Author's Note

Hey guys its been... a long while. At the beginning of the year my co-author and dear friend Voldine passed away. It's been a wild ride trying to find someone to help keep this story going.

The first half of this chapter was written with the help of Show Stopper and the rest with my new co-author and friend, Thunderclap.

The Key in The Stone

The door, if it could even be called such, to Gilda’s home swung in with a foreboding groan. At a casual glance, everything appeared as the hen had left it, perhaps with a few more cracks and bits of debris. Things, however, were never simple when it came to the pink menace.

Gilda looked back at Dash, who simply shrugged. Continuing further into the home, she paused by the kitchen door. Behind the sorry excuse for a barrier, sounds could clearly be heard. Puffing her chest up, she barreled her way in.

“Alright, Pain-In-The-Ass, what’d ya do to my kitchen!?”

“‘T’ain’t your kitchen yet!” Gruff squawked. The old griffon was leaning over the open oven door with Pinkie, closely examining a tray of baked goods.

Pinkie popped her head up, face plastered with a grin. “We’re making scones~! This is going to be the yummiest batch yet!”

Gilda fluffed her wings, taking in the mess of dishes. “You better clean all of this crap up, cuz I ain’t doin’ it.”

“Sheesh. ‘Clean this up.’ ‘Replace those ingredients.’” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “How about some gratitude for once? I’ll bet every bit I’ve got Pinkie just saved your recipe.”

“It’s my recipe!!” Gruff screeched, his back arching like a cat. “And besides, dishes are Gallus’s chore.”

Pulling Gruff towards her, Gilda flared her wings. “I’m out there clearing the skies of shadow and you’re baking? The least you could do is make me something to eat, or draw me a bath, not waste your time with the Puff Ball.”

“I don’t know,” Gallus muttered between bites of scone. “These are pretty good. Maybe you should give one a try before bitching about them.” He offered one with a grin. His grin wilted under Gilda’s glare.

“Whatever.” Pushing the older griffon away, Gilda closed her wings. “I’m going to take a bath. Gallus, if the dorks need anything, make sure they get it. Or not. I don’t care.” Flicking her tail, she slunk out of the room.

Gallus sighed and put the scone back on the tray. “Sorry about her,” he muttered sullenly. “Gilda’s not exactly the ‘open her home to strangers’ type.”

Dash sighed, snagging herself a scone. “Ah, don’t worry about it. She’s always kind’ve been a bitch. I just didn’t realize her home life was such crap.” Pausing, she smiled weakly. “No offense.”

“None taken. Griffonstone’s the pits.” Gallus chuckled before staring out towards the west. “It’s why so many of us are so eager to get out of here. I’m honestly not sure why they don’t just let the heartless raze this place to the ground and use it as an excuse to leave.”

Gruff snorted, poking sharply at Gallus’s chest. “Because of the hunt, boy! We might’ve let the kingdom go to the birds, but we’ve never forgotten the hunt!” Taking his fez off, his good eye seemed to gaze off into the distance. “It used to be more than that. We used to be warriors, our keys gleaming like the stars in the night...”

Gallus rolled his eyes and shot Rainbow an amused smirk. “Here we go. More of Grandpa Gruff’s old stories.”

“They aren’t just stories!” Gruff squawked. “It’s our culture! We used to take pride in our duties and our honor was unmatched.” His chest began to deflate, his eye downcast. “At least it was until King Grover died.”

“King Grover?” Pinkie began digging around in her saddlebags. “Dashie, isn’t that the griffon from that book Twilight gave us?” She pulled out said book and flipped through it quickly, coming to a painting of a noble-looking griffon. “He’s the one who got that idol thing.”

Gruff grabbed the book, slamming it shut. “It wasn’t no idol! It was a key! Borias’s Breath was its name. Passed from king to king, master to master. If it wasn’t for that wretched goat, it would still be in our possession.”

“A goat?”

“Yes! A huge, one eyed goat!” Gruff lifted himself up, throwing his arms out. “A massive heartless if there ever was one! King Grover gave his life fighting it, the beast taking him into the depths of the gorge.” He landed, letting his head hang. “And with it, Boreas’s Breath was lost, much like our honor.”

“That’s it!” Rainbow cried. “That must be why we’re here! To get Boreas’s Breath back! I’ll just fly down into this gorge and bring it back. Easy peasy!”

Gruff laughed, a scratchy, bark-like sound. “I’d like to see you try! That gorge is brimming with shadow. No one in their right mind would go down there!”

Gallus shifted nervously. “I don’t think that’s how they work, anyway. It’s probably long gone by now.”

Dash puffed her chest out. “Yeah well, I’m gonna be the one to find it! Come on, Pinkie, we got a keyblade to find!”

“Dashie, I really don’t think this is a good idea.” Pinkie glanced nervously from Gallus to Gruff. “If it was that easy, someone would have done it. Besides, there’s still a lot of heartless out there.”

“Will you just come on!?” Dash called, having left the room. “We got places to go!”

Gallus sighed. “I’ll go with her. If nothing else, I’ll be able to fly and get help.” He darted after Rainbow, and they soon heard the front door close.

Alex sighed in contentment, letting the warm water rain down on him. After a mild scolding about the cold, Fluttershy had sentenced him to the shower. Not that he wouldn’t have gotten one anyway. Mud sucked. Cold mud was even worse.

It amazed him how just a few weeks ago, seeing himself like this caused nothing but anxiety. Now, it was just... normal. He didn’t know if that was just him getting used to it, the shock running out or acceptance of his current form. In the end, it didn’t really seem to matter.

Wrapping a towel around himself, he stepped out into the hall. Several friendly faces greeted him, in particular a very excited stoat.

“I’ll play after I’m dressed,” he assured, gently prodding the weasel away from his towel. “And not a second before.”

Slipping into his room, Alex took a moment to make sure none of the animals followed. Animals they may be, they were very intelligent in Equestria. They didn’t need to see him getting dressed. Getting into his casual wear, he emerged and scooped up the stoat.

“Did ya miss me, Dan?” he asked, scratching his belly. He had long adapted to its little scratches and nips. Carrying the squirming stoat downstairs, he waved at the over residents. “Where is everybody? They decide to go out for a date night?”

“I don’t like it, Discord.” Alex paused halfway down the stairs, hearing Fluttershy’s voice laced with concern. “It’s all happening too fast.”

“I know, it is a lot to put on his shoulders,” came Discord’s reply. “But that key is like a beacon. I’d rather he be prepared than not.”

“I understand that, but I still worry as his mother. He’s barely had a month’s worth of training and it feels like everyone is putting the world on his shoulders. How healthy is that for him?”

“How healthy was it for you to put on that element?”

“I knew what I was agreeing to when I went into the forest that night with Twilight.” Fluttershy huffed, shaking her head. “I know he’ll need to fight. It doesn’t mean I have to like it or want him to feel like he’s the only hope for the world. There are other keyblade holders.”

Finishing his descent, Alex stepped into the living room. “I took one field trip and the helicopters came flyin’ in like it’s Nam.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened, her wings twitching as she fought off a panic response. “Oh, Alex. I didn’t hear the water turn off. And you know I don’t understand your references.”

“Sorry.” Alex shrugged, planting a hand on Shy’s head. “I’ll be okay, Shy, I promise. I think everyone is painfully aware that I’m still a rookie.”

“Am I not allowed to worry about my son?” she countered, not moving to remove his hand. “You took what happened on Nightmare Night hard. There’s going to be more times like that. No matter how strong you are, bad things will happen.”

Pulling her into an embrace, Alex began to stroke her ears. “Ya... I know they will. But to quote a famous arachnid, ‘With great power comes great responsibility’. Having Aubade means it’s my duty to help people.”

“I know, and I’ll be there for you when you need a shoulder to lean on,” Fluttershy promised, returning the hug and adding her wings to it. “Do you need a hot meal? That mud had to be cold.”

“I won’t say no to a hot meal,” Alex admitted, his stomach growling at the promise of food. “We have any more of those tuna steaks?”

Extracting herself, Shy trotted into the kitchen. “We should. I’ll get it started right now.”

Rainbow Dash tore through the skies, putting the dilapidated city behind her. She had no idea where the gorge was, but she’d search the nearby mountains all day if it meant being away from baking and Gilda.

“It’s this way!” Gallus fell in behind her, wings straining to keep up.

“Why are you following me, Garrus?” Dash asked, glancing over her shoulder at the young griffon, though she did move to follow his directions. “Don’t you have some scones to taste test or something?”

Gallus edged in front of her, ignoring his screaming wings. “Someone has to make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

“I don’t need a cub who’s out of breath already,” Dash countered, putting on more speed for emphasis. “And what are you gonna do anyway? You said yourself you don’t have a keyblade yet.”

“I have talons. You don’t.”

“And how effective are your talons on heartless?” Rolling her eyes, she leveled a flat look at the cub. “As everyone likes to keep telling me, only keyblades hurt those things.”

Gallus banked lower to the ground, fighting a biting remark. “Magic hurts ’em too, but keys are the only thing that makes them stay gone.”

Dash sighed, shaking her head. She should’ve known anyone under Gilda’s care would be just as stubborn as her. “Whatever, just try not to slow me down and get yourself hurt. Last thing I need is for Gilda to hate me more.”

The gorge was a great wound in the earth, festering with infection. Shadow flowed over the edges, hiding the ground itself for several feet. Gallus slowed to a hover, unwilling to let any limb pass below the black mist.

Dash stared down into the abyss, the oppressive atmosphere forcing her to pause. A veil of cold sweat formed at her brow as she inched her way to the threshold. “Okay, where did the king fall in?”

“See that boulder over by the bend?” Gallus asked, pointing a claw where he meant. “Stories say that’s the spot where the king fell.”

Dash perched herself on said boulder, wings spread wide. “This is where we’ll go in, then. Try and keep up.” Pushing the fear and doubt down, Dash leapt from the boulder and plunged into the roiling darkness.

Steeling his own nerves, Gallus dove after the mare, keeping her in his sights.

Blackness engulfed him. His senses. His mind. A suffocating blanket that threatened to blot out his existence. An ache blossomed in his chest, heralding a gasp of air. Reality reasserted itself, preventing Gallus from colliding with the ground.

Nothing Gallus knew compared to the alien surroundings he had entered. Purplish rock made up the walls and floor, coated in what Gallus would call a bluish melted web. Splotches of color dyed sections of the landscape, as if an artist flicked paint on a canvas.

Geography warped, going on farther than the eye could see. Looking up, the mouth of the gorge was farther away than it should’ve been. Normal logic would need to be tossed away in a place like this.

“Dash!” Gallus gingerly lowered himself onto an outcropping, finding the texture of material as unsettling to touch as look at it. “Can you hear me!?”

“Don’t let your feathers get ruffled!” Dash called back, her voice bouncing off the walls. “I started scouting ahead while you had your little nap!”

Bristling at the chiding, Gallus hopped down to the canyon floor. “How far is ahead!?”

“Just around the corner,” Dash said, popping her head around the rock. “Isn’t this place supposed to be infested? I haven’t seen a single inky bastard yet.”

“This place is a literal nightmare and you don’t think it’s infested?”

“Is a place looking weird enough to spook the mighty griffon warriors?” Dash asked, snickering as she continued her trek. “I was expecting a nonstop brawl, not a slightly hard hike.”

Gallus fell back to his training, eyes and ears roving the walls. Could one really see a shadow in this place? Lowering his body, he slunk forward. Excising Dash from his senses, he became a predator. His tail flicked, letting it get a feel of the air flow within the gorge. He couldn’t rely on his nose, the very earth stunk of heartless.

He paused, locking onto the bend where Dash had been a moment ago. Tensing his muscles, Gallus narrowed his focus. Pushing off,his talons primed as he soared up where a heartless clung to the rocks.

Reality warbled around the creature, which Gallus recognized as a Neo Shadow, keeping his claws from making contact. Kicking away, a quick spell afforded him the protection of Aero. The shadow leapt at Gallus, clawing at the griffon’s face. A strand of air barred its attack, slashing into its arm. The shadow allowed itself to land, sinking into the ground.

“Neo Shadows can emerge from anywhere!” Gallus barked, flaring his wings out. “Don’t stop moving!”

Flapping her wings, Dash let herself hover in the air. She put herself in the middle of the path, keeping away from the walls as best she could. Slight movement drove her towards the group, a Neo Shadow spinning over her like a buzzsaw. With a well timed barrel roll, she nimbly dodged the heartless, letting it crash down onto the ground.

“Aren’t these things supposed to be dangerous?” Dash laughed, flying over another Neo Shadow. “I had more trouble in Ghastly Gorge!”

Gallus ignored the mare, striking at one of the Neo Shadows. He was starting to see why she and his master were a volatile mix. “Hurry up and find the damn key!”

“I’ve been looking!” Dash shot back, narrowly avoiding being caught between two heartless. “Kinda hard to find something in a pitch black gorge!” Tearing her attention away from the cub, she scanned the gorge for any glint of metal. On a nearby ledge of rocks, bleached white bones were poking out. With nothing else to go on, she darted off towards the bones.

A grin wormed its way across her muzzle. There, lodged into a horn, hung Boreas’s Breath. Her eyes would’ve missed the weapon entirely, if not for the trio of white streaks sprouting from its blade. That smirk diminished, seeing just how many Neo-Shadows had begun to emerge.

“Gallus, I’m gonna distract these guys, you grab the key while they’re focused on me!” Dash tucked her wings in for a dive before the griffon could even answer.

“That’s a terrible idea!” Gallus squawked, feeling a Neo-Shadow’s claws dig into his flank. Reapplying Aero, he broke for Dash’s position.

“If you have a better one I’m all ears!” Dash snapped back, swooping down and trying to kick a Neo Shadow.

Putting his faith in the protective winds, Gallus followed that beacon of purity. That splotch became his sole focus, locking out the pain of collison and claw.

Dash’s part of the plan was going without a hitch, claws slashing at her from all sides. She bobbed and weaved to the best of her ability, but searing pain ran along her wing as claws dug into her flesh. She was forced to the ground, barely upright with furious shadows bearing down on her.

“I told you this was a stupid idea!”

Gallus interposed between Dash and her assailant, rearing up on his hind legs. A shine grew at his talons, compelling him to swing. Air became solid, cutting through the heartless. Standing over his fallen charge, Gallus bared his newly formed keyblade.

The dull part of the blade was solid blue and curved into a fishhook. The teeth of the key were serrated and alternated between blue and black. The key chain was blue as well, resembling a cross between a wave and a fishhook.

“Get Boreas,” he commanded, cutting down another heartless.

Dash closed the distance, color streaking behind her. Her plan to escalate into a rainboom came to an abrupt halt, Boreas refusing to leave its resting place. Dash kicked and bucked, bit onto the guard and jerked. Nothing dislodged the ancient blade.

A baleful glow flicked to life in the discarded skull. A sickly yellow light filled its singular eye socket. Black flesh condensed onto the bone, dragging pieces back together. A warbling cry passed its fanged jaws, the head slamming Dash into the canyon wall.

Dash groaned, her bones creaking in protest as gravity peeled her off the stone wall. “Okay, this might not have been the best idea,” she croaked.

Bleating, the heartless struggled to pull itself from its resting place. Its torso had become fused with the rock, its lower half nowhere to be seen. Dash let her eyes drift upwards, finding the key still lodged into the horn of the long dead goat. She gave her wings an experimental flap only to be rewarded with a sharp, stabbing pain. Flight was on the table but nowhere near top form.

Beating the ground, Arimaspi’s bleating took on a ringing quality. Its tones shifted and rose, twisting into ranges Dash didn’t think ponies could hear. Perception began to falter, colors and sound bleeding together in her mind.

“I think we might want to cut our losses!” Gallus shouted, barely keeping a pair of Neo Shadows at bay with his blade.

“N-not until we have that keyblade!” Dash broke for the weapon, desperately trying to decide which of the three in her vision was the real one. Her choice, the bottom, was rewarded with a rocky fist.

Backing away from the Neo Shadow horde, Gallus leaped towards Dash, yanking her onto her hooves. “Damn it, Dash, we’re in over our heads here! If you take another hit like that you’re not getting up again!”

“...Can do this...” Dash collapsed against Gallus, her senses a menagerie of misinformation. “...have to...”

Ignoring her protests, Gallus pulled the pegasus close and tried to fly up and out of the gorge. Rapidly closing in, a pair of Neo Shadows bore down on the pair. The first unfurled, a claw striking at Gallus’s face.

“Junior Speedsters are our lives.”

The heartless’ head vanished, erupting into black mist. The second released its heart a moment later.

“Gilda?” Dash questioned, unable to make her vision focus. Despite that, she tried to look where she’d heard the voice.

“Skybound soars and daring dives.”

Arrows rained from the looming abyss, heralding a barrage of lightning. Gilda emerged, barreling past them to plant her keyblade into a Neo-Shadow’s face.

“Junior Speedsters, it's our quest to someday be the very best!”

“Dashie!” Pinkie popped out from her spot on Gilda’s back. “Thank goodness you’re okay!”

Gilda hovered by Gallus, eyeing the goat. “Figures. That thing’s been poisoning the area for centuries. If we can take it down, we might actually stop all the swarms.”

“Can you cover me until I put her down?” Gallus questioned, shifting Dash in his arm. “I’ll come down on its blind spot once she’s laid out on a rock up there.”

“Get it done.”

“What should we do about this?” Pinkie asked, standing on the goat’s horn and tapping at Borias’s Breath.

Gilda screeched, knocking an incoming fist away. “Will you get away from that thing!? I can’t help you if you get your heart stolen!”

“Okie dokie! I’ll hop off and keep this safe somewhere!” Pinkie called back, plucking the keyblade out of the goat’s horn and jumping down to the ground.

Arimaspi bellowed, calling forth a tide of Neo Shadows. Lights akin to willow-o-the-wisp emanated from its eye, homing in after Pinkie.

Despite the danger, Pinkie didn’t panic. With a few well placed hops along the rocks the wisps of flames harmlessly impacted the gorge walls. “Huh, you think he’d be happy this isn’t in his noggin anymore.”

“Heartless are never happy.” Calling down more thunder, Gilda eviscerated a heartless. What was taking Gallus? Dash wasn’t that heavy... was she? A blue blur answered her unspoken question, Gallus thrusting his blade into the back of Arimaspi’s neck.

The beast went still, its eye snuffing out. The skeleton collapsed, falling to pieces before fading into a shadowy mist like any other heartless. A massive heart soared into the sky, parting the ceiling of darkness. The ground trembled and warped, the alien landscape slowly reverting to something more mundane.
Gilda clapped Gallus on the shoulder. “You did good kid. You even have your keyblade. Makes a hen proud.”

“It was fly or die and like you always tell me, my body chose to fly when it came down to it,” Gallus said, making sure to show off his new keyblade with a grin on his beak. “I think it suits me.”

“That’s the point of it, genius,” Gilda shot back, ruffling the feathers atop his head. “That thing’s a reflection of your heart.” Dismissing her blade, she rolled her neck. “Get the pink one. We’ve earned a spot in the feast hall.”

“No need, I’ve got this!” Pinkie said, eyeing the gorge wall for a few moments before hopping up it like a hyperactive mountain goat. “Who knew rock farming would come in handy twice this trip?” she asked with a giggle.