Riku massaged his head; the voice wouldn't go away, no matter how he ignored it.

'There is so very much to learn… You understand so little.'

Growling under his breath, the teen glowered at nothing.

'I could teach you so much… Maybe even the beginnings of wisdom…' The voice continued, 'You know no raft could carry you from here, no simple boat could surpass such great expanses of nothing.'

'I can help you, Riku, if you have the strength and courage… I could free you from this prison.'

"Could…could you free all three of us?"

'If you have the courage to do what you must without hesitation, there is much we can do for one another…'

Those words curdled like poison in the young man's mind.

"What must I do?"

'Go to the place that means most to you, and all will reveal itself … Do not fear a path shrouded in darkness…'

"I don't fear anything!" The teen snarled, pushing his window open and slipping out, silver hair sparkling in the moon-rays.

'Then we will be quite…compatible…'the voice hissed as a storm cloud crossed over the iridescent moon, throwing the silver-haired teenager into darkness.

'Oh yes, quite compatible indeed…'

…

'Is that…Riku?'

Kairi squinted out her window as silver hair flashed in a flicker of moonlight before it was drowned again. A few raindrops pattered on the glass of her window, and she glanced to the darkening sky.

'Just like a guy to forget about grabbing a coat when a storm's brewing, I wonder why he'd… The raft! It'll get torn apart!'

Drawing in a breath to steady herself, unbeknownst to the white-haired teen she was trailing.

…

I didn't have long to drench myself in bitterness, startled as a crack rent through the darkness. Right in the middle of the platform, where Myst's heart would be, a black crack originated, spiraling outward until the whole platform shattered into fragments. I was falling though darkness, slow and confident, like gliding on my wings. I imagined their span weaving the air, flattening as my large foot-armor met the ground.

'You've gained the power to fight…'

Feeling the warm grip of the ebony and pink weapon in my hands, I smiled despite myself, giving a good, clean slash to the still air. The wind whipping around the sleek blade whistled ever so slightly, just as my blades had done before.

I glanced around the platform. Another human was painted upon the surface—pale-skinned, with short black fur upon her head, and dressed in a gargantuan fold of gold fabric that didn't look practical in any sense of the word. One hand was in front of her mouth, holding a red apple to her lips.

A shadow appeared on the floor, and I backed up warily. The thing was writhing and twisting, breaking free of the ground to reveal the same sort of thing that had attacked the temple.

Before I knew what I was doing, my eyes had turned to slits, lips pulling up over blunt teeth in a snarl as I lunged, slashing the creature straight through as it dissolved into black oblivion.

'There will be times you have to fight. Keep your darkness pure and true…'

More appeared, and I whirled around them, cutting them down in an eloquent dance as their small forms devolved into black mist. I was but a silhouette of darker black in the mist. Their eyes were harsh and numb, and I knew deep within my heart they were not worth pitying.

They didn't have enough of anything to feel pain.

And then a pool of blinding light formed, and I was drowning in it, falling until my butt made an unceremonious reunion with another glass platform.

Muttering ill-tempered curses under my breath, I stumbled to my feet. At least I wasn't ambushed immediately. On one side of the platform was a spectral, white door. The picture was of another overly-dressed human with a dress like starlight and hair like a yellow moon. Behind her were scenes of some sort of strange, round carriage, horses, and two people dancing. In front of her was one, semi-clear, evidently glass, high-healed shoe.

I warily stepped up to the door, taking a handle and pulling with all my might. Nothing.

'You must always remember…' the voice murmured, 'You hold the key…'

A key? They were rare in the temple because we had trouble holding the things, but thinking of the shape my eyes widened in realization. Reaching out my hand, a flash of darkness materialized, forming into the slender blade.

With a jerk, my arm was wrenched forward, the ivory-white tip glowing as a concentrated beam of light hit a lock, and the white doors creaked open. Blinding light flooded forth, forcing me to shade my eyes as I stepped through, only to gasp in shock.

Dragons in the temple I didn't recognize. Four of them. Their forms were fuzzy and indistinct, and their voices sounded like that which had addressed me. First, the green one turned to me, "Now, tell us more about yourself... What is most important to you?"

While I was busy glaring, I found my mouth moving despite myself, forming words I never meant to say. "My friends and family…"

"Hmm," her voice was kind, wise, and somehow almost familiar. "But who are family and who are friends?"

The next turned to me, even less distinct, vaguely red. I couldn't even decipher the gender. The voice was harsh and wild, "What is it you fear beyond all else?"

My death glare did little to repress the answer, "The ones I care for being hurt again."

The dragon grumbled, "Beware not only to think of others, but of yourself as well."

Next, a light blue form looked to me, calm and ancient. "What do you want out of life?"

"I don't know. I never have."

The last, yellow blur finished. "Who is closest to your heart?"

"I… There isn't only one." I closed my eyes. Spyro, Myst, Mom, Dad, Kaboa, Sparx, Ignitus… Please be safe. The yellow form didn't respond.

"Hmm," The light green form said again, "Your friends and family mean the most to you, you fear those you love being hurt, you are unsure of what you want life to offer, and many are close to your heart."

"Sure, whatever," I grumbled.

The four voices joined as one, "You may proceed."

White mist crept in the door, wrapping me like a blanket before dissolving to reveal yet another platform, this picture showing a golden-haired human in a purple gown.

Harsh pools of darkness formed into more of the humanoid shadows, slipping into reality as easily as a dragon would take to the air. Snarling, I rushed forward, using pent-up frustration to my advantage as I danced around the creatures, blade whipping to and fro like an angry viper.

They had all dissolved far too soon.

A great, stained-glass pathway solidified in the darkness, glimmering like hope itself, stretching out into nothing.

Glancing at the platform I was leaving, I stepped onto the first panel warily, carefully eyeing it in case any cracks were to form. Soon I reached the next platform, depicting a gold gown and fiery hair.

I looked up, relieved to see flickering light somewhere above me, bathing my face in a slight glow.

"The closer you get to the light, the greater your shadow becomes…"

Damn it; disembodied voices love ruining my day… Always.

Air crackling with fire, I turned nervously to behold my own shadow. Wings twisted and warped, a tail sprouting as an inhuman scream burst forth from the black abyss. A dragon tore itself free from the earth, growing rapidly and spreading ruddy-pink and black wings, as it roared to the little light that remained in the shadowy abyss.

The huge dragon looked at me with eyes like fire, its pink stomach and membranes all too familiar.

It looked like me. A huge, feral me. Sleek and deadly, a head lowered down with eyes merely slits. "We meet at last, little one."

Mustering courage, I glared, "And who the hell do you think you are?"

"Simple really—I am you. I am everything you would have been, everything youshould have been…"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Heh, stubborn little thing. Look at you—weak and helpless. This is what your so-called guardian has reduced you to." A smirk revealed glimmering silver fangs, filed into points and stained with rust-red blood. "And now I have the pleasure of ridding you of the only thing she left you with—yourself."