Time to face the mysterious new enemy but it will not come without sacrifice.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this.


Kingdom Hearts: DM77 Version Chapter 31

Storming the Lair Part 4

After returning from there battle against Serpentera, Emerl and friends reappeared in the gathering chamber. Emerl mind was on Metal and his challenge, he knew it would be hard especially since he has his own Keyblade now. The room was how they left it but one difference.

"Hey, Goldar's body is gone!" Lilac said looking around

"I guess he was only badly hurt from my shots" Doom said concerned

"Well let's leave him, in his current condition he isn't a threat" Togami said "We need to get to the Grand Hall, that is where Metal is waiting"

"I don't see any way out of here" Oscar said looking around

As Oscar said those words a dark cloud emerges from beneath a side wall. When the darkness fades an arched entrance was in its place

"Well…. that was oddly timed right" Hiro said concerned

They ran into the arch and into a small intersection full of shadow Heartless, but it didn't take to long to take them all out. When they were all gone, they walk to the door at the end of the corridor. It opens and they found themselves in the Grand Hall where the seven princesses were being held captive. The room was eerily dark and filled with evil; Dark Emerl would feel threatened in this room. Through they all nervously walk into the room along the carpet floor, where they found the six captive females inside crystal containers.

"Look there's Peach and Gali" Oscar said pointing to two

"Mary-Jane is here too" Spider-man said seeing her and goes to her container "Mary-Jane! Wake up! Come on!"

But his efforts were wasted. Emerl could feel a light resonating within him, like he had an extra heart in him. He looked to the set of stairs and the golden heart at the top. Something in him told him to go there.

"What is that?" Emerl asked concerned

"Yeah, and what is going on?" Hiro added to the question

"I am unsure, but it can't be good" Togami said concerned as well "We should go up there and investigate"

Emerl races to the top of the stairs, the others following suit. He makes it to the top of the stairs by the golden heart, Togami makes it with him but the others are stopped by an invisible barrier which Hiro bumps into falling down.

"Guys are you okay?!" Togami asked concerned

"Yeah, but where did that come from?" Lilac asked

"This has to be a trap! Emerl get out of there!" Doom shouts concerned

But Emerl paid no attention to the warnings. All his attention was on Jenny's lifeless body placed upon the ground. The strange sensation returned to Emerl's heart but stronger now.

"Jenny!" Emerl called out and ran to her and tries gently shaking her to wake her up "Jenny! Open your eyes!"

"It's pointless" A familiar voice said and Emerl looks and sees Metal sitting on top of the golden heart

Emerl gently places Jenny on the ground and stands up to ask, "What do you mean?"

"It should be obvious by now" Metal said to him "That girl has lost her heart. So long as it remains missing, she will never wake up."

"Wait….hold on" Emerl said catching onto it "You're not Metal Sonic!"

"Very observant but that matters little right now" 'Metal' said as he jumps down to the ground "What does is that so long as the last princess' must be awoken to complete the keyhole"

"Princess?" Emerl asked and then looks to Jenny realizing "Jenny's a princess?!"

"Indeed, and without her power the keyhole will be incomplete. It's time she awakened" 'Metal' said with a nod

"Look, whoever you are I don't care about your goals! Let Metal go!" Emerl said growling "Give him back his heart!"

"Oh, I will do so" 'Metal' said nodding "But you must first give back the princess her heart."

Emerl looked at 'Metal' as if he was insane, how could he return a heart he spent all this time trying to find? But just as he thought about it, 'Metal' held his Dark Keyblade towards the Gizoid. Out of nowhere, a sharp pain came from his chest as if the Dark Keyblade stabbed into his chest. Emerl groans in pain and collapses onto his knees.

"Emerl! What's wrong?" Togami asked concerned

"I don't know" Emerl groaned. "What's happening?"

"Do you not see it yet?" 'Metal' asked as he walked down the steps to their level "The princess' heart is responding. It has been there all along. Jenny's heart rests within you!"

"Jenny…. Jenny is within me?" Emerl said in surprise

"How do you know all of this?" Togami asked glaring

"I know all that there is to know." 'Metal' said in response "Ever since the beginning when this all started."

"Tell me, who are you?" Emerl asked

"I suppose you have earned the right to know" 'Metal' grinned "It is I, Obi-Won, the Seeker of Darkness but I have since taken a new name that of Darth Vader so, refer to me as that from now on"

Togami and Emerl gasp in shock. They had heard a great deal about Obi-Won and contribution to against the Heartless. Oscar who was watching from the side-lines due to the barrier couldn't believe it. Their beloved leader was the actual cause of the initial Heartless attack and had changed his name to reflect his new dark mantle. While Emerl was processing this, Vader made his way to the Gizoid, clutching his Dark Keyblade.

"Don't even think about trying anything!" Togami said summoning his sceptre

But Vader paid him no mind. Even as Togami ran at him to strike, Vade just swatted him away with his hand. Togami was thrown across the room and out of the barrior. Vader came up to Emerl and held his Dark keyblade to his head.

"Now I will release you, princess" Vader chanted darkly "Complete the keyhole with your power. Open the door, lead me into everlasting darkness!"

Vader swung up the Dark Keyblade with a maddening look on his face. He swung it down with great force, knowing nothing was going to stop him. Emerl wanted to fight back, but the pain in his heart was too much to bear. When he released death was coming, he began to hear voices. Ones he feels he recognized

"I know you are not going to surrender that easily" His past self, this Hercules he was known by said

"My son, don't give up!" A motherly voice he knew to be Athena could be heard

"Emerl!" Jenny cried out

Theses voices somehow brought Emerl back to full strength. In a blinding flash Emerl summons his Keyblade and stopped the dark copy's attack. Vader looked surprised as Emerl began to push him back.

"Forget it!" Emerl told him "There's no way you're taking Jenny's heart!"

Emerl pushed the dark seeker back fully and watched flip back onto his feet. Emerl held his Keyblade ready to fight, but this didn't concern Vader. He actually seemed intrigued

"So, the Nocturnus' greatest Gizoid is regaining all his power slowly" Vader said smriking

"What do you know about that?" Emerl asked confused

"I guess I can tell you, your…or rather Hercules' story" Vader said smiling "Years ago there was a technologically advanced tribe of Echidna's known as the Nocturnus, there greatest creations the Gizoids. To build them they had built the Founders, 6 Gizoid to divide the types of Gizoid"

"The Founders?" Emerl said thinking

"Indeed, there was Zeus, the leader and closest to Ix the clans leader, Hephaestus, Poseidon, Ares, Hades and Athena…. your mother" Vader continued. "Worried the tribe was going to fall, Athena made you and rumour is instilled AI aspects of all except Zeus into you"

"That can't be right I would have…" Emerl said not sure

"Remembered? Unlikely, after Nocturnus fell you went on to be a hero but then vanished" Vader said to him "Until I saw you on that island, my guess is your programs locked to only base functions and you lost all your memories"

Emerl's optics widen as he recalled when his first private conversations with Dark Emerl, the dull towers, could that be it but for what reason.

"You know you would be a useful tool, work with me and we can bring them back" Vader said "Your true family"

"Forget it!" Emerl said growling "You stole my new home, my new family and corrupted my best friend! If you think I would work you, you're insane!"

"Very well" Vader smirked "Have it your way"

Darth Vader drew out his Dark Keyblade as the final battle for Hollow Bastion had begun. Emerl tuns up to Vader and engages in a sword fight with there keyblades but Vader was more agile and more skilled as he avoids several blows and swung his keyblade at his feet. Luckily Emerl managed to avoid the attempt to trip him. Vader however anticipated this and moves to kick the Gizoid in the face knocking him close to the portal. Vader moves in and attempts to swing his Dark Keyblade down on Emerl but Emerl recovers and jumps over him. Once behind him the Gizoid swung and sturck Vader at his back making him stumble a bit but he was unharmed

"Intriguing" Vader chuckled "You have become quite adept at using the Keyblade so quickly."

"There is a reason the Keyblade chose me after all" Emerl said grinning

"Indeed, the Keyblade was meant for Metal, but I can't deny you have potential" Vader said nodding "But all that means is I have to get serious"

"You got to be kidding me" Emerl groaned

Vader held out his hand as a surge of electricity surround it. Without any warning, Vader let out a surge of electricity from his palm. It hit Emerl, but it didn't hurt him too bad. But that changed when Vader runs in and stabs him in the shoulder with the Dark Keyblade. Emerl clutches his shoulder and stood firm, despite the pain. Vader however spins around on his feet and cuts across Emerl twice knocking him down

"Are you ready to surrender?" Vader asked

"Never, I will fight to my last function" Emerl said

"I guess that is likely going to happen soon" Vader chuckled

Vader brought down his Dark Keyblade, but Emerl rolls away to the side. However, the aftershock of the Dark Keyblade created a wall of electricity that crashed into Emerl. As he was down, Vader attempted another stab at him. Emerl held up his Keyblade and blocked Vader's attack. Emerl kicks the dark seeker in the chest and flipped up over him. Emerl got up onto his feet and slashes at Vader's chest several times before he could recover, Vader was knocked into the barrier. Emerl attempts to deliver one last swing to finish it when suddenly, a surge of electricity surrounds Vader's body. A random bolt struck Emerl in the chest and sent him flying to the other side of the makeshift arena. Emerl watched as Vader gets up onto his feet his eyes calm in their expression.

"Do you not see it?" Vader said with a smirking look "The darkness is the ultimate weapon and power."

"You're wrong!" Emerl said standing up "I thought the Keyblade was the greatest weapon. But when I lost it I realized something more powerful then any Keyblade; my heart."

"True, the heart is an amazing source of power" Vader replied nodding "But it is one that can easily be broken."

"Sure, you say that now, but you are constantly proving yourself wrong." Emerl chuckles a bit "My friends are always in my heart. As long as they never forget me, my heart will never be broken."

"You are naïve, allow me to prove you wrong" Vader said

Suddenly all the light in the hall was absorbed into the Dark Keyblade and both it and it's master begin to hover. Before Emerl can process it, Vader charges forawd with blinding speed. Emerl quickly dodges out of the way receiving only a small scratch on his armour, he looks at Vader's direction only to see he had disappeared. Suddenly a dark portal opens to Emerl's side and Vade shoots out of it like a cannon. Emerl dives out of the way his cape and back receiving a scratch this time, as Vader disappears through another dark portal. Vader repeats this over and over again until Emerl had a lot of scratches. Emerl collapses onto his knees as Vader lands on his feet.

"Such a feeble power for a Keyblade master." Vader said smirking. "In the end, he was nothing more than a mere pawn"

"I'm…not finished yet" Emerl said trying to stand

"Oh, but you are" Vader said, raising his Dark Keyblade "And now to end it"

Emerl was concerned, he just learned he was a unique Gizoid who protected the worlds. He couldn't let his friend Metal suffer, he had to save him. And Jenny…

"Jenny…I won't give in!" Emerl said

In a miracle Emerl regains his strength as he blocks and knocks the Dark Keyblade out of Vader's hand and cut across Vader's chest. Vader cries out in pain, Emerl realized he had won. Vader stumbles but didn't surrender as he disappears in a corridor of darkness.

"Metal!" Emerl said shocked running but failed to stop him

"Emerl, there isn't time! Look!" Togami said as the barrier came down and he points to the golden heart

"We need to close the keyhole!" Hiro said worried

Emerl nods, now isn't the time to worry about Metal, he had a job to do first. He walked up to the dark keyhole and held his Keyblade to it, but to the groups disappointment no beam of light come and close the keyhole

"It won't work!" Oscar said surprised "Is it cause the keyhole is incomplete?"

"So, does that mean we have to wake up Jenny?" Lilac asked

"Yeah, I think you're right on that" Emerl said looking at Jenny's lifeless body. "If we can free her heart, the keyhole will be complete. But…but how do we do that?"

"Let us think on this" Doom said

Emerl looked at the robot girl's lifeless body and felt helpless. How was he supposed to free her heart, he didn't even know how he got it in the first place. But then Emerl's optics were drawn to another item in the room: The Dark Keyblade. Emerl recalls Vader's words from when he introduced them to it

"However, unlike yours Emerl, this Keyblade holds the powers to unlock people's hearts." Past Vader said to him in his head

"A Keyblade that unlocks people's hearts…. I wonder.." Emerl said outloud

"Emerl?" Oscar asked concerned

Without thinking a second thought, Emerl walked over to the Dark Keyblade. He made it over as his party didn't want him to go though with it. But if it can save Jenny, then there was no other option, the others remained quiet, wondering what the Gizoid was up to. When they see him pick up the Dark Keyblade, they instantly knew.

"Emerl! Hold on!" Hiro called out "I can predict a likely better choice!"

"Wait! This is reckless!" Togami called out

"This is dangerous Emerl!" Oscar said

"You may not survive this sir!" Doom called out

"Please! Think about this!" Lilac said fearfully

Despite all of the desperate cries and yells, Emerl knew this had to be done. Emerl turned to his friends and surprised them with a smiling look.

"Sorry, but this is the only way." Emerl said happily "Togami, you are a great teacher and lot more likable then what first impressions give, Hiro, you are brave and strong as anyone I met, Oscar you are going to be a great keeper of Hope, Doom you are loyal and a good friend and Lilac you are an amazing hero in your own right."

"Please Emerl, stop!" Lilac cried

"See you guys" Emerl said

Emerl then turned the Dark Keyblade onto himself and stabs himself in the heard with it. The Dark Keyblade was engulfed by a bright light radiating from Emerl's chest. The Dark Keyblade pulled itself free from the Gizoid and vanished form existence; replaced by six balls of light, it's purpose for existence fulfilled. The six balls of light float towards the six princesses and returned their hearts. Finally a seventh heart emerges from Emerl's chest and returns to Jenny and she wakes up and when she does the keyhole in the golden heart was complete.

"W-What happened?" Jenny said waking up

"Emerl! Emerl!" Doom called out

Upon hearing that cry, Jenny sits up quickly. She sees Emerl, weak and tired but smiling all the same. He was glowing as he was falling backward. It dawned on her what was happening, Emerl was dying.

"Emerl!" Jenny called out

She got up and rushes over to catch him. But when she reached him to wrap her arms around him his body vanished into tiny light fragments. She could only stand there as Emerl's life faded into the dark abyss. The only cries came from Oscar

"Emerl! Come back Emerl!" Oscar called out


Meanwhile, Emerl's body drifts aimlessly into the pits of darkness. No traces of light to be found anywhere. His optics were blind and his body weak. Death had claimed its latest victim,

"What…what's happening to me?" Emerl asked "Falling…. falling…. into darkness."

"Really? You would be lost without me" A voice said as dark tendrils wrap around Emerl


Back with our heroes, everyone was in mourning. Doom slammed his fist into the Golden arch. Lilac and Hiro cried while Oscar, Togami and Jenny look into the darkness above

"I can't believe it…. he's gone" Oscar said shocked

"I spent all this time trying to find Hercules" Lilac cried "and now he is gone forever"

"No, no he's not" Jenny said shaking her head "He's not gone, I refuse to believe it. I won't let him go"

"So nice to see you awakened at last princess" A deep and cold voice said

The heroes look and see a new figure appear before them. He was a man in an all-black technology like suit that seemed to double as a life support suit. He had a black cape as well and helmet with face mask. He also constantly be heard breathing when he doesn't speak

"Who are you?" Doom asked

"So, you don't recognize me? A pity" The figure said simply

"I know that tone, it's Darth Vader aka Obi-Won!" Togami said glaring

"Correct" Vader said and he nods simply and looks at Jenny "But with the last princess awakened now, the keyhole is now complete. But that means you have now served your sole purpose. Now it's over XJ9."

"H-How do you know my official designation, I never told anyone that" Jenny asked shocked

"Simple, I had worked with your mother, that's all you will know" Vader said and begins to walk forward. As he does Togami, Hiro, Oscar, Doom and Lilac step in to defend her

"Not one more step!" Togami ordered him

"Errrr…you guys think we can stop him?" Hiro whispered to them

"I'm not sure, but we can't let Emerl's sacrifice be in vain" Doom replied

Despite the groups boasts, they were no threat to Vader. He held out his hand to use the power of darkness to push them aside. All of a sudden Vader's body became rigid and unstable. He looked to be struggling with something

"Impossible…" Vader said, "How can you do it?"

Just then a figure bathed in light appears in front of Vader. It was an image of Metal Sonic, struggling to break free from Vader's body.

"No, you won't use me for this!" Metal groaned in defiance

"Metal!" Jenny called out

"You all have to run!" Metal yelled out "The Heartless are coming!"

"Your warning is too late; they are already here" Vader told them

Just then a bunch of heartless appear before them surrounding them.

"There's too many of them!" Doom said

"We need to retreat back to the entrance and then escape!" Togami said

"What about the keyhole?" Lilac asked

"Forget it for now, we have to move!" Oscar said

The group then rush and escape the room. As they left Vader regained control of his body and smashes the image of Metal

"It doesn't matter, they won't escape" Vader said "Heartless eradicate them" With that he vanishes

One of the Heartless was Dark Emerl, with the real Emerl trapped in darkness, he found a chance for control. He then fades into the darkness to pursue the others. The group made there way through waves of Heartless to the entrance where Commander Cody and his men held the line for there escape. Togami, Hiro, Oscar, Doom and Lilac were by the door, but Jenny was at the top of the stairs.

"Jenny, come on" Lilac called out "We need to go!"

"But we can't leave the other princesses behind!" Jenny said worried

"Not to worry ma'm, we will fight to keep them safe along with Spider-man" Cody told her

"See, they will be fine, we won't stand a chance against them" Togami states

Jenny knew they were right and rushes down the stairs to join them. But before they can exit a voice gets their attention

"Going somewhere?" Dark Emerl said appearing behind them by the fountain

"Emerl?" Jenny asked hopful

"No, that's Dark Emerl, his heartless" Lilac said glaring

"Oh, that hurts me Lilac" Dark Emerl said mockingly "and I thought we were friends"

"Don't mock us, Emerl defeated you once, so we can destroy you too" Doom said aiming his blasters as does Cody and his men

"Challenge accepted" Dark Emerl said grinning

"Wait!" Jenny called out stopping them and moves over to Dark Emerl and takes his hand "Emerl, I know you're in there somewhere"

"Emerl is gone" Dark Emerl states looking away "The darkness destroyed all his weakness"

"No, I am away you are still in there, Emerl" Jenny said "Please, come back to me."

Dark Emerl was torn, he was aware his personality stemmed from a corrupted program, but he was still Emerl's dark half and he was commanded to destroy this girl. But he couldn't, was it possibly because some of Emerl's softness had rubbed off on him? Before he can think more on this, a group of Heartless appeared in the room

"Ambush!" One of Cody's men said

"Protect Jenny at all costs!" Oscar said and the group devided up to fight them off

However, as they fought, they were unaware a small group of Heartless appeared around Jenny and Dark Emerl.

"Just surrender." Dark Emerl said looking down "It will be over in a second"

"I'm not scared" Jenny said smiling "Because this time, I will protect you."

Dark Emerl looked surprised. Was she really willing to give up her life for Emerl? Through, Emerl did do the same thing for her. Was this really what it was like to be whole, he always felt incomplete especially finding himself locked out of his full date, but he figured this is what love was. Just then the Shadow Heartless jump to dive on Jenny, Dark Emerl then moves to shield her from them.

"Jenny!" Hiro called

"We got you!" Oscar said

But before they take a single step, a sudden ray of light erupts from the pile. The Heartless were blown away and forced back into darkness. The heroes could see but couldn't believe it. The dark Gizoid who was protecting her from the Heartless but wasn't the way he was before.

"Jenny, thank you" Emerl said to her

"Emerl…" Jenny said seeing him and smiles

"EMERL!"

Emerl looks and sees his friends happy and stunned to see him alive. Togami looked shocked and confused, Hiro was laughing happily, Oscar smiled and was relieved to see him again, Doom was shocked, and Lilac was crying tears of joy

"I knew you couldn't be gone forever" Oscar said smiling

"Yeah, I am glad" Emerl said smiling "But remined me to never do that again"

"I will electrocute you if you try" Togami told him bluntly

This made the group laugh while Emerl hides behind Jenny scared. But the happiness didn't last long. A new group of Heartless appeared. Emerl was ready to fight no matter what, but just then Spider-Man comes in and kicks on away

"Spider-man!" Doom said

"Go now!" Spider-man said "They're Heartless everywhere!"

"Come with us!" Emerl told him "We can all escape"

"I told you, I'm not leaving without Mary-Jane" Spider-man said

"And we have a chance to finally start ending the darkness here, if we fall back we may never regain this gound" Cody said

Seeing as how there was no way to convince him, Emerl nod understanding

"Okay, let's get out of here" Emerl said

The group rush for the exit and RiCO had brough the ship over for a quick pick up and they board the ship and it flies away from Hollow Bastion.

Lord Zedd and his Heartless council was gone, but a new threat had arouse, Darth Vader who was the world's former leader Obi-Won.


Darth Vader has made himself known and now our heroes have bigger problems including the Final Keyhole on Hollow Bastian still open.

Please Read and Review. Thank you.