One day later, Ashley's POV

I'm glad we were able to get everything resolved yesterday with Symbol, I hated seeing him like that. So broken, so helpless...it reminded me of myself. I can't seem to do anything without Symbol coming to my aid, I'm starting to wonder if bringing me to Equestria was even a necessity. I mean, Symbol has been taking his time with me trying to get me settled in, but it's something that I should try to be doing on my own.

But for some reason, it feels as though he wants to stay...and...I don't exactly mind having him close by.

When I had pulled away from my hug with Symbol, Symph came over with so,e kind of black gem in the shape of a four pointed star. Symbol had placed the gem on his chest and his body absorbed it, then beginning to repair himself with the energy it gave him. After a few hours of lying down with Abi and Nurse Readheart looking over him, he was well enough to go meet the princesses, like they had wanted to for awhile.

I don't exactly know why but I have a feeling that the meeting isn't going exactly well...

...

Meanwhile in Canterlot

Symbol ducked as another beam on magic was shot at his head by Celestia. "Woah! Easy there, takes me forever just to grown this hair back so I don't want it burned."

"Quiet down and let me express some rage! You agreed to help me blow off steam!"

"I didn't agree to using me as target practice!"

"You've attracted the attention of other worldly creatures to my world, I think you owe me at least this! Now hold still!"

...

Eh I'm sure they're fine.

Right now though, I was busy educating myself a bit on the multiverse with some books that Symph had brought for me. What I was specifically learning about was displacers, their behaviours and histories. Twilight and Rainbow Dash were with me, Twilight learning what she could about the worlds in the multiverse while Rainbow read up on wars and legendary warriors and horrible deities of destruction.

As I read more about displacers I found that very rarely will a displacer even care about their displaced, using them for their own sick amusement and plans. But, there were those out there that cared deeply for their displaced, forming them into families and making sure they were healthy and happy. When I asked Abi she said that both Symbol and Roden fall into the latter category.

"Wait, so what causes displacers to be dicks to their displaced anyway?" I asked Abi as she continued working on my dress, we had decided to just let what happened go and act like nothing happened.

"They're created as overpowered beings most of the time, they see mortal life like we see a spec of dust. Most of them bet the souls of an entire universe in their gambles with each other and they destroy entire worlds just because they're boring to them. Symbol and Roden were made for specific purposes. Roden to keep the knowledge of the multiverse in check while Symbol was made to protect the worlds and universes around us. They aren't the strongest people in the multiverse, not by a long shot, but they're strong enough to hold their own if an evil displacer were ever to surface. You don't see it, but Symbol isn't as young as he says he is, he's fought a ton of battles." She explained while smoothing out a wrinkled area.

"What do you mean? How old is he?" Yet another thing he hi-No no Ashley, you know why he hides things, no need to get upset.

"He's at least over a thousand years old now."

I just spat out my tea, getting it over Rainbow. "Hey!"

"Over a thousand?"

"He has a tendency to mess with time every now and then, sometimes getting sent back a few decades or whatever."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Not really, he does it in the void where time had no real meaning, he just had to catch up with the rest of the multiverse when that happens." From how casually she was saying this I guessed it happened too often fir her to really care. "He can't do it anymore thought."

"Why not?"

Abi stopped and sighed. "He's dying, you know this, he's got a few years left at most. He's been spending his time trying to fix whatever he can in the multiverse, ending wars, fending off displacers you name it, he's probably done it. He's displaced quite a few people other than you, Chief, C2, Lelouch and Alucard, there are a few others."

"I'm not surprised that he had more really." I paused for a moment as I tossed what she had said begore around in my mind. "But really? Only a few years?"

"His soul is incomplete, he needs to absorb Reality Stars just to survive long enough to see his friends again."

Twilight and Rainbow Dash lowered their books as they listened to our conversation. "Wait, I thought that Symbol was immortal." Twilight said in confusion.

"No, he's not, he never was, he's just been extending his life and slowing his aging." Abi explained as she flipped the dress over and began to add some flame patterns.

"So wait...that means that-"

"Yes, all of us are going to outlive him." Symph said quietly as he passed us. Taking a look I saw his expression was one of sadness.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, he seems like a pretty tough guy, I'm sure he won't go down without a fight." Rainbow said with confidence.

"He won't fight it." Abi stated lowly. "He's fully accepted the fact that his existence is fading. Honestly, after dying, I think he doesn't really care-"

"But I care!" I yelled as I slammed my fist down in the table, causing everyone to look at me in surprise. "I care if he lives or dies! I care that he's on a time limit! I care about him!"

Symph just looked at me with sympathy, a look of knowingness in his eyes as he turned away, not saying anything.

"Then we won't let him die." Rainbow stated simply.

"It's not that easy Rainbow." Abi said quietly.

"Sure it is. You said earlier that he lost a part of his soul right?" And nodded. "Alright then, we find that lost part of his soul, we save him, easy as that!" She smiled in confidence as she floated in the air slightly.

"But it could be in the possession of Xram, Nightmare or whatever else! We don't even know where to start looking!" Abi countered.

"Yes we do." I began, earning their attention. "I remember Symbol saying that he used some of his life force to bring back his version of Octavia and that made Screwball...what if Screwball has the lost piece?"

Author's Notes:

Will have more interactions with the ponies and displaced, have been neglecting them for awhile.

Next chapter will focus on Symbols relationship with Ashley and show his care for his displaced.