CH 23

"How could you do this to Sora, Riku?!" Kairi demanded as soon as the Dawn Weilder was done explaining the decided future of their friend.

"It's the most compromising solution, Kairi, considering the alternative."

"Wich ius what exactly, oh fearless and wise leader?" Axel snarled.

"How about death?!"

"Sora would rather die than live like...like...like a..."

"Like a prince? Doubtful." Riku sighed, "Look, I'm not happy about this any more than you, but at least this way, he gets his humanity back."

"At the cost of his heart." Kairi said sadly.

"That's where I come in." Riku said confidently "I'll be with Sora, making sure his heart stays the way it is. A little darker, but not completely lost."

Kairi sniffed and buried her head in her hands "It's still horrible!"

"No, Kairi." Riku said lowly "His existence now is horrible. Once he starts his journey into becoming the son of the dragon, his life will get much easier. Darker, definitely, but easier. I'm sorry. This was the best case I could give her, that would also make life easier for Sora while he waits for us to gather our army and set him free. I won't deny there are risks, especially to me and Sora, but again, we have to play this game smart, or everyone loses."

"Does Sora know?" the princess of heart asked softly.

Riku stared off into space for a minute, thinking. "Not yet. I can't seem to find him, and I want to tell him myself. Maleficent's given me that courtesy, though you should have seen how it burned her to let me tell him instead of her! Of course, she'll tell him after, just to get the satisfaction, but I'll take any small victory."

Roxas, who had been silent for the past hours, spoke up from his position on the couch. "He's in the dungeon, still looking for that stupid keychain."

"Thank you, Roxas." Riku said. "Portal please."

"What do I look like, a taxi service?" The Nobody lifted a hand and waved it in lazy displeasure "Make your own portal!"

"Awe, Roxas, of everyone you could emulate, you had to pick Demyx? Really?" Axel taunted, winking at Riku.

The youngest member of Organization 13 immediately gave an indignant snort and reluctantly opened a portal. "There's your stupid portal. Now, if you don't mind, I'm exhausted and my Somebody is being stingy with the strength foir some odd reason. I'm recharging."

"Thanks Roxas." Riku chuckled, going through the corridor.

KHKHKHKHKH

"Sora?" Riku called softly "If you're in here...we need to talk."

There were gurgling noises in the far left cell, and the silver teen quickly went over to the area. His nose wrinkled as he caught a whiff of the Darkness leaking off his brother. It was an odd scent, not like normal Darkness. There was a sweetness to it, a lightness. Riku catalogued it in his mental scent log. This was Sora's distinct Darkness. He would not forget it.

Riku smiled as he watched the boy before him search the sand fruitlessly but unable to give up. He hated to be the cause of Sora's finally relenting in his quest to find the lost item, but he had to tell his brother what he'd done.

"Sora." He stated, making the younger Keybearer look up at him with curiosity in his blue eyes. "We have to talk."

Riku knelt down and said "I got you a mercy, Sora. It'll be hard. The Darkness...it'll seep into every pore, gather to consume your heart. But...I couldn't let that happen. So I...I struck a deal with Maleficent. She's agreed to let me help you learn to weild the Darkness like I do. But there's something you have to do. You have...to let her mold you...into her son."

Sora screeched and made a high pitched screaming gurgle, then rapidly chattered, sounding both angry and slightly frightened, backing away from Riku and into the corner of the cell they were in. Riku sighed "I know. But this was the only way! Your voice would be returned to you...you'd be able to act like yourself again..."

The boy snarled, crouching as Riku slowly crept forward, "Hey, it's ok." He tried to sooth the cornered boy, but Sora crouched lower and summoned the Keyblade. Surprised that he would attack him with the weapon, Riku retreated, giving his friend more room. "Easy, easy...I know it sounds bad. But Sora..."

The boy before him snapped his jaws defiantly, and Riku smiled "I know. You'd rather we just fight her now and get it over with. But you also know that's not the best choice right now, right? This option is the only one we have!"

He crouched down again, and decided to play his trump card, a card he didn't reveal to the others earlier. Being careful to be as unthreatening as possible, he leaned in and murmured in Sora's ear

"It's the only option...I have. Sora, if you don't do this, Maleficent will kill me. I'm too much of a threat now that Darkness is creeping in through your clothes. Please Sora...you have to trust me. Become her prince...or I take my last breath in two weeks. I can't help you with the Darkness if I'm dead."

The younger keymaster hissed slowly, contemplating his descision. He finally hung his head and nodded slowly, sighing as he uncurled himself and unsummoned his weapon. Riku smiled as Sora stumbled forwards and fell against him in a brotherly embrace, his mouth slowly turning in his trademark grin in anticipation of a new adventure.

Riku, though relieved, felt slightly dirty. He was hoping not to have to pull his trump card on Sora, because tugging at his heartstrings and exploiting his weakness were things Maleficent did to get the keymaster to do what she wanted. It was underhanded, and he hated that he had to use such tactics. But what was done, had been done, and with favorable results.

Sora then stood, and gave Riku a questioning look. Taking a guess, the dawn weilder reluctantly shook his head "We have to wait two weeks. I'm sure she'll begin changing you before then, but as for working on your Darkness, I'm afraid you'll have to hang in there for a bit."

Sora made a groaning moan, and Riku chuckled "I know, it really is stupid. But hey, you can handle it.. I believe in you."

He sighed "Thanks for trusting me on this, Sora."

He suddenly leaped backwards, drawing his own weapon and standing in front of Sora "He agreed!" he said to the shadow that lurked "He agreed!"

"I know. I've been watching through my mirror."

"Regina? What're you...why are you here?" Riku felt dizzy and suddenly tired. He nboticed the air was heavy, and it became hard to breathe. Before his eyes slipped closed, he saw Sora leap into action, keyblade summoned and swinging before he, too, dropped to the ground.

The evil queen smiled wickedly, picking up the Dawn Wielder and hoisting him over her shoulder. She looked at the other boy in disdane, but left him. He was Maleficent's toy, and rightfully so. She had plans for this silver teen, plans she designed hours earlier, in case things went wrong.

But she liked it better to inact the plan now.