Velcia startled awake. An endless night sky greeted her. Stars spanned out in every direction, reflecting perfectly against a still floor of water. She patted her hands over herself, looking down to see her legs returned. She was back in her human form.
"It must have worked!" She grinned momentarily, giddy from the success. Then she drew her attention to the setting around her. "But… where am I?" She stood up, the water rippling and disturbing the mirror effect. Cupping her hands beside her mouth, she called out, "Riku! Hinata? Can you hear me?"
There was no reply.
"Axel?" she yelled into the night, beginning to walk. "Is anyone there? I'm here to help!"
Her voice carried over the darkness, then fell silent. Even the sound of her steps did little to fill the quiet. Velcia walked, spinning around to make sure she wasn't missing a sign of someone, anyone else. Yet she seemed to be truly alone.
She slowed to a stop, crossing her arms. "How will I find them?" she asked, whispering. Breathing in slowly, she closed her eyes. "Focus, Velcia."
In the vast emptiness, she searched for a heart. A warmth, an emotion, anything that could point her in the right direction. Loneliness crept into her chest. An empty feeling that reminded her of the years just after losing her Papa and Deneere. Velcia's fingers gently dug into her arms, but she allowed the feeling in. Something about it felt displaced. As if she were feeling someone else's distress. Loneliness… Then, guilt. Her heart fell to the pit of her stomach. She felt sick, disgusted with herself. A sensation her Gran tried to instill in her as the sole one responsible for her family's demise. Velcia swallowed hard, trying to keep the emotions separated from her own.
Holding out her hand, she summoned her Keyblade.
"Focus on the feeling," she told herself. She inhaled deeply through her nose, exhaling through her mouth. "Tether yourself to it."
A spark ignited and the emotions fled Velcia's chest. She peeked one eye open, then gasped at the sight of a portal standing in front of her. The edges wisped like smoke with a mixture of blues and blacks. The middle was difficult to make out, as if she were looking through clouded glass.
"This must be my way inside." Velcia dispelled her blade and lifted her hand. The portal warbled against her palm. "Don't worry, Hinata, Riku, Axel... I'm on my way."
As if in response, the portal sucked Velcia's hand inside. She yelped, pulling back out of instinct, but its grip was too strong. In an instant, it engulfed her, blinking out of existence the moment she was through.
Velcia found herself surrounded by darkness, sinking as if she were submerged under water, yet she could breathe just fine. Cloudy streaks of blues and purples appeared around her. Black thorny vines twisted into view, cracked with glowing cerulean crystal showing underneath.
"Where… am I?" she asked, almost sleepily. "Is this one of the dreams?"
Her body turned on its own, putting her into a standing position just before her feet touched the ground. Blackened dirt, surrounded by vines and dead trees with roots sprawled over the cliffs towering over her. Velcia blinked, her head swimming. The darkness pulsed around her, itching at her heart.
She forced her heavy eyes to look around. It was difficult to see through the dark thicket, let alone make out a path. Then she spotted glowing golden eyes peering out at her. Her heart jumped to her throat, her Keyblade appearing in her hand.
A Shadow crept out from the vines, its head tilting side to side as its antennae twitched. Velcia stepped back, but didn't cast an attack. The way it looked at her, she wondered if she wasn't the one it was looking for.
The dead forest creaked beyond the Shadow. Branches snapped and something groaned. The Shadow scurried away in the opposite direction and Velcia backed up several steps. Her eyes widened. A colossal Heartless stood above her, a heart shaped hole severed from its chest. Black tendrils waved wildly from its head, occasionally covering one of its glowing eyes that glowered down at Velcia. In the center of its chest a purple energy swirled, powering up to fire.
Velcia's heart raced, but her expression hardened into focus. The tip of her Keyblade lit up with a blinding white light. She braced herself and yelled, shooting off a pearl of light. The giant swung its arm to intercept, but the orb split into smaller particles. Each one zipped around the arm, crashing into its head. Smoke erupted on impact, a hollow scream filled the air.
The forest rattled in response. More giants rose up from the brush, each one focusing its attention on Velcia.
"Oh dear," she realized, backing up slowly.
"Velcia?"
She looked over her shoulder to see a young boy with silver hair running towards her. "Y—Yes?" she answered. "Who are—"
"We'll talk later!" He grabbed her wrist with a black gloved hand. "Come on!"
He pulled her in the opposite direction, causing Velcia to spin around before she could regain her bearings and keep up with him. The earth shook with thudded steps. Velcia peeked, seeing the giants following after them, but compared to her and her new companion's speed, they would swiftly be left behind. She looked back forward, spotting the bright yellow of the boy's shirt up ahead. He stood out amongst the dreary surroundings and served as the perfect focus point for her clouded mind.
"In here!" He waved her over.
Velcia slowed to a stop and looked beyond him, seeing the malformed cave in the cliffside hidden behind thick black roots. She nodded and sent him a small smile, going in first. A burnt stack of wood was piled in the center, still smoking with glowing embers. She looked between the makeshift fire and her guide. He remained by the root, keeping watch.
"I think we lost them." He let out a breath or relief, rubbing his hands together.
"Thank goodness." Velcia dispelled her Keyblade. "I've never seen so many of those creatures."
"Yeah, the Realm of Darkness is filled with Darksides." He turned around and leaned back against the root, crossing his arms.
"So that's where we are…" she muttered solemnly under her breath, motioning towards the dying fire. "I can relight it, if you would like."
He considered it for a moment before nodding, watching as Velcia summoned a ball of flame in her palm and reignited the darkened wood. "I'm surprised you still have your magic here."
She looked up at him. "Did you have magic before you became trapped here?"
His brow raised, then he scoffed with a soft chuckle at the end. "I guess you haven't seen me like this."
"Like this?" she asked.
"I'm Riku," he told her, smirking when she gasped with realization.
"So that means I made it to your dream!" She placed her hand over her chest and let out a loud sigh. "Oh thank goodness. Everything feels so real, I worried something went wrong with the experiment and I wasn't entirely sure where I ended up."
"Experiment?" he repeated, entering the cave and settling in across from her, the fire between them. "I'm guessing something DiZ put together?"
Velcia hummed, nodding. "Him and Dr. Finklestein, though we all helped collect the parts and ingredients. I couldn't begin to understand how any of it actually works, though.."
Riku breathily chuckled. "I guess it doesn't really matter. Do you know how to get me out?"
She shook her head. "DiZ did say something to me before I began. He told me that only by revealing the truth, would I be able to help you break free… but I haven't the slightest idea how to go about doing that. There were ideas about what we might find, but we really didn't know anything for sure."
"I'm the first one you've found then?" he asked. His expression twisted into a frown when she nodded and he looked away.
"I'm certain Hinata's alright," she assured him, noticing his eyes going downcast at the mention of her name. A silence stretched between them. Velcia's fingers fidgeted with her sleeve, her gaze focused on the flames as she considered her words. "At the very least, we have a starting point. And once we figure it out, the others will come much easier." Riku nodded and she continued. "What do you think of DiZ's words? Do you have any ideas?"
"Yeah, actually." He looked out of their cave to the realm beyond. "I knew this was a nightmare the moment I showed up. So I've just been hanging out here waiting to wake up. I've already faced my demons, and I wasn't interested in facing them again."
"I understand," Velcia affirmed. "I might have done the same." She joined him in looking outside. "So you believe that by venturing further into the dream, you'll find what we're searching for?"
"This place does have a way of getting in your head," he told her, standing up and brushing the dirt off his pants. "Nightmare or not."
"You've been here before?" she asked.
"Once," he told her. "About two years ago, back when I looked like this."
Velcia's lips dipped into a thoughtful frown, watching Riku as he walked to the entrance of the cave. "It must have been lonely," she said softly. "Being trapped here."
Riku tensed slightly. "I wasn't here for long, but…" his voice trailed off and he let out a breath. "Yeah, it was."
Opening her palm towards the fire, Velcia reached out to the heat of the flames and curled her fingers, disbanding it into a puff of smoke. She stood up and brushed off the dirt on her clothes.
"Well then" -she rubbed her hands together as she came up beside him- "at least this time you won't be facing it alone. We're in this together."
Riku half-smiled at the sentiment. "Guess we are."
Even in a dream, the Realm of Darkness felt the same. Riku's feet dragged across the dirt, his body heavy and chest tight. The very air around them was thick and humid. Hair stuck to Riku's neck and across his forehead, beads of sweat dripped down his back.
They had been walking aimlessly for what seemed like hours, or maybe it had only been minutes… The realm was already messing with his head, making it difficult to tell. The dead forest had thinned out completely, lost to the fog. Chunks of rock suspended overhead, each one cracked with glowing crystal shining through, illuminating their winding path. Everything else was difficult to make out through the smog.
He peeked over his shoulder towards Velcia. She walked slightly behind, eyes hazed and tired. Even with her beside him, an inevitable emptiness gnawed at his heart. He wondered if she felt the same. There was so much at stake, and there they were, walking.
With a heavy breath, he stopped. Velcia gasped, bumping into his back and bumbling out apologies. "We're not getting anywhere," he talked over her.
Velcia went quiet, looking around. "Do you suppose this is part of the nightmare?" she eventually asked, her voice weary and soft. "An endless path to make you feel disoriented."
"Maybe," he replied with a sigh. "I don't know what truth I was expecting to find out here."
The echo of rushing water cut through the air. Both of them shot their attention towards it, unable to see anything through the smog, but the sound became clearer the longer they listened. With one look to each other, they ran towards it. A cool mist filled the air. Droplets of water splashed onto Riku's arms.
Then the fog instantaneously lifted.
Riku skid to a stop, his feet barely managed to stop at the edge of a marble platform he suddenly found himself on. Walls of water rushed upwards on either side of him. Orbs of water floated in the air, leading to broken fragments of marble tiles suspended in midair. The tiles twisted a path to a floating castle that was all too familiar.
"Of course it'd bring me here." Riku scoffed, putting a hand on his hip.
"Where are we?" Velcia asked in awe.
"Hollow Bastion," he told her, before mumbling under his breath. "I guess Castle Oblivion wasn't enough." He jumped to the following tile and held out his hand for her. "Come on."
Velcia smiled in thanks at his gesture, taking his hand and hopping over. She took in the castle as Riku went on ahead. He didn't look at it any more than he had to. A sick sensation churned in the pit of his stomach. His hallucinations told him he would show up here. All the things he thought he was done with, everything he'd worked past, there was a part of him deep down still struggling. During the battle, protecting Hinata, it had been easy to ignore them. Now though… he was walking straight into it, meeting it head on.
If there was something left for him to face, he wanted to get it over with.
The hiss of steam drew Riku's attention. He looked up at the approaching castle. It looked exactly like he remembered. Copper pipes and gears jutted out from the worn regal architecture. Riku often wished he had found out the history of the world. Every pipe, every broken brick, the massive gold Heartless emblem in the center, each detail had a story to tell. Riku wondered which part of the castle told his story.
He stopped at the final tile, just before the castle. Massive doors towered above him, with intricate designs of thorns and hearts carved into the stone. Riku swallowed thickly. Peeking over his shoulder, he saw Velcia coming up from behind, her eyes taking in every detail around them. She stood beside him, looking over the door before meeting her gaze with his.
She sent him a small, reassuring smile. He struggled to return it and looked up at the doors.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"I thought I was." He huffed out a short laugh, crossing his arms. "I realized you don't know much about me, and now you get a front row seat."
Velcia hummed. "That is something I worried about before entering your dreams. I apologize if it makes you uncomfortable for me to see."
He shook his head. "It's more that you might be surprised. Not that it matters. We have to get out of here one way or the other." He placed his hand on the door.
I may not know you well personally, but I've seen the impact you've had on the lives and hearts of those around you," Velcia assured him, drawing his attention. "Your friends love and respect you, and they truly seem better for having you. Hinata thinks the world of you, and even though Sam doesn't like to show it, I can tell she respects you and your advice as well. Not to mention DiZ..." She pushed back her hair gently. "Riku, I am here to help you wake up. Whatever nightmares or memories we may find aren't going to change the way I see you. I'm sorry if I'm coming across to strong... I just want to make sure tha—"
"No, no, I…" his voice trailed off, his gaze averting to the door with a soft, genuine smile. "I appreciate it."
"We'll go when you're ready."
Riku nodded, his fingers tightening against the door. "Let's go."
He braced his feet and pushed with both of his arms. The sound of rock scraping across tiles screeched around them. Velcia winced, but joined in with pushing against the door. It almost seemed to be fighting against them. Their feet skidded back, their full body weights barely managing to inch the door open.
"Go, go!" Riku urged, his voice strained.
Velcia slipped in through the opening. He went to follow, but the door pushed back, attempting to shut. Velcia's fingers wrapped around the side of it.
"Come on!" she yelled.
Riku squeezed between the doors and Velcia stepped back releasing her hold on the stone. The room shook as the doors slammed shut, locking them inside. They looked to each other, both breathing heavily, then to the room they found themselves in. It was the foyer Riku recognized well, while Velcia gasped at the sight and spun in place, taking it all in. The same blue chandelier dangled over the circular room. Stone marble pillars laced with gold lined the walls, supporting the upper level. Then in front, the two sets of stairs on either side of the stone fountain that led further into the castle.
He looked over at Velcia, and for a moment he saw Hinata standing in her place. She was younger than he knew her now, with her long red hair tied back into a ponytail. Her golden eyes met with his and his breath caught.
"Riku?" she asked, tilting her head, her brows knitting together. "Are you alright?" Her voice changed to Velcia's.
He shook his head, shutting his eyes tight. When he opened them, Velcia was in front of him worriedly looking him over. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine," he assured her, letting out a breath. "Just seeing things… I think I'm remembering bits and pieces of Hinata being here with me."
"That would make sense." Velcia placed her hand to her chin. "This nightmare is a product of your memories. Hinata included."
"My, what do we have here?" A familiar voice filled the foyer.
Riku smirked, despite the way dread filled his chest. He stepped past Velcia, crossing his arms. "I was wondering when you'd show up, Maleficent."
A similar smirk curved the witch's dark lips. She stood in the center of the foyer, her long robes draped around her. Her slender fingers carefully caressed the glowing glass orb atop her staff as she observed the castle's visitors with a calculated gaze.
"It seems that even after all this time, my presence still lingers in the darkness of your heart," she replied with a cool tone, motioning her hand towards him.
A slight huff of amusement exhaled from Riku's nose as he shook his head. "Not quite."
"Is that so?" Maleficent asked. "Then why is it that I can feel your heart racing?" Riku's mouth twitched, her smirk grew. "You claim to have conquered the darkness, yet outside your dreams you bare the face of Ansem, do you not? And that darkness never would have been acquired if it had not been for me. Me, the—"
"Neither of us are interested," Riku interrupted, motioning to Velcia to start walking around the room. She nodded and complied without a word, following his lead as he continued, "I told you before, I know what I've done. I've paid for it and will keep working to make things right. Nothing you taunt me with will change that. All you're doing is wasting your breath."
Maleficent watched them strafe around the room towards the stairs, her body remaining perfectly still. "Perhaps you are right," she admitted with feigned resignation. "There is little my words will do. Though, I cannot help but wonder what power you believe you have to protect your friend."
Her arms outstretched to her sides. Green energy emanated around her, sparking into green flames.
"Riku, get behind me!" Velcia jumped into action, her Keyblade flashing into her grasp.
The tip of the blade glowed a brilliant blue. Droplets of water swirled around the metal roses before shooting out and extinguishing the flames into sizzling smoke. Riku held out his hand out of habit to summon Soul Eater, but nothing appeared in his grasp. He looked up, seeing Velcia locked in battle with Maleficent's spells. There was nothing he could do.
"Velcia!" he yelled into the fray. "Get to the second floor!"
Without waiting for her reply, he ran up the stairs, careful to avoid the spray of attacks. Velcia leapt high into the air, somersaulting onto the second floor just as Riku reached the top stair. Getting back to her feet, a shimmering shield formed above them, blocking zaps of electricity. Riku ran towards the door and pulled at the knob. It rattled, but refused to turn.
"It's locked," he realized, stepping back.
Maleficent's laugh filled the foyer. The center of the floor cracked, the entire room tremored. A section of the ground lifted Maleficent to their level. "You fools! Believing escape would come so easily."
"What are you hoping to get out of this, Maleficent?" Riku asked with a growl in his voice.
"What ever is the matter, Riku?" she asked. "You are protected by your valiant guide, whilst you cower in the shadows. What else could you possibly desire?"
Riku's hands clenched into fists against the door. Then he laughed, leaning his head against the wood. "So that's what this is about." He turned around and walked up beside Velcia. Placing his hand along her shoulder, he told her, "It's alright. Put down the shield."
She darted her attention to him. "What? Are you sure?"
He patted her shoulder and continued forward, looking right at Maleficent. Velcia reluctantly complied. The shield dissipated with sparkling particles, giving Riku a clear view of the witch.
"Alright then, I'm not cowering anymore." He stopped at the edge of the floor, his gaze undeterred from Maleficent's. "What will you do now?"
Maleficent's brow raised. A tense silence permeated between them. Riku felt Velcia's worried gaze on his back, but he kept steady. His heart pounded in his ears, his hands clenching at his sides.
"How unfortunate," Maleficent finally said.
With a single motion, she swung her arms open. A gust of strengthening wind burst from her, billowing her robes and disintegrating the platform she stood upon. It hit Riku like a wall, shoving him back and sweeping him off his feet. He cried out, vaguely seeing Velcia's hand reaching out for him before he was thrown through the door. His body slammed against the wall, the door slamming shut in front of him.
He collapsed to the floor, coughing and groaning. Looking up, he saw nothing but a dimly lit hall. The door was completely gone. He pushed himself to his feet and looked around the familiar hallway.
"Velcia!" he yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Hey! Maleficent!"
His voice echoed down the dark hall, then faded to nothing.
"That door didn't usually lead here," he mumbled to himself, before sighing. "At least Velcia can take care of herself."
A deep laugh filled the hall and Riku groaned.
"Unless you have something useful to say, I suggest you back off," he grumbled.
"Oh why would I do that, when I have so much to offer?" the deep, familiar voice inquired, growing closer.
"We went through this in Castle Oblivion," Riku recalled, turning around and finding the source of the voice. "Ansem…"
A shrouded figure stood before him, hunched over with his face concealed under the thick brown fabric. "You remember well. Though that is not why I am here."
Riku took in a deep breath and turned to walk away. "Not interested."
"Even if it is a means to wake up?" Ansem asked.
"I seriously doubt you're the truth I'm looking for," Riku retorted, not sparing a glance over his shoulder.
"What was your truth in Castle Oblivion?" Ansem continued, his voice in Riku's head. "You accepted your need for the darkness. Why then, can it not also be your truth to wake up from this nightmare?"
Ansem appeared in front of Riku out of a Corridor. He held out his hands and the Keyblade of Heart appeared in his grasp. Riku stepped back, his heart lodging in his throat.
"Unlock your heart," Ansem urged him, offering him the blade. "Surely you remember how. That will awaken you from this nightmare."
Riku looked up at him, though he couldn't make out his face through the shroud of his hood. Ansem stared back, silent and patiently awaiting a response. With a shake of his head, Riku walked past him.
"I don't need it," Riku told him.
Ansem's laughter filled Riku's head, making him grimace. "Still so foolish, even after all this time…"
A purple glow covered Riku's body. He froze, despite attempting to move forward. His eyes widened, his voice breaking. "I—I can't— move," he grunted, fruitlessly trying to swing his limbs.
The air itself stung every surface of his skin as if the purple aura were burning him alive. He cried out, his arms and legs straightening beyond his control. His clothes melded into darkness. Red veins wrapped around his hands like gloves, melding into black over his arms and tightening around his neck until it was a struggle to even breathe.
"Ansem!" Riku yelled. "Get— out of my head!"
"Riku?"
Riku's heart skipped. He turned without control. Hinata stood just a few feet away, an innocent, worried expression painted over her young face. She rushed forward and gently placed her hands along his arms.
"Riku, what's wrong? Are you alright?" she asked, her eyes dancing over his face. "You can talk to me, I'm here."
He couldn't move. His fingers twitched, his body trembled from the inner battle for control.
"Hearts are not so easily wiped of memories." Ansem's voice resonated in Riku's mind. "Shall we relive this one?"
It all happened so fast. Riku grabbed Hinata's neck. He felt her pulse, the gust of her strangled breath. She stared back at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
"S…stop," Riku's voice warbled with tears. "Stop… STOP!"
He released Hinata. She coughed, falling to the floor in a heap. Riku staggered back, yelling and digging his fingers into his hair.
"Let GO!" he screamed, the hallway shaking as he fell to his knees.
"You pathetic boy," Ansem taunted him, his voice fading.
Riku's chest heaved, his breaths coming easier. He looked to his hands, seeing the darkness melt away. "I won," he whispered, laughing hoarsely.
Pushing himself to stand, he stumbled over to Hinata and knelt beside her. She went limp in his arms, bruises forming around her neck.
"I didn't do this…" he tried to remember, his grip around her tightening. "Did I…?" He gently lowered her back to the floor. "The journals didn't mention—" he scoffed, standing up. "Why would they?"
He pushed back his hair, trying to quell his heart and the sickening burn in the pit of his stomach. Looking to the walls, he narrowed his eyes. Cracks webbed across the stone, going over the ceiling. They hadn't been there before.
Thin glints of light peeked through the fissures, spotting the dark hall. Riku traced the fractures, then rubbed his fingertips together, reveling in the warmth the light seeped into his skin.
"That's not regular sunlight," he realized, turning to look at Hinata still unconscious on the floor. He moved to kneel beside her, placing his hand along her shoulder. She sleepily mumbled, leaning her head against his touch, though not waking up. He half-smiled, a small wave of relief washing over him. "Maybe winning against Ansem changed something."
Hurried footsteps thudded down the hall. Riku stood and turned around. As he moved, his body transformed from his past self. He stood taller, his stature stiff and tense. An Organization coat covered his body, making his skin warm and sweaty. He looked down at his gloved hands, letting out a breath that felt deeper than it had a moment before.
"Get away from her!" Sora's voice rang through the hall.
Riku darted his attention up just in time to see the silver flash of a Keyblade. He jumped back, watching Sora's blade slice through the air. "Sora, wait!" Riku pleaded, but the voice that came out belonged to Ansem.
A chill coursed through him.
Sora stood protectively beside Hinata, glaring, despite the sheen of emotion over his eyes. He held the Keyblade at the ready, his shoulders heaving. "I don't know who you are, but you need to stay away from Hinata!"
"Hinata!"
Kairi appeared out of the darkness, and slid to her knees beside Hinata. She looked up at Riku with a glare of her own, her hand over her heart.
"What did you do to her?" she demanded.
Riku's jaw clenched, his hands tightening at his sides. Sora didn't give Riku a chance to reply. With a yell, he ran and leapt forward, slamming his Keyblade down over his head. Riku smirked— despite himself— and sidestepped, kicking Sora's back. His best friend yelped, falling to his face. Sora rolled and jumped back to his feet, spinning around as Riku breathily chuckled.
Sora paused when he noticed his laugh. "Who are you, anyway?"
Riku paused, crossing his arms. He supposed he could play along a little bit. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he replied, Ansem's deep voice resonating around him.
Sora scowled. "You Organization Members are all the same! Everything's a joke, even people's lives."
That hit Riku. He winced, his smirk falling.
"Whoever you are, I have to protect my friends!" Sora continued, readying his blade. "So get out of our way!"
"Wait—" Riku started.
Sora rushed forward, cutting him off. Riku skirted back, ducking and evading every attack. They moved around the hall, Sora's hits striking nothing but air. His frustration grew with each swing, until he stopped and groaned.
"If you're not gonna fight back, at least get out of here!" Sora complained.
Riku struggled to keep himself from smiling. A warmth of amusement filled his chest, one he didn't realize how much he missed. He looked between his friends. Even in a dream, all of them were together again for the first time since the island. The streaks of light pouring in from the cracks in the wall danced over Hinata and Kairi. Hinata was just beginning to come to, her eyes fluttering open. Riku watched her, that familiar relief washing over him.
If he had been able to defeat Ansem and save her… He wondered what else he could do. A smirk curved his lips and he looked back to Sora.
Holding out his hand, Riku breathed in deeply. Sora's teeth clenched and he ran forward, readying another attack. His Keyblade swung over his head, but just before it made contact with Riku, it was blocked. Soul Eater materialized in Riku's grip, and the Keyblade bounced back, sending Sora sprawling back. The hallway trembled, pieces of the wall crumbled to the ground as the cracks sprawled out in every direction. The ceiling ripped apart, revealing a mystical astral outside. Riku kept his attention on his friends, a smirk spreading over his lips.
"Wha…?" Sora asked, sitting up and rubbing his head. "What was that?"
"Riku," Hinata weakly spoke, standing up with Kairi's help.
Sora's and Kairi's eyes widened. "Riku!?" they exclaimed.
Riku chuckled, a hand going to his hip. "Come on Sora, I thought you were stronger than that."
As he spoke, a dark mist swirled around him, transforming him once again. It dissipated and he felt lighter. His breath came easier, his chest relaxed. The presence of darkness was gone, and so was Ansem.
A grin split Sora's face. "Riku!" He jumped to his feet and sprinted forward, barreling into Riku for a bear hug.
Riku laughed, a true, genuine laugh that filled his entire chest, even as Sora sent both of them falling to the ground. He barely got to see past Sora's spikes of hair before Kairi plopped herself on top of them, giggling from the boys' protests.
"What were you doing like that, Riku?" Sora asked, wriggling enough to get Kairi to lay next to him on top of Riku.
"Why didn't you just tell us it was you?" Kairi added.
"I—" Riku looked away, swallowing.
"It doesn't matter." Hinata knelt beside them, the bruise gone from her neck. "All that matters is that he's here now. And we're together again." She smiled when Riku looked over, her hand going to his shoulder. "We always will be."
"Well yeah, but I'm still curious," Sora protested, not moving from his spot on top of Riku, but instead got more comfortable.
The others chuckled.
"I'm just happy to be here," Kairi told them. "I don't care why or how it happened."
"Yeah, I guess I can't complain about that," Sora agreed.
Riku took in a breath, gazing up at the gashes in the ceiling. Glowing cracks tore across the celestial sky. They grew wider the longer he watched, fracturing further until he was sure the entire dream would be eventually covered in light. The weight of his friends on top of him placed a sense of calm over him. He wrapped his arms around them, listening to them talk. It had been so long since he heard them. He closed his eyes, taking it in, memorizing their laughs.
"What happens now?" Kairi asked.
"...I think I have to wake up," Riku replied.
Sora and Kairi sat up almost in unison, Riku immediately missed their warmth. He took a moment, before sitting up along with them. Sora rubbed the back of his head, his expression twisted into a frown as if he had something to say, while Kairi fidgeted with her hands in her lap.
"What is it?" Riku asked expectantly, leaning back on the palms of his hands.
"Why didn't you just tell us you were Riku?" Sora repeated Kairi's earlier question, crossing his arms. "That would have cleared things up a lot faster… Is that why you haven't come to find me yet in the real world?"
Riku winced, averting his gaze.
"Promise you'll come find us soon." Kairi leaned over to be in his view. Her mouth tipped into a smile when he met her eyes. "You don't need to hide from us."
"He will," Hinata assured them, squeezing Riku's shoulder. "When he's ready."
Riku placed his hand over Hinata's, nodding. "Yeah…"
Sora stood up first, and held out his hand to help Kairi to her feet. They were silent as Riku got up, watching with a somber gaze as he looked around.
"What will you do?" Kairi asked.
"I have to find Velcia first," Riku told her. "And then, hopefully I'll wake up."
Kairi nodded shortly, then let out a breathless sob before rushing forward and hugging him. "Don't forget about us, ok?"
Riku blinked, a well of tears forming in his throat as he hugged her back. "How could I?"
Sora joined in on the hug, making them readjust their arms to include him too. Kairi reached out and grabbed Hinata's arm, pulling her in. Far back in his mind, Riku wondered if he would ever get to experience this in the real world. The thought made him squeeze all of them a little bit tighter, before pulling away.
He cleared his throat and wiped at his eyes. "Alright… I have to go."
"Take care!" Kairi chimed despite the tears on her cheeks.
"Don't show off too much!" Sora grinned, lacing his hands behind his neck. "Leave some greatness for the rest of us."
Riku smirked and ruffled Sora's hair, much to his dismay. Then he turned towards Hinata, where she stood awaiting him patiently. The backs of his fingers brushed along the side of her face.
"I'll see you soon," he said softly.
A soft smile curved her lips. "I know you will."
He returned her smile, then turned away. He looked down the disheveled hallway. Entire chunks of the flooring and walls were missing entirely, leaving floating platforms over the cosmos. Still, there seemed to be enough there to form a path and Riku took it. He ran forward, leaving his friends behind.
The hall only seemed to continue forward. There were no turns or doorways. Riku half-expected he would run back into the others as if he were trapped in a loop. He looked out into the starry world outside and saw that the cracks were steadily sealing back shut.
"What?" He slowed to a stop. "No, that's not—"
He looked at his hands and held one out. Soul Eater summoned into his grasp.
"I still have power," he said under his breath. "Then how…" He looked back to the slowly closing cracks of light, then to the hall around him. "I can control this."
Stepping back, he clenched his hand over his heart and closed his eyes. He imagined the floor beneath him rising up out of the ground, bringing him up above the castle. The tile beneath him rumbled and split. Everything shook and Riku opened his eyes with a rush, bracing himself as the floor rushed upwards into the sky. The hall shrunk beneath him and Riku found himself surrounded by stars and crevices of light. For a moment, he was awestruck. He spun around, taking it all in.
Then a streak of magic pierced through the sky. It glowed a brilliant gold, shooting straight into one of the cracks of light from the main entrance of the castle. A rumbling growl poured out of the crack, reverberating around Riku. His eyes narrowed, focusing on where the magic came from. He jumped forward, another platform appearing underfoot. With each step, another tile appeared, making his path as his cautious jumps transformed into a sprint.
Golden beams of magic continuously shot from the castle, guiding him closer. Over the main foyer, he saw Velcia with her Keyblade, her attention focused on the fissures of light as she fired spell after spell. She spotted Riku overhead and startled with a gasp, her Keyblade nearly falling.
"Riku?" she called out to him, backing up as he formed a slide of tiles down to her level.
He slid down on his feet, then jogged to her side. "Are you alright?" he asked her, without answering her question.
She looked at him, then to the tiles that had formed his path to her. "Yes," she answered slowly, then shook her head and explained. "After you were forced out of the room, that woman disappeared and I was trapped. I attempted to get out on my own, but my spells had no effect. Then those cracks appeared— which I presume was your doing— and I realized there was something inside keeping you here."
"Something inside?" Riku repeated, he looked up towards the crack she had been shooting spells into. "That growl I heard. Is that why the cracks are closing?"
"I believe so," she told him, aiming her Keyblade at the light. "I can sense it. Now all I need to do is expose it so we can destroy it."
"Then I'll wake up," Riku finished.
"Yes."
"I think I have an idea," Riku told her, holding out his hand. "You might want to hold on."
She looked to his hand, then to him. Her Keyblade lowered and she grabbed onto him. Within an instant, a platform formed beneath them and they flew into the air. Velcia gasped, her grip tightening in Riku's for just a moment before her surprise turned into awe. She peeked over the edge to the castle fading below.
"Incredible," she breathed out, a smile spreading over her face. She looked around them with wonder, then up to the light as Riku raised them directly inside. "I should ask before it's too late." She turned her attention to him. "What was the truth you needed to discover?"
Riku smirked, looking out to the stars. "That this nightmare didn't hold any actual power over me. It wanted me to believe that it did and it almost convinced me a couple times. But when it mattered most, I figured it out. I still have the strength I need."
"You do," Velcia agreed, squeezing his hand. "I'm happy to hear that. I'll make sure to tell the others."
"If they haven't figured it out already," he noted.
Velcia hummed, her smile growing. "That is encouraging to think about."
As the words left her mouth, the warm light enveloped them. They shielded their eyes, but only needed to for a moment. The light blinked out and they came to an abrupt stop. Both of them lurched forward from the lost momentum. They opened their eyes, finding themselves in what appeared to be a Dark Corridor, yet rather than a single tunnel, it formed an arena. Blacks, blues, and purples melded along the walls, swirling like smoke over the pulsing ground.
"Where—"
"Get ready," Riku ordered her, summoning Soul Eater and immediately getting into a battle stance.
Velcia nodded with an agreeing hum, holding her Keyblade out in front of her, already glowing with a prepared spell. A low growl echoed around them. Twelve golden eyes appeared in the fog, blinking in unison.
"A Heartless?" Velcia asked.
"No," Riku shook his head. "It's the creature that got us into this mess in the first place. I should have expected it would show up."
The black mass slithered out from the shadows, its four long legs scuttering towards them like a spider. Golden acid dripped from its body, leaving a glowing trail wherever it stepped.
"Oh," Velcia realized, her nose scrunching as she took it in. Shaking her head and readjusting her stance, she got into focus. "I'll follow your lead."
Before Riku could give her instruction, the creature screeched. Beams of dark energy zapped into existence, spreading out over the arena. Riku and Velcia scattered, jumping to opposite ends.
"That's new!" Riku exclaimed. "It didn't have those spells before!"
"I may have something to help!" Velcia's blade lit up with white light. Pearls shot out and spiraled into the back of the creature.
It yowled, hissing and rubbing itself against the floor. A purple energy exuded from its body and flew towards Riku. He waved at it, backing up, but it melded into his skin. A rush of rejuvenation washed over him and he opened and closed his hand.
"I get it," he muttered, a smirk curving his face.
Looking up, he jumped over an oncoming beam and phased out of existence. Velcia's eyes widened. She spun around, almost getting hit by one of the beams, before Riku reappeared right over the monster. Soul Eater slashed along its back as Riku rolled into his landing. He skidded to a stop, looking back just as another batch of purple aura seeped out of the creature and melded back into him.
He stood back up straight, feeling another rush of adrenaline fill him. As it did, the beams of darkness flickered out of existence.
"Riku?" Velcia asked.
"I think it's been trying to absorb my power since I've been trapped in here," he explained, readying Soul Eater. "Now it's time we take it back!"
"Right!"
With a hiss, the creature burrowed into the ground, sending chunks of black gunk flying in every direction. Both Riku and Velcia summoned shields to protect themselves from the spray. Their shields shimmered out of existence as they strafed around the room, just waiting for it to reappear.
Golden liquid dripped from the ceiling and splashed beside Velcia's foot. She froze, summoning a spell around her Keyblade. Before it could fire, the creature pounced. The Keyblade crashed against the ground, sliding away, and catching Riku's attention.
"Velcia!" he yelled, sprinting over.
Velcia held the monster back, its claws scratching at her arms and its mouth snapping for her throat. With a yell, she kicked her leg into its chest, her foot digging into the pouch of golden acid attached there. Globs of liquid poured out of its side, making the creature gurgle and growl. Then orbs of darkness shot into it, sending it flying. It disappeared into the fog, its body thumping against the ground as it landed. Another cloud of purple energy flew from it and absorbed into Riku.
Riku helped Velcia up. She retrieved her blade before regrouping and summoning a small healing spell.
"Thank you." Her voice shook.
"That was quick thinking with the kick," he told her. "We need to get it on its back to reach that spot again."
She nodded in agreement.
The monster stepped out from the fog and they rushed back into battle. Riku took point, Velcia stayed near the back, summoning any spell she felt would support Riku's flurry of attacks. The creature evaded more than charged. They had it on the defensive, but that almost seemed to be what it wanted. It disappeared into another burrowed hole, leaving them searching for it to reappear.
It attempted to go after Velcia again. Both of them heard it crawling overhead, but didn't react. Velcia watched Riku with a steady gaze, waiting for his signal. Spinning Soul Eater in his grasp, he blipped out of sight as he had before. Just as the creature readied itself to pounce, Riku reappeared in a flash of purple and warped through the monster, slicing Soul Eater along its legs.
Velcia rolled out of the way, narrowly missing the creature thudding to the floor. Golden acid spewed from its severed limbs, splattering all over the arena. It wriggled on its back, wailing in an unnatural pitch that made their ears ring. Green particles burst from Velcia's Keyblade and thick vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the monster and binding it.
"I'll hold it down!" Velcia yelled, both hands gripping her blade, keeping the spell steady.
Riku ran past her, his entire body beginning to glow purple. With a shout, he thrust Soul Eater into the air and pillars of darkness ruptured through the ceiling, shooting straight into the creature's chest. It burst on impact, an unearthly howl rumbled the entire arena. The Corridor around them whisked away, sucking into the creature's remains and leaving them floating in the light. Riku looked over to Velcia, both of them grinning from their victory.
Then everything went white.