~*~Kingdom Hearts: Mirror Dance~*~
By: Dew
Author's Note: You don't know how much PAIN this chapter caused me. I (almost) literally glued myself onto the chair then tackled Kingdom Hearts to watch its ending and secret movie TWICE. ^^;;; I think I'm pretty proud of this chapter…and please tell me what you think…I need all the advice I could get!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT CLAIM KINGDOM HEARTS. IT BELONGS TO SQUARE AND DISNEY. ONLY THE STORY PLOT BELONGS TO ME. SUE ME AND YOU WON'T GET ANYTHING EXCEPT A PENNY AND THAT'S IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE LUCKY.
~Chapter One~
He was falling, deep into the darkness. He shielded his eyes with a gloved hand in a futile attempt to block out the darkness from his vision. He felt his body falling…falling…falling faster and faster. More darkness swallowed him as he fell, the darkness of the Heartless clawing at his heart, lusting after it. They were hungry.
Oh so very hungry.
His body felt like it weighed a ton, no matter how much weightlessness falling was supposed to generate. The miles of the darkness he had covered with his fall were impossible to keep track of…he was destined to fall forever. Riku never hoped to hit solid ground. No, that'd be asking for too much. The Heartless had him, now and forever. A small cry of protest formed at the back of his throat but in the end…the glimmer of a fight disappeared without a trace.
Riku kept on falling…falling…falling…deep into that darkness…
//Come on.//
Green eyes snapped open, looking around the darkness that surrounded it, searching for that voice. The voice that was so painfully familiar…the voice he had not heard for three long years…
//Come on Riku. I thought you were stronger than that.//
His throat was closed off but Riku mouthed the name anyway. His body turned as he landed on something solid. The silver-haired youth squinted as a light peeked in through the darkness. Something behind that…a warm smile…
//This time…fight Riku. Fight.//
Darkness gave way to light. Riku squinted, bringing up his hand once more to shield his eyes. But this time…it was for a different reason. The light was so bright…unlike the darkness that he had been trapped in for so long…Riku looked around, recognizing the place – it was a place he wanted to return to. It was the place he had sought to break free from when he was younger.
A fool he had been then…
//It's so peaceful…isn't it?//
The ocean splashed against the small island they were standing on. Riku squinted even more, trying desperately to catch a glimpse of the figure's features. The bright smile, the twinkling blue eyes…anything was fine. He reached forward, his hand reaching for warm flesh.
'Sora,' he mouthed, hand waving furiously. 'Sora…!'
The figure finally turned but the sun shined brighter much to Riku's frustration. He could feel the warm smile however, pulsing down at him. //Don't ever forget, Riku. That always…in the deepest of darkness…there lies the brightest of light…//
Riku screamed as the world collapsed back into darkness.
---
"Sora!" his voice penetrated the darkness and Riku sat up, panting heavily, sweat gracing his well-muscled body. "Shit…" he groaned, his head throbbing with a headache. His back felt like it had been ripped out and glued back on while his shoulders felt as if they were about to rip out of the sockets. His head wasn't doing anything to make him feel better either.
Same dream…again…
"It calls…"
Snarling, Riku shut the voices of the Heartless out instinctively. Two weeks had gone by and yet…the memory of the encounter was still fresh, bothering the small amount of sanity he had left mercilessly. Riku turned his gaze to his Keyblade, watching it glimmer in the morning light.
He picked it up, his muscles tightening in remembrance. He swung it slowly, listening closely to the hum the weapon let out as it cut the air around him, surrounding him in the essence of the Keyblade's power. Riku sighed and put the Keyblade down and turned away – his weapon was the symbol for everything…the journey he had not wanted to take.
But I did. For some reason I did.
"It calls…"
Riku stood, his natural grace following his movement as he made his way to the bathroom. There, he took a moment to stare down his reflection. Day after day he saw the same image…however, it had not quite sunk in that the eighteen-year old inside the mirror was him. His reflection looked…healthy. Too healthy to match the weariness that wore down the mental walls that Riku had put up to defend himself from the Heartless and the darkness they brought.
He wanted to punch the mirror, shatter it into a million pieces. That person in the mirror…it wasn't him. He wanted to see himself. "Tch," he snorted, turning away.
In a couple of hours, he would leave this inn. He still had a Keyhole to find. Riku smirked, the ghost of his younger, fifteen-year old self lingering as a glint in his green eyes – perhaps he could punch that stupid mirror on his way out. No one could catch him of the crime when he left this world.
No. As much as I would like to…I won't. I'm Meddling in this world as it is and I might not find the Keyhole today either.
Riku splashed his face with fresh water, feeling the coolness dribble off his face and down to the sink and ground. Two weeks…two weeks in a world was way too long. He had already met the hero and heroine of this world –
"Oy! Riku, awake yet?"
He absolutely refused to groan. "Almost, give me a minute."
"You can't make a princess waiting," came the reply. "But I happen to feel patient this morning…so I'm giving you ten seconds before I jump-kick this door open!"
Even before the threat was finished, Riku had put on his shirt and a fresh pair of pants, throwing the old ones away. They were ripped and bloodstained – too damaged for repairs. In front of the door, he brushed some silver locks away from his face and started to steel himself for the person that stood behind the wood.
//You are the source of all Heartless…//
Riku slammed the door, hearing it creek, almost at the point of ripping out of the hinges.
"Whoa," the red-haired princess blinked, her eyes widening. "Lighten up already, Riku!" She patted him roughly on his back. Riku bit back a violent line of swears forming in the back of his throat as his back pounded his conscious with pain. "I didn't actually mean it…"
"She did," a softer voice disagreed.
"Hn," Riku grunted, peeling Mint's hands away from his pained back. He stared at the sheepish but proud princess then at the silver-haired boy. "When do we leave?"
"After breakfast!" Mint declared. "You can't possibly be thinking of fighting the Heartless without food…right?"
Riku shrugged awkwardly, careful for his shoulders. "I've done it before. It's not hard." He smiled his infamous smirk for Mint. "Don't tell me the almighty Princess of the East Kingdom is afraid of the Heartless…"
"East Heaven Kingdom," Mint corrected. She placed her hands on her hips. "I am not afraid of those creepy, yellow eyed freaks…" she shuddered and rubbed her arms. Riku raised an eyebrow and Mint scowled. "I'm just cold that's all!" She let out a frustrated huff. "Fine! If you want to go out and get yourself killed, be my guest!"
"Thanks, I'll go do just that," Riku answered.
"Wait." Rue caught his right wrist – his weapon hand – firmly, preventing Riku's instinctive reach to his weapon. Smart guy, Riku mused, watching the other male's eyes flicker briefly to his Keyblade. "We went hunting for the Keyhole just yesterday…and honestly, I haven't exactly recovered from my injuries either…Riku, lets go after breakfast like Mint said."
Riku wiggling his wrist free and sighed. "Fine."
Mint let out a laugh of victory. "I'll tell Mira and Kraus that we'll be staying for breakfast then." With that said, the red-haired princess jumped out of the inn's window and ran to the couple's house.
The Keyblade Master, in return, walked back into his room and collapsed onto his bed, Rue following him silently. Riku watched as his companion took possession of a chair. There were no words passed between the two, both of them deep in their own thoughts when Rue broke the silence with a question:
"Who's Sora?"
Riku flinched visibly. "Someone," he answered, eyeing Rue neutrally. His chest contrasted and he fought back a wince. He merely stretched his sore shoulders, his green eyes never leaving Rue's.
"You were talking to the Heartless two nights ago," Rue murmured. "And this morning, Mint and I heard you scream out the name…who is Sora?"
"None of your business," Riku muttered.
Rue was silent, grey eyes flickering with empathy. But Rue did not push him, didn't pry him for answers. That was what Riku liked about the other boy – the guy knew when to back down. Riku needed his personal space…it was the only thing in the worlds he had left with his sanity draining slowly from him with every year that passed by…
Three years…has it only been three years…it feels…longer… Sora… Goddamn it Sora…where the hell are you? Riku felt the stinging sensation in the corner of his eyes.
"Rue! Riku! Hurry up!" Mint's cheery voice rang from outside.
Riku began to rise before Rue's firm hand pushed him down. The green-eyed Keyblade Master stared up at his companion in confusion. Rue gave him a meaningful stare before walking out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. Riku let all the tension escape his body, thus collapsing heavily onto the wall behind him.
//Come on Riku. I thought you were stronger than that.//
I thought so too. He buried his face in a hand. I thought I could find you…
---
Mint looked like she was ready to murder him when Riku finally arrived in front of Kraus's house. Her face was the picture of impatient rage. He was pretty sure he would've received the beating had it not been for Rue, who had latched his hand onto Mint's shoulder to push her firmly onto the ground.
Riku smirked.
Mint glared.
Rue threw him a piece of fruit. The Keyblade Master caught it without flaw and nodded to the other male in thanks. Riku didn't feel particularly hungry…but food was essential for life after all… It was better to eat his fill here than collapsing from hunger in the battlefield. Riku took a bite out of it.
"What took you so long?" Mint exploded, ripping Rue's hand off of her shoulder and stomping the ground. "You didn't even show up for breakfast!"
"I didn't want breakfast," Riku lied smoothly. Actually, he hadn't wanted to meet Rue's eyes until he managed to put up all his walls again, a task that had taken the two hours of Mint's impatience. "You could've left without me."
"Like hell we would!" the princess snarled.
"Oh?" Riku raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"B-Because!"
"Because…?"
"Your Keyblade does the most damage to the Heartless," Rue intervened, saving much embarrassment in Mint's part. "Although she would never admit it…" he shot Mint a glance then shrugged. "Are we ready to go now?"
"Yeah," Riku nodded.
"Finally!" Mint declared, grinning. "Let's go beat some Heartless ass!"
The princess ran towards the great gates of Karona while the two boys followed tiredly. It was a short walk, complete in silence…save the loud screams of Mint for them to hurry up. Riku swore that he would do anything in the world to prevent the red-haired princess from having breakfast until the day he left this world.
Nothing to miss here anyway. Maybe except Rue.
Rue was, indeed a mystery – but Riku would leave the subject untouched. It was the least he could do for the privacy Rue had left him back in the inn.
"Where are we going?" Riku asked.
"To see Wylaf," Rue replied. "Kraus suggested that since Wylaf is the oldest living creature recorded in history books…we should ask him about the location of the Keyhole." Acknowledging Riku's confused gaze, Rue added, "He's a Dragon that lives in our world…on top of the Raging Mountain. I haven't seen him since the days of the Dewprism though…"
"The old geezer probably forgot 'bout us!" Mint hollered suddenly. The two teenagers jumped – they hadn't been aware of the fact that the princess had been eavesdropping on them. "If so…" Mint continued. She whirled around and shot an ice spell at Rue, who blocked it in time with his Arc Edge. "I'll kick his ass again and force him to remember!"
Rue shook his head. "Mint," he sighed. "I appreciate the fact you'd like to fight Wylaf in my place but please use something else as a target."
"Aww…" Mint grinned, "Ya sure?"
"Yes," Rue answered, rubbing his forehead. "I'd like to keep my head please."
He strapped the Arc Edge onto his back and Riku leaped back, feeling the power rolling out of Rue. There was a glow from underneath the ridiculously large hat Rue wore and within a bright flash, a Dragon stood in Rue's place, grunting.
"Get on," Rue-Dragon rumbled.
"This is Wylaf?" Riku asked, in slight awe at the great Dragon's form.
"Yes," Rue nodded. "Or at least how he looked when I last saw him."
Riku jumped onto Rue's back while Mint was still gawking. "Y-You can still…I thought…only once…!" Mint pointed.
"I haven't transformed in a while," was the reply. "So the DNA hadn't been overwritten by another monster's. I'm not sure about the 'one time' thing though…"
"Oh," Mint answered intelligently. She shrugged, let her rings hang from her belt and hopped onto the newly formed Dragon. "Wouldn't Wylaf get a surprise," she snickered. "When he sees an exact replica of himself flying towards his mountain."
The young Keyblade Master listened to the two heroes' conversation, hugging his black Keyblade to his body. As much as he liked to have Rue as a companion, the journey to find Sora tugged at the back of his mind every chance he got a free time to himself. If this Dragon truly did know where the Keyhole of this world rested…then he could continue his search.
And he would.
---
Raging Mountain wasn't anything to look at – it didn't even look like a proper mountain at all, with the large flat plain at the tip of it. There was, however, a strong breeze that blew from the peak down. Riku was glad Rue could fly – there was no way he could face the Heartless and keep his balance at the same time…Riku looked at Mint, unable to picture the fiery princess calmly climbing up this mountain.
"Freaking wind!" Mint screeched beside him. Riku smirked. "It hasn't changed at all since the last time we came here."
"Stop complaining," Rue grumbled. "You're not the one flying against it."
Mint shrugged and grinned. She gave Rue a pat on his long neck. "But since you're Wylaf now so it can't be hard to fly against this little breeze, right? I mean…poor little Riku and I are counting on you to –"
"I get your point."
…This reminds me of Sora and I when we were younger… Riku thought, smiling inwardly.
"Rue!" Mint's voice screeched.
The peace had not lasted too long – Rue screamed as a sudden blast of fire scorched his right wing. The Keyblade Master watched with cold dread and fury as Rue's eyes closed in tight pain. With the great wings halted from their flapping, Rue-Dragon's great bulk started plummeting to the rough ground of the mountain below.
Riku swore as well as Mint as harsh wind whipped at their face over and over – but Rue did not let them down. Riku watched in guilt as the transformed Rue flap his wings to slow their fall.
Even in pain… Riku thought. Would I be able to do that…?
Rue's selfless action cushioned their fall a little and Riku felt his body thrown off Rue's back from the sheer force of the landing. The silver-haired youth hit a boulder with a sickeningly powerful force. He didn't scream, only grunted in pain. His back was slowly going numb.
Thank the Heavens for that.
"Rue!" Mint's voice screeched again. "Goddamn fucking Heartless!"
It was only then Riku noticed the large shadow that was positioned over their heads. Riku could feel the yellow eyes watching him, assessing him in its hunger-filled mind.
When Mint launched into a fury of attacks, Riku limped over to Rue, noticing the boy had reverted back to his old self, body bruised and bleeding heavily. He thrust his hands out and let them hover on top of Rue's body. Murmuring a spell that had saved his life many times in the past, Riku watched as the calm green light settled upon the wielder of the Arc Edge.
Rue's breathing slowed to its regular rate.
Sighing in relief, Riku walked over to the Keyblade, listening to it hum when he grasped it back in its hands.
"Keyblade…" the Heartless said as well as screaming silently when Mint's anger-driven attacks hit home. "…KEYBLADE…!!"
Riku felt the shivers down his spine as the winged Heartless exploded into the black fog from which it originated from and Mint collapsed onto her knees. Riku heard the soft noises of sobbing but they stopped only a second later.
"How is he?" Mint murmured.
"I've healed him," Riku answered. "He's only sleeping now."
Mint stood up, seemingly brushed any tears away from her face and walked up to him and the unconscious Rue. She touched his pale face gingerly, withdrawing her hand quickly when Rue moaned and cracked an eye open.
"A Heartless," Riku said.
Rue did a weird nod and sat up slowly. He flexed his arms slowly. "Nothing seems damaged…"
"Curaga," Riku explained. "A cure spell."
"Oh," Rue winced. "Thanks."
Riku shrugged. "We better move – the Heartless are coming."
"Keyblade…"
Shit. Riku whirled around, holding his Keyblade in front of him as a shield. All around them the ground melted into black, little heads with round, yellow eyes shining hungrily at them. The Heartless withdrew from their shadowy homes and circled the trio.
His warning had come too late. Riku stepped back, making himself close to the injured Rue – there was no way his companion could fight in a state he was in…no matter how many Curaga spells he cast. We're sitting ducks up here…more and more Heartless are going to come…probably faster than we can chop them down.
Little antennas fidgeting, the Heartless took a step forward.
Riku's mind quickened and his senses heightened. He could hear the heavy breathing of Rue next to him and the soft growling noise Mint made. He smelt the air of fear from his two comrades.
"Keyblade…Keyblade…"
Mint started the battle with a powerful fire spell, taking out three Heartless. Riku watched as the princess jump into the middle of the Heartless pack and swing her rings, each large arc drawn through the air slicing through one of the demons. Riku heard the Heartless scream in pain and in delight as they landed attacks on the poor princess.
Riku moved swiftly amongst the sea of Heartless and his Keyblade sliced through each and every one smoothly. The demons did not have a chance to scream or laugh – only fade away in a wisp of smoke. Riku smiled tightly and swung. How many times had Sora done this when he had been fighting against Ansem and…him?
Don't think. With another swing, another Heartless faded, destroyed by the Keyblade he held in his hand. Don't you dare think about something else…or you'll die and…
His penance for his crimes would never be paid.
"…seek…call…"
Finally the Heartless had begun to speak and scream. Everytime Mint's magic flew through a Heartless or the time Rue's Arc Edge tore through their bodies the Heartless would scream as one. Their voices melded into a strange being inside Riku's head, much like how Ansem's mind had done.
No. Never. Not again.
"Riku, hurry!"
Mint's voice then followed Rue's. They were both calling him. The green eyed youth looked up to see the duo running up the mountain hill, waving at him furiously. He nodded and bolted, ignoring the cry of disappointment from the Heartless behind him.
---
"Wylaf!"
Riku winced as Mint called, running ahead of them to the great Dragon's lair. He heard Rue sigh but Riku could detect a smile growing behind the exhaustion as well. The Keyblade Master smirked.
He said nothing however. Saying something in that matter would be Meddling.
Wylaf didn't seem too impressive when they arrived in his lair – for one thing, he was beaten, bleeding and heavily bruised and for another, Riku had already seen the lizard when Rue had taken his shape. Riku noticed, though, that despite bleeding, the old one held the pride of a Dragon.
"Princess," Wylaf greeted. Then his head turned to Rue. "And Rue."
"You didn't forget us," Mint stated, looking mildly upset. "I was looking forward to forcing you to remember us with a jump-kick."
"What happened to magic?" Riku asked as he strolled up to her.
Mint grinned. "That would've come after my kick."
Wylaf threw his head back and laughed heartily, the sound ringing down the mountain. Riku winced. The Dragon calmed with a softer chuckle. "I have not seen you for over a year princess. Yet you are still the immature child I have met during the search for the Dewprism. That reminds me…" He turned to look at Rue.
Rue smiled. "I got her back and I have yet to thank you for letting me borrow your form."
The Dragon nodded. "I trust that you have used good use of my second body."
"I have."
"Good," Wylaf grunted. "I would not like to have my reputation polluted by some soft hearted boy playing with children."
Mint howled with laughter. "That'd be a sight to see!"
"That'd be a sight I would never want to see. Or hear," Wylaf growled half-heartedly. "It is bad enough that I was beaten enough by mortals to give up a gem from my treasures."
Wylaf finally turned to him. Tension rose quickly around them. Riku thrust his hands in his pocket and watched the lizard with cold, unnerved eyes. He noticed from the corner of his eyes how Mint opened her mouth then closed it, only to try again and achieve the same accomplishment. Riku's right hand twitched as the Keyblade hummed.
Does it know?
"Of course I know," Wylaf rumbled.
Riku's eyes narrowed. "Stay out of my head. I had enough mind control to last me two lifetimes."
"I am aware of that." The lizard stared down at him, trying to dwarf him but Riku just stared up, unfazed. Heartless were scarier than a beaten, oversized lizard after all. "Rue and princess," Wylaf said suddenly.
"Yes?" Rue answered.
"I would like to have a private conversation with…the Keyblade Master."
"Hey, what you can say to him, you can say to us," Mint shrugged.
"Princess," Wylaf growled. "It will not take long. I can always put you to sleep while this boy and I talk. But I ask you politely – give us a few minutes for a one-on-one conversation. It will not take long."
Riku nodded when Mint stared at him.
She scowled and tapped her foot. "You hurt Riku and you're going to get your ass kicked, ya understand?" Mint snapped at the Dragon. Riku looked at her. Mint flushed with color. "I've grown fond of you okay? Wylaf ain't known for his cool temper." She glared at the Dragon. "Well? Do you get me or not?"
"Perfectly."
"C'mon Mint," Rue said, taking Mint's hand and yanking her away from the Keyblade Master and the Dragon. "We'll be back in Karona, Riku. And Wylaf, don't mind Mint – take as long as you want."
"Thank you," Wylaf replied.
The moment Rue and Mint were out of hearing range, Wylaf growled once then asked, "Why are you here, Keyblade Master? Do you not know of the fragile World Order?"
"Tch." Riku crossed his arms. "Of course I do."
"Then I ask you now, peacefully, to leave this world," the Dragon said. "You know, as well as I do that the Keyhole of this world is still locked. There is no reason for you to stay here." Wylaf shook his mighty head and glared. "The Heartless are in this world because –"
"I know," Riku interrupted. "You think I don't know? I know very well why they're here."
Wylaf snarled. "Then why stay? Even if the Keyhole of this world was unlocked, the Keyblade you wield does not possess the power to lock it."
"I know that," the Keyblade Master mumbled. "Don't treat me like I know nothing, Wylaf. I know that better than anyone. You think I haven't tried it before? Hell, I've tried it six times already – it hasn't locked a single Keyhole."
"Then why stay?"
"I'm looking for someone," Riku replied. "The Heartless of this world has presented me a clue…for the first time in three years I finally have a lead to where he is. I'm not leaving."
"And endanger the whole world?" Wylaf roared. "I will not have it! Several Kingdoms of this world have already fallen to the Heartless and I will not let it happen to this one as well." Steam of fire formed from the Dragon's jaws, floating out as a silent warning. Riku stood his ground. "Your Keyblade calls the Heartless here…whether the Keyhole is locked or not. Leave, Keyblade Master. I do not wish for this world to be destroyed."
Riku snorted. "Do you think I want it destroyed?"
Wylaf grunted back. "You act like such."
The green-eyed boy glowered up at the Dragon and clenched his fists tightly, biting his lower lip to prevent a rude comeback. Wylaf took heed of Riku's struggle and shook his head, tired. "Leave, young one. Leave this world. I am old…and I can not force you to go anywhere, however…if you stay any longer, this world will vanish."
His fists tightened even more.
"You have seen it happen," Wylaf continued, growling from the back of his throat. "You have seen it and experience it. You have lost your own world once and helped to destroy others."
"Not voluntarily," Riku snapped.
"No, of course not," the Dragon agreed. "But does that matter in the end?"
Riku did not answer. He knew the answer as did Wylaf. He gritted his teeth in frustration. His first clue in three years and this Dragon wanted him to leave this world…Riku's nails dug painfully into his palms. He did what he did best in an argument he could not win – he turned away.
"Avoiding the truth will get you no where, Keyblade Master," Wylaf said. "It will only make the problem worse."
"My life," Riku said, voice going dangerously low. "Is none of your business."
"As long as you remain in this world, it is my business," Wylaf snapped. "You bring the Heartless to this world…and this world can not take any more of the darkness." Wylaf quieted. "It will disappear."
"I know that," Riku murmured. "But I don't care about the world." He pushed his sneer into place and pushed his bangs out of his face. "I never cared about anything… If you read my mind…you should know that." He turned, facing the great Dragon for the last time and asked, "Where is the Keyhole?"
Wylaf gave him a pained expression but answered, "It is guarded by the East Heaven Kingdom. Ask the princess, she'll most likely understand what I speak of."
Not likely. his mind snorted.
But outwardly, Riku said simply, "Thank you." He winced when Wylaf let out a sorrowful roar into the sky. Riku walked away solemnly, hands bloody, cut from the pure force pushed into his nails. He didn't feel the physical pain, only the pounding voices of the Heartless against his mental walls as he walked away from the safety of Wylaf's wisdom.
"Lies, Keyblade Master!" Wylaf's voice boomed. "You lie not only to me but yourself as well!"
I know.
//Come on Riku. I thought you were stronger than that.//
"Me too Sora."
