The Flames of Darkness(Riku/Closed)

[onewingedangel]

Castle Oblivion, a mysterious castle in a very mysterious world. A place full of memory, as well as forgetfulness. The Castle itself is shrouded in mystery. Who build it? For what purpose? What if it was something else originally? What secrets does it hold? Who's secrets does it hold? All questions that held answers...or did they?

Our story begins here, with Riku making yet another return to the castle. A mysterious figure in a black cloak stood before him now, remaining silent yet gazing upon him carefully.

You seek skills long forgotten. But are they truly forgotten?[/color]

That voice would appear solely in Riku's head for the time being as the Cloaked Figure tossed two World Cards at Riku, those world cards being Hollow Bastion and The World That Never Was

The answers to what you seek....they hold the key. The broken links to the chain of memories in your heart. Remember what you once were, and the chain will repair anew...

Then, the figure vanished, almost as if he were never truly there, returning the Castle to its old silent self. Behind Riku, the entrance doors to the Castle creaked open, that voice returning yet again.

Behind you, leads to safety. In your hands...the keys to powers long forgotten....choose wisely[/color]

[Riku]

Riku caught the world cards, eyes locked on the cloaked one. He remained silent, eying the cards, making his choice. He turned slowly and peered behind him to the doors leading out, once again questioning himself. He silently stared, keeping the cards held tight, then turned towards the door.

His mind turned to the power lost when Ansem's Darkness was pushed from him, and how he could use his own Darkness (and Light) to revive his powers... and to be able to use the abilities from before. He closed his eyes, and remembered the strain the powers took upon him because of Ansem's control... but without Ansem's control, without the reigns, he could unleash these powers and truly use them for good. For the cause in which he was given the Keyblade. He closed his eyes, and slowly turned to look forward to the door, nodding slowly.

"Never got anywhere taking the easy way out..." he muttered, stepping forward to the door. He walked up the few flights of stairs, picking one of the cards, and pocketing the other, holding the Hollow Bastion card up in the air to open the door. He was ready. Ready for anything and everything this castle was to throw at him. For Namine. For Kairi. For Sora. He would do this.

He then stepped to walk through the door.

[onewingedangel]

Everything was white, pure white for just the briefest of moments as the World Card was held up in front of the door. It was almost blinding really, with how white everything seemed. But when Riku stepped through, he would find himself standing directly in front of the fountain in the castle's main chamber.

Everything would appear normal, exactly as he remembered it, yet that Cloaked Figure would return, saying nothing as he stared at Riku intently. His arms folded across his chest, the only thing visible beneath that hood for just the briefest of moments was the hint of yellow eyes.

You will find that although this place is from your memories, the challenges you seek will be far different. The Heartless you encounter will be far more powerful. For what you seek, for what you wish to gain, you will need to be pushed to your limit, and then beyond. You will face ghosts of your past...[/color] The Cloaked Figure waved his arm then, summoning transparent images of everyone from Riku's past during his tenure with the darkness. Maleficent, Hook, Hades, Jafar, Oogie Boogie, Ansem the Seeker of Darkness...Roxas, and even DiZ.

Each of the transparent images smirked at Riku for just the briefest of moments, however a snap of the fingers from the Cloaked Figure caused them to become pure dark energy before he vanished yet again. The dark energy settled to the floor, creating an inky, murky black pool before it began to bubble and rise up, twisting and turning, shaping and forming itself. It continued to grow to a massive height, creating a muscular build with a heart shaped hole in its chest. Finally the last thing to form was the head and the snake like tendrils of hair this particular Heartless seemed to have. Right arm rearing back, its fist collided with the floor, shaking the entire foundation of the Castle.

Are you willing to face your fears?[/color]

Heartless Info:
Darkside
HP: 15

[Riku]

The bright flash passed in front of Riku’s eyes, and he found himself within Hollow Bastion. Memories flew past him, sending him in a vertigo of regrets and wishes, causing him to close his eyes and regain control of the slow panic that was rising. He opened his eyes and saw the cloaked figure standing in front of the fountain, gazing back at him and speaking to him. Telling him how the challenges will be more difficult, the Heartless, more intense. Riku nodded slowly in understanding, not saying anything back to the cloaked figure that had taken form. The figure waved his arm, summoning those from his past, Maleficent, DiZ, even Roxas, who all smirked at him, sending a chill up his spine. Then, as they smirked, the cloaked figure had snapped his fingers, vanishing. A sudden feeling of foreboding gripped Riku as the silhouettes swirled around, the giant Heartless known as the Darkside appearing, punching the ground with great force

Theme for this battle!

Riku called out the Way to the Dawn, feeling the sheer force of the Heartless’s assault on the ground, seeing the stone splinter beneath it. He narrowed his eyes and dashed for the hand once the rumbling ceased, aiming for the weak spot and moving in with a two slice combo, quickly attempting to dash back, taking into consideration that the beast could be faster and stronger than the regular Darksides that he and Sora had seen and faced before. Nothing would stop him from succeeding, and he was confident that we would succeed as long as he kept his head on his shoulders… He locked eyes on the Heartless and awaited it’s next move, careful of his surroundings.

[onewingedangel]

The Darkside's arm drew back as pain coursed through its hand from Riku's blows. Or rather...it at least looked like it was in pain. It was hard to tell when it came to Heartless ya know? However instead of striking back, something strange happened.

Time itself seemed to pause as the massive body of the Darkside seemed to remain suspended in time. But who could have done such a thing? Was there someone else here from his past? Or was someone interfering with this event? Perhaps the Castle itself decided to reveal a new passage. The room itself began to twist and warp, images flickering in and out as if it were glitching.

On second thought...this challenge is too easy for you. A Darkside won't make you face your fears...but a different event will.

The room took shape yet again, this time taking the form of the very room where Sora and Riku had clashed upon Maleficent's defeat. The very room where Sora valiantly defended Kairi's body, preventing Ansem from taking her heart. The body of the Darkside still lingered though, that is until it became engulfed in purple flames, separating into an image of Ansem the Seeker of Darkness, as well as Riku himself.

Are you ready for your first true test?

As the voice spoke, images appeared again. This time of Sora parrying the other's blow. The entire fight replaying itself, almost as if to give off a hint of what was coming. The fake Riku and Ansem's body's flew towards one another, becoming a swirling mass of Darkness upon impact. However that Darkness soon took on an all too familiar humanoid shape. Once it became solid stood Riku in his Dark Form. However, in its hand was neither Way to the Dawn nor Soul Eater.

No, an all too familiar keychainless black Keyblade with a red heartshape around the handle was clutched tightly in this new enemies hand. "Come Riku...rejoin us. With this Keyblade we can unlock your heart. We can lead you into everlasting darkness." However, the fake Riku didn't want for a response. Instead, it's free hand was brought up, palm glowing with dark energy before launching a powerful Dark Firaga towards the other.

Heartless:
Darkside: Dispersed

Abilities Used:
Permanent Dark Form: Due to this being from within Riku's memories..the fake Riku's Dark Form is permanent. It's power, magical ability, and speed are double what Riku's would be in his base form.

Dark Firaga: A dark version of Firaga magic. Instead of dealing Fire Damage however, it deals Dark.
Cooldown: 3 posts

[Riku]

The whims of the Castle had shown themselves finally for the Dark Defender. The same halls that claimed Namine now seek to claim him...

No. Not this time.

Not even waiting for words, as soon as the fake Riku spoke, Riku was already moving, expecting the attack that the little faker was starting. The Dark Firaga would whiz through air where Riku was standing, and Riku would make his way directly towards the faker, Keyblade out. Showing a masterful display of skill that he had acquired over the years, he feinted, flipping over the faker, and, while upside down, aimed a powerful overhead slash to clip the faker in the face, then would finish with a downward strike, reminiscent of the Helm Splitter ability that he once possessed, though not as powerful. Staying in close, he would then bring up his defenses, readying himself for whatever this rookie Key-faker had in store. No words. No thought. Just pure violence. That's what he expected from this faker, and he will rise victorious.

What would drive him to do such things? What would drive him to face his past, his fears, when any normal man would have turned away? What would make him so confident? Could it be Love? Could it be the undying need to end this war? Maybe it was the look in Namine's eyes as she fell to Ansem's Soul Eater... the feeling leaving him as his heart cracked, and shattered under the pressure of hate for Ansem, mourning for Namine, and self hatred combining with these feelings and rendering him a mere shadow of his once proud, powerful self. He did not care what happened to him at this point, just as long as he could get his answers, defeat every enemy that crossed him, and bring those that threatened his friends, the ones he loved, to their knees.

------------------

No skills used.

x2 combo slash, Target: Fake Riku

[onewingedangel]

Theme for this post: Fighting Fate Final Fantasy XIII OST

The Fake Riku brought his weapon up before him defensively as the real one jumped before him, the other's attacks striking at knocking him back a bit. While this may be a younger version of himself he was facing, the real Riku was making a very fatal mistake. This one was backed by the power he had in his memory, as well as Castle Oblivion. It's powers were being amplified based on what Riku was feeling in his heart. He wanted challenged, he wanted pushed. He sought darkness itself.

"Your heart is on the verge of breaking. Soon it will be weak enough for me to take over. Admit it Riku, you miss this. Miss the symbiotic relationship between yourself and Ansem. Miss the feeling of true power this union brought. You feel incomplete." The fake was up, and rather quickly from Riku's blows, a smirk upon its face.

The fake's body began to glow in a white aura, body rising as if it were floating in the air before dashing forth towards the real one, the first strike coming from the left, then behind, then the front, followed by the aerial strike from above for the final blow, dark flames rising up as the Keyblade of People's Hearts sent forth dark flames from the impact. It didn't matter if Riku dodged one, two, or every blow..it wasn't the purpose here.

"You had everything you ever wanted when you worked together with Ansem. The power you dreamed of. A Keyblade far superior to Sora's, and command over darkness. You threw it all away, swore no more to it. Yet here you are, crawling back to it like a puppy with his tail between his legs. Admit it...you're weak!"

After his next little speech, the previous attack was followed up with a Dark Raid. The fake's right arm drew back, throwing the Keyblade of People's Heart's directly at Riku like a boomerang effect. Not the smartest move by the fake by any means, however this was a younger Riku...whom had to learn what his older self knew. Riku could catch the Keyblade of People's Hearts and thrust it into his dark self to see what would happen, or he could take the blow. It was up to him now.


Abilities Used:
Permanent Dark Form: Due to this being from within Riku's memories..the fake Riku's Dark Form is permanent. It's power, magical ability, and speed are double what Riku's would be in his base form.

Dark Firaga: A dark version of Firaga magic. Instead of dealing Fire Damage however, it deals Dark.
Cooldown: 2 posts

Dark Aura: Similar to Helm Split, however instead of being performed from the air, Riku Replica rushes his foes three times before finishing the combo off from the air, releasing dark flames from the ground upon impact by stabbing Soul Eater into the ground.
Cooldown: 2 posts.

Dark Raid: Similar to Sora's Strike Raid, however different in name. The Keyblade is hurtled towards the opponent like a boomerang, hitting twice upon toss and return before returning to the owner.
Cooldown: 1 post

[Riku]

Riku scoffed. Crawling? If only the castle had made this child smarter.... Riku took the attacks, feeling how... weak he was back then. This is why he lost to Sora... yes, his techniques were astounding, his abilities supreme, but...

He doesn't hit very hard...

Riku spun around as the fake sent his Keyblade towards him and caught it, growling darkly.

"You know nothing of yourself, or me, if you think I'd crawl back to such slavery..." he took a step forward with the fake Keyblade of People's Hearts and then lunged forward, using the Way to the Dawn to pin the Castle-born Riku down, and thrusting the Keyblade of People's Hearts into the fake.

If the faker hadn't dodged the attacked entirely, Riku would turn away from him, the fake pinned to the floor by his own weapon. "I rid myself of you. I seek the powers that the Darkness gave me, but only because now I know that they can be conquered..." he closed his eyes, then opened them as he looked over his shoulder.

This was what he was like... insane... out of control...

No more. He swore to himself then as he is swearing to himself now, he will never be owned by the Darkness again.

-----------------------------------------

No skills used

Riku attacked with the Keyblade of People's Hearts, caught in retaliation of the Dark Raid, lunging it into the fake Riku's chest.

[onewingedangel]

As the Keyblade of People's Hearts pierced the Fake Riku's chest, the image of Hollow Bastion itself faded and flickered out, returning them to the nearly blindingly white walls of Castle Oblivion. Riku would find himself in yet another room similar to the previous. However in front of him a glowing orb of darkness hovered.

Before the young Keyblader could even so much as attempt to reach out or even wonder what that dark orb was it launched into his chest, offering the Keyblader its power. For the briefest of moments the Keyblader would find himself in his Dark Form, with a brief memory of how to perform a technique of old..yet what attack was still a little blurry.

Venture forth into the next door to find your next challenge young one...[/color]

[Riku]

Riku was shocked at the sudden lift of atmosphere. That was easy... but ok.

He stepped forth, tapping his foot. He held the final Card.

Deep within his damaged heart he questions himself. Questions his motives, his thoughts, beliefs, the benefits of this encounter, and what it meant for him. He didn't care. All he wanted now was to remember that attack. To remember everything. To put this turmoil to an end and fix his heart the way it was supposed to be.

He lifted the card, and waited at the door.