A/N: Alrighty, guys! Sorry for the long delay! But look, updates! Also, I edited things in previous chapters. Aurora's fighting style and weapon, a few typo fixes, and I added to a scene in Chapter 5. Now here's the next chapter! If anything, I do suggest going back and skimming at least Chapter 5 for the new added content.

As always, enjoy!

…

Chapter Seven: Diving Deeper

Aurora easily felt the change in Riku's heart once he gained the power to control the Heartless. It was colder, darker, and more distant.

It scared her.

Riku, on the other hand, seemed to have re-entered that manic state he was in the night the Islands fell to the darkness, another thing that scared her.

He's doing this to save Kairi, and protect me, she reminded herself.

"Ship hoe, off the starboard side!" the pirate in the crows nest called. Riku darted over to the right side of the deck, his eyes scanning the Ocean Inbetween, until he also spotted the orange and yellow ship.

"Sora," he breathed.

"Move to board!" Hook yelled, and there was a flurry of activity.

"Board? Why?" Aurora asked. Hook looked between the two teens, seeing the same question on Riku's face, before his face broke into a honey sweet smile.

"Why, to capture them, of course. They're nothing but a nusience, who will continue to get in our way of helping your friend," he said. Riku nodded slowly.

"Fine, but only to capture. Don't you dare hurt them," he said, before glancing at Aurora, and slipping into the Captain's Quarters, where Kairi still slept. A moment later, he came back out, the red-head in his arms, and walked to the upper deck.

"Riku? What are you doing?" Aurora asked, following after him.

"I want Sora to see what we've been fighting for. He might have replaced us, and he might not take us serious anymore, but I want him to realize how wrong he is. If the sight of Kairi without her heart doesn't do that, then… I don't know what will," he said. Aurora nodded slowly.

"You're still hoping he will join us," she said, and Riku nodded, very carefully placing the red head to sit down.

A few moments later, Donald and Goofy were dragged onto the ship and deposited into the brig. Moments later, Sora followed, surrounded by pirate Heartless. Riku's fingers twitched, and the ring of Heartless stopped, forcing Sora to do so as well, directly at the front of where the two stood.

"I didn't think you'd come, Sora," Riku called, getting the boy's attention. He quickly looked up, spotting Riku and Aurora. "Good to see you again."

"Where are Donald and Goofy?" the brunette asked. Aurora looked down, a spike of pain shooting through her chest.

Here Sora is, confronted by two of his friends, and all he can worry about was that stupid duck and dog. It was enough to make her feel almost sick.

"They're safe," she said softly, and Sora's eyes flickered from where he was staring at Riku, over to her.

"Are they that important to you?" Riku demanded. "More important than old friends? Instead of worry about them, you should be asking…" he stepped aside, revealing Kairi to Sora. "…about her."

"Kairi!" Sora called, taking a step forward. The Heartless pirates raised their swords, keeping him back.

"We finally found her, Sora," Aurora said. Riku frowned a little more.

"While you were off, goofing around with your new friends," he added.

Sora scowled between the two, before dropping into a fighting stance.

"No so fast. No shenanigans aboard my vessel, boy," Hook snapped, stepping in front of Sora.

"Riku, Aurora, why are you siding with the Heartless?" Sora demanded. Aurora looked down, unable to answer. Riku, on the otherhand, had no such qualms.

"The Heartless obey me now, Sora. Now, we have nothing to fear," he said. Sora's teeth and fists clenched at that.

"You're stupid!" he yelled. Aurora winced slightly, knowing he was probably right. Doesn't matter if you're right. That's no way to reach someone's heart once they've fallen deep into the darkness. But I've still got to try. I promised. Her eyes flickered over to Riku, and her stomach clenched in worry. "Sooner or later, they'll swallow your heart!" Sora followed up with.

I won't let them! Aurora thought.

"Not a chance. My heart's too strong."

"Riku…" Sora trailed off, looking over at Aurora, seeming to notice how quiet she'd been. "Aurora. Please tell me you haven't sunk into the darkness, too?" he asked.

"We'll be fine, no matter what," she said softly. Riku nodded with a smile at her, before slowly lifting his left hand.

"I've picked up a few other tricks as well. Like this, for instance." He pointed his hand, palm first, towards the other boy. The temperature around Aurora dropped drastically, and Sora's shadow suddnly became a solid entity, raising from the ground directly in front of the boy. Sora jumped back with wide eyes. Riku watched for a moment, before turning away. "You can go see your friends, now."

A trapdoor opened under Sora, dropping him below deck. Aurora tensed, wathching the hole, until she heard talking down there. Riku also waited a moment, before turing to Hook.

"Let's get under way, already. And keep Sora away from Kairi until we're ready to land." He turned away from the railing, bending to pick Kairi back up. Aurora frowned and followed as he walked back into the Captain's quarters.

"Riku…" she started as the boy laid Kairi down.

"Hm?" he asked, tipping his head towards Aurora.

"Don't you think… you're taking this too far? You were plenty strong before, without needing to control the Heartless. I really think you could have helped Kairi before, you know?" she said. Riku was quiet for a moment, before sighing softly.

"Maybe, maybe not. Who knows?" he said, before looking over at Aurora. "But being able to control them also means I can keep them away from you easier."

"Me?" Aurora asked, and Riku nodded, turning fully to face her.

"I know they've gone after you in the past, and back in the castle, they kept watching you. I was worried they were going to attack you, probably because of your abilities. If I can control them…" he looked down at his hands for a moment, before clenching them into fists. "I can keep them from attacking you."

Aurora studied the boys eyes, seeing nothing but determination and sincerity in them, and her heart sank in guilt.

"I really appreciate it, Riku, but… I don't want you to dive too deep into the darkness, either. Nothing good can come of it. I hate to say it, but… Sora has a point, as badly as he worded it."

Riku frowned slightly at the thought of his confrontation with Sora, before shaking his head with a smile at Aurora.

"He was wrong. I'm not stupid," he said, before reaching into his pocket, pulling out the the charm Aurora had given him. "Because I have you, and I know you'll pull me back out again."

That's what I'm trying to do now! Aurora thought deperatly.

"Once we land, Malificent will help us find the rest of the Princesses, which will help us save Kairi. After that, and after we can figure out how to get your memories back," he said, putting the charm back into his pocket.

"And… what about Sora?" Aurora asked. Riku shook his head.

"He can do whatever he wants. I'm only holding him and his friends to keep them from getting in our way, like Hook said," he grumbled. Aurora nodded, and sat on the corner of Hook's desk with a soft sigh, not knowing what else to try at this moment. Riku studied her for a moment.

"You… trust me, right?" he asked, his voice suddenly sounding uncertain. Aurora jumped slightly at that.

"Of course I do. I guess I'm just worried," she said. Riku nodded.

"I understand, but everything will be okay. I'll make sure of it," he smiled. Aurora gave him a small smile back, and nodded.

"Alright."

Just then, Hook entered the office. Aurora quickly hopped off of his desk, deciding not to give the pirate captain another reason to be angry.

Riku, on the other hand, turned to his previous sword mentor.

"Maleficent said to get rid of anything unneccessary. The girl you picked up before we captured Sora and his friends is part of that," Riku said.

"What!? So Wendy's not one of the chosen ones?" Hook demanded.

"There are seven, supposedly," Riku said with a shrug. "And Maleficent says she's not one of them." He turned his back on Hook. "Hoist anchor as soon as possible. Leave all the dead weight behind, including her."

"After the trouble of capturing her?" Hook demanded. "And why those seven? What is Maleficent planning? For all we know, you could be one of them!" he snapped, waving a hand at Aurora. Riku shot over, holding an arm out protectively in front of her.

"Who knows, but no one is laying a finger on Aurora," Riku snarled, causing both Aurora and Hook to stare at him with wide eyes. Hook cleared his throat, regaining his composure as he straightened his jacket.

"Fine then. But you're wasting your time with the other girl. The Heartless have devoured her heart. I'll stake me other hand it's lost forever."

"We'll find it," Aurora said, putting a hand Riku's arm, and lowering it. "We have to."

"Uh, Captain…" another voice called, echoing from a tube in the corner of the room. Aurora recognized the naselly tone as Smee.

"What?" Hook demanded once he reached the pipe.

"The prisoners have escaped. What's more, Peter Pan is with them."

Aurora and Riku glanced at each other, before looking towards Hook.

"Blast that Peter Pan!" Hook snapped. "All right, then! Bring the hostage to me cabin, Smee! Hop to it!"

"What should we do?" Aurora asked, looking towards Riku.

"What else? Sora and his friends are probably on their way here. We should prepare for them, though we should also go on ahead."

"Ahead?" Aurora asked.

"To Hollow Bastion." Riku walked over, picking up Kairi's prone form. Aurora nodded and followed, trying to figure out how Riku planned to go ahead, when the trapdoor on the other side of the room opened, and footsteps ran across the room, around the pillar that divided the room.

Aurora and Riku looked up in time to see Sora looking around. He turned in their direction, and his eyes widened as he reached out to them.

"Riku, Aurora, wait!" he called.

The temperature in the room suddenly dropped, causing Aurora to shiver. She looked towards the door and spotted darkness pouring into the room from under it, moving under Riku as well, and to directly in front of Sora.

The pool of darkness suddenly sprang up from the floor, becoming the Shadow Sora that Riku had summoned earlier, and dropping into a mirror of Sora's fighting stance.

"Common!" Riku said softly, before a dark portal appeared behind him. Aurora nodded, stepping through it, with Riku carrying Kairi directly behind. The three of them appeared in the Entrance Hall of Hollow Bastion, and Riku dropped to one knee, panting hard.

"Riku!" Aurora cried, dropping down next to him, wrapping an arm around him. He was trembling slightly, and his heart…

Aurora shuddered. His heart was frigid, meaning it was even deeper into the darkness then before. Aurora glanced back to where the portal had vanished, wondering if summoning it had pushed Riku deeper.

"Riku…?" Aurora asked softly. Riku shook his head.

"I'm alright," he said softly, taking a deep breath and forcefully stopping his shuddering. He looked up at her and smiled, but Aurora could tell it was forced. "Promise."

…

A/N: And here we see Aurora questioning what they're doing! Things are becoming really tense, huh?