Chapter 2

In my mind...

I walked down these steps of a white castle. That's when I smelled Xehanort's darkness. Ansem stood right in front of me fighting with... Riku!

"You want to pull me back into the darkness," Riku glared, "So you can control me, again."

"Clever boy! You'll make a fine host." I growled at this. "Don't you want that strength again? Like back then..."

"Yeah, back then..." Riku clenched his teeth, "What the darkness made me do to my girl... was the second mistake of my life! Thanks to me, her heart is in scattered pieces!" I widened my eyes at this; why didn't he tell me this? "Well, guess what! Never again!" Xehanort's smirked at this and darkness hit Riku. He fell to his knees. I couldn't say anything or move. What was wrong with me?

"You think you can beat me while rejecting the darkness?" he growled, "Even if you ignore it, the darkness in your heart will consume you. Your pretty little light can reach you. And you will regret, that you rejected the darkness."

"NOOOO!" my light got strong enough that I could move and talk. I ran in between them and pushed Ansem back with my keyblade. "I won't let you have him! Riku, listen to me. You have to believe in the light. That way, demons like him won't consume you!"

"Believe her, Riku! The light will never give up on you!" Mickey's voice rang out.

"Your majesty! Piri!" Riku said and I turned around to see a ball of light in front of him.

"You can't see the light because you're closing your eyes. But even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to reach you." it disappeared into Riku's heart.

"So, you think just words will help him?" Ansem laughed and I growled at him. "Pitiful. Go ahead and watch your hope turn into despair." he gave Riku a card and he hesitatingly took it. "No matter how you seek the light, you can't escape." he turned to me. "And princess, do you really think you can save yourself? From the realum of darkness? Darkness, for that matter?"

"I know I can find the door to light!" I took a step closer to Riku, "When I do, I'll be with him, just you watch!"

"...And what about the darkness?" he smirked, "You know you're fighting it, as well."

"It doesn't matter! All that remains important is protecting my friends from you, Xehanort. I can't let you repeat the past."

"You can't run from it. So why try?" he dryly laughed, "Unless... of course you are afraid of the dark..."

I growled, "Why would I?"

"You already seen its power and used it. Might as well-"

"SHUT UP!" I rush to him with my keyblade but he blocked it and pushed me back. I skidded on my feet.

"Riku, I have one more gift for you." He raised his hand and Riku's chest glowed with darkness. He gasped and groaned in pain. It subsided afterwards.

"What did you do?" he growled.

Ansem evily smiled, "I tempted the darkness that remains in your heart. It will help you out."

I gasped as Riku's hands swarmed with darkness. I hugged him and the darkness quickly departed from him.

"Piri, thanks for being there for me." he whispered to me.

"It's no big deal. So what if you have darkness? I'll help you and always be your light. That way, you won't have to use it."

"Troublesome girl! Only he can decide!" Ansem growled, "But I most warn you. Be aware of the smell of darkness that your body is soaked in." he disappeared.

"Darkness... does a smell." Riku sniffed his glove.

"Don't worry, Riku! No matter how you smell, I'm here with you." he sighed at this.

Riku walked toward and I followed him up the stairs. Was this just a dream? Ansem said I was still in the dark realum.

"Riku..." he stopped walking and turned to me. "I came here through my dreams. I'm somewhere asleep in the realum..."

"What? Don't listen to what he said. You're here, right in front of me!" he said, reaching out for me. But his hands went through me. "Y-you hugged me earlier... didn't you?"

I lowered my head, "I can touch you but you can't touch me."

"Right..." he said with a sad look on his face. "So, what about this darkness? Is it soaked in?" he placed a hand on his heart, "...Maybe it's too late to go back."

"Please, for me, don't give up." I said, hugging him until I heard Mickey's voice again.

"Riku." there wasn't a ball of light anywhere but I can still hear his voice.

"Your majesty, can I really make it to the light?" I pouted at this as a shadow casted over his eyes. "What if I do open my eyes but all I see... is darkness?"

"Don't throw yourself away!" that was right behind us! I turned around to see the mouse with us.

"King Mickey!" we said in unison.

"So what if you smell! You should take a bath. You'll feel refreshed!" he said and I giggled. "Brush your teeth and don't forget to believe in yourself!" Riku blushed and I giggled even more.

"You're see through as Piri is!" he pointed out.

"Oh, this? Gosh, this is all the power I could use for now. I'm still a bit far away, just as the princess is." he explained.

"But why are we here?" I asked.

"Riku's here because... well, I really don't know... but we're here because of Riku. His heart is calling out to us." he said. "Facing to darkness within you will be a hard and painful battle. But, there's always a light."

"I'm battling, too." I told him. "You're not alone, Riku. Even if I'm not really here with you right now, I'll be here soon."

"Hey, don't I get any credit? You two don't have to worry so much!" Riku said, cheekily.

"Must you forget, I'm your girlfriend!" I nudged his forehead, "I'm s'pose to be worried."

"...True enough." he smirked, "I still won't let things go his way."

"Let's promise," Mickey put his hand in the middle. "We'll be there for each other."

I placed my hand on top of his and grinned, "Yeah!"

Riku's smile was real. He tried to put a hand on top of ours, but it went through.

"Well... is that good enough?" he asked.

"We did in our hearts!" he said and I giggled.

"You know what, Riku?" I asked him, "You both share that special connection."

"Not don't us, you're a part of it, too, lovebug." Riku said and I blushed.

"We'll be there. Just remember that!" I grinned as me and Mickey started to fade.

"See ya real soon!" Mickey smiled and everything flashed.

khkhkh

"Princess?" I slightly opened my eyes. Mickey's ears got my attenion. I gasped as I sat up.

"Mick- I mean, your majesty! You found me!" I said with relief.

"I found you when you were still asleep." he smiled, "You light was glowing when you were asleep and that's how I found you."

"You majesty, I-"

"Gosh, you don't have to call me that, princess. Call me Mickey." I slowly got up.

"If I can call you Mickey, then you can call me Piri, Pi, or Reese."

"Reese... I heard Aqua call you that." I gasped at this.

"You meet my sister? What happened?" I frantically asked.

"We meet in Radiant Garden. She was defending one of the princess of heart. Before my star shard teleported me away, I helped her defeat Unversed."

"That's probably when I was hanging out with my brother, his friend, and Ven... or when I was lost..." he gave me a confused look. "After I was my brother told me to go find my sister, I got lost in the streets. A teen with spikey hair, named Cloud, helped me fight Unversed and find my sister, I was so lucky..."

"Gosh, at least you're here now."

"Yeah, in the Realum of Darkness," I sighed, "We need to find the door to light."

"Once we do, we gotta go find Riku." I nodded at this. I placed a hand on my stomach. I heard still slight snoring and smiled.

"Your majes- Uh, Mickey, can I talk to my baby?"

"Aww, sure!" he walked away as I smiled.

"Hey, Kiyoko. I hope you're sleeping well..." I rubbed my tummy. "You have the most handsome, most brave dad around and he's really trying to fight his darkness." I heard yawning.

"Daddy's strong... I know he is..."

"Sorry I woke you, flower. Want to hear a lullaby?" I heard tired giggles. "Okay, here's one Auntie Aqua sang to me."

You rest inside my mind

since the day you came

I knew you'd be with me

All the time we spent

what we shared was surely

warm enough to know you cared for me

Light fades through memories

helps me walk my path

I'll keep my head up high

Words and faith and love

your strength gives me hope

someday I'll find you with open arms