//------------------------------// // Chapter 50 - The Power Of Brainiac Pt: 1 // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -TERRARIA, UNDERGROUND CRIMSON BIOME- Lord Brainiac floats before four ponies, all of whom are currently strapped onto the fleshy walls of the large chamber. The sounds of various heartbeats echoes throughout the chamber, likely coming from the three large hearts positioned just behind the large brain. Brainiac begins to glow with a red aura as the entity declares: ”Awaken, all of you. I release you from your slumber.”, Upon saying those words, all of the ponies come to as they begin to groan uncomfortably and say: “Wha’?, what happened?... The last thing ah’ remember was- Holy sweet Celestia!, ah’ giant brain!” - Applejack. “Yuck!, that’s not a very good looking gummy brain!, wait, you are a gummy brain, right?” - Pinkie Pie. “Now’s not the time for that, Pinkie!. Hey ugly, how about you let me out of this disgusting stuff so I can beat the hay out of you!” - Rainbow Dash. “Wait a second... You were inside of that book, just like The Eye and Razeem. You’re... The Brain Of Cthulhu.” - Twilight. ”Ah, I was right about you... Twilight Sparkle. You may call me: Brainiac.” “You know my name?, wait, what do you want with us?!” ”The same thing you have spent most of your life trying to seek, knowledge. I can sympathize with you my fellow seeker of knowledge.” “Don’t you dare try to compare us!, you monster!. Yes, I love knowledge... But I’d never take somepony else’s life just to obtain it.” ”The end justifies the means, my little pony. Now, it’s time that I learn more about you all. Especially, that world you all come from.” “We aren’t telling you anything!, you disgusting brain!” - Rainbow Dash. “Yeah!, and you’re not invited to my next party you meanie!” - Pinkie Pie. ”Your cooperation isn’t a factor, I’ll take what I want from you all. Regardless.” “Now why da’ hay do ya’ even want to know about our world?, what’s it to ya’?. It’s not like you can even do anything-” ”That’s where you’re wrong, Applejack, daughter of Bright Mac and Pear Butter.” “H-How did ya’-” ”I know a fair amount about you, all of you. While you all slept, I peered into your minds and have uncovered most of your secrets. I know your past, your present, and from them... I can even tell you your future. The Rainbow maned pegasus, Rainbow Dash. The pink earth pony, Pinkie Pie, and her love for parties. Thanks to your minds I even know about your fellow Princesses. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and of course... you... Twilight Sparkle. Aw, and let’s not forget the potential of your little niece: Flurry Heart. By my calculations she’ll grow up to be a powerful ruler, she’d surely make you and your favorite foalsitter very proud.” Twilight and the other ponies were absolutely dumbfounded in horror. This entity managed to learn about their loved ones through the memories of their lives. To say that they were all afraid was an understatement. “But why?, why do you think that peeking into our minds will help you at all?. Applejack is right, even if you do take all of our knowledge it doesn’t matter!, you can’t harm our world-” ”Do you believe in alternate realities, Twilight Sparkle?. I’d assume you would, given your recent and current predicament.” “What kind of question is that?, we’ve just talked about this. Yes, I’ve always believed in its concept. Ever since I entered the world beyond the mirror and even now, in Terraria.” ”Ah yes, I found those events to be quite promising. Sunset Shimmer stole your crown upon which you were forced to pursue her, entering that world beyond the mirror. Another Equestria, one could say. I also know about my brother Razeem, he managed to puncture into your world. That, right there, is what interests me.” “Why would that interest you?. Also, answer me this, why are you soo interested in us?. Of all the adventurers you could’ve captured, you specifically told that other creature to target us... Why?” ”Hahahahaha...” “What’s so funny?!” “You want to know why I chose you all?. Well, you’re not the first versions of yourselves that I’ve seen before.” ”What?!”, The ponies shout in unison. ”I suppose a little lesson is in order. I will say this: The multiverse is everlasting and immeasurable, every universe has a potential clone of itself but with different events and scenarios. For instance, you Twilight Sparkle are currently a well renown hero in your realm as are your friends here. What if I told you there exist realities where you and your friends are, well, not so heroic.” “W-what...”, Twilight gulps in hesitation as she continues: “What do you mean by that?”, The alicorn question’s. All the while, her fellow ponies just stare on in utter shock. “Why tell you when I can show you all. I can see into other universes thanks to my limitless intellect, I can mentally breach the veil but not pass through physically... Yet. That’s where you and your friends come in.” A sudden gasp echoes throughout the chamber. ”Ah, I suspect by your surprised gasp that you’ve figured it out, Twilight?” “No... You... You want to enter our world the same way as Razeem did?!” Brainiac starts to laugh which causes the entire chamber to shake, the ponies wincing in the process. After a few moments, the large brain’s laughter dies down. ”I knew I liked you, that mind of yours is sharp, Twilight Sparkle. Yes, by peering deep into your minds I can extract what my brother used to enter your reality. Then, I will use it myself to enter your world... To enter all worlds within my comprehension. All will become one with me!, both in body and mind!”, Brainiac’s proclamation causes various reactions from the ponies: “No!, you won’t win!. You will not touch any of my loved ones!” - Twilight Sparkle. “Apple Bloom... Granny Smith... Big Mac. No!, ah’ ain’t gonna just sit here and let you do that ya’ monster!” - Applejack. “Don’t you dare touch my parents or Scootaloo you bucking fiend!” - Rainbow Dash. “Oh no!, The Cakes... The Twins... Sugarcube Corner... Ponyville...” - Pinkie Pie. ”As I said, your compliances isn’t a factor. Now then, since your minds will pave the way for The Crimson’s glorious future, I think I’ll award you all by living out the last few moments of your lives... In another reality. Consider this as my way of providing you all with entertainment while I extract the information from you all.” “What?!”, The ponies exclaim in unison. ”Your bodies will remain here of course but a piece of your consciousness shall be transported to another world. After all, I did promise to show you, did I not?”, Suddenly, four brain stems elongates from Brainiac’s very being as they all begin to slither their way towards a separate pony. The stems each lays themselves upon the heads of each pony. At the very moment of contact, nothing happened... That is until each pony begins to scream: “AAAAWWWWWWWWW-”, The ponies were all suddenly silenced as their heads go limp. The same unquestionably happened to the rest of their body but due to it being covered in the flesh, one couldn’t tell the difference. Their forms were now in a comatose like state, not entirely there, yet not dead either. ”Do me a favor, ponies. Tell the denizens of those realities that I will come for them, soon. Although, you won’t like what you find there.” -UNKNOWN UNIVERSE- Twilight Sparkle Twilight awoke in a large forest, one that she was not familiar with... And yet, the world she currently found herself in felt so familiar. Admittedly, the word ‘Felt’ wasn’t entirely accurate as she looks down to her body and is shocked by what she sees. “What the buck?!, I look like... A ghost!. I can see right through my own form!, this is so weird!. Ok, ok, calm down Twilight. First thing’s first, I need to test my body despite its current... Condition. Test number one: Magic Usage.” Twilight narrows her features and tries to channel her magic into her horn... To no avail. “Oh come on!, I need my magic!... Without it I feel so, empty. Come to think of it, my whole body feels empty and yet it feels alive as well. How is this even possible?, Brainiac said that he... Wait, is it even accurate to call it a he?. I’m just going by the tone of its voice but for now I am officially declaring his gender to be a stallion.”, The ghostly alicorn lets out a sad sigh as she says: “Of course I of all ponies would get caught up about some giant brain’s gender. Ok, time for the second test...” The ghostly figure gets onto her hooves, which admittedly felt natural to the alicorn... In a very strange way. “Ok, time to test my physical attributes. Let’s start by simply trotting around my general area.” ..... “Ok... This is definitely weird. My movement seems to work as intended and yet I’m not making any noise. Normally, a pony walking on most surfaces would result in the sounds of clopping and yet I hear, nothing. Hmm, test number three: Physical Contact.” Twilight then walks over to a nearby tree and attempts to strike it with her front left hoof. The most bizarre thing happens as she... Manages to strike the tree?, or didn’t?. “Ok, my hoof doesn’t phase through it--which I admittedly thought was going to happen--but it does seem to make contact with the tree. Most curiously, much like my soundless trotting, there’s no sound being emitted from my strike against the subject. I made contact with the tree and yet... I didn’t?. This isn’t good, I’m going to drive myself insane from all of this. Ok, final test: Flight.” The alicorn instantly begins to flap her wings and much to her great delight, she does manage to take off as she floats in the air just a few feet above ground level. “Oh thank Celestia, I thought my flight would be taken from me in my body’s current condition. Where ever Rainbow Dash was sent she’s probably going to be very happy about this. Ok, now to confirm my suspicion.” With a single flap of her wings, the alicorn flies up into the air and over the tree line. Twilight narrows her eyes and looks around in an effort to spot something, anything at all. There, out in the far distance, was something she never thought to see again. “That’s... The Crystal Empire!. Wait a second, if I’m in the north then why is all of the ice, well, gone?. There’s not even a spec of snow in the area. Never mind, I can think of that later. Oh!, I wonder if Cadence, Flurry, and my B.B.B.F.F is there?!” Filled with excitement, the Princess Of Friendship flies off with due haste towards The Empire. -THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE- After sixteen minutes of flight which consisted of traversing over large planes of grass and through the various structures of The Crystal Empire, in addition to avoiding ponies, Twilight finally reaches the castle upon which she lands at the gate and spots two guards currently standing at attention. “Celestia damnit!, I was hoping to avoid any contact with anypony else but It was wishful thinking for me to not expect any guards.”, Twilight lets out an annoyed snort before she says: “I suppose this is a good time to test if whether or not other ponies can see me. Then again, can I even touch them?, Can I even speak to them?. Well nothing ventured, nothing gained.” The alicorn walks up to the guards and stood awkwardly before them. “...” “Um, hello there...” “...” “Can either of you hear me?” “...” “Can you even see me?” “...” “Ok then, well, I guess I’m just gonna go on in... Here I go... Trespassing into a castle. You two should probably, you know, stop me. I cooould be an assassin, here to take over Equestria.” “...” The guards continue to stand at the ready and completely oblivious to the lavender mare’s presence. “Hmm, I suppose my hunch was right. Nopony can hear or see me, no doubt Brainiac did this just to spite us. Ok then, time to- “Halt, state your business!”, Twilight’s ears perks up at this which causes her to turn back towards the guardspony and replies: “Oh finally!, seriously is this some sort of-” “We’re here to see her, we’re the element bearers.” Upon hearing those words, Twilight gasps in absolute shock and exclaims: “Applejack!, you’re all here?!”, The alicorn trots over to her friend and attempts to hug the farm mare... Only to phase right through her in the process. “Wait, what?... I can’t touch anypony?. I can’t do... Anything?” Twilight suddenly becomes soo zoned out, due to her current situation, that the entire world around her went silent for just a few moments. “Ah’right partner, thanks fer’ everything.” These words finally brings Twilight back to her senses, ironic given her current condition, as she notices her friends start to make their way into the castle. The alicorn quickly regains her composure and goes after them. The doors to the throne room opens up revealing its inner sanctum. Twilight and this world’s version of The Mane Six starts to make their way inside, however, something immediately sticks out to Twilight. Calling them The Mane Six wasn’t entirely accurate as they were currently missing a certain member, the leader, one could say: Twilight Sparkle. A purple aura causes the doors to slam shut behind them which promptly startles ghost Twilight. “Hey, wait a minute... Where am I?. In fact, I don’t even see Spike with them either. I wonder if-”, Twilight’s words were instantly stopped dead in their tracks as she sees who it was that sat upon Cadence’s throne: A lavender colored alicorn whos height and stature even slightly surpassed that of Celestia’s, this world’s Twilight Sparkle. “Ah, I see you’ve all made it back. Report, now.” “Empress Twilight Sparkle, we’ve successfully conquered Seaquestria. We currently have Queen Novo and her little brat in our custody. What shall we do with them varmints?” “To be honest with you?, I don’t really give a buck. You can kill them both if you want, actually... Wait, don’t you need a few more hooves on your Orchard, Applejack?. Oh!, I do hope Big Mac and Apple Bloom are enjoying their new playthings.” Applejack lets out a loud series of laughter before she then recovers and replies: “Naw, we’re good. All them griffons makes fer’ great slaves, darn bastards do tend to muck it up but a good buck to their ribcage reminds them of whose farm they be workin’ on. Oh yeah, Big Mac couldn’t be any happier and Apple Bloom’s already turned five of those griffons into her, as she likes to call them: Sexual reliefers.” Twilight begins to laugh hysterically upon hearing those words as she then beams a bright smile and says: “I was always a fan of how you discipline your slaves, Applejack. What about the rest of you?, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Pinkie?. Does any of you need another slave?” “I’m good, egghead. The slaves I have are totally awesome so I don’t need another. I also help A.J. To keep her slaves in check so that keeps me occupied. When any of those griffons tries to fly off, I snap their wings right off them. Those bucking morons are lucky we don’t do what Fluttershy does.” - Rainbow Dash. “I am quite fine as well, darling. My fashion line is already selling like hot cakes and I’ve already turned most species on Equus into, well, material. For example, the fur of those walking cat things make for excellent merchandise.” - Rarity “Oh, well, um, my animals are already being well fed thanks to the healthy supply of meat my slaves provide. I really appreciate this, Twilight. The bears and wolves of my cottage absolutely loves being fed baby zebras, as does my pet manticore. Oh!, you all should watch one of my hunting events. I allow some of the slaves to run loose in The Everfree Forest and then I let my animals track them down. It’s soo much fun, I just enjoy watching nature take its course.” - Fluttershy. “Ooh!, ooh!, If we’re gonna kill them then can I keep them?!. Maud’s been asking for a living punching bag to relieve some stress on but let me tell ya, the last few slaves she’s punched exploded into bite sized pieces!. Oh!, maybe I should feed those pieces to those useless life forms during our next slave party!” - Pinkie Pie. “Very well, as the Empress Of Equus, I’ve come to a decision. Since Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy seem to be the only ponies interested I’ve decided to bestow Queen Novo onto Pinkie Pie and Princess Skystar shall go to Fluttershy. Being younger, I’m sure the Princess will offer your animals more of an exciting chase. I trust that you’ll be cutting her wings off in her hippogriff form?” “Oh yes, I can’t allow any of the slaves to fly away. Thank you again and I really appreciate this, Twilight. Oh, don’t worry about her swimming away either. I have a large pack of piranhas and crocodiles guarding all of the nearby water sources, I even have a large serpent!”, Empress Twilight simply laughs at her friend’s excitement before she continues: “I’m glad to hear that. As for you, Pinkie Pie, I’ve decided to give you Queen Novo. Being older than her daughter, but not too old, she’d be perfect for your sister’s stress relief. I hear hippogriffs can be quite durable.” “Before that, we need to throw her a: Thanks-for-being-maud’s-stress-relief-but-it’s-too-bad-we-have-to-kill-you party!, I’m soo excited!. I even want to try a new game called: Pull the wings off of a hippogriff!” “Then as Empress, I hereby declare that this meeting of The Elements Of Superiority is officially adjourned. Remember everypony, our motto is: “Ponies on top!, everything else?!, who gives a buck!”, The Elements Of Superiority shouts in unison. Ghost Twilight couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Despite her body’s current condition, tears were already flowing down her cheeks as she bore witness to this world’s version of herself and those of her friends. To see just how terrible things are here, how heartless they’ve all become. Only one thing went through her mind: -I... I have to get out of here, this world is just... Just... Terrible!. Me and my friends would never do anything like this!, ponies on top?!, what the buck is that about?!- [RRRREEEEEAAAAWWWWWW] “Aw, here comes Spike!.”, Empress Twilight exclaims happily. This causes the other ponies, including ghost Twilight, to turn towards the closed doors of the throne room’s entrance. [STOMP] [STOMP] [STOMP] A series of powerful and loud stomping echoes just beyond the doors until finally, they are parted by a very large dragon’s hand. A large purple and green dragon enters the throne room with powerful wings protruding from its back. The entity was so large in fact, that it had to lower itself beneath the foundation of the large entrance. “Twilight!, I have returned my dear mother!” “Spike!, there’s my number one assistant!”, Empress Twilight then teleports over to the large dragon and rears up to hug him with her forelimbs. Spike returns the gesture by using his large dragon hands to cover his mother in a warm embrace. “Oh Spikey Wikey, it’s so good to see you. And, oh my, how you’ve grown~”, Rarity says as she wiggles her eye brows suggestively. “Now, now, Rarity. If you want to breed with my son you’ll need his consent.” “Oh don’t worry mom, she already has it. Besides, I’ve already bred her before.” “I’m going to ignore that. Anyway, how was the mission?, were you able to subjugate The Dragonlands?” “Hah!, it was hardly even a warm up. They were all fat and lazy fools, even the former Dragonlord was nothing compared to my might. I believe that weakling’s name was: Ember?. Doesn’t matter, she’s now being digested in my belly.” “I’m so happy to hear that son, Oh!, we’ll need to tell your grandmother Celestia and Granny Velvet about this. Your aunt Luna is still massacring the deer populace so she won’t be here for a while, she’s even using her Nightmare Moon form. You especially need to see Granny Velvet, she’s turning one hundred this year you know.” Spike lets out a momentary sigh as he replies: “I keep telling granny that you could just turn her into an alicorn, she won’t need to worry about age ever again.” “You know that she’s an old fashioned mare. Besides, she wants to see dad again in the afterlife so we can’t deny her that.” “By the way, where’s Cadence, Shining, and Flurry Heart?. I was surprised to hear that you were currently ruling The Empire.” “Oh, Cadence and Shining took my niece out to massacre the Changelings, those who remain that is. I wish you could’ve seen it Spike, Queen Chrysalis looked soo pathetic begging us to spare her children’s lives, that is before we killed them in front of her and then killed her too. Some of them got away so that’s why they chased after them and asked me if I could watch over The Empire in their absence.”, Empress Twilight lets out a sigh of relief as she says: “My niece is going to become a great Princess Of Genocide.” As their conversation goes on, ghost Twilight’s world was literally turned upside down. She was simply broken, speechless, with tears flowing down her face but these tears were just as ghostly as their owner was. They existed and yet they didn’t exist either. Everyone she has ever loved were now heartless racists’ and were treating any non-pony as if they were garbage, mere playthings. The ghost alicorn could only hope that their non-pony friends were still alive in this world, those who weren’t captured by her twisted counterpart. “I... I hate this world... I don’t want to be here any longer...”