Bill appeared on the front steps of a large stone temple with a large stone door that had six locks shaped like various symbols on it, thus preventing Bill from getting past it even with all of his power… not that he didn’t try, of course.

Well, that sucks! What good is almost unlimited power if it can’t break down a simple stone door? thought Bill to himself as he approached the door to get a better look at it. As he did so, he began to realize that there were markings around each of the locks, possibly indicating where each of the symbols were to be found. “What language is this? Even I don't know it, it's just a bunch of squiggles to me.” He said while scratching his head.

“That would be Nighronen, an ancient language not of this universe or any other for that matter, it belongs to the creatures known as The Nightmare Fuels.” A voice said from behind.

Bill smirked as he recognised the voice, turning his body around first and then his head he saw his displacer. “Ah! Ol’ Green! I haven't seen you since your little visit at the hospital, where you been all this time?”

Roden rolled his eyes and spoke through his scarf. “If you must know I've taken on an apprentice that has taken on most of my time, and his development is of dire importance. I believe you have already met his son?”

“Who? Symph?” Roden nodded. “He did say he was here on your orders, so what have ya got the little fella doing then? Looking for artifacts? Hunting someone? Trying to get him to be independent or just trying to dodge babysitting him?” Bill asked while floating in the air.

“I have him here to monitor you and keep you under control, as well as a private mission that you have no business knowing about-” Just then the two sensed two dark forces clashing in the direction of Canterlot. “Ok, maybe you do now.”

“Should we be worried about that?”

“No, Symph can handle himself, he's stronger than he demonstrated when you first met.” Roden shook his head and walked over to the door. “Now, would you like me to translate these for you?”

As Bill was about to respond when an idea came to him. “Oh! Can you make it that they translate themselves one by one as I collect each key? That would be fun!”

Roden just looked at him with an unamused expression. “It's your wife in there you know, not treasure for an RPG side-quest.”

Bills smile faltered as he remembered who was at stake. “Sorry, just spouting random things again. Just go ahead and translate it for me, thanks.”

Roden nodded and turned to the markings. “To find what you seek you must first seek another, destroying the guardians of the keys shall light the way, only then will you find the way to your other, and let your true inner emotions sway.” Roden looked at it confused. “Why in the name of Cavros would a Nightmare make a rhyme out of this?”

“So basically it means that I have to hunt down each guardian of the keys, kill them and bring all the keys here to get my wife back?” Bill asked while he floated with huge nerdy glasses and a notepad in his hands as he took notes.

“That would be my guess, I may know a lot of things but this is new to me, I've never seen a Nightmare do this before…”

“Ok Green, what's a Nightmare?” Bill asked annoyed.

“It's like a parasite, there are thousands if not millions of them out there in the multiverse, they target Equestrias specifically because of the magical energy there, they hunt and destroy everything they come across, while most are mindless drones there are intelligent ones that are harder to defeat than most others. If you find one and defeat it, it will transform into a purple orb, bring that orb to Symph as soon as possible before it regenerates. Understood?”

“Why can't I just destroy it though?” Bill asked.

“Because you have to have a very specific power to completely destroy them, Symph had that power. Now I must be going, good luck on your journey Bill.” With that Roden was gone.

“Boy, he just comes as soon as he goes doesn't he?” Bill shook himself and looked to the first symbol. “Ok, it's in the shape of a mountain and it's red…” He floated up into the air and looked around, spotting a red volcano in the far distance. “Guess I know where I'm going first. Although I'm sure the ponies want to tag along to make Celestia feel safer about me wandering around this place, so I'll have to wait.” He groaned and looked back to Canterlot and noticed a lot of black tendril like objects in the gardens. “Uh oh, better get there before any maids take a wrong turn if you know what I mean.”

…

Twilight, Celestia, Luna, and the other Elements of Harmony could only watch in awe as Symph and the strange creature made out of purple mist continued to battle each other, the young sidekick’s black tendrils reaching all over the gardens hunting down the beast that he had come face to face with. Symph's entire body was black save for his eyes, along with his tendrils he stretched his arms to attack the Nightmare Fuel that had appeared.

As the Nightmare charged him he teleported out of the way, reappeared behind it and shot a tendril in its back. The Nightmare grunted and pulled away, swiping a claw at Symph and leaving a glowing white mark on his torso that disappeared.

Symph retracted some of his tendrils and used them to trap the Nightmare in a black sphere. He glared at the ball before crushing the Nightmare inside. He retracted his tendrils but left the black cage that he had created over Canterlot until he was sure that there was only one Nightmare.

The Nightmare had formed into a small purple orb that Symph crushed under his foot. “To think I actually considered you a threat.”

As he said this he heard a growl come from behind him. Turning around he saw a small horde of the monsters appearing, all glaring at him with their dead black eyes with only red dots as pupils.

They all held out one hand and blasted him with multiple blasts of dark energy, the ponies watched in horror as the young man was bombarded by the beasts, unable to see what affect they had on him because of a dust cloud that had formed around him. As the dust settled a large black wall stood, it then transformed into a tendril and retracted into Symph's body who was completely untouched by the attacks.

Symph turned his body slightly to the right, reached his left hand up to his right shoulder before throwing his hand forward causing an invisible force to blow the monsters away, some forming into orbs. With the survivors Symph formed multiple more arms, the tips of the fingers being sharp claws he stretched them out and destroyed all of them with furious swipes.

He then blasted all the orbs that they had left behind before taking down the cage around Canterlot, returning to normal and looking around at the damages. “Oh dear, I seem to have made a mess during that brawl, I should probably start tidying up before going after Bill.”

As he grew multiple black arms out of his back he began repairing the statues and fixing the flowers that had been destroyed in the battle. The ponies just looked at him, mouths open and their eyes wide.

I thought having to keep Bill in line would be difficult enough, but if his sidekick is almost as powerful as him… Gaia will be lucky to survive the week, thought Twilight, a shiver of fear running through her as she looked to her teacher and friends, seeing similar reactions on their faces.

“You don't have to worry about me Miss Sparkle, I'm not here to cause trouble, only prevent it.” Symph said causing her to jump.

“Um, did I say that out loud?” The alicorn asked.

“No, but I heard it from your magical energy.” Everyone looked at him confused. “I possess the ability to read someone's mind by analysing their magical aura, with this I can also tell what they are feeling, how powerful they are and see a little into their memories if I wish, don't worry I didn't look.”

At that moment, Bill appeared out of thin air right beside the group, causing Fluttershy to jump about a foot in the air. “So, what’d I miss? Where’s the bad guys?” he asked looking around.

“You’re a little late to the party, Bill. I already dealt with the Nightmare while you were off checking out your wife’s temple,” said Symph. “Speaking of which, did you by any chance find out anything?”

“Yeah, I had a run-in with Roden who translated some of the markings on the temple door. I also got a lead on where one of the keys are. It’s inside a volcano not that far from here, so I guess that’s where we’ll be heading a chapter or two from now,” said Bill, twirling his cane as he spoke while everyone just raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Wait… why aren’t we heading there in the next chapter? I mean, if you know where one of the keys are, shouldn’t we be heading there like, right now?” asked Pinkie.

“Well, Joker and PyraFlare wanted to do a Christmas/Hearth’s Warming chapter, but they weren’t able to get this one done in time to make the deadline, so they’re doing it next chapter. Besides, I’m pretty sure ponies wouldn’t last long inside a volcano, so there’s that.”

“Please don't mention my creator Bill, whenever a character does that they usually end up being the butt of every joke.” Symph stated flatly.

“Huh, didn't know you had fourth wall breaking abilities too sidekick, when did this happen?”

“I dunno.” Symph's eyes suddenly became half lidded and his smile turned to a frown. “I'm sorry...I'm feeling...rather...sleepy…” Symph's eyes closed and he fell limp on the ground unconscious. There was a dark purple dagger in his back, giving off a dark aura that tried to enter Symph's body but was failing.

Bill floated down and turned Symph on his side, inspecting him and his wound after taking out the dagger which disappeared. “Well that's not ominous at all.” He turned his attention back to Symph whose breathing was slow. “Well, I guess he does deserve a rest after that fight. Gotta get that wound looked at, hold on there little buddy.”

“Is he going to be alright?” Celestia asked looking to Symph concerned.

“Since when do you care about either of our well beings, and yes he looks fine I think.”

Celestia was taken back by his words. “W-What do you mean?”

“I know about your little plans Celestia, and I'm gonna say right now that if I wanted to destroy Equestria, kill you or cause worldwide chaos I'd have done it already. I mean, it’s not like your Elements of Harmony can actually DO anything to me. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to make sure my sidekick doesn't kick the bucket.” With that Bill floated down the hallway with Symph in his arms.

…

Meanwhile in Symph's subconscious

Symph opened his eyes and sat up, looking around at the black abyss that was his mind, bare as nothing was currently functioning other than his natural reflexes. Getting up, he snapped his fingers, causing a scene to appear before him.

He stood on the tiny island in the middle of the sea of stars looking up at the sky. Each of those stars represented a memory, his memories and his father's memories that were transferred to him through a fusion. He looked up as new stars started appearing, representing Bill’s memories.

He began walking towards the water, as his foot touched the starry liquid it acted like a solid surface allowing him to walk across it. With each step a soft, relaxing dinging sound emitted through the air as Symph hummed a little tune to himself as he walked across the ocean.

He eventually reached another figure standing in the ocean, looking out at the horizon. “I wasn't aware that someone else had entered my mindscape.” He said to the figure.

“Sorry, I just needed to get out of my own body for a change.” The female replied.

“I won't tell you to leave as long as you don't go diving into my memories or attempt to take control, but answer me this…” The woman looked back to him. “Why seal yourself away in that temple...Miss Jacquline?”

Next Chapter: Symph's Valentine's Day (Hearts and Hooves Special) Estimated time remaining: 27 Minutes