The first action-packed chapter! I'm sorry it took so long to get to this moment. It is also, so far anyway the longest chapter! But I hope you enjoy it!

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The Prince and the Pauper

~Chapter Twenty Seven~

The Way to Dawn

Light spilled out of the box, it blinded the two and from it gold lights pilled out in thin shreds of light. It surrounded Riku and then just as quickly as it happened it vanished. Riku opened his eyes only to find that the box was empty, except… for a small chain. The chain he picked up was linked to a small heart shaped trinket. Riku held it in his hand, his fingers gently touched it. He had never seen a more beautiful chain.

"What is that?" Sarah asked after she could adjust her eyes. She came closer and gazed at the chain with just as much wonder as Riku did. "Hey, Rick, do you think… the King was killed for this chain and for there stones?"

Riku took in some air before answered the question. It pained him to act like he wasn't hurt, he wasn't comfortable telling who he was just yet. "I don't… I don't know." He answered, although at this point he was sure that this was one of the reasons. For some reason, this chain was special, so special in fact that it was kept in a box in a secret room.

Riku stood from his kneeling and wrapped the chain around his wrist, he hooked like a bracelet and was as light as a feather. He looked at it and grinned.

"I'm guessing you like it?" Riku asked as he noticed that Sarah was gazing at it pretty hard. She nodded, as if to say that she was shy to admit it. Riku looked at it and grinned, he shrugged and removed the bracelet to give it to her. Strapping it on her wrist, she grinned only to have shock replace it. The bracelet, shining brightly disappeared from her wrist and back on to Riku's.

"Whoa…" she said.

"Okay…" he said gazing at his wrist, "I guess it stays with me… sorry," he said.

"Its okay, it suits you more."

Riku smiled at her, she smiled back, and then suddenly a great shaking force caused rocks too fall all around them. Then the force became so strong that both Sarah and Riku were forced to their knees. The sound of rocks and shaking rocks grew louder and louder.

"What's happening?!" Sarah screamed over the violent shaking.

"I don't know! It must be an earthquake!"

For a moment, the shakes settled, but just enough for Sarah to cry. "We're going to die here… aren't we?"

Riku held her, "I don't think so…" he lied, he wasn't sure if they would or not but he couldn't have her panic now.

With his arms wrapped around her Riku kissed her forehead, "You've been good to me Sarah…" a shake, "Very good to me… you didn't have to believe and you did…" another violent shake, "so much… just listening to me…" there was another shake, "Sarah, Princess Sarah, you're the kindest princess I've ever met."

A violent shake made Riku hold her tighter, "I want you to know… you're… the best friend I thought I could ever have that was a princess."

Sarah held him just as tightly, "Riku…"

The shakes became more violent, Sarah's tears streamed down her face and she could only hear the quake, nothing else could be heard, not even her own breathe. Then almost light magic, she heard the small voice of her child. "Mom! Mom!"

"Baby?" she whispered. "Baby!"

"Mom! Mom!"

Sarah stood and started to follow the sound of his voice, she ran, almost forgetting about Riku, forgetting about the shaking caves, she fought through them, she had to see her child. "Follow me!" she waved Riku and started down a small tunnel that he didn't see before.

"Do you think they're dead yet?" Demyx asked yet, taking a break from his strumming.

"They might be, they might not," Saix folded his arms.

"Aahhh," he screamed falling backwards from his stump of a chair, "Where the heck did you come from?!"

"I had some things to do," he answered.

Axel pushed more fire on the rocks, and Lexaeus continued to swing his large weapon at the rocks. As he hit the rocks it caused a changed reaction and the rocks shook violently. This continued even after Axel rested his arms.

"It looks like you guys are doing your job," Xigbar showed up, with three others at his side, he grinned, "But we're here to make sure that this royal mines gets completely crushed. He pulled out his guns, "Marluxia, send in some rose peddles to flow in and out of possible exits."

Marluxia, as he's called, with his flowing light pink and light brown hair, summoned his scythe, his large weapon, smelled of roses.

Axel looked at the group, "What the heck are you doing taking over our job?"

"Xemnas sent us, you guys screwed up once, we're here to make sure you won't mess up this time. We can't afford any mistakes," Xigbar explained. "Especially not with the war starting, its going to be starting in less than three hours, the armies of the different kingdoms are just that close to each other."

Demyx, whom had already re-sat himself, strummed, "We didn't mess up that bad, and it wasn't like we could help it either, that prince is pretty smart and I keep telling you guys, for better or for worse I'm not fighting."

Axel rolled his eyes, "Get it a rest will ya?"

Demyx frowning starting strumming again.

"Anyone care for a poker game while these gentlemen do their work?" Luxord asked. He took his seat and started to shuffle his cards. "Xaldin?"

Removing his hood, he frowned, "No," with a stern voice. He summoned his large, blue lances and stuck them in the ground, the tips facing the rocks, preventing the victims inside from charging out unharmed, if it came to that.

As the group continued to bring the mines down, they noticed that it was extremely quite, except for the sound of someone calling someone else.

"Mom! Mom! Mommy!" he kept crying.

"I'm coming baby! I'm coming!"

The rocks continued to fall and crash around them. Running… and running, and praying, and hoping to avoid any collisions with large or small rocks and all the while following a voice in the dark. Riku chased after Sarah and for some reason knew that there would be light at the end of the tunnel. He knew that they would get out unharmed. He couldn't help but think that he had something to do with what his father said in the letter. 'Fate…' he thought, 'Fate… we'll get out of here alive, have to. We must… we will…' at that moment Riku felt something soft touch his cheek, when he flinched he smelled roses. 'Roses?'

After a few moments, the tunnel came to its end. The light from the outside started to shine in and all Riku had to do was take them down, one by one as quickly as he could.

"Do you hear that?" ask Demyx. He stopped strumming listened out for the sound he heard. "It sounds like…"

"Mommy!"

"They found an exit!" Axel said darting for the direction he assumed would be the exit. The group of Xigbar's didn't follow. Axel paused, "C'mon this way!"

Marluxia shook his head, "It's this way, it's on the other side, my roses are flowing from this side," he pointed.

Axel, with annoyance, followed, it didn't matter which way they went as long as he got the job done. He summoned his weapons, and he heard the rest of the group following, even Demyx was following but walking, strumming his sitar, without a care in the world.

Riku pulled the rocks down, he was pulling them as he thought, 'We're gonna get out of here!' he was so happy and yet not so sure. He had a feeling that there was something more to this. He wasn't sure what it was but he kept the smile on his face anyway.

Suddenly, a blood curdling scream came from the other side of the stone blockade.

"Your son!" Riku paused as he heard the scream come to a muffling halt. He swallowed and turned back to Sarah.

"We have to save him!" she started pulling down rocks and as she did so Riku helped, and after a good moment the rocks gave way and the light shined through. When their eyes adjusted Riku found a group of enemies waiting for them, and with Axel holding the child.

"Let him go!" Riku yelled.

Axel chuckled, "I don't think you're in charge here."

Saix, Xaldin, Xigbar, Lexaeus, Marluxia and Luxord inched closer, their weapons out and ready. Each had their own face that spoke interest in breaking, or even killing, Riku and Sarah.

"We have a score to settle, Prince," Saix said, his eyes speaking words of anger, rage and hate. He swung his claymore around as if to make Riku and Sarah flinch with fear.

Riku stood in front of Sarah, as if to protect her. "I'm warning you, back off and drop the boy!"

They stepped closer, ignoring Riku's warning. Sarah backed away, she whispered, with tears in her eyes, "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know…" he whispered back. "I don't… know…"

"Good bye, young Prince," Marluxia had the pleasure to say.

"Riku…?"

"I'm sorry Sarah…"

With that, as their final words, the group attacked. Their weapons, in all their fury and strength, were coming head on. Riku braced himself for impact, guarding Sarah with his body. He closed his eyes, squeezing his fist and eyes closed, waiting for their fatal blow. Then suddenly a light, a warm, and yet breezy feeling came over him. He felt energy swarm around him, especially in his hand. Then he heard nothing.

He opened his eyes to see what the damage was, and only to find stunned faces and confusion. Then he saw it, the blade hidden away almost in complete secrecy, the blade that was only found in honorable, honest, brave, blooded hearts. Riku saw what whispered its name in the back of his mind, Way to Dawn. Riku gazed at it with complete wonder. He instantly felt like it was part of him, like it was one with his body and mind. He blinked in astonishment as the weapon slowly yet, somehow, quickly became familiar.

Riku continued to gaze as the group that was rendered helpless charged once again.

Riku took his fighting stance, one hand out taunting, and waiting for them to come. And in one instant Riku and the enemies clashed, everyone at full strength.

With little to no effort, Riku blocked Xigbar's shot, he dodged Saix's claymore, countered on Marluxia's large curricular swing and completely and quickly blocked and countered all of Xaldin's attacks. Luxord stood by and waited, when he found the right opening he grabbed Sarah and held a sharp blade, which looked like a card, against her throat.

Before Luxord could open his mouth for a threat Riku flipped his grip on the blade and arched his arm back and threw the blade clean into Luxord's arm. Before Luxord could recover the blade reappeared in Riku's hand, and with that Riku charged and stabbed Luxord in the heart. Luxord fell, gasping for air only to give out darkness from his mouth.

"Riku!" Sarah called out.

Riku turned, pulled his blade out of the dying Luxord and blocked Saix once again. He pushed his blade up with two hands and Saix pushed down with his claymore. Eventually, Riku was down to one knee, trying to push Saix off. As Riku pushed he saw that the others were starting to close in, except Demyx, whom was stilling strumming, obviously he thought his companions would win this fight.

"Riku!" Sarah cried again. She was being cornered against the rocks, surrounded by a few members of the group. Riku pushed back more and more, until finally he was on both legs, when he got a good burst of energy he swung back at Saix, slashing in his chest, as Saix grew upset and faster, Riku blocked his attacks head on. And the second Riku got an opening he slammed his blade down on top of Saix's head, darkness oozed down and Saix fell.

"Take the boy, Demyx, take him and get out of here!" Axel threw the boy in Demyx's direction. He then attacked surrounding Riku and Sarah and the enemy group in a wall of fire. The heat was overwhelming but Riku had to fight it out. Lexaeus turned and faced Riku; he picked up his weapon and threw it over his shoulder, carrying it as if it was a baseball bat. Riku swallowed, he had to save Sarah before it was too late. Lexaeus swung his weapon, aiming for Riku's head; Riku dodged it by the skin of his nose. He had to do something and fast.

As the largest of the group Lexaeus was more of a threat than the others, but Riku did want to fight him, Riku hoped he'd kill him. Riku hated him for the abuse he had suffered. Riku wanted him to die. As Riku dodged one other block he saw an opening and waited for the next swing. When it came he blocked it, which almost sent him flying and jumped in the air, he dove down and repeatedly he stabbed Lexaeus in his shoulders head and back. When it was finished Riku landed and after collecting himself he charged and stabbed Marluxia, but he missed his mark and Marluxia was only injured. With that in mind Riku flipped back and braced for impact, which came and Riku was pushed back into a tree. Marluxia and Xaldin came at full force, charging along side each other.

Riku then heard, 'Magic, Stop,' he heard the words repeat themselves over and over until Marluxia and Xaldin were inches way. They were frozen in place in seconds, and there was no chance of them moving. With that in mind Riku cut them, completely, and without a second thought in half, their bodies faded in a mist of darkness. Riku gasped for air. He stared at Axel and Xigbar, both were glaring back only Xigbar had Sarah at gun point.

Riku narrowed his eyes and waited.

"Surrender, or she'll get a nice one in the head," Xigbar grinned.

'Magic, Slow,' the voice said, 'Magic, Slow,' it repeated.

"I don't think you heard me dude, surrender, drop your weapon or she'll get one in her skull," Xigbar repeated a little louder. He pushed the edge of his weapon against Sarah's head.

Axel stepped forward, with little to no thought Riku screamed out, "Magic Slow!"

Xigbar a split second before had pulled the trigger but now it was moving so slow that seconds felt like minutes. For some reason Axel was the only one not affected by this, none the less Riku charged for Sarah moved her out of the way and blocked the bullet with his blade, at that moment time had resumed and Xigbar was in the clear path of his bullet but before he could even move away he was shot in the head with is own weapon's ammo. He fell, mouth agape, bleeding, dead. Riku didn't want to think about it too much but all the others he fought faded into a mist, why not him?

Riku snapped his eyes at Axel, the last threat to him getting out of here, he wasn't sure why that last magic didn't work but he knew he was in for a fight now. Axel grounded his teeth, angered that a child took out his allies. He surrounded Riku in fire, with the ground being burned and closing in Riku was starting to really feel the heat. As the fire got closer, Riku heard, "Magic, Blizzaraga," and Riku understood.

Upon repeating the words the fire became ice and the fire that was beginning from Axel's hands were turning into ice and then Riku quickly repeated the words again and instantly the weapons froze, covered in ice, and traveling to the hand and from the hand to the arm and the arm to the body. Riku saw Axel's frozen face. He was mocking him even as he faced death. Sarah, astonished, walked over to Riku, she held him from behind, afraid.

"He… is he…?"

"I don't think so, not yet anyway," Riku allowed his anger to consume him; he raised his blade once more and sliced the large chuck of ice, with the human body in it.

The ice slide off and then shattered. But not before Axel's body faded into a mist of darkness. Riku watched as the mist faded away, going higher and higher into the sky.

"We have to find Demyx, he has your son," Riku said.

"Yeah," Sarah started to run into the woods after Demyx, Riku followed.

After a few feet into the forest Sarah and Riku found Demyx, holding the child closely. He was sweating, and shaking with fear. Riku stepped closer, his Keyblade ready, "Let him go, now!" he yelled.

Demyx, with great hesitation stepped back, "If I give you all the information you want will you let me go?" he stepped back again, loosening his grip on the boy.

Riku, studying him, realized that Demyx wasn't going to run, not yet anyway. He lowered his blade, "Let him go, I won't kill you," Riku lowered it more.

Demyx, with gasps, released the boy. Demyx backed to a tree. Riku lifted his blade as Sarah hugged her child. Riku dashed over to Demyx, stabbing the edge into the tree near his head, "I'm going to ask once, why did they try to kill me?!"

Demyx yelled, "Dude, dude relax! Look, they found out some info about… that thing… and… if we kill you the information will go to the next king…"

Riku widened his eyes, "What?"

"The weapon we were trying to make you tell us about… when one ruler dies another of the same kingdom takes the info. And we had assigned a member of ours to be the next king… and a war will start in a few hours…" In the distance the group heard a loud sound, birds could be seen flying away, crying out in fear as they fled. He looked up to the sky, watching as the birds flew over head. "Scratch that, in less than an hour."

"A war? Why would they want to start a war?"

"Well, see…. Well, ummmmm that I'm not too sure about…"

"I don't have time for games!" Riku yelled at him.

"I don't know man, I don't know!" Demyx yelled out.

Sarah, seeing where this was going, touched Riku's shoulder, "He doesn't know," she said sadly.

Riku, exhaling out his nose, pulled his weapon away. He narrowed his eyes in annoyance and took Sarah's hand, "Let's go, we have to warn them," he said.

"But we won't get there in time, the war is already starting," she said pulling back.

"We have to do something…"

With a few more steps, Riku sighed, and looked back at Demyx, he picked up his sitar and started to strum, he tuned it and when he heard the perfect tones he stretched out his hand and a black mist appeared a few feet in front of him. As Demyx stepped toward it, Riku realized what it was.

"A portal!" he said.

Demyx, stopping in his tracks, looked at Riku in surprise.