Disclaimer: Same as always I don't own Kingdom Hearts.
Well it's the chapter you've all been waiting for! This is also the edited version… Pretty soon I'll be able to post the next couple of chapters I have written (Yes, the sequel.) I am going to add the sequel at the end.
Chapter 3: The Deadly Promise
"Maleficent?" Donald asked in disbelief. The guilty teen nodded as a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Well are ya sure?" Goofy questioned. Riku nodded again.
"It's all my fault. I was just joking about the date with Kairi. Kairi had agreed to help me pull off the surprise party for Sora, we had the others setting it up at Sora's house and we needed to keep him out of it," Riku paused. "I never thought that he, of all people, would give in to the darkness, go all evil on us and join Maleficent. He's always been better than that. I just don't believe it."
From the shadows, Sora silently listened to the conversation between his old friends. His blood boiled as Riku, Donald and Goofy left. "You tricked me!" Sora exclaimed as Maleficent placed her hand on his shoulder. "You knew he didn't mean it! Why? Why did you do it? How could you have led me so far into hatred that I actually wanted to kill my best friend? Why?" Sora demanded.
"I only offered my help. The jealousy and rage inside your heart did the rest." Maleficent said as she blocked his view of the rest of the cave. She gazed down at him as if she were a Queen and he a mere peasant begging for food to feed his starving family. "We'd best be off." Riku came running back in.
"Sora!" He shouted. Sora's head snapped to look around Maleficent.
"Riku! Help me. I didn't know; I'm so sorry." Sora yelled outstretching his hand to Riku through Maleficent's cape. The older boy could not reach him so he jumped at the evil woman, but she was faster, she back-hand slapped Riku sending him flying towards the wall farthest from them. Then Maleficent began to shove the ever struggling Sora into a dark portal. "Riku, forgive me, please!" He yelled as he vanished.
"Sora!" Riku called again. The portal was beginning to close as Maleficent fled into it with a huge smile on her face. I must save Sora. Riku thought as he leapt to his feet and sprinted into the closing portal.
"Riku!" Donald exclaimed running after him. Riku barely made it in before the portal closed completely.
"Riku didn't join Maleficent too, did he?" Goofy asked. It was more of a rhetorical question, but Donald just simply shrugged.
"We'll have to find him. We should try Radiant Garden first," Donald said as they walked through the tunnel. "Leon might know something."
The darkness seemed to go on forever as Riku peered through the darkness hoping to catch even just a sign that he was close to Sora. "Sora?" He called. A light suddenly appeared in front of him, "Sora?" He held his hand out to the light and all of the darkness faded. "Sora?" This is oddly familiar. Riku looked around Oh crap, I'm back in Hollow Bastion, not good. Well let's see if I can get out of here without being spotted, I can go and find Sora's friend Leon. Yeah, that's what I'll do. Riku thought as a tunnel was right in front of him. The hall seemed to stretch on without end.
Hours later, Riku finally made it out of the ruined castle and set off for the shops in the town. He was deep in thought as he ran right into a tall man with a red cape, "Oh sorry." The guy shrugged and was about to leave. "Hey do you think you can help me out? I'm a little lost. Do you know where the Merlin's house is?"
He pointed to a person up a set of stairs. "That's Leon, ask him. He practically lives there," He said and left. Riku headed up the small set of stairs.
"Hi, umm Leon right?" He asked.
"Who wants to know?" The man asked. He brushed his long brown hair back and gave Riku a friendly smile.
"I'm Riku and Sora's in trouble I need your help." He leaned closer to Leon, "He's joined Maleficent," He said with a hushed tone. Leon looked at him with confusion clouding his eyes.
"Looks like we need to talk in private so I can get all the details," Leon said leading the way down a flight of stairs. His black leather squeaked as he moved.
In the distance, just out of earshot, Sora and Maleficent stood watching Riku walk off with Leon. "You see now Riku is stealing your friends too," Maleficent lied.
Sora's head drooped, "I guess you're right. What can I do?"
"Well, there's only one thing to do. Eliminate him. You have been living as his shadow ever since you met him." Sora's blood began to boil and he gritted his teeth. "Or you could return to him and remain his shadow."
"I choose to…"
At the Merlin's house…
"So what exactly do you mean by he was tricked in to joining her?" Cid asked trying to make sense of what Riku had explained.
Riku quickly explained what he had said right before Sora was pleading for help. "Well Maleficent won't rest until she has him under her complete control, which creates problems for-" Leon began as the door flew open.
"Riku you're gonna pay for making me live as a shadow for you. I'm going to kill you myself." Sora yelled.
"Sora?" They all exclaimed as he backed into a dark portal.
"What was that all about?" Yuffie asked.
"I can't believe that he just said he is going to kill me," Riku said. "He wasn't even under her control or anything. He really meant it." Riku fell to his knees, hair trailing behind.
"You are the only one who can show him the truth, but you can ask five others to help you get to him," Merlin commented.
"Who?" Riku asked simply.
"Donald… Goofy… Leon… Yuffie… and Cloud." Merlin listed with a good amount of space between each name.
"But will they help?"
"Of course. Anything for Sora." Donald and Goofy said as they walked through the open door. Riku looked up with hope and happiness returning to his expression.
"You can count on the Great Ninja Yuffie."
"Me too," Leon added.
"Now Cloud. Who is he?" Riku asked.
"The guy you talked to earlier," Leon explained. "He's a bit quiet."
"But will he help?"
"We can only hope," Aerith said.
"Then let's go talk to him," Riku said rising to his feet. Everyone else nodded.
