The next thing Hikari knew is that it was very, very hot outside.
It took her a moment of hesitation, trying to discern the area around her. Sand, for the most part, coated all that she could see, and after finally getting up, she shook her head. "W-Where am I?..." She muttered to no one in particular, before looking yonder. A city sprawled before her, giant and majestic, though it was clear she would need some time to walk there. It then dawned on her, after some deliberation, that she succeeded. She traveled to another world. "I-I did it!" She marveled at this strange new world that she now stood in, eager to explore, but before long, steeled herself. "Alright… Time to find Sora." She mused to herself one last time, as she headed to the city of gold spires and dunes.
It took her far less time than she envisioned to get to the gates of the city. It was hot outside, making her peel her pants up and walk as fast as she could, but within an hour's march, she made it. From up close, the gates were even more impressive than she could have imagined, admiring their beauty for a brief moment. She wondered what kind of people could live in such a strange place, and walked up to the gate, trying to push it open, which she managed to move around with some trouble. Thanking her friends and mentor in Traverse Town for helping her get this far, she stepped inside the city to see the strangest of sights she could have imagined.
The city itself was teeming with life. People walked the streets en masse; children played in alleyways and on the roofs; animals of all sizes and colors decorated the stands of the main road. Hikari walked wide-eyed, the sights and sounds all alien to her. She could have never imagined seeing so many people in one place. The most she ever experienced of crowds were times on the islands were the villagers would gather for events, of various natures. She wondered to herself how could someone in such a city possibly get to know everyone else, as she did.
Before she could do much more, however, she felt something bump against her, knocking her to her feet. An almost literal slab of a man, tall and bearded, with an honestly goofy hat on his head. She tried her best not to snicker, noting the strange looking sword sheathed at his side, giving an attempt at an apology, but ending up mumbling. "I-I'm sorry..."
"Hmm?" The man gave her a rather sour look, something ticking him wrong. "You… Who are you? How dare you push around one of the royal guards of his majesty?" Despite not really doing anything to him, the man seemed quite upset. Rather or not it was her or something else, she was right there, and now Hikari had to deal with it. "Wait a minute..." The man took a closer inspection of her, the lighter tone of her skin making him raise an eyebrow. Not many people in the city could keep such light tones, especially when the sun shines down on people. "Where did you come from? Are you a part of this city?"
The barrage of questions shot at her made Hikari stumble again, trying her best not to slip that she's from another world. "U-Umm… I-I'm from… U-Uh..." She mumbled, not sure what to say. If she told them that she's from another world, that would be meddling. If she said nothing, they could jail her, or worse. "No?"
The guard gave her a piercing gaze, nodding to himself. He suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Hikari by her arms, holding her from escaping. "Then come with me. You'll have to answer to the Sultan for the princess' disappearance!" His brash tones and rough treatment left Hikari rather surprised, not to mention surprised. She didn't have any time to react whatsoever, and before she knew it, she was dragged all the way to the palace at the center of the city, the large golden spires watching from above. Marching through the gate, the guard that escorted her took her through to the insides. She could see the place was as well furbished as she could imagine, expensive paintings and rags hung all around.
She didn't get many chances to protest, and those that she did manage to voice went utterly ignored. The guard, or rather, the tower of muscle and sinew that he was, seemed far too blunt for his own good, and she decided against using her magic, in an attempt to seem as little as a threat as she could. She didn't want to start a fight with every guard in the city. "Your majesty!" His voice rang through the long and wide hall they came into, with a throne at the back. "I found an outsider, just like you ordered!" He tossed Hikari forward and looked back to her. "Bow before the Sultan of Agrabah!"
"W-What did I do?!" She finally had enough of his treatment, trying to defend herself. "All I did was walk into this place, and you grab and manhandle me to… This place! Now explain yourself!" She grunted in a rather unladylike tantrum, though the guard didn't seem to care much, stepping closer until an old voice pierced the veil.
"Please, you are dismissed. I would talk to the woman myself." The voice seemed friendly enough, and the guard stopped, bowing and leaving the hall, leaving Hikari with whoever spoke. She turned around, and saw the Sultan himself, sitting on his throne. A rather short, full man, with a large white hat almost his own size. He sighed, stepped off the throne, and walking towards her with quick, albeit short steps. "You'll have to forgive Hassan, he's rather… Adamant about his service." The old man chuckled lightly, offering her a hand to get up. "Please, maiden, tell me your name."
She took his arm, finding solace in his friendliness, and trying to show him some respect, gave a respectful bow. "M-My name is Hikari." She lost her balance while bowing, resulting in herself staggering a bit forward, trying her best not to fall to the floor again.
The Sultan paused for a second. "Hikari..." He repeated her name, mostly for himself. Stroking his beard with his right hand, he turned around, walking back to his throne and gesturing her to follow him. Once the two got close, he sat down, nodding quietly. "That's… Not a name one would usually hear around my city. Tell me, maiden… Where are you really from?"
Seeing right through her left Hikari surprised and shocked. Her head lowered, not sure what to say next. She never expected someone to read right through her like he did. "W-Well..." She sighed. There was no point in hiding the truth any longer, and she realized she might as well spill the beans. "I'm… Not from this world." Her voice was weak and hesitant, not sure how the old sultan would react. He could have called her a madwoman, or worse.
The sultan, however, replied with a short, amused chuckle. "I see… I figured as much." He spoke with wisdom emanating through his voice. "Yes, I've known about other worlds out there for quite some time now. It's one of the most highly protected royal secrets of our kingdom, in fact. But to think I'd get to meet someone from another world..." He couldn't help but smile, almost childlike, raising his hand to shake her own. "What an honor!"
His reaction surprised her, to say the least. Regardless, she managed to raise her hand, shaking his, and returning it to herself. "B-But wait… If you knew there are other worlds out there… I mean..." She had many questions on her head, but the Sultan waved his arm, dismissing her for the time being. Out of the cheerful attitude he exampled, another emotion, akin to sadness, began to pierce through his heart.
He was worried.
"How we know… Does not matter. Many leaders of other words would know at this point." He mused, looking up. There, on the wall, a large portrait hung, of a beautiful girl. She was dressed in blue, raven hair sliding down her head across to her lower back, a masterpiece by its own right, even disregarding the woman painted.
Hikari turned her attention upwards, beholding the painting. An expert's craft, she could tell from a mile away it was a true work of art. "If you don't mind me asking..." She finally mustered up the courage to pose the question, stepping back and standing beside the Sultan. "Who is she?" Beyond the curiosity to know, she felt something from looking at the girl. A sort of reverence in her guise. It was something she couldn't quite put to words, but had the feeling: This young woman was significant.
In response, the old man nodded. "Her name is Jasmine, my daughter, and princess of Agrabah." He briefly explained, shaking her head. "And now… Missing. After a recent incident with my now fired vizier… She vanished. I know not where she went, or who took her, but on one thing I'm certain. She left this world." His voice was resolute and certain. "And so, I told my guards to bring anyone who might look like an outsider to me directly, so I can question them." She nodded in understanding.
"I'm actually looking for my son too. He was gone from our world, and it fell to darkness… And the next thing I knew, I arrived on another world. Now, I'm trying to find him." She mused. In the end, the two of them weren't so different. Both parents, both lost their child. Except she was out there, looking; He could not. "The only clue I have is that he is a keyblade wielder…"
The sultan's eyes widened with surprise. "Did you say keyblade?" She nodded, and he got all riled up, standing from his throne and walking around. "Then perhaps you can help me! Oh, this is wonderful!" He cheered, dancing in place. "Truly a miracle!"
Hikari couldn't help but make a confused pout. She had no idea how she could help, though she certainly wouldn't mind helping people along the road, at least as long she could still find her son. "U-Umm… How?" She couldn't help but wonder, not sure where he was going with this. "I-I mean, I suppose I could look, but I'd have no idea where to start, and-"
He quickly waved his hand, shaking his head as well. "Oh no no no, you don't have to worry. Just find the key bearer! I'm sure he knows where she is. After all, he sealed this world's keyhole and saved all of us! At least, that's what Aladdin told me." He summarized, looking back to the painting. "He seems like an extraordinary boy, going on such a daunting task. Sealing the worlds' Keyholes is not an easy feet."
Thinking of Sora, saving worlds and being a hero, almost just like he wanted to be as a kid, brought some joy to her heart. Hikari smiled to herself, gently, pride beaming inside her. "I see… But to be honest, I don't know where he went. Like I said, That's what I'm trying to find out." Despite the ability to move between worlds, she still had no idea how to locate Sora accurately. Some part of her regretted not staying and studying with Merlin, but it was too late at this point. "If you have any way to help me locate my child, please. I would forever be grateful."
Nodding back, the Sultan of Agrabah stroke his beard, thinking. "Hmm… Perhaps there is a way to help you pinpoint his location. I am not certain this will work, but it is worth a shot." As much as he wanted to find Jasmine again, he knew she couldn't find her on her own. Being the princess of heart that she was, he already realized who could have taken her. For that, he would need the key bearer to find and rescue her.
Wondering what he meant, Hikari stepped a bit closer, blinking once or twice. "I see… And what is it, then?" Anything that would help her find her son was welcomed, and so, she waited to see what he had in mind.
With a snap of the sultan's fingers, another one of his guards arrived. "Guard!" He commanded, this time his voice carrying a more authoritarian voice, more formal and direct than the joyful, albeit carefree man she saw him be a few minutes prior. "Escort this woman to the keyhole."
The walk was tiresome, but after a few day's time, traveling the vast, endless deserts, Hikari and her escorts arrived at their destination. A huge, lion-shaped dune, with its mouth wide open, agape and mighty. The evening breeze hit her face, specks of sand flying with it, making Hikari squint her eyes as she beheld the marvel. "From here, you walk alone." The guard that escorted her spoke at last. "We cannot go past this point. We shall wait for you here until you return. Good luck." The few of them that came with her stepped back. From here, she had to walk alone.
Hikari looked at them back one last time, nodding in gratitude. The Sultan explained to her, what she had to do. Sora was there before, according to what he heard from Aladdin, and so, most likely, if there was a place where she might feel him the most, it was there. It was risky, to be sure, but it was worth a shot. Hikari started to walk towards the giant lion head, climbing down it's maw, as its tongue turned into stairs, as if inviting her to go further. She hesitated, looking back to the guards that rested outside, but steeled herself, and kept going. The night sky soon vanished, until the cave engulfed her in full. "Remember!" She heard one of the guards call out to her before her head vanished completely into the beast. "Whatever you do, don't touch the gold!"
When she got to the bottom of the stairs, she marveled. The insides were… Wondrous. Shards of gold and jewels stuck on the walls, but remembering the word of advice, she stayed away from it. Hikari never had an eye for fortune and riches. She preferred a simple life, one that had all she needed, not much else. The cave seemed to stretch further in, and as she walked, she couldn't help but wonder what Sora was up to now. If he was here, it meant that he was on his mission, to seal the keyholes. A tinge of pride beamed in her heart. Sora, her child, doing so many courageous things for others.
Suddenly, the cave took her down again. She reached the end of the hall, trying her best not to fall down to the black abyss down below, as well as avoiding the streams of water that kept erupting from the walls to the side. What she saw at the end, however, was another door, leading her further down. "How long does this thing go?..." She mused out loud, shaking her head and heading on. At the very least, Heartless sighting was rare. Now that she was alone, and nothing attracted them to her, it seemed that for the most part, they left her be. However, she still felt them. Lurking. Waiting. She knew that she would pounce her the moment she showed weakness, and so, she did her best to purge those doubts from her mind.
The room she found herself in now was more corridors, leading down further in. She shrugged, sighing vocally, and made her march, climbing up to the higher ground, to make sure she didn't fall. Several barrels stood around, lifeless and empty, though she couldn't help but find it curious to see such objects just laying around in such a place. She decided to approach one of them, and peer inside. Whatever there was inside, she just had to find out.
Alas, the moment she approached, the barrels stirred to life. Each sprouted four spider-like legs, and stuck them to the ground, lifting the main body. A single, yellow eye broke out as well, watching Hikari intensely, and moving towards her, the barrels all started to dash. She yelped, raising her hand, and without thinking, blasted them with a fireball, taking out one of them in a single hit. It's body crumbled to bits, falling to the floor, but that didn't help much, considering a few more came her way.
Hikari started to run. Monsters from the darkness that ate hearts she could deal with any day. Spiders, on the other hand, were something that she just couldn't handle. She was always repulsed by them, in one way or another, and a combination of spider and Heartless didn't do her any good. The barrels kept running after her, but at this point, she didn't even look back, making her way to the entrance to the next floor. Getting to the stairs, she practically jumped down. She just wanted to get away from those things as quickly as possible, and before she knew it, the stairs ended, and she found herself in a strange, smaller room.
A room filled with treasure.
Gold was everywhere. Piles upon piles of bright metal filled every nook and cranny of the area. The spiders seemed to have lost chase, so at the very least, she could take a breather. Hikari sat down against one of the piles, trying to catch her breath. "H-How did Sora deal with those things?..." She asked herself, puzzled and still mildly scared. Soon after, she managed to stabilize herself, after making sure she was safe from the terrible creatures. Another door stood in front of her. One that was decorated quite heavily. "Alright… That should do." She took a quick, hasted breath, getting up to her feet, and gazing at the door. Whatever there was in there, she had a feeling she reached her destination. "Sora… I'm coming." She muttered to herself one last time, walking inside in hopes of reaching the keyhole.
The chamber that she entered from there was vast and roomy. Brown stone made up the walls all around her, with a nice, round design to it, the center having a pile of rubble at the center, made mostly of cobblestone. Several tall stone arches surrounded the area, all but two having something behind them. The one she entered from, with the stairs behind her. And in front of her… The keyhole. It was far larger than she anticipated. When Hikari thought of the keyhole, she imagined it to be the size of a normal key. Seeing the huge stone structure tower above her by a definite margin left little to the imagination, however. Stones emitting light covered the ceiling, and despite being underground, she could see just as well, scouting the room.
She nodded to herself. The coast seemed to be clear, and no Heartless were in sight. Walking off to the steps at the side of the platform she stood on, she quietly made her way towards the keyhole. Even from where she stood, she could feel that it emanated power. Something… Radiant, out of that world, so to speak. Something told her, that it could help. Maybe if she could attune to it… It could give her a trace of Sora. Something to follow. Some semblance of her son that would lead to him. From there, she should be able to use Merlin's magic to follow him far more accurately. It was far better than hopping from world to world randomly.
The keyhole stood before her, sealed and empty. She could tell something was on the other side, but that it was also locked shut. Out of hers and the Heartless' reach, surely being Sora's handiwork. She pressed her palm against the cold stone. It sent a slight chill down her spine, but she disregarded it, closing her eyes.
"Please… If there's something out there..." She started to talk. She had no idea if the world could even hear her, but she had to ask. She had to find out. If the world could hear her, perhaps it could show her.
"Please help me find my son."
At first, nothing. No response came from the other side, in any way, shape or form. Hikari started to lose hope, coming to remove her hand from the cold stone, but just as she did, she felt something. Something beckoning her to come closer, to push on. It surprised her, but without hesitation, she pushed. Light engulfed her, until she couldn't see anything else in the room.
From there… The world spoke to her. It wasn't speech with words or riddles. It was more akin to signs, visions, images, and sounds. She saw Sora. She saw him approach. She saw him battle a giant, red demon. She then saw him beating said demon, trapping him in a lamp. After that, he turned his attention to the keyhole, sealing it, and departing. She kept pushing, and while the world couldn't tell her where Sora went, she got… A hunch. A gut feeling, or something of the sort.
Before she could open her eyes properly, the ground around her rumbled, forcing Hikari to snap her eyes open. Still disoriented, she looked around, searching for the source of the noise, and her eyes widened in fear as she now stood before a Heartless. A huge, spider-like, eight-legged monstrosity, like the which she's never seen before, staring at her, or rather, staring at what was behind her. Whatever she did, it attracted it.
Hikari trembled in place, unsure what to do next. Her legs started shaking. One of her biggest fears came to fruition right in front of her, and she couldn't do anything but stare at it. For now, it didn't move much, and she didn't know how to react, wanting nothing more than get away from it.
Suddenly, the spider heartless screeched, bellowing with jaw wide open. She set into a panic, and before Hikari knew it, she raised her hands, her heart pounding against her chest like never before. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" She yelled, letting a burst of fire emerge from her hands, blasting the heartless with a rather powerful, but draining, spell.
The spider staggered back, slightly burnt, but nevertheless adamant. It screeched again, and brought one of its legs, swiping it across the room, aiming at the mother. She jumped down to the floor, trying to make her way to the entrance. She felt fear coursing through her, but at the same time, bravery. She had to make it out. Stay alive, for her son. The spider stopped moving for a brief moment, crashing down upon her with its massive body. Realizing the shadow she was standing on was growing thicker by the second, Hikari quickly made a turn to the side, picking up her pace and running off, jumping away just in time as the spider crashed into the ground.
She got back up, turning to it. The heatless was still on the floor, staggered from the shock of hitting the cobblestone. She quickly regained her composure, bringing both her hands close, and focusing, as chill and cold condensed in her hands, forming a ball of frost and ice. "Go!" She shouted, sending it forth. The blizzard spell lunged forward, straight at the spider's head, hitting it dead on its eyes. It bellowed again, trying to flail around as it was temporarily blinded by her spell, but by the time it managed to recover, she was gone.
Hikari made her way to the treasure room, finding haven in the much smaller room. The heartless tried to keep following her, but the entrance was far too narrow for it to come after her, and it remained stuck in the keyhole chamber, unable to do anything. She breathed, heavily, leaning against the piles of gold for a moment to catch her breath. Despite all the training she did… She could have never imagined she would have to combat such great monsters. Nothing on Traverse Town even came close to this. Either way, there was only one thing left to do.
Get out of the cave, and head back to the sultan.
"So? How did it go?"
The old man couldn't keep to his seat, fidgeting and pacing all around his throne. The journey back wasn't as bad as the way forward. She felt that she managed to get used to the desert's heat more so than before.
Hikari stood before him, trying her best to keep her cool, despite the sultan's excitement being rather contagious. "W-Well..." She started. The moment she did, the old man ran close, looking at her with a sharp glare. "I did make it to the keyhole, and I think… I think I have an idea where Sora could be. The world… It told me what it could." She explained, as best she could. Translating the images that flooded her mind was rather difficult, but somehow, she managed to convey the basic idea. Sora was not in that world anymore, but she did know which direction to go to next.
"Excellent! Excellent!" She got cheers in reply, the sultan jumping up and down while clapping his hands repeatedly. "Oh, this is wonderful! With his help, we're sure to find Jasmine too!" Barely able to contain his happiness, he kept going for a while, leaving Hikari with nothing to do until he calmed down. "Ahem." After several minutes, he straightened himself, turning to her again. "I assume you have a way to go between worlds, yes?"
She nodded. "Yes. I used magic, though it's not the most accurate method..." She sounded a tad embarrassed, but regardless, determined.
The Sultan approached her, beckoning her to lean down, and pat her back when she did. "I'm sure you'll do just fine. A parent would do anything for their child, right?"
His comment managed to make her smile lightly, and she nodded back. After that, she straightened herself, closing her eyes, and concentrating, on both Sora, and the direction the world pointed her at. "Yeah… Anything."
And with that, she vanished anew, headed to another world.
