The Skeleton King stood with his caped back to a stone throne. The entire room he was in was made of uneven rocks. A small pool of dark ooze bubbled a few feet away. His long staff rested in his grasp.
His red eyes stared at T.V. Monster.
The servant robot stood motionlessly. Its red screen was displaying static as it did its best to get a signal.
Jinmay lay besides the King's red, boot-like feet, unconscious.
The T.V. Monster's screen flickered one last time before displaying the image of the Super Robot. The robot was flying through the dark void of space, its thrusters never losing power. Its head was slightly tilted in order to 'see' where it was going. Its limbs hung lifelessly.
The King's eyes narrowed.
"That boy is far more persistent than I expected," Judge Doom spoke from the King's side, observing the live feed through his spectacles. He stuck out like a sore thumb in the cartoon environment.
"I should have expected it," the King rasped. "Mandarin left one monkey behind, not to mention Chiro is probably still alive. What other methods to save the Princess would there be, other than to take their robot and come here?"
"You said that it takes more than two pilots to fly such a machine, correct?"
"Indeed," the King nodded. "The Keyblade master and his friends must be piloting the robot as well. And it is a wonder who they have a sixth member."
"That minor fact is not important as of now," Doom said. "What is important is that three or four people are attempting to navigate their way here, using something they have no clue how to operate."
"And advantage for us, then?"
Doom smirked, "Absolutely." He turned his head, "Patch us through to Mr. Rancid."
The Skeleton King huffed, and pointed his grey staff at T.V. Monster, "You heard him."
The image changed to an image of an impatient-looking, grey-skinned biker.
"What now?" Johnny Rancid spat.
"Take the Formless, and go into space," the Judge commanded while the Skeleton King glared. "Sora is attempting to reach the Citadel with a giant robot. Stop them at all costs."
Rancid crossed his arms, "Fine."
And the screen went dead.
"Are you sure this will work?"
"Skeleton King…you simply have no faith. Even if Mr. Rancid fails, the distraction he makes will be enough for us to find the Keyhole and use it as we please."
"It had better."
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Okay," Eddy seriously stared at the controls in the red chamber he was in, "how the fudge do we fly this thing?"
"Let us hope that you will not need to commit such an action," Gibson's voice crackled over and intercom. "With any luck, we can find a way into the Citadel of Bone, with no absolute need to use the Super Robot."
"Any idea where that is? Or where we're going, for that matter?"
"Oh, if forgot to mention something! Towards your right, there is a row of three buttons. Press the one on the far left. That goes for all of you."
Eddy pressed the said button, and a screen frizzed into existence in front of him. He could see though the Super Robot's eyes. Nothing but dark oblivion, with countless stars, could be seen.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(SORA) Done."
"(SONIC) Same here. Nice view, by the way."
"(Gibson) The visual screen you are viewing is connected to the Super Robot's eyes by highly-accurate--"
K-K-K-K-K-K
The left leg suddenly did a dramatic kick, causing the Super Robot to spin out of control.
"WHOOOOOOOOO-AAAAAAAAAAAA!.!.!.!.!.!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(SORA) I think I'm gonna be sick…"
"(SONIC) Me…too."
"GIBSON) Not in the robot!"
"(CHIRO) Ed, Gibson meant your OTHER right!"
"(ED) Oops. Hu-hu-hu-ha!"
"(EDDY) Any chance of leaving him behind?"
K-K-K-K-K-K
Chiro guided the thrusters on the robot's back, shifting everything towards the right direction.
"Okay, I fixed our little problem," he said.
"Jeez, Ed," Eddy's voice cackled in the intercom, "learn to tell between your left and right, Ed."
"Uh, okay, Eddy. OH! What's this big, green button do?"
Chiro's eyes suddenly widened, "DON'T TOUCH THAT!.!.!" he practically spat at the intercom. "THAT'S THE--!"
A 'click' was heard.
"--…gravity button."
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Hahahahaha!" Ed laughed like an idiot as the gravity to his compartment was turned off. Him and his helmet floated in two different directions. "I can fly! Woohoo!"
He twirled in the air, did a breaststroke, swam like a dolphin, and barked like a seal.
"ARF-ARF! I'm a penguin!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(GIBSON) I suggest you get things back to normal. Better not make the Super Robot explode."
"(ED) Okay. (CRASH!) Ouch………hahahahaha!"
"(SORA) I-Is that even possible?"
"(CHIRO) The robot exploding, you mean? I don't think you should tell them everything that's possible, Gibson. Don't wanna give 'em any ideas. Heh…"
K-K-K-K-K-K
Suddenly, a huge thing flew into the Super Robot from behind, wrapped its limbs around it, and hurled towards a nearby asteroid.
The robot hit the big rock with a loud KLUNK!.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(SONIC) Ow…… Did anyone feel that as bad as I did?"
"(EDDY) What the Hell was that?.!"
"(SORA) It came from behind!"
"(GIBSON): We're under attack!"
"(CHIRO) Hang on! I'm turning us around!"
"(ED) ……………………………………………………………uh, what?"
K-K-K-K-K-K
Everyone's voice made a gasping sound when the thing that attacked the robot came into view.
It was a giant Formless that had taken a humanoid-shape. The physique was that of a well-built male. It possessed the typical features of any regular Formless; exposed bones….with dark ooze taking up boneless space. It was just about as tall as the Super Robot.
A gruff voice sounded, and, somehow, managed to be heard.
"What's up, losers?" the giant Formless didn't move as someone spoke from within it. "Havin' a nice cruise through space, are you?"
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(GIBSON) Hmm, it can speak…..so maybe, it can be reasoned with."
"(CHIRO) No way, Gibson. That thing just attacked us. It may not act like a regular Formless, but it's out to kill us."
"(EDDY) Can we make a decision quick before he rams us again?"
"(GIBSON) I'm going to try to talk to it."
K-K-K-K-K-K
Sora's voice cracked through the intercom, "Can you really do that?"
"Sure, I can," Gibson pressed random buttons. "Ahem," he cleared his throat.
"I still think it's a waste of time…," Chiro muttered.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Not gonna talk, eh?" the Formless leaned its cranium to the side.
Skkykkj!--"May I ask you why you attacked us?" Gibson's amplified voice spoke from the robot. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Heh, I'll tell ya what you problem is! Judge Doom's hired me to put you dweebs outta commission, while the bag o' bones does his magical crap. They want some sorta 'Keyhole' thing, or something. And they don't want no stupid punks like you buggin' 'em about it!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
Sora blinked in his compartment, "Hey, Eddy, you don't think he's--?"
"The guy we saw in Traverse Town?" Eddy finished. "Could be."
"'Jamey Retched'?" Ed suggested.
"Gibson, try asking his name," Sora spoke.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"What's your name?"
A slight chuckle. "Name's Johnny Rancid, biker extraordinaire, and professional ass-kicker, and I'm out to stop you, more importantly have the loudmouth and dumbass Dipped."
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(GIBSON) How in the name of Science can a living human control a Formless from within?"
"(EDDY) I don't think that's so important right now."
"(ED) I don't wanna be Dipped!"
"(SORA) I agree with Eddy. Let's get 'im."
"(CHIRO) NO! That'll only waste anymore time! Let's lose him in that meteor shower."
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot turned, and flew in the direction of the said shower…
…only to come to a sudden halt by some sort of force field.
The robot's left hand moved over the unseen wall. It clenched into a fist.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"There appears to be some sort of shield surrounding us!" Gibson's voice screeched. "We're trapped."
"And I have a feeling that Rancid's the reason," Chiro uttered. His fists clenched around the joysticks. "RRRAAAGH! I've had enough of these waists of time! Let's get 'im, Team!"
"…uh, we don't know how…," Sora murmured.
"Just follow our lead," Gibson announced. "We'll take down this ruffian, and get to the Citadel. This battle shouldn't take more than a minute."
Chiro's eyes narrowed, "Hyperforce! GO!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot rocketed towards Rancid's Formless body.
"'Bout time you kids decide to--" he was cut off when the Super Robot head-butted him right in the chest.
With a shout, he flew back. The humanoid ooze clenched its fists, and soared at the giant robot.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Eddy! Push your joysticks forward!" Gibson's voice commanded.
"All of them?"
The sound of gritting teeth, "Rrrrghh-YES! All of them!"
He pushed the upward sticks with both hands, and used his knee to move the centre one.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot raised both hands, and met the fists of Johnny Rancid's Formless body. Both gargantuan forms pushed against one another.
The sound of straining metal came from the robot's arms as they did their damned best to ward away Rancid. The jet thrusters flared, nearing their maximum power.
The Formless arms built up more ooze as the rest of the body sacrificed most of its girth to add more strength to the sticky upper limbs. As a result, the legs began to shrink….but the arms grew.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"He's giving us more than we bargained for! Sonic, activate both buttons on the upper joysticks!"
The hedgehog smirked, "Heh-heh, you got it, monkey boy."
His gloved thumbs did as they were told.
Cl-Click.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The robot's eyes began to glow.
The giant Formless applied less strength as Johnny was distracted. This caused the being to be move backwards ever so slightly.
"What the--?.!.?.!.?.!" he was cut off as twin laser beams flew from the eyes, and ate their way through the hollow eye sockets of his monster, came out the other side, and blew up an asteroid. "AAAGH!.!.!.!" the scream wasn't out of pain, but out of surprise.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Sora, push all joysticks forward!"
"Okay!" Sora shoved his gloved hands forward.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot kicked the Formless in its midsection. Johnny stopped his Formless body from flying backwards by grabbing the extended, robotic foot which had stuck him.
"I have you now!" Johnny hollered as the Formless' body returned to its previous state.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Guys….a little help would be appreciated," Sora's fearful voice uttered.
Chiro turned the joysticks to the right, "Help is on the way!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot's thrusters powered as hard as they could in an attempt to pull the rectangular foot out of Rancid's grasp.
"Oh no, you don't!" The Formless grabbed the other foot in its gooey hand.
The Super Robot's thrusters suddenly spun a one-eighty, and aimed their flames 'up'. The robot's feet flew into….through the arms and through the shoulders.
The Formless hastily spun around, reforming its arms. It extended an arm, and shot a torrent of ooze in the robot's direction.
The Super Robot grabbed the slimy 'tentacle', and pulled with all its might.
The Formless flew in the robot's direction. The latter raised a titanium fist to sock the fiend right in the……………cheekbone (?).
With a growl, Johnny made his Formless body grab the fist, and throw the hulking robot over himself.
With a flare of its thrusters, the Super Robot flew and swung both fists at the gooey torso. The fists didn't manage to penetrate the body, though; it was as if the chest was made out of a tougher substance.
The Formless made a fist of its own, and thrust it into the Super Robot's midsection.
CLANG!
The robot flew back with a dent.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Eddy, straighten the arm outward, and hit all the switches on the joysticks! I'll be doing the same!"
"Roger that!"
"Who's Roger?"
"Shut up, Ed," Eddy lifted his thumbs and foot, and slammed them on the switches.
K-K-K-K-K-K
While move backwards to dodge a swipe, the Super Robot spread its arms out like a crucifix. Several compartments opened up in the limps from the fists to the torso, releasing dozens of missiles in the Formless' direction.
SH-SH-SH-SH-SH-SH-SH-SH-SH-SHOOOOOOOOMFF!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!
The Formless didn't manage to dodge the hell-seekers, resulting in several mini-explosions occurring in the left half of its body.
When the smoke cleared, the Formless floated……the left side of its body missing from the shoulder to the groin. A small portion of the torso was gone.
"Rrrrgh! You're gonna pay for that!" and, somehow, Johnny was still alive. The being convulsed as it strained to re-grow its lost body parts.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(CHIRO) Nothing's working! He just keeps regenerating!"
"(EDDY) Chill out. It hasn't even been a minute yet."
"(ED) Just like a chameleon……"
"(SONIC) What should we do?"
"(CHIRO) I dunno…… Whatever we do doesn't work!"
"(GIBSON) On the contrary, Chiro…"
K-K-K-K-K-K
"I believe I know the solution to all this."
A sigh, "I'm all ears."
I have just finished conducting a scan of the Formless' body, and have come up with a hypothesis that is about to be ninety-eight percent true."
"Get to the point."
"Ahem. I believe that if we hit it right in the centre of its torso with an attack that is adequate, we may beat this thing."
Eddy spoke, "Do you have a good reason?"
"Indeed, I do. If any of you had noticed, when Eddy and I punched him in the chest, nothing happened. So, the torso must be well-protected to contain something."
A slight chuckle, "Of course. And I know the exact move to use. Let's go!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot flew at high speed, just as the giant Formless had finished construction its body.
The robot made to plough into its opponent, but the Formless was faster, and expertly darted to the side.
The Super Robot flew past it, and spun around in time to deflect a volley of sloshy fists.
The blocking was concluded with a well-aimed kick in the robot's chest.
"RAAAUUGHHH!.!.!.!" the Formless' hands flew at the robot's neck.
The robot managed to catch those hands. It was the same as before. The Formless and Super Robot 'stared' at one another blankly as they tried to overpower the other.
K-K-K-K-K-K
Chiro grinned, "We have him now!"
"Go, Chiro! We cannot afford to waste this--!" Gibson was cut off.
Chiro popped open one small compartment, and slammed his gloved fist on it, "Lazatron Fury!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
The entire front face of the Super Robot's torso began to glow a bright green. Before the Formless could react, it was blasted with a powerful, tea green, rectangular laser beam.
The torso was decimated into oblivion. The arms, legs, and head melted away, as if 'knowing' that their body was gone.
The Super Robot was victorious.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Finally!" Chiro rubbed the sweat from his forehead with the back of his glove. "Time to go," he adjusted the controls, guiding the Super Robot away.
K-K-K-K-K-K
As the robot left the battle site…
Something remained floating in space…
Someone.
"….nnngh…," Johnny Rancid rubbed his helmeted head. "Stupid kids…. Frickin' destroyed my body thing…. Dumbass Skeleton King giving me useless crap to fight with……. Huh? Aw, crap--!"
He was floating through space, wearing no protection at all. Just his biker helmet, jeans, belt, wife beater, leather boots, and gloves. How he was still alive was mystery on its own.
"Jeez," he looked left and right, "where is it--Ah-ha!" he 'swam' towards his motorcycle, which also survived. He mounted the vehicle, and drove though the cold vacuum of space.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"The time has come!" the Skeleton King exclaimed with his staff and free hand held high.
As if reading his mind, T.V. Monster brought up Mandarin's image.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Begin the Keyhole process," the King commanded. "Now is the perfect time in which to do so."
Mandarin half-bowed, "Yes, my Lord." And his image disappeared to reveal the Super Robot navigating its way closer to the Citadel.
The Skeleton King glared, "Your biker boy didn't finish them."
"It doesn't matter, because the Keyblade Master has already been delayed," Doom replied.
"Don't underestimate your enemies, Doom," the King seethed.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"You monkeys are in for a treat," Mandarin grinned insanely.
He stood in a circular, dome-shaped chamber of stone. A pillar of a 'water-like' substance stood in the centre. The 'water's' movements suggested it was rising into the ceiling.
Along the walls, there were five arches. On four of them were none other than Antauri, Sprx, Otto, and Nova. Their legs and arms were spread out, and their hands and feet were covered in some sort of web-like silk. Their tails dangled uselessly between their legs. A purple hue still displayed itself in their eyes. And the worm-like creatures were still positioned on their heads.
"It was a shame that Gibson couldn't join you," the ugly monkey's face was sad for a quarter of a second as he glanced at the vacant arch. He smirked, "No matter. You four will provide enough power to construct the Keyhole."
"You'll never get away with this!" Nova shouted, her head thrashing.
"Yeah! Chiro will be here to kick your butts before you can get your filthy hands on the Keyhole!" Otto growled.
"Oh really?" Mandarin raised a humongous eyebrow.
"Yah really, you traitor!" Sprx struggled to get free.
"Hah-hah-hah-hah!" Mandarin laughed, and leaned into the red monkey. "Your claims will all be in vain once my Lord acquires access to the Heart of Shuggazoom."
"We'll see about that! Magna-Tingler Bl--!"
"Don't bother," Mandarin waved with a huge hand. "All you powers have been neutralised, so I suggest you save your breath. Much like Antauri," he gestured at the silent monkey, who was looking down and had his eyes closed the entire time.
The traitor strolled towards the pillar of rising liquid. At the same time, four tentacle-like things with circular tips descended from above. Each tip entered the mouth of the worms possessing the monkeys. Mandarin placed a hand in the pillar. As he did so, a purple colour began to branch out and change the colour of the column. The purple rose to the ceiling, and travelled down the tentacles and into the worms.
The monkeys began to glow a purple aura. Their mouths suddenly opened in a scream of pure agony.
"AAAAAAAAAUUGH!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!" their voices filled the chamber with the ability to shatter glass.
Mandarin withdrew his hand. Instantly, the screaming ceased as the purple hue vanished. The monkeys panted, as if having screamed a thousand breaths.
"It may hurt, but it's what's necessary to find the Keyhole."
"If I may ask," a tiny figure stepped into view, "if we are looking for the Keyhole of Shuggazoom, why not do it at Shuggazoom?" It was a tiny monkey that wore clothes reminiscent of Jinmay. A black eye patch covered its right socket. Its voice did not suit its looks at all; it looked feminine, but sounded male.
"The monkeys are connected to the Heart of Shuggazzom, meaning that they can reveal the Keyhole wherever they are," Mandarin explained. "I, myself, was connected to Shuggazoom….but the Skeleton King broke that bond when he gave me this body. The girl also has the power to reveal the Keyhole, but it is a mystery to me how her robotic body can house such a pure heart."
"Either way, nothing can stop us in such a process, correct?" the tiny monkey raised an eyebrow.
"Correct."
"Then, let's not get too cocky before Chiro and the Keyblade Master arrive."
Without a word, Mandarin put his hand in the column.
And the screaming continued. This time, uninterrupted.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(GIBSON) There it is…… The Citadel of Bone…"
"(SORA) Wooaahh……"
"(ED) It's all pointy……………and stuff."
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot slowed down as it neared an enormous, triangular vessel made out of nothing but grey-green rock. The stone-made thing drifted sinisterly through space, like a shark about to hunt prey.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(EDDY) How do we get in?"
"(CHIRO) I have a plan."
"(GIBSON) We're with you every step of the way, Chiro."
"(SONIC) Guys, I have bad news. I think I've outlasted being summoned. I'm gonna go back to being a gem."
"(GIBSON) It doesn't matter; I stationed in Antauri's compartment on purpose. You may revert back to a gem."
"(SONIC) Okay. Good luck without me. (FLASH!)"
K-K-K-K-K-K
"That wretched boy has come in range of the Citadel," the Skeleton King hissed as he sat in his throne.
"What do you propose we do, then?" Doom inquired, eyeing the Keyhole that was slowly forming across the room.
"You just relax while I command the defences to do their work," the King closed his dark eyes, and placed one clawed palm on the throne's stony armrest. "……"
K-K-K-K-K-K
Blasts of bright, purple energy were screaming towards the Super Robot from the Citadel.
The giant robot took evasive action, loaded its missiles, and fired them from its arms. The projectiles hit the surface of the vessel, only scuffing the big rock formation. More purple blasts flew, some of them managing a few strikes. The Super Robot then flew directly towards the ship's left side, and punched a small hole with its metal fist. The opening began to shrink, as if the Citadel was healing itself.
Finally, the robot then did several loops around the Citadel, only provoking the gargantuan structure to use more firepower.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The hole had almost shrunk.
Five figures flew towards it.
Two of them were Chiro and Gibson. The former was wearing an orange-striped space helmet and matching suit in order to breathe, and the latter had a small mask around his mouth. Both drifted with a jet thruster on their backs.
Another one was Sora, wearing a suit similar to Chiro's, complete with a jet thruster on the back. The helmet was too big and squared, and the body was too thin to benefit his shoulders and large feet. He had to endure the discomfort for a little bit longer.
Ed and Eddy wore no protection whatsoever. They 'swam' through space with their cartoon bodies unharmed. They held their breaths, resulting in their blue cheeks puffing out comically to sizes bigger than their heads.
Chiro motioned for them to hurry.
Everyone did so.
Gibson went in first. He strained to keep his position, because air was being sucked out.
Next went Sora, with the blue-faced Eddy in tow.
Chiro went in last, tugging the near-unconscious Ed.
They made it in just in time for the hole to completely seal.
K-K-K-K-K-K
Eddy panted, catching his breath as Sora let him down. Ed was no different.
"Looks…..like…..the air's…..perf-……-ectly……….breathable…..," Eddy heaved.
"You could have used one of my suits," Chiro told him. "Why'd you two bother almost suffocating out there?"
"You suit……was too…….big for……me."
"Why not use the helmets Sandy gave us at Bikini Bottom?" Sora suggested.
Eddy smiled sheepishly, "I left them in the ship."
Ed shook a finger, "Naughty, naughty."
"Excuse me," Gibson interrupted, having removed his mask, "but will you talk about trivial matters some other time, please? Encase you haven't noticed, we're inside one of the most diabolical structures to ever exist." He all around him with open arms.
Chiro, Gibson, Sora, Ed, and Eddy were inside a small chamber made of rock. A tunnel led out somewhere. They trekked through the passage, and immediately stopped at the end. They gazed at what looked like an infinite spiral pathway leading up and down and connecting to several other chambers, which, no doubt, would connect to several more. The entire rocky structure formed a ghastly labyrinth of pure evil. The hollow structure wasn't empty though; Formless walked sloshily from place to place, on guard patrol. That wasn't all; the gang had to duck the searchlight of a tall, metallic, spider-like robot with a skeletal face imprinted on its circular body.
As the robot walked away, Chiro stuck out his helmeted head, "The Skeleton King's around here somewhere. And I bet Jinmay's with him."
"But how the Hell do we find them?" Eddy said quizzically. "This place is--"
"HUGE!" Ed finished his sentence with a shout, causing the gang to collectively wince.
"Indeed it is huge," Gibson fiddled with his tracking device, "and it may prove difficult to locate the Skeleton King and Jinmay, but it will be simple to find the other monkeys, whose signals are present."
Everyone collectively smiled…
…except for Eddy. He asked Chiro, "You sure that plan of yours will work?"
Chiro smirked at him, "Totally."
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot flew at high-speed.
As fast as it could from the advancing Citadel.
It manoeuvred slightly, but not expertly.
Shots were fired at it.
A lot hit.
And…
Inside the robot…
Six robots were stationed at the compartments.
Each one of them was circular.
Each one's colour matched the compartment they were situated in.
And each one had the required amount of limbs needed for piloting.
They were no other than simple, mindless drones.
Distractions.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"No Heartless," Sora said suspiciously, walking third place as the group journeyed through a rocky passage. He had discarded his space suit, as had Chiro.
"Hmm?" Eddy glanced at him from the right.
"I said there aren't any Heartless in this place," the teen clarified.
"It figures," Chiro muttered from the head of the group. Like Sora, his space suit was gone. "The Skeleton King is too proud and self-centred to use any forces but his own."
"I see."
"Monkeys for me, please?" Ed asked Gibson with an idiotic grin under his traffic cone helmet.
Gibson gave him a weird look, "If that means you want to know how far or close we are, then I'll tell you here and now that the rest of the Monkey Team are no less than one hundred metres away."
"Yummy."
"………"
They neared the exit of the passage, where a new hollow chamber would undoubtedly be.
"Everyone on your guard," Chiro's blue eyes narrowed. "The closer we get, the tighter security's gonna be."
They stepped into a new spiral chamber.
At one point, Eddy walked over, and peeked over the edge.
The spiral stretched downward, eventually into nothing but dark oblivion.
"…...," the pink-skinned mage gulped. He looked aside……..and his eyes widened.
"According to my readings," Gibson walked ahead, staring down at his device, "we're getting……close…..?" he looked behind him. He saw everyone lingering. "What the Devil are you waiting for?.! We're almost…….--" he stopped when he noticed a shadow in front of him. "……," slowly, he turned and found himself looking up...
…into the red eyes of some sort of skeletal monstrosity. It looked like a giant canine with some grey fur on its spine. An extra pair of limbs stuck out from its sides to form hands at their ends. The six-limbed creature let out a monstrous roar.
"RAAAAAOOOOOOOWRR!.!.!.!.!.!"
Gibson gulped, frozen in place as the thing opened its mouth to devour him.
Luckily for the monkey, Chiro swept in just in time to hook an arm around his tiny body and pull him out of harm's way.
The beast's nose scraped the ground.
"What the Hell is that thing?" Eddy shakily prepared his staff as Chiro returned to the group.
"One of Skeleton King's mindless slaves," Chiro grunted, lowering Gibson to the ground.
"GRRRRRR-HHHH!.!.!.!"
"I think he heard you," Sora said weakly.
The beast scraped the rocky ground with its front-left foot, like a bull.
"He's about to charge!" Gibson pointed with a drill, already prepared.
…and the beast charged.
Chiro instinctively yelled, "EVERYONE! MOVE!"
Ed and Eddy jumped to the right. Sora and Gibson jumped to the left. Chiro jumped at the right moment, vaulted off the fiend's nose, and sent a spear towards the skeletal freak's head.
The spear bounced off, barely leaving a scratch.
Chiro gritted his teeth as he landed in a crouch, with his back against a wall.
The beast was about to charge again when it was suddenly pelted with fireballs, Keyblade strikes, shield strikes, and drill shocks.
"RRGHHH!" it reached with one of its abnormal hands to slap away the Eds.
Eddy managed to duck, but Ed was swatted ten feet away; his strength kept him from going airborne.
Sora jumped, and sailed his Keyblade into the beast's left arm, managing to chip it.
The beast screeched, reached, grabbed Eddy ("HOLY--!"), and literally threw him at Sora.
Sora dodge-rolled under his flying friend, and came up in an upward strike to the freak's underside.
Meanwhile, Gibson had managed to land on the fiend's back, and was busy trying to break the strong bones with his drills.
"Freeze sucka!" Eddy suddenly came to a skidding stop in front of the beast. He aimed his staff with extreme gusto, and fired a freezing projectile at the monster's left leg, reducing the entire limb to an ice block. The mage then made a pathway of ice on the ground. "Get 'im, Ed!"
"YAAAA-HOOOOOO!" Ed slid along the icy path on his butt with his shield held out horizontally.
SLICE!
"RRRRRAAAAA-IIIIIIIIIIII!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!" the beast screamed as its left leg was sliced clear off by the shield. Its arms flailed about, knocking Gibson off its back.
Several feet away, Chiro was sprinting. His hands were glowing a contrast of green and black. He hollered above the beastly cries, "Everyone! Together!"
Everyone converged at once.
Gibson used the ice path to slide under the creature with his drill pointing up at its belly. "Photon Scalpel!"
A blue beam of energy shot from the drill's spinning tip, into the monster's underside, and out from its back.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Sora ignited the tip of his Keyblade, and repeatedly slammed it into the beast's skull and every other body part he could get to.
The fiend thrashed around, knocking Eddy--who was about to attack--aside.
"Whoa!" Sora grabbed a handful of grey fur, and held on tight like a bull-rider.
"Ed! Gimme a boost!" Chiro ordered, running.
"Sure," Ed saluted. He then bent over with cupped hands.
Chiro jumped.
His foot landed in Ed's hands.
"Alley-oop!" Ed raised his hands.
Chiro flew. He reached a hand out, and latched onto the beast's left arm. He exhaled and used Monkey Fu to blow the appendage clear off.
The fiend jumped up and down in a desperate attempt to fend off the attackers. It became obvious that it was losing badly.
A few feet away…
"C'mon… Nnnnrgh!" Eddy strained.
He was dangling over the edge of one of the large duct's many spirals. One false move and he might suffer a seemingly endless fall. He had just managed to reach the edge when the beast knocked him aside.
"Nnn! Freakin' come ON!" he leaned, and moved his leg over the ledge. He sighed in relief, and picked up his staff.
With alert eyes, he watched as Sora, Chiro, Ed, and Gibson beat the stuffing out of the beast.
He was about to join, when the sound of muddy ooze pricked his ears. He turned around to see a group of over a dozen Formless heading towards the battle. It was about time the intruders' presence was recognised.
"………………," he suddenly smirked as the group of fiends got closer. "Time to try a new move."
He pointed his staff, uttering one word, "Gravity!"
A glowing orb of dark, kaleidoscopic purple, black and red grew at his staff's 'wizard's hat'. As a reaction, a dome of similar colours formed around the Formless, who were suddenly--comically--flattened into pancakes. They then melted.
Eddy smirked coyly, and repeated them move until there were no more enemies.
"Man, I kick so much--DAMN!" he made a goalkeeper-dive to the side just in time to avoid the helplessly skidding body of the beast.
"RAAAAR!" with its back dangerously close to the edge Eddy had managed to climb over, it clawed at Sora and Gibson, who both raised their weapons in defence.
Ed rammed his shield into the beast, pushing it further over.
The beast's hind legs clawed at the cliff's wall, hanging from the spiral.
"Thunder Punch!" Chiro finished everything by jumped, vaulting off Ed's shoulder's, and sending a blast squarely between the monster's eyes.
"RAAAAAAAAGH!" it fell over the edge. "RAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa………………!"
They never heard the sound of impact.
"Let's get a move on," Gibson was the first to speak, whipping out his tracking device and leisurely walked on.
The others helplessly followed.
Without a word.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The black Keyhole was barely half-way formed.
The Skeleton King glared at it impatiently.
Judge Doom watched it. Stone-faced as ever.
Jinmay's unconscious body didn't budge an inch.
T.V. Monster stood against the wall. Lifeless. Awaiting orders.
Not a word was uttered.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Chiro?"
"……….."
"Chiro…?"
"……………"
"Chiro!"
"………..huh?" the boy had stopped in mid-walk. He gazed to his right; at a small room with an arched entrance.
"What's the matter?" Gibson inquired. "You look troubled."
As a reply, Chiro gazed into the room.
After a few seconds, everyone marched over, and peered in.
The room was small, and filled with toys. Boys' toys, to be precise. Everything from stuffed animals to action figures to remote-control cars to board games was there. The playthings anyone would expect a young boy to spend his time with without a care in the world.
"Nice toys," Ed commented.
"Don't bother playing with them, lumpy." Eddy pointed, "We're on a mission."
"These….," Chiro began, "….they look like the toys I used to play with before I joined the Hyperforce."
"As in….they're yours?.?.?.?" Sora inquired.
"Yeah…."
Gibson gazed at the toys, "That's rather……disturbing."
"But why would the Skeleton King have your old toys?" Sora asked, leaning in his Keyblade.
"Maybe, he likes to play during his free time!" a familiar idiot suggested.
"Shut up, Ed," a familiar mage snapped.
Chiro snapped out of it with a shake of his head. "Forget about it right now," he said. "Let's keep going. How much further, Gibson?"
"We're very close," the monkey jogged ahead. "They should be around this corner."
They rounded the corner, and looked.
About three dozen Formless were guarding the entrance to another chamber.
Eddy smirked sarcastically, "This will be easy."
"And it doesn't look like there are any other drones on guard," Gibson's hands morphed into drills.
"Then, let's get 'em," Chiro stepped forward. "We've come this far, and are not backing down. Everyone! GO!"
The yelling alerted the Formless. They got into fighting stances.
Chiro, Gibson, Sora, Ed, and Eddy picked their opponents and attacked all at once.
K-K-K-K-K-K
In deep space, the Super Robot twirled in an attempt to dodge the dozens of volleys of purple shots coming its way.
All the while, the Citadel was catching up.
The robot's drones did their best.
The Citadel grew closer. The firing of purple blasts ceased.
Instead, a long tentacle of green mud flew from the Citadel's rocky surface, and wetly stuck to the robot's leg.
It was followed by another one…..two……four………seven tentacles, which each chose a section of the robot's body.
The robot tried to get free, but it was futile.
It was being pulled towards the enemy.
Slowly.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Take this!" Gibson sprinted, and dove through a Formless, drills first.
Ed jumped, flew, aimed his shield down, and came crashing down on another servant.
"Chiro Spearo!" a lightening bolt-shaped javelin pierced through a Formless' torso.
"HIIII-YAAAAH!" Sora drove his Keyblade through a Formless' belly, and pulled the Blade up, cutting the fiend up the middle.
Eddy casually flicked his staff, and froze a Formless into a block of ice. He then nonchalantly strolled towards the 'statue', and kicked it, causing it to break into several pieces.
There were no more guards.
K-K-K-K-K-K
They entered the chamber, and they all collectively gasped.
The monkeys hung.
Motionless.
The worms still on their heads.
If it wasn't for their heavy breathing, it would have been assumed that they were dead.
"Oh my word," Gibson stared.
Sora approached the nearest monkey, and gently cut the silk away with his Keyblade.
Nova fell, but was caught in Sora's arm. She coughed. She wheezed. She opened her eyes. Bright purple.
She uttered one word.
"Ch-Chiro…..," she weakly held a hand out to her leader and friend.
The boy replied, "I here."
"The Sk-Skeleton King……. He's managed to create the Keyhole….. Please………. Stop him."
"Where is he?" Chiro asked.
Nova tilted her yellow head to the ceiling. "Up….there…. There's no doubt…..that Jinmay's with him…….," and her head lowered.
Sora gulped at the limp thing in his arms, "Is she--?"
"No," Gibson interrupted. "And her heart hasn't been taken either. She, like the rest of the monkeys, is simply exhausted from having her energies drained in order to create the Keyhole."
"Well, what do we do now?" Eddy asked, cradling the unconscious Otto in his hands. He and Ed had freed the others from their silk bounds. Ed was carrying Sprx and Antauri.
"We get Skeleton King," Chiro palmed a fist.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot's front came in contact with the Citadel's surface.
Metal grazed against rock.
More shoots of green mud flew and formed a 'sheet' around the robot, keeping it in place.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Congratulations, Skeleton King," Judge Doom aimed his pale head at his animated accomplice. "You have successfully captured the robot. And…..," he paused to glance at the fully-formed Keyhole across the room, "…the Keyhole is complete."
The Skeleton King uttered one word any evil villain would say in such a situation.
"Excellent."
He passed a telepathic message to T.V. Monster. The robot disappeared…
K-K-K-K-K-K
…and reappeared in the Super Robot's meeting room.
The Skeleton King's pale image appeared in the screen.
His eyes darted left and right, searching.
T.V. Monster teleported to every place of the robot.
Not a soul in sight.
K-K-K-K-K-K
T.V. Monster reappeared in the King's chamber.
The evil one opened his red-on-black eyes.
"What did you see?" Judge Doom asked. He seemed to have already known the answer.
The King's mouth twisted between a frown and a smile, "Clever boy."
KRRRK!-FLASH!.!.!
After that, a small section of the chamber's floor was ripped open from below, with a blast of green-black energy. Five figures jumped out of the hole, which instantly closed.
Sora.
Ed.
Eddy.
Gibson.
And Chiro.
"Skeleton King!" the latter of the five yelled with bared teeth. "I've come for Jinmay! Give her back! NOW!"
The King didn't answer.
Sora stepped forward after noticing the black figure besides the dark lord. "Judge Doom…….?"
His reply was the unanimated man vanishing into a portal that manifested out of thin air.
"Did you hear me?" Chiro took a threatening step forward. "I said I--!"
"I heard you, boy," the King interrupted. "And if you want to see her, here she is….," he gestured with a red hand at the unconscious girl at his throne's side.
Chiro's expression softened. He seemed to forget about the Skeleton King. He merely gazed at Jinmay like a friend, "Jinmay…..?"
"………..," no reply.
"Jinmay…….," he stepped closer. "It's me," he placed a palm on his heart as a gesture. "Chiro."
"……………..," still, no reply.
"Rrr-RRRGH! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?.!.?.!.?.!.?.!" he snarled.
"Heh-heh-heh-heh," the King chuckled. "Relax, boy. I have only put her in a deep sleep. She will awake in a few minutes, though. Long after I'm done with her. But for now," he levitated her to a location behind his tall chair, "I have to focus on some annoying guests of mine."
Two force fields materialized, blocking the Keyhole and any way of getting behind the throne.
Chiro glared, his eyes twitching in anger.
Sora spoke up, "If it's a fight you want," he pointed with his Keyblade, "then it's a fight you'll get, you monster!"
"Yeah!" Eddy agreed.
"Yeah!" Ed copied him.
"You're outnumbered five-to-one!" Gibson stated with a 'smart' frown. "We are not afraid to face you!"
"I'm quite sure of it," the King answered the monkey. "After all, you infiltrated my Citadel to oppose me. Either you're all incredibly brave…or incredibly foolish. Either way, you will not leave here alive."
Everyone collectively glared at him.
"And one more thing. I'm afraid I have to disagree with Mr. Hal."
"What in the blazes do you mean, you vile fiend?.!"
The King snapped his fingers.
CRACK! CR-CRACK! CRACK!
Four recognizable figures burst into the room from four different places. They stood in front of the King in a perfect like, like a squad of soldiers ready for orders.
"I'm not outnumbered."
Sora gasped.
Eddy and Gibson did a double-take.
Ed scratched his head.
Chiro's blue eyes widened in horror.
Antauri, Sprx, Otto, and Nova stood in front of the King, as if they were his most royal soldiers. Their eyes glowed purple, matching the glowing eyes of the worms on their robotic heads.
"Ch-Chiro!" Otto strained to say. He had a difficult time keeping his position. His body shook. It was as if two minds were battling inside him over what to do.
"Nnngh! Can't move!" Sprx was no different. His hands suddenly morphed into magnets, "Hey! I-I didn't command that!"
"D-Don't you see, y-y-you idiot?.!" Nova barked at him. She wished she could glare at him face-to-face, but only her unnaturally-purple eyes accepted movement. "Skeleton K-King's controlling u-us!.!.!"
"Indeed, I am," the King said proudly. "The worms attached to their heads are connected with me," he pointed at his trapezoid skull. "Although I haven't reached their minds yet, I can control all their movements. Including the attacks they use with their hands."
"Rrrrgh! DAMN YOU!" Chiro sweated in anger.
And the words of one monkey calmed him down.
"Be strong, Chiro."
"Huh?" he looked.
The black monkey's hands and arms turned green on command from the evil King. "Not all is lost."
"An……Antauri," Chiro heaved.
"I believe talk is over," the Skeleton King narrowed his eyes. "Prepare yourselves."
"I'm confident you can save us," Antauri voiced, ignoring his 'master'.
"I…..understand," Chiro then seemed clam, almost enlightened. "Let's do this," he got into a martial arts pose.
Sora, acknowledging that he wasn't the protagonist for now, nodded. His feet separated some, and he held his Keyblade forward with both hands gripping the hilt, bowing his head slightly. He furrowed his brow.
Ed held his shield with one hand, and his cone helmet with the other.
Eddy got into a pose similar to Sora, but his other hand lingered like a cowboy's hand before drawing a gun.
Gibson's drills gradually picked up speed as he glared with solid-black eyes.
The monkeys strained in vain not to get into fighting poses. Like the red magnets and green claws, green saws and yellow fists formed.
The Skeleton King remained seated in this throne, confident that nothing was going to happen to him. He held a hand out, and his staff flew into his palm. His red claws closed around the metal.
Silence fell for a few short seconds.
The pool of ooze bubbled between the groups.
All ten fighters merely stared, awaiting the opposing team to attack first.
"…………," not a word from Chiro's side.
"…………," and not a word from the Skeleton King's side.
But then…...
The black-haired boy and the evil being pointed a finger/staff, and shouted in unison.
"DESTROY THEM!" "EVERYONE! ATTACK!"
And the battle commenced.
Oh gawds, sorry this took so damn long. I promise the next chapter won't take so long to be updated. Until then, review, please.