Chapter 10
Riku looked down at Sora as he saw him go limp and shut his eyes a bit. Riku wiped his tears as he reached for the Potion he had in his pocket.
"Sora... don't die on me.. You can't! I won't let you!" Riku screamed, tears streaming down his face. He could remember all of the happy memories when they were younger, up until Kairi came. She was the source of how they went apart, becoming more competitive. But deep down he still cared for his friend.
"Uhh.. Is he dead?" Goofy asked, being.. A little simple-minded so to speak. He looked at Riku while Donald hit him upside the head with his staff.
"Don't ask that you dimwit! Of course he's..." Donald went on, but stopped right away, forgetting Riku was still there. Donald shut his beak as he started walking. "Come on Riku... he's.. he's gone. There's nothing we can do." Donald added, looking back at Riku as he kept waddling.
"Your wrong.. But, he may not want this. I don't care! I can't let him die!" Riku yelled as he uncapped the Potion bottle. Donald shook his head, thinking it was a normal Potion, so he kept walking alongside Goofy, who frankly, didn't want Sora to go either. Riku looked at Sora, stiff and pale, as he laid there, completely dead and unmoving. "I'm sorry Sora... but... I want you to live..." Riku whispered as he opened Sora's mouth and poured the potion inside.
"Come on Riku! Stop wasting time! We can come back and bury him later!" Donald quacked, losing his patience. He walked up as he saw Riku drop the potion bottle.
"No! He won't have a funeral because he's going to live again! You watch!" he yelled back, looking at Donald with so much hope in his eyes.
"Riku, no matter what you say, he'll still be dead. I know it's hard to let go, but you have to..." Donald said, trying to look away. Riku glared at Donald as he started walking off once more. Riku glanced back over to Sora and tried making him swallow the chemical.
"Come on Sora... please... live again.. Come on..." Riku whispered as he knelt beside him. He looked at the bottle once more. "Alcurad had this, I seen it, thought I'd take it just incase. Could thing I did right? Right... it says Vampire Potion on it.. Wonder if it's right..." he added, partially to himself. He looked back at Sora as he could see his eyes flutter open slowly, as he started to gasp for breath. "YES! Thank you Potions! Donald! Goofy! Sora's alive!" Riku yelled. He smiled as he looked at his friend, who was looking at him in anger and sadness. "Sora? What's wrong?" Riku asked as his smile faded and Donald and Goofy came rushing in.
"Why Riku! Why.. Why couldn't you let me die! It's supposed to happen! What did you do!" Sora asked, gritting his teeth, his sapphire blue eyes turning into deep red again, his skin color turning pale yet once more.
"I didn't want you to die! You need to live! You can't... just kill yourself! And.. Well.. I kinda made you a vampire again?" Riku replied, sad his friend wanted to die, not happy at all that he was living again.
"Riku... I told you.. The prophecy-" Sora went on, his fangs starting to show. He looked at Riku, sad and confused. Couldn't he see he didn't want to live any longer?
"The prophecy was a lie Sora! A down right lie! I'll show you!" Riku yelled, having enough of his friend's selfishness and discouragement. "You should be happy you're living! Even if it means being a Dark creature!" he added.
"Riku, I know it's a lie... but, I don't want to be with Darkness! And... I also don't want to sacrifice powers! I would rather kill myself Riku... why can't you see that! I just... want this to end.. Even when I wasn't Dark... I.. Don't want to deal with this anymore. I have to go on a journey after journey, having to kill Howlers and other creatures, being a Dark creature myself! Or not! I... I would fight for the dying Light, but... I just can't anymore.. I know it may be confusing to you, but it's not for me..." Sora replied, hiding his sadness, but failing at attempts, he didn't cry, but it was his tone of voice that gave it away.
"Sora... No! Don't think like that! Sora, don't be so sad! Kairi wouldn't like you thinking that way! She loves you, I know she does, I can tell. Sora, do it for her, live for her! You'll see her one day!" Riku said, angry now that his friend couldn't see that he needed to live, for the worlds to save them. And, for Kairi.
"Riku, I can't now, not even for her. I'm sorry, I can't... I don't want to go on like this, killing anything, even Heartless. I used to not care, not bother. But now, now that I know what it's like... I just can't do it anymore, Riku.. Don't try to save me anymore, noone can. I don't want anyone to! I really don't!" Sora yelled, now in between tears as he realized he was fighting with his friend instead of thanking him. But, he really didn't wat this to be like this. If he were to sacrifice his powers, he may not want to. He may just want to go on for a while, finally killing himself in the end.
"Sora, stop being like this! Stop being so... so... so selfish! The Sora I remember wasn't anything like this. He helped everyone. He cared for everyone. But now, you're a Dark demon! Someone who doesn't care! Your not the friend I know!" he yelled. Donald and Goofy stepped back, giving the two former friends space to fight if it came to that.
"I can't stop, I'm not being selfish Riku! It's just how it is now! I'm not the Sora you used to know! I haven't been for a while! I know you want that Sora to come back, but he can't! He's gone! The Darkness has replaced him Riku! Can't you just... respect that! See that!" Sora yelled back, fighting off the tears this time. He turned around and started walking to the exit. "You won't find me ever again Riku, I'll make sure of it. Have fun on your little "quest". Tell Kairi I'm sorry, but it's the way it is..." he said, sighing as he stepped out of the realm that was Hollow Bastion.
"How could he do this! What is wrong with him! I.. I miss the old Sora... he was so carefree, so happy. Now look at him. He's so sad, so.. Lifeless and out of touch. Why! Why did this have to happen?" Riku asked as he looked at where he left them, hanging on a balance.
"That's just how it is young man. It's a shame, the poor boy has been through a lot hasn't he?" asked a woman's voice as she stepped through the shadows. She had deep red hair, much like Kairi's own. Her eyes were golden colored, he skin pale as bone. "My name is Serena. I'm from Mickey's castle. Ah! Donald! Goofy! Pleasure to see you! The King has told me so much about you two! And you young man must be Riku. I've heard a lot about you."Serena said, with a light, airy tone to her voice. She smiled and showed she was human, just pale.
"Yes, Sora has been through a lot. Don't suppose you can tell me why?" Riku asked, glancing at Serena who bore a white gown, looking as if she was sent by the King because of how she looked.
"Can't say I can. It's his problems. Noone can help him, just like he said. The King knows what he's going through. He sent me here. He told me that he was afraid this would happen. Leaving you, Riku, in charge of saving the worlds. The Keyblade should be transported to you after Sora thinks of one final Dark thought. You mustn't track him down. He needs his time alone. Even if he does kill himself, I can see why. He wants you to be safe. The prophecy also states at the very bottom, is to rid of all Evil, never allowing it to seep through again, is to either kill the Prince of Darkness, or let him kill himself." Serena went on, answering Riku's question.
"Oh. So basically this is the last time to see him? I'm going to miss him, really I am.. He was a good friend. He really was. I.. Just don't want him to go..." Riku said, letting a tear fall.
"It is hard to see a hero fall, especially to Darkness. But, he is right. He has to kill himself. It's what everyone needs, what everyone wants. Some people, such as you, disagree, it's natural. And.. It'll be okay. If you really want everything to be back to normal, even your home, I can try. Especially with my magic! The island has been restored already, you can go back anytime of course. But, what I meant to say was I could try to get the old Sora back for you..." Serena suggested.
"Really! But... how? I thought that was impossible, but I would love that. I miss my old friend, the one I knew. I don't want to see those memories shattered. Never. I want them to stay with me." Riku whispered, looking at Serena.
"Of course, and it isn't impossible. Nothing is. Unless, he kills himself before, then it would be too late for him. But, nevertheless, don't worry about him Riku. Your new role is coming soon. Don't forget that." Serena said, smiling to cheer the boy up.
"Right, right... I know, I'm prepared for that role. And I won't fall back into Darkness, I'll make sure of that. You can trust me Serena. I'll do my duty, I won't fail." Riku replied, smiling as well. "I just hope it won't be too late for him..." he added. Donald and Goofy followed Riku as they bid their farewell to Serena and left Hollow Bastion. A mysterious figure approached Serena and nodded toward them as they left.
"Did you tell them Serena? Did they fall for it?" The figure asked. Serena nodded, with a mischievous smile.
"They believed every last word, Ansem. I can't believe they are that simple-minded! Surely, the Keybearer.." she went on, looking back at Ansem.
"He is not of your concern. I shall take care of the boy. You go along, keep guard on Hollow Bastion. The prophecy inside, did that plan work as well?" he asked, looking at Serena with an evil grin.
"Yes, yes of course it did. The boy Riku believed it, but Sora.. He's my concern now. He's thinking of killing himself, Prince of Darkness! I can't let that happen. I'll go see him, disguised as the one he loves... Kairi I believe is her name... he'll believe all the lies I'll say. He'll return here where he can begin his reign. Along with you of course your Highness." she said, bowing at Ansem, obviously being the king of the world.
"Fantastic. And yes, go ahead with your plan. As the real prophecy states, Darkness will cover every world, it shall. I'll make sure of it... that boy Sora, he shall become the new King whenever I die, I'm sure of it. He shall conquer all Light, no matter what he says... It shall be done." Ansem said, dismissing the bowing.
"Yes, of course. He shall be King, it's said and done. He'll make a fantastic King I'm sure. If he doesn't say yes, a war shall arise against him..."