The door to Department Blue's Alpha Storage slid open with a hiss of mana. His horn glowing, Garnet casually strolled in. A broad, dark chamber of metal stretched before him like an artificial cave.
"Blue Shelf is nestled within a mountain ripe with mana-conductive crystals, which is what makes a subterranean facility like this so perfect for the magical preservation of sensitive materials and artifacts." Garnet chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Of course, there's no need for me to tell you this, is there, Doctor?"
Silence.
Garnet turned around. "Doctor?"
Gulping, Bellesmith stuck her head in through the door. She trembled as she looked left and right across the dark interior.
"Is... something the matter?"
"Where...?" Belle glanced at the floor, her eyes wide as she surveyed the penumbra of light piercing through the darkness. "Where is all the blood? The bodies?"
"Good Doctor, whatever are you rambling about?" Garnet maintained a nonchalant grin. "I don't know what the sequencing has made your poor mind come up with, but there is certainly no blood here. This chamber is as sterile as they come, which is rather important, considering the nature of the sequencing subjects. As for the bodies, however..." He turned and fired a beam of mana at an overhanging crystal.
The place lit up like noonday.
Bellesmith shrieked, covering her face with her hooves. At the murmuring insistence of Garnet, however, she parted her forelimbs and gawked at the scene.
The entire room was filled with white metal sarcophaguses, all standing up like a forest of cocoons. Each one hung from a vertical metal track that led to a sealed hatch positioned in the ceiling.
"There... there are..." Belle spoke aloud, breathily, as she trotted through the mesmerizing scene. "There are dozens! But... th-that's impossible! There should only be one!"
"That would... be quite impossible, Doctor," Garnet said, leading her gradually towards the center of the chamber and past the initial line of containers. "These samples are hundreds upon hundreds of years old. A single one of them isn't intact enough for us to draw information through intimate sequencing. That is why we have to use all of them as an energy matrix, a server of multiple, like sources. It was assumed that they all mutually shared the same memories, and this was discovered to be true after ponies like you and Dr. Felicity first took their leaps into their preserved afterthoughts."
"Mutually shared... memories?"
"We discovered them all at the same site, after all," Garnet said. "Aridstone."
"Aridstone?!" Belle stammered. "I was there?"
"Yes indeed. Mmmm... I suppose you'll remember it soon enough..." Garnet trotted to a stop in front of one particular sarcophagus. "Once your mind calms down." He turned towards the container. "Ah, here we are. Subject #1491." He manipulated the latch and swung the panels to the front of the sarcophagus open.
"No!" Belle swung a hoof out, gasping. "Wait!"
"For what?" He turned back at her as the sarcophagus revealed the petrified remains of a pegasus, its bones and wing spokes coiled within elastic twine. The skeleton hung within the confines of the container, its flesh reduced to paper-thin flakes of ash. "I very much doubt she or he is in the condition to leap for your throat, Doctor Bellesmith." He turned towards the body once again as he spoke. "This figure is the most intact compared to all the rest. That's why we focused all of our sequencing on its spheres, using the others as a bridge. Sequencing with the subject means navigating the combined memories of dozens of extinct flying ponies, ultimately falling upon the recorded experiences of this particular pegasus in question. It takes a genius mind to do battle with so many conflicting and criss-crossing visions, a genius mind like yours."
"There's... there's so much here that doesn't make sense..." Bellesmith murmured. A pit formed in her throat, and she almost trotted up to rest a hoof against the subject's skull, to search for remnants of a spectral mane. "Why would they be in Aridstone? Did the dragons of Silvadel chase them there? Where did you get all of this chaos metal?"
Garnet closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and turned to smile calmly at her. "Doctor Bellesmith, I know of no... 'dragons of Silvadel' or 'chaos metal.' You asked me to show you evidence, and here it is. However, something tells me that evidence alone will not suffice in this situation. What we both need is for you to relax and allow your mind to adjust to reality. I'm starting to believe that such cannot happen here."
"But... But there's so much to—"
"I'm putting you on an indefinite vacation, Doctor," Garnet said. He closed the sarcophagus in front of them as he gestured her towards the exit of the chamber. "Yes, I'm sure, the Doctor Bellesmith that I know would be flabbergasted at me too. But, it's never too late for associates like the two of us to begin on the right hoof. Hmm?"
"I... I..."
"That's an order, Doctor."
I can't be the only one thinking he was gonna kill her, can I?
I give Belle one more chapter before she breaks, one way or another.
Ledomare was, perhaps, previously doing this in Blue Shelf, which is why there was so much sequencing tech in place. When Shell found Rainbow Dash, a living version of the thing they were studying and potentially a weapon, he switched out the sequencing "server" for the one living Dash. Nightshade, perhaps because even the Prof. didn't know (I seem to recall him being cut off from a lot of things and complaining about it) is only aware of the "server" method. Upon seeing the living Dash in Belle's mind, Nightshade is now immensely curious, wondering if the living subject can't be used for her own purposes. This explains the interest in Dash by the dream. The Blue Shelf stuff is an attempt to get Belle to explain the differences under the guise of having been in a sequence for too long. Since Belle wasn't giving up information directly, she is now being fooled into explaining it to the professor as the difference to "reality." Clever, convince someone the dream is reality and get them to explain reality in a dream.
Sarcophagi is the plural you were looking for, just like the plural for pegasus is pegasi, or fungus is fungi, the "i" being a long "i" at the end of the word.
Also, little known fact, the plural of genius is genii (JEE-nee-eye).
2880596
Wow. We should just let you comment and no one else.
This is getting unbearable. We KNOW the twist. Well, "know." I'm sure here are particulars we will be surprised by, but by this point, this far into the story, we know it's not a dream. But, then... that's not the point, is it? It's all more character development for Belle, or something else.
Urf, forty side-straddle hops for making me think too much at work, ):(. Knock 'em out!
Seems legit.
I'm about as confused as Belle, here. All the information from the entire series does not apply here. Austraeoh might as well never have happened, because there isn't any evidence of it. Sure hope she wakes up soon.
Sarcophaguses full of pegasuses!
2880596
I wonder how well the "indefinite vacation" fits into (somepony)'s plan to extract information from Belle. They've sort of backed themselves into a corner here. If they just let Belle sit forever, they risk something interfering with the sequencing and removing her from the dream before she gives up the information they want. If they pry too much, she'll realize that something's wrong and uncover the ruse herself. The only way I can see the plot working is if Belle seeks out somepony to talk to herself, and unless they've made a dream version of zebra Pilate, I don't see her trusting anypony enough to open up like that. It seems like she's already suspecting something is wrong, but she's not sure what.
I suppose a dream version of her beloved is very likely, but she knows him so well that it would stand out very obviously if they get even the smallest thing wrong. It's quite a gambit on the part of Belle's captor.
Yeah, there's not much to add, especially after Pilate's rather comprehensive and likely accurate assessment. We know it's not real (keep in mind, if it were real, it would seemingly invalidate all of Austraeoh (meaning, the first installment of the series), since Garnet's implying that even Belle's memories of Dash's pre-Aridstone travels are hallucinations, and I don't think even IC is that crazy, to try something like that). It probably isn't a normal dream either. The only explanation that makes sense is that it's sequencing, and that Nightshade is behind it.
I'm just waiting for the moment - an incongruence, some error of detail, a flicker of oddness - that makes Belle realize it's not real, like when one realizes they're dreaming. I wonder to what extent Belle might be able to turn the sequencing in her favor like a lucid dream and beat Nightshade at her own game.
2881522
"I saw a cat walk by, and then another cat just like it!"
Le gasp!
Oh no! Not another vacation! The last time the good doctor was on a vacation, it was cut short! Then fighting! Killing! Dying!
... There is one very good reason this must all be a fantasy in Ding-Dong's mind.
The reason is that if everything is peachy, this story is going to be very BORING.
2881485
This is all a product of Belle's mind. There is nothing to get wrong. Her memories of Pilate would make the experience real to her.
2881763
*puts on badass sunglasses*
That's because there has been a change in the Matrix
Seriously? We're still not out yet? Agh.
Truth to be told, if I was told my entire world view was wrong, I would be panicing quite hard too. I wonder if this is how insane people see themselves.
Okay, kinda understanding now...
Now I'm just waiting for a glitch in the matrix
I'm only going to say that it is a dream for the fact that this would have made both Austraeoh and Eljunbyro pointless.
2882489
If an outside agent is causing her to sequence, then they must control the world she sees, much like Rainbow Dash (unwittingly) controlled what Belle saw the first time. Somepony's going fishing, and while the fish may provide their own lake, they don't provide their own bait. Something has to be changed somewhere, and Belle may pick up on that.
2884175
not to mention refute the show's existence in its own universe.
2880596
...Reverse psychology.
Huh.
*click*
It all falls into place.
I think she's already starting to realize its bullshit. Her comment last chapter about Discord's riddle, her mind may already be beginning to piece together the truth, even if she's not conscious of it. And as soon as she does, all hell breaks loose as Rainbow Dash, Pilate, Floydien, Roarke and Crimson all decide to drop in together to save her.
C'mon, Belle, bust outta this thing already! I'm guessing this "vacation" will make her come into contact with Pilate. Seeing as she knows him so well, any inconsistencies should make her realize that this whole vision is a bunch of bull-poop devised to make her spill...something. Does whoever's messing with her head want info on Dash? On the facility itself? On the big book she's been lugging around? All three? Guh, I dunno. Onward!
IIIIIt's Dashie's 12th Marathon Evaluation Time!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ugh...I don't even know anymore. None of the information we know (we thought we knew) so far even applies to this world, which makes me positive that it's a fantasy world, meant to extract information from Belle. It has to be either Nightshade or Discord who's doing this. In fact...Discord makes sense, actually. After gaining power from Dash's dizzy spell, he attacked Belle, who was connected to Dash's mind, giving her false visions in order to confuse her. After all, what fun is there in making sense? Twists and turns in his master plan...the new timeline doesn't make any sense and is twisting and turning us about. Then find the Elements back where you began...this one I don't get. What will Belle find? These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
P.S. One left...
I'm so lost. I want to believe this is a dream.... Within... A dream... K.
I bet Pilate doesn't exist in this world, the explanation for him being her beloved during sequencing being a latent zebra fetish.
We've yet to have some information that hasn't had a link to Belle's experiences and discoveries as Eljunbyro, like for instance the existence of a long dead Pegasus civilisation that was discovered at Aridstone (the place where Dash was dropped off, right?). Belle's mind seems to be shaping this world in order to refute everything she's experience. Of course, you could argue that Belle's experiences as Eljunbyro were instead shaped by this 'real' world, which is what Garnet is certainly doing, but until this new world starts to create new material, I hope that it is fake.
Soon, Picard will play the flute.
Maybe this is all a dream.
-Spirit
ugh... my head...
I've lost all ability to even.
TOTAL RECALL!
yea, I think it's probably an illusion. maybe to make her spill things to Pilate. however... it could still be that this is reality and everything post austraeoh never happened. I don't believe that's true, as it would mean SSE wrote almost too books worth of story that is now just a hallucination, but it would be amazing.
No, I just
I cannot
help
Nightshade wants answers, and she may just be getting them.
5809326 Help is on the way. Just realize that your whole life is a dream first.
IC: Wow! Look at this intense story I wrote! Awesome characters... Awesome plot... I just killed off everypony's favorite Xonan filly... What should I write next?
IC to IC: Mind**** everyone. It's opposite day.
Rainbow got stuck in the oven...and Crystal dogs jumped over the zepellin to...to save the world from evil tazers...ugh, my head. Was it ALL a lie?
There is a glaring giveaway of falsehood in this: If your top genius scientist would misremember the current state of the world to be much more horrifying than reality and doesn't even know what her own body (specifically horn) is like, no matter if you are her boss or her workmate, you'd be worried about her. The fact that she is no offered no comfort or that anyone even questions the morality of what they are apprently inflicting to her through sequencing is harrowing.
6532587
I feel that would for obvious reasons suck, but also have the potential to be comforting, if it means you could have another shot at life in a different reality. A second chance, in a way.