Author's Note: huh boy. Thanks, Tama-Kitsune, for catching that mistake. I was sure that I wouldn't make another stupid mistake, but I did. AND I did read over it about 3593859346908704368047608473893704 times. Oh well, but I think I see a trend here… :)

By the way, I edited the 1st 2 chapters… check them out… they have definitely improved.

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The two reluctant partners walked side by side, in the darkness, all alone. Riku occasionally shot glances at him, but Mickey was determined not to look back at his master. The King was torn inside – he was defenseless without a weapon (Riku had taken it away from him), worn from the previous events, and at the mercy of a turncoat.

How can this happen to me? I'm the King! Mickey asked himself. Although no answer surfaced, he wanted so desperately to find one. It will be my entire fault if the balances Sora achieved are thrown out of proportion again… and if he dies.

Mickey recounted Riku's earlier words. But… one wrong move… and I swear I'll kick your ass. Or… rather, my new friends are going to do so.

No, he wouldn't want that to happen.

But… Mickey thought inside of his head. Since I'm already working against what I truly want, what would be the effect on Riku, Sora, and the others if I did kill myself? …Or at least attempt to kill Riku? Mickey pondered his question. As long as I can somehow get my wand back… or even better, destroy his Keyblade… I can put an end to it! It's definitely worth the risk!

At that, Mickey cackled loudly. Riku stopped, and turned to him.

"What the hell's your problem, Mickey?"

Mickey courageously glanced back at the newly crowned Heartless ruler for the first time, and smirked. "Your mom," he replied, and burst into a fit of laughter again.

"Har," Riku rolled his eyes and continued walking. "Now where exactly is the door, Mickey?"

"In your ass…" Mickey said almost immediately. Riku turned his way again and shot him a dirty look.

"Shut up. You're not funny, you ass…"

"I know you are but what am I?"

"SHUT-THE-FUCK-UP." Riku roared, immediately silencing Mickey. "…Now… tell me where this door is."

Mickey shrugged. "Iono, but I'd think that the king of ALL Heartless would know more than his lowly servant…"

"Well, you're wrong. Now tell me! I know you know. Unless you want me to force it out of you…" Mickey, wanting to assault Riku when he had the advantage, nodded obediently and led Riku to the door gloomily in a disinclined gait. Riku noted his hesitant nature and smiled to himself. Intimidation is the key… but what was with Mickey's sudden change of heart? He was at first scared of Riku and his Heartless, but now… Mickey was being obnoxiously brave.

"You know, Mickey… I can call upon the Heartless right at this very moment… don't tax your luck."

This shut Mickey up. "So… do you have any idea where the door is?" Mickey shook his head, while Riku rolled his eyes.

"I thought you knew where it was!" Riku said with frustration.

"How would I know? Every part of Kingdom Hearts looks exactly the same as the other, and this place is almost endless!"

This gave Riku another brilliant idea. "… You're wrong – some places of Kingdom Hearts have some light, where some don't have any at all."

Mickey looked back at Riku. "Your point being…?"

"Isn't it obvious? Neither of us know where the light comes from – the light must come from the outside of the door!" Riku held out his arms in the air as if it were obvious. "Well, what are you staring at? Let's find it!"

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"Okay, where the hell are we?" Mickey yawned. "Following the light isn't working, smartass… how exactly can you follow light, anyway?"

It had been several hours, and Riku and Mickey fruitlessly looked for the door. That time, however, wasn't put to waste, because Mickey regained his foolish cockiness. "Okay, but how else are we going to find it? Aha, I got it…" Riku got out Mickey's wand, held his hand out at the tip of it and cast a Firaga, lighting the tip of the wand on fire. "This'll help…"

"No it wouldn't… stop that, you're going to damage it!" Mickey roared, grabbing for his wand. Riku held it above his head.

"Well, then, what do you propose that we do, if you're so smart?" Riku asked, putting out the fire. Mickey sighed.

"Iono… maybe ask your Heartless?" Mickey said a matter-of-factedly.

"Oh yea… good idea!" Riku patted Mickey on the back. Three Heartless – a Powerwild and two Soldiers appeared in front of Riku. Riku gave the three peculiar glares and glances, and the Heartless nodded. The Powerwild ushered Riku to follow him whereas the two Soldiers went to either side of Mickey and dragged him along.

"Hey, what gives?" Mickey complained, trying to step fast enough to keep in pace with the Solders' quick pacing.

"Mickey… stop being so damn cocky and rebellious, when you're nothing but a coward. The combination doesn't go too well together…" Riku told Mickey. Mickey pouted to himself and continued walking hastily.

Within five minutes or so, the Powerwild stood in front of a large, snow-white marble door. Surrounded by darkness, the door looked as if it were glowing, and, as Riku theorized, light was seeping from the bottom of the door. Riku patted the Powerwild's head affectionately before it ran off again. Mickey gaped at the door.

"Now what?" Riku asked Mickey as he examined the door, poking his finger into a crevice at the bottom of the door.

"Open it?" Mickey said, trying his best to sound innocent. The two Soldiers were still limiting Mickey's movement and actions. Riku glared.

"No shit. But how?"

The Soldier to the right of Mickey looked up to Riku and started blinking in odd fashions. Was this their way of communicating? Mickey asked himself. Riku nodded, as if understanding the Heartless.

There was a familiar pattern of foot movement. Sure enough, when Mickey turned, he saw the large group of Heartless. Riku hissed and clicked his tongue at them, and the Heartless started to bunch together even tighter – some even climbed onto other's backs. Mickey stared. What were they doing?

"C'mon…" Riku grabbed Mickey by his collar, and climbed onto the top of the small mountain of Heartless. Mickey grabbed onto Riku, looking fearfully down from the top. Mickey was afraid of heights. Even Riku felt somewhat queasy standing on the Heartless, unlike a building, there was a nice chance that they could topple over. Riku violently nodded his head and the Heartless collided into the door, making a large dent. Oh no, was he going to…

"RIKU! NO!" Mickey wailed. "You have no clue what you're doing!"

Riku turned to Mickey as the Heartless moved back to hit the door again. "Mickey, you should know that the only way to break down the door is to use Heartless. Why are you complaining?"

"Because… first of all, I do not WANT to go out there… and second of all, because … well, I… we don't have a Gummi ship or anything… so… you know…"

"No, I don't… trust me on this… I'll get a Heartless Gummi ship. There have been tons and tons of those before – so all we have to do is get one, right? I—" Riku was cut off. The Heartless banged onto the door again, leaving it to collapse onto the ground. Riku hopped off of the Heartless, and walked outside of the door. At last. He was out of the hellhole. Riku smiled to himself, and then burst of laughing.

"What are you laughing about?" Mickey asked. He was still on the top of the Heartless… holding onto a small shadow Heartless for dear life.

"Jump!" Riku commanded. "C'mon, you pussy! JUMP!"

Mickey reluctantly jumped off of the Heartless, landing on his back. "Damn!" Riku helped him up.

"Okay, we might as well work together now…" Riku requested. Mickey stared.

"What exactly do you want to accomplish with all of this?" Mickey asked. Riku ignored his question. "Well? Don't ignore me!"

"Go home, obviously…" Riku's eyes looked misty. "We might encounter problems and all… and I'll need to get rid of this Heartless suit… you know? Now c'mon, let's find a Gummi ship, or something…"eaHHHearHeartless