Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

Kingdom Hearts of Harmony
By Steel Soul

Ponyville Train Station

It was early morning dawn when the train carrying Fluttershy, Rainbow and Gilda finally chugged into Ponyville’s station. As the steam billowed out and the doors opened, the trio, along with many others who had rode within, stepped out onto the platform.

It had been a quiet ride all the way though, and now that they were where they needed to be, the blue pegasus would be the first to speak up, the mare stretching the kinks out of her wings before doing so.

"Finally! I thought that ride would never end," she groaned, before taking off to hover in the sky. "I swear, trains are just not fast enough."

Fluttershy, who had been quietly observing the scenery throughout the ride, lowered her head slightly, a hint of guilt washing over her. She had asked Rainbow Dash to accompany her on the train because she felt more comfortable traveling with a friend, especially since Rarity had decided to stay back in Canterlot. The thought that she might have inconvenienced her friend made her feel uneasy.

"I'm sorry, Rainbow," the timid mare murmured softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know you would have preferred flying here instead. I just... I didn’t want to travel alone."

The blue pegasus, noticing the change in her timid friend’s demeanor, immediately landed back on the platform beside her, her expression softening. "Hey, don’t worry about it, Shy," she responded with a wave of her hoof, giving her friend a reassuring smile. "I might complain, but you know I’d rather be with you than flying solo any day."

Gilda, watching the interaction between her old friend and the yellow mare, rolled her eyes slightly but wisely kept her beak shut. She knew better than to say anything that might upset Fluttershy, especially given the history between them. Not just with Trottingham, but with when she first entered Ponyville too. The last thing she wanted to do was open old wounds, not after she and Rainbow finally made up.

Said friend’s voice caught her attention, the blue mare making her way in front of herself and the shy mare "Alright! Now that we're back in Ponyville, how about we go grab something to eat? I don't know about you two, but train food is just... bleh." She made a face, sticking out her tongue for emphasis. "I could go for something way better."

"That sounds, um, nice, Rainbow Dash.” The shy mare spoke up, a small smile forming on her lips. “Sugarcube Corner should be opening soon around this time. We could, um, go there."

"Yeah, whatever.” Gilda spoke, “As long as it's not those tasteless sandwiches they serve on the train, I'm in."

"Awesome! Then lets head on over!” The rainbow maned mare mused. “Pinkie might not be there, but the Cakes are just as, if not better bakers then she is. They even have some fish stuff on their menu for creatures like you Gil.”

The gryphon’s smirk widened a bit at that. "Fish, huh? Now you're talking my language, Dash." She then glanced over at Fluttershy, her expression shifting slightly as she considered something. "But, uh… you sure she’s gonna be okay with that, D? I mean you did tell me she talks to beast and stuff."

The yellow mare looked up at Gilda, her eyes wide with surprise before she offered a small, reassuring smile. "Oh, it's okay, Gilda. I understand that griffons need to eat meat, just like many of my animal friends. It's a part of nature, and I wouldn’t dare ask you to go against it. As long as it's done respectfully, I don't mind."

The gryphon seemed genuinely surprised by the yellow mare’s response, her tough exterior softening just a bit. "Huh. Uh…sure…I…ah… I didn’t expect you to be so... understanding about it. Thanks, ah…Fluttershy right?"

Said mare nodded gently, her smile widening a bit. "mh-mhh. And you're welcome, Gilda. I know we all have different needs, and I respect that."

Rainbow Dash, pleased with how the conversation was going, gave Gilda a playful nudge. "See? I told you Fluttershy’s one of the coolest ponies around. Now, let's get moving before we start drooling all over the platform."

The gryphon chuckled, her guard lowering even more. "Alright, alright, Dash. Lead the way. Let's see what this Sugarcube Corner is all about."

The trio made their way through the early morning streets of Ponyville, the familiar sights and sounds of the town bringing a sense of calm and comfort. The soft light of dawn bathed everything in a warm, golden glow, and the streets were just beginning to bustle with the first ponies of the day.

As they walked, the three of them began to relax, the awkwardness from earlier easing into a more comfortable silence. Gilda couldn’t help but notice how peaceful the town was compared to the bustling cities she was used to. It was… nice. Almost too nice, but she wasn’t about to complain.

When they reached Sugarcube Corner, the delicious aroma of freshly baked goods greeted them, making all of their stomachs rumble in anticipation. The building itself was as colorful and welcoming as ever, with its gingerbread-like design and cheerful atmosphere.

Rainbow Dash pushed open the door, the bell above it chiming softly as they stepped inside. Mrs. Cake was busy arranging a tray of cupcakes behind the counter but looked up and beamed at the sight of them. "Good morning, dearies! What can I get for you today?"

The blue pegasus grinned, her eyes scanning the display case filled with an array of tempting treats. "Morning, Mrs. Cake! We just got back from a long train ride and are in desperate need of some good food. Gilda here could go for something with fish, and I’ll take whatever's the sweetest thing you've got!"

As she finished her order, a familiar voice called out from behind them, filled with its usual youthful energy. "Rainbow Dash! Fluttershy!"

The girls turned to see Sweetie Belle trotting up to them, her eyes bright with excitement. Right behind her was Spike, who waved enthusiastically, his voice as just as much so. "Guy! Wasn’t expecting to see you here!"

A wide grin formed on the pegasus’s face. "Hey, squirt! Spike! What are you two doing up so early? Shouldn't you be sleeping in on a weekend?"

The little filly shook her head. "Nope! Me and the girls got a lot of crusading to do today so me and Spike came here to grab breakfast before I meet up with the others."

Her curiosity piqued, Rainbow raised her eyebrow as she looked between the two little ones, finally noticing that the other girls weren’t with Sweetie. "Just you and Spike, huh? Since when did you two start hanging out together?"

“Oh! Well…” The little filly began to shuffle her back hooves as a foreleg began to rub the back of her head. “It’s a little recent. Kinda just…ya know…happened one day.” She smiled. He’s fun to talk to and really funny.”

Gilda smirked, pretending to cough as she muttered, "Date," into her talon.

A quick hot blush formed on both the filly’s and dragon’s cheeks at the gryphon’s ‘subtle’ phrase.. "N-No! It’s not like that at all!" she stammered, clearly flustered. "We’re just friends hanging out!"

Spike rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin as he added. "Y-Yeah, just friends! She asked me out and I had on reason to say no." He coughed. “A-Anyway! You’re back in Ponyville right? Does that mean Twilight and the others are here too?”

"Actually there’s a lot we gotta talk about." Rainbow told him. “But it will have to wait a bit. Hungry as a horse you know.”

Fluttershy, sensing the need to ease the lingering awkwardness, smiled warmly at the dragon and Sweetie Belle. "If you two are staying here for a bit, why don’t we all eat together? It would be nice to catch up and talk over breakfast."

The filly nodded eagerly. "That sounds great! We were just about to order anyway."

Spike, clearly relieved by the change in subject, quickly agreed. "Yeah, that’d be awesome! We can sit together and you can tell us what’s been going on."

~~~

In the skies high above Equestria, aboard the grand airship known as the Celestial Voyager, a lavender unicorn began to stir. Twilight Sparkle slowly opened her eyes, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the porthole of her cabin. The gentle hum of the ship's engines provided a comforting rhythm, a reminder that they were still gliding through the vast skies on their journey.

She stretched her legs, feeling the satisfying release of tension as she shook off the last remnants of sleep. Despite the comfort of the bed, her mind was already racing with thoughts of the day ahead. They were on an important mission, and there was much to be done.

Twilight carefully climbed out of bed, her hooves making soft taps against the polished wooden floor. She moved towards the small desk in her cabin, where she had left her notes and plans the night before. Her magic automatically reached for a quill and parchment, but before she could dive back into her work, her gaze was drawn to the porthole, offering a stunning view of the sky.

The dawn was breaking, casting a golden hue across the clouds, blending with the soft blues and purples of the early morning. For a moment, Twilight simply stood there, mesmerized by the beauty of the scene.

Before the lavender mare could immerse herself in her work, a sudden knock on her cabin door interrupted her thoughts. She turned her head toward the sound, recognizing the familiar, cheerful voice that followed.

"Hey, Twilight! It’s Sora. Mind if I come in?"

She smiled, her heart warming at the sound of her friend’s voice. "Of course, Sora," she called out, her magic gently turning the door handle to let him in.

The door swung open to reveal said stallion, his trademark grin already in place. He looked as energized as ever, despite the early hour. "Morning, Twi!” He paused. “Oh…ah…I didn’t wake you did I?”

Twilight shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping her. "Not at all, Sora. I was already up. Just admiring the sunrise." She gestured towards the porthole, “Was there something you needed?”

The stallion shook his head, the ever-present grin softening into a more sheepish expression. "Nah, I was just kind of restless. Couldn’t really sleep, so I’ve been up most of the night. Figured since it’s you, you would be up about this time too."

“Oh?” She pouted. “And what does ‘since it’s you’ mean?”

The keyblade wielder blinked, caught off guard by the lavender mare’s pout. He quickly raised his hooves in a mock defense, grinning sheepishly. "Whoa, no need to break out the pouty face! I just meant that you’re always up early, working on something important. You know, the whole ‘Twilight’s always prepared’ thing."

Twilight’s pout softened into a smile, and she gave a small chuckle. "Alright, I’ll let you off the hook this time. But you’re not wrong—I do like to get a head start on the day. Was just about to send a report to Celestia actually.”

Sora tilted his head, his brow furrowing slightly in confusion. "A report? But it’s barely been a day since we started this flight. Do you really need to send one already?"

The unicorn nodded, her expression thoughtful as she began to explain. "I know it seems a bit early, but I like to keep Celestia updated on our progress, no matter how small. It’s important that she knows we’re staying on track and that everything is going smoothly so far. Plus, it helps me stay organized and focused on what needs to be done."

He smiled, placing both hooves behind his head in his usual relaxed manner. "I can't argue with that, Twi. I’m more used to just winging it most of the time, so I guess I can’t really relate."

The mare gave Sora a playful deadpan look, rolling her eyes with a knowing smile. "Oh, I know all too well. 'Winging it' is practically your motto."

The stallion couldn’t help but chuckle, unbothered by the light teasing she was throwing his way. "Hehe…something else I can’t argue with.”

Twilight shook her head with a soft sigh, her expression shifting from playful to slightly concerned. "At least for now, Sora, try to keep that impulse on hold, okay? We don’t want you getting hurt again."

With his hooves moving back towards the ground, he gave the mare a nod and a more reassuring smile. "Hey, Don’t worry, Twilight. I’ll be as careful as I can be. It’s not like plan on rushing into anything without thinking, it just happens and I respond the best I can.” He pauses as he looks towards the window. “Besides, maybe the DD queens are right. Maybe the dogs are just leaving on their own…"

The lavender mare couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, her expression settling into a deadpan. "DD queens? Really, Sora?"

Sora blinked for a moment, then rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "What? It's faster than saying 'Diamond Dog queens' every time. I’m just being efficient!"

She released a sigh, knowing that she should expect nothing less of the silly stallion before her expression softened. A tinge of concern still evident despite trusting his words. "I really do hope you're right, Sora. If the Diamond Dogs are just leaving on their own, it would be a relief. But we still need to be prepared for anything, just in case."

The stallion nodded, his tone turning more serious now that they were on the subject. "Yeah, I get that. We have to be ready for whatever we might find when we get there.” He sighs, as he looks away, scratching his cheek. “Sometimes, I wish it was that simple…but…when it comes to the Heartless, it never is.”

Twilight's concern deepened as she watched the keyblade wielder expression shift to something more reflective. His usual optimism was still there, but it was tinged with a hint of weariness that she hadn't seen in him often. She would have said something to lift his sprits a bit but then paused.

Maybe…Maybe now that he was a bit more serious and talkative…

The lavender mare took a seat at her desk’s chair, setting her writing material down before turning to face the stallion, giving him her full attention. “So, Sora…I know you told me all about your adventures, but I don’t think we really…well…talked?”

The stallion blinked as he looked back at the mare, his brow furrowing slightly in confusion at her words. " Huh? Talked?”

Twilight nodded, her expression gentle as she tried to find the right words. "Yes, Sora. We’ve talked about your adventures, the places you’ve been, and the battles you’ve fought, so I’m not talking about anything like that.” she paused for a moment, carefully choosing her next words. "What I mean is… we haven’t really talked about you. How all of…well…everything has affected you. How you feel about everything you’ve been through."

Sora blinked, clearly surprised but not put off by her words. Mostly…confused? He frowned as he folded his forelegs across his chest. "How it affected me? I guess… I haven’t really thought about it. There’s always been another world to save, another fight to get ready for."

Twilight frowned slightly as she spoke, her voice was gentle, almost too much so. "Sora, you’re seventeen now, right?"

He blinked at the unexpected question, nodding slowly. "Yeah, that’s right."

The mare hesitated for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "How long have you been fighting the Heartless?"

Sora blinked again before shaking his head, his expression thoughtful as he recalled his journey. "Ah…I think Since I was fourteen. So… about three years now."

Twilight’s eyes softened even further as she absorbed that. "Three years… That’s a long time to be carrying such a heavy burden. Most ponies your age are just figuring out what they want to do with their lives, but you’ve been out there saving worlds and fighting darkness."

The stallion offered a small, lopsided smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I guess it is a lot if you think about it. But it’s just… what I’ve had to do, you know? The Heartless don’t really give you a choice. They’re always there, always causing trouble." He holds out his hoof and summons his keyblade. “I’m the Keyblade’s chosen after all.”

"Did you ever try to say no?” The lavender mare asked. “To step back from all of it?"

Once again, the stallion was caught off guard by this mare’s sudden questions. One’s he never really had time to think about. Now that he had time though, he thought back on his journey, on all the battles he had fought and the worlds he had saved. Everyone he had met and everyone whose lives her changed. There was only one answer he could come up with after a long while.

"No," he said softly, his voice steady but contemplative. "I never really tried to say no. It never felt like I could in any case."

Twilight tilted her head slightly, her gaze curious but gentle. "Why not, Sora?"

The stallion sighed, his expression growing more reflective as he thought back to the early days of his journey. "When I first got the Keyblade, all I wanted was to find my friends and go home.”

He laughs softly, “I mean yeah it was fun at first. I was traveling to different worlds, one after another. And I made a ton of new friends doing so... But as I traveled from world to world, I saw how much the Heartless were hurting people, destroying lives. I realized that if I didn’t do something, if I just walked away every time… They would end up losing everything, just like I did when the Heartless attacked and destroyed my world. Just like how they are attacking yours.”

The Keyblade shimmered briefly before vanishing from Sora’s hoof, leaving behind only the weight of his words. His gaze met hers, and for a moment, there was a deep vulnerability in his eyes, something that Twilight hadn’t often seen in the usually upbeat stallion. Something that was quickly pushed back down as the stallion closed said eyes, a smile forming on his face,

"It wasn’t a big deal though.” he told her, with a wide smile. “I just did what was right, you know? It’s what anyone would’ve done in my shoes."

Twilight frowned as the stallion grinned. She knew Sora well enough by now to understand that he often downplayed his own struggles, choosing instead to focus on the well-being of others. It was one of the qualities that made him so special, not just her but the rest of the girls deeply.

Despite that, however, she decided not to press the issue. The lavender mare knew that if he ever wanted to open up more, he would do so in his own time. Instead, she opted to steer the conversation in a different direction, one that might lift his spirits.

With a gentle smile, she shifted the topic. "So, Sora, how did your date with Fluttershy go the other night? She mentioned something about you two spending some time together before we left."

The stallion’s face quickly flushed a deep shade of red at Twilight’s mention of the word "date," and he quickly averted his gaze, suddenly finding the floor of the cabin very interesting. "Date? Well, I mean… yeah, we did spend some time together, but… I guess it was a date, wasn’t it?"

“Yes Sora.” The lavender mare giggled. “It was a date. You had at least two of them so far, yes?” She leans in. “Tell me, do you like spending time with her?”

His blush deepened as Twilight leaned in, her curiosity evident. He hesitated for a moment, still not entirely comfortable talking about feelings like this so openly, especially when it came to Fluttershy. But the sincerity in her eyes made him feel safe enough to be honest.

"Yeah," he admitted, a shy smile forming on his lips. "I really do like spending time with her. She's… different from anyone I've ever met.” He pauses. “She tends to be a little…pushy sometimes.”

"Pushy? Fluttershy? That’s not something you hear every day," she teased gently, though her tone was filled with genuine interest.

Sora scratched his cheek, his blush deepening as he tried to explain. "Well, it’s not like she’s pushy in a bad way. It’s just… she’s only like that when I’m being mean to myself, you know? When I start doubting things or feeling down, she’ll give me a little tap on the head or a nip on my wing and remind me to stop."

Twilight smiled warmly at that, her heart melting a little at the thought. "Now, that sounds just like Fluttershy. She has a way of knowing exactly what someone needs, even if it’s just a gentle reminder to be kinder to yourself.” She smirks. “Though I never knew she would be so physical with another pony. That just means you are extra special to her I think.”

The stallion shifted slightly, feeling both flustered and touched by the idea. "I don’t know about being extra special," he mumbled, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “I’m just…well…an ordinary person…er…stallion.”

Before she could respond to his humble words downplaying himself yet again, a soft knock on the door caught both of their attention. The door creaked open, revealing Applejack standing in the doorway. She had a relaxed expression, but when she noticed both Twilight and Sora looking at her, she paused for a moment, clearly surprised to find them together.

"Oh, sorry if I’m interruptin’ somethin’," The orange mare spoke with a small smile, her tone light and easygoing.

The unicorn quickly shook her head, offering Applejack a warm smile. "No, not at all, AJ. We were just talking. Is there something you need?"

Stepping into the room the farm mare’s eyes glanced between the two of them as she spoke. "Well, I was just lookin’ for ya, Twi. Wanted to talk about the plans for when we land, but I can see y’all are busy, so I can come back later if ya want."

Sora, eager to ease the situation, quickly waved a hoof. "No, it’s fine, Applejack. We were just finishing up anyway."

Twilight nodded in agreement. "Right. We can go over the plans now. Sora, if you want, you can stay and help. We could use your input too."

He shook his head with a small grin. "Thanks, Twi, but I’m not really the thinking type. I’ll leave the planning to you and Applejack. But I’ll definitely listen to what you have to say later. Right now, I’m gonna go find Pinkie Pie. She invited me to help with some baking last night before bed, so I was gonna follow up with her on that."

The lavender mare smiled with a roll of her eyes "Alright, Sora. Have fun with Pinkie, and we’ll catch up later."

Applejack chuckled, tipping her hat towards the stallion. "Y’all take care now, Sora. Don’t let Pinkie get ya into too much mischief."

He laughed as he headed towards the door. "No promises, AJ!" He waved goodbye to both of them before slipping out of the room.

Once he was gone, the farm mare turned back to Twilight. "Better check in on them later. I’m sure they’ll have the mess hall staff in a right tizzy soon enough."

She chuckled at Applejack's remark, shaking her head with a fond smile. "Knowing Pinkie and Sora, you're probably right.”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, curiosity evident in her eyes as she leaned casually against the desk. "So, what were y’all talkin’ about, anyway? Looked like a pretty serious conversation when I walked in."

Twilight's smile softened, her thoughts briefly drifting back to the conversation she’d had with Sora. "We were just talking about some of the things he’s been through.” She shakes her head. “Honestly, I can’t say I don’t relate. I mean…we saved the world a few times ourselves…though." She looked towards her friend. “You know…he’s been fighting since he was fourteen?”

"Fourteen?” The farm mare repeated, a soft whistling escaping herr lips, “I mean I figured as much…but still…That’s awfully young to be dealin’ with all that. No wonder he’s so good at keepin’ things to himself, even if it sucks at it."

Twilight nodded, her expression thoughtful. "He has. He doesn’t let it show, but it slips…like the time you told me about back when the Heartless attacked Ponyville. You said he was angry…more at himself then anything, right?"

Applejack's frown deepened as she recalled the incident. "Yeah, I remember that. He was real hard on himself even after saving both me and Big Mac. Kept sayin' he should’ve been faster, should’ve seen it comin’. It was like he blamed himself for every little thing that went wrong." She shivered softly. “Down right chillin seeing such a kind guy get angry…”

"I know he can be hard on himself, but I’ve never really heard how you got him to snap out of it that day. You didn’t say much when you told me about the attack."

The farm mare gave a small, knowing smile, tipping her hat back a bit as she recalled the memory. "Well, Twilight, sometimes it ain’t about sayin’ a whole lot. Sora’s a good kid, but he’s got that stubborn streak, just like the rest of us.” She pauses. “Hehe…Getting the full context of the story he told us, Ah think ah get it now when he said it wasn’t supposed to be him…meaning the Keyblade wasn’t supposed to be his and all.”

The unicorn’s expression grew more thoughtful as she considered Applejack's words. "He might think the Keyblade wasn’t meant for him, but after everything he told us about what happened in Hollow Bastion… he’s more than earned the right to wield it.” She frowns a bit. “I…wonder if I would have been as nice to Riku when I first met him if I knew what he did to Sora back then…I wonder if I would have been as nice to Starlight too…”

Applejack shook her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Maybe that’s just who Sora is, Twi. He’s got a way of seein’ the good in folks, even when they’ve done him wrong.”

"You’re right.” The unicorn mused. “Just…wish he would be more…I don’t know…careful.”

Applejack winked at Twilight, a playful glint in her eyes. "That’s why he’s got us, sugarcube. You, me, and the rest of the girls—we’re here to make sure he doesn’t do anything too stupid."

The unicorn chuckled softly, her smile returning as she nodded in agreement with her friend’s words. “That’s true, AJ. We’ll look out for him and make sure he stays out of trouble.”

Just as she finished her sentence, a loud crash echoed from the direction of the kitchen, followed by the unmistakable sounds of Pinkie Pie and Sora’s voices raised in a mix of excitement and panic. Both Twilight and Applejack looked up sharply at the door, their ears twitching as they listened to the commotion.

"Speakin’ of keepin’ him outta trouble…" the apple mare spoke with a chuckle.

The lavender mare couldn’t help but chuckle, a mixture of exasperation and amusement in her tone. "It sounds like they’ve already found some mischief to get into."

Applejack pushed herself away from the desk, adjusting her hat with a determined look. "Come on, Twi. Let’s go see what kinda mess those two are makin’ this time."

Twilight nodded, following her friend towards the door. "Knowing Pinkie and Sora, it could be anything. Hopefully, the kitchen is still in one piece."