This is it. The end of the Castle Oblivion story. It's time for Riku to face Ansem. Will he prevail and join the light? Or will he be defeated, and fall further into the darkness?

I believe the disclaimer is in the description. If not, it's in an earlier chapter. So I ain't writing another one.

What do you mean Nomura's already sued?

Song: Disquieting

"Where am I?" Riku asked as he walked into the suburbs cloaked in sunset. "What is this place?"

He was interrupted by Ansem, yet again.

"You must battle me all alone. Against my dark powers!"

They both got into battle stances, but Riku laxed up after a second or two.

"What's this? Are you giving up? Finally ready to surrender to your fate?"

"You're not the true Ansem." Riku said simply. (and ironically) Ansem let his arms down in shock. He stood straight, looking at Riku. "Your scent is different. The real Ansem reeks of darkness. His odor is much more foul. But your scent just isn't that. It's not darkness. It's something else. I finally understand. You're the one who guided me when it started. You came to me pretending to be Ansem. You made me face the darkness."

Song: Lazy Afternoons

Ansem smiled, and his form changed in a cloth of light. "That is correct." He said with a much different voice. In his place was a man with a lot of red on, concealing his face. "DiZ, or so I am known. You-I've watched you all along."

"Really?" Riku asked, disrespectfully. "Who are you, and what do you want from me?"

"For you to choose."

"Choose?"

"You are a special entity. You exist between light and dark. You stand in the twilight. You are to meet Namine, then choose."

"Namine? Who's that?" Riku pressed.

"You will know soon."

Riku eventually made his way to a mansion beyond some woods. "Maybe Namine is here."

Song: Disquieting

"Hold it!" The all too familiar voice rang from behind. Repliku came up behind. "Hmph. You've changed. Your own darkness… it doesn't frighten you anymore."

"How can you tell?"

"Because I'm you."

"No, I'M me." Riku replied.

"'I'm me' he says." Repliku said with resentment. "Must be nice being real. A fake like me could never get away with saying that. That's right. I'm a phony, a fake!" He began to lash out angrily at Riku. "The way I look, the way I feel, everything I remember! And even this newfound power!"

Song: Face It!

Repliku began to drown himself in darkness. Not just the darkness of Riku's own D-mode, but a foreign power as well.

"I thought by finding some new strength, I could finally be someone! Someone who's not at all you! But… nothing changes… I'm still just empty! Everything about me is borrowed! As long as you're around, I'll never be more that a shadow!

Both Riku's brought out their Soul Eater blades, ready for the duel of all duels. To face oneself and come out on top.

Song: The Force In You

Repliku chose to dish out as much as possible to overwhelm Riku, staying in D-mode as he's done throughout every fight beforehand, as well as holding his new power in the palm of his hands. He immediately charged at Riku and performed a rapid spin slash.

Riku, knowing that it won't pay to tire himself out, stays base for the time being. He countered Repliku with a basic slash, earning a combo in return. Repliku then sent a triple shockwave at Riku, earning a direct hit.

A clash earned Riku the chance to turn the tide, with the Barrage throw attack.

A few more attacks later and Riku went into D-mode himself to keep up. They clashed once more with one of the dark Riku's falling to the ground.

Song: Scent of Silence

"So… it's over." Repliku said as Riku stood over him. "Hmph. Death doesn't frighten me. Good riddance to a phony life. My heart was… never real. I'm sure even what I'm feeling now is probably all fake."

Riku felt… sad. "What are you feeling?"

"What happens when a fake dies? One like me? Where will my heart go? Does it disappear?"

"It'll go somewhere." Riku sat down with his replica fading beside him. "Maybe… to the same place as mine."

"Tch. A faithful replica to the very end." Repliku began to fade completely into the darkness he commanded. "That's… okay."

Riku walked into an open room, finding a girl in a white dress standing behind a white pod. She walked out from behind the pod up to Riku.

"Are you Namine?"

"Yes."

"I see." Riku said. "That was you…"

"Huh?"

"Forget it. Nothing."

Namine went on as though the last three lines hadn't happened. "Please…come this way." As she turned, Riku saw Sora's form in the pod behind her.

"Sora!" He ran up to the pod, seeing that it was in fact his friend in human form. He turned to Namine. "What have you done to Sora?"

"Nothing! He's just asleep. To keep him alive"

"So… Sora has to sleep to keep the darkness at bay?" Riku asked.

"You have a strong darkness as well." Namine informed him.

"But I never became a heartless."

Namine shook her head. "In your heart there is darkness. And in that darkness is Ansem. He may be at bay for now, but eventually he'll wake, and he will take over you just like he did before. But I have powers you can use." Namine put her hands to her chest. "With my powers, I can put a tight lock on your heart. That way, Ansem could never come out from inside of you."

"What happens to me if I let you do that?" Riku asked. "Will I sleep like Sora?"

"The darkness in you will be sealed tight. The darkness will be as a dream, and you'll go back to the way you were. Riku… you have a choice."

Riku looked down, then turned towards Sora's sleeping figure. "He doesn't even look worried. Will I sleep like that too?"

"Yes."

"Figures." Riku nodded. "Sora always did as he wanted. Whatever we'd be doing together, he'd always find some way to slack off. Even trying to leave the islands. I did all the work on the raft myself. That's it. When this slacker wakes up, I'll tell him off. I told him to take care of Kairi, and here he is taking a nap." Riku turned back to Namine. "But I can't chew him out like he deserves… If I've been asleep. I don't need my heart locked. I'm ready… I'm gonna go fight Ansem."

"But what if…" Namine began. "His darkness overtakes you?"

"If that happens, then the darkness will show me the way."

Song: Namine

"Yes." Namine nodded. "That's true."

Riku put a hand to his chin. "Why do I get the feeling that you knew I would say that?"

"I didn't know. I hoped." Namine answered. "I wanted you to face the darkness, because you're the one who can."

"So that's the reason… that's why you came to my rescue inside that light… in the form of Kairi."

"When did you know?"

Riku smiled. "I knew when I met you. You and Kairi smell the same." Riku turned towards the door and walked out. "Look after Sora."

Song: The 13th Floor

Riku opened the door and met up with The King on the other side.

"Gosh, guess you decided not to go to sleep." The King greeted.

"How'd you know that?" Riku asked as he walked forwards.

"I heard it from DiZ." The two looked over at him as he moved from his spot on the wall.

"Do you know him?" Riku asked.

"Well, I'm not sure. Gotta feelin' I've met him… somewhere…"

Riku walked towards him. "Hey. Who are you?"

"I could be nobody. Or anybody. It is up to you whether you believe in me or not."

"Boy. You really like pushing decisions on people." Riku responded.

"And you have pushed away sleep making the choice to face Ansem."

"Do you think I'm reckless?"

"You have chosen your own path."

"Are you supporting me, or are you abandoning me?"

"That will be your choice as well." DiZ said. Then he walked forward and handed Riku a black cloak like that of the Organization.

"What's this?"

"The Organization will pursue you. Like a pack of hunting dogs, they will sneak up on you if they sense your presence. However… This cloak that is worn by Nobodies will render their eyes and their noses useless." DiZ turned towards The King. "The ears, not so… They wear this to give themselves protection from being devoured by darkness. Is it clear? Even the Organization cannot rule the darkness."

"Doesn't matter." Riku said. "I'm not gonna run from the darkness."

DiZ tossed Riku a card depicting the Castle. "The card will draw out your heart's darkness. Finish your business with Ansem."

Riku turned to The King. "Come on. Let's go."

"He said this card will draw Ansem out." Riku said.

"Don't worry. We can defeat him together!"

"Sorry. I've gotta face him alone."

"But why!?"

"There's no point in doing this if I can't do it alone. But I do need a favor. If Ansem is the victor, he's going to enslave me. If that happens, use your powers to destr…"

"Of course! I'll be right there to save ya!"

"Huh? No that's not it! I want you to des…"

"No way! No matter what happens, I'll be right there to help ya! I promise ya that! Unless you don't believe I'll come through for ya."

Riku nodded. "I choose to believe in you, always, Your Majesty."

"And I in you. You're not gonna lose, I know it."

"Thanks." Riku turned and ventured forth.

He ran forward, Soul Eater in hand.

"Ansem! Where are you? Show yourself!"

"Hm hm hm hm hm hm. Why in such a hurry? I'll be here at the very heart of darkness. Watching you plunge into the same darkness. Inside of you.

Song: Face It

"I have watched you fight. I know your strength. Your skill with darkness has grown. It has become more mature. And yet why? Why do you accept the darkness, but still refuse me? You know you and I are similar. We both follow where the darkness leads.

"Indeed we are the same. So why? Does some part of your heart still have fear of the darkness?"

Riku shook his head. "That's not it. The truth is…" Riku readied his Soul Eater. "I just can't stand your foul stench!"

"You are a fool. You should know my powers well by now."

"Yeah, I know. Or did you forget? I used all the power you had to give, and Sora still beat me. I'm not at all impressed with your powers!"

"Very well. In that case… You shall sink into the ABYSS!" Ansem began to let out a large, dangerous pool of darkness. When next Riku opened his eyes, they were on an entirely different field. Like the realm of darkness, with grey everything and a purple sky. Ansem had a muscular Heartless Guardian behind him, as though it were a shadow.

Song: Revenge of Chaos

Ansem began by having his Guardian shoot two orbs at Riku, which he blocked. The two clashed and Riku pushed him back with his Barrage combo.

Ansem then had two shockwaves travel across the ground. Riku jumped over them and blocked another one. Afterwards, Ansem sent out spiral cutters that Riku dodged as well. Then he dodged another two shockwaves. He jumped to attack Ansem but was intercepted by the Guardian. Riku countered with another Barrage.

Ansem attacked again, warranting another Barrage.

"Come. Open your heart to the darkness!" Ansem screamed.

Riku shook his head, and let his own darkness keep Ansem at bay. "My own darkness, sure. But you're getting kicked out."

Riku opened up with a Dark Firaga, and then kept Ansem busy with the pogo stick like Dark Break. And finally he imbued himself with darkness and rushed Ansem to death (Dark Aura)

Song: Face It

The two stood in the middle of the white room once again. Panting, tired.

"Insolent brat!" Ansem shot one last darkness attack at Riku. He blocked with a bit of trouble.

"Ansem!" Riku rushed towards his tormentor, ready to slice him in half.

"This is the end!" Riku said from his stance, Ansem behind him.

"This… is hardly… the end!" Ansem struggled to say. "Your darkness, I gave it… all… to you! My dark shadow… lingers! Someday… Someday… I will return!"

Ansem blew up in a brilliant show of darkness, engulfing Riku in it as well.

Song End

"Sora… Kairi…"

"Gosh, Riku. I know you wanted to do this alone. But you don't mind getting a LITTLE help, do ya?" The King appeared beside Riku to help him find his way.

"So Riku… what happens next? Are ya goin home?" The King asked.

"I can't go home. Not yet. It's still here. It's really faint, but I can sense him. So I think his darkness may still have a hold on me." Riku responded.

"Your darkness belongs to you, just the same way your light does." The King urged. "Up till now, I thought darkness was something that should never exist. Then I spent time with you and changed my mind. The road you chose… I didn't know. Light and Dark, back to back. With you, I think they might meet in a way nobody's seen before. Wonder where that road leads. I'd like to see myself. I'd like to walk the road with ya." The King held out his hand for Riku to shake. Riku looked at him, and smiled. They shook.

"Your Majesty, I'm really flattered… I don't know what to say."

"Gosh, Riku. You know you don't have to call me that now. We're pals."

"Fair enough, Mickey."

Riku and King Mickey walked down a path a little ways away from the Castle. It was a dirt path through a grassy field. The two wore their black cloaks and approached their friend in red.

Riku looked pointedly at DiZ. "What are you making me choose now?"

"Between the road to light…" DiZ motioned to another dirt path to his left, on Riku's right. "…and the road to darkness." and DiZ then motioned to the opposite path.

"Neither suits me." King Mickey double taked and stared up at Riku. Riku walked forward, past DiZ. "I'm taking the middle road."

DiZ lowered his head. "Do you mean the twilight road to nightfall?"

"No." Riku said simply. Then he turned back towards DiZ. "It's the road to dawn."

While Riku's on his road to dawn, I'm going to sleep till my own dawn. Wake me up when KH3 is in stores. Other stories? Fine. I'll write those in the mean time. Now leave me alone. I'm tired.