"He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby becomes a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee." – Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

Notes: So this is just something I was thinking about one day. Nomura seems to make stories about people that are forgotten all the time and something bothered me about Riku's story in Chain of Memories, like something was missing. So I decided to make a missing character, someone that was forgotten. This will also be a rather short story, because for one thing, Riku's story is quite a short one to begin with and also because more of the hacking and slashing through floors is cut out along with things that are unknown by the character. Since people are familiar with events from Chain of Memories I tried to shorten it just to the things that are different. Also a lot of dialogue is taken from the game scripts but I warn people that it may be slightly different due to two facts: Chain of Memories was made for two consoles: GBA and PS2 (at the time I wrote this it was only for two consoles but it's now on PS3 and PS4 also but I don't believe the scripts are any different from the PS2 version) and the scripts are slightly different because of the adaption, also the other reason being that there is an added person to these conversations. Anyway, I hope people still enjoy it; the story of a forgotten tale.

Chapter 1: The Forgotten

It was dark, the kind of dark that feels like it's closing in on you with an unstoppable pressure making it hard to breath. It's a fitting end for someone like her. Someone that lived a life alone and was rejected by everyone only to be crushed by the darkness in the end. All she ever wanted was to be accepted, to be of help to someone, anyone.

Her mid-length black hair mixed into the darkness floating around her. The black feather accessory in her hair was all but blotted out by the blackness. Her summer clothes were darkened by the swirling nothingness. On a normal day the maroon dress-like tank top and capri-like pants would seem like a cheerful outfit. Although, even if she wore more casual clothes, her pants had more useful pockets and her dirt stained boots could be great for any terrain implying that she may have had a more rough life than at first glance.

Even though her eyes were closed, a bright light flashed and although she was floating on her back before, she now felt she was falling forward. She let out a small yell and opened her green eyes before hitting the ground abruptly on her hands and knees.

"Ow," she groaned, looking at the strange white stone floor below her.

Her palms and knees stung from the impact.

"Are you alright?" she heard a voice from above her and looked up to see a white haired boy.

"I- ah, I'm fine," she said standing up quickly and looking away from him to the room around her.

Everything was white except for the gold doors to her left.

"Who are you?" he asked which made her turn back to him.

"Leila," she answered reluctantly.

Who was this white haired boy anyway and why was she here?

He seemed suspicious of her, something she was used to.

"What is this place?" he asked.

"I don't know," she answered and looked around again, "I've never seen this place before. I don't even know how I got here."

"Looks like we are in the same boat then," he commented, "Do you remember what happened before you got here?"

"I-," she was about to tell him, but stopped herself and adverted her eyes from his, "I don't remember anything from before."

"Nothing?" he asked, almost amazed.

"No," she lied sadly then smiled as best she could, "It's fine though. I can't miss what I don't remember, right?"

He seemed to be in a thoughtful concern about her situation, but she changed the subject, "Anyway, how do we get out of here, ummm . . . ."

"Riku," he stated his name, then walked a few steps toward the gold doors before looking back at her.

"Well there only seems to be one door. I'd say this is our way out," he then looked down at a strange card in his hand she hadn't noticed before.

He stepped up to the peak of the small staircase in front of the doorway then held up the card that radiated light and disappeared as the doors opened.

She walked up beside him and looked at the strange contents of the door which were too bright to see into, "What is it?"

"The door to truth," he glanced at her.

The door to truth? She looked over at him only to see him staring forward so she quickly turned her attention back to the door. They both stepped through the threshold at the same time as the light enveloped them.

When the light faded, they found themselves in yet another place Leila didn't recognize.

"This is Hollow Bastion," Riku said in a shocked tone.

Leila flinched as a voice from nowhere spoke, "What you see is not real. It's the world of your memory."

"My memory?" he questioned the voice.

"The things you remember from your time at Maleficent's castle became a card, and that card made this world. You've seen everything here before, haven't you?" the voice asked.

"Yeah," Riku said as he looked around, "So what now? Am I going to learn something? Maybe meet someone? Does this girl have something to do with any of this?"

"You would meet the people in your memories. Ordinarily."

"What does that mean?" Riku asked hotly.

Moments pasted by but no response.

"Hey! I'm asking you a question!" he yelled with more emphasis.

Still nothing.

"Fine. But it had better be you I run across next, Voice."

"What does he mean by 'a card made from your memories'?" Leila asked.

"I don't know how, but I think we're in a world made from my memories of a world called Hollow Bastion," he said not looking at her but at the castle.

She had never seen anything like this before. A world made of memories? The priestess told her of other worlds before. Was this one of them? What did he have to do with any of it?

He started walking toward the castle.

"Hey, where are you going?" she asked, surprised from being distracted from her thoughts.

"I'm going to look for a way out. The sooner we leave the better. I'd rather not stay here longer than I have to."

She ran after him to catch up. There was something different about this boy, something she couldn't put her finger on.

As they walked through the halls she looked around in wonder at the big building. Everything gave off a feeling of despair to her. She was so distracted by her surroundings that she didn't notice something move in the shadows. Before she knew it, it was right in front of her. Stunned, she stopped abruptly as a black thing charged at her with its claws ready to strike, when suddenly Riku slashed through it. It was at that moment she looked around and noticed they were surrounded. They both stood back to back, Riku with his sword drawn.

"What are these things?" she asked, astonished.

"Heartless," he answered with distaste, "Their objective is to steal hearts."

"What?" she said, although she knew she had seen such things once before, they were the only reason she was even here in the first place. Although, she never knew what they were called until now.

It's then she felt a pain in her heart, but she didn't know why. Was she feeling bad for losing her home? How could she feel bad about losing a place that never accepted her? Why would she care for the loss of people that wouldn't care for her?

"Stay behind me," he ordered.

"No," she responded, feeling his confusion and surprise at this response.

She raised her hands in a defensive way as they started to glow with fire magic in one hand and ice magic in the other.

"If they must be fought, I will help as well," she said with determination.

He looked at her for a second as if trying to figure her out then turned his attention back to the heartless, "Alright then, cover me."

He then charged into the heartless mass as she used her magic to keep them in check.

After the fight was over, he commented, "I'm surprised you know how to fight without any memories."

She looked down at her hands and smiled sadly, "I guess it's just something my body remembers."

"If that's the case maybe you haven't truly forgotten," he said with hope.

She panicked, but tried to look at ease. Did he figure her out?

"Maybe," he continued, "they're still there somewhere, but you just can't find them."

"Maybe," she agreed, relieved.

They kept walking and fighting their way through the castle looking for an exit, but when they entered a small bedroom it struck a chord with Riku.

"Everything is just how I remember it. Even this room . . ." he said as if to himself.

"It must be nice being back in your old bedroom. Think of all the memories . . ." the Voice from before came back.

"You again," Riku said with annoyance," Sorry, but these memories I could do without. Maleficent gave me this room."

"So she did. And you lived here, tempted by the darkness she offered. You cast away your home, your friends, everything . . . But at least they gave you a nice room."

"Shut up," he responded angrily.

"Who's Maleficent?" Leila asked him.

"Someone I'd rather forget," he answered, still steamed.

She wondered what had happened to him in the past but decided not to push it. Was he trying to forget his past much like she was?

"Let's keep moving," he said as they continued through the castle.

He seemed rather silent as they fought their way through the castle. It almost felt like he was frustrated.

They eventually entered a large hall.

"No one here either. There's nothing but Heartless in this castle," Riku commented.

"Who are you expecting to find?" Leila questioned out of curiosity glad that he was talking again.

"Someone, anyone. I remember seeing my friends in this castle before, but where is everyone?" he responded.

He suddenly called out, "Voice! I know you're watching, so explain this! Where are the people of my memories?"

"Do you want to see them?" the Voice asked.

"Of course I do," he responded looking around for the Voice.

"But you cast them aside."

"What?" Riku said almost defensively.

"You dreamt of the outside world, and you passed through the door to darkness. Behind you, you left family, friends, home; everything, all in the pursuit of darkness."

"But I cast that aside too!" Riku yelled back looking around him.

"And what do you have to show for it? First your home, then the dark. Your heart only knows how to cast away. It's empty, like this castle, like your memories. That's why you don't meet anyone. Your heart is hollow, except for the residual darkness."

"You're wrong! I rejected the darkness!" Riku angrily shouted back at the empty room.

The Voice seemed amused and laughed, "Did you really now? How long will you deny the truth? How long before you also cast away the only companion you have now?"

Riku seemed upset and ran from the room and Leila followed.

"Riku!" she called after him and finally caught up in a corridor.

He stopped, but had his back to her as she questioned him, "Riku what was that all about? Did you really leave your home and your friends?"

Is he much like her? Did he cast away his home in pursuit of other things?

"It's because of me, that my home was destroyed," he said softly still not looking at her but at the ground.

"I used the darkness as my escape, but I'm not going to use it anymore, I want nothing to do with the darkness," he said with more determination near the end.

No, he wasn't the same as her. In fact, this information worried her. If he knew the truth about her, would he reject her? Would he really cast her aside like so many others did, like he did, to his friends?

"I see," she said as an awkward silence descended.

"Are you afraid of me?" he finally asked, catching her off guard.

It's true that she may have looked uncomfortable, but he seemed to misinterpret it.

"No it's just- I haven't known you for long, but you don't seem like a bad person to me," she said as reassuringly as she could.

Compared to her, his actions seemed mild.

He looked like he was about to say something, but just then Riku froze as if he saw a ghost, "It can't be."

He then ran through the corridor as fast as he could.

"Hey wait up!" she called after him and followed as best she could.

She entered the castle chapel just as Riku's surprised voice exclaimed, "Maleficent! You're alive?!"

"You haven't been paying attention. I am but a figment of your memory," the strange woman with horns said with a constant conniving expression.

This woman is Maleficent? Leila couldn't believe anyone could look so strange.

"Of all the people I could've run into, it had to be you." Riku said with venom in his words.

"But of course," Maleficent smirked, "After all, your heart is steeped in darkness. You can only see those who exist in the same darkness."

"No . . ." Riku's voice had a sound of desperation under his anger.

"Be grateful you have someone to keep you company. Your heart is empty except for that of darkness. It's a wonder you have that girl with you. If it weren't for her, you would be completely alone."

"If that's the case then I don't need you here," he stated as his sword appeared.

"Come now. You once turned to me to sate your hunger for darkness. You want me here. Who but I can grant you the darkness you long for?" she enticed.

"There was a time I did want you around. I surrendered my heart to the dark. But never again. You and your darkness have nothing to offer. All I did was lose myself . . . empty myself! I'm finished with all that. If I'm stuck seeing people of my memories like you, people of the dark, I'll just take you out one by one," he said with determination.

"Then you mustn't forget to destroy yourself last. For, like me, you are one of the dark," she commented.

"That's fine with me," Riku smirked, "I turned to darkness because my heart was weak. I hate that weakness. It's like I'm my own enemy. And seeing people like you embrace the darkness just makes it worse! Enough talk, Maleficent."

"So you hate the darkness enough to fight it. Oh, the agony you must feel! Then let me end your pain, Riku, end it forever, with the wondrous power of darkness!" she shouted as green flames enveloped her.

The flames grew and out of the fire appeared a great black dragon.

Riku readied himself to fight and yelled to Leila, "Stay back, this is my fight!"

He really did hate the dark. He would hate her if he found out who she truly was, but she honestly admired his resolution. He was going to fight to get everything he lost back, because he had people and things that really mattered to him. What did she have that mattered?

She ran up and readied herself to fight beside him, "Don't think you're going to do this on your own."

He looked over at her and back to the dragon then smirked, "Don't say I didn't try to warn you that this is going to be difficult."

The dragon then raised one of its mighty claws to come crashing down on them, but both evaded to the side as Riku hacked at the dragon's flesh. Leila in the meantime summoned her ice magic to try to calm the flames. The battle was tough like Riku had warned, but it wasn't something she couldn't handle. The dragon finally gave off a more painful howl before it crashed to the ground and burst into green flames. Once the flames died off, Maleficent was no more.

She ran over to Riku and noticed he had a few injuries, "Are you alright Riku?"

"I'm fine," he answered although he was holding one of his arms.

"Cure!" she shouted as her healing magic took its effect on him.

He seemed confused for a moment then said, "Thank you."

She felt a little awkward. She had never had a conversation like this with anyone her age. No one had ever thanked her before. Could it be that this person accepted her? No, this wasn't true. If he knew more about her he would shun her like the others.

"You're welcome," she responded sadly.

Afterwards, they finally found the exit just up ahead which led back to the strange white room again.

They walked forward into the room, but the Voice sounded again, "Why do you shun the darkness?"

Leila stopped abruptly while Riku kept walking and stopped in the middle of the room.

"Hmph. Come on, I know you heard me; every word I said to Maleficent," Riku responded casually.

"Darkness is your weapon. It is time you learned you must accept it," the Voice continued.

"What do you mean?" Riku questioned in an annoyed manner.

"Stop resisting. Accept the darkness. You have no choice-"

Just then a man appeared before them through a void of shadows. Leila gasped but Riku wasn't as surprised.

"-if you are to serve me again!" the man finished.

So this was the voice from earlier.

"I thought that was you, Ansem," Riku said with distaste.

"Oh, you don't seem surprised," the man said in fake disappointment.

"All you have been talking about is the darkness. I can only assume you wanna pull me back in, so you can play puppet master again," Riku said with almost a glazed over look of hate in his eyes.

"Clever boy. I knew you'd be the one to most appropriately serve me. And now, surrender to me again," Ansem ordered.

"You're crazy! Not a chance!" Riku yelled at him as he summoned his sword then charged at Ansem raising the Soul Eater.

Just as he was about to hit Ansem, Riku was repelled back by an invisible force.

He hit the ground hard just next to where Leila was standing.

She gasped and leaned down next to him.

"Riku!" she said with concern.

"Did you really think you could do me harm? A weakling like you couldn't even defeat Sora, and you had darkness on your side. Now you even have this girl fight for you," he said with fake pity while Leila glared at him.

Riku then sat up slightly with some difficulty as Leila turned her attention back to him, "Excuse me . . . for being weak."

Riku had a challenging expression in regard to Ansem who seemed to be laughing at him through his expression as he walked toward them, "You are weak. You need darkness. Surrender, bow to darkness, bow to me."

Riku sat up even more and gritted his teeth, "That's not going to happen!"

Ansem smirked, "Only the darkness can offer to you all of the strength that you will need."

"You're wrong!" came a voice from nowhere.

Both Leila and Riku looked up at a ball of light that descended down to their level. Leila backed away and watched as the light orb circled Riku.

"That voice," Riku said as he watched the orb float around him, "Your Majesty?!"

"That's right!" the light exclaimed, "Remember Riku, you're not alone."

The orb of light then disappeared into Riku's chest, "Listen close. The light'll never give up on you. You'll always find it, even in the deepest darkness!"

"I got it," Riku responded with a new strength as he got up, "I won't lose to darkness. Not today."

Ansem scoffed, "You think that feeble little light can save you from the darkness that I command?"

He seemed to get ready to fight.

Just as Leila was getting ready to fight as well, Riku stopped her, "This one is my fight."

She understood and backed off. This really was his fight, she didn't have much to do with it. Whoever this guys was, he definitely seemed to have some history with Riku.

"You shall feel my dark powers in your bones!" Ansem exclaimed.

"Give me all you got," Riku said with confidence, "I'll give it right back!"

The two charged at each other and commenced their conflict. The two shot powerful attacks at each other, but Riku seemed to have an upper hand in the fight.

"What, that all you got?" Riku said cockily.

"It seems to me that you are intent on resisting the darkness. All right. Then see it for yourself," Ansem said unfazed by Riku's resistance then took out a few cards.

"These are cards crafted from your memories. Advance through the worlds they create and soon, you will understand chasing after light is not the way. It will not give you distance from the darkness. There is no running from the darkness," Ansem smirked.

"Don't worry," Riku smirked right back, "I'm not running. Give me the cards. I'll enter those worlds, and in the end, if I haven't given up . . . I win."

Ansem then tosses the cards at Riku who caught them with style.

"I have one more gift for you," Ansem said and moved his hand in front of him then clenched his fist.

A dark sphere appeared on Riku's chest. He seemed to have a strange feeling then when it disappeared, it was like it released him from something. He then held his chest as if it were an injury. Leila stepped forward as if to help, but she wasn't sure if it was something she could help with at all.

"What'd you do?!" Riku accused.

"I simply tempered the darkness that yet remains in your heart," Ansem explained.

"You still think that I would rely on darkness?" Riku growled.

Ansem just brushed it off and crossed his arms over his chest, "To use it or not is your choice. I'll be waiting, Riku, for you to sense it and yield to the darkness in your heart!"

He then disappeared in a blaze of shadows. Riku gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. She didn't know who this Ansem was, but it was apparent that he meant nothing good to Riku.

"Riku?" Leila inquired.

He stood there, probably thinking of what he needed to do.

"Is it too much to ask what that was about?" she questioned with sympathy.

"That was Ansem. He's the one that possess the darkness in my heart," Riku couldn't look at her while saying this.

"I don't really understand," she admitted.

"Just another person in my past I'd like to disappear," he admitted as well.

She decided it would be best to change the subject, "Are those cards more worlds from your memories?"

He then looked at them, "It looks like it."

"Should we continue then?" she walked in front of him and smiled.

He looked at her with a sad smirk, "Are you sure you want to continue with me?"

"Well I'd hate being alone," she said a little sheepishly, "Plus, it's not like there is anywhere else I could go."

She really didn't want to be alone, not again.

Riku laughed a bit, "You're right. I guess you're stuck with me for a while."

"I didn't really meant it like that," she waved, trying to correct herself, "I just thought that, since we are going in the same direction and all; we should stick together. It's much better than being alone."

He smiled softly, "Right."

Of course they won't be together forever after all.

He walked up to the door and opened it with a new resolve.

When they had made it a few floors up, Riku stopped and commented, "Something smells . . . funny."

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Leila sniffed around her too.

"Can you smell that? What is that scent? It's so familiar," he said with wonder, smelling his arm.

He then gasped, "Darkness, it's the smell of darkness. I can't believe this is happening. The darkness even seeped into my skin . . ."

"Don't worry, Riku," a voice said out of nowhere.

"Your Majesty!" Riku exclaimed happily an orb of light descended from the ceiling.

The orb then flashed and a mouse-like person appeared. Leila looked astonished. Was this the light that helped Riku? She had never seen such an odd looking person before. Was he a talking mouse?

"What happened? I can see right through you," Riku said almost sadly.

The mouse looked at himself and explained, "Funny huh? I can only send a bit of my power to this place. That's why I've got a request for ya."

"Request?" Riku asked curiously.

"Listen, Riku," he started, "Just because darkness holds you, don't let go of who you are. You've got to fight the darkness inside you! It won't be easy to do, I know. But please don't forget. Even in the darkest darkness, there is always a little bit of light."

"Light within darkness," Riku said with realization.

"You and I have seen it," the mouse smiled, "The far welcoming light inside the door to darkness: the light of Kingdom Hearts, it will show you the way. Please don't give up. Believe in the light. That's a request from my heart."

Riku smiled too, "Okay, I'll do my best."

The mouse then noticed Leila off to the side, "Oh, who is your friend Riku?"

She flinched at finally being noticed. Up until now, she had been ignored most of the time. Although, she can't say that she wasn't used to being ignored.

Riku turned toward her, "This is Leila. I met her when I arrived at this castle."

"Nice to meet you Leila, I'm Mickey," the mouse greeted her with a smile.

"Umm, ahh," she felt like she was caught off guard, but bowed slightly, "Nice to meet you too."

"Your Majesty," Riku interjected, "It seems Leila has lost her memories. Is there any way we can get them back or help her remember."

Riku was trying to help her? But he had so many other problems, why would he help her?

"Hmm," Mickey seemed to think about this, "Well, memories are never completely lost. Even if someone forgets, the heart will remember. In time, her memories may come back to her or something might trigger a memory. Once one memory is triggered then another one might be triggered as well and then another."

"So if we get her to remember one thing then maybe she will start to remember other things as well," Riku said more thoughtfully.

"It's really fine guys, I don't really need to remember, I have a feeling they were really bad anyway," she frowned.

Riku and Mickey looked at her surprised, but then Mickey started to flicker a bit, something Riku didn't noticed.

"It seems I can't stay here much longer," Mickey warned as both he and Riku turned back to each other.

"Trust me Riku. I'll try to find a way to reach you. I'll get there, I promise," Mickey held out his hand.

Riku tried to return the gesture but his own hand passed right through the mouse's.

"You're an illusion," he stated sadly.

"Don't worry. We shook hands in our hearts, remember? We're connected, you and me," Mickey said happily.

"Guess we are," Riku said with more hope as the mouse disappeared just as suddenly as he appeared.

"Ah, Riku?" Leila shyly said to get his attention.

"Hmm, what is it Leila?" he seemed curious as to what she had to say.

"You called him Majesty before, is he royalty? And how can a mouse talk?" she questioned, almost feeling embarrassed the lack of knowledge she had.

He smiled and explained to her about Mickey, Kingdom Hearts, the Heartless and other worlds. It was strange to hear him being more talkative. Before when they were fighting through the floors, he hadn't said much and only explained what needed to be said, maybe not to involve her in his matters. Was he trying to help her with her memory by being more open?

Although more importantly, Leila was shocked to discover that other worlds existed, actually existed. She was told of them before, but it only seemed like a crazy myth then. So she had finally got the escape she wanted, but at what cost?

"Where do you fit into all of this?" She questioned, because he still didn't explain how he was connected to all of these things.

"It's a long story," he stated looking away again.

"Well," she glanced down at the cards in his hand, "it looks like we have a long way to go."

"You're right," he smiled sadly at the cards in his hand, holding them up.

"We'll find a way out of here together, don't worry, you're not alone," she told him, repeating what Mickey had told him.

This time his eyes smiled as well, "Right."

And for the first time, she smiled sincerely back. Was this what it was like to have a friend?

They walked together to open the door to the next world, but her past still loomed over her like storm clouds on the horizon. How long would this happiness last? She decided just to enjoy it while it was there.

Notes: There is still a lot that's not known about Leila, but you'll figure her out as things go along. Yeah, she has a tragic past. Although, doesn't Riku?

Concept Art for the character can also be found on my profile or at least the link to the concept art if you are interested.

Hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!