Meanwhile in Canterlot...

"Sister!"

Luna dashed through the castle halls in search of Celestia, she had to tell her what she had learned about Symbol. She finally came across her sisters chambers, she knocked frantically until she was answered. She swung the door open and rushed to Celestias side.

"What's wrong Luna?"

"Thou hast to see this sister, it is about our human friend."

That caught her attention. "Show me." Luna nodded and created a hologram of Symbols memories, specifically what happened to him in the past. Celestia gazed in horror as the image showed a younger looking Symbol with his back against the wall, surrounded by older looking humans.

"You've run outta options mate, hand over the medallion and we may not break your arms."

The young Symbol shakily got to his feet. "You're not getting anywhere near this thing Morgan, but I'm not gonna stoop to your level by fighting you." Symbol was holding his arm as a small stream of blood dripping off his fingers. The thug now known as Morgan became enraged. "Your anger only shows me I've struck a nerve, what happens at home huh? Not getting enough attention? Mommy and Daddy fighting? There's a reason for your behaviour Morgan, I know there is, that's why you take your rage out on me isn't it?" Morgan's face turned from rage to depressed. "You don't have to do this, turn away now before we both get hurt." The look on Symbols face showed that he didn't want to fight, but he was ready to if needed.

"Alright, I'll leave ya alone, if ya tell me why that there medallion is so important to ya." Symbol gripped his necklace and held it tight.

"This was given to me by my dear sister, the one person that has ever shown me compassion in this world. She was taken away from me by my idiot father and his stupid fight with my mother. This is all I have left of her."

The two shook hands and parted ways, Symbol walked down a small street of houses before entering one. He hung up his coat and walked slowly through the house. He walked past a woman on a recliner looking extremely depressed. Symbol looked at her with disappointment. "Get your act together woman, you can't stay like that your whole life." He got no response as he made his way towards a cabinet filled with medical supplies. "Or just stay silent, it's all you do now anyway." He wrapped a bandage around his wound after disinfecting it. He threw himself on his bed before holding his medallion in front of his face. "And people wonder why I don't smile."

The memory faded and Celestia was sitting there, not knowing what to think. She realised two things in this memory...

How Symbol fights, and what his life was before arriving in Equestria.

Symbol fights his battles psychologically, he hits them where it hurts the most, their emotions. He doesn't fight physically, but mentally, playing with their emotions until they are unable to fight due to emotional pain or confusion. He chooses his words carefully, either persuading or breaking his opponent. Celestia may not have seen much in the memory, but she could pick out some things that others couldn't without years of practice...

His eyes, when he was facing the others his eyes locked onto his opponent and studied them.

His breathing, while ragged due to the force of impact, he was able to concentrate his breathing.

His movement, when he rose to his feet and talked to Morgan, he made destinct motions to add to his persuasion.

Symbol was a master in psychological combat, it was plain to see, Symbol had told Celestia something when they were together at the castle...

"On my world, I find that if you choose brain over brawn, you'll live much longer."

"He is so young, yet he can manipulate others using their emotions, a very dangerous talent."

"Indeed sister, his level of intelligence is greater than we imagined. At least he is not on our bad side, or we on his." Luna looked to her sister with worry. "But this is not all we have to show you."

"Oh?"

"This memory was around three years ago, but the next happened whilst he slept last night." She teleported them to a long hallway. "Do you know what this place is sister?"

"I can't say I do."

"This is Symbols mindscape, last night he managed to enter it." That caught Celestia by surprise.

"How, no being can enter the mindscape on their own, you are able to because you have power over dreams."

"We were confused at first too, but then we saw this." With a flash of her horn, time started to flow backwards, until the spotted three figures moving about. When the scene was at the beginning, Luna let time run normally. Symbol looked down the long hallway and spotted a ball of light.

As the scene played out Celestia stared in disbelief, the level of hatred that Symbol held within him, she was about to cry. "How does he do it Luna?" The dark princess looked to her elder sibling in question. "How can he hold all of this anger and go on with his day like nothing's the matter?" Luna held her with a wing.

"It could be that he holds great willpower, maybe that is what drives him. We have heard many tales of great loss and anger, but the ones that those tales focus on have the necessary will to live life normally, or as normally as they can, given our human friends situation." Celestia was about to open her mouth when she heard the two figures at the bottom of the hallway arguing. She paid attention until the female figure yelled something neither Luna or Celestia were expecting.

I'M YOUR MOTHER!!!

Even though Luna had seen this before it still shocked her. Celestia stared wid eyed while the two had a heart to heart. Then came the names.

After Symbol named his mother Vivi, he then said something about a Forge. A black figure with a red aura surrounding it appeared. You know the rest...

When Celestia and Luna returned to reality, they both sat in silence while contemplating what they had just witnessed.

"There is more to Symbol than we thought..."

"You are right dear sister, it feels like he is hiding many things from us and his friends..."

I can assure you, he is only doing it to protect you

The two sisters jumped at the sound of Vivi's voice.

"You must be Symbols mother, correct?" Celestia asked with caution.

Yes, I am the one that created his soul, he is my child

"What do you mean, he is trying to protect us?"

There are many things that he has hid from you and I, even I do not know things about him

"Like what?"

I will tell you one thing that he hides and one thing only...

"What is it?"

...Symbol is not his name

Both the sisters looked to each other confused. "What do you mean, he told us that was thy name." Luna asked unsure.

Celestia...when you showed him the portal, what did he say when you told him he could see his family again?

The alicorn thought for a moment until the words formed in her head...

"All of those people have caused me nothing but pain."

He hides his name as it is a reminder to him about his past, when he entered this world he began to let go of the past, but one thing he will not let go is his sister...

"What happened to her?" Vivi sighed and floated over to a couch.

It's a long story...

Symbols POV

After getting the rundown on how winter-wrap-up worked I was assigned to help Fluttershy with waking up the animals. When the ponies started singing the song, I sung my own lyrics in my head...

Winters bucked up, winters bucked up,
The snow is too bucking thick,
Winters bucked up, winters bucked up,
No one enjoys being sick,
Winter can suck my-

My internal parody was interrupted by a small white rabbit hitting my shoe with his paw, I looked down to see Angel bunny pointing to Fluttershy, she was having trouble getting a few squirrels to come out of hibernation.

"Oh, please little ones, it's time to get up." She pleaded with them but to no avail. I finished getting the raccoons out of hiding and walked over to her.

"Need some help Fluttershy?" She jumped a little at my question.

"Oh, it's you Symbol, yes I could use a little help." I knelt down and reached into my pocket, I pulled out a few acorns and held them just in front of the hole that the squirrels were resting in. I saw a few noses peek out of the opening and three squirrels appeared. Before they could grab the nuts and hide I pulled back a little and led them out of the hole. I set the nuts down in the middle of the clearing and blocked the hole with a rock in case they tried to renter. After they ate their meal the went on their merry way.

"That was incredible Symbol." I heard the timid mare exclaim. When I looked at her she blushed and hid behind her wings. I scratched behind her ears to calm her down. She sighed happily and leaned into my touch. The look on her face pulled on my heartstrings, these ponies were too adorable for a guy to handle.

"C'mon Shy, we've got work to do." She smiled and gracefully walked towards the area where the rabbits are resting. After finishing up with the animals and one creepy visit from Twi, I headed to Sugarcube Corner with Vinyl and Tavi.

"How was everything on your end Octavia?" The mare took a sip of her tea.

"Everything went well, after the fiasco with Miss Sparkle, we eventually got everything back on track."

"That's good to hear." We finished our treats and took a walk through the now winter free Ponyville. While we were walking I saw something out of the corner off my eye that made my gears stop. "Tavi, Vinyl, you go on ahead, there's something I need to do." I was trying to hold back the rage in my voice. They looked at each other in concern but walked along anyway.

What I saw from the corner of my eye was someone yelling at Derpy, and Derpy couldn't look more depressed. I resisted the urge to go over and punch the stallion that was telling her off. As I got closer I could hear what the two were saying/yelling.

"...u'd think you'd have learned from last year, I can't believe you messed up the bird migration again!"

"B-b-but Whistle Blower, I-I thought..."

"I don't think you did think, now get your act together or stay away from winter-wrap-up next year!" Derpy slowly walked away with a quiet sob. When I saw the smug look on the stallions face I'm pretty sure I heard glass break in my mind. My eye started twitching, my teeth were grinding and my hands were clenching. I resisted the urge to rip the stallion apart. I walked up behind him and cleared my throat. He turned back with the same smug look until he saw me, then it looked like he was about to shit himself.

"What the hell was that?!" I no longer hid the anger in my voice, I'm sure I saw the stallion whimper.

"I was just telling Miss Hooves..."

"Telling? No, you were taking some of your frustration out on her!"

"Why do you even care?"

I grabbed his chest and brought him to eye level. "Why do I care? She happens to be one of my closest friends, and you talked to her like she was garbage." I could see the terror in his eyes. "And this goes out to everyone, if any of you in any way hurt one of my friends I WILL cause some damage! Now, I don't think you understand what you did, that mare is intelligent, beautiful and all around friendly, she does NOT deserve to be talked down to like that!" I brought his terror filled face closer to mine. "If I catch you doing this again, you can pray that you will live another day!" I threw him down and he scurried away. I didn't notice the crowd that we had attracted, nor the fact that I was glowing purple. There was only one thing on my mind...

Comfort Derpy...

Meanwhile, Bon Bon, Lyra, Vinyl and Octavia were watching from across the street.

"I've never seen Symbol so angry before." Stated Bon Bon with fright.

"Are we just gonna ignore the fact that he was glowing purple?" Asked a confused Lyra. Octavia, after witnessing the event, felt something strange that she couldn't explain. "What's wrong Tavi?"

"Girls, I know this is gonna sound strange but, when he was yelling about how he would harm anypony that hurt us, did it make you feel...safe?" Asked Octavia. The girls looked to each other, they looked back to to Octavia and nodded slowly.

"Hey, we've got someone who will protect us to the very end, I think that's a good sign of a friend." Vinyl exclaimed proudly. "I'm glad we snatched him up when we did."

Lyra watched me walk away from the crowd. "Where's he going now?"

"If we know Symbol, he's on his way to comfort Derpy. He acts tuff, but he's a real softie." Giggled Bon Bon.

...

"So we are going to ignore the fact that he was glowing?"

I was rushing around, looking left and right for any sign of Derpy. I entered the park and began searching. I came across a hill with a big tree at the top, and under its shade was Derpy. I slowly made my way towards her...then I heard the crying...

By God I wanted to rip that stallion apart after hearing her sobs. I walked over to her and knelt down, I brought her into a hug and she buried her face into my chest. She wrapped her hooves around me and let it all out. "It's ok Derpy, it's ok..." I cooed, she tightened her grip around me.

"I'm no good..." I heard her mumble. My head shot up and I put my hands on her cheeks so she would look at me,

"None of that now, you're good, don't you ever think otherwise."

"But I can't do anything right."

"Yes you can. You raised a foal by yourself, you've made the best damn muffins I've ever tasted and you make others smile...you're doing fine, and if you ever need a shoulder to cry on, I'm here, all you have to do is ask."

"All I do is mess things up, I'm an idiot..."

"Derpy, what did I say to you when we first met?"

Derpy, you're an intelligent mare, and for as long as I live, I will be your friend...

Once she remembered what I had told her, she wrapped her wings around me. "Thank you..."

"What are friends for?" She nuzzled my chest and wiped her tears away, the smile she gave me was heartwarming. I felt a pain in my chest when she curled up and started to sleep. I ran my fingers through her mane for awhile before I started to get sleepy as well.

I guess today's events really took its toll on me... I thought before I drifted off with my back against a tree. No harm in a little nap right...?

Girls were walking through the park until they came across the most adorable sight they'd seen in years. Under a tree, was Symbol and Derpy sleeping under the shade of the leaves, Derpy curled up and napping on the humans chest with a smile on her face, Symbol still holding his neutral look.

Vinyl summoned a camera with her magic and took a picture. "Now that's just adorable."

Three days later...

I finished my shift at the spa after organising their financial papers and gathered some key items. The book on the Cult, a rope and a torch, how they made a torch in Equestria I will never know. It was time to enter the second temple. I spent yesterday afternoon reading a few more entries by Vector Lulamoon, apparently this temple was more difficult to enter than just placing my hand on a plaque. I locked my house and made my way towards the temple outside of Sweet Apple Acres. When I was halfway there I was greeted by Vivi.

"Hello mother."

Hello my child, I see you have brought the book with you

"Yeah, I've been doing some research on the Cult and the Order, also been looking into this Vector Lulamoon guy, he seems important."

Indeed, I will accompany you in this venture

"Shall we?" She turned into her human form and followed me towards the temple. Unknown to us, three little fillies were watching us.

"Who was that with mister Symbol?"

"Looks like their going to do something exciting!"

"Did he say sumthin about a temple?"

"You know what this means right?"

"Cutie Mark Crusaders Temple Explorers Yay!" They then began to follow us towards the temple.

When we reached the entrance we noticed that the gate was much larger than the first with the sceptre. I walked over to the door where there was nine plaques, each with a different symbol representing a number. I flipped open the book and found the combination. "Alright let's see...zero...five...one...two...five...eight...two and three." The door began to vibrate and crack open. I turned on my torch and began walking through the long dusty hallway with Vivi by my side. Along the walls were more paintings and carvings of the rings and my necklace. After making sure not to set off any traps (I read in the book that there were a few, I'm starting to feel like Indiana Jones and that chick from Tomb Raider) we reached a flight of stairs. After descending the steps we were confronted by another door, with a different combination. "Three...six...zero...two...tree...four...nine." The door opened and we were greeted by a cloud of dust.

We walked into the cavern to fin another round room with a pedestal with what appeared to be some kind of pendant. I knew what would happen when we took the thing, so before I grabbed it I walked over to some carvings and paintings to fully inspect them.

The one on the left showed five ponies and a purple humanoid figure. The middle one showed some kind of bug/pony facing the purple figure. The one on the left portrayed the purple figure floating in the air with two rings on his wrists and a crowd of the bug ponies laying on the ground. "Interesting..."

The beings in these murals are called changelings, they feed off of love and can shapeshift

"Sounds like Equestrias biggest enemy race, other than the demons and spirits."

Indeed

"This looks like everything, let's get the relic and get out of here." Vivi nodded and floated over to the pedestal. I walked up and inspected the pendant, it was unlike any jewel I had ever seen, it was a silver circle with eight teeth like blue gems in a pattern, a familiar pattern. I looked at the gem and then to my medallion, the pattern on the pendant matched the holes on my necklace, like another part of it. I grabbed the pendant and pushed it through the holes. They fitted perfectly together, my necklace glowed purple for a second before dying down. Then a voice entered my head while time around me froze.

You are getting closer to your destiny boy, but beware, you may not like what the future holds.[/

"I've already been through some crazy shit so far, I think I can handle it when it comes around."

Ahahahaha...that's why I like you...so confident, so brave and intelligent. I'm glad I took my time to develop you...

"What are you saying?"

Sorry but I'm going to have to go, sensing a disturbance in this realm...wait...a token...here? Well this should be interesting. Don't worry young man, the time will come when we meet, have fun with Bill...

"What?" The voice ceased and time resumed. The pedestal sank into the ground and everything started shaking. "Oh right, forgot about that..." We started running up the stairs as the cavern started collapsing. While we were running down the hallway I spotted three little figures that shouldn't be there. "Of for Fausts sake!" I grabbed the CMC and started running for my life and theirs, Vivi floating beside me as the hallway seemed to get longer. "Fan-bucking-tastic." I dodged a few falling pillars, but one appeared and I wouldn't be able to jump over it, so I threw the CMC over it and slid under the small gap, when I was on the other side I caught the girls in midair. I rolled for a second then shot to my feet and began sprinting as the cavern collapsed behind me. I dodged more and more debris as I made my way up the stairs and along the next hallway. The door at the end of the hallway was slowly closing. "Oh you have got to be Kidding me!" I bolted down the growing hallway with speed I didn't know I had. I narrowly shot through the gap in the entrance and slid on the ground with the girls in my arms.

I let the girls go and leaned against a tree. "What...in the name...of Griffith...were you three...doing in there?" I asked in between pants. The three looked up at me with big apologetic puppy dog eyes. I gripped my chest at the sight. "Don't look...at me...like that...you're going to give me a...heart attack...oh man I'm outta shape...*whoo*"

Soft spot for cute things eh?

"Shuddap mom."

"Mom?" The three girls asked with their heads tilted. I gestured towards Vivi.

"Girls, meet my mother..."

A pleasure to meet you young ones

I let them have their little girl talk while I examined my newly upgraded medallion. When I touched it, it flashed a few times in response. I returned the girls to Ponyville and bid farewell to my mother. I was walking down the street towards my home when I was stopped by Lyra.

"You went to another temple didn't you?"

"Yeah, had to save the CMC in the process of the whole self destruct sequence thing, seriously, talk about a design flaw."

"You made it out of those temples twice didn't you. I stop you because I found something that you could use." She pulled out a black notebook with her magic. I grabbed it and inspected it, it was MAN made.

"Thanks Lyra, I gotta get some shuteye." She nodded and we went our separate ways. When I entered my home I sat down on my bed and inspected the notebook, then I heard another voice...

"To those who seek knowledge and maybe a bit of chaos on the side, call Bill Cipher."

No bucking way, I know I shouldn't trust this thing but, if it really is Cipher, he could probably give me some answers on the cult.

"Alright, let's see what you got for me Cipher." I placed my hand on the cover and I was enveloped in a bright light...

Author's Notes:

Hey, if anyone is wondering why I'm censoring Symbol and his swearing, it's because I don't wanna have to put this on mature.

Next chapter will be after the crossover.