With the Holy Quintet reunited, they decided to depart on foot again. Duo and Peacock helped Homura find some maps of the Fabric that indicated that the end of the riverside route merged with mountain pass route which the Survey Corps was talking about two days ago. The merged route would lead to a fortified town that was like a gate out of the mountains. If that's where the Survey Corps would be, they would have to make their way there to regroup.
Meanwhile, Painwheel (Carol) has been spending time getting to know Madoka and the Holy Quintet. Madoka helped introduce everyone to her.
Sayaka was grateful that they found Filia's friend, but she is saddened by the fact that horrible things were done to her, likely by Pryus since he kidnapped her.
Painwheel didn't like to explain what happened to her, saying it's torture and pain. However, she did make a huge apology to Mami about decapitating her. Mami, though still adjusting to her detachable head, forgave Painwheel. Madoka assured her that now that she with them, everything will be fine for now.
The angel that they found explained himself last night when he was no longer unconscious. His name is Pit and he cames from a place called Angel Land where he serves the goddess of the realm, Palutena. He has fought many foes but recently cooperated with many friends from other worlds to fight a great entity named Tabuu who resided in a realm the Subspace. That was years ago, and now Pit had to go after Pryus for the knight has taken the spirit of an evil deity to bring to the Fabric to revive him.
Mami, as leader of the Holy Quintet, welcomed Pit and Carol as their newest ally.
They departed at noon, and one the way, Duo and Sayaka have another chat again. He stood by her side with arms behind the back of his head, his eyes were on the sky. He seems distracted by Pit who is flying over them to scout from above.
What does he want? Sayaka thought to herself
"So... about last night..." Duo began.
"What about it?" Sayaka is a bit annoyed by their last conversation.
"I had a talk with Kyoko right after you left... well, she talked to me and... I thought about it," Duo explained.
"Just say it," Sayaka hastened, annoyed.
"I just want to say... I'm sorry." He looked like he didn't want to apologize. "Sorry about... you know."
Sayaka understood what he meant and accepted the apology even if it sounded reluctant. "Apology accepted... besides, it's nothing. Kyoko is sometimes like that with the Holy Quintet. It's all out anyway." She gave a weak laugh. "And you know, I think you're cute, but you're not my type either. I'm glad you apologized."
"You think?" Duo smiled at her.
Both Sayaka and Duo laughed.
"Anyway, you think this 'Holy Quintet' of yours will be alright now that they're together?" Duo questioned.
"I'm actually concerned even if we're a team again," Sayaka admitted, "We're all trying to adjust this morning after that little reunion."
"And how's that going?" Duo asked, looking at Sayaka.
"Mami has a detachable head and is somehow alive. This Homura from another timeline is not like the Homura we know. Also, I don't think I can trust her... something is off about her. Kyoko seems unfazed by this." Sayaka shakes her head. "And as for Madoka... I think she the one not adjusting the most to all this, she's beginning to be timider than usual with Homura around."
"So, it's not going well?" Duo raised an eyebrow.
"And what's worse is that we're having trouble remembering things," Sayaka pointed out, "And if we tried, we suddenly end up with a nosebleed."
"That's really strange," Duo commented, "As for the angel and this Carol girl, are they good enough?"
"I'm happy that we found Carol and that she's joining us. Just a bit worried about her well being." Sayaka looks up at Pit. "As for Pit, I'm sure he has experience in the situation that we're in."
Pit finally stopped and flew down to report. "Uhm, guys! I found the town, but... I think your friends are dealing with a swarm. A really big swarm!"
"Geez, I can take those down if I had the Deathscythe with me," Duo complained.
"Well, it's not here is it?" Kyoko responded. "Just fight without it!"
The fortified town is swarming with a swarm of mantis-like beings. The Survey Corp's flag can be seen on a watchtower with it sigil, The Wings of Freedom. Armin and Hange can barely be seen on that watchtower, firing rifles and reloading them. Eren and Mikasa can barely be seen on one of the walls, back-to-back and cornered. Eren appeared to have something on his back. Levi was on another wall, fighting alone, and moving about with his three-dimensional maneuver gear.
"Pit, go on ahead and assist the Survey Corp." Mami takes out her musket. "Everyone, let's relieve some weight off the Survey' Corp's shoulders! And remember to watch how much you use your magic! Peacock, Carol, Duo, you three do the same."
"Right!" Everyone replied.
The Holy Quintet magically transform from their normal school uniforms to their Magical attires. They immediately armed themselves with their signature weapons. Peacock and Carol were also ready with Peacock wanting to show off what she can do in combat. Homura offered a handgun and some cartridges to Duo.
Pit flies towards the fortified town, delivering arrows of light at the swarm.
Suddenly, Peacock turns their catch-up into a race. She made a head start by running cartoonishly.
"The last one entering the town is a rotten egg!" Peacock taunted.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho! We'll see about that! Come on, Sayaka!" Kyoko runs after Peacock.
"Kyoko— Oh... alright!" Sayaka runs after both Kyoko and Peacock.
"No fair! You guys have advantages!" Duo runs after them, joining in on the race.
Only Mami, Madoka, Homura, and Carol are running at their own pace.
Once the Holy Quintet and their allies arrived, Duo, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Peacock were exhausted. Mami, Madoka, Homura, and Carol arrived minutes later, and they weren't as exhausted as the others.
In this fortified town, All the Survey Corp soldiers were running about, taking cover in buildings, and firing rifles through open windows and doors. Some were using three-dimensional maneuver gear to move about and cut the swarm's number down with their blades. Some were trying to supply gas and blades to those with the maneuver gear.
The mantis swarm was flying about, trying to maul their victims with pincers and regurgitating a venomous substance. The Survey Corp soldiers armed with the three-dimensional maneuver gear were easily exposed to being shredded by the swarm.
"You shouldn't have made this into a race, Peacock," Homura criticized.
Peacock chuckled. "It was worth it! Plus, I gave the guys an exercise."
"You had your fun, now let us focus on helping the Survey Corp," Mami ordered. She loaded a limited amount of bullets to her musket and started firing away.
"Right!" Madoka suddenly had her hand grabbed by Homura. "Homura-chan?"
"Let's get to higher ground right away," Homura suggested with her focus being on a certain clocktower, "We can shoot the swarm from that clock tower. Carol can come and defend us."
"I'll do what I can to help... I hate bugs..." Painwheel felt grateful.
"Good thinking Homura," Mami complimented before looking to Duo, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Peacock, "You four finish off any insect that falls to the ground."
"Got it," Peacock responded.
"What will you be doing?" Sayaka questioned.
"I'll be catching up with Homura and Madoka." Mami then runs off to the clock tower.
Soon mantises were falling from the sky in minutes by projectiles coming from the watchtower. Sayaka, Kyoko, and Duo were finishing the mantises off and cutting the swarm down to a minimum.
It got a lot quicker with Peacock's assistance as she began using a large bug spray to slow them down; Her friend Avery was whacking them with a mallet when they fall near Peacock. Pit was almost hit by the bug spray and quickly landed near Eren and Mikasa.
"An angel..." Eren looked surprised. "But how...?"
"I came along with your friends down there." Pit pointed out Sayaka, Kyoko, Duo, and Peacock. "My name's Pit, by the way."
"Eren Jaeger," Eren introduced, "And this is my sister, Mikasa."
Mikasa cut a mantis' arms off and then decapitated its head. She kicked the insect's corpse off the wall.
Eren and Mikasa were no longer cornered and looked over the wall to see Sayaka and her team. Eren waves his blades to them.
"We're glad to see you guys again!" Eren welcomed back.
"Geez, what happened to you?" Kyoko asked.
In a closer look, Eren has the crystal infection present on the nape of his neck, forming spines down the back. He has a few black veins on the side of his face and around the eyes.
"Pryus appeared back at that settlement when it was attacked," Mikasa explained, "Eren tried to attack him alone and ended up wounding himself. Levi had to get him out of the mess."
Eren groaned in annoyance. "He was out in the open! I thought I could end it..."
Levi landed near Eren, Mikasa, and Pit. "Jaeger, Ackerman, meet me at one of the watchtowers to refuel on gas and blades. We got more coming this way." Levi looks over the wall and looks at Sayaka, Kyoko, Peacock, and Duo. "That means you guys have to get ready too! And if things do get harry, you might want to make room for Eren."
"What do you mean make room for Titan-boy?" Kyoko complain.
"Just do it!" Levi then mobilizes away.
Another swarm did come, and this time they were in greater numbers. Most of the Survey Corp is forced to stop the use of their maneuver gear and rely on firearms for now. Only Levi, Mikasa, and Eren were using their own maneuver gear. This swarm has a massive mantis present, likely the queen among the smaller mantises. It flew over Eren, Mikasa, Levi, and Pit and lands in the town; Sayaka, Kyoko, Duo, and Peacock move out of the way to avoid being crushed underneath. This mantis queen then swung its arms at one of the watchtowers, demolishing it. Armin and Hange were lucky to use their maneuver gear and quickly make their way to the clock tower where Madoka, Mami, and Painwheel are.
"Okay, I don't think bug spray is gonna work on that!" Duo yelled.
Levi looked at Eren and authorizes something with a nod. Mikasa looked hesitant about what Eren is about to do.
Eren quickly makes a run for it and jumps off the wall. He then bit a part of his hand and transforms in a flash of blinding light. Taking Levi's advise, Sayaka, Kyoko, Duo, and Peacock made their way to the clock tower.
As the light fade, a muscular 15-meter tall humanoid with long hair that grazes the shoulders, elongated tongue and ears, hooked nose, eyes deeply sunken within sockets, and unusually jagged-shaped mouth with no lips and no flesh on his cheeks. The crystal infection that Eren contracted affects his titan form, forming over the shoulder blades as spiny protrusions.
This amazed the Holy Quintet, Painwheel, Duo, and Pit. They couldn't fathom the fact that this is Eren in titan form. Peacock, on the other hand, seemed entertained and rooted for Eren like he's a wrestler.
Eren tackled the mantis queen, slamming the massive insect into a few buildings. He then started throwing several punches at the head while the insect is pinned. He even grabbed the pincers in its mouth and opened as wide as they can go before going beyond that limit, breaking a part of the insect's jaw.
"Is that really Eren?" Madoka watched on.
"Yup! And that titan form is somehow suppressing the effects of the crystals," Hange explained.
"So all I have to do to become a titan is bit your hand?" Kyoko ready her hand. "I can't believe that it's so simple!"
"Kyoko, wait!" Armin halted. "That's not how it works—"
Kyoko then bit her hand hard, but she quickly let go and shook her hand in pain. "Owwww..."
Eren grabbed the arms of the mantis and pulled them with great force to rip them off. He then threw them aside to shreds the mantis into a corpse. The swarm soon flew about in confusion, exposed to firing until they all disperse. The mantis queen crumbled into a dusty essence of lifeforce and energy and it is absorbed into Eren. Eren finished the fight with a roar full of anger and fury before collapsing in exhaustion.
Mikasa sighed in relief.
"Eren!" Madoka worried that he died.
"Don't worry, this is common," Hange assured.
Levi and Mikasa soon got close to the now-dead titan, retrieving Eren from the nape of the titan's neck. As they helped him out of there, he appeared completely fine without his military jacket.
"It's good to see the Survey Corps again, Hange Zoe," Mami commented.
"And it's good to see that you gathered more allies to the cause," Hange replied.
That night, Survey Corps settle into the fortified town, restocking on rations, weapons, and supplies. The Holy Quintet were introducing Painwheel to the Survey Corp, Peacock offered some brief information about her to Hange. Pit flew off to survey the town's surroundings from the skies after giving his introduction.
Sayaka and Duo were hanging out at a plaza in front of an unchecked library. Their conversation was mostly exchanges of descriptions about their homeworld and their future. As the conversation continued, Sayaka was already getting used to Duo, and he doesn't really mind.
"I'm starting to like your world already," Sayaka complimented, "A colony on Mars. It would be amazing to see what that planet is like terraformed. You're okay, Duo."
"Too bad we're going to have to return to our homes," Duo reminded.
"Yeah..." Sayaka wished to spend more time with Duo after dealing with Pryus. "But who cares?! I'll come with you to your universe anyway! I can return to my home when I want to."
The library doors near them slightly open, interrupting the conversation. Sayaka and Duo looked at the open doors and assumed someone was inside. They come closer to investigate. Duo armed himself with a handgun that Homura handed him earlier. Sayaka used her blue Soul Gem to arm herself with her usual cutlass.
It was only after a few steps in, they end up setting off a trap — a magical trap. It suspended them in mid-air with a force that shot them upward, and that force disarmed them in the process. Then a pink poofy-maned horse, an orange horse with a cowboy hat, and a blue pegasus with rainbow mane came closing in to attack. The pink horse brought in some cartoonish cannon, but one round shot out some confetti and glitter. Even the shot from the cannon made a party horn sound. It did make Sayaka and Duo flinch.
The orange horse and the blue pegasus followed up, but they were stopped immediately.
"Wait, hold on, girls!" Another horse approached as a purple winged unicorn. Some kind of small dragon was riding on her back. "You don't look like anyone working for Pryus."
A white unicorn with a purple mane and a yellow pegasus with a pink mane followed the purple winged unicorn.
"Well, we're not, so what's the big idea—?!" Sayaka couldn't believe that these equine creatures could talk. "Uhhh... what's the big idea with the ambush?"
"An ambush by talking horses," Duo specified, "This is just... Wow."
"They're called ponies, you two." A human girl walks toward them and stood beside the purple winged unicorn. "And we didn't want to take chances."
This human girl is dressed in a unique floral, styled dress, sleeves, leggings and boots. Her hair is styled with two long twin-tails and two flower ornaments. Scars can be seen on the left side of her forehead hidden by her hair. She has a unique blue keychain attached a personal item pouch along with a place for a saw-like dual spinner.
"No kidding? And you must be their horse breeder?" Duo taunted.
This left the ponies sort of confused and embarrassed about what Duo mentioned.
"Well, sorry, my lady," Duo taunted. " We didn't know you and these 'ponies' were hiding here."
The girl intimidated Duo with a glare, but Duo wasn't affected. "You better watch your mouth!"
"Whatever... can you let us go now?" Duo demanded.
"Can we trust you two?" The girl questioned.
"You can trust us and the many others who are settling in this fortified town," Sayaka answered.
The girl stopped leaning and folds her arms. "Well... alright. By the way... the names Marta Lualdi. I come from Sylvarant. The alicorn next to me is Twilightsparkle. The orange pony is Applejack, the yellow and blue pegasi are Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, the white unicorn is Rarity, and the pink pony is Pinkie Pie. Oh, and the little dragon is Spike, a messenger of sorts. You can call them the Mane Six."
"And we come from Equestria." The dragon named Spike informed. "Also, I'm their mascot."
Marta Lualdi isn't the romantic tomboyish girl she was known to be, getting her way most of the time in certain situations. One adventure ended for her, but the ending was bittersweet for her. A young man she fell in love with, sacrifice himself to protect the world.
She found herself a fool to the events that lead to the young man's sacrifice, heartbroken that she didn't find a way to save him. So, she vowed to protect the world that he saved.
The Mane Six — Twilightsparkle, Pinke Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy — come from a land called Equestria. Each of the six ponies represents a facet of friendship, bearing an artifact of those facets called the Elements of Harmony. They've traveled on many adventures, helping many along the way while working out problems arising in their friendships. The little dragon named Spike is considered a mascot and a loyal assistant to Twilightsparkle.
They save Equestria from a lunar wrath of a princess who tried to take her sister's place, a spirit of chaos and disharmony who brought what is expected, and a magic-power seeking centaur who sought to rule Equestria.
In the end, Twilight has earned a place as Princess, which has started to affect her friendship with the others.
"Equestria? Twilightsparkle? Applejack? Fluttershy? You got to be kidding me..." Duo found the names to be ridiculous. "As there ponies from some children's storybook or something?"
Sayaka thinks the title "Mane Six" quite fits Twilightsparkle and her friends.
"Forgive him, Duo and I come from other worlds," Sayaka pointed out.
"Figures." Marta has her hand on her sides.
"So, you know Pryus?" Sayaka noticed. "I guess you guys have some reason to go after him?"
"Surprisingly, yes. He's been doing some awful things back in Equestria." Twilightsparkle casts a spell that dispels the magical trap, freeing Sayaka and Duo. "He even threatened the princesses to abdicate. And that was before he freed Lord Tirek. Princess Celestia sent us to try and understand Vitomir Riley Pryus and try to stop him."
Sayaka and Duo float gently back down to the ground, relieved they're out of that trap. Whoever "Lord Tirek" is is only a concern to Mane 6 and no one else. Though, it's quite suspicious that Pryus would free someone. If this Lord Tirek is evil, and Pit said Pryus has taken the spirit of an evil deity, then there is no doubt that Pryus is gathering allies.
Before Sayaka can ask Marta about Pryus, Survey Corps arrived in response to the cannon fire and its party horn noise. Levi, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and Hange broke into the library through the windows, using their three-dimensional maneuver gears. Mami, Kyoko, Madoka, and Homura arrived at the front doors.
Marta took out her saw-like spinner. The Mane Six huddled up for a fight.
"Guys! It's okay! They're here for Pryus as well!" Sayaka halted.
And soon an alliance is growing.