//------------------------------// // This can only end in disaster // Story: The End of the Bureau - My Biggest Mistake // by ratedoni //------------------------------// It had all started in a blink as the human race finally found out that they were not alone, or at least not the only creature in existence, just... no in their own dimension. Right there in front of them, behind a barrier, stood a kingdom that rivaled those that had been written by their best authors. Creatures of equine form resided in that kingdom with the ability to communicate, to create and to baffle many with their abilities. At first it was something that perplexed everyone and was the main topic in every news site and in social media. The strange ponies that had arrived on Earth. It seemed like something out of a Fairy Tale and no one was happier to meet those creatures than children. It seemed as if the world would change, and it did, just not in the way humans thought. It had started innocently enough, with some humans wondering how it would be if they themselves were ponies, and the answer was brought to their attention. Apparently there was a special potion created by the ponies that would transform a human being into and after a while they would soon find with a pony form. With the news of this potion being public some humans began to wonder where they could get that magical blue potion. Soon the first Conversion Bureau office was opened in New York and soon others began to appear and welcome humans with open hooves, but soon everyone saw the trap being sprung once they met these new ponies. These ‘newfoals’ began to spread the word of how happy they were now, how great the leader of the ponies, the great Princess Celestia was for giving them the chance to find true happiness and harmony as ponies. Investigations began once the families of these newfoals found out that the transformed humans had no memory of their previous life, but it was too late. Seeing that their pacific method had been discovered they began to forcibly convert human beings, saying that they were doing humanity a favor. Humanity tried to fight back but the strange energy that the ponies called magic started to wreak havoc on their forces, especially when ponies could simply teleport in masse and attack human settlements out of nowhere. The future was bleak for humanity; they were at the threshold of annihilation as more and more of their people were either killed in action or forcefully converted. The cities that had been the symbol of religion were the first ones to fall as Celestia used the might of her magic to destroy Jerusalem. Sadly this was the last mistake Celestia ever did. The princess of the sun -according to her ponies-, believing that after her attack on the symbol of western religion, humans would be easy prey, ordered the invasion to the great Apple itself. What Ponykind found there was not humans ready to be converted, it was a trap. The first ponies to be shot down had been the group that made the sky their home, the great Wonderbolts. With Spitfire as leader they were acting as the spearhead of their air raid plan, confident that their enchanted flight suits would repel the human’s attacks like every other time; they were wrong. Their bodies were quickly fished out of the waters of Ellis Island, paraded around as if they were hunting trophies. Princess Twilight Sparkle was said to have fainted at the gruesome husk her long time friend’s body had been reduced to. Rainbow Dash’s body was more holes than flesh after receiving an onslaught of 20mm bullets. This had incensed the pony side and had immediately attacked New York and to the surprise of the unicorns involved in the attack, their usual tactic of teleporting troops behind enemy lines didn’t work. This time the pony soldiers were put right in front of the enemy defense line and they were nothing more than ducks in a shooting gallery. Their enchanted swords and armor becoming as useless as paper when having to defend themselves against a barrage of guns and artillery. The answer of how humankind bounced back from total annihilation was one young woman. A defector of many years had revealed herself not too long ago and began working with the human government and quickly gained a list of names. From ‘The Sun of Humanity’ to ‘The Greatest Traitor’, depending on which side of the war you asked for information. Sunset Shimmer was an exile that had come to humanity’s rescue after finding herself sickened about what her former mentor -and it was deliciously ironic that both researchers from opposite sides had studied under Princess Celestia- was doing and felt compelled to work with other humans on finding a way of rendering ponykind’s strongest weapon, their magic, completely useless. And she did, the Thaumic Generators worked as a charm after they were installed in New York starting the comeback in the war. First it was Manehattan, the pony’s version of the city they had just tried to destroy and for the first time the equines were face to face with their worst nightmare, humanity united as one. From all around the world humans came together as never before and attacked with unprecedented and swift ruthlessness. From the million ponies that had defended the city only thirty thousand arrived at Canterlot. As fast as that attack, the Crystal Kingdom also found themselves sieged by the Russian army. Shining Armor had defended his kingdom and his family bravely but a single shot from a Finnish sniper had ended all morale and the city fell. Princess Cadence was now under arrest but even with that hostage Celestia refused to surrender. It was this stubbornness that saw the united army of Humanity right at the gates of Canterlot, and is here that we find Princess Celestia looking from her great castle as the city was being sieged by humankind. Brave soldiers and ponies still defended the city but they were no match for the Thaumic Generators and human guns. She had failed and she knew that; even if she had accepted her defeat the hate that she felt for the humans did not vanish. She hated them because instead of leaving their violent ways and embracing harmony they had turned on her and her ponies and had begun a massacre just like in every war they were part of. She had failed on her mission of bringing peace and instead it was her little ponies the ones that had suffered. She wanted to curse them but felt as if something was looking at her and silently judging her. Although being realistic, I wasn’t simply silently judging her; you already read what I thought so far. As she continued to look through the windows the castle shook as artillery rocked the foundation of the castle at the side of the mountain. Regaining her footing she silently questioned how the humans were capable of reaching the castle so fast. It was very easy, I let them do it. And now she begins to look everywhere wondering if the voice she had just hear was real, and it is, I need to do this after all. The sound from machine guns, explosions and screams ceased as everything except Celestia crawled to halt. The world was frozen in time scaring Princess Celestia like never before. She then began to scry around her with the intention of finding the source of such bizarre situation. “Discord, if this is you then appear at once, I will not let you mock me in this way!” Celestia screamed obviously angry, but her anger hid a deep seated fear. It is not too surprising for even somepony as powerful as Celestia to act in this way; I noticed that close proximity with me can cause strange behavior from both mortal and immortal beings. I decide then to open the doors of the throne room and then I finally see her shake. I may look as normal as any human being, but I know that just looking at me is disconcerting, how do you train your mind to be able to know that there is someone in front of you while all your instincts warn you that there is nothing in front of you and that you are in grave danger at the same time? Is maddening. But that’s not why you are scared, right Celestia? I will tell you what you are feeling; all your guilt is being poured into your brain with no barrier. “Enough! I will not be admonished by a simple human being! GUARDS!” You are scared, that’s okay, everyone is when they meet me and not because I am some kind of weirdo, well, I am. But isn’t it fun that you are calling for guards instead of doing something yourself? Are you that afraid of me? “How could I be afraid of a simple human being?” Oh, but I’m not that, and you know it. Look me in the eyes and tell me who I am, you know it; deep within yourself you know the answer already. “Is… is not… possible… why? This is not true,” Poor Celestia, she looks as bad as Twilight in Lesson Zero, minus the hair disaster of course “you cannot be… you are not human, you-you-you created me. Oh my stars, you created this world!” And now she is in full panic mode but just as her magic begins to collect on her horn I simply move my hand, the world around me following my silent order and the world begins to disappear as if it were sifted sand. Nothing is let but Celestia and I in the emptiness of an unrealized universe. I did, I created you. And like clockwork you followed the same path as others like you. For someone who is ready to scream about harmony and friendship you are so quick to bring genocide to another species. “It was you… all this time it was your plan? Did you just… make me so I could suffer?!” Celestia, from the hundreds of you that I have made around the multiverse, no one can be as egocentric and xenophobic as you. Yes, I created you but I did it with a purpose, I wanted to give you a chance, to see if you would follow either your heart or your hate. The Conversion Bureau is over, no more will it exist. Is gone and you with it. “WAIT! PLEASE WAIT, DON’T DESTROY ALL THIS BECAUSE OF ME AND GIVE US ANOTHER CHANCE!” I already gave you fifty seven chances Celestia! Fifty fucking seven chances. I’ve rebooted this universe so many times and I keep seeing you fall to the same hate and delusions! You have asked me for chance after chance! Two of those chances I even let you keep your memories! No matter what happens, how I tweak it or change something, it always follows the same path. You find humanity, you create the stupid potion and then you begin to turn them into newfoals! Over and over again, and you know what’s the worst part? Is what you find as an excuse! First it was jealousy because they were more advanced than ponies, then it was jealousy because Principal Celestia had her sister, then it was because you wanted to teach Sunset Shimmer a lesson. There was even a time that you did it because you felt it was your right as monarch of Equestria, and that was the one that kept her memories. No, is over, no more chances. “Then why? If you knew I would not change then why give me the chance? Were you playing with us as a foal plays with its toys?!” I’m not you Celestia; I did this because no matter how bad you guide them, ponies are like any other of my creations! How do you think I feel when I see that I helped create wage war against others because they feel they are superior to them? I did this because I wanted to see if someone that finds the kind of power you did could find another way. That instead of becoming darkness it could help others. I wanted to see if you could throw aside your so called destiny. There is something coming Celestia, and he is not going to be easily stopped. Noche will destroy every single world until he finds what he needs for him to ascend to my position. I cannot continue being passive on this, I just cannot continue narrating as if nothing happens. And you know what I found? That Sunset, yes THAT Sunset is the only one that is immune to Noche’s powers. She is the only one that laughs in destiny's face. Not you, not Luna and definitely NOT Twilight. It is none other than The Many Destinies of Sunset Shimmer that will save this multiverse, but you won’t see something like that happening. I cannot keep thinking that there is redemption for you and this world. Goodbye Celestia. And before she is capable of saying a word the chains made from stars pull her into the center of what used to be a universe. She will be here forever, never able to die. Maybe later I will remake this world, maybe ponies would be the creatures that have to be transformed into humans to survive, is an idea that is worth visiting. Don’t think that I am happy; no writer wants to see its creation turn into a monster, well, maybe with exceptions like Lovecraft and Stephen King. For me it hurts, to see someone like Celestia and Twilight fall so low that they will try to destroy another race. But I have no time to feel sorry for them; I still need to stop Noche. I will protect my creation. I will save them. Even if I have to condemn some to do it. The clock is ticking.