End of the World – Destiny Islands – Homecoming
"Is this...Is this my island?"
Once the party had enough rest, they ventured forth past a peculiar door, one Sora was familiar with. Upon crossing that door, they arrived in a tropical land that the islander is very familiar with.
"So, this is the Destiny Islands, huh?" IF wondered as she looked around.
"It looks pretty homey" Compa complimented. "I could see myself taking a vacation here!"
"You tell me!" Neptune chirped as she stretched. "Living in this place everyday? It's like a dream come true for a lotta folks out there!"
"Well, this is just the play-island" Sora clarified. "The main island's over...there?"
As the boy pointed forward, past the vast ocean, they noticed that nothing's over there save the ocean itself.
"What's wrong, Sora?" Goofy asked.
"The main's island's not there..." Sora bemoaned. "There's usually a larger island where we all live in, but..."
"You said your world's been swallowed, right?" Donald asked, to which the boy nodded. "Then this here must be what's left of it"
"Dang. So, what now?" Neptune wondered.
"Let's try to look around" IF suggested. "Maybe there's something here that can point us to the right direction."
As the party split up, they began to notice some parts of the island beginning to vanish from view, such as the bridge connecting to the islet containing the Paopu Tree.
"Woah!" Neptune exclaimed. "Now this is starting to freak me out..."
Compa nodded. "This is getting creepier by the minute..."
"Find anything?"
Donald and Goofy approached the duo.
"Nada. You?"
"Nuh-uh"
"Backdoor's no good either."
The group saw IF and Sora approaching them.
"So, where else can we go?" the nurse asked.
"Well, Sora?" the court wizard asked the local resident.
Sora crossed his arms in thought, but then got an idea. "Oh! There's the Secret Place!"
"Secret Place?" IF asked.
"It's where we drew stuff on the rocks" the islander answered. "There's this weird door in there that hasn't opened for as long as I've been here...until the island was consumed, at least."
"Then that's as good a place as any. Let's go there"
At IF's order, the party moved to the entrance of the Secret Place...
"This world has been connected..."
"Who's there!?" Compa turned back as everyone looked around in a panic.
"What's that?" Goofy wondered as the islet near the shack vanished.
"Tied to the darkness...Soon to be completely eclipsed...You do not yet know what lies beyond the door..."
The islet next to the treehouse soon faded as well. The blue ocean has even turned dark purple!
"There is so very much to learn...You understand so little..."
"Wait...this voice..." Sora muttered, recognizing the mysterious voice. "I heard him. From the day before the island was consumed!"
"Really!?" Donald shouted. "But he sounds just like…"
"A meaningless effort..."
The ground around them began to shake erratically.
"What's happening, guys!?" Neptune shouted as she tried to stand her ground.
"No clue!" IF exclaimed. "Just brace yourselves for the worst, people!"
"One who knows nothing can understand...nothing."
Once the shaking stopped, they noticed that the shoreline has been cracked, as if hit by an earthquake. Not only that, the treehouse that was once whole has been split in half, revealing a new patch of land that looked unnatural compared to the island they were standing on, with purple ground and unnatural debris around it.
"What's going on here?" Sora bemoaned as he sees his home island being ripped apart. "Why is my island being ripped apart like this!?"
"I don't know" Neptune answered, looking at the icky purple ocean. "But I bet our final boss has something to do with this!"
"Good answer, but" Compa started. "Where is Mr. Final Boss?"
Donald then noticed someone standing in the unnatural patch of land.
"Look there!"
The party turned to where the duck was pointing, noticing a familiar figure.
"Is that...?" Goofy started.
The guild agent hummed. "Only one way to find out"
With nothing else to go upon, the party headed forward to the unnatural opening, coming face to face with the culprit behind everything...
End of the World – Destiny Islands - Crumbling Islands
"Take a look at this tiny place..."
The party entered the opening, coming face to face with a familiar figure, wearing a dark blue bodysuit.
"To the heart seeking freedom, this island is a prison, surrounded by water"
The figure then spread his arms out.
"And so, this boy, he sought out to escape his prison and he opened his heart to darkness"
As the figure turned around, he changed from a silver-haired young boy to a tall and tanned silver-haired man wearing a silver coat. It was Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness himself!
"Riku!" Sora called out in vain.
"Don't bother!" Ansem mocked the boy. "Your voice can no longer reach him where he is. His heart belongs again to darkness."
"What was that!?" Neptune demanded.
"All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end" the man began his sermon. "The heart is no different. Darkness sprouts within it. It grows, consumes it. Such as it's nature"
Suddenly, the Seeker teleported behind them!
"In the end, every heart returns to the darkness whence it came!"
Sora hopped back to gain some distance from the Seeker.
"For you see, darkness is the heart's true essence!"
"That's just bull-plop!"
Ansem scowled at Sora and Neptune's denial.
"The heart may be weak and sometimes, it may even give in" Sora declared. "But I've learned that deep down, there's a light that never goes out!"
"And if it does go out, we'll just share ours with them!" Neptune followed. "Divided we fall, united we stand!"
Ansem began to float up in defiance.
"So, you've come this far and still you understand nothing!" Ansem shouted. "Every light must fade! Every heart return to darkness!"
As soon as he finished, the Guardian Heartless appeared behind the Seeker, ready for battle.
"Okay, this is it, folks!" IF declared, her qatars unsheathed. "Our last hurdle! We finish this, we save the worlds!"
"Yeah!" Compa nodded, her syringe at the ready.
"We're ready!" Donald declared, his staff primed with magic.
"Let's get 'im!" Goofy shouted, his shield out and ready.
Ansem smirked. "Come, then! Show me your hearts' power"
Behind him, the Guardian Heartless growled as he began to launch energy discs at their foes!
"So predictable!"
Neptune leads the charge, deftly dodging and deflecting the discs that comes her way.
"Time for a classic! CROSS COMBINATION!"
But before Neptune can land her first hit...
"Come, Guardian!"
...Ansem called for his Guardian Heartless to defend his front, causing Neptune's attack to be blocked.
"Rude! Take our attacks like a man!"
"Then take my attack like the goddess you're supposed to be!"
The Guardian then unleashed a dark shockwave against the female Keyblade wielder, forcing her to dodge to the side.
"Front's no good, guys!"
"How about an attack from below then?"
Ansem hummed as he checked the ground below him. Sure enough, a glyph was summoned on the ground he's floating on.
"Got you! FURIOUS LIGHTNING!"
Ansem felt the attack coming, and the Guardian was forced back.
"Now I have you!"
Seeing an opening, Neptune resumed her attack, wreathing her Keyblade in flames.
"BLAZE BREAK!"
A direct hit! The Guardian couldn't return in time!
"Now to follow up! CRITICAL EDGE!"
Another direct hit! Ansem felt that attack, for sure!
"Let's hit him where it hurts, Goofy!" Compa called out to the royal captain.
"Right with ya, Compa!"
The two joined up and readied their Combination Skill!
"You won't get that chance!"
Ansem, seeing this, ordered his Guardian to attack them.
"Not a chance! BLIZZAZA!"
But Donald immediately cast an ice spell against the Guardian, distracting him from his target.
"Now! GOOFY TREATMENT!"
The duo charged against the floating man, pushing him back severely.
"Raaaaagggghhhh..."
However, the Guardian was able to warp back to his master's side and stopped the duo's attack in their tracks.
"Uh-oh!" Compa bemoaned.
"Pull back!" Goofy yelled.
"Insolent whelps!"
Angered, Ansem ordered the Guardian to attack again...
"SUBMIT!"
...and in his assault, he managed to hit Goofy!
"Owowowowowow!" Goofy yelped in pain as a ghastly orb circled around him
"What's happened to him!?" IF asked.
"Goofy's been hit!" Compa reported as she readied her healing spell. "Hang in there!"
As Goofy was healed up, Ansem began to laugh.
"This is only the beginning of his pain, now savor it!"
As the party was about to ponder on his words, Goofy suddenly yelped in pain again.
"Did you see that!?" Donald yelled.
"That creepy Heartless is attacking him!" Neptune shouted.
"How do we get it off him!?" Compa said in a panic as she prepared another healing spell.
Sora growled. "I got him!"
He then charged against the Seeker, but he only smirked.
"That's it. Open your heart to me!"
As Sora closed in, Ansem encased himself in a barrier made of dark lasers, sending the boy with the key reeling back.
"Ah!"
"Hold on, I got you!" IF reassured as she prepared her own healing spell. "GREEN NOVA!"
"Thanks, IF!"
Once Sora gave his thanks, he switched tactics...
"Mind bein' quick about it, Sora?" Goofy shouted as he was attacked by the Guardian again. "This guy's not quittin' any faster!"
"I got this! STRIKE RAID!"
"I'll help, buck-o! DELTA SLASH!"
With their ranged attacks hitting true, Ansem was forced to recall his Guardian!
"Still, you struggle. However, my strength returns..."
He then began to glow with an ethereal aura as he sent the Guardian forth.
"Where'd he go this time!?" Donald demanded.
He soon found his answer once the Guardian emerged from the ground beneath him and hit him upward, sending him flying!
"He's coming from the ground!" IF warned the party. "Everyone, get dodging!"
Ansem chuckled. "What do you hope to accomplish?"
The party continued to dodge as the Guardian barely managed to hit Compa and IF.
"Do not deny your fear."
The Guardian's assault didn't let up as he hit Sora and Neptune square in the face!
"Owie!"
"Hold on! CURAGA!"
But thanks to some timely heals, the party managed to weather the Seeker's assault.
"The final darkness is nigh!"
As the Guardian returned to his master, Ansem unleashed four beams across the arena in a cross formation, signaling the end of his attack.
"Now you've done it!"
Sora, in his fury charged straight at the man, his blade glowing with light!
"Still haven't learned your lesson, boy!?"
Ansem beckoned his Guardian forth, defending his master from the front...
...But the boy smirked!
"...!"
Ansem caught wind of this, and sensed someone else coming at him from behind.
"Made you look!"
"Guardian!"
Ansem was forced to call the Guardian to defend his rear instead, repelling an attack from the guild agent!
"Right where we want you" IF mumbled.
"Thanks a bunch, Iffy!"
But this left his own rear exposed to a combined attack from Sora and Neptune, who rallied to her fellow bearer's side.
"TWIN ARCANA!"
Indeed, their furious thirteen-hit assault was too much for Ansem as he became furious himself!
"Still, you deny the truth!" the man raged. "Very well. Then I shall erase your existence here and now!"
Rallying the Guardian to his front, he began to lead a furious charge against the party as he rams around the arena like a mad bull!
"He's not letting up!" Donald cried.
"Then we just gotta use our heads!"
Sora and Donald looked at Goofy in confusion, but then had an idea.
"Yeah!"
"Let's do it!"
Ansem continued his assault, chasing after the defenseless Compa!
"Please, Mr. Seeker!" the nurse pleaded as she ran. "I don't like getting hurt!"
As Ansem continued his pursuit, he then noticed something coming towards him.
"INCOMING!"
"What the!?"
His Guardian then collided with the Goof-ster himself, being used by Sora and Donald as an improvised battering ram!
This is their new Combination Skill, Wild Crush!
"Are they...?" Neptune wondered.
"Yup. They are" IF sighed. "Anyway, this gives us an opening. Compa!"
The nurse stopped to catch her breath. "I'm here. Just...give me a sec..."
Meanwhile, the collision course kept going on for about seven seconds...
"GRAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
"HAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
...but then, by the thirteenth second, both combatants were knocked off course.
"Meddlesome brats!" Ansem shouted in anger. "I'll finish you off first!"
"Not if we have anything to say about that, Mr. Seeker!"
The man looked to his right to see the nurse he was once pursuing, primed and glowing with light magic!
"You're wide open, Ansem!"
And to his left, the guild agent is glowing with gravity magic!
"HEART FORCE!"
With him stuck in the middle of the arena, Ansem was hit with the full force of IF and Compa's Combination Skill!
"Accursed wenches!"
"Well, cry us a river!" IF snarked.
"Finish him, Nep-Nep!" Compa cheered.
"He-he-he!" Neptune snickered as she readied her attack. "Time to seize it!"
Charging her blade with electricity, she dashed forth against the dazed Ansem, who couldn't call the Guardian back in time to defend from the girl's assault!
"Behold my VICTORY SLASH!"
She dashed through the Seeker, engulfing him in an electric V-shaped explosion as Neptune posed coolly.
"How's that!?" Neptune boasted to the kneeling Seeker.
"Still, you resist." Ansem ranted as he slowly stood up. "Still, you fight. What drives you to do so, I wonder?"
"Just give it a rest!" Sora declared, refusing to entertain the man's delusions anymore. "It's over!"
Ansem laughed. "You really think so?"
The Guardian then sank into the arena, filling the surrounding area with darkness.
"Then let me show you all. The one truth of all existence!"
The darkness was overwhelming, engulfing everyone who was present!
"What in the...!?"
"Everyone, stick together!"
End of the World – World of Chaos
Once the party regained their bearings, they see nothing but the void.
"It's dark" Sora noted. "Pitch black"
"There's nothin' around here!" Goofy shouted.
"Are we..." Compa whimpered. "Are we dead?"
"I don't know" IF admitted. "But keep your guards up, people. We don't know what he's planning."
"Behold the endless abyss!" a loud voice boomed. "Within it lies the heart of all worlds. Kingdom Hearts!"
As the party looked around for the source of the voice, they saw a large white door over the distance. If one looks closely, they can notice the shape of a heart forming behind the door despite the shadowy background.
"Look as hard as you are able! You'll not find even the smallest glimmer of light!" the voice mocked. "From those dark depths are all hearts born. Even yours!"
But in their search for the voice, the party found something terrifying.
Sora gasped.
Neptune even stammered. "Wha-Whawhawhawha!?"
"DARKNESS CONQUERS ALL WORLDS!"
"SINCE WHEN DID THE FINAL BOSS GET A FREAKIN' MONSTER SHIP IN THE VOID!?" the girl complained at the sight now in front of them.
"I DON'T KNOW, NEP!" IF shouted back. "But that seems to be Ansem's ace in the hole! We take it out, we win!"
"Yeah, but..." Compa wondered. "How do we even get close when we're..."
Before the nurse could even finish her sentence, the whole party began to fall down to the void.
As they did, a dark portal opened up near the ship.
"It's sucking us in!" Compa exclaimed.
"Oh no!" Donald bemoaned.
"Sora!"
"Neptune!"
The two tried to reach other, but it was in vain, as Neptune was sucked into the portal along with everyone else, leaving the boy alone as he fell down to the abyss...
"Is this it?" Sora thought. "Have we come so far, just to lose it all? Sorry, guys..."
But just as he continued to fall, a voice reached out to him. A familiar voice. One he knew so well...
"Giving up already? Come on, Sora! I thought you were stronger than that!"
"Riku!?"
And not just him. He began to hear more voices reaching out to him. Despite sounding like they're blending in, they all say a common thing...
"Don't give up!"
Hearing these words of encouragement, Sora gathered his courage and belief and began to fly right up in the air, his Keyblade at the ready!
And right in front of him, is the Seeker of Darkness himself, his larger-than-normal being hooked up to the massive monster-ship alongside the massive-sized Guardian.
"Not yet..." the boy said to himself, feeling his Share Link giving him strength. "As long as I can keep moving, I'll keep fighting! Right, Neptune!?"
End of the World – World of Chaos – ?'? ?
"Oof!" Neptune sounded as she fell. "That oughta hurt!"
Despite her complaints, she easily got up, no worse for wear. However, she finds herself in an empty void with nothing in sight save for the large blue Heartless Emblem lighting up below her.
"Great" Neptune complained. "No exit in sight. Dunno if Histy can help me out from all the way here..."
As she contemplated on what to do, she suddenly felt the ground shake.
"Woah!" the girl said. "What's going to happen now!?"
As she thought about it, a familiar creature began to rise in front of her!
"No way" Neptune complained as she saw the familiar creature with their heart-shaped hole. "THE FREAKIN' TUTORIAL BOSS AGAIN!?"
But the Darkside wasn't alone. Around the arena, six more Darksides rose from the dark ground to join their brother in the fight.
"Uhhhhh..." Neptune said, sweating profusely. "This might be a problem..."
The Darkside in front of her began to charge up dark energy onto it's right hand and slams it right down to it's prey.
"Ahhhhh!"
Neptune attempted to shield herself with her arms...
"What are you doing!? Stop gawking and fight, Neptune!"
...only for her Keyblade to appear and block the incoming attack.
"Ah!" Neptune realized as she repelled the attack and leapt back. "Almost spaced out for a second there...Thanks, Noire."
She looked around the arena as the Darksides began to roar in anger over the girl's defiance. As they did, a large orb of darkness appeared above them, threatening to rain down imminent doom in a few moments.
Yet the girl didn't back down…
Neptune then placed a hand over her heart, feeling the Share Link she shared. "He's not backing down, right?"
Her mouth then sported a wide grin. "Then neither am I!"
"Keep fighting!"
"You can do it!"
"Don't lose!"
In fact, she's hearing more voices from the Link too! Is everyone cheering them on?
Anyway, Neptune primed herself and charged against the Darkside in front of her with all her righteous fury.
"YAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
End of the World – World of Chaos – Beginning's Repose
"Mr. Heartless, please go away!"
Currently, Compa found herself stuck in a dark arena with only a cluster of Shadow Heartless prancing around her in their relentless assault.
"There's only so much I can do here by myself!" the nurse whined as she repelled more Shadows with her syringe. "Someone, anyone. Please help!"
As the Shadows began to crowd up upon her once more, something miraculous happened.
"THUNDAGA!"
A thunder storm struck across the arena, wiping out all but three of the Shadow Heartless swarming around the nurse.
Compa looked up and smiled to see her savior.
"Sora!"
The boy touched down and approached the nurse with a wide grin.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" the boy apologized. "You okay?"
The nurse nodded. "Thanks to you! Now let's finish up so we can meet up with the others!"
Once the duo finished up the remaining Shadows, the glowing Emblem below the arena faded and a glowing orb appeared in front of them.
"What's that?" Compa wondered.
"Don't know" Sora answered, readying his Keyblade. "But that thing's likely blocking our way out, so let's smash it!"
With no other recourse, the two smashed the orb to pieces and fled the area as it exploded.
End of the World – World of Chaos – Artillery's End
"Quit chompin' around, why don't ya!?"
Goofy is currently surrounded in a similar arena by a swarm of Darkballs. With their ferocious chomping and erratic teleporting, the royal captain is doing his best to stand his ground.
"Just gotta stay strong until backup arrives!"
"FROZEN TREATS!"
"FORCE!"
And backup did arrive in the form of a Blizzaga shot and a Graviga that wiped out most of the Darkballs, leaving five left.
"Sora! Compa!"
Goofy greeted his saviors with a smile and a wave as they arrived on the scene.
"Staying strong, eh Goofy?"
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Aw, nothing this ol' Goof can't handle!" the royal captain boasted. "Let's clean up here and get the others out too!"
With nothing more needed to be said, the trio took out the remaining Darkballs...
"Let's go!"
"GOOFY LAUNCHER!" A powerful throw using the full strength of Goofy's stature!
"AERO BULLET!" An Aeroga-charged bullet dismantled the remaining Darkballs!
...and once the orb manifested, they took care of it and went on their way.
End of the World – World of Chaos – Deck's Demise
"Hmmmm. How to go about this?"
Donald scanned around the area, which is swarming with a group of Invisibles. Between their ferocious sword strikes, their waves of dark orbs and their annoying ability to launch a ring of darkness that closed in on their prey, this is not an easy fight for the court magician, even with his Aeroza shield up.
"I could go for a Mega Flare, but that would take up too much energy and I won't be able to help the others then. What to do..."
"Why not call for help, Donald?"
The duck looked up and noticed a Keyblade, a shield and a blast of fire knocking out three of the Invisibles, leaving only seven left around the area.
"You guys are here!" the duck exclaimed. "How did you get here?"
"Well..." Sora started.
"We had to fight a giant head to get here" Goofy answered happily.
Compa whimpered. "That head is so freaky! I don't think I'll sleep well tonight..."
"Huh" Donald hummed. "Anyway, these ones are quite tough. Think you all can keep going?"
Goofy put his dukes up. "Heck yeah!"
Sora rubbed his nose. "We can keep this up all day!"
"Just don't get too reckless, boys!" Compa warned.
The fights against the Invisibles were tough due to their powerful and agile nature, but eventually...
"Charge complete!"
"TREATMENT BLASTER! FIRE!" An elemental-charged blast wiped out three Invisibles!
"Time to spin like round-round-round!" A Goofy Tornado dealt with two more!
"RAGNAROK!" A powerful blast of light lasers that finished off the remaining enemies!
...the party won the scuffle and fled the premises after the orb that spawned was destroyed.
End of the World – World of Chaos – Barrier's Break
IF clicked her tongue as she knelt down to recover. "This is rough. Never knew these kinds of Heartless even existed"
In front of her, five creatures danced around the arena, looking like bigger, meaner variants of the Shadows they encountered. These nimble creatures are the Neoshadows.
Two of them began their assault by sinking into the ground...
"Here they come...!"
...and then converged upon IF in a combined aerial spin attack, which the guild agent dodged out of the way.
But she wasn't out of the woods yet, because another Neoshadow hopped up and assaulted IF in an aerial roll!
"Gah!"
The attack knocked IF down to the ground, leaving her vulnerable to the Neoshadow's next attack.
"Blast!" IF cursed. "Sorry, guys. I think they got me..."
"Don't give up!"
The guild agent widened her eyes as she felt healing light soothing her very being.
"LIGHT'S MIRACLE!"
"GOOFY ELEMENTS!"
…and their arrival couldn't even be more pronounced as a certain Thunder-charged royal captain charged into the fray!
IF turned around and smiled at the familiar faces she saw.
"You guys!" she said. "H-How did you all get here?"
"Well, we saw this portal after getting out of a giant head..." Sora answered.
Compa shivered. "Please, don't mention the giant head anymore. I'm trying to forget about it!"
"Looks like you're in trouble, IF" Donald mentioned.
"Got something in mind for them?" Goofy asked.
IF smirked. "I do, now that you're all here!"
She got up and stood tall with renewed vigor. "Okay! These guys fight with speed, so let's pick up the pace and take the fight to them!"
"Right!"
Sora proceeded to engage with one of the Neoshadows, who matched his strength with it's claws.
"I'll help you, Sora!"
Compa, in a bold move, closed the distance against the Neoshadow with her syringe, forcing it to sink into the shadows to escape!
"Aw, poo!" the nurse complained. "It got away..."
"Don't let your guard down yet" Sora warned. "These ones look like they wanna play tricky."
Goofy, in the meanwhile, is busy handling two of the Neoshadows with his shield.
"Alright! Time to knock ya boys into next week!"
He then assaulted them in a mighty Charge, forcing them to slink into the ground to escape!
"Gawrsh, they sure like runnin' away, huh?"
"Yeah" Donald said, blasting a fourth Neoshadow with Firaza magic. "But they're clumping up together. Look!"
As he finished his blasting, the Neoshadow burrowed under and slinked away to their companions who were converging in the middle of the arena.
"Oh yeah!" Goofy exclaimed. "They are!"
"And because of that..." IF said as she parried an attack from the fifth Neoshadow. "...we can take them out all at once!"
She kicked the Neoshadow back and fired off a glyph on the ground beneath it.
"LA DELPHINUS!"
The act forced the razzled Neoshadow into the ground to join with it's compatriots, all who came out in an attempt to launch a coordinated attack.
"They're about to hit us!" Compa cried.
"Not a chance!" IF declared as she charged forth against them. "Sora, with me!"
"Got it!"
"We'll help too! GOOFY TORNADO GO!" And thus, the Goof spun around once more!
"GRAVIZA!" The duck followed with a Gravity blast of his own!
"LIGHTNING BLAST!" The nurse shot a Thundaga-charged shot!
"DOUBLE RAVE" And Sora and IF finished up with their Combination Skill!
The Neoshadows couldn't withstand their combined assault and were summarily defeated.
"Nice!" Sora cheered.
"Good job, team!" IF complimented the group.
As they patted themselves on the back, another glowing orb emerged as the glow in the arena dissipated.
"You know what to do with this?" IF asked the Keyblade wielder.
Sora nodded. "Let's smash this and be on our way!"
"Right!" Compa said as she offered a small prayer. "Stay safe, Nep-Nep! We're on our way!"
End of the World – World of Chaos – Core's Finale
"32-BIT MEGA BLADE!"
The ensuing explosion took out the enemy in front of her...
"And that...hah...makes six..."
Neptune landed back down to catch her breath. Previously, she had to deal with seven Darksides. But with persistence and determination, she managed to defeat six of them, leaving only one left.
"I don't know about you..." Neptune said, looking at the last Darkside. "But I think even this is a bit much, don't ya think?"
The last Darkside, incapable of speech, raised it's arms and launched several beams of energy against the CPU.
"Ah cripes!"
...But before the attack could connect, the Darkside's head was attacked from behind!
"Nep-Nep/Nep/Neptune!"
"You okay!?"
Neptune looked up and the sight of it brought a big smile to her face!
"You're all here!" the girl said excitedly.
Sora grinned. "Of course we are. I wouldn't leave my new sister behind, now, would I?"
"And we're friends, too!" Goofy declared.
"We gotta stick together!" Donald followed.
"Well, there you have it" IF stated.
"Let's get out of this place together, Nep-Nep!" Compa offered.
"You guys..."
The Darkside behind the party roared, as if declaring that they will not leave this place in one piece.
"Aw-right! Let's finish this up, Nep Epic Style! Whaddaya say?"
Sora smiled. "Let's nep them all up!"
The two Keyblade wielders jumped up to the Darkside...
"HAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
...and hit it square on the head, vanquishing it once and for all!
End of the World – World of Chaos
A dark portal emerged near the core of the monster ship, and from that portal, the party of six heroes emerged out in flight, flying to the outside of the ship.
"Alright!" Compa cheered. "Our whole party's back together again!"
"Yeah" IF nodded, scanning around the monster ship. "And you guys have been busy. The ship's lost most of its components by now."
"You can thank Sora for that!" Goofy remarked, causing the boy to rub the back of his head in embarrassment.
"I mean" Sora said. "I just followed our connection. As those portals opened up, I heard each of your voices through them. That's when I knew I had to go in to save you guys."
"D'awwwwww, look at you!" Neptune cooed, ruffling her soul-brother's spiky hair. "Taking charge and making names! I knew you were something amazing, Sora!"
As the party shared a chuckle, Donald looked up to see a familiar menace. "Now all that's left is him..."
"Ansem..." IF growled.
"He's gotten bigger than the last time we fought him..." Goofy wondered.
"Do men like him still have growth spurts?" Neptune asked.
"I...don't think so" Compa answered. "Neither does Mr. Guardian over there..."
As if hearing the commotion, the massive Guardian lowered it's arm, freeing his master from stasis (symbolized by the Heartless Emblem floating over him).
Ansem woke up from his stasis and glared down at the group of heroes before him.
"So, you all still live..." he stated simply.
"That's right!" Neptune shouted. "Don't you know? Heroes are really hard to kill!"
Ansem smirked. "Is that right?"
He then summoned forth his weapon, two Soul Eaters joined together as dual sabers.
"Then shall we test out your theory, Lost Goddess?"
The party looked at each other and nodded. This is it.
"Bring it, Darkness Man!" Neptune answered.
"We're ending this! Right here! Right now!" Sora chimed in.
"Very well"
The Guardian behind him growled.
"Then I will guide you all to the depths of darkness!"
Wasting no time, the party flew up and engaged Ansem for the final battle.
"Turn to darkness!"
Ansem responded to their attempted assault by twirling his Soul Eaters against them.
"Watch it!"
The party backed off a bit to gain some distance from him.
"That won't stop us!" Donald declared as he channeled magic onto his staff. "FIRAZA!"
"Time for your treatment, Mr. Seeker!" Compa shouted as she loaded her syringe with magic. "GRAVITY SHELL!"
The attacks hit, but Ansem was barely fazed.
"Is that all?"
"We're not done!"
Goofy and IF followed up their assault by closing the distance...
"ASCENDING DEMON!"
...and unleashed their Combination Skill against him!
"Time for us to follow up! Ready, Sora?"
Sora nodded. "Let's go!"
"32-BIT MEGA BLADE!" Neptune starts off with a large ethereal blade!
"RAGNAROK!" And Sora follows up with beams of light aimed at the Seeker of Darkness!
The follow-up attacks were fierce, and Ansem was forced back.
"Insignificant pests!" the man growled. "Come forth!"
He then summoned small bat-like Heartless called Bit Snipers to defend him.
"A couple of small-fry won't help you!" IF boasted.
"Then how about this?"
Ansem then began to channel energy as a large sphere emerged behind the party!
"What is that!?" Goofy shouted.
"Nothing good!" IF answered. "Everyone, start flying away from it!"
"Then I'll keep the skies clear!" Donald declared as he charged up magic again. "THUNDAZA!"
Donald's spell cleared the sky of the Bit Snipers and the party was able to escape the full blast of Ansem's most powerful spell...
"So, this is the strength of your vaunted light..." the man declared. "However, this is not all the strength I have to bear!"
He then summoned several dark lasers, starting in sets of two, then three and then four against the party!
"Gah!" Sora winced in pain as some of the lasers hit him. "Almost forgot about those!"
"Then carve this into your memory!"
At his master's word, the Guardian heaved it's arms forward, sending a heavy gust of wind that pushed the party away!
"That was rude!" Neptune complained.
But Ansem was not listening, instead sending more lasers against the party!
"He's not letting up!" Sora shouted.
"Insolent whelps!" Ansem shouted. "If you still do not understand the truth, then perhaps THIS will ENLIGHTEN you!"
He began to charge up his ultimate spell again, but this time, the sphere is shooting out laser beams as it grew in size!
"Weak-minded fools..." Ansem declared. "WITNESS REAL POWER!"
"He's making another one, guys!" Neptune shouted.
"Keep flying away!" IF ordered. "We can't fall here!"
"You heard her!" Sora yelled. "We've come this far now!"
"He's right!" Donald declared.
"Everyone's countin' on us!" Goofy bellowed.
"And we can't let them all down!" Compa finished.
"Then if he insists on finishing us off with a bang..."
The sphere grew larger and larger until eventually, after about three seconds, it exploded in a series of explosions!
Ansem snickered at the sight. "Is that all you have?"
"...then we'll just send in a big bang of our own!"
His eyes widened to see his enemies flying to him at break-neck speed!
"Impossible!"
The Guardian roared as it sent more lasers against the group, but they kept dodging the laser fire!
"Like I said, Darkness Man!" Neptune boasted as she approached closer. "Heroes are hard to kill! Ready, girls!?"
IF smirked, her hands filled with magical energy as she flew to the Seeker's left. "Ready as I'll ever be, Nep!"
"We'll send all our power to you, Nep-Nep!" Compa declared, her hands also charged with magical energy as she flew to Ansem's right.
Neptune, with her own hands charged with energy, began waving around with them, drawing a large N in front of her, causing a giant symbol of a similar shape to form around the enlarged Seeker of Darkness!
"What is this!?" Ansem demanded. "How can all of you still have this much power!?"
"It's complete!" IF shouted.
"Now, Nep-Nep!" Compa yelled.
Neptune smirked. "Right! Eat this!"
"LEAFY NEP MAJOR DAMAGE!"
The symbol erupted in a large N-shaped pillar of light, causing tremendous damage to the Seeker of Darkness.
"GAAAAAAAHHHH!" Ansem screamed. "You insolent brats!"
"They're not the only ones!"
The Seeker looked down to see Sora, Donald and Goofy landed just below the Seeker's position.
"What do you hope to do, boy!?" the man demanded. "I told you before, you understand nothing!"
"Maybe I don't wanna understand what you're trying to say!" Sora fought back. "Ever thought of that!?"
"We've come this far by workin' together!" Goofy declared. "And only by workin' together, can we find strength we never had when we were alone!"
"Yeah!" Donald agreed. "So, learn this well, because you will see how well our faith empowers us!"
Sora nodded. "Ready, guys?"
Donald and Goofy nodded back, charging up their magic power and passing it onto Sora.
"All for one..." the duck started.
"...and one for all!" the dog finished.
Sending their magic energy to him, the boy with the key channeled all their power onto the tip of his Keyblade.
"TRINITY LIMIT!"
Hopping up, he slammed the Keyblade down onto the ground, setting a massive surge of power that exploded against the Seeker of Darkness!
"Is this...the answer...?" Ansem bemoaned as he felt his power and his monster-ship weakening. "It can't be..."
Seeing that the ship was exploding, the party immediately flew away, leaving the Seeker of Darkness convulsing as he and the ship exploded in a massive sphere of light, leaving no trace of their existence anywhere.
"Did..." Compa gasped for breath. "Did we get him?"
"I hope so... " Donald hoped.
IF, however, turned her head around when she heard a distinct sound.
"Guess we spoke too soon..."
The party turned to where IF is looking, and sure enough...
"It is futile..."
...Ansem, now back to his regular size, is still alive, albeit out of breath and looking desperate.
"The Keyblade alone cannot seal the door to darkness..."
He then turned to the massive white door and made his plea.
"Kingdom Hearts! Fill me with the power of darkness!"
The door responded as it slowly budged open, bringing out a flood of darkness from within.
"Supreme darkness!"
"No, we know now..." Sora declared.
"Without a doubt!" Neptune followed.
"KINGDOM HEARTS IS LIGHT!"
As the two shouted it out, the darkness that was once sealed within the massive door was vanquished by a surge of light, engulfing even Ansem as well!
"Light..." the Seeker gasped as his being; his entire existence was being disintegrated by the light. "But why...?"
Unable to withstand it, Ansem vanished in a beam of light. What remaining trace of his existence can no longer be felt.
The Seeker of Darkness is no more.
End of the World – Kingdom Hearts
However, the party's job was not done. With the door now open, our heroes landed down and headed straight for the massive white door...
"Hurry it up, people!" Neptune shouted.
"We've got a door to close!" IF ordered. "Double time, now!"
"Come on!" Sora urged as he, Compa and IF began to close the door's right side, while Neptune, Donald and Goofy do the same on the left.
They put all their efforts into the push, but the door is so massive, and they could only budge it ever slowly!
"Huh?" Neptune stopped for a moment. "Did I hear something?"
"What's wrong?" the royal captain asked.
"You heard something in there, right Goof-ster?" the girl with the key wanted to know. "Y'know, like girls screaming or something?"
Morbidly curious, Neptune and Goofy took a peek into the massive door and the sight within made them gasp in fear.
"Wha…WHAWHAWHAWHA!?"
"Stop staring and keep pushing!" Donald scolded his friend.
But despite his scolding, the duck took a peek inside and felt terrified at the sight within!
"THE HEARTLESS!"
And tons of them at that! Way more than any group the party has ever had to face at once. If even a single cluster of them escaped the door, they would have a huge fight on their hands...
...And they're already exhausted fighting Ansem!
"Hurry!" Donald urged.
"Keep pushing!" Compa said in a panic.
"I can't..." Sora said, feeling tired.
"Too...tired..." Neptune gasped tiredly as she began to sink to the floor...
"Don't give up!"
"What are you slacking off for!?"
Sora and Neptune looked up to see the source of the voices!
"Come on, Sora!" It was Riku! "Together we can do it!"
"Get up, Neptune!" Noire is there, too! "We're closing this door right now!"
Sora nodded. "Okay!"
"Geez Noire" Neptune complained... "When did you turn into a slave driver?"
"Just shut up and push!"
"Yes, ma'am"
...but continued to push the door with renewed vigor...
However, even with the help of Riku and Noire, their progress to seal the door shut remained as slow as ever...
It didn't help that a few Darksides, four to be exact, began to rise up on the ground, ready to prey on the two people on their side of the door!
"We gotta hurry!" the nurse cried as she saw the Darksides rising.
"At this rate, they'll be smushed before we can close the door!" the guild agent reported in a panic.
"It's hopeless!"
But something miraculous happened to prove the once-cowardly duck wrong.
All of a sudden, a small blur snuck in and proceeded to take out one...two...three...all four Darksides in an instant.
Donald and Goofy looked to see their savior, and the sight of them made them widen their eyes with joy.
"YOUR MAJESTY!"
The figure landed on the elevated ground beyond them. He was tiny, with two big round ears and wore only red shorts. His back was turned, but he then summoned a familiar looking weapon...
"Now, Sora, Neptune! Let's close this door for good!"
The figure, who is King Mickey Mouse himself, produced a Keyblade similar to Sora's, only it's blade is colored gold and the guard is colored white. This is the Kingdom Key D, a Keyblade born of the dark realm.
"Close it quick!" Donald urged the party.
"But..." Sora started.
"We just found your king and our pals, ducky!" Neptune complained. "Do we really have to say goodbye to them again?"
"Don't worry, for there will always be a door to the light" Mickey reassured the party. "One day, for sure, I know we will see each other again. We just gotta have faith"
"Sora, Nep-Nep" Goofy called out. "You can trust King Mickey!"
Riku heard something stir behind him.
"Now, they're coming!"
"Right!"
Noire stood back and summoned her Keyblade, ready to do her part.
"Donald, Goofy, thank you" Mickey thanked his long-time friends. "Compa, IF, it's a pleasure to meet ya."
With the King's encouragement, the party managed to nearly close the door, and just as it was about to be sealed shut...
"Take care of her."
Sora stopped for a moment, and gave his best friend a nod.
"Neptune"
Neptune stopped and looked to her fellow CPU, her back turned.
"I'll come back, so be ready for our date by then, got it?"
Hearing this caused Neptune to smile all giddily.
"You got it!"
And with their last words exchanged, the party successfully closed Kingdom Hearts...
"One last thing to do..."
At IF's word, Sora and Neptune summoned their Keyblades.
"Ready, buck-o?"
A nod.
"Yeah"
The two of them raised their Keyblades, channeling energy onto them...
At the other side of the door, Mickey and Noire did the same with their Keyblades...
And with their powers and efforts combined, they managed to seal away Kingdom Hearts, as the massive white door began to slowly vanish from view...
"It's done..."
"Yup..."
...and just like that, the door leading to the heart of all worlds has been sealed, completely vanishing from view...
Before the party could ponder on their next move, Sora felt a presence far behind him.
From the distance, he could see a familiar red-haired girl, looking confused.
"Is that...?" Compa wondered.
"What's Kairi doing here?" Neptune asked.
"Something tells me she's just as confused as we are..." IF guessed.
Seeing Kairi there, Sora immediately ran off to her without another word.
"Should we...?"
IF tapped Neptune's shoulder, shaking her head.
"Let him decide on this" the guild agent said. "Whatever his choice is, we'll respect it"
The party could only look on ahead, as they the boy running up to the confused girl, unaware of the light engulfing them...
Grassy Crossroads
Suddenly, the party was transported from the dreary, shattered world to a long road filled with grassy plains and a clear blue sky.
"Well, that's that" IF said. "I guess Sora's not going with us"
"Poo!" Compa cried. "We couldn't even get to say goodbye to him!"
"Well, he's got Kairi to worry about!" Goofy tried to justify. "I'm sure he wanted to be with her so she can be safe"
"Yeah..." Donald said, trying to hold back his tears. "...We'll be fine without him"
Neptune, however, was already sniffing, her tears slowly leaking out of her eyes.
"Nep-Nep?"
"Sorry...I just...got something on my face, that's all"
The girl wiped off the snot from her nose.
"Well, it's just the five of us now! So, where do we go?"
"Don't know" IF answered, looking around. "We're pretty much in uncharted territory at this point, and we're too far away from the Gummi Ship..."
"Welp, when in doubt, we just gotta explore the place!" Goofy declared.
"Yeah!" Compa nodded.
"You heard him!" Donald shouted, wiping off his tears. "Let's get going!"
Neptune nodded, forcing a smile onto her face. "Right-o!"
As the group headed off, Neptune stopped for a bit, gazing up to the sky with a smile.
"I hope you and Kairi are happy now, Sora"
"HEY!"
Suddenly, the rest of the party stopped as they heard a familiar voice.
"Wait up! I thought we're supposed to stick together!"
"No way..." IF gasped.
"But..." Compa muttered.
"Why is he..." Donald started.
"...still here?" Goofy finished.
Neptune dared to turn around, and the sight made her eyes widen and mouth agape.
"Phew...caught up to you...I was afraid you guys would leave me behind..."
"Wha..." Neptune tried to say. "Why are you still here?"
"Huh?" the figure said, tilting his head. "We're still looking for our friends, aren't we?"
He then smiled, putting his hands behind his head. "Besides, we're all pals here. We're basically inseparable. There's still a lot to explore and discover out there, so what are we waiting for?"
Neptune couldn't believe it, so much so that she began to cry.
"WAAAAAAHHHHHH~" she then cried onto the figure's chest. "Why did you lead us on like that, Sora!? Why? Why? Why!?"
"Hey..." Sora tried to reassure his fellow Keyblade wielder, patting her on her head. "Take it easy, Neptune"
'Why are you still here?" Compa asked.
"Would Kairi be okay on her own?" IF wondered.
"She'll be alright" Sora reassured. "The islands are safe and back to normal now. She'll be safe."
"Still, why are you...?"
"Why?" Sora asked, cocking his head. "Because we still got people to look for, and I want to do that with my sister and all my closest friends right here."
"Oh, Sora..."
Donald couldn't hold back anymore, and then jumped to both his friends in a hug!
"Woah, Donald!"
Goofy followed suit as well, tackling all four of them to the ground!
"Goofy, too!? Gah! C'mon, I can't...breathe!"
"That's what you get for making us worry, buster!" Neptune complained.
Compa cried tears of joy. "Is it wrong for me...to be happy about this?"
IF sighed, wiping a single tear from her eye. "I don't know, but...I know I wanted this too..."
After a long journey to repel the coming darkness and restoring the state of the worlds, our band of heroes, Nep Team Epic, stuck together as their quest to search for their friends has not ended yet...
AN: And done! The final boss is defeated, the door's sealed and we're are just about done with this story! If you noticed, the final boss sequence is a little switched up from usual, with Darkness Man having one fight here, with no solo fight or Darkside before he unveils his monster ship. Honestly, it feels weird to write the sequence the canon way, so I went with this instead, but the added party members means more ways to trap them during the final boss sequence (hence the additions of Neoshadows and multiple Darksides)!
Anyway, let's see our reviews...
RengekiEnjoyer
- Yeah, ReCom will be a very trying time, especially for Neptune and Noire, having their own problems to deal with on top of those they are Linked to...What those problems are, I can't say now, but it will be a trying time for them...
Enemy Stand
- I have plans for her by that time. Thanks to some more ideas, I think I got what I want to do with her by then.
- Sora can't do stocks, so Riku has that going for him, haha! Also, see above regarding the ReCom stuff.
Alright! All that's left is the epilogue sequence in three days and a nice little teaser for what comes next the day after that!
Oh yeah, Nepstation will show up one more time at the next chapter and I will also announce my future plans for this series by then, so stay tuned for that!
Now, if y'all excuse me, I'll be going back to play Sisters vs. Sisters! (the gameplay is a bit jank, but the way the characters fight is giving me a clearer picture of how I want to proceed with the action scenes going forward)