Zedd is gone but Vader has shown himself and the Final Keyhole remains open. Our heroes need to prepare.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this


Kingdom Hearts: DM77 Version Chapter 32

Preparing for Departure

"Tell me what happened" Qrow said.

After narrowing escaping the hoard of ravenous Heartless with the aid of Cody, Spider-man and the troops holding them back. Emerl and his friends, along with Jenny, departed from Hollow Bastion. Suggested by Emerl, the group flew to Travese Town to recover and hoping Qrow would be able to help. Unfortunately, they were swarmed by Wyvern and Metoran Heartless, if it wasn't for Yusai, Akisa and Doom's soldiers timing, they would have never made it to the house. Jenny and Lilac were sitting on the bed with Blake, Oscar was standing with Ruby and Doom was keeping up reports with his men while Emerl, with Togami and Hiro's help, explained the whole incident at Hollow Bastion.

"So, Obi-Won has fallen to the Darkness and is going by the name Darth Vader now?" Qrow asked surprised

"No way, it can't be true" Ruby said not buying it

"I didn't want to believe it either" Oscar said

"Whether it's true or not, something more important" Qrow said "The darkness is pouring out of that portal…"

"That would explain why there are more and more Heartless everywhere" Blake said nodding

"We were unable to seal the Keyhole up" Lilac sighs "What with Vader showing up and then Emerl being turned into a Heartless."

"And the place was getting overrun by the time Emerl returned" Doom reported

"Hey, it's okay. No need to get work up, it was just a small setback" Ruby said smiling

"So, all we have to do is seal up that Keyhole, right?" Emerl said nodding

"Maybe…" Qrow said hesitant "But, no one knows what will happen once the Keyhole is sealed."

"But we can't just stay here!" Emerl exclaimed, making everyone but Qrow jump "We have to do something. I have a friend back there"

"That's right. You have one more friend to worry about." Qrow said nodding "Metal's keyblade must have been created from the captive princess' hearts, exactly like that keyhole you saw." Qrow looks over at Jenny "But obviously, without Jenny's heart, it remained incomplete, so Vader though Metal created the keyblade in order to acquire her heart from you. Once that keyblade was destroyed, the princesses' hearts should have been freed." He looks back at Emerl "Don't worry Emerl. If anyone can save Metal Sonic, it's you."

"And you won't be doing it alone" Lilac said smiling

"We started this journey together and we're going to end it together" Hiro said smiling

"You can rely on me" Doom said nodding

"So, shape up, because I will not allow you dragging us behind" Togami said but with a smile.

Emerl smiles happily and touched with everyone was supportive and Emerl wanted to help out. Just then someone enters the house and the group draw there weapons only to see Grim was there

"Geez Grim, we thought we were in danger for a moment" Qrow said sighing

"Hello to you too Qrow." Grim said sarcastically "Emerl, I figured I would find you here."

"What are you doing here, Grim?" Emerl asked

"I was helping with dealing with the Heartless, I managed to use my magic to secure the building where Nestor and Spyro are." Grim explained

"That's good, they have a lot of eggs to look after all" Oscar said nodding

"Which reminds me, I have those last ones I need to drop off" Emerl said thinking

"Well then let's hurry down to their" Doom said nodding

"Before you go, do you want me to perhaps revive that summoning stone you have" Grim asked

"How do you know about that?!" Emerl asked shocked

"I would like to know that too" Jenny asked

"I can sense the dormant magical energies coming from Emerl" Grim simply said

"Seems legit" Hiro said nodding

Emerl reaches into his cloak's pocket and pulls out the orange stone and hands it too Grim. He takes it and has a look at the contents of it.

"This spirit is….an odd one" Grim comments

"How so?" Oscar asked

"You'll see for yourself" Grim told them

Grim waves his scythe over the orange stone which glows the usual glow. Togami and Hiro disappear, and a figure appears from the stone in a flash of light. When the light fades a new creature by Grim's feet. The creature was n two-foot-ten-inch-tall mustelid with orange fur and a yellow underbelly. He often made remarks about his claws, whiskers, and paws, typical to a mustelid species and was wearing goggles and aviator's gloves

"Oh it's adorable" Jenny and Ruby both said

"Oh geez…that was a ride" The creature said and notices everyone around him "Err…." He then screams "Stay back! I warn you I know martial arts….kind of…"

"Relax, we're not here to hurt you" Doom said

"Then why am I here and what did you bozo's do with Jak!" the creature demands

"Well first, what is your name?" Emerl asked

"You can call me Daxter, I'm quite famous don't you know" Daxter said bragging

Qrow chuckled "Well Mr. famous, sorry to say your world has been completely destroyed"

"Wait…. really?" Daxter said shocked

"Sorry, but it's true" Lilac said nodding

"Yeah but you're not alone and me and my friends are fighting against the ones responsible" Emerl said nodding "The Heartless are everywhere, trying to take over all the other worlds. Want to join us?"

"Hmmmm ordinally I would say no but…." Daxter said and jumps onto Emerl's shoulder and pulls out the Morph Gun "Why not, not like I have much else to lose"

"Glad to have you aboard" Oscar said smiling "We'll call you if we need you"

With that Daxter vanishes

"So, how was he?" Hiro asked

"Small, a bit cowardly but alright" Lilac said giggling

After saying goodbye to Qrow and the others, Team Gizoid started their way to the second district, course Emerl made sure Jenny was okay before following them

"She'll be fine, don't worry" Doom told him

"I know, just surreal that she is here now" Emerl said nodding

Oscar pats Emerl's shoulder and they go through the doors to the second district. Indeed with the keyhole open, the Heartless were strong and plentiful but they made it to the centre of the district with no incident however.

"Man, you'd think we'd be swarmed by now" Hiro asked confused

"Let's take solace in this breather without jinxing us" Lilac suggests

"Agreed, personally I am concerned we will be unable to take the same way to get back to Hollow Bastion" Togami points out.

"Indeed, the intense darkness would be too much for the Hope Seeker to take" Doom said

"Wait…there might be another route we can take" Oscar said remember. "Yusai and Akisa may know of another route since they flew us here."

"Then I suggest we separate into teams of 3" Togami said, "Me, Hiro and Oscar will go talk to Yusai about an alternate route, Emerl, Doom and Lilac you go and do what you can around the town"

"Sounds like a plan" Emerl said nodding "Meet up later"

With that the group separate into two groups. Togami, Hiro and Oscar go through the gates to the First District while Emerl along with Doom and Lilac go down the ally to Nestor and Spyro's house. Upon entering they see Nestor and Spyro working to keep the place tidy

"Ah, Emerl so glad to see you" Nestor said smiling

"Nice to see you too guys" Emerl said and hands over the eggs "I think these belong to you"

"Wow, those are the last missing ones" Spyro said smiling "I will admit, I didn't think it would be possible for you to find them all but happy to be wrong"

"It was nothing, happy to be of help" Lilac said smiling

"Least when these eggs hatch, they won't be separated" Nestor said smiling "If you ever find yourselves in the Dragon Realms do come visit"

"We'll be sure to if we ever find ourselves flying by their" Doom said nodding

With that said, the three said their farewells and headed for the hotel to access the secret passage to Qrow's training grounds.


The scene alters to Qrow's training area. Emerl, Doom and Lilac emerge from beneath the water and drag themse onto the stone floor. However they were surprised to see not only were Hiro, Togami and Oscar were there. Qrow and Jenny were also there completely dry.

"How did you get here without getting wet?" Emerl asked in disbelief

"There is a secret entrance connected to Grim's house" Togami said grinning "We felt like not swimming, so we took it instead."

"Thanks for that detail" Emerl said sarcastiacally. "What did Yusai say?"

"He's found another way around Hollow Bastian" Oscar said smiling

"Yeah, if we take the route through a wormhole, we should end up back in Hollow Bastion without the Heartless noticing us" Hiro explained

"Sweet, we will be able to stop the Heartless in not time with that" Lilac said smiling

Oscar, Togami and Hiro turn to head to the father end of the hallway, no doubt going to the secret entrance, Lilac and Doom follow them, leaving only Emerl, Jenny and Qrow. Qrow sits on a large rock sipping on his flask drink, while Jenny stared down the watery pathway. She was starting at the tapestry that held the sun and moon.

"A light at the end of the tunnel…" Jenny whispered

"Oh, that was from the story your mother told you, right?" Emerl asked

Jenny looked at him surprised and nods "That's right. We were together so make sense you would see my memories"

"Want to know what is funny?" Emerl asked arms folded and approaches her "I looked everywhere for you, but you were with me the entire time. Finally, we're together Jenny." He smiles as he looks at the tapestry "Now, all that's left is to bring Metal back."

"Do you think it'll ever be the same between us?" Jenny asked "I know the darkness is nothing but evil…"

"Remember when I turned into Dark Emerl?" Emerl cut in "I was lost and being consumed by the darkness, but then Dark Emerl saved me." Jenny was surprised by this "He said you were willing to risk your life to save me. He said he felt happy like he remembered that he was one with the light even if he is a being of darkness." He looks to Jenny "Don't you see, because you didn't want to let me go, you brought me back"

"I didn't want to just forget you, Emerl." Jenny said smiling "I could never forget someone so important to me."

"And this is what will bring Metal Sonic back" Emerl said confidently "Our hearts are connected, and it is that light that will break through the darkness. I think that makes it more then just a fairy tale your mother was telling you."

"Well, if you are sure, let's go" Jenny said confident

"Sorry Jenny, but you can't go" Emerl said

"Why not, I do remember I am built for combat" Jenny said her arm changing to a cannon to prove it.

"Even still you are only just recovered those memories, you still don't fully remember so it's too dangerous for you still" Emerl explained

"Come on Emerl, we made it this far by sticking together" Jenny said "Think what we can do now that I can fight by your side. You can't do this alone"

"Jenny, even if we're apart, we're not alone anymore, right?" Emerl said

"So, I can't help?" Jenny asked

"Well, you'll kind of might be in my way" Emerl said chuckling

"Alright, fine you win" Jenny said sighing. All of a sudden, Jenny takes Emerl's hand and places something in it. It was a star formed from thalessa-shells. "Take this with you. It's my lucky charm, be sure to bring it back to me."

"Don't worry. I will" Emerl said smiling

"Promise?" Jenny asked

"I promise" Emerl said nodding

"Good" Jenny said smiling "Don't ever forget, wherever you go, I'm always with you."

Jenny gives one last smile to Emerl and walks away towards the path the others went. Emerl watches her go then looks at the charm and realizes it was made like a keychain. He switches it out the current one for it and it transforms to have a silver body with a coloured star at the end, angel wings for the handle and a heart imprint on the hilt. Emerl stared at the new Keyblade, Oathkeeper, before he had a lingering thought on his head.

"Something on your mind?" Qrow said making Emerl jump

"Yeah, Jenny's mother. What happened to her?" Emerl asked

"You mean Nora Wakemon?" Qrow said "She was a well-known robotic scientist and worked closely with Obi-Won. Unfortunately, when Lord Zedd attacked, she was in the city trying to help evacuate, her area was hit hard by a blast by Serpentera."

"That's horrible" Emerl said shocked

"Thing is, she was there with one of Obi-Won's students…Egil I think his name was" Qrow said think "Through Obi-Won was locked away in his tower so unsure if any of them survived, Obi-Won being now evil and calling himself Vader was a complete surprise"

Emerl nods, with Nora gone he and Metal were all she had left, he had to save him. But to do that had to go through Vader, which won't be easy. He guesses have to see what destiny has in store for them.


The scene alters to a white pathway floating in an endless void of darkness. Everything was left in a state of depression and darkness consumed all. Any one normal would have died the moment they entered this realm. But Metal Sonic wasn't ordinary, for what felt like days for him he walked this endless path with no trace of light to guide him. He was hoping to awaken from this nightmare. But he knew it was real and he won't be waking up. Growing tired in robot terms low power, Metal collapses onto his knees with a sense of hopelessness in his optics.

"Emerl…. Jenny…." Metal whispered in the darkness. "I'm sorry…for everything." He looks into the darkness "Is this the world of death?" He felt energy leave him as shadowry being emerges "No…I am not ready…. Not until I see Emerl and Jenny one more time"

Just as the glow leaves and he looks at the shadow about to strike someone slices it cutting it down.

"Glad I found you" A voice said "Hope you're not giving up soon"

Metal looked and saw the figure, shrouded in darkness but saw clearly he wielded a keyblade. It was was of a starry sky blade with a gold star on the tip, blue feath wings and blue hilt.

"A keyblade?" Metal said "Is that you Emerl?"

"Sorry, I don't know anyone named Emerl" The figure said, "I was wondering the darkness looking for something, luckily the light I carry managed to keep the darkness off you."

"I don't know who you are but where am I?" Metal asked

"Your heart was taken, but not your body." The figure said "So now your heart was left behind. In here where all the hearts lost to darkness go."

"So, how do we get out of here?" Metal asked standing up

"The Door to Darkness will open soon" The figure explained "But it is one where we can't pass through."

"Then why bother looking for it?" Metal asked

"It needs to be locked on both sides" The figure continued "Two hearts and two keys however, the keyblade I have will not lock it on this side. To lock this side, I need to find the Keyblade of Darkness within this realm, luckily I have a good idea where it might be. Maybe you were brought here for the same reason, like fate. Or you just have a unique form of luck like me."

"Fate huh? You seem to know everything" Metal said smirking a bit

"Well not fully, I kind of impulse into this without much thought" The figure said chuckling

Metal chuckles as well "Sounds like a friend of mine." He then "Tell me, are Emerl and Jenny safe?"

"I can't really answer that for you" The figure admits "But can't you feel their echoes of their hearts in your heart? That should give you the answer"

After hearing that Metal closed his optics. He tried to feel the hearts of Emerl and Jenny. At first all he could see was darkness. But then the light cut through and showed Emerl and Jenny together, safe from the darkness. With his answer found he opened his eyes and smiles at the figure

"Thanks" Metal said "Alright, I will help you, where do we start?"


Our heroes have prepared and head to return to Hollow Bastion meanwhile Metal meets a new friend that can help him

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