"You innocent mortal," Maleficent said, circling around the chair Jeanette was sitting in. "You think you can outsmart the Heartless?"

I didn't answer. The intimidation was killing me.

She rose. "Well, think again!" she roared, disappearing into thin air.

All of a sudden, the walls around us started to sink into the floor and the ceiling started to rise. Around us suddenly appeared what seemed to have been an arena, with Maleficent in the announcer's booth.

"Let the duel begin!" she exclaimed. "Key Bearer, choose one of your friends here to fight off our first rookie."

Out from the Heartless' side came Danielle. Now, I was really confused.

Maleficent could see the look on my face. "They joined by choice, my dear boy," she explained. "Now, please. Choose somebody already."

I thought about it for a minute, making sure I saved my strongest allies for last. "I choose Eleanor."

Eleanor's key appeared in her hand, and she stepped forward.

Maleficent laughed. "Now, choose three more," she ordered as Hilary, Tracy and Sammie appeared by Danielle's side.

I knew that was going to happen. "Alvin! Brittany! Theodore!" The three appeared by Eleanor's side, keyblades in hand.

"Fight!" Maleficent signaled.

My choices seemed fitting for the purpose. Alvin and Brittany were able to defeat Tracy and Danielle, whom I considered the two strongest. It took a bit of time, but Theodore and Eleanor were able to make Hilary and Sammie give in.

Alvin and Brittany took Theodore and Eleanor out of the ring when the hearts of my former friends were being sucked out of them. The four hearts disappeared, leaving them dead.

"Take them out of here," Maleficent ordered her lackeys. "Alright, key bearer. You're winning four to one. Let's see if you're as strong as you seem to be. Jeanette, if you would, please…"

"Of course," she answered, glaring at me.

Oh no, I thought. It had to be her, didn't it?

Both keyblades in hand, we prepared for what could be the first of many fights between us.

Jeanette came at me first, knocking me off of my feet. I knew what she wanted, that I knew for sure, but I just wasn't sure how she would take it.

I had an idea. "Riku!" I yelled between breaths. "Talk to her!"

He knew exactly what I meant. "Jeanette, it's me, Riku," he said. "I know what really happened to your guardian, Miss Miller."

"So do I. Why do you think I'm fighting him?"

"No, Jeanette. It's not him. You have to listen to me! I'm your partner for God's sake!"

Jeanette got up off of me and turned towards Riku. "I'm listening."

"It wasn't your friend here. The Heartless wanted the two of you split up so that way they could conquer all of the worlds in existence."

She turned to me. "So it wasn't you after all?"

I nodded no. She was about to hug me when Maleficent grabbed her by the arm, grabbing the keyblade out of Jeanette's hand.

"You sicken me, Riku," Maleficent hissed. "And as for you…" She pointed the keyblade at me. "Make one wrong move and she's dead!"

I couldn't help myself. I had to kill her before she killed Jeanette. I came out fighting and hit her in just the right spot to get her agitated.

Could I be that stupid? I thought. I just ruined my only chance to save her life.

She shoved the keyblade into Jeanette, releasing her heart into the air. Before it disappeared, it seemed as if someone grabbed it while it was still whole.

I was furious. "Let the rest of her go!" I yelled, holding my keyblade up to her neck. To my advantage, her only weapon – Jeanette's keyblade – disappeared out of her hand and into mine.

She was taken aback. "You are stronger than I thought… fine, I'll let her go, but I swear. You haven't seen the last of me!"

Just then, Maleficent fell to the ground, an enflamed katana pierced into her stomach. Standing behind her was a male with blue spiked hair and a mask covering half of his face. He held out something out of my reach.

"You'll get this back when it's ready," he whispered.

Watching him hurry off made me think he needed to finish something, but it didn't matter.

My worst nightmare had come true: Jeanette was gone, and I never got to tell her how much I loved her.