"DAWNA, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Twilight asked loudly in a panic.
"It's okay." Dawna said. "I just needed to be certain."
Dawna stepped away revealing Tartus' unharmed head. The sword struck as hard as it could, but there wasn't even a mark. Everyone was held up at the moment and fell silent while Tartus rubbed his head.
"You know, it did hurt a little." Tartus said.
"What the..." Ricky said. "How?"
"It's how he existed thousands of years ago." Dawna said. "He's immortal."
"Like you?" Twilight asked.
"Not exactly. The Golden Apple's magic keeps me from aging, but I can still be killed. I think it's something different in this case, though. Like how he can't be pierced by anything. I guess that means you didn't get your immortality from the Golden Apple, did you?"
Tartus smiled. "My dear, I haven't even seen any of the Relics of Creation until your metalic canine handed the Apple to me in the Neatherealm."
"You did what?" Applejack asked.
"It was a lapse in judgement and there was a lot of stuff going on that day." Shadow Blot defended.
"What's going on?" Mako asked coming in.
"We found a ghost village, Dawna hit Tartus upside his head, and Twilight's an egghead." Rainbow Dash said. "You know, the usual."
"Not only that, but Korra refuses to let me help her with her brainwashing problem." Twilight said. "And what do you mean, 'egghead'?"
"Wait, back up to Korra." Mako said. "What do you mean she refused your help?"
"She said my solution would erase her connection to the past Avatars again and she had a lot of questions for them."
"But... I think this is more important." Mako said. "We're trying to prove her innocence."
"That's basically what I said." Twilight said. "But Korra doesn't think so. There's something going on. For some reason, she won't accept anything until she talks to her past selves."
"Maybe I can help."
The voice called out and Zaheer was standing there with the Doctor and the other people in this party.
"You're back." Shadow Blot said. "What happened?"
"Long story." the Masked Matterhorn said. "You?"
"Another long story." Twilight said.
"You want to help us?" Mako asked Zaheer. "You almost killed Korra before."
"Yes, but I also helped her the last time she had a problem with her abilities." Zaheer said. "You don't have to forgive me, but at the moment, I am the only way you're gonna get to Korra."
Mako thought for a moment before groaning. "You better help."
"Did we miss something?" said another voice. The third party of Scimitar, Sunset Shimmer, Bolin, Discord, and Kuvira was the last to arrive. Scimitar and Kuvira looked speechless and in deep thought. The other three had awkward faces.
"It's a long story." Shadow Bolt said. "What about you?"
"Longer story." Discord said.
Kuvira approached Tartus' cell and looked down on him with contempt. Tartus returned with a smile.
"I see you figured it out." Tartus said.
"Is it true?" Kuvira asked. "Am I another one of your clones?"
Most of the others were surprised at the question. They fell silent waiting for Tartus' answer. The villain stood on his tiny feet and said with confidence, "...Yes. You are the original Project: Phoenix success."
Kuvira breathed heavily and almost fell over. She managed to stabilize her feet and stand straight again.
"Okay, back to that later." Rarity said. "I think you need a rest, Kuvira."
"In the meantime, let's go." Mako said taking Zaheer to the other room.
Once they arrived, Mako ran and hugged Korra through the bars.
"Are you alright?" Mako asked.
"Alright?" Korra asked. "Mako, I'm behind bars because I was apparently brainwashed by this month's new psychopath. Not to mention, I yelled at one of my trusted friends a few minutes ago."
"Yeah, I heard about that." Mako said. "What the heck?"
"I... I don't know." Korra said. "I was only trying to ask Twilight to wait a little while longer until I got my answers, but then, she almost had a meltdown and started to yell at me. I don't know what came over me, but I started to yell back. I really regret it."
"Twilight found a way to help you and you rejected it." Mako said. "I thought you were at peace with losing your connections."
"So did I." Korra said. "But when I saw a vision of Aang, I felt a little... easier. And then, he told me that Avatar Stelle needed to warn me of something, but I lost my connection to him after that. I can't get it out of my head. I thought going to the Tree of Time could help me link back with them, even for a little bit, but the next thing I know, I'm in security. I'm sorry, but I just don't feel like I need to get rid of my only connection just yet."
"So if you managed to talk to Avatar Stelle, would you let Twilight cast her spell on you?" Zaheer asked.
"Yes, after I apologize for my behavior." Korra said.
"All right then." Zaheer said. "I'd like to help."
"Help?" Korra asked.
"Korra, you lost your connection to your past lives because of someone who I once called a friend. You lost three years of your life because of my actions, which I later learned to be based on Xai Bau's lie. I know it's going to take a lot to redeem myself for my sins, but I'd like to start by helping you again."
After a second of thinking, Korra accepted. "How do we do this?"
"Let's join hands." Zaheer said. They did so. "Close your eyes." They did that too. "Now, let's imagine a defining moment in one of your past lives, starting with Aang. For an entire year, he learned to master his powers; a feat not done by most Avatars, I might add. With that, he stood up against Fire Lord Ozai and helped rebuild the Fire Nation with Zuko. Before him was Roku, trusted friend to Fire Lord Sozin. Upon his dying breath, he manged to save the people on his island from a fiery death. Kyoshi kept a merciless warlord from attacking further than he has. Feel the sensation they felt when they had to make a difficult choice. Understand the power they all used all the way back to the first Avatar, Wan. Remember all the way to Stelle and..."
Suddenly, Korra felt like the environment changed. She opened her eyes and found herself floating in a starry environment. And right in front of her was a woman with black hair, a blue gown, and a radiant glow.
"Are you..." Korra asked.
"Yes, Korra. I am Stelle. However, our connection is only temporary. I only called out to you to warn you."
"Warn me? About what?"
"Our world, as well as every other world in Creation, is in grave danger. A monster threatens to conquer it all."
"You mean Tartus? I don't understand."
"He needs the Relics of Creation, the physical vessels containing the spirits of the Primordials. They were the original forces of Light, Darkness, and Nature. He already as the powers of Darkness and Nature contained. All he needs now is the powers of Light, and he will do anything to obtain it and finish his collection."
"But why?" Korra asked. "What does Tartus want with all the Relics?"
"The Relics of Creation contain the most powerful forces in existence. If he gains total control over the powers of the Primordials, he will be able to reshape all of reality just by thinking about it. People will disappear. Worlds will be erased. Rules will change. No limits! Tartus can take over all of Creation and get rid of all his enemies at once with a single thought."
Korra paused for a moment. "No one should have that kind of power. How do we stop him?"
"First, he needs all three Relics in order to collect their power, so you need to secure the Uniscope. Tartus also needs you for his ascension, and as long as you are in his thrall, your victory will not be assured."
"Well, that's not a problem then." Korra said. "Twilight said she has a spell that can erase whatever Tartus did to me."
"I know, but it won't work. Whatever Tartus did, it can't be undone by a simple spell."
"Then how can I stop it? What's the cure?"
"I don't have the answer. But there is one way you can know..."
"Okay, everybody." Discord said after everyone finished talking. "Now that we're all done comparing notes, I am going to try to establish a timeline so we can fit everything together."
"This should be fun." Miles said rolling his eyes.
Discord snapped his fingers and a clay model of certain events appeared in front of everyone. He went to the first model.
"Apparently, Tartus used to be a big, bad monster who destroyed what's left of the Wandor tribe. He was looking for the then Avatar, and he needed their help to find her. They showed him the way in return for being spared, but Tartus destroys them anyway."
"Yeah, my bad." Tartus said. "I let my emotions get the best of me."
"Getting to that part." Discord said heading to the next model. "Anywho, somehow, Tartus changed from the big bad world to an ankle-biting munchkin without depth perception. The Doctor's predecessor, the Gardener, showed mercy on him and gave him a job at the time place so she could reform him. Instead, he stole her eggs, found out about this world and the Equestrias, learned of the Relics of Creation, and rid himself of all emotion."
"Thereby, breaking her sacred seal and transferring her power to me." the Doctor continued.
"Lastly," Discord then went to the third model, "Tartus tried to make himself a new body by cloning himself. However, his greatest success, Kuvira, still wasn't the right fit for his mind. He left her to be raised by Suyin so she could grow up to be a power-hungry tyrant like she did. You are not having the best life, are you?"
"Drop it." Kuvira said staring at the floor.
"Tartus tried again in another world, but got stuck with Scimitar, who he tried to raise him to be evil, but couldn't make him so."
"From then on, Tartus has been bringing me to other worlds so he could search for the Relics of Creation." Scimitar continued. "One such search lead us to the Neatherealm."
"Where me and the rest of the Machines dug up the Relic, the Golden Apple, for him." the Shadow Blot said.
"He'd lent it to the Negahorn, who at the time, vesseled the Asteroth (another Relic), and borrow it from her on occasion." the Masked Matterhorn explained.
"During such a time, he tricked the Twilight Sparkle of my world to build him a device capable of stealing and storing magic." Sunset continued. "He managed to tweak it so it could even store the powers of the Primordials."
"He then got us to release the power of the Asteroth and give him an incantation that can separate a Primordial from his vessel." the Masked Matterhorn went on.
"And then, he kidnapped Korra, brainwashed her, and brought us all on this wild goose chase for answers that he wants us to find." Tenzin said.
...
"Wow." Pinkie said. "That's a lot to take in when you piece it all together."
"You all missed the part where I recruited the Siren Sisters and am currently turning any human I find into sirens." Tartus said. "Also, I've recruited some spirits on my side. Yes, most of those creatures like to remain neutral, but there are still some with a little bit of mischief in their souls."
"Well, what's with the sirens?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Why are you changing people into them?"
"Can't tell you." Tartus said. "It'll spoil the plan."
"Maybe he's hosting the biggest concert of all time!" Pinkie shouted.
"I seriously doubt that." Asami said.
"You already told us everything else," Rarity said, "Or at least, showed us."
"Not everything." Tartus said. "I never told you about my original world, my reason for hunting your worlds, or why I had to get rid of my emotions. That's something for you all to learn on your own. And the only way for you to understand is to experience my pain firsthand."
Twilight began to worry. "What have you done?"
"I can't tell you that either." Tartus said. "I can tell you, though, that it's going to happen at Canterlot."
"Can we just get away from him?" Miles said. "He's starting to creep me out."
As everyone left leaving Tartus with a happy grin, they ran into Korra, Mako, and Zaheer in the hall.
"Korra..." Twilight said nervously. "I..."
"It's okay, Twilight." Korra said. "Right now, we need to go."
"Go?" Discord asked. "Go where?"
"To your world and in Canterlot." Korra said.
"Why?" Tenzin asked.
"Because there is only one way to make sure Tartus doesn't complete his set of Relics of Creation." Korra said. "We need to secure the last one. And at the same time, we can figure out what he did to me and how to fix it."
"And you think it's in Canterlot." the Doctor said.
"Absolutely." Korra said. "It's how I met the ponies in the first place."
"You mean..." Twilight asked.
"Yes." Korra answered. "The Uniscope. And we're going to get it... before Tartus' forces beat us to it."