Episode 314: The World That Never Was Part 1
We open up with a portal opening in a strange world. It wasn't like any of the worlds that Sora and Kairi had been to before. The emblems of the Nobodies floated everywhere. Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Michael, Max, Lisia, Zinnia, Pikachu, Angel, Eevee, Azurill, Xipak, Celeste, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, Marill, and Aster stepped through. They looked around and saw how strange it looked.
"What is this place?" Kairi asked.
"I don't know, but it doesn't look like any other place we've already been to," Sora said.
"So which way do we go from here?" May asked.
"We could go on straight ahead, but then again, we could go to the left or the right," Ash said, guessing where to go.
"We gotta pick somewhere to go," Max said.
Not too long, a pack of Dusks appeared and attacked the group.
"Nobodies!" Lisia exclaimed.
"I think they know we're coming!" Ethan said.
"We all think that, Ethan," Riku said. Sora and the rest of the Keyblade wielding Pokemon Trainers summoned their Keyblades and held them.
"Take them out!" Sora said.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
They went afte the attacking Dusks, but they weren't alone. There some Assassins to assist them. There were so many that there was no counting them. Lisia had taken out Ali's Pokeball to join in the fray as Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, and Aster joined in, too. The brawl against the Nobodies was a grueling one as more and more Nobodies kept on showing up.
"It's no use!" Sora said.
"There are too many of them!" Kris said.
"Don't stop moving, or the darkness will overtake you!" A familiar voice shouted. They knew whose voice it was. Axel showed up and attacked some of the Dusks. "Get going!"
"Why are you here?" Sora asked.
"Don't ask! Just do it!" Axel said as a Dusk tackled him. Sora rushed to help Axel, destroying a couple of Dusks, including the one who tackled Axel. "You okay?"
"Yeah, but I'm not the one you need to worry about. The Organization knew you would eventually try to come knocking on their door, so they prepared this trap especially for you. Got it memorized? This world isn't where the Organization's home-base is!" Axel said. A dusk came to attack Sora from behind.
"Sora, behind you!" May shouted. Hearing May's warning, Sora struck down the Dusk before it could strike him.
"Leave us alone!" Sora shouted.
The others have dealt with some of the Nobodies while Sora, Pikachu, and Axel were working together. Axel slashed down the Assassins as Pikachu fired a Thunderbolt, shocking them. Sora strikes down some Dusks and Assassins with his Kingdom Key. The fight went on until they were completely surrounding the group.
"This is no good. We can't beat them all," Leaf said.
"There's no end to them," Terra said.
"I think I liked it better when they were on my side," Axel said.
"A feeling a little regret?" Sora deadpanned.
"Nah, I can handle these punks. Watch this," Axel said as he jumped on ahead. Building a lot of his power, Axel spins his chakrams as they emit fire. In the process, Axel had some black particles seep from his body. Axel unleashed a mighty explosion, taking out all of the attacking Nobodies. Everyone shielded their eyes and opened them to see that the Nobodies were gone.
"Whoa!" Everyone all said at once.
"Way to go, Axel. You wiped them all out," Karen said. She looked at Axel who was laying on the ground as the black particles were coming up from him. "Axel!" Everyone all looked at Axel and gathered to him.
"What's happening to you, Axel?" Ventus asked.
"I'm fading away, that's what's happening," Axel said.
"Fading away?" Naminé asked.
"You mean, you're dying?" Lisia asked.
"No way," Ventus said.
"Well, this is what happens when you put your whole being into an attack. You know what I mean?" Axel asked. "Not that Nobodies have beings, right? Anyway, I digress. Find the Organization and stop them."
"Look, Axel, you can come with us. We can heal your wounds and you'll be a hundred percent," Kairi said.
"She's right. She can help you, Axel, and maybe you won't fade away," Aqua said.
"Sorry to rain on your parade, but it won't even work. No amount of healing can undo what's already going on. Besides, too late, and it's much better this way," Axel said.
"Axel, why did you leave the Organization in the first place?" Sora asked.
"I did it to protect Roxas and Xion," Axel answered. This strikes a cord with Sora and Kairi. "They were the only ones I actually liked. They both made me feel like I had had a heart. It's kind of...funny... You two made me feel the same..." Axel paused as he realized he doesn't have long until he fades away completely. "I can use the last bit of my power to get you to there. It's in the city outside the castle. Now go." Using the last bit of his power, he opens up another portal to allow the group to go through.
"Axel..." Sora said.
Within Sora's heart, Roxas was in tears, witnessing Axel sacrificing himself.
"Axel..." Roxas cried.
In Kairi's heart, Xion was also in tears, witnessing Axel's sacrifice.
"Axel..." Xion cried. Xipak and Celeste felt Roxas and Xion's sadness, and they started to mourn for Axel.
"Goodbye, Roxas, Xion," Axel said in his thoughts before he fades away back to nothing.
Back in Pacifidlog Town, Rei sensed Axel's demise and she silently grieved for him.
"Axel..." Rei cried in her thughts. She held three Pokeballs in her hands. Axel had come to Rei, Ben, Hikaru, Joshua, and Erika before he went in after Sora, Kairi, and the rest. "I hope you found your happiness, Axel."
Back in the strange world, everyone were mourning for Axel's death.
"I don't believe it. He sacrificed himself to help us," Kris said.
"I guess he really was on our side," Lyra said.
"Rill," Marill said.
"He didn't have to go and do that, didn't he?" Michael asked.
"I think he did, because he knew there was no other way around it. But we have to make sure that his sacrifice isn't for nothing," Ash said.
"Ash..." Namine said.
"Ash is right. We can't just sit here. Axel gave us a way to get in, and we have to go through. Come on. Let's go," Sora said.
With that said, everyone entered through the portal and right into the World That Never Was.
Meanwhile, in the Organization's castle, the remaining eleven members of Organization XIII sit around in their seats, discussing Axel's demise.
"So Axel was the first one to fade away back into the darkness. This really surprises me. I thought I'd get some enjoyment watching Axel throw one last tantrum. But he went a lot quieter than I thought," Xigbar said.
"I had those thoughts as well. Certainly, we would have had some enjoyment from witnessing Axel's death, but instead, he sacrificed himself just to aid Sora, Roxas, Kairi, and Xion," Marluxia said.
"Perhaps he was ready for it. Perhaps he put his existence on the line, and won what he was longing for," Luxord said. Larxene just scoffed.
"You're kidding, right? What you're saying goes against the laws of nature. That wouldn't even be possible," Larxene said.
"I agree with Larxene. The fact is, we do not exist, or have you forgotten, Luxord?" Vexen asked.
"Then, perhaps he bet his non-existence. Either way, he came out a winner. Oh, Axel. A grifter till the end," Luxord said.
"That's absurd!" Saïx stated. "He won nothing, and IS nothing! He couldn't stand the emptiness of being without a heart. And that led to his demise. He was foolish and weak."
"But weakness has the power to awaken that which is dormant," Xemnas said. The other members all looked at their leader. "It is clear that through his actions, however foolish they have been, Axel has touched both Sora and Kairi's hearts. Perhaps they will awaken."
"You mean, Roxas and Xion will return from inside of Sora and Kairi? If I had a heart, I would have a feeling that they're not coming out just for a visit," Demyx pointed out.
"Demyx has a point. Roxas and Xion will come and attempt to wipe us out. But he knows he's no match for us by himself," Lexaeus said.
"True, so Sora, Kairi, and the other Keyblade wielders will be coming here. And not too long, it would seem," Zexion said.
"So they are coming here, and they're bringing the fight to us. Then, we will prepare a proper welcome for them. And here, we will bring an end to their existence," Xemnas said.
"I was hoping you would say that. It's not in my nature to hold back," Xaldin said.
Over to an alleyway known as the Alley to Between, Sora, Kairi, Riku, Namine, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Michael, Max, Lisia, Zinnia, Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, Celeste, Eevee, Azurill, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, Marill, and Aster stepped out. There were some clouds in the sky. It looked like it was at night since they didn't see any sunlight. Ash went on ahead and he gasped.
"Guys, you should come here and see this!" Ash said.
The rest of the group ran up to Ash and they saw the castle is out in the distance, and their artificial Kingdom Hearts was hovering above them.
"Is that a castle?" Zinnia asked.
"That has to be their base," Leaf said.
"Doesn't anyone find it weird that the moon is shaped like a heart?" May asked.
"We can worry about it later. Right now, we have a mission to complete," Sora said.
"Sora's right. That castle is the place we will have to go," Riku said.
With that said, the group started to make their way through the city. But along the way, they dealt with Shadows and Neoshadows that have emerged from the ground. The group were getting closer to their goals when they right to Memory's Skyscraper.
Just then, a horde of Nobodies appeared and attacked.
"Not again!" Max exclaimed.
"I don't think so!" Sora said, summoning his Kingdom Key and charged to engage the Nobodies, but then, Sora suddenly disappeared.
"Sora!" Kairi cried, disappearing as well. Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, and Celeste have disappeared, along with them.
"Sora, Kairi!" Karen cried.
"Where did they go?" Aqua asked.
Sora and found themselves in a familiar setting. Looking down, he sees the stained glass image of Sora and Kairi, holding hands, but backswards. Pikachu and Angel were right beside them. And there was an image of Roxas and Xion in the same position as Sora and Kairi. Sora saw Xipak and Celeste in the place of Pikachu and Angel. There were also some other images at the bottom. They were of Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Riku, Naminé, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, Michael, Tracey, Daisy, Gary, Yuta, Mirei, Seth, Delia, Danny, Cattleya, Yuki, Big Earl, the other staff, and Professor Oak.
"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Sora asked.
"Yes, I am. What could it be?" Kairi asked.
"Chu?" Pikachu asked.
"Pikachu," Xipak said.
Their ears perked up when they heard something.
Just then, something appeared right behind Sora. It is a gargantuan Nobody that seems to be clad in a white bodysuit, as evidenced by the large, silver zipper lining its front. Its simple, round head's only feature is a white Nobody logo on its front where the creature's face would be. It has rather thick, short legs with spikes on its hips and long, pointed feet. Its waist is quite thin and has dark grey sides. Its shoulders each sport a gigantic, diamond-shaped spike and its arms are very long, and reach the floor when fully extended down. The Nobody only seems to have one distinct digit on each of its hands, the thumb. They also seem to have high-heels on their ankles. It also has four long, blue tentacles with tips resembling the spikes on the Nobody sigil that wrap around its neck. Its overall body shape seems to be meant to resemble the Nobody symbol. This giant Nobody is known as the Twilight Thorn.
"Great. Another one," Sora said.
They felt their hands and feet were restrained by white energy as the Twilight Thorn moved to strike Sora and Kairi, but Roxas and Xion came to their aid, striking it by the head. The Twilight Thorn stretched to grab them after Roxas and Xion had cut them loose.
"Roxas," Sora said.
"Xion," Kairi said.
"Pika!" Xipak exclaimed with joy, embracing his lost partner.
"Xipak!" Roxas said, embracing his Pikachu. "I missed you, too," Roxas said as Xipak happily cried.
"Eevee!" Celeste cried as she jumped into Xion's arms.
"Celeste!" Xion said, hugging Celeste. "I'm very happy to see you!"
"Eevee!" Celeste said.
Sora and Kairi the reunion between the two Nobodies and the two Pokémon. They didn't know how to react to it, but it felt right for some reason.
Just then, the Twilight Thorn came back with a vengeance, holding up a massive sphere of energy. The Twilight Thorn threw it at them. Roxas summoned his Kingdom Key and threw it at the sphere, causing an explosion. The Twilight Thorn fell to the ground.
Roxas's Keyblade then transformed. It is a sword-like Keyblade, possessing a curved, notched blade with a noticeably sharp edge. Its color scheme is derived from a fusion of the Oathkeeper Oblivion Keyblades, and the handle is composed of a checkerboard pattern. The Keyblade's design is also covered with references to Roxas's Nobody nature; the usual Nobody thorns make up the teeth and rainguard, which is black and rounded. The chain links are heavily stylized versions of the Nobody Emblem, and the full Nobody Emblem adorns the hilt. The token itself is Roxas's Nobody-thorn charm. This Keyblade shall be known as the Two Become One.
Xion's Keyblade has transformed as well. The Keyblade has a green handle and a rectangular, black guard with long spikes on each of its corners. The long shaft is silver and has concave edges, and ends in a spike resembling those on the Nobody symbol. The silver teeth are shaped like a large arrowhead. The Keychain token is a diamond resembling the Keyblade's teeth. This Keyblade shall be known as the True Light's Flight.
"Roxas, let's show this Nobody that we mean business," Xion said.
"You've said it," Roxas said. The two Nobodies turned to Sora and Kairi.
"Come on, you two! Let's work together!" Roxas and Xion said in unison.
"Right," Sora and Kairi said in unison.
Sora and Kairi worked with Roxas and Xion as their partners rushed right along with them. The Twilight Thorn fires thorn-like beams at them, but they were dodging the beams and they managed to strike the giant Nobody in the head. It sweeps with left arm while cartwheeling, but they all dodged the Twilight Thorn's attack. The Twilight Thorn then sweeps with both arms while belly-crawling forward. Its limbs pierce the floor and light shines forth. Creepers then appeared to attack, but Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, and Celeste attacked the smaller Nobodies. It gets back on its feet and fires a barrage of thorn beams, then triggers explosions on the floor. Sora, Kairi, Roxas, and Xion managed to avoid the beams and strike at the Twilight Thorn all at once, finishing it off.
"You two were amazing," Kairi said.
"Thanks. It's very kind of you to say," Xion said.
"Why did you two help us when you did?" Sora asked.
"Because we wanted to protect us, like Axel did before he faded away," Roxas said. Sora looked at Roxas's face, not getting over how he looks like his cousin.
"You know, huh?" Sora asked.
"I do know. It's really painful, but I'm grateful that Axel was willing to give his life for me and Xion, just to keep us safe," Roxas said, taking Xion in his arms, lovingly.
"We will both miss him," Xion said.
In their minds, Roxas and Xion are sitting in Pallet Town, in their favorite spot. Roxas has his arm around Xion's shoulders.
"Look who are finally awake," a familiar voice spoke.
Roxas and Xion both gasped and saw Axel next to them.
"Axel..." Roxas said.
"Can it be?" Xion asked.
"Or, maybe I have it wrong. Might be time to sleep. Soon we won't be able to talk like this anymore," Axel said.
"Is it because we're right back where we belong, or because you faded away back to nothing?" Roxas asked.
"Maybe. But I have been thinking about something. Roxas, Xion, are you really sure that you don't have a heart? Is it possible that we ALL have one? You two and me... Or is that just wishful thinking?"
"I dunno. I can't...just look inside," Roxas said.
"It's not like we're going to find the answers we want even if we wanted to," Xion said.
"Yeah, I guess not," Axel said.
"But I figure, if there is something in there, inside us, then we'd feel it, wouldn't we? And if so...No, never mind," Roxas said.
"Come on. Don't leave me hanging," Axel said.
"Sora and Kairi will find the answer we're looking for. I know they will. Because Sora's me.
"And Kairi's me," Xion said.
"True enough," Axel said.
Axel hands Roxas and Xion each a sea salt ice cream.
"Thanks," Roxas said, taking his.
"Thank you, Axel," Xion said, taking hers.
They all eat their ice creams.
"Man, I miss the old times. Still got it memorized? The day we met, when you got your new name, you and I sat right here, and watched the Pokémon," Axel said.
"Yeah, this place is home. I have always thought Pokémon were amazing creatures. It's just hard to believe that there are many kinds of Pokémon like there are many worlds out there," Roxas said.
"Counting them all would be the same as counting all of the worlds, wouldn't it?" Xion asked.
"Yeah, it would be," Axel agreed. He took in a deep breath.
"I just wish I could have shared so many adventures with the both of you, along with Tai, Matt, girl Sora, Izzy, Mimi, Joe, TK, Kari, Davis, Cody, Yolei, and Ken," Roxas said.
"So do I," Xion said.
"You'll see them again," Axel assured. Roxas and Xion looked at Axel.
Roxas: Yeah, you're right. Well, I should go. Sora's waiting for me.
"Yeah, I suppose they are," Axel said. Axel took a bite of his ice cream. "Man, this is some good ice cream, huh?"
After watching Pallet Town for a few minutes, Roxas and Xion got surrounded by light.
"We won't forget you, Axel. Get it memorized," Xion said.
"Take care, Okay?" Roxas requested.
"Right back at ya, buddy," Axel said as he sheds a tear. Roxas and Xion sheds their own tears.
Back with Sora, Kairi, Roxas, Xion, and their Pokémon partners, Roxas and Xion looked at their original counterparts.
"You both make a good other," Roxas and Xion said as everything around them vanishes in a flash of light.
They were back in the World That Never Was.
"You make a good other," Sora and Kairi repeated.
"Sora, Kairi, you're alright!" Lisia said.
"What just happened?" Sora asked.
"You tell us. You, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, Celeste, and Xipak just disappeared out of the blue and then we had to fight some Nobodies," Ethan said.
"And by the time you came back, the Nobodies just took off," Brendan said.
"Sorry for disappearing on you like that. Kairi and I just went through something you wouldn't believe," Sora said.
"Well, it'll have to wait. We have a job to do," Riku said.
"Eevee," Eevee said.
With that said, they kept heading for the castle. Just when they were close enough, they saw that there's a cliff in front of them.
"A dead end?" Sora asked.
"Does that mean we came all this way for nothing?" Max asked.
"There should be a pathway around here somewhere," Ash said.
"You think we should just use our Pokémon to get us across?" Michael asked.
"You know, that's not a bad idea. We should give it a try," Ash said. Just when they were going to take out their Pokéballs, the Kingdom Key appears in Sora's hand and he points it at the castle. The Kingdom Key fires a beam and a bridge of light appears. The group were awestruck by what had happened. "Or we could just do that.
"How did you know to do that, Sora?" Zinnia asked.
"I didn't. My Keyblade did that on its own," Sora said.
"Whatever the case, we have a way to get in," Leaf said.
"No use looking the gift Horsea in the mouth," Kris said.
"Okay, let's go. And be careful, because this is their stronghold, so they won't let us just waltz right in," Ash said.
With that said, the group went on in and Ash went on ahead of the rest of the group.
"Ash, where are you going?" Sora asked.
They sensed some sort of presence all around them.
"Look alive, everyone. I think we got some company," Brendan said.
"Let's press on," Leaf said.
With that said, they continued on and they end up being attacked by a new kind of Nobody they had not encountered before. It is mostly light gray, save for a small area on either side of its waist, which is a darker color, and some black markings. It appears to wear a long robe that covers almost every part of its body, including its face. The Nobody's hands are seemingly permanently connected by the sleeves of the robe, and its individual arms are only distinguishable by the black seam of the sleeves. The Nobody's head sports a black cross pattern that wraps around the back of its head, and its shoulders are pointed. The lower half of the robe is mostly featureless, except for a few stray black markings and a white Nobody emblem at the bottom. This Nobody is known as the Sorcerer. The Sorcerers summons energy attacks, shaped like cubes. Michael struck down the Sorcerers as they made their way through the castle.
They proceeded to the elevator. The elevator starts moving up and some Nobodies appeared to attack. The group manages to take them out and proceeds to go to the next room. The room is a giant hall with an upper floor. Saïx appears from the upper floor.
"You've done well to make it this far," Saïx said as he appeared.
"Saïx!" Sora said.
"In all honesty, I never expected you to make it all the way here. It would never would have been possible if it weren't for Axel's needless meddling," Saïx said.
"Tell us what it is that you're after!" Kairi said.
"Very well. What we seek is Kingdom Hearts," Saïx said. The group looked among themselves. "You see, Kingdom Hearts is our key to success. And we will use it to grant us the hearts we need, just so we can finally exist. Fully and completely," Saïx said. "Our Kingdom Hearts... We've collected countless hearts... Can you hear their euphoria?"
"Well, it's not going to happen! We're going to put a stop to you!" May said.
"And we'll make sure it doesn't happen," Ethan said.
With that said, Riku, Naminé, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, and Michael jumped up and summoned their Keyblades. Saïx grinned as he snapped his fingers. Two Berserkers appeared behind him.
"If I had a heart, this would be where I die of laughter," Saïx said. He hears something behind him. He sees one of his Berserkers fall as Wes has his hood up and holding his two Keyblades. "You! Didn't Axel dispose of you?"
"That's where you made your mistake, Saïx," Wes said.
"A mistake I will correct," Saïx said, bringing out his Lunatic. He was about to engage Wes when Rui appeared and attacked. "I thought you were here as well, Rui." She took off her hood as she held the Star Seeker.
"What's wrong, Saïx? You seeing two ghosts?" Rui asked.
"Oh, you two will be nothing but ghosts, but unfortunately, I do not have the time, so I suggest that you entertain yourselves with these," Saïx said, snapping his fingers. Just then, a massive swarm of Heartless appeared. The Heartless were Shadows and Armored Knights.
Sora and Kairi summoned their Keyblades and they engaged the Heartless from below as the rest have dealt with the ones above.
Ash is running upstairs, holding his Fire Red Charizard in his hand. He struck down a Neoshadow and a Dusk for getting in his way. Suddenly, he saw a pack of Dusks surrounding a person. Ash ran towards the Dusks and struck them all down. He saw it was DiZ, laying unconscious. DiZ weakly got up and took the bandages off his face, revealing himself as Ansem the Wise.
"Ash. I have not expected to see you again," Ansem the Wise said.
"You're Ansem the Wise. The same Ansem who found Xehanort unconscious at the square," Ash said.
"So you know," Ansem the Wise guessed.
"Yeah, I know. I have been having some visions, leading up to when you found him. I just don't get it. If it was you all along, then why didn't you just reveal yourself to me a lot sooner and just tell me instead of just leaving me in the dark the way you did?" Ash asked.
"Xemnas, the Organization's superior, is the Nobody of Xehanort, my foremost apprentice. The burden was not yours to bear," Ansem the Wise answered.
"But there's more, isn't there?" Ash asked. Ansem the Wise turns around, walks over to the ledge, and looks off at the distance.
"I won't deny there was more. I was...obsessed with thoughts of revenge. My apprentices stole everything precious to me...my research, and my pride," Ansem the Wise said. Ash approached him from behind.
"I couldn't help you with revenge," Ash said.
"I know. And that is why you left me. You were attempting to find your way back in the realm of darkness after you and Leaf have escaped from there the first time. I was hoping that you wouldn't have ended up sharing the same fates as Wes and Rui," Ansem the Wise said.
"You knew them? Just what was your connection with them?" Ash asked.
"Five years ago, Organization XIII provided Team Shadow the means of allowing a Pokémon's heart to close and give in to the darkness. For a while, they had succeeded with their goals, but when a young man named Wes turned against his former allies, Team Snatch, he had taken their Snag Machine. From there, he rescued a young woman named Rui who had the ability to see the black aura in which no other individual could. Together, they have failed Team Shadow and Organization XIII's efforts by snagging and purifying the Shadow Pokémon. I approached them both and explained to them about Organization XIII and Team Shadow's connection, Wes and Rui accepted the task and continued on their goals. Once the last of the Shadow Pokémon was purified, Organization XIII had sent their assassin, Axel to eliminate them both, and that was when they ended up in the realm of darkness. I had thought that both of them were dead until I saw them both alive again in the Johto region. I am to blame for their disappearance. I was filled with more regret than you can imagine. Both Wes and Rui were both victims of my revenge. I could only laugh to hide my shame," Ansem the Wise said.
"If they're alive now, then where are they?" Wes asked.
"They must be with your friends by now. They have both been a great deal of help to me, but I cannot forgive myself for what had happened to them," Ansem the Wise said.
"You can't let what happened to Wes and Rui get to you, Ansem. I'm sure they'll forgive you for what happened when we put a stop to them," Ash said.
"Indeed," Ansem the Wise agreed. "My friend, the time has come. I must make amends to these young people."
He walks over to a machine and picks it up. Ash follows him.
Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, and Celeste kept on fighting the Heartless, but Xigbar appeared and fired at the Heartless the couple were fighting, wiping them all out.
"Where did all of that come from?" Ventus asked.
"Have you been good?" Xigbar asked.
"Xigbar!" Kairi exclaimed.
"Show yourself!" Sora demanded.
Xigbar appeared from a corridor of darkness and looked directly at the couple.
"Oh, it sounds like you haven't. The four of you have come this far," Xigbar said.
"Four?" Kairi asked.
"He should learn to count," Max said.
"You've really put Organization XIII in a pickle. I guess that must be why the Keyblades chose the two of you. But MAN, did they pick a pair of duds this time. You don't look like you're half the heroes the other three were," Xigbar said.
"What's he talking about?" Aqua asked.
"I don't know, but I can tell that this guy has thug written on his face," Terra said. Ventus just looked at him angrily, not liking Xigbar.
"Are you done rambling?" Sora asked.
"Rambling? As if! All I'm trying to tell you, lovebirds, is that your time is up!" Xigbar said, taking out his Sharpshooters.
"Here he comes," Kairi said.
Xigbar jumps down to the platform the couple were on and looked right at them.
"Get ready for the fight of your lives," Xigbar said, twirling his Sharpshooters. He warps back to the balcony and he aims for Sora and Kairi. He shoots right at the couple, making Sora and Kairi deflect his arrows right back at him. "Clever little sneaks." Xigbar warps and shoots right at Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, and Celeste. He charges up and fired a bigger arrow.
"Look out!" Lisia exclaimed.
During the battle, the platform had changed as Xigbar kept shooting at them. Kairi casts a crystal fire, hitting Xigbar as
"R for reload!" Xigbar said, reloading his Sharpshooters. Sora casts a thunder spell as Pikachu and Xipak fired Thunderbolt, hitting the space elemental Nobody. Okay, now we're talking. The platform changed again and it was to a single square with Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, and the Pokemon bunched together. "Look what I've saved for ya!" Xigbar fired upon them as Kairi quickly casts a reflect spell. She kept it up while Xigbar was firing at the barrier. The barrier goes off as Xigbar hovers above them. "Let's see how you dance!"Xigbar's arrows shoots right at Sora and Kairi, making them run. The platform goes back to normal when Sora and Kairi kept on dodging Xigbar's arrows. Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, and Celeste ran towards Xigbar as Sora and Kairi swung their Keyblades at Xigbar as Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, and Celeste used Iron Tail on him, dealing him the finishing blow. Xigbar backed up and he aims one of his Sharpshooters, but he dropped to his knees.
"You know about Roxas, don't you? How is he connected to me?" Sora asked. Xigbar chuckled.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Xigbar asked as he began to fade away.
"Hey, hold on!" Sora said.
"Forget it, Sora. He wasn't going to tell us anyway," Terra said.
"We gotta get up to the others," Aqua said.
"You're right. Let's go," Sora said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Max, Lisia, Zinnia, Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, Celeste, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, and Aster started to make their way up to their friends.
Up in a higher balcony, Ash and Ansem the Wise watched as Wes and Rui fights alongside Riku, Naminé, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Michael, and the Pokémon.
"They need our help!" Ash said.
"Sora and Wes are together. We have no part to play here," Ansem the Wise said.
"Well, they can handle themselves. But I don't know," Ash said.
"Come. We have much to accomplish, but time is short," Ansem the Wise said as Ash and Ansem have taken their leave of the upper balcony.
Sora, Kairi, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Max, Lisia, Zinnia, Pikachu, Angel, Xipak, Celeste, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, and Aster went out and up the stairs, only to be attacked by Nobodies.
"Out of the way!" Sora said, striking an Assassin. Kairi casts a magnet spell, pulling in the Nobodies and casts a thunder spell on them. They eventually reached the door and met up with their friends. "You guys okay?"
"Yeah. Thanks to these two," Leaf said.
"Who are you, anyway?" Brendan asked.
"Wes," Wes simply answered.
"Wait, you're Wes? The same Wes who put the whole kibosh on the Shadow Pokémon operation five years ago?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, that's right. I was the one who put that nightmare to bed five years ago," Wes said.
"Well, that nightmare came right back, because they brought the Shadow Pokémon project back in the Orre region," Michael said.
"We know. Ansem the Wise already told us about it," Rui said.
"Ansem the Wise? So he is here," Kris said.
"Just what happened to you guys. A lot of people were saying that you guys disappeared after you snagged and purified the last of the Shadow Pokémon," Michael said.
"Well, it's like this. Ansem the Wise came to us, calling himself 'DiZ'. As in 'Darkness in Zero'. He filled us in that Organization XIII were the ones pulling Team Shadow's strings. We couldn't let those guys have their way, so we had to put an end to their plans, but they wouldn't have it, because they sent Axel to eliminate us, but a doorway to the realm of darkness opened and we ended up lost in that place," Wes said.
"We didn't know that time didn't exist in the realm of darkness until we met up with someone who could get in and out at his own free will. He told us that we were in there for five years, so we didn't age at all," Rui said.
"Then how did you get out?" Kairi asked.
"We got out the same way you did, when you defeated Xehanort's Heartless. We figured you were like us, so we had to follow you throughout the Johto and Hoenn regions since we did, knowing the Organization would make a move on you," Wes said.
"So you were helping us," Sora said.
"That means that Espeon and Umbreon were yours, weren't they?" Kairi asked.
"Yes, they were," Wes answered.
"We figured you would be here to end this battle, so since we're together, we can," Rui said.
"But what about Ash? We haven't seen him since we came to this castle," Leaf said.
"He's probably with Ansem the Wise by now. We should get a move on," Rui said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Karen, Ventus, Terra, Aqua, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Wes, Rui, Michael, Max, Lisia, Zinnia, Pikachu, Angel, Eevee, Azurill, Xipak, Celeste, Blossom, Sparky, Thor, Eclair, Marill, and Aster started to make their way through the rest of the castle.
Xigbar had been eliminated, but how will they fare against the rest of the Organization? And how will Sora and Kairi react when they learn of Roxas and Xion being their Nobodies? Find out when we continue on.