Megalovania

Starlight Glimmer chuckled to herself as she stepped into her home, kicking the door shut seconds before her magic flared. A cotton ball flew to her flank, wiping away the dull grey sign of ‘equality’ she had all but branded her latest ‘resident’ with.

“Idiots,” the fuschia mare laughed quietly, being careful that none of the residents of ‘Our Town’ would hear her by accident. She couldn’t have them getting smart, after all. “That’s… five, now, I think? Double Diamond… what a stupid stallion.”

*...

Starlight blinked as a shiver ran down her spine before shaking her head. “Weird…” she muttered, casting a spell that washed through her home. When there was no return signal from her magical radar, Starlight shrugged, climbing the stairs to her bedroom. “Must’ve been my imagination.”

*Yes… Imagination…

Starlight froze as the shiver ran down her spine again, frowning in a mixture of confusion and worry. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, waiting for her heartbeat to slow before opening them again. What she saw, however, caused her to let out a shrill scream, backpedalling until she felt herself hit a wall.

There was nothing around her, just a void of pure blackness, and yet it still somehow felt small. Enclosed. And she could feel it getting smaller, if the non-existent wall behind her forcing her forward was any indication. No matter what she tried, she couldn’t move back any more. Her magic failed her, only a small, pathetic spark of light-blue energy falling from the tip of her horn when she tried to teleport herself away.

“W-what is this!?” Starlight cried in fear, her breath heavy and ragged.

*...

Starlight froze, her eyes shrinking to mere pinpricks as, for the third time that day, a cold shiver ran through her, much more powerful than those before. Slowly, she was forced forward, until a figure no taller than a foal appeared from the darkness.

The mare blinked in confusion as her forced advance was halted. Yes, the figure appeared no older than a foal, but it looked almost ape-like. It’s face was flat, it had strange, stubby appendages at the ends of its forelegs, the only fur it seemed to be coated in was it’s short, messy brown mane, and it even stood on it’s hind legs like a Minotaur. A green sweater covered the figure’s upper body, a single yellow stripe crossing its torso, and it wore a strange brown piece of clothing to cover its legs.

“What…” Starlight muttered, eyes wide as she stared. “What are you…?”

*I… am Chara...

Starlight shivered again. The figure’s mouth had moved, but it's voice had not come from there. Instead, it was almost as though it had come from within herself, echoing throughout her mind.

*Starlight… Glimmer…

Starlight’s eyes widened further in surprise. “H-how did you…”

*I… know all… I live… in all…

Starlight’s heartbeat rose. The figure - Chara - stared at her. Into her. Through her. “W-what do you want?” she asked, trying to back up only to press against the invisible wall once more.

*I want… to help you…

That made Starlight pause, blinking in surprise. “You… what?”

‘Chara’ nodded, the whites of it's strange red eyes slowly flooding with blackness.

*I will help you… Starlight Glimmer…

“But… why?” the mare asked incredulously, her fear giving way to curiosity and boldness.

*Your goal… My goal… they are… the same…

“What are you talking about?”

Chara’s face slowly split into a sinister grin, the same blackness that had overtaken its eyes dripping into its mouth, staining the pearly teeth an inky

black.

*Equality in all… no pain… no sorrow…

Slowly, Starlight stepped forward, her unease at Chara’s presence forgotten as its words flowed through her. Something about this being seemed so… alluring…

Chara’s grin split its face as Starlight came to a stop before it. Its face began melting slowly, going unnoticed by the mare.

Up until he pounced.

Starlight let out a shrill screech of pure terror as the child leapt at her, its body melting into a viscous, black liquid that felt heavier than anything she could possibly think of as each drop landed on her body.

The first hit her left foreleg, forcing her to take a knee as the sheer weight of the substance threatened to shatter her bones under its weight. The next struck her barrel, forcing the breath from her lungs as she dropped bodily to the ground. More and more, the liquid that had once been child covered her body, coating her darkness until she had disappeared into the void…

And then she felt it beginning to sink in.

Faster than it had covered her, the strange substance began to seep into Starlight’s pores, entering her very being. Her blood became blackened with tainted essence, her bones coated and strengthened by what she was certain at this point was liquid evil.

Before long, the black that had stained her coat was gone, instead staining her very being. Struggling, she forced herself up, tired legs pushing against the nothingness to let her stand. Shuddering, Starlight closed her eyes, fighting against the tears brought forth from the pain coursing throughout her core…

And when she opened them again, she found herself back in her room. Shock ran through the mare’s eyes as she looked around, gaze tracing every minute detail in a desperate attempt to verify that she was indeed safe. Magic flared from her horn effortlessly once again, which she used to send pulse after pulse throughout the home, each one responding in silence.

Heart racing, Starlight let out a relieved, tired sigh. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she turned, staggering into the nearest bathroom and staring into her mirror.

“Thank Celestia…” she breathed, her heart calming as she saw herself staring back, the fear and anxiety on her copy’s face lifting as her own feelings settled. She stayed there for a time, staring at herself as she felt herself calming before her head dropped.

Horn flaring, Starling turned on her faucet, splashing water over her face. Wordlessly, she attempted to scrub away the liquid she could still feel dragging her down, before freezing entirely.

As the mare looked up once more, gleaming red eyes staring back out of the mirror. An unsettling grin split her face.

*All are equal in my eyes…

Turning, the mare ambled through the house, searching each drawer as she went.

*Now… where are the knives?