A/N: This story has been knocking around in my head for years now, and I just really wanted to write a fic that deals with Riku and Terra's potential mentor/student relationship. This is a side project for me so updates will be very sporadic.

This fic begins with the first game and branches out from there. It's heavily AU, as Riku will be much more of a mage than in canon, and the entire plot of the first game will be heavily altered. The "Ansem" of this story is not as he should be, and from the summary and tags you probably can guess who he really is. All alterations will be explained in time.

Thank you to my betas Ahxis and VCAyuki.

1

Riku was standing alone in the small cave commonly known as the Secret Place by the children of his island chain. Its walls were covered in white scribbles, and the smell of salt and mold filled the air. In front of him was a wooden door that no one could ever figure out. It had no handle, and no matter how much someone pushed it, it would never budge.

Dreams of this door opening had filled his nights lately, but they were not the pleasant ones of adventure and joy from his childhood. They were filled with a bone deep terror that drove him awake, sweating and gasping and crying like some stupid little kid. Determined to purge himself of those ridiculous dreams, he made a point of visiting the door every day. His heart would race and his skin would crawl each time he approached it but nothing ever happened.

Scowling at the offending slab of wood, Riku began his slow trek forward. His heart rate quickened, and he had to measure his breathing. The door glowed for a moment before a golden keyhole appeared in the center of it, and he almost toppled over in surprise. He scrambled the rest of the way to the door and hovered in front of it.

The light of the keyhole was warm and pleasant. Riku reached towards it with a shaking hand, and a cold metallic weight filled his grasp. An oversized silver key had appeared out of nowhere, and it fit in his hand as if it had been made to do so. He glanced between it and the door before a smirk pulled at his lips.

The fear that had been churning his stomach faded away in the face of a comforting familiarity. A voice he could barely hear was whispering in his ear, and Riku felt that it spoke promises of adventure. This was it. He could open this door and step through and leave the mundane behind.

He raised the key before him, and its tip lit up with a brilliant light. The light stretched out and reached the keyhole, causing the whole door to glow brightly. Riku heard a distinct click.

The feeling of familiarity drained away from him, only to be replaced by a fear that was as bad as in his dreams. He broke out in a cold sweat as the air in the room became heavy. The key disappeared from his hand with a brilliant flash of light, and dark tendrils began crawling out from the door. He watched in horror as they formed themselves into a small black creature with soulless yellow eyes. The creature stared right at him and jumped forward with its claws barred. Right before it could strike, Riku turned away and bolted from the cave.

Something had gone terribly wrong. As he was running, he thought he could hear that strange voice from earlier softly whisper to him, telling him that he was the thing that had gone wrong, but he shoved it away.

He skidded to a halt on the shore when he spotted a storm looming above him. Wind caused the trees to whip around violently and sand to be kicked up into the air. His hair flew into his face when he looked upwards and saw a vortex forming in the sky.

It was then that Riku knew that his world was falling apart. The darkness was coming. It was coming for him.

He stomped down on his rising panic and shook his head to compose himself. He wasn't some whiny kid, and he wasn't going to freak out. He felt certain that opening the door was only way to get off the islands. He would let the darkness take him if he had to. Anything to be free.

The wind began blowing so hard that he had trouble keeping upright. More creatures rose from the sand, and they slowly surrounded him as he stumbled in the gale force wind. He had nowhere left to run as darkness spread out under his feet like ink. The creatures it touched melted and seamlessly joined the black pool. As more creatures joined the pool, Riku began to sink. He tried to struggle, to reach out, but the darkness had a firm grip on him. He couldn't even manage to scream as it dragged him into its freezing cold depths. The last thing he saw before the darkness took him was Sora rushing down the beach.

1

Riku awoke to the sound of rushing water and an icy cold. He shivered and did his best to sit up. His head was spinning, and it took him a while to get his bearings. He managed to crack open his eyes to see himself surrounded by a waterfall that didn't flow downwards, but up. He was sitting on a small stone platform, and when he looked over the edge he saw that it was astonishingly floating in midair. There was, without a doubt, magic at work here; the likes of which he had only read about. A brilliant smile spread across his face. He was in another world. Opening the door had worked!

His smile disappeared as he realized he was alone. Sora wasn't with him, and neither was anyone else from his home world. Riku reassured himself that they all must have been transported elsewhere, but a niggling thought in the back of his mind told him that wasn't the case. He shoved it down because he didn't have time for regrets. He was finally on an actual adventure, so what did it matter if he was alone?

He stood up on shaky legs and got a better look at his surroundings. In the midst of the upside-down waterfall where many floating platforms adorned with ruined buildings. The stone ruins were covered in intricate blue designs that radiated magic, but not a single sign of life was to be found in the floating maze. It would be just his luck to finally leave and end up somewhere completely deserted.

He hopped off of the platform he was on and landed on the largest of the others. The design on the ground was mysterious, and he saw that the places where he stepped would light up with a faint light for a few moments. He walked around the square, amused by the trick until a shiver running down his spine forced him stop. The hair rose on the back of his neck, and he whipped around. No one was there.

…You...I know you…

It was the same voice that had spoken to him at the island, and it was much louder and clearer than before.

"Who's there?" Riku whirled around again, but the square was still deserted.

A shrill cackle filled the air followed by a burst of darkness that a woman primly strode out of. A long black robe billowed behind her as she walked and black horns rose from her head. A staff with a glowing green orb at its tip rested in her right hand. She stopped a little away from Riku and stared down at him imperiously.

"Who are you, child, and what brings you to my domain?" Her voice was cultured and arrogant.

Riku could tell the woman was bad news, but she was the only other person he had seen. For all he knew she might be the only one around for miles.

"I'm Riku. My world was destroyed by darkness, and I ended up here." He wasn't usually so frank, but he didn't know what lie he could tell that would be believable.

The woman's eyes flashed with something undetectable. "I see. Then you have no home to return to. If you would like, I would be happy to allow you to stay in my castle." Despite the illusion that these words were kind, Riku had a feeling the woman had an ulterior motive.

He reluctantly agreed since the platform he was on was a dead end, and he had no idea how to navigate this strange world. He would only stick around the witch for as long he needed to.

"What's your name, anyway?" he asked.

A small smirk appeared on the woman's face. "I am Maleficent."

She walked over to a metal diamond-shaped cage resting on a platform, and with a small tap of her staff, the cage opened and a dark purple orb emerged. It began glowing brilliantly, and another platform came towards them that appeared to be running on a magical relay.

In a mutual silence, the two of them climbed onto the platform. The moment Riku stepped fully onto it a barrier rose up around them, scorching the back of his shoe. He gaped at the barrier and the platform. He wanted to ask how they worked but decided against it since he didn't want to look like an idiot.

As the platform slowly went over an enormous chasm, Riku saw one of the most breathtaking scenes he'd ever witnessed. The sunlight caught the clouds and waterfalls in a tantalizing way, lighting them up with red and gold. Swarms of black birds flitted in and out of the clouds, and he could distantly hear their calls. The foreboding yet magnificent castle they approached sent a small trill of excitement down his spine.

He kept feeling like this was only a dream, and that he'd wake up back in his room at the island and find that he was still trapped.

The platform stopped right by the entrance of the castle, and Riku and Maleficent stepped off. The witch strode purposefully towards the entrance of the castle, not bothering to spare Riku a glance. Riku was embarrassed that he had to actually walk fast to keep up with the tall woman's confident stride. He felt less like a fifteen year old and more like an eight year old.

With a flippant knock of her staff, the huge doors of the castle glowed before they began to slowly open, revealing a grand foyer that had two staircases leading up to another set of richly decorated doors. The stairs were wrapped around a fountain that sported the same heart-like symbol Riku had seen proudly displayed on the castle's highest tower.

Maleficent had walked farther into the foyer, but Riku was hesitant to go further before he got some more information.

"You're not going to let me stick around for free."

The witch stopped and turned to face him halfway. He saw a small smirk appear on her red painted lips. "It appears you are not the usual imbecile that often stumbles into my court. If you wish to stay within these walls, I would require you to do me a service. It's but a simple one of finding a group of seven princesses that have been lost. I can inform you further after we have sat down. Speaking of business in foyer is very rude, after all." She gave Riku a reproachful look.

When faced with her piercing stare Riku almost apologized, and had to stop himself at the last minute. Instead he simply nodded his head in agreement. He could have sworn he saw a satisfied look flash across the woman's face before she elegantly made her way up the stairs. He followed her until they came to a huge dining room. Within was a wooden table that could easily have sat a hundred people.

Maleficent tapped her staff against the ground once, and in a flash of sickly green magic, a full set of silver dining ware appeared at the head of the table and the spot to its right. Some trays with steaming food also appeared, and Riku's mouth began to water at the smell that was wafting over to where he stood.

"It is anathema to me to use my magic for such frivolous endeavors, but the lack of any competent servants requires me to make sacrifices," Maleficent stated coolly as she made her way to the seat at the head of the table.

Before Riku could stop himself, he blurted out, "That didn't seem frivolous to me at all."

Maleficent had sat down and was now giving him a searching look. "Then you know nothing of what magic is truly capable of."

"No, I don't know anything about it," Riku admitted reluctantly as he awkwardly sat down at the witch's right.

"But you wish to know."

There was a pause in their conversation as the witch served herself and then motioned for Riku to do the same. After the two of them had begun eating, (Riku had waited for her to take the first bite, just in case) Maleficent spoke again, "I would be willing to reveal some of the vast secrets of magic to you if you would do another favor for me. It is yet simpler than the first. There is a certain room in this castle that is the only room I have been unable to access. If you could manage to get inside of it, I would be willing to instruct you."

"Why don't you tell me about your first request before I start making promises to do something else," Riku replied blandly, though his thoughts quickly went to the silver key. He had a feeling that it would open any door if it could open the door in the Secret Place.

Maleficent let out a small chuckle, which had a raspy tone to it that made it seem like she didn't laugh often. "Yes, that would be the wisest course of action." Much to Riku's chagrin, the witch seemed to be mocking him. "I wish to open a door, a door that leads to infinite power and majesty. But I cannot do so unless I have the aid of seven princesses, who are spread across the worlds. I do not know exactly who they are, though I have many well-founded speculations. I need someone who is young and agile to traverse the worlds and help me in my search for the seven."

"And that person would be me," Riku drawled.

"If you were to agree to aid me."

"I don't have much of a choice," Riku said with some bitterness.

Maleficent gave him a very pointed look. "One always has a choice."

Riku looked away from her gaze and continued to eat. After a few moments he spoke up, "I'll help you find these princesses. Just try not to get me involved in whatever domination of all worlds plot you have going on."

A small smirk appeared on her face again. "Most would ask for me to grant them power and prestige, yet you wish only to be left alone?"

"I just want to have some adventures before I die and trying to find a group of elusive princesses sounds like an adventure to me."

Maleficent chuckled again. "Very well. If you still have an interest in learning from me, I will show you the door after our meal."

Riku nodded to show his interest, and they finished up their meal. Maleficent then led him away from the dining room and through many winding corridors. Eventually, she stopped before an ordinary looking wooden door. Riku was about to make a sarcastic comment about how good of a witch she was if she couldn't open a simple door, when Maleficent stepped forward and swung it open. Inside was a spacious, but bare, bedroom.

"This will be your quarters," she announced with an imperious tone.

Riku stepped inside of the room. It had a medium sized bed with privacy curtains hanging from its canopy. An ornate bed stand rested to its left, and against the opposite wall was a small dresser, a desk, and bookshelf. All three were completely empty when Riku inspected them. There was also another door that led to a small bathroom.

When Riku returned to the hall, the witch was waiting for him. "Is it to your liking?" she asked with a tone that plainly said that even if he didn't like the room, he wouldn't be getting another.

"It'll do," was Riku's own cool reply, even though he was a little giddy with the fact that the room was almost half the size of his house back on the islands.

Maleficent turned away gracefully and began making her way down the hall. Riku followed, expecting her to lead him to the mysterious door. After the two of them walked even farther into the maze-like corridors, they came to the door. It was almost as tall as the front entryway had been, though it was half as wide. The door gave off the feeling of being forbidden, and Riku mentally admitted that it looked pretty formidable.

"This door has not responded to any of the spells I have experimented with. It will also not break under any kind of force, no matter how great. From the floor plans of the castle, it appears that it should be a study adjoined to a bedroom. Obviously, it holds within some great secret. I wish you luck in unlocking it." The witch turned away from him and glided down the corridor.

Riku was now alone in front of the gold trimmed, wooden door. The runes carved into it were making his skin tingle, and the magic radiating from it was downright terrifying. He was starting to doubt that his silver key could open it, but then he remembered the power he'd felt when he'd held the key in his hand, and his doubts were alleviated. He focused on his desire to open the door, but no key appeared in his outstretched hand. Instead a bright light flashed and quickly fizzled out. Riku tried to summon the key again and again, but the light only grew dimmer each time.

"Why isn't it working?!"

…It has abandoned you…the darkness chased it away…I chased it away…

Riku's anger was quickly replaced by fear. The voice from earlier had returned, and it was loud enough that it was as if the words were being whispered right in his ear. He had hoped to try and ignore the voice, because he knew what hearing voices meant. He knew that talking back was probably the worst possible response, but the voice had answered his question. It knew where the key was and why he couldn't summon it.

"Why would the darkness make it leave me?" Riku may have been terrified, but he wanted answers. "Why are you keeping it from me?"

A quiet laugh filled the silence.

…It is a key of light…it does not serve those who walk in darkness…

Riku was genuinely confused. Yes, he had used the darkness to leave the islands, but he'd used the key to access it. On top of that, he wasn't 'walking in darkness' whatever that even meant.

"I don't 'walk in darkness.' Besides, I used the key with no problem before. Stop whatever you're doing to keep me from summoning it!" Riku felt his voice fill with a shaky arrogance.

…I must apologize…there is nothing I can do to break the bond that we have…

"Bond? What are you talking about?" Riku was starting to panic, and he took a step back in trepidation. Not that it would do any good; the voice was coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.

…Your mind is clouded with fear…I will converse with you at another time…

"Wait!" Riku demanded, despite the relief he felt at the thought of the voice leaving him alone.

A soft laugh rang out.

…I will break the seals on the door…the room within is now yours to explore…

The faint shimmer of dark magic that covered the door flashed a bright purple before dissipating

…I look forward to our next encounter...

As the presence that had been hovering around him left, Riku felt his fear fading. The moment it departed he fell to his knees and found himself shaking. He hadn't realized until now how taxing the encounter had been, and he knew that whatever that thing was, it was powerful. It had unraveled the intricate seals placed on the door like they were nothing, and it was also stopping him from summoning the key.

A churning feeling filled his stomach, and Riku knew that he should get far away from this room, the castle, even the world itself, but he couldn't leave. He didn't have the key, and he couldn't summon it. He was at both the mercy of a vile witch and a disembodied voice that claimed to have a 'bond' with him.

Riku unsteadily got to his feet. For the first time since he had opened the door, he let himself feel regret. He knew he had gotten involved in something he couldn't easily rid himself of, and it was terrifying. He had no desire to find what lay behind the door, or to tell Maleficent that the way was open. Instead he began to stumble his way back to the room the witch had showed him to earlier. He constantly looked over his shoulder on the way back, but the voice did not speak again. When he finally got to the room, he slammed and bolted the door.

He stood in the dim light of the cold room, and felt more alone and lost then he ever had in his life. He missed Sora and Kairi. He missed his mother. Why the hell had he thought that using the darkness to leave was a good idea?

Another part of his mind replied that he had been about to go insane with boredom on the island. He left to find excitement, and that was sure as hell what he got. He didn't need Sora or Kairi, and he didn't need his mother.

He wasn't a baby, and he could take care of himself.

Riku did his best to gather his nerves and began to get ready for bed. He did his best to ignore how his hands shook as he removed his clothes. He was exhausted, and soon after curling into the soft blankets of his new bed, he was deep in the realm of dreams.