Hollow Bastion: First Visit - Part 2
On the other side of the world, the Market Place of Hollow Bastion was alive with activity. People bustled from one stall to another, Moogles flew overhead peddling their wares, and townsfolk worked together to rebuild, their spirits undeterred by the trials they had faced. Into this busy scene came three familiar figures—Sora, Donald, and Goofy—dressed in their world-traveler clothes and wide-eyed as they took in the familiar, yet subtly transformed town.
"It's Hollow Bastion!" Sora exclaimed, his eyes lighting up.
Goofy nodded slowly, taking in the sight with a look of awe.
"Gawrsh, it looks kinda different now."
Donald glanced around, his face a mix of curiosity and concern.
"I hope Leon and the gang are doing okay."
But before any of them could speculate further, Goofy spotted a group of Soldier Heartless, lurking on the roof of a nearby building.
"Uh-oh," he muttered. "Looks like we're gonna have to do some fightin'."
Sora readied himself, but before they could even take a step, a sudden volley of shots rang out, and the Heartless were taken down in an instant. The trio looked around in surprise, their eyes following the sound to another rooftop across the square. Standing there, silhouetted against the afternoon light, were two familiar figures—Rouge and Omega.
"It's Rouge!" Donald remarked, his beak opening wide.
"And Omega, too!" Goofy added with equal surprise.
Rouge raised a gloved hand in greeting, her trademark smirk gracing her face.
"Long time no see, boys."
She spread her bat wings, gliding down gracefully, while Omega used his jet boosters to descend beside her with a mechanical hum. They landed in front of Sora, Donald, and Goofy.
"Rouge, Omega," Sora said, smiling in recognition. "It's been ages."
Rouge crossed her arms and gave Sora a quick, appraising look, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"It sure has, kid," she replied with a teasing edge. "In fact, it's been so long, it looks like you've even had a growth spurt."
Caught off guard, Sora rubbed the back of his neck, blushing slightly.
"Uh, yeah, I guess so," he muttered.
Donald and Goofy chuckled, exchanging knowing looks, while Rouge's smirk deepened.
"But," Rouge continued, her tone shifting to something more serious, "something's... strange."
Sora tilted his head, sensing the change in her demeanor.
"Strange?" Sora replied in confusion.
"What do you mean?" Donald asked.
Rouge nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yeah. A few of us from back home... well, we seemed to have forgotten about you three," she admitted.
Sora's brows shot up in surprise.
"Forgotten about us?" he muttered.
Goofy scratched his head as he chimed in.
"Gawrsh, that's kinda weird."
Omega stepped forward, his blunt tone as precise as ever.
"CORRECT. RECENTLY, OUR MEMORIES OF YOU WERE UNCLEAR."
Sora exchanged a concerned glance with Donald and Goofy.
"That's... not good," Sora remarked.
"Yeah!" Donald huffed, crossing his arms indignantly. "How could you forget about us?"
Rouge shook her head, looking just as puzzled.
"It's strange, alright. But luckily, we remembered you in time. And we had a hunch that you might show up here."
Omega's gaze focused on Sora, his robotic eyes flashing as he processed information.
"AFFIRMATIVE. MY UPGRADED SENSORS NOW ENABLE ME TO DETECT THE KEYBLADE'S POWER OUTPUT. YOUR PRESENCE WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO TRACK."
"Wow," Sora said, wide-eyed. "You can sense my Keyblade's power?"
"AFFIRMATIVE," Omega confirmed.
Goofy gave Omega an appreciative nod.
"That's some serious tech, Omega."
"So, what are you doing here in Hollow Bastion?" Donald asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Rouge's expression softened as she explained, "We're here on a mission from G.U.N. Got orders to connect with Leon and the Restoration Committee. They've been handling defenses here and rebuilding this place."
"Restoration Committee?" Sora asked, his face scrunched up in confusion.
"IT IS A GROUP TASKED WITH THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF THIS WORLD. PERHAPS YOU HAVE BEEN... SLEEPING UNDER A ROCK?" Omega replied with almost a human-like touch of sass.
Sora chuckled, a little embarrassed.
"Well... kind of?" Sora revealed.
Rouge raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Oh? Do tell," she probed.
Sora shuffled his feet, feeling suddenly self-conscious.
"Let's just say we've been... asleep for a while. A really long while."
Rouge's curiosity only grew, her gaze sharpening.
"A long nap, huh?" She crossed her arms, looking him up and down with mild amusement.
Omega's sensors hummed as he analysed the trio.
"ANALYSIS COMPLETE. ALL THREE OF YOU SHOW SIGNS OF ENERGY DEPLETION CONSISTENT WITH LONG-TERM STASIS."
Sora, Donald, and Goofy looked at each other, a little bewildered at the revelation.
Rouge chuckled, shaking her head.
"Well, come on. You can explain more at the Restoration Committee's HQ... wherever that is," she pondered.
Omega's sensors suddenly flared to life.
"ANALYSIS DETECTS A STRONG SOURCE OF MAGIC EMANATING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WORLD. HIGH PROBABILITY OF A 75% MATCH TO MERLIN."
"Merlin's place?" Sora's face brightened. "Then let's follow Omega—it'd be great to see Leon and everyone again!"
"Good idea!" Donald said eagerly.
"Yup!" Goofy chimed in. "Let's get goin'!"
Rouge and Omega turned, leading the way through the bustling marketplace, the hum of Omega's sensors blending with the lively sounds of Hollow Bastion.
"Alright, boys," Rouge called over her shoulder, her wings flaring slightly as she strode forward. "Follow us. We'll get you caught up on everything that's been happening here, and you can tell us all about that 'nap' of yours."
As Sora, Donald, Goofy, Rouge, and Omega made their way through the bustling streets of Hollow Bastion, their attention was drawn to an elderly duck inspecting a melting ice cream bar by an open freezer.
The duck was impeccably dressed, his feathered form cloaked in a deep blue jacket, neatly folded down at the red collar and accented with a single yellow button near his neck. A red belt cinched the jacket shut, adding a touch of old-fashioned charm. His feet were covered in red spats, polished to a fine shine, and a black top hat adorned his head, complete with a striking red band around the brim. Pince-nez glasses balanced on his beak, and in one hand, he clutched a brown cane tipped in gold.
"Say, Donald, that duck over there...is he related to you? Rouge asked, turning to Donald.
"Uncle Scrooge?!" Donald remarked loudly, his eyes widened in suprise.
"Uh, who?" Sora asked, tilting his head in curiosity.
"That's Donald's uncle—a real business typhoon!" Goofy explained. "Before the Heartless started showin' up, he traveled the worlds on a Gummi Ship with the King."
Omega's robotic gaze locked onto Scrooge, his scanners whirring.
"INFORMATION CONFIRMED. THIS INDIVIDUAL—ALIAS SCROOGE MCDUCK—HAS BEEN ON G.U.N'S RADAR FOR PAST ISSUES INVOLVING TAX EVASION AND ILLEGAL TRANSFER OF ASSETS BETWEEN WORLDS."
"Wait, Uncle Scrooge has been under G.U.N. surveillance?" Sora questioned in bewilderment.
Omega's head whirred with mechanical precision as he affirmed, "AFFIRMATIVE. ALL SUSPICIONS OF WRONGDOING HAVE SINCE BEEN QUASHED."
"Wow," Sora murmured, exchanging a look with Goofy, who just grinned.
"Yup," Goofy replied. "Scrooge was workin' to set up a traffic system with the King—"
"A transit system!" Donald replied in annoyance, his feathers bristled by Goofy's mistake.
"THE DUCK IS CORRECT. THE INITIATIVE WAS INDEED A TRANSIT SYSTEM," Omega confirmed.
Just then, the elderly duck turned around, eyeing the group with a mixture of recognition and curiosity.
"What's all this racket, then?" Scrooge asked sternly.
As his gaze focused on Donald and Goofy, his face lit up with a delighted grin.
"Why, if it isn't Donald! And Goofy! Hello, lads! Ye're lookin' hale and hearty!"
"So are you, Uncle Scrooge," Donald replied proudly.
Scrooge waved a dismissive hand.
"Ah, if only I were… Ach, I can't seem to recreate my favorite ice cream from the old days. If I could just get it right, I'd be makin' millions!"
He glanced at the melting ice cream bar in his hand, took a hesitant lick, and immediately made a face.
"Terrible…" he muttered in despair, holding the ice cream as far away from him as possible.
Omega's scanners whirred again.
"SCAN COMPLETE. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT AT REPLICATING WORLD FAMOUS ICE CREAM. QUALITY IS, OBJECTIVELY, POOR."
Scrooge squinted at Omega, unimpressed by the robot.
"And who's the tin can with the manners of a rusted wrench?" the elderly duck inquired.
Rouge stepped forward with a smirk, introducing herself and Omega.
"We're with G.U.N., Scrooge. I'm Rouge, and this is Omega. He's my partner on this mission."
"G.U.N., ye say?" Scrooge muttered with a scowl. "Bah, bureaucrats always sniffin' after my money!" He cast a wary look at Omega, who gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
"I ASSURE YOU, MCDUCK, G.U.N. IS NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR COIN—UNLESS YOU INTEND TO MOVE IT BETWEEN WORLDS AGAIN." Omega's voice was blunt, his red eyes locked on Scrooge, who frowned deeply.
"Mm-hm," Scrooge huffed, muttering under his breath. "Watchin' me like a hawk…"
"Let's go," Rouge said, looking to Omega.
"AFFIRMATIVE," Omega replied back.
As Rouge and Omega began to stride off, clearly set on reaching the Restoration Committee, Scrooge turned to the heroic trio, his voice low and laden with Scottish caution.
"Be careful, lads. I don't trust those two as far as I could throw my millions," he warned, adjusting his grip on his cane.
Donald shook his head, sighing with exasperation.
"Uncle Scrooge, we can trust them! They're our friends."
"Yeah," Sora added, giving Scrooge a reassuring grin. "They helped us out big time against Ansem and the Heartless!"
Scrooge looked between the three of them, a hint of a smile at the corner of his beak.
"Well, laddie, just be careful all the same. I best be off—business never sleeps! See you boyos soon."
As the trio watched Scrooge disappear, Omega's voice echoed sharply from down the street.
"HURRY UP, SORA, DONALD, GOOFY!"
The three friends exchanged an amused glance, chuckling as they broke into a jog to catch up with Rouge and Omega.
As Sora, Donald, Goofy, Rouge, and Omega made their way through the Borough, strange light pedestals blinked in and out of existence around them, casting odd beams of light as if scanning for something unseen. The beams flickered across the cobbled path, vanishing and reappearing as if part of a mysterious, silent rhythm.
"What's going on here?" Donald asked, eyes darting around in confusion.
Rouge narrowed her eyes at the pedestals.
"Looks like a surveillance system of some kind," the bat spy replied.
Omega's voice was a blunt monotone as he spoke up.
"INFERIOR MODELS. MALFUNCTIONING TECHNOLOGY."
Suddenly, a familiar, excitable voice rang out from above.
"That's the town's defense mechanism!"
The five spun around, looking up to see Yuffie perched on top of a building, her usual grin plastered across her face.
"Yuffie!" Sora called out, waving.
Yuffie waved back, but her smile faltered as her gaze fell on something behind them.
"Look out!" she shouted, pointing.
Sora barely had time to react before his Keyblade flashed into his hand, instinctively raising it as a Dusk lunged toward him. But in the blink of an eye, a blue blur darted through the air, colliding with the Dusk and sending it spiraling into a cloud of mist.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy froze, exchanging wide-eyed glances. They knew that speed.
Rouge smirked knowingly, Yuffie grinned from the rooftop, and Omega's scanners emitted a low hum, identifying the unmistakable presence.
Then, a familiar voice called out, full of confidence and warmth.
"Sora, Donald, Goofy... long time no see!"
From the shadows, a streak of blue zipped across them, skidding to a stop in front of them. Sonic stood with his trademark cocky grin, giving them a thumbs up as he turned to face his old friends.
"Sonic!" Sora's face lit up in delight, his eyes wide with excitement.
Rouge folded her arms, smirking.
"About time you showed up, Blue!" she remarked with a teasing tone.
Sonic laughed, shrugging it off.
"Hey, I'm here now, aren't I? Kept you waiting, huh?"
He gave a little wink, almost as if he knew the significance of this long-awaited reunion.
But before they could exchange more than a few words, a sinister rustling filled the air as a wave of Dusks materialised around them, their forms twisting and writhing with eerie, unnatural grace.
"More Nobodies!" Donald remarked loudly, summoning his staff.
Goofy clenched his shield tightly, examining the foes surrounding the group.
"Looks like we better get fightin!" The King's Captain declared with determination.
Sonic glanced over at Sora, a familiar glint in his eye.
"Guess our reunion's gonna have to wait, pal. We've got some slender creeps to take care of first!"
Sora grinned, his Keyblade gleaming as he raised it in readiness.
"Right behind you, Sonic!" Sora said, getting into his defensive stance.
Omega's scanners locked onto the surrounding Dusks.
"ENEMIES LOCKED AND TARGETED. WEAKER NOBODIES WILL BE ELIMINATED."
The Dusks closed in from all sides, but the heroes remained undaunted, standing back-to-back in a circle. Sonic and Sora shared a look of shared determination, their instincts and energy aligned as if no time had passed since they last fought together.
Dusks
Battle Music: Sherzo Di Notte - Kingdom Hearts II.5 HD ReMIX
Objective: Defeat the Dusk Enemies
The Dusks darted forward towards the group. Sora swung his Keyblade in a quick, defensive arc, deflecting the first attacker with practiced skill. The strike was strong, but he could feel the rust in his movements—still, he braced himself, ready for more.
"STAND ASIDE," Omega boomed, his metallic voice carrying above the chaos. Raising both arms, Omega unleashed a barrage of bullets that tore through the nearest Dusks with clinical precision. "INFERIOR TARGETS LOCKED. TERMINATION INITIATED."
Two Dusks disintegrated under Omega's relentless firepower, but the other Nobodies moved with unnatural agility, slithering around the blasts to flank him.
Sonic, faster than a blur, dashed between the incoming enemies, leaving trails of blue energy in his wake.
"Time to crank things up!" he called out, his energy surging as he activated Phantom Rush.
His fists and feet became a whirlwind of motion, each strike creating shockwaves that knocked back the Nobodies surrounding Omega.
Meanwhile, Rouge leapt into the fray with fluid grace, delivering powerful kicks that sent Dusks flying. One lunged toward her, but with a swift backflip, she landed behind it, delivering a hard, spinning heel kick that shattered the Nobody into wisps of smoke.
"Not bad, Rouge!" Sora shouted, sweeping his Keyblade to send another Dusk skidding back.
"I've been doing this a while, kid. Keep up!" Rouge shot back with a smirk.
Just then, Goofy took his turn, charging forward with a shield bash that sent two Dusks reeling. With a swift pivot, he unleashed his Cyclone move, spinning like a whirling shielded top, clearing a path through the line of Dusks.
"Gawrsh, this is kinda fun!" he said, grinning through the intensity of the battle.
Sora felt his strength growing with each swing. He summoned a ball of fire from the tip of his Keyblade, shooting it at an advancing Dusk.
"Fire!" he shouted, watching as the flames collided with the Nobody, sending it sprawling and disappearing into nothingness.
"About time your magic's coming back," Donald remarked, lifting his staff. He cast a quick Thunder spell, small sparks dancing across the Dusks in front of him. The effect was weaker than he hoped, but the shock sent the Dusks stumbling back.
"Not bad, Donald!" Sora called out, just as he swung his Keyblade to block another attack.
But before Donald could reply, a Dusk darted forward, slipping past Sora's guard and delivering a brutal hit. Donald staggered back, dropping to one knee, his hand clutching his side.
"Donald!" Goofy yelled, reaching into his pocket.
With a quick flick of his wrist, he tossed a potion high into the air, aiming it over Donald's head. The potion shattered, green healing light raining down over Donald, instantly mending his wounds.
Donald blinked in surprise, as he turned to Goofy.
"Thank you. But, where did you get that from, Goofy?" the duck asked.
Goofy grinned, shrugging, as he prepared to rush into the action once more.
"Must've been lyin' around in my pocket," the King's Captain admitted.
Meanwhile, Sonic surged forward, gathering his energy for a Spin Dash. With a quick coil of his body, he shot out like a cannonball, tearing through three Dusks in one go. The last Nobody he hit smashed into a nearby wall, disappearing in a puff of smoke as Sonic landed with a victorious smirk.
"Too slow!" Sonic taunted, dusting his gloves off.
Suddenly, the defense system suddenly activated, its lights sweeping across the street and targeting a cluster of Dusks. A beam shot out, singeing the creatures but only lightly damaging them. Omega watched with clear disdain, his red eyes flashing.
"DEFENSE SYSTEM IS WEAK AND INEFFICIENT," he remarked, blasting another two Dusks with ease. "UPGRADES ARE REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY."
Rouge kicked off a Dusk attempting to flank him, landing beside Omega.
"Guess it can't all be state-of-the-art like you, Omega," she teased, sidestepping another Dusk and driving her heel into its center, dissolving it into mist.
Sora and Sonic fought side by side, forming an unstoppable duo. Sonic unleashed a Sonic Wind, a powerful gust of energy spiraling toward a pair of Dusks and sending them sprawling. Sora took the opening, slashing forward with his Keyblade as his movements grew sharper, his strikes becoming more precise with each swing.
One Dusk slipped around the two, aiming straight for Donald and Goofy. But Goofy stepped forward, shield raised, and charged into it with a heavy bash, sending it skidding back. Donald cast Blizzard, freezing the Dusk in place, then shattered it with a quick swipe of his staff.
"Not bad, guys!" Sora shouted, grinning as he caught his breath. "Looks like we're getting back into the swing of things."
"About time!" Donald replied, thankful their skills were getting stronger.
More Dusks closed in, but the group now fought as a well-oiled team. Sonic moved in a flash, weaving around his friends and striking at every open opportunity. Omega's relentless firepower kept the Dusks at bay, his cold efficiency making quick work of their strange, slithering movements. Rouge's kicks landed with a snap, each strike breaking through the Nobodies' defenses with ruthless agility.
Finally, Sora gathered his strength and leaped high into the air, his Keyblade shining with energy as he landed a finishing blow on the last Dusk. The Nobody shuddered, then dissolved, its eerie form fading away like mist.
With the last of the Dusks vanquished, the street was quiet once more. The defense system's lights flickered off, no longer sensing an active threat. Omega powered down his weapon systems with a quiet whirr.
"INFERIOR THREATS ELIMINATED," he announced, his tone as unfeeling as ever.
Sonic cracked his knuckles, a playful smirk on his face.
"That was just like old times!" the hedgehog remarked with coolness.
"And it looks like you've only gotten faster, Sonic," Sora replied with a smile, lowering his Keyblade.
"Not bad... but I still think I should've been the one throwing potions," Donald admitted with annoyance.
"Eh, don't worry, Donald," Goofy said, clapping him on the back. "I'm sure there's more where that came from!"
Rouge folded her arms, watching them with a mix of amusement and respect.
"Alright, enough chit chat, boys. I have a feeling the Restoration Committee are going to need all the help we can give."
RANK: S
With the Dusks defeated, the group stood at ease. Yuffie leapt down from her rooftop perch, landing gracefully in front of them.
"You guys cleaned up!" she said with a grin.
Sora straightened up, a proud smile spreading across his face.
"What'd you expect?" He patted his chest with a touch of self-satisfaction. "Looks like you're doing okay too, Yuffie."
Yuffie raised an eyebrow, smirking back.
"Well, what did you expect?" she countered back playfully.
Sonic looked up at Sora, and as Sora met his gaze, Sonic's features shot up in surprise.
"Dude! You've gotten bigger since the last time I saw you! Been eating your greens and vitamins, huh?" Sonic teased.
Yuffie chuckled, nodding in agreement.
"Sonic's right, you sure have grown over the past year, Sora!"
Sora felt a little embarrassed by all the attention, scratching the back of his neck, but his smile didn't fade. Sonic put his gloved fist out, and Sora returned the gesture, meeting his friend's knuckles with a solid fist bump.
Turning to Donald and Goofy, Sonic grinned as he spoke.
"Donald, Goofy, good to see you guys!" he exclaimed. "I hope you've been keeping Sora out of trouble?"
"Hey!" Sora protested, but Donald snickered, and Goofy couldn't help but chuckle.
Rouge interjected, arms crossed.
"We found them wandering around the Marketplace, Blue. Figured we could help each other track down the Restoration Committee." She turned to Yuffie with a knowing look. "Though it looks like one of them just found us."
"Good to see you again, Rouge—and you too, Omega," Yuffie said warmly.
"GREETINGS, YUFFIE OF HOLLOW BASTION," Omega replied, his mechanical voice booming through the quiet square.
Donald, ever curious, stepped forward.
"How're the others, Yuffie?" the duck asked thoughtfully.
"Great!" Yuffie replied, her expression softening.
"Hey, Yuffie," Sora interjected. "Have you seen the King, Riku, or… Silver?"
Sonic's ears perked up at that last name, and he blinked.
"Wait—Silver? He's still here?" he asked in surprise.
"Yeah, that's what we heard," Sora confirmed with a nod.
"Then he must be stuck here, in the past..." Sonic said with a shake of his head.
"Seems like it," Donald added with a huff.
Yuffie's eyes sparkled with excitement as she replied.
"Sorry, guys, I haven't seen any of those three. But, we did have a feeling you guys would show up eventually. Isn't that right, Sonic?"
Sora, Donald, and Goofy turned to Sonic, who folded his arms and shrugged.
"Yeah, I guess we all had a hunch we'd see you sooner or later," the hedgehog explained.
"Rouge said something similar earlier," Sora said, glancing at her.
Goofy scratched his head.
"Wait… I hope you didn't forget about us too, Sonic?" he probed.
Sonic's confident demeanor faltered, and he unfolded his arms, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"Uh… yeah, about that…"
"Sonic!" Donald squawked, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"Oh, come on!" Sora groaned, shaking his head with a sigh.
"Hey, don't blame me," Sonic protested, holding up his hands in surrender. "It just happened! One day, it was like you guys went on this long vacation… from our minds."
Donald sighed, crossing his arms with a grumble, while Goofy chuckled good-naturedly.
"Well, we're here now, pal—that's the main thing!" he affirmed.
"Absolutely," Sonic agreed, looking relieved.
Sora tilted his head, his curiosity piqued.
"So, Sonic, what are you doing here in Hollow Bastion, anyway?" the teen asked.
"It's a long way from Mobius, right?" Goofy added.
Rouge raised an eyebrow, casting a pointed look at Sonic.
"Good question. I'm curious myself," the bat spy commented.
Omega's mechanical tone chimed in.
"EXPLAIN YOUR PURPOSE IN THIS LOCATION, SONIC."
"Alright, alright, I'll explain!" Sonic laughed, holding up his hands. "Long story short… I'm looking for a Chaos Emerald."
"Really?" Sora replied, his eye widening.
"Yep," Sonic confirmed. He looked over at Rouge and Omega. "Not sure if you folks at G.U.N. have noticed, but the Master Emerald's been acting up lately."
Rouge's brow furrowed as she glanced at Omega.
"You know anything about that, Omega?"
Omega's sensors flashed briefly.
"SOME REPORTS INDICATE THE EMERALD'S GUARDIAN, KNUCKLES, HAS THE SITUATION UNDER CONTROL."
Rouge chuckled, shaking her head.
"That stubborn echidna. Probably thinks I'm gonna swoop in and steal it," she remarked.
Yuffie giggled, nudging Rouge.
"Well, you do have a bit of a history with stealing jewels, right?"
Rouge gave Yuffie a sly grin as she replied.
"Oh, honey, you have no idea. The stories I could tell would make you blush."
Sora cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation back.
"So, what's actually wrong with the Master Emerald, Sonic?" Sora questioned.
"Is it going to shatter into pieces like last time?" Donald asked with concern.
"Not yet, at least," Sonic said, shrugging. "But we think it's in distress because the Chaos Emeralds aren't on Mobius."
"Really?" Goofy said, tilting his head. "I thought they would go back after we closed the Door to Darkness?"
"Yeah," Sora chimed in, recalling the event. "Didn't Shadow use Chaos Control? Wouldn't that have sent them back?"
"You'd think so," Sonic replied with a shake of his head. "But they disappeared. They do have a mind of their own. And with the Chaos Emeralds off-world, the Master Emerald's stability is shot."
Sonic scanned the area, suddenly seeming restless.
"Sonic?" Yuffie asked, picking up on his mood.
Donald glanced around too.
"What's wrong?" the duck questioned.
"It's just… speaking of Shadow, I thought he'd show up out of nowhere, all mysterious and brooding, like usual." Sonic remarked, turning to Rouge and Omega. "Did he make it out of the Realm of Darkness okay?"
"Yes, he's out," Rouge confirmed, nodding.
"Sweet!" Sonic grinned.
"That's great news," Sora agreed, sharing in Sonic's relief.
"Then he should know where the emeralds went, right?" Donald added, hopeful.
"NEGATIVE," Omega affirmed.
Sora looked puzzled at the robot's answer.
"Wait, how come?" he questioned. "I thought Shadow had that connection to Chaos energy?"
Rouge sighed, crossing her arms.
"It's a long story. But yeah, he's back… though now he's gone AWOL, too."
"Classic Shadow." Sonic rolled his eyes. "Any idea where he went?"
Omega's sensors flashed again.
"NEGATIVE. HIS LAST KNOWN LOCATION WAS IN PURSUIT OF AN INDIVIDUAL KNOWN AS PETE."
"Pete's here?" Donald squawked in alarm.
Goofy sighed, "Aw, he's always up to no good."
"Yup," Rouge confirmed. "Shadow followed him into the castle, then seemingly left the world entirely with a new recruit."
"A new recruit?" Sora tilted his head, curious.
"Who's he working with?" Sonic quizzed.
"Actually, Blue, it's someone you know," Rouge revealed cryptically. She smirked at the hedgehog as she spoke.
"Someone I know?" Sonic repeated, looking perplexed.
Before he could ask more, Yuffie clapped her hands, breaking into the conversation.
"Alright, how about we get to Merlin's place? C'mon, we can talk there and fill in the gaps!"
"Good idea!" Sonic grinned. "Plus, Leon and the others might have found something about the Chaos Emerald. I could check in on Tails, too."
Donald's face lit up.
"Wait—Tails is here?" the duck asked.
"You bet, Donald," Sonic replied. "I know he'd love to see you guys again."
Goofy gave a nod and a smile.
"Well, what're we waitin' for? Let's go check on everyone."
"Sounds like a plan!" Sora said, his eyes alight with excitement.
"Alright, let's get moving, boys," Rouge added.
Omega swiveled to Yuffie with a commanding tone.
"PROCEED TO MERLIN'S HOUSE, YUFFIE."
With a grin, Yuffie dashed ahead, leading the group through the streets of Hollow Bastion. The team followed close behind, their footsteps falling into an eager rhythm as they prepared for what lay ahead.
Meanwhile...
Carol moved through a quieter section of town, her eyes sweeping over the half-repaired buildings around her. Scaffolding stood against walls, tools were scattered about, and dust hung in the air, all signs of recent work—yet there wasn't a soul in sight.
"This place could use a little more hustle," she muttered, her fingers flexing as she felt a faint, unfamiliar pulse in the air. Her senses sharpened, and she tilted her head, honing in on the source of the strange energy.
Moving between a stack of boxes, Carol caught sight of a glint of brilliant blue against the dusty ground. She crouched, brushing aside a stray piece of cloth to reveal the unmistakable shimmer of a Chaos Emerald.
"Well, would you look at that?" she murmured, lifting the blue gem and turning it over in her gloved hands. "Now, aren't you a little powerhouse." A surge of raw energy pulsed up her arm—a sensation both foreign and oddly familiar. "Feels almost like... one of the Stones," she muttered thoughtfully, her grip tightening on the gem. "Alright, let's get you back to Sonic."
She straightened up, turning to leave, but something made her pause. Her gaze drifted up to the rooftops, a prickle at the back of her neck warning her that someone might be watching. Yet there was no one in sight.
"Must be my imagination. Or… just Captain Marvel paranoia." She grinned and shook her head, but kept her senses alert as she prepared to leave.
Unbeknownst to her, high above on a rooftop, three figures in long, black coats watched her, faces hidden beneath deep hoods, each emanating an air of tense anticipation.
"Great. Just great. Captain Marvel's here," the first figure muttered, folding his arms with a sigh.
The second figure sounded uneasy.
"Can you believe it? She's already got the Emerald, and she's heading back. Think we can go back to the boss with that news?"
The first figure smirked under his hood, his voice cool and almost amused.
"Use your head. We're not heading back to anyone empty-handed."
"Right. Forgot that's a bad idea," the second figure admitted, rubbing the back of his hood sheepishly.
The third figure, calm and confident, leaned in.
"Let's not get dramatic. All we need to do is keep her busy for a little while. She has… attachments."
The first figure chuckled, rolling his shoulders.
"Oh, you mean making a little trouble for her in a world she actually cares about?"
The second figure perked up.
"Yeah, yeah, trouble. Sounds like way more fun than just watching her from up here."
"Perfect," the third figure replied, his voice laced with cunning. "That'll keep her distracted long enough. Now, let's disappear before she spots us."
In a ripple of shadows, the three figures vanished from the rooftop, their plan quietly set in motion.
Meanwhile, down below, Carol still held the Chaos Emerald securely in her hand, casting one more wary look around. The sense of being watched lingered, but with no sign of anyone nearby, she shrugged it off.
"Alright, Sonic, time to let you and the others know we're one emerald down."
Danvers launched herself into the sky, the gem glowing faintly in her grip as she soared back toward Merlin's house, leaving only a faint shimmer in her wake.
Part 2 is Complete!
This chapter had a lot of exposition and background, but I'm thrilled to share an intense fight scene—especially with Rouge and Omega jumping into the action.
And it's official: Sonic has finally reunited with Sora, Donald, and Goofy! The Blue Chaos Emerald is in their hands, marking one down, six to go on this incredible journey.
Special shoutouts to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and followed the story. I couldn't be more grateful for your support! I also owe a huge thank-you to my friend, Aragorn II Elessar, for their encouragement and feedback on the recent chapters. And here's something extra exciting—my story has been added to TV Tropes!
For those unfamiliar, TV Tropes is a community-driven site that documents and discusses common storytelling patterns, themes, and character archetypes across various forms of media. It's a resource where fans contribute and analyse what makes stories tick, from popular movies and video games to fanfiction like this!
I'm incredibly humbled and proud to see The Blue Blur Saga join the ranks of fanfic on TV Tropes. This acknowledgment from the community motivates me even more to make this crossover saga the best it can be. My heartfelt thanks to 'JustSomeGuy1' on TV Tropes for adding the series! If you'd like to see what's been added, check it out here: History for Fanfic/KingdomHeartsTheBlueBlurSaga - TV Tropes.
Thanks again to each of you for being here. I'll be back with Part 3 in just a few days!