Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Kingdom Hearts games or its characters. I make no money.

Riku clenched his eyes shut as the pain shot through. Resisting the voice always took something out of him. He had escaped from Destiny Islands to be the master of his own fate and now he was reduced to this.

Why do you try to fight me?

Ignoring the voice had become easier but sometimes its insidious whispers penetrated the shell he tried to erect around himself.

I am everything you are.

Maleficent's needling didn't help any either. She was always there, pulling the strings where the voice could not. It was driving him slowly crazy, to the point of insanity. Always there, always pushing and pulling and tugging and making themselves heard even when he shut himself tight.

I am everything you will be.

The titillating voice never stopped, always droned on as if listening was Riku's sole purpose.

I am everything you will continue to be.

It didn't even make sense half the time. Little wasp stings that itched and curdled. He fought the voice with everything he had. His choices were his own.

Fight me? This is barely a challenge.

He had purpose, one that was his own. Neither the voice nor Maleficent could dictat his will, only he had that power.

Power? You know nothing of it, you don't even have your own.

He'd eventually be free of them, he'd put them behind him.

How can you ever be free of your past, of yourself.

The silence was deafening after that, something he had never entertained happening.

You'll never be alone for long. You'll always have yourself.

Finally though, a thought that was his own.

It would never stop.