//------------------------------//
// Chapter 11: Purpose 
// Story: Vexes of the Multiverse 
// by Crowborn 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 11: Purpose


Verse was quiet for a long moment, to the point that Twilight feared he might not answer. However, Verse suddenly frowned.

"I have already told you what they are. The keys are the necessary tools needed to unlock the barrier around the Prime Universe. As for who they are, I do not specifically, but I do know that each is an alternate version of you and your friends. The problem comes from figuring out which version is the correct version." 

Twilight frowned, "Why do you need me and my friends? Does it have something to do with the Elements of Harmony?"

Verse tilted his head, "Yes and no. As I have told you, the Elements of Harmony aren't powerful enough to pierce the barrier. And the Elements of Disharmony don't work either, and neither does combining them as they cancel each other out,"

Twilight's frowned deepened. She had long theorized that there were such a thing as the Elements of Disharmony, and while confirmation of her theory raised many questions, she had to stay focused. "You still haven't explained yourself," she pointed out in a short tone that showed her growing agitation towards Verse's vague answers and slight misdirections.

Verse merely smirked before continuing on. "In the last few million years, I finally learned what was needed. I did not need Harmony nor Disharmony. The keys I needed were that of Eventuality. Cold, harsh realities that spawn from the six Elements of Harmony and Friendship. Truths that others would deny."

Rainbow Dash was the one to respond this time, "Wait, what are you talking about? What.....truths are you talking about?" She gave a confused look, and Twilight agreed. Verse still hadn't given them a straight answer yet.

Verse swiped his right hoof in the air, and a screen-like image appeared before them. "It is simple. There are more things involved that can stem from your childish views of the Elements of Harmony," he said with that same emotionless tone as before. The image in front of them showed a gruesome scene of Pinkie Pie ruthlessly murdering her friends, which included alternate versions of Twilight and Rainbow Dash. She did so with a gleeful smile upon her face.
Rainbow Dash winced and quickly turned away upon seeing the sight, unpleasant memories with her own world's Pinkie bow flooding back to her mind. 

Verse continued, "Laughter left unchecked will spiral into Madness." The screen then changed, this time showing Rarity smashing a large boulder onto the head of a mortally wounded AppleJack. Rarity was crying. 
"Generosity can come to mean giving those who suffer the kinder of two grim fates."
The image as well as Verse's ice cold tone sent shivers down Twilight's spine.

The image changed again, this time showing a scene of AppleJack being dragged away, only to then be tortured over and over until she finally seemed to give up. "True Honesty is something that is reviled and feared by others. One will do anything to silence a truth that they cannot handle."

"AppleJack," Rainbow Dash whimpered in horror.

The scene changed again, this time showing Fluttershy standing upon a chair, tying a noose around her neck. To their horror, Fluttershy then kicked the chair out from under her and hung herself. Twilight also noticed that Fluttershy had chained her wings to her body, preventing her from using them to save herself.
"Kindness that goes unreturned leads only to Misery and Destruction," Verse explained. Twilight felt her stomach curl into a knot. Rainbow Dash began to sob.

The scene changed again, this time showing Rainbow Dash in a metallic factory of some kind. She was strapping a screaming pegasus to a strange device. After she finished, a large needle-like machine descended and thruster itself deep into the struggling pegasus. The pegasus' body went limp, and all color seemed to drain away from the pegasus. Literally. The Rainbow Dash in the scene began to laugh as she brought yet another pegasus to the machine. Twilight's eyes widened as she recognizes the little philly as Scootaloo. 

"What is that? I would never do that!! Especially not Scootaloo!!" cried Rainbow Dash, her sobs becoming louder.

Verse's voice remained emotionless, "True Loyalty means sacrifice. Service of the greater good always comes at a cost."

"Rainbow Dash would never do that!" Twilight rebutted, taking a strong step forward. Verse blinked, "Depends on which version of her you speak of."

Twilight held back a retort. As much she wanted to, she couldn't find any flaw I'm his statement.

The scene changed again, and this time Twilight's eyes widened. She recognized this scene very well. A wounded changeling queen laid pinned in the wreckage of a home in the middle of a battlefield. The battlefield was Ponyville. She then saw the image of herself step into view. The two queens chatted with each other, and while there was no audio coming from the screen, Twilight remembered each word clearly as the day she had spoken them six months ago. She then saw the image if her pick up a crossbow and take aim. She then fired, finally killing Queen Crudelis.

"Love and Friendship is reaped with Vengeance when stripped away from one who held them dearly," Verse said, a slight smile on his lips.

Twilight surged with anger and a lethal spell began to charge in her horn, "You Bastard!!" She took a hostile stance, ready to attack the crimson maned Stallion before her, "That is your reason?! I will--"

"Twilight?" came the whimpering voice of Rainbow Dash. Twilight stopped, turning towards her friend. Her anger fled her body, replaced by dread from the way Rainbow Dash was looking at her.

"T-That wasn't really you, right? You would never kill somecreature, right?" Twilight tried to speak, but it seemes the look I. twilight's eyes gave her away.

Rainbow Dash took a step back, away from her. That wrenched Twilight's heart a little. "Wait! Rainbow Dash, you don't understand! She deserved it! She murdered my mother! She was the one who manipulated another queen to send an assassin after me! She threatened to destroy my hive!" 

Rainbow Dash took a step back, "The Twilight I know would never kill anycreature!" She began sobbing even more. 

Twilight tried to put a hoof on her shoulder to comfort her, bit Rainbow Dash jumped back, "Stay away from me!!" She then darted out of the bubble and back out the diamond door, back into the mansion.

Twilight then turned and glared at Verse.
Verse shrugged, "Don't glare at me. You wanted the truth, so i gave it to you. It is not my fault if you didn't like the answer. However, before you go chasing after your friend, there is one more thing I think you need to know." 

When he saw that he still had her attention, he continued, ignoring her glare. "These traits are only but one of the traits needed for each key. I cannot just grab any Pinkie Pie who went mad or any Twilight who became vengeful. No. There are other traits needed, traits that must be tested for. Before you killed Crudelis, you offered her a chance, you offered her mercy, only taking action when she refused all other paths. Even with Vengeance in your heart, you still tried to give her a chance. I didn't merely choose you for your act of Vengeance. I chose you because you showed restraint, that pain did not completely rule your heart. And that is why I chose and tested you."

Twilight wasn't sure his to reply to that. However Verse then pointed to the exit. "Go. Your friend has likely gotten herself lost. I have more work to do. Go comfort and talk to her. We have all the time in the Multiverse."

Twilight gave him an unsure look before running off to find her heartbroken friend.