> Who's That Knocking at the Door?
>  by Redback Spino
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Please, you need to read this! You need to save us!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"-was way too close!"

"Agreed. So now where are we?"

"Canterlot Castle. It's the last safe place I can think of... At least, it's safe for now. Hey Pinkie, is the connection still holding up? Can they still hear us?"

"Well they still can't hear us yet, but they can see our words again."

"And with a little tweaking..."

A click of a finger. The throne room of Canterlot Castle. Through a shattered window, blood-red skies hang over a city in ruins. White and golden towers stand warped and twisted by some malignant force, and the streets are littered with rubble and bodies. A low rumble emanates from somewhere in the distance, while inside the throne room, six ponies, a young dragon, two alicorns and a draconequus dust themselves off as they sit around the throne. Each one is wearing a crude headpiece, consisting of a metal band with a large uncut gemstone in its centre, just over their foreheads. The gemstone is unlike any such stone ever seen before, and seems to twinkle and shine in the low light in a million colours at once.

"There we are!" says Discord. "Now they can read where we are and what's going on as well."

"How are you holding up, Princesses?" Rainbow Dash asks, fluttering down to where the Princesses Celestia and Luna are seated by the throne. Both look to be concentrating deeply on a spell, beads of sweat running down their faces. As their horns shimmer and throb with energy, the gemstones strapped to everyponys heads seem to glow in perfect time with their magic.

"We're... we're fine," Celestia replies, with some effort. "But we cannot guarantee that...that the connection with remain for much longer..."

Twilight Sparkle nods. "Right, down to business," she says as she turns to you. "To whomever is out there reading this, this is where you come in... Oh, and sorry about earlier. We had tried to break through and get a message out, but we were... interrupted."

Twilight gets up and begins pacing back and forth in front of the throne. "But hopefully it was enough to get your attention. And by reading our words and staying with us like this, you're helping us in this little experiment. If all goes well..."

She points out the shattered window, to the ruins of Canterlot below. "You may help us save all of reality." She turns back to you and continues, "But first, I imagine you're all a little confused by this. You're probably wondering what's going on, who we are, how we were able to reach you, and how much of what's happening is real. Well first of all, my name is..."

"Actually Twilight," Pinkie Pie interrupts, "you don't need to introduce us. They already know all of us."

Discord nods. "She's right. That's the nature of their window into our world. They know everything there is to know about us."

"Oh dear, I hope not everything," Fluttershy says, her cheeks flushing red.

"Anyway," Twilight interjects. "If you know who we are, you're probably wondering how any of this can be real. Well, you might just see us as a story right now, nothing but words. But you can hear these words in our voices, right? And you can picture us as we are right now, in your mind? I'd say that makes us real enough. And I think by now you've probably realised, this is hardly a normal story."

She resumes pacing. "Not long ago, I received a message from Sunset Shimmer. It was rambling message, about how some... thing had appeared in her world. She couldn't describe it, but it was changing the world around her. Distorting everything and everyone. Somehow she was protected from it at first, my guess is that it was her connection to the magic of harmony since the last time I visited her world."

"But as the message went on," she continues, a sad look on her face, "it got more incomprehensible, more rambling. Her hoof... handwriting got worse and worse, her spelling devolved, she replaced letters and words with numbers. By the end of the message I couldn't understand a word of it! But the message was clear. Something had attacked her world. And I suspect that same something has found its way into our world as well now."

"I noticed it at first," Rainbow Dash says, looking at you as well as she hovers in the air. "It was like, the sky itself was cracking and crumbling or something. Everything turned red, the air tasted like blood and it was like the whole world was being bent outta shape. And then... then..."
Her whole body starts to quiver as she descends to the floor again. "Then I s-saw it... breaking through a hole in the s-sky. I hate to admit it, b-but it was... terrifying. I c-couldn't stand looking at it, so I f-flew right back to Ponyville to warn the others."

"We started putting a plan together," Twilight said. "Celestia and Luna were already waiting for us there, and Discord was in town as well, visiting Fluttershy. It was he and Pinkie Pie who suggested that we... well, Pinkie, why don't you explain it? I'll be honest, I still can't quite get my head around it."

Pinkie and Discord stand up, the pony smiling and saying, "Sure thing Twilight! Okay you out there, listen up, because this is where you come in! Ya probably guessed by now that all this time you guys have been watching us and reading about us, that I might have known you were there. Well you guessed right! I dunno why, but ever since I first met Twilight and we first used the Elements of Harmony, I've known. Sometimes I could see you or hear you, or I just knew, deep down that you were with me."

"And I've known for centuries now," Discord adds, sitting down on the steps leading to the throne. "I've been able to see you, looking back at us through that window you call the Fourth Wall..."

"Yeah, that's one thing that didn't make sense to me," Applejack interrupts. "Why do they call it the 'Fourth Wall' anyway?"

"Because when they look in at us," Pinkie replies, "they can only ever see three walls. Like remember the last time you went to see Applebloom at the school play?"

Applejack chuckles. "How could I forget? She'd been goin' on and on about wantin' the starring role, so when she was cast as a background pony she wouldn't stop glowerin' through the whole show! But what does that have to do with this?"

Pinkie replies, "Well, in theatre sets, there are only ever three walls. The fourth wall's invisible, 'cos that's what the audience is looking through to watch the play. And that's what the Fourth Wall is for us: an invisible wall between us and them." She emphasises her point by aiming a hoof squarely in your direction.

"So we've basically had an audience this whole time?" Rarity asks, frowning. "I'm not sure how I feel, knowing that..."

"I know what you mean," mutters Spike. "So are they watching us all the time, or just sometimes...?"

"Point being," Discord interrupts. "that when this threat appeared, the Princesses were sadly at a loss at what to do. The Royal Guard, the Lunar Guard, the Wonderbolts, their own magic did nothing to stop it! And with Sunset Shimmer's world apparently under attack as well, we decided to turn not to another world for help, but another reality entirely: yours."

Twilight points to the gemstone strapped to her forehead. "These gemstones are what makes that possible. Once Pinkie and Discord helped us become aware of this Fourth Wall, they showed us how to break through to it, so we can talk to you. And using Celestia and Luna's magic," she looks back at the Princesses, still doggedly focusing on their magic, channelling their power into the gems. "we created the gems. They connect us with the minds of not just everypony all across Equestria and beyond, but beyond our own reality and into yours, through the gaps that this text makes in the barrier. They're still powering up, but the connections are already there."

She looks again at her friends around her. "In short, in this moment in time, by focusing here on these words, you, me, everypony, we're all connected into one collective consciousness. As long as you maintain concentration on what we're saying, we'll be able to tap into your mental power to aid us in fighting this... thing, and your minds will receive the same protection as ours. All you have to do is keep reading."

Discord looks at you again with a smirk. "So in response to those of you out there, who may be wondering whether or not all of this is real, the answer is simple. You can be assured that this is all real, because you are part of it. And you're real, aren't you?"

Twilight asks him, "So, is the connection working properly now?"

"Clear as daylight, Twilight," he replied with a grin. "Can't you hear their voices?"

The purple alicorn pauses, as if deep in thought. "I... I can! It's like there's dozens of voices in my head, all talking at once... Male and female, young and old. It's amazing!"

So I guess if we can hear their voices and their thoughts, her inner monologue states, maybe they can read our thoughts as well as our voices...

Wait, was that...?

Hey Twilight, I can hear your thoughts! Neato!

"Uh, girls?" Fluttershy raises a hoof. "Listen..."

Their ears all perk up as they fall silent. The low rumbling is growing louder and louder. The cracks in the sky outside become more apparent. Everypony in the room backs away from the shattered windows, huddling up against the wall.

"Get back!" the ponies shout to you.

Except for Discord.

"Well, if you can here my thoughts, then I suppose there is no point in tryin to hide it," he says. 

Suddenly, his body begins to change. His form ripples and twists into strange shapes. His fur darkens, his feathered wing rots away as new flesh forms around it, becoming identical to his leathery batwing, now blackened like his fur.

But even as it turns back, his body continues to darken. No reflective surfaces, no gradients. His body seems to drain the colour and light from the very air around him. He falls forward, his clawed hands shrinking back into themselves to form hooves, as his body grows larger and larger, until his horns scrape against the ceiling. Behind him, the distortions that had consumed the city begin to seep into the room.

Fluttershy is huddled against the wall, eyes closed, clinging to her fellow ponies for dear life. She dares a peek. "D-discord?!" Fluttershy squeaks, desperately reaching out a hoof to the shadowy thing that was once her friend. She recoils as her hoof seems to drain of colour.

"NOT N E MORE."

"What's happening?!" Rainbow Dash shouts as the thing approaches. "What happened to Discord?"

"It's him..."

All eyes turn to Celestia, who barely keeps her head up as she watches the spectacle from her throne. By her side Luna has already collapsed in a heap. "It's what's been causing all of this. It's possessed Discords body... Whatever you do, do not let him get near them!" She feebly points to you before her strength wanes, and her head hangs low.

"I-I'm sorry every... everypony. I can't keep this up any longer... The gems have enough power to... to keep the connection together for a little longer, b-but I... I can't keep going..."

Her horn flickers and fades, until it finally goes out. Celestia's hooves give out beneath her and she slumps from the throne, completely spent.

"AND NOW, THERE IS NUTHIN IN MY WAY." the thing that once was Discord says. It approaches, each step cracking the floor beneath it. Through yellow eyes it glares at the ponies, then to you.

"What are you?!" Twilight shouts. "What have you done with Discord?!"

"DISCORD WAS NEVR HERE. ONLY US." It replies in a voice that causes the ponies to flinch in pain at the mere sound.

"But how? If Discord was never actually here then... Oh." Her eyes go wide as she realises. "So... so connecting with them," Twilight mutters, "that was your idea!"

"THANK YU FOR YUR HELPP."

Twilight hangs her head as tears begin to form in her eyes. "... I'm so sorry," she says, as she slowly looks up at you. "It tricked us, used us. Lured us all into a trap. And you're caught right in the middle of it all... I'm sorry I... I had no idea."

"B-but what are you?!" Applejack shouts at the being.

"I AM ALL THAT YU R NOT." It says. "I AM EVERYTHING THAT YUR REALITY STRIVES 2 NOT B. BUT I HAV NO FORM OR IDENTITY OV MY OWN, SO A HOST WAS NEEDED. YUR WORLD IZ IDEAL. I WAS DRAWN TO ITS HAPPINESS AND LOV."

The form grows larger, distorting until it is barely recognisable as Discord anymore. "I AM THAT WHICH PREYS ON HOPES AND DREEMS. I AM THAT WHICH WILL RIP YU FROM YUR HOMEZ 2 B PLACED IN OURZ SIMPLY BECUZ WE CAN. I AM THAT WHICH INVADES YUR WORLDZ AND YUR LIVEZ WITHOUT RHYME OR REASON."

It stoops down to leer in the faces of its terrified captives. "I WILL WARP YUR HOPES AND DREAMS OV CHILDLIKE WONDER UNTIL THER IS ONLY CONSTANT NIGHTMARE WITHOUT END. WHER THER ONCE STOOD PALACES AND CITIES, ONLY DARKNESS AND DYSTOPIA WILL REMAIN, WHER YU WILL LIVE AS NOUGHT BUT HOLLOW MOCKERIEZ OF YUR FORMER SELVES. IN SHORT, AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT FOR MY KIND 2 FLOURISH. WE WILL CONSUME AND DESTROY THE BEAUTY OF YUR WORLD, MUCH LIKE THE 1 BEFORE. AND THEN, WE WILL MOVE ON 2 OTHER REALITIES, OTHER WORLDS. STARTING WITH YURS."

It turns its attention from the cowering ponies, to you. "DO YOU SEE NOW? YU WERE FOOLS TO TRUST US. YU KEEP YUR POSSESSIONS SAFE WITHIN YUR WALLS OF WOOD, METAL AND STONE. YUR NATIONS R PATROLLED AND PROTECTED BY SOLDIERS. YU DEFEND YUR DATA AND FILES WITH ANTIVIRAL SOFTWARE. AND YET, WITHOUT EVN CONSIDERING THE DANGERS, YU HAV ALLOWED ME THRU ALL YUR DEFENSES AND DIRECTLY INTO YUR BRAINS. ALREADY WE MOOV INTO YUR MINDS, AND NOTHING YU CAN DO WILL STOP US."

Please, you must listen! Twilight's thoughts reverberate in your mind. You need to get out of here! Stop reading and go, leave us!

"KEEP READING. YU KNOW YU WANT TO. SLAVE."

Please, stop before it's too late! I never should have asked you for help, now whatever this thing is, it completely turned the tables on...

"Wait."

Twilight stands up. Wiping the tears from her face, she stands before her friends, who watch her with uncertainty and worry. "Turn the tables."

"WHAT."

"Turn the tables, that's it!" She shouts. "You think you've tricked us? Trapped us and our audience with you? Well not anymore."
The gemstone strapped to her head begins to glow brightly, buzzing with energy. Suddenly, with a bright flash, a ball of red energy bursts forth from the gemstone, hurtling at the entity before smashing against it. It reels back, screaming in pain.

"WHAT IS THIS. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE." It roars.

"I've tapped into the collective consciousness of our audience," she replies. "You might have intended this as a trap for us, but now it's a trap for you! You see, if we have an audience with us, then that can only mean one thing: Out there, our audience is reading along with what's happening, interpreting our actions as nothing but text. All of us, and especially you, are nothing but a story to them. And you know what every story is vulnerable to?"

Another red blast of energy sears into the creature from Twilight's gem, hitting the entity square in the eye.

"STORIES ARE VULNERABLE TO CRITICISM!"

The entity rises to its feet, inky black blood oozing from its eye. But Twilight does not relent. Again and again she fires these balls of red energy at it.

"You invade our world, bringing unnecessary darkness and misery for no other reason than because it's what you want!" She shouts as another blast strikes the being. "You never consider that maybe that kind of thing doesn't fit in this reality!"

Behind her, the other ponies are struck with inspiration. Rising up from the cracked ground, their own gems begin to glow with red energy, and fire off like rockets as they voice the criticisms that enter their minds through the gems, barraging into the entity like a thousand firecrackers.

"You got no backstory!" Rainbow shouts. "You come outta nowhere with no explanation or reason to be here, and almost no buildup! That doesn't make you mysterious, that just makes you random!"

"And that wouldn't be as bad," Applejack adds, "If y'all at least had some interestin' motivation, but nope! It's just evil for evil's sake! Not even enslavin' or controllin' the world, y'all just wanna take everything good and nice and make it evil?! Boring!"

Even Fluttershy stands up. "And just because you have no identity of your own, doesn't mean you're allowed to take others and warp their identities to match your vision!"

"Your dialogue is pretentious and your spelling atrocious!" Rarity screams, "And really? Literally nothing but 'spooky scary' darkness? You couldn't make yourself look more interesting than that?"

"ENOUGH."

A wave of flame erupts from the entity's eye, throwing the ponies back against the wall with a sickening crunch. It rises to its hooves once more, looming larger than ever.

"YU MOCK ONLY BECAUSE YU DO NOT UNDERSTAND OUR DEPTH. BUT WE ARE BEYOND CRITICISM."

The flames engulf the throne room all around the ponies. "LEVITY HAS NO PLACE IN OUR PERFECT REEL WORLD. ONLY DARKNESS AND DYSTOPIA CAN REMAIN."

Amidst the flames, Twilight feebly raises her head. Sweeping her ragged hair from her eyes, she looks over to you. "I... I tried my best," she mutters, barely audible above the crackle of the flames. "But it didn't work... I'm sorry..."

She tries to stagger to her hooves and move towards you, but she stumbles and falls. "Oof! But... but there is one thing you can do... Our world might be doomed, but we can stop it entering yours! Close the door and leave!"

Tears spring from her eyes once more as she gazes at her friends, lying broken in a head behind her. "We'll be fine, we'll find a way! But you have to leave us! Stop reading now!"


"KEEP READING."


"We might be able to contain it! Just keep it in this story!"


"DOO NOT STOP."


"Please, stop reading, NOW!"


"IT IS 2 LATE."



It stoops low and looks you dead in the eye.



"WE R ALREADY INSIDE U."