What's...what's happening? I'm...fading…
"Your heart reached out for any connection it could grasp, and it led you to him; and by doing so, me." A man's voice echoed through oblivion, through a place where neither darkness nor light could reach.
Who...who are you?
"We've met once before… You fear the darkness I command, yet you've now found that the light no longer holds the solace that you've longed for." Before him appeared a tall man with dark skin and long white hair. His golden eyes held no kindness as he towered over the lost heart. "I am Ansem."
Why are you here? Are you lost as well?
Ansem narrowed his eyes towards the heart. " Even now you try and push repel what fate has lain before you, should you desire to return to the world that you once walked in. The only way is to allow the darkness to guide you, let it take control and you will find what you seek.
...Whatever it takes. Anything to protect them.
Ansem glanced back towards the lost heart for a moment, his face reading no emotion as he disappeared within the darkness.
Riku sighed in relief as the King appeared alongside him with a supportive smile. As both of them turned towards the next door before him Mickey widened his eyes in surprise.
"Huh?" The king narrowed his eyes as he and Riku saw a tiny person pacing back and forth the hall, seemingly thinking as he placed his hand on his chin.
"Jiminy?" Riku questioned as the small cricket turned towards them, jumping up in shock as he spotted them.
"Riku! Your Majesty!" Jiminy exclaimed as they met midway, Jiminy jumped onto Mickey's hands as Riku knelt down.
"What are you doing here? I thought you went back with Donald and Goofy!"
"Huh?" Jiminy glanced at them in confusion, "What are you talking about, I got separated from Kairi and the rest a while ago in Monstro's belly. Next thing I knew I was wandering this castle."
"Monstro?" Riku murmured as a pang of guilt washed over him.
"That's awfully strange." The King murmured to himself, pondering something as Jiminy glanced up at Riku.
"If you're with the king now, I guess everything's alright with you and Kairi now."
Riku looked away for a moment. "Not exactly."
"Huh?" Jiminy tilted his head in confusion.
"I have no idea where she, Donald, and Goofy are now. When we fought against the darkness the worlds went back to normal the King and I were trapped in the realm of Darkness in order for the Door to Kingdom Hearts close. I wouldn't blame her if she was still mad at me."
"Kairi was never mad at you Riku." Jiminy reassured as he looked up at Riku. "She was worried about you."
Guilt hit him hard as Riku recalled his last moments with her. Ever since they were children, there was always he always saw her as an annoyance. He wasn't sure why he was always so distant from her ever since they were children. If there was a specific moment that triggered it, he couldn't recall. Even so, he wanted to see his longtime friend at least one more time.
"Jiminy, maybe you should check your journal, maybe you wrote something down to help you remember." The King suggested.
"Ah, you're right." Jiminy jumped down from the King's hands. He pulled out his first journal, as another fell down. "Hm." He quickly flipped through the journal. "It ends when we were on Monstro."
Riku and The King exchanged a worried glance before Riku turned back towards Jiminy. "Don't worry Jiminy, we'll find a way out of this castle and get you back home," Riku promised The King nodded in support.
Suddenly, both Riku and the King lifted their heads towards a dark aura that materialized before them. Riku gasped as he recognized the man before. He glanced at the king who narrowed his eyes at the man.
"Do you know him?" Riku questioned as the King crossed his arms.
"Well, I'm not sure. Gotta feelin' that I've met him...somewhere…" The King remarked as Jiminy jumped on Riku's shoulder.
"Hey, who are you?" Riku called out.
"I could be nobody or anybody. It is up to you whether you choose to believe in me or not."
"Boy, you really like pushing decisions on other people," Riku remarked, crossing his arms.
"You have chosen to accept the darkness within your heart," DiZ observed.
"Do you think I'm reckless?" Riku asked, now defensive.
DiZ shook his head. "You have chosen your own path. One that aligns within my own."
"What do you mean?" The king asked.
DiZ walked up towards him, holding a black cloak in his hand.
"What's this?" Riku asked curiously.
"The Organization will pursue you. Like a pack of hunting dogs, they will sneak up on you if they sense your presence. However-this cloak that is worn by Nobodies will render their eyes and noses useless. The ears, not so... They wear this to give themselves protection from being devoured by darkness. Is it clear? Even the Organization cannot rule the darkness."
"The last time we met, you said to find Naminé, what does she have to do with this?"
"There are many tools used under the Organizations disposal. You've already destroyed one, the Replica was one of the first. Naminé is another, a witch who has the power to manipulate memories of special individuals."
"Manipulate memories?" The king asked curiously.
"Naminé…" Jiminy perked up, running through the journal again as the two spoke on.
"Doesn't matter. I won't run from the darkness." Riku remarked as DiZ smirked, tossing a card towards him.
"This card will draw out your heart's darkness. Finish your business with Ansem."
Riku turned towards the King and Jiminy, "Come on. Let's go." He said as the two nodded supportively.
"He said this card will draw Ansem out…" Riku said with some concern in his voice.
"Don't worry! We can defeat him together!" The King exclaimed in support.
But Riku shook his head, reminded of the last time he dragged along someone into his battles. "Sorry... I've gotta face him alone."
"But why?!"
"There's no point in doing this if I can't do it on my own. But I do need a favor. If Ansem is the victor, he's going to enslave me once more. If that happens, use your powers to destr-"
"O'course! I'll be right there to save ya!" The king reassured with a smile.
Riku widened his eyes at the King. "Huh? No that's not it. I want you to destr-"
He shook his head, "No way! No matter what happens, I'm gonna be right there to help ya. I promise ya that. Unless...you don't believe I'll come through for ya…"
Riku nodded in understanding, "I choose to believe in you-always, Your Majesty."
"And I in you." The king said, "You're not gonna lose, I know it. Even if you fall back into darkness, and know
"Right, thanks," Riku said with a small smile as he walked towards the next room, holding up a card with the image with Castle Oblivion on it.
Riku ran down the halls of the castle, trying to sense the foul stench of Ansem. "Ansem! I smell you, Ansem. Show yourself!" Riku yelled out, reflexively summoning his Soul Eater when he heard laughter echo the halls.
"Inpatient as always." He heard Ansem's voice echo through the hall. "I'll be here at the very heart of darkness...Watching you plunge into the same darkness-inside of you."
Ansem formed before him with his usual stern expression."I have watched you fight. I know your strength. Your skill with darkness has grown. It has become more mature. And yet, why... Why do you accept the darkness-but still refuse me? You know you and I are similar. We both follow where the darkness leads. Indeed, we are the same, so why? Does some part of your heart still have a fear of the dark?"
" That's not it. The truth is…"Riku said summoning his Soul Eater weapon. "I just can't stand your foul stench."
"Truly, you are a fool." Ansem smirked. "If you cannot identify where your own darkness resides from."
" Yeah, I know. Or did you forget? The power that you promised me back on the islands. The darkness I used under your control!" Riku smirked. " I'm not at all impressed with your powers!"
"Very well. Prove to me your strength." Ansem said hovering above the ground as his dark aura surrounded.
…
…
Riku panted in exhaustion, gripping his weapon in hand. "This is the end!"
Ansem lifted himself from the ground "This is hardly the end. Your darkness, all of it, was a gift that even now you still utilize. I wonder how you will fair when next we cross paths."
"Doubt it." Riku spat as Ansem disappeared, a little of the pain within his heart
As he stepped out of the room to the first floor, Riku looked up to see a giant door standing before him.
"So, Riku...what happens next? Are you goin' home?" He turned to see Mickey behind him with Jiminy on his shoulder.
Riku looked away with uncertainty. He wanted to go home, back to the islands, apologize to Kairi, go back to any semblance of a peaceful life. "I can't go home-not yet. It's still here. It's really faint, but I can sense him. So I think his darkness may still have a hold on me."
"Your darkness belongs to you. Just the same way your light does. Up till now, I thought darkness was something that should never exist. Then I spent time with you and changed my mind. The road you chose-I didn't know. Light and dark, back to back. With you, I think they might meet in a way nobody's seen before. Wonder where that road leads. I'd like to see myself."
Riku's eyes widened as he turned back towards his friend, seeing that the King held out his hand towards him. " I'd like to walk the road with ya."
Riku couldn't help but smile, accepting the King's gesture, and joins his hand with his friend.
"Your Majesty, I'm really flattered... I don't know what to say." Riku said feeling a semblance of happiness that his longtime companion would still stand by him.
"Gosh, Riku, you know you don't have to call me that now. We're pals." The King gave him a reassuring smile.
"Fair enough, Mickey."
Riku walked into a room with a pod, standing before him was a girl with light hair and a white dress. As she turned her head he immediately recognized her face and sweet scent. Behind her was someone else, a boy who slumbered within a pod soundly, looking as though he hadn't a care in the world.
"Are you Naminé?" He asked.
She nodded simply, folding her hands together. "Yes."
Riku's eyes widened as he recognized her scent that he previously had come across. "I see... That was you..."
Naminé's eyes widened in confusion, "Huh?"
"Forget it. Nothing." Riku brushed it off quickly as he saw Naminé grasp the hem of her dress. "I was asked to meet you." He informed.
Naminé nodded, looking guilty. "You have a choice to make, within this castle...parts of your memory began to fade."
Riku's eyes widened slightly, recalling what DiZ said, looking away dor a moment as he gripped his fist.
Naminé nodded. "It's your darkness. In your heart there is darkness, and in that darkness is Ansem. He may be at bay for now-but eventually he'll wake, and he will take over you just like he did before. But I have powers you can use. With my powers, I can put a tight lock on your heart. That way, Ansem could never come out from inside you."
"What happens to me if I let you do that?" Riku asked sharply, anger growing in his heart at the mention of his memories fading, but he could never hurt someone who reminded him of his best friend.
Naminé looked away, the anxiety on her face growing. "The darkness in you will be sealed tight just like your memory. You'll stop remembering the darkness. You'll go back to how you were, before you ever left the island." She said now folding her hands.
"Is that what you did to him? The same thing that you're doing to me?" Riku asked as he glanced towards the boy in the pod. But Naminé faltered, looking as though she were about to cry.
"Yes." Riku glared at her, but even so, noticed her apologetic face. "I hurt him, the people who he held dear," She explained. "All I can do now is keep him safe, and hope that somehow, his heart will remain strong and his memories will be able to find his way back to him. But if you can trust me, I can make it so you won't get any weaker."
"What?" Riku asked in disbelief.
"Your power comes from darkness, slowly, you've already forgotten your reason for pursuing that power. If it continues, then there's a chance that what keeps the darkness from completely consuming you will finally give in, and Ansem will once more gain control over you."
"If that happens, then the darkness will show me the way." Riku said as Naminé couldn't keep eye contact. "Wasn't that what you wanted me to learn?"
"Huh?" Naminé lifted her head as Riku crossed his arms. "The reason why you came to my rescue inside that light...in the form of Kairi."
She petit girl gasped slightly. "When did you realize?"
"I knew when I met you. You and Kairi smell the same." Riku admitted. For a moment, Naminé smiled as her eyes widened, all of a sudden it appeared that she was in pain as she held her head, trying not to scream out.
"No..." She murmured, terrified. "me...as well?" She struggled to stand as Riku immediately walked towards her to help.
"How touching."
Riku suddenly sensed a powerful darkness, stronger than any he had faced before, perhaps even rivaling that of Ansem's power. Naminé was knocked across the room, hitting the wall and getting knocked out at the sheer power.
A burst of rose petals burst across the room before zeroing in on him and the king.
"Who are you?!" Mickey demanded as he and Riku summoned their weapons.
The man before him, wearing a black coat and having rose-colored hair, smiled at them in amusement.
"I am known as Marluxia." He introduced himself as Riku and Mickey drew their weapons. All of a sudden, Riku's head began to throb, for a split second he glanced at the boy in the pod, not sure why, but something inside his heart urged him to go to that boy's side.
"What do you want?" Mickey demanded as Marluxia simply smirked. He lifted his arm, summoning his weapon, a sythe with a rather intimidating blade, swinging as he brandished it before them.
"To tie up any loose ends."
...
...
"You fail to realize that in the long run, I'm doing you a favor. You and the princess of light are both already under the Organization's thumb." Marluxia remarked as Riku as Mickey were swiftly defeated. Both of their weapons disappeared as they fell.
"Whatever you're planning, you're not dragging me or Kairi into it!" Riku rasped, as Marluxia approached him and Mickey, both of them struggling to stand as Marluxia pressed stepped on his chest, holding his blade far too close to his neck.
"You're right. Once you're disposed of, it will be her turn next." Marluxia said,
Riku knew that Marluxia was taunting him, but the thought of anyone harming his friend was enough to cause his blood to start boiling. All of a sudden, a shattering sound echoed through the room as Marluxia jumped back, deflecting a weapon being tossed towards him. He smirked as someone covered in darkness walked past Riku and Mickey, catching his weapon as he lowered his knees into a battle stance.
"Even now you cling to what little you have," Marluxia remarked as the being before them held a familiar-looking weapon.
"Thats..." Riku rasped as he tried to pull himself to his feet but to no avail as the last thing he saw was the back of someone else. The darkness fading from their figure as the Kingdom Key that both he and Kairi once held in their hands was now brandished before them, in the hands of a new master. But even this faded as Riku fell into darkness.
Beyond the path without you is a forgotten promise to keep.
Riku walked forward, his mind hazy as he had just woken up. Now wearing the black coat gifted alongside Mickey as they walked down a dirt path surrounded by grass. As they come to a crossroads of four paths DiZ stood within the center, his hands folded behind their back.
Riku sighed, placing his hands on his hips. "What are you making me choose now?"
DiZ gestured towards the two roads that he stood in the center of. "Between the road to light-and the road to darkness."
We may have walked side by side, but now we go on back to back.
Riku smirked in amusement, already tired enough as it was, his head was hurting him. But it wasn't enough to deter him from the truth he had already realized. "Neither suits me." He said walking past DiZ turned towards him. "I'm taking the middle road."
"Do you mean the twilight road to nightfall?" DiZ asked.
And though our paths may not cross, all paths are connected somewhere.
The silver-haired boy shook his head." No. It's the road to dawn." He looked forward towards the path before him, hearing Mickey catch up as DiZ remained behind to watch over Naminé who was still slumbering from the battle with Marluxia. A dark corridor opened before the two friends, stepping though, they entered a world that was far too familiar.
...
...
...
...
Riku looked up to see the familiar sky of Hollow Bastion. Even though he chose to remain within the darkness, behind a blindfold, hiding from the guilt he always felt In the distance stood the same castle that he last saw Kairi in, the place where he last saw...
"Ugh-" Riku grasped his head, as something suddenly struck his heart. A deep pain squeezed him, placing him on the verge of tears. Something incredibly sad. Something that he couldn't place that made him want to scream out in agony. Something...familiar.
When I arrive at where you are, we may not appear to be as we were...
He lifted his head slightly as he could feel a presence of light, a familiar scent that triggered something within him. Something that he longed to reach out towards, within the town he could feel this person attacking the heartless. Holding an all too familiar weapon in hand, one that he hadn't seen in so long...
This made him feel unsettled. Even though part of him wanted to go down and observe further, he could sense a powerful darkness approaching the light. One that wasn't malicious, but a being that the light regarded before the two walked alongside each other. He walked through a corridor he stepped back into the mansion within Twilight Town. As he did so, he could hear scratching against paper stop, smelling that familiar sweet scent.
He felt at ease as he could feel Naminé smile at his return. For a few moments, he removed his blindfold, ruffling her hair playfully as he saw what she was coloring today. His eyes widened slightly as he saw someone with light hair and a black coat just like his recently colored in her sketchbook. Gently, he touched the empty area next to the person that Naminé drew, not knowing why, but felt right.
But we'll make another promise to keep.