"Aerith, you have a visitor." Cid called from down the hall.
Aerith stop washing the dishes and wipe her hands on the towel hanging from an open drawer. She look at Yuffie who was sitting by the table.
"Who do you think wants to see me?" Aerith ask.
"I don't know. Probably it's the King." Yuffie suggested.
"No. Leon would be here." Aerith said. "I better go check." she said and exit out the kitchen.
Aerith walk down the hall and met Cid by the door and her visitor.
"Cloud?" she said, confuse yet happy to see the familiar blonde.
"Aerith." Cloud smiled shyly.
Cid look back at Aerith and Cloud, annoyed by the silence between them. "I should better get back to work." Cid said and left.
"Cloud, what are you doing here?" Aerith ask.
"Um, I ...wanted to see you. It's been a while." Cloud answered.
"You never called me or sent me a letter." Aerith pouted at him.
Cloud look down at his arm.
"You really weren't the one who called, were you, Cloud?" Aerith smiled at the blonde.
Cloud smiled shyly at Aerith. He walk up to her and took her hand. "I . . .miss you." he said.
Aerith smiled at him. "I miss you too, Cloud." she said, blushing lightly.
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"Riku?" Sora called.
"Huh?" Riku snap out of his daze and look up at Sora.
"Are you okay?" Sora ask.
"Yeah, just day dream a bit." Riku answered.
"Come on, before they find out we're here." Sora said.
Riku nodded. He summon his keyblade in his hand. His eyes glowed red as the power surge through his body. He could feel his anger and hatred rising. Sora smirk at Riku then jump out of the bush. Riku followed after Sora. Riku look around the place. They were near the stream. A white stallion was drinking water. There was no one else. No princess. No Donald. No Goofy. Riku didn't know whether to be depressed or more angry at this.
"Hm . . .they must be deeper into the forest." Sora suggested. "Someone left their horse here. They would be coming back to get it." he said.
"I want to capture the princess right now." Riku growled.
"Hold on there, Buddy. Do you want the element of surprise or not?" Sora said.
Riku growled and storm towards the horse. Sora rolled his eyes and followed after Riku. Riku step into the water and grab the horses's reigns before the horse could run away.
"Where is your master?" Riku demanded.
"Riku, you're talking to a horse." Sora said.
Riku sighed angrilly and let go of the horse and storm off. Sora chuckled.
"You should have answered, Horse." Sora said to the horse.
The horse took several steps back and began to sprint off into a run, running past Riku. Sora followed Riku in his own pace.
"I'm going after the princess. You deal with the animals." Riku called.
"Ah huh." Sora said.
Riku sighed angrilly and begin to run.
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"Rose!" Donald and Goofy called.
They've been searching for the princess for about twenty minutes and couldn't find the princess or Phillip. Suddenly they heard a lovely voice singing. They head over to where the singing came from, but was cut off by a white horse.
"Whoa!" Donald and Goofy said as they stop.
The horse whirled pass them and continue running. Goofy and Donald was about to start running after the horse but was stop by another blur. They look up and notice the silver hair glistening against the sun's rays.
"Riku!" Donald and Goofy called.
Riku didn't stop. He ignored the animals and hatred for now and chase after the horse. Surely it would lead him to the princess. He glance back and notice the animals following him. He growled and continue running. Where the hell was Sora right now? He took another glance back and notice a portal appearing and Sora coming out. Riku ignored Sora and continue running.
"Why hello." Sora greeted Donald and Goofy.
"Sora!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed.
Sora smirk at the animals. "Not happy to see me, Pallys?" He said, giving them an evil grin.
Goofy and Donald readied themselves to fight.
"You shouldn't be standing there while Riku is off trying to capture the princess. Stop him." Sora said.
"Huh?" Donald said.
"But you're one of the bad guys?" Goofy said.
Sora then howl in pain. He fell to his knees and grip the ground underneath him. He hesistantly raise his head to them. The crystal blue returning to his eyes.
"Dona....Donald....Goofy..." Sora began in a painful voice.
"Sora?" Goofy said.
"Donald, Goofy....Please! Stop Riku before he captures the princess. You can stop him." Sora said in a pain voice again.
"What's happening to you?" Donald ask.
"Go! I'm trying to fight Ansem inside me! Go! Help the princess! Don't worry about me!" Sora pleaded. "Please go. Go help her! Don't let Riku take her away!"
Donald and Goofy nodded at each other and ran off. Sora stop and smirk under his hair. His eyes turning red again. He sat down on the floor.
"Those two would believe anything." Sora laugh and look back to see the animals disappearing over the hill. He could sense Riku's aura from a mile away. He was close to the princess now.
**********************************************************************************************************
"You draw your sword at me?" Riku mocked.
Phillip had his sword drawn to Riku, his other arm guarding Rose. Riku smirk at the young man.
"You think you can defeat me? I've fought animals who would put up a greater fight than you would." Riku continue to mock.
Phillip still had a brave face on. He was going to protect Rose no matter what. He wasn't going to loose her.
"Hand me the princess and I would let you live." Riku ordered.
"Princess?" Phillip look back at Rose only to receive a confuse look on her face. "Princess or not. I am not going to loose her."
Riku place a hand on his forehead, his keyblade still up to Phillip, he chuckled under his breath. He remove his hand from his forehead and smirk at Phillip. "You would give up your life just to save her's?" he said.
Phillip didn't answer, but the answer was clear in the look in his eyes. Riku began to laugh hysterically, but suddenly stop. A furious look on his face.
"You think your heart wants her, but in fact. It doesn't. Your heart wants nothing but power and to be consume by the darkness." Riku began. "You're pathetic. Now I won't say it again. Hand me the princess and I shall spare your life."
"No!" Phillip said.
Riku growled and raise his keyblade. Phillip push Rose away from him.
"Phillip!" Rose cried.
Clash!
Riku clench his fists tighter and glared at Goofy. He remove his keyblade off the dog's shield. He jump back and put his keyblade to his side. "What took you so long?" he demanded.
Donald and Goofy help Philip up and told him to take Rose away from here. The animals stayed quiet, watching Riku.
"Riku, what are you doing?" Donald demanded.
"I don't have to answer to you." Riku said.
He began to run, but was cut by Goofy. Riku jump back.
"Riku, fight Ansem! You can't let him control you!" Goofy said.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Riku demanded. "Ansem? Inside me!?" He began to laugh.
"I chose this path! Ansem is the only one who cared about me unlike you two! Now I must be going. I have a princess to abduct!" he said and began to walk.
Goofy and Donald stood in Riku's way, weapons ready in their hands. Riku raise an eyebrow. He could feel his blood running down from his wounds on his arms. His heart pumping. His anger rising and yet he could hear his conscious.
"Don't hurt them." he said a little voice said.
"Stupid voice. I don't have a heart. Leave me alone." Riku thought to himself.
"They're your friends." the little voice urged.
"Where have you been these past few days?" Riku thought.
"You can't hurt them." The little voice said.
The little voice was beginning to annoy Riku now. He growled at himself. Donald and Goofy look at each other with confusion. What was going on with Riku?
"Riku." Riku heard Ansem's voice now.
"What the fuck? What are you doing here?" Riku thought.
"The princess." Ansem said.
Riku jump. He look at the animals and then a feeling of sorrow hit him. What was he doing?
"Riku, the princess!" Ansem shouted in his head.
Riku let the keyblade disappear in his hand. He glare at Donald and Goofy and ran off towards the princess. He dodge Donald and Goofy and ran.
"Riku!" Donald and Goofy shouted and they began to run after Riku.
"Where the hell is Sora?" Riku thought to himself. "Where's Maleficent? Where's myself?"
He could feel himself getting weak. The keyblade had suck the energy in him. He slowly came to a stop as soon as he felt everything around him spinning. He fell to his knees and clutch the grass in his hands. He cough several times and look up. Suddenly he saw himself. He was glaring down at himself.
"You look pathetic right now." The other Riku said.
"I-I . . . "Riku began.
"You let your heart control you. You let that pathetic thing in your body control you. You are weak." The other Riku said.
"He...Help." Riku reach for the other Riku.
"Why should I help a weakling?" The other Riku said and began to walk away.
"Wa-Wait." Riku said and fell, hitting his head against the hard floor.
He could hear faint, distant voices. He didn't care. He knew he was going to die here. He was weak. He couldn't even destroy his enemies or capture the princess. He close his eyes and let himself die on the grass.
"Guess everyone was right. I am weak......"