//------------------------------// // Witness Interview - "Twilight Sparkle" - May 4th // Story: They're Never Coming Back // by Flashgen //------------------------------// Transcription of Witness Interview: “Twilight Sparkle” Date: May 4th Time: 9:26 a.m. Interviewers: Verdant Vines, Head Investigator and Doctor Blue Sky There were no additional words marked in the journal since the interview was concluded with the pony claiming to be Twilight Sparkle on May 3rd. Doctor Blue Sky was also in the tent with me while performing the interview, giving feedback and taking notes. Some of his notes are included here. Twilight, are you there? We’re ready to begin again. yes good morning ? Yes, it is, Twilight. Do you know how long it’s been since we ended our interview? two close to two days I’m sorry again that you’ve had to be alone that long, Twilight. As I said, I have a colleague here to assist me with the interview. If some of my replies take a while, I may be talking with him. I don’t want you to have to speak with him if you’re uncomfortable, but if you’d like to converse with him, I have a supply of blue ink that he’ll use. thank you Vines what is his name? Blue Sky. hello Blue Sky (Blue Sky: Miss Vines informed me of Twilight’s greeting. I gave one in return.) He says hello. He hopes you’re feeling well. I am HOPE helps slept more thought more That’s good. I did have some questions though, about what we discussed yesterday: where you are and how this place works. I will try to answer You tried to compare Equestria to this world. You said that Equestria is rigid and this world is flexible, and even mentioned physics. Is there a lack of those rules, the laws of physics, there? when away yes when it is close it copies mimics some things do not copy LIGHT weather connections some exist around me ponies like thoughts exude coherence keep rules order You mentioned that you left messages by reaching out when the world was “close” to Equestria. Are you able to see things or ponies that are here? where they are impressions like murky water Are you near us now? no the journal is connected copied mirrored I can move it still communicate Are you in Town Hall? You mentioned finding Solace, that he was still safe. Solace there safe I am elsewhere it is off secure isolated (Blue Sky: Twilight seems unwilling to give her location. It could be a sense of paranoia, that writing it down leaves her vulnerable to whatever these whispers or creatures are. It could also simply be that she doesn’t know, but feels secure wherever she is.) You mentioned yesterday that others were still alive, still safe. Do you know how many or who specifically? no I know how to gather collect them when the time comes The time? They want to be close to do this again They try to steer connect correct this world how is complex difficult to express like willing it to be smothering by force when it is close we could leave return send this place away send Them away You asked us for help in your first message. Is that what you need our help for, to bring those that were missing back to Equestria? yes (Blue Sky: Miss Vines and I had a quick discussion, mostly about the well-being of those in this other world, and about the state of those Twilight kept referring to as “others” and “They." If there were a safe way to bring these ponies back, Miss Vines would prefer it, but it could risk these “others” coming or causing these events to happen again.) I am sorry for the wait, Twilight. You said yesterday that this world you’re in affects ponies, sometimes differently. Can you explain that in more detail? this place They erode the mind the spirit the body some ponies are resilient strong-willed others weak malleable molded (Verdant Vines: We did notice that a lot of different effects seemed to be recorded in the journals: physical and mental. Applejack noted ponies changing physically, Twilight and Fluttershy seemed to be affected mentally. Solace was able to survive without food or water for days. Whether these effects persist remains to be seen.) You were affected, Twilight, weren’t you? I know you must distrust doubt that I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I do not remember it the dark when I gave in I remember waking searching learning regretting so much lost time chance HOPE friends (Blue Sky: I would have advised against Miss Vines’ question, but I was not consulted. I suggested she apologize if possible, to express her concern and that the question was merely to understand her experiences.) I’m sorry, Twilight. I didn’t mean to upset you. I only want to understand, so that we can help you and those still lost in this place. I know I am sorry I understand your doubt books and covers You broke out of it, somehow, whatever happened to you. Could everypony else that was affected like you also recover? I HOPE even if far gone they can return to LIGHT it may take time so much time it may have taken weeks months years for me I cannot know cannot tell cannot imagine Do you know if anypony was immune? Unaffected? no they may by degrees be easier to recover Would being here, back in Equestria, help with recovery? it may away from whispers away from shadows away from nothing (Blue Sky:It is impossible to truly tell if this is a correct assumption. If Lantern or Pendant’s conditions are caused by this place and the creatures there, then any improvement seen by their movement to Canterlot may be in support of it. Then again, their issues may not be entirely related. We will need to proceed with some caution when it comes to treatment of anypony we recover.) Thank you again for all of this information, Twilight. How can we help you? How can we help bring those ponies back? I need to try a test if it works others can come You want us to bring you back? no Solace he is safe he was hidden he will go unnoticed When can it happen? need time to prepare a portion close a place safe town hall keep eyes there always for you I cannot say how long day days Will they be in danger? Could these others try something? it is always possible when this world is close I cannot promise I’ll need to talk to my superiors before I can promise help with this, Twilight. We need to consider the dangers. it will not need help yet only eyes only watching I’ll see what I can do. I don’t have any other questions today, Twilight. I need to write some letters to my superiors, but Blue Sky will be able to talk with you, if you’d like. I would like that company talking writing helps Alright. I'll talk to you as soon as I have more, Twilight. goodbye Vines Hello, Twilight. This is Blue Sky. hello Sky Miss Vines made me aware of what you’ve gone through. I thought it might help if you had a chance to talk about these experiences a bit more openly. I don’t doubt that you’ve been truthful to Miss Vines, but she’s approached this as a professional, as part of her duties. you do not have duties? I do have a job here, yes, but it’s not tied to finding out what happened to you and the other ponies that disappeared. I’m more concerned with what will happen when you and the others return to Equestria, and how this case has affected those working on it. I’m a doctor, a psychologist. I was asked by White Clover, Miss Vines’ superior, to come here for the sake of the ponies working here. They had complained about nightmares and trouble sleeping, which Miss Vines has mentioned to you. They thought at first it was just the nature of the case getting to them. From what you’re saying, and what we have both experienced, it seems to be much more than that. yes They reach grasp at minds yearning I saw a dream a few they are scattered memories I cannot recall remember reveal That’s alright, Twilight. I don’t want to force you to have to pull a memory or information for me. I just want to talk. Do you truly feel safe? I know that Miss Vines is concerned with the safety of the ponies working here, but she also cares for your safety. yes I am hidden obscured distant Have you had anypony else to talk to, besides yourself? no Solace would not speak to me That must be very difficult, to go so long alone. (Blue Sky: I noticed spots forming on the page. It took me a moment to realize they were water stains.) yes You are not any longer, Twilight. We are here to talk with you. I know that we cannot every second of the day and night, but we are here. We will help you get back, if we can. (Blue Sky: More of the spots formed.) they are not I left them my friends (Blue Sky: I had assumed this a possibility, given the information included about how close Twilight was to her friends. Some of them were with her when they were taken, and others suffered terrible tragedies. Survivor guilt is a difficult symptom of PTSD to treat, especially when I cannot physically be there for Twilight.) Twilight, you went through a very difficult experience. It’s one I don’t think anypony else in Equestria has experienced before you. Whatever you did is past. Whatever happened was not truly your fault. Your friends may still be alive. You deserve to be here, now. I failed them myself Celestia my parents my friends nopony will forgive forget trust me Twilight, you cannot place the full brunt of what happened on your withers. It was caused by something out of your control. It affects ponies beyond your control. It continues to do things beyond your control, and you are working to save yourself and whoever is left there to save. You do not have to apologize for things outside of your control. (Blue Sky: The tear spots stopped, but Twilight’s reply took several minutes.) I am sorry Sky thank you You’re welcome, Twilight. I have a team of doctors here with me, and colleagues I can call on from Canterlot, Manehatten, Trottingham, and Vanhoover; we will be able to help you and everypony that comes back. I promise you. I am glad doctor what happened to Pendant I am still sorry (Blue Sky: I hadn’t considered it yesterday, but Twilight knew that Pendant was the one who carried the journal, even though her first words were written after the incident between Pendant, myself, and Miss Vines. I believed what Pendant went through was partly related to her mental stress from the investigation, in addition to whatever ill effect this other world or creatures had on her. I could also not deny that Twilight felt a sense of responsibility for it, even after I explained that she shouldn’t have to apologize for circumstances out of her control. I also recalled the voice I heard that night. “Not ready” it said.) Twilight, was what happened to Pendant a side effect of what allows you to talk to us through this journal? (Blue Sky: The reply did not come.) Twilight? (Blue Sky: I thought to alert Miss Vines.) yes the link to establish it took reaching out Pendant was near close attached malleable I did not want it to happen I did not want ponies in danger I did not want her to break fracture crack under pressure She is alive, Twilight. She’s being taken care of in Canterlot, by the best doctors, I’m sure. Princess Celestia would waste no expense for their well-being. I am sorry I am sorry I am I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me (Blue Sky: Twilight’s mantra continued until Miss Vines returned. She asked me to come with her. I wrote what I could several lines below, so as not to interrupt Twilight. Whatever the purpose of the mantra, it seemed to calm her earlier. If she needed it now, I would not want to stop her.) Twilight, I have to go speak with Miss Vines. We will try to speak soon.