Chapter 9: Breakdown (Part I)
*****
Twilight had been waiting for the Royal Chariot to arrive for quite a while now. In the meantime, she helped Lauren to put on her new dress; it was sort of easier now that she knew how to use magic, so she managed to get her tail through the small hole by herself.
“That chariot is taking ages!” Lauren exclaimed, throwing her entire body on her bed in exhaustion. If being in a library wasn’t boring enough, she just wanted to do something fun for a change.
“Well, Canterlot is sort of far away,” Twilight replied, moving scrolls around with her magic around the room, sorting them in certain shelves and desks. “Besides, we don’t know if the Princess sent it before or after writing that letter. For all we know, she might just have told them to come pick us up.”
Lauren sighed again, not motivated with Twilight’s last words. “I’m just SO bored.” She waved her hooves in the air.
“Well, if you’re bored, there are plenty of books to read!” Twilight exclaimed, pointing one hoof at one of her shelves. For a change, this time Lauren showed interest in reading.
You know, it would be interesting to see what kind of books Twilight has. Ah! I know! “Well, uh, do you have a book of… species?” Lauren said. Maybe humans exist in this world, who knows?
“Plenty,” Twilight replied, looking at the respective shelf from upstairs. “Any book in particular?”
“Um… just a book of animals, I guess.”
“I think I’ve got a good one somewhere,” Twilight said, walking downstairs the room and looking around her bookshelves. She remembered she told Spike to rearrange species books the other day, since she was studying Parasprite biology to avoid another swarm. Well, at least she knew Pinkie Pie would take care of that. “Ah, here!” she exclaimed, pulling out a red, thick book from the shelf with her magic.
Twilight ran upstairs and placed the book in front of Lauren. It was an old, dusty book, but it was the most detailed book about animals in the whole library. She remembered she had lent it to Fluttershy one day.
“Um… ‘Equestria Animals…’ Well, that’s a very informative title,” Lauren mumbled, blowing the dust out from the cover. It wasn’t that much, but it seemed that no one had read it in quite a while. “Does this old thing have all of the animal species in Equestria?”
“Yep! From little mice to giant elephants,” Twilight replied, grabbing a book for her to read as well. She had picked ‘Unicorn Biology’ precisely, since she was still curious about the whole magic and memory loss issue. “You can read it while the chariot arrives,” she said, sitting on her bed and opening her book.
“Uh, alright.” Lauren nodded and proceeded to read the book. Well, this is a good chance to use my magic. Never thought I would say that. She snickered and focused her powers on the book, quickly enveloping it with her magical aura.
“Wow! I didn’t know this about unicorns!” Twilight exclaimed to herself while reading her book. She had just discovered that unicorns with the same magical aura color are most likely to have common interests.
Lauren glanced at her, quickly ignoring her and returning to her book. E… F… G… I… oh wait… H. She finally reached the H section and started looking through the pages. Hippopotamus, Hyena, Hydra… uh… She kept looking at the pages, just to see pictures and details of animals she already knew about and some fantasy animals. No humans however.
“Oh! So that’s why stallions have bigger horns!” Twilight exclaimed once again.
I see. So there are no humans in here… Lauren closed her eyes and closed her book, quickly fading away her magical aura from it. She felt some kind of strange sensation in her body. At least now she was sure humans didn’t exist. Or at least that’s what the book said.
“What? Done already?” Twilight curiously asked, looking at Lauren. “Or did you only look at the pretty drawings?”
“Uh, yeah! I like animals and pretty drawings,” Lauren said with an awkward smile on her face.
“You know, Fluttershy loves animals as well, perhaps you should go visit her when we come back,” Twilight suggested, thinking about the matter.
“That sounds great!” And she sure has LOTS of animals. Lauren nodded and stared through the window. “Oh, is that…”
Twilight quickly looked through the window as well. “Oh, it’s the chariot Princess Celestia sent!” she said, hopping off her bed. “Come.”
Lauren obeyed and walked downstairs along with Twilight. She somehow was feeling a bit eager to meet with the Princess. What did she find out? How would that help her? Those questions were running in her mind. Finally, both mares arrived to the library foyer, which Spike was still cleaning.
“Spike! Have you seen my book saddlebag?” Twilight asked, looking around the foyer for it.
Spike left the mop on the floor and started looking around. “Oh, yeah, I think I saw it around here,” he said, looking inside a wardrobe. “Yep, here.” he was about to turn and hand it to Twilight when it was suddenly surrounded by Twilight’s magic.
“Thanks, Spike,” she said, wrapping the saddlebag belt around her waist. “We’ll go to Canterlot for a while. And you better not be slacking off your duties while I’m gone!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Spike fumed, grabbing back his mop to resume his cleaning. “Like, when will you come back?”
“I don’t know, maybe around noon or something, don’t worry,” Twilight replied, levitating few sheets of paper and placing them inside her saddlebag. She walked in front of the table that still had Pinkie’s camera on it and glanced at the Blue-Fire Match right next to it. She placed it in her saddlebag as well and looked at Lauren. “Ready to go?”
Lauren only nodded. Why did Twilight put papers and Luna’s match in her saddlebag? Well, I’ll ask her later. She shook her head and walked along with Twilight to the front door.
“If any of the girls come over, tell them I will be back later,” Twilight said, receiving a nod from Spike. She opened the door and walked outside to greet the Royal Guards.
Lauren looked at Spike and rolled her eyes. “So, uh… see you later, Spike,” she said, smiling at the little dragon and walking outside of the library.
“Later,” Spike responded, dipping the mop in the bucket to resume his chores, letting out a slight gasp.
*****
‘Tia? W-what’s going on? Why are you…
L-Luna! Watch out!
Eek!
*****
“Morning, gentlecolts.” Twilight walked in front of the four Royal Guards who had just descended on the street. They looked at Twilight, quickly noticing the other ‘unicorn’ that was behind her.
“Morning, Ms. Sparkle,” said one of the guards, “Your Highness, Princess Celestia, has requested us to escort you and…” He paused, looking once again at the cream colored pony. “Your friend… to Canterlot.”
“Yes, Princess Celestia informed me,” Twilight replied, looking at the majestic and golden chariot right before her. It was the same chariot the Princess used for her trips to Ponyville. “Well, Lauren, let’s go.”
“Uh, right,” Lauren replied. It doesn’t look that safe, though. She walked towards the chariot and climbed onto it along with Twilight. Even though the chariot was designed only for Princess Celestia, it was big enough to fit two normal mares perfectly on it.
“Okay, we’re ready, shall we get going now?” Twilight requested, receiving a unison ‘Hmm’ from the guards, who began to run and rapidly soared into the sky.
Lauren could feel how the chariot and her own body began to ascend into the sky. It was nothing like a plane, she felt like if she were flying with her own body. She felt the wind crashing against her face, the same sensation when someone goes in a car with the window open. Suddenly, the chariot began to ascend even more.
Lauren took this chance to look at the panorama before her. She saw mountains far on the horizon, several trees forming a forest, meadows, plains, rivers and a familiar looking cliff far away. She could easily recognize the city just at its side, Canterlot. It feels so weird… flying like this.
“We should arrive in like five minutes,” Twilight commented, looking at Lauren who was happily enjoying the wind against her face. “Heh, you like flying, don’t you?”
“Uh, well, yeah,” Lauren replied, blinking several times to moist her dry eyes. “I haven’t actually flown like this before, though.” She moved her head and looked down, immediately squealing and tightly clinging to Twilight.
“W-what’s wrong?” Twilight asked, feeling the shivering body of Lauren all over her. Although she was sure she knew what the problem was.
“I-it’s too… high,” Lauren squealed, opening one eye to realize what was she doing. She had clung to Twilight almost as a reflex. She quickly let go off Twilight. “Oh, sorry, it startled me.”
“Don’t worry, a lot of ponies are afraid of heights,” Twilight chuckled, looking down to confirm their altitude. It was quite high after all. “But don’t worry, it’s safe.”
Yeah, well, no seatbelts, no doors… sure… safe. Lauren shook her head and smiled at Twilight. “Yeah, I just don’t like very high altitudes.” I can’t remember the last time I was flying THIS high.
*****
L-Luna! Are you okay!?
Uh…
You monster! How could you harm my little sister!?
*****
After a few minutes, the chariot was slowly descending upon Canterlot. This time, Lauren decided to look down to glance at the great city. It was just like she created it; tall and fancy buildings with their combination of purple, white and golden color, along with gardens, towers and fountains. There were also lots of ponies, mostly unicorns, walking around the streets.
Lauren’s glance quickly shifted to the Royal Castle. The chariot was approaching it, so it couldn’t be missed. Whoa, it’s pretty big. A bit bigger than I imagined. She kept staring at the castle until the chariot began to descend upon one of its balcony, finally landing on it.
“Well, here we are,” Twilight said and carefully climbed down the chariot. Lauren slowly climbed down as well, almost tripping on the way.
“Your Majesty is waiting in the throne room,” said one of the guards, pointing her head towards a hallway.
“Thank you, sir,” Twilight said, looking at Lauren and tilting her head, indicating her to follow her.
Both mares walked through the hallway, constantly turning into another one. Lauren couldn’t help but look around at it. Long and fancy red carpets were spread all over the floor, the large windows with colorful crystals and blue curtains and some flags with a sun symbol hanging from the walls.
This is impressive! I’d have never thought Canterlot Castle could be this beautiful! Lauren kept enjoying the view as she walked along with Twilight. It had been a long walk already. “Uh, it feels like a maze in here,” she said, trying to start a conversation.
Twilight snickered, looking at Lauren. “Yeah, I know it feels like that, but I know the castle like my own hoof. I always played around here when I was a filly.”
“Ah, I see,” Lauren said, turning left one more time to find the giant pair of blue doors at the end of the hallway. “Is that the throne room?”
“Yes,” Twilight replied, walking in front of the door. Normally, there would be two unicorn guards standing on each side of the entrance to open the door, however, for some reason, they were missing this time. “Uh, that’s weird.”
“What is it?” Lauren asked, looking at the pretty patterns on the door.
“Well, the guards who usually stand here are missing.” Twilight pointed her hoof at the spots where the guards were supposed to be. “Maybe it’s lunch time?”
Lauren shrugged. She was the least appropriate pony to ask. Normally, when guards finish their turn, they get replaced so there’s vigilance at every time. “Maybe.”
Twilight was about to speak when she heard a faint crack noise coming from inside the throne room. As she turned her head to the doors, they were enveloped in a golden aura, slowly opening and allowing the mares to enter.
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight happily chirped as she saw her beloved mentor sitting on her throne at the bottom of the room. She and Lauren walked inside.
“Good morning, my faithful student.” Celestia smiled at Twilight, swiftly looking at Lauren. “And good morning, Lauren,” she said, with her same smile.
“G-good morning, Princess,” Lauren responded, forcedly returning the smile. Was it just me or… she said that in a rather different tone of voice? Suddenly, she felt chills running through her body. Huh… what is this sensation? Did it get colder in here? She stared at the alicorn as she kept walking. There was a pair of purple cushions right before the throne. I suppose we should sit in there.
Finally, Twilight and Lauren arrived before Celestia. They were ready to sit on the cushions when the Princess stopped them.
“Aren’t you going to bow before me first?” Celestia asked, wiping away her smile and replacing it with a cold expression on her face.
“Oh, yes, sorry.” Twilight immediately lowered her body and bowed before her mentor. She would always bow before her, but she never thought the Princess would actually ask her to do so.
Lauren didn’t have much of a choice, so she bowed as well, feeling a bit awkward about it. In her life, she never had to bow against someone as sign of respect. As she raised her body, she proceeded to take a seat on her cushion. It was very comfortable, even more than her bed.
“So, I’m sure you are wondering why I requested you two to come here, correct?” Celestia started, looking directly at Lauren.
Oh, boy. Here we go with the rhetorical questions again! Lauren was already getting tired of them. Even for a Princess, she could be quite annoying with her questions.
“In your letter, you said you had found something about Lauren,” Twilight commented, recalling the contents of the letter she receiving earlier that morning. “What was that about?”
“Ah, yes, about that,” Celestia said, closing her eyes to meditate for a bit. “But before that, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Sure, Princess, what is it?” Twilight asked, curious about what her mentor would want to talk about. She was hoping for something related to the matter at least.
“Well, this is quite difficult to say.” Celestia opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. “It’s about my sister, Luna.”
Huh? About Luna? And what would that be? Lauren questioned, looking at Twilight who gave her a shrug in confusion. “Uh, about Princess Luna? What about her?”
“It’s something that has been troubling me,” Celestia said, “I think that something is wrong with her.”
“S-something wrong?” Twilight quickly asked, “I don’t get it!”
Huh!? But that’s what Luna told us about Celestia! What’s going on here!? Lauren wanted to say something so badly, but she knew it was better if she didn’t say anything at all. She had to listen to Celestia first.
“I’m afraid so.” Celestia’s face reflected sorrow. She kept staring at the floor for few seconds before raising her head again to look at Twilight. “Ever since Lauren came, she has been acting weird.”
That is exactly what Luna has told us about her! What is she up to? Lauren was confused, but she wanted to hear more about Celestia’s claims.
“Weird? How?” Twilight asked. She was not sure what was going on. On one hoof, Luna had told them that Celestia was the one acting weird. Now, Celestia said the same thing about her sister. Something was not right here.
“I’m not totally sure,” Celestia said, “I just feel that something is going on with her.”
She’s totally making that up! She doesn’t even have a solid claim. Lauren was about to talk, but she bit her lower lip to avoid saying anything. Why is she lying to us? What’s going on with her?
“Princess…” Twilight muttered. She wasn’t sure what to believe anymore. She trusted her mentor more than anypony else, but all of Luna’s claims and Celestia’s own weird behavior was just too much.
“But let’s get back to the real topic,” Celestia said, trying to change the subject. She looked at Lauren again with her usual smile. “Lauren, could you please come right here?” she requested.
Huh, why would she change the subject just like that? And what does she want me for? Lauren didn’t have a choice but to nod and walk in front of the Princess. “Yes, uh, Princess?”
Celestia looked at the little alicorn before her and giggled. “Listen carefully, because this is very important,” she said, extending one of her hooves and embracing Lauren in a hug. Twilight tilted her head in confusion, unsure about what was going on.
W-what’s going on? Why is she… Lauren wanted to push herself back, but Celestia’s embrace was too strong for her. She had no choice but to stay still and listen to what the Princess had to say. “Uh, Princess?”
“Remember the Third Alicorn tale I told last night?” Celestia asked and lowered her head, resting it on Lauren’s head.
“What about it, Princess?” Twilight asked. The scene was starting to get a little suspicious for her. The Princess seldom hugged anypony else. She didn’t even hug Twilight a lot. Why would she tightly hug somepony she just met one day ago?
“The alicorn that showed up that night… was you,” Celestia whispered with her eyes closed.
“I-I told you that wasn’t me!” Lauren said, once again trying to push herself back, however, it was useless. She rested her cheek on Celestia’s chest, feeling the warmness of her body against it. It feels… soothing. It feels like a chick resting under its hen mother’s wing. She listened to the Princess’ constant heartbeats.
“It’s hard to explain, but.” Celestia released Lauren from the hug, pulling her away with her hooves. She looked at her blue eyes and smiled at her. “You’re my mother.”
Lauren’s eyes went wide open as she tried to process what she just had heard. Twilight stared at her mentor with the most shocked expression ever. The silence enveloped the throne room for a few seconds.
After what it seemed like an eternity, Twilight finally found the words to express herself. “P-Princess! W-what did you just say!? M-mother!?” She couldn’t help but shout those questions. The sudden revelation was still too shocking for her.
On the other hoof, Lauren was still speechless, staring at nothing in particular. M-mother? Did she just call me… mother!? She wanted to talk, but she was feeling the largest knot in her throat. “I… I…” she mumbled.
“I told you it was hard to explain, please allow me to do so.” Celestia let go off Lauren, who nervously stepped back to her seat. “As I said, there is no doubt that the alicorn from that night was you, Lauren.”
“But, Princess! She already told us that she doesn’t remember such events! She said she wasn’t even born back then!” Twilight exclaimed, still surprised about the whole matter.
“That is correct, yes,” Celestia replied, “the only answer is that this Lauren right before our eyes is my mother’s reincarnation.”
“Your… mother’s reincarnation?” Twilight asked. She was even more confused than before.
Mother? Reincarnation? This is too much! What’s the whole meaning of this? This doesn’t make sense! “W-what is this all about? Reincarnation!?”
“Yes, Lauren. You’re my mother’s reincarnation.” Celestia stood up from her seat and walked towards the two confused mares. “I’m sorry that you had to find out this way.” Her horn glowed as she approached Lauren.
“Princess?” Twilight called.
“Now that you know the whole truth, I’d like to cast a spell on you,” Celestia said, approaching closer to Lauren.
“A spell? Why?” Lauren nervously asked. The chills she had felt just a while ago came back as she saw the Princess getting closer to her.
“This spell will give you your memories back, mother,” Celestia claimed, finally standing right in front of Lauren. “Now please, touch my horn with yours.”
This… this is all too much! I… I… Lauren finally couldn’t hold herself anymore. “NO! Back off!” she yelled at the top of her lungs as she sloppily squirmed back from the Princess.
“L-Lauren!” Twilight exclaimed, concerned about her friend’s sudden reaction.
“You see, you WILL let me do it,” Celestia said, as she walked again closer to Lauren. “Please cooperate, mother.” She enveloped Lauren in her magical golden aura to be sure she wouldn’t escape.
Twilight wasn’t sure what to do. Was the Princess really forcing somepony to do something against its will? That was not the Celestia she knew.
Lauren cringed, struggling to escape from the magical aura, but it was too powerful for her. She could only see how Celestia’s horn was getting closer to hers. She closed her eyes and shivered in fear.
Celestia’s horn was just centimeters away from Lauren’s, when the little alicorn’s horn shined with its bright pearly aura. The Princess gasped and closed her eyes due the sudden burst of light, suddenly feeling a magical force running through her body and violently pushing her away from Lauren, sending her flying across the room.
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight yelled. Normally she would immediately run to the Princess aid, but with the scene she had just witnessed, she thought twice about it.
Lauren was freed from Celestia’s magic, slowly raising herself from the floor. “Ugh… my head.” She pressed her hoof against her forehead, opening her eyes to confirm what just happened. “Huh?”
Celestia slowly began to raise herself from the floor, letting out a faint chuckle. “How… how dare you?” she muttered.
“Lauren! Let’s go and find Princess Luna!” Twilight exclaimed, looking at Lauren who swiftly nodded in agreement. She just wanted to get out of there, and right now, Luna was the only one who could help them.
“I think not…” Celestia said with another chuckle. She stood up and looked at both mares.
“What?” Lauren gasped. Celestia had a huge grin on her face.
“You two are not going anywhere!”