The Hearts of Darkness and Crystal

Zypher Dragon: Well, I thank anyone who reviewed to this story so I will continue.

Aurora: Is it because of inspiration?

Zypher Dragon: No, because I want to so go away.

Aurora: Fine *leaves the room*

Zypher Dragon: Anywho, here’s the next chapter to Hearts of Darkness and Crystal (and also I’m adding some Kingdom Hearts characters and the pairings will be Cloud/Sora and Leon/Riku (even though Riku turns out evil at first) and maybe one sided Sephiroth/Cloud somewhere later in the story )

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Hearts of Darkness and Crystal

Chapter 2

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Yugi stayed up in his room thinking of how he was going to tell Yami how he felt for him. ‘It shouldn’t be so hard, I got support from Diamond and now Aqua, but why does it feel so hard to do so?’ Yugi thought to himself and never heard the door open and close ly uly until he looked up and saw Yami standing there. ‘Well, this is my chance, I hope I don’t ruin it.’

“Hey Yugi,” Yami said as he went to sit down next to Yugi. “Aqua told me that you had something you wanted to tell me tonight, what is it?” Yami asked. Yugi looked to him and then looked down but remembered what Aqua told him earlier. ‘you remind me of Euji, our first love and surely Yami will love you just like we loved him.’ And from that, it encouraged him and he looked up to Yami again.

“Yeah, I did have something I wanted to tell you, I wanted to say that, I love you Yami. Ever since the accident with Bakura, Diamond told me that I should tell you about my feelings for you but I was afraid because I wouldn’t know if you would feel the same for me.” Yugi said and then looked down again, afraid of what Yami might say.

Yami looked to him and then smiled, wrapping his arms around Yugi. “You know Yugi, you just made me the happiest person in the world now.” Yugi looked up to him. “What do you mean Yami?” Yugi asked. Neither of them didn’t hear the door open and Aquakingking his head inside to see what was happening between them.

“What I mean is I h I had the same feelings for you Yugi, but I was afraid myself that if I told you then you would be disgusted with me but now that you told me that you loved me Yugi, I’m happy.” Yami said and Yugi smiled, hugging Yami back. “I’m glad for that Yami, I would hate to see you sad if you think that I was ever going to reject your feelings for me.” Yugi said.

Aqua smiled and then closed the door again. ‘I knew you could do it Yugi, all you need was some more encouraging.’ Aqua thought to himself and then went back downstairs inte lie living room and lied down on the couch to sleep for the night since he had a feeling something was going tppenppen between Yami and Yugi now that they had admit their feelings for each other.

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The next day, Yugi woke up next to Yami, still a bit exhausted from last night’s ‘activities’ and smiled down to Yami, kissing his cheek softly before getting up and putting some clothes on. After he got dressed, he went downstairs and walked over to Aqua who was still sleeping on the couch, purring softly.

He smiled again and walked over to him quietly and sat down beside him, petting his side as he slept. ‘Thanks for your help Aqua. Thanks to your encouragement, I was able to tell Yami my feelings, now can I do the same for you?’ Yugi thought to himself and then leaned down to kiss Aqua’s snout and got up from the couch to go and make something to eat for him, Yami and Aqua once wak wake up.

Yami was the first to wake and he smelled the scent of breakfast and got up, getting dressed and went downstairs to eat. He smiled softly when he saw Yugi and walked up behind him, wrapping his arms around him. “Good morning koi.” He said and softly and Yugi turned to him. “Good morning Yami. How was you sleep?” Yugi asked as he kissed Yami’s cheek.

“It was great since I was sleeping with an angel.” Yami said and Yugi smiled. “You’re so sweet Yami.” Yugi said softly and Yami hugged him closer and kissed Yugi’s cheek softly before going to sit at the table just as Aqua came in. “Morning Yugi, morning Yami.” Aqua said as he sat down at the table. “Morning Aqua.” Yami said as Yugi fixed two plates for them and placed it on the table before getting his own.

“So how was your night Aqua?” Yami asked as he started on his breakfast. Aqua did the same then looked to Yami. “It was ok, better theingeing asleep for years,” he looked down. “though, I miss my friend.” Aqua said quietly and Yugi looked up to him as he sat down between him and Yami. “Who was your friend Aqua?” Yugi asked.

He sighed softly. “His name was Sora, he was 11. A few years ago, he came into Hollow Bastion. He was running away from a boy named Riku who was 12 and had a interest in him but he didn’t like it. He came into my chamber where I was held in my eternal sleep and he felt bad to see me there and freed me, that’s how I escaped from Hollow Bastion and in return, I helped him get away from Riku. For a year I took care of him and protected him away from Riku whenever we see him. He on on following our trail and we had to keep moving.”

Yugi was interested in the story and so was Yami. “Then what happened Aqua?” Yugi asked. “Soon, we was able to lose his trail in Neverland to live a normal life in Halloween Town. When Sora was 14, we met up with him again in an unknown world but there was something different about him and we found out that there was someone else other than me that can control the Heartless and his name was Ansem. He obviously knew of Riku’s skill in fighting and trained him to be a merciless fighter so he could go against me. It was a long and hard battle but he managed to win and I was left bruised and scarred from the loss as I watched Sora be taken away by Riku. There was no way I could get to him before they disappeared.” Aqua looked down, tears gathering in his eyes slightly from the memory.

Yugi got up from his seat and walked over to Aqua, hugging him around his waist. “I’m sorry for your loss Aqua. I bet you want to find him again, don’t you.” Yugi said and Aqua nodded. “Yeah, ever since, I’ve been looking everywhere for Ansem or Riku but no such luck. I think I lost my only friend.” Aqua said sadly but hugged Yugi back for comfort.

“Don’t worry Aqua, you do have a friend and a half brother by your side and you can make more friends once people know that you aren’t evil just because you’re a Heartless master.” Yugi said and Aqua looked to him before smiling. “Thank you Yugi, that makes me feel better.” Aqua said and Yugi nodded before moving away from Aqua as he got up. “If you want, I can use some of the magic I know and show you a flashback of what happened.” Aqua said and Yugi looked to Yami.

“Sure, maybe after this we could help you find Sora. If Riku is as bad as you say he was then we may be able to help you get Sora back.” Yami said and Aqua nodded. “Ok, come with me then.” Aqua said and Yugi nodded as he and Yami followed Aqua upstairs and into one of the spare rooms. He sat down on the floor and conjured up a large bowl of water and a pouch on the ground.

He took the pouch and poured some of the black powder onto his claw and then placed it into the water and the water turned black, glowing slightly and the flashback when Aqua met Sora appeared. Yugi and Yami watched it quietly.

~*Flashback*~

Sora was running through the halls of Hollow Bastion, Riku right behind him. “Leave me alone Riku! I thought you liked Kairi?” Sora yelled as he continued to run. “Kairi? I didn’t like her. I liked, no, loved you Sora, why do you keep running away from me?” Riku yelled back. “ ‘Cause, I don’t want to be in that kind of relationship with you!! I don’t like you that way!” He ran behind another corner and looked for anyplace he could hide. He found a door and pushed it open and ran inside just as Riku came into that hall.

“Sora? Where did you go Sora?” Riku whispered as he walked past the door. Sora listened to make sure he was gone and then turned around and found another chamber and went inside. He gasped when he saw the chamber containing a black dragon who looked like he was in an eternal sleep.

He walked over to the container that held the dragon and looked up to him, seeing the Heartless insignia on him but he looked disturbed. “Who would trap you here? You shouldn’t be contained like that, even if you are a Heartless.” Sora whispered and looked for anyway to let the dragon out and found a panel nearby and went over to it, pulling down a lever and the container holding the dragon opened and he walked back over to see if the dragon woke up.

Aqua noticed his container was unsealed and opened his eyes quickly before looking around. He spotted Sora and got out of the container before walking over to him. “Did you free me child?” Aqua whispered and Sora, who was a bit afraid, nodded. He smiled softly and pat the boy on the head softly. “Well, I thank you for that.” Aqua said and looked to the door leading out and started walking away from Sora.

“Wait! Don’t go yet.” Sora yelled out and Aqua turned to look back to him. “What is it?” Aqua asked. Sora walked up to him. “What are you and why were you locked up in here?” Sora asked and Aqua sighed. “If I tell you, will you be afraid of me and run away?” Aqua asked but he whispered it, hating to see this boy run away from him like everyone else who met him when he was freed before.

“No, why would I run away from you?” Sora asked and Aqua sat down on the ground quietly, Sora walking over to him. “Because, I am a Heartless Dragon, not only that but I am also the master of them, that’s why I have been locked in here in eternal sleep, never to be awakened again.” Aqua said and Sora sat in his lap.

“Why would people do that to you? You don’t look evil and you didn’t hurt me like the other Heartless that are still roaming around would.” Sora said and Aqua nodded. “I know but people still fear me, they never see me for who I am, they always see me as Aqua, the Heartless Dragon master.” Sora smiled. “All you need is a friend and I can be your friend if you can help me get out of here.” Sora said.

“Why? Is there someone else here?” Aqua asked and Sora nodded. “Yeah. His name is Riku. He was a friend to me until he started liking me and I didn’t like that at all so I have been running away from him but he keeps on following me and I haven’t avoided him yet.” Sora said and Aqua nodded. “Ok then, climb onto my back.” Aqua said.

Sora nodded, getting up off his lap and climbed onto his back. “Hold on.” Aqua said once more as he got up on all fours and started running out of the room, keeping an eye out for Riku as he ran through the twisting hallways and corridors of Hollow Bastion, Sora having a firm grip onto his spikes as he ran, both never noticing the shadowed figure watching them as they left before following them.

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After they made it out of Hollow Bastion, Aqua and Sora stopped in a small forest nearby to rest. “Do you think we’ll be ok here?” Sora asked. “I don’t know, Riku could had followed us out but I wouldn’t know. For now, we can stay here and I’ll try to conjure up a portal to another world with the magic I have.” Aqua said. “Are you going to be my guardian forever Aqua?” Sora asked quietly and he looked to him. “If that is what you want.”

“Oh yeah, I never told you my name yet. The name’s Sora.” Sora said, smiling up to him. “Well, I’m glad to have met you Sora, you’re the only one who can trust me and become a great friend to me.” Aqua said. Sora smiled and got up to hug him. “Don’t worry Aqua, I’ll always be here for you.” Sora said quietly.

“I know you will and I’ll make sure I’m a great guardian for you until I get you back to your own world.” Aqua said. Sora nodded and then released the hug. “Hey Sora, how about you go and catch some fish while I work on the portal to our next destination, there should be a river around here since I can hear running water close by.” Aqua said and Sora nodded. “Ok.”

Sora ran off into the forest to look for the river as Aqua started using what magic he had to make a portal to another world. Sora made it to the river and started trying his best to catch the slippery fish but didn’t know who was behind him until he felt arms wrap around him. “Now, now Sora, you know I hate chasing you. Why don’t you just come with me so we can have a peaceful life?” Riku purred into Sora’s ear.

Sora struggled in his arms. “Let me go Riku! I’m not like that nor will I ever be! I thought of you as my friend but now you’re nothing but a enemy to me, Aqua is my only friend now.” Sora said, still struggling. “Sora, don’t be like that. I know somewhere in your heart, you would love me like I love you.” Riku said, still holding Sora.

“No! I don’t love you at all Riku!” Sora continued to struggle and Riku still won’t let go so he called for his guardian. “AQUA!!!!” Sora yelled. Aqua heard his call and the portal to the next world was almost done so he let the portal form the rest of the way as he unfurled his large wings and jumped up in the air, tracing the yell from where he was and flew quickly to Sora.

‘Don’t worry Sora, I’m on my way.’ Aqua thought to himself as he continued to fly. Riku growled as he tightened his grip on Sora. “Who are you calling for Sora? Hopefully is not that dragon that helped you out, is it?” Riku hissed. Sora didn’t say nothing, just continued to struggle, hoping that Aqua heard him before something could happen.

Riku glared at him. “Well, if you won’t answer me, then I’ll find out myself but first, I need to get something that I should have gotten when we were still at Destiny Island. I have denied myself long enough for not getting it before our home was destroyed.” Riku hissed and pushed Sora on the ground and climbed on top of him. Sora whimpered and tried to get him off but he was stronger.

But before Riku could even start anything with Sora, he was knocked off of Sora and winced slightly and looked up, seeing Aqua picking up Sora from the ground and without a glance back, flew away quickly and got up. “That dragon, I thought he was gone after Sora left. Guess I was wrong but I’m not letting him take Sora away from me so easily.” Riku said, eyes narrowed and ran behind them, trying not to lose their trail through the thick trees.

Sora looked up to him and smiled. “Thanks for coming in time Aqua, I thought he would have done it before you could get here.” Sora said. Aqua nodded as he landed back at where they stopped at and saw that the portal was starting to close and he heard footsteps from behind.

He placed Sora down. “Go ahead through the portal Sora, I’ll be there soon.” Aqua said and Sora looked to him. “Are you sure, the portal to the next world is starting to close and I don’t want to leave you here.” Sora said softly. “Don’t worry about me, just go.” His eyes narrowed as his form started to change into that of a large, black wolf. Sora watched as he ran back through the forest to confront Riku and sighed.

‘Please make it Aqua.’ Sora thought and ran through the portal, going to the next world. Riku stopped when he found a black wolf standing in his way and he noted that it was Aqua from the Heartless insignia on his back. “So, you came back for more, eh? Well, whether you in my way or not, I’m taking Sora back to where he belongs, with me.” Riku said, taking a thick branch from the ground.

Aqua growled and leapt at Riku but was hit back by the branch and closed his right eye, a slight scratch over it. ‘So, you’re think you’re good, Sora has freed me once more and I will protect him like he wants and that is away from you.’ Aqua said quietly and before he could attack again, he sensed that the portal was getting too close to closing completing and howled, letting out a wave of energy to hit Riku as he ran back to where the portal was located and jumped through.

Riku fell back and narrowed his eyes as he got up, throwing the branch away as he followed him and saw him jump through the closing portal and did the same just as it closed completely. ‘I’m not letting you get away with my Sora, dragon. I will follow you both even til the end of time.’ Riku said as he was transported to the next world.

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The portal opened and Sora landed on top of a sand dune and looked around before getting up, dusting the sand off of him. ‘I hope Aqua made it, I don’t know these worlds and I might not survive without his help.’ Sora thought and slid down the sand dune and sat down, waiting to see if mad made it through.

A few seconds later, Aqua came through the portal and landed on the same sand dune and he looked around. ‘Sora, where are you?’ Aqua whispered as he slid down the sand dune, looking around for Sora. He looked up when he heard Aqua, getting up when he came around the sand dune. “I’m here. I’m glad you was able to make it through Aqua, I don’t know anything about this place.” Sora said and Aqua nodded, shifting back to his dragon form.
“This is Agrabah, home of the Cave of Wonders which I’ll show you once we get more comfortable here.” He looked down to Sora. “Come now, there should be a town nearby so let’s get going before any bandits in the desert come by.” Sora nodded and climbed onto his back again and he unfurled his wings and left to go find the town just as Riku came from the portal and caught sight of them.
‘You think you can get away from me. Well, you’re wrong there, dragon. I will get Sora back and kill you for trying to keep him away from me.’ Riku thought as he started walking through the desert behind them, never noticing the dark figure watching him from another dune before he disappeared in a flash of darkness.

Later on, Aqua landed in the bazaar and Sora slid off his back. “So, what are we going to do first?” Sora asked as Aqua shifted into a human to lower suspicion. “Well, first we need to find a place to stay, if Riku made it through the portal before it closed completely then we need to have somewhere to hide until I think of somewhere else to go but if he didn’t make it, then you have the choice of staying here, go to a different world or going back to your home world.” Aqua said.

Sora nodded and looked around before spotting a closed door and pointed there. “How about we stay in there?” Sora asked. Aqua looked to where he was pointing and walked there, Sora right behind him. He opened the door and saw it was a storage room and there were some things in there already. “This would be fine. You stay in here Sora and I’ll go and get some food for us.” Sora nodded and went into the storage room.

“Oh yeah, whatever you do, keep this door locked until I get back, I will knock three times so you know that is me.” After he said that, he left to go back into the marketplace, a bag of gold coins appearing in his hands as he went to go buy food for him and Sora. Riku walked into the bazaar and looked around to see if he could spot anything between the people but didn’t see any difference and growled.

‘I know they’re here somewhere but with all these people around, I can’t tell the difference.’ Riku looked around once more before he saw a black haired man past him through the crowd and blinked slightly but then he didn’t see him again, like he wasn’t there in the first place. ‘That must have been that dragon, I think I’d saw his Heartless insignia on the back of his shirt.’ Riku thought and then saw that people were starting to leave.

‘Well, I better find him again before I lose him.’ Riku thought once more before he started walking through the dispersing crowd. Aqua got everything he needed and started walking back to the storage room, keeping an wary eye on his surroundings since he spotted Riku in the crowd before he went to a different stall. ‘I have to be more careful, thankfully I got this cloak so it can hide the insignia on my back’ Aqua thought as he reached the storage room and knocked three times so Sora knew it was him.

Sora looked up when he heard the knocks on the door and got up from the blanket he was sitting on and walked over to the door, opening it and let Aqua inside. He place the bag of food and clothing on the floor and picked out some of the clothes he brought, looking over to Sora. “Here, put these on. I got them for you since Riku is here, he won’t be able notice you or me as long as we keep our appearances loAquaAqua said and Sora nodded, taking the clothes and Aqua left out the storage room so he can change.

The bazaar and plaza was almost cleared out and Riku still couldn’t find tlacklack haired man he saw so he instead looked for a place to stay for the night and went past the alley where the storage room Sora and Aqua were staying in. Sora came out later wearing the baggy silk pants and a white shirt that Aqua gave to him and looked up to him as he tucked his hair under the turban he was wearing.

“Are you going to take me to the Cave of Wonders Aqua?” Sora asked. Aqua nodded. “Sure. Come on, let’s get going now before it gets too dark.” Aqua said and Sora nodded, following behind him out of the bazaar and Aqua shifted into his black wolf form again, Sora climbing onto his back and he ran off into the desert.

Back at the bazaar, Riku sat in one of the abandoned homes, looking out the window quietly and then saw a black wolf running into the desert with a boy on its back and got up quickly, knowing that it was Sora and the dragon. ‘I knew they were here somewhere and I’m not going to lose them again.’ Riku thought and then ran out of the house and looked around and spotted a brown horse nearby and untied it, getting onto its back and followed them into the desert.

Aqua stopped once he reached the cave and let Sora off his back. He looked to the cave. “So this is the Cave of Wonders. I have heard about this when I used to live on Destiny Island and I hoped to see it one day and now I’m getting the chance to.” Sora said and Aqua smiled. ‘I’m glad that I can make you happy Sora. Now how about we go inside and explore a bit.’ Aqua said and he nodded, walking besidea ina into the cave.

Sora looked around the cave, amazed at everything around him. “Wow, it’s even better than what I saw in the book.” Sora said. ‘Well, before my mother died, she always told me and my half-brother that it’s better to see things yourself than what you see in books, it makes it more enchanting and exciting.’ Aqua said.

Sora nodded, agreeing with him and continued to walk with him through the different chambers. Outside, Riku stopped the horse and it reared back slightly before calming, letting Riku jump off his back. He walked up to the cave and looked up to the tiger head, remembering what he saw in Sora’s book about this but wasn’t scared as he walked inside.

Aqua and Sora stopped once they came to the treasure room and Sora looked around as Aqua dow down and watched him, making sure that nothing would happen as he looked around. ‘Make sure you don’t touch the jewel on the monkey statue Sora, it was said to hold a deadly power if taken.’ Aqua warned and Sora nodded, looking to the ruby in the statue’s hands before looking around the treasure room more.

“But, could I get something else from here without anything happening to us?” Sora asked, picking up a blue pendant from the pile of treasure. ‘Of course Sora, if you want anything, its yours, we just can’t take the jewel from the statue or the magic lamp which is in the next room.’ Aqua said and Sora nodded to him, looking to the pendant he had in hand.

Riku continued to travel through the chambers, looking for Sora and Aqua and then heard voices from the room in front of him and when he heard about the magic lamp in the next room, he thought about getting it for himself and use a wish to have Sora as his own. ‘But I need to sneak past that dragon, if I can’t do that then I will never get the chance.’ Riku though and then went into the room silently, hiding behind the piles of treasure and saw the doorway to the Lamp Chamber.

‘This is my only chance.’ Riku thought and started walking to the Lamp Chamber whenever Aqua isn’t looking and then went into the Lamp Chamber and looked to the golden lamp sitting on the pedestal. ‘Finally, I will be able to have Sora as mine, once I make my wish.’ Riku thought happily as he walked over to the pedestal, gently taking the lamp and then was about to walk out when the ground started to shake.

Aqua looked up. ‘Oh no, somebody must have taken the lamp.’ Aqua said and Sora looked to him. “But how, no one could have gone to the Lamp Chamber without coming through here.” Sora said and Aqua nodded. ‘I know but they could have went behind the treasure piles so we couldn’t see him.’ The place was starting to fall apart and Aqua got up, shifting into the form of a cheetah.

‘Hurry Sora, did you get everything you wanted from here?’ Aqua asked and Sora nodded, placing the blue jeweled pendant around his neck and then got onto Aqua’s back and he ran out, Riku doing the same but was farther behind them. Aqua dodged the falling rock and sand, Sora holding on tightly to the black fur so he wouldn’t fall.

Aqua saw the entrance ahead but saw the mouth of the tiger head closing and with a burst of speed, made it through the mouth before it could close and looked back before running back to Agrabah. A few seconds before the mouth closed completely, Riku jumped out, holding the lamp tightly to his chest. He got up and then looked back to e the the Cave of Wonders once stood an then went back to the horse and got on its back, riding back to Agrabah, now having the one thing that would help him get what he wanted.

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Aqua came back to Agrabah and went to their temporary home and Sora got off his back and took the turban off his head. “Do you think that was Riku’s doing Aqua?” Sora asked as he sat down on the blanket and looked through the bag for something to eat. ‘I’m guessing so, I bet you that your book told you of the origin about that magical lamp and how it can grant anyone whatever they want. I bet he wanted it to get to you.’ Aqua said as Sora passed him some dried and seasoned meat and smiled gratefully as he started to eat. “Do you think we should leave then?” Sora asked as he took an apple from the bag and wiped it off.

‘We should but hopefully Riku won’t find out where we are.’ Aqua said quietly. ‘If you want, we can leave tonight but we need to go to the plaza since it more spacious than here.’ Aqua said once more and Sora nodded. “Ok.” Sora said and continued to eat the fruit as Aqua finished off the meat.
ku cku came back into the bazaar and got off the horse he was riding and looked around. ‘Now if only I can find where they are but lucky enough, I have the lamp now.’ Riku thought and started rubbing the lamp.

Aqua looked up, his fur standing on end. Sora looked to him. “What’s the matter Aqua?” Sora asked, curious of what caught Aqua’s attention. ‘Riku, he’s using the lamp and I bet the first thing he would want to do is find out where we are.’ Aqua said and Sora gasped. “What are we going to do?” Sora asked, scared because he doesn’t want Riku to know where he is.

‘It might be hard but I might be able to pull it off since we will need more time to get the portal up. I’m going to transport myself to the plaza and start on the portal while you stay here since wou would more likely target where you are than me. Keep the door lock and hopefully the door will hold until the portal’s done. When it is, I will make another portal in here that you can take to get to the plaza, I will be waiting there for you and we should be able to make it through before Riku finds out we’re in the plaza.’ Aqua said and Sora nodded and got up, going over to Aqua and hugged him around his neck.

“I believe in you A I k I know we will be able to pull this off.” Sora said and Aqua smiled, hugging him back. ‘Thanks Sora.’ He released the hug from Sora and started to make a portal to the plaza and grabbed the bag of food. ‘Meet you there.’ Aqua said and jumped through the portal and it closed, leaving Sora alone. ‘I have to believe in him, he has done a lot to protect me and I’m not going to let it go to waste.’ Sora thought and started taking some barrels and boxes and moved them in front of the door so Riku couldn’t get in.

Riku smiled as he stood in front of the storage room that the genie said Sora was hidden in and went to open the door but found it was being blocked and growled. ‘Must be that dragon’s idea.’ Riku thought and then started to charge against the door with some help from the genie but their combined strength still couldn’t get the door open.

Sora backed away from the door, hearing Riku and maybe help from the genie trying to get the door open. ‘Please hurry Aqua, I don’t know if it will hold much longer.’ Sora thought.

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Aqua was almost done with the portal and let it formed the rest of the way as he concentrated his energy to the storage room to make a portal to the plaza.

Sora looked up and turned around to the back wall and saw a portal forming and smiled as he ran over to it and once it was done, he jumped in and the portal disappeared just as the last charge to the door broke down the door and scatter the boxes and barrels around the room and Riku walked inside, looking around. ‘Again, that dragon has messed with my plans.’ Riku thought angrily and looked to the genie.

“Genie, take me to where Sora and his so called guardian is and hurry.” Riku ordered and the genie nodded, not liking Riku’s attitude but since he was his new master, he had to obey.

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Sora came through the portal and looked up to Aqua smiling. “I knew it would work Aqua.” Sora said and Aqua nodded. ‘It was all thanks to you Sora but we need to hurry, Riku will be here and we need to get through before he gets here.’ Aqua said and he nodded, climbing onto Aqua’s back and he walked through the portal leading to the next world and the portal flashed away just as Riku got there.

Riku growled. ‘They got away again.’ He thought angrily and turned to the genie. “Genie, where are they going?” Riku demanded and the genie hesitated before he had to obey. “They should be heading to Deep Jungle, where they’re landing is what I doknowknow.” The Genie said and Riku smiled.

“Ok then, for my last wish, I want you to make a portal to Deep Jungle, at least there I shouldn’t need no help to find Sora, I think I can get a certain cat to help me distract that annoying dragon while I get what I want from Sora.” Riku said and the genie cringed before he did as he was told before returning to the lamp and Riku went through the newly made portal, a shadow of a person watching him as he left. ‘So, he is after the boy but the dragon master of the Heartless is in his way, maybe it’s time for my assistance.’ The shadow thought before fading away.

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Sora and Aqua landed in the tree house and Sora climbed off his back. Sora looked around. “Where are we Aqua?” Sora asked as he turned to look to him. ‘We are in the Deep Jungle, a tranquil place to be in at this time. Come, I know a nearby camp we can go to and hope that the people there will let us stay.’ Aqua said and Sora nodded, walking over to Aqua and climbed onto his back as he picked up the bag beside Aqua and held onto him as he jumped down onto the net below them and into the jungle, never noticing the yellow and blue eyes watching them.

A few minutes later, Aqua and Sora made it to the camp. ‘Jane, are you here?’ Aqua whispered and the tent flap nearby opened and Jane poke her head out. “Is someone there?” a voice asked and then looked to them. “Aqua, is that you?” she asked as she walked out from the tent. “Well, it is you. I thought I wouldn’t see you again a you you was trapped in Hollow Bastion again.” Jane said as she walked over to then and patted him on his head.

‘Yeah, Sora here freed me again but he is having problems of his own so I came here to see if you would lend us a place to stay.’ Aqua said. “Why, of course I would, I’ll go and set up a bed for you two right now, how aboou gou go and show Sora around.” Jane said as she took the bag and left to go back inside the tent. ‘Well, let’s go and explore then, you need the break.’ Aqua said and Sora nodded as Aqua walked off into the bamboo thicket.

Riku sat upon Sabor’s back, looking around the cliff area for Sora and Aqua. ‘Where are you, I know you’re here.’ Riku thought. Sabor looked up to him. ‘Maybe they are at the camp meeting with that jungle woman. How about we go there?’ Sabor whispered into his mind. Riku nodded. He found out about having this ability when he met up with Sabor in the bamboo thicket just before Aqua and Sora landed at the tree house and was glad for that.

He held onto Sabor’s fur as he took off into the jungle just as Aqua and Sora came past there and into the cliff area. Aqua jumped onto the cliff and Sora looked around before spotting the waterfall. “What’s there Aqua?” Sora asked. ‘Over there is the waterfall cavern, a nice place to go to when you want some privacy. Would you like to go there?’ Aqua asked and he nodded. “Sure.”

Aqua walked through the entrance to the cavern, jumping onto different stones that led up to the butterfly grotto and once he reached it, he went inside and Sora was amazed at all the glowing blue butterflies flying around them. One butterfly landed on his nose and he laughed softly as he picked up the butterfly gently and got off Aqua’s back as he played with the small butterflies.

Back at the camp, Jane was setting up two beds when she heard something outside and went to go see. She gasped lightly at seeing Sabor and then another boy. ‘Could he be the cause of Sora’s problems?’ She thought and then thought about leaving before they could find out she was here and started heading out the back as they came in. “Hmm, she’s not here.” Riku said.

‘Maybe we should look down at the waterfall cavern, before we came in here, I got a scent of the Heartless master that you must be looking for.’ Sabor said and Riku nodded. “Ok then, let’s get moving.” Riku said and Sabor ran out of the tent and to the waterfall cavern, there small chat not going unnoticed by Jane. ‘Oh no, they’re going after them and I have no way of warning them.’ Jane said and started hoping to herself that nothing bad will happen to Aqua and Sora.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aqua relaxed himself as Sora continued to play with the butterflies, never noticing that Riku and Sabor were getting closer until Sora heard voices and was becoming afraid. “Aqua, they’re coming, I can hear voices.” Sora said and Aqua got up. ‘Alright then, we need to hurry, come on Sora.’ Aqua said and Sora nodded as he climbed onto his back and they left out but was too late as Sabor jumped up in front of them.

Riku grinned. “I finally found you.” Riku said and got off of Sabor’s back. Aqua growled. “You always think you could lose me though every portal you go through, well don’t think you can, I will always find a way, no matter what. Now dragon, hand over Sora and you won’t be hurt, too much.”

‘Not on my life.’ Aqua growled. ‘He freed me and I said I would be his guardian and I’m sticking to it whether you like it or not.’ Aqua continued. Riku growled and looked to Sabor. “Sabor, attack him and get Sora.” Riku commanded. Sabor nodded at lunged for Aqua, claws extended.

‘Hold on Sora.’ Aqua said and Sora did as he was told. Just before Sabouldould hit them Aqua jumped off the stone he was on and into the lake below them. the they landed, Sora lost his grip and was struggling to stay above the water since hen’t n’t that good of a swimmer and Aqua shifted into an crocodile and swam under Sora before he could drown.

‘Are you ok?’ Aqua asked. Sora nodded as he sat up. “I’m fine. If you didn’t help me, I would have drowned.” Sora said as Aqua started swimming to shore. Riku glared and jumped onto Sabor’s back and he jumped off the stone, also falling into the lake and started swim to to where they were.

‘I think I know a place we can hide, hold on.’ Aqua said as he shifted back into a cheetah and started running in the direction to Hippo’s Lagoon. Sabor got out of the water and followed them, Riku having a victorious gleam in his eyes. ‘You won’t pe mpe me for long Sora, I will have you and you will stay with me forever, no matter what.’ Riku thought.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aqua and Sora came to the Hippo’s Lagoon. Sora looked around. “Where are we going to go?” Sora asked. ‘We’re going up to the vines, Sabor won’t be able to follow us and hopefully, neither will Riku.’ Aqua said as he jumped onto the cliff that led to the vines just as Sabor and Riku made it to the lagoon.

‘They are heading for the vines Riku. What are you going to do?’ Sabor asked. Riku got off his back. “I’m going after them. I want you to go to where the vines end off and capture Sora and then meet me back at the waterfall cavern.” Riku said and Sabor nodded and went off the where the vines end off as Riku started to climb the vines on the wall.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Aqua made it to the top and looked around. ‘Well, there not much flying and jumping room so our best bet is swinging. Hold on tight Sora.’ Aqua said and Sora nodded, tightening his grip around Aqua’s neck as he stood up and grabbed a vine. Riku made it to the top and grinned.

“I finally have you now Sora.” Riku said softly and Sora looked back. “Why won’t you leave me alone Riku, I told you, I don’t like you that way but you keep on insisting that I would like you someday,” he closed his eyes and buried his face in Aqua’s fur. “But you just don’t know, you just don’t know at all Riku.” Sora said quietly and Aqua took that as a sign to swing w Rik Riku was dazed from what Sora said.

‘No, I won’t believe him. It was all that dragon’s idea. He loves me. I know he does. He was my friend ever since we met. And I always believed our friendship to be more. I’m not letting that dragon take away my only happiness!’ Riku thought to himself and snapped out of his daze and growled, feeling the darkness gather up inside of him and started to follow, never seeing the black figure watching him.

‘Soon Riku, you will have the power of the tlestless on your side, just keep believing that the boy doesn’t love you because of Aqua and then, you can use the Heartless to do you bidding.’ The figure thought and then laughed as he faded away. Aqua laded on the cliff to the next set of vines and stated swinging from there, seeing Riku catching up fast and also felt the level of darkness growing inside of him.

‘Soon, he could control the Heartless but luckily, he wouldn’t know of it.’ Aqua thought quietly and landed and the next area but wasn’t prepared for Sabor’s attack and was knocked down to the ground and Sora lost his grip around his neck. Riku jumped down and grabbed Sora. Sora struggled in his grip but he couldn’t break free.

“Sorry, but this time, you’re mine. Sabor, tie him up and throw him in the deepest part of the lake,” Riku said, pointing to Aqua who was unconscious. “and then come back to the waterfall cavern and guard the entrance.” Riku finished and gave a punch to Sora’s stomach, making him fall unconscious and he slung him over his shoulder and started to walk back to the waterfall cavernSaboSabor did his job.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Later on, Sora woke up and found he was in the cavern and noticed the Riku wasn’t around but Sabor was guarding the exit out. “Oh no, what happened to Aqua?” Sora said to himself and then felt arms wrap around him from behind. “He’s getting closer to his death underwater and there won’t be no way how you can reach him.” Riku purred from behind him and Sora started to cry.

“Why won’t you leave me alone, I told you once and again, I don’t like you that way.” Sora said, getting out of Riku’s hug and backed away into the far wall, burying his face into his knees. Riku growled and left out the cavern. “Watch him while I’m gone Sabor.” Riku said and Sabor nodded.

Back at the lake, Aqua slowly woke up and found he was on the verge of drowning and growled and he tried to free himself but the binds around him were tight and he shifted into and anaconda and slipped out of the binds before swimming up to the surface of the water.

‘I’m coming Sora, just hold on.’ Aqua thought and shifted into a phoenix and started heading for the cavern where he could tell Sora was being held. Sabor fell asleep a while ago and Sora knew it was his only chance to get away and he started to sneak around him and was close to getting out of the cavern when he spotted Riku coming back.

‘Oh no, I don’t have anywhere else to go, he’s going to catch me.’ Sora thought. He heard the caw of a bird above him and looked up to see a black phoenix. ‘That must be Aqua, he survived.’ Sora thought happily and ran over to him when he landed.

‘Are you ok Sora, did Riku do anything to you?’ Aqua asked and he shook his head. “No, all his did was tell me that you was close to dying when you was thrown into the lake and then he left but he’s on his way back now.” Sora said and he nodded. ‘Ok then, hop onto my back and we can get out of here before Riku notices you’re gone.’ Aqua said and Sora did as he was told and he flew off just as Riku came to the entrance of the cavern and looked around before heading up to notice Sora was gone.

‘No, he couldn’t have, he would never leave me.’ Riku thought and then turned to the sleeping Sabor. “Wake up Sabor!” Riku yelled, startling the cheetah. ‘What is it Riku?’ Sabor asked. “While you was asleep, Sora escaped. Come on, we can’t let him get to the lake and try to get that stupid dragon!” Riku said and Sabor nodded and let Riku onto his back.

They left out of the cavern and headed to the lake just as Sora and Aqua landed at the camp. Jane came out and smiled at seeing them. “Oh, I’m so glad you both are safe, I thought you two would have been caught by that boy and Sabor.” Jane said. ‘Don’t worry, it will take a lot of skill from him in order to beat me.’ Aqua said and then yawned.

Sora giggled softly. “After all this, you must be tired Aqua, how about you get some sleep.” Sora said and Aqua nodded. ‘Ok, take care of yourself Sora and if Riku tries to get you, come to me.’ Aqua said and Sora nodded. Aqua yawned again and went back inside the tent to get some sleep.

Jane turned to Sora. “Well, I don’t know what you are going to do but take this with you,” Jane said and went back inside the tent and then came back out with a small spear. Sora took it loo looked up to her with questioning eyes. “You may need it.” Jane said and Sora nodded. “Ok.” Sora said and then waved to Jane as he left to go explore more of the jungle.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sabor popped his head out from the water. ‘There’s no sign to the dragon Riku, he must have escaped.’ Sabor said as he climbed out of the lake. Riku growled. “He’s trying to toy with me again,” He sighed softly. “I’m going to take another walk, keep looking for him or Sora. If you find Sora, knock him out and bring him to me.” Rikud asd as he left.

As Riku left, so did Sa

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sora walked back to the tree house and explored around a bit, the spear strapped to his back just in case he was in trouble. He placed a hand down to the jewel pedant around his neck that he got from Agrabah. ‘I wonder, could I find someone, in the worlds that Aqua takes me, that I could love.’ He wondered to himself as he explored the tree house more.

Riku headed up for the place that he spotted Aqua and Sora before and sat down, looking around the top of the jungle. ‘Where could you have gone Sora, I hate to stay in this darkness any longer.’ Riku thought to himself quietly before he spotted Sora alone in the tree house. “But it won’t be for long.” Riku said to himself and jumped down quietly so he wouldn’t catch his attention.

Sora felt like something was going to happen and sighed before walking off. ‘Why can’t Riku leave me alone, I want to find the right person, not just go for him since he was my friend ever since we met.’ Sora thought as he continued to walk. Riku growled and followed him.

Sora felt that someone was following him and started to walk faster. Riku continued to follow him. Soon, Sora started to run, knowing it was Riku who was following him. ‘I need to hurry and get back before Riku catches me.’ Sora thought as he followed the path he took here since he didn’t want to hurt himself by jumping into the net below him.

Riku still followed him, knowing this was his only chance to get Sora while that dragon wasn’t near. ‘But he has gotten faster so this might prove to be a challenge.’ Riku thought. since Riku wasn’t fast enough to catch up to Sora before they reached the camp, he had to stop back in the jungle since he didn’t want to confront Aqua without Sabor by his side.

Sora looked back and found Riku walking back into the jungle and sighed before going inside the tent and smiled at Aqua’s peaceful expressio he he slept. He placed a hand on the pedant once more. ‘If I haven’t freed Aqua, I would have never been able to do this, thanks Aqua.’ Sora thought to himself before taking the other bed made for him and fell asleep.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Later than night, Sabor and Riku made it to the tent. “Ok, what I want you to do is to distract the dragon by acting like you’re going after Sora, lead him out and I’ll grab Sora. I have some new powers that I bet was formed from all the darkness inside of me so I’m going to make another portal to get out of here. Maybe after I make Sora mine, we can come back and live here with you as our protector from that dragon.”

Sabor nodded. ‘I would be honored. Now let’s start.’ Sabor said and Riku nodded. Sabor snuck inside and went up to Sora but before he could do anything, a spear was embedded into his back. Sora looked up and saw that he hit Sabor and he knew that if he was here then Riku was too and got up quietly, walking to Aqua bed and shook him awake.

“Aqua, we need to get out of here, Riku outside and I bet he sent Sabor in here to get me.” Sora said. Aqua nodded and got up. ‘I hate to leave here but with Riku on our tail, we need to get moving.’ Aqua said as he conjured up another portal and Sora climbed onto his back and they went through.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Riku felt the portal being made and ran in, jumping through before the portal can close. ‘There’s no way I’m letting you get away with him.’ Riku thought, determination of getting Sora as his only fueling his darkness...