Chapter 6

"Reese, you can't fade. There's no power that can defeat you- not the light, not the darkness." she hugged me. "You don't have to run anymore. And you also don't have to be afraid. Both will make you stronger."

"Really? Even the darkness?" I asked.

"You do have a balanced heart..." I gasped at this.

"I... still do?"

"The light in your heart is pure and your darkness is deep. Look into both and don't blink. You won't be afraid ever again."

"I was running from the dark... and I almost took light for granted..." I finally admitted.

"I know you are brave, Reese. Know they are there and don't give in. Do this and you'll achieve great things..."

"Like seeing through the deepest darkest and the brightest light?"

"You got it... If you have a good hold on to them, it will lead you to your friends and family."

"But... will I be able to?"

"You don't want to?" An image of another girl appeared next to Light. It was a girl with a low ponytail and blue hair like me. but her eyes were brown- the girl from the vision. She faded away and Lightning remained.

"I do!" I reached out for her and the light flashed. "And I will! With all my strength." I focused on my darkness and let it free me from light's hold. I turned around and, with my battle cry and Riku's, I slashed through something solid with Rainfell... It was the fake Sora. The scene turned back into that night on Destiny Islands.

"Impossible..." Sora wasn't himself, that I knew. He turned into Zexion. "How is it that you two found me when you were in the light?"

"You reek of darkness." Riku said. He was in his dark suit and I had my black hair. "Even the light can't block the smell."

Zexion gasped and I grinned, "Yeah, you need to take a shower!"

"This is absurd..." he growled. "Then I shall make you see... That your hopes are nothing- nothing but a mere illusion!" he had a book that can create illusions and duplicates of himself. Soon me and Riku had him.

"After all your protects, both of you are on the side of darkness." he said.

"We know who we are, Ienzo!" I said.

"When did that happen? You... were always terrified of the darkness before-"

"Not anymore!" Riku said and he slashed through him.

"Take this!" I summoned my Last Resort and flung it at him, completely missing Riku. Zexion shrieked in pain and disappeared. We turned back into our regular selves.

"We did it, Riku!" I said with much joy and I jumped into him with a hug. Everything turned to normal and we stood near the exiting door.

"Do you think we'll see it again?" Riku asked.

"I know we will..." I said with a bright smile, "And we'll be with Kiyoko."

"Yeah! I'll be able to play on the islands with you guys!"

Me and Riku smiled at this and went through the door.

khkhkh

We came to the next floor and heard Ansem calling to Riku.

"Ansem!" Riku shouted.

"I know you can feel it... The grip that I have on your heart. You have the dark in and that is the start of a heart being consumed."

"I'm not like that anymore!" Riku said sternly.

"Yes, you are." Ansem said in a singy-song voice. Suddenly, Riku froze completely.

"...Can't move!"

"No!" I growled. "Xehanort! Let him go!"

"The deeper the dark runs inside you, the stronger I become. Controlling you is effortless."

I saw a little ball of light go into Riku's chest and it illuminated the whole room. I heard Ansem groan and say, "Must you interfere again?!"

After the light dimmed Riku took a knee and I comforted him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah... If it was for that light..." he trailed off.

"Phew! Glad I made it in time!" me and Riku looked behind to see the mouse in all his glory. "That oughta keep him busy for a while."

"Mickey!" I exclaimed and he walked towards us.

"I got here just in time!" he smiled.

"Is it really you?" Riku asked.

"Uh-huh!" Riku walked up to him and held his cheeks. "Whoa! Ha-ha! That tickles!"

I giggled and Riku sighed with relief, "This time, you're not an illusion. I'm glad you can make it here."

"I made a promise to you and Piri, didn't I? I said I would be there and, well, I'm here!"

I giggled, "Mickey never breaks his promises."

Riku sat down and let out another sigh of relief, "Ahh... I'm okay. Guess I am relieved now that both of you are here." he punched the bridge of his nose. "But... uh..."

"How did you make it here?" I finished for him.

"I found a card to help me." he took out a card. "I needed a way out, and then suddenly, this card appeared in front of me. When I picked it up, I could see your heart. That's what lead me to you and Reese." he handed it to Riku. "Guess the card thought its place was to be with you."

"Maybe, you're right..." he said and I looked at it. I said what came to mind.

"Twilight Town..."

"You've been there?" he asked me.

"...No. Somehow, I just knew the name." he stood up.

"Okay... so let's go check it out!"

khkhkh

We walked down hill to a market. It had a candy shop, accessory shop, subways for trains, and clothes shop.

"This place... is amazing!" I looked around. "It's like I've been here before but... I know I've never been here before. Odd..."

"You said it was Twilight Town?" I nodded and he looked behind us, "Your majesty?"

I turned on my heel to find no one. "Where'd he go?"

We heard a dark corridor open and turn back around. Dammit, it was him again. "Riku, you must battle me alone. Against my dark powers!" he got in a different fighting stance. I got a waft of the darkness... it was weaker the Xehanort's. Riku noticed this, too, and lowered his weapon. "What's this? Are you giving up? Finally ready to except your fate?"

"You're not the true Ansem!"

'Hell no, he ain't! The true Ansem is my Grandpa Ice Cream!' I wanted to say. 'Ansem' got out of his stance.

"Your scent is different." Riku pointed out. "The Ansem in my heart smells darker. But your scent is something else. I finally understand. You guided me here when it started." I gasped at this and looked at the Imposter. He suddenly smiled. This smile was warm.

"That is correct." he used light to reveal his true form. He had red and black wraps around his head, only showing one blazing orange eye. He also had red robes and a brown... dress? I don't know but his eye did grab my attenion. "DiZ, or so I am known. You and the princess- I've been watching you both."

"Really. Who are you?" Riku asked.

"Yeah, and what do want from us?" I added.

"For you to choose."

"Huh? Choose what?" I asked.

"Both of you are special entities. You exist between light and dark and stand in the twilight. You are to meet Naminé and Lumina, then choose." Lumina, I didn't know... but Naminé is Sora and Riku's old friend.

"Naminé and Lumina? Who are they?" maybe Riku forgot who Naminé was, after all...

"You will know soon." DiZ disappeared in a light I've never seen before.

"Mommy, daddy, go to the mansion!"

I nodded and walked forward, following the path of the trolley car. I followed my heart and it lead me through the forest to the place we need to go. I stopped in front of the mansion's gates.

"Are you sure you haven't been here?" Riku asked.

"I haven't!" he gave me a weird look. "How do I explain this? ... You see, I think my heart knew, so I just followed it."

"I wish I could do that..." Riku looked down.

"Hey, don't think about it. Just do it!" I smiled.

He looked at the mansion. "I hope Kiyoko's right on this one."

"I can feel Lumina and Naminé's presence here."

I smiled, "The child says yes."

"Hold it!" I looked at Riku and he looked at me. That wasn't him saying that but... the replica! We turned to see him walking to us. "You've changed. You're not frightened by it."

"How can you tell?" Riku asked back.

"Because I'm you."

"No, I'M me."

" 'I'm me.' he says."

"No, Riku's Right! You have your own Identity... you aren't exactly like him." I said. "I can tell, your darkness is different from his... and not only that, but a different personality, too. You seem to be more smug then the real Riku."

"YOU'RE WRONG!" he shouted at me. "I'm a phony, a fake! The way I look, the way I feel, everything I remember! And even this newfound power!" he glowed with Zexion's darkness and me and Riku gasped. "I thought by finding some new power, I could finally be someone- someone who is not at all you. But... nothing changes... I'm still empty!" he whimpered and a tear fell down his cheek. "Everything about me is burrowed. As long as you're around, I'll never be more than a shadow!" he drew his sword and Riku drew his.

"Wait, Riku. Don't hurt him!" I stood in between them. I turned to the replica, "I'm not sure if I can get through to you... but I know you deserve your own life. Well, how about you come with us?"

"What?"

"Yeah, you can be Riku's new twin brother!" I grinned. "Well, if you do come with us... you can have a family. You can be an uncle to my child and even meet our friends and family."

"Sounds nice, but..." he lowered his weapon and looked at it. "Not suitable for someone like me."

What he did next was unexpected; he stabbed himself.

"NO!"

He fell on his back and darkness surrounded him. "It's over... hmph, good riddance to a phony life. My heart was never real. I'm sure even what I'm feeling is fake."

"What are you feeling?" Riku asked.

"What happens when a fake dies? Where will my heart go?" he asked. "Does it disappear?"

"It will go somewhere, you idiot." I said with a tear that won't go.

"Maybe to the same place as mine." Riku said.

The 'replica' tsked, "A faithful replica to the end. That's... okay..." his last words were.

I sighed, shakily, as the tear finally fell, "He was... different. I could tell..." Riku hugged me as he, himself, was in shock.

khkhkh

We walked into a room of the mansion and looked around. We saw two girls. A girl with blonde hair and another girl that looked the same as the girl as who stood by Light.