Hollow Bastion – Corridor (Before Grand Hall)
After another moment to rest, the party proceeded forward to their last destination, the Grand Hall that lies beyond the Castle Chapel.
"So, you haven't been to this place before" Sora said. "Right, Noire?"
The twin-tailed CPU nodded. "It's the only place I couldn't find initially. Considering what I now know about the princesses they've been kidnapping; they definitely didn't want me to find out and halt their plans when I had the chance"
"Princesses, huh..." IF murmured. "You said that Maleficent's been kidnapping them for something, right? Any ideas?"
Noire hummed in thought.
"Didn't she say somethin' about needing seven princesses to unlock some sorta door?" Goofy guessed.
"Where did you hear that?" Noire asked.
"We heard that from one of the Drifters in another world!" Donald answered.
Compa nodded. "She overheard them talking about needing seven princesses!"
"Seven princesses are needed to open the final door..." IF recalled. "A door to what, exactly?"
"No idea..." Sora shook his head.
"Me neither..." Neptune shook her head as well.
"Kingdom Hearts..."
The party looked to Noire, who uttered the words.
"What's that?" Goofy asked.
"It's something Riku mentioned before" the twin-tailed girl answered. "From what he was told, it is the place where all lost hearts gather. He believed he could find Kairi's heart there..."
"Is that true?" Sora asked this time.
Noire shook her head. "I don't know. Given Maleficent's penchant to keep certain information away from others, I doubt that's true."
"Oh..." the boy said, hanging his head down.
"However, I believe that the door the princesses are needed for and this Kingdom Hearts may be related" Noire theorized. "It may even be possible that this is where that door is supposed to lead..."
Neptune hummed as she looked to the tome on her pocket. "Do you know, Histy?"
"I'm afraid not" Histoire bemoaned. "But if that is true, then we cannot let Arfoire gain access to it! Holding dominion over all hearts essentially means she has become the ruler of the worlds!"
Once Sora relayed the message, the Beast grunted. "Then let's not waste any more time. Belle and the others are up ahead!"
IF nodded. "Right. Let's mosey, people!"
Hollow Bastion – Grand Hall
Entering through the massive door, the party looks around the massive room, decorated with a large carpet depicting the Heartless emblem and a similar looking passageway located at the opposite side of the room.
Near them are six stasis chambers, housing key people of interest, including...
"BELLE!"
The Beast rushed over to the chamber on the middle right, housing a woman with brown hair wearing an elaborate yellow gown.
"Hey, I found Jasmine!" Donald shouted over on the top left chamber.
"Alice is right here, too!" IF exclaimed by the bottom right chamber.
"Then, these beautiful ladies are..." Compa wondered as she neared the bottom left chamber, housing a blonde woman wearing a white dress and a tiara.
"The kidnapped princesses!" Goofy shouted, standing near the middle-left chamber housing a black-haired woman wearing a blue and yellow dress.
"But what kind of dastardly plan could those witches want with these fine ladies?" Neptune wondered, inspecting the top right chamber housing a yellow-haired woman wearing a purple dress. "Are they really going to be opening this Kingdom Hearts thing?"
"I get the feeling we're going to find out ahead..." Noire answered.
Sora, meanwhile, is looking around the area. "Yeah, but where's...Kairi!"
"Huh? You found her!?"
Neptune said, rushing to her fellow Keyblade wielders.
"There!"
Sora pointed ahead, near the area where the dark passageway is. Sure enough, there is a red-haired girl lying unconscious on the floor over yonder.
"Why is she lying on the floor there?" IF wondered. "Why not put her in one of these chambers?"
"Maybe they didn't have enough time?" Compa guessed.
Sora shook his head. "That doesn't matter. Let's go! Kairi!"
"You heard the man, ladies and gents!" Neptune exclaimed. "We got an island princess to save!"
The rest of the party sallied forth after Sora, but...
"Neptune, Noire, please wait!"
"Huh?"
Just as the two stopped at Histoire's call, they heard a loud thud near the area.
"Owie!" Compa winced in pain.
"Another IMB (Inconvenient Magic Barrier)!?" IF complained.
The Beast attempted to break through, but couldn't make a dent on it.
"At least the others were able to get ahead..." Noire murmured, noticing Sora, Donald and Goofy still running on ahead.
"But if the barrier's here, then..."
Neptune groaned as the familiar sound of evil laughter rained in the area.
"Haa-hahahahahaha!"
"Arlord!"
'Arlord' growled. "Still, you insist upon getting my name wrong...! Gah, no matter!"
"She must've given up on correcting her at this point..." Compa said, sweat dropping her forehead.
"At least Nep's got that over her, that's for sure" IF commented, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You!" Noire growled. "Coming to finish the job, are you?"
Arfoire sneered. "Naturally. With everyone else from Maleficent's gathering defeated, I am the last one standing. It falls upon me to carry out our shared goal, after all."
The parka-wearing CPU furrowed her eyebrows. "That's a big, fat lie! You were only out here for yourself!"
"Oh? So, you were paying attention, Neptune" Arfoire chuckled. "That's right. I don't give a care about Maleficent's or even 'his' goals. I am only here for my own..."
"His?" the guild agent thought, taking notice.
The evil witch summoned her evil lance once more, ready to do battle. "You may have blindsided my blindsiding with your CPU powers, Neptune. But this time, you will not have it so easy! Your powers WILL be mine!"
"Oh yeah!?"
Neptune summoned her Keyblade, ready to do battle against her archnemesis (pending) for the (hopefully) last time.
"Well, I think we've had our feud for far too long!" Neptune declared boldly. "I will take you down so you will never appear in any more games ever again!"
"Yeesh, Nep" IF said, taken aback by her friend's choice of words. "Reel in it."
"Then again" Compa noted, bringing out her syringe. "If she appears in too many games, people will get really bored of her real quick if she doesn't bring in new material as a villain..."
"Hey!" Arfoire complained. "I can hear you, you know!?"
Noire smirked. "So, what? No one likes an old lady like you for a recurring villain!"
The Beast grunted. "To be frank, I don't think she'll last that long as a villain..."
"See!?" Neptune boasted. "Even Beasty here gets it! Now, exit the stage, Arwitchi!"
However, the insults hurled were one too many, and now Arfoire looks ready to blow thirteen fuses!
"You dare insult my greatness, are you? Very well, then..."
She snapped her fingers, causing three more of her to spawn right next to her, each of them wielding a different weapon, with one wielding the axe, another wielding the sword and the last clone also wielding a lance!
"Am I trippin' or am I seein' quadruple here?" Neptune remarked with widened eyes.
"Oh great..." IF complained. "Another hack ability she pulled out of her butt!"
"Haa-hahahahaha!" the four Arfoires laughed. "I am a villain, after all! Cheating is just part of our nature!"
"And now, she's speaking in stereo!" Compa exclaimed, covering her ears. "I don't think I'll ever recover from this..."
Noire clicked her tongue. "This is bad...I knew her magical powers are no joke, but I didn't think she'd have something like this up her sleeve!"
However, her fellow CPU only laughed. "What's so funny, Neptune?"
"He-heh!" Neptune snickered. "Don't you guys see? By splitting into four, her power's all divided up, too!"
"Huh" IF observed, then an idea hit her! "I see! If that's the case, then if we can coordinate our strikes, we should be able to defeat her!"
"Oh yeah!" Compa cheered. "Nice thinking, Nep-Nep, Iffy!"
The Beast smirked. "It seems you have a plan in mind, then!"
The guild agent nodded. "Let's get a feel for them, first. Once we exchanged enough blows, I'll have a plan all cooked up!"
Noire got into her battle stance. "Then I'll take point! Ready for this, Neptune?"
Neptune rubbed her nose. "Am I ever? Now, let's end this feud!"
Arfoire (the real one, like we couldn't tell anyway) smirked. "For once, we agree on something! It is time to end this, Neptune, once and for all!"
Just as the party started to move, the four Arfoires began to do the same.
"You've annoyed us for too long, witch!" Compa declared, opening fire with her syringe. "BLAZING AMMO!"
One of the lance-wielding Arfoires dodged the incoming fire.
"Playing with fire, are we?"
The axe-wielding Arfoire created a chunk of ice with her magic. She then dissolved it into ice chunks and threw them at the nurse with her axe like a person would with a baseball bat!
"GEFAHRLICTERN!"
"AH!" Compa cried. "I don't like getting hurt!"
"Compa!" IF shouted as she rushed back to defend her friend. "Hold on!"
"You won't be going anywhere!"
The guild agent turned, raising her qatars in defense, against another lance-wielding Arfoire, who has her and Compa right in her sights!
"KINESTRA SLASH!"
The attack struck before either the nurse or the guild agent could react, causing them to be sent flying!
"GAAAAAAAHHH!"
"Compa! Iffy!" Neptune shouted, locked in combat against the first lance-wielding Arfoire.
"What's wrong, Neptune?" Arfoire taunted. "Losing your grip already? You're making this too easy!"
She deflected the sword attack, and readies her next attack.
"Grrr! DELTA SLASH!"
"PURPASCENS BURST!"
Neptune attempted to hit her with her electric attack, but Arfoire rushed through it and struck Neptune dead and true.
"GAH! That's not fair!"
The Beast roared, furiously charging at the axe-wielding Arfoire, who only smirked and taunted the transformed man with a finger.
"STEP ASIDE!"
"GETTER RAVINE!"
The clash was fierce, but the winner was already determined...
"GUOH!"
Noire clicked her tongue, clashing with the sword-wielding Arfoire. "This is bad. I didn't think she'd be this tough."
"Of course I am" Arfoire boasted. "To strike effectively, one must learn to bare their fangs until the right moment. It's basic strategy"
Noire glared at her opponent. "Why you...! LACY DANCE!"
"LACY DANCE!"
Their attacks matched up, but Arfoire had more power in her strikes, so Noire was pushed back!
"I'm not done! VOLCANO DIVE!"
The small eruption stroke true, sending both Noire and Neptune packing.
"GAAAAAHHH!"
"Haa-hahahahahaha!" all four Arfoires laughed at the same time. "Come now! Where was the fire and the passion that you all had? Don't tell me your bodies couldn't keep up after dealing with Maleficent!?"
"How is this possible...?" Noire bemoaned, struggling to stand.
"Maybe...her power wasn't divided...after all..." IF guessed, even in her damaged state.
"Or...do you think..." Compa struggled to say. "...maybe...she's just...too strong...for us..."
The Beast growled, trying to stand, only to stumble back down. "Cursed...witch!"
Neptune tried to stand up, barely being able to do so.
"Oh?" One of the Arfoires said. "You still stand, Neptune?"
Despite her stand, Neptune remained silent.
"No words? Ah..." Arfoire realized. "It seems your fear has taken root in your mind before your body did, and only now it's catching up to you..."
"Neptune..." Noire called out weakly.
But Neptune smirked. "Don't count me out yet..."
The Arfoires furrowed their eyes on the purple menace, slowly raising her finger upward.
"Every protag always has an ace in the hole..."
The Arfoires then gasped, widening their eyes in surprise!
"Since when...?" IF gasped.
"Did Nep-Nep make that!?" Compa cried.
Behind them, a large spectral sword was summoned, poised to fire at whatever's in front of it.
"Checkmate..."
Extending her hand out, Neptune sent the spectral sword forth, causing a massive explosion against the four Arfoires!
"A direct hit!" IF reported.
"Did it work?" Compa hoped.
Noire furrowed her eyes to see through the chaos...
"No way..."
...only to see all four Arfoires with their left arms raised, erecting a magical barrier that shielded them from the attack!
"Is that all, Neptune?"
The girl couldn't give an answer as she fell onto her knees, her strength giving out.
"Her 32-Bit Mega Blade..." Noire bemoaned. "It didn't hit..."
"This blows..."
In a swift instant, the three Arfoire clones converged on the party!
The sword-wielding Arfoire placed her sword near Noire's neck, ready to slice it off.
The axe-wielding Arfoire lined up her axe near the heads of Compa and the Beast, as if she has become their executioner.
The lance-wielding Arfoire double readied her spear over IF's chest, ready to pierce her heart like a sheesh-kabob.
Meanwhile, the real Arfoire slowly walked over to the downed heroine.
"You see the difference in our strength now, Neptune? You and your friends were never a match for me. Not now, not ever!"
As she approached her, she used her spear to gently raise the girl's head, letting her see the girl's face.
"Now that you recognize that, I only ask for two things. Your power..."
She then glanced upon the tome, sticking out of the right side of Neptune's parka pocket.
"...and that tome..."
The witch then looked to the downed party, all at the mercy of her clones.
"...for your friends' lives!"
"Don't do it, Neptune!" Noire pleaded.
"If you do, that hag's gonna win!" IF exclaimed.
"Get up and run away, Nep-Nep!" Compa pleaded.
"Hurry!" the Beast shouted.
The witch glanced back to Neptune, her head still tilted up by her spear.
"Well, what's your choice, Neptune? We don't have all day, you know?"
"Neptune!" Histoire begged. "Please do as they say. Get up and run as far away as you can! We can't let Arfoire win!"
"But..."
"There's a saying here. We must run in order to live for another day. We can't risk the worlds in jeopardy like this!"
"But then, Noire and the others will..." Neptune wondered, nervously glancing at her downed friends
"I know what you feel, but if Arfoire obtains all that power, then the worlds will fall just like Gamindustri!"
"Well?" the witch impatiently demanded. "Your answer, Neptune?"
"Neptune!"
"Nep!"
"Nep-Nep!"
"..."
A good three seconds passed...
"Go ahead...You win..."
Everyone looked at the girl in shock. Did Neptune just...
"Wha..."
"Nep-Nep..."
"W-Why!?"
"This isn't worth it..." Neptune cried. "Giving up my friends for the sake of a world I don't know, even though I could've lived in it? I don't think I could ever make that choice..."
"But Nep!" IF pleaded. "That witch could destroy everything, INCLUDING US! Just forget about us and run away already!"
"No!" Neptune suddenly shouted as tears leaked out of her eyes. "I don't wanna leave you guys! I don't wanna leave Sora and the others behind too! I...I still have my promise to Noire!"
Noire gasped at the mention of her name.
"I still promised Histy I'd free her!"
"Neptune..."
"I wanna keep on going on adventures and stuff with you all. You...All of you...You all are my world!"
"Nep..."
"Nep-Nep..."
IF and Compa started to cry upon hearing her declaration.
"So, what if I lose my power as a CPU!? So, what if I lose my Keyblade like Sora did!?" Neptune declared, life returning to her eyes. "I still got my heart with me! And it's saying...no, it's screaming at me to keep my whole world safe! And if it means giving up this 'spark'...even if it means we have to part again...I'll do anything to protect it!"
"Neptune..." Noire called out, tears once again leaking from her eyes.
"So, go on, Arforichi!" Neptune declared, raising her arms. "Take my power! Take Histy from me! Just spare my friends and we're good, got it!?"
Arfoire chuckled. "Very well. A deal is a deal."
She snapped her fingers, causing the clones to disperse into balls of light that end up converging into the witch.
"Now then..."
She then grabbed Neptune by the neck...
"...Your power shall be mine at last, Neptune!"
...and after taking the tome from her, began to absorb Neptune's power in earnest...
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
"NEP-NEP!"
IF and Noire looked away in shame, tears still leaking from their eyes.
Eventually, the sound of flowing energy stopped as Arfoire began to glow with overwhelming energy.
"Hahahaha! HAA-HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Arfoire bellowed as her weapon now transformed into a black katana. "At long last! I finally have ALL four CPU powers! The right to reign over Gamindustri is mine and mine alone!"
She then glanced at the girl still in her grasp. "And it's all thanks to you, Neptune. My goal is now within reach!"
"Well...good for you..." Neptune snarked. "Now, let me and my pals walk away in peace...and we won't bug you again..."
Arfoire hummed. "About that..."
She then dropped Neptune to the ground.
"...How about I kill you all right here and now?"
Neptune's eyes widened in shock. "No fair, Arwitch! We had a deal!"
"And I'm a villainess, remember?" the witch declared offhandly. "Playing fair was NEVER in my creed."
IF and Noire glared at the witch with righteous fury.
"I knew it..." IF said, slamming her fist onto the pavement. "I knew she wouldn't go through with it...!"
"Are we...gonna die...?" Compa cried.
Noire gritted her teeth as she casted her mightiest glare at the evil witch.
"ARRRRRFOOOIRRREEEEE!"
As the other CPU screamed, Arfoire felt a looming presence over her...
"ROAAAAAARRR!"
...and swatted him away, right next to the middle right stasis chamber, pinned by dark spectral swords.
"You're quite a nuisance, you know that?" Arfoire said without glancing at her attacker. "Be thankful I gave you a place next to your beauty, filthy beast."
The Beast growled, but he could not break free from his binds!
She then raised the reacquired tome. "Now, Histoire! By my right as successor of Gamindustri, grant me the power I rightfully deserve!"
"Arfoire..."
Arfoire chuckled. "Before you all say anything, yes, I'm quite aware that with the seal, I can't access the whole tome. However..."
She then began to exert energy against the tome itself!
"AAAAAAAAHHHH!"
"Histoire!" Noire cried.
"You heard that, right Iffy?" Compa said in shock.
"Yeah..." IF nodded. "That must be Histoire!"
"Histy..." Neptune cried softly.
"I anticipated such an obstacle!" Arfoire boasted. "I studied across several tomes and scrolls in order to bypass your seal! Now, with the power of the four Console Patron Units, grant me power unimaginable! Grant me dominion over our world and all others as the ONE TRUE GODDESS!"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
"What'll happen now, Iffy?" the nurse cried. "Are we really going to die?"
The guild agent slowly crawled to her friend, hugging her tightly. "It'll be okay, Compa. I'll work out a solution..."
Neptune could only gaze upon Arfoire, smug yet triumphant, as she forces Histy to do...whatever she wanted to do...
"...?"
Only to feel warmth surrounding her.
"Noire?"
She turned around to see the twin-tailed girl, who only gave her a wry smile as she hugged her from behind.
A sad smile...
Yet, Neptune could only give a smile back...
"Sorry, Noire" the girl who once held the key apologized. "Guess I screwed up, huh?"
Noire sighed, never losing her smile. "You really did. But...you didn't abandon us...I guess...I can be grateful for that, at least..."
Neptune sniffed as tears leaked out a bit more.
"Guess this is it, huh?"
"Yeah...For how short it was...it's been fun..."
Neptune chuckled. "Yeah...It really was..."
She then sighed. "I only wished...we could'a gone out there...like we promised..."
Noire scooted closer and gently laid her forehead against Neptune's, the latter surprised by her action...
"It's alright..." the twin-tailed CPU reassured, her tone and face seemingly at peace despite the situation. "You did all you could...That's all anyone could ask for..."
"Noire..."
Neptune reciprocated, laying her forehead against Noire's as they both closed their eyes and awaited the end...
"Sorry Sora, Donald, Goofster...I guess I messed up to the end...I only hope...you'll forgive me once we see each other on the other side..."
...
...
...
"I'm sorry, but you fail to meet the requirements for such a demand..."
...only for it to never come...
"What?" Arfoire nearly shouted. "What do you mean?"
"As I said, you fail to meet the aforementioned requirements."
"What in the actual heck, Histoire!" the witch yelled back. "Why haven't I been granted the power yet!?"
"Must I repeat myself? You failed to meet the requirements to be granted sovereignty over Gamindustri."
"Impossible!" Arfoire argued. "I already have the power of all four CPU's! I should be reigning all over the worlds by now! So WHY!?"
"I do not wish to repeat myself a fourth time. You heard the reasons, so figure the rest out yourself"
Arfoire growled in anger, throwing her weapon down. "WHY!? WHAT AM I STILL MISSING!? I WAS SO CLOSE!"
"Uh, anyone wanna fill me in here?" Neptune asked around as she and Noire looked at their fellow companions.
"I have no idea what's going on anymore..." Compa admitted, wiping her cheeks with a handkerchief.
"Me neither..." IF said as she stood and helped the nurse up. "But for now, let's take this chance and regroup"
"Regroup?" Noire wondered. "With Sora and the others?"
The guild agent nodded. "We won't be able to take that witch down by ourselves. Let's meet up with the others and form up a plan"
"Wait!" Compa urged, glancing to the trapped Beast. "But what about...?"
Said Beast shook his head, and motioned his head to the path ahead, silently urging them to go on ahead without him.
"That answers that" IF mused as she started moving. "Now, let's go! Hopefully, everything's going fine on their end..."
The other three nodded as they proceeded on ahead, leaving the ranting witch, the trapped Beast and the captured tome behind.
"What is this?" Neptune thought as she and her friends went past the disabled IMB. "What's this...icky feeling in my chest? I don't like this..."
A few minutes ago, near the dark passageway...
"Riku...!"
Sora tried in vain to reach out to his best friend, who has been possessed by a man called Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness. In a riveting duel, Sora, beckoned by Kairi's voice, was able to triumph, but his best friend vanished before he could reach out to him.
"Sora!" Donald called out near the dark passageway.
"The Keyhole!" Goofy cried in a panic as they saw darkness spilling from the dark passageway.
Sora raised his Keyblade in an attempt to seal it, but nothing happened...
"What's wrong?" Donald wondered.
"The Keyhole's not finished yet!" Goofy guessed.
"Then what do we do?" Sora bemoaned as he withdrew his Keyblade. "Should we go get Neptune?"
The royal captain turned to the unconscious body in the area.
"Maybe we oughta wake Kairi up!" he suggested.
"But how do we do that?" the court wizard asked.
"Go wake Kairi up..." Sora thought aloud. "But how...?"
His eyes then turned to the fake Keyblade Riku once possessed, lying on the ground bereft of its wielder.
"A Keyblade that opens people's hearts, I wonder..."
He then walked down to grab the Keyblade...
"Sora...?"
Donald gasped at the sight, realizing what he's going to do.
"Sora! Wait!"
The boy turned to his friends with a goofy smile.
"SORA!"
The three turned to see the girls running in, exhausted and out of breath.
"Hey, Neptune..." Sora said sadly. "It's been fun..."
He then aimed the Keyblade at his own heart...
IF gasped. "No! Is he going to...!?"
"Take care of her, okay?"
...and STABBED himself with it!
As he let the Keyblade go, he could feel his consciousness, his entire being getting lighter and lighter, his eyes getting heavier as his vision blurred...
The false Keyblade crashed into the ground, dissolving into darkness as six hearts emerged and flew over to the princess locked in their stasis chambers, reentering into their original owners.
Meanwhile, one more heart emerged from Sora and flew into the unconscious Kairi, waking her up at last, bringing a smile to the boy's face.
And for the coup de grace, a dark orb, shielded by bright purple energy, flew out of him as the boy who held the key dissolved into light. This sight did not the guild agent's notice.
"SORA!" Donald screamed as he tried to reach him. "SORA!"
"DON'T GO!" Neptune pleaded as she ran up to him. "PLEASE! SORA!"
Kairi immediately got up upon hearing Sora's name...
"Sora!"
...and tried to reach him, only to dissolve into the light as sparks faded...
"SORA!" Donald cried out into the distance. "COME BACK, SORA!"
"YOU STUPID, IDIOT JERKFACE!" Neptune yelled at the top of her lungs. "WHY'D YOU GO AND DO THAT!? WHY!?"
...But it was no use...
"I'm...falling..."
Sora, the Keyblade's Chosen One...
"Falling...and falling...into darkness..."
...is gone...
"Sora..." Kairi cried out "Did you really...?"
Noire approached the crying Neptune and patted her on the shoulder.
Sensing this, the girl with the key immediately leapt on her fellow CPU's arms and buried her weeping face onto her friend's chest.
"He's gone, Noire..." Neptune cried. "He's gone...Why did he have to go like that…?"
"I'm sorry..." Noire said to the young girl as she patted her head. "He was a good friend…"
"Is he..." Compa cried as IF comforted her. "Is he really gone? Our Sora, gone?"
The guild agent, however, growled in frustration as the tears flowed from her eyes. "Why couldn't he just wait!? If we had more time, we'd come up with a plan together! But then, he…he…that moron!"
Donald moaned in defeat while Goofy tried his best not to cry.
"Will Sora ever come back?" the royal captain whined.
Noire sighed, feeling the gloomy atmosphere. "I hate to say it, but given what just happened, I don't think he's gonna..."
"NO!"
Everyone turned to Kairi, her clenched fist laid close to her heart.
She shook her head, refusing to believe this was really happening. "He's not gone! He's still here! I believe in Sora! I won't let him go!"
Hearing this caused Neptune to look at the islander girl in surprise.
"Yeah..." the de-powered CPU said, wiping off her tears. "She's right! Sora's not gone! He's the protag of this story! Er, one of them! Protags can't die 3/4th's into the story! They just can't!"
Everyone looked to each other, each with faces of hope and reassurance etched into them. Kairi in particular started to giggle a bit at Neptune's declaration.
"Leave it to you to say it in meta-terms, Nep..." IF sighed, having calmed down. "But if you're all willing to believe in that, I'll do the same."
"Same here" Noire nodded. "He's one of my friends now too! We mustn't lose faith in him!"
Everyone around nodded, their determination rising by the second.
"WHERE IS HE!?"
The seven turned their heads to see Arfoire, desperate and out of breath, holding onto the tome that held Histoire.
"Arfoire!?" Donald yelled.
"Back already!?" Noire shouted as she stood in front of Neptune.
"Hey!" Goofy shouted, pointing to the large tome on her hand. "Give Histy back!"
Ignoring their rumblings, Arfoire scanned around the area. "WHERE IS THAT BOY!? HE HAS WHAT I WANT!"
"What does Sora have that she wants?" Compa whimpered.
IF clicked her tongue. "So, she thought the same idea, too..."
Arfoire then glared at the recently-awoken princess. "You! Tell me where he is!"
Kairi instinctively took a few steps back. Whoever this old lady is, she's not good news...
"I'm not telling!" the islander girl responded.
Seeing this, Neptune and Noire moved in to defend Kairi.
"I won't ask again, girl..." the witch growled. "WHERE. IS. THE BOY!?"
"Hey! The princess says she's not telling!" Neptune snapped back. "And her word is law!"
She then turned her head to the islander and winked with a quick smile. Kairi couldn't help but giggle at the sight. She almost reminded her of Sora in a way...
Arfoire huffed. "What can you do? You're nothing but a powerless little worm now. All you can do is delay the inevitable!"
"Looks like she won't budge, huh?" Donald murmured.
"No" Noire answered. "She has Histoire and is close to having all the power she could want. We can't let her get through with her plans!"
Goofy nodded. "Then me and Donald will handle that meanie witch!"
Donald huffed in affirmation, standing bravely in front of the party against said witch.
Arfoire laughed. "What can you two lackeys even do!? I have the power of all 4 CPU's of Gamindustri in my hands!"
She then switched her weapon from a spear, to a battle axe, to a broadsword and finally into a katana to add to her boast. The witch then raised Histoire's tome with her free hand for good measure!
"And what's more, I have Histoire in my hands! With all these powers, I will have reign over Gamindustri, and once I do, I'll seize Kingdom Hearts and extend my rule towards ALL WORLDS! There's nothing I cannot do! Haa-hahahahaha!"
"If Histy is the reason why she's able to gain all that power then..."
[sneaky sneaky]
IF turned to the side and noticed the nurse silently walking to the other side of the area. "What is she...Wait..."
The guild agent then noticed the tome still raised on Arfoire's left hand, and immediately understood what her friend was going for. "I see...Then I'll get you all the time you need. Good thing she doesn't know what really happened to Sora right now. Better take advantage of that while I still can."
"But can you really pull that off?"
Everyone present turned to IF, who smirked.
Arfoire growled as she stopped laughing. "You dare speak against me!?"
"Face it!" the guild agent taunted. "The only reason you've been able to get this far was because you absorbed powers that weren't yours to begin with!"
"So, what if I did!? Those stupid CPU's wouldn't even KNOW how to use those powers right!"
"There's a fine difference between being stupid and not even knowing what something is!" Noire fought back.
[Sneaky, Sneaky]
"Yeah!" Neptune followed, focusing on the current conversation. "We didn't even get to learn our whole deal as CPU's, so what gives, old lady!?"
"That's because newborns like you are not worthy of the powers you were given!"
"Newborns?" Kairi noted.
[Sneaky, SNEAKY]
"So, what if they were?" Donald fought back.
"If they've just been born, that means they can learn a lot about themselves on the way!" Goofy pointed out. "Our King certainly took time to learn about his duties, after all"
"Yeah" the royal wizard agreed. "Besides, I'd take them as our goddesses over an old hag like you any day!"
"What!?"
"So..." Kairi tried to interject. "Please retire from now on. I'm sure these new ones will do a great job!"
Arfoire's growling got even louder. "Even you!?"
"Dang!" Neptune commented. "That's one sick burn you got, girl friend!"
Kairi giggled in thanks. She has got to know them more later.
[SNEAKY, SNEAKY]
"That's it...That's it!"
Arfoire couldn't contain her anger any further!
"I'll destroy you fools here and now! Maybe then you'll tell me where your friend is!"
"NOW!"
But then, a loud shout was heard near her and before the witch knew it, the tome in her hand is gone!
"I got you back, Histy!"
It was Compa! The nurse has somehow snuck into the scene and snatched Histoire from the witch's clutches while she was distracted.
"Wha-" If Arfoire wasn't completely incensed, she is now. "HOW DARE YOU!?"
"Eeeeeeepppp!" Compa whimpered. "Bye-bye!"
The nurse immediately ran to her friends while the witch primed spectral swords against her!
"Take cover, Compa!"
But Goofy dashed forth with shield in hand, blocking the swords from hitting her!
"Go away!"
Donald followed up with a Blizzaza to Arfoire's face, pushing her back!
"Nice job, Compa!" IF praised the nurse.
"That was really dangerous!" Noire shouted with worry. "One wrong step and either that witch would have you dead on their sights!"
"I...I know..." Compa gasped between breaths. "That was really scary!"
IF gave a warm smile as she patted the nurse's head. "It's okay, Compa. You did good."
"I had to" Compa insisted, giving the tome back to Neptune. "Nep-Nep gave her powers up for us. I feel I had to do something to pay her back."
"D'awwwww!" Neptune cried. "You didn't have to think of it like that! Pals don't need to repay favors or anything like that"
"Even so!" the nurse stood her ground. "I had to do something for you! Your words touched my heart like nothing else! I want to keep going with you too!"
"Compa..."
Donald and Goofy looked to their party members, and then nodded to themselves.
Arfoire growled. "So, what if you retrieved Histoire? I still have more than enough power to eliminate you all!"
She then began to summon black energy swords around her, all primed to assault the party.
"Hey!" Neptune shouted in anger. "She's using my technique! Not cool!"
Goofy immediately stood in front of the group, raising his shield forward. "Get behind me, everybody!"
"NOW, DI-"
An evil laughter was heard in the room, one that didn't come from the evil witch.
"Who...?" Noire wondered.
And then, Arfoire was suddenly blasted by a dark laser, causing the swords around her to be dispelled in the process
"This charade has certainly taken an interesting turn!" a deep voice declared.
"Who dares to attack me!?
Arfoire stood up and glared at the dark pathway, seeing a man, with tanned skin, amber eyes, white hair, wearing a gray open coat with a Heartless emblem on his chest, emerged onto the scene.
"Who are you!?" Arfoire demanded.
The man laughed. "If you must know, I am Ansem. One who seeks the darkness of all."
"Ansem?" Donald repeated.
"Isn't that the guys who led the Heartless into this world?" Compa asked
IF nodded. "Yeah. He's the reason why Leon and the others had to leave. The reason why the Heartless were able to invade the worlds to begin with."
"Oh man!" Neptune complained. "That guy definitely screams evil villain, alright!"
"Hmmmmm" Goofy closely inspected the new arrival. "You don't look like the kind of guy King Mickey described!"
Ansem laughed again. "What's there to mistake me for? My name is Ansem and that is a fact."
He then made his way to the exhausted evil witch.
"And as for you, witch. Your role in this story has long ended. It is time for you to depart..."
Arfoire growled in anger.
"LIKE I WOULD DO THAT!"
In her anger, she summoned several spectral swords, all aimed against Ansem!
"I HAVE THE POWER OF FOUR CPU'S! I AM STRONGER THAN EVEN YOU!"
The man, for his part, only chuckled in amusement.
"Truly the desperate cries of a false goddess..."
He then taunted her. "Come"
"RRRAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
In her anger, she aimed the swords at Ansem, and blasted him with them!
"A direct hit!" IF shouted.
"That's a lotta swords..." Goofy gulped in fear.
"Did that really do him in though?" Noire wondered.
Arfoire gasped for breath as the dust cleared in front of her...
"Is that all?"
The witch's eyes widened. The attack didn't even pierce through...
"Grrrrrr..."
...because Ansem has summoned a dark creature in front of him to protect him from harm.
"You've done well, Guardian"
The creature let out a light growl as he vanished from view.
"Wha-" Arfoire could let only let out. "What are you!?"
Ansem snickered and then sneered. "I told you, witch. I am the Seeker of Darkness. I will sink all of existence into the depths of darkness, for that is the truth of this world."
Arfoire growled. "Then keep your truth to yourself! I will have control over all! I WILL DEFINE ALL OF EXISTENCE IF I HAVE TO!"
Ansem smirked as he folded his arms. "Are you certain you have the strength? The resolve?"
Just as she was readying another attack, she looked and saw the party, still standing and ready for another battle.
Arfoire clicked her tongue as she retreated. "You will all pay for this! I swear it! FOR I AM THE ONE TRUE GODDESS OF GAMINDUSTRI!"
"Hey!" Neptune complained. "Get back here! What do you even want Sora for, anyway!?"
But the witch was gone, vanishing into the darkness.
"Worry about her later!" Noire warned. "There's still someone here we have to worry about!"
The tanned man chuckled. "Now that was an interesting diversion, but now..."
He turned towards the party, who remained wary of their new guest.
"I see you have awakened at last, princess" Ansem stated, eyeing the islander girl.
Kairi gulped, feeling nervous and anxious all of a sudden... "Who are you?"
He then encroached the party, ignoring the girl's question. "Still, you have fulfilled your role admirably, but now, it is over. It is time for you to depart."
As he encroached upon her, Kairi couldn't help but feel anxiety and fear as the man approached her.
Her mind flashed to a time when her tiny hands reached for the gates, only to be surrounded by tiny yet menacing monsters as a man in a lab coat approached her, grabbing her away...
"No..." Kairi whispered in fear. "Stay away..."
"Don't make another move!"
Kairi snapped out of her fear-induced episode, seeing the duck wielding a staff, the walking dog with his shield, the girl in the blue coat wearing blades on her wrists and the other girl wearing twin-tails wielding a rapier all bravely standing before her, defending her from the scary man.
"Are you okay?"
The islander girl turned to her right to see the crying girl who snatched the tome from earlier. Compa, right?
"I...I think so, yeah"
"C'mon, girl friend!" the tiny girl wearing the parka cheerily said. "You gotta cheer up and smile! It's...it's what Sora would have wanted..."
Kairi smiled at the girl wearing the parka. There's just something about her that cheers you up, no matter the situation.
It reminds her of Sora, in a way...
"Do ya think we can take him?" the dog asked his friend.
"I don't know..." the duck admitted.
"Even so, we gotta buy them some time" the girl in the blue coat said. "We can't let Sora and Nep's sacrifices go to waste!"
"Yeah..." the twin-tailed girl whispered. "At least, if we can get Neptune and Kairi out with Histoire, then..."
However, just as the man closed in on them, he suddenly stopped.
"I-Impossible!"
He began to shake, as if he was held back by some mysterious force...
"No...You won't...use me for this!"
Said force shimmered into view, revealing a familiar boy encased in light...
"Riku!" Kairi and Noire yelled.
"You gotta run!" Riku warned everyone. "The Heartless are coming!"
Sure enough, several Shadows spawned around them.
IF clicked her tongue. "Just what we need!"
"We can't stay here!" Compa cried. "We gotta run!"
Neptune growled. "Alright! I'll take 'em!"
She extended her hand out, but...
"Huh? What gives?"
"Neptune..." Noire grimly informed her fellow CPU. "...You gave up your powers, remember? That means your Keyblade's gone too..."
"Oh!" Neptune suddenly realized. "Ahhhhhhh! What do I do!? What do I do!?"
As she jumped around in a panic, her salvation was found.
"I got it!"
She leapt forth, landing into a roll as she grabbed a Wooden Sword that was lying on the floor.
"I'll make do with this!"
"But Nep-Nep" Compa tried to warn the girl. "You won't be able to do much with that! Not even Sora could damage the Heartless as much with it!"
Sure enough, the few hits she tried to do against the Shadows barely knocked them back.
"Geez" Neptune complained. "Well, I still got my magic! I ain't backing down from this!"
"Now's not the time to be reckless!" IF shouted, slicing down a Shadow. "We can't afford to stay here. We're already beat trying to defeat Maleficent. Besides, we got who we came here for, so let's book it already!"
"But...!"
"Neptune!" Donald called out. "Let's just go!"
Suddenly, three Shadows attempted to pounce on the party, only to be repelled by a slash from a rapier, causing Neptune to gasp at the sight.
"Go!"
"Noire!?"
The twin-tailed CPU turned her head with a fierce look.
"I'll keep them busy! Hurry and go!"
"But...but...!"
Noire gave a smirk towards Neptune.
"Don't forget, Neptune. I may be without most of my power, but I'm still a CPU. I won't fall that easily!"
She readied her stance, daring the Heartless to attack her.
"Besides, I still have someone to save here. Now go!"
Neptune gripped the wooden sword in frustration.
"No!" she insisted. "If you're staying, then I..."
"Neptune..."
The girl in the parka turned to see Kairi, tightly gripping her shoulder, her face conflicted and torn.
"We have to go...Please..."
"Take care of her, okay?"
Realizing that she still has one more thing to do, Neptune, her grip on the Wooden Sword never loosening, relented.
"Fine! But don't forget about our promise, ya hear!?"
The girl in the parka turned around and jumped off the area as the rest of the party ran down the stairs to join her in their flight.
Noire smiled. "You know I won't"
She then charged energy onto her sword, ready to make her last stand.
"Now, come here! I am Noire! Come and do your worst!"
As the battle raged on, one of the Shadows, surrounded by a purplish glow, slinked away, and as if beckoned on by curiosity, pursued the fleeing party instead of aiding it's comrades against the brave, yet stubborn CPU.
Hollow Bastion – Entrance Hall
"Did we lose them?" Donald asked, looking around the area.
"I don't sense any of them right now" IF reported. "But who knows when that can change."
"Kairi! Nep-Nep!" Goofy called to the girl above the fountain. "We gotta hurry!"
"But we can't just leave them here!" Kairi insisted.
"C'mon, girl friend!" Neptune cheered, trying to keep the islander girl's mood up. "It'll be fine! Once we rest up and meet with the others, we're gonna come back and get our buck-o's outta there!"
"Buck-o?" Kairi raised an eyebrow while trying to hold back her giggling.
"It's what I call Sora now and again" Neptune shrugged, escorting the islander down the stairs. "Dunno why I do, but it stuck to me, so, yeah"
"He must not like that, huh?" Kairi wondered.
"He wasn't complaining, that's for sure" the girl in the parka chirped.
"Strange" the islander mused. "Sora usually doesn't like being given nicknames or being called by anything other than his name."
"D'awwwww, I'm pretty sure he'd make an exception for you!" Neptune reassured as they are about to rejoin their comrades.
"Y-You think so?" Kairi said, her face flushed.
Neptune nodded. "I know it! In fact, I've got a neat-o suggestion..."
"Guys, get behind us!"
The rest of the party gathered in front of the two girls, their weapons armed and at the ready.
"What's up?" Neptune asked.
"There's one of them comin'!"
Goofy pointed to the strange Shadow Heartless making its way down the staircase.
"Doesn't that one look kinda strange?" Compa noticed.
"Yeah" IF remarked. "Like what kind of aura is that?"
"I'll take care of it!"
Donald charged forth, but since he's out of MP and out of items, he resorted to hitting it square on the head thrice with his staff.
"Confounded Heartless!" Donald yelled. "Get lost, will ya!?"
But it didn't even move. It just kept staring at them like a newborn baby.
In particular, the Heartless was staring at Kairi and Neptune.
"Hey, this purple-like glow..." Neptune noticed. "Is this..."
"Sora?" Kairi called out to the Heartless. "Is that you?"
"Wait!" Compa panicked, putting her syringe, that she had aimed against the Heartless, behind her back. "THAT'S SORA!?"
"Huh, that would make sense..." IF mumbled, kneeling down to observe the glowing Shadow. "For someone as nice as him, he would only have a little bit of darkness in him."
"But if he's like this" Goofy panicked. "How do we change him back?"
"Good question..." Donald said, folding his arms. "Nothing in my magic studies ever mentioned about this..."
"Why don't we take him with us, then?" Neptune suggested.
Everyone, including the Shadow, looked at the former CPU with widened eyes.
"Look, I know it's a silly idea" Neptune started, scratching the back of her head. "But, if this little guy really is our buck-o, then we really gotta change him back!"
Kairi nodded, scooping the glowing Shadow and holding it like a housecat. "I agree. I want to get Sora back, no matter what it takes!"
"Are you two sure about this?" IF asked, standing up. "For all we know, this Heartless could be someone else, or something more dangerous..."
"No" Kairi said. "I know this is Sora. He may not look like him now, but I feel it in my heart. This one IS Sora!"
Neptune nodded fiercely. "Besides, do you see that purple glow? I'm getting all the fuzzies just by feeling it, so, yeah! That's gotta be Sora, no doubt about it!"
IF hummed.
"Well, what do you think?" Donald asked the guild agent. "Is this one really Sora?"
"You don't believe us?" Kairi asked sadly.
Neptune groaned. "C'mon, Iffy! I get that's your name, but you don't have to doubt EVERYTHING, y'know!?"
IF sighed. "That's not what my name means, Nep. And...well, despite my thoughts saying otherwise, I wanna believe that this little guy here's our Sora"
Compa smiled. "Iffy..."
The guild agent sighed, sheathing the qatar on her right wrist as she patted the Heartless on the head. "This guy, I swear. Going out like that when he did. He and Nep really are two peas in a pod, huh?"
"Yeah!" Donald nodded and then turned to Neptune with a stern look. "Why did you have to give up your powers like that!?"
Goofy nodded, his eyebrows furrowed. "That was pretty reckless of ya!"
"W-What was I supposed to do!?" Neptune complained. "That Ar-somebody had us for rights! I had to do something!"
"Now, now, everyone" Compa said, smoothing over the atmosphere. "The important thing is, in a way, our party is back together again."
Neptune nodded, brightening her mood a bit. "Hear, hear!"
Kairi giggled. "You all must have a lot of fun together, huh?"
"Don't say like you weren't there!" Donald said.
Goofy nodded. "If what Donald heard back there's true, then you've been with us ever since Sora left the islands. In a way, you've been adventurin' with us too!"
The islander chuckled. "In a way, yeah. But I'd still like to hear all about it."
Neptune guffawed. "In that case, let's all chat about it when we get Sora back! I'm sure you two have a lot of 'catching up' to do, if ya know what I mean?"
Kairi's face flushed as she played with her fingers. "W-Well..."
The girl in the parka laughed. "Look at that! That's young love in its finest, I tell ya!"
And then Goofy yelled. "UH-OH!"
Suddenly, a swarm of Shadows surrounded the whole party, interrupting their moment.
"Rude!" Neptune complained, bringing out her wooden sword. "We were having a nice moment here!"
"How good are we to go?" IF asked around.
Compa nodded. "We can keep going, Iffy!"
The guild agent nodded back. "Okay, but fight sparsely. We're all out of items and our MP reserves are running low. We don't wanna kick the bucket just as we're reaching the finish line."
"Nep-Nep, take care of Sora and Kairi for us, okay?" Goofy requested.
Neptune gave the royal knight a thumbs up. "Leave it to me!"
The party scrambled to deal with the mass of Shadows surrounding them. Thankfully, the Shadows are still weak, and the party still has enough strength to spare...
"It's okay, Sora" Kairi reassured, petting the glowing Shadow. "This time, I'll protect you"
...but, more Shadows started spawning near the two girls, surrounding them.
"They're coming here!" Neptune yelled, swatting a nearby Shadow away.
"Blast!"
IF tried to move to them, but the nearby Shadows tried to pounce on her, forcing her to keep her attention on them.
"This is not good!" Compa whined, taking out a Shadow. "We'll be completely surrounded at this rate!"
Eventually, the Shadows converged on the two girls...
"Sora!"
"No!"
...forcing Kairi to hug the glowing Shadow, while Neptune shields the two with her own body!
"Oh no!" Donald cried as the girls were being consumed by the Shadows.
"Kairi!" Goofy yelled. "Nep-Nep!"
However, a bright light shone forth, blasting the nearby Shadows away, and on its center, embracing the red-haired girl...
"Kairi, Neptune..." a familiar boy said. "Thank you."
The red-haired girl opened her eyes and saw...
"Sora!"
"Sora!" Donald and Goofy cried.
"About time you showed up!" IF greeted.
"You came back!" Compa cried tears of joy. "I'm so glad!"
"O-Of course you came back!" Neptune said happily, tears flowing from her eyes. "The protagonist can't just die from the story. They just can't!"
Sora and Kairi looked at the former CPU, and the boy coyly said. "Are you crying?"
Neptune turned around and covered her eyes with the sleeve of her parka. "N-No! I just got something on my eye! That's all!"
"Since when did you and Noire swap places?" Sora teased the crying girl.
"Argh, shuddup!" Neptune shouted, lightly punching the boy's chest as she cried. "This is what you get for making me and the others worry, you know!? What's the deal, stabbing yourself like that!?"
The two islanders shared a laugh at that.
"Sorry, Neptune" Sora apologized.
Neptune sniffed. "It's cool, dude. I'm just...glad! Happy that you're back!"
The boy chuckled. "Glad to be back."
"Save the tears and greetings for later!" IF warned as she sliced another Shadow. "More of them are coming!"
Sure enough, more Shadows began to spawn.
"Is it me, or are there more of these guys than ever?" Goofy wondered.
"It must be because of the Keyhole!" Donald guessed.
"Um, do you think these ones will merge into something big?" Compa whimpered.
"I'd call that a load of bull-plop," IF started. "But considering everything else that happened, I wouldn't be surprised if they could form a Tower or a Tidal Wave or even a Hurricane."
"If that ever happens" Sora started. "You owe us a treat, IF"
"I WANT PUDDING!" Neptune chirped.
"Is this really the time for that!?" the guild agent complained.
Noticing some Shadows coming their way, Sora summoned his Keyblade and started taking them out, one by one!
He nodded to himself. "Yup! Still got it!"
"Aw, man" Neptune complained. "Sora's back in full force, and I still can't fight off these guys...What can I do...?"
She shook her head. "No, I can't think like that! Just focus on defending your friends! That's what important right now!"
The party returned their focus to the Shadows, but then...
"ROAR!"
...the Beast returned as well and lunged against the tiny Heartless.
"Go. Now!"
"Come with us!" Sora urged.
"I already told you! I'm not leaving without Belle!" the Beast insisted, standing his ground. "Now go! The Heartless are coming!"
"Okay..." Neptune said. "But you better stay alive, alright! We'll be back, ya hear!? I better not hear that you vanished, YA HEAR!?"
With the Beast holding the line, the party, with Kairi and Histoire in tow, immediately fled for the Gummi Ship and blasted off.
AN: Okay, NOW we are done with Hollow Bastion. I have to admit, a couple of scenes here was written differently, but due to certain expectations, I have to rethink my writing and adjusted accordingly. However, between this and the Dragon Maleficent debacle, I was a bit more motivated to do this rewrite (might be due to not being a complete action scene, which causes me to procrastinate, lol!). Also, yes, I adapted Compa's best scene in Rebirth 1 (and perhaps in all of Neptunia) in this chapter too! This world has been good to her in terms of scene adaptation between this and putting in her best Grandpa Quotes from the original PS3 game a few parts back.
Anyway, the world's first visit is done, but if you've noticed, I'm still talking here. Which means there's still one more part in this chapter to end it all. After that, Nepstation shall return! Do note though that the next chapter will ALSO be split into parts (not as much as this one, thankfully), so take note.
Hope to see you in the next part, where certain truths in regards to a certain world shall now be made to light. Be sure to ready some snacks and thinking by then! See ya later!