Hey everybody!! Sorry this chapter took SOOO long to publish! It's back to school… agh… TORTURE! Anyway, I'd like to thank the following people:

Scythe – My number one fan and the one who inspired me and introduced Fanfiction to me!

Jenn – The best cousin in the world and has reviewed every single chapter!

Coley – A great friend who sends in lots and lots of reviews! AND edited this chapter!

AND ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE REVIEWED!

Just think: without you, this chapter wouldn't have existed! And that would mean you wouldn't be sitting here, reading about how this chapter wouldn't have existing without you!

But I guess you don't want to read all this gobbledegook so… enjoy reading my second chapter!

-x-x-x-

Riku's fiery sword dropped with a soft thunk beside his leg, singeing the soil beneath it.

Riku felt like dropping to his knees too.

If that was really Sora… why did he run away?

Didn't he recognise Riku after five years?

Why didn't he come back to the Destiny Islands?

So many questions filled Riku's mind. So many questions that would go unanswered…

-FLASHBACK-

It was as if the sky itself had opened up, letting loose a disarray of blinding light.

"The door to light," Sora mumbled, transfixed.

Sora scrambled to his feet. Sora tucked Kairi's letter safely away in his pocket.

"We'll go together." He said, reaching for Riku's hand to help him up.

Riku smiled and stood with Sora's help.

Then they were engulfed in light, leaving the hazy moonlit beach behind them.

Riku was suddenly falling from the sky. His eyes were squeezed shut and the speed at which he was falling was making his skin burn.

He plummeted head-first into the waters.

Riku burst from the water's surface and looked around. He was home.

He swam to the shore where he was greeted by Mickey and all his old friends – Tidus, Wakka and Selphie.

Donald and Goofy ran up behind them and looked about them.

"Where's Sora?"

Goofy's question wiped the grin off everybody's faces. Riku peered over his shoulder.

The ocean was empty except for a few lone strands of seaweed and a fish or two.

Riku's heart sank.

It was Selphie's turn to pipe up. "And where's Kairi?"

Riku's heart sank even lower.

Riku waited all day for Sora to show up, even when everyone else gave up.

Selphie stayed with Riku all the while but when the moon rose and darkness fell, she finally left his side.

He stood like a statue on the beach, watching the tides.

A scarlet wave lapped at his shoes.

Wait – scarlet? Waves weren't red!

Riku narrowed his eyes in confusion and squinted into the horizon.

He saw someone – or something – bobbing up and down in the distance.

Riku waded out and as he approached the 'something', his alarm grew.

He started to swim strongly out into the sea, ignoring the currents that were trying to hold him back.

And that's when Riku saw her.

Drenched in blood, a young girl no older than 15 floated serenely in the waters, her eyes closed.

Riku's fingers trembled and he reached out to the girl. She was so pale; so very pale.

"This can't be happening," Riku choked out.

The girl was Kairi.

And she was dead.

-END OF FLASHBACK-

Riku had tried so hard to forget those memories.

But the appearance of Sora – or who he thought was Sora – made them all flood back.

He had waited for Sora for so long at the Islands. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Riku would have waited some more if it hadn't been for Mickey, who invited him back to his Castle. Selphie wanted to go too, of course. She had always followed Riku around like a stray puppy. Tidus and Wakka decided to stay at the Islands, afraid of leaving behind what they knew best. Donald and Goofy stayed behind too, to wait for Sora. They would have waited forever… Riku wondered if they were still there.

Riku resisted the urge to cry. No, knights don't cry. Especially brave knights.

He managed to pull himself together and Riku picked up his sword and slipped it back into the scabbard.

After many more hours of stumbling over annoying tree roots and getting lost, Riku found his way back to the Gummi Ship at last.

He clambered in warily, wondering how he was going to tell the King.

"Chip and Dale," he spoke into the walkie-talkie, "I'm coming back!"

-x-x-x-

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE LOST IT?!"

Green flames shot up from the ground, circling two cowering creatures – one was fat and red, the other was scrawny and blue.

"And to think – I left my most prized possession with your imbecile of a master! ARGH!" A frightfully pale woman dressed completely in purple and black raved endlessly and furiously to the two small beasts inside the ring of green fire.

"B-but it wasn't our faul –"

"NO EXCUSES!" the woman thundered and more green sparks showered them all.

"But Maleficent –"

"SILENCE!"

The blue one was quick to shut his mouth but the red on was more reluctant. The intense heat around them suddenly vanished and their shoulders sagged in relief. Maleficent bent down and lifted the blue demon's head up.

"Did you know how valuable that Heartless was? It took a thousand hearts to create. Not one, not two – a THOUSAND," Maleficent seethed, "That Heartless could break barriers! Could create the havoc we want! We could have ruled the world with that dragon heartless. But NOOO, I had to trust Hades to keep it locked up for me for a while; just a while so I could have time to gather more Heartless to invade worlds with. And Hades lets the thing escape!"

Maleficent shook her head at the demons. "I don't know why I bother."

She glared at the red creature first, then the blue one.

"Pain and Panic, tell Hades that he will be punished for this and GO LOOK FOR MY DRAGON HEARTLESS!" Maleficent roared and disappeared in a cloud of gray smoke.

Pain and Panic glanced at each other and scurried out of the cave as fast as their tiny legs would carry them.

-x-x-x-

"Uuuuggggghhh!"

An angry cry of frustration escaped Selphie's lips as the arrow crashed into the wall, creating another crack.

Selphie was standing in a forgotten room inside the Castle, a wooden bow in her shaking hands and a quiver of arrows slung awkwardly over her left shoulder.

She had exchanged her silk dress for a plain black singlet and white shorts. Her brown leather boots went up to her knees.

Yes, this was the makeover.

Usually, Selphie's makeovers would consist of heaps of blue eyeshadow, heaps and heaps of lipstick and heaps and heaps and heaps of blusher.

But it was going to take a lot more than just make-up to impress Riku.

It would need skill. Strength. Determination!

This simple fact forced Selphie to sneak into the Weaponry Closet and haul out the ol' bow and arrow.

Riku would have to notice her now! She would go with him on every mission as a brilliant archer!

If she could hit the bullseye on the dartboard, that is…

Selphie clumsily nocked another arrow and pulled the string back. Her hand trembled violently but she finally dared to let go.

SMACK!

Selphie couldn't believe it.

She almost dropped her bow in excitement.

Soon, she was grinning from ear to ear.

"I DID IT!"

The walking mop that had been trying so hard to ignore her for the last hour or so turned to watch the cheering young woman in amusement.

Selphie cautiously placed her precious bow on the floor and relieved her aching shoulder from the quiver of arrows.

She then frolicked up to the inquisitive mop and took it by surprise by dancing with it and twirling it around, all the while humming a very out-of-tune song.

"I hit the bullseye, Moppy!" Selphie cheered, "I'm ready for my first mission!"

-x-x-x-

The Gummi Ship landed smoothly and skidded a few metres before coming to a halt.

Riku came out of the Ship to be welcomed by two bounding chipmunks.

"So, what did you find, hey?" Dale asked.

"Yeah, Riku! What'd you find?" Chip echoed.

Riku wasn't quite ready to blurt out his suspicions so he merely shrugged and shook his head. "Nothing, really…"

Chip and Dale exchanged disappointed looks and slumped as they dragged their feet away.

"Nothing to report to the King," they sighed.

"Oh, if only you knew," Riku muttered under his breath and slipped away.

Soon, he was at the King's door, knocking fervently.

"Come in." Mickey's voice was barely audible from Riku's side of the door.

Riku swung the door open and trekked into the Throne Room. "You'll never guess what I…"

He trailed off as he saw the grave expression of King Mickey's face.

"Look," Mickey said, quietly.

Seeing the King like this almost scared Riku but he bent down in front of the desk. "Look at what?"

"The World Seeker." The King gestured to the orb before him.

Riku furrowed his eyebrows and looked down at the World Seeker. There didn't seem to be any difference.

"Look closer," Mickey instructed.

Riku studied the orb for a while longer before the noticed that another white line had disappeared. "Another barrier's broken."

Mickey nodded. "This time, it's the barrier surrounding Hollow Bastion. I think you know what that means."

Riku's eyes wandered to the Shrukai Forest and he stood. "Another mission, I presume?"

"You got it!"

Mickey pried his eyes from the World Seeker to look up at Riku. "Did you find anything at Shrukai Forest?"

Riku casually pulled out a seat and sat down. "Interesting that you should mention it. Actually, I think I saw Sora. I think."

This got Mickey's attention. "S – Sora? But… he's gone. Dead…"

Confusion settled in the King's eyes and he seemed to stare right through Riku.

Riku inclined his head. "I believe it was Sora. And after all those years…"

Mickey returned from his trance and said, "Well, then it's all the more reason to go to Hollow Bastion."

"I couldn't help but overhear."

A voice from behind them made Riku and Mickey turn to look back at Selphie – and do a double take.

Riku drew in a long breath. "What on earth, Selphie?"

Standing in the doorway was a comical image of Selphie trying to look like a respectable warrior.

"Why are you dressed like that?" Riku had a hard time biting back the laughter.

"Because I'm coming with you on this mission!" Selphie retorted, her chin held high.

Riku and Mickey stared at her for a considerable time.

"What? You think I'm not strong enough?" Selphie accused, indignantly.

The King shrugged. "Well… I dunno, Selphie. This is a treacherous mission. It might put you in danger!"

Another figure entered the room with a great flourish. With a pretty pink bow around her round black ears and a puffy dress, it could only be one person.

"I won't be hearing any of that!" Minnie Mouse quipped. "Selphie's coming with you!"

Selphie smiled sweetly at her supporting friend and glanced back at Riku and Mickey with new flare in her emerald eyes. "Yeah!"

Riku looked at his King with pleading eyes but Mickey just flashed him a helpless grin.

"Alright, Selphie! You're going to Hollow Bastion with Riku!" King Mickey declared.

"Thank you so much! You won't regret this, King Mickey," Selphie promised before skipping out of the Throne Room with unhidden joy.

Minnie swept a satisfied gaze around the room and left after Selphie while Riku squirmed in his seat.

"Why me?" Riku moaned, covering his face with his hands.

-x-x-x-

AND I'LL LEAVE IT THERE! What will happen at Hollow Bastion? Will they meet Sora again? Will Selphie stuff up the mission? Will Riku be tempted to throw Selphie into a lake to rid himself of his annoying partner? Want to find out? Well, you'll just have to wait 'til the next chapter!!! Oh! Almost forgot: PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Editors Note: OMG! Hello, just a note from the editor. Mandy is awesome, you must review because her stories are GREAT & You are all jealous of her skills!! NOW REVIEW MINIONS!