Author's Note:
Me: The moment you've all been waiting for has finally arrived.
Lea: Is it time for me to kick Xehanort's butt already!?
Hikari: *smacks the read-head on the back of his head* This isn't your story, last time I checked.
Me: Annnnnnyway, what I was gonna say is that Hikari finally starts her mission and travels to a grand world, one of which I deeply adore: Pixie Hollow! Warning you all now, there is a 99.9999999999999999999% chance that you will cry in this chapter. Please comment and no flamies please~!
Lea: But I like flames.
Hikari: *smacks Lea again*
Me: *sigh*
Once again, I had yet to master landing in new worlds. I had arrived in such a manner that I hit my head and my world went black. When I came to, it was night-time, but the stars were beginning to vanish from the sky that was slowly turning a beautiful peach color. I could also hear the distant sound of the ocean, waves crashing against the shore. I got to my feet and started to dust myself off when I realized I was wearing different clothes.
The dress I wore was the same as the one as that of what Master Yen Sid had called my True Form, but it had a certain silkiness to it and seemed to be covered in glitter. I looked over my shoulder and my amazement only grew; my wings were no longer those of an angel, but instead thin and transparent like a dragonfly's. However, the left remained white and the right remained black.
What's going on? I thought to myself. I reached behind my ear to scratch a particular spot, but when my fingers brushed it, my hand froze and I probably broke two octaves. I looked around frantically to look at my reflection and saw in the early morning light a shard of reflective glass. I hurried over to it, then looked closely as I pushed my hair to the side; My eyes grew wide.
"This… can't be… I'm… a fairy!?" I screamed that last word, causing birds the size of trucks to take flight. I freaked out at first, but understanding quickly kicked in; If I was a fairy, then I would be small. This was only further confirmed when the sun started to rise further and the darkness of night vanished from my surroundings; Grass tall as skyscrapers and random household items the size of elephants surrounded me. Pebbles to a normal person were boulders to me and the small chatter of birds was a melody to my ears.
I was so at peace as I soaked up the sunlight that I thought my heart would stop from shock when Master Aqua's voice suddenly sounded.
"Hikari, behind you!"
As if by reaction, The Angel's Keyblade appeared in my hand and I swerved around in a defensive position just in time to deflect a Fire spell. In an instant, I was surrounded by levitating Heartless in the shape of salt-and-pepper shakers in the colors of red, blue, yellow, and red-black combinations.
"Thank you, Master Aqua," I stated and began to bat away at the Heartless.
Most of them were defeated with one swipe, but a few were quite fast. When I managed to catch up and slam my Keyblade into them, they would sail across the clearing, letting out a squeak that sounded just like an animal's chew toy. The spells they tossed at me ranged from Fira to Aero, some of which would persistently follow me. Still, I was able to hook them in and was making good progress.
That is, until I heard a girl scream behind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw a young fairy with blond hair tied in a bun and wearing a short green dress that appeared to be made from leaves. She was being surrounded by over a dozen Blue Rhapsody and no way of escaping.
With a sudden burst of strength, I destroyed the Yellow Opera I was battling and flew towards the fairy. "Get down!" I called out as I started up a Thundra spell.
She saw me and dropped to the ground just as the spell was cast and several bolts of lightning scattered, hitting every target and causing them to disappear in a puff of smoke, multi-colored hearts floating into the air and vanishing.
I landed on the earth as my Keyblade disappeared, then walked over to the fairy. "You alright?" I asked, offering my hand.
She looked up at me with deep-blue eyes before she nodded and took my hand. "Thank you," she said as I pulled her to her feet. "I'm Tinker Bell, but my friends call me Tink."
"I'm Hikari." I studied her heart and thought to myself No wonder the Heartless attacked her; The light within her is real strong. Just then, I noticed Tink was slowly walking around me, looking me up and down. "Is something wrong?"
She stopped in front of me and put her hand to her lips, holding her elbow as though she was thinking hard. "I've never heard of a fairy that can create lightning from thin air. Then again, no one's heard of flying monsters using magic," she stated, still studying me.
"It looks like her, but this world seems much different. Perhaps she exists in more than one world," I heard Master Aqua mutter.
"Have you met Tinker Bell before?" I questioned her.
"Yes, but this version of her is not the same as the one I met several years ago. It's not uncommon for there to be more than one version of a person in separate worlds."
"I see."
"What's wrong?" Tink asked, suddenly bringing me out of the silent conversation I was having.
I blinked in surprise, then shook my head and smiled. "N-Nothing. Anyway," I looked into the distance and up towards the sky. "How long have the Heartless been an issue? Or is it that this is the first time you've run into them?"
"Is that what they're called? I guess it kinda fits them. What do you know about them?"
My eyes returned to the young fairy and I instantly felt uneasy. "Err, well-" I began, but was cut off when voices were heard in the distance.
"Tinker Bell!"
Said fairy seemed to recognize them for her eyes lit up. She looked up and waved her arms.
I looked up as well and saw a few fairies flying several feet above us.
"Down here, you guys," Tink called.
Her companions spotted us and descended to the ground. There were five all together, and once they had landed, I realized they looked very different in appearances.
The first fairy was light-skinned with long black -almost purple- hair that was tied back in a ponytail and a violet outfit. The second girl was pale -also with black hair with the smallest hint of blue- wearing a just-above knee-lengthed, one-shoulder blue dress with a yellow streak down the front. The third was a dark-skinned girl with extremely dark-brown hair like mine tied in a bun and wearing a fringed yellow dress with a brown pattern around the waist. The fourth fairy was light-skinned with brown hair tied in a braid that went down her spine and wearing an orange and brown outfit. The final one had light skin with just-past shoulder-length red-brown hair that curled at the end and wore a strapless pink dress that stopped several inches before the knees.
"Girl, You need to stop wandering off like that," the fairy in orange, commented, her hands on her hips.
"What are you doing out here anyway, Tink?" The middle fairy questioned. "Don't you remember what Fairy Mary said? No fairy is to leave the Home Tree without permission."
"She doesn't want any more fairies to get attacked by those creatures," the fairy in blue added.
"Well… about that." Tinker Bell quickly went into explaining to her friends how she had seen something fall out of the sky and land around where were now. It didn't take long for me to realize that what she saw was most likely me when I had first arrived. When she had reached here, the Heartless attacked her.
"Heartless?" The fairy in purple repeated.
Tink nodded. "That's what Hikari called them," she said, turning her head to look at me.
The others followed suit and I quickly became uncomfortable under the attention I was getting.
"She's actually the one who destroyed the Heartless," Tinker Bell put in.
Her friends' eyes all went wide.
I smiled in embarrassment and scratched the back of my head. "It's not that big a deal, really. I've dealt with them in the past, so I just acted on instinct when I saw Tinker Bell in trouble."
They all looked at each other, seeming to silently debate something. After a few heartbeats of silence, they seemed to reach an agreement and turned back to me.
Tinker Bell stepped forward. "Would you come with us to speak with Queen Clarion? I'm sure the knowledge you have on these 'things' may be very useful to her."
My gaze fell to the ground. "I…I don't know." I should be looking for my family and friends, but these fairies seem uneasy with this new threat.
"It seems that even in a world like this that holds great magic, the Heartless have found a way in," Master Aqua said. "Perhaps going will assist us in finding them and finding a way to rid this place of the Heartless."
She had a very good point, so I pushed my doubts away and looked at the fairy in front of me. "Alright; I'll go with you to see her."
Their eyes lit up and they all thanked me. I let them lead the way as we took to the air and headed away from the beach. Along the way, they all introduced themselves; There was Vidia, Silvermist, Iridessa, Fawn, and Rosetta, and they all were Tinker Bell's good friends.
Within a few minutes, a beautiful tree that seemed as big as the sky itself came into view. I was told that it was the Home Tree, where all the fairies in Pixie Hallow lived.
"Tink," I called.
The fairy in green looked over her shoulder and slowed down for me to catch up to her. "What's up?"
"You never answered my question; How long have the Heartless been around?" I asked.
"Oh, well, I'd have to say they started showing up when this one fairy appeared in Pixie Hallow. She was the first one to be attacked," she replied.
"When did she show up?"
"Umm, probably a little less than a week ago."
Around the same time I came to Radiant Garden, I thought to myself.
Fawn seemed to be hearing our conversation, for she hung back to join us. "You talking about that cute little one who showed up the other day? She's so cute, but awfully timid."
The others soon got into the discussion.
"Oh yeah; she's the one who injured her wing, right?" Silvermist said.
"Poor thing. She's hardly said a word," Iridessa stated.
"Yes; She's been hiding behind Queen Clarion and Fairy Mary, oh but she has the sweetest green eyes," Rosetta chimed in.
Green eyes? A theory started to form in my head.
Vidia nodded in agreement. "They seem to hold stars in them, and she has that weird birthmark on her neck."
Birthmark?
We rose into the tree and landed in a shaded clearing within the tree where several fairies were gathered in groups based on their outfits. I stuck with Tinker Bell as the others headed into their own groups. Meanwhile, I listened to the many conversations echoing among the fairies.
They all spoke of the Heartless; What were they? Where did they come from? What can we do to defend ourselves? Who's to stop them from attacking again? These and similar questions were being asked all round, bringing deep concern.
"Fairies are very peaceful folk," Master Aqua explained to me. "These ones probably haven't experienced any darkness more than a stormy day, so it's no surprise they're scared."
I was only half listening, for I was looking around for the mystery fairy. Is it possible? Could it really be her?
"Quiet," a few fairies whispered. "Queen Clarion is coming."
Everyone hushed and straightened up as a golden sphere of light appeared from above.
Time for the moment of truth.
The sphere transformed and a beautiful woman with golden brown hair tied in a bun and wearing an elegant golden dress that touched the floor was revealed.
Behind her, a slightly plump fairy with a short green dress and brown hair also tied back in a bun followed, a small figure I couldn't quite make out at the moment clutching her dress and struggling to fly with a clearly injured wing. But when they landed in the clearing and the figure stepped out of the shadow of the older fairies, my heart skipped several beats.
Her layered brown hair was braided to the side and she was wearing a green tunic with matching leggings, but her collar was clear of any clothing or hair, leaving the star-shaped birthmark fully exposed for my hopes to be confirmed.
It's her. It's really her. I left Tinker Bell's side and raced towards the center of the clearing, still managing to politely ask those in my path to let me pass.
"What is it, Hikari?" Master Aqua inquired.
I was on the brink of tears. "It's Chise. Master Aqua, it's my sister!" Just as I broke throughout the crowd, I looked directly at my little sister and called out, "Chise!"
Her eyes sparked with recognition and she turned towards me, as did everyone else. Tears fell down her cheeks as she ran towards me with arms reaching out to me and crying "Hikari!"
I opened my arms and took her into my embrace as we both fell to our knees and shed tears of pure joy. I could sense everyone watching us and hear them speaking in bewilderment, but I didn't care; I had my sister back, and was all I cared for at that moment.
"Oneesan. Oneesan," Chise repeated over and over again between weeps. "I was so scared, oneesan. Mommy and Daddy, and Arashi, they're…" She began to hiccup, unable to finish.
I softly shushed her and stroked the small of her back between her wings. "It's alright. Don't worry; everything's going to be alright, my little star."
I only felt her nod her head against my chest, but the tears eventually stopped, leaving only her hiccups. My tears eventually ceased as well and I just held my loving baby sister, breathing in the earthy smell she always had.
Eventually, though, I looked up to see all eyes on us. I sighed and got to my feet, though Chise remained with her arms around my waist. I simply let her stay that way and looked at the fairy in gold. I bowed my head respectfully.
"It is an honor to meet you, Queen Clarion. My name is Hikari; Chise -along with the rest of my family- was separated from me. I was really worried about her, but I'm glad to see no harm has come to her. I am in your debt."
Queen Clarion nodded. "Your sister is very brave; She must get it from you."
I blushed and rubbed the back of my head in embarrassment. I stopped however, when I heard a commotion behind me and turned to see Tinker Bell hurrying towards me.
She stood at my right and bowed her head, just as I had. "Queen Clarion, Hikari saved me from those creatures and has information about them," she stated.
Everyone gasped and started talking amongst themselves once more.
Queen Clarion looked at me with surprised eyes. "Is this true?"
I nodded, suddenly feeling the pressure that weighed me down. "Y-Yes, but I think it would be best if we spoke in private," I replied, looking around.
She seemed to get the hint, for she sighed and rose into the air. "Fairy Mary," she said to the smaller fairy. "Have all the fairies remain here until I return." She looked down at me and indicated with the motion of her head to follow.
I began to leave the ground, helping Chise stay airborne. Tink and Fairy Mary watched us as we headed into a largely cut out knot further up the trunk of the tree.
Inside, it was brightly lit, though I knew not the source of it. The ceiling stretched higher than I could see and little pieces of furniture made from wood and leaves were scattered throughout the room. A faint smell hung in the air that reminded me of crisp autumn leaves.
We sat in the furniture, Queen Clarion on a lounging couch downed in golden brown leaves and me in an armchair made of twigs with Chise sitting on my lap. My baby sister snuggled into the curves of my body like a kitten and was sleeping peacefully within seconds.
It's probably best if she doesn't hear what I have to say; she's already been through so much, I thought to myself.
"I don't believe she's slept so peacefully since her arrival," the golden fairy stated with a smile.
I nodded in agreement, looking down at my sister and stroking her hair. "I can't blame her; waking up in an entirely new world can be hard to cope with, especially for one so young and fragile as her."
"I suspected as much that you two are not from our world," Queen Clarion commented. "So, where are you from?"
Another sigh escaped me and I ceased petting Chise's hair. "I was separated from Chise and the rest of our family just before our world was swallowed by the shadows." I reached my right arm out and summoned The Angel's Keyblade. "I somehow managed to escape the Darkness and was given this. I was told that my loved ones were still prisoners to the shadows and that I'm the only one who can save them."
Queen Clarion was obviously intrigued with my weapon, but after a few moments of studying, her face returned to a more dignified position. "I have heard legends and rumors of the Keyblade, but never before have I believed that I would ever see one. Does that mean those creatures attacking are…"
I dipped my head. "Unfortunately, Your Majesty, they are the Heartless. It's my strong belief that she found her way here after the shadows swallowed our home, unknowingly attracting the Heartless here. However, I fear she's still in danger. The Heartless are attracted to the light in one's heart, and seeing Chise's heart is no exception to holding a grand amount of light in her heart, they will surely come after her. There's a place I could take her where she would be safe, but as a Keyblade Wielder, I have a responsibility to take care of the Heartless first."
Queen Clarion nodded and smiled once more. "I understand. I thank you dearly, and my fairies and I will assist you in any way we can."
I bowed my head. "Thank you as well, Your Majesty."
XXXXX
"A Heartless's abilities vary greatly depending on their environment."
Tinker Bell and her friends sat on the soft earth of the clearing just below the Home Tree, listening closely to my lesson. The plan Queen Clarion and I had come up with was that I would train those six fairies in the basics of self-defense against Heartless, and then they would train the other fairies of their talent. That way, if anyone got caught by the Heartless, they would at least know how protect themselves until help arrived.
"In a place such as this," I indicated the shaded area we were in, "you'll run into Heartless such as Turquoise March and Blue Rhapsody." I drew the two Heartless into the ground with a twig.
"What kind of abilities do those ones have that makes them unique to this area?" Fawn asked.
"Good question. Just like Silvermist, the Turquoise March can manipulate water, while the Blue Rhapsody control ice. However, they can also twirl around at incredible speeds, causing small tornados, so don't let them catch you." I looked at Iridessa and Vidia and added, "The Light and fast-flying talent fairies will have the biggest advantage over them, since they can't stand places with strong sunlight and are very quick."
"What about dry and bright places?" Tinker Bell asked.
"You're more than likely to run into Yellow Operas and Red Nocturnes," I answered. "They draw in light to cast Lightning and Fire spells. You can't dodge them since they tend to follow wherever you go, so try to attack them while they're charging up or deflect it. They despise water, so Water-talent fairies will have the greatest advantage. Am I making sense?"
They all nodded.
I smiled. "Alright; now let's get to the basics of defense."