//------------------------------// // 4. Shimmers and Doctors // Story: Ponies & Keyblades II: Return to Equestria // by GoneGuy //------------------------------// Sugarcube Corner Ponyville, Equestria "All right. Let's get right down to business." the boy-turned pony said as Mrs. Cake brought the group's batch of cupcakes to their table, "one question at a time, though, please." "I'll begin," Rarity said, "how is everything? How have you been?" "Everything's been alright, I guess. Riku, Kairi, the King and I were all able to take down Maleficent and her group of allies. That said, a lot of strange things have been happening in other worlds - Heartless attacks, people going missing - so that's why Kairi and Riku aren't able to be here. They're both off helping out elsewhere. Other than that, I've been ok, but all of this world-jumping is wearing me out." "What about the charm we gave ya'll? You ain't really used it have ya? Unless the magic in that there charm makes us forget when we're summoned." "Well, we haven't really had much need to use it. Ever since Discord and Maleficent's group were defeated and disbanded, the local heartless populations have stayed pretty small - we could handle them ourselves. Speaking of Discord, whatever happened to him?" "We haven't really seen much of him lately. He pops up every once in a while, does some slightly annoying things, then leaves." Rainbow replied. "Alright. Oh, Twilight. How have you been doing as a princess here in Equestria?" "Well, I find it kind of odd to wear my crown, and I don't really have that many royal duties... but otherwise it's been fine." "Hm. Well, you say the Heartless population has been growing lately?" "Yes Indeedy!" "That's weird. I mean, it's normal to have a few Heartless in a world. But this world had no Heartless to begin with. How could the population be booming again?" "I don't know. But, we'll get to all that tomorrow. RIght now we have some catching up to do." Sora and his friends chatted through the evening, and they discussed what had happened to each of them since Sora left. He found particularly interesting stories by all of them. Fluttershy had had problems with creatures known as breezies, Rainbow had learned a lesson in loyalty and helped to teach it to her idols, the Wonderbolts, Rarity had quite a trip in Manehattan, Pinkie had met her match in a sort of rivalry with a pony named Cheese Sandwhich, and Applejack had met up with the Flim-Flam brothers once again and helped teach Ponyville that honesty truly is the best policy. Each one of them had seemed to learn a lesson about their element of harmony - coincidentally, they had also given up their respective elements back to the Tree of Harmony they had originally come from. He also found it intriguing that a small chest had appeared near the tree as well. "Well, that was quite a story." "And now you've caught up with us." "Hello, everypony." The group turned to see a yellow and red pony entering the room. "Sora! When did you get back?" "Uh...just earlier today, Sunset Shimmer." "Well, it's good to see you." "Likewise." Sunset Shimmer picked up her order from Mr. Cake, and before she left she gave Sora one more look. "See you around!" "What's up with Sunset Shimmer?" Sora asked when she had left, "Why is she being so nice?" "We freed her will, remember?" "Oh, right." "Alright, well, we outta get going." Applejack said as she scooped Apple Bloom up onto her back, "Somepony's got school tomorrow, and Big McIntosh and I have a heap of chores ta do. See ya around, everypony." "Sweetie Belle, we should get going too." Rarity added. "I think we should all call it a night. We can all meet back here in the morning and start discussing our plan." Twilight finished. "All right, let's do that." "Need someplace to stay, Sora?" "Oh... right. Uh... mind If I bunk with you guys tonight, Twilight?" "Of course you can! Let's head on back to the Library." The group of ponies left one by one back to their homes, and had a restful night's sleep. Unknown Location Ponyville, Equestria "So, my dear, you say that the Keyblade wielder is back in Equestria?" "Yes, sir." "Good. With the Heartless hanging around, we'll be much safer. Now you three must leave, I need the time to think about what to do next. "Good night, Doctor." "Yes. Have a good evening." Sunset Shimmer and her two friends left the small cottage that Time Turner, or as he preferred to be called, the Doctor, lived in. "I wonder what's up with him." "I dunno, Sunset. But this doesn't seem too good to me." "Me either, Derpy. What do you think, Vinyl?" "Huh? Oh, sorry. Gettin' down with the beat. Not sure what to think." "Well, one thing's for sure... I feel safer with Sora back here." The three agreed and left for their homes, keeping careful watch for otherwordly beasts who might be looking for somepony to attack.