Kingdom Hearts of Harmony

Kingdom Hearts of Harmony
Chapter 70
Tempting Offer

Golden Oaks Library

Spike released a small puff of green fire, watching as the parchment dissolved into shimmering smoke that twirled out the window and toward Canterlot Castle proper. He placed both claws on his hips before giving a satisfied nod. “There we go. Done and done. Unless the princess is busy with some other matter she should get it right away.”

“Good job, Spike!” Rainbow Dash praised, ruffling his scales with a playful hoof. “Princess Celestia's gotta know about this creep running around. The sooner she does the better for all of us.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Spike agreed. He looked up towards the blue pegasus with a hint of worry on his features. “Speaking of…You sure he looked like Sora?”

“From what Fluttershy said, yeah,” Rainbow affirmed, frowning. “Don’t know why he does or where he came from…but whoever he is, he sounds dangerous.”

Spike nodded, recalling the urgency with which Rainbow had barreled through Twilight’s library just moments earlier, ranting about everything Fluttershy had told her before. The fact that there is an evil keyblade wielder running was too dangerous to just ignore…still…this…Black Sora? Sora Black? No, he has a name. Vanitas…If this Vanitas has a keyblade like Sora, then he can’t be a walk in the park to deal with.

The drake sighed, “So, what's the plan now?” he asked the mare, hopping off the chair he sat within. “Figured I would ask cause, knowing you, you didn’t make one yet.”

Rainbow huffed, crossing her hooves over her chest as she shot Spike a playfully annoyed glare. “Hey! I can totally make plans!” After a second she deflated a bit. “I just don’t have one at this moment…Besides, whoever this stallion is, if he only just showed himself now, he must be good at hiding. It’s not like Ponyville is crawling with places to hide a guy with a Keyblade and a face like Sora’s after all.”

Spike scratched his head, his brow furrowing. “True… it’s weird though. Why show up, all of a sudden, now?”

“Like Fluttershy said, he says he is looking for his brother…whoever that is.” Rainbow began to pace as she spoke, walking back and forth as she did. “And if he looks like Sora, he must be looking for that dork…” She frowned, looking away “Still…Spiky never mentioned anything about a brother to us before.”

“True…” Spike acknowledged, “And I’m sure Sora told us about everything—his friends, his battles, all those different worlds. If he had a brother and he was a bad guy, I doubt he wouldn’t mention it.”

“Right? Sora doesn’t strike me as the type to hide something like that. He’s an open book when it comes to his adventures and life.” Rainbow frowned again. It's when it comes to his personal feelings that he tends to claim up.” Shaking her head she turned to Spike. “This guy’s gotta be something else…The question is…what?”

Spike crossed his arms, thinking it over. “Maybe he’s not actually Sora’s brother, but just thinks he is. You know, like some kind of… I dunno, dark copy or something? Like those Heartless or that Nobodies stuff he told us about?”

Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “A dark copy of, Hero? That sounds a little far-fetched, Spike. But, then again…” She trailed off before sighing deeply. “With all the wild stuff Sora’s thrown at us so far, I guess I’d believe just about anything at this point.”

“In any case, guess I’ll have to meet with Mayor Mare about this sooner or later,” Spike muttered. “She wanted to be kept in the loop with all this crazy stuff that’s been happening. Said it helps her plan… you know, just in case any of this affects the town directly.”

“After the first Heartless attack, I can see why.” Rainbow nodded in agreement.

Rainbow glanced toward the window, her expression shifting to one of grim determination. “After everything this town’s been through lately, I can’t really blame her. Mayor Mare’s probably trying to figure out how to keep everypony safe without causing a panic. Still, it’s kinda wild how fast things have escalated. First Heartless, now this Vanitas guy…” She smirked faintly, her wings twitching. “Honestly, I kinda thought we’d get a bit of a break after the last adventure.”

Spike let out a small chuckle, but his tone was laced with dry humor. “Yeah, well, guess we don’t get to clock out when it comes to saving Equestria. It’s a full-time job.”

Rainbow snorted, her grin widening slightly. “Tell me about it. Though I can’t help but feel a little excited. I mean, if this Vanitas guy is anything like Sora, maybe this’ll be a good challenge.

Spike rolled his eyes, letting out a small huff. “That makes one of us,” he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of dry humor. As Rainbow continued to talk, his gaze drifted down to his claw, which he slowly clenched and unclenched, the tips of his claws pressing into his palm.

A quiet sigh slipped from him as he sat there, thoughts swirling in his mind. I wish I could do more, he thought, feeling a familiar ache of frustration settle in his chest. Watching the others throw themselves into danger, risking everything to protect Ponyville and Equestria… it was hard not to feel a bit left behind. Sure, he helped with letters, kept the place running when Twilight was away, and now he was the one keeping Mayor Mare informed. But when it came to the real battles, he was always on the sidelines.

“Anyway,” Rainbow’s voice cut though his thoughts, bringing him back to the present. “I’m gonna go ahead and go.” She smiles at the dragon. “You gonna be okay?”

Spike waved a claw, giving Rainbow a small, reassuring smile. “Sure thing. I’ll let you know if anything comes in from Princess Celestia’s side. Promise.”

"Right, catch ya later, Spike!" Rainbow called as she zoomed out a nearby window, leaving a gust of wind in her wake. The sudden burst scattered a stack of neatly organized scrolls all over the library floor, papers fluttering and landing in every corner.

Spike let out an exasperated sigh, watching the mess unfold around him. “Dang it, Rainbow…”

~~~

Sweet Apple Acres
Crusaders Treehouse

Applebloom hummed to herself as she waited at the treehouse, enjoying the quiet morning and the soft rustling of the leaves around her. She glanced down the path, hoping to see Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle approaching any minute.

It was during her times alone that her mind drifted towards...well...everything...

She remembered saying goodbye to her cousin, Babs Seed, just a day or two ago. The orange earth filly had left Ponyville with her family, heading back to Manehattan after the family reunion. Applebloom could still remember as they hugged one last time, her heart fully of joy, even though there had been a trace of sadness too.

They hadn’t found the secret to unlocking the Keyblade, despite all their efforts and the countless hours spent poring over Twilight's scrolls about Sora’s adventures. Still, it wasn’t a complete loss. Reading about Sora’s journey had lit a fire under Babs’ tail—a fire strong enough for her to declare she’d start her own chapter of budding Keyblade wielders back in Manehattan.

Applebloom chuckled softly to herself as she thought about it. Babs had been so excited, already tossing around names for her little group, like “The Manehattan Key Crusaders” or “Keyblade Kickers.” Of course, Applebloom had made her promise to leave out one very important detail: that Sora wasn’t actually from their world.

“It’s gotta stay a secret, Babs,” Applebloom had told her firmly before she left. “Ain’t no tellin’ what ponies might do if they found out Sora came from another world. We don’t wanna cause trouble for him or for anypony else.”

Babs had rolled her eyes but ultimately nodded. “Yeah, yeah, I get it, cuz. Mum’s the word. But you’d better write me if you lot figure out how to get one of them Keyblades before I do. Got it?”

Applebloom had grinned, bumping hooves with her cousin. “Deal.”

Now, sitting in the quiet treehouse, Applebloom’s smile faded just a little. She was happy for Babs and proud of her determination, but a part of her couldn’t shake the feeling of frustration. Despite all their efforts, she and her friends were no closer to unlocking the secret of the Keyblade than when they started...and no closer to Sora either...

“Waiting for somepony?”

The low, familiar voice from behind made her nearly leap out of her fur. She whirled around, heart pounding, to see a dark-colored pegasus standing just a few paces away. His coat was pitch-black, and his intense, golden eyes seemed to pierce right through her. There was something about him that set off every warning bell in her head.

“Oh! It’s you! That black stallion that helped me and my friends!” Applebloom stammered, the mare instantly recognizing him. “Where the hey did ya come from? Thought the door to the Clubhouse was closed.”

The stallion gave a sly smirk. “Oh, I have my ways,” he replied smoothly, his gaze never leaving her. “Doors don’t always stay closed for those who know how to…open them.”

The filly paused before raising an eyebrow. “Did…did you just make a joke?”

The black stallion chuckled, a sound both smooth and unsettling. “Did I? I suppose even I’m capable of a little humor now and then.”

Applebloom blinked, unsure if she should laugh or take a step back. “Uh… well, I didn’t think ya were the jokin’ type. Last time I saw ya, you were all serious-like.”

The black stallion shrugged, his smirk lingering. “Guess I have layers...just like everyone else.” He glanced around the treehouse, his expression shifting to something more contemplative. “So…find anything in those text I helped you brake into?”

Applebloom’s eyes widened. “Oh, uh…you mean Twilight's notes about Sora’s adventure.” Her ears drooped a little. “Well…we did learn a heap of stuff but nothing about what we were looking for sadly.”

The stallion raised an eyebrow, a faint look of intrigue crossing his face. “Oh? And what exactly were you looking for in those dusty old scrolls?” he asked, his tone casual yet probing.

Applebloom hesitated, then took a steadying breath. “Well… me and my friends, we figured if we really wanted to help Sora, we needed a Keyblade like his.” Her gaze flicked to his weapon briefly, and she added, “Like yours, too. We figured it’d be easier to fight alongside him if we had our own way to fend off those Heartless critters.”

“So, you wanted a keyblade so you could be useful to him?” The stallion asked, almost amused. “Or…did you have another reason? Something more…personal?”

Applebloom’s cheeks flushed slightly, caught off guard by the question. “I mean, yeah, helpin’ Sora’s part of it,” she stammered, looking down at her hooves. “I mean…he’s always putting himself out there for us…for me…and I thought that maybe I could do something for him…”

His smirk deepened, his gaze sharp and almost knowing. “Ah, so it is a bit more personal, then,” he said, his tone smooth and probing. “You don’t just want to help him out of loyalty or duty. You wanted to be beside him…Don’t you?”

Applebloom felt her cheeks flush even hotter, and she fidgeted nervously under the stallion’s intense gaze. His words seemed to cut right through her, exposing the feelings she had been trying to bury deep inside.

"I-I mean, I..." she stuttered, unable to form a coherent response. The idea of admitting her true feelings, especially to this mysterious pegasus who seemed to see right through her, was both terrifying and exhilarating.

He watched her, his smirk lingering as if he took amusement in her reaction. “Interesting,” he murmured, his voice low and almost taunting. “But…all this work…and you don’t even know if he feels the same way about you.”

Applebloom's heart skipped a beat, his words hitting her like a cold wave. She bit her lip, looking down as a flicker of doubt crept into her thoughts. "I… I don’t need him to feel the same way," she mumbled, trying to sound convincing. "I just want to be there for him, like he’s been for me and everypony else. He doesn’t have to know how I feel."

The stallion raised an eyebrow, an amused, almost pitying look crossing his face. “Is that so?” he asked, his tone dripping with skepticism. “All that dedication, all that risk, just to stay in the shadows? Seems like a waste, don’t you think?”

Applebloom frowned, a spark of defiance flashing in her eyes as she looked back up at him. “It’s not a waste if it means helpin’ him. Sora doesn’t need to know everything to know I care. That’s what friends do, even if they care… a little more than friends.”

“I guess I just don’t get it. All that loyalty and effort, putting yourself at risk for someone who doesn’t even know how you feel… It seems like a losing game.” He tilted his head, his golden eyes narrowing slightly. “Doesn’t it ever frustrate you?”

Applebloom hesitated, his question hanging heavily in the air. “Maybe a little,” she admitted, looking down at her hooves.

The strange stallion regarded her for a moment, his expression shifting to something almost… contemplative. “Well, if you’re content with that, then by all means, don’t let me stand in your way,” he said, his tone soft but laced with a strange, knowing edge. “But… if you’re not, if you ever want to see things a little differently…” He paused, his gaze locking onto hers, intense and unreadable. “Find me, Applebloom. I’ll be waiting.”

Before she could open her mouth to ask what he meant, he took a step back. To her shock, a swirling portal of darkness materialized behind him, shadows curling at its edges with a ghostly hum. Her heart raced as she took a hesitant step back, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Wait—what are you talkin’ about? How would I even find you?” she called out, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and curiosity.

He turned his gaze, giving the filly a wide smirk. “Some things, little filly, are best discovered on your own.”

And with that, he stepped into the shadows, his form vanishing as the portal closed, leaving only a faint chill in the air where he had stood.

Applebloom’s mind reeled, his cryptic invitation echoing in her head. She barely had time to process what had happened before the familiar sound of hooves met her ears.

“Applebloom!” Scootaloo’s voice cut through her thoughts as she and Sweetie Belle entered the clubhouse, both of them beaming.

“Hey, you okay?” Sweetie Belle asked, tilting her head. “You look like you just saw a ghost or somethin’!”

Applebloom shook herself out of her daze, forcing a small, shaky smile. “Oh, uh… I’m fine! Just… thinkin’ about somethin’ real interestin’, is all.” The farm filly tilted her head, raising an eyebrow at her friends. “Where the hay were y’all anyway? Took ya quite some time to make it here. I was startin’ to think I’d have to go crusadin’ all by myself today.”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo exchanged sheepish glances before rubbing the back of their heads. Sweetie was the first to speak, her voice carrying an apologetic tone. “I was, uh, having breakfast before I came over. Over at Sugar Cube Corner and stuff.”

Scootaloo shrugged, her wings giving a small flutter. “And I got held up by my aunts. They needed help moving some stuff around the house. You know how Aunt Holiday gets when she decides it’s time to rearrange everything.”

Applebloom nodded, her energy returning as she accepted their excuses with a grin. “Alright, fair enough. Now that y’all are here, we gotta get ready for our Keyblade trainin’! Even if we can’t summon Keyblades yet, we can still figure out a good fightin’ style to use for when we do.”

Scootaloo tilted her head. “Makes sense, I guess. But, uh… how are we supposed to train without any weapons?”

“That’s easy!” Applebloom said, her grin widening. “We’ll make our own! We just need some good pieces of wood to carve into makeshift Keyblades. It’ll be perfect practice. C’mon, I’ll go find some!” Without waiting for a reply, she bolted out of the treehouse, her hooves thudding against the floor as she disappeared into the distance.

Left alone in the quiet clubhouse, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo exchanged awkward glances. The tension in the air was almost palpable as they avoided each other’s gaze for a moment. Finally, Sweetie Belle broke the silence, her tone accusatory. “Why didn’t you tell her about Fluttershy and Sora?”

Scootaloo’s eyes widened, and she frowned defensively. “Why didn’t you tell her? You knew about it too!”

Sweetie Belle huffed, crossing her hooves. “I thought you were going to! You’re always the one who jumps to spill big news like that.”

“Well I mean…you know she’s been a little down with Sora being away and stuff and right now she looks happy!” Scootaloo told her. “I…ah…Didn’t want to brake that I guess.”

Sweetie Belle sighed, her expression softening as she looked toward the door Applebloom had disappeared through. “I get it, Scoots. She does seem really happy right now, and I don’t want to mess that up either. But… don’t you think she’d want to know about Sora and Fluttershy dating now?”

Scootaloo winced, her wings twitching nervously as she avoided Sweetie Belle’s gaze. “I mean, yeah, she probably would… but is now really the time? Look at her, Sweetie. She’s all excited about training and getting stronger to help Sora. Dropping that on her right now feels like it’d crush her.”

Sweetie Belle frowned, her ears flicking back in uncertainty. “I know, but if she finds out later—especially if it’s from somepony else—she might feel even worse. We’re her best friends, Scoots. We’re supposed to tell her these things.”

Scootaloo sighed, pacing in a small circle as she worked through her thoughts. “I get that, but it’s not like we’ve been keeping this from her out of spite or something. It’s just… complicated. I don’t wanna see her upset, especially when she’s been working so hard to stay positive.”

Sweetie Belle nodded reluctantly, her green eyes flicking to the pile of books and notes they’d been using for research. “Maybe we wait a little longer. Let her enjoy this for now, but… we can’t keep it from her forever.”

“Yeah,” Scootaloo agreed, her tone quieter now. “We’ll find the right time. Just… not today.”

Sweetie Belle let out a slow breath, her ears drooping slightly. “Not today,” she echoed softly.

~~~

Rainbow Dash peered into her own bedroom, watching as Fluttershy lay peacefully nestled under the covers. Her friend’s chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm, her face relaxed, with no trace of the fear or worry that had clouded it before. Quietly closing the door, Rainbow trotted into the living room, where Gilda was waiting, leaning casually against the wall.

“Thanks for looking after her, G.” She paused, tilting her head curiously. “So, uh… when did Fluttershy fall asleep? You didn’t have to knock her out with a neck chop did you?”

Gilda snorted, rolling her eyes as she crossed her talons over her chest. “Seriously, Dash? What do you think I am, some kind of action movie bad guy? Nah, she fell asleep on her own. Took a while, though.” The gryphon shook her head, “Still can’t believe she stood up to whoever that dude was, knowing he could have destroyed her in a blink of an eye.”

“Hey, Shy is a lot stronger than you think.” Rainbow defended. “Would you believe she not only stood up to a dragon but also a unicorn that controlled dark magic. Though…she only did so because her friends were in trouble.”

Gilda raised a brow, clearly impressed but trying to play it cool. “A dragon and dark magic? Huh. Guess I’ve been underestimating her. Didn’t think she had it in her.” She let out a low whistle, her eyes drifting to the closed bedroom door with a newfound respect. “She’s a lot tougher than she looks, I’ll give her that.”

Rainbow nodded, a proud smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, she might be quiet and shy, but when it comes down to it, she’d do anything for the ponies she cares about.” She chuckled softly. “Guess that's why I kinda became her friend…yeah I thought I had to protect her…and I did a few times…but…she would surprise me when she gets angry.”

The rainbow maned mare sighed. “Enough reminiscing though…Since we are the only two here in Ponyville that really know what we are up against, I think we should talk strategy.”

Gilda tilted her head, a skeptical look crossing her face. “Wait, didn’t Fluttershy say not to confront that black pegasus guy?”

Rainbow shrugged, though her eyes held a spark of determination. “Yeah, she did say that, and I get where she’s coming from. He’s dangerous, and we don’t know what he’s capable of yet. But sitting around doing nothing isn’t exactly my style.” She paused, glancing toward her bedroom door. “If that guy shows his face again, we need to be ready.”

Gilda crossed her arms, eyeing Rainbow with a smirk. “Now that sounds more like you, Dash. So, what’s the plan? You thinking of just rushing in and giving him a piece of your mind?”

Rainbow chuckled, though she shook her head. “Not this time. I might have learned a little about patience…maybe.” She leaned in, lowering her voice as if the walls might have ears. “He already knows we know about him, he wouldn’t have let Fluttershy go if he didn’t care if we knew after all, so the element of surprise is off the table.”

Gilda let out a low chuckle, rolling her eyes. “Sneaking up was never my thing anyway. If this guy’s as tough as he thinks he is, we’ll just go in strong and show him who’s boss.”

Rainbow grinned, feeling a bit of her own confidence fire up at Gilda’s words. “Exactly. We won’t be hiding, and we won’t let him think he’s got the upper hoof here. But we’ll keep things smart. No diving in without knowing what we’re up against.”

Gilda crossed her arms, giving Rainbow an approving nod. “So we stay alert, don’t let him catch us off guard, and if he does try anything, we hit him hard and fast.” She flexed her talons with a smirk. “I like it.”

Rainbow’s eyes gleamed with determination. “And in the meantime, we don’t tell Fluttershy too much. She’s already been through enough, and I don’t want her worrying.” She pulls out her element of harmony. “And if push comes to shove, I’ll use this.”

“That’s your element right?” Gilda asked with a raised eyebrow. “What exactly are you gonna do with that anyway?”

Rainbow huffed, tucking the Element back under her shirt. “Honestly? Not sure. But I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.” She flashed Gilda a confident grin. “I mean, I was winging it when I saved Sora’s butt, and that worked out just fine. I’ll figure it out as I go.”

Gilda snorted, shaking her head with an amused smirk. “Still the same old Rainbow Dash. ‘Why plan when you can just wing it?’” She gave Rainbow a nudge. “Guess that’s what makes you the best at this whole hero thing. Just gotta hope your luck doesn’t run out.”

Rainbow shrugged, unfazed. “Hey, luck’s got nothing to do with it—it’s skill, G! And besides, I’ve got you here, don’t I? Between the two of us, we’ll be fine.” She stretches. “So! You up for a bit of patrolling today? I don’t have to work till later and I’ve been dying to stretch my wings out with a warm up.”

Gilda’s eyes lit up, a smirk spreading across her beak. “Oh, now you’re talking, Dash. Nothing like a good flight to shake off the morning rust. Besides, I could use a bit of action to get the blood pumping. Being cooped up in that giant castle wasn’t exactly the best thing for a free bird like me.”