Note: Hello everyone! Welcome to part 7, the latter half of season 2! I am so happy that so many of you have stayed with me so far. It has been quite a ride, hasn't it? So much has been discovered and developed, and only more is to come! Anyway, that is all I am going to say for now. Time to answer some reviews! To Super Vegito: Thanks! I really am glad to see someone is as excited to see the next chapter up as I am! To AntiVillain1: Hey there! I haven't heard from you in a while! Actually, Jefferson did not commit suicide. He is part of the "Once Upon a Time" dimension. In that dimension, it is implied by its TV show that Jefferson lost his wife in an incredibly tragic event. I simply explained how it happened. He later went on to get terribly mixed up in some random events and eventually went on to find happiness. However, it took a really long time for that to happen. To Minebrine: I am not, actually, but that is an interesting idea to say the least. To RedTheChangeling: I fixed that error the moment you mentioned it. Thanks for the heads-up! To FocusedStream: Thank you for your enthusiasm! Hmmmm... Harold versus Doxia? I would have to say, personally, Doxia would probably win. You see, Harold is really just like a twelve-year-old in an Iron Man suit facing off Leonidas and his 300 Spartans. The 300 are brave, powerful, and superior to all of their peers, but the Iron Man suit is just too powerful for them to combat. However, Doxia has the Longsword of the Archnova. This weapon can splice and dice streams of Imagination Energy, and thus Doxia can fight Harold in a way that few others can. It is a close call... But I will stick with Doxia on this matter. That is it for reviews. Now, I will mention that after this chapter, I will be taking a short hiatus. I need to spend time completing the last two chapters for "Through A Glass Darkly" as well as start work on my newest story, that will begin the moment that other story ends. I will probably get around to posting on "A Mending Soul" around spring break... Well, that is all for now! Enjoy the latest chapter!

Season 2: Hearts of Darkness

Part 7: Ultimate Sacrifice

...

What is a hero, Joseph?

A hero… I am not familiar with the true nature of this term. Explain, please, Bottarr.

You are justified in your ignorance, Joseph, for the term "hero" is very obscure. Some say a hero is someone who knows for what they live for and give their entire being for that purpose. Others say that a hero is a being whom people can look up to and glorify. Some say a hero is a being who sacrifices what he knows and loves for the good of others. And then others say a hero is a gentle warrior, stern against those who wish to harm the good, and helpful and kind to those whom are weak. And then finally there are those out there who believe that heroes are fools and bunglers; beings deluded with images of love and peace that ultimately kill them and those they protect.

Which of these definitions do you believe to be true, Bottarr?

Me? I believe that a hero can be all of these things. There are many types of heroes, and it is up to those heroes to decide what kind they are.

But which definition do you believe truly represents the truth behind the meaning of a hero?

That is an almost unanswerable question, Joseph. But perhaps for me… A hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice their well-being, their happiness, their lives, and their very souls to protect the people of this multiverse. They will give up everything, including their names in history, to save lives. They might be remembered as heroes, they might be remembered as villains… Heaven may commend them, or perhaps may condemn them… but if they have managed to save even a single life and know this to be true in their mind before their soul enters the void… They are by far the greatest hero of all.

Are you a hero, Bottarr?

No, I am not. And neither are you.

Dimension: Rerenhaw

Planet: Rerenhaw

Specific Location: Hallway to the Rerenhaw Council Room

Time: Over a year after Lyric loses his leg.

Dimensional Lords Lynx and Corvus stood by the massive white doors that led into the Rerenhaw Council Room. Even though there were no hostile interdimensional empires left in all of reality to attempt an attack on Rerenhaw during a council session, it was still good protocol to have two Dimensional Lords to guard the door.

"This is boring," sighed Corvus conjuring up superheated magma and tossing it in the air as if it was a toy ball, "My life is boring."

"All our lives are boring," replied Lynx shaking her head disapprovingly at Corvus's behavior, "But you don't see anyone complaining about it. What? Are you going to give up your powers and go back to being a mortal like everyone else after the Maelstrom War?"

"I don't know," sighed Corvus, "I really don't know. At least then I know there would be an end, and it would give me reason and drive to do stuff! I mean, seriously, everything has gone stagnant. For example, do you know what they are talking about in the Council?"

Lynx shrugged her powerfully-armored shoulders. "How should I know? Was there a memo?"

"Yeah. Dimensonal Lord Meadolax started making them and handing them out as a joke," replied Corvus airily, flash-freezing the lava, converting its molecular makeup into an ice cube, and then sublimating it with no effort, "Anyway… They are talking about whether or not they should reinstate the dimension Meshe 1 as an official Amethyst Empire territory."

Lynx blinked. "I was an E.D.D. Dimensional Lord, but even I know that that was an Amethyst Empire territory before the Maelstrom War… It's not one anymore? Why? And why is this even a discussion? Amethyst is the only interdimensional nation in existence now! There are no territories when there is only one entity to claim them."

"Exactly," sighed Corvus, shaking his head, "The epitome of pointlessness and lethargy. Now… What I wouldn't give more some lemonade to pour on my helmet."

Lynx just stared at Corvus. "You've been talking to Doxia about 'eating etiquette' haven't you?"

Corvus shrugged. "What if I am? It's none of your business, Mrs. Goody-Two-Shoes!"

Suddenly a soft, confident voice wove its way into the hall from nowhere. "Oh dear! It's escalated to petty name-calling now! You two seriously have no idea how to keep it together."

Corvus and Lynx whirled and found them facing a hooded character. The two Dimensional Lords blinked in surprise at the sight. However, it was not so much the garb as the material that made up the garb that immediately shocked the two Dimensional Lords.

"My God," breathed Lynx, "Is that… That's Imagination Energy in pure form!"

"Corrupted Imagination to be exact," commented Corvus, who seemed a little less shocked, "Soooo… Who are you?"

"My name is not important," said the hooded figure as it walked toward the two Dimensional Lords. The liquid-gas-solid Imagination Energy cloak flowed around the being like a river around a sharp rock, "But if you must know… My name is Harold." In an instant the entire hallway was cloaked in corrupted Imagination Energy, preventing the two Dimensional Lords from teleporting away.

A second later Lynx slammed her foot on the ground and froze time about Harold, an efficient way to incapacitate any being. Corvus then clapped his palms together and began to charge up pure destructive energy, readying a blast that would assuredly destroy Harold. But then, suddenly, Harold kept walking forward as if the time-freeze attack that Lynx had unleashed had no effect. Corvus fired the bolt, but Harold seized the hem of his cloak of corrupted Imagination Energy and whipped it up to use the cloak as a shield. The blast (capable of ending an entire dimension) struck the cloak and was absorbed into it as if it was nothing. Before Lynx could fire a blast of dark matter the size of a small moon, Harold then whipping forward and edge of his cloak like it was a whip. In less than a nanosecond it had struck Lynx and then Corvus in the chests… killing them both instantly. The two bodies hit the ground with giant sizzling holes in their chests.

Harold looked down at his handiwork and sighed. "I suppose getting your hands dirty is the best way to get attention around here," he muttered. He then snapped a finger and then whirled his cloak around. Like a tornado the cloak surrounded him… and then he vanished.

A second later Mattimeo and Doxia slammed the Rerenhaw Council Room door open and rushed into the hallway to behold the damage done from the ruckus. For a whole minute the entire council stared at the two dead Dimensional Lords in complete shock. What they were staring at now… was unheard of. No one can kill Dimensional Lords.

"Lynx and Corvus, they're dead," breathed Mattimeo, immediately strolling up to them, "They've been destroyed. Impossible." Interestingly enough, though, neither he nor Doxia looked at all worried. They were surprised, of course, but the death of Dimensional Lords meant nothing to them, for death no longer meant anything. It was almost as if the two dead beings had simply gone on a vacation and left their bodies behind. Time had no meaning.

However, the rest of the council was horrified, almost beyond words.

"By Star Clan," said Firestar softly, "This is terrible. The Heaven-Multiverse will most assuredly look into this for answers when they admit these two's souls."

"How is this even possible?" asked Martin the Warrior, stunned, "In all of history only ten Dimensional Lords have died, and each time they have gone down, they went down taking out countless enemies along with them. These two are just… dead… And from the markings… they were both killed by the same being."

There was a pause as everyone waited for Doxia to speak. He was usually the first one to take initiative, but this time he had not said a word.

"Doxia?" asked Rosalina softly, "What do you say?"

Doxia glanced back at his comrades. "I say take a look-see at this little message our murdered left on this wall…"

The whole council looked to where Doxia was pointing. A message was carved into the very molecular fabric of the Codrex Proto-steel wall. It read:

"I WANT THE INQUISITORS HUNTING ME AGAIN."

Dimension: My Little Pony

Planet: Equestria Earth

Specific Location: Canterlot

Time: Over a year after Lyric lost a limb

"Okay," sighed Starlight Amber, "I am officially lost." She looked at the map of Canterlot, then turned it upside-down, and then folded it up in disappointment and frustration. She looked around desperately one more time. She, Pound Cake, and Pumpkin Cake were in a small alley somewhere in the surprisingly less-than-credible downtown area. That was fairly much all she could recognize of the area.

"We are in CANTERLOT, Starry," sighed Pound Cake, "We've been here plenty of times."

"And every time we go here I explain that I am terrible at directions!" cried Starlight, "And every time we go you STILL give me a map!"

"You know, it might all make sense if I tell you that we heard you every time you explained that you were terrible at directions," commented Pumpkin Cake with a sly smile.

Starlight opened her mouth and then shut it. Then she blinked, utterly confused. "Wait… What? Oh, no… You DARE?"

Pumpkin burst out laughing. "Oh Starry! You look so CUTE when your face turns red!"

Starlight could only shake her head. Pumpkin had purposely let Starlight get them lost for at least twelve years in a row now. However, this was no time to get mad, for if she did, Pumpkin would only laugh harder. So, instead of giving into the outburst bubbling beneath the surface, Starlight sighed. "Okay. Ha-ha. Very funny. My ribs are hurting with all of that non-existent laughter."

Unfortunately for Starlight, this actually only made Pumpkin laugh harder, and even the more timid Pound began to snigger.

"Alright! Alright!" exclaimed Starlight, "I get that it was funny, but now that I have finally realized – after all these years – that you were clearly doing this to get us lost on PURPOSE, can we please find a way to get out of here?"

Pumpkin brushed away a tear of laughter. "Okay. Okay…"

Pound calmed down a little quicker, and then just shrugged. "Well… I would like to point out that we are indeed lost, never mind whether or not it was done on purpose."

Pumpkin froze. "Oh yeah…"

Starlight facehoofed. "And sometimes I wonder why you two are considered my elders in society," she muttered. She then looked around at the small street that they had found themselves in. It was lined by small stores, most of them empty or sparsely attended. Most ponies were gone to an address that Princess Celestia was making at Canterlot Castle. After a minute of looking about she noticed a small corner pub that had the "OPEN" neon lights turned on. Albeit they were flickering heavily, but they were still on, which indicated that there indeed were ponies in there. Possibly ponies that knew more about downtown Canterlot than two happy-go-lucky Ponyville Ponies and one second-generation half-Dimensional-Lord who knew less about directions than a slug on steroids.

"See that pub?" said Starlight, pointing to the corner tavern, "We can probably ask for directions in there."

Pound pulled a face. "Are you sure? I don't like the looks of it. It looks… rather… rough…"

Pound's voice trailed off as he looked at Starlight's no-nonsense face. He then grinned sheepishly. "Oh yeah… You were trapped on the Redzion Island Continent for ten years and managed to survive. This is nothing."

Starlight's face brightened up again and declared, "That's right! Now, ponies! Let's move out! We must undo what Pumpkin has done!"

Pumpkin blinked indignantly. "What I'VE done? What about Pound? He formulated part of the plan! I mean… Sort of… A little… Probably… Not really."

Starlight rolled her eyes and trotted forward. In a minute she was hustling her two friends inside. The bartender, a gray earth pony with a missing ear, grinned crookedly as he saw the three young adults stumble inside.

"Well, well, well! What do we have here?" he sneered, "Three lost, wet-nosed, little-"

Starlight strolled up to the counter and slammed a hoof down sharply, knocking all glasses on the tabletop askew. "Drinks!" she said firmly, "Lights for my two friends, and a Spryte for myself!"

The bar tender's jaw practically hit the floor upon seeing Starlight's confident demeanor (and drink order). He simply stared for a whole minute, before shakily trotting off to ready the drinks. Both Pumpkin and Pound just stared at Starlight. Starlight glanced at them and grinned. "What? You thought 'Starry' the Ponyville Schoolhouse teacher didn't have a 'fun' side to her?"

Pumpkin just slowly turned around and stared at the small TV mounted in a corner of the mostly-abandoned tavern in order to avoid Starlight's triumphant gaze.

"Look at this!" she said, bumping Pound lightly on the shoulder (who still looked as if he was in shock), "The Stallion Empire-Equidor Peace Talks are finally being televised."

"That means they have already reached an agreement," commented Pound, "If they had disintegrated like the Stallion Empire-Equestria Peace Talks no pony would really know what was going on until the bombs started dropping."

Starlight glanced over at the TV screen, watching a reporter narrate the careful hoof-shaking between the President of Equidor and a Stallion Empire ambassador in detail.

"Look at that ambassador," she said, pulling a small face, "The Stallion Empire didn't even bother considering sending over their High King, and yet Equidor is still scrambling to make peace. What are the two nations fighting over anyway?"

Pumpkin just carelessly shrugged and bumped Pound, whom she assumed knew.

"O-oh! I know!" exclaimed Pound, "It's over the Trimareian Isle. It was originally part of Equidor during the Nightmare Moon crises all of those years ago, but the Stallion Empire just recently claimed that they were given it during the Equus-Irrum war during the Paradox crises. Naturally there is no documentation for the claim, but the Stallion Empire does whatever it wants."

Pound paused and smacked his lips quietly as the two mares stared at him expectantly to elaborate. Then he said, "Oh, and the island is roughly one kilometer by one kilometer in size."

Starlight facehoofed a second time. "By Kytax. This is a mess."

Pumpkin just shook her head. "That is the Stallion Empire for you. By Celestia, they would fight a war for the rights to the name 'Marshmallow' if they felt like it."

"That hasn't happened yet, but something similar did occur for the rights to all the vodka on the planet," said the bartender suddenly as he came in from a back room, balancing three mugs full to the brim with alcoholic beverages. He tipped his head down and expertly dealed the mugs from his head to each respective customer.

Pumpkin and Pound lightly sipped their beers, but Starlight downed her vodka in a single gulp and slammed it down on the countertop. The bartender nearly passed out when all she did was grin and say, "It appears they did not win that, and I am glad. That was good. I'll have another one."

However, just as he giddily turned around to get her another one, she tapped him and said, "Actually, never mind that, I need a little help."

As the bartender turned around, Starlight glanced about and then beckoned him to lean in close. She winked at him and then whispered, "I have the world's worst sense of direction… And thus my compatriots and I are lost. Can you direct us to the nearest way to Canterlot Castle?"

The bartender, feeling completely warmed-up to this pony, nodded his head vehemently, more than ready to help her. "Of course! Take a left at the corner and then head straight down until you hit the second intersection. Take a right, and then keep going. Once you reached the intersection there, you need to head left, and then take a right. You will see Canterlot Castle clearly from that point. I won't mention the names of the streets because I know they will just confuse you."

Starlight gave him a sweet smile. "Why thank you my friend! I knew I could count on you! Here… keep the change."

She put down several bits to pay for the drinks and then ushered her friends from their seats. As she did that, the bartender called, "Come back soon! I mean, seriously, I really want you to come back."

Starlight just smiled at him and then left. As they trotted out, Pumpkin exclaimed, "Well! No harm, no foul, I always say. I may have pulled the same prank on you for the hundredth time in a row, but this time we got out of it without having to call Princess Luna to pick us up like we were infants!"

Starlight rolled her eyes. "You clearly are never going to tire of that prank."

Pumpkin winked. "You're right. I won't."

Starlight turned to Pound and switched the subject. "Pound," she said, "I missed most of what was happening on the TV. What did I miss?"

"Not much," replied Pound, "Just the regular spiel about how peace, happiness, and the magic of friendship had saved them from all-out war and stuff. But I must admit Stallion Empire Ambassador Harvest Snowfall is a really good speaker!"

Starlight stopped in her tracks. Pound looked at her curiously. "Starry?"

Starlight blinked and shook her head. "Oh… Sorry. That name – the ambassador's, I mean – it just sounds really familiar. Huh… Well, it doesn't matter, let's keep moving."

However, though Starlight had implied that it did not matter, the feeling of déjà vu kept on bothering her, and they almost got lost a second time as they traversed the downtown of Canterlot. But, fortunately, Pumpkin's attention to detail prevented them from wandering off to who-knows-where and they successfully made it to Main Street, where they got a clear view of Canterlot Castle.

"We've made it!" declared Pumpkin, "Never again shall I attempt to pull such a prank on Starry!"

Starlight shook her head. "Nice try. I see it in your eyes."

Pound looked up at the castle. "We might as well hurry. Last time I checked the time, we were late in meeting the Princesses. The address is over, and they are expecting us."

Pumpkin smacked her forehead with a hoof. "Ohmygosh! You're right! Everypony hurry!"

The three ponies galloped down Main Street. As they ran, several ponies would call out to Starlight as she passed them by.

"Hey Starlight!"

"Look! It's Starlight! How are you?"

"Visit my shop a little later, won't you, Starlight?"

Pumpkin pulled a face as they continued to gallop. "Looks like someone is a little popular around here."

Starlight grinned sheepishly. "I realized life is too short to not be nice to anypony… And so I will talk to anyone I can."

After at least ten whole minutes of running they came to a breathless stop at the gate of Canterlot Castle. A pony guard poked his head over the ramparts of the gate and called, "Who goes there?"

"It's me and the Cakes, Dusk!" called Starlight.

"Oh! Starlight, Pound, and Pumpkin! Come right in!"

The door slowly swung open and the three ponies trotted. Several guard ponies nearby stopped to salute them before going about their business. They trotted up to the beautiful main door of the actual castle, and Pound prepared to knock. However, before his hoof could rap at the door, it swung open itself to allow Sunset Shadow to exit. The dark purple pony trotted outside, looked at the three ponies before him, and smiled quietly. "Well, hello you three! How are you?"

Starlight blinked. "Dad?! What are you doing here?"

Sunset Shadow shrugged. "Oh, I was meeting with Luna about some things in the Stallion Empire-Equidor Peace Talks that happened not two hours ago."

Pound, who was somewhat interested in the politics of these particular peace talks, cocked his head to one side and said, "Really? Like what?"

Sunset Shadow smiled. "Apparently Stallion Empire Ambassador Harvest Snowfall is going on some sort of international tour to talk to ponies about how the Stallion Empire is not totally evil."

Pumpkin rolled her eyes and snorted. "Well, at least they said 'not totally' instead of 'not'."

Starlight rubbed her temples with the tip of her hooves. "Hey, dad? Does the name 'Harvest Snowfall' sound familiar to you?"

Sunset Shadow shook his head. "Well, he is the new head ambassador of the entirety of the Stallion Empire."

Starlight shook her head. "I mean, do you think you've heard that name anywhere else? Have this nagging feeling that I've heard it elsewhere."

Sunset Shadow shook his head one more time. "No, sweetie, I don't think I have. I'm sorry, my memory is not as good as it used to be."

Starlight sighed and then gave him a somewhat-bright smile. "That's okay, dad. It is probably nothing. I guess my brain just doesn't like giving up on unanswered questions, even when the questions themselves do not exist."

Sunset Shadow kissed his daughter on her cheek as he passed by. "That's okay. Try not to let it bother you when you go in for the second meeting, okay? Princess Luna has been extremely stressed as of late, thanks to August completely cutting communications with her and his father."

Starlight's face immediately became the picture of sorrow. "Oh, that poor mare. It just breaks my heart to know that August has become so distant."

Pumpkin grimaced. "Too busy playing 'hero' I think. I hope he remembers someday that he has a bunch of friends here who care for him."

Sunset Shadow's face clouded. "Yes… I hope so."

There was an uncomfortable pause, but then Sunset Shadow's face brightened again, breaking the mood. "Well, no matter!" he said, "I must be off, Starry. The baby is due any day now, and I need to be by your mother's side when your brother is born!"

Starlight winked. "I will be right behind you dad… as soon as we finish meeting with Luna."

Pumpkin gave a little hop of excitement. "Ooh! This will be so exciting! Well, let's go!"

The group of ponies parted ways, with Sunset Shadow catching a train back to Ponyville, and Starlight and her friends heading into the Canterlot Castle.

Note: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. It is most certainly a change of speed, considering all of the intense action of the previous chapters. I really wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that the My Little Pony dimension is still a massive component in "A Mending Soul." Anyway, I have a question: is anyone interested in being an Alpha Reader for me? They are kind of like the Beta Readers, but instead of being actively involved with my story (no one touches or edits my stories except me) they will be there to read outlines, synopses, and ideas that I create. I truly just need someone who has a really unique and critical point of view who would be willing to give me much-needed feedback on the plethora of ideas I have! Now finally... Don't forget to review! Reviews are the lifeblood of a story! If you give me a review, I shall give you a massive commemorative plaque, declaring you as one of those hard-core people (or ponies) who actually liked my writing enough to follow me to this point! And yes, it is covered in gold, and silver, and platinum... and it's invisible.