The Ancient One's gaze deepened as she absorbed SCP-343's words. The idea of a merging between two universes, something she had not detected, was more than alarming—it was almost inconceivable. The level of power and precision it would take to merge entire realities without the multiverse crumbling into chaos was staggering.
"A universe merging with ours... and the Foundation is at the heart of it?" she repeated, her tone steady but reflective. "That would explain why they seemed to appear out of nowhere, fully established, with an extensive network and resources already in place. It's as if they've always existed, yet they hadn't."
SCP-343 leaned back slightly, his demeanor still calm, but there was a flicker of interest in his eyes. "Exactly. They weren't originally part of this universe's history, but now they are. Whoever is behind this has gone to great lengths to make their presence feel natural, woven into the very fabric of your reality. But there are cracks—small ones—where the truth leaks through."
The Ancient One considered his words carefully. The implications were vast, far-reaching. She had long prided herself on being able to maintain balance, protect the sanctity of her universe, but this… this was something altogether different. Something was operating on a scale that she hadn't anticipated.
"And you've come to me because you believe I can help you... or stop them?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
SCP-343 smiled faintly. "I'm afraid it's impossible to stop it, it had already happened, and we are merely watching the result unfold, what can be done now, isn't to help me, but to help the Foundation and their mission."
The Ancient One's brow furrowed slightly at SCP-343's response. "Well, since you are the one that found out about the situation, I will assume you know what you are talking about, for now at least. But help the Foundation? So far, I have been rather friendly towards them, but I doubt a friendly relationship would work."
The Ancient One was well aware that the Foundation's stance on someone like her wasn't all that positive. They would likely consider her an SCP object just due to her overwhelming power and longevity.
So, while she doubted they would go after her due to how important her own work was, and she also didn't believe they would have an overly friendly relationship, their goals, while aligning at some points, differed greatly at others.
SCP-343 nodded, acknowledging the Ancient One's cautious stance. "Yes, I'm aware of their... approach. They are not exactly welcoming to those who exist outside their sphere of control. They seek to contain what they do not understand."
He paused to take another sip of his tea, clearly not in a hurry to answer her questions. "Yet, that is, but on the surface, in truth, the Foundation is far more than what even most within the Foundation itself knows. Tell me, how much do you know about them?"
The Ancient One's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement. "Aren't you supposed to be omniscient? Surely you should already know the answer to that question."
SCP-343, God, couldn't help but laugh at her words. "Ahh, Indeed, I already know, but I have found that most people feel less at ease if I showcase my omniscience."
The Ancient One wasn't entirely sure how to take his answer. Was he truly omniscient or not? He wasn't saying himself, and she honestly found it difficult to judge; after all, he had known her name, one which wasn't known to any living being save herself.
Yet she also found the idea of true omniscience to be utter nonsense, she knew plenty of powerful beings, and few could claim to be even close to that point. Even beings such as Eternity itself wouldn't claim to be omniscient, even if she did suspect them to at least possess a limited degree of it at least.
Sighing to herself, she took another sip of her tea before she started to explain what she knew about the Foundation. She had dealt with these kinds of beings before, and while they normally weren't too aggressive, she also knew that they enjoyed their little games.
"Fine." She said. "Let's see, the Foundation, at least in your old universe, was an old organization that protects humanity from anything not considered part of the normal or natural world. Magic, Monsters, aliens, and much more."
The Ancient One took another measured sip of her tea, her voice calm and precise as she continued. "The Foundation, from what I've observed, is obsessed with containment. Anything that doesn't fit into their definition of the 'natural' world is either locked away, studied, or destroyed. They have a deep-seated fear of the unknown, and that fear drives their actions. They want control over forces they don't understand, over things that should not be controlled. Magic, for instance, is one of those things."
SCP-343 nodded, listening intently. "Yes, they are indeed fearful of what they cannot explain. They seek to cage chaos itself, believing it will bring about safety. Yet, that fear is also what has kept them alive for so long. They have faced threats even gods would hesitate to approach."
The Ancient One raised an eyebrow slightly. "Fear has its uses, I suppose, but it also blinds. They clearly know this, so they keep the rest of the world ignorant of the threats out there to ensure they don't fear what they couldn't hope to control, and as such, keep the world as it is today, which closely mirrors what I myself do."
SCP-343 smiled knowingly, setting his cup down on the table between them. "Indeed, there are parallels between what you do and what the Foundation attempts. Both of you are guardians of sorts, protecting humanity from what they cannot see or understand. Yet, where you guide with wisdom, they enforce with iron. You understand the delicate balance between order and chaos, while they seek to eradicate chaos entirely."
The Ancient One nodded, acknowledging the subtle distinction. "And that difference is why I doubt they would ever accept my help or my methods. Their fear makes them rigid, while I know that true balance requires flexibility. Control is an illusion; there must always be room for uncertainty."
"Yes, precisely," SCP-343 agreed, his eyes glinting with approval. "You seem to understand them well enough, but that is not the whole truth; the Foundation is much more than that; tell me, what do you know about the leadership of the Foundation?"
The Ancient One set her teacup down gently, her fingers lingering on the edge of the porcelain. "Their leadership...," she mused, her tone thoughtful. "Not much, truthfully. The Foundation is shrouded in so many layers of secrecy that even the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj have found little of concrete value. The O5 Council, if that's what you're referring to, seems to be at the heart of their operations. But who they are, what they want—those are mysteries even to me."
SCP-343 nodded slowly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yes, the O5 Council. A group of individuals with immense knowledge and power, yet they hide behind veils of secrecy, even from their own people. The vast majority of the Foundation's personnel know nothing of them beyond whispers. They believe the Council is merely a governing body, guiding the Foundation in its mission. But the truth is more... complex."
The Ancient One's gaze sharpened. "More complex how? Are they merely human, or are they something else entirely?"
"That," SCP-343 said, "is the right question. Most of the O5 Council were once human, but after so long in their roles, after countless dealings with the very anomalies they seek to contain, they have evolved—or perhaps devolved—into something... different. They wield artifacts and knowledge that have altered them. They are no longer bound by the same rules that govern humanity."
The Ancient One leaned back in her seat, absorbing this. "So, they are akin to beings who walk the line between gods and mortals, much like myself."
"Exactly," SCP-343 agreed. "And with that comes both upsides and downsides; for one, they can both be more and less rigid than the rest of the Foundation. Which is why you can communicate with them; I assure you, they aren't all that different from you, yet they too are bound by the rules of the Foundation; they are in a way also contained by the Foundation they built."
The Ancient One absorbed SCP-343's words with careful consideration. "So, the O5 Council is both the architects and prisoners of the system they created," she mused. "An ironic twist, but not an unfamiliar one. Those who wield power often find themselves ensnared by it."
SCP-343 nodded. "Indeed. The O5 Council may have started with noble intentions, to protect humanity from forces they couldn't comprehend. But over time, they became something else. In seeking to control the unknown, they themselves became anomalies—immortal beings who no longer belong to the world they once sought to defend."
The Ancient One tilted her head slightly, her fingers gently drumming against the table. "And now they are part of a universe that has been altered, merged with another reality. If they are as you say—less rigid than the rest of the Foundation—then perhaps they can be reasoned with."
"Correct." SCP-343 said. "However, before you can work with them as equals, you need to know what and who you are working with; after all, they already know about you; they are watching and allowing you to do as you wish because that serves their objective."