Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

By Steel Soul

Restful Respite Part 2

Green to start music and red to stop music

“And well…I went through the door and found myself on your world. The rest you guys pretty much already know.”

Sora, finally having finished his tale, sighed softly as he allowed his gaze to fall towards one of the barn’s nearby windows. It had been late morning when he had started telling the ponies his whole story, about the time of him finding the keyblade all the way until he had stepped though the portal into their world. Now it was deep into the afternoon, the sky uncharacteristically gray outside. It looked as if it was going to rain.

The silence hung in the barn like a blanket, heavy but not unwelcome, as everypony processed Sora’s incredible tale. The only sound was the faint rustling of the hay and the occasional gentle flicker from the candle lights that they used the illuminate the bar.

Then, out of nowhere, Scootaloo shattered the stillness.

“Ohmygosh ohmygosh ohmygosh! That was epic!” The filly couldn’t help but squeal, her small wings buzzing like a hummingbird as she launched herself into the air. With speed that would have made Rainbow Dash proud, she zipped across the barn and grabbed onto Sora’s leg, her wide, starry eyes staring up at him with unrestrained admiration.

"Not only are you an alien," she gushed, "but you’re just as cool as Rainbow Dash... barely… but that’s cool too, ‘cause nopony is as cool as Rainbow Dash… except you now! Barely! But still!”

Apple Bloom puffed out her cheeks as she too made her way towards the stallion, grabbing his other foreleg as she addressed her orange colored friend. “But he isn’t a alien alien Scoots.”

“What do you mean he’s not an alien?!” Scootaloo argured as she turned to the apple filly, looking as if she had been scandalized. “He’s from another world! If that doesn’t scream ‘alien,’ I don’t know what does!”

“He’s not tho’… not like those creepy critters in them scary movies,” she clarified as she looked up towards the stallion. A soft blush hit her face, staring into his big blue eyes. “But… ah… he is really… cool.”

“And absolutely selfless,” Rarity chimed in from where she had been sitting. She dabbed delicately at her eyes with her embroidered handkerchief, her voice soft. “From being forced to fight your best friend to using that horrid Keyblade on yourself to save your friend’s heart… I can scarcely imagine the pain you must have endured.”

“Even ah gotta admit that you paint a might tall tale, Sugracube.” Applejack spoke as she adjusted her hat. “But…havin’ seen ya in action myself, seen the things you can do with that there Keyblade, I can’t rightly deny any of it. You’re the real deal, Sora. And I reckon we’re mighty lucky to have ya here with us.”

“I…ah…Does that mean we’re cool?” Sora asked hesitantly, glancing at the group with a small, unsure smile.

Rarity cleared her throat delicately, drawing the stallion’s attention. “That, my dear Sora, goes without saying,” she gave the stallion a warm smile. “You have more than earned the right to be called our friend before sharing any of this with us.” She smirked. “What? Did you honestly think we would abandon you after everything you’ve shared with us?”

“I don’t know… maybe.” The tan stallion couldn’t help but admit as he rubbed the back of his head. “ I’ve never done this kind of thing before… ya know…telling others my story.” His expression softened. “And… you’re not mad at me?”

“Mad?” Twilight asked incredulously as she made her way towards the stallion, pointing towards her notes. “Are you kidding?! I just found out that there are whole other worlds out there! Whole other worlds. Ones full of creatures and places I’ve only dreamed of! And world of things I’ve seen which should be impossible!” She leaned in uncomfortably close, her nose practically pressing against Sora’s as her enthusiasm bubbled over. “And you’ve been there! Seen them! Are them! How in Celestia’s name do you think I would be mad of all things?!”

Rarity stepped in to place a polite but firm hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, gently pulling her back to give Sora some breathing room. “Twilight, darling, let’s give the poor stallion some space shall we.” She turned to Sora, her smile kind and understanding. “What Twilight is trying to say, in her own excitable way, is that no, she’s not mad at you—not in the way you might think. Nor are the rest of us.”

She tilted her head, her voice softening. “You’ve been through so much, Sora. Knowing that, it’s easy to see why you tried to keep us out of harm’s way. You wanted to protect us from the dangers of the Heartless, and that’s nothing for us to be upset about. In fact, it speaks volumes about the kind of pony—ah, person—you are.”

“Yeah!” PInkie agreed. “You’re super-duper amazing for fighting all those big baddies and standing up for what’s right, even when you didn’t have to! That just proves how awesome you are! And we’re proud to call you our friend!”

Fluttershy blushed as she gently brushed her leg against his own, gaining the stallion’s attention. “I… I feel the same way,” she said softly. “You’re our friend Sora…”

The stallion couldn’t help but blush brightly at the butter yellow mare’s words, hers hitting him quite differently…though…he didn’t know why. “I…Thanks, guys…but…I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have if it wasn’t for those around me.”

“And is that a bad thing?” Cadence asked gently with a tilt of her head. “Relying on your friends, I mean.”

Sora blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her question. “I… I guess not,” he admitted, scratching the back of his head. “It’s just… sometimes it feels like I should be able to handle things on my own, you know? Like I’m supposed to be the one they can count on.”

“But isn’t that what makes friendship so powerful?” the princess of love said, her voice gentle but sure. “The fact that you can rely on one another, filling in the gaps where one of you might falter? It’s not a weakness to lean on your friends, Sora—it’s a strength.” Her gaze softened. “And from everything you’ve said, it’s clear how much they mean to you, and how much you mean to them. That’s why the Keyblade chose you, isn’t it? Not because you were stronger or because you could defeat the darkness but because of his.” She gently placed a hoof on his chest. “Your heart being as big as it is…and I should know. Hearts are kind of my thing after all.”

“She’s absolutely right,” Shining spoke as he wrapped a hoof around Cadance. “Relying on your friends and the ones you love to help you through the tough spots is never a bad thing. I know I’d be lost without her support.”

“That's only when you’re being a big dork, Shiny,” Cadance teased playfully, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek.

Sora nodded along, the warmth of Shining and Cadance's words resonating with him. He genuinely agreed—friendship and trust were at the core of everything he believed in. But as the conversation moved on, a lingering thought bubbled up in his mind, unbidden and unwelcome.

But… What if your friends don’t trust you?

The thought sent a pang through his heart, and his smile faltered for the briefest moment.

Fluttershy, ever observant, noticed the change. She tilted her head, her gentle teal eyes searching his face. “Sora?” she asked softly. “Is… something wrong?”

He blinked, startled by her question, but quickly shook his head, forcing a smile. “No, no, it’s nothing,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m just… thinking, that’s all.”

Fluttershy didn’t look entirely convinced, but she didn’t press him. Instead, she placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Okay,” she said quietly. “But… if you ever want to talk about it—whatever it is—you can come to me. If it’s not too much trouble for you, I mean. I’ll listen. Always.”

“I…” Sora hesitated before smiling and nodding softly. “Thanks, Shy. But I promise. I’m fine. Nothing for you to worry about at least.”

Sora’s gaze flickered upward for just a moment, catching a glimpse of Princess Celestia’s face. Her eyes, usually so calm and wise, held a shadow of sadness that sent a pang through his chest. Either could say a word to each other, Twilight’s voice cut through the fog.

“There’s a lot I think I understand,” she began, her voice calm but probing. “But one thing really confuses me… You said you spent a whole year asleep? How does that even happen?”

Sora blinked before looking away, rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah, I guess that does sound kind of weird, huh?” He sighed and shifted his weight slightly. “It wasn’t exactly something I planned. Like I said during my story, one moment I was running to find the king and Riku and then…I woke up that white pod with Donald and Goofy. The only words in the journal was…Thank Namine…” He frowns as he folds his hooves across his chest. “Geeze…I still haven’t thanked her yet. Hope she’s not too mad.”

Twilight tilted her head, her brows furrowing as she processed his words. “But… didn’t you say Namine was Kairi’s Nobody?” she asked carefully. “How can you thank her if she’s already… well, with Kairi now?”

Sora’s frown deepened for a moment as he considered her question. “Yeah, Namine is Kairi’s Nobody,” he said slowly. He smiled as he placed both hooves behind his head. “I’m sure I’ll find a way to do so, though. Then I can thank her properly.”

Twilight opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Pinkie Pie leapt into the air with her usual boundless enthusiasm. “Ooooh! When you do find her, you can throw her a Thank You Party!” she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. “I mean, she must have helped you a whole bunch for you to want to thank her so much, so it’s only right to go all out!”

Sora couldn’t help but laugh at her energy, his earlier worries momentarily forgotten. “A thank-you party, huh? That’s not a bad idea, Pinkie.”

“I know right?!” Pinkie exclaimed even more joyish then ever.”We’ll have cake, balloons, streamers, and—oh! Maybe a banner that says, ‘Thanks For Whatever it is that you Helped Sora With!’”

Sora laughed again, shaking his head at Pinkie’s boundless enthusiasm. “That might be a little too long for a banner, Pinkie,” he said with a grin. “But I get the idea. A party to thank her would definitely be something she’d remember—if I can figure out how to find her, that is.”

Pinkie Pie bounced in place, her eyes sparkling. “Oh, don’t you worry, Sora! If anypony can figure it out, it’s you. And when you do, I’ll be ready with the biggest, bestest thank-you party ever!”

Celestia cleared her throat softly, her serene yet commanding voice cutting gently through the cheerful chatter. “If I may,” she began, her tone calm but serious, “I’d like to shift our focus to a more pressing matter—if my little ponies don’t mind.”

The room quieted, everypony turning their attention to the princess. Her expression, while composed, carried a hint of unease as her gaze rested on Sora.

“I’m worried about more than a few things,” Celestia continued, her voice steady. “But most importantly, it is your friend—Riku—working alongside the Queen of the Changelings. This concerns me deeply.”

Sora’s grin faded as Celestia’s words sank in. His brow furrowed, and he crossed his forelegs thoughtfully. “Queen of the Changelings?” he asked, his voice tinged with confusion. “Who’s that? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of her before.”

Twilight stepped forward, her expression serious as she began to explain. “Queen Chrysalis is the leader of the Changelings, a race of shape-shifters that feed on love. She’s incredibly cunning and dangerous, and she’s tried to take over Equestira.”

“And yet she helped Riku save both you and my little ponies from…that cloaked mare. Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia spoke her last words with more then a little pained etched into her voice. She shook her head turning towards Sora. “The question is, why is she working with your friend.”

Sora’s gaze dropped to the floor for a moment as he processed Celestia’s words, his mind racing. “I don’t know much about Chrysalis,” he admitted, his voice steady but thoughtful. “But Riku… he’s not weak. He’s made mistakes before, yeah, and…he can get on my nerves sometimes but...Whatever it is he’s doing, I’m sure he’s still one of the good guys.”

Celestia nodded, offering a reassuring smile. “Then I shall trust your judgment on this, Sora.” She turned to address the others, her expression calm but thoughtful. “For the most part, Riku seemed genuinely concerned about everypony’s welfare. I sensed no evil magic from him while he was in front of me. However…” She hesitated, glancing briefly at her sister before continuing. “I did sense something familiar.”

Her gaze returned to the group, her tone steady. “As for Chrysalis, despite our differences, it appears she is genuinely intent on helping Riku. After all, she did save Shining Armor. Am I wrong?”

The stallion in question frowned deeply, his gaze shifting away. “She… did,” he admitted begrudgingly.

Celestia nodded once more. “What Chrysalis seeks to gain from all of this remains a concern, but I believe Riku has a good head on his shoulders and will keep her in check.” She paused, her expression darkening slightly. “For now, however, our greater concern must be the one responsible for granting King Sombra his power in the first place.”

Twilight blinked, her curiosity piqued. “Wait… what do you mean, Princess?”

Celestia sighed, her gaze lifting slightly as if recalling a distant memory. “Long ago, during Sombra’s first uprising, I felt a presence—a darkness so overwhelming it even made me shiver. When the Crystal Empire disappeared, that feeling vanished as well, and I’d nearly forgotten it entirely… until Nightmare Moon’s return.” She hesitated before continuing. “If Nightmare Moon and Sombra are connected—”

Twilight tilted her head, cutting in. “But Princess, Nightmare Moon’s return was prophesied. How could she and Sombra be connected?”

Celestia’s expression softened as she looked away, her tone almost apologetic. “Twilight… that is a story for another time. And it is not mine to tell.”

Twilight opened her mouth to protest but caught the look in her mentor’s eyes. With a reluctant sigh, she bit her bottom lip and nodded, though it was clear her curiosity would plague her for nights to come.

Celestia continued, her tone steady but laced with concern. “What I do know is that the force behind Sombra’s rise is responsible for both his first and most recent attacks on the Crystal Empire. Their intentions remain unclear, but their actions put my ponies at great risk. Had things not played out as they did, we could have lost far more than a kingdom to the darkness.”

Luna stepped forward, her voice firm yet reassuring. “Be that as it may, dear sister, we did not lose. We regained not only the empire but also the memories of those lost to it. The enemy has lost their foothold, at least for the time being.”

Celestia allowed herself a small smile. “You’re right, Luna. They could not have anticipated the wild card that is Sora, nor the timely intervention of Riku and Chrysalis. Their defeat was more devastating than they likely expected.” She turned to Sora, her expression warm and grateful. With a slight bow of her head, she added, “On behalf of the Crystal Empire and all of Equestria, you have my deepest gratitude, Sora.”

Sora blinked, then grinned widely, placing both hooves behind his head. “Aw, it’s no biggie, Tia.” His casual response caused both Twilight and Shining Armor to, once again, exchange incredulous looks, though Celestia simply giggled softly.

Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves together, her bright smile lighting up the room. “Aww, friendships really do make the world go round!” She turned and bounded toward the barn door, throwing it open with a flourish. To everyone’s surprise, a crowd of ponies stood outside, chatting and carrying party supplies.

“Alright! Now that serious time is over,” Pinkie announced cheerfully, “let’s get this party started right!”

Twilight’s eyes twitched, and she opened her mouth to speak. “Wait! When did you—?”

Applejack quickly placed a hoof over Twilight’s mouth, shaking her head with a wry smile. “Twi… don’t. Just don’t. It’s Pinkie Pie. That’s all we need ta know.”

~~~

Sora had slipped away from the evening's festivities, his energy spent from dancing and, to his own surprise, singing with such enthusiasm that a brief respite felt well-earned. With a contented sigh, he settled beneath a nearby apple tree, which he was almost certain was the very same one where he'd first encountered the three little fillies many nights ago. Closing his eyes, he let the distant sounds of the barn's lively party wash over him. He'd lost count of how many times Applejack had to drag Pinkie Pie off the stage by her tail, thwarting yet another attempt to organize what Pinkie dramatically declared would be "the world’s biggest dog pile"—or was it a pony pile?

Now, with a rare moment of quiet, his thoughts drifted elsewhere. The stallion’s brow furrowed as questions churned in his mind. What was Riku doing here? How did he even find me? He let out a soft, frustrated sigh. More importantly… where did he go? The silence of the orchard offered no answers, leaving him with only the rustle of the leaves and the faint echoes of the celebration behind him.

"Hey, idiot!"

Sora jolted upright with a startled yelp, only to smack the back of his head against the tree he’d been leaning on. To make matters worse, three apples decided to tumble from the branches above, each one landing squarely on his head as if guided by sheer bad luck. He let out a pained groan, rubbing the sore spot on his crown while a faint tear of discomfort welled up in the corner of his eye. "Ow... What the heck?"

A snort of amusement sounded nearby, drawing his attention. A familiar blue mare dropped gracefully from the branches above, landing in front of him with an air of practiced ease. Her lips curled into a smirk as she quipped, "Is that a new way to buck apples? Better not make a habit of it—you might lose the rest of your brain cells."

Despite her teasing tone, her expression quickly sobered, the amusement in her eyes replaced by something much sharper. She didn’t look happy.

Still, it didn’t stop Sora from being so.

“Rainbow! It’s you,”

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, her wings giving a casual flick. “Well, look at that—if it isn’t Surlock Hooves himself,” she quipped, her voice dripping with mock amazement.

Sora ignored the jab and scrambled awkwardly to his hooves. “I’ve been… I mean… there’s a lot I gotta tell ya, Rainbow Dash, and…” He trailed off, fumbling over his words as his brain raced to organize the chaotic jumble of thoughts. “I mean, I’m not really—ow!”

Rainbow had given the to of Sora’s head a none-too-gentle tap with her hoof. “Don’t bother with the whole explanation, hero,” she said, her tone flat but pointed. “I already know everything.”

Sora raised an eyebrow, rubbing the fresh sore spot where she’d struck. “You do?”

Rainbow rolled her eyes for what felt like the hundredth time that evening. She flicked her head toward the barn, gesturing with a wing for emphasis. “Yeah, I do. I was up in the rafters, ya know.”

“Oh…okay then. Then I just wanted to let you know that-”

“That you’re sorry?” she interjected, cutting him off sharply. Her eyes narrowed, and she stepped closer, her voice dripping with frustration. “And why the buck do you think you even need to apologize to me?”

Sora blinked, caught completely off guard. “Well… I mean… it’s just…” He stumbled over his words again, unsure how to respond to the sudden intensity in her tone.

Rainbow’s eyes narrowed further as she leaned in, her voice colder now. “Are you sorry that you’ve been lying to us? Cause I could care less about that. It sucks yeah but I get it. So…Are you sorry that you’re not really a pony?”

Sora’s mouth opened and closed, his voice catching in his throat as he tried to find the words. “I-I… I mean, it’s not like I—”

Rainbow rolled her eyes and held up a hoof, cutting him off again. “I don’t care about that either,” she said bluntly, her wings folding neatly against her sides. “Do you think you’re the first ‘not-a-pony’ I’ve been friends with? Newsflash: I’ve got plenty of non-pony friends.”

Sora nodded slowly, though his brows knit together in confusion. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Then… why are you mad?”

Rainbow’s glare sharpened, and her wings flared slightly as she stepped closer, her frustration practically radiating off her. “You wanna know why I’m mad?” she growled, her voice low but charged with emotion.

Sora flinched slightly at her tone but stood his ground.

“I’m mad, Sora, because you…” Her voice caught for a moment, but she pushed through, her eyes flashing with a mix of anger and concern. “You went and nearly got yourself killed! For ponies you barely even knew! Who gave you the right to do something so…so…braindead as that!”

Sora cringed, his ears flattening as he tried to explain. “I was only just—”

Rainbow cut him off sharply, stepping even closer and fixing him with a piercing glare. “Oh, don’t even start,” she snapped, her voice dripping with frustration. “I already know what you’re gonna say. ‘I was just doing what was right. I was just fighting for my friends.’” She mimicked his voice with exaggerated drama, her wings flaring slightly. “Did I hit the mark?”

Sora winced, his mouth closing as her words struck uncomfortably close to the truth.

“You are nothing but a stupid selfish idiot! Did you think that we would be happy with you getting killed for us? Did you think that we…that I…” The mare seemed to deflate a bit, her wings drooping low. “I…All I could do was watch you idiot…Watch you almost die and there was nothing…nothing I could do to stop it.”

She trailed off, her chest rising and falling with a shaky breath. The fiery defiance in her stance seemed to melt away as she deflated, her shoulders sagging.

“I… All I could do was watch” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the sound of the first raindrops falling around them. “Watch you almost die…And I…I would have been…”

The soft patter of rain began to fill the silence as she didn’t…or couldn’t finish her words, dampening the ground around their hooves and matting their manes. Sora felt a pang of guilt twist in his chest as he watched Rainbow struggle with her emotions, her usually confident demeanor crumbling before him.

Sora barely had time to react as Rainbow Dash rushed toward him. Her hooves struck his chest—not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to make him stumble slightly. Before he could speak, her head rested under his neck, her wet mane brushing against his chest as the rain began soaking them both.

Then, to his surprise, she started hitting him again. Her hooves struck his chest repeatedly—not with the intent to hurt, but with the raw frustration of someone overwhelmed by emotion.

“You’re such an idiot!” she yelled, her voice cracking as she hit him again. “A stupid, selfish, reckless idiot!”

Sora stood there, stunned, as Rainbow’s hooves pounded against his chest, each strike filled with raw emotion rather than force. The rain fell steadily now, its cool droplets mixing with the heat of her frustration and the trembling vulnerability in her movements.

Soon, all he could feel was her trembling against him. He didn’t know if it was from the rain…or…something else. Still, he wrapped his hoovers around her, hugging the mare gently.

“I’m…Sorry Dash…”

Rainbow stayed still against him, her head resting under his neck, her wet mane clinging to his chest. For a moment, the only sound was the steady rhythm of the rain, the world around them fading into the background.

“You should be,” she murmured after a long pause, her voice muffled but no longer sharp. “You scared me, Sora. You scared me so much, and I hated it.” She pushed herself away from him, taking a step back. “I never felt so useless before in my life…And it was because of you…idiot…”

Sora opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. He wanted to say something—anything—that might ease the pain in Rainbow’s voice, but nothing felt right. So instead, he stood there, silent and steady, waiting. Something deep inside told him she needed this moment to let it all out.

Rainbow didn’t look at him at first. Her gaze was fixed on the ground, her mane clinging to her face as the rain continued to fall around them. When she finally spoke, her voice was lighter but carried an unmistakable exhaustion.

“You could have tried to free us,” she said quietly, her tone almost contemplative. “Maybe it wouldn’t have helped… maybe it wouldn’t have changed anything… but I…” She let out a frustrated huff, shaking her head. “Darn it… it just… sucks, you know?”

Sora nodded slowly, his chest tightening at the raw honesty in her words. “Yeah,” he said softly, his voice barely audible over the rain. “It does.”

It grew quiet as the rain softened, the clouds beginning to part, letting faint streaks of moonlight pierce through the dissipating storm. The gentle patter of raindrops became more sporadic, leaving the ground glistening with fresh dampness. Sora stayed still, giving Rainbow the space she seemed to need.

Then, without warning, she struck his shoulder—not hard, but enough to snap him out of his thoughts.

“Don’t do it again,” Rainbow said firmly, her voice steady though still tinged with lingering frustration. And… don’t you dare tell any of the others about this! I mean it! Don’t need them thinking I’m some kind of… sappy softie or something.”

A small smile tugged at Sora’s lips, though he held back a chuckle. “Your secret’s safe with me, Dash. Promise.”

“Good,” Rainbow muttered, glancing back at him with narrowed eyes, though her expression lacked its usual sharpness. “Because if you breathe a word of this, I’ll… I’ll…”

“You’ll kick my flank?” He finished for her, giving the mare a cheeky smile.

Rainbow puffed her cheeks out, her glare intensifying before turning away from him with a huff. “You’re such a jerk,” she muttered, flicking her tail in annoyance.

She took a few steps back towards the bare before tossing a look back over her shoulder, her smirk returning. “And just so you know, I’m taking your piece of cake for making me feel this way. Oh, and your next cake for that stupid, smart mouth of yours.”

Sora c laughed softly, shaking his head as he followed her. “Fair enough,” he said with a playful shrug.

As the two walked toward the barn, the faint glow of afternoon and the receding rain seemed to reflect the shift in the air between them. The storm had passed…at least for now.

mare.

Author's Note

Rework...woot