Kingdom Harmony

by Kingdom Harmony

Chapter 5: Aftermath

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As the group walked through Canterlot, Sora couldn’t help notice how this great city was devastated. The busy streets now were lifeless, and the buildings that stood tall were crumbling, with the best of them still having at least one wall turned to rubble. What was this all for? To incapacitate Discord? To turn Twilight into a heartless? It just didn’t add up. Sora tried to wrap his head around it, as they walked back to the castle in silence.

The group walked into the meeting room and Celestia started to address the current events. “Okay, the first thing we need to discuss he civilians,” Celestia began.

“Fluttershy,” Luna addressed the timid pegasus, “you were with Discord as he evacuated the city. Do you have any idea where they were sent to?”

“Yes,” Fluttershy answered, staring at a golden horseshoe in her hoof, “he sent them to the crystal empire. He thought it would be the safest place. I demanded he let me stay closer in case I was needed.”

“Well, I’m glad you did,” Luna replied. “I may have asked otherwise but if you listened we would have no idea where they are now.”

“Cadence and Shining Armor, you will be in charge of the housing and eventual returning of Canterlot's civilians when the time comes,” Celestia ordered. “Of Course I do not expect you to keep all of them at the crystal empire, but until Canterlot is repaired, most of them will not be able to live here."

“Understood,” Shining Armor replied.

“This Brings us to our second order of business,” Celestia continued. “There damage to our city is severe. Without Discord’s… unique magic, it will not be easy to restore, even with the all of the ponies we can spare working on it.”

“Um.. excuse me,” Sora interrupted, "but I may have a have a way to help… or rather be able to get someone who can help.” Sora put a forehoof into a pocket in his jacket and pulled out a small golden lamp. “It’s been a long time, I hope he’ll still answer.”

“Answer what,” Rainbow asked sarcastically as Sora rubbed his hoof against the lamp.

Blue smoke started to pop out of the lamp and formed a being that had two arms with golden bracelets, and a red belt round his waist that was above a tail of sorts. “Sora, It’s been ages,” the creature spoke. “Al and Jasmine have been asking about you and all I could say was that you haven’t called me out. Is there something wrong with summoning me just a just for a friendly chat. Where are you anyway?”

“Genie, down here,” Sora called out.

The genie looked down and quickly swooped over and picked up Sora, giving him a hug. “Oh it’s great to see you again, you look different, that a new hair cut?” he asked.

“I’ll explain later,” Sora stated.

“Excuse me, but who is this?” Luna interrupted.

“Oh, sorry,” Sora apologized. “This is…”

“Please kid, leave the introductions to the professionals,” the genie interrupted. “I am the one, the only, Genie of the Lamp!” he said as the what he said appeared on a glowing sign behind him. “Well I’m actually now free from the lamp,” he said as the of the Lamp part of the sign stopped glowing and fell off, “it’s more like an antique now so I guess I’m more like… The one the only Genie Formerly of the Lamp.” the words Formerly of the Lamp were added to the sign before both the sign and the genie disappeared. He then reappeared behind Celestia. “But you can just call me Genie for sort.”

“Well he certainly, has Discord’s enthusiasm,” Luna commented.

Sora wobbled a bit before regaining composure. “Are you alright?” Twilight asked.

“I'm fine,” Sora assured, “it’s just that Genie lives very far away from here. He gave me the lamp so I could summon he if I need help, but it takes a considerable amount of magical energy to keep him bound here. If I run out he’ll lose his grip to this location and be sent back to where I summoned him from.”

“Wait,” Twilight interjected, “that’s not how summoning works.”

“Well my summoning and your summoning are different. And because of that I need to get to the point,” Sora paused. “Okay, Genie, there was a battle here recently. They are going to need your help restoring the city.”

“I’d love to,” Genie said, “but are you sure you can handle it?”

“Well I may not have that kind of magic, but they might,” Sora said, pointing a hoof at Celestia and Luna.

“Well okay then, anything for friends of yours,” Genie stated before disappearing quickly.

“Yeah,” Sora sighed, “friends.”

“Besides,’ Genie stated again as he reappeared behind Celestia and Luna, “your city looks so much more fun. I’m sure you all won't oppose to a swimming pool or two.” Genie disappeared and reappeared above the table once more. “Seriously fixing up Agrabah get so old. I look forward to the challenge. But Sora, don't wait too long to call me again. You still need to explain your new look.”

“Okay, see you soon,” Sora agreed.

“Toodaloo,” Genie said as he disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke.

“What was that about not have that kind of magic,” Twilight asked confused. “Isn’t he the one using the magic?”

“Well, yes, but the more powerful the magic he uses the more of my magical energy is used up,” Sora explained. “However, you two raise and set the sun and moon. I think you might be able to handle some of his more powerful magic for at least a few minutes without even breaking a sweat.” Sora handed the lamp over to Celestia. “Even so it still will take a while to fix a city this big.”

“Thank you Sora,” Celestia began, “you’ve been a huge help here. However, we do have one more order of business. When Xabmors appeared, you said something that I think needs further explanation. You call him nobody.”

“Well that’s not very nice,” Fluttershy commented.

“Not nobody, A nobody,” Sora corrected. “I would have told you sooner but I thought all we were dealing with were the heartless. You see when someone with a strong heart, evil or good, turns into a heartless, a nobody is born as well.”

“That could be problematic,” Luna commented.

“Yes,” Sora continued, “I was told that technically they don’t exist, but to be honest that never made sense to me. After all they definitely hit like they’re really there. Still most nobodies aren’t too powerful.”

“I beg to differ,” Twilight interrupted, “Xabmors was like nothing I’ve ever faced. I don’t even know what he did.”

“Yeah, well,” Sora picked up, “he’s not most nobodies. He is exceptional. You see when someone with extremely strong hearts loses it, the result a nobody with unbelievable powers. What’s worse is unlike the heartless, these nobodies retain their intelligence. If they take control of lesser nobodies or the heartless they can even strategize to make them act how they want.”

“That does explain a lot,” Shining Armor commented.

“Yes, Xabmors is one of these nobodies,” Sora confirmed. “Not to mention that cloak. It is the symbol of an organization that I have dealt with before.”

“So that’s the organization ya told Rarity about,” Applejack mentioned.

“Yes, but I don’t know why they’re here, What is here that they could wa... “ Sora paused and his eye widened in horror. “They’re after me,”

There was silence for a few seconds before Rainbow Dash spoke up. “Oh, come on,” she started, “just because you're some hotshot keyblade master doesn’t mean…”

“I’m not!” Sora shouted as he stood up from his chair with tears in his eyes. “I’m not a master! I…” He began to run toward the door. “I failed the test!” He ran out of the room leaving the rest of the ponies to try to figure out what just happened.

“And I thought Twilight was the only one who got that freaked out over tests,” Rainbow joked.

“Oh come on!” Twilight objected. “You almost destroy the town over a deadline once, and they never let it you live it down."

“That’s besides the point,” Celestia intervened after giving Twilight a weird look. “Things have escalated rather quickly. We must take every precaution we can. Twilight, I recommend that until this is all over your friends stay with you at your castle, since there is a brain to this operation I can assume that they are aiming for the threats to their plan. I will also send some of the royal guard there as well. Cadence and Shining Armor, the Crystal Heart should help protect you but make sure the are always guards on duty. Also, Twilight keep spike nearby in case you need to notify me quickly. Besides, it can’t hurt to have a fire breathing dragon around. As for you two I need to get you an enchanted book so we can stay in contact. Are we clear?

“Yes,” Twilight replied.

“Crystal,” Shining Armor answered.

“Good,” Celestia picked up. “I’m sure we’ve given Sora enough time to calm down, Twilight make sure you find him and bring him back to Ponyville with you.”

Got it,” Twilight accepted. Besides I have a lot more questions he has to answer, she thought.

“That could have gone better,” said an unicorn shrouded in a black cloak.

“Perhaps,” said an earth pony shrouded in the same black cloak, “but we still accomplished what we wanted to do. The draconequus has been removed from the picture. And as an added bonus, not only do we know that you can incapacitate your victims instead of turning them into heartless, but I gathered some useful data on the remaining obstacles. Not that any of it will matter, it’s only a matter of time until the thirteenth vessel is delivered to us.”

Twilight and her friends walked out of the castle to begin their search for Sora when they saw him sitting on a bench right outside the gates. “Sora!” the group exclaimed.

“Why did you storm out like that?” Fluttershy mumbled.

Sora sluggishly looked up at them. “It’s kind of personal.” he said in a tone of voice with no energy behind it. “Look I’ve been thinking and it’s probably best if I leave. I’m the one there after so…”

“Not a chance!” Twilight interrupted. “You’re not going anywhere without telling us what you're talking about!”

“Yeah, like what was up with that test thingy,” Pinkie added.

“If I must,” Sora said as his gaze turned to the ground. “The mark of mastery exam, it was a test the was recently given to both me and my best friend Riku to see if we were ready to be named maskers of the keyblade. He passed, I didn’t. At first it didn't bother me, I had no control over the outcome, but now I think that is the very problem.”

“What do you mean no control over it?” Twilight asked.

“Well, it wasn’t the kind of test that studying or training could prepare you for,” Sora started to explain, and Twilight’s widened as she recalled her test with the crystal empire. “We were sent on an adventure to awaken… locations devoured by the heartless. They were already free from the heartless actually, but they remained in a purgatory, sleep like state. That wasn’t what caused my problem though. The organization knew what we were doing, and despite the fact that getting there was extremely difficult they managed to follow us there, in fact, they laid a trap, and captured me.”

“Wait a minute,” Twilight interrupted again. “If they went through all the trouble of setting a trap for you then why capture you, would it be easier to Ouch!” Twilight stopped short Rarity hit her on the back of the head. “Oh, sorry.”

“Don’t be, your right,” Sora replied. “But the organization has bigger plans. You see, their leader, a guy named Xehanort, is trying to reenact an ancient war, from what I’m told. To do so he needs thirteen darknesses to battle seven lights. The way he decided gather the thirteen darknesses is to take thirteen vessels and fill them with his heart and mind.”

“That's not possible,” Twilight said in shock.

“That's what I thought, but he found a way. He has twelve of the vessels already and…” Sora paused, “he decided that I will be the thirteenth.”

All the ponies gasped in shocked. “He wants to possess you?” Rarity asked for clarification.

“Yes and that is why he laid the trap. All for the thirteenth vessel. By the time I realized it was a trap it was too late to escape it. Actually saying I realized is not quite right. When it was officially too late to escape, they told me. They gloated and mocked my defeat. I was helpless, I wouldn't be here if it wasn’t for Riku. He came to rescue me and that’s how he was named master… and I failed.” Sora paused.

“Anyway Xehanort hasn’t given up on catching me so that how I know he after me. Yen Sid, my master, probably sensed the heartless here and thought he could kill two birds with one stone. With Princess Celestia’s help, he sent me here so I could get stronger and restore balance at the same time, free from the threat of the organization. However, the heartless’s mere presence here was part of the organization's trap. They were luring me here so the could capture me."

“Then why’d they attack Discord?” Applejack asked.

“He’s really powerful,” Sora explained. “From what I’ve been told, when I was in the Everfree you all couldn't get in but he could. He was most likely a threat to their plan. See what I mean, it’s me they’re after. If I stay, you all will be in more danger. That’s why I have to...”

“Stop right there!” Twilight interrupted once again.

”Why? If I leave..” Sora tried to argue.

“There’s no guarantee that the heartless will too,” Twilight replied. “You're our only defence against them. This organization has already shown that they are willing to take drastic measures. Let’s say you do leave and they can’t locate you, they would most likely attack us to lure you out.”

“Not likely,” Sora counted, “I don’t live here, and there’s no protection against the heartless here. They won’t have any problem finding me.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Rainbow blurted out, “That’s your counter argument! I’ve heard better from Fluttershy! We’re not going to just let you sacrifice yourself!”

“Why not,” Sora replied, “I’m a stranger,”

Twilight let out a loud groan. “Fine since you only listen to logic,” Twilight stated, sounding incredibly frustrated, “let’s say you do leave, they find you and catch you. Then they do reenact this ancient war, I doubt Equestria would end up unscaved, and then we would be put in danger anyway.”

“What else can I do?” Sora said as tears started to swell up in his eyes. “I’m not Riku. I can’t do this on my own!”

Fluttershy walked up to Sora and grabbed one of his forehooves. “You’re not alone, you have us,” She told him.”

Sora looked at Fluttershy. “I can’t ask you to do that,” he stated again. “I’m a stranger, I can’t ask you to put yourselves in harms way for me.”

“You’d do the same for us,” Rarity countered.

“Heck, ya already have,” Applejack reminded Sora.

“Besides,” Pinkie joined in. “strangers are just friends you haven't met.”

Sora wiped the tears from his eyes and got off the bench. “Okay, you win,” he gave in.

“And while we’re together,” Twilight began, “Maybe we can help with your friendship problems.”

“Princess Twilight,” a pegasus of the royal guard called out.

“Yes,” Twilight answered.

“It will be a while before the train is back up and running,” the pegasus explained. “Princess Celestia wanted us to bring you and your friend back home by chariot.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Twilight replied. “Thank you for the help.”

”Your welcome,” The guard responded, “Now please come this way.

A earth pony mare and pegasus stallion stood in shadows of a ruined castle. deep within a forest. “Kinda quiet around here, don’t ya think?” the pegasus asked.

“This forest is apparently infamous for having many dangerous creatures in it,” the mare responded. “As a result the locals don’t come out here much. Not that you should care, you just sit around and nap all day.”

“Hey, just trying to make conversation,” the pegasus defended.

“I just hope everything's all right,” the earth pony replied.

“You worry too much,” the pegasus assured. "Just sit down and relax. Everything will be just fine.”

A black portal opened behind them, causing them to turn around as a unicorn stallion cover in a robe walked out. “So you're finally back,” the pegasus responded. “So, how is everything going?”

“So far, so good,” the unicorn answered. “However, they are already here,”

“So whatcha wanna do?” the pegasus asked.

“For now we just keep waiting,” the unicorn replied.

The pegasus groaned. “All this waiting around is getting boring.” He complained.

“Trust me,” the unicorn insisted, “no one has a stronger urge to jump into the fray than me. But this is something he has to do on his own, or he may never be the same again.”