Hollow Bastion: Second Visit - Part 1
Before we dive into this chapter, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Aragorn II Elessar for his incredible contribution and collaboration. His deep knowledge of what's to come is truly remarkable, and he written a section or two of this chapter, seamlessly drawing Sora into an exciting new adventure. While I won't spoil what lies ahead, I'm thrilled for you to experience this twist to the story. I hope you enjoy this unique idea as much as we enjoyed bringing it to life. Once again, thank you, Aragorn, for your invaluable support!
With the gateway now open from Ibis Island, our heroes were ready to take to the lanes between to find their next destination. However, before Donald could plot a course, the ship suddenly began moving on its own.
"What the—?!" Donald squawked, gripping the controls. "Something's wrong with the ship!"
"Wait, is it… moving by itself?" Sora asked, glancing around the cockpit in confusion.
Goofy leaned over the console from the co-pilot seat, scratching his head as he read the navigation display.
"Gawrsh, looks like it's headin' for Hollow Bastion," he confirmed.
"Hollow Bastion?" Sonic echoed, leaning back with a thoughtful expression. "If the ship's got a mind of its own, there must be something big going on."
"Do you think it's some kind of magic taking us there?" Sora wondered aloud.
"Could be," Donald muttered, his feathers ruffling as he watched the ship maneuver effortlessly through the lanes between.
"Guess we'll find out soon enough," Goofy said with a shrug, though his tone carried a hint of curiosity.
Sonic folded his arms, his usual smirk replaced with a more serious look.
"Well, whatever's waiting for us, I'm ready for it."
The Gummi Ship soared closer to the world gate of Hollow Bastion. The heroes exchanged uncertain glances, the mystery of the ship's sudden autonomy lingering in the air.
As they approached, Sora gripped the armrest of his seat, his voice steady despite his confusion.
"Let's see what's up," he said, determination flickering in his eyes.
Hollow Bastion
After exiting the ship and walking through the streets of Hollow Bastion, their first stop was Merlin's house. If the ship had been drawn here by magic, it made sense to check in with the wizard, but something felt off. As they approached from an alleyway, they saw the door wide open from a distance.
Suddenly, three Soldier Heartless barreled out from the house, their clanking armour breaking the silence. The heroes froze, surprised by the sudden appearance.
"Uh oh," Donald remarked, his eyes widening.
"Heartless!" Sonic shouted, his voice a mix of recognition and readiness.
But before anyone could reach them, the Heartless fled, retreating back into the shadows.
"Those Heartless were sure in a hurry!" Goofy said, his eyes looking to the stairs leading up to the open front door.
"Yeah," Sonic muttered, his gaze narrowing as he turned towards the open door. "Something's definitely not right."
"I hope everyone's okay inside," Donald said, his voice filled with urgency.
"C'mon!" Sora declared, charging up the stairs, his voice sharp with resolve.
Sonic, Donald, and Goofy followed suit, their feet echoing as they rushed into Merlin's house, unsure of what they'd find but ready to face whatever awaited them.
Inside Merlin's House
As the group entered, they found Merlin sitting on the floor in a daze, surrounded by a large pile of books and his chalkboard. Sora was the first to reach him, and as he approached, the wizard slowly rose to his feet, letting out a few exasperated sighs and huffs.
"Merlin!" Sora called, stopping just in front of the dazed wizard.
The rest of the group caught up, and they watched as Merlin pointed toward Sora.
"Well now... Took your time, did you?" Merlin said, his tone a little annoyed.
"Oh, so it was you who summoned us, Merlin?" Goofy asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
"You could have called us, you know," Sonic added, placing his hands on his hips with a grin.
"Well, yes, I could have. But as you can see, I'm the only one here at the moment," Merlin explained, gesturing around his home. The place felt emptier than usual—there was no Cid at the computer, no Yuffie causing mischief, no Tails lost in his tinkering, no Aerith helping out, and no Leon standing stoically by.
"Where is everyone, Merlin?" Donald asked, his brow furrowed.
"They've gone out for a moment. They won't be long," Merlin replied cryptically.
"Oh, okay," Sora said, nodding. "So, what happened?"
"Yeah, why did those Heartless run out of here?" Sonic asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
"I summoned you here, but I used too much of my power," Merlin explained, giving a groan at the thought of it. "And then those infernal Heartless appeared..."
"So, what's going on?" Sora mused.
"It must be important if you used your magic to bring us back to Hollow Bastion," Sonic remarked, folding his arms.
"Well, actually, it was something I stumbled upon in the Zero District," Merlin answered, his tone carrying a hint of intrigue.
He raised his hand, palm facing upward, and with a soft poof of white smoke, a book materialised in his grasp. With a measured motion, he passed it down to Donald, who clutched it tightly with both hands, his eyes widening in awe. Sora, Sonic, and Goofy leaned in closer, their curiosity piqued as they gazed at the remarkable object now in the duck's hands.
It was truly a marvel to behold. The cover shimmered with a golden title: The Hobbit. Each letter seemed to glow faintly, as if kissed by sunlight filtering through the canopy of an ancient forest. The artwork displayed a breathtaking scene of towering cliffs and lush greenery, bathed in a soft, mystical light. A gray-cloaked figure stood prominently on the cover, his staff raised as though commanding the elements themselves. Behind him followed a band of adventurers—a stout, bearded warrior wielding an axe and a smaller figure clutching a sword with steadfast determination. The intricate details of the scene seemed almost alive, as if the adventurers might step out of the cover at any moment, ready to embark on their journey.
"A storybook?" Sora asked, tilting his head in wonder, though his tone betrayed his awe at its enchanting design.
"You summoned us here because of this?" Sonic added, glancing between the cover and Merlin with a skeptical expression.
"That's correct," Merlin replied with a knowing nod. "I sensed an extraordinary magic radiating from this book when I discovered it. That is why I summoned you. Shortly after, the Heartless appeared. Naturally, I fought them off with some rather powerful spells, but I began to fear the book might be damaged."
"Gawrsh, the Heartless must've been tryin' to snatch it from ya, Merlin," Goofy reasoned, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Precisely," Merlin said, his voice grave but steady. "They were relentless, but as I mentioned, I drove them back."
"But why is the book magical?" Donald asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Donnie's got a point," Sonic chimed in, his voice sharp with curiosity. "What's so special about this book, Merlin? Why's it powerful?"
Merlin stroked his beard thoughtfully, a small twinkle in his eye.
"Ah, that's the question, isn't it? This is no ordinary story. Within this book lies a tale intertwined with magic so ancient, even I cannot fully discern its origins. But," Merlin said, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group, "one thing is clear—the Heartless seek it, and that alone makes it our duty to protect it."
"Sounds like it needs to be read and studied then," Donald remarked, clutching the book with a determined expression.
"Yeah," Sora agreed, nodding firmly. His curiosity was clearly growing. "If it's that powerful, we need to understand more."
"Blast it all, I completely forgot to inform Leon and the others about this!" Merlin exclaimed suddenly, slapping his forehead with an exaggerated gesture. He straightened up, looking flustered but resolute. "I'd better go find them at once. I'll be back in a jiffy."
Before anyone could respond, Merlin cast a quick spell. A swirl of white smoke enveloped him, and with a soft poof, the wizard vanished into thin air. When the smoke cleared, the faint scent of old parchment lingered, but Merlin was gone.
"Well," Sonic muttered, scratching his head as he turned to Donald, "guess that means we're on book duty for now."
"Gawrsh, what do ya think's in it?" Goofy wondered aloud, leaning over Donald's shoulder to get a better look at the cover.
"Only one way to find out," Sora said with a grin, his eyes fixed on the mysterious book in Donald's hands.
The duck opened the book, holding it out towards Sora. The Keyblade wielder leaned in, his eyes scanning the intricate text and illustrations on the glowing pages. As he began to read, a strange sensation washed over him, like the words were reaching out, wrapping around him like invisible threads.
The air grew heavier, charged with the unmistakable hum of magic. Each sentence seemed to tug at him, the pull growing stronger with every passing moment. Before Sora could fully process what was happening, the room around him began to blur, the comforting familiarity of Merlin's home dissolving into a swirl of light and shadow.
In the blink of an eye, Sora was no longer standing among his friends. He was inside the story itself.
Inside the Book
Sora looked around, finding himself in a dark forest, the trees rising up high, with thick foliage covering everything, the sky not visible at all from down here.
Whether it was daytime or night, none could tell from here. But that was not all. Sora felt a chill run down his spine, even though all he was doing was standing here, at one spot.
As he looked around, he noticed that while the trees weren't dead, they just didn't look as good as they should, considering this was a forest, as if something was affecting them, making them not grow to their full potential.
And the feeling he had, it almost reminded him of Ansem the Seeker of Darkness himself, except it was even worse! Like this thing, whatever it was, it was too great, and its darkness might be nearly endless.
Not to mention, it seemed like this darkness was what had made this forest not reach its potential, and was making it worse with each passing minute.
Sora wondered why he had been sent here. Would fighting and beating this great darkness perhaps make him powerful enough to deal with all of Organization XIII when they came his way? Oh well, it was time to find out.
That was when he heard someone yelling, and ran into the direction, finding what looked like a child from a distance. Only, when he walked closer, he realised the person had an adult face, plus, he did not wear any shoes at all, but his feet seemed unaffected by walking on such a ground in a forest completely shoeless, as if the feet were just really hard on their own.
"Huh?" Sora muttered, astonished to see someone like that. This was a first even for him.
The child-sized adult was running round and round, yelling- "Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Fili, Kili, Bombur, Bifur, Bofur, Dwalin, Balin, Thorin Oakenshield!"
And from the distance, Sora heard other voices calling out the same names, as well as an occasional "Bilbo!" a few times, but the voices got fainter and fainter, eventually turning into cries of help.
Soon enough, the child-sized adult sat down, his back to a tree, looking quite dejected, as Sora started approaching him slowly, deciding to ask him what was going on, and how he could help.
Only, he saw something sticky and white covering the guy, who seemed to be too lost in thought to even realise it.
"HEY!" Sora cried out, rushing forwards, only to trip, as he realised his own feet had been trapped in something too at the very same time, while the child-sized adult saw him and standing up, tried to rush to him but fell over due to the sticky substance that was now covering him.
Sora rolled over, seeing the same sticky substance around his legs, and, to his horror, a Giant Spider crawled right at him, seeming to emerge from the darkness of this large and gloomy forest, about to spin more webs to trap him completely.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Flies and Spiders (Extended) – Howard Shore plays
But Sora then held out his hand, summoning his Keyblade, and struck the Giant Spider hard, making it stumble back while it screeched in pain, while Sora pointed at the webs trapping his legs.
"Fire!" A ball of fire shot out of the tip of the Keyblade, burning the webs completely, the Giant Spider actually looking horrified as Sora stood up, holding out his Keyblade, Primeval Fang.
Snarling, the Giant Spider charged at him again, but Sora leapt into the air and executed a 'Strike Raid', hitting it with the Keyblade hard, sending it flying off as it crumpled to the ground, its eight legs completely curled up now.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Flies and Spiders (Extended) – Howard Shore stops playing
Sora turned around, seeing the child-sized adult now lying on the ground, holding a small sword that seemed to fit in his hand, and it was stained with blood, with another Giant Spider lying dead nearby. The weapon itself was a beautiful and exquisite looking. Sora was impressed by it's design.
The Keyblade faded away, Sora running to him, kneeling near the guy, grasping his shoulder.
"Hey, are you all right?"
He shook the guy, and finally, he snapped out of his daze, shaking his head, looking at Sora.
"Oh! Hello there! Who are you?"
"I am Sora", Sora gave his introduction, standing up as he held out a hand to the child-sized adult, and he took it, letting Sora help him up to his feet, both looking at the two dead Giant Spiders once more.
The guy then looked at his sword, Sora seeing the flames of determination shining in his eyes, watching as the guy wiped the blood of the sword on the grass, then put it back into the sheath he had on his side.
"I will give you a name", he said to his sword, "and I shall call you Sting."
"Sting, huh?" Sora commented, thinking about the guy's size and their sword. In a way, one could say that it was stinging the enemies that it was used upon. "That's a good name actually."
"Thank you, Sora", the guy said with a smile, before it turned into a frown. "But…..who exactly are you? And where did you even come from?"
"Well…." Sora rubbed the back of his head. He'd a feeling that trying to explain to this guy that he was actually a character in a story, and that he had arrived inside their world, would be very long and complicated.
So, he finally came to a decision.
"I was travelling, then I ended up in this forest, and I got lost", Sora finally told the little guy the most believable story that he could come up with.
"Oh! Suppose that means I cannot ask you for any guidance in getting out of here", the little guy said with a sigh, before suddenly looking abashed. "Where are my manners? My name is Bilbo Baggins, of Bag End, I am a Hobbit of The Shire!"
"Hobbit?" Sora asked, tilting his head in confusion, before his eyes lit up, because that was the name of this novel!
"Oh, you never heard of us?" Bilbo asked, puzzled. "Small folk, like to live peacefully, not interested in adventures?" He suddenly shook his head. "But then again, I am here, far from home."
"Right", Sora nodded, realising Hobbits were some kind of people that existed within this novel, and this Bilbo Baggins was the Hobbit who was the cause of this book's title. "Why are you here exactly, Bilbo?"
"I was travelling on an adventure", Bilbo told Sora, who could tell he was keeping something back, but decided it was best not to pry. "Then me and my friends, the Dwarves, got lost in this forest, now they are all missing!"
"Well Bilbo", Sora held out his hand. "It is nice to meet you."
Bilbo shook Sora's hand.
"Well-met, Sora," Bilbo replied, he could tell Sora was only a child from the Race of Men, how he'd gotten lost in this forest, Bilbo really couldn't tell. Not to mention, he had taken out a Giant Spider too.
Much more easily than he himself had, meaning he had some experience in dealing with foul creatures already, in spite of being just a child.
"So, these friends of yours, the Dwarves, they're the ones whose names you were calling out?" Sora asked, and Bilbo nodded.
"Yes, that would be them", Bilbo said to Sora while grasping his chin in thought. "We were all very hungry and lost, they thought they saw a feast and ran towards it, but then they were all just gone completely, and only I was here."
"I have a feeling that some of these Giant Spiders took them", Sora confessed to Bilbo. "But do not worry, I will help you in finding them all!"
"You have my thanks, Sora", Bilbo said gratefully, before the two began walking through the grim and silent forest with purpose.
But just as Sora prepared to press forward with Bilbo, something unexpected happened. The Hobbit froze in place, his expression vacant, as if time itself had stopped.
"Huh?" Sora muttered, his brow furrowing in confusion.
He crouched slightly, cautiously extending a hand toward Bilbo. Just as his fingers neared the frozen figure, a powerful force struck him out of nowhere, sending the Keyblade wielder hurtling backwards.
"Ahh!" Sora cried out, his voice echoing as he was thrown through the air.
But instead of hitting the forest floor or colliding with a tree, he continued to fly backward, the vibrant scenery of the forest dissolving into an enveloping darkness. He felt weightless as the world around him vanished, leaving only silence.
With a sudden thud, Sora crashed onto the wooden floor of Merlin's home. He groaned, sitting up as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. His blue eyes drifted to the open book, now resting atop Merlin's white-and-green drawers. Donald must have placed it there. It seemed ordinary once more, its mysterious pull now absent. As Sora stared at it, the book moved on its own, its pages fluttering before it abruptly slammed shut, revealing the cover art of The Hobbit again.
Still seated on the floor, Sora blinked in bewilderment, struggling to comprehend the strange event. But his thoughts were interrupted by Donald's voice, loud and urgent.
"Sora, hurry up!" the duck's voice rang out, shattering the silence.
"Donald?" Sora muttered, his focus snapping toward the source of the shout.
Scherzo Di Notte - Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMiX begins playing.
Sora turned his head toward Merlin's open door, leading to the Borough.
"Hurry, Sora!" Goofy's voice followed, equally urgent.
Realising the danger his friends might be in, Sora pushed himself to his feet. Without hesitation, he summoned his Keyblade. With one final glance at the closed book, he sprinted towards the door, his heart pounding. Bursting outside, he was ready to face whatever awaited.
Sora burst out of Merlin's house, immediately greeted by the sight of Goofy bracing against a charging Shadow Heartless, his shield, Primal Guard, raised to block its sharp claws. Beside him, Donald swung his Hammer Staff in wide arcs, keeping the advancing Heartless at bay. More Shadow Heartless slithered and twitched erratically, forming a menacing line in front of the heroes.
Sora quickly took his defensive stance, but something felt off. He glanced around the square, searching.
"Hey, where's Sonic?" he called out, his voice tense.
"No time to explain!" Donald snapped, his focus entirely on the enemies ahead.
Goofy, standing his ground, glanced over his shoulder at Sora.
"Did ya bring the book, Sora?" he asked, his shield steady as he waited for the Heartless to make their move.
Sora's eyes widened. He spun around to the open door behind him—and froze. Three Soldier Heartless clattered out of Merlin's home, their armour jangling awkwardly as they made their escape. The one in the center, its clawed hand raised triumphantly, held The Hobbit aloft like a prized trophy.
"Hey!" Sora yelled, breaking into a sprint. "That's not yours!"
"Give that back!" Donald demanded, abandoning his position to chase after the thieves.
Goofy lumbered after them, calling out, "Wait for me! The book's gotta be protected!"
The Soldiers didn't get far, the metal clang of their movements echoing against the cobbled streets. But the square outside Merlin's was quickly overrun—more Shadow Heartless pooled into the area, their growing numbers slinking and twitching into a dark formation that blocked the group's path to the nearby alley, where the Soldiers stood behind their counterparts.
Sora gritted his teeth, readying his Keyblade. Just as he prepared to charge, a sudden, confident voice rang out from above.
"Oh yeah, this is happening!"
The group froze, their heads snapping upward. Sonic stood perched on the rooftop of a nearby building, a sly grin stretched across his face. In one hand, however, he gripped something unusual—a long, gleaming blade. The light reflected off its silver surface, catching Sora's eye.
"Sonic!" Sora called out, relief flooding his voice.
"About time you showed up!" Donald huffed, his feathers ruffled from frustration.
"Sonic, the book!" Goofy shouted, pointing with his shield toward the Soldier, being protected by the Shadow Heartless.
Sonic's sharp eyes flicked downward, spotting the Heartless and their stolen prize. Without a word, he leapt from the rooftop, landing smoothly beside Sora. The Keyblade wielder's gaze immediately dropped to the object in Sonic's grasp. It wasn't just a blade—it was a sword, ornate and regal in design.
"Wait, is that… a sword?" Sora asked, his voice filled with surprise and confusion. "Where did you even—"
Before Sora could finish, Sonic interrupted, his tone sharp.
"No time for questions, pal. Let's get that book back!" he replied.
"Indeed," came another voice, deep and commanding. Its tone was refined, almost regal. "The literature needs to be rescued from these forces of darkness."
Sora blinked, his head snapping to Sonic again, but it wasn't the hedgehog who had spoken. It was the sword.
"Wait… did your sword just talk?" he questioned in awe.
"Fool!" the sword barked, its voice laced with stern authority. "A knight should always be on his guard!"
"Right," Sora muttered, still trying to wrap his head around the scene.
The sword was unlike anything he'd ever encountered. The blade gleamed with a double-edged silvery sheen, its lighter edge seeming to pulse faintly with power. Its golden, wing-like guard curled elegantly, and beneath it, a red semi-circle ornament added a bold flourish. But what truly caught Sora's attention was the pair of eyes on the sword's ornate hilt, stern and seafoam green, gazing out with a keen intelligence.
Sonic tightened his grip, holding the blade at the ready. The sword's stern expression softened slightly, but its commanding presence remained.
"That's… new," Sora mumbled, still taken aback.
"Don't worry about it for now," Sonic replied, smirking as he adjusted his stance, the sword seeming to radiate a steady glow in his hand. "Let's focus on the Heartless and get that book back."
"Got it," Sora said, snapping himself out of his daze. He tightened his grip on his Keyblade, the strange spectacle fueling his determination rather than distracting him.
The Heartless twitched, sensing their enemies' resolve. Sonic pointed the sword toward the Soldiers in the alleyway.
"Let's go, Caliburn" he said, his voice brimming with confidence. The sword hummed faintly in response, its eyes narrowing slightly in focus.
Sora nodded, stepping forward. With Sonic at his side, now wielding the mysterious, talking blade, the fight to reclaim The Hobbit was about to begin.
Fight For The Book!
Scherzo Di Notte - Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMiX continues to play
Sora charged forward first, his Keyblade glowing as he sprinted toward the Shadow Heartless blocking the alleyway. With a quick leap, he brought his weapon down hard, scattering two Shadows into wisps of black mist.
"Donald, Goofy, cover Sonic!" he shouted, already spinning to strike another Heartless lunging for his side.
Donald raised his Hammer Staff, sending a surge of Thunder magic crackling through the Heartless ranks, causing several to twitch and collapse into darkness.
"I'm on it!" he squawked, following close behind Sora.
"Gotcha covered!" Goofy replied, his shield smashing into a Soldier Heartless attempting to flank the group. The impact sent the Heartless stumbling back, giving Goofy enough room to reposition and defend.
Sonic darted past them all, his natural speed turning into a blur as he closed the distance to the Heartless holding The Hobbit. With a flick of his wrist, he brought Caliburn down in a clean arc, slicing through a Shadow Heartless in his path.
"Man, it feels like forever since I used a sword in a fight!" he remarked, grinning despite himself.
"Hmm," Caliburn's voice hummed from the blade, his tone thoughtful but still laced with sternness. "Perhaps you are still worthy to wield me, Sir Sonic."
"Sir Sonic?!" Sora blurted out, pausing mid-swing to glance over at the hedgehog. "What's that all about?"
"I'll explain once we deal with these Heartless!" Sonic replied, slashing through another Shadow that tried to leap at him.
The Heartless dissolved instantly under Caliburn's sharp, glowing edge. Despite his tone, there was a precision to his movements. His strikes were clean, decisive, and efficient.
Sora smirked as he deflected an incoming Soldier Heartless with a spin of his Keyblade.
"You'd better explain—this 'Sir Sonic' thing sounds too good to miss!" he affirmed.
"Focus, Sora!" Donald snapped, blasting another cluster of Shadows with a well-aimed Fire spell. "The book first, questions later!"
Sonic's eyes locked onto the Soldier Heartless holding the book. It raised its arm high, almost mockingly, as it awkwardly waddled toward the alley.
"Oh no, you don't!" Sonic growled, dashing forward with a burst of speed.
The Soldier saw him coming and swung its clawed arm down to swipe at him, but Sonic skidded to a stop, ducking under the strike with ease. He followed up with an upward slash, sending the Soldier flipping backward and dropping The Hobbit novel. The book tumbled through the air, landing on the cobblestone ground with a soft thud.
"I got it!" Goofy yelled, rushing toward the fallen book, his shield raised to block any incoming attacks.
A trio of Shadow Heartless sprang toward him, but Sora intercepted them with a flurry of swift, precise strikes, cutting them down before they could reach Goofy.
"Keep it safe, Goofy!" Sora called, his Keyblade spinning as he deflected another incoming Soldier Heartless. "We'll handle the rest!"
"You got it, Sora!" Goofy replied, scooping up the book and retreating a few steps to guard it.
Sonic spun to face another Soldier Heartless as it lunged for him, raising Caliburn to block. The blade met the claws with a sharp metallic clang, the impact jarring the hedgehog slightly. He stumbled back a step, his footing a bit off.
"Okay, I might be a little rusty," Sonic admitted, dodging the next swipe with less grace than usual.
"'A little' may be an understatement," Caliburn quipped, his tone dry. "Your form could use refinement. Or perhaps you're slower than I recall?"
"Hey, give me a break!" Sonic shot back, sidestepping the Soldier's attack and countering with a quick, if slightly awkward, slash. The Heartless crumpled into darkness. "It's been a while since I had to fight with you, you know."
"Excuses do not suit a knight," Caliburn replied with a faint hum of disapproval. "Still… you are not entirely hopeless."
"Gee, thanks," Sonic said with a smirk, regaining his rhythm. He pivoted smoothly, slashing through two Shadows in one fluid motion. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was intended as such," Caliburn remarked, his tone warming ever so slightly. "Now, let us focus. The battlefield is no place for idle chatter."
"Got it. Let's finish this," Sonic said, his grin sharpening as he surged forward, the blade gleaming in his hand.
Sora darted past him, spinning his Keyblade in a wide arc that cleared a group of Shadows converging on Donald.
"Sonic, don't get cocky! There's still more of them!" Donald quacked loudly, his feathers bristling as he swung his staff to knock back a Heartless.
"Me? Cocky? Nah," Sonic replied, vaulting over Sora with ease. He delivered a precise downward slash, slicing a Soldier Heartless cleanly in two. The Heartless dissolved into black mist as Sonic landed with a flourish, Caliburn glowing in his grip. "I'm just efficient!"
Donald rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as he launched a Blizzard spell that froze several Shadows mid-lunge.
"Efficient my feathers," he grumbled. "More like lucky."
"Luck? Hardly," Caliburn interjected, his tone dry but respectful. "Efficiency, as Sonic claims, stems from skill—a trait shared, I must say, with the Royal Mage who wields fire and ice with such mastery."
Donald's feathers puffed up with pride.
"Huh, guess you've got a good eye for talent, sword."
"Indeed. Though I must also commend the Captain for his stalwart defense," Caliburn continued, looking towards Goofy as he bashed a charging Heartless with his shield. "Few possess such fortitude in the face of darkness."
"Gawrsh, thanks!" Goofy said, his shield raised high as he blocked another clawed strike before sending the Heartless tumbling back. "Just doin' my part!"
Sonic, meanwhile, rolled his eyes.
"Geez, Caliburn, you're handing out compliments like candy now," he teased.
"I am merely acknowledging exemplary effort, Sir Sonic," Caliburn replied curtly. "Something I expect you to maintain, though it appears you've improved since our last exchange."
"Wow, thanks for the glowing review," Sonic shot back, smirking as he dispatched another Shadow Heartless with a swift slash. "Guess I'm back in your good books, huh?"
"For now," Caliburn quipped, his tone as sharp as his blade.
The remaining Heartless began to thin out as the team worked together seamlessly, their movements fluid and coordinated. Sonic and Sora fought side by side, their weapons carving through the remaining enemies with ease. Donald's magic and Goofy's shield provided the perfect support, keeping the Heartless at bay while the duo cut them down.
With one final strike, Sonic slashed through the last Shadow Heartless, the creature dissolving into black mist. He stood straight, Caliburn resting lightly at his side as he glanced around to make sure the area was clear.
"Now that was fun!" Sonic exclaimed, his grin wide.
"Fun? A true knight does not fight for amusement," Caliburn said, his tone slightly exasperated, though a hint of warmth softened his words. "However, I will concede you fought admirably, Sir Sonic."
"Gee, thanks," Sonic said, twirling Caliburn once before resting him on his shoulder. "I'll take what I can get."
Sora approached, shaking his head with a smile.
"You two bicker like an old married couple," he teased.
"Better than me arguing with Heartless," Sonic quipped, giving a little shrug.
"Hmph. A knight does not bicker; he debates," Caliburn retorted. He then added, almost as an afterthought, "Though I must admit, it is refreshing to cross blades with worthy allies once more."
"See? He's warming up to us," Donald said with a smirk, resting his staff on his shoulder.
"Don't push it," Sonic said, grinning.
RANK: S
With the Heartless finally vanquished, the group gathered near Merlin's house, the tension fading as they caught their breath. Goofy held the book in his free hand, carefully passing it to Sora. Donald, meanwhile, dematerialised his Hammer Staff, and Sonic rested Caliburn at his side, its gleaming blade catching the faint light.
"I hope it's okay," Sora said, his voice tinged with worry as he looked at the book now in his hands.
"Looks to be in good condition," Goofy reassured him with a nod. "Didn't seem to take any damage from all that ruckus."
"That book must be powerful if the Heartless are after it still," Donald muttered, crossing his arms with a thoughtful frown.
"Yeah," Sonic interjected, stepping forward and turning to Sora. "But what we want to know is… where did you go, Sora?"
"Where did I go?" Sora repeated, blinking in confusion. He glanced down at the book, then back at Sonic. "Hold on, Sonic—I want to know what's up with the talking sword first!"
Sonic smirked knowingly and loosened his grip on Caliburn. The sword floated up into the air, hovering beside him with an almost regal poise.
"Woah! It floats too?!" Sora exclaimed, taking a step back in sheer bewilderment.
"Indeed I do," Caliburn replied, his tone calm but carrying an edge of pride. "I am capable of many things, young squire."
"Squire?" Sora repeated, tilting his head, baffled.
Donald snickered, barely containing his amusement, while Goofy chuckled openly.
"Heh, squire does have a nice ring to it," Goofy remarked.
"At least he didn't call you 'knave,'" Sonic added, smirking.
"Knave?!" Sora yelped, glancing around in alarm. "Do I even want to know what that means?"
"It's not a compliment, I'll tell you that," Sonic said, his smirk widening. "Trust me, I've been there."
Caliburn interjected with an air of authority, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"A young squire is a far more fitting title for an apprentice knight. You don't seem brash or reckless—unlike Sir Sonic when we first met."
"Hey!" Sonic said, though the slight flush on his face betrayed him. "I wasn't that bad."
"Right..." Sora muttered, still trying to process everything. "So... squire, huh?"
Sonic grinned, holding his arms out dramatically.
"Allow me to properly introduce my pointy companion here. Sora, meet Caliburn," he introduced.
"Greetings, Sora the Squire," Caliburn said, his voice softening into what might have been a friendly tone—if not for the faint air of superiority that lingered.
Sora blinked in disbelief, looking to Donald and Goofy for some sort of reaction, but neither of them seemed even remotely surprised.
"Wait… why aren't you guys freaking out about a talking sword?!" he demanded.
"We already met Caliburn while you were in that book," Donald answered.
"You did?!" Sora gawked. "But I wasn't gone that long?!"
Donald and Goofy exchanged knowing glances, and Sonic stepped in with a shrug.
"Uh, yeah, about that… Dude, you were gone for hours," the hedgehog clarified.
"Hours?!" Sora practically yelped, whipping his head toward Goofy for confirmation.
"Yep," Goofy said with a nod. "You were just there readin', and then—poof!—you vanished right into the book!"
"Powerful magic, I betcha!" Donald proclaimed, puffing out his chest as if the discovery were his own grand achievement.
"Wow…" Sora muttered, staring down at the book in his hands, his expression shifting from confusion to wonder. "I guess time works differently inside the book."
"It was long enough for you to miss my grand entrance, young squire," Caliburn interjected, his tone laced with self-importance. He floated closer, his glowing seafoam-green eyes studying Sora closely. "I was introduced to your party during your absence. The honourable Lady Aerith and Master Tails brought me to Captain Goofy, Donald The Royal Mage and, of course, Sir Sonic."
"Caliburn, you really don't need to call me 'Sir Sonic,'" Sonic said, chuckling and scratching the back of his head. "Just 'Sonic' works fine."
"Hmm… very well," Caliburn replied, almost reluctantly, before turning his attention back to Sora. "Now, young squire, your companions were most eager to know—what transpired inside that piece of literature?"
"For the record, I'm not a squire, and I'm definitely not anyone's apprentice knight," Sora said, voice tinged with a moan.
"Sure you're not," Donald muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard.
Sora shot him a glare, but Caliburn wasn't done.
"Knighthood is earned, not given," the sword added, his tone sharp yet regal. "And I would certainly not knight just anyone."
"Meaning?" Sora asked, narrowing his eyes at the floating blade.
"You have to earn it, pal," Sonic said with a grin, resting a hand on his hip. "Trust me, it's kind of a thing with him."
"Ok..." Sora muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway, about what happened in the book—"
"Finally!" Donald quacked, throwing up his hands. "It's about time we got to that part!"
Sora paused, briefly glaring at Donald again, before the memory of the dark forest and Bilbo's plight rushed back.
"It was… weird," he began to explain. "I ended up in this creepy, dark forest. It felt like the life was being sucked out of everything around me. Then I met this little guy—Bilbo. He called himself a Hobbit, and he was trying to find his friends."
"A Hobbit?" Goofy tilted his head, curious. "Oh, like the title of the book?"
"Yeah. Small guy, no shoes, kind of nervous but really determined," Sora explained. He paused, glancing at Donald. "But then, there were some giant spiders."
"Giant spiders?!" Donald squawked, his voice climbing a full octave.
"They were huge," Sora said with a grimace. "One of them almost had me, but I managed to take it down."
"Glad I missed that," Donald muttered, shaking his head. "Feathers and spiders don't mix!"
"And this Bilbo guy? Did you help him out?" Sonic asked, arms crossed as he listened.
"Yeah, I did," Sora replied, a small smile forming on his face. "He even fought one of the spiders off with his sword and named it Sting afterward. I didn't get to help him find his friends, though—something threw me out of the book before I could do much else."
"Hmm," Caliburn mused, floating steadily beside Sonic. "A curious tale indeed. The magic of this book is far from ordinary—it seems to draw you in, making you a part of its story. Such enchantments are rare, even from where I am from."
"So… what does that mean?" Sora asked, looking between the floating sword and his friends.
"It means," Sonic said, stepping forward with a confident smirk, "we've got a lot more to figure out. If this book can pull you in like that, we need to keep it safe—and definitely out of the Heartless' hands."
"Agreed!" Donald quacked in agreement.
"Same here," Goofy added, nodding while keeping his shield ready.
"Good idea," Sora said, his tone resolute. He glanced at the book in his hands, its lettering shimmering faintly. "But… I just hope Bilbo's okay. I left him in that forest with his friends missing, and it didn't seem safe at all."
"Why don't you go back in and check on him?" Donald suggested, tilting his head.
Sora's face lit up, his previous tension fading.
"That's a good idea!" he replied brightly.
He handed the book to Donald, who grabbed it firmly, glancing at it with both curiosity and caution.
"Careful," Sonic said with a teasing grin. "We don't want you getting sucked in next, Donnie."
"Ha ha," Donald deadpanned, giving Sonic a glare as he carefully opened the book, turning it towards Sora. Immediately, a strange, otherworldly energy radiated from its pages, the words and illustrations glowing faintly as the magic stirred once more.
Sora stood in front of Donald, bracing himself as he felt the familiar pull of the book's enchantment, like invisible hands drawing him in.
"Here we go again," he muttered with a grin before the light engulfed him completely. In a flash, he vanished, leaving the others behind in the Borough.
"Let's hope he doesn't take hours this time," Sonic said with a playful tone.
"Hmm," Caliburn replied, his seafoam-green eyes narrowing slightly. "One cannot rush the matters of magic, Sonic. Patience is the mark of a true knight."
"Yeah, yeah," Sonic said with a smirk, shaking his head. "But I'm not a knight, not in this realm, remember?"
"Not yet," Caliburn replied cryptically, his tone almost smug as he floated closer to Sonic. "We shall see, Sir Sonic."
"Great," Sonic groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Now he's back to calling me 'Sir Sonic.'"
Goofy chuckled warmly.
"Well, ya kinda fit the part, don't ya? Sword, hero stuff, and all."
"Don't encourage him, Captain Goofy," Sonic muttered, shaking his head as Caliburn let out what could only be described as an amused hum.
Donald cleared his throat, still holding the book open.
"Let's take this inside. Merlin might be back by now."
"Good idea," Goofy agreed, shifting his shield into a resting position.
"We can explain to him what happened in the book," Sonic added, motioning toward the open pages. "He's bound to know something about all this magic."
"Yeah," Donald nodded. "And maybe he can tell us why this book is so powerful."
"It will be good to meet this realm's Merlin properly," Caliburn interjected, his tone thoughtful. "Though it does make me wonder… why are there two Merlins? It's curious, to say the least."
"Best save those questions for him, pal," Sonic said, nudging the floating sword lightly with his hand. "He's the one with all the answers, not us."
The group turned and headed back into Merlin's house, the echoes of their small fight fading behind them. The book's glow dimmed slightly in Donald's hands as if resting after the chaos it had stirred.
Inside The Book
Sora found himself in the dark and imposing forest once more, and then saw Bilbo leaning against a tree, rushing towards him.
"Bilbo!" Sora cried out, Bilbo looking up at him with an expression that Sora could not make out as of now. "Sorry for disappearing, but I am back now, let us look for your friends!"
"Uhh…..who are you exactly?" Bilbo inquired, confusing Sora. "And how do you know my name?"
"Don't you remember? We just met and you told me", Sora tried to remind Bilbo, but Bilbo's expression was completely blank, and also filled with horror.
"I have not met you until this very moment", Bilbo told a very puzzled Sora. "And how did I end up in this dark forest in the first place? I should be back at Bag End, resting in my armchair near the fire." He started pulling his hair. "This must be a bad dream from which I need to wake up!"
"Bilbo, its not a dream, your friends need you!" Sora said, grasping Bilbo's shoulder and shaking him, a little forcefully, making Bilbo recoil as he looked up at Sora.
"What friends?"
"The Dwarves!"
"I do not know any Dwarves", Bilbo said while shaking his head, confusing poor Sora even more. "We Hobbits like to live in peace, and be respectable. I am not sure how I even got here!"
And then he fell to his knees in despair, pulling his hair while screaming, Sora wondering how exactly could he explain things to him, or how he could even comfort him.
Crouching beside Bilbo, Sora reached out but hesitated, unsure on what to do or say. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation. How could Bilbo not remember? They had fought together earlier—he had seen the resolve in Bilbo's eyes as he named his sword Sting! Yet now, it was as if none of it had ever happened.
Before he could say another word, Sora felt the strange, familiar pull once more—the energy of the book drawing him away.
"Bilbo… I…" he stammered, but it was no use. The forest blurred, fading into a swirl of light and shadow as the magic took hold.
The last thing he saw was Bilbo, still kneeling in despair, before everything went dark.
A very fun and enjoyable chapter to write up!
Special thanks to Aragorn II Elessar for his invaluable contributions to this chapter. He wrote the scenes where Sora entered The Hobbit novel, and his deep knowledge of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings series truly brought those moments to life. When brainstorming together, his suggestion of using The Hobbit as the storybook was a stroke of brilliance. Many thanks for writing those scenes! I look forward to continuing our creative partnership in future chapters and crossovers. If you enjoy stories centered around The Hobbit, LOTR, the Arrowverse, and other franchises—including multiverse adventures—be sure to check out Aragorn's work on and AO3!
Additionally, Caliburn has arrived! How and why remains a mystery for now, but rest assured, answers are on the way. In Part 2, I'll be diving into Sonic and Caliburn's reunion and where they were while Sora was inside the book. It's so exciting to see Sonic wielding a weapon again—I've always been a fan of Sonic and the Black Knight. Special thanks to Terrence Johnny Stanford for suggesting the idea of introducing Caliburn into the Blue Blur Saga. It's been a fantastic addition to the story.
Easter Eggs and References from the Chapter:
Sonic's line, "Oh yeah, this is happening": A nod to his iconic phrase from Sonic Adventure.
The Hobbit: The Hobbit replaces the Hundred Acre Wood in this story. But, in this Fan Fic Saga, the storybook of Winnie The Pooh was not included in the original Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix - Blue Blur Edition. This makes The Hobbit the saga's story that Sora goes into.
Knave vs. Squire: Caliburn famously called Sonic "Knave" in Sonic and the Black Knight when they first met. Over time, Sonic earned the title "Sir Sonic, Knight of the Wind." Here, Sora being dubbed "Squire" seemed fitting and a little less harsh than "Knave the Keyblade Wielder."
"Fool. A Knight should always be on his guard": A direct quote from Sonic and the Black Knight that highlights Caliburn's wisdom and no-nonsense personality.
Sonic and Caliburn's banter: Their chemistry remains intact, bringing a blend of humour and respect. I'm also excited to explore how Caliburn interacts with Sora moving forward.
This has been one of my favorite chapters to write in the story so far. I'm looking forward to Part 2, where I'll recount Sonic's side of the story and delve deeper into his dynamic with Caliburn. Thanks for all the continued support and feedback—it means the world! Enjoy the holidays, and see you soon in the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings franchise. All rights to these works belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and their respective publishers, including HarperCollins and Warner Bros. for adaptations. This fanfiction is purely for entertainment purposes and not intended for profit.