//------------------------------// // The Darkness Within, Prologue: The Road // Story: The Key to the Light // by KingJoltik //------------------------------// Let it be said right here and now that meeting new ponies is not an easy task. Experience has shown me that most ponies don't get along with my...knowledgeable personality. The same could be said with the Light and the Darkness. Anytime a new member is put in their ranks, it seems that the others will always be suspicious of the newest pony. -Starswirl, Report 62 In a certain mountain, way up in Northern Equestria, there were two small fillies walking up what seemed like an endless staircase. Both ponies were equipped with thick heavy coats and a pair of thick leather saddlebags. Their hooves were fit into snug snow boots as a gripping frozen wind flew down the mountain. The duo shook like leaves as they ascended step after step, their lips quivering from the freezing temperature. "T-T-Trixie's not sure how much more she can take of t-t-this." the blue filly said as she walked alongside Twilight. "W-W-Why does this pony have to live so far up this f-f-freezing mountain?!" "Kupo..." squeaked Spike as he hid under Twilight's hood, his body shivering as ice started to appear on his red pom-pom. The little bear-like creature had a small purple coat on with green fluffy spikes on the back of it. Celestia had one of the maids make the small coat, believing the tiny guy would love the thing. The cold however, was still there as it pierced through the little jacket into the warm fur of the moogle. His little paws hugged his small frame as he tried to bury himself inside Twilight's mane. "Kupo..." "I know Spike, I'm c-c-c-cold t-t-too." Twilight said as she continued to walk. "It's so c-c-c-cold...I hope this p-p-p-pony we're meeting has a nice warm home." "And some hot fresh food." Trixie added with a groan. "T-T-Trixie still can't believe she's doing this." "S-S-Same here." Twilight replied as the two continued. As a another blast of frozen wind hit the duo, the two hugged each other as they tried to climb another step. They gave each other a small smile as they kept taking steps. Despite their initial encounter, the past few days had been a bit different for the two fillies. Celestia had arranged that Trixie would be living in the room next to Twilight's at the castle despite the fact that Trixie had just tried to kill the keybearer. Twilight thought about those past few days as they went into a very different direction than most. A few days ago... "You want me to what?!" Twilight yelped as her head popped out of her new book. Her surrounding book fort covered most of her body despite the doctors telling her to stay under her bed sheets due to her recovery. "I want you to interact with and befriend Trixie." Celestia said as a golden aura began grabbing book after book, slowly shoving them to the other side of the room. A small pile began to form as the books were neatly stacked on top of each other. "B-b-b-but princess..." Twilight squeaked with a gulp. "She tried to kill me!" "I know she did." Celestia replied as she put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "And...I know she's sorry. I told you before Twilight, she was being controlled by a truly evil pony." "I know but..." Twilight twiddled her hooves as she looked away. "She scares me..." Celestia sighed at the response. She had a feeling it was going to go this way. The princess could not blame her student for being scared, she never wanted any of this to happen after all. Now, her pupil's first experience with the darkness and the Heartless was with a filly her age. Not a good start Celestia. she thought as she rubbed her neck, trying to think of the right words to tell her apprentice. Then again, none of this has been a good start. Everything seems to be spiraling out of control and...I have to fix it. I have to. Letting out a small sigh, the royal pony spoke up, "Twilight. I know I said earlier that I was sorry that this all happened to you but..." Celestia began to twiddle her hooves as well. "It happened my student. And because of that, there are certain lessons that you will need to learn." "So...my lesson is to befriend the pony that tried to kill me?!" "Well, not exactly. Because you chose to have the keyblade training right away...I'm going to soon send you to a certain place." "A certain place?" Celestia nodded. "Indeed. It is a sanctuary up north, high up in the mountains. There lives a certain pony, a pony that was once a keybearer." "A...keybearer?!" Twilight gasped, her hoof covering her mouth. "Really?!" "Yes." Another nod. "She um...is a very different pony. I've known her for a very long time and..." Celestia's face showed a mix of annoyance and anger. "She is very picky about who can visit her." "She only lets keybearers meet her?" Twilight assumed with a cocked eyebrow. "Correct. That's why you're going to go meet her." Celestia said with a small sigh. After all, she'll actually give you information since you wield the keyblade. For a thousand years I've helped that blasted mare and she didn't even tell me that the weapon was called a keyblade!?! Celestia shook her hoof in anger as some old memories floated through her head. She still won't even help me with-stop! No negativity Celestia! Talk with your student and then cake. Cake makes everything better. "Huh...so what does that have to do with befriending Trixie?" Twilight asked as Celestia was still lost in thoughts. "I mean, she can't summon the keyblade. Is she connected to her in some other way?" "Yes." Celestia replied as she left her haze of thoughts. "She is connected to the Heartless...and the Darkness." "Why is that important?" "Well...I know I haven't let you read most of the Starswirl's reports yet, so I'll explain to you why that is important. In those reports, it states that the Darkness will slowly devour a pony's heart unless it can be healed with the Light. Therefore, Trixie will be joining you because she can be healed from the Darkness there." "Healed...from the Darkness..." Twilight scratched her chin in thought. Soon, a small click turned on in her brain. "Wait a minute, you've already contacted her?" "I have. She wishes to meet you both as soon as possible." Celestia put her hoof to her chest as she showed her usual calm smile. "You will be leaving in a few days my student. Because of this, I wish for you to at least try and bond with Trixie. After all, she will be traveling with you." Twilight just blinked at the statement, not sure how to respond. She knew she wanted the training. Especially the training over the keyblade magic. But Trixie...Trixie was another matter. She was scared to interact with the other filly. In all honesty, she didn't want to interact with her at all. But that didn't matter. Twilight could see that in Celestia's eyes. The princess looked at her in a way that Twilight could tell what she saying. The alicorn was saying only one thing, 'I know you can do it Twilight.' That alone caused a small smile to curl up on the filly's face. "Okay princess...I'll try." "That is all I ask my student." Celestia bent down and hugged her protégé. "Don't worry, everything will work out." That was a few days ago, though there were a few more events that happened in those few days. Now, the two fillies were on a perilous hike up what appeared to be a frozen mountain filled with freezing wind, endless stairs and high chances of frostbite. The duo huddled close together as their tiny hooves tapped each step, the frozen rock beneath them still icy cold. Despite this, the two endured the harsh weather as they got closer and closer to their goal. This goal would have to be something truly special as the two began to reach the top of the snowy mountain. "T-T-Trixie is gonna f-f-freeze soon if...achoo!" Trixie sneezed as she clutched her cloak with a tight grip. "S-S-Stupid cold mountain! Stupid f-f-freezing wind!" "Don't worry Trixie, w-w-we have to be c-c-close now." Twilight said as her eyes were barely open, a small reassuring smile on her face. "It's g-g-gonna be..." Twilight's mouth stopped as an amazing sight shined before her eyes. "Wow..." "Trixie agrees." Trixie said as her jaw dropped from the sight. In front of the two fillies was a giant pagoda style like castle. The roof of the castle was colored a nice shade of velvet red despite the blue ice forming on the tips of the building. There was a giant stone gate before the castle, it's wall vast with a white sheet of snow covering it's sides. As with many gates, this one carried a large wooden door that looked as if it hadn't been moved for centuries. The door wore several golden handles shaped like long crystals, as if they were doorknobs. "So uh...do we just knock?" "T-T-T-Trixie doesn't care. Trixie just wants something w-w-w-warm and t-t-t-toasty now!" "Agreed!" Twilight exclaimed as they two ran up to the door and grabbed the handles. They quickly struck the door with all their might as the handles made loud ear-piercing sounds that cut through the freezing wind. As they continued to pound the door, a single set of four hooves approached the door. A few seconds later, the door opened slightly. The duo slowly peeked in as they saw the culprit responsible for opening the door. "Um...hello?" Twilight squeaked as her head drifted sideways through the door. "Anypony there?" The duo soon stood still as they saw a tall slender unicorn approach them. She had a long light blue mane that glistened like the sun and a shining purple coat. In fact, her coat looked like it was made of crystals as she stood there, a large smile in her face. The beauty of the unicorn caused the two fillies to backpedal from the very sight. The mare didn't even flinch as she watched the two young ponies shiver in her presence. Her smile continued as she began to speak. "Do not be afraid my little ponies. I...am Radiant Hope. Welcome to my realm." Meanwhile... The Master scratched it's chin as the pony stared at the large orb in the middle of the room. It's hoof sat under the pony's face as a scene played out inside the sphere. There, it showed two cloaked ponies walking up a snowy mountain, their bodies shivering from the freezing cold. "So...that's where they're going. They're going to see her." The Master said as another pony entered the room. "What is that master?" "Nothing much Starlight. Just...just two little ponies entering a very very disgusting place." "Ah...is that the temple of the former keybearer?" Starlight asked as she blinked at the orb. "The one that you told me to ignore?" "Yeah. That blasted pony was nothing but trouble back then..." The Master said while staring at the ceiling. "Though her existence has little meaning now. Hmm..." the pony began to scratch it's chin again. "Perhaps I could..." "Do you have an idea master?" "Yes, I believe I do." the Master clapped it's hooves. "Neoshadow! Come to me!" A large lanky Heartless slowly emerged from the floor, it's body twitched as it stared at the Master. It's long claws started to grow as it's yellow eyes glowed like headlights. Starlight shined a grin as she watched the Heartless shifted back and forth. "My my master, are you going to sic that Heartless on her?" "Yes...I believe I will." The Master pointed to the large orb. "Neoshadow, do you see the two ponies being shown inside this orb?" The Heartless only twitched and then pointed it's claw at the orb. A devious smile appeared on the cloaked pony's face. "Good. They are your next target." The Master patted the Heartless's head as Starlight gave a slight chuckle. "Now...obey your master and destroy them."