//------------------------------// // First Impressions! // Story: Meet Bill Cipher // by linksbro1 //------------------------------// *WARNING* This chapter contains cryptograms using the Atbash Cipher. If you don't want to decode them yourself, use this decoder. Nopony spoke. All was silent. Twilight was struck dumb, Rainbow Dash and Applejack were eying Bill suspiciously, Rarity had a look of confusion plastered across her muzzle, Fluttershy was staring at the blackened and singed fur of Discord with worry, Pinkie Pie…         “OH. MY. GOOOOOSH!!!” The silence was not only broken, but shattered into a novemdecillion (10^60) minuscule pieces. “I’VE NEVER HEARD OF YOU? AND DISCORD SAID YOU WERE NEW! THAT MEANS YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO PONYVILLE AND BECAUSE YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO PONYVILLE THAT MEANS I’VE NEVER THROWN A WELCOME TO PONYVILLE PARTY FOR YOU, AND IF I’VE NEVER THROWN A WELCOME PARTY FOR YOU…” With an incredibly sharp and drawn out gasp, Pinkie was gone, leaving a puff of dust where she was standing an attosecond ago.         “Well, who saw that coming?” Bill asked, immediately raising his hand. A second passes before five hooves and one claw are risen into the air. “Yup, just Pinkie Pie thinking she can outdo me.” Bill laughed. “So, no introductions necessary for you guys, I already know everything about you” Gesturing at each the ponies, he listed their names as he points. “Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and of course, Princess Twilight Sparkle.” Bill finished with a bow. At this, Twilight could stand it no more.         “WHAT ARE YOU? HOW DO YOU KNOW OUR NAMES, AND IN THE NAME OF CELESTIA, WHY IS AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE TALKING TO ME?” Twilight’s outburst caused Bill to laugh again.         “Oh don’t worry Twilight, you’re not hallucinating, nor are you dreaming! Same goes for the rest of you guys!” Still laughing, Bill wrapped an arm around Discord’s shoulders. “Also, thank you for noticing, I work hard to keep this figure equilateral! Shooting Star was so dumb saying I was isosceles! So, you ask what I am? Can’t give a complete answer that won’t take three centuries to explain. How do I know your names? That’s because I know EVERYTHING.” At this, images flashed in his body for a moment, as if he were a TV.          “YOU KNOW EVERYTHING?” Everypony’s voices clashed together.         “Not at the same time, too much static noise. But! I’m able to switch out knowledge simply on a whim! For instance! TWILIGHT HAS A CRUSH ON KIRMXVHH XVOVHGRZ! ZMW IZRMYLD WZHS DIRGVH WZIRMT WL UZMURXGRLM!” Bill shouted the last sentence as loud as he could, suddenly turning a dark crimson as his words became distorted.         The stunned silence returned, more prominent than ever. Twilight didn’t even know what to say. She didn’t even know what Bill had said. The only thing she heard was frighteningly distorted words. But from the looks her friends were giving her, she couldn’t help but blush a deep red.         “Y- you know everything…? Sweet Celestia...” The prospect of limitless knowledge was such an appealing concept to her, but in the hooves of this weird thing… She could not remember a time where she was more frightened. Not the return of Nightmare Moon, not the return of Discord. Not even the changeling invasion or Sombra had terrified her this much.         “Oh! I can tell you're scared! That’s good! If you weren’t scared of me, I’d question your sanity! However… I can tell that you-” Bill gestured to Rainbow Dash, “are just looking for a reason to charge, and I quote from Dash’s mind; ‘Beat him so hard he becomes a square!’ HA! IT’S FUNNY HOW DUMB YOU ARE!” As Bill and Discord roared with laughter, the tiny fragment of restraint still existing within Rainbow Dash was obliterated, and she pounced.         “GO BACK TO GEOMETRY CLASS YOU STUPID TRIANGLE!” Dash roared as you flew straight at Bill.         “-AND FREEZE FRAME!”         …         Nothing happened.         Huh… What? What’s going on? Rainbow Dash was hanging in midair, completely still. As her thoughts raced through her head, she saw Twilight walk into her vision. "LITERALLY unlimited and unimaginable power. The last guy who did that ended up losing a lot more than just a fight.” Bill snapped his fingers and Dash fell to the ground with a resounding THUMP!         “Rainbow!” Fluttershy cried, as she rushed to her best friends side. “Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you? You just froze…” As Fluttershy’s ramblings continued, Rainbow Dash waved her hoof dismissively.         “I’m fine ‘Shy… That was really weird though…”         “Now I don’t mean to interrupt your precious bonding time Bill, but I have a feeling a spontaneous party is about to happen…” Discord smirked.         “Yup! I can tell it’s coming!” Bill chuckled in reply, looking at a watch that suddenly appeared on his wrist. “SIX! FOUR! ONE POINT SEVEN SIX! ZER-”         Bill was cut off as the world exploded around them.