There's the next chapter. I've decide to keep the two chapters separate, so there will be one more after this, and then I'll start posting MOLAD: Breaking Light, where the real fun begins.

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own KH. Otherwise…the Final Fantasy characters will be much more involved in the first KH, and there would be many more Disney worlds in the first one as well.

I think I forgot a couple of disclaimers somewhere…meh, you guys know better, right?

Now on with the story!

Phase 4: Waning Crescent

Sora sulked in a hotel room in Traverse Town. He was supposed to be getting some shuteye, but his conscience allowed him none. Instead he just stared at the ceiling as thoughts raced through his mind.

He felt disgusted with himself. Not only was he accepting it, he was starting to feel proud of it. The very realization sent chills cruising up and down his spine.

So Axel had been right. He could run all he liked, but he'd always end up face to face with his fate.

He glanced out the window near his bed. Apparently Riku couldn't sleep a wink either, as he was leaning against one of Traverse Town's many lampposts, his arms crossed and his eyes wandering restlessly in search of anything that might look like it was affiliated with the force of darkness. So he had been lately, ever keeping his eyes open for this Master of Darkness he was supposed to slay.

But, what would he do, Sora wondered, if he found out that it was in fact him that now was fated to command the darkness? Would he reconsider his choice about bringing on the complete destruction of the Master of Darkness, or would he continue with everyone else's intricately laid out plan to end The Master of Darkness to wipe out all evil so the worlds would never again face peril?

Sora guessed that it would most likely be the latter, considered that was the choice that he himself made when Riku was possessed by Ansem. Even though he didn't want to fight Riku, he battled him anyway, determined to destroy him if that was what was required to defeat the darkness. The icy tranquil that enveloped him in that battle still sickened him to his day.

"They'll turn on you, you know." Those were Pete's words, as well as Axel's, and as much as he hated to admit it, those words ringed true. He severely doubted that Donald and Goofy would want to associate with him when they found out. They would just turn around and become Riku's guardians instead. Just like last time...

And what of Aerith, Yuffie, Cloud, and Leon? They certainly wouldn't take this news lightly. Leon never seemed to like him that much anyway...

And what about Kairi? What would she say when she found out?

He turned abruptly on his side, back towards the window. He didn't even what to think about that.

He sat up and looked back out the window at Riku, who hadn't moved an inch.

"That's it, then," Sora thought, his eyes narrowing. "Tomorrow, I'll end this."

It was early morning when Sora approached Riku in Traverse Town.

"Hey Riku," Sora shouted out, seeming as casual as ever.

"Yeah?" Riku asked, turning around.

'Well...I was thinking..." Sora began. "Why don't we go to Hollow Bastion to see if that ol' Master of Darkness is there? Since, well it's kinda consumed by darkness as it is?"

"Sounds good," Riku said, turning around and walking to his Gummi ship.

"Hey, I'm coming too!" Sora exclaimed indignantly.

"No Sora," Riku growled. 'It's my duty to take him down, not yours. Glory hog."

'Maybe so," Sora replied, putting his hands behind his head, smirking. 'But you'll never touch him if I'm not there."

'Oh really?" Riku challenged, smiling slyly. "Well allright you can come if you want, just don't get in my way." he teased.

And so both boarded their Gummi ships.

Later at Hollow Bastion...

As Riku and Sora searched the main hall for any sign of the commander of darkness's presence, Sora tried to settle his nerves with some random banter.

"Hey Riku?" Sora asked

"Yeah?" Riku answered.

"Wha'cha think The Master of Darkness looks like?" Sora asked, with a mischievous grin on his face.

Riku, caught a bit off guard by the question, shrugged. 'I dunno, a pure black Heartless towering over 50 feet and has darkness pouring out of his nostrils and spits black goo at you."

How flattering.

"Well, I think...I think it's a HUGE ogre creature with three glowing crimson eyes that shoot out laser beams and eats planets for breakfast and galaxies for dinner and has toxic slime all over its body." He had plenty of exaggerated body motions to accompany his descriptions.

Riku laughed. "Oh yeah, I bet it has thousands of tentacles coming out of its gut."

"And I bet it has all these long green spines all over his body!"

'And I bet it can blow up whole planets with a single roar!"

"And I bet it can blow up whole galaxies with a single roar!"

"And I bet I can take it down no matter what it is!" Riku announced proudly.

"Yeah…" Sora nodded. "I'm sure you could."

The Keyblade Master said nothing else as he followed Riku upwards.

A bit later at The Great Crest...

'I don't sense anything here..." Riku stated as they admired the astonishing view.

C'mon Riku, how can you NOT sense it? I'm right next to you!

"Maybe there's something higher up," Sora suggested.

He began to walk away, but stopped "Riku?"

"Yeah?'

"Do you think slaying The Master of Darkness...will truly end all evil?"

"I don't see why not," Riku replied. "Evil and Darkness are one, so killing the Master of Darkness is like killing the Master of Evil."

"But what if another Master of Darkness takes its place?" Sora added.

"Well..." Riku began. "Then I'll just kill every last one of them." he concluded proudly.

"No matter what they are?"

"I don't care if The Master of Darkness is a pink bunny, I'll kill it," Riku responded. "C'mon, Sora, let's go."

Sora shrugged. "Guess it makes sense."

After all, it's what I would do too.

And so they continued to scale Hollow Bastion's heights.

A little later at High Tower...

Riku was about to go inside to the Lift Stop when Sora paused, staring out into the sky.

'What is it?" Riku asked.

"Hey Riku...' Sora began, his voice a little quiet. "No matter what, we'll always be friends, right?"

"Huh?" Riku asked, surprised. 'Of course we'll always be friends! Why would you even ask something like that!"

Sora turned around and showed him a big, goofy grin. 'Just checking. C'mon, let's get this over with." And with that he marched inside.

At the Castle Chapel...

Riku gave the darkened room a quick look-around, then shook his head. 'Nothing here. C'mon, let's go Sora."

But Sora didn't move. He simply stood upon the symbol on the middle of the floor, his eyes on the floor but not seeing anything.

"Sora?" Riku asked.

No reply, only a sad glance.

Riku crossed his arms. "What's with you, anyway? You've been acting screwy ever since we came here. What's your problem?"

After a few more moments of utter silence, Sora summoned Ultima Weapon to his hand. 'You ready?"

"Huh?"

Darkness and black electricity swirled around Sora. The darkness soon attached itself to his back, morphing into those coal-colored wings with black smoke billowing from them. His Keyblade soon was engulfed in a bluish black aura, and his eyes became more akin with a hawk's than with a human's.

Riku was petrified by shock as Sora metamorphosed into the very opponent he had been seeking all this time. "S-Sora! You're---------!"

When the transformation was done, Sora stared at Riku coolly and perched his Keyblade upon his shoulder. "So Riku," he spoke "You ready to fight The Master of Darkness?"

Yes, an evil cliffhanger…I do those a lot XP. Well, that just means you'll have to come back to see what's next, right? R+R please!