Hello everyone! Wow! It's been a while! Work, work, and more work does that to you (sweatdrop). I finally had time to work on this story. :) Most of it is already done, I just have to do my double checks to see if I like the story and if I missed anything (though there are those times when a few words get misspelled here and there…It happens).

Anyway, here's the next chapter! I hope you like it! :) Hopefully more are to come within the next few days :). We'll see…

Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts and YuGiOh, their characters, settings, etc, belong to their respective creators. All original characters, settings etc. belong to ME!

Chapter 29: Goodness and Light

Hikari woke to warmth. The bed was small but comfortable with blankets of fine cloth.

"Good morning." Rising she saw a cloaked woman enter the room, a plate of fine fruits and bread in her hands. She set it onto the bed in Hikari's lap. "You must replenish your strength."

"I…What…?" Hikari was at a loss for words but the woman wouldn't let her speak. The woman placed a hand upon Hikari's forehead.

"Thank the stars your body has cooled...I was worried." She smiled. "Do not think right now...Rest and replenish." Standing she returned to the opening. "Tell the Pharaoh she is awake."

"How does she fare?" This was a man's voice.

"I am uncertain." The woman said. "But at least her body and spirit have recovered."

"I will send a messenger. I suspect the Pharaoh would wish to speak with her soon." The man on the other side said.

"I will get her ready for an audience." The women replied then returned to Hikari's side. "Do you remember what happened in the grand chamber?"

Sighing Hikari nodded. "A...Little bit…"

"You've been given the Pharaoh's Blessing, child." The woman told her. "That means you are under his personal protection. That is not something that is given lightly." She smiled. "My name is Isis, I have been given the task to see to your care. Should you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask."

Hikari stared down at the food in front of her.

"Do you...Know of something called...The Keyblade?"

Isis stared back. "I am afraid I do not...Is this some knowledge from the gods?"

"I...Er…" Hikari just shrugged. "I...Guess so…"

"Then speak not of it until you are with the Pharaoh." The woman told her. "Only he should hear such things...Now...Eat...I promise the food is quite good."

Once Hikari was well fed and well dressed, Isis escorted out into the hallway. There a man wearing a golden dreamcatcher was waiting.

"This is Mahaad." Isis told her. "He has been tasked to protect you."

Mahaad gave her a light bow. "A pleasure, daughter of light. How are you feeling?"

"Fine...I think…" Though Hikari really wasn't too sure.

Isis took her hand. "Perhaps a walk in the royal gardens would help ease your mind."

"Huh…?" The royal gardens?

"You are a daughter of the gods and given the blessings of the Pharaoh." Mahaad saw her confusion as quite cute...She truly had an innocent nature about her. "To us that means you are royalty and must be treated as such."

"Oh...Uh...Okay…"

"Come with me…" Isis took her down vast hallways and into the sunlight of day. It did feel kind of nice to be out of that stuffy place for a bit.

There in the courtyard was the Pharaoh, seemingly waiting for them to arrive.

"I wonder if we could walk together." He smiled at Hikari who only nodded. The two walked in silence for a moment before Hikari finally spoke.

"Thank you...for helping me…" She said.

"You are most welcome." He nodded her way. "You have much on your mind…" He paused. "I had wondered why someone such as you believed yourself to hold darkness...I came up with a solution if you wish to hear."

"Sure…" Hikari said.

"It seems to me that your mind is dictating what your heart tells you."

She stopped. "What?"

"Such a thing happened to me…" The Pharaoh frowned. "It is not...one of my fondest of moments...My anger and rage caused a great friend of mine to be captured. But through my friends, I realized I should not allow such things to fill my heart." He stared at her. "Yours seems to be on the opposite side...Filled with regret. Have you done something terrible?"

"...I think so…" She gripped her hands and careful with her words she said, "I...yelled at one of my friends...And he walked away...I told my other friend to follow him and…"

"That is how you initially got separated…" Pharaoh told her. "Were you here, in the palace at the time?"

"Yes…"

"Then they are most likely searching for you." He reasoned. "It will not be long before you are reunited." He noticed her downcast eyes. "You...Do not wish to see them?"

"I do but...I'm scared…" Her whole body shook. "What if...They find out...What I now know? Will they still...be my friends?"

"No matter the terrible thing you have done, I know it was not as horrible as you believe it to be." The Pharaoh told her. "Our deeds affect our souls...Yours is still very pure and very beautiful. Whatever horrible thing you believe you have done, has not tainted your soul."

"Really?" Was her soul really that bright?

"Oh yes...It lit up the grand hallway like the sun is above us right now." He told her. "There is no way one with a soul as that could do something bad. Now, all we need to do is strip the darkness from your heart. That, in this situation, is a very easy task to accomplish, for even within your heart, very little darkness remains."

Sheer relief went through to her very heart.

Far away Isis and Mahaad watched the interaction of their king and the young woman with a pure soul.

"The Pharaoh has made a most important decision." The oldest of their group approached. "A wise one at that."

"Akun...What do you mean?" Mahaad asked him.

"It is not obvious my friend?" Akun stared at the two nearby. "There are only two possibilities for that young woman…" He stared at Isis. "One does not need to know the future to see what is in front of them."

"What exactly are you alluding to, Akun?" Isis asked.

Akun chuckled. "My friends...The young woman will either be the greatest weapon of our nation...Or...The grandest queen our nation has ever seen." His eyes went back to the Pharaoh and Hikari. "Based on the current situation, I would say the later shall be the young woman's fate."

"It has only been a day, Akun!" Could he seriously be thinking such things NOW!? The Pharaoh had only been crowned that morning!

"Either way this is a blessing, Mahaad...Truly a blessing."

A ruckus nearby had the three priests investigate.

"Move out of the way! Hikari!!!" A man had tackled the guards and was heading towards the Pharaoh and the child of light.

"Detain this man immediately!" Akun shouted.

"Wait!" The child herself came forward. "Max?"

"Hikari!" The man rushed to her. "Are you alright?"

Her eyes welled with tears and she hugged him.

"I'm sorry!" Her voice stuttered.

"It's alright…" He sighed with great relief.

"Max what have you--" Another came forward, stopping in his tracks. "Hikari!"

She looked over at him. "Shin!"

Shin smiled. "I am glad to see you as well."

The Pharaoh chuckled. "I believe you are her friends…" All watched him step forward. He held a hand out to the priests nearby who stood aside silently. "What did I tell you, Hikari?" He looked at the three. "I believe you three have much to discuss...Please, use my personal rooms."

Now they were in the personal chamber of the Pharaoh. Hikari sat down on the bed, not speaking to Shin or Max.

Max didn't look mad at all, in fact, he looked more worried than mad when he found her in the courtyard. Had he forgiven her?

"Hikari...Tell us…" Max was kneeling before her. "What's wrong?"

She paused. Remembering the words the Pharaoh said she braced herself.

"Do you remember...In the Realm of Soul...When I asked the Captain Commander my odd question? Well...It's because I think...That's what happened with the entity...Sort of." She stared at the floor. "The entity...was supposed to be the soul of Sora and Kairi's baby but...Something happened...and I...Took it instead...I took the entity's second chance...at a new life…"

"I see…" Shin sat next to her. "You believe you wronged this entity from the start...That everything that has happened, is your fault."

"And isn't it!?" She screamed at both him and Max. "If I hadn't of taken this body, then none of this would've happened! There wouldn't be any Nothings and realms wouldn't have been so distraught...It's all my fault!!! I'm just evil for doing it aren't I!?"

"You're right, Hikari." Max spoke up. "It is your fault." She whipped her gaze towards him in shock. "But...Why would I protect someone if I didn't think they deserved that protection?" He took her hand. "Hikari...Even now, you're sad because you feel that you wronged someone. That isn't what an evil person would do…"

"He is correct…" Shin added. "An evil person would not care who they hurt...In fact, you are even crying sad tears for your own enemy…"

"The entity?" She asked and he shook his head.

"No, Hikari...Yourself." He smiled. "Your worst enemy...is yourself. You are so pressed for helping others, not wanting to hurt others...That you are hurting yourself in the process. That is not what you should be doing, because you do not deserve such treatment. You are good, Hikari. If you don't believe us, listen to the wielders you have made connections with...Listen to them...I know you can."

Hikari closed her eyes. She could see them: Vegeta, Gaara, Noctis, and the Gotei 13. They were all staring at her and though their mouths did not move, she could hear their voices merge into one.

You are good...And you always will be…

The amount of love she was feeling was too intense, she burst into tears, commencing into the ugliest cry she had ever experienced.

She sat there in a crying heap, with her friends around her.

She hadn't done anything wrong...And if they weren't lying...Then it was true.

She was good.

Next Time: Return