//------------------------------//
// Chapter 13: Worlds 
// Story: Vexes of the Multiverse 
// by Crowborn 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 13: Worlds


Three days later

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Verse walked in the blank whiteness of Nowhere, heading towards the Worldscape.

"Where are we going?" asked Rainbow Dash, squirming while they walked. Twilight had just replaced her bandages earlier that morning. Or rather, what passed for morning in this sunless place.

"To the Worldscape. It's how we will be able to go to other worlds. And stop squirming so much, you might accidentally undo the bandages," Twilight replied.

"I can't help it! It itches!" Rainbow Dash used a hoof to try and scratch her itchy body. It helped a little bit. "And you told me that before, but you still haven't explained to me what this 'Worldscape' is."

"You'll see," Twilight replied. Verse suddenly stopped and held out a hoof for each of the girls to grab. As soon as both girls grabbed hold, there was an audible pop as they once again appeared in the Worldscape.

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped. "It's like the Study except bigger and more...real..." she said she looked on in awe.

Twilight imagined her expression must have looked similar when she first saw this place. Even now, the sight of it all still amazed her. It was just so big and endless. She still had no idea how Verse could navigate such a place, though at this point she figured it was going to be a mystery she'd never solve.

Verse began walking again, without a word. Twilight gave Rainbow Dash a friendly poke to snap her back to reality. "Stay close to us at all times. Getting lost here would be pretty bad," she warned her. Rainbow Dash simply nodded in response, still trying to take in everything she was seeing around her.

They walked for what seemed like hours, until Rainbow Dash broke the silence. "Verse, if you are magic and stuff, can't you just...you know, teleport us to where we need to go?"

Verse chuckled, much to Twilight's surprise. "I could, yes. But, I like walking. Besides, there isn't any rush. We have all the time in existence." 

Both Twilight and Rainbow Dash gave an audible groan. However, it didn't seem Verse would be convinced otherwise.

It was another few minutes until something caught Twilight's eye. Off in the distance stood a breathtakingly beautiful alicorn mare, whom was staring at them. Twilight felt herself fall into a sort of hypnotic trance as the mysterious and beautiful mare beckoned for her to come. Twilight didn't even realize she had taken a few steps forward until she felt a hoof on her chest holding her back. That was enough to snap her back. 

Verse stood beside her, holding her back with his hoof. "Don't go near. You will not survive," he warned.

Twilight gave a confused look, "Who is she?" Suddenly a smirk appeared on the beautiful made in the distance. In a blink of an eye, the beautiful mare's image seemed to shimmer away, revealing a skeletal alicorn pony with those same cold but alluring eyes.

"She is known as Grave, the Spirit of Death and Decay, and the Gatekeeper to the Afterlife. No mortal who enters her realm lives to see another day," Verse explained. 

Grave made no attempt to approach the group, but from behind her a form appeared, and Twilight's eyes widened. It was her mother, Chrysalis. Tears began to form in her eyes, and she started to move forward again before being stopped once more by Verse.

"Don't. She is just playing her games with you. She likely just wants your soul. Don't approach her. You will die," Verse explained. Twilight wanted to approach, to speak to her mother again, but she somehow managed enough willpower to hold herself back. Rainbow Dash gave a slight whimper and took a step back, not wanting to go near the skeletal mare. 

The skeletal mare gave a small smirk before disappearing into the shadows, along with the form of Twilight's mother.

Twilight shivered, the influence of the made now fully gone from her. "Is she an evil spirit?" she asked Verse as they continued onto their destination.

Verse shook his head, "She is no more evil than Discord, if that helps. She is a part of the natural order. However do beware when you see her. She goes by many names and takes many forms. She is the Spirit of Death,  and it is in her nature to bring the end of mortals' lives."

Twilight frowned, "Why was she here though?" she pondered, now fighting a cold chill that threatened to seep down her spine.

Verse replied without looking at her, "Many spirits use the Worldscape to travel, not just myself. You can also see various time travellers and world jumpers from various worlds and timelines pass through here as well, though most do not see the Worldscape. As for why Grave was there, she probably wanted to greet you after doing her a large favor. However, you probably wouldn't survive such a greeting, not that she intentionally meant you any harm."

Twilight frowned, "Favor? I did her a favor? What favor?" 

"Why, the Test, of course," Verse said matter of factly.

Twilight's eyes widened as her memories flashed back to the Test. "The other me...she had given everypony immortality. You said she had banished..." Her eyes widened even more, "..Death! You said that the other me had banished Death from her world. And then when I made her undo the spell..."

Verse nodded, "Indeed. That version of you had banished Grave from her world. And, by undoing the spell, you allowed Grave to return and restore the natural order. The only ponies who are allowed to be gifted with immunity to Grave's touch are the alicorns, as that is simply the natural order of things. We Spirits also cannot truly die, but that is for different reasons."

Verse did not bother to elaborate on what those reasons were, but before Twilight or Rainbow Dash could ask, he came to a stop before a small yellow star before them. "We are here. We will find the next Key candidate here in this world." His eyes narrowed, "I'll warn you just this once. This, too, is a dark world of suffering and pain. I don't care what horrid sights you see, do not make me kill another key candidate like last time. You will not like the consequences." His voice was ice cold.

Twilight refused to show him any hint of fear, but she nodded her head in agreement. "I promise not to interfere."

His eyes softened a little bit, "Good. Now let us see if this Rarity is the one I seek... "
.And with that, there was another pop.