I don't own Kingdom Hearts

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Chapter Ten

Discoveries in Atlantica

Sora drove the Gummi Ship towards Atlantica, space flying past him through the windows as Goofy and Donald shot down enemy ships. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Kairi sitting nearby, her eyes trained on shooting down another Heartless; he blushed when their eyes met and snapped his head away before she saw his reddened cheeks.

His thoughts then drifted to Zelda. She had not left Riku's side since they started the journey for their next destination, not even to sleep. Sora and Kairi often brought her food, along with something for Riku; but Zelda was zoned out she rarely acknowledged them. They hated seeing her so distraught, but they understood, though possibly for different reasons.

Turning his attention back to the road ahead Sora spotted Atlantica only a minute away from touchdown.

"Approaching Atlantica. Brace for landing. Prepare to dive!" he called.

Water splashed up in front of them, bright blue entered their eyes and filled them to the brim. Bubbles floated up from small crevices and danced in front of the window. Kairi stared out as she watched the colourful streams of fish swim past the windows in undisguised awe. It was indeed an incredible sight to see.

"This world is amazing...!" she whispered.

Zelda came walking into the room, her movements slow and her feet dragging across the floor. There were dark shadows under her eyes that looked like two black gaping caverns with sunken sapphires in the centre of them. She sighed heavily but when she turned her eyes up to their destination, they widened and brightened with newfound hope and determination. A stunning smile spread across her face.

"What's the plan?" she asked.

Sora swung himself out of the pilot's seat.

"Okay, one or two of us need to stay here with Riku, while the rest of us need to head out and get what we need to help him," he explained.

"But is that really a good idea? What if something happens to Riku while we're gone?" Kairi asked.

They all then became quiet, unable to respond to the problem.

A voice broke into the silence.

"Then...don't split up... We'll all go..."

Everyone turned towards the doorway in surprise. They saw Riku leaning against the frame, clutching his shoulder with a pained smile on his face. Sora ran up to him and supported him as he led the way into the room.

"Riku, you idiot!" he yelled. "What on Destiny Island were you thinking?! You're going to make it worse!"

Riku laughed weakly.

"Sorry about that, but I'm not going to be left behind. I'll just take extra care. It's as simple as that. You know I'm going to follow you either way. So don't bother trying to stop me..."

His younger friend groaned in annoyance, he was wondering when he had become the adult and Riku the child. Sighing heavily Sora nodded his head.

"Fine, but you are not going anywhere alone, are we clear?" he ordered.

Riku only smiled at him in triumph.

~( )~

With the use of Donald's magic they were prepared and swimming through the waters of Atlantica with ease. Sora's dolphin-like tail flicked effortlessly behind him, his silver crown glinted brightly against his chest; his wound had turned a pale white as it finally reached its final phases of healing. His sapphire eyes glanced back at everyone behind him. Goofy and Donald had adopted their forms of a turtle and octopus. Kairi and Zelda resembled mermaids with their tails, Kairi's a light purple and Zelda's deep red. Meanwhile Riku trailed behind them with a tail similar to a shark's, with a silver and aqua green streak down the back; his shoulder continued to bleed blackened blood, smoking and hissing even in the salty water.

Goofy broke the silence.

"Any idea where we're meant to be headed?" he asked.

Zelda bolted forward, swimming past everyone and taking the lead.

"We're heading to the palace, where else would the King be? Do we have an Elixir we can modify?" she said firmly.

Sora pulled out an Elixir and handed it to her.

"We basically need to head to the palace and talk to King Triton, his trident should help us, it managed to reveal this world's Keyhole before, so it should have the power to help Riku," he explained.

Dodging past a school of fish they continued to make their way through the waters.

~( )~

After swimming for what seemed like an eternity the small group finally arrived at the gates of the palace, its great coral structure alight like fireflies flickering against a sapphire lake's surface. Sora took a deep breath and pushed the gates aside, then swam in, soon followed by the others. The silence around them was deafening, the only sound was the flicks of their tails as they swam closer to the throne room. Guards watched them pass but did nothing, knowing their association with the King.

When they finally arrived the group saw King Triton talking to Sebastian.

"Sebastian! King Triton!" Sora called, smiling.

The two of them turned and saw them floating in the doorway. The crab swam over.

"Sora, Donald, Goofy, welcome. It's good to see you but you've come at a bit of a bad time," he explained.

"Why? Did something happen?" Kairi asked.

King Triton shook his head.

"Some of those Nobody creatures came and stole my trident. We have no idea what it may be used for."

The group looked at one another before Zelda swam up to the front.

"We'll get it back for you," she offered. "But could you do something once you have it back?"

When the King made the motion to continue she gave her question.

"Our friend is seriously ill thanks to an attack from a new Nobody that's come around, the only thing that can help him is an Elixir that has been enhanced with your Triton's magic. Could you do that for us, please?"

King Triton nodded his head in agreement.

"Very well, bring back my trident and I will help you in any way you need."

"Hurry! Before they do something terrible with its power!" Sebastian urged.

With those words the group were away, Zelda and Riku trailing behind them.

~( )~

They swam through the water, relentless and kicking through the streams of bubbles that ran past them. None of them knew where they were going, but they followed their instincts, and the sense of darkness filling the water with potent energy.

Sora stopped before the scene of a sunken ship, a smile spread across his face as he remembered his time with Ariel and the others in his past adventures. A glint of gold near the hull of the ship caught his eye.

"Guys, this way."

He gestured for them to follow and drew out his Keyblade, a determined intent flickered in his eyes. The moment he saw the source his eyes brightened and his lips became a scowl.

Before him was a collection of Nobodies and Heartless, Night Warriors and Shadows adapted for the undersea world. Within the mass of darkness and silver was a black hooded figure, with a black fish tail swirling beneath the dark depths of their coat. The figure glanced over their shoulder and stared at them with hidden eyes.

"You've come. He said you would..." they muttered. "Sora."

Sora swam forward, eyeing the creatures that bowed their heads, as though they were waiting for their master to give the word.

"Who are you? I recognise Larxene, but I know I've never seen you before!" he yelled. He was getting more and more tempted to strike, but he kept his composure.

"You want the trident?" they asked.

With hesitance he nodded his head.

"Then you must either come with me, or fight to get it back. Are you going to co-operate, or fight?" they said, bearing no emotion.

Sora didn't hesitate to slash through one of the Night Warriors, his eyes never left the hooded being.

"Does that answer your question?" he retorted firmly.

The figure turned away.

"So be it," they deadpanned. "Maybe you'll change your mind in the future. Until next time, Keyblade Master."

They then disappeared into a Corridor of Darkness.

~( )~

That was the signal that the Nobodies wanted. It was in that split second that they pounced. The group quickly set themselves into battle mode and readied their weapons. Riku did his best to fight back, despite his injury, not an easy feat with the strain of his shoulder. Goofy and Donald performed several double-team attacks, while Kairi cast a multitude of spells, favouring Thunderaga because of its intense reaction to the ocean.

Sora was slicing through enemies left, right and centre. He had gone into his Valour Form and was dual-wielding so he could hit more opponents at a faster pace. Power and light was sliding off his form like rain, oozing from every pore with his eyes flashing like sapphires.

He was concentrating so hard on fighting that he didn't spot a single Night Warrior slip away from the rest and make its way towards Riku...

~( )~

Riku gritted his teeth in pain, his Way of Dawn disappearing in a flash. His vision blurred, his motions sluggish. His shoulder was agony, he couldn't...take...anymore.

"I'm...at my limit..." he groaned.

He closed his eyes, allowing his body to float in the water. It happened the same time a Night Warrior approached him from behind.

Zelda turned and spotted it beginning to lower its blade upon Riku's prone form. Her instincts kicked in. Her heart went into overdrive. With as much power as she could muster she stormed through the water towards him at top speed.

"RIKU!" she cried.

She threw her body in front of his, her arms raised.

Everyone turned towards them. Their eyes filled with fear. The blade was coming down fast. Not even Sora would be able to reach them in time.

"No!"

Metal clashed against metal. Eyes widened at the sight before them. In Zelda's hands wasn't her sword, even though it looked similar. In its place was a Keyblade.

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