Chapter Text
Hollow Bastion – Chapel Ruins
"Ready?" Neptune dashed forward. "Then here I come! VARIABLE EDGE!"
"TRI-COLOR ORDER!"
The two clashed, and this time, Neptune is faring a lot better now.
"She's pushing me back!?" Noire said in disbelief. "Curse her and her newfound power!"
The clash ended in Neptune's favor as she pushed the white-haired CPU back.
"Now, taste this!" Neptune's blade then filled with wind magic. "WIND SLICER!"
The attack hit, sending the transformed Noire further back. "Blast! How is she this strong!?"
"I'm not done yet!"
Neptune took a step back and primed her blade...
"That stance...Is she going for a Cross Combination? Or a Critical Edge?"
"Here goes...SONIC BLADE!"
Noire's eyes widened at that! "What!?"
Hollow Bastion – Entrance Hall
Sora executed his Sonic Blade move against Riku, leaving him defenseless as he attempted to recover from Sora's dash attacks.
"He didn't pull that move when we were on the islands..." Riku mumbled to himself.
"COMIN' THROUGH!"
Riku looked to his side to see Goofy charging right at him with his shield.
"This again!?"
Instead of dodging to the side, he met the charge head on!
"Will you ever learn your lesson!?"
Riku charged a Dark Firaga on his hand, which he unleashed upon the royal captain, pushing him back against his charge!
"He's not the only one you're fighting!"
Upon hearing that nasally declaration, thunder bolts started raining down the halls due to Donald's Thundaga magic.
"You're a nuisance!"
Riku sprinted past the lightning bolts and scored a hit against the duck, knocking him down.
"Right where I want you..."
An Aero glyph appeared beneath Riku...
"Shoot!"
"GUSTY WINDS!"
...which sent Riku up flying in the air!
Hollow Bastion – Chapel Ruins
As Noire recovered from that last attack, she is left to her thoughts.
"How can this be!?" Noire thought aloud. "How can Neptune have access to Sora's skills? Could that new power have something to do with it?"
"How's this? THUNDARA!"
Neptune then channeled magic into her sword, sending thunder bolts across the arena.
"She's even using her magic like he does! Is this also her new power!?"
Noire gritted her teeth, coming out of hiding and dashing straight for her opponent!
"You won't get past me! TORNERAID CHAIN!"
"DEFENSE!"
Hollow Bastion – Entrance Hall
"So, what will you do now, Sora?"
As Sora pulled back, he looked around to see Donald, Goofy and IF knocked out from the fight. Thankfully, Sora managed to keep himself and Compa safe with timely Aerora shields, but they won't last.
"Your friends are out cold now. Now, you're defenseless!"
"Not yet!"
Riku looked to his side in a panic as he felt a Paralysis Shot to his face, sending him back paralyzed.
"Sora!"
He nodded, wreathing his Keyblade with Fire magic!
"BLAZE BREAK!"
"What!?" A direct hit! Riku was now pushed back. "GAH!"
Compa took the chance and rushed to the boy's side.
"Shall we?"
"Yes!"
Channeling magic into his Keyblade, Sora prepares a special spell...
"May our strength..."
"May our feelings..."
Compa follows his lead by channeling healing magic into her hands, extending them out to empower Sora's spell.
"Reach out to them!"
A bright light enveloped the room, casting a mighty healing magic that restores the life and even some magic power for Sora and all his friends.
"Oh yeah!" Donald cheered.
"We're back!" Goofy declared.
"Time for round two!" IF exclaimed.
Including the ones that were knocked out earlier! This is Sora and Compa's Combination Skill, Light's Miracle!
"You're kidding!" Riku complained. "And after all that effort, too!"
"It'll take more than what you have to defeat us!" Donald boasted.
"We'll keep gettin' up as many times as we have to!" Goofy declared.
"So, face the facts here, Riku" IF called out.
"You have already lost!" Compa finished.
"No..." Riku answered with a clenched fist. "Not yet. I haven't lost yet! I won't lose to the likes of you!"
"Then..."
Sora took a step back and primed his stance.
"What move will you make this time?"
"Just this! CROSS COMBINATION!"
Riku's eyes widened at that! "What!?"
Hollow Bastion – Chapel Ruins
Neptune executed her ten-hit combo, each hit being met with sword clashes.
"You're keeping up!" Neptune complimented her opponent.
"I won't give in!" Noire declared. "I won't lose to a bumbling moron like you!"
"Is that how you think of me?" Neptune sighed. "Really now, Noire, I thought you were more mature than that."
"Shut up and focus on the fight! TORNERAID SWORD!"
Noire broke through the combo with her own technique. This did not deter Neptune, however.
"I'm not done! STRIKE RAID!"
Neptune threw her sword right at Noire, forcing her to block it!
"I've already dealt with this move, Neptune!" Noire boasted.
But instead of throwing the sword again, Neptune suddenly teleported to where the sword was...
"Wha-"
...which was right in front of Noire!
"She teleported!? How did she do that!?"
"Gotcha! CRITICAL EDGE!"
Neptune took the chance and hit the exposed Noire with her technique, knocking her back down with heavy force!
"Drat!" Noire shouted. "Am I going to lose? Me, who has done so much by herself!?"
"Noire..."
"Stop looking at me with that face!" Noire shouted louder. "That face full of pity and shame!"
She then took a step back and readied her final attack once more.
Neptune sighed at the sight. "Will this truly be the only way to get to you, Noire? Fine..."
She then did the same and readied her next attack.
"Ready to die, Neptune!?"
"Not yet! I still have much to do and friends to come back to! I won't die here! If she's going for that technique again, I may have to pull out the big guns. Time to see if I can remember how to do this..."
"INFINITE SLASH!"
"Here goes...!"
As Noire rushed in with her ultimate technique, Neptune, still aglow with energy, met each blow with dashes of her own!
"What!? She's meeting all my blows!?"
"HAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
The clashes continued, however by the end of the sixth clash...
Hollow Bastion – Entrance Hall
"How!?" Riku yelled. "Those techniques earlier were hers, weren't they!? How are you using them!?"
"I don't know" Sora admitted, putting a hand to his heart. "But I can feel her. Neptune's out there fighting, too. Just as she's fighting here with us, we are there fighting with her! That's what makes us strong!"
He then charged forth, ice magic imbued onto his weapon. "FROST CRUSHER!"
"You're joking..." Riku denied as he was pushed back. "How could you beat me!? You've never even won against our matches back on the island!"
"True. I couldn't" Sora said. "But WE can!"
"Goofy!"
Riku looked at the two walking animals as Donald imbued Goofy's shield with Thunder magic!
"HERE GOES!"
The royal captain wasted no time and led another charge against the dark-wielding Riku with their Goofy Elements.
"Why you!?"
Riku met the dog's attack head-on, leading to a clash of wills!
"I can take...on the both of you!"
"Both of us?"
Goofy's confused statement caused Riku to notice something strange.
Where's the duck!?
"We got you now!"
At the corner of his eye, he can see Donald and Compa preparing their Combination Skill against him!
"TREATMENT BLASTER!"
"Shoot!"
With Goofy holding him up, Riku couldn't move to dodge the incoming attack, causing him a great deal of pain.
"AAAAAGGGGHHHHH!"
Goofy moved back as soon as the blast hit their opponent, keeping an eye on his damaged, kneeling form.
"...!"
But underneath him is a a glyph of light that suddenly formed!
"O angel of light...grant this weary soul the rest he deserves!"
It was IF, preparing her latest technique!
"LA DELPHINUS!"
A pillar of light shone from the glyph, sending the dark-wielder flying up in the air in pain!
"I can't lose...I won't lose!"
And as he slowly descended, he could see his best friend primed for one last strike, spinning his Keyblade back all the while...
"Here goes...My one-hit finisher..."
Hollow Bastion – Chapel Ruins
Noire positioned herself up in the air while Neptune opted to return to the ground.
"How!?" Noire ranted. "How are you able to meet my attacks head-on!? What is that technique!?"
"Honestly, I do not know" Neptune replied. "From what Iffy told me, I used this move subconsciously. But now that I am fully aware of it, I think I'll call this move...Neptune Break!"
Silence filled the room for a good while...
"Okay, not the best name I've got, but I'd rather not keep it too long or my tongue will twist too much that I won't be able to eat pudding ever again..." Neptune sighed.
Noire groaned. "No, that's not...ugh, enough! I will end this!"
She then threw her sword against Neptune. Anticipating that Noire would finish her Infinite Slash, the transformed Neptune threw up her sword, caught it and deflected the incoming blade...
"Impossible!"
"Time to finish this!"
...and then flew right past Noire, slashing her!
"AGH!"
"This is..."
Hollow Bastion – Entrance Hall/Chapel Ruins
"...THE END!"
From his/her position, Sora/Neptune proceeded to slash through Riku/Noire with their techniques, Zantetsuken for Sora and finishing her Neptune Break for Neptune, ending the fight once and for all!
"No...This can't be...I'm not...done yet..." were the last thoughts Riku/Noire had before he/she fell to the ground.
Sora/Neptune sighed in relief. "It's over...Riku/Noire"
Hollow Bastion – Entrance Hall
Sora approached the fallen Riku, his friends right behind him.
"C'mon, Riku" Sora extended his hand to his best friend, whose outfit reverted back to his old one. "Let's go find Kairi...together"
Riku looked up to see his best friends, and with his own hand...
Sora smiled for a moment...
...swatted the hand away and ran off without a word, anger and frustration painted all over his features.
"Riku..."
"Aw, phoeey! He's been spurning you ever since we met back at the whale..." Donald complained. "Why do you keep going out of your way for him? He doesn't think you're his friend anymore."
"Well..." Sora looked to the hand that was swatted away. "I...just couldn't abandon him like that...Even after everything we've been through lately, I still consider him my friend"
"Sora..." Compa cried.
"Well, judging by his words..." IF inferred. "He must've been lied to regarding you, probably by Maleficent or Arfoire or even both."
"My munny's more likely on Maleficent!" the royal wizard guessed. "Arfoire seems dead set on dealing with Neptune, judging by how she kept isolating her."
"Yeah!" Goofy agreed. "We should get Maleficent to fess up about what she told Riku. Then we can tell him the truth!"
The nurse nodded. "It's just like my grandpa said. 'Never give no manipulative witch the benefit of doubt'. Let's capture her and make her confess!"
Donald sweatdropped. "Your grandfather's...kind of a wild guy, huh?"
The boy nodded. "Still, that sounds like a good plan to me! But first, let's meet up with Neptune."
"I hope she's okay..." Goofy said with worry.
"I'm worried about Nep-Nep too..." Compa followed with her own face of worry.
"I don't think we have much to worry about" IF said confidently.
"Even though she just turned into a different lady?" Donald asked.
"I'm a bit iffy on that." IF said, silently chuckling to herself. "But Nep's a quick learner. I'm sure she'll do fine."
Sora nodded again. "If I know her, she'd probably be working her way down to meet with us, even if her transformation ran out on her for some reason."
IF laughed. "That girl hates staying still when it's not nap-time, after all"
Suddenly the door behind them slammed open, revealing the Beast, who is uninjured.
"Mr. Beast!" Compa waved to the hulking man. "Up here!"
He looked up to see the young boy, rejoined with his companions and his lost weapon.
"So" the Beast started. "Your heart won this battle"
Sora nodded. While the current battle has ended. their trek into the large, lumbering castle has only just begun...
Hollow Bastion – Chapel Ruins
"So...I lost..."
Noire stared up at the sight of her opponent, that of the transformed Neptune. Her hands still gripped on her sword that was planted right next to Noire's head.
"..." Neptune didn't say anything, instead just continued to stare at Noire.
"It's not fair..." Noire complained as tears leaked out of her teal eyes. "I didn't ask for this power or have people like that hag as company!"
"Noire..."
The white-haired woman laughed bitterly. "It was tough, you know? When I first came to, I didn't have any idea where I was. All I knew was that my name is Noire and that I held this weird black key with me. As I walked around this castle, I ended up fighting some of the Heartless, and then a woman came and helped me out."
Neptune nodded, releasing her hands from her blade and sat down right beside her fellow CPU.
"She told me that I seemed familiar to her, that she may know who and what I am, so she offered me a deal. I help her with what she seeks, and she will tell me what she knows about me, or rather, my kind."
"What did she ask from you?"
Noire sighed. "Not much. She sent me out to some worlds to gather materials, though she wouldn't tell me what she plans to do with them. Other times, she asked me to deal with some errant Heartless around the castle, including some with stronger auras."
"Arfoire's doing, no doubt..." Neptune guessed.
"I didn't figure that out at first." the other CPU admitted. "Though at one point, while I was scouting, I noticed her doing something strange to one of the Heartless around here. And sure enough, a while later, I was asked by her to deal with it. That's when I realized I couldn't trust her. That's what established the ideal to me that CPU's must face their problems alone, that no one beneath her can be truly trusted."
"Hence, the words you said back in Wonderland"
"Thinking back on that, I may have said some bad stuff to Compa and the others, didn't I? I'll apologize to them for that later..." Noire said, placing an arm on her eyes. "Anyway, later on, I happen to meet up with a young boy named Riku. He seemed aloof, closed-off, saying only one person cares for him now. That's when I figured that either the hag or Maleficent must've lied to him about something, but I didn't know what his problem was."
"He seems convinced that Sora has betrayed him..." Neptune nodded. "But Sora would never betray his friends!"
"So, I figured..." Noire replied. "That's why I try to be around him as much as possible. You noticed that when we were in the whale. But then, Arfoire continued to send me after more Heartless while Maleficent kept Riku close to her along with Kairi."
"Why did you go along with it?" Neptune wondered. "You don't have to do what she says"
"If I don't, then she'll have Maleficent banish me and I wouldn't be able to monitor Riku then." Noire answered. "Besides, some of those Heartless she enhanced were sent to other worlds. If I wasn't there, then more worlds would've been in danger and you guys might've had a harder time getting here."
Neptune nodded, accepting the answer for now. "I see..."
"Eventually, it became too much...I became desperate..." Noire cried. "So desperate that I began to believe in what that hag said about you...about you being a CPU like me. I went to confirm that when I heard you were in Halloween Town, but then..."
"I didn't transform when we dueled..." Neptune recalled bitterly. "And then you rejected me..."
Noire sighed. "Thinking back, I must've jumped to conclusions too soon, but then, it never crossed my mind to focus on your defensive impulses..."
"Defensive impulses?"
"The drive to defend what's dear to you" the white-haired woman clarified. "The hag pressed on that during her fight with you before, and then Riku did the same just a moment ago. That's what caused you to transform, to tap into your HDD form."
"The drive to defend what's dear to me..." the purple-haired woman parroted as she placed a hand onto her heart. "...So that's what this was, huh?"
Noire laughed bitterly. "All this time, you've been a CPU like me, but you couldn't know about it. How would you, after all when even I didn't know until that hag told me. And for all I didn't believe you to be one, all it took was for you to defend me to prove me wrong."
She continued to laugh as more tears leaked from her eyes.
"Noire..."
"I suppose...this is what I get for being such a loner...for trying to do everything on my own...So pathetic..."
Neptune approached the white-haired woman more closely, propped her up and proceeded to hug her.
"Wha-" Noire said, caught by surprise as her heartbeat began to increase. "What are you?"
"You've been suffering all this time, haven't you?"
Nore kept silent...
"All this time, all you needed was someone to be with you. Someone you can relate to. Someone you can speak to, share laughs and tears with, all those things."
Noire sniffed. "Is that so?"
Neptune nodded. "You sought me for that. You sought Riku because you see yourself in him. All this time, all you wanted was a friend."
"A...friend..."
Neptune chuckled, looking to her fellow CPU. "But aren't we friends already? Though it was brief, I enjoyed our little time together back in Traverse Town. We don't need fancy things like Goddess powers or Keyblades to be friends."
"R-Really?" Noire stuttered.
The transformed woman nodded, putting one of her hands onto her heart. "Even if I had known about these powers before, I would still be happy travelling with Sora, Compa, Iffy, Donald and Goofy together. I would never trade the times we had together for anything."
Noire looked at Neptune in awe. All this time, she aspired to be the best CPU she thought possible. For Noire, it meant taking in all the burdens by herself, so others wouldn't have to suffer and be able to enjoy life. However, for Neptune, she enjoyed her life being in the company of others, laughing with them, crying with them, and just enjoying the time they spent together. In a way, Neptune was different from the ideal image of a great CPU, a great goddess, to her.
Perhaps that's why part of her never accepted how carefree Neptune is. Not only is her attitude unbecoming of that of a dignified being like a Console Patron Unit (as far as Noire knew, anyway), her ability to make friends and enjoy life with them made it seem like she's sharing her burdens with them and they to her as well, and as someone who should be the only one bearing those burdens, that ideal was unacceptable.
But...
"So, what say you, Noire?" Neptune asked. "Can we still be friends?"
Ah.
There's her heart, beating again. Even now that she knows that Neptune's a CPU like her, she never felt that heartbeat until just a while ago. Is it really not because she's a CPU, but rather because she's...just plain Neptune, even in this form?
"Or is it...you can only accept me while I'm in this form? Is my plain, cute and tiny self not enough for you?"
Noire shook her head fiercely. "N-No, that's not it! I'd never sa-Oh..."
She looked down in shame, recalling the time she rejected her back in Halloween Town.
"Neptune..." Noire called out. "Listen, I..."
Only for her to gasp in horror as a looming figure approaches her fellow CPU from behind!
"NEPTUNE! BEHIND YOU!"
The moment Neptune had her back turned, she was suddenly pulled away, and the next she knew, she was down on the ground while Noire was held up by the neck by a familiar face!
"Haa-hahahahaha! I swear, you dumb goddesses make this so easy for me!"
Neptune growled "Arsnore!"
'Arsnore' growled back. "FOR THE LAST TIME NEPTUNE, IT'S AR-FOIRE! WILL YOU EVER GET MY NAME RIGHT!?"
Neptune got up and readied her sword. "Let Noire go!"
"I'm afraid not" Arfoire replied snidely. "Now that the both of you are worn down, I'll come in and claim my prize!"
"Why you-" Noire growled. "This was your aim all along, wasn't it?"
"Oh?"
"Wearing me down and dropping my guard through those menial tasks" Noire continued. "You were hoping to strike at me when I'm at my most vulnerable, aren't you?"
Arfoire snickered. "True, up to a certain point"
"What do you mean?"
"It's true that there's something I desire from you" Arfoire admitted. "But then, I discovered Neptune's existence, and then thought to myself a brilliant idea to knock two birds with one stone. So, I told you about her and the possibility that she's a CPU to get you two to fight against each other."
She then laughed. "And it worked perfectly!"
"You figured I was a CPU?" Neptune wondered as she glared at the witch. "Then the crystal that Riku was using..."
"Yes! I made that to draw out your HDD form, Neptune!" Arfoire shouted. "I figured out how you were able to draw that power, so I made that Anti-Crystal from the materials Noire here oh-so-helpfully provided for me in order to attack you by targeting the energy stored inside your being. The confirmation was just icing on the cake. But rest assure, I can only make one of those, not that I need more."
"Then what about Noire?" Neptune demanded. "You welcomed her into this castle. You provided her with what you know. Why would you put her through so much suffering!? Why do you keep sending her against those Heartless you messed with? What does she have that you would want!?"
Noire continued to glare at the witch.
"Ah, that" Arfoire recalled. "As I told you, I needed her to acquire her power, but she was too weak when we first met, so I needed to make her strong. Any weaker and her power is useless to me"
"Hence all the Heartless sent her way..." Neptune then realized something. "Then why not do the same to me?"
"I don't have to" Arfoire answered confidently. "With all the Heartless and villains in your way, you'll be able to get stronger without my prodding. Though obviously, I need to check in every now and then to make sure you are progressing smoothly."
"Is that..." Noire managed to say. "Another reason why you sent me against her? Just to see...how strong we've become!?"
The witch snickered. "That wasn't the only reason, Noire..."
Noire's eyes widened in realization. "You don't mean..."
"Haa-hahahahaha! That's right!" Arfoire laughed. "I not only set things up to ensure that you would seek her out and fight her, but by wearing you down, you began to feel desperate. You desire for company like hers that she would seek you out even without my prompting. People naturally desire companionship, especially in hours of strife. The people in Gamindustri have demonstrated as such."
"Gamindustri..." Neptune murmured. "You know of that world?"
"Naturally" Arfoire declared. "I was one such resident in that world."
"You...remembered?" Neptune said slowly. "How is that possible?"
Arfoire chuckled. "All in due time, dear. Going back to Noire here..."
The witch tightened her hold on the weakened CPU. "I wore down Noire here with the intent of taking her powers for my own. Once she became strong enough, I had to wear her down since she kept her guard up at all times, but between seeking you out and being beaten over and over by you and the Heartless, her defenses eventually wore down..."
She then brought Noire closer to her face. "What was that you kept saying to yourself? 'A CPU must be alone' 'They must act dignified and bear the burden on their own'. And yet, you desire Neptune's companionship and stewardship over Maleficent's toy. What a model CPU you are. Haa-hahahahahaha!"
If not for Arfoire's hold over her, Noire could just run off to a corner and cry over her own weakness. Her own self-made doctrine that she made to defend herself from the unknown and her own growing desire for friends has now weakened her to the point that this...witch will now steal the very essence that defines her being!
"Now that I have let this all out, any last words, Goddess Noire?"
Instead, all she could do is glare at the witch in defiance and even spat on her foot for good measure!
"Go slink back into the darkness, witch!"
Arfoire glared back at her in turn. "Then you have sealed your fate..."
She then began to exert energy as Noire screamed.
"No! Noire!"
Neptune attempted to rush over to her, but the overwhelming amount of energy exerted was too much for the transformed Keyblade wielder, and she was forced to brace herself on the spot, all the while her fellow CPU's screams haunted her ears and mind.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
"HAA-HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Arfoire laughed mightily. "Now your power is mine!"
A good thirteen seconds have passed, and the energy dissipated. Noire, with her power drained, reverted out of her Hard Drive Divinity and back to her bruised, human form and her Keyblade dissipated into her rapier, it's wielder sapped of her strength.
"YES!" Arfoire shouted as she summoned her lance and morphed it into a large sword. "This makes three! Only one to go and my goal is nearly complete!"
She then gazed upon the nearly-unconscious Noire.
"I no longer have need of you now"
The witch then threw the drained CPU to the side, causing her to fall into a thud.
"NOIRE! Please, speak to me!"
Neptune immediately dashed to Noire, cradling her weakened form filled with bruises and heavy finger marks on her neck.
"Nep...tune..."
The weakened girl could barely open her eyes, gazing upon the majestic yet worried CPU in front of her.
"Noire!" Neptune pleaded. "Please, save your strength! I'll get us to Compa! She'll treat you, I know it!"
Her sight is fading, yet Noire managed to give out a smile...
"I'm...sor...ry...I...hurt...you...Please...for...give...me..."
As soon as she spoke, she passed out like a light...
"Noire...Noire!" Neptune shook her fellow CPU to wake her, but there was no response...
"NOIRE!"
Arfoire chuckled at the sight. "How sad. The foolish CPU, brought down by her own hubris..."
Admist her tears, Neptune turned to the witch, her face and heart filled with rage.
"...And now, you're next, Neptune!"
Neptune growled louder and louder, until...
"Shut up..."
"Huh?"
...the CPU was glowing bright again!
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
Suddenly, the evil witch was surrounded by several spectral swords. She was trapped!
"Impossible!" Arfoire gasped. "You still have this much strength!? You should be worn down just like that fool Noire!"
"You dare to hurt her..." Neptune spoke, her bangs covering her eyes. "You dare to steal her power and ruin her pride..."
As the CPU stood, gently laying Noire down, more and more spectral blades surrounded Arfoire, leaving her with no room to run!
"...You will pay..."
She then raised her sword...
"...WITH YOUR LIFE!"
...and upon lowering it, the spectral blades converged upon the evil witch, piercing through her like a piñata!
"GAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
The damage done to her was so severe that most of her dress is ruined, her hat punctured and the buckle holding the giant tome she's been carrying has been broken, leaving it lying on the floor...
"Curse you..." Arfoire growled at the approaching Neptune, trying to get up. "...Curse you!"
Once she made it near her, Neptune glared at her for a good three seconds before raising her sword against her.
"...Fall..."
"Neptune, stop!"
The sword landed right next to Arfoire's head, inches away from killing her!
"Histy?" Neptune whispered.
"There's no time, Neptune!" Histoire warned. "You must flee from here immediately! The Heartless are coming!"
Neptune gritted her teeth. "But what about Noire?"
"She's alive, Neptune"
Hearing this caused a gasp to leave the transformed woman's lips.
"She's still alive?"
"Yes! Now hurry!" Histoire urged. "Grab that tome right next to Arfoire, and fly away with Noire immediately!"
Neptune had half a mind to ask where Histy is, but right now, she's not at the best of states and the Heartless could be here any moment!
"Got it!"
Grabbing both her sword and the tome, Neptune made a break for Noire.
"You won't escape!"
But one glare from the CPU's glowing eyes caused more spectral swords to appear around the evil witch, halting her advance!
"Why you...!"
"Come on, Noire"
Neptune carried the unconscious CPU's form like a princess and placed the tome on said CPU's arm, allowing Neptune to carry Noire on her left arm while keeping her sword on the right.
"I know I'm asking much, but please hold on that tome tight" Neptune whispered to Noire. "A friend of mine asked for it after all."
"Fr...iend..."
Upon saying that, Noire started tugging the tome tightly.
Neptune smiled at the sight, glad that at least Noire's still alive. "You really are alive, aren't you? Thank you, Noire"
Eyeing the open hole she just entered from, Neptune flew off from the premises and back out into the open.
Despite the predicament she is in, Arfoire could only laugh. "Fly while you can, Neptune. So long as you have unfinished business here, you'll be back. And then, I'll finally have what's rightfully mine...Haa-hahahahahaha!"
Hollow Bastion – Great Crest
"How long is this ride gonna take?" Sora asked impatiently as he and the party, accompanied by the Beast, are taking an elevator heading eastward into the castle.
"Try asking the ones who made this castle that" IF answered, feeling a bit annoyed at the boy's impatience.
"I can understand why he's so anxious, though" Compa said. "I'm worried about Nep-Nep too"
"Are you sure you're okay, Sora?" Donald asked. "You've been clutching your chest for a good while back there..."
Sora nodded. "Yeah. I felt my heart aching all of a sudden, like...it was hit with a thunderstorm, but then it calmed down..."
IF hummed. "That was pretty odd. Not to mention the fact that you were glowing and had Nep's eyes for a moment there, but that can wait. Could something have happened to Nep and Noire?"
"Doesn't she wield the same weapon as yours?" the Beast asked. "That Neptune you kept talking about?"
"Yup!" Goofy answered. "She's a Keyblade wielder like Sora here!"
"Those two are basically inseparable since we all met. I can see why he'd worry about her so much" Donald remarked as he looked out the elevator for any suspicious signs. "Hey, I see something"
"What is it?" the boy with the key asked.
"Over there!"
IF pointed towards the top of the broken Heartless emblem decorating the castle, spotting a figure flying out of the hole.
"Someone's flying out!" the nurse described. "And they're carrying someone with them!"
"It's a woman" the Beast noticed.
"A woman?"
Sora gasped, looking closer at the figure.
"It's Neptune!"
"Now then, where can we land...?"
Flying out, Neptune scanned around the area to see a possible place to land and rest.
"...!"
However, several Heartless, which took the shape of red winged beasts, called Wyverns, and giant floating heads of darkness, called Darkballs, block her way out.
"Looks like they're here already!" Neptune growled. "I don't have time for this!"
In her anger, she summoned several spectral swords from the sky and with a wave of her sword, rained down upon the flock of flying Heartless, disintegrating them.
However, Neptune's breathing became heavier and her sight is getting worse...
"Not good..."
"You mustn't be so reckless with your energy usage!" Histoire scolded. "At this rate, you might end up running out to maintain this form and fall down!"
Neptune shuddered from the thought. No one has to remind her how deadly fall damage is. "You're right. But where can we lay low?"
She looked around, left and right, in search of such a place. Luckily, her salvation came from her right.
A large, circular area with a small passageway that leads further into the castle!
"There!"
Wasting no time, Neptune begins flying to her new destination with due haste, making sure to keep Noire tightly held...
"Neptune, dodge!"
Instinctively taking Histoire's advice, Neptune rolled to the left, seeing a blizzard spell that just flew past her!
"What!?"
She looked behind, and saw flying beings with pointy hats and small wands and even soldiers equipped with mini-copters and small gliders, closing in on her! The Wizard and Air Soldier Heartless have come!
"More of them!?"
"There's so many of them!" Histy cried. "At this rate, they'll chase us to your destination!"
Neptune clicked her tongue. This isn't good at all!
Unless...
"I have an idea, Histy!"
"Is it a good idea?"
"Not sure. But as long as it works...!"
"Are you sure about this!?"
"Who knows? But, Histy, can you at least tell me how close they are to me?"
"Not physically, but I can still read their signatures. I'll tell you once they get close!"
"Good. Now, let's fly!"
Picking up the pace, she flew faster to the open area. Meanwhile, the squadron of Air Soldiers and Wizards began to give chase to the errant Goddess, determined to bring her down!
"Just a little closer...!" Neptune hoped as she dodged the incoming attacks from the Air Soldiers.
"I hope your plan works!"
She then swerved to dodge incoming lightning bolts. "Me too...!"
The area is looking closer and closer by the second, and by the second, her sight's getting blurrier and blurrier.
"Please...Just a little more...At least until Noire and Histy are safe...!"
The pack of flying Heartless is drawing closer and closer as Neptune drew nearer to the open area!
"Neptune, they're getting closer now!"
The CPU smirked. "Good"
As the Heartless drew closer, some of them suddenly stopped as they gazed above the run-away Goddess, noticing something forming above her.
A giant spectral sword aimed squarely at them!
"NOW!"
The spectral sword dropped down on the Heartless at Neptune's declaration, wiping out the whole squadron in a large blast!
"Incredible..." Histoire gasped. "You waited until you reached near the open area and lined up a blast to wipe them all out in one blow! Truly amazing, Neptune!"
Neptune huffed for breath as she landed. "It was rough. Still, that large attack deserves it's own name. How about...32-Bit Mega Blade?"
"That will do!" the heavenly voice said with haste. "Now please set Noire down so you can rest!"
"Will do!"
Limping to the nearby wall, she slowly set Noire down, still unconscious and gripping the large tome tightly. Thankfully, she's still breathing, albeit slowly.
"At least...you're safe...Noire..."
Suddenly, Neptune began to feel dizzy. Her vision's fading and her movement's getting wobbly.
"This is...not good..."
"Neptune! Behind you!"
A strange sound was heard behind her. As the transformed CPU turned, she could barely make out...something from her fading vision.
"It's blue...and large...with a shield...? Not good..."
She tried to raise her blade to fight off the incoming threat, but one lunge from said threat pushed her back.
"No...I...can't..."
As her vision faded, her eyes turned to the unconscious Noire, who is about to be attacked by the something that attacked her.
"No...Noire..."
And then her eyes went shut and her world went silent...