Disclaimer: not mine

Chapter 9

Sora clung to Riku; he was back! Just like he'd hoped, the water had broken or at least badly weakened the magic controlling him. He felt Riku freeze, the high-pitched whistle of distress, and he looked up to see Maleficent's hand moving over the orb on her staff, what? Whatever it was, it couldn't be good to be making Riku so scared. They were both exhausted and despite the Cure spell, he was still hurting from the godly flames. They had to get away, to find water, they couldn't face those two now.

He cast another Cure spell, this time over both of them, feeling a bit more of his strength return, standing straighter. He forced himself to focus, shifting in front of Riku, summoning the Keyblade. He would not let them take Riku again!

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Okay, so he was kind of impressed. Somehow, the kid was still standing even after two helpings of his special flames. Sure he'd handled himself in the Games, had even taken out his Cerberus, after his blasted nephew had tired it out, but his fire was something else. It was obvious Maleficent intended to ensnare both of them now and if she could then that was fine and dandy. He was only in all this for the fun anyway, it was very unlikely their plans would help him defeat his dear big brother.

Maleficent's plans to rule everything using the Darkness would never work, though she'd come closer than anyone else he'd heard of. It helped being an immortal faerie he guessed. Well, un-aging and hard to kill, not immortal. He could do it if he wanted to but he saw no reason to, her kind had their place in things. No, it was the presence he had picked up on now and then that concerned him. It almost felt like a Heartless but far too powerful, it was Dark with a capital 'D'. It had left a lingering scent on the boy when he'd first arrived too, and that was a presence Hades would not allow to gain power. He had felt that same power a decade ago, had felt the surge of something far greater even, they all had, but then it had vanished. That kind of power could re-write the universe and only Hades was allowed to do that.

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Riku swayed on his feet as Sora stepped in front of him, Keyblade appearing. Even after everything he had done, Sora was trying to protect him. He wanted to help, to fight, but he could feel the fogginess seeping into his mind again. He tried to speak, to warn Sora, but he couldn't, the world was becoming hazy. No! Not again…he knew he wouldn't wake up ever if it took him over again. He managed to force his arm up, fingers grazing Sora's arm, and Sora turned his head, eyes widening.

"Riku? Hey, stay with me," he twisted side on, grabbing Riku's hand, squeezing.

He was tired…so tired…his arm was being shaken hard and he made himself focus, seeing Sora's lips move, the panic in his eyes. He shouldn't be scared, everything was alright. No…no he was…he had to…

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Sora watched Riku slump to his knees, eyes partially closed, unfocused. He turned to glare at Maleficent. "Stop it!" he snarled. His magic was all but gone, he wasn't up for a physical fight either…but he still had something left, something he'd never fully let go, it was too dangerous. There was a reason he was the only hybrid child. But this World seemed empty except for her and her group so what did it matter?

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"Open your Heart to me and I will save the boy for you," the familiar voice whispered to him. The voice…from before….his dreams on the Island….no!

He wanted to scream, Maleficent's magic and the man's voice both tearing at his Heart and Mind. Trying to fight both was a losing battle but he couldn't let either win, he couldn't.

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Maleficent smirked as Riku slumped to his knees, the spells beginning to regain control of him. This time, there would be no freeing him, not once both were hers to command. Sora's exhaustion and injuries would make it easier for her magic to subdue him, but it would still take time. They would need to be separated until then. To her surprise he let go of his Keyblade but then threw his head back and screamed.

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Kairi sat on their bed, she was meant to be sleeping while Cid upgraded the ship, ready to leave for Hollow Bastion. They had to get there as fast as possible, the thought of Riku under Maleficent's control being used to hurt Sora… or what if she did it to Sora too? What…what if they were too late? What would they do if they got there and Sora had been turned against them…against her? She lay down on his side of the bed, burying her face in his pillow, able to pick up his scent, breathing it in as she fought against tears. She couldn't lose both of them, she couldn't!

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Screaming…was he screaming…no….someone….Sora! He fought to see what was happening around him, feeling as the temperature plummeted, air pressure changing. Finally he managed to open his eyes, seeing the old hangings beginning to whip about as the wind began to howl through the large room. Riku moaned as the wind bit into his skin but then it warmed, wrapping around him, protecting him. It took agonising minutes for him to get his brain to work and realise what was happening. Sora…

He forced his head to turn slightly to the side, enough to see Sora standing there with his head back, eyes closed, as he released his power. Everyone might call Sora a ray of sunshine, but every mer knew the truth…he was the storm, destructive and powerful when angered, but also a cleansing force of nature. It was why most of Riku's kind stayed away from Sora. It had never scared Riku though, even now he had unleashed it, the storm was protecting him.

His head was clearing, making it easier to think, to move, and he staggered to his feet. The storm was blocking both of their attempts to control him, and he stumbled closer to Sora, wrapping an arm around his waist, resting his head against the back of Sora's, offering what little magic he had to help him. Once the storm got to a certain level it would be self-sustaining and they should be able to use the cover to at least get out of the castle. If they could make it to the Falls then they could enter the water and have time to recover.

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Well, he hadn't seen that coming! So much power in such a small package. No wonder his brother had agreed to aid him. He could make out movement, young Riku obviously recovering somewhat, moving to stand with Sora. The magic of the storm was acting to protect him from both Maleficent and the other…very interesting. So what to do, what to do?

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Goofy glanced at where Kairi was sitting and staring blankly into space. The poor kid. They had to be in time to save Sora, they had to be! He was their friend, the idea of fighting him…Goofy shuddered slightly. Sora was such a good kid; he was looking forward to introducing him to the King and Queen. The way they talked about the Islands, a few things Kairi had let slip, he got the feeling the three wanted a new home where they could live together in peace. Surely the King would be willing to give them a place? They had to save the boys first.

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Sora gasped, slumping back against Riku as the storm finally became self-sustaining, able to feel and hear the hurricane force winds battering the castle, lightning splitting the sky, as torrential rains found their way through the cracks in windows and stonework. He felt Riku's arm tighten around his waist, could feel the limb trembling….Riku's whole body was shaking slightly, he was too weak to hold them both up for long.

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What had that blasted boy done? Somehow the storm he had called had cut him off from Riku. He'd been so close to getting him to allow him in, he couldn't take him over by force, not as he was now. He needed the brat to be weak, to seek his power; controlling him the way he had back on the Island had cost him too much power.

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Hades watched the drama play out and then sighed, he couldn't believe he was about to do what he was, but whoever that was that wanted the kid could not be allowed to win. Hades wasn't going to fight him himself which meant he needed the brats alive to do it. Having them in his debt…well, that could be very useful.

He looked over to see Maleficent was shocked by the storm, her magic battling it, but the thing had taken on a life of its own and would take a long time to calm, by now it may have overtaken the whole World. "Later," he told her, vanishing in a puff of smoke to reappear behind the kids, a hand coming down on a shoulder of each. "Time to go kiddies," he told them and then they were all gone.

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Maleficent turned in rage but it was too late, Hades and the boys were gone. How dare he!

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Phil peered around the corner cautiously only to find the room empty. He frowned; he was sure he heard something…a loud splash! He moved towards the pool and his eyes widened in shock as he saw the two creatures floating in the water. "Hercules!"

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Hercules dropped into the water, wading over to Sora, turning him over even though he knew he couldn't drown. He was unconscious, pale, but Herc couldn't see any wounds. He moved him over to the ledge, settling him on it, and then moved to the second figure. Shoulder length silver hair floated around him as Herc turned the still form over, was this Riku? How had they just appeared? He moved him to Sora's side and then got out of the pool to reassure Phil and to find them some food for when they woke.

Once that was done, he went to find Hermes, he had a message to send.

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All three stared out of the Gummi ship at Hollow Bastion. The whole World was covered in a storm unlike anything they'd seen before.

"We've gotta get through that?" Goofy asked, worried.

"Sora…" Kairi whispered, somehow she knew, Sora had unleashed that storm. But why? She yelped as a figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the ship. He was blue and kind of glowed!

"Okay, which one of you is Donald?" the floating man asked, adjusting his glasses, and Donald nodded. "Message from Hercules, for ya. He's got two guests you need to come and see." He had wings on his sandals and hat, were they how he was hovering? He looked at her and smirked. "Hey babe," he greeted, and she glared. "Right, message delivered, see ya." And with that he was gone.

"Two guests…ya don't think?" Goofy looked at Donald and then her.

"We gotta get to the Coliseum!" Donald yelped, grabbing the controls.

Kairi looked back at the storm, she was sure Sora had caused it, but then how was he somewhere else? Had he escaped? And the messenger had said two…Riku?

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Hercules smiled as Donald and Goofy walked into the Coliseum, a redheaded girl with them, she had to be Kairi.

"Sora?" She asked, and he nodded.

"I'm guessing the other guy is Riku, silver hair?" he asked, and she nodded, closing her eyes in obvious relief. "They just appeared, unconscious, in the changing room pool, they still haven't woken up. Sora…had some very nasty burns but they're healed now, and Riku's condition didn't look so good. Come on, I'll take you to them," he offered, leading them to the room. He opened the door and she was rushing past him, kicking her shoes off and stripping out of her coat. Figuring he wasn't needed, he left, finding Donald and Goofy had also remained outside.

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Kairi glanced up, finding she was alone with them so she stripped out of her soaked clothes before moving closer to where they were floating over a shelf. She sat on it and shakily reached out to stroke Riku's cheek, trying not to cry at the sight of him. But who was it who would wake up, their Riku or Maleficent's? She turned to Sora, seeing where he'd been burned, the skin still marked, what kind of fire had it been?! She knew Poseidon's gift gave him protection from heat and fire so to get past that…another god? She touched one carefully, relieved to find the skin felt normal and then Sora stirred.

"Sora?" she called his name, moving to cup his face. "Wake up, please," she begged.

She watched as he moved slightly, eyelids fluttering before slowly they opened and he blinked dazedly. It took a few moments for his eyes to focus and she smiled as he stared up at her, his eyes went wide and then he was moving, sitting up to wrap his arms around her, talking so quickly she doubted anyone could keep up, not that she understood anything he was saying.

"It's okay Sora, you're in the Coliseum," she figured it was a safe bet to assume he was asking where they were. "Hercules found you both here." He jerked when she said both and she shifted out of his hold so that he could see Riku.

Sora slipped off the shelf and swam to Riku's side, obviously calling to him, taking a limp hand in his, using his other hand to gently stroke Riku's face. Sora looked and sounded scared, what had happened to them after they vanished from Hook's ship? Sora was still Sora at least, that was good. And Riku would be gaining strength by being in water and his true form, if he was still under her spell then this would help him fight it, wouldn't it?

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There was a voice…calling him….no, let him sleep….he didn't want to wake up, to be her puppet…he wanted Sora and Kairi….Sora….the voice? No, it was a trick, a trap.

"Riku please wake up, don't leave us." There was a hand on his face, stroking his skin, and it was wet. Water? He hadn't been in water in so long. It had to be a dream.

His eyes snapped open as lips pressed to his, the hand on his cheek slipping back into his hair, supporting his head, and he breathed in deeply, smelling Sora. He stared into bright blue eyes, feeling himself trembling. Could it really be real? There was a hand holding his and he cautiously squeezed it. Sora pulled back and smiled at him, but there was uncertainty in his eyes. Riku lifted his free hand, touching Sora's face, carefully exploring familiar features. He had control of his body, he could think clearly, was he really free?

"Sora?"

Sora laughed, smiling widely, nodding, and then he leant back in, Riku lifting himself to meet him, kissing him. He could remember Sora kissing him as he begged him to wake up from her control but this kiss was different. "You're okay Riku, we're safe," Sora told him.

"Riku?" the familiar voice had him turning his head to see Kairi in the water beside them, watching them. She looked scared and that made Riku feel sick, she'd never been afraid, the only human to never fear him. She stared into his eyes and then she sobbed, reaching for him. "Riku!" she cried his name, and he felt Sora move aside.

Riku reached out to her and she fell into his arms, sobbing as she hid her face against his neck. He held her close but not tight enough to hurt her, a hand running up and down her bare back, careful of his claws. He nuzzled at her, breathing in her scent.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he told her, even though he knew she couldn't understand him.

She pulled back a bit and he couldn't help tightening his grip but she only moved enough so that they could look at each other, tear tracks streaked down her face. She lifted a hand to stroke his wet hair back from his face before closing the distance between them, shocking him when warm lips pressed to his. She was kissing him! Despite knowing what he'd done, how dangerous it could be if they let things progress between them; she'd seen Sora's Mum!

"I love you," she whispered, smiling softly. "I've missed you so much, I'm just glad you're back." She kissed him again and he carefully kissed back, surprised when he felt her straddle his tail, realising she wasn't wearing anything.

He shivered as her hands moved over the patterns of scales on his chest that identified his clan, that proved he wasn't quite fully grown yet but that he was going through the mer version of puberty. It felt really good, distracting him as she deepened the kiss, he decided he really liked kissing, why didn't his people do it? Kairi was managing to avoid hurting herself on his teeth just fine. A hand tugged at his hair, pulling him back, and he glared but it was just Sora who grinned at him.

"As good as that looks, we are not mating for the first time in a pool," Sora told him, and Riku blushed.

Kairi laughed, giving him a quick, chaste kiss. "You're blushing," she teased before shifting off his tail. "Hungry?"

He nodded; he was starving. Riku hadn't really cared about eating since falling under her spell, hadn't cared about anything except pleasing Maleficent, something that made him feel sick now. he could remember everything he'd done, ever word spoke…

"Hey," Sora leant in to nuzzle at his throat. "We know none of that was you. I could see it, even back on the Islands, your eyes were glassy and you didn't sound at all like yourself. I could see it, every time we met as more and more of you slipped away. We know you were fighting, that it wasn't your fault," he told him.

Riku wanted to argue, he'd been weak, he should have gone straight for the water when he woke up alone, but Sora was actually glaring at him as if he knew what he was thinking. He looked away, ashamed, and Kairi hugged him, not knowing what they were saying but obviously reading his expression and body language.

"We love you," she whispered, kissing him gently before Sora leant in and kissed him too. "I'm going to dry off and get some food, okay?" she asked, and they both nodded.

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Sora watched Kairi leave and then he tugged at Riku's hand, pulling him off the shelf and into the water where they could submerge fully. He wrapped himself around Riku, holding on tight, and Riku held on just as tightly. He was still tired from that storm but Riku needed looking after more than he did after everything he'd been through. He carefully ran his hands over Riku's body, searching for any sign of injuries or anything going wrong with the shift between forms after he'd been stuck in a human form for so long.

"I'm okay," Riku whistled softly.

"I could see her taking control again and I couldn't do anything," he choked out, feeling Riku's embrace tighten.

"You did Sora, your storm stopped both of them."

"Both?" Sora asked, confused.

"It wasn't her…back home. Some hooded figure and I tried to fight him but I couldn't. I could hear him before you called the storm, he was saying he'd save you if I let him in. Fighting both of them…I had no chance. You saved me," Riku stared him in the eye, totally serious.

"It's all we've been trying to do the whole time," he admitted. "Kairi got through to you in Traverse Town that first meeting, didn't she?"

Riku nodded. "The spells weren't as strong then, every time I slept I'd wake up and feel more and more slipping away. Part of me was aware it was happening and I couldn't stop it, I couldn't fight it."

"It's okay, all that matters is you're back now," Sora smiled at him.

Riku pulled him closer, burying his nose in his hair, and Sora let him. "I can smell you on each other," he admitted softly.

"We've been sharing a bed since we ended up on Traverse Town," Sora explained. "We kiss and cuddle, but we didn't dare do anything else, I didn't want to risk a bond forming without you there too. She'll even nap in the small bathtub we've got with me." He brushed some wet hair back and Riku frowned before touching his ear.

"You pierced your ears? Your Mum is going to kill you."

"Battle accessories," he shrugged, before reaching for the band around Riku's wrist.

Riku looked down, eyes widening at the matching one on Sora's wrist. "What?"

"I slipped it on you in Traverse Town. They were a gift, from the sea-god here. His nephew trains here and he saw me in this form, he can understand us since he has godly blood. I told him about you and he asked his Uncle for help. I know you were in the Cave of Wonders, did the heat bother you as much as it should have?"

"That was because of this?" he asked, and Sora nodded. "Thanks."

"Figured you didn't have access to a bath or anything." Sora darted in for another kiss and Riku laughed. It wasn't his normal laugh, it was tired and stressed sounding, but that would pass in time. "There's a World I know you'll love, Atlantica, it's all underwater and thanks to the World Order magic, it turned Kairi into a mermaid!"

Riku stared at him, dumbfounded, and Sora grinned. They'd go there as soon as possible, Riku definitely needed time in the ocean. They surfaced as Kairi returned, happy to eat.

TBC…

So massive change from canon with Riku being saved so early. Hope you all enjoy it!