Chapters The 2 ponies and the dragon made their arrival in the town, 'Ponyville' as it was known.
Sora's thoughts were running faster than he could think. He had been in animal form before, in the Pride Lands, but never had he been a pony. He was amazed how natural he felt walking around in his new equine form, and was amazed at just how beautiful this world - Equestria - was. It was amazingly beautiful, so pure, and uncorrupted. He could practically feel music in the air. And the smells - so sweet, like he was in a sugar coated dream.
They arrived at a place called 'Sugarcube Corner', where Twilight explained, a friend of hers lived. They walked inside, and were immediately greeted by a flash of pink.
Before he knew it, both himself and Twilight were wrapped in a crushing bear hug by a pink pony, and felt incredibly uncomfortable.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Twilight, it's nice to see you. And you too, Spike! And ooooooh who's this new pony I've never metandhelookssoniceandhesoundshungryand...."
"Pinkie!" Twilight yelled.
"Yes?" she responded, in an almost singsongy tone.
"This is Sora. He's new to Ponyville, and he comes from a faraway place. He also seems to be very hungry, and I was hoping you might have something sweet for him to enjoy?"
"Oh yes, we just finished up a batch of cupcakes! Oh, and hello Sora. My name's Pinkie Pie, and I'm super happy to meet you! I can tell we're gonna be good friends!"
Sora, while slightly uncomfortable, did seem at ease - this one seemed to be a sweet pony, filled with joy and happiness. One couldn't help but like her, even after just meeting her.
"I'm sure we will be too."
Pinkie went to grab the cupcakes, and Twilight and Sora sat down at a table.
"So, Sora, how long will you be in Ponyville?" Spike started off their conversation.
"Um.... I'm not sure. I need to find the source of the Heart-"
Another mental slap.
"The, ugh, dark things around here. But I haven't seen anything suspicious."
"You need to find dark things? For what?" Twilight asked, obivously intrigued.
"Um.... to destroy them. I need to protect this place."
"Oh! You must be a knight!"
"Uh... yeah, I guess you could say that."
Twilight was intrigued by this new pony, this Sora. A knight? How could he be? He's so young.
"So, did Princess Celestia send you here?"
"Princess Celestia? Uh, no..... a friend named Yen Sid sent me here. To be perfectly honest, I have no idea how I ended up around here. I was just flying -"
Spike interrupted the pony.
"Flying? How? You're not even a pegasus."
"Oh.... I use magic to fly."
Twilight interjected at this.
"Magic? But how? You're not an alicorn, and even I can't use my magic to fly."
"Well, it's a special kind of magic..... Known only to certain individuals. Top secret."
"Well, I guess I can respect that."
"Here they are! The cupcakes!" Pinkie said as she arrived, sitting down next to Sora, scooting in closer.
That uncomfortable feeling took him again.
The rest of the conversation was relatively normal., with the 3 ponies and Spike downing a few cupcakes and enjoying themselves.
"Well, after we're done here, perhaps you'd like me to introduce you to my other friends, Sora?" Twilight asked.
"Sure, that'd be great. I love new friends!"
Saying that was a mistake, as he soon learned.
"You do?! So do I! I love new friends, but that's not the only thing I love! I love cupcakes and sweets and fun and laughter and...."
Pinkie kept that up for another 10 or so minutes.
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4 The Apple Family/The Mark of One's Destiny
"So.... I thought you said we were going to meet your friends?" Sora said to Twilight as he, her, Pinkie, and Spike walked towards a large farm.
"We are. I'm going to introduce you to everypony individually. First stop is Sweet Apple Acres."
They walked through the gate leading to the farm, and were greeted by a sweet aroma of apples and apple treats.
An orange pony walked up to them and shouted as she waved.
"Howdy everypony! How are ya'll doin' today?"
"We're doing good," Twilight said.
"And who's this pony?" she said looking at Sora.
He looked at that orange pony and was instantly taken by her to a land he had never felt before. She was absolutely stunning, gorgeous even, with that orange fur, and that beautiful yellow mane and that tail, and those adorable hooves.
He gave himself another mental slap.
"Sora, you're a human. You aren't supposed to think ponies are beautiful!"
But as he thought, he realized that he was in a pony body. It was only natural. But his mental argument was cut short.
"Applejack, this Sora. Sora, this is Applejack."
"Mighty pleased to meet ya, Sora!" she extended her hoof, and Sora extended his.
She gave him the grand tour of Sweet Apple Acres, introducing her family to this strange new pony. Sora thought deeply. They were the ideal farm family - a grandma who had seen better but still had a bright glow in her heart, a granddaughter, her big brother who seemed to not say much, and the little sister. A few other relatives here and there, but basically, it was Granny Smith, Big Mac, Applejack, and Applebloom.
"Granny Smith, mind if ah go with Twilight, Pinkie, and Sora? Ah've already finished mah applebuckin' fer the day."
"No dear, go right ahead. Big Mac can handle the reast of the farm work today. Right, Big Mac?"
"Eeyup."
Sora and his new pony friends were on their way to the next destination, and talking along the way.
He noticed every pony around him had markings on their flanks, like he did, but everypony had a different mark.
He looked at his own - he knew what it was. The symbol of the crown he always wore around his neck. He still had the necklace, but now three of those symbols were implanted on his flank. He noticed not many ponies wore any clothes - he was probably the only only one with them on. His jacket had, as before, changed to match his new form. But those marks - they astounded him.
"Hey, Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack? Can one of you explain those marks on everyone's flanks?"
"That's their cutie mark!" Pinkie spoke, in her normal happy tone.
"It's what somepony gets when they discover their special talent or destiny." Applejack chimed in.
"I'm surprised you don't know - but anyway, everypony gets one when they discover it. And it matches' the pony's skill or personality. Mine's a star, because I love to learn from the stars. Pinkie's is a balloon, because she loves laughter and making others laugh, and Applejack's is an apple - you can probably guess why. I don't know what to make of yours." Twilight said.
"Oh. Ok. I think I understand. So, where are we heading to next?"
Pinkie spoke at this.
"We're going to have you meet our friend Fluttershy!"
5 Meet the Heartless/Living Arrangements
The ponies and Spike made their way through Ponyville. Sora was still astounded by such a pretty, sweet world. It reminded him of the 100 Acre Wood, in that it was uncorrupted and pure. He couldn't even sense darkness in the hearts of the ponies here.
They arrived at a large tree with a door and several windows. Twilight knocked her hoof on the door, and a yellow pony with pink hair came to it, a small white bunny by her side.
"Hello everypony." she said, in a quiet, shy, voice.
"Howdy Fluttershy! We want ya'll to meet a new friend of ours. Fluttershy, this is Sora."
Sora extended his hoof, but the pony did not. She looked at her little bunny, and muttered something that the young Keyblade wielder couldn't make out.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that."
She muttered again.
"One more time?"
"I'm...... Fluttershy..... but you already know that. It's nice to..... meet you."
"Hey, likewise! No need to be shy - I love new friends!"
"So.... do I."
Then the unthinkable finally happened.
The Heartless struck. The beasts surrounded the 5 ponies, and Sora got in front.
"Get back!" he said as the Keyblade appeared in his mouth.
These Heartless were the ones in the dream - he now knew why they were different. These Heartless were still black, with beady yellow eyes, but these looked like underfed, dying ponies.
Using his heart's light, he formed a barrier to protect his new friends.
He fought valiantly, slashing and batting the keyblade like a pro, slinging left and right, slicing through Heartless upon Heartless. After realizing the threat was too great, he turned his head sideways, pointing his Keyblade straight upward.
"Thunder!"
Bolts of lightning rained down on the monsters, but more still came.
"Hey! Looks like you could use some help!" a voice said.
A rainbow streak flew down to his side. A blue pony with a rainbow mane landed next to him.
"Come on!" she said, assuming a fighter stance, kicking a Heartless out of her face.
"YEE-HAW!" Applejack yelled, jumping into the fray, lasso ready.
Applejack got down and dirty, using her applebucking skills to advantage, then hogtying each Heartless for Sora to slash, while the rainbow-maned pony was zipping around at high speeds, creating rainbow tornados, and kicking and punching Heartless left and right.
Soon enough, the Heartless were gone.
"Thanks for the help guys - ugh, I don't know if we've met. The name's Sora."
The blue pony gave him a look.
"Snappy moves ya got there. Pretty cool stuff. Name's Rainbow Dash."
"Good job Rainbow, glad you were flying above ta help Sora. Ah knew he might need me to step in too." Applejack said, proving that they were in fact friends.
Twilight stepped forward.
"Sora, what was that... that sword in your mouth? And what were those monsters?"
"I'll explain later - how many more friends do we need to meet?"
Pinkie stepped forward as well.
"Well, I'm friends with everypony in Ponyville, but I guess there's only one more MAJOR friend to meet."
"Alright, let's go meet them."
The group of ponies made their way to a large building, and walked in. The moment he stepped in, Sora could smell perfume in the air, and saw many dresses and outfits, all well-designed. Not something he would wear, but well made nonetheless.
A feminine voice awakened him from his state of pure awe.
"Hello, darling, and welcome to Carousel Boutique. Can I interest you in - oh, it's only you Twilight.
Rarity saw her friends, walking into her boutique, with a new pony by their side. This pony - what a colt! His yellow coat alone was enough to make her swoon a little. But that mane! Brown and spikey, but with a certain charm. And his eyes - ocean blue, enough to make her melt in pure adoration.
But, there was no time to gawk. She recovered her thought process, and spoke again.
"Hello, darling. I am Miss Rarity, but you may call me Rarity. I see you are friends with my friends. In turn, you must be a wonderful pony. I can tell we will be great friends.
"Thanks, Rarity. I'm Sora."
"Not at all, darling. So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Pinkie poked her head out from behind them, and spoke in her usual, over-happy tone.
"We're showing Sora around Ponyville and introducing him to all our friends!"
"Wonderful."
"So, ugh... now that you've all shown me around, what say we all go have a little fun? What do you guys do for fun anyway?"
Pinkie jumped at this opportunity.
"How about a party? I always give new ponies in Ponyville a party! Can we? Can we? Can we?"
"A party.... for me? What for?"
"You're new. And every new pony gets a party!"
The group made plans to meet at Sugarcube Corner at 8:00 for a party. Pinkie hopped off to get everything ready.
"So..... now. I need somewhere to stay while I'm here..... Any good hotels around here?"
The 5 ponies could hardly contain the excitement in their voices. Even Fluttershy had warmed up to this new pony incredibly fast, something very rare for her.
"You could stay at the library with me?" Twilight offered.
"Darling, you could always stay here for as oft as you like." Rarity added.
"You can come to my house with me.... if you want..." Fluttershy suggested.
"Sugarcube, you can stay at Sweet Apple Acres with mah family if'n ya like." Applejack said.
"I'd offer you to stay with me in Cloudsdale, but.... no wings." Rainbow concluded.
The mares surrounded him, each with their eyes wide, hoping he'd stay with them.
"You're all so nice.... I don't want to hurt any of your feelings. Maybe.... could I stay with each of you, each night after the other moving into the next? I have nothing to carry with me, so I won't be a burden."
All agreed that sounded like a plan.
"But.... who will you stay with first?" Rarity asked.
Sora though for a minute. Then he raised his hoof, and pointed at Twilight.
"Eenie meenie miny moof, catch a pony by the hoof..."
7 A Letter from the Princess
The party was swinging all night; and Sora loved every moment of it. He danced with each of his new pony friends, and was introduced to three other fillies: Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, whom he soon learned had dubbed themselves the Cutie Mark Crusaders, with the mission of getting Cutie Marks as soon as possible by doing whatever it takes. He chatted with his friends, learning of past adventures they had had and the lessons they learned in friendship.
As the party wrapped up, Sora and Twilight headed back to the library, Spike sleeping on Twilight's back.
"Sora.... you're an interesting pony."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You're a knight, but you're so young. You have a weapon that is the only thing able to defeat mysterious monsters that have now surfaced in Ponyville. You're an enigma at the very least."
"Well, you're interesting too. Learning lessons in friendship must not be an easy task."
"Well, it is and it's not. Even in the darkest times, my friends always come through for me. It's actually a lot of fun."
"I'll bet it is."
Sora then began to think about Riku and Kairi. The Islands.... the Heartless.... and all of his own friends.
He sighed to himself as they got to the library and headed off to sleep.
"Princess Celestia!!!"
"Yes, Shining Armor?"
"A statue is gone from the gardens."
"What statue is that, my dear Shining?"
"It's.... him."
Princess Celestia realized something was awry. Could the old foe who had terrorized Equestria long ago really have returned?
"Send a letter to Twilight Sparkle. She and her friends will be needed. Especially now that the young key bearer has appeared."
Shining did as asked, and sent the letter on its way.
"Twilight! Wake up!"
Twilight opened her eyes to the raditing sunshine through her windows.
"What's up, Spike?"
"A letter from Princess Celestia! She needs you, Pinkie, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Sora in Canterlot right away!"
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know - she didn't explain. But she already knows about Sora, so I'm not sure whether to be relieved or alarmed."
"Alright, I'll get the girls together, you go wake up Sora."
Twilight ran outside to gather her friends, and Spike went directly to Sora's bed.
"Sora! Sora! Wake up, Sleepyhead!"
"Huh?? Oh, hey Spike. What's the good word?"
"Twilight went to get the others. You and our other friends have all been summoned to Canterlot by Princess Celestia herself."
"Oh no.... this can't be good." Sora thought.
The 7 ponies and 1 dragon made their way onto the train, and were soon on their way to Canterlot.
"Sora.... I have a question for you." Rainbow said.
"Sure thing, Rainbow."
"Where did you get that blade of yours. You know, the Key-blade thing?"
"I'm not exactly sure. All I know is the Keyblade chooses the pony to wield it."
"Well, no offense, but I think it could have made a better choice. You know, the coolest pony in Ponyville maybe?"
"Now, sugarcube, don't be teasin' Sora." Applejack interjected, "besides, we outta be thinking about what Princess Celestia needs of us in Canterlot."
"Ooh, maybe she wants us to have a super awesome fantastic party!" Pinkie said, appearing out of seemingly nowhere.
"I somehow don't think that's quite it, Pinkie Pie, " Applejack said.
The train had soon made it's way to Canterlot Station. The group of friends exitted their compartments and headed into the station itself, discussing amongst themselves why Princess Celestia had summoned them to the capital of Equestria.
Sora was by himself, and could only think of one reason that the world's ruler could want him there. Heartless. And by the urgency of the letter, probably lots of them.
The group made their way through the glorious streets of the capital city, oohing and aahing over just about everything in sight. But the most glorius thing was that which Sora was staring at. Canterlot Castle.
The group made their way through the garden of the castle, following their escorts, two knights, directly to Princess Celestia's throne room.
As they entered the throne chamber, everypony bowed low to the ground. Even Sora knew when to bow in presence of royalty, thanks to Donald and Goofy. He looked at the princess. She was pure white, with a large sun imprinted on her flank, and a tail and mane of eretheral material, with magestic colors, and a large horn upon her head.
"Princess Celestia, to what do we owe the honor of basking in your glorious presence?" Rarity asked.
"Well, my little ponies, I think first you should introduce me to your friend."
"Of course, Princess!" Twilight chimed in, "this is Sora. Sora, this is her highness, Princess Celestia."
"It's an honor, Princess." Sora replied.
"Now, my little ponies, I must tell you of a frightening event that has surfaced in Equestria. An old enemy of myself and Princess Luna, Discord, is believed to have escaped his imprisonment. Long ago, Discord ruled Equestria in unending sorrow and chaos. But Luna and I wielded the Elements of Harmony, and imprisoned him as a statue in the castle gardens. Discord is chaos, and he wanted chaos to live around him. But, I know that Discord can be defeated by the elements you now represent."
Princess Celestia walked down a hall, 7 ponies and a dragon in tow. She placed her horn in what looked like a lock, and opened it, revealing a chest inside the newly created door.
"Now, my little ponies, take your elements and -"
The elements were gone.
"No! How could this be? Only I am able to-"
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
In the stained glass windows, a strange creature came to life. He had the head of a pony, but a lion's paw, goat's horn, snake's tail, among other things.
"My dear Princess Celestia. Do you really think I would let you defeat me that easily?"
"Discord! Show yourself!"
"As you wish."
He slithered from window to window, recanting the story of his own ruling from his point of view.
"Give Princess Celestia back the elements!" Applejack yelled.
"Honestly, Applejack, do you really think I should do that? Of course, hearing it from the Element of Honesty does make it seem likely that it is what you meant."
"Hey Mr. Meaniepants! How do you know Applejack's name?!" Pinkie jumped in.
"Oh, Pinkie Pie. I know all of you. And what you represent. The famous 6 ponies who defeated Nightmare Moon. Pinkie Pie, my favorite element is yours, laughter. Rainbow Dash, all about loyalty. Applejack the Honest, Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness, and dear Rarity, the most generous in the land. And of course Twilight, the most powerful element of all: Magic."
"We used the elements before, and we can use them again!" Twilight yelled, pointing at the beast.
"You'll have to find them first. Oh, and let's not forget Sora. You're not an element, but you could be. I think Harry, and Link, and Ralph, and the others would agree."
"Shut it, Discord! Or do I need to pull out a few keyblade tricks from my bag?"
"Ha. You really think a mere keyblade can defeat me? Well, I'll let you believe that. But first, I'll give you all a chance to get the elements back."
Discord recited a poem, telling about twists and turns, and going back where they began, where they would find the elements, before disappearing.
"Twists and turns? The Castle's Hedge Maze!" Twilight shouted, "Come on, everypony!"
9 Discord's Rules/Applejack?
Twilight had sent Spike back on the train to Ponyville, and the group of 7 ponies made their way to the castle's maze.
"So the Elements of Harmony are in this maze?" Sora asked.
"Right." Twilight replied.
"No problem," Rainbow said, "A quick flyover will show me where they are."
As she took off, however, her wings disappeared! She fell to the ground.
"Hey! What's up with that?! Where are my wings?!"
Fluttershy looked at her own back, realizing her wings were gone as well.
Twilight and Rarity looked at one another, noticing that their horns were gone as well.
"It's the first rule of our game."
The group looked forward as Discord appeared.
"No flying, and no magic."
"What are you getting at, Discord? Give everypony their wings and horns back!" Sora yelled.
"Now, now. We're going to play a little game. Unfortunately, I can't take your Keyblade away from you. But I can take the others' powers away. As I said, rule Number 1: No flying and no magic. But I am still giving you the chance to find the elements and send me back from whence I came."
Growling slightly, Sora looked at him again.
"Any other rules?"
"Yes. Everypony has to play, or else the game is over, and I win."
"Alright. We'll play your little game." Twilight replied.
"Excellent."
The monster snapped his fingers, and new hedge walls erupted isolating each pony from the others.
"Oh no!!!" Fluttershy cried.
"Don't worry! We can all meet at the center and go from there!" Sora yelled.
Each pony took off.
Applejack ran as fast as she could, searching for the others at the maze's center. But as she turned the corner, she saw an apple. As she investigated, the apple rolled away, and she followed.
An entire garden of apple trees lay there right in front of her, with a beautiful lake of pure water sitting next to it.
Apples began to fall and then gather according to their color, forming creatures.
"What in tarnation?"
"We are the keepers of the grove." one of the apple-creatures said.
"You may ask us one question." another spoke.
"But be warned, the truth is not always easy to handle." the third added.
"Alright, Ah don't like this, and ah don't trust this Discord feller one bit, but what will happen after we finish this mission for the Princess?"
The creatures gathered around her.
"Take a look and see."
She looked into the water, and saw herself and her friends.
They were fighting, speaking of how they never wanted to see one another again.
"No.... our friendship.... over? That can't be true!"
One of the creatures looked her directly in her eyes.
"The truth does nothing but make your heart ache. Sometimes a lie is easier to take."
Something happened to her. She turned into a grayer version of herself.
Twilight saw a new path open ahead of her. Inside she saw a familiar face.
"Applejack! I thought I heard voices over this way. Who were you talking to?"
"I was talkin' to.... uh.... nopony!" she replied, "Come on, we better mosey on forward."
"Did Applejack just.... no. Applejack wouldn't lie!"
10 Pinkie Pie?/Sora's Confrontation
Pinkie Pie was hopping up and down, happy as could be (but then again, when wasn't she), as she went through the maze. As she turned a corner, she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.
Balloons!!! And lots of them!
She hopped over the the pretty, floaty balloons, all different shapes and colors.
"Wow! This is the most amazing balloon garden I've ever seen! It's the only balloon garden I've ever seen, but -whoa!"
She tripped and fell into the mud.
A balloon's string had caught her hoof.
"Hey!" she said, as the balloons themselves began to laugh at her.
And then he appeared. Discord.
"What's the matter, Pinkie Pie? I thought you appreciated a good laugh."
"It's different. They're laughing at me."
Discord grabbed a balloon as he spoke.
"It's hardly different. You're friends laugh at you all the time."
She stood up, looking at Discord with a sweet smile on her face.
"My friends laugh WITH me, not AT me."
"Oh really?"
Balloons began to surround her, laughing at her, as her friends' faces appeared upon them.
"No! Stop laughing at me!"
"But Pinkie Pie," he said as he looked her in the eyes, "I though laughter made you happy..."
She began to change, just like Applejack before her. She turned gray.
"Happy..... I don't think so."
Several Balloons popped a little ways a way.
Twilight and Applejack saw another new path open to them. In it, another familiar face.
"Pinkie Pie! We've been looking for you!"
"Why? looking for a good LAUGH?"
Pinkie and Applejack began to walk away, while Twilight though to herself.
"What was that about?" she pondered as she followed.
Sora rounded corner upon corner, until he spotted something. A snake's tail. And for a moment, he thought he saw the King following it! He ran after, shouting.
"King Mickey! Wait up!"
He found himself in a small circular grove. And then they attacked.
Heartless appeared.
The keyblade appeared in his maw, and he was about to cast a thunder spell, but then recalled Discord's words.
"No flying and no magic. Or else I win."
"Ugh.... guess we'll have to play the old-fashioned way," he said, jumping into the ring.
He sliced through Heartless upon Heartless, freeing several crystal hearts, but for every one he slayed, another appeared.
So he took out one of his charms.
"Give me strength!"
"Sora!" the little blue alien shouted, tackling the pony to the ground and licking him.
Stitch jumped up and grabbed his blasters, ready to aid his friend.
The two fought like a dynamic duo, slashing and blasting monsters with ease, and soon enough, the monsters were fallen, and Stitch disappeared, back to his own world.
Discord appeared in front of him.
"I believe somepony used magic."
"Hey, you never said no summoning."
The creature pondered for a moment.
"Fair enough. I guess I can let this one slide."
Then he was gone.
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11 Rarity?/Fluttershy?/Rainbow Dash the Traitor?
Rarity walked through the maze, muttering to herself.
"When I came to Canterlot, I expected an audience with the Princess, not..... ugh... outdoor sports."
She saw a gleam in the corner of her eye.
As she looked upon the gleam, Discord's face appeared in the three gems she saw in the rock.
"Welcome to your lucky day, Rarity. You've found the one thing in Equestria that could rival my face for pure beauty. You like?"
"Oh yes, I like very much!" she replied, but then she turned away.
"No.... I shan't succumb to such fabulousness. Must... reach... the center... to find.... the others...."
She turned, and began digging the gems out.
"Mine!" she said as she too turned gray.
The deed was done. And a fitting reward lay in wait for her. A large diamond. Or at least, that's what she saw it as. In reality, it was just a large boulder.
"Well Rarity... who would've thought three tiny gems would turn out to be such a spectacular diamond! Now," she said to her new prize, "let's get you home!"
She walked away, slowly, with the diamond on her back, as the rock wall behind broke.
The rock wall in front had broken, and Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie saw their friend again.
"Rarity! Uh.... what are you doing with that rock on your back?"
"My diamond! I found it and it's all mine! Nopony else can have it."
"Um.... okay."
"Twilight, be a dear and help me carry it."
Twilight did as asked, although she couldn't help wonder why Rarity thought this boulder was a diamond.
Fluttershy wandered the maze, scared out of her wits. Until she saw a butterfly. She followed the animal to a small grove, as she loved all animals.
"Oh Fluttershy.... you poor thing. You must feel awful that you're friends think you're so weak and helpless."
"Oh no, I am weak and helpless, and I'm happy they understand that."
"But you must hate how they always point out your flaws."
"No, I'm happy I have friends that love me enough to want to help me fix my flaws."
"But... you must.... urgh!"
The butterfly transformed, revealing Discord, who had been in disguise.
As he prodded her head, he spoke.
"You've been kind for far too long my dear. Time to be cruel! Arividerchi!"
She too had turned gray with the prod on her head, as he disappeared.
Rainbow continued her search for the center. But she spotted a cloud with rainbow lighting, just like her cutie mark. She followed it, remarking upon her discovery.
"I've got you now, element!"
As she finally caught up to the cloud, she realized it was just a trick. Discord lay in front of her, laying on a cloud wearing sunglasses.
"I can see why you like these clouds so much. Very plush." he remarked.
"Alright Discord! Put 'em up! Give us back the elements so we can put you back in your place!" she shouted, making small jabs and kicks.
"Oh Rainbow Dash. I'm only here to deliver a message."
"I've got a message for you! Put 'em up! I'll have you down in ten seconds, flat!"
"Listen closely. This is important."
He began to recite another poem, telling how that she had a choice to make, but either would cause something she loved to be destroyed. Her friends... or her home.
"Cloudsdale.... destroyed... without me....."
"In this box are your wings. You can take them and leave the game. But you'll have to leave your so-called friends behind. Your choice."
She too had turned gray, and took her wings, flying away.
Sora had finally caught up with Twilight and the others, but then the maze's walls disappeared, revealing only a crater and Discord himself in their midst.
"Somepony broke the no flying rule. The game's over. I win!"
As they saw the gray Rainbow Dash fly away, Sora was angry.
"You! You made her do that!"
"I did nothing of the sort." he said, snapping his fingers, returning Fluttershy's wings, and the two unicorns' horns.
"Oh really? How did she get her wings back then? And I'll bet you did that to the others as well!" Sora said, remarking upon their gray appearances and the fighting that was going on amongst them, "and you cheated us! How can we look for the elements when you take the hiding place away before we have the chance to find them!"
"I never said the elements were in the maze.... and I'm chaos, remember. I'm allowed to cheat! And speaking of chaos, looks like we're in for a good old fashioned storm of it right about now!"
12 The Elements of Harmony...Found!
The ponies made their way home to Ponyville via the road, which was now made of soap. Twilight and Sora both had the feeling of defeat in their hearts. How could Discord have won?
Sora was even more distraught. What had happened to his new friends? Why were they acting this way? He had thought the light in their hearts was strong enough to conquer even this. But perhaps he had been wrong.
Sora and Twilight headed straight to the library. The friends had been arguing since they had started trekking home. Only the two of them were acting like themselves.
Then she realized something.
"Sora! Didn't Discord say that he never mentioned the elements being in the maze?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Go back to where you began... my friends and I first discovered friendship in Ponyville! The elements must be somewhere in town! But where....?"
Spike walked up to Twilight and Sora.
"Twilight! This book just flew off the shelf."
"This is the book where I first read about the elements!"
She opened the book and was greeted with a flash of golden light, reflected off what was inside.
"The Elements of Harmony!"
"Sora, go get the girls together. We can get Discord now!"
Sora ran out the door in a burst of pure adrenaline. He went and got each of the girls, except for the one who had recently left.
"What do ya'll want?"
"I hate libraries! And I hate surprises!"
"Libraries are so blah. And I can't fit my diamond through the door!"
"Rarity.... again I ask why you brought that." Sora responded.
"It's mine! And nopony is going to steal it on my watch!"
"Hurry it up, Sora! I've got more animals to scare."
As they entered the door, Twilight magically gave each their necklace.
"I hate the Elements of Harmony!"
"Pinkie, it's alright. Everything will be alright again soon."
Spike spoke up at last, wondering why everypony else was gray.
"Um... Twilight? Aren't you forgetting someone?"
Stressed, Twilight responded.
"No. We've got the liar, the grump, the hoarder, and the brute. Not missing anypony."
"Did you forget about Rainbow Dash?"
"Ugh!! Sora," she said, planting the golden necklace on his neck, "You're the new Rainbow Dash."
"I'm flattered.... but.... uh.... does it work that way?"
The group went out of the library and found the Chaotic beast shortly.
"Alright Discord! Prepare to meet your doom!" Sora shouted valiantly.
"Oh yes. Go ahead. Send me back to my prison."
Twilight began the ritual, reciting each pony's name and their element. As she finally reached herself, she began to cast the spell.
But nothing happened.
Discord rolled over laughing.
"Hahahahahaha! What was that? Simply pathetic."
Then he disappeared, remarking on how there was more chaos to be brought.
"It's your fault it didn't work!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Um.... who were you talking to?" Twilight asked.
"Nopony! Everypony! Anyway, it didin't work. They're broken!"
The ponies went there seperate ways, and Sora could only watch in horror as Twilight walked away, turning gray as well.
"No.... this can't be the end.... I won't let it be!"
Sora ran off, determined to find Discord and make him pay.
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13 Sora confronts Discord/Twilight's Plan Succeeds
Twilight was sad as she made her way home. She had lost. Equestria was Discord's now. And her friends were no longer her friends any more. It was all she could do not to cry.
Discord appeared, floating alongside her as she walked along the path.
"Twilight! You have to see what I just did!" he laughed as he continued tagging along, pointing out the chaos he released.
He saw she was upset.
"Oh come on now. Cheer up! Ponyville is now the chaos capital of Equestria. It's your new home!"
"Not anymore..." she said as she entered the library she once called her home.
She walked up the stairs and started packing her bags.
"Come on Spike. We're leaving."
"Can't..... stop...."
She looked at him, and the flames he were belching out were dropping letter upon letter on the floor.
"Princess Celestia has been sending these since you left...."
"My letters.... but why would she send them back to me?"
She began to read through the letters she had sent, recalling her lessons in friendship learned while she had been living there.
As she read letter after letter, her color was slowly restoring.
"Spike! You remember what I said when we first came to Ponyville? That the future of Equestria didn't rely on my making friends? Well the opposite is true! And I think I know a way we can restore everypony to theirselves and defeat Discord for good!"
She ran out the door, determined to make things right once again.
Sora ran down the road, heart pumping rapidly. His pony legs were carrying him faster than before. He knew what to do. Once he got to Discord, he would destroy him. Then his friends would return to normal again. Equestria would return to normal.
He approached the King of Chaos, sitting upon his throne.
"Discord! Get up and prepare to meet your true doom!"
"Oh, it's you again," the beast said, "Why are you here? You failed, remember."
"I never failed. I'm going to destroy you, and my friends will return to normal."
"M-hmm. Yes, believe that. Why do you challenge me boy? You must have a death wish. Surely you wouldn't rather just leave Equestria under me and escape with your life? What makes you think that you can beat me? Why do you care? Do you even know what you are saying? Hmmm? Why?"
"Because," Sora began, "without my friends.... I have nothing to lose."
He summoned the Keyblade into his maw, as Discord brought the small chunk of earth the two were standing upon into the sky.
"Very well. Now everypony can watch me destroy the great keyblade wielder."
Meanwhile, Twilight had done it. She had visited her friends and used a memory spell to allow them to remember their past adventures in friendship. Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all returned to their normal colors and back to their true personalities, even with Pinkie remarking upon how "I turned gray! Can you believe it?"
All except Rainbow Dash.
14 Rainbow Realizes/The Keyblade of Harmony
Sora was battling valiantly. The Keyblade wielder and the Master of Chaos clashed in a great brawl. But neither could gain an edge.
Until.
He thought.
"Give me strength!" was his shout.
A burst of light.
His clothes.... they were different.
Silver and Black.
He stood on two legs.
Two Keyblades in his hooves - his normal blade, and a blade he had only seen once before, that day in the Wizarding World. It was long and very odd looking. Rather than the usual teeth of the key, apple slices. The hilt was colored bright pink, decorated with jewels, and a vine wrapped around the blade ending with a leaf with a single pink decorative butterfly sitting atop of it. The blade itself was covered in clouds, and a rainbow was imprinted on the handle. Finally, a symbol that resembled Twilight's Cutie Mark on the end of the chain.
He admired his new blade for a moment, as a single word entered his mind.
Harmony.
Even Discord marveled at the sight.
The Keyblade Master had gained the wings of a pegasus, and was now floating off the ground in his new clothes.
"All right Discord. I hope you're ready, because you're about to learn what friendship can do - the HARD way!"
Rainbow Dash had a new lease on life. She couldn't care less about anypony else. Or the weather. Or anything for that matter. All she did was fly now. She thought about how she didn't need anypony's help with anything, especially not her so-called friends.
But as she flew, she saw a spectacular sight.
A chunk of earth was floating in the sky!
"What the hay?" she asked herself, flying down to get a closer look.
On the floating isle, she saw a spectacular sight.
Discord and Sora were fighting one another.
As much as she thought she didn't care, she couldn't look away.
Sora was there. Fighting.
She couldn't get the thoughts out of her head.
"He's fighting for you. And for all of Equestria...
Loyalty.
What happened to you?
What happened to loyalty?
Why aren't you helping your friends?
He's fighting for what's right...."
She came to a realization.
The voice was right.
And as she let the light into her heart, her color finally returned.
Then, something amazing.
A shout.
"Give me strength!"
Sora now had wings, and was flying. But his clothes were different. Silver and Black.
And that amazing new blade!
She knew what to do.
Twilight and the others were walking their way to something new. An island had mysteriously started floating in the air. They deduced that it must be Discord's work.
So they set out for it, until they saw something spectacular, and heard it.
That loud boom.
And a rainbow.
Fluttershy's eyes grew wide.
"The Sonic Rainboom....." she uttered.
"Hey guys! We gotta get to that island!" they heard from above.
"Rainbow Dash!" they all exclaimed.
"No time to chat guys, we gotta get to that island NOW! Twilight, think you could use some magic to teleport us there?"
"Sure thing, Rainbow!" Twilight responded, giving her friend the final element necklace.
"What is that?!" Discord asked, viewing the boy's new keyblade.
As Sora spoke, it was as if Roxas, Princess Celestia's, and his own voice spoke all at once.
"Harmony has been restored. The light shall defeat the darkness."
Sora leaped at the foe, hitting him hard in the head, and using the monster's own horns to swing around to his back, lighting his tail on fire with a quick fire spell.
Then a spectacular flash of light occured.
His friends were there, all returned to their colors!
"Girls! You're ok!"
"OF COURSE we're ok, Sora." Twilight remarked.
The new blade then began to glow with a spectacular golden color, splitting into six keyblades, one each heading into the maws of the six other ponies. Each was colored in it's master's colors, orange, pink, white, purple, yellow, and blue, and ended with their Element jewel on the end, decorated with the characteristics of their personalities.
The six ponies then jumped to Sora's side, each brandishing their new blade valiantly, and placed them all in a circular formation.
Sora knew what to do. He placed his own Kingdom Key into the circle of blades, and a spectacular rainbow shot out of the center, hitting Discord and knocking him to the ground, nearly unconscious.
Sora approached the king of chaos, lying on the ground, and raised his blade above his throat as the others looked away.
He prepared himself, and brought the blade down.
Just short of hitting him.
"I.... I can't do it," he said, looking at his friends, "you all taught me that everypony deserves a second chance to make right and experience the magic of friendship."
He looked at Discord, and got up into his face.
"But if you ever, EVER do anything like that to my friends again, I might not be so merciful!"
Then Discord began to laugh.
He stood up, and snapped his fingers, returning the chunk of earth to it's origin.
And then they appeared.
Heartless. Thousands of Heartless.
The seven ponies gathered in a circle, backs to one another, grasping their blades in their maws.
"Have fun, my little ponies!" Discord shouted as he flew off, straight towards Canterlot.
Each pony began to fight like they never had before, even Fluttershy, brandishing their blades as if they had done it all their lives, combining their special talents with a little fancy swordplay.
Pinkie armed her party cannon, blowing away a horde of heartless in a spectacular blast of cake batter, streamers, balloons, and candy. Twilight and Rarity used their magic defensively to aid the fight, as Applejack bucked and lasso'd, while Rainbow used her snazzy flight powers to blast away the monsters.
Realizing they could not defeat this army alone, Twilight got an idea.
"Everypony! Get together!"
Following directions, the seven ponies all met in the center, and Twilight began to recite a spell, as Sora protected the group.
Suddenly, all his new friends began to rise off the ground, and a spectacular flash of light occured, as six words began to fill everypony's mind.
Honesty.
Laughter.
Generosity.
Loyalty.
Kindness.
Magic.
Then, a seventh word.
Light.
Sora too began to rise, and a beautiful rainbow shot out of their midst, destroying each and every heartless.
Sora's six friends had seen this before, but something different had happened....
A seventh color in the rainbow, blue as the ocean.
As they all landed gently upon the ground, Pinkie made a startling realization.
"Look everypony! Sora's got one of our special necklace thingies too!"
True to her words, a golden necklace now hung round Sora's neck, with an ocean blue crown gem emblazed on the front.
"We can celebrate this later, girls. Right now, Discord's probably in Canterlot!" Sora said, reminding the group of their mission.
For the first time, Sora and Discord fought together, not against one another.
Sunset Shimmer's messing with time had warped the room and filled it with both Heartless and deadly traps. Each of their friends and Princess Celestia herself were in a a cage made of pure darkness and spread throughout the room.
The 4 foes laughed as they too left through corridors of darkness, leaving Sora and Discord to their fate.
Sora summoned the blade to his maw, and the Heartless couldn't resist. Several leaped at Sora, but got grabbed and crushed by Discord as they leapt.
After the Heartless in the first area were dispatched, Sora grabbed onto Discord's back, and the two flew over to Applejack's cage, which was the closest from where they were, suspended in midair. As they got closer however, several flying pegasus pony Heartless attacked. Discord got an idea, and snapped his fingers, blasting the foes away in a flaming panic, as Sora used the Keyblade to unlock Applejack's cage. Applejack spotted Pinkie's cage floating in the corner of the room. The path looked straight, but as they advanced, a huge chasm appeared, guarded by several larger flying Heartless. Applejack used her lasso to swing onto a nearby light, and swung across as the Keyblade wielder and Discord dispatched the batch of monsters. Applejack bucked a column, which fell across the chasm to act as a bridge.
They repeated the process of rescuing and fighting until everypony was free, even Princess Celestia, who used her magic to restore the room to it's former condition.
"Well done, my little ponies." she said, addressing Sora and his friends, "and well done Discord. I am glad you have decided to work alongside us."
Discord bowed to the princess, and apologized for the darkness he had brought about, before vowing to help return Equestria to normal.
"Now, my little ponies, Sunset Shimmer's spell has caused a rift in time. She has brought together forces you have fought before, and those you have not truly met yet. That rift is dangerous. If it should remain open for too long, Equestria could fall apart quite literally, and be destroyed. But, fear not. The power of friendship shall save us!"
"Before we go, Princess," Twilight inquired, "could you explain why Sora has an element necklace?"
"Of course, Twilight. It would be my pleasure. Sora is a very special pony. I knew that when I first met him. He has many hearts connected to his own, and when you, who are the physical embodiments of the Elements of Harmony, opened your hearts to his, it created a 7th element: the Element of Light! There are no longer six elements, but seven. Sora represents the light that can never be extenguished fully. The light of true friendship!"
"Amazing...." was all Twilight could say.
One of the royal guards suddenly walked in.
"Your highness, something is happening in Ponyville! It seems that a dark creaure has appeared there.... but I don't understand how it could be there! I thought she was destroyed!"
"Who?" the Princess inquired.
"Nightmare Moon," the guard responded.
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18 The Elements of Harmony & The Heartless Army
"Nightmare Moon?!" Twilight exclaimed, "How?! We restored Princess Luna to her rightful self!"
"Guards! Bring Princess Luna to me!" Princess Celestia shouted.
The guards scrambled off, as the group stood, pacing, and looking worried. Even Pinkie Pie, who was normally cheerful and happy, could feel the tense air.
Sora finally broke the silence.
"Who's Nightmare Moon?"
Twilight began to recall the tale of when she first moved to Ponyville, about how Princess Luna had become the dark mare of the night long ago, how Princess Celestia had imprisoned her in the moon, how she escaped, and how the Elements of Harmony had returned her to herself. Sora soaked up every bit of the information, and soon he too was worried.
The guards finally returned.
"Where is Luna?" the Princess asked.
"We can't bring her here. You'll have to go see her yourself."
Applejack responded.
"Ah don't like the sound of this."
The group of ponies and the former King of Chaos walked through the halls of Canterlot Castle in silence on their way to Luna's Chamber.
Upon their arrival, Sora was shocked at the sight.
Luna was inside a purple bubble, brimming on the outside with darkness, but she was sleeping peacefully inside.
He summoned the blade into his maw, and attempted to strike the bubble, but only succeeded in knocking himself backwards onto the floor.
It was then that a ghostly figure appeared in front of them. You could see him, but you could also see through him! And then Princess Luna's heart began to exit her body.
"Well well well. Greetings, my little ponies, and of course our dear 'Princess' Celestia." the figure with glowing green eyes said as he held the heart in his hoof, "Welcome to the beginning of the end."
"Put Princess Luna's heart back!" Sora shouted.
"Ha. As if I would do something rash and wrong like that." the figure said, as Luna and her bubble began to disappear, "Now, let's put her heart in a more suitable vessel."
Suddenly another erethreal figure began to appear, which somewhat looked like Luna, but taller, with a mane that looked more like dark fire than hair, and with a dark faceplate covering part of her face. As the heart entered into the figure's body, she began to solidify. Soon, she was fully in a body once again.
The ponies began to retreat as the figure advanced on them, and the other figure began to dissapear.
"HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA! It's good to be whole again." the figure said.
"Nightmare Moon!" Twilight shouted.
"Yes, I'm sure everypony knows my name already. And now, I think I shall remake this castle in my own glorious image," she said, firing a dark beam which trapped Princess Celestia in a bubble, as she too began to disappear.
"What have you done to her!" Rarity shouted, "return her this instant!"
"Oh, I shall return your dear Princess. AFTER we turn her into a Heartless!" Nightmare Moon said, retreating into a corridor of darkness as Heartless began to form around them.
"We defeated you once and we'll do it again!" Rainbow Dash cried out, attempting to fly into the corridor, but with it disappearing before she could reach it.
"We've got bigger problems right now, everypony...." Sora shouted, summoning his blade once again.
The six ponies attempted to summon their own blades, but could not.
"Sora! Why can't we wield the keyblades anymore?" Twilight asked as the group huddled together.
"I don't know..... Try to look deep into your heart!"
The six ponies reached into the deepest depths of their hearts, and six blades appeared once again.
Discord flew above them, preparing his claws and paw for a battle.
Seven ponies, each with a Keyblade in their mouths, batted Heartless upon Heartless using both their blades and their talents, everything from an applebuck to the jaw to a party cannon into the gut to a rainbow tornado lifting up the group of monsters, as the blades cut them into pieces.
"There's too many!" Fluttershy yelped.
"I have an idea! Remember what happened with the Heartless last time? Well, let's do it again! Stick your blades into the center!" Sora responded.
"Oooh! And then do we press triangle to initiate the reaction command?" Pinkie asked.
"Say wha- Never mind. Just do it!"
The six ponies stuck their blades into a ring, as Sora inserted his as well.
"Light!"
The spectacular rainbow was released once again, slaying each and every Heartless in the room.
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19 Three Little Stowaways/The Great Cave Offensive
"Where could Nightmare Moon have gone too?" Sora asked as the group walked into Golden Oaks Library.
"I don't know. But what puzzles me more is how that monster brought her back. We defeated her. And what happened to Princess Luna and Princess Celestia? Where are they?" Twilight responded, as they explained the story to Spike.
"Well everypony.... I think we know somepony who might know...." Fluttershy said.
"Who, sugarcube?"
"Zecora."
The group went into the Everfree Forest, and made their way to Zecora's home, being careful to avoid the wild Poison Joke.
Discord had decided to check out the place where Maleficent had the meetings of her group, Hollow Bastion, for the dark foes, but to no avail, he decided to search other, hidden parts of Equestria, agreeing to meet the others in at Canterlot Station in the morning.
The group went into the house, and Zecora welcomed them.
But the happy face she displayed soon turned to one of worry.
"Well, I know of one place where to find the dark. But be warned everypony, this place is not a walk in the park." she said, drawing the coordinates on a homemade map of Equestria, as she wished them luck.
The group had decided not to tell the Cutie Mark Crusaders about the current situation, to avoid them worrying about not only their safety, but those of everypony else.
The group boarded the train to meet up with Discord in Canterlot.
But then Sora noticed one of Rarity's bags was moving. He tapped it, and it fell onto the floor, opening and spilling out three little fillies.
"Applebloom! Ah thought Ah told ya'll to stay in Ponyville!"
"But Applejack, Ah-"
"Ah don't want to hear it. You and the Crusaders shouldn't have come. This is dangerous!"
"Hey, give us a break Applejack. We have Rainbow Dash AND Sora here. It can't be too dangerous with them protecting us." Scootaloo interjected.
"Scootaloo's right, " Sweetie Belle interjected, "We'll be ok!"
"Well, there's no way to send you three back now. Ya'll better stay with Fluttershy the whole trip! You don't mind, right Shy?"
"No, of course not. Now girls, we have to be careful."
"We will!" All three promised enthusiastically.
"Now, don't think ya'll are off the hook. Soon as we get back, Granny Smith'll be hearin' bout what ya'll did."
"And Sweetie Belle, you will go straight to your room for the night without supper."
"And Scootaloo, I'm not taking you with me to the Wonderbolts Show next week."
"Awwwwww...." All three Crusaders said.
As they exited the train, they met up with Discord. He said that the mysterious green eyed pony they had seen was spotted in a small village east of Canterlot, and that he had a mysterious, cloaked figure with him.
"Sunset Shimmer?"
"I don't think so. I recognize her from somewhere before. She seems... familiar."
The group made their way to the Village, and their theory was confirmed. A small cave entering into a large mountain cavern lay there. The group entered in, and were immediately set upon by Heartless.
Six blades were drawn, one for each of the elements, except Fluttershy, who protected the fillies.
Earth Pony heartless, Unicorn heartless, and pegasus Heartless.
They weren't hard to dispatch, but they certainly were scary.
"If there's Heartless in here, we must be getting close." Sora remarked.
They walked farther into the cave, and the last view of the exit finally disappeared, with Twilight using her horn to make a light through the cave.
20 The Mastermind/A Friend Appears
The group made their way through the maze of caverns, being careful to stick together. There were twists and turns that would boggle the mind. Sora was reminded of Wonderland, except this place was dark and filled with dank caverns and bats.
Not a single Heartless appeared while they trekked through the cave, which suprised the group. They had soon made their way deep enough into the cave where they heard hoofsteps close by. The group of ponies watched behind a large boulder as the black pony walked past, heading towards the exit.
The group began to continue down the path this mysterious pony had come from, and soon enough, they reached a small cavern, where Princess Celestia was being held, sleeping, in an erethreal cage.
The group rushed to her side, and Sora prepared to use his Kingdom Key to unlock the cage, but as soon as the blade appeared in his maw, they heard a voice.
"Ah-ah-aaaaah! No wakey-wakey the Princess."
They turned to see Sunset Shimmer and Nightmare Moon standing there, alongside a new pony.
"Correct. Now, Sora, I give you a choice. King Mickey.... or Equestria."
Sora recognized the voice as King Mickey appeared in a mystic bubble, covered in darkness on the outside.
"Maleficent."
"Very good, Sora. Now, what shall it be?"
"Sora! Don't listen to her! Save your friends!" the King said.
"Silence, your 'Majesty'."
"Take King Mickey back to Disney Castle NOW!"
"Musn't let our temper rise, Sora."
He heard the screams of his friends, and he turned to see they were all trapped in bubbles.
"I wonder what the Elements of Harmony could do as Heartless...."
Sora summoned his blade to his maw.
"How about we have a fair fight, Maleficent? Winner can do whatever they want to the loser, No objections!"
"No, Sora! She'll make you into a Heartless!" the King cried.
"Alright, we have a deal."
"First, release my friends!"
"After the fight, I shall release them, if you win. We can't let them interfere, now can we?"
Sora leapt at Maleficent, brandishing his blade, striking her as she transformed into a large, black dragon, breathing green flame towards him.
Sora leapt back, and looked deep into his heart.
"Give me strength!"
The familar bright flash of light, and his clothes changed to gold and black.
"Everypony! We're in here again!" Applejack said, inside Sora's heart again.
"Alright! Let's show that mean ole' witch what Sora can do! Sora, make that magical element blade-thingy appear again!" Pinkie said.
Sora summoned his blade, once again combining the power of the Elements of Harmony into one magnificent blade.
"Sora! I think I just realized something. Maybe, you could use MY magic while we're in your heart!" Twilight said, factually.
He aimed his blade, saying the only word he could think of.
"Sparkle!"
A powerful blast of pure, white magic sailed towards Maleficent like a torpedo, striking her and knocking her onto her back, as Sora dashed straight to her stomach and leapt upon it, striking it with another powerful blast, as she bucked him off.
"Wait, sugarcube. If you can use Twilight's magic, who's ta say ya can't use out talents too? You know, Rainbow's flight skills, Pinkie's party power, mah applebuckin', you get the picture."
"Sora! Use your wings to fly up real high, and then fly straight back down." Rainbow suggested.
Doing as he was asked, he flew up into the air, and dived straight back down, turning upward right before striking the floor.
A loud boom.
Followed by a magnificent burst of color.
Maleficent herself, in all the might of her dragon form, was knocked into the air.
And then, the unexpected.
As Sora's clothes returned to normal, and his friends all appeared beside him, he heard a shout.
"Fire!"
A blast of black and purple fire went straight into Maleficent's chest.
The group turned around to see an all-black pony, with a silver mane and tail, wearing a jacket something like Sora's, brandishing a unique blade in his maw.
"That all ya got?"
"Riku!"
"No time for Hellos, Sora. Let's take Maleficent down together, with your friends!"
Maleficent had recovered, but now had returned to her previous form.
"No! How could you have done this?"
"Because, Maleficent."
She turned, hearing an all-too familiar voice.
But no one was there.
"The power of light trumps all darkness!"
She turned again to see the King standing next to the two ponies with Keyblades, and all three put their blades into a circle, firing off a spectacular blast towards her.
She did the only think she could think of. She retreated into a corridor of darkness, leaving only Nightmare Moon and Sunset behind her.
"No! How could you have defeated our mistress!" Nightmare Moon shouted, "No matter! You will all perish any way!"
She fired a blast from her horn, striking the cavern's roof, which began to crumble.
"Get Princess Celestia to safety!" King Mickey said, unlocking the door to her cage.
"But your Majesty, you'll be crushed!" Riku interjected.
"Don't worry about me. Celestia is more important for Equestria's future!"
"But - "
"Go Now!"
The ponies took off with Princess Celestia through the cave, while the villains retreated into a corridor of darkness.
But not before Twilight could utter the Spell of the Elements, and 7 ponies lifted off the ground, blasting a spectacular rainbow into the rift, both changing it's course and restoring Nightmare Moon to her former place in time.
The group arrived outside the cave, and another flash of light occured.
"Princess Luna! You're ok!"
The group of ponies had just exitted the cave, when a spectacular flash of light occurred, and a blue pony stood before them. She was an alicorn, with the moon as her cutie mark.
"Princess Luna! You're ok!" Twilight said.
"Yes, my little ponies, thanks to you."
"Hey, all part of hero's duty!" Rainbow added.
"Ah. So I see. And who might these two new ponies be?"
"Huh? Oh, the name's Sora."
"Riku."
"Sora and Riku. Such odd names for ponies." the Princess said, giving them a wink.
"Oh, that's right! Riku! I'd like you to meet my friends! This is Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. And this little dragon here is Spike. And she's -"
"Princess Celestia. We've met before."
"You have?"
"Yes, Sora." Princess Celestia chimed in, "you see, King Mickey introduced me to Riku when he first came to Equestria."
"But.... how did King Mickey get here?"
"All in due time, Sora. But first, I believe you need to explain something to your friends. About how Equestria is only one of many."
"I understand, Princess. But can we at least do it on the ride back to Ponyville?"
"Of course. But first, I feel it only fair to warn you. You're adventure here is not yet over. There are still many dark foes here, and as long as they exist, then the Heartless will continue to appear in our world."
Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had returned to Canterlot, and Riku had joined the group on their ride back to Ponyville. They chatted for a bit, with him formally introducing himself, and then Sora began.
"Ahem.... everypony, may I have your attention?"
"Just go ahead, Sora. We're listening." Riku spat back.
"Um.... Princess Celestia, as you know, said Equestria is one of many. Many what? Worlds. The Universe is full of other worlds. We Keyblade wielders travel amongst them. We're also not supposed to let others know about the existence of other worlds.... but if the Princess knows, I guess it's ok to let you guys know too."
"Other worlds, darling?"
"Yeah... all kinds. Crazy ones, dark ones, pretty ones, you name it."
"Wow.... how come only Keyblade wielders can visit other worlds?" Twilight asked, inquisitvely.
"Well, actually, other people can visit them... but it's not encouraged. Maleficent is one of those people. And some friends of mine, whose hearts are connected to mine, can be brought into another world through what I call "summoning magic".
"People? What are they?" Rainbow asked.
"Uh.... one sec. Riku, can we talk for a minute?"
Once again, Sora made a mental slap.
"Riku.... should we tell them?"
"What? That we aren't ponies?"
"Yeah."
"I don't know.... Ponies are what this world is filled with... I don't think we should give too much away."
"Alright."
Sora turned back to his friends.
"People are odd creatures that walk on two legs and are very different from us ponies."
"Sugarcube.... ah think I get something that the other girls may have missed. Can we go talk privately, ourselves?"
"Sure thing, AJ."
The two ponies walked into a compartment and shut the door behind them.
"Sora. If what ah think is correct, then ya'll gotta tell the others. We won't judge ya, and we'll accept ya just the same. We want to be your friend. We love ya too. But ya ain't no pony, are ya? You're one of those people things."
Sora sighed.
"Yeah. It's true. I'm not really a pony, and neither is Riku. We only became ponies when we entered this world. It's a kind of magic that makes us match the environment of the world we're in. Since ponies are the norm here, the magic changed us."
"Sugarcube, like ah said, ya gotta tell the other girls. Ya shoulda told us the truth from the beginning, but we can't change the past. But ya should still try to make things right."
"But... what if they don't like me.... what if they only like the pony me....and we weren't supposed to tell you at all. But if you guys know about other worlds... I guess it's okay."
"I promise that we'll all accept ya and make do. Take it from the Element of Honesty, lying isn't the right thing to do. It's better to tell the truth to your friends and forge a friendship that'll last forever than to base it on a lie which will come out eventually."
"I guess you're right, AJ."
Sora and Applejack stepped back out of the compartment they were talking in. Riku and the other ponies were all chatting, and Sora stepped out in front of everypony.
He coughed into his hoof to get their attention.
"Ahem.... could everypony listen for a minute? I have something to tell you girls."
"Let me guess," Pinkie Pie said as she walked over to him, "You and Riku came to Equestria through a magical portal-thingy and are in reality persons instead of ponies and you normally wield your keyblade in something called a hand instead of your mouth or hoof, and when you came here, the Heartless followed, and all of you were transformed into pony forms since ponies are what our world is filled with."
Sora's jaw actually hit the floor with this drop, and everypony's jaw with it, including Riku's.
Twilight was first to snap back to attention.
"Pinkie.... that couldn't be true." she said, laughing nervously.
"Actually...." Sora said.
"You mean.... she's right?" Rainbow added.
Sora nodded.
Everypony burst into laughter, with Pinkie making a remark about how "Pinkie Sense is never wrong!"
But then, all faces turned serious.
"But.... Sora.... why did you lie to us?" Fluttershy asked, looking deeply into his eyes, which only made him feel worse.
"Yeah. Why?" Rainbow followed.
"No girls, I think Sora must have had a good reason for doing what he did." Rarity added.
"Well... keyblade wielders aren't supposed to tell of other worlds, and I thought.... if I told you.... you wouldn't like me....wouldn't want to be my friends...."
"Now, sugarcube. Like Ah said, we'd never stop bein' your friends. We'll always accept ya, even if ya did lie to us. It's no big thing."
"Yeah, why'd you even think that?" Rainbow asked.
"Darling, we'll always be your friends."
"Of course, Sora. Angel will be too. Right, Angel?"
"Of course we would. Now, let's go save Equestria!" Twilight finished.
"Eeyup."
Everypony turned, and was surprised to see Big Mac on the train. What was the truly odd part though, was the train hadn't stopped, and they were miles away from Ponyville - or any town for that matter.
"Big McIntosh, how in tarnation did ya'll get on this train?"
They heard him emit a silly, feminine giggle, and he reached onto his back, and pulled a zipper down, revealing a very laughy Pinkie Pie inside.
"Um.... Pinkie.... how did you get that thing here... and how'd you put it on without us noticing."
"Silly Sora, I've been wearing it since before you came out with AJ!"
She had not, but he wasn't going to argue. Instead, everypony just started laughing, even Riku, although he had no idea why."
The train arrived in Ponyville Station, and Applejack told Applebloom to return straight to Sweet Apple Acres, while Rarity told Sweetie Belle to return to Carousel Boutique, and Rainbow told Scootaloo to go back to the library with Spike. The lot of ponies had about an hour of free time on their hands, before their next train would leave for a vast, snowy mountain which housed a large castle made entirely of crystal. Nopony knew what it was or why it was there, only that Princess Cadence was there, and Shining Armor was being sent to help protect it before the foes could storm the castle, as it was where they had been seen last.
The group left for Sugarcube Corner for a brief meal and chat, waiting for their train.
But Sora couldn't get the words Princess Celestia had said to him and the others.
"The fate of Equestria is in your hooves, my little ponies. I know you will not let me down."
As they prepared to leave for the Crystal Palace, each of Sora's new friends put on their spectacular element, gleaming in the sunlight, and he did the same.
24 The Fourth Crusader Returns
The ponies sat waiting at the train station, waiting for the train to arrive. About 10 minutes before it was to arrive, a different train made it's stop in the station. The door opened, and a small pony with a brownish coat and a magenta pink mane stepped out.
"Babs! It's good to see ya again!" Applejack said.
"Likewise, Cousin AJ. Who are these two new ponies? Didn't see them last time."
"This is Sora and Riku." Applejack replied.
"What brings you back to Ponyville, Babs?" Pinkie asked.
"Just wanted to see everypony again. That a bad thing?"
"No, course not sugarcube. Why don't ya'll head on over to Sweet Apple Acres? Ah'm sure Applebloom and the Crusaders would be mighty glad to see ya."
"Yeah. I'll do that. Nice to meet you two."
Babs walked away, heading to Sweet Apple Acres, while Sora asked Rainbow Dash what was up with that gray pony who had flown into them by mistake on the way over.
"Derpy's just.... well.... Derpy." was all she could really say.
The train arrived, and the group boarded to go to the Crystal Empire.
Babs Seed finally made it over to Sweet Apple Acres. As she prepared to go meet her cousin again, she saw two shadowy figures in below a tree. She smelled the scent of some sweet apple cider.
"Hey kid," one figure spoke, holding out a glass filled with a sweet smelling yellow elixir, "want some cider?"
The other spoke.
"Free of charge."
Babs wasn't one to turn down a free pick-me-up. She walked over and grabbed the glass, drinking her cider in one gulp.
"Wasn't that good?"
"Yeah, wasn't it much better than that awful Sweet Apple Acres garbage?"
"Hey! Don't bash my cousins!"
"You're an Apple?"
"Technically, I'm a Seed, but yeah, they're my cousins! And their cider is so much better than your nasty stuff - who are you anyway?"
"We're glad you asked."
They burst into song, explaining that "He's Flim, He's Flam, they're the world-famous Flim-Flam Brothers."
"And we're gonna drive Sweet Apple Acres outta business one way or another!"
Several dark creatures formed around, grabbing Babs by her front hooves, and the two mischievous brothers dropped a note nearby.
Applebloom and the Crusaders walked out of Sweet Apple Acres, preparing for school. As they walked out, Applebloom noticed a letter that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had somehow missed. She read it aloud.
Apple Family,
We've taken your dear, smart-mouthed cousin Babs with us. Give us all your apples and money or else we'll let our Heartless have their way with her.
Signed, Flim and Flam
"Flim and Flam! Those dirty rats!" Applebloom exclaimed, "how will we save her? Applejack and Sora and the others are all headed off to Celestia-Knows-Where!"
"This is no time to panic," Scootaloo said, calmly, "We'll save Babs ourselves! Cutie Mark Crusaders, assemble!"
"We're all here already though," Sweetie Belle added.
"You know what I mean! Come on!"
"Hey! Wait!"
The Cutie Mark Crusaders all turned to see a pink pony with a reddish-brown mane, wielding a flowery version of Sora's blade in her maw.
"Who are you?" Sweetie Belle asked this new pony.
"I'm Kairi. Could you tell me where I am?"
"Ponyville," Scootaloo asked, pushing her fellow crusaders towards her scooter, "and no offense but we've got a fellow Crusader to rescue."
"Can I join you?"
"Sorry - only Official Cutie Mark Crusaders." Applebloom replied.
"Wait a minute!!" Sweetie Belle interjected, "look at her! She has a blank flank too! No cutie mark, see?"
To their amazement, Sweetie Belle was right. An ADULT pony without a cutie mark.
"Oh alright, you can tag along, and maybe we'll let you hang with us afterward, but you can't fit in my scooter! How will you keep up?"
"I'll manage." Kairi said, running quickly on her four legs.
"Alright. Follow us!" Applebloom said.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders hopped onto Scootaloo's scooter and sped off, following the marks Babs had left when she was being dragged away. Kairi, the strange new pony, followed quick as she could into the Everfree Forest, following her new pony friends to the best of her ability.
"You'll never get away with this!" Babs cried.
"Oh, but we will."
"We've got Heartless to do our work for us. Not too shabby eh?"
"Heartless? What are you even talkin' about?"
"Well, they got you here despite the enormous amount of whining and thrashing you did."
"Pretty interesting for such a small pony to have so much energy."
"Might make an even more interesting Heartless. Think of it, Flam. Make a new minion and take over Sweet Apple Acres all in one day."
"Now hold on, Flim. They'll never give it to us if we turn her into one. We'll wait till they've signed the contract, then convert this one."
"Why stop at this one? Why not the whole Apple Family? In fact, why not all of Ponyville too?"
"Now Flim, we musn't get ahead of ourselves. We'll start with the Apples THEN we'll see if Ponyville is weak enough to fall."
"Then on to Canterlot!"
The two ponies in the red-and-white striped jackets laughed, in a typical villainous way, as Babs tried to push the thoughts they had spoken of out of her mind.
The train ride from Ponyville to the Crystal Empire was not a very lively one. Everypony in the train was concerned about what would happen soon. With both Shining Armor and Princess Cadence there to protect it, something big and dangerous must be after it.
Sora thought to himself that this place might be the location of the Keyhole of Equestria.
Twilight, Spike, Applejack, and Rarity stood off at one end of the train, speaking amongst each other, while Rainbow, Sora, Riku, Fluttershy, and Pinkie stood at the other.
Twilight couldn't push the thoughts from her mind. A dark king... trying to take over his former throne after thousands of years. How could this be possible? Any pony would have been long gone by then. She couldn't help but feel worried.
"This sure sounds tough. Even Discord wasn't this crazy. What could become of this?" Applejack asked.
"I don't know, darling. But think of it this way; we all have our elements. They should be able to protect the... crystal.... ponies....." Rarity responded, clearly going off on the pure concept of ponies made of crystal.
8 ponies and 1 dragon all remained silent for the rest of the train ride.
Kairi was running as fast as her four legs could carry her. But, despite knowing that trouble was at foot, she couldn't help smile at her new equine form. She had always loved horses and ponies, and now she was one! It was simply amazing.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders turned the corner, and Kairi followed suit. It wasn't too hard figuring out where Flim and Flam had taken Babs, for their Super Easy Cider-Squeezy 3000 left a hard-to-miss trail. As they descended deeper into the forest, the darker it became.
They finally discovered the vehicle parked right outside a large cave mouth. Kairi caught up, and they thought up a quick plan; Kairi would distract Flim and Flam while the Crusaders rescued Babs.
They descended deeper and deeper into the dark cave, until they finally heard some terrifying laughter coming from the next room. Kairi tippy-hoofed her way into the room, followed by Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo. She then snuck around to where the Flim-Flam Brothers were standing, and clopped her hoof to the floor three times.
The Brothers turned in shock, as they heard a distinctly feminine voice yell.
"Fire!"
A burst of flame shot out of the tip of Kairi's blade, igniting a small ball of hay in the corner, bathing the cave's room in light.
"Gah! Heartless, you know what to do!"
Several dark ponies surrounded Kairi, and she prepared her blade and began slicing through the monsters like a knife through butter.
Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle snuck their way over to Babs, who was tied against the cave's wall with some ropes and gagged.
They took the gag from her mouth first, and she nearly blew their cover by saying thanks almost a tad too loudly. Fortunately, Flim and Flam were too busy watching their Heartless be destroyed to notice.
Applebloom and the Crusaders untied Babs, and prepared to sneak out of the cave, until Sweetie Belle stopped.
"Babs, you go! Applebloom, Scootaloo.... Kairi's in trouble! We've got to help her!"
"Oh no, I ain't goin' without you all. I'm helpin' too!" Babs replied.
Scootaloo nodded and the four Crusaders got onto the scooter and sped over, knocking several Heartless into a pile out of the way, which Kairi sliced with her blade.
The group fended off the remaining monsters, and soon all were gone.
"No! How could this be!"
"How..... Heartless should've eaten you alive!"
Flim and Flam ran out of the cave screaming.
"Thanks girls! By the way... I never caught your names."
"Ah'm Applebloom!"
"My name's Sweetie Belle!"
"Scootaloo."
"And I'm Babs. Thanks for saving my flank back there."
"Like I said, I'm Kairi. It's nice to meet you all!"
The 5 ponies exitted the cave and headed back to Ponyville.
Kairi and her new group of friends, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Babs all had decided on their way back through Everfree Forest to take Kairi to Cutie Mark Clubhouse, where they would make her an official Crusader. But before they could do that, they had to pick up a cake for the occassion from Sugarcube Corner. They walked through Ponyville, smiling happily, until they heard a horrific scream. They followed the sounds around a corner to see what was the commotion, and to their horror, they saw a familiar pink pony, with her chocolatey brown mane, imprisoned in a magical red bubble, with the bubble's outside being shrouded by dark energy.
"Oh no! We've got to save Candy-" AppleBloom began, but was cutoff as a spectacular flash of green streaked right in front of their eyes.
"What was-" Kairi began.
"Smashing Light." the three Ponyville Crusaders all said as one.
There, about 15 feet in front of their faces, 4 hooves landed upon the ground, lime green, attached to a pony with a spikey orange man with blue eyes, and a cutie mark that looked something like a controller... for what though?
Right next to the bubble, a large Heartless stood.
"All right, Heartless," the pony named Smashing began, "put Candy Something down nice and easy, and no one gets hurt."
The Heartless did not comply.
"That's what I thought. NOW I get the pleasure of rescuing my honey AND kicking your butt!"
A blinding flash of light, and the green pony had a familiarly-shaped sword in his mouth. It's hilt was made of Sapphire, and it's blade of bronze. On the end, a chain with a symbol somewhat resembling his cutie mark attached to it.
"A... keyblade..." Kairi whispered under her breath.
The pony was lightning quick, launching magic and strikes faster than the Heartless could comply. By the time one quick series of hits was finished he was already beginning another string of attacks. Finally, as he dove under a swipe from the large Heartless' claws, he shouted.
"This is it!" was the cry, as he knocked the huge Heartless into the air with a quick bash of his blade, and leaped up to follow. All could see, the pony's eyes glowed with a yellowish aura, as he trapped the foe in a large, triangular prison of pure light, and began bashing it with several quick strikes, before shouting as he shoved his blade into the monster's inky blackness, freeing the crystal heart from it's body and making the Heartless dissipate into air.
He landed gently on his four hooves and then leaped and struck the bubble with his blade freeing the pony inside, which he caught as she fell into his front legs.
"Smashing.... thank you... my wonderful one..." she said as she could barely stay awake.
"Candy... I'm so glad you're safe..."
The two shared an embrace for what seemed like 20 minutes, and after they were done, Kairi approached.
"Wow! That was amazing! Almost like.... him."
"Huh? Oh, hello. I'm Smashing Light, and this is my fillyfriend, Candy Something."
"I'm Kairi! But.... where did you get that blade.... just.... who are you?"
He paused for a moment, and when he spoke again, his tone was slightly lower.
"Let's just say... a friend."
"Do you know Sora? Or Riku?"
"There will be time for your questions later. Now I must take my darling home. She needs to rest."
"But how will I find you."
"Don't worry about that. I'll find you when the time is right."
And with that, he walked away.
"Kairi.... what was that thing in Smashing Light's mouth... it looked like... Sora's weapon. And yours... and Riku's.... A key-blade?"
"I don't know, Apple Bloom. But I intend to find out how that colt got ahold of a keyblade."
"Can we come with you?" Scootaloo asked.
"Of course girls. But first, don't I have to become and official Cutie Mark Crusader?" Kairi replied.
"Oh yeah! C'mon, girls!" AppleBloom replied.
Eight ponies and one dragon made their way into the magnificent Crystal Empire. It was located in the midst of a vast snowy region, but the Empire itself felt like it was glowing in the summer sun. The ponies around them, referred to as "Crystal Ponies" appeared nothing more than any other pony. The group had made their way to Princess Cadance's temporary chambers to speak with her without any troubles, heartless or otherwise, but even then something did not seem right. Riku made one final glance towards the bubble of magic protecting the empire, and he thought he saw something small and black scratch on the bubble like glass.
"Better take note of that... for later..."
"Princess Cadance!" Twilight said as she ran over to her former babysitter, Shining Armor's wife, giving her a large hug, which seemed to help, as she seemed very stressed. Her mane was very messy and she looked tired, as her horn was apparently the source of the Empire's protection.
"Your majesty," Riku began, "we have heard that an ancient foe by the name of Sombra has returned to existence to reclaim his throne... we are here to help in any way we can."
"Thank you, young Keyblade wielder." Cadance spoke, "The guards will take your bags to your quarters..."
"Well, what's the plan, Twilight?" Applejack asked.
"Well... I think one good idea would be to check the Empire for clues on how Sombra was defeated the last time. We can divide up in groups and ask the crystal ponies what happened. Let's see... Riku, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, you guys take the Eastern half of the city. Sora, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, you take the Western half. Fluttershy, Spike, and I will check the library. We'll all meet back here after we're done."
"Alright, sounds like a plan!" Sora said, "Let's go everypony!"
With that, the group went their seperate ways to complete the task.
Twilight, Fluttershy, and Spike had been searching the library for about an hour, before an unexpected guest decided to drop in.
Discord appeared in a small flash, and told them that he had found out about King Sombra's spell upon the Empire, that he had cursed it not only to disappear, but to wipe all memory of it's history and disappearance from the Crystal Ponies' minds. Then he left to go gather up the rest of the group, and "to grab a quick bite."
27 The Fifth Crusader/The Crystal Empire
"And with that, we now name you an OFFICIAL Cutie Mark Crusader!"
"Thanks girls. Now, what say we got find out about that pony with the keyblade on my first official mission of the Crusaders?"
"All right!"
"Sounds good."
"Let's go, Kairi!"
The 5 Cutie Mark Crusaders walked out of the clubhouse on their way to Ponyville, and were soon galloping rapidly through Sweet Apple Acres. As they made their way to the front gate, they grabbed a few apples to munch on during their adventure.
They had soon arrived in Ponyville, and began asking everypony about where Smashing Light and Candy Something lived, but nopony knew.
Suddenly, they heard a few hoofsteps behind them.
"That's what I thought. Just couldn't wait for me to find you, eh? Alright, I'll explain, but you'll need to follow me."
Far on the other end of Equestria, the group of friends had regrouped back in the castle throne, 8 ponies, Spike, and Discord all stood side by side discussing what they had found out. It was at this time that Riku finally decided to reveal what he had seen earlier, the dark "claw" scratching on the bubble of Cadance's magic that was protecting the empire. Twilight had found in a book about something known as the Crystal Heart which bathed the empire in light and love. It had long been missing since the evil King Sombra had ruled.
The group decided to try to find the crystal heart and to hold the Empire's great celebration, the Crystal Fair, to try to restore the Empire to it's former glory and destroy the monstrous king's spirit once and for all. Discord, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all began to set up the festival, while Riku, Spike, and Twilight began their search of the former king's dark castle. Sora stayed behind to help Shining Armor keep Princess Cadance strong, and in case any Heartless should attempt to come after her.
Twilight, Riku, and Spike had searched for a long time before stumbling upon a secret passageway underneath the former King's throne, which they promptly began to walk downward into the dark depths of the cavern. They found a door at the bottom, and a mirror. Riku looked into the mirror, and saw a horrible sight, of Sora and Kairi and Donald and Goofy and the King, all abandoning him. In a blind fit of rage he attempted to smash the mirror with his hoof, but only ended up hurting himself.
He heard a voice, almost in the distance.
"Riku! Riku!"
"Twilight..."
He awoke from his trance-like state, and drew his keyblade, smashing the mirror into a thousand pieces. Behind the mirror was a door, But before they could enter, several dark entities formed around them. Heartless of every variety.
With a few quick strikes of his blade, the Heartless were all gone, but he brought up the rear as they passed through the door so as to keep his friends safe in case more attacked. They found themselves looking amidst a large tower, with a spiraling staircase leading up to the top, which was not visible. Twilight attempted to teleport herself up the stairways, but for some reason she could not, and Riku deduced their must be a powerful dark magic protecting it. They began to climb the spiraling staircase up.
On the other side of the empire, the fair was in full swing. All the crystal ponies were having fun and enjoying themselves, happily celebrating. With each passing moment, however, the darkness just outside the Princess' magic bubble grew stronger. The crystal ponies were blissfully unaware, but Applejack and the others all took notice. Twilight had explained the power of the crystal heart to them, they knew what it could do. But the crystal heart they had prepared, covered by a tarp in the festival's center was a fake, nothing more than a carved boulder. Tension began to rise amongst the friends as they discussed what would happen if the bubble broke.
Sora was inside the castle, protecting the princess and prince Shining Armor, waiting in a battle-ready stance in case something would attack.
And something did.
Several Heartless began to rise from the floor, and he drew his blade, as Shining Armor came down to assist him, casting a spell of protection over Cadance. Then, they heard a chilling laugh, and a green flame appeared in their midst.
"Maleficent."
"Yes, Sora. I have returned once again. Heartless! Get the Princess!"
Several Heartless bounded up, attempting to make the jump over Sora and Shining Armor, but only ended up getting blasted by a barrage of magic or a keyblade into the gut. The group of monsters would not fade back, however, and kept coming in an onslaught of attacks. Somehow, a few managed to make it past the daring duo, and were preparing to attack the mystic bubble protecting Cadance. But then, the witch spoke again.
"Enough! I grow weary of this little game."
She transformed, not into the form of a dragon, but into her original self, the dark fairy Sora knew all along was on the inside, now returned to the outside, and she smashed her staff into the bubble, shattering it and making Cadance pass out.
And the bubble protecting the Crystal Empire broke, as the darkness began to seep in, little by little.
Twilight saw from her perch high amongst the tower as the bubble broke.
"Ugh! Riku, we don't have much time!"
"I know. Hmm. We don't seem to be getting anywhere. You think Sombra may have cursed this tower so going up only leads to nowhere?"
"It's possible, but he'd have to have really dark magic to do so."
Riku began to walk downward, and soon enough he was walking upside down, to which Twilight and Spike somehow were able to follow.
Then, there it was. In plain sight, the Crystal Heart sat suspended upon a crystal pedastal. Twilight went to grab it, but Riku shouted at her.
"NO! Wait! It's probably a trap!"
But it was too late. She already had grabbed it, and the dark crystals began to form around her in a tepee-like manner, forming a small prison to which she could not escape.
Riku tried to bash the dark crystals with his blade, but to no avail.
On the ground outside the Crystal Castle, Sora and Shining Armor ran down the steps, Princess Cadance riding unconscious on Shining Armor's back. Maleficent had disappeared for now, alongside the Heartless, but now an even greater threat was advancing upon the empire.
Heartless were, however, popping up in various places. Five ponies all looked deep into their own hearts, and each brought forth a blade showing their true inner selves, and Discord began to clash with Heartless with his arms and legs and tail, slaying as many as he could, working alongside the 5 ponies to protect the Crystal Ponies.
Sora began to run as fast as he could toward the dark cloud which was fast approaching.
"Sora! Wait!"
"No Shining! Protect Cadance! Help the others! I'll be fine!"
Sora reached the dark cloud, as greenish eyes began to form in it. The cloud dissapated, revealing a large, armor-clad unicorn, black as night, with a menacing red horn.
"It is good to be alive once again." the former dark king said, "and who might this young colt be, come to challenge me? Ah, yes, I know you. The young key-bearer. Prepare to meet your doom, little colt."
"No Sombra. Prepare to meet YOUR doom."
"I see somepony wants to fight. Very well, my little pony. But be warned, I may not show mercy and let you live once I defeat you. I think the Keyblade would look very nice in MY maw."
The dark king and the boy-turned pony stared each other down in what seemed like a time-slowing moment, before running at each other at high speed. Sora drew his blade and prepared to strike, but metal hit metal as he struck the monstrous king's heavy armor, and he bounced back, ready to try another strike.
"You'll have to try harder for that. I am giving you a sporting chance, after all. I want a nice, challenging fight against you. Don't make it too easy on me, hmm?" the dark king rebuffed against the strike as he fired a red blast from his horn, which Sora easily dodged.
"Hm. Very quick, athletic. I like that. Makes me feel like I AM going to get a challenge after all. HEARTLESS! Come to my side now!"
With those words, several heartless came to his side per his request, and began to fuse with him, forming two large scythes upon his back, and his eyes glowed a yellower shade of their normal green.
Sombra swung the scythes toward Sora, but he was unable to make a hit upon the boy. Sora got in close enough, and leaped - landing on Sombra's back, he used his blade to sever the dark scythes from his back, making them disipate into nothingness. Sombra shouted in pain, as if those had been a part of his body. Adding injury to injury, Sora swung his blade in an arc, hitting Sombra's horn, stunning him and allowing himself to launch a flurry of strikes, knocking Sombra into a building close by.
And as he prepared to lay another barrage of strikes, he heard a yell.
Riku and Spike were gliding down into the center of the crystal fair, with a magnificent crystal in Spike's hand. They landed, and Spike placed the Crystal Heart, the true Crystal Heart, onto the Pedastal. A magnificent wave of light spread outward from the crystal, destroying the Heartless and the dark crystals that had formed, and transforming the Crystal Ponies back to themselves once again. As the wave of light reached Sombra, he began to fade from existence, screaming as he faded away, back to his own time period.
Sora found his way to the Crystal Fair and was greeted by his friends, who were also now made into Crystal Ponies. Even Spike, Discord, and Riku had all changed into crystal beings.
But Sora noticed one pony wasn't there.
"Where's Twilight?" he asked.
Riku explained the story of what had happened, and Sora and all of his friends started to cry. But then, they heard a voice.
"What are you all crying about?"
"TWILIGHT!" They all shouted, giving her a large hug.
"Thanks everypony, but I don't think it's quite time to celebrate just yet...."
A large swarm flew above, headed straight in the direction of Cloudsdale, Ponyville, and Canterlot.
"Was that-?" Applejack began.
"It was," Twilight exclaimed, "Queen Chrysalis. C'mon everypony! We need to catch her, and quick!"
28 A Smashing Explanation
Kairi and the Crusaders followed Smashing Light to his home in the outskirts of Ponyville. They entered his small house and saw Candy Something resting on the couch. Smashing beckoned for the Crusaders to enter his dining room, and he poured them some lemonade as he began his story.
"As you know, I am Smashing Light. I was born here in Ponyville, and attended school where you three now attend. When I was no older than you three, I discovered my special talent and got my cutie mark. I then went to my high school where I met my sweetheart, Candy Something. About 4 years ago, I got my first glimpse of the dark beings known as Heartless. I did not know what to do. I was scared. I blacked out, but not before a being known as King Mickey was able to save me from the Heartless. I awoke on what appeared to be a platform of stained glass bearing my image, Candy's image, the King's image, and the images of 6 of my friends; Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash. In my maw was a magnificent blade, it's hilt made of sapphire and it's blade of bronze. I heard a voice but saw no one, and three things appeared - a sword, a shield, and a staff. The voice asked me which I chose to possess, for each of the three represented something different; Strength, Courage, and Magic. I chose the sword. Then it asked me what I was to give up. Being an earth pony, I have very little knowledge of magic, so I gave that up. I then fought a legion of Heartless within this endless expanse. Then I awoke from a sleep I did not remember falling into, home safe. From that day, I wielded the Keyblade. I have learned to use it's strength and my own. I now have a rather extensive knowledge of magic, despite not being a unicorn. I had very few encounters with the Heartless - they are not normal here. At least they weren't... until about 2 weeks ago, when that new pony, Sora, came to town. Since then, I've been busy beyond a shadow of a doubt. They always come after me and Candy. I can't stop them. After my first encounter with Heartless, King Mickey visited me. He told me of the existence of other worlds, and he trained me in the ways of a Keyblade Wielder. But rather than visit other worlds, I chose to stay here, to help protect Equestria from the chaos of the Heartless. Sure, I was called to Hollow Bastion and Disney Town on occassion, but nothing major. Strangely, I always changed forms when I visited these worlds. Now I know why."
He finished his story, and the 5 pony guests all discussed it amongst themselves.
"Now, if there's nothing more I can help you with, I must ask that you leave. One Keyblade Wielder in a house is enough to attract a few dozen Heartless, but two... it is an avoidable risk. I apologize for the inconvienence."
The group got up to leave, before he spoke one last time to them.
"Oh, and when you see Sora and Riku... tell them King Mickey is safe."
Kairi smiled.
"Will do."
Smashing nodded.
"Best of luck to you in your endeavours. May Celestia keep you safe."
And with that, he shut the door.
Smashing walked over to Candy, still lying there resting.
"Soon. Soon everything will be alright."
Then he cast a spell of protection over her and his home, and left through the backdoor.
The Ponyville Express made it's way down the tracks, racing towards it's destination. Twilight, Shining Armor, Cadance, and Discord had gotten off when it stopped in Canterlot to warn Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of the Changelings' return, and the others remained on the train. As the train pulled into Ponyville Station. Sora, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash took off straight for Cloudsdale on their wings, as part of the swarm was heading there. Riku and the others dashed off in several directions, determined to stop the monstrous beasts from devouring Ponyville.
Kairi saw a familiar black pony with a silvery mane run past her. She knew instantly who he was.
"Riku! Riku!"
"Huh? ...K-Kairi...."
The two shared a brief hug, before he began to run back off.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"No time... Monsters... attacking Ponyville..."
"Wait! I'm coming with you!
"FIne. Sora will be happy to see you when he gets back."
"Sora's here too?!"
"Yes, but there will be time for that later.
Kairi rushed off to follow Riku and shouted back at the Crusaders.
"Get to Sweet Apple Acres and don't leave until we come and get you! Then it'll be safe!"
"But Kairi... Crusaders always stick togeth-"
"I know! But this is far too dangerous for you girls!"
And with that, Kairi was gone with Riku.
"Ya know, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Babs.... Ah think Kairi might be one of those people things Sora told us about... she certainly seemed to know Riku..."
"Yeah... a bit suspicious... but we should probably do what she says." Sweetie Belle replied.
The Crusaders made their trip to Sweet Apple Acres.
"Wait girls!" Scootaloo cried as they entered the barn, where Big McIntosh and Granny Smith were already hunkered down for the battle.
"What Scootaloo?"
"Maybe we can earn our cutie marks in Heartless Battling!"
"Yeah!" Babs replied.
The four prepared to go and fight for Ponyville, but they felt a large red hoof pull them in towards the pony it was attached to.
"Eenope. Sorry, little fillies, but Ah can't letcha do that. It's too dangerous."
The group of friends, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and all of Ponyville gathered in town square as the mayor began her speech.
"Ahem. Attention, everypony! We are gathered here today to honor several ponies who risked not only life and limb to save not only Ponyville from the Heartless, but all of Equestria! May I present to you...
Twilight Sparkle...
Applejack...
Pinkie Pie...
Rarity...
Fluttershy...
Rainbow Dash...
Smashing Light...
Sora...
Riku....
and Kairi.
Ahem! I think I speak on behalf of all of Ponyville when I say, thank you."
"You not only speak for all of Ponyville, but for all of Equestria, mayor."
Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence all landed in the midst of the town.
Celestia herself walked up to the three Keyblade Wielders from another world.
"Thank you, Sora, Riku, Kairi."
Then, something magical happened. Twilight's heart began to glow from inside her body, and a wave of magical energy shot out from her. When the light had cleared, she spread her two new wings.
"You have truly proven yourself, Twilight."
"Proven myself... princess?"
"Yes. Since you lived in Ponyville, you've displayed the qualities of friendship that everyone should know."
Celestia walked up to the podium.
"May I present to you all for the very first time... Princess Twilight Sparkle!"
"I think I just realized something," Sora said a bit later. He ran back to the library, and moved a small bookshelf in the corner.
"That's what I thought."
He pointed his Keyblade at the small hole in the tree, and a beam of light shot from it's tip, as the sound of a lock being locked was heard.
The largest party in all of Equestria was held throughout Ponyville, and all were having fun.
That is, until a door appeared. It was white, and it appeared in front of the three otherwordly visitors.
"Well, looks like it's time for us to go." Sora said, softly.
"Sora! Riku! Kairi! Wait!" Twilight shouted, followed by her 5 friends and the 4 Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"Twilight... it's time for us to leave."
"I know. but first, we wanted to give you this."
Twilight pulled out a multi-colored star on a golden chain. It was purple, white, pink, orange, blue, and yellow. She gave it to him.
"It's... shaped like... papou fruit."
"We know. That's what it was supposed to look like."
"You guys... are my true friends."
All of the Elements of Harmonies' hearts were glowing from within them, as was Sora's. The charm was glowing too.
"Wow..." Applejack said.
"Our hearts... are connected." Sora said through tears.
Pinkie jumped up and spoke.
"You can now use us as summons! To use us, go to summons in the command menu, and press the triangle button to select the pony you want to use!"
"Um... ok Pinkie."
"We're going to miss you guys." Rainbow Dash said.
"Sure as sugar are."
"Most definitely, darling."
"Yeah... we will."
Everypony agreed, and all waved goodbye, as Twilight began to sing.
"A true, true friend helps a friend in need,
a friend will be there to help you see,
a true true friend helps a friend in need,
to see the light that shines from a true, true friend."
Everypony began to cry as the three keyblade wielders from another world began to enter to door.
"Come back and visit anytime!" Pinkie added as the three disappeared in the light.
"I'm gonna miss them." Applebloom said.
"We all are, lil' sis."
"C'mon everypony... this is a party.... OHIMISSTHEMSOMUCHALREADY!" Pinkie added.
Everypony walked back to the party silently.
Back in the Destiny Islands, three humans walked through the door, returned to their true forms once again. The door still stood there, ready just in case they ever chose to return.
"I'm glad to be back in human form, but... I'm going to miss my little pony friends." Sora said.
"Me too." Riku added.
"So will I." Kairi finished.
"We can visit anytime, though," Sora said with a smile, "but for now, I think we should head back to the tower for Master Yen Sid to tell us what's next."
"Let's go everypon- er.... guys." Riku said, slightly turning red, which was odd for him.
The Gummi Ship returned to the starry night sky, and they were on their way.
1 An Unexpected Dive to the Heart
Sora piloted the Gummi Ship, as he had done so many a time. He pondered the events of his life, in particular the recent ones. That final battle between Harry and Voldemort, working alongside Link to fight Ganondorf atop Hyrule Castle, and teaming up with the gaming heroes and villains of his childhood inside that arcade machine in Traverse Town. Every time he assisted his new friends in a new world, and their destinies, intertwined with his own, were fulfilled, they were disappearing from his dreams. Of the many figures crowding his hearts' representation, only 6 remained - floating above his head, eyes closed, with such sweet smiles upon their faces. But he was puzzled by his most recent orders from Master Yen Sid - he had to return to the Destiny Islands. Why? He had never seen those creatures in his homeland. Even stranger, Riku had to stay behind as a temporary post in Traverse Town - many Heartless were popping up there now.
As he landed on the sands he knew of his childhood, he paused. He thought of the battles he would have with Riku, and Tidus, and all his friends here on these beaches. He thought of that night, when he was tossed into the darkness, only to wake up in a myserious town. And he thought of his homecoming after defeating Xemnas. Not once did the failure of the Keyblade Exam that last year cross his mind, as he was now happy. So happy. Harry and his friends had finished the job in the Wizarding World alongside Sora. As reward for the perilous task, the Master had named him a Master at last. The worlds seemed to be at peace once again. But after finding Maleficent had gathered these foes to battle against him, they seemed in greater peril than before. But he had used the might of his Keyblade, and his heart, alongside his friends to take these threats out. Only two remained. But Sora had no idea who the one was. Even less, he wondered why he was back home. That foe couldn't live here, could he?
Finally, as he continued walking, he recalled Master Yen Sid's most recent words.
"Find the place where your heart first felt light, and the door shall be opened to you."
Then he thought.
The place were he, and Riku, and Kairi all played.
The Secret Place.
He ran, ecstatic, with pure adrenaline rushing, ready to face this monster.
But nothing was there.
He sat on a rock, and let the happy memories in.
Then, something DID happen.
A beautiful door, white, and elegant, made it's appearance. A symbol was engraved on the door - well, more like 6 symbols. He felt as though he recognized them from the dreams.
A star.
A diamond.
An apple.
A balloon.
A butterfly.
And a lightning bolt.
He reached out his hand, and turned the golden doorknob.
As he did, he was bathed in pure white light. He was so blinded, he couldn't even walk in. He tripped.
And then all the light was gone.
Darkness.
He landed on yet another stained glass platform. But this one was different. It was orange, and one of the 6 figures was the main feature on this one.
He finally realized what it was.
"A pony." he thought to himself.
Yes, it was a picture of a pony. A girl, from the looks of it. She was orange, with a yellow mane and tail, and a hat. 3 apples were printed on her flank, and symbols of other ponies were all around her. He walked towards the edge, and erethreal stairs appeared, leading downward to another platform, this one purple, with a purple pony. As he continued down each flight of stairs, each pony was different, and on each of their flanks, the symbols that were on the door.
Then, unexpectedly, THEY appeared.
Heartless. But unusual ones. He couldn't quite place it, what was different. But he summoned the Keyblade. Soon enough, they were gone.
He fell to his knees, and blanked out.
Sora's eyes opened, and he saw purple. His eyes were adjusting to the light, and that's all he could see.
"Are you alright?" a female voice asked.
"Ugh..... yeah. Musta hit my head."
"Well, it looks like you fell pretty hard. What's your name?"
"Sora.... what's yours?"
As his eyes finally got accustomed to the light, he saw her.
One of the ponies he had seen in the dream!
"I'm Twilight Sparkle," she said, and turned to her back, dropping a small reptilian creature off her shoulders, "and this is Spike. It's nice to meet you!"
Then it hit him - she could talk! Ponies aren't supposed to talk!
He got up onto his legs, and rubbed his rear.
"My tail really hurts...."
Wait a minute.
"My tail hurts? TAIL?!"
He ran around, on his 4 legs, feeling his necklace beating against his neck.
"What's wrong?"
"Everything! I have a tail, and a mane, and 4 legs, and hooves," he looked towards his flank," and this mark on my rear I can't get off!"
"You look like a normal pony to me."
"I'm a.... pony?"
"You sure you only hit your head? Maybe Spike and I should get you to somewhere with a bed."
"Uhhh... No thanks. I'm fine. Mighta took a little bit of crazy from that fall, but I'll be ok."
"Well, if you're sure. Anyway, how did you get here? Where are you from?"
"I.... I.... don't know. I'm from the Destiny Isl-"
He stopped, mentally smacking himself for almost revealing the existence of another world.
"Destiny what?"
"Island.... It's an Island."
"Where in Equestria is it? I've never seen it on any maps."
"Equestria?"
"Yeah.... that's what our home is called. But, I'm sure you have some... problems from that bump you had, so we can talk later. If you want, I can take you to get some food in Ponyville. You look like you could use a bite."
Sora's stomach rumbled, confirming Twilight's theory.
"Yeah, sure. Maybe then I can figure out just what's going on. Thanks.... what did you say you're named was again?
"Twilight Sparkle, but you can just call me Twilight."
"Thanks Twilight."
The dragon finally spoke.
"Nice to see you're alright, Sora. That's an unusual name, too. But a cool one!"
6 The Keyblade Wielder Explains
It had been decided. He'd be staying at the library with Twilight for his first evening in Ponyville. He followed the purple mare and her dragon friend back to the large tree, housing the library inside. The door was unlocked, and he went inside.
After settling in, Twilight began what Sora learned was her usual activity - she started looking through books. And lots of them.
"What is it you're reading?" he asked, as Sora got ready for the party.
"Oh, I'm not - I'm looking for some information on those monsters you fought. But I can't find anything...."
"Oh..... well, I'll let you know about those later."
Twilight and Sora made their way to the Party. Sugarcube Corner was decked out in Balloons and streamers, and a huge cake sat in the middle of the room.
Pinkie stood up in front of a microphone after everypony had arrived.
"Ahem.... Hello everypony! We're here to welcome our new friend to Ponyville. Sora, come on up and say hi!"
Sora did as asked to a round of applause. Again he though about such a sweet world he was in.
"Why are the Heartless here? I can't detect any source of darkness in this world at all." he thought to himself.
During the party, his new friends - Applejack, Twilight, Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Spike - all gathered next to a table, each with a slice of cake.
"So.... Sora. What were those things you fought?" Twilight asked.
"Um.... well..... they're called Heartless. They are created when a per- er, pony loses their heart. It gets swallowed into pure darkness, and the monster is created. They are attracted to ponies with strong hearts - and they're attracted to me."
"Why you? What's so special about you? Don't get me wrong - you're a great pony. You seem very special - but what makes you different from other ponies that make these 'Heartless' come after you?"
"This," he spoke, summoning the Keyblade to his maw and placing it on the table before him for his friends to examine.
"Wow...." was all Rainbow could say.
"This is the Keyblade - It's a powerful weapon that can destroy Heartless for good. It can free there Hearts, making them whole again. I was chosen by the blade itself to wield it. And the monsters act on instinct, trying to make me into a Heartless. But I travel all over the uni- er, Equestria, taking out the monsters."
"How come we've never heard of them though? Why aren't they listed in my books? Even when I lived in Canterlot, no one had seen them. Even Zacora doesn't know what they are."
"I don't know. But I have the job of taking out the Heartless and their source, and that's what led me here, to Ponyville."
Sora and his friends were silent on the train trip to Canterlot. Nothing was said, not even by Pinkie. What was there to say? It was obvious that Discord woud go after Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. There was no denying it. Upon arrival in Canterlot, they went straight to the caslte, ignoring the royal guards telling them not to enter.
They ascended staircase upon staircase on their way to the throne room. But when they reached it, nopony was inside. Not Celestia, nor Discord, nor any pony at all.
Then the heard a crash from the audience chamber.
"We don't have much time girls. I'll meet you down there," Sora said as he leapt out the window.
Everypony rushed to see if he was okay, but upon reaching the windowsill, they saw him leaping from tower to tower with ease, making his way downward.
"You heard Sora, girls. Let's go!" Twilight remarked.
Sora arrived in the audience chamber in time to see Princess Celestia and Discord battling like Heartless and Nobodies. He ran down the last remaining steps, and stopped short of Discord's back, flinging his Keyblade at the King of Chaos.
"Ouch!" Discord yelled as the blade hit his back, and turned around.
"Looking for somepony, Discord? Why don't you pick on a pony that's not royalty!" Sora yelled, resummoning the blade into his maw.
Twilight and the girls finally made their way to the audience chamber to see Sora challenging Discord to a final showdown.
"As you wish." Discord said, snapping his fingers.
Sora and Discord appeared in a dark realm, void of anything but rocks seeping with darkness and purple water flowing in every direction.
"Welcome to my world, Sora. Before we continue, I'd like to ask a question. Why didn't you tell Twilight and the others that you aren't a pony?"
"How.... how did you know that?"
"Sora, I've been watching you since you first visited the Wizarding World. Maleficent recruited me long ago."
Sora pondered this.
"I didn't want to get them involved...."
"Well, it's too late for that, isn't it?"
"Yeah.... but it's not too late to take you down!"
Sora summoned all his strength, and another flash of bright light surrounded him.
He stood upright again, but this time his clothes were blue. He no longer wielded the Kingdom Key, but rather one of the six blades that the mysterious blade from before had split into. Long, purple and magenta, with stars as the blade's teeth, ending with a bright star on the end of the chain.
"Twilight's knowledge of magic...." was all he could think of at the time.
Then, he heard voices in his head.
"Where are we everypony?"
It sounded like... Pinkie Pie?
"Ah don't know sugarcube, but look at this stained glass.... It has Sora on it!"
Applejack?
"Well, I don't know where we are, but I'll find a way out!"
Rainbow Dash?
"Don't bother, Rainbow. I think I know where we are." Twilight's voice said.
"Where then, Twilight darling?"
"We're inside Sora's heart."
"Inside my heart?" Sora thought.
"Oh, hello Sora.... It's good to hear from you again..." Fluttershy said.
"You guys are in my heart?"
"I think so... we can't see much besides darkness and this large stained glass circle we're standing on. It shows you, and pictures of us too."
"Can you guys see what I look like now?"
"Well of course, Sora. We can see you in that blue jacket and with that keyblade Twilight wielded. Any silly filly could see that." Pinkie added.
"Wow...." Sora replied.
"Sugarcube, watch out!"
In his conversation with the others in his heart, Sora forgot he was in the middle of battle, and almost got hit with Discord's claws, narrowly leaping back.
"Hey! Sora. You got wings now too." Rainbow added, "try using them!"
Sora nodded, and leapt up, flying in the air, bashing Discord on the head with his blade.
He landed and cast a flurry of magical bullets at the King of Chaos, who was rubbing his head from the suprise strike.
"I wonder...." Sora thought.
He let Pinkie's image fill his mind, and his blade changed to her blade, with her element resting at the chain's end.
He landed on the ground, striking the stunned Discord's leg.
As he thought of each of his friends, the blade would change, and with it his strengths....
Magic, flight, strength, and range.
Then he thought of All 6 of his friends.
His blade finally morphed into the mysterious blade that had appeared during his last encounter with the monstrous King of Chaos. He dashed to Discord using his wings, and launched him into the air with a mighty thrust, leaping up after him and hitting him with a barrage of strikes.
He had stunned Discord in midair, and a word filled his mind.
"Harmony!" he yelled.
A bright flash erupted from the blade, engulfing the whole area.
They found themselves back in Canterlot's Audience Chamber, Discord lying on the ground in front of them once again.
Twilight and the others reappeared in another bright flash, lying on top of Sora.
Princess Celestia walked over to them, and, seeing Discord was unconscious, told each of them to put on their element.
Obeying, the group did as asked, as Princess Celestia began to speak.
"Six elements combined together, powerful as the sun,
United by the Magic of Friendship, it is as if they are one,
but once a new face fell into their midst,
and formed a bond more powerful than any other,
a seventh element came to exist."
"Twilight, please recite the spell of the Elements. But this time, add Sora's name as the Element of Light."
The Princess' faithful student did as asked, and a spectacular rainbow once again shot out of the elements, seven colors uniting together, and wrapped around the King of Chaos.
When the light had faded, Discord got up.
"Oh...... my.... what have I done? I feel terrible.... and I feel the light.... in my heart....."
Then the Master of Chaos did something unexpected.
He gave everypony a huge hug!
"Oh thank you everypony! You freed me from the darkness in my heart!"
"Hmmmmph. You were always weak Discord." a female voice said from above.
Everypony looked up to see a mysterious, cloaked pony. She had a horn that was visible. She began to use that horn to create a large, dark ball, which she proceeded to fire at the group of ponies.
"Noooooooooooooo!" Discord shouted, leaping in front as the ball of darkness struck, falling to the ground.
"Hmmmph. He was a fool to try that. Of course, a fool dies always because of the same thing. Being a fool."
"Who are you and what do you want?" Twilight shouted at the cloaked pony.
As she removed her hood, she showed a bright red and yellow mane.
"Sunset Shimmer!" Princess Celestia yelled.
"Yes, my little ponies, and I want nothing more than to rule Equestria as my own. And now that I have had time to find the perfect spell, I shall recruit an army of past, present, and future!"
She cast the spell, and several figures appeared.
A black pony with armor.
A thin, dark pony.
A pony that looked like a dark version of Princess Luna.
A brown pony with a skull on his flank.
"May I present to you the ponies who shall lead you to your doom." she said as she dissapeared into a black corridor, as Heartless surrounded the group, imprisoning everypony in cages made of pure darkness.
Everypony but Sora, and Discord.
"Ugh.... I'm not.... finished yet." Discord said, getting up as the Kingdom Key appeared in Sora's maw, "Let's do this together, Sora. And save the others. For Celestia's sake, I shall fight for Equestria!"
23 The Great and Powerful Trixie
Eight ponies and one dragon walked through the streets of Ponyville to the train station, preparing themselves for the journey ahead. As they made their way through, they noticed a pony in a black cloak following them, with a blue horn sticking out of it's hood.
"Pinkie, you're freidns with everypony," Sora said, "who is that?"
"I don't know... I don't think I've ever seen them before."
The cloaked pony then spoke, in a voice Twilight, Rarity, Rainbow, and Applejack all knew too well.
"Stop right there!"
"Oh no... is that..."
"The Great and Powerful Trixie," she said, removing her cloak with her magic, "and I'm here to that pony with the key. The stakes? He gives me the key if I win, and Twilight leaves Ponyville forever. If I lose, I will leave Ponyville forever, and I give you this back."
She held up a small bag, with Sora's keychains for his blade dangling inside.
Sora knew all too well that the Keyblade would only obey him, so he decided to see just how "Great and Powerful" this Trixie really was. Plus, he needed those keychains back. How did she even get them away from him?
"Bring it." he said, smartly.
"I thought so." she said, with an evil grin growing on her face, lighting the jewel around her neck bright red.
She fired a large dark blast at him, which he quickly dodged, making it hit the ground.
"Gonna have to try harder than that!"
"Wait for it..." she replied.
Suddenly, the spot where the darkness had hit began to morph into a large, inky black creature with eight tentacles, which grabbed all of his 8 friends.
"Girls! Riku! Spike!"
He ran up to the beast, narrowly avoiding several attacks, and began to climb up his back, slashing each of the tentacles off long enough to release his friends, before they regrew.
"Give me strength!"
His clothes began to glow, and a flash of bright white light nearly blinded the Great and Powerful Trixie.
The boy-turned-pony stood there on both hooves, in red and black clothes, while the word "Valor" entered everyone's mind.
Again, his friends were all inside his own heart, aside from Riku and Spike, who were busy with a small pack of Heartless of their own to work on, Spike belching out flames while Riku slashed away.
"All right! Let's show Trixie what we can do!" Applejack said.
"Yeah! Let's kick her flank right into next Thursday!" Rainbow followed.
"Weeeee! This will be fun!" went Pinkie.
Sora stood, wielding what he had dubbed the Element of Harmony blade in addition to his normal Kingdom Key keyblade, advancing on Trixie, avoiding each of her attacks while using all of his friends' magic to bombard her with strikes.
She backed off, raising her horn to the sky, summoning more and more Heartless, while being surrounded by dark energy.
Each Heartless was launched into the sky, already split in two as he hit them with the blade made of the Elements, and soon enough, all that was left was Trixie herself. But no matter how hard he tried, nothing would damage her!
"Sugarcube, what do we do now?"
"We look for any visible weak spots. Duh." Pinkie replied.
"Sora! That necklace! It looks like it's giving her dark energy!"
"Got it!" he though, and the girls each replied with "Good luck!"
Sora swerved around another dark blast, and carefully aimed his Keyblade at the necklace.
"Fire!" he cried, sending a ball of flames right into the necklace, which shattered the jewel.
Trixie fell to the ground, weak, while the dark energy about her faded away.
"Oh....."
Another flash of bright light, and everypony was back in the area.
"That necklace... it looked like it was supplying her with dark energy." Riku said, picking up the fragments of it.
"Oh.... what happened? Where am I?"
"You're in Ponyville. That necklace was controlling you." Sora replied.
"Ponyville.... necklace.... how? The last thing I remember was a dark pony looking into my eyes...."
"It's alright. You're safe now."
She stood up, and took off her hat.
"Would you all accept an apologoy from the Great and Apologetic Trixie?"
"Of course! Friends always forgive each other."
"Friends.... why would you want to be friends with me.... I tried to destroy you..."
"It wasn't you. It was the necklace." Sora replied.
"Thank you.... for giving me another chance."
"You better get to Ponyville Hospital."
"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!"
"What is it Twilight Sparkle?"
"Queen Chrysalis and the changelings have returned!"
"Oh no..."
"Yes, 'your majesty'. We have returned."
Everypony looked up, and saw Queen Chrysalis and several changelings hovering above.
"You won't get away with this, you foul monster."
"Touchy, touchy, Celestia."
As the changeling queen was preparing to strike, a flash of green was seen.
A bronze blade sliced Chrysalis' wing, sending her tumbling to the ground, and her subjects soon followed.
A green-and-orange pony landed on the floor in front of her.
"Not so fast, Queen Chrysalis."
"No! How...." she began as she faded away, back to her own time.
The rift that had been over Equestria disappeared once and for all.
Then, they heard another horrifying voice.
"Noooooooooooo! How could you have defeated my minions, foolish Key-bearers! Ugh! Very well, I shall destroy Equestria myself."
"Maleficent... you wretched witch!" Discord shouted, as Heartless surrounded them.
The draconequis slashed his paw, claw, and tail in anger, destroying each of the soulless monsters.
"And Ponyville will be the first to be destroyed!"
Sora, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy had made it to Cloudsdale, and defeated the few remaining changelings there, as the others had done their jobs as well. They turned back to see Ponyville being ravaged by the Heartless, ponies running and hiding in buildings as the monsters roamed free. Only a few ponies remained outside.
Twilight and Sora's groups met up for the final confrontation.
Then, Maleficent herself appeared once more.
"Darkness! Arise and destroy the Keyblade wielders and their friends!"
A large, monstrous inky black blot began to form into a ball, and suddenly the group saw what was on the inside of it. A yellow-and-red pony sat suspended in a crystalized red heart, eyes closed, where the Heartless formed around it.
It stood around 30 feet tall, and had metal armor suspended out of it's body, as if it was a part of it. It had seven eyes and all were yellow, and eight legs. It was, essentially, a giant spider heartless.
Eight ponies all looked into their hearts...
The eight ponies each summoned a blade, and all struck at once, knocking the heartless into the air, and Twilight began to recite the spell of the Elements of Harmony.
The familiar rainbow shot out once more, blasting through the Heartless, destroying it, and the crystalized heart slowly came to earth and faded from existance. Sunset Shimmer woke from her sleep, and finally spoke of her own free will.
"Th-thank you.... for freeing me..."
"You're welcome."
