Chapter 34: Fractured Bonds

Luigi wiped his forehead from the heat. The sun loomed over them like a giant ball of fire; it was scorching. But Sora found it comforting. He couldn't help but think of home. On hot summer days, he and his friends would jump into the ocean, feeling the cool water brush against their skin. The mixture of hot and cold provided an indescribable feeling of serenity.

He wanted to relive those moments. The ocean was in his peripheral vision. Maybe later, when this whole ordeal was nothing more than a memory, left to dry up in the sun. Soon, they arrived at an entrance to a tropical jungle. While not as big as DK's, one could become lost if they weren't mindful of their surroundings.

Fortunately, Kapp'n was the perfect navigator; he seemed to know the layout as well as his name. He swung his cutlass through the tall grass with pride, feeling like the leader on a daring expedition. Given how boring the past few weeks had been, it was a nice chance of pace. It was like being a kid again.

Isabelle sat on Yoshi's back, scanning the jungle for even the slightest hint of movement. For the first time ever, her journal remained unopen. She struggled to form comprehensive thoughts; they were cluttered with worry, unable to reorganize themselves.

"We best be reachin' th' heart o' th' jungle soon," Kapp'n said. "That would be a good place t' start lookin'."

"Thanks for helping us," Sora said. "You were very gung-ho to come along. Guess living on this island your whole life can get boring. I know the feeling."

Kapp'n chuckled. "Well, I didn't always live here. When I was younger, me home was th' sea. Travelin' t' new places, meetin' new faces: Ah, that was th' life. Once I became a family man, however, that all changed. Still enjoy taking a ride once in a while. There's nothin' better than seeing new worlds, wouldn't you agree?"

"Yeah," Sora said, appearing a bit melancholy. He wished visiting other worlds were a carefree experience – not fraught with anxiety over having your heart devoured by dark monsters. Or trying to mend an unstable friendship.

"But don't Kapp'n miss searching for buried treasure," Yoshi asked.

"I beg yer pardon, my crocodile-lookin' friend," Kapp'n said, looking a bit upset. "Are ye assumin' I be a pirate? Assumptions can lead t' bein' washed up on a marooned island. I mean, what, jus' 'cause o' me dialect that instantly makes me a pirate? 'n th' fact that I be carryin' a cutlass?" He paused upon reevaluating his sentences. In a slow voice, he said, "'n that I use t' be a lad o' th' sea. Huh. I 'ave a lot o' question fer me mother now."

"Is that it up ahead?" Sora asked, grabbing everyone's attention.

They arrived in a large circular area. Large rocks stuck out from the ground. A plethora of palm trees hung over them like bushy fingers, which provided decent shade from the omnipresent glare of the sun. Isabelle dismounted from Yoshi, and began searching the vicinity. Again, she was hopeful for any type of movement.

The others looked around as well. Nothing but bushes and trees stood in their path. The undergrowth mumbled wearily from their shuffling feet.

"I can climb one of the trees for a better view." But Sora never got far, as he was startled by a sudden scream.

Everyone turned to see that it belonged to Isabelle. Her search ended abruptly from the appearance of familiar dark creatures with cold yellow eyes. Kapp'n hurried over and stood in front of Isabelle, holding out his cutlass. He recognized those creatures, and would never let them harm his friends. Not on his island.

"Stand back!" Kapp'n said, fearless. "Me cutlass skills might be subpar, but I still know how t' land a few hits between th' eyes!"

"Wait!" Sora said.

Kapp'n tried attacking a Soldier, but it slapped him aside with little effort; he rolled backwards like a beach ball, landing right next to Isabelle. She helped him up while he was in a dazed state. The jungle spun like a multicolored whirlpool.

"Ugh," Kapp'n said, lightheaded. "Seems I be about as rusty as me mother's cookin'."

"Why don't we let my friends take it from here?" Isabelle asked, and she guided Kapp'n to cover.

Sora and his friends drew their weapons, standing ready to fight the Heartless. Yoshi was excited; he planned to put his new shield to good use. Now the hard part was deciding who to use it on first.

Likewise, Sora couldn't wait to use his new spells on proper targets. "Time to go to work!"

The group noticed some new Heartless among the usual crowd. One of them appeared to be a strange hover car; its eyes served as the head lights. Another one appeared humanoid, akin to the Soldiers, but it wore a helmet resembling a bull. Creative, albeit random in design. But it was inconsequential – they were still Heartless, and would meet their inevitable end.

Sora tried striking one of the cars, but it drove behind him, and rammed into the back of his feet; he fell flat on his face. Ignoring the pain in his cheeks, he rolled over, noticing another car joining its partner. They both drove straight for him.

"Force!" Sora said, unleashing the new Gravity spell.

A massive ball of purple energy appeared above the Heartless, growing wider until it crushed them into the ground. Both appeared as flat as paper. Sora grinned; this spell was already exceeding his expectations. It was like witnessing a cartoon character after getting crushed by a steam roller. Sora scrambled to his feet, hurried over, and finished them off two powerful strikes.

Yoshi held his shield up to block an incoming blast from a red flying Heartless. The Bull Heartless charged right for the dinosaur. Yoshi threw his shield, only for it to be caught by the bull's horns. It then knocked the shield straight into the sky. Yoshi grabbed the shield with his tongue, and slammed it straight down on the bull.

Out of the corner of his eye, Yoshi saw the red flying Heartless preparing to strike from the air. The dinosaur retracted his tongue, grabbed the shield, and deflected the Heartless' claw, knocking it to the left. Yoshi went on the offense by wrapping his tongue around the flying one's arm, reeling it in, and delivering a powerful uppercut with the shield.

Luigi swung his hammer to deflect a Soldier's claw. The two went by each other as a result. After spinning around, the Soldier swung its claw at Luigi's chest, but he brought up his hammer to block it. Luigi kicked the Heartless in the knee, which threw off its guard. Then, he swung the hammer straight into its shoulder, knocking it a great distance.

Luigi noticed a few Shadows hurrying over, eager to masticate on his strong beating heart.

"Thunder!" Luigi said.

A lightning bolt emerged from the sky, paralyzing the Heartless, denying them their feast. Luigi knocked the first one away, rammed the second one with the other end of the hammer, and crushed the third one with the head. Unfortunately, Luigi's chances of having a moments respite were snatched away, as a Bull tried ramming for his chest. He leaped backwards to avoid becoming a human pincushion.

Luigi tried another Thunder spell, but the Heartless sidestepped to the left. The bull unleashed an energy beam from its horns. Luigi leaped into the air, just missing the attack, and tried countering by bringing his hammer downward; but the bull caught the head with its horns. After deflecting the hammer, the bull tried ramming him again.

Luigi used his Gravity spell to flatten the Heartless. With one powerful swing, he slammed his hammer on the creature's head, leaving it in a complete daze. After a long, excruciating battle in the heat, the group was victorious. They took a moment to recuperate. Strains of sweat poured down Sora's hair. With the combination of heat and exertion, it felt more like a waterfall beating on his head.

"Good job, boys," Kapp'n said, impressed, as he and Isabelle walked over to them. "Ye're quite formidable against those creatures. They appeared a few days ago. 'ave been nothin' but trouble. Wha' are they?"

Sora chuckled between breaths. "Nothing but a pain in the butt, that's what." He turned to notice Luigi was taking a few awkward steps backwards. The heat had melted his stamina into a puddle of fatigue. Unbeknownst to him, he was backing into a strange wooden object shaped like a fire hydrant. "Luigi! Look out behind…"

Too late. The plumber stumbled over the object.

…you," Sora said in a flat tone. He sighed in annoyance. "Why do I even bother?"

Luigi stood up, rubbed the back of his head, and noticed the strange object. "What on earth is a fire hydrant doing out here?"

He walked around to the get a better view of it. His skin became pale from the sudden surge of fear; it glistened in the sunlight. The strange fire hydrant had a blank face – two black holes represented its eyes, while another below served as the mouth. Nothing but emptiness lived behind those eyes. To make matters worse, the object started contouring its body from being startled.

"Demonic fire hydrant!" Luigi hid behind Yoshi. "Don't look into its sockets! Souls are probably part of its food pyramid!"

Isabelle giggled. "Relax, Luigi. This is a Gyroid. They have various functions."

"What, like possession?" Luigi asked, still on edge. "My neck can't turn all the way around!"

"I assure you, they're perfectly safe," Isabelle said. "In fact, they're rather helpful. This one gives descriptions of various places on the island."

Sensing no danger, Yoshi approached the Gyroid, fascinated by its distinct appearance. He gave it a light sniff. The Gyroid responded by wiggling faster. Yoshi became mesmerized by its erratic movement. Every move felt hypnotic. There was almost a rhythm to its flailing. Yoshi had become trapped, following an endless trail, trying to uncover its state of existence.

The Gyroid let out a strange gargling noise. Soon, it evolved into screeching; interspersed between them were incoherent mumbles. Somehow, Yoshi remained undaunted, and continued following its bizarre motions. The others, however, were growing uneasy.

"Well, you sure convinced me," Luigi said, as his anxiety peaked.

"Something is definitely off about this one," Isabelle said, tilting her head in bewilderment.

Then, the Gyroid spoke in a low pitched, distorted voice. "Can't….run….Isabelle….I…..know….turn…back….darkness…grabbing…."

It resumed flailing. Not another word was uttered. Although the sentence was fractured, Isabelle could see its meaning between the large crack. She felt like a pin of worry poked her chest.

"You don't suppose…" Isabelle said.

"Was probably him!" Sora said. "Come on! He has to be close by!"

Everyone prepared to leave, but they noticed Yoshi was still entranced by the Gyroid.

"Yoshi, hurry up!" Sora said in a loud, urgent voice.

While still facing the Gyroid, Yoshi said, "Me can't look away. This thing make Yoshi think about stuff. Like, why doesn't Koop-o cereal no taste like actual Koopas."

"Quit fooling around!" Sora said, vexed. "This is no time for games!"

Sora walked over to snap Yoshi out of his fixation on the Gyroid.

"But, Sora," a familiar voice said, "I thought you liked games."

Sora came to a halt. His body felt like it collided with a glass wall. He knew that voice anywhere. Turning around, he saw a teenage boy with blue eyes leaning against a tree. A few strains of white hair hung over his eyes like elongated, thin leaves; they perfectly concealed the emotional toil he expressed from within.

"Or are you too cool to play them now that you have the Keyblade?" Riku asked in a derisive tone.

"Aye! It be a sea hag!" Kapp'n said, brandishing his cutlass. "Hear they be th' scourge o' th' sea! Someone hand me a torch!"

"You realize that's a boy, right?" Luigi said.

Kapp'n thought over his statement for a moment. "Someone hand me a torch!"

Luigi smacked his forehead.

"Riku!?" Sora asked in surprise. "Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Just checking this place out." He looked around the jungle, admiring its serene beauty. "Brings back memories, huh? Of when the three of us use to hang out together." He frowned at Sora. "Your entourage is growing rather quickly. Does that mean Kairi and I will be lost in the crowd soon?"

"That's insane!" Sora said. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I would never think that! I've been looking for you both this whole time! Have you even found Kairi yourself?"

Riku stood up from his spot. "Maybe. While I do have a mission here, I suppose I can have a little fun. Catch me, and I'll tell you what I know."

"Come on!" Sora said, aggravated by his taunting.

Riku vanished into the tall grass, becoming one with the shadows of the jungle. They noticed no movement among the grass; not even rustling. It was like he never existed – an illusion conjured from Sora's mind. At least, he wished it weren't real. He stared in disbelief at the spot where Riku once stood.

Never in his lifetime would he expect Riku to say something so harsh. Why would he even make a horrible assumption? Sora was insulted. It was like Riku lost faith in him – his best friend. The one who had been reliable his whole life!

Yoshi – who finally tore himself away from the Gyroid – watched the whole ordeal. He saw the pain in his friend's eyes. "Sora, are you—"

"I'm fine," Sora said, crestfallen. "I just…don't understand."

"He said something about a mission." Isabelle gasped upon coming to a horrible realization. "No. He must be going after Digby! Oh, I hope he's not going to hurt him!"

A trigger was pulled inside of Sora, unleashing a bullet of anger. Everyone around him labeled Riku as a horrible person. First Luigi, now Isabelle. It wasn't fair. He wasn't himself. And yet, nobody seemed to understand his dilemma.

"He would never do something like that!" Sora said, snapping at Isabelle.

Isabelle reeled back from his tone, flustered. "I'm sorry…I just assumed…."

"Sora!" Luigi said, scolding him.

Luigi's voice restrained the rage thrashing around in Sora's body. He was able to stop and stare into Isabelle's eyes; they were covered in a thick sheet of sorrow. It was disheartening to see her look so upset.

Sora was overcome by guilt, as if it smacked him in the back of the head. "Isabelle….I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get defensive. It's just…I don't want it to be true. I'm still having a hard time believing this is the same Riku I grew up."

Isabelle saw the sincerity in Sora's expression. She took a deep breath to compose her thoughts into a small, quiet space. Everyone was on edge. Especially her and Sora. They cared so much for Riku and Digby. Right now, Sora reflected her feelings – she needed to step through the mirror and wipe away the smudge that ruined the surface.

"It's alright," Isabelle said as she grabbed Sora's hands, speaking in a compassionate voice. "When I saw Digby in that cloak, I was in denial, too. Anger was certainty an emotion at the top of my list."

"What do I do now?" Sora asked, despondent.

Isabelle smiled. "We find them both."

"How will that help?" Sora asked.

"My brother found his way back. I know Riku can, too," Isabelle said with encouragement. "We can't give up on the people who mean the world to us. I know you wouldn't."

Sora felt somewhat better from her incitation. Although there was still a hint of skepticism irritating his throat, he refused to quit. Every fiber in his being shuddered from the mere mention of the word. Quitting would lead to being trapped in a penitentiary of regret. Forever shackled with cold, unbreakable chains of regret.

And he couldn't live with that depressing notion.

"Of course not!" Sora said, somewhat uplifted.

"Then let's find them – together," Isabelle said. "We have each other's backs."

"Okay." Sora looked remorseful. "Still, I didn't mean to…"

Isabelle patted the back of his hand. "Don't worry about it. Just let it go. Perhaps I was rash in assuming the worst. I know you'd never try to hurt my feelings. You're too nice of a guy."

"Thanks," Sora said. The massive weight of guilt shrunk to a light feather of relief.

Isabelle then smirked. "Now move your butt, or else I'll make you eat dirt! I have a bad side just like Kraden; you don't want to see it!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Sora said, chuckling. He turned to the spot where Riku vanished. "Let's keep moving!"

As Sora made his way through the jungle, the others turned to each other, concerned for their friend. Yoshi especially. Seeing him lash out was so jarring. He hated seeing Sora in such a miserable state; it made him feel just as bad. Yoshi failed to understand why Riku was being antagonistic. Was it the darkness, or something else?

He was starting to understand that friendships can sometimes be an emotional morass. One minute, you're sitting down, sharing a funny quip, laughing together. The next, you refuse to acknowledge each other's existence, and toss those cherished moments into a dark, endless well, where they could never be retrieved.

"Poor lad," Kapp'n said. "Whatever problems he's havin' wit' his matey, I hope they work it out."

"Honestly, I hope so too," Luigi said.

Yoshi faced him with inquisitive expression. "Is Luigi saying that because he hopes Riku won't beat him up?"

"Shh! Quiet!" Luigi said, darting his eyes left and right, paranoid. "The jungle has ears!"

Yoshi rolled his eyes. Regardless of Sora's outcome with Riku, Luigi would still be just as fearful as ever.

Riku pushed aside some tall grass, arriving at another wide-open area. Birds chirped overhead; some wild animals scuttled by him. The sun's rays cover his skin with a hot coat. But he wasn't distracted by even the smallest of inconveniences. He was determined to finish this mission. And fast. He needed to be somewhere else

An unsettling image appeared in front of him; he found himself descending a desolate tower of despair. The longer his mind's eyes stared at the image, the worst he felt. But he had to close the shutters. At least for now. Lingering wouldn't make this mission any quicker.

A peculiar stench of darkness brushed across Riku's nose. It was incontrovertible, he thought. Digby had to be nearby, and, judging from the dominating odor, it was consuming him.

He wouldn't last much longer.

But before Riku could walk, he was interrupted by a familiar gruff voice. "Still care about that punk, I see."

Riku frowned, and spun around to see Bowser standing right in front of him, still donning that arrogant grin.

"Why are you here?" Riku asked, irked. "Worried I might mess up? 'Cause you're more than welcomed to do your OWN job."

"And miss out on all the drama?" Bowser said. "No way! This is better than TV. But seriously, what is your deal with this kid? Can't you see he's abandoned you for the Keyblade and those morons? I'd be pretty peeved if someone favored that dumb dino and pesky plumber over me."

Riku glanced away from him, dismissive. "I don't care about him. I was just messing with him a little."

"Oh, is that all?" Bowser said, raising a dubious eyebrow. "Come on, who are you trying to fool? I'd ship you two."

"The heck does that mean?" Riku asked, confused.

Bowser guffawed. "You don't want the answer to that one, kid!" His expression became stern. "Quit goofin' around and keep looking for that mutt. His heart is going to collapse soon. I can feel it. At the very least, he'd make a good Heartless."

Riku felt like a cheese grater pressed against his inner ear. The Koopa King's rambling were becoming intolerable. He just wanted to be done with this mission. Bowser created a dark portal, and started walking towards it. The grating started to cease, being replaced by a pleasant stroke of relief.

"Oh, and you'd be wise to watch the darkness in your own heart," Bowser said, cautious. "Would be a shame if the Heartless gotta a hold of it."

The grating returned with a vengeance; it went past the point of aggervation.

"Mind your own business," Riku said in a sharp tone.

Bowser frowned. "Boy, you really do need some sun. Living in a dark, dank castle can really make you crabby." He reflected on his own words. "Wow. That explains a lot about me, doesn't it?"

Soon, he vanished into the portal. Riku was frustrated from everyone warning him about the darkness. It was like a child receiving an earful from a parent – they didn't believe he could withstand its power. It felt demeaning, like no one was taking him seriously. But he survived the darkness. Not many had that distinct honor.

Why? It was through his own force of will. He was strong; the darkness bowed before fortitude, and he would not let it falter. In fact, he would tame the darkness like a lion, keeping it trapped in a cage; its vicious claws would never reach his heart.

And he would prove his strength by defeating the one threw him into the ring with that lion.

His vision grew dark – whether from the shade or exhaustion, he couldn't tell. He hobbled through the bushes, hearing his loud panting hush their conflated, disgruntled cries. The darkness was inching closer to his heart; it was swimming just above the surface, desperate to not be pulled under. But it wouldn't survive; the dark undertow grew stronger.

Digby arrived in another wide area, clutching his chest. His breathing became hoarse; his senses felt numb. It was torture. He couldn't escape with a dark corridor; the darkness was unstable. But he kept stumbling through the jungle. He would not get caught. They would use him as a weapon against Isabelle. He'd rather fade than become a marionette held together by black, pulsating strings, filled with nothing but remorse.

"What's the matter?" a young male voice asked. "You lost or something?"

Digby winced; he didn't expect to be caught so soon. Turning around, he saw Riku standing there, blade drawn, with a smug expression.

"Long time no see, 'master.'" Riku chuckled. "Isn't it funny – you taught me how to use the darkness. Now you're the one succumbing to it."

Digby closed his eyes, pensive. "I was an idiot to believe I could control the darkness. And now look where I am. It's not too late for you to make things right. Don't let it take you, too."

"I'll take my chances," Riku said, undismayed. "The darkness has comfort me through the hard times I've faced these past few days. There's something about its warmth that gives me strength. You know what the problem is? You're too scared of it – afraid to see what it can really do. By trying to reject its power, you end up becoming a prisoner to its mercy."

"No," Digby said. "You're too naïve to realize that's not the case! There's no escaping its power. Even the most disciplined person cannot overcome it. I thought the same thing, believe me."

"You're just too soft."

"Maybe I am, okay!?" Digby said, popping out of his feeble bubble with a powerful shout of anger. "I wasn't born to be a fighter. I'm in the home designing business for crying out loud! But the darkness kept me alive. It was all I had. Until I stopped and reflected on everything I've done. Unfortunately, it was too late."

Riku remained unfazed from his words. "Is this supposed to reform me or something?"

"I don't expect you to change immediately," Digby said. He pitied Riku – an overzealous child who believed he was on top of the world. "At the very least, stop and really think about your actions. There's still time for you to abolish your petty jealousy and reunite with Sora. Darkness can make those negative emotions stronger, and negative emotions can make it cultivate."

Riku glowered in response; he felt like Digby exposed his most sensitive spot to the sun, and it burned, growing hotter every second.

"It's the truth," Digby said in firm tone. "I'm sorry. You seem like a good kid, but you're being selfish by wanting your own perfect little world with only him and that other friend of yours."

Riku had stopped talking. He refused to listen anymore. Who was Digby to lecture him on why his feelings were wrong? They belonged to him! Only he understood them! Riku prepared his blade.

Digby sighed in defeat, and did the same. "Figured that would be your respond. Oh well. I can fade away knowing I made some impact."

Riku ran right for him, and swung his blade inward. Digby deflected it with his own. Then, Riku swung back the other way again; once again, Digby deflected it. Going on the offense, Digby tried thrusting, but Riku brought his blade straight up to catch the strike. Riku then pushed it upward, and tried swinging for his head; to which he lowered, and spun backwards to gain a little distance.

Digby tried bringing his blade straight down, but Riku caught it with his own. After pushing both their blades downward, Riku tried throwing a punch; Digby was quick to bring his blade up again to block it. Digby once again brought his blade straight down; Riku held his at a horizontal angle to catch the strike.

But Digby wasn't done; he performed an over the shoulder strike, and Riku stepped back to avoid it. Holding the handle with both hands, Digby swung his blade upward to deflect another strike. Digby then held the blade with one hand, and brought it over his head to deflect another attack. He was going on the defense. In his weakened state, he couldn't compete with the Riku's speed.

Riku slashed right across his hip. Digby winced from the pain, but tried believing it wasn't there – a needless distraction that would prove detrimental. Digby stood up, deflecting another attack. Then, he attacked with an inward swing, and Riku ducked underneath it, and tried thrusting his blade towards Digby's chest.

Digby used his right hand to grab the tip of the blade, and brought it up to catch Riku's attack like a baseball player bunting. Then, he took his right hand to punch Riku in the face. Digby continued his assault by ramming that same fist into Riku's stomach. The boy felt air rush out of his mouth, and was helpless as he received a kick in the shoulder.

Riku stumbled backwards into a tree. Seems his bite wasn't entirely dull, he thought. This might take a while. Digby thrusted at him, and Riku spun out of the way, allowing the tip to stab the tree. Riku deliver a high kick to knock the blade upward, forcing Digby's arm to do the same. Riku used his opposite foot to kick Digby onto the ground.

Digby looked up to see Riku bring his blade downward. He rolled left, and swung at Riku's feet. The boy hopped to avoid it. Riku tried bringing his blade down again, but Digby caught it; then, he used his feet to send Riku over his head. It was his turn to hit the ground.

The two hurried to their feet. Digby tried launching a dark attack, but felt an uncomfortable tingle in his fingers. He failed to force that feeling to the center of his palm. Riku smirked; the darkness was erratic. Too strong to be controlled. Soon, the darkness would spread throughout his own body like a virus, and consume him into its nondescript being.

"Let me show you how it's done!" Riku leaped into the air; his blade was covered in a dark aura.

Digby leaped back to avoid the strike, but dark electricity discharged from Riku's blade. With no time to react, Digby braced himself, feeling the full force squirm throughout his fur like an electric eel. But, still, he refused to be taken prisoner. At this point, he was just waiting for his heart to snuggle beneath the sheets of darkness, where it would sleep for eternity.

Mustering any scraps of strength, he prepared to fight until his last breath. Riku slammed his blade on the ground again, producing electricity. This time, he dodged each one, leaped into the air, and thrust at Riku, who caught the attack. He released a burst of darkness to push Digby backwards.

Riku ran forward and kicked Digby in the stomach, followed by unleashing a flurry of strikes. They were quick. Digby couldn't prevent them from penetrating his skin. His energy was waning. Every movement felt like he was trudging through time itself. Finally, Riku knocked him into a boulder. He leaned over, taking short, shaken breaths. His muscles trembled from exhaustion.

He heard Riku's footsteps. Soon, he was overhead, glancing down with an indifferent expression. He showed no sympathy; his mind was focused on far more important things. Digby lowered his head, defeated, knowing he failed. He would never forgive himself for the misery he put Isabelle through.

Before Riku could make a move, he heard a familiar voice call his name. He spun around to see Sora and his friends enter the area. Riku scowled; he was in no mood for an interruption. Sora noticed a tired Digby stumbling to feet. The Keyblade wielder felt a sharp pain in his chest. This wasn't real, he thought. He wanted to believe the tropical heat had wrapped reality.

His best friend laying harm to another individual. The thought was inconceivable; to witness someone you care for do something so immoral. Sora's disbelief stirred into a red, orange liquid of silent fury. Riku felt it splash across his face, and found himself staring into Sora's eyes, drenched in that same mixture.

Isabelle watched as Digby took the opportunity to escape. She refused to lose him again. Her safeguards broken by a crowbar of purpose. She didn't care about the dangers in front of her. Saving Digby was her priority. She hurried after him.

"Isabelle, wait!" Luigi said. "It's not safe!"

But she didn't listen. With an annoyed sigh, Luigi chased after her, but heard Yoshi say, "What about Sora?"

Luigi turned to see Sora's eyes locked with Riku's. The heat of their confrontation brushed across his moustache.

"Go," Sora said in a low, serious tone. "I'll catch up."

Luigi and Yoshi looked at each other, reluctant to leave their friend behind. But Isabelle was in far greater danger. The Heartless could ambush her at any time. Sora needed to settle this matter alone; he understood Riku better than anyone else. They would be ineffectual. In fact, they might make things worse.

Respecting Sora's judgement, Luigi and Yoshi ran after Isabelle, with Kapp'n trailing behind them. "Wait fer me!"

"Why?" Sora asked. Contempt was written on his face. "Why are you doing this? Are you that thickheaded to see what you're doing is wrong!?"

Riku placed a hand on his hip. "Funny. Was going to ask you the same thing. You only seem interested in running around and showing off that Keyblade these days. Have you forgotten what our dream was? Do you even want to save Kairi?"

"Don't change the subject!" Sora said, the anger seeping through his tongue. "You know I do! But not like this! Can't we talk this out?"

Riku shook his head. "Actions speak louder than words. Your mind has drifted onto more important things – more important than being with the ones you care about."

"Why can't you see that searching for you has been my priority?" Sora's voice was so loud that birds flew away in fear. "Do you think I was happy when you ditched me back in Traverse Town?"

"Strange," Riku said. "If you really did care, you would have made more of an effort. You were perfectly okay with letting your new friend shun me."

"Luigi…had his reasons," Sora said, with an uncomfortable knot tightening in his chest. Outright repeating Luigi's words would only make things worse. Not that he was winning this argument in the first place.

Riku was insulted. "So you take his word over mine? Who are you fooling? You don't care. All you've been doing is playing hero and helping people from various worlds. Guess I shouldn't be surprised. You've always been willing to help strangers in need. But for once, why can't you put that aside and focus on the people you care for the most? If you just went with me, we could have found Kairi in seconds."

How could Riku say he didn't care? Sora missed him and Kairi every day. He pined for the moment when they were reunited. Hearing that sentence was like being stabbed in the stomach. It was a betrayal of trust – something they built to near perfection since childhood. And now, one sentence made it fall to pieces.

Sora wanted to march over and punch him in the face. But he restrained himself. "How can you even say that with confidence? What difference would've made?"

Before Riku could open his mouth, they heard screaming from the other side of the vicinity. Sora knew his friends were in danger. He wanted to help them. Riku could see the worried expression in his conflicting blue eyes. There was nothing more that could be said. Words could be exchanged until sunset, and they would continue missing their mark.

But then he remembered his mission to dispose of Digby – it had to be finished. Riku had a hunch a Heartless caused the disruption. Perhaps a temporary alliance with Sora would be beneficiary. They could defeat the Heartless in no time.

"I'll help you this once," Riku said. "I know how much they mean to you."

"Okay."

After years of daydreaming, the two were going to face their monster; but they imagined doing so as friends, not adversaries.

Sora face's collided with the tall grass as he sprinted through the jungle. Sometimes he found himself stumbling over branches or holes, but regained his balance; he refused to let mother nature hinder his process. As he pushed his way through the grass, the temperature took a sudden dive, as if falling into an icy cold lake.

It was an unmistakable – a Heartless was attacking his friends.

Sora heard Riku panting beside him. He should be thankful for the assistance. But his appreciation had been buried beneath resentful soil. Every word Riku had uttered flicked at Sora's ear lobes; it only aggravated him further. But he had to repress those feelings for now; rescuing his friends was more important.

Sora and Riku arrived at another wide area. There, they saw Luigi and Yoshi, weapons drawn, protecting Isabelle and Kapp'n from a big, flower-like Heartless. Its body appeared as a strange blob with a face; akin to its brethren, the creature had two yellow eyes. Its teeth were round, resembling prison bars. On its forehead was the Heartless symbol.

The creature had a second head on top of its own – this one was much smaller, having tan skin, and two long green tentacles protruding from each side of it. It was the most incomprehensible Heartless they've encountered yet – a creature that only the most surreal of artist could conjure from a fever dream.

Sora noticed that Digby was trapped within the Heartless' spongy maw. He was lethargic, unable to lift a paw. The world seemed even darker now. His entire body was numb. He struggled to discern reality from fantasy. Did he even exist? Was this a dream? Why was this happening? Every rational thought had been wrapped in a blurry film; nothing seemed right to him.

Isabelle felt herself walking towards the Heartless, despite its intimidating appearance. Her focus was on Digby. The only thing she feared was losing him forever. Her own life was trivial now; she would leap into the Heartless' mouth without hesitation.

"Digby!" Isabelle said. "Are you okay!? Please, say something."

A voice managed to squeeze through the film. Digby recognized her voice, but his memories continued going over a bumpy road, spilling important pieces onto the floor. He was forced to feel them out, as if searching in the dark.

"W-Who?" Digby asked, stupefied.

"Come on!" Isabelle said in a loud, firm voice. "Stay with us! It's me, your sister!"

Digby blinked, still fumbling through the dark corridor of his mind. "My….sister?"

The Heartless, exasperated from the constant chatter, swung one of its tentacles at the group. Everyone ducked just in time. The creature wanted to enjoy devouring its victim in peace.

"Ooh!" Kapp'n said. His knees were buckling. He was fortunate to not lose his beak from the last battle. Fighting this abomination would be imprudent. "Me Southern Hemisphere be callin'. Be right back." He leaped into a nearby bush.

Luigi and Yoshi were about to make their move when they saw Sora approach them; parallel to him was Riku. At first, Luigi wanted to ask the obvious, but he noticed that the two seemed uncomfortable next to each other. Maybe now wasn't the best time, he thought. He didn't want to widen the gap between Sora and Riku's friendship.

"Sora just in time!" Yoshi said.

"What's going on?" Sora asked.

"This thing got the jump on us," Luigi said. "Captured Digby in the process."

Sora turned to see that Digby's condition hadn't improved. He could barely keep his eyes open; the world started creating an after image of itself. His heartbeat was faint; its cries for help were becoming less frequent. Soon, they would suffocate from the overflow of darkness.

"He won't last much longer," Riku said, apathetic. "When someone reaches that deep into the darkness, they can never find their way back."

Sora glared at Riku. How could he be so insensitive to Digby's plight? It only fueled his desire to save him, and prove Riku wrong in the process. "Then we've gotta take this thing down right away!"

Riku shook his head. Clueless as always, he thought. Guess that's one thing that hasn't changed. But Isabelle saw an inverted image of Sora; it was bright, colorful, and filled with unyielding confidence. It inspired her to never quit. But she had to be quick; time refused to offer respite.

"Think. Think. What do I do?" Isabelle said out loud, panicked. She stumbled across an idea amongst her tangled thoughts. "I know! Digby, what's my favorite coffee?"

"H-Huh?" Digby asked. Then, he saw the polystyrene cup. It was piping hot. The steam ascended into the air, tickling his noise, reminding him of the smell. He saw the liquid rotate slowly in the cup. "M-Mocha….milk…three…..spoonsful of sugar."

"Yes!" Isabelle said in excitement. "That's it! Say it again!"

Digby continued repeating the ingredients, not once letting it slip from his paws. He held it tight; the image of his sister appeared in front of him. He concentrated; her face illuminated the endless darkness. He would not let it faint. Riku was taken aback. How was he fighting against it? Even the likes of K. Rool and Ridley ended up in a perpetual sandstorm of darkness, unable to see the light again.

He might be useful after all.

The Heartless unleashed a powerful roar, which pushed everyone backwards. Fed up with the noise, the creature prepared to attack, swinging its tentacles in fury.

Luigi frowned at Riku. "You've made this rescue mission a lot more difficult. The least you could do is help…" He noticed Riku giving him a dark, cold look. His confidence dwindled before the iceberg. Not wanting to irk Riku further, he spun around to pin the blame on someone else. "….Yoshi!"

"What me do!?" Yoshi asked, defensive.

Riku drew his blade, then glanced at Sora. "You up for this?"

"No problem." Sora summoned his Keyblade. "Let's do it!"

The creature threw one of its tentacles at Sora and Riku, who both rolled away from each other to avoid the strike. Using the opposite tentacle, it tried striking Yoshi; the dinosaur blocked it with his shield. It continued pushing against the shield, forcing Yoshi backwards. The dinosaur felt his shoulders tremble from the struggle; his feet were starting to slide across the ground.

Luigi tried swinging in from above, but the Heartless retracted its tentacle. Then, the creature tried slamming it straight down on Luigi's head. Riku hurried over and swung upward, dealing minor damage to the tentacle. Enraged, the Heartless swung the opposite one at him. Riku parried the strike, leaped onto the tentacle, and then jumped into the air, preparing to attack the smaller head.

The creature brought up its other tentacle to catch Riku's blade. While the creature was distracted, Sora launched a fire spell into its backside. The Heartless flailed around in a panic, feeling the flames seep into its skin. Sora and Riku both struck at the creature's mouth, hoping it'd release Digby. But the Heartless refused to forgo its meal. The darkness in Digby's heart touched the roof of the creature's maw, releasing a pleasurable sensation that was irresistible.

The creature pressed both tentacles into the ground, and, displaying impressive strength, lifted itself a few feet into the air. It swung forward, knocking both Sora and Riku backwards. After the two stood up, they saw the creature connect its tentacles together; then, it tried slamming them right into the boys.

They leaped back just in time, and felt the ground shake upon landing. The Heartless threw one tentacle at Riku; he deflected with his blade. Before going on the offense, the creature thrusted the tentacle at him again. This time, Riku brought the blade towards his chest to catch it.

With its opposite tentacle, the Heartless prepared to crush Sora, but the boy used his Gravity spell, forcing it to the ground. Riku glanced at him, surprised at the spell he used. Sora responded with a complacent smirk, as if wanting acknowledgement for his strength. To his disappointment, Riku appeared aloof, pretending that what he witnessed was prosaic.

Even their rivalry wasn't playful anymore; Riku swung the resentment around his neck like a scarf. It seemed to be growing longer. Despite Riku's attitude, a part of Sora believed that his best friend was in there, barricaded behind a steel door, crying to escape. But that didn't seem to be the case.

Riku slashed at the creature again; Sora followed up with an over the shoulder strike. The Heartless felt like a its lifeforce was being chipped away by a large chisel. Yoshi came in and smacked the second, smaller face with his shield. Then, Luigi unleashed a Thunder spell, rendering it immobile.

Sora and Riku delivered another strike, which was powerful enough to send it back a few feet. It was damaged, but not defeated. However, one more attack would assure its demise. The Heartless felt like a meek little animal among predators. All it could do now was flee and find sanctuary in the dark crevasses of the jungle.

The Heartless created a dark portal underneath itself, and started sinking. But, due to intense pain, it could no longer focus on Digby, and ended spitting him out like leathery meat. Riku rushed past Sora, caught Digby in his arms, leaped onto the descending creature, and jumped off, landing behind the Heartless as it sank into the portal.

Luigi gaped from Riku's astonishing feat of strength and mobility. Feeling inadequate, the plumber lowered his cap, mumbling, "Not impressed. I can do that with Wario on my back."

Isabelle's heartrate climbed a rope of a panic, moving faster with each second; it wanted to reach the ceiling and begin a slow, calm decent. But that wasn't going to happen. It continued pounding in her chest. She came so close to saving him – to be reunited, and finally rid themselves of this ongoing agony.

"Stop!" Isabelle said. "Please! Give me back my brother!"

"Afraid that won't be happening," Riku said, giving her a cold, insensitive glare. "I have some unfinished business with this overgrown mutt."

Isabelle then experienced an emotion seldom expressed: anger. Just listening to Riku's condescending tone made her fur quiver from a rough, cold comb of contempt. Everyone was startled, as she was on the verge of yelling. "I don't care what business you have with him! He's not some puppet you just toss around! He's my family! You should know what that's like!"

"I do," Riku said, his expression unmoving. "Unlike someone I know, I'm doing this for the person I care about."

Sora felt as if a large rubber band, forged from that last sentence, tighten his stomach. He hated hearing these hurtful accusations from his best friend. But the last sentence also made him suspicious, and he wasn't looking forward to what proceeded it.

"See, your brother's unusual," Riku said. "His heart has been able to repel the darkness. Not many hearts have that distinct honor. I'm not sure, but maybe he can help someone who's lost theirs."

That large rubber band crushed Sora's stomach into a raisin. His legs turned into two hollow stumps, unable to move. No, he wasn't talking about her. Sora needed clarification. "Wait a minute. Are you talking about Kairi?"

"What do you care about her?" Riku asked in a harsh tone. He ran through the jungle to escape.

Sora's legs still refused to move. In fact, his entire body had been encased in a large crate of affliction. He couldn't believe this was real. It seemed impossible. Sometimes we believe that our own loved ones could never succumb to a horrible fate. And, unfortunately, real life's unpredictable pattern delighted in proving us wrong.

Sora found himself in the Secret Place, on the night of the storm, staring into Kairi's eyes. The sparks in her irises were gone; her skin was pallid. It brightened the dark cavern. He remembered her calling his name in a faint, timid voice; then, she flew into her arms like a rag doll, and vanished. That image was always one step ahead of him, serving as a painful reminder for failing to save her.

He now understood why she acted so leaden that night – the Heartless had turned her into an empty shell. Her warm, fun-loving personality had been siphoned through a tube. The two missing pieces of his island drifted away from him. No matter how far Sora reached out, he couldn't touch them. He started to feel miserable – the world around him started fading to black.

But then, Sora saw Riku walk out from the darkness, extending his hand. Things could've been different had he grabbed it. And, maybe, his new friends wouldn't be caught in the middle of this crossfire. Sora took a deep breath and lowered his head; he had to take responsibility for his failures.

Sensing no danger, Kapp'n crept out from the bushes. "What happened?"

"No time to explain!" Isabelle said in a rushed tone. "We have to stop him!"

Luigi and Yoshi stared at Sora in guilt. They knew he was despondent over learning Kairi's fate. But they didn't have time to linger. Another life was planned to meet a similar fate.

"Sora?" Yoshi asked, concerned.

"Go," Sora said in a solemn tone.

"E-Excuse me?" Isabelle asked.

Sora gazed at the spot where Riku vanished with intense emotions spinning through his irises. "Leave this place. Head back to the resort. I'll take care of Riku."

"Okay!" Luigi said, taken aback. "What happened to Sora!? I know it can't be you. That's not something he'd say."

Sora refused to make eye contact. "This is my problem. Riku is doing all of this out of jealousy. All his anger, his sorrow…it's because of me." He clenched his fists. "He probably wouldn't have hurt Digby had he not switched sides. And now I'm afraid he's going to hurt all of you. I.,.I…don't want that. I'll see you guys later."

He started running towards the tall grass, but Yoshi intercepted him, refusing to let the boy partake in a one-man crusade.

"Hold on, mister!" Yoshi said, stern. "Sora think he can just walk away? Especially after the vow he made?"

"Vow?" Sora asked; his thoughts were so muddled that he had forgotten it.

Yoshi stuck his hand out, with the dorsal side facing the sky. "All for one and one for all, remember? That vow have no expiration date. We in this together!"

"But…I…" Sora started to say.

Luigi walked next to Yoshi, carrying a look of disproval. "He's right. Do you honestly expect us to let you head off by yourself? You never asked any questions when it came to helping us find the Star Spirits. I think it's only fair that we return the favor."

"No matter how much Riku makes Luigi's knees buckle?" Yoshi asked with a teasing smile.

"That's a lie," Luigi said, feigning innocence. "I probably have to release my Southern Hemisphere like Kapp'n."

"Ew!" Yoshi said, wincing.

Sora was touched by their gesture. But that feeling of responsibility loomed over his head like a lantern dangling from a string, swaying back and forth, prepared to fall and shatter from one single misstep. "Luigi….Yoshi….you don't have to….

"Remember what you said to Link?" Luigi said. "How you'd lose sleep over worrying about him? It isn't a one-way street. We'd feel the same way about you. Is that something you'd want?"

"Of course not," Sora said.

Isabelle joined the group. "I'm worried about Digby enough as it is. Please don't let me add you to the list. I know I can't do much, but I promise to show my support."

Sora sighed in defeat; he knew there was no point in arguing. Ever since the beginning, he had always been there to help them. It was inevitable that they would extend the same gesture. That's what true friends do. And he was grateful every moment of the day for them. Feeling that sense of loyalty resuscitated his spirit, making it leap into the air, ready for any challenge.

"Guys….thanks," Sora said.

Luigi and Isabelle placed their hands on top of Yoshi's.

"All for one…" Yoshi said.

Sora made his famous grin, and placed a hand on top of the others. "…and one for all!"

"That be touchin'," Kapp'n said. He looked uncomfortable. "However, I be afeared this as far as I go."

"Are you sure?" Isabelle asked.

"Aye," Kapp'n said. "I'd be more than willin' t' help, but I also 'ave loved ones t' protect from these beasts. Me family means th' whold world t' me."

"We understand," Isabelle said. "Go to them. We'll find our way back."

Kapp'n turned to leave, and then looked over his shoulder. "Good luck. If ye ever run into trouble, ye know where t' find me."

After exchanging good-byes, Sora and his friends turned to pursue Riku. A tiny bit of worry pressed against Sora's shoulders; he may have to fight Riku in order to save Digby. But he didn't have to brace for the inexorable by himself. His friends would be there to soften the blow.

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