Hero is my middle name

"Come out!" Riku shouted as he ran through the forest running as fast as he could, passing the trees and thick layers of forest, "Coward! Face me!" He was exhausted but that didn't stop him as he kept stomping his way through the woods.

He went through the darkening woods as fast as he could feel his anger bubble. The moon began to shun bright as Riku ran through the deep thinking trees, a cold breeze continuing to grow with every pace he took. His heart was racing tenfold. Just seeing an evil version of himself caused something inside himself burst with a righteous fury he had never felt before. But also a fleeting rage, all the resentment and anger he had felt towards himself peaking to great heights. Self loathing at its worst

The more Riku was reminded about his past deeds the more he wished he had never come to this world. He was already putting his new found friends in trouble, and just making the situation worse for them.

Riku kept running through the forest, journal in hand in case he needed it. If Gravity Falls was filled with all sorts of weird and bizzare creatures, then he was going to need all the help he could get if he was going to be on the hunt for his clone.

How did this happen?

Why did this happen?

Part of him guessed this had something to do with the attack by the coated individuals from a while back. Though why would they want to create a clone of him. If he was walking around the world, he could find Sora, and if he found Sora, he could maybe fight him or worse. Hurt him in the worst ways possible.

Maybe even make him think he never changed and that he was still a servant of darkness. He couldn't let that happen, he needed to find him now before it was too late.

"Show yourself fake!" Riku shouted, his voice echoing through the forest. A few birds flying away in shock.

"Fake! Oh no. That's not exactly the right word". The slimy voice of Xehanort came from within Riku's ear.

Riku stopped mid run as a dark vortek appeared before him again. Xehanort emerged through it, looking smug as ever, his yellow eyes pouring right back into his causing the poor boy to freeze. The two just glared at one another.

"What are you saying?" Riku finally stuttered, "Isn't he just a copy? A clone?"

Xehanort shrugged, twiddling his fingers, "Hmm...I guess. Though personally I like to think of him as more like a model. An example of what you should try to be. Improvement even .Unlike you he accepts the darkness. Just like you couldn't help but accept me. But now you are afraid perhaps YOU are the one who is fake. Fake when you pretend to have no fear".

Riku's eyes narrowed as his anger spiked , "When I have been afraid of the dark".

"Riku, Riku, riku…" Xehanort's chuckled as he continued to float above him, his white hair waving behind him in the wind "You have always grappled with the darkness, even now you fear what it might do to you. You fear that I'll take control again. But darkness is not something to be feared, it should be embraced. It is...A natural part of the universe. For it is half of everything after all".

"If it's half of anything then why does it seem that it always want to dominate everything it things, and those who use it want to dominate in its name"

"They are only dominating because the light already dominates. They are rebels trying to put an end to the tyranny of the light"

"By having darkness rule all...Yeah, that's real revolutionary of you" Riku sneered.

"Believe whatever you wish child, my point still remains...You are afraid of the darkness for you don't know it, not truly. One who knows nothing can understand nothing after all. Sora was like that, and I'm afraid you are too. Desperation is fear after all."

Riku had enough and summoned a soul eater and charged right at him, only for Xehanort to vanish and reappear behind him.

"Violence," Xehanort laughed, "Is that your response to everything, good thing you have no desire to be a hero now. Believe me you are not Sora in any way, at least he is an actual hero to many".

"Shut up!"

"And shouting, truly the acts of barbarians" Xehanort laughed again, "Well...I suppose you have a replica to look for...Good day".

Riku just stood there in the middle of the forest.

With nothing but anger right now, all he could do was scream.

He hated everything right now, he had never felt more alone than he did right now. The anger would soon subside though as he could smell something, a familiar sounding sent, something he smelled earlier when he was with Dipper and Mabel in the forest but was unsure if it was just part of the aura. Riku sniffed a few more times to check before confirming it was the same scent as before.

As if on cue, a black portal emerged as another one of those strange figures in black robes emerged. This one was more muscular than the previous two and far more stoic in his face. His weapon was also massive, a combination of a hammer and a chainsaw, red as blood, it looked quite forceful. Riku though just glared at him, for he definitely didn't need to deal with this right now.

"I thought you smelled familiar" Riku sneered, "You're one of those nobodies correct?"

"Yes," He said, his voice deep and booming, "We've been watching you for a while now, to posses the darkness and yet fear it, what a waste. Quite frankly, command no longer feels that you are necessary"

Riku glared at him, "Why, because you have your sick twisted clone of me"

"In a way, yes," He said, smirking, "Now I Lexaues will not yield to the frail heart of an infantile coward!"

Riku had little chance to react as Lexaues unleashed a ball of dark energy towards him that blew him back knocking him harshly against the trees. The large brute lunged forward and struck fast and struck hard, hitting right in the jaw with a crack, as again the poor boy was lunged back again. The assualt was merciless as it was swift and painful

Lexaus pressed on but Riku lunged up now and fired back. His own skills were keeping him going. Yet they were nothing compared to the dark energies being thrown at him. The more nobody attacked the more Riku's own anger and frustration began to grow.

"You know what to do child...Do it!"

"Never!"

Riku lunged forward and struck Lexaus, swinging his sword with all his might, the metal clashing against the nobodies own weapon. Clinging and clanging rang through the forest each time. The two were definitely at equal match with one another as they flung around the forest, leaping and jumping at high rates that nobody in their right mind could possibly imagine.

Throughout it all Riku tried his best to keep his stamina, though he could feel himself slowly starting to become weakened by the attack. His muscles started to twitch and tire. Every punch was another blow, weakening his stamina and causing him to become less balanced as he stood. He could even feel a bit of blood running down his lip.

"Perhaps you need some assistance," Xehanort's voice echoed inside Riku's head.

Riku was on his knees feeling tired but he would not break, "No i-"

Lexaus charged forward and swung with all his might, the impact of which knocked Riku straight up.

Everything.

Everything turned to darkness.

-000-

Darkness.

Riku awoke in an entire sea of it, the stench was as foul to the point where it was almost impossible to breathe. He could feel the cool ooze around his body. There was nothing but pure isolation, nothing and no one. It should have been something he was used to by now yet still this time it was different. The loneliness was actually hard to accept. He no longer felt that at ease with it and instead felt unerved. He no longer wanted it anymore.

"Laxaues" Riku yelled hoping to find some semblance of the former nobody.

A sinister laugh echoed in his ear, "Forgive me, but I couldn't bear to watch you suffer anymore, so I decided to...intervene"

Around him a portal opened as an image of Riku emerged from below. Looking at his own reflection back in the real world, he saw his body form a vortex of darkness around him as his former darksuite emerged. Using the darkness Riku or his body at least lunged upon Laxeus.

The Nobody quickly fell.

"To slow" Riku heard his own voice speak but with a dark inflection, as if someone else was speaking through him.

Lexaus just breathed heavily as a dark aura began to consume him, "Your the superior's…." before he could finish the darkness took him.

He was gone.

"No" Riku said, his face mortified by his own actions.

"Riku...My dear, sweet Riku '' Xehanort voice echoed all around him, "I can hear your heart, you called for me, like it or not, you needed me ...You needed the darkness. So let me be my boy, let me drift into your heart".

"Xehanort!"

"Good," Xehanort laughed, "You called my name, now say it louder, I know you've been thinking of me ever since you re-awaken, you've been afraid of the darkness".

Riku saw him now, standing before him with all his power and dark rage. The evil Keyblade Master turned Heartless was fuming with darkness, the stench was unmistakable, but the power was also alluring. It was once a semblance of control, a way for Riku to take back his destiny and make it what he wanted. He tried to fight it, but it was becoming too much.

Xehanort got closer, his hand outstretched ready to touch his heart, and consumed it back into darkness.

Closer.

Closer.

Till then a blinding light once again stopped him as a familiar squeaky voice now rang true.

"Riku...Don't let him win! Fight!"

Xehanort growled in rage, something was stopping him from taking hold, "YOU MEDDLESOME KING!"

Again the light blinded him, and then once again, nothing.

-000-

"Rikuuuuu-" Came a soft female voice.

"Huh?"

"Rikuuuuuuuuulululullulullullu"

Riku's vision started to come to him as a large cute face came back staring up with him. As soon as his vision was restored he realized it was no one other than Mabel standing over him a big wide smile on her face as she began to wake up. He flinched for a moment and stepped back to get some space as he looked around trying to discern what exactly had happened and where he was.

"The King?" Riku said feeling something soft underneath him, he was sitting on a couch, "W-Where is he?"

"The King?" Riku could hear Max's voice now coming from behind him, "The king is here, oh man, hows my hair look, gotta make a good first impression!"

Riku looked up to see the younger Goof behind the couch leaning on it.

As he got up he found himself standing in a very nice looking living room, very fancy and posh, with all the furniture looking extremely expensive. This was definitely not the Mystery Shack by any means.

"Yeah the king" Riku got up looking around the room, "He was here and stopped Xehanort from taking over my body"

"Yeesh, he was in bad shape" The young Goofy told Mabel.

Riku tried to remember what had happened, everything went so quickly. Though deep down, he did feel that he had been tempted by darkness, and for a brief moment, Xehanort had once again taken control of his body. A sinking feeling hit his chest, if that happened once, it could happen again. He felt a seething anger simmer but quickly held it back.

"Riku, what happened?" Mabel said, sounding worried.

He held up a hand, grunting "Nothing, I'm fine,-

"Doesn't look like nothing if you ask me," Max said sitting down next to him,

"I said I'm fine," Riku sneered, pushing Max away. He instantly regretted it and tried to not lose his temper.

Max glared back, taking a stand "Hey, I'm just asking okay, you were the one in the middle out the woods out cold. That to be doesn't sound like someone who was having a good day, unless that's what people do in your world, because I actually don't know"

"I'm fine okay" Riku got up looking annoyed, he paused and took a deep breath calming, "Why aren't we in the Shack? where's Dipper?"

Mabel's face turned pale as she grimaced, "Ooooh-yeah, about that, um ...Jafar kinda took it over and he has Dipper and Grunkle Stan!"

"What!" Riku's eyes widened in shock, "How?"

Mabel went on to explain what happened. How she tried to steal the lamp and bury it forever to avoid Dipper being tempted. How she ran into Max and why he arrived in Gravity Falls. Jafar's attack and apparently he and Gideon were now working together to get revenge. Now apparently the evil Genie was looking for the journals, which luckily Mabel had and were apparently wishing proof, so Jafar couldn't magic them away.

Riku's mind started racing as he started processing what had happened, "Okay" he took a deep breath.

"Yeah-" Mabel looked nervous, "Lot of bad stuff happened all of a sudden, Jafar, Heartless, everything! It all went to BLAGH!"

Riku goaned and leaned his head back on the couch looking at the big ceiling.

"Don't dirty up the couch please," Riku got back up to see Pacifica outside the living room in the main hall. "That texture is worth more than all three of you combined".

"Oh this is Pacifica's house," Mabel added, answering the unsaid question, "We teleported here when we found you".

"Yeah, and left a big mess of things," Pacifica said leaning up against the wall her expression annoyed, "Glad your safe though Mabel"

"Thanks Pacifica" Mabel waved.

"Whatever-" Pacifica muttered.

Riku noticed Pacifica blush before huffing off, sitting down on a chair with her tea. So this was her home. Definitely explained her attitude, a mansion, probably rich parents and snobs. Like his own family was. Though right now it feels a bit homey, though that may be because Mabel and Max were around lounging. Guess anyway could make a house a home if given the right attitude. Sora would do that whenever he came to visit, taking the dank drabness of his family villa and finding odd ways to make it fun.

"So, Jafar is here?" Riku asked again, getting back on topic, "I remember him from Hollow Bastion, wasn't the friendless of types"

Mabel sighed, "Yeah...Guess it's my fault, I took the lamp and hid it, now Gideon of all people has it".

"How can it be your fault?" Riku asked as Mabel started to sulk, "If anything it's mine, I came here, brought my problems to your world, I knocked the lamp out of my evil clone's hand and into the room. So if anything it is more my fault than anyones else"

Mabel looks up at Riku shocked, "No, no it's not"

"Yes it is"

"Who cares whose fault it is," Max said walking up to both of them with a stern expression, "We have an evil Genie running around, and the only one who can stop it is us!"

"How?" Riku asked, sounding skeptical. "We have nothing, and I don't think I can take out a evil genie let alone my own demons"

"Well, we have the journals" Mabel said pointing to the books on the table, "That's a start, if anything we just need to get the lamp away from Gideon, and then poof, Jafar is ours".

Max nodded, smiling "Yeah, we just need to be heros"

"Oh I like that" Mabel smirked

Riku cringed, "H-Hero's, sorry I'm not much of that"

Mabel's eyes then widened, "Heroes? Heros...Max! That's it"

"What?" Riku said getting annoyed now.

Suddenly music began to play.

"Um, does anyone else hear that?" Pacifica asked looking for the music.

Riku looked up as well, "Yeah, I hear it too"

Max rolled his eyes, "Musical number, common stuff where I come from. Peppy one from the sounds of it too".

Mabel

If the world is gonna end tomorrow

Wallowing in sorrow isn't where I wanna be

Cuz there isn't a catastrophe

That could ever measure up to me.

Riku just try it and see.

COME ON!

Hero is my middle name

Fixing trouble is my game

Just give it the old know-how

There's no better time than now

Don't give up and don't give in

Max

Yeah!

If your thinking sink or swim

Mabel

Oh I like that.

Courage is your plane to fame

When hero is your middle name

Max and Mabel

And hero is our middle name

Mabel squealed with excitement "See Riku, get out of that emo thinking of yours and just think happy thoughts, positivity, and so on and so forth"

Riku just gave him a deadpan expression, "Yeah….That doesn't help"

"Well, it's like my dad always said" Max interjected, "What doesn't kill you...Probably will again if you try…..Dad wasn't very poetic"

"Clearly"

"Oh don't be such a angsty downer," Mabel interjected, "Think positively guys, we aren't gonna defeat evil by being a bunch of grumpy grumps"

"Not gonna defeat you if you're dead either" Pacifica added drly.

Riku just stood in frustration and walked over to the window. He thought about the idea of being a hero. Still, after all he did, not to mention all the trouble he was causing now, could he really do it. Heroism didn't come natural to him the same way it did for Sora apparently. Now there was a real hero through and through.

His heart sank thinking it over, he didn't think he could live up to that example. Still, Mabel had faith in him, perhaps misplaced, Max seemed to agree with this. If he were Sora, Sora would leap at the chance. Perhaps Riku needed to take a page from his friend book and just take the leap himself.

"You know I kinda agree with these two dorks" Riku turned to see Pacifica again, walking up towards them, especially Mabel, "I mean, her brother kinda saved me when I needed it most, and then through Mabel, I don't know...But I think at least sticking with these two would be a good idea.

Mabel

Your arrival.

It may be a prediction.

This isn't science fiction.

Riku

There's nothing I can do at all.

Mabel

Then stop waiting for the bottom to fall.

Not through the uh….

Max

Big beach ball.

Mabel

(Oh nice save)

Fight for the mighty and the small.

Max

All for one and one for all.

Max extended a hand.

Mabel smiled and nodded, extending her own hand.

Mabel

All for one and for all.

Riku looked at the two of them now. Two people, and him, a real trio. Just like Sora...A real Hero. He wanted to make it up to him, he wanted to make him proud. No, he will make him proud.

Riku, Mabel and Max

All for one and for all

Come on!

Riku

Hero is my middle name

Mabel

That's it!

Riku

Fixing trouble is my game.

Mable

YES! GO!

Riku

Just give it the old knowhow.

Riku, Mable and Max

There's no better time than now.

Riku

Don't give up and don't give in.

If your thinking sink or swim.

Courage is my claim to fame.

When Hero is my middle name.

And hero is my middle name

"I still don't know," Riku sighed going back to despair, he really had a bit of a bi-polar issue.

Mabel groaned, "Oh come on, we just go you to sing a verse"

"Look, I wasn't very heroic, first go around" Riku started pacing around the room as he entered a spiral, "And quite frankly, I'm not very social or friendly as say Sora"

Max shrugged, "So, I'm a angsty teen who has a lot of issues and I still wanna help"

"Besides you can let me be the bubbly social one" Mabel beamed.

"Trust me, she's got that covered" Pacifica snickered causing Mabel to blush.

"Ah geez!"

"Look Riku" Max interjected now, "I know you probably did some bad things before, at least from what dad told me in his letters. But isn't now the chance to make up for it"

"I do wanna make up for it"

"But why be alone doing it" Mabel asked, looking at him sincerely now.

Max nodded, "Let us help, I mean we all want the same things, aren't heros supposed to work together"?

Riku took a moment to think about it. The idea of having a team around was both appealing and terrifying at the same time. On the one hand, he was a loner, liked to do things by himself, his way or the highway, and preferred being alone. On the other hand, having people to be with him while. To be part of something grander.

He'd do it.

For Sora, he'd do it.

"Okay," Riku said, looking at Max and Mabel, giving a faint smile "I don't know what I'm gonna do afterwards, but I'm gonna help save this town"

Mabel

Three hero's to the rescue

Max

Team of trèss to the top

Riku

Uh…

Us...Go?

Mabel, Max and Riku

So come on ooooooon!

Hero is my middle name!

Fixing trouble is my game.

Mabel

Just give it the old know how!

Mabel, Max and Riku

There's no better time than now!

Mabel

I am Mabel and hear me roar!

Won't be playing sweet no more.

Courage is my claim to fame.

When hero is my middle name

Mabel and Max

And hero is my middle name

Mabel Max and Riku

And hero is my middle name.

Hero is our middle

Naaaaaaaaaame!

BANG

Glass shattered and began to spill onto the ground, everyone ducked under the furniture as to not get cut by the flying pieces heading right toward them. The dust began to settle as the looks of several yellow eyes started appearing before them

"Ah man!" Mabel sighed, "Action scenes always ruin the mood after a good song".

Heartless arrived entering the house.

"Hey!" Pacifica yelled, "That window was an antique, you'll be hearing from my parents lawyers"

Apparently Heartless didn't understand the threat of a lawsuit for they immediately attacked Pacifica anyway, Mabel managing to get her out of the way.

"Hey watch the hair" Pacifica yelled.

Mabel sighed, "Really?"

Heartless were starting to pour into the house, breaking and attacking anything in sight. Like a restless horde they continued to spread, trying to surround and corner the group .Riku tried to strike them down, holding them back, but he realized that they were going to be outnumbered before they even had a chance to get rid of the ones already in the house. They needed a way out and quickly.

Max in a panic picked up a nearby shield and held it steady as the group began to retreat.

"Guys!" Pacifica said, looking frantic waving them down "Follow me, I know a way out"

They followed, going down the mansion's large halls. The swarm of Heartless was quick and restless so they had to be quicker. Riku knew what these creatures were like, they would never stop hunting them until they either tired, had run out of darkness or had been instructed into something else, he wondered if running was even fruitless, but they would have to try anyway. Pacifica continued to lead them down a flight of stairs into the mansion basement, until they came upon what seemed to be

"Here" Pacfica pulled down one of the lampshades revealing a secret passage, "Come on, come on, hurry up!"

Mabel ran down first, "What's down here"

"Secret caves" Pacifica explained, "My parents is connected to some that run through the town for uh...Reasons I probably shouldn't say under penalty of arrest"

"More Northwest secrets eh," Mabel winked.

Pacifica sighed, "Unfortunately"

"Good enough come on!"

Riku tried to close the entrance as they began to enter into the cave, hoping they would finally be able to get away before it was too late.

Author Note: Hero is my middle name Spongbob musical