Seek the Stars

XXIV

Riku had known going into the Door had been a bad idea, but when it had opened, something had compelled him to enter the dark domain. It wasn’t like he didn’t know the darkness; this dark was the same darkness he had encountered in Kingdom Hearts, only warmer, gentler. It welcomed Riku at the same time it told him to run and get out of here. His feet kept moving forward.

Mist swirled about his legs like an overly affectionate house cat, impeding his progress but giving him the strength to keep moving. Behind him, he swore he could hear a lion’s roar but Riku swore that he must have been imagining it. He kept moving forward, kept walking, going deeper and deeper into the Door. Riku stopped and looked back. Faintly, he could see the sliver of light that indicated the Door and sighed. At least he wouldn’t get lost when he tried to get out.

He walked for what seemed to be hours, going ever further though it felt like he never made any progress. The mist finally disappeared at the base of stairs, and curiosity made Riku climb up. He ascended slowly, taking his time, and when he reached the top he found a flat plateau with a carved sigil in the stone. He had never seen such a symbol before, but Riku wasn’t afraid. He simply moved closer and stopped in the center.

“This place is where They were born.” A whispered voice came from the dark.

Riku whirled to see Xemnas, the man slowly moving closer, smiling as his gaze locked on the sigil. “They?”

“The Watchers. The very first Creator was born, right where you stand. He told me you would be here.” Xemnas looked up at Riku.

Riku tensed. “Xiko? Xiko told you?”

“No.” Xemnas replied, giggling. “Xact did. He told me I would meet someone here. I guess he meant you.”

“I guess so.” Riku looked around the plateau, always keeping aware of Xemnas’ movements.

“Guess so, guess so.” Xemnas repeated. “Always guess so. But that’s all right; you’re young. You’re allowed to guess.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Xemnas just smiled. “Do you believe in destiny?”

Riku blinked. “Not really.” He answered honestly.

Xemnas’ head bobbed in a nod. “Well, it’s time to face something.”

Riku turned to face Xemnas, but found the man gone. He was alone. The fine hairs on the back of Riku’s neck began to crawl as he felt it approach, something creepy and dangerous. It felt familiar, sang to his blood, and Riku soon came face to face with his grandfather.

Hojo’s lips curled in a nasty snarl. “Hello grandson.”

Riku didn’t grace the warped old man with a reply. Instead, he called in Way to Dawn and settled into stance, eyes narrowed.

“Come now.” Hojo said with a huge guffaw. “Really, you are just like your mother. Always fighting what’s good for him.”

“Shut up.” Riku snarled. “You tore apart my family for your own sick game. You tortured my father and my friends! So don’t you tell me what’s good for me.”

Hojo’s face twisted into something hideous. Riku jerked back as a tentacle shot forward and he was only barely able to dodge it. They exchanged no more words; they didn’t need to. Riku was determined to win one way or another. Hojo’s attacks were quick and precise, but he was used to fighting a large group of heavily armed adults, not one quick teenager who only possessed a single sword. Riku was able to predict where a tentacle would strike and act accordingly, cutting off the limbs one by one and angering Hojo more. The tentacles weren’t Riku’s only problem, as they kept growing back, but Hojo was coming ever closer, stepping onto the sigil’s far edge, then closer, almost to its center where Riku fought.
A tentacle snaked around Riku’s ankle and hauled him up so quickly Riku thought is brain would dribble out his ears. Hojo stood below him, cackling.

“A good fight, grandson, but I always win in the end.” Hojo snickered. More tentacles wrapped around Riku as he hung suspended in the dark. They bound his wrist and Riku quickly dismissed his sword so the foul limbs wouldn’t touch it. Slowly, they drew him down until he was looking into Hojo’s face. “I’m going to love finding what makes you tick.”

The sigil burst into fierce white light as a lion’s roar reverberated throughout the chamber. Hojo screamed and released Riku who fell heavily onto Xemnas as the man pulled him out of the light. Safe on the edge, Xemnas held Riku in place and together they watched the light die. Hojo stood in the center, skin blackened and charred, but still alive. His eyes opened and his burnt lips split into a skull-like grin when he saw the pair sitting on the edge of the sigil.

“Isn’t this my lucky day.” Hojo rasped. He reached out toward Xemnas and Riku. “Be good boys and come with me. Now.”

Xemnas chuckled. Slowly, he rose and pulled Riku up with him, an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “For the longest time,” Xemnas whispered, “I’ve wanted to know why I was given the powers I have, why I lived for so long. I guess it was for this moment.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Riku hissed. “We have to fight!”

“No.” Xemnas shoved Riku behind him and smiled. “I have to fight. My time has been borrowed for this moment. Riku, you’re a Creator.” Xemnas looked to Riku and smiled. “Give me something I can win with.”

Riku’s mouth worked as Xemnas began to walk forward. His heart raced, because Xemnas was going to fight his enemy for him. Did he need to be saved all the time? Was he really that weak? Riku watched a tentacle wrap around Xemnas’ throat and begin to squeeze. No. He was a Creator, like his mother. He could be just as powerful as his father. Closing his eyes, Riku imagined something he’d dreamed of as a child, something that had given him comfort when he felt alone and lost. He hadn’t known what it had meant at the time, but when he had seen his parents together he had finally understood why he dreamed about angels.

Riku raised his right hand, eyes still closed, imagining Xemnas as an angel. Four wings grew from his back; two white and two black. In Xemnas’ hand was a sword of light, almost like the one Sora had described from his fight with the Nobody. He heard a wicked laugh become a cry of terror and felt heat against his face. Riku opened his eyes.

Xemnas stood there in his altered form, pinning Hojo to the glowing sigil with that light sword of his. He was smiling. He was also disintegrating.

Riku gave a wordless yell of protest and almost launched himself forward. He hit a sold, invisible wall.

“Go, Riku. Your task is over.” Xemnas smiled. “Besides, I won’t tell if you won’t.”

“But–!” Riku protested, trying to push through the barrier. Xemnas shook his head.

“You still have things to do,” Xemnas said. “Go back. Run. And don’t look back.”

Riku glared at both of them, then gave a yell and pushed away from the barrier, running as fast as he could for the tiny speck of light in the distance. He kept running, even when he heard the sound of rattling and crashing stone behind him. He kept going forward, kept running, and pretended the tears were from the wind whipping at his face. He hit the door running and tumbled through, giving a startled yell as he crashed into Sora. The pair went down hard, tumbling head over heels until they landed in a heap at the bottom of the hill. Riku was on his feet in an instant, grabbing Sora up as he did so.

“Riku!” Kairi cried. “You’re okay!”

Riku gave her a half-grin. “Yeah. I’m alright. But we have to get out of here.”

“And how are we supposed to do that?” Roxas asked. “The Gates are closed.”

Riku smiled. “I’ll make a way out.”

Before anyone could ask what he meant, the ground beneath their feet trembled. High above them, the lion on the Door roared in pain and slowly began to crumble. The Door began to creak closed and a pale hand thrust between the crack. Kaoru grabbed onto Naminé before she could grab that hand and shook his head.

“But that’s Xemnas!” Naminé protested.

“Not anymore.”

The Door crashed closed before the teenagers could move, the ground opened up beneath them, swallowing them whole.