Morty sat alone in the cold, sterile room that had become his temporary refuge. The swirling galaxies and distant stars of the multiverse twinkled faintly through the massive viewport in front of him, but they felt distant now—no longer the source of wonder they had once been. He had seen behind the veil of the multiverse, felt its rhythms and power, and it had changed him. He wasn't the same Morty who had traveled alongside Rick, stumbling from one dangerous adventure to the next. That Morty was gone.
For the past few days, Morty had been consumed by one question: What happens now?
He had learned to control the multiversal energy, or at least the first step of it. He could feel it pulsing within him, a connection to the vast web of dimensions that stretched across existence. But with that knowledge came a deep, unsettling realization—he couldn't go back. Not to the life he'd known before. Not to being just another member of the Smith family, following Rick's every command, getting dragged into chaos without a say in the matter.
He had outgrown it. He had outgrown them.
The thought sent a pang of guilt through Morty's chest, but he quickly pushed it down. He had tried to hold on to his old life, to cling to the family he cared about and the adventures that had once excited him. But after everything that had happened—after tapping into this power and facing the Conclave of Aeons—it was clear to him now that he couldn't live in both worlds. His journey had taken him down a path Rick could never follow, and Morty knew it was time to go his own way.
He stood up from the chair, his hands trembling slightly as he paced across the room. The energy hummed beneath his skin, reminding him of the power he now wielded, but it also carried a sense of responsibility. He had become something more than just a Morty. He wasn't sure what yet, but he knew it meant leaving behind everything that had once defined him.
He had made his decision: He was going rogue.
No more Rick. No more family. No more Citadel or Conclave or Coil. Just him, forging his own path through the multiverse. It was terrifying, exhilarating, and utterly incomprehensible all at once.
But before he could leave, there was one last thing he needed to address.
Evil Morty.
The cold, calculating version of himself had been right there at every step of his journey, pushing Morty to become more, to abandon the old Morty and embrace something greater. But Morty knew that help had come at a cost. Evil Morty didn't do anything for free. He had his own plans, his own agenda, and Morty was certain that his other self would come to collect that debt sooner or later.
As if on cue, the door to the room slid open, and Evil Morty stepped inside. He wore his usual calm, detached expression, but there was a glint in his eyes—something sharper, more dangerous than before. He was waiting for this moment, just as Morty had been.
"You've made your choice," Evil Morty said, his voice smooth and unbothered. "I can see it on your face. You're leaving."
Morty nodded, his throat tightening slightly. "Yeah. I am. I'm done with Rick, with the family. I'm going to figure this out on my own."
Evil Morty's smirk widened, though there was no warmth in it. "Good. That's the right decision. You've outgrown them. They'd only hold you back."
Morty's fists clenched at his sides. Hearing it from Evil Morty made it feel real, final. He had already made up his mind, but the words still stung. As much as he wanted to believe he had outgrown his old life, the thought of leaving his family, of leaving Rick, gnawed at him. There was no going back.
But he had to know—he had to face the truth about what Evil Morty wanted.
"I know there's more to this," Morty said, his voice low. "You didn't help me out of the goodness of your heart. So what do you want from me?"
Evil Morty chuckled softly, stepping closer. "I knew you'd figure it out eventually. You're right, Morty. I didn't help you out of kindness. I've been watching you, pushing you, because I know what you're capable of. You're not just a Morty anymore. You're something far more dangerous. And the multiverse needs people like us."
Morty narrowed his eyes. "People like us? What are you talking about?"
Evil Morty's expression hardened, his tone growing more serious. "The multiverse is in chaos, Morty. You've seen it yourself. The Council of Ricks, the Conclave of Aeons, the Infinite Coil—they're all fighting for control, and none of them care about the real consequences. They treat the multiverse like a playground, like something they can bend to their will. But they're wrong. And that's where we come in."
Morty felt a chill run down his spine. "We?"
Evil Morty nodded. "We're the ones who understand the true nature of the multiverse. We've tapped into its energy, learned its secrets. The others—they don't get it. They're too focused on power, on control. But we… we're different. We see the bigger picture."
Morty's mind raced. He had always known Evil Morty had a plan, but he hadn't expected this. Evil Morty wasn't just manipulating events for his own gain—he was positioning himself as some kind of multiversal arbiter, someone who believed he could shape the future of reality itself.
"You want to reshape the multiverse," Morty said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You want to take control."
Evil Morty shrugged, as if the idea were the most natural thing in the world. "Not control, Morty. Balance. The multiverse needs balance, and we're the only ones who can bring it. The others—they'll just keep tearing everything apart, piece by piece, until there's nothing left."
Morty's stomach churned. He had come here to find his own path, to break free from the influence of others. But now, Evil Morty was laying out a vision of the future that seemed terrifying in its scope. Morty wasn't sure if he wanted to be part of that vision, or if he even had a choice.
"I'm not interested in your plans," Morty said, his voice stronger now. "I'm going rogue. I'm going to figure things out for myself, and I'm not going to be anyone's pawn. Not yours, not Rick's, not anyone's."
Evil Morty's smirk faltered, but only for a moment. His eyes narrowed, and his voice took on a sharper edge. "You think you can just walk away? After everything I've done for you? You think you can go off on your own without paying the price?"
Morty took a step back, his pulse quickening. "I don't owe you anything."
Evil Morty's expression darkened. "Oh, but you do. You've learned how to harness the multiversal energy, how to control it—because of me. I gave you the tools, the knowledge. Without me, you'd still be flailing in Rick's shadow, getting tossed around by forces you couldn't begin to understand. And now you think you can just walk away?"
Morty's heart pounded in his chest. He knew Evil Morty was right, at least in part. He had helped him, guided him. But that didn't mean Morty was willing to be part of whatever twisted vision Evil Morty had for the future.
"I don't want to be part of your game," Morty said, his voice firm. "I'm not like you."
Evil Morty's smirk returned, but it was colder, more dangerous. "You already are, Morty. Whether you want to admit it or not, you're becoming more like me every day. You've already cut ties with your family, with Rick. You've made the same choice I did. And now, you think you can just run off and do things your way? You'll find out soon enough—this multiverse doesn't let anyone go rogue without consequences."
Morty felt a lump forming in his throat, but he pushed it down. He couldn't let Evil Morty intimidate him. Not now. Not after everything he had been through.
"I'll take my chances," Morty said, his voice steady.
Evil Morty stared at him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he took a step back, his smirk fading into something darker, more sinister.
"Fine," Evil Morty said quietly. "Go ahead. Run. But remember this, Morty—you owe me. And sooner or later, I'll come to collect."
The words hung in the air like a threat, heavy and ominous. Morty's heart pounded as he watched Evil Morty turn and walk toward the door, disappearing into the shadows without another word.
For a long time, Morty stood there, staring at the empty doorway. The weight of Evil Morty's words pressed down on him, but he refused to let it break him. He had made his choice. He was going his own way, forging his own path. Whatever debt he owed Evil Morty, he would deal with it later. For now, he had to move forward.
Taking a deep breath, Morty turned away from the door, his mind racing with the decision he had just made. He was leaving it all behind—Rick, his family, the chaos of his old life. For the first time, he was truly on his own. But even with the freedom that decision brought, there was a heavy weight that sat deep in his chest: Evil Morty's words echoed in his mind.
You owe me. And sooner or later, I'll come to collect.
Morty's gut twisted as he considered the implications. Evil Morty wasn't someone who made idle threats. He had orchestrated the fall of the Citadel, outsmarted the Council of Ricks, and now, he had been guiding Morty all along, pushing him toward this very moment. Morty had learned the secrets of the multiverse, but it had come at a price—and the time would come when that debt needed to be paid.
But not yet.
Morty moved back toward the center of the room, his eyes drifting to the swirling galaxies beyond the viewport. The multiverse was massive, incomprehensible. He had spent his entire life being pulled around by forces he couldn't control, by Rick's whims, by the danger of their adventures. But now, he had power. He had knowledge. He wasn't going to be anyone's pawn anymore.
No more Rick. No more being the weak link.
He grabbed the modified portal gun he had built in secret. It was an upgrade from Rick's design, capable of more than just traveling between dimensions—it could locate anomalies, stabilize fractured realities, and, if necessary, mask Morty's presence from prying eyes. He wasn't going to be easy to track. Not by Rick, not by the Conclave, and not by Evil Morty.
It's time to go.
Morty felt a pang of regret as he thought about his family. He hadn't said goodbye to them—hadn't even explained why he was leaving. But there was no way they'd understand. They couldn't. This was beyond them now. Even Rick, with all his brilliance, couldn't comprehend the weight of the power Morty now wielded. His family had always been his anchor, but now they were just a reminder of the past—of the Morty who had been afraid, uncertain, and powerless.
He had to cut ties, just like Evil Morty had.
Morty lifted the portal gun, programming a destination into the device. He had no specific place in mind—just somewhere far away. Somewhere deep in the multiverse where he could be alone, where he could figure things out without the constant threat of danger looming over him. The familiar green swirl of the portal crackled to life, the air around him shimmering as the dimensional gateway opened.
He stared at it for a long moment, the portal humming in front of him. This was it. Once he stepped through, there would be no going back. He'd be on his own—truly alone. No Rick to save him, no family to pull him back. Just him, the multiverse, and the energy he had learned to harness.
But that was what he wanted, wasn't it? Freedom?
Morty took a deep breath, steeling himself. He had come too far to turn back now.
Without another word, he stepped through the portal.
Morty emerged into a vast, sprawling dimension unlike any he had seen before. The sky above was an endless swirl of violet and gold, shimmering with strange energy that crackled in the air. Towering crystalline structures jutted out of the ground, reflecting the light in brilliant, prismatic patterns. It was beautiful, but also alien, untouched by human hands.
He stood there for a moment, taking it all in. There was a stillness here, a quiet that he hadn't experienced in a long time. No chaos, no danger lurking around the corner. Just peace. For now, at least.
Morty activated the device he had built, scanning the dimension for any signs of life, any anomalies that might pose a threat. The scanner beeped softly, displaying a series of readings on the holographic screen. Nothing. This place was isolated, untouched by the multiverse's usual entropy.
Perfect.
He found a quiet spot near one of the towering crystals and set down his pack, pulling out the few supplies he had brought with him. It wasn't much—just enough to get by while he figured things out. He'd build something more permanent later, once he was settled.
For the first time in what felt like years, Morty allowed himself to relax. He sat down on the ground, leaning back against the crystal as he stared up at the swirling sky. The multiversal energy still pulsed faintly inside him, but it was calmer now, more controlled. He had learned to guide it, to keep it in balance. But there was still so much he didn't understand—so much more to learn.
I'll figure it out, he thought, closing his eyes. I'm free now. I'll figure it out on my own.
But even as he tried to enjoy the peace of his newfound solitude, the weight of his decisions lingered in the back of his mind. He had chosen this path, but the consequences were already beginning to unfold. Evil Morty's warning echoed in his thoughts: You owe me.
What did that debt entail? When would Evil Morty come to collect? And what would he ask for?
Morty opened his eyes, staring up at the swirling sky. The quiet was unsettling now. He had wanted to be free, but freedom came with its own kind of isolation. There were no easy answers here, no one to guide him. He was truly on his own.
But that was what he had wanted. Wasn't it?
He reached into his pack, pulling out a small holographic communicator—one of the few pieces of technology he had kept from Rick's lab. It was untraceable, designed to reach across dimensions without leaving a signal. He hesitated, his finger hovering over the activation button.
For a moment, Morty thought about calling Rick. About going back, explaining everything, asking for help. But he knew that was impossible now. Rick wouldn't understand. He wouldn't see things the way Morty did. And if Morty went back, he'd be dragged into Rick's world again, losing everything he had gained.
No. I can't go back.
Morty put the communicator away, his hands shaking slightly. He was alone now, and that was the way it had to be.
But no matter how far he ran, he couldn't shake the feeling that Evil Morty's debt was already casting a shadow over his newfound freedom. The thought gnawed at him, a constant reminder that even in the vastness of the multiverse, there were forces he couldn't escape.
You owe me.
The words echoed in his mind again, louder this time.
Morty closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had made his choice, and he would face the consequences when the time came. But for now, he had a whole multiverse to explore. There were no more limits, no more chains holding him back.
And yet, the shadow of the past was always there, lurking just behind him, waiting for the moment to strike.
He wasn't sure how long he had before Evil Morty came to collect.
But when that moment came, Morty would be ready.
Or so he hoped.
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