//------------------------------//
// Chapter 16: Pain and Possibilities. 
// Story: Vexes of the Multiverse 
// by Crowborn 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 16: Pain and Possibilities


Twilight walked slowly away from the Study. Verse had questioned and talked to her about a multitude of things over the past few hours before finally letting her be on her way. She had also questioned him on several things as well. Some, he answered just fine, others, he would refuse to give a direct answer to, which only increased Twilight's irritation.

As she was about to leave the Library and enter back into the Mansion, she took a pause to look at the endless room around her. It was only then that she had noticed that there were other ponies and creatures in the Library. She spotted several alternate versions of herself and her friends, as well as many other ponies who looked vaguely familiar. There were also several she simply did not recognize. None of them seemed to notice her. All of them seemed busy, either looking for or reading a book. Some even looked lost. Another detail that she noticed was that they also did not seem to notice one another, some even completely walking through one another.

Twilight shook her head. She would investigate the library later. For now, she needed to check up on her friends.

While the mansion was still as confusing as ever, her brain seemed to be slowly mapping the place out, and thus, while she did get lost, she eventually found her way, much faster than any time she had done before.

She made her way back to the bedroom where they were staying. Rarity was in bed, asleep. She needed it, her wounds, though stitched up, were still pretty fresh. Rainbow Dash was fumbling with her bandages. It seems she had taken them off and was now trying to put them back on, but it wasn't working so well. Trixie sat slumped next to Rarity's bed. Her body was shaking slightly. Before Twilight could ask, Rainbow Dash spoke up.

"It's nightmares. Even if she drifts off for a few minutes, she starts screaming and wakes up. What Sombra did to her must have been horrible," Twilight could see the concern in her voice.

Twilight sighed, then grabbed the bandage wrap that Rainbow Dash was fumbling with, and began to help her. 

Trixie spoke up, "It was horrible....he beat me...and then he put a nightmare in my head...and i--" she choked with tears beginning to form. Twilight waited to see if she would say more, but she did not.
"Well, you are both safe from Sombra and that other me. They will never be able to hurt you again. You are safe here," Twilight said in a gentle voice.

Trixie flinched a bit and wiped her eyes. "But how can the Great and Powerful Trixie trust a changeling like you? Your kind is known for deceit..."

Twilight didn't answer, instead she focused on finishing wrapping Rainbow Dash's bandages.

She then heard Trixie sigh. "Trixie is sorry that she--I said that. She is not used to seeing her rival as a changeling."

While Twilight had been slightly irritated by Trixie's earlier racism, she could tell that the made was genuinely sorry.

"And I am not used to seeing 'the Great and Powerful Trixie' apologising," she replied. Trixie's cheeks reddened just a little bit, before looking down at her hooves. "I guess it's because Trixie isn't so great and powerful after all..."

Rainbow Dash put a hoof on Trixie's shoulder, "Aw, don't be like that. I think you are a great and powerful friend. You tried to save Rarity when you thought she was in danger from us, and you have already saved her life before that. I know the Trixie in my world would never have done that for any pony."

Trixie began to cry silently, bit there was a smile on her face.

Twilight decided it was time to change the subject. "Verse is currently looking for two  suitable worlds to test you with, he says it will take a bit, but who knows how long that will be?"

"Wait, two suitable worlds? Why does Rarity need two tests?" asked Rainbow Dash.
Twilight sighed, "One world is for Rarity to be tested in, the other is for you, Dash." 

Rai bow Dash's eyes widened, "Me? Why me?" Twilight gave a nervous look, "A-Aparently, by saving you, I changed you enough that you display the traits he was looking for in a key..." 

"Wait, wait, wait!! Tests? Keys? Can somebody tell Trixie what is going on here?" Trixie asked as she stood up.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash spent the next few minutes filling her in. After they had finished explaining to the best of their ability, Trixie frowned.

"Now Trixie is even more confused..." she said, rubbing her temples with her hoof 
."Join the club," Twilight said with a chuckle.

Trixie then looked up, "Does this mean Trixie is a Key Candidate or whatever?" Twilight slowly shook her head. "I doubt it. Verse said that each of the Keys were one of the Mane Six, meaning AppleJack, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and myself."
.Trixie only nodded, "That's a relief....almost. I just don't understand why he picked Rarity, or Rainbow Dash, or you. Will we be able to go home?"

Twilight frowned, " He has promised to return us back to our own timelines and worlds once we finish the tasks he needs us to do..."

"Oh,"

Before the conversation could continue any further, Trixie's stomach began to growl. Twilight noticed that she was getting hungry as well.

"Wanna go get something to eat? Rarity should be fine, she needs her rest," Twilight offered.

Trixie thought about it for a moment before finally giving in. "Trixie is tired as well, but she could use some food." Rainbow Dash then hugged them both, "Great, cuz I am hungry too!"

As they ate, Trixie spoke up, "So what is up with that Verse guy, or whatever?" Twilight shrugged. Rainbow Dash then also chimed in, "Yeah, what is up with him?"

Twilight finished chewing her food, "I honestly don't know. He says he is a Spirit, like Discord, whatever that means, and that he wants to enter the Prime Universe or whatever, using us 'keys'. But Discord told us that we shouldn't let him do that. He's a cold, heartless jerk, yet he seems to also be a very reasonable person. I know he values us 'keys' more then anything, and that seems to be our only bargaining chip against him. He also claims to be more powerful than all the changeling queens and alicorn princesses combined, but I can't tell if he is boasting or actually serious. I also can't tell if he is a bad person or not. He does an awful thing one moment, then a kind and generous one the next. It is so confusing."

Trixie frowned, "Well he can't be all that good, he threatened to erase Trixie from existence!"

"He is also the one who provided the second bed for you and Rarity and the bandages for Rainbow Dash. And he always make sure we are fed and in good health, even when Rainbow Dash wasn't a 'Key Candidate'." explained Twilight.

Rainbow Dash fidgeted, "I'm more worried about these tests that he keeps mentioning. Do they hurt? Are we going to be okay?"

Twilight gave a supportive smile, " Don't worry, I am sure you both will do fine. And even if something happens, I will always support you."

Twilight mentally sighed in relief upon seeing her friend relax a bit. She wasn't certain about these tests either, but she was not about to let her worry cause her friends to lose confidence. She knew they would be needing it in the days to come.