Triple upload power! Word.

I didn't like this chapter much, but I didn't know what else to do with it to make it better, so here it is. I need to spontaneously gain drawing skillz so I can make a webcomic/manga type thing out of this. Then we could have more proper fight scenes.

Or I could get animation skillz and make Dead Fantasy type fight scenes…yeah. I'll work on that. Speaking of which, Dead Fantasy is awesome and just never gets old. If you don't know what it is…look it up on youtube immediately. Now. Right now. Seriously what's wrong with you?

Mickey walked into the castle slowly, looking around. "Hello?" he called out. No one seemed to be around. The castle seemed almost as deserted as it was before. Mickey frowned and went into one of the rooms. Inside, several figures stood around a bed, all looking sad.

"Poor Mrs. Potts…"

"Such a pure soul…"

"Uh, excuse me?" said Mickey softly. Lumière and Cogsworth both turned, and as they parted, Mrs. Potts was revealed laying in the bed, looking comatose.

"What happened here?"

"We aren't sure," said Lumière sadly, "but…someone mentioned seeing some sort of creature in the castle. We think it attacked her."

"The heartless?" asked Mickey, getting closer to Mrs. Potts. Lumière shook his head. "There haven't been any heartless in this castle for a while—just a few outside the castle grounds. This was something else."

Mickey frowned and took Mrs. Potts hand. He then raised a keyblade and cast a cure spell on her, to no avail. Her body seemed fine…but her heart. It felt like it was missing. But if her heart had been taken, she would have been turned into heartless. What had happened?

"The master blames himself, of course," said Cogsworth. "He feels as if it's his duty to protect the castle. Now he isn't strong enough. He's been spending a lot of time alone. He's even started resenting Belle on some level."

Chip walked into the door at that moment, carrying a bunch of flowers. "Lumière! There's another guest outside!" yelled Chip. He walked over to Mrs. Potts and set the flowers next to her. "I picked flowers for you, momma. Belle took me. They're really pretty, just like you." He kissed her on the cheek. "I know you're going to wake up soon…"

Mickey frowned. "Don't worry. I'm going to get to the bottom of this!"

Ansem backed away from Riku. Riku held out his keyblade menacingly. "Now tell me: what's going on? How are you and Xemnas still around?"

"So, you've seen him…" Ansem smiled. "Let's just say that Sora is not the only one holding on to other's hearts."

"Sora? What do you mean?"

"The memories within his heart…the people they refer too…not to mention Xion and Roxas. Although Xion's left, Sora's memories with her, correct?" Riku gripped his keyblade tighter. "Leave him out of this!"

"You're friend is doomed, you know. The darkness will erode away at his heart until there's nothing left. His kindness will end up being his undoing."

"What do you mean?"

"His annoying habit of helping everyone he comes across," said Ansem. "Always playing the hero…he'll soon learn that he can't help everyone."

"He'll die trying…" said Riku softly. Then he resumed glaring at Ansem. "What exactly are you doing to him?"

"Me? Not a thing. He's gotten himself into his own mess. Much like you," said Ansem. "You truly are fascinating. To control the darkness as you do, without it holding any sway over your heart…you almost remind me of myself."

"I'm nothing like you!"

"Of course…you think you're a hero now. A shadow fighting in the light…that's nothing that can remain permanent. And besides, I've heard you're not doing so good a job…"

"Shut up!" Riku dove towards Ansem with the Keyblade. Ansem jumped back, dodging, and let the guardian grab Riku out of the air.

"Humph. It seems I won't be able to use you for my original purpose…not with the power I have now…"

As he squeezed Riku, a small object dropped out of one of his pockets. Ansem turned his head towards it. It looked like the good luck charm—the same type that Kairi had given to Sora.

"Are you carrying around one of those two? You really are trying to convince yourself you're like Sora, aren't you?"

What was he talking about? Oh, wait, that was Hotaru's…! He had forgotten he was carrying it. Hotaru…

Riku growled and somehow broke out of the guardian's grip. He quickly nabbed the good luck charm and stood to face Ansem again. Ansem frowned and crossed his arms. "Have fun playing the hero," he said, disappearing into a corridor of darkness. Riku frowned. What was that all about?

He smiled as he turned his attention towards his good luck charm. It was a little stupid and a little too much like Sora. How had Hotaru come across such a thing anyway? He held it up and let it catch the moonlight.

"Isn't that precious?" came a cool voice. Riku turned to see an organization member standing there.

"How long—

"Long enough," she said, taking off her hood. She had short blonde hair and sharp eyes that seemed to bore right through him. "My name is Rakuxah." She took out her space sword and got into a fighting stance. "Let's see if you can keep up."

Riku barely had time to move before she was already right behind him. He quickly blocked a strike from her. Rakuxah jumped back and raised her sword.

"Space Sword Blaster!"

Riku blocked the blasts that came from the sword. Man, she's fast, he thought to himself. He blocked another strike from her, and as she gripped her sword with her right hand, she curled her left one into a fist.

"World Shaking!"

She slammed the attack into Riku stomach, blasting him against the castle wall. He groaned and got up. She smiled smugly. "You're not going to get anywhere fighting like that. Come on, now: show me your best."

What was she playing at? Riku ran towards her…

"It's all your fault," said Xaldin. "Because you weren't strong enough…"

The Prince ignored his echoing voice, walking through the hallway. "Perhaps, if you were to turn to that darkness again…" the prince pause for a moment, then kept going.

"No matter what…I couldn't go back to being that monster!"

He quickly came to a halt as Xaldin appeared in front of him. "Even to protect those you care about?"

He shook his head. "Not for someone like you to sit and goad about!"

Xaldin smiled. "It's just as well. Those you care about will eventually betray you. Why change yourself for them, right?"

"That's not what I—

Xaldin ignored him and snapped his fingers. Four gargoyles surrounding them quickly sprang to life. "Pure no kokoro…"

"Pure no kokoro…"

"Pure no kokoro…"

He stepped back as one of the gargoyles stood up to face him. He flew in the air, then dove in towards the prince. He quickly ducked out of the way, and the gargoyle continued going, through a pillar and then deep into a wall. The impact was so hard that the entire castle shook.

"They will be the judge of whether or not your heart is pure. Dark or not, it will serve our purpose."

Mickey walked out and closed the door behind him. What was going on here?

"Oh! Are you with Riku?" Mickey looked up. Belle was standing there, looking a little worried. "Mickey Mouse!" he said cheerfully, holding a hand out. She shook it nervously. "Riku is out there fighting Ansem…" she said.

"What! Ansem? That's not possible!" She nodded. "There's no doubt it was him."

Mickey started to head outside, but Belle stopped him. "Wait. I think this is a fight Riku has to do on his own."

Mickey looked down. "He'd say the same, but…I still feel bad leaving him."

Belle nodded. "I know. But…Riku's been blaming himself for everything that goes on. Not everything that's happened is his fault. I know because…the beast has been feeling the same way."

"About Mrs. Potts?"

She looked surprised, then nodded. "He thinks that because he's human again, he can't protect anyone anymore. He can't look past the darkness and see all of the good he's done—the good he is doing."

Suddenly, the castle shook. Belle turned fearfully. "The beast…"

Mickey nodded. "Let's go."

The prince struggled as he got up. He had been blasted back into his room. The gargoyles floated around him, starting to close in…

"Beast!" Belle called out. The gargoyles turned their heads and quickly went towards the better prey. Mickey jumped forward and destroyed a few of them, clearing a path for Belle to run through.

"Pure hearts…"

"Pure hearts…"

Pure hearts? Is that what these creatures were after?

Belle ran over towards the prince and hugged him. Xaldin's face turned into a sneer. "You meddlesome fool…" He summoned his lances and started throwing them towards Mickey. Mickey jumped through the air, dodging several, then jumped on top of another, running its full length and then shooting a blast of light towards Xaldin. He quickly surrounded himself with an Aero shield, but it was too late not to take the brunt of the attack. He went flying through the window, Mickey trailing after him…

Riku and Rakuxah continued jumping around, neither of them really able to get the other. Even using his full powers of darkness, Riku had trouble keeping up with her. He could tell she was beginning to wear out as well, though.

"Why don't you give it up?" asked Riku. Haruka smiled and shook her head. She came towards him again, but Riku was ready. He neatly dodged her move, and the follow-up kick he was expecting. He blocked another swing of her blade with his own and jumped back.

"World Shaking!"

"Dark Firaga!"

The two attacks exploded together. Rakuxah backed away, distracted, and didn't noticed as Riku appeared behind her. He quickly swung his keyblade hard. Rakuxah grunted as she fell back.

"You can do it all right…" she muttered. Riku raised an eyebrow.

Just then, Xaldin came flying out of the window. He quickly righted himself as he landed on the ground next to Rakuxah. The two looked at each other and nodded. Mickey ran forward and jumped off the balcony. Rakuxah dove backwards and held a hand towards Mickey, gathering energy.

"World Shaking!"

She blasted Mickey forward towards Riku, Riku barely avoiding being knocked over by Mickey. Xaldin and Rakuxah stood together and a powerful gust of wind sent both of them flying against the wall.

"Belle!"

Mickey and Riku groaned and turned their heads towards the balcony. The beast had his hands outstretched towards, looking fearfully as Ansem smiled maliciously back. Belle was being held in one of the fists of his guardian.

"Belle! No!" Riku suddenly teleported forward towards him—faster than he ever had before, trying to get to Belle. He was a few inches away from her…

BAM!

Rakuxah had come out of nowhere, firmly planting her foot into Riku's torso and pushing him towards the ground. Ansem laughed and disappeared into a corridor of darkness, taking Belle with him. Rakuxah stepped back from Riku and watched as he struggled to get up. Xaldin walked forward with a triumphant grin on his face.

"Your heart steeped in darkness, all you worry about is fighting. You forgot the real reason you are here…"

Riku wordlessly dashed forward and sliced right through Xaldin. He groaned and just sat there for a moment, then fell to his knees as he began to fade away. Riku looked darkly at Rakuxah . She shook her head. "Save it for the real thing." She disappeared into a corridor of darkness. Riku sat up and looked towards the Beast with pity. He was hurt, barely able to move, and yet still, in his eyes there was no concern for his own safety or any registering of any pain. His eyes weren't leaving the spot where Belle had been moments ago.

A few moments later, a few of the servants came out of the castle, looking at what the commotion was about. Lumière and Cogsworth were in the balcony above, trying to help the beast to his feet, but he barely responded.

"Master, what is the matter?" asked Lumière worriedly. "And where is Belle?" asked Cogsworth, equally concerned. He lowered his head and stood up. "She's gone," he said softly, clenching his fist. "I couldn't protect her…I wasn't strong enough…" He shook his head.

"It's not your fault."

The best looked up. Riku had made his way to the balcony, Mickey right beside him. "If you're going to blame anyone, blame us. We were the ones supposed to protect you guys…and besides, Belle wouldn't want you beating yourself up about it. There was nothing you could do."

"Nothing I could do…" he said softly. "At least when I was cursed, I was strong. Now…I can't help but blame myself, even if Belle wouldn't blame me. That's the thing about the people you love. They tell you not to worry, and yet you still do—you can't help but mourn and miss them. Their absence always leaves a hole of pain in your heart. You can't even think about them without remembering that they're gone."

"Well, they took Belle for a reason," said Mickey. "I'm sure she'll be kept safe."

"Hah. Kept safe? Safe and imprisoned?" he asked. "Belle herself could tell me she was safe and I wouldn't believe it. Just because they say they are doesn't mean its true.

Even if they try to tell you they're all right…it doesn't mean that they are. I'm not naïve. I know Belle isn't really safe…" he clenched his fist even tighter.

"We'll find her," said Riku resolutely. "I swear it. We won't rest until she's free again."

"In the meantime," said Mickey, "you have to keep up hope."

"Hope…" he repeated the word slowly, raising his head a bit. "That's what she'd say. Keep hope. I hope my love is enough to protect her…" he nodded towards Riku and Mickey. "Thank you. I will try to keep hope."

Lumière and Cogsworth helped the beast all the way to his feet and took him inside.

"Sacre bleu!" exclaimed Lumière. "I cannot believe Belle has been taken!"

"Shush, you ninny!" said Cogsworth.

"You think he's really going to be okay?"

"I don't know," replied Mickey sadly. "You really meant that, didn't you?"

Riku nodded. "Of course. We're going to save all of them."

Belle stumbled forward into the room. She looked around and saw that it didn't seem like any type of normal room she'd been in before. It didn't have any walls, but was open, although what it opened into she wasn't exactly sure. It looked like outer space or something, streaked with red and black darkness and filled with stars.

"How do you like it?"

Belle turned. A figure clad in cold was sitting on a throne. Behind her was a table where Alice and Jasmine sat.

"Only three of you so far," said Galaxia, "but soon, the other four will join us as well." She grinned and started laughing.

Whole. Hole. Wow. You can't be whole without a hole…pain to remind you of something's importance. Blah blah blah…

I tried to make parallels in the beast's little speech to the situation with Roxas, Xion, etc. Also, I kept shifting from calling him a beast to calling him prince…and now I'm not even sure if he is a prince. He's the master of a castle, but is he necessarily a prince…?

And I had already hinted at Galaxia's existence here way earlier when Sora was first put into the organization—I think I said there was a glint of gold. Well, it wasn't the snitch. Wonder what this means about Sailor Hearts…ooh spoilers!

And magikarps are awesome, they eventually become super powerful—although double weak against electric—Garydoses! Which, btw, how exactly is it a flying type? I've never seen one fly, just swim. And it can know dragon moves…It's a conspiracy—they just wanted to make it weaker.

And to anyone who reads "Manly Men doing Manly Things"…MR. FISH!

I'M THE KING OF EVERYTHING!

And you forgot about Hotaru's good luck charm, didn't you? One of the downsides to my bad updating habits...I kind of forgot about it too .