Chapter Two

Ruins of Destiny

Unknown Location

Dark Ocean

The salvage ship was anchored slightly away from the ruins of the ancient temple. The Al Bhed were already gathering up as much minerals and technology as they could before the storm got any worse. When the boy with silver hair and bright clothes was brought on board the people instantly gathered to see what would happen. If the boy was a Yevonite he was as good as dead. Xemnas' hatred for the followers of Yevon scared even the stoutest hearted Al Bhed warrior sometimes.

His anger was warranted and even though he used to be of the Temple of Yevon the Al Bhed treated him as one of their own. The boy was thrown onto the deck roughly enough to awaken him. Bright aqua eyes opened slowly as to adjust to the harshness of the ship's lights. When he was back on his feet Xemnas approached him, his orange eyes glowing with inquiry. Beside him was the AI he named Saix.

Xemnas had an imposing figure. His silver hair cascaded down a firm back that never slouched. Those slightly demonic eyes were constantly watchful. He was wearing his preferred outfit which consisted of black leather pants, boots and a sleeveless red tank top. The wrist device he kept with him at all times looked like an innocent diamond bracelet. It was in fact the power source of the AI he created. Although he was not flesh and blood Saix was just as imposing as his creator.

He had azure coloured hair and pointed ears. An x-shaped scar was visible between amber eyes. He looked feral at times especially when he glared at someone. He was programmed to wear black pants, boots and a blue shirt. People would sometimes ask Xemnas were he got the idea for his AI design but every time that question was asked he retreated with a look of such sadness no one dared bring it up again.

"Looks like we caught quite the prize." Xemnas grinned and the Al Bhed hastily agreed.

"What is your name?" Saix asked. When the boy looked at him shock was the overall emotion.

"Saix? I thought Sora killed you." The boy spat harshly. Saix raised an eyebrow then glanced at his creator.

"I think you hit your head harder than i thought kid." Xemnas walked around the boy.

"Why are you still alive? Sora defeated you!" the aqua eyed captive yelled.

"I don't know any Sora and you really aren't making any sense." Xemnas stared the boy in the eye.

"Who are you?" Saix asked again.

"My name is Riku." The boy growled. "I don't know what trick you pulled but I'll finish what Sora started."

"Ok he's beginning to give me a headache." Xemnas rubbed his temples.

"Where am I?" Riku asked after a few moments.

"You really don't know?" Saix stared at the strange boy.

"I woke up in this ocean with no memory of how I got there. And the last thing I do remember is Sora kicking your ass!" Riku all but screamed.



"I say we toss him overboard." Saix muttered.

"This place, as you can see, is nothing but a wasteland. It's been this way for over two hundred years." Xemnas answered the angry boy.

"Where exactly am I?" Riku demanded.

"This place is called Ruins of Destiny. It used to be called Destiny Island." The orange eyed man answered.

"What?" Riku whispered then the information sank in. "No...that's not true."

"We've been coming to this place for salvage for years." Xemnas said firmly. "This could be considered our base of operations in the region."

"This is a sick joke." Riku snarled. He backed away until his back hit the metal railing. "If Zexion were still alive I'd think this was his game."

"He's cracked. Toss him away and move on." Saix implored.

"Believe what you like kid but that is the truth. That building used to be the Temple of Light before it was destroyed by Sin." The silver haired man turned and motioned for the Al Bhed to get moving.

"What are you doing?" Riku ran towards him only to get hit across the face by a gun.

"We're getting ready to leave but not before I retrieve a certain item." Xemnas answered.

"This isn't real...it's not happening." Riku moaned as he held his head in his hands.

"Who is this Sora anyway?" Saix questioned. The blue haired AI was curious about the things this boy was saying despite his obvious insanity.

"He's...he's my best friend...my everything." Riku whispered painfully. Xemnas felt his heart clench when he saw the look on Riku's face. He used to see that same look when he looked in the mirror when...he stopped thinking right there.

"Look if you want you can some with me and see the ruins." Xemnas offered. Riku stared at the man.

"Why should I listen to you? I don't believe you!" Riku growled angrily.

"Stay here or come with me, I don't really care but you're staying here until we get back home." Xemnas replied with finality.

"You can't keep me here." Riku shook his head.

"Maybe but where are you going to go?" the orange eyed man turned away before Riku could answer.

"Are you sure you don't want backup?" Saix asked.

"I'll be fine Saix. Just give me the heads up when fiends are nearby." Xemnas grinned at the AI.

"Just don't get all heroic on me again." The AI muttered then vanished when Xemnas deactivated him for the time being.

"What the hell was that?" Riku jumped when Saix vanished.

"Oh, he's an AI." Xemnas answered. When he got a blank look he decided to clarify. "An Artificial Intelligence. He can control Machina and rewrite their base codes." Xemnas shook his head.

"But he was part of the Organization. He wasn't an AI!" Riku felt a migraine coming on.

"You really are nuts." Xemnas sighed heavily. "Maybe the toxin got you."

"Toxin?" Riku looked lost.

"Sin's toxin? It makes you forget things." Xemnas faced the boy. "You have no idea what I'm talking about are you?"

"None of this makes any sense." Riku glanced towards the Ruins of Destiny. "I lived on that island. I was Radiant Garden before that!"



"What did you say?" Xemnas approached Riku.

"Radiant Garden? What about it?" the Keyblade Master questioned.

"Don't say that city's name with people around. It's not a good idea." Xemnas warned quickly.

"What are you talking about?" Riku noticed that the men around him looked nervous.

"Radiant Garden was the heart of civilization across the Known Worlds. When it was destroyed civilization died with it." The orange eyed man said sadly.

"When was it destroyed?" Riku was afraid of the answer.

"A thousand years ago and that's when Sin came." Xemnas spat the name like acid from his mouth.

"You mentioned that before. What is Sin?" Riku asked curiously.

"Sin is our punishment for using machines to survive or at least that's what Yevon makes its followers think." Xemnas said.

"This is so much to take in." Riku slid to the floor.

"Get him something to eat. I'll be back in an hour at the most." Xemnas ordered the men.

"What's happening to me?" Riku cried out. As soon as he spoke he felt a wave wash over him. The air rippled and then all movement on the ship halted.

"You are safe Riku." A child's voice said. Riku turned around to see a small boy wearing a hooded robe.

"What happened to them?" he asked.

"It's a simple temporal freeze. Time will resume soon but I must tell you why you are here." The boy said. "And call me Fayth."

"Please tell me what's happening." Riku pleaded.

"You did die Riku. Xemnas, in your reality killed you but he was defeated in turn by Sora. We watched it unfold." Fayth explained. "We saw something in you Riku; we saw a purpose that had not yet been fulfilled and a power waking to awaken."

"I don't understand." The silver haired boy murmured.

"We dreamed you into this realm. We need your help and so does Sora." Fayth said. He smiled when he saw the look on Riku's face.

"Sora's here!" he gasped.

"Yes but he is not your Sora. This is a different place, a parallel world if you will. It exists in the exact time as your own but in a different dimension." Fayth approached the stunned boy.

"I know this is so much to take in but in time you'll understand. But Sin approaches now and you will be safe." Fayth promised. He began to fade.

"Wait! Don't go yet!" Riku pleaded.

"You will understand Riku." Fayth bowed before him then vanished into beautiful lights.

Riku watched as time resumed and the people moved again. Xemnas was on his way to the side of the ship when he heard the water behind him. The ship began to shake violently. Xemnas was already yelling in a strange language at the others. The water blew into the air and then a giant fin appeared from the waves.

Riku took a step back when he saw it but he could hear the others around him screaming Sin. So this was the creature everyone was afraid of? Riku looked around for some kind of escape route as the fin sliced through the waves. The ship rocked violently and water splashed onto the deck. Riku choked when he was drenched in sea water and he scrambled away along the deck.

As the fin got closer Riku moved towards the edge of the ship then he felt his body tumbling overboard when Sin crashed into the vessel. He tried to scream when freezing cold water enveloped his body and he sank deeper into never-ending darkness.

He struggled to kick and move his arms but it was as if he had become bound by invisible chains. As blackness clouded his vision again Riku hoped that this time he could stay dead.