Title: Reflections: Riku ( 4 / 8 )
Author name: Ari Powwel
Author email: eight_muses@hotmail.com
Spoilers: After the boss fight against Dragon!Maleficent.
Summary: Boss fight against Dragon!Maleficent.
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by various publishers including but not limited to Disney Interactive and Square Co., Ltd. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
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I could only stare as my best friend gawked at a monster over five times his size. He'll be killed! I thought helplessly.

Sora tensed suddenly, readying the Keyblade for battle. The duck – Donald, I think – crossed his staff in front of him, and the dog – Goofy? – lifted his shield, bracing for impact.

Just as Maleficent was about to hit him, Sora dived under her, attacking her head. After that, he just leapt and attacked her head repeatedly. He let Donald and Goofy take care of themselves, as he did himself. It seemed as though they would win easily.

Maleficent pulled her head up; smoke was coming from her mouth. Move! I yelled. It was so obvious what she was about to do! But Sora didn't seem to notice, so intent was he on reaching her. She opened her mouth and roared, green fire spilling out of her mouth. It slammed into the three, sending them sprawling back. I heard Donald cry, 'Aeroga!' and saw him covered in a spiralling white shield, effectively protecting himself from the flames. A moment later, Goofy was protected, too. But Sora remained vulnerable. I suppose those two thought he could take care of himself. 'Curaga!' Donald shouted. Three bell-like flowers appeared over Sora's head, green covering him.

I guess not.

Sora didn't seem to even notice what Donald had done, he just kept hacking at Maleficent. Finally, he hesitated a moment, then unleashed a flurry of attacks, almost glowing with a golden aura. Then it was gone. Ars Arcanum, I breathed, remembering Captain Hook's mastery of it. 

Maleficent stopped, swaying a bit. She was close to defeat. Sora chained several attacks to the side of her head and she collapsed, dead. Blinding green fire covered her, destroying her body. When it finally died down, all that was left was a dark shadow. I jerked as Ansem walked forward, looking at the spot with no pity. 'How ironic.' He said this with no emotion, a feat I found quite terrifying, really. How can a person feel nothing? 'She was just another puppet after all.'

'What?' Donald quacked.

'The Heartless were using Maleficent from the beginning. She failed to notice the darkness in her heart eating away at her.' He ground his heel into the shadow; it disappeared beneath his feet. 'A fitting end for such a fool.' He walked over to the portal and exited, not looking back. Somehow . . . he knew Sora wouldn't follow him, at least for the moment.

We walked through the castle, ending up back in the Grand Hall in minutes. Ansem perched on top of the Keyhole, talking to . . . well, to me, I guess.

Those fools, he spat, they'll follow us. To be sure.

I remained silent. Probably a good idea at the time.

But maybe it's better this way, he mused. I can guarantee they won't stop us later on . . . he looked at Kairi. And once the boy is out of the way, those two shan't pose a problem. He seemed to feel my hatred for him. 'And this one,' he said lazily. 'What to do with you . . .' he sighed. I already knew what was going to happen to me. I would die, plain and simple. And I personally felt it was for the best. I'd never be able to face Sora and Kairi after this . . .

'It's time,' Ansem said. I shut my eyes, not wanting to believe it would end like this. Something was pulling me, tugging me from my body. I clung to myself, trying not to go. My eyes snapped open. I'm not going down without a fight! I had just started to battle when the thing disappeared. Frowning, I looked to see what had happened. I didn't think Ansem would give up so easily . . .

Sora, Donald, and Goofy had run into the room and up the stairs. Sora ran into the platform at the top, closely followed by Donald. Ansem flicked my hand at them, and when Goofy tried to enter, he slammed into an invisible barrier, falling down. Donald turned, surprised, but Sora didn't seem to notice, instead heading for Kairi. He didn't seem to notice Ansem sitting on the Keyhole.

'Kairi!' he reached her, crouching beside her body. 'Kairi, Kairi! Open your eyes!'

'It's no use,' said Ansem. His voice held a mocking tone, 'That girl has lost her heart. She cannot wake up.'

'What? You . . .' Sora stopped. 'You're not Riku!'

Brilliant . . . figure it out now . . .

'The Keyhole cannot be completed so long as the last Princess of Heart still sleeps.' Ansem said.

'The princess . . . ?' Sora looked at Kairi. 'You mean Kairi's a princess?'

Ansem slid off the Keyhole, floating down slowly to rest before it. 'Yes, and without her power, the Keyhole will remain incomplete. It is time she awakened.'

Sora seemed to still be having trouble with the fact that I was . . . well, captive in my own body. 'Whoever you are, let Riku go! Give him back his heart!'

'But first, you must give the princess back her heart.'

Sora kneeled over, clutching at his chest, where his heart was. I wondered what was happening – 'Sora!' Donald squawked.

'What's –' Sora started to say, but was cut off by Ansem.

'Don't you see yet? The princess's heart is responding. It has been there all along. Kairi's heart rests within you!'

Sora spoke quietly. 'Kairi . . . Kairi's inside me?'

'I know all that there is to know.'

'Tell me, who are you?'

'It is I, Ansem, Seeker of Darkness!' Ansem strode towards Sora. Donald charged at him, but he just raised a hand and the duck flew out of the . . . field, I suppose would be a good word to define it.

He stood in front of Sora, looking at the kneeling boy with contempt. 'So, I shall release you now, Princess. Complete the Keyhole with your power. Open the door, lead me into everlasting darkness!' He raised the Dark Keyblade over his head, then swung it down toward the defenceless boy. I was filled with disbelief.

Just when it seemed Sora was going to be severed in two, he swung up his Keyblade, blocking Ansem. I noted, vaguely amused, that it had two hearts on the end of it – a yellow one, and a pinkish one. Rather fitting, if you asked me.

'Forget it! You're not getting Kairi's heart!' his face was flushed from anger. I smiled, in spite of myself. Sora never had been good at concealing his emotions, something I had always teased him for. He shoved the Dark Keyblade off and sliced across my midsection.

I let out a gasp. It hurt! I hadn't really expected it to; it was a shock. I bit my lip, watching the scene unfold.