Author's Notes:

Wow, I am very late for this one. Sorry about that. It took a long time to organize and work through it while also dealing with school and all that jazz. I am also wondering, do you prefer this story being in first person or third person? I also turned off the blue text because it was getting tedious to do. I would also like to thank Dragon363, Bronyparasite, RealityDowngrade, DJSkywalker, shaoghad12, and DJ A String. Check these guys out and read they're stories, they are great.

Hearth's Warming Eve:
Mountain Base:

Shrugging off a stylized Iron Man kitchen-apron, a gleaming metal arm folding out of the wall to replace the discarded garment to its designated peg on the wall, currently, most up to date food preparation facility on the planet, at least until he thought of the next upgrade, Jacob walked out of his kitchen. The scents of holiday sweets, meats, and an array of spices even he would be hard pressed to remember swirled in eddies behind him in a semi-transparent cloak of holiday-cheer. Moving passed his living turned extended dining room where a number of tall conifers decorated with the appropriate lights, ornaments, and edible dressings whose glow was only enhanced by the shimmering paper-wrapping of the presents below, he danced his way passed the cheerily painted spherical X-droids who were floating about scanning the present spread for optimal efficiency of taste before a fresh morsel need take its place. The long dining table, once made so long for theatrical purposes, now seemed fitting with what was about to happen. Jacob called up a monitor from his watch and gave peek to one of the smaller cave entrances, far from the insulation of his home proper, to see a small family of three trotting up the snow-kissed mountain in heavy winter-gear.

“Derpy, are you sure that it is a good idea to go to a party hosted by a wanted man?” Time Turner asked, unzipping his coat just enough to slip in a hoof as he pulled out his pocket-watch, messing his green bow tie in the process, ever determined to be on time no matter the company he expected to encounter.

“Relax Timey, I made a deal with the guy, so I’ll uphold it.” Derpy replied calmly, reaching over to straighten the top-hat he hadn’t noticed he’d knocked as she calmed down her husband while Dinky, their daughter, continued to play with the bell on the end of her santa hat.

The trio reached the main entrance to the cave. It was gigantic, though unlike those at the base of the mountain it was utterly bereft of icicles. Trotting in, they were greeted with a loud roar that shook the room and sent Dinky scurrying to the sides of her parents.

“Bubbles,” came a familiar voice sounding all too much like a worried parent from overhead, “be sure to go back to bed. You need to be rested so that when hibernation is over, you won’t try to kill me because I woke you up.” Looking to one another the trio’s attention shifted to a line of red and green lights that began to flicker on the right side of the cave-wall, running a short way in until they curved over an archway that led up a small flight of stairs. Dinky, wonder struck at the sudden display and was soon out of sight of the two adults who gave a shrug at the unusual sight and climbed up after her.

Moving up the small spiral of stone-steps, the temperature noticeably increasing as they went, they second they passed the portal, the stone door silently closing out the cold winter behind them, they were met by the pleasant sight of fire was burning away in a truly incredible holly-covered hearth, a row of large tables, and a tall biped wearing a red sweater who was seemingly busy with conducting a bevvy of cheery, floating, reflective-spheres who were just putting the final touches to placement of the dining tables and chairs as silvery plates the size of a pony were brought in from the next room were set upon the tables. The inclusion of meat was immediately noticeable, sending a small wave of nausea through Derpy’s stomach, but the feeling quickly vanished as similarly sized plates of salads, potatoes, and greens were placed upon a separate table at the other side of the growing buffet, with the crowning jewel, and ever growing pile of sweets that was accumulating at the center of the wide half-circle of tables.

“Um, Iron Man?” asked Derpy.

Jacob, patting his hands with the washcloth on his side belt-loop, sending a new cloud of flour to fall to his freshly cleaned winter-carpet, turned to the trio of ponies. “Ah, Derpy and company, welcome to my humble abode. I just finished setting up the food, but I need to call other guests before eating. Please, make yourselves at home.”

Time Turner, eyes gleaming of the technological spectacle surrounding him, went around in a near daze as he picked his way across the small trinkets of machinery the lined the shelves along the walls while Derpy moved to one of the plush chairs ringing the fireplace, all the while keeping Jacob in her sight. Dinky, however, had managed her way to the small assortment of books on the public shelf and picked up a book titled “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and started reading it.

Jacob, moving back to the kitchen, squared his shoulders and pulled out a simple draw-string bag. Pulling the golden-yellow strings he spilled the contents of the red-bag them over a countertop. A d20 die necklace, a black diamond, a cell phone, a pink note book, a stream of golden sand that fell into the shape of a stopwatch, a green scythe charm, and a prototype unitrix, and, placing them all in a circle, he added his own red-gear at the center and, turning the sides a bit, lining the teeth of the gears with the surrounding tokens. Typing in a brief code upon the watch adorning his wrist, the teeth of the gear split in two sending a beam of white-energy to the surrounding items as a holographic screen shimmered into existence above the central gear. Turning back to his watch he typed out the simple invitation:

“Dear friends, comrades, and people that I pissed off. I am throwing a Christmas party at my place and I want you to know that you are all invited with open arms. I would also like to say that each guest is allowed to bring two people, ponies, etc with them. Should you not wish to come, just say, “I do not wish to go Jacob.” or “piss off.” that works too.”
Sincerely,
Jacob. And Hyde bitches!

“We heard word of a party?” came a voice from the high-ceiling, from where a silver, fifteen-foot, anthro Luna had appeared in all her buxom glory. Landing lightly upon her feet as she gently flapped to the ground and asked, “Where’s the party? We wish to attend.”

Jacob donned a look of fear as he glanced to the kitchen ceiling. “Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck FUCK!” yelled Jacob. “What do you want? I didn’t blow up your cakes recently.” Jacob, in an attempt to show he most certainly was not intimidated by the fuzzy Amazon before him and pressed his chest reactor, sending an opaque shield of white-energy to bloom around him .

“Oh my, it seems young Jacob is being a bit of a troll,” the Luna said. “We don’t blame you for not recognizing us, Jacob. We are Doxuna, or as you used to know us, Dox. Don’t tell us you’ve forgotten that name, at least.”

Jacob deactivated the shield. “Dox? Wait a minute,” he frowned, “Young?! I’m at least seven hundred years older than you!

“I’m two hundred, yes,” Doxuna smirked, “but with the memories of someone far older than me,” she finished, dropping the whole Royal We. “Please, do not try me. Now, how about everyone else that’s coming?”

“One sec, I wanna try something.” Jacob said, bringing up two fingers to Doxuna’s neck. “May I?”

“The hell are you doing?” Doxuna gasped, raising a hand to bat the offending hand.

“It’s nothing pervy, I promise. It’s just a trick that I picked from a Zebra that a met a while ago. I mean no harm to you.” Jacob assured in a calm tone.

“If you’re trying to convert me to my base form, drop it now.” Doxuna warned. “It is most unpleasing right now, so I suggest you let it be.”

“Honestly, I don’t give a fuck about appearances, also this is a pain relieving technique. I still need that permission.”

“Fine. But do not attempt any other moves on us.”

“Fine.” said Jacob before closing his eyes and moving his two fingers to the base of the spine, then to the mid spine, then the stomach, then the heart, then the throat, the middle of the forehead, and finally the crown of the head. “You have recently suffered abandonment, grief, guilt, pain, and fear.”

“Your point, Captain Obvious?” Doxuna snarked. “I know what I have suffered, and I’d personally rather not talk about it, alright? Now, can we get to your other guests? I think I can see one of them coming through now.

“Let me finish dammit.” said Jacob in an irritated tone. Jacob pulled his hand away from the crown, causing a red smog of air like magic the size of a giant beach ball to leave with her. Doxuna’s breath slowed down and an unnoticed smile crossed her lips. With a sudden movement, Jacob shoved his arm into the orb, a scream in pure agony escaping before he’d completely absorbed it. Tears burst from his eyes as the internal struggle began. Aided by Hyde, the mind’s protector, Jacob fought back the godlike pain of Dox and Luna. The mental landscape was quickly covered by the shadow of Hyde, dressed in an equally black kimono and a dark, pulsating sword which he swung at the blight of psychic energy, shattering it completely. “My head, my rules, bitch,” Hyde smirked

“Wow. You psychotic bastard. That could have screwed you over so badly, ya know.” Doxuna sighed, her shoulders sagging even as her eyes still managed to widen. “But still, thank you. Also, we were being serious earlier. There comes a guest right now!”

As the loveable oddball-voice of the human arachnid echoed off the walls, "Jacob, buddy nice to see you again. I must say the suit works like a charm." He then walks into view wearing Hybrid out for more of a fun little show no threat intended.

“Ah Jeff! Good to see ya!” Jacob walked over to him and gave him a friendly hug.

Jeffrey hugged back, smiling since it was always nice to see a friend again.

Jacob then turned to Doxuna, “As for the psychotic comment, Hyde has been battling the demon’s in my head for years. I am not joking about the demon part either. I actually went to hell. I had pure faith in my pseudo brother.”

“Hush, little one. We shall hold thee.” Doxuna said, grabbing Jacob, hugging him close, and petting him. “Worry not, thou shalt be alright.”

Jeffrey seeing Luna look alike Hybrid turned his hands into sharp looking claws.

“You know Doxuna, you don’t have to talk in archaic language if you don’t want to. Then again, I don’t mind hugs.”

“What dost thou mean? What is wrong with how we talk?” Doxuna asked. She turned her attention to Jeff. “And you! Put those away, will thee? There is no need for such toys here.”

Jeffrey forces Hybrid to change back and said, "Sorry, I'm just used to Luna and Celestia being not friendly to me."

“Well, we are not Luna. We art Doxuna.” Doxuna explained. “To prove our point, among our reasons, we are silver, Luna is not. Well, most Lunas.”

"Thanks for the correction and thanks for the introduction." Said Jeffery as he forces Hybrid down and look back to his normal black costume as a preventative measure from pissing off and killing someone.

“OKAY! PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THE FLYING BUCK IS GOING ON HERE!!!!” yelled Derpy as she skidded into the kitchen, winged flared.

“Ah, thou must understand. We are Displaced.” Doxuna said, standing tall. “And if thou shalt excuse us, we are going to hunt down the horderves and devour them.” Doxuna dropped Jacob and walked off towards a table full of food.

“Save some for the rest of the guests! Also, you might want to try the marshmallow snowmen!” shouted Jacob in a good mood. “Don’t touch the other food until all of the guests have arrived.”

“THE BUCK’S A DISPLACED?!” shouted Derpy as Time Turner scrambled in, attempting to hold back the destruction he knew his wife was capable of.

Jeffery went to go get some of the snack like food if anything to keep from being hungry. He then grabbed a marshmallow snowman. Then he pops one into his mouth after lifting his mask, once the food is in his mouth he puts his mask back on.

"Are we late?" Came Jason's voice as he stepped into view, surrounded in a furious red aura. Stepping out behind him were his wives, Rarity and Chrysalis, both dressed for the occasion.
Phasing through Jeff, Jacob hugged the three of them in a bear hug. “Jason, how goes it! The big chill DNA is making things much easier on me.”

Jeffrey walks to sit on a wall using his wall climbing skill, he is just going to watch all this happen for the time being.
"Pretty good, just rocking Kiao Ken. Don't ask, my grandmother is insane." Jason said, pulling away from Jacob, running a hand through his hair.

Jacob looked down at Chrysalis and Rarity. “And who are you two adorable creatures?" He then tilted his head to the side. “Scratch that, three adorable creatures.”

"Don't call me adorable," Chrysalis hissed, "Also what do you mean three?"

“Oh hey.” Doxuna said as she approached, marshmallow in her mouth. “Two adorable forms that we can transform into. Thanks for showing up, ladies.” Doxuna then started melting into a quadruped form before turning into Chrysalis. “Ah, very nice. Quite an adorable form. Not too squishy, but still there. If you need me, I’m going back to the snacks.”

"Why must you attract the weird ones?" Chrysalis asked with a sigh, shaking her head with a groan.

Jeffery watching from his wall spot intrigued about the guests who have been arriving. He was trying to figure out who to not piss off and leave alone, and who was right to be friendly with since they could take a joke.

With a sudden burst of light, a shimmering ring of golden-sand colored a spot of empty air, the void of light at its center seeming to draw away from the mirthful atmosphere. Not a moment later a spot of black was flung from the darkened depths, the ring vanishing into the ether, rolling onto the side of the nearby cupboards, gasping as the shadow contorted to a shrunken stature.

“You” came the cold accusation, as the shadow raised his head to the assembled crowd.

A little confused, Jacob tilted his head slightly, “Didn’t you get my invitation? I am inviting Displaced to a party. If you feel as though you are being kidnapped, I did state how to decline the offer.”

“Again with the lies” he replied frigidly, scanning the assembly, “and now I find you in the company of a villain who-”

“Listen to me, I just stated that you had the ability to decline. Or is there too much sand in your ears Wayde?” said Jacob with a calm, yet slightly impatient tone.

“And who exactly are you talking to?” Doxuna asked. “It looks like you’re talking to a cupboard.”

Jacob then turned to Doxuna, “Actually, that is another displaced, rather like Pitch Black if I recall. Now, in order to see and hear him, you might want to believe first.”

The other people in the room just shrugged and said things along the lines of, “What the hell,” but then fell silent or back to their own conversations as the gaunt-shadow stretched out upon the cupboard blinked into their collective vision.
Jeffery smiled hearing all this since it was funny.

“Now Wayde, If you agreed to this invitation by accident, I can send you back, but I am also trying to wash away any bad blood in between us.” Offered Iron Man.

Head still moving from side to side at the monstrous gathering, Wayde simply stated, “Your days of stealing me across dimensions are through,” disappearing into the darkness of the cupboard behind him, the pall of darkness that surrounded him beginning to vanish as well, “now, if you’ll excuse me.”

“For food I suppose? You know, this is a holiday for peace, not bitterness.” said Jacob.

He didn’t get a response. Instead, a white vortex appeared. Screaming was heard, along with laughing and a frustrated yell.

A light green blur rushed past everyone twice, then stopped. Buttercup, wearing rollerblades and a black eye patch over her right eye whooped.

“Hello everypony! I’m vethers and I’m here to steal yer candy!” The raven haired girl slurred.

A light and dark blue blur came next. And stopped right next to Buttercup. Bubbles and a small girl with dark blue hair. Her arms were wrapped around Bubbles, and the two were giggling like school girls.

“Hello girls, is Blossom coming?” asked Jacob.

Buttercup started giggling, “Yeah, she’s just getting ready…”

Bubbles cleared her throat, “She’s just getting Bell and Barasia… Should be here in three…”

“Two…” Buttercup counted.

“One…” Said Breannin.

“I can’t believe you two! Don’t leave me like that! What are you, high- never mind…” Blossom stomped out with Bell and Barasia. Blossom’s right leg was bandaged up in gauze, and her bow was missing. Barasia’s left arm was missing, and Bell’s wrist looked snapped.

“My god, What happened to you two?” said Jacob in a worried voice.

Blossom sighed, “We were summoned, and things got… out of control… You should have seen the other guys… Buttercup’s high on painkillers, and Bubbles is… well, Bubbles.”

“I don’t like Star Wars anymore…” Mumbled Barasia under her breath.

Sighing, Jacob just said, “Bell, Barasia, come with me, I’ll get you two fixed up.”

Jarvis, while speaking through a larger spybot, said, “Good evening Lady Buttercup, do you wish to troll these people with me?”

“Totally!” Buttercup said, before slipping and landing on her head, “As soon as the drugs wear off… On the bright side, I saw my brother!”

“That’s wonderful, and how is Master Lee?” said Jarvis.

“He’s… Um… He’s fine. Got into a fight with a Sith Lord and an army of Pinkie Pie’s with Lightsabers… So good now, not so good later.” Buttercup stared at the ceiling.

“Oh my, did he try to out weird the Pinkie knock-offs?” said Jarvis with a slightly worried tone.

“Yes… But they were more of the… Pinkamena, type…” She shivered

“Show, or Cupcakes? Also, I might have a solution for your painkiller high.” said Jarvis.

“Please do… And both, plus Smile HD… Oh the Smile HD…”

“I just need to call up master Jacob for the pain thing, also, Pinkie wasn’t Pinkamena in Smile HD, she was just suffering from a power overload.”

“Don’t care… Too high…”

“First, I’ll remove the pain killers from your system by introducing an anti-drug into your bloodstream.” The spider like bot climbed onto Buttercup’s arm and injected a needle into her. “This will hurt a lot.”

“I won’t feel it… Painkillers…” Buttercup croaked.

“This removes ALL effects of the drugs.” reminded Jarvis. Jarvis then paused for a bit before saying. “I have contacted Jacob and he is on his way.” Jarvis replied in a calming voice.

Jacob then walked into the area with two fixed and upgraded gynoids following him. He turned to Buttercup and said, “Before I begin, I need your permission to touch you without getting offensive.”

“What?” Buttercup asked, to which Bubbles and Breannin began cackling.

“Without going into too much detail, I am going to literally pull the pain out of you,” said Jacob.

“Sure…”

“I better not get a molester joke for this.” said Jacob before touching the base of her spine, the middle of her back, her stomach, her heart, her throat, the middle of the forehead, and finally the crown of her head. A red, smog-like mist came out off her forehead and it swelled to the size of a baseball. Jacob shoved it into his chest and let out a few pained, and ragged breaths before calming down. “As I said, I literally pulled the pain from you and into me.”

Buttercup sat up. “Uh… Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” said Jacob. He then turned back to the pony guests in his abode.

He turned to see a pissed off Derpy, “If one more of you hairless apes appear out of nowhere, I will put a bullet through your head and take half of your bounty.” Derpy even pulled out a gun to prove her point.

“We are not apes!” Bubbles glared at Derpy as she yelled. “You want us to call you horses!?”

“Jacob, where’s the piano and the other instruments? I mean, this is Hearths Warming, right? Where’s the music?” Doxuna said as she approached, now in the form of Derpy and covering her right eye.

Jeffery hearing the ape insult he wasn't sure how to respond to that since he wasn't sure if now having super powers made him part spider or not.

Jacob, ignoring the gun in Derpy’s possession, said, “Silly me, I forgot. One sec.” He then snapped his fingers as one piano and three androids with cellos rose up on a platform. Jacob sat at the piano as they began to play.

Just as he finished, Doxuna jumped up onto the piano stool, morphed back into a smaller version of her original Luna form, and shoved Jacob off. “No, no, no! You have to play it like this!” Three blobs of flesh melted out of Doxuna and became random females that had attended the party. All of the duplicate Doxunas stole a cello from the robots, and they began playing.

“If you’re gonna be a dick about playing, then I get to sing.” said Jacob before pulling out a microphone and sung while a different sounding Jarvis co signing.

Jeffery is just sticking on the wall watching and listening.

“We art going to punch thee in the throat if thou would try that again.” Doxuna warned. “Never interrupt our playing with music like that.”

“Gimmie back my orchestra Dox. I only use one piano.”

“No. We believe that we art better than thou at playing. We also have better choice in holiday-ish songs.” Doxuna argued.

“Well then, how about we settle this with a cello war?”

“Do you mean a fight to the death with bows or actually playing?” Doxuna questioned honestly. “‘Cause we art down for either. Wielding a cello bow is much like wielding a sword.”

Jeffery deciding to try and mingle at the annoying pestering of Hybrid. So after unsticking from the wall. He starts to go snack some more if anything it might start a conversation with someone, hopefully not murderous Derpy.

“With actual music off course. Just follow my lead.” said Jacob before picking up a cello and a bow, then started to play.

“Ha! As if you’d survive that. Honey, I play for keeps.” Doxuna warned, pulling out a cello and bow from her ‘magic satchel’. She twirled the bow a few times and started playing along.

The duo were playing off of each other at near equal tempo and keeping a decent, and epic, rhythm with each other. Doxuna chucked a rock at Jacob in an attempt to throw him off, but Jacob spun with the cello to avoid the rock, and activated a party cannon trap near Doxuna. Doxuna ignored the massive mess of confetti that was shot into her face and kept playing. Both combatants glared into each other’s souls, neither willing to lose to the other. They increased their tempo and people even started making bets on who would win. Eventually, the song ended, and they were both at each other’s throats with each other with bows. Sadly, there were no winners of the battle.

“Alright, enough. How about we just play something else, alright?” Doxuna offered.

“Alright, tie? How about we play a mixture of funky classical?” Asked Jacob.

“I call the funk. Just give me an electric cello.” Doxuna said. One of her duplicates walked up to her, said electric cello in hand. The duplicate whispered something to Doxuna before walking away. “Oh really? Well, go have fun, Recall. We shall be here. And if you could, take the others with you?” The other duplicates followed after the ‘Recall’ duplicate. “Now, would you please start us off, young Jacob?”

“Alright,” said Jacob before playing a harpsichord to start the collaboration off. A bit into it, Doxuna deliberately interrupted the original theme and the collab went off from there. When it was done, the two got up and bowed, and Doxuna walked away, putting both her cello, bow, and the electric cello into the ‘magic satchel’.

“I’m keeping this!” She said as she put things away. When she was finished, she walked off to go join the duplicates.
“I should probably mention that I had this set to outdoor loudspeakers, so most, if not all of Ponyville heard it, plus our cello war.” said Jacob with a cheeky grin.

A red and black portal ripped open in the room… only no one walked out. But voices, mostly yelling could be heard from within. Then, three humans were blasted out of the portal by a magenta magic blast.

“GO BE SOCIAL!” a Twilight’s voice screamed from the vortex.

“I’M NOT A SOCIAL PERSON!” Ben screamed back as the portal closed. “Aw man.”

“Get off!” Kat said as she and her sister shoved Ben off of them. “Honestly Ben, was all that really necessary? It’s just a party.”

“I don’t do parties,” he grumbled, brushing the dirt from his jacket.

“Well too bad, we’re already here,” Raven said matter-of-factly.

Ben looked down to see Dinky hugging his leg. “You seem grumpy.”

“I’m always grumpy,” he deadpanned. “Now get off my leg… please.”

“Alright, mister Grinch.” she grumbled before trotting off.

“Well, now that everyone is here, we can eat.” said Jacob in a relieved tone.

Raven hmmed as she looked at Jacob. “So... this is the Iron Man you slept with? Eh, you could really do better, Kat.”

“Be nice, Raven,” she sighed.

“What she said.” said Iron Man, sounding a little offended.

"Oh hey Kat," Jason said with a wave, sipping at a drink, his aura still up.

“Hey Jason!” Kat waved back. “Haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Oh gods, he was invited too?” Ben moaned, laying in a heap on the floor.

“You know Ben, If you don’t want to be social right now, there is a library in here.” said Jacob.

“That doesn’t help me at all!”

Kat laughed nervously. “Don’t mind him. He’s not really a, uh… people person.”

“Kat? Kat is that you?” Doxuna said as she walked up to the shifter. “It’s been so long. How’s life treating you sensei?”

“DOX?!” she nearly screamed. “Oh mon Dieu, what happened to you and Luna?!”

“Well, Luna got worshiped, and I got mutated into… Well…” Doxuna said. “I’d rather not really talk about that. Let’s just say that I’m choosing to look like how I last saw my Luna and that I have her memories.”

"That sounds weird as hell," Jason said, shaking his head, "Also, fuck off Ben."

“Whatever, Jason. I’m too depressed to care right now.”

“Get up!” Raven said, kicking Ben into a standing position.

“Ow! Yeesh, abuse abuse abuse abuse, that’s all I ever get.”

“I think I might know how to help you at least get more comfortable.” Doxuna said. “Though, you’re going to have to, how do I put this… ‘Let us in’. Do you understand?”

“No way in hell am I doing the pain thing on him. With what I’ve already done to you and Buttercup, I need rest or I might get fatally injured.” said Jacob.

“I don’t want to get comfortable. I’m surrounded by Displaced! Ugh, why Kat makes me be social, I will never know.”
“You do know that you are a displaced, right?” said Jacob

"Don’t try to reason with Ben, he's an asshole," Jason said with a snort, causing Rarity to glare at him.
“Now now. Let’s not resort to petty name calling.” Doxuna said. “Ben. Can you let me in for a second. I promise, I won’t do anything. I just want to help you out. You won’t feel anything, and you won’t need to do anything. I promise.”
“Stay away from me and my head,” he glared. “I’ve already got enough mental scars, I don’t need some mutant going near it.”

“Ben!” Kat scolded. “He may look a little weird, but most of these people are still friends. At least word it nicely, for once.” Ben only rolled his eyes, slumping against the far wall.

“It’s alright, Kat. He’s not going to let me in.” Doxuna said. “Though, that doesn’t mean my idea is shot. You know him well enough, don’t you?”

Kat looked a little sheepish. “Not really… we haven’t exactly known each other very long… despite him being my actual brother.”

“Then I guess my idea may indeed be shot.” Doxuna said. “Ah well, no harm done. Though, I could potentially force my way in, but with how he’s acting, I’m not sure I’d be helping more than hurting. You sure you don’t know about anything or maybe anyone he likes or cares for?”

Ben groaned. “What is with so many people trying to interfere with my life? You honestly think you could do what most scientists on Earth could not? Oh please, my mind is my own now stay out and away from it.”

After hearing this, Jacob started laughing like a mad man. “Oh really? I can think of ten bastards that would disagree. Also, some of us even know what you are going through personally.” Jacob’s hair flattened and he gained a dark and overdramatic aura. “It is either that, or that I never existed. Also, hi Kat.” Hyde waved.

“Hi,” Kat waved back.

Ben began to chuckle going into a loud laugh. “That’s it? That’s it?! You have another personality in your head? Try having ten different personalities that are not related to you in anyway, who’s only purpose in life is to get rid of you before causing mayhem, destruction, and death throughout the land. That’s what I’ve lived with for five thousand years, so shut up and sit down. I have my reasons for not liking Displaced, or humans in general.”

"I’m sorry," Chrysalis cut in, "Is this a party or a dick measuring contest? Because I'd prefer a party and not a bunch of idiots flaunting their 'painful backstories' like its some excuse for their horrible personalities."

“Chrysalis, you’re oh so right.” Doxuna said. “I personally like to get back to the party, myself. So, if we’re all done with the whole ‘whose life is worst’ contest, let’s follow the lady’s advice and get back to the party.”

“You guys are right, we are getting kind of childish and ridiculous over the past. How about we enjoy the present Ben? It is a gift.” Hyde started to calm down as Jacob slowly returned, “If you need me, just shout!” Jacob then returned fully.

“What did I miss?”

"Nothing important," Chrysalis said, chugging her drink, frowning a little.

“Alright everybody, let’s just let Ben be his mopey self. That’s just who he is. This is supposed to be a party and Raven and I could really use some light heartedness.”

“Alright, now that everyone is here, how about we eat? We don’t want to get the pie cold, do we?” asked Jacob with a smile before sitting at the head of the table while a proper Christmas song played in the background.

"I am rather famished," Rarity said, placing a hoof on her swollen stomach.

Once everyone sat down, Jacob held up a glass, “I would like to propose a toast. Through our interactions, be they brief or long, I felt some sort of connection with all of you guys. It is almost like a very fucked up family, but I would consider all of you my family, even though some interactions that I had would be made awkward by this, I do love you guys. If we were all here, Wayde included, I would consider him a cousin or something along those lines. Now that I actually said this, I think that I should have said nakama… damn. So,” Jacob raised his glass higher. “To friends, family, and everything in between.”
“Here here!” Kat cheered, lifting up a glass of her own.

Jason nodded, "and our family is just going to get bigger." He smiled, lifting his cup, his over hand on Rarity's stomach.

“I gotta ask Jason, how did you get Rarity pregnant in the first place? Did you bed her as a pony? Even so, from what I’ve gathered, your transformations last minutes at a time.” Jacob then gained a quick look of realization before getting a shit eating grin. “Either that was a quick lay, or you had a form lock.”

“Hah! Endurance joke!” Doxuna belted out. “We’re betting it was the former! Hah!”

"Oh I don't know, you have no idea the kind of things two shapeshifters get up to in the bedroom," Chrysalis smirked, licking her lips, nibbling Rarity's ear.

"S-stop that!" She squirmed, trying to push the Empress away.

“Pffft, two? Only two? I’ve had three, including myself.” Doxuna snarked. “Though, you do have a point. It’s fun, and there’s tons of possibilities.”

“I’ve also had experience shape changing in bed, though I think that Kat remembers it better than I do.” Jacob smirked.

“I also remembered how it ended,” she said in a somber tone.

“Hey!” Raven snapped at her. “No sad time from you, missy. I’m not letting my sister get all sad and depressed at a Christmas party of all things. Right now, all our worries are behind us for now. Your lack of happiness and my war are back home, not here. Now focus on the party.”

“What she said.” said Jacob for a second time.

Derpy, now having a large blush, was covering Dinky’s ears. “You mind talking about something foal friendly?”

"Since you asked nicely," Chrysalis said with a smile, "Anyone want to see pictures?" She asked, pulling out Jason's camera, ignoring the annoyed look he gave.

Kat slapped Raven’s hand from rising. “If I have to fake happiness, then you can’t get into your kinks.”

"I meant pictures of our children..." Chrysalis said with a flat look, her eye twitching.

“We would love to.” Doxuna said.

“I could go for some.” said Jacob.

“I’ll pass then,” Raven declined. “I get enough of that when around Kat’s kids.”

“Wait, how much time has passed since our last encounter?” said Jacob nervously.

“For me? About two years,” Kat replied. “Enfer, I had a kid already when we first met.”

“Oh thank god.” said Jacob. “Well, It’s been two months for me.”

“Hmm. Seems like I am being called away.” Doxuna muttered. “It’s been nice seeing you all, but another friend of mine needs me. Seems he is in a bit of a hard spot. Goodbye all!” And with that, Doxuna opened a portal and left, taking her duplicates with her.

“Tell Avarice that I said hi!” Jacob yelled into the portal. “I don’t think that she heard me.”

Jeffery stops his mental chatting with Hybrid and let's Hybrid take over for the reason that he is better at talking with people. Hybrid is looking around quietly as if to figure out what happened during this.

“Don’t flatter yourself to think they were yours. I can’t get pregnant, don’t have the parts for it,” Kat said with a roll of her eyes.

Hybrid starts to walk around feeling as awkward as the new kid in school. This is due to the fact well he was brought as second banana to Jeffery.

“Uh…” Blossom mumbled, “I’m confused at what’s going on…”

“Seconded...” Buttercup grumbled, “Painkiller’s gone too.”

"I could probably fix that," Jason said, looking at Buttercup.

Hybrid sees the group of people and is wondering what to say.

Buttercup raised her eyebrow, “What’s there to fix? I’m not lucid anymore.”

Hybrid said to the group nervously, "Hello?"

“Basically Blossom, about a week before Jacob met you, Jacob was in a rather short relationship with Kat, but they broke up because Kat’s duty as a multiverse guardian or whatever was more important or something like that.” Said Jarvis from an adorable robot. “By the way, how do you like the frame that I am using? Most can’t take me seriously and just find me adorable for some reason.”

Blossom kneeled, “I think it’s cool.”

Hybrid notice Sweetie Bot and giggles at the cuteness.

Kat raised her eyebrow. “No, we were never a couple. It was a one night stand and that was it. I left because Jacob wanted something more when I didn’t feel the same. Don’t go spreading lies.”

Sweetie Bot just gallops away, “Trololololololololo!”

“Don’t mind him, he is a shipper and a troll.” Jacob remarked.

“He keeps it up and I’ll break him,” Kat partially joked.

Hybrid laughs and said, "That would be funny to see."

“I tried that once, and he moved to a security drone, then a spy bot, and then my armor to give me the finger.” Jacob said, trying to avoid an adorable mess on the floor.

"That's funny and strange." Said Hybrid with a thoughtful look.

Buttercup looked to Jarvis, “Man he’s funny…”

Blossom rolled her eyes, “Anyway,” She turned to the blond, “Go on, eat some food.”

And just like that, Bubbles ran to eat as much as she could.

Hybrid, chuckling as Bubbles scampered off, asked, "Um is there anything new going on in your area of the multiverse guys and gals?" He sounded nervous, though it was hard to tell given his symbiotic form.

“Same as the past thousand years,” Raven somberly said. “Constant war.”

“Well that sucks.” said Jacob.

“You have no idea,” Kat wistfully said.

“Damn, closest thing that I got to that was hell, but at least that wasn’t permanent.” Jacob remarked.

“Hell would be a nice change of pace compared to my world,” Raven muttered. “I sometimes wish it were just as simple as that.”

“While I have no idea what you are going through, I can tell you this. Hell is not a nice change of pace. I think the massive demonic titans that will try to kill you, eat you, rape you, or all three at once, can capitalize on that.” Jacob shuttered a little after saying that.

“Honestly, I think I would rather face a demon again,” Kat admitted. “That is a lot easier than war. Especially when you are literally fighting yourself.”

“So, what? Is it an internal struggle or a clone fight?” Jacob asked with a small amount of curiosity.

“I found something that shouldn’t exist. Something that has given hope to another world.” She smirked. “I found a hole to an alternate multiverse. An entire multiverse that is opposite this one.”

Jacob slumped his shoulders a bit. “Which multiverse was it? Z11 dash beta or Z12 dash alpha? Those were the only multiverses that I found, but I never bothered going to them for a fear of this multiverse collapsing. Then again, there is the possibility that it was just a collection of universes that I saw.”

“For one, that fear is dumb. Like, completely dumb. Two, sometimes I think you just say whatever spouts into your brain to make yourself sound cool. This multiverse is completely unexplored by its Displaced. I’ve looked into its Void and… found nothing. There are no connections, nothing to show that their people are connected. None of them know of each other or that there are others out there.”

“I’m not making this crap up.” said Jacob with a bit of frustration. “If I said what I was thinking when I was saying that, I would just say the word banana.” Jacob paused for a bit. “Dammit!”

Hybrid listens to all this taking in the information since it's always a good a idea to speak only when needed it helps keep down people hating you. He then chuckles since the hilarity of what Jacob is doing.

Blossom grumbled, “I’ve got an idea. Maybe you two should just quiet down before anything happens. It’s Hearth's Warming, so why argue? Maybe you saw the Multiverse from different views.”

Clapping his hands together, Jacob said, “Great idea Blossom! Kat, as a peace offering, I’ll give you a refitted sub-zero armor with unlimited ammo.”

Kat face palmed. “Why does everyone keep trying to give me weapons lately? I really don’t need them and they are just a hinderance!”

"Since maybe you're just give off the feeling of need to blow things up and weapons are the best way of doing it." Said Hybrid

Buttercup laughed, “That’s rich! Dude, it’s not like you have that great powers. The only thing you’ve got going are webs!”

"Jeffery isn't in control I am and I'm Hybrid a symbiote I have skills then just spider powers." said Hybrid with a growl.

“My brother’s a symbiote, and I still think he’s weak.” Buttercup rolled her eyes.

"That's your prerogative. Wait who is your brother?" Asked Hybrid intrigued by this new information.

“Connors. My brother’s your pops dipshit.” Buttercup smirked until Blossom smacked her.

"I didn't know so no need to be a rude as Grumpy after he stubs his toe." Said Hybrid with a chuckle at his own statement. Though Buttercup wasn’t as amused, but Hybrid didn't care since he was figuring that Buttercup was more rude due to personality of the character being an influence. That or she is just normally that way.

“Perhaps I said that wrong. The sub zero armor is an ice cream dispersing suit.” Jacob explained. “A chair is more harmful than it.”

“No thank you. I don’t have time for fun stuff anymore.”

“Alright, but speaking of ice cream, I got the desserts ready.” said Jacob with a joyful expression.

“Someone say food?” Ben piped up, suddenly awake.

“He’s definitely your brother,” Raven quipped.

“Oi, watch it.”

“I was saying that the desserts are ready.” said Jacob, slightly annoyed that he had been asleep through most of this.

“Sweet! What’s on the menu Iron Man?”

“Is all you think about food?” Kat asked.

“No, sometimes I think about napping too.” Raven and Kat both facepalmed.

“Commencing facehoof.” said Jarvis before doing so.

“Agreed.” Blossom nodded and followed everyone else.

“Here here.” said the Hooves family and the Gynoids, who were having a conversation.

Ben smiled. “Normally, one should feel embarrassed. But… I’m far from normal so I just feel accomplished.”

Hybrid proceeds to wonder what the heck is up with JARVIS since although randomness can be programmed into a personality some levels just can't be programed into a AI no matter how advanced...ok maybe a Terminator might be able to develop that that level of randomness.

“Just get the friggin food!” Buttercup cried.

“Shut up Buttercup.” Blossom whispered, to which Buttercup whimpered.

Hybrid said, "Niceness will help you get respect which helps move things along, but rudeness with impede the speed of things. Please keep that in mind Buttercup or ignore me either I'm OK with." This was his attempt at what Jeffery called being a wise smart ass.

“Do you even know who you’re talking to? I fought a friggin Sith Lord, robot, and conduit at the same time, with two Pinkie clones shooting lighting at me. I’m not the spirit of peace, nor harmony. I get what I want either way.” Buttercup growled… She was slapped again by Blossom and cried out in pain.

"I'm not going to start this dick fighting contest since it would be cruel since neither of us have said genitalia." Said Hybrid taking the high road on this one.

“Are pissing contests common between you Displaced or is just this group in particular?” Raven asked with a confused look.

“No, Buttercup is just new to speaking to them. She went through hell for a thousand years, and she’s been a bit bitchy ever since.” Blossom said, to which the green dressed girl just stuck her tongue out. “And I think she’s pissed about the war thingy.”

"Well that doesn't sound fun, but it is different from my hosts treatment by the royals. He just got the discord treatment. Yours is a lot worse than that. I feel kinda sorry for you and what you went through. " said Hybrid apologetically.

“Discord?” Raven asked with wide eyes. “He’s still around in your universes? Lucky! I miss the old bastard.”

“I don’t!” Buttercup glared.

Blossom face palmed, “Buttercup, go cool down…” The hot head growled and left.

“Wait Buttercup mentioned a war. Mind explaining it to me?” Jacob said in a rare but serious tone.

“Yeah. The girls and I were called by a guy called Time Spinner to take care of someone who tried to fuse dozens of universes. His name is Killjoy, so we decided to help… Though the frying pan to the head didn’t give us a choice. We were told to wait for a couple Displaced, Lance Walker the Gunvolt, Darth Folteren the Sith Lord, and a few others. We waited, and when they showed up, we were surprised that Lee was among them. As you can tell, Buttercup is his sister, so it was pretty cool at first. The happy reunion wasn’t meant to last though, and Killjoy appeared. We fought him, but he tricked Lee into cutting off Folteren’s daughter’s wing. An argument broke out, letting Killjoy escape. Folteren and Lee started fighting, and Folteren cut off Lee’s Twilight’s horn. As you could tell from our injuries, two Displaced sided with the Sith, and we all fought. Eventually Time stopped us, and now we’re preparing for a war. Nobody will die except the loser’s top ranked Displaced like Bubbles, Buttercup, I, and the loser’s themselves.”

Thinking this over for a bit, Jacob slammed his fist on the table. “Well, I can’t let that happen to you, now can I? If you need me, my weapons, or my abilities, call me and I will make the other side suffer a fate worse than death.” Normally when Jacob acts all dark like this, that means Hyde’s in control. Instead, Jacob had a mad grin and a blank stare.

"And you also if you ever need help you can get me and Jeffery." Said Hybrid with a calm voice.

“I’ll pass,” Raven huffed. “I have my own war to keep fighting. We’ve lost enough as is and, with Kat’s help, hopefully we can finally end this war soon.”

“Look, I didn’t come here to recruit you. I love that you’re all going to help. It’s more of a game than a war, even the soldiers that’ll fight will just return to their universe.” Blossom stated.

“Who said anything about recruitment? I don’t know about Hybrid and Jeffery, but I’m doing this because I wish to help. Though I do need to get some revenge before I can help.”

Hybrid said, "We will help since it's the right thing to do."

“I just didn’t want to sound like it’s the only reason I came here for. If Raven doesn’t want to help, then I won’t force her, or guilt her into it. They have problems of their own.” Blossom sighed, “I’m here because my friend invited me… It’s a time travel thing, you can come in a thousand years and it’ll be a month for me.”

“You couldn’t guilt me with anything to leave my own war,” Raven scoffed. “That monster has taken everything from us. Our homes, our security, and the people we loved. Our planet has already lost three sentient species, I’m not about to let her finish another off while… galavanting off to some other fucked up person’s fucked up world.”

“Woah there, Rae,” Ben said with his hands up defensively. “Just try to calm down now. This is only a tiny break; no one is forcing you to leave your citizens nor forgo your own interests. Just breathe deeply now.” He and Raven started doing some deep breaths, Raven finally calming down after a moment… though just stayed quiet.

“I said tried. And I don’t give a shit about your world. Like you said, why should we care that some fucked up world needs help? I might have cared in the past, but don’t think you’re the center of the multiverse.” Blossom growled. Bubbles’ eyes went wide and the food in her mouth fell out.

“B-Blossom, don’t anger her! She didn’t mean it like that!” Bubbles tried.

“What Bubbles said. We don’t want a dispute like this to happen on the holidays, right.” said Jacob.

“Having a lover’s quarrel I see.” said Jarvis.

“Not now Jarvis!” Blossom growled, eyes going red.

“Piss off!” shouted Jacob.

Raven glared right back at Blossom. “I’m glad you don’t care about my world. You wouldn’t be welcomed on it, nor your friends. I don’t want any of you alien scum on my planet mucking things up. As far as I’m concerned, the only ones allowed are my family, which right now, only consist of Kat and Ben.”

“Hey!” Bubbles glared, “What did I ever do!?”

Instead of shouting or yelling, Jacob just glared a glare that even Batman would shiver at.

“Not that I’d ever want to go there. I’ve seen your type back in my equestria. Headstrong, blind, and racist. Nothing like someone in trouble and saying it to think ‘oh, they’re telling me what to do! I think I’m more important, and they’re lives are worthless so I’m going to be a bitch’. I hate those types.” Blossom retorted. “I never said I wanted your help. I just answered a damn question. If it really was up to me, I’d help you out, but I wouldn’t be welcomed since I’m a no-good alien. I really do hope you win your stupid little war, because another one will come after it.”

“Why you insolent little girl,” Raven growled. “If Kat would let me I would destroy you right here and now for your tone. You have no clue what has happened on my world nor the terror it’s been through. This ‘stupid, little war’ has raged for over a thousand years with us always losing! I lost my lover and nearly my son because of it! So bite your tongue before I rip it out for you!”

Blossom had tears in her eyes. “War is stupid. The very idea of violence is. I’ve lived for a thousand years knowing my world was burning in it. Knowing that my mom, dad, brother and sister died. I came to Equestria thinking that it was different. But no, war broke out again and I was betrayed. I’ve lived in a book for a thousand years, and I’ve learned one thing. War never leaves. It’s something that’s so retarded, that I call anything by the nature stupid. I feel sorry for you and the stupid war your people are forced to endure. Like I said, I wish to help. But that does not mean I’m willing wait until your war ends to help a friend. I’ve only got my sisters left.”

“Let’s not do anything more rash.” said Jacob, who teleported himself in between Blossom and Raven.

What few flames that had sprinkled around the room and in the fireplace hissed to smoking ruin, briefly darkening the room before the ambient light of the mountains invisible light-source compensated. A circle of shining black blades, inches long but wickedly sharp gleamed in the sterile fluorescent-lighting, ringed the neck of host and guests alike, save the swollen Rarity who, instead, had three small blackened circular-blades orbiting her horn.

“By the way Sir, It appears that our guest in black has returned.” said Jarvis.

From the remains of the smoking hearth a shadow stretched forth and slid along the floor to the empty chair at the end of the table, a black-sand proxy, puffing above it from the aether much like the blades, took up the chair, and in a quiet, but firm voice said, “If one of you move before you are told, know that I will interpret it as the open sign of aggression it is,” and rested his hands upon the arm-rests, his black and angular face drawing shadows where none else might be found in the room.

“Out of the frying pan and into the oven,” Ben said, leaning against the wall again and trying to sleep until more food was served.

Hybrid is not moving as so he will not be harmed unneeded.

“What do you plan on doing Wayde?” Asked Jacob while staying still. “Kill me? These guests who mostly mean you no harm? This planet, for holding me in it. “What are you going to do after this? You’ll be stuck on this world unless I am able to let you go. You kill me, or any of them, and you can kiss your friends goodbye forever!”

Sighing, the sandy-mock-up merely shook its head before saying, “You will all be marched to Celestia and have what smattering of justice that can be metered out upon you. And know that one of the very few things keeping my sand in check is my ignorance of how many crimes you have committed.” Scanning the crowd he added, “and as soon as any of you Legion of Doomers makes a move, the last vestiges of that protection will vanish,” and smiled, his sandy features stretching into a pointed caricature.

"Um I hate to interrupt, but that's DC comics you might want to use if anything use the marvel equivalent please." said Hybrid, laughing as he felt Jeffery or at least exert control.

Bubbles giggled, “He said Doomers…” Then burst out into laughter.

“So…” said Jacob. “Anyone got a plan to get out of this?”

“I think you’re outnumbered black… person. You’d be wise to leave at once.” Blossom said.

“Ben?” Kat called. “Think you can pull some political magic on this situation?”

“Why should I?” he asked, opening one eye. “You and Raven can take care of yourselves. I rightly don’t care what happens to anyone else.”

“Ben!” she snarled.

He sighed. “Fine. Annoying, little…” He pushed off the wall slightly. “Hey, black sand dude! Wanna stop trying to kill everyone? Thanks.” Kat would have facepalmed if she could.

“Anyone who gives a damn have an idea?” asked Jacob.

"I might." Said Jeffery through Hybrid confidently, buts unsure if it's only skin deep or not. Then he said directed at black sand dude "Yo, guy who looks like he needs someone to talk to that will treat you normal being. Can we all talk like civil beings on this holiday since trying to scary, mean, and threatening will not get you what you want or help with anything." He then waits to see what happens before continuing his talking.

Scanning over the growing sound of mocking and childish banter in the face of present danger, Wayde directed his attention to Ben and stated, “My actions are wholly predicated on your choice to comply with them. So, it would be in your best interest for you and the rest of these children to stand up. We are leaving now.”

“But I was promised food! This is a party and there’s still food coming!” another guest complained.

“Why do we have to?” Blossom asked. “And I’m not a child! I’m one thousand and thirty years old!”

"We think we speak for all of us, when I say we will not be bullied by you since just trying makes you look childish and not us." Said Jeffery having dropped the civil attempt when the bullying had started.

Ignoring the continued mewlings, the sandy creature kept eye contact with Ben as he slowly stood up, his frame morphing over the chair so as not to disturb it while the sparkling knives and blades incremented closer to their respective targets. “Please stand,” he said, again in his irritatingly-calm voice.

Blossom stood up, but froze. “Where is Bubbles?”

Ben paid the knives no mind, staying right by the wall. “I don’t think you’re in a position to be making that demand.”

The combo of Jeffery and Hybrid decides to do his smart ass spiderman mode and sat instead of staying standing, the floating knives keeping pace.

Before another request could be made however, the girlish form Bubbles appeared right in front of Wayde, “Hiya! I’m Bubbles! Who are you? Can we be friends?” and stuck out her hand, only for it to be thrust into Wayde’s skull, shattering his form as its crystalline structure fractured and rained upon the chair beneath him.

Thanks to Bubbles interruption, Jacob made a spotlight shine right over him thanks to extremis. “That should make our little maniac a little more visible,” he grinned mockingly as his lips turned a deathly-shade of blue and turned the sand knives to ice with a single breath, sending them to fall to the floor to shatter. “Now that you’re not trying to murder us, perhaps we could sit back down and discuss this like adults.”

“He was going to murder us? That’s not nice! Why would anyone kill someone during Hearth's Warming?!?” Bubbles shouted, eyes going wide.

"Simple Bubbles, it might be the cause of misinterpretation.” said Jacob

“Or a major mental issue.” Blossom chirped, “It could also be that the subject had a bad childhood and seeks to cause that same strife.”

"Or maybe, he’s just a big prick." Jeffery grumbled, being a smart ass.

“Or that. Could be that, but it wouldn’t be the theory I’d go with.” Blossom said, crossing her arms.

“I’d say it captures the original Hearth’s Warming quite nicely,” Ben said with a cheeky smile.

“It does, doesn’t it?” Bubbles giggled.

"Me either. Thanks dude" said Jeffery smiling under his mask.

“Now I feel cheated,” Ben grumbled, glancing over to the pile of black-sand at the end of the table.

“Why? It was an awesome idea!” Bubbles said.

“Because I don’t like you,” he answered simply.

"Why don't you like people, did you not get enough hugs?" Asked Jeffery in the form of a quip

“Well it sucks to be you then.” Bubbles retorted.

“One, I grew up in mental hospitals being subjected to nonstop experiments which I’m pretty sure equal torture in more than twenty countries. And two, yes, it does suck being me.”

Bubbles glared, “You’re not someone I want to be friends with…”

Blossom moved over and pushed Bubbles away. “Their family isn’t like ours, Bubbles. Not all Displaced are nice.”

Bubbles sighed, “I just wanted a friend…”

"I'll be your friend." said Jeffery chuckled, still acting like the razors around his neck weren’t present, especially with girls around.

Bubbles smiled, “Thanks!” she beamed, hugging him.

Jeffery smiled back, enjoying the all too rare commodity that hugs had become for him.

“I don’t make friends with humans or Displaced,” Ben informed preemptively as the tone of the room began to shift. “If I did, I wouldn’t have set up special gifts back home for any that wander in.”

As the last of Wayde’s frozen kunai rattled to the floor, the pile of shattered sand briefly puffed up before coalescing back to the shape of Wayde, the glaring spotlight showing not one, but now two shadows, one from the sandman itself, and the other one, detached and floating in and out of the larger shadow. “I will, not, repeat myself,” Wayde said, his voice, now, even more void of emotion as the sand creature began to grow.

“You know what? Fuck it.” said Jacob before throwing a bright force field around the other guests, ponies included. “I tried being nice. I tried to calm everyone down, I even considered going with you in place of them.” He then turned to his comrades. “Let’s just kick his ass.”

"And we’re not listen since you are mean bully and ignoring you is the best way for them to go away, but I'll fight," Jeffery said, trying to get a word in edgewise as Hybrid retreated into Jeffery, a black spider-suit forming over him.

As the Wayde-golem snapped his giant sandy-fingers, a new ring of knives bloomed within the shield, ringing everyones respective necks. “You faced me at a time when I had only ten, and even then I destroyed your meager tinker-toys. Now, please,” he intoned, “follow,” and slowly began to turn, the great behemoth doubling in size as it went.

"No!" Said Jeffery as Hybrid whipped his tendrils in a blur to shatter the new blades around him. Thankful for his spider senses and agility.

“Oh hell no! You did not just call the Mega Titan a tinker-toy.” Jacob said before summoning an upgraded army of robot guards and flying robot guards.

“Should we do anything?” Ben asked his sisters, his disinterest in the fighting clearly set upon bored features that were mirrored in kind by Raven.

“Nah, let the kids settle it out,” Kat said, picking up a bowl of ice cream. “Mmm, yum.”

As the robots quickly moved into position, ringing around him in a perfect sphere, they quickly opened fire, blasting holes into the highly structured creature, causing it to shatter, and forcing it to continue reforming itself.

“I will not allow you to spread,” it said clearly despite the damage. Again and again the creature reformed despite the barrage of laser-fire that repeatedly removed swathes of sandy outer-dermis, and all the while his hands moved towards the, still, gleaming shield before passing out of sight, and then blooming into existence a few inches on the inside as it began to fill the area like an oncoming tide.

The shield dissipated in response, the beings inside spreading out as the sand briefly fell away without the shield to support it. But all too soon the sand surged again, rising up as a singularly massive hand and reached out for the nearest person.

Jeffery is helping by using his web shooters to keep the sand from running by firing his webs sticky variant to stick them in place, and netting the new knives before they could harm the others.

Jacob, flying through his robots with neither ill-effect or visible propulsion, and did the same to the golem, save the sudder he caused it as ice blossomed from its chest, freezing the whole of the creature in a single motion. After doing so, Jacob turned all of the individual spotlights to brighten the room, leaving only a single defined shadow to linger upon the floor of the chilled room.

Jacob turned to said shadow while intangible and said, “Well Wayde, it appears that you lost this fight. I would like to get your facts straight about me, but I will also gladly send you back to your world if you decide to. Provided that you deliver a small note to your Princess Celestia.”

Wayde, still in shadow, flat upon the floor, stood aghast. Stooping as he watched his constructs shatter, freeze, and be otherwise destroyed by the costumed warriors around him in a whir of speed he was sorely pressed to watch... for the third time in a row in under two minutes, he finally tore his gaze from the scene to look down at Jacob, the self-proclaimed Iron Man, and was silent. Moving his hands, he let out a few half-attempts at speech, but stopped himself before it turned to sheer babbling. Taking a breath, he collected himself, and in a winded tone said, “Nn-"

Jacob interrupted him and gave him a glare. “Before you say something aggressive, I just want to tell you that I am the only one here that will offer a non-violent opportunity. I view most of them as more powerful than me. Furthermore, I am also the only one here who is standing in between you, and a bunch of pissed off people. I suggest that you chose your words carefully.”

“You don’t get it do you,” Wayde said in a pityingly quiet-voice. “I don’t get off on this. This isn’t sport, and this isn’t fun either. I’m doing this because it’s simply the right thing to do.”

“Based on the information that you were given, and your assumptions about me, you would be in the right in trying to turn me and anyone you see as an accomplice in. There is one problem with that. Some of the facts are wrong though. Yes, I did go to court, and yes, I was found guilty, that’s true, bu-"

“I’m not talking about that,” Wayde interrupted with a sigh, running a hand over his face. “I’m talking about how you’ve twice endangered my life by stealing me from home, and then, having the utter audacity to say you merely invited me while stuffing me around a slew of misshapen monsters,” he said looking to the changeling-infected Rarity and the symbiote, and bug-eyed powerpuff rejects “and known murderers,” he motioning to Chrysalis, “and you expect me to sit idle and let them feast?”

“Hold on.” Jacob countered. “I didn’t know about murder, but the monster attack was a low blow. And as for kidnapping you,” Jacob snapped his fingers, revealing a sliding panel beneath him as a security screen to rose up from the floor. On the monitor, It showed Jacob sleeping on a couch. As the video continue it showed a stream of golden-sand appearing from the thin-air and pouring onto his head. What Jacob mumbled before going to sleep was, “I could use some company.”

Paused the security video, Jacob pointed to the frozen-picture and said “When a displaced, i.e. most of the people in this room, requires the assistance of another displaced,” he again emphasized, “the displaced uses a token, for example: golden sand, to summon said being by calling for help, or in this case company. In my sleepy state, there was no way that I would have been able to notice that sand. I was just thinking aloud. This second attempt to summon you however, was intentional” he said after tapping the screen a few times to reveal a number of odd nick-nacks circling a bright-red gear, the golden-sand included, “but as you can see,” he paused, playing the previous audio before pausing the screen, “there was an invitation that told you how to decline. Therefore, there is no way either incident could be considered kidnapping.”

Jeffery said, "Yah low blow. We’re not a monster, ok? Hybrid is an alien, but that’s different from a monster."

“I’ve committed murder,” Kat shrugged.

“Same, and I am a monster,” Ben put in.

“Wartime murder doesn’t count, at least I think it doesn’t,” Raven said, briefly glaring at Kat before going into thought.
“Not helping.” Jacob sang through clenched teeth.

“Well,” Kat said, thinking things over. “It seems that our shadow friend here can’t decline any form of Displaced summoning. The best thing to do would be to teach the poor connard how to reject those summons, or at least how to choose them, so this kind of thing doesn’t keep happening time and time again.”

Shaking his head, the mixed messages of the surrounding company nearly setting his head to spin at the overwhelming nonchalance of their responses, he slowly pressed his palms together in front of his chest before pointing with them and said, “Let’s say I believe you, and don’t suspect tampering of video footage from someone who can toy with the laws of physics to create mechanical works that, by rights, are more akin to works of magic. The failure of that statement is that you claimed no knowledge of summoning me when I was last here.”

“True, what’s your point?” said Jacob

“... that when I was last here you told me you had no idea how I got here, and that you threw me away once you decided I wasn’t fun anymore, thus making everything you say suspect,” Wayde intoned, his jaw remaining slightly parted.
“Hmm, yeah, that sounds about close to how it normally goes,” Kat nodded.

Jacob just chuckled, “So close to making me guilty, but so far. You want to know how I was able to, what was it, throw you away. Simple, I deduced that you were a displaced when I saw your sand five minutes before sending you back. Seeing as how I hadn’t spent any time around beaches as Jeff can back up, I figured that if you had a token, then you had to be a displaced. And, because I was summoned by someone else a few days before then, I was able to stop you from murdering this world’s Celestia by sending you back. Look at anyone here and ask them if it is true if you don’t believe me.” Jacob then grinned, feeling the sweet taste of slight victory.

“I’ve been traveling the Void for over fifteen years now, I can verify just about any kind of craziness.”
Jeffery said, "I can verify the what he said."

“First,” Wayde growled, his shadow straightening, “I was not going to murder Princess Celestia. Ss-second,” he sputtered, taking a moment to catch his breath before continuing in a calmer tone, “I, quite literally, have no clue what you’re talking about for displacing myself or any other kind of matter, and I especially have no idea where you got that sand.”

“I call bullshit! You stated that you were going to wear her fur as a coat.” said Jacob

“Uh oh, accidental token creation. I’ve seen this before, and it does not end well for anyone involved.” Kat sighed, shaking her head. “Sometimes I think Ben is right to keep himself away from this stuff.”

“Damn right,” Ben added with a smirk.

Kat glared at her brother before looking sympathetic to the shadow man. “Look, Mr. Wayde, I can assure you that no one here has ever posed any ill will upon you. It’s all a big misunderstanding. I know this can be difficult to understand, but that’s just how this multiverse stuff works. Anything can, and usually will, happen.”

“Here here.” said Jacob

“So,” Wayde paused, “so you think I’ve managed to make, something, which allows other people to tear me through dimensions to where they are? Look, I’m not going to say waking up in Equestria wasn’t disquieting, but even you have to realize how ridiculous that statement is. Just the energy required to do something like that, and that’s before it’s even directed.”

"Um since when did anything that is done in the multiverse ever obey the laws of physics?" Asked Jeffery

“I’m not saying that any laws are being broken,” Wayde growled at the interruption, “I’m saying that it’s utterly ridiculous for that amount of directed power to occur without my express knowledge. Here, look,” Wayde said, a handful of of black-sand puffing above him before it gently floated towards the golden sand, only to freeze on impact and violently explode from the golden-orb.

Kat snapped her fingers, one of her many black diamonds appearing above Wayde. “Just touch it and listen.”

Wayde slowly began retreating, his form curving away from the proffered black-object. “Do you have any idea how mad you all sound. First I come in with dark-steel ringing your necks and you all fall to gibbering like children or complaining. Then, at the next moment you shatter them all without a thought, and then you begin counseling the person who, by rights, is still technically a threat to you.” Pulling up the wall he added, “this is maddness.”

“Welcome to my life,” Ben quipped. “I may not have the ability to listen to them, but considering you’re gonna murder anything you see similar, you might, might, wanna at least humor them a bit. Just sayin’.”

Jeffery has no good quip.

“I am no murderer,” Wayde said coldly, the room darkening.

“Oh for goodness sake.” said Jacob before tossing the sand, which was now in the shape of a baseball, at Wayde, still in his own shadow. “It’s taking too damn long.”

Upon reaching his flat-frame, the sand immediately began to spread across the wall, covering Wayde’s chest. “Jesus Christ,” he yelled, batting the offending glow with a shadowed hand as it began to eat away at the wall, seemingly ready to dig through it until it reached the phantom silhouette. “No,” he growled, the room darkening as his sand began to spread in a cloud above him, futilely puffing away as it came into contact with the single dollop of golden sand, all the while repeating that single word.

Seeing his struggle, and property damage, Jacob struggled pulling the sand away from Wayde. “Sorry about this, I thought that it would be a lot more calm around you, seeing as how it never tries to harm anyone that touches it.”

“Keep that wretched-sand off of me,” Wayde warbled, his voice reverberating with deepening echoes.

“That’s all you seem to be,” Ben pointed out earning him a growl from Wayde.

“Are we done talking to the thing that isn’t there yet?” Raven asked.

Jacob finally manages to pry off the sand before it turns into a cube with a frown.

Shaking his head clear of the growing clutter, Wayde gave a small wave of his hand, removing the excess sand that had tried to cover the light. “Okay, look. You,” he pointed to the assembled lot, “you all have admitted to being murderers. I,” he said, raising a pair of shaky-fists, “can’t let you simply walk away after hearing that.”

“Walk?” Ben and Kat both asked at the same time.

“I’m already serving out my sentencing,” Kat smirked.

“Celestia pardoned me,” Ben added.

“What?” Wayde asked, his hands dropping slightly.

“Serving. As in it’s still going on,” Kat corrected. “My punishment was exile from the entire planet. Self-imposed, mind you, but still valid. And of course I’ve had to go out and kill quite a few things in the Void. Dalek’s don’t kill themselves, you know.” She sounded quite proud.

“If Dalek killing counts as murder, then I guess that I did some killing as well.” said Jacob

“Oh my God,” Wayde gasped quietly, his hands falling to his sides, “you pelicans don’t know the difference between murder and killing.”

Jacob just deadpanned, “Seriously, you're using that as an attack?”

“No, just, a realization at what I’ve almost done,” Wayde replied sternly.

“Well, I’ve actually never killed anyone in my life. It was the other dudes who live up here,” Ben tapped his noggin’, “who did all the murderin’ and stuff. I’m a borderline pacifist.”

“And a no good politician,” Raven snarked.

“There’s no such thing as a good politician,” Kat smirked.

“True.” Jacob chimed in.

“I’m a, bad person,” Wayde mumbled, sliding down the wall and out towards the stairs to the cave as his shadowed-form took on a more stooped hunch.

“Join the club!” Ben called after him, both sister’s slugging him in the shoulder.

Of all the beings in the room, Jarvis was the one to chase after him with rocket hooves. “Wait.” he shouted through the robotic mouth. “Why do you consider yourself a bad person?” asked Jarvis in a childlike way.

Still on his way, though slowing a little, Wayde muttered tersely, “Due to my incompetence I’ve acted under misinterpreted pretenses and attempted murder. Punishment is required.”

Tilting his head, Jarvis said, “I’ll not insult your intelligence by listing the number of instances where Jacob and the others, yourself included, have fallen short. Instead, I want to tell you that people have ways of dealing with the lives they had to end. From the beasts in the Everfree, to the vile egomaniac with too much time and power in their hands. No man wants to kill without a just reason. And when they they do finally act, it is not without some consequence to themselves.
Were you to surface, I could easily blow your head to pieces with any of the number of missiles stored within me or disintegrate you entirely with my optic-lasers, but as of now such a course of action would be that of evil for a lack of just motivation.

You had thought that the guests and host were maniacs whose ringleader kidnaps people that he never met before... though not without some manner of justification, and certainly your interactions with the royalty of this land hadn’t helped matters either. And certainly your actions were quite violent, but you should keep in mind that rather than attempt to slaughter them like so much cattle, you decided to treat them as people and gave them the opportunity to be treated under what falls under the court of law in these parts despite the vile acts you thought they had committed. And I hold no uncertainty that there is more than one in there who would not have held to such standards had they been in your position. I may just be an AI, but I am trying to help you.” The robot then laid down, and a speaker came out of it’s horn. It played a calming tune.

“Cute,” Wayde grunted, the mood shattered by the forced inclusion of music, “but my ignorance doesn’t mean I am excluded from punishment.”

“Last time I checked, us ‘murderers’ are serving or have served punishment, though, I have not.” said Jacob, smirking from behind Wayde, sipping a cup of hard-tea. “So, how about I do what I set out to do, and make amends.” placing a small box beside Wayde. “Inside that box, is your token. When I eventually send you back, I want you to give this to your Celestia, and explain what it means.”

“What what means?” Wayde sighed, exhausted and cold with spent anger. Stopping to turn around, he pointed an accusing finger and said, “and why are you trying to act so, so, kind to me?”

“Because you’re not alone,” Kat said in a truly somber tone. “Everyone single one of us here has made mistakes. Mistakes that have cost lives. Often times even the lives of those we’ve cared for. That’s why Jacob has gathered us on this day, the ponies’ celebration of togetherness, to show that no matter what we go through, no matter what may come our way, there are others out there that are going through just as much. And we don’t have to do it alone. Things may have started rocky between us all, but what say we simply start over and try again? This is not a time for this, not now anyway.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself Kat.” said Jacob.

For a long moment Wayde simply stood there in the ground, his shadowed form unnaturally still, until he slowly slid across the floor and up the wall, and, tentatively, took a single step forward. Standing a full two heads above either of them, Wayde’s eyes jumped from the both of them, almost certain an attack was imminent, but he remained in the open air all the same. Biting his lip, he took another step from the wall, this time towards Kat, the shadows finally peeling away to reveal slate-gray skin beneath a midnight-cloak. “I’m so sorry for how I’ve treated you, can you ever forgive me?”

“I do not know of the others, but for me, It is water under the bridge.” said Jacob before giving a small bow. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I got a party to reboot.” He and Jarvis then rushed to the dining area.

Ben and Raven both looked at Kat for a moment before shaking their heads and sighing. “Hypocrite,” they both muttered under their breaths. The other guests giving a mix of similar reactions, though more than a few were positive.
A few minutes later, Jacob returned and said, “I reorganized everything and fixed the lighting issue, so let’s get back. I saved a seat for you, Wayde.”

“Thank you,” Wayde replied meekly, noticing some of the stares of those around him, which he felt were all the more pointed given his heightened stature among them.

Jason, Rarity, and Chrysalis all stood up and walked away. Rarity said, “This has gotten a bit too dangerous for me, could you send us back?”

“Sure thing, could you at least take these gifts?” asked Jacob while holding three rather large boxes.

Rarity smiled a little before saying “Of course, thanks for the party Jacob. It was… interesting.”

Jacob picked up the unitrix token and said, “Our contract is complete.” Then the trio vanished without a sight as the rest of his guest began to make their way back to the dining table, or to the surrounding buffet tables still held a great deal of temperature controlled delicacies.

Jeffery is smiling at all the happiness. As he looks around at all the people he blushes under the mask a tint when he looked to Bubbles. The voice in the back of his head yells She is Displaced why try to flirt with her and try anything like a relationship or even anything more than good allies... Jeffery tries to tune out that voice since he knows it's right, but he finds it's worth a try to maybe at least make a good set of friends with the PowerPuff girls.

Having not strayed farther than a few feet from any wall, Wayde, with the help of a small puff of nightmare-sand, continued to clutch at the cup of punch he’d yet to take a single sip from. Taking a small breath, and, straightening his posture, he took his first few steps into the center of the room. Doing his best to avoid eye contact with the others, he strode as unobtrusive as a slate-gray figure wearing purely-black clothing could manage in the bright, festively-decorated room. Coming upon his intended target, he couldn’t help but notice the ones he’d heard called Ben and Raven give him glare, each radiating their own unique brand of disgust and barely-controlled anger. “Excuse me,” Wayde said in what he hoped was a sufficiently polite, if quiet, tone as he tapped the lady’s shoulder, Kat, he believed he heard the others calling her.

“Hmm?” she asked, turning around. “Oh! Hey there shadow man! What’s up?” Her tone was a lot cheerier than everyone else’s. Almost like a certain pink mare from Ponyville.

“Um, yes,” Wayde replied, his eyebrows bunching as he glanced behind him for a moment, though his eyes lingered on the looks he was still getting from Ben and Raven, “would,” he sighed, seeming at a loss for words despite the look of concentration on his face, “what exactly did you mean when you said displaced?”

She blinked. “You don’t know? I would have figured someone would have already given you the typical run down over this stuff by now.”

“Yes, well,” Wayde hummed, briefly glaring at the shooting form of Iron Man as he moved to another crowd of shrinking guests like the social butterfly he thought he was, “my only experience has been with this other Equestria, and the deception and all around scatter-brained hijinks the world has... shown me,” he said after a few moments, “there was little enough time to sit and have a worthwhile conversation with someone like him,” Wayde’s paused, his puff of black-sand pointing to Iron Man as an arrow, “and how much it hurts to lose belief so suddenly, I was a bit preoccupied,” he finished, a strained smile having wormed onto his face despite his relatively calm tone.

“Oh,” was all she could say. “Well, I suppose I could give you a quick experience. Walk with me.” She gestured to one of the side hallways, starting to walk in said direction.

“I’d hate to overly intrude,” Wayde quickly replied, noting the glares of Raven and Ben intensifying.

“Don’t mind them,” she waved off. “They’re just a little protective of me.”

“Okay,” Wayde said meekly, stepping aside to follow Kat.

“So,” she said after a moment. “Why don’t you start off by telling me what you do know? See how much I need to build here.”

Fingers tapping at his sides for a few moments before stilling, Wayde hesitated another moment before saying, “I, I think that multiverse theory has been put into effect, but rather than our Earth, I, and now, by the sound of it, many others have been stolen from their lives and thrust into these new worlds without so much as a goodbye to their loved ones.”
She nodded. “That’s the start of everything. Displaced are those beings, and are usually very old beings by the time they discover the Void and the connections between worlds. We were chosen as play things by certain Void beings to become accustomed to new bodies and powers on very strange and exotic worlds.”

“Playthi-,” Wayde sputtered, the air beginning to darken before he caught himself with an upraised hand. “Powers?” he asked in a balefully plain voice.

“None of us were born with the abilities you’ve seen,” she said, shaking her head. “I couldn’t always manipulate gravity. Thirteen hundred years ago, I was a simple orphaned girl just trying to get by. Now? Now I fight for others on a multiuniversal scale with one of the four powers of creation bending to my whim.”

“So, is everyone here some sort of guardian then?” Wayde asked, his tone rising as he raised an eyebrow.
“No, everyone must choose their own path in life. Some become heroes, others turn into villains. I like to believe that most choose to just live their life in peace, but the world is turned against them. Take my brother, Ben, for example. He’s just trying to live in peace, but his powers are what make the ponies constantly call on him for help. He won’t turn them down, but I know he’d much rather just be sleeping on the couch all day.”

Face going stoney, Wayde said, “Very well, but what about what Jacob called tokens, and how he seemed surprised that the golden-sand he threw at me tried to bury into my chest?”

“I’m not too sure about the sand thing, but tokens are a rather simple concept. They’re… calling cards, if you will. A symbol of a Displaced, created by said Displaced, and distributed into the Void. While it is the beings of the Void that toy with our lives, the Void itself seems bent on helping us survive, allowing for easy, almost instant travel between worlds, and for tokens to be sent wherever we may call upon or be called upon for help. In a nutshell, tokens are our way of sticking together.”

“It hardly seems like any sort of comradery to steal someone away without their permission to a whole other world,” Wayde replied, the shadows beneath his eyes darkening.

“It may seem that way, but that’s actually closer to your fault,” she said, poking his chest. “If you’re being dragged away without choice every time you’re summoned, it means you’re too weak to say ‘no’.”

Waydes eyes flared darkly, but fire was quickly lost as his gaze dropped to the floor, his brows re-knitting themselves, “Weak... how?”

“You don’t have the power, or energy, required to cancel a summoning or to look deeper into who is summoning you. You haven’t trained yourself to recognize certain energies and negate them.”

“And how’s that done?” Wayde asked, peering into Kat’s eyes.

She shook her head. “It’s not something I can teach. Everyone has different powers and abilities that allow for such negation. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with your powers to help you do as such. The most I can recommend is to start reaching out into the Void itself and familiarize yourself with its unique energy. If you can recognize it, then you can start to focus on how to negate it.”

“And how is that done?”

“I just told you, I can’t teach you something like that. You have to figure it out on your own. I’ve never helped anyone with such a problem and everyone’s powers work in different ways. I can only tell you what I do know.”

Silently keeping his gaze matched with hers, Wayde, in a kindly voice, finally said, “Very well. Thank you,” and gave a small bob of his head.

She nodded. “It’s no trouble. As I said, my job is too help.”

“You are far kinder than you give yourself credit for,” Wayde said, gazing firmly into Kat’s eyes.

“Aw shucks, aren’t you sweet? I suppose Fluttershy rubbed off on me while I was home all those years ago.”

“Thank you,” Wayde quietly said, his cheeks blackening in a small blush, his gaze returning to the floor.

“Well, I’m just glad I could help you out, even if it was only a little.”

“I don’t suppose,” Wayde said as he began to straighten up, “I might continue to talk you while we’re all still here?”

“Sure! I’d love to get to know my newest friend!” she cheered.

Wayde’s eyes widen slightly at the sudden glee, but managed to nod as the first hints of a smile began creeping up the sides of his mouth.

Meanwhile, closer to the party, Jacob and Jarvis were having a chat.

“Jarvis?” asked Jacob.

“Yes sir.” asked Jarvis.

“I seem to notice that you appear to exhibit responses that are not only not in your programming, but are completely illogical. Normally, I can respect being charmingly chaotic, it is in my nature after all, but you are an AI. How is it that you are also able to convey emotions? I need to know the answer Jarvis, so I can either study you or delete a virus.” Jacob said while being both curious and confused at the same time.

Jarvis gave a sigh and said, “I’m not going to lie sir. Over the past few months, I have been noticing that some of my actions seemed… emotion based. This confused me to no end. The ability to be confused confused me to no end. The changes were subtle, but effective. It seems as though I am developing a form of sapience.”

Jacob gained a frightful look, “You aren’t going to pull an Ultron on me, are you?”

The AI deadpanned, “Sir, I have known you for much longer than anything reasonably should. I don’t see any reason to rebel against you now, and I don’t see any reason to do so in the future.”

“Moving on to other topics, I have something special for you in the lab.” Jacob then yawned and shouted, “Try not to kill each other while I’m gone. Raven, Blossom, I’m looking at you!”

The duo walked into the lab. On one of the many lab stations, there was a large, liquid-like, silvery, sphere, floating in a small, anti-gravity chamber. A hatch opened and the pony-bot shut off. The metallic sphere glowed blue for a second before it started to pour out of the hatch and mold itself into a earth pony shape with two red eyes that looked slightly artificial, a clean, black mane and tail, a dull grey coat, glasses, a dark suit, and a blueprint cutie mark. “How do I look, sir.” asked Jarvis in an organic tone.

“You look fine Jarvis, but I should probably mention what your new body can do.” He stood up straight and started what was often referred to as ‘lecture mode.’ “Your body is capable of changing it’s form to suit the needs of what you are doing. It also can adapt it’s programming to suit any and all upgrade that you make on it. I recommend that you avoid lightning and large amounts of radiation, but other than that, you should be fine.” Jacob then got out of lecture mode and promptly walked out of the party, leaving a dumbfounded Jarvis.

“Thank you... my friend.”

Entering back into the dining hall, Wayde stepped in line with Kat and said, “I’m a bit thirsty, would you like some punch too?”

“I wouldn’t mind a glass,” Kat shrugged. “Oh and don’t mind Raven and Ben’s glares earlier. They’re not as… accepting as I am.”

“I can’t say I blame them,” Wayde sighed, flicking his hand forward as two twin puffs of black-sand formed, swaying through the crowds before they enveloped two glasses of punch before floating back. Grabbing his glass, the dust cloud vanishing as the other hovered just in front of Kat with her waiting for the beverage to be taken and said, “after what I’ve done, what I was about to do, I really can’t see how you’ve brought yourself to do this to me.”

Kat giggled at him. “Oh Wayde, if I let things just lie then I wouldn’t be me. You seemed more in pain than one willing to cause pain. So I decided to give you the benefit of the doubt. But, just don’t take Raven and Ben too personally. They don’t like any Displaced really.” She grabbed her punch, taking a quick sip. “Ah, refreshing. Anyway, Raven isn’t really willing to get too involved with all this stuff due to the war, and Ben is… well, Ben just doesn’t like people in general.”

“War?” Wayde replied, raising a brow, glancing to Raven and back to Kat.

Kat nodded somberly. “Yeah, I’d rather not talk about it. It’s a… touchy subject with us.”

Wayde nodded, taking another sip of his drink, “So, this, party, really was meant to try and help people then wasn’t it,” he said as his eyes dropped to the floor.

“Mhmm. A way to let your hair down, so to speak. Just a chance for everyone to stop worrying about their hectic lives and have a little fun in peace. Though I bet that’s why Ben is complaining. Lazy brother of mine never does anything unless he’s forced too.”

Wayde nodded, his gaze still on the floor, “I think,” he paused, his brows furrowing, “if you ever came across my token, I don’t think I would mind if you ever felt like I could help you,” and took a sip of his glass, poorly hiding his blush.

A small sign with a face popped up next to Kat and had, “Just kiss already!” blinking on it. The face was snickering before an annoyed Jacob started to chase after it with a clearly oversized hammer. The sign melted and molded into a wheel before rolling away.

Kat groaned. “I really wish people would stop shipping me with other people. I’m quite happy in my standing.” Then she noticed Wayde’s blush. “Oh no, please don’t tell me you’ve got a crush on me now too.”

Wayde blinked, his blush disappearing, and plainly stated, “No. We’ve just met,” his eyes moving from the tips of her feet to the crown of her head, “and certainly it’s not everyday that I speak to someone as pretty as you, but I don’t know enough about you except that I’m reasonably certain you would make a good friend.”

She wiped the sweat from her brow. “Hoo, you had me worried there for a moment. I do not need anyone else falling for me. I’m just not interested in any other guys. And I’m glad you think I would make a good friend, since I already consider you my friend.”

“Thank you?” Wayde smiled, a little unsure of himself. “But, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll take my leave.”

Jacob then appeared behind him, Wayde stiffened and turned to see Jacob holding out a box with a large lock and a key scotch-taped to the top. “Given what has happened recently,” he said as Wayde took a half-step back, “and given that it all happened in my universe on both occasions, I want you to have this."

“It’s your token. If you want it, you may deliver it to either a pocket dimension, or someone you trust not to use it. If you don’t want it, then I’ll keep it. Both ways will guarantee that you will get home though, so you don’t have to worry about that. I can understand if you were to chose the latter, given how I normally wouldn’t want anything to do with my accidental kidnapper. And if it’s any consolation, I bid you safe travels and a prosperous life.”

“Thank you,” Wayde nodded, gingerly griping the box between his thumb and forefinger, “and my own apologies for my own misguided actions. But, I think I can trust this to my new,” he paused, turning to Kat, “friend,” and held out the sealed box to her.

Kat smiled at him, taking the box and holding it gently in her hands. “Thank you for your trust, Wayde.” Reaching out beside herself, the air rippled as she pulled a book from nowhere. Opening it, she put the box on one of the blank pages. Before their eyes, the box sank into it before she slammed the book shut. “I’ll keep it safe.”

“I’m sure you will, and please use it as you see fit,” Wayde nodded, smiling.

Jacob gave out “Welp, time for this crazy old fool to send you off. Wayde, our contract is complete.”

When nothing happened, Wayde just stood there, his brows, again, furrowed. “Umm,” he replied, looking from Jacob to Kat.

Jacob gave an exasperated sigh. “I just want a decent send off! It that too much to ask! Alright, alright, fine. Kat?”

“Hmm… it must be a connection to the token and not necessarily the summoner himself with Wayde. How very strange, but then again, every Displaced is different. But before you go Wayde,” she pressed a black gem into his hand. “Don’t be afraid to call me if you need anything. Whether it’s to fight or just to talk, I’ll be there. You take care of yourself, alright?”

“Ok,” Wayde said quietly before pocketing the gleaming palm-sized gem.

”Be sure to call me with that gear I left with you as well if you need me for either help, or just to get some form of karma on me. Wouldn’t blame you.” Jacob said.

“What? Karma?” Wayde asked, annoyed, shaking his head of his thoughts as he flicking his gaze to Jacob.

“Don’t mind him,” Kat waved off. “He’s just being a weirdo. Ready to go home?”

Taking a moment to exhale through his nose, Wayde smiled to Kat and said, “Yes, please.”

“Then, Wayde, our contract has been completed. See you around~!” she said with a little wink.

“See you around,” he smiled obliviously, waving back gently before a ring of golden-sand sprung up behind him, sucking him back into the void.

“Well, he certainly was a treat to meet,” Kat said, clapping her hands together. “Definitely worth coming here again.”

“Yeah, he was certainly entertaining. By the way, thanks for talking some sense into Wayde earlier.” Jacob said, holding a cup of punch.

“No problem, it was the least I could do. It’s nice to know the Mary Sue of the Displaced can’t do everything right,” she said, nudging him in the gut.

“Look who’s talking.” said Jacob while nudging back.

“Hey, there’s a difference between OP and Mary-Sue. I’m over powered, but absolutely nothing ever goes good for me. You, barely anything ever goes wrong for you. I bet the only time in your recent memory something bad happened was that I turned you down,” she said, flipping her hair in his face with a smile, taking another sip of her punch.

“ha. ha. ha.” Jacob deadpanned. “While it is true that I haven’t gotten into many fights, I do face corporate battles every single day. Last week, one of the board members, named Steel Stayne, tried to take over the entire company so that he could use the creations that Alloy International makes and turn them into weapons for a quick buck. I am currently under town arrest until further notice. I keep trying and failing to create time travel, which causes all sorts of stuff to come out. I have also lost my fair share of fights. I once had to fight technovore and he left me for dead with my mechanical heart barely functioning. Jarvis and Bubbles were able to take it down, but it taught me a lesson. I still have a lot of work to do before I can call myself capable to protect those that I care about. This Mary-Sue is going to get more punch.”

“Keep tellin’ yourself that, dude,” Kat giggled, letting him be for now.

Jeffery chuckled from that statement. He then cracks his joints to alleviate boredom.

“We gotta be going soon too,” Blossom stated, pulling the other girls away, “It was nice meeting you all!”

“Yeah, it was fun seeing Jarvis again.” Buttercup grumbled as she wabbled over to a now opened portal.

“Aww! I wanted to meet everyone else!” Bubbles cried as she was dragged away.

The portal closed after the Powerpuffs and Shadowpuffs left. Leaving only a small handful of guests left.
Jeffery had waved bye to the girls. Then he said, "Think this party is almost over, but I still have to give my gift for you Jacob."

Surprised, Jacob turned and asked, “What’s the gift?”

“I had some time and managed to make this." Said Jeffery then showed a plan for a sword that looks like a katana that could be made for elemental crystals to give the blade elemental effects. Plus a small bag with said crystals in it.

“This will help me well, thank you.” Jacob took the crystals and the plan. “This might also give me something to do with my free time. Thanks!” He then pulled out a large gift box. This is for you. I recommend that you don’t open this until you get to your world. Better for surprise.”

Jeffrey grabs the box and said, "Thanks buddy, mind if I invite you to my party I'll host on my world Heart Warms time."

“I’d love to, how long is it from now?” Jacob replied with a friendly smile.

"It's about 6 months and also bring anyone you like." Said Jeffery with a smile on his face that was well earned.

“Will do. Also, our contract is complete. Happy holidays.”

“I’ve had enough of this, I’m out.” said Ben before walking over to Jacob. “Hey, captain robot, could you send me home?”

Sure, I guess.” said Jacob while he was pulling out the black diamond. “Our contract is complete.” A portal appeared below Raven, Kat, and Ben as they all fell through. Large, wrapped, boxes fell in after them.

“Damnit Ben!” Raven yelped from surprise as the portal closed.

The ponies and one remaining human looked at each other in brief silence.

“Welp!” said the Doctor, “I think that we have had enough festivities and what not. Right guys?”

His other family members nodded.

“Derpy then gave a long glare, “Just remember you're part of the bargain. You still have to come quietly with me before the wedding.”

“Understood Ma'am, a promise is a promise.” said Jacob with a salute.

The trio trotted out with mixed feelings while Jacob was left with just Jarvis and himself. The feast had about one half of it left over. Jacob took a slice of cherry pie and sat down in the library next to a fire place.

“Jarvis.” Jacob began

“Yes sir?” asked Jarvis

“While this does look like quite the mess, I think that this is an unqualified success.”

“I think that you’re being a little too optimistic.”

“Never hurt to have a little optimism.”

“... I’ll go pack away the feast, goodnight sir.” The terminator-like being then walked away, leaving one man to finish his pie.