Disclaimer: I don't own kingdom hearts; Square Enix and Disney do (if I did I would make them better than they already are) alas, all I own is this measly story.

Note: This is the chapter where Riku visits Atlantica, but I've decided to keep it on shore, and above water. So, sorry, ladies (and some guys, you know who you are) but there will be no topless merman Riku.

Maleficent led Riku into the captain's chamber, and he saw her, just laying there. Kairi. So, it's true. Riku thought. Her heart really was claimed by the heartless. Kairi, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let this happen to you. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He quickly caught himself, and wiped it off. No! I'm stronger than this! "Is there any way to save her; to return her heart back to the way it was?"

"Well, there is one way, but it involves advanced darkness, something I am not yet capable of. But, if we work together we can accomplish this."

"Anything." Was Riku's one-worded response.

"I'm sorry?"

"I'll do anything to bring her back."

"Well then, you'll start by capturing the final princess. I expect that she's in Atlantica, but our captain seems to believe she's in Neverland, so, we'll stop at Atlantica first."

After a long period of time, they arrived at Atlantica, but, much to everyone's surprise, Riku was ordered to stay with the ship, and if he was to go ashore, to stay on the beach, when just an hour ago, he was told to capture the final princess. Something was amuck. After thinking it over, he decided to obey maleficent's orders and go ashore to the beach. He felt like he was back home. The air smells the same. He thought. Salty and humid. Not the best combination, but just like I remember. I maybe maleficent wanted this to happen, as a gift to me, she knows I came from an island. He walked closer to the water's edge and knelt down, so he could feel the water. He felt the water wash over him, and he stood there for several minutes.

"You know," a voice interrupted him, and Riku turned around, "Most people don't like the water at this temperature, one touch and they scream out 'it's cold!' Funny, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but I grew up on an island, and the water was just like this. I think it's perfect."

"It is perfect. My name's Yuna, by the way."

"Riku."

"Nice to meet you, Riku."

"Likewise." They talked for a while, and both of them had very similar childhoods. They both lived by the beach their lives. Riku left the part about everything recent secret.

"What island are you from? 'Cause I haven't seen you around here before."

"Destiny Islands." He answered politely.

"Oh? Then how come you don't have a Keyblade?"

"That's what Leon said. He said that the sole survivor from Destiny Islands was the chosen wielder of the Keyblade."

"No, that's Sora, I'm his friend. We used to inseparable, but something happened.

"Yeah, Paine talked about you, too. She said you were one of the strongest warriors she had ever seen. That means you two met."

"Yeah, she helped me defeat this giant heartless in Traverse Town."

"Well, she said you helped her. That Paine. We grew up together. Me, Paine, and Rikku. Yeah, we were like sisters, then Paine had to leave after the Heartless…" Sadly, their conversation had to be interrupted, for as they were talking, heartless came out of the water. These were not like the heartless Riku had fought before. They had webbed feet, and propellers on their backs.

"Should we?" Yuna asked.

"Why not?" Riku answered. He took out his sword, and she took out her staff. They began to fight back the heartless. Riku took one out, then another. He watched Yuna take tem out with expert skill. But there were too many, and they soon overwhelmed her. "Yuna!" Riku cried out.

But Yuna wasn't worried. She slowly took something out of her belt, and pointed them at the heartless. They were two guns, and she immediately opened fire on the heartless, taking out all of the surrounding heartless. "Don't worry," she told Riku, "I've been doing this a lot longer than you have. But there are a little too many, what do you say we tip the odds a little more in our favor?" She stuck her staff in the ground, and Riku and the heartless stood there dumbfounded.

After about a minute, a blue light was emitting from the staff, and a circle with the same design as her staff appeared on the sand, and then there was a bright flash of light. After the flash, a giant, floating, great white shark appeared. "'Ello, Yuna. You look like you need some help."

"Hey, Bruce. Yeah, it's those damn heartless again. You think you could take care of them for us?"

"Gladly." He responded, and proceeded to attack the heartless.

"I'm a sumoner, so I can summon creatures who chose to aid me." Riku stood there for a second, and then decided to finish it off while he had the chance. While Bruce was attacking the heartless, Riku cast Dark Firaga on them, destroying them completely. "What the hell was that?"

"I guess Paine didn't tell you about that."

"About what?! What did you do?"

"I have been taught by Maleficent how to control the darkness, and use it as a weapon."

Just like Ansem. Thought Yuna. "I hope you can help her, Kairi, I mean." And she handed him a pedant with a shark painted on it. 'I want you to have this."

"What is it?"

"Use to summon Bruce, whenever you need his help, just call him out."

"Thanks."

"Good luck." And she smiled. And Riku saw something. He saw Kairi's smile reflected in Yuna.

Whatever it takes. And a Yuna could see a tear run down his face.

"Yuna!" another voice called, "I heard the Heartless attacked again! Are you okay?"

"It's okay, Rikku, everything's fine. Then, she turned to Riku and whispered, "Goodbye." Riku took off running down the beach back towards the ship.

"Who was that?" asked Rikku.

"A brave kid who really has no idea of all the trouble he's going to get into, just for a girl."

"That sounds like someone we know."

Riku arrived at the ship panting, and the second he arrived, still out of breath, he asked, "Is Maleficent back yet?"

"I'm right here." She was just arriving.

"Was she here? Did you bring her?"

"No, it was a princess, but not the right one. Well, captain, we can now head to Neverland. So, they boarded the ship, and departed.

So, what'd you think? If you want to know who they are talking about at the end, you'll have to ply FFX.

So, Riku and Yuna had a moment, huh? Will that come up in later chapters? And yes, Bruce has some importance later on.