Chapter 3: Sunset
Brian peaked through the doorway, checking first that room was empty before sliding in with Twilight close behind. It was a small room, a break-room of sorts for the staff, featuring only a couch, a table with some chairs, a vending machine or two, a mini-fridge a coffee machine, and a microwave. All the basics for any staff break room.
In any other situation Twilight might have been fascinated by the odd machines with their displays for candy and other snacks, but her mind was awash with too many questions as it was.
Brian gently directed her to the couch as he poured himself a cup of coffee from the nearby machine. It tasted like oil but the caffeine was necessary at the moment.
Carefully sitting down on the couch, Brian pulled up a chair in front of her. Once she was settled he began. “I know this is all hard to take in Twilight,” he started slowly, trying to find the right words to say, “But Ponyville, Canterlot, in fact all of the Equestria you know, is contained in that machine...”
“But how is that even possible?” Twilight asked confused, “I mean, my friends... they looked like they were asleep... and dreaming...”
“Well in a way that's what it is,” Brian nodded, “The Equestria Reality Matrix, or E.R.M. , was made to create the perfect virtual world as a form of therapy.”
“Therapy?” Twilight asked, obviously confused, “Why would I, or my friends, or even the princesses need therapy.”
“Well, to be fare, that was the original intention of the machine, but it has sort of... 'evolved' beyond that.”
“But why are my friends in there? Why do they, or I, even need such a treatment? Why have we been living a lie!?”
Brian placed a hand on Twilights shoulder again in an attempt to calm her.
“It's a long story Twlight, but to but it simply, you and your friends have each suffered some terrible tragedies in your lives, tragedies we hoped to use the machine to heal you from.”
“But if that's true, why don't I remember it? You say I had a tragedy in my life, something that warranted me being in that machine, so why don't I remember it?”
“Because...” Brian hesitated, “Because of another tragedy that happened to us, here in the lab...”
“Please... Tell me...”
Brian sighed, “Alright, very well. But to understand everything, we'll have to go back to the beginning. Back when I was seeking more funding for the project...
“Back when I went to see the king...”
* * *
Three Years Ago...
“Your highness, please be reasonable. I think this project could greatly benefit all the world. There is no reason why it should be limited to just Equestria. Think of the other kingdoms.”
King Solaris sat rigidly on his golden throne, the pure white stallion stroking his red beard with just the faintest hint of gray at the corners giving him a distinguished look. The billowing fiery red mane framed his crown nicely as it hung to the golden tasseled shoulder guards on his regal red and gold trimmed uniform.
“I have decided,” he stated in a voice that was both strong and powerful but also full of wisdom and compassion, “I wish the project to remain in New Haven, for the time being at least. Perhaps once better terms have been reached with the surrounding kingdoms of Cervidinia, and the Bison of the Barrens, then we can see about expanding it's use.”
“You must understand,” stated the mare at his side, “We only want what's best for everyone, but sharing such technology too soon could be dangerous.”
Brians eyes turned to the figure beside the king and he had to control his mind at the sight of her beauty.
Dressed in a robe as blue as the midnight sky on a full moon, her coat was black as night, a stark contrast to the kings white fur. And just as contrasting were her eyes, a deep rich blue, while his were a red like the embers of a fire. Her mane hung long and full, reaching the small of her back as it billowed around her head like blue smoke. She wore a silver circlet adorned with a single large sapphire that hung just under her horn.
“I apologize Queen Mahina,” Brian nodded bowing again, “I only wish to help as many as I am able.”
“We understand that,” the king nodded, his words kind and thoughtful, a faint smile on his lips, “And it is our desire to do the same, but there have been rumblings from other nations. Rumors of discontentment on their standings and blaming our country as part of the problem rather than looking inwards to find the solution. So for now we must be cautious. You have my permission to take what funding you need, as long as you agree to keep all knowledge of the project contained for the time being.”
Brian sighed but nodded, in truth it was more than he'd hoped for even if it wasn't the best of situations. After bidding his thanks he turned to go, but stopped. A pair of inquisitive eyes peered out at him from behind a nearby pillar. The shy figure ducked out of sight as soon as he spotted them.
Seeing Brian stop King Solaris' eyes roamed to the pillar. Catching a glimpse of the small figure ducking out of sight he chuckled softly, “Luna, come now dear don't be afraid.”
The small filly stepped out slowly from behind the pillar, dressed in a light blue gown similar to her mothers, but with silvery accents to match the small unadorned circlet she wore. Her mane cut short hung to the back of her neck. Like her parents she was a unicorn.
The smaller filly looked up at the strange stallion apprehensively. She was easily in her early to mid teens, but seemed so much smaller and younger from the shy manor in which she held herself.
“There you are!” the rather strong feminine voice emanated from the chamber doors as another young mare strode into the room, “I'm sorry father, Luna slipped away from me for a bit and... oh!”
The newcomer gasped a bit in surprise seeing Brian and blushed slightly in embarrassment at having overlooked him in her haste.
The new arrival was white like her father, but sported a pink mane cut to just below her shoulders. A golden circlet adorned her head as she wore an unadorned white gown that blended almost perfectly with her fur coat. She was also a few years older than Luna, judging by her height. Not quite an adult but on the cusp of blooming into a beautiful lady.
“Forgive me. Father, I did not realize you had a visitor.”
“It's alright dear,” the king chuckled good naturally as he stood and paced slowly towards them, “Dr. Brian allow me to introduce my two lovely daughters, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia.”
Both curtsied in turn as they were named. Brian smiled and bowed in return, “It is a pleasure to meet both of you.” He'd seen both many times before, of course, but during such things as royal processions or the like, never close enough to actually 'meet' them.
Turning to the king Celestia continued, “Forgive me father, but Luna slipped away during our lessons and I felt I should find her.”
“Not without telling your tutor I hope?” the king smiled and chuckled softly as Celestias blush said it all. He turned to his younger daughter, “Luna, you do know you need to learn how to be a proper princess don't you? One day you two will be in control of the kingdom.”
“But it's so boring father,” Lunas soft voice sounded like the chime of a crystal bell, “I know we need to, but I just can't focus. And Professor Star Swirl is nice but he just goes on and on without really explaining anything.”
Again the king chuckled good naturedly, “Well I'll have a talk with the professor and we'll see if we can get him to pause a bit more in his lectures, but you have to try harder dear. It will be important one day.”
“Yes father...” Lunas tone suggested that she had caved if only to avoid a lecture but still didn't agree.
Turning to Celestia he continued, “And you Celestia, I know you care deeply for your sister, but for now she is not your responsibility. I don't want you getting into trouble simply because you felt you had to watch over her. You are not her mother, so don't feel you have to dole out punishment if she misbehaves.”
“Yes father,” Celestia sighed nodding her head in understanding.
“Now, both of you best return to your studies,” King Solaris turned to Brian, “And it was a pleasure meeting you Dr. Brian, I do look forward to seeing what what your machine is capable of. I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors.”
“Thank you your majesty,” Brian bowed.
Brian turned and left with the girls as a guard entered the room. Brushing past them, Brian felt an oddly unsettling sensation but was not able to put his finger on it. It wasn't until the doors closed behind him that his fears were confirmed.
A sudden shout went up from the throne room, and much clattering and crashing of metal on metal. Brian was no solder but he couldn't help himself as he turned and wrenched open the doors to the throne room.
What he beheld would be forever etched into his mind.
King Solaris, down on one knee, sword dangling from his hand as a dagger protruded from his chest. Another sword was shoved through his shoulder. The one holding it had looked to be a guard but the helmet had been knocked aside, presumably by the kings attempt at a strike, revealing the disguised individual was not a pony, but a zebra.
The queen was on her hooves, wishing to rush to her husbands side, but such was not necessary. Within seconds the other guards of the hall had surrounded the disguised assassin, but before they could strike he collapsed foaming at the mouth.
A suicide pill.
Brian was torn. His mind a wash with conflicting emotions. All of which were shoved aside as the king fell.
“DADDY!” Lunas shriek startled him out of it as the young princess ran to her fathers side, Celesta close behind, both already brimming with tears. The queen was already there cradling her husband in her lap. A series of coughs left a stream of blood trickling from his mouth.
“You're doctor aren't you?” Luna gasped looking to the still stunned Brian as he stood struck dumb in the entrance way, “Please... you have to...” Luna couldn't even finish her sentence as her eyes filled with tears.
Brian crossed the hall in four quick strides and knelt by the king. Even though it had been years since his last practical medical examination, Brian could still recall everything he'd been drilled on.
Little good that does now, he thought bitterly.
Already other medics were being yelled for but Brian could see the blue tinge showing on the kings lips. Poison from the dagger most likely. He had minutes left at best.
Despite his silence, or perhaps because of it, Solaris understood the gravity of the situation and turned his head slowly to face his daughters and grieving wife.
“Luna...” Solaris gasped, “Celestia... My wonderful daughters... I need you to be strong... please...”
The pair knelt by his side, Luna crying her eyes out as she bit back sobs, Celestia only fairing slightly better. In this moment they were not royalty, but a merely a family on the verge of a tragic loss.
“You both are my legacy...” Solaris gasped, a string of coughs wracking his body again, “You must do your best... become leaders to the country...”
“We will... Dad,” Celestia gasped, sniffling a bit as she blinked away tears, “I promise...”
Despite the pain the king smiled at them both as he looked to his wife and whispered to her. Brian couldn't hear what was said but he saw her nod slowly, her eyes also overflowing with tears.
Taking one last look at his family Solaris' breathing slowed as he whispered his final goodbyes. At the last Luna couldn't take it and broke down crying, her huge bawling sobs echoing in the chamber as the king breathed his last with a final whisper of love to his family.
* * *
“The king... the princesses father, was assassinated?” Twilight gasped fighting back tears of her own.
“I'm afraid so,” Brian sighed leaning back in his chair and sipping at his coffee which had since gone from lukewarm to cold, “Worse it was discovered later though investigation by the royal guard that the zebras had been hired for the job, which meant any country could have been the ones responsible.”
Twilight only half listened though. The thought that the king had been killed, just like that... She'd heard Princess Celestia talk of more troubling times before when she had a few such attacks on her own life, but the thought of such an attack succeeding...
Still something didn't sit right with her.
“But Princess Celestia and Luna know so much magic, surely their father could have defended himself against such an attack?”
Brian leaned close and spoke as an adult to a child, not talking down or in a condescending way, but merely gently correcting her. “Twilight, those powers only exist within the virtual world. Magic is... well, it's practically nonexistent here.”
Twilight again was hit hard. No magic. Her special talent was magic.
Did that mean she didn't have anything?
She shook her head violently. “No, no that can't be true,” Twilight knew she was acting irrational on some level but for the moment she didn't want to care and focused all her will into her horn trying to do something. Anything.
Brian just sighed, “Twilight, that's not going to do anything. You're just going to hurt yourself.”
However Twilight refused to listen as she strained as though she were trying to lift a whole mountain. The glow on her horn seemed to do little more than intensify but nothing in the room moved, nothing stirred and in the end Twilight gasped and collapsed, falling to the floor in pain.
Brian was by her side in seconds and calling for help. “You'll be ok Twilight,” he whispered as the doctors rushed in, “Don't worry, we'll take care of you.”
As they carried her out Brian sniffed a little and smelled something odd in the air. The distinct smell he'd always associated with the break-room. The coffee.
Glancing back, he caught a glimpse of what looked like steam rising from the cup on the table before the door closed.