Meanwhile, Sora and Beast arrive in the Entrance Hall, seeing no one
Beast: Be on your guard. They’re close, I can feel it. Are you ready
for them?
Sora moves forward as Beast gasps
Beast: Belle?
He whirls around, seeing the faint shape of a woman in a golden dress in the dark
doorway. It erupts into a cloud of darkness, where a Shadow Heartless appears. The Beast
shakes, rage and frustration flowing within him. He gives out a great roar and charges
after the Heartless, the door closing in on him, separating him from Sora. The sound
echoes in Sora’s ears
Riku: Quit while you can.
Sora turns, seeing Riku with Donald and Goofy
Sora: No. Not without Kairi.
Riku: The darkness will destroy you.
Tendrils of darkness erupt around Riku and his clothes take on a darker quality. He
clenches his fists, feeling the dark powers inside his heart, and glares at who he used
to call a friend
Sora: You’re wrong, Riku. The darkness may destroy my body, but it
can’t touch my heart.
He holds a hand over his chest
Sora: My heart will stay with my friends. It’ll never die!
Riku: Really... Well, we’ll just see about that!
He thrusts his hand forward, releasing a dark fireball aimed straight at Sora’s heart.
The energy courses through his hand, causing the air to ripple, his hair whipping across
his face. Sora is paralyzed as it draws near him and he closes his eyes, hearing a
crash
Goofy: Sora ain’t gonna go anywhere!
Sora opens his eyes, seeing Goofy standing in front of him with his shield out. The
energy, upon contact with the shield, has fizzled into the air around him
Riku: You’d betray your king?
Goofy: Not on your life! But I’m not gonna betray Sora, either,
‘cause he’s become one of my best buddies after all we’ve been through together!
He turns to look at Sora, giving him a thumbs up
Goofy (waving): See ya later, Donald. Could ya tell the king I’m
really sorry?
Donald: Hold on, Goofy! We’ll tell him together.
He runs over to the two of them and looks up at Sora
Donald: Well, you know... All for one and one for all.
Goofy: I guess you’re stuck with us, Sora.
Sora (staring at the floor): Thanks a lot... Donald,
Goofy.
Riku: How will you fight without a weapon?
Sora looks back up at him
Sora: I know now I don’t need the Keyblade. I’ve got a better weapon.
My heart.
Riku scoffs
Riku: Your heart? What good will that weak little thing do for
you?
Sora: All though my heart may be weak, it’s not alone. It’s grown
with each new experience, and it’s found a home with all the friends I’ve made. I’ve
become a part of their heart just as they’ve become a part of mine. And if they think of
me now and then...if they don’t forget me...then our hearts will be one.
He takes out the wooden sword
Sora: I don’t need a weapon. My friends are my power!
The Keyblade flashes in Riku’s hand, much to his surprise. It disappears and he stares
at his hand, gasping in total astonishment. The Keyblade reappears in Sora’s hands, and
he stares down at Riku, who takes out Soul Eater, his winged sword. Riku rushes forward
attacking Sora in a flourish of hits. Sora dodges sideways and spins around, sliding
back toward Riku and striking with his Keyblade. He reels back, landing on his right
foot. Bending his knee, he pushes off and jumps into the air over Goofy. Riku lands back
on the floor and strikes through Donald, knocking him out. He sends all his frustration
into his sword as he slashes at Sora, who holds his Keyblade in two hands, blocking
Riku’s blows. Seeing a free opportunity, he bashes Riku in the side with the blade,
sending him flying backward toward the fountain in the center of the room
Riku: No... Not yet...
He bends over, breathing heavily. The darkness around his clothes fades and he runs
away in disgrace. Beast enters the room behind them
Beast: So, your heart won this battle.
Sora nods and they continue through the castle.