//------------------------------// // The Lie // Story: Simulacrum // by Rated Ponystar //------------------------------// Blinking in a daze, Twilight could hear nothing but Celestia’s rising and falling breathe. For one brief second, just like the day of the service, Twilight thought perhaps this was all a dream. That maybe, she was having a dream within a dream, nightmare in a nightmare and when she finally woke up from these series of nightmares all of this would be over. Celestia would be awake and alive, and this-- this invention of her imagination would all be over. Shutting her eyes tightly, then opening them slowly, Twilight found herself still in the nightmare. All while Princess Celestia spoke of the book. "The Book of Amassed Creation was created by Rodwell Churns." A brief pained smile of nostalgia flashed over the Princess' muzzle before it was wiped away by a wince of pain. Black veins throbbed and wormed their way upwards in a visible display along her dirt stained coat. "This book is our key to saving Equestria" the voice said with almost a whisper. "It was created from desperation, but served its purpose as it was intended... In Grogar's possession the book was used to give him an advantage. He crafted a means that could grant him the potential to create life from an empty canvas. It's why we struggled so much to face him. Even when he was beaten once another would take his place." Her eyes closed and a moment of pain washed over her features. Whether from memory or from the wound it was difficult to tell. "Princess..." Twilight watched with tear filled eyes. "Princess...why?" Thundralot couldn't help but ask. “Sombra", was her strained reply. Her horn ignited in a wavering glow, Celestia raised the book and opened it, flipping through the pages. "It was Sombra that opened my eyes. In our battle for the Crystal Empire, I realized that there was a danger of my sister and I not surviving. There were many close calls between the two of us. It was a wake up call to the fact that, despite all our power, we were not invincible. We weren't incapable of fleeing death." she stopped as pages turned. "We could die." Her pale magenta eyes stared into each of her two most trusted as Twilight stared right back into the truth before her eyes. "If both of us died, Equestria would be defenceless and leaderless. I couldn’t let that happen. I needed an answer to solve this." Celestia stated. "So I searched for one with my most trusted, and found it in the lost ruins. This book, is our answer" her voice said with no shake of belief or denial. Then the Princess closed her eyes and let out a pained sigh. "With this book, you will be able to make a perfect copy of me upon my passing. It will show you everything that made Grogar such a dangerous sorcerer. How to copy my memories, how to perfect the clone's personality exactly as if I were there, how to mimic my reactions, my tics, my shortcomings, and even my thought process. All of it, here, will allow this simulacrum to act-- become me. It will grow, learn, adapt, change, and take my place," her eyes gained a mirror-like gloss and she blinked the moisture away, "until my Sister's inevitable return. And the hopes of all of us with her." The book closed, levitating in her bubble to Nightwish. The ash grey stallion, somehow even in his daze managed to take the book from his Princess in a brilliant glow of his own aura. He stared at the book, seemingly dumbfounded by the Princess' proclamation, staring at the worn cover and also looking at the book in shock just as Thundralot and Twilight did in a stunned silence also. He broke the silence with a "I...", his lips moving and brain kick starting in a valiant gallop to coax words into muzzle that could be coherent, "I-- that-- Princess..." he took a deep breath and looked up at her. "This is impossible." The Princess frowned and with a subtle shake of her head, she disagreed. "The ingredients are all there. Everything you need. My heart and brain will be required in perfect condition before this. So...I will need to pass on...before this poison can ruin the only hope we have," the words sent a shiver and whimper through Twilight "along with the dreams of a better future." "You will perform the ritual", her voice gaining a hint of hardness that stated 'do not argue'. "Hide my body once you have completed it. Ensure it can never be found, and then you will announce my sister dead- if it is not already believed by now. Say her body was too damaged to be viewed in public so it will need to be a closed casket funeral" Tense, stiff legged, Thundralot nodded silently. Nightwish said nothing. His eyes closing in silent acceptance as his lips pressed into a grim and firm line. "Announcing Luna's death will absolve her of her crimes, and allow the public to speculate of Nightmare Moon's nature. Will you do this?" There was stony silence. Pegasus and Unicorn glanced at each other, both with neutral expressions,  but clear discomfort. Thundralot nodded, but Nightwish was the one who answered. "Yes, Princess. We swear by the blood of our Tribes and the allegiance to this nation, we will maintain Princess Luna's name." Twilight sensed the presence of something magical, the hint of powerful magical energy lingering in the air as Nightwish completed his reply. Then, as soon as he and Thundralot bowed, the energy spiked, flared in a brief glow around the two, then disappeared. Her eyes widened, A magical oath! Celestia smiled, a familiar smile that tugged at Twilight's heart. One of acceptance, one of joy, one of relief. "The final thing you must do for this procedure to work," her frown appeared briefly but was gone just as quickly, "is a soul." She continued before the silence and shocked faces. "You will need a willing soul to sacrifice themself every century to ensure my clone's life will continue. The blood of a willing soul must be touched by her to increase her own lifespan. The only time this ritual ends is when these three conditions have been met." "The first: Luna's return, meaning Nightmare Moon was successfully defeated. Second:--" she coughed, hacked then suddenly spat out an ink black substance. "Princess!" The three moved in surrounding. Twilight rushed to comfort her teacher but found when she went to press her side against her for comfort, she passed through, coming out the other side. Numbly, shock working its way up her eyes, hackles rising in alarm as reality rushed forward, she recalled something important: This is real but it's not where you belong "Princess please, rest. Your strength--" "Is fading" the Princess replied weakly as a wet cloth was squeezed out over a pan and her lips were dabbed and cleaned of the substance in a glow. "...Second,'' she breathed deeply, a faint whistle in the inhale, "when the Elements of Harmony return and the founding of their Bearers. They will be required to free my Sister and defend Equestria." She finished then paused to regain her breath. "And the third: a replacement for my clone." "WHAT?!" Thundralot shouted. Celestia could only smile weakly. "We cannot have ponies sacrifice themselves for a lie forever Captain. When someone component enough arrives, this lie will end with me. There is a way for a powerful pony, who can create magic, capable of becoming an alicorn. When my clone finds a suitable candidate to replace her, then she or he will become an alicorn as well. After all, the clone can finally die."  Tears streamed down Twilight's cheeks, matting the fur as the lines soaked in as the realization came to her. She was the replacement. The Celestia she knew, the one that passed in her time, had allowed herself to die because Twilight was strong enough to replace her.   "W-We shall do as you say your Highness." Nightwish replied, and to those words all the Princess could do was offer a weak but genuine smile. Thirty-six hooves moved as one as six guards bowed to the Princess, kissed her pastern, and with a glint of certainty in their eyes saluted to Thundralot. "I want it to be known here and now,'' the captain said, having regained her steel composure. "If anypony breathes a word of what has happened here this night, death will wait for you on your door. Am I understood?" A collective silence fell as six soldiers saluted to their superior. "Sol Invictus!" Jaw set, Nightwish saluted with a wing, "Sol Invictus." And six soldiers trudged through a phantom alicorn, in a past she wished she'd never seen. "Doctor Ease" Celestia smiled a warm glow that did nothing to ease the frazzled nerves of the stallion, "I..." she opened her eyes to look at the doctor, "I apologize. Truly and wholy apologize for what I ask of you here and now." The stallion quivered, yet he gave a nod as best he could. "I order you as the authority of the Crown to grant a Merciful Passing. Death by injection." And the phantom alicorn felt her throat clenched as her mind screamed at the nightmare before her to end this vision and bring her back to the world of the waking present-- "I truly am sorry", Celestia said with a slight crack entering her voice as the first of many held back tears began to flow, "I know you all will not fail. Thank you.” A trembling glow took out a syringe, "My most faithful subjects", the glow steadied; the field flared around the instrument of the inevitable, then it punctured skin and flesh "my precious little ponies...I only wish...I hadn't failed you," more tears flowed, dropping to stain ground, "...I only wish...I hadn't failed you...I...am...s-sorry." Her eyes grew heavy. Just a bit of rest. Just a moment to close then open them "...Luna...I...am...sorry." She rested her head, the tears still flowed, she breathed quickly, her barrel rising and falling slowly. Celestia smiled, breathed once, twice, three times, then exhaled one last time. Then she went still. The doctor pulled the syringe out. He stared wide eyed. Looked around the room at the other two staring at Celestia with wide eyes, then with haste and increasing shakiness in his voice he muttered and pushed past Nightwish saying, "Excuse me." Moved past Twilight by the door, then was gone in a few steps as his steady hoofsteps slowed with the heart wrenching sob and those clips carried away into a gallop. Thundralot moved to Princess Celestia's side, pressed her muzzle into the crook of the Princess' neck, let out a slight gasp. Shook her head and let the first few tears fell as she buried her face into the still tricolored hued mane. Nightwish closed his eyes, bowed his head, then said, "She's gone." The room was silent but it was only silent because no one could hear Twilight's pained wail and then the sorrowful scream. She flared into a ball of oxygen consuming fire. So hot that she would have burned the very room and ponies in her path had she been there and even able to touch her second mother. She then fell before she could completely make it to the bed as the logical side realized she couldn't touch her. Never would be able to touch her. Never had touched her. So she wailed and cried, hot tears pouring, chest hurting and aching, throat searing as she let out a heartfelt wail like a foal or child and her sobs echoed along the room. Ignorant of it all were six guards bowed their heads in silence to their lost ruler, a monarch that died before her rule ever truly began. With numbness she followed, detached and watching Nightwish, Thundralot, and the six guards that carried the casket to the private chambers under the castle. They reached it quickly and things happened in a blur as Twilight's eyes remained fixed on Celestia only to turn away when what she recognized as a surgeon entered. Ingredients were gathered. Blood bags for blood transfusion, heart, brain, other knick-knacks and necessities. When it was done Twilight turned back to watch. Unable to watch her Mentor ripped apart by the surgeon, she almost missed the sound of running as somepony else rushed in-- "Captain!" "Captain!" the voice echoed. The guards rose and stood tense as Thundralot approached the gasping guard. "The-- He-- The--" "Spit it out!" snarled Thundralot, baring her teeth. "We waste precious time, what is your message, Private?!" "He...Doctor Ease...we found him dead in his study per your orders to check on him. He...he threw himself out his window. His body was hanging by the breeze." Several eyes closed and Nightwish's eyes narrowed. "We took his body before it could attract attention." The Guard informed, voice, clearly shaken after all that had happened tonight. "What should we do?" "...bury him. We will tell his family a cover story. You are dismissed." At the guard's salute, Nightwish said "Let us end this sorrowful night." "And keep our paths to the Princess." Eventually, the work was done and all the ingredients were ready. The blood, the heart, the brain, and more were all in jars or containers centered around a pentagram with ruins. The body of her mentor laid in a glass casket, all signs of any damage gone, and smiling peacefully as if she were asleep. For Twilight, it was like being at the funeral all over again and thus she forced herself to turn away to pain attention to the others. It was decided to do the ritual underground in a private magic testing area, away from prying eyes. Everyone stood around, unsure what to do next, but Twilight did. The last and most important thing: a willing soul. "Thundralot", Nightwish called the pegasus to attention. "I've been thinking about the final ingredient to the beginning of this nightmare...." the stallion breathed deeply then exhaled as he opened his eyes and looked into the mare's turquoise blue eyes, a mare he respected so much right now. "Yes?" the hint of uncertainty in her voice lingered at his silence. "I will do it." She blinked. Her jaw dropped and then her wings flared as life rushed back into them and a scowl formed on her lips as she opened her mouth to shout-- "Do not argue with me on this. It can either be one of us or one of your troops. You heard the Princess. It requires a willing soul. "Live on and see to it the Princess' needs are met, Captain." The Archmage stated as a blade was pulled free from the red and black underpocket of his robes. "Live on," he said as his silver eyes locked on to the pentagram before them, eyes closing as his determination rose and his courage peaked. "Live on my friend...for Equestria!" the Archmage's final words came out as a triumphant roar that echoed in the chamber and light caught the glint of raised metal as he moved swiftly towards the rune circle that was connected to the other circuits for the homunculus and the necessary ingredients of organs and drained memories in vials. Nightwish's cry of devotion was followed by several cries of protest as the stallion rushed out like a madman on a determined quest. Moving towards a necessary loss to fulfill an ultimate gain. Time slowed as Twilight's eyes widened with sheer horror and her wings wrapped around her reflexively, spreading out in surprise as if to shield herself-- Thundralot shouted at her companion to wait, but he wouldn't listen as her wings flared out to gain altitude and catch him, to stop him-- several guards slowly ignited their horns, mana coursing up into their instruments as fields were shaped to trip or grab at the mage but they all fizzled or popped out as his negation spells activated. "RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! You will let me fulfill the oath we swore!" In what felt like hours, was actually seconds. Nightwish dove as Thundralot missed her grasp, his dagger went under his throat along with the shiv as he pulled it out, as he came to a stop within the ruin circle. Pushing himself forward an inch towards a basin with a grunt he pressed the blades deep. Ignored the ache and sting, fought against the instincts to drop the blade in his magical grasp, drew a line across his neck, then bled. Drawing open a deep cut that poured red life juice out into the basin and circuit as he tried not to thrash but his body wouldn't listen as reflex and muscles took over willpower-- blood oozed and was wiped along runes as the basin overflowed and the body smeared stains along ground. Twilight shielded her eyes, ears flattened, fell cowering, tried not to listen to the wet sounds that came with Nightwish's final breaths-- Then a sickly green glow illuminated, white light flooded the room as Nightwish's body twitched and the light faded from his eyes as he somehow managed to give a heroic smile before going still. The air crackled with magic- it was under such pressure that even Twilight had to grit her teeth against. A wave of light that enveloped the run, the ingredients, Nightwish's blood and body, before an explosion erupted that knocked everyone back, even Twilight feeling the blast being nothing more than a phantom. Eventually, the light faded and everyone slowly opened their eyes. Princess Celestia stood there. Her mane flowing on a nonexistent breeze, almost as if she had always been there despite the fact that there was a second one lying dead in a casket. Her eyes were vacant, distant, watching all of them-- for a moment the phantom thought those pale magenta eyes looked in her direction-- then started only at Thundralot. "Master, what are your commands?" the voice that spoke made the ground rumble, the air sing, the world felt as if it trembled as the distant, cold, emotionless stare bore intoThundralot’s soul. The captain trembled, struggling to regain her composure. Blinking tears away she looked at the robes that held no body but contained the blades where a pony had once been. The clone waited patiently, silent, indifferent to everything. Nightwish spoke her commands. Princess Celestia smiled, a warm smile as a twinkle disappeared in her eyes. "As you wish, my little pony." She spread her wings, her horn glowed, and for a second time Twilight felt those eyes on her as the whole world went white. Thrashing she awoke, kicking and screaming. "Twilight!" "What's wrong with her?" "I-I don't know!" "Twilight!" Forelegs reached out and snared a baby dragon who yelped, Starlight's horn burst into light from instinct, and then let up when Twilight cradled her younger brother, and sobbed against. Spike confused, scared, worried, wrapped his short arms around his sister figure and squeezed as Twilight sobbed. "Its okay Twilight." He said with a sad voice and combed a claw through her mane as far as his size would allow. "It's okay", and she only wept more. Starlight moved towards her friends- just as worried and confused, then pressed up against Twilight's side. Sandwiching Spike and adding to the warmth as the young alicorn sobbed uncontrollably and would listen to no words. Babbling and muttering things that made no sense, sounded worrying and even absurd. They stayed like that for awhile. Eventually, exhaustion won, Twilight fell asleep. A dreamless sleep punctuated by her sorrowful whimpers into the day. She woke up in the dead of night one day and like the past three night found she couldn't sleep. Her friends had visited but she said nothing. When Starlight and Spike had asked for her attention she had teleported away. When Luna had entered her dreams and found Twilight running in search of faceless ponies in robes, howling madly in the night of the woods, she had asked (practically begged) to be left alone. I need to know her bloodshot eyes stared up into her crystal ceiling. I have to know. So she rose gingerly off her bed, tip-hoofed carefully around the sleeping dragon who would not leave her side. Exiting the room and walked into the balcony and spread her wings, the wind playing with a disheveled and messy mane Twilight took to the sky. Never once noticing the shadow that watched her in her castle, as she soared off to the Everfree, towards the historic landmark of the Sisters. She landed with a thud and stumbled as she broke into a quick paced trot. Eyes wide, ears alert. Twilight rushed through the paths, a tired mind struggling to piece together horrible memories. Where is it?! She grimaced and sparks flew as her ire rose. "Where is it?!" she hissed as she passed another hallway, another passage of doors coming up empty, then stopped when a flash of memory brought something familiar into mind. Paused and turned around to three doors behind her as hooves echoed while she made her rounds. She climbed a series of stairs, mind reeling at the possibility and so far away she wasn't aware of the other sounds. Twilight stared at the room. The empty medical room where they had all been. Nightwish, Captain Thundralot, Celestia...her. Tears leaked out and she grit her teeth, turning as she moved back down. The memory become clearer as she made her way down the stairs and recalled where she needed to go and what wall she needed to obliterate to-- "Twilight!" seven hooves called. She froze. She ran, wings forgotten as she raced for her destinstion. Moving like the wind, she thought, I can't let them know! It can't be true! I'll see it and I'll know it's a lie that even if she's gone it was really her-- A blur of blue zoomed in front of her and Twilight scowled. "Twilight, tell us what's wrong!" the pegasus called. "No!" In a burst she was gone and then they heard the sound of walls moving as they gave chase. The distant pounding was long gone and Twilight approached the chamber she recalled in her memories.  She passed through the arched entrance, walked carefully around craters, chips in stone, hooves crunching on debris and marked by dust as she walked or stepped on puddles down the stone bridge. Twilight found a gate locked. Sensing magic her horn flared with a diagnosis examine spell on the workings and found it weak. She took a minute to break the enchantment and the locks and the door slid when she pushed her horn into the slot and the magic she pushed through flowed. Entering slowly, Twilight saw no markings, no sign of a casket, nothing to show a body. She sighed in relief. Ears twitched as she heard the shout of her name as her friends rushed to get her. Then froze when she turned back to look at the empty room to find it filled. "No, no no no no" her voice grew quiet as a force moved her body without her knowledge. She moved unwillingly with morbid desire to know, and soon found the voices behind her growing silent. Twilight stared at the Princess. Her horn glowed and she found the signature. Nightwish's fading signature. His invisibility spell. It was her. It is-- "t-tr-true", she fell as her hindlegs gave out and she stared the tears flowing. Celestia smiled peacefully back, as tears peppered the glass and the scars where the incisions she knew had been cut were hidden an illusion. "Twilight..." Spike's voice unsteady as they neared. "What...what is this?" Her head rose. Her eyes were still wide. The tears still flowed. Her wings nestled tight against her sides. She stared at the mentor she'd never truly had as her mouth was nothing but a small 'o'. "Twilight?" A worried Fluttershy called gently, the bravest one of them all quietly approached with Spike on her back. The young alicorn, the successor she knew she was going to be, turned a watery expression to her friends. Her breathing quickened, her face etched with pain. Twilight Sparkle wept as she said the only words that played like a record in her mind. "She's dead" she said mutely. Carefully, Rarity asked 18th growing fear, "Who is dear?" "Celestia." "Twilight..." Applejack frowned. "Twilight... Come over here and let's--" "--I never really knew her." Came the muted response. "It was all a lie." She kept crying. Then after those words she started laughing. "It" she gasped, laughed, heart aching like never before "was", gigglesobbed, gasped for air again as her friends watched her with growing alarm, "all a LIE!" And then she screamed. Screamed because she knew not how to deal with the pain.