“-and well, that's everything I was able to gleam, Your Majesty,” Velvet Touch exclaimed, her gaze falling to the ground, unable to look the alicorn sitting across from her in the eye.
For several long seconds the room was silent, with the only sound Velvet Touch heard being the pounding of her own heart. Across from her, the alicorn had the three drawings as well as the contents of nearly every note Velvet Touch had gathered since she first started looking after Twilight’s mental state lying before her. The ancient alicorn’s gaze lingered over each one of the documents in turn before she finally sighed and telekinetically brought all the papers back together and placed them at the end of her desk.
“Well… That certainly changes things,” Celestia declared.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I honestly don't see a way that she could remain in the general populace.” Velvet Touch sighed. “It's unfortunate, but I think it would be best if she was placed in stasis or perhaps put under permanent quarantine.”
“And why would you suggest that, Doctor Touch? That seems like a bit of a knee jerk reaction, don't you think?” Celestia replied evenly, her gaze hardening as she looked down on the other pony.
“If she is truly capable of bursting into a cloud of spores, it could endanger not only yourself, but the entire legislative body,” Velvet Touch began. “If she were to detonate at the right time she could take out every single high ranking member of the Equestrian government in a single action. Worse yet they might all become ‘infested’ like the other creatures Twilight saw. The damage that would be wrought by that singular act would destabilize Equestria and possibly the world.”
“The world?” Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Doesn't that seem a bit hyperbolic?”
The mare shook her head. “The griffon kingdoms are ruled by several squabbling nobles as you know, and if rallied under a single banner, they could overrun our eastern borders with ease. If they sensed a weakness on the scale of your loss, I have absolutely no doubt they would be under that singular banner within a month’s time.”
Celestia stood and slowly walked around the desk. “And the minotaurs? They have been stalwart allies of Equestria for over five hundred years. Even if the entirety of the griffon kingdoms came crashing down, we would still be able to call on their aid, nevermind others.”
“W-well I’m just a psychologist, Your Majesty, my opinions hold as much importance as a sieve does water,” Velvet Touch replied nervously, only now realizing what she was suggesting.
“Everyone’s opinion holds at least some value, and I wish to hear yours to its conclusion!” Celestia exclaimed, the alicorn stopping just behind the mare and leaning in close. “So please, tell me why I should lock away an innocent child for having done nothing.”
Velvet Touch gulped. “I didn't mean to insenuate anything like that, I just-”
“You did,” Celestia interrupted. “But that isn't the point right now. Reach the conclusion of your thoughts, please.”
The younger mare took a deep breath, a hoof over her beating heart. “The minotaurs have signed a comprehensive non-aggression treaty with the griffon kingdoms. This treaty is iron clad, and though the treaty with Equestria is similarly made of iron, they have not been tested in international court. If they wished to stay out of the war entirely, they could very easily tie up legal battles for years, well until the point that the war was either won, or a stalemate reached. They are after all, nothing if not a pragmatic species and may stay out of the war until it's clear one side may win.”
“And what about the yaks, and zebras?” Celestia asked, raising an eyebrow as she circled the mare.
“The yaks are a backward people that are too far away to offer much in the way of assistance,” Velvet Touch replied. “As for the zebras, they have been facing several years of crop shortages, if they were to attempt to reform the black army, they would have to choose between feeding their warriors or their people. I don't think it's a stretch to imagine that they would choose their own people.”
“Interesting,” Celestia began, sitting back down in her chair and steepling her hooves. “You assume that every single one of our allies would succumb to their more base nature and abandon a friend in their hour of need.”
The mare shrunk in her chair, her shoulders falling. “Well, when you put it like that, it doesn't sound very nice.”
“I don't have to put it any one way, you said so yourself.” Celestia sighed, her hooves falling to the desk. “Regardless, your words have at least some merit, which warrants consideration.”
“So you are considering putting her away?” Velvet Touch pressed. “Because I don't see how anyone could justify teaching a bomb.”
“She is not a bomb, she is a child,” Celestia declared, her gaze bearing down on the mare, making her unable to look away. “Do you know how easy it is to make a bomb with either simple household chemicals or a spell? Anyone of my advisors may very well accomplish what you think this mere foal capable of.”
“I didn't mean to insin-” Velvet Touch began, only for Celestia to slam her hooves down on her desk with enough force to send papers flying everywhere.
“You did exactly that, whether you acknowledge it or not. The question should never be, what they could do, it should always be, what they are likely to do!” Celestia proclaimed. “So, let's answer that question, do you think Twilight would blow herself up?”
“B-but that isn't a fair question. She may be able to be triggered remotely, by these things, this Starlight Glimmer monster perhaps,” Velvet Touch declared, throwing up her hooves. “It doesn't matter what Twilight wants if she isn't the one pulling the trigger.”
“Yet you have also stated that she no longer hears the voices after her nightmare, and has blocked herself off from them,” Celestia stated, the alicorn slowly sitting back in her chair and steepling her hooves once more. “Or was that part of your report an error?”
“It…” The mare sighed. “It was not.”
“Remember your equinity, remember what makes you a pony. If we locked up a child based on what she might be capable of, where does it end? Until everyone is in cages? Until we speak to one another through the bars that contain us?” Celestia asked, spreading her hooves. “I agree that she must be tested and watched, with mechanisms put in place in case of that possibility, but if you think for a second that I will abandon an innocent on a possibility, then you are truly lost.”
“You are right. I was just… scared. This thing is bigger than me, bigger than even you it feels like.” The therapist sighed. “I just feel so small.”
“We are all small, even I. It is only through harmony that we are made a part of the greater whole.” Celestia smiled. “Now then, let us forget this unfortunate conversation for a moment, and move on to something else.”
Velvet Touch nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty, what did you have in mind?”
“It is evident that Twilight is realizing that something is… different with her, and she is going to continue to ask uncomfortable questions until we give her something. What do you propose we do?” Celestia inquired, leaning forward and peering intently at the mare.
“A convincing lie,” Velvet Touch answered confidently. “If she were to believe that she truly was infected by some sort of alien parasite or virus, she would only be isolated further from her peers. This may spawn more antisocial behavior that could become problematic later on down the line.”
“And what are you suggesting then?” Celestia queried.
“Some condition that causes night terrors would explain her dreams, and her damaged mental state combined with a magical affliction caused by her flare,” Velvet Touch replied. “It would explain her symptoms without making her feel like an other, only that she was unlucky in the extreme.”
“Interesting,” Celestia murmured. “I will consider your words carefully, as it stands right now I must speak to your partner before I make a decision on this matter.”
The alicorn stood suddenly, prompting Velvet Touch to do the same. “R-really? Should I join you or are you going alone?”
“I will go alone. There is something I wish to discuss with Silver Scalpel mare to mare.” Celestia smiled faintly, patting the smaller pony on the back. “I’m sure you’ll hear all about it tonight anyway, so don't worry.”
“S-sorry, Your Majesty, I didn't mean to presume,” Velvet Touch explained as she stepped nervously out the door and into the hallway.
“Worry not, my friend, I knew very well what you meant,” Celestia exclaimed. “Have a wonderful rest of your weekend.”
In a flash of light the alicorn was gone, leaving the therapist alone with the two guards who stood motionless on either side of the door. “That could have gone better,” Velvet Touch muttered.
Celestia reappeared within the sprawling labs beneath Canterlot Castle, where only a hoofful of ponies were laboring at such an hour. All of whom were in their own offices that branched off from the central laboratory. Looking around the room made Celestia realize that it seemed a lot less sprawling than the last time she had been down here. Test equipment, black boards and piles of books filled nearly every conceivable space and left little room to walk.
The alicorn lifted a book randomly and began to flick through it after noticing that it looked brand new. The text within was dense with jargon the alicorn didn't understand and loaded with concepts she had never heard before. “DNA, the building blocks of life,” she read aloud.
Brushing past the pile of books, she made her way over to a very particular office set aside from the rest, where a frazzled mare sat hunched over a desk. Her normally clean pressed look was gone, with the mare’s mane sticking out at odd angles, her eyes strangely haunted, with dark bags hanging underneath.
Knocking twice, Celestia didn't wait to be announced before pushing her way inside, where the mare didn't even seem to have noticed her entry, as she stared down at a sprawling equation that nearly filled an entire sheet of paper. “Ahem.” Celestia coughed into her hoof.
Causing the mare to rocket out of her chair, and look up at the alicorn in shock. “Who, what, oh… it's you.” Silver Scalpel breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down into her seat. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
“You really should be more aware of your surroundings,” Celestia teased, smirking at the scientist.
“My apologies, but I’ve been rather distracted with this newest equation is all,” Silver remarked, gesturing down to the pile of math before her. “It's been blowing my mind all day.”
“Hopefully not literally as I would hate to have to scrape my finest scientist off the wall,” Celestia remarked with a smirk.
“And I don't think they make spatulas that big,” Silver shot back with a smirk of her own.
“True.” Celestia plunked down across from the unicorn, her bulk making the chair groan under her. “Now then, I hate to dismiss this pleasant atmosphere so quickly, but I had hoped to ask you a few questions before you finished for the day.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I am at your disposal,” Silver Scalpel announced.
“First thing’s first. How goes the cure?” Celestia inquired, hope evident in her voice.
Silver Scalpel snorted and shook her head. “I’m sorry to say, but a cure is impossible. An immunization? That might be feasible, but right now you would need to remove all infected tissue, which would mean the destruction of over ninety percent of the filly’s spinal column. After that you would need to replace nearly every major organ and then do extensive deep brain surgery to remove nearly an entire hemisphere’s worth of grey matter.”
Celestia nodded slowly. “And what about immunization?”
“Theoretical at best,” Silver Scalpel stated with a sigh. “The spores she emits are incredibly virulent, but also much different to the body's normal cells, it's possible that we could reinforce the body through magic as these extraterrestrial cells do not interact well with mana-based systems.”
“Then that should be one of our focuses,” Celestia declared. “It is paramount that we ensure the containment of an outbreak, should it occur.”
Silver Scalpel chuckled humorously. “If an outbreak occurred, we’d be dead or infected within a matter of days, containment is a pipe dream at this point.”
“Explain,” Celestia commanded.
“It's simple, this thing, whatever it is, is clearly not from Equis, noone has a natural immunity to anything like it,” Silver Scalpel explained. “Furthermore, I have discovered evidence that this plague waiting to happen has been artificially created, though how or why is beyond me.”
Celestia nodded. “I assumed as much. I also assume that it mutates at a rapid pace?”
“That's an understatement,” Silver remarked with a cruel snicker. “This thing is transferable by air one minute, then blood, then contact, then all of the above at once. Only magic seems to have any hope of holding this thing back for any length of time, though that might not last forever as I would put money on it adapting its way out of any containment we tried, given enough time.”
Celestia nodded. “I’ve also noticed that your laboratory has produced a number of interesting side projects that might very well become their own fields of study one day.”
“Yes, we’ve been able to study so many aspects of DNA, pony physiology, and alien biology that if we stopped inspecting Twilight completely, we’d be able to spend decades just exploring the avenues of research already open to us,” Silver Scalpel explained.
“Interesting, and I’ve also noticed that you were hoping to work with this Moebius Foundation for the purpose of better exploring these opportunities,” Celestia continued, tapping her hoof against the desk. “What do you hope to accomplish, Miss Scalpel?”
“Well, there are many different things I hope to see achieved, but the main goal is simply helping us shore up our own understanding of what we are looking at,” Silver Scalpel began, opening her desk and pulling out a business card before hoofing it over to the alicorn. “A Mister Moebius Finch has been assisting with some manners that we simply haven't had the time to put into. All non-classified, non-xeno oriented of course.”
“I’ve noticed. He's done an admirable job with secondary research and support,” Celestia added, nodding confidently. “He also seems honorable, his father was a guard, and his mother was a maid here in the castle back in the day, so I met him several times when he was younger.”
“Yes, they both expressed their desire to assist in any manner possible and have convinced Moebius to waive most of the lab fees after being told that you were personally funding part of this research,” Silver Scalpel replied.
“I’ll look into bringing his team on in a more official capacity soon, but that won't be for a number of weeks I’m afraid,” Celestia clarified.
“That would be very welcome as I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say we are a little understaffed, given the sheer volume of research before us,” Silver Scalpel concluded.
The alicorn nodded slowly, turning the business card over in the air, memorizing the information upon it. “I will see to it that you get more help, and perhaps a bigger lab, for now you will just have to work with what you have, I’m afraid.”
“That's fair. Is there anything else you require, Your Majesty?” Silver Scalpel queried.
“Yes, I am curious what you would have me do with Twilight, given what you know of this pathogen,” Celestia challenged.
The scientist let out an exasperated sigh and fell back into her chair. “If it was anything but a pony, I would say that it should be destroyed, preferably with extreme heat and then teleported into the upper atmosphere or space just to be safe.” She sighed. “But since we are speaking of a pony, I’m less sure. If the only thing we take into account is her ability to spread this plague, I would at least have her contained somewhere safe.”
Celestia frowned and tapped her hoof against the desk. “The fact that we would be quarantining a foal for potentially decades through no fault of her own doesn't bother you?”
“Oh, of course it does, but you have to realize just how big this thing could be if it decided to change for whatever reason,” Silver Scalpel cautioned. “If it ever did so, it would make the black death look like a mild flu.”
Celestia sighed. “I was afraid you would say that. It seems like my course is set, thank you for your time.”
“Are our priorities remaining the same?” Silver Scalpel asked hesitantly. “Because I don't even know if a cure is even conceivable against something like this.”
The alicorn paused for a moment before shaking her head. “Your priorities are unchanged, I want nothing less than a cure, but I will be bringing on this Moebius Foundation for your secondary research and potentially bringing in another wing of researchers to focus solely on a potential vaccine of some kind.”
The researcher let out a deep sigh of relief. “That is wonderful to hear, Your Majesty, I’m sure the team will be ecstatic once they get the news.”
“Just hold off on telling them for a little while, I’m hoping to properly screen the additional team members and further inspect this foundation first,” Celestia cautioned.
“Of course,” Silver Scalpel replied.
“Now then, I’m afraid I must speak with one last pony before I retire for the evening,” Celestia announced as she stood slowly.
“Thank you again, Your Majesty, I will be sending my next report Tuesday,” declared Silver Scalpel.
“Have a wonderful evening, Silver Scalpel,” Celestia replied.
Silver Scalpel stood and ducked into a deep bow as Celestia left the room.
Once away from the scientist, Celestia trotted out of the room, putting the equations, books and experiments behind her. The alicorn paused in the hallway and ran a hoof down her face, sighing deeply. “How am I going to put this?” she muttered to herself, already wondering how she could break the news to Twilight.
The alicorn shook her head and turned in the direction of the stairs, putting her worry behind her and choosing instead to take the long way back to her study. This would give her the time to think of what she would say, and hopefully help clear her mind of the new set of worries that now rested firmly on her shoulders.
Another day, another problem, Celestia thought cynically to herself.
Celestia stared up at the full moon that was rising just above the horizon, the stubborn object having fought Celestia harder than usual, leaving the alicorn drained. To the point that Celestia was glad her chair was so comfortable and supportive as she was sure without it she would be on the floor, struggling to stand.
This position at least offered her a view of the large glowing orb and its crater-ridden surface. Is this what it's going to come down to? Celestia asked the moon. Choosing between sacrificing an innocent to a miserable existence and coming up with another plan, or sticking to my plan and hoping that Twilight is truly the one that will free and purify you?
Celestia stared intently at the moon, her gaze lingering on the distinctly darker craters that made up the Mare in the Moon. My time is so divided that I have little left at the end of the day to try and keep your nightmares at bay. Nevermind look after the future bearers, Twilight’s health, and give proper attention to this newest threat. Celestia snorted angrily. And that's without constantly trying to ensure the loyalty of my ponies while recruiting more of whose loyalty is beyond reproach.
The alicorn considered going for her pipe, but refused herself that pleasure for now, as she knew Twilight would be here soon and though not illegal, she didn't want to expose the filly to such a habit. Plus she could only imagine the hubbub that her little calming ritual would cause if it got out, as she could already imagine the tabloids having a field day with the information that Celestia was one of those old farts that smoked Zebrican pipe weed when stressed.
A sudden knock on the alicorn’s door brought her thoughts back to reality. “Come in, Twilight,” Celestia announced.
The door creaked open slowly to reveal a nervous filly with glowing orange eyes staring up at her. “Y-you called for me, Princess?”
“I did indeed, please come inside.” Celestia beckoned, prompting the filly to close the door behind her and trot over to the chair across from Celestia, only to be stopped by the alicorn. “Actually, if you don't mind, I was thinking we could have this conversation on the balcony.”
Twilight nodded. “Sure.”
Celestia stood and slowly trotted over to the balcony where she sat, her back to Twilight. The filly hesitated to follow the alicorn at first, strangely put off by the shaky way that she walked from her chair and out into the small area beyond. “Are you coming?” Celestia asked, glancing over her shoulder.
“R-right,” Twilight muttered, following closely behind the alicorn and sat down next to the larger pony, only to be gripped on both sides and gently lifted up and placed between the alicorn’s forelegs.
“You don't mind this spot, do you?” Celestia asked, her body heat dismissing what little cold could be felt from outside.
Twilight shook her head and made a mental note of finding out what manner of spell Celestia used to keep the cold out and the heat in. “No, this is nice, thank you.”
“I’m glad,” Celestia murmured.
For several long seconds neither pony said anything, with Celestia staring up at the moon while Twilight simply reveled in the intimacy of the moment, a massive grin on her face. That grin slowly faded though as Twilight’s new senses quickly tuned into the whirlwind of worry that was even now blowing through the larger pony’s mind.
“Is something wrong, Princess?” Twilight asked, looking up at the alicorn.
Celestia shook her head slowly. “Please just call me Celestia.”
“R-right, sorry,” Twilight muttered, looking down.
“Don't worry about it, my faithful student. In truth something has been bothering me,” Celestia replied. “I have been faced with a problem that seemingly has no right answers, one that concerns us all I’m afraid.”
“Like what?” Twilight inquired.
“First, I’d like to ask you a question, one that I stress has no wrong answers,” Celestia began.
“Err okay, but I didn't study for anything…” Twilight muttered.
The alicorn chuckled and shook her head. “You need not study for such a question, you need only to speak your mind. Are you ready, Twilight?”
Twilight nodded vigorously. “I am.”
“What is better, to be good, or to be right?” Celestia quizzed.
Twilight opened her mouth to speak, only to close it and frown, the filly rubbing her chin with a hoof. “In what context?”
“In the context of you can only be one or the other,” Celestia answered.
The filly frowned deeper and looked off into the night sky, for several minutes, as if searching the star-filled sky for her answers. After a long while the filly nodded suddenly and announced her answer, “Good.”
“Why do you say that?” Celestia pressed.
“Because all the bad guys I read about in my stories always believe what they are doing is right,” Twilight began slowly, only to nod confidently. “And being good is more important than being right, ‘cause my dad said that it's better to tell a little fib rather than hurt someone’s feelings.”
“Two very good answers, Twilight,” Celestia affirmed. “Answers I wholeheartedly agree with.”
“R-really?” Twilight stuttered, looking up at the alicorn with wide eyes.
“Indeed I do, my little pony,” Celestia agreed. “A dear friend of mine once said that it is better to do what is good even if you know it's not right, rather than do what is right, knowing that it is not good.”
Twilight frowned. “Still, I mean that seems a little black and white, right?”
“True,” Celestia concluded. “But I’d rather strive for the best possible solution and fail, than to sacrifice and to be forced to live with the fact that I might have saved everyone.”
“So what does this all have to do with what's bothering you?” Twilight implored.
“You have…” Celestia’s face tightened and she absently ran her hoof down the filly’s side. “You have an infection of some kind. I’ve been trying to cure it in secret, as I didn't want to worry you, but it's clear now that even if we can cure it eventually, you will have it for many years.”
“W-what's wrong with me?” Twilight stuttered, her voice wavering.
“You have an infection that disrupted your magic, but through therapy and a good diet we have fixed that particular part,” Celestia began, pulling the filly tight against her. “Your eyes are a part of it, and you also might have some earth pony magic now due to the disruption in your magic. This infection also connects you to those other things that you saw the other night as well as gives you the ability to read minds.”
“Am I going to turn into one of those things?” Twilight asked hesitantly.
“We don't think so, but I have my best ponies working on a cure,” Celestia explained. “I tell you all of this because we aren't sure if it even can be cured, and I can't keep this from you any longer, but you must understand that you musn’t tell anyone about this, do you understand?”
Twilight nodded meekly. “Yes, Celestia.”
“Good. I don't want ponies to look at you differently because of this, you are a smart and wonderful pony and I will keep trying to make you better,” Celestia declared, the alicorn smiling faintly.
“Y-you are not gonna leave me, r-right?” Twilight asked, looking down at her hooves and shuffling nervously.
Celestia smiled a little wider and gently gripped the filly in her magic, bringing Twilight up to her height and forcing their eyes to meet. “I will never give you up, Twilight, I will never leave you and I’ll always be your mentor, this I swear.”
The filly sniffed, trying desperately to hold back the waterworks only for the dam to break and Twilight to reach out and grab Celestia’s neck, sobbing deeply into the alicorn’s fur. Celestia herself smiled and gently held the filly with a forehoof, while stroking her back with the other. “There there, Twilight, it's okay.”
For a long while they remained in that position, with the alicorn gently rubbing the filly’s back as she let out every last bit of her pain and confusion. Then, when her tears were spent and her mind felt more at ease, the filly pulled back, sniffling and wiping her face with a hoof. “T-thanks,” she whimpered.
“Fret not, dear Twilight,” Celestia declared with a smile. “Now then, I’m sure you have questions, feel free to ask away.”
“I have just one actually, but it's going to sound kind of mean and I don't want to say it…” Twilight muttered, looking away from the alicorn.
Celestia smiled confidently and gently pulled the unicorn’s chin so their eyes met once more. “I promise you I won't be mad.”
“O-okay. Well I just got the feeling that um, you might be well, hiding something else?” the filly muttered before wincing. “I’m sorry that didn't come out right I-I-”
“Shhh, it's okay, Twilight. I understand why you would ask that, you have every right to be wondering such a thing,” Celestia affirmed. “And the answer is that I am, but I can't tell you, not yet anyway. I swear to you that one day I will tell you, but I can't. Not yet.”
Twilight stared into the alicorn’s violet orbs for several seconds, her newfound abilities reaching out and doing their best to determine what the ancient mare’s true intentions were. Anger, exhaustion, disappointment and more all flowed through the alicorn’s mind and though Twilight couldn't tell what she was thinking, there was one emotion she could tell that dominated all others.
Love.
Whatever her reasons, whatever her secrets, Celestia kept them not out of malice, but out of a genuine care, and that eased the filly’s worries. “O-okay,” Twilight declared.
Celestia smiled a little wider and hugged the filly again. “I will make sure your faith in me is not misplaced, my student.”
“Thank you, Celestia,” Twilight whispered, hugging the alicorn’s neck tightly.
“It is my pleasure, my dear,” Celestia murmured, squeezing the filly almost as tightly as Twilight hugged her.
Slowly, Twilight pulled away from the hug and smiled up at Celestia, the filly not noticing or caring that her fur was matted with tears, and that her mane was all over the place. Celestia herself cared very little that her own fur was similarly matted around her neck, and that her a few of her own tears had marred what little make up the alicorn wore. “It's late,” Celestia remarked with a sigh. “You had better get to bed soon.”
“Can we…” Twilight gulped. “Can we stay here and look at the stars for a little bit?”
“Sure,” Celestia capitulated, placing the filly down between her hooves once more. “You know I was going to save this lesson for later, but would you like to learn a little about the constellations?”
Twilight nodded vigorously. “Yeah!”
“Alright, so do you see those three bright stars in a row over there?” Celestia asked, pointing up to a spot at the midway point of the sky.
“Uh huh.”
“That is the Sirusian’s belt, and if you look below, there are seven stars that connect with those three that make up the legs of Sirusian. See them?” Celestia whispered, pointing to the stars themselves.
“Oh yeah! And the top part is the other half of Sirusian. Wasn't he a minotaur king?” Twilight inquired.
“You are right, do you know why he was placed among the stars?” Celestia pressed.
“Because he-”
Celestia smiled as Twilight began to recount the entire myth of the Great King Sirusian and his many accomplishments. Though she paid close attention to the filly as she continued her tale, Celestia’s main attention was elsewhere, her gaze drawn to the bright moon that hung over them all.
I won't give up. On either of you, Celestia vowed.