Their Names Across The Multiverse

Above New Ponyville, Cozy was flying as fast as she could, even though she was not 100% feeling better. She was determined to get to the Underground City of the Chaos Slime but must drop off these books first. She was holding toward the town hall, where her friends were helping Dawn.

Sunset was catching up in the mess of paperwork and finalizing the last steps of the new towns and cities. She tapped her chin as she needed to come up with new names for the places. She looked back at the places that Twilah picked while standing in for Twilight. She had already come up with a few names suggested by those who lived near the area, but she couldn't get suggestions for the last two places, as one was on a mountaintop and another was near a bay. Both places had no living towns or cities nearby, so asking for suggestions from nearby folks wasn't an option.

"This is going to be tough. I can't think of anything and-" Sunset was suddenly interrupted when the whole building shook and when it finally stopped, she sighed loudly. "And doesn't help I can't concentrate thanks to that."

She got out of her chair and headed to the door but stopped. She turned to see the magical mirror in the corner of the room. She remembered what that human mare hybrid had told her: that in the multiverse, other versions of her would always leave Equestria for the human counterpart universe. She was told she was one of the rare ones who never left or became evil, and Sunset smiled at that.

"I'm glad Twilight and her friends helped me long before I could reach that point." She got closer and touched the mirror, feeling the surface. It wasn't active now, so the surface was just a normal glass mirror. "I'm also glad I never left home." She looked out the window, seeing the large town she helped create, and then looked back at the mirror. "I met friends and done things that I couldn't do if I were in some different universe. I'm glad I'm one of the rare ones, then. I'll never change or abandon this world for anything."

Suddenly, the whole room shook again, making Sunset hold the mirror up as it started falling to the side. She held it up until the shaking finally stopped. She let go and sighed with relief, but then her eyes narrowed at the door.

"I know I was the one who suggested they could try their magical spells in the town hall, but I can't work like this! What are they even doing!?" She hurried over to the door and opened it, seeing a cloud of smoke. "Oh, come on! Guys, what are you doing!?" She closed the door behind her, but unknown to her, there was a purple hooded figure as they stood in the corner of the room, the mirror revealing that.

Sunset coughed and walked into the press conference room. She opened the windows and used her magic to blow out the smoke. Standing under burn markings, Dawn was revealed in the middle of the room. Her body and clothes were covered in smoke soot, but how she looked more annoyed than being hurt told Sunset that this version of Luster Dawn used to be hit by magic. Sunset soon could see the others as the smoke finally started to clear.

"...well, that one was a bust," Sunny said, coughing and waving her hand.

Wallflower lowered her hand, making the plants surrounding Lucy open up, letting her friend know it was safe. "I thought for sure that one would work. Using your magic and pouring it into Dawn here should have allowed her to transform into a pony...I guess that was a stupid idea after all."

Sunny glared at her friend. "...it wasn't stupid! And hey, it's not like I'm not trying! We're having trouble figuring out the right thing to do!"

"Yes, you two have been 'working' on this for a while now," Sunset stated, walking over. "Dawn, I know you're not hurt, but are you really okay with your friends blasting you with magic?"

Dawn dusted herself off and tsk loudly. "I have been through worse, trust me." she crossed her arms and looked over to Luster, who lowered her shield. "Hey, do you have any ideas besides blasting me with magic? Because I'm starting to feel like I'm a test dummy."

Luster coughed and scratched her chin. "If I'm being honest, I'm not sure what would work. We have just been throwing things at the wall and see what sticks in ideas." She started to walk back and forth. "I wish we could ask Twilight, but she's busy with Spark, and the only smart pony around Twilight level was Braver..." She stopped and felt her heart break a bit. But she brushed it off. "If there was a way to transform you into a pony...Sunny and Sunset." She turned to the two, who looked at her. "Can you explain how you two fused anyway? Maybe we can use that as a base for an idea for our spell."

Sunny and Sunset looked at each other and shrugged.

"Well, that goth-looking girl said that the universe will fuse us if I remember correctly. So it just...happened," stated Sunny.

Sunset nodded in agreement. "That weird white-haired hybrid mare told me the fusion will have half the users' memories and thoughts. Giving birth to a new, different appearance and personality...but now I think about it." Sunset sat down and thought deeply until she looked over to her human counterpart. Then, over to Luster and her counterparts. "Something isn't right here. If Sunny is right, then shouldn't the universe fuse us again? Or fused all three of you into one being? Why hasn't that happened? Or happened to the other alternate universe versions of my friends?"

Everyone started to think about it, but Sunny might have an answer to that.

"Maybe Spark has something to do with it? Remember, she defuses us. So maybe she's doing something to prevent that from happening to anyone else."

Sunset reacted to that information by tapping her chin. "Interesting...that is a possibility, but if she is..." She got up and looked over at everyone. "How much magical power is needed to do that? Just how powerful is Spark? Something is wrong. I can feel it...like-"

"HERE ARE YOUR STUPID BOOKS!" shouted Cozy as she flew in through the window and tossed all the books she got from the library. She was about to fly off again, but her horn started to hurt as she dropped to her knees.

"Cozy!? Take it easy, and you are still recovering." Luster said, helping her friend up. "What's wrong? You are acting like you are in a rush. Did something happen?"

Cozy-eyed Luster turned to Lucy and her friends. She wanted to tell them about what was happening, but she didn't want to give them hope. There was still a chance Twilight was wrong about the twins being alive. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"No, nothing happened. I need to be somewhere right now." Cozy stood back up and, without warning, hugged Luster, which surprised her.

"...Cozy?"

"Luster, whatever happens. I'll always be there for you, okay? Just please...don't hate me."

Luster was confused, but she knew something was wrong. She didn't know why Cozy said that, but it was best not to question her. Cozy let go, slowly backed away, and quickly flew out of the window.

Everyone gathered at the window and saw her flying toward Everfree, which was in that direction.

"Something is going on," whispered Lucy, as she suddenly had a bad feeling.

"What are you going to do, Luster? Cozy didn't look too good and seemed to be hiding something," Sunny asked.

Luster didn't want to chase after Cozy since she knew Cozy could handle herself, but at the same time, she wanted to be there for her. She turned to the others and looked up at Dawn, who was still standing in the middle of the room, her arms crossed as if she didn't care about what was happening. Luster knew she didn't care.

"Dawn, I'm sorry, but I need to check on Cozy and find out what's happening. Lucy's friends can still-"

Luster quickly stopped talking as she noticed how pissed off Dawn was that she suddenly darted toward them. Ready to attack them. Everyone couldn't react in time, but what happened next horrified them.

Dawn wasn't attacking them when she tossed that punch, no. She attacked to protect them as between them was her...Fayth.

In her hands and on the ground was Suguri, who was badly hurt. Fayth blocked Dawn's punch with her black book.

"You! You little bitch! Why are you here!" demanded Dawn, trying to break through the book. Everyone hurried away and behind her. "Are you here for an ass-whipping from Spark and me again?"

Fayth chuckled. "No, but you did give me a reason to do this."

She forced Dawn away, making her hit the wall, but she quickly recovered and stood up. She was ready for battle.

"You fought her before!?" asked Sunset, backing away but her horn glowing, ready for a fight.

Dawn cracked her knuckles, smiling. "Oh yeah. When Spark came into my universe, she protected me from her, but I didn't know that initially. When she appeared and tried to change my fate, Spark fought her. I joined in and learned that the whole multiverse is real." She pounded her fists together. "So, why are the fuck are you here!? I heard you attacked Spark but ran away like a coward you are!" She eyed Suguri and tsk loudly, seeing one of Spark's friends and teammates hurt. "If you dare hurt her again, I swear I'll..."

"Oh, relax." She tossed Suguri over to them and landed on the floor. "I won't kill that old hag, but I am here for Spark. I need to stop them from saving those two." She opened her book, and the pages started to give off a gold aura. "My book is making me remember more. Remember what happened in the last rewrite. I won't allow those two to be saved." Suddenly, everyone could feel a powerful well of dark energy. "I will break Spark by killing everyone while she sleeps. Once that is done, she will be forever broken. She needs that final push, and I'll give her that."

"Like hell you will!" shouted Dawn, rushing toward her and punching her across the room.

Fayth slammed into the wall and then crashed through the wall. Everyone hurried to Suguri, seeing she was hurt and bleeding from her head and chest. Dawn turned to the others.

"Get out of here! Get to Spark and tell her what's going on! That punch won't take her down that easy. I can only buy you some time!"

"But we can't just leave you!" yelled Luster.

Dawn smirked as she faced away, looking at Fayth, who reappeared with no signs of damage on her.

"I'll be fine. I might not be the same level of power as Spark, but I can hold my own for a damn good while." She punched her palm, feeling the energy within her. "So, Fayth! Ready to get your ass kicked?!"

"As much as I'd like to fight, I have an appointment with others here."

Not even a second, and she was already on top of the others, ready to kill them, but Dawn kicked her away and rushed after her as they exited the building and continued their fight outside.

Luster and her friends didn't know what to do. They looked at Suguri, who was badly hurt. She was alive but could barely breathe. Sunset quickly made a healing spell, using her magic to heal Suguri's wounds, but not enough to fully heal her.

"We need to get back to Spark!" shouted Lucy, looking outside and seeing the fighting.

Luster agreed, but she turned to Sunset.

"Look, I'm going to stay behind here and ensure Dawn isn't killed, but I need you all to get back to Spark and warn her. It would help if you warned the others because I doubted Spark could handle Fayth alone. She will need help."

Sunset and Sunny nodded, using magic to teleport them away, but only something to block their magic. Something was jamming their magic.

"Is this Fayth doing?" Sunny asked, trying her best to use her magic but failing no matter what.

Wallflower used her magic and could see she wasn't having the same problem. "Looks like it's affecting unicorn magic? My powers over plant life aren't affected." She could sense that the jamming magic was coming from somewhere, but it felt near them.

"Then we need to run there!" shouted Sunset, trotting toward the hole that Dawn made when she kicked Fayth outside. The others followed them, but as Luster said, she stayed behind and looked at the fight within the town, creatures screaming and running away from the two fighting humans.

Fluttershy was flying toward Everfree Forest, where she had a saddlebag and a recording crystal inside that bag. She had a guess where Discord was and was heading there to speak to him, but as she flew, she spotted Cozy flying toward the forest.

"Cozy? Where is she going?" Fluttershy wondered, thinking of following her, which she did.

Fluttershy lowered herself to the tree tops, hoping not to be seen by the pegasus. She could see Cozy heading toward the forest's center, and soon, Fluttershy landed on a branch, hiding in the tree tops. She watched Cozy fly down and walk through a bush, disappearing behind it. Fluttershy landed and hurried to the bush. Soon, Fluttershy knew where Cozy was heading, as she could see the cave.

"Why is Cozy heading to the underground city of the Chaos Slime?" Fluttershy wondered, looking around, and saw no sign of the Pegasus.

Fluttershy hovered off the ground, flew toward the entrance, and entered it. She was heading this way anyway, but now she was taking the long way. She could hardly see anything, but soon, the darkness finally started to light up. Fluttershy landed and saw a giant crystal lit up the underground city. Stone buildings surrounded her; she looked around until she saw Cozy flying toward a tall building and followed her.

Fluttershy landed, peeked inside an opened window, and saw Cozy going through books and scrolls like she was looking for something.

"Come on! This damn archive building must have something on Slime births. It's a building full of information, so they would have something on them," muttered Cozy, going through each book.

"Cozy? What are you doing?" asked Fluttershy, landing inside.

Cozy was spooked when she heard Fluttershy but quickly recovered. She wasn't sure if she should answer the truth or lie; again, she didn't want to give anyone hope that Braver might be alive or that Braver's kid might be inside Spark's Element core, but she needed to check something.

"...what did you hear?"

Fluttershy looked puzzled. "I heard you talking about looking up information about Slime birth." She picked up a book and could see records of hybrid slime. "Why are you searching for that?" She turned the page and read it again, amazed there were hybrid slimes.

Cozy could see how Fluttershy was reading a book. "Wait, did you find something?!" Cozy asked, quickly hovering over her and reading the book.

Fluttershy backed away and read the page. "Yeah, it's an interesting thing. I never knew there were hybrid slimes. It seems it was a rare case going by the info they left in this book." answered Fluttershy.

Cozy quickly read through it and saw how those births were handled. She soon learned how Slimes not only self-reproduce upon death but also through mating with other creatures. This explained what Twilight had told her: Slimes have both gender parts by forming the desired part to give their seeds or be allowed to take their partner's seeds.

"That's it!" she shouted, shocking Fluttershy. "This book tells how slime reproduces upon death like Twilight believes they do. So that means Braver and her sister's children are-!" Cozy covered her mouth as she slowly looked at a very confused Fluttershy.

"Braver...can have a child upon death, but..." Cozy could see Fluttershy slowly putting the information together. "Spark...oh, heavens! Is she carrying her sister's kids within that place? Within her!? Oh, my gosh!"

Cozy quickly grabbed Fluttershy, covering her mouth. "Don't say anything about this! No one can know! Not yet, not until we are sure about this." Fluttershy could see Cozy eyes becoming watery. "Listen, there are two things that can happen right now. Braver and her sister left behind their kids or..." Cozy slowly removed her hoof, seeing the hope in Fluttershy's eyes.

"...they are alive..." whispered Fluttershy.

Cozy looked away and shook her head. "We aren't sure which one is true, okay? I don't want to give others hope that they might be alive. That's why Twilight asked me to make sure her theory was correct. Since it is, it leads more toward the fact that those two might be...well..." Cozy wiped her tears away and tried her best not to break down crying.

Fluttershy slowly put the book down and placed a hoof on her shoulder, comforting her. Cozy felt the hoof and touched it back, thanking Shy for her comfort.

"We don't know which one is true, so we shouldn't tell others until we know what's happening."

"I understand. So, what are you going to do now?"

Cozy faced her and picked up the book. "I need to head back to New Ponyville. Twilight knows a way to enter Spark's core, but like I said, she needed to make sure. If those kids are within Spark's core, this book will help her learn how to raise a slime from birth. Thanks to you, this is the best I could get from here."

Fluttershy smiled and nodded. "I see, but let me help. I can't stand by after learning about this."

Cozy sighed, knowing she had no choice but she could see the large crystal poking out of the saddle bag.

"What's with the big crystal? Why are you even here? I doubt you're here to find out about slimes."

Fluttershy blinked, forgetting she had the crystal. "Oh, this." She pulled it out and showed it to Cozy. "This is for Discord, and I want to see him and give it to him." She placed it back in the bag. "And I feel he's in here. Amazement and I found him in a tunnel leading out of this city."

Cozy was a bit puzzled. "A tunnel leading out of here? Are you sure? I'm pretty sure the city's exit is the one we used."
Fluttershy shrugged, unsure what to think about this. Cozy remembered seeing all the other tunnels caved in. She needed to head back, but this sounded off. She needed to know about this tunnel and decided to follow Fluttershy.

"Show me where you found Discord."

Fluttershy led Cozy to the tunnel she spoke of, which surprised Cozy.

"This isn't a tunnel exit. This is a..." Cozy went up to the entrance walls and brushed off the dirt. Seeing a nameplate on it. "A home. Some Slimes live in buildings, but others live inside of long tunnels they made. So, this could have been one of those. Still, what would Discord be doing here?"

Fluttershy wasn't sure what to say, but she did remember something.

"There was wall painting, and one had a written note toward me..."

Cozy gave her a confused look. "What?"

Fluttershy nodded and continued to explain as she led Cozy inside.

"I don't understand it as well, but Discord spoke of someone named Waver, and in the wall painting, the writer of the message spoke of that same name. That person and writer somehow saw the future because they spoke directly to me like they knew I would be there. The painting also showed a future, but it didn't go as what happened like how it was drawn in the painting." Fluttershy looked back at Cozy, who looked like she was deep in thought.

Cozy didn't want to think of a time traveler, but if the message spoke directly to Fluttershy, who has no reason to lie, it must be true, and the name Waver, she saw the same name on the outside of this tunnel. Whoever lived here was named Waver. She wanted to learn more about this Waver, so she followed Fluttershy.

As they continued through the tunnel, they found themselves in what looked like a living area. As they looked around, the two spotted Discord, dressed up as a painter and painting something.

"Discord, what are you doing?" Fluttershy asked, flying over to him.

Cozy joined her and asked the same question, asking who Waver was and what weird paintings Fluttershy spoke of. Before she could ask him about the messages, Discord turned to them with a neutral expression.

"Fluttershy, I was expecting you and have something to show you."

Discord's sudden change of tone threw them off, and Cozy had no clue what he was speaking of, but she soon got an answer.

Discord stepped aside, revealing a large wall painting that Discord colored. In it, Flutershy saw...

"W-What is this!?" shouted Fluttershy, her heart racing as she backed away from the painting, falling backward.

Cozy rushed to her, seeing her shaking and her breathing getting faster. Cozy helped her back up and saw her face.

"Shy, what's wrong?! Why are you panicking like this?!"

Fluttershy shook her head, unable to answer her. Cozy didn't understand what was going on with her, but she soon faced Discord, wanting to know the meaning of this.

"Cozy, you being here shows there is a change." He looked at the painting, which Cozy did as well. What she saw scared her.

"A change that can create a chance in this rewrite."

What Cozy and Fluttershy saw was Spark, dead as Fayth loomed over the body. Fayth had her arms up in the air and a golden book between them. A book that created a vast black hole. Sucking in all of this Equestria and many more into it.

"Waver, within her madness, could see into the future and painted what she saw over the years in this dead city. This one, she kept drawing over and over again. It's one of many ends if Spark breaks and gives up to Fayth herself. I know this because." He stepped back, revealing this painting was a painting within a painting. Showing him revealing it to Fluttershy but only to her. "You being here confirms that what Waver saw wasn't 100% true, but it shows that Fayth has a high chance of winning. That's why I've decided to do this."

He picked up his paintbrush and started to paint other paintings that needed color.

"She saw the what ifs and the what will be. It's why she kept on painting this same thing over and over. Hoping to see another ending, but with her madness, she must have had difficulty keeping track of them all." Discord explained as he continued to paint. "That's why she kept repainting, but after a while, she couldn't hold back her madness and became a creature of pure chaos. A Chaos Slime."

Fluttershy didn't understand this, but seeing Spark dying and Fayth winning made her realize what he was trying to tell her.

"Y-You are saying that we will lose and Spark will die? That we have a slim chance of beating Fayth?"

Discord didn't answer.

"Discord, please. Answer my question." Cozy, however, knew the answer. She could see it on Discord's face and wasn't happy. "Discord, don't tell me you plan to stay here and just do nothing."

Discord faced the two with a serious expression.

"I did my part, Fluttershy. I did my part in a 'what could've been' future, but that doesn't mean that's the only one. So, I'm staying here and painting the 'what could've been' and 'what will be.' I need to see what Waver saw." He painted a pink butterfly and turned to her. "Tell me, you two, do you know about the butterfly effect?"

The two nodded, unsure where this was going.

"It's simple: a butterfly flaps its wings and causes a hurricane somewhere. By changing the smallest action, we can change the largest result. You might not have noticed it, but someone is taking the smallest actions in this rewrite to create the biggest result in the upcoming future. Things went differently than what Waver saw. I'm not even sure the future I helped save will be the one that will be created." He looked down at Fluttershy. "My dear, sweet Fluttershy. You need to gather everyone and protect the library from Fayth. Because I found two outcomes."

Discord led them to another wall painting, which he filled in, revealing two outcomes. One shows the twins alive and saved while Spark takes on Fayth and wins. The other is the same, but two black slimes are in the twin spot.

"I will be honest. I can't see what will happen. Not until Twilight, Celestia, and Luna return whoever is in Spark's core. But there is one thing I am certain about."

Discord pointed at the painting that showed the two slimes.

"This outcome. This is the future where Spark fails and dies. And not just her but everyone. A bad future will be created, and the white spark of light will never be lit. Dooming us all. That's why we can't lose."

Fluttershy looked over the two pictures. She couldn't understand what was happening, but the first picture was the most important.

"The twins are alive, right?"

Discord closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't know. We won't know until the others return."

Fluttershy could tell he was telling the truth. She looked back at the painting, then back at him. She took out a crystal and placed it beside him.

"Discord...if the second outcome becomes true..." Fluttershy fought back her tears as she didn't want to think of herself and her friends dying. "...please listen to my message to you. You must be strong because those two slime children need someone to guide them. Please take care of them and help them grow up."

Fluttershy's voice broke, and she cried out. "Help them grow up and love them like they were your own. Even if that future is doomed, those two will be the last hope for that future because no matter where you go, hope is always within you. The spark, don't let it burn out."

Cozy didn't know what to say, but hearing this made her understand why she was here. She watched Fluttershy run out of the tunnel, heading back home to gather everyone. Cozy walked over to Discord, who was about to touch the crystal.

"I wasn't meant to be here. Like you said, someone is changing the smallest things to create the largest change. So, the reason I am here..."

Discord stood back up, away from the crystal, and pointed to an already-painted painting, Showing Cozy her fate.

"...Suguri wasn't ever meant to save me. She wasn't even meant to be here. I see." Cozy got closer to the painting but soon noticed another next to it. "What is that?"

Discord went back to painting as he poured his brush into the paint. He answered her.

"The what ifs and the what will be. The outcome that has happened or will happen." He turned to her, smiling. "To be honest, I hope that's your future, Cozy because you deserve it."

Cozy's mouth slowly became a smile...and tears started to fall.

The painting shows her as much older and standing alongside Braver. Between them was Braver and Luster's daughter, but next to the black unicorn was an earth pony mare with see-through glowing horn and wings. She was holding a filly. That filly was a light pink Pegasus with a black slime mane resembling Cozy's mane. Future Cozy's face was full of love and happiness.

Cozy cried harder.

"I-Is this the future I get!?"

Discord looked away.

"It's an uncertain story still in motion as it is being written. But it can also be a possibility, a future, that could happen."

Cozy could feel it, her future, and it felt so real. She was going to make this future happen.

"Even if it means betraying Luster?"

Cozy quickly turned around, seeing a purple-cloaked figure and reading a book as they stood beside Discord. Discord took notice but kept painting.

"Who are you!? Are the one who-"

"If you want that future you see, you must betray Luster Dawn. You fall more in love with Braver, and Braver does the same, even when she's with Luster. You two will be together, but not how you'd like. It will be painful, but you'll find happiness. You will break Luster's heart to reach that happiness, but the pain she will feel will be a greater one." The cloaked figure stated, not once looking at Cozy. "It will be a painful betrayal, but it is a future where you find true love and happiness. So, Cozy Glow. Is that the future you want? Where you-"

"NEVER!" shouted Cozy, shocking Discord but not the figure.

"I will never hurt Luster! I love her because she's my childhood friend! I will never go behind her back with Braver like that! I'll find a better future with her! One where she is happy and will not end up broken-hearted like you say!" Cozy shouted, not once backing down.

The figure created a feather pain and started writing in the book. They closed it and finally looked at Cozy.

"Even if it means hurting yourself? Because that ending you see won't happen. Not in a million years. Your happiness will not happen, but her's will. Like it's meant to happen."

Cozy felt her body shake. She didn't want to believe this. She didn't want to, but she did. And that made her smile, which surprised the figure.

"As long as Luster and Braver are happy together. Then I will be too. Their happiness is all I ever want for them..."

The figure's expression became soft.

"That's right. Keep moving forward, even in hardship."

Cozy smiled at the figure, but she didn't know why.

"So, is that what you really want, Cozy? Even if it's painful?"

Cozy turned around, facing the painting. A future she gave up.

"It's ok."

She looked back at the figure.

"Even if It hurts, I will move forward and not stop."

The figure looked down at their book, and they smiled. They turned a page and started reading.

"Go. Head back to New Ponyville because Luster will need you for what she's about to do with Dawn. She's going to need an anchor."

Cozy wasn't sure what they meant by that, but she didn't care. She looked at the painting again and returned to New Ponyville. The figure watched her leave and closed their book. They turned to Discord, who was now looking at them.

"I see you became a Watcher, so you survived in the last rewrite, huh? You really are a stubborn one."

The figure didn't answer. They just stood and walked over to the largest opening of the tunnel. They looked around and could see colorful crystals. They removed their hood, revealing they were female as their long mane flowed out. She used her book to light up the whole area, revealing the largest painting.

"We're not stubborn. I refused to let her spark die out. We made a promise to Fayth and will keep it."

She looked at the painting and frowned.

"That's why we're doing this. To save her."

Discord stood next to her, looking up at the massive painting. "I don't remember how the last two rewrites back then, before this one, had ended, but I'm guessing it was because of you two, huh?" He turned to her, feeling the hope she was giving off. "I take it you found the true ending and now acting by changing Fayth's rewrite into your own. That's the only reason you're here now. The path is set, isn't it?"

The woman's face softened, and she faced him.

"We will not allow the story to end as Fayth wants it to. She's still there, you know. Where it all started, she's waiting for the true ending, where she can finally move on. But to get that ending, I must face the real Fate."

They turned to the massive painting, seeing a white void and a vast humanoid figure standing in the middle. Below them was a golden tree. Within that tree was a white spark, surrounded by many rainbow sparks.

"Spark. The spark that resides in the heart of us all will always shine, even against all odds. It won't burn out within the darkness and won't be overwhelmed by the whiteness. No matter the outcome, the spark will always be the brightest thing in existence. It's the true light of hope."

Discord walked closer to the painting and bent down, touching the white spark. He could see it—a white-maned anthro unicorn mare wearing all white.

"It's a long way forward, so trust in her. She was given shelter and the hope she needed. And now it's up to her and her friends to change the story. It's a long way forward, but she has hope."

The cloaked figure touched the white spark as well, and she smiled.

"A spark and a hope. Two things that will never die out."

End of Chapter 22