Chapter 20

Ansem returned to the building he was currently dwelling in to find Maleficent sitting beside an unconscious Riku. The sight of the prone, sleeping figure before him rekindled the feeling of impatient rage he had experienced earlier. He practically roared at Maleficent as he entered the room.

"It is not even midday yet! Why is the boy sleeping?"

Maleficent gave the Heartless a cold look as she responded.

"You can thank yourself for that. You tore away most of the boy's mana during that... session... last night. Don't expect him to wake for several hours unless you give him Ether, and I know you wouldn't waste something like that on him."

Ansem scoffed. "The boy attacked me. I had to take measures to subdue him."

Maleficent spun on the spot, an expression of protective rage on her face. It was an unusual look for her.

"I know what I saw last night, and it did not look like an ordinary restraint attempt. You sodomized the boy with your Dark tendrils! That was low, even for you! I don't know what sort of plan you and Xehanort have cooked up, but I don't think violating that child was part of it!"

"Since when has Riku's well being meant anything to you?" Ansem asked coldly.

Maleficent froze, knowing she was about to reveal something about herself that would get her labelled as "weak," but decided this was something she didn't care about as she began to confess.

"Since I first saw potential in him. Yes, it goes that far back. Need I remind you that I had been left with the job of looking after him while you were off planning whatever dark schemes your ambition led you on. The only attention you ever gave him was when you inflicted those cruel punishments on him, so of course you would not know how much he could grow on you!"

Maleficent paused, as though to catch her breath, and spoke again.

"Before long, I began to see him as my own son..."

"You've gone soft, Maleficent..." Ansem said, a cold smirk forming on his face. "So why did you choose to join me this time if you seem to hate me so much?"

"I joined to protect Riku from your draconian methods. I obviously didn't do good enough, since you still hurt him. But I won't let you lay your hands on him again!"

Ansem began to laugh, a cold, jeering laugh that erased any feeling of peace from the area.

"Whatever you say! But I strongly doubt you'll be able to protect him from his fate. Once he lets the Darkness back in, and trust me, he will... his Heart will belong to Xehanort. Our mission was to prepare Riku as a suitable Dark Vessel, since Sora obviously can't be used anymore."

XXXXXXXX

Riku was trapped in Hollow Bastion again, watching helplessly as Xigbar beat Sora within an inch of his life. He couldn't stand it, and was soon pleading with Xigbar to take him in Sora's place. Xigbar complied, and began to brutally molest him as Sora began to scream at their attacker, begging him to leave him alone.

Somehow Sora managed to free himself from his bonds, summoning his Keyblade and approaching Xigbar, ready to attack. Unfortunately Xigbar noticed and had summoned his own weapon, sending a bullet crystal through Sora's heart before the boy had a chance to react, as Riku watched helplessly from the background, still trapped in his own bindings.

Sora fell dead at Xigbar's feet, and the Nobody viciously kicked his body aside and returned to Riku, taking him roughly by the arm, shaking him.

"So, where were we?"

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Riku shrieked as he came back to awareness, immediately noticing that Maleficent had been trying to wake him.

"Easy, child, I mean you no harm..." Maleficent said as quietly as she could. "I'm here to set you free!"

"W-what?" Riku asked, unsure if he was still dreaming or not.

"You're in danger, you have to get out of here!"

"Danger?"

"Ansem. He intends to convert you, by force if necessary, so you can be one of Xehanort's vessels. I'm not going to let that happen!"

"W-wait, just a minute! I thought you and Ansem were on the same side! What's going on here?" Riku asked, confused.

"Me? Side with someone who cheats and takes extreme measures to gain power? Hmph, I'd rather work toward my goals, there's far more satisfaction in that!"

Riku was wide awake by this point and scrambling around for what few possessions he had with him, when he noticed the gleam of silver just under the bed. Bending down, he scooped up the crown necklace that had fallen to the floor while he slept, feeling the fresh pang of grief that was still so close as he clutched it in his hand.

"Sora, forgive me. I'll do everything I can in your absence..." he whispered as he held the pendant against his chest, over his heart.

Maleficent led him to the courtyard of the building, where she lowered the barrier and summoned a Dark Corridor, obviously the way she intended him to escape.

"That portal should lead you to Hollow Bastion. From there, you should be able to find safe passage to whatever world you see fit."

"Maleficent... I never thought I'd ever say this to you... but... thanks, for everything."

"Not a problem, child."

Riku turned to enter the Dark Corridor, but was interrupted by one final remark.

"Riku. I know I've said this before, but I really do mean it. You're like a son to me, and I really did want what was best for you. But I guess I was wrong in what I thought was best. I know what it is now. You must let your Heart lead you to it."

End of Chapter 20.