Falling, that was the only thing he could think of as he literally fell through the abyss, Riku and Sora on either side of him, chuckling and grinning like idiots.
"ALRIGHT! Our stop is coming up! get ready!" Riku yelled, gripping his Keyblade tightly. Piper decided to follow his lead, gripping his own Keyblade tightly in his mouth.
"And don't worry. We'll explain everything when we land." Sora said from his other side, giving him a thumbs up moments before his body began to glow, shifting into the form of an Alicorn, turning to look at Riku he saw that he too had changed.
"We must be close." Piper thought aloud, gasping in pain as his chest began to burn.
"Piper! Are you alright!?" Luna yelled from behind him.
"STAY BACK!" he yelled, grunting as he landed. He panted, staring at a figure cloaked in black.
"Xipper..." Piper growled
"Welcome back Piper." The nobody said with a smile before rushing forward, a Keyblade appearing before the nobody who roared as he flung it toward the pegasus. Piper grinned catching it with his own blade, flinging it away as he rushed toward the nobody.
"GIVE ME BACK MY HEART!" He screamed, pausing mere inches away from cutting down the nobody as a loud roar filled the air. Pipers eyes wide as he looked up.
"No...that's impossible..." the pegasus reasoned, though his eyes weren't lying to him.
"Oh its possible. I'm just not sure how yet." Xipper mumbled, staring up as well. High above them atop its cloud Castle, was none other than the Beast itself.
Pip panted heavily, back to back with Amethyst who had a barrier of blood surrounding them, being fed energy from several open wounds.
"we can't hold this up forever." Pip mumbled, watching the Gryphons walk around them in search for an opening through Amethyst's defenses.
"we don't have to. I just need a minute more." Amethyst spoke up, runes etched into his scales and slowly marking themselves upon the shield. Pip watched and blinked in surprise as the Gryphons began to fight among themselves.
"Wow, how the hay did you do that?!" Pip laughed.
"...I didn't." Amethyst answered, his ears flicking back in confusion.
"Huh? Well what did you do?" Pip looked at him, also confused.
"Nothing...not yet anyway. But this makes things easier for us, that's for sure."
"Never thought I'd hear you taking the easy way out Master Amethyst." a voice spoke up from nearby. Both Kirin and Earth pony stared as a beast of darkness marched towards them, goop dripping from its maw. Pip shifted his stance, holding up the blade Amethyst had made for him.
"Is this the Beast?" Pip asked. Though Amethyst only smiled, dropping his barrier.
"No...it's a friend..." Amethyst said, hugging the strange creature. Its yellow eyes blinked once before the darkness faded away, revealing a tall black alicorn with red stripes filling his mane. He slightly nuzzled Amethyst, a massive show of emotion for the alicorn.
"We've missed you Master Amethyst..." Shadowflare said quietly.
"I've missed you as well Shadow. But what are you doing here?"
"I'm on a rescue mission, why else would I be here?" he said, walking past him, several Gryphons bowing to him before running deeper into the prison, more following them from above. It was an entire army's worth of soldiers.
"And how did you get them to fight for you? You didn't use any forbidden magic I hope..."
"Not exactly. Not all is at it seems. They aren't Gryphons. They are changelings. And they are going to free all of those who are captured here. In the meanwhile we have matters to handle elsewhere." he said, turning away and pushing the door open. Outside stood one Dinky Do, her hat tucked down to hide her eyes.
Amethyst stood slowly, his heart in his throat as her scent filled his mind, presenting him with a picture of his crush within his minds eye. She was a bit taller than he remembered, worry lines tinging her features but she was still beautiful all the same. He lifted her hat slightly and smiled, feeling a tear against his claw and wiping it away
"Dinky..." He said softly. And just like that, all of the unicorns plans to avoid him fell away. She launched herself at him, burying her muzzle in his scarred and bloody scales, clinging to him for dear life as if he would vanish the moment she let go.
"Amethyst..." she sobbed as he held her, letting years of depression and anger slide away in the few moments they lay there. Pip smiled.
"Well, a reunion is all well an good but I think we should wait until we are safe and off the battlefield before getting comfortable." he spoke up. Shadowflare nodded, enveloping them in his magic and teleporting them inside the TARDIS nearby. Dinky blinked in surprise and looked around.
"You can get inside the TARDIS? How?!" she asked, staring at the young colt. He chuckled, surprising them.
"That's for me to know and you to find out."
"Why?" Rainbow asked. The young zebra laying before her turned away, seeming drained of her normal energy.
"Because...I...he's back again...a-and he's close. I can feel it." Strawberry explained, placing a hoof over her chest.
"No, why did you leave? Do you have any idea..." Rainbows words died in her throat as the zebra began to cry.
"Dash, lemme talk t' her. Ya'll gotta go get everypony ready anyway." Applejack said quietly, coming to her rescue.
"Alright Aj..." Rainbow Dash left the tent, leaving Applejack alone with Strawberry and her young foal. Applejack smiled as the foal yawned, nuzzling her mothers side as she slept.
"Whats th' little darlins name?"Applejack asked softly. Strawberry sniffed, nuzzling her daughter.
"Sugarcane.." Strawberry said quietly, the filly yawning and opening her eyes.
"Hm? Yes momma?" she asked tiredly.
"Its nothing, go back to sleep." she said, nuzzling the pegasus who nodded, quickly returning to the world of dreams.
"She's jus' adorable as can be..." Applejack said with a smile.
"Thanks Applejack...How has everypony been?" she asked, looking away.
"Ah ain't gonna lie t' ya sugarcube, things have been mighty tough 'round here, 'specially since th' day ya'll up an left on us. We were hurt badly by that...Now don't get th' wrong idea. Ain't nopony mad at ya. Ya did what ya thought ya needed t' do an we're all jus' happy yer back. But like ah said, it hurt. But nopony was hurt more than yer mother." Applejack explained.
"I know...I feel so terrible about what I did. Maybe if I stayed...no..." she sighed.
"Applejack. Have you ever...had a dream that's come true? And not just any dream, but a dream that could change the fate of everything. And if you didn't do something horrible then something even more horrible would happen?" Strawberry asked in a rush, never stopping for air.
"No ah don't believe ah have sugarcube, jus' what are ya gettin at?" Applejack asked.
"When Discord attacked the castle when we were kids...me and Emerald had a dream about it...we knew it was going to happen. But in our dream when we told everypony about it they were killed defending the castle. So we stayed quiet and let everypony get caught and because we said nothing nopony was killed." she explained softly, hanging her head.
"That's crazy talk missy."
"Please just hear me out Applejack..." the zebra begged.
"Alright, ah'm listenin."
"I had another dream...that Princess Luna and Princess Twilight were going to destroy themselves to save everypony. In the dream I warned everypony about what they were planning and because I did...everypony died in the Gryphon attack...But because I didn't say anything outside the dream..."
"Twilight an Luna were able t' go through with it an saved our skins..." Applejack sighed, shaking her head.
"Whats that gotta do with this?" She asked.
"Because...I had another dream...if I don't go through with this...then you, momma, everypony...is gonna die..." She said through her tears.
"Shh, its okay. We ain't goin anywhere darlin, jus' tell me." Applejack said, trying to comfort the filly.
"I-Its Rainbow Dash...I have to kill her."
"How is she?" Spike asked softly. Fluttershy placed a hoof against the young unicorns head, sighing quietly.
"She has a bad fever...It seems like she's been this way for a while, at least a week or so." the pegasus said sadly.
"But why would it be this bad now?" Rarity asked.
"Maybe because she was holding a bridge between you and Spike. As a unicorn you can understand what that could do to a pony." Fluttershy said absentmindedly.
"So she's been sick this whole time and still she...oh Melody...this is my fault." Nox nuzzled her friend, the unicorn slowly opening her eyes and smiling.
"Its not...your fault Nox." she mumbled, turning her gaze over to Spike and Rarity, wearing a tired smile.
"Its nice to see you together again...it makes me believe...that there's still hope for everypony." she admitted, closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep. The room fell silent as the unicorns breathing slowed, her horn glowing dimly as a ghostly figure appeared on the other side of the bed.
It slowly took the shape of a pegasus filly which then propped its hooves on the bed, nuzzling Melody gently. Melody began to breath easy again, murmuring a quiet thanks, the ghostly figure smiling slightly before looking at the ponies gathered on the other side of the bed.
"Oh, you can see me..." she mumbled.
"And hear you darling. Just who are you?" Rarity asked, being the first to break free of the shock of seeing an actual ghost pony.
"My name is Cherry Blossom. And if you can see me then something really bad is about to happen," she sighed, watching as Spike pulled Rarity close, a loud whirring noise filling the air as the TARDIS appeared in the room. Out of it walked Shadowflare who was quickly greeted by a teary eyed Nox.
Next to step out was Dinky and Pip, both wearing smiles and standing on either side of the TARDIS as a wounded and blindfolded Amethyst slowly made his way out of the TARDIS. Rarity and Spike sat there, speechless as they took in the state of their son.
"Dad?" he asked quietly.
"I'm here." Spike choked out, Rarity pulling out of his hold and throwing her hooves around Amethysts' neck.
"My poor child..." Rarity managed to say as she held him.
"M-Mother! You're awake..." Amethyst nuzzled her gently, feeling a sob build in his throat, though he refused to let it make itself known. He had to be strong, there was still much to be done.
"Yes...and now I've realized what I've done to all of you. I am so sorry...I will never abandon you again. I swea..." Rarity blinked, feeling Amethyst's claw against her lips. It was a surprise in itself to have the kirin silence her, what was more of a surprise was that his claw was made of stone.
"Broken Promises are what got us into this mess mother. I think it best for us to wait until we know for sure that such a promise can be kept." he said quietly.
"Amethyst...you've grown so much..." she smiled, placing a kiss against his forehead, the gentle movement causing his blindfold to fall away. Rarity's eye twitched as she stared for a moment before letting a terrified scream escape her lips. She kept her hooves on Amethyst's cheeks, staring into the two empty holes that were his eye sockets. The kirin quickly closed his 'eyes' to shield her from what had been done to him, but it was too late. She had already seen.
"Oh Amethyst...h-how...I..." Rarity stammered. Amethyst quickly replaced his blindfold, tying it tightly this time to ensure it wouldn't fall off.
"They did it," he muttered angrily, steam drifting from his nostrils and the air around him growing hot and heavy.
"They were going to take my wings next. I'll die before that happens." he growled, flames licking his lips as his anger grew.
"You most certainly will not! I am still your mother and you are still my child! I don't want you having anything to do with this anymore Amethyst. You've lost your eyes...your claw has been turned to stone...Haven't you suffered enough?"
"No, I haven't." he said with a smile. Dinky sighed and shook her head.
"I apologize miss Rarity. He has this crazy notion stuck in his head that he has to suffer to atone for failing to save Emerald," Pip explained.
"And he needs to get over it" Dinky added, tapping her hoof idly.
"Amethyst. Come with me." Spike ordered quietly, walking past them. Rarity watched as her husband and son began to leave.
"Wait..." a voice spoke up. Amethyst stood still as the voice reached him.
"Melody?" he dared to ask, knowing full well the young unicorn was there, waiting for him.
"You came back...just like you promised..." Melody smiled as she rolled onto her side, wincing slightly.
"Did you find him?" she asked quietly, excitement tinging her voice. Amethyst lowered his head.
"Y-Yea...I found him." he stuttered.
"Where is he?" she asked, glancing around the room
"He...He isn't here Melody...It was a trap..."
"I'll find him Melody. Just promise me you'll stay out of trouble."
"B-But Amy! You can't just leave!"
"Promise me." he said again, the filly sighing and hanging her head as she clung to her brothers cloak.
"Only if you make me a promise. Promise me you'll come back." she looked up into his eyes. The Kirin felt his heart stop and turned away.
"I promise Mel. Take care of your friends. I'll come back as soon as I can." He said, lifting the hood of his cloak and turning away.
"Wait! Y-you didn't...um..." the filly bit her lip, smiling as the kirin turned back, placing a claw against her cheek and kissing her forehead gently, just below her horn and whispered.
"Everything's gonna be okay little sis. Big brother is gonna protect you." Melody smiled, nuzzling him gently and watching as he turned away once more. Amethyst spread his wings wide, getting a decent running start before taking off and vanishing into the dark grey clouds that filled the sky.
Amethyst sat beside the bed, placing his claw on her cheek and leaned forward, placing a kiss on her forehead just below her horn.
"Everything's gonna be okay though, cause you're big brother is coming home and he's gonna protect you." he whispered. Melody blinked in surprise. That wasn't what he had always said. He always played the part as her big brother, being the one to protect her.
"Amy..."
"I can feel it Melody, I've lost myself to Dark Magic and because of it I can feel that The Beast is missing something. And that something is Piper. He's free and he's gonna come see you. So just keep your head up, ok?" he smiled, before turning away and following Spike.
Melody watched him leave and sighed, laying back down and blinking as she felt a hoof over hers. She turned her head to find Sunshine smiling at her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly.
"I'm fine. That's not important right now..."
"It IS important Melody!" Sunshine yelled, surprising her. He had never raised his voice before. She sighed, blushing as the pegasus nuzzled her.
"Sunshine...I'm sorry..." she apologized. Fluttershy smiled, beckoning the other ponies out of the room to give the two some privacy. Outside the room Nox lowered her head.
"Shadow...Th-There's something we need to talk about..." She mumbled.
"Of course Nox. What is it?" he asked coldly. She knew he didn't mean to sound so cold, she could see all the bottled up emotions in his eyes, no matter what showed in his voice. That was only the darkness seeping into his voice, the real ShadowFlare was caring and would never speak to her like that.
Though it would've been nice to hear that kindness in his voice. She bit her lip for a moment, taking a slow deliberate breath as she stared into his darkened near-soulless eyes.
"We're having a foal." she said, surprising herself with how calm she was at the moment. Something seemed to snap in Shadowflare, his eye twitched, light filling both of them and a smile breaking his lips as he swept his sister up in a massive hug.
"That's great!" he said excitedly. She blinked in surprise, looking at him.
"Y-You think so?" she asked, looking at him as he let go of her. He was still smiling. She had to admit, after seeing nothing but a grim mask of death on his face for so many years a smile seemed...creepy.
"Why wouldn't I?" he asked, confused.
"I thought you would...I don't know...freak out? Everypony is gonna find out about us..."
"I'm pretty sure they already know." he mumbled with a shrug.
"Listen Nox. I know...I haven't been the best brother...But I'm going to make it up to you." as he spoke the smile faded, the darkness returning to his eyes.
"As soon as this war is over...I promise." He kissed her cheek and turned away, following a few soldiers down a hall, leaving her standing there with a hoof against her cheek.
"Shadow..."
Piper rolled, Xipper sliding in the opposite direction as the Beast crashed down where they had been standing just moments before. The pegasus and Nobody glanced at one another, coming to an understanding as their eyes met. Their rivalry could wait, there was a mutual enemy to be defeated. Both shifted their stances, Keyblade's at the ready as the Beast growled.
"Now what I'm curious about is how you are still alive without this thing keeping you attached to reality." Xipper mumbled around his Keyblade.
"You know, I have no idea." Piper chuckled, rushing towards the Beast, his Keyblade bouncing off its claws as he rolled and flipped around it, Xipper buzzing his wings and zipping across the ground in the blink of an eye, his Keyblade barely even scratching the Heartless' side. Both leapt away as the Beast roared.
"You can't hurt it without you're heart." Xipper realized.
"And You can't tap into the Keyblade's power without the bonds I share with my friends." Piper pointed out. Both of them glared at one another.
"So its come to this..." Xipper sighed, surprising Piper as he walked towards him.
"What are you doing?" Piper growled, gasping as Xipper slammed their foreheads together, images flashing through his minds eye of all the Nobody had endured. It seemed to last an eternity, but in reality it was only but a few moments. Piper hung his head, tears stinging his eyes. He gasped in pain, placing a hoof against his chest.
THUMP...THUMP His eyes widened as he felt the heart beat in his chest. It wasn't like before when he had protected Cherry Blossom's heart. This was his own heart. He glanced around, searching for Xipper, but the nobody was gone.
"I'm right here you idiot, Don't waste any time and don't make me regret this" Xipper spoke from within his mind. Piper grinned, his Keyblade appearing and clinging to his right hoof while Xipper's appeared clinging to his left, the pegasus flaring his wings open and standing upright on his hind legs.
"With my strength!" he roared, dashing forward and slashing the beast, sending it flying backwards and quickly giving chase.
With my speed! Xipper roared in turn, Piper cutting into the beasts' chest with the second blade.
"With the power of our loved ones and the heart that binds us...we will defeat you!" the two yelled together as one, stabbing both blades into the beast. Piper panted heavily, standing atop the beast with the blades trapped within its oozing flesh, watching as the Beast heaved its final breath. He sighed, hanging his head.
"Piper look out!" Luna screamed, the pegasus looking over his shoulder at her, realizing for the first time that she had come with them, grunting as he felt something sink into his neck. Through the corner of his eye he could see it, the Beast was alive and had its jagged teeth digging deep into the flesh of his neck. The pegasus felt light-headed as blood flowed freely from the wound.
You idiot! Don't you dare give in! Xipper yelled, mentally slapping Piper and forcing him to focus. Though this was lost on him as the Beast twitched its head, snapping Piper's neck clean in two, a loud CRACK filling the air as his body went limp, the Beast standing victorious and roaring, pinning Pipers lifeless body underneath a dark blood soaked claw.
"It can't be...mothers blessing..." Luna choked out, waiting for the tell-tale feeling of unspeakably powerful magics coursing through the pegasus.
"Is attached to his heartless form. That's why its still standing, Piper...is mortal." Riku explained, standing in his human black-cloaked form.
"The darkness is still there, as strong as ever. As long as it sits there alongside the light, then there is hope. But if we destroy the beast now, then we lose Piper." he continued, gripping the hilt of his Keyblade
"But we would stop the reforming of the X-blade," Sora pointed out, also in his human form, a long flowing pure white cloak clinging to his frame, his Keyblade hovering in the air beside him of its on accord.
"You can't just let him die! Not after all he has done! Not after all he has been through!" Luna yelled at them. Riku smiled.
"Well, no matter what we choose, we need to choose soon. The Beast won't celebrate for long and we'll be next on its menu,"
Piper felt himself drifting and laughed.
"Trapped in the Darkness once more..except Harmony can't drag me out of it this time...So that's it I guess. All of that for nothing..." he sighed, staring into the never-ending Darkness.
"Quit being so pathetic, you aren't dead yet you idiot." Xipper scolded, giving him a flat look.
"I've seen your memories. You and I really are the same...the organization just used you and promised to make you feel like you belonged...but that isn't how you feel is it? More like a tool than anything else...why should we bother anymore?" Piper asked.
"Because unlike you I'm not being held back by a heart weighed down by guilt. I can think rationally on this and you need to come to your senses and pull yourself out of this or we're all screwed. You and I have become one again and soon I'll fade away, I never existed to begin with and now I'll never have existed. But that isn't whats important, if you don't escape, the other lights will come for you and they will be walking right into a trap." Xipper explained.
"The other..lights?" Piper asked, still sifting through the memories of the nobody.
"The Keyblade wielders of this world. They will come for you and awaiting them here are the thirteen great Darkness' you created in your journeys. When the two meet in battle a great weapon will be forged that binds and commands both light and darkness, and he who wields it will be king of all. The X-blade."