Light. Darkness. I have now seen them clash. The very battle between the two forces were overwhelming. It was if magic itself was turned into a violent confrontation of...malevolent destruction. I don't know how else to describe it. I can't help but think that the forces exist only to destroy each other. If that is case, why would they exist in the first place? Are they a symbol of how ponies are? Or perhaps...they are just destined to fight each other over and over. A symbol of unending conflict perhaps? I may be thinking to far ahead.
- Starswirl, Report 52
"D-d-destroy me?!" Twilight yelped as she hopped back, her small moogle friend hiding behind her head. She could feel his little pom-pom shaking like a leaf into her mane. Twilight was also shivering as she looked at Trixie's devilish looking sword. The edges of the blade looked like it was designed directly from darkness itself, the center of it's guard showing it's demonic cat-eye. "Um...can we talk about this?"
"No." Trixie glared at her with soulless eyes, a red shadow misting from her pupils. "T-T-Trixie must...destroy. Trixie must destroy...the key!"
The blue unicorn charged at Twilight, her blade filled with a dark aura. As if on instinct, her keyblade shined a bright light as it pulled Twilight's head forward, blocking the attack. Seeing the block, Trixie quickly spun around and smacked her hoof into Twilight's face, knocking the filly into the air. Twilight fell back into Celestia's throne, a small groan of pain escaping her breath.
"Trixie's gonna tear you apart!" she yelled as she spat out her blade and put it in her hoof. The blade spun like a windmill as she summoned a small fireball in her other hoof. "Dark Fira!"
The grey fireball flew from her hoof as it homed in on Twilight. Seeing the incoming flame, her body froze in fear. What do I do?! What do I do?! Why is she attacking me?! Why is- Twilight's horn began to shine as pure panic absorbed the filly. Then, as if on cue, the fireball struck the throne. But, the fire didn't hit it's target. Instead, Twilight found herself on the other side of the room. Did I...just teleport?
"What the-" Trixie blurted as she spun around, seeing her target now just sitting on the other side of the room. "Hey! Don't try and run away you little-ugh!" Trixie fell to her knees as she clutched her chest. "No...not now. Can't let the darkness...take...my heart..."
Twilight turned around and saw the blue filly struggling to move, a pained expression filled the unicorn's face. Before Twilight could say anything, two shadow Heartless shifted out of the floor before her. Oh no...those are those things from my dream! Do I...do I have to fight them again?! The shadows just stood there, their soulless eyes just staring at the filly. Twilight began to backpedal only to feel a small tug in her mane. Spike. she thought as she glanced at her back. The moogle was just sitting there, still shivering. She could feel the little guy shake in pure fear. It was at that moment that Twilight realized what she had to do. He's just a newborn. I...I have to protect him!
Twilight turned back to the shadows and summoned her keyblade again. Spitting it out, she grabbed it with her hoof and slammed it into one of the shadows. The shadow turned into nothing but a thick messy dark mist. I...I did it. It's just like my dream. I have to...I have to fight. The other shadow quickly jumped into the air, trying to strike down the filly. Twilight quickly swung the keyblade like a bat, only to miss. Oops. I might need some practice with this. she thought before the shadow struck her side, the pain surging through her body. Twilight swung the blade around a few more times before it hit it's mark, the shadow destroyed by the weapon of light.
"Whew...finally got the thing." Twilight panted as she wiped her forehead. "Okay...I'm okay."
"Heh heh heh..." said a sneering voice. Twilight turned around, seeing the laughing filly. "You just got that blade didn't you?" Trixie said as she pointed at Twilight with a devilish grin.
"Um..."
"You don't know how to use it, do you? Good." Trixie said as she rubbed her blade with her hoof, her grin still shining. "My Soul Eater is gonna destroy you and your keyblade."
Soul Eater? Is that the name of that creepy looking sword of her's? she thought as the filly backpedaled again. Twilight glanced at the keyblade, looking at the awkward looking weapon. She is right...I just got this yesterday. Twilight looked back at the blue filly approaching her, the other blade scratching the floor, small sparks flying from the floor. Twilight could feel a sheet of ice blasting down her neck as Trixie kept getting closer, the unicorn still showing a vile grin. Twilight looked at the keyblade one more time. I don't understand why but she wants to fight me. I don't know how to use this or even really know why I have it but... Twilight looked back up, determination slowly lighting her eyes. Just like in my dream, I can't avoid it. I have to fight! I...I have to win!
Twilight bent over, interlocking the handle of the blade into her hoof. Her eyebrows slanted down as she glared the cloaked pony down. Okay Twilight, you can do this... The lavender unicorn quickly took a step back as Trixie charged, her blade spinning in her hoof. Trixie slammed down with a vertical slice, the sword coming close to cutting Twilight. Twilight took another step back and proceeded to block as Trixie thrust her blade forward, the edge sparking the edge of Twilight's sword. However, this block wouldn't help as Trixie's other hoof hit Twilight's face. The filly reeled back from the blow as her back hit the throne room wall.
"Ugh!" Twilight moaned, the pain going down her spine. "That hurt..."
"Of course it hurt you idiot!" Trixie barked as she spun her blade again. "You're untrained, you weakling. Trixie has had-augh!" Trixie suddenly kneeled down as she clutched her chest again. Sweat drained down her face as she began to pant. "No...not now."
Twilight saw the opportunity and swung her blade like a bat, trying to hit the filly. The edge bonked Trixie's cheek, spit flying out of her mouth. Trixie backpedaled from the blow, only for her face to feel the end of the blade again. Twilight kept swinging the blade, the edge flailing around like a common twig. After two more hits, Trixie grabbed the blade with her hoof like it was nothing. Twilight meeped at the sudden sight. "Trixie told you, you're untrained." Trixie raised her other hoof and hit Twilight's hoof, knocking the blade away. Twilight fell slightly back as her hooves skidded a bit back. Trixie held up her hoof as a small dark flame began to float over it. "Dark Fira."
Her hoof pointed at Twilight as the fireball left the hoof, it's speed increasing. However, before the flame could even complete it's journey into the lavender unicorn, a sudden light covered her mouth as a blue ball of ice charged at the blue filly's attack. The icy attack flew into the flame, instantly dispersing it. "What?!" Trixie barked as her flame turned into a vanishing spark. "How did..." Her voice stopped as she saw the tip of the keyblade now releasing a small blue smoke. "You...you cast a Blizzard spell?!"
"I did?" Twilight replied as she spit out the blade and looked at it. "Wait...the keyblade can cast magic?!" Twilight's eyes began to shine as she instantly forgot the situation she was in. No way! That magic was obviously not unicorn magic, so...could this mean that this blade has it's own version of magic?! Unbelievable! If that's the case, maybe it can- she thought as her mind went two million miles a minute. Trixie on the other hoof, just stood and blinked as she watched Twilight vibrate like a massage machine. She didn't understand why her target was suddenly getting excited about her own weapon. In response, Trixie cricked her neck and summoned another Dark Fira.
BLAM!
"AAAAAAaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!"
The fire blasted the distracted Twilight across the room, her body spinning like a top in the air. Her body made a resounding thud as her mouth tasted the room's royal red carpet. Twilight tried to keep herself conscious as she skid down the rug. Her eyes blinked several times as she started to feel a small sensation on her right cheek. "Wh...huh?"
"Kupo! Kupo!" Spike cried as he poked Twilight's face. "Kupo!"
"Spike? Is that...is that you?" Twilight mumbled, her eyes swirling around. As she tried to touch her moogle friend, a long dark blade pierced the floor between the two. Spike hopped back from the sight, quickly running away in a frightened panic. "Spike!"
"It's over keybearer." Trixie said, her hoof slowly pulling out the sword. Trixie raised the blade upward, ready to strike the killing blow. "Trixie wins. Then...Trixie can finally stop using the darkness and-ugh!"
A sudden beam of magic blasted Trixie's left side as her body shot down the room. A shriek of pain escaped her breath as she tried to recover from the blow. Her hooves trembled from the blow as she barely stood up. However, her effort would soon fall apart as she saw the beam's owner.
"You will no longer harm my student little pony." Celestia said as she unsheathed her blade, the sword cloaked in a burning magic flame. "Surrender."
Trixie just stood there at the sight, her hooves barely holding her up. Trixie let out one last deep breath as she looked at the alicorn. "Trixie must...Trixie must destroy to keybearer!" she yelled as the dark aura around her eyes grew in size as she summoned another flame. "Dark Fira!"
The fireball flew through the air like a rocket. But the attack was useless against the powerful alicorn as she deflected the blow with just her sword, the fireball turning into a puff of smoke. Trixie paced back as she saw her best attack turn to ash. "Uh-oh..." Trixie gulped before clapping her hooves. "Heartless come!"
Several shadows shifted out of the floor behind her, the hollow creatures glared at the alicorn and then Trixie. Trixie pointed at Celestia, yelling, "Get her! Attack!" But the shadows just stood there, staring into space. "What the...attack! Attack her right now!"
"It seems you can no longer control them." Celestia said in a grim, dark tone as she stood in front of her student. Her horn shined a magnificent light as several beams of light destroyed the shadows instantly. "It's over little filly."
"N-n-n-no...NOOOOOO!!!" Trixie screamed as the Soul Eater appeared in her hoof as she charged Celestia. As she jumped into the air, Celestia's sword quickly struck the rushing target, knocking the filly back. Trixie fell to the floor, her body slamming the ground in full pain fashion. "Ugh!"
"That's enough. Stand down."
"No! Out of Trixie's way! Trixie's gonna take you down and the key!" Trixie yelled as she charged again. Celestia's blade flew through the air as Trixie reflected it back this time. The swords clashed several times before Trixie successfully knocked it away. The filly then leapt into the air, blade ready to strike. However, as she continued her charge, Celestia's face lit up like a new-born flame. A shining light blasted from her horn, instantly making the filly take flight with a surging amount of pain. A small thud followed as Trixie hit the floor, her eyes spinning from the blow. "Oooohhh...Trixie doesn't feel so good..."
Celestia let out a small sigh as she walked up to the pony. "Listen little filly. Somepony is controlling you, so please...let me help you."
"Trixie doesn't....Trixie's gonna..." Trixie stumbled as she wobbled up. Her legs shook like a leaves as she tried to charge one more time. "Trixie is...Trixie..."
THUNK!
But her statement ended with a swift yet light hit to the head from the hilt of Celestia's sword. Trixie fell down with a resounding thud, instantly falling unconscious. The throne room went silent as the sudden blow had stopped the raging battle.
Celestia let out a sigh as she put away her blade and called some guards inside. What followed was several royal orders from the alicorn herself. She had the guards search the city, seeing if any Heartless were left. However, they were all gone. It was as if the Heartless had vanished like a puff of smoke, not leaving behind a single trace of evidence that they existed. A few hours later, Celestia had the shelters opened, quickly letting the citizens back into the city. As for the guards, there were several causalities. This fact alone besides the sudden invasion caused a new wave of worries for Celestia.
It seems...things are already out of control. Is this the real power of the keyblade? Does that weapon's mere appearance cause these events? she thought as she had both Twilight and Trixie admitted to the castle's medical wing. Time passed as she walked down to Twilight's room in the medical wing, thinking about what Starswirl had wrote about the Heartless. She rubbed her hoof as she looked out a window, her vision now seeing several destroyed buildings in Canterlot. So much destruction...so that was the Heartless. Starswirl did say they run on instinct. That and what she told me...
She looked behind her to a sleeping Twilight, her hooves hugging an also sleeping Spike. A calm smile covered her face as she watched the filly let out a cute snore while Spike's pom-pom swung back and forth from the snore. Twilight...I can't let you fight these monsters. You're just a filly and... she looked back at Canterlot. No. I was too eager. Once again, I made a mistake and it cost me dearly. Now, several guard's hearts are gone, including my captain. Poor Shining Armor...he looked so sad. He told me he was the only survivor from the captain's main squad. Good thing I sent him home. I just hope he doesn't find out his sister is injured.
Celestia left the room and trotted down the hallway. There, she arrived at another room with two guards in front of it. "I want no disturbances." The guards nodded as she walked in. She looked down at the patient, a beat up and barely breathing Trixie Lulamoon. This filly...she's obviously just a pawn of whoever ordered this attack. Perhaps her story will give me the answers I seek... Celestia tapped the pony with her wing. Don't worry my little pony. I won't let anypony manipulate such a young soul such as yourself.
Meanwhile...
"Trixie has failed Master. Just like you predicted. However, I did find out that this bearer of the keyblade is named Twilight Sparkle. She...well, she somehow beat Trixie." the Servant said as the cloaked pony entered the room. The Servant looked deeply up at the Master who was sitting on a large ink black throne. "I know that we were eager with her but-"
"Enough Servant. I have no need to hear your complaints." The Master replied with a raised hoof. "There are other matters to discuss here."
"But-"
"Silence!" The Master yelled with a hoof slammed into it's chair. "I will hear no more of your complaining. I am...tired Servant. Just as you are."
The Servant stepped back for a second, an expression of confusion appearing on the pony's face. "What do you mean?"
"Don't you feel it? You're weak right now. There is barely any darkness within you."
The Servant looked at it's hoof, trying to summon a dark flame. However, it barely appeared, only a tiny spark was there. "What?! Don't tell me..."
"Indeed. That is the power of the Princess of the Sun." The Master responded as the Servant kept staring at it's hoof. "The Light that surrounds Canterlot weakened you."
"I...I see. So that's why you sent my apprentice. I thought you wanted to test the new keybearer..." The Servant said as the pony stared at the floor. "Instead, you wanted to see how far a pony within the darkness could handle being in such a place."
"Yes. It wouldn't have mattered how much Heartless or ponies we would have sent...they would lose. That's why your apprentice kept trying to pour more darkness into her heart as she fought there. The Heartless wouldn't have listened to her otherwise." The Master bit it's lip as the next few words left it's mouth. "We would have lost as well...even if we tried all those years ago, the result would be the same."
"I...understand. She lost not because of the possession, but because of how much darkness is needed to control the Heartless in an environment where they are already weakened. I even lost the tracking Heartless when she was beaten...that means the Heartless don't want to be there...interesting." The Servant bowed before the Master. "So, what do we do now?"
"Be silent. My apprentice approaches." The Master said as another pony entered the room. The third pony was as young as Trixie, their body also covered in a jet black coat. It's hood covered the pony's face as a slight chill entered the room. Several Heartless followed the pony, shifting through the floor while others just walked by.
The young cloaked pony kneeled down as her voice came out in a small rasp. "Master. I have...found the ponies you were looking for. Ponies whose hearts are easy to manipulate and...have the potential."
"Is that so? How many?"
"Four."
"Good. Well done my apprentice." a yawn flew out of the pony's mouth as it's hoof pointed at the Servant. "Go see the four ponies that my apprentice has brought to us. See to it that they become our new pawns. Perhaps they can join the nine others..."
"Yes Master." The Servant said with a bow. "And what about the keybearer? This...Twilight Sparkle?"
"I...will keep a close eye on the bearer. For now, we will use the Heartless against this disgusting light wielder until a different approach is necessary."
"Very well." The Servant left the room as a small legion of Heartless followed the exiting pony. The Master then turned to the apprentice, a large menacing smile curling on the Master's face. The filly on the other hoof, just stood there with a smaller grin.
"Yes my apprentice?"
"Master, um...could we continue my training?" the pony asked, twiddling her hooves.
"Of course Starlight Glimmer. After all, you too will one day face this keybearer." a malicious grin plastered itself on Starlight's face, matching her master's. "And on that day, I'll make sure that you win my apprentice."