//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: The Cruel Contrast // Story: Lend Me Your World // by Superdale33 //------------------------------// “Ya want me ta what?!” Applejack whipped her head to Sunset before smashing a fist into another Shadow. She was flabbergasted, as Sunset would have reacted if the proposition was given to her. The hallway was teeming with Heartless, mostly Shadows, twitching and crawling. A vine hung in the back with a dark orb pulsing with a disgusting warble when a Shadow emerged and fell. One after another, their ranks increased. Sunset broke away from them. They weren’t the focus. “I need you to pull back and help get Sora seen,” she said, gesturing to him. Like her, Sora was tense, unable to stay still. He wanted to act, wanted to do something useful. She couldn’t look to him for more than a few seconds. “If ya haven’t noticed,” Applejack said, backhanding a Shadow into the lockers. “There are Heartless inside the school! We ain’t got time to worry about him!” A slew of reasons arose in Sunset pointing exactly why they needed to worry about him. Except it never reached her mouth. The amount of Heartless was staggering, and it was only one hallway. They needed Sora, but they couldn’t get him without ignoring the problem, even for a few minutes. A classmate rounded the corner down the hall and skidded to a halt at the sea of Shadows. A door burst open and a Heartless tackled the classmate from behind the Shadows. His scream was cut short. Sunset stared agape. A crystallized heart arose from his form. It hovered above, rotating, before darkness swallowed it. Dread welled up in Sunset. Sora growled, “We’re not getting anywhere!” A Heartless climbed onto the vines latched to the walls and ceiling. Applejack glared at it clamoring along before it dropped down in front of her. It had all the qualities of a monkey. Stooped body, flexible tail, and rounded ears. It shared the same emblem on its chest as the one that attacked Sunset, and seeing it again sent a jolt through her. Applejack rounded on it with a jab, but the Heartless weaved around her fist and swiped back. A quick side step got Applejack away, and she attempted an overhead punch. The Heartless slid back and stalked to the side, keeping its glowing eyes on her. “Powerwild,” Sora said, pointing to it. “It’s slippery. She needs to let it attack first then counter it.” “Applejack, let it attack then counter,” Sunset relayed. Applejack twitched towards Sunset. The Powerwild pounced again. It claws were a fury of swipes. She slid one foot to the side and delivered a punch straight at its head. It turned into black mist instantly. It didn’t stop the onslaught. Shadows still poured through the hall. Applejack stepped back and flexed her fingers. “Wish I had my gloves,” she said, shaking one of her hands. “This is gettin’ painful.” “Which is why we can’t keep this up forever,” Sunset said, stepping up to her, arms wide. The loss of her classmate still clung to her. “We have to get you to see Sora. It’ll bring him back.” “And what, leave everyone else?” Applejack snapped back. She stepped forward with a punt to the nearest Shadow. It shot up to the ceiling. Chunks caved onto the floor before it dropped back into the swarm. “I need to get to Apple Bloom. No way am I goin’ anywhere until I know she’s safe.” Sunset couldn’t muster an argument. Her hands clutched her head, trying not to imagine what would happen if the Heartless did get to Apple Bloom. A lump formed in her throat. “We’ll have to get through the Heartless first,” Sora said. His brow was furrowed. It framed his eyes in a way that was almost scary. Sunset was back on the front lawn, back facing the Heartless for the first time. He was more useless than her as a phantom, yet he still wanted to face down the enemy. “We…” Sunset said, her voice hoarse. She took a deep breath. Fear couldn’t take root. “You need to get to Rainbow Dash.” Sora balked, and she spoke over him. “Applejack is occupied, and I’d just get in the way. If we can at least get-” The school shook, rocking the three of them. Sora grabbed her shoulder before it phased through. He growled at his hand before throwing it to the side. “Nuh-uh, not going to happen,” he said. Sunset stared at him and flinched when Applejack took down another shadow. “Wha-what do you mean?” Sunset asked. Her heart could burst through her chest at any moment. “I made a promise to stay by your side, no matter what,” Sora said firmly. His eyes begged her not to argue. Her insides boiled anyway. “Sora,” she said, far more level than she felt, “Twilight Sparkle is with Rainbow. She can help communicate, work something out. You’re going to have to break that promise.” “I’m not leaving your side,” Sora reaffirmed. A crash of metal broke them away. Applejack had her hand in a broken locker door. “Shoot,” she said. A tug got her arm out and left the locker in shambles. She caught a glimpse of Sunset and grunted. “If ya’ll are done chattin’, we have a brawl to attend to.” Sunset groaned, “You two have something in common at least.” “We do?” Sora asked. Sunset had to look to him to make sure he wasn't joking. “Any time, Sunset!” Applejack said. A Shadow leapt right into her grip. She flung it crashing back through several more Heartless. They were getting antsy, ebbing closer. There was so much to say, but her head was clogged. One course of action bounced around. “All right,” Sunset said, hurrying to Applejack’s side. Sora did the same. “We’ll punch through and get to your sister.” Uncertainty swept through and softened her. “Promise.” “Oh, we’ll punch through alright,” Applejack sneered, cracking her knuckles. Rainbow Dash burst through the door and skidded to a halt. Twilight followed behind, gasping for air, and Spike leapt inside as she slammed the door shut. Her hands slide down to the handle and locked it. A Heartless rammed into the glass with a dull bump and toppled over until another Heartless did the same. Twilight wrapped her magic around a set of lockers and strained herself to slide it across the hall. Metal scraped against the tile and grated her ears. The door was reinforced, but another Heartless still tried to break it down. “What the hay is going on!?” Rainbow yelled, throwing her arms in the air. “Is that Maleficent witch back?” “No clue,” Twilight gasped, hands on her knees. The Heartless were far more monstrous than she had thought. Feral, numerous, and they had taken the lives of her classmates. She could still see their hearts floating above. It wasn’t a trick of the eye. To think a part of them was gone made her stomach churn. Spike slid in front of her vision, “W-what do we do?” “We take ‘em down!” Rainbow said, clenching a fist in front of her. “Pulverize ‘em, beat ‘em to a pulp, teach ‘em a lesson! It worked last time.” “No,” Twilight said, still breathing hard. Rainbow gawked at her as though she had lost her mind. “We need to find Sora. He would be with Sunset.” “Ugh, forget that sissy!” Rainbow brushed off, rolling her eyes. “He’s a ghost-phantom thing. What’s he going to do, scare the Heartless away?” “Sunset told us he’s dealt with these things before,” she said. She set a hand against the lockers. They shifted from every Heartless throwing themselves against it. “If we can get him seen by you and Applejack, he might return. He’ll know the best course of action.” “Forget it!” Rainbow said. She swiped her hand through the air. “We have to help the school, and I’m the fastest one to reach-” “Rainbow!” Twilight shouted. Rainbow flinched. Her mind ran blank. Any list of reasons could materialize and Twilight would still be at a loss. The school was overrun, the fate of her friends were unknown, and they had seen their classmates disappear. In her mind, Sora could fix it. It was the most logical choice to get him back. She swallowed. There were other options too. Perhaps better ones. Glass shattered behind her before the lockers skidded. Dark claws grasped through the opening. Twilight waved her magic and the locker pressed back against the door. It crushed the arms in the opening. Black mist billowed into the hall. “Fine, Fine!” Rainbow said. Her voice and expression fluctuated. She caught Twilight’s gaze and crossed her arms. “But how are we going to get to him and Sunset? Where are they?” “I can sniff Sunset out,” Spike spoke up. The two gawked at him, brows furrowed. He avoided making eye contact. “W-well, I think I can.” “You think?” Rainbow said. Spike shriveled. “Dunno, her scent pops in and out,” Spike shrugged. “Like someone dumped water on her or something.” Rainbow retreated. Her shoulders tight and hunched. Twilight didn’t like the thought Sunset was hard to find. She and Spike had spent enough time with her to have him pick up her scent from miles away. The lockers rocked again. It wouldn’t hold. More glass shattered further down the hall. A Heartless poked its head out a window. Twilight took a shaky breath. It didn’t cool her panic. “Lead the way, Spike.” He snapped to attention. His paw held up in salute. “Yes, ma’am!” The gym was a hive of Heartless. Rarity couldn’t quell her shaky breathes. The chatter and sobs of her classmates behind her set a stone in her stomach. Her barriers were the only shield between them and the Heartless. They didn’t make an attempt to break through. Some stalked along the barrier, others swarmed around each other like insects. Everything was tinted white, but their darkness ebbed through and stained the gymnasium black. It added to the sick feeling stewing in her stomach. The first was from the vines slithering through the walls and doors to ensnare every exit. Several pustules grew along the stems with Darkness arising in droves. Her heart dropped when she glanced over to the stage. Where Lyra Heartstrings, Micro Chips, a whole class had once stood. There was nothing but Heartless with their beady eyes and unnatural wriggling. Rarity broke away. The thought of Sweetie Belle caught up in this mess put enough weight on her to collapse. “Rarity.” She whined as though stricken. Pinkie had her brow furrowed. If she was shaken by the invasion, she didn’t show it. “Make me an opening.” “Do not joke about this,” Rarity hissed. She eyed the barrier. It still reached all around them in a dome. What classmates they could save were huddled at the center. “There are Heartless, if you cannot tell.” “I know,” Pinkie said. Her eyes flicked to her feet. There was a different feel to her. Rarity knew she never wore a mask around her friends. She stuck to being herself, even at times when she was a total wreck or brimming with happiness. To have her so focused ushered another stone in Rarity. Pinkie had taken up something else. “I’m going to blow them all up.” Rarity faltered. A lump formed her throat, and she couldn’t swallow for what felt like minutes. Having Heartless a yard away from them, people they knew and walked the halls with were gone, and Pinkie wanted revenge. No doubt with pastries. Rarity reviled the humor at that thought. “You are going nowhere near them,” Rarity said. Mustering the courage to say that put a bad taste in her mouth. Fighting the Heartless again wasn’t the hard part. It was knowing lives were lost, while a host of others were at stake. Her friends included. Pinkie clutched her arms and turned away before sliding down to the floor. She hugged her legs as her chin rested on her knees. Rarity sighed. As much as she wanted to break down the barrier and charge through, find Sweetie Belle, and save the school, she couldn’t risk it. It was up to the other girls. Twilight flung a Heartless to the double doors. It burst through and dissipated as soon as it hit the floor. Rainbow Dash rushed forward into the next room. Her fists were raised, turning in every direction, before sagging her body. A room was empty for once. “All clear?” Spike asked, taking careful steps into the room. “I’m not fighting, am I?” Rainbow snarked. Her eyes darted around, just in case. The lobby was untouched. There was no damage to the trophy cases, no tear in the banners, nor a single crack in the flooring. The windows and doors to the front lawn were pitch black. Not the same as Heartless blocking every semblance of an exit, but like ink painted over the glass. “That can’t be good,” Twilight said. She stepped out of the hall like a timid fawn. “Nothing’s been good,” Rainbow snapped, gesturing to her. “Every room Spike claims Sunset is in has been filled with monsters.” “Hey, I’m trying!” Spike barked. “If you don’t like it, you can zip off and find them yourself.” “Spike!” Twilight scolded, stomping her foot. He flinched and glowered at the blackened windows. Twilight pressed a palm against her head. She was drained. Rainbow could see it in her expression alone. It didn’t help Rainbow really wanted to do what Spike suggested. She set her hands on her hips and tapped her toe. The more she thought about it, the more tempting it became. But it ached to go through with it. “Wait,” Spike said, nose lifted into the air. He sniffed, took a step towards Rainbow, and blinked. “They’re… really close by.” Twilight raised a brow, “How close?” The top balcony exploded. The railing split apart and rained down to the floor below. Rainbow covered her head, squinting past the fragments to see a locker door fly overhead and lodge into the opposite wall. “Applejack, don’t-!” Sunset’s voice clicked in Rainbow. She didn’t have time to act on it. Applejack leapt off the balcony, someone tucked underneath her arm. Her other hand kept her hat in place. She landed in a crouch, then stood tall, stoic with shoulders back. It was a stance Rainbow hadn’t seen for a long time. Applejack pierced each person with sharp eyes. “Please put me down.” Applejack winced and managed a smile that was painful to look at. She fumbled her balance before hefting Sunset upright. Unlike Applejack, Sunset had a stance Rainbow had seen plenty of times. Her head was lowered, eyes unfocused, and her legs teetered. “Never again,” she muttered, holding out her hand. Twilight hurried over with a range of emotions. “It’s not funny, Sora.” Rainbow flicked her gaze to where Sunset glared. It was barren of anyone, as usual, but she still narrowed her eyes. Sora stood there, and it irked her. Twilight took a hold of Sunset. She tensed as Twilight searched her up and down. “I’m fine, Twilight,” Sunset said, straining a smile. “Applejack is too. We had a run in with a Heartless that can explode.” Sunset grimaced. “Hope it’s the last one.” Twilight sighed. She slipped her glasses off to rub her eye, “I hate this whole mess.” “If that ain’t an understatement,” Applejack grumbled. Her hands loosened and tightened. “We still haven’t seen hair nor hide of the others.” Rainbow growled, “Then let’s not wait for more Heartless. Let’s go.” “Wait,” Sunset said, palm held out. Her head was tilted to the side. Twilight stared into space, attentive. Rainbow had a guess what they were doing, but it didn’t alleviate her urge to scream at them. “I had the same thought,” Twilight said. She brought a hand to her chin. “How are we going to do it now? We can’t waste time.” “Do what?” Rainbow snapped. “Quit leaving us in the dark.” “I’m with RD on this one,” Applejack chimed in. Her hands adjusted her hat. A nervous tic that Rainbow didn’t like to see. “Besides our friends bein’ out in the mud, the school is losin’ folks left and right.” “And we need you guys to see Sora,” Sunset said. She pursed her lips before rubbing the back of her neck. “We have a theory that if all of us can see him, he’ll come back. Fully. Complete.” “And I said before,” Applejack said, shaking her head. “We ain’t got time. Let’s handle this ourselves.” “Loyalty and honesty,” Twilight said. Rainbow had to remember Sora was still around. The more Twilight and Sunset spoke to him, the more Rainbow wanted to take off to find the others. Sunset bit her thumbnail, and lifted her gaze every so often. Twilight leaned back and forth, ponytail swaying. A far away crash echoed into the lobby. Rainbow jerked her head, paced to the side, and dug her nails into her palm. Her blood boiled, but her heart tugged at her. Away from the group, away from the planning. She was back at the lunch table waiting for who-knows-what. Rainbow whipped around, her lungs burning to yell. But Sora was there. It had to be Sora. She didn’t recognize him, he appeared out of nowhere, and he had the qualities Sunset had described to her. His hand clutched a giant key. The blade was silver, and the guard gold. The keyblade. Rainbow had to take a second to look at him. Not judge his aptitude, nor demand why she could see him, just look at him. There was a terse grunt from him. His jaw shifted to grind his teeth together. The eyes were two blue marbles, glassy and still. They were expressive enough to play a host of turmoil in his expression. More so than the girls. She recalled her misgivings of him, how he knew so much and the big coincidence with him and the Heartless. But he was a guy. An emotional guy at that. Sora swallowed and turned to scan the room. When he landed on Rainbow, he jerked before a goofy grin spread across his face. The ground shook hard enough to knock Rainbow down on her hip. The others caught themselves. A trophy case rattled before tilting over and smashing onto the floor. The contents shattered and banged together until the shaking stopped. “That was worse than the last one!” “Where do they come from?” “It’s gotta be the Heartless.” Rainbow hurried to her feet and drew back to Sora. Or to the blank spot where he once stood. His brimming smile was etched in her mind. She shook her head, but it didn’t go away. To see him glowing. In this chaos. For her sake. “Hey, Sunset,” Rainbow called, refusing to look away. “You trust Sora, right?” “Yeah,” she replied as though there was no alternative. “I mean, he could stand to make better decisions in his life.” There was a short pause as her lips curled into a smile. She leaned on one foot to dodge and stifled a snicker. It was upbeat. Despite the situation, despite what they had lost so far, Sora had that effect on her. “T-then I trust Sora too,” Rainbow announced. Her breath hitched, and she wanted to take it back. The looks everyone threw at her didn’t ease matters. “Come on, it’s not that big a deal.” Spike smirked, “You like him.” “Shut up!” Rainbow was proud to not feel the slightest flicker of heat in her cheeks. Sunset loosened. There was still an unwavering focus to her, undeterred, but she breathed easier. Twilight rested a hand to her chest and sighed. Applejack… was missing. Rainbow turned to spot her at the front door. Her feet were squared, lifting her fist to the glass. She rapped her knuckles against it twice. The darkness receded. Maleficent towered on the other side. A blast of green fire shattered the glass into beads. It sent Applejack flying, limbs flailing, before landing in a heap. A pained groan escaped her, writhing. Rainbow was down next to her before she could think. Cuts were sprinkled over the forearms and legs. Applejack had braced her head before the explosion. She still gritted her teeth, cradled her chest, and failed to hide her shaking. “Bothersome.” Maleficent sauntered down the steps to the old foundation at the front of the school. A behemoth of tendrils grew atop it, twisting together into a trunk, squirming and pulsating. A flower drained of color bloomed with a jagged mouth, and uneven stitches held pointed petals. Its bug eyes bored straight through Rainbow. Maleficent raised her arms out. Her staff glowed green, “Hear me, Heartless! Reach your roots far and wide. Gain me entrance to this other world.” An ebony aura shimmered around the Heartless as the pedals spun around its face. Another quake broke out. Tendrils burst from the floor and weaved along the nooks. More orbs sprouted along them. Shadows rained down, and Rainbow hefted Applejack out of the way of one. It sunk its claws into the floor and ripped them out. “What were you doing?!” Rainbow hissed. Different Heartless mingled within the horde of Shadows. Sweat broke out over her brow. “I was gettin’ antsy,” Applejack said, straining to stand. Rainbow locked her elbow with hers and pulled her up. “Thought I saw someone behind that there ink.” “And it was Maleficent,” Sunset groaned. She took a hold of Applejack’s shoulder, scrutinizing her arms and legs, then whipped back behind her. The Heartless closed in. “We need a new plan. Right now!” Rainbow rushed past her and knocked a line of Shadows with a sweeping kick. The lobby drowned in Heartless. Even with her speed, it would take time to whittle them down. Her insides tightened. “Okay, I know what to do,” Sunset said, “but you have to help the others!” Rainbow glanced back. Sora backed away, face scrunched up. “I promised-” “You’re going to have to break your promise,” Sunset threw her arms out. “Just go!” Sora hesitated. Rainbow zipped to Sunset to push back a Shadow creeping behind her. There was an intense stare from Sunset. It drew Rainbow Dash in as much as Sora. “You can make a difference, Sora.” Sora’s eyes quivered. He couldn’t meet her gaze. The Heartless closed in, even as Twilight tossed tons of them away. Giving a curt nod, Sora rested his keyblade along his shoulders and booked it for the closest hallway. He twisted around, still backing away, but with a hard glare, “You can too, Sunset!” His voice was young. A hint of childness but with a grasp of the gravity of the situation. Rainbow surprised herself with that thought. And he blinked out of existence. Rainbow flashed out of the way of a leaping Shadow. Twilight kept the swarm in check. Applejack destroyed any that got too close. “He’s finding the others,” Sunset relayed. She heaved a fragment of railing and nailed a Shadow in the face. Her eyes were charged, and her chest swelled. “Applejack, we’re dealing with Maleficent. Sora’s going to save your sister, the others, everyone!” “As a ghost!?” she balked. Rainbow shivered and hoped she didn’t sound like that earlier. Sunset growled. Her next throw had a lot more force to it. “He’ll do it!” Sunset yelled. “You have to trust he’s being honest. Like I do.” “Honest...?” Applejack blanked, lowering her fists a tad before socking another Heartless. Her expression dipped in thought before it hiked up to a smirk brimming with that zeal Rainbow knew her for. “I get it now.” Rainbow scrunched her face. A quick explanation would go a long way. Given their position, she didn’t bring it up. She had her friend’s backs, even Sora’s. They would take out Maleficent, Sora would help the others. The usual save the world stuff. Fluttershy tightened her hold of her backpack. Her teeth chattered, her body shook, and every movement from behind the desk had her flinch and clench her eyes shut. The one thought running through her was to not panic. “Are they ever going to leave?” Scootaloo whispered. Fluttershy risked a peak. Sweetie Belle edged out of the cover of the desk. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom sat close by. A handful of seconds passed. Fluttershy held her breath. The monsters might as well pop up to get the scare over with. Sweetie Belle dipped back in with a shake of her head. “Doesn’t look like it,” she said, plopping down. Despite their hush, they were far too loud for Fluttershy. Scootaloo huffed and crossed her arms, “That’s just great.” “Girls,” Ms. Cheerilee spat. She tempered herself with a deep breath. Her fingers rubbed the book she held aloft like a makeshift weapon before shifting closer. “This is no place to talk. Stay low and stay quiet.” “But we can’t stay here forever,” Apple Bloom said. Her hands were folded together, and she stared at them with intent. “I know my sister’ll find us, but shouldn’t we find a way out?” “Nah, Rainbow Dash will get here in no time,” Scootaloo waved off. “She kicked those monsters butts a few days ago. This’ll be no different!” “Quiet!” Sweetie Belle hissed, a finger raised to her lips. Fluttershy stewed in her own thoughts. The thoughts of how the school shook, and the library doors burst open, and how they were the only ones to hide, and how everyone else was gone. Her arms tightened even more around her backpack, and it stirred, shifting around. She squeaked and kept it as still as possible. “What’s that?” Scootaloo asked. Fluttershy swallowed. Her backpack still moved about until the zipper unfastened and Stitch popped his head out. He blinked away his sleepiness, and his ears drooped like a bunny’s. Fluttershy froze, ignoring the stares from the others by focusing on Stitch as he stretched and yawned. She blinked at the notch in one of his ears, and couldn’t fathom why it bothered her out of the blue. “Is that one of those monsters?” Sweetie Belle asked. Fluttershy opened her mouth but nothing came out. She drummed her fingers against the fabric of her bag. Stitch grunted and studied Sweetie Belle before his gaze drifted to Apple Bloom. “He’s so... fluffy,” she said, quirking her head. Stitch hummed with a pleased smile. It fell as soon as he sniffed. His head twitched as he followed his nose before growling and struggling out of the backpack. Fluttershly clamped her arms around him, and he reached out with a few coarse words. “Y-you can’t fight them,” Fluttershy said. The texts from Rainbow Dash were scary enough. Dark beings after people’s hearts. Heartless. It was bad enough her friends’ whereabouts were up in the air - her heart hurt at their fate. If there was one thing she could do, it was keep Stitch safe. “Naga-takabah, Heartless,” he said, bouncing in place and jabbing a finger to the desk. “Stitch fight.” “It can talk too,” Sweetie Belle said in a hush. Ms. Cheerilee stifled a groan. Her book knocked against her forehead. She spoke but her words were muffled. “They’re dangerous,” Fluttershy said. She set a hand on his head and shoved him back into the backpack. Her stomach twisted. It was an uncomfortable space, and she didn’t make it easier for him. “Please, I don’t want you hurt.” “Gaba ika tasoopa!?” Stitch cried out. “Meega nala kweesta!” “No, be quiet!” Cheerilee dropped her book and threw herself over to cover Stitch’s mouth. He stopped, stock still, before sliding his tongue out and lathering her hands in slime. She recoiled, cringed, and did everything she could not to shriek. A small squeak still slipped out when a Heartless emerged from behind the desk. Its tentacles danced around its bulbous head, its yellow eyes were cute and terrifying, and its claws dug into the wood to clamber on. Something in Fluttershy died. Her voice or survival instinct. Their eyes met, and all feeling faded. “Cowabunga!” Stitch yelled. He launched himself at the Heartless, screaming all the while, and they toppled back into the library. A fire flashed inside Fluttershy. She bolted up to grab him and the fire was snuffed in ice. The library was stained in black and spotted with those unnatural yellow orbs which grew as more Heartless faced her. The gut-wrenching feeling returned in force. Stitch tossed the Heartless away and reached to his sides before thrusting two finger guns at them. He checked his paws with a confused grunt. Fluttershy was no stranger to facing danger, though she would prefer to avoid it. Yet the air was potent, drained, as though the Heartless sapped away her will. Her arms were rigid boards at the side of her dress. Her lungs couldn’t draw breath. Even the voices of the others were drawn out echoes. Then Stitch hopped back onto the desk, hunched and ready to bite at any monster within range. Fluttershy felt her breath gradually return, small pants that escalated to deep-seated gasps, until she was hyper aware of her surroundings. The knocked over bookcases with paper and covers scattered around. The broken horse bust and smashed computer monitors. The unhinged doors were cracked and shattered. Sora skidded to a halt within the frame, breathless. Fluttershy did a double take. “Fluttershy, Stitch!” he brightened. “Told you I could find them.” Spike glared up from Sora’s shoes, and Sora waved him off. “We were heading in the opposite direction,” he said. Fluttershy was on a cloud, floating away from the danger. Not because Sora held his keyblade at the ready to defend them. Not because Spike could see him, which meant he was whole. His smile and snark returned that hope the Heartless had taken. Sora rushed forward and swung his keyblade. The Shadows along the desk were destroyed, and his smile widened. “Sunset was right,” he said in awe. His hand clenched over his chest. “Okay, time to do my part.” Stitch leapt onto his head, laughing with more glee than Fluttershy had seen from him. It was enough for Sora to tip over, holding out his leg to keep his balance. “Hey, easy, we have work to do,” Sora said with a lopsided grin. Stitch nodded, “Ih.” A Shadow pounced, but Sora blocked it, knocking it onto its back. “You got your blasters?” “Naga.” “Ukulele?” “Naga.” Sora pulled his eyes up, “Anything?” Another block from an attacking Shadow, followed by a counter attack to give him space. Their time was slim. Fluttershy clenched the desk to steady herself. Stitch hummed, rubbing his chin, before lighting up, “Fluttershy!” “Hey, that’s something!” Sora said. He glanced back, tripping Stitch to flop onto his belly. It was a ridiculous sight, added with Sora’s eagerness and erratic movements. “Fluttershy, you watch Stitch’s back, got it?” She almost hid behind her hair. She was good with animals, but Stitch wasn’t another animal. Not to mention they had plenty of experience with battle. There wasn’t a lot she could contribute. It was a sound reason, though Sora charged into the Heartless before she had the chance to organize a response. Light glowed along his keyblade, and he jabbed it upward. A tornado blew through the library. Heartless and books were pulled and whirled around. Sora jumped and hit every Shadow he passed. With a spin, he landed at the center, and sprung back up. A blue aura enveloped him, particles drifting off, and he crashed back down with his keyblade. The wind slowed and dissipated. Heartless dropped down. The library was much clearer than before. Heartless flanked Sora on either side and closed in. “Stitch, left,” Fluttershy stammered. It escaped her. Her heart leapt into her throat. Stitch snatched the Heartless, which swiped uselessly at the air, before smashing it down. The shockwave sent the other Heartless reeling. Sora spun around in a wide sweep to take out the rest. His legs pushed off to strike the next one. “This is somethin’ else,” Apple Bloom said, almost lost in the battle. Fluttershy spared a glance. She, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo stood with eyes wide, hair fluttering every so often. Ms. Cheerilee ushered them to remain behind the desk, but they didn’t even tilt their head to her. A loud crash brought Fluttershy back to the fight with a wince. A hulking Heartless occupied a good portion of the library. It’s shoulders were boulders, and its axe was bigger. It stooped over Sora, pushing itself out of the dark puddle on the floor. “Rock Troll,” Sora whispered. “Not good.” Fluttershy had a thousand guesses why it wasn’t good, and she feared the worst of them. The Troll lugged his axe downward. Sora blocked it, moved to strike, and was blindsided by another swing. He caught himself by the desk, rolling his arm in its socket. Stitch was no longer on his head. “He can even take a hit,” Scootaloo squeed. “I can’t believe Rainbow Dash is missing this!” A blue blur broke Fluttershy away from them. Stitch stood on the balcony railing on the second floor, growling at a Heartless imitating an oil lamp. It hobbled around on spindly legs, and its core glowed an irritating orange. It wobbled to Stitch who took careful steps back, hackles raised. It’s core expanded before it exploded, lightning shooting off in different directions. Stitch yelled as he plunged back to ground level. His head bopped a Heartless before he slid the rest of the way with a groan. “Stitch!” Fluttershy called, a hand over her mouth. Sora dodged another strike from the Rock Troll and beelined for Stitch. He scooped his disoriented form and jumped to the wall. His body showcased that blue aura and he shot through the swarm of Shadows to step back to the desk. “I’m okay,” Stitch said. Sora eased him onto the counter. “I’m fluffy.” “Guess we’re both a little rusty,” Sora said. His tone had a hint of regret, but his smile persisted. It didn’t ease Fluttershy. “Need a new plan.” The exploding Heartless sprung to mind, and Fluttershy swallowed, “M-maybe the, uh…” “Lampoom!” Sweetie Belle cried, pointing to the Heartless creeping over. “Lampoom?” Scootaloo and Apple Bloom repeated. “Use-it-to-fight-the-troll!” Fluttershy rolled off her tongue. Sora glanced to her with a furrowed brow before aiming his keyblade at the Heartless. A fireball sailed off and the Heartless blew up as soon as it made contact. It took a good chunk of Shadows with it. “Uh, mind saying that again?” Sora asked. His smile hid his grimace well, but not well enough. Stitch clapped his paws together, cackling and bouncing in place, before clamoring back to his post on Sora. He pointed to another Lampoom, imitated a throw, then made an explosion noise. “Oh, that’s what Fluttershy said!” Sora said. He gave her a thumbs up. “Thanks for the tip.” “Behind you!” she yelled. It was more natural than before. Stitch knocked back the Shadow. Sora whipped around and lashed out at another. The Rock Troll lumpered closer with ax overhead. Sora and Stitch split as the ax cleaved into the floor. It was inches away from the desk. Sora fired a crystal that cooled the air. It broke apart against the Rock troll, freezing over in a white mist. It lashed out with a horizontal swing that Sora leapt over. Fluttershy watched Stitch like a hawk. Where he was going and what was around him. He hopped back and forth to avoid the Shadows. A monkey-like Heartless swooped in from the wall. “Up and behind!” she called. Stitch lurched back as the monkey landed where he once stood. He took its tail and flung it at another monkey. Sora soared through the air to slice both of them. He flipped and shot a fireball at another monkey. A boulder barrelled at him, and he dodge rolled out of the way. Another boulder sailed over Fluttershy. She ducked under the desk. It smashed against the wall, peppering the area with pebbles. The Rock Troll smashed its axe into the balcony. Wood splintered and cracked, fragments bursting apart. Stitch balled himself up and hopped over the blade of the axe, and rolled the rest of the way until he came upon another Lampoom. It skittered after Stitch who dove underneath and picked it up. Its spider legs spasmed to grab a solid surface. Its core hummed and expanded. Stitch hurried to the edge of the balcony. The Stone Troll pulled back its axe for another swing, but Stitch flung the Lampoom. It exploded just before contact and knocked the Rock Troll to the floor. Sora was on it in a second. Each swing of his keyblade had weight and picked apart the Rock Troll’s skin. He backflipped away. Another Lampoom flew in and exploded to send the Rock troll sliding to the wall. Bookshelves broke apart as what few books remained trickled onto the floor. A Lampoom crept in the shadows of the balcony. “There’s one there!” Fluttershy called out. Stitch climbed to the underside and landed atop it. The Lampoom jumped around to throw him off, but Stitch held strong and rode it like a mechanical bull. “Yee-haw!” he cried. His laughing was obnoxious and loud. Every Shadow that attacked was reflected back by the Lampoom’s flailing. Fluttershy felt her lips edge upwards. Stitch was in his element. The core expanded, electricity crackled, and Stitch whipped his head upwards. “Sora!” he yelled, spinning and grabbing the Heartless to hold it overhead. His toss sent it tumbling into the air. Before it could plunge back down, Sora rocketed towards it like he was flying. His keyblade glowed and shook in his grip. He held it back and batted the Lampoom at the struggling Rock Troll. The blast billowed in a rage of fire and electricity. A shockwave rattled the school, rivaling the quakes earlier. The girls hid underneath the desk. Mrs. Cheerilee crouched next to them. Fluttershy ducked down and squinted through the dust kicking up. Rubble crumbled and fell from their bearings. The dome glass cracked and broke apart in some spots. Metal whined and wood creaked. All the while Fluttershy’s heart hammered against her chest. Then it settled. The cloud of dust lingered and shrouded the library. Her breath hitched, and she coughed. Her trembling arms carried her around the desk. Every step filled her guts with lead. She could have done something to avoid this. Contributed more or gave better call outs. A silhouette emerged and Fluttershy jumped. The spiky hair gave away the person, and Sora limped into view. His scowl was clear. One arm clutched the other, and his body sagged. He brightened when he caught Fluttershy. She glanced to every part of him to find no sign of injury. “We did it,” Sora said, holding up a fist as though he was flexing. Fluttershy shrunk down, still staring at the other arm that hung limply. “Don’t worry about me. One cure spell and I’ll be good to go.” Fluttershy bit her tongue to stem her concern. The way Sora fought proved his expertise. She turned every which way for Stitch. He shuffled between Sora’s legs and plopped comfortably in between them like it was a sofa. Sora grunted. He lifted his keyblade into the air, “Heal!” A green aura danced in a circle and a flower bloomed overhead. It caressed her skin, relieving what little aches she had. The minty scent tickled her nose, and she sniffled. Sora grinned and took a breath of air. His arm stretched out, and he tested his fingers before clenching them. The last of the particles faded, and all that had happened rushed through Fluttershy. “You’re…” she whispered, and he perked his head, “amazing.” Sora grinned at his shoes. It infected Fluttershy and warmed her heart. “Gotta say,” Spike spoke up, walking up to them. His bitter glower worked over the wreckage. “I’m glad I’m not a Heartless.” “Not done yet,” Sora said. His voice was strained, and yet again, it contrasted his same old smile. Fluttershy held her hands. “Oh yeah!” Spike said, tapping Fluttershy’s shin. “Everyone is accounted for except for Rarity and Pinkie Pie.” A great load was lifted from Fluttershy, and her breath eased into a sigh. “T-that’s good,” she said. Her lips pursed. She had to give them something. Anything to make up for cowering behind a desk. A faint memory came to surface, and she jerked. “I-I know they were in the gym during lunch today.” Sora hummed and nodded, “Guess I’m heading there then.” “If you knew the way,” Spike said. He stuck his chin up with a paw laid to his chest. “I can lead you there.” “And get lost again?” Sora remarked, crossing his arms. “Okay, so my nose isn’t up to par today,” Spike huffed, rolling his eyes “But I know where the gym is! That’s more than you can say.” “Okay, okay,” Sora relented, holding up a hand. A sly smirk spread across his face. “Oh, and Fluttershy?” She stood to attention. A part of her deep inside hopped he didn’t want her to fight. A fresh wave of panic swept through her. “Sunset and the others are in the lobby,” he said. “You should meet up with them there.” They could pony up. Fluttershy berated herself for forgetting that ability of theirs. A hand clutched the geode around her neck. The ability to talk to animals didn’t do much. Her worries popped up like weeds. “You guys stay here,” Spike said. The others still stood behind the desk. The three youngest were in awe with a twinkle in their eyes. Mrs. Cheerilee held herself with a wary gaze. “There shouldn’t be anymore Heartless here, since Sora worked his magic.” He thought about that before raising a brow to Sora. “It should be safe, right?” “For now,” Sora said, nudging Stitch off his shoes, “but not for long. We need to hurry.” “Leading the way!” Spike said, taking off with Sora behind him. Fluttershy wanted to say something, but it died in her throat. It wouldn’t matter anyway. “Watch out for Fluttershy, Stitch!” Sora called back and was through the doors and out of sight. “Okie-taka,” Stitch muttered with an idle wave. So much happened in the span of minutes, and everyone knew what to do. Even Sora had given her a way to help. She wanted to do more than follow directions. Her hands brushed through her hair at the memory of those malicious, yellow eyes watching her. Maybe another time.