Last part . . . . . The sequel I'm working on for Rhianna's Birthday. But yeah . . . Enjoy.

Chapter 2

Sora's Determination

Sora dropped his cup of soup that Rhianna had left for them. He sat up and pulled the covers off, despite the protests of his two friends. Sora's head started to spin but he propped himself up on his Keyblade. That was Rhianna's scream. She was in danger and he had to go save her.

With the help of Goofy and Donald Sora began to run toward the direction of the scream. Please . . . please let her be all right!

Rhianna blinked her eyes, but to no avail. It was pitch black . . . she felt as if she was floating in space. Her body was exhausted and she had no idea where she was. . . .then something clunked her on the head. Cursing loudly Rhianna reached up to see what had so unceremoniously hit her. A spark of hope filled her heart. It was her scythe. Taking it in her hands she began to swing it around recklessly, trying to find some solid item. She succeeded.

"Oww! Watch where you swing that miss!"

Rhianna screamed in shock and bounced back. "Who-who are you?"

"Jack Skellington at your service, along with Santa Clause . . . I see you were also eaten by the monster."

"Monster . . .?" Rhianna squeaked in shock.

"Hohoho! Yes, it attacked me in my bed and Jack was kind enough to try to find me, but as you see he was also eaten by the creature."

Rhianna nodded and relaxed. At least she was with two people she knew of. "I'm Rhianna, I was helping Sora. . . .but . . . . yeah." She giggled sheepishly. "No problems though, Sora will rescue us!"

"Well. . . I hope so!"

"I have faith in him . . . . he'll find us!" I know he will . . .

Sora slashed through another Heartless and began to run to the doors. "Donald, Goofy! Take care of the Heartless, I'm gonna save Rhianna!"

Sora took The Oathkeeper and brought it down upon the door with a newly filled determination. The door shattered and darkness shot out, its objective cloaking Sora in its deadly darkness. Dodging Sora made an uppercut with the Keyblade. The monster let out a deafening howl of pain.

Rhianna was sent soaring into Santa bye the sudden jolt of the monster. A howl of pain echoed around them. "Sora's here! I told you he would come!" A bright light filled the area around them. Santa Clause had summoned the last of his magic and created a ball of light. Rhianna looked around in shock. They were in water. Or something like it . . . they could breathe in it. Rhianna began to swim up towards the supposed surface. As her head passed the surface Rhianna saw the edges of the creature's insides. "How . . . interesting."

Rhianna turned to Jack and gave him a skeptical look. He grinned and shrugged. Santa came up shortly afterward carrying the ball in his hand. "I have an idea you guys . . . on the count of three we'll try to pierce the monster's side and get out so Sora can kill it. Ready? One . . . two . . . THREE!"

Rhianna took her scythe and slashed down with all her might. Jack clawed the side and Santa . . . did something. Apparently, for the monster screamed in agony and a whole appeared in the side. Rhianna, her hand gripping Santa's and Jack's, jumped out into the snow.

Sora's eyes widened in surprise as Rhianna, Jack, and Santa Clause fell out of the whole in the shadow thing's side. He recovered quickly as the monster slashed down at him, sending him winging back against a tree once again.

This time though, he didn't get up. Rhianna saw this and screamed his name out. Flipping her scythe around Rhianna made a mad dash for Sora, ignoring how the shadow's tentacles ripped at her body. She flung herself down beside Sora and gently cupped his cheek. "Sora . . ? Are you ok?"

He weakly sat up and hugged her tightly. Rhianna froze in shock. "I was afraid . . . . I was afraid you were hurt . . ." Rhianna smiled slightly and wiped her tears away absently.

"I'm fine . . . but this monster won't be . . ." Rhianna stood up and took her scythe with a small frown. She wouldn't let the monster hurt the people she cared about. Rhianna ran forward, dodging the tentacles, and jumped up, bringing her scythe down with an angry yell.

Sora shifted Rhianna's weight to one side as they began to walk back through the forest. After Sora had sealed the doors, Jack, Santa Clause, Goofy, and Donald had gone back to discuss the monsters. Sora had stayed behind to help Rhianna.

She stopped unexpectedly, making Sora stumble. She lightly pushed him away and fell back into the snow, a small smile on her mouth. Sora looked at her puzzled, but sat down beside her.

"You know, this would have to the strangest Christmas I have ever had." Rhianna sighed and looked up into trees and silently laughed as she spotted some mistletoe. She turned to look at Sora as he plopped down next to her, looking up.

"Come on, it couldn't have been that bad!"

Rhianna smiled mischievously. "I never said it was bad, I just stated it was the strangest I've ever had." She closed her eyes and let the snow fall on her face. When she felt Sora shift and the snow was no longer falling on her face, Rhianna opened her eyes. A figure stood above the two teens, his cloak whipping across the wind like a sail. Sora jumped up in shock as Rhianna started to turn apple red. "Cloud?!"

"Sora . . . we have a problem."

MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH O CLIFFHANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!