Key of Harmony: Kingdom Hearts

“Good morning you guys! So, how’s it hanging?” Rainbow Dash asked the trio as they walked back to the back of the island to head to the raft.

“We’re doing great, Rainbow!” Sora exclaimed. “What about you? Did you have a good night’s sleep?”

“Of course! Like there was ever any doubt! So, what else do we need before we can take the raft and go?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We’re almost ready. We just need to gather up provisions for the trip, which if we get done today means we can sail off tomorrow,” Riku answered.

“Awesome! With all of us working together we should have it done in no time flat!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed as the group arrived at the raft.

“Perfect! Rainbow Dash, you can help Sora with gathering his provisions. Let’s see. Sora and Rainbow, you’re looking for... Five Seagull Eggs, Twelve Mushrooms, Eight Coconuts, Nine Fish, and fill this up with Drinking Water. But not from the ocean!” Kairi reminded the duo as Kairi handed Sora the canteen. “Bring everything back here. If you need help, just ask.”
“Will do! So, obviously she was reminding us about getting fresh water because of you, right?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“How do you know it wasn’t you she was reminding? After all, brains haven’t been exactly your strongest trait so far,” Sora teased.

“What?! But I-,” Rainbow Dash cried out, only to begin chuckling after a good few seconds. “Nice one, Sora. Anyways, we should gather up everything and report back to Kairi.”

“You have a deal there, Rainbow,” Sora agreed as he shook her hoof.

And so, the duo went off to find the provisions they would need for their trip. In about an hour, they were able to find most of what they needed.

The duo brought most of the starting provisions back to Kairi, who was impressed with how quickly they were able to bring together all their provisions. “Great job you guys! Now all we need is another mushroom and we’ll be ready for our trip tomorrow! You even got fresh water instead of sea water!” Kairi teased.

“Thanks, Kairi. Anyways, I’ve looked over the entire island and I haven’t been able to find any more mushrooms,” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Well, there is the Secret Spot. We can always look there. I remember seeing signs of a mushroom growing a little while ago,” Sora pointed out.

“Perfect! You guys go look there!” Kairi said as she went back to a personal project.

Just as the two were about to head back to the Secret Spot, they ran into Riku. “Hey, Sora, Rainbow Dash. Our raft still needs a name. Let's see... How about Highwind? What would you guys call it?”

“Me? Well...hm... Excalibur!” Sora exclaimed as he came up with a name.

“Yeah! I agree with Sora! We should call it Excalibur!” Rainbow Dash agreed.

“Well, Kairi was fine with the name I picked out, so I’d say we have a tie. We just need a tie breaker for the ship’s name. Hey, how about…” Riku said.

“The usual?” Sora asked, realizing what Riku was thinking.

“Let's do it!”

Meanwhile, Kairi appears on the wooden bridge nearby. “You guys at it again? All right, I'll be the judge. The usual rules apply. Take any route you want... First one to tag that tree and make it back here wins,” Kairi reminded the duo of their race.

“Oh, a race?! Can I race too?” Rainbow Dash asked the pair.

“Sure thing! So, if I win, I'm captain! And if you win Riku…” Sora was deciding.

“I get to share the paopu with Kairi,” Riku suddenly said.

“Huh?” Sora was confused.

“Deal? The winner gets to share a paopu with Kairi,” Riku explained.

“Wha... Wait a minute…,” Sora was caught off guard.

“Hold on. What is the paopu fruit anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked curiously.

“Okay! On my count!” Riku, Rainbow Dash, and Sora were ready to race “Three! Two! One! Go!” She slices through the air with her hand and both Sora and Riku race across the bridge. The two are neck and neck until one of the boards on the bridge collapses, sending Riku into the water. Sora takes this chance to run past the lookout tower and across the bridge. He runs up the hill towards the star tree, seeing Riku catching up to him, by jumping across the tops of the palm trees nearby. Sora quickly tags the tree and races back to the starting line. Sora throws a fist into the air in success.

“Now the score’s 1 to 1!” Sora cheered until he noticed that Rainbow Dash was already there before him. “Wait. How did…”

“Simple. I can fly really fast. In fact, there isn’t really many if any ponies or any other creatures that can outspeed me!” Rainbow Dash explained.

“Well, I still won against Riku, so yeah!” Sora was happy at the results in spite of being in second.

“Man, lighten up. It’s just a name, after all.” Riku teased, much to Sora’s frustration.

“Hey, Sora, if you don’t mind I would like to go with Rainbow Dash instead if you don’t mind,” Kairi decided, having changed her mind.

“Really? Well, okay. I’ll meet you guys back at the raft,” Sora agreed as he headed for the raft.

“So, Rainbow, how are things going with you?” Kairi curiously asked the blue pegasus.

“Things are going fine, I guess. I just want to find my friends is all. I’m kinda worried. I know they can take care of themselves, but these shadow creatures are something else. I don’t know if they’ll be okay or not when we find them,” Rainbow admitted.

“I wouldn’t worry. After all, between the four of us, we’ll find them and they’ll be fine,” Kairi comforted.

“Thanks, Kairi. I can’t believe we’re about to set sail out on the open sea. I hope you three will find it to your liking,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Don’t worry. We will.”

“So, are you just friends with Sora and Riku, or do you have feelings for one of them?” Rainbow bluntly asked.

At this, Kairi stopped before saying with a blush on her face. “Well… Both Sora and Riku are my best friends, but I’ve always had a bit of a crush on Sora for as long as I can remember. He can be a bit of a hassle and I do like to mess with him at times, but I do love him. I just don’t know if he returns these feelings. What about you? Do you have any crushes back at home?

“Well, don’t tell her I said so, but I do have a crush on Applejack from back at home. I don’t know when I started to feel this way, but I do,” Rainbow Dash answered.

“So we both have a crush, huh? Well, I wish you luck for it working out,” Kairi said.

“Thanks, you too,” Rainbow Dash said.

Kairi and Rainbow Dash enter the Secret Place and walk through an underground tunnel, with roots lining the walls. They two girls reached a room made of walled boulders with chalk drawings scrawled on them. The only light is from a small hole in the ceiling. Kairi sees the last mushroom Sora commented on near a wooden board in the wall and plucks it from the ground. Behind the mushroom is an old drawing of Kairi and Sora that brings memories flooding back to her. She kneels on the ground, placing a hand on the drawing of Sora with a soft smile. Her mind flashes back to the two of them as 5 year olds when they drew each other on the walls. Kairi sits, picking up a rock and begins carving. She stops and stares at her work. She is giving Sora a paopu fruit. Suddenly, she hears a noise behind her and stands up swiftly.

“Wh-who’s there?” Rainbow Dash demands.

“Yeah, and if you don’t mind, why are you here?” Kairi asked.

A mysterious figure in a brown cloak answers, “I’ve come to see the door to this world.”

“Huh?” Kairi and Rainbow were confused, both by what was said and who was saying it as they haven’t noticed the figure yet..

“This world has been connected,” The figure vaguely explains.

“Wh-What are you talking about?” Kairi asks, confused.

“Tied to the darkness... Soon to be completely eclipsed,” The figure refuses to answer clearly.

“Well, whoever you are, stop freaking me out like this!” Rainbow shoots back.

“Yeah! Who are you anyway? You don’t sound like anyone I’ve met on the islands,” Kairi wonders as she turns and sees where the voice came from.She notices a hooded figure standing in the shadows. An X is emblazoned upon its chest.

“Wh-Where did you come from? If you aren’t from the islands like Kairi said, then where did you come from?” Rainbow Dash demanded.

“You do not yet know what lies beyond the door,” The figure says, still refusing to answer.

“Wait, if you aren’t from the islands, then you must be from another world, just like Rainbow Dash! Am I right?” Kairi asks.

“There is so very much to learn. You understand so little,” The figure mocks coolly.

“Can you stop with the cryptic talk and just talk to us like people?!” Rainbow Dash demands as the figure remains quiet.”Oh, yeah? Well, you’ll see. We’re gonna get out and learn what’s out there!”

“A meaningless effort. One who knows nothing can understand nothing,” The figure says before disappearing.

“Well, yeah! Fine! We didn’t wanna know who you were anyway!” Rainbow yells as she sticks out her tongue.

“Um, Rainbow Dash? Maybe we shouldn’t be so mean. I know he wasn’t the nicest, but it isn’t like he was trying to hurt anyone,” Kairi warned.

“I know. But what do you think he meant by what he was saying?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I’m not sure. I doubt the others will believe us if we told them. Maybe we should just remain quiet for the time being. After all, if that man wanted to harm us, he would have done so already. So I doubt anything bad will happen if we keep things a secret,” Kairi suggested.

“Um, okay. But if that guy comes back and proves to be trouble, then I’ll clobber him!” Rainbow Dash said, much to Kairi’s discomfort.

Later during the sunset, Sora and Kairi sit at the edge of the dock.

“You know, Riku has changed,” Kairi pointed out.

“What do you mean?” Sora asked.

“Well…,” Kairi begins before she grows silent.

“You okay?” Sora asks in concern.

“Sora, let’s take the raft and go—just the two of us!” Kairi jokingly suggests.

“Huh?” Sora asks, confused at the request.

“Just kidding,” Kairi says.

“What’s gotten into you? You’re the one that’s changed, Kairi,” Sora points out.

“Maybe... You know, I was a little afraid at first, but now I’m ready. No matter where I go or what I see, I know I can always come back here,” Kairi says as she turns to face Sora. “Right?”

“Yeah, of course!” Sora reassures.

“That’s good,” Kairi sighs in relief. She pauses for a moment, considering revealing her feelings to Sora. However, she changes her mind and instead says, “Sora, don’t ever change.”

“Huh?” Sora is confused.

Kairi stands up and takes a final look over the ocean. Sora stares up at her as she ends their conversation by saying, “I just can’t wait. Once we set sail, it’ll be great.”

Sora follows her gaze as the sun sets, with Rainbow finding the scene to be fairly sweet, even though she doesn’t want to admit it.

Meanwhile in the Library of Disney Castle, Donald reads the letter aloud to Daisy and Queen Minnie as well as to Spike and Goofy.

“Donald, Sorry to rush off without sayin’ goodbye, but there’s big trouble brewin’. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin’ out, one by one. And that means disaster can’t be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I’ve gotta go check into it. There’s someone with a “key”—the Keyblade to our survival. So I need you and Goofy to find him, and stick with him. Got it? We need that key or we’re doomed! So go to Traverse Town and find Leon. He’ll point you in the right direction.

P.S. Would ya apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.”

The letter is signed with the King’s seal. Pluto sleeps in his bed as the group muses over the King’s words.

“Oh, dear! What could this mean?” Daisy asks in concern.

“It means we’ll just have to trust the king,” Minnie calmly decides.

“Gawrsh, I sure hope he’s all right,” Goofy is worried.

“I know. If he’s anything like Twilight then hopefully he’ll be fine. I do wonder, though. If the stars are worlds… Do you think those shadow creatures are responsible for the worlds vanishing?” Spike wondered.

“It could be. This isn’t the only tale I’ve heard like that. But regardless, I’d be careful out there,” Queen Minnie said to Donald and Goofy.

“Your Highness. Don’t worry. We’ll find the king and this “key,”” Donald reassured.

“Thank you, both of you,” Minnie was grateful for the assistance.

“Daisy, can you take care of the—” Donald began to ask.

“Of course. You be careful, now, both of you,” Daisy wished them well.

“Wait! I know it may be a lot to ask, but can I come with you? I have a very powerful fire breath and can be of much help on your journey. Please! I want to find Twilight and the others. They’re my family,” Spike pleaded, his voice hitching as he said the last part.

Donald thought for a moment before deciding. “Fine. You can come. But don’t get in the way,” Donald decided, not wanting to see the kid hurt on his watch.'

“That’s very nice of you, Donald. Oh, and to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you,” Minnie says as she points toward the desk. Donald peers closer, seeing a small bug jumping on the table.

“Over here!” The bug yells out. The cricket stops jumping once he has Donald’s attention. “Cricket’s the name. Jiminy Cricket, at your service.” He bows with his top hat in his hand.

“We hope for your safe return. Please help the king,” Minnie gratefully says.

Donald stands at attention. Joining Minnie and Daisy, Goofy salutes him, before Donald yanks him out the door, with Donald yelling, “You’re coming, too!”

They walk down the stairs under the courtyard to the Gummi Ship Control Room. The mouse-eared lights on the wall are dim in the dark hallway. Donald walks ahead as Jiminy hangs on to Goofy’s helmet.

“Gawrsh, Jiminy, your world disappeared, too?” Goofy asked Jiminy.

“It was terrible. We were scattered. And as far as I can see, I’m the only one who made it to this castle,” Jiminy revealed.

“So, I’m not the only one to have to deal with these shadows,” Spike realized.

“Goofy?” Donald remarks sternly.

“Oh, right… I gotcha. Ya mean, while we’re in other worlds, we can’t let on where we’re from. We’ve gotta protect the world border,” Goofy explains.

““Order.”” Donald corrects.

“Right. World order,” Goofy laughs as Donald sighs.

“So, is there any reason we can’t break the world order? After all, it would probably do more harm than good to keep it a secret,” Spike suggested.

“Look, the last thing we want is for the residents of other worlds to panic or for threats exclusive to that world to become bigger threats. So, for those reasons we need to keep the worlds a secret,” Donald explained.

“Okay then. You do make a good point. Let’s just hope that we can find everyone with that restriction,” Spike said as the group walked through a crown shaped door.

“I guess we’ll need new duds when we get there,” Goofy said.

“So, where is the portal to get us to the other worlds?” Spike asked.

“Where we’re going, we won’t need a portal!” Donald said. They enter the Gummi Ship Control Room, walking across the tiled floor. The whirring of machines fills the air as giant gears spin along the walls. Mechanical arms hang down from the ceiling around a small orange spaceship. The dome of the cockpit reveals three seats. Donald walks toward a large golden tube and puts a hand to his mouth. “Hello up there? Donald Duck to launch crew! Anytime you’re ready.”
In a hanging control booth, Donald’s voice echoes out of the other end of the tube into the ears of a black-nosed chipmunk wearing an apron. Chip salutes and a second chipmunk, this time with a red nose, runs toward a control panel. Dale jumps up to turn a blue lever. Steam billows out of pipes in the ceiling as more gears spin on the walls. Dale leaps to the window and the two chipmunks watch a mechanical hand move across the room. The hand picks up Goofy, carrying him upside down with his arms outstretched. Donald, at his annoyance of being lifted the same way, crosses his arms and frowns. Spike tries to fly away and into the ship only to be lifted upside down just like Donald and Goofy. As the cockpit opens, Pluto runs into the room and jumps into the Gummi Ship. A light spins on the wall as an interstellar runway opens, lights blinking along the path. A lift moves the rocket ship, aiming it at the tunnel, as Daisy and Queen Minnie enter the room to see their departure. Donald gives Daisy a thumbs-up and a wink as the rockets engines start up with a shower of flames. Donald points forward to the tunnel. “Blast off!!”

In the tunnel, a large neon arrow blinks on, pointing downward. The shaft below the Gummi Ship opens, and the ship falls through it, Donald, Spike, and Goofy all screaming in fear at the sudden dive. The ship drops out of the world and the engine bursts on, sending them into space.

As Rainbow Dash was snoozing on the ship near the port of the island, she dreamed of the shadow creatures that she and her friends encountered. Freaked out by her dream, she woke up to the sight of a storm raging, one not to dissimilar to the one she recalls that endangered her world.