Chapter 19: The Passing of Power
A/N: I'm sure you've all been on pins and needles after reading the last chapter so I figured I wouldn't keep you guys waiting any longer.
I'm sure you were all shocked that Lumen suddenly showed up but the question is HOW is she here when she's sleeping? Guess we're gonna find out!
Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts; I just own my characters.
Enjoy!
/
Hikari felt like her heart was about to stop and be lodged in her throat at the same time. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Lumen was here! She was standing right in front of her!
"Lumen!"
She jumped forward and went to throw her arms around her for a hug but found her hands going through her body.
"W-what?"
Lumen wore a sad smile on her face as she looked at her successor.
"I'm not really here" she explained.
"I'm still trapped in a deep sleep. I was able to help you before because you were traveling within the Realm of Sleep. Those who sleep are able to move about so to speak. I wanted to help you and the only way I could do that without Xehanort knowing was by being a Dream Eater"
It suddenly made sense why Lulu acted differently from the other Dream Eaters. All this time she was by Hikari's side, keeping her safe. Hikari couldn't help but laugh at how ironic that was.
"All this time I was taking this exam so I'd have a way to save you and yet you were the one saving me from the beginning"
Lumen shrugged and chuckled.
"I wasn't going to let my successor fail. If I did that, Aqua wouldn't let me hear the end of it"
Riku slowly walked up to the two of them. He was just as stunned at seeing Lumen. He had only met her once when he was a child but he never forgot that encounter. It was thanks to her that he and Hikari were able to meet.
"How is this possible?" he had to ask.
They were stuck in Sora's dream so how was it possible that another person who was sleeping able to enter someone's dream that they had no connections with?
Lumen closed her eyes and concentrated on her magic. Seconds later a chain made of light sprang from her heart and connected with Hikari's.
"Our connection" she said.
Hikari jumped at little seeing a chain coming out of her chest. She remembered having a dream like this before she took the exam.
"W-what is this?!"
Lumen laughed and dismissed the chain.
"Our connection" she repeated.
"Our hearts have been connected for a very long time. It's this bond that will save Terra, Aqua and Ven"
That caught the couple's attention.
"What do you mean?" Riku asked.
Lumen looked at the ground sadly. No matter how much time had passed the wounds from the past were still raw and fresh.
"Twelve years ago, a man named Xehanort changed my life that would have a ripple effect on those I have loved" she slowly said.
She slowly told the whole tale of her past. How her father tried to hide her powers from Xehanort. Her friendship with Aqua and Ven. Her secret relationship with Terra and how it lead to her father's death. The battle in the Keyblade Graveyard and what happened to Terra and Ven. How Xehanort took over Terra's body and trapped his soul back on the Keyblade Graveyard...and of her fate shortly after that.
"When Aqua and I hid Ven, we heard Terra's voice calling out to us. We followed it and wound up in Radiant Garden of all places. I remember having this urge to check on you and your mother. After what had just happened at the Keyblade Graveyard, I couldn't let anything happen to the two of you. It was a good thing I did because we found Xehanort there. I don't know why he was there of all places but now that I think about it, I have a feeling he was trying to find you" she said.
"Aqua and I fought him as best as we could but we were no match for him. Aqua got trapped in the realm of darkness and I-"
She bit her lip as tears fell down her face.
"I had my heart torn from me by my fiancée's empty shell. In hopes of stopping Xehanort from getting it, I broke it into four pieces and placed them within the hearts of those I trusted most: Aqua, Ven, Terra...and you"
"Me?" Hikari said.
Lumen nodded.
"I heard your voice. Even when we were apart you were asking if I was ok. We barely knew each other and yet you wanted to keep me safe. This tiny little girl who didn't have to do this would end up being the one who would save me"
She thought back to feeling so lost and helpless. She remembered thinking she had lost everything but in her darkest time, Hikari showed up and reminded her she still had someone.
"Ever since then I've been watching over you and seeing you grow into the person that you are now. No matter what happened or how hard things were you never gave up and pushed forward. While I failed and paid the price, you succeeded and continued to surprise me. That's why I trusted you with the last piece of my heart. Because you are the link that will bring us all back together again"
Hikari felt a tear slide down her cheek. She never realized Lumen trusted her so much with something so important. There were so many times she almost got killed. If anything happened to her then Lumen would never wake up. Despite knowing that Lumen still gave her part of her heart because she knew it wasn't safe anywhere else.
Riku had been processing everything Lumen had told them. It made him sick that Xehanort had used others besides him for his goals and that he wasn't the only one who became his puppet. Just proof that he really didn't have a heart.
Another thing he figured out about this whole ordeal was something that made his stomach flop. Something that involved his dearest companion.
"Ummm, I really hate bringing this up but I just need to clarify something. Xehanort took over Terra's body after that fight, right? And he stayed on Radiant Garden after your fight with him"
"Riku, why would you ask-"
Hikari quickly shut her mouth when she realized what he was trying to ask.
Xehanort had taken over Terra's body and never left it until he separated it when he made Ansem and Xemnas. That meant while Taiyouko was with Xehanort, she was actually with Terra.
Hikari wanted to throw up. All this time her father figure was actually Terra! And the fact that Lumen was able to see what she was seeing while she slept meant she saw her fiancée dating the woman who was keeping her body hidden!
"Oh my god" she whimpered.
Lumen looked at them sadly. She knew why Hikari was freaking out and didn't blame her. It was painful to see that as well but she knew more than those two.
"I know what you're thinking but you have to realize none of you knew" she said.
"Yes, it was Terra's body but it was Xehanort's heart that was residing in it. Everything he did and said was him, not Terra. It was painful watching the two of them fall in love but she never met Terra so she wouldn't know that was his body. Please don't be hard on her cause she was a victim as well. She started figuring it out the more Xehanort started reverting to his former self when he made the Heartless. It was neither of their fault"
Hikari sighed with relief. This whole situation was messed up but she was glad Lumen wasn't mad at her mother.
"If anything, it's all my fault. I'm the one who made a mess out of all your lives" Lumen said quietly.
"If it hadn't been for me, you could have still lived a peaceful like in Radiant Garden and not get caught up in Xehanort's plans. Because of me, you got separated from your family, your memories lost, your mother suffering and you had to travel to different worlds trying to clean up the mess we all left you. No words can express how sorry I am that I made you suffer all these years"
It was true. If she had done things differently in the past, maybe she would be awake. Maybe Hikari would have had a more peaceful life. Maybe Xehanort wouldn't have won. If only she was smarter things would have been different.
"Who said I suffered?" Hikari asked.
Lumen looked up in shock. Hikari gave her a lop-sided grin and chuckled.
"I mean, yeah I went through some crazy stuff but I wouldn't say that I suffered" she said.
"I did lose my memories but I was able to make new ones in their place. I got torn away from my family but I ended up finding them and making a new family with the friends I made. I had to travel to different worlds to stop Xehanort's plans but in the process, I was able to see new places and experience new things-something I've always wanted to do. And most importantly, if I had stayed back on my home world..."
Riku went up to her and grabbed her hand, giving it a tight squeeze.
"She wouldn't have ended up on the islands and we would have never met. And if I had never met her, I wouldn't have met King Mickey or Taiyouko who became such important people in my life. And if I never met you, I wouldn't have realized how important your words would be to me later down the road" he finished.
Hikari nodded in agreement.
"Basically, what we're trying to say is we don't blame you but we want to thank you. Thanks to you, I've had a pretty amazing life. A stressful one sure, but it's been a rewarding one. I wouldn't trade this for anything"
Even though Lumen wasn't really there and was just a dream, she couldn't help but break down and cry. All these years she felt guilty for dragging Hikari into the mess she made yet instead of being angry, she was thankful. She had every right to be mad and hateful but she found something positive in this whole situation.
"I'm so sorry, Hikari" she said.
"I never meant to drag you into this but I'm so thankful that I picked you to be my successor. I know you will be the one who will save us"
"I promise I will" Hikari said.
"But when I see Terra, I might have to smack him since he kinda started this mess"
Riku felt pity for Terra. The man didn't know how nasty of a right hook his girlfriend had. Oh well, he deserved it.
Lumen wiped her eyes. Now wasn't the time to be crying and feeling self-pity. Sora still needed to be saved.
"I haven't gotten much time left. Being in someone else dreams can be draining so I'll be falling asleep again soon. There is something I want to do before that though. I need to give you something before you find Sora. Hikari, hold out your hand"
Hikari looked puzzled but did as she was told. Lumen held up her hands where light glowed from her fingertips.
"If you're going to face the Organization, you're going to need a Keyblade"
The light left her hands and flew towards Hikari's. When the light died down, she gasped when she saw she was holding Lumen's Keyblade.
"As my successor, I hereby pass on my blade to you and grant you the title of Keyblade Master" Lumen said.
"By taking this, this will show Yen Sid that you have passed the exam and earned your title"
Hikari looked at the weapon in shock. The weight of what it implied hit her.
"I can't accept this" she insisted.
Lumen shook her head.
"I have no need of it right now considering my condition. I want you to have it. With this, you'll gain not only the powers of a Master but my powers as well since you are my successor. Use this to stop Xehanort and save us"
Riku put his hand on Hikari's shoulder.
"Take it. No one deserves this more than you, sweetie"
Hikari blushed at the nickname. If Riku thought she should have it then she wouldn't refuse.
"Thank you. I promise I won't let you down" she pledged.
"Trust me, you've proven that you'll do anything but that" Lumen joked.
"Now hurry. My ties to this dream are starting to waver. Find Sora before it's too late"
"Right"
Hikari and Riku went to run off, but Hikari stopped for a moment.
"Oh yeah, I never thanked you for saving me earlier"
"Earlier?" Lumen asked.
Hikari nodded as she smiled.
"Yeah, you were the one who saved me from young Xehanort right? You were able to grab his Keyblade and knock him out so we could escape. Thank you for doing that. I have a feeling I really would have died back there"
Lumen started to say something but stopped and put on a forced smile. Now wasn't the time to bring that up.
"O-of course" she shakily.
"Now hurry!"
The two of them left. As Hikari got further away, the more Lumen's energy started to drain. She looked at her hands to see them rapidly starting to become transparent.
"Back to sleep I go" she said quietly.
She thought back to what Hikari just said and felt terrible for lying but knew it wasn't the right time to tell her who really saved her.
/
Back to Hikari's fight.
Lumen groaned when she slowly gained conciseness or something similar to one that was dreaming. That hit Xigbar fired at her really did a number on her.
Opening her eyes, she saw Hikari was in a heated fight with Young Xehanort while Xemnas was frozen in place. For a while it looked like the fight was in Xehanort's hands but Hikari being the smart girl that she was figured out she could summon the boy's Keyblade to her and used it against him.
When she did that, the spell that kept Xemnas in place broke and the man looked stunned for a second wondering why his daughter wasn't in front of him. He heard a scuffle behind him and turned to see Xehanort have Hikari pinned beneath him with his hands wrapped around her neck.
"I should have snapped that little pretty little neck of yours instead of your blade" the boy hissed.
Hikari struggled to pull his hands away but he kept squeezing tighter. The boy laughed as he watched her slowly suffocating.
Xemnas gasped before the most horror induced look appeared on his face. Grabbing Xehanort's Keyblade, he stormed over to the two of them with the blade raised.
Lumen panicked thinking he was going to help Xehanort in killing Hikari and tried to get up.
What happened next shocked her to her core.
Xemnas slammed the blade hard on Xehanort's head, knocking him out. He threw the blade aside and grabbed the boy and tossed him to the side so he wouldn't land on Hikari.
With her throat freed, Hikari gasped and coughed violently. The angered look on Xemnas's face was quickly replaced with a worried one.
"Hikari!"
He knelt down and carefully picked her up and had her leaning on his chest. Hikari drew in ragged breaths. She went to see who was holding her but thanks to the sudden shock of almost suffocating, she blacked out. Her body started to fall back down but Xemnas grabbed her and held her close. He sighed with relief when he saw she was breathing and just passed out.
"Thank goodness"
Now that he was alone, his mask finally cracked. Letting out a chocked noise, he closed his eyes and hugged his daughter close. He slowly rocked back and forth.
"I'm so sorry" he whispered.
"I'm so sorry, Hikari. I never wanted this to happen but I need to know you'll be able to take care of yourself"
He cupped her face and just looked broken when he looked at her.
"I promise I won't let them hurt you or your mom. I won't let them touch you"
Lumen couldn't believe what she was seeing. She had seen how Xemnas acted in the past due to her ties to Hikari's heart. He was Xehanort's Nobody. A cruel, uncaring monster who had no problem sacrificing others to get what he wanted. He had tried to harm Hikari in the past so why now all of a sudden did he want to save her? Why was he upset that she almost died?
Xemnas brushed the hair out of Hikari's face. Every time he looked at her, he saw the tiny girl from his days at Radiant Garden.
"If only things had stayed that way" he said to himself.
The sound of groaning caught his attention. Turning to his right, he saw young Xehanort slowly waking up.
He had to act fast. Looking around, he finally spotted Lumen in her Dream Eater form. Standing up, he quickly carried Hikari over to her and gently placed her on Lumen's back. He cupped her face once more and surprisingly kissed the crown of her head.
Opening a dark portal, he looked at Lumen seriously.
"Take her and get as far away from this place" he ordered.
Lumen was floored by what she was seeing. Why was he trying to save them?!
When she didn't move, Xemnas glared at her.
"Now!"
Lumen jumped and quickly darted into the portal. When she made it to the other end of it, she found Riku standing on the other side.
/
Lumen didn't know what to make of that moment. He had the perfect chance to get rid of the one who could stop the Organization and yet he was acting like a father trying to save his child. What was his game plan?
She should have told Hikari but she knew it was best to keep it secret. She would never believe that Xemnas of all people was the one who saved her life.
For now, she would sleep and guide Hikari as she finished this exam. Once this whole situation was resolved, she would tell her the truth.
There was one thing that stayed on Lumen's mind as her body finally faded back into the realm of sleep.
"Terra, was that your doing back there...or was it all his?"
/
A/N: So, it was Xemnas who saved Hikari back then. Guess he decided to finally act like a dad for once. By why is he suddenly acting so strange?
Hikari got a new Keyblade! Now that she has Lumen's Keyblade she gets to do some fancy moves on the Organization!
I hope you guys were happy to see Lumen again. Hopefully we'll see her again soon but this time she'll be awake.
Please leave a review and tell me what you think!
Take care!