"Hey Indigo!" Sabre exclaimed.
"Hey Sabre and light- who are they?" The Indigo Leader asked, looking at the mane 6 and Spike.
"They're our new friends," Light Steve replied.
"We've come to ask a huge favour, we need to get to the spirit world," Sabre requested.
"I'm not sure. I only started to trust you again, but this is too early Sabre," The Indigo Leader responded.
"Whatever Sabre done, it's not important. We seek to speak to whoever this Great Librarian is," Twilight replied.
"I'm... I'm sorry... I'm not sure if you know this, but he released the darkness! Twice!" The Indigo Leader exclaimed.
"And I stopped the darkness, twice, and I thought we were over this, Indigo," Sabre responded.
"The darkness? We've seen what the darkness can do... well, the darkness in our world," Twilight responded.
"The darkness from where you are from probably works differently to the darkness here... I'm not sure if they're linked or not... anyway, we're going off track! We need to speak to the Great Librarian!" Sabre exclaimed.
"There is this steve called Madness Steve and the Great Librarian may be the only one with the knowledge on how to defeat him!" Sabre again exclaimed.
"Madness Steve is just a myth!" The Indigo Leader exclaimed back in response.
"No he isn't! He's VERY real and VERY dangerous!" Sabre yelled in frustration.
Indigo Steve then glared to Light Steve, the mane 6 and Spike.
"Did you all see him?" The Indigo Leader questioned the mane 6, Spike and Light Steve. They nodded. Then all of a sudden, the sky turned from day to night. All the floating blocks in the middleworld became either bedrock, obsidian or magma blocks. The smooth chilling water beneath whatever everyone and everypony was standing on became volcanically active lava. Dark clouds above started to form as well. Then there was lightning being summoned, nearby everyone and everypony. What the Indigo Leader thought was just a myth was in fact real. Madness Steve just appeared. Fluttershy then went to hide behind the Indigo Leader's painting. Meanwhile, the Indigo Leader was lost for words.
"No... it... it can't... it can't be! You're... you're o... only... only... a myth!" The Indigo Leader stuttered in shock, taking many steps back.
"Oh, I'll show you that I'm no myth!" Madness Steve chuckled as he levitated Spike towards him.
"Help!" Spike screamed.
"No!" Twilight shrieked as he tried to use her magic to break Madness Steve's grip on Spike, but it was no use.
"Don't... hurt... him," Rarity now sobbed on the floor, with her forehooves in a praying position, begging Madness Steve to not hurt Spike, or worse. Madness Steve ignored Rarity as he forced Spike to absorb some of his essence. Spike, grunting and screaming in pain as Madness Steve's essence slowly engulfed Spike completely. Changing how he looks completely. His green spikes are now light grey, his body is completely black, with his belly being a darker shade of grey. His eyes though, their red with orange pupil's. Spike now has Madness Steve's colours all over him.
"Help... me-" Spike quietly said as he struggled in vain to shake off Madness Steve's control over him.
"You are... my PUPPET!" Madness Steve boomed at Spike. The now corrupted Spike nodded. Spike then glares at Sabre, Light Steve, the Indigo Leader and the mane 6, leaving them in fear, especially Fluttershy. Even Rainbow Dash who often hides when she is scared, even she broke down into chills of fear. Madness Steve is on a completely different level to whatever bad guy they dealt with. They knew Madness Steve could do this as easily to anyone, but he was doing this to hurt them physiologically, make them give up and make them admit defeat.
"What are their names?" Madness Steve asked Spike, who was now under his control. Spike began naming the mane 6 and Sabre 1 by 1.
"Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Sabre, Light Steve..." Spike responded. Spike then struck down the Indigo Leader's painting stand with lightning, revealing Fluttershy, who now curled into a ball, covering her face with her wings and was on her side.
"Fluttershy," Said Spike. Madness Steve then paused time, calculating his next moves. Madness Steve then resumed time and looked at Fluttershy. Madness Steve made it so Fluttershy couldn't move and levitated her up in the air, then flew directly at her so fast that she didn't have time to scream, but she did close her eyes and open her mouth as she was about to scream. Madness Steve then paused time again as he barely made contact with Fluttershy's fur, teleporting himself and Spike away, then resumed time, leaving the middleworld a complete mess. Fluttershy then let out a roaring, deafening scream, which everyone and everypony feel to the ground and covered their ears. Fluttershy stopped screaming and slowly opened her eyes, seeing Madness Steve wasn't there and that she could move.
"Eeee... heeee..." Fluttershy squirmed in sheer shock and fear as she hovered back down to the floor. The rest of the mane 6 went over to comfort a very mortified Fluttershy.
"Spike's... g... g g... gone..." Fluttershy stuttered, who is completely shaking, frightened and spooked.
"Nopony... is gone... forever," Twilight replied, who is also deeply upset as well as the rest of the mane 6, but trying to keep a positive mood. Even though Sabre and Light Steve barely knew Spike, they still were utterly fuming with anger at Madness Steve over Spike. But Twilight is easily most hurt over Spike. It strengthened her thought on taking a break from ruling Equestria was the wrong decision, it also made it harder for Twilight to speak up about how she was feeling.
"Well... he's... definitely real," The Indigo Leader sighed.
"Okay, I'll send you to the world beyond, but not all can go or the Blue Leader will get mad. Only two can go," The Indigo Leader added.
"Well I have no choice but to go, who else wants to come with me?" Sabre asked.
"I'll go with you," Twilight replied.
"You two seem the smartest out of all of us. It would make sense if you two went," Light Steve replied.
"Light, can you take them back to the old Yellow Kingdom?" Sabre requested. Light Steve nodded.
"Good luck you two," Light Steve said as he teleported the rest of the mane 6 and himself back to the yellow kingdom, leaving Sabre, the Indigo Leader and Twilight in the burnt and charred middleworld.
"I wish you two the best of luck," Said the Indigo Leader.
"Wait, what about the middleworld?" Sabre replied.
"Oh don't worry about that, but you must find the Great Librarian," Indigo Steve responded.
"You two ready?" The Indigo Leader asked.
"Ready," Sabre replied.
"Ready," Twilight replied shortly after Sabre replied. The Indigo Leader then summon lightning on Sabre and Twilight, sending to the world beyond.
Sabre and Twilight are now in the world beyond. Twilight is mesmerised by the peacefulness of the world beyond. For some reason though, it is night time in the world beyond. But Sabre assumed the world beyond had a day cycle like the overworld and he always ended up going to the world beyond when it was daytime. Time in the world beyond may also work differently, or it may be something else, he didn't know. He and Twilight need to go and find the Great Librarian.
"Wow... the world beyond... it's... beautiful," Twilight stuttered in amazement, lost for words.
"It sure is," Sabre replied.
"What is this world about anyways?" Twilight asked.
"It's where steves go to rest... as in, they pass on," Sabre explained.
"Oh, do you mean everypony, I mean 'steve' here... they're... dead?" Twilight slowly replied. Sabre nodded.
"Oh... that... that changes how I view this world... but I still think it's so beautiful and peaceful here," Twilight replied.
"Anyway, we need to get walking. We must find the Great Librarian," Sabre said as he began walking, with Twilight closely following.
"Tell me Sabre, tell me more about your world.
It's... it's so... interesting," Twilight requested, who is very curious.
"Oh that... that's a long story. I seen steves rise and I seen steves fall. Some good and some bad. Some close to me and some I was bitter enemies with," Sabre responded.
"Oh, it's okay," Twilight replied. Twilight began asking more questions as she and Sabre were walking.
"Who is the ruler of your world?" Twilight asked.
"It depends where you are in our world. Each of the original coloured steves run their own kingdoms. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Some like the village we were from run together with multiple steves from different colours. Also, you know the Red Kingdom, I really shouldn't of told you that as the Red Steves are rather secretive about their existence and all that, but I'm sure you won't tell anyone... well... 'anypony' I should say, from the vocabulary I been hearing you use," Sabre responded. Twilight nodded.
"Do they represent anything, the coloured steves? As in they have different abilities or represent anything?" Twilight asked.
"Red represents wisdom, orange represents creativity, yellow represents energy, green represents health, blue represents spirit, indigo is connection and violet is love," Sabre replied.
"They also used to have have a crystal each. There was also this prophecy that someone would bring all the crystals together in order to create 'The Hero' in order to defeat the darkness... ugh... do you mind if I tell you another time about the prophecy? The prophecy thing is a whole different story in itself," Sabre requested.
"Yeah sure," Twilight replied.
"Hmm... from the seems of what I currently know, these 'crystals' are like the Elements of Harmony. Interesting," Twilight thought to herself.
"What happened to the crystals?" Twilight asked.
"Well... after defeating Void Steve... at this stage... Rainbow Void as he stole the crystals, they were all fused into one crystal called the Rainbow Crystal. Then Void Steve had a demon form that made him immortal, so I tried using the rainbow crystal to get rid of his immortality, but I destroyed the crystal. I got too confident with it and I shattered the crystal," Sabre responded.
"How did you defeat 'Void Steve' the second time as you said he became immortal?" Twilight again asked.
"Well, you know Time Steve, he can revert someone's state back in time, pause or fast forward someone's state in time, which was how he healed you, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy when Elemental hurt you three. Anyway, Time basically reverted Void Steve's state back to when he was just a Blue Steve. I was losing until my shadow came in and destroyed Void on the spot... uh, we'll... not delve into my shadow other than that I stopped him after he betrayed me, Time and Dark. Anyway, that's the most recent stuff summed up really," Sabre explained.
"Anyway, enough about me, what about you? How long have you been the leader of this place called Equestria?" Sabre asked.
"Just over a year ago. The previous rulers, Celestia and Luna, they retired, so I became the ruler... or 'leader' as you use that term more often. Over a year ago, Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow were running amok, long story, but I and everypony in Equestria won in the end which is all that matters," Twilight replied.
"What happened to whoever Tirek, Chrysalis and Cozy Glow were? Were they destroyed? Were they imprisoned or what?" Sabre asked.
"They were turned to stone by Celestia, Luna and Discord. Soon after, Celestia and Luna retired, and I became the ruler," Twilight responded.
"Well... that's... a unique way to deal with a foe. Anyway, what were you doing exactly before ending up in our reality with your friends?" Sabre asked.
"Well... being a ruler made me very exhausted. There's so much responsibility in being a ruler. I just got incredibly exhausted and collapsed and I woke up in a hospital, one that that in a place called Ponyville. Then somepony called Cadence offered to rule on my behalf while I would have a week-long break. At first, I didn't want to take a break. It is my duty as a ruler, to put everypony before myself. But Cadence kept on, and I eventually agreed to take a break. I was going to spend that time with my friends as it had been so long since I've seen them... other than the few times I've got to talk to my friends, but it was only like a quick. It wasn't just a quick hi this time, I got to see my friends and properly speak to them. Maybe taking a break was a good idea. Me and my friends then decided to have a picnic... until we ended up here," Twilight explained.
"Oh... right, okay. Yeah, there's a lot of responsibilities a leader has. From what you said about not wanting to take a break and putting others before you, I already can tell that you must be a great leader. I admire you for that, but sometimes, if you get the chance to have a break, you should have it," Sabre replied.
"But I feel like it's my fault for taking the break, especially after what Madness Steve did to Spike. Maybe none of this would be happening if I didn't agreed to take a break," Twilight sighed, pausing and sitting down, looking to the floor and briefly closing her eyes.
"Hey, it's not your fault. Sometimes, you have to think about yourself first as your own health is important too. All of this is happening because of Madness. You can never plan for someone from a totally different world... universe... or even a different reality to just ruin things for those in another reality. It's just not possible to plan for such a thing. It's not your fault," Sabre replied, also stopped walking as Twilight did. Twilight then looked back to Sabre.
"You... you really think?" Twilight slowly asked.
"Yeah, it's sometimes good to take a break if given the opportunity. You all just got really bad luck," Sabre replied.
"Thanks Sabre," Twilight responded.
"Now if you want to talk about anything, you can come talk to me, anyway, let's continue walking," Sabre said as he and Twilight continued walking. Twilight then sees a figure ahead.
"Wait... Sabre? Is that the Great Librarian there?" Twilight asked, pointing with her left hoof at a figure. The figure had pale white skin with darkish red clothing over him.
"Yes!" Sabre exclaimed as he and Twilight rushed over to the Great Librarian.
"Hey Great Librarian!" Sabre ecstatically yelled at the top of his voice as he and Twilight rushed over to the Great Librarian. However, like the Great Librarian told Sabre last time, his memories would eventually fade away completely. By now, all of his memories were completely gone.
"What the... the... who... who are you?" The Great Librarian stuttered, backing away from Sabre and Twilight and was freaking out.
"Oh... did I mention the memory of those in the world beyond eventually fades away?" Sabre nervously replied.
"No, but I wouldn't say his memories are gone forever," Twilight replied as her horn glowed purple. Then a purple aura appeared around the Great Librarian, then the aura disappeared.
"Oh, it's you Sabre!" The Great Librarian exclaimed.
"What the... how... how did you do that?" Sabre asked in amazement, looking at Twilight.
"I casted a spell so the Great Librarian gain his memories back," Twilight explained. Sabre nodded.
"Well I uh... I thank you greatly, and who shall you be?" The Great Librarian asked, looking at Twilight.
"Twilight. My full name is Twilight Sparkle, but Twilight is fine," Twilight introduced herself.
"Well Sabre and... Twilight, what are you all after?" The Great Librarian wondered.
"Do you have any information on Madness Steve?"
Sabre asked.
"Oh him? I've always been told that he was just a myth, but never been too sure myself," The Great Librarian replied.
"He isn't a myth!" Sabre exclaimed.
"He... also corrupted... somepony close to me," Twilight sighed as she looked like she was about to cry.
"It's okay Twilight," Sabre quietly said as he tried to comfort Twilight, stroking her head gently with his right hand.
"Look, whether you think Madness Steve is a myth or not, do you have any information on how we could possibly stop him?" Sabre asked, sounding desperate as he never seen a steve with so much power like Madness Steve had.
"Not a great deal of information. My information on Madness Steve is very limited, even with my memories back, but I can share what I know about him," The Great Librarian replied.
"Did you say one of your friends apparently got corrupted by him?" The Great Librarian asked Twilight whilst double checking. Twilight sighed and nodded.
"He done so very likely with his essence. Madness Steve may of likely forced your friend to absorb his essence, which was how he likely corrupted them. Anyway, there are these books that contain the majority, if not, all of the information on Madness Steve. To find these books, you must somehow get some of his essence and combine the essence with some kind of magical elements. It doesn't matter what they are as long they are magical elements, materials or whatever. I don't know what happens next, but I think it creates some kind of potion that gives everyone near the potion several visions about where the location of one of the books. In order to get his essence, you need a machine of some sort," The Great Librarian explained.
"That is all the information I could provide that would be of use to you," The Great Librarian added.
"Okay, that's enough. Thank you so much Great Librarian!" Sabre exclaimed.
"Yes, thank you," Twilight replied.
"We better get going, again, thank you," Sabre replied.
"Now, you must go. I believe in you Sabre, and Twilight," The Great Librarian replied, now walking away.
"Sabre! What are you doing here- and who is this!?"
A voice exclaimed, coming from behind the 2, taking them by suprise. Sabre and Twilight turns around and sees a Blue Steve wearing a diamond helmet. It is the Blue Leader.
"Blue Leader, some huge things just went down! We needed the Great Librarian. This person... pony I mean, Twilight, she came with me, so she could get the Great Librarian his memories back for answers. I'm sorry, but we really needed answers for something," Sabre explained to the Blue Leader.
"Okay, but you're not mean to be here, and neither should you be as well," The Blue Leader replied. The Blue Leader looks to Twilight.
"Twilight, I'm not mad at you. You haven't been here before," The Blue Leader said before looking to Sabre.
"But you Sabre, you should know better to not come here unless it is urgent-"
"It was urgent Blue, okay!" Sabre interrupted the Blue Leader.
"So much is going on right now Blue. There is already another foe to deal with, Madness Steve. He just showed up, completely out of nowhere and the only person I thought of that may of had some knowledge on him was the Great Librarian. Blue, I understand you may be mad at me, but this is super important! We don't even fully know what Madness is even capable of, so any information on him will be useful. Even the Indigo Leader told us two to find the Great Librarian," Sabre explained in detail to the Blue Leader. The Blue Leader understood and nodded.
"Oh, okay, if that's the case, I understand, sorry for being mad at you Sabre," The Blue Leader responded in an apologetic tone.
"It's okay Blue, we will leave now, I'm sorry too," Sabre responded back to the Blue Leader.
"Come on Twilight, let's get back to the others," Sabre said to Twilight. Twilight nodded. Sabre then uses the Shadow Sword to teleport himself and Twilight back to the old yellow kingdom, infront of the entrance. Elemental Steve is also outside the entrance, trying to warn the steves from the Steve Village that are seeking refuge in the old Yellow Kingdom.