Author's Note

Trigger warning: this chapter mentions death, murder, and suicide along with indirect narcotics references

chapter prologue: the beginnings

“Hello truth,” Present Zeno said as the three gods of all met.

“The humans in the multiverse want us to introduce a new god to one of the Equestrias.” Future Zeno said. “Although we need your help to revert the specific Equestria back a few years to help us.”

“Why? And what would you give me to do so?” Truth asked knowing everything already but wanting to hold its cards to its chest.

“Full authority over universe 18 and its macrocosm.” P Zeno said “Only answering to us since we made the universe”

“You have the door that allows us to reach into the multiverse to bring us the best candidates for the gods and an angel. That’s why.” F Zeno said, looking behind Truth to the DOOR.

“Very well.” Truth said as he opened the DOOR and walked through using the power within to send Universe 18 back to the day after Nightmare Moon on a delay. “Twilight and all the Elements, Celestia excepted for now, remember who you are, and Twilight remember who you were.”

In Equestria, Empress Twilight Sparkle lays down in her bed in Canterlot falling asleep, and begins dreaming of a life before her own.

Po Allen looked around waiting outside the gas station waiting for her bestie to pull cash from the atm inside. The girl was wearing a Kefla outfit that fit her substantial curves.
“Koty hurry up! It’s cold out here!!!” she said as she used the towel she had brought with her as a mini blanket.

Inside Dakota Keith aka Koty was pulling around 5000 dollars from her bank account since she had noticed a poster that described a pop-up convention nearby. The Hermaphrodite woman was wearing a revealing outfit mixed with a dragon costume to be a sexy shenron.

After she stuffed the cash in between her breasts under her bodysuit she grabbed some chips and two canteen-style monsters for her and Po and she paid for them with her cards before leaving the store.

“Po I got enough for both of us!” she said as she handed over a drink and snacks.

“Thanks but come on it’s cold out!” Po said as she walked over to the warehouse they had been heading to.

Inside there were many booths for kids to trick or treat in safety along with a section for many to buy items from costumed vendors, one of which was the Merchant. This was actually not obviously a displacer since this year, RE4 remake had come out so Dakota, while being cautious about purchases, led Po through the vendor section.

“We have plenty to spend so grab what you want,” Dakota said as the two best friends walked up to a vendor dressed as Sindri with his bloodstained armor. “Hello Sir, my friend here needs some armor.”

Sindri looked at Po and nodded “Give me an hour and you’ll not just have armor but weapons and many other things”

“I’ve heard that there is a panel/memorial for Jason David Frank and David Yost is going to be there!” One of the passers-by said catching the attention of both Dakota and Poe who had been for a couple of years students of JDF since they had both been advent power ranger fans.

“Master’s influence is still felt even after his death I think we should talk with David Yost if he's there we could let him know that we were students of Master these panels usually take at least an hour anyway but with it being a memorial as well I think we should go pay our respects and meet some of Master's old friends” Dakota said a melancholy look on her face remembering the shock at hearing their old martial arts Masters death and then seeing it on YouTube. “I'm so glad his last project is going through. I will watch the white dragon in respect for him. In fact, you could say that's why I'm wearing this today.”

“I was wondering about why you chose to wear that.” po said.

“It's almost been a year since he passed, but I also like being a Dragonoid and not the Bakugan style one, but what I believe is a true Dragonoid, a dragon-human hybrid,” Dakota said as she spun around before following the two people who were heading over to the panel/memorial.

The two women headed over to the presentation area where David Yost and a few other former/present rangers were talking.

“Within the last year we lost the great member of the ranger community Jason David Frank now well he and I didn't always get along while we were working on set after we both left the show and I got through my own troubles, we became good friends and would keep in contact with each other over the years.” David Yost said. “Losing him as we did affected me and is part of the reason I decided to finally return to the show after being a member of the community for so long I wanted to respect my old friend and return to the show we both loved doing especially now that things have changed for the better Rest in power Jason may it protect you now and forever.”

After that, a few other actors who had personal experience with Jason David Frank said their own pieces but Po and Dakota both watched David Yost. As one of the few who had worked with him directly and the one person who worked with the show the longest even longer than Jason David Frank himself, Yost was someone they wanted to befriend since they were both former students of JDF and thought of themselves as friends with their former master.

After the panel was over David Yost was heading out when Dakota caught his attention. “Mr Yost, if we could have a word with you?” The more outgoing of the two asked and David Yost nodded to them.

“Po and I are former students of Jason David Frank and friends of his as well. We want to thank you for your kind words. I know you knew him far longer than us but what you said would have definitely warmed his heart if he were still here.” Dakota said. “I hope that you knew he never disliked you for leaving the show.”

“Koty is right about what she said,” Po said. “Master never really disliked you and in fact was secretly proud that you stood up for yourself in the end. I know that wouldn't mean much all things considered but I'm glad you decided to return to honor him not just being a part of the community but a part of the current season.”

“Thank you both. Considering that you both respected him as your Martial arts teacher I won't say anything about how he acted when we were working together but it means the world to me that you respect me just as much” David Yost said. “I've got to get going, maybe one day we'll meet again.”

After that the girls went back to the vending section this time to get more items that they wanted by now it was 7:30 and most of the young children had stopped going through the indoor trick-or-treating section wanting to head out and do some more trick-or-treating at actual houses so only young teens and adults were in the warehouse. The two of them went back to the vendor dressed as Sindri but saw that he was still working on the armor set for Poe so Dakota went over to a vendor that looked like Dr Monty from Call of Duty Zombies. “So what's a keeper like yourself got to offer for us mortals we don't have points but actual cash?” Dakota said, trying to be in character.

“Considering you have actual cash I can offer you infinite uses of everything that I've ever created for all of the crews, perks, wall weapon chalk, the works.” the void creature that looked human said

“So you're the reason Activision nickels and dimes everyone you want the actual cash,” Dakota said with good-natured ribbing, before pulling out 5 hundred dollar bills.

“Liquid Divinium is hard to create, that's for sure, so I do like being compensated,” he said as he took the cash, handing them a Juggernog mini fridge and a small portable gumball machine. “The fridge works like the Wunderfizz giving you a random perk from any map including modded ones. The gumball machine, while smaller, still does the exact same thing as it does in the games, only it has no selection limit on the amount of gums it has, giving you full access to them.”

“Thank you doctor I'm pretty sure you're glad that the group decided to do what they did following through with your plan even if it trapped you in the dark ether,” Dakota said.

“After a while, I realized they had become just as corrupt as my old friend, corrupted by light, that is. Remember this, there needs to be a balance between both light and dark in everything.”

“Trust me I know that balance is important, in fact, it's one of my main tenets of life, balance in everything whether it be magic and anti-magic, light and dark, life and death etc, etc. Having the proper ratio of order tempered by chaos allowing for the world to remain stable yet continuously going forward in progress is something I strive for in my life

Po was surprised at how in character Dakota was acting. She didn't realize how serious her friend could be when it came to cosplaying and acting with others. She would soon learn exactly how far she would take this as she followed behind her friend to another vendor. This one was obviously not human, not at all since it was a statue but Po could see a grill where a voice would come out. Meaning that someone was talking through it.

“Great goddess of time and space take my offering and allow me to gain the weaponry of the Sparda bloodline,” Dakota said, kneeling as if in prayer and offering $3000 to the bowl at the bottom of the statue.

“Go ahead, take what you want. I'll add in a couple of gunblades from an unrelated series.” A woman's voice said from the speaker as the bottom of the bowl opened up to take the money. “Everything will be fully upgraded and be held in Pandora.” The voice said.

As Dakota stood up she clapped her hands together with Glee looking over the items that the vendor had placed for purchase inside a replica of the suitcase form of Pandora were keychain-sized versions of all of the main weapons in the Devil May Cry series, from the Rebellion to the Devil Sword Dante and every single weapon in between that the protagonists said used including each weapon form from the reboot / alternate universe game. The price tag had read “$3,000 for the whole kit Pandora case included” which is why Dakota had decided to buy it.

“Over here I got the armor set finished!” The vendor cosplaying as Sindri shouted, getting the attention of the girls, both of whom walked over. “Now I was able to acquire exact copies of the Axe the Spear and the Blades along with the gauntlet of ages as well during my travels which I restored so I can use all six stones so I'm giving it all to you as a package deal, $800 bucks. The armor and weapons will all be fully upgraded so you don't have to worry about finding a blacksmith as talented as me to work on them.” He said presenting the version of the Ares armor from Ragnarok to Po before muttering quietly but still audibly "Especially since I don't want anything to do with them anymore, they're just horrible reminders.” That comment got the attention of Dakota which made her look over to the Merchant which was right next door to Sindri.

Now slightly nervous Dakota headed over to the merchant seeing a large selection of books and plushies, including a Zeraora plushie, which Po picked up immediately without even thinking since it was a one to three scale and was rather large as it was.

“It's so cute and fluffy! I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it, I love it!” Po said as she hugged it close to her chest the plushie settling between her boobs unintentionally “I am going to call you Zera.” she said squeeing in glee and dancing happily.

“Welcome strangers!” The Merchant said using his iconic line “It seems that little Pokemon has found a forever home with you. You take care of her and she'll take care of you.”

After seeing some of the titles of the books The Merchant had on offer Dakota figured it out rather quickly. “You've been planning on displacement ever since you've seen us, haven't you?! Why else would you have Gohan's ki control book here?! Along with “The Secrets of Magic by Merlin Sin of Gluttony” and just a purple book with Twilight's Starburst!”

“You got me you'll be sent to an Equestria after you buy everything after all I have been planning this like you said since the moment I saw the both of you or rather Truth has, sad to say Miss Brown you die tonight while your friend here would later on take her own life after losing you.” The Merchant said. “Sending you to another world where you won't lose your life like that even if you are separated for a time is far better than that.”

“Let me guess this is going to be a timeline divergence on many fronts,” Dakota said trusting the words of The Merchant ever since he said the name of the god that knew everything was behind this.

“That's true other than the fact that everyone you visited in the vending Hall has been replaced by their actual counterparts including myself everything has gone as it would have up until now.” The merchant said as he handed over the items Dakota had mentioned. “When you cross over, Truth will be altering you a bit, making you more resilient mentally and physically since you're both going to be gods. Truth made a deal with Zeno, both of them that gives him absolute authority over the universe he's sending you both to; basically he's become another grand priest but only responsible for one universe.

“To help with this you'll be getting the XL attaché, case golden version, but it will work like a bag of holding to match up to Pandora.” He continued handing over the suitcase. “Along with a laptop that has omniversal internet, my friend Duke will also be setting up a gourmet restaurant in Ponyville where he'll be able to give you items from Truth and the rest of the multiverse although he may limit your purchases to keep unsavory attention from his legitimate business. So understand if you can't get everything you want right away.”

“Considering what you just told us I guess we have no choice, in fact, it's probably for the best that we go. I assume someone was following us from the moment we left the gas station,” Dakota said, “let me guess mugging gone wrong, stabbed in the stomach or something?”

Po was shaking, very thought of losing her best friend scared her to the bone knowing what she might have done afterward. Hearing how her friend was casually talking about what would have happened, scared her it almost broke her, she was glad they would never have to deal with that if they took this ecstatic even on the inside she always felt like Fluttershy was scared of everything that could harm her and her friend but on the outside she had the confidence or at least the facade of confidence to brush things off knowing that she would soon meet Fluttershy if this went right made her smile if only slightly. “T-thank you sir, for doing this in the end you saved both our lives. I understand what's coming and I only hope that I'll be able to be strong enough for the others and for Koty here.”

“You're very welcome truth will help you with those confidence problems. In fact, that's part of what he's going to do. Once you're done here he's going to give you two more friends close enough to yourself that they'll always prop you up, they'll always be with you so don't fret. And remember even when separated Dakota and you are made for each other and will be forever more.” The merchant said with tears in his red eyes. “For now enjoy the time you have left. You'll be leaving in another hour or so. I suggest you spend it together.”

The two took the suggestion and went to sit in the indoor trick-or-treating area where there was a bench where they could sit and/or lie down. Dakota had her head in Po’s lap as the golden-eyed Po stroked her hair. “Well, that was a hell of a revelation Potate,” Dakota said using her nickname for her good friend.

“Wasn’t expecting the rumors to be true now I owe you 50 bits when we get back together,” Po said.

“I was more talking about the… if we didn't take the deal we'd both be dead in a few weeks but silver linings?” Dakota said as Po stumbled in her stroking for a second. “A God wants to give us both godhood and is willing to change the future for us.” Dakota chuckled at the thought. “I mean this guy likes me for some reason since I've always felt a guiding hand whenever I've written for them. So I guess he wanted to save me from a horrible death and help you out at the same time.”

Dakota stared up into Po’s eyes before smiling cheerfully. “Who knows, maybe on the other side we can finally be together without the assholes around us judging me or you,” she said, admitting feelings she'd kept hidden for a long time.

Po looked down at her long-time friend with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. “You mean it?!” She asked her voice barely above a whisper as she leaned it down towards Dakota.

“Absolutely I figured it out a long time ago but even in this day and age what I am would be too complicated for people to understand so I always kept my feelings to myself.”

“Koty I-” Po said as she shifted to lay down beside the one that she loved holding her close as they both started to feel tired.

“You never needed to say it before, you don't now,” Dakota said as she leaned in to kiss Po, wrapping her up in her arms and wings revealing something about herself to Po right before they left. “I love you too.” She said as she fell asleep her partner followed shortly.

“Potate, I give you Caulifla goddess of destruction and Kale sSupremeKai of universe 18 merge together and become one.” Truth said as the two began to fade Dakota disappearing first. “And Twilight, remember who you were.” With that, the two left this world right as the man following them caught up with them on the bench just missing them by mere seconds.

In the Golden Oaks library, Twilight Sparkle the alicorn of Magic and Friendship awoke on the day after freeing Nightmare Moon and Luna's party. Shifting her weight around and instinctually extending her arms and wings as she woke up.

“Damn it Dad, why'd you have to wake me up.” She mumbled as her morning wood stood at attention underneath the blankets.