//------------------------------//
// Chapter 29: Origins 
// Story: KINGDOM HEARTS: Fractured Friendship 
// by KHXhero 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 29: Origins


"Now, are you sure you wish to do this, dear?  This is very powerful magic."

"Yes, I'm sure." The answer came from Kairi as she was speaking to the Fairy Godmother, the kind elderly woman with pale skin, grey hair, dressed in a lavender hooded cloak, wielding a white wand.  She has told the fairy about her dream, and how she came into contact with Sora when Princess Luna connected their dreams together so they could meet.  Since then, she's been worried about the boy she cared for, and needed to be there for him.  "I...  I just need to be there for Sora, and help him if I can."

"Very well." The Fairy Godmother said.  "I can transport you to him, but it will be very tricky."

"How so?" Kairi asked.

"While my magic can take you to Sora and his friends, it will be very tricky." The Fairy Godmother said.  "The spell I will cast on you should allow you to get there without trouble."

"Really?" Kairi asked.  "But, what's the catch?"

"To do so, I must transform you into a shooting star." The Fairy Godmother said.  "When the spell is cast, you will lose your physical form.  But you will be able to get to the world your friends are in.  Unfortunately, you won't be able to do much as a shooting star.  But, if you find your way to the one person you care for deeply, you will return back to your physical form."  The girl tilted her head, but listened to what the fairy has told her.  To get to Equestria as fast as possible, the girl must transform into a shooting star, and doing so, she will lose her physical form.  While she can get to where Sora and the others are, she won't be able to do anything.  But to return to normal, she must find the one person she cares for.

"So... I just have to find Sora?" Kairi asked.

"Yes." The Fairy Godmother said.  The girl began to think it over for another moment.  She knew it would be a risky trip since she will transform into a star, but Sora will need her help.  She wants to help him anyway she can.  She gave a nod and stood up.

"Ok." Kairi said.  "I'm ready."

"Alright then, here we go." The Fairy Godmother said as she tapped her wand and waved as it began to sparkle with glimmers of light, and she said three simple words.


"Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!"






In the Crystal Castle...
The Throne Room...

And so, the scouting team began their search, looking high and low for anything that could at least lead them to the Crystal Heart.  And hopefully the others outside are keeping the crystal ponies occupied, and their spirits up too.  Entering the throne room, Goofy looked around, left and right, before making his way inside, while Sora and Donald followed behind.  Following the long carpet, there at the end of the room on the other side was a seat, showing that it was the throne, and behind it was a lot of blue and purple crystals behind it.

"Garsh..." Goofy said in a bit of amazement.  "Looks everything is made of crystal.  Even the throne itself."

"I don't know about you, but it does feel kinda creepy if you ask me." Sora said.  Turning his head, he saw that Donald was looking at the throne, and the duck's eyes were sparkling.  It seems the royal wizard has become fascinated with the sight of it.

"Donald, don't even think about it." Sora said, getting the duck out of his little greedy trance.

"I wasn't thinking about it." Donald argued.

"Yes, you were." Sora said.  The royal wizard only sighed, just as Twilight, Shining, Spike, and Flash... or Thorax in disguise, walked into the room.  They too were astonished by the throne, and Spike was starting to lick his lips, because... well, you know.  Crystals.  Gems.  Dragons eat gems and all that.

"Wow... that's a very pretty looking throne." Flash said.

"And it looks very good to eat." Spike said.

"Spike, remember why we're here." Twilight said, getting the baby dragon back to his senses.

"Sorry, Twilight." Spike said with an embarrassed smile.  The lavender unicorn couldn't help but giggle at the red blush marks on his cheeks as they continued into the room.

"I wonder where Sombra hid the Crystal Heart." Sora said.

"Do you think he may have hidden it somewhere in the throne room?" Donald asked.

"Probably." Goofy said.

"Well, if we're gonna find the heart, then maybe we should think like Sombra." Spike said.  "For instant, if I were an evil king, I would...  sit on the throne all day!"  He then made his way and sat on the Crystal Throne, sitting in a fancy way.

"I don't think it's that simple, Spike." Twilight said.  "He could've hidden it anywhere."

"We'll probably need to be careful." Shining said.  "He probably made some traps incase anybody would look for it.  So let's try and not to touch anything suspicious, Spike."

"When have I ever touched anything suspicious?" Spike asked.  Twilight looked at him with a raised eyebrow.  She can remember all the times when he would touch something without thinking clearly, especially when he was a very young hatchling.  And her expression made Spike remember some of those little moments.

"Oh, right." Spike said.  "Not a paw on anything... or claw, in my case."  He then just realized that he was still sitting on the throne, and his claws were still on it.  He quickly jumped off and kept his hands up, keeping to his word.  Everyone then started looking around the throne room, searching in the curtains, in the jars without touching them, and behind the throne room.  But no Crystal Heart was in sight.

"Can't seem to find it." Sora said.  "Maybe it's not here."

"Do you think he probably hid it below the throne room." Flash said.  "If Canterlot had those underground caverns, then maybe the Crystal Empire has hidden rooms below too."

"That's good thinking!" Twilight said.  "Maybe if we find a triggering mechanism, we could probably open a passage way to some hidden rooms."

"But I don't see anything strange or suspicious." Spike said.  As everyone looked around, Sora glanced straight at the throne.  Taking a good look at it, he started to remember something.  The images that Master Yen Sid showed him and Riku when he was telling them of King Sombra and the Empire, he noticed that the throne looked much different than it does now.  When he saw it in the visions, it looked all dark and gloomy, with pointed crystals.  But it looked normal now.  So could the throne be a triggering mechanism too?

"Maybe there's something on or in the throne that could open a passage way." Sora said.

"What makes you think that?" Spike said.

"When Master Yen Sid told us about King Sombra, he showed us a glimpse of his time when he took over." Sora said.  "I remember seeing the throne he was sitting on, and it didn't look like this."

"I didn't see it." Donald said.

"But I did." Sora said as he glanced back at the throne.  "The throne was all black and stuff, pretty evil-like or something."  The lavender unicorn glanced back at the throne and smiled.

"Then let's see if the throne has a triggering mechanism." Twilight said as she galloped towards the throne and examined it.  She looked up and down, placing her hooves on it, trying to find a button or something.  But soon, her hoof touched another hoof.  Looking up, she saw Flash, and both of them made eye contact.

"Oh!" The two spoke as they stepped back for a second.

"So sorry." Twilight said.

"Oh it's ok, Twilight." Flash said.  "I'm sorry."  The two couldn't help but blush and smile, getting the attention of everyone else.  Shining sighed and made his way to the throne.

"Let me see if I can find it." He said as he summoned his spear and began poking at the top part, trying to see if touching one of the crystals could activate it.  But nothing was working.  Behind them, as Donald and Goofy were trying to see if there was something near the throne room that might open a passage way, Sora was alone in his thoughts.  He remembered clearly seeing the throne when Sombra took over from the vision Yen Sid showed him and Riku.  But it doesn't look all black and dark as it did back then.  So Sombra must've enchanted the throne.  But with what?  Magic?  Perhaps... with dark magic?  Could dark magic activate it?  He then resumed thinking about it...  and he recalled something almost a year ago...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Evening Before The Mark of Mastery...

It was awfully quiet that day before he and his friend were to take the Mark of Mastery Exam.  Back then, Sora stood wore the black short sleeved jacket and pants, with the blue shirt underneath and many yellow straps around his legs to keep the red pouches on.  He was wondering Disney Castle, taking a look around.  Tomorrow was the Mark of Mastery Exam so they could be prepared for Xehanort's Return.  After some long hours of training, the boy decided to look around the castle, and believe it or not, it's a pretty big castle.  Last time he was here, Maleficent tried to take it over by trying to meddle with the past, but Sora and company stopped her, with the help of Pete's past self.  And there was that situation with that portal down in the Hall of the Cornerstone...  Wait, when did that happen again?

He shrugged off that memory, thinking it was nothing, not knowing that it would play a crucial part in what was to come.  He continued down the hallway, wondering where Riku was.  Where was he, anyway?

"Are you looking forward to the exam, Riku?" The king's voice asked.  Sora turned his head to the massive doors that lead to the throne room hearing the mouse's voice.  Making his way towards the door, he leaned in to listen.

"I guess so." Riku said.  "But...."  Hearing Riku's voice, the boy slightly opened the door, seeing the King and Riku.  During that time, Riku's hair was a bit longer than it was now, reaching to his shoulders, and he wore a white sleeveless shirt with a darker blue zip-up shirt underneath, long purple pants with white shoes at the bottom.  Pretty much a cool style if you think about it.

Sora knew it was rude to listen in, but it sounded like Riku was a bit worried, and his head lowered and facing the ground shows it.  Opening the door and closing it a bit so he could hear, Sora took a peak and listened in.

"What's wrong, Riku?" Mickey asked.

"I hate to admit it, but I am worried." Riku said, looking down at his hand.  "Everything that I've been through, everything that I've done, the darkness still has a hold on my heart.  Even when I gave up my physical form to help Sora, the darkness is still there."  The older boy only lowered his head, while Sora couldn't help but feel sorry for him.  Riku helped him save the world, but he still felt a bit guilty for everything that's happened between them.

"Do you think I'll ever be free again?" Riku asked.  "You think I'll be able to get rid of the darkness in my heart?"

"To be honest, Riku." Mickey said.  "Getting rid of the darkness isn't something that can be achieved.  An old friend had once told me that there is always darkness in every heart.  Darkness is pretty much everywhere.  In our hearts, even in Sora, and... even mine."  Hearing that made Riku raise an eyebrow, and a little disheartened to hear that.  Darkness wasn't just something that could go away.

"So, there's no way to destroy the darkness?" Riku asked.

"Not really." Mickey said.  "But, given your position, it can be used for good though."

"Huh?" Riku asked.

"Well, if there's anything that I've learned during my time with you is that even though the darkness is a dangerous force, darkness is half of everything, and together with Light, both makes up everything around us, the worlds, and life as well." Mickey said.  "I used to think that darkness was all bad, but seeing it through you made me realize that if used properly, it can be used for good.  Just like you used it to help Sora defeat Xemnas."

"Really?" Riku asked.  Come to think about it, Riku had used the darkness for good a few times.  He used it to help Sora a couple times, he used it save Kairi, and he used it against Xemnas and Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness too.  "Huh... I never really thought about that.  But, do you think I'll be able to control it?"

"So far, you've done a great job on controlling it." Mickey said.  "I have seen you use it during our adventures, and all the time, you've used it with good intentions, even willing to risk your life to save Sora, and that proves how strong you really are.  Plus, you've used both Light and Darkness in different ways that not even I could imagine."

"Different ways?" Riku asked.

"You see, Riku." Mickey continued.  "The use of light and darkness depends on how we feel, based on our emotions and instinct."

"Emotions and Instinct." Riku asked.  "You mean like happiness and anger?"

"Right." Mickey said, turning his head.  "I've actually had my own experiences with both light and dark before, especially during my training with Master Yen Sid.  Back then, light and darkness were used in various different ways, such as activating different structures or any sort of mystic relics that could open passage way."

"Really..." Riku said.  "So... that means if we're gonna have to defeat Xehanort, I may need to use the Power of Darkness again.  But, what if I lose myself again."

"You won't, Riku." Mickey said.  "So long as you believe, and remember that you have us by your side.  Sora never gave up on you, and neither will I."  Hearing that made Riku give a hopeful smile.  The King was right.

"Just remember, Riku." Mickey said.  "Our abilities are tied to how we act and how we feel.  Should you ever feel any sort of negativity, just think on the bright things." Mickey said.  "Like joy and excitement.  If you keep your heart and mind filled with happy thoughts, then the power you have within you can allow you to do all kinds of things.  For example..."  Mickey stood in place, and summoned his Starseeker keyblade.  He began to glow with with a yellow light color.  Spinning his keyblade, he shot upwards at the crystal ball that hung at the ceiling.  As the beam of light connected, the ball then sent out a sparkling flash that sent out glitters of magic, which were in the shapes and forms of many denizens of Disney Town.

"Wow..." Riku said, amazed by the magic Mickey could do.

"Whooaaa..." Sora said silently as he saw the glitters.  Pretty soon, the glitters and images of the townspeople disappeared, and the room suddenly went dark.

"But one should be careful though..." Mickey said, lowering his keyblade.  "For should fear and hatred take hold.... then one could lose them themselves to the darkness.  But as long as you control your rage and fear... you can channel the dark power...."  Suddenly, his eyes opened up, showing a green glowing sclera, with purple mist vaporing from his eyes.  He then pointed his keyblade at the ceiling, and to everyone's surprise, shot a black and purple beam up at the ceiling, and as it hit the crystal ball at the top, it sent out rays of dark magic across the floor, conjuring up black crystals from the ground.  This was a great surprise to Riku, and to Sora, who was watching from behind the door.  The King harnessing the power of darkness?  That's something neither of them has seen before.  But pretty soon, Mickey almost felt to his knees, much to Riku's worry.

"Mickey!" Riku said as he rushed over to help.  "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." Mickey said as he shook his head, his smile coming back.  "It's just been a while since I've done that."

"That was... that was something." Riku said.  "I didn't know you could do that.  I guess our time together may have rubbed off on you."

"Nah, it's ok." Mickey said.  "Master Yen Sid taught me a thing or two."  Seeing the mouse ok and smiling like nothing ever happened brought solace and relief to Riku.  From his hiding spot, Sora was still amazed by what he saw.  The King can channel dark forces too?

"Whoa...." Sora said.





Back to the Present...

Sora couldn't help but remember that moment, where the King was helping Riku prepare for the Mark of Mastery. 
He can fully recall the technique that he had witnessed from King Mickey.  Looking back on that, he also remember hearing the King say that darkness, like light, could also be used to activate all kinds of objects that hold a mystic purpose to them.  He stared back at the throne, which was still being investigated by Twilight, Shining, Spike, and Flash.  If Sombra used dark magic to change the throne, could he also use it to activate and open a hidden passage way?

Riku could be able to use the dark power to make it work, but he and the others were too busy with the townsfolk and the Faire.  And Twilight, she could get hurt or worse trying to use it, and Shining doesn't seem to be the one to use it too.  The boy glanced down, knowing full well how to make it work.  He also knew it was dangerous, but like the King said.  Darkness can be used for good if used correctly, just like the power of Light.  The boy made his decision.

"Guys, I think I have an idea of how to trigger it, or at least make it work." Sora said.  Everyone glanced back at him.

"You do?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah." Sora said.

"You think the keyblade can do it?" Donald asked.

"Yes, but..." Sora said.

"But what?" Goofy asked.  

"Sora, what are you thinking?" Twilight asked as she and the others approached him.  The boy glanced back at her and then back at the two.

"All I ask is, unless I say so, don't stop me." Sora said.  "Ok?"  Donald raised an eyebrow with suspicion and concern.

"Why?" Donald asked with a suspicious tone.

"Just trust me, ok." Sora said before turning away and summoned his keyblade.  As the ponies and baby dragon stepped aside, he started to make his way toward the center of the room, and then faced the throne, glancing straight at the crystal above it.  He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and pointed his keyblade to the ground.


Fear, Anger, and Hatred


The boy then squinted his eyes, and suddenly he started to growl slightly, before he started to shake, as if he was resisting something, or struggling to tap into something.  This sudden motion brought surprise to everyone in the room.

"What's he doing?" Shining asked.

"Does he have an itch or something?" Spike asked.  As the boy started to grit his teeth and he began to shake even more, something wasn't right.

"Sora?" Goofy asked.  Suddenly, Donald let out a surprised gasp, seeing what was going on.  Suddenly, as Sora still shook in place, a strange black mist began to seep from his body, followed by a swirl of purple and blue mixed together.  It was dark magic!  The power of darkness!

"DARKNESS!" Donald shouted, with Twilight giving a gasp.  Suddenly, the boy's growling got even rougher as the darkness was slowly surrounding him.

"Sora!" Twilight shouted.  "Hang On!"  She didn't want to lose another friend again!  She was about to gallop towards him.

"NO!" Sora shouted, making her stop.  He did not turn his head, and still faced away.

"I Can Do This!" Sora shouted.  "Trust Me!"  Hearing his words, Twilight now understood.  Sora was actually trying to tap into the power of darkness.  But why?  Donald was about to jump in, but Goofy stopped him.

"Goofy!" Donald said, but the knight captain shook his head.

"He can do this, Donald." Goofy said.  "We have to trust him.  We need to believe in him."  Although the duck was reluctant, he knew Goofy was right.  They had to let Sora do this.  

Soon, Sora's let out screeching shout as the dark cloud covered all over his body, turning his skin, clothes, and even his keyblade to pitch deep black.  His eyes were then glowing red with no irises in them, and a pair of fluorescent white swirling patterns on the legs and arms and black demonic silhouette emblems on the shoulders, and black, blue and purple wisps were evaporating from his arms and back.  The sight was enough to worry Donald, make Spike yelp and cling to Flash in shock while Shining stood his ground.  Twilight only stood there in complete surprise.

"Sora?" She asked.  He slowly turned his head to face her, which began to scare her.  His eyes were lifeless, no irises, and glowing red.  She had never seen Sora like this at all, and it was terrifying.

But then, he gave a short nod as a happy grin appeared on his face, and that moment, the lavender unicorn knew, that Sora was still in there.  She smiled, as Donald raised an eyebrow.

Then, Sora glanced back at the throne, and making a feral-like leap, he pointed his keyblade right at the crystal and conjured up dark energy before shooting it right at the crystal, causing it to turn dark as it was surrounded by vapors of purple and green energy until the whole throne turned black.  Suddenly, the whole room began to shake as the ground opened up in a spiral-like pattern, revealing a stairway behind them.  It was a secret passage way that was underneath the room all this time!

"Whoa..." Everyone said as the stairway was revealed.  Suddenly, Sora dropped to his knees, but he dug his keyblade into the floor and held on to stop himself from falling flat on the ground.  Pretty soon, his skin, clothes, and even his keyblade began to return to their normal color as the darkness began to fade away from him.

"Sora!" Donald said as he and Goofy rushed over to him.  The boy let out panting breathes until his breathing was normal.  He shook his head, feeling a slight headache, but it was gone in an instant.

"Are you ok?" Goofy asked.  The boy glanced back at them, his eyes were normal, blue as the ocean.

"Yeah, I think so." Sora said as he regained his strength and got back to his feet, while Twilight and the others approached him.

"Wow, that was cool!" Spike said.  "Can you do that again?"

"Sorry, but that's gonna be a one time thing." Sora said.  "At least I hope so."

"Gosh." Twilight said.  "That was really brave."

"Thanks." Sora said.  "Sorry if I scared you for a minute."

"It's ok." Twilight said.  "If anything you did a better job at handling the darkness then how I did."  Shining let out a sigh of relief and glanced at the stairway.

"Maybe this stairway could lead us to the Crystal Heart." The stallion said.  "Let's go.  C'mon Sentry."

"Yes, Captain." Flash said as he followed the stallion downstairs, with Spike and Twilight following behind.

"Say, where did you learn how to do that?" Donald asked.

"A little trick I saw someone pull off." Sora said.

"Riku?" Goofy and Donald asked.  Sora shook his head.

"It's a secret." Sora said with a wink as he followed the ponies and baby dragon down the stairway, while Donald and Goofy looked at each other.

"The King?" Donald asked.

"Who knows, but from the looks of it, someone that's better experienced than you." Goofy said with a chuckle, while Donald only rolled his eyes as the two followed the others down the stairway.





The party slowly but surely made their way down the stairway below the throne room.  It was actually a surprise that there was even a secret room beneath the throne itself.  Of course, when there's a castle, there's always hidden rooms.  But ones that can be accessed through the use of dark magic, that's very surprising.  While they descended down the stairs, they couldn't help but notice a strange tink sound, like something was falling behind them.

"What was that?" Spike asked, feeling a bit frightened by the sound.

"Probably just an echo." Twilight said.

"I hope so..." Spike said as they continued to make their way down the stairs, only to finally reach solid ground, and come across a door right before them.

"What's this?" Sora asked.

"Maybe another secret room." Donald said.

"Well, let's open it." Goofy said.  The trio made their way towards the door and pulled on the handle.  But it wouldn't open.  A little surprised, they tried to pull again, but nothing.  They then tried pulling one last time, this time much harder than before.  But soon, Sora lost his grip on the handle, and all three of them fell backwards onto the floor.

"Ooooooh...." Twilight and Spike said, while Shining and Flash winced away, seeing the three on the ground, and on top of each other.

"That didn't work." Sora said.  Looking back at the door, Twilight approached it.

"Twily, wait." Shining said as he galloped before her.  "I should open it."

"I'll be fine, Shining." Twilight said.

"But still, Sombra probably placed a trap on the door." Shining said.  "So let me."  

"He has a point, Twilight." Flash said.  "So why not?"  Twilight was a bit reluctant, but remembering that she promised to give her brother a chance, she gave a nod.

"Ok." She said.  "Just be careful."  With a nod, he made his way towards the door and then he pushed against it.  Surprisingly, it opened!  No trap or anything!

"Huh... that was easy." Shining said.  Sora, Donald, and Goofy lifted their heads up with surprise.  It opened up by pushing it, not pulling it!

"Oh, we just had to push on it, not pull." Sora said, as Goofy gave a chuckle and Donald gave an annoyed sigh.  Pretty soon, the stallion opened the door up and saw that it was dark inside.  He ignited his horn, sparking a light for them to see.  Suddenly, he saw a branch hanging on the side of the room, and he ignited it with a flame from his magic.  Suddenly, the whole room lit up, bringing even more surprise to everyone.  In the room was a desk, with a chair right in front of it, and on the end of the wall hung a bookshelf that contained so many books, which was enough to make Twilight smile.  There was a nice small chandelier that only had three crystals dangling from it, a globe of Equestria on the desk, and it had a couple of busts that had Sombra's head on each one.  For those who don't know, a bust is a small statue that is of your head and face, reaching to your shoulders.  Not the kind of busts that your naughty minds think of...

"Whoa..." Sora, Donald, and Goofy gasped, as Twilight smiled at the sight of the private library.

"Wow." Spike said.  "Looks like Sombra had a room all for himself."

"Neat." Twilight said.  "I so want an office like this.  Well, except for the busts of myself."  Everyone looked at her, and she smiled with a bit of embarrassment.  But everyone only smiled, knowing that she has a thing for libraries.

"But there's no sight of the Crystal Heart." Sora said.  He was right.  There was no Crystal Heart anywhere.  The only things that were visible was the candle stick, and the turquoise colored book with the gold locks and spine on it.  The book did get their attention.  Could it be a journal that belonged to Sombra?

"But there is a book." Twilight said as she made her way towards the book.  "Could this be his journal?"

"Why would he leave a diary?" Spike asked.

"Everyone has a diary, Spike." Goofy said.  "Even Jiminy has one."

"That's right!" Jiminy said as he popped out of Sora's hood.  "I keep a journal one every single on of our adventures, even during my adventures with Pinocchio."

"Neat." Spike said.  "Wait... who's Pinocchio?"

"Hmmm... I wonder if Sombra wrote the location to where the Crystal Heart is." Flash said.  "Maybe if we read the journal, we can learn about Sombra too."

"Then we should read it!" Donald said.

"Donald." Sora said.  "It's rude to read someone's diary without their permission.  It's an invasion of privacy."  Hearing that made Donald sigh.

"Yeah... maybe we shouldn't read it." He said.  Sora looked at the royal wizard.

"I didn't say that." He said with a smile.  Seeing him smile made Donald smile.

"Well, I suppose a peek wouldn't hurt." Goofy said.  

"Then let's take a look." Twilight said as she picked up the book from the table and removed the latches from it.  She opened the book up and began to read it out loud.

Sombra...  It was the only word I could remember whe they found me.  No matter what they asked, the only thing I would say to them was that one word.  So, they made it my name.  The Crystal Guard said I was alone out in the wastes just north of the empire.  They asked where my family was, but I couldn't tell them.  Not having any family to return a lost colt to, they brought me to Chestnut Falls' Orphanage.  I was years behind my classmates.  They knew all about things I had never even heard of.  Saying their words felt like chewing peanut brittle.  Like my mouth wasn't suppose to say them.  But I was a quick learner, and Ms. Chestnut Falls would always help me when I couldn't understand the homework.  Sadly, the same could not be said for others...

Twilight's eyes widened with a bit of surprise.  Sombra was an orphan?

"Sombra had no family." She said.  "He grew up in an orphanage."  Suddenly, as Twilight continued to read, the book began to glow, much to everyone's surprise.

"What's happening?" Spike asked.  Sora looked around, and noticed something floating into the room.  It was a glowing crystal orb of light, floating around the group.  But only Sora could see it.  Was this like the other three lights that he saw?

"Another one?" He asked.  Suddenly, the three orbs began to surround the group and circle around them, just as the book Twilight held in her hands glowed brightly and shined, engulfing the room with light.


It's best that you see it with your eyes...






The boy slowly opened his eyes, and found himself still standing.  Behind him, Donald and Goofy held onto him, but they released him when they opened their eyes.  Twilight, Spike, Shining, and Flash were also present, and of course Jiminy, who held onto the spikey-haired boy's shoulder.  Suddenly, all of them gasped at what was in front of them.  They were out in the city of the Crystal Empire, but it was much more sparkly than it was when they saw it an hour ago.  It was much more beautiful, and again, sparkly than ever.  But how?  Unless...

"We're outside the Crystal Empire?" Twilight asked.  "But how?"  Sora looked around, and knew what was going on... or at least has an idea of what is going on.

"Guys... I think we're in the past." Sora said.

"The Past?!" Donald and Goofy asked.

"Sora, what did you do?" Donald asked.

"Nothing!" Sora said.  "But I don't think we're actually in the past.  I think we're watching the past."

"Watching the past?" Spike asked.  "How does that work?"  Shining turned his head and something caught his eye.

"Look!" He said, pointing his hoof forward.  The group glanced at what he was looking at, and to their surprise, it was a blue crystal building with windows, and the sign above it said CRYSTAL HEART FOAL CENTER, with a filly sigil next to the letters.  Nearby was a playground, where a couple of crystal ponies played ball together.  One of them was watching from afar.  It was grey-colored unicorn colt, with a jet black mane and tail.  Not only that, his eyes were green as emerald!  Was that... Sombra?

"Who is that?" Flash asked.

"I think that's Sombra." Twilight said.  "This must be when he was in the Orphanage."  To their surprise, Sombra looked a bit nervous.  It looked like he wanted to play too.  So, finding the courage, he approached them with a smile.

"Greetings, friends." He spoke loudly.  "Can Sombra play too?"  The crystal fillies and colt only looked at him with confusion and a bit of disgust.

"Why does he have to talk like that?" One filly asked.  "I don't know why they keep him here.  He's not even a crystal pony."

"I don't know what he is." The crystal colt said.  "He doesn't even have his cutie mark."  They glanced back at the young Sombra and turned away.

"Get away, Sombrero." The filly said.  "We don't want anypony to see us with someone weird like you."

"Yeah, they might think we're weird too, weirdo." The other filly said as the three little ponies walked away with disgust, leaving the young Sombra alone, and hurt.  The little grey colt only lowered his head and sat to the ground, feeling disheartened, which made Twilight feel sad.  It reminded her how much she was picked on and bullied when she was young.

"Don't let them bother you.  They think I'm weird too." Another voice got his attention, making him lift his head and turn around.  Right there next to him was a sparkling purple pony, and her mane was flowing and colored like the sky.  She had blue sparkling eyes and she had a smile on her face.  Who is that?

"If you want, you can be weird with me, and we'll be weird together." She said, offering her hoof to him.  "Would that be ok?"  Seeing the filly offer her hoof in friendship made the grey colored colt smile.  He shook her hoof with his own.

"Sombra would like that!" He said.  Hearing that made the Crystal Pony smile.

"Great!" She said.  "Just don't talk too loud, ok?  My fairy friends don't like it when you shout."

"Fairy friends?" Sombra asked.

"Yes, they're all around." The Crystal Pony said.  "Be careful not to step on them.  They get grumpy."

"Oh, okay." Sombra said.  "What's your name?"

"I'm Hope." The filly said.  "Radiant Hope."  The two were completely unaware that the group was watching from afar.  But seeing the two ponies meet brought a smile to Sora's face.  Sombra had a friend!

"Oh..." He said.  "Sombra had a friend!"

"He had a friend?" Goofy and Donald asked.

"I thought bad guys don't have friends." Spike said.  Twilight couldn't help but smile, seeing the two ponies playing together.  Sombra had a friend, where they sat together in class, exchanged notes in a secret language, and even played games together.  They were still ridiculed by the other fillies and colts, but they didn't care, because they had each other.

"But he did." Twilight said.  "He had Radiant Hope."  Suddenly, the environment around them changed, shifting to another scene.  It was a room that had a bed with purple covers and a pillow on it.  Next to it was a desk with a dragon shaped piggy bank in which colts put their money in.  They saw Sombra and Hope, looking over a book, which was the same book that Twilight found back at the library!  They were reading about the Crystal Faire.

"The Crystal Faire restores the spirit of love and unity to the Crystal Empire so we can protect it from harm." Hope said.

"Protect it from harm?" Sombra asked.  "What harm?"

"It doesn't say...  Just harmful dark spooky stuff, I guess." Hope said.  "On the day of the Faire, the Crystal Princess is there and the ponies all gather round and the Crystal Heart glows with magic.  It's the most beautiful thing in the world."

"Wow..." Sombra said with amazement.  "Do you think we'll be able to see it?"

"What, the Crystal Heart?" Hope asked.  "We can go see it right now!  It's always in its place at the base of the castle."

"Really?" Sombra asked.

"Sure." Hope said.  "C'mon!"  With that said, the filly jumped off the bed and headed out the room as the colt followed her.  Instantly, the scenery changed back to outside, and the two pony children made their way to the base of the castle.  Standing there, held together by two crystal pillars was a heart shaped crystal, slowly rotating and sparkling for all to see.

"Is that the Crystal Heart?" Sora asked.

"It must be." Twilight said.  Their attention returned to the colt and filly, who approached it slowly, both of them excited to witness the Crystal Heart in all of it's glory.

"Is that it?" Sombra asked.

"Yep, that's the Crystal Heart." Hope said.

"Wow, it's amazing!" Sombra said.

"Let's get closer!" Hope said.  The two little ponies got closer and closer to the Crystal Heart.  It continued to sparkle with light and magic.  The colt and the filly were taken back by it's sparkling brightness.  But then suddenly, the heart stood still for a moment, and it let out a flash, and what both the colt and filly saw were two different things.

For Radiant Hope, she saw herself, and she was smiling at the sight.  The vision she saw in the heart was of herself, older and taller.  She looked a bit like Princess Celestia, and she had wings!  She had a crown on her head too!  From what the vision had shown her, it was telling her that she was to be a Princess!  And it amazed her with a grin.

"Wow..." She said.

But for Sombra, however, was much different.  He also saw himself, but it was quite the opposite.  He saw himself with a red horn, sharp fangs, and he was a vicious monster!  He saw the whole kingdom on fire, and all the ponies dead, while he was the last one standing.  It showed him as an evil emperor, and it was frightened by the sight.

"No...!" Sombra said.  "NOOO!"  His cry got Hope's attention.

"Sombra?" She asked.  "Is everything ok?"  The little colt, however, didn't answer.  He backed away, showing terror on his poor face.  But then he unknowingly bumped into someone behind him.  He turned his head and saw a tall peach-vermilion colored crystal pony, almost as tall as Princess Luna.  She had a long horn, and she wore bracelets around her body and her hooves with gold hearts on them, and she had a blue crown on her head.  Her eyes were a brilliant amber and her mane and tail was swirly like Princess Cadance's mane and tail, but colored with a gradient of brilliant raspberry to moderate cobalt blue.  Her cutie mark was of a Deep blue snowflake between a set of blue laces.

"Princess Amore!" Sombra said with surprise as Hope gave an excited squeal.  This must be Princess Amore!  The princess gave a giggle.

"Hello, little ponies." She said.  "I take it that you have seen what the Crystal Heart has shown you."

"Huh?" Sombra and Hope asked.

"They say the Crystal Heart's reflection has magical properties." Princess Amore said.  "It reflects what's in your heart, and shows you a future that can or may happen."

"Really?" Hope asked.  "You mean what we see in the reflection will actually happen?"

"It might." Princess Amore said with a smile.  "It only shows what can happen if we follow the path we're on.  But we have the power to control our futures.  If that's the future you want, then you follow it to your heart's content."  Hearing that made Hope smile even more.

"Cool!" Hope said.  "I hope my future comes true!  I saw myself as a Princess!"  While Hope was hopping with excitement, Sombra only glanced at the ground, horrified by what he saw.

"What did you see, Sombra?" Princess Amore asked.

"N...nothing." He said.

"Nothing?" She asked.

"Just... darkness." Sombra said.  "Like... my shadow, or something."

"Interesting." Princess Amore said.  "Well, whatever you did see, just remember that you have the power to change it."  Hearing that made Sombra surprised and worried.

"But I really didn't see anything, Princess." Sombra said.  "Honest."

"I believe you, Sombra." Princess Amore said.  "Well, you two better get on home now."

"Thanks, Princess!" Hope said as she happily walked away, and Sombra followed after her, worried and whacked with guilt for not telling the Princess the truth.  Of course, Amore only frowned and tilted her head, having an idea what Sombra saw in the heart's reflection.  The scene was viewed by Sora and company, who were astonished.

"That's Princess Amore?" Donald asked.

"Garsh, she looks lovely." Goofy said.

"Amazing." Shining said.  "She looks just like Cadance."

"Then... does that mean Cadance is a distant relative or something?" Spike asked.  He glanced back at Twilight, but her focus was on Hope and Sombra, but more on Sombra's worried expression.  She has also saw what they have seen in the Heart.  What was interesting was that Sombra's future did happen where he became evil, but Radiant Hope's future, where she would be a princess, did not happen.

"Strange." Twilight said.  "Sombra saw what would happen to him, but he did nothing to stop it.  Yet, when Radiant Hope saw what she would become, it never happened."

"That is strange." Sora said.  He then glanced back at the Princess, but his eyes were set on the Crystal Heart.  The Crystal Heart has the ability to show one their future?  A future that may or may not happen?


私たちの未来は石に設定されています...あなたがそれを可能にする場合にのみ。


"Huh?" Sora asked, getting himself back to reality.  He heard that voice again.  But he heard it when he was looking at the Crystal Heart.  Was the Crystal Heart speaking to him?  Before he could think more on it, the scene shifted around him and the others, and the group then found themselves back in Sombra's room.  But to their surprise, they saw Sombra in bed and Radiant Hope was next to his bedside.  And so was Chestnut Falls.  The black colored colt didn't look so good.  He looked very sick, and he felt like he was in pain.

"Hmmm... he doesn't seem to be getting any better." Chestnut Falls said.

"What's wrong with him, Ms. Falls?" Hope asked.

"The doctor can't seem to figure it out." Chestnut Falls said.  "I don't think he'll be able to attend the Crystal Faire today.  I'm sorry."  Hearing that made Hope feel sad.  She glanced back at Sombra, who was in constant pain.

"I'll stay here with him." Hope said.  "You can go with the others Ms. Falls."

"Ok, dear." Chestnut Falls said as she made her way to the door and left the room, while the little filly stayed with the poor colt.  He continued to shiver in pain.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Hope." Sombra said, looking at her with a sad smile.

"It's alright, Sombra." Hope said.  "I won't leave until you feel better."

"But the Faire..." Sombra said weakly.  "I don't want you to miss it."

"It's ok." Hope said.  "There's always next year.  And besides.  What kind of friend would I be if I left you alone to suffer?  It won't be fun without you."  She placed her hoof into his and he looked at her with a bittersweet face.  She was willing to miss the Faire to stay with him?  He couldn't help but smile, but shed tears.

"Thank you..." He said, unable to keep himself from crying.  The filly moved closer and nuzzled him with a hug.

"I will never leave you, Sombra." Hope said.  "I promise."  The sad but happy moment was witnessed by the others.  The little filly refused to go to her favorite place in all of the Empire so she can be with her friend.

"Awww..." Donald said.

"She chose to stay with Sombra." Goofy said.  Twilight couldn't help but smile at Hope's decision to stay with Sombra.

"So, she gave up going to the Faire to be with him?" Flash asked.

"Of course she did." Twilight said as she took a hoofstep forward.  "She chose her best friend over the Faire, just like my friends chose to find me instead of going to the wedding before their memories were tampered with."  Sora couldn't help but smile too.  But then suddenly, time sped up around them, going forward as many suns and moons passed.  He then heard something whisper into his ear.


The next day, he was better again.  But as the day the Faire came again, he felt ill one more, and we weren't able to go to the Faire.  The same thing happened the next year after the next... and then...


"We?" Sora asked, then he realized who was talking to him.  Was that... Radiant Hope talking to him?

Suddenly, time slowed down back to it's current movement, and the group saw Sombra and Hope again.  But this time, no longer were they colt and filly this time.  Radiant Hope was now a mare, taller and grown up, right at Twilight's height.  Her mane was similar to Fluttershy, but not as long.  And Sombra, no longer was he a colt.  He was a grown stallion, but he still looked gravely ill.

"Hope.... I'm sorry...." He spoke weakly, still in pain.

"It's ok, Sombra." Hope said.  "It'll be alright.  I won't leave you."  But then suddenly, the stallion in the bed squinted his eyes and began to choke in pain, and let out gasps of pain, much to the unicorn's surprise.

"Sombra?" She asked.  "Sombra?"  Suddenly, he opened his eyes, now covered with a glowy green, and his pupils were blood shot red with a purple mist evaporating from them, just like in his vision!  Everyone gasped at the sight.

"Oh No!" Twilight said.

"This must be when he became evil!" Shining said.  The group could do nothing but watch as the stallion found himself lifted up in the air and his hooves started to crack.

"Sombra!  What's happening?!" Hope asked.

"I... I don't know!" Sombra shouted.  "I can't control it!"  Suddenly, he let out a monstrous scream as he began to grow fangs in his teeth, and his body began to crack more and more, causing black mist or shadows and darkness to leak out.  The poor stallion was in pain as he was unable to stop it.  Whatever it was, Hope had a pretty good idea what was going on.

"Oh No!" She shouted.  "You're... you're disappearing!"

"I'm what- AAAAHHHHH!!!" He shouted as he felt his body beginning to crack even more, and his horn began to turn into red.  "Hope!  Save Me!  Help Me, Please!"  His cries of pain and horror filled the room as his body began to shatter, showing a monstrous spectre as Radiant Hope began to panic with tears in her eyes.  She didn't want to lose him.

"NO!" She cried.  "Don't Leave Me, Sombra!"  She then ignited her horn and grabbed ahold of him with her magic.  She focused hard and used everything she had to keep him from fading away and putting him back together again.  Pretty soon, his entire body was piecing back together, and the black spectre was gone as Hope sealed it back inside of Sombra.  Pretty soon, Sombra was put back together and he collapsed to the floor.  Radiant Hope released her magic and nearly fell to the floor, tired.  She made her way to the unconscious stallion and nudged him.

"Sombra?" She asked.  "Are you ok?"  Luckily, the stallion was able to lift his head up, showing that he was alright.

"Yes, I think so." He said, glancing back at the mare.  "You saved me."

"Of course I did." Hope said as he got closer to him.  "I didn't want to lose you.  I love you too much to lose you."  The stallion was astonished.  The mare saved him, because she loved him.  He couldn't help but smile, feeling relieved and amazed by Hope's gesture.

"Thank you." He said, but then his eyes were right at something on Hope's flank, and it surprised him and made him smile.

"Hope!" Sombra said.  "Your cutie mark!"

"Huh?" Hope asked.  She then glanced at her flank and saw with a surprised face.  She saw her cutie mark, which was a gold caduceus.

"My cutie mark!" She said and she began to hop excitingly, almost like Twilight when she got her cutie mark.  But then she got ahold of herself and blushed at her little funny moment.

"Sorry..." She said with embarrassment, but Sombra gave a chuckle.

"It's alright." He said.  "I'm happy for you."  Seeing his smile only brought a tear to her eye.  She had just noticed how... how handsome her friend was.  Before he could say anything else, she rushed over to him and locked her lips onto his, sealing a kiss.  It was a great surprise to him, but to him, it felt so pure and right.  The two remained there for a while as they continued their passionate kiss, caring not if someone walked in on them.  Pretty soon, the two broke the kiss, but they didn't depart.

"Thank you, Sombra." Hope said, and she hugged him and nuzzled him affectionate.  The stallion nuzzled her as well, and the two sat there, sharing this special moment.

"Whoa...." Donald said.  "She saved him!"

"Garsh, she must really care for him." Goofy said.

"Yeah." Sora said.  "But what was that, though?  Sombra was about to disappear."

"It can't be...." Everyone turned to Shining, who showed a face of horror, and it was also shown in his eyes.

"Shining, what's wrong?" Twilight asked.

"He's....  He's....  He's an Umbrum!" Shining spoke out.

"A what?" Sora asked.

"An Umbrum!" Shining said.  "I don't know much about them, but they're said to be creatures born from an ancient darkness that dates back more than thousands of years ago."

"How do you know that, captain?" Flash asked.

"I read about it in a book once." Shining said.  "Twily's not the only one who reads books from time to time."  Hearing that made Twilight give a weak grin.  

"An Umbrum...?" Sora asked, and he started to think.  Is an Umbrum some form of Heartless?  From what Shining said, the Umbrum were born from darkness, just like the Heartless.  But they can't be heartless, because they don't have the distinctive qualities that a heartless would have.  He was then drawn out of his train of thoughts as he heard the voice speak to him again.


This was the day I received my cutie mark, and it was when I found what my talent was.  I had the ability to heal any pony of any ailment.  Everypony was talking about how powerful I was, but I didn't realize how much it was affecting Sombra.  He was always supportive of me, but I didn't realize how much it bothered him, until the day I got a letter, and something that would change my life forever.


Suddenly, the scene began to change around them, showing Radiant Hope showing her cutie mark with the other ponies.  She was shown using her magic to heal injured and sick ponies of any ailment, showing that she had the abilities of an excellent magical healer.  That meant Hope had very powerful magic, just as powerful as Twilight's.  The next scene showed Sombra by himself, pacing with a worried expression.

"Why does he look so worried?" Spike asked.

"Hope's magic is unlike anything I've ever seen." Sombra said to himself.  "This could reach out to the Princesses, and that means they'll take Hope as their student.  That means she'll have to leave home... and I'll be all alone!"  At that moment, Twilight knew what Sombra was panicking about.

"Oh no." She said.  "Hope's magical abilities must've gotten the attention of the Princesses."

"Sombra!" The stallion turned his head to see Hope with a happy smile.  "You'll never believe it!  The most amazing thing has happened!"  In her magical grip was a letter, and it had the seal of the two royal sisters!  That meant one thing!  The Princesses wanted her to leave home and study under them!  That means he'll be all alone!  In a state of panic, Sombra quickly bolted away, much to her surprise.

"Sombra?" Hope asked.  "Sombra, where are you going?  I didn't even tell you the news!"  He didn't hear her or anything.  He just wanted to run away.  He knew how powerful Hope was, and he knew with the Princesses' help, she would have the potential to be a princess.  That means she will leave him behind and he'll disappear if she's not here.  What she had seen in the reflection of the Crystal Heart was real!  It never seemed real before, but now it was.

"Why was he running?" Donald asked.

"Because she got a letter from the Princesses." Twilight said.  "It was an invitation to be their apprentice!  That means she would have to leave, and Sombra would be all alone."

"Garsh, he must be pretty sad." Goofy said.

"I'll say." Sora said.  Suddenly, the scene shifted around them once more, and it transformed into the Frozen Tundra outside the castle, much to everyone's surprise.

"Oh great, another scene change." Spike said.

"Why are we out here, though?" Flash asked.  Soon, their attention turned straight to a trail of hoofprints.  Looking up, they saw Sombra, galloping as far as he could.  It wasn't snowing hard, as it was gently falling from the sky.  The stallion had a sad face, and tears were in his eyes.  He soon came to a stop to catch his breath.  But he laid down on the ground and sighed sadly.

"Hope is going to leave home..." He said.  "She's going to leave me behind.  But... I don't want her to go.  I don't want to be alone again..."  He soon collapsed to the ground and laid there on his side, crying softly.  He was afraid to be alone.  He didn't want Hope to leave.  He didn't want to be alone again.  Alone forever...

"Sombra, my dear...  What is wrong?"  The mysterious voice got the stallion's attention.  He lifted his head up, wondering where the voice came from.

"Huh?" He asked as he got back to his hooves.

"Why did you come to see me?  Have you completed your work?"

"Who's there?" He asked.

"Over here, my son." The voice said.  The stallion turned his head, and to his surprise, he saw a red crystal structure, slightly taller than his height.  The voice came from the crystal.  Was it speaking to him?

"Wh.... who are you?" Sombra asked.

"Don't you recognize me?" The crystal asked.  "It is I.  I am your mother..."

"You... you are?" Sombra asked.

"Of course I am..." The crystal said, with a strange older voice.  "I'm the one who brought you into this world."  The stallion tilted his head.  This crystal brought him into this world?

"I... I don't understand." Sombra said.  "The guards found me out here all alone."

"And haven't you ever wondered how you got here?" The crystal asked.  "Haven't you ever wondered why you are different than everyone else?  Why you don't have one of those silly little marks like the others?"  Surprised to hear this, the stallion began to see that the crystal knows more about him than he does.

"Please!" He said.  "Tell me!  What am I?"

"The answer is so simple, my son." The crystal said, revealing inside it to be a strange creature.  It was a black smoky creature that looked just like a normal horse, but with demonic features all over it.  "You're not like them because you're not one of them.  You're not a creature of shining crystal, nor are you a pony.  You're the opposite.  A creature of shadow and smoke.  A creature of pure darkness.  You're the very thing they fear.  An Umbrum.  A Shadow Pony."  The stallion, surprised by his mother's appearance, was taken back by this.  Wait.  They're afraid of him?

"But... they're not afraid of me." Sombra said.

"Oh, they are." The Umbrum spoke from the crystal.  "They just can't remember why.  You see, we're the darkness that they fight to keep at bay, to stop us from burning the world and plaguing their world.  We used to haunt their dreams and turn some of them into monsters, that is until they created a weapon to keep us away."  A weapon to keep the darkness at bay?  He then remembered the story that Hope had told him about the Crystal Faire, how the Crystal Heart was made to keep the dark stuff away!  It began to make sense now.  Why he was always feeling sick, because the Heart's power was killing him.

"The Crystal Heart!" Sombra said.  "That's why I'm always ill when the Faire comes, because it's suppose to protect them from me!  But why?  I can't do anything!"

"Oh, but you can." The creature, the Umbrum, spoke.  "Your magic is very powerful, but it also makes you vulnerable to the light and the Heart's magic.  So we locked it away...  Until now!"  Pretty soon, the eyes of the creature in the crystal began to ignite and suddenly, the crystal shot a purple bolt of power right onto the stallion, making him twitch and gasp as he felt like something turned on a switch in his brain.  Suddenly, his green irises were gone, and his horn transformed into a red pointy horn, and his eyes were now green with red pupils.  His jet black mane was flowing with dark magic.  No longer did he have a scared and confused face.  He had the face of a fearsome beast.

"Oh no..." Sora said.

"So, this must be when Sombra became evil." Twilight said.

"Go easy now, my son." The crystal said.  "Your powers are stronger than you have any way of knowing.  You may not be able to control them at first, but you will."  To Sombra, he realized now that he was darkness, just like his mother and the Umbrum.  Desturction was his talent, and darkness was his only mark.

"What do I do now, mother?" Sombra asked.

"Release us, my son." The crystal spoke.  "We wait below the city, trapped by the great seal of the Crystal Heart within the center of the castle.  You must go there and unlock it.  But first, you must take away Amore's weapon."  Hearing that made Sombra surprised.  He had to steal the Crystal Heart?

"But if I do that, then I'll lose the only friend I have!" Sombra said.

"You no longer have a choice, Sombra." The crystal said to him.  "If you do not remove the heart by the next Crystal Faire, then it will destroy you!"  The future shadow king was a bit conflicted, but knew it was the only way.  He had to steal the Crystal Heart to prevent it from destroying him.  Seeing no other way, he gave a nod.

"I will do what I can, mother." He said as he then transformed into smoke and flew off back to the castle, with one thing set in mind.  To steal the Crystal Heart.  The others watched the shadow king fly off to the city.

"What?" Sora asked.

"So that's what Umbrums look like?" Donald asked.  "A puff of smoke?"

"No, they're worse than that." Shining said.  "They're much more hideious and monstrous.  That must be why Sombra took over the Crystal Empire, to release the Umbrum from under the city!"

"Oh No!" Spike said.  "We have to stop him!"

"We can't." Twilight said.  "This is just an glimpse to the past.  But we will stop him somehow."

"We better go check out what happens next!" Goofy said.

"Right!" Sora said.  Pretty soon, the scene shifted around them, bringing them back at the base of the castle, where the Crystal Heart was minding it's own business.  But soon, a pony wearing a black coat with purple linings began to approach it, and he had a red horn and green and red eyes.  It was definitely Sombra.

"This must be when he stole the heart." Shining said, seeing the black stallion approach the heart.  To be honest, Sombra knew he had to take the heart, but destroying it was not his intention.  Deep down, he knew in his heart that destroying the artifact was wrong, so instead, he chose to hide it instead.  He raised his hoof to take it, but as it got close, the heart shined, and it caused his hoof to burn.

"Ow..." He grunted as he shook his poor hoof.  He then thought of another way to get it.  He brought the brown bag to stuff it in when he took it.  So, with a strong tug, he managed to swipe the Crystal Heart from it's place with the bag, and it dropped into the bag.  That was more easier than he thought.

"There..." He said, sealing the bag up.  "I'm sorry Hope, but I don't want to disappear again."  He wrapped the bag around his back, not even noticing the regal Princess of the Crystal Empire emerging from behind the castle structure.

"It's not too late for you, Sombra." She spoke.  Her voice made the Shadow King turn his head, to see Princess Amore standing there.  Surprisingly, she didn't have a stern face, or a face that would make a pony feel afraid.  She looked concerned, but not for the Crystal Heart, but for Sombra.

"Princess Amore!" He said.  "What are you doing here?"

"Somepony needed my help, so I came here." Princess Amore said as she approached him.

"And who are you helping, exactly?" Sombra asked.

"You." Princess Amore said.

"Me?" Sombra asked a bit surprised.  "I don't your help, Princess.  You have no idea what I've been through."

"Then tell me what you've been through." Princess Amore said.  "Please, don't make a mistake you can't take back.  You don't have to be one of those monsters."  One of those monsters, he thought.  Then that means... she knew?  She knew who he was?

"You knew..." He said.  "You knew all along of what I was, and you never told me?!"

"Yes, I did." Princess Amore said.  The black stallion growled.

"Why?!" Sombra asked.  "Why did you hide the truth from me?"

"I didn't want you to suffer." Princess Amore said.  "I didn't want you to think that you were a monster.  I didn't want the truth to hurt you.  But I should've told you all those years ago.  And for that, I'm sorry."  The stallion continued to growl.

"All those years of suffering..." Sombra said with rage.  "You knew why the Crystal Faire was making me sick!  You knew why because you made it!  You made the Crystal Heart hurt me!"

"No!" Princess Amore said.  "Not you, Sombra.  I didn't want you to hurt, but the Heart's power has a mind of it's own.  But I saw that you had the potential to be better.  I see it even now!  You don't have to be like those monsters!  We can find a way to help you.  You have the power to forge your own path, to forge your own destiny.  You can choose to be the pony you want to be-"

"ENOUGH!" Sombra shouted, having enough of this.  With his horn, he ignited his dark power and zapped Princess Amore.

"GAAAHHH!!!" The Princess shouted as the dark magic hit hurt painfully.  Suddenly, she found herself being transformed slowly into pure stone from the bottom to the top.  She tried to break free, but she couldn't move.  She glanced back fearfully at the stallion, who's face was now unhooded.

"You can't save me, Princess." Sombra said.  "Just as you can't save your precious little Crystal Ponies."

"Sombra... Please...." Princess Amore choked as her entire body transformed into stone.  She let out a gasp for air until her whole face became stone.  She was now a stone statue, and Sombra made her this way.  The group watching this was horrified, and quite shocked to boot.

"He turned her into stone!" Donald shouted.

"Garsh!" Goofy said.

"How horrible..." Twilight said, just as Sombra only gave a grin, showing his sharp teeth.  At that moment, he knew his fate was sealed, but he didn't care.  He found something stronger than love.  Fear.  Fear was his strongest power of all, and now he would take the fear everyone placed in him and repay each of those ponies with it.

"Sombra...?" The familiar voice got the stallion's attention.  He turned to see Radiant Hope, who was shocked and terrified by what she saw.  Either she saw what went down, or she had just arrived.

"Wh... What are you doing?" She asked.

"Doing what I was destined to do." Sombra said as he stepped aside, letting Hope see his work, which was Princess Amore, now trapped in stone.  The crystal pony rushed over to the stone statue and was horrified.

"Princess Amore!" She spoke.  "It's ok, I can fix this!"  She then ignited her magic and cast her healing spell on the statue.  But with even a flash, nothing worked.  The Princess was still stone.

"Oh No!" Hope said.  "Princess, please, come back!  Come Back!"  The crystal unicorn tried her magic again, but alas, nothing worked.

"Everything is alright, Hope." Sombra said, getting her attention.  "Everything is finally the way it was meant to be."  Radiant Hope was confused by this.

"Wh... what do you mean?" She asked.

"I put Princess Amore in her place." Sombra said.  "She knew exactly what I was, and she let the Crystal Heart hurt me.  So, I repayed the favor."  The crystal unicorn was still surprised and confused.  But she knew that Sombra did this to Princess Amore.  At the same time, she was worried that he'll get in trouble.  She didn't want to see her friend locked up.

"Run, Sombra!" Hope said.  "Get away from here before the guards come for you!  I don't want them to hurt you!"

"You don't get it, Hope." Sombra said.  "They can't hurt me.  I'll be the one hurting them from now on... No.  We'll be the ones hurting them."

"Wh... what?" Hope asked as the stallion approached her.

"Do you not remember, Hope?" Sombra asked.  "How those ponies teased us?  How they tormented us?  How they laughed and made us writhe in pain?"

"S...Sombra..." Hope said.

"You and Me, we're the most powerful ones here." Sombra said.  "We can rule this land as King and Queen.  I have found my power and you're on your way to be a Princess.  I will bring them under our hooves.  I will find my people, and you can rule by my side!  Together, we'll be unstoppable!"  At that moment, Radiant Hope was terrified.  Her dear friend has fallen to darkness, just like Anakin Skywalker when he transformed into the infamous Darth Vader.  The crystal unicorn knew in her heart that this wasn't right.  Ruling over ponies through fear and anger, it wasn't right.

"Sombra... I can't do that." Hope said.  "This is Princess Amore's castle!  Please, bring her back Sombra!  Please, let me help you!  Please!"

"Help me?" Sombra asked, giving a vicious grin.  "You got it all wrong, Hope.  I don't need help anymore.  And as for Princess Amore..."  His horn lit up once more and then he stomped his hoof.  

-CRACK-

Then all of a sudden, the statue of Princess Amore, once the Princess of all of the Crystal Empire, shattered completely, much to Radiant Hope's horror.

"NOOO!!!" She screamed, but it was too late.  Princess Amore was no more, and the pieces of her statue crumbled to the ground.

"She is broken." Sombra said, just as Hope collapsed to her knees and cried.  Her Princess was gone.  The one pony she looked up to was gone.  And what's worse, she lost the stallion she loved.  She laid there crying, unable to process what just happened.  She then glanced up, and to her horror, no longer did she see the colt that she loved.  She saw a monster.

"Y....you're a monster..." She said.

"Yes, but I'm not just any monster." Sombra said.  "I am the King of Monsters."  The crystal unicorn looked with great fear as the stallion approached her.

"But you can still join me, Hope." He said.  "We can still rule this kingdom together.  Isn't that what you wanted, right?  To be a Princess?"  The mare only looked at her only friend, seeing there was no light in him now.

"No..." Hope said.

"What?" Sombra asked.  "But isn't this what you wanted?"

"Yes." Hope said.  "I want to be with you.  But not like this..."  Hearing that made the stallion growl, and his eyes began to glow green.

"In that case... Join your Princess!" He spoke as he was ready to ignite his horn with magic.

"Sombra, No!" Hope cried out.

Suddenly, the stallion stopped, and his horn stopped glowing.  A faint voice was talking to him.  His eyes widened with a surprise.  He saw the pony he loved afraid and frightened.  And he was going to hurt her!  He then realized what we he was doing.  No, he told himself.  I can't hurt her.  He didn't want too.  She was his only friend.  The only pony who was there for him everyday.  The only pony who chose to stay by his side when he was sick when the Faire came along.  He knew deep down in his heart that he still cares for her so much.  He still loved her.

"Over There!" A voice shouted.  "A Monster!"

"Stop Him!" Another voice shouted.  Turning their heads, they saw two Crystal Guards galloping towards them with spears, ready to attack.  Hope gasped as she saw the guards, but the black stallion stood in front of her, facing the guards.

"Hope, Get out of here!" He shouted.  "GO!"  His voice demanding, but begging her to flee, the mare got up on her hooves and galloped away.  She galloped as far as she could to flee from the city she grew up from, while the Shadow King stayed behind and took out the guards with one wave of darkness, sending them all away.

It wasn't much hassle dealing with them.  And pretty soon, everything flashes forward as the group saw the Crystal Ponies in chains, while Sombra stood from the balcony.  No longer wearing the black coat, but instead now wearing his metal armor, crown, and red king-like cape on his back.  

He gave a smile as he watched the crystal ponies move along in chains, as the others, who were invisible to everyone, only watched at what Sombra had done in that short amount of time.

"So this is when Sombra took over the Kingdom." Sora said.  "And the rest..."

"The rest we know..." Twilight said.  And then suddenly, everything began to fade away, and it all went completely white, showing that they were now leaving the flashback.


"Please...  Please help him find the light."






Suddenly, the light faded away, and the group found themselves back on solid ground, and back in the secret chamber that they found eariler.  Looking around, they were slightly confused, but had a good idea what just happened.

"We're back!" Spike said as he kissed the floor.

"That was... something." Sora said.

"What exactly just happened?" Flash asked.

"We were shown the past of what happened back before and when Sombra took over the Empire." Sora said.  "I guess we saw what we needed to see."  Twilight glanced back at the book, which was on the floor and opened.  She picked it up with her magic and read what was in it.

When I recount it, I will say that letting Radiant Hope go was my one mistake.  But I couldn't kill her.  I still loved her and I let her leave.  No doubt she has told the Royal Sisters of our tragic tale.  She believes that she  can save me?  No, they would come here to do what they do best.  Vanquish monsters.  Monsters like me.

I enslaved the Crystal Ponies to bring back the Umbrum, but now time runs short, as the Princesses are on their way.  I know I am no match for them, so I must act fast.  Perhaps-

The lavender unicorn holding the book saw that the word left wasn't finished.  She turned the page, only to see it blank.  There was nothing else in the book.

"There's nothing else left..." Twilight said, reading the final entry that was left inside the book.

"That must be the last thing he wrote before the Princesses showed up." Sora said.

"Garsh, he must've had a pretty rough life." Goofy said.

"Yeah, but he had Radiant Hope there with him, and she stood by his side every step of the way." Sora said.  Twilight only closed the book, feeling sympathy for the Shadow King.

"I feel sorry for him." She said.  "He never got to see the Crystal Faire, and it's all that he ever wanted."

"That and to crush the crystal ponies right under his hoof." Shining said.  "I wouldn't feel sorry for him.  He was just born bad."

"Shining, he was never born bad." Twilight said.  "He didn't even know that he was an Umbrum."

"But still, he was one of them." Shining said.  "The Umbrum are vicious monsters who want nothing but to burn the entire world to the ground, just like the Changelings when they invaded our home."  Hearing that made Flash, or Thorax, lower his head with a bit of worry and fear.

"Shining!" Twilight said.  "It wasn't his fault!  He was afraid that Hope would abandon him.  He had no one else left!"

"Yet he allowed his future to come true!" Shining said.  "He had a chance to change his future, but he chose to accept it!  It also makes him accountable for his actions!"  The lavender unicorn only gave her brother a glare of disapproval.

"Well, shouldn't you be held accountable for letting the Changeling Queen into Canterlot, allowing her to get her army in?" Twilight asked.  Hearing that made Shining gasp, but then he thought about it.  Turning his head for a moment, he knew that she was right.  He was responsible for letting the Changelings into Canterlot.

"Oh boy..." Spike said as he shook his head.  As the two siblings had another argument, Sora, Donald, and Goofy only watched.  The former didn't like the two getting in a heated conversation, and it was making him antsy.

"Guys... we can't let this go on." Sora said.

"Sora." Donald said.

"They have to figure it out themselves." Goofy said.  "We can't just rush them."

"I know, but..." Sora said.

-RUMBLE-

The sudden shake in the room quickly took everyone by surprise, and it even stopped Twilight and Shining from arguing.  The ceiling also shook, making some of the crystals on the ceiling shake off and drop to the ground.  One landing into Spike's mouth, who happily ate it.

"Mmmm... tasty!" He said.

"What was that?" Flash asked.  Once again, the ground below them shook up, and before they knew it, it was starting to crack up underneath Twilight, and before she knew it, the ground broke from under her and she fell right in.

"GAAAAHHH!" She called out as she fell down the hole.

"TWILY!" Shining shouted in horror as he jumped right in after her.

"TWILIGHT!" Spike screamed in terror.  Without hesitating, the baby dragon jumped in after them.

"Twilight!  Shining!  Spike!" Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Flash called out as the three disappeared into the hole.  Donald also made his way towards the hole and then jumped head first.  But then, the hole closed up, preventing them from going in, and causing Donald to land on his head hard and fall to the ground all dizzy.

"Ooooo...." Sora, Flash, and Goofy said.

"That's gonna leave a mark." Goofy said.

"Ow...." He said as he laid there all dizzy.

"What happened?" Sora asked, wondering what happened to the others.

"They must've fell down into a trap door or something." Flash said.  "How are we gonna find them?"  Goofy looked around and noticed the books on the bookshelf on the other side of the room.  He then got an idea.  He rushed towards the bookshelf and began to pull on the books, while tossing them away.

"What are you doing?" Sora asked.

"Seeing if the bookshelf has a switch or something that can open a passage way!" Goofy said.

"Oh, good thinking!" Sora said as he made his way to the other book shelf and began pulling books to see if one of them activated a passage way.  The ones that didn't work were tossed away and onto Donald, who was still knocked out from hitting his head.

"Anything?" Flash asked.

"Nothing yet." Sora said as he moved to the next shelf, seeing that it was a bit dark to see.  "Say, Goofy.  Hand me a candle so I can see, will ya?"

"Oh, sure thing." Goofy said as he reached to the left side and pulled out the lit candle from the socket.  But the suddenly, the bookshelf Sora was in front of flipped around by a circle on the ground, pulling itself and Sora around and behind the wall it was leaning on.  Luckily, Goofy and Flash noticed this.

"Whoa!" Flash said.  "That must be a passage way."

"Sora?!" Goofy asked, leaning against the wall.  "Are you ok?!"

"Put!  The Candle!  Back!" Sora called from the other side of the wall.  Of course.  Maybe putting the candle back will flip the bookshelf and Sora back on their side.  The knight placed the candlestick back, and the wall opened up, causing the bookshelf and Sora to spin around in a whole 360 and behind the wall again.  Well, that didn't help.

"Oops." Goofy said.

"Ok!" Sora said.  "I got an idea!  Um... Take out the candle, and I'll try blocking the bookshelf with my body!"

"You sure?" Goofy asked.

"Positive!" Sora said.

"Ok." Goofy said.  He then took out the candle, causing the wall to flip open again, revealing Sora and the bookshelf.  Before it could do another 360 spin, Sora quickly made moved forward to the edge of the bookshelf as it reached the wall and it stopped, thankfully.  The knight and the rookie guard then saw Sora, slightly crushed against the wall and bookshelf.

"Sora?" Goofy asked.

"Ok... listen to me very carefully." The boy said, still able to speak despite his cheeks and face being squeezed by the wall and bookshelf.  "Don't.  Put.  The Candle.  Back.  Then what I want you to do is shove the other side of the bookshelf.  Can you do that?"  Goofy looked at the boy and the wall.  If he shoves the other side of the bookshelf, it help open the passage way and free Sora.

"Sure thing." Goofy said, then glanced back at Flash.  "Here, hold this."

"Uh... ok." Flash said as the candle was placed in his hooves.  Then, Goofy rushed to the other side of the wall and pushed with all of his might, successfully pushing the wall and freeing Sora, who walked out, unscathed.

"Sora, are you alright?" Flash asked.

"Yeah, I'm good." Sora said as he let out a sigh of relief.  "Thanks Goofy.  Goofy?"  He turned around and saw that the bookshelf was back, but not Goofy.  He must've pushed all the way and is on the other side of the wall.

"Um... fellas?" Goofy called out from the other side of the wall.  "Can you put the candle back, please?"

"Oh, right, sorry!" Sora said as he took the candle from Flash and placed it back into it's slot, allowing the wall to open up.  This time, Sora lifted the candle up and then back down so the wall could stop, so Goofy was out, and the passage way was opened.

"Thanks, fellas." Goofy said with a smile.  Then, Donald popped his head from the bookpile underneath him and shook his head.

"What happened?" He asked.

"We found a secret entrance." Sora said, pointing to the passage way between the wall and bookshelf, which was opened.  Donald raised an eyebrow with a bit of surprise.  He was out for almost two minutes and they found a passage way?

"Huh." Donald said.  "I could've done that."

"Well, let's go down there and see if we can find Twilight and the others." Flash said.

"Alright." Sora said.  "Let's go."  He was about to take the candle from the slot.

"Wait, wait, Sora!" Goofy said.  "Remember the candle..."  The boy then remembered.  They move the candle, it'll cause the passageway to close up or something.

"Oh, right." Sora said as he released the candle.  "I'll just use this."  He then summoned his keyblade and he pointed it forward, with the tip of the blade igniting a spark of light.

"Ok, let's go." Sora said.  And just like that, the four went into the secret passage way, hoping to find Twilight, Shining, and Spike, and hopefully... just hopefully... the Crystal Heart as well.





Out back in the Frozen Tundra...

It was a long walk to where he had to go... but he made it to where he had to be.  King Sombra only watched from afar, seeing the Crystal Empire and it's shield still up and proud.  He could hear some sounds going on in the castle, and it sounded like ponies cheering.  It seems that the heroes were keeping the Crystal Ponies occupied and keeping their spirits up and bright.  To him, that wasn't good.  So much glad and light.  If he waited too long, he won't be able to seize control of the Crystal Empire.  He had to act quickly.  He turned around and made his way to the red crystal that sprouted up from the ground.

"Mother... can you hear me?" Sombra asked.  Pretty soon, the red crystal glowed brightly, and revealed what seems to be a strange demonic horse-like creature inside the crystal itself.

"Sombra... you have returned." The creature said.

"Yes, I have." Sombra said.  "Forgive me if it took far too long.  The Royal Sisters have prevented me from doing my task, and things were put on a long hiatus."

"How long has it been, my child?" The crystal asked.

"A thousand years, I'm afraid." Sombra said.

"A Thousand Years?!" The crystal asked.  "How?  It's only been a couple days for us."

"Yes, that was actually my doing." Sombra said.  "Before the Princesses could destroy me I cast a curse on the Empire and the surrounding areas to make it vanish, frozen in time for a millennia.  Now the curse has been lifted, and now we can try again, mother."

"Good... good..." She spoke through the crystal.  "A thousand years won't make a difference.  We shall rise again and burn this world to the ground."

"Yes, but there may be one problem." Sombra said.  "The Princess has sent help... from the Outside Worlds."

"The Outside Worlds?" The creature in the crystal asked.  "She summoned the Keyblade Wielders into our world?!"

"Yes, she has." Sombra said.  "There appears to be at least five or six of them.  Another force of evil arrived and originally intended to help us, but they left after learning about you all."

"Is that so?" The crystal asked.  "Well, no matter.  They will not suspect a thing.  We shall waste them easily, but first you must free us.  There is a door where hidden beneath where the Crystal Heart usually resides, and if you open it, we shall be free."

"So shall it be." Sombra said.  "But it'll be difficult though.  They have a powerful shield up that prevents us from getting inside."

"Then... you must find a way through the gate and free us." The crystal said.  "We must be freed, even if innocent blood must be shed."

"I will free you, mother." Sombra said.  "But how?"  He then started to think.  How was he going to get through the barrier?  If he and that idiot from earlier wasn't able to get through it, then how is he going to?

"Maybe with some extra darkness?" A voice asked, making him turn his head.  Turning around, he saw the man again.  The man in the black hood.  He was probably standing there the whole time.  The Shadow Pony only growled.

"What do you want?" He asked.

"Oh sorry, was I interrupting something?" D asked.  "A little mother and son moment here?"  The stallion continued to growl with anger, remembering how he shot that bolt back at him and slammed him into shield wall.  But D's attention was drawn back to the red crystal in the ground.  He walked towards it and smiled.

"So... this is where you guys have been hiding, or perhaps communicating through, at the least." D said.   "It's been quite a while, hasn't it... Rabia." The demonic-like horse in the crystal raised one of them with a bit of confusion, and familiarity.  While the Umbrum creature, Rabia, was in the crystal, she was able to sense the dark power from the hooded man, but not just the dark power, but a power that is probably centuries old.

"Your power..." Rabia's voice spoke.  "It is somehow... familiar.  Have we met before?"

"What, you don't remember me?" D asked.  "It's only been more than a thousand years since we've last met."  He placed his hand on the crystal, and from the sudden shocked gasp, it seems that Rabia has remembered who this man is.

"You...!" Rabia's voice said.  "You're!..."

"Shhhh..." D hushed.  "Let's not go speaking names yet.  But don't worry.  I'm not here to kill you.  I'm here to help you instead."  As the hooded man spoke to the Umbrum inside the crystal, Sombra raised an eyebrow.  Does he know his mother?

"Wait... you know her?" Sombra asked.

"In a way, yes..." D said.  "She and your little family of shadow ponies aren't your typical horsemen of darkness."

"What?" Sombra asked.

"I have seen them before, and I have seen other creatures like them." D explained.  "These creatures in here, these Umbrum as you call them, were born from the deepest depths of darkness, a darkness that is far more powerful, old, and ancient than the ones those keyblade wielders have been fighting for centuries."  D then glanced at Sombra, who was still a bit confused by the man's explanation.

"But you, you're not like them, though." D said.  "Perhaps because your Heart and Will are more stronger than these ones in here.  I guess that makes the two of us."  The Shadow King only scuffed at his remark.

"We are nothing alike." Sombra said.  D only smiled under his head, but his amber eyes were visible to the Shadow King.

"So, you want to free these creatures out of their little prison?" D asked.

"Yes." Sombra said.

"Well, don't worry." D said.  "I'll go right into the castle and get the shield down for you."  The shadowy pony raised an eyebrow.

"How?" Sombra asked.  "How will you be able to shatter the shield?"

"By erasing the hope and love the Crystal Ponies have left." D said.  "And I'll do it by doing one simple act."

"Which is?" Sombra asked.  At that moment, D then dug his hands into the snow and picked up some snow, and crafted it into a heart, almost looking like the Crystal Heart.  While it was hard to see under his hood, he began to look at the heart-shaped snow ball like he was admiring it.  Suddenly, he released it and let it fall flat onto the ground, breaking the snow heart into smaller pieces of snow.  He then gasped and began to do a fake weep, before giving a wink to the shadow pony.

"Huh?" Sombra asked.

"I'll smash the Crystal Heart." D said, and hearing that made Sombra gasp.

"You fool..." Sombra said.  "You'll cause the kingdom to be engulfed into an Eternal Blizzard!"

"Eh." D said.  "It shouldn't be a problem when you free the Umbrum.  They burn everything in their path.  Isn't that right, Rabia?"  He glanced back at the red crystal, and the Umbrum Queen was thinking.

"Yes..." She said.  "Destroy the Heart."  Sombra was a bit surprised to hear this, and he then looked away thinking.

"Sombra, No!"

He then widened his eyes open and looked away in the snowy blizzard, seeing a familiar lavender unicorn with a crystal blue mane and tail.

"Please, Sombra, don't do this, please!" She pleaded.  Sombra gasped.

"Hope..." He said.

"Hello, earth to mister Shadow King?" His attention was brought back to D and the red crystal.  "You alright?"  The Shadow King looked away once again.  His mind was still on Radiant Hope, the one unicorn who loved him with all of her heart.  He can still recall what happened when... when...  He shook it off.

"Nothing." He said.  "I was... just thinking."

"Well, do you want me to help you free these little monsters?" D asked.  The Shadow King only let out a sigh.  Destroying the Crystal Heart was not on his to do list, and Radiant Hope wouldn't want him to do so, even if he did destroy Princess Amore.  But he had to get the throne back, and it was his destiny to be evil.  So...

"Do what you have to do." He said, much to D's glee.

"Splendid!" D said as he clapped his hands.  "I'll be on my way then."  He then began to walk away and make his way back to the Crystal Empire.  But then something came to Sombra's mind.  The shield was still up over the kingdom.  How does the man in the coat plan to get past the barrier?

"But how will you get in?" Sombra asked.  "There's no way you can get through the barrier."

"Oh, I have my ways." D said with a thumbs up.

"Meaning?" Sombra asked.

"Hello!" D said with a wave.  "Villain.  Darkness.  You get it."  He then went on his way to do his work, while the Shadow King raised an eyebrow.  Who was this man?  Why would he now help him too?  What was his deal?  He could tell that there was a darkness coming from him, but it was something much more nastier, something more... ancient like he and the Umbrum were.  He glanced back at the red crystal, where the Umbrum Queen still receded in.

"Who is he, mother?" He asked.

"He is just like you, my child." Rabia said.  "He was destined for greatness... well, he was suppose to be destined for greatness."  She only let out a sinister chuckle, having a good idea who this man was...  The man began to make his way towards the Crystal Empire.  But then he stopped for a moment and turned his head, looking around.  For a moment, he couldn't help but feel something.  Something strong, and something bright.  Almost as if...

"Hmmm, it's probably nothing." D told himself as he continued onward to the Crystal Empire, fully unaware of a pinkish-peach sparkling star floating far from him.  Reacting quickly, the star flew off towards the Crystal Empire as well, flying straight towards the sky and to the castle itself.


"I must warn him...  I must help Sora...!"