Souls Of Time : A Kingdom Hearts Story

Chapter 15: Kismet Choice

Hikari opened her hand and in a flash of light she summoned her Keyblade.

I looked at it for just a moment, making sure my choice is certain. Its light reflected off its metal surface. My neutral expression fell, to sorrow. They were too distracted fighting to see me walking up from behind. Riku pushed down harder as dark flames surrounded him.

"Just shut up!" Riku screamed.

Riku's blindfold burned up in the flames, his sea blue eyes no longer hidden. Then his cloak dissolved away into black. In its place was a dark blue and black suit lined with red. There was a heartless brand on his chest. The clothing similar to the masked boy that has chased me throughout all these realms.

"You're weak because you hold the power back, deep inside." The Replica raised his Keyblade up.

I stepped up behind the Replica and reached up to his shoulder.

"Riku, stop this. Please, stop fighting... Lets just get Sora out of here, together." I begged.

He slowly turned his head and looked at me from over his shoulder. I looked at him, but his eyes were just full of confusion and hatred. I realized that I am now in danger.

He Isn't the same person anymore, he's changed. He can no longer be trusted. He is only filled with fear and rage now that he's realized the truth, that his identity was all a lie. He doesn't know what's reality or not anymore. And he's only holding on to fragments of fake memories. Riku's memories, of everything that has happened, and of Sora. Now that is all he wants, his friend back, for himself. He wants his own identity. But he was created from darkness, he dwells in it...

But, maybe when this is all over, I will have a chance to bring him back. There is sadness lingering in his eyes past all of that rage. And a small glimmer of light hidden inside him.

I let go of his shoulder and stepped back. But, it was too late.

"You've made a mistake of interfering. And now, Sora is mine." The Replica said bluntly.

How could he have changed so quickly? He doesn't even care anymore... He sees me like I'm a stranger now.

Sorrow started to fill me.

"Riku... What changed you?" I spoke.

I tried to back up, he was too fast. He jabbed his Keyblade back with both hands behind him. The blade caught me on the side of my cloak under my arm. Then he hauled the blade up and threw me over his head. I let out a screech as I flew up into the air and across the room. This all happened so quickly I hardly had time to process what was happening. I flipped over and the orb was getting closer. I blocked my face as I hit the glass, keeping a tight grip on my Keyblade. I slipped across the surface, I struggled to stop moving. Then just before I fell off I held onto the top.

"Hikari!" Riku shouted.

He couldn't see what had happened, all he heard were my cries. Riku desperately tried to get up but the Replica pointed his blade at his throat.

"Don't worry, you'll both be gone soon." The Replica spoke.

Riku's eyebrows creased together.

"What do you think you're doing? Don't you care about the others? Don't you care about Hikari!" Riku yelled.

His expression changed for a moment, then went back. "I... don't care. She's in my way."

He still kept the blade pointed at Riku.
I opened my eyes. Recovering from being flung across the room. I was lying face first on the sphere. I lifted my head. I still kept a tight hold on my Keyblade, then I looked down. My eyes widened as I peered into the orb. The light glowed from inside. The fog twirled around, creating shapes as it moved. Then in the orb's reflection, I saw my appearance. On my neck traveling up the side of my face, were the scars left from the darkness. I reached up and touched under my eye. Shocked to see what I have become, dealing with the darkness.