//------------------------------// // Guardians of Friendship (Part 1) // Story: KINGDOM HEARTS III: 2.0 Keyblade in Equestria // by OliverSparkle //------------------------------// It was now beginning to become dark outside in Equestria as the Young Seven were sitting around the campfire outside near a cave behind them. Lightning was sitting on Silverstream’s lap as she held him close to her and gently rubbed his back with her claw. He was shaking in fear as Silverstream softly hushed him. Smolder was searching through her bag, that was by the cave where the other five bags where, as she then took out the blanket she packed and took it over to the campfire. Silverstream moved her arms away from Lightning, allowing Smolder to place the blanket on him as she then placed her right arm in the blanket to continue stroking Lightning’s back while gently placing the left arm around the little colt’s head, continuing to hug him. “How is he doing?” Smolder asked. “He’s still passed out, but shaking a little,” replied Silverstream, “I just hope he’s going to be okay.” Just then, Lightning started to move a bit. “Hey, look!” Sandbar said happily, “He’s twitching! I think he’s finally waking up!” Lightning slowly opened his eyes a bit before feeling a fur talon arm. He slowly looked up and saw Silverstream smiling softly at him. Lightning let out a small gasp before saying, “Silverstream? I-Is that really you?” “Yes, cutie,” said Silverstream softly, “I’m here. We’re all here.” Lightning looked behind to see Smolder smiling softly at him as he looked at the other four who were also smiling at him. Lightning was happy that he was no longer in Grogar’s lair, but was still scared of what happened back there before passing out. He then started to shake in fear again as he buried his face in the hippogriff’s chest while hugging it as well. Smolder sat on her knees as she then gently rubbed her boyfriend’s mane before saying, “Shh...it’s going to be okay, sweetheart. You’re safe now, we’ll be home soon. Did any of those bad guys scare you before we rescued you?” Lightning looked at his special somedragon and nodded in response. “The evil Changeling is really scary. She looked like she was gonna feed off the love inside of me.” He then looked at Ocellus. “Were the Changelings like that, Ocellus? All mean and looked like her before you all turned into colourful good Changelings?” “Yes,” Ocellus sadly answered before turning her sadness into happiness. “Until Thorax bravely escaped the hive and, with the help from Spike, showed everypony that he wasn’t like Chrysalis. And then when Chrysalis invaded again, Thorax shared enough love to Chrysalis, to become the new Changeling king and made us become the Changelings we are now.” “But, why didn’t she become a good Changeling as well?” Asked Lightning, “She could have helped Thorax rule the new Changeling race as mother and son.” Ocellus let out a sad sigh before answering, “Because she wanted revenge.” “Revenge? On who?” Ocellus remained silent for a few seconds before saying, “On your Auntie Starlight. You see, it wasn’t just Thorax who defeated Chrysalis on that day, Starlight Glimmer helped too. She told Thorax to share his love with Chrysalis, which placed him in a cocoon and changed him into a Changeling King, with colours instead of being the same way he was before then. And then, Starlight tried to get Chrysalis to become a good guy, but she decided to swore revenge on her and flew away somewhere that we won’t be able to find her. Until now. And it looks she’s been in Grogar’s hideout the whole time until she foalnapped you at the gala.” “And I believe Grogar could the reason how Tirek and Cozy Glow escaped from Tartarus,” added Sandbar while he and Smolder gently placed a marshmallow on a stick and placed near the campfire to let it cook a bit. “But how are we going to save the others?” Lightning asked worriedly, “Grogar, Aqualight and Xehanort are at Canterlot right now, and we don’t know what they’re doing to them right now, even if Tirek, Cozy, Daddy and Chrysalis have arrived there already.” Tears began to stream down his face again as Silverstream gently brushed them away while still rubbing his back in comfort. Smolder pulled her stick away from the fire as she got up and walked back to the two before gently stroking Lightning’s mane again. “Hey hey hey, it’s alright, Lightning,” she said softly, “We’ll figure something out. And I’m sure the others have made it out safety, even if Grogar hasn’t notice they’ve escaped already.” “That’s what I’m worried about,” said Ocellus as she magically placed her marshmallow on a stick and then placed near the fire to cook it. “With Chrysalis and the other villains on his team, there’s no telling what they might do to them since Grogar probably gave them enough magic to be stronger than before.” “And we can’t try using the elements of harmony, cos the Tree Of Harmony got destroyed before it turned into the treehouse of harmony,” Yona added while cooking her marshmallow. “Yona’s right,” said Smolder while taking the marshmallow off the stick and gave it to Lightning as he ate the marshmallow while Smolder gently stroked his mane. “And we can’t try beating Tirek up with our bare claws and hooves, he’s way too strong, even for us dragons.” Just then, a new voice was heard. “Even for us dragons? What about the Dragon Lord?” They all looked towards the cave as they saw a cyan blue coloured dragon with brilliant red eyes, moderate phthalo blue spikes and brilliant cyan with pale turquoise underbelly and wing membrane gradient of moderate indigo to light cobalt blue scales. She was standing near them with a grin on her face and her arms were crossed. Smolder smiled at her as she knows her. “Ember!” She said before getting up and ran towards the blue dragon. The orange dragon then gave Ember a dragon hug as she gently patted Smolder on the head, like she often does when Spike does it, before she broke the hug. The others started walking up towards them while Silverstream held Lightning in her left talon arm. “Ember, what are you doing here?” Ocellus asked, “I mean, shouldn’t you be at the Dragon Lands?” “Well I was,” answered Ember, “But then Twilight sent me a letter a few hours ago saying that Smolder might not be home in time cos she and her friends went off last night to save a little colt that the evil Changeling queen has foalnapped. So I decided to fly over to the castle to help them to find you lot, but as it turns, I already found you lot.” She then saw Lightning in Silverstream’s arm before asking, “Is that the little colt you lot were trying to save from Chrysalis?” The Young Six nodded in response as Smolder then said, “Ember, this is Lightning Twister, Fluttershy’s son and our friend I kept talking about, and of course, he’s uh...also, my boyfriend.” She then blushed while giggling nervously and rubbing the back of her head. Ember smiled at Smolder before smiling at the little colt and started walking towards him. “Be careful with him!” Smolder quickly said which made Ember stop in her tracks and looked at her again. “He’s uh...still a bit shy when meeting new ponies or other creatures, especially after what he’s been through.” Ember nodded in understood before continuing her way towards the hippogriff and the colt. She then knelt down to her knees to make better eye contact with Lightning while keeping a friendly smile on her face as Silverstream gently held his tiny hoof with her right claw. “Hello there, Lightning,” Ember said gently, “I’m Dragon Lord Ember, from the Dragon Lands. But you can just call me Ember. It’s so nice to meet you. And you don’t have to be afraid of me, I’m a friendly dragon, like Smolder and Spike, and I wouldn’t dream of hurting you, not one bit.” Ember then gently and slowly lifted her right claw up to Lightning, hoping they can shake claws and hooves. Lightning looked at her claw for a few seconds before looking back at Ember who still had that friendly smile on her face as he then smiled in return before letting go of Silverstream’s claw and placed his hoof in Ember’s claw as they both then shook in friendship. “It’s nice to meet you too, Ember,” Lightning said kindly. Ember continued to smile at him before letting go of his hoof and started to gently stroke his mane while the Young Six watched. “Well well well, it looks like you did manage to save your little friend without being caught,” said a familiar voice. Just then, a bright light appeared in front of the Young Seven and Ember and then disappeared to reveal Discord has appeared once more again. “I must say I’m really impress how you lot manage to free him without the bad guys even noticing you’re saving him.” Lightning had never met the lord of chaos before as he began to feel scared of him before burying his face into Silverstream’s chest fur. Ocellus noticed this and glared at Discord. “Discord, now look at what you’ve done!” She said crossly, “We’ve just saved him and managed to make him smile again until you showed up at the wrong time and made him scared again.” “Yona not happy with lord of chaos!” Growled Yona. Discord looked at Lightning as his face was still buried in Silverstream’s chest while she stroked his mane in comfort while glaring at the master of chaos. “Awww, I didn’t mean scare the little baby that you lot call your friend,” Discord cooed rudely and mean. Ember wasn’t very happy with what Discord just said about Lightning or the way he spoke as she flew up to Discord while glaring at him. “Hey! Leave him alone!” She growled at him, “Who cares if he’s still scared and shy of meeting new creatures at his age?! He can’t help it! Why don’t you just let him try to let go of his sacredness and shyness?!” “Who do you think you are telling me to leave him alone?!” Growled Discord back, he hates it when others tell him what to do aside from Fluttershy and Celestia. “Do you even know who I am?” Ember asked as she crossed her arms. “Uh...a blue female version of Spike?” Discord joked rudely which made Ember’s right eye twitch. “No! I am Princess Ember, Dragon Lord of the Dragon Lands!” “You? A Dragon Lord?” Discord remained silence for a few seconds before laughing uncontrollably making Ember and the others confuse. “What’s so funny?” Ember asked angrily. Discord continued to laugh for a few more seconds before answering, “Oh, that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all evening.” “Are you saying you don’t believe that Ember is a Dragon Lord?” Asked Gallus angrily. “What else do you think I would be laughing at?” Discord answered rudely, “Besides, if she was a Dragon Lord, what would she do to those who doesn’t believe she is a Dragon Lord?” Ember grabbed both of Discord’s arms making him feel scared now as she then answered, “This.” She started to throw Discord to a nearby boulder as he landed on his front on the ground. This made the Young Seven grew shock looks on their faces as Lightning buried his face Silverstream’s chest again while Yona covered Sandbar’s eyes with her hoof. Ember flew over to Discord and grabbed him before throwing him again but to one of the trees. Ember walked over to Discord as he groaned in pain before seeing the Dragon Lord walking up to him. “No! No, please! No more! No more, please! Ember grinned at the Lord of Chaos before asking, “Are you going to believe that I am a Dragon Lord and leave poor Lightning alone?” “Yes yes I will believe you are a Dragon Lord and leave him alone now please stop!” Discord cried. Ember gave Discord a little push with her foot making it the last attack. Discord slowly got up while groaning a bit as he snapped his lion paw fingers to magically make the bruises disappear. “Now let that be a warning to you,” Ember warned Discord, “Make fun of Lightning or mock me again, then it’s back to throwing ya again.” Discord gulped nervously before nodding his head in understood. Ember then turned towards Lightning who was now nuzzling his cheek on Silverstream’s chest. Feeling worried that she might have scared him while throwing Discord, she walked towards him and kneeled down to him. “Hey kid, I’m sorry if I scared you when I did that to Discord,” she said worriedly, “I hope you can forgive me.” Lightning shook his head to Ember while smiling at her before saying, “It’s okay, Ember. You didn’t scare me that much. Discord should have known what was coming to him when he didn’t believe that you were a Dragon Lord.” “Yeah to be fair, Discord had it coming to him,” Gallus said. Discord was not amused by what Gallus just said as he flew over to him. “Now see here, young griffon,” he said as he crossed his arms, “I certainly did not had that coming, and I expect you to show some respect to the master of....” Before he could continue, they all heard footsteps running towards them. They all turned forward to see it was Sora that was running towards from the far bit of the dirt path. “Lightning! Everycreature!” He called out to them as he was nearly there. “Sora!” The Young Seven called back to him as they all had smiles on their faces. “You know him?” Ember asked curiously. “It’s a long story, we’ll explain later,” answered Sandbar. Ember nodded in understood as Sora stopped near the Young Seven, Ember and Discord as he smiled at the children. “I’m so glad I found you guys,” Sora said happily, “We were so worried about you, and we figured that you lot went off to save Lightning on your own.” “Well we had to,” Silverstream said, “Lightning’s our friend, and no friend gets left behind.” Sora smiled at the Young Six as it made him remember all the times he helped his friends back at his world and in the other worlds he visited. He then saw Discord, while he was cleaning his right ear, as he jumped back a bit while letting out a, “Woah!” Discord stopped cleaning his ear and looked at Sora, who was in shock right now, as he then said, “What? Never seen a draconequus before? And I thought the little baby not knowing about me was worst.” The Young Six and Ember glared at him, not happy with him calling Lightning a baby again. Sora saw this and started to think Discord was working for Grogar and has come to harm the Young Seven and Ember. He then glared at Discord as he summoned his keyblade and pointed it at Discord which made him move back a bit in shock as he screamed a little bit. “Are you trying to hurt these lot?!” “Yes,” Discord answered, but then quickly changed it, “I mean no no no no, of course not! I just heard that these six went off to save their friend, and when Grogar and his team invaded Canterlot and captured everyone in the castle, I went off to find these lot to make sure that they’re okay and to see if any harm was brought to them!” Sora grew a shock look on his face after hearing what Discord just said. “Wait.” His keyblade disappeared as he moved his arm away from Discord. “How did you know about Grogar’s attack in Canterlot?” “Well uh...” Discord started to scratch his head while trying to think of a way to explain how he knew about the attack. “You see, I was on my way to see how my pony friends are getting on, until I saw Grogar and his bad guy friends showing up in the ballroom where my friends were. And I didn’t know what else to do, but when I heard Fluttershy say that the children were out searching for Lightning, I thought I should find them to make sure they’re okay and to also help them find a way to save them and stop Grogar and his legion of doom.” He then laughed nervously. Sora was not sure whether to believe in him or to believe he was lying and he was working for Grogar, but he decided to believe him anyway and see how things go. “Alright,” He said while shrugging his shoulders, “I believe you.” Discord let out a sigh of relief. “But I’m warning you this,” Sora said in a serious tone, “If I catch you trying to either Lightning or his friends, then it will be my keyblade you’ll be answering to. And my name is Sora, just to let you know who I am. And I don’t like those that mess with my friends, even new ones.” Discord gave Sora an unamused face as he crossed his arms before saying, “Well Sora, my name is Discord, Lord Of Chaos! And you will not warn in that way! No creature tells me what to do anyway, especially you.” Sora glared at Discord once more before turning to the others as he saw Ember walking towards him with a friendly smile on her face, even though she has never seen a human or a keyblade wielder before. “So nice to meet you, uh...Sora, right?” “Yep, that’s me,” Sora answered, “And you are?” “Princess Ember, Dragon Lord of the Dragon Lands, and a friend of Smolder, Twilight and Spike.” Sora let out a small gasp before saying, “Princess? Dragon Lord?” He then stood up straight in respect. Ember got confuse by this. “Why are you standing up straight for?” Sora stopped standing up straight before asking, “Don’t dragons and other creatures do that to you in respect since you’re a Dragon Lord?” Ember shook her head before smiling at Sora and said, “When a dragon or somecreature sees me, they either bow to me in respect or just shake claws and hooves with me. But when I see my friends, like you are now, I just give him a friendship hug.” Ember walked towards Sora while opening her arms out as she then gave him a tight friendship hug, but not too tight. Sora chuckled a bit before saying, “Boy, you sure are a hugger.” “I got use to it ever since Spike friendship hugged me,” Ember said while continuing to hug Sora. She then broke the hug and started looking all over Sora. “What are you anyway?” She asked kindly before scratching her head, “I’ve never seen a creature like you before.” Sora smiled at the blue dragon before answering, “I’m a human, and I understand if you haven’t seen or heard of a human before.” “A human? That’s so cool!” Ember said happily, “Yes, I’ve never seen or heard of a human before, now I have. By the way, what happened to that giant key you had when you thought Discord was trying to harm us?” “Giant key?” Sora got confuse with what Ember just said, until he realise what she meant, “Oh, the keyblade! Don’t worry, it’s still here. Look.” He reached his hand out and after two seconds, a bright light showed in his hand as the keyblade appeared making Ember have an amazed look on her face. “That’s amazing! How’d you do that?!” Sora shrugged as his keyblade disappeared. “Dunno. Never really thought about it.” “Sora, is it true what Discord just said? About Grogar and his legion of doom villains taking over Canterlot and has captured Momma and the others?” Lightning asked worriedly. Sora sadly looked Lightning before nodding his head as he leaned to Silverstream’s level while looking at the little colt before saying, “I’m afraid so, Lightning. Grogar and his group of bad guys have captured your parents and the others, and has taken control of Canterlot. I was lucky enough to escape, I did try to help them but I was told to escape and try to find some help, and also try to find you lot. I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to save them.” Sora looked down in sadness as he thought he had failed to save his friends and made things even worse. Just then, he felt a hoof on his shoulder as he saw Ocellus giving him a friendly smile. “It’s okay, Sora,” She said to him, “It’s not your fault, we understand you wanted to help them. But you did the right thing of listening to them and escaping the villains just to find help and also us.” Sora’s smile grew back on his face again as he then said, “Thank you.” Just then, Discord suddenly spoke, “Wait Wait Wait Wait, what’d you mean by “parents”? I was only told that Fluttershy was his mother.” “Well since you were such a meanie about Fluttershy adopting Lightning, we thought we shouldn’t tell you that she’s also married to a cat named Capper, who is now Lightning’s new and better father,” Sandbar said earning a nod from his six friends. “Fluttershy’s MARRIED?!?!” Discord shouted in anger as his eyes with now on fire. This made Lightning scared as he buried his face into Silverstream’s chest again while she gently stroked his back in comfort. “Yeah, Sandbar just told you that,” Gallus said in annoyance as he crossed his paws. “And she hasn’t even told me as well?!” Discord went on. “Probably was too busy with the school of Friendship, giving Lightning the life he deserves, do I have to repeat myself to you?!” Smolder asked as she placed her fists on her hips while glaring at Discord. “Besides, if you haven’t had said those nasty things about Lightning being a dumb stupid little baby pony and Fluttershy should have never took him in as her own child before we rescued him, we would told you about Fluttershy marrying Capper,” said Silverstream while stroking Lightning’s back still. “Wait, you’ve been saying mean things about Lightning?!” Ember asked Discord angrily as she and Sora glared at him making Discord scared and nervous. “Uhhh....Only before you two showed up,” answered Discord nervously while sweating a bit. “Why?! Why would you say such mean things about Lightning?! What has he ever done to you?!” Sora asked angrily, “Honesty, he doesn’t even know you!” “Exactly!” Discord said furiously, “Fluttershy didn’t even tell me about him after adopting him or told him about me, so I believe I have every right to say things about that, crybaby!” The Young Six, Ember and Sora all gasped in shock after what Discord just called Lightning. Lightning then began to whimper with tears beginning to roll down his face as Silverstream stroked his back while softly hushing him, Smolder went over to them and began to gently stroke Lightning’s mane in comfort. Ember and Sora glared angrily at the lord of chaos as Ember’s fists were shaking furiously like she was ready to punch him so badly. “Now you just listen here, Discord!” said the furious Dragon Lord, “Because I swear to Celestia, if I ever hear you call Lightning a crybaby or any other names like that again! I will make sure you....” Before Ember could continue, they heard a loud thunder boomed above them. They all looked up and saw it was just started to rain as another clash of thunder roared making Lightning even more scared as tears began run down his face even more. “Shh....Shhhh....” Silverstream cooed gently in his ear while stroking his back. Another clash of thunder boomed before Sora said, “Everyone quick! Into the cave!” They all ran, while Lightning was still in Silverstream’s talon arm, into the cave as another clash of thunder was heard. A few minutes later, a new campfire was made but inside the cave, cause Ember and Sora quickly brought in enough sticks to make a new campfire. The fire made the cave all warm and bright perfect for Lightning since he’s still afraid of the dark. Speaking of Lightning, he was now asleep in Silverstream’s arms, with the blanket around him like he’s inside a warm cocoon, as the pink hippogriff gently and slowly rock herself making him feel more comfortable while sleeping as the storm outside continued on. Sora was sitting on the ground while smiling at Lightning sleeping in Silverstream’s arms before saying, “Heh, he’s cute when he’s sleeping.” Silverstream smiled at Sora for a few seconds before looking at Lightning as she gently stroked his mane. “He sure is cute, Sora. I just can’t take my eyes off him.” Silverstream then gently moved Lightning’s body to her chest as he rested his head on her neck and hugged her chest. Just then, Sandbar let out a tired yawn before saying, “I think we should get some sleep as well.” “Yeah we should,” Ember agreed, “We have a long day tomorrow.” “I have to agree,” Discord said while walking towards Ember, “We have to walk all the way back to Canterlot, save our friends and put an end to Grogar’s evil takeover with his legion of doom. So we’re gonna need all the rest we can get tonight.” He then wrapped his whole body around Ember, making her annoyed and uncomfortable as she glared at him. “Mmmm, so warm.” Discord closed his eyes and fell asleep, but the sleep didn’t last for long as Ember pulled him away from her and tossed him onto the ground. He then rubbed his head before looking at Ember and said, “What was that for? I thought you enjoy hugs now!” Ember crossed her arms and said, “I said I only friendship hug my friends, and you’re not even my friend, not after what you said to Lightning. And if there’s anycreature I rather friendship sleep hug with tonight, it will be Sora.” Ember walked to where Sora was as he slowly laid his head on a rock and closed his eyes. They shot open as he felt something around him, he then saw Ember had wrapped her arms around him as her eyes begin to close and she fell asleep. Sora decided to go along with it as he smiled at the Dragon Lord before closing his eyes again and fell asleep while resting his head on Ember’s chest instead of the rock. Silverstream laid on her right side, while Smolder held Lightning in her arms, as she moved her left arm up to let Smolder lay beside her with Lightning. She then placed her arm around Smolder and Lightning before the two closed their eyes and fell asleep. Yona wrapped her hooves around Sandbar, keeping him nice and warm in her soft warm fur yak coat, as they fell asleep together before the others fell asleep as well. Well, except for Discord, he looked at those who were sleep hugging before growing a cross look on his face and crossed his arms. “Hmph! I get no respect from new ones these days.” He then walked towards the wall on the right side of the cave, sat down and laid his back against the wall before closing his eyes and falling asleep.