Episode 431: Vanitas's Next Attack
A few days have passed since the Hearthome Tag Battle Tournament has concluded, so Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel are walking down the road as they make their way toward Veilstone City. But unknown to them, Vanitas is in the same area as they are.
"Well, isn't this a sweet thing going on? There's nothing like watching two lovebirds continue on their loving stroll down the road to make me sick to my stomach," Vanitas said with disgust. "I've been cooped up at Count Ernesh's place long enough to feel caged. I've waited long enough, so I'll start with Sora and Kairi first. Then, I'll set out to look for the others, saving Riku and Naminé for last."
Over to Sora and Kairi, they made a stop as Kairi has prepared some lunch for the both of them and their Pokémon. As their Pokémon were eating, Gible saw what looks like a stone with a strange marking. The stone is trapezoidal in shape and has two small dots. There is a fissure running down the middle, splitting in two near the bottom. The crack in combination with the two dots appears to form a frowning face. Curios, Gible picked it up. Sora noticed the stone.
"Hey, what do you got there, Gible?" Sora asked, taking the stone and examined it. "Okay, this is a weird rock."
"What is that thing?" Kairi asked.
"I don't know. Gible just found it. Maybe Professor Oak might know something about it, don't you think?" Sora asked.
"He might. It wouldn't hurt to make contact, would it?" Kairi asked.
"I don't it would. Let's give him a ring," Sora said, taking out his Rotom Phone. Professor Oak answrered it on his home phone.
"Sora, Kairi, good to hear from you. It's been a while. What can I do for you two?" Professor Oak asked.
"Professor, we were wondering you might know something about this weird rock," Sora said, holding it up.
"That's a unique-looking stone. Where dd you find it?" Professor Oak asked.
"My Gible found it just a little while ago, and Kairi and I thought it would be a good idea if we ask you about it," Sora said.
"I believe I have seen something about this stone before, so I will have to check one of my books. Just a moment, please," Professor Oak said. He searches for the right book. He came across a book regarding the Sinnoh region's history. "Let me see." He searches through the pages until he has found the page he was looking for. "Ah-ha. Here it is. What your Gible has discovered is an Odd Keystone."
"An Odd Keystone?" Sora and Kairi asked.
"Yes. It is said that these stones are what contains a Pokémon called a Spiritomb inside the stone," Professor Oak explained.
"So it has a Pokémon inside the Odd Keystone?" Sora asked.
"Indeed, Sora. To release Spiritomb from inside, you must place anywhere. But I strongly recommend that you be careful, because Spiritomb is a Pokémon that is never to be underestimated. In other words, it's a force to be reckoned with," Professor Oak said.
"I think we'll take your word for it, professor," Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said.
"And thanks for the info," Sora said.
"Anytime, children. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me again," Professor Oak said. He breaks contact as Kairi took out her own Rotom Phone to get information on Spiritomb.
"Information on Spiritomb, please," Kairi requested. Her Rotom Phone complied with her and it brought up an image of a Pokémon with the Odd Keystone at the bottom and out of it is a Pokémon whose appearance is ethereal composition of swirling purple energy of an unknown kind. Its face is set in the middle of the purple, and contains green, crescent eyes that are connected to its jagged mouth. Its pupils are composed of a spiral and it is sometimes only seen with one. Swirling around its face are green orbs with yellow centers.
Spiritomb, the Forbidden Pokémon
Type: Ghost/Dark
There are stories that surrounds this Pokémon that stated that Spiritomb has committed a series of misdeeds that had it punished by being imprisoned in the Odd Keystone 500 years ago. It is said that its entire body is made up of 108 spirits in which many are ill-natured spirits.
"That many spirits?" Kairi asked. She cringed as she puts her Rotom Phone away. "Sounds like a Pokémon that makes Team Rocket look like they were honor students," Kairi said.
"Vee," Angel said.
"Yeah. We should keep moving," Sora said. And that's what they did. Sora decided to hold on to the Odd Keystone for a while until the right time would come.
About a couple of hours later, a horde of Unversed appeared and launched their attack on the couple. The Unversed consisted of Floods, Bruisers, Scrappers, Archravens, Red Hot Chilis, Yellow Mustards, Blue Sea Salts, Jellyshades, Thornbites, Shoegazers, Tank Topplers, Turtletoads, Axe Flappers, Mandrakes, Hareraisers, and some new Unversed as well.
There is one that is an odd Unversed with a large, translucent blue dome connected to the top of its head. This dome is covered in short, dark blue spikes and its rim is lined by larger, light green spikes. Inside the dome, several balls of various colors, including blue, cyan, orange, and green, are visible. Four blue, tentacle-like protrusions with light green tips hang down from the dome. The Unversed's head hangs down from the center of the dome's underside. It is black and enveloped in a translucent, blue membrane. Its red eyes are set in a sorrowful expression. The Unversed insignia is on the back of its head. This Unversed is known as the Blobmob.
There is another Unversed that looks like a red treasure chest with black highlights and a black lock. It has yellow "teeth" lining the lid of the chest and three white, zig-zagging, bladed legs. The Unversed's spherical, black head is protected inside the chest. Its red eyes are set in a happy expression and the Unversed symbol adorns the top of the chest's lid. This Unversed is known as the Spiderchest.
Another is a totem pole-like Unversed comprised of three different sections. The top head is roughly diamond-shaped and cyan with white highlights. It has two diamond-shaped "arms" on its sides reminiscent of ice crystals. Its face is blue and its red eyes are set in a sorrowful expression. It has a small hole in its base to connect to the section below it, and has a conical, white spike on its top. The middle face is more spherical and is black with red highlights. It has two red, wide, curved "arms" resembling tongues of flame on its sides. It has a red, heart-shaped face and its red eyes are set in an angry expression. It has a small hole in its base and a conical, red spike in its top to connect to the other sections. The bottom face is roughly triangular or conical and is yellow with blue highlights. It has two yellow-green, zig-zagging "arms" resembling lightning bolts on its sides. Its face is brown and its red eyes are set in a happy expression. It has a hole in its base and a conical, blue spike on its top to connect to the sections. The Unversed's three heads frequently change positions with each other. It has three Unversed Emblems, one on the back of each of its heads. This Unversed is known as the Triple Wrecker.
Another is a large, bottom-heavy creature with predominantly black skin, though it is almost entirely covered in predominantly blue armor. Its feet, which are covered in gold armor, curl up at the toes and its conical arms are protected by circular, blue and gold shields that it can throw. Its head is spherical, light grey, and covered by a blue helmet with a gladiator-esque, light grey crest and two grey spikes on its sides. The armor on the the Unversed's midsection is black with gold designs decorating it, and somewhat resembles a belt. Its red eyes are set in an angry expression and the Unversed symbol is emblazoned on the center of its belt. This Unversed is known as the Buckle Bruiser.
Another is a large, muscular, ape-like creature. Its body is predominantly brown, but its belly and chest are dark grey. Its forearms are massive and drag along the ground, its hands are black, and it wears a green and light green bracelet on each of its wrists. Its legs are relatively small and thin and its head is spherical. The Unversed's face is black and has two black horns jutting out of the sides of its head. It also has what seems to be a yellow banana peel on its head. Its red eyes are set in a happy expression and the Unversed logo is emblazoned on its belly. This Unversed is known as the Wild Bruiser.
And there is another that is a monstrous Unversed, resembling a half-snake half-flower creature. Its main body is purple and is shaped like a snake. It has a pink bulb-like head which opens to reveal a black spherical face inside its mouth. Its red eyes are pointed downward and to both sides of its head are a pair of purple bat-like wings with an orange curved stripe on each wing. On the bottom of its body is a pot shaped stem with the Unversed symbol on its front and a pair of black zig-zags on both sides. This Unversed os known as the Flowersnake.
"Unversed!" Sora and Kairi gasped.
"Apart from Heartless and Nobodies, it had to be Unversed now!" Sora said.
"Pikachu," Pikachu said as Sora is summoning his Kingdom Key and a new Keyblade.
The new Keyblade is made up of yellow boxing rope and Little Mac's boxing glove as the teeth. The guard is made up of a boxing bell. The token is a boxing glove. This Keyblade shall be known as the Fighter's Spirit.
Kairi summoned her Destiny's Embrace and a new Keyblade as well. The blade of the Keyblade is made up of Roll's Buster with a burst of energy serving as the teeth. The guard is made up Roll's green ribbon and as the token. This Keyblade shall be known as the Helpful Sister.
The couple and their partners engaged the Unversed as they appeared to attack. As they struck the Blobmob, it then splits into two, much to Sora's annoyance. As it splits up, it also shrunk.
"You have got to be kidding me! It splits in two?!" Sora exclaimed as he struck it again, and it does the same thing, but smaller than the first time. The Blobmobs then creates spikes as they attack. Sora struck them down as they split into smaller Blobmobs until they were all destroyed.
Kairi casts a magnet spell, pulling them all in. Kairi then casts a crystal spell, destroying the Unversed that were pulled in. Kairi struck a Scrapper with her Helpful Sister as she struck a Bruiser with her Destiny's Embrace. Pikacbu and Angel fought hard with Thunderbolt and Swift, following an Iron Tail to boot. As they struck down the Unversed, more and more of them kept showing up.
"Sora, there's too many of them!" Kairi said.
"We gotta run!" Sora said.
"Vee," Angel said.
"Chu," Pikachu said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel started to run, but the Unversed just kept on coming to attack. The Scrappers tried to slash at them, but they used their Keyblades to cut them down as they attacked. The Buckle Bruisers threw their shields at them, making the couple duck their heads down. The Bruisers then attempt to crush them with their own weight, but Pikachu fired a Thunderbolt and Angel fired Swift at them, destroying them. As they ran, the Starly, Staravia, and Chatot are being scared out of the trees as the Bidoof, Buneary, and Tangela are running on the ground. The Pokémon wanted to get away from the Unversed as fast as possible.
Coming beside them are a bunch of seemingly mechanical creatures that lacks legs. Their bodies are wide, bulky, and each sports two small headlights in them. Their arms each end in large, conical lance heads, though they can flip around for it to use its clawed hands. Their heads are black and partially fused with their bodies, and has a large turn key sticking out of the top of their heads. They have altered their shape and transformed into a sleeker, more compact and aerodynamic form. These Unversed came in the colors red, blue, and yellow. All types of the Unversed sport the same red eyes set in an angry expression and the Unversed emblem adorned on the front of their bodies. These Heartless are known as Glidewinders.
"They just keep coming no matter which way we go!" Sora said.
"Think we should call the others?" Kairi asked.
"They could be anywhere by now! And they wouldn't know where to look for us!" Sora said. A red Glidewinder heads right Sora, but he's saved by Angel, landing a Headbutt on it, taking it out. "Thanks for the save, Angel."
"Eevee," Angel said. Just then, a yellow Glidewinder heads right for Kairi, but Pikachu fired a Thunderbolt, shocking it and destroyed it.
"Thank you for saving me, Pikachu," Kairi said.
"Pika, Pika," Pikachu said.
"They're still coming," Sora said.
And he was right because the Unversed were still coming for them, so Sora and Kairi combined their efforts and casts a crystal fire and aura fire spell, creating a combo. They burned the Unversed to a crisp and destroyed them all.
"That was amazing," Kairi said at awe.
"You can say that again. I can't believe we just pulled that off together," Sora said.
"Chu," Pikachu said.
"Vee," Angel said.
"Not bad. You two definitely aren't lacking in the power department," a familiar voice said. They saw Vanitas coming toward them.
"Vanitas!" Kairi gasped.
"You again? Why are you even here in Sinnoh?" Sora asked.
"Oh, I go wherever I please. I've been hearing talk about the two newbies you have under your ranks. Dawn and Lucas if I'm not mistaken. Wanna know what else I've heard? I heard Riku had his precious little pet taken from him and he tapped into the powers of darkness just to get it back. And he went off to do some soul searching in his own mission," Vanitas said.
"How do you know about that?" Sora asked.
"Oh, let's just say, I like to gossip. It was about time Riku tapped into that darkness of his. I was almost starting I had him all wrong," Vanitas said.
"You can say whatever lie you want about Riku, but nothing you say is ever going to make me doubt him!" Sora said.
"I agree with Sora! He's not the type of person who would side with the likes of you!" Kairi added.
"Pika!" Pikachu said.
"Eevee!" Angel said.
"Is that right? Well, you won't be thinking that for long once he uses that darkness against you two. I mean, darkness is in his nature. He clearly demonstrated that when he used it on J. I mean, you can clearly tell he wanted to kill her for it, am I right?" Vanitas asked.
"Don't even go there!" Sora said.
"Looks like I touched a nerve. I kinda did the same thing for Viento a while back. I mean, he believed in his friend even there were some doubts stacked against him. Unlike you, he used to be too broken to talk back," Vanitas said.
(Flashback)
Neoshadows are surrounding Viento in the Badlands. Viento looks around at them, afraid. This takes place before Viento even meets Gaia and Cascade and was brought over to the Land of Departure to be under the care of Eraqus.
"Please don't do this, Master. I'm not strong enough," Viento pleaded.
"No. It is because you are trying to hold it in. Let the dark impulses waken in the pit of your heart. Release them, here and now! Sharpen your fear into rage," Master Xehanort said. More Neoshadows appear. "You must! If you do not let the storm within you run its course, it will wipe you from the face of the world, make no mistake!" The Neoshadows move toward Viento. "Do it. Embrace the darkness. Produce for your Master the X-blade!" The Neoshadows attack Viento. When they leave Viento lays face down in the dirt. Master Xehanort walks over to him. "Really? You would rather die than use the power? Feckless neophyte." He places his foot on Viento and rolls him onto his back. "If I must... I will extract the darkness from within you myself." Master Xehanort summons his Keyblade and holds it over Viento's heart. A beam shoots from it to Viento's heart, causing a piece of it to be unlocked and extracted. It rises into the air where it is surrounded with darkness. After the darkness fades from around it we see Vanitas where the heart fragment was. Viento's eyes glaze over and Vanitas floats down and lands next to him. "Empty creature from Viento riven...to you, the name Vanitas shall be given."
"Yes, Master," Vanitas said.
(End of flashback)
"Come to think of it, you're just like Viento. Just as much you're like Cascade, Kairi. You share a blind and pathetic image of your so-called friend. I know it'll probably kill you when I say it, but he doesn't want a thing to do with you two," Vanitas said.
"You're wrong about that, Vanitas! Riku wouldn't shut us out!" Kairi said.
"I guess there isn't any point in trying to reason with the both of you. I think I'll start picking off the Guardians of Kingdom Hearts before I go for the rest of them, starting with Dawn and Lucas," Vanitas said.
"You're gonna try, Vanitas," Sora said.
"And you're going to fail," Kairi said.
"Well, let's find out together, shall we?" Vanitas asked, summoning his Void Gear. He held it tight in his hand. Sora and Kairi held their Keyblades tightly as they clashed against Vanitas's Void Gear. Vanitas ducked his head when Sora tried to hit him with his
Kingdom Key. He clashed against Kairi's two Keyblades before he pushes her back. Vanitas casts a dark thunder spell, making the couple dodge dark lightning bolts. Kairi casts a thunder spell, so Vanitas is hit by it as Sora came dashing at him with the Fighter's Spirit, hitting him. "Is that all you got? Can't you do better than that?" He raises his Keyblade up. "Here's a little something for the each of you." Vanitas unleashed a powerful fireball which splits into two. It came pretty fast for Sora and Kairi to do anything. And then, a blue flash shines brightly as Pikachu and Angel shileds their eyes. Vanitas's eyes were well-protected since he wore his mask, but his eyes went wide when he saw what had happened. "No way. That's impossible."
Sora's clothes has underwent another transformation. His clothes have turned blue and black, with an emblem, resembling blue flames, on the ends of his pants and sleeves.
Kairi's clothes has also turned blue and black, with an emblem, resembling a blue snowflake, on the ends of her dress.
Sora's new form is the Wisdom Form while Kairi's new form shall be known as the Compassion Form. The Fighter's Spirit and Helpful Sister Keyblades are dismissed while the Kingdom Key and Destiny's Embrace are still present, but held them backwards. They also have mystical blue mists around their feet and they spin their Keyblades behind them.
"Sora, I think our clothes just granted us some powers," Kairi said.
"You are so right, Kairi. I knew Teol's magic was awesome, but his meter on the magic scale has just gone up," Sora said.
"I don't know what kind of trick it is, but that won't help you two out one bit! So, I'm going to put a stop to this now!" Vanitas declared as he charges with the Void Gear, raising it up. Sora and Kairi managed to avoid Vanitas's attack, so the blue mists have turned to blue wisps. They took their signature Keyblades and they fired magical bullets right at Vanitas, hitting him. The Keyblades floats around as Sora and Kairi have casted an aura and crystal thunder spell, mixing in the two kinds of magical lightning. Vanitas is knocked back from the attack. "I have to admit, I wasn't expecting that to happen. You just caught me off guard. I guess I'll have to leave your friends alone for now, but you two and Riku are still on top of my list. I'll get you and your little Pokémon, too!" He disappeared through a corridor of darkness after it opened up.
Their new forms deactivated. Sora and Kairi fell on their knees, exhausted from the brutal fight against Vanitas.
"Man, I had a feeling he was going to show up sooner or later," Sora said.
"So did I. But I can't help but feel maybe Vanitas might be working with Count Ernesh," Kairi said.
"If he is, then our problems are just going to keep piling on up and up and up. I'm not even sure how many of these guys there could be," Sora said.
"I don't think I wanna know how many there are. If they're anything like Organization XIII, then we should be on constant alert," Kairi said.
"You're right, Kairi. Organization XIII didn't make things easy for us, and I don't think Count Ernesh is going to make it easy for us, either," Sora said.
With that said, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel have rested for a few moments before they went back to heading for Veilstone City.
Meanwhile, Vanitas had returned to Count Ernesh's mansion where Loki was waiting for him.
"I take it that they gave you another beating, Vanitas?" Loki asked.
"I'll say they did. Just when I thought I had 'em, they pull off a transformation on their clothes. It took me completely by surprise," Vanitas said.
"Hm, those clothes they're wearing now seems to pack more of a wallop than I first thought. They could measure up to the magic in Earthland, but I don't know about the magic in Equestria. But it doesn't really matter, because we're the ones who will be coming out on top in the end," Loki said, laughing.
(Flashback)
Gaia and Cascade training with their Keyblades. Suddenly, they hear a door open and walked over to it. Master Xehanort was bringing Viento in. Master Xehanort was speaking to Eraqus. Both Gaia and Cascade notices the boy.
"That boy...is he okay?" Cascade asked.
"I'll go see," Gaia said. Gaia walks down to the boy to greet him. "I'm Gaia. What's your name?"
"Viento," Viento weakly responded.
"You can talk," Gaia said as he turned to Cascade. "Cascade, come here!" Cascade smiles and walks over to them.
"Hi, I'm Cascade," Cascade introduced herself.
"Gaia... Cascade..." Viento weakly said.
"So, are you here to train with us? Where are you from? Who was that man with you? You good with a Keyblade?" Gaia asked. Viento then began to have a headache and then he cried in pain as he held his head. Gaia and Cascade became concerned for him. "Whoa, what's the matter?"
"Are you okay?" Cascade asked.
Viento then faints from his pain. Hearing the commotion, both masters came to the scene and saw Viento faint.
"What did you do?" Eraqus sternly asked. Master Xehanort walked over to Viento and held him.
"Nothing, I..." Gaia tried to explain. "I just asked him some stuff."
"Viento cannot tell you anything... Because he cannot remember anything," Eraqus said.
(Flashback ends)
Back in Sinnoh, Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, and Angel made a stop to rest for the night with their recent encounter with Vanitas fresh in their minds. And they couldn't help but wonder what if Vanitas was telling the truth about Riku. They then remembered what they said to him, refusing to let what happened change the image they have of him. All they could do is hope for the best for their friend.