Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

By Steel Soul

Heartless in Ponyville

Green to start music and red to stop music

Golden Oaks Library

Twilight’s eyes fluttered open, greeted by the soft, golden light of Celestia’s sun streaming gently through her bedroom window. She smiled, sitting up in bed and letting out a long, content yawn. Stretching her limbs, she worked out the stiffness of her body, feeling the pleasant pull of her muscles waking up alongside her. With a small sigh, she slipped out of bed and straightened the blankets, smoothing them out neatly.

"Tidiness is next to Princessness, after all," she murmured with a fond chuckle.

It was a silly saying, one Celestia used to tell her when she was just a filly, and even now, it still held meaning. Satisfied with the state of her bed, Twilight made her way to the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. A light laugh escaped her as she took in the sight of her wild bedhead.

"Rarity would have a fit if she saw me like this," she joked to herself.

With a brush floating in her magic, she set to work taming her mane. Halfway through, her mind wandered as she absentmindedly smoothed out the stray strands. She was in her usual routine, yet something tugged at the back of her mind.

Wait… When had she gone to bed?

She remembered waking up the previous morning, eager to dive into her books. She had been engrossed in a particularly cheesy novel—one that was both emotionally and, in some ways, surprisingly stimulating. A faint blush crept over her cheeks as she recalled a scene from the story. The hero had saved his beloved, diving off a cliff after her, risking his life to pull her back from the brink. It reminded her of…

Twilight’s brush froze mid-air as her eyes widened.

Memories… her memories. They flooded back all at once—of darkness, fear, and the heart-pounding terror of losing everything. Her chest tightened, and her breath caught as the lingering sensations of that inky blackness filled her mind.

"I... I was somewhere I shouldn’t have been. Somewhere I didn’t want to be." Twilight's breath hitched as the memories began flooding back. She shuddered, the cold, suffocating darkness pulling her into the abyss flashing before her eyes. The fear nearly overwhelmed her. "The darkness... Those Heartless... They attacked me..."

As the realization hit, tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. She remembered now—she had been in the library, peacefully reading her book, when something had caught her eye. A shadow, moving on its own. At first, she had thought it was just a trick of the light, but then...

"Oh dear Celestia!" Twilight cried out, bolting from her room, the memories rushing back faster than her hooves could carry her.

The Heartless! They had been everywhere, swarming her. She had somehow managed to evade them, grabbing Spike and throwing him onto her back as she fled the library. She ran through Ponyville, heart pounding, as more and more of the creatures appeared, crawling over walls and rooftops. It had been like the parasprite invasion all over again—but this was far worse. It felt like the end of the world... her world.

She remembered others fleeing too, following a gray pegasus out of town. She had tried to follow after them, Rarity joining their small group soon after. Rarity had barely escaped the Heartless herself, though her sewing machine had paid the price. Twilight had been behind her, trying to protect her friend, to make sure they all got out safe. But then... everything had gone fuzzy. She couldn't remember how it ended.

"I have to find Rarity! I have to find my friends!" Twilight’s panic grew, her hooves carrying her faster. "But first, I need to find—"

"Sora?!"

"Twili—?!"

Smack!

Twilight’s frantic gallop came to an abrupt halt as she collided headfirst into a solid figure, sending her and the unfortunate pony tumbling down the stairs in a chaotic swirl of purple, blue, and rainbow. The two ponies crashed to the floor, a mess of tangled limbs and fur, both too dazed to fully grasp what had just happened.

Twilight groaned, rubbing her aching head. "What just...?" She blinked, looking around in confusion, only to gasp when she realized who was beneath her. "Oh my goodness! Rainbow Dash! Are you okay?!"

Rainbow groaned, her eyes rolling back slightly. "But mom, I don’t wanna go to flight school today," she muttered dreamily before slumping into unconsciousness.

~~~

Sweet Apple Acres

"Boy howdy, Sora! You’re really becoming quite the apple bucker," Applejack called out with an approving whistle as she watched Sora deliver a powerful kick to the next apple tree in line.

Sora grinned, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow as the apples tumbled neatly into the baskets below. "Thanks, Applejack! Though compared to you, I’m kind of a newbie." he picked up a bucket of newly fallen apples placing theme in Applejack’s waiting cart. “Only reason I’m getting good at it is because I got a great teacher.”

Applejack chuckled softly. “It may be my special talent, Sora, but you’ve turned out to be a real... uh… Savnet? Sarnet?”

“I believe the word you’re looking for is ‘savant,’ darling, though I don’t think that’s quite the right context,” a familiar voice chimed in.

Rarity’s smile didn’t waver. "But Applejack, dear, I am helping. I’m overseeing your work, ensuring everything’s going smoothly. Supervision is an important job, after all."

Applejack’s hoof stomped the ground, her scowl deepening. "If I needed supervision, I’d have asked Granny Smith."

Rarity gasped, placing a hoof dramatically on her chest. "Why, Applejack! I grace you with my presence and this is the thanks I get? Friendship truly is underappreciated these days."

"Friendship ain’t got nothin’ to do with you bein’ lazy," Applejack shot back, narrowing her eyes.

Sora, sensing the tension building, raised a hoof sheepishly. "Uh, maybe we could just—"

“In a minute, Darling/Sugarcube,” both mares snapped in unison, not taking their eyes off each other.

Sora sighed gently as he settled himself under one of the nearby apple trees, watching Applejack and Rarity engage in yet another playful argument. It wasn’t the first time he'd seen them bicker like this, and he doubted it would be the last. A light chuckle escaped him as he smiled. "Those two really seem to like going at it. Second day in a row," he mused to himself. "Must be really good friends."

But as the thought crossed his mind, Sora’s smile faded, and his ears drooped slightly. He found himself staring off into the distance, his thoughts drifting far away from Sweet Apple Acres. Good friends... His mind wandered back to his own friends—Donald, Goofy, Kairi, Riku. Were they all okay? Did they even know he was gone right now?

It was strange, being here in Equestria, so far from the people he’d spent most of his life fighting alongside. He wondered if Donald and Goofy were searching for him, or if King Mickey had some idea where he’d ended up.

Then there was Riku and Kairi…

He sighs thinking about his two best friends. He wondered how they were getting along, It had been a while since he had seen either of them ever since-

“Hi Sora!”

Sora practically jumped out of his fur, his heart leaping into his throat at the sudden voice. “Gah! Sweetie Belle?!” he exclaimed, turning around to see the small white filly beaming up at him with her usual innocent enthusiasm.

Sweetie Belle tilted her head, blinking in confusion at his startled reaction. "What's wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!"

Sora chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. “Sorry about that, Sweetie. You just caught me off guard, that’s all.”

The filly grinned, clearly pleased with herself. “I thought maybe you needed some company since Applejack and my sister are… um… busy.”

Sora glanced over to where Rarity and Applejack were still in the middle of their debate, voices raised but playful. He smiled faintly. "Yeah, they sure know how to keep things lively."

"Soooo… that means you’re taking a break right now?" Sweetie Belle asked, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Sora blinked, glancing back over his shoulder at Rarity and Applejack, who were still caught up in a lively debate that had somehow shifted to critiquing each other's appearances. He shrugged. "Yeah… I guess I am."

Before he could react, he felt Sweetie Belle grab his hoof, her small grip surprisingly firm.

“Great! Then you can help me and my friends!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.

“H-hey! Wait a second!" Sora stammered as she started pulling him away. "Help you with what? What are we doing?”

Sweetie Belle grinned brightly, practically dragging him along. "You'll see!"

With that, she led him away from the bickering mares, Sora barely able to keep up with her as he wondered what he had just gotten himself into.

~~~

Rarity and Applejack watched as Sweetie Belle led Sora away, both mares barely containing their grins.

“Heh, poor Sora,” Applejack chuckled, shaking her head. “Hate to do this to him, but using the fillies is a mighty fine excuse to get him outta the way for a bit.”

Rarity gave a sly smile, glancing toward Ponyville. "Indeed, darling. And really, there’s no better distraction than our little sisters—and Scootaloo, of course. Now, we mustn't waste time. There's still much to prepare before this afternoon, right? No time to dilly-dally."

“Yeah, yeah. I’m comin’,” Applejack replied with a huff. "But we still ain’t done talkin' 'bout what ya said earlier."

Rarity smiled coyly, batting her lashes. "Oh, Applejack, darling, it was all in good fun. I truly don’t think you need that much work on your mane."

~~~

Rainbow Dash woke up to the sound of familiar voices nearby—one female, the other male. Both were unmistakable.

"Wow, Spike… just… he really did all that? How could he? It’s just not possible," Twilight’s voice was filled with disbelief.

"I don’t know, Twi… You should have seen him out there. He was like a machine. I’ve never seen anypony move the way he did," Spike replied, his voice laced with awe.

"For a pony to have that kind of strength… it’s downright… I wish I had a better way to say this without repeating myself, but… it really is impossible. And you’re saying he took on that thing all by himself?"

"Yeah! I know I was supposed to be worried about you and everything, but Sora just…" Spike trailed off before noticing movement on the couch. "Oh! Rainbow! You’re awake!"

Just as Rainbow Dash sat up, she was suddenly enveloped in a pair of lavender hooves. "Rainbow! Are you okay?! I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you coming, and…"

The cyan pegasus gave an awkward smile, gently freeing one of her hooves from Twilight’s grasp. She stretched her neck, testing for any lingering aches. "Hey, it’s okay, Twilight. Not the first time I’ve had a crash like that, and it probably won’t be the last."

Twilight let out a sigh of relief. "I’m just glad your wings aren’t broken. It was a pretty hard fall, after all."

"Yeah, that would’ve sucked," Rainbow agreed, before her expression turned more serious. "But enough about me! How are you doing? Are you feeling alright? I mean, it’s been two whole days and… well..."

"I’m… okay, for the most part," Twilight said, her tone hesitant. "Definitely not something I want to repeat." She shook her head, her mind clearly heavy with the memory. "Spike filled me in on what happened near Town Hall. It’s still hard to believe the Heartless attacked here. If… if things hadn’t turned out the way they did…"

Rainbow frowned at the thought, glancing away for a moment. "Tell me about it. So not cool." She turned back to Twilight, her expression softening. "Still, as much as I hate to admit it, Sora really did save the day. Guess he’s not all talk after all." She smirked. "Though if it had been me, I would’ve taken that overgrown weed down in 30—no, 20 seconds flat!"

But she paused mid-sentence, noticing Twilight’s peculiar expression. "What?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I’m sorry, but… did you just say Sora?" Twilight asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Uh… yeah? That’s his name, right?" Rainbow responded, her tone defensive.

Twilight nodded slowly. "Yes, I know his name. I say it all the time. But… I don’t think I’ve ever heard you call him by his name before."

Rainbow blinked. "What? Of course I’ve said his name!"

"Uhh… no, you really haven’t," Spike chimed in, trying to stifle a chuckle.

"Yes I have!" Rainbow shot back.

"I’m about 99 percent sure you haven’t. Not around me, at least," Twilight added, her voice teasing.

"Whatever!" Rainbow groaned, rolling her eyes. She glanced at the window, clearly eager for a hasty exit. "I should let the others know you’re okay. They were pretty worried about you."

Before she could take off, Rainbow turned back to Twilight, her expression softening. "Hey, Twi… you sure you’re alright? If you want, I can stick around, keep an eye on you or something."

Twilight smiled warmly at her friend’s concern. "I appreciate it, Rainbow, but I’m fine. Spike’s here with me, and I need to send a letter to the princess anyway." She paused, a far-off look crossing her face as she collected her scattered memories. That strange figure in her dreams—what was that?

Rainbow, sensing her friend’s moment of introspection, nodded. "Alright, alright, I get it. Just… call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Will do, Dash." Twilight chuckled softly, though her face held a trace of worry. "You sure you’re okay to fly, though?"

Rainbow grinned and spread her wings confidently. "Are you kidding me? Just watch this!" With a powerful beat of her wings, she took off through the window at top speed, sending papers flying everywhere in her wake.

Spike groaned, deadpanning as he slapped a claw to his face. "Great… I just cleaned this place!"

Twilight laughed lightly, shaking her head as she made her way to the kitchen. She was starving. But before she could get far, a familiar cyan face popped back in through the window.

"Oh! Before I forget, there’s a surprise party later this afternoon for So-Spikey at town hall. Pinkie told me to tell you to be there when you woke up."

Twilight raised an eyebrow, confused. "Wait… how did Pinkie know I’d wake up when you came over?"

Rainbow shrugged. "I stopped trying to figure that pony out ages ago, Twi. Just chalk it up to Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie." With that, she zoomed off once more, leaving Twilight to her thoughts.

~~~

Sora shook the water out of his fur as he trudged back onto dry land. He was glad he was a good swimmer, a skill that had thankfully carried over even in his pony form. He looked towards the trio of fillies standing nearby, each one just as drenched as he was, all wearing sheepish smiles.

“Well… I think shipbuilding is off the list of cutie marks for you girls,” Sora said with a playful grin.

“Sorry about that, Sora,” Sweetie Belle apologized, wringing the water out of her tail. “We thought the holes would make it glide faster in the water.”

Sora chuckled, tilting his head to one side to shake the water out of his ear. “Don’t worry about it. It was a good idea… well, until it started sinking… fast.”

Scootaloo flapped her wings, sending a spray of water everywhere as she joined in the conversation. “Yeah! I totally thought we were onto something there. Maybe next time, we use fewer holes?”

“Or no holes at all,” Apple Bloom chimed in, shaking water from her mane. “Maybe we should stick to things that don’t involve sinkin’.”

Sweetie Belle sighed dejectedly. “Maybe we’re not cut out to be shipbuilders, huh?”
“What? Giving up already?” Sora asked, a cocky grin playing across his face as he watched the fillies mull over their next move.

"What? No way!" Sweetie Belle huffed, puffing out her cheeks in a pout. "But, uh… what are we supposed to do?"

Sora chuckled, taking a branch in his mouth and starting to draw in the dirt. "Well… I’ve built a raft before, sorta like a ship. How about I lend you my expert skills?" He drew a few quick lines in the dirt, explaining as he went. "First, we need this... and this..."

While Sweetie Belle eagerly followed Sora’s instructions, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo hung back, huddling together in a whispered conversation.

“Alright,” Scootaloo muttered, giving Apple Bloom a nudge. “We got him alone for now… this is your chance, Apple Bloom.”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, confused. “Chance for what, Scoots?”

Scootaloo groaned in exasperation. “To talk to him! You know, maybe find out more about him, ask some personal stuff. Now’s the perfect time!”

“What?!” Apple Bloom’s voice came out louder than she intended, causing Sora and Sweetie Belle to glance in their direction. She quickly waved them off with an awkward grin, prompting an equally awkward wave from the other two fillies before they returned to their conversation. Lowering her voice, Apple Bloom continued, “Ah don’t wanna sound nosy, Scoots. What if he hates me for askin’ too many personal questions?”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “You won’t know until you try, Apple Bloom!” With a determined look, she went behind her friend and started nudging her forward, toward Sora. “As one of your love advisers, I command you to get over there and talk to him!”

Applebloom whimpered as Scootaloo nudged her closer to Sora. She was grateful for her friend’s help, but talking to him right here, right now? It felt overwhelming. Especially considering that the stallion she liked wasn’t just anypony—he was a hero, and one that had single-hoofedly saved her entire town. That thought only made her crush on him deepen, and with it, her nervousness soared.

The more Applebloom’s feelings grew, the more timid she became around him. She could barely hold a full conversation without squeaking or fumbling over her words in embarrassment.

“Ah… Ah don’t know what ta say to him,” she whispered anxiously to Scootaloo. “What do Ah even ask?”

“How am I supposed to know?! Just ask him about the weather or something!” With one last determined shove, Scootaloo pushed Applebloom right in front of Sora.

Applebloom’s heart leapt into her throat as she found herself face-to-face with the stallion. His sky-blue eyes met hers, curiosity flickering in them before he smiled down at her, his gentle expression only causing her cheeks to burn even hotter.

“What’s up, Applebloom?” Sora asked, his voice kind and casual. “Me and Sweetie were just going over a new boat design. It’s a bit simpler this time, but I think it’ll work a lot better than what we tried before.”

Applebloom could barely breathe, let alone respond. Her heart raced wildly, and every word she tried to form got stuck in her throat. When she opened her mouth, all that came out was a nervous wheeze.

Sora tilted his head, a puzzled look on his face. “Uh... Applebloom? You okay?”

Panic surged through her as she realized how ridiculous she must have looked. Oh no, oh no! What do I do?! What do I say?! This is a disaster!

Just then, she felt a small pebble hit her leg. Glancing to the side, she spotted Scootaloo waving frantically from behind Sora, trying to get her attention. When Applebloom looked closer, she noticed her friend holding up a large cue card with hastily scrawled letters: Ask about the weather!

Applebloom gulped nervously, her voice barely a whisper as she finally stammered, “H-how’s t-the weather up there?”

Applebloom let out a squeak of surprise as Sora lifted her high into the air, his hooves gently holding her by her sides. For a moment, she hung there, wide-eyed and blinking, trying to process what had just happened.

“Well? How’s the weather up there, Applebloom?” Sora asked with a playful grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

The yellow filly stared down at him, her face a mixture of shock and embarrassment, but soon a small giggle escaped her. “W-well,” she stammered, trying to play along, “Ah reckon it’s pretty clear up here!” She grinned, the tension she’d been feeling melting away.

Sora chuckled and gently lowered her back to the ground. “Good to know!” he said, still smiling. “Next time I need a weather report, I’ll ask you.”

As Applebloom landed back on the ground, she couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across her face, the nervousness she’d been feeling fading into the background. “Heh, maybe next time ya won’t have to toss me up to find out,” she joked, feeling a bit bolder now.

Sora chuckled. “Hey, it worked, didn’t it? Besides, in all fairness, I’ve been saving that little retort for a while now.”

“Really?” Applebloom asked, sitting on her haunches as she gazed up at him. “Why would ya need to save a joke like that?”

Sora rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. “Well... I wasn’t always the biggest kid around. In fact, I used to be one of the shortest.”

Applebloom’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Really?”

“Yep,” Sora confirmed with a nod. “I got picked on because of it too.”

“B-but you’re a hero! Why would anypony pick on a hero?” Applebloom asked, baffled.

Sora smiled gently. “I wasn’t always a Keyblade wielder, you know. Growing up, I was just like any other kid.”

“No way!” Scootaloo gasped, eyes wide. “But you saved a whole town! You’ve got that magic key thing! How’s that not special?”

Sora laughed, holding up a hoof. “I promise, I was just a regular kid. Nothing special.”

Sweetie Belle leaned in, curiosity shining in her eyes. “So how’d you get that Keyblade thingy, then?”

Sora paused for a moment, grinning at the eager faces of the fillies. “Well... that’s a long story,” he began. “You see, it all started on a dark and stormy night…”

“There you are!”

Sora and the fillies looked up as Rainbow Dash swooped down from the sky, landing with a thud in front of the stallion. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere, Sora. You’re needed at Town Hall.”

“Town Hall?” Sora echoed, tilting his head in confusion. “Any idea why?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask dumb questions. Just be there, okay?” She turned, ready to take off again, but Sora’s voice stopped her.

“Rainbow!" he called, causing her to pause and glance back at him. "I’m really glad you’re okay. Pinkie told me what happened… how you were being chased by heartless when she found you.” His ears folded back, guilt creeping into his voice. “If I had known they were coming, then maybe—"

Before he could finish, Rainbow tapped him lightly on the head with her hoof, cutting him off. Sora blinked in surprise, looking up to see her giving him a softer gaze than usual, something almost... gentle.

“Geez... shut up, Hero,” she said, her voice surprisingly calm. “I’m fine, so don’t beat yourself up over it.” She met his eyes for a moment, her expression firm but not unkind. “Just get moving, okay? And don’t be late, or I’ll kick your flank into next Thursday.” With that, she took off, leaving Sora standing there, slightly bewildered.

Sora blinked and turned back to the fillies. "Is she always—?"

“Intense?” Applebloom offered.

“Weird?” Sweetie Belle squeaked.

“Awesome?” Scootaloo chimed in, grinning.

Sora couldn’t help but laugh. “Right. So... all of the above, huh?” He shook his head, still chuckling. “Let’s get going, girls. I don’t think I want to keep Rainbow Dash waiting.”

~~~

Ponyville Town Hall

The fillies had led Sora back to Ponyville, the young stallion enjoying the gentle breeze on what felt like a perfect summer day. As they walked, Sora regaled them with tales of his home, Destiny Islands, and all the adventures he and his friends used to get up to. So caught up in the conversation, it took him a while to notice the large crowd gathered around the still-recovering Town Hall. Before he could question what was happening, a familiar lavender unicorn made her way toward him and the girls.

“Twilight? You’re okay!” Sora exclaimed, a look of relief crossing his face. “Geeze... I was really worried about you.”

Twilight smiled, though she still looked a bit tired. "You and the rest of my family, it seems. Celestia had to stop my parents from rushing to Ponyville as soon as they heard I'd… gotten hurt."

Sora chuckled softly. "I can imagine. You should’ve seen my mom after I came back from my first adventure. Or... was it the second? Thought she’d never let me leave the house again. Still don’t know how Master Yen Sid convinced her. I guess that’s just how moms are.”

Twilight nodded, her smile growing a bit warmer. "Sounds about right. But aside from that, I really do need to thank you, Sora. Spike told me everything that happened when I was..." She shuddered slightly before continuing, "...unconscious. So, thank you—for saving me."

Sora blushed, rubbing the tip of his hoof against his snout. “Well... I do what I can,” he said with a sheepish grin.

Twilight chuckled lightly before getting more serious. “There are a few things I need to talk to you about, but that can wait. First, there’s something important I need you to see. Come with me, we don’t want to keep everypony waiting.”

Before Sora could ask what she meant, Twilight had already grabbed him with her magic, gently dragging him toward the front of the crowd and onto a makeshift stage. Awaiting them was Mayor Mare, the beige mare with a white curly mane. She beamed at them both as they approached, gesturing for Sora to stand beside her.

Suddenly, a swarm of butterflies seemed to erupt in Sora’s stomach. His nerves were quickly catching up with him as he turned to look for an escape—only to find Applejack and Twilight blocking his way.

The farm mare chuckled, giving him a gentle push toward the podium. “Goin’ somewhere, partner?”

Sora shook his head, still very confused. "What’s going on? I don’t..."

The mayor cleared her throat, her voice polite yet commanding enough to quiet the gathered crowd. “Attention everypony! Attention! I know yesterday’s attack was frightening, and the appearance of those monsters, those shadow ponies, and that dreadful Darkflower was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. But today, we gather not in fear, but in gratitude."

Sora raised an eyebrow towards the lavender unicorn. “Shadow Ponies? Darkflower?”

“Well, we have to call them something, right?" Mayor Mare continued with a smile. "Heartless is good and all, but now that I know there are more than just the pony-shaped ones, I figured it’s my duty to name each type we've encountered so far.”

Sora chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. “Hey, no judgment. You should hear some of the names my friend came up with for the Heartless I fought before. You two would probably get along.”

The crowd laughed lightly, but the Mayor quickly brought attention back to her speech. “Now, I would like to take a moment to honor a pony who, despite being new to our town, took it upon himself to stand up and defend Ponyville from those creatures. A pony who risked his very life to protect us all.” She gestured toward Sora, her voice filled with admiration. “On behalf of all of Ponyville, I want to thank Sora for his bravery and selflessness.”

She trotted up to him, holding out a medallion. “Please accept this as a token of our deepest gratitude.”

Sora blinked in surprise, holding the medallion in his hooves. “I... wow... I mean...”

Mayor Mare smiled and leaned in. “Would the hero of the hour like to say a few words?”

Sora’s face turned bright red as he was gently nudged toward the podium, now standing in front of the entire crowd. He stared out at the eager faces below, feeling incredibly out of place. He had fought to save worlds before, but never had he received this kind of public praise. Usually, he just moved on to the next world after helping out. This was... new.

“I... I’m really not used to this,” Sora began, fumbling for words. “Honestly, if I had my way, I’d probably just ask for a cake and take a nap.”

From the front of the crowd, Pinkie Pie yelled, “TRUE THAT!” causing a ripple of laughter and lightening the mood just a bit for Sora.

He smiled sheepishly before continuing, “While I’m really thankful for all of this,” he held up the medallion, “I’m not sure I deserve all this praise. I mean, a lot of your homes were damaged because of the battle, and your lives were put in danger because I—”

Before he could finish, Mayor Mare wrapped a hoof around his neck, cutting him off with a grin. “Do you see that? Not only is he a hero, but a modest one at that! Give it up for the Hero of Ponyville!”

The crowd erupted into cheers and stomping, drowning out any further objections from Sora. He stood there, smiling nervously, his words lost in the sea of applause.

~~~

Canterlot Throne Room

Princess Celestia sat upon her throne, her golden magic gently holding up various reports and scrolls detailing information on the Heartless. Though many of the records stretched back years, they offered frustratingly little in terms of useful knowledge. It had been a long time since she’d felt the need to review any of this data, but the attack on Ponyville still weighed heavily on her mind. The fact that Twilight had been harmed—even if only temporarily—had struck her deeply.

The memory of that day two days ago was still fresh, playing over in her mind like a haunting echo. Upon hearing the news, Celestia had immediately teleported to Ponyville, abandoning her calm demeanor in favor of swift action. Seeing Twilight—her beloved student, her dear friend, her daughter in all but name—lying hurt had almost shattered her regal composure. Twilight had always held a special place in Celestia’s heart, a bond unlike any other.

And Twilight’s mother, Velvet, had been just as furious. It had taken several guards to restrain her from charging off into the wild in search of her daughter, her fierce protectiveness on full display. Celestia had forgotten for a moment just how determined the mare could be—her adventurous spirit was, after all, the reason she partnered with Daring Do.

Still, Celestia found solace in how the situation had ultimately resolved. Sora had proven himself, saving Twilight from a fate worse than death. But the danger had been far too close. She’d already sent orders to double the guard presence across Equestria, reinforcing key cities and pathways. Keyblade or not, she would never allow such an event to happen again if she could help it.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the throne room doors burst open, causing Celestia to jolt slightly in surprise. A white-coated earth pony guard in golden armor raced toward her, his breathing heavy from exertion.

"News from Northern Equestria, Your Highness!" he announced, urgency evident in his tone.

Celestia immediately sat up straighter, her pulse quickening. "Yes? What is it?" she asked, her voice calm, though her heart raced.

The guard removed his helmet and bowed low. "I am to inform you that... it has been found."

Celestia’s eyes widened, and a soft gasp escaped her before she could stop it. Her surprise quickly turned to determination as she regained her composure. She turned swiftly to the pegasus guards standing at attention beside her throne.

"Find Princess Cadence and Shining Armor immediately!" she commanded, her voice steady but filled with urgency.

The guards nodded and swiftly flew off to carry out her order, their wings cutting through the air as they departed.

Once alone, Celestia levitated a quill and parchment, her mind racing as she began to write a letter to Twilight. Time was of the essence, and the situation could not be ignored.

~~~

Ponyville - A ways away from Town Hall

“Haha... Ponies sure are a sociable bunch…”

Sora spent the evening mingling with the townsponies, who all took turns thanking him for saving Ponyville. Despite his mixed feelings about the damage caused during the battle, seeing the genuine smiles on everypony’s face made it hard not to smile along with them. After all, bringing joy to others had always been something that came naturally to him. Still, the attention and gratitude felt a little overwhelming, and he was relieved when an impromptu song and dance number by a certain pink pony gave him the chance to slip away.

He chuckled at the irony. For two years, he had been alone, always craving companionship. Now, surrounded by so many social ponies, he found himself seeking a moment of solitude.

Despite the praise and celebration, a nagging fear gnawed at him. The townsponies saw him as a hero, but that title came with a heavy burden. If he failed—like he had during his Keyblade exams—or made a mistake, it wouldn’t just be him who paid the price. Everypony would be in danger. If it hadn’t been for that Doctor, things could have gone much worse for Ponyville. Sora had looked for him and that gray mare in the crowd, but they seemed to have vanished.

Lowering his head, he muttered to himself, “Why am I beating myself up like this? I wasn’t able to protect everyone… Big Mac got hurt, we almost lost Twilight, and if Pinkie hadn’t saved Rainbow… Maybe I really am useless.”

“You know, I don’t think all that self-loathing suits you.”

Sora practically jumped out of his skin at the sound of Twilight’s voice behind him. His wings, as if reacting on their own, flapped awkwardly, flipping him upside down before he landed on his back with a thud.

Twilight stifled a giggle as she stood over him. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you like that.”

Sora raised a hoof from his downed position, sighing. “Why do I get the feeling you all enjoy sneaking up on me?”

Twilight giggled, offering him a hoof to help him back up. “Maybe a little,” she teased. “But I actually wanted to check up on you. You left the party pretty early, and I figured something might be bothering you.”

Sora tilted his head, still brushing off the remnants of his fall. “What’s up?”

Twilight’s smile faded slightly, her expression becoming more serious. “I wanted to talk to you about… what happened. After I was, well… captured.”

Sora frowned, concern written on his face as Twilight continued. “Spike told me what happened—that my heart was separated from my body. And I… I remember how it felt. The darkness, the emptiness… I never felt so hollow before in my life.”

He stepped closer, placing a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

Twilight nodded but hugged herself tightly. “Yeah… I’m fine now. But back then, I was so scared. I tried to fight it, but the darkness kept pulling me in. I almost gave up until I heard a voice.” She pointed at him. “Your voice.”

“My voice?” Sora blinked in surprise.

Twilight nodded again. “Yes, I heard you calling out to me. And that’s what helped me find my way back. I need you to tell me—what happened on your end?”

Sora scratched his head as he thought back. “I remember striking the bubble that trapped you and Spike with my Keyblade, but… after that, things get hazy. I blacked out, and the next thing I knew, I felt your heart calling to me. I reached out to it with my own… and when I came to, I was holding you in my hooves outside Town Hall.”

Twilight blushed faintly at the image, her mind briefly flashing to the idea of him cradling her in his arms. Spike must have left that detail out when recounting the story.

“But, Sora,” Twilight continued, “I saw something while I was in the darkness. A figure... I don’t know how to explain it, but it wasn’t like any creature I’ve ever seen. It helped me.”

Before Sora could respond, a voice interrupted their conversation.

“Twilight!!”

They both turned to see Spike running toward them, out of breath. “Twilight… letter… from the Princess…” he gasped.

Twilight’s eyes widened. “A letter from the Princess?” She quickly snatched the scroll with her magic, opening it in a flash. As her eyes scanned the contents, her expression shifted from confusion to shock. “Oh no…”

Sora and Spike shared a worried glance. “What’s wrong, Twilight?” Spike asked.

Twilight didn’t waste a second. “Spike, go get the girls. We need everypony here right away!”

Spike blinked. “What happened? What’s going on?”

“The Crystal Empire… it’s reappeared!”