//------------------------------// // Chapter Two // Story: Kingdom Hearts: Star Swirl´s Legacy // by NightmareShredder //------------------------------// Chapter 2 – The Gathering "What did I just say?" Twilight's voice shook with disbelief as she winged her way towards Sugarcube Corner. "Everypony's going to be waiting for me, and I don't have anything to tell them!" For solace, she thought back to the last time something like this had happened; when she woke to find the Sun and Moon together in the sky. Everything had turned out okay, because she'd found her friends and together they'd made a plan. And that's just what we'll do now, she thought, smiling at the sight of her destination. Pinkie Pie had decorated the bakery with dozens of star-shaped balloons and an enormous, deep blue banner emblazoned with glittering letters announcing "Gummy's Super Stellar-bration!" The pink pony herself bounced happily in front of the door, inviting passing ponies in with an unwavering grin. "Oh hey, Twilight!" Pinkie waved her friend down as soon as she saw her. "Did you do something to the stars? I've never seen anything so amazing! It's like they're having the best party ever. I wanted to join in, but everypony just wants to panic instead!" "No, I didn't! Doesn't it bother you at all?" Pinkie shook her head happily. "Listen, this is—" Twilight's eyes widened with inspiration. Of course! A Pinkie party was just what the town needed. She pulled a few balloons down with her magic and shoved the strings into Pinkie's hooves. " … just not big enough! Sugarcube Corner. For everypony, I mean." Twilight took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. "Find Rarity and tell the Mayor to gather everypony in the town square. I'll get the others." Pinkie nodded. "Okie dokie!" she said, and hopped higher than Twilight had ever seen before. When she came down, it was with the banner neatly rolled and balanced perfectly on her back. Before Twilight could say anything, Pinkie was half a block away, bouncing in the direction of Rarity's Carousel Boutique. Twilight took off again and scanned the horizon. Rainbow Dash would be a great help in finding the others. Twilight just needed to find her. "I should research a tracking spell for times like this," Twilight sighed. Before she could think about how such a thing might work, however, something heavy slammed into the back of her head. "Aah!" she screamed, and scrambled to spread her wings, but couldn't stop herself ploughing into a hedge. "Ow … " she groaned. "Oh my! Are you two alright?" "Yeah, Fluttershy. I walk away from stuff like this all the time." That rough, cocksure voice could only belong to one pony. Sure enough, when Twilight turned to look, there was Rainbow Dash shaking twigs and leaves out of her multicolored mane. She helped Twilight stand, then cuffed her lightly on the shoulder. "Hey!" she said. "What did I tell you about making note of everything when you're flying?" "I was trying to find your house," said Twilight defensively. Rainbow smiled indulgently. "Just remember next time. So, you were looking for me? Is this about, you know … " She waved a hoof at the sky. Twilight nodded. "The Princesses are coming to my castle tonight to explain everything, and I want all you girls there. Pinkie and Rarity will meet us at the town square, but we still need to find Applejack." "Then it's your lucky day." An orange pony wearing a felt hat and a relieved expression cantered up the road. "Applejack!" they all cried in unison. She opened her mouth to respond, but Twilight cut her off. "Is your family okay?" Applejack nodded. "Big Mac and Granny are taking care of Apple Bloom and her friends. They'll be fine. I saw Spike too, when I went looking for y'all. He told me to tell you everything'll be ready for when the Princesses come." "That's my Spike." Twilight smiled, then flared her wings purposefully. "Okay. There's no time to lose! Anything else you have to tell me, say it as we walk." Fluttershy gave Rainbow a nudge. "Um," she said, "I think that means now would be a good time to tell her." "Yeah," Rainbow agreed. "Me and Fluttershy saw something totally weird going on in the Everfree Forest." The Everfree Forest? That's where Princess Celestia said whatever happened, happened! "Tell me everything." "Well, um, Tank had a cough, so Rainbow Dash brought him to me. We'd just gotten him to bed when—" "There was this huge explosion! Like a sonic rainboom, but super loud, and deeper." Rainbow sounded almost jealous. Twilight nodded for her to continue. The pegasi's story agreed with Spike's so far. "I flew outside to check it out, and there were these two freaks coming out of the forest! One looked like a circus bear in blue and red overalls, but with cat ears and gorilla arms. The other was really tall and skinny, with horns like a minotaur and a black robe." "I tried to get closer, but this crow tried to take my eye out!" Rainbow was covered in scratches from the crash, but the cut she jabbed a hoof at now looked particularly deep. "The best flier in all of Equestria crashed into a crow?" teased Applejack. "And you lectured me about paying attention?" said Twilight indignantly. Rainbow blushed. "He was a raven, and he attacked her," corrected Fluttershy. "I still don't understand why he did that. Normally ravens won't mob pegasi unless there's a lot of them, and even then only if they think they need to protect their nests." Rainbow gave Fluttershy a grateful look. "Anyway, when I got rid of him, the freaks were gone. But there was this green light coming from the forest, and these thorny, black vines had sprung up out of nowhere!" Applejack stopped walking and held up a hoof. "Woah, there. Y'mean like Discord's plunder-whosits?" "I already told Rainbow, I'm sure Discord had nothing to do with this." Fluttershy sounded surprisingly vehement. "I don't think he did either," said Twilight. It was true. The spirit of chaos had learned a lot about friendship since he'd let that old plot of his run amok. "But he might be able to tell us about them if we ask. Did the vines look like they were going to keep growing?" "Nah. They just sat there, like a fence. We coulda flown over it, but Fluttershy here wanted to hightail it back to Ponyville. So we did." She shrugged at Twilight's expectant look. "That's it." "Nuh uh. You forgot the bit where I found y'all in a heap at the side of the road," said Applejack. They all laughed at the recent memory, and continued on their way. * "Welcome, fillies and gentlecolts, to this unexpected but very welcome gathering." Mayor Mare looked as composed and confident as Twilight wished she felt. She was glad she could count on the Mayor's years of experience. As she spoke, the Mayor gestured to the furled-up banner behind her. "You know who called us here. I'm sure you're as eager as I am to see what she has prepared for us, our very own, Princess Twilight Sparkle!" Twilight took a deep breath and stepped up to the podium. The crowd looked up at her with big, worried eyes. "Thank you, everypony, for coming here tonight. I know you must be really upset. I was too, when I first saw what had happened. But if we all keep calm, everything will be okay. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will be here soon. Please work together to show them that Ponyville is a place of peace." Twilight could see the mood of the crowd start to shift, as they realized what she asked wasn't so hard. They could do it. But some skeptics remained. "What about the Everfree Forest?" came a voice from the back. "I heard it was covered in vines again." "This isn't like last time. The vines aren't invading. And they won't keep me and my friends out for long. Whatever's trying to hide in there, we'll find it!" The crowd began to stomp and cheer, secure in Twilight's hooves. But that didn't mean she could ignore what they had to say, or what they might have seen. "If you've seen something we think we should know about, like the vines, or any strangers, please tell the Mayor. She'll let us know. "Finally, I think if Princess Luna were here she'd want me to remind you that even if the night's going to be different for a little while, it's still beautiful, and safe. To that end, my friends and I have prepared a little celebration." Twilight reached out with her magic and undid the ties around the banner. As it fell, confetti exploded from off to her left, where Pinkie and Rarity had set up a snack table, jukebox, and telescope. Gummy stood in the middle of the table, with what looked like an enormous, red jelly candy in his mouth. "Thank you, and have fun at the celebration." The crowd made their way over to the attractions, and Twilight followed. The speech had gone better than she'd hoped, but there was still one thing she had to make sure of. "I didn't get the chance to ask before, but you are okay with coming to the castle tonight, right?" "Oh darling. Sure, I'm skipping some beauty sleep, but you know I wouldn't miss this for the world." Rarity didn't look like she'd missed any beauty sleep. Her mane was perfectly coiffed and her coat shone like fresh whitewash. Still, she lifted a hoof and examined it critically. "But maybe I am a bit underdressed for a royal meeting. If you'll excuse me." She ducked into her boutique, shutting the door behind her. Pinkie bounded up to the shop. "Just hurry up, okay?" she shouted, then flounced down on the stoop. "I don't want to miss out on all the fun." Twilight smiled. "You won't, Pinkie. I promise."