Entering the room, they found themselves in a small town bathed in a perpetual twilight as the sun was stuck in that position.
"So, you have made it." said Ansem as he appeared. Before they fought, Riku smiled. "You aren't Ansem. You've been the one helping us all."
"Oh, figured it out?" said a different voice from Ansem. The hologram then went down revealing a man in red bandages covering his face. "Diz or so I am called. You all, I've been watching."
"Your name is Diz?" Hope asked. "Alright."
"I have been watching you all, Riku for the most part. He is a special entity after all." Diz said. "Someone who exists between light and darkness, in the twilight, just like this town."
"And do you find us interesting too?" Hope asked.
"Well of course. You defeated the enemies of Jexi's past, just as I have arranged for it to happen." Diz said.
"Wow. So it was all a test." Gemini said.
"In a way, I suppose." Diz said. "There is someone I wish for you to meet, but first, there is someone waiting in front of the mansion in the forest."
"I have an idea on who it is." Riku said as they headed for the mansion. It was there that the Riku Replica stood there with sword in hand.
"So, you are the real Riku and Hope.." the replica said.
"Yeah we are. You've seen Despair and Sora and Jexi?" Hope asked.
"Not here for them. For you, Riku. I'm here to end you so I can become someone else. So this empty feeling can end!" the replica said attacking them. "Everything about me is borrowed! I'll never be nothing more than a shadow!"
"You're attacking us because you feel fake?" Hope asked nearly dodging a strike.
"I am fake! My memories, my heart, my body. Everything about me is fake" the replica shouted continuing to attack.
"I think we just gotta end this. Sorry." Riku said holding Soul Eater out. "But, there can be only one."
The two of them clashed in front of the gate before Riku landed a fatal strike. The replica landed on the ground, a pool of darkness underneath. "Death...doesn't scare me. Goodbye to a phony like with phony memories." he said. "I'm even sure this feeling I have is even fake."
"What are you feeling?" Erica asked.
"Like...will my heart just disappear, I mean, where will it go?" the replica wondered.
"It will probably be end up where mine will go." Riku said.
"Heh. A faithful replica to the end." the replica said before fading completely.
"Yeah. You can rest...in peace." Hope said paying his respects.
Entering the mansion, they soon found a chamber where they saw Namine with the Sora pod as well as the Dimensional Heroes sitting around.
"Well, about time you guys caught up." Natsu said.
"Man, you wouldnt belive the stuff we went through." Hope said.
"Huh? Didnt you guys get the same rooms as us?" Luffy asked.
"No. We got caught up in all your past experiences and live them ourselves. You guys had pretty awesome lives before I showed up." Hope said.
"Yeah, we are pretty awesome." Pit said.
"So Sora's in that pod getting his memories fixed?" Riku asked. "Idiot. I tell him to protect Kairi and he's taking a nap. Sometimes…" Riku said.
"Yeah. Namine did a number on him, Donald, Goofy and Jiminy. They'll be in there for a year." Ranma said.
"Yeah. And we'll see them in the real version of this town." Sci-Twi said.
"Is that….wait...I don't see Jexi with you." Hope said as Dan, Luffy, Natsu, Pit and Ranma looked at each other.
"Hope...Jexi...left." Dan said.
"What? To do what?" Hope asked.
"Well, we fought against a powerful nobody named Marluxia and beat him. But, he figured they would all be stronger. So, he's taking time to train. A full year." Pit said.
"So hes on a training journey. And were stuck in this castle?" Hope asked.
"We're free to leave. We just need to get out through the last floor of the basement." Kirito said.
"But, while Jexi is gone, me, Luffy, Pit, Ranma and Dan are co leaders of the team!" Natsu said.
"Thats cool. Dans had experience with leading a number of teams in Bakugan, and Ranma, you're an amazing martial artist and good discipline, Pit, you lead Palutena's army, Natsu, you have your own team, and Luffy, you're the captain of a crew." Hope said.
"Our past...isn't the reason he picked us." Dan said.
"He picked us cause.." Natsu said.
"We're the best of friends who work well together!" All five said.
"Heh. Well, were back together now. Riku, lets conquer this last floor together!" Hope said.
"Yes. I need to confront my darkness...once and for all." Riku said as the cards they had gathered glowed and became a single world card.