Ch. 2
Old Habits, Old Ways
Dear Wielders of the Keyblade,
I have terrible news. The power of the Keyblade is fading. It is no longer a source of light. The Darkness has returned, stronger than ever, and it has developed a way to overcome the Keyblade's strength. Sora and Riku, all that you have accomplished in this past year, I'm sorry to say, was for nothing. The Keyblade has failed you. All those who reside in Darkness have returned, and they've become even smarter. Remember Xehanort? He's still alive. And his research has brought him to a more indestructible level that the Keyblade cannot match. Xehanort has found the answer. The cure to all things tainted. There's this heart, you see? A heart that is strong enough to rid everyone of pain and bring hearts to those who so desperately seek them. Someone has this heart. Someone who is alive right now has the heart that is powerful enough to cure all things. The thing is, no one knows who it is. It could be anyone's heart, y'know? But Sora, Riku, Kairi, anyone who reads this, please be careful. We must find a place to meet. Avoid the Heartless. Escape the Nobodies. Go to Radiant Garden and stay with someone you trust. I will find you.
Your faithful servant,
King Mickey
Oh and P.S. – You need to blend in. Get rid of your clothes and find your black coats. Keep the hoods on at all times. No one must know where you are. Be safe!
Riku was ahead of Sora, as always. They had just run out of the cave, only to be ambushed by yet another hoard of Heartless.
Riku sighed. "Well Sora, we know what to do, right?"
Sora stood behind Riku, Keyblade at the ready. But just as he was about to attack, the Heartless stopped. The ground shook, and the earth beneath them started to split. The heartless retreated into their shadowy pools, and then they were gone.
"Riku, where are you? What's happening?" Sora did not want to relive a similar event that occurred a little over a year ago.
"Sora! I'm over here!" Riku was yelling from the other side of the island.
"I'm coming Riku! Just stay there!" Sora ran across the island, only to come to a dead halt in the center. The island was splitting in half, and Riku was on the other side. The crack in the earth was widening, and Sora had no choice but to close his eyes and jump.
"Jump, Sora! You can do it! Hurry before it splits more!"
Sora held his breath and ran towards the opening as fast as he could. He then closed his eyes and kicked his strong legs out from the ground, and flew across the air. He landed on something soft and warm, but his eyes were still closed. He was afraid to look.
What he landed on was Riku. He had caught Sora just as he had landed. They both fell to the ground and collapsed, holding each other. Sora's eyes were still closed, and Riku could not help but laugh at Sora's petrified expression.
"Sora, it's alright. You made it. You can open your eyes now."
Sora opened his eyes and his gaze landed upon Riku's slightly flustered face. He found his arms wrapped tightly around Riku's waist, not knowing that Riku was the thing he had landed on. He smiled. "Thanks, Riku."
But before Riku could reply, an ear-splitting sound shook the small island even more. Riku then choked and clapsed his hand tightly around his chest. He started to gasp for breath.
"Riku! Riku, what's wrong? Why can't you breathe? Riku, stop it! Don't do this! Riku!"
Riku was bent over, fighting for air, and Sora placed his sweaty hand on Riku's back. Just then, that ear-splitting sound started again. Riku yelled painfully and clutched his heart even tighter. He fell completely to the ground and reached out his hand. Sora grabbed it tightly.
"Come on Riku, breathe….. don't die on me. You can't leave me here alone!"
Sora was on the verge of tears when he heard distant laughter, and then a cold familiar voice.
"Yes, Riku, it would be a shame if you died NOW, wouldn't it? I mean after everything you've done……"
Sora gasped. How did he—
"You! It's you! Ansem…. I mean Xehanort…. Xehanort's Heartless….. whoever you are! Why are YOU here?!?"
As soon as Xehanort started to speak, Riku jerked his head up and started to speak as well. They both spoke the exact words at the exact time.
"Wait! Stop talking! Ah not again! Please, Riku, snap out of it!"
But Xehanort and Riku continued to speak as if they were one.
"I have found it…….the Answer. The Cure to Kingdom Hearts and all who live for it…. The Heart. The Final Heart will be brought to you, Kingdom Hearts, and all will be Restored!!"
Xehanort then reached out for Sora, but could not grasp him. Suddenly, Riku snapped out of his trance.
"No!!" Riku yelled. "Not Sora, no! Take me again if you have to, my heart is already tainted. But Sora's heart is still pure, and it will not be wasted by you!!"
Xehanort just laughed again. "As you wish, Riku, come back to the darkness with me, and we'll see whose heart is really tainted!"
Riku gasped again and fell to his knees, as Darkness began to swarm around his body. Sora tried to reach him but an invisible barrier was holding him back. All he could to was watch in vain as Riku once again fell victim to the Darkness, which was quickly engulfing him.
"No…. Riku….not again….why?"
Sora cried. Riku had, for the second time, sacrificed himself in order to save Sora's heart. So whose heart is really the stronger one?
Sora's tears fell to the ground as a final sweep of Darkness carried Riku away from their island home.