Sailene shifts her eyes and grins, seeing a Dark Corridor opening, and Vanitas standing inside. She grins and does a few back flips and lands by Vanitas.

"Stop!" Celius growls, running at them, Dawn following behind.

The corridor closes behind Vanitas and Sailene. Celius and Dawn get there as the corridor closes.

"Damn it!" Celius growls, then he turns to Dawn, "Can you track them?"

"No," Dawn shakes his head, "Sorry."

"Ugh.. Riku. Can you track her?" Celius asks.

"I can feel her Light is fading, and that she's here somewhere, but no, I can't track her. Sorry." Dawn replies.

"Damn it! You're so fucking useless!" Celius screams.

Dawn's eyes widen slightly, then narrow, "I'm useless? At least I'm trying, instead of throwing a fit!"

"Shut your mouth!" Celius growls, pushing Dawn, knocking him down.

Dawn stares up at Celius, "Anger to match your father's, yes?"

Celius' eyes widen, "What did you just say?"

"I said you have a dark anger, like your father." Dawn replies, "Dark inheritance is hard to overlook."

"Are you saying I'm Darkness?" Celius growls.

"I'm saying the dark inside you can turn you into one." Dawn answers, "Much like your father."

Something inside Celius snaps, "Shut up!"

He drops down, punching Dawn in the face, knocking him fully into the dirt, "You don't know a thing about my father!"

Dawn rubs his bruising face and stands. He starts walking away from Celius.

"Dawn.." Celius says, "Hey... Dawn, I'm sorry.."

"You've made it perfectly clear you don't want help. You can find her yourself." Dawn growls.

...

"Young Xehanort!" Vanitas appears in the black room.

"Terra won't die." Young Xehanort seemed amused, stabbing Terra again.

Terra groans, having lost the energy to move. Young Xehanort turns back to Vanitas, "Was there something you needed?"

"More like something you needed." Vanitas grins.

Young Xehanort looks at him questioningly, "That so?"

Vanitas' grin widens, "It is."

The Key of Resurrection appears in his hand and Young Xehanort smiles lightly, "The Key of Resurrection."

Vanitas nods. Young Xehanort's smile fades, "How did you get it? Are the children dead?"

"Well, Riku's heart has been taken, but Celius still lives." Vanitas explains.

Young Xehanort's eyes narrow, "That wasn't your orders."

Vanitas frowns, "I got the Key, like you asked."

"You've been having problems following orders, Vanitas." Young Xehanort growls.

Vanitas immediately prepares for an attack. Young Xehanort raises his Keyblade, "I can't have followers who won't follow."

The X-blade appears in Vanitas' hand instantly and he growls, "You can't turn on me!"

"I can do as I wish. You, on the other hand.." Young Xehanort steps towards him.

Vanitas back away and growls. The blue cord appears from Young Xehanort's Keyblade.

"You need to be put in your place, Vanitas." Young Xehanort says.

"Not on your life, Xehanort." Vanitas says, "I have no place!"

"We shall see." Young Xehanort's eyes narrow, "Give me the Key of Resurrection."

"Only if you stop trying to give me a 'place.'" Vanitas replies.

"Very well... But you better do as you are told from now on. Heed my warning, Vanitas. I won't give you another chance." Young Xehanort threatens.

"Yeah, will do.." Vanitas relaxes slightly.

"The Key. Hand it over." Young Xehanort demands.

Vanitas throws the Key to him and he catches it.

"Now do as you were ordered and kill them. Give Riku her heart, then kill them both." he orders.

"Sure thing." Vanitas disappears.

Young Xehanort turns back to Terra and smirks, "How does it feel to know your precious son is about to die and you can't save him?"

"You won't...win..." Terra growls weakly.

"We shall see. I have the Key of Resurrection now. The time to resurrect Master Xehanort is soon to be at hand." Young Xehanort grins.

...

Celius sighs, "Where is she?"

He looks around, trying to track her to the best of his abilities. He sees her far off to his left.

"Riku!" Celius cries, running up to where she lay on the ground. He takes her into his arms and shakes her, "Riku! Riku, open your eyes!"

"That girl has lost her heart. She cannot wake up." Sailene grins.

Celius glares at her, "What did you do?!"

"I stole her heart." she replies.

Celius growls, "Give it back!"

Sailene smirks and summons her Keyblade, "You'll have to get it from me."

Celius lays Riku back down and he stands, summoning his Keyblade. Suddenly Vanitas appears. Sailene looks at him questioningly, "What is it?"

"New orders," he says, "Release her heart, we're supposed to kill them now."

Sailene grins, "Sounds fun. Especially since Riku can't fight back."

Celius gasps, How could I have forgotten that?! I'll have to protect her and fight them both!

Sailene's Keyblade glows and Riku's heart appears from it. The heart floats down to Riku and disappears into her chest. Celius looks at her and gasps as her eyes open and she sits up.

"Riku!" he gasps, helping her to her feet.

"Celius!" she hugs tight and he hugs her back.

Vanitas claps and laughs, "Oh, how sweet! The Princess' prince has come!"

Celius growls in response and Riku glares.

Sailene grins, "This'll be fun.", and she and Vanitas run at Celius and Riku, Keyblades in hand. Celius holds his blade out with one hand, and holding Riku back behind him with the other.

"Celius, you can't fight them both!" Riku says.

"I'm protecting you, so stay back!" Celius replies.

I need to help him, but how?, Riku asks herself.

She backs up a few steps to give Celius room as he blocks Vanitas and stabs at Sailene, who blocks him.

Riku gasps, He can't take them both!

She tries to summon her Keyblade but it still won't come to her. She grits her teeth and keeps trying, Light, help me!

The Keyblade flashes but doesn't materialize for her. She shuts her eyes tight, placing a hand to her father's pendant, Light, help me! She begins to glow softly in Light. Her Keyblade flashes faster and faster as she starts to glow brighter and brighter still.

"Riku?!" Celius gasps.

Light, help me!, She seems to be chanting to herself. She glows brighter, her Keyblade keeps flashing.

"What is that Light?!" Sailene hisses.

"Kingdom Hearts." Vanitas states bluntly.

"Riku!" Celius calls.

"Stop the Light!" Vanitas hisses.

Sailene runs at Riku but Celius catches blades with her.

"I won't let you touch her!" he vows.

"Can you stop us both?" Vanitas grins, running at Riku now.

Celius gasps and breaks free from Sailene and shoots her with light, knocking her back, then he throws his Keyblade, catching Vanitas in the shoulder, knocking him down to one knee. Celius looks back at Riku, who's still glowing.

"Riku!" he calls.

Sailene growls and stands, as does Vanitas. Celius gasps and summons his Keyblade back to him. Sailene and Vanitas both run at Celius, both having Keyblades in hand. Celius gasps and brings his Keyblade up to block. Sailene kicks Celius in the stomach, knocking him into the dirt. Vanitas grins and swings his Keyblade, a strike to kill Celius.

"No!"

Riku is now in front of Celius, Keyblade finally in hand, she's locked with Vanitas. He growls and pushes against her. She's still glowing in Light, and she holds her ground. Sailene swings her Keyblade at Riku and Riku's second Keyblade appears, blocking Sailene's attack.

Sailene gasps, "Impossible!"

Riku pushes both Sailene and Vanitas away from her and Celius and she turns to him.

"Are you okay, Celius?" she asks.

He gets up and nods, "I'm fine. I'm glad you got your Keyblades back."

"It wasn't easy." she frowns.

He nods and turns back to their enemies, now ready to fight again. Riku and Celius get in their fighting stances once more.

"We have to finish this, and soon.." Celius mutters.

"I know." Riku agrees.

Vanitas attacks Celius and Sailene strikes at Riku. Riku blocks and grunts, pushing against Sailene. Sailene growls and pushes back, knocking Riku back. She stumbles but doesn't fall.

She catches herself just in time to block Sailene's attack. Celius gasps and jumps back, shooting Light at Vanitas. Vanitas laughs and dodges. He then shoots Darkness at Celius.

Celius blocks the blast then runs at Vanitas, bringing his Keyblade up to strike. Vanitas avoids Celius' hit and strikes back, knocking him back into the dirt. Celius grunts and kicks up, kicking Vanitas into the dirt and Celius quickly gets back up, ready to attack Vanitas again.

Vanitas gets up with a growls and he shoots multiple blasts of Darkness at Celius. Celius tries to block but gets his head on. He cries out and hits the ground. Riku gasps and turns and her eyes widen.

"Celius!" she cries.

Celius grunts and pushes himself back to his feet. He looks at her and gasps, "Riku, behind you!"

Riku gasps and spins around to face Sailene. Sailene grins and stabs her Keyblade through Riku's stomach. Riku gasps and stares at Sailene's grinning face.

"Good night, Princess." Sailene says, pulling her Keyblade from Riku's stomach. Then she turns to Vanitas, "Your turn.", then she disappears.

Riku starts to fall back and Celius rushes forward and catches her, slowly crouching down, laying her on the ground and in his arms.

"Riku!" he says, placing a hand over her wound, trying to stop the blood flow.

She looks at him, her breathing short and gasping. Celius puts a shield around him and Riku, but it wasn't worth it, Vanitas wasn't even attacking. He was watching. Recognition shows in his eyes, but he just watches.

"Riku, hold on! I'll get you to King Mickey, so just hold on!" Celius says.

Riku shakes her head, "No...time."

"No, he can help! Just hold on!" Celius presses.

Again, she shakes her head, "I'm finished... There's no...time."

"Riku..." a tear slides down Celius' cheek and Riku reaches up and places her hand there.

"Celius..." she whispers.

"Y-yes...?" he whispers back, placing a hand over her's.

She struggles to get up so he helps her, then she pushes herself up and kisses his lips softly, weakly. Celius' eyes widen, but he doesn't move. He closes his eyes instead. He kisses her back softly, then she falls back, back into his arms.

He stares down at her sadly, "Riku... Isn't there something I can do to help you?"

"Tell my parents... I'm... I'm sorry..." she breathes.

Celius nods, tears falling freely now, "I will... I will..."

"And, Celius...?" she asks, her body now glowing a soft golden color, she starts to disappear, feet first.

"Yes?" Celius asks, looking her over then looking back to her face.

"I... I love...you..." she says, her eyes closing.

Celius' eyes widen, "Riku, I-" her hand slips from his face and he catches her hand, "No! Don't leave me!"

She doesn't respond, her body disappearing in orbs of Light. She disappears from his arms and the orbs float up into the sky. Celius watches the remains of her as they disappear. She's gone, but Celius still stares into the sky, he stood when she left his arms, now he drops onto his knees. Then he drops to his hands and knees, his head bowed.

Riku..." he says, eyes wide, tears fall quickly, "No... No..."

He clenches his hands into fists, filling his palms with dust. He shuts his eyes tightly, and tears still fall. He screams and a force of hidden energy spreads from him. The force is so great it cracks the ground, and shakes the entire world.

Vanitas gasps, What is this power?! He quickly exits the world through a dark corridor.

Celius continues to scream and the energy starts to tear The Keyblade Graveyard apart, and he crumbles through the ground as it becomes destroyed by this massive energy and he finds himself falling through the Between Space.

"Riku..." he whispers, staring up into the bleak darkness, "Riku, I loved you..."

A hand reaches down and grabs Celius' wrist, "Celius, don't give in!"