Kingdom Hearts: Keys of Equestria

Chapter XV: The Running of The Leaves, Part II

Perspective: Sora

"How about a race?"

We were waiting at the starting line to begin the Running. I looked around to see who was going to be in the race. Of course, Applejack & Rainbow Dash had made some kind of bet, & it was all riding on this. I recognized a few other ponies: Lyra, Bonbon, Derpy, & to my surprise, Twilight. I didn`t think she was much of a runner.

Before I could look around any more, the race began. I began running at a brisk pace, & noticed that Twilight & I seemed to have the same strategy: move slowly at first, then wait for everyone else to tire themselves out & rush to the finish. The scenery here was absolutely beautiful. I was glad that I wasnt sprinting like a madman, or else I wouldnt have noticed any of this. we made it to the halfway mark, & neither me or Twilight had expended much energy. She had told me that she wasn`t much of an athlete, but she wanted to join in on Ponyville traditions whenever she could. Apparently, there was some kind of event in the winter, where the citizens joined together to get rid of the snow, wake the hibernating animals, basically getting everything ready for summer. They called it "Winter Wrap-Up".

Maybe I could get another Keychain from helping out with this...

The ponies ahead of us seemed like they were tiring themselves, so Twilight & I decided to speed it up. I increased my speed to as fast as I could go in my normal form. Twilight was about to make it past me, but I beat her to the punch. I activated my Quick Run, sliding across the finish line.

"&, in second place, we have Sora!"

"Wait. Who got first?"

"Miss me?"

Riku was standing at the finish line. He had won the Running of The Leaves by using his Dark Booster skill, which increased his speed when he activated his dark powers. He was obviously using the skill to its full potential, since there was an aura of darkness surrounding him.

Before I could speak to him, a gigantic flash of white light surrounded us, & we were both holding a new Keyblade.

The guard of mine was a dark brown ring that looked as if it was made of wood. The shaft was a somewhat jagged line that resembled a tree branch. The teeth of the key were composed of a large leaf, & the Keychain was an acorn. There was an inscription on the guard:

"The Fair Weather will strengthen friendships like none other.

Looks like this Keyblade`s called Fair Weather."

Riku`s Keyblade was nothing like mine, just like always. His Keyblades were usually designed more like normal swords than keys.

The guard was composed of two small leaves, while the blade was made from a blade of grass. This Keyblade`s Keychain was a small pumpkin.

"This one has an inscription too.

With this blade in hand, your Autumn Fantasy will become reality.

Autumn Fantasy..."

Even though they were racing for first place, Applejack & Rainbow Dash tied for last place. They ended up having a worthwhile laugh, until Twilight asked Lyra an interesting question.

"Where did you get that necklace? It looks expensive."

"Sora gave it to me! Isn`t it beautiful?"

"Yes, but I`m not sure that he knew the implications behind that necklace..."

"Twilight?"

"Huh? Oh, Sora. Yes?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure."

"Lyra, would you mind if I talk to Twilight in private?"

"Okay."

"Twilight, I heard you say that there were implications behind that necklace I gave Lyra. What is it?"

"Well, in Equestria, if a stallion gives a mare a piece of jewelry with the coloration of both of their coats or manes, it`s kind of a proclamation of love..."

"Wait, WHAT!? I had no idea! Why didn`t the jeweler tell me?

Wait. This could be helpful..."

"What do you mean, helpful?"

"Well, I kind of noticed that Lyra... might be in love with me, & I think I might feel the same."

"You think so? Or do you know so? Theres a big difference, & if you dont then you should tell her soon instead of just leading her on."

"I know. I was thinking about it, but but Im not sure if I should, since Im not a pony & everything."

"I might be able to help you with that, Sora. Tell you what, come back to my house as soon as you`re done here."

"Okay. See you soon."

Twilight cantered off towards her house, & I decided to follow her. I arrived just a few moments after she did.

"Hey Twilight. So, Im going to assume that youre going to use some kind of spell to turn me into a pony so I can date Lyra without any problems, right?"

"That... that`s exactly what I was going to do."

"Okay. Let`s get this over with."

Twilight`s horn began to shine with an unnaturally bright light, as I was enveloped in her magic aura.

The process of the spell was difficult to describe. It was like being stretched to about three times my normal size, then being crushed into a three-inch sphere, & finally, ending the spell in my new equine body.

I had been transformed into a tannish colored alicorn with a mane that was the exact same color & style as it was when I was human. I noticed that I was wearing a modified version of my normal clothes, sans the gloves, since I no longer had hands. My cutie mark was two Kingdom Keys crossed over a stylized heart.

"Wow. This is amazing! I`ve been transformed into a lion, a merman, & even a vampire, but not an alicorn! I need to go! Thank you so much, Twilight."

Before I exited, a massive glow filled the room, & I was holding another new Keyblade. The guard was composed of two large wings, & the shaft was made from a long silverish crystal, while the teeth were made from a similarly colored unicorn horn. This Keyblade`s Keychain was a large stylized heart, like the one in my cutie mark.

I realized that my horn was glowing with a dark green magic aura, & I was levitating my Keyblade next to me.

"I... Im using magic! I cant believe it!"

There was another inscription on the guard.

"The Royal Commoner has risen. His true potential will surface in time.

Royal Commoner..."

I sheathed my Keyblade & prepared to leave.

"Oh, & Sora?"

"Yeah?"

Twilight used a teleportation spell to appear just a couple inches away from me, her horn pressed against my neck.

"If you hurt Lyra, then so help me, I will end you in the most painful way possible."

"Dont worry. Everythingll be fine. You have nothing to worry about."