//------------------------------// // Titan's Tower (The Immortal Game, Part 3) // Story: The League of Sweetie Belles // by GMBlackjack //------------------------------// It took all of Empyrean’s self-control not to scream in panic when Master General Twilight Sparkle broke down the door to his throne room. “GUARDS! KILL HER!” At least they were loyal, puppet and truepony alike. They charged, firing off spells, summoning weapons, and hacking with all their energy. They were nothing. All it took was one burst of flame from Havocwing to decimate their ranks and leave them scrambling for breath. “Heh. Thank General Esteem for me later, would ya?” “He’s dead,” Rarity deadpanned. “Oh.” Havocwing looked to Empyrean. “Then you can tell him when you get to hell!” Her mane twisted into a dark red flame and her eyes narrowed into slits. “Or maybe I’ll have Twilight here imprison you in your own mind… Does that sound fun, PRINCE?!” Empyrean trembled. “I… am Empyrean! I will not be bested by mere mortals! There is nothing you can do to me—not with your spells, not even with my sister!” He pointed at Pathos with his wing. “You were father’s newest creation. And now you betray him.” “...I hope, with time, that you and he will come to forgive me…” Pathos breathed. “Forgive?! FORGIVE!? Father is a jealous, vindictive god. He will punish you until you change and you must live with what you’ve done here today!” He spread his wings, eyes lighting with the power of the sun itself. “Perish for daring to stand before me!” “Do we even need to do the thing?” Velvet asked. “He’s so scared I could probably take him by myself!” Twilight considered this. Dare they try to beat Empyrean with just the resources they had at their disposal? They had defeated Pathos, though she had been an alicorn at least an order of magnitude lower in power. Empyrean had Celestia’s—could they do it? Empyrean cast a beam of sunlight at Velvet that tore through her chest and came out the other end. Her bloody tendrils stitched herself back together. “You can’t beat me…” “But he could kill one of us, easily.” Twilight said. “We can’t risk that.” “Light him up, girls!” “NO!” Empyrean bellowed, summoning his blade and sending it at Twilight’s chest. “DIE!” Celia intercepted the blade with her razor-top, batting it away. “Not today!” Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow, and Fluttershy all rose into the air, glowing with the rainbows of Harmony. The familiar sight of a rainbow ran through the Elements around their necks, forming a brilliant shimmer of hope and light. Empyrean tried in vain to stop the incoming multicolored burst, but his attack was effortlessly tossed aside like a child’s toy. “No! No no no! Father! Save me! Sa—” His voice cut short as his magic left him. He was soon reduced to nothing more than a simple, magicless pony with no horn or wings. He was no more than a foal. Maybe five or six years old. Havocwing deflated. “Well, great, that takes all the fun out of killing him.” “What now?” Grayscale asked, Twilight finished managing Empyrean’s magic and opened her eyes. “Now, we wait. Either Logos will be forced to reveal himself, or Titan will grace us with his presence.” ~~~ Insipid felt the Sliver of Darkness of darkness hit her in the head and absorb into her skull. The effect was almost immediate. One moment, she was the master of her body and Shadow was along for the ride. The next, the Other appeared, driving Insipid into the recesses of her mind. The smile on Insipid’s body vanished as the Other took over, fixing Terra with a disinterested, almost apathetic expression. “Like, no!” Insipid shouted, only able to speak through Shadow’s body. “Hey… looks like I got my body back…” Shadow chuckled weakly. “She’s got my body! That… Umbra!” “Stop shouting… you make it hurt more…” Terra set Shadow’s body on the ground. “You,” she pointed at the thing in Insipid’s body. “Kill this.” The Other sighed. “Why? You do it. It’ll be easier.” “Because I am your queen and you will do as I say!” “Fine…” The Other held out a hoof, intending to vaporize Shadow’s body with fire. “...Huh. She released the powers. Go figure.” “Then take the Void from her and kill her with it! It’s not that complicated!” “Oh.” The Other slapped herself in the face. Terra cocked her head. “What are you…?” “Shadow’s using the mental connection,” the Other reported as she tried - and failed - not to slap herself again. “Can’t cut it. Running through Insipid.” “Try!” “Fine…” “I’ll show you try!” Insipid grunted. Together, they jumped the Other’s mind and forced Insipid’s body into a seizure as three minds attempted to rule over it. Terra frowned. “I’ll just vaporize both of you, then…” It was at this moment Twilight finished sending Empyrean’s power back to where it belonged. Celestia. The massive white alicorn of the sun stood to her full height, wounds healing in a matter of seconds. She looked down at Terra with a contemptuous expression. In the split-second it took Terra to notice Celestia’s rediscovered power, the Princess of the Sun had driven Zenith into Terra’s heart and tackled her to the ground. “Use Terra’s power to drive the demon out!” Celestia shouted, allowing herself to take serious damage in order to keep Terra still. Exogenesis flew wild as Terra screamed, plunging into Celestia’s body in several places. Celestia did her best to defend herself with Zenith, but keeping Terra still came first for now. Shadow used her body’s magic to levitate the seizing Insipid’s onto Terra’s left back leg. Both the Other and Insipid wanted her power back now, so it wasn’t difficult to obtain. “I’ll win now,” the Other said, using Terra’s power to create thorns on her hoof, pointing them at Celestia. “Actually…” Shadow said. “...We win now!” Insipid added. Both minds worked as one to distract the Other. As its mind reeled, Insipid grabbed hold of Terra’s power and acted upon the Sliver of Darkness, forcing it—and the Other—out of her mind. “I’m back, baby!” Insipid sang. A shard of Exogenesis embedded itself in her chest, but Terra’s power healed that quickly. “...You suck.” “Heal Shadow!” Celestia grunted as her own healing factor regrew the lower half of her leg. “She can’t have leverage!” “On it!” Insipid said, bringing Shadow up, copying her Void power while she was at it. “Done!” Shadow severed the mental connection. “Now we can fight…” Celestia teleported herself away from Terra at this point. She was currently regrowing her back hoof, her body covered in bloody, dripping lesions, and her face swollen. But she was smiling. Terra scowled. “Why can you only feel joy at the suffering of your mother?” “Why do you feel joy at the suffering of your daughter?” Celestia brought Zenith together. Terra tried to raise Exogenesis, but Insipid stole it. “You can’t beat me on your own,” Celestia stated. “You definitely can’t beat me and yourself.” Terra scowled. She spread her wings, ready to flee. “Unacceptable,” Shadow said, tying Terra to the ground with four chains of Void. “MORTAL!” Terra screamed, driving her hoof toward Shadow. Insipid used Exogenesis to cut the hoof off, throwing Terra off balance. She flopped to the ground, grunting. “Burn her until her magic runs dry,” Celestia said, creating a miniature sun and engulfing Terra in it’s light. For a moment, it looked like Terra would be able to stand against the might of the sun. Insipid rose thorns out of the earth laced with burning toxins, puncturing Terra’s body from every conceivable angle. She could do little more than howl with rage. “Shadow…” Celestia said through gritted teeth. “Your essence reminds me of Twilight Sparkle. She had the potential to take power out of alicorns and move it elsewhere. Can you?” “An excellent idea. Its reality remains to be seen.” Shadow focused her magic on Terra and forced her magic loose—easy to access now that she was laid bare. It took significant effort to overcome the natural fixation the magic had with its Mother Nature, but using a spell inspired by Insipid’s copy magic, she was able to shunt the magic out of Terra and into Insipid without copying it. When the smoke cleared a diminutive green alicorn remained with no more magic than a normal pony. Insipid looked herself over. “I don’t really feel any different, Shadow.” “The power was redundant, your magic cancelled it out automatically,” Shadow said, releasing her spell. “Oh. Well. Guess I’ll never sprout wings then, huh?” “Probably not, given the way your power works.” Shadow turned to Celestia. “I extend my appreciation and thanks.” Celestia nodded. “We must go to Canterlot. The war is not won.” “You will never win!” Terra hissed. “Titan—” “Is not here,” Celestia said. “It is just Pathos and Logos. And they are no match for me.” “What do we do with her?” Shadow asked. “...We shall take her with us, imprisoned of course.” Celestia encased Terra in a ball of yellow magic. “And we see what awaits us at the capital. We must fly.” “...I could probably teleport us back,” Shadow said. “Just give me a minute to activate the long-range spell.” Celestia stared at her blankly. “I appear to be breaking a local law of magic. I will explain at a more opportune time how the spell works, for now, just let me work…” ~~~ Had Titan come to Canterlot, he would have crashed through the ceiling without a care for the damage he caused. Logos, however, had more respect for the Palace than that. He walked in through the front doors. “Greetings, rebels.” “Logos…” Pathos said, narrowing her eyes. “S-silvertongue…?” Havocwing stammered. Twilight fixed the tall, silver alicorn with a critical expression. “You are larger than Pathos’ memories show. You were the one who took her energy.” Pathos gasped. “A clever series of spells—you’d be surprised how much you could derive from Starlight Shadow.” Logos allowed his smile to widen. “Now, let’s cut to the chase.” He waved a hoof. Fluttershy flopped to the ground, unconscious. “Fluttershy!” Rarity shouted. “What did you do to her!?” “Mild neurotoxin. She’ll be fine, if you cooperate,” Logos stated. “I had her surrounded in defenses…” Twilight growled. “And I used a completely non-magical method of injection. A small dart, through the ear canal and into the brain. Microscopic, innocuous enough that it was allowed through the barrier along with the air she breathes. And like that, that precious weapon of yours is useless.” “That’s right! Kill them, brother!” Empyrean shouted. “I grow tired of your childish whining,” Logos muttered, waving a hoof. Empyrean fell asleep. “That was just a sleep spell, if you’re curious.” “We can take you,” Velvet growled. “We did it once, we can do it again…” “And that brings me to my next question.” He turned to Havocwing. “You said Silvertongue. Is that the name this essence took previously?” “Eh… what?” “I’m addressing the invisible Curaçao,” Logos said. “Am I Silvertongue?” Curaçao revealed herself, standing a short ways behind him. “...You ‘ave ‘is face, ‘is tone, but not ‘is memories or plan.” “But we are related. It’s always good when a deduction turns out to be true.” He seemed quite pleased with himself. “I will have to assume you know more of me than I know of myself, which is curious. But I also know you were barely able to face Pathos.” He interrupted Twilight’s spell before it could even think about completing. “And I have the power of both her and myself.” “And a million backup plans,” Pathos breathed. “Precisely!” Logos grinned. “In fact, you are about to see one now, if my magic sense is working properly…” Celestia crashed through the ceiling, Zeinith poised to cut off Silvertongue’s head. The moment she arrived, a dark portal opened up and swallowed her whole. “Celestia!” Pathos screamed. “I do hope she enjoys company with her sister,” Silvertongue chuckled. “It really is quite easy to seal power. I could do it with anyone.” Insipid, Shadow, and Terra fell out of the sky shortly thereafter now that Celestia was gone. “Logos…” Terra said, looking around at all the frozen, uncertain ponies. “You have won?” “Despite Pathos’ betrayal, it appears I have, mother,” Logos said. “I find myself wondering why you did not attempt to simply seal unwanted alicorns away prior to my time.” “Titan’s will.” “Yes. Quite. Well, he isn’t here right now, so I shall make do,” Logos said, simply. “And look, the family’s reunited!” Curaçao pulled Insipid into a hug. “And before you get any ideas about having Insipid touch me and gain my powers through some kind of disguise, be warned that I have a barrier of pain surrounding me that will initiate near brian-death. Not actual death, you understand, for I do believe Titan would be interested in harvesting all of you for your interesting magic, and I believe there is much to learn from these Elements of Harmony.” “We do not need to touch you,” Curaçao breathed. Logos frowned, noting that there were six of the otherworldly sisters. He performed a check, relieved to find that there were no Elements of any sort on them. No secret weapon. And then the Elements of Pandemonium activated anyway, for their power was within the six dark ponies, not stuck inside some silly, tacky necklaces. A beam of gray energy shot from the Mean Six and hit Logos directly in the chest. He grunted as the power pushed him—but he stood fast. “Is this… what defeated your ‘Silvertongue’?” He smirked. “This is not the energy to defeat gods! This is nothing more than a simple paradox!” He summoned his blade, a hauntingly eerie rod of pure white. “This is Purity, and with it you end.” Insipid met it with Exogenesis. “So, uh, fun fact! We beat Silvertongue because I had the power of a ‘god’ or whatever. Which I currently have! So, like, bye~!” She sent a beam of green energy at Logos. He defended with a shield of his own. “C-clever. But I—” “Non,” Curaçao declared. “You are not Silvertongue. You are a poor shadow. You do not ‘ave ‘is patience. You are young and don’t know what to do wiz zat mind of yours. Silvertongue would not ‘ave revealed ‘imself until ‘e ‘ad all the information.” “You were cocky,” Havocwing growled. “And now we get to kill you a third time.” Logos activated a complex series of spells laid in the ground of the main hall, creating a spike of magic that went for Curaçao. Celia teleported in and bashed it to the side with her razor-top. “Nice try.” Cinder pointed up at Logos. “You already had your chance at being the big bad! You were defeated! You don’t get to do it again—you are going to be defeated right here, right now, absolutely. You don’t get to reclaim what Silvertongue lost!” Logos sneered. “I wil—” Pathos held Replete to Logos’ neck. “You won’t.” She placed a hoof on his head, forcing the two of them into a delirious empathic state. His defenses dropped and the Elements of Pandemonium began to burn his flesh away. “Twilight!” Shadow shouted. “Take his power into yourself!” Twilight stared at her. “Tha—” “JUST DO IT!” Twilight tapped into Logos’ magic, finding it was easy to take with Pathos there. Using a method similar to what Logos had used to drain Pathos, she shunted all the power into herself. All the Elements of Harmony gasped—even Fluttershy, who was shaken awake by the sudden influx of power. Master General Twilight Sparkle rose into the air, white light surrounding her as her form grew in size, shifting into a proper alicorn—wings and all. Twilight stared at her wings in shock. Shadow smirked. “You’re welcome.” “You speak as though this is normal.” “Twilights regularly ascend,” Shadow said. “I likely could procure a method of doing so for myself, if it were not more impressive to remain a unicorn.” Twilight nodded, stretching her wings. “This will do.” “So awesome!” Rainbow and Pinkie shouted at the same time. “Um… yay?” Fluttershy cocked her head. “I don’t know what just happened.” Logos fell from the air, a simple alicorn of similar size to Terra and Pathos. “...I have lost.” He turned to Twilight. “It is in my best interests t—” Curaçao jumped him and snapped his neck. Silence filled the great hall. “‘e may ‘ave been young, but ‘e was still Silvertongue,” Curaçao said. “We could not let ‘im speak.” “Understood,” Twilight said, turning to Terra. “You will be our source of information.” “I will tell you nothing!” Terra shouted. “You will, in time,” Celestia said, erupting from a black hole in the ground, dragging Luna along behind her. “For you have lost, mother.” “Titan lives.” “We have both sets of Elements, there’s nothing he could possibly do!” Rainbow laughed. “And we’ve got… what, four alicorns now?” “I don’t really count,” Pathos pointed out. “I’m sure we can find some source of power for you,” Cinder chirped. “I will tell you nothing,” Terra growled. “You don’t have to,” Pathos said, lifting a hoof. “I can just take it from you.” “N… No! You can’t! Y—” Pathos touched her hoof to Terra’s head, forcing an empathic connection. Both of their eyes were blank as information passed between the two of them. “...I wonder what they’re thinkin’ about,” Applejack said. “Horrors past and present,” Curaçao answered. Terra slapped Pathos away a minute later. “You were a traitor from the moment you were born!” There were tears in Pathos’ eyes. “...He broke you… Mother, I am so, so sorry…” “Ingrate,” Terra spat, turning away. “...Does it all tie back to Titan?” Celestia asked Pathos. Pathos nodded. “He… he used to be named Order. There was another as well, Harmony, who… well, the Elements sure seem like something she’d create.” “I have never heard of a Harmony,” Luna pointed out. “Titan killed her before your time,” Pathos explained, turning to Twilight. “If he killed Harmony, the Elements may not work on him,” Twilight deduced. “All together, we may have enough power to brute-force him,” Celestia suggested. “Three alicorns, two sets of Elements, and mares of unusual powers…” She turned to Twilight, examining her wings. “How are you…” “I am adjusting fine, Celestia,” Twilight said. “We will resolve our differences later. For now, Titan. Pathos, where is he?” “He left the universe,” Pathos answered. “Trusting the conquest of Canterlot to Terra and Logos. He sought answers, though I don’t know of what kind.” “How did he leave?” Curaçao asked. “Dimensional travel is not easy.” “Presumably he followed whatever brought Logos and myself here. I don’t know who exactly it was, but I saw that it was a pony.” “Looks like we found Mustard,” Velvet said, raising a hoof. “Lemme guess, probably dead?” “Probably,” Pathos admitted. “Terra thinks so, anyway. Likely through destructive absorption of the brain.” “So Titan knows everything Mustard does, or at least we have to assume that,” Shadow frowned. “...And he’s looking for answers.” “How do we find him?” Rainbow asked. “He’s clearly not coming here.” “He likely has no idea what’s happening,” Luna said. “For all we know, he may never return, lost in other worlds.” “If we had a connection to him, we could trace his movement,” Celia said. “Is there anything that would be strongly associated with his magic on a personal level?” Celestia frowned. “Terra, perhaps, but her magic has been scrambled.” “I’ll make some calls,” Allure said. “I’m sure I can get a science team in here to find his dimensional signature. If all else fails, time shenanigans.” “...Time shenanigans?” Luna asked. “Time shenanigans.” ~~~ Suzie wished Celia were here. That wasn’t out of some emotional attachment she needed fulfilled, either. Or, at least, that was only a very small part of it. The fact of the matter was that Suzie hated politics and whenever something big came up she always relied on Celia to take care of it—or she shouted at it. Shouting sometimes helped. Shouting never helped when it was the Merodi politics she had to deal with. “Would everyone kindly BE QUIET!?” Overhead Evening shouted, tapping into the Royal Canterlot Voice. The cacophony of voices talking in the main meeting room of the warship Andesite quieted down from her outburst. “This isn’t your purview,” a short gray alien pointed out: Thor, Second of Military. “You are Relations, Evening. This Titan is a Military and Research matter. You just happened to be here.” “Thor, while I see that, I—” “Please refrain from speaking as if you are the authority,” a synthetic voice said. Suzie easily recognized it as the Research Overhead—a robot without a formal designation, known as the R.O. in casual conversation. He was humanoid, though he had a glassy head filled with sparks like reddish stars instead of a face. “You are in an advisory capacity at best.” Suzie wished Corona was here instead of her boss. That would make things go much smoother. Eve ruffled her wings and held a solid gaze with her equal. “Seeing as my goal of getting everyone to quiet down has been met, go ahead and take control of the meeting. You are correct in your assertions, after all.” The R.O.’s sparks flashed in annoyance. “I need no permission.” He continued without waiting for a response. “Titan proved to be a much larger threat than anticipated, destroying eleven separate ships and killing one hundred and seven different individuals despite the best efforts to evacuate and heal. It seems as though he appeared from nowhere, stole two members of the League of Sweetie Belles, and then reminded us that sometimes raw power has its uses.” The R.O. took a moment to direct his gaze at everyone around the table. “Subsequent interviews with a revitalized Doctor Sweetaloo Blume revealed that he was searching for answers and is currently en route to the Dark Tower.” “Then he’s gone and we don’t have to deal with him anymore,” a Gem called from the back of the room. “We have to deal with him!” Suzie shouted. “He’s a—” “Self-proclaimed villain,” the R.O. interrupted. “We are well aware of the contents of the Sweetaloo interviews, Colonel Mash. Please do not reiterate useless information.” Thor frowned. “R.O., she was stating a needed opinion.” “Do you agree that we should pursue him? It is what he wishes.” “I disagree, but voices must be heard.” Thor turned to Suzie. “You understand that he is hoping to bend fate to his will, yes? If we seek revenge, we mark him as the enemy, and he may live to get the answers he desires. If we let him go…” “He could return,” Suzie pointed out. “We do not know what he is. Research is required,” the R.O. said. “And how are you doing on that?” Eve asked. A large screen displaying a colorful ‘G’ dropped from the ceiling, indicating that the Artificial Intelligence Gillion from Earth Shimmer had decided to pay a visit. “Success. Titan’s blade spell was identified as similar to the spell of The Sweetie Belle.” “We have no idea where she is,” Suzie pointed out. “You should kn—” “Allure was recently called out to investigate a world where the name ‘Allure’ originated,” GIllion interrupted. “Minimal reports, many temporarily classified, but the Elements of Pandemonium are currently in operation there with Cinder and Celia. In case it is not obvious, this is a bizarre coincidence indicative of a larger ka-phenomenon.” “Call them,” the R.O. ordered. “I knew there was something more,” Suzie said. “I—” “Call the League of Sweetie Belles as well,” the R.O. said. “We may have need for expertise.” “I am expertise!” Suzie waved her hands. “Founder! I met The Sweetie Belle! If this has something to do with her, I—” “You are biased and angry,” the R.O. pointed out. “She is also integral to the current moment,” Gillion retorted. “Don’t dismiss her.” The R.O. had to take a moment to process this. “...How are panic levels?” Eve asked, breaking the silence. “Manageable,” the R.O. reported. “It may be advisable to swap out to military ships that have not encountered Titan already…” ~~~ Allure’s communicator rang before she had even dialed the first number. With a shrug, she held it to her ear. “Hello?” “This is Gillion, Research Division. I am speaking to Allure, League of Sweetie Belles, yes?” “Yep!” Allure reported. “What seems to be the problem?” “Do you know of a black alicorn named Titan?” Allure let out a soft chuckle. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I do know about Titan.” Everyone in the hall turned to stare at her. “Why do you ask?” “Titan has destroyed eleven Merodi Military vessels and is currently heading for the Dark Tower. I have no authority to order you back, but we need the information you carry.” “Uh, I think we’ll be right there. Send the location to the League so they can direct us.” Allure hung up the phone. “So! I found Titan!” “And?” Twilight asked. “Don’t know much, but if they’re right he’s currently preoccupied with something a little… big at the moment. He’s going for the Dark Tower, a quest that never ends as people expect.” Celestia frowned. “What is this… Dark Tower?” “The center of the multiverse and arguably the reason for all things?” Celestia nodded. “That makes sense. Naturally, when provided with proof that he is not the beginning and the end of all things, he will try to find it. Wouldn’t you say, mother?” Terra grumbled. “He has abandoned this world for his own personal quest,” Celestia pushed. “I would not be surprised if he never returned.” “He’ll move on to bigger, better things,” Luna agreed. “...And he’ll get his plot handed to him on a silver platter,” Celia finished. “The Tower doesn’t screw around. Getting to it is often a journey of many lives that messes you up big time.” “We still have to stop him,” Cinder said. Pinkie cocked her head. “Why? He’s leaving us alone and it sounds like this Big Bad Tower is going to take care of him for us!” “Not you,” Cinder said, shaking her head. “Your world is safe, that’s what you need to worry about. We—the Sweeties and travelers—have to worry about the multiverse. How much do you think he will destroy in his quest for the Tower?” “As much as he thinks is necessary,” Celestia answered. Allure nodded. “Well, they want us back, so we should probably get going. Don’t worry about us, we’ll have the entire army at our disposal this time. Curaçao, you coming?” Curaçao nodded. “We are.” “It was great working with you guys!” Velvet said. “But now we’re gonna go and let you deal with…” She gestured at the awkward glares Celestia and Twilight were giving each other. “That.” Applejack sighed, stepping forward. “Thanks for your help. We couldn't have done all this without you.” “All in a day’s work,” Havocwing said. “You attacked us for most of it,” Celia pointed out. “I got better!” “I’m coming with you,” Pathos declared. Cinder looked at her. “Are you sure?” “This world… this world isn’t mine. I was brought here and changed by Titan. I’m not connected to here, I’m connected to Him.” She glanced at Terra. “And you might need somepony who knows what she does. What Titan used to be.” “Which is…?” Curaçao asked. “Boring order instead of violent, regimented order.” Velvet gasped. “B-boring order!?” She shivered like she’d just heard something from a horror story. Cinder rolled her eyes. “It was nice getting to know you guys! Maybe we’ll be back some day, but right now we’ve gotta go hunt down a Titan.” Allure tossed Twilight a communicator and a multiversal introduction pamphlet. “In case you need anything.” Twilight nodded. “Thank you, otherworlders. You have fought by our side and freed our world. We wish you luck in facing Titan in your realm.” “It’s our territory,” Allure said with a smirk. “We’ve got the advantage.” She kicked up her dimensional device and opened a portal. “Come on Sweeties, Elements, Pathos!” “See you, Fluttershy!” Cinder waved. Everyone piled through, leaving the Elements of Harmony and the alicorns of the world behind. Only Pathos entered with them. They appeared on the street of Celestia City outside the League of Sweetie Belles, with a decent stream of Sweeties flowing in an out. Pathos stared at the Sweetie activity, dumbfounded. “You get used to it,” Cinder said with a chuckle. “I’m going to get the details from Nausicaa,” Allure said, tapping her metal horn. “Wait here.” The Elements of Pandemonium, Cinder, Celia, and Pathos waited, watching the flow of Sweeties that showed no signs of stopping. Insipid decided to summon Exogenesis. “I like this sword…” “You could make your own, you know,” Pathos commented. “Every unicorn can summon a blade with enough practice. Even if you didn’t have her power.” “Shadow? Think I could do that?” “Maybe,” Shadow admitted. “Though it’s an immensely complex spell, and you’re still trying to learn how to fire basic lasers.” “But I could! Yes! Oh, what should I name it when I get it? I can be like your Rarity, something nonsensical but cool! Vorapl!” “You just swapped some letters around,” Grayscale commented. “Isn’t it great?” Havocwing groaned. “We could name it Tom,” Velvet suggested. “No!” Celia shrieked. “Not Tom!” Stepping away from the group’s chat, Cinder walked up to Curaçao. “Hey.” Curaçao nodded in greeting but said nothing. “What are you thinking about?” “Our experiences.” “You too, huh?” Cinder’s smile faltered. “...We messed some things up in there. Twilight… Terra… it felt like everything went wrong.” “Was zat us, or Logos and Pathos? Zey were not supposed to be zere eizer.” Cinder frowned. “I don’t know. It’s just… I feel like we ended it for them early. They never get their confrontation with Titan. But did we save lives? Terra and Empyrean are alive, they might have been dead if things continued. Would they have ever known Terra’s past? Would Twilight have even ascended?” Cinder tapped her hoof, annoyed at something she wasn’t sure about. Curaçao shook her head. “We cannot keep second-guessing ourselves. We do what seems right in ze moment, zat is all we can do. And zen…” Curaçao shrugged. “I do not know. You see what ‘is’ and ‘should’ much better zan I do.” “Yeah…” Cinder frowned, glancing back at Celia. “They—my team, I dunno about yours—they don’t think about what could have been. Only what is. Probably better, in the long run.” She rubbed her head. “I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.” Curaçao smiled. “Neizer do I, Cinder. Everyzing is too large to see at once. I do not envy ze burden of ze Overheads.” “Oh boy…” “Got it!” Allure shouted, jumping out of the League doors. “We’re going to the Universe Generator!” “Of course,” Cinder said. ~~~ Eve found Suzie stress eating in one of the ships’ mess halls, shoveling plate after plate of cheese and crackers into her mouth. “Want to talk about it?” Eve asked, sitting down at the table without waiting for a response. Suzie frowned. “Do I have a choice?” “You do, but I am still the Princess of Friendship under all these Overhead titles.” She leaned back, her sparkling mane hanging over the back of the chair. Suzie sighed. “Celia’s coming back. Is back, talking to the meeting about Titan now. And here I am, hiding in the mess hall, dreading looking at her.” “How bad was the falling out?” “I was being a hu—” “I didn’t ask if it was your fault, I asked how bad it was.” “...Bad enough that I told her to get off my ship.” Eve winced slightly. “Ouch.” “Then I asked her to come back and… she said I needed this. She was right, I did, and now I—” Eve put a gentle wing on Suzie. “Suzie, please stop worrying about whose fault it was and who was in the right. Maybe one of you was right, maybe one of you was wrong, it shouldn’t matter. Friends don’t need to keep score on each other. If you think you were wrong you should apologize, but you shouldn’t dwell on it to find some justification for the way you’re feeling.” Suzie looked at the ground. “You know the story of me and Flutterfree, right?” “You betrayed each other at the exact same time in Them’s little Hunger Games.” Twilight nodded. “And how do you think we got past that?” “Eve, you tell this all the time to e—” “We worked, together, to patch up the relationship. We worked hard. We went out of our way to spend time with one another, talk about what happened, and move past it. Now we are best friends and rarely far from each other for long.” Eve paused. “This is usually where I turn to wave at her, but she’s on a mission right now, so…” Suzie blinked. “Hold on a minute…” “Hmm?” “You’re not just talking to me about the falling out.” “Oh, I am. Just… not the one where you told her to get off ‘your’ ship. I’m thinking about the one where she bonded with an ancient sea-demon and ruined your trust. But the lessons apply to both.” Suzie frowned. “We… we weren’t even really trying to fix it, were we?” Eve shrugged. “Don’t play dumb with me.” “It’s better if I don’t come right out and say things you need to come to on your own, and you know it.” Suzie sighed, sitting back. “You don’t just fix trust by willing it back, Suzie. It has to be reforged through pain, friendship, and no small amount of effort.” She tilted Suzie’s face up with her wing. “But I’m sure you can do it.” “Evening Sparkle, master of the Friendship Speech.” Eve smiled sadly. “I dunno. Sparky was pretty good too.” Suzie let out a short laugh. “Yeah… yeah, she was.” The two of them sat back in their chairs, taking a moment to just breathe. “...Think we should check in on the meeting?” Suzie asked, eventually. Eve snorted. “We’re not exactly welcome there. I’m sure Allure’s doing a good job telling them what’s what.” “Lucky dog.” “Pony.” Suzie rolled her eyes. “You can be remarkably petty and childish for the face of Merodi Universalis.” Eve smirked. “I have to get my fun somewhere.” Both of their phones rang—receiving a simple text. We’re going after Titan. “Allure works fast,” Eve commented. “Sometimes, I can’t believe she’s the same filly who I watched get stuck in that tree sap over and over.” “Ponies change,” Suzie said. She stood up to leave—shocked to find Celia standing right there. Celia coughed. “Okay, so, I was hasty and angry earlier, and I’m sorry f—” Suzie pulled her into a hug, surprising the Gem with the strength of it. “Wh-okay then!” Celia laughed. “I guess this was more effective than I thought!” “I’m sorry too,” Suzie said, holding her back. “...We need to work through this. I need to know you so I can trust you.” “Wanna help me go hunt down an overpowered alicorn OC?” “Heck yes.” ~~~ Titan stepped into an interdimensional bar. The Sunset at the counter didn’t recognize him, so she waved. “Hello! Welcome to Sunset’s Isekai. Need a drink?” Titan shook his head. “I have no need of such drinks, though your offer is acknowledged.” “Ah…” the Sunset’s face twisted into a few different confused states before it settled on a friendly smile once more. “I have other things I can serve, or we could just talk.” “I seek the Dark Tower,” Titan said. “Do you know how to reach it?” “Well…” she pulled a Merodi pamphlet out of one of the bar’s drawers, reading through it with mild confusion in her features. “Center of the multiverse?” “I need specifics,” Titan said, turning to the other patrons of the bar. “Do any of you know of the Dark Tower?” The ponies of the bar looked at him like he wasn’t making sense. This was to be expected—they were all mortals, and few of them would have ever encountered anything of his majesty. The bartender seemed barely aware that the Dark Tower was a thing. He determined that this place was of no benefit and moved to leave. “I got something for ya, big guy,” a human child in a frilly red dress said. Upon examining her, Titan discovered she most definitely was not a child—her brain was far too developed and the levels of magic in her were on par with a small alicorn. Not a threat, but she wasn’t to be dismissed either. “I am Titan. Who are you?” “Vita, Time Space Administration Bureau.” She smirked as she ran her finger along the top of a wine glass. “Looking for the Tower, are we?” “Yes.” “Just a manifestation or the real deal?” “The ‘real deal’, as you put it. I seek answers.” “Well, you could always dial all-zeros on any standardized dimensional device. That’ll do it.” “That has proven inadequate.” Vita chuckled. “Where were you sent? An empty universe? Back to the start of your journey? A world filled with nothing but the Knights Who Say Ni? ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’?” “A world of endless chaos,” Titan said, careful to keep his features even. “Ah, like things ordered, do you?” Vita folded her arms. “Regardless, you probably should have figured out that the Tower likes messing with you at this point. Everyone who searches for it goes through unspeakable things, even if they do eventually reach it at the end.” “Have you seen it?” Vita nodded. “Never entered it. But when you spend enough time with Nanoha, you have to see it. I’ve seen both manifestations and its true form. Most of those experiences I can’t exactly describe as ‘pleasant’.” “I care not for comfort. I simply wish to enter it.” “You know what? Sure, why not, I’ll help.” With a dumb smirk she pulled out a magical device and transmitted the cooridnates of a universe to Titan’s horn. “That’s a universe where it manifests in its true form. You’ll see some TSAB science outposts at the outskirts of the roses. But you want the Tower. Have fun!” Titan nodded. He did not thank Vita for the information—she had been far too disrespectful to earn such a boon from him. He left the bar without another word, though as he stood outside its doors he caught a comment Vita directed at the bartender. “I wish I could see the hell he’s about to go through,” Vita laughed. “Pride never lasts long on that road.” Titan kept himself from marching back in and gutting the small mage. It would not do to get the TSAB upset with him at this time. ...The door to the bar also vanished the moment he had those murderous thoughts. It could detect hostile intent. Concerning. But no longer relevant to him. He created a portal to the given coordinates, finding exactly what Vita described—a bunch of TSAB science outposts at the edge of a field of roses. The TSAB outposts themselves were smooth, metallic structures a bit like bunkers, except that they were above the ground. Men and women in white coats walked around, talking amongst themselves like everything was normal. The few who noticed him responded with one of two things: an eye-roll or a deep “not again” sigh. Titan kept his expression level and walked toward the field of roses, ignoring the looks he was getting. There was a small gate at the edge of the field—an almost laughable obstacle. There was an orange-haired human woman sitting to the side of the gate. She lowered a magazine she was reading—Device Duality—and adjusted her glasses. Her name tag said ‘Window’ on it. Titan’s curiosity got the better of him. “...Window?” “When your name is Nanoha Takamachi, you get a nickname. Mine’s because of my glasses,” she deadpanned, blowing a bubble of bubblegum to punctuate the sentence. “Yes, I am an alternate version of her. No, I’ve never met her. Now that that’s out of the way, how can I help you?” Titan had never met someone so disinterested in speaking to him. “I seek the Tower.” “Your funeral.” Window pressed a button, opening the gate. “Have fun.” “Does this happen often?” “About once a local month someone gets the coordinates to this universe,” Window said, returning to her magazine. “Happens so often I need to be here so the brainiacs over there can get some actual data on who goes through. Congratulations, you’re part of an experiment. Blah blah, by walking through this gate you agree to the terms and conditions or whatever.” “Terms and conditions?” “The brainiacs might use your image in their science paper, or something.” She put her hand to the bridge of her nose. “Look, you really shouldn’t care, the Tower’s right there, go galavanting off to it and discover why literally everyone here stays outside the field of roses and does research from afar.” Titan nodded curtly, walking through the gate. He was surprised to find that the roses not only had thorns, but that those thorns were able to pierce his skin and draw blood. He regenerated from the wounds instantly and they were not large, but no simple plant should have been able to do anything to him. Leaning down, he examined the red of the roses, finding the petals to be redder than anything he had ever seen. Likely some kind of mental effect. Picking the rose, he found it to be stronger than any stem he knew of, but he was able to remove it from the soil anyway. These were not roses of substance, soul, or magic. They were of something else. Of the Tower itself. Looking up, he could see the tower. A long cylinder of darkness that rose so high the top could not be seen, if it even existed. From here, it appeared featureless; perfect darkness against the bright sky. Teleporting closer, though, he could make out details. There were doors up the walls—even balconies—that burned with a soft eldritch fire. Every time he looked, they were in different positions. The only thing that remained unchanging was the Tower’s shape, color… and it’s massive double doors. He teleported in front of the doors, his legs healing up the cuts from interacting with the roses. Carefully, he put a hoof on them. They creaked open without much effort. What were those TSAB mages so worried about? This was easy. The Tower might make it difficult for mortals to reach it, but he was a god. It rightfully respected him and granted him access. He walked through the doors… ...and was back at the gate with Window. “Hey, guys!” Window called. “It sent one back again!” Titan narrowed his eyes. So the Tower wished to test him. Very well. He spread his wings and flew over the roses once more, crossing the distance from the gate to the doors in a fraction of a second. Kicking them in. Before he stepped through, he took a moment to look closer. The interior of the Tower was pitch black, but he could sense a staircase inside. He walked in. Suddenly, he was standing in the middle of a field of roses. It was night. In the distance, he saw the Tower. It was so black it made the night sky look pathetic. It was true darkness, a void so stark that it became solid. Not only solid, but everything. Standing so tall and mighty it was the structure that had tendrils in every universe, a hand in every action, an eye on every impossibility. For the first time, Titan felt the power of the Tower bearing down from all sides, carefully managing every tiny detail of what was happening. He knew in that moment that it had been hiding its power from him. He also knew that he couldn’t feel all of it, even now. Titan felt small. However, even this would not deter him. He flew toward the doors once more. “I see your power!” Titan shouted. “I respect it!” Landing in front of the doors, he pushed them open. “But I will not turn back!” He walked through. Laughter. Laughter. The roses surrounded him, laughing endlessly, holding their stems and rocking back and forth. Some of them broke from the laughter and fell to the ground, roaring with amused noises until they shriveled up and died. Titan ignored them. He looked around, finding a golden rose in the middle of the patch. It wasn’t laughing like the others. It was still… important. Vita had mentioned manifestations of the Tower. If the black pillar was its true form, than this golden rose may have been one of those manifestations. He leaned down, looking deep into the folds of the golden rose, continuing to ignore the laughs and scrapes coming from the other roses. “What must I do?” The golden rose shrugged. A sound like massive doors closing met Titan’s ears. He was standing in an empty void of blackness. “Now, why would the Tower send something as obviously tryhard as you to me?” Titan glared at the darkness, making out the shape of a man in black in the endless nothing. “I am Titan, and I seek the Tower.” “Ah, one of those…” The man stepped forward. “I am Randall Flagg. You are not Titan. You are nothing.” Titan lifted his head up. “I am what I am.” “You have never brought a true god to his knees. You have never collapsed a universe as a party trick. You have never tipped a domino that tore a lesion in existence that no one ever forgot. You are nothing close to a titan.” “I am Titan. It is my name.” “Your name is Order!” Flagg hissed. “Titan is just some pathetic title you slapped on to make yourself feel more absolute. That is all it is.” Titan made no response. “You don’t fully realize the danger you’re in, do you?” Flagg asked. “I could kill you in an instant. I won’t—you’re so charmingly pathetic—but I could. Who knows where else the Tower might send you? It has a habit of launching visitors to random locations, making them spend decades crawling back, only to send them somewhere else far, far away… an endless loop.” “I seek answers. I have eternity.” “Abandoning your world so quickly?” A book appeared in Flagg’s hands—The Immortal Game. “They seem to be in a bit of turmoil right now…” “I was the villain there. That world is lost. I am the villain now. I will get answers.” Flagg scowled. “Ka doesn’t appreciate those who exploit it… usually.” “Then let it strike me down. I will seek answers.” Flagg smirked. “I like you.” He clapped his hands, and the double doors of the Tower appeared. “Try again.” Titan did. He appeared in an endless field of roses. The Tower was tall in the distance, its power still clear to him. Titan decided to walk to it—no hurry, no rush. He let the roses drive their painful thorns into him. He would do this on the Tower’s terms, if that was what it wanted. He became aware of hoofsteps next to him. Turning, he saw a face he had killed long, long ago—the serene face of Harmony, her sparkling eyes staring into his soul. Titan’s calm exterior broke. “H-harmony! Y—” He collected himself. “You aren’t here.” “Yes and no,” Harmony said, continuing to walk to the Tower. “I am as real as I need to be.” Titan summoned Singularity. “So quickly you wish to end me?” Harmony turned to look at him with sad eyes. “Do you not see that I won in the end? Can you not go back?” “Victory does not make right,” Titan said, aiming Singularity for her neck. “I do.” “Even in our world, you were condemned.” “Stories do not make right, either!” Titan shouted, driving his blade into Harmony. She didn’t even flinch. “Tell that to the Tower’s Builders.” She was gone. There wasn’t even any blood on Singularity. Titan took a moment to catch his breath before continuing on to the Tower. The visions did not stop. “Daddy daddy!” Terra cheered. “Look at this dandelion I made!” The roses were piercing the alicorn filly’s skin, drawing blood she didn’t notice. “Discord is proving most difficult to manage,” Empyrean said. “Terra and I will have to move against him…” “Ahahahaaha!” Discord laughed. “Order, Order, Order, Order… did you really think you had absolute right? Remember, I was there with you, in the beginning…” He grinned. “And yet you still think you are the source of all! How quaint!” Discord leaned in until his eyes were locked with Titan’s. “Did you know there are thousands of Discords out there who, if you just showed them some kindness, would turn from their chaotic ways?” “They know better than we do,” Harmony said. “I am the exemplification of what the mortals have,” Pathos said. “Love. Empathy. You lack. You lack it all!” “Even I saw your foolishness,” Logos asserted. “I planned for it. You accepted such plans as a viable flaw.” All the images vanished. Celestia and Luna appeared, waiting for him. “You destroyed us,” Luna hissed. “We killed each other for a petty squabble,” Celestia added. “We were your children! We were you starting over!” “Instead of learning to care, you hardened yourself.” “You were shown the way. You rejected it.” “I am the way,” Titan said, walking through them. “I reject your reality and substitute my own.” Titan saw the purple alicorn Eve sitting calmly between him and the doors of the Tower. He stopped moving forward. “You may have power, false god,” Titan said. “But tricks do not change what is.” “It is the nature of creations to become their own gods,” Eve said, emotionlessly. A butter-yellow pegasus appeared at her side—a Fluttershy. “Or to replace them with better ones.” “The question is simple. Is there a God?” Eve cocked her head. “That is the answer you want,” the Fluttershy said. “You look for your creator, looking for a purpose. You come here.” “But the Tower was built by mortals long dead.” “You seek its reasoning.” “But it is a machine. It has no will.” “So it distills down. Is there a God?” The ponies looked at him expectantly. “I do not know,” Titan said. “Do you?” Eve smiled. Suddenly, she was gone—replaced with a purple-pink unicorn with a digital screen wrapped around one of her hooves. “We know,” the unicorn and the Fluttershy said at the same time. Titan forced himself to breathe normally. “Is there?” “Yes,” the Fluttershy said. “No,” the unicorn said. Titan narrowed his eyes. “What games are you playing?” “Many,” Eve said, replacing the unicorn again. “Both of these ponies know in their heart of hearts that what they believe is true. But they can’t both be right.” Eve tilted her head. “They know. But are they right?” “Neither of them see it all,” Titan answered. “Correct.” “The Tower does.” Eve didn’t answer this with any more than a smirk. “The Tower does not believe, but it must have an answer. That is what I seek.” Eve vanished, and a new voice came from nowhere. “You really are quite desperate, darling.” The doors to the Tower clicked open, inviting him in. Titan allowed a smile to rise to his lips. It was letting him in, at long last. These games were behind him. He stepped in… ...and appeared just in time to see a Twilight Sparkle behead another version of him. He gasped in shock. She turned to stare at him, her eyes brimming with the power of Harmony and her wings poised to tear him to shreds. “Again…?” Titan fled the universe, appearing in an endless expanse of mirrors. None of them showed his reflection. He saw an Esteem teaching a Sweetie Belle how to fight a Rarity. He saw Silvertongue creating a perfect world, only to be killed by his own children. He saw Discords bowing to Fluttershys, and an endless supply of Celestias leading happy, content ponies. Like it was normal. Like it was accepted. He roared in rage, using Singularity to break every mirror. A tiger rippling with dark energy lunged at him—yet another manifestation of the Tower. He plunged his blade into it. The doors opened and closed once more. He was being laughed at again. By images of him. He killed them all. They kept laughing. He saw how happy he would have been if he just did what Harmony had wanted. He saw several different versions of his own death. He saw worlds better off without him having ever existed. He screamed. Eventually, he fell trembling into an alley in a ghost town. There was no one here to see him, no one here to judge. He made no attempt to keep his exterior up—he breathed haggard breaths, every motion felt exhausted, and his mind couldn’t focus. The Tower is cruel. Eventually, he regained his hoofing. Standing, he looked around. He saw no Tower, felt no Tower. He was free from its torment. All that was here was a ghost town… and a door with a sign above it that said Sunset’s Isekai. Without thinking, he walked in. There weren’t many patrons there. The only face he recognized from before was the Sunset, busy cleaning a glass. Sunset blinked. “She wasn't kidding, was she? You look like you’ve been through hell and it’s been…” She glanced at the clock. “Half an hour.” He sat down at one of the tables. He said nothing as he looked into the distance. Sunset decided he needed a drink. She carefully brewed something white that sparkled with an energy similar to that of his mane and slid it over to him. He didn’t react—but she hadn’t expected him to. She could identify ponies that weren’t talkers. Slowly, Titan realized the drink was there. He decided there was no harm in it. He put it to his lips and downed the entire thing. He wasn’t entirely sure how it tasted, but it restored some of his composure nonetheless. That didn’t make any sense, of course—he was immune to intoxication and all food was vaporized since he had no need to actually convert solid materials into energy for his body. He didn’t consciously think of it, but somewhere in himself he accepted that it was the simple fact that he was given it that made him feel better. An act of compassion. There was no point in dwelling here. As he left, he did nod in thanks to Sunset. “Anytime,” Sunset said, smiling. Titan found the TSAB universe easily. He walked right up to Window. “Having fun?” Window asked. “No.” Titan said. He teleported in front of the Tower’s doors. It looked large overhead, bearing down upon him. “Pride never lasts long on that road.” “Tower, I am nothing before you,” Titan said, bowing. “I am but a speck of dust before you, not even worthy to be washed upon the beach of your inner shores. I ask, no, plead that you allow me passage. I have seen your power, I have seen your right. You are the source of all that happens. All I ask is to know… And once I know, I will bring the message to all, should that be pertinent. As my ponies are to me, so I shall be to you.” After a few moments, he tried to open the doors. They were locked this time. Perhaps the Tower expected him to change. Though if what he had learned before was true, the Tower had no will. It was just… a machine. A machine fueled by the stories of mortals. He would have to change to match their definitions if he wanted entry. For a moment, a little voice in the back of his mind cheered him on. Urging him to consider change, to consider what Harmony had said so long ago. That maybe, just maybe, the creations had something to offer him. He cut that part out of his mind forcefully, starving it until it died. Ridiculous. The multiverse must have been infecting him with absurd ideas. That thought had no place in the mind of Titan. This meant he would need to think of another route to enter the Tower. There would be no change. But he could admit that, perhaps, he could not do it under his own power. It was acceptable to admit he needed help. But who could provide that…? ~~~ Cinder stood on the bridge of Swip between Suzie and Celia. On the main screen were several dozen Merodi warships, all ready to fight at the slightest sign of provocation. Every thirty seconds or so, the ships in the front would create a truly massive portal that the entire fleet would move through, and then a minute would pass while they calculated which universe Titan had entered next. Checking the map, Suzie noted that they were well outside the Equis cluster at this point. They weren’t even in Merodi space, having left the decently well-known orange-gold territory about twenty minutes ago. They were currently on the edge of the Q-Sphere, slowly making their way through the Strands at the multiversal center. “It’s official,” Celia said, pocketing her phone. “We are out of range. Communicators will not work out this far.” “Wow…” Cinder said. “It… feels different, being out this far.” “You won't find any pony worlds down there,” Suzie offered. “At least, not commonly. The Strands lie between the three major Spheres, mixing them together until you get to the tangled mess that are the inner Tower worlds. That planet down there could be humans, or it could be some kind of spiritual angel elves that really exist out of phase with reality.” “These are the lands where dimensional travel is common and easy.” Celia tossed her mane back. “In the right part of the Strands, you can walk to other dimensions just because they’re close by.” “Like Fae Epoque?” Cinder asked. “Exactly!” Celia put her hooves together. “Except a million times bigger and all the worlds don’t share a theme. You could walk into an eldritch location in these parts.” “And the Tower’s in the center…” Cinder mused. “And also in several other universes.” Suzie explained. “The Tower itself always sits at the zero position. You can dial it anytime from anywhere. It’ll always just redirect you to another random universe, so you have to find it in places it’s manifesting.” “Do we know of anywhere it is?” Suzie frowned. “The Nexus comes to mind, but that place is just a pain. As far as I know it’s just inconvenient to get too no matter what, and even when you do get there it just likes to mess with you. You know Mayor Blumiere?” “Yeah?” “He found the Tower. It forced him to revert to a villainous state. It really does a number on you…” “DANGER!” Swip shouted. “DANG—” There was suddenly a hole in the bridge leading out to the vacuum of space. Swip’s shields were down. Celia, Cinder, and Suzie were ejected into space. Titan was there, expression as impassive as it had ever been. He grabbed hold of Cinder and vanished. “NO!” Celia shouted, grabbing hold of Titan’s magic and following, dragging Suzie with her. They teleported away a millisecond before every gun in the Merodi fleet converged on that location. The shockwave rippled across dimensions, so they still got to feel it as they were pressed into the ground. Suzie told herself Swip will be fine, they accounted for that. They better have. She stood up next to Celia. They were in an endless field of roses. There was no sign of Titan, Cinder, or the Tower. But Suzie knew what these roses meant. This was the Field of Can’-Ka No Rey. Everywhere the Tower was, the field followed. “Celia, are the thorns going to poof you?” “No,” Celia said, dragging her hoof across the roses, drawing blood. “They’re going to make me bleed red fluids I don’t actually have.” “So. Find Cinder.” “I think we know it’s not going to be that simple.” Suzie clenched her fists. “He’ll head for the Tower. We head for the Tower. Look for the beams, th—” “We’re in one, Suzie.” Celia interrupted, pointing to the side. Now that she mentioned it, it did look like all the roses over there were tilted in a single direction, while all the others were randomly strewn about. “The question, though, is if the Tower is that way, or behind us?” “It doesn’t matter,” Suzie said, marching forward. “The first way we choose either will or won’t be the right way.” Celia twitched. “I hate Tower universes.” “So does everyone. Watch out f—” A four-armed two-legged red bug man jumped out of the ground and grabbed Suzie by the neck. “I wasn’t finished with you!” Suzie pulled her legs back and kicked him in the chest, breaking the crimson carapace. “Back off!” “Siron’s dead,” Celia said. “Siron is very dead.” A massive blue, metallic foot dropped out of the sky, crushing Siron. Metallic blue fingers reached for Suzie. “The Collector is dead too!” Celia shouted. “I know that!” Suzie said, summoning U-Catastrophe and embedding its branches in the Collector. “I also know the Tower’s manifestations are completely immune to the curse, so I’m free to do THIS!” Screaming at the top of her lungs she forced the tree of U-Catastrophe to grow up the Collector’s massive arm and tear it to shreds. Branches broke through the metal skin like little parasites, disintegrating him from the inside out. The rest of the Collector faded away, but not before he said one last sentence. “Imagine if you had that Stand back when I was alive…” Suzie was sweating profusely. “That…” “More reason to hate this place, darli—” “I WANT OUT!” a black Celia shouted, tackling the Gem to the ground. “YOU TRAPPED ME IN YOU! Y—” “Oh, do give it a rest!” Celia hissed, crushing the monster’s skull with her pointed hoof. “You’re the one who has most of my sense of self, I don’t think it’s possible for me to self-deceive about what you want.” “What about us?” Moganite asked. “We don’t like it in here!” Goshenite whined. “The deal wasn’t permanent.” “I can’t feel myself! I can't feel myself!” “The contract shouldn’t be binding.” “LET US BACK! LET US OUT!” “SHUT UP!” Suzie shouted, bringing the branches of U-Catastrophe close to their position. “Celia knows who she is. There may be people who don’t like it, but I know she does. So stop filling her with lies!” The two leg-only Gems smiled—and vanished. Suzie let U-Catastrophe dissipate. “Okay… good. Now we can worry about Cinder.” Celia put a hoof around Suzie. “Standing up for me are we?” “Yeah, yeah… brag later. Find Cinder now.” “Who’s Cinder?” a squeaky male voice asked. Both Celia and Suzie froze solid, looks of utter dread crossing their features. “Celia? Suzie? C’mon girls, tell me what’s wrong.” Slowly, a stallion marched into view. He had soft green eyes, a curled purple-pink pastel mane, and a soft off-white coat with a Crusader Shield on the flank. “Is Cinder my replacement? I’d quite like to hear about her.” “You get nothing,” Celia hissed. “You betrayed us, Syr,” Suzie said. “I think you’ve got it backwards. See, I didn’t betray anyone, I was just acting on misinformation when it came to Nira, everypony else was happy with me.” “You lied to everyone!” Celia spat. “True. But I was loyal. No, it was you who betrayed me in the end.” He smirked. “I guess you didn’t, Celia, but you aren't the same person, now are you?” “Suzie, he’s going to go after you. You are going to be angry.” “I am already angry,” Suzie growled. Syr smirked, scratching his chin. “Suzie, Suzie, Suzie… knew me for how many years? How many?” Suzie remained silent. “Didn’t have any idea, did you? You, the great illustrious captain, couldn’t see what your crew really was. You were so, so wrong about me.” He glanced to Celia. “You knew.” Celia refused to engage with the apparition. “Suzie, you know…” “I do.” Suzie pointed at Syr. “We have Sweetaloo now. Because of you. To ensure you never happen again.” “She’s not perfect!” Syr sang. “Eventually, it’ll fall to your judgement again, Suzie. You know it will. Is your crew really who you think they are? Do you really understand Nira? Blink? Squiddy?” “YOU DON’T GET TO SAY THOSE NAMES!” Suzie screeched, summoning U-Catastrophe on Syr. Nothing happened. It passed right through him. “I have whoever I want,” Syr spat. “That’s how I rolled. You were so blind you couldn’t see it. Your precious crew… so innocent… so pure.” Suzie couldn’t stop the tears of rage, but she made no other response. “Say hi to my replacement for me.” He was gone. In the distance, they could see the Dark Tower. “...Let’s go get Cinder,” Suzie said, marching forward. ~~~ Titan had Cinder held tightly—but not painfully—in his telekinesis. “W-what are you going to do to me?” Cinder asked. “Nothing. I do not think it would be allowed.” “...There is such a thing as tragedy…” “It would not serve me, either.” He continued walking through the roses in silence. Cinder could hear the flowers laughing at him, though as far as she could tell he didn’t even hear them. “Then why am I here?” “Mustard knew of you,” Titan explained. “When I absorbed his mind, you were among the first things I saw.” Cinder wondered why he was bothering to explain—he was a stallion of necessary words. When she saw him flinch away from a blue alicorn, she decided it was likely a method of ignoring the apparitions. “He thought you were a demon, a test of his faith. Your magic was an exact match for the lost Princess of his world.” “W-what?” Titan ignored her outburst. “On the surface, he was certain he had found an imposter. There could only be one Princess Belle. No doubt your world was just past-oriented to his, and that the orange-eyed Sweetie is a marker of your world’s template.” Cinder… wasn't sure what to think about this. She would have become a princess back home if the multiverse hadn’t gotten involved? Is that what he was saying? “This is all worthless to me. But his fixation on you brought my attention onto you. I realized you were important in the sense that the Tower understands. It will listen to you.” “Uh…” Cinder gulped. “I’m not so sure that’s a great idea…” “It is the only idea left.” “...Are you sure?” “Yes.” Cinder got the impression he was lying, but she didn’t want to upset him. She took a moment to look around. Hundreds of bodies of the blue alicorn lay around, each one looking to Titan with hard, expressionless faces. They shifted to different versions of Titan: smaller, weaker. Happier. He’s never going to realize. Eventually, they arrived at the doors to the Tower. Cinder looked up. It was exactly as she’d seen it in her mind. The endless height, the blackness, even the little doors burning with eldritch fire. Or was it even burning? It was impossible to tell for sure. Titan pressed a hoof on the door and pushed. Nothing happened. He tried pulling; still nothing. “Open it,” he ordered, setting Cinder on the ground. Cinder heard the flowers laughing at Titan. They really were cruel. With a breath, she touched her hoof to the Tower’s doors. They swung open. Picking Cinder up, Titan stepped inside. With a thunk, the doors shut behind them. The interior of the Tower was pitch black, but they could somehow see everything anyway. There was a single, rail-less staircase going up a cylindrical room with no visible top. All along the staircase, there were doors. Titan opened the first door. It led to the memory of his birth—a birth alongside the very universe itself. He closed it quickly. “...Don’t want to relive it?” Cinder asked. “I remember everything,” Titan said. “These doors contain a life I know. I want a life I do not know.” “That would be at the top… I think.” “It seems that way.” Titan gripped her with his telekinesis and flew up the center of the Tower, ignoring all the doors of his memories. “...Are you certain, Titan?” Titan was silent. Cinder became convinced he wouldn’t respond—but then he let out a short, simple “no.” “Then why go through all this trouble?” “To be certain.” “...Is that possible?” “Mortal, I was the absolute in my universe. I was the progenitor of all.” No you weren't. “I was certainty. I was the god of it. Out here, I am not. I am just a god.” “What is a god to the Tower?” “Dust. Worthy to be mocked.” “Is that right?” Titan was silent. This time he really didn’t respond. Cinder had nothing else to say. The Dark Tower, for all intents and purposes, was infinitely tall. Which was to say, it was as tall as it needed to be at any given time, for anyone, anywhere. The moment the silence had lasted long enough, they arrived at the top. Titan stopped at the second to last door. “The end of my life,” he said. “Do you want to open it?” “Yes.” Titan said. “The first rule of being an alicorn. You will die.” “That should be the first rule of living,” Cinder commented. Titan nodded. He put his hoof on the door and opened it. He saw his head lying in a field of roses at Pathos’ hooves. Merodi ships filled the air and the Tower dominated the scene. It was raining, even though there were no clouds. Rigidly, he closed the door. “That’s soon,” Cinder said. “I am aware.” “Is the answer worth it?” Titan didn’t respond. He moved to the final door. It was simple, engraved with his name. TITAN The doorknob was a carved image of his cutie mark: a simple circle, no decoration. “Open it,” he told Cinder. Cinder didn’t argue. She reached for the knob with her hoof and pulled. The door swung open, revealing the room at the top of the Tower. In the center, floating above a small podium, was a white spirograph shape that slowly turned. Behind this there was a tall grandfather clock, marked with a similar spirograph. It wasn’t ticking. Cinder couldn’t move. It was wrong. She shouldn’t go in there. Titan levitated her to the other side. The moment she entered, an emptiness filled her mind. She didn’t know anything. What did the clock mean? Why was it there? What was this floating spirograph? Who was she? Cinder. I am Cinder. She tried to get her breathing under control, but it felt as though no fresh air was entering her lungs. She looked at her hoof and saw thousands of hooves stretching off into infinity. Somehow, Titan’s voice came to her even like this, always impossible to ignore. “This is the Source of it all… it holds all the answers. Thank you, Cinder, for bringing me here. It would not have been possible. Now… all I have is a question.” Cinder reeled in the following silence. “WHAT!?” Titan roared. The dark became light and then dark again. ~~~ Pathos was the one who found the connection. The best of Merodi’s mages were trying to figure out where Titan had gone. They failed. He had covered his tracks. She found him. Not through skill, or luck, or understanding, but through her connection. She was his daughter, no matter where her essence came from. He may be able to hide from everyone else, but not from her. She was connection. Even as weak as she was, that remained true. The moment she found the universe, she tore the portal open, appearing in the sky above a field of roses. The fleet was not far behind her, flashing into existence in the sky, weapons ready to glass a planet if it was required. Spreading her wings, Pathos directed herself right at the Tower. She had appeared only a few yards away, so her flight only took a handful of seconds. Arriving at the door, she found Suzie pounding on it in rage while Celia sat to the side, looking at the ground dejectedly. “What happened?” Pathos asked, the sounds of more ships arriving punctuating her question. “He got in…” Suzie whimpered, slamming her fist on the door. “He took Cinder… And the Tower’s keeping us out!” “What can we do?” “Nothing,” Celia deadpanned. “What goes on there is what ‘needs’ to. We just… wait. And see what happens.” “Can’t be bust the doors down?” She pointed at the fleet in the sky. “There exist beings in existence that can destroy hundreds of universes by snapping their fingers,” Suzie said. “They do nothing to the Tower.” “We… we… we have to do something! We’re here for a reason, right? W—” Titan appeared in front of her. There was no flash of magic, no shift of space. He was simply there, when before he wasn’t. He looked at Pathos curiously. Pathos summoned Replete. “Get him!” Titan summoned Singularity. He cut off his own head. It didn’t regenerate. Singularity vanished and the cold, dead face of Titan rolled along the ground until it stopped, dead, at Pathos’ hooves. She stared at it in shock. “W-w-why?” ~~~ “Why?” Cinder asked, looking at the death of Titan from above. The voice of a Rarity came to her. “He chose this.” “That isn’t really an answer.” “Since when do I give straight answers, dear?” she chuckled. “I’m not asking for a straight one. I just want to know why he killed himself.” “He would have prefered a glorious death, deep down. But he left his world long ago. No dramatic final battle for him. He gave that up, coming here.” “That’s not a why.” “Fine. Be that way. He got the answer to his question. He didn’t like it. So he ordered the Source to make him forget and to shape him anew so he would be certain he didn’t need to know.” “But he knew going back was his death. He saw it.” “Yes. So asked to be created again. His original self appeared there, to suffer the preordained death. Another was created elsewhere… where he would be able to live no longer plagued by the question.” “Where is that?” With a chuckle, she showed Cinder. Titan appeared in darkness, stern, powerful—certain of his place. A man in black walked up to him. “Look who’s back…” “Randall Flagg,” Titan said. “I have reached the end of my quest.” “You have. And now your purpose to yourself is done.” Flagg snapped his fingers. “Obey my every command.” Titan’s resistance was nothing. “Yes.” “You’ll make a nice addition. I wonder how long you’ll last…?” Flagg laughed. “Probably not long, given how you tend to make people feel about you. Come along, puppet.” “Who is this… Randall?” Cinder asked. The Rarity’s voice answered. “To most, the oldest incarnation of evil.” “To you?” The only response was a chuckle. “Who even are you?” “Important, but that’s not for you to know. It’s also not for a certain pesky purple alicorn with an eye in her chest to know. I know you’re absolutely dying to figure this out, but, spoilers! Oh, you should see her right now, she’s going absolutely bonkers.” “Show me?” “No. I don’t feel like dealing with sudden inexplicable first-person-narration at the moment.” Cinder frowned. “...I’m not going to remember this, am I?” “It will be like a dream. So, effectively, no. But you still saw the room at the top of the Tower. What did you think?” “I… nothing?” “Heheheheh… Hey. Do you want to know the answer to his question?” “No! I’m good! I don’t need to know!” “It won’t drive you mad, you know. Just him.” “I’ll pass! Thanks!” “I guess you should be getting back to them, then…” And then Cinder was in front of the Tower’s doors. Celia and Suzie rushed her into a tear-filled hug. Pathos joined later, the moment she got over staring at Titan’s head. They took Cinder back to Swip and left the universe behind before she could dwell too much on it. Throughout it all, Cinder couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched. ~~~ “Think ‘sword’,” Sir Unimpressive told Insipid. “Sword…” Insipid said, focusing on the jet-black shards on the table in front of her. “Sword…” “...Yeah, she’s not a natural,” Unimpressive said, turning to Shadow. “You’re gonna have a real fun time training her when you don’t know the bladecasting spell yourself.” “We’ll manage,” Shadow said. “Sword…” Insipid whispered. “It’ll be good for her to have a way to defend herself that doesn’t depend on stealing stuff,” Havocwing said. “Thanks, Unimpressive.” Unimpressive smirked. “You enjoy my name, don’t you?” “Hell. Yes. I am never going to get tired of saying it.” “Ssssssword,” Insipid hissed. “I am sure you will get it, Insipid,” Curaçao, patting the focused unicorn on the back. “Anyzing else we can do while we’re ‘ere, Unimpressive?” “Swordittyworditty,” Insipid mumbled. Unimpressive shrugged. “Things seem to be going pretty well. Twilight’s taken control of Equestria, Celestia isn’t fighting it, and… well I’m on babysitting duty for now.” “Do not speak of me like some ungrateful child!” Terra shouted. “Isn’t Fluttershy supposed to be on her?” Grayscale asked. “She will be. When she gets back from the spa Rarity insisted upon.” Unimpressive shook his head. “All of them are trying to go back to their lives but Twilight and Rainbow. Princesses are back… And any place that wasn’t utterly burned to the ground is returning to normal-ish.” “S-W-O-R-D!” Insipid spelled. “Looks like we did good,” Havocwing said with a smirk. “Saved the day!” “And zen didn’t do anyzing,” Curaçao chuckled. “Does anyone even know what ‘appened wiz Titan?” “Big booms!” Velvet shouted, giggling. “And a bunch of meta nonsense my book isn’t helping me with at all. You Pinkies are supposed to be helpful!” She punted the book about ka. “Sword,” Insipid deadpanned. Two of the jet-black shards lifted into the air and fused together in front of Insipid’s eyes. “I got it!? I got it!” “I think you’re just using standard telekinesis,” Unimpressive pointed out. “Like, it’s still, progress? Cha!” Unimpressive shrugged. “Okay. At least it works as a weapon…” “I shall dice my enemies like tomos!” “Tomatoes,” Shadow corrected. “Like tomatoes! Cha-Cha-CHOP!” “INSIPID!” Havocwing shouted. “WATCH THE WING!” “Sorry!” ~~~ Allure put the report down on her desk and groaned. Every time someone went to the Tower or nearby areas nothing made sense. There were three dozen different accounts of what happened and none of them really lined up. They agreed that Titan died. How was… up for debate. Decapitation. But by himself? Pathos? A random rose monster? They all disagreed. Allure suspected she and most everyone else wasn’t supposed to know what happened down there. At least they knew Titan was dealt with. Probably. Silvertongue had come back as Logos… Maybe Titan would come back as, oh, Darkstar or something equally stupid later, only to be casually brushed aside in favor of more bizarre things. What even were names, in the multiverse? Some universes said they had power, but in most they were just words used to refer to people. Often there was meaning behind them. Other times, there was nothing to them. Nira’s name didn’t mean anything. Allure… Allure meant something. She was sure of that, now. She had met the stallion who created the name. He was gone, and… and that hadn’t really fixed anything, had it? Sure, it had ended his warmongering attitude and closed the book on that Rarity’s personal story, but she’d walked out of that battle with the same feeling on what her name meant. It was a willingness to take on other’s burdens. It probably would have been easier to let Twilight deal with him, but no. She’d gone with Rarity so she could do it. Gotten a hoof rammed into her insides to boot. It probably meant she was a little crazy, if she was being honest with herself, but who wasn’t in this job? Her thoughts turned to The Sweetie Belle. Allure had always had her friends to lean on during this, and they had strengthened her, given her so much reason to keep going. Sweetie Belle had no one—she was alone, always, and forever. She was still wandering out there, somewhere. Alone. How did she do it when there was no one there to share the pain with? She truly was stronger than all of them. With a smile on her face, Allure left her office and trotted out to the League’s main lobby. “What?! You had amazingly epic anime battles WITHOUT ME!?” Cryo shouted. “I mean, I wasn’t involved that much…” Cinder told her self-proclaimed rival. “You still could have called me! It would have been awesome! I would have gotten right in the thick of it and SHA-POW BOW BAM BAM!” Cinder laughed. “Yeah, you would have. Sorry, I just didn’t think about it.” “Well, think about it next time!” Allure rolled her eyes. There were a lot of crazy ponies in the League. Allure loved it that way.