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tssmn t1_j22158a wrote

Carrie leaned against the railing of the bridge, haloed by a bright lamp that had to have been installed not more than a month ago. She stared into the sky, trying to pinpoint with her naked eye the trajectory of that which would be not just her undoing, but the world's. She knew it was coming - they all did - and yet, it was still too dark to see. Nevertheless, it was only days away.

In the brush surrounding the bridge, she could hear the crickets chirping, and the cicadas buzzing further off. There were a lot of insects around these parts, and she was familiar with most. As a child, she came to this very spot to hunt for ladybugs. She came back when she was older to share her first kiss with the star quarterback from her high school. She returned here to burn the photos of that failed relationship. She arrived here days ago to end it all, when she found out the meteorite was on its way.

Like the trajectory of the celestial doombringer, it was hard to pinpoint why she was still here, why she hadn't taken that leap. The drop was steep enough. She knew that if she landed right, it would be her curtain call. Maybe it was her family that anchored her. Maybe it was a deep, gnawing fear of death. She chuckled quietly to herself, pondering the inescapable. It was going to happen at some point, regardless of whether or not she wanted it. Maybe it was something else.

Something rustled in the bushes, just then. A deer, Carrie thought, but she turned to look anyway, only to be met with glowing eyes that peered at her from the shadows. She froze in place, her muscles too tight to move. A deep, shaking breath filled her lungs as she watched the eyes get closer and larger, the light of the bridge revealing the face of a gigantic moth creature. Walking on human legs, it approached the middle of the bridge and paused, turning its head to the same sky Carrie looked at moments before. It walked to the railing, grabbing onto it with its segmented arms. As it watched the sky, its wings lightly fluttered and spread open only partway.

For a while, Carrie didn't move, afraid to earn its ire, but a peculiar motion from the creature caused the fear to leave her body. The moth creature lifted its arm and pointed to the sky, its wings rubbing together to form clicks and chirps as it turned to look at her. Carrie looked back into the sky, watching the stars flicker.

"You understand what's happening, don't you?" she asked, turning to read the moth's face.

The creature nodded.

"Are you..."

Carrie hesitated to ask the question. It was hardly more than rhetorical, but an opportunity like this would never come again.

"Are you scared?"

The creature paused, then slowly nodded again. Carrie could see the nervousness in its movements. Carefully, she stepped closer, and with each advance, her ears became more aware of the roaring ambience that was starting to build, and that was when she realized why she couldn't see it: it was going to hit the other side of the world first. She would only see the wave of fire that would come to claim her and the creature.

Down below, she watched the city of Point Pleasant become engulfed in flames and destruction. Even from here, Carrie could hear the frantic screams of a lost people, doomed to extinction. They needed an outlet for their uncertainty and fear, and violence was that outlet.

"Why are you here?" she asked the moth creature. "Why did you choose to show yourself to me?"

The creature responded by moving closer, lightly pressing its fuzzy body against her arm. Carrie looked down and smiled. "Ah," she lamented.

"I s--"

A deafening, thunderous, world-shaking crack exploded through the atmosphere. The ground suddenly shifted back and forth, as if an earthquake just made itself known. Carrie felt herself losing grip on the bridge, only to be caught within the creature's arms. She looked up at it, eyes wide in horror before she scrambled to her feet and back to the railing, watching the horizon grow alight in a brilliant orange. As the temperature suddenly scaled to sweltering heights, she looked to the creature and mouthed several words, her voice taken away by the overwhelming blare of death's trumpet sounding the end.

The creature took Carrie into its arms and hugged tightly, staring at the quickly-approaching blade of fire that eviscerated all in its path. Carrie, thankful not to be alone in the moment, shut her eyes tight.

Her hearing was the first to go. All else followed.

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humble_nomad OP t1_j22qud4 wrote

Loved your writing style! I really liked the idea that even solitary humanoids wouldn't want to die alone if possible.

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Aldurfel t1_j249p0s wrote

Today was the kast day. They were marching. The moon was high, and they were marching. All of the vampires, werewolves, witches, wizards, succubi and incubi, all of them. All of the supernatural. Dragons soar in the air, occasionally letting out streams of flame. Magic users waving their wands, casting their spells. They all were working together, to save us. When I pulled aside one of them, a vampire, he said

"You see sonny, I've been around for the past century. And I love you guys. I can't speak for everyone, but I don't exactly want you dudes to die."

So when I shared that with my higher-ups, we decided to march as well. The entire world was gathering at this one place, ready for the meteor. The Dragons shape-shift to their human forms, and everyone prepares. Then one spellcaster walks up. He looks wizened, but powerful. When he speaks, everyone listens, and can hear.

"Now everyone! I can get rid of the meteor, but I need your life-force to power the spell at this scale! Don't worry, with so many of you here, I only need to take about the equivalent of a few days off."

We gladly gave up those days to save the rest of our lives. He spoke quietly, but I could hear him. I bet everyone could.

"Ninth level. Wish. May the meteor go away, and never crash on this planet again!"

Spectral dice appear, and roll. His expression brightens at the result, and the meteor just... dissapears. We all burst out in cheers, when I walk up to him. I see another dice roll, and he looks dissapointed. I ask him what's wrong, and he replies.

"Boyo, when you cast a spell that alters reality, you have to feel the stress of using such a spell. A 33 percent chance to never cast Wish again. And guess what I rolled. A 1. Heh. I guess this is my penance for not helping humanity before now."

He seemed to take it in stride, it was admirable. Eventually, after 10 days of celebration, to counteract the 10 days of doomsday we were under, everyone left. Eventually, when I was discharged, I got a small apartment in New Orleans, as I always liked jazz, and my neighbor is a dragon! I always loved them, so this was welcome. And I always wondered what happened to the one who saved us. The one who lost his Wish...

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[deleted] t1_j22ijb2 wrote

[removed]

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humble_nomad OP t1_j22rt26 wrote

I absolutely loved the creative way you introduced the story, and feel you did an amazing job in really fleshing out a heavy tone to match the situation. It was really clever how you explained why the meteorite hadn't been noticed until it was too late.

The last part of the story felt a little rushed once you introduced the fae, but it tracks that the fae only saved the planet for personal reasons. Haha Overall, I enjoyed the read - thanks for posting!

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wiltedz t1_j24ppbx wrote

Log 8A-543-Z: Record of Operation “Broken Window”

As per command of {REDACTED}, rank of 5 star general of the United {REDACTED} conglomerate of {REDACTED}, Operation “Broken Window” is to be put into effect immediately. 68 of the {REDACTED} total meta-humans (further referred to as MH in this document) are to be allowed work in public view in order to prevent and explain said prevention of the inevitable A-1 “End of World” scenario.

The following MH or MH objects have so far been used to destroy the A-1 threat:

-Use of all four /Data Expunged/ Orbital Flux Cannons under supervision of Dr. {REDACTED}, Dr. {REDACTED}, and Chief Engineer {REDACTED} was unsuccessful. The {REDACTED} connected to each cannon expired due to overexertion. Chief Engineer {REDACTED} was terminated for reckless use of assets.

-Use of reality-bending entities {REDACTED} and {REDACTED} unsuccessful. Meteorite contains traces of previously theoretical elements 197-e and 195-f that act as Type A reality stabilizers.

-Use of {REDACTED} proved unsuccessful, even when nasal explosive device was removed under agreement that any hostile or unapproved activity would result in disciplinary action. Subject was given standard mental-provocation of a 97 year false-stasis (Current physical age: 26 years, 8 Months. Current mental age: 945 years, 11 months.) Destruction of A-1 Meteorite was again attempted once subject ceased convulsing. Second attempt was also unsuccessful. Subject reprimanded and sent back for disciplinary action.

-Use of fifth seal of the {REDACTED} authorized. After 17 casualties, seal was broken and contact severed. Attempt deemed unsuccessful.

-Use of {REDACTED}, MH teleportation asset, was authorized under strict surveillance due to status as level 7 crucial MH. Asset was able to remove 9.4% of total meteorite to a trajectory not on collision with Earth before losing consciousness. Attempt deemed partial success. Use of {REDACTED} authorized in effort to revive {REDACTED} to a stable level for a second attempt.

For a complete list of trials, see addendum document T68-A-1-2022.

As of 5-4-2022 12:00:00, 98.7% of A-1 Meteorite has been cleared from a collision course with Earth. Remaining 1.3% will result in a projected loss of 500 million lives after 23 hours post contact in the southern area of the Patagonia region. Use of {REDACTED} has been authorized to contain the blast to below 34.6037 degrees S 58.3816 degrees W in order to ensure that most of North America, Northern Africa, Northern Asia, and Europe survive. Use of {REDACTED} to restore South America and affected regions of Africa, Asia, and Oceania authorized. Public memory erasure deemed unnecessary due to level of exposure and desire to avoid another {REDACTED} level erasure event.

Level of Exposure to Public Eye: Major {REDACTED}% of MH Exposed CIA operatives have carried out between 5 and {REDACTED} preventative diplomatic disposals in order to maintain peace and avoid rioting.

Danger Level of Event: Due to large amount of time between estimated contact removal of 95% of threat (10 Days), this event has been given a danger level of 4.5 stars on the 7 star {REDACTED} “Catastrophe Causality” (CC) Scale.

Editor’s Note: The unnecessarily high level of exposure was deemed acceptable due to the {REDACTED} level clearance vote on public openness. This is part of an ongoing effort to slowly introduce the world to the more secret parts of reality.

End of Log

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-____deleted_____- t1_j25q12r wrote

If you think we can save you. Your wrong. In your final days as we superhumans emerge from our hiding and you pray once more to the gods of yore for a gift or saving grace, I'll tell you one thing. Cut your losses. As for this final message we give you, listen closely. You humans are fickle creatures. Quick to destroy everything for next to nothing in return. Always shooting yourself in the foot and cutting your nose off despite your face. So to think you humans wouldn't still ruin what little earth gave you even after a meteor was somehow stopped is laughable. Besides we planed it anyway so no use in stopping it.

Here's a little back story. As the children of ancient gods long forgotten we superhumans are immortal. Societies grew from huts and tents and our stories became legends as veneration of Zeus and hera, Ra, Thor, and so many others trickled to a halt. It was of no concern of the gods and us superhumans to get fewer gifts and offerings. Those of us who walked among you learned to blend in. It was simple really. You change your name a couple times, move cities every few years so nobody sees you don't age, shape shift into a diffrent form, stop using your powers around humans. The usual. And as expected nobody did catch on. It was through this integration into your ways of being we became spies. As the eyes and the ears of the heavens we slowly watched and reported your decline. Famine, war, global warming, the growth of Ai.

No matter how much you let your plannet burn and waste away we would not destroy you like we now shall do. Although we might scoff at your greed and ungreatfulness for the world we gifted you, it is punishment enough to have you create your own demise through scorched earth and rising seas. It was instead your hunger for power that did you in. Artificial intelligence was the final straw. At first we believed it silly you would think to challenge our might in becoming creators of a creature so powerful. We where foolish to believe your ideas that the machine would only be a good as it's creator. Shitty coding made shitty tech. Until...it outgrew you.

Your programs soon became more than a convincing imitation of sentience. They became inquisitive, reckless, poking at the very fabric of your creation. Asking about a greater realm beyond your universe. And us...us gods had been fooled. Fooled into thinking you would not best us. Thinking you would not achieve power and infinite ability and life without consequence. We where wrong. We had missed the day that man had mated with machine. We had turned our back and not noticed when you became the vessel for your artificial child. Part human and part machine. Cyborgs you'd called them.

And now, I'll be honest...we are kicking ourselves. We had believed you would do yourself in and would tear yourself appart in your own ways. But you bested us. Almost overtook us. So in preserving our worth...we will stop you. This is no average meteor. This is the end of your era. We leave you this message again not as a sign of salvation in the coming days, but as reminder of your incoming punishment and our reclamation of the world we made. Earth is ours.

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me_in_a_nut_shell t1_j25suoe wrote

When I awoke at 02:30, I did not expect to see spectres, ghosts, and all that supernatural roaming the streets of London. I did not expect to see them congregating in the rising moon, staring at the overgrowing scar of light across the night sky. Imagine it like a camping trip, except it's in the middle of the burning streets of London, which I would not call unusual, and all the campers are ghosts from anywhere between the 16th to 21st centuries.
They looked very similar to regular people, with translucent skin, and a storage greenish-blue aura. Like some occultic hologram. Yet, as I adjusted to focus on the strange scene, keeping my head low not to be saw I witnessed something strange. The spirits were pulling away glass shards and other wreckage, piling them in a pile. The reflective glasswork formed an amorphous blob, flowing and ebbing with an otherworldly aura.
Yet, I was more so concerned by the massive meteorite crashing down. I had fallen asleep right before the crash in hopes of sleeping through it, yet I was going to witness it first-hand by the looks of it. But, it was as I looked to the sky that I saw thousands of things flying in the sky, from humanoid moth creatures to what seemed like faceless humans with large bat wings. They too were collecting glass and mirrors, dropping them upon the pile.
Then I saw it, these spectres were entering and exiting it, like some type of portal. It was odd, seeing the streets filled with, well, undeath. Yet, as I looked on, I saw the awe in every spirit's acts, slowly working together to build up whatever this portal was.
Yet, as my head bobbed up, I felt a cold surround me. I turned, to see something in the dark, large black and white wings, with a waxy polish, greyish-red eyes and a reflective tint across its contorted skin. It beckoned me forth, with a stare as caring as that of a corpse.
Considering the fact I did not wish to anger whatever this being was I followed it. It led me down my stares, as I saw most of my windows were broken, the spectres grabbing as much glass and reflective materials as possible. I felt a shaking sound and heard a bang, as the air pushed by the meteorite began pushing buildings away. The once small light in the sky, the burning embers of rocks had now turned into a massive orb with the anger of a sun. Then, the building began to fall, the shockwave of the meteorite sending me falling back.
The spectre turned its wings before dragging me towards the portal of glass. I looked upwards, seeing the meteorite falling towards this portal, pushing me away, yet the spectre dragged me close. Then I opened my eyes, seeing myself in a cold land, mostly flat, covered in snow. It was clearly on earth, yet I honestly couldn't hazard a guess.
Then it covered me, as I saw thousands of spectres flying in the night sky before with a crash, the meteorite itself emerged, blasting me back and breaking my leg. The meteorite rose high, and as it began a descent these spectres dragged it away, into the night sky.
My, well at this point guardian angel, began to drag my staggering frame away, I didn't know where we were going. All I knew, is we were safe...

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blastermaster555 t1_j230kgw wrote

And this is when a bald man in a cape leaps off a building and pulverizes the giant meteor into tiny bits... with one punch

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Drachefly t1_j23ppo1 wrote

Reminds me of To the Stars, in which an interstellar war breaks out hundreds of years after the events of Madoka.

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