Visit the castle relay 52%
Twilight knew something was wrong, even if she couldn’t quite explain why. She couldn’t be home again, not now. Something happened, and now…
She emerged from the Golden Oaks library, into a street that was… wrong. The grass was gray, the flowers chalk-white. There were no birds humming overhead, no bees. Not even a passing butterfly.
She passed the deserved train station first, the HV-rail buzzing away. A train sat on the platform, its doors open. Leaves clogged the entrance, and the fabric had yellowed slightly from the sun. There was no one inside.
Twilight considered taking the train to castle relay, but thought better of it. Whatever was happening, Celestia needed to know sooner than that. So Twilight headed down the streets, making her way to the airfield.
A few windows were shattered, doors hung off their hinges. A few homes of the city’s richer residents had been looted. There was no sign of the looters now, or these homes’ original owners. Just dead plants, and the occasional whistle as the wind blew through the ruins.
Eventually she reached city hall, and helipad marked in gravel on the ground there. Twilight stalked past an empty waiting bench, up to the controls. There was only the single car-call button. She pressed it, then turned towards the bench.
It was no longer empty.
A creature was sitting there, one who hadn’t been there before. A pony so bland she almost didn’t see him at all. His coat was black, his mane was black, leaving only his eyes to contrast from his dark features. He didn’t have wings or horn, and if there was a cutie mark on his flank she couldn’t see it. “Princess Twilight Sparkle,” he said. “We should have a word.”
Something twisted in her chest, something angry and indignant. She hated this pony, in a way she’d never hated anything before. Why?
“I don’t know you,” she said, biting back her emotions. She didn’t use the chair beside him, instead sitting on her haunches in the gravel. “Do you know what’s going on? Where is everypony?”
“Some ran, most died.” He shrugged one shoulder. “Not my doing, so don’t ask. I give living things a merciful death. Numbness, then the cold and never waking. Nothing like what you do to each other.”
Twilight saw a city the size of a planet, empty and deserted. She saw good ponies lose their minds in the darkness. She felt her ship rock with explosions.
Then she was back. “This is wrong,” she said. “I’m not here.”
“There is no here,” the pony answered, reaching out a hoof and nudging the edge of the bench. The bit of wood puffed away to ash at his touch. “Your mentor destroyed it, turning billions of years to ash in the blink of an eye. Such a waste. But it’s what you imagined.”
“Who are you?” Twilight’s tone went cold. Her wings flared to either side, and she puffed out her chest It didn’t help much, the pony didn’t even look up.
“I once heard a legend of how the world was made, would you like to hear it?” The pony looked up, expression cheerful. He didn’t wait for her answer. “For endless forevers there was nothing, endless unbounded void. But wait long enough, and you’ll find something waiting even in the nothing. Six sparks were kindled, wishing they could have a place to dwell.
“So each one contributed a thread to the fabric, until it was sewn tight. But it was flat and lifeless, with no place for life. So these six found a wind, and tricked it into joining them inside their creation. There it blew, until the tapestry was full, and there was space enough for life.”
He folded his forelegs in front of him, apparently satisfied. “Think of me as the wind, Twilight. Trapped here a for billions of years, clawing to escape.”
“And… not caring what you have to destroy to do it?” she guessed. The longer she spoke, the more of her memories were returning. “You’re trying to kill everything. If you’re something so powerful, why should you care about us?”
The pony shook his head once, looking almost regretful. “You don’t ask a fire why it burns the home of somepony you love. Fire burns.”
She shuddered, meeting the creature’s eyes. He’d done a fairly good job acting out emotions she recognized, but they never reached his eyes. She couldn’t sense anything from him with her magic, either. Like she was talking to empty air.
“Why are you talking to me?” she asked. “If all you want to do is burn everything down, we can’t have anything to discuss.”
Overhead, the gentle buzz of a helicopter rotor announced the arrival of the relay-chopper. Twilight didn’t look up to see it—she couldn’t shake the feeling that if she looked away from this creature, it would disappear.
“It’s simple, Twilight. As your time spins down to zero, I’ve been observing you carefully. I have decided to make you an offer. You should be flattered, it’s been ages since I contacted an organic species before. But yours is unique, and I believe we might find an arrangement to our mutual satisfaction.”
Twilight’s body tensed reflexively, and she backed away. “I can’t imagine a fire offering me anything I want. Or a wind, or… whatever you are.”
The thing shrugged. “Listen anyway. I find your kind… useful. And what I find useful, I preserve for my own purposes. So consider this: I can cease all hostilities against you. No pony will ever grow sick and die in the cold. Your bodies won’t fail in the space I have touched. You will be safe, until a billion billion years have passed, and my work is finished.”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “And in exchange?”
“Your species will find a new purpose,” he said.
She backed away another few steps, glowering at him. “You mean we’ll be your slaves. You’ll take our bodies and our magic for yourself. Better if we were dead.”
He looked indignant. “Nothing of the kind, Twilight Sparkle. Your purpose would change—a slight change to your nature, if you will. That would be all. I cannot take such a… direct hand in affairs, that I puppet creatures around. Were you not so powerful in mind and body both, this meeting would be impossible.”
He advanced on her, thrusting out a hoof. “Accept my gift, Twilight Sparkle. Guide your species to prosperity. I will give you a new homeworld, rich in good things. Where other creatures spawned from the chaos will rot and die, you will prosper. So I have spoken, and so will I do.”
“What about the other creatures? Dragons, and griffins, and… everything else from our homeworld?”
“Safe,” he said. “Altered slightly, like you. But all are part of this bargain.”
Twilight stared down at the offered hoof.
1. Take it. This could be the end. Safety for Equestria, forever. It might come at a cost to other creatures… but since when is that my responsibility?
2. No way. It’s better to struggle and die against a force like this than to bargain with it. If we die, we’ll die free.
Demand more information. This cannot be the first time this being has offered a bargain. To accept or deny blindly each comes with the potential for tragic cost.
9938161
While I agree, that sadly isn't an option.
There is as yet insufficient data for a meaningful answer.
9938179
Then don't choose. We need to know just what we're deciding on here.
To be clear: I'm not voting until things are explained.
9938179
Twilight should make it an option. She’s too curious to not ask.
A powerful entity offering a bargain. I don't really care about any other information.
Of course we should say no. But can we afford to?
Twilight will probably die. But ponykind will go on.
I say no.
I dont have the words so a levee it to Wallace:
when a great cosmic cthulu-esque being that is literally a representation of the giant space-cloud of death that you're running from, appears and says "hey, I want you to survive, I just want to make a subtle shift in your life's purpose in the grand scheme", that's very much a deal I would take.
There's not a way to defeat this force of nature. The Signalers couldn't do it, they could only hide your minds in 1s and 0s. Take the deal and LIVE
This seems to me to be a test of character for Twilight, Just say no!
TOo little information, it appears the entity is just lying and just trciking her into surrendering and die, if they were useful, he would say what he will do, and give guarantees for that, and time to think.
Was tempted to say yes but my dice said NO!
His exact words are you will be safe until a billion years have passed. Meaning after a billion years he might try to do something. Regardless it would mean a billion years to find out what its plans are and a billion years to find a way to end it once and for all. I suggest that we accept its bargain for now and make plans for what is to come later.
The Hunger knows fear, perhaps? This may be proof there is something she can do to kill it
Why does a force that wants to end everything suddenly gain compassion for one species above others?
Refuse. No way of knowing just what will be changed and how it will affect everyone.
Hard to believe anyone is even considering saying yes? It’s such an obviously terrible deal. Become slaves to darkness with only the promise of not being literal puppets (oh but mind control is explicitly part of the deal).
9938197
9938203
That's not how this story works. We decide based off the contents of the chapter. Not saying it's right or wrong, just that it is what it is. I believe that us not having enough information is the point. Do I like it? Not really. I voted to accept, though, because I enjoy voting and I see it as an interesting option, albeit counter to how I usually vote
Just be contrarian, I say we embrace the black. Become undead, and burn the Galaxy of the plague of life!
He's not offering them life. He's saying he'll kill them last. I vote no. Better to die fighting than on your knees.
----
After rereading I realized he was probably talking about the elements when he mentions 'the six'. Given the close ties ponies have with the elements it's possible he's just trying to eliminate a perceived threat. Considering that 'the six' brought him into the universe it may be possible for them to take him out.
Yeah, more information needed, this looks like the ending of ME3. But I'd say take it, if nothing else is forthcoming. A billion billion years is what, the heat death of the universe?
On the other hand he basically said he's the Darkness that Harmony took into the tapestry of creation to give it Life. Maybe the Darkness is Chaos, the dark pony a new Discord. Or maybe not. It's a sign of the endgame either way, and even if accepting seems like the smart thing to do I'd rue not to see a "good ending"... if such thing is even possible, that is.
I'd say no anyway, but as others have pointed out, there's not nearly enough information for an informed decision. What altered purpose? How will they be changed? Would they even be themselves anymore? Isn't that its own kind of death?
But aside from all that, it means giving up hope for all living creatures, including any planets still out there, still untouched, not knowing what may be coming for them.
No, no, no.
This looks interesting!
"Trapped here for
abillions of years..."Continuing to get sick of the bullshit, but let's see. Obviously it's powerful enough that it doesn't need our consent if it catches us, and it wants to catch us. Why would it contact us if not to stall? It could well be Twilight and ponies possess some quality that will prevent it as fire from burning. L
I'd say no, but we don't have enough information and at the rate this story is going I'll be dropping it soon anyway.
This reminds me of friendship is optimal. No, we will try to help the others against you.
He can go honk himself.
Hmn. A vision of Equestria post-exodus?
His cutie mark is a tattoo of the words "Bad Guy" also in black.
Wait, never mind, it's clearly not the current state of Equestria.
So, the message of this history lesson is that six sparks can beat the Big Bad. Good thing we haven't gotten any of the mane six killed so far.
Fight, fight, until the dying of the light. Never give up, never surrender. Insert other 'hell no' quotations here.
There's usually a reason for entrapment. The question is: which side of the bars are we willing to be on?
Notice how.... Inexact his offer is. You don't make such vague promises unless you're certain the other party will end up not caring for them once the deal has been struck.
And there's nothing guaranteeing a demon-contract-style deal is at play.
No, resistance is the only choice, regardless if it is futile!
I do wish "elaborate" were an option, but since it isn't, the only reasonable recourse is refusal. A "slight change" from the perspective of such an entity could entail way too many unpleasant possibilities.
This is one of the most interesting votes here.
And this time they determine more than anything before...
9938161
9938192
9938203
I'll be joining these fine individuals, and I will be voting not with a Strawpoll vote, but with a comment vote. Demand more information and/or stall him on the trip to Canterlot. Compare options at that point.
EDIT: Ok. I wasn't expecting Strawpoll to make the choice so obvious. You guys were right. But, that said, the more we know about our enemy, the better. Lead him on. Stall him. Get information. "If you know yourself but not your enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat."
As said in Ponyville by Princess Luna: I say to thee NEIGH!
We're totally going to have to friendship laser our way out of this, aren't we?
I keep voting for the option with the madness font, but it never wins!
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
As others have stated, more information is required. And reasonable to expect given the circumstances. If I truly HAD to make a choice from only what we know now though, I'd choose no. Not only has the Hunger choice been the absolute worst one every time before, but that creation myth indicates the possibility of destroying Hunger completely. Still, not voting on the poll in hopes of information.
ALERT ! MASSIVE THREAT LEVEL DETECTED ! INITIATING MASADA PROTOCAL !
DEFENSES ENHANCED BY 50% ! ROLLING!
(If roll is 5 or less, insanity option is picked)
Rolling.....
.....3......
D̈́ͫ̔̏ͮ̈́̃́͐̓ͭ̇͐̿͏̙͔̩͍̲̬̱͔͈̥̤͙̘E̢ͬ͆̿ͫ́͋̏҉̗͉̜͈̟͖̬͎͕͈̳̳̬ ̷̢̨̖͚̜̳̬̻̱̫͇͇͙̽̏͒͗ͪ́ͤ̽͗ͤͪ̔̊ͣ̾͐͢F̸̡̩̞͕̬̪̣̖͖̣̦͇̙ͧ̌̈́̎̑͊̅̉ͮ͘͝Ĕ̛̬͍̮̞̘͚̮͎̥͔̥̱ͧͦ̏͗ͧ̆̊̈̽̃͐͋̊̎ͣ́̀͝ͅN̵̜̗͔̜̝̱̳̗͇̥̯̹͕̲̜̟͖̤̮͆̍͊ͩ̈ͦ͑̾̾̆͘͘͜͞ ̈̐̄̈̕͠͏̝̼͓̱̺̣̥̪̺͕́S̶̨͈̬͙̗̭͔̾ͣ̍̇̈̓̍͋̈̐̄ͦ͐Ę̛͕̙̹̣͉̹͔͍̭͈̮͍͙͙͕̆̏̊́͒͌ͤͪ̑ͪ̈ͪ͟ ͣͯ̿̾̑̑͑ͮ̆ͦ̌̀̚̕͠͏̵̻̼̩͖͍̘̪̦͚̞̩S̢̏ͩ̅͒̈͒ͥ͊̿̎͐ͣ̓ͥ҉̻̦̯͕̦̖̙̣ ̸̡͕̟͔͓̟͔̳͓̯̝͚̤̰̣̺̞̹̘͐̋ͥ͐ͣ̑͛ͯ͢͞͡F̵̨̨́ͧ͗͒̎͏̧̟͇͚̰͚̹̯̗̗̣̝͇͍ ̛̙̪̜͖͇̳̱̦̬̲̰̙̝̣ͣ̃̊̍ͫͦͣ̌ͦͯ̾ͮ͆ͯ̀͗ͮͥ̽Ąͣ̽̃̍̋̆̓̓̂̄́͗͑͜͏̨̯̹̮̞͖̟̤̫͍̦̱͞I̤͎̤͓̰̹̖̤̘̯̻̪͙̮̞ͧ̒̈́͒͋ͭ̽̏ͧ̏̇͛̏̔̓ͧ͆ͤ̊̀͘ͅ ̵̛̦̠͖̠̪̙̋̀̓͛͊ͫͫL̶͈͉͙̦̬̗̞͗͐ͬ̋̿̃ͦ̀̂ͫ̕͘Ĭ̧̍̑̇̔ͮ̔ͩ̏̊͛̿̊͋̉ͬ͗ͭ̾͏̧̞̞͉̤̖̠̦̦̞ ̸̧͕̙̥̥̲͖͍̠̹̓̉̌̑̾̏ͦ̌ͭͫ̋́͢͟Yͩ̓̆̿ͤ̅͗ͫͭ̑̄͒̈́̍ͩ̎ͨͥ҉҉͍͇͈̪͍̪̤̥̳̻̥͇̤̻̟̞̙̣E̡͈̬͇̬̯̹̟̫̪ͦͫ̓̋ͮͫ͑̂͘͢ͅS̸̥̗̠̤͆̒͂ͤͮ͌͂ͮ̐̌̽̓ͫͧ̈́̍́̀͠S̡̻̥̪͖͗̈́́͋̃̿́͢͜S̖̣̩̼̙̤̻̝̮̪̰̝̲͇̳̣̓̈́ͨ̄ͩͫ̏͐̔̒̓̈̕͞Ș̶͇͕̭̮̺̝͚̥̟̳̘̘̲͙ͪ͂͑ͣ̊ͣ̔ͯ̈ͫ̾͘ͅS̷̟͕̜̠͎ͮ̔͌ͬͣ̎ͥ̔͋̂͒͂̊͐̉̒͑̍͜͡͞ͅS̡̖̟̭̖͚̟̞̊̌̄̉͆̒ͤͭ͆̾̄́͒͌̌̚͟S̨̡̗̬̬̖͚͌̒ͣ̌̋ͪ̌ͦ̾ͯ̒͘͞S̸̷̤͓̭̞̘̞̹̠͓̦ͭ̍͊͐ͬͨ̊͑̌̂͌ͩ̐ͯ̄̉̈ͯ̀͘͝,̒̍ͭ̑ͭ̄͏̶͈̝̫̻̩͔̦̰̮̻̳̜̠̟͘͘ ̴̣̗̭͔͍͎͖͙͙̯̹̺̭͎̪̱̳̥̈̉ͮ̅̔̑ͣ͛ͬ̓̐̓͊ͨ̓̈́̾͛́͜ͅC̸̨̡͓̳̙̯͉̺̞̙̪̔ͧ̋ͯ̄͋͑ͭ̄̃̅ͯ̐̎̌̅ͥ̾͒͢͞O̡̘͖̺̝̘̙̥̥̗̝̥̠͔͚̅͆͌͊ͨ͒͜Ṁ̵̟̹̘̥̭̱̭̜͇͕͍̭̭̲̥̇ͧ͑̅̋̾̇̌͒͆͑͂̐̇ͨ͑ͩͧ̕͢E̢̲̦̞̗̟͖̙̹̙̺̱̔ͯͣ̉̆̎̃̇͒̀͜͠ ̵̢̡̧̪͕̟̱̪̼͈̺͇͚̀̉̍̊͆̑̀͞T̶̢̧̗̯̼͖̮̞͙̅̓͆ͫͯ͂͗̏̏̀̐͢Ǫ̷̵ͬͬͣ̍͐ͬ̈́ͫ͒̏͑̇͂́͏̩̮̲̼̤̪̝̣̠̗̲ ͥͤ͋͐ͪ͞͏̜̘͍̟̝͙̬̼̩̹̥̹̜M̯͇̼̗̦̞̥̟̮̹̲ͤͯ͒̾ͯ̿ͯ̃̾ͬ͑̃̊͟͡͡E̴̢̲̰͔̣̘͙̥͍̖̓͋̓̍ͬ̓ ͕̥͇̝̪͖̲̲ͨͤͣͧ̋ͫ͂̎̌ͫ̇̔̎̈́͟M̶͎͍͓̪̘̹̗̜͈̥͇͖͌̆̒̂̏ͫ̾͗̌͒̊̍̄ͪ͘͢Ý̨̡͎̫͉̗̘̲͖̣̣̠̙̫͈̰̤͕̬̀ͫ̽ͧ̒͊́̚͜͞ ̛̙̯͙̪̻̣͇̘͉̳͇̭̥́ͬ̐̍͑͛͌͟Ĉ̡͍͖̺̱͖͍̊͑ͯͧ̒̃̇̚H̡̡̩̯̩͖̬̦̭̫͖̙̯̦̭̗͔̓͐͗ͣ̊ͪ͊̒̒͛͂ͭͅI̷̷̴̶̞̟̭͓͖̻͇̲̙̱̙͖͎͈̋̄̾̈̏͌͠Ļ̶͉̯̭̯̜̹ͧ́͗ͦͫ̆̇ͤ͋̒͊̂ͫ͘͢͞D̴̢̩̩̗̭̮̻͖̘̗̼͔͔̥̩͖͚͎̙ͭ̆͊̏͋̈̐ͭ͋̓̆͐̎̓͗̿̄̾͑
9938704
I'll make sure she does if the denial gets anywhere.
9938863
Never read the poem before now
Was totally not expecting that many to be choosing to accept.
9939021
Hey starscribe. Is accepting just a game over screen, or will we have to help direct the removal of life in the galaxy?
Yeah... I'm going to refuse too.
From most Hunger choice, it sounds like those were the path down to madness. Disposable agents to weaken or kill threats before the Hunger feasts. In this case, it sounds more like it's trying to seize a new agent like that shadow creature.
I'm guessing it sees Twilight as a threat and a potential greater agent. That's why its trying so much harder to get Twilight now. We know magic can hurt this kind of monster, their magical weapons did do damage to it.
It's just too bad this stuff sounds like it eats organics as quickly as it sounds. We know the tech bodies slowed it down, but magic sounds like its the only thing that actually really did anything to it.
Actually now that I think about it. It sort of sounds like magic was more of a novelty to the Signalers. They could use it, but it wasn't a part of their culture like it was Equestria.
The fact that we don't have a clear answer nor the ability to get one means NO. If they won't give you the details it's because you wouldn't agree if you had them.
Good to see we're largely on the same page with this one.
9938192
Hello, mister Asimov.
9939021
I feel like a billion billion years (1018 years) is insufficient for a promise of taking you last. Planets would all be gone by then (around 1015 years), but an advanced civilization should be able to survive on starships for about a hundred times longer than that, at least, until the stars go out. Sufficiently advanced civ might be able to last close to heat death around 10100 years into the future.
The way I interpret that little bit of information is that if you accept the deal, everyone lives kinda. Perhaps all of them inside a simulated universe, or maybe he meant they'd become mechanical, or well lots of possibilities, but they would no longer be organic I think is what was meant by altered purpose. And what we know from Node's memories about what kinds of live are spared.
Also think that basically be the end of the story really, there'd be no conflict anymore if the being could change all of them, or get twilight to successfully change all of them.
9939204
Not sure. When the section of the story with voting ends, I do expect to write a longer chapter or two with an epilogue for what happened next.
But one thing I do know is that I'm not going to write a story about Twilight ending all the life in the galaxy.
9939779
fair enough. That would be a bit depressing to read, I guess.
Last time I touched fire, I got burned. No deal.
Our enemy would never offer a bargain if it was winning. There will be no advantage to delaying our conflict; it will only give favour to our adversary. Refuse. We will defeat this.
9939779
Problem with saying that is that someone will turn around and pay you for a story about just that.
9939355
I think it is more concerned that twilight will take her magic and give it to the resistance. It sees the possibility that she will reach the fleet.