**The Avatar of Albion: The Impossible.
I**
A New Day.
Written by:
Jed R.
Edited by:
The Void,
RoyalPsycho,
Doctor Fluffy,
TheIdiot.
***
"The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to create memories where none exist…"
R. Lutece, Barriers to Trans-Dimensional Travel, 1889.
“We have such sights to show you!”
Pinhead, *Hellraiser*.
"Do you really want me to reveal who you are? Knowing oneself means acknowledging one's actions. As of lately you've done some terrible things..."”
“Don Juan,” *Hotline Miami.*
***
If you have followed these tales, you know by now that there are many worlds.
If you have not, know only that there are a myriad of possibilities in creation - for every world made from the bountiful love of Harmony, there is a world plunged into the depths of despair. And while Harmony is a powerful force… despair can drown worlds in its shadow until nothing is left above the surface.
There are some paths you should never walk. There are some worlds that you should never see…
***
Grogginess was not a fun experience, she decided. If she had done this to herself, that might have been easier, but she hadn't. At least… she didn’t think she had. It would probably be a more sure thing if she could really remember anything.
She was lying on cold, hard ground. Her head was swimming, full of buzzing and thrumming and the feeling that she’d bashed it against a brick wall a few times for some unknown, ultimately unknowable reason. For some reason, everything felt blurry - not just her head, but her mind. Her memories…
...fearisanillusionofthemindmyfearisnotmymasterandIwilldefeatit…
Lightning Dust. Her name was definitely Lightning Dust. She remembered that much. At least, she thought she did. Maybe she was wrong - a lot of other things were tapping away at her subconscious - but the name Lightning Dust had an oddly possessive air, like something only one who uses it as a label for oneself would feel.
Are you awake? something seemed to ask her.
Suddenly, a chorus of voices began speaking. Lightning could make out individual words and sentences mixed between one another, but one pathway of conversation was the loudest of them all.
Does she look awake?
Maybe not but it’s always worth asking.
She is waking up though - you can see that.
Her eyes strained to open, but she could see nothing above her but grey sky and a blurry figure - a mare? Maybe a mare. Looked like a mare. Heck, maybe she’d be lucky and it’d be a pretty mare, that’d be something…
...RainbowDashDewDropGaleFeatherDitzyDooSharpTipWhiteBlossomScootaloo…
Her head felt like splitting open - so many names, so many… they felt like a stampede through her head, each accompanied by a hailstorm of images. Warm moments by firesides, quick stolen kisses before flights into death, staring at the night’s sky together and dreaming of a future that might never come…
What should we…
Look like?
That’s a good question.
Do we know?
“H… h…” Lightning croaked out, trying to speak. “H… he…”
I think she wants to speak.
“Hello…?”
Well. I was…
… expecting more.
Definitely.
Lightning giggled like a schoolfilly. For some reason, the conversation she was hearing felt like it was the silliest thing she had ever heard, and she was unable to restrain her amusement.
Did we bring all of her?
Obviously not, that’d be too many, and some of them were busy enough as it was.
I mean did we bring all of her mind.
Oh, that. Think so - it’s just not working properly. Hm. How do we fix that?
Let me look. Of all of us, I know how this stuff should fit together…
Lightning blinked, and suddenly found herself staring at a pair of eyes. They were very familiar, tawny eyes full of pride and mischief alike…
They seemed to be looking not just at her, but through her, into her, like they could see everything she was, could be, would be, wanted to be…
...bestflyerbestfightercommanderleaderloverspousemother…
This is all of her. Body and soul, if not mind.
As planned.
As necessary.
Lightning blinked and the eyes were gone, and she could see more clearly the figure of a mare, though the mare was hidden in shadows. She was… normal sized, at least. Or she looked it to Lightning’s eyes.
"Hello?" Lightning asked again. "Who is that?"
She can be more.
She can be us.
She is us.
It is time.
The figure of the mare stepped forward. She was pale - almost albino in fact - with red eyes that squinted slightly. She had a soft smile on her face. Pure, snowy white mane cascaded down the back of her body, and girt at her side was a sword with a ruby set into a golden hilt.
"Good evening," the mare said quietly. "How are you?"
Lightning Dust pushed herself to her hooves, frowning at the mare in confusion.
"W-where…?" she began.
"Where are you?" the mare asked. "Oh, that's easy. You're somewhere that used to be called Equestria, a very long time ago. Now it goes by 'Equus AS-001'. It's… not very nice."
Lightning looked around. She was on a field, the ground dead and cold, and there were no immediately recognisable landmarks.
"This is Equestria?" she asked in disbelief.
"This is an Equestria," the mare replied, smiling. "Not yours. Not by a long shot, actually - there are so many differences I don't think I know where to begin - but it is an Equestria."
Lightning frowned, confused. "I don't get it."
"Of course not," the mare said. "I wouldn't expect you to. This is beyond your experience, isn't it?"
"How can this be 'an' Equestria?" Lightning asked. "There's… only one, isn't there…?"
Even as she said it she had flashes of memory. The other Equestria - conflict, war even, soldiers gathering under the banner of -
"Gah!" she said, a sudden pain shooting through her head. She moved a hoof to her nose, frowning as she saw blood dripping onto it.
"Be careful," the Albino mare said. "You think too hard about things and you might start remembering."
"Remembering… what?" Lightning asked.
The Albino shrugged. "A lot of things. Not all of them good. Not all of them, necessarily, you."
Lightning shook her head. "Sorry… what?!"
The Albino smirked. "Apologies - this must be very confusing for you. You must do your best to avoid thinking about things that will concern you."
“How am I supposed to not be concerned?!” Lightning yelled. “I - ” And suddenly, her head felt as if it had been rent in two. “I - ARGH!”
Pain continued to lance through her mind, feeling like someone had jammed a spear through her eye socket and into the soft tissue of her brain. She staggered slightly, trying to keep her balance as best she could, but all she could hear for a moment were a myriad of voices.
…commander… comrade… squadron leader… Lightning… friend… partner… lover… who are you? Who am I? What is this -?
And suddenly the pain snapped away and Lightning, gasping for breath, fell to her knees, before pushing herself back onto her hooves.
“Perhaps I should rephrase,” the Albino said quietly, apparently ignoring the outburst. “Given the trajectory you will take, and given the path you have taken prior to now, you will soon be glad you don’t remember. There is much in that path that… would be unpleasant to recall.” The Albino motioned at something behind Lightning. “You must focus your concern on things like that, and not on the transient things your mind is plaguing you with at the present moment.”
“‘That’?” Lightning asked, turning as she spoke. “What tha-?”
Her line of thinking derailed in a heartbeat at what she saw. In the distance she could see something that might have been the Canterhorn once, but instead of the shining city of Canterlot on the side of it, inviting and regal, she could see a great black edifice on the side of it where Canterlot would have been, covered in dark towers and battlements, less a city and more a fortress. It was imposing - she could almost feel it glaring at her from where it was.
“Th… that… isn’t…” she began, her mind reeling.
“That is fortress AS dash Zero Zero One dash Alpha,” the Albino said from behind her. “It is designed to watch over this land. In times of trouble, the soldiers within are authorised to use whatever means to restore order.”
...restoreordercrushtherebelsdoyourdutytheyaretraitors…
Lightning shook her head. All of this, horrible as it was, felt familiar too.
“I don’t…” she said quietly, shaking her head. “I don’t understand why I’m here.”
“Nor would I expect you to, at this juncture,” the Albino said quietly. “But don’t worry. All will become clear.”
“Did you bring me here?” Lightning asked.
“Yes,” the Albino nodded.
“Why?”
The Albino smiled. “You have a mission. Almost a redemptive mission, if you like.”
“Redemptive?” Lightning repeated. “You mean… I need to be redeemed? Why, what did I do?”
“Would knowing help you?” the Albino asked, raising an eyebrow. “Would knowing be a comfort?”
“I’d feel like I knew why I was here a little better,” Lightning said quietly. “As opposed to now, not knowing a damn thing.”
“And what if you were a murderer?” the Albino asked. “What if you were responsible for the death of foals, for the mutilation of children? What if you helped build a world as grey as this one?”
“Did I?” Lightning asked, frowning.
…doyourdutyfortheSun…
“You have in some worlds,” the Albino said. “In some you ignored it and simply hid, or lived, or fled. And in some, you were the light that stood against it.”
"'In some worlds'?" Lightning asked.
"Versions of you," the Albino clarified - if you could call it clarification. "Parallel lives. Parallel histories."
“But did I do that?!” Lightning asked insistently. "Not some… other me, but me, me!"
The Albino gave her a soft smile. “Perform the mission I have set for you… and you may find out.”
Lightning growled. Suddenly, she sprang forward, meaning to attack the Albino - only for the mare to block her attack and hold her in place, looking her in the eye evenly. With a practised motion she flipped Lightning over her, where the Pegasus landed in a heap. Snarling, Lightning charged at her again.
“I’m. Not. Some. Puppet!” she yelled, as the Albino calmly blocked every blow.
“I’m not asking you to be,” the pale mare said, speaking as calmly as if she weren’t blocking a half dozen blows that could crush a stallion’s head. “I’m asking for your help.”
As she spoke, she blocked another blow, and deftly threw Lightning to the ground again, before pinning her.
“I am not your enemy, Lightning Dust,” the Albino said simply. “I am trying to help people. In fact, I mean to help you, if I can. But I can’t do that if you don’t help me in return.”
“How can I trust you?” Lightning snarled.
“Because I have not lied yet,” the Albino said. “You asked whether I brought you here. I said yes. I have refused to answer some of your questions - but I have not lied.”
Lightning growled again, but she slowly calmed herself down, relaxing as best she could. Finally she nodded, though reluctantly. The Albino smiled, and let her up.
The Pegasus gave the Albino a look, still not sure what to make of the mare.
“Who are you?” she asked.
The Albino grinned. “Strange that only now does the question of my identity occur.”
“What can I say,” Lightning said irritably. “I’ve been distracted.”
“So you have,” the Albino noted. “My identity is not important.”
“Bullplop,” Lightning said. “You brought me here, and you’re the one giving me this ‘mission’ - how am I supposed to trust you if I don’t know who the buck you are?”
“By having faith,” the Albino replied. “This world is a harsh place, Lightning Dust, but not all is darkness and fear. Hope may be your best weapon.”
"I think I'd prefer a big spear," Lightning said snidely.
The Albino chuckled. "I doubt that would be much help here."
"It'd make me feel better," the Pegasus grumbled.
"Alas, I can't simply give you a weapon," the Albino said. "Being armed without being part of the armed forces here would be unwise, in any case."
Lightning snorted. "Great."
She looked towards 'fortress AS-001-Alpha', feeling bemused, tired and getting the horrible sensation that she was developing a migraine.
"So I have to go there?" she asked quietly.
"If you want to reach your destination, it is the safest option," the Albino said. "I need you to find a portal within that place - it should be open for public use provided you provide the guard with the correct answers."
"What answers?" Lightning Dust asked.
"They will ask your world number and your reason for travelling," the Albino said. "You will answer - PT Zero One Four One, and that your purpose is visiting Lumina Dust…"
…Lumina'Lightning'DustselfnamefullfalsemenotmealwaysmewhoamI…
"… of world RA Zero One Four Four," the Albino finished.
"And who's that?" Lightning asked, shaking her head slightly as she tried to clear it again.
"A version of you that lives there," the Albino said dismissively. "Also irrelevant in the grand scheme of things - the point to that particular element of your cover story is that counterparts often live in these worlds together, and that they meet is considered normal. It's something of a recognised support mechanism."
Lightning shook her head. "Just so you know, I think this is all bucking insane."
I thought she'd say that.
Quiet down. We're talking.
What? I'm just saying…
Lightning shook her head again, blinking as her vision blurred. The Albino seemed to become indistinct for a moment, her figure becoming less easy to define. Lightning blinked again, and her vision snapped back into focus, the Albino frowning slightly.
"My apologies," she said. "I was thinking aloud."
"That was some thought," Lightning said quietly, eyes wide as she felt another pulse of pain shoot through her skull.
"I have… many plates to spin, shall we say," the Albino said with a shrug. "And many hooves and hands with which to spin them."
Lightning shook her head again, still feeling groggy. "So if some pony asks what world I'm from, I say PT - what was it?"
"Zero One Four One," the Albino confirmed with a nod, "and you are -"
"Visiting Lumina Dust from RA Zero One Four Four," Lightning finished, surprised at her own ability to remember. "Yeah. Ok. So once I'm through this… portal thing, what do I do?"
"Once you are through, I will contact you again," the Albino said quietly. "Do you understand what you have to do?"
"What, sure," Lightning said with a scowl. "Still pretty fuzzy on why."
"Why will become clear with what," the Albino said. "All I can promise is that things will be clear - and that you are doing this for a reason."
Lightning sighed. "Fine." She paused. "Where do I start?"
"You start by flying," the Albino said with a smirk. "I understand you're good at that.”
Lightning gave the Albino a sarcastic smile, then sighed. “I… don’t like this. At all.”
“I don’t believe it is necessary that you like it,” the Albino said quietly. “Merely accept that this, right now, is what is going to happen. I have often found that accepting what you cannot change gives me enormous peace of mind.”
“Easy for you to say, being the one putting me on this path,” Lightning said, almost to herself.
The Albino smiled. “Perhaps. Or perhaps there are no easy choices. My choices are, in some ways, harder than you can possibly imagine. And yet here I am, still making them. Hopefully you will see how it all pans out in your favour.”
Lightning nodded again without saying a word.
“Good luck, Lightning Dust,” the Albino said with a soft smile. “Remember you soon.”
And then the mare was gone. Lightning blinked as she realised she was standing alone in this desolate place, with nothing but that looming building in the distance as her guide. Closing her eyes, Lightning contemplated running, abandoning this ‘mission’, simply fleeing…
…runrunfasterrunfartherandyoustillwon’tbeabletorunfarenough…
She shook her head.
“No more running,” she said, though she had no idea why she said it. With a deft movement of her wings, she took to the air and began flying away towards fortress AS-001-Alpha.
***
On the edge of a hill overlooking a grey sea, there stood a man. He wore a long grey cloak over a robe, and he had a hood covering most of his features, though a greying beard could seen poking from under the hood. He was contemplating possible futures - he was hardly a prophet, no matter what others called him, but he had always been acutely aware of the shadow of possibility that hung over them all.
He heard something behind him, a slight shift in the air. Turning, he found himself facing… nothing. He frowned, and a hand went to the hitherto-concealed sword girded at his side.
“I’d recommend showing yourself,” he said evenly. “Concealing yourself will no doubt only delay the unpleasantness of this encounter.”
“Do you always expect unpleasantness?” a new voice asked, and suddenly the figure of a Draconequus was standing there, arms folded.
The hooded man took his hand from the hilt of the sword. “Yes, as should you, Discord.”
The Draconequus - Discord - smiled tightly. “I do. It’s perhaps one of the reasons I’m still alive.”
“What is it you wanted to talk about?” the hooded man asked.
The Draconequus shifted on his feet, looking almost uncomfortable. “There's been a sense of something - a new player, so to speak. The Oracle’s making noises.”
The hooded man tilted his head slightly. “The Oracle? What has he said?”
Discord shrugged. “Something about chess, something about a defeat for the Nameless… it's all laughably vague, but there we have it.”
The hooded man slowly reached up and pulled his hood down, revealing a head of long greying hair and a wrinkled, tired face. “And you want me to…?”
“Come back,” Discord said, almost imploringly. “The Resistance needs you - your guidance, your insight.”
“My guidance and insight is useless,” the hooded man replied, shaking his head as he turned back to the view.
“And so you spend your days here?” Discord asked, scathingly. “Staring out at a dead ocean and hoping to see a miracle staring back at you?”
“I came here to learn what it is to be what I am,” the hooded man countered.
“And what have you learned?” Discord asked.
The hooded man said nothing for a long moment, before suddenly drawing his sword. Discord took a step back, but the man merely stared at the blade, a frown on his face.
“This weapon is a reflection,” he said. “It changes with the wielder, becoming whatever they need of it. For me it was a simple sword to represent my own… naivety. When I first wielded it I thought of everything in one way: me and my enemy. Now I am surrounded by enemies… and they are a reflection of me. They are what I could have been.”
“I've been to a lot of worlds, Christopher,” Discord said quietly. “And in plenty of those worlds, Avatars were the candle that held back the darkness - even the light that drove it back into the nothingness from whence it came. The Nameless is… an aberration. He isn't following the true path.” The Draconequus paused. “And now, neither are you.”
The hooded man - Christopher - turned to look at Discord with narrowed eyes.
“You were given that weapon to fight evil,” Discord said. “Now you’re… convalescing, while evil goes on all around you.”
“There are some evils one cannot defeat,” Christopher said with a scowl.
“But you can still fight,” Discord retorted. He held out a claw. “We need you back. The Resistance needs you back.”
Christopher turned away from him, deep in thought as he looked out at the grey sea. He sighed heavily, before rolling his shoulders and turning back to Discord.
“Alright then,” he said. “Let's get to it.”
***
