Episode 425: Rose's Revenge
A day after leaving the Pokémon Training Center, Sora, Kairi, Arthur, Wes, Rui, Michael, Pikachu, and Angel continue down on the road to Hearthome City. Just then, a couple of Trainers approached the group.
"Hey, you guys heading for Hearthome City by any chance?" One of the Trainers asked.
"Yeah, we are. Why?" Sora asked.
"Well, we're on our way there, too," the other Trainer said.
"And we thought we'd ask two of you to a Pokémon battle," the first Trainer said.
"I think I'll go for a match," Michael said.
"So would I. I mean, I do need the practice," Sora said. Sora and Michael each took out one Pokéball as their opponents took out one each. They all threw their Pokéballs.
"Okay, Electabuzz! You're going in!" The first Trainer shouted.
"Let's go, Heracross!" The second Trainer called out.
"Go! Carnivine!" Sora called out.
"Jolteon! Go!" Michael called out as Jolteon emerged from inside.
"That kid chose a Carnivine! Big mistake! Heracross! Use Megahorn on that Carnivine!" The second Trainer ordered. Heracross charges at Carnivine with a Megahorn.
"Carnivine! Bite when Heracross gets close enough!" Sora called out. Carnivine waited for Heracross to come closer and the Bug Catcher Pokémon caught Heracross in his mouth.
"My Heracross!" The second Trainer exclaimed.
"Electabuzz! Fire Punch on that Carnivine!" The first Trainer ordered. Electabuzz came at Carnivine with a fiery punch onto Carnivine.
"Don't tell me you forgot about me! Jolteon use Pin Mussile!" Michael ordered. Jolteon fired Pin Missile, hitting Electabuzz.
"Spit Heracross out!" Sora said. Carnivine spat out Heracross. "Vine Whip!" Carnivine sends out two vines and struck Electabuzz and Heracross on the mark. "Your turn!"
"Thanks. Jolteon! Shock Wave!" Michael ordered. Jolteon fired Shock Wave and struck Heracross on the mark.
"Electabuzz! Use Fire Punch!" The first Trainer ordered. Electabuzz came at Carnivine with a Fire Punch.
"Dodge it and use Seed Bomb!" Sora ordered. Carnivine dodges Electabuzz's Fire Punch and fired a Seed Bomb, hitting the Electric Pokémon, upon contact. "That was great! Vine Whip!" Carnivine lands another Vine Whip, hitting Electabuzz on the mark.
"How about we end this now?" The second Trainer suggested.
"Yeah, you're right," the first Trainer agreed.
"Hyper Beam!" The two Trainers ordered. Both opposing Pokémon fired Hyper Beam and sends it right at Carnivine and Jolteon.
"Dodge it!" Sora and Michael called out. Both Pokémon managed to dodge their combo Hyper Beam.
"They can't attack right away after using Hyper Beam, so let's take advantage of the situation while we can!" Sora said.
"You are so right! Thunder!" Michael ordered.
"Seed Bomb!" Sora ordered.
Jolteon fired Thunder at Heracross, hitting it as Carnivine fired Seed Bomb, hitting Electabuzz. It resulted in a double knockout.
"We lost!" The two Trainers exclaimed in shock.
"Great work," Michael said.
"Nicely done," Sora said.
"Hey, you two aren't so bad," the second Trainer said.
"Yeah, you're pretty awesome," the first Trainer said.
"Thanks," Sora said.
"You're pretty awesome, too," Michael said.
With the match over, Sora, Kairi, Arthur, Wes, Rui, Michael, Pikachu, and Angel kept on going, unaware of them being followed by Rose.
"I must have my revenge against them. Only then, my war against love will truly begin," Rose said.
If you're wondering how Rose came back, aren't you? Well, this will answer your questions.
(Flashback)
We have a look in a lab where Count Ernesh has come across a scientist working on a replica body. He has red-orange hair, styled into devil horns. He has red-orange eyebrows and goatee. He wore a white lab coat with a black suit.
"How is your project, Professor Brimstone?" Count Ernesh asked.
"I have to admit, it was more difficult than I originally anticipated, but I never met a challenge I didn't like. The body is completed, but now, I only need to place the heart into the replica vessel and she'll come to life," Professor Brimstone said.
"It does my heart good to see you tinkering with creation; and that is the sole reason for recruiting you. I knew Vexen's replica research would fascinate you greatly," Count Ernesh said.
"Well, the difficult part was that it's the fact it was incomplete, but I managed to do my best with the materails we already have, which is more than enough for me," Professor Brimstone said.
"How certain can you be your little project can be affective?" Count Ernesh asked.
"I assure you, Count Ernesh, it will be. Her body may have perished, but her heart managed to survive despite becoming a Heartless, and I managed to obtain it after it had happened. But we'll find out for ourselves," Professor Brimstone said, placing the heart in the center of the replica body. The vessel then turned human, gaining a human form. Rose has been resurrected into a new body.
"Where am I?" Rose asked. She looked right at Count Ernesh and Professor Brimstone. "Who are you?"
"Greetings, my dear. I am Count Ernesh, your new master. With me is Professor Brimstone. He was the one who has brought you back into your new body," Count Ernesh said.
"New body?" Rose asked.
"It may be unfortunate for you to hear this, but it is. You see, your body has perished when you have succumbed to the darkness. Do you remember anything before that?" Professor Brimstone asked.
"No," Rose said.
"Hm. It would seem to be a side-effect of the resurrection process. It would be memory loss," Professor Brimstone said.
"Can you restore her memory?" Count Ernesh asked.
"I can, but it may take some time before her memories are fully restored," Professor Brimstone. But I will make my other projects my top priority, count."
"See that you do," Count Ernesh said.
It has taken Professor Brimstone some time, but her memories were returning to her, little by little. And it was right until she remembered everything.
"Are the holes in your memories finally filled?" Professor Brimstone asked.
"Yes. The haze is completely cleared. I remember everything now," Rose said. Professor Brimstone grinned evilly.
"Good. Good. Tell me what you remember, my dear," Professor Brimstone said.
"Sora and Kairi and their annoying love, that's what I remember. I was so close in destroying their love and it was thrown back right at me! It was her who destroyed my body!" Rose exclaimed as her voice grew darker.
"Yes, you do remember. That is good. And what do you intend to do about it, my dear?" Professor Brimstone asked.
"I intend to kill them both! I will take my revenge!" Rose hissed. Professor Brimstone grinned evilly.
"Excellent," Professor Brimstone said.
She stood before Count Ernesh.
"Master, I will do whatever it takes to have my revenge against Sora and Kairi," Rose said.
"I know you will, Rose. Therefore, I shall grant you a means of countering your hated enemies on their own terms," Count Ernesh said, taking out a Keyblade. Its blade is dark blue with the figurine of a crying angel as the teeth of the Keyblade. The guard is formed as a pink heart, but it is cracked and the top of the guard has the Gazing Eye on it. The token is a teardrop. The Keyblade shall be known as the Broken Love. She accepts it. "With this Keyblade, you shall be able to compete with Sora and Kairi on their terms in both strength and magic. Though you are not invincible, but you shall become more powerful than ever."
"I will do what I can to bring them down, Master," Rose said.
"I know you will, my dear," Count Ernesh said.
(End of flashback)
"I will put the powers of my Keyblade to the ultimate test," Rose said.
Meanwhile, Riku, Naminé, Eevee, and Azurill rode in Rei's Gummi ship through the cosmos. Riku was still troubled by the darkness that has came out from him.
"Riku, are you alright?" Naminé asked.
"I don't know to tell the truth. I mean, thinking back at Castlevania when we fought Dracula with Ricther and Maria, he reminded me of how my actions triggered my darkness. I mean, if J has gotten clean away, would I do what he was doing? Would I have killed her like he would have killed so many people?"
"Riku, you needn't worry. You're nothing like J or Dracula. You are you, and nothing is ever going to change that. The image I have of you is the Riku I met in Porta Vista when we met when you got my sketchbook back from those awful bullies. That's the Riku I fell in love with," Naminé said. Riku smiled.
"You're right, Naminé. I know you won't stop believing in me. Thanks for the pep talk," Riku said, hugging her.
"You're welcome," Naminé said, hugging him back. Eevee and Azurill smiled at the sight of them hugging. They knew the love they have for each other won't change for anything.
Back in Sinnoh, Sora, Kairi, Arthur, Wes, Rui, Michael, Pikachu, and Angel have made a stop as they take a break before heading for Hearthome City. Sora was going over a plan on how to deal with Fantina's Ghost-type Pokémon. He figured Ghost and Dark-types would he suitable, so he took out his Pokémon Box and he exchanged Carnivine and Luxio for Stunky and Rotom. Sora decided to figure out a third Pokémon to use since he didn't know everything he was up against.
Kairi was going over her own training as well.
"Let's try some double performances of our own. Let's give it a shot with you and Combusken, Angel," Kairi said.
"Eevee," Angel nodded.
"Alright, try this! Swift!" Kairi ordered. Angel fired Swift. The stars all swirl around the air. "Your turn, Combusken! Flamethrower!" Combusken fired a Flamethrower at the stars, turning them bright orange. "That's great! Use Slash!" Combusken jumped forward and slashed through the stars, making them sprinkle. "Beautiful. I think I know whom I'm using for the first round. I just have to figure out which ones would be perfect for the second round." She took out a good look around. She eyed Ivysaur and Drifloon. "Maybe I could have you in. Ivysaur, Drifloon, get into position." Ivysaur and Drifloon gets into postion in front of Kairi. "Okay, let's start things up with Gust and Razor Leaf!" Ivysaur fired a Razor Leaf as Drifloon blew out a Gust. They mix into the torndao, sending right at a tree, making some of the leaves fall off it. "Not bad. Let's try Razor Leaf and Omnious Wind!" Drifloon flew a ghostly wind as Ivysaur combined Razor Leaf into it. The combo gets sent to the same tree, making more leaves fall off. "That was amazing, you two!"
"Eevee!" Angel said.
Over to Sora, he decided to have Gible as a third since Bite is a Dark-type and Dig would come in handy in case any of her Pokémon knows some status moves such as Hypnosis or Toxic.
"Nice job with Dig, Gible. Let's work on that Bite!" Sora said, taking out a stick and held it. "Okay and now!" Gible lands a strong bite on the stick, breaking it. "Good, clean Bite, Gible. You'll do fine against in your first Gym battle."
"Pikachu," Pikachu agreed. Gible then nuzzles Sora's leg. Sora pets the Land Shark Pokémon on the head.
"Sora! Kairi! I know you're here!" A very and hauntingly familiar voice called out, much to their surprise.
"No, it can't be," Sora said.
Arthur, Wes, Rui, and Michael all heard it as well. Coming in front of them is a hooded girl.
"She's wearing the Organization's black coat," Rui said.
"Okay, who are you?" Arthur asked. The girl removed her hood to reveal her face for everyone to see. Sora and Kairi were shocked to see her face.
"No, it can't be you," Kairi said.
"Is something the matter? Are you seeing a ghost? Well, you might as well be since I came back to haunt you," Rose said.
"Do you know her?" Michael asked.
"Unfortunately, we do. We met her when she tried to break me and Kairi up, thinking love brings nothing but pain and misery. And that only fueled the darkness within her and turned her into a Heartless," Sora said.
"That's right. And I was brought back to life in a new body," Rose said.
"A new body?" Wes asked, skeptical.
"My body was forever lost to the darkness, but my heart was saved from the same darkness. My heart was placed in this new synthetic body, but I also lost my memories. My memories slowly returned to me little by little, until recently. And that was when I remembered everything. So, I decided to exact my revenge on the both of you!" Rose said, summoning her Broken Love Keyblade. Sora and Kairi were shocked to see Rose with a Keyblade.
"What the?! A Keyblade? How did you get a Keyblade?" Sora asked.
"I was granted a Keyblade by my master as he sends me to eliminate you once and for all!" Rose said, charging right at Sora and Kairi, but Arthur came between her and her targets and pushed her back.
"You think getting rid of love will do any good? Well, you're wrong! Love is supposed to be something you feel for someone else! I don't know who your master is, but he isn't going to have his way!" Arthur said.
"I'll eliminate anyone who gets in the way! Anyone and anything!" Rose roared, sending out a blast of magic from her Keyblade, but Arthur blocked it.
"Have it your way, Rose," Arthur said.
Sora, Kairi, Wes, Rui, and Michael summoned their Keyblades as Rose came right at them. She clashed her Keyblade against Rui's Plus and Minus Keyblade as Wes came right for her. Rose clashed against his two Keyblades. She managed to push him back as Michael and Arthur came in and clashed their Keyblades against hers. Sora and Kairi joined in as they clashed theirs as well. Sora then summoned another Keyblade in his hand. The Keyblade is green, light green, and brown with a toad's tongue as the teeth. The rainguard is the Battletoads' logo and the handguard is the toads' spiked pads. The token is a toad's head. This Keyblade shall be known as the Toad Warrior. He swings both Keyblades at Rose who jumped to dodge it before it could hit her. Sora casts an aura spell, sending it her way. Rose swings her Keyblade to deflect it. Kairi casts a crystal blizzard spell and it struck her.
"I can see you've grown to be so much stronger than before, Kairi, but it won't be enough to help you," Rose said as she rushed toward Kairi, but Sora uses his Toad Warrior to block her attack.
"Maybe, but how about when I get included in the mix!" Sora said, coming at her with his two Keyblades. They clashed their Keyblades against each other as Sora managed to overpower her and gave her a kick in the stomach. Rose unleashed a powerful blast of wind, blowing him away, but Sora wasn't going to call it quits that easily. Sora kept on coming for her as Arthur, Wes, and Rui came and joined him. They each cast a thunder spell, hitting her as Kairi and Michael used a combo crystal and fire spell spell to hit her as well. The rage she felt has built up and she roared as she unleashed a powerful force, sending them back.
"I WILL NOT BE DENIED MY REVENGE! NO ONE IS GOING TO TAKE IT FROM ME! NO ONE! NO ONE! NO ONE! NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEEE!" Rose roared as she unleashed another burst of energy right when Astride, Eril, and Anders came and summoned their Keyblades to block it.
"We;ll take it from you," Astride said.
"Who are you?" Wes asked.
"Don't you. We're on your side," Erik said.
"We won't have her have her way," Astride said.
"What the?! Vikings?! You think you vikings can overcome me?!" Rose exclaimed with rage in her voice.
"We know we can, you evil harpy!" Anders said.
"And we're going to prove it to you and now!" Astride said, holding her Valhalla Valkyrie. Anders held his Yggdrasil tightly as Erk held his Flaming Fenrir in his hands. Sora and Kairi quickly recognized the Keyblades that were used to cut J's Ariados's silk.
"It was you guys. You helped us out before," Sora said.
"You can thank us later. Right now, we have a fight on our hands," Anders said.
"He's right, Sora. We have to stop her," Astride said.
Meanwhile, Loki is observing the fight from a distance.
"Well, well, well. I knew it has that old leprechaun's stink all over this. But I knew the two parties would meet up with one another sooner or later. I'm just glad I got to witness it, just like I'm going to witness if Rosie is going to wilt into the darkness a second time. Way better than any Pokémon battling or wrestling match any day!" Loki said. He laughed.
Rose charged right at them again, but this time, against a whole bunch of Keyblade wielders. Erik tackled into Rose as Anders sends out a thunder spell, hitting her. Sora and Kairi then came for her as they worked together to overwhelm her as Arthur, Wes, Rui, and Michael joined in the fray. Kairi then finished her off with a crystal fire spell, hitting her. She panted.
"So you won a second time, but you won't win the next one. I suggest you watch your backs," Rose said, disappearing.
"Where she go?" Michael asked.
"She probably ran back to her master, licking her wounds," Erik said.
"Who's her master? You know what's going on? Who are you exactly?" Sora asked.
"We're Keyblade wielders just like you as you can see. I'm Astride. The one with the tanned skin is Erik, and that's Anders," Astride.
"You knew my name," Sora said.
"Yeah, we do. We know you're some of the Guardians of Kingdom Hearts. Our master told us about you. Master Tyr. He sent us to this world to watch over you," Erik said.
"Master Tyr?" Kairi asked.
"He's a very old Keyblade Master. We were training under him since we were little kids, and he sent us on this mission," Anders said.
"Do you know who her master is?" Rui asked.
"Yes. In fact, he's the one who hired that hunter a while back. Count Ernesh," Astride said. Sora, Kairi, Wes, Rui, and Michael were shocked to hear his name.
"Come to think of it, Rocky Beams did mention a count before," Kairi pointed out.
"Eevee," Angel said.
"Why would he do that? What would he eant with Riku's Eevee?" Sora asked.
"He doesn't want Riku's Eevee, he wants Riku himself," Astride corrected him. She sighed. "It's because of the darkness in him. He's also the same one who sent Silver Moon, Lucius, and Kanako after you."
"So it's a new enemy after all," Wes said.
"I think both our masters should know about this," Arthur said.
"You're right," Sora agreed. "They should. Thanks for the heads up."
"We thought you should know who you're up against," Astride said.
"And be careful. Count Ernesh is a powerful Keyblade wielder," Anders said.
With that said, Astride, Erik, and Anders took their leave and headed back to where they came from. Loki had been listening on them.
"Uh-oh. It looks like the Torracat's out of the bag. Better head back," Loki said, disappearing.
Rose has returned to report her failure.
"I'm sorry for failing you, Master. I couldn't defeat them. They had help from three viking dorks," Rose said. Count Ernesh knew who could have sent them.
"Tyr. I'd expect no less of my former master," Count Ernesh said.
"You know them, do you?" Rose asked.
"Unfortunately, yes. But it is not a failure, my dear. It is merely a set-back. You shall have another chance for your revenge, my child, but you will require some further training until you are fully ready to face them again," Count Ernesh said.
"Yes, Master," Rose said.
Back in Sinnoh, just when Sora was about to make contact with Rei, she showed up before them.
"Sora, Kairi, Wes, Rui, Michael, good of you to come. And you as well, Arthur," Rei said.
"I was about to call you, Master. We have a new problem," Sora said. Rei feared it may have something to do with Xehanort.
"What kind of problem are you talking about?" Rei asked.
"Well, the thing is, we had a run-in with an old enemy of ours, and she has a Keyblade of her own," Sora said.
"She was going to kill us when three others came to help us," Kairi said.
"Three others? Other Keyblade wielders?" Rei asked.
"Yes, Master," Kairi said.
"Their names are Astride, Erik, and Anders, and they were the ones who cut J's Ariados's silk when she took Riku's Eevee from Riku, and we know who hired her," Sora said.
"Who?" Rei asked.
"Count Ernesh," Sora said. Rei was troubled to hear this.
"Count Ernesh? Are you sure?" Rei asked.
"Yeah," Sora replied. "And the main reason for it is Count Ernesh was interested in Riku for his darkness." Rei was even more troubled by this bit of news. She wondered if he was trying to sway him over to Xehanort's side.
"He was also the same one who sent Kanako, Lucius, and Silver Moon to deal with us," Wes said.
"You did the right thing to bring this to my attention. This is very troubling. Count Ernesh is responsible for this. Have you told any of the others yet?" Rei asked.
"We thought you should be the first to know," Michael said.
"And I have a feeling he's planning on making another move against us," Rui said.
"I agree. Count Ernesh isn't likely to give up that easily. It stands to reason that he knows about our plans to find other Guardians of Kingdom Hearts and he would do whatever it takes to sabotage us. You mustn't take him lightly," Rei said.
"We won't," Sora, Kairi, Wes, Rui, and Michael said in unison.
"I'll make contact with my master about this," Arthur said.
"No, I'll do it. For you, all of you rest," Rei said.
"Yes, Master," Sora, Kairi, Wes, Rui, and Michael said in unison. Rei made it to a private place as she made contact with Ben on his Rotom Phone.
"Rei, this is an unexpected pleasure," Ben said.
"Not as pleasurable as you think, Ben. I just learned something shocking from Sora, Kairi, Wes, Rui, and Michael, along with Arthur," Rei said.
"About what?" Ben asked.
"I just learned Count Ernesh is behind these recent attacks," Rei said.
"Are you sure?" Ben asked.
"I wish I wasn't. But they never lied to me so far," Rei said.
"This is very troubling. He was Master Quincy's master, so I cannot imagine him doing something like this," Ben said.
"Me neither. And it's fair that your apprentices knows about this as well," Rei said.
"I'll pass this knowledge onto them now. In the meantime, you keep me in touch and tell me more when you learn some additional intel," Ben said.
"I will," Rei said, breaking contact with Ben. "What is going through your mind, Ernesh? And when did it come down to this?"
Now that Sora and Kairi knows the name of their new enemy, how soon will Count Ernesh make his next move? Only time knows the answer to that question, and the journey to Hearthome City continues on.