Yes, this is yet another kingdom hearts based fanfiction!!! I am changing the ending of Kingdom Hearts II a bit... instead of both Sora and Riku returning to Destiny Islands, Sora has disappeared. And we've warped into the future! Riku is now 21 years old!!!
-x-x-x-
A consistent tapping sound echoed around the empty corridor.
Empty, that is, except for an imposing figure making his way down the hallway.
His leather boots clicked against the dazzling white marble floor, accompanied by the swishing sound from the black and red cape draped over his broad shoulders.
His once startling aqua eyes were now almost hollow with the pain and grief he had had to overcome in his short life. Even so, there was wisdom in them as if those eyes held all the knowledge there was.
The young man's face was etched with scars from previous battles, where he had won and lost. The long gash curving from his lip to his forehead was an especially distinct scar – one that he'd obtained from a fight with thieving Heartless not so long ago.
Slightly spiky blue hair hung down to his shoulder, brushing against his neck, which was also covered with countless wounds.
His journey through the years since childhood had been rough but here he was today, standing tall at 21 clad in a black uniform and proudly displaying a flaming sword which he called his Red Eye.
This was Riku, King Mickey's best knight.
Riku rounded a corner –
TWACK!
– and collided into someone.
Riku remained unmoved. He had been through too much to be spooked by something as mild as this.
He didn't have to look down to see who it was he had bumped into.
Sprawled on the floor groaning pitifully was a young woman of about 20 years.
Selphie.
She hadn't changed much since she left the Islands with Riku.
There was still a mischievous twinkle in her round green eyes, even as she struggled to sit up.
The only thing that had changed about her was not her maturity, but her appearance.
Selphie was somewhat elegant now and her chestnut brown hair had curled into locks that fell down to her waist.
She had also changed her dressing style. Living in the Disney Castle had taught her to become more vain and she had abandoned her simple clothes for more vibrant dresses.
For instance, Selphie was currently clothed in a crimson silk gown and posh white gloves covered her slender hands.
Riku hardly took a glance at her and was about to continue walking when he suddenly felt a hand grasp his ankle.
"Wait, Riku!"
Clearly irritated, Riku spun around and glowered at the woman.
"What?" he snapped, only managing to pull his ankle from Selphie's death grip.
Selphie refused to be stung by this and stood before Riku.
"How was your birthday party yesterday?" she asked, as cheerfully as possible. "Sorry I wasn't able to be here. Queen Minnie needed me to tend to the garden."
Much to Riku's dismay, the King had organized a surprise party for his 21st. birthday and it had been more embarrassing that heartening.
Riku stifled a groan. "Don't remind me."
He turned to walk away but was once again pulled back by Selphie.
Groaning inwardly, Riku eyed her, his brows raised. "What now?"
Selphie didn't reply.
Instead, she searched her pockets that were almost hidden in the frills of her dress and pulled out a breath-takingingly beautiful glass rose.
Unfortunately, it did not take Riku's breath away.
For once in her life, Selphie seemed shy. "Happy Birthday."
She pressed the glass rose into Riku's palm and hurried away.
Riku's expression remained unchanged and he felt no sentiment for the gift in his hand.
And so, he let go of it.
It dropped.
The glass rose shattered instantly and pieces of clear debris were flung across the floor.
Riku felt no regret – some would call him cold and heartless.
In others' eyes, he was just a brave and noble knight.
Besides, what had Selphie expected him to do?
Keep the glass rose in his room and cherish it forever?
Pfft. Now, that'd be the day.
Stepping lightly over the broken bits, Riku went over to the doors leading to the Throne Room. Well, it used to be called the Audience Chamber but it was best suited for the King and Queen's own use.
The doors were huge, stretching for metres. The door handles were above Riku's head.
Luckily, there were two much smaller doors in the bottom half of the giant doors. They were more like flaps, really.
Riku swiftly pushed them open with one hand and rushed into the room.
King Mickey was sitting behind his large desk.
He was a regal sight, with his red velvet coat and jewelled crown.
Riku hastened to the opposite side of the desk and lowered himself to a bow of respect. He placed his sword over one knee.
Usually, the king would be delighted to see his best knight but today, all he did was frown.
After drumming his fingers on the table, Mickey stood and paced solemnly around the room.
The silence was all too much. After second – minutes – ticked by, Riku was forced to speak up.
"What is wrong, Your Majesty?" he asked.
King Mickey still did not speak.
Instead, he went ransacking his old cupboard, leaving Riku mystified.
"Aha!"
King Mickey's proclamation startled Riku and his head snapped up to see what his King had found.
It was a giant orb and swirling inside it were faint but colourful images.
Mickey triumphantly returned to the table and placed the orb gently on the desk's surface.
"What is it?" Riku asked, spellbound by the slightly distorted pictures in the orb.
"This," Mickey gestured wildly to the orb, "is the World Seeker. It shows all the worlds and the barriers."
Riku leaned forward, mesmerized.
He could see the miniature versions of the worlds and even saw tremors of movement throughout them.
"It's quite a creation, isn't it?" Mickey winked.
"What do we need it for though?" Riku queried.
Mickey was suddenly serious again. "For years, no-one has dared to tamper with the barriers. For 5 whole years, peace has reigned. But now…"
He shook his head sorrowfully. "Now, one of the barriers have been broken."
Mickey continued, ignoring the shocked look on Riku's face. "You see those barriers in between the worlds?"
Riku squinted and looked even closer at the orb. True, he could define thin white lines in between every world. Or, at least, almost every world…
"The barrier between our Disney Castle and the Shrukai Forest has… well, it's disappeared," King Mickey told Riku.
Riku stood and sheathed his sword. "Shrukai Forest?"
He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Never heard of it."
Mickey stood to his full height – which was hardly tall at all since he could only reach up to Riku's knee – and declared, "You, my loyal knight, are going to this forest to look for any mischief. We cannot afford to have something as big as this slip by. You will leave today. Now. Chip and Dale have gotten your ride ready."
Riku knew that he shouldn't protest against the king's wishes but he did so anyway. "But King Mickey, what is the point of this journey to Shrukai Forest? What am I looking for, anyway?"
"I don't know what to expect but I want you to check it out anyway," the King said, gravely. "Now go!"
Riku dipped his head once, then retreated out of the Throne Room, banging the doors shut behind him.
It was mission time.
-x-x-x-
"Okay, I'll see you tonight, Minnie!"
Selphie exited the room, satisfied with her heart-to-heart chat with the Queen.
Minnie was one of her best friends now, who she told secrets to and listened to advice from.
Just a minute ago, Selphie had been discussing her crush on Riku.
Minnie had told her that she would have to impress him and stop being so flirtatious.
This was going to be a hard task.
Selphie waved goodbye to Queen Minnie and flounced away, down the corridor.
She rounded the corner.
And her jaw dropped open.
Tiny bits of glass were strewn across the marble floor and Selphie knew instantly where they came from.
The glass rose that she gave to Riku.
Selphie could feel her heart being shattered into little pieces and joining the glass on the floor.
-x-x-x-
"LIFT OFF!" Chip's voice shrieked over the walkie-talkie installed into the Gummi Ship.
The ship whirred to life and blasted off into space, leaving a cloud of dust and ashes behind it.
"Boy, I haven't done this in ages." Riku murmured, gingerly steering the Gummi Ship.
It wasn't a surprise… why would he need to use a Gummi Ship when there were no worlds to visit?
"Don't worry," Dale's voice squeaked. "You're doin' just fine!"
Just fine, indeed. Riku hardly managed to swerve away from the space boulders and very nearly crashed right into another ship.
Somehow, he got to the Shrukai Forest in one piece.
"Contact us when you get back into the Gummi Ship on your way back!" the walkie-talkie projected Chip's voice to Riku.
"Can do," Riku replied and hopped out.
The beauty of the forest amazed him. Every leaf on the trees seemed to shine like green emeralds.
Birds cooed gently in the background.
A spring breeze fluttered by, bringing with it the sound of a waterfall.
"So peaceful…" Riku was tempted to just lay back and enjoy the scenery.
But his mind urged him on.
Riku explored the forest, looking out for any suspicious activity or odd objects.
It wasn't long until Riku was lost. Every tree looked the exactly the same and his surroundings never seemed to change.
Walking around in circles…
"Ugh," Riku groaned, as he recognised the tree stump that he'd passed by just a minute ago.
He was about to turn and walk in the opposite direction when a flicker of movement caught his eye.
Riku stared at the thickets. "Huh? Who's there?"
The bushes gave a rustle and a cloaked figure emerged from the shadows.
Riku unsheathed his sword.
"Who are you?" Riku demanded, scanning his opponent.
There was no reply from the stranger.
The figure's face was shrouded under a hood and was dressed in a thick black cloak.
His shoes were caked with mud but Riku guessed that they were black too.
The mysterious person made a surprised noise and his finger's flashed with light.
Riku was minutely blinded before he saw what the stranger held now – a Keyblade.
Shell-shocked, Riku stumbled backwards.
"It can't be…" he muttered.
A wisp of light brown hair escaped from under the figure's cloak.
Riku was almost to say scared to say the name. "Sora?"
At that, the stranger turned heel and fled.
"W – wait!" Riku cried, desperately.
Although he tried to run after him, Riku stayed stuck frozen to the spot, watching the figure fade once again into the shadows.
Could it really have been Sora? He hadn't seen him in 5 years… yes, 5 long years.
Riku's mind went numb as a huge roar sent a chill through him.
A tree crashed somewhere in the forest and suddenly, a huge beast flew up from the forest clearing.
It was sleek and purple, oozing with evil. It looked like a dragon, what with its leathery long tail and gigantic beating wings.
And it's roar!
It left Riku's ears ringing.
When Riku looked up at the departing creature, he saw something sitting atop its back.
… Sora…?
-x-x-x-
Mickey stared intently into the orb and gasped at what he saw.
Something big and strong was sending ripples through the Shrukai Forest.
And it was heading for Hollow Bastion!
SMASH!
There goes another barrier…
-x-x-x-
Selphie was on her knees, her pale face tear-streaked.
"He must have dropped it by mistake," she told herself.
It didn't convince her in the least.
Riku had obviously dropped it on purpose.
"But why?" Selphie asked to no-one in particular.
She wiped the last of her tears away and began to gather the bits of glass carefully in one hand.
She had hoped that Riku would keep it in his room… and cherish it forever and ever!
After all, it wasn't just a gift; it was a gift from her, Selphie.
Didn't he like the gift?
Was it too girly?
"You have to impress him, Selphie."
As Minnie's voice revolved in her head, an idea struck her.
Such a powerful idea it was, it made her drop all the glass in her fist.
All sadness was forgotten and the tears magically vanished.
"Makeover time!" Selphie chirped.
-x-x-x-
So, did you like that chapter? Or did you hate it? Tell me by sending a review in! Flame me or praise me – your choice! Next chapter COMING SOON!
