//------------------------------// // Bonus Chapter 6: Original Part 2 // Story: Kingdom Heart next generation: Friendship is Omniversal // by Starry Eyed //------------------------------// Kai went in first to motion for Chrysalis to follow him. This came across as strange to those who were watching, sure that the queen should be in front and this funny looking thing should be behind her. Cadence sneered at the Changeling queen, but regarded the human as something she was totally unprepared to deal with. Cadence spoke in a watered down version of the Royal Canterlot voice, “Queen Chrysalis, you have been charged with crimes of invasion, kidnapping, acts of violence against officers, acts of violence against civilians, multiple acts of attempted kidnapping, desertion of property, attacks against two royals, and several other war crimes. How do you plead?” Kai turned to Chrysalis with kind eyes and she answered them with harsh words, “I don’t want to do this you know.” Kai whispered back, “You don’t do the right thing because you want to anyway. You do it because it’s the right thing to do.” “Guilty,” replied Chrysalis. Cadence didn’t know what she wasn’t sure what she was expecting, apparently the nobles didn’t either. Kai made a graceful bow towards the Crystal Princess, “If I may, I would like to say something your highness.” Cadence may or may not have agreed under different circumstances, but she wanted to find out as much as she could about this strange creature and allowing its question was the best way to find out what it wanted. “Speak,” Cadence commanded. Kai looked up at Cadence with pleading and reverent eyes, “I assume you have been told about the Changelings “debt” and I have been told about your Crystal Heart. The Crystal Ponies more than anyone else are experienced in giving love away for free. They do so with the Crystal Heart every Crystal Fair. No one can be commanded to love and even if they could, it wouldn’t be a gift anymore, but a tax instead. I want you to plead with your people to “adopt” the Changelings as neighbors, thus donating them enough love to pay off all of their debt and break their curse once and for all.” “YOU WHAT?!” screamed the two royals of the Crystal Kingdom. The nobles present likewise began debating fiercely, “AND WHY WOULD WE EVER DO THAT?” Kai explained, “They were once ponies just like you. If you became one wouldn’t you want someone to help you? Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That is unconditional love. And if you cannot let go of your grudge,” Kai put his hand over his heart like he was pointing to himself, “then punish me. I will take any vengeance that you have in their place.” The only living thing in the room that had any certainty left was Kai. Everypony else was speechless because they had stopped thinking. They had no idea what to think of this, let alone what to say or do. Cadence stared into the determined eyes before her, more imprisoned by them than staring at a cockatrice. She couldn’t even bring herself to want to object to him. Cadence noticed Chrysalis behind him was even more shocked than the others. No one had ever done anything like this for her kind. Cadence stared at Chrysalis and remembered the last time she saw the Changeling queen. She felt like she was boiling inside, but no matter how hard she tried to ignore it, she still saw Kai standing there. Kai pacified her just as much as Chrysalis enraged her, leaving her feeling numb. “Court will take a three hour recess,” said Cadence. Everyone needed a chance to take a breather. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cadence paced on the balcony. Shining Armor stood nearby, unsure what to say. Cadence pleaded with her husband, “What am I going to do Shining? We were the ones she hurt the most, but she tried to destroy our whole way of life! She’s a monster! But I can’t deny that human has a point. Even if their queen is a monster, does that give us the right to turn our back on her subjects? Subjects who used to be ponies and are now hurting?” Shining answered, but it seemed he was trying to convince himself as well, “I’m not sure I can forgive her either, but I agree that we shouldn’t punish all the Changelings just because of her; but it isn’t like they are innocent either.” Cadence growled at him, “If you’re trying to make me more certain, you’re not doing a good job. If you think about it, HEALING the Changelings means BEING RID of the Changelings. Once the curse is broken, the Changelings will be no more. We can be free from there kind forever. But on the other hoof, we would essentially be pardoning them of their crimes and aiding them in their goals, the same goals that they nearly ruined Canterlot to achieve.” Shining Armor finally spoke, “I know. I feel the exactly same way.” Cadence got mad, “If you don’t know any more than I do then you can’t help me. I need some time to think, alone.” Shining Armor hung his head with helplessness and made his way out of the room. Cadence felt terrible for sending him out. She hung her head and wept bitterly, alone. “AH, I THOUGHT HE WOULD NEVER LEAVE. I’VE BEEN WANTING SOME ALONE TIME WITH YOU.” Cadence felt a chill run through her whole body. She knew that voice. It was Sombra. Black smoke billowed up from out of the floor and the unmistakable eyes of the tyrant appeared from the haze. “FEAR NOT CRYSTAL PRINCESS. THIS IS NOT MY REAL BODY. IT IS JUST ONE OF MY ILLUSIONS. BUT REAL OR NOT, I AM HERE TO HELP YOU.” Cadence accused, “You want to help me, you monster? I know you’re up to no good. Illusion or not, you’re too dangerous to discuss with.” The illusion congealed, quieting its voice and size and continued, “Please Princess, all that is left of the real me is a piece of my horn. If you acquire it you will be able to take my powers and I will not be able to repair my real self without a host body.” Cadence accused, “Ah-ha! So that’s your catch! You want a host body so you can restore yourself.” The illusion leaned in, “I will make you an unbreakable promise, that I will not possess anything that is of this world. If I break this promise, I will die.” Cadence would normally have fought fiercely with the fiend, but she wasn’t thinking clearly then. She stuttered, “Y ...you promise? You promise that if I find your horn and revive you that you wouldn’t possess anypony?” The illusion bowed, “Not just anypony. Not anything alive, or dead, or inanimate or anything else that is of this world.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The court room was filled again. The two that were on trial stood in the center of the room. Suddenly Princess Cadence walked in. She was thirty minutes late and looked tired. She took her place on the dais. She finally passed judgment, “I have the power to strengthen the bonds of love, but King Sombra had the power to strengthen fear. I don’t think you really know what you have allied yourself with human. Traces of King Sombra’s magic still linger here. I shall use such to instill in you the fear that Chrysalis instilled in us. I shall give all the fear and pain that Ponykind feels for her kind on you and let you decide.” Shining Armor’s response summarized what everyone was thinking, “WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT CADENCE?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?” Cadence levitated out a small shard of a red horn, a magic seal wrapped around it. The horn melted into smoke which formed up into the fog-like form of King Sombra. It encircled the human and descended upon him. Chrysalis protested, “What are you doing? Run! Fight him off!” Kai did nothing but speak, “She said that if I did this, your people would be healed. I’ll take it.” As the smog curled around him, Kai began to remember events he had never experienced. He felt what all the ponies of Canterlot felt for the Changelings. Kai feared them and that drew out his wrath. He turned on Chrysalis with fury in his eyes, “You did this. You are responsible.” Sombra began to sink into Kai, “Yes. So much power. Even the Alicorns that banished me didn’t have power like this one. I won’t be revived. I’ll ascend! I’ll become more powerful than anything!” Shining noticed that Cadence’s eyes were possessed like Sombra’s and turned to scream at the phantom, “You monster! You possessed her!” Sombra continued possessing the human but spoke anyway, “I didn’t possess her. I entranced her. She is easier to influence, but not directly possess. I promised that I wouldn’t possess anything from this world.” Chrysalis screamed, “But Kai isn’t from this world!” Sombra spoke, “Funny thing about that. He was so busy telling the Crystal Royals about your kind, that he forgot to tell them he wasn’t from this world. There are records of humans, so it makes sense that a human could be from here. Cadence just thought he was a monster. She never considered he might also be an alien, and since he is not of this world, I wouldn’t be breaking my promise if I possess him and regain my body.” Sombra slipped completely into Kai. Kai now had eyes like Sombra’s, and was cloaked in a dark aura. Kai turned on Chrysalis, and made ready to strike. Chrysalis would normally have run away, but she knew that escaping from this titan would prove impossible. Besides, their plan had failed. Without the help they had come here to get, restoring the Changelings would be impossible. Chrysalis closed her eyes and awaited her end. SMACK! Chrysalis felt that she had been hit with the same blast that knocked her out of Canterlot. Kai had swatted her across the face so hard she felt she might never breathe again. She might even have been sent reeling if he hadn’t brought the same hand back to backhand her and balance out the forces that were seeking to move her. And yet, that was all there was. No stab through the heart, no mountain shattering blow, just a slap that knocked the wind out of her, accompanied by a furious look. Kai screamed at her, “Chrysalis! We do not hurt ponies! Apologize right now or so help me I’ll beat some sense into you the hard way!” Chrysalis was more afraid of the scream than the actual hit. She turned to Cadence and Shining Armor, “I’m sorry! I was just trying to help my people! I want to make things right. That’s why we came here!” Cadence began to cry. The tears washed away the curse Sombra had put in her eyes and she began to come to, “It’s okay. You were trying to help your people, but I betrayed mine. I let Sombra in here. I’ve killed an innocent human and given into darkness. I made Sombra stronger and doomed us all.” Kai turned back to Cadence, “Hey princess, if it’s alright with you, I’m going to pull this guy out of my body now.” Cadence looked back in disbelief, “Uh …sure. Go… Go ahead.” Kai braced himself and was engulfed in an aura like flames. Sombra could be heard screaming and soon after was retreating out of Kai’s body. Kai reached out and grabbed hold of the black vapor that was Sombra, prompting the phantom to shriek in shock, “What are you doing?” Sombra cried, “No one can hold smoke.” Kai powered up some healing magic in his right hand before speaking, “You’re just a Logia. I can hold you even if you turn into a fine mist; but you’re also a zombie, of a short, and ghosts don’t belong in this world.” Kai stretched out his healing hand, “I’m going to resolve all your hate and misunderstanding and finally grant you rest.” Sombra vainly tried to pull away, “I don’t understand. With power like yours, you could rule all of Equestria …” Sombra washed away into the gentle light the healer had produced. Kai turned his back on where the phantom had been and spoke the last words it would ever hear, “Please, I’m only level 50 and am the weakest of my crew. As for ruling, only those who wish to follow should. Anything else is just slavery.” Kai walked away from Sombra’s last traces as they disappeared and approached Cadence, “I beat your challenge, now keep your word. Help me heal the Changelings.” One of the nobles interjected, “Wait. She was possessed by Sombra when she made you that deal. She didn’t even know what she was saying. It was all ...” “No,” spoke Cadence, “Sombra was my doing. I will honor my deal with the human. But just out of curiosity, why did you not kill her if you truly had all that hate?” Kai raised an eyebrow like it was obvious to him, “Because she is my friend. When friends do something wrong you bring them to justice, for their own sake; but even if your friend sells their soul to the devil, that doesn’t give YOU the right to change. You never give up on your Nakama. Never.” All were speechless, until the oldest noble of the Crystal Empire stepped forward and spoke, “You have proven to me that your will is unbreakable and your love unconditional. We Crystal ponies live by the power of love, as we have for generations. I know that unconditional love is the most powerful and most rare kind. Even if no one else will, I will give you my support.” Cadence stepped forward and addressed the Changeling Queen, “We certainly have our differences, but we are both ponies whose people live on the power of love.” Cadence turned to the noble Crystal ponies, “Let us help them.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chrysalis had spent lifetimes planning every possible way to get the love needed to heal her people, but she wasn’t prepared for this. The Changelings had been gathered and the Crystal ponies had been assembled. They had been told about the Changelings curse and had all come out to help, each of their own accord. Cadence walked up and stood alongside Chrysalis before addressing her, “They were under a curse until recently too, you know. And, they also need the power of love to survive. Kai was right. We are they are the perfect people to help your people.” Cadence turned to the Changeling Queen, teary eyed, “Forgive me for nearly letting a grudge ruin so many lives.” Chrysalis turned back towards the heart, “You should thank Kai for now, but when my heart comes back, I will forgive and forget and say my apologies as well.” Shining Armor approached the two and said the only thing he could, “It’s starting.” Indeed it was. The Crystal ponies had begun what they had done before with Sombra. The power of love filled the Crystal Empire and the Changelings basked in its warmth. It was more love than they ever could have gathered but more importantly, it was a gift. It wasn’t love meant for someone else and it wasn’t being stolen or loaned, it was a gift. But it still wasn’t enough. Chrysalis spoke, “This is still not enough. It’s very close, but not enough. We still need a little over a hundred ponies more.” Cadence wasn’t going to give up that easily, “We are almost there. We can’t fail because we’re short by just that much!” Chrysalis lowered her head, “There is only one way. I can reduce the number of Changelings that need to be healed; then there will be enough to go around.” Cadence looked betrayed and growled at the Queen, “I was right about you! You’re talking about killing your own people so that there will be enough to save the rest of them. You …” Chrysalis’s eyes began to glow and she backfired the spell she had powered up straight into her cranium. All the Crystal ponies gasped in terror and shock. The heartless queen had just made the ultimate sacrifice for her people. The Changelings all began to glow with pure white light. Their queen’s sacrifice had worked. They all began to turn back into ponies of various races, right before passing out. Everything had worked. They Changelings were all healed, except one: the Queen. Shining had run to his wife’s side. She certainly needed it. She stared at him with guilty eyes, “She sacrificed herself. She gave up her life for her people and the last thing I said to her was that she was a monster and that I never should have helped her. She may have made some bad choices, but she lived and died for her people. I was the monster.” Cadence then wept bitterly as her husband cradled her. Kai had made his way to Chrysalis’s corpse and checked the pulse in her temple. “Stupid girl” said Kai “You hit your brain. You went straight into mental death. Do you know how hard that is to heal?” Kai put his hands together as though he was praying, “But you have only died in the last half a day; so I can still heal you. Rinne rebirth: art of resurrection. Kai placed his hands on Chrysalis and looked much, much older, his hair as white as snow, his skin as worn as leather. Chrysalis on the other hand looked much better, alive! Chrysalis looked over to see her healer, who hushed her to say what he had to in what small time left till unconsciousness, “I won’t live unless you get me back to my crew. And they should be enough to heal you too.” “You’re better now, so I need you to lead me to my friends. Lead on Chrysalis.” Chrysalis lifted the human onto her back before turning back to Princess Cadence, “The ‘Changelings’ won’t remember anything more than a passing dream when they awake. Take care of them. I have three debts to repay now.”