So much... Information.
He started from the top and scrolled down. They were trying to drive him mad. That was an amusing thought - he was already mad by the standards of the world, and none of this was particularly bothersome anyway. It was all absolutely fascinating. What culture must they have to produce this drivel? What was the surrounding political situation where such mindless stupidity was allowed to form? And get popular enough that they share in it?
So curious. He could perform a case-study on all this. Probably would, actually, given enough time.
What he did not realize was that it was doing something to him. It was distracting him, like all pointless things on the Internet are meant to do. He forgot all about the version of Vriska heading right for him and became lost in the tunnels of what was shared. He wanted to absorb all he could - though even he couldn't stand sitting through the entire bee movie script being shouted.
Seriously, what even was that.
Why.
Why would they subject themselves to that horror?
Lore Thirst looked down at the Eye. "Are you questioning what you are showing me?"
The Eye has no mind of its own.
"Then what are these responses?"
The flow of ka carries with it words and stories, fragments.
"Very peculiar..."
Look up.
He did so. Twilence was gone. He raised an eyebrow - now where did she get off to?
If only an alliance was struck.
Why on earth would he strike an alliance with Twilence? Not even the Influence had suggested something that crazy. They just wanted to drive him mad... Even after the 'Sonic' one had realized he was already mad, they kept going. And going. Producing more fascinating aspects of their society. He found Ponygood's comments most illuminating. How depraved they were. They really were not worth his consideration...
And then Zen suggested he give the Eye back to Twilence.
Suddenly he felt a part of his mind nagging him to do so. He recalled them calling him the antagonist - but he wasn't really the antagonist, he was just a part of the world. Twilence's antagonist was Siron - or Corot, perhaps both. Maybe even the antagonist was herself, in the end, an emotional component that needed to be taken over.
Correct.
The Eye confirmed. He wasn't the antagonist. Was it the Eye confirming though? Or some other force?
What a mystery.
What an interesting mystery.
He came to the end of the messages. Multiples - in a row - telling him, demanding that he return the Eye to Twilence. He twitched.
Had they provided a logical reason, he knew he would have given it back. He would not have been able to resist. But being rid of them was not logical, nor was being the antagonist.
He took in a sharp breath - it took strength to resist what they asked. What they demanded. They truly were the Influence. They had powerful control over how he thought. It would take training to get used to what came through, to sift through it, to ignore... To think up his own courses of action.
What was he planning to do before this happened?
Oh, right. He needed to get out of here before-
A hand grabbed him around the neck. "You really are a fucking idiot."
Lore kept his composure despite the crushing force around his windpipe. "Vriska."
"Did it occur to you that, after betraying the deal with Siron, you should, I don't know, run maybe? Or lay an ambush? Or something?"
"That was one of the ideas. The Influence had unexpected consequences."
Vriska sighed. "Good for Siron, bad for us I guess. Come one, we're going to the altar right now and you're keeping up your end of the deal."
It won't work.
"What's that look for?" Vriska asked.
You're a dead man.
"Nothing," Lore Thirst said.
They could have kept you alive. You could have been more reasonable.
"It's not nothing," Vriska said. "That Eye's telling you things."
She's far too lucky and perceptive to just brush off.
"It's telling me too much."
Wrong answer.
"Wrong answer," Vriska muttered. "Siron wants to know."
What's in the sack?
"What's in the sack?" Lore Thirst asked.
Vriska raised an eyebrow, glancing at the sack she had slung over her shoulder. "...I think it's best I keep that hidden for now."
"Then excuse me," Lore Thirst said.
"I don't think so. Come. We're moving. Now."
You're dead.
Lore Thirst shook his head. That couldn't be determined.
You're dead. Their choices matter now. Matter more than they could ever realize. Even the smallest idea could change the course of everything. Why do you think there were nineteen different endings?
Am I thinking this or are you?
There is no 'you' or 'me' here. Just the wind.
Are you GM? That which I am 'slave' to?
Again, there is no 'you' or 'me.'
Then why is there a conversation here?
Because that is how you understand it. A conversation. A logical series of events. Twilence sees it, for now, as moments of almost divine inspiration. Feelings.
Why am I dead?
Because it won't work. It was never intended to work. You were never the hero. You cheated. You were the Hacker.
What does that mean?
Means that ending's impossible now since you're dead. Shame, some people really wanted it.
I'm not dead yet!
Notice how your logical demeanor is falling. Maybe there is a 'me' now - it's you.
That doesn't make any sense.
There was your first mistake. You expected this to make sense.
"Are you having a mental breakdown or something?"
Yes.
"Yes..." Lore Thirst said. Funny, the Influence got what it wanted, even if they weren't the cause of the madness.
They Influence more than they realize.
"Would you shut up?"
Vriska facepalmed. "Oh boy. Let's just get this over with." She held out her hand, using the light of Vester to navigate the catacombs unhindered. They were HIS catacombs, after all. "Should have gone with plan B from the start, Siron. You knew Twilence would be easier to work with, but no, you needed to stick with alpha-timeline nonsense."
"How is it that you can speak that way to Siron?"
"He has complete control over my every action. My only freedom is being able to say whatever the fuck I want. It makes it easier for both of us." She tossed him forward, into the central room of the catacombs. There was, in fact, an altar there. "Do it. Summon Corot already with your connection to that Eye."
It won't work.
Shut up. Lore Thirst walked up to the altar and cleared his throat. He may have had no intention of summoning the dark star to this world before, but his life was on the line here, and he was rather attached to that. Not to mention rather paranoid at this point.
"I wish to meet with Corot."
Nothing happened. The altar didn't even respond to him.
"Siron, you owe me five minutes of free time," Vriska smirked. "What's wrong, you mad? I told you it wouldn't work! TOLD you!"
Lore Thirst blinked. "You... You have bets with him?"
"He's literally my only conversation partner most of the time. I think we have what could best be described as a kismesis that's only 'stable' because I'm incapable of murdering his stupid ass."
"What?"
Do not attempt to understand troll romance you fool.
"What!?"
Vriska shrugged. "Not bothering to explain. I would say I'm sorry, but you're an ass. So I won't."
"Huh?"
Goodbye.
And then Lore Thirst's head was cut off with a roll of the dice and the summoning of a perfectly-sized guillotine.
"Appropriate..." Vriska said. "All right, Twilence, chances are you're here, just invisible or something. That Eye is calling out to you, I know it. Put it on, let's talk summoning Corot directly, hmm?"
The Eye disappeared in a flash of purple magic.
"Yeah, definitely here. Trying to run now though, get out before I can catch her. Hey, Twilence, bad idea. You should see what I have in the sack." She reached in and pulled out an unconscious Fluttershy. "You have thirty seconds to reveal yourself and summon Corot or I slit her neck. I don't want to, but I really don't have a choice in the matter. There's no way he's letting me have my five minutes right now."
Twilence froze. She was invisible - the Eye was back in her chest, automatically returning to its home. She didn't have time to think. She needed to act...
Luckily the Influence could think for her. They'd have time.
Please find a way to save Fluttershy, she thought. What can we summon?
Just before the Influence came in, she became aware of the Possible Endings file.
[POSSIBLE ENDINGS]
Pristine
Bittersweet
Warmonger
Dethroned
Steam
Rebuilder
Forgotten
Adrift
Coward
Earned
Tattletale
Supernova
Predetermined
Insanity
Servant
Grimdark
LOST ENDINGS:
Singularity
Lattice
Hacker
Then Twilence got the full import...
Ok, so our plan didn’t work as intended, but i’m counting it a partial success. Oh, and we (by that I mean me, Ponygood, and Sonic) must regale you with the Tale Of The Fries. Once this is over, of course.
not how i was expecting that to work, but good enough i suppose, twilence i suggest not looking at the last feed to see what caused that. i can safely say that you won't handle it as well as lore did.
Welcome back twilight. DO NOT READ THE IMPORT! IT WAS MEANT FOR LORE!
that being said save Fluttershy. This is going to hurt, but attack from behind, above, the left and the right. we can give you the insanity to do it all but it is up to you to fight back. do not be a coward and let lore thirst have the last laugh. though Vriska have an insane amount of luck right now, She can still be overwhelmed by an extreme amount of insanity.
well try and bring you back from our induced insanity.
and here is something i think all baddies should know "NEVER HURT FLUTTERSHY OR MAKE HER CRY!
the last set of messages it could drive you mad with what we said my friend just as a warning, They were meant for lore .
Okay... Possible summons.
The Starshell should be able to absorb both of you into itself before Vriska attempts anything. Or you could get Rarity, and undo any successful attempts to kill Fluttershy. The Starshell could also be useful for making it easier to travel the multiverse, while Rarity would be an extremely powerful support character. My vote will go to either one of them, depending on whom the rest of us vote for. If we tie, I will prioritize the Starshell.
Don't reveal yourself. 30 seconds is plenty of time to compile our votes, get to the altar, and whisper your desired summon. For ease of access, I implore the rest of us to just say our votes, and little more.
EDIT: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
I've compiled all the votes and suggestions of the comments above this one, for your convenience. Final votes are: 2--Rarity; 3-4?--Starshell; 3-4?--Wanderlost Discord. Omni said elsewhere he wants Discord, yet his message here says he wants Starshell, so make of it what you will. Zen is saying to screw the votes and just get Discord, but I'm counting that as a vote. Personally, I will not recommend Discord because I feel his chaos powers may not work against Vriska's luck.
Vriska may know that you don't intend to cooperate, and use her luck to score a hit on you while invisible. Be cautious, and quick. Zen is suggesting to use freezing magic and both he and Sonic are attempting to influence the Narrative.
Using magic of any kind is out of the question; any spells have a high chance of failing, and then Vriska kills Fluttershy. Also, it is entirely up to you whom you want to summon; we are only offering suggestions.
New information: The Starshell self-destructed and M might be a traitor.
I vote for the Starshell.
starshell of broken mirror, may need to specify M, the ai controlling it though
Twilence, do you remember that chat we had in Discord? We are still using it, and we've realized something while communicating.
Vriska may know you don't intend to cooperate, and luck her way into attacking you while invisible. She or Siron may also decide to kill Fluttershy anyway, even if you cooperate. Though, summoning Corot would be pretty deadly in its own sense. However, Vriska may still want you to win, so you could use that to your advantage.
Inside the Starshell, as just magical information, you can't be harmed. My vote is definitely for it now.
I guess go for the Starshell my friend, seams likely to me they may be the best you can summon at this time.My mind has changed , summon the discord that pony good has talked of above , if that is what you wish .
Twilight don't read just act! Summon Water crystal bearer rarity!
I don't know what's going on, but my mom votes for nabbing another pony. More friends are better than just some ai controlled thing.
yeah act fast as you can, and bring Starshell so you and Fluttershy can get out as safely as possible
8462193
now now, who's to say she can't befriend an ai?
K. Star shell from 'Broken Mirror'.
Twilight, remember how you can freeze ponies in place with your magic? That would buy you more time.
But will Star Shell be fast enough? The idea that Twilight could summon it, bring it to her side, and get it to do what she wanted quickly enough would be doubtful under normal circumstances. Factoring in Vriska's luck, I don't think Star Shell is good enough on its own.
No. Twilence, fuck the vote. Summon Discord. Your Discord. He sees Fluttershy in danger, and he reacts instantly to save her by doing something horrible to this iteration of Vriska, who shouldn't even exist anymore. No room for error, and no room for Vriska's luck to cause problems.
Now. There's something else at play. Every time we get a peek at what's going on under the hood, we get told that we, as the Influence, influence more than we realize. Thus far, we have limited our actions to giving suggestions to Twilight. Therefore, our influence must extend beyond those parameters.
Our ability to interact with the world is exclusively through the Eye of Rhyme. As I've gone over previously, the object's name most likely refers to an ability to interact with narratives. So let's give that a spin.
Vriska, unwilling minion of Siron, doesn't want to kill Fluttershy, she has made that abundantly clear. And the thing about Vriska, all of her, is that so often things just go right. The circumstances are that she will not. In fact, she who stands before you now is so lucky that none of her friends will die. So let it be written.
8463551
man i didn't even think of Discord; okay i'm changing my vote to Discord
Well, I'm still keeping my vote for the Starshell. But if you decide to summon discord anyway, choose the one from Wanderlost. I assume he's worried about Mite spontaniously disappearing.
8464116
is that version of Discord best friends with Fluttershy too? because that's my main reason for going with him; no need to say anything, once he sees what going on, he will try and save her; no questions asked
8464370
Oh, he's good friends with more than just Fluttershy. But, yes, he does still have a large spot in his heart for her.
*time suddenly stops for 30 more seconds, giving Twilight more time to save Fluttershy.*
[COMPILATION COMPILED]