I just want to say I`m sorry....sorry for taking so long to post this chapter,a lot of thing happned recently so I never got the time to even go online to post it.......oh well,heres the mostly waited chapter 7.....than again I have to make it into 2 part again. :roll:

Chapter 7: A Step Forward

"So, where do we start? Maybe the door is closer than we think..." Sora suggested. "Well, we know one thing. Kairi is all by herself with a keyblade. She hasn't a clue to what power it holds!" Donald said. They kept walking down the dusty path.....trying to think of simpler ways to get to the door. "Maybe Riku and Mickey will find a way out themselves." Sora said. "Impossible. For the door to be opened, there must be two keyblades!" said Donald. "Scuse me fellas....uhm......don't I have a say in this?" Goofy said. "Oh yeah? What's that ." Donald smirked. "Let's trust the King, and just walk. Walk until we find the door. That's the only thing to do." said sora as he looked at Donald. "He's right you know." Goofy said. "I know....but I don't have to admit it...." Donald said. So they kept walking...not sure of what was in store for them.

Leon and Yuffie got into his space-craft. "We may never come back...and we may never see our friends again. But, I'm willing to risk it." Leon said. Yuffie nodded. "I'm with ya all the way Squall!" she said. They blasted off into the sky. Leon searched around for the planet of heartless. Yuffie spotted a sphere of dark purple smoke, and pointed it out to Leon. They headed towards the planet. When they entered the o-zone, the ship started to creek, and rumble. Yuffie and Leon held on tightly to the ship. It crashed down hard on the planet's surface. Yuffie had a bloody gash on her forehead. "Ouch." she moaned. Leon lifted her up. "You okay?" he asked. "Never better." she smiled. Yuffie stood up. "Whoa....what is this place?" she said. "I think this is where the heartless are...and Rinoa." he said. They walked down a path of muddy-purplish goo, and finally saw a large castle. "It looks like magic is holding it together....what a mess!" Yuffie said. There were pieces of black glass in the air, which formed steps leading to the castle. Leon and Yuffie walked up them slowly, being very cautious. They reached the castle doors. Leon pushed on them, but they wouldn't budge. They slowly opened, but not because he was pushing. It was because someone opened it. Before them stood a tall, dark, cloaked figure. "What business do you have at the Kingdom of Darkness?" it sneered. "I'm here for Rinoa!" Leon said. "Ah ha........you fool. Rinoa has been gone for quite sometime.....the chamber in which she was, is now vacant. Her soul is being cleansed right now. We have had her under siege....she now believes that darkness is life's true essence.....you can't free her where she is now. Try as you might, but you will fail. If you must test yourself, go to the ritual ceremony...". Leon looked puzzled. "The corridor leads you there." Leon and Yuffie slowly walked past the figure. Once inside, the only light there was candles on the wall, lit by a purple flame. A ghostly figure went to Leon. "What room shall I escort you to?" it asked. "The ritual." Leon stared at it. "You look so...so familiar."  "Ah, but...you barely know me... Through Yuna." it said. Leon looked closer. "No...it can't be.." he hesitated. "Rikku???" he was shocked. The figure giggled. "Why yes. It is me. Have you come to serve darkness too?" she asked. "Rikku....you're....you're a ghost! But..how?"  "The tribe members of the Al Bhed turned against me for leading the Heartless to Spira. So naturally, I took control of the heartless, and used them against my kind. The darkness swallowed me.....and I never have found the light...."  "Oh Rikku...." Yuffie said sadly "I dream of the day light will conquer, and take me out of this spell. I can not escape until that day. Once light takes my heart...I will finally be released to the farplane." she said as she pulled back her hood. She was a pale green.......you could see through her completely. She had her ghostly hair pinned up just like she always did. She looked like she normally would......but this time...she was a ghost. "The ritual. Let me lead you there."  She led them back to a room where heartless were dancing around a large fire....Rinoa's body was floating over it. Leon walked in. "Rinoa!" he shouted "She can't hear you." A heartless approached Leon. "Who have you brought for sacrifice Lady Rikku?" it looked at rikku "Sir Squall Leonheart....and his fool." she said. Yuffie glared. "We'll see who the fool is!" she screamed and attacked Rikku, but just swept through. Rikku floated above them. "Ah ha ha......so likely of you Yuffie. Too bad it's all over." she laughed. Leon ran to Rinoa. He grabbed her arm, but the force was so strong....he couldn't pull her down. The heartless surrounded him. He took out his blade, and slashed at them, until they were all gone. Only Rikku remained. "Let her go Rikku!" Leon demanded. "Or what...you'll hit me with your little blade!" she smirked. "Or you will never see Yuna or Tidus ever again!" he threatened. "You....know where they are?" she asked. Leon nodded. "Tell me!" she demanded. "Not until you release Rinoa."  Rikku crossed her arms. "Fine...take your little rag doll." she said. She thrust out her hand, and guided Rinoa to Leon. Leon held her in his arms. She was lifeless. "You won't have her heart unless you lead me to my friends!" Rikku said. "Fine. Let's go!" said Leon. They all boarded his ship, and took off to space. He headed for the Destiny Islands. Once they landed, Yuna, Tidus, and Wakka ran to the scene. Rikku floated out. She pulled her hood back. She put her hand on Rinoa's heart, and said, "She will need rest. Go." Leon carried Rinoa into the ship, and Yuffie hopped in. They left. Yuna approached Rikku. "Rikku....is it really you?" she asked. Tidus walked to Yuna's side. Wakka joined them. "I thought.....I thought I'd never see you all again...." Rikku said. "Why are you....uh... a ghost?" Tidus asked. "I am a puppet. Consumed by darkness." she said. "No. That isn't you....that isn't the Rikku I know." Yuna said. Rikku looked longingly at them. "I just wanted to say goodbye..." she said. A small tear dropped to the sand. The cloak came off of her, and her body rose high above them. "I love you all very much...." she whispered. Light shone from her body.....and small pyreflies fell to the ground. "Rikku! No!" Yuna shouted. "You can't go!" said Wakka. Tidus held Yuna. "Why...why did she have to leave!" Yuna cried. "Her heart was taken over by darkness....now she finally rests..." Tidus said. Wakka scratched his head, and walked back up to the waterfall. "I.....loved her...."

Kairi walked along the path, humming a song. She arrived at the small town. She just walked right on through, not even stopping to get things. She heard a voice. "That's right Mulan....show them home boys what it's all about!"  Kairi approached them. Mulan dropped her shield. "Who...who are you!" "Kairi. Keyblade mistress." she giggled. "Mulan. Nice ta meet ya!" she said as she stuck her hand out. Kairi shook it. "I'm training Mulan here to be a soldier. She has to fight in the war in place of her father....I'm her almighty guardian!" Mushu bragged. Mulan rolled her eyes. "Tiny...yes....almighty...no way." she said. "What! You betta not mouth off to me miss prissy! We have some training to do! And after that, we'll go kick some hunny-buns!"  Mulan laughed. "We are fighting the huns off from China." she explained. Kairi nodded. "I might have to seal a keyhole here.....sooo....mind if I tag along?" she asked sweetly "Sure...if you're up for the job. I mean...you gotta be rough...tough...and fierce!" Mushu said. "I think I can live up to that." Kairi giggled. "Well, it's off to camp......oh...and by the way, if anyone asks...you are Mulan's......er....his little sister, got that? Tell them you are just visiting."  "Got it." Kairi agreed. "It's off to camp!" Mulan said excited

"Mickey..please.....don't make me go on like this." Riku begged. "Riku! It's just a matter of time before they get here! Please...please don't die on me now! We have come so far!" Mickey pleaded. "Tell Sora.....that I'm sorry. And tell Kairi that I......I...lov......love........" Mickey ran to him. "Riku no!" He shook him vigorously. Mickey raised his keyblade, "Those who see the light........those who know the meaning......Show Riku the way...guide him to where he is supposed to be!" A warm glow covered the blade. Mickey knew that the Gods had heard him. He sat by Riku's lifeless corpse. "Before long you will be home again Riku.......just not the one you are used to. It is your decision whether to live or not."
"Where.....where am I?" Riku asked himself. He stood. There were clouds everywhere he looked. He stared at the mystic pink and orange sky......... there were stars shooting across it, and a man approached him. "Wha!" Riku said, as he jumped back. The man laughed. "Why have you come so early, Riku?" he asked. "You.....you know my name?"  "Of course.....why wouldn't I know my little brother's name?" he smiled. Riku's jaw dropped. "A-a-Asher?!" he asked. The man nodded. "But, you, you can't be...you are 8 years older than me, so how do you grow old when you died when I was five!" he asked. "Ah...but I am now a guardian. Doing good deeds, and helping the lost find their way back home. You...you have come too early little brother."  "No! I came when I wanted to. I will not stay trapped behind that door like some caged rat!" Riku protested. "But, you have forgotten something....you sacrificed yourself to save your friends...so now they are returning the favor. How do you think they will feel?" he asked. "I don't know........but...I don't...I don't care! I'm better off here" Asher put his hand on Riku's shoulder. "Come.... I have something to show you..."  Riku followed him. Asher stopped at a cloud floating about waist level. "It's just a cloud." Riku said. Asher reached into his cloak, and spread magic dust over the cloud. It rippled like water. Riku saw Sora. "What is he doing?" Riku asked. "Searching for the door. He hasn't stopped yet from finding it."  The scene changed to Kairi sitting outside of Mulan's tent. She had something in her hand. Riku stared. He looked closely and saw the snowglobe he had given to her when she first arrived at the island. "She...she still remembers..." Riku said  shocked. Asher nodded. "She is also one with a key....the keyblade mistress." he explained. "So...Kairi is looking for me too?"  Asher nodded once more. "I must go watch over an old woman......she is on the verge of starvation, I must tend to her." he said. Riku nodded. "I will tell you my decision when I am ready." He said. Asher walked out into the mist, and faded away.