"What? Who and what are you?" She called out to the voice.

Silence.

"Answer me!"

The ground shook, catching her off guard. She looked around, 3 grey pillars arose from under the glass. A staff, a key-staff of some sort, and a orb were displayed proudly on them.

Choose wisely.

She looked around, studying the choices that the voice gave her. She slowly walked to the ruby colored orb and grasped it in her hands, awaiting what the voice would tell her.

The dragon's orb,

Both defensive yet destructive.

It can be used for both good and evil.

However, do not let it's power consume you.

Is this what you seek?

Reki thought about it for a while, but then gently placed it on the pillar.

Take your time.

She then walked to the staff, which she saw had a star on top, and it's handle was gnarled. She picked it up.

The magican's staff,

Used by many,

Feared by all.

It can do your bidding, as long as you keep your head in the light.

Is this what you seek?

She put down the staff, and lastly walked to the key-looking staff, which was made of metal, it's grip twisted into a vine-like coil. At the end of the staff, a tough metal coil wrapped around a crystal blue orb. Something drew her to this one, a unique quality to it that was different from the other ones. She picked it up.

The Gatekeeper.

A very powerful weapon indeed.

As long as your will is strong, it will do your bidding.

Is this the weapon you seek?

She nodded, and, in an instant, the weapon dissapeared from her hand.

Now, which of the two will you give up?

Reki walked towards the orb, and held it up to the light, as a gesture of wanting it to be taken away.

Your path has been set.

All the glass began to shatter from underneath her, going up towards the light. Reki held her arms in front of her face to prevent any scratches. Something pulled her in, and she looked down.

Where the platform once stood, there was now a black pit slowly taking her down. She struggled and tried to wriggle free, but the black tounges got the better of her. As she began to pass out, she could faintly hear the voice.

Always remember-

The closer you get to light,

The darker your shadow becomes.

But don't be afraid.

As soon as his hand is there,

You'll stop losing.

And who knows-

Starting a new journey may not be so hard,

Or maybe it has already begun.

Use the Gatekeeper well,

Daughter of Memories,

And You'll be fine.

You are the only one who can protect the door.

Her head was spinning with thoughts. Memories...the gatekeeper...the door. What did the voice exactly mean about those things? Who was the boy she was referring to? Light? Dark? It was all a blur to her. Suddenly, a harsh voice in her head pierced through her train of thought.

REKI!

"What?"

In a flash, she was back in the same place where she was before, however, she heard a metal clank. She looked at what she was holding, and her eyes widened with being so familiar at what she was holding.

"That's...the weapon-"

Use it! Use the Gatekeeper!

She realized that she had no choice but to fight. Using all her strength, she forced back the Dusk that tried to lunge at her. Riku joined her, and back-to back, they got into fighting stances.

"You think you can take them?" Riku asked her cockily.

Reki just laughed.

"Like hell I can. You don't remember all those sparring matches we had back at the Islands?"

"Oh yeah. But I always whooped your but."

Reki's eyebrow raised in slight anger.

"Do you want me to kill theese creatures or are you asking for an ass beating?"

He laughed, lunging at the Dusk that near him. Reki followed suit, though she didn't have to move that much because the staff, she found out, could extend at it's own will.

As long as your will is strong, it will do your bidding.

"So that's what the voice meant!"

Without a moment to spare, she slashed at those Dusks, watching their nimble bodies be torn into two and dissappearing, never to return. Effortlessly (and with some help from Riku,) they slashed down those Dusks.

"W-wow," Reki said panting, "T-that w-w-as a h-hand-handful."

Riku smirked.

"Like I said, you'll never be as great as me!"

Her eyebrow arched up.

"Oh really now?"

She got out Gatekeeper.

"As long as your will is strong huh..?" She swung the staff.

"I was meaning to ask, where'd you get that weapon?"

"I-I don't really have a clue how I got this. Well, if I told you, you wouldn't believe me."

Riku shrugged.

"Whatever you say. I'm sure though, that there's something that's special about you. Shall I take you back now?"

Reki smiled.

"I'd LOVE that right now."

They both laughed on the way back.

"I guess," Reki said before reentering the Usual Spot, "This is goodbye, right?"

Riku kind of shurgged.

"Not entirely. But, I will visit once I get the chance."

Reki smiled.

"You'd better. Or else, I'm going to get Sora to beat you up!"

They both laughed, but then, Reki's laughter morphed into tears. Riku noticed this, and tried to think of something quick to cheer her up.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll find him. If I see him, you'll be the first to know, you got that?"

She wiped a tear from her finger.

"Okay. Thanks, Riku. You are really a good friend."

He smiled warmly at her.

"Anytime. What are friends for anway?"

Reki chuckled.

"Yeah. Thanks again. I'll see you later."

She turned around, but Riku asked her a question.

"Hey Reki?"

"Yeah? What is it?"

"You...can see me?"

She burst into laughter, and turned around to face him.

"Of course I can. What are you talking about silly?"

Riku smiled, and laughed along with her as well.

"Yeah. I guess. I'll try to keep in touch with you."

"BYE RIKU!"

They waved at each other, saying their, perhaps, final goodbyes.

"Oh, you're back. Breakfast is WAY over, young lady." Hayner said jokingly, wearing granny spectacles.

"Cut it out!" Olette and Pence laughed, while Roxas smoothly lifted the spectacles from his eyes.

"My goodness," Roxas said, looking at her clothes and face, "What happened to you?"

"I...um...tripped?"

They burst into laughter.

The trio decided that she didn't want to talk about it, so they decided to change it to a different topic.

"So," Roxas said, taking a chomp out of his sea salt ice cream and tossing one to Reki, "Tell us about yourself."

Reki caught it, and smiled.

"Well," She began. "I used to live on Destiny Islands, where.."

They talked late into the night, laughing at the stories and memories she had to tell, and cracking jokes, including some of their own. Reki finally felt that she was home after all the chaotic things that were happening to her, however, she still felt secretive, not talking about her experiences in the dark and some of her painful memories.

She couldn't trust them completely yet, after all.

The Old Mansion

"Ah, so you're back, Riku."

"Sorry for being so late, we kinda ran into trouble in the forest."

DiZ gave him seasalt ice cream, which he took greatfully.

"Why'd you shun out my friend earlier?"

"Hmm?" DiZ was caught of guard by the question. "Well, I wasn't entirely in the best mood to meet her. Besides, the Orginization almsot found the hiding spot just because she blurted out your name very loudly."

"Still, that's no way to talk to someone, especially a girl."

"I had my reasons."

Riku bit his ice cream suspiciously.

"You're hiding something from me then?"

"Well, not exactly, but-"

"Tell me."

DiZ sighed.

"Very jumpy, aren't you? Well then, i'll cut to the chase. That girl, there's something mysterious about her, I just can't put my finger on it. However, there's something that makes me feel funny around her."

"Maybe you were just nervous? After all, she is a pretty girl."

He chuckled as DiZ threw a pillow at him.

"Don't be ridiculous. Anyways, like I was saying, there's just something..about her."

"But, it is true, there is something special about her. She can see who I really am."

"Well, your friend might be a bit more of use to us."

Riku's eyes widened, fearing what DiZ had meant.

He chuckled, and left the room.

"Goodnight, Riku."

Riku followed suit.

"Night DiZ."