Riku glanced at the remaining card in his hand as he stood within the Mad Queen's garden, the giant cards already destroyed by his hand. As he stepped out from Wonderland, he noticed that a few powerful auras had been removed from the castle.

"Just one card left. If I get through this, will I be free of the darkness?"

He asked himself as he raised his arm to open what he hoped was the final door.

Zexion gasped suddenly, "Vexen." He murmured as he could no longer sense his superior." Narrowing his eyes, "Yes, his scent is gone...struck down by..." He narrowed his eyes as he recognized another familiar that was close by. Momentarily, he rested his head in his hands, "Agents of the Organization striking each other down?" He questioned as he turned towards what remained of Vexen's experiments, the half-built replica's. Now all were rendered as little more than junk without their creator to fully assemble them together.

"Confronting Axel and the others may prove to be fatal," He reasoned as a wave a panic rushed over him, merely the idea of returning to their lord empty-handed, along with the threat if possible rouge Organization members no less. Within the above floors were the those under Marluxia's control; Number 7, Number 12, the shadow of the princess of light, Vexen's Replica, and even the hero of light as he blindly ran towards the trap being set by number 11. Against all of them, he would stand no chance, even if he were to utilize the dusks under his control.

"For the Superior in dire need of the hero of light. Once the light loses sight of its path there may be a use for the dark." He recalled Vexen once saying, zeroing in on the Hero of Darkness's location.

Walking through another white hall Riku placed his hand on the final door. No more cards after the left.

"End of the line." He observed as he summoned his weapon. "Hard way it is" Just as he was about to slash the door when he sensed a dark aura approaching.

He jumped back just as another black coat appeared, this one with long silver hair.

"So, Hero of Darkness, we finally meet."

Riku narrowed his eyes, weapon still in hand. "And who are you suppose to be?"

"My name is Zexion." He said introducing himself.

"What exactly do you want, here to give me another card?" He asked.

"In a way," Zexion remarked, "the appointed keeper of this castle, Vexen, and many others have been felled by the Keyblade master."

"Keyblade... " Riku eyes widened, dropping his guard. "You mean Kairi? Is she here?!"

Zexion crossed his arms, having a curious expression on his face, "Unfortunately, the princess of heart is not one whom the castle is host to. However, the boy has proven himself to be quite the adversary."

Riku's entire body trembled, "Sora, you mean Sora, don't you?!"

"Indeed." Zexion confirmed, and something inside Riku was relieved. Sora was here, he was alive, but-

"Where is he?" He demanded to know, clutching his weapon's hilt as Zexion smiled.

"So, you want to see him again. But..." Zexion pulled out a card from his hand, "can you face him?"

Riku took a step forward. "What does that mean?"

"Allowing your world to consumed by darkness, by Ansem's shadow, still nesting within your heart. Do you plan to face Sora like that? Are you not ashamed? Allowing yourself to be fooled by a replica of your friend when the real one was lost within this castle's walls?"

Riku looks away, even when he was possessed, he still remembered within the dark castle, what he did to his friends...

"Sora's fate is to battle the darkness. He must oppose anyone who hosts the dark-in other words, it's you-" Zexion explained as he could see Riku's dark aura getting stronger.

"SHUT UP! Leave him out of this. Sora doesn't have anything to do with the Keyblade, with other worlds." Riku argued furiously, not wanting to think about what his friend would have to, may already, have had to endure. Throughout their respective journies, he knew Kairi had found friends to support him, even though he regretted it now, Maleficent had provided a twisted form of her own friendship as well.

But Sora? He would've been all on his own.

Zexion simply smirked, "If you don't believe the words I say..." He remarked, tossing a card towards him. "then you'd best see the truth with your own eyes."

Riku's eyes widened as he recognized the location, "This card! This is-"

"Yes, it is your home. Though I must wonder, do you have the strength to face your past?" Zexion asked aloud as he disappeared into the darkness, leaving Riku shaken in just a few short moments.

Notes:

It's gettin' a lil' spicy now boys and girls.