Episode 24: The Heartless of Maiden's Peak
On the day of Mirei has announced to her daughter that she is pregnant, Mirei has decided to make a dinner for the two of them to celebrate the occasion. She had to time it just right.
"Ooh, Yuta is going to be thrilled when he hears the good news," Mirei said to herself. "Time to get to work." She started to cook a meal for the both of them. She been at it for hours. Mirei's timing as perfect as Yuta has come home.
"Sorry for taking so long, honey. The repairs took a little longer than planned. I can't believe there some areas we haven't found until just to-" Yuta said. He saw the table was set.
"You're not late, dear. You're just in time," Mirei said.
"What's the occasion?" Yuta asked.
"Oh, it's just a way to express my love for the man I love," Mirei said.
Yuta had to go with that. Mirei has placed the food on her husband's plate and he sat down.
"This looks delicious, Mirei," Yuta said. He took a bite of his meal. Mirei sat down and she ate hers as well. Once they were finished, Yuta gave off a satisfied moan. "I'm so stuffed. I don't think I can eat another bite."
"Yuta, I have some wonderful news to share," Mirei said. Yuta knew it was something after all.
"What is it, Mirei?" Yuta asked.
"I'm pregnant," Mirei announced, placing her hands over her belly. Yuta was astounded by the bit of news.
"Mirei, this is great news! Ooh, Kairi is going to be thrilled to hear this!" Yuta said.
"She already knows. Sorry that you're the second to know, but I had to tell someone, and I wanted to surprise you," Mirei said.
"And what a wonderful it is. Our household will have two blessings," Yuta said.
"I'm so happy to hear you're thrilled about this, Yuta," Mirei said.
"The problem is, we may not have enough room for the baby, so I think we should move to a bigger house," Yuta said.
"A bigger house? Where in Viridian City are we going to find one?" Mirei asked.
"I was thinking of Pallet Town, because it seems more appropriate for our second child to grow up in," Yuta said.
"That's a wonderful idea, Yuta. We can house searching in the morning," Mirei said.
"My thoughts exactly," Yuta said. "Right now, we celebrate the occasion."
"Agreed," Mirei said.
They sealed the deal with a passionate kiss. They held each other as they kissed.
Meanwhile over to Porta Vista, we have a look at a stone shaped like a woman. Then, a spirit of the woman comes from the rock.
"I'm waiting. Come back to me. I'm waiting," the ghost said. "I'm waiting for you!" She opened her eyes and they appear to be Heartless yellow.
Over to the house, Sora and Ventus are out in the backyard, playing catch. Danny had left for the restuarant as Delia and Cattleya are going over the names for their upcoming baby. Kairi and Karen were watching the cousins play catch.
"Nice toss, Ven!" Sora said.
"You too, Sora!" Ventus said.
They kept up the game of catch right up for a few more times.
"Okay, that'll be enough for that for now. How about we head on out to the beach?" Sora suggested.
"Yeah, that'll be fun," Ventus said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Pikachu, and Angel headed for the beach and changed into their swimsuits. As they had fun in the sun, a black pearl-like Pokémon encased within a spiky, blue-violet bivalve shell. It has two round white eyes with tiny black pupils. It has an enormously long red tongue. This Pokémon is known as a Shellder. Just when they were having fun, the Shellder came right at them.
"Look out!" Sora called out. They all ducked their heads out of the way. Sora took out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Shellder, the Bivalve Pokémon
Type: Water
It swims backward by opening and closing its two shells. Its large tongue is always kept hanging out.
"A Shellder, right," Sora said. Shellder came right at Pikachu. "That Shellder is using Tackle! Pikachu! Dodge and use Iron Tail!" Pikachu dodged and swings his tail at the Bivalve Pokémon. Shellder is well-protected due to its shell. Shellder then fires multiple shards of ice from its mouth at Pikachu.
"That's Ice Shard!" Kairi said.
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"Dodge and use Thunderbolt!" Sora ordered. Pikachu jumped and unleashed Thunderbolt, shocking Shellder. Shellder was now paralyzed from Pikachu's shock. Sora took out a Pokéball and threw it. Shellder flows inside the Pokéball and it wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Sora's Pokémon Box goes off asking him if he wants to keep Shellder with him. He chose to send Shellder to Professor Oak's lab. "Good job, Pikachu."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu said.
"Wow, you just caught that Shellder without a problem!" Ventus said.
"It would have been a problem if that Shellder kept on going," Sora said. He said in his thoughts, "Better a Shellder than the Heartless. I'd pick just about anything over the Heartless."
Meanwhile, James and Meowth made it back to Porta Vista, panting, meeting up with Jessie.
"You two sure took your time to get here," Jessie said. "Hope you enjoyed your swim."
"Sorry, Jess. Just had to give a Gyarados the slip," James panted.
"Well, because your blunder, Stanley Silas got arrested, and lost a big chance for Team Rocket to control Porta Vista through Silas. And it's because of the twerps and that nosey detective," Jessie said.
"So, now what?" Meowth asked.
"Back to our original plan," Jessie said.
"Right swiping Pikachu. Getting on the boss's good side should be pretty sweet," James grinned. "Huh?" Something has caught his eye. He saw a young woman with long, lavender hair and has a red flower in her hair. She wore a dress that seems to he old-time, but looks new. James eyes formed eyes. "Not as sweet as that!" Jessie smacked him.
"Wake up!" Jessie barked.
"Ow!" James yelped.
"And stop daydreaming! We got work to do!" Jessie said.
"Right," James said. He turned and saw the young woman gone. "Who was she?"
Unknown to Team Rocket, several Shadows were coming from the ground.
Later at Danny's Bay of Burgers, it didn't take long for business to start booming again. Sora knew his uncle was one to bounce back quicker than lightning. Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Pikachu, and Angel entered and had their lunch, compliments of Danny of course.
"No matter how many times I say it, this is great," Kairi said.
"I appreciate it, Kairi. Now, I can sleep better, knowing Silas is no longer holding the town in his grip," Danny said. "And it couldn't come at a better time than this."
"What's the special occasion?" Kairi asked.
"That'll be the annual Maiden Peak Festival," Danny said.
"Maiden Peak Festival?" Kairi asked.
"I take it you don't know," Karen said. "It's the town's annual holiday."
"Why is it called that?" Kairi asked.
"The story I'm about to tell you takes place thousands of years ago. A war has broke out between the land of Kanto and the evil Empire, Palamecia. Many warriors went off to fight against this evil empire, but there was a maiden who was in love with one of the soldiers. She said she will wait here forever if she had to. And that is what she did. She stood, waiting and waiting. He never returned to her. She faithfully continued to wait for her true love to come back right until she died and her entire body turned to stone. Up to this day, she still waits for him to return."
"And that's why we call it Maiden's Peak and the event is known as the Maiden's Peak Festival," Danny added. "It's not too far from the town. Just look for a rock shaped like a maiden and you won't miss it."
"That's quite a story. The war with Palamecia is what I already know about. They taught it in history class," Kairi said.
"That war has done a number on us back in those days," Sora said.
"Right up to when Sir Aaron defeated the Emperor of Palamecia," Danny said. "He put an end to the empire once and for all."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Kairi asked.
"Well, Sora might not have mentioned it, but he and Karen are blood descendants of Sir Aaron," Danny said. Kairi was shocked to hear it. She knew the story of Sir Aaron well, but she had no idea she was traveling with one of his descendants.
"You never told me that," Kairi said.
"Didn't think you'd believe me," Sora said.
"Fair enough," Kairi said.
"Anyway, I'm planning closing early today since I might not get much business today because of the festivities. Which works out for me because I got plans with your mother, Ventus," Danny said.
"That's okay. I'm sure Terra and Aqua will be there, too. They never missed it," Ventus said.
"Just have fun, kids," Danny said.
"We will," the kids all said.
"Chu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel added.
Over to Riku and Eevee, they were sitting by the water, doing some fishing. Riku felt something tug on his line.
"I got something," Riku said. He started to pull as hard as he could. He pulls out a small, jellyfish-like Pokémon. It has a light blue, clear body with two large, transparent, red crystals on each side of its body and one small one in the middle. Near the base of its body is a pointed, beak-like projection and two eyes with small pupils. There are two grayish tentacles extending from beneath its round lower body, which has a cape-like formation on the back. "A Tentacool." He pulled out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Tentacool, the Jellyfish Pokémon
Type: Water/Poison
Tentacool absorbs sunlight and refracts it using water inside its body to convert it into beam energy. This Pokémon shoots beams from the small round organ above its eyes.
The Tentacool fired Bubble Beam right at Riku and Eevee.
"Dodge and use Quick Attack!" Riku ordered. Eevee dodges Tentacool's Bubble Beam and lands a hit with Quick Attack. Tentacool comes at Eevee and puts a squeeze on him. "It's using Constrict! Use Shadow Ball!" Eevee fired Shadow Ball, hitting Tentacool hard. "Use Swift!" Eevee unleashed Swift, hitting Tentacool. Riku took out a Pokéball and threw it. Tentacool flows inside the Pokéball. It wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Riku took his new Pokéball. "Got myself a Tentacool." He smiled.
"Eevee, vee!" Eevee said. His ears perked up. "Vee!" Eevee looked forward. Riku turned and saw it was Naminé, watching him.
"Naminé, have you been there long?" Riku asked.
"Not really. I didn't mean to spy on you, I just didn't want to bother you," Naminé said.
"No, you didn't bother me at all," Riku said. "What brings you here?"
"I was wondering if you would like to join me for the festival, Riku. If it's not too much trouble," Naminé said.
"Sure thing, Naminé. I would like to," Riku said.
With that said, Riku and Naminé went down to the festival to have some fun.
Down at the festival, Terra and Aqua joined the group of kids as they were having some fun in the festival. Just then, they spotted someone familiar to Terra. He has black hair and brown eyes. He wore a white shirt, a black vest, dark blue jeans, purple shoes, and a pair of glasses. He looked down in the dumps.
"Conner?" Terra asked.
"You know him?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, he's from my class," Terra said. Conner turned to Terra.
"Oh, hey, Terra, Aqua. Thought I'd see you here," Conner said.
"Why so blue?" Aqua asked. Conner sighed. She sighed as well. "Dumb question."
"Just being envious," Conner said. "I look around and I see happy couples and everything! I could never meet a girl!" Conner cried.
"There, there. Don't cry," Aqua said.
"Leave me be!" Conner said, running off.
"Conner, wait!" Aqua called out.
"Has be always been like this?" Sora asked.
"Yes, he has. He's like this because every girl he talked to has rejected him," Aqua said. "He didn't ask me."
"Oh, okay," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
Conner ran right to the beach and he stared right out to sea.
"What is wrong with me? Why won't I have a date?" Conner said. He sighed and he spotted the same young woman who James saw. "Huh? Who is she?" He started to run towards her, but he tripped. He stood back up, and she was gone. "Where did she go?"
Over to Team Rocket, they were working on a plan to snatch Pikachu, but James hasn't been focusing on the task.
"James, won't you focus?" Jessie asked.
"Huh? What?" James asked.
"Why don't you make yourself useful, and get us some coffee? I want mine black with sugar!" Jessie said.
"Right," James said, heading out. James started to head right into the festival to buy some coffee.
Later, James walked by a painting of the Maiden and he stared at it, awestruck. Over to Conner, he walked by the same painting and he stood by James as he stared at the painting with awe.
Over to Jessie and Meowth, they stepped out, looking for James.
"How could it take long for someone to come back?" Jessie asked.
"His head was never screwed on just right, so he'll never find it anyway," Meowth said.
Over to Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, and Angel saw Conner and James standing right in front of the painting.
Jessie and Meowth have found him and they were dumbfounded by how he was looking at the painting.
"She's the one I'm looking for. She's incredibly beautiful," Conner said in a trance.
"She's the girl of my dreams. Don't wake me up," James said.
They both walked up to the painting as a man pushed them.
"Back up, you two! I don't care how bad you want to see it, just keep your distance!" The man said.
"Where is she?" Conner asked.
"She died thousands of years ago. Her body turned to stone," the man said.
"Where is she?" Conner asked.
"Maiden Rock is just outside of town at a cliff, there," the man said, pointing to his left. James and Conner ran as fast as they could. Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, and Angel stood on one side as Team Rocket stood at the other side.
"So, that's Maiden's Rock! It's the most beautiful rock I have ever seen!" Conner said.
"I don't care if she's made of stone! I'm still in love with her!" James said.
"If she was my girlfriend, I wouldn't let her go!" Conner said.
"I think think he flipped his lid," Sora said.
"He's gotta have a lid to flip," Karen said.
"No one will ever steal her from me! Not even Team Rocket!" James said. "I'll fight them to protect her!" James leans forward with Jessie pulling him.
"You've lost your marbles, James! Why would we steal a thing like that?"
"We could steal that other thing," Meowth said. Jessie looked right at Meowth.
"What other thing?" Jessie asked.
"The painting. We could steal the painting. We steal it and then sell it to an art collector!" Meowth said.
"Yes, we could make millions of Munny when we grab the painting!" Jessie said, letting go of James. He hangs on to dear life.
"Jessie, Jessie! Before grab it, grab me!" James shouted. Jessie tried to pull up James, but they both fell in the sea below. They both screamed before they hit the water.
"I should have gone on Broadway, and made some money that way," Meowth said.
Hours later, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, and Angel left the rock as Conner sat by it.
"I know what I saw. It had to be you," Conner said in his thoughts.
The festival has concluded for the night as everyone went right to sleep. As for Team Rocket, they slept in sleeping bags, hanging from trees like Kakuna. An alarm goes off, waking up Meowth.
"What time is it?" Meowth asked as he woke up. "Wake up! We got a painting to swipe! Wake up, you two!"
"I'm on beauty sleep," Jessie said.
"So beautiful. I must meet you. I'm coming," James said.
Just then, a strong wind blows.
"What the heck is that?" Meowth asked. He saw what looks like the Maiden, but she is a walking shadow and has yellow eyes. Meowth screamed when he saw her. The Maiden gave off a dark aura, making the Scratch Cat Pokémon fall right back to sleep. "Must be dreaming. Back to sleep." Meowth fell right to sleep.
"My love. I've been waiting," the Maiden said. James started to wake up.
"Who said that?" James asked. He saw the Maiden standing before him. "It's you!"
Over to Conner, he is still outside, sitting by the rock, when he heard something. He saw the Maiden.
"It's you!" Conner said.
"I've been waiting for you," the Maiden said.
On the next morning, Terra woke up when his smartphone starts ringing. He answered it.
"Hello?" Terra asked as he answered the phone. "Good morning, ma'am. No, Conner isn't here. I haven't seen since last night." He listened. "Wait, what? He didn't come home? Calm down, I'll go looking for him." Terra dialed Aqua's number. "Aqua, it's Conner. His mom just called." He listened. "He didn't come home last night, and she's worried. I'm about to look for him."
Over to Ventus's house, everyone were having some breakfast when a knock was heard. Danny answered the door.
"Morning, Terra. Would you like to join us for breakfast?" Danny asked.
"This isn't a pleasure visit," Terra said. "Conner didn't come home last night and his mom is worried."
"Conner's missing? That isn't like him," Danny said.
Later, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, and Angel met up to the last spot where they saw Conner and they found he was nowhere around.
"This the last spot we looked," Sora said.
"Conner, where are you?" Terra called out.
Over to Jessie and Meowth, they were looking for James after he went missing.
"James! James, where are you! If you're not here, at least let us know!" Jessie called out.
"Conner!" Sora called out.
Sora and Jessie turned and they flinch when they saw each other.
"You again!" Jessie hissed.
"The feeling is mutual," Sora said. He noticed James isn't with them. "Hey, where's the third stooge?"
"That's right. We're looking for James!" Jessie said.
"He has got to be around here somewhere," Meowth said.
Suddenly, James comes falling out of the sky and he lands right on Jessie.
"Ouch. That hurt," Jessie said. James started to get up and he touched one of Jessie's breasts. She gave him a punch in the face. "You don't touch a lady there, you perve!"
"That answers my question. If only we could find Conner," Sora said. Just then, something lands right on top of him. "OW!"
"Sora!" Kairi, Karen, and Ventus exclaimed. It turns out to be Conner who fell from the sky as well.
"Conner, where the hell have you been? Your mom has been worried sick about you!" Terra said. He saw how pale he looked. "What's up with you? You paler than a sick Miltank." James was also pale as well.
"Hey, what's up with ya? You look worse than usual," Meowth said.
"Hey, a talking Meowth!" Ventus exclaimed. "How are you talking?"
"Ven, Pokémon can't talk," Aqua said.
"You'd be amazed," Sora said, getting up.
"What happened to you?" Terra asked.
"I'll tell ya what happened?" A voice spoke. They turned to see a young man, wearing a skull mask. "They have seen the ghost of the Maiden."
"Ghost of the Maiden?!" Everyone all exclaimed.
"Yes," the young man said. Conner and James were saying how they love her. "I know how to snap them out of it." He took out a bronze rod with a blue orb on top. He bashed them both on the head. "SNAP OUT OF IT, THE BOTH OF YOU!" Conner and James were rubbing their sore heads. "That should do it." They go inside of his house to talk about the ghost.
"Okay, just who are you?" Sora asked.
"I am what you would call a necromancer. I have the power to call upon the dead," the necromancer said.
"If you're a necromancer, then how come you brought that ghost here?" Karen asked.
"I didn't. I don't know how, but this ghost has been a problem here for the past six years. It only appears once a year, and it became difficult to have a lock on it. I tried to get the ghost under my control, but every attempt ends in failure," the necromancer said.
"Why is this ghost doing this?" Kairi asked.
"According to legend, the Maiden is waiting for her beloved to return, so it's my theory that she thinks it's one of these two. For the past six years, men have been vanishing without a trace. No one ever sees them again," the necromancer said.
"I'm scared! I'm really, really scared!" James exclaimed.
Sora started to think. He remembered the Marowak ghost in the Pokémon Tower, and he hoped that it was another ghost, and not a Heartless. But he had to make certain it wasn't.
"Is there a way to prevent this?" Sora asked.
"There is. I can cast a protective spell around them. It would take some of my dark energy to do so," the necromancer said. "I need to work.
Hours later, the necromancer began to chant in a language not one of them could understand. The chant sounded dark as a skull is placed in front of James and Conner.
"Think this is going to work?" James asked. The necromancer hits James on the head with his rod again.
"Do not interrupt me! It takes hours of concentration to get it done!" The necromancer said. He goes back to his chanting.
"He could at least make it sound less scary," Meowth said. The chanting continued on as a dark circle surrounds them.
"There, it is done," the necromancer said. The wind starts to blow again. "And not a moment too soon! She's here!" Just then, the Maiden enters inside.
"It's you!" Conner said.
"I've been waiting for such a long time," the Maiden said.
"I've been waiting for you, too," Conner said.
"I've been wanting to meet you," the Maiden said.
"Now we can be together," Conner said. The Maiden lifts Conner and James up. The barrier shattered into little pieces.
"No! That's impossible!" The necromancer exclaimed.
"Conner! No!" Terra exclaimed. He grabbed Conner by the ankles.
"Let go of me, Terra!" Conner said.
"No, Conner! She's not real!" Terra said.
"This is my chance for happiness, and I'm going for it!" Conner said.
"This isn't worth it, Conner! Think about what you're doing! You'll be turning your back on everything if you do this!" Terra said.
"Every girl I ever known has rejected me! I will never be rejected again!" Conner said.
"You didn't deserve that! You'll find the right one, just not her!" Terra said.
"The right girl is here!" Conner argued.
"No, it's not, Conner! It's not her! Don't throw away your life over this! You're all what your mom has left since the divorce! Don't break her heart over this!" Terra said. Conner thought about his mom and imagined her crying over him.
"No, I won't do that to her," Conner said. "The girl I love will have to understand that I wouldn't leave my mother for any woman!" He gets pulled down.
James was going forward towards her when Jessie and Meowth jumped on him.
"You're not going anywhere, James!" Jessie said.
"Jessie," James could only say.
"Look, it's because of what we've been through since boot camp. You were the only human friend I have ever had in my life! Sure, I'm a selfish person, but I'm not selfish enough to let you be taken by some ghost!" Jessie said.
"You ruined everything," the Maiden said. "You will pay with your hearts!" She summoned Shadows all around. They all screamed at the sight of the Heartless.
"It's those things from Viridian Forest!" Meowth said.
"Pay with our hearts?" Sora asked. The Maiden has begun to transform. She took on the form of a succubus. She now wore a corset and high-heeled shoes. She has six demonic wings on each side, and has the Heartless symbol on her corset. This Heartless shall be known as the Lusting Desire "I knew it! She's not a ghost! She's a Heartless!"
"I will have your hearts!" The Lusting Desire said.
She summoned some other Heartless as well. One kind of Heartless is pale-skinned and bearing the classic footless ghost shape of Japanese folklore, they are clad in purple tunics bearing the Heartless emblem. The sleeves of the tunic end in white cuffs with gold cuff links, but the fashionable nature of the tunic is ruined a bit by the torn hemline and a rip on the left side that exposes the Heartless's ribcage. This Heartless also wore white cuffed gloves, but noticeably, there is no flesh or skin connecting the sleeves of the tunic to the ghosts Heartless's hands, only a disturbing empty gap. This Heartless is known as a Search Ghost.
Another kind of Heartless appeared. They strongly resembled mummies. Its grayish-blue skinned, almost skeletal figure is wrapped in patches of white gauze bandages; the head is completely covered in them, save for a gap that reveals a bright yellow eye in a shadowed face, and the Knight's "plume", a simple angular-spiraled antenna. It also have a "ribcage" of six sharp barbs that surround their chest and Heartless emblem, large hands, and long barbed fingers and toes. This Heartless is known as a Wight Knight.
Coming are also flying Heartless. Each one of them has dark grey skin is covered by a dark purple bodysuit with roughly stitched-on light purple sleeves that end in a gold zig-zag trim and jagged edges. The purple color extends to cover the head and horns, and the horns also feature black stripes. Like other Heartless, the Gargoyle has golden eyes and a craggy maw, but it can unhinge its jaw to fearsome proportions. Their talons are long, but not nearly as alien as their dark grey feet, which are spindly and two-toed. Their leather-like wings are also pointy and sharp, particularly the tops which resemble spires or spearheads. This kind of Heartless is known as the Gargoyle.
There were also ghost-like Heartless as well. It long, white arms with three short, purple fingers at the end of each one. Its body is predominantly white, and it has four yellow eyes—two for each face. Its mouth is jagged and purple on the inside; it also has what seem to be stitches on its corners. Its head is tipped with a long, curled antenna. This antenna is decorated with horizontal stripes of purple, tan, and lilac. Its Heartless emblem is on the lower half of its body, between the eyes of the second face. Its head sports several short spikes, and the antenna on the normal face serves as a tail. This Heartless is known as a Trick Ghost.
"Those things have brought some friends!" Jessie said.
"More Heartless!" Sora said. He summoned his Keyblade and held it tight. The Heartless started to make their way towards Sora, so he slashed through the Heartless. The Emblem Heartless have unleashed hearts after they were slained. Pikachu unleashed Thunderbolt, destroying some of the Heartless. "Good work, Pikachu." Just then, more Shadows, Gargoyle's, Wight Knight's, Search Ghosts, and Trick Ghosts started to come. One of the Heartless bursts in flames and stars has landed some hits on some of them. Sora turned to Riku, Naminé, and Eevee were running towards them. Riku has summoned his Keyblade just before he came.
"Sora, good thing I found you!" Riku said.
"Riku!" Sora said.
"He has one of those, too?" Karen asked.
"Look out!" Riku shouted as he slashed through the Heartless, destroying them.
"Good thing you came, Riku," Sora said.
"Don't celebrate yet. We have the ring leader to deal with," Riku said.
"I was waiting for my true love! I won't let you get in my way!" The Lusting Desire said. She unleashed a series of black and blue orbs at them. Sora and Riku dodged them as did Pikachu and Eevee. The Keyblade wielding Pokémon Trainers and their partners managed to dodge her attacks, but the Heartless was being relentless with her attacks. She came swooping down at Sora and Riku. Her hands turned into claws and swiped at them. Sora and Riku used their Keyblades to block her slash. "I will devour your hearts!"
"Not tonight!" Sora said.
"Not ever!" Riku added.
They pushed the Lusting Desire back and they leapt forward in the air and gave her a combined slashed across her body. She screamed in pain. She flew upwards and she reached out to the night sky.
"My love! I'm waiting for you," the Lusting Desire said as a heart appeared from her body and disappeared. Sora and Riku dismissed their Keyblades.
"That takes care of her," Sora said.
The necromancer was at a loss for words. He now saw why his attempts have failed. His powers only worked for ghosts, not Heartless.
After the fight with the Heartless, they explained to Karen, Ventus, Terra, and Aqua about the Keyblades and the Heartless. Naminé was unphased by the news.
"Hard to believe something like this to happen," Karen said.
"You're not the only one, sis. The Heartless will keep coming at me," Sora said.
"And you say that the Keyblade is the only thing they're afraid of?" Aqua asked.
"That's what my dad said," Kairi said.
"And I can tell you this: the Heartless are way worse than Team Rocket," Sora said.
"But at least someone is doing something about them," Terra said. "And I'm relieved that Conner didn't end up being one of their victims."
"I never thought I would say this about Team Rocket, but I feel the same way about James. No one deserves to have their hearts taken by them," Sora said.
"Where did they go? They just ran off after the whole Heartless ordeal," Ventus said.
"Hopefully, far away, but I don't know," Kairi said.
Over to Team Rocket, they panted, having to take off running.
"That was so close. I can't believe that Maiden was actually one of those things," James said.
"That twerp called those things Heartless. Those things are scary," Meowth said.
"And with them in the way, they're going to make catching Pikachu a whole lot harder," Jessie said.
"The twerp had a sword shaped like a key, so they were focused on him," James said.
"Yeah, what about it?" Jessie asked.
"I don't know. Just pointing something out," James said.
"Whatever the case, we should keep our eyes open for those things. If they're gonna get to the twerps, they'll get to us, too. And they'll take our hearts," Meowth said.
"Those Heartless aren't going to have mine without a fight," Jessie said.
Later, the festival was reaching its conclusion as everyone were dancing on the last night of the celebration. It seems not even the Heartless were going to ruin it. We continue on further soon.