Disc: Don't own Kingdom Hearts.

Spoilers for Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories within.

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I'm taking the path to dawn.

It could be dangerous, I know. To get to dawn, you have to travel through the cold, dark night, where monsters lurk and wait for a chance to attack you. Where bandits watch your every move, and murderers wait for your approach.

But if you can survive the night, and you reach dawn . . . a beautiful morning awaits.

Sora is probably still asleep, back in the castle. Regaining his memories of before in exchange for his memories of now.

If Sora and I meet again, what will he think? Will he still suspect me of being under Ansem's control? Will he . . . will he want to fight me? To vanquish Ansem once and for all?

. . . Ansem.

He's still inside me. His scent is faint, but it is there. His vile taste pollutes my mouth. He smells and tastes terrible, and I want to get rid of him.

But he's still there.

Someday, maybe I'll get rid of him once and for all. Finally throw off his shadow and live my own life. I hate to deprive Sora of fighting Ansem once again, but this time it's going to be me who defeats him.

I've got to make my darkness mine, after all, and not Ansem's.

I can feel DiZ watching me as I'm walking down the road. What does he think of me, I wonder? To him, am I making a good choice? Should I have cast off light in favor of darkness, or darkness in favor of light?

"Riku?" Mickey asks as he walks beside me. I look at him. "Are you all right?"

I nod, and we keep walking.

I'm not afraid of the darkness.

That thought, though, brings back memories—being pulled in by the darkness—attempting to bring Sora with me. Leaving Kairi and Sora behind.

Maleficent.

Ansem.

Bad choices and bad thoughts, betrayal and arrogance.

I've made mistakes. I know it. I wish I hadn't. I wish I could turn back the clock.

I was meant to be the Keyblade Master. But I gave into darkness. Had I not . . .

Then again, had I not given in, what would have become of Sora? Would he have been lost in the darkness? Would Ansem have used his body?

I couldn't have let that happen. Things are better this way.

Mickey told me once that he thought all darkness was bad until he met me. I thought that all darkness was bad, too. Even once Sora defeated Ansem, that's how I felt.

But Namine—as Kairi—showed me. I don't have to be in the light to help fight the darkness. I don't have to be one or the other.

I am darkness, but not dissolved by light.

I am light, but not consumed by darkness.

I've beaten myself in combat, and beaten Ansem into weakness and submission.

I'm taking the path to dawn.

And I'm not afraid of the night that precedes it.