Confident they'd gained enough of a lead Hawk-Maui dove into the thickest patch of trees and undergrowth as he could find. Landing in the rich foliage the demi-god transformed back into himself.

"Wow, that boy of yours can move. We're going to have to plan our next move before he catches up."

"I got an idea," Rachel said shakily. "Take my hand."

"What're you-? YAH!"

In a flash of light Rachel cast the same spell as the one she used on Tamatoa. Instantly the two of them were miniaturized versions of themselves.

"What the-!?"

"Under here."

Rachel pushed aside a curtain of leaves. Once hidden at the base of the plant nothing could have seen her behind the greenery.

"Next time, warn me!"

Maui joined her beneath the foliage done. The sourness he felt about being suddenly shrunk dissolved away almost immediately. Even in the partial light Maui could clearly see Rachel was not okay.

"Hey, kid," The demi-god put a hand on her shoulder. "We can make this right. We've bought a minute to figure things out."

"Yeah…" Rachel responded not-commitedly.

"He's more than a friend to you, isn't he?"

Rachel nodded. "He makes my Heart smile every time I think about him. This isn't the first time something like this has happened to him. Riku told me so many times about his past struggles with the Darkness. I've helped him so much however I could but-but now I-I don't know what to do!"

"First things first; stay calm. Hysterics really won't help anyone."

Mini Maui demonstrated several times the calming breath technique of in-through-the-nose-out-through-the-mouth.

"That witch's spell is pitting him against us. He was told to stop at nothing because of her sick magic. That has its risks for all of us. We can't hurt him too badly yet we can't let him clobber us. We need to stop him or at least slow him down somehow."

"What I need is to get through to him! If he manages to seriously hurt one of us? Kill you? Hurt me? If he even got close to either he'd never forgive himself. That blackness coming off of him earlier? That was Darkness. Riku has tried so hard not to use it as a source of power unless he absolutely needed to because of the crap he's faced and overcome. To know he wielded it like that? Against an ally? Against me? It won't matter if it was out of his control. If anything that will make him feel worse!"

Rachel tried to continue but she choked on a sob. Maui propped his hook against the plant. With both hands on her sounders and gave her a little shake to make her look at him.

"We'll get him out of this. Once he's free of that demon's control then we hunt her down and get the Heart before she can misuse it." Maui spoke gently but also with bold confidence. "Now think. If you're sure you can get through to him somehow you'll need his focus on you but also keeping yourself out of danger. Can we get his weapon away from him for a start?"

"It wouldn't do any good. Keyblades come to the wills of their wielders. You could throw it into the ocean and he'd have to want it back in his hand and there it will be."

"Alright. If we can't disarm him what can we do to immobilize him? With the magic I've seen you cast you have to have something that would make it impossible for him to fight back."

"Shy of knocking him out?"

"Well, that's not off the table but it can't be our only solution. Even if we did that would being unconscious break the control?"

"I don't know. I don't know the limits. I'm not sure what to try. I can do so much. Why is my mind so blank!"

"You're scared for someone you care about. Just remember what I said about hysterics."

"I can't stop thinking about the way he looked at me, the way he used the Darkness against me…"

"Maybe there's something to that. That black magic he wielded, can you counter it? One less weapon to work around."

"It doesn't work like that. The powers of Darkness aren't exactly magic. It'd be like trying to smother a fire by throwing a whole cactus over it. A cactus has water in it but not in a form that's useful."

"He can't change the form or power up his weapon with the Darkness, can he? The last thing we need is for him to become more dangerous."

"I don't know! Darkness can be used all kinds of ways. I have no idea how Riku under a spell w-w-."

"Hey, I get that you're upset but we won't get anywhere if you all go to pieces-wait. Those are epiphany eyes. What did you just think about?"

"Smother…over…useful form…change…" Rachel mumbled.

"Eh?"

"I have an idea."

"I could tell."

"If we can keep Riku from looking anywhere but at me like you said I can try to break through to him. Do you think you could hold him down long enough for me to do that?"

Maui raised an eyebrow before holding up a massive arm and flexed.

"Kid, you're looking at the arms that lassoed the sun. If I could do that I am confident I can restrain a teenager."

"And if you had help, no question about it?"

"Two sets of hands are better than one, I guess. But how are you going to talk to him and help me at the same time?"

"I won't be. Um, don't freak out, okay?"

"Okay?"

Rachel stepped back. She held her arms out in front of her with her hands one over the other. She took a long inhale. Blackness began folding over her arms. Dark tendrils loosely formed over her hands like frost. It continued over her shoulders, down her body and across parts of her face and hair. Some elements only looked to darken her clothes while others seemed to alter the garb entirely. As she exhaled the blackness peeled away from behind like a cicada breaking free of its nymph shell. Behind her a legless humanoid figure with vague female features and almond-shaped yellow eyes rose up. It tilted its head back and stretched its manta-ray like arms.

"Rachel," Maui said carefully. "What is that?"

"Nothing to be distrusting of. It can help."

When he spoke the Shadow snapped its head in Maui's direction. With no mouth, ears, eyebrows and seemingly inability to blink it was impossible to get a beat on what it was thinking. Rising up it connected with the shadow of their sanctuary plant. Skinny clawed arms appeared like they'd been under a black poncho the whole time and it spider scuttled over to the demi-god.

"That's my shadow; the manifestation of the Darkness that balances the Light in my Heart. It won't hurt you. It can be independent but won't do anything against my command."

"And how is this helpful?" Maui asked.

Understandably he was still cautious. In appearance her Shadow did bear some resemblance to a Heartless. It probably didn't help that it extended its neck several feet (well, inches) like some kind of bizarre turtle to get a better look at him.

"Being essentially a living shadow its about as amorphous as the definition could describe. Between the two of you I'm sure you could hold him down long enough to try and break Adaira's spell."

"And what are your plans for pulling that off? Begging didn't work. You try true love's kiss?"

"I did…"

"Uh-huh. No dice then. Hold on."

The sound of disturbed undergrowth made them both freeze. It wasn't terribly loud, yet.

"That'll be him," Maui said much quieter. "We still have the element of surprise. We either wait until he gets closer or use your dust to fly beneath the plants and right up to him and undo your size magic. He'll never see that coming. Or you could fly in his ear and try singing sweet nothings to get his attention first then-."

"What was that-?"

"Well if you let me finish,"

"Maybe I could get through to him with song…" Rachel trailed off.

"I wasn't being literal."

"Riku has always loved my voice. Maybe singing something that resonates true to his heart will release the hold Adaira's song has."

"And Plan B we knock him out."

"Y-yeah."

"I hope there's truth to your theory. Here he comes."

The snapping of fallen twigs and trrrshhhks of displaced foliage had finally gotten louder. They could feel the ground shake beneath them as footfalls neared. Signaling, Maui instructed Rachel to stay ahead of Riku while he came up from the rear. Rachel locked eyes with her Shadow. No words were necessary to impart what she wanted of it. With no acknowledgment at all the Shadow melded into the dark undergrowth.

Rachel pushed two segments of a fallen palm frond apart. Riku wasn't coming directly towards her but still closed the distance. His arm was still coated in Darkness, giving the look that limb and Keyblade were one. Riku slowed. Then he stopped. It was the look of a cat hearing a mouse in the tall grass. More than likely he could sense their Hearts nearby but at this size they were impossible to see. Rachel's Heart hurt looking at that dead-eyed expression. This had to work. She had to get him back from whatever evil place Adaira put him.

"Riku!"

Rachel shouted and simultaneously released the size spell. Riku snapped his focus in her direction. For a moment she forgot herself. She knew he wasn't in control of himself right now. So why did that look like she was the most detestable being on all the worlds cut so cold and deep within her.

Riku lunged like a wildcat. Rachel flinched. A black clawed hand snapped up from the shadows and grasped him by the wrist. As soon as it tightened its grip the Shadow retracted into the ground, pulling Riku with it. The young Master stumbled back terribly from the opposite momentums colliding. Immediately Riku tried to get up but no sooner had he gotten to his feet Maui came up from behind. With his hook he caught Riku around the shoulders and pulled him down again. This time the Shadow swelled up from shadows of the jungle floor and like the blob encased Riku from mid-thigh down. On his knees with the Shadow as one with the ground Riku could not get back up, though not for lack of trying. Dominant hand pinned down Darkness coated Riku's left hand, taking the form of blackened claws. His free arm flailed to grab at any part of Maui he could reach.

"You're the one making this difficult, kid," Maui grunted.

For better control Maui dropped his hook and tried to pull Riku into something like a sleeper hold. However the free hand was still armed with Dark claws.

"Agh! Okay, now you're really testing me!"

All the while Riku fought tooth and nail against Maui's strength and the Shadow's confines. Getting control of a freaked out wet cat while trying to get it into a travel carrier would probably be easier. The blackened Keyblade switched hands but neither arm was position right or had any slack to be of any concern. At least for now.

"You're up. HEY! Focus!"

Watching the capture was practically a surreal experience. This was happening to her Riku? Some concepts just didn't go together. Yet the whole terrible act of forced submission took place before her very eyes. Rachel hadn't felt the tears in her stunned disbelief.

"Sooner you do your thing sooner this is over!"

Once again Maui's shouts were just the thing to snap her out of her freeze. Rachel dismissed her Keyblade as she approached. Her hands trembled though she barely felt it. Maui had Riku's arms completely restrained. The Shadow solidified as best it could to insure minimum mobility. Against them both Riku fought and fought hard. Never before had Rachel seen the cords of his neck and veins of his arms stand out so prominently. His glare was like that of a caged animal waiting for the door open to open to exact vengeance on its captor. As she approached Riku glowered at her.

Stay strong. This isn't by choice.

She reminded herself of this truth though still recoiled when he tried to lunge at her.

"I'm not letting up but if he keeps doing that he'll end up dislocating his own shoulders," Maui warned.

Timidly Rachel knelt in front of him. She knew she'd have to but oh how uncomfortable it was to look him in the eye. A song to counter a song. What would be good enough? The message would have to run deep. Or it had to mean something important to him. Gently she stroked his cheek with her fingertips. Usually he would smile when she did that. Shakily Rachel took a breath and began to sing.

"I can't fight this feeling any longer, and yet I'm still afraid to let it flow. What started out as friendship as grown stronger, I only wish I had the strength to let it show."

Rachel's voice slowly grew steadier as she continued. This was the song she heard in Riku's Heart when she'd been sent to study magic at the hidden training castle. About that time she'd learned to identify the songs of a Heart that could chance with a person's mood in addition to their core Heart Song. During one of their special moments this was the song she heard.

"And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night. And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might."

Granted that was a while ago that didn't change the fact at one point this song was a woven part of him. Surely his inner being would recognize what they had shared in that moment and the melody his own Heart created at that time.

"And I can't fight this feeling anymore. I've forgotten what I started fighting for. It's time to bring this ship into the shore and throw away the oars forever."

Her own Heart nearly stopped when she realized he was struggling against Maui less. For the briefest seconds their eyes locked. Not just gazes crossed, but he stopped and looked directly at her. That was good, but not enough. She poured all she could into the power of the song. Adaira's spell was just a door. She would make her song a battering ram.

"My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you; I've been runnin' round in circles in my mind. And it always seems that I'm following you, girl, because you take me to the places that alone I'd never find…"

In Maui's grapple on Riku had gone completely tense but during the latter part of the song hadn't been fighting to free himself. Maui wasn't sure what to think. Was her lovely voice really breaking through the other spell? Was the lack of fight the magic's hold weakening? Riku's body unable to maintain the strength to fight his way out of Maui's grip? Or a caged animal readying itself to bite at the first hand that gets too close?

Rachel's song came to an end. Her body shook with nervous anticipation. This had to work. She couldn't stand to see him like this.

"Riku," She said quietly.

He looked up to her. His face was still locked in a glare but he looked at her. For the first time, though strained,

"D-don't…stop,"

Rachel's stomach prickled with ants wearing ice-coated shoes. No one would ever know if the gasp that followed was only in joy and surprise or the inhale that were to precede words because Riku tried to lash out again.

"He can hear me…" She breathed.

"Yeah, great. Now follow up with something else!"

With no hesitation this time Rachel held the sides of his face. His response was violent like before. This time she didn't pull away. He'd heard her. She could break through again. And this time the wall would be demolished. She would pull him back. Pressing her forehead against his she ignored his resistance. Concentrating she listened for his Heart Song. She knew it well. She'd been there when it had changed from one of regret and shame from past choices to acknowledging they happened but being stronger than the events of yesterday. But Adaira's magic was strong. The Song of his Heart was being smothered by the power of hers. As hard as she tried all Rachel could only hear his Heart Song as though through a thick door. That was just a minor detail. He'd heard her. The magic keeping him locked away wasn't as infallible as-.

Everything faded to blackness.

Falling.

A stab of panic from the unknown.

No, floating, not falling.

What was going on? Bright, beautiful colors glowed from below. Below? What had happened to up and down? What just happened!

As quickly as it had started it was all over. Rachel felt her feet touch a flat, solid surface. She stood atop a tall pillar of colored glass. The plane before her was a great circle paned as a stained glass window. This was very new. Was this Riku's Heart? Had to be. Along the edge of the bottom featured an effigy of Riku postured serenely and eyes shut in a relaxed expression. Above that were several circles clustered together. Each one featured the faces of his closest friends. Except one. Rachel's image was not among those circles. However she was not absent. The background of this scene was a view of the plateau on the little island where they were all first met. The colors were of an island sunrise. And, standing on the bent Paopu tree was the glass image of Rachel facing the sunrise.

In the center of this station lay a splattered black mass like a layered pile of oozing spider webs. Could this be what Adaira's magic looked like? An unsettling thought to be sure. But if she could break it apart from within-. Rachel called her Keyblade. A tumor could be cut out. She'd take it out by the roots. Approaching the mass Rachel noticed something odd at its base. The color of the glass faded away a few inches from where the repulsive thing had taken root. Little hooks of black and white scratched away at the foreign magic like the claws of a thousand mice. His Heart was trying to fight it out. Rachel didn't know how she knew that but it made sense. Holding her Keyblade at the mass she poured as much Light through it as she could. The oozing tumor shuddered and shifted like a tethered horse approached by a wolf. However, though it responded uncomfortably, it did not appear to be harmed by it. It did cause an unexpected reaction. The area closest to the Light turned opaque then clear like looking through dark gray glass. It even appeared to harden like glass for just a second. In that second Rachel could see a hunched figure inside it.

"Riku!"

Rachel nearly dropped her Keyblade. She dropped to her knees next to the dark magic. Her hands didn't get close. Crackling energy created a shell as she neared, pushing her back several feet.

"Ow!" Rachel grabbed the back of her head as she sat up. Her hands tingled a bit but other than a goose egg she wasn't hurt. "Oh, you wanna fight? Well, you black magic phlegm-wad, enjoy it while you can. No power in the 'verse is going to keep me from him!"

Taking her Keyblade again Rachel circled the tumor-like blackness. Contact would create blowback. It didn't like the power of Light but wasn't damaged by it. What then-? Wait. There was something else about this place she impossibly missed until then.

Something cast a warm light all around the edge of the circle. All around the circle were beautiful shining candles on ornate stands. Every single on was dramatically different from the others. And each one had an inscription at its base. There existed a fantastic candle for each person Riku held the most dear. But there wasn't only a candle for the people that made him who he was. There were also candles inscribed for Loyalty and Perseverance, among others. As she looked around, Rachel felt an emotional knot in her throat when she found the one for her.

On this incredible candelabra branched five arms. One tall candle was wrapped up in the leg of an octopus. Rachel remembered describing Riku's battle with Darkness like fighting an octopus. The worse the struggle to free yourself only resulted in the creature holding on tighter. Another candle sat within the center of a gorgeous open lily. The first time Rachel invited him into her magic book, a little flower fairy gave him that lily. And it was with that token Riku had asked her if she would be his girlfriend. The arm on the furthest right was the bent Paopu tree. The candle stood tall from the fanning fronds. The fourth candle rested in a stand woven of music bars with tiny notes resting on the lines. Actually, on some of the notes the dot was a teeny star. The center candlestick arm rose higher than those on its sides. It was just a pillar of shiny metal. But it did have one significant adornment. Just above the base where all five arms came together at the base a very special symbol had been engraved. It was the same ancient runic symbol for 'light' as the necklace he wore.

"A candle in the window on a cold dark winter's night,"

Rachel smiled, shaking her head. She'd never made that connection before. Of course. It wasn't just her singing. It was what she chose to sing. Everything circled back to that symbolism. She knew what to do now. Rachel knelt by the black mass at a safe distance. With a little sparkle of light her Keyblade switched to Ocean Song. The orange star at the top twinkled from within. With two fingers she stroked down the crystalline water shaft of the blade. White glitters followed her fingers and emitted the heavenly cries of a piano. Rachel took a breath,

"One little candle burning bright, one little gleam of radiant light, shimmering softly in the night makes the darkness fade away

One little song that's freely sung. One little bit of good that's done, Brightens the world for everyone Like a candle's golden ray."

Oh the triumph that filled her own Heart. There wasn't just one wolf approaching the tethered horse but an entire pack. The horse knew it was in trouble and nothing it could do would make the determined fangs back off. The black prison writhed. Parts of it seemed to fray and curl back in response to her song.

"Keep your light shining bright, like a torch of hope held high. Let it glow Let it show. Keep the flame of love alive.

One little smile for someone new. One little word of kindness too, Kindles the friendship flame anew, soon the loneliness is gone."

The mass seemed to claw at the glass surface. Moreover it tried to claw its way to her. That was a good sign. It considered her a threat. Her empowerment grew when Rachel noticed something else was happening. The color of the image beneath her had peeled away to an irregular swirl of black and white. The Darkness and Light in Riku's Heart fought to keep her safe while she fought to free him.

One little candle flame when shared, spreads through the darkness everywhere, Reflecting in hearts of those who care and they pass the light along

Keep your light shining bright, Like a torch of hope held high. Let it glow Let it show. Keep the flame of love alive!"

The awful mass had continued to writhe the entire time, coming apart layer by layer. All around the tiny lights of the candles surrounding the station grew to such an intensity it was nearly blinding. Rachel had to close her eyes against the radiance. When she opened them again the candle lights were fading. She had to blink several times before she could see properly again. The black mass was nothing more than a fading mist. Riku was gone. The image on the stained glass became whole again.

The station faded to black. With the ease of falling into it Rachel found herself exiting the space of Riku's Heart. Rachel opened her eyes. At first glance nothing looked to have changed. Maui still held Riku securely. Immediately though she could sense a very different atmosphere to him and the situation. Riku held his head down. Maui looked down to her with anticipation.

Tenderly Rachel tucked a lock of his hair behind his ear. "Riku," She whispered.

Slowly he looked up. Blue eyes, exhausted but clear, locked with her gaze.

"Rachel, He panted. "You will always be my one little candle."

"RIKU!"

The young magic Master threw herself to him, arms open. Maui let go and stepped back. The Shadow released its hold and dismissed itself. The strength of the embrace was not equal between the participants but it mattered to neither. One had little physical strength but a clear mind again. The other vice-gripped as though if she didn't he would slip away forever. However emotional strength also has its limits. Rachel had reached the end of hers. Riku was hers again. That relief put into sharp focus how desperately she'd been holding herself together against the fear and worry, comparable to keeping a crumbling tower from falling apart with craft glue and shoestrings. Rachel couldn't pretend to be strong any longer and broke down bawling in Riku's arms.

So I'm with my real-life inspiration for Bryan, and he knows of course about the character. He says to me in essence, "Oh, so you keep posting until you bring me back!" Y-eeeah. I did notice that too. So, just in case your poor widdle feewings are hurt, here's another chapter, you big baby.

Title Translation: To Protect