He stumbled out into the blinding midday sun like the shadow of a clumsy night animal who'd decided to try hunting during the day, an ill advised undertaking. In the same way his own venture was destined to end in disastrous results.

The sun burned his eyes and skin like ravenous flames. He endured the agony for a short while trying as best he could to ignore the burning sensation that crawled along his skin. The light was so beautiful despite the pain it brought. He basked in the harsh rays for a few moments, letting the light flood his being, but he still felt…empty. The quick as he came he melted into the shadows.

He slumped against the wall and slid to the floor. Shivering, he hugged his knees to his chest. He then closed his eyes. He'd sought out comfort in the light, but had got only. At present, he was trying to drive the glaring whiteness from his mind.

"I don't know why you insist on doing this to yourself" said a voice, which he identified to be the woman who had been watching over him since his home had been destroyed.

"Hmm?" The boy opened one eye then quickly shut it again; he'd neglected to close the door.

The woman sighed, shutting the door. "Haven't I told you...if you must go outside in the very least wear the armor I gave you, it will shield you from the light. Creatures of darkness such as us do not belong in the light…you try to deny this fact, you will only get burned"

Now shrouded in darkness he inspected his arm where the burns from the light were already being healed by his internal darkness. "Is there something you wanted from me?" he asked in a monotonous voice looking up at the woman.

"No." The woman turned away from the boy's blank gaze…"the boy"; she'd taken to calling him that…the boy who was no longer Riku. He was but a mere puppet a now, a marionette manipulated by the darkness that had consumed his heart. The manifested consciousness he now displayed was merely an echo of who he used to be.

"The Echo." It was one of the Master's pet projects. He had taken part of the boy's soul, a part that could easily be controlled and manipulated and established it as the dominant personality whenever he wasn't controlling the youth's body. The boy was in reality a prisoner within his own body.

The boy's body went rigid. He closed his eyes. His voice became colder…deeper… "Maleficent." He opened his eyes revealing cold golden irises. Master Xanhort was awake.