My Dark Heart: Ryan's tale (a Destinies Intertwined, Riku x Oc sequel)

Chapter sixteen: Maleficent's Castle

The duo reached a safe place to stay-- in the Land of Departure with Terra, Aqua, and Ventus.

"You okay?" asked Ven.

Ryan was sitting in front of the staircase just outside, his face buried in his knees.

"I'm fine..." He mumbled, "Leave me alone." 

A small grey cat appeared in a puff of smoke-- it was Chirithy. "Hey, cheer up!" She said. "Whatever happened, I'm sure it could have been a lot worse." 

"The first girl I loved turned out to be a freaking Heartless, working for freaking Maleficent, luring me into a freaking trap... DOES THAT SOUND LIKE IT COULD GET ANY WORSE!?" He screamed, then stormed off without another word.

Max hung his head and quietly explained everything, then ran off to find Ryan. 

He was outside behind the castle, hacking away at the training equipment and muttering to himself. 

"Why... why did I have to trust her? WHY did I let my guard down!?" The next hit was enough to knock off one of the wheels hanging down. He grunted and kicked it, then flopped down on the ground. "What's wrong with me...?"

"What's wrong with me...?" Shira muttered to herself as she flopped down on the ground. "Ryan's dead and it's all my fault. What do I do...?" 

In a puff of smoke, a grey cat appeared. "Did you say Ryan?" 

"Y-yes...?...Who are you?"

"The name's Chirithy," The cat replied. 

"I'm Shira. I didn't like Ryan at first... but then I did, and then I betrayed him, and now... he's gone."

The small grey cat shook her head. "No, no! That's not true! He showed up in our world a little while ago!" Chirithy explained.

"Then why...? N-never mind. Can you give him this?"

Shira pulled out the small crown, and her new acquaintance took it.

"But what about you? Don't you want to get out of here?" She asked.

"No, I... I live here. You'd better go before Maleficent finds you."

Sora sat down on the clock tower, and bit down on a bar of sea salt ice cream. Worried thoughts ran through his mind like a flood. Why on earth did Ryan want to go alone? It was dangerous.

And poor Riku...

He was sitting on the beach, positively sick with worry over Rachel.

There was nothing Sora's best friend could do.

No, wait... Yes, yes there was.

"...I gotta help him! He just needs a good pep-talk, that's all!" 

Riku immediately shook his head at the suggestion. 

"C'mon, it's been weeks," Sora reminded him, "You've gotta go help Ryan find her."

"I can't."

"Why not? At least do something helpful for a change. All you've been doing is sulking on the beach like she's gone, but she's not! She's out there somewhere, and she needs your help! Rachel's your light-- your reason for holding on when it feels like the end. But you've already given up, haven't you? Figures."