Chapter 18

Ansem was a pretty much invisible presence ever since he left the room that day, leaving Maleficent to look after Riku. Yet he still had a way of letting Riku know he would not leave him completely alone.

He liked to invade peoples minds, and no mental or migical barrier could keep him out for long. He seemed to make himself known when Riku was lost in his most private thoughts, a dark blot on his psyche looking on his troubles and fantasies with that same cold, condescending look. Sometimes he would taunt him mid thought, telling him that using the powers of Darkness could protect, enhance, and strengthen.

Riku could only guess that if Ansem could put things into his head, it should not be hard to take things out. He began to despair, remembering Kodomorashi's warning. His friends could be in grave danger right now, and he had no way of warning them. He couldn't even contact Sora through their connection, the Dark Barrier keeping him confined also seemed to keep any kind of magic or thoughts he projected confined as well.

The amount of effort you put into your futile cries for help is laughable. It would be far easier and faster to see your friends again if you just figured out where your real strength lies.

Riku spun around, shouting into nothingness, hoping his invisible antagonist would hear. "I will never give you or any of the forces of Darkness easy access to my body again! I won't endanger my friends like that!"

Endanger? You're putting your friends in greater danger by being stubborn. I've told you several times before, Darkness will give you the strength you need to protect your friends.

"Never! I will protect those who matter... with my OWN strength!" Riku summoned Way to the Dawn and lashed out at thin air. Ansem immediately materialized in front of him, deflecting the incoming blow and sending Riku flying across the room, where he landed with a cry.

"Don't you get it?" Ansem said icily, summoning several tendrils of Darkness, pinning a struggling Riku to the wall by his neck using one. "You will never defeat me using your pathetic Light magic because we both know Light is fleeting and ethereal... while Darkness..." he used another tendril to land a sharp lash across Riku's stomach in emphasis "...is real, solid, and powerful." He released Riku from the choke-hold, who immediately was on his knees, clutching the fresh welt on his stomach and drawing several ragged, choking breaths.

But Ansem wasn't done. Riku had barely come out of the daze of the first assault before two more tendrils of Darkness had him suspended in midair by his wrists, a third one snaking it's way around his body, headed for his mouth. Riku struggled and gagged as the tendril plunged itself down his throat, silencing him as several more tendrils snaked their way over and around his body. Whether they were going to further restrain him or do something else Riku could not tell. Desperate tears ran down his face as he awaited whatever else Ansem had planned for him.

"I've tried to teach this lesson to you countless times for the past three years. Accept it, embrace it. We both know the only reason you became what you are today is because of the powers of Darkness. You owe it your life, and yet you turn from it." Riku cringed as one of the tendrils found its way over his heart and tried to burrow it's way into his skin, to be stopped in it's place by his own inner Light.

"You could find new strength, new abilities. You remember the way it felt to have control of such power. It was a great feeling, one you couldn't get enough of! Has the power of Light ever given you such pleasure before?" Yet another tendril had snaked it's way up Riku's leg, swiftly and painfully penetrating him. Riku let out a muffled cry and began to shudder as he felt the cold, throbbing power of the Darkness inside him. The bastard was cheating, using the information gathered from Riku's memories to make the tendril touch him in a way he liked. It was arousing him, and it made him feel completely unclean to know that it was.

"N-n-no! I-i-it's a-actually brought m-me s-s-so m-much m-m-more!" Riku struggled to get the words out clearly, no small feat considering there was a tendril down his throat hindering his ability to speak. "I-it's g-given m-me f-friends, and p-peace, and s-s-something to h-hold o-out f-for!"

"Is that so?" Ansem said coldly, sending a strong wave of energy through the tendrils. The sensory input sent Riku over the edge, and he came hard, a muffled, guttural cry escaping his lips, his body jerking involuntarily.

"B-bastard..." Riku spat as he came down from the forced climax.

"WHAT IS GOING ON IN HERE?" Maleficent had walked in to witness Riku at Ansem's mercy, and she was furious. Ansem had had his fill anyways, withdrawing the dark tendrils as Riku fell, writhing, to the floor. The Heartless stared coldly at the pathetic form lying at his feet, making one final statement before leaving the room.

"The Light has failed you then. It's pathetic powers couldn't spare the life of your friend."

Riku stiffened at the words.

"W-what?"

"The war has already begun, and your friend, Sora, was taken out pretty quickly, since you weren't there to protect him..."

"No... you're lying!" He tried to stand up and lash out at the man, but was still in shock from the recent assault and only fell back to the floor in a heap. Ansem stood up, his confidence renewed at the broken spirit before him, and turned and left. Maleficent was at his side instantly.

"D-don't touch me!" He exclaimed as Maleficent lifted and carried him out of the study. He was still in shock and unable to struggle, so he just allowed the dark fairy to move him back to his bedroom, setting him on the bed, where he instantly bolted upright and became violently ill. Maleficent did not even flinch, simply waving her wrist so that the mess vanished instantly.

"He was lying, it was just another of his mind games, Sora can't be gone, he can't be!" Riku muttered desperately. Maleficent just laid a hand on the boy's shoulder and spoke softly:

"I wish he was lying, Riku, but I'm afraid it is true- I saw it happen. Sora was killed by a Nobody in a moment of confusion. I know it's little comfort, but I can tell you that he went quickly after the lethal blow was dealt. He wasn't in any pain."

"No..." Riku's voice was defiant, but there was a waver of uncertainty this time.

"I'm dreadfully sorry, child..." Maleficent said, placing an object in Riku's hand. His heart sank when he saw what it was.

It was a broken chain with a silver crown hanging from it.

XXXXXXXX

Roxas ran through the halls of Yen Sid's tower as fast as his legs could carry him. He still couldn't believe what had just gone down, and knew there would be a world of problems if he didn't tell the old wizard as soon as he could.

He was ambushed while trying to get information on Riku in Twilight Town. By the last person he would expect to attack him.

"Master! Are you in there? Master!" Roxas pounded on the door of Yen Sid's study, which was answered after several moments by it's mildly startled owner.

"This is urgent, master!" Roxas exclaimed. "I think Xehanort is using replicas to slow us down. I was just ambushed by Sora... or at least it looked like Sora at first. He had most of Sora's memories too... however... someone had convinced him that we all were fakes!"

"Calm down Roxas, and tell me what you already figured out- slowly!"

"I was attacked by Sora while patrolling Twilight Town. I thought he had completely lost his mind at first, and tried to get him to snap out of it, but he was clearly out for the kill. I had no choice but to fight him, and I won... but here's what was really odd, Master..."

"What was it?"

"I know I cut him at least once during that battle... but he didn't shed a single drop of blood. If Xehanort is using replicas, he left out a vital detail- the replicas don't bleed!"

End of Chapter 18