"Yes, I'm still alive," does a Dr. Hank Pym deadpan expression.

I am terribly sorry for my long update on this story. My other fics kept me busy. I was in love with the anime and just had to try writing a fanfic for that one. If any of you are curious what it is, it's on my profile.

Plus, I needed to get away from KH for a while before to "rest," you could say.

Also, whoot, really excited for Kingdom Hearts 3, Resident Evil 2 Remake/Remaster (or whatever... :p). Something to look forward to in 2019.

Thanks, for the favorite, following, and comment guys. I appreciate it all.

Last note: I found this chapter hard to write because I found Riku hard to write as a character. At least for me. So, I hope I did his character justice. Well, not just him, but possibly Aladdin too.

Anyways, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Kingdom Hearts franchise

Silence reigned supreme in the Gummy ship. Riku could only helplessly looked out the window of his quarters as he felt his guilt slowly gnaw him apart. Weaving a hand through his hair, the teen then sighed. "Weak," muttered the boy to himself.

A knocking on his door broke his heavy revering. "Riku?" Goofy's soft voice beyond. "It's dinnertime."

It was with great reluctance that he stood and clamped those feelings down. They do no good to him and hinder in their search for Sora. Sorry for not being at your side Sora. At the cramp dining room, all of them were now gathered and he could feel the thick sullen atmosphere choking them all.

Donald on the other end near the cupboards made no loud noise nor did Goofy, who had his back on him, jest to alleviate the terse mood. Aladdin sat on the left staring blankly in the air whilst numbly rubbing the lamp. Giminy, Genie, Abu, and the twin Chipmunks were surprisingly absent. Riku sat in front of the young man and for a while none dared to break the silence between them. He was glad that was so.

"Al," the Genie said breaking the heavy silence. "You still got one wish. Wish for Jasmine and your world to be saved."

The young man simply massaged his hot cup as he sighed. "Why," Riku eyed Aladdin's hands which circled tighter around the object. "Why did this happen. Why." Aladdin for all the easiness he exudes, had a lot of bad things thrown at him by life it seemed judging by his words.

Riku for his part couldn't, or maybe wouldn't respond. He was partly at fault for not being there. Jafar would've been easy picking with them there but instead… damnit. Never had he felt so powerless before in his life.

"The Heartless will consume every heart out there. Including a world's heart." Donald replied eyes hard and brows clashing. "That's why we need Sora. Only his Keyblade alone can seal a world's heart."

"Al, come on, buddy. Wish away and save them."

Riku set his eyes on the other worlder before them. Whatever decision Aladdin comes to, the teen from Destiny Islands will respect it. Though a part of him, the selfish part of him that screams inside his heart. That part of him wants the young man to wish the worlds back and end this nightmare. He regretted wishing Destiny Islands destroyed. He regretted opening the door now.

"Genie," his heart rattled on the words of Genie's holder. "I wish," the silveret realized that despite his best intentions he wanted Aladdin to really wish it true. "I wish you are free."

He didn't know how to feel about that but stared at the cupboards numbly. He expected that but… the teen frowned imperceptivity and breathing heavily letting out the taut feeling in his chest. The teen expected it, but it still hurt that they Aladdin couldn't just wish the most single important wish he thought of.

"One wish! Coming right up," the godlike being replied snapping his fingers. "What?" Genie gasp a second later. Genie grasp Aladdin by his shoulder shaking him and somehow the table too. "Al! Are you crazy!? Why would you do this? Don't you wanna wish Jasmine or your home back? To save them so that everything would become normal. So that you could marry the princess?" Genie's shook the young man as his bracelet loosened until it faded.

"I do Genie, but you're my friend too. I couldn't let you stay stuck in the lamp anymore." Aladdin's wistful expression turned upwards slightly, "Plus, I'd figure you can help is out more if you're free."

"That is… uhm if you want to Genie," he added.

The blue omnipotent being hugged the tan teen making Riku wince at the force behind it. Aladdin grunted before Genie set him back down to his place. "Are you kidding me? Of course, I'll help you. You gave that Jafar what he deserved, you freeing me! Plus, I'm your best friend!"

The golden wristbands on Genie's arms broke and the blue being danced and hugged Aladdin for a second as he then created fireworks from the tips of his fingers. The explosions created the word "thank you" or "I'm free," even the "The great Genie is free!" again and again.

Riku smiled at the spectacle that lasted for minutes without interruption, even from Donald who didn't seem annoyed by the noise of Genie.

It stung to Riku how he thought that Sora would've done the same thing as Aladdin given the chance even after all he'd been through. Years of loneliness and yet he can still bear to smile. How can one be stronger than that?

"What now?" the silver haired boy asked once the celebration died. "Do we continue or drop them to Traverse town?"

"What!" Aladdin reacted jumping out of the chair. "No. I will not be left alone as you guys do all the work. I…," he turned to Genied for a second then back at them, "we can help you too."

Donald crossed his arms, "No, no no. You can't come."

Aladdin copied the ducks action glaring in defiance. Goofy stood between them and held a palm to the young man, "Cool down you two," the dog turned to Aladdin. "I'm afraid Donald's right, Aladdin. It's not tha' we don' appreciate your offer Aladdin, but the Gummy ship does not have enough space for more people. Not only that but you don' haf experince fighting Heartless."

The older teen said nothing for a while but sat back down combing his hair in obvious frustration, "I guess you have a point. I just wish I could do something. Jasmine must be scared right now."

"You can," Donald answered. "Stay in Traverse Town and protect the people there. They lost their worlds just as you, Sora, and Riku did. The only difference is you have power, they don't. Protect them from Heartless and let us do our job of finding a way to restore the worlds."

"We'll find Jasmine for you," Riku reassured. "I," glancing at his companions, "We promise you that."

"You're right," he sighed running his hand through his hair. "I just…," the young man brushed his hair with his hands. "I just want to do more, y'know?"

Goofy chuckled, "We understand. Know tha' ya are doin' something important. Ya'r protecting the people."

Aladdin said beaming at the knight. "Thanks guys," he yawned, stretched, and popping bones. "Do you guys have spare room? I could really use some rest, that Jafar really hits hard."

"Take my room," Riku said without hesitation. Aladdin can use it and he could camp out in Sora's temporarily until they arrive on Traverse town. He can't stand to look anything connected to his best friend right now, but he wouldn't hesitate to share his room. Its what Sora and Kairi would do too.

"It's just the room and the room on the right at the end of the hall," he added as the young man was led by Goofy to it leaving him and Donald alone. Both were not there when their friends needed them the most. The guilt was killing him. The way his chest tightened on any thought for his best friend in the last hour. He hated the feeling damn it!

Donald sighed, obviously frustrated as he was. "You know," the duck started. "You can't let your feelings control you. It was out of our control, Goofy and I know how it feels."

Standing, he grabbed for anything to drink in the refrigerator and was happy, even if slightly, that they at least had one can of fruit juice. He chugged it as the mage spoke again. "I'm ashamed and guilty of myself but you have to move on and learn from that mistake. Learn from the past, use it for the better future, was something I learned from my mentor. I learned it from experience. We could have helped those three Keyblade wielders from before but."

Riku set the drink down to see Donald stare at him with none of his usual fiery passion. Instead, what he was given was soft eyes and an upward quirked bill in a small smile. His expression was one of clear understanding and drank again to block the look since it reminded him of Kairi and her never ending patience. The silver headed teen never though he'd seen that expression from Donald of all people, Goofy maybe but, not so much from the duck.

"There were Keyblade wielders before Sora?" he managed to contain his surprise at that fact.

The duck smirked. "That's a tale for another time Riku. Possibly with both your bestfriends here to listen."

"I'll hold you to that," he crumpled the can then. "Thanks too. I needed something to lift me up, even though it's easier said than done. I just wished things could've been different," he muttered. How many times must he make mistakes!? Destiny Islands. Kairi. Now Sora. Faeries above, the teen breathed, is this a sign? That left the question, a sign of what? It was deep in the night for him to ponder about it, Riku groaned internally clutching half his face.

"It's never easy Riku," his companion said before standing to go to the bridge. "Remember what I said. Now, get some sleep," glared the duck making shooing gestures. "You're clearly tired, I'll man the ship alone for now and wake you once it's your turn."

Riku approached the younger kid who cried in the corner of the small cave with the weird unopenable door. He'd heard of weird superstitions about the place. From a demonic place where an evil fairy lived to the Black Cave, as it was called, to being the birth place of the great demon Chernabog. But he had a feeling that he just had to go here and ignoring the voice of his mom on his mind that was scolding him. The feeling was very strong that it made him towards in one of the avoided places in Destiny Islands.

His chest tightened and breathing slowed on seeing "demon born child" crying. The kid with visibly crumpled clothes hugged his knees and using it to support his head. The weird cat kid trembled but his cries made no sound.

'He's luring you into giving your soul, Riku!' he imagined his overprotective mom would say but he didn't believe into anything they said. Not without seeing it for himself. 'That's how people die young one,' he remembered his mom saying after asking why they couldn't just approach the lonely kid.

"Would a demon cry?" Riku muttered. Sucking air deeply and ignoring his nervous heart, he approached the brunet human cat-like kid. He swallowed the fear on seeing the claws tightened. His first thought that it would scratch him but swallowed heavily fighting his instinct to run.

"Hey, you okay?" he nearly trembled saying. The face that glared at him had him slowly back away but stopped himself. It was not one he saw depicted as anything evil in books. In fact, this kid looked normal with his spiky brown hair, bright blue eyes, and round jaw. Even with the glare he received, it didn't look demonic or scary that he found himself speechless! It was adorable like that pet cat of his neighbor.

"What do ya want?!" hissed the younger brunet with clear venom whose teeth bared at him that glinted in the tiniest flecks of light that entered the cave. "Here to mock me too?"

What did he mean mock? He was confused. Did his face look like he was mocking someone? Riku just wanted to check on the boy to see if he was alright.

"Don't pretend. If you want just do it already."

He squirmed ever so slightly and want to slowly walk back but squashed that feeling. "Hey hey. Relax. I don't know why you're here but," he shrugged and raised his arms in hops that cat kid will see his intent and not what he thought was his intention. "I'm not here to mock you or whatever. I heard you crying when I was exploring and came to check up on you."

That was as a good lie as any and very much easily believably. Maybe even by his mother.

Riku didn't know it was possible but he shivered and didn't know why. Just that a cold feeling crept on him. Not because of the tightening claws but maybe of something else. Maybe the demon lair had some truth to it? The silver haired youth didn't know but it was something else. He just knew it. He just really knew.

"You don't look devilish to me," he beamed a little in hopes to calm down the other. And out with the truth to maybe make the boy like him. Maybe. But better to try, eh guessed. "Name's Riku. You're," he paused for a second trying to remember what his name was then was glad he remembered. "Sora, right"

A slow nod was his reply. It was better than the angry and cold response he got.

"Yeah, the witch boy," the older kid grimaced. He spoke too soon. "What's it to you?"

Play it cool, he told himself then. He had to, if hearsays were right, Sora can sense your emotion. Play it cool Riku. You don't want him angry than he needs to be.

"Nothing," Riku shrugged at his attempt to be calm. "I just think you're awesome. I mean half cat? So, do you have any special power?" he meant every word he said. Demonic or whatever or the kid was. He found out he didn't care, even if the expression sent his way scared him. If Sora was really evil as they said, then he should be dead, not just angrily looked at. But he wasn't harmed in any way.

"Why should I tell you anything. We're not friends. I don't know you," the boy crawled to his own left and near the tree root.

Humming in thought arms crossed, Riku didn't know how to proceed, and he was friendly if he wanted to be and made a lot of friends like those three but… Sora was a tough coconut to crack. Usually making friends meant one to impress them but the younger brunet was not easily impress as he thought. What about…

"Want to be friends?"

When Sora froze and said nothing immediately, the silver-haired kid was so happy. That means his words were being thought deeply.

"What's the catch?" Riku could just imagine a lock tightening and hearing it close tightly like the mysterious door.

Okay, the older silver haired kid made good distance now, he just needed to close the gap. "No catch," he said coolly. "I just want to know you."

Reaching with his right hand, his heart beat fast. Riku hoped the boy would accept. "Want to play? I'll race you."

When narrowed eyes glared and shaking clawed hands reached for his, vision of his face being clawed came to his mind's fore. Shut up, brain! He told himself.

No matter how hesitant, the boy couldn't help but grin and pull Sora quickly. "C'mon. You can't waste time here crying. You have to spend the whole day doing something."

Glancing back, the other was red faced and walking slowly but still following him.

As if made of powder, the dream vanished into nothingness.

The magic carpet swerved back moving downwards towards the falling body of Sora. "Sora!" Riku called to no avail. His best friend was unconscious. "Aladdin, can't this thing go faster!"

"Carpet's going fast as he can!"

In this wind, he barely heard the native's response but cursed when Sora fell faster.

He was losing him! Damn it. Damn it. Damn it all!

"Sora!" the teen screamed nearly falling, and he could do nothing but grasp the taut cloth of carpet to keep himself from falling. With every second Sora became one with the darkness as his body slowly vanished.

"Riku! Be careful."

Strong hands gripped the back of his tank top keeping him in place.

"Go faster. We're losing him!" the irate duck ordered.

Calling the dark blade into his hands, the spell ready to cast. Something thundered and caused their ride to shake. Great airwave was created by the blast.

"Sora!" Riku let go of the sword and looked away feeling it was already too late thanks to that explosion. He grabbed tightly to Goofy as fierce winds hindered their escape by blowing against them.

Riku woke up groaning and sweaty. "That was…," he said slowly clutching his aching chest, "that was… damn it, Sora."The very first time he'd his best friend he had no matter his closeness to Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka. The hybrid was his real friend who came to know him more than any other people could.

"What could it all mean?"

An abrupt knocking kicked him out of deep thoughts. "Riku? Breakfast is ready."

"Yeah, coming," motioning to his shirt since Sora's room was hella warm as their home world.

The dining room was full and lively as he walked in on them laughing. Goofy sat on the head of the table, and Donald on the left, near the fridge, and Aladdin facing him. Their small companions were nowhere to be found.

How could they take what happened to Sora so easily? But then, the teen remembered Donald's words yesterday, the mage, even the knight and the others must've take it hard and worry for his Keyblade wielding friend but had faith they would find him. Plus, he rationalized, the Gummy ship ran on literal smiles and happy faces, so he mentally patted his cheeks and smiled too. Smiled best as he can.

Even Aladdin seemed chirpy enough to join. Maybe to forget what happened to Jasmine and Agrabah but still, it was good he was joining in the fun. After all, smiles run the ship.

"Good morning, guys." He greeted as Donald passed him a steaming hot chocolate. His eyes moved at clock above Goofy which determined that it was six o'clock. Probably back in their world, Disney castle. "How's sleep?" He questioned.

Donald huffed, "Slept fine."

"Me too."

"Terrible," the young man from Agrabah stated brushing his hair. "Jafar kept appearing in my dreams. I'm worried about Jasmine"

That was worse than his. He didn't know who Jafar was because he wasn't there when he was needed, but he could understand the older person's plight. Sora was in his for some reason. Why? As if the guilt wasn't killing him enough, the teen had to see his friend in his dreams.

"Cheer up ya two," Goofy said grinning lopsidedly. "We'll find 'em. I just know it."

Riku's lips quirked upwards feeling a light mirth in his chest. "You're right. If I know Sora," and he did. He knew Sora from the inside and out. "He'd be sitting or lying down somewhere and just lazing around."

"How long do you know Sora?" asked Aladdin.

"Since we were kids."

Riku could barely imagine what was his life without Sora and Kairi. He did have that life without his two best friends, but it felt like it was a different Riku than the one who became the hybrid and redhead's friend. He hoped Sora would forgive him of what he would tell the others.

"Did you know I am Sora's first friend? That was before we met Kairi," looking at the others, confusion marred their faces. "Sora is the only hybrid in our world, and people avoided him. Before I met him, animals were his only friends. Not one would approach him because they say he's cursed, a demon," thinking of it makes him mad. Sora thought that he couldn't see it but, the teen could see how it hurt his friend. How it pained him and made his friend's life. The brunet may hide it well, but the anger? He could see it. The way it manifests in his wariness of new people. It took him longer than he expected before Sora warmed up to him.

"The hatred comes from his father, from what I've known. Why?" Riku shurgged, "I don't know why. Lots of hearsays surrounds his father, some say he caused a great calamity, others say he is a demon or a dark faerie."

He asked all the adults he knew and listened to the rumors everywhere for possible reasons to hate Sora but… there is one common thing about them; his hybrid (possibly) father did something, that all adults couldn't, or rather wouldn't dare say. It's an unspoken rule, he noticed.

The fact that it passed on to Sora pisses him off. What did his friend ever to do deserve all the hate? Can't they see he's human much like any other resident and their treatment is hurting him. They are making the monster they feared him to be. Riku had seen it a few times before. One of them was, he thought for a very long time about this fact, when I first met him.

"No one knows who his father is, or maybe was. His mom keeps on being vague who his father is but," he paused for a second and thought of what he was going to say next. "All we know is that he is not a native of Destiny Islands, and that Sora resembles his father. How, when, his mom and dad met is unknown." Riku bitterly laughed on how pitiful their efforts were to search for new horizons. "That's why, this journey is not just about us finding new worlds. But also, a personal journey for Sora."

A sudden shameful expression fell on Donald when his beak turned to a frown, and eyes furrowed staring into his drink. "No wonder he's very loyal to you. I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" he asked. Donald may be direct and hotheaded as his friend, but he wasn't one to be mean for no reason. So, what has the mage to apologize for?

"On our second world," Donald replied. "It was a world I thought King Mickey would not go to or leave some clues. Sora pleaded to search for you there, but I disagreed."

Goofy sniggered, palm covering his mouth. "Hyuk, we nearly crashed too!"

"Wak! Whaddaya mean nearly?!" the duck raised his voice and fist in annoyance. "We did crash you palooka!"

Riku cleared his throat to get cover his chuckles but based on Aladdin's smirk he failed miserably at it. "Anyways," Donald continued after rolling his eyes at the knight's attempt, a rather successful one at that, of riling him up. "Long story short, we made up. I apologized and promised to find you too in every world we go. You know the rest."

It didn't surprise him that Sora would pick a fight for him. The brunet would do it for Kairi too. Riku shook his head breathing out. "That's him alright."

"Lucky you, Riku," Aladdin stated, a forlorn smile on his face. "You've got someone that would walk the desert just to find you."

Lucky did not cover it. He was blessed with a friend like Sora. Too bad he didn't deserve it. Not after what I've done. The dark and buried part of him sneered. I don't deserve him and Kairi. If they knew of what I've done…., his mind turned blank at that thought. What would they say? "I know," Riku whispered in return. That's why, I'll find Sora to the ends of the world if I have to.

"But we're friends now. So, I'd say I will walk the desert for you," Riku smirked. He imagined that it was something Sora would say to cheer the older young man.

He knew what he was doing now would not make what he did better, but, still he would do it regardless if they like him or not after knowing of his sin.

It was a tense lunch without Sora. Riku knew he couldn't replace the way the brunet lion hybrid brought joy into the ship, and he felt guilty of being not the same as Sora. To be honest, the silveret felt like he didn't belong with these people. Don't get him wrong, they're all nice but… for some reason, there's not much sense of belongingness for him to these people.

A harsh right tilt knocked him out of his reverie. "What the-"

"Sorry 'bout that Riku."

He ignored Goofy's apology in favor of squinting his eyes. What is that? He focused on the growing blot ahead. Pressing the zoom button on the camera, "What's that?"

Goofy hummed in thought, "Gee, I haf no idea too. I reckon it's a large rock." The teen followed the knight's advice and manned the guns in case they needed to smash incoming projectiles at their ship. From what the others told him, it happened quite frequently along with Heartless attacks, better prepared than ever.

As the thing approaches, it was a giant blue meteor coming at high speed causing him to put weapons in maximum power and sound the alarm. Donald rushed to the cockpit, faster than he thought squawking and grumbling, something about having a nice dream of Daisy or sorts.

"What is it," Donald said, who was clearly groused, arms crossed and tapping his feet repeatedly. The teen showed the image to the duck whose mood changed swiftly examining the large incoming thing. It was large, incredibly so, if its shape could be seen even from their distance. It could be wider than they expected it to be.

"What do ya think Donald? Should we change course? Their could possibly be more of those ahead and then it'll be dangerous if that happens."

He had to agree with Goofy. If it is an asteroid belt then it'd be tough on them to avoid everything and possibly damage the ship, then greatly slowing them down. On the other hand, he felt the need to rush and look for Sora. He could be in danger.

The duck remained silent. Riku knew nothing of the pathways to each world, but according to what he knew when Sora taught him was that, the pathways to each world wasn't like the sea back home. For one, there was no sun, or specific stars to guide them when lost unlike the fishermen back home.

They could easily get lost in their travel between worlds if the path wasn't clearly mapped, which the King Mickey thankfully had. So, to change course would mean they would lose a lot of time, which could be used to stopping the Heartless in each world and finding Maleficent to end this mess.

"No," the duck ordered. "We'll lose much time if we backtrack and circled around. Just blast whatever it is to pieces. I doubt it'll survive the Gummy ships power."

Riku didn't question the orders for he knew less. He was a fish out of water on this one. So, his hand was on the trigger, ready to aim and destroy the huge thing once it gets in range.

Once it was in range, he pressed the trigger releasing a volley of laser, missiles at it. Explosions blew on its surface and it rumbled, but not cracked. All of his attacks were useless. "What's-"

He gaped. Mouth slack jawed when it opened. "That's not a meteor. That's a giant whale!" A whale taller than Destiny Island's tallest mountain from the ground to its peak! The teen could only speculate how long it would be!

Whales in space! Talk about impossible.

Goofy roughly veered left, the ship groaned as his companion pushed the ship to its limit to avoid the gigantic animal. The ship buckled and shook when the enormous maw the mammal opened and sucked them in.

"It's too strong!" cried the knight. Riku held on tightly to the gun controls to prevent himself from bouncing just from the strength of the pulling winds alone.

Everything suddenly turned dark as the jaws shut causing a great vibration. Riku jostled forward and would've hit the panels if it weren't for the seatbelt.

Red emergency light turned on. "Another happy landing," Goofy commented. He could just imagine the bipedal dog's grin.

I hope you guys like this chapter. Sorry if it's a little shorter than usual.

R & R if you like. :)