A new world, new people, new places, and new evil that plans on taking over the world. It is up to Sora and friends to band together and stop the evil from taking over Equestria.
Fighting with the inner darkness inside his heart, Sora starts to wonder if he is really fit to be called a keyblade wielder. Well this all comes into question when he wakes up in a strange new world, filled with people that he has never met before, and with signs of evil planning to attack Sora has little time to think. Will Sora become the hero of light and stop this evil from taking over, or will he cave in to the darkness that resides in his own heart? Everyone's a human. Unicorns can use magic. Pegasi have wings. Green means play. Red means stop.
"I....I see nothing." A younger voice said, distinctively male, answering the mysterious question.
"The darkness inside you makes it so that you can not see the light,"
"The Darkness?" the male voice said.
"What do you think about most ever since you're failure of the keyblade exams?"
"Do you think that you're not strong enough to protect the ones you cherish?"
"Or are you envious of the one that everyone sees as the master?"
The young male couldn't say a word.
"You're surrounded by darkness, your darkness, why won't you accept it?"
"Because you're wrong....... it doesn't matter if I failed or not, I'll still be able to protect the people that I care for no matter what!"
"Hmmmmm.... I see, your way of thinking is so innocent, up bringing, prideful, but naive."
"Who are you?" he said.
"I am the one that inhabits your thoughts." "The one that brings chills to the bones of many and nothing of man can destroy me." "I am your inner most darkest moments and the ones shrouded by mystery." "I....am.... your..... Nightmare."
The room was then lit. Everything around it was complete darkness except for a crystallin structure that had a picture of a girl with violet hair and a stream of pink going down one loc of hair from where a crown laid on top of it, surrounded by small pictures of different gems seemed to represent different meanings,of which the feet of a young teenager loomed over the structure.
Sora could not admire this for long, for the darkness was then starting to surround him and take him down.
"No, this can't be happening,"
"I can't go..... not yet,"
"Riku.....Kairi.....Donald.....Goofy,"
"I can't let this thing take me away from you guys,"
A flash of light then illuminated the dark room and the darkness that was taking Sora started to dissipate. The flash of light then formed into a crystalline door with a sun symbol over it. The door then opened and an even brighter light was shown. Sora felt captivated to go through the door. And so he did, not knowing that through that door would lead him to another adventure. Of one that would answer the personal thoughts of Sora and unlock the hidden mysteries that lies within the keyblade wielder.
Our story starts here in a small town of Ponyville, where everyone knows each other, and where the famous elements of harmony reside and live out their lives. We'll begin our story at the local library where Celestia's protoge is getting ready for the Midnight spectacular. First, we see a young pre teen boy with spliced green eyes and spiky green hair, wearing a purple hoodie pacing back and forth impatiently on the floor.
"C'mon Twilight hurry up or we're gonna miss the meteor shower!" said a young male voice.
"Just one more minute Spike!" a female voice had said from upstairs.
"You said that thirty minutes ago, my triple decker nut crazy vanilla cream cookies are getting cold,"Spike said with a sad expression on his face.
"Ok,ok I'm coming down."
Coming from the stairs, was a seventeen year old girl,wearing a purple blouse with a black skirt that had a design of a pink star surrounded by smaller white stars. She had long, straight purple hair with a pink accent on one strand.
"I just wanted to get a telescope."
"Well now you have it so come on let's go before we miss the whole thing!" Spike said worryingly.
"Alright let's go to the spot then," Twilight said.
"Yes, awesome finally!" Spike said as he ran out the door with his tray of cookies with Twilight following right behind him.
They both made their way to the hills that stood on the outskirts of Ponyville where they were to meet their friends. Spike and Twilight made their way to the hill and was greeted by none other than the pink haired party girl herself.
"TWILIGHT,SPIKE, YOU MADE IT!" the girl said while hugging both of them.
"You know I wouldn't miss a party with my friends Pinkie," Twilight said. "Especially when there is such an amazing event happening too."
"I hope we didn't miss it with you taking so long," Spike murmured to himself.
"What was that Spike?"
"Nothin"
"Well come on you two, the others are already here, Rainbow,Fluttershy, Applejack and Rarity." Pinkie said.
Over the hillside they could see four more teenagers roughly the same age as Twilight. The first one had rainbow colored hair and was wearing had a cyan tank top, jean shorts, dark pink eyes, and a pair of cyan wings on her back to match her shirt. The second girls was wearing a yellow sundress, had cyan colored eyes, long, pink hair that went down to her back, and a pair of yellow wings. The third girls looked as if she was raised on a farm with her blue jeans, boots, tied up shirt which showed her midriff, and a stetson which slightly covered her bright green eyes,and sat atop of her long blonde hair that was tied in a ponytail. The fourth girl had a more elegant flare with her white blouse, purple skirt, and long, flowing purple hair that seemed to perfectly compliment her sapphire eyes.
"Hey girls," Twilight said to the rest of her friends.
"Hey, Twilight,it's about time you made it," Rainbow said with a smile.
"Um, hey Twilight," Fluttershy said with a soft and delicate voice.
"Howdy, Twi," Applejack said with her southern drawl thicker than tree sap.
"Good evening Twilight," Rarity said very sophisticatedly.
"I hope everyone is as excited as me to watch the meteor shower, I just can't wait," Twilight said very excitedly.
"And I hope that you guys have a taste for my one and only triple decker nut crazy vanilla cream cookies," Spike said.
Pinke Pie looked at the cookies and gasped for she saw all the icing and the chocolate chips that graced over the cookies and in her mind she knew that she had to eat them. In all fell swoop Pinkie had ran over to the tray of cookies, grabbed them out of Spike's hand and ate the entire plate.
"My compliments to the chef Spike those cookies were amazing, but a little more icing next time,kay?" Pinkie said with a big smile and crumbs of cookies on her face.
"I had to use three bottles of icing, really who would eat more than-" Spike had stopped as he saw Pinkie with threatening eyes telling him not to finish that sentence.
"More icing it is Pinkie," Spike said with a nervous grin.
"Awesome Spike, just tell me when there's a new batch, I'll be more than happy to taste test them,"
"Taste test........yeah lets keep it like that"
"Guys quit fooling around the shower's about to start!" Rainbow Dash told the girl and boy.
All the friends gathered around for the show to come and as their anticipation grew, the first meteor appeared in the sky. Then, it was a roar of meteors lighting up the sky with beautiful arrays of colors and lights. Everyone was amazed.
"This is so beautiful," Rarity said.
"It's not like anything that I"ve seen before, Twilight said.
"Especially the one with a guy inside it," Pinkie Pie said."
Everyone looked at her crazy.
"What was that Pinkie Pie?" Twilight asked.
"There's a guy in the meteor right there, the one that's closest to us"
Twilight started to look through her telescope as she was talking. "Pinkie, I can honestly tell that there is no guy inside of a mete-" Twilight stopped talking as what she saw froze her in place. She saw a young boy falling out of the sky headfirst in a comet - like fashion, and he was headed towards them.
"There is a boy in there, and he's headed right for us!" Twilight said as she started running away. "Come on girls we have to get to a safe distance away form his impact."
When the girls were far enough away from the crashing site, Twilight used her magic to create a force field around her friends. As she did this the comet had just crashed into their picnic location and was overflown by dust and debris. When the dust had cleared Twilight had stopped the force field and she and her friends started walking towards the crashing site. They all looked at nothing but a crater and what was inside the crater had surprised them all.
"I can't believe it," Twilight said. "This is so weird," Rainbow said. "Is he going to be okay?" Fluttershy asked. "How is that even possible," said Applejack. "My, My, he looks awfully injured, Rarity said. "Wow, just wow," Spike said. "I told you," Pinkie said in a sing song fashion.
For what they saw in the crater was a young boy, but not just any boy, it was a boy who had visited and saved countless of worlds before, a boy who goes by the name of .......Sora.
Sora started to regain consciousness after his encounter. He opened his eyes and saw nothing but darkness. He had a feeling as if he was floating in a sea of darkness, just letting the tides move him. It felt..... rather relaxing. He then heard a faint voice say his name.
" Sora,"
Sora started to sporadically move inside of the darkness trying to see who it was talking to him. It wasn't the same voice from before,no, this voice was more soothing to hear.
"Don't be afraid, Keyblader, for you are the light that shines upon this world."
As the voice said this, darkness started crawling onto Sora and overtaking him.
"You must fight the darkness and show them how bright your light shines."
The darkness was creeping closer and closer.
"Sora, you are the key."
With that being said a flash of light illuminated the entire area and Sora closed his eyes to shield them from the light.
****
Sora slowly opened his eyes and found himself in a bed that was not his. The bed sheets were covered in pictures of butterflies. Sora started to look around the area seeing that he was in an unfamiliar place. Then, he stopped as he saw a pair of cyan eyes looking at him. He instantly started fumbling with the bed sheets trying to get them off but ended falling on the floor.
"Oh my, I didn't mean to startle you, I was just trying to see if you were feeling better, I know it's really not any of my business but, um, I'll just be going now, I didn't mean to cause any trouble," a young girl said as she started heading back down stairs.
"Hey, wait," Sora said making Fluttershy jump at the words. "You didn't cause any trouble at all," Sora said with a slight giggle." "You shouldn't feel bad about coming to check up on someone." "In fact, it makes me happy that I have a friend like you who would do something so kind," Sora said with a smile. Fluttershy was surprised that this person that she barely knew called her those nice things and the fact that he sees her as a friend when they've barely even met. "A...friend,me?" "but we just met, we barely even know each other," Fluttershy said while rubbing her arm and looking at the floor. "Well, why don't we start," Sora said as he got up and walked to the girl. "Hi, my name's Sora," he said while pounding a fist to his chest. "And your name is?" Fluttershy looked up at him and began to tell him her name. "My name is Fluttershy.
"What was that," Sora asked as he could barely hear the girl. "It's Fluttershy." "Fluttershy,I'll remember that." "Well Fluttershy if you don't mind me asking, can you tell me where I am exactly?" "Oh, well your in my cottage." "I live on the outskirts of Ponyville so that I can tend to the animals that live in the forest." Sora looked at her in amazement. "Wait, you take care of all the the animals in the forest?" "That's so cool." Fluttershy started to blush as a smile started to appear on her face. "It's nothing really, I mean it is what my cutie mark tells me that I'm best at." "Cutie Mark?" Sora asked. "What's a cutie mark?" "You don't know what a cutie mark is?" Sora moved his head from in disagreement. "Well, a cutie mark is a special mark that shows the special talent that someone has." "That's pretty cool, so what's your cutie mark like?" Sora asked. Fluttershy immediately blushed. "I...really don't like showing people my cutie mark." "Come on, I really wanna see Fluttershy please?" Sora pleaded to Fluttershy. "I.....I......-" Fluttershy was then interrupted by a bang at her window. She walks over to it to find what could have made that noise. Fluttershy opens the window and looks out and sees Rainbow Dash flying right in front of her. Rainbow then greeted Fluttershy as she flew in the room.
"Hey Fluttershy, I just came to check and see how things were going with the new gu-" Rainbow then stopped in her tracks as she spotted Sora out of his bed.
"Wait...YOUR ALIVE?!" Rainbow said to Sora. "Uh, yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Sora said as he put his hands behind his head. "Well, you kinda fell out of the sky last night, and hit the ground full force." "Woah woah woah, I fell out the sky?" "You were like a comet, you left a crater in the ground!" "Wow, that sounds so.........Awesome!" "I know, that's what I said!" Rainbow said with so much enthusiastic force. "Um, Rainbow," Fluttershy timidly spoke. "You were trying to tell me something remember?" "Oh, right,sorry about that Fluttershy." "I was just coming to see how things were going with the new guy and Twilight said to go meet her and tell how he was doing so that she could tell Princess Celestia about it." Rainbow then turns towards Sora. "And it seems like you're all better to me."
"But, we should still go see Twilight and find out what she thinks about it." Fluttershy suggested. "Sigh, fine, but I'm telling you he's all better." "Hey new guy, are you ready to go?" "I guess so but....wait," Sora started patting his body all over him and looking over his shoulders. "Where's my jacket?" he started feeling around his neck and noticed that something else was missing. "Where's my necklace?!" "Relax, dude," Rainbow said. "Last time I checked, Rarity had them, she said something about 'a new fashion discovery' or something." "Can you tell me where she is?" "She's not that far from Twilight so we'll stop there to get your things first if it's that important." "Well lets get going then," Sora said to the two girls. All three then exited the cottage and started walking towards the small town of Ponyville.
**** Off in the distance, far enough where no one could spot him, stood a person in a black coat with the face being covered by a hood. "So, the key blade wielder is here. "This will prove to be more challenging than I thought." "In a world where friendship is the magic that trumps all others." "The light in this world is naturally stronger than any other, plus with Sora and the keyblade here, this light will be more powerful than I'd imagined." "For now, I'll stay hidden." The hooded figure snapped his fingers and a portal of darkened opened up. "No matter what it takes, this light will be destroyed." The hooded figure then enters the dark portal as it closes behind him.
**** We now return to Sora, Rainbow, and Fluttershy as they enter the main area of Ponyville.
"So this is Ponyville," Sora said as he looked around the small town and was surprised how the liveliness of Ponyville did not match a regular town. On every road in every corner there were people doing something with a happy expressions on their faces.
"Yep, welcome to Ponyville, Home of The Elements of Harmony." Rainbow said to Sora with a proud expression.
"The Elements of Harmony?" "What's that?"
"They're not just a what spiky," Rainbow quickly told Sora.
"Spiky?" "Did she mean my hair?" "My hair's not that spiky," Sora thought to himself.
"The Elements of Harmony are the most powerful artifacts in Equestria!"
"They keep peace and order and banish all evil that they see."
"Only the chosen few can actually wield the Elements themselves, for they are the living examples of the elements themselves."
"Woah," Sora said in amazement. "How do you know so much about them?"
Rainbow then grinned. "Well, maybe it's because I'm-" Rainbow was suddenly halted as a pink blur ran right past her and Fluttershy and leaped onto Sora forcefully knocking him to the ground.
"Ow, what was that about?" Sora said as he looked to the girl that was laying on top of him in his downed position.
GASSSSSSSPPPPP "You're ALIVE?!, I can't believe it because the last time I saw you were in a crater and you had fallen from the sky, I told everyone that there was someone crash landing from a meteor shower but they wouldn't believe me, ME, Pinkie Pie, of all people, so anyway since you're feeling better why not come to the SugarCube Corner and get something to eat?" Sora was at a lost of words as he was bombarded with statement after statement from this girl who was named Pinkie Pie. After a few seconds Sora gave her an answer.
"Uhhhhhh, Pinkie Pie was it?" Pinkie Pie nods her head up and down. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't think that this is really a good time and plus I'm really not that hungry-" Sora was then interrupted as his stomach had growled, destroying the excuse that he tried to use.
"Not hungry huh?" Pinkie said sarcastically as Sora chuckled nervously. "Well", Pinkie Pie said as she started to get off of Sora, "Even if you don't want anything to eat from the best bakery in Equestria, you can at least meet Mr and Mrs. Cake first."
"Sure, I can do that," Sora said.
"Great! Then let's go!" Pinkie then grabbed Sora's hand and started to pull him towards Sugarcube Corner.
"Geez, that girl just won't take no for an answer huh Fluttershy," Rainbow said.
"That's Pinkie Pie for you." Fluttershy said.
"Hmph, I guess so." "Well, no point in going on to Rarity's without Sora so I guess we're going to Sugarcube Corner too."
Rainbow and Fluttershy both start walking to Sugarcube Corner and couldn't help but to laugh at how Pinkie was forcefully pulling Sora urging him to hurry up.
"We're here!" Pinkie said excitedly to Sora.
"So this is SugarCube Corner?" Sora said as he continued to admire how the building was shaped like a gingerbread house.
"Just wait until you see inside," Pinkie said as she led Sora through the doors and into the bakery. As soon as he walked inside the smell of sugary sweets hit Sora in the head like a ton of bricks. Pies in this section, cakes in the other, and many more desserts that one could name in the back.
"Woah, look at all these sweets."
"So, what do you think?"
"It's incredible."
"Well you have no one else to thank but the mastermind behind it all," Pinkie Pie said. She then went to the front counter and rang the dining bell that was sitting on top of it asking for assistance. Out the kitchen door came a short,chubby women wearing a pink apron and had pink swirly hair.
"Hey Mrs. Cake!"
"Oh, hey Pinkie Pie, what brings you here,this is your off day."
"I know, I know, but I just wanted to show our new guest the most amazing baker in Equestria."
"Pinkie, you flatter me." She then turns to look at Sora with a warm smile. "And you are?"
"My name's Sora, pleased to meet you."
"Likewise." Mrs.Cake said. "So, Pinkie Pie told me that you were in a hurry."
"When did she tell her that?" "Yeah, I really need to get a few items back."
"I understand but before you go, you just have to try our one of a kind sapphire cupcake."
"A sapphire cupcake?"
"That's right, a cupcake made with the finest sapphire gems," Mrs. Cake said as she handed one to Sora. "You just have to try it."
"I guess I have no choice, I don't want to look like a jerk in front of someone I just met." "Sure, I'll try it."
Sora then eats the cupcake and felt the taste of the cupcake surround his tongue in a soothing array of flavor and taste.
"Well, whatcha think?" Pinkie said.
"It......it's.......AMAZING!" "You really are the best baker in Equestria." Mrs.Cake started to blush from the compliment.
Sora and friends then proceeded out of the shop,waved bye to Mrs.cake, and soon arrived at Rarity's boutique.
"Well,this is it,Rarity's boutique," Rainbow said.
"So, my stuff is in their?" Sora asked. Everyone agreed with a nod. "Ok then, this should be easy enough." Sora went up to the door and knocked on it a few times. a few seconds passed and he proceeded to knock on it again. As he was getting ready to knock he heard the doorknob turn. The door to the store opened and standing in the way was a beautiful girl with sapphires for eyes and long purple hair with curls at the end that was wearing a white bathrobe with yellow accents around the edges.
****
The opening of a bedroom marked the exit of a gorgeous girl, with a white robe tied around her slender frame. After a long night of working and only a few hours of sleep, she decided to skip breakfast and let the feeling of hot water on her body take up her morning.
Now refreshed, she starts to go downstairs and stops to look at the object that made her stay up so late.
Rarity always considered herself a fashionista, and always knew what would and wouldn't be in style this season or the next. But, in all her years of fashion, she never saw anything quite like the clothing that was laying at her desk.
The item was simple in fact. A jacket, jet black in color with white outlining around the bottom and zippers, and around the shoulders were metallic silver like cloth that closely resemble pauldrons, which gave it a knightly sense. Attached to the hood were two yellow buckles which was so daring and unordinary that it could just work on the right person.
Fixing the outfit hardly took anytime, but having never seen an outfit such as this before, one just couldn't let their inspiration sit , they had to let move. Rarity had to know.
As she continued to walk downstair she heard a knock at the door. She probably thought it was Fluttershy, seeing that she was the one who saw Rarity put it into her own hands to fix the jacket. She couldn't wait to show her friend the work and inspiration that it brought her and quickly opened the door. She was surprised to see that it was not her friend at the door, but a boy that she had never seen before. Slightly shorter than the male, she couldn't help but notice that she was staring at his chest. She noticed that he was slender than most men in Equestria but still held more physique than his body led to believe. She looked up to see the face of this stranger. His ocean blue eyes met her sapphire ones . She watched as a calming breeze passed gently through his spiky brown hair. As she was staring at his face she was at a lost for words, for even though she could that the boy was close to her age, she could tell that he still held much of his childhood with his features.
Both teenagers stared directly into each others eyes for what seemed like forever until Rarity was finally able to snap out of it and greet the stranger but her eyes quickly went wide into shock and wide into embarrassment as she looked down at herself.
She was still in her bath robes!
Rarity quickly slammed the door leaving behind a puzzled Sora. Sora looked back behind him for confirmation from the girls but to no avail.
"Is that an every day thing around here?" Sora asked the girls.
"Eh, more or less," Rainbow shrugged.
Sora then looked back at the door and saw it being enveloped by a light blue aura. The door then magically swung open and revealed the inner layer of the shop. Sora looked left and right and stopped at the stairs of the store as he saw a dainty little hand with a diamond bracelet laid upon it on the rail of the stairs. The owner of said hand quickly followed suit. A blue and white striped sweater which clung to her body ever so gently seems to accent her beautiful sapphire eyes and her gorgeous long purple hair. A pair of white short shorts wrapped around her slender waist which showed off her lovely legs. She then proceeded to walk down the stairs ever so elegantly in her fashionable white boots as Sora saw her looking at him with her bedroom eyes. Sora couldn't help but notice how her hips were pumping ever so gracefully as she got closer down the stairs. He also couldn't help but notice the three diamond cutie mark that happened to be placed on her thigh.
"This girl is a goddess," Sora said to himself. Sora was broken from his inner thoughts as he heard a voice as smooth as silk. "Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where everything is chique, unique, and oh so magnifique."
Rarity had failed to notice the three other girls that were beside Sora. "Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie?"
"Hey Rarity," Rainbow said waving to the fashionista. "You kinda closed the door on him a few seconds ago."
Rarity turned to the guy in question and blushed with embarrassment. "I'm terribly sorry dear, you see I was working all night on this outfit that I happened to stumble upon, and I suppose I overslept resulting in what you saw a few seconds ago." "I hope you can forgive me."
Sora then smiled a bright grin at her which sent her cheeks blushing brighter than ever before. "Hey, Hakuna Matata."
"Hakuna Mawhata?" Rainbow dash said.
"Hakuna Matata, it means no worries," Sora extended his hand to the outfit that she was working on. "I believe that jacket belongs to me."
Rarity had a puzzled look on her face. "So you're the mysterious person that fell from the sky?"
"That's right."
"I must say, no one has dared to mention how handsome you are." "Trying to keep him all to ourselves girls?" Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy started blushing from the accusation. Rainbow: “NO! What!?! I have no idea what you're talking about!” Fluttershy:"No,you have the wrong idea, I wasn't trying to... I mean I'm not saying that no one would but, um....oh my." Pinkie Pie just laughed at how the other girls were reacting.
Rarity trying to stifle her giggling from escaping her lips. "Now, now girls, I'm only teasing." She then turned to face Sora. "My name is Rarity, or Miss Rarity if you would prefer." "Now, about your outfit...."
"Oh yeah! So....Rarity, right?" She nodded to answer his question. "You're the one that fixed my outfit for me?"
"That's correct."
"So, it sounds like you've already heard about me?" Sora said as he put his hands behind his head.
Rarity waved a perfectly manicured hand. "Well who wouldn't have with an appearance as grand as yours?" "Now just give me a few seconds while I go fetch your belongings." Rarity turned to go get Sora's items when she turned back around with a questionable expression on her face. "Pardon me dear, but I never got your name."
"I'm Sora."
"Sora...." coming from her he could have sworn that it sounded more like a lovely coo. "My, My what an exotic name." "Just give me one moment to get your things Sora." Rarity turned around and made her way to the clothes. Sora's eyes went wide as he could clearly see her hips swishing left and right with each step, and he just couldn't stop watching. The whole scene was rather voluptuous. Sora stopped watching as Rarity turned around and gave him his jacket and necklace back. "Here you go Sora," I hope everything is to your liking."
"Thank you Rarity," Sora then slid on his jacket and put his necklace back around his neck. "That's better."
"Well, now that that's out of the way, I can get started on my "project" now." Pinkie said as she zipped out of the boutique with a big smile on her face.
"What did she mean by that?" Sora asked.
All three of the girls started to giggle. "Trust me,you'll know what she means in a few hours," Rainbow said.
"O......k?" "So, now we're going to Twilight, right?"
"Yep, we'll take you to Twilight, tell her you're better and get on with the rest of the day."
"Then let's get going."
"Mind if I come with Sora?" Rarity said getting closer to Sora.
"Not at all," Sora said with a smile.
"I.....think I'll go back home you guys, I have to go and feed the animals." Fluttershy told her friends.
"Are you coming tonight to Pinkie's "Project" then Fluttershy?" Rainbow said.
"Ummmmm.sure."
"Great, we'll see you then."
"Ok, bye you guys,"
"Bye Fluttershy." all three of them said in unison.
"Twilight's house, this way." Rainbow said to Sora.
"Lead the way."
"I must say, that jacket looks quite divine on you Sora," Rarity said. "It really suits you."
"Oh, thanks Rarity, I don't normally get compliments on it that much." Sora now mimicking Rarity. "But I must say, that your outfit is anything but extraordinary."
"Oh, please you flatter me," Rarity said waving her hand." But nothing stands out more than your hair."
"Your stands out more compared to mine Rarity." "I find it better."
"Oh,stop,Sora."
"This is gonna be a long walk," Rainbow groaned under her breath.
****
A few hours pass as the trio of friends walk out of Twilight's Library with Twilight and Spike right behind them.
"Well, that didn't take forever," Rainbow said to the group as they were leaving.
"But it's almost sundown." Sora said.
"I was being sarcastic."
"I still don't understand how you were able to survive that crash." Twilight said. "How did you even get up there?"
"I, would also like to know how Sora," Rarity said.
"Well, the last thing I remember is that I was having a weird dream and in the dream there was this-"
"Hey, I don't mean to interrupt this amazing story about some guys dream but we have to get to the Applejack's place." Rainbow said impatiently.
"Ok,ok, I'll ask later."Twilight said.
"Don't have to be so rude." Rarity said.
"I still don't know what's going on," Sora said.
"Just roll with the punches and you'll be fine, now come one let's go," Rainbow said as she grabbed his arm and started moving faster with each step.
The group eventually arrives at a farm and by this time the sun was now setting. They walk up to a large barn door and Rainbow puts her hand in front of Sora. "Wait right here." Rainbow went inside the barn where it was complete darkness inside. "Ok, you can come inside." Sora then start to walk inside feeling more nervous with each step. "Rarity, Twilight, Rainbow,Spike,where did you go?" Sora whispered to himself.
Then a pair of stage lights flashed on causing Sora to shield them. As his eyes adjusted, he saw something standing inside the stage light. It was wearing a black loin cloth that revealed both legs up onto the thigh. He could tell it was the body of a girl. She was also wearing a black top that showed off her front and back and it revealed most of her body. Sora was dumbfounded as he saw this pretty girl in this outfit. He then looks at her face and hair and notices familiar looking swirly pink hair. "Wait, Pinkie?!" Sora said with his mouth hanging wide open. She clapped her hands and music started as she was getting ready to sing.
Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase. Hakuna Matata. Ain't no passing craze.....! It means no worries for the rest of your days.... It's our problem free......for us friends to be...... Hakuna Matata........ (Sora) Pinkie, what's all this? (Pinkie) It's a party from me, to you. (Sora) This is amazing Pinkie thank you,but what's with the outfit? (Pinkie) Do you like it? My friend Zecora let me wear it.She said this would be a real surprise. (Sora) It's surprising alright, but I like ,it it looks good on you. Sora looks down and sees three balloons on Pinkie's thighs. Hey what are those balloons? (Pinkie) That's my cutie mark. It resembles my love for fun and my love for partying. You see.... When I was a little girl......(Operatic voice) when i was a little girrrrrrrrr.....l (Sora) Very nice. (Pinkie) Thanks, I've been practicing. The happy levels here were a little low So I decided to put on a real big show From the people on the ground to the birds in the sky..... They all knew me as the pink party girl, Pinkie Pie....
The surrounding lights turned on and it showed a crowd of people which seemed to be the residents of Ponyville as they were all cheering like people in church while pinkie started preaching like a paster.
(Pinkie) And then there was fame! (Rainbow) [she got her fame!] (Pinkie) I knew that partying was my game! (Rainbow) [Don't get her started!] (Pinkie) I could feel it in my chest! (Rainbow) [Here we go!] (Pinkie) I could feel it in my bre- (Rainbow) [ Woah, Pinkie, not in front of the new guy.] (Pinkie) Oops, sorry.
Sora blinked in confusion off of what just happened as the song started back up.
(Pinkie) Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase! Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze
Sora then decided to put his singing skills to the test as he joined in.
(Sora) It means no worries for the rest of your days (Pinkie) [Yeah, sing it Sora.] (Pinkie/Sora) It's out problem free for you and me Hakuna Matata......
The rest of the girls just looked at how the two were dancing and singing in synch without any trouble at all. "look at those two," Twilight said. "Iook at Pinkie, I've never seen her this happy, I mean she's always happy, but it looks like she's glowing with happiness," Spike said. "They seem to really be enjoying themselves," Rainbow said. "What do you think Rari-" Rainbow stopped as she Rarity with a very envious expression over her face. "Someone's a little jealous?" "Preposterous, I'm not jealous at all that Pinkie sharing a duet with Sora, whatever gave you that idea?" Before Rainbow could have any more fun off of Rarity's jealousy,the song kicked back in.
(Pinkie/Sora) Hakuna. Matata. Hakuna. Matata. Hakuna. Matata. Hakuna. Matata.x6 (Sora) It means no worries for the rest of your days
Sora and Pinkie started holding each others hands as they were side by side.
(Sora/Pinkie) It's our problem free For you and me Hakuna Matata! (Sora) Hakuna Matata! (Pinkie) Hakuna Matata! (Sora) Hakuna Matata! (Sora) I say Hakuna (Pinkie) I say Matata. (Sora) Hakuna (Pinkie) Matata (Sora) Hakuna (Pinkie) Matata (Pinkie) Tata.
As the song ended cheers from around the barn could be heard on all side. Sora felt giddy knowing he basically just did a performance in front of all these people. Pinkie then gave him a very tight hug. "So, did you like the song?" "Pinkie...... that song was amazing," Sora said. "I don't know why but it felt so familiar to me." "That's funny, I just wrote it today. Alright, on to stage 2." She then turned her attention to the crowd. "Everybody, please welcome DJ Pon3!" Smoke started to appear inside the barn and in the middle of it stood a girl with spiky blue hair with baby blue streaks in it who was wearing a pair of purple glasses. In front of her was a gigantic DJ booth. "Alright, everybody, LET'S PARTY!" She pressed one button and immediately the whole barn was blasted with dubstep.
****
Fluttershy was at her cottage taking care of her animal friends. She was making sure that they all had enough food, water,and were happy and healthy. "Great, everyone of you is just fine." She was just about to go upstairs when she felt something thumping her leg. She looked and it was her pet bunny Angel. He was motioning to her in sporadic actions. "Is everything okay Angel?" Angel pointed outside as the sun was setting. "gasp, oh no, I'm late for the party, and I promised my friends that I was going to be there. Thank you for reminding me Angel. I'll make sure to make you that carrot salad that you like when I get back." Fluttershy then leaves out of her cottage to go to Applejack's farm.
As time passes buy, Fluttershy notices that it starts getting darker and darker. as the sun had finally set and the moon started to rise, she was in close proximity of the farm. As she was walking through the trail of apple trees she heard something scurry on the ground. She was instantly startled of what it was. "What was that?" She started to look down at the dark ground to see what could have made that sound. She then spotted two yellow beady eyes piercing out of the darkness. The light of the moon gave Fluttershy enough light to see the body of the eyes which was humanoid in itself, and for her to realize that there were more than one. Fluttershy saw herself surrounded by more and more of these creatures. She backed herself up to a tree and with losing all hope, she screamed.
****
The party was in full effect. The music was loud and catchy, the people were just enjoying their time, and Sora was having a great time. So great that he had to step out of the barn just to get some air. "Man, those girls really wanted to dance," Sora said as he recalled an event that took place during the party. After the party had started, Rarity grabbed Sora's arm, asking him to dance with her. Pinkie also came around Sora's other and arm and asked him the same question, and before he could say anything, she was already pulling him onto the dance floor. Rarity used her magic to stop Pinkie from taking Sora as she wanted to be the one to dance with him. So the two girls each started pulling in opposite directions leaving Sora's body not going anywhere. It Twilight's magic to stop the two from hurting Sora or from splitting into two. After that moment, the party went on as normal. Sora walked to an apple tree and placed his back on it as he slid down to the ground. "I'll think I'll just relax and regain my energy," he said as he started to close his eyes. As soon as his eyes closed, he heard a loud scream. He immediately jumped up from his rest and started running to the direction where he heard the scream.
Fluttershy was at a lost. She was cornered by beings that she has never seen before in her life. Her body wouldn't move as if she was struck by fear. All she could focus on were the eyes of the shadowy figures that were in front of her. In an instant the monsters all lunged at Fluttershy with claws showing, and Fluttershy closed her eyes, and just screamed for her life. Fluttershy waited for the fatal blow but was taken back by the fact that there was no fatal blow at all. She opened one of her eyes to see what had happened but all she could see was a flash of light and something that had the shape of a giant key.
"Fluttershy, are you okay?"
Fluttershy looked up and saw that it was Sora that came to rescue her. "Sora...."
"Just stay right there Fluttershy, I'll handle these guys." Sora then got into his battle stance and ran towards the monsters. The first one lunged and made a swipe with its claws towards Sora's face. Sora slid back away from the attack and saw his opening to attack, then he swung his key blade in a downward strike and attacked the shadowy being. The being soon began to dissapate and a crystalline heart was seen floating to the sky. The other monsters quickly tried to attack Sora but to no avail. Sora smoothly evaded the barrage of attacks that the monsters were using. Sora did a black flip and cocked his key blade back. He threw the key blade towards his enemies. The key blade started to curve in a boomerang motion as it hit the monsters making them disappear and quickly returned back to Sora. Fluttershy was in awe in what she was seeing. To say she was lost beyond all measures would be sugarcoating it. As Sora looked back towards Fluttershy he saw more heartless starting to appear. He ran towards Fluttershy to make sure that they weren't cut off by the growing horde of heartless. As Sora started to look around in his predicament, he knew that there were slim chances of getting any help out of this one. He needed a plan and quick. The heartless then pounced at Sora and Fluttershy all in one movement. Sora put his body right in front of Fluttershy to block the attack from hitting her. As he braced for the impact, he saw that the heartless had been pushed back to the ground. Sora did not see what had happened, but what stood in front of him made him gasp in surprise. It was the Organization XIII signature black cloak, and in each hand of the wearer was a key blade. Oathkeeper and Oblivion. The wearer of the cloak started to speak.
"And you're supposed to be my other?" "C'mon Sora, you can do better than this." Sora was shocked to hear such a familiar voice in this unfamiliar world.
"It can't be........Roxas?" The cloaked person then pushed his hood off his head to show a head of dark blonde curved spiky hair. His eyes were the same ocean blue color as Sora's. He looked at Sora with a smile. "Who else, would it be?" Sora was puzzled on how Roxas was here in this world, but he couldn't dwell on it for long as he still had to fight. "Come on," Roxas said. "Let's get rid of the rest of these heartless."
"Yeah," Sora said. "Let's do it."
The heartless regained their consciousness as Sora and Roxas quickly got into their stances. They heartless started to dash forward as did Sora and Roxas. They ran straight towards the heartless then when they were face to face with the horde Sora jumped up onto Roxas's key blades, and Roxas launched Sora behind the the heartless. Sora then started attacking the heartless from the back as Roxas was attacking from the front. They both their way into the middle of the pack and saw that they were circled inside the heartless. They faced the heartless back to back and started attacking the heartless as they tried to attack the key blade wielders. One after another the heartless were quickly disappearing and the horde was getting smaller and smaller. There were only a handful left. What caught the key blade wielders off guard was that heartless started fusing into one. The heartless started fusing into one giant heartless.The tips of its feet were red, and it had small, dark grey wings on its back. It also had an orange wing on each of its elbows. It had a long tail that ended in a silver, pendulum-like blade. Its small eyes were glowing yellow, and its head featured two large, conical, dark purple spikes on either side. It also had two horns with orange tips on its head that connected to each other to form a heart shape. One thing new was that the heartless carried an ornate, orange sword with a grey cross guard, black edges, and the kanji for "hard shell" printed on its shaft. Roxas and Sora saw this heartless and were taken back by it.
"Is that an Orcus?!" Roxas said.
"You've seen this heartless before?" Sora said.
"Let's just say, this is definitely not an illusion," Roxas said. The heartless then proceeded to fly towards them with sword in hand. Sora and Roxas looked at each other and nodded their heads. They each ran up towards the heartless. Sora and Roxas locked blades with the monster as they were each trying their best to get the upper hand. Seeing that they were at a standstill, all three of them jumped back from each other. "I have an idea," Sora said. "Just watch for your Que.." Sora started running towards to the Orcus. "No, Sora, what are you doing?!" Roxas screamed. The Orcus took this opportunity to strike at Sora, but Sora quickly dodged the swipe from the heartless's sword and went behind the heartless. "Roxas,now,this is your chance!" Sora said. "Alright, here I go!" As the heartless was focusing on Sora, Roxas was able to jump up in the air and proceed to land hit after hit onto the heartless. The Orcus started to descend to the ground and as he was falling, Sora went under him and used his key blade to launch it into the air.
"Sora!" Roxas called out as he pointed to Sora's key blade and ran full fledge at him.
"Right!" Sora understood as he put his key blade into a defensive position in front of his body. Roxas then jumped onto the key blade and Sora launched him into the sky at same height as the Orcus.
"Now you're finished!" Roxas proceeded to slam down both of his key blades onto the stomach of the heartless. It then fell to the ground and landed with a thud. The Orcus started to fade away leaving behind a heart which floated into the sky. Roxas and Sora both tired from the fight had sat down on the ground.
"Now that, was better." Roxas said. Sora did nothing but laugh at his comment.
"Wait, where's Fluttershy," Sora said as he got up from the ground and looked back to see Fluttershy lying on the ground.
"Fluttershy!" Sora said as he ran towards the fallen girl. Sora held her in his hands as he put his hand over her chest feeling for her pulse.
The world fell into an absolute silence until Sora felt her heartbeat. When he felt it, he immediately became relieved.
"She's okay.......she's okay, she just fainted ."
"Who is this girl Sora?" Roxas said.
"This is Fluttershy, and let's just say that if it wasn't for her I'd be in pretty bad shape right now." Sora said.
"Hmm, how kind of her." Roxas said. Sora then looked down as he saw Fluttershy coming into consciousness. Fluttershy slowly opened her eyes and the first thing that she saw were two blue eyes.
"Fluttershy, are you okay, are you hurt?" Sora said.
"Sora.......," Fluttershy said. She then started to tear up as she looked at Sora. She then put her arms around him and placed her head on his chest witch caused the young man to blush.
"Sora......I was so scared. Those things came at me all at once. I didn't think that I was going to make it."
"Fluttershy....." Sora said. Sora then started to hug her back trying to comfort her.
"Don't worry Fluttershy , they're all gone, and I'll make sure that they'll never come back to hurt you." Sora said. He then pushed himself off of her to show Fluttershy the smile on his face. "And that's a promise."
Fluttershy started to smile back at Sora as she wiped off the rest of her tears. Roxas sat back and watched letting Sora have his moment. As he was doing this, Roxas heard a rustle in the trees. He got into his fighting stance and summoned his keyblades.
"Another heartless, Sora there's more heartless in the trees!"
"What?" Sora looked up and saw how the trees were rustling rather vigorously. Sora then summoned his kingdom key and was getting ready to attack as something popped out of the tree, and it had dark pink hair and brown skin and was wearing a black jacket and boots with turquoise shirt and black pants. Then in another tree something fell out with long pink and purple swirly hair, wearing a pink and white striped shirt with a pink jacket over it,yellow skirt, and pink boots. Then another one fell, this one had on a yellow shirt with blue overalls, yellow stockings and red shoes witch matched her long red hair and bow. The two key blade wielders could tell that the beings were just girls no older than fourteen.
"Woah, that was Awesome!" The girl with the dark pink hair said.
"That was incredible, I can't believe what I just saw!" The girl with the red hair said.
"I really really like their hair!" The girl with the pink and purple hair said.
Sora and Roxas looked at each other in confusion and decided to disregard using the key blades. Sora was the first to talk to the three girls.
"Ummmmmm, not to be rude but who are you three?"
"I'm Scootaloo." The girl with the pink hair said.
"My name's Applebloom." The girl with the red hair said.
"And I'm Sweetie Bell." The girl with the pink and purple hair said.
"AND WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS WHO CRUSADE FOR THEIR CUTIE MARKS!" all the girls said at once.
"I see, and what were you doing in that tree?" Roxas said.
"We were sent to see where you had run off to ," Scootaloo said pointing at Sora.
"Oh, I didn't mean to cause any trouble." Sora said.
"Don't tell it to me, tell it to them," Scottaloo said,
"Them?" As Sora said this he saw the rest of the main 6 come out of hiding as they were bewildered by what they had just saw a few moments ago. "Oh, hey guys, how much of that did you see?"
"Oh, just all of it." Twilight said.
"So, I guess you have more questions?" Sora asked sheepishly.
"Well, I have plenty that need to be answered. First, what are those things that attacked Fluttershy, are there more of them, what are those key shaped things that you were using, and who in the name of Celestia is that guy?" Twilight said as she pointed to Roxas.
"Well, I can answer that one, I'm Roxas."
"Where did you come from?" Twilight said.
"I don't know." Roxas said nonchalantly resulting in Twilight giving a slight twitch.
"Trust me Twilight, I'll give you all the answers you need but first, can we call it a day?" Sora asked.
"Well, you did save Fluttershy, so I'll wait until later to get my answers."
"Thank you, and next question, could I have a place to sleep?" Sora said.
"Make that two," Roxas said as everyone else started to realize that literally had no where to sleep.
"If it's not a bother, Sora can stay with me," Rarity said salaciously.
"Ohhh,ohhh,ohhh, let Sora stay with me and the Cakes, I bet we could have a lot of fun there, Pinke Pie said.
"Am I invisible of something?" Roxas said to himself.
"No, Sora wants to stay with me in the Boutique," Rarity said.
"No way, he would rather stay with me in the bakery," Pinkie said. They both looked at Sora. Sora started to get a little nervous.
"Well," Rarity said.
"My, house or Rarity's," Pinkie said.
"Ummmm, I.....choose....," Sora was at a lost for words.
"How about he just stays at the farm," a mysterious voice said. Sora looked around to see who it was and it was some girl wearing an orange plaid shirt tied in the front to show her midriff where a cutie mark if three apples was seemingly placed, jean shorts, cowgirl boots, and a stetson that sat on top of her long blonde hair that was tied in a ponytail. If her clothes didn't scream that she was a cowgirl, her southern accent surely did.
"I think that'll work for now, just as long as he's away from those two I'm pretty sure he'll be fine," Twilight said.
"I choose the farm," Sora said with quick intentions. The cowgirl then walked over to Sora and greeted him with a firm handshake.
"My name's Applejack,it's great to finally get a chance to meet the new guy," Applejack then looked over to Roxas. "Both of the new guys."
"At least somebody recognized me," Roxas mumbled under his breath.
"Well, if tonight's events are done, I think it's time to go to bed," Roxas said.
Everybody agreed and started heading their way back to their homes. Sora looked at Fluttershy as she started walking back home. he could tell that she was still shaken by the events that had just taken place. It made Sora feel guilty about he let the heartless get that close to her. He didn't want anybody to be hurt by the heartless.
"C'mon you two, I'll take ya to where you're gonna be stayin'," Applejack said to the duo.
Roxas started walking towards the girl as she was heading towards the house. Sora finally snapped out his train of thought and started walking towards the house as well.
****
A few hours pass and everyone in the house was asleep. Sora and Roxas were able to meet the Apple family before going to bed. They met Granny Smith, a lady who can be seen as crazy to many but you just gotta get to know her, she's not all that bad. They met Big Mac, the older brother of Applejack, doesn't say that many words for some reason, and Applebloom, the little sister of Applejack, who would've guessed huh?
Sora and Roxas then went to bed as the day's escapades finally took a toll on them. Applejack showed them to a room in the attic which had a bunk bed, a lamp, a table, a window. Sora quickly ran to the top bunk as Roxas steadily walked to the bottom bunk not really caring about who got the top bunk, he just wanted sleep. As an hour went by, Sora found himself not being able to sleep. For some reason, he kept thinking about Fluttershy, and how bad he felt for putting her through what happened tonight. He started thinking about what he could do to make things right. A lightbulb turned on in Sora's head as he had just gotten an idea. He snuck outside the house by jumping out of the attic window and landing without a scratch. He then summoned his key blade.
"Alright, let's see if this works." Sora said as he started charging energy around his key blade and himself. Sparks of blue could be seen coursing around Sora as a flash of light and puff of blue smoke surrounded the air. Sora squinted his eyes against the bright light, and after the light had vanished, what he saw gave him a big smile on his face. A blue genie had appeared right in front of him.
"Sora! long time, no see, how have you been?"
"Eh, you know key blade wielder, beating some heartless same ol' same ol'," Sora said.
"I heard that, so what do you need help with my spiky haired friend?"
"Do you think I can borrow Magic Carpet for something?"
"Well I don't see why not." Genie then snapped his fingers and the magic carpet appeared in front of Sora.
"Thanks Genie, this is awesome!" Sora said.
"No problemo Sora just give me a call if you need anything else," Genie said before he snapped his fingers and flashed away from Sora.
"Great, now let's go to her cottage." Sora said as he got on Magic Carpet and started flying towards Fluttershy's house.
****
We are now at Fluttershy's cottage as Fluttershy is in bed thinking about the events that took place. The things that could've happened to her if Sora didn't step in. She didn't want to dwell on it for too long. She started to drift into her sleep until she heard a knock at her window.
Fluttershy jumped at the sound of the knock until she relaxed herself and looked to see who it was.
"Who could that be at this time of night?" On the outside of the window was no one but Sora seemingly flying in the air. Fluttershy was surprised at was she saw so she opened the window to see it more clearly.
"Sora, are you flying?" Fluttershy asked.
Sora gave a light chuckle, "Nope, that's just the flying carpet."
"Flying carpet?" Fluttershy looked down and noticed that Sora was telling the truth and that he was on a magic carpet.
"Th-th-that's a flying carpet... how is that possib-"
"I felt bad that you had to go through all of that tonight Fluttershy," Sora said.
"So, I thought of something that would be fun for us to do to get over about what happened tonight."
"And, you did help me when I was injured so I think that this is the least I can do to show for you."
"What are we going to do exactly?" Fluttershy asked.
"We're going to fly on the carpet." Sora said calmly. Fluttershy's eyes went wide thinking about stepping on that carpet which didn't look safe at all.
"I'm not sure about that Sora, I appreciate the gesture and I'm sorry about this but I think I'll just...." Fluttershy paused as Sora stuck his hand out towards the girl.
"Come on Fluttershy, I'm telling ya, this'll be fun," Sora said.
Fluttershy looked at it one more time. "I'm not sure."
"Trust me Fluttershy, don't let your mind coax you out of something enjoyable," Sora said with a reassuring smile.
Fluttershy looked at Sora and all she could focus on were his ocean blue eyes under the moonlight as his smile made her feel safe. She started to blush from the way that she felt just by looking at him. Fluttershy then pulled out her hand onto Sora's and Sora pulled her onto the carpet. As soon as she got on, the carpet started to fly into the air. Fluttershy started holding onto Sora as they were getting higher into the sky.
"I thought that you would be used to flying like this Fluttershy, you know having wings and all." Sora said.
"Well, actually, I'm not the best at flying so i try to stay away from flying this high," Fluttershy said.
"Well, this one you're gonna want to remember, because," Sora said as he started to sing.
(Sora)
I can show you the world Shining,Shimmering,Splendid Tell me Fluttershy,when did you last let your heart decide? I can open your eyes Take you wonder by wonder Over sideways and under on a magic carpet ride A whole new world.... A new fantastic point of view Where you can be who you are You are a star And go with your true feelings
Fluttershy then started to sing with him. (Fluttershy)
A whole new world.... A dazzling place I never knew But when I'm way up here it's crystal clear that now I'm in a whole new world with you.
(Sora)
Now I'm in a whole new world with you...
The carpet started taking them higher in the sky and eventually above the clouds. (Fluttershy)
Unbelievable sights Indescribable feelings Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling Through a moonlit diamond sky A whole new world (Sora) [Don't you dare close your eyes] (Fluttershy)A hundred thousand things to see (Sora)[Hold your breath it gets better] (Fluttershy) I'm like a shooting star I'm come so far I can't go back to where I used to be (Sora) A whole new world. (Fluttershy) [Every turn a surprise] (Sora) With new horizons to pursue (Fluttershy)[Every moment gets better] (Sora&Fluttershy) I'll chase them anywhere there's time to spare let me share this whole new world with you.... (Sora) A whole new world (Fluttershy) A whole new world (Sora) That's where we'll be (Fluttershy) That's where we'll be (Sora) A thrilling chase (Fluttershy) A wondrous place
Fluttershy then started to lean on Sora's body as she was starting to relax more around him. (Sora&Fluttershy)
For you and me........
For the rest of the ride Fluttershy and Sora just relaxed and let the sky take them to wherever it wanted them to go. Fluttershy started yawning noting Sora that it was time to go back home. Sora turned the carpet back towards Fluttershy's cottage. As they got closer towards the cottage the carpet started to descend until they were both in front of the cottage door. Sora helped Fluttershy off the carpet as they were both getting ready to go home.
"Oh, wait, one more thing Fluttershy," Sora said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a charm that had a picture of a lion.
"I want you to have this, just in case those heartless come back and try to hurt you."
"Oh, I see, you're giving this to me because I'm weak and helpless right?" Fluttershy said to the surprise of Sora.
"What, Fluttershy no, I'm giving this to you because of the exact opposite," Sora said as he slid the necklace onto her neck.
"People with pure and strong hearts can use these charms, and I know that your heart is strong enough to use it, just in case those heartless come back." Fluttershy blushed at his words.
"I'll see you tomorrow ok?" Sora said with a smile on his face. Fluttershy did nothing but nod.
Sora got back on the carpet and started flying back to the barn as Fluttershy went inside her home.
Fluttershy looked at the pendant one more time and a heartwarming smile appeared on her face before she went to bed.
Sora and Roxas were sleeping comfortably in their beds just as snug as a bug in a rug. Nothing could ruin this feeling, well nothing but the rooster. The rooster started its daily morning crowing, something that neither Sora nor Roxas were used to. As the crowing was becoming louder and louder they both decided to finally get out of their beds. Sora looked out the window and saw that the sun was barely out yet just enough for a reddish trim of light to be shown around the world.
"What, the sun's barely up yet," Sora said whiningly.
Then both guys heard a noise coming up the stairs and they were wondering who it could it be. It was no one other than Applejack coming to get them out of bed.
"Good mornin' Sora. Good morning' Roxas, are y'all ready to start the day?" Applejack said happily.
"Start the day, the day is barely here," Roxas said.
"Nothin' like gettin' up a little early to get the most out of yer day," Applejack said. Applejack grabbed one of Sora's arms and one Roxas's arms and started going down the steps.
"Now come on you two, I gotta show ya' how we do things around here." Applejack brought both of them into the apple orchard to start off their day.
"So what we have to do is buck the good apples out of the tree and collect them to sell in Ponyville," Applejack said. Sora looked up towards the apple trees and saw the abundance of apples that hung from each tree.
"How are we supposed to get all of those apples down?" Sora said.
"Oh, that's easy ya' just buck em off," Applejack said.
"Buck, like a horse?" Sora said.
"Mmmhmmmm, here let me show ya what I mean," Applejack said as she started preparing herself to buck the apples off the tree. She lifted her leg up and hit the trunk of the tree with full force. The tree then started to shake and all the apples fell out the tree and into the baskets underneath. Roxas and Sora were fairly surprised at the raw power that Applejack had in a kick. Applejack then looked back at them with hands on hips smiling at the fact that they were in awe in what they saw her do.
"And that's pretty much it," Applejack said.
"Well then,let's get to work," Sora said looking at Applejack.
"Before you do," Applejack then pointed at Roxas, "Do you really wanna work in the black coat," Applejack said at Roxas as he noticed that he still had on his Organization XIII coat on.
"Guess I should take this off huh, not really that necessary right now," Roxas said. Roxas then proceeded to take off the coat and revealed the layer of clothes that he was wearing underneath it. He had on a black, high-collared jacket with a zipper resembling an "X" shaped symbol. Over this, he wore another jacket, this one unzipped and white, with several black block designs and a gray hem on the end of each sleeve. This jacket's collar was red and pleated and folded back.
Roxas also wore two-colored pants; the legs of his pants were beige with several of what looked like buttons on the hem that appeared to attach the legs to the rest of the cloth, which were dark-colored. Roxas's shoes were colored in shades of gray and black, and had red straps in place of laces. Finally, Roxas wore a wristband with a black-and-white checkerboard pattern on his left wrist , as well as a plain black ring on his left index finger and a plain white ring on his left middle finger.
"Wow, that's something different, I bet Rarity would have a kick at seeing that outfit," Applejack said.
"Well then, how about we start getting these apples down huh?" Roxas said.
"That's the attitude I'm looking' for," Applejack said.
For the rest of the early morning, Sora, Roxas, and Applejack spent their time with getting the apples off the tree and putting them into the baskets. They did this until Applejack deemed it enough apples. Then, it was on to the next task.
"Alright, are y'all ready for the next part?" Applejack said.
"The next part?" Sora and Roxas both said winded from the work they just finished doing.
"Yeah, we gotta get these apples down to the marketplace and sell 'em," Applejack said. "We gotta put 'em in wagons and wheel 'em to the center of town."
"This is never going to end," Roxas said to himself.
"I should've stayed at Rarity's," Sora said to himself.
The two key blade warriors got up and started packing each apple into a wagon and started wheeling them into town. When they made it to the Apple Family Kiosk they each fell to the ground not wanting to get back up. Applejack looked at them with hands on hips and a disbelieved look.
"Wow, how can you guys take on a horde of monsters without breaking a sweat, and almost pass out by carryin' some apples into town?"
"I'm going to ignore that question, because I don't know the answer to it," Roxas said.
"If I can just stay right here for a few seconds," Sora said. Sora's dreams would have to be short lived as a pre teen boy with spiky green hair and spliced green eyes covered his view.
"Hey, Sora, you need to go to Twilight's place ASAP," The boy said.
"Wait, don't tell me......your name is Spike right?" Sora said.
"Yep, number one assistant to Twilight Sparkle; I guess it's not surprising that you don't know my name, I mean we barely had a chance to meet," Spike said.
"Well, better not keep Twilight waiting, come on Roxas we gotta go see her," Sora said as he helped Roxas up off the ground.
"That girl really likes to get her way doesn't she," Roxas said.
"You have no idea," Spike said bluntly. "What about you Applejack, the rest of the girl's are already over at Twilight's," Spike said.
Applejack started to think about it. "I guess I can open up shop a little late then."
"Great now let's get going," Spike then turned towards Sora and Roxas, alright come on you two, let's go to Twilight's."
Sora, Roxas, Spike, and Applejack proceeded their way to Twilight's library without little distraction. As they made it to the door of the library, the door had magically opened up by itself. Inside was Twilight and the rest of the girls waiting patiently for everyone to arrive.
"Ahhhh, Sora, Roxas, come in," Twilight said with a grin on her face. "Just so you won't be surprised, I've sent a letter to the princess already and I should be expecting a reply in a few seconds, so if you see green flames coming out of Spike, it's fine."
"Well that's something you don't hear everyday," Sora whispered to Roxas.
"I'm sorry, did you just say princess," Roxas asked in a quizzical tone.
"Yes, Princess Celestia, one of the rulers of Equestria," Twilight said.
"One of the rulers?" Roxas said.
"Well, yeah, she has a sister," Twilight said.
"This place is weird," Roxas said.
"Says the guy who uses key shaped swords to fight shadow monsters."
"touché Twilight touché."
"And while we're waiting for the princess to answer back, we can start the questions with this, what are those things that tried to hurt Fluttershy, I've never seen anything like them, and there are no records of them in my books,' Twilight said in a serious tone.
"Those things are called heartless," Sora said.
"Heartless.......but why did they go for Fluttershy?"
"A heartless is exactly what the name implies, they're beings without hearts. They attack other people to try and take their hearts from them, and Fluttershy was another target to them," Sora said.
"But one thing I can't figure is why did they attack in such a horde?" Sora said. "Heartless don't usually attack one person in that big of a group."
"That's something that we'll have to figure out later, but for now, I still need a few more questions asked," Twilight said.
"What are those things that you guys use to battle the heartless, they look just like oversized keys," Twilight said.
"Well, they're not just oversized keys," Roxas said as he summoned both of his key blades in each hand. "These are known as key blades,and only people with exceptionally strong hearts who are chosen by the key blade can wield it."
"I don't understand," Twilight said trying to gather all the information that just shot in from of her.
"Here just grab this," Roxas said as he extended oathkeeper closer to Twilight for her to grab. Twilight picked it up and out of Roxas's hands. Twilight was holding it for a second when the keyblade flashed back into Roxas's empty hand.
"You see," Roxas said.
"I can't believe it, that makes no sense at all!" Twilight said.
"A lot of things don't make since, sometimes you just have to believe and have faith and the things that you cherish," Sora said.
Things went quiet for a few seconds as those few seconds turned into awkward silence until green fire shot out of Spike.
"The princess answered back!" Twilight said happily. "Spike what does it say?"
Spike opened up the letter and started to read it out loud.
"Ahem, my faithful student Twilight, what interesting news that you have sent me. Though what happened to Fluttershy was drastic, I would not worry about it, the key blade wielders know what they're doing. Signed, Princess Celestia." P.S. I will be rather busy in Canterlot setting up for events such as the Grand Galloping Gala and many others, so I am sending another one of my past students down there to live with you in Ponyville for the time being so that she won't be bored up here. I'm pretty sure you already know her. She should be up there by the time you get this letter."
"Man I wonder how Twilight took tha-" Spike was stopped as he turned around and saw Twilight literally pacing back and forth from what she heard. "Not so well I see."
"She's not going to be in contact during this time when I need her the most?!" Twilight said.
"And how did she know about us when we have never met this princess before?" Sora said to Twilight.
"She also said that somebody is going to come stay with us Twilight," Spike said.
"I heard Spike," Twilight said annoyingly.
"I just wonder who it is." Twilight thought about it and a lightbulb clicked on in her head as a big smile came across her face.
"Um, Twilight, are you okay?" Rainbow said to Twilight who started chuckling to herself.
"Oh, I'm fine, I just can't believe she's coming here to Ponyville," Twilight said.
"Who?" As Sora said this a knock on the library door was heard from the outside. Twilight ran to the door almost knocking over Spike, Roxas, and Sora. She stopped at the door and opened it, and on the other side was a girl with long red hair with yellow stripes coming down the sides of it. She was wearing a aqua blouse with ruffles at the bottom, blue spandex pants, black high heeled boots, and a black leather jacket to match. Her eyes matched the color of her blouse which were also aqua.
"Sunset Shimmer!" Twilight said as she went to go give her a hug.
"Twilight! It's so good to see you again." Sunset said. Twilight then let Sunset go of her embrace and saw that she had a phoenix perched on her shoulder.
"Is that Philomena?" Twilight said.
"Yeah, the princess offered me to take care of her ever since she let me come back home," Sunset said. "The princess said it suits me."
"Well I'm glad to see that you'll be getting to stay in Ponyville for the time being," Twilight said.
"I'm glad too Twilight, it's nice getting to see you and the girls again," Sunset said as she looked up to see the rest of the group. What caught her and made her do a double take were two unknown guys in Twilight's house that she had never met before.
"Um, Twilight, who are those guys," Sunset said.
"Oh, that's right, I forgot to mention, Sunset, this is Sora and Roxas," Twilight said as she greeted the two.
[i"]Hey, those two are pretty cute," Sunset thought in her mind.
"Well, if that's the end of this meeting, I would like to say that it's to go," Rainbow said.
Everyone agreed and started to leave out the library. As soon as Sora started to exit, something quickly grabbed on to his arm. It was something soft and delicate with a loving touch.
"Excuse me, Sora," Rarity said. "If you don't mind, I would like your assistance on a important matter, you will help me right?" Rarity said batting her eyelashes.
Sora then smiled, "How can someone say no to eyes like those?"
"Wonderful!" Rarity said as she grabbed Sora and started heading towards the boutique.
Roxas started to head back to the Apple Family Farm without saying a word to anybody. Sunset saw this and was intrigued by his demeanor.
"Hmm, wonder where he's going, follow me Philomena," Sunset said as she started to follow Roxas to the farm.
****
Off in the distance in a dark corner of Ponyville stood the man in the black hood watching as the girls and the key blade wielders went different ways to enjoy the rest of their day.
"So, somehow Roxas was able to be brought back into the living. Was it the light of this world that did this? If so, I need to gather the darkness that I need to eradicate this world so that it will be lost forever and it will be another star to go out in the sky. But I need more darkness." As the hooded man said this two mysterious figures stepped from a corridor of darkness. The hooded man turned back to look.
"Hmph, maybe you two will be of some of use. After all that you two put me through, it's time for you to pay. In soon time, Equestria will be destroyed and it will start off with this Ignorant town." All three of the figures then disappeared in a shroud of darkness.
****
A few minutes passed and Sora and Rarity made it to the boutique. As they walked in Sora looked around the boutique, and everything looked the same as before except there were different outfits on display this time. As he started walking in towards the living room, he saw a white ball of fluff laying in a tiny bed. He wondered what it was so he bent down on his knees and got closer to it. Worst...... idea.....ever. As soon as he got close enough, the white puff ball sprang up showing that it was a cat and then swiped at Sora with its claws.
"Owwww!" Sora said. "What did I do to you?" The cat then hissed at him as if he was a threat to her. "Great, like the Chesire Cat wasn't worrisome enough."
"Well, you did walk up on her while she was sleeping, not a good idea," said a young girlish voice. Sora had her that voice before. He turned around and saw SweetieBelle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo looking right at him.
"SweetieBelle, Applebloom, Scootaloo why are you here?" Sora asked.
"What do you mean, I basically live here, Rarity is my sister," Sweetiebelle said nonchalantly.
"Yeah, and we always come over here to hang out with Sweetiebelle," Scootaloo said.
"By the way, what's a Chesire Cat?" Apple bloom asked.
"Nothing but a trouble maker," Sora said as he folded his arms and had an aggravated look on his face as if saying the name brought back a bad memory.
"So, what are you doing here dude?" Scootaloo said.
Sora pulled off a playful shrug and said, "I really don't know myself."
"Oh, there you are Sora," Rarity said as she walked into the living room where everyone was. "And, I see that you found the girls."
"Yeah, we were all wondering what the favor was that you wanted me to do." Sora said.
"Yes, the favor, well, it's really nothing too challenging, I just need you to watch over the kids and Opal while I work on my outfits for a client," Rarity said with a nervous chuckle.
"Wait, the favor was for me to babysit and petsit?!" Sora said bewildered by what he dragged himself into.
"Please, Sora this is a really important client and I must keep my clientele happy at all times."
"But, Rarity, it's not that I don't want to or anything, it's just that....well.. I-" Sora was stopped mid sentence as he noticed how Rarity was moving closer and closer to him.
"Now Sora, you should never pass a lady in need of assistance, you don't know what you could miss," Rarity said with her bedroom eyes looking directly at Sora. Sora started to get a little nervous from such close contact with Rarity.
"Do this favor for me, and I'll make sure that you'll get repaid back in something even better," Rarity said fluttering her eyes a Sora.
"Sigh, I gotta stop falling for that," Sora mumble to himself. "Okay, I'll watch them."
"Wonderful, if you need me I'll be in my room working on my masterpieces," Rarity said as she went upstairs.
"Okay taking care of three kids and a cat, it can't be that hard," Sora said. He was completely wrong for as soon as he turned around he was barraged with an assortment of questions, statements, and plans by the three girls. There was no end to their relentless questions.
"I wonder what Roxas is doing right now," Sora said.
****
We see Roxas walking through the apple orchard alone as he is getting back to the farm. He suddenly stops and turns around.
"I know you're following me, come out from behind that tree," Roxas said. As he said this, Sunset Shimmer could be seen popping out from behind the tree.
"Um, hey," Sunset said very shyly.
"What's the reason that you followed me," Roxas said very sternly.
"I just saw you walking alone after everyone left Twilight's house and I thought you could have a friend to walk and talk with."
"A friend, you call yourself my friend but you don't even know me," Roxas said. "How can any of you or those other girls call yourselves my friends?" Sunset was quiet as Roxas spoke.
"I had friends once, good friends, that would do anything for me, we had a special bond." Roxas said. "But, that bond was broken, and there is no way of reparing the bond of friends." "Everyday, I try to forget that broken bond, but.... *he summons his key blades* these always remind me that she's still there, and I couldn't help her at all." "I lost her, and I don't even know where my other "friend" is...... Xion........Axel...." Roxas then makes his key blades disappear as he falls to the ground. "I'm sorry, but it's hard for me to trust anybody else ever since I lost the only two people that I actually trusted." Sunset walked up to Roxas and sat right beside him.
"Well, you can start with me, I had problems with trust one time too, but those girls that you met, showed me the way of friendship and I couldn't be more glad to call them my friends," Sunset said. "If you just try, I promise that it will be alright."
Roxas got up from the ground and lent a hand to help her up which she accepted.
"Things may come, and things may go, some go fast, and some go slow, few things last that's all I know, but friendship carries on through the ages," Sunset said.
"Did you just make that up," Roxas asked the girl.
"Maybe," Sunset set in a playful tone. Roxas chuckled at her comment and proceeded to introduce himself.
"I'm Roxas by the way."
"My name's Sunset Shimmer," Sunset said with a happy tone. "So did you really want to go back to work so quickly?"
"Are you kidding me, I've been up since who knows how long picking apples," Roxas said.
"Well then," Sunset said as she pulled out a map of Equestria, "How about we go this area right outside of Ponyville, I heard it has plenty of gems to collect," Sunset said.
"Gems huh, I could use those to synthesize something helpful I assume," Roxas said.
"Well then, shall we go," Sunset said.
"Let's," Roxas said as they both started running to the gem area.
****
Some time passes by and Roxas and Sunset finally made their way to the gem ground with a wagon in each of their hands. Roxas looks around the area and notices how barren and gray it looks. He starts to second guess if there are actually any gems here at all.
"Are you sure there are gems here," Roxas said.
"I'm positive," Sunset said.
"All the gems are underground so we'll have to dig them up."
"Ok, but, how are we going to know where to dig," Roxas said. Sunset then smirked at Roxas as she started to be enveloped in a yellow aura. A flash of light shot out as the ground was then highlighted with little patches of light that showed gems inside.
"How did you that?" Roxas said baffled by what he just saw.
"Just a little spell I learned through life, I mean you wold have to be a pretty new magic user to not know that spell," Sunset said.
"And I thought that people could only learn elemental magic, count me wrong, Roxas said."
"Anyway, let's get to digging," Sunset said as she pulled out a shovel.
"Sigh," Roxas said as he summoned his key blades. "From picking apples to digging gems, I guess you can call this a promotion," Roxas jokingly said. Sunset laughed at his comment as they both started digging for gems.
In the trees a little distance from them were three different sized shadows, one small, one medium, and one large.
"look, look there, gems!" the small one said.
"I see them, but look at that spiky haired one, look at those things he has in his hands," the medium one said.
"I say we take the gems and we take those things for ourselves," the small one said.
"Yes, let' go now while they're still here," the medium one said. The shadows then backed away from the trees and started on their plan.
Some time passes and Roxas and Sunset had filled their wagons with gems. Their haul was quite amazing as it had a variety of gems ranging from small to large to an emerald to a diamond.
"Looks like we did a pretty good job," Sunset said looking at Roxas.
Roxas looked back with a smile. "I'll say, this should so well for synthesizing."
As they were getting ready to go back to Ponyville, there was a sudden rush of wind behind them. Roxas felt this and knew that someone was there.
"What's wrong Roxas," Sunset said. As she said this three gray colored dogs walking on two legs jumped in front of them. All three ranging in sizes from small, to medium, to large.
"That's what's wrong, who are you guys and what do want," Roxas said in a serious tone.
"We are Diamond Dogs," the medium sized one said.
"We hunt for gems, but now we hunt for more than that."
"Oh, and what would that be," Roxas said with not an inch of humor coming out of tone.
"Now we hunt for gems, the magic user, and you and your swords," the medium sized one said. After he said that Roxas was done with small talk.
"What's wrong, scared?" The tallest diamond dog said.
"You know, I was actually having a good time, but you just made it bad," Roxas said as he summoned his key blades. "Now I'm gonna have an even better time teaching you three what it truly means to be afraid.
"Roxas?" Sunset thought in her head as she never took Roxas to be this heroic. She blushed at the thought that she was having of him even in the situation that they were in.
"Hah, that's nothing but talk, you can't do a th-" That's all the medium sized diamond dog could say before Roxas went up and knocked him back to a tree with Oblivion in his hand. The other two dogs stepped back in fear of his next attack.
"Are you ready," Roxas said as he looked at the three diamond dogs. "Then let's fight."
As Roxas got into his fighting stance, he noticed how the three diamond dogs started circling around him. As this was happening, Sunset was away from the dogs and Roxas started to think of a way to contact help. The idea suddenly came to her as she turned around towards Philomena. Sunset used her magic to summon a pencil and paper and wrote down a note that she tied to the phoenix's leg.
"Philomena, I need you to go back to Ponyville and find Twilight and give her this note," Sunset said.
"Do you understand, Philomena?"
Philomena then screeched in confirmation.
"Good, now go get Twilight." Sunset said. The phoenix started to flap its wings as it started to fly high in the sky trying to get it's way back to Ponyville to get help. As the diamond dogs got closer to Roxas, Fido started to run towards him with claws jutting out and made a swipe towards Roxas. Roxas quickly evaded the attack and bashed his key blades into the dog which caused the dog to tumble to the ground in a daze. The other two thought it would be a good idea to double team Roxas. They both started lunging one attack after another at Roxas. Roxas was quickly dodging and blocking the attacks with his key blades. He evaded the attacks and started to get a little distance away from the two dogs.
"There has to be an opening somewhere," Roxas said as he tried to find a way to land a hit onto the dogs. He stood there for a few seconds and started thinking as a sudden realization came to play for him. It was a stretch, but he had no choice.
"Hey," Roxas said to the diamond dogs, "You want my key blades so badly, then you can have them!" Roxas threw his keyblades to the diamond dogs feet and both of them proceeded to pick one up. Sunset started looking at Roxas bewildered by what he had done.
"Roxas, are you insane?!" Sunset said surprised at the actions he made.
Roxas smiled back at Sunset, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." He then turned around to the dogs and started running full sprint.
Both diamond started laughing at Roxas.
"This guy is such an idiot!" Spot said jeeringly.
"You fool, do you really think that you can beat us now that we have your swords," Rover said.
Roxas was up close and personal to the diamond dogs and the dogs decided to swing the key blades at Roxas as he was in their vicinity. Sunset was watching this and thought how this plan was not going to end well, but she nor the diamond dogs didn't expect for the key blades to disappear out of the dogs' hands and back into Roxas's.
"Oh, I think I can," Roxas said as he started laying down hit after hit onto the diamond dogs until he finished with a sideways slash that caused the dogs to hit the trunk of a tree so hard that the leaves fell off of the tree and onto the heads of the two diamond dogs.
"Some plan you had there," Sunset said sarcastically.
"Your sarcasm is noted, besides I didn't see you coming up with anything," Roxas said.
"I could've helped you stopped them," Sunset said confidently.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that you wouldn't have, because someone was too busy talking to their bird," Roxas said.
"Philomena is not just a bird, she's a phoenix," Sunset said as if she was insulted that Roxas referred the royal pet as just a bird.
"Whatever, the point is, I came up with a quick plan, that worked, and I did it by myself, no help needed," Roxas said.
"So, how about we take our gems and head back to Ponyville, I've had just about enough of those dogs to last a lifetime," Roxas said.
"Fine, I still would have made a better plan," Sunset said purposely getting under Roxas's skin.
"Sigh, are you going to be on this the entire walk back," Roxas said.
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't, we'll just have to walk and see."
"First Twilight and now you, add another girl to the list who likes to get her way," Roxas said.
As they started walking away Rover got up and started yelling at them.
"Do you think that we are some game for you to play!?" Roxas and Sunset stopped to look back and see the diamond dog standing.
"We will stop you, take your gems, and hunt you down!" The diamond dog then proceeded to pull out a whistle and started to sound off. Everything was quiet, until the ground started shaking and holes started coming out of the ground to show other diamond dogs with helmets on their head and spears in their hand. Anyone could tell that they were the grunts, and there were a lot of them. Enough for a militia. After a few seconds passes, Roxas and Sunset saw were completely surround by nothing but diamond dogs.
"Hey Sunset," Roxas said.
"Yeah?"
"You still want to help me out?"
"I'd thought you'd never ask." Sunset's hands were then enveloped in her magic aura getting ready to launch an attack at any of her enemies, and Roxas had summoned his key blades once again to face against now an army of diamond dogs. Sunset would not admit it, but she was actually scared of having to fight this many enemies at once, but being near Roxas made it easier for her to stay focused, knowing that she wasn't alone.
"Philomena, I hope you're close to Twilight," Sunset said in her mind. After a few seconds of a stand still, the diamond dogs started to rush forward and for Roxas and Sunset it was now a state of survival for them to fight back against their many foes for if they showed on inch of weakness, it would be all over.
****
As Philomena flies back to Ponyville she starts searching every inch of the town in order to find Twilight until she happens to collide into someone with full force causing her to fall down to the ground in a dazed position. She quickly recovered herself and looked to see who she had flew into. Coincidentally, it just happened to be Twilight. Philomela started to stretch wildly at Twilight trying to inform of the trouble that the others were in.
"Philomena, is there something wrong," Twilight asked as the bird kept on screeching. She then looked at the phoenix's leg as saw a piece of parchment tied to it. "Is that a letter?" Twilight untied the letter from Philomena and began reading it.
"Twilight we need your help, Roxas and I are at the gem ground, and diamond dogs came and started attacking us. Please come quickly, I don't know how long we can last."
Signed,
Sunset
Twilight was in shock from what the topic of the letter. From her friends in danger to the diamond dogs attacking again, she knew that this wasn't good. "I've got to go save them,but I can't go by myself," Twilight contemplated. Twilight then had an idea come to her mind, she knew who she would bring to fight the diamond dogs, and she started running to the boutique with Philomena right behind her.
****
Sora couldn't take anymore, from answering the kids many questions, to watching the cat to make sure that it doesn't try to rip his face off, he could honestly say that this wasn't the greatest time for him.
"I told you already, he's a duck that knows how to use magic because he is the royal magician of the castle," Sora breathed staring at the three girls."
"And, his name is Donald," Scootaloo said questioningly.
"And, ya have another friend named Goofy," Applebloom said.
"Yeah, he's the captain of the royal guards at the castle," Sora said as if he was speaking things that a normal person would say.
"And, you have a friend, who's a mouse, who's a also the king of the castle," Sweetiebelle said as she looked at Sora confirmation.
"Exactly, and his name is Mickey," Sora said.
The girls looked at him as if everything he said to them were all lies.
"You don't believe me at all do you," Sora said as he slumped his head down. The girls simply shook their head no. Rarity then walked into the room, joining the conversation.
"Honestly Sora, it is hard to believe that something like that exists.
"Sigh, would you believe if I told you that I fought a Hydra," Sora said to the girls.
The girls did a big gasp as they started barraging him with questions about it, instantly believing in him this time.
"I just don't understand," Sora said to himself. As the cmc kept asking him questions there was sudden knock at the door and Rarity was the one to open it. As she opened she saw a panting Twilight trying to catch her breath with Philomena flying over her.
"Twilight, Philomena, care to come inside, Sora is telling some riveting fairytales to the kids," Rarity said.
"They're not fairytales, they're true," Sora shouted. As Twilight started to regain her breath, she began telling Rarity the problem.
"Rarity......Sunset and Roxas.......trouble.....diamond dogs," Twilight panted out to Rarity. As rarity heard the words she immediately became alarmed from the situation that they faced.
"Diamond dogs, I can't believe those brute would try to attack our friends again," Rarity said angrily. "We must go help them."
"Sora, we need your help too," Twilight said regaining her breath back.
"Diamond dogs huh, well, a fight beats babysitting any day," Sora said with a smile. "So, where are we going exactly?"
Twilight motioned the two to follow her out the boutique, "We're going to a gem grounds and Philomena is going to guide us back there, but when we get there,we need to be ready for anything."
"Roger," Sora said saluting to Twilight.
"Pardon me Twilight, but how are we going to get there," Rarity asked. In her sudden burst of worry, Twilight forgot about how they were going to get to the ground in time to save their friends.
"Wait, I have an idea," Sora said as he screamed into the sky, "CARPET!"
"Um, Sora, pardon me, but did you just say, carpet," Rarity said confused on what Sora had just said a few seconds ago.
"Yeah, I have a flying magic carpet that we can sit on while we follow Philomena," Sora said to the girls.
Twilight looked at Sora with very little trust in her eyes, "Sora, there is no way a carpet is capable of flight nor can it hold up a person."
As Twilight said this a carpet came flying by above her and landed right in front of Sora leaving her speechless as she just looked in surprise. Sora then petted the carpet and it allowed him to get on.
"Come on, you guys, there's no time to lose," Sora said as he held out his hands for both of the girls to grab onto the carpet. With the time to save their friends diminishing, the girls quickly grabbed Sora's hands and made their way onto the magic carpet.
"You can lead us now Philomena," Sora said. Philomena nodded her head and started flying towards the direction of Roxas and Sunset. The magic carpet quickly started following the phoenix so that they could save their friends.
"I hope we're not too late," Sora said.
****
One after the other, a diamond dog grunt would strike at Roxas only to be forcefully knocked back by his key blades. Another grunt came up to Roxas and launched a series of punches trying his hardest to make contact, but Roxas was blocking each attack with his key blades. One punch was able to break Roxas's guard and leave him open for an attack. The grunt saw this opening and launched another punch towards Roxas. Seeing the attack and not having enough time to react, Roxas was just a painted target for the grunt to attack. Roxas prepared for the worst, but what he didn't expect to come was a green blast of energy that would hit the face of the attacking diamond dog forcing it to fall to the ground in pain. Roxas, surprised at what he just saw, looked around and saw Sunset with her hands surrounded by a magical green aura. Sunset then used her magic to levitate the grunt and in an instant she launched the dog back into a hole. As Roxas got his footing back, he was surprised to see how well Sunset was actually handling herself in a fight.
"Hmph, not bad," Roxas said.
"Told you I can help," Sunset said with a smirk on her face.
"Hey, don't want to ruin your confidence but there seems to be more heading right for us," Roxas said as he looked over to see the three original diamond dogs and their grunts charging at them with spears in hand. Sunset and Roxas looked at each other with devious smiles as they both prepared for the battle. Roxas charged at them armed with his key blades. As Roxas got closer to the pack of enemies, the tallest diamond dog tried to lunge his spear at Roxas, but Roxas caught the spear between his arm and his side and jerked it out of the hands of the diamond dog. He used this opportunity to attack the weaponless dog, but the other diamond dogs blocked Roxas's way through. To give Roxas a helping hand, Sunset decided to use her magic to push the diamond dogs out of Roxas's way long enough to get a view of the leader. Rover was starting to become angry from how the odds were against him.
"That insolent girl!" Rover said.
As Roxas was fighting off the diamond dogs, the tall diamond dog started thinking of a plan to get the jump on the keyblader. When he had thought of the idea he couldn't hold back the sinister smile that was plastered onto his face. He went over to one other grunt and started giving him orders.
"The girl, I want you to stop the girl" he said. The grunt saluted to him and went underground, digging towards Sunset. The grunt had dug right behind her and quickly rose from the ground. Before Sunset could react, the grunt had put her in a master lock, and unable to use her magic and completely defenseless she did the only thing she could do.
"Roxas, help!" Sunset screamed. Roxas stopped his fighting and turned around to see Sunset in her predicament. As he started running towards to save her, Roxas was dealt with a hard punch to his side causing him to fall down to the ground. Roxas looked up to see who his attacker was and it was Fido, the big dog from before. Roxas struggled trying to get back up on his feet.
"Heh, is that all you go-" was all Roxas could say before he kneeled over in pain from the attack, using oath keeper as a way to balance himself so that he would not fall completely to the ground. Rover then confronted Roxas in his downed state and maliciously smiled and laughed at him.
"This is the end for you boy," The diamond dog leader said and he snapped his fingers together and was handed a spear from a grunt.
"Bring the magic user over her, she will witness the death of her friend first hand," Rover demanded. The diamond dog grunt then forcefully brought Sunset over to where Roxas was down. Despite her struggling to get free, she could not escape the grasp of the diamond dog grunt. All she could do was look at how Roxas was kneeled over about to face his demise.
Rover pulled the spear back and immediately lunged it towards Roxas. Sunset couldn't handle the situation so she closed her eyes not wanting to see what was about to happen to Roxas. Roxas tried his best to move, but he was in too much pain. As the spear came closer and closer, the chance of Roxas escaping was getting slim, until something had blocked the spear from hitting Roxas. In front of Roxas was the Kingdom Key which had been thrown into the ground, ultimately stopping and breaking the spear.
"No way, it can't be," Roxas said mesmerized by the sight of the Kingdom Key right in front of him at this moment.
"And you talked about how could do better, speak for yourself Roxas," A remembering voice said. Roxas looked up and a flying carpet above his head with three friends on top of it.
"That's my name," Sora said nonchalantly. "And, I brought some friends along," he said as he pointed towards Twilight and Rarity.
"Man, am I glad to see you guys right now, I could really some help."
"You shouldn't be so easily distracted!" Rover said as he started charging towards Roxas with another spear. Seeing this, Sora jumped from the magic carpet and in a split second before he touched the ground, he summoned his key blade to his hand and parried the attack leaving an opening on the diamond dog, and Sora used this opening to his advantage and did a three hit combo on the dog causing him to fly back.
"I don't know who you are and I don't care, but nobody hurts my friends no matter what!" Sora said with a serious demeanor.
During this, Twilight saw Sunset being held by the diamond dog and decided to use her magic to attack the dog and save Sunset. A beam of magic shot from Twilight's hand and it hit the dog dead in the face causing him to let go of Sunset and Sunset then used her magic to launch the dog into the sky.
"That's what you get," Sunset said while looking where she had launched the diamond dog.
The magic carpet had landed near Sunset, and Twilight and Rarity got off of it. Sunset tried waving to them to get there attention but her for some reason was in pain.
"Sunset, darling, are you okay, did those diamond dogs hurt you," Rarity said in a worrisome tone.
"No, I'm fine, it's just that diamond dog really had a tight grip around my arms and it's just a little pain, but they really hurt Roxas while he was fighting them.
"No problem," Twilight said. "I'll just use a healing spell to get you two back well again, but while I do that, Rarity, I'll need you to protect us while I get them back well.
"Absolutely," Rarity agreed.
"Alright then, let's go!" Twilight said as they initiated their plan.
A few diamond dog grunts started to walk up on Sora as they had saw him attack their leader and were rightfully mad at him.
"You guys want to fight huh, then let's go-" Sora was stopped by Rarity as she cut him off of his sentence.
"Oh that's alright Sora brute force won't be necessary this time," Rarity said as she stepped in front of him.
"Oh...... okay then," Sora said dumbfounded by Rarity's comment.
"Oh no, it's her again," one of the diamond dogs said. "Did she really have to come back?"
"Sounds like they already know you," Sora said.
"I had a... complication not too long ago and let's just say, they're not entirely too happy about the outcome," Rarity said. "Well, let's get this started shall we?" Rarity used her magic to create a force field around her and her friends so that they would be safe from the diamond dogs attacks as Twilight healed Roxas's and Sunset's injuries. Sora looked at the two girls and saw how well they both worked together. He saw how well they controlled their magic and how calm and collected they were. Seeing them reminded him of Merlin and Yensid. They both really showed.........Wisdom.
Sora stopped dead in his tracks in a gulf of light enveloped his whole body for a few seconds. While this happen, everybody else sat back and stared at what was happening to Sora. When the light stopped, the first thing that everyone noticed was his change in clothes. His clothes had changed color from black to blue with his shorts also adapting blue flames to it. He was holding his key blade backhand as well. Everyone was in awe of his transformation. They were so surprised that they didn't notice that the magic shield was going down.
"What, what's going on, my magic's gone," Rarity said.
"This can't be, my magic's gone too," Twilight said surprised at the occurrence.
"It might be because I'm in Wisdom Form," Sora said to the girls.
"Wisdom Form?" Both the girls said.
"I'll tell you later but right now," Sora then looked at the diamond dogs, "I have to handle something."
"Ho hum,so you just changed the color of your clothes so what?" Rover said as the rest of the diamond dogs laughed at his comment.
Sora pointed his key blade out and blue magic started swirling around him. He then shot his magic at the diamond dogs and this caused for a few of them to fall back. Sora smirked at knowing that this battle was in his favor, he then dashed towards them and stood proudly in front of them. The diamond dogs surrounded him and they attacked Sora at once. As they did this, Sora put his hands out beside him.
"Reflect!" Sora said as magical barriers of light started to surround him. As the diamond dogs came into contact with the barrier, they were hit with sprays of light that forced them to back away from Sora. Then,in a instant, Sora started running around the diamond dogs faster and faster until it appeared as if he was sliding on the ground.
"What is he doing?" Rover said.
"Whatever he's doing, it's making me dizzy," Fido said as he started stumbling around the other diamond dogs.
Electricity started to surge around Sora as he summoned his key blade and pointed it towards the sky.
Sora shouted the word, "Thunder!" and a series of thunderbolts came to shock the helpless diamond dogs.
The rest of the girls just stood back and saw how much magical prowess that Sora had. To the girls, it was surprising to say the least.
As Sora finished his thunder attacks on the diamond dogs, his magic started to surge around his body.
"This next move, I learned from a friend," Sora said. He made his key blade vanish and only used his hands for this move. Sora snapped his fingers and a blast of magical energy hit a few more diamond dogs. "Oh, and by the way, he's a duck." He then started hitting all the dogs with the magical attack until he was ready for the coup de grace. Sora then charged his magic for one final attack.
"It's time for you to go, Comet Rain!" Sora shouted as a ring of magical energy circled the diamond dogs and barraged them with magical attacks over and over again. Sora summoned his key blade and charged up a magic shot and fired at the diamond dogs. This caused the diamond dogs to fly into the sky and fall back into the holes from where they came.
"Good riddance," Sora said. As the battle finished, Sora started walking back to Roxas, and the girls.
"Are you guys alright?" Sora said calmingly despite the battle that he had just faced.
All the girls were so dumbfounded by Sora's display of magic that they literally sat there with open jaws.
"I'm just going to assume that you're okay," Sora said. He then turned to look at Roxas who was still in pain from the earlier fight.
"Well, while I'm in this form I might as well use cure," Sora said as he summoned the spell and used it to heal Roxas of his wounds.
"Thanks," Roxas said quietly, almost ashamed that he was not able to handle that situation without the aid of Sora and friends.
"No problem," Sora said.
Sora's Wisdom Form reverted back to his normal form and Twilight and Rarity were able to use their magic again.
"Well.......that was.....something," Twilight said still trying to get what had just happened.
"I don't know what just happened," Sunset said.
"I think it's time for us to go back to Ponyville," Rarity noted. Everyone nodded and agreed that it was time to go back home. As they started walking back to Ponyville, Sunset spotted a phoenix coming at her.
"Philomena," Sunset joyously said. Philomena started motioning Sunset forward.
"What are you trying to show me Philome-" Sunset stopped as a big smile came across her face and she started to laugh. In front of her were the gems that they had collected before the diamond dog skirmish. They were completely forgot about, until a known phoenix came to remind them the reason they came here in the first place.
"This is why you are the best phoenix ever," Sunset said. Philomena blushed at the compliment and hid her face in her wings. "Hey guys, I'm gonna need some help with these," Sunset said as she pointed the crates of gems. After seeing this, Rarity gasped in delight.
"Those gems are beautiful!" Rarity said in a dreamlike tone.
"Well, you can have some if you'd like," Sunset said.
"Sunset Shimmer, do you actually mean that?"
"Of course, I mean I have more than I really need so as soon as we get back to town, you can take as many as you like."
Rarity then hugged Sunset and started jumping up and down in glee.
"Thank you ever so much Sunset, this is so generous of you," Rarity said pleasingly.
"Don't forget I still need some of those gems too," Roxas said.
"Don't worry there should be enough for everyone," Sunset said. "But we need to get going back to Ponyville. I don't know about you guys, but I really want to just relax for the rest of the day."
"Make that two," Roxas said.
"Speaking of relaxing, one day we all need to go the spa, my treat," Rarity said. The group of friends laughed at her comment but Rarity was not joking.
"No, I'm serious, we all need to go to the spa, I don't know why people think I joke when I mention the spa."
The group of friends then started their walk back home to Ponyville, with plentiful gems in their inventory and a story to match.
As they got closer to Ponyville, the sun started to set and the group started to split up and go home. As they passed the Apple Family Farm, Sora and Roxas were the first to say goodbye. Then, it was Rarity with her crate of gems behind her to say goodbye to Twilight and Sunset. The two students were the last ones of the group and they both started walking to the library.
"So, how was your alone time with Roxas," Twilight slyly said to Sunset. Sunset started getting defensive about the comment.
"What do you mean , we were just finding gems together that's all," Sunset said defensively.
"He must be very interesting to you then, if you're willing to sneak off and spy on him to see what he does," Twilight playfully said.
Sunset blushed at her last comment as Twilight chuckled at her embarrassment.
"I see Princess Celestia has been teaching you her way of joking," Sunset said.
"Maybe just a little,"Twilight said.
"Remind me to send her a letter when we get back home, telling her to never do that again." Sunset said.
The girls had finally made it home and after everything that happened, they couldn't wait to get in the bed and call it a day.
****
We now go back to the Apple Family Farm where Sora and Roxas are both getting ready for bed.
"Man, what a day, first babysitting, and then having to fight an army of gem stealing dogs, how's that for a story?" Sora said to Roxas. Roxas was just lying in his bed minding his own business most likely thinking about the experience with the diamond dogs.
"So, what were you and Sunset doing in that field anyway?" Sora said.
"Wasn't it obvious, we were digging for gems," Roxas said. "I was trying to find some so that I could synthesize some items that could be useful.
"Well, how did the diamond dogs come into play?"
"While we were digging, they just happened to show up, totally ruined my day. I was doing a pretty good job with holding them off, but then they called the entire pack and well, you know what happened then.
"Yeah." Sora said. "But, what I don't understand, is why did I go into Wisdom Form back there without Donald being here?"
"Well, it clearly had something to do with Twilight and Rarity since their magic was cut off while you were in that form." Roxas said.
"What about Sunset?"
"No, her magic wasn't affected because when the girls were watching you fight in Wisdom form, she was actually treating my injury while she was injured herself."
"Sunset sure was worried about you Roxas, even while she was hurt herself she only cared if you were okay." "She sounds like a good friend to have around." The room went silent for a few minutes as the conversation had ceased after that line. Sora turned the lights off and went to sleep. Roxas was still pondering that word,"friend", in his mind. Did Sunset really think of him as a good friend? Was she really a good friend in Roxas's mind? Someone to go to when there was nowhere else to go? Roxas closed his eyes and uttered one word before he went to sleep.
Twilight,deep in her slumber, kept having thoughts of yesterday's battle replay in her mind. Seeing Sora transform into his Wisdom Form was baffling in her eyes and she wondered how something like that was possible, and why it took away her magic. It was something she had never seen before. As she still contemplated the whereabouts of how something like that was possible, Twilight felt her body rock from left to right repeatedly. As Twilight started to wake up from all the rocking, she started to open her eyes and was startled to see a figure in front of her causing her to fall out of bed. After a few blinks and a groan of pain, she looked up and could tell that the person was no one other than Spike trying to wake her up.
"Twilight, you overslept." Spike said as he recognized how the girl looked so disheveled. "Wow, you look terrible."
Twilight gave an irritated look towards Spike, "What is it?."
"Wow, rude," Spike said.
"Well, this is what happens when you shove me out of my sleep,"Twilight said as she picked herself up and sat back on the bed eyes half closed. "I was dreaming about something very interesting."
Spike looked at the girl with a questionable demeanor. "Are you talking about what happened yesterday with Sora turning into some kind of all powerful wizard and taking all those diamond dogs down by himself? When I heard the story from Sunset Shimmer and how everything happened, all I could think about was how awesome it had to be!"
Twilight was surprised at how Spike looked at the situation. "It was not awesome, it was insane!"
"Aw, come on Twilight, you have to admit it was a little awesome," Sunset said as she walked up towards Spike and Twilight.
"It's just that I've never seen anything like that happen before, and when it did, Rarity and I couldn't use our magic," Twilight said to Sunset.
"Maybe it has something to do with you being an element of harmony," Sunset said.
"Maybe, I don't know." Twilight said. "But, he has to know something about what's going on."
Sunset, growing bored of Twilight's theory decided to give her a solution to her problem. "Why don't you ask him yourself at the picnic today, I'm sure that he wouldn't mind you asking."
"Picnic?" Twilight said quizzically. "What picnic?"
"Well, it's such a beautiful day today in Ponyville, so the girls and I decided to schedule a little picnic in the plains," Sunset said.
Twilight looked out her window and saw the rays of light penetrate her window showing her the beauty that the world had today. "It is nice out, today."
Sunset then helped Twilight out of bed and lead her to the changing room. "See, now go get changed, we don't want to keep the rest of them waiting forever."
"Plus, I heard that Pinkie baked a jewel cake just for the picnic, and there is no way that I'm going to miss my chance in eating that cake," Spike said with a serious demeanor.
Twilight laughed at how serious Spike was about his desserts. "We definitely don't want to miss out on that do we?" It was a only a few minutes later until Twilight was ready to go to the picnic. "All right, I'm ready to go."
As soon as she said this, Spike started pushing Sunset and Twilight towards the door to leave and go. "That's great, now let's go, that jewel cake is calling my name. As Twilight opened the door with her magic, Sunset had the sudden realization that Spike was still pushing them towards the door at the same time.
"Ummm, Spike, maybe you want to slow down there a bit before we get to the door," Sunset said. Too bad Spike didn't hear a thing as he was lost in thought about that cake. What that boy wouldn't do for some cake don't ask me. Before Spike could come back to his senses, he had already pushed them out of the house causing both of them to trip and fall.
"Ow," Twilight said as he started rubbing her head. "Spike, I understand that you really want to eat that jewel cake, but was pushing your friends out of a door really necessary for you to-" Twilight stopped as she saw Spike converting all of his attention to something else. "Honestly Spike, we really need to work on your focus, I mean, what could have you so out of it right now?" Twilight turned around to see what had Spike's attention and what she saw made her speechless.
Sunset was still on the ground wondering why she was not in that much pain from the fall. After a few seconds, she started to realize that she did not fall directly onto the ground, but rather she fell on something else. Or should I say someone else?
"Well, that was another way to greet someone," a familiar voice said. "Um, Sunset, do you think you can get off of me?"
As Sunset realized whose voice that was, she immediately looked down and saw Roxas laying under her. As they were both face to face with each other, Sunset started to blush immensely, and in a bashful state, she decided to get off of Roxas to evade anymore embarrassment than she already had.
"What are you doing?!" Sunset shouted at Roxas.
Roxas, surprised at how Sunset interpreted what had happened, got up and went towards Sunset. "What am I doing, you were the one who fell on me."
"You're acting as if this was all my fault," Sunset said.
"Well, you were the one who, I repeat, fell onto me," Roxas said. The two then starting arguing back and forth each having a comeback for what the other had to say. Sora then starts laughing at the two as they kept arguing about.
"Wow, they are arguing like a married couple," Sora said laughing through his words.
Twilight looked at Sora with a questionable look. "Sora, how did you get here?"
"Oh, I was just a few steps behind Roxas, good thing too or I would have been in that amount of trouble," Sora said as he looked at Roxas and Sunset still arguing about what happened.
"Why are you even over here?" Sunset said while still trying to hide her blush.
"Well, earlier this morning, when I woke up I found a note placed on my chest and it was from Applejack," Roxas said. "It told us to meet up with the rest of the girls for a picnic in the plains." "That's where Sora and I were going until....." Roxas was cut off as Sunset put a hand in front of him telling him to stop.
"Ok, ok, I get it, can we just go to the picnic now?" Sunset said.
"Yes, yes we can, now come you guys the jewel cake, I mean, our friends are waiting on us," Spike said.
Sora looked at Twilight confusingly. "Jewel cake?"
"It's a long story," Twilight said.
As the five were walking to the picnic, the rest of the main 6 were already where they needed to be waiting on the latter. Applejack was resting on the trunk of a nearby tree as Rainbow Dash was Sleeping on the branch of that same tree, Pinkie Pie was setting up the picnic blanket and food, Rarity was lying down on a red couch that she had brought from her home, and Fluttershy was sitting in the grass holding the summoning charm that Sora had gave her. Every time she looked at the charm she would always think of Sora, which would cause her to blush and feel flustered. Fluttershy then pulled out a yellow wayfinder that she had made herself.
"I wonder if he'll like it," Fluttershy said to herself.
"I'm sure he will Fluttershy," Rarity said as she had seen and heard everything that Fluttershy had done.
Fluttershy had jumped from Rarity answering her question and tried to hide the way finder that she had made. "Sure, who will?"
"Now come on Fluttershy, do you really think that I can't tell that you have feeling for Sora and that you made that charm for him?" Rarity said looking at how dumbstruck Fluttershy was.
Fluttershy let out a deep sigh, "Is it that obvious?"
"It's really surprising how no one else has caught on it yet," Rarity said. "So what is that charm anyway?"
Fluttershy pulled out the charm again and showed Rarity. "This is called a wayfinder. It's used as a good luck charm, but it's also a representation of our friendship for one another."
"Fluttershy that is so thoughtful of you, there is without a doubt no way that Sora can not love that gift." Rarity said in a gleeful expression.
As Rarity finished the discussion on the charm, she looked out over the horizon and saw Sora and the rest of their friends walking to the picnic. "Well well well, look who's arrived Fluttershy," Rarity teasingly said.
"Hey everyone," Sora said to the rest of his friends.
Fluttershy started to become nervous as to what she should do. After massing up enough courage to start walking over to Sora, she pulled out the wayfinder and started presenting it to Sora. As she was preparing to call for his attention, something got in her way.
"Sora, Sora, you have got to try this jewel cake that I baked, if you think you liked the sapphire cupcake, then you're going to love this," Pinkie said as she lead Sora to the cake.
Spike started running beside Sora and Pinkie following them to the cake. "If anyone is going to eat that cake first, it's gonna be me.
Fluttershy was disheartened by the fact that she couldn't give her gift to Sora yet,but she decided that she would try again a later time, but right now she would enjoy the picnic with her friends.
As the picnic went on, everyone started having a good time with one another. Whether it was Applejack and Rainbow competing in a athletics competition, to Pinkie feeding Sora any kind of sweets that she had baked, to Roxas and Sunset having a battle of wits with one another, to Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rarity having an afternoon talk, everyone was doing something and the picnic was lively.
Twilight looked at Sora and saw how much fun he was having with everybody then she looked back towards Rarity and Fluttershy. "So, what do you girls think about Sora?"
"Well, I think he has a childlike disposition to him, but that's what makes him so unique from the rest of the boys in Equestria," Rarity said. "Wouldn't you agree Fluttershy?"
"Oh yes, he's a really nice guy who thinks of everybody as his friend and that's something that you just have to admire about him," Fluttershy said.
"Don't you think that he's hiding something from us?" Twilight said. "That there is something that he is not telling us?" "I mean, how can you explain what happened with the diamond dogs, and him being able to use magic like that, it's not logical."
Rarity and Fluttershy were completely silent.
"And what if he has more things that he's not telling us about?" Twilight said. "How can he be our friend if he's keeping this many secrets from us?"
"Why don't we just ask him then?" Rarity said as she started walking towards Sora. As she was walking, the ground started to rumble making her wobble a little bit as she tried not to fall down. Everyone stopped what they were doing and were concentrated on where the rumbling was coming from. They all turned towards the horizon and saw a huge, black figurine off in the distance.
"I wonder what that could be," Applejack said.
"Maybe it's a Colossus," Pinkie Pie said. "Or,that could be it's shadow."
Rainbow looked at Pinkie and said, "Pinkie, what are you talking about?"
"I'm saying, maybe that's the shadow of the colo-" Pinkie was then cut off by the giant figure jumping in the air and landing right in front of the group of friends. Now with a close up look, everyone could see that the being in front of them was the three headed, fire breathing canine himself.
Twilight looked at the being and knew exactly who it was. "It's Cerberus!" Twilight said.
"Wait, that is Cerberus?" Sora said. "He looks like a three headed bulldog. That's not scary, that's adorable."
"Sora, I promise you, that Cerberus is someone that you don't want to joke about," Twilight said as she started to back away from Cerberus.
"Wow, you guys are really scared of this guy," Sora said to the group. Cerberus then decided to bite at Sora which he evaded by backing away from him. "Alright, let's get this over with," Sora said as he summoned his keyblade. He then looked up towards Cerberus with a smirk on his face. "Just so you know, you're nothing like the Cerberus that I've fought before." Sora's words caused Cerberus to roar out of anger.
"You just had to make him mad didn't you," Roxas said as he summoned his key blades, having both keybladers prepared to fight the guardian of the gates of the underworld.
"What can I say, I was just testing the waters," Sora said with a chuckle.
As Sora and Roxas stand in front of the three headed hellhound, Cerberus decides to attack by using its front paw to strike at the two keybladers. They both quickly evaded the attack and were deciding on how to attack this beast.
Roxas looked at Sora out of the corner of his eyes, "So what's the plan Sora?"
Sora looked at Roxas and shrugged. "I'll let you know when I think of one."
"You mean to tell me you purposely picked a fight a with the gatekeeper of the underworld, and you don't have a plan," Roxas said agitatedly.
"I didn't say that," Sora said correcting Roxas. "I said I'll let you know when I think of one."
Roxas facepalmed, "We're gonna get eaten by a three headed dog."
"Not if you dodge that attack he's doing," Sora said as he pointed out that the three heads of Cerberus were coming down at them. As one head came close to Roxas, he jammed his key blades into the mouth of the head to keep it from biting down on him. Sora was too busy dodging the attacks of the three headed dog to find a way to counter attack. As Sora and Roxas continuously evaded Cerberus attacks,they had ultimately led themselves into being back to back from one another. With Cerberus getting ready to strike again judging by the angered look on his face, the keybladers were having a hard time trying to find a way out of this situation. As the rest of their friends watched this, they couldn't help but feel worried for Sora and Roxas.
"I hope they know what they're doing," Sunset said.
"Why are we just standing here, why aren't we helping them take that thing down," Rainbow said as she started running over to the fight. Before she could get any closer, Applejack grabbed her by the arm and kept her from moving any closer. "What are you doing Applejack?!"
"Ah just don't think that it would be a good idea for us to get in their way," Applejack said as she look over to the keybladers.
Rainbow, surprised at Applejack's comment, jerked away from her grip. "What are you talking about, we've fought bigger and badder monsters than that before, why shouldn't we?!"
"They just seem to have it under control, and if they needed help, I'm pretty sure they would say so." Applejack stated. "Trust me Rainbow, this is second nature for them."
Rainbow reluctantly obliged and did not go amidst the fighting.
As Cerberus starting crouching down as if he was ready to pounce on his enemies, Sora and Roxas were thinking of a way to get out of this dilemma.
Roxas turned his head towards Sora. "Got any way out of this?"
"I think I do," Sora said as he assessed the situation. "When I say now, we're going to jump on their heads."
Roxas looked at Sora as if he was insane. "I'm sorry, did you say, jump on his head?"
"When he comes to attack us, we jump, landing on top of his heads, avoiding the attack, and giving us a clear shot at hitting him," Sora said to Roxas.
"Do you really think that's going to work?" Roxas said.
"It worked in the Colosseum," Sora said.
Roxas smirked at his comment, "Alright, on your go."
As the time for action had reached its peak, Cerberus started running towards the keybladers and when he was close enough, he started opening his mouths, getting ready for another bite at the duo. As his heads came down for the attack, Sora knew that this was the right moment to take.
"Jump!" Sora said as the heads came snapping at them. They were both able to land on top of the gigantic hound's back, and started to initiate the second part of the plan. Sora and Roxas ran up to the side heads of Cerberus and with all of their force, struck the key blades on top of their heads. This caused the two heads to be disoriented, leaving only the center head functional. Roxas started looking at the beast and came up with an idea.
" I have an idea," Roxas said to Sora as he jumped of the back of Cerberus.
"What, hey, where are you going?" Sora said quizzically.
Roxas started running around the hound slashing at its legs, causing the beast to kneel on the ground. "Just making this a little easier on us."
"You ready for the final blow?" Sora told Roxas.
Roxas prepped his key blades by placing the tips of the key blades on the ground. "Just say the word."
"Now!" Sora said as he started running up the back of Cerberus towards the middle head. Roxas, started running towards Cerberus, and dragging his key blades across the ground, causing sparks to fly around him. When the two keybladers were in close proximity, they each dealt a devastating his to Cerberus. Sora, with a downward strike on the top of the hound's head, and Roxas with an x-slash towards the face of the beast, causing it to fall to the ground.
Sora quickly got off of its back and was in a celebratory mood as he walked over to Roxas. "Nice thinking with attacking him at the legs, big guy didn't see what hit em'."
"Eh, I do what I do best," Roxas said.
"What made you think of doing that?" Sora asked.
Roxas then looked at Sora with a sarcastic face. "Hello, do you not know who I am, I'm Roxas, got it memorized?"
"Hey, that's not your line," Sora said to Roxas as he laughed at the comment.
"Roxas laughed right with him. "I just thought I'd try it out."
The rest of the group of friends just watched at how the two guys who seemingly took down Cerberus, Guardian of the gates of the Underworld, were laughing at what one had said.
"I can't believe it," Twilight said as she was staring at knocked out Cerberus wide eyed. "They defeated Cerberus all by themselves."
Sunset put a hand over Twilight's shoulder. "Twilight, really, is it even surprising anymore?"
"That.......was......so......cool!," Spike said in awe. "Aw man, I thought they were done for when Cerberus charged at them, I never expected for them to jump onto his back I mean it was just AWESOME!"
"Couldn't they have found a safer way for stopping Cerberus," Fluttershy said in her innocent tone.
"But, Fluttershy , Cerberus attacked us and he's a monster," Sunset said.
"Even if he is a gigantic, three headed monster, he is still an animal, and he has feelings."
"Well, Fluttershy, when Cerberus comes back again in another rampage, you can have all the time in the world to make sure that his feeling won't get hurt, but right now, we have a giant dog that needs to go back to his own home and away from ours," Rainbow said. She faced to Sora and Roxas who were still praising each other "Hey, are you two gonna talk all day, or are you gonna help us bring Cerberus back home?"
"Ok, ok, we're coming," Sora said. "Jeez, I wonder what's gotten her so testy."
"Knowing her, I don't think we want to find out," Roxas said as they both laughed at the comment.
As everyone regrouped, they started getting ready to take the unconscious Cerberus back to his home.
"Ok, so how are we going to bring this big guy back home exactly," Spike said.
"Well," Twilight said as she pulled out a scroll, "While Sora and Roxas were fighting, I came up with a plan on how were can bring Cerberus back home."
"Leave it to an egghead to make up a plan during a fight with a demon dog," Rainbow said.
"I'll just let that one go and tell you the plan," Twilight annoyingly said.
"Alright everyone, Rarity, Sunset, and I will use our magic to carry him, Rainbow and Applejack will be on the sides just in case anything happens, Fluttershy will calm him down just in case he might wake up," Twilight was then briefly interrupted by Pinkie.
"And I get to use my confetti cannon in case he tries to attack again right?" Pinkie said with an enthusiastic tone.
"No Pinkie, no confetti cannon, but I was just getting to the defenses, Sora, Roxas, and Spike will be the security just in case things go south," Twilight said.
"Wait, I'm on security, awesome I finally get to use my fire for something other than sending letters," Spike happily said.
But if everything goes as planned and nothing bad happens, we should have Cerberus back at the gates of Tartarus by sundown," Twilight said enthusiastically.
"Tartarus," Sora said .
Twilight looked at him questioningly, "Yes, Cerberus guards the gates of Tartarus."
"Oh no I heard you say it, it's just that, well, you're kinda saying it wrong," Sora said as he scratched at his head.
"Excuse me?" Twilight said in a serious tone.
Sora was slightly surprised at how the girl immediately changed form being so enthusiastic to so serious in a matter of seconds. He might as well finish his statement now. "You see, it's pronounced 'Tar-ta-rus', but the way you were saying it made it sound like 'Tar-tar-rus', it's not that crucial, but y'know, the more you know," Sora awkwardly said. "Plus, doesn't Cerberus guard the gates of Hades anyway?"
Everybody was speechless as the smartest one of the group was outsmarted by one question and one statement.
"No.....way, did somebody just correct Twilight?" Spike said as he was astonished by this action. Spike then proceeded to find this a great time to poke fun at Twilight. "Huh, it's seems like you're not the smartest person anymore around here, I guess Sora took your spot." Spike busted out laughing at his own joke as Twilight and the rest of the girls gave him very icy stares. His laughter slowly stopped and all he could feel was fear coming from him. "Uhhhhhhh, hey, don't we have to get Cerberus back home, I mean we can't leave him here," Spike awkwardly said trying to get out of the hole he dug himself in.
"Right," Twilight said as she resumed with her well thought out plan. "As long as nothing else goes wrong, this should be an easy task." Unfortunately for Twilight, those words would come back to bite her as a certain three headed dog started to slowly open his eyes. In a low tone, he started to growl.
"Um,did anyone else hear that," Applejack asked the group.
"Here what," Roxas said. Cerberus then started to growl once more except at a much louder level. "Oh, you mean that." "I was kinda hoping the first time he did that was just my imagination." Cerberus was awake and active once more as he started scanning around to see what predicament he was in and started to do the only thing he could think of. He started to wildly run and pounce around the group as they were trying to dodge the frenzy of movements that Cerberus was doing. He ultimately stopped and jumped high into the sky before landing in some kind of dense forest that looked very out of place for something residing near Ponyville. The rest of the group, except Sora and Roxas, all gasped at the fact that Cerberus just went into that forest.
"Oh no, this isn't good," Twilight said.
"Ok, so he went into a forest, we'll just go in there and get him out," Sora nonchalantly said.
"It's not all that easy sugarcube, because Cerberus just hopped into.....The Everfree Forest," Applejack worriedly said. "It's no tellin' what king of dangerous creatures could be lurkin' in that forest, if we go in there, we have to be on high alert for anything."
"Well, what are we waiting for," Sora jokingly said as he started walking towards the entrance of the Everfree Forest.
"I swear that boy doesn't have a bad bone in his body," Applejack said as she and the rest of the group started walking towards the entrance of the forest as well.
"So, what made you guys decide to picnic next to a dangerous monster filled forest anyway," Sora said with his hands behind his head.
"Save it, Spiky, and let's just get that dog out of here," Rainbow impatiently said.
"Come on Rainbow, don't be like that," Pinkie Pie said. "I mean, you could be back in your tree probably getting some amazing R&R especially on a beautiful day like today where nothing can go wrong, well besides Cerberus popping up out of nowhere and running into the Everfree Forest, causing us to go get him out of the Everfree Forest, but you know it's whatever, what do you think Dashie?"
"I think we need to find Cerberus, and fast," Rainbow said.
****
Time passes by as the group of friends start traversing through the dense and dark Everfree Forest searching for the missing Cerberus. Some were getting a little testy, and by some I mean Rainbow Dash.
"Come on, we've been searching for hours, how could we have not seen him by now?" Rainbow said.
"Oh,come now Rainbow Dash, we've been in hear for only an hour," Rarity said. "Even if I do wish we could leave hear and go somewhere more enjoyable."
"Let me guess, the spa, where we can get our hair done while receiving mani-pedis, oh Rarity what a wonderful idea," Rainbow sarcastically said.
"Your sarcasm is noted Rainbow Dash," Rarity bluntly said.
"Excuse me, but I'm not the one thinking about going to the spa at a time like this," Rainbow rudely said.
"Whoever said that I was talking about the spa, honestly Rainbow Dash you have been rather overbearing all afternoon," Rarity said.
"I've been overbearing, says the girl who has to make sure her curls are always perfectly even no matter where she goes," Rainbow said.
"Life is a runway darling," Rarity said as she flicked her hair with her hand. "You have to be prepared for anything, but I guess that you wouldn't understand."
Sora leaned over to fluttershy, "This isn't going to end well is it?"
"Oh, it'll be fine, I'm positive that they'll figure something out," Fluttershy said as she chuckled nervously.
"Yeah, it certainly looks that way," Roxas sarcastically said. "Maybe someone should stop them before it gets way more out of hand than it already is." As Roxas said this, he saw Sunset walking by him in over to Rarity and Rainbow.
Rainbow figured that that was the last straw. "What did you just, why you little-" before could finish that statement, Sunset fortunately stepped in to save the day.
"Girls, girls, let's just calm down," Sunset said. "Look, I know this wasn't everyone's idea of a good time, but it doesn't matter,*puts arm around Rarity and Rainbow* because we're all friends, and as long as we have our each other and our friendship, we can accomplish anything."
Everyone was touched by the kind words that Sunset had said to calm the two girls down, and it ultimately worked on the latter.
Rainbow Dash looked over at Rarity and smiled, "I guess I went a little overboard on what I said."
"And it was uncouth of me to say such things as well," Rarity said as she smiled back.
"Sorry about that," Rainbow said.
"As am I," Rarity said.
"Now that's what I like to see, now come on, we have a three headed dog to catch, and as long as we have each other, nothing can go wrooooonnnnnnngggggg!," Sunset shouted, because unfortunately, something did go wrong. As she started walking back towards Sora, Roxas, and Fluttershy, she didn't pay attention to wear she was walking and took a misstep and started falling down a landslide. Roxas saw this and as if on instinct, quickly grabbed her, but he also lost his balance and started falling. Using his other hand, he tried to find the nearest thing to grab onto. Luckily, he was able to grab onto something, but it turns out that it was just Sora's arm, causing a butterfly effect to happen which led to Sora grabbing Fluttershy to try and gain support for the other two bodies that he was suddenly holding onto, but it ultimately led to all four of them falling down the landslide and crashing into a lower section of the forest.
Twilight ran over to the ledge of the landslide to check and see if her friends were okay. "Fluttershy, Sunset, are you OK?!"
"Yeah, we're okay I guess," Sunset said as she started to help Fluttershy up on her feet.
"Hey, we're down here too y'know," Sora stated as him and Roxas got back on their feet.
"Don't worry, I'll just use my magic to levitate you guys out of-" Twilight said before she was interrupted by a rustle in the bushes. Twilight turned around and saw 3 pairs of glowing green eyes. The pairs of eyes started moving out into the open, revealing three wolves made of twigs, logs , and trees.
Spike started to shake as he knew what those creatures were. "TIMBERWOLVES! EVERYBODY RUN!" The timberwolves then started to chase Spike and the other girls. "Twilight, we have to go now!"
"Wait, but what about the others," Twilight worriedly said.
"Twilight, you have to get out of here," Sunset shouted. "Don't worry about us , we'll find a way back to you."
Twilight looked over at the approaching timberwolves and proceeded with Sunset's plan. "I hope you're right about this Sunset."
Sunset then let out a heavy sigh and had a look of worry on her face. "Yeah, I hope so too."
"Hey, everything's going to be okay," Roxas said as he put a hand over Sunset's shoulder. "We're going to regroup with Twilight and everyone else and everything will be alright, but we can't do that if we're just standing here."
"Yeah, and besides, we still have a three headed dog to catch," Sora said.
Sunset started to smile, "You guys are right, I shouldn't be so worried, wouldn't be any help that way would I?"
"Alright, so the plan is to regroup with the rest of our friends, and if we're just lucky enough we'll find Cerberus along the way," Roxas said.
"Great, then let's get going," Sora said.
"Um, I don't mean to be rude but, go where exactly," Fluttershy asked.
"Well, if we just keep walking, surely something's bound to happen that'll help us," Sora said. "Right?"
Fluttershy, being the kind girl she is, couldn't mass up the courage to tell Sora how flawed his theory was, so she decided to change the subject. "As long as it leads us to Cerberus, then it's okay with me."
"Great, then let's go!" Sora shouted as he grabbed Fluttershy's hand and started happily running through the forest as Roxas and Sunset watch him go.
"So, Sora must always be this hyperactive," Sunset said to Roxas.
"Only when it has something to do with an adventure and his friends," Roxas said.
"Well, we should probably catch up with them before we get left behind," Sunset said. "I'll race you there," she said as she immediately started running towards Sora and Fluttershy.
"What, hey, you can't do that, that's cheating!" Roxas jokingly said.
"Come on, you're not going to pass me running that slow," Sunset teased. The four friends completely forgot about their worries and just decided to enjoy their time together.
As time passed by, the sun started to set while the moon began it's rise into the night sky. The four friends were all relaxing on the trunk of a tree, each on a different side of it. Roxas was the first to see the rising moon in the sky and had to ask the question, "Um guys, don't want to ruin the mood or anything but, where are we going to sleep tonight?"
Sunset looked at him and confidently rose up from the ground. "Leave that to me," she said as Sunset used her magic to gather strong enough twigs and branches, and large enough leaves to make two wooden tents. "There, that should do it."
"Sunset, where would we be without you," Sora said.
"Well, probably freezing in the cold." Sunset calmly stated.
Fluttershy saw the two tents, and thought that if she asked Sora, maybe they could sleep in the same tent together, where she could give him her yellow way finder. It was worth a try. Fluttershy started to slowly walk up to Sora, blushing immensely, as she got closer and closer. "Um, Sora, if you would like, I mean, that's if you want to, maybe you would like to share a te-" Fluttershy was interrupted by no one other than Sora as he couldn't hear her from how low she was speaking.
"Hey Roxas, do you want to share a tent," Sora said.
"Yeah, sure, let's just get out of this cold already," Roxas said.
Flutter shy looked devastated at what had just happened. "But........but.....but I was going to ask that." Fluttershy was then met with a pat on the back as Sunset wanted to get her attention.
"Well, I guess it's you and me in the other tent Fluttershy ," Sunset said. As the two got inside the tent, they immediately lied down on the leaf covered floor as they were both tired from this long day.
"Wow, what a day, let's hope that tomorrow we'll find a way out of here and back to everyone else," Sunset said. "Alright, goodnight Fluttershy."
"Goodnight," Fluttershy said but before she closed her eyes to go to sleep she took out the yellow way finder once more knowing that she must give it to the person that she made it for. She then proceeded to close her eyes and try to go to sleep.
A few hours later
Everyone was sleeping soundly in their two tents. Sunset in her's, Roxas in his, but for some reason, Sora was awakened by a certain noise from outside. He listened harder, and it sounded like someone was singing. It was such an angelic voice hear that he had to know who it was that was singing. Sora stepped out of his tent only to be surprised as to see a girl with long pink hair lying under a tree.
"Fluttershy?!" Sora said. When Fluttershy heard his voice, she immediately became flustered and hid behind the tree. She couldn't believe that Sora saw her singing. She was downright flustered to say the least.
"Fluttershy, I know you're behind there," Sora said. Fluttershy decided to keep her embarrassment form embracing her any further, she decided to get from behind the tree. "Fluttershy, what are you doing out here this late at night?" Sora asked.
"Well, I had something on my mind and I couldn't sleep so I decided to come out here, I didn't mean to wake you Sora, it's just that,I,I, never mind I'll just go back to my tent," Fluttershy said.
"Wait, Fluttershy," Sora said as he put his hand on her shoulder causing her to do a little jump. "Your singing is amazing, I just thought that you should know that." Sora then saw a flock of birds and an owl perched on the same tree that Fluttershy was singing under. "And it looks like the animals agree too."
Fluttershy blushed intensely and hid it by covering her face with her long hair. "Thank you Sora, but really I'm not that good."
"Please, tell that to the birds," Sora said as the birds tweeted and flapped their wings showing how much they loved her singing. "It's amazing how animals just love you Fluttershy, no matter what kind."
"Animals are apart of our lives, and they deserve to be treated kindly and fair." Fluttershy said.
"Even for monsters like Cerberus," Sora seriously said.
"Cerberus isn't a monster," Fluttershy said.
"He attacked us Fluttershy, and this isn't the first time for me that he has attacked in a completely different place, how can you not see him as a monster?" Sora said. "And the fact that he hid in a place like this, just screams trouble."
"He's just scared Sora," Fluttershy said. "He doesn't know whats going on or who to trust." "But I know that if we give him a chance, he'll be okay."
"I don't know Fluttershy," Sora said. "Is giving Cerberus a chance really worth the risk?" Fluttershy started to walk towards Sora and she looked him dead in his eyes causing Sora stiffen a bit as he had never seen Fluttershy like this before.
(Fluttershy) You think he's and ignorant savage You've seen him in different places so I guess it must be so But a question is in my mind Is he a savage or is he kind This is the question that even you don't know........ You......Don't.....Know........
Fluttershy starts to walk away as Sora starts to follow her through the forest.
You think that this forest holds a monster That this forest is the one thing that's to blame..... But i know every rock and tree and creature Has a life, has a spirit, has a name....
As Fluttershy said this, pink butterflies started to disperse out of the forest, amazing Sora.
Fluttershy and Sora then see a two Phoenixes looking over them from its nest. Sora immediately summons his key blade to the phoenixs' surprise, but Fluttershy quickly pushes the key blade down to Sora's side.
(Fluttershy) You think the only people who are people Are the people who act just like me and you But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger You'll find things you never knew you never knew....
As Fluttershy said this a baby phoenix had peered its head over the nest, and Sora realized that it was a family.
(Fluttershy) Have you ever herd the wolf cry to the lunar moon Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grins..... Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains Can you paint with all the colors of the wind.... Can you paint with all the colors of the wind.......
Fluttershy decides to lead Sora into the forest even more to see the beauty that the forest has to offer as they both start running and rolling in the leaves of the forest.
(Fluttershy) Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest Come taste the sunset berries of the earth Come roll in all the riches all around you And you never have to wonder what they're worth The rainstorm and the river are my brothers The heron and the otter are my friends And we are all connected to each other In a circle in a hoop that never ends....
(Fluttershy) How big can a manticore grow Without a chance, we will never know
(Fluttershy) And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the lunar moon We must give it a chance and only when.... We can sing with all the voices of the mountains We can paint with all the colors of the wind You can be a hero still But you can have the will..... The will to paint with all the colors of the wind
Sora looked at Fluttershy and saw that she had tears in her eyes. He knew that she was serious about this whole thing. And for her, he would do anything. "Ok, Fluttershy, I'll give him a chance."
Fluttershy couldn't have been happier to hear that as she decided to jump up and hug Sora, but she soon realized who she was hugging and quickly let go of him in an embarrassed way. "Oh, and this is for you," Fluttershy said as she took out the way finder and gave it Sora. As soon as Sora saw it, he knew exactly what it was.
"Is this a way finder," Sora excitingly said. "I haven't seen one of these sense the Islands." "Fluttershy, thank you, this means a lot to me."
As the two had finished exchanging conversations, they realized that it was getting really late and they both had to go back to sleep. With everything that just happened, I'm pretty sure no one will have a problem sleeping anymore tonight.
As the morning rays from the sun entered into the tent, Sunset was awakened as the light shined on her face. After her eyes started to adjust to the light, she looked around and noticed that she was the only one in the tent. After she realized that she was alone,only one question came to her mind. "Where's Fluttershy?" Sunset got up and walked out of the tent to see Fluttershy, Roxas, and Sora eating different arrays of fruits. Sunset was a little confused, and the cold morning air didn't help any better as she was rubbing her arms together for warmth, but she decided to go join them to see what was a going on.
"Good morning Sunset," Sora said.
"Good morning Sora, so, where did you guys get all this fruit?" Sunset questioningly said. "You didn't pick out of the Everfree Forest did you?"
"No," Roxas said with a slight chuckle. "Fluttershy had brought fruit for us to share for the picnic, and we all know how that went, so we just decided to have it for breakfast."
"Do you want any Sunset, there's plenty for everyone," Fluttershy offered.
"Yeah, I don't see why not," Sunset said as another cold wind passed by them as only Sunset was the one shivering from it. Sunset looked at the rest of the group and noticed how they weren't fazed the wind. "You guys aren't cold?" Everyone shook their heads no to Sunset's question. Then why is it just me?"
"Maybe it's because you're not wearing your jacket," Roxas said.
"What are you talking about, I am wearing my-" Sunset looked down to notice that she did not have her jacket on at all and was slightly embarrassed at herself for not noticing it all this time. "Oh, that would explain it."
"Know what, I really didn't notice how well that shirt matches you with your jacket on," Roxas said. "It's a soft enough tone of color that just makes everything else about you pop out." Everyone was wide eyed at what Roxas had just stated except for Sunset who was mildly blushing as she wasn't expecting that this early in the morning.
"Oh, thanks Roxas," Sunset said while she fiddled with her hair. "It's kinda surprising hearing it come from you. I'm going to go get my.....my......"
"Your jacket?" Roxas said.
"That's right," Sunset said as she awkwardly started walking backwards towards her tent. "Be right back," she said as she let out a nervous chuckle.
"Wonder what that was about," Roxas said nonchalantly.
"Probably nothing serious," Sora said.
"Sigh, they are they really that oblivious," Fluttershy thought to herself.
"Ugh, I can't believe I just embarrassed myself like that," Sunset said. "But, what Roxas said, he's never said anything like that before. I wonder what those words mean to him." " *sigh* I'm probably just over analyzing things, I need to find that jacket." As Sunset started looking for her jacket, her stomach had started to growl, reminding herself that she didn't get a chance to eat with her friends. She decided to ignore the growl until she found what she was looking for, but the growling never seemed to stop.
The growling started to grow more and more intense as Sunset wondered what that sound was. She heard that it was coming from the backside of the tent and proceeded to walk out and discover the culprit of the growling.......... What a mistake that was, fore the culprit that was making the sound was none other than the beast that they were searching for.
"It's Cerberus." Sunset said as she was frozen in fear. Cerberus started inching his self closer and closer towards Sunset. Sunset, not knowing what would happen if she would try to yell loud enough for her friends to know that Cerberus was here, stayed silent. Cerberus stopped and stared at Sunset as if he didn't want to attack her at all.
"You don't want to hurt me," Sunset said. She started to relax just a little bit as she saw that Cerberus meant no harm to her, and started to reach out towards the three headed dog, but before she could reach him, Roxas came and attacked Cerberus with his key blades, causing him to slide back away from Sunset.
"Sunset, what are you doing, why didn't you call for help?!" Roxas said.
"Roxas listen, I don't think that Cerberus wants to hurt anyone," Sunset said.
"He look like he wants to do more than hurt us right now," Roxas said as he noticed an enraged Cerberus looking dead at him. Cerberus howls and out from the shadows of the Everfree Forest came a two headed dog a little smaller than Cerberus .
"What is that thing," Roxas asked.
"I can't believe it, Orthrus is living in the Everfree Forest," Sunset said in disbelief.
"Orthrus?" Roxas said. "What is an Orthrus?"
"Orthrus is the brother of Cerberus," Sunset said.
"Hmph, I guess ugliness runs in the family," Roxas mockingly said. So, it's two of you, against me. That seems fair," Roxas said as he crossed his key blades causing sparks to fly around him, showing that he was ready for a fight.
Orhtrus rushed in first and quickly tried to attack Roxas head on, but roxas dashed away from the attack and quick secession. Roxas was stuck between a rock and hard place, as Cerberus was in front of him, and Orthrus was behind him, both of them with the intent to kill. Roxas expected for the two to rush him at once, but what he saw made him double take. Cerberus started summoning a fireball from his mouth, and shot it towards Roxas.
Roxas then crossed his keyblades into a "X" formation as the fireball made contact with the blades. Roxas started to struggle against the ball of fire, but with allis might, he was able to launch it into the sky as the fireball exploded in the air. Roxas was starting to lose momentum as the fight continued.
"Didn't think that they would be this tough together," Roxas said in a tiresome tone.
Sora and Fluttershy make it over just in time to see Roxas not fairing so well against the two demon dogs. Sora immediately summoned his key blade and started running towards the battle, but was stopped by Fluttershy who was holding tight to his wrist.
"Fluttershy, what are you doing," Sora said.
"You don't need to fight him Sora, there has to be another way," Fluttershy pleaded.
"What other way is there Fluttershy," Sora said. "What could we possibly do to stop them from attacking?"
"Show him that you care," Fluttershy said calmly.
Sora did nothing but just look at Fluttershy. He could by the way she was holding onto him, to the way she said that statement, that she was not joking. Sora's key blade disappeared from his hand and he started to walk towards Cerberus and Orthrus. There Sora stood, in front of the beast that they had spent days searching for, in his face, and he was not going to attack. As Cerberus noticed how Sora was doing that seemed harmful to him, he started ease up a little, and since he did this, his little brother Orthrus also started to relax.
"So, all this time, you were more scared of us, then we were to you huh," Sora said as he started to pet Cerberus. "I was right, you're nothing like the Cerberus I know."
"I can't believe this," Roxas said. "Sora tamed Cerberus, and I thought things couldn't get any weirder."
"I think I'm starting to get used to it," Sunset calmly said.
"Sora....you did it!" Fluttershy said as she started hugging Sora. "You did it, you actually did it!"
"Wow, I've never seen you this excited before Fluttershy, I must've did something right," Sora jokingly said.
"Thank you, Sora," Fluttershy softly said.
Sora had started to tense up a little when he heard Fluttershy say this.
"N-No problem," Sora said. As they finished their embrace, they both knew that now they had to find the rest of their friends. Sora climbed onto the back of Cerberus and positioned himself to where he was riding Cerberus. Cerberus then kneeled down, and allowed for the rest of the group to be picked up. With Orthrus and Cerberus, things should be a lot easier from now on.
"Alright Cerberus," Sora commanded. " Let's go find our frie-"
"Isn't that them right there," Sunset asked as she cut off Sora.
Everyone looked down to see the rest of the group paralyzed by what they were seeing in front of them.
"Come on guys, you should expect something like this to happen now," Roxas said.
"How did you even find us," Sora asked.
"We saw the fireball that exploded in the sky and knew that it had to be Cerberus," Twilight said. "We thought that you might have had problems with stopping Cerberus but it seems that is not the case at all. "
"We also found Orthrus too," Fluttershy said.
"I see that ," Twilight said mesmerized by the entire scene that played before her.
"By the way, where did you guys come from, we had to stay a night in the forest," Sora said.
"Well," Pinkie said before she took a giant breath of air. "When we had split up and we were being chased by the timberwolves, they had cornered us next to a wall, and we thought that it was all over, but then it just so happened that the timberwolves had landed in poison joke and they broke apart and became twigs, it was so funny, and then out of coincidence, the wall that we were on happened to be our friend Zecora's hut, and we stayed there, well, until we saw the big fireball explosion, and we started running over here and-"
"I think they get it Pinkie," Applejack said. "So, now what y'all, what do we do with those two?" Applejack said pointing towards the the demon hounds.
"Easy, we take them back to the gates of the underworld, and go back home," Rainbow said.
"Are you okay with that big guy?" Sora said to Cerberus. Cerberus responded with a loud bark and so did Orthrus. "That's right, and Orthrus will be right with you."
"When did he become so caring," Rarity asked.
"We just had a little talk was all," Fluttershy said.
"Just a little talk hmm," Rarity slyly said.
"Maybe there was a song," Fluttershy said as they both started laughing together.
"Alright everybody, let's go," Twilight said as she started leading the way. "The faster we get this done, the faster we'll get back to Ponyville."
"Well then, hop on," Sora said as Cerberus and Orthrus leaned their heads down so that everyone else could ride on their backs. After everyone had climbed on, they immediately went to the direction where the gates were located.
"Well, I know one thing that I can say," Roxas said to Sunset. "This is the craziest picnic that I have ever been to."
Sunset laughed at Roxas's comment which caused him to share a laugh back.
Sora started chuckling to himself.
"Uh, Sora, what's so funny," Twilight said.
"Oh, it's nothing, it's just that, this place is really starting to grown on me," Sora said.
Epilogue
It was a beautiful and relaxing night. A certain night that could make anyone feel at ease with themselves. The full moon was out, the wind was just right, and the atmosphere was amazing. It was definitely a night to enjoy, but who could be enjoying it? After a long day dealing with Cerberus, Fluttershy decided to fly to the roof of her cottage and just relax with a beautiful view of the night sky. Letting her mind wonder over the whole day, but the moments that kept repeating in her mind the most was when she gave Sora that wayfinder. As the wind blew through her, the only thing that was on her mind was the boy that fell from the stars.
****
As the full moon rose into the sky everyone knew that it was time to go inside for the night. All except for one red headed girl. Sunset stood out on the balcony of the library, leaning over the rail as she thought about the entire day. It was supposed to be a picnic, just a picnic, but the events that occurred were far from what she was imagining. But the one that thought that kept coming back was a certain spiky headed boy that mostly kept his thoughts to himself, but for some reason, today happened to be the day where he said what he actually felt. All Sunset could do was grin from pure glee as the only person on her mind was the boy that she met on the orchard.
****
As the night sky covered the world, and everyone fast asleep, there stood two keybladers who were on the roof of the Apple Family's house enjoying the night time air. But, there was something on their minds as well.
"You feel it too don't you," Sora said.
"Yeah, I wonder what it is, I don't know why, but I feel as if there's someone watching over me," Roxas said.
"Yeah, for some reason I feel that too, it's someone that cares," Sora said.
"It's someone that I can trust," Roxas said. They both looked at each other and then to the sky where the stars were shining high with the full moon watching over them.
"It's someone that I must protect," they both said in unison.
It was a sunny day around noon and Sunset and Twilight decided to spend the day relaxing at the library. They both decided to lie in the branches of the tree, sit back, and enjoy this wonderful day, but that plan wasn't going so well as Sora and Roxas had started sparring each other with their keyblades. As each keyblader was giving their all into each attack, one could say that this was a battle worth watching.
" Will they ever get tired," Sunset said in an aggravated tone.
"Why can't we go somewhere else to relax, somewhere away from this." Twilight asked.
"Because Sora's using our magic to use his Wisdom Form," Sunset said. "I wonder why it's linked to our magic only."
"I wonder if the Princess can banish them to the moon," Twilight said in a harsh tone.
Sunset looked at Twilight with a questionable glare, " Don't you think that's taking it a little too far Twilight?"
"Not being able to relax is taking it too far," Twilight rudely said.
As you can see, others would........disagree.
Twilight, as she began to become even more annoyed, jumped down from the tree and got in the middle of Sora's and Roxas's sparring battle.
"Um, Twilight, we're kind of in the middle of something," Sora pointed out.
"You don't say?" Twilight sarcastically said. "Look guys, I understand that you're basically protectors of the world that have to fight evil, and you have to be prepared for anything,but can that wait for another day, Sunset and I were trying to relax today."
"You're not doing that good of a job at relaxing then," Roxas said.
"That's because some people think it's alright to fight in front of my house!" Twilight shouted.
"Twilight, I understand things have been pretty weird and way over the top since we've came, but we don't mean to cause you any trouble if that's what you're getting at," Sora said.
Twilight sighed and started to get out of Sora and Roxas's way. "I'm not saying that you're causing trouble guys, it's just that...... can't there be a day when we're just having fun together as friends, no evil, no monsters, no nothing?"
"Well, I suppose there can be a day like that, but to be honest Twilight, in this world of magical girls, people that can fly, Dogs that crave for gems, Cerberus, and people that use keys as weapons, when do you expect that day to come?" Roxas asked.
"Pretty soon actually," Pinkie Pie bursted out as she was right behind Roxas when she said it, causing him to jump from the surprise of Pinkie Pie being there.
"Pinkie Pie, when did you get here?" Twilight said.
"What do you mean Twilight, I've been around here the same time as Fluttershy," Pinkie nonchalantly said.
"Huh, but, Fluttershy's not-" Twilight stopped as she turned around and saw Fluttershy behind her causing her to scream from the fact that Fluttershy had somehow made it behind her. "Fluttershy, when did you get here?"
"Well, I decided to take a morning walk, and as I walked by your house, I saw Sora and Roxas training with each other, and I could tell that they were giving their all into it, so I decided to stay and cheer them on," Fluttershy said.
"Is it bad how we didn't here her cheering for us , and she's been here since this morning," Roxas whispered towards Sora.
"I'd rather have soft cheering than being yelled at by a librarian," Sora said to Roxas as they both started chuckling.
"You guys, I'm trying to tell you something over here," Pinkie said as she pulled a flyer out of her hair. "Look, it's a flyer for the Rainbow Falls Fair!"
"What's Rainbow Falls," Roxas asked. Pinkie then over to him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"It's one of the coolest places ever, and literally everywhere you go, there are rainbows everywhere!" Pinkie pie said as she started to shake Roxas back and forth. "And to think, that they're going to host a fair there, it gets me all excited just talking about it!" Roxas had to stop Pinkie from shaking him by prying her hands off of his shoulders which then he gave her an aggravated look. "Sorry Roxas," Pinkie said."
"So, when does it start?" Sora said.
"It starts tonight, so I say everyone meets up at Twilight's house and we'll take the train to the Rainbow Falls Fair," Pinkie said.
"Sounds like a pretty fun day to me," Sunset said. "I'll be waiting for tonight then."
"Same here," Twilight said.
"Since Roxas and I have never been to a fair before, of course we're going," Sora said.
Everyone turned their heads towards Fluttershy who still did not give an answer.
"Fluttershy, are you going," Pinkie Pie asked.
"I don't know, those rides are big, and dangerous, I don't know if it's right for me, and what if I get lost from you guys " Fluttershy frantically said.
"Aw come one Fluttershy," Sora said. "It won't be the same without you there."
"I'm not sure...." Fluttershy timidly said.
"What if we all stayed together that way no one would get lost and you won't be by yourself," Sora said.
"I guess that could work," Fluttershy said with a smile on her face.
"Perfect!" Pinkie screamed. "Since I already told Rarity and Rainbow Dash, that means that everybody know, and that means it's time for me to get my excitement levels maxed out, because when we step foot in that fair, the pink party planner will make a vow to have extreme levels of fun and to not leave one ride un road!" Pinkie monologued.
"Is un road even a-" Roxas said as he was cut off by Pinkie's monologue.
"So, I bid you farewell friends until tonight, and be ready for fun," Pinkie said as she dashed off.
This made the other three girls laugh at how they were not used to the antics of Pinkie Pie.
"Well, you heard Pinkie we leave in the evening, so make sure you guys are on time," Twilight said.
"No worries," Sora said as he put his hands behind his head. "But, until then, I need something to do...... wait, wasn't I dueling with Roxa," Sora was thrown off by a pair of key blades coming down his way. Luckily, he summoned his key blade fast enough to block the attack.
"A sneak attack, really," Sora blurted out. "Too scared to face me head on Roxas?"
"Oh, I'm never scared," Roxas said as he twirled his key blades causing sparks to fly.
As Sora and Roxas started back sparring, they started to attract the attention of a few residents of Ponyville, and their sparring audience grew even bigger by the minute. Soon everyone was watching the two go at it.
"Might as well stay out here and watch with everyone else," Sunset said.
"I guess so, I just don't trust my magic with other people," Twilight abruptly said.
"Woah, where did that come from," Sunset said.
"Sorry, thinking out loud," Twilight embarrassingly said.
As the residents of Ponyville were all enticed by the keybladers battle, there was still one person, lurking them in the shadows. It was the hooded figure from before.
"Rainbow Falls......everyone from this town, those magic girls, plus the keybladers all in one," The hooded figure said. "This is the perfect time to strike, and I know just how to do it." The figure looks directly towards Roxas. "Destroying that copy will be just for pleasure." He then turns his head towards Sora. "But getting rid of Ventus, is something that I long for," the hooded figure said as darkness started to seep out of him. "This time, I will end him," he said as he disappeared back into the darkness.
A few hours later......
The evening was starting to arrive as the sun was showing off its beautiful sunset and everybody started to show up at the treehouse around this time. One by one, everyone was showing up, and as the last person arrived, they all started walking towards the train station.
"Oh man, this is gonna be awesome!" Sora said barely keeping in the excitement that he felt.
"You've never even been to the place, how do you already know if it's going to be awesome," Roxas said.
"You can call it a hunch," Sora said.
"I know exactly how you feel Sora," Pinkie said. "It's like I've never been there before, well I have been there before, twice actually, but I've never been to their fair before, so it's exciting to know that you don't know what's going to be there, but you're also nervous because what if it's something that you didn't expect, and it gets you all nervouscited about it."
"Nervouscited?" Roxas mumbled to himself.
"That's just a Pinkie Pie term for you," Spike said.
"That's exactly how I'm thinking right now Pinkie, how did you know," Sora said.
"You can say I got a sense for those kind of things," Pinkie said.
As they group of friends made it to the station, Twilight turned around and started to clear her throat, getting the attention of her friends.
"Alright everyone, I know how we're all excited-" Twilight said before she was interrupted.
"Nervouscited," Pinkie corrected.
Twilight rolled her eyes at Pinkie's comment. "How we're all 'nervouscited' about the Rainbow Falls Fair, but before we get on the train, I would like to tell everybody that to avoid anyone from getting lost I assigned everyone a riding buddy," Twilight said feeling proud of herself.
"Say what?" Rainbow said.
"I find this to be the best way for everyone to be safe and still have fun, so before we go I need to tell you that the groups are..." Twilight was interrupted yet again but this time by the train whistle.
"ALLLLLL ABOARD TO THE RAINBOW FALLS FAIR!" the train conductor said.
"*GASP* THAT'S US!," Pinkie said as she zoomed over to the train and rushed herself to get a seat. "COME ON YOU GUYS, WE'RE MISSING THE FUN!"
"Wait, but you need to know who your ride buddies are, I mean, hold on, you guys, do you know how long it took me to make these groups," Twilight said as she was being ignored by everyone as they were all going to the train.
"How about ya tell us about your list when we get there, that way we won't be gettin' rushed by anythin'," Applejack said to comfort Twilight.
"*sigh* yeah, I can do that," Twilight said as she went inside the train. And as the train doors closed, the group of friends were on their way to the fair.
As a few minutes passed by, everyone started talking with one another about the fair and how "awesome" it was going to be , and how they were all going to have a good time. But, all except for Roxas wasn't doing that, he was just looking outside the window at the sunset. It made him wonder about the place that he once called his home.
"Hey, what are you doing over here looking out into space," Sunset jokingly said to Roxas.
"Oh, nothing, it's just that whenever I see a sunset, it reminds me of my old town," Roxas said.
"Really, what's the name of it," Sunset asked.
"Twilight Town was the name," Roxas said in a quiet tone. "No matter what time of the day, the sun would always remain at it's twilight."
"Sounds like a beautiful place, you must have had some good memories there," Sunset said. Roxas expression had turned grim after hearing Sunset say this.
"Hmph, I wonder if I can count those days of summer as good memories, or fake ones," Roxas mumbled. Roxas started to reminisce about his experiences in Twilight Town, or should he say the digital Twilight Town. Everything that he shared, the people that he knew, could he call those real memories?
Sunset looked at Roxas and saw his melancholy expression and she immediately thought that she had said something wrong.
"Are you ok, I didn't mean to get in your business or anything, it's just you were looking so lonely over here staring out the window and I thought I could help," Sunset said as she continued to ramble on.
"I-It's okay, it's just that those "memories" that I have of Twilight Town, I wouldn't say that I have many worth remembering," Roxas said.
"What do you mean," Sunset said.
"Well, it feels as if for every one good memory I could tell, I can find two bad ones that could replace it," Roxas said. "Especially when one of those memories has to deal with being trapped inside of a digital replica, where you thought you had friends, and where you thought you made memories that you would have forever, but it was all fake.... and the worst memory of all is that I lost my best friend there as well, and it was because of me. It's a shame that those are the memories that I have."
Sunset looked at Roxas and saw how gray his entire person had become after talking about his town. She knew she had to say something to help him out. "Then don't just think about the bad times Roxas. Think about the good times, even if it was only one, wasn't there something good that you can remember?"
Roxas started to reminisce about how after every mission, him, Axel, and Xion would sit on the clock tower while eating sea salt ice cream. The laughs they shared were timeless to him and he;d do anything to get that feeling back. After coming back into reality, Roxas started to smile, which was a surprise to Sunset.
"Yeah, I do, I do have a good memory from there, even if it is the only one," Roxas said.
"You see, don't think about the bad memories that happened, think about the good ones you had," Sunset said. "And, don't forget about the new ones you made, unless you don't consider those as good memories?" Sunset playfully said.
Roxas saw how much Sunset cared about him, he then started to look around the train to the rest of his........friends. After doing this, Roxas had a realization.
"Even if those memories were fake, and even if those bad memories outweigh the good, who's there to say that I can't make better ones," Roxas thought to himself.
"Thanks for talking to me Sunset , I really needed it," Roxas said.
"I do what I can," Sunset proudly said.
As their conversation ended, the train started to slow down as everyone started getting excited over what was to come. The train had come to a complete stop and as the doors opened, a blast of music and amusement filled screams could be heard. Everyone started getting out of their seats, more like Pinkie started grabbing everyone and made a mad dash out of the train to the fair.
"Are you going to actually have fun, or are just going to be a stick in the mud," Sunset jokingly said.
"Hmph, very funny," Roxas sarcastically said as he got out his seat and they both started walking out of the train. They both regrouped with the rest of their friends and before anyone could go inside, Twilight had stopped everyone from entering.
"Ok, I was trying to say this in Ponyville, but now is as good a time as any," Twilight said. "I divided you all into groups so that nobody would get lost from another."
As Twilight started talking, Pinkie couldn't help to keep her excitement from exploding.
"IT'S THE RAINBOW FALLS FAIR!" Pinkie screamed as she ran inside the entrance. Inside the fair were rides, games, attractions, and people having a good time. "This is amazing."
"Pinkie, get back here, this is why I have the list and-" Twilight said as she looked back and saw Rainbow and Applejack gone from the group. "Where are those two?!"
"They said, something about going to test their strength," Spike said.
"No,no,no this is throwing the listing way off, how can I fix this," Twilight started wondering.
"Oh, brother," Spike said.
"I say Twilight, relax, we're at the fair, we'll just follow go wherever Pinkie goes," Rarity said. "Now, let us go have some fun, shall we?"
"I'm going with Rarity," Spike said as he and Rarity started moving Twilight away from her initial spot before she had a meltdown.
The only four that were left from the group were Sunset, Sora, Fluttershy, and Roxas.
"Well, what are we waiting for," Sora said to the group. "Let's go!" Sora then proceeded to run to the first roller coaster rider. "Come on Fluttershy, won't this be fun?"
Fluttershy, who was hesitant about going to the fair in the first place, wasn't feeling as excited as Sora was. "Shouldn't we start off with something less......frightening?"
"Ohhhh, I get it, you want to wait until the end to ride the roller coaster, that way it'll be the last thing to remember when we go home," Sora said.
"Umm, sure?" Fluttershy said nervously.
"So , what do you want to go on first, then," Sora said.
Flutter shy started to look around until the she found the section that was meant for the little kids at the fair. "Why not over there?"
Sora looked at the area that she was talking about, and looked questioningly at her, "You mean the kids area?"
"Yes?" Fluttershy timidly said.
Sora started to question why she would pick that area out of all areas, but Sunset had stepped in to solve the problem.
"Why don't we just some games for right now, until we decide on a ride that we all like?" Sunset said.
"That's fair with me," Sora said.
"Me too," Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, that's fair with me too," Roxas said.
"Then how about we do that one," Sunset said as she pointed to the balloons and darts booth.
"Balloons and darts," Roxas asked.
"Yeah, you can win me a prize while we're over there, I saw a unicorn stuffed animal that I just need to have," Sunset flirtingly said as she grabbed Roxas and led him over to the game booth.
"Don't forget us," Sora yelled as him and Fluttershy started running towards Roxas and Sunset.
They all walk towards the booth and they see two workers who looked pretty identical to each other running it. The two workers turned around and saw that they had potential suckers, I MEAN, customers, to enjoy their game, so they decided to introduce themselves.
"My goodness, brother of mine, it appears we have customers, one of the workers said. Hello, and welcome to the one and only, Flim & Flam Balloon and Dart - O - Rama!" "I'm Flim."
" And I'm Flam, and we're to here to show you how to have a good time," Flam said.
"By playing a dart game?" Roxas skeptically said.
"Please won't someone demonstrate how easy and fun this game really is," Flam said.
"I guess I'll do it," Sunset said. The two brothers gave Sunset a handful of darts to use. She started to aim at the balloons and threw instantly popping the one that was struck.
"Excellent work!" Flam said.
"Yes you are clearly a natural," Flam commented. "Why not try a little wager to make it more interesting?"
"A wager?" Sunset asked.
"Yes, if you're able to pop another balloon in one go, you can have a prize off of the top rack," Flim said.
"But, if you fail to do this, we would gladly take your jacket from you," Flam said.
"My jacket, why would you want my jacket," Sunset said as she started pulling her jacket closer to her.
"That jacket looks one of a kind, I wonder how many bits we can get for it at a pawn shop," Flim sleazily said.
"No one is taking my jacket, you're on!" Sunset said as she picked up another dart. "And. I'm getting a top prize!" She carefully aimed the dart at the balloon in the dead center of the board. She had a good feeling about this one and launched the dart straight at the balloon. Everyone but Flim and Flam thought that the balloon would have gone, but the dart just bounced off the balloon like it was nothing. The four teenagers were dumbfounded.
"I......lost," Sunset softly said.
"Awwwwwwww, too bad," Flim said.
"So sad, but a deal is a deal," Flam said. "So, about that jacket?"
"*sigh* hear, it's yours," Sunset said as she took off the jacket. Flam and Flam started to smugly laugh in her face about it. Roxas didn't like this one bit. He felt that the two brothers had played a dirty trick. He started checking the brothers and what was around them for anything suspicious and he saw how the two of them had their hands under the table, and he saw a faint green glow coming from them. Roxas became furious.
"Hey! what's going on with your hands?" Roxas declared.
"What, well we haven't the slightest clue to what your -" Flim was cut off as Roxas forcefully grabbed his hand from under the table and enveloped in his hand was a green magical aura with the dart floating right beside it with the same aura surrounding it.
"You cheated!" Roxas said.
"Shhhhhh, keep it down kid, what do you want the whole fair to know?" Flim said. "Look we'll give the girl another chance, just keep it down."
"Oh no, I'm playing this time," Roxas said. Roxas proceeded to pick up a dart. "And you better not cheat."
"We won't," the brothers said simultaneously. The brothers had closed their eyes for they had the same thought.
"It doesn't matter if he found out about our magic," Flim thought.
"Because all the darts are too dull to pop the balloons any way," Flim thought. "The first one the girl had was just to reel them in. After he messes this one up, that jacket will be ours." As Flim said this, he started opening his eyes, and he saw something fly in his direction. It looked like a giant white.....
"KEY!" Flam said as he ducked right before Oathkeeper could make contact with his face, but it ultimately made contact with the balloon board, popping all the balloons with its sheer force.
The brothers looked to Roxas in shock and saw him with just a smug smile on his face.
"That'll be one top prize," Roxas said.
"No way, you cheated," Flim said.
"Oh, then I guess you don't mind if I tell the fair about your scam," Roxas said.
The two brothers started to sweat for they knew that Roxas had them pinned.
"Fine, fine, pick what you want," Flim annoyingly said.
"I want the orange unicorn," Roxas happily said. Flam, in spite, handed Roxas the giant stuffed animal. Roxas then proceeded to give it to Sunset, and she was surprised at this. "What, you said that you wanted me to win you a prize."
Sunset was immediately flustered by this gesture. She had never expected Roxas to actually win something for her.
"No one has ever actually one me one of these before," Sunset bashfully said.
"Well, there's a always a first for everything," Roxas said. After Roxas said this, he suddenly felt something embrace his body. He looked and saw that it was Sunset who was hugging him. Roxas became a little hesitant at this sight, as he had never seen her like this.
"H-Hey, what's this all about," Roxas said to the red headed girl.
"This is just my way of saying thank you," Sunset said.
"......No problem," Roxas nervously said.
"And don't think that I do this for everybody who does something nice for me." Sunset said.
"Look at those two, they get closer and closer each time I see them," Sora said to Fluttershy. Fluttershy, feeling happy for how Sunset was getting closer to Roxas, also felt a hint of annoyance at Sora's obliviousness to her own feelings.
"Maybe they're a match made huh," Sora said. "What do you think Fluttershy?"
"Yeah, they sure are," Fluttershy said in a humdrum tone. Sora looked at Fluttershy and saw how down she looked after she said.
"Are you feeling okay Fluttershy,"Sora asked.
"Yes, I'm feeling fine," Fluttershy quickly stated. Sora, not believing her, went up to her and put his hand on her forehead. This caused Fluttershy to blush intensely.
"You don't feel like you have a fever, but your face is red," Sora wondered. Before he could contemplate the reason, Fluttershy quickly stepped back from Sora hiding her red face with her hair.
"Can we please just go to another game or something," Fluttershy said.
"I don't see why not," Sora said happily said. He turned around to Roxas and Sunset, who had finally let go of each other. "Hey you two, me and Fluttershy are going to go find some rides to ride." "Are you coming?"
"I think we'll just stay with the games for now," Sunset said.
"Alright, we'll catch up with you later then," Sora said as he left with Fluttershy to go find a ride.
"They're a match made aren't they," Sunset said.
"A match made?" Roxas asked. Sunset did nothing but sigh at his comment.
"Both of you are just as oblivious," Sunset said.
Epilogue Sora and Fluttershy
After leaving Sunset and Roxas to themselves, Sora and Fluttershy started wandering around the fair just enjoying their time together. As Sora started looking around for an amusement ride to get on, Fluttershy was more nervous about actually getting on any of the rides in the first place, but she didn't want Sora to know, she was afraid that it might ruin his time at the fair.
"I just don't know what to go to first," Sora said. "Everything looks so fun! Should I try the roller coaster, the UFO, or The Tilt-A-Whirl? What do you think Fluttershy?" Sora saw how Fluttershy was literally shaking in her shoes at the rides that he mentioned. "Is everything ok Fluttershy?"
Fluttershy knew that she couldn't keep the charade on any longer and she told Sora, "I'm sorry Sora, I just don't like getting on those big rides. The only reason I didn't say anything was so that I wouldn't ruin your first time at a fair. If you want to go on those rides without me, I understand, it's no big deal."
"Fluttershy, aren't you forgetting about something," Sora said with a smile. "I promised you that I would stay with this whole time. I'm not leaving you at all."
Fluttershy felt her heart starting to race as Sora said these words. The innocence and sincerity that he put into everything, really meant something special to her. She had never felt this way before about anything.
"So how about I find something that we both will like," Sora said. He started to look around to find something that suited him and Fluttershy, but all the rides were deemed, too scary for Fluttershy's taste. It seemed as if none of the rides would do, until he found one that seemed too be just right. "How about, the ferris wheel?"
"The ferris wheel?" Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, I mean, it looks pretty safe, doesn't go that fast, and we'll be able to get a great view of Rainbow Falls," Sora said. "So, what do you say?"
After a bit of contemplating, Fluttershy made her decision. "I say, that's perfect."
"Awesome, then let's make our way over there," Sora happily said. As they both started walking towards the ferris wheel, Fluttershy had spotted something white and fluffy that looked like a ball of fur with eyes and ears. She immediately became spastic.
"Was that ANGEL?!' Fluttershy yelled as the rabbit immediately started running away from her. This made her break out into a chase for the rabbit with Sora following behind her. "How did he even get here,this isn't a safe place for a little bunny like him."
As the chase continued, Sora was stopped by a crowd of people blocking his way, so he had lost the direction of where they were running. Angel, with Fluttershy right behind him, had ran into a dark corner of the fair and stood there with his back turned away from Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy, a familiar voice said, what are you doing here?"
Fluttershy looked to see that it was Sunset with her. "Sunset what are you doing here?"
"I saw Philomena here and wondered how she got here, but she was acting weird, she wouldn't respond to me or anything," Sunset said.
"That's the same thing with Angel," Fluttershy said.
"Angel, what are you doing here, how did you even-" Fluttershy stopped talking as she saw something black started to seep out of Angel. Her whole body started to shake from this. "A-Angel?" As Angel started to turn around to face Fluttershy, his entire body started to change. His body became blue, his eyes became red, his ears became more jagged, and his feet became claws. The monster started walking towards Fluttershy while flashing his claws.
"What is going on?" Sunset asked. As she said she saw Philomena dive right in front of her, as she started to transform into another one of those beings.
"That's......not.....Angel," Fluttershy said as she started to cry. The beings pounced at Fluttershy and Sunset, and all that could be was heard was a loud scream as a thunderstorm of darkness enveloped Rainbow Falls.
Sunset and Roxas
After the event that happened with Flim and Flam, the two decided to relax on a nearby bench, as they were laughing at the entire event.
"I can't believe you through your key blade at them," Sunset said.
"You can't say that they didn't deserve it," Roxas said. "Nothing good would have came out of them."
"Well, you got me the gift I wanted, that's something good right," Sunset said.
"Hmph, I guess so," Roxas playfully said.
"Awwww, isn't that just the cutest thing," someone sarcastically said. Roxas and Sunset both turned to see a girl with with long baby blue hair with white streaks and a start berate. She had on a purple shirt that was covered by a blue hoodie with yellow lining, and a purple skirt with a decoration of a moon and wand on the sides. "Using another boy to get what you want Sunset?"
"What do you want Trixie," Sunset annoyingly said.
"Oh nothing, Trixie's just enjoying the fair like everyone else, that was until Trixie saw you and your new boyfriend threaten those con artists' lives," Trixie said.
"It's not like that Trixie," Sunset awkardly said. Having to say that in front of Roxas had to be a tough thing for her to do.
"I see, so that means he's single," Trixie slyly said as she sat down right next to Roxas. "So why don't you spend the rest of this night with me instead?"
Sunset saw this and immediately became enraged when she saw this. So enraged that fire started swirling around her body.
"Sorry, but I'm already spending the night with somebody," Roxas said. "And you're kind of being rude right now."
Trixie was slightly irritated so she decided to leave. "Humph, you better watch yourself then, because some people aren't who they say they are." As Trixie said this, she looked intently at Sunset and Roxas could tell that something was up when Sunset was getting defensive with Trixie. As Trixie left, Sunset's started easing back up, but she looked as if something was heavy on her mind. Something that was eating away at her, but what could it be? Roxas didn't know the answer, but he couldn't leave her this way.
"Hey, don't worry about it, everything will be fine," Roxas calmly said while putting a hand on Sunset's shoulder.
"How do you always know the right things to say," Sunset quietly said. Sunset turned around towards Roxas and stared intimately towards him. "Roxas, I have to tell you something...."
"Yeah, what is it?" Roxas asked. Sunset started to stare at the ground as she tried to bring herself to say what she needed to say.
"I have to tell you that I've been having feeli......" Sunset had stopped herself once she saw a familiar phoenix pitched right in front of her. "Philomena?"
"I already knew that you had Philomena," Roxas said in a quizzical tone.
"No,no, Philomena, she's right there," Sunset said. As Sunset looked up to the phoenix, Philomena quickly dashed away, and Sunset and Roxas immediately give chase. Passing through crowds of people and workers, calling the name of the phoenix. The two didn't know what was going on with her. As the chase kept going a crowd of people had blocked Roxas's way from Philomena ad Sunset, so Sunset had to follow her alone. The chase ended as Philomena went down a dark corner of the fair, but as Sunset went down the corner, Philomena was gone. All she could see was a little white rabbit, and a girl with long pink hair.
"Fluttershy," Sunset said, "what are you doing here?"
The girl looked to see that it was Sunset that had called her name. "Sunset what are you doing here?"
"I saw Philomena here and wondered how she got here, but she was acting weird, she wouldn't respond to me or anything," Sunset said.
"That's the same thing with Angel," Fluttershy said.
"Angel, what are you doing here, how did you even-" Fluttershy stopped talking as she saw something black started to seep out of Angel. Her whole body started to shake from this. "A-Angel?" As Angel started to turn around to face Fluttershy, his entire body started to change. His body became blue, his eyes became red, his ears became more jagged, and his feet became claws. The monster started walking towards Fluttershy while flashing his claws.
"What is going on?" Sunset asked. As she said she saw Philomena dive right in front of her, as she started to transform into another one of those beings.
"That's......not.....Angel," Fluttershy said as she started to cry. The beings pounced at Fluttershy and Sunset, and all that could be was heard was a loud scream as a thunderstorm of darkness enveloped Rainbow Falls.
Pinkie, Rarity, Twilight, and Spike
The group of four had gone on every ride throughout the entire park, and they were not feeling excited for anything else but one was still up for more.
"Come on guys," Pinkie Pie said. "There's still plenty more rides here.
"No, no there are not," Rarity abruptly stated.
"We have rode every ride in this fair Pinkie....twice," Twilight sickly said.
"Pinkie, please, no more rides, my stomach can't take it," Spike pleadingly said.
"What, I don't know what you guys are talking about, I feel perfectly......" Pinkie had stopped mid sentence and it felt as if her entire mood changed, most likely due to her pink hair becoming strangely flat. The others saw this, and wondered what was wrong.
"Pinkie, are you okay," Twilight said.
"Yeah.....I'm fine, it's just, everything feels weird now," Pinkie said quietly. "As if something bad's gonna happen."
"What, no way," Spike confidently said. "Everybody's having fun, I mean what could possibly be so bad," Spike said as a loud scream was heard throughout the park, and as this the happened a sudden thunderstorm of clouds started to roll over Rainbow Falls. "Oh, that bad."
Applejack and Rainbow Dash
As the two most competitive girls out of the group, they had spent most of their time competing with each other at different games and booths. But it was a dead set tie. Applejack would win one, Rainbow would win the other, and for the whole night it was like this.
"Ugh, this is hopeless," Rainbow groaned. "How are we going to break this tie if we've played all the games?"
Applejack started scanning for another challenge, and she happened to spot a test your strength game just a few feet away from them.
"How about ya'll try out that game Rainbow?" Applejack said.
"I don't see why not, as long as you go first," Rainbow demanded.
Applejack calmly accepted the challenge and walked up to the game, and started to pick up the mallet. Much to the surprise of Rainbow she picked it up fairly with ease. As soon as Applejack saw Rainbow's face, she knew she had it in the bag. She leaned the mallet back and as soon as she started to pull it forward, a loud scream was let loose, throwing her off of her focus and letting go of the mallet which came dangerously close to hitting a bystander in the foot.
"Did ya hear that," Applejack said.
"Yeah, and that's not out last problem," Rainbow said as she looked up at the sky and saw a dark thunderstorm cloud over Rainbow Falls.
It's that time of the year. When the leaves change colors, the air gets colder, and the nights come faster. It's the season of Fall in Ponyville, and everyone is gearing up for the weather change and the beautiful scenery that it brings with it, and there is another reason that people, especially the kids, love this time of the year, and as Sora and Roxas are working at Sweet Apple Acres, they figure out that the children are preparing for one thing only.....
"NIGHTMARE NIGHT!" the Cutie Mark Crusaders shouted at the two keybladers.
"Nightmare Night?" Roxas asked.
"Yeah, tonight is the night where everybody dresses up in costumes and we go out at night and get candy from everyone!" Applebloom excitedly said. "And this year, we're gonna turn the barn into a spook house for everyone to go in, and we're having a corn maze! It's gonna be the greatest Nightmare Night ever!"
"Ohhhhh, that's why we're putting these scarecrows and pumpkins in front of the barn," Sora said as he figured out.
"You know, this reminds me a lot about Halloween," Sora asked.
"Halloween?" Applebloom asked.
"Never heard of that," Scootaloo said.
"What's Halloween?" SweetieBelle curiously asked.
"Well, it's basically what we call Nightmare Night where I'm from," Sora said. "It's one of my favorite holidays."
"What do you do on Halloween Sora?" SweetieBelle said.
"Well, the last few times I celebrated Halloween, I spent my time with my friend named Jack as we took down a literal evil sack full of bugs," Sora nonchalantly said.
"Ewwwww, a sack full of bugs," SweetieBelle said as she was grossed out by the mere image of having to fight something like that.
"Yeah, his name was....." Sora stopped talking as he was cut off by a similar sounding voice.
"Oogie Boogie is his name," the voice said.
The CMC had looked up to see who had said that and as she did, she saw something so terrifying that it made all three of them go spastic as they became scared out of their wits. As Sora saw this happening in front of him, he started to put the pieces together.
"He sounds familiar, he knows Oogie, and he just scared three girls in one go, that can't be who I think it is," Sora thought as he started to turn around, and when he did, all that was facing him was a walking skeleton in an all black outifit.
"Jack!" Sora screamed as he saw his skeletal friend. "I can't believe it, how did you get here?"
"Well, it's the weirdest story," Jack said. "I was passing through the Hinterlands on my way to Santa's workshop, and I spotted an unusual door on one of the trees. It had this weird sun symbol that I had never seen before, so I decided to investigate. I opened the door, and inside was this bright light, and I don't know why but I felt that I just had to go through it, so.....I did, and I happened to pop out of the same door in another forest filled with apples, and well, then I saw you and decided to come and speak."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute," Scootaloo said. "This is Jack......did you forget a very important detail about him Sora?"
"I don't think so, what could that be?" Sora asked.
"He's a walking-talking- skeleton!" Scootaloo pointed out.
"I didn't tell you three that?" Sora said.
"Sora, where do you be most of the time," Roxas asked. As he said this, Jack turned towards Roxas with a quizzical look on his face.
"Don't I remember you from somewhere," Jack said. "That's right, the scarecrow!"
"Oh, yeah, the scarecrow," Roxas said as he hung his head low remembering the terrible depiction of him as a scarecrow. "That scarecrow looked nothing like me at all," Roxas thought.
"But where's your black jacket, you don't look terrifying at all without it," Jack said to Roxas.
"I put it up, I didn't really need it for the moment," Roxas said to the skeleton.
"You know, it would be pretty cool if you wore it again, just for the holidays," Sora said. "I mean come on, it's Nightmare Night."
"Yeah Roxas, it would be so cool if you could put on you robe again," Scootaloo excitedly said.
"What's gotten you so excited," Applejack said.
"Oh, nothing, except for the fact that Roxas in that robe is one of the coolest things ever, especially when he has his key blades out and he's taking down all the monsters with them!" Scootaloo blurted out.
"Sounds like somebody has a fan," Sora quietly said to Roxas.
"Whatever," Roxas said trying to put up a tough front knowing that he was actually pretty happy that someone admired him. "Maybe I just might put it on again, just this one time."
"Awesome!" Scootaloo said.
"You could definitely win the costume contest with it on," SweetieBelle said.
"Costume contest," Roxas asked.
"Oh, I guess we didn't tell you guys this, but along with all the festivities that we do, we also have a costume contest for best costume, and it's hosted by no one better but my big sister Rarity," SweetieBelle proudly said.
"A contest huh," Sora slyly said. "I wouldn't mine being in that."
"We were gonna walk with Applejack to the boutique so that everyone can decide on what to where after we finished with the barn decorations," Applebloom said.
"And I reckon that y'all did a mighty good job on everything," said the southern girl with the long blonde hair.
"Hey Applejack!" Apple bloom said. "So, you really like everything?"
"I sure do, especially this skeleton, it looks so life like," Applejack said while looking directly at Jack.
"Well that's because I am alive my dear," Jack properly said towards Applejack, which was then rebutted with a scream from the southern belle herself.
"What the hay is that," Applejack shouted.
"Hey, hey, Applejack, come on, that's my friend Jack Skellington," Sora said.
"A real life.....talking.....skeleton," Applejack said in sort of a dazed state.
"Maybe we need to get you to the library before somebody actually scares themselves to death to death," Sora said to Jack.
"You think we'll get that lucky," Jack asked to witch Sora just laughed at the comment.
And as they all started to walk towards Ponyville, a pool of darkness could be seen forming in the found, and coming out of it was something that looked like a big and fat sack.
As Sora and the rest of the group started to make their way towards the library, the CMC couldn't stop talking about what they wanted to dress up as this year.
"I'm going to be a witch this year," SweetieBelle said.
"I'm going to be a skeleton, seeing Jack scare Applejack was priceless, and I knew that I just had to be a skeleton," Applebloom said.
"Well, I'm going to dress as the most evil thing in Equestria," Scotaloo said with devilish grin. "A devil."
"Why does that sound so familiar for some reason," Sora thought to himself.
"So Applejack, decided on what you're dressing up as for Nightmare Night?" Sora asked.
"Yep, I'm goin' to be a lion," Applejack said.
"That sounds like an awesome outfit," Sora said.
"Ya'know, I don't remember you tellin' us what you're dressin' up as," Applejack wondered.
"Actually, I haven't decided yet, but whatever I pick, it has to be extremely awesome ," Sora said with a big grin on his face.
"It's gotta be something that something special huh?" Applejack said towards Sora.
"What can I say, I really want to win that contest," Sora said with a smile on his face.
"Hey, there's the boutique," SweetieBelle said as they were walking closer to the boutique.
"I wonder what everyone's gonna say when they see Jack for the first time," Roxas said.
"It'll probably be a normal reaction, I mean they handle magical stuff all the time," Sora said. Roxas looked at Sora skeptically and simply turned his head away facing back to the boutique.
"They're going to scream," Roxas said.
"Probably," Sora said.
"More than likely," Jack said.
After making their way to Rarity's boutique, Sora knocks on the door and waits to be let in. As the door opens up, the person on the other side was Rarity herself with a pair of red glasses on.
"Sora, How nice it is to see you," Rarity happily said.
"Hey Rarity, it's nice to see you too, cool glasses by the way," Sora politely said.
"And it's nice to see all of my other friends and fami-," Rarity stopped as she was frozen in her one spot.
"Rarity, you ok," Sora said as he started waving his hand in front of her face.
"Um, I think it may be because of a new face," Applejack pointed out.
"Oh yeah, Rarity I would like you to meet Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King," Sora said as he motioned for Jack to come speak.
"How do you do Miss Rarity," Jack said as he extended his hand to shake hers.
"Oh, my apologies, how do you do Mr. Skelington," Rarity said as she shook his hand. "Please do come in." As Jack and everybody else walked inside the boutique, Sora was stopped by Rarity who had a very annoyed look on her face.
"I know what you're going to say, but he's not a bad person, he just looks like it," Sora said to Rarity.
"Honestly Sora, how do you know a talking skeleton, who knows a talking skeleton," Rarity said.
"Trust me, he's a really nice guy, and where he's from, it's basically Nightmare Night all the time, so he'll fit right in with everything that's going on," Sora said.
"Well alright, if you say so," Rarity said. "Shall we go introduce our new guest to the rest?"
"I'll follow your lead," Sora said as the two started heading back to the inside of the boutique. As Sora stepped inside, he saw the rest of the girls along with Spike all deciding on what outfits to wear for tonight from rows and rows of clothing racks.
"Hey everybody," Sora joyously said.
"Sora, look over here!" Pinkie Pie said as Sora gave his attention to the girl. Off first sight he could see that Pinkie's hair was put into two afro puffs, she had a baby blue bedazzled shirt that matched the headband that she was wearing, along with a pair of skates on her feet, and a lightning bolt drawn over her left eye.
"Hmmmm, let me guess, are you a disco roller skater," Sora guessed.
"Correct!" Pinkie shouted. "How did you know?"
"Well," Sora said. "The first that I saw were the afro puffs, but then what really set it off were the roller skates and..."
"Excuse me, Sora, don't you have someone to introduce?" Rarity asked him as she cut off his conversation.
"I was getting to that," Sora said. "Everybody, I would like to introduce a long time friend of mine. Now before anybody freaks out, I just want you to know that he is a skeleton, so now that's out of the way, I would like to welcome you to-"
"Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King," Jack said as he interrupted Sora.
"Hey, I was going to say that," Sora annoyingly said.
"I know, but I thought it would be better if I came as soon as you were about to, so that it would set of the atmosphere of the reveal."
"I don't mean to interrupt," Rainbow sarcastically said. "But, what's so special about a guy in a skeleton costume?"
"Costume?" Jack said as he started to chuckle. "Excuse me, but what is your name?"
"Rainbow Dash," she said.
"Well, nice to meet you," Jack said as he extended his hand which Rainbow ultimately grabbed, and as she Jack's hand had easily popped off oh his own body leaving Rainbow actually holding his hand. Rainbow screamed as she tossed the hand down to the ground and let it find its way back to jack's body.
"What the heck was that about!?" Rainbow said as she was startled by the entire event.
"Well, I had to prove to you that I wasn't wearing a costume," Jack said. "Do you believe me now?
"Yeah, yeah, 100%," Rainbow quickly said.
"Splendid, now that's out of the way, let's go back to these costumes," Jack excitedly said. "I can't wait to see what you all pick."
"Follow me girls, the rest of the outfits are in the changing room," Rarity said as the girls went inside the room. The door closed leaving behind the guys in a confused manner. Sora went up to the door and knocked on it. The door was opened just enough for Rarity to slide her head through.
"How can I help you?" she asked.
"Um, what about us?" Sora said.
"Oh, you will have to wait until we finish, you can't honestly think that we were going to change at the same time," Rarity said. "Unless, that's what you were trying to do from the start?"
"Wh-what!?" Sora said as he started getting nervous from Rarity's comment.
"No need to get all flustered darling, I was merely teasing," Rarity said. "Don't worry, we'll be finished in no time." Rarity closed the door and went back to trying on the right costume for Nightmare Night.
"Real smooth Sora," Roxas sarcastically said.
"......Whatever," Sora said as he looked away in annoyance. "What are we going to do for costumes now?"
"Actually, I have my costume already picked out," Spike said. "I'm going to be a dragon."
"That seems fitting, I mean you having spliced eyes and being able to breath fire and all," Roxas said.
"Well, I guess that leaves us two then huh Roxas," Sora said with a big grin on his face.
"Haven't you been paying attention, I'm wearing my organization robe as my costume," Roxas said.
"That's cool, because I know that Jack and I-" Sora was then interrupted by Jack.
"Actually Sora, I'm pretty much scary as is," Jack stated.
"Are you saying I'm the only one without a costume," Sora said as he finally came to the realization. The three guys nodded their heads as Sora groaned to the fact that he was the odd one out.
"How is it that the one that is the most excited about wearing costumes, would be the person to forget getting one," Roxas said. "I guess you're going out in your regular clothes."
When Roxas said this, it gave Sora an epiphany, and this made so excited that he couldn't keep it in. "My clothes, that's it, it's my clothes!"
The guys looked at him as if he were crazy. "Sora, I think you're going crazy," Spike said.
"No, no, you don't understand, my clothes were magically enchanted by three fairy godmothers, and my clothes would alter depending on the places that I was in and how they looked," Sora said. "And since everything is so festive, I wonder what would a little magic form my key blade do for my clothes."
"Sora, you know that this sounds crazy even coming from you," Roxas said. "Do you really think that a plan like that is gonna work, and you were going to do it from the start anyway weren't you?"
Sora summoned his key blade as he started channeling magic around him, "You know me so well Roxas." Sora's magic kept getting brighter and brighter until the entire room was enveloped in light. As the magic stopped coursing and Sora was finished using his key blade, the light started to slowly fade and all that the guys were able to see was something that they had rarely ever seen. Standing in front of them was Sora, but he looked different. Instead of his usual outfit, he had something completely different. his clothing was almost completely black, appearing to be made of faded leather. He had on white gloves and had clawed fingers, the shoulders of his jacket were grey, and he had very small, black, bat wings on his upper back. His normal shoes were replaced with large, black ones with pointed toes and a grey stripe on their midsections. His legs were wrapped in what appeared to be black and red bandages. Even Sora's canines become more pointed and his face, particularly the area around his eyes, became more ashen and shadowed in appearance.
His hair was a darker shade of brown and he was wearing an orange mask on the right side of his face, covering his right eye. The mask was circular with small horns on the top, a jagged, jack o' lantern-esque mouth, and triangular eyes. From his appearance, one would think of him as a vampire.
"Woah," Roxas said in awe.
"Now that is a costume," Spike said.
"I knew it would work," Sora said. As Sora said this, he heard the door to the changing room unlock and out came Twilight with a furious expression on her face.
"What in Celestia's name was that!" Twilight exclaimed. She then looked down at Sora's key blade which still had a little magic surging through it. "That was an unstable surge of magic that you used. For what?"
Twilight looked at Sora's new outfit and put together the realization. "You used that much magic for a costume?!" Twilight said. "What were you thinking?"
The guys weren't saying a thing as they all had surprised expressions on their face which made Twilight even more upset. "What's gotten you so distracted all of a sudden?"
"Um, Twilight," Sora said as he was motioning Twilight to look down. Twilight looked down and she immediately blushed, because all she had on was the bottom half of her outfit and a bra covering her chest. Everything had turned into an awkward silence as Twilight just walked back inside the changing room with the rest of the girls.
"So, did you not realize that-" Rainbow said before she was stopped by Twilight looking at her with a very cold stare. "Never mind."
"Maybe I should just sit here and wait until there finished," Sora said.
A few minutes passed by and the changing room door opened once again, and out came rarity adorned in a blue mermaid costume with purple fins, teal sea shells, and pearls that were places on the dress as well as in her hair. All the boys were stunned at how amazing she looked in the costume, especially Spike who was basically falling head over heels because of it.
"So, what do you think," Rarity kittenishly asked.
"Amazing," All the guys said at once.
"Come on Rarity, we know that you have the power to seduce all men, but let us show our costumes," Rainbow said as she went out the changing room for everyone to see her costume. Rainbow was in a one piece costume with a black mask with yellow goggles covering most of her face, the body of the suit in a dark purple, and her shoes being black with yellow lightning bolts around the edge. Then out next was Applejack adorned in her lion costume with painted nose to match, Pinkie Pie in her disco roller skating costume, then came Twilight dressed in what looked like a greek soldier uniform.
"Oh, so that's her full costume," Sora quietly said.
Out came the CMC in their skeleton, witch, and devil costumes.
"That is very familiar for some reason," Jack said.
"I said the same thing," Sora said.
"That's right, they're in the same costumes as Lock, Shock, and Barrel," Jack realized.
"Hmph, who woulda guessed," Sora said.
Next came Sunset who was dressed in a red hood, red corset with black accents, red skirt,black shoes,and white knee length stockings.
"Woah," Roxas said as he saw Sunset in her costume.
"What was that Roxas," Sunset slyly said.
"I, uh, nothing, I said nothing," Roxas quickly said. Sunset chuckled at the way that Roxas was acting around her.
Everybody was fawning over each other's outfit, but there was still one person missing.
"Hey, where's Fluttershy?" Sora asked. As Sora said this, the last person came stepping out the dressing room wearing a long black masquerade dress, and there were two notable differences about her, one was that she had fangs instead of her regular teeth, and her eyes were as red the blood moon. She was slightly blushing and shy as to what she was wearing was able to feature all of her natural curves in her body.
Sora was lost in a trance as he saw her, like he had never seen something like that before. Roxas had to nudge his shoulder to bring him back to reality.
"Earth to Sora,"Roxas said. "Fluttershy asked what do you think about her costume?"
"I think it's great," Sora said.
"Th-thank you Sora," Fluttershy said as she started to fluster.
"Alright everybody, we all have our costumes, the night is here, so let's go enjoy Nightmare Night!" Twilight said. Everyone cheered in agreeance and they all went out the boutique and into the streets of Nightmare Night.
As the night goes on, the group of friends all enjoy each others company as they spend their night with each other. The night was filled with the group asking for candy, playing pranks on one another, and all the guys locked onto Rarity's costume like it was a magnet and they were being pulled towards it. As they continue celebrating Nightmare Night in Ponyville, it soon became the time to announce the winners of "Best Costume."
"Oh man, here we go, I hope I win it," Sora anxiously said.
"There's no reason why you wouldn't, I mean your costume is pretty incredible," Fluttershy said.
"Thanks Fluttershy, you know, now that I think about it, if they had a best couple, I have a feeling that we would win," Sora confidently said.
This made Fluttershy immensely blush as she was contemplating what Sora had just said. "What did you say Sora?"
"You know, I'm a vampire, you're a vampire, if they had best costume couple award, I bet that we would win," Sora said.
"Oh, yeah, that's what I was thinking too," Fluttershy nervously said as she had dodged a bullet that time.
"Really, I think that me and Sunset would win," Roxas said. "I mean, black hood, red hood, innocent, dangerous, I'd say we would win it."
"You keep thinking that if you want to Roxas," Sora jokingly said.
"Shhhhh, you guys Mayor Mare is announcing the winner," Rainbow said. As all the people gathered around the central area of Ponyville where a stage stood, the Mayor was on the stage getting ready to announce the winner for best costume.
"Ladies and gentlemen, out of careful consideration throughout the night, we have come to a conclusion that-" was all the Mayor said before a loud cackling laugh was heard covering over her own voice. The Mayor looked up and saw something falling out of the sky and onto the stage. It appeared to be a large grey sack with holes, and it was moving.
"OH, IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE, ONCE AGAIN OOGIE BOOGIE IS BACK!" The monster screamed.
"That can't be," Jack said.
"How is he even here," Sora said.
"It doesn't matter how he got here, all that matters is that we get rid of him," Roxas said as he summoned his key blades. "Let's go!"
Sora summoned his key blade and followed Roxas and Jack up to the stage where they were face to face with with the Oogie.
"Well, if it isn't Jack Skellington and friends," Oogie said.
"How are you even here Oogie," Sora demanded.
"hehehe, you can't stop someone with a heart as dark as mine,"Oogie said. "Now it is time to make this pathetic excuse of a Halloween Town my own, and everyone one here will be taking orders from me! And just in case you have problems with that, *whitsles*, my friends will make you reconsider!" Behind Oogie was a militia of ghost heartless just waiting to fight, but lucky for them, there were two keybladers and a skeleton waiting to brawl.
"You two think you can handle the heartless," Jack asked.
"Did you really just ask that," Sora smirked.
"That's what I thought," Jack said. "Leave Boogie to me." Jack started walking up to Oogie and launched an ice spell at him causing Oogie to fall back, and as their battle commenced,
"Oh, I see how it is," Oogie said. "And just in case you actually made some friends in the little town," Oogie said as he snapped his fingers and an invisible wall blocked a way of anybody getting in or getting out of the fight.
Sora and Roxas looked at each other with a grin on their faces, and as Roxas put on his organization hood, both keybladers jumped into the fray of heartless. Roxas, moving ever so quickly, was slicing down heartless left and right. One threw a swipe at him, but Roxas slid under the heartless and attacked with an underhand slice to its body, causing the heartless vanish. As Roxas was taking down one after the other, he quickly glanced to see Sora holding up a strong fight. Sora evaded the heartless attacks, causing them to pile up into one area, and he launched his key blade into the crowd of heartless, taking many down in one hit. As Sora caught his key blade, another heartless was attacking, and he blocked the attack just in time, and threw the heartless back into the crowd. As Sora saw that he was being outnumbered, he used one of his trump cards.
"Sonic Blade!" Sora shouted and he started to move at lightning fast speeds, cutting through each heartless like it wasn't anything. Roxas and Sora continued fighting heartless until they were back to back with each other surrounded by heartless. They both looked back at each other and knew what to do. As the heartless simultaneously jumped at them, Roxas and Sora jumped clear in the air, and as they were suspended in air, they charging energy at the bottom of their feet, and shot themselves towards the heartless hoard. As they both made contact with the ground, and as the key blades attacks connected all at once, a blast of light was seen emanating from their area, as all of Ponyville looked to see what had happened.
During their fight, Oogie and Jack were having it out, as they were exchanging punch for punch. For every hit that Jack threw, Oogie had something to counter it, and hit Jack right back. This caused Jack to stumble a little bit and kneel over, and this was not a good place for this to happen as he was getting closer and closer to the edge of the stage. Oogie laughed saying, "You thought that you were going to beat me Jack? You can not stop me Jack, you should have known that you were not able to beat me single handedly, and now, it's time for you to die." Oogie said as he pulled out a box shaped bomb and lit the fuse.
"I wouldn't say that," Jack said as he used his ice attack to freeze the legs of Oogie in that one spot as jack slid out of his arms reach. Jack continued using his ice attack until his entire upper body besides his head and the bomb.
"Do you know what you are doing Jack, if you let this bomb blow, then that means both of us are gone!" Oogie shouted.
"Yeahhhhh, no" Jack said as he summoned a row of ghost heartless to shield him from the blast.
"WHAT!" Oogie shouted.
"Do you really think that I wasn't able to control them, Oogie, I'm the Pumpkin King," Jack confidently said.
"NOOOOOOOOOO," was Oogie's last word as the bomb exploded and with it Oogie. The heartless shielded Jack's body from the blast, and as the smoke cleared from the bomb, Oogie was nowhere to be found, and the invisible wall had disappeared. "Now this is what I call a great Nightmare Night."
As Sora and Roxas ran back to Ponyville to help Jack with the fight, they were surprised to see that Oogie was no longer here, and that everyone was cheering for Jack.
"Did we miss something?" Roxas asked.
"Jack must have defeated Oogie," Sora said. "Alright, I knew he could do it!"
"Sora, Roxas, are you guys okay," Jack asked.
"Don't worry about us, those heartless were no problem at all, especially if they were following orders by Oogie," Sora said.
"Roxas, you were awesome taking out all those heartless!" Scootaloo said.
"Thanks Scootaloo," Roxas said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, now that's over, who want's to go to the corn maze!?" Apple bloom shouted. The people of Ponyville all shouted and agreed as they were ready to go back to enjoying their night.
After the fights had ended, everyone went back to enjoying their night. Everyone was at Sweet Apple Acres participating in plenty of activities, but as the night started to get old, everyone knew that it was time to say goodbye to another amazing Nightmare Night.
"Well, I guess it's time for me to go back home," Jack said. Everyone started to moan and groan over this fact, but they all knew that he had to get back to his own world.
"It was great seeing you again Jack," Sora said.
"Likewise, and don't forget to come visit Halloween Town sometimes okay?" Jack said.
"I wouldn't dream about it," Sora stated.
"It was great having you here," Twilight said.
"Yeah, I'd say you're pretty awesome," Rainbow said.
"Ditto," Applejack agreed.
"You are so much fun," Pinkie exclaimed. And compliment after compliment kept coming towards Jack way, and this made him realize, that these people, actually care for him.
And with that, Jack set off toward the same door that brought him to this world, and with a wave goodbye to old and new friends, he left Pony Ville, and went back to Halloween Town.
Epilogue
"Everybody, Everybody, the results," Mayor Mare exclaimed.
"What's going on Mayor," twilight asked.
"You all forgot about who won the costume contest," Mayor said.
"You know Mayor Mare, I don't think we need to know," Sora said. "You see, we had so much fun tonight, I don't think we need a silly competition of whose costume was best, dontcha think?"
"You won," Mayor Mare said with a look in her face that screamed, "he's going to change his mind once I read him who won." And changed his mind he did.
"I won, yes, my costume is supreme!" Sora shouted. As Sora said this, he looked around to see his friends looking at him with skeptical looks.
"What happened to 'we had so much fun tonight, I don't think we need a silly competition,' " Roxas said.
"Can you blame me?" Sora asked.
"I wasn't finished yet everyone," Mayor said. " I was going to say that you won, along with Fluttershy for best costume couple, and Roxas and Sunset tied with you two for best costume couple, and since there is only one trophy, you all won.
"Isn't that a little forced Mayor," Roxas asked.
"Are you going to take the trophy or not," Mayor quickly asked.
"Don't mind if I do," Roxas quickly said. Roxas looked back at Sunset, Sora, and Fluttershy as they all had questionable looks on their faces. "What, it's a nice trophy, and I lost the last one I had, so.....don't judge me."
"This was a great Nightmare Night," Sora said as he and the rest of his friends started laughing as they all walked back to Ponyville.
The Rainbow Falls Fair was at a standstill. The merriment that people had was gone. The feeling that a dark cloud was over them would just be putting the situation lightly, for the ominous feeling that surrounded the entire park would not go away. Everyone looked and saw then lightning roaring from the dark clouds, and then they all saw something falling from the clouds. It was coming at a high speed and as it made contact with the ground, a small crater was made in its place. A crowd of people started inching closer and closer towards the crater, and in it was something blue with red eyes. That was all that the crowd saw for the being jumped out of the crater and into the open, showing off its stick figure like body as it frantically peered its head in all directions. Nobody dared move or make a sound as the creature started wandering in the open space that it had. Out of nowhere, something resembling a chime erupted out of the crowd of people, and with it a small glare of light lit up in the hands of a young boy. He had two tone spiky light brown brown hair, reddish brown eyes, wearing a brown hoodie, blue jeans, and in his hand was a little portable game system that had suddenly turned on, and caught the attention of the unknown being. As it stared down the boy for what seemed life forever, it quickly launched itself forward towards the boy at a high speed. The boy, out of fear, dropped his video game and stood there frozen as the monster charged towards him. He thought that this was the end, until he saw a faint green glow trap the monster in mid movement. The boy looked around to see a girl with pink and purple hair who was around his age, hold the monster with her magic.
"Who is that girl," the boy asked as he was two other girls ran up to the one holding the monster.
"Sweetie Belle, what are you doing," the other girls asked.
"That thing was going to attack that guy, I felt that I could stop it," Sweetie Belle struggled to say as she was focusing on holding the being. Unfortunately, she couldn't hold the monster in any longer and passed out from exhaustion, letting the monster free. Enraged, the monster forgot about the boy and immediately went straight towards Sweetie Belle and her friends. At the very last moment, the monster reared its arm back, and as it did, a flash of light had flew by the center of its body. It stopped moving for a second, and dropped to its knees and dissipated into dark blue flames. The three girls looked up and immediately became happy as they shouted out, "SORA!"
Sora stood there with his key blade in his right hand over his left hand, showing that he was the one who struck down the monster.
"Sweetie Belle, AppleBloom, Scootaloo, are you alright, how did you even get here, you didn't ride the train with us," Sora said with a worrisome tone.
Sweetie Belle started to have a guilty expression on her face as Sora asked that question. "Well, we kinda snuck onto the train without anyone noticing.
"Why," Sora asked.
"Because we really wanted to go and Rarity and Applejack said that we couldn't because we weren't responsible enough to stay safe by ourselves, so we wanted to prove that we are so responsible to stay safe by ourselves," Applebloom confessed.
"And to prove that, you snuck onto a train, went somewhere that you weren't supposed to, and because you did that, you put yourselves in danger which is not being safe at all," Sora said to the girls.
"Well, when you put it that way," Scootaloo said.
"I'm not going to lecture to you about this, but there were better ways about doing this," Sora said. "I don't want you three putting yourselves in danger over something like this." "Just think about how Rarity, Applejack, or Rainbow would have felt if you were have gotten hurt."
The three girls hung their heads in shame as they started to realize what actually could have happened if Sora had not stopped that monster.
Sora saw them and felt guilty for making them feel this way, so he thought of a way to cheer them up.
"But, since you three are here, why not helping me make sure that everybody else is safe," Sora said with a grin.
"Really?!" The three girls said with a happy expression sprayed across their face.
"If you think you're up for it," Sora said.
"The Cutie Mark Crusaders are always up for anything!" The three girls shouted.
"Alright, so this is the plan, to find the rest of our friends, and help anyone along the way," Sora stated. "Understand?"
"Roger!" the CMC said.
"Then let's get started," Sora said as saw more of those blue beings fall from the sky. " And what a more perfect way than taking out these guys first."
"What are those things anyway?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"I really don't know, but whatever they are, they're nothing but trouble," Sora said as he started to charge in the direction of the monsters, and with the CMC right by his side, they started their mission to find the rest of their friends, and help anyone along the way. But still at the scene of where it all began, was the boy with his game system, still trying to take into affect of what just happened, from that girl saving his life, to that guy saving that girl's life. But the fact of how helpless he felt during all of this ringed through his mind. He looked up and saw Sora moving left and right taking down the rest of those monsters with those three girls cheering him on. As he saw this, he thought to himself, "What if I tried to be a hero in real life, instead of just in a video game?" And with that thought, the boy started to follow Sora, watching the hero in action.
****
As more and more of those beings started to fall from the sky, the dark clouds started to rage more and more, with the thunder roaring louder, the lightning striking more frequent, the wind becoming stronger, and the rain sprinkling through it all. The crowds of people were losing their minds. Not knowing what was going on, or who was responsible. One of the only people that had any sense though all of this was Twilight, and she was trying her best to calm everybody down, but no matter what she did, no one was listening.
"Everyone, please calm down, running around like chickens with their heads cut off won't solve anything, now if we can just....." Twilight said before somebody interrupted her.
"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!" a random bystander said as he shoved Twilight out of the way and onto the ground.
"OW! was that even necessary, come on people!" Twilight shouted as Rarity and Spike helped her back up on her feet.
"Are you ok Twilight?" Spike asked.
"I say, some people are just plain rude when there is a catastrophic event happening right in front of their eyes," Rarity said.
"You guys, my Pinkie Sense is telling me something," Pinkie said.
"What's it saying," Spike asked.
"It's telling me that something big is on its way and that we need to stop it as soon as possible," Pinkie said. "This feels like a bigger doozy than the hydra."
"Then we have no time to lose, we need to figure out what's going on and fast," Twilight said to her friends. Twilight saw that her friends were focusing all their attention on something else besides what she had to say. "You guys, what are you all staring at?"
"Um, T-Twilight, l-look behind you," Spike quietly said. As Twilight turned around she saw a group of those blue monsters, but these looked different than the others. Instead of having just tendrils for hands and feet, these had actual limbs, and they were all wearing white gloves over their claws. They were walking closer and closer to the group of friends with their claws jutting out. Seeing this, Twilight had enveloped her hands with her magic getting ready for whatever might happen.
"Don't worry guys, I'll just use my magic to create a shield around us, then we'll be protected from whatever they try do," Twilight said as she turned around to her friends, but doing this proved to be a mistake, and as her friends yelled at her, "Twilight turn around!" it was too late, because when Twilight turned around to face the monsters, one was already close enough that she would be able to touch. Surprised by how fast that they moved, Twilight had no way of guarding herself, so the monster took advantage of this situation, and swung his claws at Twilight's hands and arms.
"AAAAAHHHHH!" Twilight shouted as her arms and hands were adorned in sizable cuts and slashes. Spike saw this, and despite being afraid, he was enraged at what those things were doing to Twilight, so he ran in front of Twilight and guarded her from those things.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Spike shouted as green flames started to spew from his mouth. As one of the monsters tried to attack again, spike shot a green fireball at it, causing it to fall to the ground leaving the monster temporarily dazed. Spike started shooting fireball after fireball to any one of those that was trying to get to him or Twilight. Despite his best effort, Spike was barely doing anything, besides knocking them down for them to get right back up. Spike, breathing heavily from repeatedly attacking those things, fell to the ground unable to move. He looked up as one of those monsters punched him down, picked him back up, and kicked him to the ground. They then started surrounding him with their claws out.
"Is this really how I'm going to go?" Spike thought.
"Spike?" Twilight worriedly said. Spike looked back at Twilight with tears in his eyes.
"I'm sorry Twilight, I can't be your number one assistant anymore," Spike said full of sorrow. "Pinkie, thanks for the baking tips that you gave me for the desserts I made." Thunder roared and rain started to fall down as the scene took place. "And Rarity, I'm sorry that I could never tell you about the way that I felt."
"Spike,no" Pinkie said as tears started to form in her eyes.
"Spikey-Wikey?" Rarity said with distraught.
The attacking monster raised his claws to spike's neck, and as the thunder roared and lightning flashed, all that could be heard was one.....
'Slash!'
****
Rainbow and Applejack started running away from the monsters as they started to chase the two girls.
"Rainbow, what in tarnation was going through your mind when you decided to kick one in the face?" Applejack asked.
"That maybe they would be terrified at how awesome I was, and stop chasing people," Rainbow said.
"Well, they stopped chasing people, but now.... THEY'RE ALL CHASING US!!!" Applejack yelled as they kept running away from the horde of monsters. "Alright, here's the plan, all we have to do is make it past that corner, hide somewhere, and figure out what's going on."
"That's the plan?" Rainbow skeptically said.
"Do you have a better idea?" Applejack said.
"....Nevermind," Rainbow said.
Applejack ran around the corner
"Alright then follow meOWWW!!!!!!
"AJ!" Rainbow yelled as she ran around the corner a few seconds later just to see the cowgirl laying on the ground with someone laying on top of her. "GET OFF OF HER!"
As Rainbow grabbed the body that was sprawled on top of Applejack, she realized that it was Roxas that she was grabbing. Out of surprise, she accidentally dropped him back to the ground. "Roxas?! What are you doing?"
"Owwwwww, my head, what did I just crash into," Roxas said as he rubbed head.
"You ran into Applejack!" Rainbow shouted as she helped Applejack back on her feet.
"I'm sorry about that Applejack, but we have to put that aside for now, can't you see what's happening," Roxas said.
"Yeahyeahyeah, I've already heard it from Applejack," Rainbow said.
"Then what are we waitin' for, let's go find the others," AJ said. As she said this, one of those monsters that were chasing them had finally caught up to them and immediately tried to attack her, but before the attack could land, Roxas launched Oathkeeper and pierced the monster through its torso, and it collapsed into dark blue flames.
"I'm getting better at doing that," Roxas said as he rubbed his wrist.
"Roxas, what is goin' on, what are those things," Applejack worriedly asked him.
"Yeah, and how did you find us?" Rainbow asked.
"Look, everyone, calm down.....I don't know what's going on, I don't know what those things are, but they seem to be just as weak to the keyblades as the heartless are. And I just so happened to find you two...... I was looking for Sunset."
"Why, did something happen to her," Rainbow said.
"I don't know, the last time I saw her, we were chasing after Philomena," Roxas said.
"Philomena?!" Rainbow shouted.
"But why would Philomena be here, that don't make any sense at all," Applejack said.
"I gotta bad feeling about all of this," Roxas said.
"You think," Rainbow sarcastically said as she looked up towards the darkened sky.
"Then let's go, *summons keyblades*, the faster we find the problem, the sooner we can fix it," Roxas said.
"Roger!" Rainbow said.
"Right behind you," AJ said.
And with the end of the conversation, Roxas, Rainbow, and Applejack raced off to find the rest of their friends, and to figure out what's going on with Rainbow Falls.
****
Twilight and the rest of her friends did not want to see want the outcome of that sounds was. Rarity was holding Pinkie in her arms they had their eyes closed with tears forming form them. Twilight's curiosity got the better of her, as she slowly opened her eyes, but what she was not what she expected.
Over Spike was still the monster, but it had lowered its attacking arm and its head, and through it, she saw a familiar looking keyblade. As the keyblade was pulled out of the monster, it erupted into blue flames showing its defeat. Spike hyperventilating, thinking that he was going to draw his final breath, quickly turned around and saw the one who saved him, and he couldn't have been happier.
"SORA!" Spike said as he jumped up from the ground.
"Hey, take it easy, you don't want to move around so much after what you did," Sora said.
Spike looked down in defeat when he said this. "But, I didn't do anything at all, if you hadn't come in, I would've been a goner. I'm no help."
"..... Really?" Sora asked.
"Huh," Spike asked.
"Are you kidding?" Twilight asked. "Spike, you came to my rescue. If you didn't do that, I wouldn't be here."
"Spike, that was AWESOME, I mean green flames spewed out of your mouth, that doesn't happen everyday, I mean, if you're delivering a letter, then yeah I guess it happens everyday, but not the way that you just used it!" Pinkie excitedly said as her hair poofed back up
"You were really courageous, jumping to the rescue, one could say heroic Spike," Rarity said.
"Really, I was all of that?" Spike said with wide eyes and a smile on his face.
"Spike, you gotta have more confidence in yourself, if you didn't protect everyone, I probably wouldn't have made it in time," Sora said. Spike, you're more important than you think you are, that's why if more of those things show up, I want you to help me fight them."
"Are you serious?" Spike asked with an open expression on his face. "But, I don't have a key blade."
Sora put his fist to Spike's chest as Sora gave him a smile. "You don't need a weapon, your friends are your power."
As Sora said this, Spike saw the determination that Sora had when he said those words. He looked up to Sora and said, "Well, when you put it that way, of course i'll help!"
"YEAH SPIKE THAT WAS AWESOME!", a high pitched voice screamed.
"Why, that sounded like.......SweetieBelle?" Rarity said as she turned around and saw the girl sticking out of a bush.
"Uh oh," Sweetie Belle said as realized that she was spotted.
"Busted," Scootaloo said as she popped up out of the bush.
"Really SweetieBelle, what possessed you to do that," Applebloom asked.
"Hey, it's not my fault," SweetieBelle said.
"It kind of is," Scootaloo said.
"What are you three doing her, Applejack and I clearly told you stay in Ponyville," Rarity said with a stern tone.
"But we really wanted to come here sis, and I wanted to spend some quality time with my sister," SweetieBelle said.
"Come on, Rarity, she wanted to spend time with her sister," Sora said.
"That's not the point Sora, the point is that she disobeyed," Rarity said.
"I'm sorry Rarity, I just thought that you would want to spend some time with me, but I understand if you don't want to," SweetieBelle said in a guilty tone. "We'll just leave here with those things out there, and maybe we'll get attacked, but it's ok, we'll live."
Rarity knew the game that SweetieBelle was playing, but she couldn't help but fall for it every....single....time.
"SweetieBelle wait," Rarity said.
"Bingo," SweetieBelle quietly said. "Yes?"
*sigh* "You three can stay here," Rarity said.
"YAYYYY!!!" the CMC said.
"But the moment we find a train, you're going back to Ponyville, but for now, stay close to me," Rarity strictly said.
"But, Rarityyyyy," SweetieBelle groaned.
"No buts, now stay close," Rarity said.
Pinkie then appeared between Sora and Spike as she wrapped her arms around their shoulders. "Oooooohhhhhh, this is so exciting, how about helping that person right there." Everyone turned their heads and saw a girl with two tone blue hair firing magic at the monsters to no avail.
"Oh, maybe we should help her," Sora said as he summoned his kingdom key. "You ready Spike?"
"Yeah," Spike said with a determined grin on his face. The two then ran off to go fight the horde of monsters.
Twilight started to question who that girl was that they were saving. "Hey, Pinkie, doesn't that girl look familiar?"
"Hmmmmm, hold that thought," Pinkie said as she pulled a pair of binoculars out of her hair.
"How did you......"
"One second Twilight," Pinkie said stopping Twilight's question. *GASP* "That's Trixie!"
"Trixie, she came to the fair?" Rarity asked.
"Huh, well I guess it was lucky that we had that heart to heart talk with Spike because if we didn't well, Trixie probably wouldn't be here," Pinkie casually said.
"Sweet Celestia, Pinkie," Twilight said surprised by her comment.
"Yeah, I think this weather is still messing with my Pinkie Sense," Pinkie said as she placed her hands on her heads.
After Sora and Spike took out the last one of those monsters they turned towards Trixie who was shaking in fear with her hands over her eyes.
"Ummmmm, excuse me, but everything's ok now," Sora said.
Trixie lifted her hands off her eyes as she saw Sora in front of her, with his blue eyes standing out above anything else. Trixie quickly turned around in embarrassment at how someone actually saved her from those monsters. ".....Trixie thanks you for saving her."
"Who's Trixie?" Sora asked.
"I'M TRIXIE," she said as she turned around and faced the boy once again except with annoyance in her face.
"But, why do you refer to yourself in the third person?" Sora nervously said.
"BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE DOES!" Trixie yelled.
"Oh, man, Trixie what are you doing here," Spike said.
"Trixie was enjoying the fair like everyone else, until those monster started to attack Trixie," she said. "But, my magic didn't seem to stop them."
"Sora, Spike!" Twilight shouted as she towards them with Rarity and Pinkie behind her.
"Trixie's here too," Trixie murmured as she started pouting.
"Are you two alright," Rarity asked.
"Yeah, not a scratch on us," Sora happily said.
"Hey, totally off topic, but not really, how did you find us Sora?" Pinkie asked.
"Well, actually, I just happened to find you four, I was looking for Fluttershy," Sora said. "She said that she saw Angel Bunny up here and we started to chase him, but I lost her in the crowd, and then after that, all of this started to happen."
"That's strange, Fluttershy wouldn't even think about bringing Angel to a place like this," Twilight said.
"Then right after that, this whole mess started with these monsters falling from the sky," Sora said.
"Wait, so you don't know what those things are?" Twilight asked. *Sora shakes his head no.* "But, aren't those things just heartless?"
"No, they look and act different than heartless, but they're still weak towards the key blade so they have to be connected in some way," Sora said. "But the question is, what are those things?"
"Those who were not well-versed in their own existences", said an unfamiliar voice. This made the entire group of friends look left and right to find who said that. "These beings are known as the Unversed......and they were made by me."
"Where are you, show yourself!" Sora demanded.
"heheheheheh, aren't we just confident today," the voice playfully said. "Fine, I guess it' s time to stop hiding in the shadows." As the voice said this, a large corridor of darkness opened in front of everyone. Everyone could see someone walking out of it. The figure was wearing a black and red organic-looking bodysuit, but his face is what startled everyone. He looked exactly like Sora! The only thing different was that he had black hair and yellow eyes instead of Sora's brown hair and blue eyes. Everyone stayed on their guard for anything sort of attack. But the mysterious figure just looked left and right at the party of people until he stopped at Sora. "So, that's your new body huh Ventus?"
"What?" Sora said looking plain confused.
"You thought that you finished me off when you destroyed the x-blade didn't you, well let me tell you something," the figure said as dark energy started charging in his hand. "Darkness.......never.....DIES!" With that, he shot a dark energy ball at Sora, which prompted Sora to deflect the attack with his key blade, sending the the dark ball flying into the side of a mountain.
"You, I remember seeing you....inside the cathedral," Sora said.
"Hmph, well that was more on the lines of a vision of me, but this, is the real me, and I'm going to plunge that heart of yours into a sea of darkness where no light is able to shine," The mysterious figure said as he summoned his own key blade and made his way into his battle stance. "Ventus........"
"He has a key blade....." Twilight said in disbelief.
"Did he just call you Ventus?" Pinkie asked.
"Rarity..." Sweetie Belle said as she held on to her sister.
"It's going to be ok Sweetie Belle," Rarity said. Rarity turned to Applebloom and Scootaloo, " Girls, get behind me." The three girls did as they were told and got behind Rarity.
"Is Sora gonna be ok?" Applebloom asked.
"Of course, Sora can handle this ruffian," Rarity said optimistically, but she knew that she had no idea if Sora could, just like the rest of the girls.
"Just who are you?!" Sora yelled.
"Heh, who am I..... I'm Vanitas, but you can call me your destroyer," Vanitas said with a deadly grin.
The air stood still as Sora and Vanitas got in their fighting stances. No one moved. No one said a thing. They both charged each other at the same time. As their key blades clashed against each other, the two keybladers were relying on brute force to push the other one into a vulnerable position. Unable to do so , they each take a step back. Vanitas started to immediately run towards Sora, without so much as a break in between the previous clash. Vanitas began attack Sora aggressively, with each swing of his key blade having an aftershock of force behind it, gave Sora an even rougher time than he thought. But Sora wasn't going to let that stop him. He had to think of a plan and quick. After a quick thought, Sora lit up with a determined expression on his face as he threw his key blade at Vanitas. Vanitas saw this and with just a flick of his wrist, deflected the key blade into the air.
"Really, did you think that was going to stop me?" Vanitas said as he laughed at the attempt. Sora payed no mind and instantly ran towards Vanitas . "I feel as if your'e giving up already Sora, this is barely a challenge to me!"
"Let's see if you can keep talking like that after I finish this," Sora said.
"You fool, this is the end of you," Vanitas said as he lunged his key blade towards the approaching Sora. Sora slid under the key blade with it an inch away from making contact with his face, and as he slid, he lifted his hand in the air, and in a flash, his key blade had returned to him. Sora did a 180 degree turn, and with all his might, struck Vanitas in his back. Vanitas did nothing but reel in the pain of the attack, in disbelief that Sora actually landed a hit on him.
"He........hit me," Vanitas said not believing what had just happened. He turned and saw Sora chuckling with a grin on his face.
"What's wrong Vanitas, you look scared," Sora taunted. Vanitas was enraged as he used his dark magic to push Sora into the wall of a nearby building with so much force that it left a crater. Sora couldn't move a muscle, and as Vanitas started walking towards him, Sora felt as if he was stuck fighting a battle that he could not win.
"You think everything will just go your way." Vanitas said. "Even in the face of death, you still found a way to smile and laugh about it. That's why I envy you, *dark magic starts to surround his key blade* and that's why I NEED TO DESTROY YOU!" Vanitas shot a ball of darkness at Sora wanting to end his life. Everyone stood frozen in place as the dark magic was reaching Sora. It was only inches away until something that fell from the sky had obscured the path of the attack. The magic attack slowly started to decrease in size until it was all but gone and everyone was able to get a view of the object that had stopped it. It was none other than the key blade, Oathkeeper.
"Another key blade, but how," Vanitas thought.
"Wait, isn't that........" Twilight stopped as she looked up and saw a strange sight.
"What did I tell you before Sora, I said that you make a good other."
"Wait, is that," Sora said. He struggled to look up and what he saw put a smile on his face. It was Roxas in the air being held by Rainbow, who was using her wings to keep them in the air.
"That means that we don't lose to punks like him," Roxas said as he pointed to Vanitas.
"Hey, can you hurry this up, you're not exactly the lightest person in Equestria," Rainbow complained.
"Please, you're always boasting about how great you're flying is and now you can't handle some extra weight," Roxas said.
"I could just drop you right here, right now," Rainbow speculated.
"No, no, you can just fly me to the ground please," Roxas said quietly. Rainbow brought him down next to Sora as she folded her wings back and got in a fighting position.
"So, how are we gonna take care of this guy," Rainbow asked cracking her knuckles.
"Sora and I are going to care of him, I need you to watch after everyone else," Roxas said.
"WHAT, are you saying that I can't handle this guy," Rainbow protested.
"I'm saying that there is a whole group of people over there that need to be protected, and out of everybody, you're the fastest and strongest," Roxas said.
"Well, when you put it that way," Rainbow said as her ego shot up tremendously.
"Ahem, one of the strongest," Applejack said as she appeared right next to Rainbow.
"I need you two to watch out for everyone, I trust you to do that," Roxas said.
"Dontcha worry about a thing Roxas, *turns to the group*, we'll make sure that everyone is......." Applejack said until she saw someone that shouldn't have been there in the group. "Is that Applebloom?! I told her that she couldn't come!"
"Oh man, I'll go calm her down, you handle big,bad,and ugly over there," Rainbow said to Roxas.
"You got it," Roxas said as he turned to face Vanitas.
"Well, if it isn't the copy," Vanitas said. "You look just like him, and that makes me angry."
"You hurting my friend and attacking innocent people makes me a little angry as well," Roxas said as he pulled Oathkeeper out of the ground.
"You don't appear to be upset," Vanitas said.
"Showing your emotions during a battle is a good way for the enemy to predict your movements, but I have been trained on the concept of not having nor feeling any emotions," Roxas said as he summoned Oblivion in his right hand.
"Hmph, so what, you want to fight about it?" Vanitas taunted.
"Fight you, no, I want to end you," Roxas said with an emotionless expression.
You look like Ventus, but you're almost nothing like him, he would never say anything like that, but why does he look like him?" Vanitas thought. "What connection does he have with him?" Vanitas was brought out of his thoughts as Roxas ruthlessly started striking Vanitas not giving him a second to think. For every move Vanitas made , Roxas had an extra attack waiting for him. Roxas wasn't letting up as a flurry of attack were constantly appearing left and right.
"I've had enough of this ," Vanitas said as harnessed his dark magic and used it to push himself back a few feet away from Roxas. He then snapped his fingers, which caused the sky to roar with lightning and thunder once more. More unversed started to fall, but they only landed within the range of the fight, and were all focused on Roxas and not anyone else. Roxas spun Oblivion into the backhand fighting style while Oathkeeper was still in the normal style. Rows and rows of Unversed started to charge at Roxas, doing nothing but getting in the way of Roxas's actual target. The first Unversed tried striking at Roxas's face, but he quickly ducked the attack and sliced the Unversed in half. Roxas proceeded with a spin and launched two more into the air. Roxas was on a tear as he took down Unversed after Unversed, trying to make his way to Vanitas. As Vanitas saw this, he new that Roxas was a bigger problem than he thought, but he had one more ace up his sleeve that could end this right now. As Roxas finished off the last of the Unversed, loud cheering could be heard coming from the group of friends, and it turns out that it was Scootaloo screaming her lungs out.
"YEAH WAY TO GO ROXAS, YOU GOT THIS!" Scootaloo shouted. Roxas looked back and couldn't do anything but smile at her cheering. The rest of the group had a different reaction of confusion. "What, he's awesome."
"Isn't that just the cutest thing," Vanitas sarcastically said.
"It's over Vanitas, there's nothing else you can do," Roxas said as he prepared to attack Vanitas.
"Hmph, you know I wonder what happened to that red headed girl?" Vanitas asked. This caused Roxas to stop in his tracks as his face showed signs of distraught. "Hey, what happened to not showing emotion during a battle? "Now I know that the girl means something to you."
Roxas started to become enraged from the words of Vanitas. Sora, being able to conjure up enough strength since his battle with Vanitas, walked over to Roxas and tried calming him down. "Roxas, relax, he's just trying to get in your head."
"Oh Ventus, I wish that was the case, but if it was, then what about that pink haired angel of yours?" Vanitas said with a sinister grin.
Sora's entire attitude changed as turned towards Vanitas with an expression of anger that no one has ever witnessed before. "Where's Fluttershy?"
"So that's her name, and the other girl must be Sunset," Vanitas said.
"You're going to tell us where they are right now," Roxas demanded from Vanitas.
"Now now, I'm not looking for another fight, they're right here," Vanitus said as he summoned to corridors of darkness, and out of each corridor was a mass dark magic, but what they were holding, drove the young keybladers anger even more. Inside one was Sunset, and inside the other was Fluttershy, looking as if they were in a comatose-esque state while they were in the hands of the darkness. "Now, if you don't want these two lovely ladies to be hurt, you'll listen to what I have to say," Vanitas said as he brushed both of the girls faces.
Roxas started to charge after Vanitas, but Sora stopped him before he could get close to him.
"What do you want?" Sora asked.
"Give me your keyblades," Vanitas said as he engulfed his hand in dark magic. "Unless you want these two to die."
Before they could make a decision, something inside of Roxas made him kneel over in pain. No one knew what was going on with him, but they saw how his entire aura of energy was changing. Vanitas looked at Roxas and wondered what was going on until an epiphany was made. The reason he looks like him, fights like him, and has the same level of mastery with the backhand fighting style is because he also linked with Ventus. But, why can't he sense anything? How couldn't he see the link between them? Well, it's too late now because the energy that was dwelling inside of Roxas, had finally released. Roxas's aura had a hue of green as it coursed around him. His body began to be covered by pieces of armor. Twilight had summoned a shield of magic that was barely protecting them from the powerful force of energy that was emanating from Roxas. After the sudden surge of energy had calmed, everyone stood in awe of what took Roxas's place. There stood Roxas in a clad of armor decorated in steel blue, gold, black, with several red lines decorating it, and a long steel blue cape.
In his hands were his two key blades as he got into his fighting stance, and in a flash, made his way over to Vanitas in a second and kicked him in his sides, causing him to fly into a nearby carnival stand. As Vanitas stood back up he snapped his fingers together to bring more Unversed to the battle, but instead of fighting Roxas, they wet towards the wounded keyblader. Sora saw and summoned his key blade, but he could barely stand because of his injuries from Vanitas, and as the Unversed came to a striking distance, a blue blur could be seen attacking one Unversed after the other. Sora saw that it was Rainbow buying him time to get away.
"What are you waiting for, you need to get out of here!" Rainbow said.
"But, you can't beat them without the key-" Sora said as he was interrupted.
"We'll figure something out Sora just go!" Rainbow said. Then from behind Sora came Applejack as she launched a powerful kick into one of the Unversed. Sora, barely standing, saw how his friends were doing all that they could to protect him. They showed him courage in the face of danger, bravery, and.......Valor.
Once Sora realized this, something in him started to click as he stood back up, energy started to course around him. It began with a few sparks, until his entire body was enveloped with a red aura.
"He...... hurt..... my friends, he put them....... in danger, he hurt..... innocent people," Sora said in a very strained manner. "I won't.....let him....get away......with this!"
As Sora gained more energy, Rainbow and Applejack could be seen with the same color aura around them. The two girls started to get tired as their energy was being shared with Sora. Once he received their energy, a shining light was coming from Sora. Once the light diminished, Sora stood there with his clothes in a red and black color scheme with a fleur-de-lis on each sleeve and pants leg. Sora's hands glowed light red and flickered with red electricity. But the one thing that caught everyone's eyes was the fact that Sora had two key blades, Oathkeeper in his left hand, and his Kingdom key in his right, but this led Roxas with only one key blade. He opened with a burst of speed , and took out the remaining Unversed that surrounded Rainbow and Applejack with an array of slashes with his two key blades. He grabbed both of the girls and high jumped back to the rest of the group.
"Twilight, look after them," Sora said.
"Y-yeah," Twilight uttered as she hadn't seen Sora this serious sense the diamond dog incident. In a matter of a few seconds, Sora was right next to Roxas, ready to fight Vanitas.
A Hearth's Warming to Remember ( A Christmas Special )
It was that time of year, when snowflakes began to fall
When the cold winter air was never appalled
In a time of merriment, not a time of mourning
For everyone knew that tis the season of
"HEARTH's WARMING!" Apple bloom shouted in delight. "I can't believe that it's here already! Yep, this is definitely my favorite holiday, from the plays, to the lights, to the whole feel itself, it's nothing but amazing!"
"Well, I'm glad that y'all love Hearth's Warming so much, but do you think that y'all can give me hand with these lights," Applejack said as she was climbing on a ladder getting ready to string lights across the barn. "Hearth's Warming Eve is on its way, and I want to have the whole barn covered with lights," Applejack said.
"Oh, sorry sis, I'm coming," Applebloom said as the she ran over to help her sister. As she ran over she saw Sora and Roxas walking out of the barn presumably just getting out of bed. It was still pretty early in the morning, but it was hard to tell with the snowfall. Sora and Roxas started shivering as they realized that it was snowing.
"Why is it so cold, it was sunny just yesterday," Sora said. "How did this snow get here so fast?"
"Well, the Pegasi tend to 'overkill' when it comes to this time of year," Applejack said as she slid down the ladder to see her friends.
"This time of year, what does that mean?" Roxas asked.
"Can't you tell that it's-" AJ was stopped as Applebloom ran in front of her to greet the two keybladers.
"Happy Hearth's Warming Sora and Roxas!" Apple bloom yelled expecting the two to have some sort of elated reaction, but the only reaction they seemed to have was confusion.
"Hearth's Warming?" Sora said quizzically.
"What's Hearth's Warming?" Roxas asked.
*GASP* "You don't know what Heart's Warming is?!" Apple bloom said shocked by their statements. "It's the only holiday worth mentioning!"
"Ummmmm, Applejack?" Sora said hoping that Applejack could clear up some things.
"Hearth's Warming is a holiday that we celebrate here in Equestria. It's mainly all about everyone coming together as a family, but we also decorate and give gifts to each other on Hearth's Warming Day," Applejack stated to the two boys.
"The one time of year where being with your family and friends just makes the holiday so much better," Applebloom said while hugging her big sister.
"Huh, that sounds....nice," Sora said in a melancholy tone.
"I guess it's pretty cool," Roxas nonchalantly said.
"Nice, pretty cool? It's way more than that you guys, it's literally the best time of the year," Applebloom annoyingly said.
"Y- Yeah, of course it is, sorry about that," Sora blandly stated.
"What's wrong you two, you seem down," Applejack said.
"It's really nothing, it's just Hearth's Warming reminds me Christmas," Sora said.
The two sisters looked at each other in confusion, then looked back at Sora. " Sorry Sora, we've never heard of Christmas before," Applejack said.
"Well,to put it simply, It's my home's version of Christmas, and it's basically like you said, it's the one time of the year where everything feels at peace," Sora said. "The gifts are cool, but the one thing that I just love about Christmas is being with your family and friends, and I'm just realizing that this is going to be my first Christmas without them."
"Can't say that I have the same problem, I've never actually celebrated Christmas before, didn't see the need to when I was with the organization," Roxas said. "Most of the people that I used to be around had different intentions, and I would barely call them my family."
"But, we can be your family too right?" Applebloom said with her innocent stare piercing through the hearts of the two keybladers as they immediately felt guilty for making her think that way.
"Of course you are Applebloom," Sora said with a smile as he kneeled down to her eye level.
Roxas walked up to her as well. "You, AJ, and everybody else, you mean a lot to us." Applebloom started to giggle as she heard the two boys say those kind things. It really made her day, but Applejack, being the element of honesty, had a sense when something didn't feel as if it were completely true.
"Hey Sora, let's get started with the farm chores, I don't want to be out here to long in the cold," Roxas said as he started running to the apple orchards. Sora nodded as he got up and ran towards the orchards.
As the keybladers ran off, Applejack had a skeptical look on her face.
"What's the matter sis?" Applebloom asked.
"Applebloom, I don't think they were telling the truth," AJ said.
"You don't think that they weren't being honest about us being family," Applebloom said. "But, even if that's true, why would they think that?"
" Applebloom, you shouldn't think that way, maybe it's being away from their own home and their actual family, and If it's one thing that I would agree with, being away from y'all on Hearth's Warmin' would be the worst feeling ever," Applejack said.
"Well then why would they make it seem as if everything's okay," Applebloom said.
"I don't know sugarcube, maybe they don't want us to worry about it so much," Applejack said as she looked down at her little sister and saw how depressed she looked from the ongoing conversation. She could only imagine what was going on in her mind. So Applejack did the one thing that any older sibling would do... comfort her. "Look, don't worry about it, I'll make sure that those two will understand how much they mean to everybody, true Hearth's Warming fashion."
"Honest?" Applebloom said as she looked towards her sister.
"Wouldn't be my element if I wasn't lil' sis," Applejack said.
"Thanks Applejack, I'll see you later, I'm going to go see what Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are up to," Applebloom said. As Applebloom ran off the farm, Applejack started wondering about the two keybladers. She couldn't stop thinking about how down they looked. What could be the reason why? She started thinking and maybe it was because....
"Hey, Applejack!" A distant voice screamed. Applejack broke out of her train of thought to see who had called her name, and it appeared to be a certain rainbow haired girl running towards her.
"I should ask you that, why are just standing out in the cold staring into space?" Rainbow asked.
"Well, you see," Applejack started to say.
"Nevermind, whenever somebody starts by saying something like 'well' or 'you see' it's always something wrong, so I'll just tell you why I'm here," Rainbow stated. "Twilight wants the girls to meet up at the library, and they wanted me to come get you."
"Reckon' you know what they want to talk about," Applejack said.
"She said something about, 'the greatest Hearth's Warming in Ponyville ever!" Rainbow quoted.
"Guess we shouldn't keep her waiting then," Applejack said.
"Race ya to Twilight's," Rainbow excitedly said.
"Why not," Applejack said with a chuckle.
And just like that, the two girls were headed off to Twilight's house, but through the whole race, Applejack still wondered about Sora and Roxas. Maybe she would bring it up while at Twilight's place. She didn't have any idea of what could be the problem.
"Hey AJ, you keep spacing out like that, and you're not gonna be much of a challenge," Rainbow said lengths in front of Applejack.
"Huh, HEY, DON'T THINK YOU'RE GONNA WIN THAT EASILY!" Applejack shouted as she raced to catch up.
****
As the Hearth's Warming season took over in Ponyville, Twilight could barely sit still just from having the joy of the holiday infested inside of her.
"I can't believe it, Hearth's Warming is just around the corner, where did this year go!" Twilight excitedly said. "I can't wait to spend time with my friends, ice skating, snowball fights, gifts, and decorating!"
"Yeah, it sounds awesome Twilight, and I can't wait to do all those things, but do you think you can help me carry these 8 cups of hot cocoa?" Spike said. "It's kind of hard by myself."
"Oh, sure Spike," Twilight said. As Twilight started walking towards Spike, but as soon as she was about to help, there was a knock at the door, and Twilight turned all of her attention to her appending company.
"*sigh* Guess I'm doing this myself," Spike said as he started to make his way towards the living room of the library.
As Twilight was just about to open the door, a loud slam from outside forced it to open, and what appeared in front of the Library door was Rainbow and Applejack. Twilight was surprised and confused at what had just happened. "Girls, what are you two....."
"I won!" Rainbow shouted.
"No way Rainbow, I was clearly ahead of you," Applejack said.
"Um, girls," Twilight said.
"HAH, you wish," Rainbow boasted.
"Ok, then let's race from here to the Everfree Forest," Applejack said.
"Girls I don't think you should....," Twilight said as she was interrupted.
"You're on!" Rainbow said. "Alright, On your mark......get set..."
"Girls!" Twilight shouted. Both Rainbow and Applejack looked up and saw Twilight in their eyesight.
"Oh, hey Twilight," Rainbow said.
"Howdy Twi," Applejack said.
"Did you forget that I called you hear for a reason," Twilight said.
"Oh yeah, sorry about that," Rainbow said.
"Apology accepted, now all we have to do is wait for Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rarity," Twilight said, and as if it was rehearsed, the three girls had appeared outside of Twilight's door.
"Helllooo Twilight," Rarity said in a sing song voice, while the other girls came into the living room of the library.
"Hello Rarity, I'm glad you all made it, now we can get started," Twilight said.
"Started with what exactly," Rarity asked.
"We can get started with having a Hearth's warming party here at the Library," Twilight said with excitement. "And everyone will pick one person that they want to give a gift to, that way, everyone can have a gift for Hearth's Warming."
"A Hearth's Warming party, well that sounds fabulous," Rarity said.
"That sounds awesome," Rainbow said.
"So, let's take a majority vote of who would like to have a party at the library," Twilight said. As the girls raised their hands showing that they wanted to have the party........all except for one person. Twilight looked and saw that Applejack still had her hand down, and after looking at her, saw that Applejack wasn't even paying any attention! "Applejack, are you listening?"
Applejack snapped back into existence. "Huh, what was that you were saying Twi?"
"Applejack, are you okay, the other times when you started to space out did not end well for everybody," Twilight said.
"Yeah Applejack, you were doing that all morning, what's going on?" Rainbow said.
"Yeah, I'm fine, it's just that something isn't resting on my mind," Applejack said.
"Well, what is it," Rainbow said.
"It's kind of a long story," Applejack said as she sat down to tell her friends about Sora and Roxas and how they were acting this morning.
"So, Sora is sad that he can't spend his holiday with his family back at his home, and Roxas has never had the chance to celebrate a holiday like this?" Twilight said trying to wrap everything around her head.
"That's just terrible," Fluttershy said.
"So that's why you've been so out of it today," Rainbow said.
"Yeah, it's just that I've never seen anybody down during Hearth's Warming time, and trying to figure out why they feel that way, it just feels unnatural for this time of the year," Applejack said.
"Please Applejack, you worry too much, though it is true that they shouldn't be by themselves especially this close to Hearth's Warming," Rarity said.
"Well, why don't we invite them to the party, so that they won't be so lonely," Sunset proposed. "Nothing wrong with a good party."
"I second that!" Pinkie said with her hand raised in the air.
"That wold be nice, and since it's their first Hearth's Warming, it'll be something that they'll remember forever!" Twilight said with a tone of glee in her voice.
"Yeah, maybe that'll work, good idea Sunset," Applejack said.
"Oh, it's no problem, I'm just here to help," Sunset said with a wave of her hand.
"So, here's the list for gift giving this year," Twilight said as Spike gave her a scroll of her friends names. As Twilight said the names of her friends and who would give to whom, but there were two names missing from that group.
"Don't forget about Sora and Roxas," AJ said.
"That's right, they need gifts too, but we don't have anyone else who's not giving a present to someone," Twilight said.
Fluttershy slowly raised her hand out of the group. "Umm, I'll get a present for Sora if that's not a problem."
"And I'll get a present for Roxas," Sunset said as she immediately shot a hand in the hair as well.
"Well, that was easy," Twilight said. "Pinkie, can you help me with setting the party?"
*GASP* "Twilight, did you really just ask me that?" Pinkie said with a dumbfounded expression on her face. "I'm the Pink Party Palooza Pinkie Pie!"
"Oh, come on Pinkie, you know that I didn't mean it like that, I was just saying that.....girls, a little help," Twilight said as she looked at the rest of her friends, but they were no where to be found for they all left the library, knowing that there was no saving Twilight out of that situation. "I'll just...... let you do most of the preparations." Pinkie looked at Twilight with a deadly stare. "........Spike can help."
"What?" Spike asked questionably.
"Oh, then that's perfect, I was just gonna ask for someone to help me out with the setup," Pinkie said as she kept going on and on about how the library would look like a winter wonderland.
"You owe me for this Twilight," Spike murmured under his breath.
****
As the snow began to fall all over Ponyville, the rest of Twilight's friends decided to meet back up at the library when it was time for the party.
To everyone else, getting a gift for their friends was easy, but it proved to be difficult for the two girls who had to get a gift for Roxas and Sora.
Sunset and Fluttershy were walking side by side through the main district of Ponyville, looking through the windows of each store that they passed by, hoping to see anything that they think the two keybladers would like.
"Do you see anything Fluttershy," Sunset said.
"I don't know, I can't be sure for what they would or wouldn't like," Fluttershy said. "What if we get them something they don't like? What if they start to hate us because of it? What if.."
"Hey, hey, hey Fluttershy take it easy, it's ok," Sunset said trying to calm Flutershy. "Look, we're in this thing together. Don't worry, I know we'll find something that they'll both like."
"You think so," Fluttershy said.
"I know so," Sunset said as she grabbed Fluttershy's hand. "Come on, let's go see what we can find in that store."
As Sunset and Fluttershy walked inside of the store, there were many things ranging kids toys to books to little festival knick knacks.
"Hmmmm, maybe we should try a different store, everything in here looks like cheap holiday junk," Sunset said.
"Who dare calls my valuables cheap holiday junk!" a random voice yelled from a back room of the store.
"Wait....that sounds like," Sunset said as she stopped because before she could get the rest of her sentence out, The shop owner walked to the front of the store. "Trixie, what are you doing in Ponyville?"
"Twilight invited Trixie to her Hearth's Warming Get together," Trixie said.
"But why are you running a store," Sunset asked.
"Well, when your traveling magician business falls off the curb, there's not that many ways for you to make a bit believe it or not," Trixie said.
"Oh, sorry about the 'holiday junk thing," Sunset said to Trixie.
"It's alright, if Trixie could leave this place any earlier she would," Trixie said. "So what are you two doing here anyway?"
"We're looking for gifts," Fluttershy calmly said.
"For those two key blade boys right," Trixie said in a sly demeanor knowing that she hit the nail right on the head when she saw that the two girls were surprised at how she knew the answer that fast. "Yes, Trixie knows all, and she knows that they will not like anything out of here."
Sunset and Fluttershy had a look of disappointment on their faces for the fact that they still did not know what to give to Sora and Roxas.
"But, Trixie maybe can help," Trixie said as she turned towards the two girls.
"Really, but why would you help us," Sunset asked.
"Blame the holiday, and they did save me that one time," Trixie mumbled as she faintly started to blush.
"What was that," Sunset said with wide grin on her face.
"Nevermind what Trixie said, now do you want Trixie's help or not," Trixie asked.
"Yes Trixie, we want your help," Sunset happily said to the magician.
"Well alright, follow me, and get some thread and needle from one of the shelves, this shouldn't take long," Trixie said.
****
As Spike and Pinkie set up decorations all throughout the the library, Twilight can barely sit still just from having the joy of the holiday infested inside of her.
"It's almost time for the party, I can't wait!" Twilight said in glee.
"Yeah, but in the meantime, how about helping me with putting the star on the tree?" Spike said.
"No problem Spike," Twilight said. As Twilight started walking towards Spike, but as soon as she was about to help, there was a knock at the door, and Twilight turned all of her attention to her appending company.
"*sigh* really.....by myself.........again," Spike said as he started to climb the Hearth's Warming tree.
Twilight opened the door, and it was her roommate, Sunset, on the other side with a pair of black mittens on her hand and a teal lace scarf around her neck.
"Sunset , you're back," Twilight happily said.
"Hey Twilight, um, you do know I wasn't gone that long right," Sunset said.
"I know, but still, having all of my friends for Hearth's Warming is one of the greatest blessings that I'm proud to have," Twilight said as she gave Sunset a hug and went back to fantasizing about all the fun she was going to have.
As Sunset walked into the library, she looked up and saw Spike setting a star on top of a tree. "So, I guess she gets like this around the holidays?"
"Yeah, you can basically call it a tradition for us," Spike said as he climbed down the tree. As Spike looked at Sunset, he noticed something in her hand wrapped in red paper with a yellow bow on top. "Hey, where'd you get that?"
"While I was shopping looking for a gift, Fluttershy and I didn't know what but, so we got some help from a friend, and made our presents," Sunset said.
"Cool, so who's it for," Spike asked with curiosity flowing through each word he spoke.
Sunset looked down at the gift and instantly started smiling and blushing. "Sorry Spike, but that's only for me to know." As Sunset said this, Fluttershy started walking inside with a gift of her own, about the same size as Sunset's except wrapped in yellow paper with a pink bow on top.
"Fluttershy, Fluttershy, you gotta tell me who's that present for," Spike excitedly said.
"Sorry Spike, but it's a secret only for tonight," Fluttershy said as she started blushing.
"Can you at least tell me who helped you make them," Spike asked.
"I don't see anything wrong with that, but she should be coming in any second now," Fluttershy said.
"Yes, The Great and Powerful Trixie has fallen under the spirt of the holiday and helped them make their gifts," Trixie said.
"Are you serious," Spike said with a hint of untrustworthiness towards Trixie.
"And it's because of that tone why Trixie will not tell you who they are for," Trixie said.
"Wait, what, no, I take that back, oh come on," Spike said frantically.
"Great job girls, I bet they'll love it," Twilight said to Sunset and Fluttershy. "I can't wait until everybody gets here, I've had the cocoa and cake ready ever since this morning."
"You had it ready?" Spike and Pinkie questioned to Twilight.
"More like, Pinkie and Spike had it ready," Twilight said as she twirled the end of her hair.
As the night came onto Ponyville, all of the friends started to arrive at the library with gifts in hand. The only people that were missing from the party, were the two guys who everybody wanted for them to come. As the group of friends started exchanging gifts with one another, Twilight noticed that there were two gifts still left. "Hey girls, where's Sora and Roxas?"
"They told me and Rainbow that they were on the way," Aj said.
"Yeah, but that was hours ago, after we caught them inside the apple orchards doing nothing but sitting around the trees," Rainbow said.
"What if they're not coming," Fluttershy sadly said as she thought about how she couldn't give her gift to the one boy that she cared for the most.
"Oh, they're coming," Twilight said as she charged up her magic. "Whether they like it or not." Twilight released her magic and what popped out of a flash was Sora and Roxas as they were teleported to Twilight's library. One noticeable thing that they picked up on was that were a few feet off the ground, and when the magic left them, well......you know what happened.
"Ow, what's the reason for teleporting us in midair," Sora said while rubbing his head in pain. "You couldn't have just teleported us on the ground or something?"
"Why, weren't you coming," Twilight asked. "Why did you lie and say that you were coming, if you knew that you weren't?!"
"Roxas, why didn't you want to come to the party," Sunset asked him.
"Sunset....." was the only thing Roxas could say as he saw how torn that Sunset was about this whole thing, and Sora couldn't even look at anyone as a rush of different emotions came over him. As the girls kept asking them questions, there was only one question that the keybladers wanted to know.
Everyone stopped talking and all that could be heard was silence.
"Why do you care so much about us," Roxas said clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. "We've done nothing but bring you closer to harm's way. "But you still treat us like we're apart of you."
"So that's the reason why, you don't think you're family do you," Applejack said to the two keybladers.
"Why would we, we do nothing but bring danger to you." Sora said. "Ever since we came, the heartless arrived in hordes, and not just attacking me and Roxas, but attacking you guys too. Why would I want to put somebody through that."
"Because family sticks together no matter what," Twilight told them. "Ohana means family, and that's what we are."
Sora and Roxas both looked up at her surprised at what she had just said.
"How do you know that word?" Sora asked.
"I read it in a book, today actually," Twilight said with a smile.
Sora and Roxas looked at each other and then back at the girls. "*sigh* There's no losing when it comes to you all."
"So, how about spending your first Hearth's Warming with your family," Sunset said to Roxas.
"Sora, they'll never stop, we have no choice," Roxas jokingly said.
"Yeah, you're right, how about we just spend the night with our family," Sora said with a smile.
"Awwwwwwww, GROUP HUG!" Pinkie yelled out for all of Ponyville to hear as she ran up to Sora and was basically hugging the life out of him. Sora looked around for help to get him out of this death grip, but everyone gave him the "It's Pinkie Pie" look. "Huh, that wasn't really much of "group hug," but whatever, let's this party started!" Pinkie said as she busted out the party canons and pulled the strings, causing all kinds of confetti and Hearth's warming decorations to fly everywhere.
"There's no party like a Pinkie Pie Party," Sora said as he laughed about the whole thing. Sora felt a faint tap on his shoulder, which happened to be Fluttershy, who was blushing intensely while she was holding the present for Sora. "Oh hey Fluttershy, what's that in your hand?"
Fluttershy started stumbling through her words, "Oh, it's a, I mean, it's yours, no, that's not what I meant."
Sunset saw this, and immediately went in to help. "Hey Sora, Fluttershy and I got you and Roxas something special that only you two can have."
Sora looked with glee, "You got us presents?!"
"Did someone say presents, I heard presents," Roxas asked.
"That's right, I made this for you Roxas," Sunset said. "And Fluttershy made that one for you Sora."
"Really, that's amazing Fluttershy, thank you," Sora said as Fluttershy handed him the gift, with the assistance of Sunset. The two keybladers opened their gifts simultaneously, and what was inside the boxes made them smile wide as the sky. What was inside of each box was a tailor made winter jacket with white fur outling the edges with little crowns adorned as the buttons. Sora had a black one, and Roxas had a red. They instantly put their jackets on.
"Winter jackets, these are amazing!" Sora said.
"You made these from scratch?" Roxas said. "You know you didn't have to do that."
"Oh, then I'll just take it back then," Sunset playfully said as she reached for the jacket.
"Nononononono, you've already done it, it's too late," Roxas playfully said back.
"Fluttershy this is too much, this is so me," Sora said.
"I-it was nothing Sora really," Fluttershy quietly said.
"How about we go for another flying carpet ride, as your gift from me," Sora said.
"...Can we go higher this time?" Fluttershy asked.
"I don't see why not," Sora said.
"Ok we can go," Fluttershy said.
"Yes," Sora quietly said.
"So, did you like your gift," Sunset said to Roxas.
"I love it Sunset, this is the greatest 1st Hearth's Warming ever," Roxas said.
"Um, hey you two, I don't mean to interrupt your conversation ,but your standing under something," Rainbow said with a snicker.
Roxas and Sunset looked up and saw that there was a mistletoe perfectly placed above them. This immediately made them blush, but a smile could be seen on both of their faces. They started to lean in towards each other ever so lovely, waiting for that one moment, and just like that.......it was gone.
"Roxas, Sunset, me and Fluttershy are going on the magic carpet come on!" Sora yelled ruining the entire moment. Rainbow saw this and immediately bursted out in tears. "What, what's so funny?"
"......You're lucky it's Hearth's Warming," Sunset said as she walked towards the carpet.
"What did I do?" Sora asked Roxas.
Roxas put his hand on Sora's shoulder, "*sigh* Happy Hearth's Warming Sora, Happy Hearth's Warming."
"You fools, this will be your grave," Vanitas said as the three of them prepared to duel.
The battleground was silent as everyone became tense at the sight of the ever looming battle. Everyone could sense the keybladers auras colliding together viciously at one another. They each stood still, as they were waiting for the first attack. The rest of their friends were all as quiet as mice as they waited intently for the battle that was about to ensure.
Roxas clenched his keyblade tight in his hand as he started dashing towards Vanitas with the intent to end his life. Vanitas did the same as he rushed right at Roxas as well. The two keybladers collided as sparks started to fly in the air from their keyblades clashing. Roxas overpowered Vanitas and pushed him back a few steps, and as Roxas started to attack with a side swipe from his key blade, Vanitas quickly stabilized himself and deflected Roxas's attack by stopping it with the hilt of his key blade. Vanitas used his magic and propelled himself away from Roxas, but that didn't stop Roxas from quickly dashing towards him and getting back in his face as they started back clashing. Each attack that the keybladers threw at each other had an impact of force that shook the ground with each connecting blow. Their keyblades interlocked and Vanitas and Roxas were at a stalemate as they both struggled to push one another off balance. Vanitas then kicked Roxas in his leg causing it to buckle and made Roxas lose his balance. Vanitas saw his advantage, and he took his chance to strike Roxas down. He raised his key blade in the air and came down at Roxas with a downward strike, aiming for Roxas's head. Roxas couldn't get his balance back quick enough to block the strike, and it started looking grim for the keyblader as Vanitas's attack came closer and closer towards him, but with a flash of light and a clash of swords, Roxas saw himself unharmed as he looked up and saw Sora guarding him from Vanitas as he pushed Oathkeeper towards Vanitas's face. With every second, Sora was launching a flurry of attacks towards Vanitas, not having a single break within each hit. Everyone was able to see the actual power that the Valor form possessed. Especially Twilight, as she saw how this form of Sora focused more on head to head combat while his Wisdom form was a more zone based fighting style, using magic instead of head to head. Sora having this hidden arte inside of him was truly something worth noting for later.
As Sora had pushed Vanitas into a state of defending, out of nowhere, Roxas came from behind, and while holding the Oblivion with the back hand fighting style, struck Vanitas to the side with a piercing force of power from the key blade. This caused Vanitas to fall flat on his body as he started to tumble all across the ground but eventually he started to slide, stopping his body from tumbling. As he continued sliding, Vanitas started launching volleys of dark magic towards the two keybladers. Seeing this, Sora and Roxas started running towards Vanitas, deflecting and evading every single volley that came towards them. There was no stopping them from getting close to the enemy Before Vanitas could even get up, Roxas was already in his vicinity, with a key blade dead at his face, stating that if he moved, then it would be all over. Sora was right there with him as he had both of his key blades clenched at his sides waiting for Vanitas to try something else. Vanitas looked down and displayed a very sinister grin.
"Hmph, to think, that you would do all of this, over two people that you barely know," Vanitas said.
"They're our friends Vanitas, and anyone who tries to hurt our friends has to answer to us," Sora stated to the enemy.
"You're 'friends' huh, even the demon girl?" Vanitas sinisterly asked.
His wording gave Sora a startled and angry expression all at once. "What are you talking about?"
Vanitas looked at Sora with surprised eyes as he started to lose it, "Really, you couldn't tell, HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH, * turns to Roxas* and I'm guessing you couldn't either huh you emotionless freak? Roxas started swinging his key blade to end Vanitas, but Sora stopped him before he could finish the attack.
Sora looked at Vanitas, "I'll ask again, what are you talking about?"
In the matter of a second, Vanitas had quickly gotten back near to the two trapped girls.
"How did he.." Sora said as he was dumbfounded to how he got over there so quickly. Sora then looked back and saw that the Vanitas on the ground was nothing more than an unversed disguised as him. Sora, visibly angry, destroyed the unversed. "What's going on Vanitas?!"
"Did you really think that I would be that weak that I would be taken down by a copy and a failure like you?" Vanitas bragged. "But I do have to give it to you, no one has ever made me have to use that replacement skill in the heat of battle.
"But....how?" Sora asked in disbelief.
"Well, you see, *looks towards Roxas* when that fake had knocked me down, I used the volleys not to only attack you two, but to cloud their vision from me so that I could call an unverse and mold him to look just like me," Vanitas said. He walked over to the unconscious Sunset and gently caressed her face. This caused Roxas to explode with rage, as he dashed towards Vanitas, leaving a crater in every step he took. Vanitas knew that Roxas was at his limit, and that this girl was something important to him, but what he was going to see, would change all of that. Vanitas launched a wave of dark magic over Sunset just before he was hit by Roxas with full force, causing him to spit up from his mouth, and leaving him unable to move, but Vanitas knew that his plan was already in affect. Roxas turned towards the area where Sunset was, and saw another being there in her place. Her hair was flame like, her body was a shade of red, her clothes in tatters, fangs where her normal teeth should be , and bat like wings jutting from her back. Roxas couldn't believe what he was seeing.....who was this person in front of him? He was at a loss, and as he stared in disbelief, his armor started to fade from his body.
"No way," an unfamiliar voice said. the rest of the group turned around and saw that it was that same boy from before that the cmc tried to protect before Sora came and solved the problem, only thing different is that everyone who attended the fair was there with him for some odd reason, but it didn't matter for they all had a terrified expression on their faces as they Sunset in that beastly form. Everyone was at a loss to what was going on, until they were all shot back into reality with Vanitas attacking roxas with his key blade. The sudden attack made Roxas fall to his knees.
"You really shouldn't take your eyes off the enemy," Vanitas said as he positioned his key blade onto Roxas's neck. "Because things like this might happen. As Vanitas started raising his key blade in the air, Sora was staring off into space, replaying back how this whole situation had suddenly turned for the worst. Roxas losing his focus, him showing Sunset, everyone's reaction........
"He planned all of this to happen.....we fell in his trap," Sora said.
"What kind of heroes are you?" Vanitas said wickedly. "You two are nothing like how the original masters were. You're nothing but runts in the litter." As Vanitas started to raise his key blade, he slowly stopped, quickly having another idea pop in his head. "You know, I wonder would happen to the other girl if I did the exact same thing?
Everyone was stunned at his words. Rainbow Dash had raced towards to try and stop him, but a patch of unversed had appeared to block her way. Sora was astonished at his words. His eyes turned into those fueled with hatred and anger, something that no one has ever seen from Sora.
"You hurt my friends...." Sora quietly said as pulses of energy started appearing around him. "You trapped them, and put their lives in danger." Dark energy started surrounding Sora. Sora's body started twitching as his energy rose even higher.
"Sora......" Roxas said watching the darkness envelope Sora's body.
"Hmph, please, you're nothing important, you're just two copies of the same person," Vanitas said as he walked closer to Fluttershy. "Now, my darling, *summons dark magic in his hand* onto business!" As Vanitas made contact with Fluttershy, something on her body started to glow. It was bright enough to blind everyone's eyes. All that could be heard was a loud roar. What was glowing on Fluttershy was the charm of the lion that Sora had given her when they first met. Out of the charm, and in front of Vanitas came a ferocious lion! "You think a lion is going to stop me, you're going to need more than that to-" Vanitas was interrupted as a hard jab to his face came out of nowhere. Everyone turned and saw something that resembled a heartless but immensely bigger with the body type of someone famliar.
"Is that, Sora?" Twilight asked.
"Sora, what is this?" Roxas thought to himself. Sora saw the downed Roxas and quickly picked him up, and brought him over to where the rest of his friends were.
"How is he so much faster?" Twilight asked.
"I think I understand. That form he's in, the anger and darkness in his heart has taken over his body," Roxas stated. "His major senses and reflexes have been enhanced, all for the price of the light in his heart. Don't worry he'll revert back, but when, I don't know."
Vanitas quickly recovered from that punch, but what surprised him, was that he actually felt blood rolling down his cheek. "You.......hurt me." Magic started to surge around his body "I"LL END YOU!" As he said this, he immediately rushed towards Sora with key blade in head, and Sora ferociously charged at him on all fours, like an animal from the wild. When they were close enough, they started to exchange blow after blow. Every attack was bombarded with another series, as they were both fighting with anger induced souls in their bodies.
As this was going one, the lion was next to Fluttershy, trying to figure out how to get her out of this trap. He paced back and forth and finally came up with an idea. He then stood proudly and unleashed an ear deafening roar, and from this roar came beams of lights that went straight towards the trap that was holding Fluttershy. As Fluttershy became free from the trap, she immediately started to fall to the ground from the extreme exhaustion that her body endured from being surrounded by that much darkness, but before she made contact with the ground, the lion had caught her on his back.
Fluttershy briefly and slowly opened her eyes to see nothing but the back of the head of some animal. Then she realized that she was on the back of this animal but before she could make anymore realizations, she slowly slipped out of consciousness.
As the lion looked back to make sure that Fluttershy was okay, he started to turn around and help Sunset out of her trap as well, but when he saw her, he immediately stopped in his tracks seeing nothing but what looks like a monster to his eyes. He slowly started to back away from Sunset as he put Fluttershy under the shade of a tree while he stood in front of her just in case any thing came out at them, and just like the rest, he stood there watching the battle between Sora and Vanitas rage on in front of him.
As the fight went on, all of the bystanders were having problems keeping up with the two fighters as they were moving too fast for the naked eye to see, all except for the split second where they would both collide with their attacks. Every attack Vanitas would throw, Sora would dodge, and every attack Sora threw, Vanitas would block. Vanitas's anger slowly started to show as he started to struggle keeping up with Sora's attacks.
"This is getting ridiculous," Vanitas said.
Twilight and the rest of the girls watched the fight from afar in interest and in fear. The fear of what would happen if this fight continued, and the fear of what Sora had become. From his body becoming completely enveloped. To the beady yellow eyes that replaced his blue ocean eyes.
"He looks just like a heartless," Twilight thought. " "I hope he knows what he's doing."
As Sora ran towards Vanitas, Vanitas saw this and immediately got into a defensive position, but this was Sora's plan as he stopped his oncoming attack, faking him out and leaving his guard open for an attack, which sent Vanitas rocketing towards the ground. Vanitas wasn't getting back up after that last attack, and all he could do was look up in anger at the predicament that he put himself in. As Sora's anti form starting to show its embedding within Sora as he got onto all fours and rushed after Vanitas, trying to end it all with a single pounce. But, as soon as he tried this, Sora was knocked back by an unseen force. Everyone looked around and saw nothing, except a dark and eerie black smoke coming from in front of Vanitas. What made the whole situation stranger was that it seemed that Vanitas could here the smoke talking to him but no one else could.
"I thought I said to get the element,"
"I did, but I had just had to tie up some loose ends," Vanitas said towards the towering smoke.
"You have failed the task.......report back to the blizzard of where my remains are located for it is time to regain what was taken from me,"
"Yes, my King," Vanitas said as he kneeled towards the smoke. The dark smoke started creeping upon Vanitas as it took his body into a pool of darkness going to a place that no one knew of. The last thing that people saw of Vanitas was a very evil grin stating that this wasn't the end of him. As this happened, Sora started to revert back to his normal self.
Everything was at a dead silence, for the only thing that they all payed attention to was the girl with the face of a demon. The trap that had confined Sunset was starting to dissipate, and with it the spell that forced the dark side of her heart to flourish over her body was gone, changing her back to her normal self. But be it as it may, the bystanders all looked at her with a different faces than before. Faces of deception and disgust were present on their faces. Everyone besides her friends, did not think of her as a person, they thought of her as a monster. As she started to collapse just like Fluttershy, none of them had seem to be worried about her hurting herself at all, no one but her friends did at least, since Roxas ran over to her as fast as he could to catch her in his arms.
"Sunset, Sunset," Roxas worriedly said as he started trying to shake her awake.
"R-Roxas," Sunset said as she placed her hand on his arm.
As Sunset was fading in and out of consciousness, the only person that she could see was Roxas, and as soon as she saw him, tears started to roll down her face.
"I'm....sorry," Sunset whispered to Roxas before she lost consciousness. Roxas's face showed of surprise, confusion, and worry all wrapped in one. As the rest of group ran over to see to Sunset, Roxas got up with Sunset in his arms as she rested.
"She's fine....go check on Sora," Roxas said with no emotion as he turned to the other keyblader who was struggling to get up from the ground as his body was strained from being in those two forms for such a long time, especially after going into it from already being in another form. Twilight went to help him, and as she did, Sora asked, "Is * breathes heavily* Fluttershy okay?" to which Twilight replied, "Yes, as crazy as it sounds, she was saved by a lion."
"Heheheh, so Simba's here?" Sora asked as he let out a chuckle. Simba then let out a loud roar showing how he was here to help. "That's awesome Simba, I knew I made the right decision." *Looks around* "Where's Vanitas?"
"He vanished," Twilight said. "Dark smoke just appeared and took him away, and he started mumbling to himself."
"Well, that's weird," Sora said. "So what happens now?"
"We need to go back to Ponyville, get the people who were injured help, and figure out what to do from there," Twilight said.
"Yeah, I gotta feeling that this isn't going to be the last time we see Vanitas," Sora said.
"Sora, Sora dear, are you okay?!" Rarity worriedly said as she ran towards him.
"Yeah, I'm okay, just a little tired," Sora said.
"Well don't worry dear,we'll get you back to Ponyville soon, and I'll have Aloe and Lotus Blossom give you an amazing spa treatment as soon as we get back," Rarity said as she grabbed Sora's hand.
"Really it's not that necessary," Sora said with a chuckle.
"Nonsense, I'll have them set up the usual and it will be magnificent," Rarity exclaimed.
As Twilight saw this, her genuine smile appeared back on her face, knowing that things would be normal for a little while, but at the same time, she knew it would be different as she looked at Sunset and kept replaying the events that had just occurred back in her mind. No words could be said about how she felt right now. All she could think about now was what was coming next?
Somwhere in a far off distance
There stood a castle in the midst of a high class land, where it was the norm to show off your wealth and spend your time attending galas and soirees, and the ones who lived in this castle were the two Rulers of Equestria, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. The two princesses are known for many things: being extremely beautiful, powerful, and their celestial and luminescent flowing hair, but the one thing that they cherished the most was that they were the beings who raised the sun and moon every day and night.
As Celestia sat on her throne, she could feel that there was something off about today.
"Do you feel it too sister?" Luna asked.
"Yes, but what could it mean?" Celestia asked.
All silence was broken as a royal guard had busted through the throne doors running in towards the two princesses. He started speaking with heavy fatigue in his breath. "Your highness......I come with urgent news!"
"Well what could it be?" Celestia asked.
"We have......just gotten intel that Ponyville and Rainbow Falls were attacked by invading monsters powered by the forces of darkness," the royal guard said. "Our intel stated that the monsters in Rainbow Falls were being controlled by someone with a giant 'key'.
Luna looked at him questionably. "A giant key? That can't be right."
"It is true your highness," the royal guard spoke. "It was also said that two boys with powers beyond that of the elements of harmony were the ones who faced against this threat with overwhelming odds stacked against them."
"I see," was all that Celestia could say at the moment for this entire story was too much to take in.
The guard started to kneel and take his helmet off. "One more thing, we have received news from Northern Equestria. I am to tell you that IT has returned."
The princesses eyes turned wide as to what the guard had told them. Celestia calmed herself as she looked back at the guard. "Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor and tell them about this at once!"
The guard bowed as he ran out and told the other royal guards about the new mission.
Celestia sighed at the fact that all this was happening at once. a golden aura started to envelop around a quill, ink, and parchment, as Celestia was using her magic to levitate it over to her. She then began writing a letter to her most faithful student.
Author's Note: (So, this chapter was supposed to come before the Valentines Day Special so keep that in mind while reading this chapter you guys. My bad about that.)
The room was pitch black. It was dark enough that one was not able to see their hands in front of their face. There was only one little glimmer of light and it was in the form of a pendant that was a around a certain girl's neck. As the pendant around her neck grew brighter, she noticed that around her in the darkness were hordes of dark creatures lurking after her. Petrified from this sight, she was not able to move one muscle. As the dark creatures crawled towards her closer and closer, the girl feared that this would be the end, until a bright flash of light illuminated the entire room, and what stood in front of the girl had amazed her. It was a majestic lion that had appeared in her path. Before the girl could say anything, the lion started to growl at the darkness, and he was able to eliminate the darkness with one single roar.......
Fluttershy quickly opened her eyes and jumped straight up into the air. She found herself in an unfamiliar bed as she started to look around to see where she was, but the one thing that quickly caught her attention was the purring that she kept hearing coming from the edge of the bed. She crawled to the edge of the bed and saw something that caused her eyes to go wide.
I- I can't believe it...is that a lion!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
"Do you like him?" Sora said as he stood at the corner of the room.
Fluttershy had jumped a bit from the fact that she wasn't expecting Sora to be right there. "Oh, Sora it's you." "Umm, why were you standing right there?"
"Well, you know I.....was just.....worried, about you Fluttershy," Sora said as he looked off to the side of the room.
Fluttershy's face became bright red as she tried to hide it with her hair. "You were worried about me?"
"I-I mean everybody was y'now, you and Sunset going through all of that had to be something tough," Sora said as he tried to maneuver his way out of what he had just said.
Fluttershy looked up at Sora at the mention of Sunset. She remembered that Sunset was with her too when they were captured. "Sunset, she was with me too, where is she?"
Sora looked down to the floor at the mention of Sunset. "You see, something happened with Sunset , and she's not taking it that well."
"What do you mean, what happened to her Sora?!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
Sora grabbed her by the arms at an attempt to calm her. "Fluttershy, relax, something happened to Sunset, and she became like this demon monster when Vanitas, the guy who kidnapped you two, put dark magic inside of her." "She's.....not taking it so well, and neither is anyone in Ponyville."
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked.
"The way that some of the townspeople looked at her was...terrible," Sora said. "They totally forgot that she was their friend, and just saw her like that."
"It happened again..." Fluttershy said.
Sora looked at her in confusion. "What are talking about Fluttershy?"
"This happened before a while ago, but it was an alternate world, mirror portal fiasco when she became that form and she tried to take over the alternate world, and everybody was terrified of her," Fluttershy said.
"Are you serious?" Sora asked.
"Mmmhmm, but Twilight had stopped her and showed her that all she needed was friends to show her the way," Fluttershy said. "Then she moved back to Equestria form the portal and basically started over here again, and having all of this happening again, she must be feeling awful!"
"I didn't know about all of that," Sora said.
"Where is she now?" Fluttershy said.
"She's downstairs with everybody else," Sora said.
Fluttershy got out of the bed, and as she tried to jump off, Simba had caught her on his back. "Simba, what are you doing?"
"Look at that, you are good with animals," Sora said. Simba started to walk Fluttershy downstairs with Sora following right behind them. As they made it down to the living room, everyone looked and saw Fluttershy riding on Simba.
"Fluttershy, you're okay!" Rainbow said as she started flying towards Fluttershy. Simba immediately stopped her as Simba started to growl at Rainbow. "Woah, relax cub no need to get feisty." Simba wasn't backing down at all from Rainbow.
Fluttershy started to pet Simba's head to calm him down. "Simba, it's okay, she's a friend." Simba immediately calmed down at Fluttershy's words. "Simba everyone in here is a friend, there's no need to be afraid."
"He's afraid?" Spike said. "He's a ferocious lion for Celestia's sake!"
"That doesn't mean that he's not a little bit uncomfortable," Fluttershy said. "He's in a world that he doesn't know, seeing people that he never met."
"I guess that makes sense," Spike said.
Fluttershy started petting the lion once again. "He's just a big lovable lion, and there's nothing wrong with that.
"Plus, he's the king of his own pride, so he's kind of a big thing," Sora added on.
"Well I'm glad that you're feeling better Fluttershy," Twilight said.
Fluttershy started looking around the library to see all of her friends, but they all had melancholy expressions on their faces. "Why is everybody so down?" She looked again and noticed that Sunset wasn't in the room. "Where's Sunset?"
All of the girls had worried expressions on their faces as soon as Fluttershy had asked her question.
"You see Fluttershy, Sunset, well she's uhhh," Twilight said as she couldn't find the words to say.
Spike couldn't keep it in any longer as he shouted throughout the entire library. "Sunset's not here! We don't know where she went. She started talking about how she wasn't a good friend, how can a demon like her have any friends, and how it's her fault that all of this happened."
"Spike!" Twilight said.
"Sorry, but someone had to say it," Spike proclaimed.
"We don't know where she went," Applejack said. "This whole situation is just terrible."
"I see.....poor Sunset," Fluttershy said with pity in her tone.
Roxas looked up at her in confusion. "Really, that's it that's all you can say?" "One of your closest friends just walked out of here without even telling us if she's okay or not, and all you can say is 'I see'?"
Fluttershy stood there in silence over the words that Roxas was saying.
Simba started growling at Roxas, and before things got out of hand, Sora had stepped in front of the ferocious lion.
"Hey, Roxas , relax ok?" Sora said.
" Relax......most of those people outside of here, who were 'Sunset's friends' are turning on her because of what Vanitas did to her, and you guys aren't even worried!" Roxas shouted.
"We are worried Roxas!" Twilight said.
"Then why aren't you doing anything," Roxas proclaimed.
"Because she won't listen to us," Rainbow said. "No matter what we say, and no matter how many times we'll tell her it's okay, she's not going to believe us when everybody saw her like that!" "To someone like Sunset, and with what happened to her in the past, how do you think she feels right now?"
"She probably feels as if everyone is looking at her differently than before," Rarity said.
Roxas tried his hardest to hold in his anger over the situation, but it was to no avail. "So that's it, that's all that we're going to do?" ".......Fine."
Roxas immediately walked towards the door without saying another thing to anyone else.
Twilight turned around to try and stop him from leaving. "Roxas, wait!"
Roxas looked back at her with a cold stare in his eyes that stopped Twilight from doing anything else in that specific moment. He then proceeded to walk outside of the library, without saying another word.
****
Outside of Ponyville, there the stood the Everfree Forest, home of many different things that are not normally found in the fields of Equestria. From different plants to different people. Even different monsters from beyond the realm of the gods themselves.
"And this is where a monster like me deserves to be," Sunset said to herself. Sunset started walking through the entrance of the Everfree Forest as visions of that moment kept replaying her head over and over again.
A Few Minutes Ago
Sunset was walking through the main area of Ponyville not looking at anything or anyone. She was tense, and she felt as if everyone was staring at her. She started hearing murmurs, and those murmurs turned into whispers, and those whispers turned into unbearable sounds that she could not get out of her head. She felt as if she was losing her mind until she heard a loud scream. Sunset looked in front of her to see a child in her way.
"It's the monster! She's trying to hurt me!"
"No, that's not true, I wouldn't do that," Sunset said. The child started running away in what seemed like an eternal road. She tried telling the child that she would never do a thing such as that, but as she tried catching up, the child just kept getting farther and farther away. What replaced her attention from the feeling child, were the numerous whispers that she started to hear from bystanders.
"Isn't that the demon girl?"
"Yeah, what is she doing here?"
"I don't know but she better do us all a favor and just leave."
Sunset started to put her hands around her ears to block out the sounds but it didn't help in the slightest. As she slowly started slipping into paranoia, she started to hear someone started to call her name. "Sunset.........Sunset..........SUNSET!"
Sunset snapped out of it as she looked around to see who called her name. Her eyes maintained focus on the only person who she knew that had called her name. "....Roxas."
Roxas was panting as he started to walk towards her. "Sunset...I've been looking fo-"
"Don't come near me!" Sunset said.
"What are you saying Sunset?" Roxas said.
"I'm sorry, but I can't be around you, or anyone of our friends," Sunset said. "I'm nothing but a monster, and a monster like deserves to be in only one place here." Sunset started surrounding her body with magic as she started to teleport herself away. "Goodbye Roxas."
Roxas couldn't say a word as Sunset had teleported away. Roxas started to think about what she had said to him. "Sunset.....what is wrong with you? A monster like you? Only one place here?" "The only place that I can think of here would be......" Roxas stopped talking as he started running towards the only place that made any sense onto where Sunset could have gone. As Roxas runs out of Ponyville, he starts making his way over where he might be able to find Sunset. As he started getting closer to his destination, Roxas began to slow down his pace. What stood in front of him was the only place that he could think that she would have ran off to, the Everfree Forest.
Present Time As Sunset walked through the forest, she started contemplating everything that was going on. What Vanitas was trying to do to her. He was trying to take her light away by using his dark magic, and by doing that, he showed everyone what she truly was. "Why did this happen to me?" "I'm nothing but a monster in everyone's eyes......but that's not the real me." "It doesn't even matter......I don't deserve to be around anyone. Not Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow, none of them.....not even him."
**** Roxas went deeper into the forest in search for Sunset. "Come on Sunset, which way did you go?" As he continued through the forest, Roxas spotted something that was red. "Hold on, is that what I think it is?" Roxas started to run towards the red and yellow object, and as he got closer, he recognized that it was Sunset's hair. As he was getting ready to confront her, he stopped as he noticed that she was doing something unfamiliar to him. Sunset started walking through the forest as she began to sing.
(Sunset) Look at me.... I do not deserve to be your side I am just a bother Could it be I'm not meant to play this part? Now I see that if I were truly to be myself I would only lose my heart
Sunset continued walking through the forest until she laid her eyes upon a lake and decided to look in it and what she saw was a reflection of her demon form.
(Sunset) What is that thing I see Staring straight Back at me Why is my reflection someone I.... Don't know.....
Sunset proceeded to throw a rock at the reflection, causing it to ripple throughout the lake.
(Sunset) Somehow I cannot hide What I am Though I've tried When will my reflection show who I am Inside......
Sunset then went to an old tree and decided to lie on the trunk of the beaten tree.
(Sunset) When will my reflection show Who I am Inside......
Sunset rested her head on her legs as she sat there next to the tree.
"Maybe it'll show once you stop picturing yourself in that way," a certain someone said.
Sunset eyes shot wide as she looked up and saw Roxas in the forest as well. "Roxas, what are you doing here?"
Roxas looked at her with a nonchalant expression. "Really, well, one of my friends is describing herself as a monster, and she did so with a beautiful song, that's the problem."
Sunset just looked down at the ground. "But it's true. Everything about me is true. I have nothing but evil in me."
"That's not true!" Roxas shouted. "Look Sunset, I know what it's like to be treated like the bad guy, trust me." I've done and been through bad things and through it all, I lost two good friends because of something just like this, and I don't want you to lose eight great ones."
Roxas looked directly at her at she asked that question. "In actuality Sunset, you mean more to me than just a friend. I can't really describe what this feeling is but, I only feel it when I'm around you, and that means something to me."
Sunset started blushing from Roxas's words as she tried not to look at him directly. "You really shouldn't things like that if you don't mean them."
"I meant every word Sunset," Roxas stated as he grabbed Sunset's hand to her surprise. "If anything bad happened to you, I'd go ballistic, and if it's one emotion I've experienced more than others, it would be anger and confusion. Roxas chuckled at his weak attempt of a joke, but it was enough to an emotion out of Sunset.
Tears started coming down Sunset's face.
"Hey, hey I wasn't trying to make you cry," Roxas pleaded. "Maybe that joke wasn't as well thought out as I'd imagined. As Roxas said this, he heard chuckling come from Sunset as she started crying tears of joy. "Wait, are you laughing?"
"Yes, I am," Sunset said as she embraced Roxas in an intimate hug.
"But, your crying," Roxas said.
"Tears of joy, you idiot," Sunset said.
"Don't think that was necessary," Roxas mumbled.
"Roxas.........who are you," Sunset asked.
"Well, I'm someone who wants to protect you, so I guess you can call me your knight," Roxas said to Sunset.
"You always know exactly what to say," Sunset purred as she started leaning in towards Roxas. Roxas saw this, and he began to the same. As they kept getting closer and closer to each other, their emotions became more and more intense. This was a moment made just for them made just for them as the beams of light from the sun loomed over the lake and caused it sparkle, one could say that this was truly a magical moment. So what was Roxas waiting for?
"Kiss the girl man, kiss her,"
Roxas and Sunset stopped inches away from each other as they both heard the same thing. They turned around and saw all of their friends right behind them.
"Rainbow, why did you that, you ruined the entire mood," Rarity said. "The words, the dram, the atmosphere was so perfect. "Something like that will never happen again in that magnitude."
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself," Rainbow said as she started laughing loudly.
"What in the name of Celestia are you guys doing here!?" Sunset angrily said.
"Better question, what were you doing on top of ole' Roxas over there?" Rainbow teasingly asked.
"I-I-I wasn't doing anything ok?!" Sunset said as she became flustered.
"Sure you weren't," Pinkie pie sarcastically said joining in towards the teasing.
"*sigh* Really guys, twice, like Christmas wasn't bad enough," Roxas said to himself. Roxas looked up and saw Sora looming over him. No words were exchanged as Sora sat down beside Roxas as the girls talked to Sunset.
"So, how did you get her back to normal?" Sora asked.
"What a way to start a conversation Sora," Roxas said.
"Well, you just seemed angry back there at the library when we started talking about Sunset," Sora said.
"I seemed angry?" Roxas sarcastically asked. "Says the guy who basically turned into a heartless when Vanitas tried to attack Fluttershy."
"Hey, he's lucky that he got away," Sora said.
"Don't worry, we'll find him soon," Roxas said. "So, how did you guys even find us here?"
"We had some help from a little friend," Sora said.
Roxas looked puzzled at Sora's sentence until he looked up into the sky and saw a familiar looking bird. "Philomena?"
Philomena let out a loud screech in joy.
"We asked Philomena if she could track down where Sunset went off to," Sora said. "Lucky us right?"
"So why did you guys come," Roxas asked.
"We figured..... that you were right," Twilight said. "We shouldn't have let Sunset leave like that. Real friends help their friends solve any problems that they might have together."
Sunset looked at Twilight and the rest of her friends and saw the complete joy that was plastered on their faces from the fact that they had found her. The single moment just caused tears of joy to fall. "You girls.....are truly the greatest friends anyone could have ever asked for."
"Awwwwwww group hug!" Pinkie shouted as she ran towards Sunset and gave her a massive hug that was soon followed by the rest of the girls.
"Oh, and you don't have to worry about the townspeople treating you any different than before," Twilight said.
"What do you mean," Sunset said.
"Let's just say that I got a little help from the royal family," Twilight said. "Everything is all sorted out."
As everyone started walking out of the forest, Sora and Roxas followed behind the group of girls as Sora just stood there with a smile on his face.
"What are you so happy about?" Roxas asked.
"Nothing, nothing, I was just thinking about how lucky we are to find a group of friends like them," Sora said. "They all have different traits, but they still come together as best friends, and help each other out through the hard times." "Don't you think?"
Roxas looked at the group of girls and then focused more on Sunset. ".....Yeah."
****
As the group of friends make it back to Ponyville, they decided to go back to the library and see if Spike would make them some of his famous cookies.
"You think that he will?" Pinkie asked excitedly.
"Of course he will, nothing will stop him from making those cookies if we ask," Twilight said as she opened the door to her library. "Spike, Spiiiikkkke, we were wondering if you would...."
"Twilight, finally, you're back!" Spike ecstatically said. "Listen you're not going to believe what just happened!"
"What's going on Spike?" Twilight said.
"I just got a letter from the Princess," Spike said.
"WHAT, a letter from the Princess?!" Twilight said in surprise. "Well, where is it!?"
Spike walked over to a table that the letter was laying on and picked it up. "It's over here." As soon as he picked it up, purple magic to envelop his body as he was whooshed over towards Twilight.
"What does it say?" Twilight questionably said.
Spike started taking the tie off the letter as it fell open and he started reading.
My Faithful Student Twilight, There has been an urgent concern that has recently put Equestria in a bind, and I believe that we'll need the help of the elements of harmony yet again. Along with the keybladers that you have met. I hope to see you soon in Canterlot.
Signed,
Celestia
Spike closed the letter as there was nothing left to read from it.
"Was that all," Twilight asked. "There's nothing left on the letter?"
"No, that was it, I guess this is a matter the princess would rather speak in person about," Spike said.
"How am I supposed to know what to do or what to bring if she left it so vague?" Twilight nervously said.
"It can't be anything good if she's calling all of us to Canterlot," Sunset added. "I say we make our way there as soon as we can."
"But what am I supposed to do Sunset, do you know how bad I'd look if your faithful student showed up to her mentor unprepared?!" Twilight spastically said. "That would be terrible!"
"I.....think you're worrying too much about the wrong thing, but even so, it shouldn't be a problem, with all of us there we'll have this done in an instant," Sunset confidently said.
"Yeah, I guess you're right, but just to be on the safe side, I'll pack some quills and ink just in case there is a pop quiz," Twilight said. "Alright everyone, to the train station, we're going to Canterlot!" Everyone nodded their heads and quickly headed out the door of the library and went towards the train station.
As they make it to the train station, Twilight handed them each a train ticket boarding to Canterlot. As Twilight went towards Fluttershy, she noticed that there was a big gigantic lion missing from her side. "Fluttershy, what happened to the lion, you didn't let him loose in Ponyville did you?"
"Don't worry Twilight, Simba's safe," Fluttershy said as she pointed at her charm necklace. "He went back inside his charm, and said he'll see me when we get to Canterlot."
"Really, that's what he said?" Twilight unbelievably asked.
"Well, he basically roared alot and went back inside the charm, but I have a good feeling that we'll see him again," Fluttershy said.
"Just make sure he doesn't hurt anybody, I don't remember the last a lion was every deemed friendly," Twilight said as she handed Flutterhsy her ticket.
"Simba wouldn't hurt anyone Twilight, he's as sweet as a butterfly," Fluttershy said.
As Sora walked towards the train, he started to get a memory from the past. A time where he went on a magical train to another world, which ultimately led him to bigger adventures than he had before. As Sora looks back at the train to Canterlot, he started to grin. "Looks like I'm in for another adventure."
"Hey, Earth to Sora, would you mind going inside the train instead of stopping at the doorway?" Rainbow said.
"Oh, sorry about that Rainbow," Sora said as walked inside the train. The rest of his friends started to fall in the train as they found a seat and patiently waited for the train move.
"ALL ABOOOOARRDD!" The train engineer screamed as he closed the doors to the train, prompting that he was about to start the train.
As Sora sat down to a window seat by himself, he realized something different about this train ride compared to his last one when he went to Yen Sid's tower.
"I'm not leaving any of my new friends behind this time," Sora said quietly to himself. "This time, there are no tears."
Oh hey, another month, another holiday, and this holiday is something special. For this is the holiday, where everywhere you go, there is romance in the atmosphere. Now come on, you must know what I'm talking about now. I'm talking about......wait for it...
"Happy Heart's and Hooves Day!" Applebloom, Scootaloo, and SweetieBelle yelled. Sora and Roxas looked at the three girls with surprised expressions over what they had said.
"Um, thanks girls, but we don't what Hearts and Hooves Day is," Sora said.
The three girls simultaniously gasped as they were all flabbergasted at Sora's comment.
"How can you not know what Hearts and Hooves Day is?!" SweetieBelle asked. I mean, come on, you've been living in Ponyville enough to at least hear about it, and not judging from the fact that it's like, the greatest holiday of all time!" "A holiday where people all over Equestria celebrate love and friendship to other people, or if you're lucky, to your very special somebody."
"Very special somebody?" Sora and Roxas asked.
"I know Sweetiebelle has somebody in mind," Scootaloo teasingly said.
"Someone with brown hair who spends all his time playing video games," Applebloom said as she joined in on the teasing.
"You girls, come on," Sweetiebelle said as she started blushing.
"First name starts with a B, and ends with an N?" Scootaloo said. "Sounds familiar doesn't it Applebloom?
"It sure does, I wonder if she got him a gift?" Applebloom said.
"Got who a gift Applebloom," Scootaloo asked.
"Oh, you know," Applebloom said. "Button Mash!"
Sweetiebelle's face went instantly red as she heard his name, and she quickly covered her face with her hands so that no one would see her so embarrassed. "You guys are the worst."
"Oh relax Sweetiebelle, we're just teasing," Scootaloo said.
"Yeah, we understand how you feel," Applebloom said.
"And you're not going the rest of the day without spending it with him, and we'll make sure of it," Scootaloo said.
"Thanks girls, you really are the best friends anyone could ever ask for," Sweetiebelle said as she and the rest of her friends gave each other a group hug. Sora and Roxas just stood there in the background watching all of this take place in front of them while they still didn't know what was going on.
"So, do you have any idea on what's going on," Roxas said to Sora.
"Not...really," Sora said as he scratched at his head. Suddenly, a harsh pain went through Sora's body as he started to shake for a few seconds.
Roxas looked over to Sora in a worried expression. "Hey, Sora are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Sora said as darkness started to appear out of his hands. Sora saw this and quickly forced the darkness back inside of him.
"Wha- what was all that about," Roxas quietly said so that he wouldn't grab the girls' attention.
"Well, you know that time when we fought Vanitas, and......" Sora paused.
"You let your darkness overtake you and became your anti form," Roxas said as he finished Sora's statement.
"Yeah," Sora said. "Lately it's just been happening at random." I went to Twilight's to see what she thought about it, and she told me that it was happening because there was something in me that wanted to keep it down more than it demanded. She said that something in me was trying too hide it."
"But why would you try to hide, I mean everybody saw you transform so...." Roxas said.
"....Not everybody," Sora said.
Roxas started to think about it, as he remembered that there were only two people that didn't see him in that form, and he knew who she was. "Fluttershy?" "So what?"
"Sorry if I can't take it as lightly as you Roxas, but don't you remember that night when we swore to protect the one that we care about?" Sora said.
"Yeah I remember," Roxas said.
"Well, Fluttershy was the one I was thinking about when I said it, and knowing that I let the darkness take over my entire body, I can't let her know something like that is inside of me," Sora worriedly said.
"I'm pretty sure that Fluttershy wouldn't look at you differently Sora," Roxas said.
"I don't know," Sora quietly said.
"Please Sora, Fluttershy is a one of a kind person, and pressuring yourself with keeping the darkness down deeper than you can is not doing anything good for you," Roxas said.
"I'll figure out some way to handle it, don't you worry," Sora said.
Roxas looked at him with an bored expression. "So instead of telling Fluttershy about this whole situation, which may I remind you is the reason why the darkness is trying to take over your body at a whim in the first place, you would rather keep it hidden from the only person that doesn't know about it, and what could ultimately keep the anti form from trying to come out?"
"I see why you weren't able to go to school," Roxas mockingly said.
"Hey, you try getting to school from an island in the middle of nowhere, it's harder than it looks," Sora stated.
"Not the reason I was talking about when I said you couldn't go to school, but whatever floats your boat," Roxas calmly said.
Sora started to get little annoyed at Roxas's comebacks, and he was about to say something that probably wasn't going to help his side of the argument in the first place, but before he could, Scootaloo had called out to the both of them as the cmc started getting closer to the two keybladers.
"So now do you understand what Heart's and Hooves Day is all about?" Scootaloo said.
"Not really," Sora said with a nervous chuckle.
"Are you serious, you didn't have a holiday like this back in your home?" Applebloom said.
"I've never heard of something like that where I'm from, but to be honest, we probably wouldn't celebrate something like that," Roxas said.
"Maybe, from what I remember, we never really celebrated a holiday about love either," Sora said. "But I did go to this place called Wonderland one time where everything was pink and kind of heart- shaped, but I doubt that they did that to represent love and friendship."
"Oh, wow, that is sad," Scootaloo said. She then started to push the two keybladers forcing them to walk in the direction that she was going towards. "It looks like we have to show you two what Hearts and Hooves Day is all about instead of telling you about it."
"Ok...so where are we going?" Sora asked.
"Duh, we're going to Ponyville," Sweetiebelle said. "The Hearts and Hooves Day Festival that Ponyville is having tonight."
"Hearts and Hooves Day Festival?" Roxas asked.
"You guys sure ask a lot of questions," Scootaloo said. "Just wait until we get to Ponyville then you'll understand."
Sora and Roxas looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders as they saw no way out of this with the three girls behind them, and I guess they could say that this is better than knocking apples off a tree.
****
Well, looks like Sora and Roxas are on their way to Ponyville to see what Hearts and Hooves Day is really all about. But, I wonder, what is everybody else doing for this holiday?
All around Ponyville, you could tell that romance was in the air. The colors of red, pink, and white filled the air as people were celebrating the festival. The sun was set at just the right place, and that wasn't the only thing that made it so noticeable. Everywhere you turned, there were couples together showing their own signs of affection for one another, whether it was having a date in the middle of Town's Square, or just spending this wonderful day together with each other. But, even though there were couples showing their love for each other, there were also groups of friends who were spending their time together admiring the wonderful feeling they got from this holiday while exploring the holiday themed through Ponyville, and out of all the groups of friends, there was one person that just couldn't keep it in to how much she loved Hearts and Hooves Day!
"Oh, I absolutely adore Hearts and Hooves Day!" Rarity shouted in glee as her eyes filled with wonder from all of the festivities surrounding her way. "The decor, the colors, the emotions, it's all so ideal!"
As Rarity fawned over the entire ordeal of the holiday the rest of the girls were following right behind her as they were all in the middle of Ponyville checking out the entire set up for the festival, and they noticed that there were little shops and kiosks set up around the village for Hearts and Hooves Day. But, all that they really kept focusing on was Rarity and how she found everything about this festival and holiday amazing.
"So, I take it that this is Rarity's favorite holiday?" Sunset asked.
"You can say that," Twilight said.
"I don't see why she gets so happy over it," Rainbow said. "Every year it's the same thing: Rarity gets all mushy, she finds a guy that she obsesses over, doesn't get him, and she cries about it." "It's getting kind of, been there done that."
"Rainbow Dash, you shouldn't talk about a friend like that," Twilight sternly said.
"But it's true," Rainbow pointed out. "Prince Blueblood, Trenderhoof, and who knows who else."
"Even if that's true, you can't really blame her," Fluttershy said.
"Yeah, I mean, a time of the year where love and friendship is everywhere you go, it's easy to get infatuated with it," Sunset agreed. "A time where people share their feelings for each other through gifts, words, and maybe there's a chance of you finding or special somebody, there's no wonder why she's acting like this, it all just screams Rarity."
"Speaking of special somebodies..." Pinkie slyly said as she looked over to Sunset.
"What is it Pinkie," Sunset said.
"Soooo, what are the plans for you and Roxas tonight?" Pinkie asked.
Sunset was immediately surprised by Pinkie's out of nowhere question. Everyone else was a little bit shocked and but at the same time curious to what Sunset was going to say.
"What are you talking about Pinkie, and why the sudden question," Sunset said as she looked off for she was starting to get a little faint blush on her face.
"What I'm talking about is that you two are always in a good mood when you're together, you playfully annoy each other, and he was your date for the Rainbow Falls Fair," Pinkie Pie pointed out. "And, you have your hair in a ponytail, you're wearing a sweater instead of your jacket, and I can tell that you have on just a faint touch of makeup."
"Maybe I just wanted to change my look," Sunset quietly said.
"So I just assumed that you were going to spend the Hearts and Hooves Festival with your boyfriend or something like that," Pinkie playfully said. Sunset stopped in her tracks at that word, 'boyfriend', as Pinkie moved over to Fluttershy who looked a little different as well.
"What about you Fluttershy, you've changed your look today," Pinkie said as she noticed that Fluttershy's hair was braided at the very end, which complimented the light green sweater that she had on, along with teal blue skirt that matched her eyes.
"Oh, you know, it's nothing really, I just wanted to try something new?" Fluttershy said as she tried to sneak her way out of this conversation.
"Really?" Pinkie Pie believably said.
"Ummmmm...yes?" Fluttershy said.
"Okay, I believe you," Pinkie said as she turned back around. "Oh, hey look, there's Sora!"
"Really, where, I hope he likes my new look, I spent hours trying to figure out the perfect braid and......" Fluttershy paused and immediately as her friends just heard her say that. "Did I just say that out loud?"
"Yes, yes you did," Pinkie said with a grin on her face. "And, to answer your question, yes, I'm extra doubly sure that Sora will love your new look."
"You think so," Fluttershy said.
"I know so," Pinkie said.
"Boyfriend!?" Sunset said as came back into reality. "Roxas isn't my boyfriend, what gave you that idea?"
All her other friends looked at her with skeptical expressions on their faces.
"Really?" Rainbow said.
Pinkie chuckled, turned around, and shrugged her shoulders. "Just a hunch I had. It wasn't anything too crucial I guess." Pinkie went back to skipping alongside everyone else as the entire conversation made Sunset unsure of herself of what she thought of Roxas. but, her thought was quickly put to rest as somebody had appeared in her way, trying to get her attention, and it was none other than.....
"Hello, Sunset Shimmer," Trixie said. "I was just passing by, admiring all the decor, and Trixie happened to hear something about Roxas not being your boyfriend, nor is he with you at the festival?"
".......No," Sunset annoyingly said knowing just what Trixie was trying to do.
"So, that means anyone can ask him out of this entire village then correct?' Trixie asked, already knowing the answer.
Sunset, starting to get a little angry as little sparks of fire started to flicker out of her body, regretfully answered Trixie's question. "Technically, but I don't think that Roxas would pick anyone besides-" Sunset said as she was cut off by Trixie.
"Oh, look, speak of Hades and he shall appear," Trixie as she looked off towards the entrance of Ponyville.
Sunset looked over and saw Roxas, Sora, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and SweetieBbelle all walking into the festival. "Roxas, he came to the festival?!"
"It appears he has, excuse me Sunset Shimmer, but I have 'business' to take care of," Trixie mockingly said as she started walking towards Roxas and the others.
"Business,huh?" Sunset angrily said as she started charging her magic to teleport herself closer to Roxas. "Well, we'll see about that."
****
As Sora and the rest of the group walked inside Ponyville, Roxas and him both noticed that it was extremely more decorated than the last time they saw it.
"Woah, all of these decorations are for Hearts and Hooves Day?" Sora asked.
"Yep, now look around you," SweetieBelle said. "You see how everyone is all coupled up or together in some way?"
"Yeahhhhh," Sora said in an obvious tone.
"Well, during Hearts and Hooves Day, they're someone's very special somebody that they asked to be spend the Hearts and Hooves Day with." SweetieBelle said. "And being somebody else's special somebody may lead to other more romantic things in the future, at least that's what Rarity told me,"
"Oh, okay well that makes sense....I guess," Sora said.
"Soooooooo, who's gonna be your very special somebodies you two?" SweetieBelle curiously asked the two keybladers.
"I don't think I'd have one if you ask me," Sora said. The girls looked at him in shock at his words.
"Really?!" The three girls said.
"Yeah, that whole special somebody thing seems kind of trivial to me," Roxas said. As the girls were still in a state of shock from both of the guys' answers, Sora started gazing around all of the festivities until he spotted a familiar looking girl with long pink hair.
"Is that Fluttershy," Sora asked. "HEY, FLUTTERSHY, OVER HERE!"
Fluttershy and the looked back as she saw Sora waving his hand back and forth to get her attention. As Fluttershy saw Sora, she immediately started to smile his way. "Hey girls look, Sora and everyone else are here."
As the rest of the girls turned around, they all noticed the rest of their friends trying to get their attention.
"It is Sora, and I think he wants us to come to him," Twilight said.
"Geez Twilight, do you think," Rainbow sarcastically said.
"No need to be sarcastic Rainbow," Twilight said.
As Fluttershy started walking towards Sora, she abruptly stopped because she saw something that had threw her for a loop. She saw Sunset teleport right in front of Roxas and the rest of the group. What confused her even more was that Trixie was right behind Sunset looking pretty annoyed for some reason. "That doesn't look good."
As Sora caught Fluttershy's attention, he felt a sudden pain in his hand again. "What, how could I forgot about that, and why did it have to happen now? This is not good, Fluttershy's coming this way. I'll just have to control for little while longer until I can figure out a way to stop it. Now on the other hand, when did Sunset get here?"
Sunset had teleported herself in front of Roxas who was standing there surprised to see Sunset in front of him.
"Oh, hey Sunset," Roxas said.
"Roxas I need to talk to you," Sunset demanded.
"Okay, what is it?" Roxas said.
Sunset looked up towards Roxas and all the confidence in her body started to leave her body as she tried asking Roxas to the festival in front of Sora, SweetieBelle, Scootaloo, Applebloom, and pretty much everyone else around the main area at this time.
"I......I was just wondering....if you wanted to that is."
"*GASP* Oh my Celestia, Sunset's asking Roxas to the Festival!" SweetieBelle said in excitement. "This is great, you have a special somebody now!"
"Wow, no wonder they hang out a lot," Applebloom said.
"Yep he's definitely her very special somebody," Scootaloo said. "That's what you were going to say right Sunset?"
Sunset, who was dying from embarrassment, started to hesitate as she couldn't figure what she wanted, so she just blurted something out. "He's not my very special somebody! That's not what I was going to say at all!" Sunset then realized what she said. "Did I really just say that out loud?"
"Yes, yes you did," Roxas said.
"Ummm, wow, that was something," Rainbow said.
"Roxas wait, that's not what I meant to say," Sunset said as she tried to sort everything out, but before she could say anything else, Trixie got in her as she started talking to Roxas.
"My, my, that was something," Trixie said. "I don't know what that was about, but if you don't have a very special somebody, I'd be willing to fill that void."
Everyone stared at the conversation that was going on as they all waited in anticipation.
Roxas looked around and noticed that all his friends were watching the entire situation. "Sure, I don't see why not."
Everyone's jaw dropped at his response.
"Wasn't expecting that," Sora said.
"Oh, No," Twilight said.
"Oh, dear," Rarity said.
"Oh, my," Fluttershy stated.
Rainbow and Applejack clenched their teeth at the whole situation, and Fluttershy and the rest of the girls were speechless. Sunset just stood there not saying a word.
"Wonderful," Trixie said as she grabbed Roxas's hands. "Come on, lets go spend Hearts and Hooves Day together."
As the two went off together Roxas looked back towards Sunset one more time and wondered if he had overreacted to the whole thing.
Fire started to spark around Sunset's body as she was visibly angry at what just happened. "Really, did that really just happen?"
"So, why did you insult Roxas to his face," Sora asked.
"It's not like I tried to do that, I-I just got nervous, I don't know why he makes me so nervous," Sunset sadly said.
"It'll be alright Sunset, I'm pretty sure everything will figure itself out sooner or later," Pinkie Pie said. "But the only way that'll happen is if you stop bottling up your feelings."
"Yeah, I know, thanks Pinkie," Sunset said.
"Well, Since everyone's here, how about we-" Twilight started to say but was stopped as she saw Fluttershy over to where Sora was. "Nevermind."
"Hey Fluttershy," Sora said as he noticed Fluttershy's new everything. "I'm liking the new look."
"Really?" Fluttershy said with a grin on her face. "You honestly like it?"
"Cross my heart and hope to fly," Sora started.
"Stick a cupcake in my eye," Fluttershy finished. "How did you know that rhyme?"
"Pinkie taught it to me," Sora calmly said.
"Oh, that makes sense," Fluttershy said.
Sora started to laugh, but when started the darkness was trying to escape again, and as he tried to keep it hidden even more from Fluttershy, the harder it was for him to stay focused on it.
"Sora, are you okay?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.
"Yeah,yeah, I'm fine, sorry about that,so, you ready to go," Sora said.
"Go?" Fluttershy nervously said for she an idea to what Sora was referring to.
"Y'now, the festival, I've never been, and I really want to see what it's about," Sora said as he reached out to grab her hand. Fluttershy couldn't do a thing but have a look of wander on her face as her and Sora were leaving the rest of the group.
"*sigh* that girl had hearts in her eyes," Pinkie said. "It's so-"
"Terrible," Rainbow blurted out.
"Terrible how could it be terrible?" Pinkie asked.
(Rainbow) I can see what's happening
(Pinkie) (What)
(Rainbow) And they don't have a clue
(Pinkie) (Who?)
(Rainbow) They'll fall in love And here's the bottom line.. There's nothing we can do
(Pinkie) (Oh)
(Rainbow) The sweet caress of twilight There's magic everywhere And with all this Romantic atmosphere... Disasters in the air
(Pinkie) (Well, I don't think that at all Rainbow because I mean, you know....)
Fluttershy and Sora started walking through the festival together as they started going to each kiosk and store.
(Pinkie) Can't you feel the love tonight That peace the evening brings.... The world for once in perfect harmony With all its living things....
Fluttershy and Sora then went to a boat ride where they were able to go around and see the natural beauty surrounding Ponyville. As Sora looked at Fluttershy's merriment through the whole thing, the darkness in him was mentally and physically gnawing at him, and he knew that it was all his doing.
(Sora) So many things to tell her But how to make her see The darkness in myself Impossible She'd turn away from me.....
Fluttershy briefly looked at Sora and saw that he wasn't his normal self.
(Fluttershy) He's holding back He's hiding But what I can't decide Why won't he be the hero I know he is The hero I see inside.....
Sora looked at Fluttershy as she looked at him, which caused him to bring a smile on his face. Sora stood up in the boat, summoned his keyblade, and started using his ice spell in the air. Then, he used little firebolts to shatter the ice into little crystal shards that illuminated in the moonlit sky.
(Pinkie) Can't you feel the love tonight That peace the evening brings.... The world for once in perfect harmony With all its living things....
Sora led Fluttershy off the boat and onto the ground with the night breeze blowing through the hair as Sora proceeded to fall onto the soft grass plain like grass with Fluttershy following him. Sora started to laugh as he had was enjoying this time with Fluttershy, and Fluttershy couldn't bottle in her emotions any more, so she kissed him on the cheek. Sora eyes went wide as he looked down and saw a blushing Fluttershy lying on his chest with a small on her face. Sora had genuine smile on his face as he saw this, and he closed his eyes and enjoyed the moment.
(Pinkie) Can't you feel the love tonight You needn't look too far Stealing through the night's uncertainties Love is where they are
(Pinkie) And if she falls in love tonight It can be assumed...
(Rainbow) Their carefree days with us are history
(Both) And then their love Will Bloom.....
Pinkie started bawling her eyes out as Rainbow unwillingly held onto her. "It's just so romantic, Rainbow!"
"Oh, give me a break." Rainbow said.
****
Sunset was in Ponyville sulking in a chair as all she could think about was Roxas spending his day with Trixie. "I can't believe I let that happen. What am I going to do now?"
"I say, excuse me but, I couldn't help but notice that you are all alone on Hearts and Hooves Day?"
Sunset looked up and a tall man with brown skin, blonde hair, and glasses was looming over her. He had on a button down, plum vest, blue pants, and brown loafers. "Um, who are you?"
"I'm known as Trenderhoof around Manehatten, but you can just call me Trend for short."
Sunset looked at him with a questionable facial expression. "Uh-uh."
"I noticed that you were by yourself and as a gentleman I just couldn't leave a beautiful woman like you alone on Hearts and Hooves Day," Trenderhoof said. "How would you like to go visit some of the shops and watch me write a few stories about this festival?"
"Actually I think I'd rather...," Sunset stopped herself in midsentence and looked back towards Roxas and Trixie, and noticed how Roxas was looking back towards her, but then he quickly turned away. Sunset had a little devious smile on her face as she got up from her chair and grabbed Trenderhoof's hand. ".....Go with you after all." Sunset turned towards Roxas one last time, and she gave him a half smile as she flicked her hair while she went the opposite way.
"What's she doing with that guy?" Roxas quietly said.
"Um, excuse me, Trixie is over here," Trixie said.
"Does she really think that's gonna work?" Roxas said. "I can't believe this. What else can go wrong?"
As soon as he said this, a loud explosion could be heard from outside of the festival. Everyone turned around and saw a dark cloud start to loom over Ponyville. Roxas saw this and knew what was going on. "Sora, I knew this would happen."
"Hey, what's going on," Trixie asked.
Roxas immediately summoned his keyblades as he turned towards Trixie. "Trixie look, right now I need you to help everyone else, and make sure that no one freaks out by this."
"Where are you going," Trixie said.
"I have to save Hearts and Hooves Day for everyone," Roxas said. "Huh, I would have never thought that I would say something like that in a situation like this."
As Roxas started running towards where the darkness was coming from, he saw Sunset with Trenderhoof, as he was getting closer to the darkness. "Ugh, are you serious right now?"
Sunset was looking at the darkness as Trenderhoof was getting closer and closer to it. "Hey, are you sure that this is a good idea?"
"Of course, this is the article of the century," Trenderhoof stated.
Sunset was just looking at the darkness as it started to spread around Ponyville.
"Sunset, Sunset!" Roxas said as he ran towards her.
"Roxas?" Sunset said.
"Sunset, I need your help, Sora's darkness is taking over and I can't do this alo-......wait why are still with this guy," Roxas said as Sunset turned the other cheek to him. "What, are you serious? If you haven't noticed Sunset, but darkness is spreading over Ponyville, and if it isn't stopped, there's going to be heartless upon heartless invading Ponyville, so can you please stop with this jealousy thing?"
"Me, being jealous, I'm not the one being jealous, and this is all your fault anyway," Sunset said.
"What are you talking about?" Roxas said.
"You went with Trixie to the festival and not me, are you serious," Sunset said.
"You were the one who didn't want to go with me to the festival in the first place," Roxas debated.
"I was nervous okay, I didn't meant it at all, I wanted to go with you to the festival since the beginning," Sunset said.
"I wanted to go with you since the beginning," Roxas said.
"Do you mean that?" Sunset asked.
"Yes, Sunset, I wouldn't lie to you, and I wouldn't do anything to hurt you," Roxas said.
Sunset and Roxas both started to understand each other as they exchanged words and they realized how they each felt, and Sunset started to smile at Roxas.
"What?" Roxas said.
"You finally shared your feelings," Sunset said. "That's a Hearts and Hooves Day gift in itself."
"Right!" Roxas said as summoned his keyblades and looked towards Sunset. "I need you to shoot your magic at me."
"Are you sure about that?" Sunset asked.
"Trust me I'll be fine," Roxas said. Sunset charged a line of magic as she shot it towards Roxas, and Roxas crossed his keyblades together and caused the beam of magic to aim at the spreading darkness. Roxas made the magic beam reflect in different ways to eradicate the darkness even faster. Roxas then used his keyblades to absorb the magic and he placed it in the ground. Roxas put his hand in the air and he snapped his fingers which caused the magic that was inside the keyblades to explode out in a flash of light. After the light started to fade, everything seemed to be back to normal. The darkness was gone, and the only thing left from it was Sora on the ground in a daze.
"What did I tell you what would happen if you kept the darkness compressed like that," Roxas said.
"I know, I know, I messed up," Sora said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Sora, what was that?" Fluttershy asked.
"Fluttershy, I'm so sorry about this," Sora said. Sora started to tell Fluttershy about what happened with Vanitas when she was passed out.
"So, after all of that happened, you just kept the darkness in from me only, and because of that, that's why it exploded like that?" Fluttershy asked.
"Yeah, basically," Sora said.
"But why were you keeping it a secret from me?" Fluttershy asked.
"I just didn't want you thinking of me differently because of it," Sora said. "I really care about you Fluttershy, and I want to protect you no matter what, even if it's from myself."
Fluttershy looked up at Sora and put her hands around his face, and as she kept getting closer to him, she thumped Sora in the face.
"OW, what was that for," Sora asked as he put his hand around the area she thumped.
"That's for not trusting me enough to tell me the truth," Fluttershy said.
"I'm sorry Fluttershy," Sora said.
Fluttershy then caressed him. "This is for protecting me."
Sora saw Fluttershy and how she was smiling while she was with him, and this made him glad to be in Ponyville right now.
"Happy Hearts and Hooves Day," Roxas said. "Oh, and I like your new look Sunset."
"Finally, you realized," Sunset said.
"No, I recognized when I first saw you, you just started yelling at me first," Roxas said.
"Roxas.....thank you," Sunset said as she walked towards Roxas.
"No problem," Roxas said.
Epilogue
"I can't believe that through this entire day, no one wanted to be my special somebody," Rarity said as she walked back inside her boutique. As she turned on the lights, she saw SweetieBelle and Button Mash together playing on two droid boys. "SweetieBelle, have you two been playing in the dark all night?"
"Huh, uh yeah yeah, I just uh, had to defeat the Paladin Dragon before I got the skeleton key," SweetieBelle murmured.
"Pardon?" Rarity questionably asked.
"I think she meant to say that you have a gift for you over there," Button Mash said.
Rarity looked over to her chair and saw a present sitting there. "Hmm, I wonder what that is." "It's from Spikey Wikey."
She opened up the present and she saw a note in the box. She picked it up and started to read it.
Happy Hearts and Hooves Day Rarity It took me a while to get the diamonds so I'm sorry that I couldn't give it to you in person But I hope you enjoy the gift! - Spike
She looked down in the box and was ecstatic, because inside the box was a diamond necklace. "Awwwwwwwww, Spikey Wikey!"
"What's going on with her," Button Mash said as he started playing with his droid boy.
"She just got a diamond necklace from Spike," SweetieBelle said.
" A diamond necklace, I would've just gotten you a toy train," Button Mash bluntly said.
".....I don't think this relationship is going to work," SweetieBelle said with a serious tone.
"I'm just kidding SweetieBelle," ButtonMash said as he laughed nervously. "Come on, you know I was just kidding."
"Good, because for my birthday I would like a ruby necklace," SweetieBelle said.
"And..... there goes my allowance," Button said dreadfully.
As the train continued on the trail towards the Canterlot, Sora began looking out of his window to see the beauty that the world of Equestria had to offer. So many exotic animals like cheetas, toucans, and flamingos, and different colored hummingbirds all living in the same place. Plus, the new places that he had never seen before, and this is coming from the guy who's traveled to countless amounts of worlds. Seeing so many new things gave Sora a feel of wonder and it made him glad to be here.
Sora gazed out the window even further. "........Still.... I wonder if everyone else is okay. And, how did I even get here?" As Sora delved into his thoughts, he remembered about how this even started. The dark room, stained glass floor, and the door. "That seems about right, it's a little fuzzy, but it seems close to what I remember. And what about the voice? It said that it was my nightmare, but what did it mean by that? Still, I guess it's nothing that I'm not familiar with. But the one thing that I could thing was a little different was the glass floor. It didn't have any of the seven princesses on it. It was just a painting of a girl with different colored jewels surrounding her, and a crown on her head. That sounds pretty royal to me now that I think about it, but who is the girl in the painting?"
Roxas slightly tapped Sora on his shoulder as he tried to get Sora's attention. "Hey, Sora, you alright?"
"Oh, yeah, I'm good Roxas," Sora stated.
"Really?" Roxas suspiciously asked as he sat down next to Sora. "Because it looks like you're daydreaming about something huge."
Sora lied back in his seat as he stared at the ceiling. "I've just been thinking about everything that's happened so far, since we've been here, and how we actually came here." Sora raised his hand in front of his face as he stared at it. "All of these bad things that started happening. The Heartless plus Vanitas and his own army of monsters too. I can't help but feel responsible for all of this."
"Well, don't think that you're alone on this," Roxas said. "This entire place is weird, and out of all the worlds that I've been to, this one is the most different out of them all, and I've seen some pretty weird worlds." "But, I have keyblades too, so I'm also apart of the problem if you put it that way." "And, there is no way that I'm going to let somebody like Vanitas run free in this world, and besides, like we said before, we promised to protect the people that we care about."
Sora looked at Roxas with a reassuring smile on his face. "Yeah, that's right, I remember." "What do you think is gonna happen when we get to this place?"
Roxas shrugged his shoulders. "I couldn't tell you much." "You read the letter too, and you know how vague it was." "We'll just have to wait and see when we get there." "But whatever it is, we'll be able to handle it, we're keyblade warriors."
"Now that I think about it, we're going to go meet a princess in a new part of this world," Sora said. "That's pretty awesome."
"You see, this is nothing to worry about, like I said, we got this." Roxas said as he adjusted himself in his seat.
As the two keybladers sat in the front of the train, the rest of the group of friends decided to sit closer to the back of the train. Twilight looked a little worried as her knee kept jumping up and down as she sat in her seat.
"Twilight, relax, it'll be okay," Sunset said trying to calm Twilight. "The princess will tell us all about it when we get to Canterlot."
"I wish I could be as relaxed as you Sunset, but it's a letter from the princess, MY MENTOR, do you know how it feels to be the protégé of the princess?" Twilight excitingly said.
"Um, yes," Sunset blatantly said.
"Oh, right," Twilight said as she blushed nervously at her slip up. "But still, it's not like Princess Celestia to send a letter that vague." "I'm just nervous about what is it that she wants us to know." Twilight looked up towards Sora and Roxas as they were sitting in seats further to the front. "Do you think that they have anything to do with the Princess calling?"
"Who, Sora and Roxas?" Sunset asked.
"Yes, Sora and Roxas," Twilight bluntly said. "A lot of weird things started to happen as soon as they came to Equestria. "Those weapons that they have, keyblades, I've never heard of those, they're not in any of the books I've read. Not discussing the fact of how they actually came here either, because Sora literally fell from the sky, and Roxas just appeared out of nowhere!" The heartless came, and only Celestia knows what those things are, and then that scary guy with the black mask at the fair."
"Don't remind me of him," Sunset said as she crossed her arms. "But, I can't deny that there have been weird things happening since they came. Sunset look towards the two keybladers, mostly looking at Roxas as he was talking to Sora. "But, there's no way that they meant for those things to happen. They wouldn't be doing their all to stop those guys if that was the case."
"I guess you're right about that," Twilight doubtfully said.
"There's no reason to worry about it Twilight," Sunset Reassuringly said. "When we get to Canterlot, the Princess will tell us all about it." Sunset then casually put her hand over her face as she noticed that the sun was blinding her. "Look at that, it's must be Sunset."
Pinkie peered over Sunset's shoulder with a dissatisfied face. "Really, really, did you have to say that?"
"What do you mean Pinkie?" Sunset asked as she was confused about what Pinkie meant.
"Anyone could have seen that you were leading up to that line," Pinkie addressed. "I mean, there goes the sunset, your name is Sunset, and if anybody else had said it, it wouldn't have been as ironic. Pfft, talk about creative writing."
"Pinkie, what are you talking about?" Sunset questioningly asked.
"Hmmm, oh nothing never mind, it's not important, but hey look it's getting dark, we might need to head back to the rooms," Pinkie said.
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea, we don't want to be tired when we get to Canterlot," Twilight said.
As the sun set and the moon appeared over the horizon, the group had decided that it was time to go to their bedrooms.
"All right everyone, I'm going to hit the hay," Rainbow said as she stretched and yawned her way over to the room.
"Good night everyone," Rarity said as she made her way into her bedroom. Everyone else gave their goodnights as they all went to their rooms.
"Well, looks like tomorrow is the big day, better get a good night's rest," Sora said as he walked towards his bedroom door. As he opened the door, the room was dark with only the only source of light coming from the moon peering through the window. Sora walked towards his bed as he landed face front into it letting out a comfortable yawn. As he turned his body around, he found himself facing towards the ceiling of the bedroom with thought after thought racing through his mind.
"Princesses, heartless, magic, and evil bad guys.........ehhhh, I guess it's like home," Sora pondered. As Sora began to close his eyes, he just couldn't help but think about the conversation that he had earlier with Roxas. "Roxas said 'we got this'." "But, what if we're not strong enough? What if we end up letting everybody down.......what if I end up letting everybody down?"
Sora kept thinking these questions until he shook himself out of it. "No, no, no, come on, there's no way that you should be talking like that. If Donald was here, he'd probably have used Thunder on me by now to snap me out of it *chuckles*." "I worry too much......and I talk to myself too much.
Sora immediately turned around to the other side of the bed and was bewildered by who was in it. ".......PINKIE PIE!?"
"*Yawning* and I was having the best dream too," Pinkie said as she was stretching out on the bed. "It was about a -"
"Pinkie, never mind the dream, what are you doing in my bed," Sora nervously said as his face started to slightly turn red.
"Well, I get lonely at night with no one to sleep with, and since you were a room over....." Pinkie slyly said.
"Pinkie, I would have liked some kind of warning before you came into my room and..." Sora stopped as he noticed that there were pieces of clothes laying on top of the bed. "Why are there clothes laying on the bed?"
Pinkie casually laughed at Sora's statement. "Well, duh silly, I sleep in the nude."
"........You sleep without clothes on?" Sora said as his face started getting red as a strawberry.
"*giggles* Yeah, it just feels natural," Pinkie casually said, and as she started to sit up on the bed, the blanket slowly started to slip off of her body. "Look at you, your face is all red."
"Yeah, I wonder why," Sora sarcastically muttered.
"So, letting everybody down," Pinkie Pie contemplated. "Well, you're definitely not letting anyone down."
"But, how do you know that," Sora asked Pinkie.
"Because you're you Sora," Pinkie said. "And everybody knows how heroic and amazing you are."
"I wouldn't call myself all of that," Sora said.
"Oh Sora, humble, humble, oblivious Sora," Pinkie said as she started to get out of the bed. "Just sleep on it, maybe that'll give you the answers."
"Yeah, maybe all I need is some sleep," Sora said as he started to lay back in his bed. "See you in the morning Pinkie."
"Goodnight Sora," Pinkie yawned as she began to walk back to her room.
"....You're not gonna try to sneak into my room again are you?" Sora asked quizzically.
"Noooooooooo," Pinkie playfully said.
"Please don't sneak into my room, I don't think I would hear the end of it from everyone else." Sora stated.
"Ok,ok, I won't," Pinkie pie said. "Goodnight, Sora."
As Sora sat back in his bed, letting all of the questions that he had in his mind float away as he drifted slowly to sleep.
****
Sora opened his eyes to see nothing but darkness in his view.
Sora heard the voice once again as light started to shine from under him. "I'm back here again?"
As the light began to fade, what was left behind was another crystalline picture, except this time, it was a picture of himself holding his keyblade along with another guy around his age with blonde hair tied in a braid in the back, wearing a red cloak with a weird insignia on the back. It looked like a snake wrapped around a cross with a crown and a pair of small detached wings above it. And, he was holding a sword in his right hand. Sora stared directly towards that one person with a questionable glare.
"I don't know who that is." Sora said.
"A friend......."
"Has the power......"
"To defeat Heartless......"
"No way, he doesn't even have a keyblade, how can he defeat the Heartless?" Sora asked.
"His power.......
"Alchemy..."
".....Alchemy?" Sora questioned.
"Power is needed.......
To save the world.......
From an everlasting nightmare....."
Certain spots around began to glow with little dark patches over them. The dark patches started peering out of the ground and forming itself into human like shapes. What stood in front of Sora were individuals wearing dark robes that covered their faces.
"The Organization....." Sora said. "The Organization is here too.....how is that possible?"
"Another lies in the shadows
Will you gain the strength needed to protect the ones you care for?" "Another Organization member?" Sora said. "The last time I fought the Organization, I lost my heart......and failed the Mark of Mastery. And Riku became the Keyblade Master. *sigh* Why was I even brought here, I'm pretty sure Riku would have solved everything by now."
As Sora finished his statement, loud rumbling began to appear around the crystalline ground. Then, three small pillars arose on top of the structure itself, each decorated with a different object. On one pillar was the Kingdom Key. On the other pillar were Oathkeeper and Oblivion. On the final pillar was a different keyblade.
.
Sora immediately glared at the different keyblade. "Wait, that keyblade it's......." Before Sora could finish his statement the four keyblades started coming together. In a flash of light, they all fused together and formed different shaped emblems that began to float around Sora.
"The Elements of Harmony are what you seek
They will lead you to the power that you strive for
Are you willing to risk your life for others that you barely know?
As Sora let the voice's words circle through his head, he came to his conclusion.
"Yes....... I will, I'll gain enough power to protect all of Equestria!" Sora exclaimed to the dark space around him.
"First, seek the spirit from where you Dream......
Friend........." As the voice started to fade from existence, the crystalline pillar started to go dim as the darkness poured onto it. Sora tried to summon his keyblade, but it was to no avail. Sora couldn't do a thing but let the darkness swarm his body. "No, I can't let the darkness win." As Sora's body became covered in darkness, a small flash of light could be seen coming from the pitch black room. The light ecentually grew brighter and brighter until the darkness was eradicated from the structure and Sora altogether. Sora could feel the light and how powerful it was.
"This light is so... intense." Sora said as he slowly started to close his eyes and pass out from exhaustion.
****
Sora woke up to the rays of the early morning sun peering through his window. He quickly put his hand over his face to block the sunlight, or at least until his eyes adjusted.
"It's already morning." Sora welcomed the warm embrace of the sun as he started pondering over what the voice had told him. "Seek the spirit of where I Dream? I don't get it. And, what about that other guy? How can he fight the heartless without a keyblade?"
"It doesn't matter, I won't let this world be turned into a nightmare," Sora told himself.
Sora, out of surprise, jumped out of the bed and fell onto the floor with his upper half hanging off of the bed.
"Gee, Sora, so full of energy early in the morning," Pinkie said as she peered over Sora hanging off of the bed.
"Pinkie, what, how, why.....I saw you leave my room, how did you get back in?" Sora asked as he picked himself off the ground.
"Well, I tried going back through but it was locked for some reason," Pinkie pie innocently said.
"I wonder why," Sora sarcastically said.
"So, in the middle of the night, I snuck outside of my room, went outside of the train, got onto the roof of your room, and went through your window," Pinkie explained as she got from under the covers and out of the bed.
"Pinkie, I thought I said to not sneak into my room agai-" Sora stopped as he noticed that Pinkie was a little underdressed.
"Where, where are your clothes?!" Sora exclaimed.
"Sora, I told you this already, it's no big deal," Pinkie Pie casually said.
"Pinkie, I don't think that it would be a great situation for us to be in if somebody came in here and you don't have your clothes on," Sora said as he started grabbing Pinkie's clothes and giving it to her. "Now can you please put on your clothes?"
"I don't want to wear that, it's from yesterday," Pinkie said as she pushed the clothes back at Sora.
"Pinkie, this is like literally the same outfit you wear everyday, down to the balloon patterns," Sora said. "Just, put them back on."
"I don't wear outfits from a day ago that's insane!" Pinkie said.
"That makes no sense Pinkie," Sora argued. As the two continued pushing the clothes back and forth from each other, Pinkie managed to stumble on the edge of the bed and began losing her balance. As she began to fall, she grabbed Sora's arm for last minute support, but it evidently failed as Sora didn't react fast enough, and they both fell on the bed.
"Flopppp!!"
Sora began to prop himself back up with an annoyed expression on his face. "Darn it Pinkie, will you quit being so stubbor-" Sora paused as he noticed that Pinkie was no more than a few inches away from his face. "I ummmmm.......this is awkward."
"This escalated quicker than I thought it would," Pinkie gladly said. Then, both their heads turned as they heard the door to Sora's click open.
The first thing that came through the door was long pink hair accompanied by a soft voice. "Sora, I know that I shouldn't listen to rumors and all, but last night Pinkie told me that you were worrying alot, and I thought I'd fix you breakfast in bed.........."
"Of all the people to come through the door, it had to be Fluttershy, with BREAKFAST!" Sora thought angrily to himself. "Wait, what am I doing, I need to tell her that this is all a big misunderstanding before she gets the wrong idea. Good idea Sora."
"Fluttershy, this is not what it looks like trust me," Sora said as he jumped right up on his feet.
"Yeah, he was just trying to make me put my clothes back on after a whole night of them being off in his room," Pinkie said.
"Don't say it like that, you snuck into my room," Sora exclaimed.
"Yeah, everything went according to plan," Pinkie said.
"Plan?" Sora and Fluttershy said.
"Pinkie what are you talking about," Sora asked.
"Well, as I was getting ready to sneak back to your room, I overheard Fluttershy telling Sunset how she was going to cook for you and only you in the morning, and that's when I told her about your problem, and the rest....well you know the rest," Pinkie said as she began to walk out the door. "And the plan was.....*pushes Fluttershy* to get you two to eat breakfast together. Bye! *closes door* "SLAM!"
Sora, utterly confused about what is going on, didn't have any sort of comeback prepared for what Pinkie just said. "What...just happened?"
Sora looked towards Fluttershy and saw that she had a plate of French toast in her hand. "You made that for me?"
"Do you like it?" Fluttershy murmured.
"Like it, Fluttershy this is so nice of you I don't know what to.......wait, is that whipped cream and strawberries on top?!" Sora excitedly said. "Fluttershy, this is one of the greatest things I've ever seen!"
"That's great!" Fluttershy shouted. Thank Celestia he likes them."
"Alright then, let's eat," Sora said as he picked up a fork and handed one to Fluttershy.
"Wait, Sora I can't, this is for you," Fluttershy said.
"Come on Fluttershy, you mean to tell me you don't want to eat this with me?" Sora playfully asked. "Besides, I can't eat all of this by myself, and who better else to share them with then the cook herself?"
Fluttershy couldn't help but smile at the kind words Sora gave her. ".....I guess I'll just get a little piece."
****
After Sora and Fluttershy had finished their breakfast together, the others were already awake from their sleep. Fluttershy made sure that she got up early enough so that no one would be in her way while she made the french toast for Sora. It was their own little time spent together and you bet that Fluttershy enjoyed every minute of it. As everyone started regrouping, the train was getting closer to their destination as they saw Canterlot appear over the mountainous horizon that it juts out from.
Roxas looked up towards the city and saw the regality that just the outside of the city portrayed. "Woah, that city looks amazing."
The train arrives at the station, and the group of friends began to walk out of the train.
"So this is Canterlot," Roxas said. "This is where the Princesses live?"
"Well, technically, the Princesses live in the castle all the way up there," Sunset corrected Roxas as she pointed towards the royal castle.
"So, those are the ones that summoned us here huh?" Roxas said. "Time to see what they want."
As Roxas began walking towards the castle, Sunset noticed something on Roxas's arm that appeared to look like something a knight would wear. "Hey Roxas, when did you get that?"
"Oh, this, I guess I didn't tell anyone about this," Roxas said. "This is the armor that covered my body when I was fighting Vanitas."
"Wait, that's the armor?!" Pinkie said in a surprising tone. "How is that little thing a suit of armor?"
"Beats me, after the fight, it just went back to this form," Roxas said. "But, I found out that if transfer enough energy into it, it'll transform into the full suit again."
"How did you figure that out?' Sunset asked.
"Please, in a world filled with magic, monsters, and princesses, how couldn't it be that solution," Roxas asked.
"Geez, you make it sound like our world is just crazy," Sunset said with grudging tone.
"I never said that it was a bad thing Sunset," Roxas said with a chuckle.
"Guys, come on, we need to make it to the castle we don't have time for this," Rainbow commanded.
"Honestly Rainbow, we'll get there in time." Rarity added. "There's no need to rush."
"Ugh whatever, i'm just gonna fly there," Rainbow said as she summoned her wings from her back.
"Ohhhhh, so that's how she flies," Sora said.
"Rainbow please don't do what I think you're gonna do," Applejack said.
"Too late, doing it," Rainbow said as she started gaining momentum. "Alright her we go!" Rainbow launched off towards the castle. "I'll see you slow pokes at the castle-AHHHH!" Rainbow screamed as she saw something standing in her way, causing her to crash.
"*Sigh* I told her not to do it, but she did it," Applejack said with a disappointed tone. "Come on yall, let's go help Rainbow."
Little bits of dust and debris floated around the area that Rainbow had made contact with. She slowly got up and brushed herself off as a little crowd of people began to form around the scene. "Oh man that stung.......eh, I've had worse crashes, but how about I try not to do that again." "Now, what exactly did I hit?"
Rainbow looked down as she saw something else laying on the ground in a red coat. After looking closer at the coat, she noticed a weird symbol on the back of it. It kind of looked like a snake wrapped around a cross. "What's up with that coat?"
Low groans could be heard coming from the ground where the red coat was, and Rainbow quickly realized that she had ran into another person.
"What...the heck.....is WRONG WITH YOU?!" the person shouted as he got back up. "What made you think that flying in a place like this was a good idea?!"
Rainbow saw that the person that was yelling at her was a guy around her age. His most notable features that stood out to Rainbow was his blonde hair, red coat, and.........something else. Rainbow began to snickering when she noticed his last trait.
"What, what's so funny," the person asked.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry it's just that, pfffftttttt you're really short!" Rainbow said as she began to laugh wildly. The crowd of people were shown with looks of despair and worry when Rainbow said those words. "What, it's the truth look at him."
Lightning started appearing out of the guy's right hand. "Little....who are you callin' little?!
"Uhhhhhh, maybe I shouldn't have called him that," Rainbow nervously said.
"Rainbow!" Twilight said as she and the rest of their friends caught up to her. "Why did you that, we told you that flying wasn't a good ideaaaa." Twilight stopped and looked at the blonde haired guy who had lightning appearing out of his right hand. "Rainbow, what did you do?"
"She called me little, this girl that I don't even know called....me..little!" The person shouted. He looked towards the group of friends and pinpointed Sora out of everybody. "Look, I'm 5'4, I'm 17, that guy's just a couple inches taller than me, but you don't see anyone calling him short!"
"Wait, that guy looks familiar," Sora said to himself. "No way that can be him."
"Listen to me and listen good, I"M......NOT.....LITTLE!" the person released the lightning from his hand onto a nearby kiosk. The kiosk exploded into little bits of wood.
"Ok,ok, you're not little, I didn't mean it," Rainbow shouted.
"That's right," the person confidently answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the castle."
As he began to make his way towards the castle, Sora noticed the insignia on the back of his jacket.
"That symbol, it's just like the one from the dream," Sora said.
Twilight intervened as she ran in front of the guy with the red jacket. "Now hold on, you don't know us, you attack my friend, and now you're on your way to the castle where the princesses are!?"
"Uh, yeah," the person said.
"Just who are you, what you just did, what kind of magic was that?" Twilight spastically asked.
"Hmph, I forgot, you call it "magic" in your world," the person sneered.
"My world?" Twilight questioned. "You're not from here?"
"Good perception, smart, but a little spastic," the person said. "Are you Twilight Sparkle?"
The rest of the group was surprised at how this random person knew Twilight's name.
"How do you know my name?"
"The princess always gets a moment to talk about her faithful student," the person directed. "I guess we're going to the same place if you were so worried about me going there right? Well then, what are we waiting for?"
"Wait, who exactly are you?" Twilight demanded. The rest of the group listened intently for what he was about to say.
"Who am I, the name's Edward Elric, state alchemist." "And what you saw wasn't magic, it was alchemy."
Sora eyes grew wide as Edward finished his sentence. "That's him, that's the guy that's going to help me save Equestria."
The group, along with Edward Elric, continue walking to the castle, passing through the common area of Canterlot, where they hope the Princess will give them information about what is going on. Everyone still in a daze over who this new guy was, and how he seemed to have an ample amount of information to tell. Information that Twilight couldn't help but investigate herself.
"So,who exactly are you?" Twilight asked in a quizzical manner.
"I already told you, the name's Edward Elric, but you can call me Ed for short if that makes the Princess's star student happy." Ed sarcastically replied.
"I can do without the sarcasm," Twilight quickly stated. "I mean, who are you on the lines of where did you come from, how do you know the Princess, and where did you learn spells like that?"
"What makes you think I'm not from here," Ed wittingly asked.
Twilight, getting tired of this static conversation, stood in front of Ed and blocked him from going any further. "Because, I've lived in Canterlot ever since I was a little girl. I've studied magic ever since the day I was able to hold a book my hand, and I was able to meet all of the kids who attended Celestia's School for Gifted Magicians, and I'm sure even through the wide wide world of Equestria that I did not see you there!"
Ed looked back at Twilight with a bored expression. "*sigh* Listen can we just get to the castle, Celestia will give you the answers to all of your annoying questions." Ed began walking back towards the castle.
"Annoying questio- It's Princess Celestia not just Celestia!" Twilight shouted.
The group of friends finally made it to the castle entrance that was being guarded by two castle guards.
"So this is the castle up close," Sora said in awe. "It's awesome."
Fluttershy chuckled at Sora's comments. "It's even better when you get on the inside."
"That is if we make it there before Twilight rips the head off of the new guy," Roxas said.
"Look, I'll talk to the castle guards first since the Princess knows me best," Twilight said to Elric. "I'll just say that you're my company and we should be able to.....hey, where did you go?" Twilight started looking around the area until she saw Ed walking up to the castle guards by himself. "Are you serious?!"
As Elric walked up to the guards, the rest of the group quickly followed behind him. "So, Celestia called for these guys. Let's just get this over with and let us through."
Twilight looked at Ed with a flabbergasted expression. "I'm sorry guards, don't mind him he's just new here *nervous chuckle*."
The guards looked back at each other with quizzical expressions and then looked back at Twilight. "No he's not Twilight, he lives here in the castle." The guards proceeded to move their spears out of the way to let everyone in.
"He.......lives in the castle?" Twilight said with an unbelievable expression on her face.
"I can't believe this is one of the esteemed students of Celestia," Ed sarcastically said.
"This castle is so awesome!" Sora said. "It reminds me of Disney Castle but wayyyyyy bigger!"
"Disney Castle?" Fluttershy asked.
"Oh it was this castle back where I'm from," Sora said. "It looked like-"
"Guys, stay focused, we have to see what the Princess wants," Twilight said.
As the group continued through the castle, they finally made their way into the Princess's throne room. Sora looked down and noticed that he was walking on a velvet carpet that led to a gold throne. The person who was sitting on the throne is what made him look back twice. There was a beautiful women adorned in a white dress with golden frills and an image of the sun designed into the dress. Her eyes were a wonderful color of pink, wings that were as white as snow, and her hair was what stood out the most for it was constantly flowing in majestic colors of pink, blue, and green. What topped everything off was a dazzling gold crown with a purple jewel embedded in the middle.
"Woah, who's that?" Sora said as he was starstruck by the beautiful women.
"Princess Celestia," Twilight said as she saw her mentor/ruler of Equestria.
"That's the princess?" Sora asked as he noticed that everyone else besides him, Roxas, and Edward were kneeling to the ground.
"You guys, kneel before the princess," Twilight said in a strict tone.
"Oh, yeah, sorry," Sora said as he began to show his respect to the princess.
"Twilight, I told you before, there's no need for formal introductions," Celestia said.
"I'm sorry your highness, force of habit," Twilight said.
Celestia looked around at the main 6 and the rest of the group. "It's so nice to see my best students and their friends once again, along with a few new faces I see." "Edward, I suspect that you weren't giving them any trouble were you?"
"Who me, no, no way," Edward nervously said.
"YOU'RE LYING!" Rainbow Dash boasted. "You almost blew me up with lightning!"
"Only because you insisted on calling me a half pint runt!" Edward shot back.
"Only because it's true," Rainbow answered.
Edward began twitching with anger at Rainbows statement. "Why you rainbow haired little....."
"Oh, Edward," Celestia called.
Edward tensed up as he heard Celestia's voice. "Yes, Celestia?"
"I thought I already told you about what would happen if you'd scared the citizens like that."
"Oh, come on, you're joking right," Edward said in disbelief.
Celestia smirked at Edward as she used her magic to summon a bottle of milk at her side.
"A bottle of.....milk?" Sunset questionably said as she turned towards Edward and noticed how his facial expression turned even more sour than it already was.
"........I'm not going to drink that disgusting stuff," Edward said. Celestia began to use her magic to levitate Elric over to the milk bottle. "Wait, what are you doing I said I don't want it!"
"I'll give you a chance Edward, you apologize to Rainbow Dash, and I'll put you down," Celestia calmly said.
"Apologize to her?! But she was the one who crashed into me why should I apologize?" Celestia began floating Edward closer and closer to the bottle. "Alright already.......I'm sorry alright there I said it."
"No hard feelings short stack," Rainbow sneered.
"No hard feelings, right back at you, just wait until we're out of this freaking castle!" Edward shouted.
As everything started to die down a bit, Celestia looked towards Sora and Roxas who were as quiet as can be to learn that she was the princess that they were hearing about. "So, you two must be the heroic newcomers that saved Ponyville and Rainbow Falls?"
"Well, when you put it that way, I guess I could be called a hero," Sora said as he put his hands behind his head.
"I thought you told me that you were a junior hero," Roxas added.
"You just couldn't let me have the moment could you," Sora annoyingly murmured.
"It was just too good to waste," Roxas said.
Celestia gently laughed at the two keybladers banter. "And may I ask who is it that I am talking to?"
"My name's Sora," Sora said pointing to his chest.
"I go by Roxas," Roxas stated.
"Sora and Roxas, it's so nice to finally meet you both, and I have much to discuss," Celestia said.
"That's great Princess, and I already have everything I need to take notes with, my quills, my papers, my notebooks, you name it," Twilight excitedly said.
"That's wonderful news too, but I don't you'll be needing any of that, and I would rather wait until my sister and her familiar gets here," Celestia stated.
"Her 'familiar'?" Sunset asked.
"It's basically telling someone that your body and soul are forever tied together to a higher power in a spiritual way," Celestia noted. "It's a skill that only members of the Royal family can possess. I can't help myself when I say how curious I am of Luna's familiar."
"Lucky me, I was almost stuck being that BlueBlood's guy familiar," Edward mentioned. "The second he would have said something would have been the last thing he'd say."
"At least someone else feels the same way," Rarity mentioned.
"I guess that you all have already been acquainted with Edward," Celestia said to the group of friends.
"Wait, don't tell me that he's...." Twilight was cut short as Edward took off his left hand glove and showed everyone that he had Celestia's cutie mark on his left palm. "Are you serious, you're Celestia's familiar?!"
"Don't think that I agreed to doing it, it was an equivalent exchange," Edward said.
"An equivalent exchange?" Twilight pondered. "What do you mean?"
"She did a favor for me, that's all," Edward shrugged.
"It was more on the lines that I saved his life," Celestia playfully said.
Everyone looked at the Princess with surprised expressions when she had mentioned this.
"Ohhhhhhh I see, so Ed owes you a life debt," Rainbow teased.
Edward looked back at her in quiet anger as the Princess began to explain the entire situation.
"I wouldn't say that it's something on the lines of a life debt," Celestia ensured.
"Well, what happened Princess?" Applejack asked.
"Yeah, don't leave us hangin'," Pinkie said.
"Well, would you believe that I found Edward as he was falling out of the sky in the midst of a meteor shower?" Celestia said.
The rest of the group grew silent at Celestia's answer, for her answer resembled yet another way someone else came into the world of Equestria.
"Ummmm, did you say a meteor shower?" Pinkie said.
"Yes, actually it was the meteor shower that just recently occurred," Celestia said. "Is there something wrong?"
"Excuse me Princess but, that's the same way that I was brought into Equestria," Sora said. "I remember being somewhere dark, and there was only a door with the same sun symbol that you have." "Ed, do you remember anything before you came here?"
Ed started to think about the few moments before he was transported to Equestria. "I remember being back in my hometown, Amestris." "I was with my brother Alphonse, Winry, Granny......it was just an ordinary day, but then that guy in the black mask came."
**** Somewhere in another world.......
It was a quiet and peaceful in the quiet country of Amestris. There were no clouds in the sky and the sun was shining bright. Edward was lying in the ground enjoying the wonderful day and sitting next to him was what looked like a walking suit of armor, but was actually his younger brother Alphonse Elric.
"Man, when do we get days like this Al?" Ed said. "It feels like today was meant for nothing more but just to be relaxed.
"Yeah big brother, I understand what you mean," Al said. "Oh, and by the way, Winry said some book was mailed to you,"
"A book?" Edward asked. As Alphonse proceeded to hand Edward the book, he immediately began studying it. He noticed that it was a etched with a sun symbol on the cover of the book. "Wonder what this could be." Ed opened the book and found one important thing about it. "What the......there's nothing in this book, it's completely blank!" "All that's in here is just one line of text, but it looks like it can be deciphered into alchemic terms.
"Hmmmmm.....it looks easy enough," Al said as he began looking at the book as well.
"Yeah, I feel like we could pull this off in an instant," Ed calmly said.
What the Elric brothers didn't realize when they were reading the book, was that there was another being out there in the field with them. Someone they did not know. The mysterious man was adorned in a black mask that covered his entire face. "How peaceful you two look."
The Elric brothers heard this voice and immediately sprung to their feet. They saw the mysterious figure and knew that he was someone with an ill intent.
"Who are you, and what are you doing here," Ed said.
"I'm just a passing visitor, looking for the one called the Fullmetal Alchemist," the mysterious man said. "Would that be you?"
"Yeah so, what if I am?," Ed argued back.
"You see, your alchemy skills are very much needed somewhere else beyond this world," the mysterious man said. "Your scientific prowess will be beneficial to the plan."
"The plan?" the Elric brothers asked.
"Yes, the plan to eradicate the light that resides in every world, and let nothing but darkness reign over the skies!" The mysterious figure shouted. Dark energy began to pulse in his right hand as it looked as if something was beginning to form. It had the look of a sword but it was also shaped as if it was a giant key. The sword's teeth and head were black with a red outline and possessed a round, cog-like shape. In the head of the blade, there appeared to be a malevolent looking eye embedded into the sword and one embedded in the hilt. Its Keychain was comprised of three small, copper gears and ended in a charm resembling two halves of a gear arranged in an S-shape. The figure began to position his blade above his head and his free hand in front of him. "And, if you're not apart of that plan, then you must be against it."
"What is that thing Ed?" Alphonse asked.
"I don't know, I've never seen anything like it," Ed replied as he closed the book and put it down on the ground. "But if it's a fight that you want, *puts hands together* then you can bet that you're gonna get one!" Lighting started appearing out of Ed's hands as he placed them onto the ground. A spear began to appear out of the ground next to Edward as he grabbed it with his left hand. He positioned the spear in front of him and prepared for combat.
The mysterious figure began to laugh maliciously at the Elric brothers. "So this is the choice that the esteemed alchemy prodigies make?" "Well, I'd have to say that it was a foolish one." The figure began to dash towards the brothers at high speed. "Your hearts will be mine!"
The figure began attacking at Ed hoping to land a solid hit, but Ed's combat training proved to be effective against his own. Every attack he threw out, Edward either blocked it or evaded the attack. The mysterious figure then launched directly toward Edward with the intent to pierce through him with his blade. Edward, quick on his feet, saw this coming and parried the attack, leaving the mysterious figure wide open.
"Gotcha!" Ed said as he kicked his enemy with all the force that he had in his left leg. Alphonse then immediately grabbed the figure and began to restrain him with a bear hug. "It usually takes me the first fight to learn the combat style of my enemies, but your fighting style is so open and ballistic with no control. It was mere child's play to counter it."
"Do you really believe that was all I had?" The mysterious figure said. He instantly teleported out of Alphonse's grip and landed right in front of the younger brother. "Now whose let their guard down?" He placed his free hand on Alphonse's chest and out shot dark magic which blasted Alphonse a few feet back.
Ed immediately became enraged as he began to summon pillars to attack the unknown assailant, but to no avail as he began dodging every pillar and pushed Ed backwards with another blast of dark magic.
"Make this easy on yourself Edward, and just give up," the mysterious man said.
"How about you make this easy on yourself, and just drop dead," Ed said with a smirk on his face as he began to transmutate in his palms again.
The Alchemist had something planned for his enemy, but the assailant just laughed in his face. "*Chuckles* Really Edward, what other surprises do you have for me?" "Just come help me eradicate the light that plagues the world. This is what Xehanort wanted, and as his creation, I will uphold his plan of action. What else do you think your little lightning trick can do to even hold a chance against me?"
"Wow, you sure do talk alot, you need to get a hold of that, you might give someone just the right amount of time to get up and throw a spear at you," Ed replied.
The mysterious figure was baffled by Edward's reply as he did not expect him to answer so brashly specific. Before he could understand the context of what Edward said, he was already wounded by a spear being thrusted into his side. Instead of blood rushing out, there was nothing but darkness pouring out of the unknown being. He turned around to see Alphonse standing back up with energy circulating through his hands. "What, that walking suit of armor can do the same thing too?"
"You underestimated your enemies, and that's the first mistake that you can ever make on the battlefield," Edward said with a smirk on his face. "Al, you remember what you just read?"
Alphonse nodded in agreement. "Ready when you are brother!"
Ed and Al both placed their hands on the ground as the energy they had built up was transferred into the ground.
"Alright, now let's see what kind of alchemy this is," Edward said with a smile. As the transmutation took place, Ed, expecting some big and grand alchemic discovery, found out that the text he found in the book was something that he'd never expect. He saw nothing but an open chasm of darkness that he, Al, and the mysterious being were all falling in. "What the......what kind of alchemy is this?"
"........You IDIOT!" the mysterious began screaming in anger as he launched a ball of darkness towards Edward. Ed, didn't react fast enough to evade the attack, so he prepared himself for the attack, but surprisingly when the attack landed, it was not on him, it was Al who had blocked his way. The impact of the attack forced the Elric brothers to fall deeper into the darkness and made Alphonse pass out. There seemed to be no way out........except for one door.
"That door.....it has the same symbol as the book," Ed said. As the brothers began falling towards the door, it began to open up revealing nothing but a blinding light. "What the, I'm......feeling.....tired." Ed's vision started fading in and out as he went closer towards the light. "Al, hold...on...
Canterlot Castle late at night
Princess Luna was beginning to raise the moon for the night to begin with her big sister watching right beside her. "What do you think of that big sister?"
Celestia looked into the sky and saw the full moon gleaming in the sky. "Hmmmmm.... the full moon tonight, to go along with the meteor shower?"
Luna nodded in agreement. "I think that the full moon will compliment the meteors and stars rather nicely."
"*chuckles* Well, I wouldn't want to miss a beautiful night like this, so I think that I'll take a walk in the garden while I watch the shower," Celestia said as she began walking out of the castle.
"Very well sister," Luna said.
As Celestia left through the front gates of the castle, she began walking towards the garden to enjoy the meteor shower. "Being under a shady tree, sitting next to the flowers. It's all relaxing isn't it?"
As the meteor shower began to fall, everyone around Equestria was able to enjoy its beauty. Celestia was enjoying every aspect of the shower,but she saw something that made her look twice. She saw lightning spark in one area. What came after the lightning is what had surprised her the most. "Is that someone falling out of the sky?!" Celestia summoned her wings and immediately burst into the air. She was able to get there in the knick of time, and catch the person before anyone else was able to see. She landed back in the garden with the fallen person in her hands.
Luna came a few seconds later after Celestia had landed once again with a surprised look on her face. "Sister, are you alright, I saw you flying towards the meteor shower and wondered where you were.......who is that?"
The two sisters both looked at the person who had fallen from the sky. He had blond hair, gold eyes, and was wearing a red jacket, black shirt, black pants, and boots to match.
"He's definitely not an Equestrian." Celestia said.
"Is he alive?" Luna asked.
"Yes, he's alright. He's just passed out," Celestia said. Celestia looked down towards the boy and a smile appeared on her face.
"I've seen that smile one too many times, what do you plan on doing Celestia?" Luna playfully pondered.
"Hmmmm.......follow me to the royal quarters little sister, it's time I let you in on an old family secret," Celestia said.
*Few Hours Later"
The thoughts of the fight still rang in Edward's mind. The man in the black mask. The sword he used, and even the dark magic that he used. He thought about Alphonse and where he could be.
"Alphonse!" Ed shouted as he sprung from his sleep. Ed looked around and noticed that he was somewhere that he didn't recognize. "What is this place? Why am I in a bed?"
When Ed heard this voice, he jumped right out of the bed and fell on the ground. Ed looked around to see what that was that made the sound, and what he saw made him speechless. Standing in front of him was a women wearing a beautiful white dress with gold frilling wearing a gold crown on top of her hand. "Woah, um, excuse me, but.....do you know how I got here?"
"Of course, I was the one who put you here,"
"Well, I don't want to sound ungrateful or anything, but why?" Ed asked.
"*chuckles* Well, I want my familiar to be treated like royalty."
Ed looked at the woman in question. "A familiar?"
The woman motioned Ed to look at his left palm and what was on there had caught Edward in a surprise.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! What the heck is this on my palm!" Ed shouted.
"That's my cutie mark, which can double as a mark that the Princess of the Sun can use for her familiars."
"What, cutie marks, familiar, Princess?!" Ed screamed. "Alright lady, just who are you and where am I anyway, this doesn't look anything like Amestris."
"Well, my name is Celestia, Princess of the Sun, and you're in Equestria."
"Princess of the Sun?" Edward skeptically said. "How is that possible? that defies all rules of science and alchemy."
Celestia only laughed at his skepticism. "You sound just like my student, Twilight. So, you delve into the works of magic as well?"
"If you mean alchemy then yeah, who's asking?" Ed impatiently said.
"Well, perhaps this was fate, for the Princess of Equestria has called you to assist her in her time of need." Celestia said. "And, I've bonded the spirit of the sun within yours."
"This has to be a dream," Ed replied.
"Not in the slightest, otherwise, I would have control over everything," Luna said as she walked in the room.
"Who is that," Ed asked.
"*chuckles* That is my younger sister, Princess Luna," Celestia said.
"Wait, did you say sister?" Ed asked.
"Can't you see the resemblance?" Celestia said with a chuckle.
Ed looked towards Luna, who noticed that she was just as beautiful as Celestia. Her hair was the color of midnight blue. The way it rippled and gleamed reminded Ed of how the stars would shine in the night sky. Her dress was colored in a dark blue and adorned in decorations that resembled the night. To top it all off, she had a jet black crown sitting on top of her head.
"Yeah, the hair really ties it all together," Ed jokingly said.
"So, you're a familiar now?" Luna asked. "I wish sister would have relayed this message to me sooner than today."
"Luna, you don't have to be jealous that you don't have one," Celestia playfully said.
"In a matter of time due sister, I will retrieve a familiar that bests your own," Luna said.
"I guess sibling rivalry extends to everybody," Ed thought.
"Anyway, you have the mark of royalty on your body, wherever you go, you will be treated as if you were here since birth.
"Listen, I don't care about any of this familiar nonsense, I just want to find my brother and go back home!" Ed exclaimed. "
Celestia looked towards Luna with a less than happy look.
"Edward, the reason I called you here from your world is because something terrible was going to try to assimilate you into a world of darkness." Celestia said. So I used my powers to create a book with a transportation spell hidden inside to be brought to you when that day would come.
Edward thought back to the book that he had just received before that guy in the mask came along. Edward started shaking with a bridal of emotions happening all at once. "How does this make sense? Multiple worlds? How does this all tie together?"
"We are all connected together through one thing Edward," Celestia said as she looked outside. "......The sky. We all see the same sky, and those stars are the many worlds that inhabit this plane of life."
"But there also stars who have fallen to dark places, waiting to be brought back home," Luna added. Those stars have fallen into darkness, and that is what happened to your world."
".....Are you saying that....my world is gone, and everyone in it," Edward managed to utter.
"Not gone, but in a sleep-like state," Luna said.
"There was an old fairy tale that my sister and I used to read, that states there were people with a power that could being back the life into a locked world that had succumbed to the darkness," Celestia. "But, like I said, it was a only a story."
"Some stories could be announced true one day sister," Luna said.
"I suppose," Celestia chuckled. "But, the reason that I summoned you to Equestria was so that you could use your special skill to find a way to stop the darkness form spreading to other worlds."
The room went silent as Ed compiled all of this information into one. His head was spinning about all of this. He had seemingly lost the ones he called his family and friends in one fell swoop. after a moment of silence, he looked towards the princesses. "Alright, this is how it's going to go. I don't know much about this darkness thing, but I have been to some pretty dark corners in my life, and I've seen and dealt with situations that no one my age should have to deal with. But if there's one thing that I know is that there is always a way out to everything. When that portal activated, my brother was with me, and so was a guy who was attacking us, which was probably the guy who was going to do something terrible and has some connection to my entire world being gone. But, we're getting this straight right now, as I help you, we're going to find out where my brother is no matter what."
"I'd rather start now," Edward said as he got out of the bed. He noticed his jacket was hanging on a coat rack in the corner of the room.
Luna saw that Ed's right arm and left leg were not human, and that it was metal.
"What happened to your arm and leg," Luna asked.
"I'd rather not talk about it," Ed said as he grabbed his jacket and proceeded out of the bedroom.
"Did you know about that," Luna asked Celestia.
"Of course I did, I was the one who took the jacket off of him," Celestia said.
"And you just let me ask a ridiculous question like that," Luna.
"I just wanted to see what he was going to say about, and now I know how not to approach him about it," Celestia teased.
"*sigh* I'm going to bed," Luna annoyingly said.
As Luna left the room, Celestia stood there and took a deep breath. "I wonder if he is the hero in that old children's tale."
Back in present time
"And that's all that I remember before I came here," Ed said. "I just want to find my brother. If he fell in the portal as well, then he has to be somewhere in this world. I don't care how long it takes me, I'll find Al, and I'll find that guy in the mask, and I'll take him down myself."
"You might as well join the club on that then," Roxas said.
"What do you mean," Ed asked.
"We already know what guy you're talking about," Roxas said. "His name is Vanitas, and he's here in this world as well. Trust me when I say that you're not the only one that wants to see him gone."
"Also Ed, you came into this world at the exact time I came here, during the meteor shower," Sora chimed in.
"So what, are you saying that you were summoned here too," Ed said. "What about your world, was it swallowed by the darkness as well?"
"I can't say for sure, but I've seen other worlds that have been taken over by darkness, and there's no way that I'll let something like that happen to this world either," Sora confidently stated. "No matter where we are, we are all connected by one thing. You know, there was this quote that my friend and I knew back home, but I forgot what it was. Something about destiny and skies."
"There are many worlds, but they share the same sky, one sky, one destiny."
Sora perked up as he heard the quote being said in the throne room. "Who said that?"
The group was surprised over who said that because it wasn't any of them. Twilight looked over towards a corridor in the throne room and saw someone walking through it. "Look, over there! I think the voice came from that way."
"Calm yourself Twilight Sparkle, it is only me," Princess Luna said. As Luna walked into the throne, everyone was surprised over who's voice they heard.
"Princess Luna, with all respect, that didn't sound like your voice coming out of there," Rarity said.
"You would be correct Rarity, that was not me talking," Luna said. "Someone else is on the way."
Well sister, would you mind to enlighten us on who said it?" Celestia asked.
"Of course dear sister," Luna said. "Everyone, I would like to introduce you to my new familiar."
Celestia and the rest looked on with curious glares as they looked towards the corridor awaiting the new familiar. Footsteps could be heard approaching the throne room. As the familiar entered the room, all that could be seen at first was a long black coat. Everyone recognized that it was the same coat the Roxas had worn when he had first came to Ponyville. They noticed that the familiar was a guy who was noticeably taller than any of the others. He had long silver colored hair, and a black blindfold covering his eyes.
Luna looked towards the group with great confidence. "He told me that his name is-"
"Riku!" Sora shouted.
Riku heard this voice and recognized it immediately. "Sora?"
Roxas looked at Riku and began to have flashbacks during his time in the Organization, and the fight that they both had in The World that Never Was. He began to shake with anger as he reminisced old memories of everything that happened.
Sunset looked at Roxas, and noticed how angry he looked. "Roxas, are you okay?"
Roxas didn't hear a word Sunset said, and he summoned his keyblades and began charging towards Riku. "Out of all the people in this world, it just had to be you!" Roxas put the tips of his keyblades on the ground and began to create sparks as he charged at Riku. Riku summoned his keyblade, Way to the Dawn, and prepared to attack. As Roxas was inches close to Riku, he was suddenly knocked backwards by a heavy force, and into the walls of the throne room. Everyone looked and noticed how Princess Luna was in front of Riku with her hand out in front of her.
"Princess Luna, what are you doing, why did you attack him," Sunset said with an angry tone.
"Those that attack the familiar of the princess, it's just as bad if they had attacked the princess herself. Luna walked over to Roxas as he was getting back up from the attack. "Hmph, a keyblade, so the legends are true my sister. I thought the keyblade artifacts were nothing but old texts in books. But, it seems that I was wrong."
"Roxas, are you okay," Sunset said as she helped Roxas back up.
Luna stood in front of Roxas with a menacing look. "You have two options Roxas. Either you rot away in the Canterlot cells for 1000 years for attacking what belongs to the princess of the night, or you have a duel with her instead."
"Princess Luna!," Sunset shouted.
"Oh, no," Twilight said.
"This can't be anything good," Rarity said.
"Is she serious," AJ asked.
"Woah, never seen the princess like this before," Rainbow said.
"She can't be serious can she," Fluttershy said.
"Say Whhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaatttt," Pinkie added.
"Soooooo.....he's really about to fight the princess, I wasn't just hearing things," Sora asked.
"Luna, this is far enough, I don't want you fighting our guests," Celestia argued.
"No, Princess don't try to step in please," Roxas said. "As a matter of fact, I would love to duel against you princess. "And if I win, I get to fight your so called familiar."
"Agreed, and when I win, you have to become mine," Luna stated.
"Sounds like a deal then, Princess," Roxas said with a serious tone.
"That guy, has to either be really brave, or really stupid," Ed said.
"Well then Roxas, follow me to the dueling grounds," Luna said as she began walking out of the throne room.
"Princess Celestia, why aren't you doing anything," Twilight asked worriedly.
"This is not for me to say Twilight," Celestia said. "This is my sister's choice and her familiar's actions. This all resides over her name."
"But, I mean, Come on , Look at thi-.......how do things like this happen regularly," Twilight asked as she facepalmed.
As Roxas sat in the waiting room before entering the dueling ground. He was preparing himself for the fight by doing numerous amounts of moves through the air with his keyblades.
"Roxas, this is crazy," Sunset said. "Are you really going to fight Princess Luna?"
"Yeah,why wouldn't I," Roxas asked.
"Gee, I don't know, oh yeah, maybe because she's the PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT!" Sunset shouted.
"And, your point is?" Roxas said.
"Ughh, Twilight explain to him," Sunset said.
"Well, I guess what Sunset is referring to would be that Princess Luna is an all powerful ruler of Equestria who has the power to raise and lower the moon, can fly, use magic, intelligent, and other godly powers," Twilight said.
"And," Roxas said.
"And you.......have swords that are shaped like keys and a shoulder plate." Twilight nervously said.
"Hmph, so you're saying that I don't have a chance," Roxas asked.
"Statiscally speaking, you don't have a chance in edgewise," Twilight said.
"That's why I don't think that you should do this," Sunset said.
"....Sora what do you think about this," Roxas asked.
Sora looked left and right and pointed to himself. "You're asking me?"
"I'm your nobody, we share the same memories," Roxas said. "You only know what happened when that guy and I confronted each other in the world that never was, but I lived it. I need to know if I can fully trust him, because if he was thrown into this world too, then it was for a reason, and I need to know if he's on our side or not. So, if fighting the princess gets me another chance to answer these questions, then I'm gonna take it."
"Listen Roxas, Riku isn't that kind of guy," Sora said.
"Not the one I met," Roxas said.
"I guess if you really want the facts straight from the source then you should go on ahead," Twilight added.
"......you're really about to do this," Sunset sighed. "Well, I guess if it's something that you really have to do, then I won't second guess it."
"Thanks everyone," Roxas said.
"Just try not to get too banged up okay," Sunset said with a smile on her face, but through the smile lied a feeling of worry for Roxas.
"Don't worry so much," Roxas said as he playfully put his hand on her head. "I'll be fine, trust me."
As Roxas walked away, Sunset's feeling of worry began to grow. "Roxas, please be safe."
Roxas was walking through the dark corridor which was leading to the arena. "I wonder why we needed to do the duel here. It's not like we're hosting an event for the entire city." As Roxas continued walking, he began to see the light at the end of the tunnel and started to get excited. "Alright, here we go." Roxas walked through the end of the tunnel, and what appeared on the other side surprised him. In front of him was Luna herself adorned in a midnight blue light armor, which consisted of a chest piece and a mini skirt, and black and white skirts over the belly line. Surrounding both of them was a giant crowd of people in the stands screaming and cheering their heads off.
"What's wrong, don't tell me you're shy of crowds," Luna joked.
"No way, I've just never seen a crowd this large before," Roxas said.
"And.....I've never seen armor that....... small before." Roxas said as he saw Luna's armor revealed most of her mid section only leaving her chest covered.
"What's wrong with it, this is a royal armor set passed down from ruler to ruler, plus I've no reason to hide anything of mine." Luna boasted. "Besides, you should have expected a crowd of this size, they'll all get to see first hand the new familiar to the Princess. This is just another task for me to complete."
"Hope that guy can keep his eyes on the right thing," Ed said to Celestia as they were both seated in the private area of the stands along with the rest of the group.
"Honestly, Luna will do anything for attention," Celestia said. "But, that's just like a little sister."
"So, where are your two protege's," Ed asked.
"I told them that they were welcome to join us in the private quarters, but they insisted they stay down in the corridors to watch the duel."
"I'm kind of interested to see what those keyblade things are like in battle, especially if they were thought to be just a fairy tale," Ed said.
Ed looked to his left and noticed Riku walking up towards them with his blindfold and black coat on.
"Riku, you came, come take a seat." Celestia insisted.
"Thank you princess," Riku stated.
Edward didn't say a word to Riku, keeping a slight defensive stance near him for he barely knew who he was and how he actually got to Canterlot in the first place. As more and more and patrons filled each row of seats, one of the royal guards began to announce the beginning of the duel.
We have a duel for the ages that may never happen again in the history of time!!
In the right corner, we have the guardian of dreams, the ruler of Equestria, the Princess of the Night........Princess Luna!"
The entire crowd of people started cheering loudly for Princess Luna.
PRINCESS LUNA!
YOU'RE THE BEST PRINCESS!
WE LOVE YOU LUNA!
And in the left corner we have a new face, a traveler from a different land, who knows what he has up his sleeve, I give you, Roxas!
The once exciting and shouting crowd was now silent when Roxas' name was announced.
................Who?
"Talk about being the underdog," Roxas murmured.
"Come on Roxas, you got this!" Sunset shouted from behind him. Roxas turned around and saw Twilight and Sora back there as well.
"We believe in you," Twilight added.
"Show her what a keyblade warrior can really do!" Sora said.
Roxas couldn't help but smile at his friends words. He turned back towards Luna with a confident grin on his face. "Alright Princess, you said the Keyblade was something of a fairy tale, well, it's time to bring this fairy tale into reality." In a flash, Roxas summoned Oathkeeper and Oblivion by his sides, began to spin them in the air and caused sparks to fly until he got into his fighting stance.
"I hope that you don't disappoint Roxas," Luna said.
The guard announcer pointed to both competitors. "Are you ready? Are you ready?" "BEGIN!"
Roxas immediately began running towards Luna, and he threw Oathkeeper at her.
"*sigh* Is this how you start the battle?" Luna said in a disappointed tone. With one hand, she was able to deflect Oathkeeper and launch it into the air. "Now you're down to only one." In a burst of speed, Luna was able to get into striking distance of Roxas in the midst of a second. Roxas immeidately guarded himself with Oblivion as Luna kicked him in the chest with full force causing him to propel backwards. Now having enough room, Roxas got into a defensive stance with his one keyblade. Luna saw this, and took advantage as she began to run towards Roxas to try and end the duel as fast as she could. One well placed attack would do the job for Luna, and she had it in the back, or so she thought. As Luna came closer and closer to Roxas, he began to switch his fighting style to a more offensive one.
"Gothca," Roxas said as he summoned Oathkeeper back into his hand. Luna was caught off guard by this, and it left her open for an attack. With a quick spin, Roxas was able to get a swing at Luna with Oathkeeper. Luna, with quick thinking, was able to use her magic to teleport her away from Roxas before he could get a decent enough hit on her. The crowd was silent as they were all surprised at how Roxas was fairing against the Princess. The Princess was taking long deep breaths as she was regaining her stamina. She noticed that there was a small cut that had gently grazed the side of her face.
"What's wrong Princess, I thought that you would put up a better fight than this," Roxas taunted.
"You would be mistaken if you think this is all I have to offer," Luna said. She slowly started raising her hand as magic began to course through it. A flash of blue was seen as Luna summoned a sword that was decorated in a way to show its affinity towards the night. A crescent moon connected the blade and the hilt of the sword and bat like wings were seen jutting from the sides of the sword. She brought the sword into a position where it was slightly overhead, and she brought her free hand all the way out in front of her. She shifted her body to where her left leg was positioned in the front and her right leg in the back.
"That stance," Roxas realized.
Sora looked at the Princess and noticed her fighting style looked exactly the same as Riku's.
"How do you know that fighting style," Roxas said.
"Let's just say that my familiar and I have more of a connection than we thought we would have," Luna said. Luna began summoning symbols and runes that resembled the phases of the moon. She stepped back, and rocketed through the runes giving her a high velocity strong enough to break the sound barrier.
"That's too fast to dodge, I'm gonna have to face it full force," Roxas said as he started to bend down a little with his keyblades out. He dragged his back leg to the front of him, causing him to spin foward towards Luna, put both of his keyblades together, and with all his strength, confronted Luna and her sonic boom. When they both made contact, there was no sound to be heard, but Roxas felt the impact of the attack rushing through his body, then a few seconds later, the force and sound from the sonic boom caught back up, and all that was heard was a loud explosion that pushed the audience back into their seats, and left a massive crater in the middle of the arena.
"Woah, don't you think that's a little overboard," Ed said.
"I told her not to use her full strength during the duel," Celestia said. "That last attack could have seriously hurt him!"
"Well I guess we'll see in a minute," Ed said as the smoke began to clear out of the arena. The crowd was silent as they waited for the debris to clear and see who would be deemed victorious. Through the smoke stood Luna catching her breath after that last attack. She thought that would be it. As if anyone would be able to take an attack like that from the Princess of the Night. But, coming from inside of the crater was a glowing green light. Luna stood there wondering what could be making that light. Then, a wave of energy began to ripple through the arena. Luna began to walk towards the crater to discover what could be making that light. She peered over the crater and what she saw had surprised her. Roxas was standing in the middle of the crater, unscathed by the attack, and he was in his keyblade armor.
Roxas, now clad in his armor, jumped from the crater and back onto the arena ready to continue the battle.
"So, that's what that pauldron of yours does," Luna said. Roxas didn't say a word, as he flashed his keyblades signifying that he was ready to battle.
"I guess it's about time I finish this," Luna said. Luna vanished away her sword and put her hands together in a praying formation. She closed her eyes and began to chant. Roxas saw his opening and began to rush after her. To protect her while she was chanting, Luna had summoned a few runes that shot waves of magic at Roxas to keep him at bay.
"Darksome Lady, blackest night.. This I will by magic's rite.
Roxas continued to rush forward for the finishing blow, dodging through the magic blasts.
"That which troubles me tonight Take with You on Your dark flight.
"What's she doing," Ed asked.
"........Even I don't know," Celstia responded.
"What could she be chanting," Sunset said.
"By Your grace and by Your might...." Dark waves of energy began to flow around Luna as she summoned her wings, which were as black as the night, and began to fly in the air. Roxas skyrocketed into the air both keyblades aiming for Luna.
"Let it never see the light.... As Luna recited this chant she opened her eyes and they apeared to have changed color from blue to a shining white. Dozens of lunar symbols and runes appeared around her and they began to circle around her body. Roxas was close enough, it was his time to strike, so how come he couldn't move his body? Luna had caught him with her magic and he was unable to move. With a simple flick, she flung Roxas back down to the ground. Luna summoned a moon that was small enough that it was able to fit in her hand, and she threw it down towards Roxas. "......Illuminate." As Luna said this, the moon began to shine and ring. *RRrrrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnnggggggGGG!!!!! BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!*
Everyone looked on in silence. Luna descended back down to the ground barely having enough energy to stand up straight. Was the battle over? It didn't appear so. Amidst the smoke was Roxas walking towards the princess with Oblivion in hand, only having enough strength left to carry one keyblade. His armor began to break at every step that he took. Chips of it were dissipating and chipping away. The crowd was stunned, the girls were stunned, Ed, Riku, Sora, even Celestia herself was at a loss for words over the stamina that Roxas contained. Luna could barely hold herself up as she tried to use her magic to attack Roxas, but to no avail. She was tapped out of everything. She just stood staring her defeat right in the eyes.
"Do your worst keyblade wielder," Luna said with regret.
Roxas raised his keyblade in the air, and in a fast swing, launched it back down towards Luna. Everyone was anticipating a grand finale, but I don't think anyone was ready for what was about to happen next. Everyone looked on in somewhat of a mixture of surprise and shock. Luna looked up and saw that the keyblade was right in front of her face.
Roxas looked directly at Luna with a confident grin on his face. "...I told you I'd win." Oblivion vanished as Roxas collapsed onto the ground right in front of Luna.
I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW.....WHO IS THAT GUY!?"
Luna said nothing as she began to walk back into the corridor with the help of two of her own royal guards.
"Princess, are you okay," one of the guards said.
"Yes I'm fine, just take me back to my chambers," Luna commanded.
"Yes, your highness," the royal guards said. "What about that boy?"
Luna turned around towards and Roxas and saw Sunset,Twilight, and Sora running towards him trying to help him up, Sunset more than anyone else. "I'll think he'll be fine. Let our guests tend to his wounds."
Roxas woke up in a dazed state and found himself staring at a ceiling. "Where....am I?"
Roxas leaned his head up and noticed that he was in a bed. His vision was a little blurred, but it didn't take long for his sight to regain its focus. When it did, he looked over to the side of his bed and saw someone laying down at the edge of the bed. There was something that stood out the most about the person that Roxas immediately picked up. The hair was red and yellow. ".....Sunset?" "What is Sunset doing here? What am I doing here........oh yeah, the duel. I guess I got pretty banged up, but that doesn't explain why Sunset's hear."
"She went in hear as soon as your duel finished," Twilight said as she walked in the room.
"Oh, hey Twilight, why did she do that," Roxas asked.
"She saw how "banged up" you were as soon as the fight was over, so she ran to you and teleported us all to the infirmary. "We all left to see the princess after the doctor said you were fine, but Sunset stayed here," Twilight said. "She applied bandages, used her magic to heal a few of your wounds, you know, the works."
"She did all of that....for me," Roxas said.
"And more," Twilight said. "She wouldn't leave your side until she thought that you were completely fine. I guess she stayed up later than I thought."
As the two friends continued talking, Sunset began to wake up. Sunset looked up and noticed that Roxas was awake. ".....Roxas?"
"Well, look who finally woke up," Roxas jokingly said.
".....Roxas," Sunset quietly said. "You're okay."
"Of course I am, what did you think that I-" Roxas was cut off as Sunset punched him in the chest. "OW, what was that about?"
"You told me that you weren't going to get yourself hurt," Sunset said with an annoyed expression. "You promised me."
"Yeah, I guess I kind of underestimated the Princess there," Roxas said with a chuckle. Roxas looked to Sunset and saw that Sunset was tearing up. "Hey come on Sunset, don't be sad. I'm fine see?"
"I'm just happy that you're okay," Sunset said with a sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry for worrying you like that," Roxas said.
"*chuckles* Well, I guess she's back happy now," Twilight quietly said.
As the three friends were in the room, a royal guard had entered the infirmary. His armor was colored in a red and black variation of the other armors that the royal guards wear. "Twilight Sparkle, Sunset Shimmer, you and your friend are needed in the throne room."
"Needed now?" Sunset asked.
"Princess Luna said, as soon as the challenger awakens," the guard stated. "She said that the familiar must be notified of his new role."
"What?" Roxas said with a surprised tone. As he said this, his left hand began to glow with a blue aura. Roxas looked at his palm, and saw a crescent moon symbol etched into his hand. "What the heck is this?!"
"The princess will tell you more about it once we get to the throne room," the guard ensured. "I wouldn't keep them waiting for long."
The Throne Room
In the throne room, Princess Luna was waiting with her head resting on her head. "*sigh* "What could be taking them so long? The infirmary isn't even that far from here."
"Patience is a virtue my sister," Celestia said. "They'll be here."
Along with the Princesses, the rest of the group was waiting in the throne room as well.
"I wonder what's taking them," Rarity said.
"It wouldn't surprise me if they took their time getting here," Sora replied. "I mean, Roxas was in pretty bad shape after the fight. "Wouldn't want anything else to happen."
"So, we're just going to wait for them to get here," Ed impatiently said. "Well that's just great."
"At least we have some time to figure out how you play into helping us save Equestria," Sora said.
"Look, I don't care what you saw in your imagination," Ed said. "Even if you did see my flamel, it was just a dream. The only thing that I need to do here, is find my brother and get back home."
"But how can you possibly get back home without solving the other problems first," Sora asked. "Did you forget about the darkness? If we don't figure out how to get rid of the darkness here, then we might never find a way to make your world come back."
"Or ours," Riku chimed in. "We're all affected by this Ed, it's not just you."
Ed looked towards Riku with an unsettling look. "Look, you two may have came from the same world, but don't talk to me like we've been friends for our whole lives. Anyway, it's easy for you to say everyone's affected by it. At least you know your friends are safe."
The conversation was ended by the sound of the throne room doors slamming open. The first to appear through the doors was the royal guard that escorted Sunset, Twilight, and Roxas. "The keyblade warrior has returned your highness." Everyone looked to see that Roxas was indeed there being assisted by Twilight and Sunset.
Princess Luna looked at the guard in surprise. "That's wonderful indeed, but I don't remember sending any guard to escort them back. Do you my sister?"
"Absolutely not," Celestia agreed.
"And that armor color does not describe any ranks used in the Canterlot Guards," Luna said as she began to stand up from her throne. "So, before I make this one of your worst days alive, I suggest you tell us who you are."
The guard began to chuckle maliciously. "What is it with you Royalty? You have such keen eyes.
Ed looked at the guard with discernment. "Why does that guard sound so familiar? *faces the guard* We've met before, so you better start explaining just exactly who you are."
"Hey look at that, and I thought that you would've forgotten about me State Alchemist ," the guard said. 'But, I guess my introduction back in Amestris would leave a mental scar.
"....You better not be who I think you are," Ed grittingly said as lightning began to course through his hands.
The guard started laughing. "Well, aren't you in for a treat?" In a flash, the armor that the so called guard was using had vanished, and it was just a disguise used by....
"Vanitas!" Sora yelled.
At the sight of Vanitas, Ed lost his cool and began to charge directly at him. In a flash, he clapped his hands together, placed his left hand over his right, and summoned a sword that seemed as if it was attached to his arm. Edward lunged at Vanitas, aiming to pierce the sword right through his chest, but for some reason, it seemed that Edward's entire body was able to pass right through Vanitas as if he wasn't even there.
Everyone was in a state of confusion over how Ed seemingly passed through Vanitas as if he was made out of air. Sora stepped up and tried to find answers to what was happening. "What's going on Vanitas, and why are you here in the first place?!"
"Technically, I'm not here physically," Vanitas replied.
"What's that supposed to mean," Sora rebuttled.
"It means that's not the real Vanitas," Ed realized. "It's just a hologram."
"And the State Alchemist gets it right," Vanitas said as he sarcastically began to clap for Ed. "This is just the magic that the master has given me until he returns home."
Celestia had an unsettling feeling about what Vanitas just said. "This.... master of yours, you're not talking about -"
"Oh,but I am Princess Celestia," Vanitas said. "The fallen king will soon make his return. You've already witnessed the first sign. Now it's only a matter of time before he returns to retake his throne. But, he is not a malevolent king, for he has sent me with this message to you."
1 Moon
Vanitas began to vanish in a dark haze as the message began to repeat and bounce off the walls of the throne room until he was fully gone.
"One moon?" Sora questioned. "What does that mean?"
"I think he's referring to the moon as an amount of time," Twilight said. "One moon equals approximately one month.
"But one month from what," Roxas said.
"One month until he returns for the Crystal Empire," Princess Celestia said.
"The Crystal Empire?" Twilight asked as she began to rummage through her belongings that she brought. "I'm sorry, I-I thought I'd studied. I don't think there's anything in any of my books th–"
"There wouldn't be." Celestia said. "For only a few remember it ever existed at all. Even my knowledge of the Empire is limited. But what I do know is that it contains a powerful magic. Celestia began to walk over towards a chalice and within it was a purple crystal. She levitated the crystal to the middle of the room, shot a beam of magic directly at it, and caused the crystal to turn into a holographic map of the Crystal empire.
"Woah, look at the people," Sora said in awe for he noticed that the images of the people were shining like crystals themselves. Even the iris in their eyes were shaped in a more cubic fashion.
One thousand years ago, King Sombra, a ruler whose heart was black as night, took over the Crystal Empire. The happy scenery of the holographic empire immediately changed into that of a more dark city. The happy crystal people were all seen in shackles in chains, and the person that stood over them all was standing on the highest castle platform. He was adorned in silver plated armor, a king's cape on his back, eyes as red as blood, a silver crown on his head, and jet black hair that went down his back.
"He was ultimately overthrown, turned to shadow, and banished to the ice of the arctic north," Celestia said. "But not before he was able to put a curse upon the Empire. The holographic image dissapeared and returned to the crystal. A curse that caused it to vanish into thin air. If the Empire is filled with hope and love, those things are reflected across all of Equestria."
"But, if hatred and fear take hold..." Celesta said as she shot a beam of dark magic towards the crystal. The crystal went black and stalagmites appeared all over the ground near the group of friends. Celestia quickly dispatched of the stalagmites before moving on. "Which is why I need your help finding a way to protect it."
"You want me to help protect an entire empire?" Twilight asked.
"Not only you, but your friends as well," Celestia said as she pointed towards Sora and Roxas. "Your reasons for being here are not just coincidences. I believe that it was destiny that called you to Equestria, and that with your help, we can stop Sombra from taking over the Empire, and even Equestria itself."
"So, you need our help to stop this Sombra guy huh," Sora asked.
"I know of the perils that this will certainly have," Celestia said. "But I ask for you to just consid-"
"You just decided so quickly, are you sure that you-" Celestia was cut off as Sora began to speak again.
"I've been to alot of worlds that's been taken over by the darkness," Sora said. "I've met alot of good people that have been affected by it, and good worlds that have fallen into its deep sleep. Even my home at one point, fell to the darkness. So I refuse to let a world as wonderful as this go away. Besides,*chuckles* who else can save the world but the hero himself?
"My, I've never seen this side of Sora before," Rarity said with hint of intrigue.
"Hey, you're forgetting about me," Roxas said as he nudged Sora's shoulder. "I'm a hero here too."
Edward stepped towards Sora and Roxas with a smirk on his face. "........I guess I'll tag along too. I've had worst days to be honest.........you guys are alright."
Riku walked over to them as well. "So, saving the world again?"
Sora laughed at Riku's comment. "When did I ever stop?"
Princess Luna looked towards her sister as they both nodded their heads. "Well, if you have made your choices then, it's time to move on to the next step."
"Roxas, Sora, will you please step forward," Celestia said.
Roxas and Sora slowly stepped away from the rest of their friends as they stood in the center of the throne room with the Princesses in front of them. An aura of Blue began to appear around Luna, as an aura of Gold appeared around Celestia. Their aura could be felt circling all around the room. Each sister lifted a hand up, Luna pointing towards Roxas, and Celestia pointing towards Sora, and with a twirl of the hand, lead a stream of their aura towards them. The blue aura circled around Roxas, and the gold aura around Sora. The auras entered their bodies, and they were immediately pushed back, like a strong force had hit their body. The keybladers began to float in the air, then out of no where, a shining light broke out. Everybody shielded their eyes as the light shined. As the light began to dim, everyone slowly started to open their eyes, and what they saw had them astounded. Sora opened his eyes and saw that he had on a new outfit.
"Woah," Sora said in surprise.
Roxas noticed that he had on something new too. (Editor's Note: Don't mind the lollipop. There were no other pictures of this outfit. P.S. To my ganja lovers, stay getting to that vibration level. I'm right with yall. Alright, back to the chapter.)
"Hey, this kind of fits me," Roxas said as he adjusted his brand new clothes.
"Man, you're outfit kinda.......kinda killed my look instantly dude.....not cool man, not cool," Sora said to Roxas.
"You'll have my sister to thank for that Sora," Luna said. "Told you that mine would be better Celestia."
"Oh is that so dear sister," Celestia said with an annoying tone. "Then, how about I show you what his clothes really holdinside[/color]." Celestia snapped her fingers and in a flash, Sora's clothes had changed colors to a gold and black color scheme. On his pants were symbols of overlapping crosses, and small gold sparks could be seen coming from him. But what caught everyone's attention the most was the second keyblade that Sora was holding.
"Wait, all of this," Sora said.
"Twilight Sparkle has given me an ample amount of information on your skills," Celestia said. "She said something one time about, your outfit turning blue and being able to use magic, at the cost of her and Sunset losing their magic abilities. There was also another incident of this during the Rainbow Falls Fair, where it was a red outfit that gave you intense amounts of strength, but at the cost of Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's tenacity."
"Yeah, that was my Wisdom Form and Valor Form," Sora said.
"Within that form that you have now is a combination of amazing magic, and an untestable strength," Celestia continued. "I have given you a piece of the sun to reside in you Sora."
"What about the keyblade," Sora asked.
"Well, I would be lying if I said the meteor shower didn't peak my interests in its creation," Celestia said. "And, seeing what they could really do in battle from the duel was all I needed to go and create my own. But, the only thing that I haven't had time for was a name for it all."
"Hmmmm.......how about Star Seeker," Sora chimed. "And for the new form, how about we call it the Master Form?"
"Star Seeker, and Master Form, outstanding names," Celestia said with gratitude. "Now, what were you saying Luna?"
Luna said nothing as she snapped her fingers as well, and what appeared in her hand was an object in the shape of a short sword. "Before I award my familiar with a gift, I would have to say that I need to apologize for breaking your......armor, if that's what you called that one pauldron of yours."
"Nice apology," Roxas sarcastically said.
Luna glared at Roxas with a blank face as if he said something that he shouldn't have. "Anyway, I may have gotten a tad overboard."
"A tad?" Roxas said with a questionable tone. "You threw me to the ground, and dropped a moon nuke on me. I don't know how that doesn't count for extremely overboard."
"Ok, it was obsessive of me, so for my apology, I fashioned this blade for you," Luna said as she handed the sword over to Roxas. "I forged it out of a dragon's nail and in a fire warmed by dragon's blood, and fashioned it from your keyblades."
"Why do I feel like I've seen that sword before," Roxas thought to himself. "It feels so.....familiar."
"Since it's fashioned with components from your keyblades, I named it Two Became One ," Luna said.
"............Two Became One," Roxas said under his breath. As he said this, energy began to swirl around Roxas. The sword began to shine as energy began to channel around Roxas. It began to build and build until it was released in one massive energy wave.
"Well, I wasn't expecting that," Luna said as she looked back towards Roxas incased in a full fledge suit of armor.
"It appears that I may have gone overboard again. I guess the dragon nail and blood was a bit too much." Luna walked up to Roxas and tapped the armor with a magical rune, causing it to revert back into its dormant form, the sword.
"What.....was that," Roxas said catching his breath.
"That was the dragon trying to connect its spirit with your body, ultimately causing you to fuse minds and becoming one person," Luna said. "It would be like having a dragon living inside of you, sharing your lifespan, physique. It would be apart of you. Or, it could take over your body and your life......we'll just have to see.
"That's what's going to happen if I use this sword?!," Roxas shouted. "Why did you have to give me something so deadly?"
"Only if you release its true form," Luna said. "And, my apologies for trying to be nice to my new familiar after I broke his favorite toy."
"So, what's the name of this thing," Roxas said to Luna.
"Well, I haven't thought of a name for it, but giving it's aggressive nature, and the fact that I had to slay a dragon to forge it, how about we name it after the dragon itself," Luna said with a smile.
"Ok, what was it's name," Roxas said.
"Incursio," Luna calmly said.
"You fought Incursio, the 1000 year old dragon that we said that we would never bother again!?," Celestia shouted at her little sister.
"Exactly, it was rather quite easy," Luna said.
"No wonder he wants to take everything out on me, HE'S ANGRY AT YOU!" Roxas said.
"Well get comfortable because it's up to you to form a bond with him before the month is over," Luna said. "I fought a dragon to get that blade, appreciate it."
"We have the timespan of one moon to get ready for Sombra's return," Celestia said. "As these days pass by, I want you all to prepare for it the best way you can. Training, sparring, studying, whatever you can, I would like for you to put your own intake on this situation."
"Yes Princess, you can count on us," Sora said as he pounded his chest.
"But, even though dark times are ahead, I do not want any of you to stress yourselves, so as you train, don't forget to relax as well," Celestia said to the group. "Well, I believe that is all for the day, but before you go, I just want to tell you that I've already set up guest rooms in a private corner of the Castle for you all to sleep in. Also, they all have great views of Canterlot."
"Oh, Princess, one more thing," Sora phrased. Celestia looked at Sora, giving him all of her attention. "So, since you two are princesses, and there's no king, do you think I can become king?"
Celestia, so flabbergasted over Sora's question, that she just had to laugh. "Well, I have to say that under normal conditions, a commoner can't simply become a king, there has to be some line of royalty."
"Oh, I see," Sora said as he slumped his head down. "Another world, same answer."
"But, I may have a change of heart if, and only if, you save the Crystal Empire from Sombra," Celestia said.
"You'd really do that?!" Sora said with exasperation." "You can count on me Princess!"
"Princess Celestia, are you serious," Twilight asked.
"Yes I am Twilight," Celestia replied. "If he can prove to me that he's capable of saving an entire Empire, then maybe he'll be able to be a ruler of one." "And with that in mind, I'd recommend that you focus for this next month on your task at hand. Now go, and enjoy the wonders that Canterlot and all of Equestria have for everyone to enjoy."
"Alright, I wonder what Canterlot has that the other places don't," Sora said as he ran towards the doors.
"Great, now he's all excited," Roxas said as he began to run after Sora. As they both went out of the throne room, the rest of the girls soon followed.
"Geez, I can tell my life isn't gonna get any quieter, but what's the fun in a quiet life," Ed said as he began to walk out of the room. "Riku, you coming?"
"I don't see why not," Riku said.
As Ed and Riku walked out of the throne room, it was just Celestia and Luna there. Celestia looked over to Luna and saw that she had a worried look on her face.
"He's still afraid of overcoming to the darkness, and because of that he won't take off that blindfold," Luna said. "For him to be the familiar of the Princess of the Night, and to be afraid of the one thing I control...it's not comforting. I just hope he trusts me."
"Trust me little sister," Celestia said. "He would protect you with everything that he has. There's no reason to worry.......those are the people that will save the Empire."
"I can't believe that just happened !" Sora excitedly said.
"Which part, the duel, the Empire coming back, Sombra, Vanitas, your new clothes, new powers, or the one month of fun that we can have until we go to the Empire," Pinkie asked.
"Actually, that sounds like a normal day to me," Sora said. "I meant the part where she said that I could become the King!"
"Really Sora, do you think that you're King material?" Rainbow asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be," Sora said. "I have 'kingly' features." The girls each let out a low groan in disagreement. "Wow, so much for being optimistic."
"I think that you would make a great king Sora," Fluttershy said.
"Thanks Fluttershy ," Sora with a grateful smile on his face. "King Sora does have a nice ring to it."
"Sora, do you even know the first thing about becoming King of Equestria," Twilight said.
"Uh oh, I can feel a lecture coming on," Sora said to Fluttershy as they continued walking through the main area of Canterlot.
"First, you would have to handle all matters involving the countryside, making sure relationships with other countries are fine, and keeping Equestria afloat," Twilight sounded off. "There wouldn't be any time for fun and games. A responsible person becomes the king through years of studying, training, and many other things.....not just a promise from royalty."
"Geez Twilight, why are you so hooked on about this 'King' stuff," Rainbow said.
"Because she's worried that she'll have to listen to Sora without having a say so of her own," Ed added with a sly remark.
"No, I'm not!" Twilight immediately blurted out. "I'm just making sure that if there were to be a king, they would know what responsibility comes with it."
"Well, when I'm king, all that boring stuff will have to go," Sora said.
"Not while I'm around," Twilight said.
"Well, in that case your exiled," Sora said.
"Nice try, but only royalty can do something like that," Twilight said as she bopped Sora on the forehead with her finger.
"Well, Celestia did say there's a chance for him to be king," Fluttershy added.
"Yeah, so there's a 'chance' you'll have to do what I tell you," Sora said slyly said.
"A very slim chance, and with that kind of attitude, you're not shaping up to be a good king," Twilight said to Sora. Sora looked at Twilight with an uninterested face as he continued walking through Canterlot.
"Heh, not the way I see it," Sora said as he jumped towards Twilight.
(Sora) I'm gonna be a mighty King So enemies beware!
(Twilight) Well, I've never seen a King or beast with just so spiky hair.
(Sora) I'm gonna be the main event like king was before. I'm brushing up I'm looking down. I'm working on my roar!
(Twilght) Well, isn't than just an uninspiring thing?"
(Sora) Oh I just can't wait to be king!
(Twilight) You have a long way to go Sora if you think.....
(Sora) No one saying do this
(Twilight) Okay now when I said that
(Fluttershy) No one saying be there
(Twilight) Fluttershy, why are you-
(Sora) No one saying stop that
(Twilight) Will you just hear me out please
(Fluttershy) No one saying see here....
(Twilight) I don't even say that!
Sora and Fluttershy started exploring the different shops around Canterlot to see what they had to offer.
(Sora) Free to run around all day
(Twilight) Well that's not definitely out
(Sora) Free to do it all my way
As Sora and Fluttershy continued walking down Canterlot's main area, Twilight caught back up to them with a concerned look on her face.
(Twilight) I think it's time that you and I arranged a heart to heart
(Sora) King's don't need advice from little bookworms for a start
(Twilight) If this is where the monarchy is headed count me out Out of service Out of Canterlot I wouldn't hang about!
As Twilight said this, she saw that Sora had ran off into another direction trying to see more of Canterlot like some kind of sugar hyper kid.
(Twilight) This guy is getting wildly out of wing...
(Sora) Oh I just can't wait To be King!
As Sora explored through Canterlot, having the time of his life, the citizens all started to take note of his antics. What they kept hearing over and over again in their heads was that he kept saying something about being king.They couldn't help but feel intrigued over what Sora was going on about. Sora saw this, and decided to take this to the next level.
(Sora) Everybody look left Everybody look right Everywhere you look I'm.. Standing in the spotlight!
(Twilight) Not yet!
(Citizens) Let every creature go for broke and sing Let's hear it in the herd and on the wing It's gonna be King Sora's finest fling
(Everyone) Oh I just can't wait to be King! Oh I just can't wait....... To be King!
"Oh man, that was way more awesome than I thought it would be," Sora said. "Fluttershy, you never told me that Canterlot would be this much fun."
"That's not all that Canterlot has to offer," Fluttershy said.
"Are you serious, all of these different shops, people and places, what could possibly beat that," Sora said as he turned to face Fluttershy.
Excuse me my good man, but I don't think that I've ever seen you around Canterlot before.
Sora turned around to identify the unknown voice that sounded off near him. What stood in front of him was a tall man with wavy blue hair, blue eyes, and wearing a black suit with a purple bowtie. He immediately greeted the man with a courageous tone. "Yeah, you can say that I'm kind of new here. The name's Sora."
The man greeted Sora with a firm handshake. "Good meeting you Sora. Allow me to tell you my name."
"Go ahead," Sora said.
As the man was beginning to tell Sora his name, a certain someone was already calling the man's name from afar.
"Fancy Pants is that you," Rarity said as she began walking towards the group.
"Rarity!" Fancy Pants exclaimed. "It's so good to see you again."
"And the same to you," Rarity said. "I see you've already met Sora."
"Of course, I should have known that he was a friend of yours," Fancy said. "You only surround yourself with the ones who stand out from the crowd, and that's how more people should be."
"I couldn't agree more," Rarity said. "So what brings you out here on this fine day?"
"Well I was just going on a lovely stroll through the marketplace, until I heard someone singing," Fancy Pants said. "I follow the singing, and saw that it was your friend here. I just came to say that performance of yours really brightened my afternoon. In fact, how would you, Rarity, and all of your charming friends like to come to my garden party that I'm hosting tonight?"
"A garden party?" Sora asked. "I've never been to a garden party. I don't know if I-"
"We'll be there!" Rarity interrupted.
"We will?" Sora said.
"Brilliant," Fancy stated. "I know i don't need to remind you Rarity, but for Sora's first invitation, I must say that the attire is of a high class standard."
"Of course Fancy Pants, We'll be ready by tonight," Rarity said.
"Splendid, and this should be one to remember because the princess is coming as well," Fancy said as he started to continue his walk. "So, you wouldn't want to miss this one."
"We'll see you tonight," Rarity said as she waved Fancy goodbye. As soon as Fancy Pants turned the corner, Rarity was overcome with giddy and excitement. "I can't believe our luck! Invited to yet another garden party! This will be fantastic!"
"There they are," Rainbow shouted as the rest of the group caught up. "Why is Rarity looking like that?"
"We were just invited to a garden party," Fluttershy said.
"Pass," Rainbow said.
"I second that," AJ said.
"I would like to go to another one, you know, to make up for the last one," Twilight sheepishly said.
"You had me at 'party'," Pinkie calmly said.
"What about you three," Rainbow asked Riku, Ed, and Roxas.
"I've never been so I guess I'll go just to see what it's like," Ed said.
"I'll go too," Riku said.
"I'm not really much of a party guy," Roxas said.
"Afraid of a little crowd," Sunset teasingly asked.
"I just fought the Princess of the Night in front of an entire stadium of people," Roxas said.
"But you can't go to a garden party with not nearly as many people at that," Sunset said with a leer.
"Ok then, I'll go to the garden party," Roxas reluctantly said.
"Sometimes it's just too easy," Sunset quietly said.
"Alright everyone, it's time to get fabulous ," Rarity said with a pinch of wit. " Luckily, I brought my Fall line dress wardrobe because being in Canterlot, you should always expect a soiree. Everyone, to the castle!"
"So, I guess we're going to a party?" Sora said.
"Everyone follow me, I know everyone's exact outfit," Rarity said as she lead the group.
"Let's see what she has in mind," Sunset said with a lighthearted tone.
It didn't take the group long to make it back to the wing of the castle that they were staying in, and as soon as they made it, Rarity went to work, deciding on which outfit out of her line would be best suit every one of her friends. "Gentlemen, I would kindly ask you to leave the room please."
"But we just got here," Sora whined.
"Sora, it's ladies first," Rarity said with a poised tone.
"But, I can see the changing rooms inside," Sora said.
"We're probably going to have go with the latter Rarity if we want to have our outfits before the party starts," Twilight said.
"Oh,fine," Rarity said with a sigh as she let the guys in. "But, I'll have you know that this is entirely unprofessional."
"I still can't believe that we're going to a party," Sora said. "That's never really been on my list besides fighting monsters and traveling to different worlds."
"Well, you know what they say, there's always room for something new," Rarity said. "But don't worry, I'll have each and everyone one of you dressed in nothing but the finest of chic." Rarity used her magic to teleport a measuring tape to her hand and quickly went to work on getting all of the guys's measurements. "Perfect, I know exactly what everyone needs. "Girls, go the dressing rooms and you'll find your dresses, and Sora, you'll get dressed after the girls finished."
"No problem," Sora said as the guys waited for their turns.
"You're a real laid back person aren't you," Edward said to Sora.
"You can say that," Sora said as he put his hands behind his head.
"So what are the plans to stop this Vanitas guy," Ed said to the group.
"I don't even want to think about that guy," Roxas said. "Even hearing his name makes me want to go find him right now and just finish all of this."
"How do you think I feel," Ed barked back. "If it wasn't for that guy, I would still be home, and my brother wouldn't be lost somwhere in this world."
"And even when someone else is pulling the strings according to what the Princesses told us," Riku added. "We still can't hide the fact that Vanitas is a threat."
"We just have to focus more and really bite down on these problems," Ed said.
"I think you guys are missing the point," Sora said.
As the guys continued debating over what they should do next, Riku had peered over to his left and saw that Spike was standing there not saying a word. "........Hey, your name's Spike right?"
"Uh, yeah," Spike said in a questionable tone.
"What do you think we should do," Riku asked. Everyone looked towards Spike waiting to see what he was going to say.
"You're asking me," Spike said as he pointed to himself. Riku nodded to Spike, confirming his answer. "Well....I think we should just keep doing what we're and not try to change anything. There have been some fights we know, but we've always managed to stop them without anyone getting badly hurt. Just keep doing what we're doing even if we don't know what that actually is."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Sora said. "Just keep doing what we've been doing. Everything's is going to be just fine."
"How do you know that," Ed said.
"I don't," Sora said with a smile.
Before Ed could say anything else, Rarity had called the guys's attention. "*sing-song* Oh booooyyyssss....."
The guys turned around towards the closed curtain leading to the changing room as it began to open. The girls were all standing there in an assortment of different dresses. Rarity was dressed in a short trimmed baby blue one strap dress with white heels adorned with a diamond on the front, and a diamond beret in her hair. Fluttershy had on a teal dress with two pink and white butterflies embroidered onto the waist of the dress, and going around the dress were yellow frills which complimented her entire wardrobe, along with a butterfly shaped beret in her pink hair. Twilight was wearing a bright purple short dress with a pattern of ruffles at the skirt. Three stars were the finishing touches for the dress as it would stand out with the dresses purple scheme. Pinkie's dress was a little more tricky than the others, for it was simple with its primary colors of blue, yellow, purple, and pink, but she somehow was able to pull it off as a high class outfit. What made her dress especially original were the yellow bow around her waist and the small blue top hat on her head.
All the guys were awestruck when the girls came out with their dresses on looking stunning as ever.
"Ummmm....wow, that's um, those are uhh...yeah woaaah," Sora stunningly said.
"Sora said it all," Ed said not taking an eye off the girls.
"Wow, you girls look amazing!" Spike said. All the guys just nodded in agreement.
"Wait, aren't you missing someone," Roxas asked.
"You're right, *ahem* oh Sunset we're waiting on you," Rarity sang. After a few seconds of waiting, Sunset finally walked out of the room, and what she had on blew everyone away. A strapless dress that started with purple and gently kept shading down to a purplish red color around the waist, which then went even further down and at the bottom of the dress was a beautiful reddish orange that loosely resembled the color of a sunset. Frills in the dress had gently sectioned off each of the different colors, and it couldn't have worked any better. Sunset, with her hair in a ponytail and a silver bracelet around her arm, clearly was dressed to impress.
"Well, how do I look," Sunset innocently asked.
"*Claps hands together* I'm done," Sora said as he began to walk to the changing room.
"Who are you trying to impress?!" Roxas said with a defensive tone as the rest of the guys had no words to say.
"No one, I just wanted to look the part," Sunset nonchalantly said.
"Yeah, right," Roxas skeptically said.
"Why, Roxas, do you feel worried that I might get attention from other people," Sunset slyly said.
Roxas folded his arms together as he looked to the side. "Not at all."
"Roxas, are you blushing?!" Pinkie Pie loudly pointed out.
"What, no, why would I- I'm gonna go change!" Roxas said as he went to the changing room.
"I laid your clothes out for you," Rarity said as the guys went into the changing room. "And I think that you'll like the styles that I picked for each one of you!"
As a few minutes went by, the guys were already signaling that they had finished changing."
"Alright, we're about to walk out," Sora said.
"That didn't take long," Twilight said. As the boys walked out of the changing room, the girls were taken in surprise. Sora came out in a slim fit all black suit that looked as if it was made just for him. Roxas was dressed in a Navy blue blazer with slim fit slacks to match and under the blazer was a light grey sweater, a white button down that matched wonderfully with his solid black tie, and a pair of loafers that matched the color of his sweater. Riku was dressed in a black suit as well, but instead of a black tie, his was a nice royal blue that stood out from the suit. Edward's attire consisted of a black suit as well, but considering his lax mindset, his white button down shit was untucked, and to top off the entire outfit was a red tie that was tied just right so that it wouldn't be too long or too short. He had also decided to undo his trademark braid and rather leave it in a regular pony tail which was considerably long in surprise to most of the girls. And, for Spike, his outfit would be the most original out of the entire bunch. Spike was dressed in a blue leisure suit, with a yellow shirt and a pair of black sleek looking boots. His green hair really gave the outfit an extra sense of authenticity to the entire outfit.
"Wow guys, I didn't know that you could look that fancy!" Pinkie said. "Especially you Spike. Your outfit reminds me of something. Something......nostalgic. Starts with an 'S'? Oh, well whatever, hey Rarity will there be music at this party?"
"Of course Pinkie there will be music," Rarity said with a chuckle.
"Will there be bebop?" Pinkie said with wide eyes.
"Maybe?" Rarity nervously said.
"There will be bebop tonight," Pinkie Pie said with a stern tone.
"Ooooook, well, you five look fabulous wouldn't you agree girls," Rarity asked as she peered over to her friends her were all pretty much in a daze themselves. "Girls!" As Rarity called for their attention, they quickly snapped out of their daze and began nervously rambling and play with their hair. "Honestly, girls, have control."
"Well, I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like I'm ready to go the party," Sora said.
"As do I," Rarity agreed. "Twilight, would you do the honors?"
"Oh, yeah, no problem," Twilight said as she began to surround everyone with her magic, and in the blink of an eye, they all vanished as they were all teleported to the garden party. "Gets better every time."
"Ow," Roxas said.
"You ok Roxas," Sunset asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just got a headache all of a sudden," Roxas said. "And everything feels......tense. I don't know what that means but-"
"Rarity!" Fancy Pants shouted as he approached. "You've made it, and I must say that those dresses are lovely on all of you ladies. And gentlemen, you clean up well."
"Yeah, well, it comes with the package," Spike said with full confidence.
"*chuckles* I see, well then, the party is just getting started, you all enjoy yourselves," Fancy said as he walked away from the group.
"Well, everyone, I will be with my peers if you need me," Rarity said as she walked off.
"I guess that just leaves us then-" Twilight stopped as she noticed that more of their friends were missing. ".....Where's Pinkie?"
"She said something about, 'let the bebop ring! and ran over to the band," Ed said.
"When did she say that," Twilight asked. "Where's Sora, Fluttershy, Roxas, and Sunset?"
"Fluttershy wanted to go see the animals in the rest of the garden, Sora went with her, and Roxas and Sunset pretty much followed them," Ed said. "And before you ask, Spike went chasing after Rarity."
".....Ok, hard to imagine that happening in 5 seconds but ok, there's still you, me, and Riku," Twilight said.
Riku felt something grab his hand furiously, and he was getting ready to summon his keyblade until he turned around and saw who it was. "Luna?"
"Come with me," Luna said as she easily dragged Riku away from Twilight and Roxas. "Excuse us Twilight and sister's subordinate."
"I'm no subordinate, lady!" Ed shot back in anger. "Great, now I'm alone with........oh no." Ed worriedly turned around and saw Twilight with a sneer on her face.
"Soooo now that we have time, how about telling me a little more about that magic of yours," Twilight quickly asked.
"It's. Not. Magic!" Edward said with an agitated tone.
"Sure looks like magic to me," Twilight said.
"Alright you, I'm going to break the laws of transmutation down to a t right here and right now!" Ed said.
"Good, let's get started," Twilight said with a smile on her face.
"I should ask you the same question," Luna said with a pinch of salt in her voice.
Riku, with no clue as to why Luna is upset is pretty much just trying to figure out what's wrong. "What do you mean?"
"I asked if you were going to the Garden party days ago, and you told me, 'probably not'," Luna said.
"Oh, well, certain things happen and I ended up coming after all," Riku said.
"That's all," Luna asked. "No other reason you wouldn't want to escort me?"
"No, that's the only reason Princess," Riku said. ".....What was the last part?"
"Nothing," Luna barked back.
"Did you say escort you?" Riku asked.
"It doesn't matter anymore," Luna quickly said so that the conversation could stop.
"Ok," Riku calmly said as he turned around. "I wouldn't mind, just so you know. Guess I'll just go back to Twilight and Ed."
Luna contemplated over what Riku said to her as he began to walk away. But, before he could get far, Luna out of impulse quickly teleported right next to him. "On second thought, if you say you don't mind, I guess I'll allow it."
"Whatever you say," Riku sarcastically said as they both made their way to the center of the party.
****
Pinkie Pie was seen walking over to where the band was set up. As she started getting closer and closer to the band, her eyes began to dart left and right to see if anyone was watching. She quickly dived into a bush, and pulled out a pair of binoculars and a walkie talkie from her hair. "PPG to Trumpet, PPG to Trumpet, do you copy?"
The walkie chimed back. "We hear you loud and clear Pinkie."
"No, PPG, I said we were using code names I made you guys," Pinkie said.
"Yeah, but I mean they're kind of redundant," the guy in the walkie talkie said. "Like my code name is trumpet but I already have trumpet in my stage name." The walkie talkie chimed in again as a different voice spoke. "Yeah, and like my code name is Rapper like just Rapper, and I already have 'the Rapper' in my name so....."
"Ok, ok fine we don't have to use the code names," Pinkie said. "Are you guys here?"
"Yeah, we're right behind the other band," The two guys said.
"All right, time to work my magic," Pinkie said. She started walking towards the one of the band members who was playing the cello. She had long black hair, purple eyes, and was wearing a white button down with a black skirt, shoes, but a pink bowtie which really popped out from her ensemble. "Hey aren't you Octavia? You live in Ponyville right?"
"Yes......that's right.....how do you know that," Octavia spoke with an English accent.
"Duh, I live there silly,I mean hello, It's Pinkie Pie here," Pinkie said.
"Oh yes, Pinkie Pie, it's so.......pleasant to see you here, again," Octavia nervously said as she laughed it off.
"Yeah, I know right, so anyway I got something that I need to tell you ," Pinkie said as she motioned Octavia to come closer.
"*sigh* Pinkie, I really don't have time right now," Octavia said. "I need to focus on playing."
"But, there was this guy that was asking about you," Pinkie said trying to find an excuse.
"I'm sure there was," Octavia sarcastically said.
"No, there really was a guy," Pinkie said. "He had on an uhhh.....white suit, blonde hair, and blue eyes?"
"........Do you mean Prince Blueblood," Octavia asked.
"YEAH, he asked about why is your cutie mark a treble clef when you play a cello," Pinkie told her. "And he's making a real big fuss about it."
"Ugh, I hate when people ask about that," Octavia said. "And out of all the people it would be that guy."
"I know right, so you might wanna go and defuse that before it gets out of hand," Pinkie said as she started pushing Octavia away from the band setup. "Don't worry about your cello or your band members I'll look after them just fine."
"Well, alright Pinkie, but I'll only be gone a few minutes," Octavia said. "Don't do anything crazy."
"Do you know who you're talking to," Pinkie playfully said. "I got it Octi."
Octavia wasn't to sure about how she should feel about all of this. "A few minutes."
Pinkie waved by to Octavia as she went to go find Blueblood. As soon as she was out of sight, Pinkie went over to the rest of the band members. "Hey guys, it's cool take five I got this right now." They looked back at her with quizzical looks. "No seriously, if you guys can like scoot over?" The band members started to walk off the stage and away from Pinkie Pie. "Awesome, *pulls out walkie talkie*, you guys, it's all clear." Out of the bushes came the people that Pinkie had been talking to. You could tell it was an assortment of people coming from different backgrounds out of each of these people. There were three that stood out more than anyone. One of them was a young man with fair skin. His hair was wavy and full, a beard on his face. He also wore a button down, black chinos, and black loafers. The other one was a young man with brown skin. His hair was a small and nappy fro. His outfit consisted of a white button down, red varsity jacket, black jeans, and a pair of red canvas shoes. The last one was a brown skin girl with long and wavy hair. She wore a simple black shirt and black leggings fit.
"Go do your thing guys," Pinkie said excitedly.
"Alright guys, we running Rememory," the first guy said as he pulled out a trumpet.
"No problem," the second guy said.
"Let's do it," the girl said.
The trumpeter checked his mic as he began to talk. "Um, good evening everyone, and welcome to The Social Experiment." ****
"These animals are always so cute," Fluttershy cooed. "They have flamingos, toucans, prairie dogs and even sugar gliders!"
"I gotta say, they are pretty cute," Sunset agreed.
"They're the best!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
"Be careful how loud you say that," Sora jokingly said. "Simba might get jealous."
Roxas, with his hand on his head , was a little farther away from the group sitting down on a tree stump. "Man, what's going on with my head?" As Roxas began to close his calm his mind, he closed his eyes and breathed in and out to calm himself. As his mind began to calm down, he visualized something that he doesn't remember that well. It looked as if it was a samurai dressed in all white. "Wait....isn't that a nobody?! Don't tell me......." Roxas was knocked out of his thoughts as Sunset tapped in on his shoulder.
"Equestria to Roxas," Sunset said as she waved her hand in front of his face.
Roxas slightly jumped as he heard her voice. "Oh, hey Sunset."
"I just came to tell you that we're going to the main area to listen to the band play, but you look like you're busy in your own world," Sunset joked.
"Hmph yeah, but who wouldn't be," Roxas asked. "Think about it, a world of pure imagination where you can do things according to your time. Being in control. Having contact with my deepest dreams......why wouldn't I want that?"
"Well, maybe because it takes you out of reality," Sunset said.
"Why be in a reality where dangerous things plague your day," Roxas asked.
"It's better going through those things with the people that you call your friends, than to be by yourself alone with nothing but your thoughts forever," Sunset said.
"......I guess," Roxas mumbled.
"Where did that come from anyway," Sunset asked. As she said this she turned to notice that Sora and Fluttershy were already next to the crowd of party guests who wanted to listen to the band, but then she noticed the band members looked a little different. Um, good evening everyone, and welcome to The Social Experiment./i] "The Social Experiment?" ****
Play [Verse 1: Chance The Rapper] Uh, uh, uh Take a break when I break my leg Save the day when I take her hand Ohh Take a break when I break my leg Save the day when I take her hand And she break my heart And she take an arm and leg and a car and the kids And the court's taking course on me And of course I'm remorseful But more so for the kids forced to use morse code Poor souls ain't got no voices Take a disco nap when disco's dead And the word goes live and I fix those heads And the disc goes flop but the track don't skip And the words don't jumble and the milk don't curdle And the cookie don't crumble And the one eyed man screams "Marco, this no joke, this code red", too late The blind townspeople finally found people Kingdom came, freedom rang See what I'm sayin? Took his name Who got that hook up on that Peter Pan? The book is broke He shook his hand
"*sigh* I don't know to tell you the truth," Roxas said. I'm at a lost for figuring out what to do next, or what's next to begin with. What's the point of going on to some place that you know nothing about?
Sunset hated seeing Roxas like this. But there was this feeling around her that she couldn't describe. Like, she knew that she could help Roxas. She then looked towards the band and started understanding that it was the song. ".....That song....."
Roxas was still have a mental battle with himself. "I don't get it I mean, it's always one thing after the other, I don't get it, how are we supposed to figure this out, how am I-"
Roxas was cut off as Sunset put his head on her chest and sang with the corresponding verse (1:56). "
[Verse 2: Erykah Badu] Young man lay, lay your head down Tell me of your day (day) Rememory you'll say Chancelor baby you're uneasy, I can tell But in your way you're on your way Rememory, you're safe
That's something that my mother would sing to me when I was little. Well, with a few switched words in there. It always got me to calm down and tell her all about my problems. You can do the same thing. But, only if you want."
".....*sigh* Ok, let me see where to start," Roxas said.
**** "Ok, so you get it now," Edward said.
".......Where exactly did you get this information from," Twilight skeptically said.
"What do you mean, it came from my world," Ed plainly said.
"I don't know, it just sounds a bit off," Twilight quizzically said.
"Out of everything that's been happening to you during these past months and this is what you find that's 'off'," Ed annoyingly said. "Well, it doesn't matter because those are the rules to Alchemy. Well, at least a more simple version."
"Thanks for showing me that Ed," Twilight said.
"No problem," Ed said back.
Twilight Looked at Ed and noticed that his expression was a little down. "Ed, is everything ok?"
"Yeah, everything's fine it's just.....you know," Ed said lowly.
"I know that you must be worried about your brother," Twilight said to Edward. "But, you know that it's gonna be ok. I mean, we'll be able to find him quick. Even if we have to go all over Equestria and more."
"I know that he's gonna be ok," Ed calmly said back to Twilight. We were taught by the same masters, he can handle his own. It's just that it's not the same without my brother here. But, I know that we'll find each other here. Nothing can break the sibling bond that we share."
As Twilight listened, Edward's talk of his brother made her think about her own brother as well. "Trust me when I say I know how you feel." Twilight looked over and saw that Octavia was walking by herself looking a little annoyed. "Octavia, what are doing down here, why aren't you playing?
"It would seem that Pinkie Pie has played some sort of song and dance into getting me off the stage," Octavia said. "Which is odd, especially since I hear music being played right now." Octavia sped towards the music to figure out what was going on.
"Maybe we should follow her to make sure nothing too crazy happens," Twilight said.
"Yeah, I wonder what crazy thing an orchestra member will do," Edward sarcastically said as him and Twilight began walking towards the music as well.
When Octavia got close enough to see the band, she started to hear the music better, and it was something that she had never heard before. She tried to wrap her head around all of the different types of sounds and lyrics that were being said throughout the music. It stopped her in her tracks. As the band members began taking their break, she went up to the lead singer and called for his attention. "Excuse me sir."
"Oh hey, it's nice to meet you, how's it going," the young man said.
"It's going well, my name is Octavia, and I just wanted to ask what kind of music that you were playing just now," Octavia asked.
"Well, it was more of a blend of alot of different music styles all in one," the young man said. "From Jazz, Neo-Soul, Rhythm and Blues, and Hip Hop, one of my favorites."
"I'm sorry to say that I haven't heard from those types of music before," Octavia sheeply said. "I've just mostly focused on Classical."
"There ain't nothing wrong with that," said the young man. "I've been in the performing arts field since I was a kid, so I've pretty much been exposed to plenty of different styles of music."
"I see.....would you mind telling me more about them," Octavia curiously asked.
"Well, we don't have to play again for a minute so I don't see why not," the young man said.
"Splendid," Octavia shouted.
"Cool accent," the man said. "Also my name's Chancellor by the way, but you can just call me Chance for short, it's whatever."
"Ok then Chance, where should we begin," Octavia asked.
"We can start with my most favorite one; Hip Hop," Chance said.
"Huh, guess that's all she wanted," Twilight said. "That's kind of anti-climatic."
"What exactly were you expecting to happen," Edward asked.
"Oh, nothing important," Twilight quickly said.
"Yeah, right," Ed said with disbelief.
Twilight over here!"
Twilight heard someone call her name as she began looking around to see who it was. After a few seconds, she noticed someone waving there hand in the, but the only problem was the person waving their hand was kind of hard to see, but what made him so noticeable was his spiky green hair. "Oh, it's Spike! That means Rarity is most likely with him.
"Twilight, Ed how's the party been treating you," Spike said.
"It's ok I guess," Ed said.
"I'm having a great time," Twilight said as she looked at Ed with a glare.
"As am I," Rarity said as she came back to the group. "This couldn't get any better than it already is..........except seeing Princess Luna holding on to Riku!?"
"What?!" Everyone shouted in surprise as they saw Riku and Luna together a few yards away.
"I was wrong, this has gotten better," Rarity squealed.
"Gimme a break," Edward quietly said. Suddenly, he felt the air shift around him. His danger intuition started to grow ever larger. "What, is something here? I thought that Vanitas said a month?" Ed started looking around to see if there was anything suspicious. He scanned high and low until he saw something dash right past him. Surprised by what he had seen, Edward was caught off guard as the being let itself be seen by everyone. It looked like a regular heartless except it was much bigger. It walked on its legs as its hands were basically just claws. It had long antenna reaching down past its back, and the trademark yellow beady eyes.
As the heartless saw that it had the advantage, it quickly tried to attack Ed. It would have made contact, if it wasn't for Twilight stopping the thing with her magic.
"Wh-what is that thing," Ed asked as he back away from the heartless.
"That's a heartless, a being of pure darkness and hate," Twilight said as she began struggling to bind the neoshadow. "And, that's what we're fighting against to save Equestria!" The heartless wasn't making Twilight's job any easier, for trying to control a pure essence of darkness is not an easy feat. As soon as the neoshadow felt the magical bind began to wear off, it ran towards Twilight with the intent to kill. Twilight, tired from using her magical bind on the heartless, could barely move her body. The heartless pounced, and in one fell swoop, was face to face with Twilight. Twilight closed her eyes and prepared for the worst, but all she heard was a metal clang. She looked up and saw that Edward was in front of her with his right arm up, holding the heartless in the air.
"So, you're a heartless huh," Ed said with curiosity. "Well, lets just see how you handle this." Ed put his left hand on his right arm, and lightning began to surge around it. In an instant, the heartless was pierced by a sword that seemed to be connected to Edward.The heartless quickly vanished into thin air, and Edward had noticed that the right sleeve of his suit was in shreds. "Oh man, this was a really good suit too."
Twilight was mesmerized at the sight of Edward's right arm. "Edward, your arm it's..."
"metal?" Ed finished.
"Um, yeah!" Twilight said in an obvious tone.
"Yeah, you should see my leg," Ed nonchalantly said. "But, it might have to wait because more of those things are coming again."
"Wait, what?" Twilight quickly said as another neoshadow crept up behind her. Sora quickly dispatched of the heartless with his keyblade as he began to see the problem. "Sora, where did you come from?"
"I was in the crowd listening to the band with Fluttershy, when all of a sudden, I started seeing neoshadows form out of nowhere," Sora said.
"Wait, where is Fluttershy," Twilight asked.
I told her and Simba to go find Roxas and Sunset and tell them to meet us back in the main area." Sora said.
"Well, let's hope they get here fast," Twilight said as more neoshadows began to form. "Because we're going to need help."
****
As Simba ran through the party to try and find Roxas and Sunset, he did not show mercy to any heartless that stood in his way. Charging through or slicing down any heartless that got too close to him and Fluttershy. Simba started slowing down as they headed towards the other side of the garden where the animals were.
"They have to be around here somewhere," Fluttershy said. 'We just need to listen." As Simba and Fluttershy began listening to the sounds of the garden, they heard a loud slash that was close to them. Simba quickly followed as it led to none other tan Roxas and Sunset fighting two neoshadows.
Roxas, with his keyblades in his hands and Incursio sheathed behind him on his lower waist, was dodging every attack that the two neoshadows were throwing out. "Um, Sunset, if you wouldn't mind to, oh I don't know, STOP THESE GUYS WITH YOUR MAGIC, that would be great."
"No problem," Sunset said she cracked her fingers. Her hands began to glow teal, as she began to use her magic. She stopped the two heartless in their tracks, and Roxas disposed of them in a flash.
"Sunset, Roxas, I'm glad you two are safe," Fluttershy said in a relieved tone.
"Same goes to you," Sunset replied. "So what's going on? Why are there heartless attacking?"
"We don't know, they just came out of nowhere," Fluttershy said.
"It has to be Vanitas behind this," Roxas said clenching his keyblades in anger. As he did this, his head started to pound again at a much more intense level. "And what is going on with my mind?"
"We need to get back to the others then if that's the case," Sunset said as she began to charge her magic. "I'll just teleport us all to the main area of the party, and we can regroup with the others." Sunset's magical aura began to surround everyone as they were teleported to the main area.
As Fluttershy, Sunset, Roxas and Simba made it back to the main area, they were quickly greeted by a group of neoshadows.
Roxas summoned his keyblades and got into his battle position. "Big mistake."
As the first heartless ran to attack Roxas, out of nowhere, a spear came and lodged the heartless into the ground. Then a wave of electricity was dispersed from the spear and shocked the heartless horde with intense volts of lightning, and they were all defeated. Roxas looked in surprise as to what did that? He looked ahead and noticed that Ed and Sora were standing with their weapons in hand.
"Well, took you guys long enough," Ed joked.
So, Fluttershy found you," Sora asked Roxas.
"Yeah, we were just a little deeper into the garden, Roxas said.
"So, what were you two doing in the garden by yourselves?" Sora asked with a quizzical tone.
".....Nothing," Roxas said as he turned away from Sora.
"That doesn't sound like a nothing," Sora teased.
"Anyway," Roxas said trying to change the subject. He saw Twilight run up and hug Sunset, checking to see if she was ok. This made Roxas grin a bit, but it was quickly taken away by his head pain once again. Every time he felt the pain, it kept getting worse and worse. It forced him to kneel down on the ground, as the pain was starting to be too much.
"Roxas, what's going on," Sora worriedly asked as he saw Roxas pupils started to form some kind of symbol. "But, that symbol is the-" Before Sora could finish his sentence, A scream from Sunset gathered everyone's attention as a soldier heartless had snuck up on them and tried to attack her. But, before he could even move his arm, something has already ended its life. The soldier heartless quietly fell, as it disappeared. What took its place is what the group was surprised the most about, especially Roxas. It was a being they had never seen before, besides Sora and Riku. It had a distinctive cylindrical head that was a darker shade of grey than the most of the rest of its body. It's head beared six diagonal slits on the front, three on each side. The majority of its body appeared to be covered in a grey jumpsuit with bell sleeves and a lighter grey seam going down the front. Each sleeve had a strange emblem printed on them, and only the being's black hands were visible. The creature's black, featureless, pointed feet sprouted out from the legs of its jumpsuit. The being just stood there in front of the group.
"What is that," Twilight asked.
It's a Nobody," Sora surprisingly said as he looked at Roxas.
"It's...a Samurai," Roxas said in shock. "I can control them again." With this newfound power, Roxas was able to fight fire with fire against these heartless. "I got a plan."
****
One after the other, Riku was taking down heartless with his keyblade. One tried attacking him on his side, but Riku just dodged its attack and sliced down the being. Riku was utilizing a barrage of moves to wipe out the attacking foes. Spike, Rarity, and Luna stood near Riku as they watched him guard all three of them from the heartless.
"Yeah, you get em Riku!" Spike shouted.
"Pardon me Princess Luna, but couldn't you help deal with some of these creature," Rarity asked.
"I- I'd rather not, I apologize," Luna quietly said.
"But why not," Rarity said.
"Because I'll just ruin everything," Luna said.
Rarity looked at Luna in shock. "What, Luna why would you say tha-" Before Rarity could finish what she was saying, a small rumble could be hear coming closer and closer to the group. The rumbling grew louder, and everyone saw what created it. There stood Roxas and the rest of the group in front, with a militia of Samurai nobodies to battle the heartless.
"Let's see how many you guys can take down," Ed said confidently to the rest of the group.
"Trust me, you'll guys will have less," Sora said as he transformed into his Master form and summoned his Kingdom Key and Star Keeper. As Sora dashed towards the heartless, sparks of yellow electricity was being left behind in the form of a trail.
"So, that's how he wants to play," Roxas said. "*unsheathes Incursio* I guess now is a good as time as any to get to know each other huh? Show me what you can do Incursio!" As Roxas said this the blade began to glow, and a white light was shining over Roxas. After a few seconds, a loud dragon roar was heard, as Roxas wore the Incursio armor. "Let's see who get's more now." Roxas raised his hand, and ordered the Samurai nobodies to charge at the heartless. Ed summoned his spear, and ran with the Samurai, taking out any heartless that was in his way.
As Sora moved in with his tremendous speed, he was able to defeat some of the heartless. In a flurry of slashes and swipes, the neoshadows barely stood a chance. As one tried to strike at Sora from his blind side, Roxas came and punched the heartless away with pure force. Sora and Roxas stood back to back as they looked at the remaining heartless in front of them. In one motion, Sora and Roxas began taking down the heartless as they tried to attack. Sora rolled over Roxas's back and immediately cut down a heartless that was in front of him. Heartless after heartless, their numbers were beginning to fade. As the last heartless stood in front of them, Sora and Roxas both nodded at each other as they threw Kingdom Key and Oathkeeper at the heartless, and they both hit it directly in its chest, causing it to disperse. As that was the last one, Sora and Roxas quickly reverted back to their original forms.
"*Huffs* We did it," Sora said as he was trying to catch his breath.
"Yeah, we took them out," Roxas said in a tired voice.
"I think you guys should check again!" Ed shouted as he pointed to the other direction.
The keybladers turned and saw that there were still more neoshadows in the garden. All of the party guests were scared out of their minds. They didn't know what to do. They were under the mercy of the heartless. Sora had peered towards the stage and saw that Pinkie Pie and a group of people being backed up by a heartless.
Sora started to drag his body even though he was suffering from fatigue.
"Sora, what are you doing," Ed said.
"Everyone's still in danger, we gotta help them!" Sora said as he tried to move his body just a little faster. Sora's body couldn't do it anymore, and he stopped dead in his tracks as fell to the floor. Unable to move, at the end, Sora couldn't save everyone. "No, this can't be happening right now!"
A godly voice rang all throughout the garden as it sounded as if thunder had just roared in that specific area. Everything inside the garden party appeared to be frozen in time, but only one person was not affected, and she was flying in the middle of the sky as her eyes glowed white.
Luna began creating dark magic in her hands. "You call yourselves creatures without hearts, something so dark, yet you do not sit under the Princess of the Night's blessing. Evil beings such as yourselves deserve to be erased. With her dark magic, Luna opened a portal to the Pit of Tartarus. "Say greetings to Cronos for me!" Luna started controlling the remaining heartless and forced them into the portal to Tartarus. The longer she used this dark magic, the more unstable it started to get. As the last of the heartless was sentenced to Tartarus, Luna closed the portal, and fell out of the sky. Before she could hit the ground, Riku caught her at the last second. Riku looked down as Luna slowly started to regain consciousness. ".....Riku, I'm sorry."
"It was you," Ed angrily said as he turned around to see Vanitas again.
"Was it that hard for you to figure out," Vanitas taunted. "Anyway, just like last time, this is just a hologram and nothing more. I just wanted to see how you would fair against the neoshadows. But, I guess if it wasn't for that demon Princess of yours, you all would be in the grave."
Luna's expression went to a disheartened one at Vanitas's words. Luna did not want to hear another word as she was able to teleport away to everyone's surprise.
"Wow, talk about dramatic," Vanitas said with grimace.
"Wait until we find you Vanitas, then we'll see what you'll be saying then," Roxas said.
"I can only imagine what that'll be like you fake," Vanitas said. "But until then, you better get ready. Vanitas started to disappear in shroud of shadows. "Oh, and before I leave, you guys missed one."
"We missed one?" Sora asked.
"Rarity, look out!" Sunset shouted as a heartless was behind Rarity.
In the midst of all the chaos, one neoshadow was able to sneak up on Rarity and ambush her. There was no time for her to react, but as if it was reaction, Spike pushed Rarity out of the way, and faced the heartless head on. As the heartless finished it's attack, everyone looked up and was surprised and shocked about what had just happened. The heartless was gone, and no one was hurt, but there was just one thing different.
Spike....is that a KEYBLADE?!" Rarity shouted. It was true, Spike was holding onto the old keyblade of Riku.
"What,me, ARE YOU SERIOUS," Spike said with excitement.
"Well, that's something you don't see everyday," Roxas said.
"At least we have another keyblader, and he's from a different world," Sora optimistically said. "The keyblade's chosen him, and the keyblade is never wrong about who it chooses to be a wielder."
"And since Spike's keyblade was my very own as well, I'll help him in his training," Riku said.
"This is gonna be a looonng month," Roxas said.
**** A few hours later
Riku, back in his black coat, was seen walking back towards the royal chambers during the late night. He wanted to check and see if the Princess was alright after what had happened. Riku knocked on the door before entering Luna's room. "Luna, are you in here?"
"Yes...I am," Luna said as she was standing in front of her balcony. She was wearing a nightgown made of the purest sapphire colored fabric.
"I was just making sure that you were ok," Riku calmly said.
"I'm fine," Luna bluntly answered.
"Are you sure," Riku said in a thoughtful tone.
".....Yes," Luna said. As she said this, she bit her tongue knowing that something was wrong.
Riku walked up towards Luna as she still kept her attention out on the balcony. "I know when you're lying Princess."
Luna had no choice but to tell the truth. "........And I know you are afraid of the darkness. Afraid of what it can do. But, I don't want you to be afraid of it Riku."
"I'm not afraid of the darkness," Riku said. "I only despise the darkness."
"......So do you despise me," Luna said. "The Princess of the Night, the mother of the ones who love the darkness. Do you hate me?"
Riku was at a loss for words when Luna said this.
"Don't let your hate for the darkness get in between of the people who care about you Riku," Luna said as silent tears began to form. "Because, I'm one of those people who care about you. More than you ever know. The day I found you floating in that sea of darkness,defeated by the darkness, I knew that you couldn't just leave you alone adrift. I wanted you to feel safe within the darkness, and that's why I brought you under my care of being a child of the night. ......Please don't hate something that's as beautiful and has the same color and energy as the night."
As Riku began replaying the Princesses's words over again in his mind, he decided to walk towards Luna. He gave Luna a reassuring hug, something that would stop her from crying. "I'm sorry.....I don't ever want to hear my Princess cry."
"....Your Princess," Luna said with a hint of blush on her face.
"You don't like that?" Riku said to Luna as they started getting closer together.
Luna got close enough to Riku where she was face to face with him, and a moment's notice, a kiss was shared between the two. "What do you think?" Luna looked at Riku's blindfold, and decided that it was time for it to go. She started untying his blindfold, and gently placed it in Riku's hands. "So, what do you think of the darkness now?"
Riku blinked his eyes so that he could focus his eyesight again, and when he did, he was able to see Luna in front of him. Who turned out to be shorter than he thought. "*chuckles* I think the darkness is something beautful."
"As do I," Luna said with confidence.
"Of course you do," Riku sarcastically said. Epilogue
Pinkie was standing there with her band friends and Octavia as they were just hanging around in the Canterlot main area.
"So, guys and gals, do you think anyone is gonna get that cameo," Pinkie asked.
"I'm pretty sure someone's got to know that song right," Chance said. "It's a pretty good one if I say so myself."
"I wonder if there would be more times when something like that will happen," Octavia asked.
Everyone looked at each other as they all shrugged their shoulders and went back to enjoying their day.
Outside right now, is a picture of beauty. Splashes of reds,greens, yellows, and oranges are spread all around as the temperature begins to drop for the first time since Summer. It's almost as if the sun relaxes a bit in its own way. Just letting the world relax. And, as the world relaxes, the leaves begin to fall from the tree and fly in the air, or land on the ground. It's something so simple about this season that just makes it worth waiting for. Especially to me, and also towards another person who happens to say that this is her favorite time of the year. I wonder who that is?
On the outskirts of Ponyville, a large apple orchard seemingly open to family and friends of the Apple Family. Right next to the orchard was a flowing river filled with different kinds of aquatic animals living their lives.
Sitting under a tree that was planted in front of the river was Sunset, and she appeared to be writing in a little book. As she was writing, Sunset started hearing little ruffles coming from the trees. : "*sigh* Here we go."
In an instant, the ruffling grew louder as Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo jumped out of the trees. "SNEAK ATTACK!"
Sunset caught all three crusaders with ease in a magic bubble that kept them in midair. "Has Rainbow Dash been teaching you karate again, and when have you ever surprised someone when yelling 'sneak attack'?"
"You'd be surprised," Scootaloo said as Sunset levitated them back to the ground.
"What are ya doing way out here in the orchard anyway Sunset," Applebloom asked.
"I come out here sometimes when I just want to write in my book," Sunset answered. "You can call it a hobby of mine."
"What do you usually write about," Sweetie Belle asked.
"Well, it depends," Sunset said. "Sometimes, I'll write about what's going in my day, I'll draw a little or like today I'll write a poem form time to time."
"You write poems?!" Sweetie Belle surprisingly asked. "Read one to us please, please, please?"
"Ok,ok, I will," Sunset said with a smile on her face. "But, why do you want to hear what I wrote?"
"Actually, I like to sing sometimes too, and I think that listening to someone else's creation would help me in making my own," Sweetie Belle said.
"Hmm, guess I didn't think of it that way," Sunset said. "Alright, I'll read you one, but it's kind of short. It's only a few lines. *ahem*"
(Sunset) Here we are The two of us Like ships upon a winding river And yet somehow, we found each other Like strangers, you and I
"Well, what did you think?" Sunset said to the crusaders.
"Aww,that was so beautiful, short, but at the same time just the right amount," Sweetie Belle said. "I wonder who's the special someone you wrote that about?"
"Special Someone?!" Sunset said in surprise.
"Yeah, I mean, your words speak it," Sweetie Belle said. " 'The two of us, we found each other, like strangers you and I'?
Oh, that can be about anything," Sunset said trying to get the cmc off of the topic.
"Or anyone," Scootaloo added.
"What does that mean," Sunset said with a defensive tone.
"Nothing, nothing at all," Scootaloo slyly said. "It's just that normally you're usually with someone else most of the time."
"Well, I can tell you this time it's just me and my book," Sunset insisted.
A few seconds later, coming from what seemed like the farm, Roxas appeared in front of the girls as well. "Hey Sunset, you still here? Sorry I'm late, Sora and I were having a sparring math, and that turned into a big showdown. You should have seen it, it was awesome. My Incursio against his Master Form. I promise I thought we would have destroyed the..........oh hey Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle, what are you three doing here?"
"Just you and your book huh," Scootaloo said to Sunset.
Sunset looked away from the three girls denying everything, even though clearly the cat was out of the bag.
"Actually, I have something that Twilight wanted me to tell you," Roxas said. "She said something about a Fall Festival and that it's starting right now. I've never heard of it but-"
"Roxas, you can stop now, Sunset already left," Sweetiebelle said as Sunset teleported away from the forest and to the festival.
"What?!" Roxas shockingly said. Roxas slumped down as he saw that Sunset wasn't there. "Great, now I have to walk all the way back to Ponyville."
"Well, at least you got us to brighten the way," Scootaloo said as she hopped on Roxas's back.
"......Eh I guess so," Roxas jokingly said as he started to walk carrying Scootaloo on his back.
"Hey, we're not that bad," Scootaloo said to Roxas.
"Come on, I was just joking," Roxas said as they started making there way to the Fall Festival.
**** All around Ponyville, festivities were being enjoyed as the townspeople all joined together to celebrate the festival. It wasn't as big or grand as some of the other events that the people are used to, but it was still an event that the people of Ponyville enjoyed to the fullest. The young kids were busy hanging out together and looking through all the kiosks and shops that had different items for sale to accommodate the season, while the older people spent their time taking mugs of cider from the Apple Family's cider kiosk. Let's just say that people were having a great time no matter what.
"So.........you guys just drink cider no problem?" Sora asked Fluttershy as she bought a mug for Sora and her.
"Yeah, really more people call this season 'Cider Season' instead of Fall because of how everyone enjoys their cider," Fluttershy said.
"But, aren't you all like late teens, and isn't cider a-" Sora said as he was interrupted by Rainbow holding two cups of cider.
"Hey, HEY, stop thinking about it, and just take a drink of it," Rainbow said in a lax tone.
"Ummm Rainbow, you doing ok," Sora asked with a questionable expression slabbed on his face.
"Who, me, I'm....phenomenal y'know," Rainbow said as she put her hand over Sora's shoulder.
"Yyyyyyeahhhhh, I think I'm good on the cider," Sora said.
"So, you're just gonna waist Flutter- Fluttershy's bits like that," Rainbow said in a coarse tone. "Her hard working bits? Where does she work? What does she do? But she bought you a cup, so you better drink it."
"Ok,ok, I'll drink it," Sora said as started to tilt the cup closer to his mouth. As he was about to take his first sip, Sunset had teleported right in between Rainbow and Sora, causing him to spill his drink.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm late," Sunset said with a happy expression.
"Awwww, you dropped the cider," Rainbow said with a broken hearted expression.
"There's plenty of cider Rainbow," Sunset said. "Also, stop teaching Applebloom Karate; I won't be able to handle it. So, where's everyone-"
"SUNSET!" a loud voice said as the four friends turned around to see that it was Twilight along with Rarity,Pinkie, and Spike.
"Hey Twilight, sorry I was late, but I was just relaxing in the orchard," Sunset said to Twilight. Sunset looked at Twilight up and down and drew a smirk on her face. "Why Twilight, is Celestia's prized pupil drinking cider?"
Twilight started chuckling with a hint of blush on her face. "What's one cup going to do?"
"Except for the fact that you had like three," Spike blatantly pointed out.
"You see.....that's why......yo-you can't have any Spike," Twilight brokenly said to Spike.
"I had a cup like 30 minutes ago," Spike said.
"So, is this what happens at the Fall Festival is that everyone drinks Cider to the point where they can't even speak," Roxas said as he finally made it from the orchard.
"We usually just hang around with the kids from school," Applebloom said.
"It actually gets better around the evening because that's when Pinkie starts the party," Spike said with a grin on his face.
"Yep, and I have a super secret surprise guest coming too," Pinkie said giddily. "I can't wait until tonight. You won't believe who it is."
"Uhh, is it Discord," Spike asked.
"What, no, why would you think that," Pinkie chuckled.
"Because he's right behind you," Spike calmly said.
"Huh," Pinkie said as she saw a lizard tail lie on her shoulder. She looked up and saw the ancient Draconequus.
"First of all I'm not 'ancient'," Discord said. "Second, what does a God of Chaos have to do to get a cup of cider around here? Oh wait, this." Discord snapped his fingers, and one of the cups of cider from Rainbow suddenly sprouted legs and leaped out of her hand into Discord's. "Much better."
"Wait a minute, is this the actual Discord, God of Chaos," Sunset asked as everyone nodded their heads yes. "I thought he was trapped in stone by the Princesses. Why is he out?"
"Please, calm yourself Miss Shimmer, I was invited by Fluttershy," Discord said.
"How do you know my name," Sunset asked.
"Being one of Celestia's pupil's surely brings a name to some ears," Discord said. "Also, Fluttershy told me."
Sunset looked at Fluttershy with an angry expression on her face.
".....We're pen pals," Fluttershy said.
"Whatever you are here for , just make sure you don't cause any trouble," Rarity said to the deity.
"What, moi?" Discord sarcastically said. "I'll be as harmless as a shark attack."
"I don't think that-" Pinkie said as she was cut off by Discord.
"Now, I know everyone here, but I don't know you two," Discord said to Sora and Roxas. "So you must be the keyblade wielders. Why, I haven't seen a keyblade in centuries."
"You know about the keyblades," Sora asked.
"How is that possible," Roxas added on.
"Well, when you're the god of Chaos, and you've lived as long as me, universe hopping becomes a really enjoyable pass time," Discord said. Oh, the time when keyblade warriors were plentiful, but that was before the war. I wonder if the new reincarnations still have the tenacity that the older generations had?"
"Please, nothing can stop us," Roxas confidently said.
"Hmmmm...is that so," Discord said with a sly tone. He quickly snapped his fingers and teleported the entire group into an open grass field yards away from the Festival.
"Hey, what's the big idea, the party is that way," Pinkie angrily voiced.
With a quick snap, Discord had put everyone except Sora and Roxas on a set of bleachers as the keybladers were standing in the middle with Discord facing them. "You said that you are far superior than the keyblade wielders of old, well I've fought against many before my imprisonment, and I have to say that they were not interesting in the slightest. Something about their hearts becoming dark yada yada yada, and they turned into these little dark things with yellow eyes."
"They turned into heartless," Sora said with a disheveled tone.
"Ah yes, heartless, that's what they were called," Discord said. "Yes, they tried to attack me, so in return, I made them dissipate into nothing."
"You killed keybladers," Roxas said.
"Oh no no no, they were heartless, so they never had mastery over the keyblade to begin with child," Discord said with a smile on his face. "And judging by your expressions, you might be two more."
Roxas took a deep breath in and out as he started to calm himself down. "So, you want to test our metal huh? *summons keyblades* Well, why not?"
"Are you serious," Sora asked.
"We've fought bigger, badder, and worse things before," Roxas said. "So, are you with me or not?"
Sora looked down at the ground before looking directly towards Discord with sharp smirk on his face. "Yeah, *summons Kingdom Key* let's show him what the new generation can do!"
"Oooohhhhh yes the fire, the fury, the heart, that's what the old wielders were missing," Discord said proudly. "This may be more interesting than I thought. Are you ready you two?"
"Sora and Roxas said zero words as they prepared themselves against the God of Chaos.
"Very well, let's begin," Discords quietly said as his pupils shifted into red glowing slits.
Discord snapped his fingers, and the entire area had changed into this bizarre realm where nothing made since at all. Everything was legit chaos. "I don't think you two know what you're getting yourself into. I can control anything at will, so what makes you think-"
As Discord continues with his monologue, Sora decided to aim his keyblade to the sky and release a beam of light into the air. As the beam made contact with the sky, a great light started to shine, and a vision of a keyhole was seen in the air. After a few seconds, they were all back at the same area; away from Discord's spell.
"What, but how was that possible," Discord argued.
"Looks like you don't as much about the keyblade as you thought, or else you would have known about how it can unlock the heart of worlds," Sora said with a grin.
"I see, we play it your way then," Discord said as he snapped his fingers. As he did this, he summoned life sized playing cards with faces ,limbs, and they were holding halberds and lances. You could say that they were like-
"Are those the knights from Wonderland," Sora thought quietly. "How many different worlds has this guy been to?"
"Now, my knights, charge," Discord ordered as the militia of knights started targeting the keybladers.
"This is it, no problem," Roxas said as he charged back at the knight and immediately went for a quick attack, aiming at one of the knights side. As his attack made contact, Roxas demeanor turned cold as he noticed that his attack did barely nothing. The knight attacked back by lunging his spear at Roxas, which he barely dodges as he back away from the card knights. "But how did that-"
"There more resilient than they look Roxas," Sora said. "I had to fight them back when I began my first journey. "They may not look like much, but trust me, you don't want to get hit by their spears."
"Instead of aiming at their sides, try aiming at their bodies, it's literally the widest part," Sora said.
"Alright, on you," Roxas said as he readied himself.
"Alright......NOW," Sora said. Roxas crouched down and crossed his keyblades in front of him, forming an x, allowing Sora to springboard off of it. In midair, Sora decided to transform into his Wisdom Form, and began to dive straight towards the knights. Sora started to build momentum as he began spinning in midair with his arms and his keyblade extended out. As Sora focused his magic around him, a blue cone began to appear around him. As he got closer to the knights, Sora's velocity were causing a few of them to step back from sheer force. As Sora made contact with the knights, they were simultaneously blown into the air. Roxas took this as his time to take them out while they were open. As Roxas went to take out the first knight, he summoned a Samurai nobody to help boost him into the air. As Roxas made contact with the first knight, he impaled the knight with his Oathkeeper, and continued to get closer to the other knights by boosting off of each one. As the knights began to fall one by one, the Samurai made sure that the knight were out of the battle for good. As the last knight fell, Roxas started making his way back to the ground.
"Aw yeah, that was awesome!" Scootaloo shouted. "Go Roxas and Sora!"
"YOU GOT THIS YOU GUYS!" Pinkie shouted.
"Pinkie, they're not that far away," Rainbow said.
"I'm just making sure that they heard," Pinkie clapped back.
"Alright, enough of the games Discord," Roxas said.
"Hmmmmm.... I see that you two are far from the keybladers of old," Discord said. "You quickly dispatched my spell, and after finding the weakness, took care of my knights.......ok *cracks knuckles* guess I have no choice." As Discord said this, in a blink, he was standing in front of Sora and Roxas with his hand raised in the air. They didn't realize that they were being controlled by Discord's magic as their bodies started to fly in the air. Let's see how you two can handle this." Discord slowly and lightly thumped the air beside the two keybladers, and a mach force sent the two keybladers flying.
"HOLY CELESTIA!" Pinkie screamed.
"Discord, what did you do!" Twilight shouted in anger.
"Why did you do that Discord, they could be hurt or.....or..." Fluttershy traumatically said as she started thinking the worst.
"Now now, Fluttershy, it's ok, it's ok, it's all just a test," Discord said. "I need to know how strong those two are."
"By blowing them away to who knows where," Rainbow shouted.
"Listen, if they are keyblade wielders that means that this is more serious than it may seem," Discord said. "I'm guessing you've already seen the heartless, and the sole reason their here is because they're attracted to the keyblades, and so are other evil manifestations that plague this world, as well as many others. They are heroes and loved by many, but are also hated and wanted by others who want to use their power for harm and darkness. Who knows what could happen if they get captured by the enemy that they'll soon have to face."
"How do you even know all of this," Sweetie Belle said.
"Just like I said child, I've been to many different worlds and seen many different fates," Discord said. "Especially those that resolve around the keyblade, and I'll tell you now that it didn't end pretty for alot of them. Remember this phrase, 'There are many worlds, but they share the same sky. One sky, One destiny.' We are all connected together no matter where we may see ourselves. There is and will always be more than you know. Don't tell them anything about this when they come back.....they don't need something to worry them even more."
"Worry?" Fluttershy asked.
"Why yes Fluttershy, worry, as in having an entire world to protect from who knows what along with people that they may deem important to them as well," Discord teasingly said. "I'm talking about all of you. But, no matter, Discord, the God of all things Chaos, has deemed those two boys, alright, to save Equestria at least."
Everyone looked into the air and a bright flash coming closer and closer to them.
"Oh, speak of the underworld, and it's minions shall rise," Discord said as the flash of light was none other Roxas in Incursio, and Sora in his Master Form holding Star Seeker in his left hand, and his Kingdom Key in right. Roxas was using Incursio to fly in the air with Sora hanging on from his back. Sora jumped from Roxas' back and began to quickly glide towards Discord with his keyblades raised, along with Roxas who was quickly approaching with his sword in hand. Discord stood there with a calm smile on his face as he pulled out a small white flag from his hand.
"I surrender." Discord said as Roxas and Sora mere seconds away from colliding with him, but it didn't matter because Discord used a spell so that they would faze through him and smack the ground anyway.
"Ugh, WHAT," Roxas said.
"You win,fair and square," Discord said as he summoned a bunch of X-shaped and crown shaped balloons. "Hip hip hooray!"
"Was this all a joke to you or something," Sora said in frustration.
"Oh nononono, more like a test, that you passed," Discord calmly said. "Ask your friends they'll vouch for me."
The girls and Spike looked at Sora and Roxas with faces that had, "he's actually right you know," written on it.
"Whaaaaaaat," the keybladers simultaneously said.
"You know what, it doesn't matter, just as long as everyone is safe," Sunset said to her friends. "How about we go back to the festival? I think it's almost night time, and doesn't Pinky have a super surprise guest?"
"Oh yeah, you know I do," Pinkie Pie said full of flare.
"Then how about we all head back," Sunset said as she pointed to Discord. In a snap, discord had everyone back to the festival and it seemed that it hadn't missed a beat.
"Alright, now all I have to do is this," Pinkie said as she pulled out her walkie talkie. "PPG to Rose, PPG to Rose, it's go time."
"Gotcha Pinkie," the walkie talkie chimed back.
"3,2,1," Pinkie counted down as music started to play and a gigantic stage with flashing lights began to open and a girl with purple colored and an all black outfit that rockstars would wear began to perform for the festival.up.
Lights and lasers were all over the place. It was your normal rave night.
"Pinkie, how in the world did you get-" Twilight said flabbergasted.
"I have my ways," Pinkie said as she began partying.
"This, is an awesome place," Roxas said to Sunset.
"You had doubts," Sunset asked.
"........Nah," Roxas said.
Sunset took Roxas' hand and brought him into the center of the crowd that was jumping to the music.
"Well, what are we waiting for," Sora said to everyone else as they all started to dance to the music. Pinkie and Rainbow started stage diving, everyone was having fun so in retrospect, it was an awesome Fall Festival.
Extra song: Just because Autumn is my favorite season, and I like the chill that Halloween gives you. Long live Jazz, Rhythm, Blues and Love.
P.S. I know this came out wayyyyy to late. But you know, College, organizations, about to get a job, I put in when I can yall, and I appreciate all of yall who read my story like for real. This is some turnt stuff that yall are doing just by reading my creation and sharing it to others. Yall are Awesome. Don't forget that. I'm also starting to focus more on my music than I have this past year. Ima be rapping and some more so yeah, but I'm not gonna forget this. WE IN IT TILL THE END! I'm trying to focus on growing a youtube channel too. Idk what it's gonna be about but right I'm just posting random stuff. I might start doing vids about music. Different rappers or something like that. Anyway, as I was saying. Yall are awesome, I love yall, Peace.
It's that time of the year again. Where merriment and cheer fill the hearts of all the people in the world, and little kids rejoice to know that their favorite holiday is vastly approaching. Everything about this holiday screams relaxing by your loved ones near an open fire and just counting all the blessings that you have. Yes, of course I'm talking about Hearth' Warming, but ever since Sora and Roxas came to Equestria, there's also another name for this time of the year. Also, like other holidays, there are many songs associated with it, and the people of Equestria were all set to learn them. So, how about we begin this story in none other than the capital of Equestria itself, Canterlot. The people of Canterlot love this time of year, and this year happens to be special to a certain purple haired bookworm who appears to be walking out of the castle in a purple sweater with a white fur trim as music begins to play.
[Twilight Sparkle] We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year
Twilight then starts to walk through the Royal Gardens and notices how the snow gently caresses the flowers and trees.
Day one: time to get my list in shape Christmas is around the corner So much to do, not a moment left to wait Have to get it done before the holidays are here It's that Christmas time of year So everybody sing We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year
With a smile on her face, Twilight goes through the main area of Canterlot and is amazed at all of the beautiful lights and decorations that surrounds her. She excitedly looks through all of the kiosks.
Through the streets of boutiques Picking out the perfect presents
Twilight started looking around to see what her friends would want as gifts.
Every shop, have to stop Try to find the perfect gift
She then proceeded to go pick up a tree from a seller who was stationed on the edge of the city.
Now the tree has to be Just the perfect one – that's it! That's the one!
Every light shining bright Starting from the base to tip
Twilight then used her magic to create a bright star to put on the top of the tree.
As she said this, she saw this elegant white dress that was previewed in the window of a shop.
Have to bake, decorate Now I need the perfect dress – a success! Oh, no, I can't be late I've got Pinkie Pie's party date Where everybody sings We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year
Twilight stopped in the middle of town and sat down on a bench as she took in the wondrous sights of the holiday.
People caroling, singing songs we know and love Music fills the air, rising to the stars above Watching snow, reading by the fire Family close, stockings hung with care Outside those people singing merrily Listen close as they start to sing [Twilight Sparkle and Carolers] We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year
As Twilight started heading back to the castle, she couldn't help but think about the people that she had the privilege to spend this time of the year with.
[Twilight Sparkle] Time to stop and count my blessings Put the craziness aside Christmas only comes around once a year And every year fills my heart with pride When everybody sings [Twilight Sparkle and Carolers] We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy... New... Year
Twilight entered the castle and saw that the entrance was decorated in hearth's warming attire. From bells, ornaments, to wreaths on the wall, the castle was beautiful from head to toe. Twilight gazed in awe as she took in the entire scene. "Who did all this?"
"Pretty great huh," Rainbow said as she flew down towards Twilight.
"Rainbow, did you do all this," Twilight asked.
" Nope," RD said as she landed right beside Twilight. Everybody lent a hand decorating the castle."
" I'm glad Princess Celestia decided to have a holiday party here at the castle," Twilight said. "With everything that's been going on lately, a get together with everyone is just what we need, and by looking at entrance, it seems everyone is really excited for it."
"Trust me, you haven't seen anything yet," Rainbow said as they walked towards another entrance. "Wait until you see the main room." Rainbow pushed open the doors to the main room, and it was as if a winter wonderland was inside.
"What.....is all this," Twilight said in awe.
"A sight to behold isn't it," Princess Celestia said as walked towards Twilight.
"Princess Celestia, how did you do all this," Twilight said.
"Having an unlimited source of powerful magic from the cosmos, bringing winter inside is an easy feat," Celestia said with a smile. "The rest of your friends have spent an ample amount of time enjoying the festivities."
Twilight looked up and saw a gigantic spiral slide made of snow. She saw Pinkie sliding down with her hands in the air and screams of joy.
"This........is..........Awesome!" Pinkie shouted as she continued sliding down to the very bottom. Pinkie made it to the end of the slide and started running towards her group of friends. "Twilight, you have got to try the slide it's the best thing ever!"
"I'll make sure I get to it then Pinkie," Twilight said with a chuckle. "So, where is everyone else?"
"Probably out last minute shopping for gifts," RD said. "They should all be back before the party starts."
"Just knowing how big our circle is, I hope it doesn't take them all day," Twilight said.
"Don't worry about it, they can take care of themselves," Rainbow said. "Now, while we wait, who's gonna help me and AJ make the cider in the kitchen?" ****
Walking around the Canterlot main area, Sora, Roxas, and Ed split up from the rest of the girls while they shopped for their gifts.
"Wow, Canterlot's even more festive than Ponyville," Sora said as he looked around at all the decorations.
"Of course it would, it's the capital of Equestria," Ed said.
"It looks like everyone pretty much enjoys it to the fullest," Roxas said as he looked around the building and streets and saw nothing but decorations. "As long as everything stays peaceful for once, it'll be a great day for everyone."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Sora said. "Alot of things have been happening that we need to take care of. But, just like the Princess said when we first met, we shouldn't spend our entire time thinking about those things. We may miss out on important things, no matter what they may be."
".....So, we have to get gifts for someone else,huh" Ed asked. "I wonder what I should get? I wonder what she would like that's different."
"She?" Sora and Roxas said at the same time.
"It's nothing never mind," Edward quickly dismissed.
"Hmmmm, is that so," Sora slyly asked. "Ok then, I guess I gotta figure out something too huh? "What about you Roxas?"
".....Come back to me on that," Roxas said with his hand in his pockets.
The three guys looked at each other, and all at once, gave out a deep sigh. ****
Sunset, Fluttershy, and Rarity were already inside of a store shopping for gifts.
Sunset was looking up and down the store for something of interest, but she just couldn't see anything that was eye catching.
"You see anything Sunset," Fluttershy said.
"*sigh* no, not really," Sunset said. "I don't see anything interesting, but I was never good at getting gifts anyway. What about you?"
Fluttershy shook her head in disappointment. "I don't know if they would like anything in this store."
"What would you even get for a keyblade wielding monster fighter," Sunset asked.
"Girls, what do you think about this dress," Rarity asked her friends as she was wearing a red and white outfit that was cut slightly above her waist with a red shirt and white legging to match. "I think that it's quite festive." Rarity looked at her friends and noticed how frustrated they looked. "Goodness, honestly are you still having trouble with picking the right gift?"
".....Yes," Sunset and Fluttershy said.
"If you want the gift to be just right it has to be something that you generally thought of yourself. Something authentic, not a knick knack from a kiosk," Rarity said. The store clerk overheard her comment and looked at Rarity with an angry expression. "No offense by all means."
"I guess your right," Sunset said.
"Luckily, I may know of a place that has the perfect gift for the both of them," Rarity said as she grabbed Fluttershy and Sunset's hands and led them out the store. ****
"Ugh, this is insane," Roxas said as him, Ed, and Sora began walking out into the snow.
"Christmas was never this hard back home," Sora said. "But, I never really shopped for anyone before."
"I wonder if she would like one of my swords," Ed said to himself. "But that would mean I'd have to clean the blood off of it."
"This is tougher than I thought," all three of the guys said.
"Pssssst Pssssssst over here,"
The three guys heard this strange sound and wondered where it was coming from.
"Over hereeeee," the strange voice whispered.
Sora, Roxas, and Ed walked towards the sound of the voice and found themselves in an alleyway.
"Finally, it took you three long enough,"
The three guys looked behind them and saw Discord floating in midair.
"Discord?!" The guys shouted.
"The one and only," Discord said as he summoned a crown on top of his head.
"What are you doing here," Ed asked with a serious tone.
"What, can't a god of chaos show up for a good Hearth's Warming party," Discord asked. "But, it looks like something interesting is about to happen to our three known heroes."
"What do you mean by that," Roxas asked.
"It seems to me that you three are in need of gifts for tonight's party," Discord said. "And I'm not going to say who it is, but trust me, I know who you all want to get your gifts for. So, why not be the friend I am and assist you, because you're not doing so well right now."
"We could use a little help," Sora said while he scratched his head.
"Lucky for you, I know exactly where to go," Discord said as he summoned a map to his hand. This map leads you to a place called the Crystal Caves. More than a hundred assortments of different crystals just there for the taking. That would make a great gift. But, I must worn you, that these caves are known to be dangerous,"
The three boys looked at the map simultaneously. After analyzing the map, Roxas and Sora received a sudden burst of energy.
"So, these caves have untouched crystals in them, and there's the threat of something dangerous that wants to attack us," Sora excitedly asked.
"Just tell us where to go Discord," Roxas said.
"These guys are insane," Ed thought to himself.
"Well, if you're sure about this then," Discord snapped his fingers and in a flash, they were all teleported into an open field.
Discord began talking as if he was a tour guide. "And, if you look to your right, you will see the Crystal Caves. Marvelous, yes I know."
"Well, if this is the place, what are we waiting for," Sora said as he began walking inside of the cave.
"Does he just blindly walk into any place," Discord asked.
"Basically," Roxas said. "And somehow it works for him.....most of the time."
"The keyblade works in mysterious ways," Discord said. "No matter, shall we move along?" As Discord said this, the rest of the group decided to catch up to Sora who was already in the cave.
The cave was barely visible as the group continued deeper into it.
"So, Discord, what was that part about more than a hundred assortments of crystals lined up just for the taking," Roxas sarcastically said.
"Patience, child, patience, we're closer than you think," Discord said. "Just remember to keep quiet. You don't want to wake up what dwells inside these caves."
"Speaking of that, what's so dangerous about this cave anyway," Ed asked.
"From what I know this is just a fairy tail, but deep within this cave, and usually at the dead of night, loud screams could be heard from inside," Discord said. "no one knows what it is, but they say that the closer the screaming, the closer you are to the crystals."
"And, who told you this information Discord," Ed skeptically asked.
"This information is older than the Princesses themselves," Discord said. "The person who told me this, has most likely passed. I wonder if they were yet another victim to the Crystal Caves."
As the group continued walking deeper into the cave, a loud scream could be heard. The guys stopped dead in their tracks and began looking around to see what made the scream. Sora summoned his keyblade, and looked to Roxas and Ed, giving them the look that told them to be on their guard. Weapons in hand, the guys started carefully treading toward the direction they heard the scream. As they continued, Sora quickly put a hand up telling the group to stop. They listened and started hearing light footsteps. Then the footsteps started getting louder and louder until.....
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
The guys looked and noticed that what made the loud scream was actually Rarity. Before Sora could say anything, Rarity had ran directly into him.
"Rarity, what are you doing here," Sora asked. As Sora asked this, he could see two more people coming his way as well. "Is that, Sunset and Fluttershy? What's going on?"
"Can't talk, just keep running!" Sunset shouted at Sora.
Sora, utterly confused, tried figuring out what was the problem. It didn't take long to figure out what the girls were screaming about. A few seconds later, what came peering around the corner was a sight of horror. A giant being, with eyes glowing red, horns on top of his head, and a very muscular body. It was standing on two legs, but its entire existence was that of a beast.
"What is that," Roxas asked.
"Just as the old poet said, a being part man, and part bull," Discord said. "That, is a minotaur, and if you look around its neck, it has a crystal necklace."
"Yeah, so what," Roxas said.
"That crystal will lead you to where the other crystals are," Discord whispered.
"Can't you just, magically teleport it off of him or something," Ed said.
"Now, what would be the fun in that," Discord said as he started to float towards the girls. "Now, I'll let you handle the minotaur, and I'll make sure nothing else tries to attack us."
"Really, so we have to fight this thing," Ed said. "Oh, well, it's just gonna end badly for him." Ed clapped his hands together and summoned his spear to his hand.
The minotaur let out a blood curdling scream and rampantly charged towards the three guys. With its massive physique, it punched the ground near them, causing it to shatter from underneath them.
Ed quickly used his alchemy to keep the ground from falling apart. He looked up and saw that the minotaur was dead in his face ready to attack. In an instance notice, Roxas used his keyblades to slice at the beast's legs, causing it to stagger. Sora then used Strike Raid, as he threw his keyblade towards the minotaur. It hit the beast in the back of the head, and like clockwork, Roxas placed Oathkeeper in the ground next to Sora, jumped to get the Kingdom Key, and made one quick slice down the minotaur's back. The minotaur started falling towards the ground in defeat. Ed walked up to the minotaur, and grabbed the crystal that was around its neck.
"That was easier than I thought it would be," Roxas said.
"Really, then you should pay attention to its second wind," Discord told the three.
"Second wind?" the guys said simultaneously.
"Oh, I didn't tell you, oh how irresponsible of me," Discord sarcastically said. "Let's just say, that you might want to find the Crystals before the minotaur wakes back up, because it's not going to be a pretty sight."
"Then let's keep moving," Ed said as examined the crystal. "So, uh, how does this work?"
"*sigh* Let me see the crystal," Discord said as Ed handed him the crystal. He placed his finger on the crystal and loud ring began bouncing off the walls of the cave. A few seconds of silence came, and then a passage started opening on the side of the walls. "Through the caves deep inside, a hidden treasure you will find."
"So, when did you start making riddles," Sora said.
"I still wonder how the keyblades chose such wielders," Discord said.
The group began to follow Discord deeper into the tunnel that the crystal showed them.
"So, ignoring the minotaur attack, how did you guys know we were here," Sunset said.
"We didn't, we just happened to find you three here," Roxas said. "Better question would be, what are you three doing here?"
"We could ask you the same thing you know," Sunset answered back.
"Oh, come now you two, it's too early for a lover's quarrel," Discord jokingly said. "If you really want to know Roxas, I told them to come to these caves just before I told you about the caves."
"You didn't tell us about it, Rarity did," Sunset told Discord.
"Rarity was in on it the entire time, she really did a great job," Discord said.
"Rarity?!" Sunset exclaimed.
"I'm sorry dear, but it was really for a good reason," Rarity said to Sunset.
"Why would you do that Discord," Fluttershy asked.
"Because, this kind of irony doesn't happen regularly," Discord said. "Think about it. I tell you both of you about this cave. There's only one thing about it that sparked all of your interests. Now what do you think that interest was?"
"You guys came in here to get crystals?" Sunset asked.
".....I guess it's not really a surprise anymore," Sora told Roxas. "But, we've noticed that throughout our time being here, you've been there for us since we've met. We wanted to get you something meaningful you know, so we came to get you a crystal so that you could wear it as a necklace."
Sunset and Fluttershy stood there speechless from hearing Sora's words, and they just knew it was true.
"My, my you two, are your faces going to turn any redder?" Rarity said to the other girls. "Well, I guess I'll be the one to say that their reason for coming to the caves too was the exact same reason, but instead of necklaces they were going to get them as bracelets."
"Alright, Alright, enough of this, and how about more of that," Discord said as he pointed towards the edge of the tunnel where the crystals were present. All sorts of arrangements of colors from reds,blues, to pastels and vibrants. The group was mesmerized by the beauty of the caves.
"Well, don't just stand there, you must've forgot the minotaur is still a threat," Discord said to the group. Sora decided with a pink crystal, Roxas, a red one, Sunset, a white one, and Flutershy, a blue one. Rarity decided to use her magic to pick plenty of crystals, and Ed didn't seem that interested in the crystals. After a moment of searching and getting everything together, the group of friends decided that it was time to leave the cave.
"Alright then, let us be off," Discord said as he snapped his fingers, but to the surprise of the group, nothing happened. "Ohhhhhhhh no."
"Why the, 'Oh no'," Sora asked.
"Remember how I said that we might want to leave before the minotaur wakes back up?" Discord said. "Well, remember that second wind that I was talking about? That second wind blocks all use of outside magic from within the cave."
"What kind of second wind is that," Ed exclaimed.
"Look, I told you all about the minotaur, now I say we exit this cave before the minotaur comes," Discord said as he started walking towards the cave's exit.
Discord didn't get far, as he was stopped dead in his tracks by a big shadow quickly encasing him. The minotaur from before jumped right in front of Discord and his anger seemed to have increased since the last fight. Instead of brown fur, it was a bloody red, and in his right hand was a giant cleaver. Discord saw this, and quickly ran back towards the group.
"How about I let you three handle this again," Discord said to the guys.
Wait, we can help too," Sunset insisted.
"No, Discord said that outside magic doesn't work in this cave, and it stopped a god of destruction's magic," Roxas said as he summoned his keyblades. "Leave this to us, it'll be quick."
Sora and Ed summoned their weapons and prepared for the 2nd fight with the minotaur. They knew that there was no room for mess ups this round. One wrong move and that could be it.
Ed quickly used his alchemy to summon stone pillars from the ground to attack the minotaur. The minotaur took a few hits from the pillars, until it caught one with its left hand and dragged it from the ground. With the pillar in its left hand, the minotaur slammed it down with all of its might. This caused pieces of the ceiling to collapse above the group. Sora and Ed quickly cut down the collapsed boulders, but a scream could be heard from the girls as the ceiling was about to collapse on them as well.
With only a second to spare before the rocks made contact with the girls, Roxas came and saved them from the falling debris.
"Alright, I had enough of this the first time," Roxas said as he vanished away his keyblades, and unsheathed Two Became One. "Let's get this over with. I can't use Incursio because of the Minotaur and this cave, but that doesn't mean I can't use it in it's base form."
Roxas dashed straight towards the beast, ready to fight it head on. The minotaur lunged his cleaver at Roxas, and he evaded the attack. Roxas stabbed the beast in its wrist and turned his sword around, breaking its wrist. With a cry of pain, the minotaur used its left hand to push Roxas from in front of him. Roxas slid back to the walls of the caves, and hit it with powerful force. He started to catch his breath from the attack as he looked at the minotaur. "It's gonna take more than that!" Roxas summoned Oathkeeper and threw at the minotaur, which it easily dodged. But, it wasn't the point for the blade to hit the beast. It was so that Sora could catch Oathkeeper.
"Ed, springboard!" Sora said. Ed quickly placed his spear in the ground as he let Sora put his feet on the neck, and launched him in the air. The minotaur reached to grab Sora out of the air, but this is what Sora wanted. Sora stabbed the beast in the hand, and quickly started scaling across its arm. Sora reached to its shoulder, jumped off, and dug both keyblades into its back.
Ed smiled at the beast as it fell to its knees. Ed put his hands in front of each other and began to charge lightning in his hands. He channeled enough energy where a ball was formed. "Let's see how you like this!" Ed threw the ball of energy towards the minotaur, and as it made contact, only the scream of the minotaur and an explosion was all that could be heard. Blinding light stayed in the cave for a few seconds as the ball of energy started to fade away. Everyone opened their eyes and saw that the beast was gone, and all that was left was the horn. Edward picked it up and started grinning ferociously.
"ALRIGHT!" Ed screamed victoriously. "That minotaur didn't know what it was messing with! Alchemy, 1, Magic, 0! Just think of what I can do with a minotaur horn, it's gonna be great!"
"Yes, yes, alchemy is the building blocks blah blah blah how about we leave this place and head to the castle hmm?" Discord said as he snapped everyone back to the castle. "At least, with the minotaur gone, people can come and go out of that cave for as long as they want.....that is until the next one comes. Now, if you will excuse me, I have something to fashion for you all."
As Discord vanished from the group, Rainbow Dash quickly flew over to them in a hurry. "You guys, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!
"It's a long story Rainbow, you see we went to these caves and," Sora started but was quickly cut off by Rainbow.
"Ok,ok,ok, I get it, whenever something involves you and Roxas I don't even want to know, I'm just glad everyone is safe, now stop wasting time, and get a cup of cider people!" Rainbow shouted. "It's the holidays."
Pinkie saw her friends and quickly ran to them with open arms. "And with the holidays comes great music. HIT IT BOYS!" ****
So, at the very end, through everything that happened today, everyone still has a big happy expression on their faces. But wait, what about the crystals?
"Alright, I've finished them," Discord said as he handed the necklaces out to Sunset and Fluttershy, and the bracelets to Sora and Roxas. "I also may have made necklaces for everyone's favorite colors as well."
"Discord, you didn't have to do all that," Fluttershy said.
"Well, what are friends for Fluttershy," Discord humbly asked.
"He's gotta point," Sora said.
"In that case, thank you Discord," Fluttershy said as she gave Discord a hug.
"It's no problem at all," Discord said.
Twilight looked over from where the band was playing, and saw how everyone was having a great time. "Happy Hearth's Warming, and Merry Christmas." As she turned around, Twilight saw that Edward was in front of her holding out a book with different shapes and symbols of hexagonal drawings on it.
"This is a book about Alchemy," Ed said. "It's basic enough that a grade schooler can understand it, so you shouldn't have any problems reading it."
Twilight looked at Edward in surprise.
"What, you wanted to learn more about Alchemy, here you go," Ed said sternly as he looked away.
"Are you giving me a gift Ed," Twilight asked.
"It's not a gift," Ed gritted. "It's just.....something for you to study with. So, yeah, happy holidays and all that." Ed began to quickly walk away from Twilight not giving her anytime to say thank you.
"He gave you a gift I see," Celestia said as she stood right beside her. "You might want to look inside of it."
Twilight opened up the book, and was surprised to see a purple crystal connected to a rose gold rope.
"I haven't seen him open up like that to anyone before you and your friends came along," Celestia said. "You must have let quite an impression Twilight."
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight bashfully shouted.
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding," Celestia playfully said. Celestia then looked to her friends and family that were all there enjoying the party. "Happy Holidays everyone!"
"HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"
Twilight looked back down to the necklace, and a heartfelt smile on her face, put the necklace around her neck. "Happy holidays everyone."
Light began to shine into the guest room through the curtains that hung in front of an open window. The beams of light that entered gave the room a certain glow telling whoever was in it that it was clearly morning. In the room, sleeping in her guest bed was Twilight. After the night that she had, or rather everyone had, sleeping in a little late would probably be the best thing right now. Right?
BOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!
Out of nowhere, an earth shattering explosion roared out in the vicinity of Twilight's room, and it made her fall out of the bed.
"Ugh, what in Equestria was that," Twilight shockingly said as she peered out of her window to see what was going on. As soon as Twilight looked, she got her answer as she saw Sora, Roxas, Ed, and Riku in the garden practicing their moves.
"Are you serious, I thought they would take a break considering last night," Twilight said as she used her magic to teleport down to the guys. "Guys, guys, don't you think the training can wait until everyone is out of their beds?"
"Sorry about that Twilight, we're just trying to get as much time as training as we can," Sora said.
"What could you guys be doing that causes an explosion that loud to wake someone out of there sleep," Twilight asked.
"Don't blame us, look at Ed over there," Roxas said as he pointed towards Edward.
"What, me, how is this my fault," Ed asked with a surprised look. Roxas tapped Twilight on the shoulder and gestured towards the ground. What Twilight saw made her eyes go wide as dinner plates.
"You guys made a crater in the garden!," Twilight shouted.
"Oh, come on, it's a training marker," Ed calmly said.
"......I repeat, there's a giant hole in the middle of the castle garden!" Twilight yelled.
"it's not that bad," Ed said as he looked at the crater and he knew in his mind that it was definitely that bad.
".......Really," Twilight said with a deadpanned expression as she pointed to the crater again.
".......I'm pretty sure the gardeners could fill the hole," Ed said with a convincing tone.
As Twilight continued to lecture the group about the hole, the boys could feel their attention slipping away. Riku happened to glance to his right towards one of the castle doors and noticed how it was slightly cracked open. He focused his attention more on the door and noticed a pair of green eyes peeking through the door. As soon as Riku made contact, the door quickly closed back. Riku had a questionable look on his face from what he had seen, but he had a good guess about who it could be peering through the door.
"Hey, shouldn't the chefs have breakfast cooked by now," Riku asked the rest of the group.
"Oh, yeah, it is breakfast time," Ed said as he started walking away from the group. "I'd love to stay and continue this conversation, but training really works up an appetite."
"The chefs must make some great food if Ed's excited about it," Sora said.
"You don't even know the half of it," Riku said as the rest of the guys started walking back inside the castle.
Twilight saw how the four guys were ultimately ignoring her. "Those guys never listen.......but on the other hand, Riku isn't wrong about the royal chefs........hey guys wait up!" ****
It takes Riku and the others a few minutes of walking until they reach the dining room where the rest of their friends were already sitting preparing to eat.
"There you are," PInkie exclaimed. "We've been waiting on you guys for-ever."
"We've only been here for 10 minutes," Fluttershy said.
"Really, I guess my sense of time is off when I'm HUNGRY," Pinkie said as she slammed her hands on the table.
"Yeah, what took ya," Rainbow said.
"Why don't you ask these four," Twilight said. They put a crater in the castle garden!"
"Hey, remember, we didn't do anything," Roxas said. "It was actually just Ed."
"Stop throwing me under the bus!" Ed yelled at Roxas. "Can we just please get to breakfast already?"
"Actually, we still can't serve the food yet," said the top chef. He was a stocky short man with short brown hair and a nice beard to match.
"Whadya mean you can't serve it yet," Rainbow asked.
"We're still missing a certain young assistant," the chef said.
"He's right, Spike hasn't shown up yet," Rarity said.
"He- Hey everyone, sorry about the wait I.....woke up late," Spike said as he ran into the dining hall.
"But aren't the bedrooms through the other hall," Riku asked. "You came through the hall that leads outside."
"Oh, let's not worry about the details," Spike nervously chuckled. "Hey chef, so what's for breakfast?"
*30 minutes later* After everyone finished eating their breakfast, the guys were walking back to the garden to spar some more. As the guys began to start back training, Riku decided to tread away from the group and began walking towards the door on the side of the garden. He quietly put his hand on the door and immediately pushed it open, revealing Spike who was standing behind it.
"Oh, was this the door you were talking about," Spike said with a nervous chuckle.
"So, you're spying on us through the side door because," Riku asked.
"*sigh* I don't know, I guess... it's just cool how you guys have all of these powers and everything, and you know, it's cool having other people to look up to" Spike said.
"What about Twilight and the others, they were here before we were," Riku said.
"I know that, but I can only relate so much to them," Spike said. With you guys around, I haven't felt that out of place, and I actually got to do something cool and awesome! Fighting those heartless was the most coolest thing ever! I felt like I could help, I felt needed. But, I understand if you don't want me to watch your training. I'll just head back-"
"Spike," Riku said as he stopped Spike in his sentence. "Head to the edge of the garden in five minutes, right next to the river. I'll meet you there."
"Spike's eyes went wide from Riku's statement. Riku started to walk back outside as he motioned Spike to walk ahead to his destination. **** "So, what do you guys want to practice next," Sora said. "This Master Form is really calling my name."
"Please, I bet Incursio could run circles around your Master Form anyday," Roxas said.
"Hmph, doesn't even matter really, you guys can rely on your transformations all you want, my alchemy will always be the best," Ed smugly said.
"Says the guy who put a crater in the ground," Roxas jokingly said. "What's next, a hole in the castle?"
"Why you little-" Ed said as lighting started appearing from his hands, but before he could continue, Riku had returned to the rest of the group.
"Hey guys, I'm going to go do some practicing by myself for a little while," Riku said as he began to walk away. "I'll see you later."
"There he goes being the 'cool guy' again," Sora said putting his hands behind his head.
"Sounds like someone's a little jealous," Roxas said with a smirk.
"Am not!" Sora said in a defensive tone.
"You really shouldn't lie to the person that's basically the parallel of you," Roxas said.
"Ugh, whatever, let's just train already," Sora said as he summoned his keyblade.
**** As Spike continued walking through the castle garden, he began noticing that he had been seeing the same trail that he had already been taking to reach the outskirts. ".......*sigh* Are you serious, don't tell me that I've been walking around in a circle this whole time. All Riku said was go to the edge of the garden in five minutes, now I'm stuck in this maze of a garden."
As Spike continued walking through the garden, he began hearing the sound of running water coming closer and closer. "Wait, did I just make it to the river?" Spike began to sprint through the rest of the garden as he followed the sound of the river. "Alright, this should be the last turn." Spike had finally made it to the edge of the garden where the river was located, and as he began to have a since of joy from his find, it was quickly stripped away as he saw a ball of dark magic quickly flying towards him. Spike stood there in fear, but out of reaction, put both of his hands in front of him, and closed his eyes as he braced himself for the attack. Spike thought that he was going to get hit by it, but instead he was surprised to see that the dark magic had disappeared. "
"Wha-what just happened," Spike said out loud.
"Maybe you should open your eyes and see for yourself," Riku said to Spike.
"Riku?" Spike said as he opened his eyes. "What was that all about, That could have ended way more serious!"
"It could have, luckily something came to help you," Riku said as he pointed to Spike's right hand.
Spike looked down and noticed that the keyblade that he summoned against the heartless had reappeared again. "Woah, it's back!"
"The keyblade has chosen you to be its wielder Spike," Riku said in a stern manner. "What makes this better is that you have my very first keyblade. Riku held his hand open, and in a flash the keyblade flashed from Spike's hand into Riku's.
"How did you do th-" Spike said as he was cut off by Riku.
"You will learn how to become one with your keyblade Spike," Riku said. The fact that it chose you is both a blessing and a curse. You're a beacon of light to alot of people out there who can't fight against the darkness, but you also attract heartless and monsters that want nothing more but to see you gone from existence. This task has been placed on you Spike, to become a keyblade warrior, like Sora, Roxas, and me......are you up for it?"
Spike slowly bowed his head in thought about everything that Riku had told him, and he finally gathered his answer. "These heartless attacked my friends. They attacked the people who I call my family. The people who are close to me....I'd do anything to protect them."
Riku grinned at the knightly words that Spike shared and nodded his head in agreement. "Well then, let's begin your first lesson on mastering control of the keyblade." Riku threw the keyblade towards the highest tree and impaled it in the bark. "I want you to bring that keyblade back here."
"That's it, I can climb that tree no problem," Spike said as he cracked his knuckles.
"You're not going to climb to get it, you're going to summon it," Riku said.
"What, how am I gonna do that," Spike asked.
"You did it twice already, you can do it a third," Riku said.
"........Ok, I'll try," Spike nervously said as he lifted his hand to try and summon the keyblade back. A few seconds passed and Spike was quickly beginning to doubt himself on if he could actually bring the keyblade back down to him. He started thinking if he was actually fit enough to be a keyblade warrior.
".......Maybe I just wasn't meant for this," Spike murmured.
"That's your problem," Riku said. "You doubt yourself so quickly Spike. If you stop to realize that you actually have power right at your fingertips. That keyblade is waiting for you, and it's not going to come to a weak minded warrior."
"I want you to think about the things that make you want to become a keyblader Spike." Riku said as he kneeled down to Spike's level. "What is it that you want to protect?"
As Spike pondered Riku's question, his train of thought was broken by someone that was humming close by. As Spike listened even harder, he noticed that whoever was humming was doing it in a melody.
"I know that song," Spike said as he ran towards the music. Riku quickly followed the boy, trying to keep him focused on training, but when he finally caught up to Spike, he noticed who was humming the tune.
There, a few feet away from Spike who was hiding behind a bush, was Rarity humming the tune that Spike had mentioned as she sat under a blooming cherry tree drawing fashion designs in her sketch book. Riku felt himself staring at Rarity, and quickly looked down towards Spike and noticed how awestruck he was. Spike released a calm sigh as he continued to look at Rarity, who didn't even notice that anyone else was in her vicinity.
"Come on Spike," Riku said as he put his hand on Spike's shoulder. Spike nods and they both head back to their training ground. Spike looked up at the keyblade with determination in his eyes.
".....Who's it for Spike," Riku asked him. "Who do you want to protect?"
Spike raised his hand up again to continue where he left off. This time, something different was happening. Spike seemed calmer and more determined. Energy started to flow around Spike as hair and clothes were moving as if the energy was gently dancing through him. Spike's aura kept growing stronger and stronger until a bright flash suddenly appeared. It took Spike a few seconds for his eyes to adjust from the sudden bright light, but Riku already knew what had happened.
"Conratulations Spike," Riku said with a smile on his face. "That's the first lesson done."
Spike looked at his right hand, and saw that the keyblade was there in his possession. A jolt of happiness just shot right through Spike as he recognized his accomplishment. "ALRIGHT! I did it, I summoned the keyblade!"
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"
Riku and Spike's attention was turned towards a loud scream that seemed as if it was close in their vicinity.
"That scream, it came from the same direction where...." Riku paused as he looked back at Spike.
".....We need to find Rarity," Spike said as he started running towards the direction of the scream.
As the two keybladers start getting closer to where Rarity was, they began noticing that there were other beings in the same direction as them.
"Rarity, are you ok-" Spike stopped himself from saying anything else as he saw a neoshadow heartless holding an unconscious Rarity in its arms.
*This being is made of a pure heart.....*
*It shall belong to me......*
"How,how did you just say that," Spike shockingly asked the heartless. "It didn't even make a sound, but it spoke."
*Sombra shall rule all and shroud the world in darkness.....*
*Starting with this heart of pure generosity....*
The neoshadow began raising its needle like claws in the air, as it was ready to pierce through Rarity's heart.
"No.....let go of her," Spike said as he shook in rage. "I said...LET HER GO!" Spike began sprinting towards the neoshadow seeing nothing but rage in his eyes.
"Spike no, wait!" Riku said as he tried to keep Spike from fighting the heartless by itself, but it was too late.
Spike ran full force towards the neoshadow seemingly blinded by rage. The neoshadow sensed Spike's rage and began showing its claws to the young keyblader. Before Spike could get any closer, he threw his keyblade with all the force he could give. The neoshadow saw this and evaded the attack....which is exactly what Spike wanted. Spike planted his feet to the ground, his spliced green eyes started to faintly glow, and ran right behind the neoshadow in a burst of speed. Spike caught his keyblade with the backhand grip and quickly stabbed the heartless through its back.
Rarity, with barely enough energy to open her eyes, could only see a glimpse of what was happening. All that she could see was the neoshadow with a keyblade sticking out of its chest, but she could not see who it was wielding the keyblade. Then she heard a familiar voice call her name.
"Rarity, just hold on, I promise you'll be safe," Spike said as he pierced the keyblade deeper into the heartless.
"Sp-Spike....." Rarity said as she fell unconscious in the arms of the heartless.
*A keyblade wielder.........you will soon be devoured by the darkness as well.* The neoshadow dug its claws into the ground as it slowly melted to nothing but a black shadow. The shadows began to multiply all around Riku, Spike, and Rarity.
"Alright Spike," Riku said. "We might be in serious danger, what I want you to do is take Rarity and run back to the cas-"
"No," Spike interrupted. "You take Rarity, make sure she's safe....I'll deal with them."
Riku looked at Spike in surprise of his statement "Spike, are you sure about-" Riku would have finished if he hadn't noticed the determination in the eyes of the dragon-boy. "......Alright, I'm counting on you." Riku quickly grabbed Rarity as he ran back to the castle with her in his arms.
There was moment of silence as Spike stood in a circle surrounded by neoshadows. He took a deep breath, and slowly released it, calming himself down a bit. Spike switched his blade back into forehand as he was ready to face against the heartless horde.
The neoshadows quickly dispersed, running in all different directions trying to confuse Spike. Spike's eyes kept darting back from one to another. One heartless jumped at Spike with the intent to kill. Spike ducked and with one slice, cut the heartless in half.
"No more," Spike said as he targeted another heartless. "I won't be a burden anymore." Another neoshadow tried attacking from behind Spike. Spike quickly used his free hand to swipe his claws at heartless causing it to stumble. Spike then jammed his claws into the chest of the heartless, then kicked it back more as he stabbed it, dealing the final blow.
The heartless started to realize the attacking one by one would not work, so they began to swarm Spike. Spike's eyes began to glow green as he gritted his fangs. The rest of the heartless began to attack, but they were barely able to land any attack. Spike began evading each swipe of the Neoshadows' claws, each attack getting closer to him than the last. One was able to stagger Spike as it struck him on his side, tearing through his clothes, and leaving a few cut marks. Then right after, another neoshadow jumped over the other heartless and hit Spike on his chest, sending him back a few steps. Spikes stopped for a second and quickly regained himself. Spike dusted himself as he began his next attack.
"Alright, I've seen him fight plenty of times before, I can do it," Spike said as he started to posture himself. He spread his legs out evenly apart, put his keyblade hand in the air in a twisted grip, and his left hand in front of him as he gestured the heartless to attack. One by one, the heartless started to swarm Spike again. Spike took a deep breath and held it in until the swarm was close enough to him, and at the right moment, he released a field of green fire aimed directly at the heartless. The fire began to burn the heartless as it slowly chipped away at the bodies of the dark beings.
"One....more...time," Spike said as he felt the fatigue on his body start to slow him down. He began running towards the weakened Heartless and started striking them down one at a time. The heartless couldn't do a thing as the fire left them incapacitated, so they were forced to watch their final moments. After Spike had defeated the rest of the swarm, only one more remained, the neoshadow that had taken Rarity.
*This hidden potential was in you this whole time......*
"Yeah, I guess all it took was a little push," Spike said as green fire started to appear out of his mouth.
*Don't think this is the last that you'll see of me keyblade wielder.......as long as there darkness in people's hearts, we will be infinite...*
"Whatever, then I guess you wouldn't mind be incinerated," Spike said to the last neoshadow. Spike threw his keyblade into the chest of the heartless. As the heartless struggled to take it out, Spike had already walked back up to it and grabbed its hilt. His eyes began glowing, and in an instant, green fire appeared around the edge of the keyblade. The fire began to spread to the neoshadow until it was nothing but fire.
*I'll be back......for your heart as well.....*
Spike slowly brought his keyblade back down to his side as his battle was over. "Hey....I did it, I actually did it." He began to hear a faint call coming from the castle.
"Spike! Spiiiike!!"
He looked back and noticed that it was Twilight calling out to him with tears in her eyes. "Hey...it's Twilight...I'm over here..." Spike's keyblade flashed away as his unconscious body fell back onto the ground.
Spike slowly opened his eyes as he began to regain consciousness. "Ugh....where am I?" He stared only to the sky as he found himself drifting through what seemed to be nothing but empty space.
"Stay Asleep....", a mysterious voice boomed.
"What, who's there," Spike said as he quickly pushed himself up. He looked to the left and right, but is only greeted by emptiness.
"You should remain asleep...here....between the realms of light and Dark...."
"Between...light....and dark," Spike said in a confused manner. "Wait, everyone at the castle...Riku, Twilight, Sora.....Rarity! Where is everyone?! I was fighting against those heartless that had Rarity and then...."
"You drifted into the void by your own means.......were you not able to steer away from the lure of the darkness?"
"You make it sound like I'm some kind of monster," Spike rebutted.
"Turn from the light, and shut your eyes. Here, blanketed by the darkness, sleep is safety, sleep is eternal...."
"I sense a familiar essence in you that I once felt not too long ago.....yes"
"I must be going crazy, first I wake up in a nonexistent void and now I'm talking to something that's not even there," Spike said as he shook his head.
"Tell me boy, wouldn't you want to have an unimaginable power to protect the ones you care for," The voice asked.
Suddenly, a bright ball of light appeared before Spike which made his keyblade appear in his hand as the voice began to speak again. "This is the key to unlocking a power that you have never experienced. Take this, your endless sleep will end, and you will take the first steps toward the truth. But, know this, the truth will bring you pain. You will know the true meaning of sacrifice. Will you still accept?"
Spike went silent for a moment as he thought about the offer. "......I can be strong enough to keep my friends safe. I can be on the same level as......"
"Well, what is your answer," The voice calmly said.
"......Ok, I'll take your offer, this place was too boring for me anyway," Spike said with a smirk on his face.
"Hmph, well said, Spike," The voice echoed.
"Wait, how do you know my-" Spike said as he was cut off as an intense pulse of energy went through him. Everything went black for a second, then as if in an instant, Spike opened his eyes, and saw himself in another place.
"Ugh....am I back at the castle," Spike said as he saw himself in a bed.
"Look, you guys, Spike's awake!" Pinkie shouted as she hugged him. Judging from the jump that Spike's body gave off, one could tell that he wasn't back to full health just yet.
"Um, Pinkie, do you think that you could ease up just a tiny bit," Spike said wincing from her hug.
"Oops, my bad Spike," Pinkie nervously chuckled.
Spike looks around the room, and saw that Twilight and Rarity were there as well. "Sorry about that you guys, I didn't want to make anyone worry."
"Don't even bother with that Spike, we're just relieved that you're safe," Twilight said as she wiped away her tears.
"Yes, that was very brave what you did out there Spike," Rarity said as she sat on the side of Spike's bed. "If it wasn't for you, I would probably still be in the hands of those ghastly heartless."
"You saved my life yet again Spike," Rarity said to Spike as she gently kissed him on the cheek to his surprise. "Thank you so much."
"Um, I uh, yeah, no problem," Spike bashfully said.
"Are you ok Spike, your face is getting really red," Pinky teased.
"Yes Pinkie Pie, I'm fine," Spike said as he looked down at the floor trying not to let his face be seen.
Twilight stood there with feelings of gratitude running all through her body, thankful that Spike was ok.
The door to the room suddenly burst open, and through it came Sora, Riku, and Sunset.
"We heard about what happened, is everyone ok," Sora worryingly said.
"Yes, everyone's fine, really," Rarity said.
Riku walks to the side of Spike's bed. "Spike, are you hurt?"
"Uh, no I think I'm good," Spike said.
"Then follow me, we need to continue your training," Riku said.
"Oh, yeah, right behind you," Spike said as he quickly gets out of bed. A sudden wince of pain ran up the ride side of Spike's body.
"Hold on, hold on, Spike is in no condition to keep on with your training, are you crazy," Twilight yelled at Riku. "He can barely walk!"
Riku sighs as he nonchalantly walks over to Spike. "Spike, take this." Riku hands him a small vile of some kind of concoction. "It's an elixir, if you drink it, you'll be good as new."
"Where did you get an elixir from," Sora questioned.
"I synthesized it with a few materials I got out of a library synthesis book," Riku said.
Spike reluctantly drank the potion. He immediately started to gag while drinking the elixir. "Dude, that was probably one of the worst things I could've tasted in my life."
"How do you feel, Spike," Riku asked.
Spike began to move his arms and legs freely and smoothly without any second thought of injury. "Hey, I don't feel anything, actually my body feels like it's brand new!" He begins to take small hops to test his body even more. "I feel great!"
"Wait, don't tell me you're going back out to train again are you," Twilight said in a concerned manner.
"Well, yeah Twilight I can't stop now," Spike said.
"Spike, I don't know, doesn't this all seem a little out of your element," Twilight said. "Why don't you just leave this to the rest of us?
"What," Spike said as he tries to laugh it off.
"I just don't want you fighting those monsters if you don't have to," Twilight said. "It's too dangerous."
"We do way more dangerous stuff than that on a weekend!" Spike said. "Plus, I have a keyblade, so there's no way I'm going to lose!"
A grey expression appears on Riku's and Sora's face when Spike says this.
Twilight shakes her head in disagreement. "I'm sorry Spike, but you can't fight those monsters anymore. It isn't something that I want you to do."
"What, do you think that I can't handle myself," Spike said. "That I can't protect anyone and get in the way?"
Twilight is at a loss for words.
Spike continues. *fists shaking* "Do you think I'm weak, is that it, that I can't step up to where you or anyone else is?!"
Spike slams his fist onto the wall, leaving behind a scorch mark.
Twilight looks Spike in his eyes which reminds her of daggers. "Spike....that's not what I......I didn't mean to-"
"Spike," Riku sternly voiced. "That's enough." Spike looked Riku directly in his eyes and slowly brings his hand back down.
Spike turns around and heads to the door. " *tch* Forget it......just forget it." Spike runs out of the room as his footsteps begin to fade out.
"Twilight, are you ok, why didn't you say anything," Rarity asked with a worrisome look.
"I...I don't know, I just didn't know what to say," Twilight meekly responded. "There was something off about Spike, I couldn't tell much, but I thought I felt some kind of magic coming from him." Twilight's brings her knees to her chest and holds them close. "It felt so...cold, like when a cold breeze cuts through your clothes.....and that look in his eyes."
"Well, let's go get him and talk about this," Rarity abrasively said as she begins to race for the door. Riku steps in between Rarity and the door. "Riku, please, could you step out of the way?"
"This isn't something that we should meddle with," Riku said. "Didn't you here what Spike said? He thinks he's inadequate and weak, compared to the rest of us. That he can't hold his own. Bringing him back now wouldn't do anything but deepen that hole of his."
Rarity holds back a response as she listens to Riku. "...I suppose you're right."
Twilight begins to droop on the floor as lowers her head. "....*sigh* Spike, what should I do?"
Sora looks at Riku for a few seconds, his face brows.
*** We see Spike enter into a building with glass paned purple windows. Inside the building were different groups of people all socializing with each other. In the far back center was a quaint bar with a row of barstools sitting in front of it. Behind the bar stood a burly man with short sandy hair. Spike quickly walks past the crowd of people and makes his way to the back.
"Hey, Joe," Spike said as he waved to the man.
"Spike!," Joe shouted as he walked up to Spike with open arms. Joe gave Spike a huge bear hug. "HAHAHAHA, how have you been my friend!"
"I've been ok, just needed to get my mind off a few things," Spike said.
"Hmmmm, well if you need to get your mind off of something, then I got just the thing," Joe said as he goes to the wet bar. Joe begins to prepare a drink with finesse and lightning speed. He goes back to Spike with a wonderful drink in hand. "Here you are sir, one cinnamon/vanilla frappe with an assortment of gems!" Spike's eyes go wide from the dessert that was placed in his face.
"Oh my Celestia," Spike excitedly said. A gleam ran across his eyes as he stares at the gem encrusted drink. "This is amazing Joe! How much?"
"On the house my dude," Joe said with a grin on his face.
"Joe, thank you so much," Spike said as he put his hands together and slightly bowed.
"No problem man," Joe said. "You and Twilight are like family to me, I've know you since you were kids. Speaking of which, where is the egghead herself?"
Spike took a break from drinking his shake as he places it on the table. 'Well, you see."
Spike begins to tell Joe about what happened at the castle a few moments ago.
"So, what's the problem, you think that Twilight doesn't trust you," Joe asked.
"No, I-I know that she trusts me, when it comes to her books, letters, messages," Spike began to sink in his chair. "While she takes on the saving the world from certain doom category. I just want to be able to help more than just carrying the load like some pack mule. Why can't she just give me a chance to show that?"
"Because she cares about you Spike," Joe told the boy.
Spike lays his head down on the counter. "Well, I wish she cared a little less." Spike finishes his drink.
"Now, I know you don't mean that," Joe said as he picks up Spike's cup and begins to clean it. "Trust me Spike, there's gonna be a time when you want someone who cares for you like Twilight does. Stuff like that doesn't come around the world often, or at least that's what is seems." Spike let out a deep sigh to the bartender's words.
"Or, you could show her how much you've grown" Joe started. "You know, I was never big on waiting for chance to appear, eats away more time than you would spend if you just do what's on your mind, but that's not always the right answer. You just gotta know the right signs, and when you feel it, you feel it."
"That's kind of, vague," Spike said.
"One more thing that I wanna leave you with Spike before you go," Joe said. " Before anyone else's opinions get in the way of your actions, what is it that you want, and who do you want to be, regardless of what anyone else thinks and says?"
Spike closes his eyes and takes in deep breath as Joe finishes his advice. A smile appears on his face. Spike gets out of his seat and begins to walk to the exit. "See you later, Joe, thanks for everything."
Joe waves goodbye as Spike heads for the exit, "Take it easy Spike, and tell Twilight to come by next time!"
As Spike walks out of the restaurant, he begins to walk the Canterlot Streets, Joe's words still fresh in his mind.
*Spike's Inner Thoughts*
"Who I want to be.....regardless of what people think huh? Even if they're people that you know? But aren't friends supposed to be the ones you can rely on?"
As Spike continues in deep thought, he accidentally bumps into another person which causes both of them to fall to the ground.
"Ouch-ch-ch-ch," Spike winces as he rubs his arm. " Sorry about that, didn't mean to bump into-"
Why don't you watch where you're going," the stranger yells.
Spike looks to see two girls who are around his age. One girl has pale, purple and white hair which was put into a ponytail in the back. Her outfit consists of a gold jacket with fur on the collar and boots to match, white skirt, and black leggings. Pink diamond earrings and a diamond necklace enhances her aura of wealth. A crown shaped diamond encrusted barrette is clipped to the side of her hair.
The other girl's hair is comprised of two shades of gray (pause) neatly put into a braid that goes down her back. She is wearing an outfit that consists of a simple purple top, pink skirt, and purple boots. She is wearing a pearl necklace with bracelets to match. A crest of a silver spoon is placed proudly on her chest.
"Oh great, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon," Spike says in a mundane tone as he turns the other way.
"Hey, where are you going, look at what you did to my shirt," Diamond yells as she points to a couple of small tears.
Spike sighs and aloofly looks back at Diamond. "I don't care about your trashy clothes."
"TRASHY?!" Diamond Tiara shouts as she begins to glare her teeth at Spike like a wild dog, while Silver Spoon is trying her best to keep her friend calm.
From behind Diamond comes a tall figure who's wearing black penny loafers. A smug grin appears on her face. "Hmph, we'll see what you have to say after my dad and his bodyguards get a word with you."
"What," Spike says as he turns back to face the girls. He looks up to see a tall tall man with dark skin, greasy slick black hair, who's wearing a navy blue tailored suit. A red tie with the symbol for money stitched on it, sits above his chest.
"A commoner such as yourself shouldn't even be here walking streets," The man said as he raises his hand.
"Excuse me-" *SMACK* before Spike could finish his sentence, the tall man slaps Spike on his face. Everyone who is walking around stops to see what is going on. Silver Spoon and even Diamond Tiara weren't expecting it to go that far.
Spike stands there bewildered at what just happened. He looks the man dead in his eyes. *quietly* "Hey, just what do you think you're doing.?"
The man grins maliciously. "Die, you hybrid scum."
In a second, Spike's eyes turn more slant like.
****
We see Twilight walking around the Canterlot Shopping District. She's not really looking at anything to buy. "*sigh* Spike, why did you run off like that?" She walks into what appears to be more of a knick knack shop then anything else. She then spots and assortment of colored eggs, all with different patterns painted on. There is one in particular that stands out from the rest. The egg is purple with purple spots going around it. Twilight slowly goes to pick it up. "......Spike."
The old shop keeper walks up to Twilight as she glares at the egg. *raspy* "Sooo, are you going to buy that, or just stare at it?"
*CRASSSHHHHH*
"What the heck was that," the shopkeeper yelled.
Twilight's head pops up as she hears a loud crash in the distance and her eyes widen. She begins to see townspeople, and even a few guards run in the same direction. One guard peers his head through the store where Twilight is.
"Miss Twilight, you need to come with us, immediately!" The guard stated.
Twilight starts to contemplate why they would want her there. "No...that couldn't be.." Twilight quickly ran out of the building and towards the eruption. As she began to get closer and closer to where she the sound, more towns people were beginning to appear. A wall of people stood in Twilight's way, all yelling over something. Twilight takes a deep breath and begins to push her way through the crowd. As she makes her way to the front of everyone, what she notices takes her back a few steps. Twilight sees Spike there with his keyblade summoned.
"Spike, what are you- *gasp*," Twilight stops herself for when she goes to look in Spike's eyes, she sees nothing but rage. Twilight looks over and sees Filthy Rich knocked into a now destroyed kiosk stand.
Twilight began to shake a little. "Spike, what's happening to you?"
Spike begins to slowly walk his way towards Filthy Rich. A purple aura can be seen faintly coming from Spike's body. His fangs bearing at the downed man, his slit pupils showing his draconic ancestry. As Spike got closer, Diamond Tiara ran in front of Filthy Rich with her arms stretched out as far as she could.
"Stop it, you psycho, what do you think you're doing to my dad," Diamond shouted. Spike hears nothing as he walks closer to them, giving out low growls as he inches his way closer. "No, get back!" An aura of dark energy began to swirl around Spike's keyblade.
Twilight has been staring in disbelief, can't believe that this is her Spike. She's at a loss.
One of the guards sees this, and nudges Twilight on her shoulder. "Hey, this is no time for you to be daydreaming in self-doubt, if anyone can call him down, wouldn't it be you, aren't you two family?"
Twilight's had enough and runs behind the dragon boy. "Spike, stop it! Don't do this!" Spike continues as if he didn't hear anything. "Spike, please, listen to me!" Spike swings his blade and a large dark wave was launched at high speed towards Filthy and Diamond. It's as if time itself stops, as the attack comes closer to the father and daughter. In the distance, someone in a pair of white gloves has put his hands together in what seems to be a praying motion, but then immediately places them on the ground. Lightning courses underneath the crowd of people and stops in front of Filthy and Diamond. A giant stone slab appears in front of them and takes the full brunt of the attack.
*BOOOOOOOOOOM* The slab is destroyed, and in the background is Ed, using his transmutation ability to ride on top of a stone column. He jumps off the column and lands right in front of Spike putting his hands on his chest. He then releases the lightning into Spike.
*AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!* Spike screams in pain as he falls to the ground, unable to move.
"What is wrong with you Edward, you could've hurt Spike," Twilight screamed.
"Yeah, well Spike was about to kill them, and I didn't see you coming up with any great plan star student," Ed said in a swift manner.
One of the castle's knight runs to Edward as he salutes by placing his fist over his chest. "Sir Edward, what do you wish for us to do with him?"
"Take him to the dungeon for the night," Edward said. The guards bow and proceed to haul Spike to the dungeon.
"Hey, hey, wait a minute, you can't take him to the dungeon," Twilight said as she tried to follow the guards only to be stopped by more blocking her way.
Guards walk over to Diamond and Filthy Rich to help them. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah," Diamond said meekly. "Can you see if my dad is ok?" The guards nod to her and proceed to help Filthy Rich up. "He has a slash wound going across his chest! Must be from the first strike when he crashed. "Don't worry about your dad, he's going to the Castle where our top medical workers will have him better in no time! You and your friend over there can come to the castle and spend time there while you wait for your dad."
As Ed sees the guards taking the group to the castle, he appears as if he sees something strange. He quietly hushes his thoughts and begins his walk back to the castle.
****
Evening time same day
Twilight and the rest of the gang all meet up in the throne room to discuss what happened.
"I-I can't believe that, I won't believe it," Rarity stated. "There's no way that Spike would want to hurt anyone."
"Can't be so sure about that," Edward chimed in. "I remember correctly that the reason he was bed-ridden in the first place was because he overexerted himself protecting you from the heartless right? And didn't his draconic powers tap in when he was backed against a wall?"
"But Spike wouldn't just attack a random person for no good reason," Twilight said.
"Oh, really," Ed sneered as he began to walk closer towards the group. "One of the civilians told me that the reason he attacked that guy was because he spoke ill will about his dragon roots, and proceeded to hit him."
The rest of the group was shocked to hear this information unfold.
Sora was the first to retort. "So then, why isn't that Filthy guy the one in trouble if he's the on who started it all?"
"That's not the main point of the situation," Ed grumbled. "Why couldn't one of your keyblade wielders control himself?" Sora stepped back as he didn't have an answer for Ed. "What, were you going to say, that he's new to it all? If that's the case where's his master, you know, the guy that's supposed to be teaching him what he knows? "It's too much going on right now for anyone to fall for some kind of half-baked idea to get them into some more mess." Edward looked over to Twilight as he asks another question. "Hey, Twilight, you know the guy that Spike attacked right?"
"Yeah, he lives in Ponyville, his name is Filthy Rich," Twilight said. "I think we all can say that he's not the most kind person out there, but he wouldn't purposefully go out of his way to hurt someone and belittle them."
"So if this is the first time that something like this has happened from that guy, then that could be a clue into this whole case," Edward said. He begins to think to himself."Also, that cut from before, the keyblade may be shaped that way, but it is still a sword right? It cuts through, so why was there no blood when Spike attacked Filthy? "Those keyblades, are more trouble than I realized."
Luna raises up in her throne. "More research must be done about the keyblades if we are to get a stronger grasp of the subject, but first we must make sure that our own, and those we take as our own, are doing well themselves."
Celestia looks to Twilight and the rest of her friends as she follows up her sister. "I'm sorry, but I do hope you realize that Spike will have to stay in the dungeon for the night while the medics work on Filthy Rich?"
"Yes, Princess.....I understand," Twilight said in a melancholic tone as tears began to appear in her eyes.
Celestia, seeing the worry in her student, decided that it was best to comfort her. "It'll be alright Twilight, things tend to sort themselves out around here."
"Yeah, I guess your right," Twilight said as she wipes away the tears from her eyes. Celestia then raises her hand and gold magic envelops it. The sun itself began descending past the mountains. Almost like clockwork, Luna's hand is enveloped in a royal blue aura, and she brings it up. As Luna does this, the group can see in the background the crescent moon appearing overhead.
"There is no need for any of you to worry yourself," Celestia said in a comforting tone. "Now, if you excuse me, *giggling* I think it's time I head to sleep."
"I actually might do the same thing," Twilight said in an exhausted manner.
"Goodnight everyone," Celestia said as she teleports out of the throne room.
The rest of the group has split up by this point, with the girls going to there side of the castle wing and the boys on their side. Ed on the other hand is currently writing down inside of a black book. " *Thinking* I still barely understand anything about this world. It's politics, government, even down to the people, it's like they've never experienced a hardship a day in their lives, or they've always had someone to face it for them. Most of the people here can barely handle anything that's dangerous from their own world. Throw in monsters from a different plane of existence, shadow demons, swords in the shape of keys, I bet people are really uneasy right now."
Ed makes it up a set of stairs and stands in front of a tall door. "Figuring out what brought me here to this world and leaving is my priority. I just wish I knew where Alphonse went to." Ed opens his door to a royal bedroom suite that was given for him to sleep in, secluded from the rest of the group. "*Deep sigh* Finally, I get to relax for a bit." Ed takes off his jacket and boots. He wears a black sleeveless shirt and shorts which reveal his metal appendages. He then makes a jump into his bed. "Alllright!" Ed bounces one time and then suddenly falls back in the bed as he begins to sink. "Wow, I can't lie, this is a pretty comfortable bed. It feels a little bit different though. Kind of lumpy. Edward begins to fluff the pillows around him. As he's patting his bed he feels something that's very squishy under the covers. "....Huh?" The covers begin to move on their own and what's underneath is Celestia wearing an all white night gown.
...
Ed looks on in dismay while Celestia takes a long stretch and sits up in the bed, her eyes gently fixating on him.
"C-Celestia," Edward said in a tone of disbelief. An expression of pure shock sits on Ed's face while Celestia is in a much calmer state of mind. " *nervous laughing* Um, I'm pretty sure that this is the room you gave me to sleep in right?"
"Oh, don't worry, this is the right place," Celestia calmly said.
"Oh, is that so, then can I ask, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY BED?! Edward demanded.
Celestia's eyes began to look around the room as she moves some locs of her hair out of her face. "Well, I was having a difficult night sleeping, and I don't see a reason why my familiar wouldn't want me to be here," Celestia said with a smile perfectly placed on her face. "Unless, you really don't want me here?":
Ed's eyes grow wide as he was not prepared to handle a situation such as this. "What, no that's not it, look, you can have this room, and I'll just guard the halls." As Ed began to jump out the bed, before his feet could touch the ground, an aura of gold kept him suspended in the air. "Wait..*blinks and looks down* ..am I floating?" Ed slowly begins to float towards Celestia as she opens her arms to catch Ed.
"Now Edward you don't have to do that, besides I'd feel safer with you right here," Celestia says as gently lays down in the bed as she gently caresses Ed in her arms. "It's get awfully cold in these rooms by yourself. Wouldn't you agree?"
"....Mmhm," Ed nods as he couldn't think of any words to say as a flurry of thoughts rush his mind and his face reddens a little. Ed is able to feel Everything ( author's note: like, errthing my G, this dude feels errthing, Celestia is thicc my guy.........BRUH. Aight back to the story)
One thing that Ed focuses on is how warm and comfortable Celestia feels right now. It's truly amazing.
"Edward, can I ask you something," Celestia quietly said.
"Um.. Yeah, what is it," Edward said.
"What do you plan on doing when you find your brother," Celestia calmly asks.
Ed's emotions begin to settle within him as the princess asks this question. "That's obvious, I'm going back to Amestris."
"Would you rather not stay here," Celestia asks the alchemist. "You could have anything you'd ever want."
"That sounds nice in theory, but I'd be missing something just as nice, if not more if I didn't find a way back home," Ed said.
"Oh, what would that be," Celestia asked.
Ed grow silent for a few minutes as he begins to think about his homeland. From the adventures with his brother to being able to unwind now and again back with Granny and Winry. The feel of the wind. The rustling of the trees. It's almost as if he's right back there in Amestris.
"Edward," Celestia says in a questionable tone regarding how quiet he'd gotten.
"The one thing I'm missing right now, are the people who I call family," Ed quietly said.
Celestia lays there fluttering her eyes in surprise of Edward's statement. "I see, I know it must be hard being so far away from your family."
"Oh yeah, how could you ever know about something like that," Edward barked back at Celestia. He notices how Celestia's embrace started to weaken as he said that.
"There was once a time, where my sister Luna was not with me for a long time, and I had a part to play in that" Celestia said. The moon begins to peer through the clouds of the night and begins to show its luminescence to its world. Moonlight can be seen entering Roxas's bedroom through a glass pained window that allows anyone to look over all of Canterlot. "Those days were... Difficult. Not knowing if she was ok. I couldn't blame anyone but myself. I don't want to think about the days where she wasn't here with me. I wouldn't ever want my sister, or anyone dear to me, to be lost like that again." A few silent tears fall from Celestia's face and onto the top of Edward's head.
Edward sits there silent as he listens to the princess's sorrowful words. "....Princess?"
"I understand, Edward, truly," Celestia assures Ed as she wipes her tears away. "I know that you'll find your brother, and you'll be together again. Just don't forget, that you don't have to be alone forever on your journey."
Edward begins to relax a little as the conversation begins to die down.
*** The Following Morning
Everyone from the night before appears in the throne room.
A loud burst through the chamber doors reveal two guards who have a message for the Princesses. "Your highness, we are here to inform you that Filthy Rich has recovered!"
"What," Ed said under his breath.
Slow footsteps can be heard from outside the chamber doors. Everyone stands in suspense as they wait for someone to walk through. It is without a doubt, Filthy Rich, fully healed, without even a speck of dirt on him.
"How is that possible, he's no fighter, far from it, and to heal from a wound that size over night," Edward contemplates in his mind.
"It seems that you've made a full recovery Filthy Rich," Celestia said.
"Why yes I have Princess, and along with that recovery comes the next issue," Filthy says as he raises his hand and motions it towards the door. One snap, and some vile looking people come walking through the door. Mercenaries, a good handful of them, and a few of them were holding chains. As they fully present themselves in the throne room, what they were using the chains for had everyone in anger and shock. There stood Spike being held back by chains and locks on his wrists and ankles. The rage from Spike's face, has yet to leave.
. 
"Hey Roxas, when did you get that?"
A crescent moon connected the blade and the hilt of the sword and bat like wings were seen jutting from the sides of the sword. She brought the sword into a position where it was slightly overhead, and she brought her free hand all the way out in front of her. She shifted her body to where her left leg was positioned in the front and her right leg in the back. 
(Editor's Note: Don't mind the lollipop. There were no other pictures of this outfit. P.S. To my ganja lovers, stay getting to that vibration level. I'm right with yall. Alright, back to the chapter.) 
