---CHAPTER IV---

It was cold enough in the cave, but when the boy said they couldn't give the old man the lamp, something went down Riku's spine. Riku knew now he should have followed his instincts and refused the old man's offer, but as usual, he went with the first thing he could think of. This is why he now knew what got them into this mess in the first place. If only he had not accepted the darkness into his heart him, Sora, Kairi, Selphie, Tidus and Wakka would all be relaxing on the beach back home at this second.

This got Riku thinking about Kairi again. He wished to see her again. How long had it been since he last saw Kairi?

The images went through his mind, and he tried to block them out. Next thing he knew he woke up and saw the King staring at him.

"Hey, Riku, are you alright?" asked the King.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just remembering home." replied Riku. Riku turned to face the boy, his monkey, and the rug. "Here. Here's that lamp back. I don't think we'll need it." Riku handed the lamp back to the boy. The boy explained himself as Aladdin and how an old man also tricked him down here to get the lamp.

"I was tricked looking for a way to impress princess Jasmine," said Aladdin, looking at the lamp, "and now I'm down here. But why would he want this old beat-up piece of junk anyway?"

King Mickey looked at the lamp for a second, and then he remembered something. "Aladdin, give me the lamp for a second." said the King. "Don't worry, you can trust us." Aladdin thought about it for a second and then handed Mickey the lamp, knowing that they couldn't run even if they wanted to. "Now, if I remember the text in the castle regarding lamps…"

Aladdin then cut the King off "The castle? The Palace! You work at the palace?" asked the young boy curiously. Riku stood in shock and just watched the spectacle and wondering what Mickey's reply would be.

Mickey then looked up and spoke at Aladdin "It's a really long story." Mickey then began rubbing a small spot in the center side of the lamp. At that moment blue smoke began flying from the lamp and the group quickly became surrounded by it. Riku was the only one who looked up from the smoke and saw a gigantic blue figure emerging. Riku drew his soul eater in case the figure didn't end up being friendly.

The first thing the blue man-like figure saw was Riku, holding his soul eater.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on there a second. I've been sleeping for 10,000 years and this is the wakeup call I get? I don't think so! Put that thing away would you?" said the blue figure as he sent a spark of magic from his finger. Riku's sword immediately put itself back into the small sheath on the side Riku had made for it.

Aladdin stood up in awe. "Wow, this is something you don't see every day."

"What, you think Genies just grow on trees down here?" replied the Genie. "Now, who exactly is it that released me?" King Mickey emerged from the crowd "Hey there, how are ya?" the Genie said as he immediately recognized his master. "All right, let me go over the rules."

Mickey interrupted him. "We don't need the rules, Genie. We know all about you. Three wishes, No love, and no killing." Riku was shocked the King had gotten so agitated so fast. Usually the King was about as happy as the Genie was now. Maybe the whole 'Save the Universe from the clutches of evil' thing was finally starting to get to him. Mickey jumped up on the rock Aladdin was sitting on when they first came in. "Genie, I've got my first wish. I need you to teleport us out of here." said Mickey.

"All right, a one-way trip back to Agrabah coming up!" shouted the Genie. In an instant all six of them were teleported from the depths of the cave.

In Hollow Bastion, Leon woke up in the throne room, wondering what was happening. He saw the blue-haired man that had captured him standing next to another red-haired man. They were both wearing the same black cloak, so it looked like they were working together. Leon tried to move but some force was holding him back. Whoever they were, they meant business. He wasn't about to find out what they wanted with him. He saw his gunblade in the corner. If he could get free he could sneak by and grab the gunblade, possibly giving himself a chance to fight back. He looked as far up as he could and prayed for a way to get out of this.

In the northern cave of Midgar, thousands of heartless began swarming the large green crystal being help up by a sort of root. Ansem appeared and looked as his shadows and newly created neoshadows began attacking the root and the crystal. Ansem smiled. He felt Riku and the King were near a keyhole, and he wanted to make sure they didn't get it. He was prepared to unleash something even he couldn't control, something far more powerful than himself. In a few seconds the crystal fell from the root, fell onto the cold ground in front of Ansem, and shattered into a million pieces. Ansem looked to see a very tall man standing in front of him, his silver hair blowing in the wind. The man turned to face Ansem.

"Why have you released me?" asked the man.

Ansem began to laugh "Sephiroth, old friend. I need you to take care of a couple of rats for me. I don't care how you do it. Destroy and absorb every world you find to make yourself stronger. When you absorb the life force of Riku and King Mickey, come to me. Your mission will be then complete."

Sephiroth smiled, looking at Ansem. "You have an agreement."

---TO BE CONTINUED---

This is only the beginning, please review with your comments and suggestions,