“Well?” Princess Celestia asked as the three young fillies remained silent and huddled together, doing their best to not meet their princesses’ cold gazes that stared right through them. The girls all looked to each other than around the library before they started speaking. Twilight was still smiling to herself, seemingly content with the situation as Spike just threw glances between Twilight and Princess Celestia as if expecting some greater reaction from Twilight.

“Do… do ya know what it means?” Applebloom asked, nervously stepping forward and speaking for her friends.

“Yes.” Princess Luna answered simply. “How did you get them?” She repeated her sister’s question sternly as they shook at the voice of the former Nightmare Moon. Looking at her right now they couldn’t be sure Twilight and the others and completely cleansed her.

“We… we we’re out crusadin’ for our Cutie Marks one day and we found the dice in a box!” Applebloom babbled. “We took it back to our clubhouse and ah accidentally tipped it over and made it hurt Sweetie Belle and then we ran to get Twilight and she ran same tests but said that there was nothing magical about them and then they took us to the hospital when they found out we fell out of a tree!” She stopped to take a breath. “We argued on what to do with it and decided to just lock it inside a chest until we could figure out what to do and when we did our Cutie Marks appeared!”

“Anything else?” Princess Celestia pushed, still cold and distant.

“We also put a note warning anypony against taking it if they found it.” Sweetie Belle added and a look flickered between Princess Celestia and Luna.

“Did you say how dangerous it was? Or give instructions on how it should be contai-?” Princess Luna asked turning her attention to Sweetie Belle.

“Did you give it a number?” Princess Celestia asked suddenly cutting off her sister. The tone of the question made it clear that something hinged on their answer and they were afraid of what they suspected. But surely the Princesses wouldn’t go that far with an unsatisfactory answer right?

“No!” Sweetie Belle answered quickly. “We just said that it’s dangerous and that you shouldn’t mess with it!” There were a few moments of silence as the Princesses simply gazed at them, deliberating on what to do silently. Or telepathically but that could just be the panicked imagination of children. Finally Princess Celestia stepped forward and motioned them towards her and with trembling steps they went to her, leaving a confused Spike and still happy Twilight behind.

“Girls what you found were… anomalies.” She revealed to them gently. “Despite the laws of nature, magic, or science they exist, sometimes with no evidence of how they came into being.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “They’ve been around for as long as we can remember.”

“So, there are just these weird things out there?” Scootaloo asked with a small voice. “Popping up out of nowhere every now and then?”

“Not just anomalous objects.” Luna corrected. “Strange phenomena, entities, and places. Ponies and other races with unbelievable abilities. Impossible creatures and monsters. Unknowable machinery or magic’s. Gateways to alternate dimensions.” She paused for a moment as the Cutie Mark Weird Thing Catchers tried to wrap their heads around what they just heard, minds filling with strange and terrifying possibilities. “And occasionally aliens too. I swear you change it so the solar system orbits your planet and suddenly you’re the most interesting thing in the universe.”

“But, but what does this have to do with our Cutie Mark’s?” Applebloom brought up, hoping to finally have the answer to their question. Although from what she had heard so far their special talent and future didn’t sound… normal.

“…How well do you know the story of how Equestria was founded?” Princess Celestia asked the young children. “Specifically about The Windigo’s?”

“They caused the blizzard that nearly destroyed the three tribe’s right? Because they hated each other and fed The Windigo’s power.” Sweetie Belle answered, doing her best to remember the story from the Hearts Warming Eve pageant that was put on every year.

“When we first came upon you ponies we were perplexed at how your world could be dying in an unending blizzard.” Princess Luna spoke drawing the girl’s and Spikes’ attention, Twilight still carefree as could be. “The Windigo’s are simple spirits, feeding off of the lack of friendship and easy to counteract with simple negotiation. But then we discovered why. The knowledge of them and The Magic of Friendship had been kept from you.”

“We were going from town to town, or what was left of them, seeking out those ponies that survived and could be helped. We taught them The Magic of Friendship and helped end the blizzard, through this they gained knowledge of their innate magic’s and developed their own cutie marks just as we had.” Celestia continued. “We don’t know how long they observed us before they made their move but,” she pointed to their flanks where their black cutie marks rested, “they bore that symbol.”

“Who were they?” Scootaloo asked as she glanced at her cutie mark, a sinking feeling in her gut.

“The Foundation.” Princess Luna answered letting the simple title hang in the air. “A group dedicated to capturing, studying, and protecting anomalies. And what they thought were anomalies that could have been easily explained if they took the time to listen to us about The Magic of Friendship. To see what the ponies we had saved from The Windigo’s saw.”

“They studied them?” Sweetie Belle asked stepping forward as Applebloom and Scootaloo shot each other a worried look. “Did they ever figure out how some of them worked?”

“…They had an Explained category we believe.” Princess Luna said as she and her sister now examined Sweetie Belle very closely. “But from what we gathered it was mostly used to cover for their screw ups.”

“What happened to them?” Sweetie Belle asked oblivious to the curious gazes the princesses were giving her as Applebloom and Scootaloo nervously shook in place.

“We destroyed them.” Princess Celestia announced simply. “It wasn’t easy either, but the Windigo’s Blizzard was hard on them and they couldn’t communicate with each other.” Her features darkened as she remembered something that they guessed deeply troubled her. “They were desperate enough to unleash some of their caged anomalies on us when…” She trailed off and shook her head clean of the memory. “It doesn’t matter, what matters is that we make sure you girls won’t fall into the same failings as The Foundation.”

“What, what do ya mean?” Applebloom said as she and Scootaloo nervously crept forward to stand next to Sweetie Belle. “Why’d you destroy them?” They must have done something terrible for the Princesses to bring down such a harsh punishment, one that Modern Equestria didn’t really have anymore. A dark terrible thought suddenly crossed across her mind as she wondered what would happen to them if they “failed” like The Foundation. Surely the Princesses wouldn’t… have them killed?

“We found their goals and methods… unacceptable.” Princess Luna explained with a scowl. “They conducted live tests with the anomalies on helpless ponies, griffons, minotaur’s, and even dragons! The horrors we found in their labs were unbelievable, all in the name of understanding that which by definition is impossible to understand! We could not allow it to continue.” The Princess of the Night stood to her full height and looked down at them so they fully understood her. “There is only one way to handle anomalies. They must be destroyed, no exceptions.”

“…Told you.” Scootaloo said after a moment of silence as Sweetie Belle just sputtered.

“D-destroy?! B-bu-t!” She tried to force out only for Applebloom to kick her and silence her.

“Girls when… if you find any more anomalies do not attempt to capture or approach them. Send us a message through Spike and we’ll teleport a team to handle it okay?” Princess Celestia asked suddenly turning back to the warm and nurturing monarch that the nation knew and loved. Still nervous and confused at all the information that had been dumped on them The Cutie Mark Weird Thing Catchers simply nodded as one and the Princess of the Sun smiled and turned to her faithful student. “Now Twilight I’m sure you’re full of questions but I thank you for holding back while I explained everything to the girls.”

“Nope I’m fine.” Twilight assured with a simple wave that made Spike’s mouth drop, or perhaps it had dropped long ago and they had simply not noticed, and Princess Celestia snap to attention.

“You’re… fine? You’ve got no questions?” Twilight simply nodded in confirmation as Celestia raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Oh yeah…” Scootaloo started to say. “Um, when Pinkie Pie was here she kinda… um,” She started to close up as the Princesses gaze turned hard and questioning, “sheputthenoseonTwilightandshethoughtshewasBitSavvyTheDancingClownforawhile!” The Princesses eyes widened and they snapped a glance at each other before Celestia smiled and turned back to Twilight.

“Twilight would you come over here please?” The Princess asked and Twilight happily trotted over smiling up at her teacher and idol with smile that belonged on a child. “Thank you.” Celestia said as her horn glowed and Twilight seized up for a moment before her eyes closed and she collapsed to the ground in a heap.

“Twilight!” Spike cried out as he ran to his friend/boss/whatever. “What’d you do to her?!” He demanded of the alicorn as he held Twilight’s head up and tried to wake her.

“A simple memory erasure spell. Hopefully the anomalous effects on her will be wiped away along with her memory of today.” Princess Celestia answered soothingly to the panicking dragon. “But just to be sure we’ll be taking Twilight back with us and giving her a full checkup. Can you stay here and manage the library until we send her home?” The Princess kneeled down to the young dragon to comfort him.

“Um yeah sure I guess.” He answered as he carefully stepped away from Twilight and let Celestia levitate her into the air.

“Did Pinkie Pie say where she was going?” Princess Luna asked the girls. “We will need to speak with her about what she saw and wipe her memory if need be.” She answered frankly at the notion of more memory wipes.

“She said she was going to go invite the others to a party for Gummy. Her pet alligator.” Sweetie Belle answered and clarified when Luna gave a raised eyebrow at the name.

“Very well, I’ll have the guards head her off and make sure she didn’t mention Twilight’s oddity to anypony else.” Luna said to her sister as she turned as made for the library’s exit.

“Do you understand girls?” Princess Celestia asked them as they snapped back to her, worried about what effect all this memory wiping would have on their friends. “Do not attempt to capture or contain anymore anomalies no matter how benign they seem. They’re very existence is a threat to the world and they must be handled by us. I know it will be difficult to ignore your special talents for so long but wait until you’re older and we can give you the proper training.”

“So, our Cutie Marks are about catching anomalies?” Applebloom asked for clarification, the answer of what their Cutie Marks meant finally being presented to them.

“Oh yes, I never answered that question did I?” Celestia smiled as Luna left the library, daylight briefly illuminating the room. “Although we have never seen Cutie Marks like yours before I would say that yes, your special talents seem to be around securing and containing anomalies.” She stepped toward them, making sure to levitate Twilight out of the way and kneeling down to their level. “You’re going to be fine girls, just remember what we told you. Your path may be strange and dark but we will guide you down it.” With those comforting words The Cutie Mark Anomaly Catchers relaxed and smiled for the first time since they had entered the library only a dozen minutes earlier.

With a final goodbye Princess Celestia left carrying Twilight in her magical grip as the girls and Spike were left to sit silently in the dark library. Soon there was a boom and flash of light of the Princesses departing; news already spreading around Ponyville of their sudden arrival and departure with an unconscious Twilight, leaving behind a pair of guards that the rumor mill told spent the rest of the day chasing Pinkie Pie down.

“Crud!” Scootaloo suddenly cried startling the others. “We forgot to tell them about Juggles!”

Celestia watched as the doctors took Twilight away, a heavy feeling of dread in her gut praying that whatever that clown nose had done to her was reversible or at least treatable. Luna turned to look at her as the parade of anomalous medical specialists left the room leaving them with just the “special” guards who were vaguely aware of the anomalous happenings that sometimes needed their attention. Like the chest that had come back with the Princesses which they delicately carried with them afraid of what could be inside.

“I want a team sent down to Ponyville to watch them.” Luna said simply.

“Don’t be rash Luna.” Celestia countered as she turned to face her sister. “They’re just three fillies.”

“Three fillies with Cutie Marks exactly like The Foundation’s symbol! That by itself is anomalous but their special talents are capturing anomalies! No pony before has ever had any talents specifying in anomalous matters.” Luna shot back angrily at the risk her sister was taking underestimating a possible anomaly. “They made a document explaining what those dice do and how to contain them. That’s exactly what The Foundation did for their anomalies!”

“It’s hardly the same thing Luna.” Celestia responded calmly. “The Foundation never filled out their documents with crayon for one.”

“Stop taking this so lightly!” Luna shouted. “They found two anomalous objects in just as many weeks! You said that the guards only find one every three months! That’s not normal and don’t you dare say that they got lucky!” She cut off her sister before she began. “They could be unknowingly luring them in or even creating them for all we know!”

“Luna calm down.” Celestia soothed as she put a hoof on her sisters shoulder.

“Don’t tell me to calm down this is serious!” Luna responded by swatting her sisters hoof away. “You weren’t on the moon; you didn’t see the facility The Foundation had there. They were more resourceful and crafty than we ever gave them credit for. We can’t allow them to come back just because their new founders are three little fillies right now.”

“We have no way of knowing if their Cutie Marks have any relation on their feelings for anomalous objects.” Celestia argued calmly. “And until we have proof of increased anomalous activity in Ponyville from either their or our sightings I won’t consider them anomaly generators. These aren’t the days of The Inquisition Luna; we can’t go accusing or killing ponies for supposed anomalous abilities until we have proof.” Luna narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to retort but instead just grunted and stomped away.

Celestia sighed as her sister stormed away angrily and brought a hoof to rub away her growing headache. “Send those items down to the mages for testing and destruction.” She ordered to the guards holding the chest. They saluted with their free legs and marched away soon leaving Celestia alone. “Please be nothing.” She whispered to herself as her mind drifted back thousands of years when she had last seen the symbol of The Foundation. When she had known them as those masters of horror that had managed things that still filled her nightmares millennium later with neat little boxes or elaborate rituals. When she had arrived at a world that had known her and Luna as both Savior and Conqueror.

When they had known her simply as SCP-1873-A.

“Holy shit.” South Wind muttered to herself as the small speck she had spotted in the distance grew into a familiar boat as she flew closer. The ship rocked gently in the waves more or less intact after days at sea and weathering a storm but as she descended South Wind saw no crew. “Sea Farer! Rocky Bottom! You guys here?!” She yelled as she descended to the deck of the ship her wings aching as she tucked them to her sides. The ship remained quite as she walked along, holding her nose as she peeked into the hold and caught a whiff of all the dead fish inside.

‘Well there goes that catch. But where the hell are they?’ It wasn’t like the entire crew could have fallen overboard could they? ‘If they had that’d be a fucking stupid way to die.’ She thought as she made her way up to the navigator’s room and peeking around the drawn curtain on the window. A leg poked out the corner of her vision connected to what looked like a stallions body lying on the floor.

“Rocky!” She yelled as she banged on the door trying to get his attention. With no answer she backed up and smashed her body against the door again and again until it gave way and she crashed into the room. Any hopes of Rocky just being hung over or merely dying of thirst or hunger when she got a better look at him and saw the plastic bag that had been tied over his face. With a cry of terror South Wind nearly stumbled back outside trying to get on her feet and away from the dead body.

“Oh shit. Oh shit.” She muttered to herself as she looked at him taking deep calming breaths. Carefully tiptoeing over to him, this could be a crime scene for all she knew, she saw the fuel gauge resting at empty and a folded letter by his side. Curiosity getting the best of her she edged her hoof to it, careful to not disturb Rocky, and slid it to her. She opened it and looked down to read the jagged mouth writing.

I’m sorry. I had nothing sharp. I couldn’t break the glass.
She sings so beautifully.
Don’t listen.

Author's Note

I really don't like this chapter. Too much talking and not enough anomalies involved.

When I originally started this I thought it was going to be simple, every other chapter the girls would catch a new SCP and have to figure out how to contain it on the farm without anybody noticing. This was back when I was just going to use SCPs off of the site but then I decided to go completely original or as original as I can be and then it just spun out of control from there. Now this fucking thing has got a story to it, with twists, blood, monsters, oddities, and badly written drama.

I also started writing another story so that took up some time. Feel free to read it and make it so that the comments there aren't just the same dude asking when the next chapter is coming.

Since people have been asking I will say it here: I know how to comment. I will not however because I believe it creates an inflation of comments that creates a false sense of quality or controversy for a story. If you feel you MUST have a response put "PLEASE RESPOND" in all caps at the end.