Kingdom Hearts III: The Streamlined Edition

Chapter 4: The Realm of Darkness

Through the dark ways and passages that lead from one path to the next, Riku and Mickey looked around at the dark walls, the grey cliffs and the dark blue crystals shimmering throughout, providing light to weary travelers. There were hardly any sounds aside from the rumbling of the caves and the dripping of dark-black water that echoed throughout...along with hard sounding footsteps.

King Mickey and Riku, both well-prepared to face any challenge, conversed as they walked.

"You know, Mickey, I feel like I should know this place, but it seems like a lifetime ago. When I arrived here for the first time, I felt scared. But now, my doubts and fears have gone away. If anything, I feel exhilarated. And that is not because there is darkness in me―I know too well what that is like. This is different, and it's not adrenaline either, I know Aqua needs us...I am ready, I am in control and with you with by side, nothing can stop us."

Mickey smiled.

"I think it's because you've finally found the strength to protect what matters. Sometimes, when you care that much for somebody, all of these feelings start to disappear. There will be no room for fear or doubt if you continue like this."

Riku chuckled at this.

"You know, it reminds of a promise I made to someone."

"Sora or Kairi?" was Mickey's first guess.

"Neither. It was someone I met when I was five, but I can't tell you. They promised me to keep it a secret."

"I understand."

After walking for what felt like hours, Riku took notice of the scenery. Surely some of it had to be recognizable. He searched his memory, but he wasn't sure.

"Mickey, does any of this look familiar to you?"

"I think so," the mouse king surmised. "I mean in all the times I've been here I never thought it would change, but I guess it evolves...like nature."

He looked around, and a strong, yet warm feeling in his heart began to acclimatize.

"But we'd better keep moving. The closer we get, the stronger her connection will be."

Little did they suspect that the one they were searching for, Aqua, was having a heart-to-heart beachside chat with DiZ, or at least that was what Riku called him. Those who knew him well, called him Ansem the Wise. He sat on the rock, she on the dark grey sand. Solemn and quiet, they gazed out at the murky black waters. The man had already told Aqua about Sora's achievements and now she was waiting for her shining light to come and release from this prison and even though she grew up reading stories about damsels in distress, she did not consider herself to be one.

"How much longer until Sora gets here?" Aqua was saying to Ansem. "At this rate, I'll be spending all of eternity with you."

She pondered this over for a few seconds.

"But I cannot help but shake the feeling that these waters touch another shore that I visited...twelve years ago."

Ansem smiled at this.

"I've been to that shore too. They are called the Destiny Islands."

Aqua was startled.

"I think I've been there before..."

She searched her memory.

"That's where I met Sora, and another boy..."

But before she could bring up his name, she was cut off by a voice that she had not heard for twelve years.

"Hello again..."

The two turned whipped around and what they saw made them shocked and little bit pissed. Master Xehanort, came walking up, hands crossed behind his back in his usual posture. Next to him was a figure that they both recognized as Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, who was also the other Xehanort's Heartless (And by other, I mean Terranort.). The bluette Keyblader prepared to defend herself as she flanked the older man.