//------------------------------// // Witness Interview - Twilight Sparkle - May 5th // Story: They're Never Coming Back // by Flashgen //------------------------------// Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle Date: May 5th Time: 1:16 a.m. Interviewer: Doctor Blue Sky, PhD After Solace was recovered, I asked Miss Vines if I could speak to Twilight. She allowed it and I retrieved the journal, but I took my time in starting this interview. I regret making Twilight wait so long for a reply, but I was afraid. I feared that there would be some catastrophe in opposition to our success once again. I stayed with Solace and the medic, Tourniquet, to make sure that he was recovering well, and waited. I dozed off for a while, but awoke sometime around midnight. I excused myself to one of the other rooms and found the below after my previous goodbye, in addition to a few more lines of Twilight’s “I am Me” mantra. Her writing grew more scattered with each line of her mantra, letters tilting and lines askew, but it eventually returned to her previous, if jagged, style. 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 goodbye Sky I am starting soon Solace will come he is not strong resolute willed enough to move resting exhausted worse getting worse he will come soon please be ready help doctors water food did it work? is he there? the office mayor’s please look I am sorry I reached grazed I know he is safe recovering sleeping resting waiting (I recalled an odd dream from when I was resting. It was dark for a few seconds and deathly cold.) Hello, Twilight. I’m here. I’m sorry for making you wait so long and not informing you of your success. I feared something worse might still happen to Solace, like what happened to Pendant when she found this journal. Please, don’t take it as a lack of confidence in you or your work. It was merely superstitious caution based on what we’ve already experienced. (The reply took many minutes to come. I assumed that, were the effort draining, Twilight may have been sleeping.) it is fine Sky thank you I HOPE my intrusion did not unsettle disturb dissuade you No, I slept fine, Twilight. Tourniquet, one of the medics working here, is looking over Solace now. He’s in bad shape, but she and my colleague agree he is stable. Given the massive amount of wasting, muscle atrophy, dehydration, and exhaustion he seems to have experienced, I would say that’s a miracle. Him even being here with us is a miracle. no it is chance luck penance (Twilight still seems to feel blame for her actions, some of which she cannot likely recall.) What did it take from you? Some sort of spell? I believe you talked to Miss Vines about willing the world you’re in to move, but how did you send Solace back? no spell I pushed a part a piece Solace towards Equestria it took strength concentration will the others will take so much more always more One of Miss Vines’ superiors is coming tomorrow, along with Princess Celestia. They’ll all want to speak to you about your plan and how they can help. I am glad I HOPE Celestia is well not worried Luna as well I’m certain they’re fine, except for their worry about you and your friends. Their worry for all of the ponies that were here, that are here. (I started to wonder why I had truly wanted to speak with Twilight. My first concern seemed to be her well-being, especially if this act took a good amount of strength from her, or to congratulate her on her success. However, I still had a nagging feeling of curiosity, a need for answers, just like Miss Vines and her team.) It’s a worry that I share. We received word about Lantern and Pendant’s condition from Canterlot. Pendant remains comatose, but Lantern seems to be improving. that is good to hear However, there has been a peculiarity. I’m not sure if you can explain it. Other patients at the same hospital seem to be reporting the same strange dreams that Lantern experienced, along with White Clover. that is troubling but maybe expected How so? this place the influence spreads mind to mind dream to dream nightmares to reality it is not strong when disconnected severed away it passes fades but it can still spread grow infect malignant and strong So if the world, that place, is close to Ponyville, those in Canterlot may be far enough away and could recover with time? it is difficult to say I assume but cannot verify guarantee ascertain it is a VIRUS but it cannot live forever in the LIGHT Thank you, Twilight. Do you know why Princess Luna would be unable to see these dreams as well? I do not cannot know for sure shrouded concealed separate impossible to say to know for now Lantern mentioned seeing Solace in one of his dreams after coming here, walking in what may have turned out to be the hallways connected to Town Hall. Perhaps the dreams take a part of the pony’s consciousness there? possible Doctor I cannot do not will not know all of this I have studied researched searched so hard for answers but they elude Me always it does not want to be known But these creatures, these “others,” do. I’m sorry, Twilight. I know you don't know everything about these events. You’re just our only concrete lead. I’m sure Miss Vines must be thinking the same things I am, even if she’s resting now. I suspect she is Sky thank you again for speaking with me it helps it gives HOPE HOPE gives LIGHT I pray I the others We all are accepted cured redeemed saved You’ve done everything you could to atone for your supposed failings, Twilight. That speaks volumes about who you truly are, and ponies will be willing to forgive you, accept you and help you. Everypony wants to help. I am not so sure I should rest more hide They Her may have found a piece a clue goodbye Sky Goodbye, Twilight. Be safe. Twilight may never forgive herself. I hope that we all can, however. No one should have to suffer from their past forever.