Within The Dark On All Hallow's Eve (Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories) in Gamer's Gaming

The Road So Far…

Riku has made his way to sublevel 4 of Castle Oblivion, despite having to fight his way through thick and thin in the worlds of his memories. While Riku fought his way through the undersea world of Atlantica, Sora was making his own waves in Castle Oblivion, defeating Vexen, the Chilly Academic, leading to the Organization member’s demise at the hands of Axel, another member of the Organization. Realizing that Sora could become a problem for the Organization, whether in the clutches of Marluxia or not, Lexaeus and Zexion realized that they would need to find a way to counter Sora’s power. Riku. The two remaining subterranean members of the Organization made their plans to capture Riku as Riku opened the door to sublevel four’s world, Halloween Town, using the last world card available to him. Riku, hoping to see the light soon, does not realize what kind of darkness is waiting for him on the other side…

Now…

Riku, entering the bizarre and spooky world of Halloween Town for the first time, took in the dreariness of the world and the Heartless that roamed through it. While Riku had become familiar with the Search Ghosts, Shadows, and Creeper Plants in past worlds, this new world held a new set of Heartless for him to battle, including Wight Knights and Gargoyles. Though Riku had never before faced these particular Heartless, he had become so strong through his journeys that the Heartless and the rooms that they inhabited fell before him with ease. After fighting his way through the initial room, Riku made his way north twice, creating a Strong Initiative room followed by a Looming Darkness room. From there, Riku went west using a Tranquil Darkness card. With a choice between proceeding north or south, Riku went north by using a Moment’s Reprieve card, giving him a room to rest and recuperate before exploring the rest of Halloween Town. After a quick rest, Riku proceeded west again, using a Feeble Darkness card to pave the way. From there, Riku journeyed three rooms south in quick succession by using Sleeping Darkness, Feeble Darkness, and Tranquil Darkness cards. Riku then went east with a Sleeping Darkness card and, after defeating the napping Heartless, turned north by using a Lasting Daze card. With so much more experience under his belt, Riku retreated to the Moment’s Reprieve room before going back to the nearest Sleeping Darkness room and making his way west into a Roulette Room. After padding out his list of map cards, Riku turned south and made a Martial Waking room. Finally, after all his battles, Riku made his way through the Key of Beginnings door in the western part of the room. Inside, Oogie Boogie waited to do battle. Oogie used his various dice rolls to attack Riku. Riku countered by breaking his attacks, which caused the spikes that protected Oogie to lower, eventually clearing a path to the sack clothed baddie. Once clear of the spikes, Riku used his attack cards and Dark Mode to make short work of Oogie and earned the Oogie Boogie card as a reward for his victory. With yet another world clear of the Heartless, Riku retreated to the Moment’s Reprieve room, where a door had appeared that led to this world’s Conqueror’s Respite room. Riku made his way forward and prepared himself to face whatever may lay beyond the door, hoping for his path back to the light, and King Mickey, to finally be cleared.

Arriving back in the hallways of Castle Oblivion, Riku found himself facing down the giant of the Organization, Lexaeus, carrying his giant tomahawk. As the giant stood silent, Riku said that he recognized Lexaeus’ scent. He was another of those Nobodies. Lexaeus told Riku that he had done well thus far, but to possess his powers and yet still fear the darkness was a total waste. Riku denied that he feared the darkness, but Lexaeus sensed that he did. However, Lexaeus said, Riku was capable of controlling the darkness, telling him to cast away his useless fear, opening his heart and embracing the darkness. Riku asked what Lexaeus would do if he said no. Lexaeus, drawing on the power of the darkness, told him that he would lose both the light and the dark and disappear. Riku braced himself against the waves of darkness that emanated from the Organization member. Lexaeus said that he would not yield to the frail heart of an infantile coward and attacked Riku! Lexaeus used his cards to try and overpower Riku, both by attacking and by generating a shield that protected him from magic attacks. He even used a sleight that created a small earthquake that caused pillars of rock to shoot up from the ground. Riku, trying to use his smarts instead of his strength, countered and broke as many of Lexaeus’ attacks as he could and used both his Dark Mode and his own sleights to even the odds. In the end, Riku stood victorious, receiving the Lexaeus enemy card for his trouble. After the battle, Riku stood tall before the hunched over Lexaeus. Riku yelled that Lexaeus was finished and leaped at him, but Lexaeus swatted Riku away with his giant tomahawk and yelled back at Riku not to mock him. Riku smacked into the ceiling of the hall and landed face down on the ground. Lexaeus claimed that Riku was too much trouble and approached our hero to finish him off, but Riku’s body became enveloped in darkness, reviving Riku enough to take up his sword again and, as Lexaeus approached, Riku slashed forward, through the giant Organization member. However, it was Ansem’s voice that spoke, telling Lexaeus that he was too slow. Lexaeus realized, as his essence dissolved into a black mist, that Riku has much in common with their Superior and apologized to Zexion for beginning a fight that he shouldn’t have. Meanwhile, Riku floated in the darkness and Ansem’s voice spoke out, saying that he saw Riku. Riku became startled and called out to Lexaeus. Ansem told Riku that he could see his heart. Riku tried to deny it, but realized that a darkness as foul as the one he was in could only be Ansem. Ansem confirmed his suspicions and told him to remember him and let him drift into his heart. Ansem said that Riku had called out his name and had been thinking about him, afraid of the darkness that Ansem commanded. He told Riku that the more the boy thought of him, the closer his return drew. And as he drew closer, he would take over Riku’s body and his heart would belong to Ansem, once more. Ansem reached out toward Riku, but, as Riku shrinked away from the touch, a bright light appeared and told Riku to fight it. Mickey! The spirit of Mickey stood between Riku and told Riku to fight back. As Mickey guarded Riku from Ansem and, as Ansem yelled at Mickey’s meddling, Riku found himself back in the halls of Castle Oblivion, safe again for the moment. Riku called out to Mickey, hoping the King would answer him, but there was no response. However, Riku realized that Mickey was with him, protecting him from the darkness.

In the Organization’s underground base, Zexion stood alone, realizing that now, Lexaeus was gone as well. A dark portal opened in the room and Axel stood before Zexion, saying that Vexen, Larxene, and Lexaeus were gone now, wondering who would be next. Zexion said that he thought it might be Axel, but Axel said he had just taken a pounding from Sora and figured the hero probably thought he was dead. Axel said that he believed Marluxia would be next to go, which would be fine considering his defiance of the Organization and how he had targeted Sora. Axel asked what Zexion was doing. He had thought they had plans for Riku. Zexion said that they had planned to set Riku off against the traitors, but as soon as Marluxia was gone, they would have no need for him. Riku was nothing but a nuisance now. Axel pointed out that Riku was dangerous, as well. He had just defeated Lexaeus, after all. Zexion said that a physical attack on Riku was not how he did things. He asked Axel if he had obtained the data on Riku’s home. Before Axel could answer, we find ourselves back with Riku. As Riku approached the sublevel 3 world door, a giant tremor shook the castle. Riku, after steadying himself, realized that one of the scents in the castle had just died- a particularly strong one. Guess that means Sora just finished off Marluxia! Suddenly, a black portal opened before Riku and Zexion stepped out in front of him. Zexion told Riku what we already knew: Marluxia had been felled by the Keyblade wielder. Riku realized he meant Sora and asked if Sora was in the castle. Zexion told Riku that he was, but asked if he could face Sora. Riku asked what he meant by that. Zexion said that the world of darkness, and Ansem’s shadow, were still nested within Riku’s heart. He asked if Riku really planned to face Sora like that and if he wouldn’t be ashamed to do such a thing. Zexion reminded Riku that it was Sora’s job to face down the darkness and that Sora must oppose anyone who hosts the dark, like Riku, for instance. As Zexion threw another world card to Riku, he told the boy that if he didn’t believe what Zexion was saying, he could go see the truth with his own eyes. Riku realized, and Zexion confirmed, that the card was that of Riku and Sora’s home, the Destiny Islands. With that, Zexion disappeared back into his dark portal, leaving Riku to himself. Riku, with trepidation in his heart at seeing his old home, approached the sublevel 3 world door and raised the Destiny Islands card in front of it, opening the door to whatever truths it might contain.