Sora tightened the grip on his keyblade.
The gym brimmed with Heartless. Shadows crawled along the floor and walls, tumbling over one another. Three Rock Trolls took up a large portion of the room. Their hulking frames waded through the sea of darkness in mindless circles. To think Pinkie and Rarity were stuck there had him frozen to the spot.
His eyes wandered. The Heartless milled from one point to another. One would pass him by, and another would look to him before moving along. It reminded him of Halloween Town.
A Rock Troll shifted, and a white dome shined through. Sora caught glimpses of movement inside. His heart lifted and he made to move. Spike pawed at his leg.
“Mind giving me a lift?” he asked. Sora dropped his face with a raised brow. Spike groaned. “Those things are everywhere. No way am I getting lost in there when they go berserk.”
Sora tilted his head back and forth before nodding, “All right.”
He dismissed his keyblade and scooped him up. Spike adjusted himself until he was comfortable, sighing in content.
“No where safer than with the guy who can tear through monsters.”
Sora eyed him before edging his way into the swarm of Shadows. Every step was careful. His legs bumped and brushed aside Shadows. It sent a sharp jolt through him each time. Whatever had them so passive could change in an instant.
Within the dome, Rarity stood with arms held out. Sweat dripped off her, eyes clamped shut. The strain to keep the shield up ate away at her. Her hair had locks jut out, her breaths were steep, and her frame shook. The other students huddled together at the center, so frightened they didn’t dare move. One perked her head and pointed to Sora. A few joined in to stare, while others refused to glance outside the barrier.
Sora frowned deeper. Pinkie Pie was missing.
“Rarity!” Spike called before wincing. The Heartless paid them no mind. Sora released his breath. Clearing his throat, Spike spoke softer. “Glad you’re safe and sound.”
Rarity opened one eye and sagged her body, “By the stars, you are real.”
“Sora is too,” Spike said, jerking his head back to him.
Rarity blinked, looking between the two before gasping.
“You’re holding Spike!” Rarity said. “So Sunset brought you back?”
“You all did, technically,” Sora said. His eyes traced over the other students. They muttered amongst each other, casting wary gazes his way. He recalled some from traveling in the halls before steeling himself. “Where’s Pinkie Pie?”
“Oh, she’s right…” Rarity turned her head over her shoulder. There was a pause before she glanced to and fro, her brow furrowed. “Em, she was right there.”
“So she’s okay?”
“I would have to say so,” Rarity said. She hummed, focusing on a spot at her feet. “She was in here with everyone else. But knowing her… she has her ways.”
“Her ways?”
Rarity shook her head, “Never mind that. What in the world is all this?!”
“Maleficent attacked,” Spike said. Rarity scoffed, her fingers working over her palms. “Sunset and the others are in the lobby. We’re here to get you guys to pony up.”
Sora rolled that last two words in his head. He had heard the phrase before.
“It is for the best Pinkie and I regroup with them,” Rarity nodded. She bite her lip. “Though I’ve no idea what came over the Heartless here. One moment they’re swarming the room, taking… hearts. The next they mingle and populate like rats!”
“So you don’t know either, huh?” Sora asked. Rarity shook her head. He dipped his chin before facing the vines. Like most of the school, they snaked along the walls and ceiling. The pustules growing out of them spawned a Shadow that plumated and plopped to the floor. The vines resembled the Heartless plant at the front of the school.
“I think I have an idea,” Sora said. He pointed to the vines. “If I can take care of those dark orbs, we can clean up the rest of the Heartless.”
Rarity sputtered. “Shouldn’t our concern be to get everyone out of the gym first? It’s not safe here anymore.”
“I’m not sure it’s safe anywhere,” Spike stated. “Better to have him use his fancy key skills. You know, whack ‘em around until it is safe.”
“Darling!” Rarity shouted. A wave of anguish passed over her before taking deep breaths to calm it. “Lives are at risk, and I don’t believe I can hold this forever.”
“That’s even more reason to take care of them now,” Sora said, clutching his fist. His mind flashed back to the library. How it proved he wasn’t in his element. Nowhere near as powerful as he was against Xehanort.
Rarity studied him over a deep seated glare. It wasn’t malicious, but it made Sora shift his weight. He didn’t have a clue what she was searching for. His lack of ability, perhaps, but to tell them wouldn’t end well. They needed all the hope they could muster.
Her face twisted and her lips pursed. Another surge of pain wracked her before she shivered.
“It’s party time!”
The voice was cheerful, enthusiastic, and for a brief second, Sora had thought it came from Rarity. The two blanked before their gaze drifted to Pinkie Pie standing atop the dome. Her features glowed under its white hue.
Rarity scrunched her nose and squinted. Sora found his smile again, pumping his fist.
“Uh, why does she have a cupcake?” Spike asked, his voice wavering.
Rarity cringed, “Don’t tell me she’s-”
“Taste cupcakes, meanies!”
And she set the cupcake free with a dainty twirl. It dropped like a stone, leaving a pink trail in its wake. Its impact created a pocket of destruction. Heartless burst into black dust, soot caked the laminate flooring, and the aroma of sweets swept over Sora.
That fulfilling feeling of fighting by friends swelled inside him.
Heartless halted in their menial wandering to face the group. Too many yellow orbs to count. Sora took it as a challenge.
“No choice now,” he said. He shifted Spike to sit in his left arm, and with a flourish, summoned his keyblade in a flash. The Shadows crept up to him.
“Wait, what are you-?”
Sora held his keyblade overhead.
“Thunder!”
A cascade of lightning rained down around him. Every strike took a good portion of Heartless with it. A few bolts hit the barrier, but they dissipated without a scratch. A Heartless lunged. Sora slide to the side, his keyblade already back over his head.
More lighting crashed over the surrounding Shadows. Their numbers thinned, but they persisted after Sora. There was a subtle tingle in his palm. A feeling he had grown accustomed to and hadn’t felt for a while. He smirked at the Heartless, tensing his legs.
Spike ruffled his fur against him, “Maybe set me down before-”
He swallowed his words when Sora sprung into the air. His body spun around and ended with the keyblade pointed to the ceiling.
“Try this!” he cried. Thin columns of light converged onto his keyblade. Their connection blinded Sora in a roar of thunder. A single lighting bolt ravaged the Heartless around him. It came and went in an instant, but the ground cracked under the force. By the time Sora landed, the Heartless were nowhere near the dome.
“Now that’s a light show!” Pinkie cheered. She tossed a single cupcake at the last lurking Shadow.
The orbs of darkness spewed more Shadows. They would refill the gym soon enough.
Sora made to run, but a paw flailed in front of him. Spike was singed from ear to tail, smoke billowed from the top of his head. His eyes rolled around his sockets. Sora winced.
“I’ll sit out the next battle, thanks,” Spike mumbled. It was the first time Sora had used magic while holding a dog. His insides squirmed and screamed at him to not do it again.
“Sorry ‘bout that,” he chuckled. He set Spike down, and he stumbled his way to the dome before plopping in front of the barrier. Rarity was far more worn than before. She had collapsed to her knees. Her arms lowered to her head. Sora jerked back, frantic with worry, and made to speak.
A cupcake streaked past him and blasted a Shadow. They dotted the room. There was no stop to them. The Rock Trolls affixed their axes to their faces. A dark aura enwreathed them. A frantic look around showed no Lampooms to break through their armor.
“You look lost,” Pinkie noted, poking his cheek. Sora jumped back to rub where she had touched him. Her eyes were narrowed, and had a grin to rival his own from earlier. “Fret not. Explosive cupcakes will reveal the way.”
Reveal the way…
Sora beamed. That surge of hope returned.
“Pinkie, I need to break down their masks.”
Pinkie admired her cupcake, hopping in place. “Oh, I’m so nervouscited.”
Sora nodded. He offered his hand which she took with frivor. A quick spin with her smacked the surrounding Shadows, and with a toss, Sora hurled Pinkie into the air. His legs pushed off to follow. Pinkie flipped and spilled a number of cupcakes out of nowhere.
Sora swatted them around the gym, and they rained down like Donald’s meteors. Each blast knocked the Rock Trolls off balance. One careened across the gym with its mask torn off. It narrowly missed Rarity and her dome.
Sora and Pinkie landed into a crouch before springing back up with a high five. A series of rocks sailed past them. Pinkie cried out when she fell flat to the floor. Sora got the brunt of the attack. He kept his footing until the barrage ended. The soreness from the library took its toll.
All that ran through his mind was he had handled worse.
Grinding his teeth, he beelined for the closest Rock Troll. Pinkie called back to him. A fist slammed into his side, lifting him off his feet and sliding across the floor. His muscles cried to rest, but he pushed himself back up. A pink explosion erupted beside him. It flooded his nose with sugar.
“Those oversized action figures are a lot more sturdy than I gave them credit for.”
Pinkie teetered on her feet beside him with a reassuring smile. In her hand was a cupcake with a swirl of gray and red frosting. He gawked at it, as though the gears in his head had jammed. His eyes pulled back up to Pinkie Pie, who winked at him.
“Look sharp!” she said before winding up her arm and pitching the cupcake at an incoming Rock Troll. Bits of cupcake detonated to catch the Shadows underneath.
It occured to Sora he hadn’t planned out his attacks. Watching the Heartless approach, some jerking back and forth, he took a deep breath. It blew away his frustration. He had to strategize.
“Pinkie,” Sora said, voice level and acute. She straightened herself, her brows furrowing. “Stick to destroying their masks.”
It clicked in his head. What to do, how to do it. His time as a pseudo-ghost had him neglect his practices. He glanced to his keyblade before nodding to Pinkie Pie.
She nodded back and hurried to the side, away from the Shadows. Sora held his keyblade in both hands. The Heartless closed in and pounced. A single swing obliterated them, and he pushed forward.
His keyblade led the way. Whenever he swung, he allowed the momentum to pull him to another set of Heartless. His strikes had him skid across the room. Each swing had him avoid their claws. It maintained the growing Heartless, kept them at bay.
He could keep it up. For everyone’s sake. His keyblade hummed so low only he could hear it.
Another swing cut through a Powerwild. A chime resonated from his keyblade. His nerves flared. A Rock Troll charged at him, trampling over every Shadow in its way. Cupcakes punted at his side, but it didn’t deter it.
Sora twirled the keyblade in the air. His mind reached out for his keyblade alongside his hand to catch it again in front of him. Light flooded through his body. His arms pulled back as the air shattered around him. Beads of light ate at his clothes to change its colors from gray and red to a familiar black.
The Rock Troll loomed over him. Sora was on it in a blink of an eye, keyblade swinging so fast it was a blur. It threw a punch, but Sora batted it away before finishing with three heavy strikes. The last of which sliced through to vanquish it. A crystallized heart floated away.
“Now I’m not sure if you’re showing off or not,” Pinkie said. Sora whipped his head to her. She had her narrowed eyes trained to his. He gave a toothy grin before dodge rolling away from a Shadow.
The other two Rock Trolls had their masks blown off. Sora smashed through the remaining Heartless as he made his way to them. There was another chime from his keyblade. Jumping in between them, each going in with their axe, Sora rocketed to one Rock Troll with his keyblade before launching to the other. His actions looped, piercing each rock troll like a bullet. A final surge tore through them. Their forms evaporated into a black mist.
Touching the ground had him topple over. The soreness from earlier had escalated to pure pain. Every shift stung at him.
“Sora, the spewers!” Pinkie cried. She waved to the vines that still spawned more Shadows. Sora had to suppress a groan.
He used his keyblade for support to push himself back to his feet. They almost gave out under him, but he readied his keyblade again.
The transformation had sapped his energy. It never did that before.
Two white barriers sailed over him, one after the other. Each cleaved into the two pustules. They vanished under a black fog as the vines withered and turned to dust. The Heartless faded out of existence. There was no struggle, no flare of darkness after they were destroyed. They simply disappeared.
It gnawed at Sora. To see them fade didn’t bode well. He took a step forward, and his leg buckled, sending him to the floor. His lungs burned. He had to focus on breathing. Inhale and exhale. A wave of dizziness passed over him before it cleared up.
“Whoa,” Pinkie said, standing over him. “Are you okay? Should I get a potion or something?”
“Just a little winded,” Sora said with a chuckle, which ended with a big huff. “Took a lot out of me.”
“Is that all you have to say?” Rarity said through heavy breaths. Sora twisted around to find her on her hands and knees. The dome was gone, and her appearance was even more ragged. Her gaze held enough weight that Sora was sure his heart had stopped.
Pinkie hurried back to Rarity and helped her stand. Her legs shook, and every breath had her wobble. She still didn’t pull her eyes away from Sora.
“I said I can’t hold my barrier,” Rarity said, gasping for air. Her voice shuddered. “And what do you do? Use lightning!”
Sora had to tear away from her to stare across the gym. She grinded her teeth, nails digging into her palm.
“But we won, didn’t we?” Pinkie asked. Her quiet voice betrayed her forced smile.
“Don’t paint it as a good thing,” Rarity seethed. Her eyes clamped shut, head shaking. “If I had lost my energy, everyone would have been in danger.”
Pinkie shrunk down. Her bottom lip quivered before biting it.
Rarity rubbed her forehead with her palm.
“I did what I thought was right,” Sora said. Rarity whipped to him, jaw shifting as though wanting to scream. Sora got back on his feet. They were numb, but it was better than the pain. “I’m sorry, okay? Clearing out the Heartless always came first. To make the room safe for them.”
Rarity furrowed her brow, but her eyes lost its flare. Her hands clutched her elbows, leaning on one leg. Pinkie looked between them, mouth hanging open. Sounds escaped her, but they died as soon as they left her.
Spike pawed Rarity’s ankle, specks of soot still spotted his fur, “He’s good at what he does, Rarity. I-I’ve seen him work. If he thinks it was the right way…”
He trailed off. Rarity smoothed over her hair, unable to push down the strands out of place.
“I hate this whole mess,” she said. Spike made himself small.
The words kicked Sora in the gut. Twilight had said the same. Maleficent put these people in danger. It wasn’t unusual, but to hear and see the effects himself forced a burden on his shoulders. Even Radiant Garden hadn’t taken a hit like Canterlot High had.
His hand patted his pockets for an elixir before he remembered he didn’t have anything on him. No items, lots of people gone, his friends fighting for their lives. He thought all of that was behind him after Xehanort.
Rarity made to move, and hunched over with a suppressed cry. Pinkie wrapped an arm around her. They hobbled over with heads low. Spike trailed along.
Sora had to say something. Donald and Goofy would have. His hands balled into fists, and it took a long, drawn out sigh to relax them.
“Come on,” Sora said. The three of them looked to him. Their frowns and glassy eyes had him falter. He put up a sincere smile, almost chuckling at how familiar it felt. “I made a mistake, but Maleficent made a bigger one. We can still help everyone, even those who had their hearts taken.”
Pinkie perked her head, “Really?”
Sora was glad her hopes rose so quickly. It gave himself the boost he needed.
“Really,” he said. “We’ll take down Maleficent and get them back. Promise.”
Rarity hummed - or growled, Sora wasn’t sure. It put a notch in his mood. The students in the back stepped out of their huddle, staying away while avoiding eye contact. Some still clung close together. Sora dug into his mind for an extra push he needed.
He threw his arm to the side, “That means no frowning. No sad faces. We can win this.”
“Yeah,” Pinkie said, smiling herself. “That’s a good mantra. I’m stealing that.”
“Sunset is lucky,” Rarity muttered before speaking up. “I hope you realize this does not get you off the hook, darling.”
“I’d be worried if it did,” Sora said, scratching the back of his head. “But you can chew us out later.”
“Right,” Rarity said. She patted Pinkie’s arm with an assured nod. Pinkie fidgeted but retracted her arm, hands intertwined and held in front of her. Rarity winced, but there was a fire in her. It was different from the hopeless anger from earlier. More from strength, determination. Again, it reminded Sora of himself.
“Those vines,” Rarity said, taking even breaths to steady herself. “Destroying them caused the Heartless to leave.”
“I saw it too,” Sora said. “And the Heartless responsible is in front of the school. Sunset and the others are fighting it to get to Maleficent.”
“Which means,” Spike said, rubbing his chin, “if we defeat that Heartless-”
“We save the school!” Pinkie cheered. “Oh, I love it when a plan comes together.”
Sora waved them on, “Let’s get going. The students should be safe here. We have to regroup with the others.”
“He’s coming.”
The words came from Fluttershy. They washed over Sunset Shimmer. It had to be true. Sora back in the flesh, fighting. It was a fantasy, so far away, before it sunk into reality. She managed her breathing to not get her hopes up. It didn’t mean they won the battle. Just that Sora could help make a difference.
Fluttershy shifted to the middle of their little group. Stitch tossed any Heartless that broke their line like a bodyguard. The others took ground and moved forward. Getting to the front of the school, closer to the statue, yanked Sunset back into the fray.
There was movement in the corner of her eye. Three knight-like Heartless pushed hard from the side. Sunset made to speak, pointing, then choked on her words when Twilight shoved them to the ground. Applejack stomped on two of them and punted the other away.
A Powerwild slipped behind them and dove at Sunset. Applejack snatched it out of the air and smashed it into the ground.
Sunset had to suppress a laugh. The adrenaline made the brisk attack surreal.
The chaos around her did little to stop her wandering mind. Sora was back, really back.
The Shadows charged. Their legs lopping from side to side in a ridiculous run. A lavender magic engulfed them and flung them aside like ragdolls. Sunset caught Twilight scrunch her face. Sweat beaded her forehead.
In a flash of colors, Rainbow was on the far side of the swarm. A heel kick to a knight-like Heartless sent it skidding across the grass. Then she zoomed back into their makeshift formation.
Sunset allowed a humorous grunt. They reached the bottom of the steps and neared the large foundation. The flower Heartless - Sunset called it Darkflower - still bobbed its head. There was no attack from it, no attempt to stop them. Its jagged smile taunted them.
Her friends could counter whatever the Heartless threw at them. Which meant something obvious had slipped their minds. Sunset pursed her lips.
“Is there any end to these things?” Rainbow asked. Her fists were held up, head twitching to any Heartless that got too close.
“Where’s Maleficent?” Twilight asked. A Shadow scratched her leg. She pulled away with a hop, cringing. Her hands motioned, and another group of Heartless was swept away. Sunset made to check it out, but the Heartless kept her at bay.
“She was at the portal, right?” Sunset asked, a little over a whisper. She squirmed and scanned the area.
The vines wrapped around the marble and portal like a lifeline before slipping into the ground. Which barged into the school to dispense Heartless.
“Wait a minute,” Sunset said. “Maleficent doesn’t need Heartless in the school. Just to get access to the portal. So then the orbs on the vines… The vines!” She rushed to Rainbow and pulled her around by the shoulder. “We have to-”
The vines pulsed like a heartbeat. Pressure applied against Sunset as the area grew dimmer. It suffocated her, wormed its way into her. Everyone was stooped over, eyes wide. The Heartless didn’t advance, but shimmied in place.
Every attempt to move burned Sunset. She managed to cock her head to the side enough to see the portal.
Veins pushed against the skin of the vines. Purple goo secreted from the ground where the roots had dug into. The marble face flickered, light sputtering to life, before the portal appeared. Blue, white, and pink swirled into each other, spiraling into a single point. Sunset’s heart sank.
Whatever oppressed them had lifted. Everyone caught themselves from falling over. Stitch bound to Fluttershy to stare up at her, ears folded down. The others burst into questions that Sunset didn’t register. That pulse, an aura, had reacted with their hearts, or even deeper than that. Sunset placed a hand against her chest.
A burst of emerald drew her back to the portal, to Maleficent. There was no reaction to their plight, a cold indifference. Her focus was on the portal. A small smirk crept up her face. Sunset clenched the hand over her chest, her blood boiling. The emptiness from before erupted into a burning fury. She stepped past her friends.
Rainbow was at Maleficent in an instant. Her fist flew to strike her cheek. Maleficent reared back with a dull grunt, holding a limp hand to cover her head. Sunset froze mid step.
A low growl emanated from Maleficent. Her staff glowed that sickening green before she swung at Rainbow. It sent her flying over their heads. Sunset held a hand over her mouth.
“Insolent fool!” Maleficent yelled, her lips curling into a snarl.
“Stitch!” Fluttershy cried.
“Yeah, yeah!” he said, waving over Applejack. She took a hold of his arm and flung him into the sky.
He caught Rainbow midair. They tumbled over one another before Rainbow dropped into Applejack’s arms. Rainbow was stunned, unmoving. Stitch laughed on her lap.
“Rainbow!” Sunset said. Rainbow flinched. Her hand hovered over her shoulder. It was singed, leaving her clothing smoldering. “Please tell me you’re alright. No jokes!”
“Who knew that scrawny hag could hit,” Rainbow said with a laugh. Sunset recognized it. More of the adrenaline talking. It was a joke, and Sunset was ready to lay it on her, but she was too relieved to do it.
“All so predictable.”
They faced Maleficent. The portal behind her showed no sign of ceasing. The Darkflower lowered its head. Its bladed pedals dug into the stone, spewing sparks and pieces of marble. There was no more confidence in Maleficent. Instead, her head lowered to glower at the group.
“To rely so heavily on your powers,” Maleficent spat. “Never to adapt and grow stagnant. It is almost endearing how you cling to them.”
“Ah, shut up!” Sunset said. After the attack on the school, and the villains they took down before, to hear Maleficent denounce their abilities struck a nerve. It had her shaking. “We don’t need your opinion. We’re going to take you down before you do anything to Equestria.”
“Yeah!” Rainbow said, pushing herself out of Applejack. She stumbled as she did. “These ‘powers’ are going to send you flying like you did me!”
Twilight brought a hand to her chin, “Maybe not the best comeback.”
“There’s more to us than our powers,” Sunset said, stomping a foot. “If you think we’re nothing but girls with magical abilities, then-”
“Ugh, enough,” Maleficent said, her fingers massaging her temple. “I see why this place was deigned the refuge for friendship. Even its protectors are annoyances. Among other things.”
Her eyes rested on Sunset. It brought her back to their first meeting, in the same place. It rubbed Sunset the wrong way, like the explanation was right in front of her. She leaned forward, ready to call her out.
Maleficent raised her staff. Lightning sparked from the orb as it shined once again. The Shadows gathered to climb on top of each other. And it grew upwards. Some merged into an even worse monstrosity, while others floated into a forming pillar.
Everyone took careful steps back, aghast. Every time Sunset was sure it would stop, it only garnered extra height. The Shadows squirmed and wriggled inside like hundreds of ants working to keep up the form. The pillar swayed under its own weight, other Heartless pulled in like gravity had changed for them until they were swallowed up.
“Horse apples,” someone said. It was a faint sound. Sunset couldn’t pinpoint who said it. The pillar of Heartless grasped her attention. As they mounted higher, so did her fear. She could hear her own breathing, hear the faint mumbles from her friends, their own fear.
Maleficent flourished her robe. A bemused grunt escaped her.
“Sunset, was it?” she asked. Sunset didn’t know how she found out her name. It caused more panic than it should have. “To think you a Princess of Heart. Nothing more than rabble.”
The world span around Sunset. The others looked to one another before settling on her. Their gazes drilled into her head. Their questions burned her ears without them uttering a word.
“Princess…?” Sunset mumbled. The title dangled in front of her. Either to entice or torment her, but her feelings were the same. It hurt to hear it.
And the pillar descended on them. Yellow eyes became red. A glob of darkness flashed from within the swarm. Sunset braced herself.
Furious footsteps beat against the concrete behind them. A shadow passed overhead, and a blade deflected the pillar to the side. It rammed against the ground. Dirt and grass kicked up.
Sora. It was Sora. His clothes, his keyblade, his scowl. Sunset had to take it all in. Even as he landed, keyblade raised for another swing, she had to stare as though he would vanish. Her mind repeated in her head that he was back, but seeing him rose a slew of emotions.
The pillar rose above to swirl around like a daunting cloud. Shadows floated along a line as the core lead the way.
“Whoo, we made it!” Pinkie cheered, hugging Twilight from behind.
“Not a moment too late, I hope?” Rarity asked at Rainbow’s shoulder. Her eyes were sunken.
Rainbow snickered, “What happened to no more last-minute saving?”
“Circumstances, darling, circumstances” Rarity said, raking her fingers through her hair. It smoothed a few patches, but it didn’t hide how mussy she had become. “It can’t be helped that we have to get everyone out of trouble again.”
“Thank you,” Sunset whispered. And she couldn’t mean it any more. Her heart was in her throat, her spirits higher than they had been all day. Everyone exchanged glances. It put Sunset on the spot, but she would take any teases over it.
They could win this.
“You,” Maleficent hissed. Sora stiffened, his keyblade held a little higher. “You wretched boy.”
“What?” Sora said. Humor dripped from his voice. “You thought you could get away with this?”
Maleficent glared at him. Her arm raised with her staff tucked beside her. The Heartless pillar veered in the air, much faster than before. It swooped down to Sora. He leapt in the air as it scraped against the sidewalk. It twisted around for another run. Sora blocked, but it pushed him through the air until he flipped over to run along the stream of Shadows.
When he returned to the ground, he sank a few inches, teetering, before psyching himself.
Sunset had seen that behavior to know he was exhausted. Her mind worked overtime, glancing to the vines, the Darkflower, the portal, and back to the vines.
“Sora!” Sunset called. He tilted his head to her. “We need to cut the vines of the Darkflower. It’s the source of its power.”
“Hey, we figured that too!” he said. “Great minds really do think alike.”
That got a smile out of Sunset. His enthusiasm would have exasperated her if it wasn’t for his charm.
“Can you do it?” she asked.
“Leave it to me.”
The Heartless pillar crashed into him. He tumbled away before pushing out a hand to flip back onto his feet. Sunset was too shocked to say anything, but Sora waved them off.
“I’m fine!” he said. The pillar rammed into him again, except he slashed at the glowing core. Shadows broke loose, dropping down in droves. “You guys do what you gotta do!”
“You heard him,” Rainbow Dash said.
“Time to pony up?” Fluttershy asked from behind Sunset. She broke away from Fluttershy to face them. Their expressions held one underlying emotion. Worry. The grunts and fighting from Sora wracked at Sunset. She recalled what she had said to Applejack earlier. It was a faint din from the drawn-out chaos.
“Let’s do it.”
Water splashed in front of them. Sora dashed through the air to slice through the horde of Shadows to reveal the core. His keyblade stabbed into it. The core writhed as red and yellow shimmered around it.
“You stand back now,” Fluttershy said. It broke Sunset away from Sora to find her knelt down to Stitch. He made little movements as though she was still in danger. The others held hand in hand with Twilight offering hers to Sunset.
Fluttershy hurried to join the chain, focused and ready as the rest were. Sunset wished she had that resolve. Another glance at Sora had him dive towards one of the roots. He sliced through it as he passed before twirling around to slice at another.
“He’ll take care of it,” Twilight said. It was comforting, like Princess Twilight had done a year ago when Sunset had hit her lowest. “Don’t worry.”
“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Sunset said before taking her hand. She got the willpower she needed.
They were linked together, standing side by side. Their geodes around their necks glowed.
Sora spun in place. His clothes shifted colors to a dominating black before he pointed his keyblade at the Heartless swarm. Energy bloomed at the tip. It hummed and rippled.
Sunset shivered as a cool, clean feeling washed over her. They rose above the ground with new dresses that glimmered and radiated with magic. Their hair was done up in fancy length to flow down their backs, acting as tails. Pony ears poked out at the top of their heads. Emblems appeared on one side of their cheeks.
The keyblade exploded in missiles of light. They honed in on the pillar and the rest of the roots of the Darkflower. Each impact imploded and took a chunk of the plant matter until they snapped. Shadows within the swarm burst apart in bubbles of light, forming holes in the pillar before it collapsed. The Shadows dissipated as soon as they touched the ground.
“Interloper!” Maleficent cried. “How dare you!”
Her staff lashed out in a stream of fire. The emerald flames rushed to Sora. He shielded himself in a veil of water before shooting it to Maleficent. She recoiled at the impact. Her eyes flicked to the portal.
Light coalesced from Sunset and the girls into an orb before a beam fired towards the Darkflower. It pulled its vines to intercept, but it blasted through them and struck it. The school rumbled. The roots that remained shriveled and turned to ash. The beam of light pierced the Darkflower and lopped the head clean off.
It spun in the air before it embedded itself into the ground with its pedal blades.
The world was still. Sunset clutched the hands she held. Her breathing was shallow, hitching, then she released a long sigh as the Darkflower vanished in a black haze. Maleficent stood behind it. One hand clung to her arm. Her staff lay at her feet, shattered into fragments of metal and glass.
“No, what is this?” she asked. It was hoarse. Her eyes darted among the group before leveling a glare at the portal. It faded until it was nothing more than gray concrete. Sunset breathed easier. “This… power. Has that other world bled into this realm?”
“What, the magic of friendship?” Sunet said as they descended. Their feet found their footing to settle in front of a cowering maleficent. Sunset smirked before she realized it. “I guess my home puts up more of a fight than you thought.”
“Your home…” Maleficent said. Her expression contorted into a grimace. Her arm shook as she pulled back. “Then the Princess of Heart-”
“Why do you call me that?” Sunset asked. Hearing it again whipped up another storm in her. “I’m not a princess!”
“No,” Maleficent said. “Certainly not.”
“Enough of the games,” Sora said. Sunset jumped. He had made his way over to her, and she didn’t even see him. Looking over to him built up a new fondness for him. He held his keyblade limply at his side. “You’re through. Give up already.”
“And return the hearts stolen?” Maleficent sneered. Her head bowed to hide her face, chuckling. “Retire myself to your whim? As though it were so easy. You are indeed the fool.”
She cackled.
“This isn’t funny!” Rainbow snapped, stomping over to grab her. Maleficent ignited in emerald flames. Her laugh echoed. It rang in their ears. The fire diminished to small flickers in the stone. Then a stray breeze snuffed them out.
They had won. There was no fanfare, but a silence that was so fragile a fallen pin could break it. Sunset blinked, turning to sweep her gaze across the scene. The school still stood with gaping holes where the vines had smashed through. The girls were still in their power forms. Half were on the brink of collapse. The other half were far too distant, either from contemplation or frustration. The stand-out was Sora, who had a mixture of both.
"Guess I'm not the only one who can change forms,” he said, examining their outfits. The girls shrugged, nonplussed. It dampened his smile. “Don’t act like that. What Maleficent said was bogus. We’ll get everyone back.”
Sunset stepped over to him. His clothes and expression were pristine. They were the same as when Sunset had met him. And like earlier, there was something off about it. She pulled her hands up, hesitated, then took a hold of his shoulders and jostled him.
“H-Hey!” Sora said. He struggled out of her hold. “What’s that for?”
She pinched his arm.
“Ow!” he cried, rubbing it. “What’s gotten into you?”
“You are real,” Sunset said. She shifted from side to side to get every side of him. Every side of the real him.
“Of course. I’m back, aren’t I?”
People had their hearts taken, the school was in disarray, and Maleficent had gotten away. Sunset had every right to worry. But Sora was so sure of them. It wasn’t unfounded belief. They had done a lot in a year, even if this was far more dire.
Wallflower passed through her mind. It hurt to think of her lost. Sunset had to tune it out for Sora. Not to forget her, but to reaffirm he could help them. Sunset curled her lips up into a smile. She chuckled as fatigue nestled inside her.
“You know how to keep a girl waiting.”