Rise

A story by somedude726

RISE

Chapter 1: Of Two Worlds

"J.. Ja--he.. are you.. o--"

"Mother. Mother, can you hear me? You're breaking up."

"Wh.. as.. tha? C-Can-- beeeep. Call dropped."

"Dammit.."

I slumped back in my couch, and put my phone back on the near coffee table, letting my cold feet up. Thankfully, I had been wearing my shoes. My mother has been trying to call me for the past few weeks, but we can never get a straight call through without it being heavily distorted, or just dropping within the first minute. This was the third time it happened today, too. It was October 14th 2044, and it's been like.. seven months since the start of the shitstorms. I lived in the town of Vancouver, and it's been around three months since they came to Canada. These damned storms hadn't let up or stopped at all, and there's no signs that it will. I'd like to say that news reporters are saying the rain and lightning will stop soon, but.. I've been out of internet, and my cable wasn't working, both since the day it all happened so I wasn't able to get the news. Thankfully, I still got the packages from police, though, so at least I could actually eat. Too bad they didn't come with newspapers. I chalked that up to none being made, which made sense. No way would I like to be writing articles while the world's going through hell!

I stood up from the couch finally, after sitting there for about thirty minutes to an hour attempting to talk to my mother, and walked over to my kitchen. I lived in a small apartment, much smaller than I'd like, but it worked. To the immediate right of the front door, you'd see my little living room. Two maroon, awesomely comfortable couches cornered a flat screen forty-five inch TV, with a coffee table in front of it. It's a tiny area, but it works for watching movies or whatever. Speaking of movies, in the shelves of the stand that holds my TV, all of the movies I own are there. Just open the glass doors to the shelves, and suddenly, crap-ton of DVD movies. I kinda like movies. To the left of the living room, was the kitchen. It had a bar with a marble counter-top, with three bar-stools at it. Behind the bar, was the actual kitchen itself. Empty drawers, fridge, and next to no food other than the lone package on the counter. Tiny damn thing. To the left of the entrance was yet another door, leading to the bathroom. The thing with the toilet and all that. And, finally, straight ahead was a short hallway leading to my bedroom. Where I sleep and stuff.

So, I sat on one of the stools, and took today's care package. I was hoping on eating the sandwich that came inside it. Except, I didn't really get to do that just yet. You know why? Because, to my surprise, the sound of static came to my ears. My eyes widened, and I quickly turned to see the TV. And, well, static. As usual. But why'd that happen? I remember specifically turning the TV off a few weeks ago, and I'm pretty sure I hadn't turned it back on. Considering there hasn't been any electricity and all. Putting the package back on the bar, I walked over to the TV. Sure enough, it was off. But the static, it was still there. Raising an eyebrow at this, I turned the TV around a bit, and yanked the plug out from the wall. Yet the static didn't disappear. What the hell? I stepped back and looked at the TV. Nothing changed. Still plain static. Until..

"Boo."

"AH!"

I jumped back and tripped on the coffee table, falling face first into the couch. Did.. did I hear that? I swear to god I heard a voice come from the TV. Is it working?

"HAHA! You should see the look on your face. Oh dear. Well anyway good sir, I've come to ask you something. Well, not really ask, but.. oh, you'll see what I mean."

I got up from the couch and looked around. No, no one's in here. That's coming from the television. It was a condescending

voice, it spoke in what was certainly a superior tone. Seemed male, too. And apparently, they can see me through the TV. It needs to ask me something.. what? Have I gone insane? Maybe this no electricity thing is getting to me.

"So, obviously you know about what has been going on to your dear friends and family. A living... hell, you'd say, right? Right. Oh, these storms, it was so much fun to see how your kind would survive. What you would do. Where you would go. And when... you... would... die."

Uhh, what. That was the only thing on my mind. I was drawing a blank here, I couldn't think correctly. My mind was just a cluster of questions. Who are you? What are you? Why is my TV talking to me!? and the like. I really was going insane, wasn't I? Yep. TV is talking to me. Haha. No, I don't like this.

"It was great! What has it been, a year almost? Maybe for you just a few months. But it did start all on that faithful day, right? Yes, yes. Seven months. Now, it was fun... but I have a task for you, my friend. There's a place, you probably don't know about it, but basically it's... hm... the representation of harmony. Love, happiness, all that. It's all really stupid, and childish. The inhabitants have no common sense, and oh, they get scared so easy. Using this, I want you to help me with something. Just one thing..."

"Her name..."

"Is Princess Celestia. Remember that. It will be the most valuable thing you will have other than the clothes on your back and the shoes on your feet. Goodbye."

***

It was a beautiful autumn afternoon in Ponyville, and the ponies were happily going on with their day. Whether that would be working their jobs, a trip to the spa, talking with friends, everypony seemed to be enjoying themselves. Except for one certain lavender unicorn, who of which lives in a tree.

"Come on... no.. no.. no!"

She was pacing back and forth within her home, checking multiple books at a time, looking for clues that may answer something. She didn't know what she was looking for, but she sensed it... something was wrong. Of all the books in her studies, she couldn't find anything that would be at least a tiny bit related. But, related to what? There must be something--

"Twilight! Why don't you just ask the princess? If you.. felt this thing, she probably did too. She might just have the answer, y'know."

The unicorn stopped in her tracks, and dropped the books she was carrying with her levitation. Her baby dragon assistant had brought up quite the suggestion, just now. Ask the princess? It was worth a shot, she decided. She nodded, and her assistant went to grab a quill and paper. After making sure the quill had a nice amount of ink, the assistant was ready.

"Go ahead, Twi," the dragon said, confirming he was ready to take a letter.

"Ahem. Dear Princess Celestia... I am sorry to have to trouble you with something as trivial as this, but I believe there is a problem. Early today, I'd say about.. three hours ago, I had sensed something that I don't think I ever have before. I just felt like something was wrong, or out of place. At first I thought it was something in the library, but, I just cleaned and went through every book four times, and nothing was out of the ordinary. I'm also thinking it might be in Ponyville, now. So, I wanted to know if you know anything about this, or if you're thinking the same thing. Get back to me when you can. Sincerely, Twilight Sparkle. Okay.. alright, end it there, Spike." Twilight responded.

Spike sent off the letter as she spoke those words. I have a bad feeling about this... Twilight thought.