Chapters A Handyman On The Multiverse
Into The Lions Den (Pilot)
Author's Note
Ok I know it has been a long time, but here it is my idea for the first chapter of my story, hope you guys like it and with any luck I can use it as base to continue and maybe even conclude the story jeje.
Into The Lions Den (Pilot)
Stepping out of the portal, Chrysalis looks around the empty hallways before asking her companions to come closer before they start to walk around the place. Clearing her throat the changeling started to call out for anyone to receive them, as Daisy and Mark noticed how it was nighttime outside but couldn't shake the sensation that there was something off with the moons and the star like they were missing a certain glimmer that their Luna always put when presenting the night.
"Ah hello? Queen Twilight Sparkle? Anyone? We came to speak with you?" She kept calling until all of a sudden, thousands of guards sporting Big Mac faces appeared from everywhere and pointed their spears at them with neutral expressions, causing both Chrysalis and Daisy to raise their arms in surrender out of sheer instinct "H-Hi, c-could we talk with your queen? We brought her the prisoner that she was looking for" Chrysalis pointed at Mark and to sell their act he started to act dopey and disoriented.
"Jeje pretty lights, where are we? Is this a fun house?" He starts to chuckle briefly "I see lots of Big Macs! Big! Where did you enlist?" He continues to laugh breaking some of the tension as the guards look at one another confused and slowly retreat their spears allowing the mares to lower their arms and sigh in relief.
"Ok, what is going on?" the voice of Spike caught their attention as the dragon in question made his way among the mass of Big Macs until he reached the front of the group. "What got you all riled up this...time" His voice dies down once he lays eyes on Twilight and Mark "Fives?" He slowly approaches him with concern. Keeping the act he just pretended to laugh and spin his head.
"Purple dragon, little purple dragon. Are there more colored dragons? Where is the pink dragon? Oh red dragon, what about blue dragon?" He keeps laughing which only makes him worry even more as he turns to Twilight
"What did you do to him?"
"We gave him a strong sedative so he would behave. Don't worry, it will take a while before it passes, enough to put him on a cell or something"
"Oh no, oh no. And just when Twilight finally got it" Spike talks mostly to himself looking down and bringing a claw to his forehead. "This is bad"
"Ah excuse me?" Chrysalis can only blink a couple of times not knowing what to make out of his reaction.
Concern, fear, anger...confusion. He is telling the truth. Is this universe Spike is actually concerned for Mark well well-being? What in Tartarus is going on with this version?
"Ah! N-Not you Twilight, my Twilight that other..." He sighed and tried to breathe in "Look whatever he did to your world, it wasn't his fault, he was just confused and startled. Please don't be so harsh on him"
"He..."
"He only destroys public property, a couple of streets, lampposts, and mailboxes. No one got hurt, luckily. He tries to avoid them" Daisy answers for Chrysalis feeling sorry for the dragon who sighs in relief.
"Ok, ok, just some property damage, that is fixable, nothing wrong there. Just need to calm down Fives"
"Ah so...you don't want to restrain him or something?" Chrysalis asks trying to put things back on track.
"Hmm? Oh yeah, yeah! M-Maybe it would be for the best if you keep the prince like that for a while. At least until we explain everything to him more calmly"
"Prince?" The 3 replies in surprise, albeit not wanting to blow their cover Mark resumes his dopey act.
"Well kind of yeah, listen Twilight. This might sound weird to hear, even if it's not you and is more like my Twilight but Fives is kind of...sort of...in a way..."
"Yeah?" Chrysalis was startled to get irritated by his attempt to stall
"Son! He is her son! She made him and gave him life, ergo...he is Twilight Sparkle OF THIS World son!" He finally blurts out leaving everyone speechless.
"Come again?" Chrysalis was the first one to recover from that truth bomb that he just dropped as he shook his head.
"Look is weird and complicated, why don't you just come with me and I will take you to Twilight? The poor mare could sure use some good news ever since she realized this too" He offered before stopping by the guards.
"Oh right, at ease soldiers, this is our guest"
They remain stoic and look at him making him sigh in irritation "Resume your duties as usual. There is no threat to the castle"
Nodding they disperse as if nothing happened some even getting back to the doors they were guarding.
"These clones, I swear. Somedays I'm not even sure if they can think or are even alive" Spike mumbles to himself in exasperation.
"Spike?" Daisy asks in concern while he shakes his head.
"Just talking to myself. This way please"
He goes ahead and three follow behind, still confused about what happened.
"What do you make of all of this?" Daisy whispered once she was sure he was fairly far away.
"I honestly don't know. He is telling the truth, which is what is the hardest thing for me to believe. I mean Mark!? The son of Twilight Sparkle?!" She harshly whispers back.
"How do you think I'm feeling?" Mark joins in their chat "I came here to confront the bitch that ruined my life, not dive into some bizarre Frankenstein family drama" He sighs in exasperation "I swear this place is turning more and more into a nut house by the second. We might need to rethink our plan"
"Not yet, we could use this to our advantage. Twilight may be more willing to cooperate if you ask polite...junior"
"Oh hardy har har" He glares at her but sighs "Fine, but if she starts to get creepy I bail, I don't care if it blows our cover I draw the line on baby talk directed at me" He warns them causing the two to snicker at the mental image.
"Shut up!"
At the same time, back in the other Equestria
Stirring on her bed Fluttershy slowly wakes up and stretches with a smile as her little animal friends get closer to receive.
"Good morning my little friends, did you rest well?" As part of her routine Fluttershy starts playing with all of her dogs until she spots two robins carrying a letter with their beaks picking her interest.
"Oh and what do you have here?" She picks up the letter and breaks the envelope to read its contents. Getting increasable afraid and shocked by what it says. By the time she reaches the end. The caretaker jumped out of bed and headed outside, stopping mid-way, to remember to put some clothes on.
After a rush change of clothes and putting Angel in charge she grabbed the letter and flew as fast as she could toward Twilight's Castle.
Deer Fluttershy, by this point I'm sure the idea of me writing you letters is more than weirding you out. But I beg of you to please listen to what I have to say if it helps you. I wrote similar cards to anyone I could think of.
These last three months have been hell on earth for me. I know how much you try to repair what we lost, and I'm deeply moved and thankful for all the patience you all have with me. But even if you don't say, I can still see it in your eyes, the distance glance, the void in your iris, the cold in your touch. For weeks I kept lying to myself ignoring what was glaringly obvious and as much as it hurt me to say, there is no denying it any longer. All of us lost that spark that we once held, my beautiful herd, my friends, my family. How I yearn to rekindle that passion and love we once had. The memories we share, the adventures we had, and the connection we made both spiritually and physically.
Yet as much as I would love to have those days back, I know it is impossible, love can't be forced. And we can't live in the past reminiscent of what we once held. My mind is chaos and I can't ask you to wait forever for me. That would not be fair to you.
That is why I'm done waiting, and decided to start demanding answers, I would confront the Twilight Sparkle that broke my life and find once and for all, what is my origin. Please don't think that I'm making this decision lightly. Because the truth is far from that, and the reality is you all deserve better than me. I know you can do something way better than some old strong, broken human.
If this is the end, if I don't return from this last adventure, I rather remember you for your warm smile and kind heart, that is why I needed to say my goodbyes like this. Please know how I will always treasure what we have, would wish you the best of luck finding the right guy, or gal, and know that I will always love you.
Forever yours, Mark Star
"Not like this, not like this. Mark, please don't go. You can't leave us like this!" With glared and tearful eyes Fluttershy clears her face as she sees the castle appearing on the horizon, as well as the rest of the mane six. Yet she doesn't see Milky, Surprise, or Umbral anywhere which starts to concern her. Shaking her head she ironed her resolve and decided to deal with that later, as there were more pressing matters ahead of her.
Back at Bizarre Equestria
Eventually, the group reached a ballroom with all the tables and chairs piled on two corners with white sheets on top of them, and at the end of the room sitting in front of a bar table was the mare of the hours, drowning herself in beer while Pika acts as the bartender, cleaning her jar while Twilight keep her face plant on the desk with one arm hugging her head while the other was stretched out holding an empty bottle.
"Wow, that is just...sad" Even Chrysalis had to feel pity for the pathetic state Twilight was in at the moment with Daisy and even Mark agreeing.
"I know" Spike sighed in worry "Ever since Five left, and she finally believes what I was telling her, she has been hitting the bottle pretty hard"
He approaches Mark and pats his shoulder "Fives if you are in there. If you can sober it up at least briefly...please talk to her. I know your relationship is more than complicated, but now more than ever your mom needs you. I promise, no more experiments, no more objectification, no more chase. Just please...help her out"
He pleads in the hopes that Mark could be listening making things even worse for the poor human as he was having a hard time keeping his dopey act.
"Ok, Mr. Purple Dragon" He turns to Daisy "Hey pretty lady can I talk with the pony that smells funny?"
Both she and Chrysalis look a bit unsure but nod and the group slowly made their way toward Twilight. Pika finally notices them and gasps once she sees Mark but stops saying anything when Spike asks her to keep quiet.
Taking cautious steps Mark stopped with the pretense and stood up from his chair before slowly going ahead toward Twilight who hadn't noticed him yet, startled and stopping along the rest when she suddenly scoffed at apparently nothing "Motherhood, let me tell you something about Motherhood Pika, of every subject, of every project of every idea. That is the one and possible only thing I never once ever considered or wanted to explore!"
She was half drunk lifting both her head, arms, and bottle and spilling some of the content in front of Pika, before taking a long swing at the bottle and putting it on the table not letting go of its neck. "I had a mother once, heck I have two, maybe even three if you consider Luna, and let me tell you something...those" Burp "Were the best goddamn mothers any filly could wish to have. Hands down, no competition"
The group was surprised by her sudden swearing and laughing which soon turned into sobbing "They taught me everything I knew and I virtually kissed the ground they walked in and yet when it suddenly became my turn, what do I decide? I make a son on a probe! Because of course, that is what I do!" She tosses the bottle which shatters on a nearby wall next to other shatter remains. The queen still sobbing.
"I shatter just imagining how disappointed they should be in me right now. My son, by Celestia even saying it, feels weird, even less that it took me fucking YEARS for me to realize I made one, the smartest mare in Equestria, mares and stallions! I create life out of literally nothing, I virtually create a son without realizing it...and I treat him like an object, no worse! A failed attempt! You should call Mary Shell Pika, apparently, I became Frankenstein, line by line step by step. And now...the stars know what he would do when..."
"Mom?" It was Twilight's turn to get startled and turn back to look at Mark, the human feeling more than sorry for her at the moment and decided to at the very least try to make her feel better.
"Are you...alright?" He asks slowly extending his arms toward him
"Experiment..."
"AHEMPH!" Both Spike and Pika clear their throats and send murderous glares at Twilight to warn her of her words
"R-Right, ah...f-fives you are..."
Sighing in defeat Mark drops the act completely and crosses his arms with a neutral stare "It's Mark Queen Twilight."
She was startled and felt a pang of hurt when he used her title yet he continued "If we are gonna solve this mess, you better remember that"
"Did...did the sedative just wear off?" Spike asks looking at the others.
"Looks like that yeah" Chrysalis still in disguise nods with a sigh
By the great hive this complicates things, none of this was supposed to happen!
"Mark? Ah like the...ah s-sure I can try that. Oh! What about Quintus Mark?"
"JUST MARK!" He insisted with a glare "We are NOT in the place to talk about names yet...MOTHER"
Again she felt another pang of pain in her chest yet she nods regardless. "Right...Right, that, that seems fair, baby steps" She supports herself on the table and tries to stand up to receive it, only to just drop and almost fall if not for Mark to catch her in her arms as she sheepishly giggles "Ops, sorry" Her breath and whole body reeked of alcohol and she felt damp from the sweat, making the human almost barf, before he manage to recover.
"Why don't we sit down and talk?" Mark suggests bringing her back to her chair, as Twilight nods.
Deciding to play along Chrysalis and Daisy do the same and sit on the other side of Twilight and Mark with Spike following after.
When Mark sees the queen reaching out for another bottle he picks it up and puts him away "And without this"
"My bottle" The queen complains with her hand still outstretched and giving him puppy eyes yet, Mark remains firm. "You had enough Mother, we are gonna talk and we are gonna do so now"
"Agree, this is gonna a be a long day" Daisy nods as Chrysalis nods in agreement and complains asking for a shot of gin which Pika serves gaining the anger of the queen.
"Hey, how come they get to drink?"
"They didn't erase, the minds of an entire planet Mom" Mark reminded her with a glare making her sigh and look down
"Fair"
Once relaxed Mark sighed and looked ahead of him "Why don't we start over, how exactly did I...did you...Mother, what the heck am I?"
Twilight turns to sigh as she looks at him "I suppose if we are going by technicalities the closest thing I could think of is, maybe a golem or a zombie " She proclaims in pity as Mark remains quiet before sighing in exhaustion "God why couldn't just be another random human that landed in Equestria one day?"
"Funny thing you ask that is how all of this thing started" Twilight mentions before chuckling, clearly still drunk, gaining the attention of everyone.
"Care to elaborate?" Chrysalis breaks the silence and asks what is in everyone's mind.
Twilight looked at her before sighing "I suppose I own you that much, considering what I did with your Equestria" Twilight confessed picking an empty glass and starting playing with it, "But before getting there, I need to give you some context, tell me Twilight do you recall the time you fought Tirek?"
"A painful event yeah, I recall" Chrysalis answered getting into the role.
"Well, for me, it was worse" Tears start to stream out of her eyes "I know how the story usually went, Tirek kidnap my friends and let them go once he got what he wanted"
Spike and Pika look down in pity, Pika even grabbing hold of Twilight's hand in support as she openly weeps "Mine was the biggest, most sadistic, and monstrous bastard of all of Equestria!" Her whole body trembled, as her wings stood to attention and her eyes turned green briefly "He didn't stop by stealing magic, he...he killed them and he laughed in my face while doing so"
The room goes silent and in pity, Mark grabs hold of her other hand.
"Mom...I'm sorry" Mark whispered to her as she sniffed a couple of times before reaching out and planting her face over his shoulder, openly crying as Mark pat her back so she could let out her emotions. Daisy and Chrysalis exchanged glances in pity unsure of what to do now.
A Handyman On The Multiverse
The Magic Of Revenge (Grammarly)
Once Twilight managed to sober up and calm down, she let go of Mark and sniffed a couple of times. Taking a deep breath before retailing the events that transpired a long time ago.
With Twilight defeated, yet still defiant she glared at the giant minotaur who held hostage his friends inside bubbles making her pause in her actions "Ok Tirek, you win, now release my friends"
"Certainty" Tirek grinned and floated the bubbles toward Twilight alongside Discord, yet when they were all at eye level from Twilight looking at her in concern Tirek's words froze the princess in shock "I will release them, from this world!"
With a snap of his fingers, all the bubbles pop, but instead of letting go of the mares, all of them simply pop along the bubbles leaving nothing behind. "¡NO!"
Twilight outstretched her arm trying to find anything Tirek only laughed maniacally until the realization hit Twilight and she fell down hitting the ground in the process "This was not the deal! What did you do to them?"
"I made them an example, this is what happens to anyone that dares oppose me, you will be wise spreading the word princess if you wish this from ever happening again. I'm invincible"
"Tirek" Twilight whispers as she clenches her teeth looking at the Minotaur leaving and starting his reign of terror. Yet instead of despair, the princess was consumed by a murderous rage, her eyes were starting to turn green as a result "I swear on my life, no matter the cost, I will make you suffer twice as much as you just made me suffer here" She silently promises as she stood up and start her plan.
With a sigh, the queen rests her body against the table in shame and pity looking ahead of her.
"After that, I spend the next 3 months planning my revenge, one week tracking that son of a bitch...and a year keeping MY promise. All the while having forgotten the magic of friendship and unable to think of anything else but to make Tirek regret what he did to me and my before friends"
Mark and his friends could only stare at her in horror at what they were hearing "And what happened to the princesses? Sure you could have looked for them right?" Mark asked in fear yet the queen only shook her head.
"I tried but like Tirek was sadist on his quest. They were his first victims as he feared how they could be an obstacle and wanted to make a point with them as well, he turned them into paintings and then set them on fire. By the time I found out, there was nothing but ashes"
She clenched her fist in fury "That is probably why Shining gave me his support on my quest, that day I lost a mentor, a mom, and a princess, but him? He lost a wife and for I found out later, an opportunity for a family. And that was a scar neither of us has ever been able to heal"
"I'm so...so sorry Mom, nobody should ever experience that, I...I'm really sorry" Mark can only say that and places his hand on her back trying to console the grieving mare as she remains quiet.
"That is why I start my projects. With Equestria in ruins, and needing time to heal. I had no choice but to step up as the new queen and Shining as the new King of The Crystal Empire, both doing everything we could to restore the planet to its former glory as the new royal siblings, yet even if the towns were repaired and magic returned to the world, those that remain. us included knew better, we all knew things would never be the same again, Equestria no longer had the gleam it once held, and it desperately needed it back so at some point while exploring Princess Celestia's chambers I stumble into her own projects and an idea came to mind" Twilight continue sitting upright and looking at Mark.
"Of course, I didn't start with you right away, in fact, it wasn't even my idea to begin with, the project I mean not the surprise you are a mom thing, and I just..." She chuckles nervously before sighing and trying to collect herself
"Look, it might have no be planned, but now that you are here. I...I feel the joy of having a son, I mean just look at me, I create life on my own terms! Take that, Mary Shell! I had a son and I did it without the help of anyone"
"Twilight!" Spike and Pika snap her out of her trance as she pretends to cough before continuing.
"Anyway, all of this, it just came to me while I was reading one of Spike's old comic books" Twilight confesses with a small chuckle.
"That is how we end up meeting" Spike speaks gaining their attention as he smiles and crosses his hands "In my world, a war between ponies and dragons erupted and lasted for so long that neither side knew why it even started, and just end up killing one another by the time I hatch, I was all alone"
He then looks at Twilight. "By the time Twilight came I was 10 or maybe 12 living in the ruins of what once was a thriving and fertile world, fighting to survive...and going feral, despite all of that, we both knew how hurt we were, so she took me in and brought me here. It took me a while to learn to write and read and be the dragon you see today. Yet I would forever be thankful for what she did for me that day"
"Spike" Twilight clears her eyes as she smiles and looks at him, Chrysalis smiling as well sniffing the happiness those two have.
"It was similar in my case" Pika replied "In my world the changelings launch a massive attack years before Cadence was ever born, like Spike it didn't end up well for either side. Dusk had hatched me no more than a year ago when he was called for the war. Twilight found me, and brought me here when things took a turn for the worse, I could barely remember but I still miss Dusk and the life we could have had, if not for that puta of Chrysalis and her army" Pika growls letting slip her Spanish accent
Chrysalis almost choked at the story but nobody took too much mind to it as Pika continued "We both have become their loyal assistants and siblings ever since. We know neither of us could ever replace her Spike but at the very least we could ensure she would no longer be alone, in a way we are fulfilling Spike's legacy"
"You two...thank you" The queen cried a bit more and nodded with a big smile at their worlds as Pika continued "And to think, all of this started because of a comic book of misfits heroes going on adventures all over the multiverse, crazy how reality copy fantasy, right Mark?" Spike says with a chuckle as he is startled but agrees laughing a bit
"Hey ideas could come up from anywhere I suppose"
"Well that explains those two, and I imagine you just keep the project of the multiverse Princess Celestia started so long ago" Chrysalis mentions with intrigue "But what about all those clones everywhere?" She asks pointing behind her where a patrolling Big Mac passes by.
"Oh those were previous projects for restoring the world" Spike answered in a chill tune and a wave of his hand "Believe it or not, it was Big Mac's idea"
"What?" Mark and her friends look at him in shock as he chuckles and nods
"Like Twilight said, Equestria was in ruins and needed time to repair, and we were short on hands. Big Mac in his grieves tries to distract himself with work and for the most part he helps Ponyville, but the progress that we were making was going slow, and the scars were still present" Pika sighed and looked down in pity.
"The crusaders wanted to help as well, and according to their story, it was Applebloom who got the idea" Spike continues as Twilight sighs and looks up in memory.
"To this day, I can't believe we actually used an old folks tale as a way to fix this mess"
"The pond" Mark whispered as he realized what was happening.
"Of course, it makes sense you used those waters, it all tracks" She nods in understanding.
"So you heard the story too?" Spike asks as Daisy looks confused
"I don't know it, can you explain please?" She asks raising her hand.
"Claro, we were getting there anyway" Pika explained "You see deep in the Everfreen forest there is this strange magic pond that if you say a poem and reach out with your hand, you can copy yourself as many times as you want"
She could only blink in surprise at the revelation before looking at the queen "And you decided to use that?"
"No straight away, of course." Twilight adds starting to relax with their stories "We needed to test and experiment with the water a little, before doing something rash. With the best unicorns available, but luckily we manage to get results pretty quickly"
Feeling like her throat was getting dry, Mark asked and handed over a glass of water for Twilight to drink before continuing who she thanked "Once the first test was a success and with his permission, we used Big Mac to create the Mac Drones"
Everyone looks at Twilight with a neutral expression and a raised eyebrow "The name wasn't my idea" She defends herself.
"A mi me gusto," Pika says under her breath
"Anyway, the Mac Drones work similar to Big Mac, they have his strength, his stamina, and his workaholic nature. But they don't have a mind or will of their own. We couldn't bear the idea of basically creating slaves" Twilight shivers at just the thought "THAT is what we were worried about and needed to make sure they wouldn't be quote on quote alive. Plus it will give Big Mac his autonomy and we will always know he is the real one"
"So that is why they are grayer than normal Big Macs then?" Daisy asks remembering how they weren't perfect copies as Twilight nods.
"We owe a lot of the reconstruction to them, and of course, Big Mac was granted the medal of honor, is known as a hero all over Equestria, and was compensated accordantly with money and all the land he would ever want. Yet he didn't want the money, he just did what was best for Equestria and what AJ would have done. Nowadays he still lives happily in Apple Acres with his new family as the head of the house, with Applebloom making sure to live up to her big sister's name"
Mark looks down in pity as he keeps looking at the sad queen. Deciding to be more empathic he approaches and brings her into a hug as she sniffs and doesn't fight it, accepting the contact. Daisy having the same idea brings the two into a group hug as Chrysalis only sighs and joins in mostly to keep her cover, hiding a burp from the resulting love.
"Anyway, the Mac drones, most of them now serve as part of my guard while the rest are dispersed all over Equestria keeping the peace or helping the farmland" She sighed before shaking her head "Sorry we went off topic here, I was telling, your origins right?"
"Yeah" Mark nods as he breaks the hug and she clears her throat.
"Well after finding Spike and Pika, and discussing it with Shining Armor. I decided to expand my search and find a new spark of hope in a way. Bringing joy to those who lost everything or didn't belong in their world anyway, I will never abandon my B.B.B.F so my next target was seeing if we could find a Cadence"
Mark starts to worry "Ah mom...you didn't like...kidnap a Cadence so they could pretend..."
"Oh no, nothing like that! Think of it more like joining two pieces of a puzzle together" Twilight defended herself, "Which I succeed in a way." She sighed and toyed with her glass of water
"We found a world that when King Sombra returned for the first time, he captured and sealed Cadence in a black crystal for thousands of years, and hid it in some place neither Shining nor my version was ever able to find. By the time she escaped, Equestria, The Crystal Empire, everything she knew was gone, replaced by another kingdom with ponies she didn't recognize, good ponies sure. The world was kind to her but it was no longer her world"
"We call her future Cadence" Spike adds, "And she and Shining are such a cute couple nowadays"
"Wait, you brought her here then?" Mark questions Twilight's methods as she nods
"More like I offered the choice, and it wasn't like I asked her to be with my brother either. They both knew the truth, but after a while their romance blossomed naturally and she decided to make the jump. Nowadays the Crystal Empire keeps connections with that other world and has advanced thousands of years in the future." Twilight pulled a cell phone so everyone could look, shocking Mark with how he looked just a regular iPhone as opposed to the scroll he got used to using.
"We have all sorts of things like this thanks to their trip and their decision to keep connection with a town called Zephyr High, one pegasus princess even became a huge sensation that breathed even more life into our otherwise gloom world. Things had yet another happy ending" She smiled and put it away "Our world was slowly recovering and we all were healing on our way as a result. That is when I decided to set my mind on the next piece of the puzzle missing, The princesses" Twilight tries to stand up and with the help of Mark this time succeeds.
"You should come with me, it will be easier if I show you"
They all agree and follow her out of the room, offering the wheelchair in which Mark arrived. Yet the Queen declines and they keep walking through a hallway.
"Just out of curiosity, what happens to Tirek in the end?" Chrysalis asks walking beside Twilight.
The queen remained quiet for a moment before answering after scanning the place "See for yourself, we are passing his painting right now" The queen replied as he pointed at a giant painting of the centaur in question, as it was tied to a stake on fire and was in the process of being impaled with white hot firepokers, all over his body who has cuts and gashes all over, his stomach was wide open revealing his intestines and they could see all sort of insects and vermis devouring his flesh and eyes as he was frozen in complete agony.
"Well painting using air quotes is more fitting" The queen confesses as everyone looks at her in horror as she sighs and looks at Mark "As I said before. I kept my promise. With time moving at a snail's pace, with his pain receptors amplified, in a prologue execution extended to its limit and a spell that will ensure he will not be even able to pass out, he will experience every second of his punishment that he deserves to the bitter end, and once it done Tartarus can have what is left."
She proclaims as the group gulp and looks at the painting nodding slowly and speeding their march, not wanting to see such a gruesome fate.
Nothing is more fearsome than the wrath of those that once were kind
Mark pounder as they round the corner and continue their travel.
Meanwhile in the regular Equestria.
The mane six are hard at work trying to restore the mirror by carefully picking it apart and putting it back together. Most of them gather on a table while Twilight uses her magic to reactivate it and break the locking spell left behind by Chrysalis
"Mark, that freaking moron, diving headfirst into that bizarre Twilight world, I swear once we save his life I'm gonna a kill him" Dash swore as she picks another piece of the mirror
"Now, now darling, let be reasonable here, we all have our fair share of adventure, bending rules here and there, and well...he is sad, and we have partly to blame" Rarity intervened as they put the last piece in place.
"What the heck are you talking partner?" AJ looks at her confused.
"We thought he needed space, so we gave him space, maybe too much space, so much so that he thinks we view him as strangers I mean we kind of did, wouldn't you feel hurt if all of a sudden we start treating you as if you were a new pony in ponyville"
"Oh, I would have thrown a party in that case!" Pinkie adds before deflating "But I see what Rarity is saying, that sounds a bit mean"
None of them have anything to reply until Dash grunts "Whatever, memory or no, that moron is our friend and I will not abandon him, who cares if your brains are scrambling?! I will just make new memories and see if Twilight can unscramble them"
"I'm not sure if that would ever work Dash" Twilight confessed as she finished her spell and sighed
"It ready"
"Good, then we can go there already" Dash prepares and puts her element ready to fight but Twilight stops her, and rather than say anything she turns to look at Fluttershy talking on her scroll.
"So this is it then? You are just gonna stay here and throw it away and pretend it never happened?" She asks in desperation.
"Fluttershy I'm sorry, I remember bits and pieces but this...this is just getting too crazy for my taste, I know it's selfish but I don't feel comfortable throwing everything away as this" Milky replies from the other line "It hurts me, it really does, but the letter Mark left has a point, We kind of lose that spark if we ever had one in the first place"
"You are his alpha mare for Celestia's sake?! Does that mean nothing to you?!" Fluttershy scold her making her friends cringe, from watching her friend swear like that.
"Was his alpha mare Fluttershy, in another time in another life. I'm really sorry for what happened to him and if things were different I may have been open to a blind date, or even coffee, but I'm not like you, I'm not a mare that goes into danger for this adventure, I like a more quiet normal life, and what life has stop been that, I will just feel out of place, more when I'm not even sure what to think of all of this. Is just too much for me" Milky apologies making Fluttershy pants, and shiver.
"Fine! Do what you want, but just know that you just threw away something beautiful just because you decided not to fight for it" Fluttershy ends the calls and grunts in frustration holding back tears.
"Fluttershy?" Twilight slowly approaches her friend with worry. "Are you ok, if it's too much you can stay here and...?"
"She ruined it Twilight" Fluttershy glares at her with tearful eyes "Mark, me, Milky, Surprise...all of us. We were such a happy herd and she broke us apart. She hurt us in ways I could not even imagine. She is gonna answer for that" She proclaimed in determination as she cleared her eyes and picked her element before stepping into the portal before anyone could stop her or say anything.
"Ahm well, you heard her girls, let go!" Dash follows suit and after the initial surprise the rest of the mane six steps inside the portal. Spike left behind still startled by what happened and with his orders to hold the fort.
"Now I wonder who is in real danger, Mark or that Queen?" He asks himself slightly scared of how Fluttershy reacted.
View Online
A Handyman On The Multiverse
Paving With Good Intentions (Grammarly Check)
Reaching a set of double doors guarded by two regular unicorn ponies, the queen give the order and said guards nod before opening the door allowing the group to enter a big lab with metal door frame in the middle of it, on top of a stage and stairs leading to it, as well as cables connected to various computers and machines and the giant hourglass that Twilight used to had in his room in Canterlot, with bio luminescent sand moving backwards.
At the far right corner were plenty of chalk and cork boards with equations, drawings of wormholes and other scientific equivalent as well as a list of ponies cross out or circle. The royal sisters been one of them.
Just been in the room brought flashback to Mark who recall he awakening in a iron table on the other side of the room and then fending off copies of Mac before pressing a button and jumping blindly into the portal.
"I...I think I remember this place, I was born here" Mark confess as he start to wonder around until he find the table where he was born and pass his hand on the edge of it.
The queen just look at him in and put a wing over his shoulder not sure on what to say at the moment, as Chrysalis scan her emotions.
Sorrow, guilt, empathy, yearning. What exactly did you made Mark for Twilight?
The changeling question as she look around the place. "So I imagine this is what you did with the project of Multiverse of Princess Celestia then" She ask staring at the big door frame in the middle of them all.
"We call it the gate. And yes, pretty much" Spike answer for Twilight
"I don't get it, if you use this, why did we came and go through out a mirror?" Daisy points out while admiring the door frame.
"Oh those are establish portals, once we determine that they are safe, we crystalize the doors and turn them into mirrors, for cataloging" Pika reply before rolling her eyes "A bit of a waste of time but well, a Twilight has to be a Twilight" Pika finish by shaking her head and shrugging.
"Speaking of mirrors at first we try using one giant mirror and just cut the pieces of it leading to the dimension we wanted but soon found a more convenient alternative with the doorframe and have been using it for our observations ever since." He fly over and point at a monitor on top of the ring "Do you like it? I'm know you are dying to know how it works, here let us show you, Pika?" Spike look to his right to Pika who went to the controllers and turn them on.
"One step ahead hermano" She tells in confidence as they started the machine and soon the monitor comes to life.
"First by using the power of gems and the original equation of Starswirl The Bearded we open a bird view of the universe we check, using key words in our search. Oh! Oh put our favorite one, Pika!"
"Oh you are gonna a laugh!" Pika barely contain her own chuckles as she put the world dinosaurs, kingdom, B.T.
Once she was done the monitor show a version of Equestria that seems to be living on the stone edge, everyone was using animal skins to dress up, they have sabertooth fangs and seem to be using dinosaurs as forms of transportation.
"Is that...a cave mare version of Equestria?" Daisy ask in complete shock as the dragons laugh
"Isn't it funny, it like modern times AND the primitive times merged. What is that" Spike question as they look around the place. "look, look I'm a t-rex here and Discord is a hydra! The elements are crystal clubs!"
The dragons keep laughing as they see that version of the elements beating up a hydra version of Discord with giant clubs, as it was some sort of cartoon, Discord even making the toon sound effects.
After a while Daisy and Chrysalis can't help but to chuckle as well. "You are right, it kind of funny" Chrysalis admit finding the whole ordeal hilarious.
All four of them but Twilight and Mark just remain quiet until the human sigh and look at her "Ok Mom, we are here, what do you want to show me?"
Twilight sigh and nods before approaching a chalk board "As you said, here is where you were born, it would only fair if I tell you exactly why, Pika Spike, could you turn the gate off please?" She asking and understanding they nod and turn it off making the room to go quiet again.
Twilight then points at the list of ponies that were cross "After Spike, and Cadence, I decided to move my plan into the next missing piece. The two princesses, but for some reason, unlike my others attempts finding a princess Luna, or Princess Celestia that could fit here was way harder. Be because they were evil, or the ones available just wanted to enjoyed retirement. After failure after failure, I realized that if I wanted to fill the missing pieces, I needed to approach the problem from a different angle"
"I was made to track down and capture princesses?!" Mark ask in alarm.
"NO!, No, no, no, never, that..." Twilight clear her throat in the same panic tone "I not some villain of the day either Mark. No, you were made to fix what is broken...and a tiny bit as an incentive to come here" She clarify bringing her thumb and index fingers close together, yet Mark only look at her unimpressed and crossing his arms "Let me explain"
She chuckle nervously as she move to another chalkboard. "More than a little fascinated by the concept of the multiverse, and with the hope of finding a princess that would like to become our new Princess Celestia and Princess Luna I began Project Anonymous. A daring plan too..."
"Now!" The voice of Twilight scare everyone up as it comes from the door who opens from pair to pair, the guards having been knock out.
The queen and dragons were caught of guard and didn't time to react before astral chains appear on their bodies and a suppression ring appear on top of the queen horn. Once they were immobilized, did the regular Twilight ended the invisible spell and appear in front of everyone. "Don't worry we got you" AJ proclaim in confidence while looking at the queen.
"What the heck, is happening!" Chrysalis yells as she raise her hands when the elements look at her with suspicious. Spike taking advantage of nobody looking at him to use his tail to stood up and using his own magic fire to set himself free of his chains, to confront the intruders, growing giant size on the process.
"Two Twilights? Que demonios..." Pika swear with accent before glaring at them "Chrysalis, you puta! Reveal yourself and face me like a mare!" Pika demands as she trash around under her restraints.
Spike who got AJ and Dash and pin them to the ground stop as everyone froze and look at the copy in question in surprise "Chrysalis?"
They all say at the same time, making her sigh in irritation and end the spell "Well, so much for subtlety then" She tells as Daisy stop Pike who manage to stood up and was about to chomp on her face if not for the holstaur intervention by picking her on a hug.
"You! You little perra! Just you wait until I get my claws on you!" Pika keep trashing even harder as Mark get away from the caos and look around "Twilight? Girls what the heck, what are you doing here?"
"Rescue you, moron, now let go. This place gives me the creeps" Dash tells as she tries to get herself free from Spike claw.
"Mark was this your doing?" The queen demands looking at him both angry and confused with tearful eyes "I though you only wanted answers"
"I do, I just"
"As we will believe anything you would say!" Fluttershy and Pinkie surround Mark "You lie to us, and destroy our lives, we are done talking, we are leaving"
"listen I..." Mark tries to calm everyone down but they keep fighting. Pika using her own fire to release the queen who don't waste time and start casting spells making the scene even more chaotic as everyone yells at one another.
"Ok ENOUGH!" Reaching his limit, Mark use his own gauntlets to stop the chaos by making everyone float and left suspended in mid air. "Before anyone says or do anything else, let ALL calm down and relax" He demands staring at everyone as they only blink and at him.
"They start it" Spike reply pointing at them
"No we didn't" Rarity argues back as Pinkie only giggle
"Can we discuss while still floating? It funny" she ask as Mark stare at him in silence.
"No" He reply coldly as he wait for everyone to calm down "I don't care who started it, we are all gonna a take a deep breath and we will talk as Twilight taught me, or I will be paste you into the celling, are we clear?"
"But?" Both Twilight ask but Mark stop them
"Are we clear?" He repeat as he get them closer to the roof.
The group look at one another before sighing "Yeah"
The moment they all agree Mark sigh and put them down "Good, then now that, everything is clear. Girls why do you come here?" Mark approach the group from Equestria "I though things between us...kind of became awkward"
"Well of course they did, that crazy Twilight mess up with our minds" Dash answer right away with an accusing finger at the queen who flinch and step back as her dragons growl at them. "That doesn't mean we are gonna a straight up abandon you dude, I NEVER leave my friends hanging, NEVER" Dash repeat as she approach Mark with a glare. "And your idea of just dive bomb into danger without your coolest friend is something we are so gonna a discuss once we go back home"
Mark was perplex by her answer as he look around the others "Is this how all of you feel?"
They don't reply but nods with smile with Pinkie even hugging him "We still need to figure things up, but your are our friend Marky that all we need to know"
Mark was at lost of words, and how his friends just keep appearing, he was convince things would forever be awkward between them yet they still came for him. The emotions were enough for him to start to tear up as Pinkie hugs him, he wanted to say more yet AJ speak again and bring back the subject at hand.
"I understand why you decided to come here, but what I'm still missing is why you are defending that two timing snake" AJ ask while glaring at the queen, her words cutting deep as she flinch and step back
"Indeed, I for once am all for second chances, but messing with everyones mind for Celestia know why? They better have one heck of an explanation" Rarity adds with a glare of their own. Leaving the queen Speechless and unsure on what to do or say in this situation.
Seeing her distress Mark close his eyes and took a deep breath before advancing forward before turning around to face his friends "Because despite everything, at the end of the day, she is my mother"
"WHAT?!" All the mares in normal Equestria yell in astonishment as they look at Mark who sighs and just nods solemnly.
"Don't get me wrong, this was in no way what I had planned, I just wanted answers. Slip by look for her lab or something, figure out what the hell am I and depending on what I find, figure out where to go next" He looks at his companions.
"Wait so you were only pretending to be sedate when you came here?" Spike mentions in surprise.
"Oh hermano, that was devious" Pika agrees as she cross her arms and shake her head.
"I just didn't knew ok? This whole thing is..." He could only grunts in frustration trying to find the correct words "...look when I came here, I was prepare to find out I was some sort of monster, or a failure or a bomb or ANYTHING else. Finding I have a family was the last thing I expect"
He smile and approach the queen before grabbing her hand "And after hearing what happen, I just...I just didn't have the heart to stay mad"
The queen smile and tear up as Mark look at her friends "Don't get me wrong, I'm still want some answers and she needs to apologies for everything. But, now that she is making an effort and understands I'm not an object I wish to meet her half way, she is not evil girls. Just confuse and scar. I realized how Twilight needed my and I'm willing to give her the opportunity to set things right and win my forgiveness, I must make the effort and listen her story, like you should too" He extend his hand toward them "That is one of the biggest lesson you taught me, heck you are practicing it right now"
"Damn it Mark using our own friendship against us that....that is just cheating!" Dash complains and yells in frustration before calming down.
The others look down and take to heart what he was saying. Pinkie more than others as she approach Queen.
"Can we throw a I'm sorry I was a meanie party right after?" Pinkie ask in expectation.
The queen can't help but to tear up and nods with a big smile as she bring her into a emotional hug "Yes, yes you can Pinkie. By Celestia you can. I didn't knew how much I miss your antics" Twilight tells between sobs as she breaks into a crying fit.
"ah there there Twily" A bit uncomfortable Pinkie pat her back as she continue crying, gaining the attention of everyone
"Trust me, you need to hear this story" Mark tells them as they seem unsure yet nod regardless, Twilight smiling and be more open in giving her a chance.
"Hold it!" Fluttershy startle everyone as she march toward the queen "Before we heard her there is something I need to know" She demand with a cold tone starting to scare Mark and what she might do.
"Fluttershy?" Mark try to intervene but she just glare at him and he was startle not by the glare but rather the tears in her eyes.
"I need to know Mark, she hurt me so much in this last 3 months, she needs to answer for that, and you know it!"
The human doesn't have a retour and could only lower his head as he nods and let her go. The queen start to get nervous as Pinkie let her go and both alicorn and pegasus look eye to eye.
"Queen Twilight, you spend time in our universe, you saw Mark, your SON was in a healthy and big relationship, you were invited to our parties, and yet you decided to break all of that apart. Why?" She demands to know with neutrality.
With a sigh the queen could only look down in shame "Because only now I realized that Mark was my son, before that, I just thought...well I though you were basically dating your vibrator, that is why I...I though I was fixing a mess. I know that is not excuse and you have any right to be mad, but for what is worth. I'm sorry" She look at her in the eyes still with the same shame and relax a little as Fluttershy mostly just close her eyes and nods a couple of times.
"I see thanks for been honest" She reply with a smile making the queen to let go a breath she wasn't aware that she was holding before letting go of all her air when Fluttershy sucker punch her in the stomach.
"Hey!"
"If you EVER do that again to anyone , I swear I would never forgive you" Fluttershy promise as she rush to Mark before he could reach the queen and the dragons
"Fluttershy, what the heck? This isn't you why did you...?"
"Milky broke up the herd!" Fluttershy blurts as she openly weep and dig her face on Mark chest "She said that she didn't felt any spark anymore and that things just go to crazy for her to handle. She said that she is sorry but can't see any future for us anymore!" She confess as she openly weep. Mark could hear his own heart starting to crack as she tear up and start to hug Fluttershy back.
Nobody knew what else to say and the room got extremely tense as a result until the queen manage to spoke again
"I deserve it" She speaks between breaths and sniff as she slowly stood up and massage her stomach "I know it means nothing, and even if I go back in time, it will not change a thing, I would do whatever else you want in order to be satisfy. But just know. I'm so sorry, I...all this mess happen because I decided to approach this problem as a science experiment and my own son as an lab subject, not realizing how many ponies did I hurt in the process until it was already too late, and I for that I can't apologies enough, but please. Please just don't leave me alone again. Please" She beg hugging herself and then her dragons as they keep trying to console her.
"I just discover I had an heir, I can't bare to lose him. I can't bare to lose anymore love ones"
Fluttershy over her shoulder at the queen still angry but feeling pity as Mark just tight his hug on Fluttershy and keep his eyes close. "The project Anonymous" He speaks up with an intense glare as he look at the queen.
"You want to make up for your screw ups?! Let start there, tell everyone what you already told us, and then tell me exactly what is project Anonymous, tell me exactly why did you made me, mother" Mark demands as he too try to keep his emotions in check.
Nobody else dare say anything else as they slowly look at the queen once more, who was still looking at the couple with tearful eyes. "Understood. I will tell, I will tell them everything"
She clear her eyes and nose before looking at the normal Twilight "Tell me Twilight, do you recall your fight with Tirek?"
A Handyman On The Multiverse
The Anonymous Project (Grammarly Check)
Once everyone managed to calm down and the queen finished re-telling her story, the tension in the lab was palpable, with everyone having mixed feelings about what happened, with pity being the most prominent one.
Except for Pika and Fluttershy who were still very much angry, The dragon at Chrysalis, and Fluttershy at the queen. Seeing this and not wanting things to escalate further, Mark does his best to act as a middleman and try to help the two while the rest of the group discuss things among themselves.
"Pika I understand your reserves with Chrysalis but she is not the same. She has changed, she is calm collective and tolerable. The fact she decided to help me when I was deciding to come alone on what I thought was a suicide mission and threatened me to call for help if I didn't say yes is one huge example, isn't that proof enough?"
She only grunts and looks away "I'm sorry hermano, you are right, it was huge and it was very nice of her but after what my version of that cuca, did to me. It would take time before I would ever forgive any Chrysalis"
"Pika please" Mark put his hand over the shoulder of Pika.
"I know, I know, I'm been racist but it's hard for me, in my world what that cuca did to me when I was just a baby...still hurt ok? I came from a world where she destroyed everything I could have before I even realized it. I think I have the right to be a bit on edge with any version of hers, I have been helping Twilight with the portal for a long time now, and your Chrysalis so far has been the only nice version I have met to this day, and that only happen because of you. That is another huge example as to why I should be mad"
"And yet you will be willing to give her a chance because you are still Twilight Sparkle numero uno assistance and I know how every Spike or Pika is not the type to hold grudges, no they are the ones that practice and know the value of friendship better than anyone else, or am I wrong?"
She remains quiet but lowers her head in thought before smiling "We are, aren't we? Oh ok! For you hermano, she can have one chance, but don't expect me to hug her, we are not there yet, and please, please, PLEASE don't kiss her in front of me, or I will barf" She warns him with an accusing finger.
"I wasn't planning on...only if the mood was right, oh ok, sis for you, no kissy, in front of you" Mark stopped himself and decided to just agree with Pika's demand calming the dragon a little as she joined the rest of the conversation.
With her taken care of, Mark turned his attention to Fluttershy and approached her to do some damage control. "How are you feeling Fluttershy?"
"Still mad, confused, frustrated, and happy you are fine and got answers. But mostly mad" She confesses as she crosses her arms and stares at the queen.
With a sigh, Mark guides her away and rubs her shoulders "I understand, I still have way too many mixed feelings with all of this. I still don't know what to do, but just lash out without listening, it feels wrong for me, that is why I changed the plan and gave her the chance to explain"
His touch and words managed to calm Fluttershy down as she relaxed her wings and sighed, leaning on his chest and closing her eyes "How can you forgive her so easily? After everything she has done"
"I haven't forgiven her yet. There is a difference between giving her a chance and forgiving her. Even more so when she has to respond to so many things" He smiled and gave the mare one Eskimo kiss to try and cheer her up. "But a certain sexy yellow pegasus taught me how you should never forget to have some kindness and, how many doors can open"
He teases with a close eye, making Fluttershy giggle a little and reciprocate the action enjoying their little play.
Once done she smiled and looked him in the eyes before looking down in lament and resting her head on his chest "She still broke our herd, Mark, that is one big wound to heal"
"It is, but if you manage to forgive Discord for a thousand years of misery and pain, you and I could give her a chance to earn our trust again, it will be hard, long, and grueling, but we all deserve a chance to better themselves, don't they?" He grabbed her chin and made her look at him, as he looked in sorrow as well "She is my mom Fluttershy, it was hard for us to realize it but now that I understand myself better, I...I can't just ignore that fact and pretend she is simply an enemy. If I do that, I would not be better than her"
Smiling she nods and leans on his chest "You have a big heart Mark, I'm still hurt but I...I think I'm a bit better now. At least I would let her talk"
"That's all I ask, whatever happens. We can decide later" Mark breaks the hug and holds her hands as she nods.
AJ's voice gains everyone's attention "OK then, we are all now caught up then. Care to tell us exactly is this project Anonymous you are been talking about?" The farmer questions looking at the queen with a raised eyebrow and her arms crossed.
"Right, that is where we stop" Queen Twilight cleared her throat and returned to her chalkboard "As I said earlier, the idea of the multiverse and the successes I found on them, inspire me to keep exploring. To learn, to chart, and yes if possible find the other individuals that were missing in my world" She took a glance at AJ. "After the princesses, you were going to be the first Applejack, then Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, and finally Pinkie Pie. Just like the first time" Twilight smiles and looks down, before approaching another board that has the picture of a human with an arrow pointing at a picture of Ponyville.
"During my exploration, I stumble into something brand new, an anomaly outside the scripted story. The visitor" Rushing to a screen she turns it off showing images of humans upon humans living among ponies in different scenarios. "All sorts of creatures, mostly humans that for A, or B reasons end up in Equestria and forever change their world for good or bad. These humans are what you call, Anonymous or Anon the abbreviation"
"Not all cases Twilight" Mark recalls looking down in anger "More like changing their world, the Equestria I end up, just ensure to destroy me in their way of making things"
"Inevitable if you consider the concept of infinite, but I'm getting ahead of myself here," Twilight asks him to wait before she continues "Once I stumble into this variable, I discover the missing piece to complete my project and even open the window for many other ones. By creating my own artificial Anonymous I could explore the multiverse more closely and find the ponies that would enjoy making the jump into my world"
"Wait, wait, wait!" Dash rushes to her extremely offended "So you mean to tell us that, your plan was going around the multiverse, until you find a Rainbow Dash willing to turn her back on her home, her friends, and everything else, just to come here, and pretend this is her home as nothing happen?"
"Of course not!" Twilight defends herself "But just think about it Dash. If you had lost everything if something happened and you lost your home and your friends. Or something happened and things didn't go well. Wouldn't you love to start again? To have your friends back" She demanded on the verge of tears and the pegasus wasn't unsure how to reply.
"It would still be the wrong partner, I...I'm not sure how to feel about this" AJ breaks the tension as she looks away "I see where you are coming from, but if I lost the farm, my family, and you guys. Suddenly deciding to go somewhere else where there is still all of that...I would feel like I'm replacing my family"
"I understand the reserve, but that is one scenario, and Project Anonymous was meant as an alternative, for you to come on your own will, heck I would have kept the portal open for you to come and go as you please as I did with Future Cadence, we would all have win" The queen defend herself yet everyone was still unsure.
"And why did you pick me from that coliseum?" Mark finally answers wanting to move things along.
"That is where your name comes into play and why you are number 5 Mark. You were the fifth and final attempt"
"You try and make five different humans?" Twilight asks in alarm.
"Not exactly" She goes to a couple of large test tubes where other figures where suspended. "The first attempt was a complete disaster, as I only made a golem. It couldn't talk, couldn't run, could barely move. And would never be able to explore even a room" She points at what appears to be a model to draw complete green.
"The second attempt I had a bit more luck, but didn't last long, copying the base idea of a human I tried creating a golem following its patterns but it never woke up, I could make his eyes shine but that was it" She showed them a more humanoid mannequin with his limps suspended outside of it torso.
"For the third try, I used a corpse and I got better results but it just decomposed and disintegrated after some days, it was able to move and listen to commands but it couldn't speak and the body would just rooten in days" She points at the next test tube with a floating mass of flesh and bones on it.
"Understanding that it needed more, I took a corpse and bombarded it with spells bringing the body back to life, it worked but now it couldn't speak, for some reason, the skin kept turning green and a giant question mark would replace its eyes" She shows them an image of a human with green skin and a question mark instead of a face.
"And finally you..." She points at Mark "I imagine you would kind of have an idea, I search for a recently deceased human, and place...your mind on my latest and most powerful golem. Which was a success, too successful maybe, I someone made the first ever soul transplant, as I just didn't obtain my human...that day I made my son"
Mark remains quiet as he slowly makes his way to an iron bed and passes his hand to the edge of it "I remember now" He tells to no one while closing his eyes and retailing his memories.
"The second I woke I was feeling betrayed and such blind rage, I think I..."
"The first thing you said the moment you woke was swearing that you would take Cadence's head and...well let's just say you were determined to see how far her back could stretch" Spike explained looking away.
Nodding Mark advanced and looked around the room "I was no different than a wild beast, scared, angry, and wanting to get as far away from any pony as possible" Stopping in front of the portal he sighed "Back them the portal was open, why was that?" Mark questions looking at the queen.
"I needed a pocket dimension to test my creations, I was confident this time you would work and needed to make sure your body would react well with the infusion of magic on it" Queen Twilight explains as Mark nods.
"Yeah I think I remember, I was fighting off Spike and Pika, fall back and hit something in the panel control, that made it go crazy and suck me in. Then I just..." Mark's eyes wide in realization "I end up in the middle of Celestia's courtroom"
"Wow so THAT is how you end up with us then" Pinkie mentions with a smile "Oh! And that is why you had that star mark on your back Marky?" She questions pointing at his back.
"I...I think that" He sighed and glared at the queen "That was just me being branded wasn't it?"
"No! Well, a bit? Let me explain!" Queen Twilight explains raising her arms in defense "When you make a golem you need a focus point for the core, to bring it to life sort of speak. Even if you are a way advanced version to the point of having a flesh and bones body you are still a golem Mark. So of course you have a central core inside of you, the star simply marks where it is" The queen explains.
"Think of it as your belly button hermano, it makes things easier" Pika offered with a smile
Mark keeps looking at her before sighing "Might as well, after it turns out I can no longer be called a human" Mark mentions dejectedly
"Hey come on partner, no reason to get all sappy and depressed" AJ mentions bringing her arms around his shoulders and putting him on a hug/grip "So what if you are a golem? That doesn't change a single thing, you are still our friend and we will stick with you no matter what. Besides, from what I'm hearing you are still pretty much human, you get hurt, you eat, you sleep you crap. Twily made an excellent work, this only explains where all crazy force comes from"
"Yeah speaking of explaining things" Twilight looks at her counterpart with a critical eye "According to what you are saying, project Anonymous was created to approach us specifically then? The idea is sending Mark to different Equestrias and interact with any of us, and then offer the alternative of coming to your world should any of our counterparts wish to make the trip?"
"That is one goal yeah but not the only one, my son was made to fix what is broken, like a handyman. He was meant to observe, learn, and report. Then if any of you wish for something different then..." The queen started making gestures with her hands
"Then you make the offer" Dash finishes for the queen "I still don't like the idea, and I'm telling you right now, any Dash that would take that deal doesn't deserve to be called a Rainbow Dash"
"Darling part of me is flatter you wish to bring me back into this world but Dash has a point it sad what happened to you, really is horrible. But rather than living in the past maybe you should try to find it in you to move on?"
"You have to understand, I needed to do something Equestria still needs all of you. That is why I needed to do this" The queen defended herself with tears in her eyes. "I need you"
Everyone remained quiet feeling sorry for her and looking at one another until Mark spoke up
"There is one thing I still don't get it?" Mark mentions glaring at the queen "If your intention was for me to explore, why were you so upset that I changed things on the Equestria I ended up?"
"Because Equestria never had a visitant encounter, the only difference meant to be was that Princess Celestia would explore the world and open herself to the option of dating when retired instead of going to a retirement home at all" The queen explains "Nothing that you did was suppose to happen. By following your program...and what Cadence did to you, you twist their story. I thought I needed to place things back the way they were supposed to be played out so that all"
"Including me going crazy and ending up stuck as an ornament?" Chrysalis questions as she looks at one monitor showing her final fate in various iterations.
The queen sighed and looked down "Mark was made to help and fix what was broken. I didn't think he could be able to well fix you"
Everyone remains quiet unsure of how to respond to that statement, after some awkward silence Mark finally reacts with a sigh and approaches Spike "Send us home Spike"
"What? You are not staying?" Spike asks heartbroken by Mark's statement
He in turn just shakes his head "I came here for answers and nothing more. I say I discovered way more than I could ever imagine including finding out I have a family, and I get that my mother is grieving, however even if justified she thought it to be ok, to erase myself from my own life. And that can't be forgiven so easily"
"Hermano, I know it's kind of hard but if you could only give us a chance..." Pika tries to stop him but Mark pushes her hand away
"Believe me Pika this is me giving you a chance, like by letting you explain yourself, and trust you. Now is your turn. There is a lot for me to think about, and when and IF I return here. I rather do so with a cool head, now I will ask you nicely one last time. Send.Us.Home" He demands with finality crossing his arms.
The queen just remains quiet and just approaches the panel imputing the coordinates to open a portal to their world "For whatever is worth, I'm sorry" The queen apologizes to Mark before stepping aside.
"No Mother you haven't even started to apologize, you left a HUGE mess to fix, and it was way too early for me to hear them. But I'm gonna give you a chance to make it up. Starting with this" He put his hand on the queen's shoulder "I will return, you and I will have a chat alone, and until then if you want to fix this mess you need to do something for me"
"Anything" The queen looked back in hope
"No more drinking, no more self-pity parties, you have the crown now mother, your kingdom needs their queen, be that, show me the Twilight Sparkle Celestia and Luna entrust to rule" Mark mentions with finality before patting her shoulder and then leaves through the portal.
Unsure of what to do next the rest soon start to follow, until Chrysalis was the last one standing "From one bad mare to another, let me tell you something. If you create Mark to fix anything that was broken. I say you succeed and should ask him to do that here" The queen of the changelings mentions as she leaves the portal closing soon after.
