Trapped Kingdoms Await
Shadow:
The void stretched endlessly as the team followed Omega's lead, their footsteps echoing faintly across the uneven ground of White Space. The sound of lapping water against the edges of the land was the only other noise, serene yet unsettling. Strange landmarks jutted from the earth—fragments of worlds torn from their rightful places and stitched together in this dreamlike void. Broken towers leaned at odd angles, and half-submerged ruins whispered stories of forgotten realms.
Above them, the Black Moon loomed, its surface swirling with dark purple mist. The blinking eyes along its rings pulsed faintly, each blink sending a shiver through the air as though it were studying their every move.
"This place is peaceful... in a strange way," Aqua admitted, her voice soft. "Apart from the massive object watching us from the sky."
"I said something similar earlier," Tifa replied, glancing up uneasily. "Eerie... but almost calming. Plus, Cloud didn't want to tell me what that thing is."
"THE OBJECT IN THE SKY IS THE BLACK MOON," Omega interjected.
"Let me guess—linked to the Black Doom and the Black Arms?" Tifa asked, aiming her question at Shadow.
"Yes," Shadow said simply.
Tifa shot Cloud a teasing look, who was walking next to her.
"See? You could've told me that earlier, Cloud..." she moaned, with a teasing tone.
"Well, you know now," Cloud replied, giving a small shrug. "You just learned it from the robot instead."
"But I wanted to hear it from you," Tifa argued.
"You'll live," Cloud replied dryly.
Aqua chuckled softly despite herself. The moment of banter cut through the tension—but it didn't last. Omega's visor pulsed as he came to a sudden halt, his tone sharp.
"WARNING: MASSIVE ENERGY SPIKE DETECTED IN THE BLACK MOON."
The group froze as they reached a stone bridge covered in patches of green moss. The bridge stretched over the slow-moving water, leading toward a massive black castle with golden framework. The castle's spires spiralled toward the void's white and grey sky. Surrounding the castle were remnants of other buildings and structures, all seemingly pulled from different worlds and stranded here in silent disrepair.
Shadow's gaze shifted upward as one of the eyes on the Black Moon swivelled downward and blinked at them.
"It's watching us," Omega confirmed, his voice devoid of emotion.
"That's not unsettling at all," Cloud muttered dryly.
"It's like being back in the Realm of Darkness..." Aqua said with a sigh, her gaze drifting from the Black Moon to the castle ahead. "Always being watched... always surrounded."
"The Realm of Darkness?" Tifa asked, glancing at Cloud before returning her attention to Aqua. "That's where the Heartless come from, right?"
"Right," Cloud clarified with a nod.
Before he could say more, Shadow interjected, his voice steady but cold.
"It's also a realm where worlds fall when they're overtaken by darkness... just like what happened to my world, Mobius." His eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Many worlds have suffered because of it."
Aqua turned to Shadow, studying his expression. His tone was detached, yet there was something beneath the surface—something sharp and personal.
"Have you been there?" she asked.
"Yes," Shadow replied simply. "It's where I met the other version of you, the one from my timeline."
"OUR TIMELINE," Omega corrected.
"Whatever," Shadow replied bluntly.
"So... that's how we met in your timeline," Aqua murmured. "Tell me... am I still trapped there?"
"No," Shadow said, shaking his head. "I brought you back to the Realm of Light."
Aqua's eyes widened in surprise, her expression catching the attention of Tifa and Cloud. Even Omega shifted slightly, as though registering the shift in emotion.
"You... brought me back?" Aqua replied, her voice soft with wonder.
"You look surprised," Tifa observed gently.
Shadow's voice remained steady, though there was a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"Let me guess... you were saved by someone else in your timeline? Which would make sense, seeing we don't know each other," he remarked.
Aqua's expression grew distant as though she were trying to reach through the fog of memory. The memory was hazy—fragments of a rescue that felt both real and unreal. But before she could speak, a desperate cry echoed from across the bridge.
"Ahhh!" a woman's voice called out, trembling with fear. "HELP!"
Tifa's head snapped up, her eyes widening.
"Someone's in trouble!" she blurted out.
Cloud reached behind him, unsheathing the Buster Sword from his back. His stance shifted, ready for action.
"They need our help," he said firmly.
Shadow didn't waste a second. His air shoes flared as he dashed forward, gliding across the bridge in a blur of red light.
"Move it," he called back.
Cloud took off after him, his strides were swift and determined.
"Come on!" he urged.
"UNDERSTOOD. INITIATING RESPONSE. AQUA, TIFA—WE MUST INVESTIGATE."
Tifa nodded, already in motion as she followed across the bridge.
Omega was about to advance when he noticed Aqua still lingering, her expression caught somewhere between focus and uncertainty.
"AQUA," Omega said, his mechanical tone slightly gentler. "WE MUST PROTECT THE VICTIM IN DISTRESS."
Aqua blinked, as though snapping out of a trance. Her grip tightened as she summoned Master's Defender, its reassuring weight anchoring her. She nodded, determination flickering in her eyes.
"Right," she said. "Let's go."
Omega's massive frame fell into step beside her as they crossed the bridge. The cry for help echoed again, and they all knew—whatever lay ahead, they couldn't hesitate.
Shadow skated to the end of the moss-covered bridge with Cloud close behind. Behind them, Tifa sprinted with light yet determined steps. Omega's heavy frame moved with surprising speed for his size, while Aqua followed close behind, her Master's Defender shimmering faintly in her grip.
They stopped abruptly as the scene came into view: a young woman surrounded by a mix of Black Warriors of the Black Arms and Neoshadow Heartless. The stark void of White Space framed the chaos, with the lifeless, drained hub of Kingdom Valley nearby. The once-majestic towers and arches were now colourless, void of life or vibrancy, like a ghost of what they once were.
The young woman in the centre of it all stood out starkly. Her short, red hair gleamed faintly even in the pale light, her elegant white dress and golden adornments making her seem almost out of place in the bleakness. She tried to maintain composure, but fear was evident in her light blue eyes as the creatures closed in.
"VICTIM IDENTIFIED: PRINCESS ELISE THE THIRD OF SOLEANNA," Omega announced loudly, his voice cutting through the tension. His massive arms hummed as he powered up his weapons. "ONE OF THE PRINCESSES OF HEART."
"Princess of Heart?" Aqua echoed in surprise, her eyes narrowing as she studied the young woman. This Elise wasn't one of the seven she knew of, yet there was no denying the pure light radiating from her.
"No time for questions," Shadow snapped, his voice sharp and commanding. "She needs saving."
Hearing Shadow, the Black Warriors and Neoshadows turned their attention towards the group, Shadow's crimson eyes glinted with sharp focus. His teammates felt it too—that electric tension in the air before a storm. The creatures charged forward, leaving Elise alone for now.
"Hold your ground!" Shadow barked, his tone sharp and commanding. He clenched his fists, a crimson aura igniting around his body as the first wave of enemies surged toward them.
"Well, they're not going to make this easy, are they?" Tifa remarked.
"Wouldn't be fun if they did," Cloud said, his stoic voice tinged with just the faintest hint of anticipation.
"ELIMINATE HOSTILES," Omega declared, his twin cannons shifting into position as his visor flared with light. "ENGAGING MAXIMUM FIREPOWER."
Aqua tightened her grip on Master's Defender.
"Let's move," she said firmly.
With that, the team sprang into action.
Black Warriors and Neoshadow Heartless
Battle Music: The Encounter: Kingdom Hearts HD II.5 ReMIX
Shadow rocketed forward, skating at blistering speed as the first of the Black Warriors lunged for him. A Doom Spear formed in his hand. He hurled it with precision, the projectile splitting mid-air into five streaks of red light. Each streak struck a target, stunning the Black Warriors and forcing them to stagger back.
Without hesitation, Shadow warped to the closest one with Doom Blast, delivering a brutal kick that launched the creature skyward. He vanished again, reappearing mid-air and slamming it downward into another enemy. The impact sent shockwaves through the ground, with the two Black Warriors bursting into mists of darkness.
"Pathetic," Shadow remarked.
Meanwhile, Cloud waded into the chaos with the sheer force of Braver. He leapt into the air, his Buster Sword glowing as he brought it down in a devastating vertical slash, cleaving through a group of Neoshadows. Their forms dissolved into darkness, but more rushed in. Cloud shifted seamlessly into Cross-Slash, the glowing "X" carving through another wave of enemies with surgical precision.
"Not bad!" Tifa called, rushing past him.
She unleashed her Beat Rush, her fists landing a flurry of bone-crushing blows on a Black Warrior. The creature reeled, but Tifa didn't let up. She somersaulted into the air, coming down with a powerful kick that sent the enemy crashing into its allies.
"Show-off," Cloud muttered, but there was a faint smirk on his face as he turned to deal with the next wave.
Omega, meanwhile, stood his ground as a group of Black Warriors charged him. His twin cannons roared to life, firing round after round of explosive energy. The blasts tore through the creatures' ranks, scattering them like debris in a storm.
"TARGETS NEUTRALISED," Omega announced, but his sensors flared as NeoShadows began to swarm him. "ENGAGING CLOSE-RANGE COMBAT."
One arm shifted into a flamethrower, which he unleashed in a sweeping arc, incinerating the creatures that dared get too close. Another Neoshadow leapt at him from behind, but Omega's other arm transformed into a gatling gun, mowing it down mid-air.
"YOUR STRATEGY IS INEFFECTIVE," Omega stated to the enemies, his voice unwavering.
"Are you trash-talking them?" Tifa called as she somersaulted over a NeoShadow, landing gracefully beside Omega.
"OBSERVATION: HOSTILES LACK THE INTELLIGENCE TO UNDERSTAND MOCKERY," Omega replied as he fired another explosive round.
Tifa chuckled, her fists glowing faintly as she launched into Meteor Strike, leaping high and crashing into the ground with enough force to send several enemies flying.
Nearby, Aqua's movements were a dance of precision and power, her mastery of magic and combat weaving seamlessly together. She raised her Keyblade, casting Thundaga. Bolts of lightning rained down, striking multiple enemies and leaving charred craters in their wake. She followed with Blizzaga, freezing a line of Neoshadows solid before dashing forward and shattering them with a powerful horizontal slash.
A group of Black Warriors began to encircle her, their massive forms closing in. Aqua gritted her teeth and summoned her Shotlock, Prism Rain.
"Farewell!" She called out, preparing to attack.
On her command, beams of radiant light fired in rapid succession from her Keyblade. The barrage tore through the enemies, reducing them to nothingness.
She glanced at Cloud, who was fending off a group of Neoshadows nearby.
"Cloud, with me!" she called.
Cloud turned and nodded, charging toward her. Aqua cast Firaga Burst, launching a swirling vortex of fire that sent the enemies staggering. Cloud leapt into the air, his Buster Sword glowing with energy as he activated Blade Beam, sending a wave of energy slicing through the disoriented enemies. Together, the combination wiped out the entire cluster.
"Not bad," Aqua said with a faint smile.
"You're not so bad yourself," Cloud replied.
Nearby, Shadow and Tifa found themselves surrounded by another wave of Neoshadows. Tifa glanced at the stoic hedgehog.
"Got any tricks up your sleeve?" she asked, her fists glowing faintly.
Shadow's eyes gleamed as he summoned a Doom Spear.
"Plenty," he said simply.
"Then let's show them what we've got," Tifa replied with a grin.
As the Neoshadows lunged, Shadow hurled the Doom Spear into the ground, the explosion stunning the creatures. Tifa dashed forward, landing a flurry of punches and kicks with her Beat Rush. Shadow warped into the air, striking the enemies from above and sending them flying into Tifa's waiting strikes.
At one point, Shadow skated forward, slamming into a Neoshadow with a brutal kick, while Tifa delivered a spinning uppercut to finish it off. The coordination was seamless, a display of power and precision.
"Not bad for a guy who doesn't smile," Tifa teased as she caught her breath.
Shadow didn't respond, his gaze already scanning the area. It was slowly clearing, but the final wave of Black Warriors surged forward. Aqua, Cloud, and Omega regrouped with Shadow and Tifa as the creatures closed in.
"They just keep coming," Cloud muttered, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword.
Shadow stepped forward, his crimson aura flaring to life like a raging fire. His sharp red eyes gleamed with determination, and his voice carried a calm certainty.
"Not for long," he said. "Chaos Control!"
The world stilled in an instant. Time itself bent to Shadow's command, freezing the Black Warriors mid-lunge. Their twisted forms hung motionless, locked in grotesque poses. Even the heroes behind Shadow were caught in the temporal stasis, their movements paused. Yet, amidst the frozen battlefield, Aqua's blue eyes widened ever so slightly, catching a faint glimpse of Shadow moving—faster than her perception could follow.
Shadow launched himself into the fray like a streak of lightning. His movements were fluid and deadly, each action precise and calculated. Doom Spears formed in his hands, glowing with chaos energy, and he hurled them with unerring accuracy. The spears split in mid-air, striking multiple foes simultaneously with devastating force.
With a sudden burst of speed, Shadow warped across the battlefield, appearing in front of an enemy just as time caught up to him. He unleashed a vicious kick, sending the creature flying into a cluster of its frozen allies. Before the impact could shatter them, Shadow teleported again, delivering a brutal upward strike that scattered the remnants into darkness.
When time resumed, it happened in a single, fluid moment. The cries of the creatures were silenced as their forms dissolved into nothingness.
Shadow stood at the forefront, adjusting his gloves with deliberate calm, as if he hadn't just dismantled an entire wave of enemies in the blink of an eye. His crimson aura flickered briefly before fading, leaving him standing tall amidst the aftermath.
"Too easy," he remarked, his tone cool and confident.
RANK: S
Aqua stepped closer to Shadow, her blue eyes wide with awe as she processed what she had just witnessed. The void, once filled with chaos, now lay still, their enemies vanquished and the oppressive weight of White Space momentarily lifted.
"What... did you just do?" Aqua asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.
Shadow turned, summoning the yellow Chaos Emerald into his gloved hand. Its glow pulsated faintly, almost alive.
"Chaos Control," he explained simply. "I can manipulate time and space with my connection to chaos energy."
Aqua tilted her head, intrigued.
"That's... incredible," she admitted, her tone soft but sincere.
"I'll say," Tifa added, brushing stray hair from her face. "Not every day you see someone freezing time and taking down enemies like that."
"Nice job," Cloud said, his voice steady but carrying a note of respect.
Shadow gave a curt nod before turning his attention to Elise, who cautiously approached the group. Her steps were slow, her eyes still reflecting the fear and confusion of her ordeal, but there was gratitude in her expression.
"Are you all right?" Aqua asked gently, meeting the princess's gaze.
Elise nodded hesitantly, her voice trembling but steady enough to reply.
"Yes… thank you. I… I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come," the woman remarked.
"Don't mention it," Tifa said warmly, offering a reassuring smile. "We couldn't just stand by when we heard you call out."
"OBJECTIVE COMPLETE," Omega announced, his voice cutting through the moment like a mechanical drumbeat.
Elise turned her attention to the hulking robot and smiled faintly, clearly recognising him.
"Thank you, Omega," she said. "It's good to see you again."
"LIKEWISE, PRINCESS ELISE," Omega stated matter-of-factly.
"Your highness, you know Omega?" Tifa asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes. Omega was part of the group who rescued me and the other Princesses of Heart when we were trapped in Hollow Bastion," Elise explained.
"OPERATION: RADIANT RETRIEVAL," Omega confirmed, his tone as mechanical as ever.
"Interesting," Aqua murmured quietly, though her mind began to wander. Another Princess of Heart? But not from her reality…
Cloud rested his Buster Sword back onto his shoulder.
"So, you've been dragged into this mess too, huh?" he asked, his tone more sympathetic than curious.
Elise nodded, her expression clouding with confusion.
"I don't know how it happened. One moment I was in Soleanna, the next… there was this bright light, and everything around me disappeared."
"You're in a place called White Space," Shadow explained, his tone firm. The Chaos Emerald in his hand disappeared, with the hedgehog then folding his arms. "It's a realm trapped between time and space."
Elise blinked, her confusion deepening as she processed Shadow's words.
"Between time and space?" she repeated slowly. "I… I don't understand."
Shadow's crimson eyes narrowed slightly as he folded his arms.
"This place exists because of Black Doom's influence over the powers of another being called Terios," he explained matter-of-factly.
"Black Doom… I've heard of him. But Terios? That's a name I don't recognise," Elise replied, her brow furrowing at the unfamiliar name.
"Neither do we," Shadow admitted, his tone sharp but honest. "Even G.U.N. has no records of him."
"AFFIRMATIVE," Omega interjected, his mechanical voice cutting through the air. "TERIOS IS AN UNKNOWN ENTITY WITH UNTRACEABLE ORIGIN."
"Terios has the ability to manipulate time and space," Shadow elaborated. "Doom's connection to him allows him to bend White Space to his will."
Elise's face showed a flicker of understanding, but the confusion lingered. Tifa stepped forward, offering a more relatable explanation.
"Think of it like this," Tifa said gently. "Black Doom is using Terios's powers like… a parasite. He's piggybacking off them to gain control over this place."
Elise tilted her head thoughtfully.
"That… makes sense, I think."
Cloud gave a small nod, his tone neutral but supportive.
"That's one way to put it," he remarked.
"Sometimes simplifying these insane situations actually helps," Tifa countered with a slight grin.
"Fair enough," Cloud replied, his voice carrying a faint note of amusement.
Elise folded her hands in front of her, her posture still unsure but her voice soft with earnestness.
"Well… I hope you can stop them. You all seem strong and determined. If anyone can do it, it's you, Shadow," she said warmly.
Shadow turned his gaze to her, his expression unreadable but his tone calm.
"So, you know who I am, huh?" he questioned.
Elise hesitated, her cheeks flushing faintly.
"I do," she admitted. "But… I have to be honest. When you came to save me, I thought you were Sonic."
Shadow sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly as he closed his eyes in mild exasperation.
"It's not the first time someone has mistaken us," he muttered.
Elise's blush deepened, and she clasped her hands nervously.
"I'm sorry… It's just that, at first glance, you do look similar. But then I remembered Commander Tower talking about you. He said you were… well, different."
"Different is putting it lightly," Tifa quipped with a smirk, earning a sharp glance from Shadow.
"I see," Shadow replied curtly, ignoring Tifa's comment. "For the record, Sonic and I are not related."
Elise smiled apologetically.
"Got it. And… sorry for the mistake," she said softly.
Shadow gave her a curt nod, his focus already shifting back to the matter at hand. Elise took a small breath of relief before turning her gaze to Aqua, her expression curious.
"This is going to sound strange," Elise began, "but… have we met before?"
Aqua blinked, taken aback.
"I don't think so," she replied gently. "Why do you ask?"
Elise hesitated, her eyes narrowing in thought.
"You remind me of someone I met many years ago… But that wouldn't make sense or be possible. We seem to be the same age."
Aqua offered a small, apologetic smile, trying to avoid complicating matters with her origin.
"I guess not," she replied softly.
Cloud, meanwhile, had been scanning the surrounding area. His eyes locked onto the dull, lifeless hub of Kingdom Valley nearby.
"Looks like you've got another place to fix, Shadow," Cloud said, nodding toward the sombre landscape.
Shadow stepped forward, his sharp red eyes narrowing as he studied the trapped world. He moved closer to the edge of the bridge, taking in the blackened towers and lifeless scenery.
"Odd," he muttered. "I've never been here."
"You haven't?" Tifa asked, stepping up beside him.
Shadow shook his head.
"No, not this place," he clarified.
Elise spoke up, her voice tinged with sadness.
"That's Kingdom Valley," she explained. "It's part of the Kingdom of Soleanna—a sacred place, full of history and beauty. It's where knights used to protect the royal family in ancient times, and it's been a symbol of hope for generations."
Omega's visor pulsed as he scanned the area.
"CONFIRMATION: G.U.N. DATABASES INDICATE KINGDOM VALLEY AS A HISTORICAL SITE. ASSOCIATED WITH SOLEANNA ROYALTY AND RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE."
Aqua tilted her head, her expression troubled.
"Then why does it feel… empty?" she asked softly. "I can't sense any light coming from it."
"Because Black Doom's influence, through Terios's powers, has trapped it here," Shadow explained, his voice low but steady. "Just like the ARK and Rail Canyon. This is another fragment of time and space he's manipulated. I have to save it to restore it to what it once was."
"Shadow," Cloud interjected, his tone thoughtful. "Are you sure this is from your past?"
"What are you trying to say?" Shadow asked, his tone sharp but curious.
"Think about it," Cloud began. "From what we've learned, White Space doesn't just trap fragments of a single time. It can pull pieces from alternate timelines entirely."
Tifa looked between them, frowning.
"So, what? This might not even be from Shadow's past?" she questioned.
Aqua glanced at Elise, then back at Shadow, her voice soft but thoughtful.
"Cloud's right," she said. "I mean… I'm here, and I'm from another reality entirely. It's possible this isn't from your past at all, Shadow. It could be from another version of your world."
"Wait, another reality?" Elise asked, her voice a mix of wonder and confusion, her wide eyes locking onto Aqua.
Aqua hesitated, her lips parting slightly before closing again. She was clearly reluctant to say too much, not wanting to overwhelm the princess with the truth of her situation. But before she could find the right words, Omega's monotone voice pierced the air.
"AFFIRMATIVE," Omega stated, his glowing visor flickering slightly. "AQUA IS FROM ANOTHER REALITY. HER ENERGY SIGNATURE DOES NOT ALIGN WITH THE UNIVERSE WE OCCUPY, PRINCESS."
Aqua sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly.
"Thanks, Omega," she said, though her tone carried a subtle hint of exasperation.
"YOU'RE WELCOME," Omega replied with mechanical precision, completely oblivious to the tone of her response.
"So… you're not from where we come from?" Elise asked softly, her voice carrying a tone of gentle curiosity rather than fear.
"Simply put," Shadow interjected, his arms crossed, "she's a variant from another timeline. There's an Aqua of our reality, but she's somewhere else in White Space."
Elise's lips parted slightly in surprise, but her expression quickly softened. Her natural empathy shone through as she stepped closer to Aqua, her blue eyes full of warmth.
"That must be… difficult for you," Elise said gently. "To be so far from where you belong. I can sense it… you've been through something big. Something painful."
Aqua's expression faltered for a moment, her gaze falling to the ground. She sighed quietly, her voice low.
"You could say that," she admitted.
The weight in her voice hinted at her memories of The Snap, losing her friends, and everything that followed—but she didn't elaborate. Elise, sensing Aqua's reluctance, didn't press further. Instead, she smiled softly, radiating a quiet strength.
"Even so, you're here now. And that means there's still hope, right?" Elise said. "Whatever you are going through, I believe you'll find your way back. I just know it."
"Thank you, your highness" Aqua said simply.
Shadow, who had been watching the exchange, shifted his stance and turned toward the trapped hub of Kingdom Valley.
"We don't have time to dwell on this," he said firmly, breaking the moment and uncrossing his arms. "I'll go in and free this trapped Kingdom Valley." He turned back to the group. "The rest of you keep Elise safe—and look for Aqua."
Omega's visor flickered as he processed new data.
"KEYBLADE SIGNATURE DETECTED: AQUA OF OUR REALITY APPROXIMATELY 0.5 KILOMETERS AWAY," Omega announced. "I WILL INVESTIGATE, SHADOW."
"Tifa and I will explore this new area of White Space," Cloud said. "We still need to find the person we're looking for."
"Be careful," Shadow said, his tone steady. He glanced at Aqua. "Aqua, keep Elise company and safe."
Aqua nodded, glancing back at Elise with a reassuring look.
"Of course," she replied.
Shadow turned back toward Kingdom Valley, his red eyes narrowing as he began walking toward the lifeless hub. His mind churned with thoughts as he moved.
"I haven't told them everything about White Space yet… about how it's linked to Castle Oblivion. There must be a correlation somewhere on why these two places are connected. Perhaps the other Aqua might know more," he thought, his gaze hardening. "But that can wait. Right now, I need to focus on stopping Black Doom."
As he neared the entrance to the hub, the oppressive weight of the void seemed to settle over him once again. Shadow clenched his fists, his resolve unwavering. Whatever awaited him in Kingdom Valley, he would face it head-on.
Aqua:
Not far away, the trio of Aqua, her alternate self, and Silver walked along the quiet streams that traced across the wide, serene plaza. The silence of the void, White Space, surrounded them, broken only by the faint hum of water cascading through the paths. As they walked, conversation flowed naturally between them, curiosity weaving through their words.
"Wow, that's incredible!" Silver said, his eyes wide with amazement. "You teamed up with all those heroes?"
"That's right," the other Aqua confirmed with a soft nod.
"And it all started because of some kind of botched spell to help a world forget about Spider-Man's true identity, right?" Aqua asked, glancing at her counterpart.
The other Aqua sighed, her expression a mix of nostalgia and disbelief.
"Yes," she replied. "What should have been a simple spell, tore open the Multiverse."
"Talk about breaking reality," Silver muttered, shaking his head. "But from what you've told us, it worked out in the end… somehow."
The other Aqua smiled faintly, her eyes softening.
"It did. Thanks to all of us working together, we managed to set things right." She glanced at Silver with warmth. "We could've used your powers, though. You would've been a big help."
Silver chuckled, a spark of hope lighting his expression.
"Well, if the Multiverse decides to fall apart again, count me in. Just let me know," he remarked.
"I'll tell Doctor Strange to summon you," the other Aqua teased, her tone playful. "If I see him again that is."
"Deal," Silver replied firmly, his voice brimming with determination.
As the trio entered the plaza, the serene beauty of the space caught their attention. Silver paused, taking in the streams and the fragmented sky above.
"This place…" the other Aqua murmured, tilting her head as she studied the surrounding ruins. "It's calm… peaceful, in a strange way."
"Yeah," Silver admitted, though his tone was hesitant. "But being trapped between time and space is still unsettling. We can't stay here forever."
"Right," Aqua agreed, her gaze drifting to her counterpart. The two shared a quiet look, their identical blue eyes reflecting different experiences. "We keep going."
The group stopped in the centre of the plaza, scanning for signs of Orbot and Cubot. The area, though beautiful, felt eerily empty, with lifeless white hubs scattered around its edges.
"So… where are those two?" Aqua asked, glancing over at Silver.
Silver shrugged helplessly.
"Beats me. They were supposed to meet us here, but knowing them, they probably got distracted by something shiny or weird."
The other Aqua tilted her head curiously.
"Orbot and Cubot… they're machines, right?" she asked.
"Yep," Silver confirmed. "Eggman's former robot assistants. They've been helping us track down trapped locations and strange gates."
"Interesting," the other Aqua murmured, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully.
Aqua raised an eyebrow.
"'Interesting'? What do you mean?" she questioned.
The other Aqua smiled wryly as she replied.
"Oh, it's just… the last time I dealt with machines like that, I was in New York. And they weren't exactly… friendly."
"Wait—what kind of machines?" Silver asked, intrigued.
"Daleks," the other Aqua revealed, her tone heavy.
"Daleks?" Aqua repeated, exchanging a confused glance with Silver. "What's that?"
"They're beings encased in metal armour," the other Aqua began. "They look like machines, but inside, they're something else entirely. Twisted creatures of hate and destruction. Their only goal is extermination."
"Extermination?" Silver blurted out, his expression turning grim.
The other Aqua nodded, her gaze distant as she continued.
"They don't negotiate. They don't show mercy. They destroy everything they see as inferior."
"And you fought them?" Aqua asked, incredulous.
"We all did," the other Aqua said. "But we had help."
"Who helped you?" Silver asked.
"The Doctor," the other Aqua replied, her voice tinged with respect.
"Doctor… who?" Silver asked, tilting his head.
A faint smile tugged at the other Aqua's lips.
"Just 'The Doctor.' That's all he goes by. No one really knows his real name," she explained.
"Sounds cryptic," Silver muttered.
"He is. But he's brilliant. And he's been fighting the Daleks for a long time," the other Aqua affirmed.
"Sounds like an interesting person," Silver admitted. "I'd like to meet him one day."
"Maybe you will," Aqua said softly, offering a small smile.
Before the conversation could continue, a cheerful robotic voice broke through the stillness of the plaza.
"Oh! You made it back, Aqua!" it said.
From the shadows of the plaza, Orbot and Cubot approached and took in the sight of the group.
"Wait a minute…" Cubot stuttered, his voice filled with confusion. "Are there… two Aquas? Am I seeing double?"
"No, you're not seeing things," Orbot replied, though his tone carried a hint of surprise. "There are definitely two of them!"
Aqua smiled at their antics and gestured toward her double.
"Orbot, Cubot, meet… me. From another reality," she introduced.
The other Aqua stepped forward, nodding politely.
"Hello," she said. "You two seem… nice. Definitely not like the machines I've dealt with before."
"What machines?" Orbot asked in confusion.
"Daleks," Silver revealed, with a knowing smirk.
"Daleks?" Orbot repeated, perplexed.
"Oh! Is that one of those fancy… um… intergalactic vacuum cleaners?" Cubot asked, his mechanical arms waving for emphasis.
The other Aqua laughed softly.
"Not quite. Think intergalactic machines of destruction," she revealed.
Orbot's eyes widened in shock as he replied.
"Intergalactic destruction? That sounds… unpleasant."
"Yeah, understatement of the century," Silver muttered.
"They're much worse than any robot you've faced before," the other Aqua confirmed.
"Sooo… they'd probably really hate me, huh?" Cubot mused.
Orbot sighed, pressing a hand to his metallic face.
"Cubot, focus. We're talking about something serious here," he remarked.
"I am serious!" Cubot countered. "I just don't wanna get terminated, okay?"
"You mean exterminated," the other Aqua replied.
"Yeah...that too!" Cubot answered with a jittery voice.
The other Aqua chuckled at their back-and-forth, finding their banter oddly comforting amidst the strangeness of White Space.
"So," Aqua asked, bringing the focus back to their mission. "Did you two find anything?"
"Well," Orbot began, gesturing dramatically around, as though unveiling a masterpiece. "As you can see, we found this lovely little plaza on our travels while you were off dealing with that gate."
"By the way, what happened, Aqua?" Cubot chimed in eagerly. "Spill the beans! It must've been wild."
"Cubot…" Orbot groaned, exasperated. "Don't be rude and impatient."
"Rude? I'm just interested!" Cubot countered, waving his robotic arms. "Something big must've been on the other side, right? Right?"
Aqua gave a small smile at their antics, shaking her head. She glanced at her counterpart, who seemed equally amused. The other Aqua turned to Silver with a curious look.
"Do they always bicker like this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Pretty much. It's their thing," Silver clarified.
"Yeah, they wouldn't last very long with a Dalek," the other Aqua replied, with a slight teasing tone.
Aqua stepped in to steer the conversation back on track.
"I'll tell you what happened," she began, her tone thoughtful. "The gate… it took me to another reality entirely. I could feel it the moment I arrived."
"Another reality?" Silver repeated, his curiosity immediately piqued. "How could you tell?"
"It was… strange," Aqua explained, her voice soft as she reflected on the experience. "Everything felt more alive. The air, the light, the rain, even the way the world moved around me—it was different, like it didn't belong in my timeline."
"Interesting," the other Aqua murmured, studying her counterpart closely.
"But that wasn't the only thing," Aqua continued. She hesitated briefly before adding, "I encountered another Shadow."
"Another Shadow?" Orbot asked, his optics brightening with intrigue.
"A variant," the other Aqua chimed in knowingly.
"Yes," Aqua confirmed, nodding. "But he wasn't like the Shadow we know. He was colder… angrier. There was this intensity about him."
"Sounds like the Shadow we know," Cubot quipped, his robotic voice buzzing with misplaced confidence.
Aqua shook her head as she replied.
"No, it was different," she admitted.
"So, what happened?" Silver asked, his tone more serious now.
"At first, we fought. He mistook me for a threat," Aqua explained. "But as things escalated, I realised there was more going on. We ended up teaming up to face… a variant of Sonic and his friends."
"Another Sonic?" Silver exclaimed, clearly stunned. "And you fought him? But he's supposed to be the hero, right?"
"Sonic and his team were working under G.U.N.'s orders to stop Shadow," Aqua continued. "From what I could gather, that Shadow had caused a lot of chaos. But even then, I could tell he wasn't completely gone. There was still good in him, buried deep."
"That must've been intense," the other Aqua said softly, her voice carrying both sympathy and awe.
"It was," Aqua admitted. "We managed to hold them off, but after the fight… Shadow disappeared."
"And then Mephiles showed up, didn't he?" Silver asked, his tone sharp as he connected the dots.
Aqua nodded, her expression darkening like a storm cloud rolling in.
"Yes. He's the one who's truly behind all of this," she revealed.
"Mephiles?" Orbot repeated, tilting his head. "Another name not in my data files."
"I think I've got a Memphis… Tennessee… logged somewhere," Cubot added, his eyes flashing as if he were searching through his limited archive. "But nope, no Mephiles."
"Who is he, Aqua?" Orbot pressed, his tone cautious but curious.
Aqua took a deep breath, the memories clawing at her as she began to explain.
"Mephiles the Dark is an entity from an erased timeline—a fragment of something that shouldn't exist anymore. He manipulates time, spreads darkness wherever he goes, and… he's the one who did this to me," Aqua explained sombrely.
The other Aqua and Silver exchanged a glance, their concern evident.
"Did what to you?" Orbot asked, his voice quieter now, as though bracing himself for the answer.
"He's the one who made me… this," Aqua answered, her gaze falling momentarily.
"Made you like what?" Cubot asked, leaning closer in confusion.
"A Nobody," Aqua said, her voice steady but laced with quiet pain.
"But… you're a somebody! You're right there, standing and everything!" Cubot replied in bewilderment.
"No, Cubot," Silver cut in gently, his tone more serious than usual. "Aqua is missing her Heart. That's what makes her a Nobody. She still exists, but… not completely."
The revelation hung heavily in the air. Even Orbot, usually composed, seemed taken aback as he processed the information.
"I see," Orbot finally said, his voice tinged with uncharacteristic solemnity. "That's… tragic. Other Aqua, you knew about this?"
"Yes," the other Aqua replied, nodding. "She told me when we met. It was… hard to hear."
"Mephiles is such a bastard!" Silver suddenly growled, swiping the air in frustration. His anger surged like a wave, breaking the tension with its intensity.
"Silver!" Orbot exclaimed, taken aback by the outburst. "Language, please!"
"Keep it PG, pal!" Cubot chimed in, his robotic arms flailing in exaggerated disapproval.
"Sorry," Silver muttered. "But it makes me so mad—what he did to her. He's a menace!"
"Silver…" Aqua said quietly, her tone almost soothing. She could see the genuine care and frustration boiling inside him, and though her pain was her own, it was clear he carried a part of it with him.
The other Aqua glanced away, her lips pressed into a thin line. It still shook her to see her variant like this, to know the darkness Mephiles had inflicted on her. But deep down, she believed this Aqua would reclaim her heart. She had to believe it.
Cubot, in his usual awkward yet earnest manner, floated closer to Aqua, his optics flickering slightly as if trying to find the right words.
"I'm… uh… sorry to hear about what happened to you," he began hesitantly. "You know, the whole… uh… Heartless thing. Or was it your Nobody state? Wait, is it both? Ugh, I'm getting confused!"
Orbot sighed, shaking his head as he interjected smoothly. "
What Cubot is trying to express, in his rather clumsy way, is that we're both truly sorry for what you've been through, Aqua." He paused, his tone unusually sincere. "It couldn't have been easy… and you didn't deserve it."
Cubot nodded quickly, his voice a little more resolute this time.
"Yeah, exactly! What he said. I mean… you're really strong to have gone through all of that and still be standing here." He hesitated, then added, "Even if I don't really get how that whole Heartless and Nobody thing works. It sounds… rough."
Aqua blinked, a small, genuine smile forming on her lips as she glanced between the two robots.
"Thank you, both of you," she said softly. "That means a lot."
"You're welcome," Orbot replied.
"But there's no time to dwell on it," Aqua declared, with determination in her tone. "What matters is that we stop Mephiles. He's the one causing all of this chaos."
"How?" Orbot asked, his intrigue returning. "What's his plan?"
"He's using something called the Phantom Ruby to distort everything," Aqua explained, her grip tightening on the Master's Defender.
"The Phantom Ruby?" Orbot echoed, his optics blinking in surprise. "That doesn't sound like anything Eggman's worked with. It's not in our files, is it, Cubot?"
"Nope! Nothing about that in our archives, partner" Cubot confirmed.
"It's a powerful artefact," Aqua continued. "And with it, Mephiles is creating distortions."
"Which is why we need to keep moving," the other Aqua said firmly. "We have to stop him and find a way to get me back to my reality."
"And the only way to stop Mephiles is saving more trapped worlds," Silver added.
"Agreed," Aqua replied, her determination evident. She turned to the robots. "Orbot, Cubot, did you find any more trapped worlds when you arrived here?"
"We did!" Orbot announced proudly, gesturing toward the far side of the plaza. His tone carried a touch of pride, as if he had personally conquered the mysteries of White Space. "Over there, we found three hubs close by. They're all lifeless and trapped, just like the others you've found."
"It just needs some Aqua magic to bring them back to life!" Cubot affirmed.
The group turned their gaze toward the distant hubs. Scattered across the white expanse of the plaza, the hubs shimmered faintly in their eerie, lifeless state. But one hub, in particular, caught the attention of both Aquas. Its familiar shape and design tugged at memories buried in their minds.
"Is that…" Aqua began, her voice trailing off, her eyes narrowing as she took a hesitant step forward.
"Radiant Garden?" the other Aqua finished, her tone filled with disbelief.
"No way!" Silver exclaimed, his golden eyes wide as he stared at the hub. "Radiant Garden is here as well?"
"Radiant Garden?" Cubot echoed, tilting his boxy head. "Is that some kind of… fancy gardening shop? You know, with plants, hedges and maybe a café?"
Orbot sighed and slapped his metallic forehead.
"Oh, Cubot… how do you manage to come up with these things?" he asked.
"I'm just saying! Sounds fancy," Cubot replied defensively, his robotic arms flailing slightly.
"Not quite, Cubot," Aqua said with a soft chuckle, turning her attention back to the group. "Radiant Garden is… or was… a beautiful world. Full of light, magic, and life. It was a sanctuary for so many people, a place where light truly flourished."
"In my reality, Radiant Garden fell to darkness and became Hollow Bastion," the other Aqua added, her tone heavy with sorrow.
"I know," Silver replied, his voice carrying a hint of melancholy. "I've been there and saw the destruction the darkness left behind."
"You've been there?" the other Aqua asked, her brows raising in surprise.
"Yeah," Silver said with a nod, his gaze steady. "I helped stop Maleficent and save the Princesses of Heart."
"That's great," the other Aqua replied with a smile.
"I know right. And get this, the Restoration Committee are working hard to bring it back to what it should be—what it was meant to be," Silver added firmly.
"That's wonderful news," the other Aqua said, her voice tinged with hope. "It's good to know the Restoration Committee in your reality is doing the same hard work they did in mine. That world deserves to heal."
"I'm glad to hear things are improving," Aqua added, her voice warm. "I haven't been back in the Realm of Light for long, it's good to know Radiant Garden is recovering."
"Slow and steady," Silver said with a small smile. "That's how these things go."
"Agreed, Aqua replied with a nod.
"That really is wonderful news," Orbot chimed in cheerfully.
"Sure is!" Cubot added enthusiastically. "Kinda like fixing up an old toaster. Takes time, but worth it!"
"Right..." Silver replied, taken back by the example Cubot gave.
Aqua couldn't help but laugh softly at the comparison, but her expression quickly turned thoughtful.
"But if I remember correctly… that was where Terra, Ven, and I fought you. Remember, Silver?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
Silver sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of the memory.
"Yeah… we did," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I remember. Don't remind me."
The other Aqua's head snapped toward Silver, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Wait, what?" she asked, looking between him and Aqua. "You two fought, and Terra and Ven were involved? Why?"
Silver rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"I was tricked," he admitted. "Tricked into traveling back to the past to… eliminate the Triggers of Darkness."
"The Triggers of Darkness?" the other Aqua repeated, her tone incredulous. "What does that even mean?"
Aqua stepped in, her expression calm but sympathetic as she explained.
"He thought our actions in the past led to the destruction of his future. He was trying to stop it from happening."
"Wow," the other Aqua said, her tone filled with a mix of surprise and disbelief. "That's... a lot to process."
"So, you're telling me… you got tricked into time-traveling to destroy some of the good guys?" Cubot asked, his mechanical voice carrying an almost playful disbelief.
"Yes..." Silver replied bluntly, his gold eyes narrowing slightly.
Cubot tilted his boxy head again, as if considering the situation. Then, with no hesitation, he remarked, "You're kind of… gullible, huh?"
"What?!" Silver exclaimed, his eyes widening in offense, his arms gesturing in exasperation.
The two Aquas exchanged a look, their eyebrows raised in unison, caught off guard by Cubot's bluntness.
"Cubot!" Orbot scolded, his tone indignant as he waved his metallic arms. "That was completely uncalled for!"
"What? I'm just being honest!" Cubot replied, throwing up his robotic hands defensively. "The guy has a track record! Eggman Nega? Trying to take out Aqua and her friends? I mean, it's a pattern!"
Silver groaned, dragging a hand down his face, his patience clearly wearing thin.
"Things change, okay? I'm not as gullible as I used to be," he affirmed, his tone firm but tinged with weariness.
"Really?" Cubot pressed innocently, tilting his head again.
Orbot sighed loudly, rubbing his metallic forehead.
"Cubot, enough," Orbot demanded.
Silver huffed, crossing his arms, but there was a flicker of amusement in Aqua's eyes as she watched the exchange. The other Aqua gave a small smirk, shaking her head.
"Quite the team dynamic you've got here," she remarked dryly.
"You could say that," Aqua replied, shrugging.
"So what happened, Silver?" the other Aqua asked, her interest peaked. "When you fought Terra, Ven, and the other me?"
Silver glanced at Aqua, who gave him a small nod, encouraging him to share.
"We had a fight," he began, dropping his arms. "After the three of you took on that large Unversed, I showed up. It was… tense."
The other Aqua's brows furrowed in thought at the hedgehog's comments.
"I remember fighting that Unversed in my reality, but there was no time-traveling silver hedgehog involved," she remarked.
"Well, in our timeline, I was there. But before things could escalate further, I was dragged away by a powerful force of magic," Silver explained.
"Master Yen Sid," Aqua supplied, her voice soft.
"Yeah… he pulled me out of the fight and brought me to his tower," Silver confirmed. "He gave me a stern pep talk, pretty much.
The other Aqua smiled faintly.
"Amazing how things change in different realities, isn't it?" she mused.
Silver nodded, his expression softening.
"Yeah. But that's all in the past. Aqua and I are friends now… right?" Silver asked, his golden eyes filled with hope as he looked at Aqua.
Aqua smiled warmly, her gaze soft as she nodded.
"Right," she replied.
Cubot's optics lit up brightly, and he spun excitedly in the air.
"Aww, how sweet! Friendship wins again!" he declared with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Orbot sighed, shaking his metallic head.
"Cubot, please," he said, his voice tinged with exasperation.
Ignoring the robots' antics, Aqua turned to her variant, her expression thoughtful.
"Say, do you want to team up and explore the trapped Radiant Garden together?" she asked.
The other Aqua raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a small smile.
"I don't see why not," she replied. "Funny though… me teaming up with myself."
"I think we've both dealt with weirder situations at this point, don't you think?" Aqua said with a light chuckle.
"You've got me there," the other Aqua replied, her smile widening.
"Hold on," Silver interrupted, his voice cutting through the light-hearted exchange.
"What's wrong?" Aqua asked, her gaze shifting to the hedgehog.
"Will it work?" Silver asked, his tone uncertain as he gestured between the two Aquas.
"What do you mean?" the other Aqua questioned, tilting her head.
"I mean… two versions of the same person, working together? Isn't that risky? What if it messes up the balance of this place—or worse, causes a paradox?" Silver's worry was evident in his voice.
"Silver raises a valid point," Orbot said, his voice thoughtful. "Wouldn't this cause a paradox? Two versions of the same person working side by side could destabilise the already fragile nature of White Space."
"Or," Cubot interjected excitedly, spinning in a circle, "it could be really fun! I mean, come on—two Aquas are better than one, right?"
"Cubot, shush!" Orbot scolded, throwing his arms up in frustration. "This is a serious matter."
"Look," the other Aqua began confidently, "if heroes and villains from completely different timelines can be dragged into one world after a botched spell and it didn't tear the universe apart, then I think saving Radiant Garden—stuck in a void between time and space—will be just fine."
"Wait, botched spell? What are you talking about?" Orbot asked, his curiosity clearly piqued. "You can't just drop a detail like that and not explain!"
"Details for later, guys" Silver interjected, his voice dry and firm. "Right now, that trapped world needs to be saved."
"Yes, after we save Radiant Garden," Aqua added, giving her variant an encouraging nod. "My other self will tell you all about it."
"Right," the other Aqua remarked with a nod.
Cubot let out an exaggerated groan, his mechanical arms drooping dramatically.
"Fine! But you better explain everything later, or I'm filing a complaint," he moaned.
"To who?" Orbot asked with a deadpan tone, shaking his head. "You're a robot. You don't even have a union."
"I'll figure something out!" Cubot huffed.
Silver sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"All right, fine. But seriously—both of you, be careful," His voice softened as his golden eyes met Aqua's and her alternate self's.
"Understood," the other Aqua replied with a confident smile. "We've got this."
"While you two save Radiant Garden," Silver said, gesturing to the hub in the distance, "I'll keep exploring this new area. Who knows what else we might find."
"Good idea," Aqua agreed. "If you can, check out those other two hubs while you're at it. Maybe, we might know them."
"Got it," Silver said with a firm nod.
"I guess we'd better do something productive as well, right, Cubot?" Orbot mused.
"Oh! Like starting a motivational chant for the team? Or maybe creating a plan—something with explosions! I love explosions!" Cubot replied, his tone full of enthusiasm.
Orbot sighed, his tone dripping with exasperation.
"Let's stick to reconnaissance, shall we? I'll handle the productive part, and you… you just try not to get in the way."
"I resent that!" Cubot exclaimed, crossing his stubby robotic arms. "I can be very useful! Like… uh… emotional support! And comic relief!"
"You're already excelling at one of those," Orbot quipped.
"Thanks! Wait—was that a compliment or an insult?" Cubot asked, looking genuinely confused.
"Let's just say you're doing great," Orbot replied dryly. "Now, come on. We've got work to do."
As Orbot and Cubot floated off in another direction, Silver cast one last glance at Aqua and her counterpart.
"Stay sharp, both of you," he warned.
"We'll be fine. Just… keep an eye out for anything unusual," Aqua replied with a nod.
"Unusual in a void of broken timelines? Sure, no problem," Silver said with a faint smirk before walking off to explore.
The two Aquas turned to the lifeless hub of Radiant Garden ahead.
"Ready?" the other Aqua asked, her tone steady yet eager.
"Let's do this!" Aqua replied, her expression firm.
The two strode toward the hub together, their determination unwavering as the shadows of the void, White Space, seemed to shift and ripple around them. Behind them, Silver and the robots went their separate ways, each preparing for the challenges ahead.
Another chapter down!
We're steadily moving into the heart of Shadow and Aqua's stories. Thank you all for your patience with this chapter's release—it's been a busy time balancing projects. Alongside this, I've been working on When Legends Meet: Speed Meets Survival and Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix – Blue Blur Edition. Fingers crossed, I can wrap up Kingdom Valley and Radiant Garden within the next week or two, which will lead us to the highly anticipated crossover from Lancelot Generations.
If you're interested in reading the story so far, you can find it on Terrance Johnny Stanford's Fanfiction account. It's a great read.
A huge thank-you goes out once again to J. Tom and Aragorn II Elessar for allowing me to use their interpretations of Aqua. I hope you both are enjoying the unique journeys these two variants are experiencing. If you're unfamiliar with their work, I highly recommend checking out their stories.
Chapter Easter Eggs and References
Here's a breakdown of the references and Easter eggs sprinkled throughout this chapter:
Princess Elise and Omega: This chapter calls back to Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix - Blue Blur Edition during Operation: Radiant Retrieval, where Omega was part of the team that rescued Elise and the Princesses of Heart. Their reunion adds a nice touch of continuity!
Cloud and Tifa's Moveset: The iconic moves from Final Fantasy VII are on full display, but I forgot to mention earlier that their outfits are based on their Advent Children appearances, as seen in Kingdom Hearts II.
Elise and Aqua's Interaction: Elise mentions Aqua reminds her of someone from a few years ago. Since Aqua and Elise are similar in age, this creates an intriguing mystery—especially with Aqua's time spent in the Realm of Darkness, where time flows differently, making her age slower... seemingly. Keep an eye on this plot thread!
Elise Mistaking Shadow for Sonic: A classic gag from the Sonic series. Shadow isn't thrilled, but fans will appreciate this nod.
Shadow Not Remembering Kingdom Valley: Since the events of Sonic '06 were erased, Shadow has no memory of Kingdom Valley in this timeline. It's a subtle but important detail that adds depth to the new continuity.
Collisions of Universes: Aragorn II Elessar's Collisions of Universes gets several nods in this chapter. References to the Daleks, Doctor Who and Doctor Strange's botched spell (The Runes of Kof-Kol) tie into the multiverse chaos. Cubot's confusion about Daleks ("space vacuums?") and his mangling of "exterminate" as "terminated" are little gems for fans of the crossover genre.
Silver's Role in Birth By Sleep: The fight between Silver and Terra, Aqua, and Ventus is mentioned briefly in Shadows of the Past - Chapter 12: Memories of Absolution. This chapter continues building Silver's story, and I can't wait to finally write Birth By Sleep from his perspective!
Silver in Final Mix - Blue Blur Edition: A call-back to Silver's heroic role in defeating Maleficent's dragon form and helping rescue the Princesses of Heart.
Silver's Gullibility: Cubot's jab at Silver for being gullible is a recurring joke not just in the Sonic series, but this fan fiction universe as well. Whether it's Mephiles (Sonic 06), Eggman Nega or his past misconceptions, it's a trait Silver has grown past... we hope.
Memphis Tennessee/Mephiles: A reference to SnapCube's Sonic '06 Real-Time Fandub by Penny Parker. A nod to this was needed, especially coming from Cubot. The full line—"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Memphis Tennessee, and I'm part lizard" was going to be used, but I think just the name of 'Memphis Tennessee' works well.
As always, thank you so much for your continued support. It's your enthusiasm that keeps me motivated to bring these stories to life.
Here's a fun request—do any of you have fan theories about the series? I'd love to hear them! It could be anything from character motivations to overarching mysteries. I'm also looking to add some fan theories to the Blue Blur Saga's TV Tropes page, and it would be amazing to include your ideas. Share your thoughts—I'd love to see what you've come up with and might even address a few directly!
Next up are the Kingdom Valley and Radiant Garden chapters. Expect more action, revelations, and a few surprises along the way.
Stay tuned, and thank you for being part of this journey!