Chiro ran, followed by Sora and the others. They both jumped over the pool of ooze.
"Can't….stop…..!" Otto's right saw flew from his arm, linked to the limb by a chain.
Chiro rolled to the side, dodging the attack. As one saw retracted, another flew towards Sora. The Keyblade Master held his Keyblade diagonally to deflect.
"Look out!" Nova's yellow fist came his way.
Sora's eyes widened.
"I gotcha!" Ed stood in the way with his shield. He took the brunt of impact.
"Chiro, attack the Skeleton King!" Antauri commanded while trying in vain to keep himself from clawing at Chiro. "He is your main target; not us!.!"
"It'll take it from here!" Eddy jumped between them. "This is gonna hurt you a lot more tha--OW!" Antauri had ignored Chiro to slice at Eddy's head.
The Skeleton King sat in his throne. He didn't move at all, aside from his dark eyes. As Chiro got closer, he raised his staff, and sent forth a wave of telekinesis.
"Aaagh!" Chiro felt an invisible impact on his torso. He stumbled backwards, and gripped his chest.
Meanwhile…
"Sheesh!" Eddy grunted while trying to fend off slices with a staff with a big ice cube at its tip. "We hardly know each other, and you're trying to rip me to shreds!" he reluctantly shot three ice projectiles.
"After the struggle is over…," Antauri landed from a flip he performed to dodge the last projectile, "…I do hope you forgive me."
"If I live that long…"
Antauri half-smiled. "Good." His purple eyes flashed, "Now, DUCK!"
"!.!.!.!" Eddy hit the floor as several sound waves flew at him.
The waves flew over him, and forced the distant Sora and Otto to jump backwards.
K-K-K-K-K-K
In space, the Citadel of Bone drifted silently. It had calmed down after the brief chase.
The Super Robot rested on top of it, bound by a sheet of stone. Its auto-crew had run out of energy, leaving the robot motionless.
…
…
…
…
…
…
The robot's eyes were black and dull…………until they flickered bright blue.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"I'm really sorry about this!" Otto sprinted forward, and aimed his saws at Sora's neck and shoulder, tilting them horizontally.
"It's okay!" Sora timed it right. He smacked one saw away with his Keyblade, and managed to perform a kick high enough to knock the other one.
The saws returned to the monkey.
He blinked, "Uh-oh."
Sora looked at him worriedly, "What's wrong?"
Otto simpered, his purple eyes flashing, "Nothing." One arm aimed forward; and the other aimed behind him. "….unless you count getting sliced down the middle as 'nothing'! Get outta the way!" the saws emerged, and spin, forming a virtual bike that lifted Otto off his feet, and sped him towards Sora on two green 'wheels'.
Sora gasped, and side-stepped.
Otto flew past him, 'rode' up the ceiling, took a sharp turn, came down, sped past Ed and Nova, almost hit Gibson, and came towards Sora with no intention of stopping.
Gibson regained his footing. He had committed a desperate jump to avoid Otto.
Sprx stood in front of him. He helplessly smirked crookedly, "Y'know, Gibson…even though I don't wanna hurt you, a part of me is actually enjoying this…and it isn't the ugly bug on my head. No offence." His magnetic hands glowed a hot red.
Gibson smirked back, "None taken, Sprx." His hands morphed into drills.
"Heh-heh." Sprx's eyes flashed. His smile turned into a frown, "Heads up!" he unintentionally flicked both magnets forward. He sent two red twin beams, which fused together to form one deadly laser beam.
"HAH!" Gibson sent two merging beams of his own.
The forces collided. Red met blue. The line where they met moved back and forth. Sprx and Gibson strained.
"AAAGH!" Chiro fell for the umpteenth time. He collapsed on all fours. He panted. His face was sheen with sweat.
"Your attempts are futile, boy," the Skeleton King sat without a scratch. "Surrender and allow your life to be ended quickly."
Chiro glaringly stood up.
"….Or would you have preferred becoming a mindless Heartless?"
Chiro charged again.
"So, be it," the King stretched his arms out, lifting Chiro off the ground. He moved his wrist left and right. As if on command, Chiro fell and hit the floor.
"AAAGH!"
Again.
"AAAGH!"
Again.
"NNGH!"
And again.
"Nrr-AAAGH!"
In the meantime…
Eddy panted, out of breath. He was covered in multiple scratches. "Cure..," he healed himself with a twinkle of chartreuse.
Antauri faced him from a few feet away. He didn't have a single scratch.
"Well, guess we have come to an agreement on who would win in a fight," Eddy simpered.
"You're holding back, because you know I'm not a real villain," Antauri stated.
"Well, I--"
WHAM!
Ed flew, and slammed into Eddy. The pink boy went tumbling into the battle between Sora and Otto. Amazingly, the impact completely halted Ed, allowing him to land on his feet.
"Now, that's the stuff," he gave a thumb's up.
Nova ran past them, "For some reason, I'm switching opponents!" she ran towards the recovering Eddy.
"I suggest you take cover," Antauri ran on all fours, and leapt at Ed with his claws slicing.
"Cool," Ed uttered before having half his face ripped off. "………………….ow."
On the other side of the room…
Sora ducked, blocked, jumped, and rolled to miss being sliced into ribbons. His clothes were mildly torn from the life-saving dodges me had made.
"Wow, you're really good at this!" Otto simpered as he launched his saws. "I can see how you managed to make it this far!"
"Th-Thanks," Sora blurted. He jumped one, and struck the other one with his Keyblade. "I got plenty of practice during our travels."
More sharp green flew his way. Sora found himself awkwardly deflecting with showering sparks while stepping backwards. At one point, he tripped, and fell on his back….losing his grip on the Keyblade. The Blade flew, and came into the energetic battle between Gibson and Sprx. The metal deflected both shots, sending the two monkeys back on their butts.
Sora saw it all from an upside-down view. He blushed, "Uh, sorry--"
Otto's saw scraped the ground between the teen's legs.
"…………," Sora sweated.
"Wow, that was close," the green monkey uttered.
Eddy was punched in the face, gut, shoulder, side, shin, and chest. By every punch, he would exhale a cry of pain, while wincing all over. He stumbled backwards, almost knocked out.
A yellow fist flew at his face.
Eddy helplessly flinched.
The fist suddenly stopped, am mere three inches from his nose.
"…….," Eddy sighed in relief.
"Look out!" Nova yelled from behind her fist.
The fist's knuckles extended, and sent Eddy slamming into a wall.
Nova sweatdropped, lowering her fist, "Uh……I t-tried to warn you."
"Nngh….," Chiro fell on his back, wincing.
"Chiro!" Gibson ran to his aid.
"Stay out of this!" the Skeleton King held his palm out, and sent Gibson back to where he came from.
Slowly, Chiro began to sit up.
If the Skeleton King was surprised, he did a damn good job of not showing it.
"It is inevitable," he hissed. "You will be defeated. The Monkey Team will shatter. The Keyblade Master will fail his mission. His acquaintances will be destroyed. And surely as Shuggazoom will fall…….the rest of the universe will follow. Once I'm done obliterating you and your precious Team, I will use the Keyhole to my liking, and the dear city you've been trying to protect will belong to--"
THWACK!
Sora had sailed in, and smacked his Keyblade across the King's face. The evil being exhaled as he lurched to the side, almost losing his grip of his long staff. Sora landed on the other side of him. He spun around and shot the Skeleton King a frown.
"…..," Chiro blinked.
The Skeleton King regained his tall posture. He ran a clawed finger over his cheek, feeling a new scratch in his metallic face. He gave Sora an emotionless look….and yet it was obvious by the narrowing of his eyes, that he was angry.
"I've had enough of you," the Skeleton King aimed a palm.
"Oh no, you don't!" Sora aimed his Keyblade, and released a volley of fireballs.
The fireballs hit the King in his face and chest. He barely had a scorch mark on him. He flicked his wrist.
Sora braced himself.
…
…
…
No pain.
"Huh?" he blinked in confusion. Little did he know that a group of Formless were summoned from the pool of ooze. They walked sleepily past the raging battle, towards Sora.
The Keyblade Master heard the sounds of mud, and turned around.
The Skeleton King was so enwrapped in watching his servants gang up on Sora, that he forgot about Chiro…
…not that Chiro was free to attack him.
"You know what you must do," Antauri walked towards him, his green arms prepared to cut.
"I do," Chiro nodded. "I'll try to get that worm off your head."
Antauri nodded. He pounced.
Chiro side-stepped. He reached a hand out to grab the worm.
Antauri smacked the hand away, and swept an arm out to trip his leader.
Chiro avoided it with a back-flip.
"We cannot keep this up forever!" Antauri leapt at Chiro's big head.
Chiro ducked. Antauri flew over him, landed in a handstand, and kicked Chiro in the rear while upside-down.
Chiro stumbled forward. "What do you want me to do?.!" he exclaimed as he produced a spear of energy.
"I know you don't want to fight me, Chiro," Antauri explained, "but desperate times call for desperate measure."
"What are you saying?"
"ATTACK!" Antauri's purple eyes glowed brighter as he opened his mouth, and unleashed his Monkey Mind Scream.
Chiro jumped out of the way of the sound waves. He gulped, and hurled his spear with half of his might.
Antauri gracefully cart-wheeled out of harm's way. He dove at Chiro, his claws almost as fast as bullets.
Chiro weakly held his arms out in an 'X' in front of his face. He gritted his teeth as his forearms were subjected to dozens of painful scratches.
Antauri stopped slicing, and swept an arm low. This time, Chiro was tripped. He fell on his back.
Antauri aimed his claws at his leader, doing his best to slow his controlled self down.
Chiro rolled to the side, and hastily got to his feet.
"Rrrgh!" Antauri shoved his palm into his sternum.
"DAAH!" Chiro fell on his rear.
Antauri flew at him.
CLANG!
Chiro did a double-take.
Sora was suddenly in the way, keeping Antauri at bay with the Keyblade. There were fragments of defeated Formless on his person.
"Chiro, get the Skeleton King!" Sora struggled to keep his place. Antauri's primal and robotic strength was getting the better of him. "He's YOUR villain after all!"
Chiro nodded, and ran towards his 'villain'.
"Back for more, boy?" the Skeleton King taunted. "You're more fun than the Keyblade master. Heh-heh."
K-K-K-K-K-K
While the battle raged on…
Behind the Skeleton King's throne…
Jinmay began to stir…
She wearily opened her big eyes…
"Nnngh…," she sat up, and rubbed her pink head.
She was shadowed by the tall chair.
There was a stirring behind her.
"?" she looked and only had time to gasp before a dark figure grabbed her.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"To prevent more interruptions," the King spoke while Chiro recovered from a minor mental hit, "….I believe we should do this in private."
Another force field materialized, this time around the Skeleton King and Chiro. The latter was trapped with the former, unable to reach his friends. And his friends were unable to reach him.
"What's the matter, Skeleton King?" Chiro taunted. "Afraid my friends will interrupt and beat the stuffing out of you?"
His answer was five telekinetic, painful throbs in his chest.
"AAAAARRGH!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
"………..huh?" Nova looked at herself. "I…stopped……?" she wiggled the fingers on her hand. "I can move without the Skeleton king telling me to..?"
"Welcome to my world, sister!" Sprx walked up with a grin. "Sprx is in command, baby!" he pumped a red fist. "Aright!"
Nova's eyes drifted towards Antauri, who was helping Sora up, Eddy, who was healing himself, and Otto, who was talking to Ed.
"I don't get it," the yellow monkey uttered, pointing at Sprx. "If we're free, then why are your eyes still glowing?"
"Hey, I'm not alone!" Sprx treated it as an insult. "Your eyes ain't exactly pretty in pink either, y'know. And you still got that bug on your head!"
"Can someone explain to me what's going on?.!" Otto entered the conversation. "I was about to reduce big Ed over there into ribbons, and then I stopped!"
"That's what we're trying to find out, man!" Sprx tugged at the bug on his head. "Nnnnrgh! It….won't……come…..OFF!.!.!.!"
"I believe all your questions will be answered if you look over there," Gibson announced to them. He pointed behind him. Sora, Ed, Eddy, and Antauri were just standing there, watching the fight between Chiro and the Skeleton King.
The other monkeys exchanged surprised and shocked expressions when they saw Chiro being tossed around by the Skeleton King.
"Chiro!" Otto yelled. He ran and slammed into the force field. "Crap, a force field!"
Nova produced her heavy fists, and banged on the invisible barrier.
"It's no good," Gibson stated. "These force fields are utterly impenetrable."
"Then, how do we get to Chiro?.!" Sprx barked.
"We can't," Antauri uttered, grabbing everyone's attention. "The Skeleton King wants a battle with Chiro and Chiro alone. In order to do so uninterrupted, he has created a force field to keep us out. Chiro is now by himself."
"Damn," Eddy muttered under his breath. "Wish I had a spell to get through, or something."
"But, that doesn't explain why you guys aren't trying to attack us," Sora pointed out.
"Simple, really," Gibson spoke. "The Skelton King is so concentrated on annihilating Chiro…that he's putting all his power into it."
"During the times when we were battling," Antauri explained. "The Skeleton King had to sacrifice some of his power to control us, thus preventing him from revealing his full potential."
"Either that, OR the force field is stopping him from controlling his evil bug things," Otto added.
"And how do you know all this?" Sprx folded his arms sceptically.
"Aw, c'mon, Sprx!' Nova cackled. "Isn't it obvious?.!"
"Maybe. I just want to be absolutely sure, is all."
"Pfft. Idiot."
"Hag."
K-K-K-K-K-K
"AAUGH!" Chiro was slammed into the wall. "DAH!" he hit the floor. "AA-AAA-AAAGH!" he tumbled across the floor like a rag doll.
He heard the voices of his friends from the other side.
"Oooh. That's gotta hurt."
"Chiro! Get up! Quick!"
"He's getting his butt kicked bad!"
"C'mon, kid!"
"You can take him. He's just a bag of bones!"
"Aww, man. This is bad."
"Defeat the evildoer!.!.!.!"
Chiro stirred.
Some hopeful gasps sounded form the other side.
Chiro slowly reached into his uniform, and produced a potion. After using it, most of his scratches were gone. He wasn't as good as new, though.
"The Power Primate, Chiro," came a deep, warm voice. "It rests within you."
Chiro glanced at Antauri.
The monkey stared back, "Use it."
"How sweet," the King commented. "The boy's little friends are trying to give him strength with their trivial encouragements and their petty words of wisdom."
He brought Chiro up to his face. It was as if an invisible hand was hoisting Chiro up by his scarf.
"PATHETIC!" the King roared in his face.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot's fists clenched. It strained, and managed to get an arm loose. Then, the other.
The Citadel didn't react one bit.
The Super Robot's eyes glowed a hot blue. Its head faced the right angle, and shot forth a laser beam, dividing the sheet in two.
It kicked its legs out. Its thrusters flared. Its fists remained clenched.
It hovered over the Citadel. Its eyes glowed once more, before firing their laser beams at the rocky surface. Pieces were burned away. Either tiny debris or big clumps of rock were burningly shredded before drifting off.
The Super Robot kept going…with no intention to stop.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Skeleton King gasped.
He dropped Chiro.
The boy fell achingly on his butt.
"Look!"
"What the…?"
The Skeleton King was heaving, clutching his chest with his free hand. His eyes didn't have their sinister, narrow shape; instead, they were wide in pain……or possibly fear. They even twitched a bit. He slumped over in his chair. His sharp-toothed jaw rose and fell as he panted and panted and panted.
Chiro stared.
Everyone stared as the Skeleton King panted. He was no longer the menacing villain they knew…..but a mere panting shell of his former self.
The room suddenly jolted.
"Wh-what's…..h-happening….?" The Skeleton King wheezed. He looked to his left.
T.V. Monster stood there, having been still throughout the entire fight. Its screen displayed static for a split second before displaying to everyone in the room live feed of the Super Robot attacking the Citadel.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"The Super Robot?.! The Super Robot?.!.?.!" Sprx cackled. "Someone tell me this is a dream!"
"Not quite," Gibson uttered, examining the footage being revealed by the King's lackey. "I don't know how to say it, but….the Super Robot's controlling itself."
"Didn't you say it had and auto-crew?" Eddy asked him.
"Yeah, but they only have a limited power supply," explained Otto. "I should know, cuz I built them myself."
Everyone was speechless.
Everyone…except for Antauri. "It would appear that we have found a new ally. One that has been with us all along."
K-K-K-K-K-K
Chiro looked at the ceiling. Bits of dust fell. The room was shaking from the damage the Super Robot was doing outside.
"Nnrgh!" the Skeleton King struggled to maintain his straight posture. "C-Can't….use the……d-defences…."
And something inside Chiro clicked.
"That explains…everything…," he spoke. He too a breath, "It all makes sense."
The King looked at him painfully.
"This place….this Citadel……it's you…or else, a part of you," he pointed. He stood up straight, and put on a cocky smirk. "You never invaded Shuggazoom City, because you could never leave this place. That's why you always use that T.V. thing," he pointed a thumb as the robot.
The Skeleton King heaved. "You're….half-right, b-boy….. Th-The only place…….I'm capable of going to is…….Hollow Bastion….."
Chiro blinked, "'Hollow Bastion'?"
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Hollow Bastion….," Sora rolled his tongue. "Should keep that in mind for later."
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Wherever that is….you're not there….and you're weak." Chiro's muscles tensed. Green sparks danced across his body. "And now, I know that I can finally beat you!"
"Nnn-rrgh!" the Skeleton King abruptly stood up. With a growl, he tore off his black cape. He ran towards Chiro, swiping his staff like a madman.
Chiro effortlessly back-flipped the staff.
The Skeleton King clutched his purple chest and kept swinging his staff in vain attempts to smack Chiro.
"HAH!" he swept low.
Chiro jumped back.
"NN-YAAH!" he swept high.
Chiro ducked.
"RAAH!" he stabbed.
Chiro cart-wheeled to the side.
"HHH-RAAGH!" he slammed the staff down.
Chiro back-flipped again, found the wall with his feet, vaulted off, twirled his body, and slammed his boots into the King's chest.
The King stumbled backwards, his long legs trying to regain their balance.
The force fields suddenly died. The Keyhole was bare and the back of the throne was accessible.
"It's finished, Skeleton King," Chiro's eyes glowed a bright green. "You're finished!" He tensed again. His eyes glowed brighter. The sparks danced faster And…
FLASH!
Everyone gasped, including the Skeleton King.
Chiro was encased in a gorilla-shaped energy field. Whenever Chiro would clench his fists, so with the gorilla. It was as if the boy was mentally and physically bound with the green being, enabling it to mimic his moves.
"It's a monkey," Ed said with a breath.
"He's done it," Antauri shouted. "He's managed to unleash his inner primate!"
"RAAaaaaAAAAaaaAAAAGH!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!" the being roared. It ran on two pounding feet, and ramming its big fists into the Skelton King.
Not a second was spared. The Skeleton King dropped his staff and helplessly staggered back. With the Super Robot attacking the Citadel of Bone, and Chiro attacking him, he was defenceless.
"Wow, the kid isn't giving him a chance to attack," Sprx remarked with a smirk.
"He's coming this way!" Otto pointed.
The group parted like the Red Sea, allowing the weakened Skeleton King to stumble past them.
"RAAAAAaaaaAAAGH!.!.!.!" the gorilla charged and sent one final uppercut.
THWACK!.!.!.!
"Oof!" The Skeleton King fell backwards…
…and into the pool of ooze.
"AAA-glblgblgAAAaaalsls……!" he was swallowed up. His claw was the last piece that was enveloped.
The pool bubbled.
Two small, blue-white balls flew from the pool, taking everyone by surprise. They flew towards Sora and Eddy, and fused with their weapons.
"What new spell do we have this time?" Sora asked, already knowing what happened.
"It's more of an upgrade," Eddy replied. "Our Blizzard spells have been upgraded to Blizzara."
Sora grinned, "Awesome!"
"So…," Otto began, "…is it over?"
The worm on his head suddenly detached. It fell on the floor, twitched, and died. The same happened with the other three worms.
Otto's and Sprx's eye returned to black. Nova's returned to purple. And Antauri's returned to olive green.
"You are officially free of the Skeleton King's control."
"NO DUH, GIBSON!"
"I was merely stating a fact, Sprx."
"You mean you were stating the damn obvious!"
"Guys, no fighting."
"Yeah, we just got freed from a life of being brainless monkeys…… Uh, no pun intended, guys. Heh-heh."
"None taken."
Behind them, the energy surrounding Chiro dissipated. The boy fell to his knees. He rested his hands on his knees, exhausted. Soon, he stood up. Tall and victorious.
"You!"
Chiro dully looked to the side.
Mandarin had somehow found his way into the chamber. He was running with aggression. "You were destroyed!" he jumped with a fist at the ready.
Chiro closed his eyes, and held a palm out. "Monkey Fu," he uttered softly.
A green blast sent Mandarin into a wall.
"Chiro."
The boy turned.
Everyone was smiling at him, with Antauri at the front.
"I'm proud of you. Thanks to you, Shuggazoom is now free once and for all."
Chiro smiled crookedly, "Thanks, Antauri."
"It's not over yet," Eddy announced. He smiled brazenly at Sora. "Do your stuff," he pointed at the Keyhole.
Sora nodded with a grin. "Right."
He headed for the Keyhole, which was past the pool of black ooze. Ed and Eddy followed him.
Suddenly, the pool bubbled more than usual.
"Huh?" Sora stopped.
"Hm?" the left side of Ed's eyebrow tilted upwards.
"What's the hold-up?" Eddy whined.
"I don't like the fact that that pool is bubbling," Sora looked at the goo pit suspiciously.
"Hmm, me neither…I guess."
Suddenly, a long, sharp, black hand stretched out from the pool, and gripped the edge. Another one grabbed the other side.
Sora, Ed, and Eddy jumped back.
"RAAAAH!"
A black being fought to get out from the pool. Its lower body was still submerged, but its upper body was in full view. It was black, except for its solid-red eyes and the sphere in the centre of its chest. It resembled the Skeleton King, but, even though its legs were still submerged, it was obvious that it was much taller and leaner. It gazed at everyone with an expression that seemed like a wide grin.
"What the Hell is that thing?.!.?.!.?.!" Eddy pointed, his eyes briefly jumping out of his head.
"The Skeleton King seems to have fused himself with the Formless ooze!" Gibson stated. "He's become a mindless monster!"
"More 'Skeleton' than 'King'," Antauri spoke.
"You said a mouthful."
"Aw, man!" Otto shrieked. "What're we gonna do?.!"
"What do you think?.!" Nova hollered. "We fight!"
"Nova's right," Gibson nodded. "He…..it is outnumbered ten-to-one! We're more than a match for this fiend!"
"Then, let's do it," Chiro stepped into the group. "Let's finish the Skeleton King once and for all!"
"Yeah!"
"Aright, kid!"
"Hell yes!"
"Time for a good ol'-fashioned butt-kicking."
"Weeeee!"
The black monstrosity's long, long, long, long legs came out. The creature stood up. It spread its black claws. Its legs bent, and its arms spread out, giving it the feeling of a tall monster looming over a helpless prey.
"Monkey Team! Move!" Chiro yelled.
All ten of the fighters separated every which way possible to battle the beast.
"RAAAAAAGH!" the creature's head turned left and right.
It eventually picked out Sora.
"RAAAAUGH!" it sent a claw down.
"RRfffFF!" Sora held his Keyblade up horizontally.
The serrated claws closed around the length of the Blade as the monster put its weight on the Keyblade Master.
Sora strained.
Two voices shouted in unison. "We are upon you!" "Incoming!"
Gibson and Otto flew from the right. Spinning drills and whirling saws came in contact with the freak's long, bony arm. Sparks and fragments of goo flew. The two monkeys jumped in opposite directions.
"HAAAAH!" the creature withdrew its hand from Sora's Blade.
Sora grinned. "Blizzara!" He fired larger ice projectiles than before, freezing the fiend's feet to the ground.
"RAAAGH!" it struggled to get loose.
Eddy stepped by Sora's side. "Let 'im have it!" He sent dozens of fireballs at the beast, being careful not to melt the ice that was keeping it in place.
Sora held his Keyblade up high, and cast Thunder.
"RAAAAGH!" the monster was pummelled by fireballs and electric jolts. More goo fragments fell, and littered the floor. The beast sent a palm to squash Sora and Eddy like bugs.
Eddy's and Sora's eyes widened when they were encased in the hand's shadow. Eddy ran in place for a few seconds before speeding off. Sora was snatched by Antauri's extending arm, and pulled back safely.
The monster missed, creating a hand-shaped crater.
Ed's shield and Nova's fists ploughed into it from behind.
The ice binding its feet shattered and it teetered. It managed to regain its balance with an awkward stumble.
"Boom Boom Wakeup!" Nova slammed her fists on the ground. A small earthquake ensued, shaking the ground. The monster shook even more, but managed to keep its footing.
"Hey, ugly!"
The monster stupidly looked.
Sprx, Gibson, and Antauri stood in a line.
"Magna-Ball Blazer!"
"Spin Shocker!"
"Monkey Mind Scream!"
"RAAAGH!" the monster screamed as a red sphere of electricity collided with its chest. "RR-YAAAHH!" it screeched when its body was pelted with tiny, electrical blasts. "NNNNRRRRGH!" it strained to keep its footing as several sonic waves rammed into it.
It shook the cobwebs from its head, and glared with solid-red eyes.
Chiro was running. His hands glowed one more time before he unleashed a burst of, "MONKEY FU!"
The discharge sent to fiend into a wall in a sitting position.
The creature let out a low grunt. And then, all the ooze literally melted off its body, and collected into a puddle. The Skeleton King was back to normal, seemingly almost knocked out.
Chiro sauntered towards him.
T.V. Monster, being the only means of defence, ran towards Chiro. The robot was knocked off guard when Sora flew out from nowhere, and smacked it with his Keyblade. The robot stumbled clumsily, and was impacted by Nova, who sent it carrying towards the pool of ooze. It managed to regain its bearings without falling in. However, before it could go and defend its master, it was slammed into by Eddy and Sprx, sending it into the pool.
Then, two red balls of energy flew from the round robot, and connected with a certain staff and Keyblade.
"What is it this time, Eddy?"
"Our fire spells have been upgraded to Fira."
"Nice--Whoa!"
The room shook more and more from the battle going on outside. Bigger pieces of rock fell from the ceiling.
"Sora!" Eddy called. "Seal the Keyhole!" he pointed at it with his staff.
"'Seal the Keyhole'?" Sprx remarked with a half-closed eye (raised eyebrow).
"You'll see," the left side of Eddy's lips curved upwards.
"Seal it, Sora! Ed cheered.
Sora went, and stood before the Keyhole, which glowed brighter at the presence of the Keyblade. He aimed the Blade. The tip glowed, powering up. A familiar blue beam flew from the Blade and made contact with the Keyhole.
C-CLICK!
The Keyhole fell into six pieces, which vanished.
"That makes…," Eddy counted on his fingers.
"Four," Ed said.
Eddy frowned, "No, you idiot. It's--……………hey, it is four."
Chiro stood in front of the downed Skelton King.
"It's over," he spoke softly…but firmly. "Your precious Citadel is practically destroyed."
K-K-K-K-K-K
Outside, the Super Robot tore off another big piece of rock.
K-K-K-K-K-K
Chiro glanced at the space in the wall where Mandarin once was. "Your flunkies have abandoned you."
K-K-K-K-K-K
Mandarin and the little monkey with the eye patch were encased in some sort of 'egg'. The capsule took off, glowing underneath, as if in possession of a jet thruster.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Your evil legacy has ended."
"Rrrgh…!" the King growled under his breath.
"Alright, the fight's over," Otto spoke as everyone met in the centre of the chamber. "Can we go home before we're killed by these falling debris?"
"Yeah," Eddy agreed. "Let's get out of here before I get hit on the--OW!" a large rock fell on his cranium.
On the other side of the room…
"Coming, Chiro?" Sora asked, following the big-headed boy.
"Soon, Sora," he replied. "Just gotta get Jinmay from behind the throne."
"Oh! I'll help you!"
The two boys went behind the throne.
Chiro gasped, losing his calm. "NO!"
Sora blinked. "What's wrong--…….Oh, no…"
Jinmay was gone.
"I thought the Skeleton King put her here!" Chiro exclaimed. "I saw him do it!.!.!.!"
"….," Sora didn't know what to say. "…..?" he noticed two pieces of paper. While Chiro stormed away, Sora stopped to pick them up. As he went after Chiro, he noticed that one page was a ripped out sheet from a comic book. He had little time to think, so he put them away in his suit.
"Rrrgh! Where is she?.!.?.!" Chiro made a mad sprint towards the still-sitting Skeleton King.
Gibson walked up, "What happened? What's wrong?"
"Jinmay's gone!" Chiro said with a breath. "The Skeleton King must have hidden her somewhere.
"I'm conducting a scan," Gibson tinkered with his tracking device. The result came. "My word…."
"What is it? Where is she?"
"…..she's gone…," was the blue monkey's reply.
Chiro clenched his gloved fists. "I KNOW THAT! WHERE IS SHE?.!.?.!"
"I meant she's no longer in the Citadel!" Gibson shouted. "Her biomechanical signal is no longer coming from inside the Citadel!"
It took a few seconds from the information to seep in. Chiro's arms deflated. He hung his head, "Then…….wh-where could she be…?"
"Probably on another world," mused Sora.
Chiro blinked, "Huh?"
"Hey, kids!" Sprx called from the centre of the room, where everyone else was. "Can we talk at a different time? Encase you haven't noticed, this whole place is coming apart!"
"I believe we should call for our friend to get us out of here!" Gibson stated, approaching the group, flanked by Sora and Chiro.
Antauri nodded, "Agreed. Everyone…"
The antennae on the sides of the monkeys' heads grew in length by half an inch.
It became evident that that shaking had lessened, meaning the Super Robot had stopped attacking the dying Citadel.
And then…
POW!.!.!.!
A hole opened in the ceiling from a robotic punch. The metal fist came to the group's level, and opened a compartment in its palm. The hole in the ceiling began to shrink. Air was being sucked out into the huge vacuum.
Sora and Eddy held on tight to Ed, who hadn't budged an inch. The yellow boy held onto his traffic cone helmet, and calmly headed for the open door.
Chiro's hand was taken by Antauri, who, like the rest of the monkeys, hovered towards the hand via a jet thruster positioned on his back.
They all entered the compartment, which closed the moment the last person went in. The Super Robot retracted its fist, and increased the distance between it and the Citadel.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"(CHIRO) Everyone in position?"
"(SPRX) Uh-huh."
"(NOVA) Yes."
"(OTTO) Yup."
"(ANTAURI) Affirmative."
"(GIBSON) I'm here, too. Also, Sora and his friends have been safely strapped in, in our meeting room."
"(CHIRO)……good."
"(NOVA) Is there something wrong, Chiro?"
"(OTTO) Yeah. You sound kinda……"
"(GIBSON) Poignant?"
"(OTTO) I was gonna say 'sad', but…yeah."
"(SPRX) Well, the kid DIDN'T manage to find Jinmay. Maybe, that's the reason why he sounds all 'down in the dumps'."
"(ANTAURI) I believe we should talk about this when we're back at Shuggazoom, where it's safe."
"(CHIRO) Let's go home, guys."
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot turned. With a flare of its jets, it drifted back home.
Leaving the Citadel to die.
K-K-K-K-K-K
Inside the Citadel…
The Skeleton King weakly stood up.
The whole chamber began to shake erratically again.
The King walked towards his throne.
Cracks formed in the walls, and branched out.
A large rock fell on the spot where the King was sitting against the wall.
The Skeleton King sat down in his throne.
He eyed the last pieces of T.V. Monster get absorbed by the pool.
He stretched a hand out.
His staff flew into his palm.
He glanced at his chamber one last time, before closing his eyes.
The floor beneath his throne cracked.
Two long, skeletal, bat-like wings rose from the ground on either side the tall chair. The chair rose, being lifted by some sort of dragon creature. The dragon flew up, carrying the throne on its hairy back. A long neck supported a reptilian skull with red eyes. A bony tail trailed the beast from behind. The Skeleton King was carried up.
The Skeleton King outstretched his free hand, and forced the rock lining the ceiling to 'open', allowing him and his 'dragon' to escape.
K-K-K-K-K-K
The King looked back at what was felt of his Citadel. He grunted, having escaped.
The dragon suddenly screeched.
The King soon found out that they were headed for a meteor shower….that was heading from them.
He gasped.
One rock crashed into the dragon.
"SKRIIIIII!"
Another slammed into the King's face.
"Dah!" he rocked back on his chair. His eyes were wide in fear for the second time in his existence.
More slammed into his dragon. Its head, body, wings. Everywhere.
They found even more coming to them.
The dragon was too beaten to move.
And all the Skeleton King could do was scream.
"AAAAAA-AAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAA--!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!"
K-K-K-K-K-K
The Super Robot had landed back in Shuggazoom. Everyone stood in the meeting room.
Sora, Ed, and Eddy stood with their backs to the pods. Chiro stood in front of them, with Gibson, Antauri, Nova and Otto by his side. Sprx sat in one of the circular chairs.
"So…," Chiro thought aloud, "Jinmay's not in Shuggazoom anymore?"
Sora nodded with a sombre face, "Yeah."
"Then, let's go find her!" he said with a hopeful tone. "We can take your ship, and--!"
"Sorry," Sora interrupted. He sighed. "We can't take you with us….. None of you can come."
"Huh! Why not?.!" Sprx barked. "Not good enough, eh? OW!" Nova had walked over and elbowed him. "…..damn."
"Why can't you take us with you?" Otto sounding hurt.
Eddy spoke, "Cuz if we take you to another world, that'd be--"
"Muddling!" Ed chirped.
"Dammit, Ed! It's 'meddling'!"
"Anyway," Sora went on, "it's against the rules."
"Hmm….crude….yet realized," Gibson scratched his chin scientifically.
"We can always take the Super Robot," Nova suggested. "We can fly alongside you guys in your ship."
"But who will stay to protect the City?" Gibson burst her bubble.
"C'mon," Sprx scoffed him. "We beat the Skeleton King. Shuggazoom's free of all danger."
"I'm afraid Gibson is right," Antauri said to the red monkey. "There is always a risk."
"Chiro," Sora looked him straight in the eye, "…we'll find Jinmay. And that's a promise."
"Pfft. How noble," Eddy slurred.
"Well, I guess this is--"
"Hold on," Antauri walked up. "I believe this is yours," he held Sonic's summon gem out at arms length. "I found it in my cockpit."
Sora gasped. "I can't believe we forgot about him! Thank you so much for finding him!" he politely took them gem from the black monkey.
"Feh," Eddy waved him off.
"If I may ask," Antauri continued, "What is that sphere? I sensed a life-force coming from it."
"And why'd you call it 'he'?" Sprx asked from the chair.
"This is a summon gem," Sora explained with a hint of pride in his voice. He couldn't help cracking a smile. "A guy who calls himself 'Grim' told me that this gem used to be a person--or in this case, a hedgehog--whose world was destroyed by the Heartless. However, Sonic--that's his name--had such a big heart, that he was turned into a gem, and transported to another world instead."
"I saw him in action. Man, he can sure kick butt," Chiro commented.
"And he isn't too shabby at following orders," Gibson added with a smirk.
"…….." Antauri asked, "Do you have more of them?"
"Uhh, yeah," Sara fumbled in his suit, "but there's nothing in them." He held out a single, grey, empty gem. "Grim told me that if I want more, I can sue these. But, I don't know how. And I don't think I need to, because I can simply find a gem and bring it to him."
"……," Antauri was silent.
"Something up?" Sprx inquired.
"I think I know where this is going," Gibson rubbed his helmet-like head.
"I've decided to go with them," Antauri said softly.
Otto and Nova jumped, "WHAT?.!"
"Eh?" Eddy raised an eyebrow above his cap. "Didn't we just tell you--?"
"I am aware of the rules," Antauri uttered calmly. "I wish to travel with you via summon gem."
"And how do you propose you do that?"
"By channelling myself into the gem."
"Any chance of you channelling all of us into a gem?" Sprx asked.
Antauri shook his head, "I'm afraid only I am able to go with them."
"Why this all of a sudden?.!" Gibson asked with outstretched arms.
"Many worlds are in peril from this Heartless threat," Antauri's deep voice droned. "I want to offer my talents on their journey. They are fighting a battle similar to ours; against evil. I have confidence in all of you that you will manage without me."
"But you're….like the voice of reason or something!" Otto exclaimed.
"You're some sort of father figure," Gibson commented.
Antauri took a breath. "Throughout our previous adventures, you have all grown significantly. Your maturity can get you through any struggles to come. I assure you…...you won't need me as much as you did before."
"Antauri, go with them," Chiro uttered. It sounded like a cross between a command and a request. "We can take it from here."
"I know you can, Chiro. Especially since you've learned how to unleash your inner primate."
"Besides," Sprx smirked, "the Super Robot can still kick butt without a head."
"Will you come back?" Nova seemed ready to accept this.
Antauri smiled at her, "Of course I will, Nova. But, until then, I bid you all farewell."
"Good luck."
"Bon Voyage."
"Cya."
"Ciao."
"Good luck."
"And I wish you all luck as well. I'll do my best to find Jinmay, Chiro." Antauri then sat in a lotus position. His hands were on his knees. He closed his eyes, took deep breaths, and concentrated.
"Hehehe," Sprx chuckled. "I love it when he does this."
Antauri's body began to float. It rose until he was at eyelevel with the grey summon gem in Sora's hand. There was a black aura settling around him.
Everyone watched.
The spike atop Antauri's head suddenly bent, and flew into the gem. Antauri's head and the rest of his body followed, in the form of some sort of ghostly figure. Like dye in a sink of water being sucked down the drain in one go. Like retractable measuring tape withdrawing. Like a chameleon's tongue returning to the mouth after catching an insect.
Antauri disappeared into the gem. The sphere's colour changed from grey to black.
"Looks like we have another one," Sora put the gem away in his suit. "That makes two."
"Yup," Eddy nodded. "Guess we're off now."
"Just a second!" Sprx jumped off from his chair. "I wanna give your guys something." He ran behind another chair, and made several obnoxious rummaging sounds.
"Better not be something stupid," Eddy muttered.
"Believe me," Nova smiled. "It is."
"Watch what you say about THIS!" Sprx came with a gigantic, animated, red horseshoe magnet. He used his robotic strength to hold the large magnet above his head.
"Oh, Sprx," Gibson palmed his face, "not that old thing."
Chiro and Otto sweatdropped.
"There ya go," Sprx tossed into Sora's hands. "Use it wisely," he winked.
"I'll put this with that mallet thing that blond kid gave us," Eddy announced.
"It's so big!" Ed grinned. "I want to hold it!" he jumped for it.
"Whu?" Eddy was ploughed into. "Ed! Wait! Let me get up first!"
"Magnet! Magnet! Magnet!"
The big magnet was plucked from Eddy's hands.
"Ed! Let go! You're gonna break it!"
"But Eddyyyyyyyyy…!"
And, somehow, the magnet took this time to activate itself. It flew up, picking the ceiling as an attraction….with Ed and Eddy in tow.
"Aaaagh!" Eddy held onto the magnet. His short legs dangled under him.
"Ha ha! Look! I can see Sora from here, Eddy!" Ed clung onto another side of the magnet. He grinned widely.
And everyone else couldn't help it.
They laughed.
K-K-K-K-K-K
In a familiar dark chapel…
Where three people stood…
The holographic images of Sora, Ed, and Eddy leaving the Super Robot hovered over the roundtable.
Father spoke, "That bonehead could've had 'em--if someone had stuck around to lend a hand." He glared at the boy on the other side of the table.
"Hey, I did my part," Riku snapped. "I brought the Princess, didn't I?"
"The Skeleton King was beyond help," Judge Doom spoke from Riku's side. "He was consumed by his own hatred…. Not to mention his gargantuan ego," he tapped his cane on the ground. He pointed a gloved finger, "One should be aware of letting them burn too fiercely." He looked directly at Father.
The shadow rolled his yellow eyes, "Riiiiight. I get it. Enough with the puns."
The Judge smirked.
Father glanced at Riku, and, even though, his mouth couldn't be seen, it was evident that he was smirking, "By the way, kid, have we got something fantastic for you."
Riku blinked, "Huh?"
The holographic image switched to Kairi's sleeping form.
Riku gasped. "Kairi!" he reached a gloved hand out to the hologram, half-heartedly expecting to be able to touch it can get his friend back.
"Go to her," Doom commanded with a wave of his cane. "Your vessel is waiting."
"It's my vessel, human!" a deep voice barked. With a stomping of mechanical feet, Gorrath approaching the table. He stood by Father's side.
Doom chuckled inwardly. "How rude of me to say such a thing," he said with a hint of sarcasm.
Gorrath squinted at Riku. "Just remember, boy," he pointed with a three-fingered, robotic hand, glaring with organic, red eyes, "this is no 'pleasure cruise'. And don't expect me to console you during one of your angst fests. Just stay out of my way, and we'll live in perfect harmony."
Riku's head turned to face the Judge. "Why are you helping me out so much? What's the catch?"
"'Catch'? What catch?" Doom humorously leaned his pale head to the side. "Silly boy," he placed a palm on Riku's shoulder. "You're like the son I never had. I only want you to be happy."
Father and Gorrath exchanged confused glances.
Riku clenched his jaw, and shrugged Doom's hand off, "I seriously doubt that," he took a step back.
"Believe what you please, boy," Doom replied. "Lest we forget…I kept my end of the bargain."
Without a word, Riku rounded the table and walked past Gorrath. "What're you waiting for? Let's see this 'vessel' of yours."
The alien growled under his breath and followed the silver-haired teen.
K-K-K-K-K-K
"Goodbye!" Ed's muffled voice said as he flattened his face to the glass of the gummi ship's glass dome. His traffic cone helmet was off and was resting in his seat. The pink-peach form of Shuggazoom grew smaller and smaller as Eddy piloted the ship onward.
"And that's how we beat the Skeleton King!" Sora finished. He sat in his chair, with both legs hanging from the armrest.
"That sounds great!" Tony commented. He was seated in the new chair Cid had given him. The seat had risen to Sora's level. "I wish I could come along with you…. It's too bad that I'm afraid I might get squished. At least I can write about all this in my journal," he pressed a button, and the seat lowered to floor level. He was about to dash for his cot--
"Hey, Tony," Sora swung his legs over the armrest, and stood up. He reached into his suit, "I found something strange behind the Skeleton King's throne." He bent over to hand it to the swamp kid.
"Let me see," Tony held a small hand out. A piece of paper was given to him. He held the sheet in both hands, and read.
The handwriting was in joint. Written in black ink. Possibly with a quill. Judging by the puppy ears it had, and the visible signs of age, the words were written quite a long time ago.
"Hmmm. It's obviously one of Ansem's Reports. The first one, I think!"
"Really?" Sora asked, interested.
"Yup. The Skeleton King must have been hiding it."
"Then, that must mean…," Sora thought aloud with a serious face, "…Judge Doom has the others. "How many are there?"
"I don't know that, Sora," Tony shook his head. "Sorry."
"It's okay. Hey, we'll find the others, and put them together."
Tony nodded his chin-less head, "Sure. I'll try copy this out and give it a place in my journal." He dashed towards his cot.
By then, Ed had stopped by Eddy's side, having left a gallon of drool on the glass.
"I miss them already, Eddy," he said sadly.
"Relax, lumpy," Eddy said. "I promise you we'll visit them some day."
Ed jumped, "Really?"
"Yeah….really. Now, get away from me before you start drooling--Aargh!"
Ed had encircled Eddy in a chocking hug.
"Thanks, Eddy! I am so glad to hear that!"
"Skktktk…..air…….air…..!"
Suddenly, something big and green passed by the ship.
"Huh?" Ed dropped Eddy. He stared out the glass dome, his arms dangling by his sides.
Eddy stood up, and shook a fist. "I'm so gonna--……… What're you looking at?"
Ed pointed.
Eddy looked. "………………hey, guys! Come and see this!"
Sora came, and rested on Eddy's chair. Tony--whom he had carried over--jumped onto the consol, and gazed out.
A big, green, three-dimensional, rectangular object with trees, undergrowth, and mud was heading their way.
Eddy raised an eyebrow, "The Hell is it?"
"Oh my gosh!" Tony exclaimed, pressing himself against the glass. "It's the swamp! My swamp!"
"Uh, didn't you say your world was taken by the Heartless?"
"Yes, I did…. But this portion must have survived or something!"
"How can you tell it's yours, exactly?"
"Just look at the way it's drawn out!" Tony pointed as the landmass got closer. "Don't you think it would match my animation perfectly?"
Eddy noticed the outlines that stuck out.
"Well, do you think anyone would actually live there anymore?" Sora inquired.
"I don't know," Tony scratched the place under his mouth his unrealistic eyes looked towards the heavens.
Sora blinked, "Hey, Eddy, slow down. We're gonna hit it."
Eddy's eyes widened, "The ship is practically a snail, Sora. It's heading for us!"
Sora gasped. "Get us outta here!"
"Too late!" Eddy frantically exclaimed, shoving his way into his seat. "We're getting sucked in for some reason!"
"Uh-oh," Ed utterd.
The last thing Sora remembered was a sudden break before being launched headfirst into the glass. Then, all went black.
I should tell you all that I'll be away next week, and won't return until the 15th…or was it 16th?
Anywho, after I return, I'll continue with my other story for a bit. HOWEVER, should I receive enough positive feedback from the dear readers…..I may decide to write one or two other chapters before resuming the other fic. Yeah, I'm an S.O.B., aren't I:P
Whatever. I just won't be able to write next week….so, uhh……….yeah. R&R.