Chapter 1 (RIKU): Worlds Beyond the Stars

Chapter 1 (Riku): Worlds Beyond the Stars

        "I wonder what's taking Mickey so long?" Kairi thought aloud as the group anxiously paced around the entrance to the tower.  

        "They're probably having some kind of Master Meeting" Sora guessed.  

        "But if that were the case" Kairi reasoned, "wouldn't Riku be there, now?"

        Sora and Kairi both looked to Riku for an answer, but all he could do was shrug.  "How should I know what's going on?  I haven't exactly been a master for too long.  Or did you two forget who the Keyblade went to in the first place?"

        "Hey, we just want to get this going" Sora explained.  "It's way too nerve wracking just sitting out here waiting for them.  We could already be on our way."

        "Don't get too jumpy, Sora" Kairi warned her friend, finally deciding to sit on the outside steps.  "We haven't fought a lot of Heartless lately.  We may be a little rusty.  And besides, you heard Mickey.  There are going to be worlds out there that we've never been to."

        "It would be nice to know where we're going, at least" Sora answered.

        "I second that" Riku agreed.  "It would be better if we knew a little about where we're headed.  We didn't get too much of a break in the Dream Worlds."

        Kairi nodded.  "I wish I could've gone with you guys.  At least I won't be left behind on this next adventure.  I'll be right on the frontline with you."

        Riku and Sora looked to each other and laughed.  Kairi was not amused.  "What's so funny?"

        "If you're out on your own, who's gonna save you when you get kidnapped?" Riku asked, trying hard not to crack a wry smile on his face.  

        Before Kairi could retort, the door to the tower opened and Mickey walked out the door.  "Welp, we're almost ready for adventure.  I just have one last thing to give to each of you."  In his hands, Mickey held three grey pieces of armor.  "This is the armor that Keyblade Warriors fight with.  It will protect you from the forces of darkness.  I think you guys should get used to it before we set out."

        "But Your Majesty" Sora called out, "this is just one piece of armor.  How can this protect us?"

        "Put this on your upper arms and press the circle button" Mickey answered Sora's outburst.  All three students took a piece of armor from Mickey and attached it to their arms.  Simultaneously, all three tapped their new armor.  In a blinding flash of light, all three had found themselves covered from head to toe in new armor.  Sora's was a blend of silver and gold, while his helmet resembled the head of a lion.  Riku's was silver and blue, with a helmet shaped like a wolf's crown to top his armor.  Kairi's lastly, was a unique blend of magenta and violet, with a rabbit's shaped helmet.  All three warriors let out a combined shout of excitement.  

        "Your armor has special powers with them, too" Mickey explained.  "But you're gonna have to learn those on your own.  I never had that kind of armor, you see."  

        "How do we disable it?" Riku asked.

        "Just tap your forearm again."  Riku and Kairi tapped their arms and the armor around them vanished.  Sora, after admiring himself for another moment, followed in suit.  Mickey nodded and opened a path in the light with his Keyblade.  The white light beckoned to the three warriors as it had on the island.  Mickey walked past the three students, turning back to smile and vanishing into the light.  

        Riku nodded and turned to Sora and Kairi.  "Don't slow me down this time, Sora."  Before Sora could answer, Riku took off into the light.  

        Riku walked briskly out of the portal and began surveying his surroundings.  He seemed to have transported to some kind of town.  A large white and red gazebo stood in the center of the road, while numerous shops lined the streets.  As Riku walked closer to the gazebo, his attention was grabbed by an enormous shadow covering the town.  Down the road, standing proudly in the distance, was a large pink and blue castle.  The castle's many mirrors were stain glassed and shined brightly as they reflected the sun's light.          As the young master walked down the road, his two closest friends brushed past him and galloped off into the warm sunshine.  Riku laughed as he admired Sora and Kairi's childlike adoration of the amusement park that had been built by Mickey's friend.  "Don't go off and lose focus, guys.  We have an important mission, remember?"

        "What's wrong with a little fun, Riku?" Kairi asked innocently.  

        "You need to stop being so serious, Riku" Sora followed, as innocently as he could as well. 

        "I'm being realistic" Riku answered as he finally caught up with them.  "And it seems like I'm the only one doing so.  Mickey said that dealing with Maleficent is of the utmost importance.  And I'd like to get as much done before Xehanort-"

        "Riku" Sora called out.  "Can you just let loose?"

        Riku shook his head.  Sometimes, these two act like they're three year olds, Riku thought to himself.  If this is the way Sora acted on his last two journeys, how did he get anything done?

        Riku looked ahead and noticed Mickey standing near the castle, admiring a statue built in the center of a neat little garden.  Riku hurried up to meet with his old friend and began studying the statue.  Within seconds, Kairi and Sora had joined him.  As crafted in the statue Mickey stood, shaking the hand of a man wearing a neat suit.  His face had a warm and welcoming smile to match his neatly trimmed mustache.  "Who is this?"

        "My good ol' friend Mr. Disney" Mickey answered proudly.  "Ya know, in many ways, if it weren't for Mr. Disney, I wouldn't be here right now.  He's done so much for my subjects and me, that I feel that I should be forever in his debt.  But that's the thing with Mr. Disney.  He always wants to make people happy.  I'm sure he's off galavanting on some other crazy thing to make families smile.  That is the whole reason Disneyland was built."

        "I'd love to meet this guy" Sora said admiringly.  

        "Well" Mickey replied, "he said he would come back when the rides stop acting all crazy.  But since I'm getting you three onto that right now, it shouldn't be much longer."  Mickey turned from the statue and walked towards the castle.  

        As the Keybearers followed, they all looked around.  Three paths lay in front of them.  One led to a mysterious land, covered in vines and separated from the rest of Disneyland by a drawbridge.  The second path ran straight through the heart of the castle, leading to a peaceful looking village with a wide variety of oddities and attractions.  To the right of the group, a path led to a world with rotating planets and spinning gizmos and devices floating around in the air.  

        "From Main Street" Mickey called to the young warriors, "you can go to one of three places.  The first path will lead you to Adventure Land.  Those paths lead to worlds like Agrabah, The Pridelands, and other jungle and adventure themed worlds.  The path through the castle leads to Fantasy Land.  There is where most of the Princesses of Heart worlds and other magic themed worlds can be found.  To the right, is Tomorrow Land, the land of the future.  Many computer and outer space themed rides and portals run through there."

        "Just three lands?" Kairi asked curiously. 

        Mickey shook his head.  "Nope.  There are a few other worlds inside that you have to find.  There's Disney Town, where you'd probably be able to find Donald, Goofy and the others.  There's New Orleans Square, where you should be able to find lots of interesting things to do.  And there's also Frontierland, where lots of unknown things can happen.  You'll be able to access those places if you go through the other worlds.  Make sure you guys go to each land and search for the worlds.  We never know what's waiting for us."  

        Riku looked around the area and kept his focus on Tomorrow Land.  "I guess I'll go here.  I've always wanted to travel into space.  And maybe this world can tell me all kinds of things about the future."  He turned to Sora and Kairi, nodding swiftly.  After getting a courtesy nod back, he took off towards Tomorrow Land.  

        As Riku finally arrived at the gates to Tomorrow Land, a high squeaky voice stopped him.  "Riku, wait!" Mickey called from behind him.  Riku turned and addressed his friend.  As the little mouse caught up with him, he sighed.  "There's another part to your mission that you need to know."

        "Why couldn't you just tell us before?" Riku asked curiously.

        "Master Yen Sid only wanted you to have this task."  

        "Then what is it?  What do I have to do?"

        Mickey turned and walked towards the edge of the bridge connecting Tomorrow Land and Main Street USA.  He looked over and looked into the pool, refusing to look Riku in the eyes.  "Well, do you remember what it felt like when you fell into the darkness?  How you lost control of yourself and became Ansem's pawn?"

        Riku sighed, placing his hand over his heart.  "How could I forget?  But what does that have to do with this mission, Mickey?"

        "I don't even know why Yen Sid is worried.  I seriously doubt it would ever happen to him, but--"

        "Mickey?!"

        Mickey finally turned to face Riku, but his eyes hung low to the ground.  "Well, Yen Sid is under the impression that Xehanort is still targeting Sora to be one of his Thirteen Darknesses."

        Riku gasped.  "Sora?  But why?  All Xehanort said last time was how ordinary he is.  Why would he target Sora?"  

        Mickey shrugged.  "I don't know.  But Xehanort is not someone who gives up so easily.  I had a friend once, who also wielded a Keyblade.  But his heart became filled with so much anger and darkness, that it consumed him and made him a monster.  Xehanort took advantage of this and plunged his heart into the darkness."  

        Riku was aghast.  "What does that have to do with Sora?"

        "Riku, Xehanort exploited the darkness in his heart.  The exact same way Maleficent and Ansem tried to exploit your power.  And the exact same way he could affect Sora."

        Riku laughed.  "Sora give into darkness?  That's like telling a fish to fly instead of swim.  I don't think he has a dark bone in his body."

        Mickey, however, was not amused.  "Riku, darkness rests in every heart.  If Xehanort found a way to make Sora lose his control--"  Mickey shuddered for a moment, but composed himself.  "Riku, Yen Sid has instructed me to order you to look out for Sora.  Keep him from sliding into the darkness.  Any slight flicker in his heart could--"

        "Mickey, I promise you that I will not let anything happen to Sora or Kairi on this journey.  And when we're finished here, those two will be full-fledged Keyblade Masters.  You have my guarentee."  

        Mickey nodded, finally breaking out into a smile.  "I knew I shouldnt have been worried.  I know I can count on you to handle this.  Especially sine you're the voice of experience"."  Mickey hurried back towards Main Street USA, leaving Riku alone with his thoughts.  

        Sora?  My friend Sora, the same guy who didn't get angry when I joked about sharing a paopu fruit with Kairi?  There's no way he would give into darkness.  But now that Mickey had brought up the darkness, Riku, despite his confidence, could feel his heart's unease.  With a light as powerful as his feelings for Kairi shining in his heart, I'm sure he wouldn't fall into the darkness like I did.  But I need Sora to keep fighting the darkness for me.  Sora, you better stay strong for me.  I mean, for us.  

        As Riku arrived in the center of Tommorow Land, a small explosion caught his attention.  From out of the smoke, a duck was launched right to his side.  Though he looked like Donald, his grey hair and bespectacled face shined out to the young warrior.  "Are you alright?"

        In a loud squawk of a voice, the old duck laughed and hopped back to his feet.  "Of course I'm all right.  It's this hunk of junk attraction Mr. Disney asked me to fix.  It's filled with so many loose cogs and wheels that it makes one go kerplunk!"  The duck took a moment to study the new arrival.  "How is it I've never seen you before, son?  What's your name?"

        "I'm Riku" the boy answered.  "I'm a friend of Mickey's."

        The duck smacked himself in the forehead.  "Of course, how could I not see it?  Mickey told me a few hours ago about the three little tykes he'd have running around Disneyland.  I should have expected to meet at least one of you.  I am Professor Ludwig Von Drake, scientist extraordinaire.  But now I've been demoted to lab assistant for Mr. Disney, who needs all of his rides fixed before the gates open to the guests.  And this here ride is the worst."  

        Riku studied the ride's outer workings.  A sign hung above the entranceway to the attractions:

Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters

        "Who's Buzz Lightyear?" Riku asked the Professor.

        "Who?  Lightyear?  He's a Space Ranger.  A super-powered astronaut who battles aliens, robots and all other evil things in the universe.  He's a real hero."  The duck returned towards the outer wall of the ride, where a large conduit box was wide open.  As the duck continued tinkering around with the conduit, the main doors for the ride sealed themselves.  "Isn't that just fantastic!" the duck squawked bitterly.  "Now the door won't open!"

        Riku smiled.  "I think I can help you there."  Riku summoned his Keyblade to his hand and aimed it at the large metal door.  A bright light shined and opened the door once more.  Riku turned to the duck.  "Professor, would you mind if I checked what was going on inside the ride?  There may be some way to fix the ride from inside."

        Von Drake shrugged.  "I don't see why not.  Go on and see for yourself, Riku.  Though I doubt you'll find much in there."  Riku nodded and walked inside the dimly lit halls of the attraction.  

        As he wandered through the shadows, he came across a large pod shaped vehicle of some kind.  "I guess this is how it works."  Riku hopped into the vehicle, which slowly began taking off down a predetermined path.  From out of nowhere, a loud voice called to him.

        "Space Cadet!" it shouted, with great boldness and tenacity behind it..  "You are about to embark on a journey to help save the Gamma Quadrant from the Evil Emperor Zurg, sworn enemy of the Galactic Alliance.  Prepare yourself for the challenge of a life time."  A blinding light blasted Riku's face.  "Prepare to travel into the heart of Outer Space!"  

        "OUTER SPACE?" Riku asked, as he could feel the oxygen around him dissipating.  Before he could collapse, the young hero tapped his armor, calling forth the Armor of the Risen.  The blinding light carried Riku into the great unknown.  

Riku Obtained the Dimension Linker

The Dimension Linker allows Riku, Kairi, or Sora to 

summon the strength of a friend or Ally in order to 

help combat the many perilous enemies they will encounter.

The Power of a D-Link is based on Friendship Level

Friendship Level ranges from 0-150.

The higher the Level, the more powerful the Link will get.

Riku formed a D-Link with Mickey

Riku Learned Blizzard