Zanth managed to abscurne with Twilight, and now with Cozy Glow, Tirek, and Chrysalis with them, the rest of the main six, the young six, and the CMC must all go to Point Zero and stop Zanth from activating the meta-verse's biggest reset button known only as "The Ultimate Reset".
But first, Gareth has some explaining to do. Exactly what did he mean when he answered Rainbow Dash's question with "it's me"?
Tag notes: There's only one instance of death, and while permanent, due to the death not being fully detailed, it is very much HEAVILY implied. As such, this story has a teen rating and a death warning tag. Mario, Zelda, and Sonic series representation only show up during a specific moment in the story, but are not the main focus. Main Six tag includes Starlight & Spike CMC tag includes Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and Cozy Glow
Previously, after dealing with Neo Metal Sonic and somewhat reforming Chrysalis, when the group returned to equestria, Zanth had been waiting for them, having beaten up Gareth before they arrived and then pony napping Twilight taking her to Celestia only knew where. Rainbow Dash asked Gareth what Zanth really was to which Gareth had replied with two words. And while he only said two words as his answer, it was like he had said a million at once.
"It's Me." Gareth had said.
Eons ago, long before the existance of this world in a distant part of the meta-verse on a particular planet was a town. In this town, if you ever became accused of a crime, then even if you were found innocent, the entire town would still treat you as if you were guilty; essentially shaming you forever.
One day, a lone human was walking to the local bank to cash in his paycheck when suddenly robbers blew up the bank's front entrance and when the smoke cleared, the human was left holding a single bag of money and thus was arrested under the accusation that he was one of the robbers.
And while this man was found not guilty, like I had stated the entire town didn't agree with this judgement. As such, day by day the entire town became more and more rotten towards this man, and only one girl; the mayor's daughter in fact; stood by his side. That is until the mayor himself gave his daughter an ultimatum: Either leave the man's side or lose her entire college scholarship. The girl chose her scholarship over the man she had been standing by as she wanted to go to college above all else.
Heartbroken, the man started to plead and beg for the power to make the entire world pay for his misery; make everyone feel his world of despair and sadness. That was when another human arrived and promised that so long as this new human was alive, the man who was suffering would have the power to do whatever they so choose to do without restraint, and without guilt. It was a deal with the devil though, as the man would become a monster. A monster that would become known as Zanth.
As Gareth finished telling this information, the scene had shifted from a human male being overlayed by Gareth. "...I know this because I was the man who made a deal with the devil. When the devil in question was killed off, I should've died right then and there, but instead, I was sent here, to your world as I am now. But the powers that made me Zanth were no longer mine. They separated and slowly reformed into a new Zanth, one that is still fueled by the despair and sadness that I had felt." Gareth said.
"So...that's what you meant when you said Zanth was you..." Chrysalis said.
"In a way, it still is me. Because it still holds the despair and sadness that I had suffered as it's motivation. Now it wants nothing more than to cause the entire meta-verse to reset, just so it can stop existing with all the pain and suffering it feels. That I had felt. Because the truth is that I had created Zanth, so I am Zanth just as much as Zanth is me." Gareth said.
"Why did he take Princess Twilight then if he's just going to reset everything? That makes no sense." Tirek said.
"Because in order to build the meta-verse from the ground up, Zanth needs a constant. And Twilight fits that bill to a T." Gareth said.
"Where's he taking her then?" Rainbow Dash said.
"To Point Zero, where the meta-verse's biggest reset button lies. A reset button known only as 'The Ultimate Reset'. If Zanth manages to activate it, it's not just your world as you know that goes poof, but the entire Meta-verse as we know it. And Zant will have full control over the new meta-verse." Gareth said.
"We can't let that happen. Not after everything we've been through." Cozy Glow said. "That kind of power will not be good for Equestria." She added.
"Then we need directions, and fast!" Rainbow Dash said.
"I can guide you as far as the boarder to Outpost Omega which is on the outskirts of Point Zero." Gareth said. "But from there, you will all be on your own. I dare not take another step further past that. I cannot and will not let that sort of power tempt me again. Never again. I let that premise of power turn me into Zanth once before. I will not let it again." He added.
"...Your wrong you know." Starlight said. "You aren't Zanth. At least not anymore." She added.
Some time later, the group was soon on the outskirts of a giant outpost and soon Garble arrived.
"Wait up." Garble said. "Ember said Twilight got kidnapped, and well...I figured I'd pay you all back for setting me straight. Especially you, Spike." He added.
"Fine. Just don't cause any problems." Spike said.
"G-got it..." Garble said. The group headed forward without Gareth but soon upon entering, they noticed Zanth.
Zanth Soul started to attack the group with not just the tentacles but also various mimics of attacks from the bosses they had faced from their various journeys.
"Okay, I got to ask: WHOSE THE WISE GUY WHO DECIDED TO GIVE THIS THING EVERY ATTACK UNDER THE SUN?!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed as the group dodged attacks and fought back.
"I...I'm normally not one for fighting but this...this is nothing more than a monster. Gareth was right to call Zanth that." Fluttershy said.
"I won't lie, I didn't expect to be fighting something like THIS all of a sudden, but I got to do it, for Twilight's sake." Garble said.
Zanth Soul continued his onlaught as the group of ponies & creatures fought back against it.
Suffer...suffer as I have suffered...suffer in my pain...suffer in my sadness...suffer in pure despair... A voice called out.
"I-is that Gareth's voice?" Fluttershy asked.
"It sounds like it, but it's not Gareth speaking; it's Zanth." Chrysalis said. "It's going to have to do better than to catch us off guard." She added.
"Wait, didn't Gareth said he is Zanth? Maybe that's what he was referring to: Zanth's probably the embodiment of Gareth's darkness or something." Rainbow Dash said. "...The one time I wish Twilight was here; she'd do a better job of explaining this then I ever could." She added.
"All the more reason to get her back Sugarcube, now let's push through and wrangle this varmit!" Applejack said.
"For once, I can agree to that statement. This mindless monster shall fall to our combined might." Tirek raised a fist at that last bit.
Soon enough, Zanth Soul's attacks started to become more desperate and frequent; meaning it was on the ropes
"Almost there every creature, just got to push it a little bit longer." Sandbar said.
"Something's wrong, this feels too easy." Smolder said.
"Why dragon friend say that?" Yona asked.
"But she's not wrong, I feel like this has been too easy too." Occellus said.
Suddenly Gareth showed up. "Every one, you need to retreat right now!" He said.
"Gareth? But we're just about to win this thing." Apple Bloom said.
"It's a trap! Zanth made you chase him and lead you this deep into Outpost Omega on purpose with Garble. He plans on--" Gareth tried to warn them before suddenly a tentacle grabbed Garble and pulled him straight into the purple goo.
"GARBLE!" Smolder shouted. Suddenly Zanth warped into some kind of twisted form combining it and Garble into one being and then fled the scene. Soon Ember showed up.
"Too late, Zanth grabbed Garble." Gareth said. "It was a set up..." He added.
"Spike, you'll need this to free Garble from Zanth." Ember said, handing Spike the Bloodstone sceptor.
"I see...I understand." Spike said.
"And I'm coming with. Wouldn't be much of a dragon lord if I didn't look out for my own race now would I?" Ember asked with a smirk.
The group continued forward, soon arriving in a mysterious space.
"Guys, we're here." Gareth said. The group saw Twilight dead ahead, encased in some kind of crystal.
"By the great mother..." Chrysalis said before Flash Sentry soon flew right past them all.
"I'M COMING FOR YOU TWILIGHT!" Flash Sentry said.
"Where did he come from? You know what, don't answer that." Chrysalis said. Suddenly, the entire space shook as something showed up.
"Oh...oh god..." Flash Sentry said, noticing the form Zanth was in. He was a LOT bigger then before. Suddenly Zanth summoned a shadow copy of Twilight.
"Wh-what now?!" Sandbar said.
"I...I don't know..." Flash Said.
"AH I'M SCARED!" Fluttershy said.
"DON'T GIVE UP!"
It was Spike who said that. "We lose too much if we stop now. This is more then just saving lives or even the meta-verse..." He said before rasing the bloodstone septor. "THIS IS ABOUT SAVING OUR FRIENDS!" The dragon shouted.
"He's right!" Sandbar said.
"Game on!" Scootaloo said.
"Let's do it!" Smolder announced.
Zanth at Point Zero - Parody of SMG4's song "Zero"
Time ticks down and fades all our sorrow. Three, two, one, zero! Your perilous wrath's at the end of it's path!
Your pleas are all in vain, all that I know is pain! Don't blame me if you all yell, down in my special hell; as I tear your lives apart, to begin my new fresh form and hit restart!
Hello fellow friends, I hear death's a great new trend. Why care and love in life when we all know it's the end? Don't be scared, copy me; off your head and let's be free. Come on guys, join the club, we offer fresh baked cookies!
Twilight girl, come on and quit; you must snap out of it! Flurry of threats and weak attacks won't stop us in our tracks. Where's the egghead we all know with a brain that's thick, thick and smart.
Well I think that sweet talk made me want to die; that's how your going to kill a god your going to try and make him cry? C'mon you all let's step it up and use all of our big brains, because I know there's a smarter way to win this game. (Chrysalis points to Twilight in the crystal)
Sorry Twilight, this might hurt; we'll make sure it's fast and quick.
Lol no, it's going to feel like being hit in your private parts!
We're coming don't you wait; we'll put an end to your fate!
NO! STOP! I MUST ELMINATE!
Relinquish your grip on our hero. THREE, TWO, ONE, ZERO! Feel your control decay away, oh what a dark day! (Twilight is freed and the shadow clone destroyed)
The sun shines bright with nothing but fading fear, oh the end is near!
Impossible, prepare to be deleted. DELETED! (A bunch of shadow clones of various enemies from their adventures are summoned)
I'm sorry this is whack; you call this a finishing attack? Sending out your stans, that's your plan? Come on man...
You misconstrue the full extent of my deadly power; now go rot in this moment that I call your final hour. (The CMC & Cozy glow suddenly hold hooves)
Zanth we've sacrificed all too much just to leave, now it's time to turn the tide with this ace up our sleeves. (Tirek is slowly being fed friendship magic)
You don't scare me with this old, dated and weak technique... (Zanth rushes to the young group right here) Stand down now and let Zanth give the death you seek! (Zanth is hit by Sonic & Shadow)
Can't let you do that because it's our turn to end your fun! (Zanth is hit by Link and Zelda)
Time to repent for the massive sins that you've done! (The four start hitting Zanth repeatedly)
No stop, let me through; grr wait...I CAN'T LET THAT FRIENDSHIP POWER MUTATE! (Zanth is then hit by Cappy thrown by Mario who is with Harriet)
Oh boy, can you feel it; do you feel the terror loom? That's because your about to enter Mario's tunnel of doom! Ladies and gents now it's time to finish off this foe, are you ready? LETS-A-GO!
Your last moment is now...THREE, TWO, ONE, ZERO! You don't stand a chance, so goodbye!
You dare oppose me, now death is what you'll face; erased with no trace! Welcome to my world of despair, and sadness.
Sorry to bother your heartbreak; but you just made your final mistake. Release our friend and return him to us. The curtains lower, applause signs glow; seems like it's the end of your show. OH HERE WE GO...THREE, TWO, ONE, ZERO! (Spike and Smolder go into Zanth itself.)
Entering Zanth, the two dragons noticed a bound Garable, and Spike rushes up to him with the bloodstone scepter with Smolder not far behind. The sounds of Spike hitting the bounds of Garble catches his attention.
"Spike? Smolder?" Garble asked.
"Hold on Gar-gar...we'll get you out!" Smolder said.
"...It's no use Smolder..." Garble said.
"Don't say that; we're so close!" Spike said.
Meanwhile, Zanth was beginning to break free of Tirek's grasp.
"HURRY UP YOU TWO; WE'RE LOOSING CONTROL!" Ember's voice could be heard.
"Smolder, Spike, we're out of time." Garble said. "There's only one way left to beat Zanth." He added.
Realizing what he was implying, Smolder began to break into tears. "NO! THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER WAY! THERE HAS TO BE!" Smolder cried out.
"Hey it'll be okay...you're going to be marrying the strongest dragon I know." Garble said.
Realizing what he meant, Spike felt a few tears of his own. "...Despite our differences, I would've been glad to call you my brother-in-law, Garble." Spike said, and got Smolder away to deal the killing blow himself.
"Hey Spike?" Garble piqued up. "...Take care of my sister for me." He simply said.
With renewed tears, Spike delt the killing blow all while yelling out one single thing.
"GAR GAR!"
Soon after it, Spike and Smolder exited Zanth who soon disintegrated.
"The evil is destroyed!" Flash said.
"You two did good." Ember said, going up to the two dragons but noticed there was one missing. "...Hey, where's Garble?" Ember asked.
As soon as the question was asked, no verbal answer was given. Instead, Smolder's intense breakdown into tears told every creature everything they needed to know.
Every creature; including the three former villains; felt the sadness behind those tears. This was more than just the loss of a friend after all.
A couple of days later, a memorial service was being held for Garble and once it ended, while the young six, the CMC, the Main six, Spike, the former villains, and Starlight had stayed behind, they were soon approached by Gareth, Celestia, and Luna.
"A brief moment if you would: I can confirm that our world no longer has any trances of Zanth left in it." Celestia said.
"...Finally..." Gareth said. "...I have no words to thank you and your friends for what you've managed to do, Princess Twilight Sparkle. Thanks to all of you, you have freed me from the monster I had created. Free...I am free..." Gareth said.
"Free as the three of us? Or free as in your heart's free?" Cozy Glow said. "Because part of me thinks it's both, isn't it?" She added.
"Hmph...I suppose you could say that. Even if the cost was great for that freedom." Gareth said, turning to the statue build for Garble's memorial. The entire group had a moment of silence.
"So, Gareth, what are you going to do next now that you are free from Zanth?" Twilight asked.
"Hmm...I suppose I might consider studying this 'magic of friendship' thing you talk about on my own terms. Which is why I'm going to leave this world, find a different version of equestria that's more recent and nowhere near as far along as this one. But how I'll go about that is my own business. I wish to see for myself what the 'magic of friendship' is truly like." Gareth said. "You and I will meet again, but under different circumstances Twilight Sparkle. Until then..." He added before leaving.
Luster Dawn closed the book she was reading.
"...So...that's why Cozy Glow and the others aren't a statue anymore." Luster Dawn said.
"But of course." Princess Twilight said.
"So, what happened to Chrysalis and Tirek after this?" Luster Dawn asked.
"Chrysalis actually writes and distributes this story to this day. Tirek on the other hoof, while he has not been heard or seen of since, the fact that nothing has been reported leads me to believe he's just enjoying some sort of beach somewhere." Princess Twilight said. "And of course, you know where Cozy Glow is now." She added.
"Yeah. The School of Friendship as one of the teachers; specifically taking up your old friendship class." Luster Dawn said.
"Seems the Cutie Mark Crusaders were able to redeem her where I could not. It's made Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity proud of their sisters. Even if they are not blood related, Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo see each other as sisters." Princess Twilight said.
"Speaking off, sometimes Cozy Glow gets some of those you met in the other worlds to teach the class I've noticed." Luster Dawn said. "But more often then not, it's the Zelda world." She added.
"Guess she's exploring her origins; her real origins." Princess Twilight said.
"Did you ever meet Gareth again?" Luste Dawn asked.
"Nope, but I believe in what he said: That he is finally free." Princess Twilight said.