Those Lost in the Darkness
Before Riku had awaken again to the realm between Sleeping Worlds, he had created his Ghostabocky and Ryu Dragon Dream Eaters. Equipping Ryu Dragon on his team, along with Lord Kyroo and Aura Lion, Riku headed back over to Traverse Town. Apparently he got a Moogle notice that he was now qualified to compete in the Final Cup of the Flick Rush tournaments.
He trained his Ryu Dragon a little in the Rainbow and Yummy Cups before taking on the Final Cup. Which turned out to be a good call, the competition was tough. But with hard work and fire, they ended up taking home the Cup and obtaining Sweet Dreams Keyblade as a reward. Now that he was officially Rank 20, he could purchase any item he wanted in the Medal Shop and the last three AR Cards were unlocked to him.
Dropping real quick, Riku went to his Dream Eater nursery to summon his own Meowjesty, Sudo Neku, and Ursa Circus. Already growing fond of his Meowjesty, Riku replaced his passive Spirit, Aura Lion, for Meowjesty. Waking back up still in Traverse Town he bought whatever Magic and Attacks he didn't have yet from the Medal Shop and Moogle Shop before heading out again.
The next world Riku revisited was Country of the Musketeers. Going on the assumption if all the other worlds with powerful nightmares had a Secret Portal for them, then Holey Moley more than likely had a Secret Portal, too. And he was correct, right in the Backstage the Secret Portal was waiting for him. Though Holey Moley was tough, it helped to have Ryu Dragon raining fire from the sky and Lord Kyroo fighting through. Zero Graviza, Shadow Slide, and Balloonga helped a lot too. It was a tough fight, but after some time Riku and Spirits came out the winners.
With Holey Moley defeated, and the last Secret Portal challenged completed, the Sleeping Worlds gifted Riku the Unbound Keyblade. Unbound was more powerful than Ultima Weapon, but Riku had a fondness for the Keyblade and kept it equipped. With a feeling that he was now more than ready, Riku left Country of the Musketeers to Dive drop out of the Realm of Sleeping Worlds. This would be the final challenge of his test, he would have to do his best and be on his toes. Riku hoped that Sora was doing the same, too. And even though he took a small detour to prepare himself, he had an assumption that he didn't fall too behind Sora. This was the end of their exam, and Riku had wanted to get and learn all that he could that the Sleeping Worlds had to offer. Knowing, Sora, he probably took a small detour to prepare, too.
This is it. The end of his Mark of Mastery exam. He worked so hard for this. Taking Ryu Dragon, Flowbermeow, and Majik Lapin as he took the Dive. This drop out of the Sleeping World's realm had a weird feeling of déjà vu. Those grey buildings he was passing dropping down felt familiar, even those grids that he had to squeeze through. It was only a minute-and-a-half drop, but he was rewarded the Divewing Keyblade from the Sleeping Worlds for masterfully completing all seven Dives.
Riku dropped down, slightly discombobulated as he dropped down on a balcony connected to a long hallway. Because of the layout he thought for a second that he was in another Sleeping World version of the Grid. But the lack of neon circuitry and the dull blue and grey coloring, he thought otherwise. The area he was in alone looked like a more colorful version of a Castle Oblivion floor.
Why was he here? The test should be over, his tasks were done. Why isn't he back at Master Yen Sid's tower? More importantly...
"Where am I now?" He turned around to look out from the balcony.
Things were already stranger than he thought it was. Things were in motion above, wall-plates scatter about and floated in mid air. It almost felt like he was on a ship adrift in space.
"Why am I here?" Riku thought aloud, trying to piece the information he already had together for clues. "I unlocked all seven Keyholes- so I should be back in the world I came from."
But he wasn't...
Turning around to face the corridor ahead, he decided to find out where exactly he has gone to.
"..." As Riku pressed on he observed the surroundings around him. Nightmares still stood in his way, so he must still be in a Sleeping World. And the building design seemed so familiar to him. Riku felt like he had been to this place before, perhaps years ago.
The corridor lead to a stairway that went up one floor to a locked path blocked by a mirage. The key to mirage lock was a large metal sphere that was floating. Riku had to Reality Shift to hack into the mirage key after weakening its defenses. Mirage Splitting the key he felt in his heart Sora joining him in the same cutting of links from the other side. Harmonizing as they unlocked the way together.
The mirage opened up to a hallway leading to a forked room with a generator barred off in the middle of it. This was already was called a Delusive Beginning, Riku laughed on the inside at the on-point name. With three options of directions to take with no clue where they lead, he'd have to decided which corridor to take. However, two of his options were high above him in this massively tall room and with no means for him to reach.
Riku decided to take the closes corridor to the left of him first. The corridor had a few connecting alleyways to it and a hidden off area up above its original path. The true prize wasn't the items he found along the way, but the Keeba Tiger recipe he found in the hidden area. He had no idea what was going to happen in this nonplanned Sleeping World. So he created his Keeba Tiger Spirit there, not knowing what he'll face so he'll take all the help he can get.
Sliding along the small walkway- or piping- above, Riku found another mirage lock. Cutting its white links opened up a portal on the floor into the barred generator. Mirage Cutting the exposed generator with Reality Shift had removed the generator's bars and unlocked a almost transparent spiral ramp up to the other corridors. Riku grabbed the large item box by the generator- containing Doubleflight- before heading up the ramp. He had also found a item box containing Curaga down there, too, but he had already bought that spell from the Moogle Shop. Well, at the time, it was munny well spent.
The spiral ramp up was long and definitely giving him Castle Oblivion vibes. The first corridor he encountered along the ramp was the one on the far right of the room. The corridor was wider than the first one he went through, more spacious for him to dodge charging Nightmares. The corridor lead to an open room with a moving wall that he would have to climb up. He had found some items along the way up, including a Dark Splicer attack skill. But there was only a Special Link Portal at the top. After completing the portals challenge and exiting the corridor, Riku took the rest of the spiral rampway up to the last corridor. Which lead to a small open room that opened to a brightly lit hallway.
The hallway had lead to a room with a ridiculous amount of rampways. Walk of Delusions, Riku couldn't help but laugh again. Whoever had been going around naming these areas had a dry sense of humor. The rampways were blocked off from him. Only the things that were open to him was a metal sphere mirage key. After breaking down the sphere's armor, Riku Reality Shift through it. Mirage Splitting the lock open with Sora and opened up the path to the ramps. Not in the mood for dealing with all those ramps, Riku just wall jumped to the next mirage lock. Mirage Cutting the metal sphere lock had opened even more stairways and another mirage lock.
And that mirage lock was the key to revealing the one true rampway. The others disappearing with its unlocking. Taking them all the way up lead Riku to the area of Fact Within Fiction. An open area in grid like design with path that deceptively circled around and spiraled upward a tower to appear as many. Riku had found many items along the many tiers and pipe ways, and even found a Special Portal on the way up near sliding energy beams.
Making his way up the spiral, breaking off with the path to an open circular platform, which took Riku up another stairway to a Lift. It launched Riku up to a higher platform. From there he headed through an east corridor that lead him to the Verge of Chaos area. To his left was a Link Portal... Cloud's Link Portal. Riku had to fight his way through Aura Lions and Ryu Dragons Nightmares that felt like they were overpowered just to complete the challenge. But it was over, Riku had won, and he hoped that Cloud would have a lot more pleasant dreams than nightmares after this.
To his right he had found another Special Portal. The last Special Portal apparently, since after completing its challenges the Sleeping Worlds gifted him with End of Pain Keyblade for completing all their Special Portals. A beautiful Keyblade, that had Riku debating if he liked End of Pain more or Ultima Weapon. Ultima Weapon may have been stronger, but End of Pain looked more badass. It was a dilemma he would have to deal with later, for now he had to press on.
But there was nowhere to go. It was an open balcony with nothing else but two item boxes and a large cable up against the wall. What seemed like a dead end only said to Riku that there was only one way up. Flowmotioning up along the cable, sliding up the wall to the area above. At the top he found a large item box containing Skelterwild recipe. Riku made the recipe immediately, gaining a Dream Eater that looked like a T-Rex skeleton. As exciting as that was, Riku would have to take his Skelterwild into battle later. Apparently, he had more cables to climb at the moment.
Finally after some more cable sliding, Riku had made it to another high up platform with an adjoining ramp. But before he could continue on his Drop Gauge deplete. Riku dropped on the spot.
"Oh my Lifestream! He's got an undead Tyrannosaurus rex."
"Hmph. Metal."
Riku was up again. Taking a moment to tag out his Flowbermeow for his Skelterwild before proceeding onward. Seeing the giant cable that was his one way to the top, Riku jumped on. Sliding to the circular platform up top, Riku jumped onto the platform. Walking up to few set of stairs to head to the center, surrounded by columns. On the floor was the sigil of the Nobodies. Now Riku knew where he was.
As strange as the information was to him. What was even weirder was the boy floating in a bubble in the center of the room. Sleeping in a deep slumber as the darkness circled him.
"Is that... Sora?" Riku ran up to him, calling to Sora to wake up. But he didn't... Something was wrong. "Sora!"
"(Gasp)!" This was no ordinary sleep. From the bubble, Riku could see Sora's dream reflecting on its clear shell. Riku had to get Sora out of there. He reached into the bubble with no resistance, the bubble not popping from his intrusion, as he grabbed for Sora's arm. "Sora! Don't! You've gotta wake up! Sora!"
"..." Sora remained asleep, dreaming. Riku shook him but to no avail. This was no dream, it was a nightmare. The darkness began to surround him more aggressively.
"!" And from that darkness came a person who wears the black coat. No...that wasn't a black coat. Riku could clearly smell the wreak of darkness coming from the Nightmare wearing it. Whomever they were. "What" ever they were. It remained hidden to Riku under that anti black coat. The hood revealed nothing but red, glowing beady eyes. Riku turned standing between Sora and the Anti Black Coat Nightmare.
"Are you what's trapping him in that nightmare?" Riku demanded an answer from the Nightmare, but no response was returned. The Sigil of Nightmares appeared on the Anti Black Coat's back. Riku summoned his Keyblade to him, ready for battle. If the Anti Black Coat was Sora's Nightmare then Riku will be Sora's Spirit. "'Cause if you are... I'm what nightmares fear!"
The Anti Black Coat Nightmare just floated up to Riku in a clashing dash.
"Freeze!" Riku greeted its arrival with a Blizzara and Firaga, Shadow Sliding behind it once it came in for a strike. It retreated back, floating around Riku as it waited for an opening. But Riku wasn't going to wait for the Anti Black Coat Nightmare to strike first. He Thunder Dashed to it, attacking with his Keyblade. "Take this."
"Pull!" Riku used Zero Graviza while he was up close, drawing the Nightmare into the Magic faster for the most amount of damage. But that left Riku up close and open, too. The Nightmare fired from the ground a trail of Dark Claws at Riku pushing him back. "Gah!"
And while Riku was staggered, the Nightmare dashed around firing multiple Dark Firaga at him.
"Heal." It really took a number out of Riku. He cast Curaga on himself, bringing him back in the game. Good thing all that training to improve his healing skills over the last year paid off. He had been struggling with healing Magic for the longest time, ever since he had first learned Magic. But now after all that hard work he had put himself through to improve, buying the Magic from a Moogle Shop in a Sleeping World and finding Curaga in an item box almost seemed like a joke.
The Anti Black Coat Nightmare tried to strike at Riku with a Dark Chain Link, forcing Riku to dodge and focus again. The Nightmare was dashing around him keeping a distance, firing at Riku with long range attacks. The Nightmare was not going to move in close. So Riku will just have to go long range, too. This fight just became a Dual of Magic. Whomever could hit their targets would most likely be the winner.
Firing some Thundara at the Nightmare from a distance, Riku used a Ice Barrage to blocked the Nightmare's dark claw attacks. After a few Firaga and Dark Firaga shot between them, Riku ended the fight with a Blizzaga.
"..." The Anti Black Coat Nightmare wobbled on its feet, fading away into dark specs.
With the fight over, Riku ran back to Sora. Slightly out of breath and exhausted from the previous conflict. Through all that noise, Sora still didn't wake up. In fact, he had fallen deeper into his pit of dreams.
"Sora, don't chase the dreams." Riku pleaded with Sora. He had to stop fallen further...or else Riku will lose him. "They'll lead you nowhere, just to an abyss you'll never be able to wake up from."
"!" Riku wasn't sure if Sora had heard him, but something about his dream was changing. Sora washing away with his bubble to give way to the building area from the World That Never Was. Only for that to wash away, too. "What? What's going on in Sora's world? Why won't he open his eyes? Is he still in the nightmare?"
"That is right." Ansem answered Riku's question into the nothing, startling Riku out of his thoughts.
"Ansem!" Riku quickly turned around to face Ansem, not leaving his back open. But there was no one there.
"Sora can no longer wake up." Ansem continue, disregarding Riku's guarded stance. "No matter how many nightmares you consume, you cannot wake someone who has fallen into the chasm of dreams."
"What?"
"Dreams hold our memories. Sleep holds our dreams." The world around Riku began to wobble like a daze as Ansem spoke on. "And darkness- it holds our sleep. Sora's heart belongs to the darkness now."
"Sora would never give in to the darkness!"
"But you feel it, don't you? This world, the nightmare, the abyss. Why haven't you returned to the reality whence you came?"
"(Gasp)!" There was some truths in his words... This place felt wrong. Distorted. "No. This is a..."
"Dream of a dream. A twofold nightmare." Ansem answered for Riku. "This whole journey, you have been inside Sora's dreams. And now darkness within darkness awaits you."
"!" Riku felt the floor slip under his feet. Looking down he saw that he was sinking into a dark corridor. "What?"
He tried pulling his legs out but it was no use. He was sinking into darkness.
"No. I can't get loose!" Riku panicked as he reached out for anything. With nothing to hold on to, he fell in. He calmed himself. The endless darkness wasn't something he hadn't felt before. Relaxing himself once more, with closed eyes, Riku allowed his light to coat over him.
"At the start of your test, when you struck out from that tiny island, you saw me there dressed in a robe." Ansem spoke, breaking Riku from the calm silence. He was NOT alone in the darkness. And Ansem was bringing to light the suspicions Riku had at the beginning of the exam. Why there island wreaked of darkness, how Ursula found her way there, things that were not there before Destiny Island fell into darkness. "Immediately you knew something was wrong, so without even knowing it, you dove into Sora's dream."
"..." Riku opened his eyes, facing the man that was a dark stain on his past.
"And you become exactly what that sigil on your back represents- a Dream Eater to protect Sora from nightmares."
"Me? I'm a Dream Eater?" Then how come he could use Spirits of his own? Unless he meant that metaphorically. It sounded a little far fetched.
"Correct. But you failed to protect him." Ansem pointed at him accusingly. "After all your efforts to command the darkness and protect those you cherish, it is a shame you locked that power away in the end."
"Except...it's not over." Riku clinched his fist with determination. Already figuring out Ansem was trying to break his guard down. Riku would not fall for that again. "I can still save Sora."
"So you understand what to do." Ansem said connivingly. Trying to lead Riku on with an open hand . "Set the darkness in you free, and you can rescue your friend."
"Ansem. Or... Xehanort." Riku call to whomever they called themselves to hear his words. "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 even on this journey." Riku rested a hand over his heart. "After allowing darkness in my heart, am I still fit to wield the Keybalde? Even after locking you away, here you are, haunting me again. So I get it now. There's no point in trying to hold the darkness back."
"At last, you see clearly." Ansem was pleased with this. He held out his hand to Riku in the hopes that he would take it and unleash his power.
"You know...when I look at you... there's this memory that flashes back." Moving his hand away from his heart, Riku looked down at it in thought. "A secret I said I'd keep when I was little. The main reason I kept dreaming about seeing the outside world...was 'cause of him."
"(Sigh)…" Ansem's hand wavered, it would seem that Riku still did not get it.
"My journey begins here, and now." Riku held out his hand, summoning his Keybalde to it. "I'm going back to the real world, and then to Sora's side."
"..." Ansem lowered his hand in disappointment. "That...is your answer?"
"Yes. I know the way." Riku braced himself for confrontation. "Consume the darkness, return it to light."
"You can try." Ansem sneered, calling forth his Heartless Guardian.
The two of them took flight in the darkness, floating over the groundless void.
"Fire!" Riku shot Dark Firaga at Ansem, blocking his counter attack with a Ice Barrage. Riku Thunder Dash after Ansem, attacking him with his Keyblade. "Take this!"
"Yahh!" Ansem grunted, striking Riku with his Guardian Heartless. For the most part Ansem made no moves to physically attack Riku himself, leaving his Guardian Heartless to do the job as he kept his arms crossed. Only attacking Riku with his power over darkness. "Drown in darkness."
They seemed to have reached a surface. More of a circular platform made of darkness as Ansem's power swirled over the surface like a whirlpool. Tendrils of darkness raised off from sides of the platform like streams. A gravity pooled Riku down onto the platform, forcing him to jump up till Ansem's attack was over.
Ansem shot Dark Discs at Riku, sharp and ready to slice him. But lucky for Riku, none of them hit their target.
"Got ya," Riku smirked as he Shadow Slide behind Ansem, retaliating back with his Keyblade. He attacked Ansem a few more times before ending the fight with a- "Fire!"
"Gah," Ansem grunted in pain with a stagger. Composing himself once more, Ansem crossed his arms as they floated further down in the darkness onto a new surface."
"Ansem!" Riku called to him. "You're part of my heart now. Part of the light!"
"Ever the fool, boy." Ansem declared as his darkness engulfed him. "And forever a pawn of the darkness!"
The darkness coated Ansem like a shell. Safe within the womb of his larger Guardian Heartless, it's new wings caressing around the shell. Riku charged at Ansem for another fight. He could Sense the darkness around Ansem was much stronger than before. This fight will be harder than the last.
Ansem shot out waves of slashes at Riku. Multiple waves came flying at him.
"No way." Riku blocked, refusing to back down. Coming up close to strike with his Keyblade, Riku's Ryu Dragon and Skelterwild Spirit's circled around Ansem like a pack of wolfs. Striking when he left an opening. But the openings wouldn't last long as Ansem shot projectiles of darkness that would flank all around him.
"Accept the darkness." Ansem's Guardian Heartless began punching down on them before pushing them back further into the darkness.
Closed in by barricades covered in the darkness, Riku was tunneled. Force to charged back to Ansem while serpentine along the barricade walls from his dark spherical attacks. Attack spheres that didn't launch themselves at Riku, instead shot locked-on lasers at him. Only to enlarge and burn out the moment Riku reached Ansem.
"Yah!" Riku had to Shadow Strike to avoid verging dark projectiles, attacking Ansem from up close. His Dream Eaters charging in from behind.
"Accept the darkness." Ansem commanded, sending more slice waves at Riku.
"No way." But Riku refused. Blocking off the attacks with Ice Barrage. Before regaining the distance between them by jumping back while attacking with Thundara. "Go away."
Riku felt something big rising from within Ansem as he roared, engulfing with darkness even more darker than it already was. Riku could only evade and dodge as spikes of darkness shot out from the ground around him. A few getting in a hit, surviving until the darkness in Ansem calmed down and pushed him back again.
"Heal." Riku cast Curaga, taking care of the damage before charging in again. This time Ansem was launching large rolling spheres of darkness at Riku through the tunnel like bowling balls, forcing Riku to keep on his toes as he jumped out of their way.
"Feel the darkness." Ansem relished in Riku's pain as he shot more dark projectiles at him.
"Take this." Riku slashed at Ansem with his Keyblade, fighting through the projectiles with Ice Barrage and Counter Aura as he kept on attacking. Jumping in the air to avoid Ansem bombshells of darkness dropping in front of him. Riku launched a Blizzaga at him from the skies. "Freeze!"
Riku began attacking at Ansem again as he landed, hoping the fight was almost over. Ansem's Guardian Heartless continued to bombard punches down on Riku in the hopes of crushing him under its fists. But Riku jumped back, launching Firaga Burst at Ansem.
"Fire!" Riku shouted out as he cast the spell, before going in to strike the finishing blow. "You're done!"
Ansem was knocked-out inside his Guardian Heartless, dangling down as his Guardian Heartless reached out for Riku. Riku held up his Keyblade to deter the Heartless. Riku's won't-back-down attitude was enough to halt the Heartless, making it retreat with Ansem.
"(Sigh)," Riku sighed out in relief, glad that the fight was over. He looked down at his Keyblade in gratitude for its help during that tough situation. He was proud of himself. He had come a long way from his past self, and he had gotten much stronger for it. "Strength, to protect what matters."
Riku closed his eyes as the darkness moved around him. Fading away as he was taken back to the building on the World That Never Was.
"(Gasp)!" Riku's eyes opened upon the realization he was out of the darkness. But he was more than back in the Sleeping World, he was back in the real world. But this didn't make any sense. He was back in the realm of Light, so why were his Dream Eaters still here? And his cloths and powers weren't back to normal either. Riku took a moment to collect his thoughts on what was going on. 'This place... Did I finally make it out of the dream? Sora and I have been split up since the start of our journey, because Ansem- no, because Xehanort planned it. And that means... we're a long way off course from the Mark of Mastery exam Yen Sid gave us.'
"..." Regardless of Xehanort's pre-laid out plan or whatever was going on with his powers, Sora was in trouble. They had been going after him this hold time and probably already captured him. Walking towards the buildings in front of him, Riku was determined to save his friend. "All right. Sora's gotta be here...somewhere.
The World That Never Was
Remembering the way from before, Riku headed down the alleyway towards the direction of the Castle That Never Was. The bridge was gone, just like before. However this time Riku couldn't use Dark Corridor to make his way directly in.
"End of the road, huh?" Riku groaned out to himself as he looked around to see there was nothing he could use as a makeshift bridge. "I know I'm back in the real world, but I still have my Dream Eater powers. Which means... he still hasn't woken up. Where are you, Sora?"
The sound of a squeak Riku knew so well, called through the area with an echo.
"..." Riku listened closer with an ear as the squeak turned into a whimper. "(Gasp)!"
He knew that sound. That was the call of a Meow Wow. He had to squint his eyes to be able recognize its waving movement on the large castle's Bridgeway point.
"A Dream Eater!" But this Meow Wow wasn't his. Riku's was safe in his dreamworld along with the other Dream Eaters on standby. It wasn't his Spirit, and it wasn't a Nightmare either. So it must have been Sora's. It was desperately calling over to him for attention, as if to tell him something. "Is that where Sora is?"
It rolled and wagged its bottom as if to confirm Riku's assumption. Riku looked around more drastically.
"How do I get across?" As if answering his call for help, Riku's Komory Bat summoned itself on its own. Landing on Riku's shoulder, it began squeaking happily as its wings flapped for a moment. It wanted to fly him across... "Right. I get it."
Riku kindly pet his Komory Bat, glad for its help. With a Reality Shift, the two of them Dreamline across the moat surrounding the castle. Once on the other side, Sora's Meow Wow guided Riku to the Throne Room before disappearing again. A blindingly white room where 13 different thrones remained empty.
"Hm?!" All except for the smallest one. "Sora!"
Riku jumped down from the upper chamber floor to run to Sora. Only to blocked and forced back by a the young stranger from before- which knocked him back down onto the upper chamber floor.
"Hands off my new vessel." The guy warned as he floated up to Riku.
""Vessel"?" Riku struggled to pick himself up again, settling for just sitting up on his side.
"Yes. We originally had our sights set on you. But, you developed a certain... resistance to darkness." The stranger said, explaining their plans for Sora and Riku. "So we did what the Keyblade did, and moved down the list."
"Ghh," Riku grunted as he got back on his feet again. The guy continued on regardless.
"Roxas… Now, there was a worthy candidate." Riku could hear the subtle pride and regret in stranger's voice. "But, unfortunately, he became too aware of himself, and returned to Sora."
"..." He almost sounded disappointed.
"Organization XIII's true goal is to divide Xehanort's heart among thirteen vessels. Thanks to you and Sora, we learned not all our candidates were fit for the task. But, we managed to make up the difference."
'This guy's talking like he's simply counting his eggs, not taking over people's bodies.' Riku thought to himself in disgust.
"And now, Sora, the thirteenth vessel, is within our grasp."
"Thirteen...Xehanorts?" Was this man insane to try and split a heart into thirteen parts? Taking over someone's heart with another, forcing them to fuse. Not only was that an abomination, it was dangerous. Suddenly the room started to have a stench of darkness. "(Gasp)!"
Riku looked up as the thrones started to be occupied by wearers of the Black Coat, coming in from their Dark Corridors. Filling up the throne room clockwise. Some wearing their hoods, others did not. He recognized the ones that didn't...
"What is..." The Nobodies from Organization XIII they had defeated before...they were back in their real bodies.
"The real Organization XIII." The young stranger answered his unfinished question, drawing Riku's attention back to him.
"The Organization?" What relationship did he have with Organization XIII? Who was this guy?
"I am Xehanort from the most distant past." Apparently this was a "Young Xehanort" introducing himself to Riku. But how did he even get here? "My future self gave me a task-
'To give everyone a headache?' Riku was confused why their plans had so many hoops.
"-to visit the splintered versions of myself in many worlds, and ensure they gathered here today."
"From the past?" How?
"There are restrictions to movement through time." Young Xehanort explained. "First, you must leave your body behind to do it. Then, there must be a version of you waiting at the destination. Upon arrival, you can only move forward as per the laws of time. And you cannot rewrite the events that are destined to happen."
'Then what was the point and how was he able to "do" any of this?'
"What have you done?" Riku demanded an answer.
"My most future self will arrive soon." Young Xehanort gestured to the last empty throne, the tallest of them all. Consumed in darkness. "Then, time for all of us will return to normal, and I will go back to my era to live the life fate has in store. He can vouch for that."
"..." Riku was at a lost for words. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. But a Keyblade shot down between the two of them. Knocking the Young Xehanort away from Riku.
"Stopza!" Mickey came down in a shot of Light, grabbing his Keyblade as he cast a powerful Stop spell. Freezing everyone in the room, except him and Riku. It startled Riku at first, but he calmed at the sight of his friend. Mickey turned to Riku in relief. "I'm glad I'm not too late."
"Mickey!" Riku ran over to him.
"Just grab Sora so we can go!" There was no way for them to fight all these members on their own. They just needed to get out of there to fight another day. "I can't stop them for long."
"Okay!"
But one of the members had already broken free.
"Wahh!" Mickey shouted in alarm as he was attacked from the back. The force knocking Mickey off onto the main chamber floor.
"Mickey!" Riku called out to Mickey in alarm. He got knocked down hard and dropped his Keyblade on the ground. Riku turned to face the attacker, only to see that it was a angry Young Xehanort whom coated himself in darkness.
"I said, hands off!"
"How can you be moving?"
"..." He didn't answer... Only summoned his own Keyblade.
"Oh no. Are you..." Mickey turned back around in alarm at the power coming from Young Xehanort.
"Begone." Young Xehanort sneered before covering the chamber in darkness.
"!" No... He didn't just cover the room in darkness. He had used the darkness to take Riku and himself to a new chamber entirely. The floor was see-through with layers of turning gears like a clock as different colored hourglasses floated around them in the dark void. Silhouettes of gears could barely be seen in the distance. Riku summoned his Keyblade once again as Young Xehanort charged at him.
This would be a tough fight. Riku had already been through two fights not too long ago- two-and-a-half if you count Ansem's 2nd form. He was already at a slight disadvantage from exhaustion. And Young Xehanort was not letting up, forcing Riku to jump and roll out of the way of his attacks. Since Young Xehanort had great resistance against Mickey's Spotza, he was more than likely immune to time-based spells. So Slow wasn't going to work on him. Riku would just have to work with long ranged attacks until he could get closer.
"Freeze!" Riku shot a Blizzaga at Young Xehanort before bombarding him with a Firaga Burst. "Fire!"
Young Xehanort launched an icicle attack at Riku, which took some time, giving Riku to opening to Shadow Strike at him.
"No way." Riku defied as he slid pass the incoming icicle to start attacking Young Xehanort. Both getting a few hits on each other before Riku backed off. Jumping back as he launched a Dark Firaga to cover his pullback. "Fire!"
Xehaort still launched projectiles at him. Riku blocked with Ice Barrage but Young Xehanort came in battering Riku's Barrier along with his attacks. Riku flipped backwards, taking a moment to recover himself.
"Heal." The relieving feeling of Curaga flowing through his body was short lived as Young Xehanort came dashing at him in a flash. So fast that he was leaving images behind. Young Xehanort's dark projectiles were ridiculously accurate at targeting him as well. He was taking too much damage at once, Riku needed back up. Luckily his Ryu Dragon and Skelterwild were there to save the day. Ryu Dragon came in blazing fire to force Young Xehanort back while Skelterwild came charging in for a nasty bite. It gave Riku enough time to heal again before joining the fight. "Take this!"
Young Xehanort continuously moved around the field, making it hard for Riku's Dream Eaters to keep up with him. Even Riku was having a hard time keeping up, he had to use his Sense to find out where Xehanort was going.
"Got'cha." Riku Sensed Young Xehanort coming at him from his side, attacking Young Xehanort before he strikes first. Getting a combo in before Shadow Striking to Young Xehanort's side to get in a few more attacks. Young Xehanort jumped back to recover himself, but Riku launched a Blizzaga attack to take with him. "Freeze!"
"No way!" Riku blocked as Young Xehanort attacked him with wave projectiles. Riku Thunder Dashed in for an attack combo, ending the fight with a Aerial Slam. "Goodbye!"
Or so he thought.
"Time Stop." Young Xehanort slowed down Riku's time, attacking Riku with projectiles before jumping back. Riku was taking on heavy damage. If he didn't do anything soon he was done for. Using Reality Shift, Riku Mirage Split young Xehanort's time spell. But the spell was too powerful for a Reality Shift to destroy, it only broke down its barrier. Riku would physically have to destroy it in order to get the Young Xehanort.
But Young Xehanort was still able to attack, and his movements weren't Slowed by the spell as well. Riku was still badly hurt, and his Dream Eaters were focusing on destroying the time spell. Riku jumped high in the air, in the hopes that Young Xehanort couldn't reach him, as he used a Curaga.
"Heal." On the way down he Aerial Slammed the spell, attacking the spell some more to try and wear it down before Young Xehanort went on the attack again. Firaga Bursting at it along with Dark Firaga when Young Xehanort got close again. "Fire!"
He would try getting close to attack it again, but Xehanort would flash back to block and counter him. Leaving only Riku's Dream Eaters to damage it. Though their damage was minimal, they were consistent with their attacks, leaving Riku to distract Young Xehanort. Jumping in the air, Riku launched a Blizzaga at the spell.
"Freeze!" Riku's spell weakened the time spell immensely while his Skelterwild did the finishing blow. With the spell destroyed, they were transported back into the Throne room.
"Are you okay, Riku?" Mickey asked, running up to him.
"Yeah. Thanks, Mickey." Riku responded as he lowered his Keyblade. Suddenly the area around the thrones began to ripple like raindrops of darkness. "!"
They looked around, wondering what was going on.
"Master Xehanort!" Mickey gasped, finding the cause behind them. Riku gasped, turning around as Mickey continued to shout up to the new arrival with anger. "We were right about you!"
"!" Riku looked up to the man known as Master Xehanort. The darkness that came from him ran deep. His black coat was different from the others, more open as if he saw no need to cover his darkness. His eyes were a piercing yellow, and his smile held no warmth. His skin as tan as his younger counterparts, absent of his hair except the goatee beard on his chin.
"All of this was decided." Xehanort declared. His voice was deep and gruff like sandpaper, and yet oddly smooth. "My twelve selves would welcome me here on this day, and I would return a complete person. It is the future which lies beyond my sight."
"Why are you doing this?" Mickey couldn't understand. Why would Xehanort want to start the Keyblade War again. The cost of the first one was the lives of so many Keyblade wielders and the scattering of worlds.
"In ancient times, people believed that light was a gift from an unseen land by the name of Kingdom Hearts." Xehanort answered Mickey with a tale from long ago. "But Kingdom Hearts was safeguarded by its counterpart, the X-blade. Warriors vied for that precious light, thus beginning the "Keyblade War." The violent clash shattered the X-blade into twenty pieces- seven of light, and thirteen of darkness. And the only real Kingdom Hearts was swallowed by the darkness, never to surface again."
"..."
"I once tried to create my own pure light and darkness to forge the X-blade, but the attempt ended in failure." Xehanort said, reminiscing about Ventus. "In my eagerness, I had lost sight of the correct way to achieve my goal. I acted rashly. I can admit that now."
"!" Mickey fumed as Xehanort spoke about what he had done to his apprentice Ventus like it was just a spill of milk. The cost was more than just damaging Ventus's heart and forcing him into a deep sleep, it cost the lost of his friends Terra and Aqua to the darkness trying to save Ventus. Mickey's shaking fists unclenched, one raising to point accusingly at Xehanort. "What you did back then- your mistakes- changed the destinies of three of my friends!"
"Ah, but destiny is never left to chance." Xehanort brushed off Mickey's complaint, resting his head on knuckle as he leaned on the armchair of his throne- legs crossed as well in a relaxed pose. "I merely guided them to their proper places. The broken boy who failed to be the blade... the misguided master who sacrificed herself for a friend... and the reckless youth who became my new vessel."
"..." Mickey looked down sadly as he thought about his friends that he had lost. But then look back up in fury at Xehanort. "I couldn't find a way to save 'em. But I wanted to believe that their sacrifice stopped you for good. Why? How was I so blind? I should've seen it, as soon as Maleficent started gathering the seven princesses of heart."
"Yes. They were all my doing." Xehanort admitted. He almost sounded proud of it. "I used the evil fairy to find seven pure lights for me, just as I prepared thirteen vessel to fill with pure darkness."
"But you failed." Riku declared, finally putting his 2 cents in. "Sora stopped you in your tracks on both counts."
"Yes, he did." Xehanort admitted that Riku was correct. It was a minor annoyance. But the results were interesting nonetheless. Xehanort sat up straight on his throne. "That dull, ordinary boy- a Keyblade wielder so unlike any I have ever seen. However, I have not abandoned my ambitions- the seven guardians of light and the thirteen seekers of darkness. (Chuckle)."
"Seven guardians of light?" Mickey questioned Xehanort's ambitions. "Well, for Keyblade wielders, there's me and Riku and Sora. And my three missing friends, that's six. Then the seventh would be...(Gasp)! That means...the thirteen seekers of darkness..."
"Yes, little king. Perceptive." Xehanort praised Mickey with a hint of mockery as Mickey looked through the room. "But Sora and another on your list belong to me now. And that puts you three guardians short."
"..." Mickey stared up at Xehanort in defiance.
"But worry not. All of the pieces are destined to appear. Your seven lights just like my thirteen darknesses, whose final clash will beget the prize I seek-
"The X-blade!" "The X-blade!" Xehanort and Mickey answered together.
"..." Xehanort got up, standing in his throne seat, summoning his Keyblade. It was dark and sinister, Riku had never seen a Keyblade like this before. He never thought a Keyblade made purely of the power of darkness could even existed. "But first, the thirteen darknesses shall be united. All the seats have been filled. And now the last vessel shall beat my heart like the rest!"
Sora's throne began to rise up to join the others a the clinch of Xehanort's fingers.
"No!" "Sora!" Mickey and Riku ran to Sora. Two of the thirteen members flashed out of their chairs to intercept them.
"Ah!" Mickey cried out as he jumped up the thrones to grab Sora, only for Xemnas to ram him into the side of another throne.
"!" Riku's was distracted only for a second by Mickey's cry. Giving his assailant, Ansem, enough time to slam him on the floor. He held Riku down with a knee to the back and a hand on his the head. Riku struggled but Ansem's hold was strong. "Ghh!"
"(Chuckle)." Xehanort chuckle to himself. Filling a piece of his heart into his Keyblade as Sora's throne rose to his throne's level. With everything in position, he pointed his Keyblade at Sora. And like a Key to the open a heart, Xehanort's Keyblade shot the fragment heart at Sora's.
"!" Mickey and Riku watched in alarm as the Heart fragment went flying through the air towards Sora. There was nothing they could do to stop it.
Luckily for them, Someone else did.
"He made it!" Mickey cheered in relief. Xemnas looked up at the previous member of Organization XIII, now back to being whole, blocked the Heart fragment with his weapon and fire.
"You!" Xemnas said, his smooth voice filled with frustrated rage.
"Axel!" Xigbar called out in rage as Axel grabbed a hold of Sora.
"!" Riku couldn't believe that a former member of Organization was helping them.
"Axel? Please." He replied back, insulted. "The name's Lea. Got it memorized?"
"You're not suppose to be here!" Xigbar accused.
"Promises to keep. I'll always be there to get my friends back. What, bad timing?" Lea mockingly said the last part, still holding on to Sora like a sack of potatoes. He looked up at Xehanort. "You had your perfect little script, but you kinda forgot to write the sequel. Now, let's find out what happens!"
"Gh!" Xigbar banged his fist on his throne's armrest in frustration, looking back up at Xehanort. "What now, you old coot? Our time is up!"
But instead of looking frustrated or fazed by the intervention, he looked excited.
"..." Xehanort smiled as another thirteenth member went to counteract Lea. This one wielding a berserker weapon that Lea knew well. It belonged to a friend after all.
"!" Lea blocked the incoming weapon with his, shocked as the falling hood revealed his childhood friends with the cross scar over his nose. Hair as blue as ever, but eyes now yellow like Xehanort's. Both lost to being Nobodies in the Organization. Whole again, and yet Saïx was still a member. "Isa!"
Lea struggled to hold Isa back, but he was too strong. Conceding that he could not hold out Isa, Lea slide to the side, jumping out of the fight entirely. Mickey took advantage of the moment, too. Using his Keyblade to push Xemnas away from him. Riku did the same as well, forcing Ansem to pull back as Riku slashed at him with his Keyblade.
Lea had jumped back to joined the three of them as they stood against the Organization members.
"Why are you here, Axel?" Riku questioned why he was helping them instead of siding with the Organization. Didn't he use to be a member. He had expected him to be one them in the thrones.
"No, I told you my name's- Agh, whatever, Axel, fine. Now let's get outta here!" Lea groaned, they didn't have time for this. They were out numbered and clearly outmatched. They just needed to grab Sora and go. No need for any reckless, extra heroics.
"Right!" Mickey couldn't agree more.
But Ansem thought otherwise. Summoning his Guardian Heartless to stop them. It grabbed Mickey and Riku in its grip. Struggling in its grip, they couldn't get loose. Luckily, help came from the sky. Donald and Goofy came crashing down, knocking the king and Riku out of its hands. It faded as Ansem's powers were weakening.
"Were we suppose to do that?" Donald groaned as the slam into the Heartless knocked them flat on the ground.
"I think so." Goofy groaned out in reply on his back, more than likely bumping his head on the way down.
"Goofy, Donald! You save us!" Mickey couldn't believe they were here. But was glad that they were. They came right on time.
"We are out of time." Xehanort said nonchalantly as his Organization XIII members began to fade away in dark fragments. "Neither the union of light nor darkness has been achieved, and we must all return whence we came. But, the gathering of the seven and thirteen is nigh."
"..." All of them stared at their selected Organization member, as the Organization members stared back them as Xehanort made his declaration of war.
"Let us finish this at the fated place, once your lights and my darknesses have joined together!" And with Xehanort's last words they all faded away like a ripple in a pool of darkness.
"..." King Mickey looked up to were they had gone in defiance.
*** Sometime Later ***
The Mysterious Tower
They had returned to Master Yen Sid's tower, reporting what had happen on The World That Never Was and the Organization XIII"s plans, along with what had happen in Riku's Sleeping World trials. They had succeeded in stopping Xehanort from taking over Sora's body, but had failed at keeping Sora from falling into the deep sleep.
"Seven lights, thirteen darknesses… Master Xehanort has been busy." Master Yen Sid said, taking in all that they had told him. Lea leaned against the shelf in the corner while the others looked after Sora behind Master Yen Sid's chair.
Sora was leaned against the wall, his heart trapped in a deep sleep. He was not waking up. Donald was shaking. He wanted to shake Sora until he woke up. He wanted to shout at him. He wanted to try anything! Anything...to wake his friend again. But Goofy put a hand sadly on his shoulder, shaking his head. It wouldn't work. There was nothing they could do that would help Sora.
"Aw, Sora. Don't tell me your heart's sleeping, too." Mickey said crestfallen, knelling beside Sora with Riku. This was Ventus all over again for Mickey, he couldn't bare to lose another friend this way.
"No, Mickey. This affliction is not the same." Master Yen Sid corrected him, making everyone turned to him with a sudden hope.
"Can we do anything for him?" Riku asked, begging inside for a way to help his friend.
"..." Everyone listened in, expectantly.
"In your Mark of Mastery exam, you were to unlock seven Sleeping Keyholes. By doing so, you would awaken those worlds from their prison of slumber, and also acquire the power to free a heart from its sleep." Master Yen Sid explained to them before revealing the solution. "Riku, you unlocked those Keyholes within Sora's dreams. Therefore, it stands to reason that you now have the power to awaken Sora's heart."
"..." Riku understood what Master Yen Sid was asking of him.
"You want him to dive back into Sora's sleep?" Mickey said in slight outrage. Riku had already been through so much danger from being taken off course and lost in Sora's dream during the exam. They could not put him through that again. Especially with how dangerous that would be now. "But Master, Sora's heart is down in the darkest abyss. If Riku's not careful, he might just get trapped down there with him."
"!" "!" Donald and Goofy flinched in alarm.
"No...I'll go instead." Mickey volunteered himself as Master Yen Sid rose from his chair to walk over to them. Riku had already been through enough.
"And perhaps you may even succeed, Mickey. But there is no denying Riku stands the better chance, having dived into Sora's heart as long as he has." Master Yen Sid replied, bringing up a valid point.
"Hmm." Mickey thought for a moment. There had to be a better way.
"..." Riku looked to Mickey, then over to Donald and Goofy. They were both so crestfallen. They wanted Sora to wake up again but they didn't want Riku to endanger himself doing it. That might end them with two lost friends unable to wake up. Riku looked back at Sora.
Riku wasn't ashamed to admit it, he was tired. He was so very tired. After all those worlds, after all those fights. He had hoped they everything would be over and find once he completed the test and awaken the seven Sleeping Worlds. But everything had gone so wrong. Master Yen Sid had probably planned for them to go and unlock the Sleeping Keyholes from the Princesses of Heart's Sleeping Worlds more than likely. The both of them had been taken off course and were set to a new planned out path of Sleeping Worlds.
And Riku, had unknowingly, slipped deeper into Sleep to follow Sora through the Sleeping World's from his dream to protect him. Not that "that" did Sora much help. They had both unlocked seven Sleeping Keyholes, but not the ones they had planned for. And now, Sora got caught and is stuck in a deep sleep because of it.
How could Riku have been so clueless? He had seen the signs on Traverse Town. The different timer amounts on the Players from both his side and Sora's side. His side had more time on their timer, as if their time had been slowed down by dream time. Of course they were, both sides were in the Sleeping World. But his side was running by a deeper dream time standard than Sora's. How could he have missed that? He had a feeling something was wrong, so why didn't he trust it.
It felt like he had failed Sora... But not for long.
Sure, he was tired. He had been through a lot and was reluctant to go through it again. But Sora was his friend. And he would be willing to do anything to save his friend. Even if it meant he could be lost in the abyss forever. He knew Sora would do the same for him if it were the other way around.
"(Sigh)…" Riku sighed, easing his mind as he prepared himself. Smiling as he was grateful that Mickey was a good friend for wanting to take the risk for him. But...this was his responsibility. "Mickey...I really appreciate it. But...I'll go wake Sora up."
"Riku." Mickey reached out to him in worry. But Riku gestured for him to look at Sora.
"Look at his face. Sleeping like nothing's wrong- like there's nothing to even worry about." He was even smiling...it made Riku smile a little as well. "He's always been like that. The three of us would agree to work on the raft, and then this guy would go take a nap on the beach. You see, it's my job to keep him on his toes. Besides, what kind of Keyblade Master sleeps through his test?"
"..." They grinned a little at the irony of his joke at the last part. Riku grinned a little too at them, before turning back to Sora looking more serious and determined.
"I'm doing it for me, too. Sora saved me once. And...I heard him call my name. He needs me."
"Hm," Mickey nodded, understanding and accepting Riku's choice. "There's something real strong that binds us to each other."
Donald and Goofy nodded in agreement.
"Even in the darkness, you can reach him." Mickey was certain of it. "All you gotta do is follow that connection!"
"Gee, we're all connected to Sora." Goofy added in, drawing everyone's attention in agreement.
"You said it!" Donald hurrahed with a fist pump in the air.
"And if the darkness gets ya, I promise I'll bail you out." Lea added in playful remark, letting Riku know that he's got his back. ""Dark Rescue" is my middle name."
"..." Riku stood up to look at everyone. "Guys, thank you. Sora and I will be back soon."
He bowed to Master Yen Sid in respect before he departed, stepping back a bit before summoned his Keyblade to unlock Sora's heart. Revealing the Sleeping Keyhole within Sora's heart, Riku was ready to dive in.
"..." The others looked on to Riku encouragingly. Hoping for the both of them to come back safe. Riku nodded back in silent confirmation before taking the Dive to the Heart.
The Dive into Sora's heart was a little...eerie. Sure, Riku had Sensed and followed the called of other's Hearts before. But he has never followed a heart so deep that he's entered one before. Were they always so dark and empty? A stand-alone pillar in the void, decorated like cathedral windows- revealing the people closest to the individual's heart. Riku was not surprised, but still flattered that his face had been among the faces of people closest to Sora's heart. Kairi was there, too- he was surprised there- and so was Goofy and Donald.
The fall down to the pillar below revealed passing windows of images from moments in Sora's past. Some of them with Riku in them, some with Kairi, and others with his adventures on other worlds with Donald and Goofy.
"!" On the way down he saw Soras gently floating down with him in a deep sleep. He grabbed one of them to try and save his friend. Only for the Sora he touched to turned in fading light as he Sense it return to Sora's heart like a past memory. Realizing that this would probably help Sora wake up faster, Riku grabbed as many of them as he could. More than over 30 of them. Riku would have gotten more if it wasn't for that wondering Anti-Sora Heartlesses intervening chaotically, trying to attack him. Riku had continued down until he reached the golden ring at the bottom of the Dive. However...
The drop down wasn't as light as they other.
Riku had the breath knocked out of him. Flat on the ground in a sleepy daze in a pool of darkness.
"Gh…" Riku came to. Getting up as the darkness rippled around his movement like water. The pillar he was diving for was nowhere to be seen. Only darkness. "This abyss... Am I in Sora's dream?"
Something rose from the pool of darkness. It was armored and wore the sigil of Nightmares on it helmet.
"(Gasp)!" Nightmare or whatever it was, it had a Keyblade...and it was pointing it at him. "What?"
Riku had never seen a Nightmare able to use a Keyblade. But that wasn't the truth underneath. It wasn't the Nightmare that shocked him- it was the fact he could Sense Sora inside that armor. The armor itself wasn't that of darkness. In fact it was protecting Sora and his light from the darkness of the abyss while he slept within. Riku had heard of this armor before from Master Yen Sid and read about in the Glossary pages. This was a Keyblade Armor, used to safeguard Keyblade wielders from the darkness. From what he remember from the Heart that had been resting within Sora's heart- the Keyblade user lost to sleep- this must have been Ventus's armor...
However, the darkness must have shackled the armor. It was animating it and manipulating the armor to attack Riku. Coating the armor in darkness like a Nightmare. And Riku and his Spirits would have to defeat this Nightmare to free Sora.
The armor manipulated the darkness like a picture negative. The chaotic motion of rising darkness plasma, danced around them in the negative's blinding light. It attacked Riku as they both performed a dance with their Keyblades, both of them getting a few hits on the other. The Ventus Armor Nightmare kept converting the darkness to an eye-tearing negative white and back to a blinding darkness.
The darkness made it hard for Riku to see the Nightmare, he had to rely on his Sense to track it.
"Heal." He Curaga himself before the Ventus Armor Nightmare came charging in for another round. Shooting a Blizzaga at it as it came in close. "Freeze!"
Riku had enough time before it was close enough to attack him so he added in a Thundara just for good measure. Riku Aerial Slammed the Nightmare while it was stunned, going in for an attack combo while his Ryu Dragon rained fire on it from above. Riku's Skelterwild was pretty good at finding the armor in the darkness, too. So it followed along with Riku after it easily.
The only thing was that the armor packed quite a punch and moved just as fast as Riku could, sometimes even melting into the ground like a Shadow. More than that, it was brutal, and its attacks were feral. Almost like the time when Sora had gone into Anti Form during his fight with Armored Xemnas. Riku couldn't parry or Shadow Slide to dodge all of its attacks. And Barrier only helped so much. He had to heal one more time before going on the offense again.
"Take this!" Riku finished the his attack with a Aerial Slam. It must have done enough damage, because the Nightmare jumped back and started charging up a Dark Charge to launch at him as a last resort. Riku had to stop it, or him- and Sora- would be in danger.
"Dream." Riku Reality Shift, striking the Ventus Armor Nightmare multiple aerial slashes of Flowmotion. Unrelenting until the armor dropped its charge with one final downward slam. "You're done!"
The armor cracked, releasing Sora. He fell to the ground.
"Sora!" Riku called to him, but Sora remained asleep. The darkness was pulling him in. Riku put away his Keyblade, kneeling down at grabbing Sora to stop him from sinking. But it was no use, he couldn't grip Sora as he sinks into darkness.
The darkness whirls and drains away like a whirlpool as Sora's pillar of the heart is revealed again.
"..." Riku breathed heavy for a moment of panic, thinking that Sora had been sealed away in his own heart for good. Suddenly he felt darkness slip away next to him from the Keyblade the Ventus Armor Nightmare was using. It gave Riku an idea... "I'll find you, Sora."
Picking up the Keyblade, Riku used it to unlock the Keyhole in Sora's Heart. Opening away further in with a warm, blinding light...
"..." Once the light had faded away, Riku had opened his eyes to see that he was back on their island again, standing by the small dock just before sunset looking out at the ocean. It's light was calm as a cool breeze came from the sea. As comforting as it was, this was not the real thing. He has to find Sora, so the both of them can experience the real thing again. Turning around he was startled by the presence of Sora's Nobody there. "Roxas?"
"..." He was calm and kept a polite distance from Riku. Giving Riku a moment to turn around before asking his question. "What is it that you're so afraid of?"
"Huh?" Such a loaded question to ask him suddenly. It slightly caught Riku off guard. But he gave it an honest thought before giving Roxas his answer. Getting trapped in the darkness? No, he's done that before- twice- and he found his way out eventually. Causing someone to be hurt? Yes, he didn't want that and sadly he's done that before and he had worked hard to be forgiven. But the real thing he feared was... "Losing something that's important."
Riku was startled as Roxas suddenly faded away. He looked around, wondering what just happened, before moving on. There was more to see and Sora has got to be around here somewhere. He walked along the beach, heading towards the Paopu Tree that the three of them use to hangout at. But along the way another person stood before him. He looked by Roxas but he was different- in not just his clothes either.
"Roxas?" Riku called out to the stranger, before Sensing with realization that the stranger had a different Heart. A different heart safely tucked inside of Sora's... "No, wait..."
Instead of getting a name from the stranger, he got another question.
"What is the one thing you care about more than anything else?" His voice was even different from Roxas's and Sora's.
"Huh?" It was another heavy question. One Riku weighed in his head before answering. He cared about a lot of things. He cared about his close friends and family. He cared about himself, and the strength to protect others. But if it had the to sum the three up in one package, then he cared about..."The hearts connected by light."
The stranger faded with his answer as well. Slightly off-putting Riku as he was confused about the reactions he was getting from his answers. He looked around, wondering where the two of them had disappeared to.
"What is going on?" But as he looked around, he noticed someone sitting on their paopu tree looking off at the sunset. If they were there, it could only be one person. "Sora!"
Riku ran up to get to the bridge that lead to the uplift with the paopu and coconut trees. He was ecstatic, thinking that he had finally found Sora again. But when he got there, it was someone else.
"Huh?" Someone he had never seen before. Someone who's face looked like Kairi...but it was not her. "Who are you?"
The question made his heart hurt for some reason. As if he was forgetting something he could no longer reach.
"..." But she paid his question no mind as she continued to look of at the ocean. Asking Riku a question of her own. "Riku. What do you wish?"
"More questions..." There was something important about his answer. Questions that helped reveal things in Riku's heart that were hidden to him as well. The more honestly he answered, the closer he got to his own strength. And more than likely, the closer he got to finding Sora. "All right..."
"..." She remained still, unbothered as Riku move over to join her at his spot where he usually lean on.
"..." He thought about his answer deep inside his heart, not taking the question lightly. What was it that he wanted? To protect his friends? He was already doing that. To heal the pain from the past? The pain was mostly gone, and with every day it was slowly fading away as he was starting to forgive himself. But there was still something mission, people that were important to him and the people he cared about that were missing. That he more than anything wanted to get back..."I wish... to recover something important that I lost."
The light from the sun shined brightly on the ocean at his answer, blinding the area.
"..." Riku took a second with eyes closed. Opening them once the light calmed again, to find himself alone on the beach again looking out at the ocean. "Hm?"
A bottle was floating in from the ocean, washing up to shore at his feet. Riku picked it up.
"What's this?" Sighing out as he received no answer. Not that he honestly expect one from the ocean, or Sora's heart for that matter. But he was tired of these cryptic messages.
"You are not the visitor I expected." Riku turned around at the sound of the familiar voice that was approaching.
"!" And Riku wasn't expecting a reply, let alone from Ansem the Wise. "DiZ! I mean...Ansem the Wise. What are you doing here?"
Riku corrected himself and his tone, trying to show some respect the man that was technically a king- let alone his homeworld's king.
"Perhaps I wanted to atone for events of the past, even if no apology can undo the harm I have wrought." Ansem the Wise answered, joining over with Riku to look out at the sea. His arms crossed behind him and back straight and strong like he usually had done. His movement deliberate and graceful like a king. "I felt...that I ought to leave at least something behind. So I digitized myself and my research, and hid them within Sora."
"..." So this bottle held the coding about the worlds King Ansem had been working on? "So this is...data?"
"Yes."
"..." So much stored in such a small bottle...
"A clue, I hope, to finding yourselves or your lost friends in your hour of need." King Ansem had to close his eyes for a moment as he thought about all the wonderous things he had discovered about the heart throughout his long years of research. His theories and his miscalculations discovered in his last year in the realm of light, found by watching these two boys. "The heart has always been quick to grow. Each exposure to light, to the natural world, to other people, shapes this most malleable part inside of us. Nobodies are not different from us in that matter."
"..."
"Sora was the only one able to return to his human form without destroying his Nobody. That is a statement to the love in his heart for other people, and the bonds that tie them together." It was fascinating really... Ansem the Wise only wished they he could see how much further Sora could go. "Perhaps...he has the power to bring back the hearts and existences of those connected to him- to recreate people we thought were lost to us forever. Our most precious treasures- even an empty puppet- the trees of the forest, and the petals on the wind- there are hearts around us everywhere we look."
"..." Knowing Sora, he was brave and stubborn enough to try.
"And it does not take superhuman powers to see them. Surely we remember as children the way our hearts made everything seem so shiny, and perfect. Sora has a heart like that- uncorrupted, willing to see the good before the bad. When he sees the heart in something, it then becomes real. When a connection seems broken, he may have the power to mend it." King Ansem truly believed this. "He has touched countless hearts, he has accepted them, and he has saved them. And some of those hearts have never left him- whether they fell into darkness or were trapped there- whether they sleep in the darkness of Sora's heart, or were welcomed into its warmth- they can be saved. All Sora needs to do is be himself and follow wherever it is that his heart takes him. It is the best and the only way. The rest is in there."
"..." Riku looked at the bottle in curious wonder for a moment before looking back to address Ansem the Wise. "All right. Thanks. Thank you."
"Of course. Now why is it that you are here?"
"Ah. Uh...I kinda need to wake Sora up."
"Don't tell me he's gone to sleep again?" There was a bit of sarcasm in king Ansem's voice.
"Yeah. What'll I do with him?" Riku played along, too.
"What, indeed?" King Ansem grinned, the two of them burst into a chuckle for a moment. "Never fear. Sora is safe."
"Huh?"
"He's not here. You see, by defeating the Nightmare imprisoning Sora, you freed him."
"(Gasp)!" Was he telling him that Riku had came all the way down here and Sora was already up? "You mean...the Sora wrapped in that black phantom?"
"Then, you came here, and you were questioned by three young people. That was the final key to awaken him." Ansem the Wise explained to him, making people feel a little relieved inside that he hadn't come all the way down here for nothing. King Ansem turned to Riku with a reassuring smile. "Sora is awake. You can go home now."
"Really?" Riku was so relieved that Sora was all better now. And it didn't take him a year this time either. He looked back at King Ansem with genuine gratitude. "Thank you."
Summoning the armor's keyblade again, Riku used it to unlock the Keyhole to Sora's heart again to return to the real world. Shining in the light, Riku floated off the ground, ready to fly up through the open Keyhole.
"Young Man! I do not believe you ever told me your name." King Ansem said up to him. Reminding Riku that he never properly introduced himself to Ansem the Wise.
"Huh? (Gasp)…" At the time, he was ashamed of himself. Regretful at how the darkness had changed him- and the fear that he could never turned back to whom he was. But now... He could hold his head up proud. Riku smiled back at King Ansem. "It's Riku."
Riku flew up into the door to the light. His friends were waiting for him.
He woke up again. Lea looking over him from his spot sitting backwards on a chair. Mickey and Master Yen Sid watched over him from where they stood as well.
"Mm? Mmm..." Riku groaned as he woke up. Slightly dazed from the weight of being back in his body.
"Riku!" Mickey called out to him in relief.
"..." Riku looked around himself, seeing the three of them watching over him. But where were the others? And Sora...? He shot up in alarm. "Sora!"
"Hey, Donald! Come on, you're hogging it all!" Riku turned to the sound of Sora, watching in shock at Sora having a tea party with Donald and Goofy while he had been working so hard to wake him up again. They were having tea and eating cake with pastries. Sora was even wearing a party hat. Riku couldn't believe what he was seeing. Sure Sora would probably be hungry after waking up from his ordeal, but still...why?
"Aw, calm down, Sora, and drink your tea." Donald brushed off Sora's complaint. Sora was a growing boy that needed to watch his sweets anyway.
"Gawrsh, it sure is yummy!" Goofy added in, taking a sip from his teacup.
"Hey!" Riku shouted over to him, a little annoyed at being ignored. Finally getting Sora and the other's attention as they turned to face him. He wasn't expecting the Groucho glasses though.
"Riku…" Sora took off the party hat and the Groucho glasses as he looked over at genuine joy and relief. "You're safe! Riku!"
"!" Riku was caught off guard as Sora jumped him for a hug. His arms dangling in the air before he collected himself again. Remembering that he was still annoyed. "Wait, haven't we got this backwards? And why are you having a tea party?"
"You're safe, Riku!" Sora came at him for another hug, ignoring his question.
"Ah, never mind." Riku just dropped it to avoid the headache. Sora always did his own thing and thinks in ways that sometimes Riku couldn't wrap his head around. That's just how he is. "You okay? Feeling all right?"
"Yeah, I've never been better." Sora ending the hug to nod in reply with a fist pump. "I was watching what was going on in my dream. And I could hear your voice the whole time. Thanks, Riku."
"..." Riku nodded in 'your welcome.' Bending a knee to rest an arm on as he leaned against the wall. Sora turned the others in the room.
"Thanks, everybody!" Everyone chuckled and smiled in gratitude. Glad that the both of them were okay. Suddenly it hit Sora. He turned to Master Yin Sid. "Oh yeah! Did we pass the test?"
"Hm," Master Yen Sid nodded, remembering that he had yet to tell them their results. "You performed truly admirably, both of you."
"!" "!" Sora and Riku smiled at each other in excitement. Getting up to stand in front of Master Yen Sid's desk to receive their results. Sora knocking down a chair along the way as they both rushed over.
Both of them calming down and listening as Master Yen Sid cleared his voice to speak.
"More than anything, I am grateful to have you both back from Xehanort's deception unharmed. And I am grateful to Lea, whose spontaneous actions turned the tides. I am also deeply sorry, for failing to perceive the danger and throwing you headlong into a perilous test." Master Yen Sid wanted to say this before giving them their results. He wanted them to know that he was proud of the both them for facing this unforeseen danger bravely. "This experience has revealed many hidden truths, and we must gird ourselves for the great clash with darkness that lies before us. I believe we need a new Keyblade Master, one with a new kind of power."
"..." They both waited eagerly for their results.
"Sora and Riku, you both deserve the honor." Master Yen Sid looked through the both them with respect for their efforts. "However, one of you braved the realm of sleep again to unlock the final Keyhole and save a friend. Riku, I name you our new true Keyblade Master."
"..." A moment a silent hit the room, only broken by Sora's excitement.
"(Gasp)! Way to go, Riku!" Sora wrapped an arm around Riku's shoulder in congratulation. Pulling Riku out of his surprise and stunned flabbergast.
"Y-yeah?"
"I knew you were gonna pass with flying colors." Sora was so happy for his friend. He never doubted Riku wouldn't pass, even for a second. And he was glad now there was proof that Riku didn't have to doubt himself either. "This is just so awesome!"
"Gee, Sora, you're kinda acting like it's you that passed." Goofy pointed out in playful teasing, but it brushed over Riku as he took in everything.
"I told ya Sora still needed some practice." Donald teased along with Goofy.
"Hey."
"Really? I'm a Keyblade Master?" Riku couldn't believe it. He looked over at Sora who nodded in reassurance, wearing his usual happy grin.
"Congratulations, Riku!" Mickey said, walking over to them with Donald and Goofy. He held out a hand for Riku to shake.
"(Gasp)…" Riku was still taking this all in. But he kneeled down, and shook his friend's hand in gratitude. Appreciative that he had come along way and had only gotten this far with the help of friends- people that cared about him. "Thank you, Mickey. I owe it to my friends."
"Ah, I'll catch up with ya in no time flat." Lea said, subtlety stating that he would be next in line for the Keyblade Master title.
"What? You wanna be a Keyblade Master?" Sora couldn't believe what he was hearing. Neither could the others aside from Master Yen Sid.
"Yeah. I mean, I came here to learn how to wield one."
"YOU?!" Sora and Riku said in shock at the same time.
"Hey, thanks for the vote of confidence." Lea huffed at their reaction, placing his hands on his hips as he leaned off from the bookshelf. "You know, I was gonna come sweeping in, Keyblade in hand!
"But I just couldn't get mine to materialize." Lea crossed his arms again in slight disappointment. Then looked down at one of his hands. "Must be in the snap of the wrist of something.
"Oh." Lea had been holding out his hand in the same gestures the others did when they called out for their Keyblade. Only for his Keyblade to suddenly pop into his hands like a burst of flames. It slightly resembled his Nobody's weapons.
"WHOA!" The whole room looked over at him in shock, Master Yen Sid even leaning over his desk. They hadn't expected him to pull out a Keyblade so soon.
*** Some Time Later ***
The day was almost about to start as the stars started to disappear in the sky- more than usually in the night sky for the tiny world of The Mysterious Tower. Lea had returned to Radiant Garden and Sora had come to the conclusion that he needed to train some more with his Keyblade in order to be stronger with his power and his heart. In order to be prepared for the next time when he takes the Mark of Keyblade Master's exam again. And he will take it again, once his heart tells him he's ready for it.
But first... He told the others there was somewhere he had to go before that...
"Do ya have to go?" Goofy asked in concern as Donald, Mickey, Riku, and him saw Sora off at the entrance steps of Master Yen Sid's Tower.
"Well...I did doze off..." Sora replied as he took some steps further on the path before stopping. He had some unfinished business he had to take care of in the Sleeping Worlds. Things that would take too long to explain. "I just have some stuff to take care of."
"Are you gonna be okay?" Donald asked in worried, hoping he would ask for someone to tag along just to be safe.
"Yeah. I won't be long."
"Be careful." Mickey saw him off with his blessing but asked for Sora to use caution.
"Very careful." Riku did the same. The two of them knowing they couldn't stop Sora once he put his mind to something. Everyone was just worried. Sora had been greatly weaken by Xehanort's effort to make him into a vessel, he was almost back to square one. But Riku knew that Sora could handle himself. Wherever he was going, Riku knew Sora knew his limits. And this wasn't the first time Sora was knocked back to square one, he would just get himself back up again stronger than before.
"Right. See you soon." Sora nodded with his turned a little back to look at them with a soft smile, before summoning his Keyblade to head through the Keyhole to the Sleeping Worlds.
"..." They all took a moment after watching Sora dive into the Keyhole.
"Right. Let's head back to Master Yen Sid." Mickey suggested, turning back to the others.
"Right." Riku nodded in agreement.
"You fellas go on ahead. We'll wait here for Sora." Goofy suggested, taking a seat at the top of the stairs. Donald plopping down on the stairway too, arm wings crossed as he started to tap his webbed foot.
"Yeah." Donald nodded, sitting beside his friend.
"Are you guys sure?" Riku asked, titling his head. Knowing Sora, it would probably be a long wait. He tended to run late most of the time.
"Somebody's got to be here to remind him others are waiting for him so he doesn't take his time and laze about." Donald said, almost lecturing like a mom. Something told Riku that Donald had most likely been the role model of the group when the three of them were out adventuring the worlds.
"We'll let you know when he gets back." Goofy assured with a wave behind him.
"All right." Riku accepted their proposition.
"Thanks, fellas. C'mon, Riku, let's head in." Mickey nodded to his two friends before heading up back the spiral stairs with Riku.
"Right." Riku nodded to Mickey before turning back to Donald and Goofy. "Thanks guys."
"No problem!" Replied Donald with a small salute as Goofy gave Riku a wave.
"Good luck, pal!"
Riku headed in, following after Mickey. There were many things they needed to discuss with Master Yen Sid. And time...wasn't promised.
***Author's Notes ***
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep: A Fragmentary Passage will be included in the next chapter. After that the story will continue into Kingdom Hearts III.
Funny Fact, I still ended up having to buy the Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Mix just to get my hands on Birth by Sleep: A Fragmentary Passage and Kingdom Hearts X Back Cover. Well, at least the playthrough was fun. But still, so much for trying to be cheap. Oh, well, it's nice to have for the collection anyway.