Hey everyone!
And with this chapter I am going to actually DEVIATE from the KH III canon – but you already know that. YES, KH III basically ships Sora with Kairi, but I have no interest in that ship. I do have plans for her, but my plans for Sora and Riku – as those who have already read this story will know – are more important to me and will be what I will focus on.
Enjoy the chapter,

Venquine1990


Chapter 05
Riku's Challenge

27th of January 1996
Destiny's Haven
Sora's POV

"It's hopeless. He's the only one here who isn't part of my family and he still doesn't realize what he means to me. Why did Destiny send me here if Riku keeps ignoring all the signs of my love for him?" Goes through my mind as I look at the silver-haired god that I have fallen for so long ago, when he first threw me that fruit.
It had been the day where Riku proved just how much he wanted to get off the Islands, something I had actually known for years as Riku had been talking about that years earlier, a few days after Kairi had come to our Islands, and the spirit the young five year old had shown that day had again been visual to me that same day 2 years ago.
After that, Kairi had sort of raced us back to the boats, yet Riku and I hadn't really accepted her challenge and had just calmly walked over the bridge connecting our palm tree island to the Play Island when Riku had called my name and thrown me a Paopu fruit, laughing as he told me how he knew that I wanted to try it.

That had been the first time I had started to see Riku in a new light and when we had our race and Riku had challenged me with the idea that the winner gets to share a Paopu fruit with Kairi, I had been confused, mostly by my own emotions, yet that confusion had been the base of my love that grew the longer Riku and I were apart.
However, when we reunited, after almost two years of being separated, had my heart overwhelmed with happiness so much I had actually burst into tears after realizing it really was Riku under the guise of Ansem, the Heartless of the man that caused all the troubles of the last 2 years, bar the last half year where we had peace.
Since that day, where Riku had shocked me out of my crying stupor by telling me he didn't want me to find him, had I shown him several signs of my growing love for him, but the silver-haired god had ignored every single one of them and just before Riku had been appointed Keyblade Master, had I decided that I had enough.

I had stopped being open about how I felt and had tried to subtly infuse my emotions for him into our bond of friendship, hoping I could through it receive signs that Riku actually did feel the same, but the boy had somehow kept his distance from me, barely ever really looking me in the eye until we had to fight together to to reach Master Xehanort during the Keyblade War.
Riku had been there for me when the others were taken by the Darkness and his heart was the first that I found after returning from the Final World. I had seen this as a sign, but not acted on it and had let Riku fight his own battle with the vessel holding the heart of the Riku Replica. And that decision had given me a tremendous reward as seeing him fight was a wondrous experience.
We had taken Xigbar down side by side and had held a conversation with his dying form as if we were one person. It had made me believe that we could be together, but there was so much going on and so many of our other friends needed my help that I had just ignored the sign for the time being.
After ending the war, did I want Kairi back more than anything, but I realized during my month away that it wasn't for the reasons I made everyone believe. It wasn't because I loved her or because the Paopu fruit joined our destinies together. It was because I considered her family and now knowing what I do, that makes her all the more important, but still not as important as Riku.

Now, five months later, on the morning after my Seventeenth birthday am I back where I belong, with my father and my newfound little brother and is my true love – who is also my destined mate by Veela Nature – leaning against my father's legs, seated on the ground and looking from me to Harry and then back to my father.
Deciding that I've had enough, that the dreams I had in the week of my sixteenth birthday and the feelings I have felt all these years deserve to be given a chance once and for all, do I shout: "Are you kidding me?" Making Riku look at me together with Harry and dad and I take the risk I have been wanting to take for the longest time.
I push myself off the couch I share with my dad and brother and push Riku onto his back as I seal his lips with mine, wrapping my arms around his neck in a desperate attempt to make sure he won't try and push me away and pour all of my love, devotion and loyalty to him into my lips as they try to get a response from the boy under me.

And a response I get, yet not the one I expected. Riku regains his composure from the shock I gave him and before I know it, does the boy have us flipped around, are his arms wrapped around my waist with a possessiveness I had not expected and are his lips crushing mine with a need that speaks of years of patience and a growing love.
Amazed that I – in my need to show Riku I love him – never noticed how my love was returned, do I moan softly, one of my hands releasing my other arm to move over to the back of his head and grip his silver-colored hair in a firm loving grip, Riku moaning back in response, while I can feel his lips turning into a grin as he ends the kiss.
He then releases his arms around me to lean on them while they are on the floor under my arm pits and while I try to catch my breath from that breathtaking experience, do I open my eyes, only to grin widely as I see those crystal colored eyes shining with a deep, genuine love that has obviously grown over the course of many years.
The smile I get in return for my own is also filled with love and adoration and I ask: "Still wondering why you're here?" Only for those amazing lips to seal mine again for a very short second before Riku breaths against my lips: "Not at all." Making me smile and pull him flush against me again, feeling exhilarated and loved.

Then dad somehow ruins it and says: "Good to know you two are finally together. Too bad your Inner Veela didn't accept the kiss as a Bonding." And Riku and I both look at him as I ask: "What do you mean?" And dad sighs as he says: "If a Veela doesn't bond with his mate within the course of a year, a special action needs to take place instead."
"What kind of action?" Riku asks, the trepidation in his voice almost too clear for me not to notice and I use the hand in his hair to softly caress it in my own need to calm his and my nerves, Riku sending me a short, loving smile before he again looks at my dad, who shrugs and says softly: "It differs with every Veela couple."
This makes Riku and me share a glance and then Harry asks: "Isn't there some sort of way to find out?" And I see dad tilt his head back with his arms crossed as he says: "It usually has something to do with when a Veela first begins to feel his emotions for his mate develop. Any event like that can often be used to complete the bond."
This makes me look at Riku again, my mind trying to figure out what could be a good event as the most prominent in my mind is our reunion and the idea of having to be separate from each other again almost breaks my heart in two, but then another memory resurfaces and I hear Riku in my mind: "The Darkness will destroy you."

This shocks me as I quite vividly remember just how Riku looked when he said that and I think: "You have to be joking me." But then – as if Destiny is trying to stir me in the right direction – do I hear that powerful voice full of conviction and a hint of warning yet again, making me sigh as I say: "Destiny is not fooling around, that's for sure."
This makes everyone look at me and I move my hand from Riku's hair to his face, knowing it will probably hurt the amazing young man to hear this as I say: "Fight me." Riku's eyes widening and I quickly elaborate as I say: "The first time you really touched my heart was when you first took that amazing form.
The one with the black lines running over your chest and arms, with that Heartless symbol on your chest and that skirt that you wore. When you spoke the words you did at transforming into those looks, your looks and your powerful tone first touched my heart in such a way I just couldn't move a muscle when you tried – well, you know."

I end, knowing dad won't be happy to hear that Riku tried to attack me and while Riku's wide eyes turn dark and fearful, am I this time the one to seal his lips with mine and whisper: "You conquer the Darkness, remember?" Making the fear in Riku's eyes disappear and be replaced with a strong shining hope and grateful love.
Riku then stands up and pulls me up as well, kissing me shortly before he whispers: "Don't hold back." And I shudder at feeling his breath against my lips before I suddenly feel magic changing his entire form and looking down, I see that amazing outfit yet again, the lines this time defining Riku's body strength even more.
Cursing myself for describing that outfit, do I feel myself tantalized by what is right in front of me, before Riku lifts my head back to view his eyes and while there is a playful smirk on his face, does he whisper softly: "Focus, Sora." And I shake my head, realizing that the hand not holding my chin already has a Keyblade in it.

Jumping away and conjuring my own, do I stand with my arms to my right, my hands wrapped around my blade and try not to be distracted by the looks of my new boyfriend – and future mate – and do I instead focus on the strange voice within me, the one that shouts and screams at me and tells me not to give in until Riku has proven himself.
Realizing that I am finally in contact with my Inner Veela do I jump away as Riku jumps at me with his Keyblade raised above his head and do I run back after avoiding his strike, Riku instantly blocking my own attack and the two of us dodging, rolling, running to attack and jumping away to avoid whenever possible.
Many times throughout the battle, does Riku almost have me pinned against some kind of surface and after about fifteen minutes he even has me tripping over the couch we sat on while listening to dad's story, jumping over himself not to attack me, but to land on top of me and smirk at me as if telling me to surrender.
I had wanted to – Great X-Blade had I wanted to – yet the voice inside me had denied my needs and I had used my first bit of magic in our fight, casting Aeroga to blast Riku off of me and cause for powerful winds to fly around me as a form of protection. Riku had smirked, done the same and attacked me yet again.

By now we're over an hour into our fight and neither of us feels ready to give up. Riku had been the most attacking force of the two of us, while I had, every so often, been forced to play a defensive attack over a forceful one, yet by now the both of us are on opposite sides of the room, both of us waiting for the other to strike.
I myself am standing near the couch where dad and Harry are watching our fight, Harry's eyes wide, yet dad looking calm and thoughtful and then he suddenly whispers: "Sora, the voice inside. It has more to tell you than just when to give in. Let it guide you further." And while I wonder what he could mean, do I listen either way.
Trying to put my focus on the voice within, do I feel new powers reaching up from it, powers I have never learned of before and then the voice whispers: "Let's see him attack this." And I suddenly feel like using the Aeroga attack in a different way. Allowing for a different form of air to exude from my body, I see Riku's stance change.

The boy's eyes start to get vague, the crystal color within them dulling to a soft grey and the power within Riku's stance as he holds up his Keyblade above his right arm weakens as if the aroma that comes from me makes him able to relax. Then that same loving smile appears on his face and he shocks me as he asks:
"Sora, is that you? You smell so good, love. Is there anything I can do for you?" My eyes widen and I whisper at dad: "What is this?" And dad snickers as he says: "Veela scent. It's something that usually makes men complete fools when female Veela exude it, but it can also turn the Dominant mate of a Veela into complete mush."
"So that's why Ron was such a mess around Fleur all the time. She was constantly using her Veela scent." Harry then says and dad nods, while I keep my eyes on Riku, who now actually disposes of his Keyblade and just keeps smiling at me, his eyes dazed yet at the same time asking me to come over and hold him as dad says:
"People who aren't fully or even half Veela, because they have a parent who is not of Magical Creature blood or who doesn't have Magical Creature blood in their family line, are often incapable of controlling their Veela scent until they either mate or marry. The marriage is more common with quarter Veela though."

And while I wonder why, do I keep my eyes on Riku, the stance he now has unnerving me like no tomorrow and I think: "No, this is not how I want to win. I want Riku!" And somehow, just like the many times before, does it seem as if Riku is reading my mind as I see the haze disappear from his eyes and the boy groans.
"Impressive." Dad comments and he says: "Not many people – especially destined mates – can resist the Veela scent upon their first encounter with it." But I smile at my partner, knowing Riku can conquer the haze caused by this cursed ability of mine and I whisper: "Just like the Darkness, Riku. Conquer it."
And Riku proves me right as he again summons the Keyblade and runs at me, me pulling the tip of my own blade over the ground as I smirk in pride at my beloved and parry his attack, our faces close enough over our blades that we can kiss, yet I resist the urge to do so and instead just whisper: "Knew you could do it."
"Little imp." Riku retorts, but I say: "Dad's advice." My beloved nods and then I hear the voice again: "More, test him more. Let me test him more." And while I wonder what other abilities I could have as a Veela, do I jump away from our clashing blades, Riku following my example even while there is confusion visible in his eyes.

I send a short glance at my dad, who seems to realize what is going on inside me and smirks as he says: "And now things get interesting." Making Riku glance at him shortly, while Harry looks at him confused, but I decide to take these words as a sign that I can trust the voice within and mentally whisper: "How?"
And I feel another ability grow within me, one that actually burns my skin around my face, hair, fingers and shoulder blades and while I strongly imbed the end of my Keyblade into the ground before me, do I grip the handle with all the strength that I feel growing within me, the burning sensation growing alongside the power.
Then, in a burst of power, pain and fiery exhilaration, do I feel my fingers turning into long sharp claws that are actually stumped at the tips, feel my hair turn into long, flowing, auburn brown feathers that grow to reach over each other, my mouth and nose turning into a beak that has the same stump as my claws and actual wings grow out of my back.
Releasing my pain and power with a loud noise, I actually hear the sound of an eagle, the kind of eagle that twice a year flies over the main and Play Island as it flies from north to East and back, come out of my throat and pant, feeling the rest of my body still being human, yet not feeling as if the Eagle parts aren't part of me.

Looking from Riku to my dad, do I feel pride growing in my heart at the huge smile that is on the man's face and then realize that this, this new form, is Riku's ultimate test as I hear the voice inside me whisper: "Beat this, you little Wielder." And while I whisper mentally: "Wielder of my heart." Do I follow my instincts.
Pulling my upper arms against my body, do I feel the muscles in my new wings react to the toning muscles in my upper arms and I feel the wind blowing and flowing around it as my wings flap harder and harder and with a burst of speed that I have barely ever experienced before, do my feet leave the ground with a rush.
I keep myself afloat a few feet above the ground and look down at Riku, wishing I could be under him, but knowing he needs to defeat me in this new form for my Inner Veela to accept what my heart has accepted long ago and caw at him again, trying with all I can for him to understand what I desire, what I need him to accomplish.

Riku looks at me shocked, but seems not too shocked to not understand the need in my voice and while I hate how I can't just normally speak, do I feel my heart flutter as I see Riku again take his usual stance with his Keyblade and nod at me, the determination shining in his eyes making them look like freshly polished crystals.
I move my body into a dive attack and Riku is quick to retaliate, jumping up high enough to actually land on my back. However, I caw at him, my instincts stronger than my happiness at actually having him close again and I spin like a corkscrew with my wings pulled in to make for a stronger turn, Riku falling off as I turn on my back.
However, the youth doesn't give up that easily and runs at two of the pillars that are around the room, using two of them that are standing quite close together to gain height yet again and then waiting for me, his eyes challenging me to try and push him off from where he is using his Flowmotion ability to lean against the polished stone.

Feeling my Inner Veela accept the challenge, I flap my wings harder to gain more speed and then pull them in yet again to make for a straighter, more defined move and just when Riku wants to jump onto my back, do I turn so that my back brushes against the polished stone of the other pillar, Riku missing me by only an inch.
The youth is still able to land onto the pillar I used for my sharp U-turn and makes another jump, this time again getting onto my back as I sweep around the other side of the pillar and before I can turn even further, does Riku move in retaliation, his Keyblade and his other arm wrapping themselves around my neck.
Feeling how the cold steel of the blade is pressed against my throat, yet how the other arm isn't just used to give Riku a stronger hold, but also to make sure that my throat doesn't get constricted by his hold, do I lose my focus over my flight and – with Riku still on my back – do I crash onto the ground below us.
I slide and slide, parts of me going over the floor, other parts covered by Riku as he slides alongside me, his arm and Keyblade now more around my shoulders than my neck and then we both crash against the back of the couch upon which we sat earlier, my new form allowing me no more than to let out soft aviary sounds of pain.

Then suddenly do I feel the sensation of something other than the pain of my legs and my feet burning due to them having scraped over the floor as we crashed, and instead of that do I feel one of Riku's hand softly caressing the feathers on top of my head, while his other hand – which I now realize is empty – tends to my wings.
One at a time, Riku's gentle fingers searches through all the feathers on my wings and tends to the ones that have been affected, whispering soft words of comfort in my ear and actually purring in a soothing manner between his words as he softly makes sure that none of my feathers are either bent or turned out of their natural position.
All this love, all this natural, instinctual care that my Veela can feel coming from my beloved Keyblade wielder seems to finally calm the fighting spirit of the creature down and I let out some soft sounds of happiness myself, turning my head and actually receiving a loving kiss on the upper side of my beak from the perfect god.

This makes me want to caw as loud as I can and while I feel something powerful and absolutely right settle somewhere between my heart and the instincts that I have felt guiding me throughout this fight, do I feel the feathers on my head turn back into hair, feel my wings and claws retract and feel my nose and mouth returning from the beak.
All the while does Riku keep holding me, his hand on my head not stopping to caress me even as the feathers turn thin and long again and the hand that he used to heal the feathers on my wings moving itself to wrap the arm attached to it around my waist, pulling me closer and while all this happens, do I keep looking at Riku.
Riku, who locks gaze with me as I change back and who just keeps smiling at me with the same love and comfort in his eyes and smile as I felt in his hands and heard through his voice as he tended to me and while I wonder how he must be feeling, as he scraped the floor much more than me, do I simply turn in his arms as I stop changing.

Riku allows me to do so, happily laughing as he pushes me so that my face is in his neck and while he keeps his hands in their place, does he still help me pull up a little, only to stop me halfway through and to actually kiss me on the forehead before locking gazes with me again as I try to see if he's hurt in any possible way or not.

Then suddenly do I feel two more presences behind the couch and see dad and Harry standing next to us, dad smiling and saying: "And to that I say, welcome to the family, Riku." My silver-haired god looking shocked, before he smiles back at me as Harry carefully asks dad: "So – I will have to do that as well?"
And dad answers: "Probably, if you decide to keep yourself from your mate until you turn seventeen." And Harry instantly says: "No thanks, I'll be direct. Wonder who it is, though." And while I look at Riku, my heart skipping a beat at again seeing his form so close to mine, do I still agree with my brother and his curiosity.
Though at the same time, because of how close I now am to Riku, his form standing right next to my own and his arm wrapped lovingly around my form, do I finally feel the way I have been trying to feel since returning to the Destiny Islands after the Keyblade War and my futile search for Kairi; I finally feel like I'm truly at home.


Okay, that was INTENSE!
I admit the end of it could have been better, but I really think that I described a fight between two Keyblade Wielders quite nicely. The reason there was such a lack of magic? They LOVE each other! It's just a fight for Dominance, neither of them really wants to hurt each other and let's face it, fire and thunder do just that.
Okay, next chapter will have what everyone is probably waiting for the start of the whole CR part. Personally I am VERY proud that I got to postpone that part for this long, six chapters in, as that proves this story won't really be able to be viewed as a CR, mostly because only 1/3rd will really be CR based – 2/3rd for those really critical.
Anyway, see you next chapter,

Venquine1990
PS. Yes, some parts were changed, just not as much as I expected.