Second Star to the Right

A bit of haze.

Darkness.

Sora's head hurt, as though someone had hit him with a sack of bricks. His vision was spinning as he could make out a red and black blur around him, the sound of water waves echoing in the distance. However, this would not be sufficient to stop him from trying to get up. His mind began to become more aware and awake, but things were moving more quickly than Sora's headache could permit Sora to understand.

"Wake up Sora, I have a surprise for you," a teasing, familiar smug voice echoed in Sora's ear. "Come on Sora- we are going to play a game."

"Huh-Whu-ARIEL! STAR! MARCO!" He shouted, trying to move. Regardless, he couldn't, in spite of his efforts.

The memories of what happened at Atlantica started to come back to him. The last image Sora had was that of Ursula mighty grip on him slowly suffocating him until everything went completely dark. He tried to remember he knew what happened to his friends, if any of them were okay. Everything happened so quickly though, he really didn't know.

"Already made new friends-should have known, you like replacing them so easily." The snide familiar voice echoed in his ear.

"Riku!"

Sora's eyes opened up, seeing in front of him a patch of red and up above a glowing black sky filled with stars. Echoing around him was the sound of water, as a cool breeze began to blow up against his face. He was on ship, a large regal looking ship with gold plating. Sora could feel the ship move up and down as they sailed across the open ocean. Several pirate crewmen were cleaning the poop deck while others were checking the sails insuring a steady speed.

Then he saw him that familiar white hair and now very cold cyan eyes glaring back at him through his bangs.

Sora's mouth hung wide open: "Riku!" he shouted. Sora was so relieved! He was so worried about Riku! But...something was wrong. Riku's eyes had orange spots in them that they didn't have previously...nah, that can't be right! He just wasn't seeing it right! Yeah, that was it!

He was on a pirate ship. A large red wood pirate ship with black sails and golden outline. It smelled of rotten fish and a weird mix of calone. He could hear the sound of the ocean in the distance, loud and boisterous, the waves hitting up against the sides of the main deck. It ricked back and forth along the water.

Suddenly a mixture of horror and surprise came across him. When he was a boy Sora admires the stories of swashbuckling sea dogs, like the Dread Pirate Roberts and Blackbeard, the sense of adventure and freedom in the high seas, it was the reason he was so behind taking the raft off the Island. But here seeing real pirates with real swords, he could tell instantly it wasn't going to be like any of the tales of old.

Sora continued to gaze in amazement until suddenly a shadowy presence looms over him as he looks up to see Riku gazing down at him with a callous smirk. He looked so smug standing above him, like he was captain of this ship, all he missed was a hat and an eyepatch and he could have been the evil pirate in tales.

"Riku!" Sora said, he tried to move only to realize he was tied to one of the ships baristas. "Hey what's going on, what are you doing here? Where am I? Where is everyone"

"Pretty sweet huh, Maleficent provided it for me to help Kairi...unlike your loser friend she's resourceful. Unlike you, and your friends." Riku leaned foward against the bar of the upper deck and stretched cracking his neck. "But if you want to know about your stupid friends two are below deck as for the other two-I don't know probably back at Atlantica.

Sora felt a tinge of anger flair within him, how dare he question his devotion to find Kairi, if he could better he'd hold onto his pampu fruit. He eyed his pocket and was able to see the tiny edge peeking out from his pocket. In the other Jiminy was there hiding keeping safe to protect the journals.

"You can't honestly trust her !?" Sora yelled. "She's evil Riku-really-really evil! This is wrong, and you know it's wrong."

"It doesn't have anything to do with trust or right or wrong Sora. It's about who's in the winning side. And right now that's her, so consider it just good tactics. Morality doesn't really have a place for survival."

"Good tactics!" Sora looked shocked no, repulsed. "You're stupid, if you side with the Heartless, they'll take your heart. I've seen it happen Riku, it doesn't look fun."

"Oh how wrong you are…." snapping his fingers a Heartless in the shape of a pirate and sword appeared. Raising its sword it sliced it right through Sora who closed his eyes swaying a trail of agony that did not claim. Instead he saw the rope being cut right in half freeing him from it's bonds. "Huh? Why did you…."

"I freed you to fulfill a promise, and to show you what your missing out on." Riku snapped his fingers causing the Heartless to vanish. "Impressive no?"

Sora blinked in shock. "I-Uh...H-H-W-W….." The Heartless? Controllable? This was completely absurd! Nobody could control the Heartless so easily, not even the villains he met like Jafar! But...Riku could...so... maybe…?

Sora could wrap his head around any of this, Riku was completely speaking madness. He was treating these Heartless like they were new toys not the dark spawns that they were. Yet Riku looked upon his creatures and powers with a sinister coldness in his eyes, enjoying showing off his powers almost being enticed by it. It was like a sickness had taken hold of him.

Could his friend really be that far gone-no-no he couldn't believe that. Sora just glared back at him and sneered.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!" Sora turned to see one of the Pirates, a chubby looking one with glasses in blue striped white shirt appear. "But the Captain of the ship would like a word before we land."

Riku groaned. "Fine! Apologies Sora….Some of my new...associates ...tend to have a bit of a ego."

Ego was a understatement, Captain Hook was the most egotistical Pirate of the seven seas. Captain Hook the sneaky snook they called him. Yet his navigation skills and abilities to traverse the seas made him a good fit for Maleficent allies, to the point in which he understood the Heartless better than anybody, and was treated with serious respect as a major authority on the subject. Though that all changed when Riku appeared. Since then, he became nothinthese days he hated being a glorified ferry for Riku and his personal issues. Yet he put all that aside him as he had to travel with him through the corridors of darkness to find Kairi at Neverland. It had taken time and a toll, Riku had grown tired during the travel-perhaps the effects and overuse of testing his powers during that time. Though none of that would matter-for soon he would be close to his main goal.

Still in a bit of shock Sora watched as Mr. Smee too at attention and saluted as the self proclaimed swav captain appeared, vanity in his eyes. "Presenting, the sea landed stingray! The scourge of the seven seas….Captain-James-Hook!"

"Hook! Hook! Hook!" All the pirates shouted there arms raised there fingers curled so that it looked like a hook.

Sora watched as Riku glared, both stunned but all this pomp and vanity. Suddenly all the Pirates gather up, many of them in perfect sync as they tune there vocal cords and begin to dance, as a simple melody began to be performed from the crew. Excited at the emergence of there captain.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, Yo Ho, Yo Ho, Yo Ho
So, Try the life of a thief
Just sample the life of a crook
There isn't a boy
Who won't enjoy
A-workin' for Captain Hook
The World's Most Famous Crook

Standing on top of the second level, Captain Hook emerged. A tall slim tall man, he bore a red petticoat and large round feathered cap. Black boots and white undergarments on his left hand was a long silver hook. He waved to the crowd a long malevolent grin plastered on his face. Walking in pompous manner her looked down from the upper deck.

Sora watched unsure what to make of him but already he could tell he didn't like him. He was not not like the Pirates he had read in the tails back home. He thought Pirates were supposed to be charmers, swashbuckling rogues, rebels without a cause. This Captain Hook though looked some snooty rich person from a Renaissance era of a bygone age. Already his smarmy mustache gave Sora the feeling he would not like him at all.

Riku for his part sneered, this bravado was a waist of his time. His cyan eyes glaring at Hook, his fingers tapping with inpatients. However, any confidence he had was swiftly dashed when he remembered what he saw in Hook's mirror this morning; orange spots in his eyes. Using the Darkness had created a firey color in his irises.

"Mr. Smee!" Captain Hook shouted summoning him. "Front and center!"

Mr. Smee continued sing the song not realizing everyone else stopped, he was dancing around the shop but close enough to hook for him to notice. "

Click click clickety clock The Crock is after Captain-" Hook hit him over the head before he could finish. "Oh sorry!"

Smee saluted before being shoved to the side, now the Captain had all eyes on Sora now.

"Greetings Keyblade Master Sora." The Captain said giving a sarcastic bow rising his massive red feathered cap, his long powdered black hair dangling from his head . "Welcome aboard the Jolly Rodger, the greatest menace of the never seas."

Sora just looked at the Captain as if he was a joke, he always read Pirates were swave, cunning, masters of the sea. Not these pouty overly dressed sneaks who looked like they should be in some sort of elite ball.

This was definitely not the type of pirate Sora used to pretend to be back on the Island and this was certainly not the type of person he wanted to be with right now. How Riku could easily associate with the likes of people as bizarre as Hook and Maleficent was beyond him. A sign of just how far his friend had fallen.

"I hope you will enjoy your time on the Jolly Roger." Hook snickered. "I assure you, you will be treated quite fairly."

"I'll feel better if my friends here!" Sora shouted having to be restrained by the Heartless.

Riku mood darkened fist clenched. "You know instead of caring about those loser friends you should care about Kairi. I am the one whose actually been trying to get all back together, but do you care, apparently not!"

"I do-" Sora shouted shocked he would even think that. "You know that!"

"Good." Riku snickered turning his back to him ."Then you will be happy to know we are almost about to find her."

"We-...WHAT!"

Sora eyes widened in shock, were they really at the world Kairi was on. It sounded too good to be true-there had to be a catch to all this.

"Yeah! Unlike you, I actually took the risk and thanks to my servant-" Riku took out a familiar black lamp- Jafar's lamp- and held it up to Sora's face with a triumph gaze. "I was able to track her down easy. See Sora, this is what a little darkness can do."

"Oh really? Then why not wish her here right now." Sora snickered back, not letting Riku get to him.

"I would but unfortunately Jafar isn't the most trustworthy of Genie's."

"INSOLENT BRAT! I AM JAFAR THE MOST POWERFUL SORCERER IN ALL THE-" Riku the lamp back in pocket as Jafar's muffled voice echoed through.

Sora was shocked, he managed to completely force the ex Vizer under his control. His own personal wish slave, it was so wrong in so many ways the sight disgusted him. Riku had completely gone to the darkside, he wasn't even thinking clearly at this point. He didn't know whether to feel sad for him or just punch him the face.

Riku however merely chuckled darkly glaring at Sora with a wide smirk. "He does that from time to time-I know how to keep him in his place though."

"You shouldn't trust him Riku, he's gonna turn on you, as will Hook, as will the Heartless."

"The Heartless obey me now Sora- Now I have nothing to fear."

Sora just gasped, Riku had clearly gone mad. "They don't but I do." Captain Hook sneered as he walked up towards them. "Maleficent won't be pleased to know that you are freeing the prisoner."

"I'll watch him." Riku snickered eyeing Sora. "We are going on a little friendly trip, isn't that right." He wrapped his arms around him tightly, a twisted smile on his face. Sora was uncomfortable.

Riku changed since last he saw him. He was darker, more sinister almost. His tone was that of someone enjoying watching Sora squirm. This was not his friend he had back on the Island. This was almost someone different. Yet even then he could see a sliver of what was once his friend. Sora wondered if these traits were always there, hidden beneath the venue of his former friend and colleague.

Either way-it was good that he was free, yet he did not know if this was act of kindness or part of a wider trick about to be played by him.

"So Riku, where are we going?" Sora asked once he had let go.

Hook took the steering wheel and gave it a quick turn. Pointing his arm forward Sora saw in the distance a strange distant Island covered in fog, the sky was dark that it was difficult to get a good look at it but he could recognize an island easily even from this distance

"There my boy, to the Island off the distance a place called Neverland."

"Neverland?" Sora questioned getting a strange feeling. "You mean-no way! That place is real."

"Maleficent told me about it, it's a place stuck in time, were one can never grow older, built upon imagination." Riku said as he looked out toward the Island his expression neutral. "After all Sora, you should know all about it-Second Star to the Right...Straight on till morning."

Sora took a deep breath. "Neverland-So it is real...wow, all these years I thought it was a fake."

"Yes, it is, and good tester of some of the new tricks I learned as well." With an extended hand Riku caused Sora shadow to churn and rise up, forming two yellow eyes.

Sora just gazed upon his own dark form and blinked, it looked so familiar, like in a dream. The shadowy form looked back at him, with two beedy yellow eyes of a Heartless. Yet unlike the Heartless, he had a feeling that this thing knew exactly what was going on, those eyes were looking right back at him.

It was thinking.

"Like it." Riku said with a smirk. "Doesn't talk at all, already a improvement."

"Riku please, you can't do this- darkness will just consume you or worse." Sora said in desperation. "I've seen what's done, what it can do, it will hurt you."

"Nah my hearts to strong, unlike you, you are to bound to the light."

Riku took Sora by the hand after he was united dragging him away from the edge. "Come on Sora, let's get on the lifeboats, we got a long ride ahead of us."

-000-

"Keep going ." Hook bellowed as his first mate road the dingy.

Sora felt a bit seasick as the ocean waves began to rock violently. This trip was making him happy that he didn't have to suffer going on the raft back at the Island. Though in hindsight he wondered how far the raft would have gotten him anyway. Riku though remained calm as he looked towards the Island, a intense look on his eyes, only matched by Sora's new creepy shadow clone.

Unlike Destiny Island this one seemed a lot less tame, the trees were a darker green and the mountain sides seemed a lot more misty. Sora got the impression that this Island-this Neverland was far more magical and mysterious that the old stories were lead to believe. Yet something also told him that unlike the stories this place could definitely prove to be a lot more dangerous as well, especially if the Heartless were coming there way.

"There it is! Take us down!" Riku ordered. "Look at it Sora-it already sickens me."

Hook sneered. "I'm the one who gives the orders hear boy…. Take us down ."

"Aye, aye Captain!"

"Really hate Islands don't you." Sora muttered.

"It's not just the Island Sora, it what it represents, it's a place that time doesn't stop, no one grows up, everyone is stuck as a kid forever." Riku said, each word he uttered made him more furious. "It's the ultimate form of prison."

Sora blinked. "Since when did you care about being a adult!"

"I don't, but the thought of a place that never moves-nothing continues-that isn't progress that is stagnation-that's...It's wrong!"

"Well I don't know about all that Riku but I have a feeling these pirates are just as wrong." SOra said looking at his captators. "Also I thought Pirates were supposed to be cool swashbucklers not…..Whatever this is."

Hook sneered. "You best be careful boy, or I'll be given you a hook for a hand soon enough."

"You'd love that." Riku snickered. "How many times did I catch you in your little pirate costume you're mommy made you, running around hunting for treasure."

"Yeah and you joined me remember...Captain Riku."

Riku took a moment before scoffing. "Eh...Those days are done, piracy is easy pickings compared to what I can do."

"You mean creating monstrosities like this!" Sora yelled, pointing to his shadow.

Riku sighed. "Why can't you just understand."

Sora flinched, for a brief moment Riku sounded much like the man in the hood he had met back on the Island and perhaps in Agrabah. Yet he was sure there couldn't be any connection between the two. No, no darkness was to wide a net to be just tied to one man. It was almost scary to see how obsessed Riku had become tying himself to darkness. He was only fifteen, still a child to many adults eyes. Yet what they had been through-they hadn't acted like children in a long time. In fact if anything there were more adults than children. Even Sora hadn't felt like a child, not in a very long time since he started this adventure.

He hadn't nothing really that tied him to his childhood, not his home, not his friends, or his mother. He really missed his mother. All of it was gone, he hadn't had been a real kid in months, always having to fight and save people. The work for adults-not for a teen like him on the cusp of adulthood perhaps but not there yet. Not really.

Sora leaned back on the boat, looking down, his shadow version staring back at him.

"Can you tell the shadow to look away please." Sora said looking at his feet. "It's kinda creepy."

Riku looked at the shadow and shrugged. "Fine-shadow-look somewhere else."

The shadow started staring at Riku now much to his annoyance.

"Heh-guess you can't control the darkness that great huh." Sora snickered

"Don't push your luck Sora."

Finally the group of Pirates and Heartless arrived on the Island beach. Captain Hook took out his telescope and observed the other Pirates started spreading wide the Heartless though stood back. Riku observed the jungle area listening with great intent, Sora just looking out confused and unsure what was happening.

Captain Hook ordered his men to head out but Riku stopped him.

"No!" He barked. "Stay here...Me and Sora will go on ourselves."

Captain Hook's jaw dropped. "What!...That was not part of my plan, I am the Captain of this mission, my Pirates and Heartless can…..

"Can have that Peter Pan character alerted and will lose Kairi. Pan though doesn't know me or Sora, he knows you...Who's he more willing to trust if someone enters his home."

"Well I uh…" Hook scratched his chin, twirling a bit of his mustache as he got deep into thought. "Fine! Very well….But only for a while, when I feel it's taking to long, my men interfere."

Riku growled. "Fine, come on Sora."

"What if I don't want too." Sora snickered back, his question answered as he found his shadow half pushing him forward. "Ok! Ok! Yeesh! Why is my shadow so pushy."

"Because I'm making it." Riku snickered.

Sora sighed and followed.

The two boys headed straight into the jungle area, unlike the one's back home these Jungles were far more wild. The mud could be felt underneath both boys boots as the rough terrain made it difficult to walk. Riku though was able to summon a few Heartless every now and then to get him out of a tight jam, he even had them help Sora, who quickly slapped them away not wanting to deal with these such vial creatures.

It was such a strange Island, trees weren't always the same-there were few cliffs they had cross bridges. They had to deal with a few areas of quicksand and a few crystal caves where the light caused there shadows to look massive. The further through the Island the two boys went the place had a eery creepiness to it. Sora could only wonder what kind of person would live here, if anyone lived here at all.

Riku however just concentrated on moving forward, getting annoyed every time Sora got stuck in a pot of mud or quicksand. He was only helping him because he needed him for whatever sick twisted scheme he had in mind to get back Kairi. The two didn't talk though much so Sora was unable to deduce just what he wanted him for.

It was so strange the two of them together after being away. Riku looked sickly for some reason, his pasty skin even pastier, his white hair even whiter. It was like he aged quite a bit. That spunky teen dwindling. Perhaps it was the darkness-it was corrupting him. On the one hand Sora wanted to just look away, but yet, he pitted him, he wanted to pull his friend back to the light, back home.

"Come on Sora, i'm just trying to help." Riku said as they kept along the jungle road.

Sora grunted. "I don't need darkness to help me, unlike you...What happened Riku really, what in the worlds could make you think that darkness is the right way? Look at yourself, you look sickly."

"I just wisened up." Riku muttered eyes narrowing. "And I don't look sickly-I'm just tired, been traveling a lot lately-haven't gotten much sleep.

"Wisened up, is that even a word! Riku, what happened to your smarts, you don't need that power. And I don't believe you haven't gotten any sleep and if you haven't it's probably because that darkness is messing with your head."

"Have you gotten any sleep?" Riku snapped back.

Sora was about to speak. "Well-more than you."

"But you haven't gotten a real good one."

"I take naps."

"Of course you have- you can nap right now if I told you too."

Sora eyes narrowed. "That's not the point."

"No it isn't." Riku sneered looking at Sora. "But I know you haven't slept well I can see it in your eyes too-they look worn and tired."

"Not as bad as yours."

"Then give up the Keyblade then." Riku snickered back at him. "I think i'd make a great wielder what do you say. Plus maybe it will get you to sleep"

"I can't do that and you know why."

"You can, you just don't want too." Riku retorted snorting angirly back at him. "Not that I blame you, I get it really. I mean sure the light is weak and pathetic compared to what I can do."

Sora took a deep breath feeling a bit of pain in his forehead. "I'm not having this argument, I'm not talking to you, I'm just here to get Kairi and make sure she is safe."

"So am I Sora-we just really seem to disagree on how."

Sora rolled his eyes. "Lets not do this."

"Come on Sora-we both want the same thing. We just have very different way of going about it." Riku gave a wide smirk his cyan eyes narrowing and becoming hollow almost. "But that's why I'm here with you-to talk. We both want to save Kairi and that's what's important."

"Riku, you are crazy if you think any of this is going to work!" Sora yelled looking at his friend with shock. "Where is all this talk coming from! Ruling! Power! This isn't you! This was never you! What do you think you are some sort of King!"

"Maybe if I was you'd actually remember what we promised as we left the Island." Riku snorted back. "I don't care about being a King, but I am tired of always having to fight for what I want….I'm tired of having to always suffer. Well I'm done suffering, and if darkness is the way to end it and make things better than so beat it."

"By siding with the Heartless...By having a weird shadow version of me...Do you honestly think Kairi will actually approve! Do you think she'll care….

Riku looked stunned, Sora seeing the twinge of guilt come across his face that quickly turned to rage. "She'll get it when I wake her...She'll appreciate that unlike you."

"She won't even recognize you!" Sora hissed.

"I barely recognize you…. When did you become so wrapped up in that Keyblade that you forgot who you were supposed to be friends with."

Sora was about to rebuttal but paused, he had changed too. He was Keyblade Master, and he had been traveling with Donald and Goofy. He didn't rely on Riku as much as he did since now he was on his own. He had seen and experienced things they would only dream about. But what would Kairi approve, one of the last things she ever said to him was 'don't ever change' did he change to much. All he knew though was that his friend had truly changed and not for the better. He wondered if this happened to that Keyblade Master Xehanort and why he turned to darkness .Yet he still didn't want to give up on him, he still couldn't.

"See what I mean." Riku spoke again seeing Sora's confliction eyes darting every which way in confusion. "So, do you wanna actually hear my plan."

Sora sighed as he facepalmed. "Which is?"

"Easy, I want you to go in, do your whole 'make friends' act, get Kairi out and then bring her to me."

"How do you know I won't turn on you." Sora asked

Riku laughed darkly. "Glad you asked." With a snap of his fingers his shadow form returned and fused back with Sora, becoming his shadow once again. "Just in case."

"You're kidding." Sora grunted

"Nope." Riku said swiftly.

Sora sighed knowing that he was going to have to go through with this insane plan no matter what having no real options. "Ok fine...I'll do this."