Kingdom Hearts: The Fragorian

I kept my eyes clamped shut when the rays of the sun hit my face. I turned over and felt the melanoma-inducing heat on my back and neck, instead.

Well, we can’t have that, Mr. Blue Sky.

Grumbling, I slipped out of bed, walked right up to the window, and shut the blinds. Then my thoughts finally caught up with my movement.

“Damn.”

Well, I was awake. Might as well get something to eat. My stomach led my march to the kitchen, which was stocked with little food. I would have to visit the market today, especially with-

“Morning,” Twilight said as she stepped (trotted?) into the living room, mane all disheveled and a face like death warmed over twice. Which would be death warmed over... warmed over. Eeyuck.

“Good morning,” I said. “Can you sit over there for a second?” I gestured towards the small table in the living room. I had few guests.

She nodded, then sat at the table (with some difficulty).

My first sign that I was going to have to work at this whole “I promise to help you” business was the moth that flew out of the pantry when I cracked it open.

I was pretty sure that moth balls aren’t edible. I stepped out of the kitchen and sat myself down at a chair opposite my guest.

“Alright,” I started. “Looks like we’re gonna have to either go to the market or start a moth breeding facility.”

Heh. She was not expecting that one.

“Wait, what.”

“We’re gonna have to pay a visit to the market district, today. This is a good opportunity for you to tell me what you need.”

“Oh, right.”

A dreadful silence passed for the next few moments, before a thought struck me.

“Oh, uh. My name is Rendynn Spire, by the way. I sort of forgot to tell you last night.... Would make no sense to stay with someone you don’t even know. Heh.”

Right, another thing. I’m not exactly ‘social’. I have been more focused on getting the bills paid over the last few months instead of friendly conversations with my neighbors.

“That is an odd name,” she replied, lifting her gaze.

“Yeah...” I relented. “But so is ‘Twilight Sparkle’.” She blinked. I could hear the joke whoosh as it went over her head and off into the horizon. Apparently I wasn’t the only one unversed in the art of cross-species communication.

“So, let me tell you what our situation is here.”

“Nothing before this morning, please.”

“Granted. This world is Fragor, my home. We’re in the capitol, the mountain-city of Praetor.”

“I used to live in one of those.”

“Really!” I chuckled. “Small universe, isn’t it. Anyway, we’re in what passes for suburbs around here. Downtown is the market, which we’ll have to get to sooner or later. The other way is Castle Town, where the king and queen live-”

“We had princesses!” She was playing the My-Homeworld-Is-Just-As-Good-As-Yours game. Challenge accepted.

“Yes, well, I take it the princesses couldn’t corral thunderstorms and shoot lightning at people they didn’t like, eh?”

“Oh no, they could do that.”

Ouch.

“And they could fly.”

Double ouch.

“And they controlled the rising and setting of the sun and moon.”

Come on!

“Right then,” I said, hoping to interrupt her chain one-up before it could gain momentum. “I’m an Electroknight in training. We’re trained to combat Heartless — the same beings that I assume ate your world. You’ve probably seen them. Black. Nasty. Soulless eyes, usually yellow.”

She nodded, pondering something.

“They’re born from people’s negative emotions. When someone with darkness in their heart loses that heart, it flies who-knows-where and manifests into one of these monsters.”

“They sound a lot like Changelings.”

“I’m sorry?”

“They were a race of giant bugs back home. They could change their shape and ate love.”

“For a moment last night, I thought you were something similar.”

Her unimpressed stare could freeze lakes over.

“...Okay. So, we’ve established that you’re not one of these whatevers. So what are you?”

“A student of magic, sort of like you,” she said.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I was taught by the princesses. Does your king teach the knights here?”

I barked out a laugh.

“I wish! No, I get an asshole like Keng.”

She winced. “Why do you call him...?”

“Because he changes the test to get my Mark of Mastery every time I take it.” Seeing her perplexed expression, I continued. “It’s sort of like a degree in beating things up. With it, I could get a steady job, or at least stop having to beg for loans or makework. Instead, here I am, still living off my parents’ eternal generosity.”

“At least you have parents,” she noted bitterly.

I sighed. Things were going so well, too.

I got up from the table and slid the chair back into its spot.

“Alright, Twilight Sparkle. Breakfast is going to be served fresh from the Market today.” I motioned for her to follow.

I sincerely hoped that our conversations wouldn’t be ended by that card every time.

I placed a hand on the door’s faint blue symbol. A slight hiss came from the machinery in the wall, before sliding it into the ground.

“Glyph Tech. It’s currently what keeps our nightmarish ‘friends’ out.”

“How does it work?”

“The glyph is a virtual representation of the door’s lock. The machines are imbued with protective light magic. The more old-fashioned folks just have a glyph and a knob.”

She looked thoughtful. Magic, as I remembered, was her topic of study. Maybe it was a route for good conversation?

“As an Electroknight, I don’t just know how to swing my sword. I have learned how to manipulate electricity and Thunder magic with relative ease.”

Oh, there we go! A light smile on her face, good!

“... Which reminds me, hold on.”

I left her temporarily to get the Boltstrike out of my room. I returned with the blade in hand.

“This blade,” I started, “is able to concentrate my own brand of Thunder magic into the extensions.” I flicked the switch, revealing the blade’s inner workings.

“When I focus Thunder into my hand, the blade picks it up and uses the energy to inflict a bit more damage on those Heartless buggers.”

“It’s sort of like Electromancy!”

“Whatnow?”

“Electromancy. The ability to control lightning and electricity at will. It’s a trick Pegasi could do, back home.”

“So, your world didn’t just have unicorns?”

‘Oh, dammit. There I go again.’

Thankfully, her face didn’t make as bad as a reaction at the broached topic.

“Yes. There ar- were three kinds of ponies, excluding the princesses. I am a unicorn. The pegasi are winged ponies that can walk on clouds and manipulate weather. Earth Ponies are able to farm the land and are generally stronger than the other two tribes.”

“What about the princesses? How are they different?”

Aww. Why did it have to be a sad smile?

“The princesses were Alicorns. Alicorns are ponies with the best traits from all three tribes, winged, bearing a horn, and having the strength of ten ponies. At least, that’s what the books say.”

It was my turn to nod thoughtfully.

“Humans, as we are called, don’t have too many subspecies, if being born on Fragor can even denote something as such. Sure, we have sway over electricity, but not much else.”

She looked genuinely surprised.

“Really?”

“Yes. No wings, we use machines to do things we ourselves can't. I’ll show you later.”

My stomach growled at me with the ferocity of a tiger. Twilight giggled before she, too, was betrayed by her own.

“Well, you heard them. Let’s get moving.”

***

I love the Market District. The vitality of Praetor shines through in here, of all places. People talked to friends and family excitedly, or children would play with the tiny mechanized toys that were offered by the merchants. No one paid me or Twilight any mind, as off-worlders were a common sight. Those that did meet our gaze smiled or elicited a greeting, which we returned.

“Alright, we need some bread, eggs, a carton or two of milk, and... Oh, whoops.” I turned to Twilight. “Is there anything you need in particular? What do ponies eat?”

The nature of the Market District must have rubbed off on her, because her mood had drastically improved from this morning.

“Mostly just hay, oats, fruits, and vegetables. And occasionally dairy products.”

Dairy products? Did anyone ask the talking Equestrian cows about this? I would find out much later that the answer was yes, but the thought was good for a chuckle while it lasted.

“Alright, then. Most of what we need is sold over at Filippa’s.”

From the long row of store buildings, I indicated one bearing a greenish-bluish potion emblem. We made our way over, crossing the sea of people that were passing through. It wasn’t too hard to keep track of a unicorn. Why do you ask?

The cool store air hugged our bodies as we pushed our way in. A jolly female voice rang over the shelves, startling the poor girl, while making me brace myself internally.

“Rendynn? Is that you? Come, come!”

“Oh boy.”

“What’s wrong?” Asked Twilight, turning her head.

“Family friend, she’s really nice. Don’t tell her I said that, or I’ll receive a very painful, bone-crushing hu-AAARGH!”

And with that, my spine was bent in three different spots by the very affectionate Filippa.

“Heeeerngh... Twilight - gah! - Sparkle, meet Filippa. Items shop - agh! - owner.”

The hulking store-owner dropped her death grip on me and slapped me on the back, further disfiguring me. At this rate, I’d be a hunchback before I got out of here.

“Boy, you must eat more! You’re all bones!” bellowed Filippa, giving a hearty laugh to then injure my eardrums.

“Hello... Filippa. I might need a potion just for that one.” I cracked my back into place, wincing as...

“One!” Click.

“Two!” Crack.

“And... three.” Chk.

That didn’t sound good. None of it.

At least Twilight seemed to be enjoying the whole spectacle. She was trying very hard not to laugh.

“And who are you, little pony?” She asked, smiling that warm smile that could burn my house down.

I mouthed to her to run while she still could.

“Uh... I’m Twilight Sparkle. Nice to meet you, Filippa.”

“Dohohoho! She’s so adorable! Rendynn, isn’t she adorable?”

Oh Lord. Why me.

“Uh...”

“No matter, you need something from my little shop?” She vaulted over the counter and rustled up various items and produce. Somehow, she always knew exactly what I came for, without gaining prior knowledge of what I originally set out to buy.

I paused. What if her hugs probed my mind?! The world will never know.

“Alright, then. We have five potions, some bread rolls, milk, butter, carrots, potatoes, celery, aaaaand one freebie potion for the crybaby!”

“Grr..”

She laughed. “That will be 2304 munny, please.”

I opened up my pouch and counted out the currency. I slapped the orbs down onto the counter and she handed the items to us, bagged and ready for home.

“Before you two go, I really suggest you buy some fruit elsewhere. My shipment hasn’t arrived, today, and there are some good stands out right now!”

“Thanks,” I said, nodding my head in farewell.

“One last thing. Grow some meat on those bones, grow up strong like your father!”

“Duly noted.”

We stepped outside with our cargo.

“... Adorable?”

I groaned.

We visited other shops in addition to Filippa’s. One was the Item Synthesis shop, run by a few little guys called “Moogles”. They had been established a few years back. There were Curio shops, electronics stands, and toy shops.

Hey. I had never gotten the Gyro 3000 in my life. I still don’t have it, but... one day.

“Uh... Rendynn?”

“Huh, what.”

Why are you... posing?

“Oh, uh, ahem. Sorry.” I coughed into a shoulder and put my hands in my pockets. “We still haven’t bought any fruit. I don’t feel like eating celery for lunch.”

“‘Scuse me, sir,” asked an unfamiliar, rather twangy voice. “But could Ah interest you in some apples?”

***

Earlier that day, Applejack was walking.

She was walking and contemplating how to market apples to complete strangers and not thinking about armageddon. No sir.

She hiked up the mountain trail towards a city that reminded her an awful lot of a city back in the home that she was definitely not thinking about. There’d probably be a market there, and where there was a market, there would be hungry folks. And there was nothing better for hungry folks than good old Sweet Apple Acres apples.

As she toted the cart which was the last remnant of something she wasn’t thinking about into the town, she was struck by how... well, how nice everyone was. You’d think ponies were a common sight around here.

It reminded her so much of home that she most certainly did not have to take a moment in an alleyway to collect herself and make sure she didn’t break down in front of a crowd full of potential customers.

She set up a ramshackle wooden stand, almost exactly like that one thing. “APPLES - 3 BITS,” it read. And then people started asking what the conversion rate of bits to ‘money’ was, and she just got confused. Bits were money, right?

A kind (yet freakishly tall) gentleman informed her that the average grade-A apple went for a hundred ‘munny.’ She suspected he was lowballing her, but there was nothing wrong with giving customers a good value. And there were certainly a lot of apples to go around.

Word apparently got around - “That tiny orange furry thing sells the most delectable snack apples! And they’re so cheap, too!” That last part grated a bit, but she was too good a businessmare to object. She just changed the sign to 150 munny when no one was looking.

Over the course of a morning, she made a brisk trade. Half the stock sold before lunch, with a grand total of 30,000 munny. If she had any overhead costs, the haul wouldn’t be nearly as impressive. But due to recent events that no one was mentioning, and would not anytime soon, every apple sold was pure profit. It would help quite a bit.

Where her stand’s aesthetics fell short, she had to make up for in sheer showmareship. So it was without any intent to dredge up (day-)old memories that she called a rather lanky boy over to take a look.

“‘Scuse me, sir, but could Ah interest you in some apples?”

***

Oh. Well, this is surprising.

The new voice came from an orange pony wearing a stetson hat. Based on what I could see, she must have been an Equestrian.

“Uh... Hi.” I mumbled. I turned to Twilight, who was still looking at some tiny devices from a stall. I poked her on the shoulder and motioned towards the orange pony.

“Ba-ba-buh! Applejack! You’re alive!”

“Friend of yours?”

My query was left unanswered by the madly dashing purple unicorn, who had wrapped her Southern friend in a bear hug that I estimated at roughly 1.21 GigaFilippas. Trust me, I have an eye for these things.

“Twi, it’s great to see ya again, but - ack - air!”

“Oh, sorry! I’m sorry!” She immediately loosened her choke hold of sisterly love. “I just... I thought you were gone! I thought everypony was gone, and I didn’t have any idea...!”

She rambled a lot when she got flustered.

“It’s alright, sugarcube,” Applejack said, patting Twilight on the shoulder. “I was scared, too. No shame in that, is there?”

Let the record reflect that I was not tearing up at this little reunion.

Not one bit.

Solid as a rock, that’s me.

Twilight, on the other hand...

“Is anypony here with you?”

“Can’t be sure. I woke up alone somewhere down at the bottom of this here mountain...”

“...And you climbed up in a single morning?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said, as though it were no big deal.

“You ponies are insane.”

Twilight finally released her from the hug. She turned to me with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, really? Who names their currency ‘munny’, anyways?”

“Not us. That’s just inter— no, extraworldly currency. According to our history, we used to use paper money.”

They looked flabbergasted.

“No coins?” Applejack queried.

“Yeah, there were coins. It’s complicated. Oh, and my name is Rendynn, if you were wondering.”

“Aww, horsefeathers! Where’re mah manners?” She then trotted up to me and gave my hand a good shake. Don’t ask how it worked. It just did.

“Ah’m Applejack, one of the farmers of Sweet Apple Acres!”

I had a closer look at her, now. She had a blonde mane and tail, which were both bound by red bands in (heh) ponytails. Her eyes were green, and just as large and expressive as Twilight’s. I could only guess that this applied for most Equestrian races.

… No, I’m not profiling!

“Nice to meet you, Applejack. I’m glad that Twilight isn’t the only one alive.”

She grimaced for just a second, before replacing it with a friendly smile.

“If you’re here, there’s a chance some other ponies have made it, too!” Piped up Twilight.

“Well, that would be good. Especially here in Praetor. Otherworlders are welcome, here. After all, tourism and trade are our most valuable assets since the ‘Era of Gummi’.”

“Wait, what?” They both questioned.

“Gummi blocks. Noted for their bright colors and are used in ships, but this is getting off-topic. We should ask around and see if any other ponies made it.”

“Ya’ll can go ahead an’ do that. I still need to sell the rest of mah apples.”

Looking back, a considerable line of people formed behind her little stand.

“An’ before ya go, here!” She tossed both of us an apple, with Twilight catching it with her magic.

“Thanks!”

I took a bite out of the apple. My face changed to one of sheer bliss.

“Uh..?” Twilight looked at me funny.

“Oh my God. I would’ve paid for this.”