Prologue: The Mad and the Hatter
~BlackRoseRaven
“This is the way the world ends; this is the way the world ends; this is the way the world ends; not with a bang, but a whimper.” says one of the Draconequus quietly, amongst the shifting madness of their chaotic home realm. The others look towards it; one smiles, one laughs, one does nothing at all.
Fish swim by and birds dance through the air; a tango or a waltz, depending on their moods. Buildings stand in thin air in defiance of gravity and zoning regulations and there are swirling formations of gemstone and minerals, perfect and beautiful and yet scattered in such a way that the gorgeous order of the crystalline latticework only makes the chaos of the world all the more apparent.
The Draconequus look at each other as one, floating upside down, sits back and asks curiously: “Will it be the Great Old Ones? Are the tethers coming loose? Is the great pizza falling down? Is our show getting canceled?”
Another Draconequus laughs, then covers his face and begins to sob. The remaining Draconequus share looks, shrugs, and then one says thoughtfully: “None of the above. All of the above. Either way, there'll be chaos before the end.”
“Yes, but it'll be like binge drinking. We'll all get really wasted together and then there'll just be silence, and nothing, and it'll all be still forever.” mutters another of the chimerical creatures of chaos, and all eyes turn to him meditatively. “Either the power's going to go out, or everything's going to be too bright to see.”
“We could warn the master, or the acolyte. I have a great long-distance plan.” points out another Draconequus as it pops up out of a hole in reality, holding up a small black phone. All eyes look at him for a moment, and then one of the Draconequus firmly steps on his head, knocking him back into the hole with a squawk.
“Cellphones cause cancer, and one of those was enough to deal with already.” retorts the Draconequus, pointing several times straight down, then he shakes his head before adding: “And you remember what the boss said before he left. Life or death, Helheim or Valhalla, we don't go telling anybody nothing.”
“So, what, we're actually going to follow the rules?” asks another Draconequus pessimistically as it flops onto its side, floating in midair and propping its head up with one claw. “Isn't that like, against our religion or something?”
Several other Draconequus look dryly at the speaker, and then one remarks: “Religion is the opiate of the masses, and a form of control. Control is against our religion. Our religion is not to have a religion at all. We're all agnostic here.”
“We could be pastafarian.” argues another, pointing at a large cheese grater on his head, and several other Draconequus give him mild looks.
“Hipster.” one of them finally proclaims, and then it turns its eyes back forwards, snapping its fingers. In front of it, chaos swirls into a window with blurred edges, through which a forest can be seen that had a small cottage cradled among its leafy boughs. “No, we could do anything we wanted, but we can't do anything we please. We're just watchers from the balcony, here to laugh at them and mock them but secretly, cheer them on and hope things turn out for the best. After all, we're all completely sure this is going to end badly. And when chaos is completely sure of anything, it's automatically dead wrong.”
“That's right, my friends and neighbors.” adds a friendly voice, and all the Draconequus turn with surprise towards the figure in the suit, who grins at them as he reaches up and adjusts its bow tie. “Move aside, I've got box seat tickets.”
The Draconequus all wince, and the creature strides through the chaos, eyes gleaming with delight as it rubs gloved hands together. “This is a tragedy in three acts and a comedy in five! The whole cast is present, living and the dead alike, and oh, I see the future, you know! There will be laughter and despair, suffering and joy, there will be a very definite beginning... and a very final end.”
The creature puts its gloved hands together as it bows its head forwards, misshapen top-hat almost falling over its eyes before one of the Draconequus asked uneasily: “Now we won't be talking about ravens and writing desks will we, Theophilius Carter? For there are no answers at all to that riddle due to how many have been made up by other authors.”
“Some better, some worse. Not the answers, of course, but the authors; all the answers are terrible because the riddle's real answer is that it has no answer, which in and of itself is the answer. Really, quite a serious answer to quite a few questions, my friends and neighbors.” replies Theophilius eloquently, and then the horse-headed entity smiles and claps its hands together. “And you will of course excuse the pun.”
“Only out of the respect we the Mad have for the Hatter.” remarks one of the Draconequus, and they trade looks before all eyes turn back towards the window in reality, as Theophilius leans intently forwards, licking his lips slowly. “We aren't quite like you, after all, just as you aren't quite like us, but all of us here in Ginnungagap move on a different wavelength from everything else; so I suppose that makes you much the same as us. At least as long as you're here: if you're ever there, you're not here at all, and that means you must be very much different from us indeed.”
“Good, my friends, good good. I promise you, there will be chaos, fear, and oh yes, for a time, the balance will be tipped to Order's folly; but I have a scheme of my own, a plan vast and great, friends in places up on high and low-down-below... and I promise you now, audience of Ginnungagap, entertainment like you've never seen before! Let the wild rumpus start!”
Theophilius throws his arms wide, a bright grin on his face as the Draconequus cheer, and laugh, and cry, and more of them pop out of holes in the fabric of chaos, surf down through the air, and leap up from below to cluster around the window in reality and watch the beginning of what could be the end of the everlasting tea party.
well this certainly makes my day better after waking up sick
And so it begins. And starting off in Ginnungagap, that is something I'd have never expected. I have a feeling that this will unfold in quite an epic way... wait, that's something else I'm feeling. Hang on...
...
...
There we go, found it. And now my hands are shaking in anticipation.
And so the ending begins.
3170184
Thanks. For now, a little bit of anticipation: I haven't actually finished the story yet, but I figured I should post something and let people know what it was all about. It should be done within the week and everything else will start going up then.
Also, thanks very much for the fave.
3170194
Seriously hoping I live up to that and more then once I get posting in earnest.
Thanks very much for the fave, too.
3170586
Really super hoping I don't screw it up.
Thanks kindly for the fave as well.
3171078
I've been reading your stories since six broken ponies and moonrise, and you haven't screwed one up yet, and you're welcome.
Finally, the Grand Finale. I don't know if I should be happy or sad, so I'll be both. You have made the Best Series on this site I've ever read. Your honestly the best writer on this site.
Can't wait to start reading this...
Love your writing so much, Happy to see you post this sad to see it come to an end.
3172195
Thanks very much. I'm really just crazy, though, that's all. It's just a pleasure to know people are enjoying my stories, long and weird as they can often get. I hope this one proves as enjoyable as the others, though, and there is quite a way to go, so... once I finish it and start posting the actual chapters in a few days, there'll still be quite a bit to enjoy for a while yet.
Thanks again, and the fave is much appreciated as well.
3172212
Thank you very much, and for the fave. I hope this story proves just as good a read as the rest of my writing has.
There's always some douche just hating on an epic story because their writing sucks.
3172959
Well, this story is kind of crazy and it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. Besides, it's fun in a weird, self-deprecating sort of way to guess how many dislikes I'll accumulate while posting up a story. I'm sure this one'll get a good few considering the length and craziness and Innocence and everything else, but that's okay. I try not to pay too much attention to the likes or the dislikes: it's enough for me that even a few people are enjoying these long, crazy stories in this weird alternate universe I've cobbled together. I always do appreciate the support, though.
3173896
I seriously think there's just that one guy who follows you to only dislike your Stories.
3177730
Don't worry, Draconequus just be crazy anyway.
Thanks very much for the fave.
Huzzah! More Draconequus! I've always enjoyed the way you write them, even if at times (such as now) I have trouble following them. Positively looking forward to reading this as it comes out!
3180794
Thanks very much. I should start posting in... three, fourish days, assuming nothing horrible happens. I hope it proves enjoyable, since there's much craziness to be had and it's going to be very long. Very very long.
Thanks for the fave as well.
3181385
Many readers often get tired/frustrated when a story becomes continually crazier and longer (exp: Fallout Equestria: Project Horizons), I however relish them. I shall patiently wait for when you're ready.
>>BlackRoseRaven
Hmm do i spot a capital I on Innocence?
What could that be about....? hmm
3184183
She'll be introduced right away in Chapter One. She's a little. Odd. With quite the odd family.
Thanks very much for the fave.
I always imagine Ginungagap as having a backdrop of shifting greens and blacks. Ginungagap is a very green word.
Might as well go ahead and reread this one too I guess
I just feel like it still isn't really finished yet, like I can't just walk away
Well here we are at the beginning of the end. I started this series near half a year ago now just reading chapters everyday during my lunch break at work and occasionally at home when I got the chance. I'm not sure how I got this far already. I've gone from being drawn into this story to nearly quitting at the end of book 3 and now I am staying on till the end. BlackRoseRaven? You have made an astounding series here and I don't think my words here will do it justice. Here's to you. Now, for the final entry in this series *continues reading*.