Aaaand we're back! Probably should've taken my mountain trip into consideration for my update timing, but oh well! I count just 3 days off as a victory, we're still on track.
Did I plan two Shakespeare quotes back to back? No, but I do love Shakespeare so I'm biased. I can't help they fit the vibes the chapters ended up having!
Also hurray for doing more canon divergent things that I had a lot of fun writing! Riku gets a little self-reflection and a peek into Birth by Sleep as a treat. I feel like I wrote more action scenes than usual for this one, but maybe that's just me. At least three separate fights, although one of them isn't too long. Hope y'all enjoy them, I feel like I've come such a long way in how I write my action sequences since Akira's story first started.
Anyways, long rambling intro over, please enjoy!
Chapter 11: Wayfinder
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves."
—William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar
The transition through the prismatic portal was seamless. Riku was used to the sensation of traveling through a Corridor of Darkness leaving him nauseous—but this portal, whatever it was, left him feeling like he simply stepped through a doorway into a new room.
The scene before him was like one straight from the pages of a storybook. They were somewhere high in the mountains—he could tell that much from the refreshingly crisp air and the rising peaks surrounding them that disappeared into the clouds below. The centerpiece currently demanding his attention weren't the rolling hills and cascading waterfalls, however, but the towering structure of ivory and gold sat between two of the jagged peaks. Golden chains held the castle securely in place, catching the sunlight in a glare that almost made Riku wince.
Riku walked along the cobblestone path, twirling slowly to take it all in. It was a beautiful sight—but everything beyond the immediate vicinity was blurred at the edges, the color of the landscape blending together. A little reminder he wasn't actually in the world itself, but simply the shadow of it existing in a dream.
His gaze drifted back to the group walking ahead of him, their voices carrying faintly on the breeze. Akira dragged her feet, still looking morose. Terra and Ventus walked behind her, seemingly bantering once again if Ventus's playful glower was anything to judge by. Aqua led the pack, but still kept a watchful eye on those behind her, adjusting her pace accordingly.
He followed after as the path turned into a large staircase up towards a grandiose set of double doors. They began to creak open on their own as they drew closer, as if reacting to their presence. Akira glanced behind her one final time before crossing over into the entrance hall, as if looking for one last chance at an escape from the impending scolding, and in doing so she caught Riku's gaze once again.
Her eyes widened in surprise as he nodded in greeting. Her lips parted as if she were about to say something, but then Ventus called her name, breaking her focus. She let her gaze linger just a beat longer before she shook her head and continued into the castle.
Riku paused at the threshold too, but not to look back. There was a weight in his chest, one that was refusing to budge, and in fact just got worse with each passing moment in this world. The silence surrounding them was starting to feel less like peace, and more like a warning—like birds falling silent in the presence of perceived danger.
It took him a few seconds to realize that even the footfalls and quiet conversation of the group he'd been tailing had disappeared as well. His gaze snapped up, scanning the space before him, only to be met with more silence. The vast majority of the hall was now covered in shadows, with the exception of a circle of light reflected from the stained glass window above him.
"Something's up," he noted quietly to no one in particular. Despite this, he stepped forward, the echoes his shoes made against the marbled floor uncomfortably loud in the sudden stillness. The light from the stained glass painted a mosaic of color onto the floor—an image of two Keyblades crossed. But as he moved closer, the colors seemed to shift, the shapes twisting and bleeding into one another as the X slowly curled into a heart.
Suddenly, the grand double doors slammed shut behind him, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap. Riku jumped and spun around, Soul Eater entering his hand, only to be met with a black void—a large expanse of nothing where the doorway had just been.
Forcefully tempering his breathing, Riku turned back towards the hall where the others had disappeared. Only to find it was no longer a vast, welcoming entryway, but a narrow, dimly-lit corridor stretching forward into the dark. His grip on Soul Eater tightened as he gritted his teeth.
Was this some sort of outside interference? Castle Oblivion trying to get him lost in the dream? Silence met his scrutiny, leaving the questions unanswered.
"Just hop your way from one memory to the next," Riku said to himself with a tinge of bitterness, "simple."
As if in response to his sarcasm, the faint sound of laughter echoed down the corridor. Riku stared down it warily—but there was quite literally nowhere else to go, unless he wanted to try walking directly into the void. Deciding to tuck that idea into his back pocket for now, he walked down the hallway towards the echoing laughter.
The corridor twisted and bent unnaturally as he continued onwards, the air feeling heavier with each footfall. Just as he felt like he was ascending upwards—or maybe he was sliding down, it was a general feeling of weightlessness—he rounded a corner and suddenly emerged into another memory. The transition was jarring, leaving him squinting from the sudden onslaught of a brightly lit meadow.
Ahead, Akira was crouched low, hiding behind a cluster of bushes. She clutched a small, makeshift wooden Keyblade in her hands, Riku zeroing in on it instantly. He'd had his suspicions once he realized the other three were also Wielders; that wooden blade was just another checkmark on his mental list of context clues. Akira, whether she remembered it or not, was raised here—training with professionals to learn how to wield her Heartblade properly. Ventus even mentioned they had a Master—Eraqus, was it?
Something had to happen to not only them, but this entire world. Why else would the stakes have been so high these past years as a horde of Heartless amassed unchecked? Actual Keyblade Masters were MIA—leaving them to try and pick up the pieces.
"Still deluding yourself into believing you belong among the Wielders, I see."
Riku let out a harsh breath to stop himself from visibly flinching. He glanced around himself subtly, but Ansem wasn't manifesting. Simply talking directly to him. Wonderful.
"You're awfully chatty for a dead man," Riku muttered under his breath.
Akira crept forward, the movement helping Riku to ignore the low chuckle that answered his taunt. Peering through the foliage, she whispered, "Gotcha now," to herself.
In the clearing beyond Ventus ran into sight, doing a spin in place to quickly scan the meadow. "Akira? Where'd you go?" he called, exasperation clear in his tone.
Akira grinned mischievously, her green eyes sparkling as she leapt from her hiding spot with a loud, "Hyaaah!"
Ventus yelped and spun around, just in time to block her playful swing with his own training blade. "What the—Akira!" he cried, laughing despite himself as they began a clumsy duel. Ventus was clearly doing his best to guide her through the motions, despite Akira mostly ignoring his instructions.
A faint smile tugged at Riku's lips at the scene.
"It's a disappointment, what happened to those three," Ansem's voice once again echoed in his head, cutting his smile short. "They had such potential. It's just unfortunate they had someone weak-willed as their Master. So much power squandered by naivety."
Riku glowered, trying to bite his tongue to keep back a retort. He said he wasn't going to engage Ansem in conversation—but he couldn't deny his curiosity about these Wielders was making him reconsider this declaration.
"...You talk like you knew them personally."
"I've visited a great number of worlds in my pursuit of knowledge. Is it really so surprising to think our paths may have crossed at some point in time?" Ansem answered, his tone suspiciously devoid of the gloating Riku expected as his vow of silence was broken.
This response caused Riku to pause. He hadn't really thought of Ansem's life before his obsession with the Darkness took over his mind—but then again, maybe it hadn't been before that line was crossed. Was he somehow responsible for what happened here? If he'd discovered a bastion of Wielders in training capable of stopping his future plot with the Heartless, what was stopping him from destroying them before they became a problem?
It made a bit too much sense for Riku's liking.
Ansem could likely sense the flare of suspicion in his heart, but offered no words in his defense.
Before Riku could press the matter further, he finally processed the fact that the meadow had fallen silent. His gaze snapped up to see Akira and Ventus frozen mid-fight, the colors around them bleeding away into grey. He stepped back, the ground underneath him rippling like he was suddenly standing in shallow water before giving way entirely.
Riku instinctively straightened mid-air and landed roughly on his feet, deposited once again back in the strange labyrinth this castle had become. He exhaled sharply, looking over his shoulder just to confirm the endless hallway stretched in both directions before pressing forward once again.
"It doesn't want you here," Ansem stated, his voice echoing as if he were physically in the hallway too, "This world is trying to prevent you from bearing witness to its memories."
"Thanks for pointing out the obvious," Riku muttered, not wanting to speak too loud as he listened intently. The oppressive silence around him was broken by faint, distorted voices. Unlike the laughter, however, they weren't coming from a particular direction. Rather, it seemed like they emanated from the very walls.
He slowed his pace, straining to make out the fragmented voices echoing around him. Most of it was just noise he couldn't decipher, but snippets of conversation began to emerge as he focused—overlapping, yet unmistakable.
"...two of the Keyblade's chosen stand here as…"
"...I'm strong enough to hold it back…"
"...never be a Master in his eyes, Terra…"
The name cut through the haze, Riku focusing in on it. Terra.
The corridor rippled, the walls bending and folding as if reacting to his thoughts. Before he could properly prepare himself, the ground once again gave way beneath him, plunging him into another memory. He fell with a barely stifled shout, landing on the marbled flooring of the golden castle.
A large, grand room stretched before him, stained glass windows lining the chamber setting it ablaze with color. At the end of the space a wooden dais rose, on which three high-backed chairs sat. Two of the three chairs were filled—but the faces of the men seated there were blurred to the point of being indistinguishable.
He looked to his left, then his right. Aqua and Terra were to either side of him, facing each other with a grim determination. Each held their Keyblade at the ready, tensed and waiting. As he watched on, Riku could see Aqua mouth something subtly to Terra—whatever it was made made his nervous expression break in a small smile.
"Remember, there are no winners in this spar," one of the men called out, dressed in a flowing white robe. The greying hair pulled back from his face gave away his age, if his naturally raspy voice didn't clue Riku in enough. "Only truths to be witnessed. When equal powers clash, that is when true natures are revealed. There is to be no magic—just you showing how you've learned to wield your blades as an extension of yourself."
"Yes, Master Eraqus," the two shouted in unison.
The man nodded in satisfaction. "Then on my mark…"
Aqua and Terra both lowered into a ready stance, and Riku took the chance to back up out of the way. As he did so, he noticed two pairs of green eyes peering into the grand hall from a nearby corridor, jostling one another to get into a better position to watch the spar.
"Begin!"
Aqua and Terra both launched themselves forward, meeting in the center of the room. They were quick—almost too quick to follow. Riku found himself transfixed by the memory playing out before him, putting all his focus into studying their movements and form.
Terra struck first, his Keyblade coming down in an overhead swing. Riku could hear the sheer force of the attack as his Keyblade swung through the air, but Aqua didn't flinch away. With a graceful pivot, she redirected the blow, the clash of metal ringing in the empty space like a bell. Her counterattack was seamless—a horizontal slash Terra barely managed to dodge in time.
Riku could hardly follow their movements. Terra's attacks were filled with the strength to shatter defenses, but Aqua's form was fluid, almost dance-like. Every parry and dodge was precise. They both had a different rhythm in battle, different forms they favored—but their Master was right. They were evenly matched.
The two men in their chairs looked on closely—their blurred faces keeping their expressions hidden, but Riku could read the focus in their body language. The second man in the black cloak was particularly interested based on how he was leaning in, wordlessly watching the exchange.
Terra lunged again, this time feinting to the left before spinning in a wide arc that forced Aqua to backpedal. She flipped backwards, dodged a second strike, then a third—Terra's strikes grew faster and more aggressive, but she managed to evade them all. Just as Terra seemed to be gaining the upper hand, Aqua retaliated.
Terra overextended in a lunge. Aqua dodged under the blow, then lashed out. Terra finched back as her Keyblade skimmed just in front of his face, barely managing to miss the underside of his jaw. He stumbled backwards, Aqua not lending him a single moment to recover his footing. She wasn't holding back.
Terra's eyes flashed as she ran forward, his empty hand extending as if instinctively trying to call something forth in a moment of panic. Riku felt his heart drop as the scent of Darkness spiked in time with the smoke that gathered in his palm, coalescing into… a spell?
Terra glanced down at his hand, his expression one of shock, as if he hadn't even realized he was calling on the powers of Darkness. Clenching his fist, the smoke dispersed as he raised his blade to block. Aqua and Terra collided again, their Keyblades sparking as they locked together in a test of strength. For a moment their faces were inches apart, and judging by the expression on Aqua's, she'd seen the instinctive motion Terra made.
They broke apart, both falling back as they circled one another, trying to conceal their panting. The spar continued—but Riku was distracted by the call of a name behind him.
"Akira—wait!"
Riku turned to see Ventus shouting as quietly as he could down the hall towards the retreating figure of Akira, running away as fast as she could. Ventus glanced back at the fight taking place, gritting his teeth before he shook his head and ran after the young girl with another shout of her name.
Riku felt the same hesitation—he wanted to stay, to see the outcome of this fight, and hear what the old Masters had to say about Terra's usage of Darkness for even a split second. Would he be scolded by Mastere Eraqus? Would Aqua scorn him for it? Had he struggled with the Darkness before?
He had so many questions—but he wasn't here for Terra.
With a small growl of frustration, he ran after the quickly disappearing figure of Ventus. The golden light of the castle dimmed and distorted the further they went, shifting into cooler hues as if the sun was rapidly setting just outside the stained glass windows.
"Akira!" Ventus's voice echoed ahead, even as his figure had long since disappeared into the dark. "What's wrong?"
Riku pushed himself to keep pace until the corridor abruptly gave way, spilling him out into a wide meadow under the star-streaked sky. He stumbled slightly as he emerged, taking the moment to catch his breath as he looked for the memory he was chasing after.
Ventus was ahead of him, he could see him perched on the edge of an overlook, but the person beside him wasn't Akira. Aqua lounged on the grass next to him, both of them looking up towards the night sky. Their relaxed demeanor told him this wasn't a continuation from the memory prior.
The tonal whiplash had Riku sighing as he approached. These memories weren't letting him catch his breath and process anything before he was shunted to the next. Was he even making any progress forward? Somehow he doubted it.
He strolled closer, following their gaze upwards. It didn't take very long to see what caught their attention. Every few seconds a blaze of light would streak across the sky. A meteor shower—a decently sized one based on the look of it.
"Y'ever wonder what stars are? Where their light comes from?" Ventus asked, breaking the easy silence.
Aqua tilted her head, humming thoughtfully. "Well, they say—"
"That every star up there is another world."
They both jumped at the intrusion, looking over their shoulders to see Terra striding towards them with a small grin.
"Every star?" Ventus repeated, his tone incredulous.
"Yup. Hard to believe there are so many worlds out there, isn't it?" Terra plopped himself down beside them, slinging his arm over his knee.
Ventus still looked like he doubted this, but turned his gaze back up to the heavens. "So then… what's the light?"
"Do I get to answer this one, or should I just hand it back to you, Terra?" Aqua asked, shooting him a playful glare.
Terra let out a low laugh, raising a hand in mock surrender. "By all means, continue."
Aqua narrowed her eyes further, even as her smile grew. She opened her mouth and waited a beat to see if Terra would interrupt again before continuing, "The light comes from their hearts. They shine like beacons to guide us—to remind us that even in the deepest dark, there will always be light to help us find our way."
Ventus wrinkled his nose. "Really? But if our hearts are filled with light too… why don't we glow?"
"You do," Terra said, keeping his expression straight-faced even as Ventus snapped his attention to him, lips parted in surprise.
"I do?"
"Yup," Terra chirped. "In your own special kind of way."
"That's—hold on." Ventus rolled to his knees to face Terra confrontationally. "I don't get it. Are you just messing with me?"
"You'll get it when you're older."
"What?" Ventus's pitch heightened in offense. "Y'know sometimes I think you guys get me confused with Akira. I'm not a kid!"
Their little tiff was interrupted by the sound of poorly stifled laughter. They both looked at Aqua, who was watching them with amusement dancing in her blue eyes.
"And what are you laughing at?" Terra asked, his eyebrows raised.
"Nothing, nothing," Aqua waved a hand dismissively, her lips rolling to contain another bout of laughter.
"Oh, c'mon," Terra said, feigning offense, "You've clearly got something to say."
"It's just…" Aqua paused to suppress another laugh, though the grin on her face betrayed her. "You two are ridiculous sometimes."
"Ridiculous?" Ventus echoed, pointing a finger at himself. "I feel like I'm the only one trying to have a serious conversation here! Terra's being all cryptic and confusing, and now you're just sitting there laughing at me!"
Aqua leaned back on her hands, tilting her head as if considering his words. "You're right, Ven," she said with mock sincerity. "You're the serious one in this group."
Terra snorted. "Uh-huh. Mr. Serious over here, who spent an hour yesterday arguing with Akira about the price of ice cream."
"Listen! She was trying to get me to give her more munny than she needed, like a little thief!" Ventus shot back, his face flushing. "And for the record, I won that argument. You're welcome for teaching her morals."
Terra gave Ventus a playful nudge. "See? There's your glow! You're a spark of inspiration, lighting up the world one argument with a child at a time."
Ventus groaned, throwing his head back. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
"Like a moth to a flame," Aqua quipped, her sly grin returning.
As Ventus buried his face in his hands with another noise of frustration, Aqua and Terra finally gave into their laughter. The sound filled the air, carrying between the mountain peaks to the valley down below. Riku watched on from the sidelines quietly, finally pulling his gaze away from the three to look up at the stars above.
They shined bright and clear without any interference from the lights of the castle—just as they did on their secluded little islet back home. He wondered briefly if he'd be able to pick out the same constellations they used to, if all worlds really do share the same sky.
Riku raised his hand, his thumb touching the horizon as he tilted his palm just so to line the brightest star up with the tip of his finger. They'd all learned how to navigate from the stars in preparation for their voyage on the raft, so the constellations in the Island's sky were practically imprinted on his heart. That all felt like a lifetime ago now, but he fell into the motions as easily as if he'd done it just yesterday.
Hand still raised, Riku closed his eyes. If he focused, he could feel the ghost of Kairi's hand brushing up against his, gently correcting him. He hadn't ever admitted to anyone other than Sora that he did it wrong to have the excuse of holding her hand for just a moment. Sora gave him so much shit for it—until Riku realized he was doing the exact same thing with Akira.
He laughed quietly, absorbed in reminiscing. He couldn't help it—watching these three Wielders reminded him so much of his friends.
Is this what they could have been, if he hadn't been so stupidly stubborn? Could they have navigated these worlds together like they'd planned?
…Would he still have been the chosen wielder of the Kingdom Key?
Riku shook his head, banishing those thoughts. No point in wondering about what could have been. He could only focus on what he could control—the future he wanted to create with his friends. He'd have all the time in the world to make everything up to them.
When he finally opened his eyes, he physically startled to see Aqua was now only a few feet away from him. Not only that, but she was making direct eye contact. Riku hardly dared to breathe as she simply stared at him. And then she… smiled?
"Friends are a lot like stars, aren't they?" she mused. "Showing us the correct pathway forward, lighting our way in the dark."
Riku glanced over his shoulder to see if she was addressing someone else—but Ventus and Terra were gone. It was only them. He turned warily back towards her, his guard up. The memories hadn't interacted with him before now—except for Akira, which he shrugged off with the theory that it was her memories he was diving into, so at least it tracked she could respond.
"You can see me?" Riku asked, ignoring the question.
Aqua blinked at him slowly, then started to silently move past him, towards the flowing creek cutting through the meadow. She didn't stop to look and see if Riku was following. He wasn't at first. But after a moment of hesitation, he started after her.
Riku kept his distance as he followed behind, watching her movements. He didn't know Aqua, didn't have more than these few moments of replaying memories to study her—but even then, he knew something about her was… off.
As she reached the creek, she strolled along the water's edge to the pond gathering under one of the nearby waterfalls. There she knelt, picking up a smooth stone, rolling it across her palm. "You're still only surface level."
Riku said nothing, but he slowly tensed at the confirmation this wasn't Aqua he was speaking to.
Aqua stood, then with a flick of her wrist she sent the stone skidding across the water's surface. "You're hopping from memory to memory, yes, but you aren't getting any deeper." She leaned down again, picking up another stone. Instead of skipping this one, she simply held out her hand and dropped it. The stone fell into the water with an audible plop, quickly sinking into the depths of the pond.
Riku watched the surface of the water ripple, then settle back into place. Point being made, he glanced back up at the figure wearing Aqua's face. "... Who are you?"
The hint of a grin twitched on Aqua's face. "Who I am is currently of little importance to you. You should be attempting to find the way out of here in a timely manner. Your presence is attracting unwanted visitors."
Riku let out a breath, the hand he usually summoned Soul Eater into twitching. "Like you?" he asked, his voice steady despite the unease crawling up his spine.
Aqua tilted her head, her eyes flashing unnaturally in the dark. It felt as if she were trying to peer directly into his heart with the way her gaze pinned him in place. "I suppose that depends on if you find my company unwanted."
Riku didn't have an answer to that yet.
She stepped closer, her movements deliberate and silent. As she passed through the shadow of a nearby tree, her form seemed to flicker, and another figure emerged from the darkness—Terra. He regarded Riku with the same measured look of appraisal. "But no, I wasn't talking about myself. I was referring to the Nightmares."
Riku tensed. "Nightmares?"
"Spirits who exist naturally in the Realm of Sleep," Terra's voice carried the same strange inflection and tone as Aqua's had. "They consume dreams—and the hearts of those who trespass in this Realm. Every second you spend here without diving further just makes your presence more obvious."
Riku warily glanced around his surroundings. "I'm not exactly staying here because I want to."
The person that had Terra's form nodded. "I know. This particular set of memories isn't making it easy for you either. The world is trying to keep you from witnessing what you need to see to continue onwards. Perhaps maliciously, but I theorize it's more so to protect itself from the pain of reliving it."
He hummed a short note in agreement. Thinking back on certain memories came with a rush of pain Riku could do without. He understood the desire to avoid reminiscing on those moments. But as much as he could sympathize, he couldn't allow the world to get in his way any longer.
Riku propped a hand on his hip, reevaluating the person in front of him. "I can't help but wonder about what you're getting out of this. Why help me?"
The figure smiled, their form shimmering at the edges as he scrutinized them. Riku blinked, and suddenly found himself having to readjust his gaze to meet Ventus's bright green eyes. "You can consider me a… guide, of sorts. I hold no stake in your success or failure, merely an interest."
"That didn't really answer my question," Riku retorted, his tone sharp.
They let out a soft, almost amused hum. "You don't trust me. Good. Caution will serve you well. But trust between us isn't required for you to keep moving forward."
They turned, the crunch of their boots on the dirt breaking the tense silence that followed their statement. "You've lingered here long enough. Follow me, and I'll take you to the memory that leads forward. Or stay, and deal with what follows."
Riku's jaw tightened. He didn't like being cornered into this decision—but if it turned against him, he had enough confidence in his abilities to be able to hold his own. "Fine," he said, reluctantly stepping forward. "But if this is some kind of trick—"
"Then you'll find out soon enough," they interrupted, their voice tinged with an unreadable emotion.
The figure led him through the pathways and bridges that cut through the mountains, back towards the gleaming castle in the distance. The darkness gave way to the dim light of dawn as they walked, but it didn't lend Riku any reprieve from the sense of growing tension.
"Remain on guard around this phantom," Ansem's voice growled, almost making Riku jump from the suddenness of his intrusion. "They are not to be trusted."
Riku's lip curled in annoyance. He glanced ahead to track the figure's reactions, measuring whether or not they heard him mutter back, "You realize you saying that makes me trust them more, right?"
"Save your back talk, boy. If you perish, I do as well. Unlike this interloper, it's in my best interest to ensure you live through this."
Riku made a non-committal noise under his breath. "Not as convincing an argument as you might've hoped."
The sun rose higher in the sky, dawn shifting into day proper. They were on the staircase that wound its way up the mountain peak to join with the courtyard proper when something brought Riku to a sudden halt.
A scream shattered the silence, alongside a crackle of energy exploding overhead.
Riku's blood ran cold.
Akira.
Without waiting for the figure, Riku broke into a sprint. He charged up the staircase winding around the mountain peak, skidding to a halt in the courtyard. Terra stood in the center, his Keyblade drawn and his expression one of pure rage. Ventus stood behind him, shielding Akira, who clung to his arm. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with fear. Ventus merely looked numb.
Facing them was Master Eraqus, his Keyblade brandished aggressively. Unlike in the grand hall earlier, his facial features were sharp and defined, and his expression was severe.
"Terra! I command you—step aside!"
"No!" Terra roared, his grip tightening on his Keyblade. "I'm not going to let you hurt them!"
Riku's gaze snapped back to Terra, his eyes widening. Master Eraqus hadn't attacked Ventus and Akira… had he?
Eraqus bit something back, looking away as he let out a slow, steadying breath. "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgement. They're threats to the very balance we strive to protect as Keyblade Masters—I cannot allow them to leave."
"They're not threats!" Terra shouted, his voice raw with desperation. "They're our family!"
Eraqus's face crumbled for just a moment—then he met Terra's rage-filled gaze, unflinching. "If you do not heed your Master… then you will have to share their fate." Despite his tone being cold and final, he couldn't quite contain the single tear that crested down his cheek.
The tension in the air shattered as Master Eraqus lunged forward, his Keyblade crackling with light. Terra stood his ground, his own Keyblade igniting with a dark energy as he intercepted the attack. Sparks erupted as their blades collided, making Ventus and Akira flinch back.
"Step aside, Terra!" Eraqus demanded. "You've let the Darkness take hold—it's blinding you to what is right!"
"You're the one who's blind!" Terra retorted. He pushed Eraqus back with a powerful swing, the stone underneath rippling from the sheer force of the motion.
Eraqus recovered instantly, his movements fluid and unyielding. He shifted his form as he darted forward, unleashing a flurry of rapid strikes. Each one forced Terra to take a step back as he blocked it, doing his best to still shield the two behind him with his body. The old Master's attacks were a blur of precision and power, designed to overwhelm and disarm—but Terra was still standing his ground.
Behind Terra, Ventus kept Akira close to him, but he was watching the fight progress with a dawning horror. "Terra, stop! He's—he's right! Maybe if I just give myself up—"
"Quiet!" Terra snapped, making Ventus shut up instantly.
With a strike that got too close for comfort, Eraqus disengaged, jumping back with his Keyblade held in front of him defensively. But Riku knew a tactical retreat from a reposition for a ranged attack. Eraqus's robes flared as a wind kicked up around him, his Keyblade glowing with a divine light.
Riku's breath caught in his throat as the spell was unleashed, beams of radiant light shooting towards the group like falling stars. His own body flinched away instinctively and he shielded his vision with a hiss—even just the memory of the Light was searing.
Terra spun his Keyblade in a wide arc to try and deflect the spell, but he was overwhelmed. With a series of explosions as the beams found their targets, all three were sent flying back towards Riku. He jumped back as Ventus and Akira tumbled to his feet, both of them visibly wounded and unconscious. Riku gritted his teeth, having to fight the instinctive urge to check and make sure they were fine. This was just a memory. There wasn't anything he could do but watch.
He could see now why the world was trying to keep this particular moment locked away and long forgotten.
Terra staggered to his feet, his chest heaving. His gauntlet and pauldron were cracked and smouldering from bearing the brunt of the spell's impact, and burns raced up his arms. The courtyard was eerily quiet, save for the faint rustling of wind and the fading echo of Eraqus's attack bouncing between the mountains, as Terra stared at Ventus and Akira's motionless forms.
Eraqus advanced, his movements calm and unyielding. His face was set with grim determination, but lines of sorrow were etched deep into his features. He didn't even glance at Ventus and Akira, only looking straight ahead towards Terra.
"That's enough," Terra murmured, not turning towards his approaching Master. Riku watched as Terra's expression darkened, something flickering at the edge of his form. He had a feeling he knew what was about to happen next.
"I agree," Eraqus sighed. To Riku's surprise, he actually stopped a few feet away from Terra, his expression fighting to stay stoic. "Terra. My son. Stop this foolishness. Dismiss your blade and stand aside. This is my final warning."
"I'm only doing what you taught me," Terra answered in a low tone. He held his Keyblade out, the dark aura Riku had been waiting for finally flaring to life around him. The shadows he cast seemed to grow as even the sun dimmed, and he turned a dark, burning gaze onto his Master. "To protect those who can't protect themselves."
In a sudden flurry of movement, Terra swiped his blade outward. Eraqus, expecting an attack, raised his blade and tensed—but the shadows beckoned forth weren't to lash out. They gathered underneath Ventus and Akira, drawing them in as a Corridor of Darkness formed.
The way out.
Riku's instincts screamed at him to follow—this was the way forward, the exit from this labyrinth the figure promised to lead him to. He took a single step forward before stopping—his feet felt rooted to the ground as his eyes locked onto Terra.
"You see it now, don't you?" A familiar, resonant voice echoed in the air.
Riku's stiffened. He didn't offer up a response—but his silence was enough.
"A boy so desperate, so full of conviction," Ansem continued, "who believed he could wield the dark without consequence. Use it to protect what mattered most, no matter the cost. Didn't I say you wouldn't be a disappointment to him?"
Riku shook his head, in denial of the scene playing before him. "He's not like me. I gave into the Darkness for selfish reasons—I abandoned my friends. Terra's doing this to protect them."
"Is he?" Ansem's voice sounded amused. "Perhaps that's just what you wish to see. Regardless—a noble intention doesn't change the fact he gave into the Darkness. By your own admission, you should hate him, shouldn't you? Any usage of Darkness is something to be abhorred."
As if on cue, Terra let out a roar, his Keyblade erupting with dark energy as he charged toward Eraqus. The energy released as they clashed was blinding, the force of their collision reverberating through the air. The ripple of wind rushed over Ventus, stirring him to life just as the Corridor began to dissolve.
"Terra—wait!" Ventus cried, but it was too late. The shadows collapsed in on themselves, spiriting Ventus and Akira away to whatever destination Terra had in mind. They were gone—alongside Riku's exit from this world.
"I need to see," Riku muttered, more to himself than anyone listening in. Consequences be damned, he'd find another way out himself. He needed to stay in this memory, to watch it to its end. He needed to know Terra's story didn't end like this.
Terra's strikes grew faster, more aggressive. So far Master Eraqus had been keeping up, but it seemed to only be a question of when age and energy bested experience.
With another defiant roar from Terra, dark energy sparked along the cracked stone of the courtyard before pillars of rock erupted from the ground, forcing Eraqus to leap into the air. He retaliated with a surge of water magic, a spiralling torrent that caught Terra mid-stride and threw him back. Terra rolled with the impact, his Keyblade already raised to block the follow-up spell—a radiant burst of Light that crackled as it struck his guard.
Eraqus rushed forward before the dregs of Light even had a chance to fade away. Riku flinched as his Keyblade stabbed through to where Terra was standing just moments before—but there was only the sharp sound of metal meeting stone as he struck an empty space. Eraqus and Riku both blinked in confusion, before realizing the shadows gathered underneath Eraqus weren't just the one he casted.
Terra erupted from the Darkness, his Keyblade landing a heavy blow against Eraqus's front. The man was lifted off his feet from the force of the blow, his body tossed aside as Terra completed his swing.
Eraqus rolled to his feet clutching his side, his breathing ragged as he struggled to stay upright. The impact of Terra's strike had been brutal. He looked up as his former apprentice approached, looking like he tried to say something, but the only thing that emerged was a wheeze.
Terra's eyes flickered with a hint of hesitation—but it wasn't him who faltered.
Eraqus, taking advantage in the lull in the fight, darted forward in a feint that drew Terra's guard. The Darkness around Terra pulsed, and as if it grew a mind of its own for the briefest of moments, an inky black arm lashed out and struck Eraqus square in the chest.
Eraqus gasped, his eyes wide with shock and pain as he staggered backward. His Keyblade fell from his grasp, clattering to the ground as he collapsed to his knees.
There was a moment of silence as everyone took in the red slowly staining the front of Eraqus's robes. Terra's dark eyes widened, and he seemed to just now realize the blow he'd dealt. The dark aura around him flickered before disappearing entirely, and he dismissed his Keyblade as he began hesitantly making his way forward.
"Master… what have I done?" Terra's voice cracked with anguish as he reached out, "I'm sorry, I—"
"No," Eraqus's voice cut across Terra's, silencing him despite how Riku could barely hear his words. "You were right… I've failed you, Terra."
Terra shook his head, his breath hitching. "Don't say that."
"It's true," Eraqus grimaced, clenching the front of his soaked robes as he bowed his head in shame, "Perhaps I've no one to blame but myself for the Darkness in your heart. My rigidity, my fear… somewhere along the way I lost your trust. And now I've done worse—raised my Keyblade against my own students, forced you to make a choice you never should have had to make." His voice was heavy, laden with pain and emotion. "My own heart is Darkness!"
It happened faster than Riku could process. Terra finally reached Eraqus's side, just as a dark shadow formed behind the old Master. The sound of a Keyblade being materialized rang through the air before it was plunged straight through the man's chest. Riku and Terra both flinched back as Eraqus made a strangled noise, the light in his eyes dimming as he slumped forward, falling unceremoniously onto the ground.
Terra let out a noise of anguish, falling to his knees. Riku hardly dared to draw a breath as Terra began to sob, the perpetrator of the attack moving past Eraqus's body to stand just before him. Riku glanced up at the man—only to be met with a black blur and a flash of golden eyes before a force collided with his stomach.
He was launched over the walls of the courtyard, slamming into the mountainous terrain far below with a harsh thud that forced the air from his lungs. Riku coughed and gasped for breath, summoning Soul Eater to help him scramble back to his feet.
The thing that attacked him wasn't far behind. It landed on the ground softly and soundlessly despite the height it jumped from, as if it didn't weigh anything at all. The armored figure raised its head slowly, fixing him with a sharp, golden-eyed glare. Large horns spiraled out from the helm, ending in deadly, razor sharp tips. The gauntlets held the same threat with pointed claws gleaming in the dimming light—the perpetrator of the previous attack. Emblazoned on the chest piece was a strange curled heart symbol Riku didn't recognize.
"I assume you're the Nightmare?" Riku called out, wincing as he grasped his wounds to seal them shut.
The creature tilted its head, recognizing it was being addressed, but said nothing. The whole thing had a tangible aura of Darkness surrounding it, as if the armor was actively emanating smoke. It moved forward with an unnatural grace, each step silent despite the heavy-looking plating it wore. Its solid gold eyes bore into him, unblinking, unwavering.
"I'll take that as a yes," he muttered.
The creature's claws flexed—then in an instant, it was upon him.
Riku barely managed to react, raising Soul Eater to just in time to block the incoming strike. The force of the impact sent vibrations up his arms and he was pushed back several feet, his shoes skidding against the rocky terrain.
"Fast," Riku gritted out, locking his blade with the creature's claws. The Nightmare leaned in, an unnatural growl filling the air, and Riku felt the oppressive weight of its Darkness pressing down on him. Almost overwhelming, even with his built-up resistance.
With a burst of strength, Riku shoved it back, breaking the brief stalemate and spinning around to slash at its exposed side. The Nightmare twisted impossibly, avoiding the strike by a hair, and countered with a claw swipe aimed at Riku's head.
He ducked, rolling to the side and retaliating with a quick slash before dancing out of its range. That time Soul Eater connected, carving a gash into the Nightmare's side. Black smoke erupted from the wound, but the creature didn't falter.
The Nightmare's only response was to charge again, faster this time. It lashed out in a flurry of attacks Riku was forced to either dodge or parry with perfection—he had no time to disengage or attempt a counterattack. It was relentless, and Riku was slightly alarmed to see it didn't seem to be losing any steam based on the increasing force behind its strikes.
Riku's breath came in short bursts, his arms straining to keep up with the Nightmare's onslaught. It wasn't letting up, so he was going to have to make his own opening. Steeling himself in preparation for the pain, Riku let a strike through.
He gritted his teeth against the sharp pain as the Nightmare's claws tore through his shoulder. The searing agony threatened to black out his vision, but he channeled the pain into determination. Using the momentum of the creature's attack, he twisted his body, bringing Soul Eater around in a tight, upward arc.
The blade connected with another burst of smoke as he buried it in its back. The creature stumbled back for the first time, looking around at Soul Eater still sticking out from its armor.
Riku pressed the advantage. Ignoring the blood dripping from his shoulder, he lunged forward, a firaga spell gathering in his palm. As he thrust his arm up, the spell exploded in the Nightmare's face point blank. Thick, black goblets of darkness dripped from the opened wound as the helm was partially blown open, the only thing behind the armor an empty black void. But despite the visible damage, it wasn't retreating.
As Riku summoned Soul Eater back into his palm, it spun low and swept its leg out, catching Riku off guard. His legs were kicked out from under him, and in the split-second he was in the air, it grabbed the front of his shirt and slammed him into the ground.
He wheezed, grimacing as his shoulder throbbed in pain from the impact. As the Nightmare raised its other hand, claws gleaming in the flashing lightning of the world's destruction, time seemed to slow.
Riku's stamina wasn't enough to keep up with this Nightmare. But it couldn't end here. His friends needed him.
The Nightmare's claws dove forward, straight for his heart.
He seized onto the desperation—and then let go of his restraint. With a yell, the Darkness within him surged forth. It erupted from his body in a violent wave, black and violet energy swirling around him like a living storm. The Nightmare paused for a fraction of a second, its claws a hairs breadth away from his chest, before the onslaught hit it, throwing it from his body.
Pushing himself to his feet, Riku's eyes glowed faintly, their vibrant hue tinged with gold. His breaths were heavy, but his movements were steady as he raised Soul Eater level with his head. "Is that all you got?"
The Nightmare tilted its head as it observed Riku, the angle unnatural. Its hisses faded into a low thrum of confusion. And then it slowly backed into the shadows, the golden eyes on its mask-like helm seeming to glow before it faded away entirely.
Riku stood in the aftermath, the swirling darkness around him gradually settling into faint tendrils before dissipating into the air. His chest heaved as he gripped Soul Eater tightly, his knuckles white against its hilt. His glowing, gold-tinged eyes scanned the empty battlefield, searching for any sign of the Nightmare's return.
"Running away?" he called out, his voice low and steady despite the adrenaline surging through his veins.
The world around him seemed eerily quiet, the only sound the distant rumble of collapsing terrain as the world continued to break apart. Riku's senses remained sharp, his heart pounding in his ears as he took a cautious step forward.
"That's what I thought," he muttered under his breath, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his lingering unease.
As the Darkness within him retreated, Riku felt the weight of what he'd unleashed settling on him. That Darkness was different from the power he wielded before. It was raw, untamed, and answered his desperation with a force that felt like it'd consume him if he let it. And yet… it sang to him. Something deep within him was sated.
His fingers flexed around Soul Eater as he looked down at the blade. It was dangerous.
"If you let it be," a voice from behind him said.
Riku whirled around with Soul Eater ready to strike.
Standing before him, illuminated by the dim, flickering light of the collapsing world, was a figure Riku recognized instantly. Aqua. Or at least, someone who looked like her. Her calm, piercing gaze softened as she regarded him, her Keyblade nowhere in sight.
"It's only dangerous if you let it be," she said again, in the same lilting tone as the shape-shifting figure from before.
"You again?" Riku scoffed, dismissing Soul Eater and rotating his wounded shoulder with a wince
"Me again." She glanced down at the smokey tendrils of Soul Eater fading away, then Aqua's piercing blue eyes flitted up to meet his own. Her scrutinizing gaze pinned him in place. "If you keep relying on that Darkness the way you just did, you'll lose more than just the friends you're trying to save. The Addled doesn't play fair, and it takes more than you can give back."
Riku's eyes narrowed as he looked away. The unusual terminology caught him off guard—but it didn't really matter which word was used. Riku knew when he was being preached to about using the Darkness. "Trust me, I know. I don't need to hear it from you."
She hummed a flat note. "Of course. My apologies."
Before Riku could respond, the ground beneath them trembled violently, a crack splitting the terrain just a few feet away. The world was breaking apart faster now, the sky darkening as swirling shadows began to close in.
The figure with Aqua's face looked upwards, her hands clasping behind her back. "Suppose it doesn't mean much at the end of the day. You missed your ticket out of here. Did you at least get the answers you were looking for?"
Riku clenched his jaw, thinking over her words. If he had to guess, being caught in the destruction of a dying world wouldn't be good—even if it was just a memory. Ignoring the question, he muttered, "That can't have been the only way out."
The figure didn't answer immediately, her focus remaining on the fracturing sky. Then she glanced back at him, her expression unreadable. "Do you see another way?"
Riku glanced around, pacing the small amount of remaining stable ground as he peered over the crumbling edges. The storm was consuming even the sky, leaving nothing behind but a black void stretching into nothing. He backed up, his frantic eyes falling on the nearby pond. The water was now pitch-black like an oil slick, slowly encroaching over the shoreline.
A memory of his own played before him—when Destiny Islands was collapsing into the dark, the portal he'd summoned to help him and his friends escape looked a lot like that. A pit of tar that felt as if it were bleeding all the warmth from your body. But it worked, hadn't it? All he had to do was accept it.
Riku approached it, the figure following behind him.
"Thinking about using the Darkness again?" she asked over his shoulder. "I thought you were against the very idea of that. But as long as it's something you'll consider, it's certainly a viable option to use as a way out."
The tension in Riku's shoulders returned as the familiar unease crept into his chest. He felt like he was already sinking into the pool before him, back into its frigid clutches. His breath puffed out in visible clouds as the ambient temperature around them dropped. "... It doesn't ever just let you leave, though. There's always a catch."
"Clever boy," she said with a nod. "As I said before, the Darkness you know doesn't play fair. But Darkness as it's supposed to be doesn't steal. It takes only what you offer up—a primal force just as any other."
Riku glanced at the figure from the corner of his eye coolly. They were watching him as they spoke, studying him as much as he was them. He found himself musing over their identity once again. It didn't seem likely this was a trick from Ansem, given his warning about this figure earlier. The Organization, maybe? They'd tried to encourage him to use the Darkness as well—though the methods were a little different.
"But it's not about the barter," they continued, making him snap back to attention, "it's about self-control. The strength of your will. Offer up exchanges based on desperation or fear and you'll always be at its mercy. But approach it as an equal, with a level head—"
Riku interrupted the figure sharply, "I'm not afraid of the Darkness, if that's what you're implying. And I don't need to hear about it being my equal. I just need to rescue my friends, and then I'm done with it—for good."
Aqua's eyes narrowed, something within them flashing. "If you truly believe that will be the end of your troubles, then you're already lost. I'm not blind to the Addled Darkness cultivating in your heart. It'll only grow if you keep feeding it with heightened emotions and desperate bids for power—and ignoring it will result in nothing different. Learning how to channel it properly is your only hope."
Lightning crackled and thunder boomed as the ground shook. One of the golden chains keeping the castle in place snapped, bringing down the peak of the mountain with it. The world was collapsing, and he was out of time.
Riku gritted his teeth. And then stepped forward into the frigid waters. He felt the thickness of it sticking onto his shoes, tendrils crawling up to grasp his ankles as he sank in, and fought not to fling it off in disgust.
"Focus," the figure commanded, her tone sharpening. "Feel the Darkness within you. You must acknowledge it is there."
Riku closed his eyes, steadying his breath. He turned his senses inwards hesitantly, and the Darkness was there to greet his searching. Just beneath the surface, a pulsing force that seemed to thrum in time with his heartbeat, brushing up against his subconscious like a cat winding around his legs.
Riku's lip curled, but he forced himself to feel it, letting the sensation wash over him.
"Now," the voice sounded distant as it guided him, "don't fight it. Will it into a path forward."
Their words took on a strange resonance—like they were speaking from across the collapsing valley, and Riku was merely hearing the echo of their worlds. He forced his focus deeper, plunging entirely into the dark.
The Darkness within was restless, writhing and eager. It wanted to move, to flow like a river freed from the dam he put in place. Riku exhaled slowly, steadying his thoughts as he focused on shaping it. He wouldn't let it overtake him—wouldn't be overwhelmed. He'd bend it to his will.
In an instant, the sensation shifted. One second he was in the center of a raging storm, the next it all fell… quiet. Rather than a riptide trying to pull him under, the Darkness was now a surface of still water, just waiting for him to sink in. Giving him the choice.
Riku opened his eyes, finding his vision was still dark. The void surrounded him in all directions, the surface underfoot gleaming like dark, deep water. He took a step forward, and it rippled gently in turn. He felt a faint pull in his chest the longer he stared, as though something within him called to the abyss before him.
"I won't let it control me," Riku muttered, as much a verbal reassurance to himself as it was for the figure he knew was still watching.
"Then prove it," came their voice—seemingly from the void itself. "You've been granted a second chance, Riku. Don't waste it."
Riku let out a slow breath. Then without another word, he took a running start and plunged into the abyss.
The sensation was instant and overwhelming. It was like being submerged in icy water, shocking his senses. The Darkness pressed against his skin, his lungs, his mind. He felt the weight of it, the raw power, the chaos and potential it carried. For a brief moment, it felt as if he'd drown in it.
But then, a brush against his hand pulled him from it. He blinked, trying to focus on the blurred form before him. It grabbed his hand and pulled before swimming deeper, and he heard the faintest laugh as a trail of bubbles swirled upwards. The familiar sound made his chest tighten with emotion, and he latched onto the feeling, using it as an anchor. With a sharp exhale, he forced the Darkness to yield to his will, feeling it shift and bend around him.
The pressure eased, finally allowing his limbs to move. Riku moved after the figure below, swimming as quickly as he could to try and catch up. But the deeper he swam, the more the world itself seemed to twist. Riku felt a sickening lurch in his stomach, as though gravity had suddenly inverted.
For a moment there was no sense of direction at all—just a cacophony of sensations. His body felt weightless, there was a growing pressure in his ears just like there was when he dove too deep into the ocean, his lungs burning with a too-long-held breath—
It happened suddenly. One instant he was sinking deeper, the weight of the abyss starting to press down around him again, and the next, he broke through an invisible barrier. The Darkness fell away in an instant, and he felt a rush of cool, crisp air filling his lungs.
The light was blinding, immediately forcing him to close his eyes again. Riku gasped and coughed, his senses overwhelmed. Sunlight warmed his face, the salty tang of the ocean air filled his nose, waves gently battered him as he floated in the water.
Riku felt his heart stop.
He forced his eyes open into a painful squint, already knowing what he was going to see. It was enough to take what little breath he'd gained back away.
Destiny Islands.
Home.
This chapter is the first exploration into the forces of Light and Darkness I'm developing for the Two Hearts universe. Me and my friend Verylmancer have put a lot of thought into the workings of things behind the scenes, and I'm excited to develop it further for future chapters!
Also the Mysterious Figure scene was def inspired by the Black Rose in Arcane. I'm a sucker for shapeshifters using their powers casually during a conversation, esp if they're impersonating someone important to the protagonist.
Sora's POV returns Jan 31st! As always, if the schedule experiences any delays you can always check my profile. I keep track of my ongoing progress on it and will post if any delays are expected!
As for this week's questionnaire:
1. What do you think about the mysterious entity following Riku through the dream? Do you have a guess as to who that might be at this stage?
2. Do you think evil inherently exists in the world? And as a follow up, can one wield Darkness in the name of good?
Lumi: Welcome back, friend! I told you the update would only be a brief delay. Your reviews really do make my day when I get an alert about them, I always appreciate your insight and commentary! The time you and Xxser3ndipityxX put into your comments are not going unappreciated! Glad you're enjoying the twist on Riku's story, I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one! Hearing your predictions for each of the POVs is very fun, I won't confirm or deny their validity, but just know they're making me very happy. And you caught onto the naming conventions! The Geotics are all based on the seven deadly sins, while the Pure Hearts are the seven heavenly virtues. Their names are def hints for their personalities, but they aren't the be-all and end-all for how their stories go. Hope you enjoyed!