Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle
Date: May 5th
Time: 8:26 a.m.
Interviewer: Verdant Vines, Head Investigator
Doctor Blue Sky was still at the Ponyville hospital, helping with overseeing Solace’s care and assisting Tourniquet and the others with taking stock of medical supplies there. They should be sending off a request for enough additional supplies to take care of any survivors we may recover and a request for personnel is already being submitted as well.
I took the journal from Blue Sky and returned to my tent, awaiting the arrival of White Clover and Princess Celestia, though I have yet to receive a notice.
Good morning, Twilight. I hope you’re well.
good morning
Vines
I know Doctor Blue Sky already expressed his thanks, but I would like to give mine. Solace’s return is appreciated, even if his condition is severe. We’re making preparations while we can to ensure that any more survivors returned will be able to receive proper care as well.
you are
welcome
Vines
I am glad
he could
return
safely
securely
sheltered
I also saw that Blue Sky voiced similar concerns that I have about these dreams occurring in Canterlot, despite the lack of direct contact of these ponies to the town or the journals that we recovered. It may be that a stricter quarantine than we expected is required. I’ve sent a notice to Canterlot to have all those currently showing signs kept on-site there.
it seems
reasonable
yes
I wish I
knew more
about the
works
effects
consequences
It’s alright, Twilight. We couldn’t expect you to be completely knowledgeable on the subject. The hope is that we can do our best to contain and study it. Of particular interest is why Princess Luna cannot access these dreams, or is even aware that they’re happening.
However, for now we have other things to focus our attention on. I still would have preferred that you waited for my superiors before sending Solace back to Equestria, but it shows that we have a way to get ponies back from this other world.
Would you be able to bring more ponies back if you returned yourself?
no
it requires
one here
Me here
like a
bridge
gate
connection
What exactly does the process entail?
the world
is formless
but it is still
possible
to find the closest
points
places
between here
and Equestria
the world moves
along
Celestial
winds
ever changing
drifting
to void
to place
but it can be moved
steered
willed
by They
by Me
They came
first
then forced
all of us
here
smothered us
We can
I can
gather
survivors
affected
make a
bridge
home
And send them here in the process?
yes
Would it be all of them at once?
depending on
how many are found
corralled
groups are safest
could move
quickly
swiftly
before opposition
but alone
one by one
two by two
avoids detection
How long will it take to gather or find them?
here
weeks
maybe
there
day
two
it is all
difficult to know
And you talked about sending this world away?
it could be
possible
to force this place
this world
the shadows
away
Forever?
no
nothing is forever
but long
far away
may be longer if
careful
strong
quick
And if the others found out what you were doing could they stop you? Could they do all of it again?
(Twilight did not respond for several minutes.)
yes
that is
why it is urgent
the longer we stall
the more They
could know
could control
could consume
I’ll still need to talk to my superiors and to Princess Celestia. It will be all of our decision, together, on what to do. The risks involved are too great.
They are
all
is at stake
but this
was the only option I had
ALL ELSE FAILED
(It had been a question in my mind ever since reading it in Twilight’s journal.)
What exactly did you mean by that? You wrote it in your journal before you stopped. You said you came to your senses, but why did you give yourself up to it?
to understand
sometimes
you must open
your mind
heart
soul
to the
unknown
the unknowable
the strange
the bizarre
the abyss
the void
the darkness
I still do not
know if it was right
if it worked
if it was worth
all this pain
but I will not
let it happen again
to any pony
to any creature
if it is
within my
will
power
CONTROL
And if you hadn’t come to your senses?
there
are always
risks
for rewards
(I couldn’t truly doubt Twilight’s words at the core. Any idea could be extrapolated to an extreme in a situation so dire. Still, giving up her mind to whatever these creatures are is difficult to see as a sane choice.
It took me a few more minutes of dwelling to find another question to ask. I thought it important to find out more information about what happened, if I could.)
Did you find Solace in the state he was in? From his writing, it sounds like the place, those creatures, kept him alive without food or water or sleep for days, maybe longer until you found him.
yes
he would not
speak to me
traumatized
That’s expected given what he went through. And you said Town Hall was special? The location, I mean, or something about it?
it is hard to describe
still
looking into it
testing
experimenting
You said it was isolated.
yes
Those things still found him and everypony there. They forced him out into those halls, the only way forward, and then toyed with him and all the others. For what?
information
Possibly. Maybe what happened with Quill was what alerted them.
yes
the first event
before
things changed
Still, at Sweet Apple Acres and even your library, they didn’t seem interested in information. Not directly at least. Not like that.
I have
spent time
learning
what They do
how
why
there are not always answers
but I would stop
Them
from coming back
I did what
was needed
to learn
Twilight?
I could not
leave
so many
subjects
so much
to test
to understand
how it worked
how it ticked
how it affected
infected
spread
powers
effects
the world
I needed
information
Twilight, what are you talking about? What did you do?
it was a blessing
luck
happenstance
to find town hall
to find them
abandoned
untouched
ignored
it took so many weeks
months
to test
to understand
to know
the unknowable
they are all
no
some
still alive
still safe
they will recover
but the knowledge
I can stop it now
I can save them
I can prevent it
a LIGHT
in the darkness
HOPE
in the black
pushing back
I will pay my penance
We all will
but
ALL ELSE FAILED
it was
the only way
the only option
I tried to process what she’d written, what she’d seemingly confessed to. It felt impossible to me, like I didn’t fully understand because the extent of it was too much to bear. As I stepped outside for a moment, mind reeling, I found Clover and Princess Celestia waiting for me. I tried to stammer an explanation, but Princess Celestia walked past me and into the tent, while Clover led me away.
The remainder of this interview was performed by Her Majesty.
My dearest, most faithful student.
Celestia
Yes, Twilight.
Princess
I---I-----I
I am sorry
I
Twilight, I cannot know for certain how much anguish you have had to endure alone, how much heartache you have had to suffer, or how much you torment yourself even now over your actions.
I only know that I am so sorry I could not be here to protect you, to shelter you, to have done something to push this terrible darkness and suffering away from you and my little ponies.
I do not
deserve it
Princess
forgiveness
rep-------
Twilight. I cannot know all that you have done, if what you say and confess to is true, but you have the power now to do more than that, to protect and save these ponies that are still alive with you. Then, together, we can push the darkness away.
We
cannot
I am
not
Me
We
are
Princess
They
They were all Us
Twilight, take your time, please. Relax. I need you to tell me what you can, as clearly as you can.
this place
it is
nothing
void
a blank slate
nothing was here
before Us
before We were taken
They were lost
changed
molded
infected
ponies
creatures
changed to
survive
thrive
here
My little ponies did this? For how long?
I
do not know
it is so
ancient
eternal
perhaps it was forever
We told
stories about it
without knowing it
before
it was one
two
lost
forgotten
Ponyville
it was chance
that this
happened
These others, what do they want?
They want
more
more to see
Their
sight
Their
mind
some
They want
home
others
They want
darkness
everywhere
She does too
And you did this to stop them? To understand them?
yes
I
need
this knowledge
to fight
to save
to CONTROL
I
it was
all I saw
the only
way
path
LIGHT
forward
They
are not
mindless
They would do
this
again
everywhere
to everypony
to everything
to come back
HOME
to make HOME
Are they planning this now, Twilight? Are you sure?
yes
I am
certain
She
Fluttershy
They
it is all
They want
I felt it
when I was
lost
when I
refused to
stay
buried
forgotten
Will bringing those there back help, Twilight? Can we do anything from here? Can I do anything?
it is
the least
I can do
then
alone
I can send
it
They
Me
away
Alone, Twilight? You said you heard whispers. That you were being hunted.
I
am
I
have to
be
must
deserve
justice
Twilight, please. Are They really there, hunting you?
no
no I
They
I have
not heard
felt
Them
since I
regained
CONTROL
I do not
know where
They are
My whispers
were always
Me
for each
of Us
it is
Us
and this
place
Princess
I just
had to help
had to earn
some
forgiveness
serve
penance
Twilight, your safety brings me comfort, it truly does. Are the others safe? Those that are not changed, not infected?
some
I do not
know exactly
Can you bring them back, like Solace?
yes
it will
take time
to find
to focus
to bridge the gap
And you?
Princess
I do not
deserve
cannot
return
cannot
face
again
Twilight, I cannot force you to return. I cannot guarantee that you will not face consequences. I cannot promise that whatever has happened to you can be reversed. All of that said, please, if you can come back after returning the others, do.
I will
try
Princess
How long will it take, Twilight?
as I said
before
difficult to say
days for me
finding
gathering
molding
sending
preparing
they may
come slowly
I will ensure everypony here is ready to receive them. I will tell you when we are ready for the first.
I
understand
Thank you, Twilight.
thank you
Princess
Celestia
thank you