After dealing with the werewolf, Riku was thinking about the recent fight with the werewolf. He was already told there wasn't a thing he could have done for him since he was beyond help since being Dracula's slave.
Riku, Naminé, Ricther, Maria, Eevee, and Azurill made it to another part of the castle and fought their way through skeletons and Heartless.
The Heartless consisted of Shadows, Soldiers, Large Bodies, Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, Yellow Operas, Green Requiems, Silver Rocks, Emerald Blues, Crimson Jazzes, Armored Knights, Watchers, Darkballs, Vampires, Scarewolves, Mummies, Frankens, Zom-Zoms, Boneheads, Hook Bats, Search Ghosts, Trick Ghosts, Gargoyles, Wright Knights, Imps, Goblins, Air Imps, and Neoshadows.
Meanwhile, in Darklight's castle, an warrior wearing dark armor is sitting before Darklight in his throne room.
"You summoned me, Lord Darklight?" The armored warrior asked.
"Yes, it has come to my attention that Count Ernesh has dispatched his most promising apprentice to retrieve the Keyblade wielder known as Riku, but we will sabotage his efforts. And that is where you come in," Darklight said.
"I live to serve, my lord," the warrior said.
"You will find this Riku along with Naminé. And once you do, I want you to destroy them both. Count Ernesh must never succeed in his ambitions. The will be said for Count Ernesh's apprentice. Destroy her and anyone getting your way," Count Ernesh said.
"As you wish, Lord Darklight. It will be done," the warrior said, acknowledging Darklight's will.
"And I will remind you that I do not tolerate failure," Darklight said.
"Yes, Lord Darklight," the warrior said.
Back in the castle, Riku, Naminé, Richter, Maria, Eevee, and Azurill continued to fight their way through the castle as they came across some Air Imps. Ricther's whip smacked an Air Imp as Namimé struck down a Soldier. Walking suits of armor carrying spears come charging in and swinging their spears. Riku unleashed a blast of darkness, hitting one. Ricther smacked them all with the Vampire Killer, taking them all down. Eevee fired a Shadow Ball at the skeletons and flea men coming their way. Azurill fired a Bubble Beam, hitting the Shadows. A Mega-Shadow came behind Naminé, so Riku rushed at the large Heartless, destroying it.
"Thanks, Riku," Naminé said.
"Anytime," Riku said. An axe-wielding skeleton came for Riku in which Ricther whipped. Riku turned to see the young vampire hunter pulling the whip back and cracked it at more demons and Heartless. Maria send out her doves and they destroy the attacking Heartless.
As they fought their way through, they came across a locked door in which, Namimé uses her Oathkeeper to unlock the door. Inside is a young woman who is depicted as having teal hair wrapped in a ponytail with a yellow ribbon, as well as expressive brown eyes, and wearing a nun cassock.
"God has answered my prayer. Saviors have come for my aid in my hour of need," the nun said.
"We didn't even know you were in there, but you're welcome," Naminé said.
"Azurill," Azurill chirped.
"The path behind us is safe, so hurry and head back to the village," Richter said.
"I will, but may I know your name?" The nun asked.
"I'm Ricther Belmont, vampire hunter," Richter said.
"Richter. Go with God's protection," the nun said.
The nun makes her escape of the castle as they set off for the rest of the castle. One of the areas they had entered is a swamp where several mudmen came to life and attacked them. Riku slashed through the mudman with his Soul Eater. They continue to fight their way through against the Heartless, flea men, and Skeletons in their path. They entered inside a room where they were confronted by an axe-wielding minotaur.
"Great. We have a minotaur to contend with," Richter said.
"Is that a problem?' Naminé asked.
"No, except it's right in our path," Richter said.
"Then, let's get it out of the way then," Riku said, holding his Soul Eater. With that said, Maria summoned her doves to fly at the Minotaur and peck at it as Naminé swings her Keyblade at the bovine humanoid monster. Richter cracks his whip as Eevee attacks with Swift, hitting it. Azurill fired Water Gun as the Minotaur swings its axe around. Riku dodged and gave the Minotaur some slashes with his Soul Eater. The Minotaur hurls stones at them, so Maria conjures a tortoise's shell for protection as Naminé casts a reflect spell. The Minotaur charges at Riku with its horns, so Riku gave the Minotaur another slash with his Soul Eater and then Richter smacked it with his whip. The Minotaur roared as it fired a red beam into the air before attempting to give them an uppercut. The Minotaur's skin began to shed, dying and leaving behind a skeletal remain.
They leave the Minotaur's remains behind and entered what looks like a dungeon. They continued to fight their way through as a skeleton serpent spews fire their way, but Maria summoned a dragon and destroyed it with its fire breath.
They came across another prisoner, and it was another young woman with big expressive green eyes, and also possesses long auburn hair that is wrapped in a long braid, as well as a yellow dress with a blue/green shawl with purple trappings.
"Are any of you human?" The young woman asked.
"Yeah, we're human," Riku said.
"Are you a prisoner here, too?" Naminé asked.
"Yes, I was captured and brought here as well. I suspect they intend to turn me into a vampire soon," the young woman said.
"Not if we have anything to say about it," Naminé said, holding her Keyblade and used it to unlock her cell. The young woman was astounded by how Naminé did that.
"What sort of-" The young woman was cut off.
"That's not important. What is important that you get out of here while you still can," Riku said.
"He's right. The path behind us is safe," Richter said.
"Thank you," the young woman said, noticing the wound on Richter's arm. "Oh! You're wounded!"
"Nah, I'm fine. This is nothing to make a fuss over," Richter said as the young woman tore off a sleeve of her dress.
"Please. My father's a doctor," the young woman said, wrapping his wound in it. "There."
"Does it hurt?" Maria asked.
"It's fine. There's nothing wrong letting a little blood out every once in a while," Richter said. He turned to the young woman. "Thank you."
"Oh, no. It's I who should be thanking you. Thank you very much. You're going further ahead, aren't you? Do be very careful," the young woman said.
"Alright," Riku said.
The young woman began to make her escape as Riku, Naminé, Richter, Maria, Eevee, and Azurill kept going.
They made their way through various traps and obstacles in their way. They go upward and fought off some axe-wielding armored warriors and Heartless until the next area they entered had a Dullahan waiting for them. He has his head in his arm.
"A Dullahan," Maria said.
They engaged the undead, headless warrior lunges his lance forward as Riku deflects it with his Soul Eater as Naminé casts a blizzard spell, hitting it. It tosses its head up and it emits green flames. Maria summoned fire birds to counter the head as Richter cracks his whip. It also causes some of the stones that made up the castle to come raining down, so Eevee fired Shadow Ball as Azurill fired Bubble Beam. Riku held his Soul Eater and he slashed at the Dullahan. Riku's final blow destroyes the Dullahan, leaving behind discarded armor.
The next area they came to was a shipyard where they saw flea men riding on birds. Richter smacked them with his whip as Maria's doves pecks them. Eevee fired Swift as they go through the shipyard and they're greeted by Death.
"Blood of Belmont, I was hoping I would have another chance against you. And what's this? Your companion has the scent of darkness within him, no doubt," Death said.
"Death," Richter said.
"He's the same one who Sora and Kairi dealt with when they were here, weren't they?" Naminé whispered to Riku.
"Well, he does look the part, Naminé," Riku said.
"Young one, why do you side with these mortals? You have a gift for the darkness, and you shouldn't waste it," Death said.
"You have darkness within you, Riku?" Maria asked.
"It's true, Maria. I do have darkness inside of me just like Death said. And I let it out in a big way," Riku said.
"Eevee," Eevee said.
"Lord Dracula may have a place for you in his court, young one. And he can see it for himself," Death said.
"There's no way I'd side with the likes of you!" Riku said, holding his Soul Eater tightly. "I'm not going to let anyone exploit it! Not you, and not Dracula! If he wants to see it, then he's not going to be disappointed! And I'll use it to waste him, after I use it to waste you!"
"Then, I shall feast upon your souls this night!" Death said as he brings out his scythe and twirls it as he calls smaller scythes and sends them out at them. Richter cracks his whip as Maria's doves flew around. Naminé clashed her Keyblade against Death's scythe and the Pokémon launched their Shadow Ball and Bubble Beam. Death fired energy-based skulls at them as Riku slashed through them with his Soul Eater. Richter hurls a cross at Death, hitting him. Death takes another swing at them as Riku dashed at Death, hitting him with his Soul Eater before Death swings his scythe again. Richter smacked Death with his whip before Death began to fade away, defeated. "Once again, the blood of Belmont has defeated me. And you, child. You have no hope of resisting the darkness. My master can sense it within you, and he will persuade you to join his side or he will kill you where you stand." Death vanished out of sight. Richter and Maria turned to Riku.
"Something you're not telling us, Riku?" Maria asked.
"Well..." Riku said.
"Death said you have darkness within you, and you admitted it to him, so what's the story?" Richter asked.
"I always had darkness inside of me, and I recently lost control over it. It was because I got really angry when some evil poacher tried to take Eevee from me. So, I ended up doing something extremely stupid, and I almost became someone I didn't like or recognize," Riku explained. Naminé placed her hand on his shoulder, comforting him. "So, I was sent on a mission to better control the darkness."
"You think you can?" Richter asked.
"I don't know. Death really got to me, and I don't know if I can or not," Riku said.
"You may have the darkness, but you're not a bad guy. You helped me and the nun, didn't you?" Maria pointed out. Riku thought about that for a second and knew she was right.
"You're right, Maria. I did," Riku said.
"And you also have light within you, and that light is never ever gonna go out," Naminé said.
"Azu, Azu," Azurill said.
"Eevee," Eevee said. Riku looked at his partner, knowing his partner is supporting him as well.
"You're right, Eevee. Thanks," Riku said, petting Eevee.
"If Dracula knows we're here, then he'll be expecting us. And if Dracula can sense it off of you, then you'll be vulnerable, so don't let him," Richter said.
"Right," Riku said.
Meanwhile, Annette is sitting at the corner of her cell when Dracula entered inside.
"Such a fine girl. Surely, the blood of a beautiful woman will quench the thirst in my body," Dracula said. Annette took out a dagger and held it to her neck.
"Stay away from me!" Annette demanded. Dracula wasn't phased, noticing her hands shaking as she held the dagger.
"What are you afraid of? In exchange for your blood, you can gain eternal life and beauty for me, can you not? Please, it's a simple matter. I get what I need, and you benefit as well. And together, you and I shall reign over this world," Dracula said.
"If it means becoming a demon, then I...would sooner kill myself," Annette said. Dracula placed a hand on her cheek.
"As you wish. However, what exactly makes me a demon? If my existence itself makes me a demon, is that not the result of this world? Are not all the people of this age demons as well? If so, then I shall be a shining beckon for what this world wants me to be. The one to lead them. Do you not agree?" Dracula asked as Shaft came to the cell and kneeled.
"My Lord Count," Shaft said. Dracula turned to the dark priest.
"What is it?" Dracula asked.
"There are intruders in the castle," Shaft reported. Dracula knew it has to be Richter since he recognizes his bloodline.
"I see. Is there more?" Dracula asked, knowing, sensing a powerful darkness in the castle.
"Yes. One of the intruders has the scent of darkness within him. And it is from a human boy. The darkness he is giving off is unlike any darkness I have ever encountered in my lifetime," Shaft said.
"A human child with the powers of darkness. So, that's what I have been sensing all this time. An unexpected development. As for the others, fate can be quite fun at times. It is likely they've come to interfere," Dracula said, preparing to depart. He took one last look at Annette. "I apologize, my dear, but there is an urgent matter that requires my full attention. I trust you will be in a better mood later." Dracula vanished in a burst of darkness as he laughed. Annette placed the dagger down and she cried.
"Save me..." Annette cried. "Richter."
Back with Riku, Naminé, Richter, Maria, Eevee, and Azurill, they entered another room where they see Shaft appear before them and unleashed a green orb, making them yelp.
"What the?!" Riku asked.
"You again!" Richter said.
"So, you managed to survive long enough in the castle after all. I am impressed. And you're the boy with the darkness within you. I knew I sensed it from the moment our paths crossed," Shaft said.
"We never got a name out of you the last time we met, think we can fix that?" Riku asked.
"Yes. I am the dark priest Shaft. It was I who resurrected Dracula and this very castle," Shaft said.
"You kidnapped Annette and Maria! You attacked the village!" Naminé said.
"Boy, I can sense the darkness within you. I wish to harness its power," Shaft said.
"I don't think so, Shaft. Like I already told Death, I won't let anyone exploit it, and that goes to you, too," Riku said.
"Then, I will have to harness it from your corpse. And I will destroy the rest of your companions as well!" Shaft said. He began to chant. "Servants, come forth from the gates of Hell! Attack! Rid my master's castle of these pests!" A magic circle appeared on the floor and came a giant bat. The bat swoops down at them and spat out fireballs. The bat came down, using its wings as a drill, making them dodge, so Eevee fired Swift as Azurill fired Bubble Beam. Naminé casts a thunder spell as Maria summoned her dragon and Richter cracks his whip. They fought the bat until it was brought down in searing flames. Then, a Medusa came out from it and swings her tail at them and sends out snakes to deal with them. Eevee fired Swift at the snakes just as Richter smacked her with his whip. She attempts to turn them to stone, but Riku slides and hits her with his Soul Eater before Maria finished her off. The Medusa's body turned to stone before crumbling. The circle turns brownish orange as an Egyptian sarcophagus emerged from it and a mummy rose from inside it. The mummy sends out his bandishes and summoned Egyptian stones to crush them. They made quick work of the mummy as it dissolves into dust. The last creature to appear from the circle is the Frankenstein monster. The monster roared as he attempts to punch them, but Richter threw some knives at his torso and Maria summoned her doves again. Naminé casts her fire spell. The monster shrieked when the magical flames hits him.
"Fire bad!" The Frankenstein monster exclaimed. He sends out electricity from his hands, only for Riku to deflect it and have it sent back. Riku finished off the creature with a dark fireball, leaving a skull. The creature began to dissolve into dust. Shaft then appeared before them again.
"Hmm, intriguing. Strong indeed. Very well, then. Face me!" Shaft said, summoning his green orbs. "Shaft of fire!" The green orbs catches on fire as they head right toward Maria, but Naminé casts a blizzard spell, helping her as Richter threw a bible. The pages spirals all around as Riku rushed at Shaft, but the dark priest phased to the other side, avoiding Riku's attack. "Shaft of lightning!" He unleashed lightning from the orbs. They kept fighting the dark priest until Richter threw a knife into Shaft's chest. "Ugh! No!"
"Death to you, Shaft. Dracula is next," Richter said. Shaft laid on his back as he began dying.
"You may have defeated me, but Count Dracula will cleanse this world in the flames of chaos," Shaft said.
"Not unless I dispose of him. He will be joining you in Hell shortly," Richter said as Shaft dies. His body then turned to dust.
Now that Shaft was dead, Riku, Naminé, Richter, Maria, Eevee, and Azurill entered the clock tower. They fought their way through harpies, Medusa heads, and Heartless in their way.
Knowing Annette needs to be rescued, they made their way through the clock tower and to her cell. Naminé obliged the vampire hunter by unlocking the lock. They found Annette inside.
"Annette!" Richter exclaimed. Annette saw the group and she began to cry tears of joy.
"Richter!" Annette embraces Richter. He embraces her back. "I knew you would come."
"I would never abandon you, Annette. I'm just glad you're alright," Richter said. Riku and Naminé smiled as Riku took Naminé by the hand. Annette noticed Riku, Naminé, Maria, Eevee, and Azurill with him.
"Maria, you're safe as well, but who are they?" Annette asked.
"These are Riku, Naminé, Eevee, and Azurill. They helped us fight off the bad people," Maria said.
"They have?" Annette asked.
"It's true, Annette. We helped Maria when Shaft was doing something with her," Riku said.
"So, we've been helping them through this castle," Naminé said.
"But it's dangerous," Annette said.
"We know, but we couldn't just turn our backs," Riku said.
"Eevee," Eevee said.
"But there's one thing left to do..." Richter said.
"You mean...?" Annette paused.
"Yeah. I'm going to kill Dracula," Richter said.
"No, don't!" Annette pleaded. "You mustn't! It's too dangerous!"
"Dracula has to be stopped. His existence has been a plague on mankind long enough. Maria, you go with Annette back to the village," Richter said.
"I wanna help you!" Maria said.
"And you did. Dracula isn't like anything we've dealt with up to now. And Dracula's death is my destiny," Richter said.
"But-" Maria was cut off.
"No buts, Maria," Richter said.
"He's only looking out for you, Maria. He's going to be fine," Riku said.
"Riku, you and Naminé go wi-" Richter was cut off.
"Sorry, but no can do. We're more than capable to lend a hand against the Heartless," Riku said.
"Point taken. Let's go," Richter said as he, Riku, Naminé, Eevee, and Azurill take off.
"Richter. Come back safely," Annette said.
"Riku, Naminé," Maria said.
As Annette and Maria began to make their way out of the castle, Riku, Naminé, Richter, Eevee, and Azurill made their way out of the clock tower and right to the castle's keep.
"Is Dracula up there?" Riku asked.
"Yes," Richter said.
"We're right with you," Naminé said.
"Eevee," Eevee said.
"Rill," Azurill said.
"I know you are. Let's go," Richter said as they climbed up the stairs to the keep and walked toward the throne room. And there was Dracula sitting in his throne, drinking a glass of blood. "Die, monster! You don't belong in this world!"
"It was not by my hands that I am once again given flesh. I was called here by humans who wish to pay me tribute," Dracula said.
"Tribute?! You steal men's souls and make them your slaves!" Richter accused.
"Perhaps the same can be said of all religions," Dracula said.
"Your words are as empty as your soul! Mankind ill-needs a savoir such as you!" Richter said. Dracula stood up as he dropped his glass.
"What is a man? A miserable pile of secrets! Enough talk! Have at you!" Dracula said as he disappeared in a flash of light before he reappeared and unleashed fireballs at them, but Richter blocked it with his whip as Riku came at the lord of vampires with his Soul Eater. Dracula blocked it. He looked at Riku and grinned. "So, you're the one Shaft has spoken to me about. The one who holds the powers of darkness."
"Listen, you can say whatever you wanna say, you have nothing that I want!" Riku said.
"How unfortunate. Then, I will grant you death, and I will see if I can take this darkness for myself," Dracula said. He gave Riku a smack before Naminé casts a blizzard spell and Eevee fired a Shadow Ball and Azurill fired Bubble Beam. Dracula unleashed destructive orbs of energy at them, but they managed to dodge it, so Richter hurls a bottle of holy water and it explodes in holy flames once the glass shattered on the floor. The fight went on until Dracula snarled. "Enough of this! Give me power!" Dracula has transformed into his demonic form and spews fireballs at them, so Richter smacked him with his whip as Riku and Naminé attacked him with their weapons and Eevee fired Shadow Ball and Azurill fired Water Gun. Riku and Richter gave Dracula one last hit, much to his dismay. "No! Not this time!" Dracula changed back to his humanoid form and fell to this knees.
"You lose, Dracula," Riku said.
"Once again, the blood of Belmont has defeated me. Perhaps, this too is part of my fate," Dracula said.
"Death to you! The world is not yours to exist in!" Richter said.
"As I have already explained, it is not by own power that I am resurrected. It is the greed of humanity which calls me back. And thus, by might, I rule! Might becomes the one and only justice in this world," Dracula said.
"Of all the self-serving clap-trap! The same basic faith drives all people to seek, to come together, to move forward. That surely can't be an evil thing!" Richter said.
"And yet, here I am. Do you not have any desires?" Dracula asked. Richter didn't know how to answer that question. He sets his attention on Riku. "And do you not have desires yourself, child?"
"I'd be lying if I ever told you that I didn't have any desires, but I just have just the one desire," Riku said.
"Oh? And what desire do you have, if you don't mind me asking?" Dracula asked.
"My desire is to keep everyone close to my heart close to me at all cost and protect them with all of my strength. I champion everyone that I love," Riku said. Naminé was moved by Riku's words.
Champion the ones you love?" Dracula asked as he laughed. "Such a beautiful sentiment, I will admit, but how naive. It is by your desires that you humans prosper. And it is your faith which has ruled you. Considering that, can you really call me evil?"
"But people cannot be ruled by power alone! The sacred, the honorable, the loved... Those things can rule humanity. Something evil will eventually fall to ruin!" Richter said.
"I see... Perhaps you're right," Dracula said as he laughed. "We shall meet again, blood of Belmont!" Dracula dissolves into dust as the castle began to crumble apart. Riku, Naminé, Richter, Eevee, and Azurill made it out of the castle before it came down completely. Unknown to anyone, Genishiro was watching the castle crumble.
"Riku took his first step. But the road will only get much harder from here," Genishiro said.
Back to Riku, Naminé, Richter, Maria, Annette, the two women from earlier, Eevee, and Azurill, they looked at the remains of the castle.
"So, it's over," Riku said.
"Yes, but the fight against good and evil still continues," Richter said.
"What will you do now?" Maria asked.
"Well, our mission isn't over yet. We should get going," Riku said.
"We understand, Riku. But remember one thing before you go," Richter said. Riku looked at Richter. "You have the power to choose your own path in life, regardless if it's light or darkness. And I can only pray that you will find your peace."
"Thanks, Richter. I appreciate your advice, and I won't forget," Riku said.
"May the Lord watch over you," the nun said as Riku, Naminé, Eevee, and Azurill head for their Gummi Ship and head for the next world of their destination before they find Master Tyr.
Okay, I know I said I originally plan on doing some chapters based on the Pokémon episodes, but I decided against it, so sorry f I got your hopes up over nothing, but I can see what I can do with that. Also, I'm going to think about the next video game based world to go with next, so be sure to look forward to that. So, I'll be stopping her for now, so bye for now!