//------------------------------//
// A New You 
// Story: The Girl That Never Was 
// by Onomonopia 
//------------------------------//

Xion wasn't sure what her next move should be. Rarity stood on the stage of the amphitheater with her, clutching Sombra's horn in her hooves. Xion wasn't that worried about Sombra being a hostage, figuring that he had gotten out of way worse, but what she was worried about was the rainbow light that Rarity emitted from her body. Xion moved her hand to where her shoulder was still damaged, feeling the pain course through her body and reminding her of what the light of Rarity's could do.

"See darling, I've been having a very rotten day," Rarity said to Xion as she looked down at the hoof that held Sombra. "First that creature attacks the city and makes all of us do it's bidding. Then I find myself in a fight with some kind of mannequin in a black coat that wields a weapon that can combat my rainbow power. Finally, Sombra plants his horn onto my head and tries to take control of my body. I did not appreciate that. I am in the mood to break something. But, as I am a lady, I shall ask once more. Does this belong to you?"

Xion was tempted to summon her keyblade on the spot, but she didn't know how Rarity would respond. And in the shape she was in, Xion figured that a fight with a Rarity that had not only full control over herself, but also Sombra as a hostage, wouldn't end well for her. All she could do was answer the pony's question.

"Yes, that horn does belong to me. And I'd like it back," Xion said in a calm voice as she extended her hand to Rarity. Rarity raised an eyebrow at how Xion answered her question, before she once more looked down at the horn that was being covered in her rainbow magic.

"See, I would give it back to you if I didn't already know who resided within this horn. King Sombra," Rarity said in an annoyed tone, one that made Xion tense slightly as she prepared for an attack. Then Rarity shook her head and gazed back at Xion. "You are a smart being, darling. I am sure you already know that Sombra is one of the most vial and evil beings in our land. He tried to cast the land into eternal darkness and snow. He is not a good pony. One that doesn't deserve to be in your care."

"Maybe not. But right now he's the only one who can help me get what I want," Xion revealed to Rarity, who raised an eyebrow at Xion's words. Xion extended her hand once again, this time with a sterner look in her eyes. "Now if you don't mind, I would like him back. Now."

"You know that I cannot allow that. As a protector of my land it is my duty to defeat any evil that would dare threaten it," Rarity informed Xion, who narrowed her eyes in reply. "And Sombra has been a very difficult pony in the past to deal with. Not to mention he tried to break into my mind. Sorry, darling, but I am afraid I must defeat this foe here and now."

"You say that you defeat evil. But in truth you mean any being of darkness," Xion clarified for Rarity, who shrug in admittance. Xion then summoned her keyblade and pointed it at Rarity, whose rainbow light grew brighter at the appearance of Xion's weapon. "Well I'm a being of darkness as well. And if you're going to try to hurt him, you're going to have to go through me to do it. And I'll warn you now, I'm not somebody you want to mess with."

'Heck yeah! That's my loyal puppet! Now bash her head in!'

Rarity thought about Xion's words for a moment, before she lowered her rainbow aura slightly and smiled at Xion. "Well darling, you said that you are only with Sombra because he can get you what you want. Well, how about you tell me what you want and if I can help you, I can."

Now it was Xion's turn to think about what Rarity was saying, before Xion sighed and lowered her weapon slightly. "I want to go to the beach. I made a promise with two of my friends...a life ago that we would all go to the beach. I'd like to fulfill that promise. That's why I'm traveling with Sombra. I help him out, he shows me where the beach is in this world."

"Well, nothing simpler, darling. I can take you to any number of beaches with ease," Rarity said with a smile before she glanced down at the horn of Sombra. "I take it Sombra somehow managed to trick you into working for him, but now that I'm hear you no longer need to listen to him. I promise you that I will take you to the beach, in exchange for helping me catch Sombra. So I take it you will not mind if I take him off of your hooves, er, hands?"

'Puppet...don't listen to her...remember our deal? Our training?' Sombra begged from his horn in a scared tone, not liking how the rainbow power was slowly consuming his horn. Xion lowered her head for a moment and thought about Rarity's words once more, before she raised her head to reveal eyes filled with fire.

"Sorry, but I'm going to have to pass," Xion said to Rarity, pointing her keyblade at the pony once more. "I made a promise to that pathetic excuse of a villain and whether or not I agree with him, I keep my promises. Now return my friend to me."

"You'd be willing to decline my offer for this piece of evil filth?"

"I will fight you for that piece of evil filth."

Rarity's eyes narrowed for a moment as she glanced from the horn to Xion, before Rarity's eyes rested on Xion's wounded shoulder, which was still seeping darkness from the wound. Rarity then let out a sigh before she tossed the horn to Xion, who caught it in her left hand.

"You okay?" Xion asked Sombra, who said nothing in reply. Xion pocketed the dark king before turning her attention back to Rarity, who was no longer covered in rainbows and her mane had shrunken considerably. "Didn't think you'd actually give him back to me without a fight. Didn't seem like that kind of pony."

"If this was my first encounter with you Xion, then I wouldn't have given him back," Rarity said to Xion, who was surprised that Rarity knew her name. "But I've heard about you from Fluttershy and Pinkie, two friends of mine that you helped out. And according to them, you aided them in their hour of need to defeat the beings of darkness that have been recently plaguing our land. And that includes your name."

"Pinkie. Knew I shouldn't have talked to her," Xion grumbled to herself.

"Oh don't blame Pinkie, we've heard of your deeds back in Ponyville. Now granted, most of them paint you as a monster of darkness with red eyes, but I can see that's not the case," Rarity revealed to Xion, who glanced over at Rarity with interested eyes. "Our magic has been all we can use to fight back against the Heartless, that is what you called them, yes? But that weapon of yours...it has slain them and kept them slain. And if you're slaying them, then it is clear that you are not with them."

"You're a pretty good detective," Xion muttered, but she kept her blade leveled at Rarity. "But you said it yourself. I'm a red eyed, creature of darkness. Why would you, a being of light, trust something of darkness would trust me?"

"Well, first off is that I don't see it. I see more of a...mannequin in a cloak, not a red eyed monster," Rarity said with some slight confusion. "Interestingly enough, Fluttershy saw the red eyed monster. But you still helped her. And Pinkie saw a red-headed human girl, who helped her. What do all of these have in common? You've helped us, so I see no reason why you should deserve my wrath."

"The second reason is that..." Rarity began, before she looked once more at the wounded shoulder with a guilty look in her eyes. "That Heartless made me do things that I would never do. It made me try to kill you, which was against my will. So I feel that I owe you one, for nearly trying to kill you."

"Oh, you owe me one. That's why you're not trying to kill me," Xion replied in an annoyed tone, one that made Rarity glance at the ground with sad eyes.

"Look darling...I understand if you cannot forgive me for my actions. I am sorry for my actions and that is all I can do," Rarity sighed and Xion actually found herself feeling bad for the pony.

"Look...I've had a rough day too, alright?" Xion agreed as she banished her keyblade, getting Rarity's eyes to go wide as the weapon vanished. "All I was planning to do today was go shopping and that's it. I didn't plan on having to free a whole city from the Heartless or nearly lose my shoulder in a blast of rainbow light that can destroy any being of darkness. But here we are."

Rarity placed a hoof under her chin and thought for a moment, before her eyes lit up with a smile. "Idea! How about this, Xion? Since I...contributed to your bad day, how about I take you to where you needed to go and pay for it myself tomorrow? Consider it my way of paying you back for helping us? I'm sorry that's all I can do for now."

"No...no that might work," Xion agreed with a small nod, knowing that she was strapped for bits. "What I'm getting isn't a traditional item, though. Figure I should warn you in advance."

"It's no problem at all darling. And how about after we get this item for you, we go and get you a new outfit made?" Rarity asked Xion.

"What's wrong with my coat?" Xion asked as she looked down at her coat, only to realize that it was torn apart in numerous places and was covered in dirt and grime. Rarity giggled to herself as the realization dawned on Xion's face before she turned and motioned for Xion to follow her with her hoof. Xion did so, but as the two walked she reached into her pocket and pulled out Sombra's horn.

"You've been awfully quiet," Xion said to Sombra, who said nothing in reply. "Normally you would never pass up on the opportunity to get in some shots against one of the Ambassadors of Harmony, let alone one that kicked you out of her mind. You feeling okay?"

'I'm...just thinking, puppet. And I require not to be bothered until I am finished.'

"Alright, geez. Sorry for worrying," Xion grumbled as she placed Sombra back into her pocket as she continued after Rarity, wondering what could possibly get Sombra to silence his tongue.

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No. I
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"Yeesh, I know that I promised to buy whatever it was you were after, but I wish you had warned me how much of a dent it would out in my purse," Rarity said to Xion as the two of them left an odd shop, while Xion pocketed the Dragon's Fire within her coat. Xion had spent the night at the hotel Rarity had been staying at, yet Rarity hadn't slept that night. She had spent all night dealing with the confused citizens and had only showed up around ten to take Xion shopping.

"You were the one that so nobly offered to pay for my woes. I figured that it would be better if I didn't say anything to sway you from your noble path," Xion said with a wry smile to Rarity, who sighed in defeat before shaking her head with a smirk of her own. The two walked in silence, with Rarity occasionally offering to talk to Xion yet Xion chose to remain silent. "Sorry if I'm not that talkative, I've got a lot on my mind right now. I'm dealing with more than just the Heartless, so I've got to plan in advance."

"Perfectly understandable darling. We've all got a lot on our minds with these Heartless in the land. Terrifying beasts," Rarity muttered to herself. The two continued on in silence, with Xion glance down at where Sombra rested silently in her horn with growing concern. That was until the both of them came to a stop outside of a clothing store, one with a huge sigh that looked like it was made with magical lace.

"Ah, here we are! Do not worry, Xion, I am friends with the ponies inside. And the owner owes me a favor," Rarity said to Xion as she pushed open the door. Rarity entered the store, leaving Xion to glance around at the city streets around her. The ponies walked the streets like nothing had happened, making Xion wonder how much they remembered about being mind controlled.

'Just ignore them. If they want to live in their blissful fantasy land, who are we to stop them?' Sombra asked Xion, who shrugged her shoulders before she entered into the store after Rarity. The store was nothing special, with numerous outfits on display while different sections held different styles. It only occurred to Xion after she entered the store that she was a Nobody and that clothing designed for horses wouldn't work for her.

"Yes, I figured as much as well darling," Rarity agreed when Xion voice her fears to the mare, who had been standing by the counter. "But do not worry, there is a reason I chose this shop. The ponies here specialize in making clothing for any sort of being, be it a griffon or a yak. If anypony is able to make a new suit for you, it will be them."

As soon as Rarity said this, two ponies in strange clothing zipped out of the back and appeared next to Xion, taking her measurements quickly before they vanished back into the backrooms from whence they came. Rarity motioned for Xion to sit down in a waiting chair while Rarity browsed the shelves, leaving Xion to sit down and pull Sombra from her pocket.

"So two down, one to go and then you'll be fixed, right?" Xion asked Sombra.

'Yeah...that's how it should work,' Sombra said to Xion in a tone that Xion couldn't read. Xion didn't like it when she couldn't tell what Sombra was planning. The more she talked to him, the more she felt there was plenty that he wasn't telling her.

"The Golem's Core. That's the last item. Any idea where we'll find it?" Xion asked Sombra, who said nothing for a few minutes.

'Last I heard, it was rumored to be in a wasteland to the south of here. A place where even the princesses don't like to tread, thanks to the beasts that live there. And that was before the Heartless showed up,' Sombra revealed with a bit more of his old self in his voice, which relieved Xion slightly. Before Xion could say any more, the two ponies zipped out of the bag and dumped a pile of clothes into Xion's lap. Xion had only a moment to register that clothing had been dumped into her lap before the ponies yanked her off her feet and rushed her to the changing rooms in the back.

Getting the hint that they wanted her to try on her clothing, Xion tossed Sombra's horn out of the changing room and to the floor next to the outfit making ponies, who glanced at the horn with interest. A few moments passed before Xion walked out of the changing room, her new outfit replacing her coat.

She wore a white T-shirt with a black, sleeveless jacket over the top of it, black hood hanging off the back. Her pants were also black and went to Xion's knees. The way the pants felt reminded Xion of jeans and she assumed that's what they were. A pair of black boots with white highlights on the sides. A chain wrapped around her waist and looked kinda like a belt, but other than aesthetics Xion couldn't place it's purpose. Finally, there was a pair of gloves that she wore, gloves that felt...magical to her.

"Oh you look wonderful, darling!" Rarity exclaimed as she raced over to Xion, who looked down at herself before shrugging. "See, I told you that this place would have the clothing that you need! Now what do you want to do with you old coat? Do you wish to dispose of it or do you wish for me to?"

Xion glanced down at her old and torn coat, one that was given to her by Xemnas himself, and felt conflicted. On one hand, the coat was a reminded to her that she was a puppet, a being created to be a tool in the plans of a being that held no care or love for her. But on the other, it was also a reminder that she was connected to Roxas and Axel, that just because she was a puppet didn't mean she didn't belong. A small smile crossed her face, before she folded up the cloak before placing it in her inventory. She then picked up Sombra and put him in one of the jacket's pockets.

"I think I'll hang onto it," Xion replied as she zipped up her jacket, moving around in her outfit to get a feeling for her outfit before she nodded to Rarity. "Thank you for doing this. I didn't think that changing my outfit could make such a difference, but for the first time in so long I feel like I..."

"Can breath? Don't worry darling, I know exactly how you feel," Rarity replied with a nod to Xion, who believe that Rarity knew what she was talking about. Rarity paid for the outfit and the two left the store, leaving Xion to look around while trying to decide where to go next. "Need some directions?"

"Yeah, I'm heading to a wasteland in the south next. A place where the princesses dare not to tread," Xion told Rarity, who narrowed her eyes before she pulled out a map and circled a spot on it.

"Here you go, this is where you are probably going to be heading," Rarity said to Xion, who took the map and looked at the spot that Rarity had circle. "That is the only wasteland I know of in Equestria. It is also a spot where plenty of Heartless are heading. I doubt it is coincidence."

"Me either. Thank you again Rarity, but I need to get going," Xion said as she rolled up the map, only for Rarity to extend something else to Xion.

"Here, this is something I found while patrolling the streets when I was being controlled," Rarity said as she handed a keychain to Xion, one that had a diamond on the end of it. "I didn't know what it was, but then I saw the keychain on the end of your blade and it made sense. This is for you."

"Thank you again, Rarity," Xion replied as she took the keychain.

"It is no problem. And good luck with wherever it is you are heading," Rarity replied as she started to walk away, before she stopped and smiled back at Xion. "And if you ever feel that you are tired of only having Sombra for company, come seek me and my friends out. We'd all love to get to know you a little better. Au revoir."

With a wave Rarity vanished into the crowd of ponies, leaving Xion to look down at the diamond keychain, wondering what this one would do for her blade. She then pocketed the keychain and headed off towards where Rarity had circled on the map, feeling that things were only going to get harder.