KH: Antipode [Alpha draft] pt 36

[keybearer]

Chapter 36: The Final Keyhole

This was it. No more games. After Cid added a few more blocks to the Gummi Ship, tweaked its navigation systems a bit, and threw in some new artillery for good measure, it was time to take off. Their return to Hollow Bastion would not be an easy one. With darkness pouring out and spreading throughout space, they’d need to stay focused to ensure a safe trip. Luckily, both Donald and Goofy were seasoned pilots, knowing the ins and outs of space travel like the back of their gloved hands. When Heartless dived at the cockpit, they blasted them away with powerful lasers. At the sight of meteors, they swerved all around, obliterating any that stood in their path.

All the while, Kairi sat on the edge of her seat, gasping at the intense obstacle course all around them. She and Riku sat further back in the ship, allowing Donald and Goofy complete concentration while the two of them got a little more time to catch up. Given how soon they’d be arriving at Hollow Bastion, though, there really wasn’t much time for small talk. Though Riku’d gone on a number of exciting adventures, and a part of him wanted to share it all, it’d have to wait until they at least sealed the Final Keyhole. After all, since they were cruising through giant rings, avoiding enemy fire, and dealing with clouds of darkness that obscured the way, it was kind of the wrong set-up for that kind of discussion, anyway.

BANG! Speaking of which, the ship just so happened to slam right into a larger asteroid, which sent it whirling towards the edge of a large ring. Goofy let out a yelp, clutching tightly onto one of the levers, while Donald squawked furiously and hammered on the buttons. At the same time, Riku felt Kairi latch onto him—not that he could blame her. The ship’s spinning motion sure left him feeling a little motion sick, and he was used to bumpy rides. For Kairi, it was totally new, and she’d need time to get used to it if she was going to stick with them for the rest of their journey.

Luckily, Donald managed to steady the ship after a few more seconds, and everyone let out a sigh of relief. That was definitely a close one. By the time they got moving again, three more Heartless vessels swooped down from above, leaving him with no choice but to send missiles and laser beams all over the place. This kept up for a few more minutes, prompting Riku and Kairi to keep their eyes glued to the front windows in order to catch all the action. Even under the unpleasant circumstances, it was still pretty exciting to watch. Too bad Donald had to deal with all the obstacles first hand.

Soon enough, however, they caught sight of a distant castle clouded in darkness. The ship’s radar started beeping in an obnoxious frenzy that forced Riku to cover his ears and groan. If there was one thing he hated about the radar system, it was its sensitivity to the darkness. On the upside, it meant that they were close. All they had to do now was dive straight into the dark and hope for the best. They really had no idea what was waiting for them the moment they arrived. The fact that the castle remained, though, provided at least some encouragement.

“Well, we’d better get ready to land,” said Donald, turning the ship towards the ground below. “We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, and it looks like things’ve gotten worse since we left!”

“Gawrsh, I hope Beast and the others are okay.” Frowning, Goofy tapped on a few more buttons.

“We’ll find out soon enough.” Riku sighed, sliding to the edge of his seat. “No matter what happens, we’ll just have to keep moving. Plus, we have to keep Kairi safe.”

“Don’t worry, Riku!” Kairi looked to him with a smile, and she slowly stood up. “I’ll try not to slow you down.”

Nodding, Riku summoned the Keyblade and peered out the window. The Rising Falls drew closer now, still completely intact. Though the sky grew dark and grey, most of the terrain remained untouched, and as they came closer to the ground, he caught sight of a familiar face. Down below, the Beast stood among the countless blue stones, gazing intently at their ship. So he made it out of there in one piece. Maybe things weren’t as bad as he thought.

When they finally landed, the group hurried outside and onto the stony ground. The Beast greeted them with a silent nod and a stern expression before he turned his attention towards the castle up above. Taking a deep breath, Riku stepped forward and took a moment to take in his surroundings. Since they’d left, the sunset sky had changed completely. Only faint glimmers of light seeped through the blanket of grey clouds. Every few seconds, bolts of lightning flashed in the distance. If they didn’t hurry, it’d probably get even worse.

“So, how are things going up there?”

“Belle and the other princesses are waiting inside.” Beast narrowed his eyes, hopping onto a nearby stone. “The Heartless have continued to escape from the Keyhole, and we’ve been doing our best to keep them at bay.”

“Sounds like you’ve had your hands full.” Donald sighed, looking up at the Beast with his eyes open wide. “Are the princesses okay?”

“For the time being. Their light has kept the Heartless from going too far, but we’re running out of time.”

“Do you think I could help?” Kairi frowned, grasping tightly to her necklace.

“There’s a chance.” Nodding, the Beast hopped onto yet another stone. “But you must hurry. Every minute we spend here gives the Heartless more time to fight back. If you’re going to the Keyhole, then you’re going to need my strength.”

“We’ll take all the help we can get.” Riku smirked, giving Kairi a quick glance. “Besides, I want to make sure Kairi makes it up there in one piece.”

“Then I will do my best to protect her as well.” The Beast let out a soft growl before he took to the remaining stones. “Now, hurry! Before the Heartless get any further.”

Their journey into the castle followed the same route as before with few obstacles to get in their way. As a group, they ascended the floating stones, hopping piece by piece towards the lift high above them. Though Wyverns swooped down with their razor-sharp talons and Wizards sent spells flying through the air, Riku and his friends fought back at full force, ensuring that no attacks struck Kairi on the way up. Fortunately, only a small wave of Heartless appeared in the falls. Before long, they made it to the lift and prepared for their arrival at the Castle Gates.

Once there, they came face to face with two Defenders and a battalion of Soldiers that skipped along the ground, flailing their claws in the air. Beast charged forward, sending Heartless flying with his powerful arms. Donald and Goofy slipped behind the two Defenders, nailing them with hard hits and magical spells. Any remaining Heartless met their demise at the end of Riku’s Keyblade; all it took was a few swipes and jabs to clear the path. The Entrance Hall waited beyond the double doors, and surely they’d come face-to-face with more Heartless on the way.

On their way up the steps, Neoshadows and Dark Balls leaped out from the shadows, forming a massive roadblock. Luckily, the Beast plowed straight through them, buying Riku and the others enough time to slip on through. When they drew close to the emblem door, he took Kairi by the hand and pulled her through. They narrowly avoided being torn apart by a Neoshadow’s massive claw on the way in. When the Heartless tried to pursue them, Riku hurled his Keyblade straight at its chest, slicing it in two. Then, he waited for the others to catch up before they continued through to the lift stop.

From there, they rushed through the castle, climbing higher and higher. The further they went, the more Heartless appeared and the less time they had to dawdle. For the most part, Beast kept their attackers at bay, allowing Riku and the others to continue their mad dash towards the Grand Hall. Though Riku, Donald, and Goofy fired attacks when the Heartless drew too close, they just didn’t bother taking them out one by one. Instead, they pressed on, boarding lift after lift, passing through winding halls. All the while, the sky grew darker, and the lightning flickers grew far more frequent. A chilly breeze picked up by the time they reached the High Tower; they needed to finishing things, and fast.

Eventually, they made it into the Castle Chapel, free from the army of Heartless for the time being. The small, darkened chamber still contained pieces of broken stone from their battle against Maleficent, but other than that, it remained in one piece. And as they came further into the room, they found that they weren’t alone. Six maidens stood at the far end, motioning Riku and the others to come meet them. He recognized a few of them. Alice stood at the front and gave a little curtsy, and Jasmine stood right by her side. The others, while complete strangers, gave Riku a faint sense of familiarity. At least three of them looked like something out of his dream, the very same dream that occurred before the islands went down.

When they finally reached the princesses, Beast rushed forward with his eyes wide open. “Belle! Are you all right?”

A young woman dressed in a golden dress emerged from the crowd, smiling warmly at Beast as the two met in the center of the room.

“Oh, Beast,” she said, “it’s okay. We’ve managed to hold back the darkness this long.”

“But we’re running out of time.” Alice frowned, and she turned to face Riku. “I’m so grateful that you’re here. I still remember the way you defended me in Wonderland.”

“That’s right.” Riku nodded, propping the Keyblade against his shoulder. “And now we’re here to seal the Keyhole. You won’t have to worry about the darkness much longer.”

Another one of the princesses frowned, clasping her hands tightly together. She had skin as white as snow and short, black hair. “Please do be careful!”

With a smile on his face, Goofy gave the princesses a quick salute. “Don’t you worry, ma’am! We’ll do our best to make sure no more of those Heartless come outta there.”

“And if you guys need some help, then I’ll do my best.” Kairi knit her brows together and slowly approached the others.

“You’re very brave to have come here!” Belle smiled, motioning for Kairi to come closer. “If you’d like to help us, then we’d be glad to have you here. Maybe if we all work together, we can hold back the darkness a little longer.”

“Hey, it’s worth a shot.” Riku smirked, giving Kairi a quick thumbs-up. “But before I go, there’s just one thing I have to know.”

“What is it?”

He took a deep breath, gazing up at the ceiling. There were many things he could ask, really, but one thing stood out in particular. No, it wasn’t about Ansem, though asking about him was kind of tempting. If that jerk was even around, they’d find out soon enough. What really mattered was Sora. After all, they hadn’t seen a trace of him on their way up to the chapel. If there was even a small chance he was out there somewhere, these princesses would probably know. After all, they’d been hanging tight while the darkness went wild. Anything suspicious would probably catch their eye.

So, he turned his attention back to Belle, clutching tightly onto his weapon. “Have you… seen anyone named Sora? Kind of short, spiky hair, a huge sap… He’s—”

“I remember him.” Alice frowned, peering down at the floor. “He was so kind to me, even though he worked for that terrible witch.” She shook her head. “But I haven’t seen him in quite some time. I do hope he’s all right…”

If Alice hadn’t seen him, then the others were probably just as clueless. Judging by the looks on their faces, that was definitely the case. Not one mentioned him, nor did they give any signs of confirmation. Though he’d hoped for some kind of answer, Riku gained nothing but a heaping dose of worry and fear. Maybe… Sora really was a Heartless. He could’ve been any of the countless Shadows and Neoshadows they plowed through to get there. What if he’d destroyed his best friend without even realizing it!?

“Riku…”

When Kairi gently touched his shoulder, he let out a sigh. “Then I guess I’ll keep looking. Maybe… maybe he’s waiting by the Keyhole.”

“I hope you do find him,” said Belle with a frown. “We’ll keep our eyes open, just to be safe.”

“Thanks, Belle.” Shaking his head, he turned towards the hall. “Guess I’ll just have to hope for the best. Besides, we’ve got a Keyhole to seal.”

“You’ll be okay, Riku.” Kairi smiled, lacing her hands behind her back. “I believe in you!”

“Then I guess we’d better get to it.” He laughed, managing a weak smile in return. “You guys keep Kairi safe, okay? I’ll try not to take too long.”

“Don’t worry.” The Beast stepped over to her, dragging his claws along the ground. “I’ll protect all of the princesses. No harm will come to them so long as I’m here.”

With Kairi’s safety guaranteed, they had no time to waste. Riku, Donald, and Goofy gave Beast and the princesses one last look before they hurried through to the next lift stop. On the way, they encountered more and more Heartless in increasing numbers. Heartless from various worlds, at that. Several Large Bodies charged along the narrow path, beating their chests with their massive fists. Red Nocturnes sent fireballs soaring through the air, while Defenders unleashed icy blasts from their dog-like shields. As they plowed through their attackers, the trio kept their eyes peeled for any reinforcements. By the time they made it into the Grand Hall, the Heartless count surged higher and higher. They just kept coming!

Weak little Shadows and Soldiers hopped and slashed about, but though they were weak on their own, their comrades gave plenty of cause for concern. At least four Large Bodies darted around the room, slamming into the ground, sliding in the trio’s path, and creating terrible shockwaves. Neoshadows danced around, swinging their enormous arms and sinking into the floor whenever Riku and his friends tried to strike them down. To make matters even worse, Wyverns and Air Soldiers swooped down from the stairway, diving straight at Donald and Goofy without warning.

Together, the trio rushed through this unsightly mob, slamming their weapons into anything that stood in their way. Gravity magic flattened some Heartless, while bolts of thundaga made others explode in an instant. Unfortunately, they just kept coming. Even when they made it to the steps, they found more enemies just waiting to strike. At this rate, they’d never make it to the Keyhole! Not with so many Heartless taking the whole room by storm. Sure, Riku and his friends managed to clear some space with their combined efforts, but all the fighting did was slow them down. And by the time they made it up to the higher level and faced the Keyhole itself, they found themselves completely surrounded by Neoshadows, Large Bodies, Defenders, and Wyverns.

And then something strange happened. Something that caught Riku and the others completely off guard. Though they readied their weapons and rushed towards the surrounding mob, a strange, black blur zipped out in front of them, slashing through one Heartless after another. Swift claw swipes rendered hulking Large Bodies helpless and left hearts in their place. When the Wyverns spiraled down towards Goofy from behind, green flames reduced them to piles of ash. One by one, the Heartless vanished, taken down by some swift-footed being that warped through portals, sank into the floor, and moved so quickly that Riku couldn’t even make out its features.

But whatever it was, it couldn’t have been an enemy. Not with the way it fought alongside them, using its powers to clear the way towards the Keyhole. A part of him wanted to stop and see exactly who they were dealing with, but while this mysterious figure offered plenty of help, more Heartless did appear fairly quickly. Instead of worrying about the possibilities, they’d just have to keep moving. At least they had a chance to make it inside now. That’s what really mattered.

So, together, the trio bolted for the Keyhole, running right up to the whirling mesh of colors that leaked darkness every second. They stopped just long enough to take a final look at the battle below, watching more and more Heartless fall victim to their merciless attacker. It’d be okay. As long as the Heartless kept getting taken out, they had nothing to worry about. So, somewhat reluctantly, Riku and his friends slipped into the strange door, passing through the colorful mess into the Dark Depths inside.

There he found yet another surprise among the endless mesh of reds, greens, and blacks. Standing right in front of the Keyhole appeared a bulky beast all too familiar to Riku. Its purple form, complete with twisted tusks, beady eyes, and a single horn made his heart twist and turn. It smacked its jagged jaws together and slowly trudged forward, while sparks formed around the tip of its horn. Images of amusement park rides collapsing flashed before his eyes. He remembered that chilling sensation when the Neoshadows drove him into the ground and Pleasure Island fell to ruin.

A Behemoth was the only thing that stood between the trio and the Keyhole. Boy, wasn’t that familiar? Riku’s whole body grew tense, and he kept his eyes locked on the approaching beast. Last time, he’d failed to defeat this monstrous Heartless, and in doing so, countless lives fell into the darkness. That was a long time ago, and he’d grown stronger since then. More importantly, he knew exactly what not to do against this powerful threat. Rushing forward would solve nothing and render him helpless to its onslaught of attacks. To defeat it, he and his friends would need to be cautious and alert.

They didn’t even have time to talk before the Behemoth leaped forward, forcing the trio to scatter off in different directions. When it landed, it let out a bellowing roar and lowered its head to the ground. At that point, Donald raised his staff, surrounding his entire body with a powerful whirlwind. He did the same thing to Riku and Goofy before he hurried over to strike its horn. It was just in the nick of time, too, because pillars of lightning scattered around the area, and they just narrowly avoided being shocked by the furious bolts.

When the attack drew close, Riku rolled off to the side, landing right behind the Behemoth’s hind quarters. It was then that it hit him; its legs were the perfect stepping stones onto its back, just like with Maleficent and Cerberus. And with no Neoshadows to pin him down, all he’d have to do was hop on board and nail it from behind. He had to try something, so he sprinted towards its rear, leaping onto its back as soon as he drew near. Once he got on board, he motioned to Donald and Goofy and pointed at the Behemoth’s horn.

“C’mon, guys! Up here.”

“Gee, that’s new.” Rolling his eyes, Donald scurried over to the Behemoth’s legs, hopping up onto its leg. He slipped and fell the first time he tried, but after a second attempt, he managed to make it up onto the creature’s back, rushing over towards its tiny horn.

When Goofy made it up there, the trio immediately unleashed a bombardment of attacks. Riku performed a series of rapid slashes that made the Heartless shake its head furiously in retaliation. To keep himself steady, he latched onto one of the tusks, while Donald summoned a field of gravity to slow its movements down. Goofy immediately followed this maneuver by whirling his shield into the horn from behind and then proceeded to slam the front of his weapon down like a hammer. They kept this up for a little while, slamming, slicing, and spinning to damage the bulky beast. Eventually, however, it leaped into the air, sending the trio flying off in different directions.

Luckily, they avoided any serious injuries, thanks to their gliding ability. After some struggling through the air, Riku and his friends managed to land flat on their feet, bracing themselves as the Behemoth stomped ever closer to them. A bright, orange orb started to form between its tusks, a telltale sign of what to come. Wincing, Riku pointed at the Behemoth and took off like a rocket, right as an array of energy balls shot down from high above them. To avoid getting hit, he and the others had to keep swerving around, deflecting any orbs that came too close. A few did strike them from behind, but when they drew close enough to their attacker, Riku slid underneath its belly, safe from harm.

The others caught on fairly quickly, skidding beneath the Behemoth’s bulky frame right as the purple orbs crashed into the ground and sent sparks flying. They remained there for a few more seconds, waiting for the attack to end. When the coast was clear, the trio hurried out and onto its back again, repeating the same strategy as before. Gravity magic kept it in place and made the creature roar in agony. Goofy’s various shield techniques, from throwing to slamming and a bit of spinning, made it twitch and shake. Riku then hopped in, hurling the Keyblade straight at his target before he started hacking and slashing away at the horn.

At that point, the Behemoth collapsed, its head low to the ground. They’d probably have a few short moments to fight back before it started moving again. Narrowing his eyes, Riku hopped down from its shoulders, continuing to lash out at its hideous face. Goofy leaped onto the horn, driving the front of his shield down against the tip, while Donald hammered away with the tip of his staff. Seconds later, the Behemoth groaned, and sparks formed around its horn. Riku didn’t need to think twice before he knew what was coming, so he grabbed the others by the hand and slid out of the way, barely dodging the circle of bolts that soon followed.

Letting out another roar, the Behemoth threw itself forward, probably in an attempt to flatten them like pancakes. Unfortunately, its size and speed made it easy to dodge; all the trio had to do was take off running, and they completely avoided its crushing blow. This also gave them a golden opportunity to hop on board again, and they didn’t hesitate to do so. They needed to wrap things up. Fighting this thing was getting old, and fast. That’s why they didn’t bother to pull punches. Rather than take turns striking down, the trio unleashed all their attacks at once. The combined force made the Behemoth screech and shake, and after a few moments of heavy damage, it let out a pitiful moan fell flat on its side.

Thankfully, Riku and his friends managed to hop down before their falling foe sent them flying. They landed just a few feet away from its twitching body, watching as darkness overtook its entire form. Once a hulking beast, the Behemoth quickly melted into a puddle of blackened ooze. Its enormous heart shot high into the air, fading in a glimmer of light. At long last, the path to the Final Keyhole was clear. In the distance, Riku spotted it, right in the center of a large Heartless emblem. Now all he had to do was head on over and lock it tight.

“Well, I guess this is it.” He smiled faintly as he stepped up to the Keyhole. “After this, we won’t have to worry about the darkness anymore.”

“I don’t know,” said Donald, shaking his head. “It almost feels too easy! And it’s not like Ansem’s here.”

“Gawrsh, do ya think he’s still out there somewhere?”

Maybe they were onto something. Even though they had to deal with plenty of Heartless to get there, one Behemoth seemed like nothing compared to what they could’ve faced before the Keyhole. Even those mobs in the Grand Hall were more of a challenge overall; inside the Dark Depths, they had plenty of room to deal with their foe and no rides or stands to block the way. It did seem kind of odd that they’d have such a clear shot at saving Hollow Bastion, so maybe this wasn’t the end. There was only one way to find out.

Taking a deep breath, Riku held up the Keyblade, sending a beam of light right into the Keyhole’s center. The enormous emblem all around it lit up with a pale glow, shifting from reds and blacks to a bright blue that soon enveloped it completely. As the glow faded away, so did the Keyhole itself. Within seconds, it vanished completely, leaving nothing but the whirling mesh of colors all around them. At last, they’d closed off Hollow Bastion’s heart, and in doing so, they ensured that no darkness would swallow the ruined world. Whether that was the end of it remained to be seen, but they’d never know by staying inside.

Sure enough, when they returned to the Grand Hall, they found it free from Heartless. Only the rickety old machinery remained, along with bits of rubble and debris from all the fighting. However, while Riku and his friends found no sign of the Heartless, they weren’t alone. As soon as they stepped down and into the center of the room, Riku’s eyes widened. Kairi hurried over to him with an enormous smile, pulling him into a tight hug once she came close enough. Leon and Aerith stood at the top of the stairs, while Yuffie sat atop the railing and grinned.

It didn’t exactly add up. Sure, Kairi was there the whole time, but Leon and the others? Why would they come all the way to Hollow Bastion? Did they want to congratulate him or something?

Despite his confusion, he turned to Leon with a smile. “Didn’t expect to see you guys here.”

“Hey, you didn’t expect us to stay behind, did you?” Yuffie laughed. “Besides, this is our home.”

“What?!” Donald gasped, glancing at all the crazy contraptions. “You mean you lived here?!”

“It wasn’t always this bad.” Aerith frowned, placing her hand against one of the machines. “Before the Heartless came, this world used to be so peaceful.”

“But a lot can change in nine years.” Leon’s brow furrowed, and he crossed his arms. “We’re lucky it’s still in one piece.”

Goofy wandered around the room, scratching the side of his head. He took a quick look at the Keyhole’s entrance and frowned. “But now that the Keyhole’s closed, that means ya won’t have to worry about the Heartless no more. Is that why ya came back here?”

“Somebody has to pick up the pieces.” Leon sighed, scowling at the Keyhole’s remains. “We’ll have our work cut out for us, but I’d like to think we can bring Hollow Bastion back to the way it used to be.”

“But what about Ansem?” Kairi took a step back, peering down at the ground. “He’s still out there, isn’t he?”

“That’s right. And until he’s defeated, the darkness will continue to spread. Sealing the Keyhole might’ve slowed it down, but it’s not over yet.”

So they still had a ways to go. Leon’s words practically confirmed Riku’s suspicions. It only made sense, too, given that they hadn’t seen one trace of Ansem since their last encounter.

“So, all we have to do is find him, right?”

“Yep! That’s all it takes.” Yuffie slid down from the railing, placing her hands on her hips. “All you’ve gotta do is follow the darkness straight to the source.”

“And that’s not all.” A a faint smile crossed Leon’s face, and he turned to face Riku and the others. “If you defeat Ansem, the worlds will be restored, including your island.”

“Didja hear that, Donald? Why, I bet if we save those worlds, King Mickey’ll—”

The worlds would be restored, huh? His home would be back in one piece, almost like it’d never disappeared in the first place. All the other fallen worlds, too, like Pleasure Island… That was good news, wasn’t it? It meant that they’d finally have a home to return to as soon as everything was said and done. Once he and Kairi found Sora, they’d be able to go back to the way things used to be. News like that was something to celebrate, but… Aerith and Yuffie sure didn’t look happy about it. What was that about?

“There’s just one thing,” said Yuffie. “If the worlds become restored—”

“Then what?” Riku leaned forward, holding his arms out wide. “Don’t tell me there’s a catch.”

Aerith frowned. “We’re sorry, Riku. We should have told you sooner, but…”

“But what? C’mon, don’t leave me in the dark!”

“It’s like this.” Leon sighed, placing a hand against his forehead. “The worlds used to be separate. Invisible walls divided them, making it impossible to get from world to world.”

“If the worlds become restored, so will those walls,” said Aerith. “Everything will go back to the way it used to be.”

“In other words…” Leon shook his head. “Gummi Ships will be useless.”

Gummi Ships… useless? Riku’s eyes widened and he stepped back, letting Leon’s words sink in. If the worlds became restored and disconnected, then what about Sora? They still hadn’t found him! And he promised to Kairi that he wouldn’t set foot on the islands until they were all together again. Letting the worlds split apart would be breaking that promise. A promise to his friends meant everything, too. He couldn’t let Kairi down! He just… couldn’t.

The worlds mattered. Ansem had to be defeated, there was no way around it, but couldn’t they find some other way? A way to stop the darkness while keeping the worlds connected somehow? While some might’ve been happy to hear that order would return and the worlds would come back, Riku found himself torn between a promise and the greater good. He gazed silently at the floor, lost and confused. What was he supposed to do?

“Riku?”

When he looked up, he found Kairi facing him with a frown. Seeing her there, he tried to smile, but he just couldn't pull it off.

“Don’t worry about it, Kairi.” He sighed, taking a step towards the stairs. “If that’s what it takes to save the worlds, then… we’ll just have to stay strong.”

Goofy sniffled, wiping a tear from his eye. “Does that mean this is goodbye?”

“Yeah. This is it.” Leon crossed his arms, letting out another sigh. “But don’t let it get to you. We may never meet again, but we’ll never forget each other.”

Riku winced. What could he really say at a time like this? If he let his true feelings be known, it’d probably soil the mood. The others talked about how their hearts would bring them back together again, but sentimentality sure wouldn’t bring him to Sora. Maybe he said something similar before he freed Kairi’s heart, about how he’d always be there with them. That didn’t change a thing. He just… couldn’t stop dwelling on it. The worlds becoming separate would change everything. He and Kairi would be stuck on an island without the third member of their trio.

It just wouldn’t be the same.

He couldn’t let he others know the thoughts that crossed his mind. They needed to go find Ansem. It had to be done. Riku would just have to remind himself that this was the right thing. It wasn’t just about his own goals and ambitions; he had to keep the worlds in mind. All those lives that had been lost to darkness… worlds completely ravaged by the Heartless. They were worth it, right?

Looking down at his Keyblade, Riku tried to push those dark thoughts away. “Well, I guess we’d better get going. The sooner we get to Ansem, the better, right?”

“And the sooner we fight him, the sooner we can save the worlds!” Donald nodded, his expression stern. “It’s what the King would want.”

“Good luck out there," said Leon. “And whatever you do, don’t lose sight of what’s important.”

There he was again, bringing up what was important… the greater good. Riku’s grip on the Keyblade tightened, and he averted his gaze. “…Thanks, Leon. We’ll do our best.”

His words were hollow. Doubt still resonated in his heart. For the time being, he’d just have to hold it back and focus on the matters at hand. It hurt to think of the consequences, but at least he had Donald and Goofy to fight by his side and Kairi to provide moral support. They’d keep him going, despite his lingering wariness. With only darkness awaiting them, they’d need each other now more than ever.

And so, as he and his friends left the Grand Hall, waving goodbye to Leon and the others, Riku tried to keep his chin up and his spirits high. He’d made it this far. What was one more challenge in the grand scheme of things? Beating Ansem would be a cinch if they put their minds to it. They’d fight back the darkness and save the day. Such was the duty of the Keybearer.

If only he had the heart to accept it.

TO BE CONTINUED

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