"Actually wait..." Soren stopped in the doorway. "We need to do something first." With an even expression, Soren trotted to the console then looked at Shayden. "So where did you and Lilly live?"
"...The Everfree." Soren paused. The very place they were at.
"I..."
"No need to say anything. Why did you need that information?"
"Right...I needed it for this." Soren pulled levers and pressed buttons, and the TARDIS made a light groan as it departed. One minute later, the machine landed. He took them about ten years in the past. Soren trotted to the doors and gestured for Shayden to walk through. He was a little confused but left the blue box.
He found himself in the Everfree but in a different location; a familiar one. In the short distance, he could see his and Lilly's cottage, fully intact. He began to run over to it but Soren teleported him back to the TARDIS.
"Don't. Just watch."
"B-but how? I left it in cinders and smoke! What happened?"
"Time travel happened. Look." Lilly walked out of the cottage then happily attended to her garden with a younger Shayden helping her.
Shayden fell onto his haunches, tears rolling down his face. "...why? Why are you showing me this?"
"In order to move on, one must have no loose ends. They must make peace with everything in their past. Plus...you need to try and feel joy again."
Shayden tried to fight his tears. "...this seems more like a torture session... There she stands and I am unable to speak to her?"
"I'm sorry, but you cannot disturb your timeline. Shayden, be happy to see her again. Not many ponies have that privilege with their loved ones."
He looked at Soren with pained eyes, the look quickly changing to understanding. He then looked back at Lilly. "...fine. She's so... happy... Blissfully ignorant of what is in store for her future. There I am beside her. Heh, still with all four hooves." He lowered his head. "Equally unaware."
"Death happens to all of us. We are both lucky enough to survive it at least once. We get to better ourselves and those around us because of that. Feel glad, for that is the pony you are about to avenge. We can leave whenever you are ready." Soren leaned against the TARDIS.
"Just... Just give me a moment. Please..." Soren wasn't sure he could trust Shayden from not running to Lilly. After quickly debating in his head, Soren walked into the TARDIS, leaving the doors open.
Five minutes passed and Shayden sauntered back in. He sighed. "So full of life..." He wiped away his tears. "If only it could have lasted. We have waited long enough. Return us to our time." Shayden walked to the railing and leaned on it, facing away from Soren. Soren worked the console again, not looking away from it.
"I'm still not over Nyra's death...not even after her spirit said she forgave me. She can forgive me, but I can't forgive myself, even though it wasn't my fault that she died. Do you blame yourself for not being there to save her?" Shayden fell to his stomach, mumbling to himself, seemingly oblivious to Soren's question.
Assuming something is wrong with him, Soren walked over. "Shayden?" He still didn't seem to hear Soren. Shayden curled into a fetal position, a new torrent of tears falling onto the TARDIS floor.
"Why her? Why why why why WHY?!"
"Shayden." Soren put his hoof on the unicorn's shoulder, but he didn't react. Between sobs, more rambling was heard.
"...I could have saved her... Should have known, SHOULD HAVE KNOWN... All my fault, should have known... Could have stopped it, should have stopped it, did not stop it!"
That's it! Soren thought. He grabbed Shayden and held him up so they could look at each other. "Shayden! Get a hold of yourself! Look at you! You've broken down from seeing the pony you care about the most. Would it have been better if I showed you her death again?!"
Shayden looked him in the eyes. "It should have been me!" He forcefully placed his front hooves on Soren's shoulders. "Me not her, me not her, me not her..." He kept whispering the line. Soren sighed...and smacked Shayden to the ground. The unicorn became quiet now, save for the occassional sob. "Why must there be evil in this world..." He looked at Soren. "It's not fair! She did not deserve what happened to her."
Soren sat in front of Shayden, putting one hoof on his shoulder. "Neither did Nyra. Neither does anypony that dies or becomes gravely injured from evil ponies. The most we can do is stop any evil we come across so there's less danger in the world... No matter the cost." Soren's eyes widened, his ears perked straight up, and the rest of his body stiffened. "That's it...that's my virtue."
Shayden's breathing evened out a little, still slightly ragged. He lowered his head and didn't speak. Soren hugged him and patted his back. "You're ok. Let it out if you have to. Just...don't lose yourself." He walked to the console. He landed the TARDIS then walked over to the doors, looking back at Shayden. "Need more time?"
He took a few deep breaths and looked up, "I believe I'm fine now... Thank you."
"No problem. Prepare yourself because the remainder of the day will not be fun."
------------------
Castle of Faust
------------------
Sunny was bored. Sure, she was captured, but she wasn't doing anything! She managed to find a ball in the nightstand drawer, so she spent the next half hour bouncing it off her hoof to the wall which then bounced off of the floor so she could continue the cycle. After the ball once again chose not to bounce high enough to clear the end of the bed, Sunny gave up. I'd rather fight whoever is out there than sit here the whole time. I feel like a damsel in distress...a princess locked in a tower waiting for my Prince Charming. Maybe I am though. Soren would fit the role nicely~.
The sound of knocking caused Sunny to instantly prop herself up. The red mare from before poked her head inside again.
"Miss Star? May I come in?" her rather innocent voice asked politely. Sunny was a little thrown off by that.
"Sure?" The mare walked in and shut the door.
"I finished an errand for Master Diamond and had just returned to my post, which is to guard your door. I figured you might be lonely or bored, but I also sense you are sad."
"What makes you say that?"
"You have had time to think. Also, because of this..." the mare tapped her half-horn, "...I can sense unease or discomfort in anypony, among other things. It is nothing major, but you could do with getting some things off of your chest."
"I guess I can. Wait, why should I trust you?"
"Well, I guess I can start by introducing myself. My name is Ruby. It is a pleasure to meet you, Sunny Star."
"Honestly, you don't seem like the kind of pony that foulnaps other ponies for some unity thing."
"So I've been told by Lapiz and Jade."
"Are all of you named after gems?"
"I am not sure if it was coincidence or not. It just worked out that way. I'm positive Topaz and Lapiz changed their names to match gems to fit in with me, Diamond, and Jade. For us three, those are our birth names."
"That's cool. So Diamond is the 'master' of all of you? What is his long term goal in all of this? And how did you find a pony like that and join him?"
"Diamond's goal is to strengthen all of us with his magic. By unifying ourselves with capable magical beings, we are able to receive their powers and in exchange, we give them something helpful to their lives." I highly doubt that, Sunny thought. "Topaz was somehow blessed with pure fire. Diamond said it was a gift from the Fire Elemental herself."
"I heard a worried voice that kept calling for Topaz as she was being taken somewhere." Ruby sadly nodded
"Topaz was injured from an encounter from Soren."
"About him. You said the others wouldn't listen to your warnings about Soren. Do you know him?"
"I...we all know him. Master tells us everything he finds out about our targets. We even know you are a great singer. May I request something? Singing is a good way to show emotion or pain. Maybe you could sing a song to relieve such pain?"
"Why not? I'm bored and could use a song right now. The only thing I feel like...I'm a burden to Soren. I thought I could be strong to follow him through these adventures. Guess not."
Ruby told her to wait one second before teleporting out of the room, which caused the shield to appear over the door. After a few minutes, she reappeared with an wood-painted electric guitar levitating next to her. Ruby sat on the bed and looked at Sunny expectantly.
"What? You don't even know what I'm going to sing." Ruby tapped her horn and smiled. Sunny sighed. Unicorns...
Sunny signaled for Ruby to play, so she began playing a few notes. Meanwhile, Sunny draped her forelegs over the windowsill, looking into the night longingly.
You shout it out,
But I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud, not saying much
I'm criticized but all your bullets ricochet
You shoot me down, but I get up
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
Sunny pushed away from the window and found herself immersed in the song. Everything else was shut out, except the guitar.
Cut me down
But it's you who'll have further to fall
One side mind and weakened love
Raise your voice, sticks and stones may break my bones
I'm talking loud not saying much
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
I am titanium
I am titanium
She looked at the crescent moon outside and imagined a bust shot of Soren inside the dark part of it.
Stone-hard, machine gun
Firing at the ones who run
Stone-hard as bulletproof glass
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium
You shoot me down but I won't fall
I am titanium.
Sunny kept her sad expression as she moved away from the window to look at Ruby, who was moved by the song.
"How did he make you feel that way?" Ruby asked.
"He changed my life, but things prevent me from helping him."
"The same happened to me as well."
"Wha—"
BOOM!
Both mares froze from the deep explosion coming from down below. Within seconds, the door to the room burst open and in ran a blue crystal unicorn buck with a matching blue mane. The only way to tell it was his mane was the sparkling white dots. "Ruby! All of us are needed on the main floor. Lock the door and let's go!" Ruby glanced back at Sunny then did what she was told. Sunny smiled when they were gone.
"About time you got here."
----------------
Soren and Shayden exploded the ten ft. tall doors off of their hinges and jumped inside lobby of the castle. They were greeted by lovely decorations, clean furniture, polished statues and porcelain, and three crystal ponies at the top of a staircase on the opposing side of the room.
"Welcome, friends!" greeted a white, crystal alicorn with a shiny, silver mane. "So glad you could finally join us!"
"You're Master Diamond, I presume? I've been searching everywhere for the pony that brought me to this universe."
"Look no further. I'm sure Jade and Topaz have explained why I wanted you here."
"Actually, no. I refused their offer of escorting me here, so fighting came at lightning speeds."
"Ahh, then I guess I will have to explain it. For years, we have invited ponies with tremendous magical abilities to join us. To become part of one big family. The world has many evils that cannot be bested alone, so I have taken it upon myself to train unicorns to combat these dangers without the need of help. I take ponies with strong magic and join their minds to mine, taking hold of their abilities and scattering them to the appropriate one of my friends you see before you...however, we seem to be missing two at the moment." Diamond looked around at the room then to Topaz and Jade, who both shrugged.
"We're here! We're here," Lapiz shouted. "Had to grab Ruby and make sure the prisoner wouldn't escape."
"Oh yeah, another thing," Soren began with a little more energy. "You captured my friend and I would like to have her back." Diamond chuckled.
"I'm afraid she was selected to become a part of us, as are you and your friend there." Soren glanced at Shayden then had to fully stare at him because of how he looked. He was emanating smoke from his eyes and hooves as he slightly growled. Shayden...don't lose yourself again.
"I appreciate the offer, but I came here for Sunny and some answers."
"What kind of answers?"
"Answer about the dimensional rift you created and what you have been sending through it!"
"Haha, a smart pony indeed! However, your puny mind couldn't handle the truth."
"Ponies have also said I couldn't defeat them, but look at me now!" Soren was losing his patience fast; he was going to get his answers one way or another.
"They weren't as strong as me and you know it. Enough small talk! I will give you one last chance to join us or be destroyed." Soren smirked.
"I'll let my friend answer that." Shayden's horn lit up.
"Wait!" Ruby yelled at Diamond. "Just give him his friend, Master! This will not end well."
"We've already been over this, Ruby! This needs to be done or all of you could die."
"There has to be another way!" Soren flinched at her voice; she sounded familiar.
"Look at him, Ruby." Diamond saw Soren flinch. "He's catching on. Tell him." He spoke to Soren. "Look at this mare! Can you not see what she is?" How did Soren not see it before? The name, the color scheme...the half horn on her head...
"You're..." Soren gasped.
"Hello, Uncle." Then the entire staircase collapsed.