Everypony froze, even the kids, as the glow around Rainbow shattered and she fell to the ground with a wumph. I glanced down at Dinky revealing that She was staring at me wide-eyed, with her jaw hanging open in shock. "Dad... You just insulted the Princess..."

"So? I'm a God, what can she do to me?" I nonchalantly waved a tentacle through the air.

"She caaaaan......" Dinky's response died as her face fell to a look of deep thought.

Glancing back over at the alabaster alicorn, I couldn't help but love the look of shocked surprise on her face. Yeah try and Royal Face that one off Princess. Then she started to shake oh.... This could be either very good or very bad...

"AH HA HA HA HA !" Her composure shattered as she broke down laughing. That caught everypony off guard. Everypony blinked stupidly. I simply chuckled quietly. Good, be a person Tia.

"Not much squid-face, just Twilight panicking... again." Celestia managed as she got her giggles under control. Once again, shock. Only this time I was included.

I blinked.... Wat....

A deep chuckle rumbled deep in my throat. "Eh heh heh heh. Ha ha ha ha. AH HA HA HA HA HA HA!" I threw back my head as I lost it, couldn't help getting the feeling That I'd just thoroughly disturbed everypony. Thankfully I managed to get my maniacal cackling under control. "Eh heh... Sorry everyone... Eh... Everypony... That.. That was just amazing. Celestia, you win."

"Princess Celestia," Dinky emphasized behind me.

I turned to look at her, wishing I could grin. "Tia."

"Princess. Prin-cess." Dinky glared at me looking quite adorable, as always.

"Sunbutt." I stated.

"Ahh!" She snapped in exasperation.

"The more you correct me, the more names I'm going to use. I recommend you stop while you're ahead." I pointed a tentacle at her.

"She rules Equestria dad! You should show her respect." Dinky pouted. Button, Pip, and Pinkie were snickering quietly at us.

"Well I didn't vote for her." I commented. "Also, one she doesn't rule alone, at least she shouldn't, and two I'm treating her like she'd want to be treated, not how everyone else treats her."

"And I thank you for that." Celestia's voice came from right next to me, making me jump.

I instinctively whirled towards her and took a step back. "HolyShitNinja!" I snapped.

"Dad language! Pinkie Pie is right there!" Dinky furiously gestured at the giggling Pinkie. "Do you want to hear Pinkie use that kind of Language?!"

I blinked, thought a moment, and used a hand to rub my facial tentacles in thought. "Honestly yes. That would be hilarious."

"How am I more of an adult than you?" Dinky face hoofed.

Celestia giggled quietly. "So mister..."

"Eldritch for now." I said turning to her. "I assume you're here because of Twilight's letter?'

"I am indeed." Celestia nodded. "Apparently, Twilight cannot leave her library."

"Oh right... I think I might have done a thing... like channeling my Godhood to make Twilight leave." I awkwardly rubbed the back of my head with a tentacle. "I have no idea how I did it." I furrowed my brow in thought. "Hmmmm. Twilight, you're free! You can come out now!" My voice rumbled, reverberating through the air, and causing everypony to shiver. I got a weird a feeling like my stomach was filled with slithering snakes.

"So, that's what you did...." Celestia mused. Her face looked somewhere between intrigued and disturbed.

"That should do it. I think..." I nodded. Just then, out of the library came Twilight, looking quite shaken. Immediately her friends ran up to her "Dinky, Button, Pip would you mind staying out here while Celestia and I talk?"

"But daaaaaad!" Dinky whined. Celestia blinked dumbly at that, looking between me and Dinky.

"Sure/No problem." Button and Pip responded in unison.

"No buts Dinky." I put my hands on my hips. "This is important. Like I need to convince Tia here, not to try, and fail, at killing me kind of important."

"Fine." She pouted, scuffing the dirt with a hoof.

"Now you be a good filly Dinks, see if you can get through to Twilight for me." I knelt down and hugged her then stood up and looked at Celestia, who was looking at me critically like I was a puzzle she couldn't figure out. "This way if you please." I gestured towards the door, and Tia and I walked towards the door. I noticed that unlike other ponies, Celestia was only a little shorter than me. As we got to the door I held up a hand to stop Tia. "Hmm, I may need a sec in there. I left Lyra alone in there... and that has me worried... She was asleep, but I don't know if she stayed that way.

"Oh really? what happened?" Celestia cocked her head to the side, causing her flowing mane to waft out in all directions before settling. "That is perfectly fine of course."

"Eh, Lyra had an... extreme reaction to me. Have you heard of H.P. Coltcraft?" I asked, hand on the doorknob.

"I have. He was a brilliant author, but he didn't like mares that much. Even me. His work made up for it somewhat however." I narrowed my eyes at her. Was she messing with me? She was one-thousand-some years old.... She gave me an innocent smile.

"I'll be right back. If you hear screaming, don't worry about it." I turned back towards the door.

"I'm sure Lyra will be fine." Celestia replied.

"I meant me." I opened the door and stepped through.

Immediately the door slammed shut behind me, leaving me in almost total darkness. I could see silhouettes in varying shades of gray however. What the.... I had lights on... I glanced around. The air was still and silent. Okay.... this is worrying. I turned and looked down the hallway leading into the living room, through the mentioned living room, and into my room. There was the silhouette of a pony in the doorway. A Lyra silhouette. "Hey.... Lyra... You doin okay?"

A pair of gold glows lit up her face.

Well...... That's not normal......

Then more golden dots sprung up all over her body. It took me a moment to realise that they were all glowing eyes. Ooooooh....... Shit. A purple glow engulfed her horn and a cheshire grin split her face, filled with sharp teeth. "Welcome home lover." It was still her voice but distorted with an echo like mine. suddenly she seemed to shimmer with static and disappear.

Son of a dickwaffle! She pulled a Slender! FUCK!

Did I cause this? Probably? Was it because of the boop? Don't know!

Okay Eldritch calm down, what can she really do to you? I slowly walked through the kitchen, glancing around. I heard maniacal giggles all around me. She Shanghaied my house didn't she?

"I couldn't wait to meet you properly...." Her voice came from everywhere. Fuuuuuuuuuuu! Of course she would misconstrue the note!

"Listen, Lyra I can fix this..." I began slowly.

"Why would I want you to fix it? You've given me what I've always wanted." She voice cooed from right next to me. I whirled but she wasn't there.

"What? Power?" I asked the air.

"Nope. TENTACLES!" The room shook with the shout as black tentacles lashed around my wrists ankles. Before I could react I was lifted off the ground. My vision swam briefly until I was looking down at the Eldritch-Lyra below me, holding me up by the black tentacles that burst out from her withers. She grinned up at me giving me bedroom eyes. "Sooooo what am I going to do with you?"

"U-um, put me down? Please?" I stammered a little.

"Oh sure thing!" She chirped as she swiftly set me down. Instantly, like power coming back on after a power outage, all the lights turned back on. I was momentarily blinded as I felt Lyra's tentacles let me go. I blinked to spots from my eyes and looked down to see Eldritch-Lyra rolling on the floor laughing her head off. I blinked stupidly, completely stunned.

"Ummmm.... Wat." I blurted.

"Ah ha, heh, Sorry couldn't resist." Lyra said getting up as all the Eldritch-ness appears to melt back into her body. "I just had to prank you. You know, reverse of most horror movies and novels, the monster is stalked by the heroine." She grinned up at me.

"I am so lost right now..." I said dumbly.

"Well, here's my theory, disprove it if you want. Your boop unintentionall made me your servant, herald, champion, what-have-you. Now normally This would be bad, but I think since you're not a malicious Elder Being, I didn't get corrupted. I'm still me... Just Bonus-Me." She bounced on her hooves. "See. Eldritch turns on, Eldritch turns off. Eldritch turns on, Eldritch turns off." She said as she quickly shifted between Eldritch and Normal forms, before settling on the normal form.

"How are you doing that? Hell! How can you control it so easily?" I sputtered in shock.

"No idea! I love it though! Oh Bonny's going to love this! Now we can make our roleplay that much more real!" She blushed, her tail swishing back and forth.

"Ummmm, Don't wanna know." I coughed awkwardly.

"Oh where are my manners." Lyra giggled at herself. She raised a hoof. "Lyra Heartstrings, your new Herald."

I took it and shook it. "Eldritch... at least until I think up a better name."

"Nice to meet you. Eldritch, I like it. It suits you." Lyra nodded in agreement.

"Nice to meet you too." I said, slowly processing what the hell I just went through.

"Now, if i heard right, you have a Princess to talk to." Lyra grinned up at me, stood up, and walked over to the front door. "Have a nice talk and I will see you later boss. I have a Bon Bon I need to eat." With that she looked at the door, it opened, and she prance out, happily humming.

I simply stared at where Lyra had just been. Then I gagged, my brain catching the joke that Lyra had left me with. I slowly facepalmed. I was tired.

I briefly heard hooves, then I heard Lyra whisper just inches from me. "If you didn't get it, that means I'm going to go down on my marefriend."

"I got it Lyra... Thanks." I groaned, not looking up and doing my best to suppressed the oncoming mental imagery.

"Okay, had to make sure. Later!" She said giggling mischievously. Once again, I heard hooves as Lyra left.

"Hello? Eldritch? Is everything okay?" Celestia called. I lowered my hand to see Celestia peeking into the apartment at me.

"Yeah, just... tired... haven't had much time to slow down." I sighed. "Come on in, sit where you please. I'm sure you have questions."

"Why thank you." Celestia smiled and trotted in. the door shut behind her as she walked into the living room and proceeded to take a seat in my wingback chair. I took a couple steps and flopped onto the couch.

"This is comfortable. Little Dinky is right. You are a nerd." She giggled.

"It is, it's comfy." I agreed. "So... questions."

"Eh-hem. Yes." She fluttered her wings before letting them settle. Her smile faded to a frown. "What did you do to Miss Heartstrings?"

"Okay, not starting off easy...." I groaned as i sat up straight. "To answer your question Celestia, I have no idea. I don't know how to use whatever Beyond-Time-and-Space power I have. Our, Lyra's and mine, best guess is that I turned her into my Herald. As far as I can tell she seems fine. Like she's still herself, but.... I'm still me, just Bonus Me, to quote Lyra herself. Hell, she pranked me by taking over my apartment briefly."

"Hmmmmm." Celestia mused looking concerned and a tad irritated. "I'll be watching her as well as you."

"I'd expect you to." I nodded. "It helps that her girlfriend's a secret agent."

Celestia was caught off guard. Her eyes widened. "What?!"

"Bon Bon, also-known-as Special Agent Sweetie Drops, formerly of a monster hunting division of some kind." I stated matter-of-factly.

"How do you know about that ?" Celestia narrowed her eyes at me. In response, I gestured to all of me. "Ah... Right. Well, Eldritch do you know what you did to my student? More importantly, why did you do what you did to my student?"

"Did you hear the part where I don't know how to use my powers? I don't know what I'm doing. I'm pretty sure most of what I do is on Eldritch Horror instinct. I would love to learn how to control it." I slumped into the couch. "I wasn't this yesterday. Yesterday my apartment wasn't in Ponyville. I was just a nerd. A small white human who liked to write, collect things and show off his nerdiness. In fact I was a bit of a recluse."

"Ah, I thought you'd might've been similar to a human." Celestia nodded. "I'm sorry that you've had to go through being changed."

I shrugged. "Why cry about something that I have no control over? Hey, maybe now I can have some actual friends, get out of the house a little more."

"You seem to have made some friends already if Twilight's friends are anything to go by." Celestia smiled warmly at me, patting me on the shoulder with a hoof.

"No, I made them laugh. There's a difference." I pointed at her. "I would love to make friends, but I want to make friends my way. I don't want to be forced into Twilight's little gang so I can learn The Magic of Friendship. I want real relationships. So far you've given me more of a reason to be friends than Twilight has. On our first meeting, Twilight accused me of wanting to hurt Dinky. Then, after I told her Dinky would be okay, Twilight tried to teleport into my house directly. I think she slammed into my door because of that. When I went to open the door I calmly told her she didn't have to worry because she'd already contacted you. Finally, I told her to go home. I guess I channeled a bit of Godhood when I did, because I'm guessing she couldn't leave once there." I took a breath after my monolog. "To return to the friends' thing. I think so far all I've got is Dinky, Button, Pip, and probably Lyra. And you too, if you want someone to talk to or hang with or something." I shrugged.

Celestia simply stared at me for a moment looking stunned. Then she shook herself. "You are an intriguing one Eldritch."

"I try." I chuckled.

"What else do you intend to do here?" She asked, noticeably relaxing.

I shrugged once again. "Maybe get a job. Heh, that would look amazing. Anyway, in all seriousness, just live. Interact with people... Er, ponies... and get to know them. perhaps even interfere in events I may or may not know are coming. I don't know how much I can take as fact from what I've seen."

Celestia looked curious. "And what have you seen?"

In response I turned on the T.V. and the PS4, then browsed through my videos until I found what I was looking for. "This for one."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0cY2NWlddU&t=64s

Celestia gasped at the video. Then, thankfully started cackling like a madmare at it.

"The only response I'll give you as to how is Multiverse Theory." I said through my own laughter.

"Ah ha... ha... Oh that was marvelous. I personally don't care about questions like how and why in situations like this. I have enough on my plate as it is." Celestia sighed, leaning back into the chair.

"I bet you do." I nodded. "How's your sister by the way."

"Ugh..." She groaned. "Only recently back from the moon after one-thousand years, and what does she do? Sit in her room and play video games."

"HA!" I barked. "That sounds like me."

Celestia gave me a devious look. "Say, she does sound like you. How would you like to help me by getting her out of her room and having her interact with ponies once again?"

"Eh... sure?" I felt nervous for some reason. Lord, she better not be trying to set me up with Luna. Dinky was bad enough. If she did try however, I would counter by making MoonLight happen.

"Wonderful." Celestia beamed, getting up from the chair. I got up with her and we walked to the door. "We need to stay in touch Eldritch. This was actually quite nice." She said, the doorknob suddenly glowing with her magic.

"Indeed it was." I nodded as Celestia pushed the door open and we stepped out into the sunlight. Twilight was with her group of friends. Dinky, Button, Pip were near the door, it looked like they were trying not to look suspicious. Probably were listening in. Lyra wasn't too far away, talking animatedly with Bon Bon (who looked almost unsurprised at what she was hearing) and a shocked looking Derpy. Daaaw! Derpy's adorable!

"WHAT!?" Derpy suddenly cried out, startling everyone. "HE WAS GOING TO DO WHAT!?"

Then Derpy's eyes locked onto me. Both of them.

Oh.... Shiiiit....

"Well it's been fun. Talk to you later." Celestia giggled and disappeared in a flash of teleportation.

"GRAAAAGH!" Derp erupted off of the ground with a thunderclap of air, knocking away Bon Bon and Lyra, and flew right at me.

Everything inside me told me one thing.

This was going to hurt.

A lot.