Visions swirled yet again, fragments of memories not Roxas's own. Familiar yet distant, they unfolded like scenes from a life he had never lived. This Sora had returned to his dreams once more.
Sora, stirred awake in a dim alleyway, his eyes blinking open as a dog nuzzled him awake.
"Oh... where am I?" he murmured, his voice laced with confusion.
He stood, looking around the unfamiliar streets before racing off, his heart pounding. As he ran into the next district, panic filled his voice.
"What happened to my home? My island?"
But before he could make sense of it, shadows crawled from the ground, encircling him. With no hesitation, he summoned a weapon—a strange key-like sword—into his hand. His mind flashed with images of people—friends, people he cared about.
"Riku! Kai-!"
A static image of a red-haired girl lingered in his mind before fading into another memory.
Sora was confronted by a stoic figure in a leather jacket, standing tall in a different part of the town.
"Who are you?" the boy demanded.
"They will come at you out of nowhere, as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade," the man replied, his voice steady and foreboding.
The vision shifted to a blue creature entering the scene. This creature's stance oozed confidence, his red-and-white shoes striking against the pavement. He spoke with casual authority.
"Stay down, kid," the blue figure remarked. "I don't want to hurt you, but we need answers."
Sora gripped the Keyblade tighter, his eyes narrowing.
"I'm not handing this over!" he declared.
The blue figure smirked, his green eyes gleaming with confidence.
"Fine, have it your way."
In a blur of speed, the creature dodged the boy's attack and, with a swift, effortless move, knocked him to the ground.
The scene shifted.
Now, in a bustling square, two strangers—one short and clad in blue and silver attire, the other tall and clumsy—were falling from the sky, crashing onto both Sora and the blue creature.
"What just happened...?" Sora groaned, muffled under the weight of the pile.
"Get off of me!" the blue figure grumbled, clearly annoyed.
The memories swirled again, twisting into something else.
"Hey, why don't you come with us?" one of the strangers, the clumsy one, offered with a friendly smile. "We can go to other worlds on our vessel."
"Go with them," the man from before advised. "Especially if you want to find your friends."
The strangers introduced themselves, putting out there hands.
"Donald Duck."
"Names Goofy."
"Name's Sonic. Sonic the Hedgehog."
Sora, still trying to make sense of everything, nodded, placing his hand in the circle.
"I'm Sora. I'll go with you guys."
Another shift in memory.
The stoic man spoke again, this time with a sense of urgency.
"The Heartless have great fear of the Keyblade."
A woman's voice followed, she sat on a bed as she spoke.
"That's right. The Keyblade."
Sora stared at the weapon in his hand, as he sat on another bed, admiring the weapon up close.
"So... this is the key?"
The memories transitioned rapidly, flickering like an old reel of film.
Suddenly, Sora found himself standing in a grim colosseum, a shadowy gate before him. With determination, he lifted his Keyblade and pointed it toward the keyhole that appeared in the gate. A brilliant surge of light shot from the Keyblade, piercing what seemed to be a keyhole. The echo of a lock turning resonated through the empty arena.
"Did you guys hear that?" a voice echoed nearby, from a man in a suit, bewildered by the sound.
"It was like someone locked a giant door or something," another man remarked, equally puzzled.
The boy, Sora, glanced around, uncertain.
"I'm not entirely sure... It's something I'm still trying to figure out."
The scene faded, leaving behind more questions.
Roxas awoke in his room, the remnants of the dream still clinging to his mind like morning fog. He blinked up at the ceiling, his thoughts muddled by strange images and unfamiliar words.
"A key...blade? And... keyholes?" he muttered under his breath, the phrases tumbling out almost as if they were someone else's thoughts, yet they felt so real.
He sat up slowly, running a hand through his messy blond hair, still trying to piece together the dream. As his gaze drifted across the room, it landed on a poster hanging on the wall—a bright and colorful advertisement for a video game: Mr. Needle Mouse 2.
The poster showed a sleek blue figure, standing confidently with his arms crossed. The character's red-and-white shoes were unmistakable, identical to the ones from Roxas's dream. Standing beside him on the poster was his sidekick—some kind of creature with several fox-like tails, its eyes wide with determination and excitement.
Roxas narrowed his eyes at the poster, his heart skipping a beat. The figure—the blue creature—looked just like the one from his dream. The name on the poster tugged at something deep inside him, something buried far beneath the surface of his memory.
"Sonic..." he whispered, the name rolling off his tongue as if it should mean something more.
But no matter how hard he tried to grasp at it, the connection slipped through his fingers like sand.
He stared at the poster for a long moment, feeling the weight of something he couldn't explain settling over him.
Roxas let out a sigh, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and rubbing his face.
"What's today gonna bring?" he mumbled to himself, already bracing for whatever strange turn his life might take next.
The Second Day
Later that morning, Roxas walked down the sunlit street, his thoughts drifting back to the strange dreams that had haunted him through the night. Despite the bright morning light, a sense of unease clung to him, like a shadow that refused to fade. The vivid images from his dreams—the Keyblade, the strange creatures—swirled in his mind as he approached the entrance to the Usual Spot.
"A Keyblade," he muttered to himself, the word sounding foreign yet somehow familiar.
His eyes caught sight of a stick leaning against a nearby wall. Without thinking, Roxas grabbed it, swinging it around like a sword, mimicking the moves he had seen in his dream. He tried to imitate the slashes, the blocks, and the fluid strikes, but none of it made sense.
"What was that all about?" he wondered aloud, confusion tinging his voice as he tossed the stick over his head.
Thud!
An annoyed grunt followed. Roxas spun around, eyes wide. He had hit someone.
"Oh!" Roxas exclaimed, his heart skipping a beat.
Standing behind him, rubbing his chest where the stick had struck, was a strange silver creature. His sleek quills flared out behind him, sharp and defined, while five distinct spines jutted from his forehead, flaring back almost like a crown. White fur circled his neck like a mane, and his angular golden eyes, accented with black markings, narrowed slightly as they fixed on Roxas. The creature wore white gloves, accented with aqua circles and gold cuffs, matching the tops of his navy blue boots, which were adorned with a striking red gem. He had an air of calm about him, despite the sudden impact.
"Hey, watch it," the silver creature said, his tone calm but firm.
Roxas quickly shook off his shock, embarrassment creeping into his voice.
"I'm sorry!" he apologised, raising his hands in defense.
"Just be careful, alright?" The creature remarked, his voice was steady.
The silver stranger's golden eyes flicking over Roxas as though assessing him. He then turned, walking down the steps with a serene yet commanding presence, his sleek quills bouncing slightly with each step.
Roxas stared after him, still processing the encounter.
"Again, sorry... about that," he called after the silver figure, but the creature had already disappeared around the corner.
"Who was that?" Roxas thought to himself, a sense of curiosity bubbling up. He had never seen someone like that in town before. "Was he new here?" He seemed confident, like someone with a purpose.
Shaking his head, Roxas sighed.
"What... is with this morning?" he muttered under his breath, as he headed into the hangout.
Usual Spot
Roxas walked into the Usual Spot, where—Hayner, Pence, Olette, Cream, and Cheese—were already sitting, enjoying their sea-salt ice cream. Cheese fluttered next to Cream, the small Chao chirping happily. Hayner noticed Roxas and waved him over.
"Hey, Roxas, want some?" Hayner asked, holding out a fresh ice cream bar.
"Thanks," Roxas said with a small smile, taking the ice cream and sitting down with them.
As they sat in comfortable silence, the only sound being the soft licking of ice cream, Pence suddenly broke the quiet, his voice thoughtful.
"Do you guys think we'll always be together like this?" he mused.
Olette looked up, her expression soft.
"I sure hope so," she said.
"Me too," Cream added with a gentle smile.
"Chao Chao!" Cheese chirped in agreement.
Hayner paused, surprised by Pence's sudden question.
"Huh? Where did that come from?" he asked.
"Oh, you know," Pence said with a sheepish chuckle. "Just thinking out loud."
Hayner leaned back, his brow furrowed as he considered it.
"Well, I doubt we can be together forever. But isn't that what growing up's all about? It's not about how often we see each other... it's about how often we think about each other. Right?"
Cream looked over at Hayner, her eyes shining.
"That's really thoughtful, Hayner," The rabbit replied.
Pence laughed, breaking the moment.
"Did you get that from a fortune cookie or something?" he teased.
"That's it," Hayner said with a mock scowl. "No more ice cream for you!"
"Oh, rats!" Pence chuckled, shrugging.
A quiet settled over the group again. Hayner sighed, leaning forward on his knees.
"Man, today's already turning out to be a drag," he admitted.
"Yesterday was more fun," Cream admitted softly. "Even if we were just trying to clear our names."
"Chao…" Cheese added, echoing the feeling.
Hayner ran a hand through his hair, thinking for a moment.
"You know what it is?" he remarked.
Olette glanced over, "What?" she asked.
"We don't want summer vacation to be over. That's what," Hayner replied.
Pence nodded slowly in agreement.
"Yeah… that's it. I don't want it to end either," he admitted.
"Me neither," Cream said, her voice quiet. "It's been such a nice summer."
For a moment, the weight of the reality hit them all—their time together, the simplicity of their days, it was all coming to an end. The unspoken understanding hung in the air, bittersweet and heavy.
But Hayner, never one to linger too long in gloomy thoughts, suddenly stood up, his face lighting up with an idea.
"So, how about this?" he began to say.
The others looked up curiously as Hayner grinned.
"We all go to the beach!" he exclaimed. "And why? Because we haven't gone once this entire vacation! Blue seas! Blue skies! C'mon, let's just get on the train and go!"
The group was quiet for a moment, considering his idea. But then reality hit.
"Maybe you forgot," Roxas said, smirking slightly, "but we're broke."
Hayner wasn't deterred though.
"Maybe you forgot I'm smart!" he shot back, his grin widening.
Without another word, the rest of the group laughed and jumped to their feet, excitement bubbling up. Cheese fluttered away beside Cream as the group headed out.
Pence stopped at the entrance and turned back, waving Roxas on.
"Hurry up, Roxas!" he remarked.
Roxas chuckled, shaking his head as he watched them leave. He followed after them, his spirits a little higher.
Market Street: Station Heights
The group arrived at Station Heights, buzzing with excitement about their spontaneous beach adventure. But as the reality of their situation set in, one problem remained—they needed more money.
As they brainstormed ideas, Olette suddenly spotted something on the wall, her eyes lighting up.
"Look!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
The group hurried over, curiosity piqued. A bright, colorful poster caught their attention, advertising the upcoming Struggle Tournament, which was in two days time. However, it was the bold, flashing letters dominating the page that caught the group's interest.
"THE LEGENDARY CAPTAIN QWARK WILL BE PARTICIPATING!"
The announcement had an instant effect, capturing their attention. But what truly held them was the larger-than-life image of Captain Qwark plastered across the bottom of the poster. His hulking, muscular frame seemed almost too big for the space, his heroic pose radiating confidence and strength.
Decked out in his signature green tights, with gray sleeves and matching gloves, Captain Qwark looked every bit the galactic hero. A bold yellow belt cinched his waist, emblazoned with a striking blue and black atom logo, accented by a lightning bolt vaguely shaped like the letter Q. The red antenna on his head added a touch of outlandish flair, but it was his confident grin and sparkling blue eyes that truly captured the imagination. It was easy to see why he was considered a legend.
"Whoa…" Hayner muttered, eyes wide with awe. "Captain Qwark is gonna be here?!"
"No way!" Pence added, just as astonished. "He's the reigning champ! When he's not off saving the day, he's cleaning up in the tournament!"
"He's huge!" Cream said softly, her eyes wide as she stared at the poster. Cheese fluttered next to her, letting out an enthusiastic chirp. "Chao chao!"
Olette smiled, just as caught up in the excitement.
"This is big news! Captain Qwark at the Struggle Tournament? That's incredible!" she exclaimed.
The group couldn't stop buzzing about the announcement. Hayner turned to Roxas, his eyes alight with determination.
"You and I have to make the finals, Roxas!" Hayner declared. "That way, no matter who wins, we all split the prize!"
"And one of you could even face Captain Qwark!" Pence chimed in, practically bouncing with excitement.
Roxas felt a surge of adrenaline as the idea sank in.
"Okay, you're on," he affirmed.
"You two are gonna clean up!" Pence added, grinning from ear to ear.
"You can do it, Roxas! Hayner!" Cream said, her voice filled with sweet encouragement. Cheese fluttered next to her, chirping with excitement. "Chao chao!"
"Go get 'em!" Olette remarked in excitement.
Roxas and Hayner shared a determined look before clasping arms in a sign of friendship.
"It's a promise!" Hayner grinned. "Now, let's get down to business. One ticket to the beach is 900 munny. So, how much would it be for all of us?"
Olette paused for a moment, calculating.
"5,400 munny for all four of us," she confirmed.
"And 300 munny each to spend once we get there. What's that add up to?" Hayner asked.
"1,800 munny for all of us to spend. So, a total of 7,200 munny," Olette confirmed.
Pence stretched, putting his hands behind his head with a groan.
"That's a lot of munny…" he thought aloud.
Roxas raised an eyebrow as he chimed in.
"To spend on what, exactly?" he asked.
"Pretzels, of course!" Hayner grinned. "What else is there?"
"Well, there's always watermelon," Roxas suggested.
"Too pricey," Hayner waved it off. "They're, like, 2,000 munny each."
Cream thought for a moment before speaking.
"What about cakes? Those would be fun to eat!"
"Chao!" Cheese added excitedly.
"Again, too pricey," Hayner shook his head. "Cake is about 1,500 munny each."
"Pretzels it is, then," Roxas shrugged.
"So, how much do we have so far?" Hayner asked, looking around the group.
"I've got 800," Pence said confidently.
"I've got 650," Olette added after a moment.
"500 from me and Cheese," Cream chimed in.
"150," Roxas said sheepishly. "Sorry."
"That's… 2,100 munny," Hayner calculated, a bit discouraged. "We still need 5,100 more. Let's find some odd jobs and earn some extra dough before the train leaves."
"CHAO!" Cheese chimed in, fluttering around.
"Meet at the station with cash in hand!" Hayner shouted, running off with excitement.
"Didn't he say he had it covered?" Pence asked, looking to the group in confusion.
"Whatever," Roxas shrugged. "Those pretzels are sounding pretty good right now."
"I'm just excited to build sandcastles on the beach, right Cheese?" Cream smiled.
"Chao Chao!" Cheese fluttered happily in response.
"Let's get to work, everyone," Olette encouraged. "We don't have all day!"
The group split up, each on a mission to earn their share. Cream and Cheese stuck together, searching for extra work around town, while Roxas wandered off on his own to see what odd jobs he could find.
Meanwhile...
From a nearby rooftop, the silver creature watched intently, his golden eyes locked on Roxas as he moved through the streets below. His posture was steady, focused, as if on some silent mission.
Without warning, a figure emerged from the darkness behind him, materialising from the very shadows themselves. Cloaked in a dark coat, the figure's face was hidden beneath the hood. The stranger stepped forward silently, coming to stand beside the creature.
"Any sign of them?" the hooded figure asked, his voice low.
"No," the silver creature replied. "No sightings. I've been patrolling for a few hours."
The hooded man nodded, his gaze following the creature's line of sight to Roxas, who was now moving toward the marketplace.
"And what of him?" the hooded figure asked.
"He's just… looking for extra cash," the creature explained. "Nothing out of the ordinary. They're trying to earn munny for the beach."
There was a brief silence as the hooded figure studied the boy in the distance.
"I see," he muttered under his breath. "Leave it to me. I'll deal with this."
"Are you sure?" the silver creature asked quietly.
The hooded man didn't reply, his attention still fixed on Roxas. Slowly, he turned, stepping back into the shadows from which he had emerged. The darkness seemed to envelop him entirely, leaving no trace of his presence.
The creature remained on the rooftop for a moment longer, eyes still following Roxas as he wandered through the marketplace. Then, with a slight frown, he disappeared just as quietly as the man in the hood, leaving the rooftops empty and the town below unaware of the silent watch that had been taking place above.
Sometime later...
Roxas spent the late morning working his way around Twilight Town, taking on various odd jobs to earn the munny he needed. First, he helped deliver mail by skating around on a board, weaving through the bustling streets and dropping letters off to the townspeople. Next, he took on some heavy lifting, pushing large boxes up the steep hills of Station Heights, his muscles burning with effort. His final task had him putting up colorful posters across the marketplace, dashing between walls and lamp posts as he plastered the bright flyers everywhere. It was hard work, and the summer heat made it even more exhausting, but the satisfaction of seeing his pouch fill with munny was well worth it.
By early afternoon, Roxas had earned more than enough and felt a sense of accomplishment as he made his way to Station Plaza. The sun hung high in the sky, and the town buzzed with its usual energy. People were out and about, enjoying lunch and mingling. As Roxas approached the station entrance, he spotted his friends waiting for him, their laughter filling the air.
"About time you showed up, Roxas," Olette teased with a playful smile.
"I wanted to make sure we had enough," Roxas replied, giving a slight nod.
"So, what'd you manage to get?" Hayner asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Roxas pulled out his pouch and held it up.
"Just this," he said, showing off the munny he had collected. There was more than enough to cover the trip and their spending money.
"Good job, Roxas," Cream said sweetly, offering a smile of encouragement.
"Chao!" Cheese added, fluttering excitedly.
"Nice work, everyone," Olette said, sounding cheerful as she pulled out her own small pouch. "With what we already had saved up, we now have…" She opened the pouch and revealed its contents with a proud grin.
"Tada! 10,000 munny!"
"Sweet!" Hayner exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement.
"So, we can get cake!" Cream chimed in, her face lighting up at the thought.
"CHAO!" Cheese fluttered even more enthusiastically.
"And watermelon!" Pence added with a chuckle, amused by how quickly their plans were expanding.
Olette handed the pouch to Roxas with a grin.
"Let's go get the tickets!" she said with excitement.
Olette, Cream, with Cheese close by, and Pence—rushed toward the station, their excitement almost palpable.
Hayner lingered behind for a moment, turning to Roxas with a more thoughtful expression.
"We can't be together forever, so we'd better make the time we do have something to remember."
"Huh?" Roxas remarked, caught off guard by the comment.
Before he could ask more, Hayner flashed a mischievous grin and playfully punched him in the stomach.
"Gotcha!" he laughed, running off to catch up with the others.
Roxas chuckled, starting to follow, but as he took a step forward, an invisible force suddenly pulled at him.
"Whoa!" he gasped, stumbling and falling to his knees. A small stick clattered to the ground beside him.
He looked up, his heart racing, only to find a figure dressed in a black cloak standing right next to him, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
"Huh?" Roxas muttered, confusion flooding his face.
The cloaked figure bent down slightly, lifting Roxas to his feet before leaning in close, whispering something barely audible into his ear.
"What...?" Roxas started to ask, trying to understand the words.
Before he could gather his thoughts, Hayner's voice called out from the station stairs.
"Roxas! Three minutes!"
"Okay!" Roxas quickly responded, turning back to the cloaked figure—only to find that they were already gone, vanished without a trace.
Still feeling uneasy, Roxas brushed off his clothes and hurried to catch up with his friends at the station, his mind swirling with questions about what had just happened.
Inside the Station
The hustle of the plaza outside faded, replaced by the quiet hum of the station. The large, vaulted ceiling cast soft light across the floor, while the wooden beams and polished tiles gave the place a warm, welcoming feel. A few passengers sat on benches waiting for their trains, and the faint sound of footsteps echoed across the space as people moved through. The ticket counter stood at the far end of the station. The station's bell hung overhead, ready to ring out at any moment, signaling the next train.
Hayner approached the teller, leaning over the counter.
"Five students and one Chao, please!" he said with a grin.
The teller raised an eyebrow, clearly amused, but didn't say anything.
"Roxas, the money!" Pence called from behind, gesturing for him to hand it over.
"Wait—" Roxas began, reaching into his pocket. His hands patted down his sides, his brow furrowing. Confusion flashed across his face as he frantically searched all his pockets.
"Roxas?" Cream asked, concerned as she watched him panic.
"Chao?" Cheese fluttered around Roxas, echoing the concern.
"No!" Roxas exclaimed, with realisation kicking in.
"Huh?" Hayner turned around, confused by Roxas's sudden outburst.
Roxas looked back toward the plaza outside, a memory flashing in his mind—of the cloaked figure who had lifted him up. His eyes widened.
"He took it!" Roxas gasped.
Without another word, Roxas bolted for the station's exit, rushing back toward the plaza.
"Roxas, where are you going?" Olette called after him, startled by his sudden dash.
"Remember when I fell? I had the money before that!" Roxas shouted as he ran. "I bet that guy took it!"
"Guy?" Hayner exchanged a bewildered look with the others.
Roxas barely heard them, his mind racing. He couldn't have gotten too far… he thought, desperate to catch the thief.
The group followed Roxas quickly, trying to grasp what was going on.
"Roxas, what are you talking about?" Cream asked in confusion.
Hayner, finally catching up, slowed to a stop, a realisation dawning on him. He remembered seeing Roxas picking himself up outside earlier.
"There was no guy, Roxas…" Hayner said slowly, the doubt clear in his voice.
Roxas stopped in his tracks, turning to face him.
"What? But he—"
But before Roxas could finish, the loud ringing of the station bell cut through the air, signaling the departure of the train.
"Huh? But he… there wasn't…" Roxas trailed off, his voice faltering, the pieces not fitting together. "Really?"
The train whistle blew, and they all realised at once—they had missed it.
"Oh boy…" Pence muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh no..." Cream added, her voice tinged with sadness.
"Chao…" Cheese echoed, fluttering beside her with drooping wings.
Roxas stood there, stunned, his mind still spinning.
"There wasn't anyone… there?" he murmured, confusion clouding his thoughts. He had been so sure...
Hayner, Pence, Cream, Cheese, and Olette slowly left. Roxas stayed behind, staring out at the empty plaza, his thoughts a tangled mess of doubt and uncertainty. There was someone there, wasn't there? But no one else had seen anything.
As his friends walked away, Roxas followed slowly, his steps heavy. He couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. There had to be someone… right?
Later on - Late Afternoon
The five friends sat perched on the ledge of the clock tower, their legs dangling over the edge as they enjoyed their sea-salt ice cream. The cool breeze did little to cut through the heat of the day, and in the distance, a train rattled along the tracks, its faint whistle echoing through the air. Cheese fluttered nearby, occasionally chirping happily.
As the others ate their ice cream, Roxas sat quietly, lost in thought. His ice cream had begun to melt, blue droplets dripping down his hand, but he barely noticed.
"It's melting," Olette pointed out gently, her eyes on Roxas.
"Sorry," Roxas muttered, wiping the melting ice cream absentmindedly as his thoughts continued to swirl.
"Cheer up already!" Hayner said, giving him a light nudge. "It's not the end of the world."
"Don't be upset, Roxas," Cream added with a kind smile. "We'll get to the beach next time."
"Chao Chao!" Cheese chirped, fluttering encouragingly beside her.
"Yeah… It was just… definitely weird, though." Roxas said, his voice trailing off as he stared out at the horizon.
"Strange," Olette agreed, licking her ice cream thoughtfully.
"You said it," Hayner muttered.
Roxas, still lost in his thoughts, murmured under his breath.
"Can you feel Sora?"
The words came almost instinctively, unbidden, pulling at something deep within him. He frowned, remembering the moment in the plaza—the cloaked figure, the eerie whisper.
"Can you feel Sora?" the hooded figure had asked, so close, so quiet it had almost felt like a dream.
The memory made him shiver slightly, even in the warmth of the late afternoon. There had been something unsettling in the way the figure had spoken, something that felt larger than just missing munny.
As he took another bite of his ice cream, Roxas glanced at his friends, trying to push the unease aside. But no matter how hard he tried, the nagging feeling wouldn't go away. Something wasn't right—it was as if a piece of the day's puzzle was missing, just beyond his reach.
He continued to eat in silence, forcing a small smile whenever one of his friends spoke, but his mind was elsewhere. The whisper echoed in his thoughts, its meaning slipping through his fingers like sand.
What the hell happened today?
Roxas couldn't figure it out. And the more he thought about it, the more confusing it became. The feeling gnawed at him, leaving a pit in his stomach even as he sat there with his friends, trying to pretend everything was normal.
But it wasn't.
Something was definitely off, and Roxas couldn't shake the feeling that today was just the beginning of something far stranger.
Restoration at 28%.
In the dimly lit room, the glow of multiple monitors flickered, casting long shadows across the walls. The man with his face wrapped in red bandages sat before the screens, his intense eye scanning the data as it streamed by. The soft hum of machinery filled the air, broken only by the rhythmic sound of a pouch being tossed back and forth.
The hooded figure, leaning casually against the wall nearby, juggled the munny pouch he had taken from Roxas earlier.
"Naminé, hurry," the man with red bandages muttered, his fingers moving rapidly across the keys.
The hooded figure tossed the pouch higher, catching it effortlessly.
"Is it really that hard to make a beach?" he asked, his voice calm, tinged with amusement.
"We'd be giving the enemy another entry point," the man in red bandages replied, not bothering to look up from the screens. His voice was low and deliberate, every word measured.
The hooded figure paused his juggling for a moment, holding up the pouch in front of him.
"And this?" he asked, letting the question linger in the air.
The man with red bandages turned slightly in his seat, casting a brief glance at the pouch before returning his gaze to the monitors.
"We can always buy some sea-salt ice cream," he said with a dry, humorless chuckle.
The hooded man grinned beneath his cloak, tossing the pouch again, clearly amused. But the light tone in the room quickly faded as the man with red bandages grew more serious.
"Objects from that town must be kept out of the real world," he stated. "You can delete that."
The hooded figure caught the pouch one last time, a quiet chuckle escaping him before he tossed it aside. He turned toward the man, crossing his arms.
"What of the hedgehog?" the man asked, his eye still fixed on the monitors.
"Silver?" the hooded figure replied, his tone more thoughtful now. "I spoke with him earlier. He hasn't spotted anything yet, but he's been patrolling for a while."
The man in red bandages nodded, deep in thought. His eye narrowed as he processed the information.
"We must be ready. They loom close," he said, his voice tense with urgency.
The hooded figure fell silent for a moment, glancing at the screens before meeting the man's gaze once more.
"And when they do?" he asked, his voice steady, but curious.
"We act," came the cold and final response.
The tension in the room thickened, the faint glow of the monitors reflecting off the man's visible eye as data continued to scroll across the screens. It felt as though something heavy was approaching—something inevitable.
The hooded figure gave a slow nod and pushed himself away from the wall.
"I'll keep watch," he said, his voice fading as he stepped back into the shadows.
He vanished as swiftly as he had appeared.
The man with red bandages remained at his desk, fingers still tapping away at the keys, his expression unreadable beneath the bandages. His focus never wavered. Time was running out, and they had to be prepared.
Someone was coming.
The Second Day is now done!
Thanks for all the support and reviews. I'm glad they have been positive. As always, thanks for the faves and follows.
I thought it might be a day or two later than expected, but I was able to do this chapter quickly. However, I feel the next few days will be longer to release.
Captain Qwark is coming, which opens up this fan fiction universe even further. That means Ratchet and Clank are somewhere out there!
The Third Day is coming soon, stay tuned!
Would anyone like me to look at doing a preview chapter for a world later down the road? I could post it in the first Blue Blur Edition story? Would be a few days to write up, but it could show you what world I have in mind for this story.
Disclaimer: Captain Qwark is a character from the Ratchet & Clank series, which is owned and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. All rights to the character and series belong to their respective owners.