The Survey Corps, the Holy Quintet, the Mane Six, and their allies were able to settle things with Marta and the Mane Six, welcoming them as new allies in an alliance against Vitomir Riley Pryus, The Filia Pact. They would leave the fortified town and the mountain range, and they enter the vast plain to meet with the Black Egrets at the great abandoned city closest to the tower.
And when they find it, Mami confirms the flag raised at the top of the wall is the Black Egret's flag: a black umbrella in a white circle over a red field. As for the Tower, it's as larger and taller than when the Holy Quintet arrived in this world.
Levi lets two Survey Corps soldiers raise the Wings of Freedom banner to let the Black Egrets know. Two Egret Soldiers detected the convoy from the wall, and one of them runs off to report to Parasoul.
Some of the guys in the upcoming convoy of the Quintet's alliance were holding some conversations.
At the gates of the city, Parasoul, Molly, and two unfamiliar attendants come face-to-face with the other half of the Filia Pact. Levi, Hange, Mami, and Twilightsparkle approached them with Eren, Pit, Duo, and Marta standing behind them.
One of the attendants with Parasoul is a middle-aged ronin with an unkempt hair that was cut some time ago and fully grown out facial hair. He wore simple black robes, tattered trousers, and white flame decals. Large prayer beads are slung around his body. Despite the robes, he has the right side of his torse bare which revealed some visible scars from past battles. He has a sheathed katana in his possession.
The other attendant is a young man in an ensemble that is mainly blue. He has a blue shirt with a windsock-like hood, darker blue pants, and yellow-and-blue shoes. He also has square glasses. His black hair is unkempt and messy, and his eyes are as blue as the skies. He is armed with a war-hammer dazzled in vivid colors and fused with a popping-dice mechanism and blue ancestral sword; It bears the Scorpio symbol and traces of blue fluorite.
Another young man and a young woman can be seen as well, appearing like the young man, but they were in red and orange respectively. And they were armed with a sword and knitting needles respectively.
"It took you a long enough," Parasoul commented, "I see you were busy recruiting." She narrowed her eyes at Twilight Sparkle.
"Yes, we came with three allies," Mami introduced, "Pit from Angel Land, Twilightsparkle, Spike, and the Mane Six from Equestria, Marta Lualdi from Sylvarant, and Duo Maxwell II from Mars. They all came for the same reasons as we did. Pryus."
"We have new allies as well," Molly informed, "Mitsurugi from the province of Bizen, Japan. And John Egbert, Rose Lalonde, and Dave Strider from..." She looked at John.
"Uh... we're from Earth too," John replied.
Mami and Mitsurugi looked at him as if wanting an explanation.
John, Rose, and Dave come from an Earth that was built anew in a universe. This universe is born out of the completion of a game session called Sburb. They have many friends back where they lived, and together they were able to eliminate their foes, pass any obstacle, and complete the game. Their only foes that's left is a Lord of Time that has yet to gain power.
They came to this realm to find a friend and stop Pryus after he attacks their world.
Mitsurugi's Earth is not like John's. His Earth has a history that changed with the possession of two weapons: the ominous soul edge and the righteous soul calibur. Both weapons were created by a man called the Hero King, and those weapons are now separated from each other as opposing forces.
This conflict causes the creation of violent beings called the malfested and the creation of the Azure Knight, Nightmare. Only the Soul Calibur could be able to stop them.
Mitsurugi has none of those blades, but he knew its creator for he has a score to settle with the Hero King. Pryus has killed that King, taking the blade with him to this world.
"We can you can explain all of this issue later," Hange carried on the conversation, "Anyway, we didn't have much trouble on the way here other than a few swarms and raids. We kind of arrived quite early than expected."
"It's as if someone shortened the distance between where we arrived and this stronghold," Eren called out.
"Pryus must be toying with us," Sayaka assumed.
"It doesn't matter, now," Levi stated, "for now we're close enough to say that we're at his doorsteps."
"I highly suggest we hold a council," Molly suggested, "For the Filia Pact and the allies we gathered."
"Agreed," Parasoul authorized, "One of the Egret scouts have found a building that we can use for a council. I'll have my men prepare meals and some comfort. I highly suggest you contribute as well."
Levi looks to Hange, she nods and goes to tell the Survey Corp troops to enter the city. The Holy Quintet, Peacock, Pit, and Duo followed. Parasoul halted the Holy Quintet, she gave a slightly concerned look with a frown.
"Is there something wrong, Princess Parasoul?" Madoka asked.
"You were my responsibility, and I had my back turned... This shouldn't have happened, I'm sorry," Parasoul apologized. She looked a bit regretful yet angry.
"You don't need to apologize," Mami replied, "It wasn't really your fault."
Parasoul nods in understanding, and she lefts the Quintet pass. She meets Homura's eyes with suspicion, noticing that the girl changed.
Duo stopped to face Parasoul.
"If you're going to ask about the Gundam, it's safe in a warehouse," Parasoul replied, "Molly will guide you to its location later."
Duo nods and then continue following the others.
Parasoul then noticed Painwheel with Peacock. "I see you found her?"
Peacock and Painwheel stop for Parasoul.
"And she's doing quite well, getting along with those Magical Girls I mean," Peacock informed.
Parasoul looked at Painwheel, and Painwheel narrowed her eyes at her. Parasoul sighed with a bit of grief; she was aware of these experiments, and seeing it done on an innocent girl was unacceptable.
"Will you be fine, miss?" Parasoul questioned.
Painwheel nods. "I will..."
And with that, Painwheel and Peacock move along.
The mound in which the city is built on was made of strong clay and blocks of pumice and granite. Its layers were skeletons of past cities which are a contribution to the mound's slopes. Its slopes were steep and high to prevent any invader from scaling and breaching the city's walls. The city is built over the entire top of the mound with the finest stones and wood, built in fine cuts and carving, and stood like monasteries and palaces, displayed like a cathedral and a pantheon. When Parasoul and the Black Egrets arrived, it was abandoned as they expected with only graffiti and untouched records and relics remaining. The city was simply called "The Stronghold".
Everyone agreed to gather at an ancient house in the center of The Stronghold; the purpose of this house was like that of a senate' house, but with dining to go along with the debating. At this gathering, worlds will be shared and friendships will be made, and those connections shall bond them into one unified alliance against one knight: Vitomir Riley Pryus. At this point, The Filia Pact must be renamed and reformed.
All were welcomed to take a seat and eat a prepared meal as others talked. However, there was no debate to hold; Homura has replaced the debate with a lecture. She was able to get Kyoko and Twilightsparkle involved with the lecture, and it would follow up with a proposal. Kyoko just knew what to say after mingling with some of the guests, and Twilight spent some time with Hange and Molly to gather some information on this world the maps call The Fabric.
The Holy Quintet was informed by Homura about her idea, and they approved it with no problem. Sayaka, though, wasn't sure about the idea, and Madoka showed similar hesitance. Yet, both of them didn't say a word.
Twilightsparkle was currently at the center of the house's chamber, lecturing what she, Hange, and Molly have read from the Stronghold's archives:
"The people here called themselves 'homo universalis' who lived in the Stronghold. The settlements that we passed along the way here were formerly their colonies districts and simple townships. They were artists, inventors, writers, actors, poets... they're overall polymaths, talented individuals, and well-trained fighters. They called this world, The Fabric, a center of this 'multiverse' and a crossroads for all worlds, including ours. They believed that The Fabric was meant to be what keeps our worlds connected and how they exist and thrive. Why they abandoned this place and the other settlements were because of Pryus's reign."
"What does this have to do with the situation at hand, horse?" Mitsurugi questioned.
Twilightsparkle found that rude, but ignored him, continuing, "To recap briefly, Pryus rules this world, and how he got that power is unknown to us. He's using the authority to tamper with our worlds, take away whatever relics they possess, and commit immoral deeds that threaten countless lives. We all experienced his arrival in our worlds, and we all went after him, tracking him down to The Fabric. So far, he made little effort to stop us, and in the end, here we are, wondering what he has in store for us. We not ever sure what his exact goal by doing all this."
Twilightsparkle leaves it to Kyoko to finish it. Kyoko gets out of her seat and stood at the center of the chamber.
Kyoko cleared her throat. "Look, we all may be different because of where we came from, what we believe, how we live, and how we think. But here, we came because one man decided to call our ways of like sinful, take away powers and relics, justifies his own sins as honor, and influence a twisted glorification of his vision. And whatever your reason you guys have for going after him, set it aside! It's not about the Skullheart, and it's not just about the Soul Calibur or Soul Edge. It's not just about defending the ways of Magical Girls, and it's not about defending friendship or love. It's not even about figuring out the nature of that one man; we all know he's a monster! There's something that he's capable of that can end us all, and what he did when he came to our worlds was just a taste. We cannot reason with him, and we cannot fight alone!"
Kyoko got a bit more into the role, giving a charismatic tone.
"Everyone! The Holy Quintet has a proposal that we must fully unite if we want to defeat Pryus! Defeat him, and everything he created will come undone like dominos! And if the people of The Fabric will praise use as saints, then let them see us like that! We can be called The Eight of Saint's March — eight worlds united to quell the tyranny of a devil!"
"Wait... eight? Shouldn't it be nine?" Twilightsparkle questioned.
Kyoko shrugs. "Duo shouldn't count. He's more of an addition."
"Hey!" Duo object to that idea.
Everyone at the meeting had mixed reactions to this proposal, but most seemed so into the moment and eager and beat the title, The Filia Pact.
"I'm in! For Angel Land!" Pit gets up from his seat and raises his hand.
"Me too! For Sylvrant!" Marta stands up.
"Count us in! For Equestria!" Rainbowdash agreed.
"Rainbowdash... But I guess it wouldn't hurt," Twilight agreed.
"My votes on this! Let's kick the knight's ass!" John Egbert commented, much to Rose's concern.
"Hmmm... For Filia." Painwheel nods, eyes narrowed.
"So be it." Mitsurugi agreed, drinking a bottle of sake.
"So it's a war, huh?" Duo was onboard for this. "My chance to fight Pryus!"
"Heck yeah!" Peacock and Avery voted.
"As a commander of Survey Corp, I voted yea on this proposal," Hange replied.
Hange looked at Levi. He looks away, indifferent to what is transpiring.
Mami stood up. "This proposal has been planned by Homura for it's her idea, and as the leader of the Holy Quintet, I stand behind it."
Parasoul stood up, arms folded. "I will accept, but on the condition that I lead this new alliance."
A few in the room mutter about this, but they didn't see any problem in this condition. After all, her leadership is based on years of experience, and the Black Egrets support her claim. The Survey Corp and The Holy Quintet can back up her claim except for Madoka.
"Very well," Parasoul acknowledged, "We'll start by having The Saints' March's army keep those not yet fit for a battle to remain here to—"
Madoka stood up all of a sudden with some questions about this condition. She still showed whatever confidence she still had before Homura changed.
"Miss Kaname?" Parasoul noticed.
"I must have a say in this meeting," Madoka began, "Princess Parasoul should reconsider her position as leader of this alliance. She is a great leader, but I question what you're going to do once you lead."
Homura slightly glared at Madoka. Madoka didn't react.
"You're questioning this now?" Parasoul didn't like where this was going, and she knows that something is wrong.
"Yes, I am." Madoka remained calm.
Parasoul gets up and leaves her seat, and Madoka did as well. Both of them, stood face to face in the center of the chamber, and Kyoko was still there stepping away to give space for the two. This moment left an uncomfortable vibe in the meeting.
"What's this really about, Madoka Kaname?" Parasoul replied.
"I know you took responsibility to watch over us, but you brought us along to help you," Madoka claimed, "You need everyone, including us, to fight Pryus."
"Then at least take it seriously, and everyone should already know that by now," Parasoul argued, "This no adventure, Madoka."
"I know that, so don't split this army," Madoka begged, "Don't you trust everyone here? Don't you trust me?"
"Madoka, I promise that you will live for your family's sake, and so will your friends," Parasoul stoically replied, "You'll understand one day after this nightmare is over."
Madoka continued to argue. "No!"
"What?" Parasoul glared.
Homura stood up and intervened. "Madoka, that's enough. You can talk about this with Parasoul later—"
Madoka moved away from Homura before she can grab her arm. She's staying where she is and continued to argue with Parasoul. "Princess Parasoul, I want to fight. Forget the promises made. I can take care of myself! And so is Homura, Sayaka, Kyoko, and Mami! And everyone else! We need to stick together!"
Kyoko wanted to intervene, but instead, she steps away.
"Madoka, this getting ridiculous, think about your family," Parasoul cautioned, "How will I explain to them if something terrible happened to you? Do you want to die? You're not ready!"
"If it means saving our worlds, I don't care! I believe that I'm ready for this! Don't treat me like a child, Parasoul!" Madoka raised her voice. "Otherwise, you don't deserve to lead!"
Instead of replying in her usual calm demeanor, Parasoul snapped.
"Why can't you just do as you're told, Umbrella!" Parasoul can be seen in tears as she shouted that.
The room was silent afterward.
That silence is then broken by the doors which were forced open, smoke came out. And from the smoke, Vitomir Riley Pryus stepped out, unarmed. Despite this, his presence brought a bad vibe into the room. He is accompanied by a few dragoons and musketeers, lead by a human condottiere in yellow and brass. A few knights and lightly armored troops were present, waiting patiently outside the building with Egrets Soldiers and Survey Corp troops monitoring them. The men that Pryus brought were armed with flintlocks, crossbows, lances, and swords, but along with their garments and armor were the ominous crystal infection.
"I am Samael Machiavelli of the Military Order of Knovv," the condottiere addressed, "Entering this Senate building is Vitomir Riley Pryus, the First-named in the Order of the Grand Crusade, the Crusader against the Ruinous Path, The Gatekeeper of Reality, Liberator of the Tower, and the Lord of Paragons, and He who'll lead us to the Multiverse's Future."