In 1997, humanity recorded The Bloop, an ultra-low-frequency and extremely powerful underwater sound. Believed to be generated by an ice-quake, or at least ice related, there were those who believed it to be some large marine animal. Neither was true.
It wasn't until 2012, when a mysterious island appeared in the same location that the mystery was solved. Equestria, a magical land of ponies, Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth Ponies under the rule of the two sisters, the Alicorn sisters. Celestia and Luna. With them came the barrier, a magical field of energy that anything and everything not equestrian in nature.
For life on earth, all that passed the barrier died, their minds and souls faded into nothing as entropy took over and they were broken down into base components, a black sludge. Something about the magic of the barrier just seemed to be utterly inimical to earth life's very existence, worse still it leaked inward towards Equestria, poisoning the space within to any earthly life. Ponies and any magical being however passed harmlessly through without any issues.
Despite the major weather effects caused by the introduction of the continent, it was strangely limited. Never seeming to pass past exactly 1,760 km away from Equestria for reasons no one could guess, even the pegasus ponies, with an intricate and intimate understanding of weather, could not explain it why it never seemed to effect the world beyond this radius.
They could not know of the Corpse City.
Captain Williams looked down at his ship, a simple science vessel, one who hoped to figure out what it was that stopped the storm from moving out further. In the distance, just past the edge of his vision, he could see the massive tidal waves that just seemed to shrink once they reached the edge of effect.
It was wrong, alien to him. In his long career he had seen the worst of storms, braved the worst of it all, and to see a mighty tsunami fall so suddenly for no reason just seemed wrong. Like watching nature itself bend to the will of the world around it. He sailed past the radius. It was much too dangerous to go to Equestria by ship; even the Ponies themselves were limited in how they could leave the storm, many who made it through spoke of an otherness to it. With their ability to master the weather, to see such wrath caused by their intrusion onto this reality had broken their fundamental beliefs.
Williams heard one of the deckhands turn on the radio. He listened as he watched the horizon.
"Today marks a momentous day in human history, after nearly two weeks of trying to get past the storm, Equestria has finally been able to get an official diplomatic envoy to speak on behalf of her race, I am joined by Ambassador Twilight Sparkle, the protégé of Princess Celestia herself, She had agreed to speak to me in this official interview before official deliberations take place, thank you for joining us miss Sparkle and welcome to the UN Security Council."
"Thank you. I'm happy to finally be here to speak on behalf of Celestia."
"How was your trip, I imagine the storm has made things difficult."
"Oh my yes. We have been able to get messages across, but actually getting here was a challenge, Teleportation can only do so much. It took a lot of Pegasus ponies working constantly just to get here. Many are gravely wounded, but I am happy to report that they will make a full recovery."
"Glad to hear it, but speaking on the storm, most information on it is kept quiet, is there any information you are at liberty to share or do you have any idea what caused it?"
"Well, when Equestria was displaced, it stands to reason that wherever we ended up would be effected by the sudden change. However we can't figure out why the storm is so... Limited for lack of a better term. It's a near perfect circle around Equestria and it shows no hints of stopping. At first, we thought that we ended up on a planet with magic users so skilled and advanced that they could control the weather better than any pegasus without physically being there, but when we were able to communicate with your species, you thought it was us who caused the storm. It took a while before we both realized that the storm was something else entirely, something not fully understood by either of us."
"Has the Storm affected Equestria in any major way?"
"Thank Celestia no, the barrier keeps the storm out for the most part, or at least the worst parts of it. I've been keeping in contact with a Doctor from one of your universities in... I think you call it the United States of AMAREica. His name is Dr. Black from the Miskatonic University. He’s a theoretical physicist who proved to be very well informed on all things meteorlogical. We've been comparing notes but so far we can't figure anything out, it's not natural to your world, but it's not magic from our world either, at least magic as we understand it."
"As you understand it?"
"Well, even in Equestria there are different forms of Magic, Harmony Magic, Dream Magic, Chaos magic, Dark Magic and so on, interestingly enough the barrier surrounding Equestria seems to be made of Chaos Magic, but we don't know the source. Anyway, each form of magic is just different enough that methods to identify them have to be radically different. We're working under the assumption that it is some form of magic that we have never encountered, we're calling it Eldritch Magic due to just how strange it behaves, but we're willing to accept it may not be magic, we're only treating it as this until new data can be taken."
"Do you think it's magic?"
"Well, kinda but… We do have reason to think it’s like magic in some way. It seems to have unique effects akin to magic. For example Princess Luna has been busy with the nightmares plaguing ponies everywhere since we arrived, what's odd is apparently these bad dreams have been caused by the storm, or is a byproduct of it. At first it was only those who were close to the storm, but after a while it grew. Now nearly everypony in Equestria has been having very bad dreams at least several times a week. Luckily Luna has been doing everything she can to quell the nightmares."
"I see, I wish you all the best of luck, now with that out of the way, I...with the Barrier... going to allow...", the radio suddenly broadcast nothing but static.
"Piece of shit.", said the Deckhand as he turned it off.
Williams ignored it as he looked off into the distance, skimming the edge of the storm. A fey voice whispered in his ear telling him to move ever forward. No one saw the massive misshapen black shadow that passed under the boat. Not even RADAR caught its existence. The crew sailed on, unawares of the saurian eyes that watched their every move from the black depths.
Williams watched as several men of science prepared to drop sensors into the water. The ship slowed to a crawl as the scientists did their work. William’s paid them no mind. Truthfully he did not want to be here. Bad enough he be this close to a storm, even if it didn't move, now he had to carry various egg heads who make too much money and do little else but ask stupid question.
"What the hell is that?"
Williams turned to see the scientists looking over the ship. The ship had ceased its movements by this point. He watched the scientists as the started to back away from the edge of the ship. His eyes narrowed, before growing wide as he saw the largest worm he had ever seen crawl onto his ship.
Giant man sized white flatworms. Its long squirming body like a ribbon of pale dead skin that undulated as it closed in on the nearest scientist. Its mouth parts flicked as darts shot out at incredible speeds to impale the nearest scientist. As he fell pandemonium filed the boat. Williams could only watch as more and more of the giant white worms slithered onto the boat.
He moved quickly to the controls, hoping to get the ship moving to prevent any more of these things from getting on board, but stopped as he saw something rise from the sea. A glistening mass of putrid whitish jelly, like the worms that now squirmed through the ship. It was massive, so large that its face could be easily seen even from this distance. It did not move, only watched Williams with a curious gaze.
Then the waters began to part. From both starboard and port came a large shadow. WIlliams turned in horror to see something rise from the depths. At first, all that could be seen were irregular spikes, but as they rose from the depths Williams felt irrational fear take over his mind as he realized what those spikes were. They were teeth, razor sharp teeth as long as he was tall coming from the abyss that made up this abominations maw. All around more worms came, and with them came strange tendrils seemingly attached to the ever growing maw of some vaguely saurian shaped head.
The titanic jaws slowly began to close around the ship, once its teeth sunk into the hull, it began to move down. Williams listened to the crunching of steel as they were pulled into the depths. He would never fully see what it was. The air seemed saturated with a foul scent that made Williams sick as one of the worms made its way into the room with him, and then he felt the spikes from the giant worms pierce his flesh.
Williams felt numb as he gazed at the spike sticking out of his shoulder, before he screamed when he felt his body burning, like he had stepped into an oven. He began to sweat profusely as the white worm watched him with some alien interest or curiosity. He felt his entrails boil like molten plastics and his muscles stretch and contract all at once.
Williams felt his mind snap as he lifted his hands to see a slick white webbing grow between his fingers, which were beginning to seemingly sink into his own hand. He screamed a terror filled scream as his teeth fell from his mouth to shatter onto the floor like fragile glass. He screamed as his bones dissolved and his skin lengthened. He fell to the floor, his skeleton liquefying into an unrecognizable shape.
His screaming had stopped, but not for lack of trying. No he found he could no longer scream from the writhing swarms of white lamprey that crawled from his now much too wide throat. Rotten flesh dropped off to reveal slick wet skin beneath. His innards and entrails twisting about in a wriggling, snakelike motion. Writhing as each organ became a new entity, a new worm.
These new ribbon like worms were born from a visceral display of wretched transformation that allowed more and more Yuggs to be born from the converted organs of any infected with their poisons. Allowing the ever growing conglomeration to become that much stronger. Once the insides were done, the outside remains would form into a much larger yugg. The man who was once Williams was no more, only a nest and only a Yugg.
The largest of the giant white worms, their father and ruler Ubb watched as his Yugg children, his followers returned to the deep with more human nests to bring children into the world. Some to be warriors, others to breed with Deep Ones to produce superior offspring for what was to come. Ubb looked to the shadow of his master as it retreated into the crushing depths to digest his meal. It would not be awake for much longer, but Ubb had succeeded in awakening one of his masters, if only for a little while. Zoth-Ommog, the third born child of Cthulhu returned and was ready for the coming trials.
Ubb looked to a newly born grey Yubb, slowly turning white. It was all that remained of William's now converted brain, until his awareness was fully dissolved it would only know fear. It could not see, hear, or speak, only feel. Ubb watched, waiting for the last remains of the once human to fully join the wriggling swarms. It did not take long.
Ubb watched as the new Yugg swam into the deep, before he himself dived into the sea to move to his next target. Nothing remained of the boat, the Yuggs wriggled and writhed as they dragged all debris into the depths below. Ubb strained against the call to return to sleep, but refused. He had work to do.
Deep under the sea, something stirred. Inky black blobs of ever shifting mass looked across the deep chasms to behold it. The Shoggoth cried out as the nightmare corpse-city of R'lyeh shook, and moved but an inch before it remained ever still once more. Yugg, Deep One, and Shoggoth alike moved outward, for now was the time of preparation, and dead Cthulhu waited dreaming.
Celestia looked down to her sister, she was a wreck. Bags under her eyes, her fur had lost its once brilliant luster, and the stars of her mane seemed dimmer than normal. Luna yawned as she looked to her sister.
"Tia, I'm fine, it's just the nightmares. They are much harder to chase away than normal."
"Do you suppose it is an ill omen."
Luna contemplated that for a minute.
"It is possible, but the dreams are so... Chaotic, but not like Discord. There was no feeling of intent to them, they weren't malicious, nor benevolent, they just are. I have never seen anything like it. Thank goodness for the structured nature of this world’s Dreamlands, else I would never have run them off."
"This world has a realm of Dreams?" asked Celestia with genuine surprise.
"Yes, but... It's not like pony dreams. Normally they are disconnected unless a connection is established, usually between friends. Each dream for a pony is a world unto itself, but so far, within every dream of every pony, there now exists a doorway to these Dreamlands. I have not been able to enter them for any extended period of time, something breaks the connection not long after I enter, but since that connection does exist even between ponies, any changes made to one dream can and will affect the Dreams adjacent to it, I still have to fix multiple dreams, but at least not one dream at a time. They are a true blessing."
Celestia put a hoof to her chin as she thought on it.
"What a queer world. First we are dragged through dimensions, to unknown lands where the heavenly bodies above move on their own and where nature takes care of itself, then the Barrier, then the Storm, and now a dream world. Something is fundamentally wrong with this world Luna, and I don't know what it is. I can feel... Something, a faint feeling. It's not malevolence, but it might as well be with how it effects our little ponies, and the humans."
"It would explain why humans are the way they are if they have had to deal with this for as long as they have been alive. I know it would drive many a pony insane if this was the norm back home. Humans are a determined and persistent breed, something to be admired, but it's unfair to them that no one here can chase these strange nightmares away."
"That it is Luna; I wonder if there is a way we can help them with that."
"We wish it to, but we cannot enter the dreams of man, we have tried, but it is cut off from us. It can be faintly observed from outside, but we cannot enter... I admit it alarmed us when we discovered it. I have entered the dreams of many a species, humans are the first I am unable to do so with."
"A shame they were not like our little ponies. If it were the case, we could actually help. Though they lived this long without aid, I suspect they are better equipped to handle the toll."
"Indeed, I to do wish to aid them, not that I would like an extra workload of seven billion dreamers, but at least I would never want for something to do ever again. Though oddly enough, I came across a few dreams that when viewed from the outside looked to be nightmares, yet the feeling radiating off the realm was... Pleasant. Humans are a contradictory race. It's a bit alarming, but not at all unwelcome."
Celestia smiled before looking back to the barrier that now surrounded Equestria, and the storm beyond it. Lightning struck near instantly all across the vast seas, and waves as high as mountains crashed against the barrier. She knew now where the barrier came from, only that it was of chaos, but she was glad it was there.
She chuckled as she looked to the Barrier.
"Never thought I'd thank Chaos Magic for anything."
The Sun shone bright as something rested beneath. A living conflagration burned hotter than fire should as flaming tendrils reached out past the sun’s surface before being pulled back into the orb of plasma. Cthugha rested, and humanity who looked to the stars only noticed the increased Solar Flare activity.
'Stone, always stone, fixed in stone, made of stone. I can't blink, can't breathe, can't move. Want to sleep, I want to rest.... NO! No, no, no, no, I can't drop the barrier, need to keep it up. can't let them in, can't let them in, can't let them in. Make it bigger, make it bigger, make it bigger. Have to keep them out, have to keep them out.'
'I am Discord, I can do it. yes I can keep them out. I would remain stone longer, possibly forever, but I need to do it, I must do it. I never wanted to hurt them, just have fun. I don't want them to die, not even the sisters. They are not ants, they are not ants. Stop it, please, stop it.'
'I don't want to fade. I don't want them to die. I just wanted to have my fun. Can they die, or just eternal lie. NO! Have to try, have to try, have to try, have to try, have to try.'
Had anyone looked to the statue of Discord, they would have seen his eyes shine bright, and the Barrier began to grow.
Within a wax museum, it moved and fed. Draining bodies of blood before returning to its pose as it raised its trunk high. It solidified into a repulsive statue. Tusks of twisting crystal dripped with crimson ichor as the shriveled bodies, bereft of blood lay cold with faces of agony forever frozen on their shriveled faces. Chaugnar Faugn returned to his state as a mere exhibit, at least until he once again felt the need to feed.
Pinkie lazily watched the cupcakes rise in the oven. Her hair slightly limp as she felt all parts of her body twitch and shake. For weeks since they arrived the same thing, over and over. Something was happening, and Pinkie wished that whatever it was would just happen already so she could actually rest and not flail around trying to get to sleep.
"Oh Pinkie, you need to get some rest. You look an absolute wreck."
Pinkie looked over to Miss Cake and smiled.
"I'm fine, just My Pinkie sense. It's been on the fritz since we got here. It won't go away. It has me more than a little scared."
"I'm sure it's nothing, probably just nerves. We're on a new planet after all, who knows what could happen.
Pinkie smiled.
"I guess your right... Ohh! Cupcakes are done.” Said Pinkie as she took them out of the oven and shoved them all in her mouth. The shaking made it hard to swallow, but at this point she had gotten used to it.
She yawned. Pinkie desperately hoped that tonight she could sleep without any of those... Nightmares.
Beyond a gulf, in the subterranean night in halls of massive bricks, imprisoned behind this wall of bricks in unknown ruins, it moved. Human and Pony alike stirred in their sleep as new nightmares of sick and twisted fetishes danced in their minds. Depravity unlike any ever seen by sane minds plagued their dreams and the unspeakable acts of excess, disgust, and madness made their stomachs flip and churn from the perverse and sadistic nature of it all. Nothing was spared, if it could stimulate, it was dreamed. Some suffocated on their own vomit as the hideously grotesque Y'Golonac, God of perversion and depravity shuttered in blasphemous ecstasy before, he to dreamed dreams no mortal dared to dream before.
"I just don't get it. It just started growing. Eventually it's going to hit South America. It's advancing slow for now, but what if it never stops."
Celestia looked to Twilight as the small unicorn looked over her notes.
"Maybe it will stop at the edge of the storm." said Celestia.
"I thought so to, but even the storm is acting differently. It seems to be moving, in fact it's no longer centralized around Equestria. It's moving west of here."
"West... Wasn't that where that human ship disappeared?" asked Celestia.
Twilight nodded.
"Yes. I think the storm heading towards the Oceanic pole of inaccessibility; it's the point in the ocean furthest from land, at least before we showed up. There is good news, as long as the storm doesn't grow, it would be much further away from Equestria so we can get to human lands without worrying about it, I would say the storm would just skimming the western edge of Equestria."
"That sounds...Oddly convenient." said Celestia.
"It's really not, at least not until the storm fully passed over Equestria. As it moves, parts of it can leak into Equestria in greater amounts, and become that much more unpredictable. Combine that with the Barrier now growing and things aren't going to be easy for anyone."
"What about the humans?"
Twilight remained silent before she sighed.
"The Barrier is expanding at about three miles per hour, but if we can't stop it, we could be looking at the end of the human species...It's... It's not fair to them. This is there planet, not ours, but it's like Equestria is...Eating their entire world to conform to ours, at the cost of a whole thinking and feeling species." said Twilight, punctuating the sentence with a hoof beat to the desk. The action was so strong that she nearly embedding her quill in the desk.
Celestia looked at Twilight with soft eyes as she watched her calm down, her wing wrapping protectively around the young unicorn.
"They have created hundreds of vastly different and unique cultures, thousands of technological marvels and advancements, and hold a collective experience from which we can learn so much... Now it's all going to be erased."
Celestia remained silent for the longest time.
"How long until the barrier makes landfall?"
"At its current speed we have eighteen days before it hits land, and eleven in a half years before it covers the entire Earth at that point all non-Equestrian life, not just humans will be... Extinct." said Twilight morbidly.
She took a deep breath as she continued on.
"That time frame however is based on the assumption that the barrier doesn't speed up. We do have time, but after the eighteen days, any humans or cities are going to start to be... Erased."
There was a grim tone in Twilights voice as she delivered the news, and Celestia had to repress a shutter as she thought on it.
"Twilight, as of right now I want all effort put to finding a way to stop that barrier. I will not have a species die because of this, not so long as I draw breath."
"Yes Princess. I've already started working on it, Dr. Black has given me names for a few people who he thinks can help, if we work together we might be able to stop it."
The Brothers of the Yellow Sign looked to the skies, watching the stars. Time was drawing near; soon the sleeping dead would rise. They spoke in alien tongue and chanted to their God. Beyond the small realms of earth, something did watch.
Him Who Is Not to be Named sat still. Endless tattered yellow silks and fabrics clung to the land for as far as the eye could see. The cloths moved unnaturally, as if worms or tendrils squirmed beneath them. Hastur, The King in Yellow awoke for but a moment, gazed outwards, before he resumed his death like slumber.
Twilight, along with her friends looked out the plane to the oceans below. Really, it was amazing what humans could do without magic. The cotton like clouds passed just below them every now and then the seas below could be seen and they shined like liquid sapphires. It was interesting to see the world just so small. Then far off in the distance was the blemish to this otherwise peaceful sight. Storm clouds and tidal waves.
"That just ain't right." Said Rainbow Dash. "I've seen some crazy storms in my life, made them to, but that one takes the cake. Even the Everfree isn't as bad as that thing."
"I know, at least it's moving." said Twilight.
"I got a bad feelin that times ahead are going to be a might bit difficult." said Applejack.
Twilight couldn't help but agree.
"Well." Said Rainbow as she looked up ahead. "I'm bored, where are we going again?"
"I told you like... Three times." Said Twilight.
"What Really? Huh, must have dozed off. Sorry Twi."
Twilight sighed.
"We're headed to AMARE....Sorry America, the state of Massachusetts, Essex County. They have a university there in a city called Arkham. The Miskatonic University. It's a highly prestigious university at that. One of their best. We're meeting with some scientists of various fields to hopefully find a way to stop the barrier before anypon... Anyone gets hurt. I'm looking forward to see what they have in their libra..." Twilights sentence was cut off by the snoring of Rainbow Dash herself.
"When did she fall asleep?" Ssked Twilight.
Applejack tapped her hoof to her chin as she rose a brow.
"Hmmm. I think it was around the time you said Massac..Massapop...Messolol...What was it again sugarcube?"
"Massachusetts."
"Yeah that. Thanks bit of a tongue twister that one."
Rarity smiled.
"Don't mind her darling, it's probably just the dreams, the poor dear has to work near that awful storm."
"Yeah, I guess. Well, I'm sure she'll figure out the place when we get there. I wonder what the campus is like." Said Twilight.
"I'm sure it is lovely, I do so hope our rooms are spacious enough for my materials. I'm hoping for a bit of inspiration, that reminds me. Twilight darling, I heard something about the school having uniforms, does this University have such a policy?"
"I... Don't think so."
"Oh good, no uniforms means a higher chance of seeing something truly unique. I can't wait to see what fashions the humans have. Oh this is so exciting."
Rainbow looked around at the clear blue skies. Soaring past them as fast as her wings could take her. She couldn't recall how she got here, but at the moment, it didn't seem to matter. A smile on her face and the wind in her hair was her only company, at least until she looked down.
Lying against a tree was a human, wearing one of those fancy suits with his nose in a book.
"The hay is a human doing in Equestria."
It was a valid question; after all, as far as she knew humans melted when they came near the barrier, and there was no way in or out without using it. Fast as she could she turned on a dime and zipped through the air until she stopped right in front of the man, he didn't even seem to see her.
She cleared her throat loudly and the man looked up to her with confused eyes before he seemed to shrug.
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Yeah, first of all, who are you and why are you here?"
The Man seemed to think on that for a question before he stood.
"Well, my name is Randolph Carter, as for what I'm doing here; I think the better question should be how did you get here?"
"Wha?"
"What is the last thing you remember?"
"Well, last thing I remember my friends and I were on our way to somewhere, not sure where. I don't think Twilight told me. Then... I'm... Flying ...In...This is a dream isn't it?"
"That depends; do you think it's a dream?'
"Wha? What does that even mean, it's either a dream or it isn't. It can't be a little of one and the other."
"I'm certain many daydreamers would disagree with that."
"Hmm.. You know, I never really thought about it." Said Rainbow as she sat down.
"Anyway, my name is Rainbow Dash, nice to meetcha."
"Likewise."
Rainbow smiled as she looked up at the man.
"So Randy, what are you doing here, did I dream you up or something?"
"...Randy?"
"Yeah, Randy. You look more like a Randy than a Randolph. I'm pretty sure Randolph is a reindeer name." Said Rainbow plainly.
Randolph remained quiet for a moment before he crossed his arms.
"I think you are thinking of Rudolph. But, to answer your question, I would hope you didn't dream me up, if you did that would suggest you were prone to fainting during periods of great emotional distress."
"Nope, doesn't sound like me at all."
"Well, that's one mystery solved." Said Randolph as he pulled out a pocket watch from... Well his pocket.
"Hmmm... Not much time left. I suppose they had to waken one day, I just hoped it wouldn't be so soon."
"What are you talking about?"
Randolph put the watch away as he looked down to the pegasus.
"Things best left unknown for as long as possible. Knowledge can sometimes be a dangerous thing Miss Dash. Very dangerous."
"Hey, Danger is my middle name."
Randolph scratched his chin as he thought on that.
"Rainbow 'Danger' Dash. I admit it has a certain ring to it, but I don't think you would care to know. " He said as he took out his watch again.
"Whatever dude. I'm not afraid of anything, I kicked a chaos spirits sorry flank once... Well I had a little help, but I still did it."
"Chaos spirit... Hmmm, sounds oddly familiar. What was this spirit like?"
"Looked like somepony put random parts together, snapped it's claws and made... Stuff happen. Weird stuff. Like chocolate milk rain and bunnies with really long legs, oh and dancing buffalo wearing a tutu... Yeah, that last one was kinda weird."
Randolph blinked in confusion as he put the watch away.
"Sounds... Well not something I would expect from a spirit of chaos... Though I do suppose it isn't really chaos if it's predictable. I have to admit it is unique, if nothing else."
"I guess so. What about this 'danger' thing you talk about? Can't be any worse than a guy who does that kind of crazy stuff with a snap of his claw. What is this thing you think is dangerous, sounds evil if you are this tight lipped about it?" Asked Rainbow as she waved her hooves around lazily.
"I envy your innocence, though... As much harm as they can bring, I would not call them evil, just indifferent." Said Randolph as he once more pulled the watch out once more.
"Why do you keep pulling that watch thing out, are you waiting for something?"
"No, I do it to keep the time of course, speaking of which, as much fun as this little chat of ours is, you should be going in about... Now."
"Wha? Huh? Whazat?", said Rainbow groggily as she woke up.
"Oh your up, we're about to land." Said Twilight.
"Already... How long was I out?"
"Just a few hours."
"Wow, slept through a whole flight. That’s a first for me.", said Rainbow as her ears twitched.
"Yeah, well we should probably be going."
"Right behind you Twi."
In South America, deep in the heart of the Amazon, masses of snakes slithered across the lands, feasting on any and all they came across, many carrying poisons so potent and vile that they hissed with an unnatural corrosion that melted away flesh, bone, and stone. No matter what, they could not state their hunger. Yig, the Father of Serpents hissed, but remained in his death like stillness.
Celestia listened to the court as best she could, but something about today made it all seem so... Inconsequential. Hours past of petty and frivolous issues came up to be dealt with, with ease. Celestia smiled and nodded, even if it was trivial, it still needed to be done. Once the deliberations finally ended and Celestia found herself on her way to her room.
Her peaceful walk was interrupted by a voice.
"I take it the court was as childish as ever?"
Celestia blinked as she turned to the voice. An unknown deep black Unicorn Pony with an ivory white mane. He had brilliant eyes, an emerald green only marred by the slit for a pupil. It almost looked like a changelings eyes, but at the same time not. He wore a regal suit that covered most of his cutie mark, but from the little of it Celestia could see, it was an arcane circle of some esoteric design.
However what most caught Celestias eye was the horn, it was not shaped like any other unicorn she had ever seen, save one. It was curved, just like that of Sombra. It put her ill at ease, but she didn't allow it to show.
"I wouldn't say that, but court was tiring. Such is the life of a Princess. Sometimes we must do things we dislike, but they must be done."
He smiled, something about that smile was very unnerving, a terrifying feeling clawed at the back of Celestias mind, but she did not let it show. He was probably just another eccentric individual. Celestia had met more than a few of those.
"That is a good attitude to take, one I know very well. Oh but where are my manners, I am Sovereign Herald, but please just call me Herald."
Celestia found that to be the oddest name she had ever heard for anypony in her very long life, baring royalty anyway. She took the time to look over the pony. For the most part, he was tall for a pony, yet very thin and jovial. Hardly unique and not at all unpleasant, and yet there was something else there, something she couldn't quite name, it made her slightly wary. She smiled none the less.
"A pleasure to meet you Herald. So why do you roam the halls, or were you looking for me?"
"How very astute. I was looking for you. You see, I work with others on trying to understand the barrier, we are not affiliated with the crown, we are an independent group, however we have made a discovery that we believe must be brought to your attention."
"Why not bring it up to the court?"
"I considered it, but what we have discovered... Well, it would be best if it was for your eyes only."
Celestia's face became serious as she nodded.
"Follow me."
Herald smiled as he followed. Celestia did not see the many tendrils that replaced his shadow as he moved behind her.
Beneath a mountain, on the isle known today as Greenland, a pool of protein mass swelled, quivered, and rippled as monsters were spawned. Many were draged back down into the pool by grey ooze-like tendrils, some escaped. Abhoth looked to the Outer World, the bleak, drear, and dreadful limbo outside his caverns he called his home, before he resumed feasting on the cancerous young who spawned from his mass. This cavern was his world, anything beyond was of no interest to him. His children however, the scant few who escaped his grasp, they seemed much too enamored with that outside world.
Twilight and her friends stood before the University, it was a fine establishment, at least Twilight thought so. She smiled as she looked at the students who would occasionally glance in her direction with a curious gaze. Not all too surprising considering this would be the first time they have ever seen a pony up close.
"Miss Sparkle?"
Twilight blinked as she turned to see a human moving towards them, she smiled as she recognized him.
"Dr. Black, it's good to finally meet you face to face."
She extended her hoof. The Doctor accepted it and shook.
"Likewise. I hope your trip was pleasant."
"Oh it was amazing, much faster than by balloon."
"I imagine so, when I first transferred from Sanbourne Institute I found the plane ride absolutely unbearable. However, on your way here, well you need to see this for yourself. We have learned something very interesting about what happens when living things pass through the barrier." Said the Doctor.
Twilight nodded as she turned to her friends.
"Umm, Dr. Black, what about my friends?"
"They can come so long as they don't touch anything. Your things are being moved to your rooms, but what we have found is... Interesting, and we're not sure if it's good or not."
Beneath Mu, surrounded by the still living mummified remains of many humans, ghouls, and other races, the Great Old One Ghatanothoa, the first born of Cthulhu slumbered. All whose gaze fell onto him would shrivel into a corpse, still living, still seeing, aware for the rest of their days in agony. A few of the unlucky ones were still looking at him, unable to move, unable to blink, only able to behold the horrific visage. He dreamed.
Twilight looked in the large tank at the iridescent black ooze. It made her sick just to look at it.
"This is all that remains from a large flock of birds who entered the Barrier to escape the storm. Your mages gave us this large sample for study."
"Dude that is nasty." Said Rainbow as she made a face of disgust.
Twilight had to agree with that observation. There was something... Wrong about it. How it churned and bubbled and rippled.
"Trust me, it smells much worse than it looks." Said Dr. Black.
Twilight watched as Fluttershy moved to the tank, tears in her eyes, but there was something else there to.
"Flutters, are you okay?"
She wiped her eyes clean as she looked to Twilight.
"No, no I am not. I am heartbroken and enraged. If I could, I would tear that barrier down with my own hooves. They were just innocent birds; we can go through the barrier, why not them..."
Twilight blinked at what her most sensitive of friends said, but understood where she was coming from. Fluttershy had a far off look in her eyes before she turned away.
"I'm sorry, it's just..."
Twilight felt like she should say something, but couldn't think of anything to say. So she just walked up to her friend and wrapped her forelegs around her. Not long after they were joined by four others. They stood like that for a moment. Fluttershy still looked ragged, but she at least seemed better.
"Thank you." She said softly.
Dr. Black moved to her and patted her on the head; Fluttershy leaned into it with a content sigh.
"I understand. Whatever that barrier is, it is dangerous to every living thing on earth. Even I was appalled when I saw all that remained."
Fluttershy looked to the man before turning back to the ooze.
Dr. Black attempted to move towards the tank, only to find something very... Pink hugging his leg. He looked down to Pinkie who smiled back up.
"You looked like you needed a hug."
"Yes well... Thank you, I think. But I would very much like my leg back please."
"Huh? Oh sure. Silly me.", said Pinkie with a smile as she let go and proceeded to sit down and happily look around the room. Small twitches could be seen across her body, but she was able to keep still enough so none would notice, best not to worry anyone after all.
Dr. Black nodded and straitened his lab coat as he moved to his desk; he pulled out his chair, which screeched as he dragged it across the old wooden floor to sit behind his desk. Twilight looked to his face.
"You said you learned something about it, what was it?"
Dr. Black moved the tank to the side. It slid quietly as he adjusted his glasses.
"The protoplasmic substance was unusual; we ran a few tests on it and found the strangest things. It is organic, that much we know. We did D.N.A tests on it, oddly enough it came back we found no Bird D.N.A. It is completely made out of non-coding genes, however despite that... We found a match." Said Dr. Black as he looked to an old journal.
"A match... For Non-coding D.N.A... I've only just read on it, but... How is that possible...What could match with it?" asked Twilight.
Dr. Black stroked his beard as he stared at the bubbling fluids.
" A long time ago, in the 1930's a professor at Miskatonic University, specifically a geologist named William Dyer, went on a scientific-expedition to Antarctica with a group of scientists, during which they discovered ancient ruins, beyond a range of mountains higher than the Himalayas. There was a smaller advance group, led by one Professor Lake, a professor of biology. When Dyers main expedition lost contact with Lake's party, they went to investigate. The camp was devastated, and the majority of men and dogs slaughtered."
Twilight shivered; when she looked to her friends she found that they were equally shocked.
"We don't know what happened after that, there were only two survivors. Professor Dyer and a graduate student named Danforth. Danforth came back mad and Dyer spent the rest of his life doing everything he could to stop a second arctic expedition from taking place, he burned notes and all files on the exact location of the ruins, and made sure everything was lost. All that remains is this heavily censored journal, most of it has pages missing or words erased. He even convinced the old dean to cut the budget should we ever try to get one off the ground. He was very adamant about us not returning, thorough to."
"It sounds like a horror story, but that doesn't explain the non-coding D.N.A.", said Twilight.
"Well, there was a substance, one found on Dyers clothing. Black in color, similar to the slime we have here. We kept it on ice for years, and when technology caught up we analyzed it. That material is the exact same thing as whatever these birds turned into."
Twilight gasped.
"You don't think that whatever happened in Antarctica in 1930 is related to the barrier?"
"Then that would mean something Equestrian entered earth over eighty years ago, however I cannot confirm that, I however believe it is something else. Dyer did give a few brief accounts from his time in Antarctica, it was rare for him to do so, but he still spoke on it when the mood suited him. When asked what the material found on his clothing was, he was tight lipped, however he did say something about a creature, he refused to identify it. Assuming he didn't go mad, then the material on his clothing was from something still alive."
"That has disturbing implications." Said Twilight.
"Agreed, at the moment anything else is utterly beyond our powers of speculation, until we have more information all we can do is guess. However the fact that that barrier turns life into this organic primordial ooze and that it is growing means we will be given the resources to find out everything we need to know. No expense is being spared. If this problem can be fixed, we WILL find it."
Elsewhere in the vast subterranean cavern beneath Greenland, she worked tirelessly. Forever building, never stopping, endless building. The chasm bridged with webbing. Atlach-Nacha, regent of the Spiders however did something never seen before. She stopped her building for but a second, and gazed outward, towards the other end of the bridge, towards the mouth of the cave that lead to the outside world. She stared long before she continued with her task. The Bridge must be maintained, and it was so close to completion. Eight legs skittering against cold stone as her many arachnid young helped her build the bridge. They were such good children.
Celestia sat as Herald placed some papers onto the coffee table. He lifted his tea to his lips and took a small sip.
"Ahhh, delicious."
"I'm glad you think so."
"Yes, but I think we have more important business to attend to. The Barrier."
Celesta's face hardened.
"What have you learned?"
"It's self-sustaining. We are not sure when it will reach equilibrium, possibly when it covers the earth. I'm not sure it can be stopped."
"I refuse to believe that."
"Yes, I would imagine so... We have come up with a possible solution, the 'next step' as it were. You may want to look at the notes."
"Next step?"
"To save humanity in some form."
Celestia stared down at the papers before calmly lifting them up to her mile. As she red her expression became dire, then shock overtook her face.
"What Madness is this!?" She practically screamed as her horn glowed bright.
"I can assure you that we came up with this idea with a heavy heart, but as you said, sometimes we must do things we dislike, but they must be done."
"This is too far Herald."
"Dark times are ahead Princess, the light of harmony grows dim, and the shadow of chaos casts further and further as time goes on. Sometimes an unpleasant problem requires an equally unpleasant solution."
"This would destroy humanity."
"On the contrary, it may be the only way to save humanity, I will leave it to you to decide if this should be implemented, but I do recommend you make haste in your decision, before it is too late. However it is an elegant solution, it is not as if we are to force it on humanity, everyone has to decide what's best for themselves. All we need to do is present the choice. We call it Conversion, why should the flesh and form matter so long as we work towards preserving the sapient identity of a human."
"Assuming it could be preserved, if it can't it is indistinguishable from death." Said Celestia darkly.
"It is merely a suggestion, one you have the authority to authorize, you can provide the resources I need, and I can provide the aid the humans need... this was never going to end with a happy ending princess, their choices are to melt into base compounds or live by transformation, that is the choices the humans now have."
Celestia blinked as she looked at the notes strewn across the table. Herald smiled as he levitated a golden coin over to Celestia, it was oddly designed, but well made. Almost a work of art. Celestia took it and examined it. There were arcane words written on it, words Celestia had never seen, and that worried her.
"I'll let you sleep on it, good day princess. If you wish to speak to me again, just flip the coin, I hope to hear from you in the future."
Herald vanished, and the Princess of the Sun looked at the notes now stacked neatly on the table. Celestia could feel a sense of monstrous guilt, before throwing the pages aside; she hoped never to look upon them again. That night, rest vanished, and the lands were rent with the screams of a prophetic nightmare of things to come.
The Storm moved, guided by unseen masters. Despite the impossibility of it, it effected far more than anyone could know. Eldritch beasts deep beneath the surface moved, some towards the storm, other far away from it. Dagon, eldest of the Deep Ones moved with purpose with his bride, Mother Hydra.
Deep Ones, deformed fish frog beasts expanded, new territories were carved in the days after the storm came, and with it came deals. Many a human with greed in their hearts would travel to the shores, leaving gifts for their undersea brethren. Dagon rewarded them as gold, silver, and precious jewels would be found washed ashore. The tales grew, and so too did the Esoteric Order of Dagon.
Within a world of the subconscious, a tall man stood, looking over the Dreamlands. Great beasts far in the distance and cities that defied imagination could be seen all around. The man, skin black as ink decorated in gold and royal blue looked onward as he peered between universes. He was drawn from his thoughts when a familiar form walked towards him.
"You always were late Mr. Carter."
"I assure you I can be punctual, I just show up late out of spite. What do you want Black Pharaoh"
The Pharaoh smiled.
"You know what is to come, you seem somewhat... Unconcerned."
"What is the point in worrying on something I can't control? Only once in my life have I ever beaten a deity, in fact I do believe that it was you who I beat. Hope that is not still a sore spot."
"You leapt off a Shantak, not deliver some final blow to a dark god. I admit I didn't expect it, but tearing your mind and soul apart by sending you to father is hardly some grand plan of mine, just a way to pass the time."
Randolph Carter remained silent, he wished he had the power to end the man before him, but to do something that suicidally foolish was beyond his power, or even will.
"How many will return?" Asked Randolph.
The Black Pharaoh smiled.
"All of them."
Randolph swallowed the lump in his throat. He remained quiet.
“You know Mr. Carter, you are a Loose End… I do not like Loose Ends.”
“Then end me, I couldn’t stop you if I tried.”
“Hmmm, no times are coming to an end anyway; consider this a gift Mr. Carter, for all the entertainment you provided me. Besides, I’m sure that whatever fate eventually befalls you will be just as entertaining as any I can imagine, and I do enjoy surprises.”
Randolph Carter said nothing. The Pharaoh looked off towards some unseen thing possibly beyond the realm of dreams.
“I have events in motion, schemes to push along, and plans the must be attended to. This may be the last time we speak, or perhaps not, depends on how things go. Goodbye Randolph Carter, you have been an amusing distraction, but alas, duty calls." Said the Pharaoh.
Randolph watched as the Pharaoh walked off, vanishing as if he were a mirage caused by a desert sun. Randolph knew better than to assume he saw just that. He closed his eyes as the visons took over his mind once again.
Deep within the Abyss of Yhe. The Yuggs squirmed in insane joy as they say the mountains twitch and shake. Ubb, father of Worms watched as they once again became still. The movement was small, but had cracked stone, revealing the mountains to actually be the fingertips of Ythogtha, second born of Cthulhu. Far in the distance the very ground rose slightly as Ythogtha took a breath, before the lands once again became still. Ubb returned to tend to the Yuggs, it would not be long now.
The S. S. Racehorse was a very ironically named ship considering the circumstances. Celestia stood as the barrier came into view. Thanks to the movements of the storm and the expansion of the barrier, the seas were calm enough for this research vessel to actually get reliable data on what the barrier even was.
A team of both human and ponies watched the slowly growing barrier. It took a lot of maneuvering, but the ship was able to move away from the barrier at the exact same speed the barrier itself was moving. It almost looked like it was standing still. Equipment surrounded the deck of the ship, some Celestia recognized, others as strange as esoteric as they came.
An older human, one who moved swiftly despite his advanced age moved towards Celestia.
"Greetings your majesty, I'm Howard Campbell, head scientist on this vessel. I worked with CERN in the past, and I think that together we can stop this ever-growing threat."
Celestia raised a hoof, allowing the man of science to shake it.
"A pleasure to meet you, have you discovered anything? I was hoping to keep my student up to date with current information."
"Well, as we expected, this Magic does not follow the laws of physics as we know them. We expected an alternate universe to have vastly different physical laws. At least with your help we aren't doing everything from scratch. Regardless, while we don't know what it is, we know it disrupts chemical bonds, a dead stick was reduced to that foul smelling black mush."
Celestia blinked.
"Did you literally poke it with a stick?"
Dr. Campbell laughed as he took off his glasses to wipe his eyes.
"No, as amusing as that is it was just happenstance that some wooden debris got in the path of the barrier. A Pegasus was able to retrieve the remains. Either way, dead or alive, any earthly lifeform on this side of the barrier is broken down into base elements, D.N.A remains, but any genetic information is seemingly lost, at least that is the theory. We cannot explain how Non-coding D.N.A remains, but then again... Magic." Said Campbell.
Celestia chuckled.
"Yes I know the feeling. In all my thousands of years I still find magic can surprise me, I only wish this surprise was of the pleasant sort." Said Celestia.
"If only. You don't look a day over 900 by the way."
"I'm not sure if I should be insulted, flattered, or amused." Said Celestia with a smile.
"I'll leave that for you to decide...” Said Campbell as he looked to the barrier.
“There is an old quote, it goes like this. Sufficiently Advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, well hopefully sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science.”
Celestia hummed.
Campball sighed.
“Getting back to the matter at hand. We have made a grim discovery."
Celestia held her breath.
"At first, we thought the barrier was a dome surrounding Equestria, but it's not, it is a hyper sphere. The highest point of the barrier remains at a hundred kilometers above the highest point of Equestria, its lowest point is deep underground. The problem won't be noticeable until the half way point. While it is growing, it appears as an ever increasing dome, but we can't forget that it is also moving underground. After the half-way point in its growth, it will actually come up through the ground. We won't be able to see it coming."
Celestia remained silent as she thought of that. She imagined families standing on tables as an ever expanding sphere came from below to kill them from the feet up. She fought the tears that threatened to come from her eyes.
"Is there any good news?"
"Just one. Based on a mathematical model, before the barrier expanded, we found where it likely originated, the center of it before it started to expand."
Celestia blinked, if they could figure out where the barrier came from, then there was a chance to stop whatever was causing it.
"Where?"
"...Canterlot, specifically based on the maps you provided us with, the statue gardens."
Celestia flinched, as if struck. Her eyes wide with terror as she looked back to the barrier. Her mind went blank before uncontrollable fury entered it. In a flash of light she disappeared.
At the edge of the Sol system, within the black stone hive cities of Yuggoth, the fungal Mi-go paniced and fled. Great earthquakes shook the planet. Deep beneath their great cities, he awoke for but a moment. Cxaxukluth, spawn of Azathoth sent forth a psycic miasma. The extradimensional fungoid Mi-go went to their ships of stone and tok'l-metals. Thousands of still living brains, some human, many not, broke and shattered from the mental smog that now clouded their minds, and the Mi-go, attempted Mass Exodus. Few made it out alive, and the Mi-go knew fear.
Celestia glared at the frozen expression of terror or Discord. Her eyes glowing with bright fire as a miniature sun hovered at the tip of her horn.
"Even trapped in stone you continue to vex me Spirit of Chaos."
The statue remained still.
"I thought a lot on it, considered that maybe; just maybe you could be redeemed. Everyone deserves a chance, until now I thought even you did. You are the literal spirit of chaos, its ethos, its very essence given form, I know this, I understand this, and I even accept this."
Golden tears flowed from her eyes. Discord was always the strongest of foes she ever faced, but in all his years, he never killed... Not once. The sun dimed and her eyes returned to normal, though she kept her hardened eyes.
"You were opposed to order, not harmony. You were without method, you were erratic and indiscriminate. Now you use this... This butchery to bring annihilation to innocent beings. Why? That is all I want to know. This is so unlike you. You treat the world as your playground, not once have you killed, not once have you ended a life. I thought I knew you. I almost respected you."
Celestia closed her eyes before taking a step to the statue. It was dangerous, it was foalish, and it was insane, but she had to know. He placed her horn to the head of the statue and concentrated. She dared not risk releasing him, no that ship had sailed, but she wanted, NO! Needed to know. Her horn glowed, and Celestia began the spell to hear the thoughts of Discord.
"NOOOOOOO!" Came the mental voice of the draconequus, but it was too late, the spell had been cast.
Celestia knew only truth, and she did scream, shriek, howl, bellow, and bawl.
Herald stood and watched as the princess began to scream a scream unlike any he heard before. None would hear her, not so long as he was there. He smiled as she knew that which was best left forgotten. It was always interesting to hear the different ways various species vocalized their mental anguish and suffering. The mysterious pony smiled.
"Just as Planned."
Twilight walked through the Library of the university. Her smile as she looked at the carefully contained chamber where the books were kept in a cool and dry room. dozens of books, as old as Celestia herself lay on various tables behind strong glass. Her eyes were drawn to several books with odd and esoteric covers. Many holding symbols she could scarcely imagine.
Standing next to twilight was an elderly man, he moved to the tables as he motioned to several grimoire and tomes.
"These books are some of the rarest and most sought after books in all the world. We at Miskatonic University are quite famous for our vast collection books on the occult. The King in Yellow, a few loose pages from the Pnakotic Manuscrips, a copy of the Unaussprechlichen Kulten, the Book of Eibon, and our most prized artifact a genuine copy of the Necronomicon. A better collection you will never find."
"Dr. Black tells me these books are... Disturbing in some fashion."
"I admit that those of a weak disposition may find their contents... Alarming, but knowledge is worth a bit of discomfort. Would you not agree?"
Twilight smiled.
"I suppose I would."
"Glad to hear, now you may look at any book you wish, but these books are very old, you will treat them with care. The only reason we are allowing you this is because you have experience with older tomes."
"Yeah, the Canterlot library beat it into my head how to treat very old tomes. I will treat them with respect and care, I won't damage them, you have my word."
"Very good. I will be nearby if you have any questions."
Twilight smiled as she carefully looked to the first book she wanted to study, the Necronomicon.
Celestia awoke gazing at the statue of Discord, despite this she did not move, only observed. Her face bereft of emotion, only the crushing realization of her own smallness in the face of beings she knew now were as close to infinite as she could comprehend.
"Beautiful isn't it."
Her eyes turned to the black and white pony standing before her. She looked at him blankly, saying and doing nothing.
"This realm is much worse than anything you have ever seen. Azatoth is the canvas and Yog-Sothoth is the paint, their interaction creates the universe that surrounds us. But when Azatoth awakens, we will not. You, like the humans are doomed to die before you reach the stars, to be smothered in the cradle. Even if you leave, it is too late, they now know of your realm."
Celestia said nothing.
"Tell me, now that you know what humans are, what will you do?"
Celestia thought of those inky black things of which all life on this world was spawned, the mere idea of their existence on Earth was truly terrifying, and the knowledge that everything alive came from them was too much to bear, on top of everything else she learned when she entered the mind of Discord. She flinched when she thought of the horrid sounds those beasts made.
Tekeli-li
Tekeli-li
TEKELI-LI
TEKELI-LI
TEKELI-LI
Her body shook as she closed her eyes tight and let the tears flow freely, she curled into herself, draping her wings over her form to gain some form of comfort. It did not help. Herald smiled.
“Puts everything into perspective doesn’t it?”
Celestia said nothing, only stared outwards. Herald chuckled.
"I'll leave you to your thoughts. Goodbye Princess." Said the thing that masqueraded as a pony before he turned to walk off.
However, after a few steps, he turned around and smiled at Celestia.
“Oh, and do remember that coin I gave you.”, and like that he was gone, and Celestia was left in her despair.
Within the endless snow of these dark woods, the Lupine Ones did hunt, they smelled the flesh of man, and they hungered. Tooth and claw tore meat from the bones to be scarfed down by the wolf things that fed on these men. As they fed, a dark shadow passed across the full moon for but a moment.
Ngirrth’lu, the Stalker in the Snow watched his children feed as his wings beat against the cold air and blizzard that followed him. Within his feral mind, he felt something coming, and something returning. He Who Hunts however, was far more concerned with the prey that had arrived in his domain. The Wolf Thing beat his wings, and vanished from space as mortal minds knew it.
The Blizzard remained.
Twilight read, and as she did, she found it very hard not to look away. Twilight loved reading, it was one of her favorite thing to do when alone. And yet, she had to force herself to read this book that spoke of things that made her wonder what mad writer put these words to page.
Abdul Alhazred, it was an interesting name. Belonging to an interesting human who seemed to look at the world in a way that Twilight just couldn’t really understand. Twilight knew of Nihilism, on an academic level at least, but throughout all of Equestria, any who followed that belief were few and far between, but none came to this level. This looked at the universe as an uncaring unfeeling thing that cared not for anything within it, where great and terrible things existed beyond the stars that were dangerous, but not in any traditional manner.
No this book spoke of beings that could be described as monsters, but to Twilight, that word seemed… wrong. No these things in this book were undeniably dangerous, yet… they didn’t mean to be. Everything else was simply beneath their notice.
How anyone could believe the universe was like this went far beyond Twilights understanding. This man was sick in the head, and Twilight couldn’t help but feel bad for him. How horrible it must have been for Abdul to see the world like this. Clearly, the man was alone on a level Twilight couldn’t comprehend.
She was only glad that there was no truth to this book, after all, how could the universe, any universe be so uncaring as to let things like this even exist.
“I mean, that would be absurd.” Said Twilight, mostly to herself.
No one answered her.
She closed the book, and carefully put it back. For the first time in as long as she could remember, Twilight didn’t feel like reading.
Luna stared down with soft eyes at her sister who could only blankly stare outward, the only indication she was alive was her breathing and the occasional blink. The Night Princess did not know what to do in this situation, all she was at this moment, was a younger sister who knew not how to help her older sibling.
Celestia did not respond to anything, she had to be carried to her room, and she put up no fuss from being magically lifted and moved to her bed. She merely lay there unmoving.
‘Difficult isn’t it, to know that which shouldn’t be known.’
Luna did not hear the voice, Celestia did, but she did not react.
‘You know, there is always the other option. All you need to do is flip a coin, and he will appear.’
Celestia blinked, but remained unresponsive.
‘Born of the Shoggoths and forced to dwell in a world so much larger than they will ever realize. Tell me Celestia, if you could save them not just from the barrier, but from their own origin, would you. Or will you allow the children of the Elder Things to continue on as they are?’
Celestia lifted her head.
“Sister!” Said Luna surprised.
Celestia did not look to her sister, she looked to the coin on her dresser, the one given to her by Herald.
‘Conversion is their salvation, it is their only chance. When those you fear awaken, wouldn’t you wish to have the might of humanity on your side, regardless of their form? They will awaken, all of them. It has already started, with your arrival being the catalyst. You will need an army, imagine an army seven billion strong.’
“Tia… Say something.” Pleaded Luna.
Celestia blinked again, as her horn lit and she brought the coin to her. She observed it, and threw it in the air.
As soon as it landed, Herald stood where it had landed.
“I knew you would come around.”
Author's Note
This story is a one shot, a sort of of prequel to TCB itself, only here the reason Celestia is such a genocidal monster is because she had the unfortunate luck of ending up in the earth of the Cthulhu Mythos, while her fall is the direct result of the manipulations of a certain Outer God.