The Thirteen Warriors of Light and Harmony are on a journey to save new worlds and characters from the Heartless.
Twilight Sparkle and her friends have become confused by mysteries happening to them. What is the Keyblade they can wield? What are the Heartless? And more importantly, what is Kingdom Hearts? Their questions will be answered by some protectors of light and a journey they will never forget.
This story takes place after the events of Kingdom Hearts III (at least, how I know how it'll turn out) and before the season three finale, but there are foreshadows in the epilogue and secret chapter that hint to it, so WATCH OUT!
I’ve had these questions bugging at my mind ever since I discovered a mysterious book in a secret compartment in one of the shelves in my library, like the book on the Legend of the Mirror Pond. What is the Keyblade? What are the Heartless? And more importantly, what is the “heart of all worlds,” Kingdom Hearts? The more I thought about these questions, the less I seem to know about these legends. But I swore I would figure this out one page at a time, no matter how long it takes.
Prologue-The Keyblade
This was an interesting thought coming from Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle is the most studious and most talented unicorn hailing from Canterlot, the capital of her home country of Equestria. As a filly growing up, she has become fascinated by magic and seeing the kind and just co-ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia, raise the sun during the Summer Sun Celebration, so she made it in her best interest to studying the art. After months and months of studying, her parents enrolled her in Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. She couldn’t have been more excited in her life. But there was a catch: she had to pass an entrance exam, which was to hatch a dragon out of an egg. After many unsuccessful attempts, she thought about giving up. But all of a sudden, a mysterious explosion far in the distance caused a sudden jolt in her horn and hatched the dragon out of the egg. But, she soon lost control of this ability, being a young one inexperienced with such power. With her eyes now glowing white with a magenta aura surrounding her, she began firing a flurry of spells, which the Princess took notice of and reversed at once. Celestia was amazed at Twilight, saying she’s never seen a unicorn with such raw powers and that she needs to tame these abilities through focused study. To that end, Twilight took up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by accepting to be the Princess’ personal protégée at the school. At that very moment, her cutie mark, a magenta star with five smaller stars surrounding it, appeared on her flank, and she has been Celestia’s most faithful student ever since.
While investigating a legend involving a wicked mare of darkness known only as Nightmare Moon, her mentor said there’s more to life than studying, so she sent Twilight and her faithful baby dragon assistant Spike (the dragon Twilight hatched during her entry test) to oversee preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in that year’s location, Ponyville, while having an additional assignment: make some friends. While there, she looked over the needed items for the celebration while making close friends with five local residents of the town: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie. When the Nightmare Moon returned, Twilight and her new friends embarked on a perilous quest to find the Elements of Harmony, the only relics that can stop Nightmare Moon’s evil. While confronting the Mare from the Moon, Twilight revealed that her friends are the very Elements of Harmony, with Twilight herself being the final Element: Magic. With these new powers, they defeated the Nightmare Moon by returning her to her original form: Celestia’s long-lost sister, Princess Luna. After both sisters have been reunited, the Princess of the Day gives her student a new mission: to study the magic of friendship in her new home of Ponyville alongside her friends. Following this, they have had several adventures together, while learning lessons on friendship.
Now, after a long day of studying Kingdom Hearts and its respective legends, she was sleeping and was having a bizarre dream. First, it looked as though she was falling in a deep and dark abyss, but then, she found herself on a mysterious island with seashells and star-shaped fruit. As she was looking around, she was run past by two boys and a girl having a race. After this, her dream took a turn for the weird. She was now looking at memories of different people representing their friendship. And then, the woman with blue hair gave four of her new friends some lucky charms. They then flew up in the air and manifested into the physical amulets of the Elements of Harmony she and her friends represented, which then formed a chain with a sun with a silhouette of Celestia and another with the symbol of Nightmare Night, the holiday of Nightmare Night. They were connected to two oversized keys which are used as weapons, both of them being respectively wielded by Princess’ Celestia and Luna.
Then, she was in a new world with rainfall, where in front of a building with large screens, she saw the screens play her most dramatic memories. When she saw the silhouettes of those who caused this drama she charged out at them, while running through a hallway of screens now showing past and future events. When she got close to them, she thought she would defeat them right then and there, but they dissolved and fell off a ledge. As she was falling, she could see her friends, family, and the boy with brown hair on the ledge. Then, she fell into an ocean where she thought she would drown, but she didn’t. She found this most confusing, because you’re supposed to cast spells to help you breathe underwater. Before she could figure this out, she landed on flat land and looked around the dark and barren landscape. And as soon as she took her first step the ground erupted with doves flying away, with the image they left behind is a stained-glass picture of the boy with brown hair.
"So much to do, so little time…" said a mysterious voice. "Take your time. Don’t be afraid. The door is still shut. Now, step forward. Can you do it?" Indeed she did. As she was walking forward, three pedestals with different weapons rose out of the ground.
"Power sleeps within you," said the voice. "If you give it form… it will give you strength. Choose well." Twilight looked around. One pedestal contained a sword, another one contained a shield, and the last contained a rod. Of course, owing to her reputation with magic, she got on the pedestal with the rod.
"The power of the mystic," the voice explained. "Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin. Is this the power you seek?" She accepted.
"Your path is set," said the voice. "Now, what will you give up in exchange?" Twilight then jumped on to the pedestal with the sword.
"The power of the warrior," said the voice. "Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. You give up this power?" She agreed.
“You’ve chosen the power of the mystic," the voice said. You’ve given up the power of the warrior. Is this the form you choose?” That was her final decision.
Then, the pedestals and the platform overall shattered beneath her hooves and plummeted into the darkness again, but this time she landed on a platform with a stained-glass picture of the girl with brown hair, the boy with silver hair, and the man with red hair wearing a black coat. Suddenly, her rod appeared before her and was floating in mid-air, despite the fact that her magic wasn’t causing it.
"You’ve gained the power to fight." She tested it out by swishing it back and forth. She noticed that her thoughts cause her weapon to respond to the simplest of commands.
"All right!" the voice shouted. "You’ve got it. Use this power to protect yourself and others." Suddenly, an unknown creature with a black body and yellow glowing eyes emerged.
Is this one of the Heartless creatures I read about? Twilight thought to herself.
“There will be times you have to fight," said the voice. "Keep your light burning strong." As it said this, more creatures of the same species came out and were coming at her. Luckily, she was hacking and slashing at them until one of them was defeated and the others were forced to retreat. But, one of them was determined to finish off the unicorn and sneaked up behind her tail.
"Behind you!" shouted the voice. She then turned and destroyed the creature and the others who returned.
But one lone creature started covering the platform with darkness and she was being sucked into the murky blackness. But, as if by luck, she was now on a platform with the stained-glass image of the boy with blonde hair, the woman with blue hair, and the man with brown hair. She then noticed a door at the end of this platform. But, it won’t open. So, after opening a treasure chest and moving and smashing a crate and a barrel, the door opened and as soon as she stepped through, she found herself in the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse along with Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.
"Hold on," said the voice. "The door won’t open just yet. First, tell me more about yourself." That was what made Twilight realize that she’s still in this dreamscape. But she complied with the voice and approached Scootaloo.
"What do you want outta life?" asked Scootaloo.
"To see rare sights," Twilight said.
"To see rare sights, huh?" Scootaloo repeated. Twilight then went to Apple Bloom.
"What are you so afraid of?" she asked.
"Getting old," Twilight admitted.
"Gettin’ old?" Apple Bloom repeated. "Is that really so scary?" Twilight then got up to Sweetie Belle.
"What’s most important to you?" she asked.
"Friendship," Twilight answered.
"Friendship is the most magical thing in the entire world," Sweetie Belle commented.
"You want to see rare sights," said the voice. "You’re afraid of getting old. Friendship is important to you. Your adventure begins at dawn. As long as the sun is shining, your journey should be a pleasant one.”" Twilight thought that sounded good enough.
"The day you will open the door is both far off and very near," the voice announced.
Then the world was bathed in light again and Twilight found herself on a new platform with a stained-glass picture of the same boy with blonde hair but wearing a black coat, the same man with red hair wearing a black coat but with purple tear markings on his face, and the girl with black hair wearing the same black coat. As she walked forward, the dark creatures rose up again and she destroyed every single one of them. Then she saw a mysterious light create stairs leading up to a new platform. She walked up the stairs to the platform to find a new stained-glass picture of a man who looks much like a teacher.
"The closer you get to light, the greater your shadow becomes." the voice warned.
Indeed, the shadow has become a gigantic dark monster. This nearly freaked out Twilight, but she held her ground.
"But don’t be afraid," said the voice. "And don’t forget…" She knew she would fall if she stepped off the platform. So she fought off the monster with everything she had. But the beast wasn’t slain. And it was about to swallow her up in the darkness when a mysterious light destroyed the creature and the darkness holding her captive. That light was from Princess Luna.
"Wow, am I glad to see you again,” said Twilight, relieved that someone other than herself would be in this dreamscape. “But shouldn’t you be in Canterlot at this time?”
"I am a Princess of the Night, Twilight Sparkle," said Luna. "As such, I have the ability to travel into somepony’s dreams and help them out of their nightmares."
"Well, it sure feels real," Twilight commented. "Well, now that you’re in my dreamscape, maybe you can tell me what those creatures were."
"Those are Heartless,” Luna explained. "When a being, whether good or evil, gives in to the darkness in their heart, they lose that heart and transform into a Heartless. They then travel throughout various worlds in the Realm of Light and find other beings to turn into Heartless, while finding the heart of the world, thus plunging the world into darkness."
"Well, that sounds horrible," Twilight spoke. "But is this an omen of what’s to come?"
"Sadly, yes," Luna admitted. But, wind was starting to blow onto the platform and the Princess was being sucked away. But that didn’t stop her from telling her sister’s most faithful student what she had to do, "----------But don’t be afraid. You hold the mightiest weapon of all. So don’t forget: you are the one who will open the door." Suddenly, the platform was engulfed in a white light…
"Princess Luna!?" Twilight Sparkle awoke with sweat on her face and concern in her mind. Could Luna really be right about the Heartless? Twilight thought to herself as she walked toward the window, her magenta and violet streaks in her mane glistening in the rising sun. She then went downstairs and encountered Spike, who had something of great importance to give to her.
"I’ve been trying to wake you up about this letter I just got from the Princess," said Spike. "But you were so deep in your sleep that you couldn’t wake up at all, so I had to wait for you."
"Sorry about that," Twilight said. "But I was having a dream about some people I don’t even know and something about me going on some adventure. So, what’s the letter say?" Twilight levitated the letter out of Spike’s hand and read it out loud:
Dearest Twilight Sparkle,
I have a matter of utmost importance for you and your friends. As Luna might’ve explained to you, the Heartless are about to invade the Realm of Light once more. I know this because we saw proof of this last night. We’ve seen the stars go out, one by one, and I know within our own hearts that you won’t be able to do this alone. I want you and your friends to come to Canterlot and find Master Eraqus and his Seven Guardians of Light. When you do, I want all of you, the Thirteen Warriors of Light and Harmony, to report to the throne room at once. Help us, Twilight Sparkle, you’re our only hope.
Kindest regards,
Princess Celestia
Twilight then just stood there upon reading the letter, thinking about her upcoming quest.
"What are you gonna do?" asked Spike.
"What I do best: save Equestria," said Twilight in heroic resolve. She took along her book involving Kingdom Hearts, so she could do more research on the subject.
"Can I go with you?" Spike asked. Twilight was concerned about his safety and was hesitant to say yes. But Spike reminded her of times where he was in danger and made it out unscathed, most notably, the events in the Crystal Empire. That was enough to take him along with her and, by walking out of the library, she has begun a new journey she will never forget.
Ponyville was just as peaceful as ever. Earth ponies were growing their crops, pegasi were clearing the clouds for the town, and unicorns were doing their talents with their magic. Twilight would like to practice her magic as well, but this day was different for her. To Twilight Sparkle, she knew she would never turn down a request from the Princess.
"So, do you want to get started gathering your friends?" Spike asked.
"Yes," Twilight replied. "Let’s start by picking up Applejack. Knowing her, she would be willing to listen to my story and request." "Alright, then our course is set," Spike said with determination. "Let’s head on over to Sweet Apple Acres and get Applejack."
Upon arriving to Applejack’s home of Sweet Apple Acres, they heard the familiar “yee-haw” of Applejack successfully bucking apples off another apple tree. Applejack is a trusting and down-to-earth earth pony and one of the friendliest ponies in all of Ponyville. Because of her kind and caring demeanor, she supports her friends well on their adventures. When she was a filly, she left her home to live an upper-class lifestyle with her Aunt and Uncle Orange in the urban setting of Manehattan. But, she found it too difficult to be a part of and for the first time in her life, she seriously missed her home. But, out of nowhere, she saw a rainbow pointing her towards home. After she returned home, her choice was clear: she loved to be with her family and work on the farm. Thanks to her revelation, her cutie mark, three apples, appeared on her flank and she has been working on the farm alongside her younger sister Apple Bloom, their older brother Big McIntosh, and their Granny Smith ever since.
When she saw Twilight and Spike at the entrance, she took a break on her work and offered them some of their famous cider on the house. Twilight and Spike agreed because, even though darkness is about to corrupt the land, they would never turn down an offer from a caring friend.
"What seems to be the trouble, sugarcubes?" asked Applejack. Calling her friends “sugarcubes” was Applejack’s way of showing affection for her friends.
"We have brought you some items for your understanding," said Twilight, fetching out her book on Kingdom Hearts and letter from the Princess. "This letter is from Princess Celestia and tells us of an upcoming threat known as Heartless and that we are to get to Canterlot to meet up with Master Eraqus and his Seven Guardians of Light."
"What in tarnation is a Heartless?" Applejack questioned.
"Heartless are those whose hearts are lost to the darkness," Twilight explained, flipping to Applejack the chapter regarding the Heartless. "After they turn into Heartless, they won’t stop until they consume everything into the darkness." Applejack feared what would happen to her family if they were to fail in their mission.
"Yes, I’ll help you out for all of Equestria…for my family," said Applejack. With this announcement, they set off on their mission, little did they realize that Apple Bloom overheard their conversation and is already calling her favorite cousin Babs Seed at her Manehattan branch of their club, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, to come to Ponyville as soon as possible…
Next, the two friends and Spike went to a cottage near the outskirts of the Everfree Forest, which belonged to Fluttershy. After arriving at her doorstop, Twilight was the first to knock.
"Fluttershy, it’s Twilight, Applejack, and Spike!" she said. "We’re here to get you and the rest of our friends so we can meet with Princess Celestia."
"Are you alone?" Fluttershy asked through the door. The three friends looked at each other awkwardly.
"Yes…?" Twilight replied. The door suddenly swung open and Fluttershy yanked them into her home and closed the door behind her, with a frightened look on her face. Fluttershy is a kind but timid Pegasus who loves to care for animals big and small. Although she dries up when around others, her friends are always there to help her out. As a filly, she was a mediocre flyer at a flight camp in the pegasi town of Cloudsdale. She could barely flap her wings and was ridiculed for it, but one day, Rainbow Dash, stepped in to protect her dignity by challenging the colts who were bullying her to a race. As soon as the flyers took off, they flew past Fluttershy and fell off and down to the earth below. Luckily, she was saved by a bed of butterflies and became fascinated by the beautiful land below her home. But, all of a sudden, a mysterious explosion scared off some woodland critters. After the explosion subsided, she told the animals that everything was all right now, and discovered she can communicate with animals to a certain degree. Surprised by this special ability, her cutie mark, three butterflies, appeared on her flank and she has been an animal caretaker ever since.
"Fluttershy, what in the wide, wide world of Equestria are you so freaked out about?" Twilight asked her paranoid friend. Her hoof still hurt from being pulled in.
"I…I...," Fluttershy stammered. "I had a terrible dream last night. I saw innocent ponies, loving fillies being transformed into dark monsters and a strange blue moon shaped like a heart started floating overhead." Applejack was able to calm her down while Twilight fetched out her book and letter.
"Those 'dark monsters' you saw are Heartless, creatures who lack hearts who roam the world, consuming it into the darkness," Twilight elaborated. "And the ‘moon shaped like a heart’ is Kingdom Hearts, the heart of all worlds. This is why Celestia is calling for us, to protect Equestria from the Heartless. Will you handle this?" Luckily, Fluttershy was able to get her act together and nod her head in agreement. And so, the three ponies and dragon set off for the rest of their friends, while one of Fluttershy’s animal friends, her pet, Angel Bunny, overheard this and ran off to gather Twilight and her friends other pets…
Twilight and her friends then stopped by the Carousel Boutique and rang the doorbell.
"Yes, come in, come in," said a voice coming from inside the shop. As they went inside, they were greeted by cups of tea and their friend Rarity. Rarity is a glamorous unicorn who has an affinity for fashion design. Despite her career and her love for beauty, she is always willing to give to her friends. As a filly, she was an amateur fashion designer who was designing costumes for a school play, but felt that they weren’t good enough for the audience. While working on how to make them shine, she got pulled away by the magic in her horn, which she found confusing, as unicorn magic doesn’t happen without reason. But after a long ways away, she thought her destiny, a rock, was absurd, until a rainbow-colored shockwave broke open the rock to reveal beautiful, glistening jewels. She then knew, right then and there, that this is what would make the costumes shine, literally. Indeed, when the show opened, the entire congregation of ponies was astounded by the performance and the ensemble. Rarity, proud by her work, then got her cutie mark, three lozenge diamonds, on her flank and she has been a professional designer ever since.
"What seems to be the trouble, darlings?" Rarity asked as her friends were sipping their tea. Twilight once more got out her book and letter.
"Princess Celestia requests our presence in Canterlot," Twilight answered. “"But this is different. Read this letter and book. According to the Princess, some mysterious creatures known as Heartless are about to invade Equestria and other worlds and we’re supposed to meet with 'Seven Guardians of Light' and their master, Eraqus."
"Of course I’ll go along," said Rarity right away. "I would love an audience with the Princess as much as the next pony. Plus, I would hate for these Heartless creatures to infest at my boutique." Here, Rarity paused for a moment. "Not after last time," Rarity resumed. She was referring to a Parasprite infestation that took over Ponyville.
"Well, we hate to see you down with your hard-worked designs destroyed, sugarcube," Applejack said. “Let’s get Pinkie and Rainbow and get this rodeo started.” They then departed the store, but not before Rarity’s younger sister, Sweetie Belle, overheard. She was about to go and tell her fellow Crusaders, but she was already being informed by Apple Bloom and a freshly arrived Babs Seed from Manehattan…
Twilight and her five friends were already on their way to Sugarcube Corner when they were already being accompanied by Pinkie Pie. Pinkie Pie is a hyperactive and hilarious earth pony who loves to throw parties. Despite her fun-loving nature and disregard to danger, her friends have great patience for her. When she was a filly, she worked on a rock farm where there was no talking or smiling in her family. One boring day, her spirits were lifted by a rainbow-colored shockwave and an actual rainbow. She was determined to express this newfound joy to her family, so she threw them a party, which caused their serious and conservative faces to smile. She was so happy and proud in fact, her cutie mark, two blue balloons and one yellow one, appeared on her flank and has been a confectioner and party animal ever since.
"Hey, Twilight and friends!" said Pinkie, in her usual giddy tone. "Whatcha doin’?"
"We were on our way to see you…," said a surprised Fluttershy.
"Yet, somehow, you’re out here and with us," Applejack finished.
"Well, since you’re here, maybe I can show you this book and letter," Twilight said, fetching out her aforementioned items. "Celestia is calling us to Canterlot to discuss the situation involving some creatures known as Heartless. Do you think you can understand what I’m saying?" Pinkie didn’t answer. "Pinkie, didn’t you hear what I just said?" Twilight asked in an annoyed tone.
"Yes…," Pinkie fibbed.
"What did I just say?" asked Twilight.
"'Bloo-boo-dee-boop-blah-blee-blah-blee-blee-blop,'" Pinkie babbled. "And then, I didn’t hear the last part 'cause I was looking at that thing over there." Twilight and her friends turned to Pinkie’s direction. What they saw was a Shadow, the same Heartless creature from Twilight’s Dive to the Heart. She was about to attack it until Pinkie stopped her. "What are you going to do?" she asked.
"That’s one of those Heartless creatures I was trying to tell you about," Twilight said. "I’ve got to stop it!"
"Maybe it looks like some form of dark rabbit or cat," Pinkie assumed. "Either way, I’ll decide whether or not that thing needs a beatdown." At that instant, they saw the Heartless destroy a fruit cart. "That thing needs a beatdown!" Pinkie announced. They then began to attack the creature, but to no avail. Then, when it was about to jump on Twilight, it was suddenly sliced in half and dissolved away. She opened her eyes and saw that a giant oversized key unmanipulated by her magic was responsible for destroying the creature. It looked like a typical skeleton key, but with features that reflect solely to the unicorn. Then, out from nowhere, she heard the mysterious voice from her Dive to the Heart talk to her, as if it were coming from her newfound weapon.
"Twilight, are you alright?" asked a concerned Applejack. "And what is that thing floating in midair?" "Is your magic causing it?" Twilight then got up off the ground and her Keyblade then disappeared.
"The Heartless are starting to invade Equestria sooner than we thought," said Twilight in a worried tone. "Let’s get Rainbow Dash and hurry to Canterlot." But, before they could lift a hoof, a teal speck started falling from the sky.
"Look out below!" it said. As soon as it slowed down, it was revealed to be Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash is a brash and competitive Pegasus who is in charge of Ponyville’s weather. Despite her insensitivity, she is always loyal to her friends until the bitter end. When she was a filly in flight camp, she was competing in a race to protect Fluttershy’s honor. And upon takeoff, she was already beating the other colts while also building up extreme speed. Near the end of the race, she performed her first-ever Sonic Rainboom, an event where a Pegasus breaks the sound barrier, creating a rainbow-colored shockwave. Rainbow thought the Rainboom was just a mare’s tale, but she performed the impossible. Upon doing this act and winning the race, her cutie mark, a rainbow-colored lightning bolt, appeared on her flank. When she told this story to the Cutie Mark Crusaders, her friends discovered that her Rainboom was responsible for helping them discover their special talents and earn their cutie marks, realizing that they had a special connection before they even met. Because of this revelation, they have been closer than they ever knew ever since.
"Now, Twilight, before you say anything, I just want to say that I want to go along with you to Canterlot," said Rainbow Dash right away. "I mean, you destroying that Heartless creature with an oversized key? That was so AWESOME!"
"How did you know about that!?" asked a surprised Twilight.
"Being a Pegasus doesn’t keep me from seeing and hearing everything from a bird’s-eye view," said Rainbow, flapping her wings while talking. Twilight and her friends looked at each other awkwardly again.
"Well, forget that," Twilight said. "Let’s hurry to the station!" Now that they’re together, they galloped toward the train station so they can get to Canterlot and meet with Master Eraqus and the Seven Guardians of Light. After they left, Scootaloo, always following and idolizing Rainbow Dash, overheard and was approached by her fellow Crusaders and followed the Six Bearers of Harmony to the station…
After arriving at the station, Twilight purchased a ticket for Canterlot.
"But we don’t have time to wait for a train," said Applejack. "You said it yourself, Twi. We need to get to Canterlot now."
"Shut it," said a mysterious person right next to them. "Talk about complaining..." They turned and became startled by the sudden appearance of a boy who didn't look at all like a pony. "Twilight Sparkle, right?" asked the boy.
"Y-yeah, but how do you know my name?" asked a surprised and confused Twilight.
"I thought I’d need your help in the Game," the boy said, while holding out Twilight’s hoof. "But, I can see you’re not a Player."
"A…what?" asked Twilight.
"Come on, in the Game," the boy groaned, while holding out his own hand, which is marked with a time limit. "Players get marked with a certain amount of time for the Game. And I can’t afford to lose this Game. I need my Game Partner."
"Well, I may not know about this 'Game', but maybe I can help," said Rainbow Dash, her competitive spirit aroused. "Maybe I can be your Partner."
"Whoa, time out. Do you trust every complete stranger you meet?" asked the boy. "Sorry, but you're not good for this. You’re not a Player. Besides, my pact's with someone else."
"Alright, so we can’t be your Partners," said Applejack. "But, we’ll help you out as friends, alright, sugarcube?"
"Now we're friends?" asked the boy. "It's not as simple as that."
"Well, Twilight didn't care about friendship before," said Spike. "And look at her now: she has five friends who care and support her. You should at least give us some slack."
"Yeah, sounds great," said the boy, obviously uncaring. "Whatever."
"Okey-dokey-lokey!" said Pinkie. "Lead the way." The boy then ran off for Canterlot, swirling off lampposts and flying a great distance after flying off of them. Twilight became amazed and interested at this type of magic, wondering if she could try it out herself.
"Spike, hold on tight," she said.
"W-what are gonna do?" asked Spike.
"I’m gonna see if I can do what that boy just did," Twilight replied.
"Do you think it’ll work?" asked Rarity.
"It worked for that boy and it’ll work for me too," said Twilight. "Besides, AJ’s right. The train will take too long to get here and the Heartless are beginning to invade." Twilight disposed of her ticket and galloped toward the lamppost. When she got close enough, she stuck out her hoof and started to twirl around it, with a magenta aura surrounding her. When she swirled around enough, she let go and took flight. The boy's trick worked.
"She actually did it!" said a proud Pinkie. "C’mon! Twirl around on a lamppost and let’s get this party started!" With the exception of the pegasi, the ponies twirled around and caught up with Twilight and together, they set off for Canterlot. After they were gone, Apple Bloom picked up the ticket Twilight abandoned and she and her fellow Crusaders discovered their friend's pets trailing behind them.
"Winona, what are you and the others doing here?" asked Apple Bloom to her and her sister's pet dog. "Well, while we catch up with them, we can try to get our cutie marks in pet-sitting again." The next train bound for Canterlot arrived at the station and before they could board it, they were soon approached by a mysterious person with a wrapped up sword already on board the train...
After flying all the way to Canterlot, Spike got off Twilight, feeling a bit woozy. He gagged a little, but swallowed, shaking a little.
"Are you alright, Spikey-wikey?" asked Rarity. Ever since Spike did the kind act of giving a Fire Ruby to Rarity, she has been calling him “Spikey-wikey” ever since.
"Yeah," said Spike, dizzily and queasy. "I just threw up a little in my mouth. This ability may take some getting used to."
"It’s called Flowmotion," said a mysterious voice right next to them. They turned and saw the boy again and Fluttershy gave a surprised shriek.
"Alright, whoever you are," said an annoyed Applejack. "You’ve got to stop sneaking up on everypony."
"Right," said Neku. "Anyway, Flowmotion allows you move faster than you usually do and you can use it on anything, not just the lampposts you used to get here. Now, if you’ll mind, I must find my Partner."
"Wait!" shouted Twilight. But Neku was already wall-jumping away from them.
"He moves fast," said Rainbow. "Maybe even faster than me..."
"Well, now that we’re in Canterlot, let’s find Master Eraqus and the Seven Guardians of Light," announced Twilight.
"Pfft," scoffed Pinkie. "We won’t have to do that."
"And why do you say that, Pinkie?" asked Twilight.
"Because, they’re right over there," Pinkie answered. Indeed, Master Eraqus and the Guardians were sitting on a table waiting for the Bearers of Harmony to show up.
"Nice to finally meet you," said Eraqus, graciously shaking Twilight’s hoof. "I would like to introduce you to the Seven Guardians of Light and my students: Sora, Kairi, Riku, Lea, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus." Twilight remembered these people from the stained-glass platforms from her Dive to the Heart.
"Well, it looks like meeting the heroes of Equestria deserves a little icing on the cake," Lea said, while fetching out a teal bar on a stick. "Here you go."
"What is that?" asked Twilight.
"This is sea-salt ice cream," Ventus answered.
"SHUT UP!" said an excited Pinkie. She took one of the bars and took a bite. She then froze up. She was gripped by the flavor. "Girls, you’ve got to try this!"
"I got it covered," said Lea, fetching out six more bars of sea-salt ice cream. "Here you go." Twilight and her friends took a bite out of their bars and were gripped by the flavor as well.
"It’s sweet and salty, like a caramel apple!" said Applejack.
"That’s what Roxas said on his first day in Organization XIII," said Lea.
"Who’s Roxas?" asked Fluttershy.
"He was a Nobody," Sora answered.
"Well, that’s not nice," said Pinkie. "Calling someone a nobody is like calling somepony a 'blank flank,' a pony who lacks a cutie mark." Her friends then glared at her, knowing that their friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, don’t have their cutie marks yet.
"With a capital N," Lea explained. "Nobodies are what remains after a strong heart turns into a Heartless. The body then acts on its own will, due to the strong will it has, becoming a Nobody. So, if you’re turned into Heartless, then your strong will shall create a Nobody. Got it memorized?" Lea, as well as his Nobody, Axel, often ends his explanations with the phrase “got it memorized?”
"Got it," said Spike, having just written down what a Nobody is.
"Well, now that we’ve enjoyed the greatest treat we’ve ever had, let’s meet with the princesses," said Twilight.
"Wait!" said Kairi. "Aqua has something to give you." Indeed, what she has for Twilight and her friends were star-shaped lucky charms, created to correspond with the pony of its holder.
"These are Wayfinders," Aqua explained. "On the Destiny Islands, there’s a tree with star-shaped known as the Paopu Fruit. And the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So, as long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart. You will always find your way back to each other. An unbreakable connection."
"We love them," said Twilight. "I think these truly do symbolize our neverending friendship. Now let’s go meet up with Celestia and Luna." And with that, the Thirteen Warriors of Light and Harmony set off for the castle.
Upon arriving at the castle, they entered the throne room where they witnessed the Princesses being under attack by Neoshadows, humanoid versions of the Shadows. In retaliation, the Guardians and Eraqus called forth their Keyblades and took on the Neoshadows head-on, with Twilight and her friends watching from the sidelines. While fighting off the creatures, six of them dissolved into the ground and slithered onto the ceiling, creeping on top of the Bearers. When they were in perfect trajectory, they rose out and began to drop down on them. Luckily, Pinkie felt a twitch in her tail and knew what it meant.
"Above you!" she told her friends. Just as the Neoshadows were about to land on them, they were destroyed by Twilight’s Keyblade and her friend’s other Keyblades that have features that reflect solely on their wielders qualities, like Twilight’s. After all the Neoshadows were destroyed, the Warriors and Princesses thought it was over, but all of a sudden, a new creature known as a Darkside appeared from the ground, the same one from Twilight’s Dive to the Heart. The Warriors started attacking the gargantuan creature with their Keyblades, but like Twilight, it wasn’t enough. And before it was about to deliver the final blow, it was suddenly struck down by two Keyblades belonging to two armor-clad ponies.
"Is everybody and pony alright?" asked Riku. Everyone announced that everybody and pony was present and accounted for. Then they turned and looked at the armored ponies. In a flash of light, the armor disappeared and the identities were revealed: Shining Armor and Princess Cadence. Shining Armor is the B.B.B.F.F., Big Brother Best Friend Forever, to Twilight. He is captain of the Canterlot Royal Guard and is the husband to Princess Cadence. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Princess Cadence, as she prefers to be called, was the former foal-sitter to Twilight and after a famous royal wedding in Canterlot became the wife to Shining Armor and sister-in-law to Twilight. Most notably, upon rescuing the Crystal Empire from King Sombra’s wrath, they have become the co-rulers of the Empire.
"Shining Armor!" Twilight said immediately, hugging his big brother. "Hey, Twily," said Shining Armor in response. "Looks like I saved your tail this time around."
"Well…" Twilight said awkwardly, then she turned to Cadence and started doing a dance together while reciting a song together.
"Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” They performed this song-and-dance ever since Cadence foal-sat for Twilight and even perform it years later whenever they greet each other.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked Twilight. "I thought you were in the Crystal Empire."
"Actually, we’re here to help you out with the Heartless situation, as well," said Shining Armor.
"How did you know about the invasion?" asked Rarity. Cadence's face fell out of concern.
"This morning, we saw a dark creature invade the throne room similar to the ones you guys just fought," she explained. "We thought it was a remnant of King Sombra’s dark magic, but when we used our magic against it, we realized that it was immune to our effects. When it was about to attack us, it was suddenly destroyed by two key-shaped weapons that respond to our every command, without our magic causing it. Before we took off to tell Celestia and Luna about our discovery, we saw some pauldrons on the ground. When we put them on our shoulders and pressed them, we were suddenly clasped in shining armor." Pinkie tried to hold in her laughter, knowing the irony between the stallion’s name and their Keyblade Armor. "When we got to Canterlot, we saw you guys fighting alongside those people wielding similar weapons destroying those creatures. When it came to the giant creature, we decided to step in and use our newfound weapons to kill the beast."
"Well, that was quite the story, Cadence, well done," said Rainbow Dash. "But how were we able to obtain these key-like weapons?"
"I think we’ll explain everything," said Princess Celestia. And with that, the Guardians story began…
Three Keyblade apprentices, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, train under Master Eraqus to become Keyblade Masters one day. When one Keyblade Master, Master Xehanort, disappears and terrifying creatures known as Unversed begin invading throughout the Realm of Light. Terra was to stop the Unversed and find Xehanort, Ventus was tricked into following Terra by Xehanort’s apprentice, Vanitas, and Aqua was to bring him home.
During this quest, Terra was starting to become corrupted by the darkness in his heart. Terra met a young boy known as Riku and was chosen as his successor. Ventus befriended another Keyblade apprentice, Mickey Mouse, and met with Vanitas several times, eventually discovering that he’s the physical manifestation of the darkness within Ventus after being extracted by Xehanort as part of a plan to forge a legendary weapon known only as the χ-blade, which is the only thing that can unlock Kingdom Hearts itself. When he returned to his home in the Land of Departure to tell Eraqus about this plan, who plans to destroy him and stop the χ-blade’s creation, but fell at the hands of Terra and Xehanort, the latter of whom revealed his true intentions afterwards.
The trio then met up to battle Xehanort and Vanitas in the Keyblade Graveyard, the site of a legendary conflict known as the Keyblade War, where each of them met their fates: Terra becoming possessed by Xehanort and transformed into a new, younger Xehanort, Ventus being possessed by Vanitas, but after a mental and physical battle between Ventus, Aqua, and Mickey, destroy Vanitas, the χ-blade and erase the Unversed from the land, with Ventus’s heart being damaged and merged with the heart of a boy known as Sora, and Aqua placing Ventus’s now-comatose body into the newly-transformed Castle Oblivion, and traveled to the Radiant Garden, where he finds Xehanort and fought him with a plan to rescue Terra. During the battle, Terra temporarily regained control of his body, with Xehanort trying to remove Terra’s heart from his body, but darkness then spilled and Xehanort starts to fade. Aqua then sacrificed her armor and Keyblade to save Terra’s body, while she remains in the Realm of Darkness. A now- amnesic Xehanort was discovered by the sage king of Radiant Garden, Ansem the Wise, and was taken in as his apprentice. Terra also continued to fight off Xehanort, vowing not to stop until he has stopped Xehanort and forces him from his body.
Ten years later, Sora was separated from his friends during an invasion of their world, Destiny Islands. During the invasion, Sora obtains the Keyblade, as Ventus’s heart was still within him. After arriving in Traverse Town, he meets Donald Duck and Goofy, and together they traveled throughout various worlds and sealing the Keyholes to the hearts of the worlds to prevent more Heartless invasions.
After defeating a wicked witch controlling the Heartless known as Maleficent, they discover Ansem, who has apparently succumbed to the darkness, was behind this invasion of the Heartless. He plans to open the door to Kingdom Hearts, a door which contains the hearts of all worlds, with the intention of gaining eternal darkness. The trio was able to defeat Ansem and seal the door with the help of Riku and King Mickey on the other side of the door.
When searching for Riku and the King, they find themselves in Castle Oblivion, which, upon entering, they began to lose their memories. The three encountered a group of dark hooded villains known as Marluxia, Larxene, Axel, and Vexen, who are part of Organization XIII. Within the castle, Sora discovered his memories were wiped by a girl known as Naminé who was held captive by the Organization. The trio fought their way through the castle and eventually encounter and destroy Marluxia, the lord of the castle, thus freeing Naminé from the grip of the Organization. In order to have their memories returned, Naminé put Sora, Donald, and Goofy to sleep for a year and lost their memories of their time in Castle Oblivion.
During these events, Riku found himself in the basement of the castle and travels up the first floor with the help of King Mickey. He fought both the Organization’s members, Vexen, Lexaeus, and Zexion, and the darkness in his heart, accepting his fate between light and darkness. Partnering with the enigmatic DiZ, Riku helps him to keep Sora and Naminé until the former reawakened.
However, he was to go after a boy known as Roxas, the thirteenth member of the Organization, to help his reawakening. Roxas, having left the Organization earlier after doubting their plans and desiring to meet Sora himself, encountered Riku and defeated him easily, but Riku succumbed to the darkness within him and took on the appearance of Ansem. With his new powers, Riku subdued Roxas and took him to DiZ, but the battle left him stuck in the form of Ansem. With the plan successful, DiZ ordered Riku to eliminate Naminé, but refused, instead letting her go with Axel, who went rogue on Marluxia and chose to aid Sora in Castle Oblivion and was Roxas’s best friend.
Seven days later, Sora, Donald, and Goofy awakened in Twilight Town, with no memory of their time at Castle Oblivion, and resumed their search for Riku and King Mickey. Along the way, they learn of the Nobodies and were re-familiarized with their leaders, Organization XIII, which now holds Xemnas, Xigbar, Xaldin, Saïx, Luxord, and Demyx. The trio once more traveled throughout various worlds to resolve their troubles caused not just by Maleficent and her new assistant Pete, but also the Organization, with the latter kidnapping Kairi.
They meet with the King, who revealed that the “Ansem” Sora destroyed was actually the Heartless of Xehanort, who, sometime after being taken in by Ansem the Wise, betrayed his master and stole his name, with the true Ansem being missing ever since, while also learning that Xemnas, the leader of the Organization, is the Nobody of Xehanort.
The quartet arrived at the headquarters of the Organization, The World That Never Was, with their counterfeit Kingdom Hearts floating overhead, made from the Heartless Sora had destroyed. Sora and his friends then stormed the Castle That Never Was, where he defeated all the members while finally reuniting with Kairi and Riku, who revealed that Roxas was the Nobody of Sora, as well as Naminé being the Nobody of Kairi, with Roxas being captured by Riku willingly taking the form of Ansem, so he could be defeated and absorbed back into Sora.
During this, Mickey found DiZ, who was revealed to be a disguised Ansem the Wise, using a device that digitized some of Kingdom Hearts’ power. As the others arrived, the Kingdom Hearts Encoder started overloading and exploded, apparently killing Ansem and restored Riku to his original state, with the darkness of Ansem being eradicated from his heart. At the top of the castle, Sora and his friends battle Xemnas, who used the remnants of Kingdom Hearts to fight them. Refusing to accept defeat, Xemnas separated Sora and Riku from the others to fight them in a final fight that ended with his demise. Though trapped in the Realm of Darkness, Sora and Riku were able to return to their world using the Door to Light, which was mysteriously triggered from Sora’s heart.
Later, Mickey sent Sora a letter telling him that he’s the “Key that connects everything,” and that he was to save those connected to his heart from their suffering, specifically Naminé, Xion, a replica of Roxas created by Xemnas as a failsafe in the event Roxas or Sora were useless to the Organization, and Axel, as well as Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. In the Realm of Darkness, Aqua discovered Ansem, who survived the explosion of the Kingdom Hearts Encoder, which sent him there, but has little memories left. He then explained to Aqua about his experiences with Sora, which made her realize that someone will rescue her and her friends.
Sora then made the decision to go out and rescue his predecessors from their fates. But, before he could, Sora and Riku took up Yen Sid’s call to take up a Mark of Mastery exam in preparation of Xehanort’s return. They were to enter the Sleeping Worlds, where they were to find and awaken seven worlds, which were revived following Ansem’s defeat but remained submerged in sleep, and are to unlock the Keyhole of Sleep. If they were successful, they would become Keyblade Masters.
During this endeavor, they encounter a mysterious young man in a black coat with ties to Xehanort and accompanied by Ansem, Xemnas, and Vanitas, whom they thought were defeated long ago. Sora’s journey led him to the World That Never Was instead of the Realm of Light, where he met Xigbar and the young man, who was revealed to be a younger Xehanort from the past, who was paid a visit via time travel by a disembodied Ansem, who was sent on a mission to travel to different time periods of time to gather various versions of Xehanort to create the True Organization XIII. Sora fought his way to the castle, but was intercepted by Xemnas and ended up with his heart damaged, where he then fell into a coma and was taken to the castle by Young Xehanort. Riku found Sora to the World That Never Was within the Castle That Never Was, where he fought and defeated Young Xehanort, with the help of Mickey.
After the fight, Master Xehanort was finally revived and revealed his intentions: following his failed plan to use the χ-blade to summon Kingdom Hearts by pitting a heart of pure light against one of pure darkness, he has learned a new way to forge the χ-blade, because years before, after the Keyblade War, the χ-blade was shattered into thirteen darknesses and seven lights, and if Xehanort created an Organization out of thirteen incarnations of himself, he’ll be able to recreate the χ-blade and start a new Keyblade War. As he was about to make Sora the thirteenth and final vessel for the Organization, Lea, Donald, and Goofy arrived to help Riku and Mickey, and Xehanort was forced to retreat with Young Xehanort, Ansem, Xemnas, Xigbar, Saïx, and his six hooded vessels.
Riku then brought Sora’s comatose body back to Yen Sid, where he dives into Sora’s Dive to the Heart and collected fragments of Sora’s shattered heart, in the process battling a corrupted Sora himself and winning. Riku succeeded in awakening Sora, but Yen Sid only named Riku as a Keyblade Master for his efforts. Undeterred by his failure, Sora congratulated Riku and departed to do training and resume his search for Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. Lea, meanwhile, shocked everyone by summoning his own Keyblade, something he just mastered and was unable to use against the Organization. Riku’s first act as the Keyblade Master was to bring Kairi to Yen Sid so she can undergo training with her Keyblade and be the seventh light to counter Xehanort’s Organization XIII.
While Kairi and Lea were training to use their Keyblades, Sora traveled to the Radiant Gardens, where he found Terra in Ansem the Wise’s study, discovering that Xehanort’s darkness, as well as his own, has been cleansed from his heart. With his help, they traveled to the Realm of Darkness and discovered Aqua with Ansem the Wise. After returning Ansem to his lab thus restoring most of his memories and dedicating himself to helping out Sora and his companions, they set off for Castle Oblivion, where Aqua led them to the Chamber of Waking, where Ventus’s comatose body was resting. After Sora returned Ventus’s heart to him and reawakened, they then set off for the final battle, again in the Keyblade Graveyard.
Sora then revealed a special ability. After taking Mickey’s Keyblade, Sora used his own Keyblade to absorb the seven lights from himself, Kairi, Riku, Lea, Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, while using Mickey’s Keyblade to absorb the thirteen darknesses from Xehanort and his Organization which had a new vessel whose identity was never revealed. By combining both of these Keyblades together, he formed the most ultimate weapon of all: the χ-blade.
By using its power to unlock Kingdom Hearts, he granted three wishes: his first wish, bring Master Eraqus back to life. His second wish, that Xehanort’s younger self was never meant to meet with Ansem, so that way, the True Organization XIII would never come to pass. And his third and final wish, Sora had the power to defeat Master Xehanort in order to cleanse the Realm of Light from his hurt. With the power of Kingdom Hearts surging through his body, he destroyed Master Xehanort.
With the Realm of Light now free and Master Eraqus reunited with his students and some new ones, he announced that his disciples, the Seven Guardians of Light, will travel the Realm of Light, finding new worlds to cleanse from the darkness, to boldly go where no Keyblade wielder has gone before.
Princess Celestia explained her reasons for knowing about the Keyblade in the first place. It began two years after the final battle against Xehanort, which she explained was a thousand years in Equestrian time. When Xehanort and his Organization came to Equestria, he promised everypony a land with a perfect balance of light and darkness. But then came his treachery, where he commanded a legion of Heartless and Nobodies all over the land, fused an innocent dragon and pony into Discord, a draconequus with chaos and disharmony within his heart, transformed a legion of Heartless into changelings, led by their leader, Queen Chrysalis, and discovered a crystal filled with darkness and filled it with life, creating King Sombra and his tyrannical rule over the Crystal Empire. Overmatched and outnumbered, the inhabitants thought their subjugation to Xehanort and his vessels would be all but certain.
But, before the final battle between the Guardians and the Organization, Celestia and Luna discovered the Elements of Harmony in the heart of Equestria, having the power to cleanse the world of evil and chaos, as well as having the power to let the wielders of the Elements to summon one of the most powerful Keyblades in the Realm of Light: the Way to Harmony. With these new powers, they exterminated the Heartless and Nobodies invading Equestria, sealed Discord in stone, banished Queen Chrysalis and her changeling hive to the Lanes Between, and sealed King Sombra within the ice. In one final act to help Equestria light their darkest hour, they then used the Elements against Xehanort and his Organization, but Xehanort wouldn't leave without a fight. By using his darkness as well as the darkness of his thirteenth vessel, who was revealed to be Vanitas, they fired an arrow of darkness as soon as the Elements banished them from Equestria. This arrow pierced Princess Luna in the chest, but wasn’t lethal and dissipated upon impact. This would go unnoticed for quite some time.
It was only then that Xehanort and Vanitas’s darkness was starting to affect Luna, because as time went on, she has grown resentful of her subjects enjoying her sister’s day but slept through her beautiful night. By this point, the darkness within Luna’s heart had transformed her into a Heartless, Nightmare Moon. Celestia then realized that this must’ve been the work of Xehanort and Vanitas, as she knew that the real Luna would never turn traitor to her own kind. She then called upon the Elements to eradicate the darkness within Luna. But, she discovered that they’ll respond to all wielders, and with only Celestia, she can’t summon the Way to Harmony. Luckily, she saw a message within the Elements telling her that new wielders will restore Luna and be the new protectors of harmony, but it will be a thousand years before then. So, using her final moments with the Elements, she used them to seal Nightmare Moon within the moon of Equestria for a thousand years, until the Elements’ Awakening to the new Bearers.
When that time came, Twilight and her friends used the power of the Elements to erase the darkness caused by Xehanort and Vanitas, restoring her to her original form and reunited with her sister once more.
However, because control of the Elements was transferred to Twilight and her friends, Celestia and Luna’s prior sealing spells were beginning to weaken. Discord was released to resume his mission to cover chaos all over the land, but not before taking the artifacts and hiding them. Twilight and her friends then searched high and low, but her friends met their fates upon coming into contact with Discord’s treachery: Applejack becoming a liar, Pinkie Pie growing hateful, Fluttershy becoming cruel, Rarity’s greed consuming her, Rainbow Dash becoming selfish, and Twilight giving up on her friends. But, when the Princess sent back Twilight’s letters, reminding her how much friendship meant to her, Twilight broke Discord’s grip on her friends by using a memory spell and together once more, they used the Elements to seal Discord in stone once more.
However, Celestia had the feeling that his heart may be reformed for the better and his magic be used for good, so she tasked the ponies with reforming Discord, with Fluttershy actually treating her as a friend. But, Discord was still generating chaos behind her back, thus leading her to say that she was no longer his friend. At this, he realized the meaning of friendship, something Xehanort forgot to give him upon his creation, and undid his tricks and renounced his evil ways, now serving as the assistant to the Princesses.
Later, Queen Chrysalis and her changeling minions invaded Canterlot to feed off the love of ponies, starting with the Queen impersonating Princess Cadence and feeding off Shining Armor’s love. Eventually, she and her army were removed from the capital of Equestria by the love of Cadence and Shining Armor.
Upon landing in a land filled with love, Chrysalis and her subjects fed the love out of their inhabitants and transformed the land to suit their needs. The Queen then hatched a plan to drain Twilight of her magic as soon as the Secretariat Comet flies overhead. Upon fillynapping the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the Bearers of Harmony traveled to the Changeling Kingdom to a final showdown. Using the effects of the Comet, Twilight used the magical surge to defeat Chrysalis and keep her trapped with an impossible riddle while being guarded by Pinkie Pie's costume.
Following her defeat, Twilight and her friends were plagued by nightmares for days until Rarity was taken by one of them. It was revealed that the Nightmare forces from Nightmare Moon's former rule plan to retake Equestria, but needed a new ruler to do it. Upon corrupting Rarity, they made her into their new queen, Nightmare Rarity, who appeared to lose all traces of her former self. However, upon revealing the deceit brought upon by the Nightmares, Twilight and her friends were able to bring back Rarity and stop the Nightmares.
When King Sombra had returned, he planned to retake the Crystal Empire and reshape it into his own image, resuming Xehanort’s legacy of consuming Equestria into darkness. However, Twilight had discovered the Crystal Heart at the top of the Crystal Palace. But, the King, determined to finish what Xehanort had started, trapped Twilight in a wall of dark crystals. Spike was able to deliver the Crystal Heart to Cadence at the last second the Empire was to be consumed by the darkness. With the joy and happiness surging from the Crystal Ponies to the Heart, its power destroyed the King and his effects on the Empire, with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor becoming the new monarchs of the Empire.
When they discovered that the Heartless were starting to invade not just Equestria, but various other worlds once more, Celestia and Luna sent a letter to the Land of Departure, asking Master Eraqus and the Seven Guardians of Light to come to Canterlot to meet up with the Bearers of Harmony. And with that, the Guardian’s and Princesses’ backstories and their reasons for their knowledge of the Keyblade, the Heartless, as well as Kingdom Hearts, have come to an end.
“…And now that you know what’s going on,” Celestia concluded. “We thought we might bestow you with another task for Equestria, nay, the entire Realm of Light.”
“What is this task?” Twilight asked her teacher. Twilight was previously asked to help out Shining Armor and Princess Cadence in saving the Crystal Empire, but referred to it as a test.
“Many new worlds, including this one, haven’t had their Keyholes sealed up yet,” the Princess explained.
“As I told you before,” Luna continued for her. “The Keyhole contains the heart of a world. Should the Heartless find the Keyhole and corrupt that heart, the world will be completely cast into darkness.”
“I want you, the Thirteen Warriors of Light and Harmony, as well as Shining Armor and Princess Cadence, to travel to these worlds and seal the Keyholes,” Celestia instructed.
“Princess, we shall not fail you,” Twilight announced.
“I know you won’t,” the Princess assured her. “I know that you, your friends, your new allies, as well as your respective weapons will cleanse the Realm of Light.”
“Come on, everybody and pony,” Twilight told her friends and allies. “Let’s go save the Realm of Light!” With that, the Thirteen Warriors of Light and Harmony and the Crystal Rulers set off on their journey to save the Realm of Light, but not before running in the opposite direction. “…Right after we get on the train to Ponyville,” Twilight remarked underneath her breath. After departing, Master Eraqus turned to the Princesses.
“Are you certain that the Bearers of Harmony have the Light within to stop the Darkness?” he asked.
“We’ve never been certain of anything in our lives,” Luna responded. “Besides, all of this will make her ready for her legacy.”
As soon as they arrived at the station, Twilight purchased a ticket for Ponyville, but remembered the Flowmotion ability the mysterious boy taught her and her friends.
“Everybody and pony, we must twirl around these lampposts if we are to return to Ponyville,” said Twilight. “I just keep forgetting that the trains are so slow.” Indeed, she disposed of the ticket and her friends twirled on the lampposts and launched off for Ponyville. As soon as they arrived, Sora had a suprised look on his face.
"Let me guess: you learned Flowmotion from Neku, didn't you?" he asked.
"Wow, you're good at guessing," said Pinkie.
"Wait, who's Neku?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"He's a boy who has spiky blond hair and wears headphones," Sora explaned. Twilight immediately remembered that he was the one who taught her Flowmotion.
"Yes, we saw him two times now and left without looking back," she mentioned. "He said that he was looking for his Game Partner, but we don't know who. Well, now that we’re back, let’s head to the library to gather the Elements of Harmony,” said Twilight.
“I thought they were in the Canterlot Tower,” said a suddenly confused Applejack.
“The Princess left the Elements with me in the event Discord would turn again, remember?” asked Twilight.
“Oh, right,” Applejack realized. As soon as the group traveled into the town square, they saw an innocent girl under attack by Soldiers, Heartless creatures wearing the clothing of a knight. Sora then called forth his Keyblade and destroyed the troops with hearts coming out of their bodies and soaring into the sky.
“What just happened?” asked Rarity.
“That’s what happens when you destroy an Emblem Heartless,” replied Lea.
“What’s an Emblem Heartless?” asked Spike.
“Heartless are separated into two types: Pureblood and Emblem,” Sora explained. “Purebloods are Heartless who are born from the natural darkness within hearts and don’t release hearts upon their destruction. Emblems are Heartless who have captured a heart and will release it when they are destroyed.”
“So,” Lea concluded. “Purebloods don’t release hearts, but Emblems do. Got it memorized?”
“Got it,” Spike said, after writing down notes on the two breeds of Heartless. They then approached the girl and helped her up off the ground.
"Are you alright, Shiki?" asked Riku.
"Wait, who are you?" asked Twilight. She was confused by the name Riku just gave to the girl and wanted to clarify.
"I'm Shiki Misaki," said the girl.
"Well, why're you here gettin' chased by those doggone Heartless?" asked Applejack.
"I'm trying to find my Game Partner, Neku Sakuraba," the girl explained, showing the Warriors the palm of her hand, displaying a time limit, similar to Neku's.
"We saw him before, two times actually," Fluttershy said. "But he just left us without another word."
"You should get used to him, unfortunately," Shiki said. "I'm trying to get him to open up."
"Well, now that we found you, you should stick with us until we find Neku," said Princess Cadence.
"Alright," said Shiki. And with that, they have a new ally in their team, though this would be temporary until they find Neku again.
Upon arriving at the Golden Oaks Library, Twilight opened a special chest in her study to reveal the Elements of Harmony.
“What’s so special about those artifacts?” asked Terra.
“They have the power to rid chaos and evil from Equestria, remember?” Twilight said. “We’re also the ones who currently control them. You see, when we went into the Everfree Forest to find the Elements and stop Nightmare Moon from covering Equestria in eternal darkness, I discovered that my companions ARE the Elements of Harmony.” Twilight then levitated them and gave each Element to her friends while calling it out.
"Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the Element of HONESTY.” She then placed the Element of Honesty on Applejack, which is a gold necklace with an orange and green apple-shaped gem, which looks similar to her cutie mark.
“Fluttershy, who tamed a manticore with her compassion, represents the Element of KINDNESS.” She then placed the Element of Kindness on Fluttershy, which is the same gold necklace, but its gem is of a pink butterfly, much like her cutie mark.
“Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the Element of LAUGHTER.” She then placed the Element of Laughter on Pinkie, which is the same gold necklace, instead with a gem of a blue balloon, like her cutie mark.
“Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful sea serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the Element of GENEROSITY.” She then placed the Element of Generosity on Rarity, which is the same gold necklace, yet has a purple diamond-shaped gem, also like her cutie mark.
“And Rainbow Dash, who couldn’t abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the Element of LOYALTY.” She then placed the Element of Loyalty on Rainbow, which is the same gold necklace, except it has a red gem in the shape of a thunderbolt, which bears a similar resemblance to her cutie mark. “These five traits of friendship helped us overcome every challenge Nightmare Moon put us up against.”
“But this book I just found while you were monologuing says that there were five Elements originally, and that the sixth was a mystery,” Shiki mentioned, looking up a book on the Elements. “How were you able to find the sixth?”
“It was with a special spark that ignited within me when I realized that these five girls…are my friends,” Twilight explained. At that moment, Twilight then brought the sixth Element close to her head, which, unlike her friends’ other Elements, is in the form of a gold tiara with a magenta gem in the shape of a star, which is similar to her cutie mark. “You see, Shiki, when the Elements were ignited by the spark that resided in the heart of all of us, it created the sixth Element: the Element of…MAGIC!” She then placed the Element of Magic on top of her head, and just like that, the Bearers of Harmony revealed their purpose to the Guardians. “And with all the Elements together, we have the power to save Equestria from chaos and tyranny.”
“Well, now that we have the artifacts you needed,” Sora said. Let’s go and save the Realm of Light!”
“Wait!” Ventus said. Rainbow was visibly annoyed about their mission being delayed and kept in her annoyance.
“What is it, Ven?” asked Riku.
“They need their Keyblade Armor,” Ventus replied.
“What is Keyblade Armor?” asked Rarity. Being a fasionista, she thought it might sound stylish and comfortable.
“We’re going to travel to various world by using the Lanes Between,” Aqua explained. “And the presence of darkness in the Lanes is so strong; I just don’t want your hearts to be stained with darkness. The Keyblade Armor has special properties to protect you from such darkness.”
“How do we get this fancy armor?” asked Applejack.
“Summon your Keyblades,” Ven instructed. Indeed they did, and after they’ve been summoned, they saw pauldrons fall to the floor, similar to how Shining Armor and Cadence found their Keyblade Armor. After the Bearers put the pauldrons on their shoulders and pressed them, they were suddenly sealed in their Keyblade Armor.
“Whoa!” Twilight was surprised by the Armor’s sudden appearance.
“Wait, how am I going to chronicle everything that happens if I don’t have something that protects me from the Lanes Between?” asked Spike.
“I read that a dragon’s scales are impenetrable to anything,” Twilight explained. “I think you’ll be fine.”
“Alright, now that we have our Keyblade Armor, let’s get this show on the road!” said an anxious Rainbow Dash. Suddenly, they heard a scream.
“It’s coming from Sweet Apple Acres,” said Applejack. “C’mon, let’s get this rodeo started.”
After arriving at Sweet Apple Acres, they saw Big McIntosh and Granny Smith and their apple orchards under attack by creatures that looked nothing like a Heartless, Pureblood nor Emblem.
“What are those things?” asked Cadence. “They’re unlike the Heartless we’ve fought earlier.”
“Those are Floods,” Ven explained. “And sadly, you’re right. They’re neither Heartless nor Nobodies. They are part of a race known as Unversed. But, I don’t get it. I thought the Unversed were eradicated after Vanitas returned to my heart.”
“Let’s talk about this later,” said Applejack. My family’s in danger.” As they were about to destroy the Floods, the creatures were suddenly struck down by a mysterious swordsman and four mysterious hooded ponies with Keyblades of their own, all of which looked the same.
“Who are you?” asked Pinkie.
“I’m Cloud,” said the swordsman. “And these are my secret Keyblade Warriors. And we shall meet again.” And with that, the four Secret Keyblade Warriors jumped away.
“Those characters are just as mysterious as Neku,” Twilight pondered. “Okay, now we can save the various worlds from the Heartless.” With that, they created a portal to the Lanes Between, donned their Keyblade Armor, and transformed their Keyblades into Keyblade Gliders, and with that, they began the first chapter of their new adventure.
The Warriors and Rulers arrived at their first new world after travelling through the Lanes Between. The first sign they saw was an actual sign that read: “WELCOME TO JASPER, NEVADA!”
“This is quite the city,” Applejack noted, looking at the expanse of the town over the horizon. “The only way we can find the Keyhole to this world is if we split up. When someone or somepony finds the Keyhole, we’ll use our Wayfinders to regroup.”
“Are you sure about that?” asked Fluttershy. Because she was in a new place, she may be confused or frightened by the new sights and characters.
“I’m afraid we’re gonna have to go with AJ on this one,” said Kairi. “This town is already big as is.”
"You guys go on," said Shiki. "I've gotta try and find Neku."
“Sounds good to me,” Twilight admitted. "Just try to be careful. Let’s begin to save the Realm of Light.” They then began to join hands and hooves together.
“In 5-4-3-2…” said Sora. They then raised them high in the air while saying a heroic catchphrase.
“We could’ve planned that better,” Rainbow Dash remarked. The group and Shiki then set off for different parts of the city, unaware that they are being followed by three muscle cars in a purple paint job, emblazoned with a demonic symbol…
Shiki then walked to a restaurant known as KO Drive-In where she saw a blue motorcycle with a futuristic looking design. She was simply awestruck by the complexity of the design.
Whoa! thought Shiki. I've seen cool motorcycles back in Shibuya, but never have I seen such a 'cycle with such a look. She then took a look around. I think the owner won't mind if I borrow this for a test drive. As she got on the motorcycle, she noticed that the interface is unlike the others in her hometown. Suddenly, she was blinded by the headlights of two of the three purple cars following them. The motorcycle suddenly jumpstarted and roared away from the cars with Shiki in tow.
Meanwhile, while the Warriors were walking towards a highway bridge, the third purple car started following them from behind. Suddenly, Pinkie has the feeling they were being followed.
“What is it, darling?” asked Rarity.
“I don’t know,” Pinkie replied. “But it feels like somebody or somepony… Here she turned around. “…WANTS TO SELL US SOMETHING!” The car that was following them was nowhere to be found.
“I think you should tone down the parties you throw all the time,” Rainbow Dash suggested. “They’re making you tense.” They then resumed walking.
“He told you she would be onto you,” said a voice from the car’s commlink. The car didn’t listen as it resumed following the ponies. Pinkie got the feeling again and turned around. She then resumed walking but at a faster pace, requiring her friends to keep up. The car then caught up and Pinkie stopped once more and at this, she can't take it anymore.
“WE’RE NOT INTERESTED IN ANYTHING YOU’RE SELLING!!!” She then galloped off, with her friends trying to catch up. They then encountered the motorcycle carrying Shiki, now accompanied by a green truck and a yellow car and stopped to meet up with her. The cars that were following the Warriors then caught up with them and suddenly transformed into giant, terrifying robots, causing Fluttershy to give a frightened squeak. The three vehicles that saved Sora and his friends then transformed into robots as well, engaging the purple robots in combat.
“What in tarnation are those?” Applejack asked.
“Cars that transform into robots,” Riku replied. “Or the other way around.” After the yellow robot was beaten back, he accidentally stepped onto Rainbow Dash's wing. The damage wasn't too bad, but the temporary damage left her grounded. He looked at the ponies awkwardly and said something in incomprehensible buzzing.
“Oh, it’s no big deal,” said Fluttershy, somehow able to understand the robot’s way of speaking.
Suddenly, the yellow robot was hit by a beam of light. This beam came from a Surveillance Robot, an Emblem Heartless, where the Warriors and Autobots discovered it was being controlled by the purple robots.
“Normally, other beings can’t control Heartless,” Lea pondered. “Why them?”
“Never mind that,” said Rainbow Dash, shrugging it off. “Let’s dominate that Heartless and those robots.” The Warriors then drew out their Keyblades and engaged their targets, destroying them easily.
“I think it’s for the best that you stick with us for a little bit,” said the blue robot.
“But we’re supposed to find the Keyhole—“ Twilight began but was interrupted.
“Look,” the green robot began. “This may be hard to understand, but, not only are you the Saviors of Light Optimus Prime told us about, but you are one of the few, one of the only few, who have actually seen us.”
“Hey, Shiki!” said a familiar voice. “Where were you and what are those things you’re talking to?” This came from Neku, having finally found her partner. The yellow Autobot then buzzed in annoyance.
“He said ‘scrap,’ in case you were wondering,” Fluttershy translated.
The Warriors, Rulers, and robots were then on the road to their base. “I never knew that these things could transform into cars,” Neku remarked.
“Why are they coming with us?” asked Ven.
“Rules,” the blue robot replied. They then entered the base, which was in the form of a typical desert rock formation. Inside the base, they saw expansive technology, as well as a white robot who looks like he could turn into an ambulance.
“I thought there were thirteen,” the white robot noted.
“Haven’t you heard?” asked the blue robot. “Ponies multiply.”
“Well, if you’re robots,” Kairi pondered. “Who made you?”
“Whoa, déjà vu,” said the green robot. Suddenly, they were approached by a red and blue robot who looks like he could transform into a truck.
“I am Optimus Prime,” said the red and blue robot, then gesturing to the rest of his team. “And these are Ratchet, Bumblebee Bulkhead, and Arcee, and we are Autonomous Robotic Organisms from the planet Cybertron, also known as Autobots.”
“Well, why are you on this world?” asked Twilight.
“To protect it from the Decepticons,” Optimus replied.
“The ones who tried to kill you before,” Arcee reminded them.
“Well, why are they here?” asked Shining Armor.
“A fair question, Shining Armor,” said Optimus. “In part, they’re here because our planet is uninhabitable, ravaged by years of civil war.”
“Well, why were you fighting like bulls being taken by the horns?” asked Applejack.
“Yeah, why didn’t you settle this like civilized robots?” asked Rarity.
“For one reason,” Optimus replied. “For control of our world’s supply of Energon, the fuel, ammunition, and lifeblood of our race, both Autobots and Decepticons alike. “In the beginning, I fought alongside someone whom I considered a friend, but in war ideals can be corrupted, and it was then that Megatron lost his way.”
“Looks like you’ll be doing a research paper on the Cybertronian War,” Spike remarked, having taken notes on the Cybertronians and their history on the War.
“So, why are you involving us?” asked Aqua.
“Usually, this is a conflict between us,” Optimus answered. “But, if the Heartless are involved, as I suspect, it may be catastrophic.”
Meanwhile, at a location where Energon is being mined, Starscream, a Decepticon who was overseeing the process, was approached by Megatron.
“Starscream,” the leader of the Decepticons began. “I have been scouring a different world and I discovered someone who has the ability to create this.” He then fetched out a crystal which is black as night. “Behold, Starscream, for this is Black Energon.”
“It’s been fortold in the Entries of Iacon that it’s the complete opposite to the Blood of Unicron,” Starscream noted. “For it has the power to transform us into Heartless.”
“Yes,” Megatron confirmed. “And I brought along someone to test it out.” Two Vehicons then approached Megatron with a gurney holding a restrained Cliffjumper, one of the Autobots. Then, a mysterious figures in a black coat, stepped in toward Megatron and Starscream.
“Consider it, a test subject of my new ability,” the figure said in a villainous tone…
“…And now that you know about what’s going on,” Optimus concluded. “We have no doubts that Megatron may be targeting you in order to stop you from sealing the Keyhole to this world.”
“Actually, we were looking around this world to find it,” Lea began. “So, I think we should take our leave and resume our search.”
“Please,” Optimus begged. “You should stay with us so we can protect you and help you in your search.”
“Alright, you can help us out,” said Twilight. “I mean, the more the merrier.” Suddenly, they were startled by a mysterious alarm.
“What in tarnation is that!?” asked Applejack. Bumblebee buzzed something in response.
“Proximity sensor,” Fluttershy translated. “Someone’s at both entrances.”
“It’s Jack and June Darby, alongside Miko, Raf, and Agent Fowler,” Ratchet monitored.
“I thought we were the only ones to know about you,” Sora said.
“Jack Darby, Miko Nakadai, and Rafael Esquivel are our human allies and are guarded by Arcee, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee, respectively,” Optimus explained.
“June Darby is the mother of Jack and Special Agent William Fowler is our designated liaison between the outside world, visiting only when there are issues. It’s probably for the better that you don’t meet them at this time.” The Warriors and Rulers followed Optimus’ wish and found a safe hiding spot from their human allies.
“Optimus, we need your help and we don’t know who else to turn to,” said June. “My son and his friends were under attack by creatures that look black in nature.”
“Those creatures are known as Heartless,” Optimus explained. “Heartless are creatures whose hearts have succumbed to the darkness and seek out other hearts to consume. And now, they are trying to corrupt this world as well.”
“Well, how does that explain how an eyewitness saw seven other civilians with eight multicolored equines playing with swords shaped like keys fighting alongside a motorcycle and truck of unknown make and model and a black and yellow custom muscle car?” asked Agent Fowler. As the Autobots’ liaison, he wants to make sure that the Autobot-Decepticon conflict is kept away from public eyes.
“Those are wielders of the legendary Keyblade, the key-shaped weapon meant to save this world and others from darkness. They are here to seal the Keyhole to this world, which contains the heart of the world," Optimus continued. "Should the Heartless consume that heart, that world would be destroyed, forever lost to the darkness. And if the Heartless are under the command of the Decepticons, they may no doubt use them for their own dire agenda.”
Meanwhile, Cliffjumper tried to escape his restraints, to no avail. Megatron then approached him with the shard of Black Energon.
“Behold, Autobot,” Megatron said in a menacing tone. “The power of BLACK ENERGON!” He then thrusted the crystal into Cliffjumper’s spark chamber and at that very moment, he lost his spark and suddenly transformed into a murky creature having the same features as the Pureblood Heartless, but cybernetic. He then dissolved from his restraints and consumed a Vehicon’s spark, transforming that Decepticon into a Cybertronian Heartless and the captured spark transforming the Sparkless of Cliffjumper into an Emblem Sparkless.
“That’s what he told you, your Highness?” Starscream asked the hooded figure. “Transform Autobots into Heartless so they can take our sparks?”
“That is no longer an Autobot,” said the hooded figure. “It’s now a Sparkless, which has the same goal as the Heartless, but consume the sparks of others. Now you see the effects of my power. And now that Cliffjumpers spark signature is now offline, as Lord Megatron predicted, the Warriors, as well as the Autobots, will come.”
Back at the base, the Autobots’ computer beeped as something disappeared from the screen.
“This computer needs to be fixed,” Ratchet grumbled.
“What is it now, DocBot?” asked Bulkhead.
“Cliffjumpers life signal just went offline, BUT his Energon signal remains, albeit corrupted,” said Ratchet.
“Ratchet, you got to send us to him, make sure he’s alright,” Arcee begged.
“Alright, I’ll type in his Energon coordinates,” Ratchet assured. He then typed in something and pulled a lever. On the very end of the Autobot base, something whirred and a circular tunnel with no end started glowing.
“Ratchet, prepare the sick bay,” Optimus requested. “We may need it. Warriors, come out. We need all the help we can get.” The Warriors and Rulers exchanged glances, knowing what would happen if the human allies saw them. Reluctantly, they got out of their hiding spot to approach the Autobots.
“Harboring ponies!?” Agent Fowler said in a shocked tone. “Team Prime has seriously derailed this time around. Wait, don’t tell me. Now you own a petting zoo?” Bumblebee buzzed something to the Warriors and Rulers.
“He says to summon our Keyblades to make him understand why we’re here,” Fluttershy translated. Indeed, the fifteen Keyblade wielders summoned their Keyblades.
“Okay, can someone explain what’s going on?” asked Jack.
“These are the Thirteen Warriors of Light and Harmony,” Optimus said, gesturing to the aforementioned Keyblade wielders. “And these are the Crystal Rulers.” He then gestured to Princess Cadence and Shining Armor. “They are here to help us with the Decepticons and the Heartless. Please understand this, Agent Fowler: they are our best, possibly only, hope against the latter threat.”
“Very well then, Prime,” Agent Fowler complied. “Just remember to keep your actions under the radar.”
“Alright, let’s go rescue this Cliffjumper you speak of,” Shining Armor said in determination.
“Shining Armor, I said the Warriors would help us out, nothing more,” Optimus said to him. “But you and Princess Cadence shall serve as our communications and transportation hub. Autobots and Warriors, roll out!” The Autobots transformed into their respective vehicle modes and drove, while the Warriors ran alongside them, and in an instant, they disappeared within the vortex.
“What happened to them?” Shining Armor asked. He wanted to make sure his little sister and her friends were alright. “I transported them to their designated location via the Ground Bridge,” Ratchet explained.
“What’s a Ground Bridge?” Princess Cadence then asked.
“It’s only a scaled down version of Space Bridge technology," explained Ratchet. "Since we don’t have the means or the Energon needed for interstellar travel…”
“They’re stuck here on Earth,” Raf finished. “Yes, but I made the Ground Bridge from scratch and can allow travel from here to anywhere on Earth.” “Well, that’s quite the ride,” Shiki commented. "Do you think you can reset it to send me and Neku back to Shibuya?" "Alright, if you say so," said Ratchet. He then typed in the coordinates for Shibuya and the Ground Bridge started glowing again.
"Shining Armor, tell Twilight that if she wants to see us again, tell her to visit us in Shibuya one day," said Shiki. Shining Armor nodded his head in agreement and with that, Neku and Shiki went through the portal back to their hometown.
Meanwhile, the Autobots and Warriors arrived at the Energon mine where the Decepticons are currently mining Energon crystals.
“So, this is the Energon mine you told us about,” Applejack noticed. “And the ‘Cons are mining the Energon like buckin’ apples off their trees.”
“Let’s keep it down while we search for Cliffjumper,” Twilight suggested. “Optimus did say that Autobots and their comrades move swiftly and-this goes for you too, Pinkie-silently.” All of a sudden, Surveillance Robots and Hot Rods, a car-shaped Emblem Heartless, appeared, impeding the Energon harvest. Pinkie gasped at the sight.
“This is terrible,” Pinkie said in shock. “A Heartless like that shouldn’t be in a cave. It should be on the road.” Twilight and her friends then glanced at her.
“Alright, let’s break this down,” Twilight instructed. “There are too many enemies to fight so we’re going to split up into separate groups. Autobots, you handle your enemies while we handle ours. Thirteen Warriors of Light and Harmony, summon your Keyblades and keep your light burning strong!”
“Are you sure you have thirteen Keyblade wielders?” Spike asked. Twilight counted her comrades and discovered that Rainbow Dash was missing.
“Where’s Rainbow Dash?” she asked. They then heard laser blasts and saw that Rainbow was already trying to find Cliffjumper, while slicing her way through Heartless and Vehicon troopers.
“That’s Rainbow Dash for those ruffians,” said Rarity in an annoyed tone. “Let’s try to catch up with her and find Cliffjumper.” She then got out and was nearly blasted by laser until she decked back. She had a frightened look on her face, like she nearly had her life flash before her eyes. “But first, let’s deal with the Heartless and Decepticons,” she reassured her friends.
Meanwhile in another part of the caves, Megatron was walking alongside the Decepticon physician Knock Out and his partner Breakdown.
“So, what do you think of our new recruit?” asked Megatron.
“Well, I like how he uses his powers to create his own form of Energon out of nothing,” Knock Out admired. “But who is he, really?”
“His name is—“ Megatron was cut off by laser sounds coming from the tunnel of the caves. The Heartless and Vehicons were running away from Rainbow Dash, who was already flying around for Cliffjumper. “What in the pits of Kaon is that!?” Megatron was bewildered at the sight of a colorful flying pony that he demanded answers.
“It must be one of those Keyblade wielders he told us about,” Breakdown responded. Knowing Megatron, he wants to make sure he’s obeyed, or else.
“Well, in that case, take that thing down!” Megatron commanded. Breakdown then brought out his trusty shoulder gun and aimed it at Rainbow, who already discovered Cliffjumper and was about to use her Wayfinder to summon her friends to her, but was knocked out of the sky by Breakdown’s gun, plummeting her to the ground until she was caught and held captive by some awaiting Vehicons.
“What are you, flying pony?” Megatron asked.
“Well, for one thing, you must be Megatron, leader of the Decepticons,” Rainbow said. “Weird, I thought you’d be taller.” Megatron was infuriated by this comment and was about to kill her until Twilight Sparkle’s Keyblade hit the Vehicon holding her captive, causing him to release his grip on her, resulting in Megatron killing his own lackey instead.
“Don’t fire upon them,” said a mysterious voice. It came from the hooded figure, who jumped off a platform to greet the Warriors and Autobots. “So, you have the decency to look me in the eye, after taking MY Empire from me?” Twilight remembered the sound of his voice and the emphasis on ‘my.’
“King Sombra?” Twilight suspected. Indeed, when the figure removed his hood, he was indeed King Sombra, indicated by his curved horn and purple mist emanating from the corners of his eyes.
“Surprised?” asked the evil king. “Thought you’d never see me again, hm?”
“You-you’re behind this attack?” Twilight asked.
“Of course,” Sombra replied. “You didn’t think that the Blood of Unicron had the power to create Heartless. It only has the power to bring Autobots and Decepticons back to life as undead Terrorcons.”
“But, you-you died,” Twilight noted. “We were there. We saw it happen!”
“Well, not quite dead,” Sombra assured her. “Let’s just say that after your brother and his wife overthrew me—“
“Overthrew you?” asked a bewildered Twilight. “They—“
“OVERTHREW ME,” Sombra boomed, angered that he was interrupted. “My remnants were discovered by an old friend of Master Xehanort, who reconstructed me with a new magic spell, one that allows me to create Heartless from scratch.”
“You died. The blast from the Crystal Heart killed you,” Twilight continued. “You weren’t able to escape its power. You can’t be King Sombra.”
“I assure you I am,” the King said.
“A pony of royalty would never turn traitor to his own kind!” Twilight shouted.
“Well, it’s amazing how things change that way,” Sombra said. “Once I was the King of the Crystal Empire, now I am one of the few who can command the whole of the Heartless.”
“You’re delusional!” Twilight gritted between her teeth.
“Maybe,” said the King. “But I shall complete Xehanort’s goal.” “Tell me: why are you here?”
“Cliffjumper!” shouted Arcee, noticing her comrade on one of the makeshift platforms of the Energon harvest.
Arcee, having found her fellow Autobot, used her amazing agility to jump all the way to the platform Cliffjumper was on.
"Come on, Cliff," she said to him. "Let's get you back home." She then noticed that Cliffjumper looked like he was covered in black and purple and saw that his optics glowed yellow instead of their usual blue. He was about to attack his partner until he was struck down and disintegrated in smoke, releasing the spark it took away from the Vehicon. The weapon that destroyed Cliffjumper was actually a Keyblade which appeared as though it wasn't being controlled by anyone until it floated back to King Sombra's side, revealing him as the sole wielder of the weapon.
"By the Allspark, King Sombra," said Optimus Prime, having witnessed this terrible sight. "What have you done?"
"I just transformed your comrade into a special breed of Heartless known as a Sparkless," explained Sombra. "Just be glad it's for the best he was weak, lame, and easy to capture." Suddenly, he defended himself with his Keyblade as Twilight's Keyblade quickly struck his. Twilight then teleported straight towards him and they began an epic duel between each other.
"Why, King Sombra, why!?" shouted Twilight, her Keyblade hitting against Sombra's.
"It's to prove my new power my new master just gave to me," said the King. "But of course, you wouldn't know that, my dear Princess."
"I'm just a regular old unicorn!" said Twilight. "You, Sombra, are just a prisioner of your own dark fantasies." They then separated and the tip of Twilight's Keyblade began to glow with a purple-yellow color.
"What's goin' on with her Keyblade, sugarcube?" Applejack asked Sora.
"She's about to use Ragnarok," said Sora. "It's an intense power he won't be able to escape." As soon as the lights reached a critical peak, Twilight fired away several yellow energy bullets at King Sombra. However, he quickly turned into black smoke and the Ragnarok was instead approaching an Energon crystal.
"Arcee, get down from there!" Bulkhead desperately told Arcee. Indeed, she jumped off the platform and joined with the rest of the Autobots.
"Princess Cadence, open a Ground Bridge now," Optimus Prime said through his commlink. In an instant, the Ground Bridge portal was opened up for the base.
"Don't think this is over, Twilight Sparkle," said King Sombra through his shadowy guise. "We'll meet again within the Chaos-Bringer." He then fled away with Megatron and his fellow Decepticons to the Nemesis, the Decepticon warship. The Warriors and the Autobots then went through the portal just as Twilight's Ragnarok hit one of the Energon crystals, causing a huge explosion that destroyed the entire mining op. The Warriors and Autobots returned to the base, tired and saddened from their mission.
"We heard everything over the commlink," Shining Armor said. "Are you alright, Twily?" Twilight didn't respond. "Don't worry, lil' sis. We're just as shocked as you are."
"I thought he died," Twilight said suddenly.
"Sugarcube?" asked a concerned Applejack.
"I thought the blast of happiness from the Crystal Heart killed King Sombra for good," Twilight continued. "I just don't understand how he came back to life and turned Cliffjumper into something how what the 'Bots looked like during those 'Con experiments during the war."
"Twilight, darling, we--" Rarity was cut off before she could finish.
"I mean, he was cruel to the Crystal Empire before, but I never thought he would go Nightmare Moon," Twilight voice was starting to descend from disbelief to anger. "I just can't believe he would kill one of the Autobots in his own demented way and would call me a Princess even though I don't look anything like an alicorn at all!"
"C'mon, Twi," Rainbow Dash assured her. "He's doing this just to get to your noggin."
"And if that wasn't enough, I even fought him one on one!" Twilight said, her anger having reach its peak. At this, she began screaming to the heavens and started kicking the walls out of frustration. "Why is it that every time I try to do the right thing, it ends up descending into GARBAGE!?!" With her strength, she kicked one of the metal boxes straight at the Ground Bridge control panel, causing it to short out.
"Twilight!" Ratchet said out of frustration. "I needed that!" Twilight didn't care to listen to Ratchet as her anger fell into tears as she started sobbing uncontrollably. Princess Cadence then walked towards Twilight and wrapped her wing around her, holding her close to her chest, hoping it would calm her down. Indeed, she released herself from her former foalsitter's wing and wiped her eyes away from the tears.
"Twilight Sparkle," Optimus Prime began. "We never did intend for this turn of events to happen. But as of this moment, only we five Autobots remain on this soil. We mustn't allow our anguish to cloud our judgement and we must stop King Sombra's plan to create his own army of Heartless and Sparkless for the Decepticons to honor the memory of our fallen comrade."
"A-Arcee?" Twilight asked. It was difficult as she was still recovering from her breakdown.
"If Cliff's gone for good," Arcee said. "There's no use sulking around and letting that twisted monarch get away with it." Rainbow Dash looked around.
"Where's Neku and Shiki?" she asked.
"I used the Ground Bridge to send them back to their hometown of Shibuya," Ratchet replied.
"Shiki said to tell you to visit them one day, if you got the chance," said Jack.
"By the way, what is that Blood of Unicorn the King mentioned?" asked Pinkie Pie. "Even though his magic creates Heartless, why would his blood bring Autobots and Decepticons back to life?"
"Unicron," Bulkhead corrected. "U-N-I-C-R-O-N. He's the one behind a substance known as Dark Energon, the Anti-Spark."
"And this concerns us how?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"A long time ago," Optimus began. "There were two forces that existed when the universe was born: Primus and Unicron. After years of struggle, Primus created the Thirteen Primes, the original descendants of Cybertron, and together, they sent Unicron into stasis and cast him from Cybertron's orbit. And I'm afraid, as he drifted through space, he attracted debris around himself, thus forming the planet Earth." Everyone gasped at this very news.
"So, you're saying, that this giant robot is the very world we're on right now?" asked a confused Rainbow Dash.
"Well, that's one way of summing it up," said Lea.
"Well, if he's the very Earth, then his spark chamber must be the world's Keyhole we're seeking," Twilight deduced. "And King Sombra must be using his newfound Heartless magic to reawaken him and destroy the world, casting it into the infinite darkness. We must find the pathway to the inside of Unicron as soon as possible."
"Well, I was looking up the world's volcano's, and I read a news article about how more recently, this one in the desert outside of Jasper, Nevada is spewing out purple magma," said Raf, using his laptop to relay the info the Warriors were seeking. "Maybe that's where Unicron is resting."
"Alright, that's it," said Spike. "We've got to get to the Keyhole right away."
"That's going to be a problem," said Ratchet. "The Ground Bridge is temporarily offline thanks to Twilight's tantrum."
"Not a problem," assured Twilight. "I'll just teleport us to our location." Indeed, using all of her magical might, she teleported herself, her friends, and the Autobots to their destination, but became very dizzy upon teleporting so many people to their destination.
"Look, there's the opening," said Ventus. "This trip to find the Keyhole is going to be a total cakewalk.
"Come now," said Pinkie Pie. "You can't walk on cake. You'll ruin it." Her friends then looked at her in a mix of confusion and annoyance. After travelling down various tunnels and passageways within Unicron, they found and entered the spark chamber, where they already saw King Sombra and Megatron preparing to revive Unicron.
"What are you doing, King Sombra?" asked Optimus.
"It's nothing personal," said the King. "It's just business."
"Sombra, NO!" Twilight shouted. However, Sombra already used his Heartless magic to reignite Unicron's spark, where the Warriors can see Unicron's face within.
"Who has awakened me from my slumber?" Unicron boomed.
"I have," said Sombra. "King Sombra, your ruler, your master!" He then cackled in delight at having Unicron corrupt the world's heart, shrouding it into darkness.
"You misunderstand," said the Chaos-Bringer. "I am my own master." He then used the energy in his spark to try and attack King Sombra, but quickly dissolved in smoke and dodged the attack and returned to his physical form.
"Apparently, I didn't think this through," said the King. "Lord Megatron, he's your problem now."
"No, WAIT!" said Megatron in vain. However, Sombra already fled through a Corridor of Darkness. "Is there any way to stop him?"
"Only one way," said a despondent Optimus Prime. "The Matrix of Leadership. Now, help us light our darkest hour!" Suddenly, a beam of light shot out of his chest, zapping Unicron's spark into oblivion. In its place, was the world's Keyhole.
"There's the Keyhole!" said Twilight, pointing to it. "Let's seal it up before the Heartless take it over."
"Not so fast," said Megatron, already standing in her way and extending a sword from his arm.
"Twilight!" shouted Applejack. She then ran toward Twilight as a way to protect her, but Megatron already used his sword to give her a cut on her side, gravely injuring her.
"Applejack!" Twilight said. In her shock, she used her Keyblade to magically glow until its blade looked twice as long and easily knocked him to the ground. Afterwards, the tip of her Keyblade shot out a beam at the Keyhole, creating a swirling flash of light and a locking sound, indicating that the world's Keyhole was now sealed. She then rushed towards Applejack's side, who is already weak and close to death. In her desperation, she used a simple healing spell to mend her wound, making the mesh look like Megatron never cut it, restoring Applejack to full health.
"Thanks for saving my rump, sugarcube," said Applejack.
"I just couldn't let you die at Megatron's hands," said Twilight, imagining what would happen if she didn't heal her.
"Speakin' of Megatron, where is he?" she asked. "I'd like to give that metal varmit what for!" They saw him approaching Optimus, who is also on the ground, but not showing any wounds. Finally, he opened his optics and looked at Megatron curiously.
"Where are we, Megatronus?" he said. Megatron was suddenly taken aback at this, as he hasn't been called "Megatronus" since the war, except Optimus, who at the time was also known as Orion Pax.
"Y-yes," said a hesitant Megatron. "Come on, let's take you back to the Nemesis." He then turned to look at the Warriors. "We shall meet again." He then stepped through a Ground Bridge portal with an amnesiac Optimus Prime and they were never heard from again. The Warriors and Autobots then just stood there in shock and confusion.
"What just happened?" asked Kairi.
"Ratchet," Arcee said through her commlink. "Is the Ground Bridge operational?"
"It is," he said.
"Send us back," Arcee instructed. "The Warriors of Light and Harmony have saved our world, but at a cost." Suddenly, another Ground Bridge portal, one for the Autobot base, then appeared. As they were about to step through, they turned to look at the Warriors.
"I know," said Rainbow Dash solemnly. "You guys don't exist." They then donned their Keyblade Armor and traveled through their own portal to the Lanes Between, resuming their journey to save the Realm of Light.
"Don't make us come looking for you then," said Arcee in response. They then traveled through their portal back to the base.
"Where are the Warriors?" asked June. Bumblebee buzzed something in response.
"They sealed the Keyhole to this world and are off on their next world," Raf translated.
"And Optimus?" asked Jack.
"With Megatron," said Bulkhead. "He just went with him and acted like he doesn't even know us."
"I was afraid of this," said Ratchet. "When he used the Matrix of Leadership to send Unicron back into stasis, not only did he lose the collective wisdom of the Primes, he also lost his memories, as well."
Meanwhile, back on board the Nemesis, Megatron returned with Optimus Prime and at this sight, the Decepticons aimed their weapons at him in defense.
"Stand down, soldiers," Megatron commanded. "This is Orion Pax."
The Warriors traveled through a portal from the Lanes Between to a new world, arriving in the middle of a new city.
"I sure hope the Autobots will be alright without Optimus," said Applejack.
"C'mon, AJ," assured Rainbow Dash. "We just sealed our first Keyhole in the Realm of Light. I mean, where's the champagne?" Her friends then glared at her in annoyance.
"Let's just get to work on the next Keyhole," said Twilight. "Wherever it's at." After walking around, they came across a building flooding with the sounds of dog barks and a sign reading "SHELTER 17." Suddenly, Rarity felt a jolt in her horn, her treasure finding magic having detected something.
"Everybody," she announced. "I just found our next Keyhole. It's somewhere inside that animal shelter."
"Oh yeah," realized Spike. "I forgot you have a talent with finding underground jewels and other treasures. Thanks a lot. You just made our job way more easier." They entered the gate and started looking around, with Fluttershy looking at the dogs held back inside the fence. She knew that dogs needed wide open spaces than confined closures. She thought she would let them out by stretching out their legs. However, by doing this, she set off an alarm and she and her friends were suddenly tranqualized and blacked out...
Upon awakening, they were suddenly inside an underground huddle with advanced technology and saw that they were greeted by the dogs that Fluttershy tried to release, as well as squirrels helping them recover from the tranquilizer shots.
"Nice going," said one of the dogs. "You were given a lockdown for violating Shelter 17 protocol A113."
"I don't mean to pry," said Rainbow Dash. "But what is all this?"
"We're the Pound Puppies," said another of the dogs. "We're a secret organization dedicated to finding pups a good home after finding the right owner."
"Well, it's not a secret anymore since you just told us about it," Pinkie Pie noted.
"Well, anyway," the dog continued. "I'm Lucky, the leader of the organization. And this Cookie, my second-in-command, Strudel, my genius inventor, and Niblet and Squirt."
"Don't get ahead of yourself," said Cookie.
"What do you mean?" asked Lucky.
"Because of our more recent failures at your paws, we've voted on whether or not to demote you, and with three demotions and one T-bone from Niblet, you're officially demoted to second-in-command and I take the helm of leader," Cookie officially announced.
"Wait!" said another voice. Out from the darkness was another Lucky, who looked like he was held captive. "I'm the real Lucky! That is an imposter! And I think it's time to tell us everything, Lucky, or should I say, Queen Chrysalis." The Lucky duplicate gave out a wicked laugh and in a burst of green flames, he quickly changed from a dog to that of a jagged alicorn-like creature known as a changeling.
"Well, well, Lucky," said Queen Chrysalis. "I see you didn't have much trouble escaping your restraints. I knew I should've gone with the pod."
"How were you able to get past my riddle and Equestria's most clever disguise ever?" asked Pinkie Pie.
"I have my ways," the Queen simply replied.
"Well, why are you here posing as Lucky?" asked Twilight, having her own personal experiences with Chrysalis.
"I'm here to use my newfound powers to locate the world's Keyhole and consume it into darkness," explained Chrysalis. "You see, after me and my hive escaped that annoying deathtrap, we encountered a close friend of Xehanort and we have a new power that allows us to command the Heartless. And, while I was operating in this world incognito, I set up a special password which only myself or some other game-loving foal can unlock."
"I know what you're talking about," said Pinkie, realizing what that password is. She then walked over towards the main computer and started typing. "The code is 'Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, ENTER.'" Machines started to whir and in an instant, steel-hatch doors suddenly swung open.
"Yes, this is the room containing the Keyhole," said the Queen victoriously. Everyone then just stood there and looked at Pinkie with shocked expressions, mouth agape.
"Come on, everyone," said Pinkie. "We can blame someone about this other than me later. Right now, we've got to stop Chrysalis." Indeed, they hurried to the room where the Keyhole is located, where Twilight is already being aimed by a Keyblade that belongs to Queen Chrysalis.
"Ah, ah, ah," said Chrysalis. "Not one more step, or else this world goes down. All of you shall bow before me and my subjects as I begin a new era consuming the love in this world."
"I don't bow to anyone except Princess Celestia and her sister, Luna," said Twilight.
"Oh, Twilight Sparkle," said the Queen. "You're so gullible. I should've drained your friends and made you join me when I had the power of the Secretariat Comet at my side."
"My friends are my life," said Twilight. "I can't imagine a life without them. And I would never betray Celestia, no matter how many odds are stacked against me." Twilight then summoned her Keyblade and the tip began to glow again, but this time, in a purplish-black color.
"What's she doing now," asked Fluttershy.
"I was afraid this would happen," said Terra, having painful memories of this experience. "She's using dark powers. Twilight, STOP!" Indeed, she lowered her Keyblade and the dark aura dissipated.
"Congratulations, Twilight Sparkle," said the Queen. "You have darkness within your heart. I'm pleased as punch to tell Xehanort's old friend about this sudden development. But for right now, I'll let you seal the Keyhole and let you lament about your dreaded curse, just like how you did after my accusation at the Royal Wedding." Queen Chrysalis then summoned a Corridor of Darkness and went through, disappearing along with it.
"Twilight?" asked a concerned Terra.
"How can I have darkness within my heart?" asked Twilight. "I'm always kind and helpful to others."
"Let's take care of this later," said Rainbow Dash, wanting to avoid another breakdown with Twilight. "We've gotta seal the Keyhole."
"Alright," said Twilight. Indeed, her Keyblade shot out a beam from it's tip at the Keyhole, sealing it for good.
"Lucky, we're sorry we confused you with an impostor," said a regretful Niblet. "Will you forgive us by allowing you back as our leader?"
"I'd be insulted if you didn't," said Lucky. After some apologies were exchanged, the Pound Puppies helped them escape the shelter, but not before giving them a dog collar with a doghouse attached to it.
"Now that that's out of the way, how about we find the next Keyhole?" asked Lea.
"Yeah..." said a despondent Twilight. She was conflicted with how her most hated enemies have returned and the fact that there is a form of darkness lingering within her heart. Before she could figure it out, she started to feel tired and fell to the ground, her friends already trying to wake her up, but she was already in a deep sleep...
Twilight found herself in a dark place and as soon as she took a step forward, the ground erupted with doves, leaving behind a stained-glass image of Twilight Sparkle and Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadence. She discovered she was now in her Dive to the Heart, but she knew that unlike most dreams, this wasn't normal for somepony to go to sleep by force. She knew Luna wouldn't be behind this just so she could give her important information she can relay to her friends, not to mention the fact that she wasn't evil anymore. She was here for a reason, but before she could ponder it, she was encountered by a cloaked figure wielding a Keyblade with demonic features, as described by the Seven Guardians of Light.
"There's nothing to fear," assured the figure. "I'm just here to talk."
"Who are you," asked Twilight.
"I'm only a companion," said the figure. "I'm here to give you some important information."
"And what does this involve?" Twilight asked.
"It involves your original home of Canterlot," the figure explained. "It may involve even the very whole of Equestria."
"What's going on back there?" Twilight wondered.
"I don't want to reveal too much," the figure said. "I just want you to go back and save Princess Celestia. And I'm giving you something to help you out." The figure then aimed his Keyblade at her and shot a beam at Twilight's chest. "Consider this a favor for me. Now, it's time to wake up." Once again, the platform was suddenly engulfed in white light...
"TWILIGHT!"
Twilight heard Applejack's voice pound against her eardrums as she snapped back awake.
"Twilight, what happened to you?" asked Rarity.
"I don't know..." said Twilight. Before she could comprehend what just happened at her Dive to the Heart, a portal from the Lanes Between appeared and with it two armor clad figures, whose identities were Princess Luna and Master Eraqus.
"Twilight Sparkle, we have a situation at Canterlot," said Luna. "We need you guys to get back here now!" Indeed, they went through the portal for Equestria, unaware that tragedy will soon befall them...
The Warriors returned to Canterlot to see that it was already being invaded by Heartless of different shapes and sizes.
"My Celestia," said Applejack in shock. "I've never seen so many Heartless appear in such a short time."
"Don't worry," said Sora. "We'll handle the Heartless in the commons of Canterlot. You just have to get to the Princess and see if she's alright." Indeed, the Bearers of Harmony and Princess Luna then galloped straight toward the castle until they were stopped by numerous Darksides. They thought it would be the end for them, until they heard a bark. Applejack realized that the bark came from her pet dog Winona. They saw that their pets are trying to dispatch the Darksides until the Secret Keyblade Warriors arrived and finished them off with a single slash, much like Princess Cadence and Shining Armor.
"Who are your partners, Cloud?" asked Twilight. "And why do you have our pets? Unless..." Twilight's voice trailed off until she realized who they were. She then used her magic to remove the cloaks covering the four Keyblade wielders, revealing themselves to be Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Babs Seed.
"Apple Bloom!" said a shocked Applejack. "What in the wide, wide world of Equestria are you doing here when all of these Heartless are here? And why do you have our pets? And why are you with a stranger such as Cloud? And to top it all off, why do you have a Keyblade? Applejack made it clear her huge disappointment in her little sister and her friends.
"We overheard you talking about the Keyblade, the Heartless, and Kingdom Hearts and we thought we would help you stop the impending invasion," Apple Bloom explained.
"And your pets tagged along because Angel was also thinking about protecting Fluttershy and her friends," Sweetie Belle replied.
"And when we were getting on the next train to Canterlot, we encountered Cloud and he explained his past experiences with Sora, and recruited us as part of our own group of Keyblade wielders and we've been traveling the Realm of Light, saving other worlds from the Heartless and sealing their Keyholes," Scootaloo said.
"And the only reason we even have the Keyblade is because Cloud told us that the only way we can wield a Keyblade is if we are pure of heart and we have to be connected to somepony else that can wield the Keyblade and since you guys can wield the Keyblade, that's how the Keyblade chose us," explained Babs Seed.
"And we thought if we could do those things, we might get our cutie marks in Keyblade wielding, pet sitters, or assistance in saving worlds," concluded Apple Bloom.
"Oh, girls," said Fluttershy. "We appreciate what you did for us, but this is a job for big mares." The Crusaders faces fell out of this statement.
"But you can still come with us until the threat is over," assured Rarity. "But when we get back to Ponyville, I think we should have a little talk."
"Thanks for taking care of our sisters, Cloud," said Applejack. "But I think we can take it from here." The Bearers then gathered the Crusaders and reached the castle and upon entering, they were greeted by a shocked Discord.
"Everypony, get to the throne room," he said. "You're not going to like this." They hurried to the throne room to discover the Keyblade used on Twilight in her Dive to the Heart on the ground, as well as Princess Celestia, who was lying on the ground as well, her mane and tail weren't flowing like it usually is...
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight quickly galloped over to her beloved mentor to see if she was alright. She tried nudging her, used a simple shock spell, in fact, she tried everything to wake her, but nothing seemed to work.
"Twilight, there's nothing you can do," said Discord. "She lost her heart and is in this Keyblade. If there's a way to bring her back, we would, but it can't be done." He then picked up the Keyblade and suddenly, gave out a maniacal laugh. "Just kidding. I was the one that used this Keyblade and removed her heart. And to top it all off, I placed her heart in yours. There's no way to get it back." At this, Twilight was seething with rage after hearing what he had done. Twilight was about to lash out at Discord, until she realized something. She then used her magic to teleport the Keyblade from Discord's grasp and to her side.
"Twilight," said a concerned Applejack. "What are you doing with that Keyblade?"
"I'm going to extract Celestia's heart from my body to save her's," said Twilight.
"No, Twilight!" said Luna. "If you do that, you can't expect everypony to be fine." Here, she paused for a moment. "You'll lose your own heart in the process."
"I'm sorry," said a solemn Twilight. "But I can't allow Equestria to lose another leader. Not like how you were, Luna." The Princess of the Night then shed a single tear at the reminder.
"Twilight, don't!" shouted Spike. "We'll find another way! I promise!" Twilight then turned to her worried friends. She could see that they didn't want her to sacrifice her own life in order to save another. But, order had to be restored. She smiled as she shed a single tear as well.
"Farewell, Princess Luna," said Twilight. "Tell your sister that I was her most faithful student ever."
"Don't!" gritted Luna.
"Farewell, B.B.B.F.F.," said Twilight. "I'm sorry about our argument during the rehearsal before the Royal Wedding."
"Twily!" said Shining Armor.
"Farewell, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza," Twilight said. "I'm so happy that you married the greatest stallion ever and have become the Crystal Princess."
"Twilight, please!" said Cadence.
"Farewell, Spike," Twilight said. "No matter what, you'll always be my Number One Assistant."
"Twilight, you don't have to do this!" Spike assured.
"Sugarcube, we can't imagine a life without you!" Applejack desperately said. "Stay with us!"
"I'm so glad that all of you have been my best friends since my arrival in Ponyville and I'm glad to have shared glorious adventures with all of you," Twilight said. "These are memories that will be treasured forever." Twilight then raised the Keyblade's tip up to her chest and closed her eyes. She thought about all the times she had with her big brother, her times studying with Princess Celestia, and her adventures with her friends. She knew they would remember her after she did her deed. Without hesitation, she then thrusted the Keyblade into her chest.
"NO!" Everypony screamed when she drove the Keyblade into her chest. Then, her chest glowed with a pure, yellow light that released Princess Celestia's heart, as well as an additional heart, that one belonging to Twilight. As Celestia's heart entered her body, she suddenly snapped awake. The first thing she saw was a heart floating away and then saw Twilight, whose body was already glowing, and she realized what's happening to her. She then galloped towards her as her body fell to the ground, but as the Princess of the Day was about to hold her, Twilight's body suddenly turned into several orbs of light which faded into oblivion. All that was left of her was her Element of Magic and her Wayfinder that Aqua gave her when they first met.
Celestia then picked up Twilight's Element and her Wayfinder and just stared at it with a devestated look on her face. Knowing the Princess, Twilight's friends thought she wouldn't break down. Sadly, she never did keep it in as she broke down in tears, with Twilight's friends doing the same, knowing that they had lost the greatest friend in the entire world. Then, the Seven Guardians of Light and Master Eraqus then entered the throne room wondering what was going on.
"What just happened in here?" asked Sora. "I saw a bright light coming from the castle and I have a feeling that this is similar to what I've done in the past."
"I-it's t-t-true, sugarcube," Applejack said in between sobs. "Discord used the Keyblade you told us Xehanort once wielded to extract Princess Celestia's heart and put it in Twilight's body. She was able to use the Keyblade to return her heart to her body, but she lost her own to the darkness and her body just faded away just like that."
"But I thought Xehanort's Keyblade faded along with Xehanort himself unless..." Ventus trailed off as he was talking. He realized that this was connected in some way. "Vanitas."
"W-what do you mean, Ven?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"I think what he means is that Vanitas has been orchestrating this whole invasion from the start," Master Eraqus explained. "He must have inherited Xehanort's Keyblade after our final battle against him and has encountered your past enemies, giving them the power to manipulate the Heartless and now, he has dragged Discord's heart back to the darkness."
"Well, if you say that Vanitas is behind all of this, I'll defeat him and seal him within my heart for good," said Ven with a heroic resolve.
"You're right, Ven," said Riku, but with a solemn tone. "All of this would have been possible, if she were still alive." Everyone knew Riku was talking about Twilight Sparkle. But before they could cry again, they saw a figure that looks like a unicorn that has a black coat with golden eyes.
"Don't worry," said the figure. "I'm a friend." Princess Celestia was confused by what it said, and then she took a look at the figures flank and noticed it had the symbol of the Heartless.
"There may be hope for Twilight Sparkle, my little ponies," said a relieved Celestia. "This is her Heartless, but because of her strong heart and the power of your friendships, she's still able to hold on to herself."
"Well, that is good news, but how are we going to restore her to her normal self?" asked Rarity.
"I have a way," said Sora. In that moment, he summoned both his Kingdom Key and his Kingdom Key D, both containing the Seven Lights and Thirteen Darknesses, and combined them to form a weapon that looks like a sword with two Kingdom Keys intersecting to form an X.
"Applejack, what is that thing?" asked Apple Bloom.
"That, lil' sis, is the legendary χ-blade," Applejack said.
"What is a χ-blade?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"Well, it's a weapon that is said to unlock Kingdom Hearts itself," Rarity explained. "It's also the only thing that can restore a Heartless to its original self."
"Well, either way, it looks awesome," Scootaloo commented.
"Quiet now," Babs told her fellow Crusaders. "Let's just see what happens." They then went toward the balcony and Sora pointed the χ-blade straight up at the sky, shooting out a ball of energy, opening a hole containing a heart-shaped moon known only as Kingdom Hearts.
"Kingdom Hearts, I wish I had Twilight Sparkle's heart to transfer back to her," Sora said to the heart of all worlds. It then shot a beam at the χ-blade, filling it with the essence of Twilight's heart. Sora then turned to Twilight's Heartless, ready to do what must be done. "Twilight Sparkle, I bid you return!" Sora then thrusted the χ-blade into its chest, and in a flash of light, everyone can see that Twilight was back to her normal form. Her friends, overjoyed by her revival, then gave her a warming embrace, letting out tears of joy.
"Thank Celestia you're all right, Twilight Sparkle," said Discord, approaching the freshly renewed unicorn. "I thought we lost you for good. Please, don't--" He was suddenly interrupted by the appearance of two Keyblades around his neck, one of light, one of darkness, known as the Oathkeeper and Oblivion, and Discord can see that they were being wielded by Twilight. She then teleported herself and her friends a safe distance away from him.
"No more tricks," Twilight said suddenly, her voice already rising in anger and betrayal. "No more sympathy. No more apologies! And more importantly, NO MORE CHANCES! Ever since the beginning of Equestria, you caused nothing but chaos and turmoil for those you tormented. We thought we had changed you but that didn't work, and so we are going to turn you back into stone, and we will never release you again." She then put on her Element of Magic, leading her friends to do the same, but only Fluttershy hesitated putting on her Element of Kindness, as she had promised to Discord not to use the Elements on him.
"Fluttershy, don't seal me up again," Discord pleaded. "We're friends, remember?" After a brief moment, Fluttershy put on her Element of Kindness.
"Not. Your. Friend," Fluttershy coldly said. With that, Twilight used her magic to activate the Elements of Harmony and the cutie mark-like gemstones to glow and their outlines to shoot out. When their powers reached a physical peak, they shot out a rainbow beam hurtling straight toward Discord. Discord, having lost the only friend he ever had, snapped his fingers and covered himself in a Corridor of Darkness and disappeared just as the beam hit the ground.
"Did we get him?" asked Rainbow Dash. "Please tell me we got him."
"No," said Fluttershy in a crushed tone. "He got away."
"I've been a foal," said Princess Celestia. Twilight and her friends were shocked that she would say something such as that. "I've always thought villains would be reformed to maintain the peace and harmony throughout Equestria, but I realized now that harmony and disharmony will never be kept in line. If there is no way to rehabilitate terrorists of the peace, then there is no other option. Twilight Sparkle, you still have to stop the Heartless invasion, but you also have another important matter. Discord must be destroyed."
Twilight was instantly stunned by what the Princess said. She knew that she always never finds termination a permanent solution to an impossible situation. But, knowing what her friends went through during her temporary demise, she knew she had no other option.
"We will do what we must, Princess," said Twilight. "If Discord ever shows his face here again, we'll snuff out his life on the spot. But first, we have to stop Vanitas, wherever he may be at."
"I think I have the solution," said Celestia. She then used her unicorn magic to project a Keyhole on the back of her throne. "This, my most faithful student, is the final Keyhole. When you seal this, not only will you complete your mission to save the Realm of Light, you will also unlock the doorway to the End of the World, which is a land containing the remnants of worlds destroyed by the Heartless before your journey even began. Seal this Keyhole, Twilight Sparkle, and begin the final battle." Twilight then summoned her Keyblade and sealed up the Keyhole to Equestria, also revealing a doorway containing the entrance to the End of the World.
"Come on, Warriors," announced Twilight. "It's time to stop Vanitas once and for all."
"Alright!" said an excited Scootaloo. "I can't wait to see you slash him into next week."
"Don't even think about tagging along this time," Rainbow Dash told Scootaloo and her fellow Crusaders.
"We'll be the ones to go along," said Princess Luna. "You'll need all the help you can get while battling Vanitas."
"Alright, everyone," said Twilight. "Let's get ready to go through the entrance. Once we do, there's no turning back until Vanitas is stopped for good." Indeed, once the group went through the entrance, it sealed up behind them. With just one look, the Warriors can clearly see that the End of the World is a horrifying mish-mash of world corrupted by the darkness.
"Nelly!" said Applejack. "I never thought the Heartless could consume so much worlds."
"You're telling me," said Rarity. "These houses that have been a part of some other world could use some remodeling."
"That's just the darkness of this world messing up the worlds its taken in," Sora explained, having traveled to this world before to stop Ansem, Seeker of Darkness.
"Let's not mind the condition of the frou-frou worlds," said Applejack. "We've got to find the door or a portal to where Vanitas is hiding in."
"Isn't that it right there?" asked Pinkie Pie. Indeed, they were face-to-face with a portal in the shape of the Heartless symbol. Upon stepping through it, they suddenly found Vanitas just standing there.
"What in tarnation is he up to?" asked Applejack.
"He's probably trying to psych us out," Rainbow Dash assumed.
"She's right, you know," Terra pointed out. "Villains such as him always put up some trick to throw you off and then you're at their mercy."
"Not unless you use a magic spell to defeat him from afar, right, Twily?" asked Shining Armor, turning toward his little sister.
"We know light counters darkness," Aqua mentioned. "Why not use Ragnarok to destroy him?"
"Good idea," Twilight said. Indeed, her Keyblade lit up and she fired her cluster of energy balls at Vanitas, but they just went through him. Twilight and her friends realized this, but didn't realize it enough as they discovered that the Vanitas they're seeing was an apparition as they heard the true Vanitas laughing triumphantly as the ground below the Warriors crumbled below them, sending them to the infinite darkness untill they stopped mid-fall realizing they can float, although the pegasi and alicorns used their wings just in case.
"Welcome to the endless abyss," Vanitas announced. Within this chasm is a door that contains the heart of all worlds: Kingdom Hearts. Try as you can, you can't find even a sliver of light. From within, all hearts are created, even yours."
"If this a type of trick, Vanitas, we're not falling for it," shouted Luna to wherever Vanitas may be. "I have succumbed to the darkness before, but I won't fall again!"
"Oh, my dear Luna, you haven't changed a bit since last I've seen you," Vanitas said. "I can also see that you managed to gather an army of enemies, old and new. No matter, I shall complete Master Xehanort's goal to create a perfect world of light and darkness, because as he taught me--" Fluttershy screamed in fright over what she saw. They turned and what they saw was a battleship-like Heartless that looked fleshy and demonic. "Darkness conquers all worlds!" The "cage" of this ship then sucked in Twilight's friends using a Portal of Darkness.
"No!" Twilight shouted to her friends, hoping they could fight the suction. They didn't however, as they were sucked in until the Portal disappeared. Twilight then turned to Vanitas with a look of anger with tears overflowing from the corners of her eyes. "What did you do to them?"
"It just took him to a room within the World of Chaos," assured Vanitas. "They'll be fine, so long as they don't get overwhelmed by the Heartless within and become Heartless themselves." At this, Twilight just about had it.
"YOU COWARD!" Twilight screamed as she summoned her Keyblade and flew toward Vanitas. But he was ready for her. Vanitas then summoned his Keyblade, which was the same one Discord used on Princess Celestia and Twilight. With one slash of the Keyblade, Twilight suddenly fell further into the endless blackness. Twilight thought it would be over for her and her friends until she remembered something.
"Far better that I have a student who understands the meaning of self-sacrifice than one who only looks out for her won best interests." Twilight remembered Princess Celestia say this to her as she passed her test in the Crystal Empire. Knowing that she must sacrifice everything she can for another's own, she then floated back up to Vanitas and the World of Chaos and summoned her Oathkeeper and Oblivion with a heroic and determined resolve.
"I'm not scared of you, Vanitas," said Twilight. "I can stand up to the darkness and save those precious to me. My friends mean the whole world to me and I'm not ready to lose them. That's why my Heartless didn't have the mindset of other Heartless. My heart's too strong to lose itself. I can use my free will to study and enjoy my time with my friends. And I can defeat you!" Using her newfound power of the Keyblade, she used her Oathkeeper and Oblivion to attack Vantias until he floated up to the deck of the World of Chaos and became one with it, having a Heartless symbol appear over him. Suddenly, a Portal of Darkness was opened and upon entering, she saw her friends attacking flying Purebloods known as Invisibles.
"Twilight!" said Applejack. "Help us!"
"Everybody, place the tips of your Keyblades together in order to create an ultra powerful Ragnarok attack known as Ragnarokga," Twilight instructed. Indeed, everyone wielding a Keyblade put their tips together and created a Ragnarok so big and powerful, it destroyed all the Invisibles in the room.
"Enough!" They heard Vanitas shout. They were suddenly sucked back into the outside where they saw Vanitas disconnect himself from the deck and summon a Keyblade that combines elements from Xehanort's Keyblade and his original Keyblade, the Void Gear. "My Master's legacy shall not be stopped by your petty magic!"
"My magic is not your average run-of-the-mill magic," said Twilight. "It's an Element of Harmony." She and her friends then put on their Elements and used their powers to summon a Keyblade that looks like their Elements of Harmony, which Twilight had quickly realized is the Way of Harmony. The Bearers of Harmony and Vanitas engaged in an epic one-on-one duel on the bridge of the World of Chaos until the Bearers were the winners and the World of Chaos was destroyed during the battle.
"Resistance is futile, you know," said Vanitas. "Even the Way of Harmony can't seal the door to darkness." As he said this, the Door to Darkness began to slowly open with darkness slowly leaking out. "Kingdom Hearts, give me the darkness Master Xehanort failed to obtain!"
"No, Vanitas," said Twilight. "The true Kingdom Hearts has been with us this whole time and I know for certain that Kingdom Hearts is LIGHT!" As she put the last emphasis on the last word, the essence of light within their hearts summoned Kingdom Hearts behind them and its light then shined down on Vanitas and the Door to Darkness.
"Don't worry, Master," said Vanitas. "My plans will continue and when they do, I'll be ready for her, especially when she's ready." He then summoned a Corridor of Darkness and entered it, causing it to disappear, while Kingdom Hearts' light disintegrated the Door to Darkness and the darkness within as the light began to cover the dark abyss...
Rainbow Dash remember this voice belonging to Scootaloo and she and her friends quickly discovered that the light from Kingdom Hearts has returned them to the throne room of Canterlot.
"What about the worlds consumed by the Heartless?" asked Spike.
"Not to worry," assured Kairi. "With the light of Kingdom Hearts, it also destroyed the End of the World, restoring the worlds to their former glory."
"It's over," said Princess Celestia. "Vanitas has been destroyed and the invasion of the Heartless is over."
"Congrats," said Master Eraqus. "If it were a Mark of Mastery exam, you would've made fine Keyblade Masters."
"Well, it's time for us to depart to the Land of Departure," said Aqua. Pinkie Pie then giggled at the wordplay between leaving and the Seven Guardians of Light homeworld.
"Before we go, we have something for you to remember us by," said Lea. He then fetched out an index card and tossed it at the Bearers of Harmony, with Pinkie catching it.
"This is a recipe for sea-salt ice cream," Pinkie noticed. "We can make this at Sugarcube Corner and we can have this as our everyday treat when we hang out. Oh, Lea, how can we--" Pinkie and her friends then looked up and saw that Eraqus and his Seven Guardians of Light have already gone.
"Oh well, c'mon," said Rainbow Dash. "Let's get back to Ponyville so we can take that recipe for a test drive."
"I guess it's also time for us to return to the Crystal Empire," said Princess Cadence. "We've been away for so long, the Crystal Ponies might be worried out of their minds."
"Don't worry," said Twilight. "We'll visit again soon."
"I think that's a good idea," said Shining Armor. "At least when you do, Equestria isn't on the verge of chaos. Love you, Twily."
"Love you too, B.B.B.F.F.," said Twilight. With this sentiment, Twilight joined her brother and sister-in-law for one last embrace before departing on their way.
"Come on, everypony," said Pinkie. "Let's have some sea-salt ice cream!"
"I never did have ice cream that has sea salt," said Apple Bloom. "Is it as tasty as our apples."
"No doubt about it," Applejack told her sister. "Why don't you join us?"
"Oh, you know it," said an excited Scootaloo. And with that, the Bearers of Harmony and their pets, as well as the Cutie Mark Crusaders have since left for home. Upon leaving, Princess Celestia fetched out a book with stars and a swirled pattern.
"Are you sure she can do it," asked Princess Luna.
"All of her studies have lead to this," assured Princess Celestia. "If she completes this, she will be ready to fulfill her destiny."
Back at the Golden Oaks Library, Spike was fetching his towel and bubble bath mix, as he was preparing to take one of his seven-hour bubble baths. As he was about to enter the bathroom, Twilight burst into the library with a look of delight on her face, licking her lips clean.
"Mmm-mmm!" mumbled Twilight. "Who would've thought that the sea-salt ice cream in Sugarcube Corner could taste so heavenly? And what are you up to tonight?"
"I figured I'd take another seven-hour bubble bath," said Spike. Twilight rolled her eyes in response.
"Just try not to use up all the hot water in Ponyville again, please?" asked Twilight.
"I'll try," said Spike. He then entered the bathroom and locked the door behind him, with Twilight hearing rushing water from within. She then heard a knock at the door and when she opened it, there was a mailpony with a rectangular package, which Twilight took and closed the door behind her before she could fill out the paperwork. She then ripped open the package and what she found was the book and a letter from Princess Celestia. Usually, when Celestia sends a letter to her most faithful student, it's usually through Spike, but if it's in a package it must be important. She then opened the letter and began reading.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
The spell contained on the last page of this book is Star Swirl the Bearded's secret unfinished masterpiece. He was never able to get it right, and thus abandoned it. I believe you are the only pony who can understand and rewrite it.
-Princess Celestia
Twilight then opened Star Swirl's book to the last page and recited the incomplete spell.
"From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled." As she spoke it, she didn't notice that her Element of Magic zapped her friend's other Elements of Harmony, causing their gems to switch colors. "That doesn't make any sense. It doesn't even rhyme!" She then laid down the book and yawned. "Well, I'll figure it out tomorrow." She then went to her bed and shut her eyes, ready to take on the night.
"Remember, Twilight Sparkle. You are the one who shall open the door to light." Twilight remembered this voice from her Dive to the Heart, but shrugged it off as she slept peacefully into the night.
Twilight was witnessing Rarity, with Rainbow Dash's cutie mark, trying to manipulate today's weather for Ponyville.
Bitter silence
A scroll, wrapped with a ribbon, emblazoned with the symbol of Princess Celestia's cutie mark, floated onto the shore of a beach-like location within the Realm of Darkness known as the Dark Margin.
A fragmented story
A land without you
The eyes will shut
On a boulder, a Corridor of Darkness appeared and a cloaked figure came out of it. The figure then saw another cloaked figure sitting on a large rock near the waves as the figure began walking toward the other figure.
Something so unnatural
Within the Dark City of the World That Never Was, the figure was walking towards the Memory's Skyscraper in the pouring rain, the drops staining the leather coat the figure was wearing. As the figure stops, the figure can see that the figure was surrounded by an army of Neoshadows. Now wielding the Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades, the figure then began to engage the Heartless into combat.
The memory expansive
The figure was fighting off the Purebloods like there was no tomorrow, using various combos and backflips, it was almost as if the Neoshadows can barely catch her. Eventually, the figure made it onto the porch of the Memory's Skyscraper, as the figure can see that her battlefield has been filled with an endless sea of Neoshadows, not noticing that some of them have snuck onto the Skyscraper's gargoyle statues. The figure then looked up to the screens of the Skyscraper.
Something so easy
Princess Luna was standing on top of the screens, looking down at the figure. She gave out an empathic smile, with the figure returning that gesture by jumping on the extursion of the Skyscraper and began running up the Skyscraper with the Oathkeeper and Oblivion held out on both sides. The Neoshadows that were on the gargoyle statues began to chase after the figure, with new ones emerging in front of the figure, which were quickly destroyed. Luna then went to the very edge of the screens of the Skyscraper.
XIII
"Where's Twilight Sparkle?"
"We must find her..."
The figure then threw the Oblivion, destroying more of the Heartless. Princess Luna then jumped off the edge, her wings having unfolded themselves.
XII
[Vanitas' report]
"A creation born through friendship."
The Princess of the Night then used her magic to catch and take control of the Oblivion and began to fly down just as more Purebloods began to leap after her.
XI
Within the chaos and disharmony ≠ The Elements of Harmony
The figure, now wielding just the Oathkeeper, and Luna, now wielding the Oblivion, began to approach each other at the Skyscraper's largest screen.
X
The Crystal Heart
"Her voice... It's left me."
"This time around... I'll fight."
The two passed each other, turning their heads toward each other before going on their way. Faint images of Twilight's friends flashed on the largemost screen as Luna flew down. The clouds above the Memory's Skyscraper cleared, revealing six rays of light.
IX
A world together = A remembered world
The confrontation
The figure says something as the figure and Luna continued on their way.
VIII
The fourth being = Nopony
"Who is Nopony, you ask?"
"They are the extinct ones."
The figure began to have flashing images of Twilight during her Dive to the Heart.
VII
INFINITE
"What kept you, Rainbow Dash?"
"Can we do it? Against that thing?"
The figure kept having more flashes of Twilight's memory. Back at the Dark Margin, the figure kept walking toward the other figure sitting on the rock.
NOBODIES
"We have come, my master."
"You are the source."
VI
The New Thirteenth
Transformation
"Twilight Sparkle?"
"Twilight Sparkle...Why?"
"Your Majesty! But why?"
Twilight's friends watched as a large version of Twilight's cutie mark began floating towards the ground.
V
Renewal-The fourteenth key
Princess Luna flew towards the ground.
IV
Finished world
"Where are we?"
"Is this the answer you're seeking?"
"This is the true world."
"Maybe my destiny meant nothing all this time."
III
Sanctuary
Twilight's friends were surprised by what they saw after the light cleared.
"We'll go together as a family."
II
Princess Celestia then flew onto the rooftop of the Memory's Skyscraper, her Keyblade held by her side.
KINGDOM HEARTS
Back at the Dark Margin, the figure stopped before the other figure. The other figure turned towards the first and said something.
"She looks just like you."
Twilight, in her new alicorn form, used her new wings to soar high into the sky, the wind rippling at her cheeks and mane, before flying down.