---CHAPTER VI---
Riku stood his ground as the fire that had previously engulfed him and Aladdin became a piece of Jafar's tail as he turned into the giant cobra. Finally the end of Jafar's long snake body appeared and whisked around to grab Aladdin and start to strangle him. Aladdin squinted in pain and Riku saw an opening. Jafar obviously feared and hated Aladdin, and that Riku could use that to his advantage. Riku quickly ran around to the back of Jafar as Jafar had his attention on Aladdin.
"Face it, boy!" hissed Jafar, "Compared to my power you're nothing more than a worthless street rat! Nothing can stop me now!" Riku, listening to this, quickly grabbed a drape hanging from the ceiling and began climbing it. Aladdin seemed like he could take no more. At that moment Riku jumped from the ceiling and attacked the head of Jafar, knocking him square upside the large cobra head. Jafar hissed back and let Aladdin go. He then turned and hit Riku across the chest with his large tail.
Riku flew across the room and began to fall off of a balcony. He managed to get his hand on the edge to prevent his fatal fall. Jafar slithered toward Riku and watched in delight as the boy seemed to be close to meeting his doom. Just then, King Mickey, who was watching in a windowsill above, shot a beam of light from his keyblade and hit Jafar square in the eye. The time it took to get Jafar to get himself back in order gave Riku plenty of time to get to solid ground and take the advantage.
Aladdin managed to jump on a ruby diamond lying on the ground and rode it around Jafar, taking a few hacks at Jafar with his sword. Jafar spun around and attacked both Riku and Aladdin, throwing both of them to the ground. Riku looked up at the large cobra and finally saw a weakness. On the underbelly of Jafar's rough snake skin seemed to be a small mushy center right underneath the chin, or what was distinguished as one. Riku looked as Aladdin went after the lamp Iago and Abu were fighting over. This immediately got Jafar's attention as he turned to attack Aladdin, leaving Riku in the open. Riku immediately jumped on the back of Jafar. Jafar tried to shake off the boy but was unable to stop him.
Riku knew this was his only chance. He immediately spun around and stuck his sword into the weak spot. Jafar swung backwards and started contorting as in pain. Just then a light came from Jafar's mouth. Riku stood next to Aladdin, Abu, and Iago as they all watched Jafar slowly begin to disintegrate, the darkness leaving his body. As the darkness from Jafar left this world, so did the darkness that changed the palace the way it did. The sky went back to its cloudless blue that Agrabah was used to having, and the palace quickly changed back to its original glory. On the throne, a small old man appeared in some noble robes and a turban which gave away his identity that he could only be one person, the Sultan.
Aladdin immediately fell to one knee and Riku watched. He knew it was a sign of respect, but Riku never did like to show respect for anybody, especially authority. Next to the Sultan came a young girl about the same age as Aladdin. She was stunningly beautiful even to Riku's eyes, and Riku had no choice but to watch and admire. He snapped out of his trance and turned to the King, who was pointing at something above the throne. Riku examined the strange structure closely, and then noticed what it was, another keyhole! So that was how the Heartless were able to get through to Agrabah after Sora sealed the keyhole in the Cave of Wonders about a month ago. That would mean that there were multiple keyholes in every world. Riku wondered if the palace at Agrabah was somewhere Sora would have to go after he woke up in Castle Oblivion. Sora would probably have to visit some of the worlds he visited before also.
King Mickey jumped up and used his keyblade to seal the keyhole. The keyhole locked. "It won't hold though," said King Mickey. "But it should hold the Heartless off long enough for Sora to come back here and permanently seal it." Riku nodded. He had done a good deed. The first good deed in a long time. The world of Agrabah was safe for the time being.
Genie appeared in front of the King. "So, master, shall we get those last two wishes taken care of?" asked Genie, even though he expected to go straight back into the lamp after Mickey was done with his wishes. Mickey could swear Aladdin freed the Genie earlier, but after wishing for the gummi ship parts they needed Mickey then wished for Genie's freedom. The gold cuffs came off the blue person and Genie began flying around, excited about his new freedom. Aladdin and Jasmine shared a kiss. The Sultan then declared a festival that night. Riku and the King were invited to come celebrate the fall of Jafar, but the two immediately went back to the gummi ship for repairs after saying their goodbyes to all of the friends that had helped them.
In Hollow Bastion, Ansem could feel his darkness wane as the keyhole was sealed. He screamed in agony on a ledge, looking out at the darkness that was spreading, happy at the Revolution but sad at the loss of another keyhole. Riku and the King would find more, he was sure. There was now no time to mess around anymore. Ansem's final plan was to be set in motion immediately.
Riku and the King had finished the repairs to the gummi ship and began to blast off, when all of a sudden a green light came from Agrabah. The King decided to get to Disney Castle immediately and figure out what was going on. The gummi ship lifted off and quickly flew toward Disney Castle.
As they left Agrabah's orbit, Riku looked back and saw Agrabah burst into pieces. "What the heck was that?" asked Riku as he looked at the destruction.
"I don't know about that." said the King, "But we better figure out what's happening around here before Sora doesn't have a universe left to save when he wakes up!"
---TO BE CONTINUED---
NEXT CHAPTER TEASER: Riku and the King arrive at Disney Castle and learn of the Heartless Revolution. Leon will meet an old nemesis as Riku prepares for his final showdown.
Authors note; How is everything so far? Please review with your comments.