//------------------------------//
// The Darkness Within, Chapter 6: Stronger Than You Seem 
// Story: The Key to the Light 
// by KingJoltik 
//------------------------------//

The Heart. As I have said before, the heart seems to be the main ingredient to the power of 'The Key'. It's very nature seems to capture just what is so special about 'The Key' and what it can do. Not only that, the heart has a special way of gaining power. It can gain power in anyway possible. Love, life, fear, bravery, courage, wisdom, knowledge, anger, hatred, rage. All these things can power a heart...or hinder it. No matter what I see or research though, one thing always helps the heart. Interaction. Interacting with others gives it more power than anything else.

-Starswirl Report 39

"I uh-er-um..." Hope stuttered as he stared at the little girl, her expression unchanging. He then kept switching his viewpoint between Cait and the girl. "Uh cat, little help here?"

"Um...hey kid." Cait Sith said as he hopped off the chair and stood in front of the girl. "My name's Cait Sith and this is Hope Estheim. Who are you?" 

"I'm Maud Pie." the girl said in a deadpan tone.

"Nice to meet you Maud. If you don't mind me asking, how did you get on our ship?"

The girl just stood there, not showing a single expression. The duo were very surprised in the fact that she didn't seem disturbed by the sudden species change from pony to human. Instead, it seemed like nothing would disturb her. She had even switched into being a bipedal in an instant. After a few seconds, she spoke up in the most monotone voice possible. "I was playing camouflage with my pet, Boulder. He was hiding while I was seeking and I couldn't find him."

"And how did that cause you to end up in our ship?" Cait asked as he looked at Hope with a confused face. Hope gave him a worried look back, disturbed by the fact that the girl did not emote whatsoever.

"I was searching and found a weird invisible wall a little outside of our rock farm. I then thought that Boulder was playing a trick on me, so I kept touching the invisible wall until it opened up a weird visible door. I opened the door and then I kept looking for him in here until you all showed up."

Hope and Cait looked at each other in disbelief. They knew their ship had advanced cloaking and mechanical electronic locks. It was designed to make sure no one in multiple star systems could detect their ship. It's design alone was technology far beyond most civilizations. 

And yet, this little girl had basically waltzed right in here without a care in the world. The duo looked at each other with the same thought. Reeve is gonna kill us. They then turned around and saw that their ship was about to reach their base. We are so dead. How do we explain this one?!

As the ship was picked up by the base's sensors, the duo let out a huge gulp down their throats. Maud on the other hand, just stood there, emotionless. That is, till she tugged her clothes. "Oh, there you are Boulder. Why were you hiding in my pocket?"

Hope and Cait looked at each other one more time as Hope whispered. "This isn't gonna end well, is it?"

"Nope." the cat whispered back. "Makes you wonder if someone has it worse than us right now."





Meanwhile, in the dark orb inside Radiant's castle...

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" The Servant laughed as the pony threw Trixie into the wall. The filly let out a scream of pain as her back slammed into the hard rough concrete. Her body made a resounding thud as it hit the floor, her whole body shivering in agony. "Do you feel that you disgusting little worm?! Do you feel the pain you must endure?!"

"Trixie doesn't-urk!" the filly tried to say as the Servant's hoof grabbed her neck again. The Servant then spun around like a top, the filly's limp body flailing as the pony suddenly stopped and threw her at top speed. The filly's body quickly flew across the room. "AAAAAaaahhhhh!!!"

BAM! THUD!

"Oooohhhh..." Trixie moaned as she fell to the floor again, her whole body in searing pain. Her eyes twitched as she watched the cloaked pony slowly approach her. She tried to get up, only for the Servant's hoof to grab her again.

"Do you see how pointless it is now?" the Servant asked as the pony waved it's hoof, pointing at the entire room around them. Trixie's pupils could barely see what was around them. A few moments ago, Trixie was in Radiant's Castle where she had first used the card. Now, she was in a dark room with little light. However, the room was very familiar to her. It was her training room when she was The Servant's apprentice. The Servant laughed again as the pony saw Trixie's wandering eyes. "It's familiar, isn't it? This room, that is."

"Trixie...remembers...this room." she muttered, her throat struggling to say something. "Why is...Trixie here?"

"Simple. This room is your world after all."

"Trixie's...world?"

"Yes." The Servant hissed as the pony leaned up to Trixie, whispering into the filly's ear. "This place is the only thing that matters to your heart. It's where everything you know and hate lives."

"Wha...what are you talking about?!"

"Oh come on! Isn't it obvious you piece of filth?!" The Servant yelled as it threw Trixie across the room again, the filly's body skidding down the floor. "This is only place you're allowed to exist Trixie! This is all that's left of your world!" The Servant vanished, only to reappear directly over Trixie as the cloaked pony slammed it's hoof on top of Trixie's head, pinning her head into the floor. "This is all that matters! Your parents, your so-called new friend, even your magic means absolutely nothing Trixie!" The Servant waved it's hoof once more. "This is all that's left in your heart! Nothing but an empty space filled with memories of pain and despair!"

"That's-urk!"

"Don't you see?!" The Servant yelled as it grabbed Trixie again. The filly was then thrown across the room once more as laughter filled her surroundings. The Servant kept bellowing laugh after laugh, "AHAHAHA!!! After all, this is your darkness Trixie!"

"Dark...ness...?" Trixie gasped, trying to speak. 

"That's right. Your darkness Trixie. That is what this room is and..." The Servant shined a massive grin as it put it's hoof on it's chest. "I am your darkness Trixie. I am all that matters in your heart."

"But-"

"And now, it is time." The Servant interrupted. The cloaked pony then stood upright, as if it was now a statue.

"Time?"

"For you to drown in darkness...just like you used to when I trained you."

"Wha....no! Trixie won't-"

"Too late." The Servant clapped it's hooves. As the clap's sound rung out throughout the room, Trixie felt a shiver down her spine. Her eyes widened as she saw a wave of dark, thick misty fog surround her. The fog began to show several glowing red eyes, their gaze piercing right through the filly. Trixie could only sit there, trembling in fear.

"Goodbye Trixie." and with that, another clap followed.

The dark fog devoured the filly. A small cry for help could be heard for only a second, only for it to be drowned out by the unending darkness that now covered the pony. As she tried to cry out again and again, nothing happened. Except one thing, and that was making The Servant laugh more and more. The Servant continued to laugh as the darkness continued to fill the room, even devouring the cloaked pony.

Soon, there was nothing left. Just a black empty space. 

All that was left was a blank, empty, meaningless void.





Meanwhile, in another part of Equestria...

Several ponies stood in a dark, almost lightless room. The ponies within were The Master, The Servant and four other young foals. The foals were all standing like statues, a dark fog covering their heads. It was then that the other two felt something. The Servant stopped then turned to The Master, ready to speak up.

Hmm.... The Master thought as the pony rubbed it's chin. Seems I was right. Looks like Trixie didn't have what it takes.

"Master, this feeling..." The Servant began, only to see The Master's raised hoof.

"Yes. Trixie is gone. The darkness devoured her. Heart, soul, and everything." The Master let out a yawn as the pony turned around. "Too bad, I was hoping we could use a bit more out of her. Oh well..."

"Are you retiring for the day Master?"

"I am." The Master waved it's hoof slightly. "Tell my apprentice when she returns that she has the day off. I'm done for the day."

The Servant did a slight bow. "Understood. Have a pleasant sleep Master." The Master gave another wave as The Servant returned to his work on the four. As the pony began to instruct the four again, a small thought ran through the pony's head. I guess The Master was right all along. I guess that training was truly a waste of time. And Trixie held such great promise! But...she could not endure the wondrous gift that is the darkness. Just goes to show you what it means if you are unworthy of such a miraculous power.

The Servant clapped it's hooves as several Heartless appeared in the room. "Let's see...I need you and you to-"

The pony's commands stopped as The Servant felt a small chill. The pony's ears twitched as another chill went down it's spine. What is...why do I still feel like there's still another me somewhere?





Meanwhile...

Trixie

"Wha?" said a certain blue filly's voice.

Trixie. Trixie Lulamoon.

"What is..."

Wake up Trixie. You are not done.

"Wha...who?"

My name is of no importance. I am only here to tell you one thing. Wake up.

"I...Trixie can't. Trixie is...gone."

Are you really done? Is it really over for you?

"Yes...Trixie is...Trixie is..."

If you have to time to talk, then you're obviously not done. Get up. There is work to do.

Trixie didn't respond that time. Instead, she tried to open her eyes. However, when she did, she wasn't sure she had opened them. All she could see was darkness. Pitch black darkness. Nothing was there. Just a dark black inky void. Blinking several times, Trixie began to try and feel her body. However, she couldn't feel a thing. It felt like she was just sitting there, floating in some motionless void.

"What is going on? Just...what is happening to Trixie?"

No response.

"Tri...no, I see. I'm alone. I'm all alone now." she said to herself. "I'm just...alone. I'm...nothing."

And with that, a memory floated into her head.





A few days ago...

Trixie was just sitting there, the small blue filly slouched over on a small wooden log. Her current location was the 100 Acre Wood, a small forest inside a book. At first, Trixie was surprised by the notion of being in the book and meeting other creatures that weren't ponies. But soon, it didn't matter to her. Depression quickly settled in again, just like it had for her entire stay at the castle in Canterlot. 

As she sat there, she let out another sigh, trying to find some hope in her mind, only to just think about how The Servant was going to find her and destroy her. She looked up, not able to even laugh at the humorous sight in front of her. Before her eyes was Twilight and Spike along with several other creatures as they tried to pull out a small yellow bear who was stuck in a hole. Despite the humor of the sight, she just sighed again.

What am I doing here? she thought to herself as looked down at the ground, a frown covering her entire face. Her nostrils let out a long release of air. She wanted to think about the past few days, how Celestia had forgiven her due to The Servant's control over her. How Twilight had shown her that magic book and they were now inside it. But instead, Trixie could only sit there, thinking about how her life was going to go now, Just what am I going to do now? I'm all alone, my parents are gone, The Servant will probably sic a ton of Heartless at me to shut me up...my life is over. Just...why am I here? Why-

"Um...are y-y-you o-o-okay?" said a stuttering voice, knocking Trixie out of her trance. She looked around, trying to find the voice's origin, only to see a small pig standing right in front of her. She blinked at the creature, trying to find a response. "Uh...h-h-hello?"

"Oh uh...hi." Trixie said, not sure what to say.

"H-h-hi. I'm Piglet."

"Er...hello Piglet. Trixie is Trixie Lulamoon."

"H-h-hello Trixie. It's n-n-nice to m-m-meet you." Piglet said as he slightly backpedaled, his whole body shivering.

"Um..." Trixie muttered, watching the small pig squirm. Am I that intimidating? The little guy sure seems scared.

"Kupo!" said a certain voice, interrupting the two's staredown. It was Spike as he floated up towards the duo.

"Oh, h-h-hello Spike." Piglet replied with a tiny wave. The moogle replied with a small hug. As the two tiny beings hugged each other, Trixie could only chuckle at the sight. Hearing the chuckle, Piglet turned and said, "Oh, that's g-g-good."

"Hmm?"

"I t-t-thought you were always s-s-sad. Glad you can l-l-laugh Trixie."

"Huh? Oh well uh..." Trixie stuttered as she twiddled her hooves. "Trixie is...Trixie doesn't want to talk about it."

"O-o-okay." Piglet replied, his eyes now staring at the ground. A few seconds later, he looked back up and asked. "C-c-can I sit up there with you?"

"Um...sure." Trixie said as she moved slightly over. The small pig hopped up and sat right by the filly, a tiny smile on his face.

"Are you okay?"

"Hmm? Yeah, Trixie is fine."

"Oh...you don't look okay."

"Well..." Trixie looked back down at the ground, not wanting to respond. 

"Why are you sad?"

"Huh?"

"W-w-why are you s-s-sad Trixie?" Piglet asked again, a large frown on his face. "No one wants to be s-s-sad, so why are you?"

"Because..." Trixie didn't want to say it, but she felt the little pig didn't mean any harm. Instead, she looked back up, seeing the sight of Twilight and the others still trying to pull out Winnie the Pooh from the hole behind Rabbit's house.

"Trixie is...sad because Trixie has lost everything...and Trixie can't get it back." Piglet said nothing as tears began to stream down Trixie's cheeks. "Trixie doesn't have the strength...or the courage...or anything. Trixie is...Trixie..." Tears covered her face as she slumped over again, her hooves over her face. "Trixie is nothing now."

Piglet watched the filly as she sat there, tears falling to the ground. The little pig could only sigh, trying to think of what to say. Oh d-d-dear. What do I say to her? She's so sad and...what would Pooh say?

But words wouldn't come to the little pig's mind. Seeing that couldn't solve the problem this way, he tried to only other thing he knew he could do. He got up and hugged her. Granted, he could only hug a tiny bit of her chest, but that didn't matter. The gesture alone made Trixie stop crying. 

"Huh? Why are you-"

"It's okay." Piglet interrupted, words suddenly appearing in his head.

"Wha-"

"It'll be okay. You're stronger than you seem."

"Stronger than...what did you say?"

"Stronger than you seem. It's something Christopher Robin would always say to Pooh."

"Christopher Robin?"

"Yeah." Piglet said as he released his hug. "He would say to Pooh, 'You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.'"

"Stronger...than Trixie thinks?"

"Uh-huh." Piglet nodded. "He told us that everyone is like that. Everyone always believes they're only so good when they're actually better."

"Trixie...Trixie sees what you mean." Trixie said in a low, almost whispering tone. She tapped her chest in thought, trying to figure out what the saying truly meant. She got what Piglet was saying, but it felt like there was something more. Something different. As she sat there, she felt a small tap on her shoulder.

"Hey Trixie." said a voice. Trixie looked up, only to see Twilight standing there with a smile. "Are you okay?"

"Trixie...doesn't know."

"That's fine." said another voice. They turned their heads, only to see Pooh with a big smile on his face. "After all, it's okay if you don't think you're okay."

"It is?" Trixie asked, her eyes widening at the statement. 

"Sure." Pooh nodded. "After all, as long as you're you, you'll turn out fine."

"I think you said that wrong Pooh." Twilight said with a chuckle. She then turned to Trixie, "I think what Pooh meant is that you don't have to worry so much. Just be yourself Trixie."

"And remember, you're always stronger than you think you are!" Piglet added as he hugged her again.





The Present...

"I...I remember now." Trixie said to herself as she floated there, the darkness still thick around her. "Trixie is...stronger that Trixie seems."

"That's right." said a voice behind the filly. Trixie turned around, only to gasp at a certain sight. It was her mother, Tricky Moon, floating there with her in the void. "You've always been strong."

"M-m-mommy?"

Tricky Moon nodded. "That's right. I'm always here for you Trixie."

"But-"

"But you're not!" yelled a condescending voice behind Trixie. She turned around again, only to feel a hoof grab her neck in a vice-like grip. Her eyes widened at the new sight in front of her. It was The Servant. "You'll never be strong! I made sure of that!"

"Trixie is-"

"BE QUIET!" The Servant yelled as it slapped Trixie in the face, quickly shutting the filly up. "You're nothing! Do you hear me?! You're nothing but an insignificant bug!"

"You're wrong." said another voice as a hoof swatted away The Servant's grip on Trixie. "She will always be something. She will always be something more than even you can control."

The voice belonged to another familiar face. One Comet Hat, Trixie's father. Tears began to stream down the filly's face as she watched her father push The Servant back. "D-d-daddy..."

"I'm here Trixie. I'll always be here."

"Except when you weren't." The Servant barked back. A shining grin pierced the void as the pony pointed to another part of the void. "Look at that you insignificant pests. Look at the memories of your foal that you failed to protect!"

The trio looked to where The Servant was pointing, only to see a blank screen. That is, till a picture began to show on it. There, Trixie began to shiver in fear at the very sight before her. It was the time when she being trained under The Servant.

"Look at what you did!" The Servant yelled as the parents backpedaled. "Look at your failure! Look at you idiotic piece of garbage foal as I tortured her! As I made her submit to my will and to my power!" 

The screen showed an even smaller Trixie surrounded by a thick dark aura, her whole body shaking from the aura's power. In her hoof was the weapon, Soul Eater. In front of the filly was The Servant as a dark flame appeared in the pony's hoof. The Servant than reeled back the fireball, ready to fire it as it commanded the filly to take a defensive stance. Then, as it seemed that only one fireball was going to thrown at the filly, the dark flame burst into five fireballs, all blasting into the filly. The filly went flying, her body burning from the dark flames. Screams released themselves as she laid there in pain.

"AHAHAHA!!!" The Servant laughed, watching the screen as it patted Trixie on the back. "Did you see that?! Do you remember the pain I constantly caused to you?!"

"Y-yes...Trixie remembers." Trixie said with a gulp. 

"Do you see what I did? I broke you." The Servant bellowed as the pony kept hitting Trixie's back in a fit of laughter. "Do you remember that? How everyday I would have you fight Heartless after Heartless, trying to make you see how only darkness would give you the strength to fight those beasts?! How I reminded you day after day about how I destroyed your parent's hearts?! How I showed you that darkness would give you the strength to defeat me!" The Servant then grabbed Trixie's neck again, her throat letting out a croak. "And yet you always fell flat. You didn't deserve the darkness."

"You're wrong." said another voice. They all turned, only to see not one being, but several. In front of Trixie, Tricky Moon, Comet Hat and The Servant were several new visitors. To be specific, Twilight Sparkle, Spike and Piglet. Behind the three were the rest of the friends of the 100 Acre Wood. "She's stronger than she seems."

"Oh really?"

"Yes. Trixie has both the Light and the Darkness to help her."

"And she's not alone." Tricky Moon added. "She'll always have us in her heart."

"My daughter is ten times the pony you are Servant." Comet Hat continued.

"I don't believe she is. But since our little void here keeps having visitors, I think I'll bring some of my own. Oh Heartless!" The Servant replied as it clapped it's hooves. Trixie and the others braced themselves for company as the cloaked pony floated there, waiting for it's own backup.

But then, nothing happened.

"What the-where are the Heartless?!" The Servant yelled as it clapped it's hooves again. "Come to me!"

Still nothing.

"What is...WHAT?! HOW DARE YOU?!" The Servant clapped again. "COME TO ME HEARTLESS!!!"

"Looks like you're wrong." Trixie said as she crossed her hooves. 

"Oh really? Wrong about what you piece of filth?"

"That Trixie is useless. Trixie gets it now." the filly then took a deep breath, her eyes closed. The Servant just floated there, unsure of what Trixie was doing. Then, everypony vanished except her and The Servant.

"What is this? Where did they go?"

"They don't belong here."

"They don't-huh?"

The filly ignored the pony as it continued. "Trixie gets it now. This void is Trixie's Darkness. It's where Trixie gets Trixie's dark powers."

"So...you figured it out." The Servant grumbled, it's head staring down. It clapped it's hooves one more time, only for a legion of Heartless to appear behind it. The Servant lifted it's head as more and more Heartless kept appearing. "So what?! You're still stuck here in your darkness. There is no Light for you to use against my power!"

"You're wrong. Trixie has Light to fight you."

"Oh really? And where is it?"

"Simple. It's right here." Trixie replied, tapping her chest. "It's in Trixie's heart. My family and friends are there and they give me all the Light I need." Trixie then shinnied a smile. But it wasn't a small smile or tiny grin, but a genuine, happy smile. "And just like this void is enough Darkness for Trixie, them being in Trixie's heart is more than enough Light for Trixie."

After that statement, all that was left in that inky black void was a sudden bright light. A shining pillar of light that consumed everything and everypony in it. Then...nothing. Nothing but an empty void.





"AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!" Trixie yelled as the dark fog slowly released her, her body flailing around as she reappeared in the room the dark orb had created earlier. The Servant that had been created from the card began to backpedal as Trixie's form shined in the room. As the last bit of light shined from the filly, the dark fog completely dispersed, leaving nothing but the blue-coated pony.

"Well well well...this is unexpected. You actually escaped the darkness." The Servant said with a chuckle as the pony began to clap it's hooves in a mocking tone. "To think the 'Great and Powerful Trixie' could actually escape the void."

"Shut...up..." Trixie replied, her whole body shaking from the experience. Her legs shook as she felt her entire body shiver in response. Her legs were like jello and her eyes were constantly darting back and forth, trying to figure out what had just happened. After a few moments, Trixie stared straight ahead, The Servant standing at the other end with a giant grin. Trixie then pointed her hoof at the cloaked pony, her weapon, the Soul Eater appearing in her hoof.

"Heh heh...looks like the little filly thinks she can take me. You do realize that you are still alone in here with me, right?" The Servant let out another laugh. "And yet you still think you can beat me. Remember, I gave you the power you wield right now. Despite that, you still couldn't get your revenge against me."

"That's fine." Trixie panted as she put herself into a fighting stance. 

"Oh? Is that so? And what makes you so confident that you can beat me now?"

"Simple." Trixie shined a cheeky, confident grin. "Trixie is stronger than she seems."

The Servant began laughing again, it's head staring at the ceiling. As the pony continued to laugh, a dark flame appeared in it's hoof. Then, The Servant looked back at Trixie with a giant, malicious grin. "I see. It's just like they always say...that last bit of light is always the toughest bit to snuff out."