"I don't think this is safe, Twilight..."
"Relax, I used this on Pinkie and she came out fine."
"That... doesn't fill me with much confidence," Sapphire dryly replied as she looked at the strange device on her head. It was early in the morning when Sapphire rushed over to the library, where she immediately informed Twilight about Veritas's presence in her mind. At first, Twilight was skeptical about the being, but upon hearing that it had a name, one that wasn't pony-like or even something other species would take, she became alarmed and proceeded to drag Sapphire down to her underground laboratory.
"Sapphire, do you honestly think I would do any harm to you?" Twilight asked while checking one of her devices.
"Not intentionally... and if you think this is safe, why the restraints?" Sapphire replied as she pulled on her forehooves which were clamped on top of another device.
"Safety protocols, don't want you to suddenly panic and damage my lab equipment," Twilight answered as she checked the helmet device, much to Sapphire's annoyance.
"Nice to know where your priorities are," Sapphire muttered to herself, only to feel her nose being flicked. "Hey, what was that for?"
"Sapphire, I know you're skeptical about all of this, but I am doing this for your own well-being. Now hold still, this will take just a minute," Twilight instructed as she pulled down a lever. Instantly, the device activated as Sapphire could hear the beeps and turning of gears from the machine.
"What is it doi—" Sapphire started to ask before a bulb suddenly shattered. "Is it supposed to do that‽"
"No, a wire mu—" Twilight answered until Sapphire was suddenly shocked, her body spasming as electricity ran through her body, causing her to cry out in pain. "Sapphire!"
"Gzzt-stop-zzzt-it!" Sapphire screamed as Twilight started turning the device's valve while pressing a couple buttons, which achieved no results.
"It's not working! What is goi—" Twilight exclaimed, panicking as she tried something else, only hear that Sapphire's cries of pain unexpectedly end. Blinking in surprise, she turned to find Spike helping Sapphire off the machine. The helmet had already been removed and the restraints undone, though Sapphire didn't look all the well based on her spinning eyes and her mane was standing on its ends.
"Jeeze, Twilight, what you did now?" Spike asked as he used a leg to push the restraining portion of the device away from Sapphire.
"I didn't do anything, it just malfunctioned," Twilight said as she went back to work on the device, shutting it off a minute later before returning her attention to Sapphire. "Sapphire, are you alright?"
"Why yes Flutter Dash, I would like a fork of paint, thank you very much," Sapphire answered with a smile as she stumbled about.
"I... um... I'll just bring you upstairs so you can rest on the couch Sapphire," Twilight said as she lit her horn up, engulfing Sapphire with her magic as she lifted her into the air.
"Oh, that's alright Rift, I can toss that tuna into your wagon," Sapphire replied with a laugh, causing Twilight to pause as she looked at her in confusion.
"Rift?" Twilight simply echoed, causing Sapphire to laugh as she waved a hoof through the air.
"Don't be orange Mister Rune, I can lift that pelican no problem!" Sapphire said with a giggle.
"Hmm..." Twilight hummed to herself, eyeing the shut device before them. "I wonder..."
"No Twilight! I know what you're thinking, but no," Spike commanded as he folded his arms over his chest.
"But it could help with her memory Spike," Twilight countered, as Sapphire was trying to swim through the air.
"Hey! Smell me Apple Pie! I'm flying through pudding!"
"...Okay... maybe it is a good idea to not push things any further," Twilight replied as she let out a sigh before carrying Sapphire upstairs.
"Is it me, or is it that everytime you try some kind of experiment on me, I end up suffering?" Sapphire asked as she ran a brush through her mane, flattening it out into its original state.
"It's just you. Now, are you certain the words rift and rune mean anything to you?" Twilight asked as she scribbled something on a scroll floating before her, causing Sapphire to frown at her.
"No, that shock I got didn't cause me to remember a thing," Sapphire answered as she shivered at the memory of being electrocuted.
"Odd that you mentioned words that you're unlikely to use in any kind of scenario. I'll just make a notice of those two words for now, in case we ever come across them again," Twilight said as she put the scroll away. "Again, I'm sorry you had to go through that. The odds of the scanners malfunctioning are incredibly low, I just need to take them apart to find out what's wrong."
"As surprising as that sounds, I'm more surprised that you didn't bring me to a hospital already," Sapphire idly commented as Spike came over with a plate full of daisy sandwiches. "Thank you Spike."
"No problem Sapphire, and I'm also wondering what you're doing here instead of the hospital. That, or at least with some doctor," Spike added as the two of them looked at Twilight, who blinked owlishly at them.
"What? I did a brief scan of Sapphire's vitals and found nothing wrong. I even consulted a medical textbook!" Twilight countered as she waved said book with her magic. "Anyways, from what data I could gather from the equipment and the scan, you don't appear to be under any magical influence of any sort. Whatever this Veritas is, I don't think somepony simply put it in your mind. All I can recommend is that you have Luna look at it the next time she visits you in your dreams."
Sighing, Sapphire rubbed the side of her head as she asked, "If that's the only choice you think I have, but do you mind sending a letter to Luna about this? I rather not have her come to my dreams, only to end up having to try another night due to being unprepared."
"Beware foul creature! We, the Princess of the Night, hath come forth to vanquish thee!" Luna declared as she appeared in Sapphire's dreamscape, fully armored in some kind of silver plate armor with a spear at her side. "Surrender, and mayhaps we sha—"
"You shall shut your trap and use your indoor voice like a normal pony," Veritas interjected as Sapphire just gave her a shocked look. Luna simply released a snort before observing her surroundings, which was just Sapphire's near-empty living room.
Pointing a spear at Veritas, Luna stated, "Show some respect knave, even before the one that will bring thy end to thee. Submit and thy end will be painless!"
Instead of addressing Luna, Veritas looked at Sapphire as she asked, "Is this really what you're going to use to get rid of me? Predictable."
"How dare thee make light of us! Hath at thee!" Luna shouted as she charged at Veritas, her spear glowing with magic, only to pass right through the being. "What the?"
"Don't judge a book by it’s cover. I may look like some kind of otherworldly creature, but I'm not," Veritas replied with a roll of her eyes before drifting over to the couch as she laid down on it. "So put your toys away, you're embarrassing everypony here. I'm not some kind of dream creature that you can simply banish at a whim."
Scowling at the creature, Luna flew over to it as she swung her spear at it a few more times, even firing a beam of magic at it. Unfortunately, all of her attacks simply passed through the being like it was some kind of ghost. "It is as I have feared," Luna declared as her horn grew brighter for a moment before her armor and spear disappeared as she was dressed in her regalia once more.
Gulping, Sapphire looked at Luna with dread as she asked, "What... what do you mean?"
Looking at Sapphire with a serious expression, Luna answered, "This being isn't some nightmarish dream monster, nor some kind of dream construct sent by some potential rival that seeks your downfall. Nay, for this creature is a being that is constructed by your very mind, mayhaps by your own subconsciousness."
"You do realize that I'm right here, you know?" Veritas said in an annoyed tone, causing Luna to let out another grunt.
Shivering at the thought that Veritas actually originated from her mind and was disrespectful towards Luna, Sapphire croaked out, "P-Princess Luna? You d-do know that I would ne—"
"Do not fret, my little pony. I know that you are a polite mare that wouldn't even think to be mean to others," Luna said with a smile as she placed a hoof on Sapphire's shoulder, causing the nervous mare to calm down. "Just because this being originated from your mind, doesn't mean it’s attitude and views are reflections of yours."
Hovering over to them, Veritas waved a hoof in front of Luna, saying, "Don't you dare ignore me, I demand that my presence is acknowledged!"
Letting out a long-suffering sigh, Luna turned her attention to the mental construct to reply, "Very well, I acknowledge you. Happy?"
"Nope, cause I'm bored," Veritas stated as she flipped onto her backside, swimming through the air.
"Umm... Princess Luna... is there some way for you to... um... get rid of her?" Sapphire asked as the creature did some kind of gesture with one of its forehooves, which only served to confused the other two ponies in the room for a moment.
"Alas, this is outside of my power. This... 'Veritas', is a being that must be resolved by your effort. Perhaps a doctor might be able to lend you aid in combating this nuisance, but if it is any consolation, I can assure you that you're not going insane," Luna replied, before being flicked on the ear by Veritas, causing her to glare at it in anger. "Though, I would recommend that you overcome this challenge with haste, for I believe that its presence would become grating to our nerves within a few mere nights."
Sighing at the thought of being stuck with Veritas every time she's asleep, her eyes suddenly brightened at an idea that came to her. Leaning over to whisper into Luna's ear, Sapphire asked, "Should we just move onto my memory hall? Maybe we could lose it by going there."
"An excellent idea," Luna replied as Veritas narrowed her eyes at them as she opened her mouth to say something, only for Luna to quickly take Sapphire and herself to the memory hall. "I think we have lost it."
Letting out a sigh of relief, Sapphire said, "That's good, it was bad enough dealing with Veritas in my dr—"
"Did anypony called for me?" Veritas asked as she appeared from underneath Luna's mane, much to the princess's ire. Groaning to herself, Sapphire thought, Luna said I'm not crazy... but with that thing around, as might as well be insane anyway.
"I heard that!”