A/N: Halfway point!
…
Chapter Five – Dive Into the Dark
"Well, what is it?" Riku asked as the teens entered the Chapel. Maleficent and Hades were the only two there.
"That smarmy vizier could've had 'em~ if someone had stuck around to give him a hand," Hades started.
"Vizier… wait, Jafar?" Aurora looked around. "Where is he? And Iago?"
"There were defeated by Sora and his friends. Turned into a Genie and trapped in a lamp," Maleficent explained while Riku shook his head at the Lord of the Dead.
"I did my part. I bought the princess, didn't I?" he demanded.
What!? That errand was to kidnap someone? Aurora thought in horror, looking at Riku, suddenly noticing just how much… colder he seemed. Colder… colder… Darker.
Was that… a memory? Is that why I feel so cold here? I'm sensing darkness? And Riku's heart, it used to be warmer, Lighter. But now…
"Jafar was beyond help, consumed by his own hatred," Maleficent explained. "One should beware of letting it burn too fiercely."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Lighten up. I'm as cool as they come, okay?" Hades said.
"Says the one who's head is on fire. But wait, why are we kidnapping people?" Aurora demanded.
"We'll explain later," Hades said, brushing Aurora off. "For now though, have we got something special for the two of you," Hades said with a smirk, causing both teens to turn and look at Maleficent.
"We had a deal, yes? You help us, and we grant you a wish…"
The table lit up, and an image of a girl appeared.
"Kairi!" both Riku and Aurora gasped, lurching forward.
"Go to her. Your vessel is waiting," Maleficent said, just as footsteps approached from behind.
"Just remember, this is no pleasure cruise. It won't be a pleasant voyage," Hook snarled at them.
Riku and Aurora looked at each other, before they looked back at Maleficent.
"Why are you doing all of this for us?" Riku demanded.
"Yeah, what's the catch?" Aurora asked.
"Catch?" Maleficent finally turned to face them. "What's the catch? Silly. You are like my very own children. I just want you two to be happy." The Dark Fairy came over, placing a hand on Riku's shoulder, and cupping Aurora's cheek, meeting both of their eyes. Aurora froze, seeing a longing, almost a hunger in the Dark Fairy's eyes.
Riku knocked Maleficent's hands away and pulled Aurora back.
"I seriously doubt that…" he said, sounding very creeped out, keeping an arm tight around Aurora. Aurora shivered, looking away from Maleficent, trying to decipher what her expression had meant.
"Believe what you wish. But lest we forget, I kept my end of the bargain," Maleficent said. Riku scowled slightly, before turning to follow Hook, making sure to keep his arm tight around Aurora.
…
The two were given a nice room on Hook's ship, separate from the rest of the crew. Riku insisted on sharing this time, not trusting Hook's pirates to not try something with Aurora. Aurora didn't want to say anything, but she was grateful for it. Not only did it give her less to worry about, but it also gave them more time together as they travelled through the Ocean Inbetween.
"Hey, Riku?"
"Hm?" Riku looked up from where he was sitting on his hammock as Aurora came over and sat next to him. "What's up?"
"I… think we need to talk. When all of this started, I asked if you actually trusted Maleficent. You said you were just using her…"
"I still am," Riku said.
"I'm not so sure," Aurora said, looking up at him. "You seem darker. And you kidnapped someone," Aurora said. Riku stayed quiet for a moment, looking at his hands, before taking a deep breath.
"Aurora, are you scared of Darkness?" he asked. Aurora was taken aback by the question, her mind jumping back to right before the Islands disappeared.
…
"I'm not scared of the dark!" Riku had announced.
…
Aurora took a deep breath and turned her head to meet Riku's eye steadily.
"Yes. Darkness, and the Heartless. I don't know how they're related to my past, but I know both are responsible for why I washed up on the Islands with no memories," she said, half expecting to see judgement or contempt in his teal eyes. Instead, they grew softer, and he put his hands on her shoulders, almost as though to steady her.
"I thought so. I could tell from your reactions, and how you recognized the Emblem, even before Maleficent told us what it is. But, Aurora, I'm not afraid. And I'm doing this, not just to save Kairi, but also to protect you."
"Protect me?" Aurora asked.
"Yeah. Don't tell me you haven't seen how Maleficent looks at you," Riku asked. Aurora's eyes widened, thinking back to that moment, where the Dark Fairy had cupped her cheek.
"Right…"
"Don't worry, I won't let her near you. But we also need to find a way to help Kairi," he sighed. Aurora nodded, thinking about the red head. Even in that hologram Maleficent showed them…
"She's lost her heart," Aurora said.
"Yeah, I heard the pirates talking about it," Riku said, dropping his hands from her shoulders and standing, pacing their cabin. Aurora nodded, drawing her legs up onto the hammock and sitting cross-legged.
"Then we just need to find a way to get it back." But you're not doing this alone, Riku. You might be the one to dive into the darkness, but I'll be there to pull you back. Suddenly, Aurora got an idea, and reached into her pocket, pulling out the Thalassa Shell lucky charm Kairi had given her.
"Riku?"
"Yeah?" The boy looked over again, before spotting the charm in her hands. "Is that a Thalassa Shell charm?" he asked. Aurora nodded.
"Kairi taught me how to make it the day before we were supposed to leave. Said they were lucky charms. I… I want you to take it." Aurora held out the charm. Riku slowly came over, putting his hand over the charm, but not taking it from her hand just yet.
"Are you sure?" he asked. Aurora nodded with a smile.
"Yes. After all, you're doing the more dangerous job."
Riku's lips twitched into a small smile, and he nodded, picking up the charm and pocketing it.
"Alright. But I promise, I'll return it once everything is over with," he said. Aurora nodded with a warm smile.
"I know."
Suddenly, the ship lurched, and Aurora was dumped out of her hammock with a pained grunt. Riku darted over, helping her to her feet, when one of the pirate's voices echoed through the metal tube in the room.
"Whale hoe!"
"'Whale'?" Aurora asked, rubbing her side.
"In the Ocean Inbetween?" Riku muttered in confusion, thinking of the large sea mammals he'd see from a distance back home. The two teens looked at each other, before quickly making their way to the deck.