//------------------------------// // A Radiant Garden // Story: Seven Princesses of Light // by TundraStanza //------------------------------// You are the key that connects everything. When you search for your light, don't lose sight of it. The darkness will be there, but in a place they cannot reach. Chapter 5: A Radiant Garden Living for thousands of years didn't reduce the grogginess she felt from getting up in the mornings. Princess Celestia picked her head up with her eyes still closed. As always, she reached her magical hold towards the sun... ...only to find that the magical connection was not there. She opened her eyes in confusion and then blinked them in surprise at her surroundings. She was not in her bedroom like usual. Instead, she was on some metallic table in the middle of what appeared to be a laboratory. The scenery reminded her of the experimental chambers Twilight Sparkle had in the library basement. Contrary to the circumstances described in a science fiction novel she once read, she was not strapped to the table. In fact, nothing tried to restrict the sun princess as she slowly moved off the table and assumed a standing position. She opened her wings slightly to relieve a few cramps before folding them back up. How did I get here? she thought, The last time I checked, I was at... the castle! She immediately remembered the strange black tornado and the giant Heartless she had to contest against. Oh no... She vaguely remembered seeing the crumbling state that Canterlot was in as she was sucked up by the unnatural winds. A small light flashed in the corner of her eye. She aimed her magic at the point and levitated the red and orange star charm in her possession. It floated in front of her vision in her golden magic aura. "Luna, Cadance," said Celestia gently, "I'll find a way back to you. Then we'll find a way to restore our home." She nodded firmly to herself as she stowed the charm back on herself, specially attached to the area of her left wing closest to her body. "Oh, you're up! That's good." The Princess of Equestria was slightly startled by the foreign voice. She turned to face the source and was unsure how to react. The creature that stood before her looked very much like Starswirl the Bearded, but there were obvious differences. For one, the being stood as a bipedal and his muzzle was clearly too small to belong to a stallion. Still, she could recognize the being as a wizard of sorts. There was an essence of magic in him that she could sense. "Forgive me," said the not-Starswirl, "I haven't even introduced myself yet. My name is Merlin, and you are?" "I am Celestia," said the princess with a bit of caution in her voice, "Am I in another world?" "I'd surmise that is the case," Merlin answered, "considering I've never seen a being like you around here." An explosion rattling the building interrupted their exchange of words. "Oh, fiddlesticks!" exclaimed the wizard, "Come along! They're just outside!" He ran to a door and opened it before heading through. "Wait! What's outside?" asked Celestia but Merlin had already left the room. Deciding to follow, she galloped through the same doorway. What she saw outside the door made her tense. They were small, bipedal creatures clad in armor that only revealed their evil, yellow eyes. Heartless. "Hurry! We haven't a moment to waste," called Merlin. Celestia turned to see but the wizard was busy using magic to sweep the Heartless away with a broom. She wasn't exactly sure what he meant by hurry, but she had an idea of how to handle the situation. Sending an emotional current through herself, she called forth her Keyblade in all its bright, sunny glory. Weapon in mouth, she restricted her speech capabilities in favor of combat potential. This choice proved to be wise as her large swinging motions quickly tore through the ranks of Heartless soldiers. Curiously, when each of these Heartless was slain, a valentine-shaped light floated up to the sky before vanishing. Celestia didn't have time to wonder why because another wave of Heartless had just appeared. Instant of charging in brashly this time, she let her mind's eye focus on each of the Heartless in view. As soon as each 'lock' had been applied, Celestia felt a familiar rush as her body moved at supersonic speeds. Quick dashes left the score of Heartless down and defeated. They all disappeared in small explosions as more valentines soared above. Princess Celestia, feeling at ease, allowed her Keyblade to disappear in a flash of white light. She then turned with a calm expression toward the wizard Merlin. Perhaps she could get some answers now that the immediate threat had been removed. "You said you've never seen a being like me before," she repeated his earlier statement to him. "Well," he clarified, "Only in a few stories of myth. You are a winged unicorn, correct?" "I am an alicorn, yes." "Well, why don't we get inside to a more comfortable setting? It'll be easier to talk." --- A spot of tea later, the sun alicorn and the human wizard had exchanged bits and pieces of intriguing information. To him, she had told about her memories of her earlier life and the basics about how her world worked. To her, he had explained how the Heartless behave, where they came from, and the goal that they strived for: mainly the engulfment of Kingdom Hearts. This was followed by a suggestion by Merlin for Celestia to practice using magic. "But, I can already use magic," she pointed out. "Yes, but has it worked against the Heartless?" he asked. "Well... no." "That is why I ask that you practice using magic of a different variety. It stems from within you as a wielder of the Keyblade." "The Keyblade. Just what is it?" "It is a unique weapon and tool that chooses its wielder to maintain balance. It allows the bearer to make connections that are otherwise impossible." "A tool... that connects." "Yes." Celestia looked at her empty teacup in thought before saying, "Where do we begin practice?" --- She was getting the hang of this. It was fortunate that the wizard had infinitely repairing furniture pieces. Celestia's aim with fire, blizzard, and lightning magic had improved greatly since she had started. Her cure magic had taken away any sign of the singe marks she had on her from her earlier misfired flames. She had surprised herself when she found out that the Keyblade could be used in a boomerang sort of attack. Though, the kickback from the returning 'strike raid' caused her to flinch a little and made her question the sensible use of the technique in the middle of battle. After she let her weapon leave the physical plane of existence, Merlin said, "I have one last thing to give you." He waved a wooden wand. In a burst of gentle white light, Celestia had an armored plate of sorts over her right shoulder. "What's this?" she asked genuinely curious. "It's a little piece of insurance," stated the wizard, "If you ever enter a place where darkness is in close proximity, just touch that plate." The sun princess lifted her left hoof and tapped the plate. A bright light engulfed her and within two seconds, she could barely be recognized. Her entire body had been covered by brass-colored armor. It was form-fitting to her wings and a black visor covered her eyes. Interestingly, her golden tiara and chest plate were the only things that still looked the same. The princess looked over herself in awe. "Woah," she breathed. "That armor will protect you from the darkness," said Merlin, "but don't forget your own strength as you begin your journey." "I won't," she declared. She knew what she had to do next. Celestia summoned her Keyblade and shot a stream of magical light. It opened a multicolored gateway that she turned to face. Thank you for everything, she directed a thought towards her host. The wizard seemed to get it and nodded in understanding. The princess then ran toward the gateway and opened her wings wide as she disappeared through it. The Lanes Between had a new traveler.