Kiku Honda believed he was nothing special but all that changed when a mystical Joker told him he was Queen to the Kingdom of Hearts. Now Kiku must face a dangerous foe who wants revenge against the Four Kingdoms as he himself tries not to succumb to the darkness this dark foe brings.

Prologue

Life was not always easy in the Four Kingdoms; there was a time where death and destruction ravaged all throughout the kingdom. People hated and killed their neighbors; they attacked one another for even the smallest piece of bread. The smell of blood and death filled the air as children cried for death itself to save them. Theses kingdoms were not united and look as if nothing would unite them soon.

That was until a mystical man appeared; his skin was as pale white as his hair he had eyes that glowed like rubies. He carried a sword in his left hand lazily, f it wasn't for the smile on his face anyone could have easily mistake him for a cruel demon.

People stared at him as he walked through the center of plaza that connected the Four Kingdoms. He walked as if nothing could hurt him out in the cruel world, yet there was a slight limp to his walk.

He walked until he reached the Four Corners; this is where the path of the Four Kingdoms began. He looked up at the sky and gave a great hearty laughter that made the hiding people flinch.

"So this is what the stars created me for huh?" The man looked back down and around towards the destroyed paths; if it was possible his smile grew larger.

"Then with the magic the stars has blessed me with I will save this dump from hell!"

Suddenly the sound of a little girl's laughter was heard but it was too high and too

unbalanced to be a regular little girl. The white haired man looked at the people who currently were puzzled by the way the man acting.

There he saw a little girl not hiding like the others but laughing. She held a small brown bear in her arms as she swayed innocently side to side. But immediately he knew something was not right about her; her eyes were completely black with no white showing.

"Do you really think that you can stop this dark hell?" The little girl high pitched giggles sounded wicked to the man. "The light is nothing compared to what the darkness hides!"

'I'm guessing this is what the stars were talking about' The man thought to himself.

"I have built up all the hate and evil in the hearts of theses people; do you really think I will let a joke as your self destroy it all?" The little girl's voice changed into a deep voice, no not just one voice but many voices as if people were talking all at once.

The man simply gave the girl a smirk "Actually yea I do think that." The man raised up his sword towards the little girl. The little girl grew nervous by the way light seem to reflect off it. "To be honest I do think I'm a joke, I am a rather awesome Joker if I say so myself."

The little girl growled at the man as he stepped closer to her his sword looked as if it grew brighter with each step.

"Who exactly are you?" The little girl said cautiously.

"Wow you must be deaf like I said I'm nothing but a Joker" The man's smirk turned smug at the reaction he got. "And as Joker I want to show your self!"

At that moment the sword in the man's hand brighten as if it was the sun itself. The light emulating off the sword covered the entire village some of the people who were still watching covered their eyes. 'They would soon get used to the light.' The man thought.

The little girl screamed and immediately fell to her knees, tears started to come out from her black eyes as the pain proved to be to much for her. Suddenly as soon she screamed she stopped her eyes turned back to a normal brown color with the whites showing then she fainted.

The light from the man's sword dimmed down until the dark night settled back into the village. The people of the village looked around wondering what exactly just happen. They turned their attention back to the strange man who dropped down his sword and rushed to the little girl's side. He kneed down and checked her pulse, he felt the tiny heart beat and sighed with a slight relief. It had worked without killing her which made him all the more glad.

He picked up the little girl and cradled her in his arms she felt too cold and too light to him. Once he made sure the girl was safe in his arms he tensed up again; this wasn't over just yet. His eyes harden as he looked towards back spirit that was forming in front of him. It had eyes that glowed red just like his but they were different, they held a dark crazed look that could properly kill if they wanted to.

Those eyes looked at the man before looking behind him a sudden smile grew on the being. The man raised his brow confused for a moment as to why the spirit smiled. Then his eyes widen as he remembered how he left his sword on the ground unattended. He turned as quickly as he could being careful not wake and scare the little girl in his arms but the spirited proved to be quicker.

The spirited rushed over to the dimmed sword and plunged it self into it. The sword brighten like it did before the spirit disappeared the moment the light hit it. For a moment the man looked at the now dull looking sword with confusing.

'Did…did he just destroy himself?' The man thoughts were interrupted as the little girl started to shift in his arms.

"M-mommy…" He little girl weakly looked at the man to his surprise she wasn't in the least bit scared of his red eyes. With as much strength she had she wrapped her arms around the man's neck giving him a hug. "You saved me from the monster."

The man still shocked from the little girl's calm reaction slowly held her tighter. "Y-yea I did…the monsters gone now." He turned when he held a voice grow louder "Sally! Oh Sally! You're all right!" A young woman ran up to them with tears in her eyes.

The little stopped hugging the man and looked towards the woman and smile grew on her face and tears formed in her brown eyes. "Mommy!" The little girl reached out towards the woman as she appeared closer. The man lowed the little girl down and watched as she ran off towards her. They embraced closely before the mother quickly checked the little for any injuries.

As the woman looked over her child the man turned back to the sword on the ground. He still questioned why the spirited had just thrown itself onto the sword which ended with its own demise.

Did it acknowledge that it has lost to the man?

Was it idiotic enough to actually go towards the only thing that had to power to destroy it?

Maybe it was planning something else…

The white haired man was broken away from his thoughts when he felt a tug at his hem of his pants. He looked down and saw the little girl looking back at him a smile was spread across her face.

"What's your name?" The little girl asked.

The man kneed down to the girls level and smiled back at her "My name is Joker"

"Joker?" The little girl giggled this time her laugh was lighter and natural. "That's a silly name!"

The man laughed lightly. "I guess it is" he placed a hand on the girls shoulder. "What kind of name do you think someone as silly as me deserves?"

The little girl put a hand to her chin as she thought, she gave a little gasp as a name came to her head.

"Gilbert!"

"Gilbert?" The man raised an eyebrow, it wasn't a bad name if he had to be honest he actually found a liking to the name.

"Mhm! It means Bright!" The little girl's eyes glowed with excitement as she hoped he to liked the name.

"Annie you can't just go around giving people new names maybe he likes the name he already has." The woman from before walked up from behind the little girl with a embarrassed smile on her face. "I'm sorry Joke-uh…sir she can get really…excited sometimes."

"Hey it's nothing I actually like the name Gilbert." The man stood back up and gave the woman a smile. The little girl squealed with glee.

"O-oh really? Then shall I call you Gilbert too?"

"Of course!"

The man gave a rather loud laugh before composing himself with a cough. He realized now that the people who were hiding from earlier gathered around the three of them. At that moment he remembered what his true purpose for being there. His tensed up a bit remembering what had happened with the spirited but he already spent too much time thinking he had to get to work. Besides he will have time later to think of that; he had to get started.

He looked at all the faces of the people they looked almost like skeletons and their eyes with hollow. Now that he looked closer the little girl and her mother resembled skeletons to.

He straighten his composure and turned away from the two and picked up his sword from the ground. With his mind set on work he didn't notice how it seemed to way heavier. He raised his sword towards the sky letting the sun which was now peeking over from the dark clouds hit it. He didn't even notice that it seemed to shine less to him as long as it was shining it worked.

"People of these Four Kingdoms!" He began his voice boomed loudly it seemed also impossible for someone's voice to be that strong.

"I am the Joker! I was sent by the stars in the heavens to bring peace and love to you, so then we can unite and become joyful amongst each other! I have destroyed the very thing that had kept you separated from one another!" Gilbert paused hesitant.

'Did I really?'

He took a deep breath and pushed that thought to the back of his mind.

"The demon that feed off of your hate for one another is gone and now it is your time to grow! To become to people the stars see in all of you! It is time to replace that hate and agony with love and pleasure!"

The crowded had felt something new and strange from Gilbert's words they felt something other then pain something that made them believe the future holds something other than death and despair.

The light from his sword brought a type of warmth to their hearts and soon the crowd began to cheer.

"I will be hard but hope will give us the strength to be reborn into a better world!"

Hope.

The people had hope is what filled their hearts, and with this newly found hope they were determined to bring new life for everyone.

Gilbert smiled widely the crowded didn't look like the walking dead anymore they looked alive and happy. "I will do my part good people but the rest is up to you I wish you all the luck."

With that Gilbert plunged his sword to where he stood on the Four Corners. Light shined into the earth and suddenly flowers began to bloom as grass rose up from the ground. The clouds in the sky instantly disappeared and sun shined down on all the people.

Everyone were enchanted by the light that shined that no one not even Gilbert himself saw a black spirit slither quickly down his sword and into the earth.

"Are you sure you're not hungry Mr. Gilbert Joker sir?'

Gilbert smiled and shook his head at small group of children around him. He held his sword in his left hand and gave a small wave with the other.

"I'm sure besides I think you kids need it more than me." Gilbert ruffled a boys head causing the boy to giggle.

Gilbert laughed as the kids said a quick thank you and run off towards the celebrations. The people had decided to have some fun before they work to celebrate the future. Gilbert had gotten praises ever since he helped bring new life to the earth; to be honest he actually enjoyed it all.

He had finally been able to sneak away to a small hill just outside of the village. He let out a small sigh as he sat on the fresh grass a smile made it's way on his face as he looked up to see the twinkling stars.

"I think I did a pretty good job everyone is celebrating." He laid down on the grass and yawned. "People are sharing their food and being kind to one another again."

"If they keep this up the Four Kingdoms will be glories." He closed his eyes and let the sound of the soft wind rock him to sleep.

Why is it so dark?

Where am I?

What's going on?

You fool

What the…?

You think you could stop me so easily!?

Wait a minute…did…didn't I destroy you?

You are a fool to think that. You can not destroy something that lies in every one of you pathetic humans.

…

I was created by humans to destroy humans.

I am the thing that drives people to kill and act like savages.

One does not simply swing their sword around and 'kill' me.

You may have beaten me this time but soon your light will start to flicker until it is no more. Then I shall come.

…What exactly are you…

It seems like the stars haven't told you everything you don't even know what I am.

I am envy that resides every human.

I am the hate that motivates humans to kill.

I am the nightmares of children when they lay their heads down at night.

But you Joker can call me Dread.

Gilbert woke up with a jolt; he looked around wildly at first wondering where he was. Suddenly the memories the pervious day's events rushed into him. He calmed himself and looked up at the sky.

It was still night time the stars didn't twinkle as much as they pervious did but they still shined like diamonds.

Suddenly Gilbert's chest quickly filled with…dread.

Oh no…

He covered his face with his hands as he remembered his dream, it seemed so real…

It was real…it had to be, it explained where the sprite…where Dread went.

Gilbert groan loudly

"What the fuck do I do know!"

The only thing he could do was wait, so that's Gilbert decided to do…

Wait…

"Teacher that story didn't make any since! Like how could none of the people notice and demon go into the ground! It just doesn't make since!"

The young lady teacher smiled. "Like I said it's just an old folk tale made up to scare little kids. Now you're not telling me you believe theses stories that would may you're little!"

"Hey I'm not little my papa said I old enough to help him in the garden!"

There was a cheer of agreements as the one small wooden elementary school was filled with children yelling that none of them were little.

"I was just teasing children now I think that was enough stories and time for some art."

A little black hair boy slowly raised his hand from the back.

"Hm? Do you have question Kiku?"

The silently little boy nodded as he waited for permission to speak.

"Go ahead then"

"Where is the real Joker then if the story isn't real?"

All eyes made their way to the little boy. The little boy suddenly became shy as he saw everyone staring at him he was not used to so much attention but he just had to ask the question.

"Kiku…No one really know where the Joker is. The only time he ever shows up is to announce who the stars have chosen as our kings and queens of the Four Kingdoms. Other than that no one knows where he goes."

Kiku tilted his head a bit confused by her answer.

"Does that answer your question."

"I guess…I-I mean yes…" The little boy bowed his head at the teacher and looked down to his desk as the whispering of the other children began.

"Gosh how could he be so stupid, that's the first thing we learned in school."

" He's stupid because he came from the outside, remember?"

"Oh yeah, he isn't from any of the kingdoms that must be why he looks and speak weird."

"Don't forget the way he acts weird! He reminds me of my grandpapa!"

Kiku just ignored the whispers of the children and focus on drawing a little rabbit on his paper. He knew he couldn't defend himself here; he looked and acted much different than the other kids. He was calm and very quiet; he didn't like to speak unless he had a serious question or if someone would speak to him first. However the other kids found him too different to talk to so they didn't.

It was true he was from The Outside his entire family had been from there; it wasn't until recently his father had found work in the Heart Kingdom that his mother, father, and him finally moved from their small shack of a home.

He couldn't denial that he was different, he knew he was different and if he had to be honest he didn't like it one bit. There were times where Kiku wished he talked like the other kids. There were times where he wished he was much more outgoing. There were times he wished he wasn't Kiku Honda.

How he wished he had a different life…

Oh how different his life would get very soon…