Aidan again sat staring at the stars enjoying their beauty. His love for the night had surfaced. Not only because it provided excellent cover from watchful eyes, but because he loved the dark. They had been in the camp for three days, and the coming morning would be the fourth. He noticed, while watching the sky, that it wasn’t as beautiful as when he had first came. Luna was depressed. That’s what the sad night sky said to him. The boy understood though. They were all depressed, but that was expected. The days had been getting hotter. Celestia was furious, and never seemed to let up. Each day she made the fiery inferno a bit hotter. Aidan didn’t know how much the ponies could take. Again and again he feared for them, but this would all be over soon.

The sun was on the rise, but the sky was a light red. The dirt was cracked with dehydration. The world had taken a beating from Celestia’s wrath. Aidan rose from his position on the hill where he sat all night. It was the same hill he met the kind guard a few days prior, he was dead now, was called off for something Aidan was unsure of. Slowly, the boy walked toward Rainbow’s tent. Aidan thanked whatever deity would listen for her safety. She had made a great and quick recovery. All that was evidence of the incident was a scar across her face, just above her eye.

“Hey,” Aidan said, walking into the tent.

“Hey,” Rainbow responded, getting off the bed. “The guards said I could go now…”

“Good, we have no time to waste. We’re already four days behind,” Aidan said before turning and starting toward the camp.

Rainbow couldn’t help but feel hurt by his words, “O- Okay,” She said halfheartedly with drooped ears. She wanted to like Aidan for what he used to be, but only could hate him for what he became.

After a few minutes Aidan and Rainbow were back at the camp. “Bout time you two showed up,” Discord said pointedly. Discord didn’t like Aidan much, as time progressed the two separated.

Aidan flashed an angry glare at him, successfully silencing him. “Are you ready for another teleport?” Aidan asked, impatiently.

“Yes, master…” Discord sarcastically replied. “Let’s get this over with…” He sighed as he stood.

Aidan strolled further into the camp, meeting the rest of his crew. “Alright… we’re moving, get ready. You won’t be able to take much, only what can fit in your personal bags.” Aidan said. By this time his less than friendly demeanor was to be expected for his friends.

Twilight had already made sure that all of their bags were packed with the most important gear. She was just staying true to her organized nature. “We’re already ready, Aidan,” She said before turning to Discord. “We can make the jump whenever you’re ready.”

“Then by all means Twilight, let’s get going,” Discord replied.

The crew had already gathered. Colin, Dan, Luna, and the rest of the ponies in attendance were ready and waiting for the jump. Aidan had taken the liberty of assigning tasks to each of the members of the crew. Discord and Twilight were to handle the transportation; Discord alone wouldn’t be able to teleport them as far as they needed and too much time had already passed. It had been suggested that they combine their powers to reach a further distance, which became the primary plan. The duo would also be able to make the jump more often, each sharing the mental load. The guards: Iron Hoof, Shining Armor, Cobalt Crystal, and Rain Dasher were to do just that: guard, helping them was Dan and Luna. Luna wasn’t much of a contribution because of her lack of magic, but Dan refused to let her be 'alone' and Aidan permitted it. Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy were assigned the task of making whatever place they landed in as hospitable as possible. Simply put, to make a home. The remaining two ponies: Applejack and Pinkie handled cooking for the group. Aidan had become a dictator by any other name. The rest were perfectly fine with his demands though, they trusted him like none other. For Dan and Colin this was to be expected, but the ponies accepted him as one of their own, as if he was their king.

Colin approached Aidan, standing beside him. “I still don’t understand why you gave me such a pointless task…” Colin said, referring of course to the dictator’s demand which was to further research and stretch his magical powers.

Aidan smiled halfheartedly, “I couldn’t expect you to. You haven’t seen what I have, but don’t worry friend everything is fine in the end.”

“You keep saying that,” Colin said. “You keep saying those things. What haven’t I seen? What is the end? And don’t you even think for a second that explains why you’re making me study so much!”

“I’m making you study as a form of preparation,” Aidan replied.

“For what Aidan? What is it that you aren’t telling us? Come on man, I know you aren’t all there anymore, but there has to be some part of you that knows you can tell me,” Colin said. A look of depression crept over his face.

Aidan’s emptiness didn’t yield, however, “I can’t tell you because I know you won’t let me do what is necessary, what has to happen, what has always happened.”

“What do you mean always?” Colin asked.

“It’s all connected,” Aidan said with a sigh. “Prophet, Vis, Mendax, me, you, the plague, this world, Earth… all of it. And at the center is a choice that was never made in the past. Everyone before us made mistake of hiding away in their own fear, away from the plague, from the truth. They were selfish.” Colin noticed Aidan’s fists were clenched tightly. “We can’t let that happen, not again.”

“It’s happened before?” Colin asked.

“Well, yes and no. It’s happened in alternate universes, something you’re directly connected to. Remember that portal you opened when you were training with Dan in Canterlot?” Aidan asked in response.

“Well, yes, but I just thought that was time travel,” Colin replied.

“It’s more or less the same thing. You can open a portal to any time in any dimension, including your own,” Aidan said.

“Does that mean we can go home?” Colin asked with hope in his eyes.

“What’s the point? Our Earth was destroyed by the war, remember? Besides, I can’t leave now, Aidan’s old life is gone. Well, I shouldn’t say gone, but hiding – he’s still here,” Aidan said bringing his hand close to his heart. “Just not here,” he said waving his hand above their heads. “There’s too much at stake here for us to leave now, I can’t do that to him,” Aidan replied.

“Wait what? Him? You mean…” Colin started.

Aidan looked Colin in the eyes and slowly nodded, “You drove the wedge remember? When you did that he died.”

Colin looked down to the ground, taking in the words slowly. “So how can he still be ‘in there’?” He asked.

Aidan smiled, “You study pony magic right?”

“Yes.”

“When’s the last time you measured your power level?” Aidan asked.

“Before you woke up…”

“And the result?”

“Somewhere just under ten thousand.”

“Very good,” Aidan said with a smile. Something told Colin this was Genuine. “Now let’s compare for a second. Your level is just under ten thousand, Twilights’ is nearing sixteen thousand, a lay unicorns level tends to lay around five to six thousand.”

“I don't know how you managed to find all this out but go on.”

“The princesses of Equestria: Luna and Celestia are powerful. Luna’s power level is thirty five thousand, while Celestia’s is upwards of fifty thousand.”

Colin’s mouth hung slightly open as he tried to imagine such power. “Why did they never use it? They could have stopped the plague before it ever began?”

Aidan chuckled, “Maybe. It still was completely unheard of at the time. You can still get stick and die despite your power level. But that’s beside the point, back to Aidan. He… this mere child… has a power level upwards of one hundred and twenty thousand.”

Colin’s eyes widened in amazement. “WHAT? How could that possibly be? His mind couldn’t handle that much power! It would burn away the second he was active!”

“Right you are, Colin. Under normal circumstances a child with a power level that high would die before it was born.” Aidan replied. “But from the moment we arrived here, the moment we, Aidan and the rest of us, activated. Prophet and Vis took turns staying in our head. They took the brunt of power. They are gods among us Colin, and have learned far more than we give them credit for. These two enabled Aidan to survive his condition, for a while.”

"I don't get how that means Aidan is still in there. He is powerful as hell, but im not sure..." Colin said.

"Well, think of it this way for a second. When we were split, the flame burning deep within him, radiating power, split too. Each of us are a separate and complete soul, but together - with whats left of him - we are Aidan."

“So… A part of Aidan is still alive in there somewhere?” Colin asked.

"Yes."

Colin idly watched as the group scurried about, getting ready for the jump. "Just out of curiosity, what part of him is left?" He asked.

“Right…” Aidan replied. "Whats left of him is mostly memories, and thing he held closest to his heart. If you were to meet him, well, you'd be met with an emotionless stare. We are the parts of him that make him human."

“Which are you?" He asked.

“Honesty... It may not be the best idea to flaunt your knowledge of Aidan’s condition, and by extension my existence.” Aidan replied. "That could cause... problems."

“So… Why haven't the others manifested as much as you? You seem different... more, well I don't know.” Colin asked.

“Correct, many fragments of Aidan’s soul still remain unformed. This is primarily due to me holding them at bay. I cant stop them, but I can slow them.” Aidan said.

“Why?”

“Think of twelve people constantly fighting for control while a thirteenth sits in the corner and watches quietly.”

“Sounds… terrible, for lack of a better word.” Colin replied.

“It is, which is why I have decided to keep them out of control for the time being. If all of them were fully formed, we couldn't make progress without them constantly fighting. I need to be the only fully formed soul, at least until I can keep our promise.”

“You still remember that?” Colin asked.

“I remember them all, of course. They are very important to Aidan. Being a fragment of him, well, I can still access them.”

“One more question,” Colin said.

“Go for it,” Aidan replied.

“Why tell me and not someone else, why not everyone else?” Colin asked.

“Because I see something in you. I don’t know what it is, but I know I can trust it. Dan is wonderful, but lacks whatever impossible trait you have deep within your soul. It feels… familiar.”

“Right… Familiar.” Colin said as he looked back to the group.

Dan tapped Aidan on the shoulder to get his attention, “We’re ready to go, the spell is charged.”

“Very well,” Aidan said, clasping his hands together. “Proceed when ready,” Aidan commanded.

The vortex again shook Aidan up. This time was worse, however. He came out of the vortex haphazardly and slammed into the ground. He felt drained, as if he hadn’t slept in days. “Damn…” He said.

“You good?” Dan asked, kneeling down next to Aidan. Dan had taken a hit too, but nothing more than a slap on the back.

“I’ll be fine,” Aidan replied.

“Let me look,” Twilight insisted, walking to his side.

“No, don’t worry about-

“Aidan, this could be serious…” She said before looking him over quickly. “It seems the jump affects you differently because of your level of resistance. With every jump we make, you’ll continue to hurt yourself.”

Twilight put her hooves on his shoulders, “Aidan… You can’t keep doing this to yourself!” She pleaded. Her eyes were sad… and exhausted.

“What would you have me do, Twilight?” Aidan quietly replied, “Either I make this small sacrifice, or things never change.” He asked solemnly.

“Don’t do that Aidan! What happens if you push too far, what happens when you hurt yourself worse than ever before? What would we do then?” Twilight yelled with tears down her face.

“It doesn’t matter Twilight, nothing but a small sacrifice,” He replied, looking deeply into her eyes without blinking. “Things will carry on, I’m sure of it.”

“What happens when you die? What happens when you leave us here alone?” Twilight asks, with a quiet tone and quaky voice.

Oh how she will mourn you… A mysterious voice in Aidan’s head calls.

“I won’t…” Aidan said with a fire in his eyes, a firm voice, a steady hand, a broken heart.

“How do you know!” She pleaded.

“I don’t,” He paused. Aidan looked around at the faces looking on in worry, hatred, or fear. “But what’s the use? Where is my place, Twilight: the man with shattered mind, broken heart, and lost soul?”

Aidan looked into Twilight’s eyes; she had adopted a look of worry, true to her nature. “Oh, Aidan,” She started. Before she could say anything more, Aidan stood and looked around. There was nothing but dry, cracked earth as far as the eye could see.
“How close are we?” He asked. Everybody watched him with tense looks.

“About eighty miles, give or take,” Rain Dasher responded.

“Right, better get moving then!” Aidan said, with a smile.

“Where exactly are we?” Dan asked.

“We’re in the middle of the Badlands,” Cobalt Crystal replied.

A smile worked its way across Aidan’s face, “Fantastic!” He said excitedly.

“Why is that fantastic?” Rain Dasher asked. “This is one of the most dangerous places in the world!”

“Because we’re closer to the wastes!” He replied happily. “The faster we get there, the faster this ordeal can end!” Aidan started walking, with his group slowly following suit.

“Man this is bad, like real bad,” Colin starts.

“Yeah, his changes are getting faster, more unpredictable,” Dan replied, walking next to Luna.

“So did you ever manage to talk to him? About what the ‘other side’ actually is?” Colin asked.

“No. He hasn’t been the easiest person to talk to lately,” Dan answered.

“I understand,” Colin said, silently lying. Oh Aidan, what have you gotten yourself into?

Author's Note

[Apologies for delay.] [Explanation for tardiness.] [Stupid joke I probably shouldn't have said.] [Request that readers comment to improve the story.] [Thanks for reading.]