Ch 32. Shadow Puppets

It seems Spira wasn't the only world affected by a surge of Heartless invasions. As the Keyblade wielder and his friends venture into the cyber realm to help upload Hollow Bastion's defense, Vendox decides to strike at the source of the surge, the Villains Vale located in the outer reaches of Hollow Bastion. It seems Maleficent was ready for an all out war, and Vendox had to be ready for whatever she launched at this world. Joining everyone in the main computer room, Vendox met with Yuffie, Aerith, Cloud, Leon, Cid, Tifa, and Merlin. "She's sent out Heartless everywhere! Hollow Bastion is crawling with those blasted creatures; however they seem like nothing compared to what's amassing at her base.” Yuffie turned to Merlin, "You think she could be summoning Chernabog?” "Cloud shook his head, "The Heartless are the only ones to summon him when they have no focal leader. With Maleficent, they have no need to summon him.” Tifa started taking her gloves out and place them over her hands, "Then what are we waiting for?". Leon nodded, "Agreed, we should strike now before she launches her army.” "No.", Vendox said, "We may be able to hold them back, but the boy has the only weapon to truly defeat them. We should set up a perimeter. Each of us take a certain sector leading out from the town towards the Villains Vale and take out whatever comes our way. That should clear a path for the Keyblade wielder to plow on through towards Maleficent.". The group agreed, with Leon staying behind to inform the boy once he and his friends emerged from the cyber realm, everyone else took certain sections leading from the entrance of the city all the way out to the Great Maw where Vendox took watch.
No sooner had they take their places, the Heartless started pouring in. With staff in hand, Vendox unleashed hell. Swinging his staff, taking out a few, fire blasting the attackers behind him, slamming the weapon to the ground unleashing strings of electric energy throughout the area wiping out more. On and on he fought with no end in sight. Vendox was too busy with the creatures in front of him to notice one from the sky ready to pounce. Just as it's claws opened, a beam of light shot it down. Vendox turned to see where the light came from. "Hey! I wanted to hit it.", "You snooze, ya lose kid.", "Kid?! I'm just a few years younger than you.", "Hmm and a few inches shorter too, heh.", "Yunnie, your not helping!". Vendox looked up and saw three fairies. They looked back. The one in black smirked, "This is the part where you say 'Thank You'.". Vendox raised his staff at them and unleashed a fireball. The fairies scattered and saw that he aimed at a creature descending on them while they were arguing. Vendox smiled, "You first. If you can, there are a few Heartless that have breached into the city. Can you take care of them for me?". The yellow one smirked, "Roger stick-dude! Leave it to me!" and vanished, the other two followed.
As the fight continued, Vendox received slight visions of the boy heading his way. Looking out at the incoming invaders Vendox rushed past them heading towards the Vale. "He can handle them, I gotta stop that witch!". Rushing through the various Heartless and taking them out as he went Vendox soon made it to the cliff's edge and jumped off. Landing at the base, Vendox was surrounded. "Well," Maleficent's voice echoed, "This is an unexpected surprise. I set my trap for the light, and lo I catch a shattered existence, ever searching for his lost cause.". A green fire emerged and Maleficent formed from it. " Your powers seemed a bit lacking since we fought last, witch." Vendox smirked. "All your plans have come to ruin, now you can't even conjure a base of operations anymore. The boy has dismantled your group, depleted your power and is vanquishing 1000 Heartless on his own as we speak. Your nothing.". Maleficent did not react, her face holding her menacing, yet calm posture. " Why my dear Vendox, plans can be re-visioned, life reforged, and light erased in total darkness. Though my Heartless fall to the boy's keyblade, my warrior is busy throughout the worlds ensuring the power of darkness remains ever present.". "Warrior?", Vendox asked. Maleficent smiled, "Why of course. Your little proactive plan of assault is in reality a planned reaction I have been expecting. While all your efforts are focused here, my warrior is out amongst the stars dispatching the power of darkness. Soon all the worlds will fall, preparing the road to Kingdom Hearts. You poor simple fool!" Maleficent said as the flamed consumed her and her laugh echoed throughout the Vale.
Vendox stood there, stunned. He was so focused on this fight his mind couldn't reveal the trap to him. As he started toward the Maw, a familiar laugh was heard. "It seems all your actions do is play their roles given by us. No matter what you fight for or where you hide, in the end you will always be a puppet of my design Vendox, just like the boy.". "Xemnas!". The figure appeared before him. "Even now, Saiix is showing the fruits of the boy's labors through all these years. How in the end, it is the Keyblade that is the core of our schemes and no matter what he does he has to fight. Now his heart is filling with doubt and hopeless despair.". "No! He's not a pawn in your game AND NEITHER AM I!". Vendox lunged at Xemnas who blocked with his red blades. Xemnas just scoffed. "In the end, our Kingdom Hearts shall be complete. A pity you forsook us, you could have had a new life instead of years wasted searching for a lost existence.". Xemnas jumped and teleported away leaving Vendox in the Villains Vale...alone.