Chapter 17.

"Riku?"

"Go away..."

"Riku, it's only me..."

"Kodomorashi?" Riku exclaimed bolting upright, only to find himself somewhere between sleep and waking. He was aware of walking through the soothing waves composed of his childhood memories, to find Kodomorashi walking beside him.

"Yes. I've been allowing my Heart to wander a bit. Don't fret, I made sure to keep a close enough distance to return to you if I found myself weakening. But I've made some rather unfortunate discoveries. This building is surrounded by a decent-sized Dark Barrier, and there are others present. One of them projects a very malevolent aura. Be on your guard, I think he means to harm you."

"Ansem. I figured that out on my own already. So, a Dark Barrier. That's how they intend to keep me locked up here. At least they're not suppressing my powers like Organization XIII did. I was able to speed the healing process a bit earlier. But why are they so interested in keeping me confined?"

"I couldn't figure that much out during my wandering. I think they're trying to get data from you, to make another Replica."

"Nothing personal, Kodomorashi, but I thought you failed as a vessel. Why would another replica be any different."

"Xemnas let something slip once... about an army of Replicas. To keep the Army of Light occupied until the final vessel was found. The project could not meet completion for... obvious reasons."

The reason Kodomorashi lived within Riku was because he no longer had a body of his own. Xigbar murdered him, for trying to steal Elixir that would have prolonged Riku's life enough to give his friends time to arrive and treat him. Riku had become sick with pneumonia thanks to the inhumane conditions present in Organization XIII's dungeon, and was deteriorating fast. Kodomorashi still didn't know what force drove his disembodied Heart to his Origin, but he figured it was the protective instinct he felt toward him when he was so vulnerable. Nonetheless, he lived on inside Riku's Heart, and actually felt more alive and free than he ever did in his own body.

"An army?" Riku actually felt a grim sort of humor at the idea of several copies of him running loose on the battlefield- until he realized that it meant one of his friends could meet their end at "his" hands. He felt like a traitor.

"Yes. I suspect thats the only reason I wasn't destroyed outright, though it was Xemnas' policy to put an end to anyone who was of no use to Organization XIII."

"Sounds like him..." Riku said bitterly, feeling a nasty twinge come from the scar on his right side.

Xemnas had tried to put an end to him and Sora personally after he deemed them no longer useful- he had been relying on the Keyblade Wielders to dispatch the Heartless, collecting Hearts for an artificial Kingdom Hearts. It wound up being destroyed, and after their refusal to go collect more Hearts for him to recreate it, Xemnas attacked them, and Riku had taken a rather severe blow from his Ethereal Blades. He was lucky the blade didn't pierce him, but it had knocked the wind out of him and caused a severe burn at the point of impact. Nobody present on the Island when they returned home had Yen Sid's skill with healing magic, and though they were able to heal the injury enough to lessen the pain, they couldn't completely reverse the damage. Riku bore a scar on his side ever since.

"What other things could they possibly have planned?" He added.

XXXXXXXX

"He's making no progress, is he?" Roxas asked in concern.

"I'm afraid not. I'm beginning to wonder if this was part of the kidnapper's plan- To make the Hero of Light so emotionally unbalanced he'll prove to be more of a danger to himself and his allies. This is very grim, as he is very vital to the upcoming war."

Yen Sid had resumed Sora's psychological training with greater intensity ever since Riku had disappeared. Yet this time there was no improvement or effort on the boy's part- if anything, it was getting worse. He constantly lashed out at people and could be heard crying in his room at night after his sessions. It had become so bad that his physical health was beginning to deteriorate. He barely ate anything anymore and had to be put under enchantments simply to stay asleep at night.

Finding Riku had become a priority as a result, and Aqua and Ventus were constantly out seeking any kind of information on his whereabouts, yet bringing back no results. They were trying to get information on the missing Keyblade Wielder known as Terra as well, but only got a slight bit more luck- any who knew of him would just say they thought he had died, confirming that he was still under Xehanort's control and there was no known way of rescuing him.

"We've looked everywhere for Riku, yet have had no luck. There's no word on Maleficent or Ansem either. Those two seemed to vanish around the same time Riku did. It's almost certain those two are the kidnappers, yet I can sense nothing of them. I wonder if they're inhabiting some kind of alternate dimension or the Dreaming Worlds. I should have Sora revisit those worlds... if I can get him to remain stable long enough."

"What about the data copy of Twilight Town?" Roxas interjected.

"Not likely, since only Ansem the Wise and a select few others knew how to access it. I know Riku was one of those select few, and there's a chance they'd forced the information out of him, but I'd be able to sense him if he was so close..."

"Master Yen Sid! Come quick!" Aqua burst into the room, breathless and excited.

XXXXXXXX

"So you encountered these two in Hollow Bastion?" Yen Sid said, his gaze focused on two wary-looking figures, studying them closely. One, a youth who looked like he was in his late teens with medium-length blond hair, stood slouching against the wall in Yen Sid's study, a bored expression on his face. The other, a man of roughly Lea's age with long pink hair, stood silent yet eyed everything like a hawk.

"Yes, caught the kid taking out a large amount of dusks with water-based attacks. His skills are pretty impressive. Said he and his companion were seeking out a way to put an end to all Nobodies in hope that they might bring back their missing friends the way they returned. They seem very interested in our cause."

Yen Sid silenced Aqua with a wave of his hand and turned to address the two newcomers directly.

"Your timing in this matter is most fortunate. You both have my thanks. Now, what are your names?"

The blonde looked up, his expression changed to one of mild interest. He let of an air of one who didn't care about politeness or decorum as he spoke.

"I'm Myde, the other guy here is called Lumaria."

End of Chapter 17.

A.N. The army of Light grows with the addition of Demyx and Marluxia's human forms. But do they really mean well? Also, what do Ansem and Maleficent really want with Riku- is Kodomorashi's speculation correct? To be continued...