Upon returning from the Moon, Alinivar checked the map to see if there was anything else that might help them in their final confrontation with Giygas. With the map giving no indicators, he turned to the others. "I guess it's time for us to get going," he murmured softly, turning to the Time Skimmer in the corner. "No going back after this..."
"I am *click* prepared," Larice informed him readily.
"I'm not backing down," Zarbol insisted.
"Time travel, kay-o!" Col. Saturn agreed.
"Here's hoping everything works out," Niiue murmured softly.
"We have to believe it will," Moondancer spoke up firmly. "Otherwise...this was all for nothing."
As the others aboard the ship said goodbye to the group, they boarded the Time Skimmer and sealed it shut behind them. Just before Alinivar could press the button, Col. Saturn spoke up. "Before we hit the button...I save something special for us. Ding!" He pulled out a thermos and six cups...from where, there was no telling. "It is wonderful Mr. Saturn coffee! Let us drink and be happiness before we go!"
"This isn't going to stunt my growth, is it?" Moondancer asked playfully as the cups were filled. "I need all the help I can get in that regard." The entire group shared a laugh at the tiny pony's rejoinder. Even as much as she'd grown, on all four hooves her horn just barely cleared the top of Col. Saturn's hat, putting her chest high on the average thirteen-year-old human.
As they all drank their cup of coffee, they slipped into a peaceful repose as the world around them seemed to waver. Each of them seemed to be receiving their own message from somewhere...and Moondancer listened carefully to hers.
"Everyone holds a secret or two close to their heart.
Some on the surface, some buried deep.
You don't even know yours, Moondancer.
This began as a journey to save your Father from himself,
but it will end in a journey of self discovery.
You can not save him in the time known as now,
but you've already decided you won't rest until he's saved.
It just might be possible.
Not everything is as it should have been.
Something has happened, sending echoes through time.
The meteor blocking Alinivar's cave was supposed to have a guardian.
The PSI of a normal Sphere should not have been strong enough to communicate alone.
Fobbygig was helpful, a teacher.
Echoes through time...echoes of memories forgotten...
There are secrets there, and if you are to achieve your goals, they must be discovered.
A difficult choice awaits you.
Make the right choice, and you have a chance to save him.
Make the wrong one, and you will share his fate.
But know that even if those who care for you aren't there right now, their love for you remains.
Don't lose hope.
Before long, those you care for will face down their own secrets, as the shared bonds link the realms of mind.
You can not join them in this. The time to explore your mind is not yet.
My message was garbled before, and lost now...but you have already chosen the path I knew you wanted.
I wish you luck..."
When Moondancer's mind returned, she found they were already at the top of the hill where the entrance to Giegue's Magicant awaited. Niiue stood by it, waiting for her and the others to be ready to explore. "Niiue..."
"I won't be going in with you right off the bat," Niiue explained softly. "I'm going to try and meet up with the other me. It might be a bad idea, but..." He gave Moondancer a direct look. "My heart is telling me I need to do this."
Alinivar nodded, not catching the message Niiue had been sending. "Alright then. Good luck."
"You too," Niiue agreed.
Alinivar led the group into the tail-shaped pinnacle, and through it to the grey land of what was left of Giegue's Magicant. As they moved through, they noticed there were far fewer thought-construct entities around. One they approached smiled at them. "One by one by one," he said softly as his body started to fade. "L-i-g-h-t-s o-u-t-!"
Moondancer whimpered as she saw this. She knew what it meant. Giegue's Magicant was losing cohesion, and the constructs - vessels of parts of his being - were fading away. If they didn't hurry, there'd be nothing left of him.
A small bee-like creature was the next thing they encountered. It looked straight at Zarbol. "If I'm you, will you disappear when I'm gone?" Zarbol looked mightily disturbed as it faded.
The image of Greyface remained where they'd last seen it. He looked straight at Moondancer as she approached. "It's a pity I didn't tease you about there not being anything of you here last time," he murmured thoughtfully. "You know why that is now. Not that it'll do you any good...or me for that matter. The outcome's already been decided." As he began to fade, he turned to stare at-
...
-empty space, only to fade away completely, his last observation a mystery.
After that, it didn't take long to reach the red area. The thought-monsters there were much stronger than they had been before, and much harder to avoid. Thankfully, everything they'd gathered together left them more than adequately prepared when it came to fighting the beasts, letting them push their way forward along the path they knew they had to take. As they approached the hole they needed to drop down, however, it opened up to reveal a glowing eye, staring at them. It let out an unearthly roar as it took the shape of Gargiathan, though looking somewhat rotted and decayed. Only two tentacles moved as backup to the massive eye as it slowly crawled towards them.
"Everyone stick together!" Alinivar insisted. "Cover each other, and take this thing down!"
"The eye's the only part that matters!" Moondancer called out. "Focus as much damage as we can there!"
Everyone braced their strongest weapons, ready to fight their way through as best they could.