Episode 68: Hollow Bastion Part 2
Where we last left off, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel had their hands full, dealing with the Heartless, so they're encountered by a mysterious figure wearing a mask. Like Sora and Kairi, he held a Keyblade of his own. Team Rocket attempts to snatch Pikachu only to end up in Hollow Bastion along with them. They set foot in the castle and saw how dark it was on the inside. But the masked figure will surely be waiting for them inside.
Back in Pallet Town, Ash, Leaf, Riku, Naminé, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Eevee, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, and Togepi have arrived to their last known location. Riku took a whiff.
"No mistaking it. Darkness," Riku said in his thoughts.
"Why are we here, Riku?" Ash asked.
"Yeah, why?" Ventus asked.
"Pikachu," Sparky added.
"Just a feeling I have," Riku answered. He summoned his Keyblade. "Now, to see if I'm right." He points it forward, and the portal opens up.
"What's that?" Karen asked.
"I don't know. But I have a feeling Sora and Kairi went right in there," Riku said. "And someone else, too."
"Someone else?" Terra asked.
"I might just be guessing," Riku said. "But just to be sure, I'm heading in." Riku steps inside the portal. Ventus and Sparky followed, but Aqua tried to stop him
"Ven, wait!" Aqua said. Ventus and Sparky went inside, so Aqua and Eclair followed them. Ash, Leaf, Terra, Thor, Eevee, Naminé, Karen, Blossom, and Togepi followed inside. The portal closes, and they have arrived in Hollow Bastion. The portal closes behind them.
"Where are we?" Karen asked.
"Pikachu," Blossom said, sharing Karen's discomfort.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"You're asking me?" Riku asked.
"Just look around. It looks like everything is dead; even the flowers," Leaf said.
"I-It's horrible," Naminé said.
"What could have happened here?" Aqua asked.
"Something not good, I can tell you that," Ash said.
"We better keep moving if we're gonna find Sora and Kairi," Terra said.
"Terra's right. We should keep moving," Riku said. He kept his Keyblade out, holding it tight, just in case the Heartless shows up.
The group started to walk. They made their way to the castle gates, which opened by themselves. They ventured inside, and the gates closes behind them after they entered. They walked towards the doorway and entered the entrance hall.
"Wow, look at this place," Ventus said.
"What makes you think Sora and Kairi came in here?" Karen asked.
"Not sure, but regardless, we should keep moving ahead. The trail will probably go cold if we just stand around," Riku said. He goes on ahead as Eevee followed his Trainer. The rest of them followed as well. They came to the balcony and saw a lift.
"Where do we go from here?" Karen asked.
"Probably over there," Riku said, pointing to his left. They look to the left. "It's the only way to go, so what choice do we have?"
"I had a bad feeling you were gonna say that," Aqua said.
"But he does have a point," Ash said.
Over to Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Team Rocket, they get off the lift, only to be greeted by some more Heartless. This kind of Heartless a very thin, humanoid Heartless clad from head to toe in black, grey, and silver armor. Its spherical, pitch-black head and glowing, yellow eyes are visible in its helmet, and there are two red spirals decorating its visor. It also carries a sword with a gold guard and handle. Its Heartless emblem is on its abdomen. This Heartless is known as the Armored Knight.
Another kind of Heartless is a bronze-colored, funnel-shaped, mechanical Heartless with a diamond-shaped opening in its front, exposing its glowing, yellow eyes. Two black, rectangular guns are mounted on either side of its body. Each of these guns sports a silver, pyramidal spike on both of its ends. This Heartless is known as the Surveillance Robot.
Another kind of Heartless that has a resemblance to the Red Nocturne, the Blue Rhapsody, the Yellow Opera, Green Requiem, and Silver Rock. Like them, it has a smooth, conical, turquoise or aquamarine body with a Heartless emblem emblazoned on its chest. The top of its body flares outward and forms a jagged "collar" below the Heartless's spherical, pitch black head. It also wears a conical, light green hat with a jagged brim, a white band circling the stem, and a thin, curled, sky blue tip. Like many Heartless, the it has glowing yellow eyes. Its seemingly useless feet sport three small, thin toes. This kind of Heartless is known as the Emerald Blues.
Sora and Kairi slashed through the Armored Knights, before they set their attentions on the Emerald Blues. One of the Surveillance Robots fired lasers at them, but Sora reflects them with his Keyblade like he was holding a Lightsaber. The lasers struck the Heartless. It ends up being killed by its own attack. Just then, one more Heartless has arrived. It happens to be a Guard Armor.
"Not this thing again!" Sora exclaimed.
"We can take it down, Sora!" Kairi said.
"Okay, let's do this thing!" Sora said.
"Chu!" Pikachu said.
"Eevee!" Angel added.
They all rushed at the Heartless, but it reflects them by spinning its Gauntlets. They managed to strike the torso of the giant Heartless, but the limbs fell on the ground.
"That was easy," Sora said. The limbs began to shake violently.
"Wanna bet?" Kairi asked.
The Guard Armor gets up. The helmet opened to reveal a pair of yellow glowing eyes. The torso turns upside-down, and the Gauntlets go where the Hammerlegs go, and the Hemmerlegs go where the Gauntlets go, and the Hammerlegs folds forward. It has two Heartless emblems on its front and back. The one in the back is upside-down and the front is right-side up. This new Heartless is known as the Opposite Armor.
"Heartless can evolve just like Pokémon?!" Jessie and James exclaimed.
"That's what it looks like!" Meowth said.
The Opposite Armor came at them, swinging the Gauntlets at the couple. Sora and Kairi jumped out of the way. The Gauntlets and the Hammerlegs came at them, so Pikachu fired Thunderbolt right at the torso. The limbs came together and the Opposite Armor fired a pinkish-purple ball of energy at them like a cannon. The couple dodges the attack aimed at them.
"Sora, remember how you beat it the last time?" Kairi asked.
"Yeah," Sora said.
"We should take out its hands and feet first," Kairi said. Sora remembered the fight with the Guard Armor from before and he agreed. Sora looked at Kairi.
"Okay, let's do this thing!" Sora said. Sora and Kairi readied their Keyblades and came at them. The Gauntlets came at them, but Sora slashed through one, and Kairi slashed another, destroying them completely. The Hammerlegs met with the torso, and prepared to fire again. Pikachu unleashed Thunderbolt and gave the Opposite Armor quite a shock. The Hammerlegs then explode, leaving the head and torso. Sora and Kairi ran towards towards it.
"Sora, let's go!" Kairi shouted.
"Come on!" Sora yelled.
The couple slashed through the Opposite Armor. The giant Heartless shook again. The head gets lodged in the torso before vanishing. A heart comes flying out, making the Opposite Armor vanish.
"What a fight," Kairi said.
"I'll say," Sora said. He turned to Team Rocket. "Okay, you can stop cowering in fear now."
"Were we cowering in fear? I didn't notice it," Meowth said.
"I was not cowering in fear! I was just coming up with a strategy on how to beat all those Heartless, but the twerps took them out before I could think of anything," Jessie fibbed.
"What she said," James said.
"We should keep moving before more of them show up," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Right. Not a good idea to stay in one place too long," Sora said, dismissing his Keyblade. Kairi dismissed hers as well. "Come on." Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Team Rocket continued forward in the castle.
Over to Ash, Leaf, Riku, Naminé, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Eevee, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, and Togepi, they rode in the lift.
"I hope they didn't run into any trouble," Aqua said.
"Me too. I'd hate to imagine something might happened," Leaf said.
"That's why it's important to find them," Ash said.
"Why would they come to this place anyway?" Karen asked.
"Probably looking for a way out. Something we should do, too," Naminé said.
"I have a feeling as soon as we find it, we can use it to go back," Riku said.
"I hope you're right, Riku. You're the only one who's armed with a Keyblade, and we aren't," Terra said.
"Way to keep our spirits up," Aqua said with sarcasm.
"Too honest?" Terra asked.
"What do you think?" Aqua asked.
"We should be halfway there," Riku said.
"Eevee," Eevee said.
In the High Tower, they enter inside it. They looked around for any signs of the Heartless or the masked figure.
"Did he say he was at a chapel in this castle?" James asked.
"That's what he said," Sora said. "Come on, let's go." Everyone complied and they entered inside. They walked forward in the tower, and reached a hallway. They marched down to the chapel where the masked figure is waiting for them, with his Keyblade ready. Sora and Kairi summoned their Keyblades and held them tight as the masked figure was walking towards them.
"I've been waiting for you. I was almost beginning you weren't going to show up. I'm glad to have been proven wrong. It's just the two of you, and me as I promised; no Heartless to fight," the masked figure said.
"Bet that's the only truth you're telling," Sora said. He swung his Keyblade first and the masked figure blocked it. Kairi then came at him and he summoned another Keyade, similar to the one he already had.
"Two?!" Kairi exclaimed in shock.
"Can you handle an opponent holding two Keyblades instead of just one?" The masked figure asked.
"We handled a Heartless that held two swords," Sora said. He came at Sora with his two Keyblades, but Sora ducked. Kairi came at him, but he dodged and came at them again. Sora and Kairi swung their Keyblades at him, but he blocked every blow, and the results are the same when Sora and Kairi tried to land a hit. Kairi manages to knock one of them out of his hand, so Kairi took a swing at him, but he spins to dodge. He gave Kairi a push. He held out his hand, and the fallen Keyblade returned to him in a flash of darkness. He came at the couple, so they continued on. He gave Sora a kick, knocking him down, and he pushes Kairi against a wall.
"You're fighting a whole lot better than the last time, but you're no match for me, girl! I think I'll strike you down first, and then I'll finish him off second! And what do you think you're going to do about it?" The masked figure asked, earning him one of her knees on his crotch. He yelped in pain, dropping his Keyblades and holding his crotch, getting on his knees. "That's cheating!"
"Like you wouldn't go below the belt," Kairi said.
"Ooh, right in the Pokéballs," James said, holding his crotch.
"He's gonna feel that in the morning," Meowth said. He gets on his feet and resummoned his Keyblades.
"You're gonna pay for that, you little bitch!" The masked figure yelled.
Sora gave him a push. His mask cracks and he glares at him angrily.
"No one talks to my girlfriend like that and walks away," Sora said.
"Don't get ahead of yourself!" The masked figure said, swinging his Keyblades again. Sora blocked with his.
Outside the chapel, Ash, Leaf, Riku, Naminé, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, and Togepi hears the fight going on.
"You guys hear that?" Karen asked.
"Pika?" Blossom asked.
"It's coming from in there!" Aqua said.
"Pikachu," Eclair said.
They enter the castle's chapel and saw the fight going on.
"Sora!" Karen and Ventus called out. Sora turned and saw his sister and cousin.
"Karen, Ven?! What are you doing here?!" Sora exclaimed.
"Sight-seeing, what do you think?" Karen asked. She sees Team Rocket there as well. "Not you three clowns again!"
"What are you three idiots doing here?" Riku asked.
"Long story, and I don't think you'd be interested in the ending," Team Rocket in unison.
"Look at that!" Ventus said, pointing to the fight. The older kids turned to the brawl going on. The masked figure gave Sora a shove and he sets his attention on Kairi. She raises her Keyblade up as the masked figure repeatedly banged his Keyblades against hers. She held on, but each strike was straining. Sora gets up and he sees what's happening. He knocks her Keyblade out of her hold, sending it to the side. She tried to get to it, but he uses his magic to zap it out of her reach.
"Now, to finish you off!" The masked figure said. He jumps backwards and he came running towards her. Everyone was paralyzed with shock as he points one at Kairi, intending to kill her. Angel was especially shocked. She couldn't believe that her friend and Trainer was going to die right there and then. Her life flashes before her eyes. It might as well be the end. She shuts her eyes, waiting for what's coming.
"KAIRI!" A familiar voice shouted. She opened her eyes and she gasped in shock. Ash, Leaf, Riku, Naminé, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Jessie, James, and the Pokémon were all just as shocked; no one was shocked more than Pikachu. It turns out it was Sora who has taken the blow meant for her. The force of the Keyblade pushes the couple back. Kairi took Sora in her arms, tears running down her face.
"Sora, no!" Kairi cried. Light shines from his body. "Please, Sora, don't do this! Don't die on me!"
"Sora!" Karen cried with tears coming down.
"Sora!" Ash and Leaf cried.
"Sora!" Riku, Naminé, Ventus, Terra, and Aqua all cried.
"Twerp!" Jessie and James shouted.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Meowth exclaimed.
"PIKA, PI!" Pikachu shouted at the top of his lungs with tears coming from his cheeks.
Over in Pallet Town, Delia is still looking for Sora and Kairi and she stopped. She looked up in the sky.
"Sora," Delia said, sensing something wrong. It was her motherly intuition kicking in.
Back in Hollow Bastion, Sora takes a look in her face, knowing it was going to be the last thing he sees. He had to say it to her.
"Kairi, I love you," Sora said. He gave her a kiss on the lips, so she kisses him back, and held their kiss until he completely disappears.
"SORA! SORA! COME BACK, SORA!" Karen shouted. All of their eyes filled with tears. Kairi was down on her knees and she grits ger teeth.
"SORA!!!!!!!!" Kairi shouted at the top of her lungs as well, crying hysterically. "Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora, Sora!" Pikachu was filled with the same kind of sadness as Kairi. Angel felt sorry for her boyfriend, tears streaming from her cheeks. "Please come back. Come back."
"I guess I had this backwards," the masked figure said, satisfied with his accomplishment. Pikachu growled with his rage growing. Pikachu ran towards him and unleashes a vengeful Thunderbolt. He blocked it with his two Keyblades. "Back off, rat!" Ash summoned his Keyblade and came at him in anger.
"I WON'T FORGIVE YOU FOR KILLING MY FRIEND!" Ash yelled at the top of his lungs. He swung his Keyblade at him. The masked figure pushes him back.
Riku clutched his fist and he summoned both the Braveheart and the Soul Eater. And his anger was building up from he saw.
"You're gonna pay for this!" Riku yelled, running towards him. Riku gave off a yell, so he clashed his weapons against his. "YOU BASTARD! YOU BASTARD! YOU BASTARD! BASTARD, BASTARD, BASTARD, BASTARD, BASTARD!" He grew more aggressive with each blow. He completely shatters one of them. Riku gave him a kick in the gut. He points the Soul Eater at him. "You've lost, you murderer!" The masked figure just laughed right in Riku's face.
"Have I?" The masked figure asked, shooting lighting from his fingers. He takes Ash, Riku and Pikachu in it, making them all scream in agony and pain. They were both taken down, unaware of a Shadow watching them. "You're the one who has lost? If you want to see him again, I can make that happen." Kairi looked up and she sees Riku and Pikachu down on the ground. Eevee tried to help him, but the masked figure shooting more lightning from his fingers. Eevee screamed in pain as well. "I can send you all to meet with him." He takes a few steps closer to him.
"Is he seriously going to kill us?!" James exclaimed.
"He's not exactly taking us out to lunch here!" Meowth exclaimed.
"No, I'm too beautiful and sexy to die!" Jessie said. Kairi has summoned her Keyblade back to her hand and she jumped and swung her Keyblade at him. He blocked.
"NO! YOU'RE NOT WINNING THIS OR ANYTHING!" Kairi exclaimed with tears still coming down from her eyes. She pushes him backwards. She then came at him and she swung her Keyblade at him, and he tried to overpower her, but she is proven to be too much for him. "I'm not losing any of them like I lost Sora! Not to you, not to the Heartless, NOT ANYONE!" Kairi slashed his shoulder making him scream in pain. She came at him again, only to be blocked again. They clashed their Keyblades again. When Kairi saw an opening on one of his legs, she slashed his leg, making him scream again. He struggles to move and he keeps fighting her. She ducked her head down when he swung at her. She gave one swing of her Keyblade, shattering his remaining Keyblade into pieces, much to his shock. She slashed across his chest. He then fell on his back. He begins to sink into darkness.
"No, this can't be. I cannot be defeated. Not by some girl. This isn't right. This isn't my destiny. I'm supposed to die like thi-" the masked figure said before the darkness completely devours him. Kairi dismissed her Keyblade. She looked up the ceiling.
"Sora, that was for you," Kairi said, wiping a tear from her eyes. Riku, Pikachu, and Eevee weakly gets up and walked over to Kairi. Riku places his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him and sees him smiling.
"You did great, Kairi," Riku said.
"Riku," Kairi said. She then starts crying again, so Riku comforts her. Togepi goes up to her and taps her knee. She looked at Togepi and takes him in her arms. "Togepi." Naminé was also crying along with Leaf, Ventus, Terra, and Aqua. Karen was taking it hard the most. Jessie, James, and Meowth felt sorry for them.
"How am I ever going to explain this to mom? This is going to kill her," Karen cried.
"I don't believe he's actually gone. Normally, villains would be leaping with joy to see their do-good enemies gone, but I'm not feeling it," Jessie said.
"Me neither," Meowth said.
"I was prepared for trouble, but not like this," James said.
"Make that double for me," Jessie said.
"The twerp is dead, and I'm not happy about it," James said. "I'm going to miss him!"
"Me too!" Jessie said as she and James started bawling. Meowth had some tears in his eyes as well. The Shadow comes towards them, and Meowth screams in terror. "Meowth, don't ruin the moment of sadness with your comical screams."
"Why don't you tell it to that!" Meowth said. They see the Shadow coming towards them. They screamed in terror.
"HEARTLESS!" Team Rocket yelled. Everyone turned to see the Heartless coming towards them.
"A Heartless!" Ventus gasped.
"It's after us!" Aqua said.
"Ven, get behind us now!" Terra exclaimed. Ventus does that. The Pokémon all growl at the Heartless approaching them. Pikachu recognized his scent. It couldn't be, could it?"
"Get lost, you awful Heartless!" Karen yelled swinging at it. It looked at Kairi, and she looked right at it. Her eyes widened.
"Sora, is that you?" Kairi asked. She took a closer look at it.
"Ka-" The Heartless tries to speak. "Kairi." she gasped when it spoke with his voice. "It is you, Sora!"
"Kairi, what are you talking about? That's not Sora, it's a Heartless!" Karen said.
"That Heartless is Sora! Take a closer look," Kairi said.
"What?" Karen asked.
"Really look at him," Kairi said. "You'll understand." Karen was skeptical, but she did what Kairi told her. She took a look at her and the Heartless looked at her.
"Ka-" The Heartless tried to speak. "Ka, Karen." Karen was shocked to hear his voice from it.
"Sora, it is you!" Kairi gasped in shock.
Several more Shadows appear, surrounding them.
"That Heartless has buddies backing it up!" Meowth said. Riku summoned the Braveheart and came at the attacking Shadows. Several more appeared and quickly surrounds Kairi and Sora's Heartless.
"Don't worry. This time, I'll protect you," Kairi said. The Heartless crouched down and jumped forward. "Sora!" Kairi quickly wrapped her arms around the Heartless. She closes her eyes. Light shines around them.
"Kairi!" Everyone gasped.
"No, not you too!" Naminé said. She watches the Heartless wrap its arms around Kairi as it gains a human form. She gasped when she saw it was Sora all along. Sora's transformation was complete.
"Kairi, thank you," Sora said. Kairi opened her eyes and sees Sora in his human form.
"Sora!" Kairi cried.
"Sora!" Everyone all said happily. Ventus ran to his cousin and hugged him tight.
"Sora, you're alive! You're alive!" Ventus yelled, crying happily.
"Ven, easy," Sora said.
"Sora," Karen said. Sora turned to see his sister, earning a punch in the face.
"Ow!" Sora yelped.
"THAT WAS MAKING ME WORRY ABOUT YOU, YOU BIG, STUPID JERK! DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN!" Karen yelled. She hugged her brother tight. "Please don't ever go away again!"
"Karen," Sora said.
Just then, a portal opens up, surprising everyone.
"What's this?" Leaf asked.
"You think it's a way out?" Aqua asked.
"Chu," Eclair said.
"I'm not waiting to find out!" Jessie said, running through.
"Jessie!" Meowth called out.
"Wait for us!" James added.
Everyone all went through, leaving Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi the last ones. The portal closes completely.
In Pallet Town, Delia is searching for them, and the portal opens up, surprising her.
"What in the world?" Delia asked. Team Rocket came out, running.
"Shouldn't we try to try to steal Pikachu from the twerps?!" Meowth asked.
"I don't think my heart's in it today!" James said.
"For once, I agree! So, let's just run like hell!" Jessie said.
"Sounds like a plan I can get behind!" Meowth yelled.
"Team Rocket's blasting off again!" Team Rocket yelled as they ran.
Back with Delia, Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Riku, Naminé, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Pikachu, Eevee, Angel, Togepi, Blossom, Thor, and Eclair have all come out.
"Sora!" Delia said, taking him in her arms. Sora felt her tremble. "I was fearing the worst. I was scared I was going to lose you like I lost your father."
"Mom," Sora said, hugging her back.
Later, Sora explained to his mother along with Kairi's parents about what happened to them. This worried them, but they were glad they were alright. Kairi's parents were grateful that Sora has saved her again. Delia has given Sora an earful for scaring her the way he did. But she was happy he was alive. That night, Sora looked up in the night sky, and Kairi sat down, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I was worried I lost you forever, Sora," Kairi said.
"I'm sorry I made you worry," Sora said.
"You've been saying that a whole bunch of times," Kairi said.
"And I'm going to keep on saying it. Don't tell me that it's alright, it's not alright. Nothing I say is an excuse for making you worry the way you did. The same with Ash, Leaf, Ven, Karen, and everyone else," Sora said. "Besides, I was worried about losing you. I don't ever want to imagine my life without you in it."
"And I don't ever want to imagine my life without you in it," Kairi said. They hug each other lovingly. "I won't let anything happen to you, Sora. I promise."
Elsewhere, a hooded boy is sitting on a beach in a land that doesn't have light. He looks at the reflection on the water.
"Who am I?" The hooded boy asked with Ventus's voice. He sounded older than Ventus, but the same age as Sora.
Over to the masked figure, he lays on the floor. Dark flames surrounds him, and he is revealed to be man who wears a black, high-collared, leather coat that has a red interior and yellow lining. This coat is grey from the waist down and has several buttons lining the hips, a belt around his waist, and a second one that extends from the waist and up to the collar to connect to several smaller straps. The four shorter straps are buttoned to either side of the front of the collar while the remaining ones are buttoned to the shoulders to form spaulders. A black leather pauldron is attached to each spaulder by three buttons and two straps that button the rim of the coat and two more that cross over his upper back. On his upper chest is the Heartless emblem in the form of a brooch that holds the outer coat together in place of a zipper or buttons. Underneath this coat, He wears a white, thigh-length vest. This vest is also high-collared and exposes most of Ansem's chest, with three black buttons and two thin belts near his waist closing it up while the three remaining buttons below are undone.
He also wears wide brimmed, white gloves with three buttons lining the forearms and a grey band on either wrist. He also wears black pants and black that are tucked into knee-high boots with silver trimming and high concave indentations in the top.
Who is he? And is he connected to Sora in someway? And who is this man that revealed himself? More answers shall come as we continue on.