Riku fell back onto the floor with a crash. Ansem lowered his hand slowly.
"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."
Riku sat up. "Well excuse me…for being weak…"
Ansem approached as Riku struggled to rise.
"You are weak. You need darkness. Surrender. Bow to darkness. Bow to me."
"That's not gonna happen!" Riku shouted back.
Ansem stopped, smirking smugly. "Only the darkness can offer to you all of the strength that you will need."
"Your blind faith is not strength. It is your weakness, Ansem." A voice from nowhere called. Riku looked up in surprise as a glowing ball of flames floated down from above him.
"That voice…Ignus!"
"Good to see you too. Remember, Riku, you're never alone." The ball flew into Riku's chest and faded. A warm feeling spread through Riku's body, loosening the tension in his muscles for a moment. Ignus's voice echoed in his head. "Now listen to me closely. Light and darkness are not absolutes. You will always find a glimmer in the deepest darkness, and the brightest lights will always cast shadows. You cannot yield yourself entirely to one or the other. You can't stake your belief on the light or the darkness, those are forces beyond your control. You must stake your belief on yourself, and the power that you have: To choose how you use these great forces. Do you understand?"
"I got it." Riku nodded, getting to his feet. "I won't lose to darkness. Not today."
"You think that feeble little spark can save you from the darkness that I command?" Ansem roared as Riku raised his blade.