//------------------------------// // Chapter X: Intruder in the Crystal Empire // Story: KINGDOM HEARTS: Dark Order // by OliverSparkle //------------------------------// Back at the Crystal Empire, it was almost nighttime, which means, it was nearly time for the children to go to bed. The married couple, the sisters, the mane six, Sunburst, Capper, Amore, Tempest, Riku, Mickey and Ven were cleaning the dining hall after having their evening meal while Constantine was in the house of mystery trying to figure out where the other cards are, Vincent was on guard duty and the Young Seven were getting ready for bed. Yona, Gallus & Ocellus have all brought their sleeping bags since they’ll be staying at the Crystal Empire till the unversed problem was sorted. Sandbar didn’t bring his sleeping bag because Yona refuses to let him sleep alone since they’re both a love couple, except for school days since Sandbar has a home with his family and Yona sleeps at the School of Friendship. Smolder and Silverstream didn’t bring theirs either since they’ll be sleeping in the bed Lightning is sleeping in, just so he doesn’t get scared during the night since both him and Smolder are both a love couple as well and Silverstream develops a brother-sister like bond with him. Anyways, Smolder and Sandbar were helping Gallus, Yona and Ocellus out with their sleeping bags while Silverstream was in bathroom giving Lightning Twister a quick bath before bedtime. The hippogriff was in the bathtub with the little colt hugging her chest while she was washing the shampoo off his mane with water. Probably should have told you lot this before, but Lightning wasn’t feeling himself after Sora left to take Oliver to see Ansem the Wise in Radiant Garden. He was feeling worried and scared because of the darkness that Vanitas unleashed in his heart. He was worried that the darkness might make him become what Vanitas is, which is darkness, and might hurt his family and friends with it. Once his mane was clean, Silverstream carefully got out of the bathtub, while gently holding Lightning, and took the plug out to drain the water from the tub. She then took a towel from the towel rack and dried Lightning off before getting another dry towel and dried herself off. Silverstream put the wet towels in the wash basket, gently placed the colt on her back and walked out of the bathroom and towards their room. The five manage to set up the sleeping bags in time just as Silverstream and Lightning entered the bedroom. They smiled at the two once the pink hippogriff reached the bed, but then frowned as they saw the poor little colt still feeling down a bit. Silverstream gently took Lightning off her back and placed him on the bed before looking at him and said, “Lightning sweetheart, you doing okay?” Lightning slowly looked up to Silverstream and gave her a sad look before slowly shaking his head. “No, Silverstream, I’m not really. I’m still scared, about the darkness Vanitas unleashed in my heart.” The Young Six gave their friend a sad look as the five walked towards the bed while Smolder said, “Oh Lightning, my sweet Lightning. Listen, we understand you’re worried and scared about that darkness rolling about in your heart. But don’t worry, we’re gonna get through this. Sora’s here to help as well, he’ll know what to do.” Lightning looked down in sadness. “I just don’t want to turn into a pawn of the darkness and hurt you guys after making my life a peaceful one. Momma and my aunties and uncle treated me with kindness unlike daddy did to me.” “Uh-huh,” Ocellus said softly. “Made me a part of their family when I never had a real one before.” “That’s true,” said Gallus. “Made me a birthday to remember.” “Yona liked doing that,” said Yona. “And you lot think I’m cute!” The little colt finished before tears started to form in his eyes, “Why must bad things always happen when my life’s just getting better?!” Lightning laid on the bed while letting his tears run down his face as Silverstream gently placed a claw on his back in comfort. “Come now, Lightning, don’t be like this,” said Sandbar sadly, “We know that we’ve been through a couple of bad times during your new life after Fluttershy adopted you, but that just how things go, except for the darkness part we’ll try to ignore that one when this is over.” Lightning looked at Sandbar confusedly with one last year running down his face and said, “What do you mean?” “What I mean is,” Sandbar began to explain, “Even though you’re now away from Cold Wind but bad things are still happening to you isn’t really your fault or anycreature’s, they just...happen. But when Vanitas tempted the darkness in your heart, that’s him and Cozy Glow happened, not just happened happen.” “And the reason why we’re sleeping in this room with you, is because we still care about you and refuse to let those two try to make you fall to darkness,” added Ocellus. “And we don’t know what else those two are up to, so we wanna be there in case it has something to do with you still,” Gallus said. “Whatever Cozy Glow and Vanitas has planned, there’s no way we’re gonna let them use you as the evil king of Equestria,” said Smolder. “We may have failed to protect you from her last time, but we won’t this time,” said Silverstream. “Yona won’t let mean Keyblade wielder and pony hurt Lightning, not while Yona stands!” Yona said. After hearing all those kind words from his friends and girlfriend, Lightning gave them all a smile. He was happy that he had friends on his side to help him get through the madness that’s going on right now. “Thanks you guys,” He said softly to them, “I don’t know what I do without you lot as my friends.” Gallus smiled at the colt before walking up to the bed and gently patted him on the head. “Well if we all haven’t become friends, we would still be having to deal with our fears right now.” “And we wouldn’t have become the new seven pieces of the magic of friendship,” added Ocellus. “And I would still be worried that daddy might come after me again,” said Lightning earning a laughter from his friends as he laughed too. Just then, he let out a tired yawn before slowly laying down on the bed. “Come on,” Smolder said as she walked up to the bed and gently picked Lightning up, “We best be getting some sleep now.” Silverstream pulled the covers off the bed and allowed Smolder and Lightning to get in first. Smolder, still gently holding Lightning in her arms, got into bed and rested her head on the pillow as Lightning laid his head on the pillow while snuggling up to Smolder’s chest. Silverstream slowly got into bed and pulled the covers over them before wrapped an arm around Smolder and Lightning Twister to keep the little colt warm and safe. Yona got into her sleeping bag, just before Sandbar got in, as she gently wrapped her hooves around him giving her boyfriend a sleeping hug during the night. Gallus and Ocellus got into their sleeping bags before they all fell asleep while Princess Luna’s beautiful moon shone in the sky above the castle. Hours has passed during nighttime, and a black corridor appeared near the entrance to the castle and out came a red armoured Storm Guard. The black corridor disappeared and the Storm Guard looked at the castle for a few seconds before walking towards the doors. Everyone, in the castle, was fast asleep in their own rooms. Shining and Cadence were sleeping in their room, Capper and Fluttershy were sleeping in one of the guest rooms together while the mane six, Sunburst, Tempest, Ven, Riku and Mickey were sleeping in their own guest rooms. Celestia, Luna and Amore were sleeping in their royal rooms that were part of the castle. While the Young Seven were still sleeping in their guest room, they’ve heard a loud crashing sound coming from the kitchen waking them all up as their eyes shot open. “What was noise?” Yona asked. “I don’t know,” replied the blue griffon as he rubbed his tired eyes with his claws, “But it sounded like it came from the kitchen.” “It’s probably just Pinkie Pie trying to get herself a midnight snack without making any noise,” said Ocellus trying to get back to sleep. “I don’t think it’s her, Ocellus,” Smolder said getting out of bed while gently holding onto Lightning, “Pinkie doesn’t get up to help herself to a midnight snack very often. She stopped doing that moons ago.” “You don’t think somecreature has broken into the castle, and planning on stealing something from Shining and Cadence?” Lightning asked. “I hope not, kid,” replied Gallus getting out of his sleeping bag, “We’ve got enough on our plate already with Vanitas and Cozy Glow.” “Come on,” said Sandbar as he and Yona got out of the sleeping bag, “Let’s check it out.” They all gave Sandbar a nod as Ocellus got out of her sleeping bag and Silverstream got out of the bed she, Lightning and Smolder were sleeping in. The Young Seven then made their way out of the guest room and towards the kitchen while Smolder gently held her boyfriend in her arms. By the time they got out of the room, they saw the mane six, Capper, Sunburst, Amore, Tempest, the married couple, the sisters, Ventus, Riku and Mickey walking up towards them. They’ve been woken up by the loud noise too and were just about to check it out. “Don’t tell me the noise woke you lot up too,” said Rainbow in a tired tone. The Young Seven nodded their heads in response. Amore let out a tired yawn before saying, “Whoever made that loud sound from kitchen, we better sort them out for breaking into the castle and waking us up.” Cadence nodded in agreement. “Come, let’s go see who it is and put a stop to it so we can all get more sleep for tomorrow,” said Shining Armor. They all gave Shining a nod before continuing their way to the kitchen. The Young Seven however stopped walking, while the rest continued on, as they somehow heard footsteps behind them. They turned round and saw Vanitas and Cozy Glow walking towards them. Lightning began to shake in fear as Silverstream gently rubbed his shoulder in comfort. The two bad guys stood a few miles away from the Young Seven and grinned evilly at them. But Vanitas and Cozy Glow aren’t REALLY at the Crystal Empire again, they’re still at the Storm Kingdom in their own headquarters of the castle. So you could say this is like that thing where you see each other while still in the area you’re in while the other person is still in the area that they are in, but you don’t know where that person is at. The Young Six glared at the two while Lightning hid his face in Smolder’s chest. “Why are you two still here?” Smolder asked angrily. Vanitas lightly chuckled before replying, “Do not fear, dragon. We’re not really still here in the Crystal Empire, nor have we returned here after our first meeting.” “Then how can we see you two if you say you’re not here?” Asked Sandbar. “Let’s just say that this is something that only somecreatures can do when they are contacted with each other,” answered Cozy Glow, “In other words, this is a vision contact bond that all nine of us can do after we contacted with each other when us seven first met and when Lightning first met me. Nocreature else can see us, only you lot can. Same goes for me and Vanitas.” “What?!” The Young Seven said in shock. “But how is that possible?!” Asked the shocked griffon, “We stopped our friendship with you after realising you’re an evil filly and was trying yo gain power to become an evil empress!” “And you trapped Lightning in the caves beneath the School after you were given a second chance to change, which you failed, and then tried to make him your king to rule with power!” Silverstream added. “But none of you didn’t notice the bond you all made, especially when Lightning was under Cozy Glow’s control,” grinned Vanitas. “Huh?” Lightning asked confusedly while the others glared at them. “This may shock you lot, but the connection didn’t break as you thought it would,” Vanitas began to explain, “While I was still healing inside Cozy Glow’s heart, I made sure the connection between you six was unbreakable when you realised that she was evil. And I did the same with Lightning when Cozy Glow had him under her control, just in case the spell broke. Once I was released from healing, I made sure the bond between you guys and Cozy Glow was still connected, and unbreakable!” “Then break the connection between all of us and leave us and Lightning be!” Ordered Smolder. Vanitas let out an evil chuckle before saying, “Like I said to Ventus...make me.” Suddenly, they heard a loud clash from the far end of the hallway where the kitchen was. It sounded like the others were now fighting the intruder. “Oh!” Began the evil filly, “Sounds like your friends have found our Storm Guard that entered the castle.” “Storm Guard?!” Exclaimed Silverstream in shock, “But how?! The Storm King’s gone! They can’t bring any harm to us all now that their king is no more!” “Let’s just say that they’re on our side now, as the new unversed guards,” said Cozy Glow, “But you’ll just have to figure the rest out, for yourselves.” The two bad guys then slowly vanish away while grinning at the Young Seven. The first vision meeting was finish, but not over yet. Before either of them could say anything else, another clash was heard. This time, it was right behind them. They turned round and saw a red armoured Storm Guard laying down on his back against the wall as he slowly got up. The Young Seven were now in deep shock after seeing what they just saw. Vanitas and Cozy Glow was telling the truth. The Storm Guards were back and working for those two now, and they have improved them as well after seeing its new armour. “I can’t believe my eyes,” Gallus said in shock, “They are back!” The Storm Guard saw the Young Seven and was about to go straight towards until he heard Celestia’s voice the hallway he was at last. “You stay away from the children, Storm Guard!” The Young Seven and the Storm Guard turned to the broken wall, that has the kitchen on the other side and the Storm Guard has broken through, and saw the mane six, Capper, Sunburst, Amore, Tempest, the married couple, the sisters, Ventus, Riku and Mickey running from the broken wall and stood near the guard in battle mode, with the three humans wielding their Keyblades, ready to continue fighting the Storm Guard. Mickey’s Keyblade is modeled after the Kingdom Key D and, by extension, Sora's Kingdom Key. It features a gold handguard, and a blue blade patterned with stars in the manner of the Star Seeker. The concave rainguard has now been replaced by a diamond-patterned bell shape. At the top two corners of the handguard are five-pointed star designs, while the bottom two appear to have massive golden screws. Between the handle and the rainguard is a glass-like dome, deep blue and speckled white like a starry sky, and on the guard below the handle is a gold crescent moon. The teeth of the blade are now silver, and the crown shape is lined. The Keychain is unchanged from that of the Kingdom Key D; it has golden links connecting to a golden Hidden Mickey. Ventus’s Keyblade is a peculiar Keyblade that is designed to be easily wielded in reverse. The black handle is offset from the Keyblade as opposed to being aligned with it, and the guard is equally misaligned. The guard is a dull gold color and joins with the shaft of the Keyblade to fully enclose the handle. The shaft is grey, thin, and has a very slight curve outward. There are three thin, dull gold lines that decorate the middle of the shaft. Two short bars connect the main blade to the teeth. The teeth are grey like the blade and have a wing-like shape. They are comprised by five curved bars that decrease in size the lower they are on the Keyblade. The Keychain token is a green gem with two silver flurries of wind spiraling around it. They all glared at the Storm Guard while he growled angrily at them and stood in battle mode ready to continuing fighting them. The Young Seven just stood where they are and watched while Smolder was still gently holding Lightning in her arms. “All right, Mr Storm Guard,” began Applejack, “We don’t know how you’re still around or why are you here, but I’m gonna give you two options. Either we continue fighting so we can make a lot of noise which will wake up the other ponies and we might hurt somecreature, or you can leave right now because I WILL KICK YOUR LUNGS OUT OF YOUR CHEST IF YOU PICK OPTION ONE!!” The Storm Guard just stared at them for a few more seconds before raising his two fists in the air and quickly smashing them to the ground making the room shake, which everycreature, even the Young Seven, lose balance and fell to the ground as Smolder dropped Lightning before they fell to the ground. They all slowly got up while rubbing the sore parts of their bodies and moaning in pain. “Applejack, word of advice,” began the rainbow maned pony, “When you’re stopping a bad guy from doing bad stuffs, don’t give them TWO OPTIONS THAT INVOLVES LEAVING OR FIGHTING!! Because this is what you’re gonna get!” Applejack placed her hat back on her head before replying, “Yeah, I’ll remember that next time.” Before any of them could say or do anything else, the Storm Guard ran over to the Young Seven were and quickly grabbed Lightning Twister while running past the six as they gasped in shock at what just happened. “Lightning!” Fluttershy shouted in fear. “Momma!” Cried the scared little colt! “Guards! Catch him, don’t let him get away!” Shining Armor called out to his guards. While the Storm Guard was still running, four Pegasus guards flew out of the hallway and towards the Storm Guard to save the poor colt. The guards reached the Storm Guard in time and tried attacking him while trying to free Lightning Twister from his arms. But unfortunately, this Storm Guard was way too strong than they are and he used his free arm to wrack the royal guards away from them and smacked against the wall before falling to the ground and unable to get up again. While the Storm Guard was still running, he jumped through the castle window, making a body shape of him, as he continued to run out of the Crystal Empire and towards the Storm Kingdom with Lightning still in his arms as he struggled to break free. The ponies, creatures and humans ran towards the broken window and tried to find the Storm Guard, but it wasn’t any good. The Storm Guard has gone, along with Lightning. Lightning Twister was foalnapped, once again. With no sign of the Storm Guard or Lightning Twister anywhere in the Crystal Empire, Fluttershy and Smolder began to have tears in their eyes and broke down as they both shouted in unison, “LIGHTNING!!!!”