern Heartless and continue through the outside of the castle and later on they find a door and so they open the door and lead them somewhere.
Meanwhile somewhere inside the castle Siegfried, the woman, and the man keep going through the castle and fight off more Black Xetis and Heartless in their way and later on they arrive at a corridor with many spikes and firewalls but they go through the corridor and later on they find the hooded figure with the sais about to open the door.
"There you are." The woman said to the hooded figure.
"Oh, now you caught up? I was expecting you and your boyfriend to be ahead." The hooded figure said as she takes off her hood showing her face and has light red hair. "I told you two to wait until we could get to the castle together, but did you listen?" The girl said.
"We couldn't afford to wait and allow Rixla and Nightmare and their Fearmongers to win. I knew they would have all the Heart Crystals and would use them to reveal the Keyhole leading to darkness." The woman said.
"Well, now that we have assembled, let's finish the mission." The girl said.
"Agreed." The woman said and the man nods.
"I suppose I'll help, but I'm only here to destroy Nightmare and Soul Edge." Siegfried said.
"Fair enough." The girl said and the open the door and leave the corridor.
Meanwhile the group are now back inside the castle and are in a room that has another lift room and so the group find another lift and use it to reach to the upper part of the lift room and find another opened hole and it leads the group back outside the castle and they continue through but then Wizard Heartless and Warlock Black Xetis appear and attack the group but Noel uses Strike Raid but the Warlock Black Xetis unleash fire spells while the Wizard Heartless unleash ice magic but Ken bashes with his guitar while Banjo has Kazooie charge but the Warlock Black Xetis unleash dark pillars while the Wizard Heartless cast a pillar to the ground spell but Grace uses Bite but the Warlock Black Xetis unleash lightning spells while the Wizard Heartless unleash cast a fire spell but Espio slashes with his shuriken while Cream sends Cheese to attack while Knuckles delivers a headbutt but the Wizard Heartless disappear and then reappear and cast multiple lightning spells while the Warlock Black Xetis unleash dark beams but Carmelita delivers a spin kick while Alibaba slashes with his knife while Morgiana delivers a flip kick but the Warlock Black Xetis unleash dark pillars while the Wizard Heartless unleash another ice spell but Aang unleashes rocks and throws them while Katara throws a stream of water while Zuko slashes with his broadswords and the group defeat the Warlock Black Xetis and Wizard Heartless and keep going through the outside of the castle and find stairs leading upward and so they go up but Soldier Heartless appear and attack with their claws but Noel slashes with Radiant Salvation and then casts Thunder and defeats the Soldier Heartless and later on they find another door and it leads them somewhere.
The group are now in a room that some contraptions and while looking around Noel finds another door and tries to open it but it's not moving.
"Don't tell me the damn thing's locked." Ken said.
"There has to be a way to open that." Katara said.
Noel looks around the room and sees that there are five gears not moving and finds a lever and so she walks over to the lever and tries to pull it but then something hits her and then the gears are being moved from where they are and and are now gone.
"What just happened?" Zuko asked.
"Something just took the gears. There's no way they could have moved on their own." Noel said.
"I bet those Heartless or the Black Xetis took 'em." Banjo said.
"Let's find whoever stole those gears and bring them back. They could be the ones to open that locked door." Carmelita said.
The group explore the room and they find a door to lead them somewhere and they go to a different area of the contraption room and start looking for a gear and while exploring Noel finds a gear and tries to take it but then something hits her and the gears moving but Noel uses Strike Raid to strike at the moving gear and it drops on the ground the Keyblade hits something and it's what looks like a Soldier Heartless but it's different.
"What the hell kind of Heartless is that?" Ken asked.
"Doesn't matter. It stole the gear." Kazooie said.
The Heartless known as Stealth Soldier takes the gear and turns back invisible.
"I don't think so." Espio said as he turns invisible and strikes with his shuriken and reveals the Stealth Soldier again.
Noel slashes at Stealth Soldier with Radiant Salvation and then casts Blizzard and Noel defeats the Stealth Soldier and Noel takes the gear.
"That's one." Noel said.
"Those Heartless just took four more of those things." Alibaba said.
"We'll search this room if we to." Knuckles said.
"Come on." Noel said.
The group go through the area and continue to search for more Stealth Soldiers for the four remaining gears and later on Noel finds another gear moving and so Noel delivers a slide dash and attacks revealing another Stealth Soldier who delivers a drilling attack but Noel slashes with Radiant Salvation and then uses Edge Slash and later on defeats the Stealth Soldier and takes the second gear and the group keep searching for three more Stealth Soldiers that took three more gears and later on Noel finds another moving gear and so Noel casts Thunder to strike and it's another Stealth Soldier and so Noel uses Strike Raid to strike at the Stealth Soldier defeating it and Noel takes the third gear and the group search the area for two more gears and later on Noel finds another moving gear and so Noel casts Fire at the gear dropping it and another Stealth Soldier is revealed and Noel slashes with Radiant Salvation and then uses Spin Slash and defeats the Stealth Soldier and takes the fourth gear and the group start finding the last gear and while exploring Noel finds the remaining last gear and so Noel casts Earth to strike at the last Stealth Soldier and then uses Blitz and defeats the last Stealth Soldier and Noel takes the last gear.
"That's all of them." Noel said.
"Good. Let's place these back to where they belong." Morgiana said.
The group return to the contraption room and Noel places the five gears back to their place and Noel pulls the lever and the gears start to spin and an unlocking sound is heard.
"That door should open now." Aang said.
Noel tries to open the door again and this time it budges and the group go through the door and they are now in a different room that has a spiral staircase and so the group climb up the spiral staircase and reach to the upper part of the room and while exploring the group find another door and open it leading to somewhere else and the group are now back outside the castle and are now in a crest area and they make their way through the crest area and arrive at a bridge area where they see some three people lying on the ground and Noel recognizes them.
"Paula, Jeff, Poo!" Noel said running to the three.
"It's those three we saw back at that forest." Alibaba said.
"What happened?" Noel asked.
"Mental." Jeff answered as he points at Mental standing in front of them.
"Oh, great. It's Porky's creation." Knuckles said.
"I can't believe he did this..." Noel said.
"I have a feeling he won't move aside." Katara said and Mental blocks the way.
"Nope. We'll have to do this the hard way." Ken said.
"Of course..." Noel said taking out Radiant Salvation. "Paula, you, Jeff, and Poo have done enough. Let us handle this." Noel said.
"Thanks, Noel." Paula said and Mental attacks the group.
Mental unleashes a psychic wave at the group who dodge out of the way and Noel slashes at Mental with Radiant Salvation and then casts Thunder but Mental retaliates by unleashing psychic sparks at Noel but Cream unleashes Aero on Noel and then sends Cheese to attack while Grace uses Tackle but Mental unleashes a dark shot to strike at the group but Carmelita shoots electric shots from her shock pistol while Banjo has Kazooie triple peck but Mental unleashes another psychic wave at the group but Katara throws ice needles while Alibaba uses Amon's fire to strike but Mental levitates himself in the air and then unleashes psychic sparks down at the group who dodge and Espio throws four shurikens while Aang unleashes whirlwinds but Mental unleashes a volley of dark shots at the group who avoid the volley of dark shots but Mental keeps firing dark shots but Morgiana delivers a flip kick while Ken unleashes magic music waves but Mental unleashes three psychic waves at the group but Knuckles uses Uppercut while Zuko lashes with his flame whip but Mental levitates himself again and the fires a psychic beam at the group who avoid the psychic beam but Mental unleashes a barrage of psychic shots at the group while levitating over them.
The group avoid the barrage of psychic shots but Mental fires another psychic beam but Grace uses Growl while Banjo has Kazooie charge at Mental but Mental strikes back with psychic waves but the group dodge the psychic waves and Zuko unleashes a barrage of fireballs at Mental while Ken casts Blizzard but Mental unleashes dark shots and then fires a psychic beam but Carmelita delivers a pistol whip while Espio delivers palm strikes and then slashes with his shuriken and then delivers a somersault kick but Mental unleashes psychic sparks to strike at the group but Cream unleashes Omochao Bomb and it explodes while Katara throws water discs but Mental unleashes a barrage of psychic shots and dark shots but the group avoid the psychic shots and dark shots but Mental then unleashes a black and green energy flash and makes it go toward the group but Aang blows Mental with air while Alibaba roundhouse slashes with his knife while Morgiana uses Battle Cry but Mental retaliates with psychic waves at the group but Knuckles double punches and then delivers a glide punch but Mental unleashes another black and green energy flash and sends it at the group and prepares for it to explode but Noel slashes at Mental with Radiant Salvation and then casts Fire just before the black and green energy flash explodes and then the explosion causes Mental's mask to break apart and it reveals a boy face with crimson eyes.
"Huh?" Noel asked.
"N-Ness...?!" Paula asked shocked.
"That's Ness...?" Noel asked.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Can someone back up here?" Ken asked.
"We'll explain later, but how can..." Noel was cut off by Mental Ness unleashing a dark psychic beam at the group who dodge. "We'll have to find someway to save him if he's your friend." Noel said.
"How?" Jeff asked.
"I don't know..." Noel said.
"Maybe you could do the same thing you did to me when I was controlled by Ganondorf." Zuko suggested.
"Maybe..." Noel said.
Mental Ness unleashes more dark psychic shots at Noel who dodges out of the way and slashes with Radiant Salvation but Mental Ness levitates himself and unleashes a volley of psychic waves at Noel but Noel casts Thunder to strike at Mental Ness but Mental Ness fires another psychic beam at Noel who dodges it and vertical slashes with Radiant Salvation and then uses Spin Slash but Mental Ness unleashes psychic sparks to strike at Noel and knock her back but Noel recovers herself and uses Strike Raid but Mental Ness unleashes another black and green energy flash and sends it for Noel and it explodes but Noel manages to dodge it and then delivers a diagonal slash with Radiant Salvation and strikes at Mental Ness but Mental Ness fires a psychic shot but Noel delivers a horizontal slash and knocks Mental Ness back.
"Let me save you." Noel said.
Mental Ness unleashes another psychic beam bu Noel dodges and concentrates on her power and Radiant Salvation then unleashes a light beam and it goes for Mental Ness' chest causing dark energy to be released from Mental Ness and then three Phantom Black Xetis leave Mental Ness' body and Mental Ness lies to the ground unconscious and he reverts back from his dark cloak to his normal clothing and the Black Xeti symbol on his chest disappears.
"You did it, Noel! You just banished the darkness from that kid." Ken said.
"I...did...just like back at Hyrule." Noel said and then she sees the three Phantom Black Xetis and then uses Strike Raid to destroy them all.
"Noel, how did you do that?" Paula asked.
"I used the Keyblade's power to banish the darkness from your friend. I think that's why he was like this..." Noel answered.
"I see. So Porky managed to turn Ness into his mindless pawn." Jeff said.
"That brat has seriously got to pay for this." Knuckles said.
"Katara, Cream, can you two help me heal him?" Noel asked.
"Of course." Katara answered.
"I would love to." Cream said.
Noel, Katara, and Cream walk over to the unconscious Ness and Noel casts Cure while Katara uses her Waterbending to heal while Cream takes out a healing potion and they all heal Ness.
"That should do it." Noel said.
Meanwhile at the dark chapel Rixla witnesses the heart shaped door with all the Heart Crystals.
"At last, all is going according to what my master desires. Everything, every world will become purified by darkness and be freed from the sins of hope, happiness, and light." Rixla said.
"Those traits of the worlds are not sins!" A voice said and Rixla turns to see the girl, the woman, and the man.
"The princess of her fallen kingdom, Peach and her failed hero, Mario. How unexpected of you both to be in this world." Rixla said.
"Unexpected is right. What you're up to will bring never ending calamity upon every world and every heart!" The woman named Peach said and the man named Mario nods.
"It's what my master wants. It's what Lord Zervik wants." Rixla said.
"Oh, no! Lord Zervik?! How is this possible?! He's not supposed to be alive!" Peach said shocked and Mario is also shocked.
"Whether you wish to believe that Lord Zervik is alive or not is your choice, Princess. He lives and his powers are absolute. He has completed both the Light Crystal and the Dark Gem and has corrupted the Light Crystal's power. Now he must obtain the pure heart of the Prince of Light, Virtus." Rixla said.
"No! It can't be possible! The Prince of Light should be safe from darkness' clutches!" Peach said.
"The foster homeworld of Virtus has been consumed and purified by the darkness. Now Lord Zervik will have his heart and complete his means for his plans." Rixla said.
"Y-You're...wrong... Even if this Virtus' heart is taken, I doubt everything'll go wrong. I'm sure things'll turn up in the end..." A voice said and the three turn to see someone and it's a blond boy being chained to a stake at a glass stained window and is severely injured, bruised, and some blood is on his skin.
"Luke...?!" The girl asked shocked.
"Hey...Ruby. Glad to you." The boy said smiling.
Meanwhile back at outside the castle and at the bridge the group see Ness regaining consciousness and is a little stunned.
"Ness! I'm glad you're okay!" Paula said hugging Ness.
"Good. He's now back to himself." Poo said.
Ness looks around and is happy to see Paula, Jeff, and Poo again and nods at them.
"I'm glad you're okay, Ness." Noel said and Ness has a confused look on his face. "Let me explain..." Noel begins telling Ness about how he became Mental the mindless minion of Porky and that Noel used her Keyblade to free him from the darkness' control and Noel also tells her friends that Paula, Jeff, and Poo were looking for Ness and left ahead to find them.
"I guess that makes sense." Knuckles said.
Ness hangs his head down in disbelief at the thought of being an evil minion.
"Don't worry, Ness. You're back to yourself. You're okay." Noel said and Ness nods smiling.
"Well, we should keep going if we wanna stop Nightmare and Rixla." Banjo said.
"Yeah." Noel said as the group start moving but then Ness gets in the way.
"What?" Ken asked.
"I think Ness wants to help you and I want to as well." Paula said.
"But you have Ness back." Aang said.
"Yes and you helped him. We want to return the favor and help you." Paula said and Ness nods.
"Okay. You four can help us." Noel said.
"Thanks. We saw Siegfried and the other two go that way." Jeff said pointing at the end of the bridge.
"Okay. Let's go that way. It should lead to Nightmare and Rixla." Noel said.
The group cross the bridge and reach the end and move through the outside of the castle and later on the group find another door and Noel opens it leading back to the inside of the castle and are now in a room that has another lift room and so the group use a lift and it brings them to a different part of the lift room and the group go through the lift room and are now in a tower area of the castle and so the group climb up a spiral staircase but then Black Xetis and Heartless get in the way but Noel slashes with Radiant Salvation while Ken bashes with his guitar while Banjo has Kazooie triple peck while Grace tail whips while Espio slashes with his shuriken while Cream sends Cheese to attack while Knuckles punches while Carmelita pistol whips while Alibaba slashes with his knife while Morgiana spin kicks while Aang delivers air slashes while Katara water whips while Zuko slashes with his broadswords while Ness bashes with his baseball bat while Paula whacks with a frying pan while Jeff shoots with his blaster while Poo delivers punches and the group defeat the Black Xetis and the Heartless and the group keep climbing up the spiral staircase and reach the upper part of the tower and arrive at another lift room and Noel uses another lift and it takes the group to the upper part of the lift room.
The group leave the lift room and return outside the castle and keep going but Wyvern Heartless and Vampirebat Black Xetis appear and attack but Noel uses Strike Raid while Ken shoots magic music notes while Banjo has Kazooie shoots eggs while Grace uses Tackle while Espio delivers multi kicks while Cream unleashes Omochao Bomb while Knuckles uses Uppercut while Carmelita shoots electric shots from her shock pistol while Alibaba uses Amon's fire to strike while Morgiana uses Battle Cry while Aang unleashes rocks and throws them while Katara throws ice daggers while Zuko unleashes a barrage of fireballs while Ness uses PK Flash while Paula uses PK Thunder while Jeff unleashes rockets while Poo uses PK Starstorm and the group defeat the Wyvern Heartless and Vampirebat Black Xetis and keep going through the outside of the castle and then they find another door and leads them back inside.
The group are now in a corridor with many spikes and firewalls but the group avoid the spikes and the firewalls but Black Xetis and Heartless appear and attack the group but Noel uses Blitz and defeats the Black Xetis and the Heartless and the group continue their way through the corridor while fighting off more Black Xetis and Heartless and avoiding spikes and firewalls and later on they reach the end of the corridor and Noel opens the doors and leads them out of the corridor.
The group arrive in another room and they are in what looks like a different hallway and while exploring the hallway they find someone and it's Siegfried and so the group run over to Siegfried.
"Siegfried. Did you find Nightmare yet?" Noel asked.
"No. Not yet." Siegfried answered.
"This guy is Nightmare's enemy too?" Zuko asked.
"Yes." Noel answered.
"I see those three are okay and they have found their friend." Siegfried said.
"Yes. Let's go find Nightmare together." Noel said.
"Very well. I wanted to do this alone, but I can accept your offer." Siegfried said.
"Sometimes, you don't have to carry a burden on your own." Aang said.
"That's right. Let us help you." Cream said.
"Yeah. Just be careful." Siegfried said.
"No problem! We'll beat Nightmare's sorry behind!" Ken said.
The group go through the hallway and later on they reach the end and find another door and they leave the hallway and go to a different room.
This is gonna be another chapter end right here. Once again, I'm NOT rushing. This is what I can come up with. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next time, Noel, Ken, Banjo and Kazooie, Grace, Espio, Cream and Cheese, Knuckles, Carmelita, Alibaba, Morgiana, Aang, Katara, Zuko, Ness, Paula, Jeff, Poo, and Siegfried continue to make their way through the castle of Bygone Fortress and they confront their powerful enemies. I'll see you in the next chapter. Take care and goodbye for now.