Chapter 4: Prissy Princess Star part 2

The Allmother once told me of this particular cosmic race. Giant Unicorns – they looked even bigger than how the murals and paintings depicted them. It was said that beyond the universe was a place housing the power and essence of the millhorses in the royal magic wand, the source of the magic, if you will.

As far as I was aware, millhorses were small, and didn't really talk much. They performed their duties and powered the wand. But the legends spoke of Giant Unicorns, standing on two legs with massive hands, incredibly powerful and larger than your average golem. They were crafters, smiths, artists, creators, possessing various exotic powers aiding them in creation. What exactly they created was a little unclear.

Ancient scripture differed depending on the sources. Some said the millhorses were the children of Unicorns. Others said the millhorses were created by them, in the same way a toymaker would make a toy. Then there were other texts which suggested that millhorses were avatars of the Giant Unicorns themselves, aspects of their essence and selves given physical form, sent down to serve the magic wand.

To be in the presence of the legends, and to be welcomed into their kingdom? I could not believe it. This must be of Dream, sleepless Dream I was not aware of. Was it possible to tell the difference? What hidden wisdom was required to comprehend?

"Welcome, children," one of the Unicorns stepped off from these heavenly stairs, greeting us three. "My name is Metallic Metal of the Grandiose Arming Blade. Quite the mouthful I realize, but you can just call me Metal."

The Giant was easily twice the height of the Allmother, three times even, it was difficult to tell because of how bright the Magic Source was. He wore a peculiar thick leather apron with a bizarre texture that seemed to shift depending on the angle you were looking at. Some parts looked like shining stars, other looks like fiery stones. In his massive hand was a thick iron chisel with surface smooth as silver, and bright as gems. I shivered thinking of how heavy the object looked when wielded by this monstrously muscular being of great strength.

"We've been expecting you, Star Butterflys," said Metal. "Come in, come in."

There were many Unicorns all around, hundreds easily through this vast hall. Not all of them wore an apron as Metal did, however. There were many who actually wore suits, fancy black suits with a tie and shiny shoes and everything. Then on the other side there were Unicorns wearing jumpsuits and lab coats of some kind, scientists? Engineers? It was difficult to tell. My eyes were still adjusting to the brightness of this realm.

"What is this place?" Quasar asked as we walked up the stairs, "Where are we?"

Metal answered with a chuckle:

"You enter the sixth dimension, dear Quasar. An infinite distance above your three-dimensional universes. The wall you saw behind you is the wall that guards the inner space of the fifth dimension. It is a wall infinite in length, width and volume."

"Impossible," Quasar uttered.

"Yes, it does seem so at first, doesn't it?" Metal grinned. "But these halls are vast, and we Giant Unicorns are numerous. What you see before you is truth. You heard the roaring of the train engine from behind the wall, I assume. That is the massive structure of the Infinity Train. The snake spans the multiverse itself, it is very big, you would not be able to comprehend it. It is truth, and infinite."

"By corn, I've only heard of this place in stories and fairy tales," said MonStar. "This place… it's real. I don't believe it."

"Tell us, Metal man," I called upon the Giant, "for what purpose did you bring us here for? And why us three?"

"Well you see," Metal laughed, "I myself do not know the answer to that."

"What?"

"The multiverse works in mysterious ways I'm afraid," he said. "By the decree of the forces you were to be brought here. I was skeptical at first, but I sensed early on that you are not an enemy to the Magic Source. Well, these three versions of you anyway. That is the reason why my brothers and I decided to open the wall for you three. Only Fate herself knows the true reason you three are called upon here. Behold!"

The Giant led us to a massive pool of bright golden liquid. It was boiling with massive heat, not an unbearable burning sensation, but soothing and healing to the damaged soul. The sea of energy was boundless, dripping down to a colossal waterfall into a depth no mortal could see or imagine. I was half tempted to shout below into the endless pit to test its echo, but I must remain focus.

"See how the golden pool steams with its sparkling bubble?" Metal pointed, "Those are universes."

"Pardon?" Quasar turned her head.

"The Magic Source, our home," Metal explained, "is the source to all universes' magic dimension. It is a fundamental source of life itself, hence cannot be destroyed without massive world changing consequences – such as the removal of reality itself."

"Whoa."

"The magic of each individual universe may be quote unquote destroyed with sufficient methodology," Metal continued. "But once that happens, that universe's magic will simply return here, to the Magic Source, awaiting to be transferred to a new universe."

The Giant dipped his heavy hand into the magic, and the sight of the gold liquid dripping through his fingers was absolutely mesmerizing. No less beautiful than the most gorgeous painting or the most compelling film.

"There," he said, pointing at one of the bubbles, "I can see your home, Universe SVT1435"

And sure enough, he was right. I really did see my home, my kingdom, my castle – my family. There my father sat in solemn contemplation, alone in his throne as the shadow engulfed him. He sat there still bemused, puzzling over the amount of portals that had opened up in our home, the portals that my mother was still attempting to control. I wanted to reach out to them, somehow telling them through the bubble that I was okay. But logic dictated that it would be a fruitless attempt.

"Go ahead children, dip your wand into the pool of magic. It shall transform your wand, strengthen it. Connect it to the multiverse – so that you may use the magic wand even outside of your home universe."

"Wait, really?" MonStar lit up excitedly.

"Indeed," Metal smiled. "You'll be drawing your power from the source after all, which exists above the traditional three-dimensional universes."

"I'm sorry, I just find all this very hard to believe," Quasar threw her hands up in the air.

"What's wrong, child?" Metal asked.

"This, all this," she gestured towards the whole hall, "it's just… impossible, you know? I hesitate to call this unscientific, because surely I can accept that there are laws of the universe I have yet to comprehend. Fair enough, that I might accept. But what I still do not understand is why we are here. Why us three? Three different versions of ourselves all here at this place and this time. If you Unicorns did not open the portals and called us to the wall, then who did?"

"Well, a lot of things have been out of sync as of late," Metal scratched his head. "Things within the multiverse that do not add up. Things that no longer follow their nature, their laws and instead divert into different paths. Dwelling deep into the spectrum of chaos. We have been dealing with a lot of problems within the forge. A rogue Giant, you see. He causes problems for me and my brothers, and now he is out there scrambling the multiverse, disassembling timelines. Apparently, he made a deal with a demonic force on high, a lizard."

"A lizard?" I raised my eyebrow, clenching my fist, "Do you happen to know of the lizard's name?"

"No, I'm afraid," said Metal. "I doubt he has a name. But he is cunning and cruel, incredibly intelligent and very dangerous."

Could this be?

I turned to my fellow Stars, and said to them:

"This might be it, didn't you hear? The lizard – Toffee. If I pursue this path, I might be able to catch up to him and find Marco."

"He took Marco?" MonStar gasped.

"Yeah," I replied, "that's why I'm here."

"With all due respect, princess," Quasar folded her arms. "I am not here for other people's wild goose chase, thank you very much. In case you forgot, I have my own mission to accomplish."

"Your own wild goose chase?" I asked.

"Yes, I mean, no," she shook her head. "I mean… maybe. But it's important regardless. I can't let any stones unturned. If there is a foreign force plotting to invade my city then I have to know."

"But don't you see?" I pointed towards the bubbles, "The universes are out of sync. The three of us are here for a reason. It cannot be a mere coincidence. It MUST be connected somehow. By finding the lizard, we might be able to solve your problem, too."

"As much as I like to go home as well," said MonStar, "I'm afraid I have to agree with Star here."

"I don't follow," said Quasar.

"What I seek – is power," MonStar explained. "But more importantly answers. Why did my parents send me here? For what purpose? And how could it possibly help save my people? The fact that I am here at all means that despite the magic wand's nigh infinite power… I cannot use it to save everyone back home. If it could do such a thing, my mother wouldn't have sent me here."

"We are dealing with forces we do not know anything of," said Quasar. "It may be dangerous. No, scratch that, it WILL be dangerous."

"But we have the wand here," I said. "The wands, they shall be dipped in this pool of multiversal power. We will be unstoppable. What could possibly stand up to that?"

"The fact we do not know what could stop us is exactly why we need to be cautious," said Quasar. "Just because we do not know of anyone capable of defeating the full might of the wand, does not mean that person does not exist. Or have you forgotten about your own mother? The one you call Allmother."

"No… no, I have not," I said.

"The wand CAN be beaten," Quasar continued. "The three of us standing here instead of in our respective homes is proof of that."

"Be vigilant, yes," I nodded my head, "but retreat?"

Quasar fell silent, scanning my thoughts through my eyes carefully. I understood her cautious nature, I could relate. But this matter was too urgent to just drop it like a rock. We must push forward, no matter the obstacles before us.

"Um, guys… why is this bubble here glowing red?" MonStar tapped my shoulder with her tail.

And sure enough, one of the golden bubbles in the pool was beeping with red lights as if it was alarming us of something. In the end, it wasn't too far off from the truth.

"It signals an impending danger to this universe," Metal pointed at the bubble. "You must do something, for we Unicorns are not allowed to leave our home realm. Jump into the bubble, jump into the universe."

"Which universe is this?" Quasar asked.

Metal squinted his eyes, looking at something I could not see:

"Universe SVT63."