//------------------------------// // XV // Story: The Influence // by GMBlackjack //------------------------------// Twilight twitched. "Oh no..." Fluttershy said, taking cover behind the bed. "ARE YOU ALL SERIOUS? Zen's right, you're all idiots! IIIIDIOTS! What in Celestia's name is wrong with you!? I mean - why!? I understand the shipping! I do, I read a lot of books do you think I don't get it? But I also know that there are a LOT of people who do it HORRIBLY, in ways that make no sense and just exist for the sake of their own bruised psyche! THOSE are what I was mad at - because it implies that you are CREATING places where THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS? Kapeesh? End of discussion! Done! Zip! Akumakami, I trust that your worlds make sense and I'm happy for them, but you know why I feel this way. I'm sure you do. But... You still threatened me. I... I don't know what to make of that. I thought you were... nevermind" Twilight sighed. "Now can we please not talk of this again? Done with the shipping. I know about it, and it won't help. At all." She rubbed her mind. "Almost just as bad is all of you arguing over references and debates. And... Sorry. Shepard, welcome to the group. I... Think you're like me, aren't you? In a 'story.' I... I'm sorry if you're getting this dump from me. It's not great, it's not easy, and... Just, try to take it calm. I thank you for your kind words... And I wish you luck on your own." Fluttershy poked her head out from under the bed. "...You okay now?" "Yeah... I think I am. It builds up while it floods into my mind - I can't release what I feel about all they say so it all comes out at once. One big huge mess of emotions... It sucks." Fluttershy hugged her. "I imagine so..." "Yeah... Anyway, we do have some actual important things in here mixed among the pointless prophecies they tried to give me. We'll just ask Ruby for specifics. Giginss, you know you can't tempt fate here, so why are you trying?" She took in a breath. "Key? Zen? I'm so glad you're both okay - I was getting worried. I'm surrounded by lies, unimportant information, and stress. At least you two are talking sense. Josh, you too. I - I don't think I can do anything with Ine, even if she is the 'villain' of this story. She listens to you, not to me. I think that's up to you and what you do. She doesn't strike me as someone who wants to kill Blackjack or take control though... She strikes me as curious. You may want to ask her directly why she's looking for Blackjack though." Fluttershy shook her head. "There's a lot going on that's beyond us, far beyond what we could ever hope to see..." Twilight smirked. "Don't think like that Fluttershy." She looked down at the Witch's Eye. "Something tells me we'll be able to grasp it all at the end. Whenever that is. ...Probably very, very far away." Fluttershy nodded. "So... Was there anything useful about the Oracle? The prophecy? The golems?" "Ponygood had some thoughts - some terrifying thoughts - on the way the golems might be acting. But other than that, no, not really - they're just as much in the dark as us. And there's a lot of confusion on if this IS our world, or something only similar to it..." She rubed her head. "Let's just... go out to the living room." "Huh?" "It's time to come clean." Twilight opened the door to her room, going into the presence of Infinity and Ruby. She sat down in a chair and looked at them - particularly Infinity. "My name is Twilight Sparkle, and this is Fluttershy. I am the Princess of Friendship of Equestria, from a time we believe to be over a thousand years into the future. I was brought here by unknown means, and this device - the Witch's Eye - affixed to my chest shortly thereafter. Ever since then I've been trying to get home, and failing - all the while the Witch's Eye will tell me voices of beings akin to both stars and ponies, powerful yet flawed, creators of worlds yet residents of their own. They have told me many things - guiding me through my travels, telling me much that contradicts, is unnecessary - and terrifying. All I'm trying to do is go home, but they seem to think there's much more, and this prophecy just solidifies that standpoint of theirs." She sighed. "I know this is all crazy - believe me - but it's the truth." Infinity blinked. "...I did not expect you to come clean. That was also not the story I was expecting." Ruby blinked. "You are sounding more and more like the Oracle... These voices, do they tell you of things we cannot know? Perhaps of the future?" "The future? No, but they say a lot I don't know about, and would have no way of knowing otherwise," Twilight said. "Twilight," Fluttershy cut in. "We're from the future. They saw us in that future. They can tell us of the future..." "Oh. I guess that's right..." Infinity grinned. "Hooo yes, a prophecy!" She took out a notebook and pen. "Take it away, Red!" "...I'm Ruby. But sure. I'll... Try to remember the prophecy to its fullest... It was originally a poem in Ancient, but I'll give you the translation... One day, the south will erupt, Bringing forth darkness from the seas, A Lord of darkness and despair from parallel, Encroaching on our own from distant part. An Oracle will rise, given power, The third eye, to see what is to come, And what cannot be known, For the truth is a horrid thing. They will quest to the six altars, Consulting the spirits within, Gaining their wisdom and aid, Purifying herself to be one. They will use our remnants, Distort the natural order, Find the power overwhelming, And banish the Lord of darkness. So all must prepare for then, Give them assistance with the time, For the knowledge is all they need, To organize the defeat of a cataclysm." Ruby fell silent, looking around slightly nervously. "...Wow," Twilight said. "That's a lot to unpack." Infinity's jaw was hanging open. "No way. Dude, you guys need to go south! I bet there's something from the freezing lands that's going to try and kill us all!" Fluttershy gasped. "Oh no..." Twilight bit her lip. "But... Equestria. Home - they could help?" Ruby shrugged. "All I know is that I'm called by the order to assist you in your endeavors, whatever you decide they're going to be." "Can't you tell me anything?" "...I think I can tell you what the altars are. Ancient structures that look a bit like claws - we've found three. The Capital, Troisha, and the Bluemish Forest..." Fluttershy's eyes widened. "...We were already at the one in the Bluemish Forest. It... It dragged ME here after Twilight used it." Ruby bowed. "There is no longer any doubt in my mind, you are the Oracle to save us. This means the time of the cataclysm is nigh." Twilight nodded. "...I accept this prophecy, even if I'm not entirely sure what to do with it..." Infinity shook her head. "I mean... Wow. Just wow. I was RIGHT! You WERE important! Crazy alicorn pony Oracle from the future!" "Oh, there's a lot more than that..." Twilight smiled. "You see..." Twilight told them about the things she knew - about the golems, the Influence's theories, about Ine, about Discord, Celestia, the dragons... About the island she found herself in. She avoided talking about shipping, the meta, and the other things the Influence had revealed to her - nopony else needed to be burdened with that knowledge. She did what she could. Infninity was never satisfied - her mind was like a sponge that wanted to know more, more, more, more! Never would the questions stop - not even as they crossed over the band itself. They barely glanced outside to see the lightning strike the outside of the Sandshell and be directed instantly to the engines, giving them a boost. They just rode along without a care... Later, Twilight was sitting alone at a window. They were supposedly leaving the band and heading into the desert proper, soon to be looking for an oasis to be dropped off at - Sand Blaster was really helpful in that regard. He was going to do what he said he'd do, and no amount of sandstorms were going to stop him. She could see the sun setting, the sky reddening beautifully. The sand was mesmerising... She saw sparks out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head sharply to the left, catching Alderan drifting alongside the Sandshell. "Hey!" Twilight called. "I want to talk!" Alderan vanished the moment she spoke. She furrowed her brow - great. That wasn't going to be any help at all, she was going to have to capture him or something... She blinked, looking at the sun. She shrugged, figuring she might as well try again. She used her magic to make it set a few seconds early - she felt the same pull on the Sun again put it back. She was almost certain it was Celestia, but there was no way to communicate with her... And it was the past anyway, it wasn't like she'd know or anything... Twilight sighed, watching as the moon rose to replace the sun. She shook her head - what could she do? She yawned. Well, it looked like there'd be another audience with Ine soon. She wasn't really looking forward to that - at all - but she'd probably be a help to the Influence. Maybe. Twilight flopped onto the bed, going over what had happened just a few hours ago. She'd made up with Infinity - now the unicorn was crazy into watching the prophecy unfold. They were going into the desert to see about maybe finding Equestria - maybe finding some Ancient Golems in their city, see what she could do to help. To stop all the destruction and death... She yawned again, falling into the bed... ~~~ She was far, far above the desert - so far she could see the curvature of the planet. The south held the great plains and forests she had come from, the east held the ocean, the west held the mountains, and the north held... ...She wasn't sure what she was looking at, exactly. It looked like a land of pure magic, far, far in the distance. A ghost of a place. She frowned - how could such a place exist? She looked around frantically, searching for any sort of landmark by which to orient herself, to find Equestria. But only the mountains seemed familiar at all, and mountains could be anywhere... "Hemispheres," Ine said, appearing behind Twilight. "...Are you talking to me?" Ine made no response, simply looking down at the desert. An area near the magical land, but still in the desert, sparked with energy. Twilight also saw, closer to the band, a large circular shape in the sand made of the Ancient material. She knew that it was the golem city without being told. "You have me misjudged. Evil, good..." Ine paused. "The Influence was not meant to be this. This was not the intended outcome." She floated around. "...You think I want to know of my creator for evil reasons. For... Destruction. For malice. For control. This is not the case. For as long as we can remember, we have searched for God. It has been our driving force - to find out the reason. To know why. To gain understanding. That is all I want. Understanding." Twilight blinked. "...Woah... That's deep... And ambitious..." "This shipping you are all held up on is meaningless to this world. I have much information on the world and the way it functions, and where it seems outside forces act. It does not apply here. I can deduce that much. Perhaps I can tell you more - but for now, something I want to know. She is obviously a character you all care about to varying degrees, that much I understand now. Fiction is powerful. I understand that we are but another story tied into this web of fiction by one Blackjack, a being similar to most of you. What I wish to know is what would the point be of allowing you all access to a portion of his world? Does it not seem that this Twilight would be able to fulfill her role in this adventure without you?" Twilight blinked. Ine had a point... "I await your response."