//------------------------------// // The Darkness Within, Chapter 3: Failure // Story: The Key to the Light // by KingJoltik //------------------------------// The Heartless are quite possibly the most diverse species of creatures I have ever met. They come in all shapes and sizes. There are giant Heartless, like the Large Body, a fat ball like Heartless with a kettle on it's head. Another is the Air Soldier, a bipedal Heartless solider with thin bat wings. There are also small Heartless, like the Shadows which look like tiny bug-like beings. There are even object-like Heartess! There's this one I call the Crescendo, a Heartless that looks like a trumpet combined with a horn! Perhaps these creatures despite their violent nature have a light comedy side to them. -Starswirl, Report 21 "It's seems I was wrong." Flash said as he poked Twilight with his sword, an unapproving frown on his face. On the ground was a beaten Twilight, her body covered in bruises. "How sad. Are you really a keybearer?" "Y-yes...I am." Twilight coughed, her eyes glaring at the towering colt. "I can-" "Nope." Flash interrupted as he swung his blade back into his sheath. "I don't think you are." "But-" Twilight said as she tried to raise her hoof, only to see Flash was already walking away. Spike quickly floated up to her and patted her head. "Kupo." Spike said in a downtrodden tone. Twilight looked at the moogle and barely hugged the little bear back. Small tears began to appear in her eyes as she tried to get up. "Darn it..." Inside the castle... "So...this card will call out my inner darkness?" Trixie asked as she poked the card, her eyebrow arched in skepticism. Radiant slightly shook her head. "Not exactly. It will...call to your heart. There, it will decide whether to pull out the darkness inside of you...or the light." "Or the light? Isn't that bad?" Trixie replied, confused by the statement. "Not at all." Radiant said as she put her hoof on Trixie's shoulder. A calm smile on her face slowly appeared as she sat down to Trixie's level. "Both Light and Darkness are within you. Whatever you fear in your heart, this will help draw it out." "What happens if I fear the light?" "Then you will have to conquer it instead." "Oh." Trixie rubbed her chin as she blinked at the card again. A gulp went down her throat as she kept staring at the object. A few seconds later, Trixie looked back at the mare. "Um...can I have some time to think?" "Of course." Radiant said with a nod. "Take all the time you need." The crystal pony quickly walked out of the room, a magic aura grabbing the doorknob as she left. Trixie sat on her cushion, staring deeply into the card. Memories swirled in her head as she remembered her time under the Servant. She remembered when the pony of darkness would beat her everyday, showing her the magic of darkness. She sighed as she looked at the card, remembering the dark magic she would use. Huh. It's weird...I hated being under that monster for so long. All that pony would talk about is darkness this and darkness that and yet, all I can think about is the darkness. She told me this card would bring it out...do I want that? Trixie put the card on the floor and crossed her hooves, remembering more and more of her training in the ways of dark magic. The past flew through her mind, the very thoughts gave a shiver down her spine. The Servant... she thought as she looked her hoof, the Soul Eater blade appearing in it along with a puff of dark smoke. Soul Eater. I can still summon it with ease. But...does that mean that's all I am now? Am I exactly what the Servant said I am? Just a... Tears began to form under her eyes. Just a pony of darkness? Meanwhile... Radiant walked down one of the castle's hallways, a slight frown on her face. She could tell that this wasn't going to be easy with Trixie. She's just like him. she thought as she walked into the kitchen. Several utensils began floating through the air as she opened one of the cabinets. It's always going to be like that, isn't it? Before she could do anything else, her ears picked up the kitchen's door opening behind her. Her head lifted up, only to see a certain colt. "Flash! Where is Twilight? Isn't she with you for dinner?" she exclaimed, surprised at the sight. She thought she wouldn't see him for at least another hour. "No. And I'm not training her." Flash grunted as he went to the refrigerator. "WHAT?!" Radiant yelped as her horn began to spark. An aura quickly grabbed Flash's ear and began to pull. "What did you do?!" "Hey! Let me go! That hurts!" he yelped in pain. "It'll stop hurting after you tell me why you won't train her! You beat her up, didn't you?!" "She's weak! She doesn't deserve-mmph!" Another aura shut his mouth as his whole body was shifted in front of Radiant. Her eyes narrowed as she stared deep into the colt's eyes, it felt like to drills piercing into his soul as she glared at him. "Oh really?! And what right do you have to decide that?!" "Mmmph!" SMACK! A resounding slap knocked Flash around, his head spinning from the blow. "Ow...what did you do that for?!" "She is Celestia's student Flash!" Radiant exclaimed as her hoof grabbed Flash's noggin. His face was then placed directly in from of hers. "Did you really think you can just tell her no?!" "But-" "No buts Flash!" Radiant yelled as spit flew into Flash's face. "You will go back to the training ground and you will apologize to her this instance!" Finally realizing the trouble he was in, he let out a silent nod as he quickly ran out of the room, fear covering his face. Radiant yelled at his leaving pace, anger blasting out of her voice. "You're grounded by the way!" Radiant turned back to the kitchen counter and levitated a knife. "Blasted ungrateful kid...all I told him was what a keyblade is and how he isn't going to get one and all he...grr! Why is he so bent on being a solider?!" She facehoofed as she continued to talk to herself. "Ugh! I wish their was some manual on kids..." Meanwhile... Another sigh came out of Trixie's mouth as she continued to stare at the card. She had been staring at it for over ten minutes, her eyes unmoving at the sight. I don't know...I just don't know. As she continued her depressive state, her ears picked up a small scraping sound from across the room. She looked up, only for her eyes to grow at the sight entering the room. "Sparkle!" It was Twilight. She was barely moving as she used her keyblade as a half-crutch to move into the room as Spike sat on her head, a sad look plastered on his face. "Kupo kupo..." he said as he continued to hug her head, trying to comfort the filly. "Sparkle! What happened to you?!" Trixie yelped as she ran up to the beaten up filly, her expression changing to worry. "Hi Trixie..." Twilight said with a cough. "Nothing much. Just got beat up is all..." she strained to say as Trixie grabbed her side, propping her up. "Just got beat up? You look like a carriage ran you over Sparkle! Who did this to you?!" "Oh...just that uh...Flash guy. At least, I think that was his name...he beat the snot out of me." Twilight said as she began to slump over. "He said he wouldn't train me..." "Oh." Trixie said as she walked Twilight over to the floor cushions. She placed the battered filly on the cushion while worry continued to cover her face. Flash huh? Must be the adopted son Miss Radiant was talking about. Trixie sat down by the filly as Spike flew off her and sat on top of Trixie's head. "Kupo." Spike said as he pointed at Trixie and then Twilight. "Huh?" Trixie replied as she started to get what he was implying. "Uh...sorry Spike. Trixie doesn't know healing magic." "It's fine Spike." Twilight groaned with a swaying hoof. "I just need some rest." "But Sparkle-" "I'll be fine. Trust me." Twilight said as she placed her hoof on Trixie's, a shining but weak smile slowly appearing on her face. "How's your training going Trixie?" "Hmm?" Trixie began to stare at the floor with a large frown. "Not well, Trixie guesses..." "What do you mean? Isn't that nice Radiant Hope lady gonna train you?" Trixie shook her head as she showed Twilight the card and told her what it could do. After a minute of explaining or so, Twilight gave Trixie a confused look. "Wait a minute Trixie...you don't want to face your darkness? I thought that was the reason you came here." "Didn't you listen to Trixie? She said Trixie's light could come out instead!" Trixie exclaimed as tears began to form under her eyes. "So?" "Don't you get it?! If Trixie's light comes out instead, I-I-I...Trixie will only have the darkness to defend herself!" "So?" Twilight repeated. "So that means that Trixie has to be dark evil pony if that happens!" Trixie yelled as her tears flowed down her face. "Trixie will become what Trixie hates!" "No you won't." "Wha-" Trixie stuttered, unable to understand what Twilight just said. "You won't become that." "And how do you know that?!" Trixie barked, her face turning red from the statement. "Cuz you're Trixie." Twilight said as she tried to stand up. "I know you're not evil. You're Trixie. Remember what happened when we finally started getting along?" "What are you-" Trixie stopped, her mind reeling. Memories flowed through her head as Twilight's words entered her ears. A few days ago... "Huh?" Trixie said, her expression turning into a look of disbelief. "A book that only the keyblade can open?" It had taken an hour or so, but Twilight had finally gotten inside Trixie's room after talking to Celestia about using Pooh's book to help her. In reality, things still didn't go well due to Trixie basically not wanting to see anypony. Thankfully, Twilight was just optimistic enough to get inside...after an hour of waiting. "It's true. Want me to show you?" Twilight said as she gave the locked book to Trixie. "Try and open it." "Well..." Trixie looked at the blank covered book, a look of skepticism on her face. She presented her hooves to hold the novel, looking it over in curiosity. Then, she tried to open it. "Hmm? What the-" she began to wrangle her hooves around the book, straining to make it even slightly open. "It won't open!" "I know. Only a keybearer can open it." After a few attempts, Trixie gave her the book back with a glare. "Show Trixie." Twilight gave a cheeky grin as her hooves easily opened the book. A bright light shined as it filled the room. Trixie tried to cover her eyes as the light embraced the her. "Augh! Too bright!" When Trixie opened her eyes again, she saw she was no longer in her room. Instead, she was in a forest that looked like it was made out of watercolor painting. She blinked several times as she glanced at her surroundings. "No way..." "Neat huh? Me and Spike thought it was cool too when we first came here." Twilight said with a big smile before thinking about her companion. "Too bad the little guy is asleep in his crib. Then again, he's just a baby after all." "Amazing. Is Trixie really inside that book?" "That's right." Twilight nodded and then put her hoof around Trixie's shoulder. "Come on, let me introduce you to Pooh! He's super friendly and nice!" "Uhhh....Trixie doesn't know about this. Trixie thinks this place has a bit too much light." "Too much light? What do you mean?" "Well...light hurts Trixie." Trixie said as she started looking around for a exit. "Maybe Trixie should leave." Twilight's grip on the blue filly's shoulder started the tighten. "Oh no you don't. You and me are gonna go see Pooh and become friends with him." "But-" "No buts. Let's go!" The Present... "If you were bad, you wouldn't have become friends with Pooh and his friends. Same with me and Spike." Twilight gave Trixie a big hug as a small tear went down Trixie's cheek. "We're friends, right?" "Yeah..." Trixie whispered as she hugged Twilight back. "You...you're Trixie's friend. Trixie guesses that's true." "Then that means you aren't evil! You're Trixie!" "But-" "She's right you know." said a voice, causing the two to look across the room. There, they saw the voice's owner, Radiant Hope. The unicorn began to walk over to the duo with a small smile. "No matter what that card unleashes little pony, you will still be you. Nothing can change that." "But...Trixie is..." Radiant then patted Trixie on the back while wearing a cheeky grin. "It'll be fine girl, listen to your friend and stop worrying!" She turned to Twilight and gave a lesser smile as she then said, "Oh and uh...sorry about Flash Twilight. I made sure he's going to make it up to you." "Huh? Oh...that's okay Miss Hope. I lost and-" "No need to be humble dear." Radiant said as her horn began to glow. A spell soon embraced Twilight as a long green vine with leaves wrapped around Twilight's body, soothing her wounds. "Let me heal you up and then you and him can have a nice long chat like I just did a few minutes ago with that impatient little tyrant. He should have never done that to you." "Okay..." Twilight said with a lowered head, a frown popping onto her face. "I'll uh...go see him." Radiant's hoof raised Twilight's chin as she shined a calm smile to the filly. "Don't worry. He's a good colt with a strong heart once you get to know him. I probably wouldn't have adopted him if he wasn't." She then rubbed Twilight's mane and pointed to the door. "Now, go and hear his apology!" she then bent over and whispered into Twilight's ear. "And if he doesn't apologize, tell me and he'll know that he has too." "Alright." Twilight nodded as Spike hopped back onto her head. Twilight looked at Trixie on more time, only for Radiant to tell her that everything was going to be okay for her blue colored friend. The purple pony soon left the room, leaving the duo. "Okay Trixie, have you made your decision?" Trixie looked back at the card one last time. "Yeah...Trixie thinks she has." "Good." Radiant patted Trixie's head with a big goofy grin. "You can tell me all about it after dinner...or probably tomorrow depending on how tired you all are." Canterlot... A small aura float through the throne room as it levitated a small cup of coffee, the cup's contents slightly swaying as it got closer to Celesita's lips. She gave a deadpan look as the coffee entered her system as she stared at the last documents for the day. Ahh...this is why I work. Good old bean and brew... Her ears soon twitched as two ponies entered the room, her eyes lifting up from the paper. She blinked as she watched her visitor enter with smiles on their faces. "Cadance. Thank you for coming." "Good evening auntie." a pink alicorn as she strode into the room. Her face was a combination of confusion and fear. "I would say that I'm surprised you summoned me but...I'm gonna guess that this is all about the monster attack that happened a few days ago." Celestia shook her head as she put her cup down. "Well...actually no. Well, it actually kind of has to do with the attack but...not really." "Um auntie...I don't mean to be rude but, what is this about?" "Before I begin, I honestly want to say I'm sorry asking you to come back to Canterlot." Cadance shook her head. "It's fine auntie, I don't mind." "Now, I wanted Blueblood to be here as well since he is royalty but...guess we'll have to improvise. You're here to help me with negotations." "Negotiations?" Cadance was taken back by the statement. "Indeed. This is why you're here." Celestia said as two guards brought in a giant covered mirror. Cadance cocked her eyebrow as she looked at the massive object before turning back to Celestia. Soon, a certain magic aura took control of the sheet hanging over it, slowly stripping the mirror of it's covering. Cadance blinked as she saw a glimmer of magic cover the mirror, it's surface starting to shine. "I don't understand. How is a mirror part of negotiations?" "You'll soon see." Celestia said as the mirror stopped showing Cadance's reflection. It started to show a dark swirl of magic as Celestia let out a groan. "It seems an old acquaintance of mine is trying to do some things in my kingdom under my nose." Cadance could only cringe at that statement, especially due to Celestia's slowly changing face. The alicorn's kind expression turned to a slightly annoyed one. "An old acquaintance that calls itself the WRO." The training grounds in Radiant Hope's Castle... "Stupid mother. Can't believe I have to sit and apologize to that weakling..." Flash grumbled and he sat there, pouting with his hooves crossed. "Why can't she see that I'm a great warrior?!" As he sat there, his anger continued to boil. His eyes twitched at the thought of apologizing. That is, till he felt something else. A shiver down his spine. His eyes stop squinting as he felt his body tense up. His ears flickered as he heard something move the grass around him. He curled his hoof as he slowly moved his hoof to his sheathed sword on his back. Slowly Flash...something's here. I can feel it. he thought as the colt's hoof grabbed the hilt of the blade. He slowly turned his head, trying to see the intruder. But he was too late. "Whoa!" Flash yelped as he tried to take flight before a claw struck his side. A surge of pain striking through his body as he fell to the ground, his body rolling in the grass. "Ugh! What the-" Then, his eyes saw the intruder. Holy...is that a- he thought as another claw tried to strike him. This time he was ready as he rolled back, quickly dodging the attack. He fully pulled out his blade as he stared at his enemy. It was long lanky Heartless with soulless yellow eyes. It's claws extended as it's noodle like ligaments swayed around randomly. It was the Neoshadow. "Okay...you're ugly." he said as he pointed his weapon at the enemy. "Let's see how you like my blade." The Heartless merely stood there as Flash spread his colt wings, cricking his neck as he readied to attack. The pony then charged with sword ready. As he about to strike the shadow down, the Heartless suddenly shifted into the floor. The sudden reaction caused Flash to stumble as his skidded down through the grass. "What the-" But he was too late as the Neoshadow shifted back out, his claw striking the colt's side again. "Augh!" he yelped as the pain surged through his body, his hoof letting go of his sword. He closed his eyes as the pain kept piercing his side. It hurts! Darn it... As his eyes slowly opened, quickly seeing the Neoshadow get closer and closer. It's claw rose up, pointing at the sky above. It was about to strike the final blow. As the claw just stood there, Flash could lay there in fear. His heart was about to be taken and he couldn't move. The pain was too much. Then, as the claw began to move again... SMASH! The Neoshadow went flying through the air, it's body spinning like a top. Flash's eyes widened as he saw a certain filly walk in front of him, her keyblade in her hoof. He could only sit there, his body couldn't move from sight. Twilight just stood there before resting the keyblade on her shoulder. "Okay Heartless, let's fight!"