Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

By Steel Soul

Heartless

Green to start music and red to stop music

Sora awoke with a start

Instincts kicking in, he leapt to his hooves, Keyblade materializing in his mouth in a flash of light. His sharp gaze darted around, searching for danger, but no immediate threat emerged…at least for now. Slowly, he raised himself from his fighting posture, the keyblade vanishing once again before taking in his surroundings with growing unease.

The world around him was alien and ominous. A deep, dark purple haze shrouded the sky, tinged with an unsettling glow that seemed to sap the warmth from the air. Wisps of clouds floated beneath a sun that gave no light, only an oppressive presence. Beneath him, the ground was a desolate stretch of dark sand, lifeless and endless as far as his eyes could see.

In the distance, jagged mountains rose unnaturally, their peaks curved and twisted like claws frozen mid-swipe. The sight made Sora's chest tighten—a distorted landscape that seemed shaped by malice itself.

"This place..." The stallion murmured, his voice barely reaching the octave above a whisper. "Almost reminds me of the Realm of Darkness." Memories stirred within him of himself and Riku stranded in a place just like this. He frowned.

"If I'm here, then the others..." His heart dropped, remembering the sight of his himself and his friends vanishing into the darkness that engulfed them. "I need to find them—before the Heartless do. I just hope they're—"

He froze mid-sentence, his entire body locking up as something caught his eye.

Not far from where he stood, a shimmer of magic flickered—a barrier of light, familiar and unmistakable. It looked like the same kind of protective spell that had once held Twilight's heart in Ponyville. Within that shimmering bubble lay a group of ponies, their forms unmistakable even at this distance. They were stirring, beginning to wake, just as he had.

"Just what the heck is going on?"

~~~

The Apple siblings were the first to stir, the filly of the two voices cutting through the silence and rousing the others into full wakefulness.

“What the…Where are we? Apple Bloom? Apple Bloom, where are ya!?” Applejack called out, her voice thick with worry.

“Ugh… Right here, big sis,” Apple Bloom groaned, holding her head. “Can ya not yell so loud? Feels like a buffalo stampede’s runnin’ through my skull…”

Ignoring her sister’s protest, Applejack pulled the filly into a tight hug. “Ah’ll yell as much as Ah need to if it means knowin’ you’re okay, sugarcube.”

“Where is this place?” Scootaloo muttered, grimacing as she rubbed her temples. “The last thing I remember… everything went black.”

“My mane! Oh, it’s ruined!” Rarity wailed dramatically, the mare pulling a comb from her saddlebag and frantically trying to straighten out her frazzled locks.

“Glad some ponies have their priorities straight,” Rainbow Dash grumbled sarcastically. She began walking around, her gaze shifting left and right. “Are we in some kind of magical bubble?” She tapped the dome, causing a gentle ripple to flow through it like a drop of water in a puddle.

Twilight’s brow furrowed, her gaze narrowing as she studied the magical barrier. “It’s not just some random bubble, Rainbow,” she said grimly. “This magic… I recognize it. It’s the same signature as Heartless magic. I can feel it.”

Applejack tensed at the revelation, pulling Apple Bloom protectively closer. “That don’t sound good, Twi. Got any ideas on what we should do next?”

“A few, but without more information, it’d be reckless to try anything drastic.” Twilight admitted with a bit of frustration in her tone of voice. “We need to figure out a way out of here, but blindly using magic could make things worse.”

“Wait a second!” Pinkie Pie suddenly gasped, her eyes wide with realization. “Has anypony seen Sora?!”

Twilight’s breath caught as her eyes darted around the group, everyone else following after her. Sure enough, Sora was nowhere to be seen, and the absence sent a chill through the lavender mare’s spine. “Someone or something must have separated us”, she thought, swallowing a growing sense of dread. “But…for what reason?”

“Um… I think I see somepony outside the bubble,” Fluttershy whispered, pointing toward the distance.

Everypony turned in unison, their eyes locking onto a figure in the distance.

“My stars! Fluttershy’s right!” Rarity exclaimed, moving closer to get a better look. “And that somepony is Sora!”

“Yeah, that’s definitely him,” Rainbow Dash said with a faint smirk, relief softening her tone. “That dorky, spiky hair’s a dead giveaway. What’s he doing out there, though?”

Twilight’s frown deepened, her unease growing. “I don’t know, but I don’t like this one bit. Everypony, huddle up. I’m teleporting us out of here. I don’t want to take chances with whatever this is.”

Her horn flared to life, surrounding them all with a soft lavender glow. Twilight braced herself, channeling the teleportation spell—

But nothing happened. The glow flickered and sputtered like a candle struggling in the wind.

“Uh… Twi?” Applejack said cautiously. “Ah think somethin’ went wrong.”

“What!?” Twilight’s voice edged toward panic as she tried again, her horn glowing uselessly. “No… This doesn’t make any sense! My magic’s being blocked.” She turned to Rarity, desperation in her eyes. “Can you try?”

Rarity nodded, despite her own worry. Focusing hard, she summoned forth her magic—but the result was the same. Her horn glowed, but the spell fizzled into nothing. “I… I don’t understand. It’s like something’s smothering our magic.”

Rainbow Dash shot into the air with a flap of her wings. “Well, if magic’s no good, then we’ll just break out the old-fashioned way!”

“Rainbow, wait!” Twilight cried, but it was too late.

Rainbow Dash barreled into the dome at full speed, only for a surge of crackling energy to explode on impact. She screamed as the shock jolted through her body.

“Rainbow!” Applejack shouted, sprinting toward her friend.

“Over here, AJ!” Pinkie Pie called, crouching low and ready. Understanding instantly, Applejack galloped full-tilt, leaping onto Pinkie’s back. With a powerful buck, Pinkie launched the farm mare high into the air. Applejack caught Rainbow’s tail in her teeth mid-fall, yanking her free from the bubble and flinging her safely into Pinkie’s waiting hooves.

“Rainbow!” Scootaloo cried, rushing to her idol’s side as the others gathered around.

Twilight quickly knelt beside Rainbow, pressing a hoof to her neck and listening carefully. She let out a sigh of relief. “She’s going to be okay. It was a strong shock, but weather pegasi are trained to handle lightning. She just needs some time to recover.”

“That’s not the point!” Applejack said angrily, glaring at the shimmering barrier. “Somepony knew exactly what we’d try and set this trap to hurt us. And because of it, Rainbow got hurt anyway!” She ground her teeth, her voice low and dangerous. “Whoever’s behind this better hope Ah don’t find ‘em.”

Fluttershy whimpered softly, glancing back toward Sora, who was now running toward them. “Please… be safe…” she whispered, her voice barely audible as the hero drew closer.

~~~

Sora had watched everything unfold with growing confusion, the bizarre situation unfolding before him making little sense. But when Rainbow Dash cried out in pain, confusion turned to fear. Without hesitation, the stallion surged forward, hooves pounding against the dark, barren ground as he sprinted toward his entrapped friends.

Hang on, girls! I’m coming! I’ll save you!

Just as he neared the bubble, however, a crackling beam of magic shot out of nowhere, striking the ground directly in front of him. The force of the blast sent him sprawling backward, forcing him to land on his back with a hard grunt.

Dazed, the stallion quickly scrambled to his hooves, his ears ringing from the explosion, looking up, a chill ran down his spine as a portal of darkness tore open nearby, and a figure stepped out—a pony cloaked in black, her presence unmistakable.

“Well, well, well,” she purred, her tone dripping with mockery. “Look who it is—the little hero.” She spat the last word as though it were a joke.

Sora frowned as his Keyblade materialized in his maw. Lowering his head, he scraped a hoof against the ground, his voice hard and uncharacteristically grim. “You… You’re the one who attacked Ponyville!”

The mare chuckled, her laugh as dark as the world around them. “Ah…So you remember me then. Good. I do love leaving a lasting impression. It’s something of a talent, you could say.”

Sora growled, his grip on his Keyblade tightening. “I’m guessing this bubble is your doing. Let them go, now!”

The mare tilted her head, her crimson eyes glinting ominously beneath her hood. “Oh my, such mighty demands from the big bad hero.” She smiled wickedly beneath her hood, “But I don’t think you’re in any position to tell me what to do. In fact…” Her grin widened as cries of alarm erupted from behind her.

Sora’s heart sank as he looked past the mare. The bubble holding his friends had begun to compress, shrinking inward as the ponies inside shouted and scrambled in fear.

“What are you doing?!” Sora shouted, panic rising in his chest. “Let them go!”

The mare tutted, shaking her head. “Now, now, let’s not be hasty. I’ve got a delightful little game in mind. Here’s how it works: you either make your Keyblade disappear, or the bubble keeps shrinking, crushing your beloved friends. What do you say little hero?”

Sora hesitated, his mind racing. He didn’t want to believe she would harm them, but the sight of the bubble tightening around his friends left no room for doubt. With a flash of light, his Keyblade vanished, though his glare remained locked on the mare.

“There, that’s a good boy,” she cooed, her tone mocking. Her movements were slow and deliberate as she sauntered toward him, her hips swaying dramatically. “Now we can start the fun.”

With a wicked laugh, she conjured several shimmering blades of magic, their edges crackling with dark energy. “Here are the rules. The longer you stay on your hooves, the longer the bubble holds. If you touch the ground with anything but your hooves, the bubble shrinks.” She swiped at him with a blade, and Sora leaped back, narrowly avoiding it.

“If you summon your weapon, the bubble shrinks,” she continued, swiping again and forcing him to dodge. “And if these blades so much as graze you…” She let the implication hang in the air, her smirk growing as she watched him dart away from another attack. “Well, you get the picture.”

Sora’s jaw tightened, his fear for his friends fueling his resolve.

“Ready?” she asked, her tone dripping with glee. “One. Two. Three… Go!”

The mare lunged, her blades whirling toward him with terrifying speed. Sora’s instincts took over as he dove to the side, narrowly evading the attack.

The mare’s laughter rang out, echoing across the barren wasteland. “Oh, you’re good! I can tell you’re going to be so much fun. Do try to last, little hero. I want you to suffer for making a fool of me. And when I’m done with you, I’ll present you to my master as a broken little trophy.”

Her words struck a nerve, but Sora couldn’t afford to react. Every ounce of his focus was on the twisted game she had forced upon him. Lives were at stake—his friends’ lives—and he wouldn’t let them down.

He couldn’t.

~~~

“Ugh… Dangit. Y’all alright, Apple Bloom? Girls?” Applejack asked, her voice steady despite the tension in her shoulders as she scanned their surroundings and eyed the bubble warily.

“I… I think so, sis,” Apple Bloom replied, her voice trembling slightly as she stared at the shimmering walls of the bubble with wide, fearful eyes. “Ain’t hurt or nothin’.”

“Y-Yeah. We’re fine,” Scootaloo added, though the shakiness in her tone betrayed her unease. “No sweat… right?”

“What… what happened?” Rarity stammered, shakily rising to her hooves. Her legs felt weak, the memory of the bubble compressing still fresh in her mind. She glanced down at her sister who was hiding between her forelegs, shaking just as much as her older sister was.

“The bubble started shrinking!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed suddenly, cradling Rainbow Dash’s head in her lap. “It was so scary, but then it just… stopped! Maybe it got bored or something.”

“This ain’t time for jokes, Pinkie!” Applejack scolded, her voice firm but not unkind. “There’s gotta be a reason for all this.”

“Sunset Shimmer…”

The name fell from Twilight’s lips, drawing everypony’s attention. Their gazes followed hers, landing on a cloaked figure outside the bubble. She was locked in conversation with Sora, and the tension between them was palpable.

Applejack was the first to break the silence. “Y’all know her, Twi?”

Twilight shook her head, her scowl deepening. “Not personally. She revealed herself to me and Spike back at the castle. She… she told me to ask Celestia who she was.”

The cryptic response only raised more questions, but Twilight pressed on before anyone could speak. “We need to get out of here—now. She’s behind this. I know it. If we stay here any longer, we’re putting ourselves and Sora in even greater danger.”

A groggy voice interrupted their growing panic. “Jeez… did somepony get the number of that storm cloud?”

All heads turned toward Rainbow Dash as she stirred, blinking blearily as she tried to sit up.

“Rainbow! You’re okay!” Pinkie shrieked, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug. “I was so scared when you got hurt, and I didn’t know what to do, and—”

“GAK! Pinkie!” Rainbow wheezed, struggling against her friend’s enthusiastic grip. “Can ya let me go before you crush every bone in my body?”

As soon as Pinkie released her, Scootaloo darted forward and hugged Rainbow tightly. “I knew you’d be okay! No magic could keep the coolest pegasus in Equestria down!”

Rainbow chuckled weakly, patting the filly on the head. “Darn right. But… yeah, let’s not do that again if I can help it.”

Rarity watched the scene unfold with a relieved smile, glad to see Rainbow’s spirit still intact. But her attention was soon drawn away by a faint, shaky whisper. Turning, she spotted Fluttershy standing a short distance away, her gaze fixed on Sora and the cloaked mare. The pegasus’s fur was visibly paler than usual, her body trembling.

“Fluttershy?” Rarity asked gently as she approached her. “Are you alright, darling? Did you get hurt?”

Fluttershy didn’t respond right away, her voice barely above a whisper when she finally spoke. “He’s not using his sword…”

Rarity blinked, tilting her head in confusion. “Darling, what do you mean?”

Fluttershy turned to face her, panic clear in her wide eyes. “His Keyblade, Rarity. He’s not using it. Why isn’t he using it?”

Her words sent a chill through Rarity as she turned her gaze back toward Sora, the realization settling heavily over her. Something was very, very wrong.

~~~

“What’s the matter, hero?!” Sunset shouted, her voice laced with venom as she unleashed a barrage of magical blasts toward Sora. “Not feeling so heroic now, are you?!”

Sora darted to the side, his hooves pounding against the ground as he narrowly avoided each arc of magical energy slicing through the air. He didn’t bother to respond, his focus locked on outmaneuvering her while his mind raced for a solution. As he dashed around her, his gaze flicked toward the bubble holding his friends, a flicker of worry breaking his concentration.

That moment of distraction was ripe for the taking.

With a sharp surge of crimson magic, she struck the ground in front of Sora once gain, the sudden upheaval sending him stumbling and nearly losing his footing. Sunset’s horn flared once more, firing a concentrated blast directly at him soon after.

Thinking fast, Sora kicked a piece of loose debris into the air, using it as a makeshift shield. The blast collided with the rock, absorbing most of the attack’s force but still sending him flying backward. Sora hit the ground hard, bouncing once before twisting mid-air to land on all fours.

Without hesitation, he bolted toward Sunset, determination burning in his eyes. If he couldn’t attack with his blade he had other means of fighting after all.

Sunset smirked at his approach, her horn glowing as she fired a series of magical bolts in rapid succession. The stallion, however, was fast. He weaved through them effortlessly, leaping into the air as he neared her. With a quick flip, he aimed a precise kick, hoping to end the fight swiftly.

But Sunset was ready.

Her wicked grin widened as a shimmering red shield erupted around her Just before he landed his strike. His hoof struck the barrier with a loud crack. He was there for only a second before red lightning lashed out at him, surging through his body and sending waves of pain through him. With a flash, the shield disappeared, and Sora collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.

Sunset laughed maniacally, her voice echoing across the desolate terrain. “AHAHAHAHA! Oh, this is just too good! You’re too predictable, you know that?” She smirked as she looked behind herself watching as the bubble slowly began to shrink once again, Sora’s friend’s cries of distress cutting though the air once more. “What’s the matter, hero? Done already? Get up, or your friends are going to end up as pony paste!”

With a flick of her horn, she conjured magical blades, slashing at the ground near Sora as he rolled out of harm’s way and struggled back to his hooves. He glared at her with a fire in his eyes that even Sunset couldn’t ignore.

The mare shivered but smiled all the same. “That’s the spirit, hero. Now then…” Her horn flared, the blades hovering menacingly around her. “Shall we continue?”

~~~

Apple Bloom squeezed her eyes shut as another of Sunset’s magical strikes came dangerously close to impaling Sora. The stallion dodged at the last second, narrowly escaping harm. When the filly dared to open her eyes again, she let out a shaky sigh of relief and turned toward her sister. “What’s Sora doing? Why doesn’t he use his giant key thing?”

Applejack glanced down at the worried filly, her expression tight with unease. Her gaze shifted back to the chaotic battle in front of them. “Ah don’t know, little sis. He should’ve taken that mare down already.”

Her ears twitched as she caught the sound of Twilight muttering under her breath. Turning to face her friend, Applejack raised an eyebrow. “Twilight? Did ya say somethin’?”

Twilight’s head shot up, her eyes wide with realization. “He can’t. He can’t fight back.”

“What?” Sweetie Belle’s voice cracked as she looked at Twilight, confusion and fear in her young eyes. “What do you mean? He’s taken down monsters way bigger than him! He can handle her—I know he can!”

Twilight shook her head firmly. “No, you don’t understand. He can’t fight back… because of us.”

Fluttershy stepped closer, her voice trembling. “What are you saying, Twilight? What do you mean ‘because of us’?”

Twilight gestured to the shimmering bubble surrounding them. “This bubble, our magic being useless, Sora not using his Keyblade—it’s all connected. Don’t you see?” She pointed toward Sora, her voice rising in urgency. “I’ve been watching closely. Every time Sora touches the ground, the bubble shrinks. And earlier, when he summoned his Keyblade, it did the same thing.” Her eyes burned with frustration. “She’s using us to control him. She’s making us his weakness.”

The weight of Twilight’s words settled over the group like a storm cloud, leaving everypony frozen in shock and disgust. They exchanged uneasy glances, their horror evident as the full implication of Sunset’s twisted game sank in.

For a long moment, no one spoke, until Rarity broke the silence. Her voice quite. “Twilight… What do we do?”

Twilight’s gaze darted around the bubble, her mind racing for answers. No magic. No Keyblade. A death game with a madmare… What can I do?

Her frantic thoughts were interrupted by Fluttershy’s panicked cry. “Sora!”

Everypony turned toward the battle, their collective gasp echoing as they took in the sight before them.

~~~

Sora stood shakily, cradling his injured right foreleg close to his chest. Bright red blood dripped steadily to the ground, staining the barren landscape beneath him. His breath came in shallow gasps as he locked eyes with Sunset Shimmer, her twisted smile gleaming as she drew back the blade she had struck him with. The crimson liquid slid down its length, glistening in the dim, oppressive light.

"Ah… there it is," she purred, her voice eerily gentle, almost motherly. "I know it hurts, but isn’t pain such a beautiful reminder that you’re alive? And that scream…” She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing with sadistic delight. “So full of anger, regret, helplessness. Your heart is like an open book, little hero, and I know every inch of it.”

Sora growled, shaking his head in defiance despite the pain wracking his body. “You don’t have to do this. Stop while you still can!”

Sunset’s smile twisted into something even darker as she whipped her blade through the air, catching him across his left shoulder. He hissed in pain, leaping back instinctively and using his wings to create distance between them.

But Sunset only laughed. “Oh, no. This is far too much fun.” She brandished her blades, their sharp edges glinting menacingly. “Now be a good boy and make it last, hmm?”

Sora skidded to a halt, his mind racing. She hasn’t gotten faster… it’s me. I’m slowing down. I’ve been dodging too much, wasting too much energy. I have to stop her now… I have to save everyone!

Before he could act, another blast of Sunset’s magic caught him off guard, striking him just as he landed. The searing pain tore through his already battered foreleg, and he collapsed to the ground with a cry.

For a moment, the world was a blur of pain, and he thought he heard someone calling his name, but it was drowned out by the ringing in his ears. He tried to push himself up, his legs trembling violently under the strain, but before he could fully rise, Sunset’s hoof lashed out, sweeping his legs out from under him and sending him crashing back to the ground.

Sunset loomed over him, her expression one of mock pity. “Poor little hero. Just as my master suspected—you’re nothing without that Keyblade of yours.” She leaned closer, her tone almost playful. “Honestly, you’re not even worth his time. Maybe I should just kill you now and take that Keyblade for myself.”

She paused, her ears flicking as her lips curled into a sly smile. “Oh, but your friends… they’re quite worried about you, aren’t they?” Her horn flared, and with a wave of magic, the red hue of the bubble trapping the mares shifted into that of clear glass. “Ya know what...I’m actually feeling generous today. What with the idiot Sombra out of the picture and the hero at my hooves. How about I allow you to say your goodbyes before we end this little game of ours, hmm?”

She kicked Sora onto his side, forcing him to look at his friends. Their faces were etched with horror and anguish.

“You… you monster!” Rarity sobbed, tears streaming down her face. “Don’t you dare touch him again, or I swear I’ll—”

Sora’s pained cry from the mare stabbing his hurt leg silenced her, the white mare clutching a hoof to her mouth, unable to finish her sentence.

Applejack and Rainbow Dash pounded against the glass-like barrier, their hooves sparking with painful bursts of electricity, but they didn’t stop.

“Wow… it really does look like your friends care about you, huh?” Sunset sneered. “But I wouldn’t waste my breath on needless stuff after all. You all don’t have much time left you see. After all, he’s about to meet my master, and I’d prefer to save all the screaming for him.”

She delivered another vicious kick to Sora’s side, forcing him to double over in pain. Before he could recover, she slammed a hoof down onto his face, pressing him harshly into the ground. “What about you, hero? Got any parting words for your adoring fans?”

Sora coughed weakly, lifting his gaze toward the trapped mares. His eyes filled with shame as he looked down, his voice trembling. “I’m… sorry… I… just… please… let the girls go. You can take me just…”

“Don’t you dare!” Rainbow Dash shouted, slamming a hoof against the glass barrier. Her voice cracked with desperation. “You’re supposed to be the hero! You’re supposed to be the strongest!” She shook her head as tears began to form in her eyes, “Darn it, Sora! Don’t give up! We need you! All of us need you! Without you, we can’t do this! Now get your flank in gear and fight!”

Sunset threw her head back, laughing maniacally. “Oh, this is rich! Is this the power of friendship I’ve heard so much about? A little pep talk is supposed to magically give the hero the strength to win?”

Her laughter faded into a sneer as she leaned down, gripping Sora’s mane with her magic and yanking him up to eye level. “Let me remind you how the real world works: you either survive, like me, or you die. And just to prove my point…” Her lips curled into a wicked grin. “And just to prove my point, I’ll make you a deal. My master really doesn’t need you so how about he changes you back into a human.” Sora's eyes widened at that and she cooed softly. “Oh yes…I know what you really are keyblade wielder. We can send you back home…a little worse for wear but hey…you’ll be alive…and all you have to do is say let me live.”

Despite his pain, the stallion’s eye cut towards the mare as a low growl escaped his lips, “I’d rather die than let you hurt my friends.”

Sunset shrugged, her smirk unwavering as she pinned his head back to ground with her magic, ignoring the horrified cries of the mares. “Wrong answer. Guess you all lose.”

With a flick of her magic, she turned Sora’s head to face the glass bubble. “Care for front-row seats, hero? Let’s see how long it takes before their screams stop.”

Her horn flared, and the bubble began to slowly contract. Sora’s hazy vision blurred with tears as he watched his friends fight desperately against the inevitable. His body trembled as he tried to force himself to move, but the pain was too much.

The mares’ cries echoed in his ears, their voices piercing through his failing resolve. Hot tears streaked down his face as he choked out, “N-No… I… I’m sorry… I… I’m—”

Suddenly, a blinding flash of green light illuminated the battlefield, followed by a sharp cracking sound.

“What!? WHAT!?” Sunset shrieked, her triumphant grin twisting into shock. A loud impact echoed, as if something—or someone—had struck her.

Before Sora’s vision faded completely, he caught a glimpse of a hoof landing firmly in front of him. Light gray fur rippled in the otherworldly wind of the dark realm, a reassuring presence radiating from its owner.

A familiar voice spoke, calm and steady. “Kairi says, ‘Thanks for making her worry, lazy bones.’”

Sora’s lips moved faintly as consciousness slipped away, one word escaping in a whisper.

“Ri… ku.”

Author's Note

So did change a few things here and there. Made it a bit less edgy but kept the tone the same. Hope ya enjoy the rework