Chapter 37: Overwhelmed

Sora's head felt as if it'd been crammed beneath a pile of boulders. Yet despite the weight, he managed to lift it up after a few seconds of struggling. With his eyes still closed, he pressed his palms into the smooth ground beneath him. Chilling to the touch, it felt just like ice, minus the moisture and slickness. But wait; didn't he get sucked into a book? As images of turning pages and his frantic escape attempts flooded his mind, his eyes snapped wide open, and his jaw dropped at what he saw.

A whirling mess of greys and blacks surrounded him from all directions, and a breeze smothered the spikes of his hair. The minute he looked down, he sprung backwards with his jaw hanging open. But who could blame him? His feet hovered on nothing but more shifting clouds. By all means, he should've fallen, sunken, or at least floated in this place! Instead, he felt solid terrain beneath his shoes. Talk about bizarre. But where the heck did Zexion go? And more importantly, how was he gonna escape?

Before he got the chance to scan the area further, he heard Ven's voice blurt out a quick, "Sora, look out!"

And it was a good thing, too, because the minute Sora swiveled around, he spotted a black object whizzing straight at his face. Wincing, he threw himself down hands first and slid across the invisible ground. The object just barely grazed the tip of his hair before screeching to a stop. It was then that he caught the numeral VI inscribed on the spine and the shuffling pages within the cover. That stupid book was here, too?

Claws flexing, Sora snarled and dashed at his new target. Then he felt something pound into his side, knocking him sky high. As he spiraled through the air, he watched what seemed like dozens of matching books encircle him. Arms flailing, Sora thrust himself to the right when two more books fired his way. Striking the ground with his claws, he then slammed his foot into the cover of another one before firing off green sparks with a flick of his fingertips. The pages of four more books blackened and crumbled into tiny piles of ash. If only that was the end of it.

This is what I get for missing almost a year of school, isn't it? Three more books zoomed at his face. Rather than run, he waited until the they came within an arm's length of his face. Then, with a quick swipe of his arms, he grabbed the two on the sides and smacked them into the right middle and shredded the pages. Sheesh, how many books does this guy have?

"Enough to fill at least a hundred libraries, I bet." Ven groaned. "Just try not to let 'em hit you again! Those things look like they could smash through concrete."

Hey, at least you're not the one who—

SMACK! With what felt like the force of a rhinoceros to the face, Sora tumbled backwards, and his head struck the floor. Or whatever he was standing on. Rubbing at his cheek, he flung himself up feet first and launched himself on top of the perpetrator: one of the books cloaked in a strange red glow. With his fingers wrapped around both the front and back cover, he pushed all his weight on his target, trying to hold it flat. Instead, the book quivered while reinforcements rained down from above. Hissing, Sora raked his claws across that pesky book before sinking into a shadow. The rest struck the ground just seconds later.

Each one bounced back into the air, whirling like pinwheels. They hovered around Sora's shadow, like vultures awaiting their prey. What a pain! It didn't help that the one book that bashed his face started floating away from the masses. Were the rest of the books some kind of diversion?

There was only one way to find out.

Like a jack-in-the box, Sora sprung up and unleashed a bombardment of purple bolts that crackled and hissed as they struck those dumb decoys. An explosion of pages unfolded all around him, and he tore straight through 'em—literally! Thankfully, he passed through without any messy paper cuts. Then, clapping his hands, he slowed the lone lexicon down to a crawl.

Once he drew close enough, Sora leaped up, grinned, and turned the pages into his own personal scratching post. A scream from within soon confirmed his suspicions, and out popped Zexion, glowing neon green. So that was his way of fighting, huh? Well, the jig was up! After rubbing his hands together, Sora swerved behind him and sent flames trailing up the tail of his coat before swiping at his back. With his movements at a snail's pace, he failed to escape the electricity that surged at his head. While he wiggled around helplessly, Sora pulled back his fist and slammed his knuckles against Zexion's face. He deserved it after all those freaky mind games.

Yet just seconds after the punch, a smarmy grin spread across Zexion's face. Then the grey and black surroundings burst into a white glow that would've incinerated Sora's eyes, had he not slapped his hands over his face. When that light finally subsided, he found himself standing on a solid, blue floor again while his eyes drifted to that winged balcony. Back in the castle, huh? But that didn't explain where Zexion—

Before he could even finish that thought, he experienced the weight of a brick wall colliding with his spine. He barely caught himself on the way down with his hands before whipping the other way. Sure enough, Zexion stood there without any sign of scratch marks, burns, or even a black eye. Instead, he stood there snickering and cradled his dumb book in his arm.

"Not a bad performance, though I'm afraid your tactics are incredibly predictable." His grin widened. "I imagine Riku would find your efforts disappointing at best."

Wanna bet?

"Sora, don't—"

Whatever Ven had to say, he didn't care to listen this time. Not with Zexion standing there with an invisible 'hit me' sign tacked to his coat. Scraping his claws against the floor, Sora barged straight at the Nobody, ready to shred that stupid textbook. But as he drew closer, Zexion's body started shaking. One Zexion became two, then three, then four, and they all floated around him, each with their own equally annoying weapons.

Brow furrowed, Sora lunged at one of the Zexions, but his claws slipped straight through him. When he struck at the second, he faced similar results. He hacked at the third, slashed at the fourth, but they all exploded in smoke. By the time he'd finished them all off, he had to stop to catch his breath.

At that very moment, he felt his feet sliding backwards, and when he turned around, he spotted a huge, swirling black mass rising up from the floor. In the blink of an eye, his head spun wildly on its axis, while the whole place blurred together.

"You know, maybe you shouldn't rush through this! This guy's full of—"

Not now, Ven! Can't you see I'm in the middle of—

The whirlwind tossed Sora aside, flinging him face-first towards a wall. Cringing, he wrapped his arms around his chest and sank through a quick corridor. As soon as he hit the floor, though, he felt the temperature spike while green blasts swooped towards his feet. Not just any blasts, either! Though he slid away from the attacks, a few embers grazed his legs, and he instantly knew what he'd come up against. Looking up, he eyed Zexion flinging two more fireballs at his face and immediately gulped. Did this guy just… copy him?

With next to no time to think, Sora hopped to the left. While he missed one of the blasts, the other nailed him flat on the cheek. Another crashed right into his chest. A third sent heat trailing up his arm, and he instinctively threw himself into a roll across the floor. Then a purple flash flooded his vision and white hot lightning dashed down his spine. Squirming wildly, Sora collapsed on his back. From across the room, he heard Zexion's chuckle.

"I have to admit, you've got a remarkable set of skills for a mere Heartless. Maleficent must have trained you well…"

Shut up! Sora spun towards the sound of Zexion's voice, his face twisting into a grimace. And while he found the little pest just a few yards away, a blue aura wrapped around each of his hands, neither of which grasped his weapon. Instead, three of those books all floated along the edges of the room, glowing pale red. And to make matters worse, two duplicates stood at Zexion's sides, both of which raised their arms and spewed more fire from their palms.

Sora didn't know if those were real attacks or illusions, and he sure didn't care to find out! The second the fireballs drew close, he sank himself back into the floor and slithered straight towards Zexion. Except… why was he just standing there again? Did he have another trick up his sleeve?

Ven was right. He needed to stay alert, but at the same time, he couldn't just flee. With the two copy Zexions creeping closer and closer, he had to at least try something! So, while it probably screamed recklessness, Sora shot outta the floor. But while he managed to scrape his claws across Zexion's cheeks, his second swipe collided with nothing but thin air. A shadow lay flat on the floor where Zexion had just stood, and Sora stared at the sight.

Gah! Don't tell me he's copying everything I do!

"Wait a sec, if he's copying your skills…"

…Oh no. His fire, thunder, and sinking trick were all bad enough on their own, but those moves just barely scratched the surface! And with three of them and only one of him...

Sora didn't want to think about it. Didn't even have time! Tearing himself away from the now hidden Nobody, Sora scrambled across the floor, just barely catching the copies slinking in from the sides. Though he swerved around the corner, a low ticking sound reached his ears, and his limbs grew heavy. Suddenly, the two copies and Zexion blazed towards him at the speed of a bullet train. And no matter how hard he tried to run, Sora only managed to trudge at a slow crawl.

The fiery bombardment that followed left him helpless. He barely even lifted his claws to deflect a third blow before electricity surged throughout his body and sent him to his knees. It was by luck alone that he managed to sink beneath the incoming ring of purple poison. He waited a few seconds for the spell to subside before popping back out. Unfortunately, he soon felt a weight on both his eyelids. Next thing he knew, he awoke with another jolt. Sora's face smashed into the floor, and he burst into a wheezing fit. When he looked up, he saw the three Zexions circling him like sharks, and two had already raised their hands for another attack.

On the upside, at least his movements bounced back to their regular speed. No longer reduced to a slug, Sora shot away from his three attackers, scurried up the wall, and hopped onto the balcony at a breakneck pace. Sure, Zexion and his copies would probably pursue him before long, but he needed a few seconds to recoup and reassess this whole fight.

From up on his perch, he once again noticed the books flanking the arena. Just like earlier, they hovered in place and continued to radiate a freakish red glow. He hadn't thought much of them before, but from his new vantage point, he could already imagine three bull's-eyes in their places. So, after flicking his wrists and letting his wounds wash away, Sora dove head-first towards the book to his left and pounded his fists against its center.

One of the three Zexions shuddered. For a split second, his body flickered, giving Sora all the confirmation he needed. Unfortunately, he missed his chance to land another blow when a crisscrossing of blue light blasted his way. The attack catapulted Sora backwards and towards the balcony's tip. Squeezing his eyes shut, he jerked to the side and latched onto the very edge. Right as the air started crackling, he hoisted himself up and just narrowly missed another round of electrocution.

He must've really set them off by touching their precious parchment. Maybe these attacks were their attempt to scare him away. Too bad he didn't care to play nice. Instead, Sora tugged at the skin below his eyes before lighting up his fists and leaping over the edge. On the way down, he hurled flame after flame at all three books. With each hit, the two copies flickered again, while Zexion gasped and groaned.

With a soft 'tsk', Sora reduced the first of the books to a heap of shredded paper before tearing across the next. But even with one copy down, Zexion and his remaining double continued their offense by pelting the whole room with ash stains and firing off ring after ring of poison. This forced Sora into all sorts of crazy contortions while he slid, scrambled, and leaped between spells. Even then, he couldn't escape the sensation of needles piercing his skin when one poison spell struck his back side. In the time it took him to get back on his feet, Zexion slid up behind him and latched onto his hood. Hoisting him high, the Nobody squeezed Sora's neck, and within seconds, the whole room started to spin. Before he knew it, Sora became a pancake on the wall, and he felt as if he'd been flattened by a train.

Gritting his teeth, Sora pressed his weight into the wall and snarled. This fight wasn't over yet!

Thankfully, after what felt like an eternity of scurrying left and right, Sora tackled the final book and tore it straight in half. Its pages scattered across the floor, fizzling away in just a matter of seconds. When Zexion shrieked, Sora almost thought he'd won, but the minute he turned to face the Nobody, he found another open book blocking his view. And just like before, his feet dragged closer and closer by the second. Rather than fight it this time around, Sora only sneered. Not like he could pull himself free in the first the cover snapped shut, he expected to see the same old cloudy landscape around him. Instead, he stood in pitch blackness, save for three nearby spotlights. They flickered from red to blue and red all over again. For the first few flashes, Sora stood still and scratched his head. Then he noticed a single lexicon flashing from one spot to the next.. Just what the heck was Zexion trying this time? Blowing out a puff of air, Sora dashed towards a blue spotlight where the book waited. He came real close, too, before the light flashed red, and the book zipped clear across to the other side.

Crouching low, Sora prepared to make chase, but before he could even lift one foot, a glassy wall sprung up around the blue spotlight. Then the ground rumbled and the temperature skyrocketed. Before he even got the chance to sink, Sora eyed a monstrous brown and orange mass cruising his way. It was all he saw before a flaming hot sensation swallowed his whole body and an avalanche of rocks pounded him into the dirt.

It didn't matter that he had no voice. Sora still screamed his lungs out. What else could he even do? Even when the onslaught ended, he continued to shout until he ran out of breath. At that point, he remained flat on the ground with raspy breath. Luckily, he still had Ven to pull him together.

"C'mon, Sora," he said. "If you give up now, we're both done for!"

Right. He had to get up. How else was he gonna keep his promises? Slacking off in the middle of a fight would get him nowhere fast. So, pressing his weight into one of his elbows, Sora got back on all fours and opened his eyes. When the he found grey and black blotches in place of shadows and spotlights, he let out a great big sigh. After getting splattered by meteors, he actually welcomed the change of scenery. Granted, he barely got the chance to soak it in before lexicons rained down from the sky.

When he tried to run, his limbs wobbled, and he nearly slipped mid-step. Two books crash landed at each of his sides, with another two plummeting straight towards his head. Left with no other choice, Sora flattened himself and dashed forward. Every last book pounded behind him, creating a dull cadence. He paid it no mind. Not when he spotted an oh-so-familiar book coated in red. A book that he cornered just seconds later as he emerged from his shadow in a fiery eruption. At least magic still came easily enough.

But when the castle walls flashed back into focus, he once again faced Zexion free of any visible injuries. In fact, Zexion now clasped onto a golden vial coated in stars and moons. Teeth bared, Sora scampered towards the Nobody, ready to swat that elixir outta his grip. But before he got the chance, Zexion shook his head and flickered over to the right. Grinning widely, he ripped off the elixir's crystal lid and let a waterfall of liquid ooze down his throat.

Shoulders trembling, Sora slammed his fists against the floor. Why hadn't he stopped to consider items? Just one swig of that elixir probably cleaned up all of Zexion's injuries and gave him an energy boost for good measure! Sure, he could heal up too. In fact, Sora soon snapped his claws and felt the stinging sensation across his face and arms subside. Even then, his limbs still felt more like noodles than anything. Healing alone couldn't erase his fatigue.

With one eyebrow raised, Zexion took a step towards Sora. "Are you perhaps jealous?" he said. "Surely you didn't come empty handed…"

Sora huffed, stomping towards him with a scowl. Hey, who needs items? If you were a real threat, you would've finished me five minutes ago! He refused to admit his own lack of preparation. After all, Heartless couldn't just waltz into an item shop willy nilly.

"It's a bit early to tempt fate." Zexion's voice remained cool, with a trickle of laughter mixed in. "Though I simply must thank you for your cooperation. Perhaps there's hope for you yet."

Cooperation? Hey, who said anything about—

Something seized him by the ankles and threw him into the air. When Sora caught the black cyclone stretching up from the floor, he winced. No matter how hard he squirmed, jerked, and flailed, the whirlwind tossed him around relentlessly, all while slurping up even more of his strength. By the time he broke free, the sight of three glowing books along with the now duplicated Zexion made Sora writhe.

Not that it stopped him from giving it his all. Despite the flaming showers, crashing thunderbolts, sweeping poison spells, Sora still managed to pull himself towards the books and thrash them with a few slashes here and there. He stumbled around after taking blows to his sides, shivered when his motions slowed and toxins sank into his skin. Yet in spite of the pain, he kept clawing his attackers and charring the books at every chance he got.

By the time he took out the second one, though, he could barely even run. His feet felt like anvils and his hands like bowling balls. With Zexion sliding in for yet another attack, Sora did the only thing he could think of and sank for what seemed like the millionth time. Hidden in his shadow, he pulled himself beneath the balcony, but Zexion trailed right behind him. No matter where Sora turned, he'd probably keep stalking him. Waiting for him to break free.

Why didn't he leave when he still had the chance?

"Sora," said Ven. "Maybe we should go. Forget about me, okay? You've got a message to give to Riku. That's what really matters."

No, I can't do that. What kinda friend would I be if I backed down on a promise?

"Hey, I've made it this long, haven't I? And let's face it. The second you leave is the second he loses our trail. I doubt he can smell all the way across worlds."

"I wouldn't prioritize a promise at a time like this," said Zexion. "And don't forget that I can hear every word that you say."

For once, the jerk had a point. Talking to Ven meant cluing Zexion in for good measure. As much as he wanted to reassure him, Sora zipped his trap and slid up the wall. At this point, brute strength just wouldn't cut it. He'd already driven himself past the point of exhaustion. And even if he made it to another part of the castle, what stopped Zexion from pursuing or even dragging reinforcements along? Maybe leaving was the better option. He'd found all he needed to know about Naminé, after all.

But at the same time, facing Xemnas meant answering all sorts of questions, not just for Ven's sake, but for Riku and Kairi's, too. With the way the numbers stacked up, he needed to stay. And maybe… maybe there was one trick that could still work. A spell Zexion would never see coming, not after Sora's focus on nonstop attacks.

By now, Zexion stood at the edge of the room with his eyes glued to Sora's shadow. His foot tapped, and he stroked his chin. If Sora just stayed there for little bit longer, maybe it'd work. Keeping his eyes locked on target, Sora burst free from the wall. He focused hard, picturing prancing sheep. And when he thrust his fist forward, he watched the dull glow of his magic coil its way up Zexion's legs.

"What?" He hobbled backwards, gawking at Sora. "No! This was not what I…"

He hobbled about, eyelids starting to close, only to pop wide open again. Gritting his teeth, he clutched his chest. Seizing this opportunity, Sora catapulted himself at the Nobody. With sleep steadily claiming him, he was the perfect captive. All he'd have to do was drop him on DiZ's doorstep and leave the rest to Riku. He stretched out his arms, ready to grab at Zexion's shoulders, but at the last second, a smirk spread across his lips.

"No… I will not be… so easily thwarted…"

Darkness coiled around his ankles, shadows rapidly engulfing his body. Just as Sora swiped at his coat, the Nobody vanished in a cloud of smog, and Sora's face hit the floor below. Though he soon got back on his feet, he spent several moments staring at the space where Zexion once stood. He was so close. If he'd just been quicker, then he would've—"

"Sora, it's okay. You did your best!"

But that's not good enough! He pounded the floor, hissing and bristling. He got away! And even if he's fast asleep, the others could find him. And they'll know we were here!

"Right…" Ven sighed, hesitance leaking into his voice. "But… at least you bought us some time, right? If he's out cold, then it might take a while before he speaks up. Which means we could get away."

No. Despite everything, a promise was a promise. And if he left now, he risked losing his chance. With a Nobody fully aware of his presence, he might've squandered his chance at any further infiltrations. It was now or never.

"But are you sure? Don't get me wrong. I appreciate what you're doing, Sora, but I don't want you to overdo it for my sake."

Naw, it's fine! I just gotta play it smart. Stay outta sight, save my energy. It's no big deal!

"No, it's a huge deal. You already took a beating." But before Sora could argue, he added, "But I know nothing I say's gonna change your mind. So… heh, guess all I can do is hope for the best."

Yeah, at this point, it was all they could do. So, with nothing but an empty chamber surrounding him, Sora dug his claws into the wall and crept up balcony one more time. Another entrance stood just ahead, and while he had no idea where it'd take him, Sora marched on through with his head held high. The clock was ticking. Soon, Zexion would wake up and blab to the others. He'd probably set the whole Organization after Sora in no time flat.

In order to stand a chance, they'd have to hurry. Hurry despite the exhaustion and the risks.

x.x.x

Enough was enough. After suffering through memory after memory, he didn't care what Xemnas thought. Fists sore and shaking, Riku thundered up the steps to the Altar of Naught and stormed across the platform when he finally reached the top. Just his luck that Xemnas stood right along the edge with his eyes glued to that glowing blob of hearts. Even with Riku's footsteps pounding across the floor, he didn't budge. Didn't even bat an eye.

Well, that just wouldn't do. With his back bent forward, Riku cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted loud and clear.

"Xemnas! I've got a bone to pick with you."

"Is something troubling you?" He kept his eyes on the moon. "Did you not enjoy your mission?"

"Did I not… Oh, that's rich." Growling, Riku forced his lips into a crooked smirk and clapped his hands together. "Sure, I enjoyed it. Who wouldn't want to relive their most traumatizing memories all over again?"

"Hmm…" Slow as a snail, Xemnas turned around, and he looked to Riku with narrowed eyes. "Are you implying that I wished for you to suffer? Surely that would be counterproductive to your success…"

Ugh. Was this his way of playing mind games? Grumbling under his breath, Riku reached up and rubbed at his brow. He didn't have the patience for this.

"Don't lie. You're the one who gave me those cards in the first place."

"I did, there is no denying that. However, even I could not predict the results they would yield."

Riku crossed his arms and scoffed. That seemed almost too convenient. Why would Xemnas hand him those cards if he didn't understand them in the first place? If he really cared about that lousy chamber, shouldn't he have done his homework first?

He had to be hiding something, and Riku fully intended to expose the truth.

"So what are you trying to say?"

Xemnas' hand hovered over his chest, and he trudged just a little bit closer. "What I mean is that the cards react differently to each individual who wields them. Castle Oblivion is remarkable in its aptitude for revealing our strongest memories. Therefore, if you only encountered tragedy, it is but a reflection of yourself. An unfortunate one, but a reflection all the same."

"You knew…" Riku's fists shook. "You knew, and you didn't tell me? And you honestly expect me to go back and search again?"

Xemnas shook his head. "Once more, you assume far too much. While there is no denying the pain you've endured, those memories are but a small piece of your entire life. I knew there was a possibility you would face those experiences anew, but I believed… No, I had hoped that my suspicions would prove false."

Hope? What good was this so-called hope? Lip service alone could never make up for what he'd seen. Even now, Riku fought hard to keep his mind from drifting back to his nightmarish experiences. He struggled to wash away the very second the Fake thrust his Keyblade through Sora's chest. Maybe Xemnas was right about the cards showing only the important memories. All of his failures had long since piled up and crushed the few good memories he had left. They eradicated all but his promise to Naminé, and even that had been tainted by his thirst for revenge.

But now the fire that once drove his actions had withered away, leaving only embers and ash. As he stood there in silence, his mind wandered back to Halloween Town. Back to those wide, empty ruins he and the Fake pummeled that Leechgrave and even shared a few laughs. He still grappled helplessly, trying to make sense of it all. He still struggled, torn between fear, sheer outrage, and maybe, just maybe, a tiny sliver of respect.

Or maybe more than a sliver, considering all that had transpired…

His eyes shut so tight, stars danced across the insides of his eyelids. His chest grew as heavy as a ten-ton safe. It felt as though his feet were sinking through the ground. Why? Why was this so hard? What was wrong with him? The longer he stood in silence, the more the Fake's kind words repeated again and again and again and again, despite the imagery of that inky black key etched in his mind anew. What did Xemnas want from him? What was he trying to prove with those cards?

Was it… a trick? Manipulation? Were those cards his way of shattering doubts? They should have. They really should have. The sight of his most painful memory should have rekindled the fire inside him. Left him seeing red. Reminded him of his purpose and strengthened his resolve.

But a cowardly part of him yearned to flee. A stupid part of him cried out for the Fake, now more than ever. Why? Why, why, why was his most hated enemy his most yearned for company now? Without even meaning to, he broke into laughter, high and hoarse and hollow and weak.

He was weak.

And Xemnas could see it, no doubt.

But weakness soon gave way to a new fire, sparking seconds later. His eyes flew open. His face hardened into a glare. Because now, after what he'd just experienced…

"I don't trust you. You say you hoped for the best, but how do I know it's true? How can I be sure you aren't lying through your teeth and intentionally keeping things from me? I really wouldn't put it past you."

At first, Xemnas remained dead silent. The muscles surrounding his eyes went rigid, and he shifted his shoulders back. Peering straight into Riku's eyes, he inched closer and closer, looking more like a mountain with each step he took.

"For what reason would I conceal secrets from you? As I have said before, you are a valuable asset to this Organization and an honored guest. As the true hero of the Keyblade, you deserve nothing but utmost respect. After all, Kingdom Hearts would be nothing without you…"

"Nothing, huh?"

All this flattery out of the blue… His gut instinct told him to stay on guard. Easier said than done, though. Xemnas' word choice was just too perfect. The way he elevated Riku's importance left him speechless and plunged him back into the depths of confusion. He was the true Keyblade wielder and he did deserve respect… didn't he? Despite plunging his world into darkness. Despite failing to save one of his most cherished friends. Despite being replaced and getting caught up in his own stubborn hatred when he should've been there for the worlds.

Whether Riku deserved respect was up for debate, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't want it. After losing almost all his friends and his entire identity, he yearned for acknowledgement as much as he yearned for the return of Sora's heart. But who even gave him that respect within the Organization? Saïx sure didn't with the way he shoved Riku around and barked orders in his ears. The same went for all the other higher ups. Zexion, always silently judging, but never offering even the slightest encouragement. Vexen always gave him weird stares and pelted him with irritating questions, and Xigbar talked down to him, just like a little kid. Really, he could count on one hand the number of people who'd shown the slightest hint of caring. The Fake was one of them, and Xemnas wasn't.

Yet even with his cold demeanor, Xemnas did reunite Riku with his closest friends… The ones who mattered above all else.

If you wish to protect the things that matter, it is in your best interest to proceed…

He winced, thinking back on those words. To protect the things that matter… Why had Xemnas used that exact wording? That coupled with his sudden praise left Riku staring at his Superior, though he tried to tear his eyes away. The cold, unwavering gaze left Riku feeling as if he'd shrunk down to the size of a flea. And while his amber eyes reeked of darkness and his hair shone silver, there was something about his face that…

You gotta keep this a secret, okay? Otherwise all the magic will—

Riku choked out a gasp, and his hands flew to his head. What was he thinking? How could he possibly look at Xemnas and think back on such an old, cherished memory? Past experiences had taught him not to trust so easily. Even with Xemnas' few generous actions, he'd still left so many questions unanswered and locked Riku in the dark. And with the events at Castle Oblivion, he needed to stand firm. He wasn't about to become the Organization's doormat.

But when he opened his eyes and looked to Xemnas again, the storm building within him wavered again. No further words escaped him.

At that point, Xemnas straightened his back. Then one of his arms bent up and his hand hovered directly over Riku's shoulder. When he clamped down, Riku almost shrieked and whipped out his Keyblade. Too bad his muscles just wouldn't cooperate.

"It is clear that you have struggled. I can sense your exhaustion just by looking at you." He tightened his grip. "However, I cannot deny my curiosity, and therefore, I must ask… How do you feel after reliving those hardships?"

"How do I feel?" Riku swatted his hand away. "How do you think I feel? After everything that's happened with the Fake lately, going through those nightmares again only made things worse. And when I look at who he was back in Hollow Bastion and who he's become…"

"You still have doubts." Xemnas finally stepped back, though his gaze remained fixed in place. "Even after witnessing his callous actions yet again, do you truly believe he is capable of change?"

Silence overtook him. The answer sat on the tip of his tongue.

"…He's already proven it." No point in denying any longer. "Heh, it's funny. Those memories have been carrying me along this whole time. I've been so focused on getting Sora's heart back and blaming him for everything that I never stopped to consider other possibilities. My hate pushed my along, gave me a reason to fight."

Why hide the truth? Even if Xemnas' actions hung doubts over his head, he doubtlessly knew Riku's primary motivation. He hardly showed subtlety when it came to his friends, and he'd pleaded in the past to reduce his copy to a bleeding pulp.

"Indeed…" Xemnas brought a hand to his chin, eyes half-lidded. "And to think I have stifled your sense of purpose by preventing you from fulfilling your ultimate desire. You have my deepest apology…"

His words smashed through Riku like a hammer to glass, sending him doubling back. His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and he grasped at the front of his coat. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't tear his eyes away from Xemnas' piercing stare. The longer he looked at him, the more Riku's fingers twitched, while a churning sensation formed in the pit of his stomach. A part of him wanted to seize his Keyblade now, just to feel more secure. Only an idiot would ignore the implications. After all, Xemnas always prevented him from one thing above all else.

"Just what are you trying to say?"

"Perhaps the time has come," he said, brushing past Riku. He wandered over to the top of the staircase and clasped his hands behind his back. "While his weapon has aided the progression of Kingdom Hearts, I can no longer starve your heart from what it truly seeks…"

"You don't mean…"

"I do." When Xemnas peered over his shoulder, his eyes practically glistened. His lips pulled up into a broad smirk, and he let out a deep, throaty chuckle. "You are to kill the Replica. Remove our greatest threat before it pollutes your mind any further…"

Funny how the words he once craved now stung like a thousand daggers. As Xemnas descended the steps, Riku remained frozen with his eyes glued to the ground. Though he tried to cry out in defiance, he couldn't even muster a squeak.

It wasn't a request. It was an order. Now, after finally breaking new ground, now, after questioning his hatred, his former yearning brought, not joy, not exhilaration, but a chill brought on by the icy fangs of dread.

What would defiance bring? Would Xemnas retaliate? Would he turn to Sora and Naminé? If he wanted to, he probably could. Who knew how strong he really was? This was wrong. This was all wrong. The memories, now this. Was this somehow funny to Xemnas? Or maybe it was just a dream. But a quick pinch failed to alter the scenery. Riku remained planted firmly in place.

His eyes stung. Each heartbeat throbbed with stabbing pain. And so he stood there in silence, lost and trembling.

What was he supposed to do now?

…

Was that even a question?
He swept his arm out, light pooling in his palm. He raised his Keyblade. He bared his teeth. After all, he was the Keybearer! The hero of the worlds! And what kind of hero let himself get pushed around so carelessly? What kind of hero just accepted such a cruel fate? It didn't matter if he got knocked around a bit. Xemnas needed him. He couldn't kill him!

So Riku stepped forward. He lifted his chin and masked his worries behind a grin. "I don't think so, boss."

Riku expected any number of responses. A cold glare. The flash of red weaponry… but laughter? Hollow, throaty laughter?

Xemnas merely shook his head. "Oh, but I insist…"

And from behind him, a corridor rose from the platform. In moments, Vexen strode beside their Superior, laughing shrilly as a crooked smile overtook his face.

"Well, well. I always knew you were the rebellious sort, but to turn your weapon against our Superior… How shameful!"

"Can it, you old geezer!"

"I'd stay my tongue if I were you! Do you even realize the predicament that you're in?"

"Hmph. Honestly, I don't really care. Killing the Fa… that Replica is stupid! I mean, sure, he's one of DiZ's puppets, but he's still got a Keyblade. Doesn't that make him worth using? We'd be twice as efficient if we-"

Xemnas and Vexen shared a look, and with a flick of the wrist, Vexen revealed a small remote. That alone silenced Riku, as he spent a few seconds staring at the device.

"I did not wish for it to come to this," said Xemnas, "but defiance is not tolerated in our Organization. In fact, I had a sneaking suspicion that sentimentality would cloud your judgment, thus I had Vexen install certain… failsafes as added incentive."

"W-what?!" Failsafes of what kind? That remote… what would it do? Hands shaking, Riku staggered toward the two, but Vexen waved the remote and shook his head.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you… assuming you value your friends' lives. One press of this button, and they'll both detonate, and that would truly be a shame, now, wouldn't it?"

Detonate.

One word, and it felt as though the Replica's entire body had been ensnared with chains of ice. His Keyblade slipped from his grasp, struck the floor with a clatter, and vanished in a glimmering cloud. His mouth hung open. Words failed to form. This… it had to be a joke. A bluff! They wouldn't dare. They wouldn't…

But try as he might, he couldn't muster the courage to summon his weapon again. Because if it was real, then this wasn't about him. His friends… the people he cherished above everyone else… He couldn't… This wasn't…

Xemnas' words just barely cut through the haze in his mind. "So you see, Riku, it truly is in your best interest to proceed…"

…

Riku's bangs fell over his eyes. His gaze fell upon his feet. How long had his hands been shaking? It didn't matter. Xemnas had him. This was it.

What choice did he have?

TO BE CONTINUED

END NOTE: Zexion's fighting style was inspired by a combination of his Re: Chain of Memories battle and his KH2 Final Mix fight. His use of taunts was his attempt at riling Sora up, making him easier to attack. The elixir? A nod to the fact that he carries one in his Re: Chain of Memories deck. That, and with an unpredictable foe, it never hurts to have a little insurance. ;)

While Sora's excursion in TWTNW is far from over, we'll return to the main gang next time after a whopping five chapters break! Next chapter, you'll finally get to see what XIII's message entails. Going by my current outline for the fic, I estimate that we have somewhere around five to seven chapters left in Act 2. Of course, I won't know for sure until I buckle down and write the sequences out. It could be more, it could be less.

However, I do want to thank everyone who's read thus far! It only recently dawned on me that I've been working on Act 2 for a little over a year now. After losing steam for Dual Destinies and procrastinating for years on Act 1's completion, I'm thrilled to have made it this far, and I hope to keep on trucking when I tackle future arcs.