Even If You're In the Deepest Darkness, I'll Be Your Light

The Price of Protecting A Loved One

My Pov

I stepped forward to face the boy who I used to love. I remember that Van and Terra had become lost because of the darkness. I wasn't about to lose Riku to it too.

Riku: "You're actually going to fight me Hikari? I thought you cared about me."

Me: "I care about Riku. You're not him anymore. You're just a pawn of darkness who's taken his appearance. The real Riku would know Sora would never replace him and the real Riku would have never done that to me." Riku clenched his fist. "I really don't want to fight you Riku, but if it's the only way to get you to come to your senses. After all, I'm suppose to protect the worlds and all the people in them."

Riku: "What do you mean?"

Me: "It's what I had been trying to tell you in Agrabah and when we were inside Monstro. The truth of who I am. I'm the..."

Riku: "Enough! Let's fight." Fine. I focused on my light again and a bubble of rainbow light formed around me.

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Sora's Pov

We all had to cover our eyes because the light was so bright. When it faded, we all gaped at Hikari. Her clothes had changed dramatically. Hikari was wearing a pale blue ruffled blouse with colorful rose petals sewn around the bottom, along with a thin gold line. Wrapped around the stomach was a white cloth held with a gold crown emblem. The center material was a gradient of blue with white lace on top of it, along with gold lining on the sides. Covering the chest were several roses that come in peach, pink, purple, pale red, sapphire, gold, and hot pink. On the back was a hot pink bow lined in gold. It came with long white gloves with two layer blue gradient scallop-lined cuff, hot pink bows lined in gold with a pale pink rose sewn to the middle, and two bead necklaces of pastel rainbow colors, one of which had a heart hanging from it. Four layer skirt with the top three lined in gold. The top was white with colorful rose petals scattered on it and the layer beneath it. The second layer was pale blue, and the third is sky blue. The bottom layer was a gradient of dark to light blue with white lace designs covering it, along with a tulle design tracing the bottom and a row of tiny gold hearts. Sewn to the center-left of the skirt was a hot pink ribbon lined in gold with designs on it, including five roses, coming in hot pink, gold, sapphire, indigo, and peach. On her feet were crystal-blue pumps with a gold crown ornament on top of the foot. Around each ankle are two pale pastel bead chains with a hot pink and gold bow attached to the back. Comes with sheer pale grey stockings with white lace lines and roses designed all over it. The cuff was made of tulle. ON her head was a gold tiara with five pearls adorning the top, and five white roses lining the bottom. It came with gold dangle earrings attached to a hot pink and gold bow with a gold heart in the center(Look at Aikatsu; White Sky Veil Coord and the Keyblade is the one Sora uses in the Reality Shift; Nightmare's End).

Riku: "Hikari, you look like a..."

Hikari: "A princess? That's because I am." She didn't give him a moment to think about. She attacked him and he defended. They seemed to be even, but then... "Rainbow Spiral!" Hikari 'skated' around Riku and trapped him a rainbow vortex. Then the vortex closed at the top and shot down. It hit Riku and he fell to his knees. He was panting heavily.

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My Pov

Voice: "Unbelievable. You were so easily defeated, even with the powers of darkness." I saw Maleficent. "You are of no further use to me." She started glowing with green fire. She shot a green fireball at Riku. I realized what the fireball would do. It would steal Riku's heart! I ran to him and pushed him out of the way. The fireball hit me in the chest and it sank into my chest. The last thing I heard were Sora, Riku, Donald and Goofy's yells of despair.

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Riku's Pov

The barrier that held Sora and his friends back dropped. Sora ran and gathered Hikari in his arms. I was frozen with shock. Hikari had protected me. A light shone on her chest. From it emerged her heart. It was beautiful. It was crystal gem-like. It was dark green at the top, dark pink in the middle and dark blue at the bottom. It started to float away, but a green fireball lunged at it and engulfed it.

Maleficent: "At last!" The fireball went to Maleficent. "The heart of Kingdom Hearts' princess is mine!" The... what?

Riku: "What? Hikari's the..."

Maleficent: "Yes. It did surprise me that the Princess protected you despite all the hurt you've done to her and her friends. Now, my taking control of all worlds is assured!" I clenched my fists in anger. Hikari had been right. Maleficent used me.

Sora: "Give it back! Hikari's heart doesn't belong to you!" Maleficent reached for the heart, but a bright light burned her hand and evaporated the flames.

Maleficent: "Ahh!" The heart flew around the room and then came to me. I held on my hands and the heart hovered slowly down into them. I felt a warm light fill me and my clothes changed back to normal. "You are right there, boy. It seems the Princess's heart belongs to Riku."

Me: "To me?" Even after everything I did to her...

Maleficent: "Yes. The Princess of Kingdom Hearts can give her heart to the one who she loves fully and completely. That person can wield unimaginable power. The power to control all light and darkness. The power to rule all worlds!" I looked down at Hikari's heart. It was fluttering, like a bird. I didn't care about power anymore. All that had done was made me hurt the people I cared for the most. I was about to send Hikari's heart back to her body, but then it vanished. Hikari body was engulfed in light. Then, she turned into several orbs of light and vanished.

Sora: "Hikari! Come back, Hikari!" But she wasn't coming back. She was gone. And it was my fault.

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My Pov

I'm... falling... Falling into darkness... Sora... Riku... Kairi... Ven... Van... Terra... Aqua... Donald... Goofy... I'm sorry... I was too weak to save all of you... I just hope one day... I can see you all again. Until then... this is... goodbye. I love you all...

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Sora's Pov

I felt my heart was going to explode. I felt so much sadness and pain. Hikari... one of my most precious friends was gone. Forever. Maleficent had left and Riku had collapsed from both his injuries and losing Hikari. I got up, but could barely stand. I stumbled over to Riku.

Me: "Riku..."

Riku: "Don't, Sora. You don't need to say anything. I was completely wrong. You need to go stop Maleficent and save Kairi."

Me: "We can do that together." He shook his head.

Riku: "I've lost that privilege. I'm not worthy enough to save anyone or fight by you. I don't deserve to save anyone. I promised Hikari I'd protect her and never let her cry. I've broken that promise one time too many. Just go and leave me be." I reached out for him, but he just grabbed my wrist and gently pushed it away. I knew he won't move.

Me: "Don't worry. We'll get Kairi back and then we'll go out and find Hikari. Except this, we'll do it together." Me, Donald, Goofy and Beast run after Maleficent.