//------------------------------// // Chapter 0: Visions of a Painful Past // Story: Taismo: Discovering Equestria // by RockStarMLP //------------------------------// Twilight had taken a large drink of Zecora’s memory potion. Its magic began to course through her body, mainly towards her brain, and any and all reserves of her magic. She used that magic to spread the effects of the potion to her friends so they all could share the same visions together. As the spell kicked in with full power, all of their eyes went bright while as Spike, who gave the ponies the idea to do this, and Tails and Cosmo watched in intrigue to what this spell was doing to the six friends. Even though they weren’t completely certain that this was going to go by smoothly – in fact, they didn’t expect their new pony friends to react too well in seeing their past – this form of ‘show, don’t tell’ would give them a glimpse of the Mobian couple’s past, even though it was going to start with the worst memories of all… /)∞(\ The six ponies found their visions, and location, very different. No longer did they find themselves inside Twilight’s library, but instead some lighted room right by a giant window. What they saw on the other side of the glass left them crossed between amazed and stunned – outer space. Nopony has ever traveled beyond a world’s atmosphere before, with the exception of Nightmare Moon’s banished to the moon long ago. They saw what looked like a heavily damaged runway, surrounded by destroyed trees. They caught glimpse of the countless glittering stars surrounding them, and a ring of what was first thought as stars but in reality were seven brightly glowing, and rapidly spinning, diamonds of sorts. No words escaped from their mouths at first, their minds trying to comprehend everything, but before they could even do that, two shining dots of bright gold flew from below and went after what was a giant mass floating in space before them. Twilight, staring out at the sight for a minute, watched what happened before saying “What in Equestria is…” Before she could finish her sentence, a bright light flashed from the mass, practically blinding the ponies. Most turned their heads back, which proved useful in more ways than one as their eyes made another discovery – they weren’t alone in the vision. Several different beings, most of which animal like and a familiar fox sitting in a chair, stood in a row as they watched on, cheering for whatever was going on outside in space. “Who are all of them?”asked Rarity as she saw all the strange creatures. “And what is going on here?” “I d-d-don’t know,” stuttered Fluttershy, feeling frightful and overwhelmed by everything, even though they’ve been only just minutes into viewing the vision. “Do we have to stay and find out?” “I think this is the last day of that war,” Twilight pondered aloud, but felt assured that she was correct. “I mean look there,” she added, pointing her hoof to the one in the chair, “that’s Tails. And he’s…” Her eyes, along with her friends, then wondered at all the strange equipment that filled the room. It felt like revisiting one of Spike’s comic books, like their adventure as the Power Ponies, and that feeling was the obvious – being in a very different world than their own. Before they could question it, however, the light from out in space faded, and voices began to speak out from unknown sources. “Something’s wrong. The energy levels are starting to reverse. “Hmmm… It seems like it’s imploding now.” “Foolish hedgehogs! With the help of the planet egg, you have indeed prevented me from transforming the galaxy, but you can never win this battle. If the Metarex cannot rule this galaxy, then we will destroy it!” “What the hay is going on here?!” yelled Rainbow Dash. “What kind of messed up memory did we get dragged into?!” “The last day of that super scary war, silly,” Pinkie Pie answered, surprisingly upbeat given the answer she just gave. She then pointed her hoof around to point out “See, there’s Tails in that chair. I bet that’s his super ultimate important captain’s chair, and those guys around him must be his friends. I don’t know about that voice that came out of nowhere, but that super big talking ball in space must be the big baddy bad guy, and those two gold dots are there to… “Hey, wait a minute, who are those guys?” The six turned their attention back out the window, where they found four nearly unconscious beings scattered along what seemed to be a giant plant root. The distance between the two couldn’t hide the battle scars the four have looked to endured, most likely during a fight prior to the ponies’ vision starting. This left the six more and more confused about what was going on, and Rainbow Dash readdressed this. “Alright, I’ll ask again,” said the cyan pegasus- “What the hay is going on here?!?!” Her eyes locked onto a target, a red creature with two limbs covered on the ends with gloves with two spikes each. She looked at it dead in the eyes to say “You, start talking! What the heck is that thing out there, and who are all of you in the first place?!” “Rainbow, enough!” Twilight bellowed. “Remember, we can’t interact with those we find in a vision, just watch and listen to. Technically we’re not actually here as a part of all this and nothing we can do will change that. We just have to watch and see what’s happening, and hopefully hear what anyone has to say.” “But what exactly are we looking that?! From what I can tell, we’re standing in the middle of space and staring out at some monster the size of Luna’s moon!” Applejack opened her mouth and was about to threaten the cyan pegasus of hogtying her yelling muzzle, but was cut off by the sounds of a conversation displayed from the projected memory. After a conclusion and brief example from one that definitely stood out amongst the rest, it was explained that the sphere before them was going to explode and destroy everything within the upcoming blast. The six mares couldn’t believe what they were hearing with all this destruction from this Dark Oak or “Meta-something-or-other” as Pinkie Pie put it. At one point, the eyes of Twilight and Rainbow Dash shined bright again, and the two were zapped away from the room they were in before. The duo now found themselves standing outside, on a giant metal structure, floating in the center of space, and behind a large rabbit and a small blue animal that Fluttershy would have given anything to see. Standing before them all was Cosmo, who was staring out at the two gold specks holding back some kind of gravitational force from the giant black mass. These sights confirmed two things for the duo of ponies. The first was that this was indeed a vision of the distant past, as both Tails and Cosmo looked several years younger as compared to the couple they had met in the last twenty-four or so hours. The second was that the world they hailed from was clearly of a different evolution as compared to Equestria, with many more bipedal beings that make up a variety of animals considered to be wildlife to pony kind, and such technology being displayed was far beyond anypony’s comprehension. The one fact was true when they first met the fox and flower, but the second kept proving itself more and more with each new sight. Then, a new voice began to speak, and apparently it was from one of the two gold specks. Judging by his tone, it sounded as if he came up with the best option Tails, Cosmo and all the different creatures had to work with. “Listen up, everybody. Our only hope of saving the galaxy is to throw all of the energy we’ve got at this gravity field in one shot. Use the Sonic Power Cannon, and launch me at it!” “Uh, a Sonic what-now?” Applejack said, lost beyond belief. “A cannon?! They going to use a cannon to shoot SOMEONE at that THING?!” Rarity exclaimed. “It’s way too risky. We’ve never launched you from the power cannon before when you were Super Sonic. We have no idea what will happen to you.” “Super Sonic?” everypony pondered. “That gravity field is extremely powerful, Sonic! If you smash into it, the force could be too much for your body to take!” “You mean to tell us there’s a good chance Sonic won’t even survive the attack?!” “We have to come up with another plan!” “I don’t know if it will save the galaxy, but I have to try. And there’s no way anybody’s gonna talk me out of it, so save your breath. Now, are you gonna help me out or not?” “Is… Is he being serious?” Fluttershy stuttered. “I think so, Sugarcube. He sounds mighty determined,” Applejack said. Outside, Rainbow stared out in the distance and said “Whoa… He doesn’t like to mess around. That’s pretty cool…” “I’m routing all the energy in the network to the power cannon. We only have one chance to break through that field.” “Prepare to transfer all power to the Blue Typhoon.” “Cutting off the ship’s energy supply now and sending it to the Sonic Power Cannon.” Before the ponies could ask what was going on next, the entire room they were in was nearly in complete darkness. All of the strange bright lights of all different colors disappeared, leaving only the small little bits of light and noises that would come from the strange desk Tails was sitting at. “What in deep space nine is going on now?! Everything went dark- Oooooo, are we going to throw a surprise at somepony?!” Pinkie Pie yelled. “Deep… Space… Ni- Oh forget it.” Rarity was about to question what Pinkie was saying, but immediately dismissed it in favor of answering the bubbly pink mare’s curiosity. “If I didn’t know better…” Little did either pony know was that both Rarity and Twilight were saying nearly the exact same words in their respective locations. “…Tails and all those creatures have some kind of energy reserved aboard these strange space vessels, and they’re putting all of it towards one source that will use it to their advantage. This ‘power cannon’ sounds as if it has the force to break through nearly any form of opposition and they plan to use that kind of weaponry to win this battle. And seeing how we most likely missed most of this battle, there’s no other choice they have but this plan.” Little did Twilight know just how wrong her last statement was. During her talking, the two ponies there didn’t hear what the rabbit girl had said, but they managed to hear Cosmo speak. “I feel so helpless…” Then, a light began to glow from Cosmo’s front side, and judging by the alicorn’s senses, a magical light. Both Twilight and Rainbow watched as she turned around to face her friend with a content and happy expression, and the glowing light coming from an oval-shaped stone she wore on her chest, similar to the one they saw on her when they first met. “Is she alright?” Rainbow asked her friend. “I understand now. “There can be peace in the galaxy, and I have the power to make it happen, Cream.” “What do you mean?” Twilight, unknowing she was speaking aloud at the exact same time as Cream, asked the same thing. “What does she mean?” Cosmo began to float up, going higher and higher until she was even beyond the tall purple craft behind them. When she was too far out of sight, Cream began to race back into the vessel, all while starting to cry as her eyes flowed with tears, and Twilight and Rainbow began to run behind her. The two may have missed it, but the other four ponies with Tails and his group watched Cosmo transform into a young adult as her body grew into that of a woman, the rosebud’s on her head both come out in complete bloom, her emerald green colors turning a much brighter shade. It was all courtesy of the magic released from the now shattered chest stone. “No, come back!” As Cosmo began making her way towards the giant black mass, Cream and the two ponies had returned to the room with everyone else. All of them wore curious and confused looks on their faces, unaware of what the Seedrian was currently doing at that moment. “What’s wrong?” “Where did you two go off to?” Rarity asked. “We were sent outside where Cosmo was,” Rainbow explained. Twilight followed with “We were watching them watch what has going on from outside in space. We were there until-“ “Cosmo’s out there to help stop Dark Oak!” Fluttershy gasped, unable to believe what she heard. “She’s doing w-what?! She’s out there to fight… that thing?!” Her second exclamation was accompanied by her pointed a most fearful hoof towards the giant black sphere and its surrounding gravity field. “She is! She’s off to fight the big bad boss in the final big bad boss battle!” Pinkie yelled, nervouscitedly as some ponies could describe. “Oooh, I wonder what her big secret move is…” “We’re about to find out,” Twilight said. “Look, everypony…” And that’s when they saw it. Cosmo flew through the gravity field as if it was like air and was getting closer and closer to the sphere. The closer she got, the brighter an immense white glow came from the object shined, up to the point when the entire region of space before the group was blocked by an expanding white light. None could see what exactly was happening, but as the light began to fade, everyone started to see the results of Cosmo’s actions. A gigantic tree appeared on top of the giant black sphere that was Tails and his friends’ enemy. Its roots stemmed down and around the sphere, as if containing everything that was being emitted inside the existing source. Everyone watching this phenomenon were blown away so much of this nearly unbelievable feat that they were bug-eyed and jaw-dropped, including the six ponies, but saving the two bodies that were the gold specks out in space. The light finally faded away to reveal the tree in full stature, and a single cherry blossom leaf that floated freely in the emptiness of space. “C-Cosmo?” Tails said. “Holy Luna! That tree’s huge,” Applejack yelled. “Hu-wha-didshe-howdi-whereda… WHAT?!” Rainbow Dash added. “Was that…” Twilight verbally pondered, “did Cosmo just complete… some kind of metamorphosis?” None of them could believe that this was their Seedrian friend, that the tree was in fact Cosmo. Their belief was restored when she began calling out to them. “It’s all right. I have Dark Oak immobilized. Now you’ll be able to destroy the Metarex and save the galaxy. Don’t worry about me. Just fire the Power Cannon now.” All six ponies eyes widened at what she just asked to be done, with Pinkie trying to put it in other words. “Did she just ask to be shot at by-“ “But if we fire the cannon, what will happen to-“ “She’s going to die?!” Rainbow yelled. “N-no. We c-c-can’t be seeing this right,” Fluttershy stammered. “Dr. Eggman?” “We can’t do anything. If we try to separate them, the compressed energy will explode.” “Did that strange man just say she’s stuck there?” asked Rarity. Everypony began to start feeling panicked, with Twilight expressing her saddening emotions first. “Cosmo… she’s playing the role of martyr. She’s going to let herself-“ The red creature, from what she believed to be an echidna, cut her off as he started yelling. “I don’t want it to end like this. This isn’t right! There must be another way!” “We have to do something! We can’t let Cosmo sacrifice herself! “She’s going to die! TAILS!” Both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy screamed “NO!” in unison. Other ponies began to react worse and worse as they saw the flashback displayed before them progress. “Would you stop screaming?! We’re all as sad and revolted as you are!” .......... “Everyone, can you leave me alone?” “It bothers me to ask, but I really insist.” The next thing the six friends saw was a single tear fall onto the desk following Tails’s request. The way he said those words nearly shattered them, hearing him sound nearly void of emotion and soul, staring blankly down at what was his control panel. They neglected to watch everyone that filled the room make their way out of the room and towards a different location to watch what the next events would be. For the time being, their eyes were caught between two locations: the tree outside that was Cosmo, and the visual of Tails in despair as a press of a button transformed his desk into some sort of marksman post. “If she says not to worry, I have to trust her.” All there was for a couple minutes following his last statement was silence, the white noise of a beeping sound coming from somewhere in the room. The fox’s eyes remained nearly pin-pricked as he stared down, as if looking through his desk and at the floor under them all. His right hand remained clenched on a some sort of handle, and it had a cap that revealed a red button when opened. It didn’t take an expert to guess that the button was the trigger for this power cannon the ponies have heard about, another visual of disbelief for them. “Tails, it’s time. There’s no time to lose, and we must act immediately. Prepare to fire the cannon at my command.” “Lock cannon into place and take aim.” “Sending all remaining energy.” The only voice from the flashback heard was the same person that was referred to as Dr. Eggman earlier, making the commands and setting things for the imminent final attack. As he did, a giant cannon emerged from the lower bow of the giant spacecraft, and a streak of gold flew inside. The six just watched the preparations take place, unable to speak a word, but a couple did sound a whimper or two. “Is this really real? Will Tails actually do it?” Pinkie Pie asked to nopony in particular. “Get ready, Sonic!” A few seconds followed before the second gold speck shot its way into the same cannon as the first. The cannon was now loaded with not one but two powerful forces to act as cannonballs, and a golden glow emitted as it prepared to launch. The time just kept getting closer and closer, and the six didn’t know how to take it anymore. Each one began to start showing signs of breaking with clenched teeth, teary eyes, their bodies wanting to gallop between the cannon and moon-sized bomb in hopes to prevent history from happening. Unfortunately, they were reminded of the truth: this was history, history that already existed and cannot be changed, and all they could do was spectate. Twilight turned her head from Cosmo over to Tails, her face showing depression and starting to cry as she tried to stammer out “Tails… Please… Don’t do it… You wouldn’t… You couldn’t…” “Sonic Power Cannon… “FIRE!” Tails’s head shot up with a determined expression, the command snapping himself out of his trance. “Roger!” “No Tails! Don’t do it!” the six ponies screeched. Tails put his eyes on the trigger that his thumb was set to press, but he didn’t. He showed great struggle as he tried to force himself to hit the button and fire the cannon. The command was made, and it was time to act on the last chance they had to defeat the Metarex and save the galaxy. He tried harder, and harder, and harder still, but the strain was too much to take. As hard as he could try, he let out his breaking heart. “AAAAAAAAAHH!!!” *SLAM* The fox let out a painful scream, and then slammed his head on the desk, his eyes saddened and tears starting to run down his face. All he could tell himself to do was cry, to let out his breaking heart and soul, and to do anything but pull the trigger. “Just as I thought, I can’t do it. “No… I can’t hurt Cosmo… Wasn’t it a promise? “When all this was over, you said you would come live with us!” Each of the ponies didn’t know how much more they could take to see this heartache, but they all kept watching. Some put hooves over their mouths, others began to openly weep, and one Rainbow Dash began to sound a violently displeasing growl. They were speechless, and I just continued to listen to the words that were spoken. “Tails, I know this is difficult, but the galaxy is in danger and time is running out. You must fire now.” “But I can’t… What about Cosmo?” “She knows what she’s doing. Cosmo is carrying out her destiny. She was meant to save the galaxy, and we have to help her.” Tails picked his head up to speak to Cosmo, not wanting these to be their last words spoken to each other. He felt his heart break into smaller and smaller pieces, almost becoming inexistent, and the ponies saw him display that pain more and more. “But… I don’t want to. You’re my friend, Cosmo. I’m sorry, I just can’t do it.” “Trust me Tails, you have to fire. It’s the only way to save all of us.” “I trust you… But you mean a lot to me. I… I don’t want to lose you, Cosmo!” “You won’t, Tails. You’ll defeat the Metarex and spread the seeds of my clan across the galaxy.” “This can’t be real! There isn’t any possible way such an atrocity actually happened!” Rarity said, finding words lose enough for a proper lady to try and explain. “Tails?...” Fluttershy said, as if attempting to try and break through to the historic projection. “I CAN’T DO IT!” The ponies felt a small wave of relief as Tails used his thumb to close the cap on the trigger handle, but saw him strain more and more not to open it up again for use. They could see he didn’t want to: they could feel that he didn’t want to. Who in the name of the Royal Sisters would ever consider killing someone they care for more than anything, even for the benefit of all but the martyr? “Tails… believe in me… “Shoot at me.” Silence settled once again, but with the new white noise of the charged up cannon outside. Tails continued to show his struggle, yet was unaware that the four beings that were down below on the same level as where the cannon emerged from had conducted a plan of their own. He just continued and continued to fight the reality of what was to happen for as long as he could, until he reached the point he couldn’t fight anymore. As heartbroken as he knew he was, he couldn’t fight the gravity of the situation anymore. He started to surrender to what had to be done. “I believe in you, Cosmo. Your friendship has meant a lot to me. I wish we could spend more time together, but I understand this is your only hope to save the galaxy and bring your clan back. I’m sure your seeds will find a place to grow and build a new home. Good luck, Cosmo, and good-“ “STOP!” “WAIT!” The lid for the trigger was already lifted and the button nearly pressed when a voice called out from oen of the four outside. Out of nowhere, another source of light shined down by the cannon, over above Cosmo and Dark Oak. “Now what’s goin’ on? I feel more lost than a catfish in the desert,” said Applejack. “I don’t know. That new-” Twilight found herself cut off as she saw two new figures fly right out of this light. “Hey, look! There’s more of them!” “It’s those ghost kids; Danny and Danni Phantom.” Rainbow’s eyebrow arched at hearing Eggman say that. “Uh, what exactly did he mean by that?” There was no time to explain as the two immediately went into action, but what they were doing, or why they even came to the galaxy, was a mystery to them all. Both Phantoms each took a side of the tree and placed their hands on it. What happened next was the two turning from a black and white color scheme to a bright shade of blue, and somehow they got the tree to become the same color from the tallest leaf to the lowest point of the roots. “NOW WHAT?!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “What are they doing now?!” added Fluttershy. “Incredible!” “What is it, Doctor? Why are the Phantoms here?” “The Master Four must have thought of this. They must have called the ghost heroes here to use their intangibility powers and apply them on Cosmo specifically. This will allow her to keep Dark Oak in place and be able to avoid the destruction from the blast!” “You mean she won’t die from the attack?” The discussion Eggman was having with his two assistants caught everyone and everypony’s attention, but more so the latter, and Tails’s full attention, at the sound of the previous question. The answer he was going to give would change the entire mood of the environment. “No she won’t. She won’t fall with the Metarex.” This new revelation broke through the ponies with a wave of optimism, but nothing compared to what they saw become of Tails as he heard this. The fear, the anger, the depression, all of those emotions he was expressing had been replaced with a happier face of hope and relief. They could see a special twinkle in his eye as he stared out at the enormous plant that was his best friend, a twinkle that the mares could easily conclude what exactly it meant. “So this means Cosmo won’t go away forever?” Pinkie said, trying her best to avoid the word ‘die’ or any other related term. “I believe so,” Rarity replied. “That’s great!” Twilight yelled. “Now we can watch them destroy their enemy and-” All of a sudden, an uncomfortable thought surfaced in her mind. As for Tails, he showed not to waste any more time. This new turn of events made everything right again, and he and everyone that fought the Metarex so long for were ready to get this battle done and over with. “Get ready, everyone. Soon we’ll all be going home! “Sonic Power Cannon… “FIRE!” With a determined and brighter face, he pushed the trigger and launched the power cannon, sending out a massive gold streak from its chambers before the giant cannon crumbled the moment after firing. The two hurled hedgehogs that made up the strike got closer and closer, even doing a dance of spiraling with one-another as they closer to the giant sphere and intangible friends. All the spectators watched in waiting of the battle’s big bang of an ending. That moment, however, was replaced by another. “What the…” all six ponies said together. “What is that?” Tails and several said simultaneously. Another flash of light – a strange, dark source of light and energy – appeared between the golden attack and black Metarex sphere. Out of it came a gigantic being with a white body and dark purple face, looking as if it was made entirely out of metal, and it swiped away the two super hedgehogs out of the way as if they were nothing. Turning around, the being charged his fist with some kind of energy and struck it into the sphere, managing to cause it to self-destruct and break Cosmo out of her adult tree form. The resulting flash of light blinded everyone just long enough to miss seeing one of the ghost heroes, Danny, being shot straight back to the vessel. “What’s going on now?!” Twilight said, she and her friends all in complete shock. “What is that thing suppose- “ She turned her head to look over at Tails, but the two-tailed fox was nowhere to be seen. “Where did he go?” All of a sudden, all six ponies’ eyes lit right up, a sign that they were about to be sent to a different place of memory. In an instant, all six were sent down to the surface of the ship where the cannon once stood, and found a crash-landed creature with a black suit and glowing white hair. They saw how he looked and could tell he was just barely conscious and very tired, most likely from using that technique on Cosmo. “AAAHH!” “HELP!” The sound of two voices was heard screaming form the distance, and the ponies looked up to see where the source came from. The giant metal being had two beings clenched in his fist, and squeezing them tightly. One had a similar appearance to the ghost hero before them, but the other was too easy to recognize: it was Cosmo. “That big guy’s got Cosmo!” Rainbow yelled. Applejack added “What does he have anythin’ to do with this? And more importantly, who and what the hay is he?!” “GALVATRON!” The mares turned around to see four other beings like the ghost hero, but only in physical form and traits with their own unique appearances. “I think that those enraged gentlemen have answered your questions, Applejack,” Rarity stated. The four beings, even looking very damaged and fatigue, charged at the metal being named Galvatron together, looking as if they were prepared to fight to their last breath. The giant looked at the upcoming attackers with a look of disgust and displeasure, and with barely any ease, swiped his open limb in front of them, releasing a wave of energy that sent them hurdling back to where the ponies were standing. It was then that Twilight picked up the sounds of footsteps, and someone running up from behind. She turned her head around to see Tails racing out of the vessel and out into the open space with them on the platform. All the replenished hope and happiness that she and the others last saw him have was not diminished and replace with a look that showed the fear of death. “NO!” Tails’s scream was followed by the four crashes of his friends, who had already exhausted themselves during all the battling prior to this moment. One by one they hit the ship and landed face-first. They showed no signs of movement or breathing, but fortunately they survived the landing. The fox continued to run to the bow of the vessel, to the farthest point tip, and yelled out at the new foe. “Let them go! NOW!” Galvatron looked down at him with a scowl, never being one to take orders from those he found to be ‘inferior.’ “You pathetic creature, do you really think I will do that? I’m here to take away from you a soul that fills me with disgust, and now I have two in my hand that will make this twice as great!” “Galvatron, I fought for and alongside you for quite some time, but now I see your true intentions. Like the Metarex, you only wish to destroy. You have no right to get involved here. Don’t you dare do it!” “You dare defy me you fat excuse of a genius? “It’s time I show you what happens when you mess with me and my plans to conquer all the dimensions!” “Wha-what does he mean by that?” Fluttershy stuttered. Her answer came as the giant foe charged his open mechanical claw with an abundant amount of dark energy, keeping his two captives held out in full view for everyone and himself to witness what he was going to do. All eyes stared out wide open at this sight, and then, they saw the sight that could never be forgotten. “NOW DIE!!!” Galvatron swung his fist onto his two captives, crushing and destroying them into obliteration as they screamed blood-hurdling sounds of pain and anguish. The several seconds that the event took felt to have went on much, much longer, with jaws dropped and gasps and cries heard from all different directions. Twilight and the others just watched in absolute horror. Never in all their lives did they witness an act of murder, even if the purple alicorn princess did come close to death herself when still a unicorn over a year ago. It was sad to say for her that there was a small sense of nostalgia and familiarities with that event, and what they just witnessed was by far the worst possible outcome they could’ve guessed from this history. Each of the ponies began to feel their hearts break, and one by one began to let out their frustrations. “NOOO!” Pinkie Pie cried. “No way… no bucking way… he didn’t just…” stammered Rainbow Dash. “I… I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” said the stunned Rarity. “He just took Cosmo… and that other girl… and he…” added Applejack. “AAAAAAHH!” All Fluttershy could do was scream, and then start to break down and cry. “NO! This can’t be true!” Twilight yelled, herself starting to cry. She and her friends began to let out their upset emotions more and more, but just moments following did their attention turn back to who clearly was hurt the most. “COSMO!!!!!” Tails cried out at the top of his lungs, the remaining bits of his heart and soul shattered into what he could feel to be no longer existent. Little did him or the ponies could notice was the growing upset reactions from the others across the vessel, but compared to him it had no volume whatsoever. The ponies broke down as they saw their new friend breaking down more and more, and what made it all the worse was the noise in the background. From where he floated in space, Galvatron took his now open and blood-stained claw and held it out in the open with the other. He started to laugh, as if he was the happiest being in existence at that time and moment, and he showed no regret as his laugh grew louder and hardier. There was the old saying of adding insult to injury, but that laughter went far beyond such harshness. “That… that monster!” Twilight yelled. “WHY?!” The ponies’ attention returned to Tails as the fox broke down completely. He dropped down onto his knees, leaning down and hitting the metal ground with his hands, all the while having tears flow out of his eyes like two waterfalls. “Why did this have to happen? It’s… it’s not fair. It’s just not fair! Now I’ll never see her again! She… she was my frie… “No, she was more! She was more than that to me! I loved her… “I LOVED HER!!!!!” All six ponies couldn’t take his eyes off of watching him break down in despair, if they couldn’t open their own eyes as they cried as well. They neglected to notice how the others around them were reacting, including the now recovered super hedgehogs watching from farther back and floating above the entrance Tails rain out of. One of them, Sonic, noticed a small white speck being flown towards him, and managed to catch whatever it was. As he did, another’s voice was heard exclaimed with pure rage and disgust. “GALVATRON! “That is it! I have had it with your ways of domination! Compared to you, the Metarex are a close second that can be better called just mere thieves. From now on, if you want to see me, look for me on the battlefield as I will fight alongside Sonic and everyone else determined to stop you. Mark my words, you’ll regret everything you’ve done when we’re through with you, especially now that I will challenge you…” “Dr. Eggman, Look at the screen.” “A great energy source is coming from the Blue Typhoon.” “What?... What is this?” Little to everyone else’s knowledge, all of Tails and Cosmo’s friends still inside the ship returned to the first room the ponies entered, one of them concurring the energy readings. The readings acted more like spikes, though, as they tended to shoot up, then drop down, then shoot up higher, then drop back down again, and so on. It took the six a moment to realize that this new energy was coming from the four warriors behind them, each getting up in pure rage and their eyes shedding tears as well. As they each struggled to return to standing, they each had something to say through their fatigued voices, but the last of them seemed to have not only a voice change, but identity change as well. “GALVATRON!” “How dare you!” “You’ll pay for this!” “It’s time you take what you deserve…” “GALVATRON! IT ENDS NOW!” /)∞(\ They saw it all. The six ponies watched the climatic battle of the Metarex War carried out right in front of them, and every single action that took place. They saw how Tails and Danny ascended into these new powers called ‘Super Saiyans,’ the four warriors summoning gigantic and powerful monsters to aid them, and a fast spinning circle of mystical items help turn their friend and his allies into bright gold super beings to face off against Galvatron, and his newly summoned allies that included Dark Oak of the Metarex. Each event kept blowing them away, only not as much as watching Cosmo’s untimely death right in front of them, but the close second came when they watched their fox friend and the ghost hero fuse together into one super warrior called Tails Phantom. Regardless of it being a flashback, a couple of the ponies cheered on their friend as others kept themselves contently quiet, mostly because of how unbelievable this sight was and the fact that this was all reality filled their minds. The fight went on for quite a while, the sounds of all of the heroes’ friends cheering them on from inside the vessel, all the way up to the final showdown as both sides unleashed all the power in their remaining arsenal in single shots. When it seemed both sides were evenly matched, Tails called out to all to cover their ears for their own safety, something that Fluttershy did almost instantaneously out of fear and for her own protection. Everyone and everypony else followed, and then the Ghostly Wail was unleashed and helped in what appeared to be the final end. “They did it! They won!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “FINALLY! They took down at oversized overly-meany mcmeaniest mean monster in the history of meanness!” Pinkie Pie screeched. “That was… that was…” Rarity found herself lost for words. “That was…” Twilight was about to help her friend finish her sentence, but a certain sight changed her intended response to the complete opposite. “That wasn’t enough! He’s still there!” Everypony joined the alicorn in panic as they saw a broken down Galvatron floating out there in the starry space sky, still willing to fight. “You think that would stop me, you fools? You cannot win… “NOW DIE!” Using what little energy the villain had left, he formed an energy sword and charged for them all. “Oh crud! We need to snap out of this and now!” Applejack yelled in panic. “He’s comin’ right for us!” “I don’t know if I can stop it,” Twilight said. “The spell would stop showing us these visions when all we needed to see would finish.” Fluttershy said “Well I can’t take much more of this!” “You might now have to, darling. Look!” Rarity pointed a hoof at Tails, who had taken on Galvatron’s challenge by charging himself right at him. “NEVER!... “CHAOS… WRATH!!!” Tails went straight for the enemy’s head, striking the foe with an exploding force of energy. The resulting blast launched Galvatron to his summoned allies unconsciously, and Tails Phantom separating back to Tails and Danny as they flew back to the Blue Typhoon. Their allies saw that the battle was finally over, and decided to power themselves down from their current states, returning to what the ponies saw as their normal appearances once again and the creatures they summoned fading away. No one could say a word as they wrapped their minds around the fact that it was over. After months of fighting, the battle was over, and the Metarex War was now in the past. Galvatron and his comrades escaped by the assistance of two other allies of theirs, but given everything that had transpired in the last few hours, the heroes let it go. Twilight, Rainbow, and everypony else watched Tails just stare out into space, the very spot where the moon-sized sphere once was and now replaced by the glow from a source much greater from any star. He looked out that direction only briefly, as he heard and sensed a certain blue hedgehog walking up towards him. When he turned to face him, he showed the return of depressed eyes with tears lining the lower areas. “Sonic?” The hedgehog said nothing as he walked forward to the fox, both of his fists clenched. He used one of his hands to reach out and grab one of Tails’s wrists, and then used his other hand to place something in it. Sonic then spoke in a solemn and collected voice, trying to keep a strong front in his appearance, where in reality his heart was broken. “Here Tails… “I’m sorry.” The six ponies walked up and surrounded their friend, looking at what Sonic had handed to him. It was a small white seed, most likely having come from Cosmo somehow. The seed was all that was left of her, all that was left of the very person who reached Mobius with a calling for Team Sonic to help save the galaxy and stop the Metarex from their evil plans of destruction and forestation. There was no denying it when they saw it happen, and there was no denying it now. Cosmo was killed, and now was gone forever. “No… No… “NO!” Tails collapsed, unable to keep in the pain anymore. He fell onto his hands and knees and started to cry, and he cried hard. That was all that could be heard and looked at, seeing him wailing out his despair and streams of tears flowed down his face and hit the metal ground drop by drop, soaking his muzzle’s fur in the process. All Sonic could do was stand there like a statue, his eyes shut and head barely bowed, ignoring everything else, including the meteor shower of planet eggs. And like Tails, Twilight and everypony began to collapse in grief as well. This was the answer to what they had asked the couple in the library a while ago. This was the ending result of a battle that carried so much baggage to the couple that it was no wonder they didn’t want to tell the tale in full. This was, without question, the most depressing thing they have ever witnessed happen, and they still knew that this wasn’t the full story, yet the magnitude of the situation was still too sad to hold inside. Each of the ponies let out their sadness and frustration in their own respective manners. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie just wailed out their sadness in their respective tones and pitches, Rarity putting on what others would call an overdramatic scene, Applejack trying to hide herself behind her hat, and then Rainbow Dash, who just growled and grunted in attempt to hold back not just her anger, but a flood of tears to shed as compared to the couple, very small ones she allowed to slip. As for Twilight, she couldn’t help but feel how she did before. This entire event, and seeing Tails break down as he did, reminded her of herself back when Nightmare Moon had returned and conquered Equestria. She recalled feeling that broken, like an absolute favor towards someone who became much more than she ever intended. The difference between the two was that Tails and Cosmo’s past saw the fox walk away with nothing, where Twilight managed to walk out of her past event with the filly that once was Nightmare Moon. “This is not fair. It’s not fair at all,” she thought to herself. “Tails tried so hard to protect her, but failed. Yet, Cosmo was willing to risk herself for everyone she cared for, and I have no doubt she loved Tails just as much, just as much as... “Cosmo… Nyx… they’re so much alike. No wonder I sympathize with Tails so much… he doesn’t deserve this. Neither of us did. None of us did.” The final moments the six ponies spent in that trip through history was coming together in a circle, crying together and letting free the sadness in their hearts. A bright light shined around them and engulfed them inside. The next thing they knew, they were back inside the Golden Oak Library, staring straight at Tails and Cosmo across the room, and shared their thoughts on what they saw.