Chapter 17: The World that Never Was Riku's Side

A/N: This story isn't dead! I can't tell you how hard it was trying to figure out how to end this story. I've been trying to weave in KH3 into this without giving away any spoilers. Hopefully after this chapter, the rest of the story will end smoothly.

This chapter is going to be short cause I wanted to end Riku's side of the story so we can focus on the conclusion after this.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts; I just own my characters.

Enjoy!

/

When Riku wound up in the World That Never Was, he wasn't surprised. After his encounter with Young Xehanort on the last world, he had a feeling he would wind up here.

"Hikari has to be here. I just hope the Organization doesn't have her"

He looked at the Castle that stood in the center of the city. Hikari had to be there; he was sure of it. Running through the back streets, he dodged any Nightmares that were lurking nearby.

His mind was going crazy. Was Hikari safe? Did Xehanort do something to her? Did she need help?

He stopped in his tracks. She said before they took this exam that something felt off about all of this. She was worried about fighting by herself since she had never been separated from Sora and himself. She didn't care about earning the title of Keyblade Master, she just wanted to save Lumen and the others. She didn't need a Master as a boyfriend, she wanted him just as he was.

Slamming his fist into the wall, he gritted his teeth. A lone tear slid down his face as he thought back to before they started this exam.

"I should have listened to her" he thought.

"I should have fought hard to be by her side so she wouldn't have to face her battles alone. I didn't need to take this exam because she only wanted me, not a Keyblade Master. If I had listened to her, she would safe"

"If I had been stronger none of this would have happened" he said quietly.

"Poor Riku"

Ansem appeared before him. Riku jumped back and aimed his Keyblade at him.

"Where's Hikari?!" he demanded.

Ansem just laughed as he crossed his arms.

"She's probably rushing to save Sora and stepping into our trap as we speak" he said.

Riku dashed passed Ansem to reach the castle. Ansem didn't try to chase him and just looked over his shoulder.

"What can you do for her? Don't you realize every time you try to save her, you just cause her more harm?"

Riku stopped in his tracks when he heard that. Ansem smirked and slowly walked towards him.

"When you lost the ability to use the Keyblade you turned towards the power of darkness thinking it would keep Hikari safe" he said.

"Yet instead, you almost killed her and turned her into a heartless"

Riku would never forget that image of seeing Hikari sacrificing herself to set him free of Ansem's control.

"When you sealed yourself on the other side of Kingdom Hearts, you thought it would protect her from the Heartless, but instead you lead her to the Organization's hands where they tried to turn her into one of their puppets" Ansem continued.

"You tried to help her defeat the Organization from the shadows but you revealed memories she had hoped to forget forever. You thought by taking this exam, you would finally keep her safe instead you lead her to most certain death"

When he stood in front of Riku, he leaned into his ear.

"Don't you see, Riku? No matter what you do, or how pure your intentions are, you will always fail her"

Riku spun around with his Keyblade in hand.

"Shut up!" he yelled.

Ansem jumped out of the way and just laughed. Riku growled and aimed his weapon at him.

"It was you who caused all of that to happen!" he snapped.

"You used me as a puppet and tried to kill her! You lured her to Castle Oblivion where the Organization was! You were the one who created those painful memories for her and Taiyouko! You were the one who separated us during the exam! You were the one who hurt her, not me!"

"Even if I did, you still let it happen" Ansem said.

"If only you were stronger than none of this would have happened"

He summoned his shadow guardian. The chained creature roared, looking at Riku.

"After all your efforts to command the darkness and protect the one you cherish, it's a shame you locked that power away"

Riku lunged at him. The two of them fought with the intent to destroy. Neither wanted the other to live, knowing it would cause them problems down the road. While Riku put up a good fight, Ansem had the upper hand. Using his guardian, the shadow swung it's giant arm and sent Riku flying. Riku skid a few feet. His body laid motionless.

"Set the darkness from your heart, Riku" Ansem said.

"Only then will you save Hikari"

Riku slowly got up and looked at Ansem from his bangs. After all this time, he still didn't get it.

"Ansem...or...Xehanort" he said.

"You used to be a Keyblade wielder. But darkness stole your heart and the keyblade with it. Don't you see? That's half the reason I'm taking this journey. After allowing darkness into my heart, am I still fit to wield the Keyblade? Can I walk down the same path as Hikari? Even after locking you away, you're still haunting me"

"So, you know what you must do then?" Ansem asked.

Riku smiled a little as he looked at Hikari's pendant.

"You know...when I was a kid...a woman with a keyblade visited the islands" he said quietly.

He didn't realize it, but Ansem's guardian was starting intently at him.

"She played a game with Sora and I. Afterwords, she asked me something. She asked if someone I loved needed to be saved, what would I do? I didn't think much about my answer and just said I'd protect them with all my heart, thinking that's what a hero would say. But now that I think about it, she was trying to tell me about Hikari. Ever since she came into my life, all I've ever wanted was to keep her safe. She was the reason I wanted to see the outside world, the reason to become stronger, the reason to keep going. Everything up to this point in my life was about her"

He looked up at Ansem.

"Even if I don't become a Keyblade Master...even if I fail and make mistakes later down the road...I swear I will always keep Hikari safe from people like you. And I'll do it without the darkness!"

Ansem glared at Riku. After beating him and knocking him down, he still wouldn't cave in.

"You think you can save her just as you are now?" he taunted.

Riku held up his Keyblade and aimed it at Ansem.

"My heart knows what to do. Consume the darkness, return to the light!"

The two of them fought once again. This time, Riku pushed Ansem back. The promise he made to Lumen kept ringing in his ears.

"I'll hold onto Hikari tight and protect her with all my heart"

Ansem faded away when Riku landed his last hit. He knew that the heartless wasn't gone for good, but at least he would have some peace and quiet for now.

Riku sighed when the fight was over. He picked up Hikari's pendant and looked at it. This tiny piece of jewelry kept them together even when they were far apart. No matter how far they traveled, they would always return to each other.

"I thought that by taking this exam it would make me stronger...that if I became a Master, I would keep her safe. But...maybe I didn't have to take this test. She didn't need a Keyblade Master, she just needed me"

He wrapped his fingers around the pendant and pressed it to his heart.

"As long as we're together, we can accomplish anything"

Just then, a dark portal opened up in front of him. Riku pulled out his Keyblade, thinking it was Ansem wanting to fight again.

What stepped out caused him to drop his weapon in shock.

"Hikari!"

/

A/N: Riku and Hikari are reunited! But it looks like Riku wasn't the one who saved her from young Xehanort. Wonder who saved her then?

And you tell Ansem like it is Riku! You don't need the darkness to save your woman!

Sorry again for the short chapter but I thought it would be better to end Riku's part this way.

Please review and tell me what you think!

Take care!