Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts as that belongs to Disney & Square-Enix…WHY? -shot- This awesome Armory Themed Challenge belongs to RoseOfADifferentColor… Clearly not me. LOL

A/N: I forgot this was supposed to be 200 words long; I capped myself at 300 words…had to cut down. Darn! :x Sooo…technically, I kinda cheated (fine, I did!) with this one, but I think that little chant Terra recited to Riku was really important. D: In my opinion, it was really the last line of the chant that was important, but it sounded weird without the entire thing, so I included everything. OTL I promise I won't do that again. xD LOL
Oh! And I know the themes have been rolling off the slightly-angsty road so far, but I promise not all of them are going to be like that. xD It's just…well, you know how Kingdom Hearts is. ;P LOL

I would like to say thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing! :) Please enjoy and R&R!

.: Way to the Dawn :.
~ In Between and Not Quite There ~

:: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::

"In your hand, take this key…"

Words left forgotten in the depths of Riku's memories.

A "key…"

It would help him escape for bigger, better worlds. And it did…but not under ideal circumstances. Riku caused the destruction of his homeworld and he lost himself to the darkness.

He made to repent, but was it enough? Too much of darkness tainted his heart and he wasn't worthy of the light. He was forgone of salvation the moment he relied on darkness again to defeat Sora's Nobody. He was weak; a coward…but perhaps Riku was better off stuck between two absolutes. Riku was an inhabitant of light, yet he controlled the essence of darkness. And his Keyblade…

Upon regaining his true body, the Keyblade had changed…but why?

"In your hand, take this key…"

With perfect clarity, Riku remembered that mantra…

"…So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking…its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend – no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."

To protect the things that matter…the Way to the Dawn was more Riku's style.