Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

Kingdom hearts of Harmony

By Steel Soul

End of the new Day

Canterlot
Train Station

The welcoming hiss announced the new arrivals to Canterlot City via the train station. Upon coming to a full stop the doors slid open to reveal a wave of passengers disembarking from the confines of the train carts. Among the crowd, two familiar figures stood out—one with a vibrant pink mane that seemed to bounce with every step she took and the other, a mare with a well-worn stetson hat perched firmly atop her head.

Pinkie and Applejack had made it to Canterlot at last.

“Boy howdy," The orange mare spoke as she turned towards her pink companion, "Feels like just yesterday we were here in Canterlot, eh Pinkie? Hehe. Might be ah have ta start up a travel tab with the princess with all the times we had ta come here ta meet them."

Said pink party pony bounced around her friend, poofy mane practically jiggling in place for a moment even after she came to a stop in front of the cowpony. "I know right! Its practically like our second home now, what with all the time's we’ve been here this year! Like the time with Discord and the time with the wedding and the-”

Applejack chuckled, placing a hoof on the pink mare’s shoulder to steady her. "Woah there, Sugarcube. Ah get what cha saying. We’ve had our fair share of adventures, that’s for sure. Ah was there for all of them so no need ta tell me what’s what." The farm mare adjusted her hat as she made her way down the walkway.

"Oh I know!" The pink mare mused. "Just like to think about all the fun times we had! Speaking of! We had a nice little send off with your family waving us goodbye back in Ponyville! That was really sweet of them!"

“Sure was," the farm mare answered before frowning softly. "Still, near broke ma heart seeing Apple Bloom tearing up at us leaving her and her friends behind, again.”

"Still crushing on him? Poor girl," Pinkie commented almost casually, her hops losing just a slight amount of bounce as she moved in time with her orange friend. "You should probably talk to her about it."

“Well ah was planning on…wait…” The farm mare shot a glare at her party making friend. “How they hey did ya know that Apple Bloom has a crush on Sora?”

The party mare stopped bouncing and put on a serious face, which was a rare sight. "Applejack, I know everything about everypony in Ponyville! It’s part of being the super-duper party pony that I am. Besides, it was pretty easy to figure out." She then giggled and bounced back to her usual cheerful self. "The way she looks at him with those big eyes and always finds a reason to be around him. Classic crush behavior!"

“Hehe…Ah tend ta forget how perceptive ya are Pinks.” The orange mare chuckled softly with a shake of her head. “Still, ah wouldn’t worry about her too much. Not like its gonna hurt her to have a boy she likes and she can like a heck of a lot worse then Sora. I'm sure its just some puppy love, besides. She'll git over it soon enough. We all do." The mare dismissed.

"Hmmm. I wonder," Pinky hummed thoughtfully with an exaggerated head tilt. "A bout of puppy love mixed with hero worship. Dangerous combination, that one."

The farm mare raised her eyebrow. "And ah think you are overthinking things Pinkie. I'm sure she'll move on to the next pony sooner or later. Sora is a might to old for her after all."

"Whatever you say, Jackie," The pink mare spoke with a slightly teasing lilt to her voice. "Though...Just a warning...Sometimes those feelings just don't ever really go away~"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "How bout we focus on getting on to the castle and stop worrying about my little sister's love life. I'm sure Twigirl and the others are-”

“Hey, Pinkie! Applejack!”

They both mares jumped slightly as their names were called, turning towards the voice where they found Sora in the distance, waving enthusiastically. Beside him they could see Rarity and Fluttershy too, both mares toned down compared to their stallion friend's high energy.

Pinkie Pie's ears were the first to perk up, the mare herself practically bubbling with excitement. “Ohmygosh! It's Sora! And Fluttershy and Rarity, too! Our friends!” The pink party mare couldn’t stop herself from rushing forward, her hooves flying out as she made a bee line towards the suddenly panicking stallion. It wasn’t long before both the party planer collided with the keyblade wielder, wrapping him in a tight hug as they were sent tumbling to the ground, her cheek gently rubbing against his own as if she was a happy little pony greeting their master. “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you guys!”

“Gah, Pinkie!" The stallion began before sighing softly and reletting to the pink mare, gently patting her back. "Good to see you too!"

The timid butter yellow mare approached the pair with a pout, wagging a hoof at her pink friend as she admonished her. "Pinkie Pie! You have to be more careful. You could have hurt Sora doing that."

Applejack couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her butter-yellow friend's words. "A bit protective there, aren’t ya, Fluttershy? I'm sure ya know Pinkie wouldn’t do something if she thought it would hurt them seriously, right?"

The yellow mare blushed deeply at her friend's words, her usual shyness coming to the forefront once again. "I... I just... um, well, I mean...She...he..."

"Why, Fluttershy,” Rarity interrupted her with a purr, a sly smile on her face as she made her way towards her yellow friend. “You can't be jealous that Sora is getting hugs from a mare that isn't you, now could you?"

Said mare's blush deepened, and her stuttering reached new heights, the poor yellow ball of anxiety unable to form a coherent response as she tried to defend herself, "Oh, no, it's not that, I just... I mean, I..."

Pinkie frowned at the sudden turn of events before looking between both the mare beside her and the stallion under her. She blinked once. Then Twice. Then gasped loudly as realization hit her like a tree. “Oh my gosh! You two are dating!!”

The stallion's eyes widened, and his cheeks turned a shade of pink to match the pink party pony’s mane. He looked away from her, rubbing the back of his head. "I...well...we...are..."

“Wait…no fooling?” Applejack asked." She looked from Sora and Fluttershy, both ponies giving a timid nod of admission. As soon as it was confirmed, a wide grin formed on the farm mare's lips, "Well, I'll be. Ah knew Flutters was sweet on ya, but ta think you two would actually start wooing each other. Can’t say I’m not surprised tho. Congrats, you two."

Pinkie Pie finally released Sora from her crushing hug, bouncing off him with a wide grin. "OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH! I can't believe it! My little Fluttershy and my friend Sora! Tying the knot! I can already imagine the wedding with all the confetti and cakes and decorations!”

Sora nearly jumped out of his skin at the pink party pony’s words, “W-what! No! Pinkie! We’re not that…” The stallion groaned. “I mean we only just started dating! Like….Yesterday! We're not that far into anything like that! Tell her, Shy!” He turned towards his filly friend, only to find that she had stopped working at the beginning of the hyper pink pony’s tirade.

Seeing Fluttershy's distress and having had a good laugh about it, Rarity soon stepped in with a gentle smile, intervening for the couple. "Pinkie, darling, I think you might be getting a bit ahead of yourself. Let’s give them some time to enjoy their new relationship before we start planning weddings."

"Oops, sorry!” Pinkie Pie's ears drooped slightly, but she nodded vigorously. “I just got so excited! But I'll try to keep it down." She gave the timid mare an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Shy. I didn't mean to overwhelm you."

The timid mare's cheeks remained a rosy hue as she nervously tucked a strand of her mane behind her ear. "I-It's alright, Pinkie. I-I appreciate your enthusiasm, but…um…like Sora said, we just started dating. We even went on our first official one this morning…breakfast.”

The pink mare gasped. “Really! You know what that means then!? A Pa-”

Applejack quickly clapped a hoof over Pinkie's mouth, cutting her off. "Nope. No time for parties right now, Pinkie. We were called to Canterlot by Twilight for a reason, and it’s best not to keep our bookworm waiting." She smiled as she turned towards the others. “That’s the reason you three are here waiting for us, right?”

“Yep!” Sora answered with a smile. “Decided to meet up with you here and walk together back to the castle. And it does give us time to catch up with you.” He raised a hoof towards the farm mare. “Hehe... Can’t say I didn’t miss either you or Pinkie Pie.”

The farm mare bumped his hoof with her own, grinning. "Missed ya too, Sora. Glad ta see my farmhoof is doing alright with himself.” She smirked. “On another note, ah’m Sure you got a wild, wingdinger of a story to tell about your adventure over in Trottingham."

The stallion’s smile faltered slightly as he turned towards Fluttershy, the timid mare's ears pinned back at the mention of the city and the sight of the stallion beside her. He sighed softly before rubbing the back of his head, turning back towards Applejack. "You don't know the half of it, AJ."

The farm mare noticed the change in their expressions and raised an eyebrow. "SY'all look like you’ve seen a ghost. Was it…that bad?"

“We’ll explain on the way darling.” Rarity spoke for the both of them, “We have the time to do so after all. It is…as they say, quite the tale of a tale after all.”

~~~

It was late into the afternoon when Sora, Fluttershy, and Rarity finished the whole of their tale, the trio having led Applejack and Pinkie Pie though the grand halls of Canterlot Castle, their destination, the library where Twilight waited for them. When it was all said and done, the farm mare was the first to speak, her hoof taking the hat off her head and placing it over her chest as she did so.

"Well, Ah'll be," The farm mare spoke softly, shaking her head in disbelief. "That sure sounds like one hay of an adventure. Ah can't believe y'all went through all that. If…If ah had know that would have happened then…I wouldn’t have let ya leave without me."

The fancy white unicorn shook her head gently. "Now, Applejack, saying such things doesn’t help anypony. We made it out alive, and that is what counts." She sighs. “Besides, that is something Sora would say and we are trying to break that bad habit of his. We don’t need you to start too.”

The stallion responded with an annoyed huff, crossing his hooves. "Hey, I only say it because I care, you know."

The fashionista smiled warmly as she turned towards the stallion. "I know, Sora. And we appreciate it. I just don't want any of us to beat ourselves up over 'what ifs.' It's important to focus on the present and be grateful that we made it through."

Before the stallion could respond, he suddenly felt Pinkie Pie’s hooves around his body once more, though he noticed an amazing amount of not getting his oxygen cut off. Looking down he suddenly found himself looking into a party pony he had only ever seen once in his life. And that was back at the Crystal Kingdom.

The pink one’s usual bubbly demeanor was replaced with a worried expression, her eyes searching deeply into Sora's own gaze. "Are you okay, Sora?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with concern.

He blinked, momentarily taken aback by the change in Pinkie. "Yeah, Pinkie, I'm okay. Why do you ask?"

The pink pony’s eyes softened, but the worry remained. "It's just... sometimes, even when you say you're okay, you might be hiding how you really feel. And I want to make sure you're really, truly okay."

Sora felt a lump in his throat as he saw the genuine concern in her ocean blue eyes. He sighed, giving her a small, reassuring smile. "Thanks, Pinkie. It means a lot that you care but I’m really alright…Promise.”

The mare frowned before pulling away from him, nodding slowly. “Okay.” She smiled before turning to Fluttershy. “Anyway! Don’t you think we kept Twilight Waiting long enough?”

The timid mare, her concern still evident but reassured by Sora’s words, nodded. “Yes, we should go see her. She’s probably anxious to get started.”

Applejack placed her hat back on her head, her expression resolute. "Alright then, let’s get to it."

It didn’t take long for the five to cross the threshold that led into the library proper, Rarity having found herself leading the way while the others followed. It was down one of the many aisles of bookshelves that they found not only Twilight Sparkle, but also-

“Rainbow!” The Keyblade Wielders Poke with a smile before pausing, his gaze falling onto the griffin right beside her. “Gilda?”

The griffin groaned at the sight of not only the one she stabbed, even if she was under mind control, but also Pinkie Pie too. "Great, it's you guys," she muttered, her voice tinged with a mix of annoyance and discomfort.

Rainbow Dash elbowed her lightly. "Gildaaaaaa. You said you would play nice and apologize."

The griffin huffed. “I didn’t think I would see them both at the same time!”

The stallion managed a small, reassuring smile, both of his hooves flying behind his head. "It's okay, Gilda. You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I know you didn’t mean to, sooooo..."

“Yeah Gilda!” The lone pink pony chimed in. “If you are friends with Rainbow again then that makes me more then happy!” She wraps a hoof around Sora’s shoulder, pulling the stallion close as she spoke. “So no need to worry about little ol’ us, okie doki?”

“Ugh! Y-you! Just shut up okay.” The griffin spoke, her talons slamming the table. “I’m going to apologize and that’s final you dweebs!”

The stallion blinked in surprise, but he quickly smiled again. "Alright, Gilda. We appreciate it. Right Pinkie?"

Pinkie Pie giggled. "Yep-a-roony! Apology accepted!"

The griffin blinked before turning towards Rainbow, frowning. “Your friends are too… much…”

Rainbow smirked, giving her griffin friend a playful nudge. "I could say the same about you, G."

“Ahem!”

They all turned to see Twilight looking between everyone with a frown. “Now that everypony… and creature is here.” She smiled towards Gilda, who only huffed. “I do believe we can get started. Before we do though,” She turned towards Applejack. “Did you get the rest of the Elements of Harmony from my Library? I did tell you Rainbow already has hers so the other five should have been there right?”.

The freckled farm mare nodded, a sense of pride in her eyes. "You bet, Twilight. Found 'em safe and sound in the library, just where you said they'd be." She reached into her saddlebag and pulled out five gleaming gems, each a different color of the rainbow. "Here they are, ready for action. Still…can’t believe that Rainbow’s Element teleported to her hoof when she called for it. If you had told me that a few months ago ah would have thought you were plum crazy.”

“I know right. Guess the Elements and Keyblade are more connected then that one mare told us before.” Sora agreed before turning towards The lavender mare. “That aside for now… you said that we are meeting two Diamond Dog queens, right?”

“Diamond Dogs?” Applejack asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Queens?” Pinkie Pie followed up, tilting her head.

Twilight’s expression turned serious. "Indeed. The Diamond Dogs have two queens who rule over different territories within their queendom. Sisters to be exact.”

“Not that I'm judging them but…But why two territories?” The farm mare asked. “Are they fighting over the throne or something?”

“That’s…something I don’t know myself." The purple unicorn answered with a bit oif hesiatiaton. “From what I learned from Princess Luna and Cadance they had an argument but what it was about I have no clue. What we do know is that one of their sisters spotted an odd monster deep within the mines. She was able to escape it but from her description…it very well could have been Heartlesses.”

Sora's eyes widened. "A Heartless? Think it might be related to Grogar then?”

Twilight frowned, contemplating the possibility. "It's hard to say. It very well could be it has nothing to do with Heartless at at. It was just the one sighting after all. The only other odd thing is diamond dogs vanishing there for a few months.

“Vanishing…that can’t be good…” The stallion’s expression turned serious. "Well…Heartless or not…Grogar or not…if someone is in trouble then there’s no way I can’t help.”

“And that's just it, Sora,” the lavender mare spoke up. “I know you want to help and I know you aren’t used to it, but there is a lot of red tape stopping you from doing so.”

Sora frowned, confused. "Red tape?"

The lavender unicorn released a patient sigh as she turned to face her keyblade wielder friend. "Whether we like it or not there are political implications involved. The Diamond Dogs' internal affairs are delicate from what I hear, and us intervening could be seen as overstepping. We need to approach this carefully and make sure we have their cooperation."

“Really?” The stallion couldn’t stop the huff that escaped his lips. “That sucks. I never had to deal with stuff like that when I was…ah…Traveling before.” He spoke, keeping the fact that he was a world hopper from Gilda. “I mean I did have a few rules here and there but…”

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, but you always managed to find a way to help, right?"

Sora nodded. "Yeah, I did. And I want to help here too."

"And you will, Sora. We will. We just need to be smart about it. We’ll approach the queens diplomatically and suggest a plan where a few of us follow them to their queendom. As a survey team as it were."

“A few of us?” The rainbow maned mare questioned.

Twilight nodded. “Indeed. I hate to say it, especially with what happened to you all back in Trottingham.” She cast her gaze from Rarity to Rainbow and from Fluttershy to Sora. Stopping on Gilda who had been quiet the whole time. “But splitting up right now is the best course of action. If…and that is a big if…something were to happen to us in the Diamond Dog queendom…Then we will need the other’s to pick up where we left off. Find Riku and get his help if it comes to it.” She then returned her gaze towards back towards the stallion. “Is that…acceptable?”

The keyblade Wielder’s gaze fell at the lavender mare’s question, his hoof instinctively grasping his chest, just above the scar he had received during his time in Trottingham. The memory of that close call, and how Ventus had saved him, was still fresh in his mind and it was something he felt Twilight knew as well. She was only taking his well being into account, he knew that. Still, he couldn’t help but feel a little self conscious about the fact she couldn’t trust in his abilities alone. Too many close calls. He wasn’t so stupid as to not see that was why she was suggesting this course of action. She even asked him for his consideration…still..

The stallion gasped, feeling a gentle touch on his hoof. He looked over to see Fluttershy, her butter-yellow hoof gently grasping his own and looking up at him with a gentle, reassuring gaze.

“Sora?”

The keyblade wielder in question took a long deep breath before reaching up and gently grasping her hoof with his own. He offered her a wide yet thankful smile before turning back to Twilight, determination in his tone.

“Yeah…That sounds like a good plan, Twi.”

The purple mare nodded, relieved. "Thank you, Sora. It means a lot to me that you trust this plan."

“Right…with that out of the way.” Rainbow spoke up. “The real question is…who’s going with the Diamond Dogs?”

“No way I’m not going with ya.” Applejack spoke up. “If anything, ya might need so good ol fashion muscle down there in them mines with them Diamond Dogs. And ah reckon' Ah'm the pony for the job.”

Pinkie Pie raised her hoof eagerly. "Ooh! Ooh! Can I go too? I bet I could make the Diamond Dogs smile and maybe even throw them a little party! That could help, right?"

The lavender mare looked towards the pink one with a mix of concern and consideration. "Pinkie, this isn’t going to be a vacation. We need to approach this carefully and diplomatically."

The pink mare nodded vigorously despite her smile turning from joyful to determined. "I know, Twilight. But I can’t not go. A bit of cheer, even a little of it, could go a long way in gaining their favor and brightening their day. Sometimes a smile can make all the difference."

The lavender mare made to protest but sighed, closing her mouth and thinking better of it. “I guess…You do have a bit of a point…” She shook her head. “Fine. You’re coming too. And that means me and Sora for last.” She turns to Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. “That means you three are on standby back in Ponyville.”

A groan of frustration caused all to turn towards the prismatic pony pegasus nearby. "Aw, come on, Twilight! You know I hate sitting on the sidelines."

The lavender mare gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know, Rainbow, but we need someone reliable here in case things go south. If anything happens to any of us, we’ll need you to find Riku and get his help."

Rainbow groaned again before slumping into a nearby chair. The blue mare knew her friend was right…she just hated the fact she had to admit it. "Gah…Alright, fine. Whatever. But you better believe I'll be flying your way if anything happens to any of you. Just give me the word."

"I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, Rainbow." Twilight answered with a soft giggle. She then turned towards Gilda. “And I know we don’t have any right to ask you…and after everything you went though…but…”

“Hehe…What are you trying to do? Butter me up purple?” The griffin spoke in a teasing tone, her arms folding across her chest. “Well you don’t have to. Was planning on staying in Ponyville for a while anyway so I’m not going anywhere.”

The lavender mare smiled, grateful for Gilda's support. "Thank you, Gilda. Your help means a lot." The mare sighed softly before standing up. “So we have a plan and a big day tomorrow…so…We should take time to rest up early.”

Pinkie Pie bounced in place, her enthusiasm uncontainable even with the serious situation. "Ooh, maybe we can have a small 'get ready for tomorrow' party! Just a tiny one!"

Rarity chuckled softly. "Perhaps something more subdued, Pinkie. A little relaxation to help us prepare."

Fluttershy fidgeted as she spoke up, her tone quite yet uncharacteristically firm. "A quiet evening does sounds nice everypony.” The timid mare gently grasped Sora’s hoof. “But…um…if it's okay…I mean…I don’t want to be rude and I love all my friends…um…”

The fashionista smirked. “Let me guess…You want to spend some time alone with Sora before he leaves with the Diamond Dogs?”

The timid mare blushed deeply but nodded. "Yes, if that's alright."

“You know you don’t have to ask us for permission to have some alone time with Sora, darling.” Rarity spoke.

“I know that Rarity…I just…” The timid mare looked down. “I didn’t want to seem rude and…Its not fair to the rest of you…and…”

Applejack stepped forward, placing a comforting hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. "Sugarcube, you ain't bein' rude at all. It's perfectly fine for ya to want some time with Sora. We all get it." She turned towards the stallion in question. “Guess we’ll all see ya tomorrow then, hero. Make sure to do right by our shy little princess here.” She teased.

Both Sora and Fluttershy blushed, the former of the two groaning as he turned towards the retreating mare, "Not you too, AJ..."

The farm mare smirked, glancing back at the pair. "Couldn't resist, especially with you two. Y'all have a good night now."

The stallion sighed as she shook his head, perking up at the gentle hit to his side. Turning he found Rainbow smirking at him. “See ya tomorrow then Spiky. You to Shy.”

“Yeah. Sure, Dash. And…ah…” He rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry for…ya know…being all mopey before. Barely got time to hang out.”

The blue pegasus blushed a bit before shaking her head and hitting his shoulder again. "It's fine. You definitely gotta make it up to me later, but for now, go hang out with your fillyfriend."

Sora chuckled, relieved. "Will do, Dash. Thanks."

Fluttershy smiled at Rainbow. "Goodnight, Rainbow. We'll see you in the morning."

Dash gave them both a smirk turning to head back to her room. "Have fun, you two! Come on Gil.”

“Oh! Can I come too!” Pinkie squeaked as she followed after the pair.

Rainbow gave them both a smirk, turning to head back to her room. "Have fun, you two! Come on, G."

Gilda rolled her eyes but followed after Rainbow. Just as they started to walk away, Pinkie Pie bounced up beside them. "Ooh! Can I come with you two? We can have a little sleepover! It'll be fun!"

The blue pegasus grinned. "Well…I don’t mind Pinkie…what about you, Gil."

The griffin sighed but didn't protest. "Fine, pink one. But keep it down, okay?"

The party pony nodded eagerly. "Promise! It'll be fun, you'll see! Oh! I can bust out my party cannon and have a real fun time!”

As the trio left, it was Rarity’s turn to make her leave. “Alright darlings. I do believe I’ll be taking my leave now. I do wish you all a good night.” She bows her head before turning to leave with all the grace and poise of a true fashionista.

After watching her leave, the couple turned towards Twilight, the timid mare speaking up for the both of them. “What about you, Twilight? I guess you’re staying here for a while?”

"That's correct.” The lavender mare answered as she made to get up from her seat. “I'll be here for a bit longer. There are still a few things I need to prepare for tomorrow after all. You two go ahead and enjoy your evening."

Sora looked at The lavender mare with an appreciative smile on his lips. "Thanks, Twi. We'll see you in the morning then."

“Indeed.” Twilight agreed as she gave the pair a gentle smile. “Goodnight, you two. Rest well. And do not stay up too late, okay?"

With their goodbyes said, Sora and Fluttershy made their leave, the pair exiting the Grand Library and into the Grand Halls proper. The windows shimmered with a gentle orange glow, the day well into the evening and growing into night. The corridors were quiet save for the occasional guard, with only the soft echo of their hoofsteps accompanying them as they walked.

“So…” The stallion spoke, breaking the silence between them after a while. “What do you wanna do?”

Oh…well…Hmm…” The timid mare mulled over the question as she pulled herself closer to him, an answer popping into her mind just as she did so. “I…well…how about we take a walk in the gardens? It's supposed to be a full moon tonight and I’m…umm…sure it will be beautiful to look at."

The keyblade Wielder nodded, his smile widening. "That sounds perfect. Let's go."

~~~

Applejack was led to her room for the night, the farm mare once again finding herself within the peaceful stillness of her quarters. She sighed contentedly, grateful for the chance to finally unwind after a long day. She needed time to rest, the mare having been on her hooves for far too long the past few days. To think that she would be coming to Canterlot, just as she had wished her Aunt and Uncle well wishes just a few hours ago. The mare wondered how they were doing.

She settled into her room, the soft glow of the evening sun casting long shadows across the floor. She removed her hat and placed it on the bedside table, running a hoof through her mane as she sighed. The day had been long, and tomorrow promised to be just as eventful. She hoped that the upcoming meeting with the Diamond Dog queens would go smoothly.

As she lay down on the bed, her thoughts wandered to her family back at Sweet Apple Acres. Especially Apple Bloom. Pinkie Pie’s words echoed in her mind, more so now than it was back at the station ever since she found out that the stallion had actually started dating Fluttershy proper now.

Applejack's mind raced. She was happy for Sora and Fluttershy, but she couldn't help but worry about her little sister. Apple Bloom seemed to have looked up to the stallion ever since the older sister had introduced him to the family, and her crush on him had been painfully obvious to those who knew her well. The farm mare knew that first crushes could be difficult, and she didn't want Apple Bloom to be heartbroken.

As she stared at the ceiling, the farm mare thought about what she could say to comfort her sister when she returned home. She knew Apple Bloom was strong, but she also knew how sensitive the young filly could be.

"I reckon I should have a talk with her," Applejack muttered to herself. "Make sure she's alright and knows there's plenty of fish in the sea." She sighs as she rolls to her side, her exhaustion from the days on end helping out with the reunion catching up to her. “I’m sure she’ll be alright…she is an Apple after all…”

With that thought, she felt a bit more at ease. She closed her eyes, letting the day's exhaustion catch up with her. The room was quiet, save for the faint sounds of the castle settling for the night. Her breathing slowed as she drifted off to sleep, her dreams filled with thoughts of home and family.

~~~

Within another one of the guest rooms within the castle, Rainbow, Gilda, and Pinkie were all settling in for the night ahead having been led to one of the guest rooms with accommodations for three, even having separate rooms for them all. They had gathered within the spacious living room area of their suite, each finding a spot to relax after the long day. The Pink Party mare, being her usual self, couldn’t help but jump for joy around the room nearly bouncing off the walls as Rainbow and her friend watched with a raised eyebrow.

"Ooh, this room is so spacious! I can already feel the party vibes in the air!" Pinkie exclaimed, her excitement infectious as she twirled around happily. “I didn’t even know they had a room like this in the castle! Its almost like another house!”

“Okay, Pinkie, calm down a bit,” Dash said with a chuckle. "We're just having a sleepover after all. No need to get too excited."

"But sleepovers are like tiny parties!” The pink mare grinned, her eyes sparkling with unrestrained glee. “And parties are what I do best!” She giggled before stopping abruptly, turning towards the griffin. “What about you, Gildy? You planning on getting some shut-eye, or are you gonna join in the fun?”

Gilda raised an eyebrow at Pinkie's question. "I think I'll pass on the party vibes, thanks. I’m trying to actually relax after spending two whole days int the slammer, ya know.”

“Oh please!” the griffin’s rainbow maned friend butted in. “You told me all about your time in Canterlot Jails. They were a Three Star Hotel at worst.”

"Rainbow, being locked up is being locked up, no matter how cozy you try to make it sound.” The griffin explained, despite the slight ruffle of her feathers at being called out by the blue peagsus. “I just want to get some decent rest for once, without any interruptions."

The party pony giggled, her bouncing finally coming to a stop. "Okay, Gilda! I'll keep it down. Still, even if it's a soft and quiet game, we can still make it fun! How about we start with some games?"

"Yeah…A board game does sound pretty cool.” Rainbow mused, leaning back in her chair. “As long as it's not that one where you have to buy properties. Too long and too slow for my taste.” She turned towards the mare. “What do you have in mind, Pinkie?"

“Oooooh! I got quite a few actually!” The pink mare pulled a bag from under a nearby chair before she began to rummage through it, pulling out various board games and party supplies. "I've got Twister, charades, and—oh! How about knockout!?" She placed a board on the ground before tossing the other’s four little pieces for each of them, Gilda’s being brown and Rainbow’s being blue. She then began to set her own pieces on the board in one of the corners on her side of the game mat.

The griffin looked at the board with mild interest, then shrugged. "Alright, I guess I can give it a shot. As long as it's not too complicated."

Rainbow Dash leaned over to inspect the pieces. "Yeah, this looks like it could be fun. Just as long as Pinkie doesn't have some crazy rules in mind."

Pinkie Pie giggled once again, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Don't worry, Dashie! The rules are super duper simple. We each take turns rolling the dice and moving our pieces around the board, trying to knock each other's pieces off while keeping our own safe. You can put all your pieces out on the battlefield but you can only move one at a time. Last one with pieces on the board wins!" She gasped. “Oh! And before I forget, if you get a six and you have a piece not in the field, you have no choice but to move one into it.” She smirked. “Its to make sure you don’t horde all your pieces and adds a bit of spice to the game!”

Gilda picked up her brown pieces, examining them thoughtfully. "Sounds straightforward enough, and right up my alley.” She tossed it in the air and caught it, a smirk forming on her beak. “Alright, let's do this."

Rainbow Dash grinned, picking up her blue pieces. "You're on, Pinks. Let's see what you've got!" She placed her pieces on the board, ready for the game to begin.

Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves together in excitement. "Okay, let's start this knockout showdown!" She rolled the dice first, the colorful cubes bouncing across the board before settling on a number. With a squeal, she moved her first piece out into the battlefield, the others following after her.

“So!” The pink one mused, her eyes not once leaving the board. “I know you said you met at flight camp but…how long have you two known each other?”

Gilda looked up from the board, raising an eyebrow at the mare "Huh…oh…Well…We met at flight camp when we were just kids. Must have been… What, Dash? Ten years ago?"

"Yeah, about that, I think,” the blue pegasus answered, smirking a bit. “Hehe…I remember you looked just as timid as Fluttershy when we first met.”

Gilda rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her beak. "Yeah, well, I had to warm up to the place. New environments and all that. But you, Dash, you were a firecracker from day one."

Rainbow Dash laughed, rolling the dice and moving her piece. "What can I say? I was born to be awesome. And you toughened up pretty quick, G."

A yellow beak smirked, taking her turn. "Had to, to keep up with you."

Pinkie Pie giggled, her piece moving strategically. "Sounds like you two were quite the team! Did you get into any trouble?"

Rainbow Dash and Gilda exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"You could say that," the blue pegasus of the two answered,. "We pulled our fair share of pranks. Like the time we switched out the coach's whistle with a squeaky toy. He was so confused!"

The griffin laughed, the memory clear in her mind. "Or that time we set up a fake cloud and made it rain confetti on the whole camp during morning roll call. Everyone was covered in rainbow sparkles for days."

Pinkie Pie's eyes widened with delight. "That sounds amazing! I bet everypony loved it."

"Well, not everyone," Rainbow admitted, still chuckling. "But it was worth it for the laughs. We had a blast."

“I can tell.” She smiled though even Gilda could see that it was more subdued but no less joyful. “And I’m so happy to see the two of you together again! honestly, had felt really bed when you had your fallout in Ponyville…couldn’t help but think it was my fault a bit when you both yelled at each other.”

“Oh yeah…that…” The griffin’s expression softened, rubbing the back of her head as she looked away from her. "Listen Pinkie. I was the one who messed up, okay. Even if its annoying for me to admit, I was a jerk and I let my temper get the best of me, taking it out on you and Dash. Not to mention that whole thing with…ya know…being the one to hurt Rainbow’s coltfriend.”

The blue mare’s wings flared. “Gah! I told you! Sora and I aren't dating Gilda!”

“Well duh. He’s just your colt friend, right?” The griffin smirked as she watched Rainbow’s cheeks turn a shade of pink. “Its what you always told me after all.”

“I…well…yes! That’s right!” the rainbow-maned mare huffed. “Why the hay did you word it like that?!”

Gilda chuckled, her smirk widening. "Because it's fun to see you get all flustered, Dash."

Rainbow Dash grumbled, crossing her forelegs. "You're impossible sometimes, you know that?"

“Hmmm…” Pinkie placed a hoof on her chin as she looked at the rainbow maned mare intensely.

As the exchange between friends continued, their laughter would die down just a bit as both giffin and pegasus noticed the pink mare staring at Rainbow Dash with an unblinking gaze. The intensity of Pinkie's look caused The blue pegasusto raise an eyebrow at her pink friend.

"Uh, Pinkie? What's up?" Rainbow asked, feeling slightly uncomfortable under her friend’s scrutiny.

The pink mare squinted her eyes as she leaned forward, causing the blue mare to lean away, eyes darting from left to right. After what seemed like an eternity, Pinkie suddenly smiled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. Without breaking eye contact, she picked up one of her pieces and knocked Rainbow’s own off the board.

"Gotcha!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, her grin widening. "Sometimes you just need to focus on the game, Dashie!"

The pegasus slumped down in her chair, once again free from the pink one’s gaze. Despite the happy atmosphere Pinkie eluded, something that even affected Gilda at this point, Rainbow couldn’t help but think that her friend had ripped something from inside of her and what it was…she didn’t even know.

~~~

Rarity smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, the hat she had purchased perched perfectly upon her head. She admired the elegant design and how it accentuated her mane just right. Since she was already in Canterlot, she had figured she would meet up with Fancy Pants tomorrow after seeing her friends off. He had, after all, wanted to discuss a few things with her about her boutique in Ponyville, and she was eager to hear his feedback on her latest designs. She could even show him what she was making for herself and her friends. The mare smiled, making her way towards the other two packs, ones just like she had made for Twilight.

“I best give these to Pinkie and Applejack tomorrow. Aside from how fashionable they look, I’m sure they will need the extra magical protection Twilight enchanted into them…After all they are going into the thick of it once again…” The mare shivered at the thought before shaking her head, forcing a smile on her lips. “I’m sure they will love them…Just like Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy love theirs…”

As she placed the packs neatly upon the table, Rarity allowed herself a moment of reflection. Now that the immediate worry for her friends' well-being—both Sora's and Fluttershy's—was lessened, she found herself alone with her thoughts. Now, in the quiet of her room, she couldn't help but feel the weight of everything hit her all at once and with such force, the fashionista nearly toppled over onto the bed, the sheer exhaustion and emotional strain overwhelming her.

Her mind replayed the events in the Crystal Tower, the intense battle at Trottingham, seeing her friends get hurt, and the ever-present threat of the Heartless and Grogar. Each memory brought a pang of anxiety and sorrow and anger, and she couldn’t help but find herself trembling under the weight of it all.

She had maintained a brave face for so long, ensuring that her friends saw her as a pillar of strength and elegance. It was no less than what generosity would do after all. But now, in the solitude of her room, she allowed herself to feel the fear and worry that she had been suppressing for so long.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered the harrowing moments when she thought she might lose her friends. The terror she felt seeing Sora injured, the desperation as they fought against overwhelming odds, and the lingering fear of what Grogar might do next.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "It's alright, Rarity," she whispered. "You're strong. You've always been strong. But it's okay to feel this way too."

She wiped away the tears that threatened to spill over, taking a shaky breath to compose herself. The mare knew she couldn't afford to wallow in her fears. And she was afraid…even more so than when she and her friends had faced down Discord. The stakes felt higher, the threats more insidious and unpredictable.

She glanced over at the packs she had prepared for Pinkie and Applejack. The outfits inside were more than just fashionable—they were a labor of love, imbued with Twilight’s magical protection and her own meticulous craftsmanship.

She walked over to the table, gently touching the fabric. "I have to believe in these, just as I believe in my friends," she said, her voice steadier now. "We will get through this. We have to. And then…after all that…” She shook her head. “I best get some sleep. I must look like a mess right now…And after that spa day I took with Fluttershy…”

As Rarity settled into bed, the soft moonlight filtering through the window provided a calming presence, casting a gentle glow over the room. She couldn’t help but feel Luna’s moon upon her fur, almost as if it was trying to calm her. She would have a dreamless sleep that night, the mare unknowingly thankful for it.

~~~

Sora and Fluttershy made their way through the quiet halls and out into the gardens. The transition from the softly lit corridors to the open air of the garden was breathtaking. The sky was a deepening blue, the first stars beginning to appear, and the full moon cast a silvery glow over everything. The flowers in the garden seemed to glow under the moonlight, their colors muted but still vibrant. The gentle rustle of leaves and the soft chirping of crickets added to the serene atmosphere.

“Hehe…Hard to believe that Luna raises the moon like that every night,” the stallion spoke as he turned towards Fluttershy. “At least that's what Twilight told me before.”

The timid mare looked at Sora with curiosity. "Who raises the moon in your world, Sora?"

The stallion chuckled softly. "In my world, we don't have anyone who raises the moon. It just happens naturally, part of how the world works. The moon follows its own path around the Earth."

“Oh my…that sounds…kind of scary.” The mare spoke with a shiver. “How do you think it knows to raise and lower itself?”

“Hehe…That's kinda out of my ballpark, Shy.” The stallion admitted. “I did sleep though class sometimes after all.”

Fluttershy giggled softly, a gentle smile on her face. "No…its fine. I should be the one sorry for putting you on the spot like that. Guess it just shows how different our worlds are…” She frowned slightly. “I guess…everything else is done on its own too? Like with the weather and the seasons?”

Sora nodded, looking up at the moon thoughtfully. "Yeah, in my world, everything runs on its own. The weather changes, seasons come and go...it’s all part of the natural cycle. We don't have any magical ponies controlling those things like in Equestria."

“It must be scary…living in a place that acts just like the Everfree Forest all the time.”

Sora chuckled softly. "I guess it does sound a bit like that, but it's just normal for us. Besides, I’ve seen the Everfree as we walked by it to your cabin, and honestly only a few places on our world has a forest as thick as that. "

The yellow mare nodded slowly, still looking a bit concerned. "I suppose it's what you're used to. But it does sound a bit...unpredictable…and scary…." She paused. “But…I can get use to that I guess…I mean…I do want to see your world after all.”

“Oh…well…I wanna show you my world!” The stallion exclaimed. “I mean We live by a huge ocean. Crystal clear and blue like the sky. If we’re lucky we can even see dolphins swimming in it. Oh! And then there's my other friends! Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie. I think You’ll like them alot. I know Wakka and Tidus got this weird game in the water they play all the time now. They actually taught me a lot about it.” he smirked as he rubbed a hoof under his nose. “Not to brag but with their help I became a pretty fast swimmer. Don’t even need the tailfin I got from when I turned into a merman.”

A soft laugh escaped the yellow mare, not quite understanding what he was saying about the tailfin part but happy about it either way. "That sounds wonderful, Sora. I…Um…I wouldn’t mind visiting your friends and your island.” She paused. “But...um, what about your family? Are your mother and father...?"

The stallion’s expression softened at the mention of his parents. "Yeah, they’re both there too. My mom, shes is amazing. She’s always been there for me, supporting me even when I go on these crazy adventures. How Master Yen Sid convinced her to do so I’ll never know…but…can’t say it’s not uncommon for people from our village to ship off and travel the world. Hehe…I even heard they call our home Destiny Islands as a joke sometimes, funny enough.” He turned towards her. “What about your family? I don’t think you talked about them yet.”

She looked down for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Well, my family is very different from yours, I think. My parents are...um, very quiet and reserved. They always encouraged me to be kind and gentle, but they never really understood my love for animals. My brother, Zephyr Breeze, is...well,” She frowned. “Well…he is my brother.”

The stallion’s eyes widened. “You have a brother? Thats pretty cool” He smiled. “I’m an only child so I don’t have any siblings. What’s he like?”

"Zephyr is...unique.” Fluttershy answered after of nearly a full minute. “ He’s very confident, sometimes too much so. He often starts things but doesn’t finish them. He can be…annoying sometimes.”

“Ouch…” Sora couldn't help but feel like she was counting off a list she had memorized before talking to him. “Hehe…Looks like I kinda stepped into a land mine on this one huh? Sorry for bring him up.”

The shy mare shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "No…It's alright, Sora. Zephyr may be a hooffull, but he's still family. He may be a bit…umm…unconventional, but I still want to see him happy…”

A gentle breeze blew through the garden, causing Fluttershy to shiver slightly and move a little closer to the stallion for warmth. Noticing this, He extended his wing and gently wrapped it around her, providing additional warmth and comfort. The usually timid mare looked up at him with gratitude, and they continued to walk in comfortable silence for a while, the moonlight casting a serene glow on everything around them.

After a few moments, Fluttershy broke the silence, her voice soft with concern. "Sora, will you be okay?”

Sora glanced at her, a hint of confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean, Fluttershy?"

She repeated herself, her voice even softer. "I mean... will you be okay? I don't want what happened last time to happen again. I don't want you to get hurt."

“I…” The stallion made to speak, but the look within the mare’s eyes told him that she wouldn’t settle for anything but the absolute truth from him. He sighs before looking forward. “I can’t promise you I will be okay…Not after what happed back in Trottingham…I did tell you that I would make you worry if we…started dating after all.”

“I know…But…even if we weren’t I would still be worried…” The timid mare responded.

The stallion turned to her, his eyes filled with concern and affection. "Fluttershy, I understand. And I don't want to put you through that kind of worry. But this is something I have to do. It's part of who I am. I can’t just stand by when others need help."

Fluttershy nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know, Sora. And that’s one of the reasons I care about you so much. Just at least…Try and come back in one piece…Don’t do anything that could get you k-killed…”

“All I can say is…I’ll try.” He told her, a smile forming on his face. “Mostly because there still a whole lot of dates we need to go on. No way I can pass that up. Not after getting my first girlfriend.”

The mare blushed deeply at that before looking away, her hoof raising to gently run though her pink mane with a shy smile. “Y-Yes…And I can’t wait to…um…Go on lots of dates with you too…”

As they continued their walk, they came across a nearby fountain, the sound of trickling water adding to the serene atmosphere. The shy mare slipped from under Sora's wing to stand in front of him, her eyes soft and warm.

Sora tilted his head, a hint of concern in his voice. "What’s wrong, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy didn’t respond immediately, the timid mare looking down before gently saying. “We should…head to bed now. I don’t want you getting in trouble with Twilight by oversleeping after all…you know how she is.” Before he could respond, the shy mare moved closer and gently nuzzled under his chin, her soft mane brushing against his face, the scent of strawberry and vanilla filling his senses. He didn't pull away or ask what she wad doing. Instead he leaned a bit into it, his chin resting softly upon the top of her head, used to the mare's actions by now. When she finally pulled away, he could see a noticeable blush on her yellow cheeks.

“Hehe…” The stallion laughed, knowing full well his own were tinged pink as well. “Another goodnight charm?”

The yellow marenodded shyly, her eyes glancing away before meeting his again. "Yes... I just wanted to make sure you have sweet dreams."

“I’m sure I will then…” He told her. “Um…Goodnight?”

Fluttershy smiled softly at the stallion, a warm and genuine expression on her face. "Goodnight, Sora. Sweet dreams." With a final shy smile, she turned and made her way back towards the castle, her graceful movements like a gentle breeze in the night.

Now alone, the stallion placed a hoof over his chest, the spot she pressed against so carefully. The spot where he had been hurt. He stood there for a moment, feeling the warmth of the timid mare’s gentle touch lingering for more than a while. “So…this is what it feels like to have a girlfriend…huh Riku?” He asked softly, knowing he wouldn’t get an answer. “Hope you are treating her right then…You and Kairi…” He shook his head. “I’ll have to talk to them both…soon…at least let them know I’m okay.”

The stallion gave the fountain one last look before turning and making his way back into the castle. He had to be ready. Another day, someone else that needs to be saved.