The following morning, we find Twilight Sparkle sitting at the breakfast table with her five very exhausted friends and her faithful dragon assistant, talking about the nightmares that had transpired the night before.

“I simply can’t get over what that awful Bill Cipher creature did inside my mind! Making my worst fears come to life! Such horrific fashions! And to make matters worse, he made S… no, never mind,” said Rarity, rubbing the circles under her eyes.

“It was so mean of him to jump out of a bush and yell ‘Boo!’ like that!” said Fluttershy.

“I never thought I’d live to see the day that cake would be outlawed and replaced with tofu! TOFU!!!” yelled Pinkie.

“And Ah can’t believe he’d force me into takin’ the blame for the whole of Sweet Apple Acres gettin’ wiped out in a fire!” said Applejack

Rainbow scoffed. “Well, I feel sorry for you girls. When Bill tried to mess with my head, nothing he did worked, because I fear nothing!”

“Oh, really? You’re not afraid that you’ll lose your ability to fly and therefore never get the chance to become a Wonderbolt like you’ve been dreaming about since you were six?”

The gathered ponies turned around to find Bill Cipher standing, or rather, floating, right behind them.

Rarity and Twilight both charged up their horns while Rainbow and Applejack got ready to charge and Pinkie pulled out her party cannon from seemingly nowhere. Fluttershy and Spike, on the other hand simply decided to run and hide.

“What are you doing here, Cipher?” demanded Twilight.

“You girls seriously still aren’t sore about last night, are you? I was just having a little bit of fun! Although, the whole sword through the chest thing was admittedly not fun at all,” said Bill defensively.

“Hate to break it to ya, Bill, but our definitions of ‘fun’ are two totally different things,” said Rainbow.

“Potato. po-ta-to,” said Bill dismissively as he sat down on a nearby counter. “In any case, I suggest you seven hurry it up if we’re going to catch the train to Canterlot so I can properly introduce myself to Princess Celestia and figure out where those keys to my wife’s temple are.”

“Hold on a gosh-darn minute. If yer all-powerful like ya say ya’ll are, then why can’t ya just teleport us to Canterlot?” asked Applejack, raising her eyebrow as she spoke.

“Well, first off, just teleporting into someone else throne room unannounced is just plain rude, even by my standards. Secondly, the script says we’re supposed to take the train, so therefore, we’re taking the train,” said Bill matter-of-factly.

The Mane 6 and Spike all stared at Bill, having no idea what he was babbling about.

Finally, Twilight spoke. “Well, if you REALLY want to take the train, then I guess there’s really no harm in doing it. But, I’m warning you, Bill,” Twilight said sternly, giving Bill a piercing glare. “If you so much as THINK about doing anything on or to the train, so help me Faust I’ll see to it that you’re turned to stone faster than you can say ‘oops.’”

“Yeah, sure, whatever, so I suggest you finish up here and meet me at the station. I, meanwhile, have to round up my new sidekick. Laters!” said Bill, before he flew out of the castle through an open window, leaving the six mares and drake behind.

“Forgive me if I heard wrong, but did Bill just say that he had a sidekick?” asked Rarity.

“Ugh, like having to put up with him AND Discord wasn’t going to be enough of a nightmare!” groaned Rainbow.

“That doesn’t matter right now. We need to get ready to go to Canterlot and make sure Bill doesn’t destroy the town,” said Twilight.

The others nodded in agreement, before cleaning up their breakfast mess and getting ready to journey to Canterlot.

…

“...and this Bill Cipher character has the power to warp other ponies dreams to his will, making the victims dream of their worst fears,” Luna explained to her sister, Princess Celestia, who was a white alicorn with a sky blue, pink, and light green mane and tail wearing a small tiara, an elegant dress made of what appeared to be golden silk, and matching heels.

Celestia frowned in thought. “This Bill Cipher creature sounds like he could be trouble, to say the least… from what you have told me, little sister, he sounds like Discord with drastically amplified powers that may even exceed ours combined, or perhaps ours plus Twilight and Cadence’s combined. And to think that his weakness is completely unknown…Discord has several weaknesses, and even we immortal alicorns aren’t completely invulnerable,”

“Oh, don’t you worry, Princess. Bill Cipher has not just one, but TWO weaknesses. As much as he likes to pretend to, he isn’t invincible, even with a physical form.”

Celestia and Luna looked over to the castle door to find a man clad entirely in green and a metal sash with matching hair stylized in the fashion of Vegeta's from the Dragonball anime standing there.

“And who might you be?” Celestia asked in a hostile tone.

Roden registered her voice and started emitting a calming aura. The two sisters settled down, most of their hostility gone as the magic aura calmed their nerves. “I can assure you I am a friend. My name is Roden Godswell, pleasure to meet you Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.”

The two sisters looked to each other and smiled. “It is very nice to meet you too Roden. Now, what were you saying about Bill and his weaknesses?”

Roden shook his head. “He does indeed have two weaknesses, however I am unable to give you that information and I have taken steps to insure that those weaknesses are to never be called upon.”

Celestia's smile faltered. “And what would these steps be exactly?”

“I have brought one of my agents here to keep Bill under control and to make sure that he doesn't hurt anyone, however it is highly unlikely that Bill will actually try to hurt someone on purpose unless provoked.”

“Then how come he attempted to strike at me while I was in Princess Twilight Sparkle’s dream last night?” asked Princess Luna.

“Bill is a lot like Discord is most respects, in that they have a deep enjoyment of chaos and mayhem. So, odds are his antics within the dreams of the Mane 6 and Spike were merely games,” explained Roden. “In any case, my agent informs me that he’s currently on his way here, to ask if either of you know anything about the keys to the nearby temple where his wife is currently entombed.”

Celestia and Luna looked at each other. “You mean the old ruins with that big door with six locks on it?” Celestia asked.

“My sister and I have always sensed a great power behind that door. But, of course, without the keys, we were unable to investigate it,” explained Luna.

“The very same. My suggestion is that you direct Bill and the Elements of Harmony over to the temple. They should be able to figure out where to go from there,” said Roden. “Well, I must be off. When you’re someone like me, keeping tabs on everyone whose consciousness you and your friends have transferred into the bodies of fictional characters and teaching the future saviour of the multiverse tends to keep you busy. Farewell for now, your highnesses.”

And with that and a bow, Roden disappeared into thin air, a faint ripple in his wake.

…

Meanwhile, on the train to Canterlot, Rainbow, Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Applejack, and Bill all sat together, discussing their plans for when they arrived in Canterlot in a few hours, while Symph sat quietly looking out the window and Rarity and Spike sat in their seats, shifting uncomfortably and glancing at each other as though both of them were afraid to speak to each other.

“Remember Bill, be on your best behavior, or else we’ll have to use the Elements of Harmony against you, and you won’t like how that turns out,” warned Twilight.

Bill laughed. “You really think those rocks can defeat me, don’t you Twilight?” he said, before he shrugged. “Eh, I guess I’ll indulge the fantasy for a while. And speaking of fantasies… the ones running through Spike and Rarity’s minds right now are really quite… interesting.”

Applejack narrowed her eyes and glared at Bill. “Okay, Cipher, what’re ya goin’ on ‘bout now?” she asked, suspicion in her voice.

Bill grinned his devious grin at the five ponies. “Well… you know how Spike’s so deeply in love with Rarity that he even went and made a plushie of her? Which, I might add isn’t creepy or stalker like AT ALL,” Bill said, sarcasm evident in his voice. “I mean, look at me, I’m a major league cuckoo clock and you don’t see me snuggling up to a plushie version of my wife. Not that it’d matter since I only sleep a week every 618 years-”

“Get on with it, Bill!” yelled Rainbow Dash impatiently.

“All right, all right,” said Bill, snapping his fingers, casting a spell to prevent Rarity and Spike from overhearing them talk. “Riddle me this, my little ponies: what if I told you that Rarity has the hots for Spike almost as much as he has the hots for her?”

“WHAT?!” yelled Pinkie as the other four ponies raised their eyebrows in doubt.

“An’ where would ya’ll go and get an idea like that?” asked Applejack.

“Exhibit A: just look at them,” said Bill pointing up to where Spike and Rarity were still sweating and squirming with anxiety. “Either they’re trying to see who can hold off going to the bathroom the longest or they’re too afraid to speak to each other without embarrassing themselves.”

“Uh-huh…” said the five ponies listening to Bill, who could easily tell they still didn’t believe him.

“Exhibit B,” said Bill snapping his fingers.

With a weird whooshing sound, the five ponies and Bill found themselves in a grayscale version of Rarity’s bedroom.

“What is this place? Where have you taken us?” demanded Twilight.

“I physically didn’t take you anywhere. Your minds, however, I brought here to Rarity’s bedroom, hence why everything looks like something out of an old movie,” explained Bill, who then started looking around for something. “Where did she put that… ah! There it is!”

Bill snapped his fingers again, and out from under the bed came a small safe with a combination lock.

“Let’s see here… 11...14...95. Huh, weird, that’s Joker the Hedgehog’s birthday,” muttered Bill as he punched in the combination and the safe door creaked opened.

Inside the safe were numerous love letters addressed to Spike, drawings of Rarity and Spike wearing wedding attire, and even a well-crafted Spike plushie.

“Need anymore proof?” asked Bill before he snapped his fingers again, returning everyone to the train, where the ponies faces expressed shock and surprise.

“I know what I must do,” Pinkie said, a look of determination on her face.

“And what’s that?” asked Twilight.

“It’s up to me to get Spike and Rarity together, and I don’t care how many parties or set-ups it takes! For nothing is stronger than the power of-”

“Love?” asked Applejack.

“... Pinkie Pie,” said Pinkie.

“Well, whatever it is you’re planning, it’ll have to wait until after we get our information from the Princesses, seeing as we’ve arrived at Canterlot Station,” said Bill as the train creaked to stop.

…

At Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sat on their side by side thrones, anticipating the arrival of Princess Twilight,  her friends, and that Bill Cipher character that being in green had told them about.

Finally, a guard pony came running into the throne room. “Your majesties! Princess Twilight, her Council of Friendship, and two strange beings in suits have arrived and wish to speak to you,” he said.

Luna and Celestia glanced at each other. “Send them in,” said Celestia.

The guard bowed and left to do his princess’s bidding. A moment later, Princess Twilight, her friends, Symph, and Bill entered the throne room.

“Hello, your majesties! Name’s Bill Cipher!” said Bill, taking a bow and taking off his top hat, thus causing the whole of Canterlot to tilt sideways as though the planet had fallen over, causing the Elements of Harmony to knock each other to the ground and causing Celestia to plow into Luna, knocking both of them out of their thrones, as well as causing wanton property damage to the castle and city beyond it. Symph just stuck to the floor with normal gravity and a slightly amused expression on his face.

“Whoopsies. Sorry, that tends to happen whenever I take my hat off,” said Bill, straightening up and putting his hat back on, setting the world right again as his cane appeared in his hand, which he began to twirl. “Anyways, I had a couple of questions I wanted to ask you two about the location of the keys that unlock the temple my wife is in.”

Celestia didn’t answer Bill right away. All she could do was stare at him in pure shock and disbelief at what he’d just done. She was going to need a strong drink after this was over. Finally, after a moment, she spoke. “Uh, y-yes, we were told by a being who was completely dressed in green that you’d be coming this way,” she said, disentangling herself from Luna.

Bill smiled. He knew that description anywhere. “And… what exactly did ol’ Rodey say to tell me?” he asked the Princesses.

“He told us to tell you to go to your wife’s temple from here, and that you’d be able to figure out where to go from there. The temple is due north from here, smack in the middle of the mountain range,” said Celestia.

Bill frowned. He’d actually thought the Princesses would be a bit more helpful than this. However, at least he had something to go off of. “Thank you for your assistance your Highnesses,” he said, taking a bow. “Come along, Symph. I’m sure the Princesses and the national heroes have some talking to do.”

“Yes sir,” said Symph, following Bill out the door, leaving Celestia, Luna, and the Elements of Harmony alone.

“Knowing you, I take it you have plan in case Bill decides to unleash Tartarus upon our world?” Celestia asked Twilight, who nodded.

“Should Bill get out of control, we will head to the Tree of Harmony, remove the Elements, and use them to imprison Bill in stone before putting them right back where they were,” explained Twilight.

“And… you are certain this will be enough to defeat him?”

Twilight looked confused. “What do you mean?” she asked her former teacher.

“When the being in green arrived, he told us that Bill had two weaknesses, and that he had taken steps to avoid having them be exploited, such as placing an agent to keep Bill in line. However, I feel as though we should know what these weaknesses are, just in case.”

…

“Do you have to bend gravity every time you meet someone?” Symph asked as he walked with his hands behind his back while walking alongside Bill.

“I'll keep doing it until it stops surprising the ones I meet, so most likely I'll never stop.”

Symph rolled his eyes and looked around the castle corridors. “Wonder how Ashley and Abi are getting along in their Equestria.”

“What was that?”

Symph just smiled. “Abi is my aunt and Ashley is one of my father's displaced, I haven't seen my aunt in a few months so I was just wondering what they were doing is all.”

Bill looked at him with a raised brow. “I have a feeling that there's more to you than you let on.”

“Even for you Bill, if I told you about it you wouldn't believe me, so we'll just leave it be.”

Bill shrugged and looked down the hallway. “Hey, you mentioned on the train that I'm part of this huge family of people like me right? Y’know, people who are put in Equestria as fictional characters.”

“I did yes.”

“Well what kind of people are they? What did they get turned into?” Bill asked while floating upside down.

Symph raised a brow. “Since when are you so interested?”

Bill smiled. “What, I just wanna know some stuff about the people in my new family is all.”

Symph rolled his eyes and began listing the members of the family. “Ok, there's a Metal Sonic, Mecha Sonic, Auldin from Skyrim although he chooses to spell his name differently, a Slenderwoman, a group of galactic rangers from Ratchet and Clank 3, Master Chief, gender swap version of Fire Fist Ace from One Piece, Alucard, Lelouch and C2. There are also a number of others that aren't displaced like my father, some are symbiotes like me and some are just creatures from other worlds.”

Bill laughed. “Seriously? I'm related to all of those people now?”

“Yes, it is quite a strange bunch, the head of the family is my grandfather, Roden’s boss Author.”

“Hmmm, you continue to amaze me sidekick.” Symph nodded and the two reached the Canterlot Gardens. “Alright, let's get going, the sooner we get my wife back the better, I'm already missing her delicious gingerbread biscuits that she bakes.” Bill whimpered like a puppy before floating higher into the air. “Hey! You want to fuse to travel there?!” Bill called down.

Symph was about to answer when he stopped and looked around. “You go on ahead, I'll catch up.”

Bill didn't question him and nodded, teleporting away. Symph's eyes narrowed and he began walking towards a statue, a small cloud of dark purple mist coming from behind it.

“Was wondering when one of you would show up.”

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