DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT MY ORIGINAL CHARACTERS!
A/N: So... HERE IT IS! Chapter 43 has OFFICIALLY come! HORRAY! HORRAY! HORRAY! HALLELUJAH! Of course, this means the story is FINALLY reaching its TRUE CLIMAX!
Yet, I am SO ANNOYED AT THE SYSTEM HERE! I TRIED TO POST THIS CHAPTER'S TITLE IN, BUT IT SAID IT WAS TOO LONG! THAT'S WHY I HAD TO CONDENSE IT ON THE CHAPTER LIST!
In addition, I wanted to Apologize for going ALMOST word-for-word with the scenes of KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: DREAM, DROP, DISTANCE for the first part of Sora's Story in Chapter 41. It HAD to be done! However, I DID include some twists and turns in it using my own Personal Touch! I HOPE ya'll understand!
Also, I wanted to inform all of you that I'm on the verge of starting School - again. Therefore, I Sincerely Hope I can get Chapter 44 up before then! IF Not, I shall just have to post it sometime next week, once school has started.
Nevertheless, Please Keep On Reading AND Reviewing Alike! Do NOT Forget: THE NUMBER OF REQUIRED REVIEWS IS 107! YET, IF 120 ARE POSTED, I WILL ADD A "SNEAK PEEK" FOR THIS STORY'S SEQUEL - I HAVE PLANNED MOST OF IT OUT ALREADY!
Somewhere in this particular Chapter, I have included one of the characters I revealed was from the FINAL FANTASY 7 SERIES! IF YOU HAVE READ THIS STORY SO FAR, YOU SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE AWARE OF WHO IT IS!
I Don't Wish To Hold You Up ANY Longer - I do NOT have anything else to say... For Now. IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BREAK FROM SORA AND SEE WHAT RIKU IS UP TO! READ TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT! DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW - PRETTY PLEASE - TOO!
CHAPTER 43
The Illusions Spiral Out-of-Control
The journey through the castle surprised Riku in more ways than one. Having grown accustomed to being ambushed by small groups of Nightmares throughout the last several Sleeping Worlds, he started to get a strange feeling when none appeared to cross his path. In fact, the entire interior was so quiet, his footsteps seemed to echo all around. It almost gave the same sensation he'd felt when Kevin Flynn had stepped into the middle of the clubroom in The Grid. Recalling how all the programs who had been partying were now teaming up and terminating the assaulting members of CLU's Back Guard, Riku wondered if he was really all alone.
It had not been more than ten minutes since the silver-haired seventeen-year-old had parted ways with his best friend, Sora. He was still pondering over what had caused Sora to decide to split up on such short notice. True, it was like him to be a little naïve — and somewhat unable to follow the rules of common sense, but this was just plain ridiculous!
As Riku continued around another corner, he stepped into a small room with a dark-grey colored floor. He stared at it for a second, wondering why this room had a different color scheme compared to the light-grey of the castle's corridors and matching exterior. Before he could think over it much longer, the silver-headed youth found himself soaring up a shadow-covered shaft through the walls of the building. He froze for a moment before relaxing. He was only standing inside an elevator.
When the elevator reached another doorway much higher up, Riku strode off the platform before it returned to the ground floor. He made a sharp right and proceeded past a few doorways leading into pitch-black rooms. Though his mind did question what was inside the rooms, the silver-haired Keyblade wielder shoved the unnecessary contemplation aside. For all he knew, someone or something could be waiting inside those smaller spaces to trap him.
After hurrying down the corridor several more yards, Riku made a left and passed through a large, open doorway and stepped into the vast, enormous room beyond. He stared in surprise, recognizing the chamber as the same room where he and Kairi had fought a multitude of Heartless before he was reunited with Sora. He spotted the upper balcony where those two events had unfolded to his right and noticed another, smaller balcony above it. Up ahead, the gigantic window could be seen above the logo of Organization XIII. As he stepped to the middle of the blue platform at the center of the chamber, he recalled what the Organization had called the room; the "Hall of Empty Melodies".
As Riku took a few seconds to sweep his eyes around the immediate vicinity, a voice spoke. "Well, well… if it isn't Riku — the Organization imposter."
Riku froze before taking another glance around the chamber. His eyes landed onto a figure standing on the miniature landing directly in front of the Organization's logo. The man was wearing a black-hooded coat, which didn't actually surprise Riku in the least, little bit. It was his long, blue hair with the spikes on top, yellow-orange eyes, and the unmistakable pair of scars between his eyes forming an "X" that revealed who he was.
Riku stared at the man in alarm; he was certain this guy had been defeated by Sora, Donald, and Goofy about a year ago. Yet, here he was in one piece as though nothing had happened. How was that possible? He shoved aside the idea of this being a ghost. Perhaps it was a clone or a simple illusion? Either way, the silver-headed teenager needed to know why the man was there.
"What do you want, Saïx?" Riku demanded.
Saïx retained his signature frown at the seventeen-year-old. When he remained silent for a few minutes, Riku's Keyblade appeared in his hand. As he was positioning it in accordance to his battle stance, Riku glared at the man up above.
"So," Saïx finally said. "You haven't changed."
"What are you trying to say?" Riku snapped, not erasing the glare from his face. If it meant a detailed explanation in response, he was willing to listen and point out any fallacies in Saïx's words.
"It's really quite simple," Saïx returned. "When you first left that island around two years ago, you only cared about one thing. And I believe it was exploring the outside world. Meanwhile, you left your friends… your family… even your sacred island paradise behind — all so you could see the lands far beyond."
Riku continued to glare, even though he already knew everything Saïx was saying lacked any direct errors. It was all true. He had longed to see the outside world for years. Once Kairi had mysteriously arrived nearly ten years ago, he had sought any possible method of transport to lead him out there. As it just so happened, the best form of transit was through the Darkness. Thus, he had opened the door and travelled to infinity and beyond. The consequences of such actions included the Destiny Islands being attacked by the Heartless and consumed in the Darkness, Sora and Kairi being sucked into dark corridors and ending up in two of the distant worlds, and ultimately becoming both Maleficent and Ansem's tool in their missions to enter the Door To Darkness.
"And now, you've repeated history — twice," Saïx added, causing Riku to leave his deep contemplation. "First, you abandoned your 'angelic' friend when she needed to you to stand up for her. Then, you allowed Sora to run off."
Riku stared at the floor in shock when he realized he could have encouraged Violet to disregard Sora's claims and stick with the team. Then again, he had tried to plead for her to reconsider, but the angel had not been willing to hear him out and instead left with tears in her eyes. It was no different than when he had watched the tragic event with… with Niccole years before.
As for Sora, Riku had become worried the instant his friend had made the super-hasty decision to split up and explore the city while the silver-haired Keyblader investigated the castle. The main thing that had held him back was Sora had already gotten a decent head-start by the time Riku realized what was going on.
"You were too eager to get back home and finish your foolish 'test'," Saïx continued with a slow shake of his head. "Now, you are all alone and have no one to blame but yourself."
Riku gave a deep sigh. If only he had tried harder to resolve the hurtful accusations Sora had said to Violet. If only he had reacted much, much sooner when Sora had darted into the city's darkened streets. If only he could reverse the clock and prevent all of them from ever happening.
If only he could…
"Riku! You cannot believe any statement he declares!"
Riku's ears perked up to the desperate, yet clear voice he immediately recognized; it was easy to identify thanks to the unique style of the dialogue. He swerved his head back up and noticed how Saïx was staring in total surprise at the tinier balcony above the second floor railing; it was the same spot where Kairi had leapt from before he had saved her from a group of Heartless, Maleficent and Pete had first arrived, and both King Mickey and DiZ had overlooked the battle below.
For a split moment, Riku remained fixated on Saïx's face. Up until now, he had never seen the man showing any hint of emotion. Perhaps he was part of a very complex illusion? Only Violet would've known for sure.
When he shifted his attention to the smaller balcony near the room's ceiling, Riku's heart almost skipped a beat. Peering down from the thick, light-grey railing was a young woman who could have been no older than Riku himself was. Her hair was violet; so were her eyes, dress, and wings. On her head was a pair of dark-violet antennae, each with a tiny, scarlet-colored ball on the very end. Her dress had silver lining along the cuffs of her long sleeves, collar, and the base of her dress's skirt (as Riku perceived; he couldn't see it — yet!). In addition to those notable differences, her wings were each shaped like a paper fan and had a slightly-brighter tint inside the violet outline.
Nevertheless, it was both her necklace bearing the emblem (that resembled a combination of both the Heartless emblem and the logo of Organization XIII) and the gentle, violet illuminating glow she produced alongside the strong radiance of Light that helped Riku recognize her.
He relaxed. This was not some random, meddling girl. It was Violet, The Angel of Dreams — with a largely transformed appearance. He wondered if this was due to her being capable of controlling some illusions. At least, that's what she had said once.
"Violet?!" Riku called out, certain this was the same angel he and Sora had ventured with through the Realm of Sleep. Of course, it might just be a figment of his imagination — that didn't make sense; Saïx had also seen her. Unless she was simply an illusion created by the dreams… Riku wanted to know for sure. After all, she did look more like a butterfly than an angel. "Is that you?!"
Saïx's stare swiftly transitioned into a glare. "You!" he declared loudly. "Didn't Genesis take care of you?!"
The girl gazed down at Riku with a friendly smile. Their eyes met and Riku could now see the calm, loyal friend he had watched leave the circular study in the Symphony of Sorcery looking back. True, she had changed on the outside. Yet, she was still exactly the same on the inside. Riku smiled in turn.
Violet had returned. Why she had, he still didn't know — especially following her response to Sora's stubborn claims. Then again, it was probably for the same reasons why Donald and Goofy had temporarily disobeyed Mickey's orders so they could protect Sora from Riku while the latter was under the power of Darkness. At that point, Riku had regained control over the Keyblade… until he lost it to Sora's heart and all the connections he shared with his numerous friends — most of which Riku was yet to meet.
"Riku! Do not be concerned!" Violet called down to the silver-headed seventeen-year-old. "It is me, Violet!"
Riku calmly lowered his Keyblade when it finally occurred to him he still had it posed in case Saïx had launched a sudden attack; he allowed it to disappear. In a single leap, Violet bounded over the railing and used her wings to safely descend to a spot two feet from Riku's right. When she had landed so gracefully it appeared completely imaginary, he shook his head and smiled; the angel had never had any difficulty making a perfect landing from above.
Violet turned her gaze down at the floor to her left. Riku noticed her smile had faded and her hands were folded against each other as though half-clapping. She slowly turned around. With a very, very deep sigh, the angel started to speak. "Riku, I am sorry," she said as a few tears formed in her eyes. "I should never had abandoned you or Sora. If I had known in advance you both would get transferred to this complete illusionary world, I… "
Her voice trailed off. Riku shook his head as his own smile disappeared. He took a small step forwards and placed his right hand onto the angel's left shoulder. Violet did not acknowledge him until Riku sighed deeper than she had.
"No Violet," he said. "I'm the one who's responsible for all of us getting separated."
Violet raised her head and looked at him in surprise. "What are referring to, Riku?"
"I let you leave the study after you chose not to come with us," Riku confessed. "I wanted to ask you to stay, but you were so serious about your choice, I thought your heart had decided for you. I know from personal experience, once your heart decides, it can't be changed. That's why I didn't try to talk you out of it."
"So," Violet surmised. "You were convinced I was so affronted by Sora's accusations, I would never reconsider?"
"Yeah," Riku admitted as a shy grin showed on his face. "Something along those lines."
Violet wiped her tears away and gave a small giggle. When she smiled back, it was evident to Riku how the angel was indeed a "True Friend" — just like Jiminy Cricket, Crystal, and Mickey — "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" had all indicated. The same would go for Sora, Donald Duck, and Goofy; they obviously were a trio of "True Friends", too!
"How pitiful," a voice said from above. Both Riku and Violet turned their focus up to where Saïx was still standing on the miniature, triangular ledge. The "former" Organization member was slowly shaking his head. "Such a bizarre romance… a Keyblade wielder and an angel. A make-believe relationship!"
Saïx stopped shaking his head long enough to gaze at the ceiling. "Shame he wasn't able to decide which was more important. He had to choose the make-believe friendship and suffer the loss of the real one. And ever since, he has remained public enemy number one around here. Isn't that right… Lea?"
Riku and Violet gazed at each other with looks of perplexity. What was Saïx talking about? Who was this "Lea" he seemed to be talking to? Was "Lea" Saïx's friend? Or was there some other connection? Either way, the man Riku had often viewed as a very dangerous member of the Organization now appeared to be someone with an imaginary friend and spoke in strange riddles.
When the two moved their attention back to where Saïx was located, the sound of footsteps echoed from the balcony where Violet had initially arrived in the room. They quickly switched their full attention to the upper landing and stared in both shock and amazement. Saïx also gazed up at the balcony.
Standing at the railing was an all-too-recognizable young man wearing the black-hooded coat Riku had previously seen him in. He had short, red hair that partially covered his face and had spikes at the end of each strand. Now it was apparent his eyes were glowing a combination of yellow and orange; the color was just like Saïx's eyes, except for the glow. On his face was a dark smirk and he seemed to be looking specifically at Riku and Violet.
"Genesis," Saïx said, seizing the man's attention. He gestured at where Violet had stepped behind Riku. "Did you or did you not receive orders to apprehend that meddling intruder?"
"Yes, I did," Genesis admitted. "But, she was just too fast for me. Perhaps I should take care of both of them at once."
Saïx shook his head. "You were given strict orders to only apprehend her. Riku's my responsibility."
Genesis gave an evil-sounding snicker. "Actually, I received direct orders to do away with both of them. You may want to get out of here before I start using the 'gift of the goddess' on them."
Saïx frowned in the opposite direction from the balcony. As a dark portal appeared around his figure, he snorted. "Whatever!"
After the portal vanished from sight, Riku and Violet knew Saïx had left so something else could happen. Their feelings were proved accurate when Genesis sprouted a huge, black wing from the right side of his back and jumped over the railing before using his wing to slow his plunge and land gently on the floor. A number of raven-black feathers flew through the air as Genesis stepped up to where Riku and Violet were standing.
Genesis gave a darker grin as Riku summoned his Keyblade and noticed Violet seemed frozen with terror in her eyes. "Violet!" he declared. "Where's your Keyblade?"
"I do not possess one! At least, not anymore," Violet replied. "It vanished a few minutes after you and Sora unlocked the last Sleeping Keyhole. I desperately attempted to re-summon it while I witnessed the brilliant flash from the exterior of the tower. It refused to return, so I was concerned as the entire region rapidly disappeared from view. I could not arrive at any possible explanation why my Keyblade vanished. It did so on its own."
Riku gave an irritated sigh. "That Keyblade chose you as its wielder. Something must have happened to make it choose someone else!"
"What?" Violet inquired.
"I don't know!" Riku answered. "It could be many things!"
As Genesis reached his right hand into the air, Riku reached his right arm out to prevent the former from attacking the angel behind him. A large sword appeared in Genesis's hand. It was shaped like the one Kay had used against the mop back in Camelot (at least according to the flashback Violet had shown), except the blade was a dark shade of blood red and the handle was seemingly made from silver with a peculiar design on it; neither Riku or Violet were able to make out what design the handle had.
Genesis pointed his sword directly at Riku's left eye. The man was still far enough away for the silver-haired youth to see the former's entire body and estimate the full length of the blade he was wielding, but close enough for Riku to stand his ground and be forced to block and counter should the villain launch a sudden attack at the pair. "Why do you refuse the 'gift of the goddess'?"
"I don't care about anything you're talking about!" Riku snarled in retaliation. "Especially your stupid riddles!"
Genesis raised an eyebrow before raising his sword into the air and spreading his arms wide. He gazed at the ceiling before speaking out loud,
"'My friend, do you fly away now?
To a world that abhors you and I?
All that awaits you is a somber morrow.
No matter where the winds may blow.'"
"I cannot comprehend a single meaning from those lines," Violet shouted as soon as Genesis had finished. "Why do you persist on reciting nonsensical poetry to us?"
"Get real!" Riku added. "I was never into poetry!"
In one swift movement, Genesis lowered his weapon to where the blade was pointed at Riku's neck. He glared at both the silver-headed Keyblade wielder and the angel hiding behind him.
"If you refuse to accept the 'gift of the goddess'," he yelled angrily at the two. "Then you shall suffer her wrath!"
Riku raised his Keyblade to his typical fighting stance as Violet stepped back several feet behind him. Genesis lifted his weapon momentarily as he strode closer. The glare in his eyes was so intense, Riku could almost smell the Darkness radiating from them. "Bow in terror, Keyblade wielder!"
Genesis made a speedy swipe at Riku's knees. The seventeen-year-old leapt forwards to avoid the blade and slash his Keyblade into the corrupt man's left arm. Despite wincing in pain for a second, Genesis swung his weapon at a diagonal angle aimed for the Keyblader's right shoulder. Riku flipped backwards to evade the sword. When Genesis realized his enemy had dodged both attacks, he rushed forwards and sent what appeared to be a ball of reddish-glowing matter at Riku. Riku was so busy paying attention to what his opponent was doing, he failed to notice Violet directly behind his back. He performed a super-swift slide to the right when the glowing matter exploded before a startled Violet.
"Violet!" Riku hollered in alarm when he realized the angel had been blown back to the edge of the platform. He could still see her, clinging onto the edge.
"I am uninjured!" Violet responded. "Do not be so concerned about me! Focus on defeating that man dressed in the black coat!"
Riku gave a nod before he saw Genesis a few feet away with his left palm extended. A bolt of electricity surged from his hand, striking Riku's back when he tried to spin around and flee. The silver-headed Keyblader fell to the floor as he felt the energy surging through his body. Genesis stepped up to him and placed one of his feet onto Riku's back and the other onto his right hand. The latter's Keyblade went spiraling across the floor before it reached the edge. As he watched his weapon clatter off the platform and into the abyss beyond, Riku screamed, "No!"
He froze when he saw the reddish-glowing blade positioned beside his neck. Turning his eyes up, Riku saw Genesis peering back down with the same evil smirk evident on his face. In a loud voice, the young man in black proclaimed,
"'My friend, the fates are cruel.
There are no dreams, no honor remains.
The arrow has left, the bow of the goddess.'"
Genesis was so busy reciting more of the poetry, he failed to notice Violet leaping back onto the platform. With a determined glare in her eyes, she took one step forwards and raised her right hand. In a loud, serious yet clear voice, the angel shouted, "Now is your opportunity, Natalie!"
Before her eyes, a creature that was shaped like a bat suddenly appeared. It had greenish ears, an orange body, and blue wings. The Spirit rushed at Genesis with such stealth, anyone could say it was invisible. As Genesis raised his sword up a few inches above Riku's neck, Natalie swooped into view and grabbed his attention. The villain swung his sword at the Spirit. "Go away, you monster!" he snapped.
At the word "monster", Natalie opened her mouth and sent a series of what seemed to be sound waves at the red-headed young man in black. Genesis raised his weapon to black the oncoming attack and inadvertently stepped off Riku in the process.
Once he realized nothing was holding him down, Riku's Keyblade instantly appeared in his hand. He swiped it at Genesis's feet. This distracted the villain long enough for the sound wave attack to strike him in the face. As Genesis gave an audible holler of agony, he threw his left hand to his face.
Violet crossed her arms. "Rule #1," she stated in a firm voice. "Never refer to Spirits as 'monsters'. They will become offended and may attack you."
Genesis removed his hand from his face before glaring at the angel. "You shall suffer for that!"
Violet was nearly on the verge of taking flight when Riku hopped to his feet and slashed his way clear through the villainous man. He turned around before stating, "You should never have challenged us. We are a team!"
Violet smiled as her hands flew to a few inches below her chin and folded together. "So true!" she approved.
As Genesis fell to his knees, he glared at the two. Through his deep breaths, he called out,
"'No matter where the winds may blow.
My friend, your desire…
…Is the bringer of life, the gift of the goddess.
Even if the morrow is barren of promises.
Nothing shall forestall my return.'"
With one final look at the silver-haired teenager and the angel, Genesis gave a sinister grin as he vanished into a dark portal. Once the man had departed, Riku's Keyblade disappeared. He felt something nudging him from behind. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled. There was Natalie, smiling cheerfully at him. He gave the Spirit a small tickle, making the creature laugh and Violet giggle at the sight.
"Another fight down," Riku smiled as Natalie flew over to Violet and magically vanished before the angel. "The only thing left to do is find Sora and get out of here."
Violet stared at him in surprise. "'Find Sora'? I assumed he was already with you! Did you two get separated?"
"Yeah," Riku admitted. "As soon as we got to this world, Sora decided we should split up to find the guy in black. I was going to suggest otherwise, but he had already ran into the city before I could."
"'The city'?" Violet inquired. "Do you mean the enormous metropolitan layout of skyscrapers, darkened streets, and desolate alleys surrounding this hovering castle?"
Riku had to smile at the angel's lengthy, detailed description. "Yeah, you could put like that."
Violet nodded. "I sincerely hope nothing hazardous has occurred to him!"
"Yeah," Riku affirmed. "Me, too."
All of a sudden, a bright flash of light filled the air near the center of the platform; it seemed to resemble a photograph's camera flash. The two spun their eyes in the direction it had come from; they froze in astonishment.
Situated at the exact middle of the platform was a mystical sphere of what appeared to be Darkness. Inside was a young man with spiked, brown hair and wearing a red shirt with a large, black "X" in the middle, an open, red jacket with a black hoodie, red shorts, oversized yellow shoes, and white, fighting gloves. The teenager was floating in the sphere on his back and he seemed to be in a completely sound state of slumber.
"Sora!" Riku yelled as he rushed at the sphere, recognizing his best friend within.
"Riku!" Violet shouted from behind. "Look out!"
Riku stopped a few inches from the sphere and reached for Sora's hands. A sudden shock of energy shoved him backwards and onto the floor. He lay flat for a few moments, feeling a similar effect of extreme power surging through him compared to when Genesis had struck him with the bolt of electricity.
Violet stepped over to the silver-haired youth and looked down at him. "How many times do I have to remind you to 'proceed with caution' before you actually do so?"
Riku's shy smile returned to his face. He had just realized the angel had been anticipating the sphere's force-field. "Sorry."
As he sat up, Riku stared at the sphere in alarm. When Violet gazed at him in confusion, he pointed at it. The angel turned her eyes to the sphere and froze when she saw what he had.
A small handful of projected images were drifting around inside the sphere — a tiny clump gathered near Sora's head. One of the images depicted Riku walking down the side of a building with Kairi. Another showed Sora following Donald and Goofy through the shopping district of Traverse Town. A third was of a tall, grey bear dancing in the jungle while a young boy was clapping along as a girl with sandy hair was tapping her foot to the beat; a black panther could be seen sighing as he laid upon a tree branch overlooking the display below. Other images floating around the brown-headed youth depicted Roxas, Axel, and a raven-haired girl who looked similar to Naminé sitting at the top of Twilight Town's station tower eating ice cream. There was an image showing multiple figures that were identical to Sora falling from the sky. Another few images showed Carlos, Crystal, and Shelly (from the Country of The Musketeers) hanging out together in a gigantic foyer with a circular stained-glass window.
When an image containing a tall, young man with brown hair who resembled Xehanort before he became a Heartless standing beside a young woman with short, blue hair caught his eye, Riku froze. He recognized the man as the same person who had originally given him the power to become a Keyblade wielder and had made the silver-haired teen keep the entire event a secret. However, the question he hadn't found an answer to was still lingering in his mind; what was that man's name?
After Riku shoved the contemplation aside, he heard Violet saying, "Those must be illusions from the interior of a dream he is currently having. Yet, who are all those peculiar individuals?"
"I recognize several of them," Riku admitted. "But I can't tell who the others are."
Violet nodded before she saw an image of the unmistakable young man in the black-hooded coat talking to Sora in the shopping district of Traverse Town. She pointed at it. "Yikes! He must have manipulated Sora's dream to create all these illusions! Therefore, those images are extremely treacherous!"
Riku stared at her in astonishment. "What do you mean?"
"Unless Sora awakens rapidly," Violet explained. "He could plunge directly into a state of unconsciousness and most-likely — once he does — he will never be capable of recovery!"
Riku was taken aback more than he had ever imagined. If what Violet said was correct, and he was certain it was, Sora was falling for one of the mystery youth's traps. If he remained asleep, he could very likely remain unresponsive forever. Despite the tragic tidbit of information, Riku was determined to prevent such a thing from ever happening — no matter what it took!
"Sora!" Riku shouted as loudly into the sphere as he could. "You've gotta wake up! Sora!"
"Sora!" Violet yelled in turn. "Do not proceed! It is too hazardous!"
When Sora's body went on dozing, Riku took another glance at each and every image floating around inside the sphere.
Behind the two, a clump of Darkness was gathering together. Riku and Violet spun around and gasped in shock with horror in their eyes. A figure was standing on the platform at least seven or eight feet away. It seemed to resemble Violet's former appearance from when Riku had first met her except it had blood-red hair, amber eyes, torn wings glowing a spooky green color, and was wearing the signature black-hooded coat of Organization XIII. In addition, the figure was giving a radiance of what seemed to resemble smoke billowing from the scene of a bonfire. In its hands was what strongly resembled the weapon the legendary "Grim Reaper" wielded, with the exception of a long, scarlet handle with a sharp, yellow blade at the end.
"It is me!" Violet exclaimed. "Only what Sora accused me of being — 'The Demon of Nightmares'!"
Riku was nearly speechless at the sight of the figure. He immediately assumed the newcomer was responsible for why the two were unable to awaken Sora from his deep slumber.
"Are you what's trapping him in that nightmare?!" he snapped, summoning his Keyblade and glaring at the figure. Violet stood directly to Riku's right, her eyes also glaring at the figure. Riku nodded to her, indicating they were about to deal with a strange enemy. "Cause if you are, we're what Nightmares fear!"
"That means you are on the verge of surrendering to us!" Violet shouted in agreement.
The figure didn't waste any time rushing forward to attack. Violet ducked while Riku swung his Keyblade in return. The weapons clanged into each other and Riku found himself pushing against the figure's strength. For a few seconds, they remained trapped in a stalemate. Finally, Riku shoved his Keyblade straight ahead with all his might, knocking the enemy backward and onto the floor. His opponent hastily returned to their feet before leaping into the air and preparing to deliver a slicing blow onto the silver-haired Keyblade wielder. Riku stared at the stranger in alarm and was about to jump to one side when Violet stepped up and touched his Keyblade. Though bewildered at the angel's actions, Riku gasped when he saw his weapon glowing.
"Violet!" he exclaimed in a nearly speechless voice. "What did you… ?"
"The Light of our 'True Friendship'," Violet instantly answered. "It shall be plenty to eliminate that demon creature!"
Riku gave a nod of confirmation. A small ball of Light formed at the tip of his Keyblade as he and Violet aimed it at the attacking monster of Darkness. A beam of Light shone out in a straight line and struck the enemy directly in the chest.
Riku and Violet remained fixated on their opponent as its weapon vanished before the creature seemingly melted into a misty cloud of Darkness. The Darkness quickly dissipated, allowing Riku to put his Keyblade away. He gave a determined look with relief in his eyes before turning around and strolling back up to the sphere; Violet was moments behind him.
When they returned to the sphere, it became clear the object had turned into a transparent bubble with a thick patch of Darkness on it. The images being displayed within had not changed since the two had last seen them, although they had continued to drift and were now all scattered about.
"Sora, don't chase the dreams!" Riku exclaimed, realizing his childhood friend hadn't woken up. "They'll lead you nowhere — just to an abyss you'll never be able to wake up from!"
"Sora," Violet pleaded with tear-filled eyes. "Please listen to me! Allow the illusions to vanish! If you do not… "
The spherical bubble disappeared from sight in an instant, taking Sora's sleeping form with it. Riku and Violet remained standing on the platform in alarm. Several seconds of uneasiness seemed to continue for hours, let alone days.
Without warning, a blurred image showed up before their eyes. Riku immediately recognized it as the skyscraper with the gigantic television-like screens on top. All Violet did was stare with a look of concern in her eyes.
"What?" a baffled Riku said. "What's going on in Sora's dream?"
Violet shrugged. "I cannot say. I have never experienced illusions of this magnitude before!"
The skyscraper disappeared from view. Riku looked around wildly as the enormous chamber started blurring and appeared to be underwater. To top it off, the view from the window became so distorted, it was impossible to see outside. "Why didn't he open his eyes? Has he fallen too far in?!"
"That is right," a very deep voice called out. Riku and Violet both froze when it registered in their ears. At once, Riku's nose picked up a familiar scent; Violet's antennae perked up at the mere second they detected something atypical close by.
"Ansem!" Riku shouted in realization.
"Sora can no longer wake up," Ansem's voice called back. "No matter how many Nightmares you destroy, you cannot wake someone who has fallen deep into the chasm of dreams."
"What?!" Riku yelled in alarm.
"Dreams hold our memories," Ansem's voice explained. "Sleep holds our dreams. And Darkness — it holds our sleep."
"No!" Violet declared with denial evident in her tone of voice. "That is incorrect! I should know! I am the Angel of Dreams! They are not interconnected to the Darkness like you claimed! It is the Darkness from an individual's heart which invades the dreams and creates Nightmares! Yet, the Light of the heart is still efficient enough to counteract them!"
"What does this have to do with Sora?!" Riku demanded.
"Sora's heart belongs to the Darkness now," Ansem's voice replied. "After all, Darkness is the heart's true essence."
Riku was filled with both alarm and dismissal. Ansem had to be lying! Sora's heart was too full of Light to ever give into the Darkness — no matter what! If such a thing were to occur, it would not be Sora's own decision; someone would have to take complete control over him. "Sora would never give into the Darkness!" he snapped in defense.
"Yes!" Violet agreed, just as furious at the villain's claim. "He is a 'True Friend'! Not in a million years, a millennium, or the entire length of eternity would Sora ever commit such an act!"
Ansem's voice sounded like it was giving an evil chuckle. "But you two feel it, don't you? This world… the nightmare… the abyss… Why haven't you returned to the reality whence you came, Riku? How is it you came to this world instead of someone else's dreams, Violet?"
Riku gasped in shock at the same time Violet realized what Ansem was talking about.
"No," Riku started to say. "This is a… "
"This is an extremely out-of-control illusion," Violet finished. "That was a very simple question to answer."
"A dream of a dream," Ansem's voice corrected, making the two both freeze in place. "A twofold nightmare. This whole journey, you have both been inside the dreams of those lost seven 'Sleeping Worlds'. And now Darkness within Darkness awaits you… Riku."
Out of nowhere, a patch of Darkness appeared beneath Riku's shoes. He gave a loud GASP when he realized he was being pulled in. "What?!" he exclaimed in a state of panic.
The silver-headed youth tried to pull his legs out of the Darkness, but it was in vain. "No! I can't get loose!"
Violet gave such an audible gasp, it sounded more like a shallow scream or squeal. When it became clear Riku's legs had become stuck in the patch of Darkness like it was tar, the angel knelt onto the floor and grabbed him around his upper torso. She yanked as hard as possible… but Riku continued to sink into the Darkness as though he was trapped in quicksand.
"Riku!" Violet shouted. "Lend me both your hands!"
Riku desperately flung his arms at the angel. Violet rose to her feet in order to grab them. As she struggled to pull the seventeen-year-old out of the Darkness patch, the angel took a few steps back. Her feet started to slide as the suction appeared to be increasing and Riku sank faster. Before Riku could tell the angel to let go, Violet was yanked straight into the Darkness. When Riku finally disappeared from view, Violet plunged head-first into the abyss of total, seemingly endless Darkness beyond.
Neither of them knew for sure what had caused Sora's fall to Darkness, and it was quite obvious they didn't know what to expect next. From the looks of things, there was no way they would be escaping the current situation anytime soon.
"WHAT IS GOING ON?!-?!"
A/N: OH NO! ANSEM - THE SEEKER OF DARKNESS - HAS TRAPPED BOTH RIKU AND VIOLET! Still, HORRAY! VIOLET'S BACK! You probably Knew I would NOT simply let her LEAVE like that! ...Did You?
Then again, she NO LONGER has a Keyblade, and I HAVE "Updated Her Appearance", too! Nevertheless, she is STILL the SAME CHARACTER INSIDE!
Either way, things are REALLY heating up now - THAT'S FOR SURE! By the way, I have a "little" task for you. I'm wondering IF any of you can figure out which Disney Movie I referenced through those images around Sora. If you think you know it, please Review to post your suggestion(s). Remember, it doesn't hurt to TRY!
Just so you know, GENESIS RHAPSODOS is from FINAL FANTASY VII: -CRISIS CORE-! Yes, he WAS the man in black who appeared in the treetops in Chapter 31 and visited Riku during "The Firebird Suite" of Chapter 39. I HOPE you enjoyed the battle Riku and Violet fought with him!
Yes, I DID include Saïx in there! Since Xigbar was with Sora, I thought to myself, "Why NOT have Riku meet Saïx to balance it out?" THAT is how it ended up the way it did!
Plus, That "Demon of Nightmares" Creature was what EXACTLY what Sora had meant when he accused Violet of being such!
One Last Thing, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT REVIEWING! THE FATE OF THIS STORY DEPENDS ON IT!
REMEMBER - A MINIMUM OF 107 IS REQUIRED FOR THE SEQUEL! IF 120 ARE POSTED, I WILL INCLUDE A "SNEAK PEEK" FOR THE SEQUEL ITSELF! HOWEVER, THAT/THOSE GOAL(S) MUST BE MET BY THE TIME CHAPTER 49 IS POSTED! THAT WAY, I WILL HAVE TIME TO ANNOUNCE WHETHER OR NOT EITHER GOAL WAS MET!
This is SoraLego278 saying, "See Ya Later, Keybladers!" Plus, "Have A ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH DAY!"