WIEAW: The Revenge of Trixie

The Terminal, the gigantic world between worlds, was the one place that contained all the gateways that linked one world to another completely different world. Equestria Prime, the normal Equestria without any insane killers or citizens that actually lashed out at their rulers, was linked to the Terminal and thus linked to the other versions of itself and the other worlds. The lower levels of the world were full of life, ponies and people from all the various worlds gathering together and sharing their collective knowledge with each other.

The upper levels were where the silver crafted gateways, the links between worlds, rested, far above others so they wouldn't walk into a random world on accident. Each of the gateways had a magical sign, a signature, that allowed the citizens of the Terminal to know exactly which gateway lead to which world. There was a designated part of the Terminal that was like a huge train station, gateways constantly moving as the citizens moved from one world, to the Terminal, an then onto another world.

It was here, or more like above the entire plaza, that the airship known as The Leviathan entered the Terminal, hovering above the citizens as it entered the even larger Shipyard.

The Shipyard was a huge location of the Terminal, one part that rested between the lower and upper levels, where all the airships gathered when they were not in use. There were usually a dozen ships anchored there at any given time, but there was a special area left alone for the airship that belonged to Vinyl. It was here that she and her friends landed their airship, but instead of walking off the deck they teleported back to the station so they could greet others.

Vinyl, dressed up in her old commander's uniform, walked tall and proud as she and her friends appeared in the midst of all the other citizens that were leaving the station. Octavia carried the item that she had picked up from the World of Giants, a tightly wrapped item that was as long as her body was. Vinyl had no idea what Octavia had found, but she knew that it would be revealed to her and the others once it was presented to the Gatekeeper.

"Ah, Commander Scratch," said a voice as none other than Shining Armor, still sporting his suit of armor, joined their little group, "I was wondering when you and your friends were going to return from the World of Giants. I trust that the giants left you all alone and didn't cause a lot of trouble during your search?"

"Oh, they were the same old giants," Vinyl causally answered, eying a stall as they walked by, "They sniffed us out like a bloodhound does, shrieked at the night sky, and loosed the bloody trolls on us."

"They did what?" Shining said, nearly shouting the words out of his mouth.

"We blew their cages open and let them have the fury of their slaves," Vinyl continued, not really caring about his small outburst, "which is part of the reason we went there and not someplace else. Its not everyday that we find information about a real possible location of where Trixie might actually be and discover that the people of that same world are doing something seriously wrong."

Shining seemed surprised, because once the words left her mouth he just shut up and bowed his head in respect, allowing the group to move on. The Co-Commander was not usually one to be easily silenced, but after his death and then his rebirth he learned not to mess around and argue points. He was content to let Vinyl and her friends do their thing, tracking Trixie across the worlds and restore peace wherever it happens to be broken.`

Ahead of them was an amusing sight; a Cadence that was wearing the royal gown of the Crystal Empire and a Chrysalis wearing a simple dark green gown. The two mortal enemies, that was what most ponies would normally assume when staring at them, were actually chatting as they approached the group. Chrysalis had some small bags in her saddlebags and Cadence had one of her own, indicating that they had gone shopping for a bit. Vinyl grinned, she was happy to see ponies who would normally hate each other getting along just fine.

"Hey girls," Vinyl called, getting their attention easily, "How's it going?"

"It is going good Commander," Cadence replied with a smile, clearly enjoying her week off of duty, "Chrissy and I were just doing some shopping. I'm getting some things for the palace and Chrissy...well, she can tell you herself."

"Your so sweet Cady," Chrysalis said, nudging Cadence with a hoof, "I bought some supplies for the members of my race who are trying to establish connections to the rest of the Changelings on the other worlds. I have a large order to fill out, but I thought that I might be able to split it with some of my more trustworthy followers and get it done quicker. So far I have a third of the list completed, so it should take me the rest of the day to finish it. If you seen any Changelings running around with shopping bags and a list just tell them to meet me at the fountain near the station when they're done."

Vinyl and her friends nodded their agreement and let the two mares continue on their shopping spree.

After the defeat of the Dark Lord Oblivion three months ago ponies from both sides of the war began to hang together, like Cadence and Chrysalis. Ponies would hang around the various worlds with their former enemies, forgetting their hate for those who opposed them in the past. Pinkie Pie, formerly known as Pinkamena, had simmered down to a more peaceful tone, meaning she wasn't prone to violence and kicking the butts of whoever annoyed her.

The Gatekeeper, the immortal alicorn who watched over the universe, always rested in the highest peak of the Terminal, a place known only as the Sanctum. It was there that he could left alone whenever he felt the need to ignore other ponies and rarely welcomed others in for insight on their lives. The only ponies he actually allowed to visit were Vinyl Scratch, her friends, and Shining Armor, when he actually choose to visit. And, seeing how he liked to be away from most ponies, he had the largest collection of books and other collectable items he had spent the entirety of his existence collecting.

So far he had yet to collect everything that he had put on his list, a long checklist that existed in a single book he kept under lock and key.

As usual he was reading a book, a rather large tome that he had sent Vinyl to recover during her first years in the hunt for the Seven Keys. Those same keys that once held the only way for Oblivion to escape from his prison were now on display in his Sanctum, separated from each other in the seven areas he had made. The book was said to be one of the larger books of the dark arts, one that contained the keys and tools to creating a truly devastating evil army.

"Hey Gatekeeper," Vinyl greeted as she and her friends entered the Sanctum, "How you doing?"

"Ah, the young Vinyl Scratch and company," the Gatekeeper said, a bookmark appearing in the book as he faced the group of four, "I see that young Octavia has a bundle in her hooves. Tell me, what is it that you have found?"

Octavia went over to a table, laid the bundle on the wood, and then unwrapped the entire thing, displaying what was underneath it. What they had found was a staff that was as long as Octavia was, one that was carved from an ancient type of wood by the energy it gave off. There was a silver and gold swirl dancing about the staff, likely caused by the very power they all felt from the wood. At the peak of the staff rested some sort of blackened gemstone that gave off a eerie red glow, something that would make anyone tremble.

"I have not seen a staff of this power or design in over four thousand years," the Gatekeeper said, studying the gemstone with some interest, "I had thought that the wood used to carve such a staff had been destroyed, but it seems that I am quite wrong in that regard. Where did you find this weapon again?"

"The World of Giants," Vinyl answered, shaking her head, "inside the chief's hut. What is it?"

"I...I do not know," the Gatekeeper said, "but I know that, given enough time, I can recall what this is and exactly what it was meant to do. For now it shall remain locked away in the Sanctum, until we can discover what the magic is for and turn it against whoever created it. I have heard rumors of a new enemy, one who rules by fear and fear alone. This weapon may very well be connected to this new enemy. I will tell you more when I discover more myself."

As the Gatekeeper turned away, taking the ancient staff with him, Octavia turned to her friends.

"So," Vinyl asked, a grin appearing on her face, "Which world shall we visit next?"