Even If You're In the Deepest Darkness, I'll Be Your Light

Hollow Bastion

My Pov

We arrived at the new world. As soon as we landed, my heart started fluttering.

Goofy: "Gawrsh, look at that!" Goofy pointed to a large castle with the Heartless sigil on it.

Sora: "I know this place..."

Me: "You do? I feel the same..."

Sora: "I wonder why... I feel this warmth inside, right here." He placed a hand on his heart. Kairi's heart was making him feel that warmth. Did that mean this was her home?

Donald: "Aw, you're both just hungry."

Me: "Donald, we're being serious!" That's when a loud roar echoed through the air. I jumped and latched onto Sora.

Sora: "It's okay, Hikari." I calmed down and let go of my friend. "Let's go!" We hurried to a far platform. I managed to see a beast and Riku.

Riku: "No vessel, no help from the Heartless... So tell me, how did you get here?"

Beast: "I simply believed. Nothing more to it. When our world fell into darkness, Belle was taken from me. I vowed I would find her again no matter what the cost. I believed I would find her. So, here I am. She must be here. I will have her back!"

Riku: "Take her if you can." The beast roared and lunged at Riku. He did a somersault backwards and attacked the beast with his weapon. Beast collapsed.

Me: "Stop it!"

Riku: "So, you finally made it. About time. I've been waiting for you, Hikari." He turned to Sora. "Sora, we've always been rivals, right? You've always pushed me as I've always pushed you."

Sora: "Riku..."

Riku: "But it all ends here... There can't be 2 Keyblade masters." Did he not see me standing there?

Sora: "What are you talking about?"

Riku: "Let the Keyblade choose... it's true master!" Riku held up his hand. Kingdom Key suddenly jolted forward. Sora gripped onto it, but it disappeared from his hand and appeared in Riku's.

Donald: "What!?"

Goofy: "Huh!?"

Me: "What!?"

Riku: "Maleficent was right. You don't have what it takes to save Kairi or protect Hikari. It's up to me. Only the Keyblade master can open the secret door...and change the world."

Sora: "But that's impossible. How could this happen? I'm the one who fought my way here with the Keyblade!"

Riku: "You were just the delivery boy. Sorry, your part's over now. Here, go play hero with this." He threw a wooden sword, one like the ones he and Sora often play fought with, at Sora's feet. Sora fell to his knees with grief. Riku headed back to the castle. Donald and Goofy started walking pasted us.

Donald: "Goofy. Let's go. We have to remember our mission."

Goofy: "Oh! Well, I know the king told us to follow the key and all... But..."

Donald: "Sora, sorry." I couldn't believe this. Had they only stayed with us because Sora had the Keyblade?

Me: "I can't believe you 2. It's bad enough that Riku's betrayed Sora, but you guys too..."

Goofy: "Hikari..."

Me: "Don't. If a mission is more important than a friend, then just go." Goofy followed after Donald. I knelt down to Sora. I could feel pain, betrayal and hurt radiating off him. I clasped my hands on his. He looked at me. I smiled the best I could with how many emotions were running through me. He still didn't smile. Then we turned our attention to Beast as he limped past us. He tripped and fell. We ran to help him.

Sora: "Hey, don't move. You're hurt."

Beast: "Why... Why did you...you come here? I came to fight for Belle. And though I am on my own, I will fight. I won't leave without her. That's why I'm here." Sora picked up the wooden sword.

Sora: "Me too. I'm not gonna give up now. I came here to find someone very important to me."

Me: "Yeah. I have someone important I need to save from the darkness he's been tricked into." We hurried to catch up with the others. We got to the main gate, only to find it locked. I realized that we needed to find the way to unlock. We ended up having to underground to unlock the door. After battling through the Heartless we managed to get inside.

Beast: "Be on your guard. They're close, I can feel it. Are you ready for them?" We both nodded and started forward. "Belle?" We turned to see a beautiful young woman with brown hair wearing an elegant yellow ball gown. Darkness covered her and she became a Heartless. I covered my eyes at the sight. Sora wrapped an arm around me. Beast roared in anger and attack the Heartless, with the doors slamming shut.

Riku: "Quit while you can."

Sora: "No. Not without Kairi."

Riku: "The darkness will destroy you." His clothes changed into a bodysuit with the Heartless sigil on the chest. It was kind of like the bodysuit Vanitas wore, but the coloration was different.

Sora: "You're wrong Riku. The darkness may destroy my body, but it can't touch my heart... My heart will stay with my friends. It'll never die!"

Riku: "Really... Well, we'll just see about that!" He shot a ball of dark fire at Sora. I jumped in front of Sora to shield.

Sora: "Hikari!" I waited for the impact, but nothing happened.

Goofy: "Sora ain't gonna go anywhere!" I saw Goofy had rushed and protected us.

Riku: "You'd betray your king?"

Goofy: "Not on your life! But I'm not gonna betray Sora and Hikari, either, 'cause they've become 2 of my best buddies after all we've been through together! See ya later, Donald. Could ya tell the king I'm really sorry?"

Donald: "Hold on, Goofy! We'll tell him together." Donald ran over to us. "Well, you know... All for one and one for all."

Goofy: "I guess you and Sora are stuck with us, Hikari."

Me: "Donald... Goofy... Thank you."

Riku: "How do you expect Sora to fight without a weapon, Hikari?"

Me: "Sora has a better weapon than the Keyblade. His heart."

Riku: "His heart? What good will that weak little thing do for him?"

Sora: "Although my heart may be weak, it's not alone. It's grown with each new experience, and it's found a home with all the friends I've made. I've become a part of their heart just as they've become a part of mine. And if they think of me now and then... if they don't forget me... then our hearts will be one. I don't need a weapon. My friends are my power and I'm theirs!" Ven had said the same thing 10 years ago... I looked at Kingdom Key.

Me: 'Kingdom Key, guardian key of Kingdom Hearts, return yourself to your rightful wielder, Sora!' Kingdom Key disappeared from Riku's hand and reappeared in Sora's. But this time, I would fight alone. "Sora, stay back. I'm fighting Riku alone." Before Sora could object, a barrier separated him, Donald and Goofy from me.