Chapter 8: Prankster Paradise: Hikari's Side

A/N: We're at the half way mark with this story! Just have three more worlds not including Traverse Town before we finally get to the end!

Just bear in mind though that I'm not gonna focus a lot on the fight scenes except when we get to the end because I want to focus on the plot part of the story. So, if the fighting scenes from here on out are sucky I apologize but I want to get to the main part of the story lol.

Also, I'm planning on creating a tumbler page for this series so if you guys have questions about the story or wanna know random facts about the characters you can find them on the fan page.

So without further ado, let's get on with the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts, I just own my oc's.

Enjoy!

/

Hikari found herself once again within the crystal cavern. Lumen sat in front of a crystal, watching a memory play out on it's glassy surface. Hikari went up to her and took a seat beside her.

Looking at the projection, she saw the image of Lumen talking with Eraqus.

It started off when Lumen was a little girl. She was crying over something that had happened while her father tried to comfort her, not even noticing that he had tears in his own eyes. As the memory played out, it showed Lumen as she got older with her father. Eraqus appeared to be strict at times but showed he was a loving dad.

However, the peaceful image changed to the last time Lumen ever saw her father. She was trying desperately to stop Terra and Eraqus from fighting, only to end up getting hurt instead. Seized by anger, Terra sent her to Yen Sid so he could finish his fight with Eraqus. It was at Yen Sid's tower did she learn that her father had been killed by Master Xehanort and would be the beginning of Lumen's spirit falling apart.

When the show ended, Hikari turned to Lumen to see the poor girl silently crying. Having to relive those horrible memories seemed to have reopen old wounds that never healed properly.

Hikari placed her hand on Lumen's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

"It looked like your dad really loved you"

She frowned as she thought about her own situation when it came to fathers.

"I never met my real dad. He disappeared before I was born…to be honest I don't think he knew I existed. As for the 'dad' I grew up with…."

She dug her nails into the palm of her hand. Just thinking about Xemnas in general made her chest hurt.

"The one who I thought was my dad ended up being the one who started this mess with the worlds and tried to use me as a pawn. He really broke my mom's heart with the things that he did"

A tear slid down her face as she thought of something. Something that plagued her thoughts ever since she knew the truth regarding Xemnas.

"I wonder if he ever really loved me or thought of me as his daughter. But then again…who puts their child in danger like that?"

Lumen didn't say anything. She simply reached over to grab the hand that was on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

No words needed to be said between the two as they tried to cope with their own little family dramas.

/

The next world Hikari arrived at appeared to be a fun one. She found herself within a carnival where children played games and went on rides.

"Well…this world seems to be a lot of fun. Least it's a lot more cheerful then the last two worlds I've been to"

She walked into the carnival and took everything in as she went. She had no idea how a fun world such as this was part of her exam but she figured the longer she stayed the sooner she would find out.

This exam was something. It was really pushing her limits and made her question on what was the right thing to do. She gained a lot of knowledge and was starting to see that she was capable of standing on her own two feet.

However, with knowledge there were questions that went with it. For starters why was that Mystery Figure still following her and why did he feel the need to talk to her in riddles? It was like he was trying to tell her something but at the same time he wanted to keep her guessing.

Then of course there was Xemnas returning. Why was her fake father back? Better yet how was he back? In order for Master Xehanort to return both Xemnas and Ansem needed to be destroyed. People couldn't be destroyed only for them to return right?

'Then again I remember something similar to this happened with Maleficent. She was destroyed at Hollow Bastion and yet she magically appeared again as if nothing happened'

Something was off and she knew it. The problem was that she didn't know what it meant or how to figure it out.

"I can only imagine what mom's reaction would be if I told what I saw. 'Oh hi, mom! I was just taking my Mark of Mastery exam and you won't believe who I saw! Xemnas is back and it seems he's up to something again. He says hi'"

She sighed as she rubbed her face.

"All I've been seeing since I started this exam are people who want to hurt me. For once I'd just like to see a friendly, familiar face"

"That Pinocchio, he must have his poor father worried sick"

Hikari perked up when she heard a very familiar voice.

Sitting on a set of stairs was none other than Jiminy Cricket. Hikari felt relief was over her as she saw the little cricket. Jiminy had jolted down all of the adventures she had with Sora, Donald and Goofy in the past and tended to give out words of wisdom when it was needed. And words of wisdom was what she needed right now.

"Hey, Jiminy! It's great to see you!"

Jiminy jumped up and looked at Hikari alarmed.

"Who are you! You shouldn't be here, young lady"

Hikari looked at him oddly. Why was he acting like he didn't know who she was?

"You alright there, Jiminy?"

Now it was Jiminy's turn to look confused.

"Huh? You mean you've heard of me?"

He became excited at the thought of being famous.

"Well, I'll be. The name Jiminy Cricket's already spread far and wide"

Hikari just chuckled at Jiminy's little antics.

"Come on, Jiminy. It's me-Hikari"

Jiminy scratched his head in thought.

"Hikari you say? Gosh, I don't think I recognize you…but the name does have a familiar ring"

Hikari was about to scold Jiminy over his amnesia act but remembered something Yen Sid said before the exams. She was bound to run into familiar faces but they were only 'dream' versions of themselves. They didn't share the same memories as their 'awakened' versions.

"That's right. This is a dream version of Jiminy. He doesn't know me because I'm not part of the dream"

"What's that now?" Jiminy asked.

Hikari shook her head and smiled.

"Nothing, just talking to myself"

She knelt down and offered a finger for Jiminy to shake.

"It's nice to meet you, Jiminy"

"The feeling's mutual, Hikari"

"So why did you say I need to get out of here?" Hikari asked.

"This place it terrible!" Jiminy cried.

"Boys here are allowed to wreck things, loaf around and make Jackamules of themselves! And poor Pinocchio, he wandered in here on my watch. If I don't find him, he'll turn into a donkey like the rest of the boys"

Hikari made a face at that last part.

"You mean like the term to describe a rude person or an actual donkey?"

She quickly shook her head, realizing that wasn't important.

"Nevermind. Why don't I help you find him? I'm sure with an extra set of eyes we'll be able to find him faster."

Jiminy looked relieved when he heard that.

"Really? I'd be grateful if you did"

Hikari summoned her Dream Eaters to expand the search.

"Alright guys, listen up. We need to find a little boy named Pinocchio. He's made of wood so it shouldn't be too hard to find him"

The two Dream Eaters went off on their search. Hikari knelt down and offered Jiminy her hand.

"Hop aboard, Jiminy. You'll be able to see better on higher ground:

She placed the little cricket on her shoulder before walking further into the carnival. The area was huge but Hikari had a feeling there wasn't going to be a punch of talking puppets walking around.

/

Searching turned out to be a lot harder than Hikari thought it would be. Even though it should have been easy to spot a moving puppet, there was the fact that the carnival was massive and tricky to get around.

"Oh, I just know Pinocchio's father is going to get sick with worry. That boy is the only family he has" Jiminy said sadly.

"He sounds like a nice dad if he's worried about him" Hikari said.

"Well of course. Any decent father would worry about their children. Surely your father must be worried about you being off on your own like this"

Hikari stopped in her tracks when she heard that. Once again the thought of Xemnas came back to taunt her. First back in that dream with lumen and now this. Must have been the theme for this world.

"I seriously doubt he's worried about me" she said bitterly.

"What do you mean?" Jiminy asked.

Hikari tried to describe her situation with Xemnas without freaking the little cricket out.

"Let's just say my…dad…did some horrible things in the past. He created something that he shouldn't have and he hurt a lot of people in the process, including my mother and myself" she said slowly.

"After that happened, he separated me from my older brother, wiped my memories of my childhood and placed me somewhere remote and away from everything I ever knew. After I remembered what he did, I tried to stop him from hurting other people"

She looked sad as she remembered her childhood from when 'Xehanort' was an apprentice to her grandfather. He would always call her his little princess and made her feel safe and loved.

"Sometimes I wonder if he pretended to be nice just so no one would see what he truly was. I don't even know if he really loved me"

Jiminy jumped down to her hands so she could see him.

"Of course he loved you. The fact that he did those things proves it"

Hikari looked at Jiminy like he had gone crazy.

"Didn't you hear any of the stuff I said? He's evil! Where did you get love out off all of that?"

Jiminy just shrugged.

"I don't know what he did that was considered evil so I can't explain that part" he said.

"But my heart is telling me he does love you. If what he did was really bad then the fact that he took you somewhere and wiped your memories must mean he was trying to protect you. If I were a decent father, I wouldn't want my child having horrible memories growing up. That just shows he loves you. If he didn't, he wouldn't have done that"

Hikari didn't know what to say to that. Xemnas was trying to protect her? He did those things out of love?

"Yeah, like love and protection are in his vocabulary' she thought.

Riki Bat came flying towards them, screeching loudly and making gestures with his wings.

"Did you find Pinocchio?"

The bat nodded and gestured for them to follow him.

"Come on, Jiminy! Let's go find him and get out of here"

They ran after the bat, hoping poor Pinocchio was alright.

/

Riki Bat lead Hikari to a giant circus tent near the back of the carnival. When they reached the central part of the tent, they were greeted to the sight of Pinocchio surrounded by Nightmares.

"Jiminy! Help me!"

"Oh my stars above!" Jiminy cried.

Hikari lunged forward and destroyed the Nightmares surrounding Pinocchio. When the coast was clear she checked to see if the little boy was alright, yet what she saw alarmed her. Instead of looking like a little boy, she spotted donkey ears and a tail to match.

"Huh, I guess Jiminy was serious about him turning into a donkey" she said to herself.

"Oh, Pinocchio, look at you!" Jiminy cried.

When more Nightmares appeared, Hikari quickly grabbed Pinocchio and set him on Lulu's back.

"We'll figure out why he's got ears and a tail later. Right now you two better get out of here"

Lulu scurried out of the tent while Hikari got right of the Nightmares. When they were gone, she heard that oh so familiar sound of a dark portal opening up behind her.

"Not that creepy kid again. I don't have time for riddles" she groaned.

She turned around expecting to see the Mysterious Figure that was following her, but instead saw Xemnas.

"Oh no, it's much worse"

Xemnas just laughed that sent shivers up Hikari's spine.

"Oh, come now, Hikari. I'd thought you'd be happy to see me" he chided.

"It's only natural for a child to be happy to see their parent"

Hikari growled and balled her hands into fists.

"Stop saying that! You just pretended to be my dad so you could use me! A real parent would never do that to their child!"

Xemnas tilted his head.

"And I suppose a 'real' parent would save their child as well?" he asked.

Hikari narrowed her eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

Xemnas smirked as he walked towards her.

"I saved you from a terrible fate" he simply said.

"If anything, you should be thanking me for it"

Hikari felt her anger rising with each word he spoke. Thank him?! Thank him for what?!

"Saved me?" she spat.

"It's because of you that I suffered in the first place! You destroyed my original world! You separated me from my brother, Leon! You wiped my memories! You toyed with my mother's emotions and used her! How did any of that save me?!"

When Xemnas reached her he bent down so he was eye leveled with her and grabbed her face so she would look at him.

"Oh, my sweet child. If you knew what was originally going happen to you, you would be thanking me on your hands and knees" he said.

The smile vanished from his face suddenly.

"And if you must know, I never toyed with your mother's emotions-far from it. She was the one who toyed with mine. I would have done anything for her"

Hikari swatted his hand away and took a step back.

"Yeah, sure you would" she said sarcastically.

"What did you mean about something happening to me? What did you do to me?"

Xemnas opened a portal and walked towards it.

"Nothing really. Just simply saying that I had a 'change of heart' so to speak"

Just before he entered the portal, he stopped and looked at Hikari over his shoulder. His mocking smirk was gone, replaced with a surprisingly serious expression.

"Remember this: Daddy is always watching over his little princess"

With those parting words, he left Hikari to herself.

She held herself to ward off the chill that somehow crept into her bones. Why was Xemnas so intent on calling himself her father when he knew the truth was out? Was he just mocking her?

She couldn't dwell on that now. She wouldn't. She wasn't going to let Xemnas's words cloud her judgement at a time like this.

"I have other things to worry about. Like Pinocchio and seeing If he's alright"

She ran out the tended and headed towards where Lulu went. Her mind kept going back to Xemnas and Jiminy's words about him.

'You're wrong, Jiminy. There's no way he ever loved me. You can't love someone…when you don't have a heart within you'

/

When she made it out of the tent, Hikari wasted no time in looking for Pinocchio and Jiminy.

"Jiminy! Pinocchio! Where are you guys?"

She had hoped to see the two of them appear, but instead she was greeted to the sight of the Blue Fairy.

"You're looking for Pinocchio, yes?" she asked kindly.

Hikari looked relieved to see that there was there was someone who knew of Pinocchio.

"Yes! Did you by any chance see him? He ran this way and he had a little cricket friend with him"

"I do, but I have some grave news about that" The Blue Fairy said.

"Good Geppetto went off to look for Pinocchio and was swallowed by a whale name Monstro"

Hikari shuddered as she thought of Monstro. She recalled vividly how she had to swim and walk through the whale's nasty saliva as she and Sora tried to help Geppetto and Pinocchio escape.

"Does Pinocchio and Jiminy know about this?" she asked.

"Yes. And when I told them Geppetto was still alive inside the whale, and at the bottom of the sea, those two little ones ran off at once. They were very determined to save him"

Hikari looked at the fairy as if she grew three heads. Why would she tell that to Pinocchio?! Didn't she know children would believe anything and do reckless things?

"You crazy fairy! Why would you tell them that?! You should have tried to save Geppetto instead of making his son do it!"

She pushed past the Blue Fairy, running down the dirt road.

"I gotta find them! If they try to swim to the bottom of the sea, they're gonna drown. Then there's no way Pinocchio will become a real boy"

/

As Hikari climbed down the cliff leading to the beach, she kept grumbling about fairies.

"Stupid fairy. Doesn't she know kids will believe anything you say? I bet if she told Pinocchio that his father jumped off a high cliff to find him, he'd probably ask how high he would need to jump to reach him"

When she reached an opened area on the cliff, she spotted Lulu looking over the edge. She noticed Pinocchio wasn't with her, which made the red flags go off in her head.

Rushing over to her Dream Eater, she tried to see why Pinocchio and Jiminy weren't with her.

"Lulu, where did Pinocchio and Jiminy go?"

Lulu put her ears back as she slowly looked back over the ledge, down to where the ocean was. Hikari looked over the ledge too and felt her stomach drop.

"You've got to be kidding me" she groaned.

Letting out a big sight, she went to the wall of the cliff before facing the edge again.

"Why does it always have to be me?"

Bolting to a run, she reached the edge and jumped off. When she hit the water, she quickly swam everywhere, hoping to find Pinocchio. It was so hard to see anything with the water being dark and murky, she pressed on though knowing Pinocchio was probably not cut out for being under water as long as she could.

She saw movement near the floor of the ocean and swam to see what it was. It was Pinocchio put the poor puppet was swimming for his life. Why? Well it could be because Monstro found him and was in the process of trying to swallow him. Try as he might, Pinocchio was no match to the pull of Monstro and sadly he too was swallowed up by the whale.

Hikari tried swimming towards them. She knew what it was like being eaten by that whale and she didn't want Pinocchio to relive that.

However, she wasn't the only one who was trying to reach Monstro. Zipping past her, a blue lobster like Nightmare chases after Monstro and encased the whale in ice before dragging it up to the surface.

Summoning Lulu, Hikari had her zip up towards the surface to face off the Chill Clawbster before it could take Monstro away.

"Hang on Pinocchio and Jiminy! I'll get you out!"

Staying on Lulu's back, she knew she had a better chance at beating this thing. She had the advantage of being in the air and could maneuver better then she would if she was in the water

The fight didn't last for long. Being exposed to air weakened the sea-based Nightmare and Hikari was about to defeat it with ease.

With the threat out of the way, Hikari went back to Monstro and melted the ice that had encased over him.

The minute Monstro was free, the whale wasted no time in diving into the water. When the giant whale did that, he caused a massive wave to form and knocked Hikari and Lulu back to the beach.

Hikari ran to the water in hopes of trying to reach Monstro but stopped when she realized something.

She couldn't save Pinocchio in this state…because she would do it in the real world. This world was simply trapped within a dream. Even if she did reach Monstro, nothing would come of it.

"That's right. After this happens, Pinocchio and Jiminy's world gets dragged into the darkness and they get cast in between worlds. Then they end up in Traverse Town and that's where we actually meet" she said quietly.

"I guess it's like Yen Sid said. I'm in the dream Pinocchio's world is seeing. And it'll never be right again until it wakes from its slumber"

She was sad that she couldn't help Pinocchio, but she knew she had helped him in the waking world. At least she knew why Monstro ended up in between worlds when she first encountered the whale

"At least Pinocchio is with his father now. I can't even imagine how scared he would be right now if he wasn't with Geppetto. No child should be without their parent"

As she said that, she couldn't' help but think back to Xemnas and Jiminy's words.

She didn't want to believe what the cricket said. All those comments about Xemnas loving and caring about her weren't true. He was not capable of love. Just the thought of it looked wrong. It was like trying to picture Sora as crabby and angry. It just wasn't right.

Jiminy tended to have the right answer for everything, but this would have to be the only time he was wrong.

Xemnas didn't care. They only thing he should any sort of emotion was if it pertains to his goals. Loving someone would just be a waste of his time.

But there was one thing that Xemnas said that bugged her. Something she had trouble understanding.

"What did he mean when he said he saved me?"

/

A/N: What indeed. Why on Earth would Xemnas want to save Hikari? Better yet, what did he save her from?

Seems like he isn't letting go of the father card anytime soon either. Why's he still going on acting like he's Hikari's father? Is it to taunt her? Or is it something else?

Also seems like he's still a little on edge regarding Taiyouko. Does that mean he still has feelings for her?

Seems like Jiminy was on to something too. Do you agree with his logic?

Please review and tell me what you think!

Ja ne