The air around Morty shimmered as the vision of the multiverse—the vast expanse of stars and dimensions—slowly faded. He was back in the dim, sterile room with Evil Morty. His body still hummed with the sensation of the multiversal energy flowing through him, but he felt more in control now. His fingers tingled with the lingering warmth of the current, and for the first time since this whole ordeal began, he didn't feel overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of it.
Still, there was a heaviness in his chest. Evil Morty's words echoed in his mind: If you lose control, the consequences won't just be your destruction. It'll be the end of everything.
The stakes were higher than he could've ever imagined. Morty had wanted power, the ability to finally break free from Rick's shadow and become something more than just a sidekick. But the path he was walking was far more dangerous than anything he'd ever anticipated.
He glanced over at Evil Morty, who stood with his arms crossed, watching him carefully. There was a flicker of approval in Evil Morty's gaze, but it was fleeting. He wasn't one for praise or reassurance—he was focused, cold, and calculating.
"You've taken the first step," Evil Morty said, his voice calm but firm. "But don't mistake that for mastery. You've barely scratched the surface of what the multiversal energy can do. Control doesn't come in a single lesson, and the longer you use it, the more tempting it'll be to let it take over."
Morty nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. He could feel the energy pulsing within him still, like a quiet hum in the background of his thoughts. It was a strange sensation—comforting and terrifying all at once. Part of him wanted to embrace it fully, to see how far he could push his newfound abilities, but he remembered the chaos he had already caused. The last time he tried to harness this power without knowing what he was doing, he had almost drawn two ancient organizations into open conflict.
"Tempting?" Morty echoed, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"
Evil Morty's smirk returned, though it was as cold as ever. "The energy's alive, Morty. Not in the way a person or a being is alive, but it has a will of its own. If you're not careful, it'll start to influence you—make you want more, push you to tap into deeper and deeper levels of power until it consumes you. That's what happens when you try to control it directly. The power becomes seductive. It'll make you think you're invincible. But the moment you let it control you instead of working with it, you'll lose everything."
Morty's heart sank as he considered Evil Morty's words. He had always thought of power as something external—something he could control if he was smart enough, careful enough. But now he understood that the energy he had tapped into wasn't just some tool to be wielded. It was far more complex, far more dangerous than anything Rick had ever shown him.
Evil Morty paced slowly, his eyes never leaving Morty. "That's why most Ricks never even bother with this energy. It's not something you can dominate with pure intellect or technology. It requires a kind of control that Rick doesn't have—balance, patience, discipline."
"Rick would never…" Morty trailed off, trying to imagine his grandfather with the kind of careful approach Evil Morty described. Rick was a force of chaos, driven by his own ego and impulses. He had never shown any regard for balance or discipline—only results. That's why Morty was here. Rick's recklessness had never been enough for Morty's needs anymore.
"That's right," Evil Morty said with a nod. "Rick doesn't have the discipline. He's brilliant, but he'll always be reckless. That's why he could never control this energy. And that's why you need to be better."
Morty clenched his fists. He had always wanted to outgrow Rick's shadow, to become something more than just the scared, whiny kid who tagged along on dangerous adventures. This was his chance—his opportunity to become something greater. But with that came responsibility. The kind of responsibility Rick had never taken on himself.
"What do I do now?" Morty asked, his voice steady but filled with uncertainty.
Evil Morty stopped pacing and fixed Morty with a hard stare. "You keep practicing. You learn how to feel the energy in every situation—learn how to sense it without needing to tap into it fully. Once you're able to guide it without forcing it, you'll be ready to move on to the next phase."
Morty's heart raced at the mention of a next phase. He wanted to ask what that meant, but something about Evil Morty's tone made him hold back. He wasn't ready for that yet, and he knew it. There was still so much he didn't understand. So many ways he could still mess this up.
"How do I practice without, you know, causing more damage?" Morty asked, a slight edge of anxiety creeping into his voice.
Evil Morty smirked, though there was no humor in his expression. "That's the challenge, isn't it? You've already drawn the attention of the Conclave and the Infinite Coil. Every time you use this energy, they'll be watching. You can't hide from them. But you can learn to control the energy in ways that don't set off alarm bells. Start small. Use the energy to manipulate things on a smaller scale—dimensional anomalies, slight shifts in reality. Practice keeping the balance without drawing too much attention."
Morty nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of what Evil Morty was saying. He would have to tread carefully from here on out. He couldn't afford to make any more mistakes. One wrong move, and the forces converging on him would strike again. And next time, he might not be so lucky.
Evil Morty turned back toward the central console, typing a series of commands into the holographic display. "I've given you enough to get started. From here, it's up to you to figure out how far you're willing to go. But remember, Morty—this path is dangerous. If you let fear control you, you'll lose. If you let the power control you, you'll lose. The only way to succeed is to stay balanced."
Morty took a deep breath, feeling the weight of those words. Stay balanced. It was a simple concept, but in practice, it was terrifying. The multiversal energy was vast, powerful, and seductive. It would be so easy to lose himself in it, to give in to the temptation of controlling more and more. But he couldn't afford that. Not now.
"I'll figure it out," Morty said, though his voice was tinged with uncertainty.
Evil Morty glanced at him, his expression neutral. "I hope so. Because if you don't, there won't be a multiverse left for either of us."
The words hung in the air like a dark cloud. Morty couldn't shake the feeling that the future he had been so desperate to control was now teetering on the edge of disaster.
Suddenly, the console in front of Evil Morty beeped, a sharp, metallic sound that echoed in the sterile room. Evil Morty's eyes flicked toward the display, his expression hardening.
"What is it?" Morty asked, his voice filled with concern.
Evil Morty's gaze remained fixed on the holographic display for a moment before he turned to Morty, his eyes cold. "It seems we've attracted some unwanted attention. The Conclave is moving."
Morty's stomach dropped. "The Conclave? Here? How did they find us?"
Evil Morty's smirk returned, but this time, there was a sharpness to it. "It was only a matter of time. They've been monitoring you ever since you tapped into the energy. They must have detected your presence here."
Morty's pulse quickened. He had barely started learning how to control this power, and now the Conclave was coming for him. The thought of facing them again—after what he had already experienced—sent a wave of fear through him.
"What do we do?" Morty asked, his voice trembling.
Evil Morty's eyes narrowed as he turned back to the console. "We finish this."
Without another word, he activated a series of commands on the console, and the room around them began to shift. The sterile walls faded away, replaced by a swirling vortex of stars and galaxies—the multiverse, in all its infinite complexity, stretched out before them once again.
"Remember what I told you, Morty," Evil Morty said, his voice calm but firm. "You've felt the energy. Now, it's time to control it."
Morty's heart raced as the stars swirled around him. The Conclave was coming, and they wouldn't stop until they had taken control of the power he had unlocked. But this time, Morty wasn't going to let fear control him. He wasn't going to let the energy control him.
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as he reached out with his mind, feeling the familiar pulse of the multiversal energy flowing through him. It was stronger now, more intense than before, but Morty focused on keeping the balance—on guiding the energy rather than trying to dominate it.
"I'm ready," Morty said, his voice steady.
Evil Morty glanced at him, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Let's hope so."
And with that, the stars around them exploded into a cascade of light as the multiverse shifted, and Morty felt himself pulled into the energy like never before. The weight of the multiverse pressed in on him from every direction, but this time, he didn't let it overwhelm him. He had learned to feel the flow, to understand the rhythm of the energy. It pulsed through him, but he remained in control—balanced.
Evil Morty was right beside him, guiding the flow of the multiversal currents with cold precision. His face was expressionless, his movements calculated. He wasn't panicked or afraid; this was just another game of strategy for him. But for Morty, the stakes were personal.
Ahead of them, the stars and galaxies began to distort. The fabric of reality rippled as a group of shimmering figures appeared, their bodies glowing with a soft, ethereal light. Morty's heart skipped a beat. These were the agents of the Conclave of Aeons—the same beings who had attacked him in his room weeks ago.
The Conclave agents floated in the space between dimensions, their forms barely visible against the backdrop of the multiverse. They moved with a grace that defied the laws of physics, their presence filling the space with an almost palpable sense of authority.
One of the agents, the same shimmering figure Morty had encountered before, stepped forward. Its eyes—glowing orbs of pure energy—locked onto Morty with a cold intensity.
"Morty Smith," the agent's voice echoed, reverberating through the void. "You continue to meddle with forces beyond your comprehension. You have been warned."
Morty swallowed hard, the weight of the agent's words pressing down on him. His pulse quickened, but he steadied himself, focusing on the energy flowing through him. This time, he wouldn't back down. He couldn't. He was no longer the scared Morty they had encountered before. He had learned. He had grown.
Evil Morty stepped forward, his expression hardening. "He's not the same Morty you tried to control," he said, his voice cold and unwavering. "And neither am I."
The agent's glowing eyes flicked to Evil Morty, its body shimmering with barely restrained power. "You, too, are a distortion. An anomaly. Your existence threatens the balance of the multiverse."
Evil Morty's smirk widened. "The balance? Is that what you call it?" His voice dripped with sarcasm. "I think you're just afraid. Afraid that someone else has figured out how to tap into the same power you've been hoarding for centuries."
The Conclave agent's body flickered, as though its very form was responding to the tension in the air. "This energy is not meant for mortals to wield. It exists to maintain the order of the multiverse. Those who attempt to control it will be met with destruction."
Morty felt a surge of fear rising in his chest, but he pushed it down. He wasn't here to destroy anything. He had felt the energy, understood its flow. He wasn't trying to bend it to his will—he was trying to guide it, to protect the multiverse from the very forces that sought to exploit it.
"We're not here to destroy anything," Morty said, his voice firm. "I know what this energy is. I've felt it. I'm learning to work with it, not against it. I don't want to upset the balance—I want to protect it."
The Conclave agent's eyes narrowed, its glowing form growing brighter. "You are too young, too inexperienced. You do not understand the true nature of the power you have accessed. The Conclave will not allow you to continue."
The agent raised its hand, and the space around them trembled. Morty could feel the multiversal energy shifting, warping under the agent's command. It was as if the very fabric of reality was being bent to the Conclave's will.
But this time, Morty didn't panic. He could feel the current of energy beneath the surface, the flow that connected everything. He reached out with his mind, sensing the disturbance, and with careful precision, he guided the energy back into balance. It was like adjusting the course of a river, nudging the current just enough to prevent it from flooding.
The rippling space around them began to calm, the tension easing as Morty stabilized the flow of energy.
The Conclave agent's eyes flickered in surprise. "You… you have learned."
Morty nodded, his confidence growing. "Yeah. I have. And I'm not going to let you stop me."
The agent hesitated, its form flickering slightly. "You are still a danger, Morty Smith. The multiverse cannot afford to allow you to grow unchecked."
Before Morty could respond, Evil Morty stepped forward again, his eyes cold and calculating. "You're afraid of what Morty might become. But the truth is, you're more afraid of losing control. You don't want anyone else to have access to this power because it threatens your authority. But Morty doesn't need your permission."
The agent's body shimmered with energy, and for a moment, Morty thought it might attack again. But then, slowly, the light around it began to dim. The other agents of the Conclave remained motionless, watching the scene unfold with silent intensity.
"You are a danger," the agent said quietly. "But perhaps… you are also a solution."
Morty blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"
The agent's eyes glowed faintly, its form solidifying. "The balance of the multiverse is fragile. For millennia, the Conclave has maintained order, ensuring that no single force disrupts the flow of reality. But the energy you have accessed is volatile, unpredictable. It can destroy just as easily as it can create."
It paused, its gaze softening. "But you have shown an understanding of this energy—a rare gift. The Conclave will not interfere with you… for now. But know this: if you lose control, if you threaten the stability of the multiverse, we will return. And we will not show mercy."
Morty's heart pounded in his chest as he processed the agent's words. He had earned a reprieve, but the threat still loomed over him. One wrong move, one moment of weakness, and the Conclave would be back to eliminate him.
"I understand," Morty said, his voice steady. "I won't lose control."
The agent's eyes flickered one last time before it turned away, its glowing form fading into the swirling void. The other agents followed suit, disappearing into the fabric of the multiverse until only Morty and Evil Morty remained.
For a long moment, Morty stood in silence, his mind racing. He had done it. He had faced the Conclave and held his ground. But the weight of what had just happened still pressed down on him.
Evil Morty stepped beside him, his expression unreadable. "You're not out of the woods yet. The Conclave will be watching you, waiting for you to slip up."
Morty nodded slowly. "I know."
Evil Morty's smirk returned, though it lacked its usual edge. "But you didn't let them control you. That's a good start."
Morty took a deep breath, feeling the energy still pulsing within him. He had learned to guide it, to keep the balance, but there was still so much he didn't know. So much more he needed to understand.
"What happens now?" Morty asked, his voice quiet.
Evil Morty glanced at him, his smirk fading. "Now, you keep practicing. You've made progress, but you're still far from mastering this power. The multiverse is a delicate thing, and the more you tap into the energy, the more you risk upsetting the balance."
He paused, his gaze hardening. "But remember: you're not a Morty anymore. You're something more. And the multiverse is going to have to deal with that."
Morty's heart pounded as he stared out into the swirling stars of the multiverse. He had come so far, but his journey was far from over. There were still dangers ahead, still forces that wanted to control or destroy him.
But for the first time, Morty didn't feel afraid. He wasn't just a pawn in someone else's game anymore. He was learning to control his own destiny.
And he was ready for whatever came next.
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