{000} ☼ Background/Personality/Abilities
Personality:
Upon first meeting Shidou Hikaru, there are a few things you're bound to notice. First: she is short. Hikaru is by far the smallest girl in her class at her all-girls' middle school. Secondly: she is hyper. Her energy levels are through the roof, so she can sometimes wear down those around her with her persistent exuberance. The third thing you'll learn is that her joyful attitude is absolutely contagious, and if you were in a bad mood when you met her, chances are you'll be feeling much more cheerful by the time you part ways. Hikaru makes fast friends with virtually anyone she meets (apart from those who are trying to kill her) because she genuinely cares about people and wants to be their friend.
Because of her petite stature and tomboyish nature, people frequently mistake Hikaru for a much younger girl and subsequently underestimate the ancient can of whoopass she's capable of unleashing on a moment's notice. When she's not wiping the floor with evil-doers, however, she is extremely cheerful, hyper, excitable, and easily amused. Since she is so often mistaken for a grade-schooler, Hikaru knows that she can get away with things that "older" girls really couldn't. Not that she would take advantage of that, of course! She's as honest and guileless as they come. More often than not, her size just means that people don't take her seriously, so she has to work extra hard to get others to listen to her before they get to know her and realize she's not actually ten years old.
Although Hikaru can't really be considered the brains of the outfit among the Magic Knights, she has a surprising intuitive sensitivity to the feelings of others (unless they happen to be romantic feelings for her-- those she rarely picks up on). She can't stand to see others in pain, and will do anything in her power to fix whatever is wrong. The one caveat is this: if you hurt her friends, she will make you regret it dearly. Hikaru is willing to go to any length to protect the people she cares about, braving every danger and overcoming every obstacle. She will push herself to - and even beyond - her physical limitations to accomplish the tasks that she sets for herself; this is especially true when it comes to her friends, but Hikaru has often leapt to the defence of nigh total strangers, sometimes at the risk of her very life.
Hikaru is probably far too trusting for her own good, but her ability to have faith in people and give them the benefit of the doubt has a way of bringing out the best in them. She can still be a bit oblivious, though, and frequently Misses The Point of what's going on. This is most likely because of her sheltered life; before she met her best friends Umi and Fuu, Hikaru had never even played a video game! This has made her very naive in many ways, and also extremely innocent. She nearly panicked when she thought another woman was going to disrobe in front of her, and double entendres go right over her head. She knows next to nothing about what boys find attractive, and is largely unaware of her own charms, believing herself to be too small and tomboyish for guys to find interesting. Again, this is probably because she's been sequestered away most of her life by her three zealously protective older brothers, and since she attends a school only for girls, she hasn't had many dealings with males outside her family unless they are facing her in a kendo match.
Hikaru's caring nature can sometimes be a source of great pain for her, since she'll carry guilt for even perceived wrongdoing against others. She never means to insult anyone or cause them grief, and she'll beat herself up over it if she thinks she has. On top of that, she will never confess to feeling sad or upset. Those that become close to her learn to watch out for her assurances of her own wellbeing, and that when she says "everything is all right!" it is definitely a guarantee of the contrary. She simply doesn't want to burden anyone else with her own troubles or worries. Moreover, even when she's in tough situations, Hikaru will rarely ask for help, choosing instead to rely on herself. Sometimes it takes a reminder from a friend that she doesn't have to carry the weight of the world on her own.
All in all, even though Hikaru is a tiny ball of energy with no apparent concept of an "indoor voice," she is a fast friend who will stick with you through thick and thin and a loyal ally who won't back down from even the most impossible of odds. She is perceptive and wise beyond her years, despite the fact that she sometimes lives with her head in the clouds.
Background:
While not much information is given about Hikaru's life before she was suddenly whisked away to an amazing, heartbreaking adventure in the magical world of Cephiro, there are a few things one can glean from her interactions with her friends and brief scenes of her home life. Hikaru is the youngest child of her family, and has three older brothers who love her and dote on her rather shamelessly. She lives in a large, tranquil dojo, where her family teaches kendo; she apparently never played video games, but spent time learning how to wield a blade, since she's extremely proficient at swordplay. Her husky Hikari is one of her best friends, and they were raised together from a very early age. She attends an all-girls' middle school.
It was on a school field trip where she met her two new best friends and embarked on a life-altering journey. When her time ran out on a set of pay-binoculars at the Tokyo Tower, Hikaru was given more change by a student from another school. Hikaru dashed off to find the young girl when she walked away before she could thank her. Another group of students got in the way and Hikaru was unable to make her way through them, but at that moment, the entire lobby was flooded with light. Hikaru heard a voice calling out to her, pleading for help. "Please save our world, legendary Magic Knights!" The floor gave way, and three girls were suddenly plummeting through the sky toward an ocean that hadn't been there moments before.
Fortunately, their fall was broken by something other than the ground: a giant flying fish. The girls were spirited safely to land, where they took a few moments to collect themselves and make introductions. The two other girls were Ryuuzaki Umi and Hououji Fuu, both eighth-graders from other schools. Naturally, they were perplexed by their situation, but quickly concluded that they weren't in Kansas anymore, so to speak. The flying fish disappeared in a flash, and the girls were approached by a strange, short man called Master Mage Clef. He explained that they were now in a world called Cephiro, and had been summoned by its princess, Emeraude, to help save the land from disaster by reviving the dormant Rune-Gods (powerful spirit animals) and becoming the Magic Knights of legend. The princess was imprisoned by a priest named Zagato, and they were to rescue her so stability could be restored to the land. He also told them that they wouldn't be able to return to Tokyo until they accomplished the task for which they had been summoned, and then imbued the girls with magical powers and gave them armor, claiming that they would need these things to achieve their quest.
Their time with Clef was cut short when the group was attacked by one of Zagato's minions, Alcyone. Mage Clef summoned a giant griffon and told the girls to escape, instructing them to flee to the Forest of Silence and seek out Presea and Mokona while he stayed behind to fend off their attacker, who was, in fact, one of his former pupils. Clef was unable to detain her for long, though; he was ambushed and turned to stone by Zagato himself, and the girls were left to deal with Alcyone on their own. Hikaru was able to repel Alcyone's ice attacks with her fire magic, and the trio made it safely to the Forest. There, they found the home of Presea, the master weapon smith, and met Mokona (a strange and oddly happy-looking rabbit creature) as well. Presea loaned them weapons and sent them off into the monster-filled woods to locate the Spring of Eterna, where they would find a special ore called "Escudo," which in turn could be made into their own magical swords.
Along with Mokona, the girls embarked on the first leg of their quest, making their way through the forest. They encountered and befriended a wandering "hunter" named Ferio, and after cutting their way through swaths of monsters, they finally made it to the Spring. Diving into the waters, each girl had to face a challenge before receiving their Escudo. Hikaru was pitted against a vicious doppleganger of her dog, Hikari. Realizing that Hikari would never hurt her, Hikaru was able to attack and defeat it. With the ore in hand, the girls returned to Presea's manor, and she began to forge their swords.
Presea had barely begun her work when her home came under attack by Ascot, a beast summoner sent by Zagato. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu were able to fight off and eventually kill Ascot's summoned monster, but a part of the roof collapsed in the process, fatally wounding Presea. Luckily, she had been able to finish their magic swords in the nick of time, and so with heavy hearts the three buried their friend and moved on with Mokona in tow, knowing that their time was limited. Clef was able to communicate to them through Mokona, guiding them despite having been turned to stone.
Over the course of their journey, they faced more of Zagato's lackeys: Caldina, a dancer and illusionist; Lafarga, a master swordsman; and Innouva, a lightning hound-turned-human. Each enemy they faced taught them valuable lessons about the strength of their own hearts, helping them to evolve the armor and weapons given them and bringing them closer to their goal as they awakened the Rune-Gods and proved their worth to become Magic Knights. In the Water Shrine beneath the ocean, Umi revived the Rune-God Celes, a dragon. In the Wind Shrine located in the floating crystal mountain, Fuu revived Windam, a phoenix. After a battle with Zagato in the volcano that housed the Fire Shrine, Hikaru was able to revive Rayearth, a fire wolf. They discovered that the Rune-Gods weren't only beasts, but could become giant robots as well.
With all three Rune-Gods finally awake, the girls sought out Zagato to finish their quest and rescue Princess Emeraude. By combining their powers, they managed to kill Zagato, but the princess went mad with grief and - in a Rune-God created by her own heart - attacked the Knights that had come to save her. They had been misled from the beginning! Emeraude had not summoned them to rescue her, but to end her life because she had fallen in love with Zagato and couldn't focus only on the needs of Cephiro.
The girls didn't want to fight her, but Emeraude attacked them mercilessly. When they had nearly lost hope, they heard the voice of what was left of the princess' sane mind speaking to them, pleading for them to fulfil her wish and liberate her from her sad existence without the man she loved. She plead for them to end it quickly, before she prayed for the total annihilation of Cephiro. Grief-stricken, the Magic Knights could only comply. They joined their Rune-Gods together into one powerful spirit and struck Emeraude down.
Now that the task for which they were summoned was completed, the girls were returned to the lobby of the Tokyo Tower, deposited directly where their journey had begun.
In the weeks and months that followed, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu remained close friends since only the three of them shared the memory of their time in Cephiro and the bonds they created there. Each of them learned to cope with the trauma in her own way. The experience definitely affected them, even mellowing Hikaru's indomitable cheer. She began to have disturbing nightmares about a dark, menacing woman who foretold of the eradication of Cephiro. She didn't share her dreams or her feelings with her friends and family, wanting to spare them the concern it would cause, but they could all tell that she wasn't as bright or tenacious as she had been before her trip to the Tokyo Tower.
Umi and Fuu understood the reason for her melancholy-- or at least part of it. When they met up at the Tokyo Tower once again to visit and talk, they were drawn a second time into Cephiro, falling and being caught by Fyula the flying fish. This time, there wasn't a beautiful ocean or green scenery. Cephiro was a wasteland in chaos, falling apart at the seams, with only a single castle as an oasis amidst the darkness. At the castle, the girls were reunited with all the friends they made before, including Presea, who was magically resurrected by the final wish of Emeraude, and Ascot, who had quite literally grown up, becoming even taller than Umi.
Clef informed the Knights that he did not know who summoned them, since only the Pillar knew the spell to bring people from other worlds. They learned that without a Pillar to uphold it, Cephiro was slowly but surely crumbling away, and that it would soon vanish entirely. He showed them the magically shielded room that held Princess Emeraude's crown, the Proof of the Pillar, which would change its shape to suit the new Pillar when one worthy of claiming the title appeared. The situation looked even more dire when it was revealed that three other countries had decided to invade Cephiro in its moment of weakness. Not wanting them to risk their lives a second time for a country to which they do not belong, Clef told the girls that they didn't have to take up arms again in Cephiro's defense. They countered his statement by arguing that they wanted to fight. This time, however, they would fight for themselves and for their own hearts, so they could live without regrets.
Clef acquiesced and gave them their magic armor, which allowed them to speak with their Rune-Gods. Thusly attired, the girls donned their mechs and headed out of the castle, desiring to meet with the leaders of the invading armies to find out why they wanted Cephiro. They faced the leaders of Autozam, Chizeta, and Fahren, duking it out with mechas, macho genie spirits, and strange illusions. Alcyone appeared to attack as well, riding a strange monster. Upon their return to the castle, the girls met a newcomer: Lantis. They were told that not only was he the only magic swordsman in Cephiro, but he was also the younger brother of Zagato! He left Cephiro some time before the Knights arrived, and returned only after Emeraude's death. He had apparently been staying in Autozam until the time of his return, causing several people to call his loyalty into question.
Hikaru, on the other hand, felt that she had to make amends with him. When she happened to meet Lantis alone, she offered herself up to receive punishment in place of her friends, saying that she was sure Lantis was angry that they killed his brother, but that he should only hurt her for it and not Umi or Fuu. Lantis refused to lift a hand against her; he's sure that having to kill Zagato made her cry, too. Hikaru was obviously shocked by his response. Later, Lantis gave Hikaru a magic necklace that belonged to his mother. She initially refused to take it, but he insisted that she keep it, asserting that it would protect her someday.
Hikaru continued to have dreams of the dark woman, Lady Debonair, and a girl called Nova, who said she was born just for Hikaru and that they would soon meet. Fearing the destruction of Cephiro, she decided to search outside the castle for one worthy of becoming the Pillar. Her friends didn't want to let her go alone, but she argued that it would be a bad idea to have more than one Magic Knight leave the castle in case of an attack. Lantis agreed to accompany her, and the two set out together. During their search, they were accosted by Eagle Vision, the leader of Autozam's army, who duelled with Hikaru in Rayearth using his mech, the FTO. He managed to disable and capture her, taking her back to his battleship, the NSX, where she was held hostage.
Despite being a prisoner, Hikaru was treated kindly by the citizens of Autozam, Geo Metro and Zazu Torque, and even had tea and sweets with Eagle as he explained the plight of his native country. Autozam's atmosphere was deteriorating due to terrible pollution, and he wanted to use the Pillar system to devise a way to save his land. Their interview was cut short when Lantis, riding a summoned horse, burst through the bulkhead of the ship to rescue Hikaru. Before he could do so, however, she was spirited away to a gloomy pocket dimension by Nova.
Nova looked and sounded almost exactly like Hikaru. She claimed she was born for Hikaru, and that she loved her deeply, and would make her happy by killing everything she loved. Nova also possessed a black Rune-God, Regalia, and she and Hikaru fought until she shattered Hikaru's blade, causing Rayearth to disappear. Laughing, Nova said she thought the Magic Knights would be stronger, and instructed Hikaru to grow more powerful so they could play again in the future.
Now powerless, Hikaru could only stand by and watch as her friends stood in defence of the castle when Chizeta and Fahren attacked. The situation seemed hopeless when Umi and Fuu were defeated and captured by the invading countries, until Presea approached Hikaru with an offer. She knew the spell that could revive the broken Escudo sword, but Hikaru would have to be willing to risk her life to obtain it. Hikaru agreed immediately, willing to face any danger in order to help her friends. During the ritual, Nova returned and entered Hikaru's soul, mocking and taunting her. She distorted Hikaru's memories of her friends, skilfully chipping away at Hikaru's determination. Until Nova confronted her about it, Hikaru hadn't even begun to realize that she was falling in love with Lantis, but Nova reminded her that he would never love her in return because she had slaughtered his brother.
Hikaru fell into despair, but Presea's voice broke through the darkness to encourage her, and she remembered that she was fighting for herself and for her friends and absolutely could not lose. Resolutely, she drove back Nova's encroaching presence and was able to revive her sword, and Rayearth along with it. Lantis, sensing Nova's presence and Hikaru's waning life force, had rushed to the room where the ceremony was taking place. Awakening from her trance, Hikaru confessed her love to him before fainting from exhaustion, although she would later not recall having done so.
While she fought to revive her sword, Umi and Fuu were able to escape their captors, even befriending them in the process. This hadn't done much to dissuade the invaders from their goal of becoming Pillar, or so it seemed, but now the girls all had a better understanding of the ambitions of their adversaries. They only had a short time to regroup, however, before Eagle and company launched another attack against the castle while Debonair sent a host of monsters to wreak havoc and terrify the people to increase her power. Eagle managed to infiltrate the magic barrier that surrounded the castle, but he didn't get far before a blast of energy from Emeraude's crown incapacitated him and vanquished other attacking monsters from the castle.
Nova reappeared to Hikaru, this time threatening to kill Lantis before dashing off. She found him conversing with Eagle in the room where the latter was being held captive, and tried to kill them both, declaring that Hikaru didn't hate Eagle because he was her enemy, but cared for him quite a bit. Hikaru drove Nova away once again before anyone was injured.
Later, Eagle managed to escape from his cell, and searched the castle for the Proof of the Pillar, hoping to seize it while no one wass aware. He needed Lantis' magic sword to enter the protected room, however, and he found the man interrogating Alcyone as to Lady Debonair's location. Because Clef sensed that Eagle was free, he alerted the Magic Knights. Hikaru intercepted Eagle, but the two of them, along with Lantis, were unexpectedly transported to the hall just outside the room housing the crown of Emeraude. When Eagle ran for the door and Hikaru followed, both were allowed to enter. They each had a vision of the deceased princess before being teleported outside again. Lantis, who had been waiting by the door, was confused; only the one who was worthy of becoming the Pillar could enter and leave the room alive, meaning that either Hikaru or Eagle would be the future Pillar. But which one was it?
Relentless in her pursuit to exterminate the people Hikaru loved, Nova re-entered the castle and abducted Lantis, ferrying him into the pocket dimension she'd used earlier to fight against Hikaru. Clef attempted to follow, but was unable. He reached a startling conclusion concerning Nova's identity, however: she was created by all the regret and sadness that Hikaru felt after the deaths of Zagato and Emeraude. She was, in essence, a part of Hikaru's heart. When Lantis learned of this, he was unable to fight against Nova, fearing that if she were killed a part of Hikaru's soul would be gone forever. Subsequently, Nova overpowered and captured Lantis.
Heartbroken over the revelation of Nova's identity and overcome by her feelings, Hikaru visited and confided in Eagle because she knew he was Lantis' friend. Eagle comforted Hikaru, but a sudden, bloody coughing fit made it clear that he was gravely ill, and nearly out of time. He struck a deal with Hikaru and Clef, promising to remain in Cephiro as its Pillar if he were chosen, so long as his countrymen could examine the system to try and devise a solution to save Autozam. As the castle began to crumble, Eagle was released to return to his ship. Before flying off in his FTO, he told Hikaru not to worry, assuring her that Lantis did love her, and unlike his brother, he would return alive for the one he loved.
Umi and Fuu rallied around Hikaru, letting her know that they would support her if she became the Pillar, but that they didn't want her to sacrifice herself in the way that Emeraude had. She promised them that such a thing would never happen: Hikaru didn't want anyone to suffer or feel he remorse that she did because of the princess' death. Before she could tell them the course of action she'd decided upon, the voices of the Rune-Gods interrupted and prompted the girls to look outside. A massive portal was forming outside the palace, and Nova emerged, ready for combat inside of Regalia. The girls donned their spirits and flew out to meet her, and Umi and Fuu unveiled new magical attacks to combat her. Frustrated and upset, Nova exclaimed that everything she did was for Hikaru's benefit, and that her attempts to kill all of Hikaru's loved ones was because, after killing Emeraude and Zagato, the young Knight wondered if people could only truly be united after death.
Hikaru revealed the nature of Nova's birth and identity to her friends as they continued to fight. They didn't have much time to digest the new information before Nova attacked again, using one of Lantis' lightning spells. She had him imprisoned and unconscious within Regalia!
Eagle, who had arrived safely at the NSX, saw that the Knights were fighting Nova and decided to aid them against the wishes of his subordinates. He knew that they would hesitate to attack since Lantis was also aboard Nova's Rune-God, and feared that they would be killed if they didn't have help. His health was failing fast, however, and it seemed unlikely he would return. Realizing his time had expired, he resolved to die as a warrior. He transferred command of the ship to Geo and requested that his friend use it to help save Cephiro before launching the FTO.
When Eagle joined the three Knights, Nova gleefully teleported the entire group to her pocket dimension, letting them know in a surprisingly gentle voice that she was going to make sure all of them could be together with Hikaru forever. Things seemed grim; the Knights weren't faring well against Nova, not wanting to harm Lantis or, indirectly, Hikaru. Eagle's FTO was heavily damaged by an attack when his movement was impeded by a bout of coughing, and Nova declared that Hikaru is more in love with him than ever.
Hikaru tried to explain that she wanted all of her friends to live and be happy together, but this only caused Nova to lash out in anger and confusion, since Lady Debonair had raised her to believe that Hikaru would be happy if Nova killed all her loved ones. She decided to kill Eagle first, and practically decimated the FTO, but he still managed to tell Hikaru that her voice could awaken Lantis if she called out his name. Once awake, Lantis asked Eagle to directly attack Regalia, echoing Eagle's earlier statement: he was not like his brother, and he would not die with the one he loved because he could not be with her. Eagle agreed and attacked Nova with startling speed, retrieving Lantis when Nova's powers weakened. Lantis summoned a lightning attack, which resulted in the group being transported back to Cephiro.
Lady Debonair appeared, enraged, and shot a bolt of dark energy at the FTO, causing it to explode and killing Eagle instantly. Hikaru and the Magic Knights combined their Rune-Gods to attack the towering figure of Debonair, but were intercepted by Nova. Furious, the Knights plowed through Regalia, and when Nova turned to Debonair for help, she was rebuffed and told to die along with them. Debonair fired another shot of dark energy at them, which the Knights countered with their own powerful spiral flash attack, destroying Regalia in the crossfire. Nova escaped its destruction, however.
Acknowledging that Nova was a problem that she herself had to handle, Hikaru left the ensconcement of Rayearth's armor and directly confronted her heart's shadow. Terrified, Nova unleashed a barrage of attacks against Hikaru, but all of them were effortlessly deflected. Rather than lashing out, Hikaru reached out to Nova. She believed she could learn to love herself, even the part that felt pain and regret. Even Nova. Hikaru accepted her, and when they embraced, Nova disappeared, finally having found her place in Hikaru's heart.
Meanwhile, Presea convinced Alcyone to share the location of Debonair's secret lair. Armed with this knowledge, the Knights suited up and travelled to the Underside of Cephiro where Debonair was waiting for them. She transformed into a hideous monster, fueled by the fear of Cephiro's citizens. It might have been impossible for the Magic Knights to defeat Lady Debonair on their own, but the NSX arrived to reinforce them, followed by Chizeta's Bravada and Fahren's Dome. Back at the palace, Ferio, Clef, and the others rallied the courage of the people of Cephiro, increasing the strength of the Knights with their willpower. They united their Rune-Gods one final time and struck the killing blow, piercing Debonair through the heart.
With Lady Debonair gone and Eagle deceased, there was only one person with the ability to become the new Pillar of Cephiro: Hikaru. She had already decided that she did not want to repeat history, though, and so her first and final act as Pillar was to eradicate the Pillar system entirely, creating a new Cephiro in which everyone could use the strength of their will to form the land into a beautiful and peaceful place. The voices of their Rune-Gods explained to the girls that it had been their own wish that had brought them back to Cephiro. They had fought for their own hearts, and could now return to Tokyo with no regrets.
Before disappearing from Cephiro, Hikaru admitted her feelings to Lantis and he confessed that he loved her as well. In a flash, the three girls were returned to Tokyo Tower as before, but this time, they weren't crying tears of regret. One year later, they returned to the Tower to recall their adventures and saw a vision of Cephiro, more beautiful and prosperous than it had ever been with a Pillar.
During her first stay in Edensphere, Nova didn't hesitate to try and acclimate herself to life in the sphere. She never shied away from making friends with the people she met, trying to bring a little cheer into the lives of others. The first person she formed a strong bond with was Derrick, after she mistook him for her father upon hatching. Despite his assertion to the contrary, Nova considered him an important father-figure for the duration of her stay in Edensphere.
It didn't take her long to suspect that she was a skilled swordsman, and with the help of Lea, she procured a broadsword from the junkyard which was then repaired by Cara. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Adventurers, working in both the Recon and Armed Response divisions. Nova didn't restrict her heroics to her time on duty, however; she would enthusiastically come to the rescue of anyone in need (including several gentlemen in perilous situations).
The first memory she regained was during a Trip Down Memory Lane with Target, Cara, and Juliet, where she saw herself relentlessly chasing down a monster that had abducted her friends, pushing herself physically until she was bruised and bleeding, and ultimately using a fire spell to kill the monster. Her time stuck in the elevator was memorable for another reason: Juliet's memory revealed that she had been a serial murderer before coming to Edensphere. Though the others were horrified by this discovery, Juliet insisted that she was now a different person and had no desire to harm anyone. Nova was more willing to believe her than Target and Cara, possibly because of her own unremembered (yet pinged) regret over having killed in the past.
After their elevator experience, Cara invited Nova to live with her and Sailormoon in Section 3, partially out of a desire to keep her safe. Nova gladly accepted, since the two of them were friends and she'd been feeling very lonely in her tiny Section 1 apartment. Nova began to practice her fire magic, though she could only remember the spell she'd seen in her memory: Flaming Arrow.
Because she'd seen the same country in her pre-birth dream and her elevator memory, Nova assumed that she was originally from that magical land, though this assumption was challenged when the Wilderness became Tokyo. Though she had no memory of the place, she still managed to easily navigate the metropolis without the aid of a map. On top of that, she felt constantly drawn to the Tokyo Tower, where she and Lea unintentionally recreated a scene from her past when he dropped a coin in the binoculars she was using after her time expired. Soon after that, she was left a mysterious gift in the form of a beautiful golden pendant. Unbeknownst to her (but knownst to us), this was the sphere's way of saying 'happy birthday.'
This was followed by a brief stint under Bell and Youth's care when Nova was accidentally changed into a puppy after falling into a Cursed Spring in the Wilderness, compounding the confusion caused by physically becoming her friend Umi after time spent on the Fourth Floor.
Other reminders of her previous life were more subtle. The only hint she received of her most-regretted action - killing Zagato and Emeraude - came in the form of two tiny tear-shaped tattoos on her cheeks. Because she had no recollection of that event, she simply assumed the markings were reminders of the time she'd spent as Lea's apprentice.
Not long before she left the sphere, Cephiro and Flame were born. Although Nova didn't get to spend as much time with them as she would have liked, she felt a deep connection with the two of them. She will certainly seek them -and her other friends- out once she returns.
Abilities:
Swordsmanship: Hikaru's family owns a kendo dojo, and Hikaru has practiced with the blade since she was very young.
Agility: Throughout the series, Hikaru displays the ability to leap extremely high and use a surprising nimbleness to evade attacks.
Animal communication: Hikaru confesses to her desire to be a dog trainer, and easily communicates with several of the creatures native to Cephiro, claiming that animals, like her dog Hikari, are easy to understand.
Magic: A gift granted by Mage Clef and developed over the course of her adventures in Cephiro, Hikaru possesses the ability to use fire magic, and does so with great alacrity. It is possible that her magic powers are limited to Cephiro and the nearby countries, as she is unable to use it upon her return to Earth.
Willpower: Although this might not seem like an outstanding ability, Hikaru's will and the strength of her heart were the deciding factors in many battles throughout her quests in Cephiro. In addition, her willpower was strong enough to help send her back to Cephiro and make her a candidate to become the Pillar, the one responsible for maintaining peace and prosperity across the land through force of will alone.
Upon first meeting Shidou Hikaru, there are a few things you're bound to notice. First: she is short. Hikaru is by far the smallest girl in her class at her all-girls' middle school. Secondly: she is hyper. Her energy levels are through the roof, so she can sometimes wear down those around her with her persistent exuberance. The third thing you'll learn is that her joyful attitude is absolutely contagious, and if you were in a bad mood when you met her, chances are you'll be feeling much more cheerful by the time you part ways. Hikaru makes fast friends with virtually anyone she meets (apart from those who are trying to kill her) because she genuinely cares about people and wants to be their friend.
Because of her petite stature and tomboyish nature, people frequently mistake Hikaru for a much younger girl and subsequently underestimate the ancient can of whoopass she's capable of unleashing on a moment's notice. When she's not wiping the floor with evil-doers, however, she is extremely cheerful, hyper, excitable, and easily amused. Since she is so often mistaken for a grade-schooler, Hikaru knows that she can get away with things that "older" girls really couldn't. Not that she would take advantage of that, of course! She's as honest and guileless as they come. More often than not, her size just means that people don't take her seriously, so she has to work extra hard to get others to listen to her before they get to know her and realize she's not actually ten years old.
Although Hikaru can't really be considered the brains of the outfit among the Magic Knights, she has a surprising intuitive sensitivity to the feelings of others (unless they happen to be romantic feelings for her-- those she rarely picks up on). She can't stand to see others in pain, and will do anything in her power to fix whatever is wrong. The one caveat is this: if you hurt her friends, she will make you regret it dearly. Hikaru is willing to go to any length to protect the people she cares about, braving every danger and overcoming every obstacle. She will push herself to - and even beyond - her physical limitations to accomplish the tasks that she sets for herself; this is especially true when it comes to her friends, but Hikaru has often leapt to the defence of nigh total strangers, sometimes at the risk of her very life.
Hikaru is probably far too trusting for her own good, but her ability to have faith in people and give them the benefit of the doubt has a way of bringing out the best in them. She can still be a bit oblivious, though, and frequently Misses The Point of what's going on. This is most likely because of her sheltered life; before she met her best friends Umi and Fuu, Hikaru had never even played a video game! This has made her very naive in many ways, and also extremely innocent. She nearly panicked when she thought another woman was going to disrobe in front of her, and double entendres go right over her head. She knows next to nothing about what boys find attractive, and is largely unaware of her own charms, believing herself to be too small and tomboyish for guys to find interesting. Again, this is probably because she's been sequestered away most of her life by her three zealously protective older brothers, and since she attends a school only for girls, she hasn't had many dealings with males outside her family unless they are facing her in a kendo match.
Hikaru's caring nature can sometimes be a source of great pain for her, since she'll carry guilt for even perceived wrongdoing against others. She never means to insult anyone or cause them grief, and she'll beat herself up over it if she thinks she has. On top of that, she will never confess to feeling sad or upset. Those that become close to her learn to watch out for her assurances of her own wellbeing, and that when she says "everything is all right!" it is definitely a guarantee of the contrary. She simply doesn't want to burden anyone else with her own troubles or worries. Moreover, even when she's in tough situations, Hikaru will rarely ask for help, choosing instead to rely on herself. Sometimes it takes a reminder from a friend that she doesn't have to carry the weight of the world on her own.
All in all, even though Hikaru is a tiny ball of energy with no apparent concept of an "indoor voice," she is a fast friend who will stick with you through thick and thin and a loyal ally who won't back down from even the most impossible of odds. She is perceptive and wise beyond her years, despite the fact that she sometimes lives with her head in the clouds.
Background:
While not much information is given about Hikaru's life before she was suddenly whisked away to an amazing, heartbreaking adventure in the magical world of Cephiro, there are a few things one can glean from her interactions with her friends and brief scenes of her home life. Hikaru is the youngest child of her family, and has three older brothers who love her and dote on her rather shamelessly. She lives in a large, tranquil dojo, where her family teaches kendo; she apparently never played video games, but spent time learning how to wield a blade, since she's extremely proficient at swordplay. Her husky Hikari is one of her best friends, and they were raised together from a very early age. She attends an all-girls' middle school.
It was on a school field trip where she met her two new best friends and embarked on a life-altering journey. When her time ran out on a set of pay-binoculars at the Tokyo Tower, Hikaru was given more change by a student from another school. Hikaru dashed off to find the young girl when she walked away before she could thank her. Another group of students got in the way and Hikaru was unable to make her way through them, but at that moment, the entire lobby was flooded with light. Hikaru heard a voice calling out to her, pleading for help. "Please save our world, legendary Magic Knights!" The floor gave way, and three girls were suddenly plummeting through the sky toward an ocean that hadn't been there moments before.
Fortunately, their fall was broken by something other than the ground: a giant flying fish. The girls were spirited safely to land, where they took a few moments to collect themselves and make introductions. The two other girls were Ryuuzaki Umi and Hououji Fuu, both eighth-graders from other schools. Naturally, they were perplexed by their situation, but quickly concluded that they weren't in Kansas anymore, so to speak. The flying fish disappeared in a flash, and the girls were approached by a strange, short man called Master Mage Clef. He explained that they were now in a world called Cephiro, and had been summoned by its princess, Emeraude, to help save the land from disaster by reviving the dormant Rune-Gods (powerful spirit animals) and becoming the Magic Knights of legend. The princess was imprisoned by a priest named Zagato, and they were to rescue her so stability could be restored to the land. He also told them that they wouldn't be able to return to Tokyo until they accomplished the task for which they had been summoned, and then imbued the girls with magical powers and gave them armor, claiming that they would need these things to achieve their quest.
Their time with Clef was cut short when the group was attacked by one of Zagato's minions, Alcyone. Mage Clef summoned a giant griffon and told the girls to escape, instructing them to flee to the Forest of Silence and seek out Presea and Mokona while he stayed behind to fend off their attacker, who was, in fact, one of his former pupils. Clef was unable to detain her for long, though; he was ambushed and turned to stone by Zagato himself, and the girls were left to deal with Alcyone on their own. Hikaru was able to repel Alcyone's ice attacks with her fire magic, and the trio made it safely to the Forest. There, they found the home of Presea, the master weapon smith, and met Mokona (a strange and oddly happy-looking rabbit creature) as well. Presea loaned them weapons and sent them off into the monster-filled woods to locate the Spring of Eterna, where they would find a special ore called "Escudo," which in turn could be made into their own magical swords.
Along with Mokona, the girls embarked on the first leg of their quest, making their way through the forest. They encountered and befriended a wandering "hunter" named Ferio, and after cutting their way through swaths of monsters, they finally made it to the Spring. Diving into the waters, each girl had to face a challenge before receiving their Escudo. Hikaru was pitted against a vicious doppleganger of her dog, Hikari. Realizing that Hikari would never hurt her, Hikaru was able to attack and defeat it. With the ore in hand, the girls returned to Presea's manor, and she began to forge their swords.
Presea had barely begun her work when her home came under attack by Ascot, a beast summoner sent by Zagato. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu were able to fight off and eventually kill Ascot's summoned monster, but a part of the roof collapsed in the process, fatally wounding Presea. Luckily, she had been able to finish their magic swords in the nick of time, and so with heavy hearts the three buried their friend and moved on with Mokona in tow, knowing that their time was limited. Clef was able to communicate to them through Mokona, guiding them despite having been turned to stone.
Over the course of their journey, they faced more of Zagato's lackeys: Caldina, a dancer and illusionist; Lafarga, a master swordsman; and Innouva, a lightning hound-turned-human. Each enemy they faced taught them valuable lessons about the strength of their own hearts, helping them to evolve the armor and weapons given them and bringing them closer to their goal as they awakened the Rune-Gods and proved their worth to become Magic Knights. In the Water Shrine beneath the ocean, Umi revived the Rune-God Celes, a dragon. In the Wind Shrine located in the floating crystal mountain, Fuu revived Windam, a phoenix. After a battle with Zagato in the volcano that housed the Fire Shrine, Hikaru was able to revive Rayearth, a fire wolf. They discovered that the Rune-Gods weren't only beasts, but could become giant robots as well.
With all three Rune-Gods finally awake, the girls sought out Zagato to finish their quest and rescue Princess Emeraude. By combining their powers, they managed to kill Zagato, but the princess went mad with grief and - in a Rune-God created by her own heart - attacked the Knights that had come to save her. They had been misled from the beginning! Emeraude had not summoned them to rescue her, but to end her life because she had fallen in love with Zagato and couldn't focus only on the needs of Cephiro.
The girls didn't want to fight her, but Emeraude attacked them mercilessly. When they had nearly lost hope, they heard the voice of what was left of the princess' sane mind speaking to them, pleading for them to fulfil her wish and liberate her from her sad existence without the man she loved. She plead for them to end it quickly, before she prayed for the total annihilation of Cephiro. Grief-stricken, the Magic Knights could only comply. They joined their Rune-Gods together into one powerful spirit and struck Emeraude down.
Now that the task for which they were summoned was completed, the girls were returned to the lobby of the Tokyo Tower, deposited directly where their journey had begun.
In the weeks and months that followed, Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu remained close friends since only the three of them shared the memory of their time in Cephiro and the bonds they created there. Each of them learned to cope with the trauma in her own way. The experience definitely affected them, even mellowing Hikaru's indomitable cheer. She began to have disturbing nightmares about a dark, menacing woman who foretold of the eradication of Cephiro. She didn't share her dreams or her feelings with her friends and family, wanting to spare them the concern it would cause, but they could all tell that she wasn't as bright or tenacious as she had been before her trip to the Tokyo Tower.
Umi and Fuu understood the reason for her melancholy-- or at least part of it. When they met up at the Tokyo Tower once again to visit and talk, they were drawn a second time into Cephiro, falling and being caught by Fyula the flying fish. This time, there wasn't a beautiful ocean or green scenery. Cephiro was a wasteland in chaos, falling apart at the seams, with only a single castle as an oasis amidst the darkness. At the castle, the girls were reunited with all the friends they made before, including Presea, who was magically resurrected by the final wish of Emeraude, and Ascot, who had quite literally grown up, becoming even taller than Umi.
Clef informed the Knights that he did not know who summoned them, since only the Pillar knew the spell to bring people from other worlds. They learned that without a Pillar to uphold it, Cephiro was slowly but surely crumbling away, and that it would soon vanish entirely. He showed them the magically shielded room that held Princess Emeraude's crown, the Proof of the Pillar, which would change its shape to suit the new Pillar when one worthy of claiming the title appeared. The situation looked even more dire when it was revealed that three other countries had decided to invade Cephiro in its moment of weakness. Not wanting them to risk their lives a second time for a country to which they do not belong, Clef told the girls that they didn't have to take up arms again in Cephiro's defense. They countered his statement by arguing that they wanted to fight. This time, however, they would fight for themselves and for their own hearts, so they could live without regrets.
Clef acquiesced and gave them their magic armor, which allowed them to speak with their Rune-Gods. Thusly attired, the girls donned their mechs and headed out of the castle, desiring to meet with the leaders of the invading armies to find out why they wanted Cephiro. They faced the leaders of Autozam, Chizeta, and Fahren, duking it out with mechas, macho genie spirits, and strange illusions. Alcyone appeared to attack as well, riding a strange monster. Upon their return to the castle, the girls met a newcomer: Lantis. They were told that not only was he the only magic swordsman in Cephiro, but he was also the younger brother of Zagato! He left Cephiro some time before the Knights arrived, and returned only after Emeraude's death. He had apparently been staying in Autozam until the time of his return, causing several people to call his loyalty into question.
Hikaru, on the other hand, felt that she had to make amends with him. When she happened to meet Lantis alone, she offered herself up to receive punishment in place of her friends, saying that she was sure Lantis was angry that they killed his brother, but that he should only hurt her for it and not Umi or Fuu. Lantis refused to lift a hand against her; he's sure that having to kill Zagato made her cry, too. Hikaru was obviously shocked by his response. Later, Lantis gave Hikaru a magic necklace that belonged to his mother. She initially refused to take it, but he insisted that she keep it, asserting that it would protect her someday.
Hikaru continued to have dreams of the dark woman, Lady Debonair, and a girl called Nova, who said she was born just for Hikaru and that they would soon meet. Fearing the destruction of Cephiro, she decided to search outside the castle for one worthy of becoming the Pillar. Her friends didn't want to let her go alone, but she argued that it would be a bad idea to have more than one Magic Knight leave the castle in case of an attack. Lantis agreed to accompany her, and the two set out together. During their search, they were accosted by Eagle Vision, the leader of Autozam's army, who duelled with Hikaru in Rayearth using his mech, the FTO. He managed to disable and capture her, taking her back to his battleship, the NSX, where she was held hostage.
Despite being a prisoner, Hikaru was treated kindly by the citizens of Autozam, Geo Metro and Zazu Torque, and even had tea and sweets with Eagle as he explained the plight of his native country. Autozam's atmosphere was deteriorating due to terrible pollution, and he wanted to use the Pillar system to devise a way to save his land. Their interview was cut short when Lantis, riding a summoned horse, burst through the bulkhead of the ship to rescue Hikaru. Before he could do so, however, she was spirited away to a gloomy pocket dimension by Nova.
Nova looked and sounded almost exactly like Hikaru. She claimed she was born for Hikaru, and that she loved her deeply, and would make her happy by killing everything she loved. Nova also possessed a black Rune-God, Regalia, and she and Hikaru fought until she shattered Hikaru's blade, causing Rayearth to disappear. Laughing, Nova said she thought the Magic Knights would be stronger, and instructed Hikaru to grow more powerful so they could play again in the future.
Now powerless, Hikaru could only stand by and watch as her friends stood in defence of the castle when Chizeta and Fahren attacked. The situation seemed hopeless when Umi and Fuu were defeated and captured by the invading countries, until Presea approached Hikaru with an offer. She knew the spell that could revive the broken Escudo sword, but Hikaru would have to be willing to risk her life to obtain it. Hikaru agreed immediately, willing to face any danger in order to help her friends. During the ritual, Nova returned and entered Hikaru's soul, mocking and taunting her. She distorted Hikaru's memories of her friends, skilfully chipping away at Hikaru's determination. Until Nova confronted her about it, Hikaru hadn't even begun to realize that she was falling in love with Lantis, but Nova reminded her that he would never love her in return because she had slaughtered his brother.
Hikaru fell into despair, but Presea's voice broke through the darkness to encourage her, and she remembered that she was fighting for herself and for her friends and absolutely could not lose. Resolutely, she drove back Nova's encroaching presence and was able to revive her sword, and Rayearth along with it. Lantis, sensing Nova's presence and Hikaru's waning life force, had rushed to the room where the ceremony was taking place. Awakening from her trance, Hikaru confessed her love to him before fainting from exhaustion, although she would later not recall having done so.
While she fought to revive her sword, Umi and Fuu were able to escape their captors, even befriending them in the process. This hadn't done much to dissuade the invaders from their goal of becoming Pillar, or so it seemed, but now the girls all had a better understanding of the ambitions of their adversaries. They only had a short time to regroup, however, before Eagle and company launched another attack against the castle while Debonair sent a host of monsters to wreak havoc and terrify the people to increase her power. Eagle managed to infiltrate the magic barrier that surrounded the castle, but he didn't get far before a blast of energy from Emeraude's crown incapacitated him and vanquished other attacking monsters from the castle.
Nova reappeared to Hikaru, this time threatening to kill Lantis before dashing off. She found him conversing with Eagle in the room where the latter was being held captive, and tried to kill them both, declaring that Hikaru didn't hate Eagle because he was her enemy, but cared for him quite a bit. Hikaru drove Nova away once again before anyone was injured.
Later, Eagle managed to escape from his cell, and searched the castle for the Proof of the Pillar, hoping to seize it while no one wass aware. He needed Lantis' magic sword to enter the protected room, however, and he found the man interrogating Alcyone as to Lady Debonair's location. Because Clef sensed that Eagle was free, he alerted the Magic Knights. Hikaru intercepted Eagle, but the two of them, along with Lantis, were unexpectedly transported to the hall just outside the room housing the crown of Emeraude. When Eagle ran for the door and Hikaru followed, both were allowed to enter. They each had a vision of the deceased princess before being teleported outside again. Lantis, who had been waiting by the door, was confused; only the one who was worthy of becoming the Pillar could enter and leave the room alive, meaning that either Hikaru or Eagle would be the future Pillar. But which one was it?
Relentless in her pursuit to exterminate the people Hikaru loved, Nova re-entered the castle and abducted Lantis, ferrying him into the pocket dimension she'd used earlier to fight against Hikaru. Clef attempted to follow, but was unable. He reached a startling conclusion concerning Nova's identity, however: she was created by all the regret and sadness that Hikaru felt after the deaths of Zagato and Emeraude. She was, in essence, a part of Hikaru's heart. When Lantis learned of this, he was unable to fight against Nova, fearing that if she were killed a part of Hikaru's soul would be gone forever. Subsequently, Nova overpowered and captured Lantis.
Heartbroken over the revelation of Nova's identity and overcome by her feelings, Hikaru visited and confided in Eagle because she knew he was Lantis' friend. Eagle comforted Hikaru, but a sudden, bloody coughing fit made it clear that he was gravely ill, and nearly out of time. He struck a deal with Hikaru and Clef, promising to remain in Cephiro as its Pillar if he were chosen, so long as his countrymen could examine the system to try and devise a solution to save Autozam. As the castle began to crumble, Eagle was released to return to his ship. Before flying off in his FTO, he told Hikaru not to worry, assuring her that Lantis did love her, and unlike his brother, he would return alive for the one he loved.
Umi and Fuu rallied around Hikaru, letting her know that they would support her if she became the Pillar, but that they didn't want her to sacrifice herself in the way that Emeraude had. She promised them that such a thing would never happen: Hikaru didn't want anyone to suffer or feel he remorse that she did because of the princess' death. Before she could tell them the course of action she'd decided upon, the voices of the Rune-Gods interrupted and prompted the girls to look outside. A massive portal was forming outside the palace, and Nova emerged, ready for combat inside of Regalia. The girls donned their spirits and flew out to meet her, and Umi and Fuu unveiled new magical attacks to combat her. Frustrated and upset, Nova exclaimed that everything she did was for Hikaru's benefit, and that her attempts to kill all of Hikaru's loved ones was because, after killing Emeraude and Zagato, the young Knight wondered if people could only truly be united after death.
Hikaru revealed the nature of Nova's birth and identity to her friends as they continued to fight. They didn't have much time to digest the new information before Nova attacked again, using one of Lantis' lightning spells. She had him imprisoned and unconscious within Regalia!
Eagle, who had arrived safely at the NSX, saw that the Knights were fighting Nova and decided to aid them against the wishes of his subordinates. He knew that they would hesitate to attack since Lantis was also aboard Nova's Rune-God, and feared that they would be killed if they didn't have help. His health was failing fast, however, and it seemed unlikely he would return. Realizing his time had expired, he resolved to die as a warrior. He transferred command of the ship to Geo and requested that his friend use it to help save Cephiro before launching the FTO.
When Eagle joined the three Knights, Nova gleefully teleported the entire group to her pocket dimension, letting them know in a surprisingly gentle voice that she was going to make sure all of them could be together with Hikaru forever. Things seemed grim; the Knights weren't faring well against Nova, not wanting to harm Lantis or, indirectly, Hikaru. Eagle's FTO was heavily damaged by an attack when his movement was impeded by a bout of coughing, and Nova declared that Hikaru is more in love with him than ever.
Hikaru tried to explain that she wanted all of her friends to live and be happy together, but this only caused Nova to lash out in anger and confusion, since Lady Debonair had raised her to believe that Hikaru would be happy if Nova killed all her loved ones. She decided to kill Eagle first, and practically decimated the FTO, but he still managed to tell Hikaru that her voice could awaken Lantis if she called out his name. Once awake, Lantis asked Eagle to directly attack Regalia, echoing Eagle's earlier statement: he was not like his brother, and he would not die with the one he loved because he could not be with her. Eagle agreed and attacked Nova with startling speed, retrieving Lantis when Nova's powers weakened. Lantis summoned a lightning attack, which resulted in the group being transported back to Cephiro.
Lady Debonair appeared, enraged, and shot a bolt of dark energy at the FTO, causing it to explode and killing Eagle instantly. Hikaru and the Magic Knights combined their Rune-Gods to attack the towering figure of Debonair, but were intercepted by Nova. Furious, the Knights plowed through Regalia, and when Nova turned to Debonair for help, she was rebuffed and told to die along with them. Debonair fired another shot of dark energy at them, which the Knights countered with their own powerful spiral flash attack, destroying Regalia in the crossfire. Nova escaped its destruction, however.
Acknowledging that Nova was a problem that she herself had to handle, Hikaru left the ensconcement of Rayearth's armor and directly confronted her heart's shadow. Terrified, Nova unleashed a barrage of attacks against Hikaru, but all of them were effortlessly deflected. Rather than lashing out, Hikaru reached out to Nova. She believed she could learn to love herself, even the part that felt pain and regret. Even Nova. Hikaru accepted her, and when they embraced, Nova disappeared, finally having found her place in Hikaru's heart.
Meanwhile, Presea convinced Alcyone to share the location of Debonair's secret lair. Armed with this knowledge, the Knights suited up and travelled to the Underside of Cephiro where Debonair was waiting for them. She transformed into a hideous monster, fueled by the fear of Cephiro's citizens. It might have been impossible for the Magic Knights to defeat Lady Debonair on their own, but the NSX arrived to reinforce them, followed by Chizeta's Bravada and Fahren's Dome. Back at the palace, Ferio, Clef, and the others rallied the courage of the people of Cephiro, increasing the strength of the Knights with their willpower. They united their Rune-Gods one final time and struck the killing blow, piercing Debonair through the heart.
With Lady Debonair gone and Eagle deceased, there was only one person with the ability to become the new Pillar of Cephiro: Hikaru. She had already decided that she did not want to repeat history, though, and so her first and final act as Pillar was to eradicate the Pillar system entirely, creating a new Cephiro in which everyone could use the strength of their will to form the land into a beautiful and peaceful place. The voices of their Rune-Gods explained to the girls that it had been their own wish that had brought them back to Cephiro. They had fought for their own hearts, and could now return to Tokyo with no regrets.
Before disappearing from Cephiro, Hikaru admitted her feelings to Lantis and he confessed that he loved her as well. In a flash, the three girls were returned to Tokyo Tower as before, but this time, they weren't crying tears of regret. One year later, they returned to the Tower to recall their adventures and saw a vision of Cephiro, more beautiful and prosperous than it had ever been with a Pillar.
During her first stay in Edensphere, Nova didn't hesitate to try and acclimate herself to life in the sphere. She never shied away from making friends with the people she met, trying to bring a little cheer into the lives of others. The first person she formed a strong bond with was Derrick, after she mistook him for her father upon hatching. Despite his assertion to the contrary, Nova considered him an important father-figure for the duration of her stay in Edensphere.
It didn't take her long to suspect that she was a skilled swordsman, and with the help of Lea, she procured a broadsword from the junkyard which was then repaired by Cara. Shortly thereafter, she joined the Adventurers, working in both the Recon and Armed Response divisions. Nova didn't restrict her heroics to her time on duty, however; she would enthusiastically come to the rescue of anyone in need (including several gentlemen in perilous situations).
The first memory she regained was during a Trip Down Memory Lane with Target, Cara, and Juliet, where she saw herself relentlessly chasing down a monster that had abducted her friends, pushing herself physically until she was bruised and bleeding, and ultimately using a fire spell to kill the monster. Her time stuck in the elevator was memorable for another reason: Juliet's memory revealed that she had been a serial murderer before coming to Edensphere. Though the others were horrified by this discovery, Juliet insisted that she was now a different person and had no desire to harm anyone. Nova was more willing to believe her than Target and Cara, possibly because of her own unremembered (yet pinged) regret over having killed in the past.
After their elevator experience, Cara invited Nova to live with her and Sailormoon in Section 3, partially out of a desire to keep her safe. Nova gladly accepted, since the two of them were friends and she'd been feeling very lonely in her tiny Section 1 apartment. Nova began to practice her fire magic, though she could only remember the spell she'd seen in her memory: Flaming Arrow.
Because she'd seen the same country in her pre-birth dream and her elevator memory, Nova assumed that she was originally from that magical land, though this assumption was challenged when the Wilderness became Tokyo. Though she had no memory of the place, she still managed to easily navigate the metropolis without the aid of a map. On top of that, she felt constantly drawn to the Tokyo Tower, where she and Lea unintentionally recreated a scene from her past when he dropped a coin in the binoculars she was using after her time expired. Soon after that, she was left a mysterious gift in the form of a beautiful golden pendant. Unbeknownst to her (but knownst to us), this was the sphere's way of saying 'happy birthday.'
This was followed by a brief stint under Bell and Youth's care when Nova was accidentally changed into a puppy after falling into a Cursed Spring in the Wilderness, compounding the confusion caused by physically becoming her friend Umi after time spent on the Fourth Floor.
Other reminders of her previous life were more subtle. The only hint she received of her most-regretted action - killing Zagato and Emeraude - came in the form of two tiny tear-shaped tattoos on her cheeks. Because she had no recollection of that event, she simply assumed the markings were reminders of the time she'd spent as Lea's apprentice.
Not long before she left the sphere, Cephiro and Flame were born. Although Nova didn't get to spend as much time with them as she would have liked, she felt a deep connection with the two of them. She will certainly seek them -and her other friends- out once she returns.
Abilities:
Swordsmanship: Hikaru's family owns a kendo dojo, and Hikaru has practiced with the blade since she was very young.
Agility: Throughout the series, Hikaru displays the ability to leap extremely high and use a surprising nimbleness to evade attacks.
Animal communication: Hikaru confesses to her desire to be a dog trainer, and easily communicates with several of the creatures native to Cephiro, claiming that animals, like her dog Hikari, are easy to understand.
Magic: A gift granted by Mage Clef and developed over the course of her adventures in Cephiro, Hikaru possesses the ability to use fire magic, and does so with great alacrity. It is possible that her magic powers are limited to Cephiro and the nearby countries, as she is unable to use it upon her return to Earth.
Willpower: Although this might not seem like an outstanding ability, Hikaru's will and the strength of her heart were the deciding factors in many battles throughout her quests in Cephiro. In addition, her willpower was strong enough to help send her back to Cephiro and make her a candidate to become the Pillar, the one responsible for maintaining peace and prosperity across the land through force of will alone.