Disclaimer: not mine

Poll for Magitek Keyblade's still up if you haven't voted.

Chapter 4

Mickey stared at the monitor, seeing Ienzo carefully checking over the teenager secured by ankle restraints to the examination table. The boy obediently followed every direction as far as he could tell. Sora was hovering at his side, obviously waiting for him to say something. He studied the teen on the bed, he had met Riku exactly twice and the resemblance was glaringly obvious. He'd heard Ansem's explanation of his condition and even his theory on where the boy came from.

Was it really possible that this was another version of Riku? One who fought for the Light? The physical differences were not ones that could easily be faked, this Riku was shorter and thinner, he knew of no way to shrink someone in such a way. A glance at Sora should how he was struggling, part of him hoping, needing, it to be real. His friends' fall had shaken Sora very badly, if it hadn't been for having to fight the Organisation, Mickey would have feared for him. With that fight and then the one against Xehanort to focus on, Sora had pushed past his grief, especially when Selphie was kidnapped. To have a version of Riku who hadn't fallen so deeply, who wasn't a Vessel… he also understood why Sora hadn't come to any of them with this, why he had brought the ill boy to the Castle and its scientists, and it wasn't like they were defenceless.

"Only his ankles are restrained?" he asked after a while.

"He agreed to having his Keyblade sealed in exchange for having his hands free," Sora answered, and Mickey's eyes went wide in shock.

"He has a Keyblade?" and had agreed to allow Sora to seal it away?

Sora nodded. "He was taking his Mastery Exam before he came here."

That…was impressive. Aqua had been the youngest Master but if this Riku had passed then it seemed he would beat her record. "Anything on how he got here?"

"Nothing. He…he's terrified Mickey, for the Sora he knows. Apparently their exam was a trap by the Organisation…to take Sora as the Thirteenth Vessel by trapping his Heart in sleep. They managed to save him but he wouldn't wake up." It had to be strange to speak of himself in the third person. "Riku dove into his Heart to wake him, he had a fight, and then was being asked questions, then he plummeted into the sea of the Islands here where I fished him out."

"So somehow he went from being inside of the other Sora's Heart to our Worlds," Mickey frowned, how was that possible?

"He knows you, well the King Mickey from his reality or whatever. The way he sounds when he says your name, I think you're friends."

Well, if Riku was on their side that made sense. "I want to talk to him."

"You're sure?" Sora asked, obviously worried about him.

He smiled at the young man; he'd grown so much since they'd first met. "I'm sure, his reaction to me will help prove or disprove his story."

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Riku lay back after Ienzo left, there wasn't anything to do but sleep and he didn't feel like it just yet. He felt stuffed full but Ienzo had insisted he eat everything on the tray, apparently he was underweight and they were determined to fix that as well. He didn't have the all clear yet for his lungs either, though apparently his fever was finally gone. He still felt tired but he supposed that was due to his health and all the shocks he'd been through, maybe even having his Keyblade sealed.

He felt like he was missing a part of himself but at least it didn't hurt. He couldn't cast magic or anything either but he didn't think that was due to his Keyblade…he glanced down at his ankles, more likely the restraints did something to supress magic. It made sense even if it was frustrating. Ansem might be sure of his theory but Sora had every reason to suspect him, just like how he was wary of this Sora. He wanted to go home, to see his friends, the people he loved and trusted. But would it ever happen?

He sat up as he heard the door opening, wondering if it was Sora coming back. He froze at the sight of a much shorter figure entering, but something was…he paled, staring with wide eyes.

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Mickey saw the boy go almost white as he stared at him, his eyes wide in shock, and the reaction was so real…he really hadn't known.

"Mickey?" his name was a horrified whisper, slender fingers gripping the edge of the bed so tightly his hands were going white. No title, just his name, so it seemed Sora was right about him believing them to be friends. "What…no…please no," he choked out, and Mickey cautiously approached, seeing the growing distress, realising he was assuming the worst and unfortunately he couldn't tell him he was wrong.

"Easy," he called, unable to not try and calm him. "Riku?" he asked, and wide eyes met his. "Calm down."

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Riku stared at Mickey in horror, the sinking feeling in his gut said he knew exactly who had done that to him. Was he really capable of that? No…he couldn't have… he felt sick as he stared at the nasty scar cutting across Mickey's left eye, going right up to his ear which…half the ear was just gone. At least he still had the eye and he seemed able to see out of it since it was focused his way, but…not fully. He must hate him so much…

He nearly jumped out of his skin when a hand rested on his, jolting him back out of his thoughts. He was shocked to find Mickey standing before him, a hand resting on his gently.

"You're not the one that did this, Riku," Mickey told him, shocking him. "You may look like him, but your reaction to seeing me makes it clear you are different people."

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He meant what he said, that kind of emotion…there'd never been any hint of it from the Riku who had injured him. The only emotions he ever showed were anger, disdain, and the occasional flash of fear if he was being overwhelmed in a fight, such as when Sora had injured him. Everyone reported Riku as cold and angry and this boy was neither. Oh, he had Darkness within his Heart, Mickey could sense that, but there was also Light within him – somehow the two were balanced, something he had never imagined.

He'd been willing to keep an open mind after listening to Sora but now he believed this was not the Riku they had fought. That did not mean there was no danger, but he was inclined to believe Ansem about where the teen had come from. Mickey would like to hope he wouldn't be their enemy and so far, it seemed that would be true.

Mickey looked up into cyan eyes, seeing his fear and confusion, the unneeded guilt…no, he seemed more like Sora was now than the Riku who had nearly killed him. Sora was good at torturing himself over Riku's actions, always trying to work out what else he could have done to save him. And now this Riku was blaming himself for another Riku's actions.

He sighed but then got up on the bed to sit beside him, feeling the teen tense, shifting as much as he could with his feet still restrained, giving him more room on the bed and to keep distance between them.

"Riku," he called and the boy glanced over at him. "You have nothing to feel guilty over, the actions of the Riku here are not yours."

"But others will still judge me by them…will suspect me. There's no way yet to prove that I'm from another reality or whatever and until there is, there'll always be doubt, that I could be a plant of some kind. Can anyone ever trust me?" Riku shook his head, staring at the floor. "What…what if I can't get home again?"

Mickey didn't know how to answer that. Could this Riku make a home for himself when there was an older version running around as a Vessel? He was right about how many would judge him on sight. He shifted around to face Riku and then reached out a hand, gently nudging his head up, wary eyes meeting his. Mickey smiled at him, obviously shocking him, and then held his hands out. Riku hesitated but then offered his own hands and Mickey gripped them, feeling the strength in Riku's grip as the teen shakily held on.

Mickey closed his eyes, reaching out with his Heart and magic, hearing the soft choked back sob from Riku. Did he feel that much like the other Mickey? Their magic mingled, letting Mickey get a deeper feel for the boy, the way Light and Dark mixed within his Heart, somehow stable. He could feel the fierce loyalty and protectiveness that Riku held towards his Sora and another, could feel the guilt he carried from his actions when with Maleficent, his desire to be better… he opened his eyes to find Riku's were closed, body slumped as he took ragged breaths.

He got off the bed and went around to Riku's ankles, drawing his Keyblade since he didn't have the keys. It took seconds to undo and Riku's eyes snapped open even as he twisted around to look.

"What?"

"Well, ya don't need them, do you?" he asked, and Riku shook his head.

The teen slowly drew his legs around to hang off the side of the bed, wriggling his bare feet. He closed his eyes, flexing his hands, and Mickey knew he was adjusting the feel of having proper access to his magic.

"Can you cast without a Keyblade?" he asked curiously.

"Some, I didn't have a Keyblade when I was training under Maleficent," Riku admitted, and Mickey nodded, likely Dark magic then.

"So if your Sora has a Keyblade, how do you have one to?" he asked, moving to sit beside Riku again.

Riku shrugged. "I kept Soul Eater and it gradually changed until one day it wasn't Soul Eater anymore, it was Way to the Dawn. Fitting since I told DiZ, Ansem the Wise, that I wouldn't chose Darkness or Light but would walk the path to Dawn, the middle path."

"Never heard of that before, but it seems like you're managing it."

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Riku felt so confused, the other Riku had done so much damage to Mickey, and yet he had released him. He'd even sat beside him again! Because he didn't think he was a threat? he just didn't know what to think. Then again, Ienzo had been more relaxed before Mickey had come, more willing to just talk to him as he worked. Maybe he could be accepted in some way? Did he want that?

No, he wanted to go home, to be sure Sora was awake and alright. And what would it do to Sora to find out he'd vanished when trying to wake him? Kairi would stand by him, and the others, but the idea of not being there to watch his back, to keep him safe from Xehanort… there was nothing he could do for now except survive and maybe even learn from these different versions of people he knew.

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Sora watched the monitor as Mickey removed the last restraints, wishing there was sound. The King had far less reasons than him to ever trust any version of Riku and yet there he was letting him loose.

"There is something almost innocent in a way about him."

Sora glanced over at Ienzo as the scientist entered the room to use the computer. "Innocent?"

"Mmm. Despite the Darkness within him, perhaps since his reality has not been ravaged by war against Xehanort like this one. The King obviously does not think him a threat and…I believe I agree. There is something very honest in Riku's words and actions, though he is wary of all of us. Not surprising considering we've been keeping him restrained."

Sora nodded, that would make it hard to fully relax. Watching Riku with Mickey, it made the desire to trust him stronger, to have some version of his best friend back in his life. His hand gripped the edge of the console, his Heart torn. Selphie was going to kill him for being out of contact so long…for saving Riku, would she listen after everything that had happened? Would she give him a chance? There was no way they could keep Riku's existence a secret, even if he stayed at the castle. Sooner or later someone would see him, that meant they had to tell the others to keep them from trying to kill Riku if they spotted him with no warning. He was surprised when Riku smiled at something Mickey had said, not a smirk or anything, but a real smile. How long had it been since he'd seen Riku smile?

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Mickey wasn't surprised to find Sora watching the monitor when he joined him, Dilan currently escorting Riku to the nearest bathroom to let him clean up, partially to keep guard and partially to ensure he didn't collapse in the shower. Personally, Mickey didn't think a guard was needed, and not just because Riku had no access to his Keyblade. If the guard was necessary, it would be to protect Riku, not to stop him running or attacking someone.

"Hold on any tighter and you'll break the console," he warned teasingly, and Sora jerked back, blinking. "Alright?" he asked in concern.

"I'm fine," Sora managed a small smile. "You let him loose."

"I did," Mickey nodded. "I don't believe he's a threat, and I don't think you do either."

"I want to believe…but what if we're wrong?" Sora shook his head.

Mickey gripped his arm gently. "Then we deal with it, but I don't think that'll happen." He really didn't, not without outside interference anyway.

That was a concern, how would the local Riku react when he discovered this Riku's existence? How would Xehanort? Would they take Riku and try to turn him to their side? He doubted they'd care about his consent, after all Terra hadn't. Maybe Terra would the best person to next admit Riku's existence to, he would be the most understanding surely. He would need to approach him alone and with plenty of time to talk things over.

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Riku carefully washed, enjoying the warmth of the shower spray, letting it sooth the various aches. He was glad he'd let Kairi cut his hair before they left for the exam, it made washing it easier and it would have been a tangled mess after a dip in the sea and then the time he'd been sick. He got out and dried, dressing in the clothes he'd been given, not his own but things meant for laying around in, soft and warm. He left the room to find Xald…Dilan. It was going to take some time and practice to call them by their real names.

They walked quietly back to the room Riku had been staying in, Riku glancing around as they did. The place had definitely taken damage but what had caused it if the World hadn't fallen?

"Want a room with a window or an internal," Dilan spoke up when they were nearly back.

"What?" Riku frowned in confusion.

"Once you've been cleared medically you'll need an actual bedroom. So do you want a window or not?"

Riku paused, shocked, and Dilan stopped walking to wait. "I…"

"You are not our prisoner Riku," he said.

"Uh, a window if possible," Riku finally answered, and Dilan nodded. They made it back and Dilan nodded to him again before leaving. The room was empty so Riku walked a few laps of it before exhaustion had him retreating to the exam table to rest. It wasn't the most comfortable but he'd slept on far worse.

It felt like he'd barely laid down before he was waking, feeling heavy, lethargic. He blinked his eyes and then slowly pushed himself up to sit and look around. He stretched and then stood up, wondering how long he'd slept. There was no clock and without windows he couldn't see if it was day or night. Riku turned as the door opened, Sora walking into the room, and he found himself backing towards the table. Did Sora know that Mickey had let him loose? Would he be mad? He was shocked when Sora smiled slightly at him.

"You look better."

"Thanks, the shower helped with that," he shifted slightly. "Are you mad he let me out?"

"No," Sora shook his head. "I trust him to make that decision…I didn't trust myself." He walked towards him slowly and Riku was frozen, shocked by Sora's words. He stopped just before he'd be crowding him against the table and then held his hand out.

Riku glanced down and then cautiously reached out with his hand in return. Sora wasn't wearing gloves, maybe this Sora didn't wear any? His skin was warm and the callouses were familiar, caused by wielding a Keyblade for years. There was a scar at the base of his thumb that was unfamiliar but that made sense, his past was different and he was older than the Sora he knew. Sora squeezed his hand and this time it was almost the grin he knew on Sora's face, making him smile in return.

"Nice to meet you Riku."

That made him laugh and shake his head. "Nice to meet you too, Sora."

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Selphie flopped back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, pouting. She was both angry and worried and she didn't like that combination. Something was obviously going on and Sora wasn't answering her, it was just like him to keep quiet to try and 'protect' her. She didn't want that, she had a Keyblade too after all, even if she was the newest with one. That didn't mean she couldn't fight! Okay, so a Keyblade was really different to her old skipping rope but still, fighting was fighting and she was getting pretty good at magic too.

Sora had better be okay!

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Terra looked at his phone, finding a message from Mickey asking him to join him and Sora in Radiant Garden. Hadn't Sora been sent to Destiny Islands to check on something odd? So why was he at the Garden? He didn't have a mission at the moment so he might as well go check out what they needed.

Terra left his room and headed out onto the grounds, breathing deeply. He would never stop loving the smell of home, not after seeing it destroyed so long ago, after being possessed. He shook it off and summoned his Keyblade, opening a portal before activating his armour. He wished he could use Light or Dark portals but he couldn't, he was stuck with his Glider unless with someone who could. He took off for Radiant Garden, hoping there was no trouble.

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Ienzo attached the sensors as Riku sat on the examination table. He recorded the readings, studying the results. Much better than when he had first arrived. "You're improving well, although I don't suggest going swimming or getting too cold just yet. Your lungs are still weaker than normal. You've even managed to put on a little weight, though you still have a ways to go until you reach the appropriate weight for your height and age. I'm not prepared to release you out into the World just yet, but you can move to the bedroom Dilan has prepared for you.'

"Thank you.."

Ienzo nodded, "anything beats the lab?" he asked, and Riku flushed slightly. "Relax, it is hardly a comforting location for most." He put the tablet down and looked at Riku. "If I may ask…how do you know me? I have never met your counterpart."

"We met once, when you were Zexion, at Castle Oblivion. You…he…nearly killed me but in the end…I think I killed him."

"You think?" Ienzo asked, what had happened for him not to be sure?

"Well he vanished after I struck and he wasn't with the Organisation later so I assume he died either then or soon after."

"I see," two very different deaths then. At least in Riku's reality it appeared he had gone down fighting rather than stabbed in the back. He'd never even seen who did it, although all of those at the Castle had denied having done it. he figured it was Saïx or Xigbar honestly, not that it really mattered. "I'll show you to your room and then the kitchen," Ienzo changed the topic.

Riku dropped off the table and slipped his boots on, following him from the lower levels and up to where they lived. Ienzo showed him the kitchen and the small library they kept near their rooms for light reading, before leading him to a newly readied bedroom.

"This is yours, I am next door, and Even across the hall."

The room was nothing fancy, none of them were, but they were functional and comfortable. The beds were wonderful after those horrible things they had used in the World that Never Was, then again they technically hadn't had to sleep then.

"Thanks," Riku stepped into the room and put away the few clothes they had given him as well as what he'd worn when he'd arrived, looking around the room before moving to the window.

"I'm afraid the grounds were left to run wild while we were absent but they are slowly improving."

"It's great," Riku turned to look at him, shifting slightly, unsure? "Thank you, for everything. You had no reason to save my life."

"We have much to atone for Riku, allowing you to die just because you could be an enemy would be wrong. We all fell under Xehanort's sway, I cannot condemn anyone else for doing the same, and there is always the chance to turn back."

"Do you think the other Riku can?" Riku asked in surprise, and Ienzo hesitated.

"I have not met him," he reminded Riku. "From everything I have seen caused by his actions and heard from others, I must admit I am unsure. We had no Hearts to guide us when it came to many of our worst acts, he was doing such without that excuse. Remember to get lots of rest, don't push yourself or you'll end up back in the lab," he warned before leaving. He didn't want to tell Riku that he doubted very much his older counterpart wanted to be saved from the Darkness. He might want Xehanort's Heart gone, who knew, but to turn back to the Light? He doubted it.

TBC…