//------------------------------// // Case File - Amalgam // Story: They're Never Coming Back // by Flashgen //------------------------------// Case Report: Amalgam (#3467-A) Submitted by: Verdant Vines Location: Everfree Forest Date(s): May 16th Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467) Classification: Princess Eyes Only On the night of May 12th, both White Clover and I were approached by Princess Luna. She had stayed in Ponyville to assist with patients still suffering from nightmares. We were informed that Princess Celestia needed our assistance with a sensitive subject and to bring our recording equipment. After our questioning was met with an explanation that it was a matter of utmost secrecy, we were taken to the edge of the Everfree Forest in a flash of magical light. The journey into the forest was slow and cautious, but we eventually arrived at the ruins of an ancient castle. Luna explained that it had been the home of Celestia and herself long ago. From a distance, I could see lights flickering in the windows and through cracks in the worn masonry. Brought into the ruins of the torchlit main hall, we were led down a nearby dark stairwell and emerged into a lower area. The torches here were lit magically, dimmer despite their roaring flames. The hallway was filled with cells, most of them wide open, and at the far end I could see Princess Celestia standing in front of one that was locked tight. She turned to greet us, meeting us a few feet ahead of the cell. It was at this point that Clover started recording: Princess Celestia (PC): Good evening, Miss Vines. Miss Clover. I apologize for the lack of answers to the questions I’m sure you both have. White Clover (WC): We understand, Princess. If this is something you’ve decided requires secrecy, we will swear to keep it off the record. Verdant Vines (VV): Yes, certainly. PC: It will need to be recorded, written down, but it may not be spoken of outside of this castle. At least, not until matters are settled. PC: I… We have found Twilight Sparkle. Clover and I exchanged a glance. WC: You’re certain, Princess? PC: Yes. Princess Celestia looked to Princess Luna, who walked around us to stand at her side. Princess Luna (PL): Two nights ago, while watching over the dreams of those still here in Ponyville, I noticed an… irregularity. As I have said in the past, the strange dreams tied to this place were vacancies. While searching for a dream of a particular pony sleeping, I would find nothing. It was like a void where there should have been images. PL: That night I saw a wild, twisting… thing just outside of the dreamscape of Ponyville. On closer inspection, it was nothing more than a flash of imagery. Ponyville in the night. Candles burning brightly. Gnarled roots in a shadowy forest. A journal, nearly in tatters. Whispers growing into a deafening cacophony. PL: However, the dream ended quickly. I informed my sister and she inspected Solace’s journal. PC: There was new writing, still being etched into the pages. Celestia held up the journal. The writing was hurried, but seemed similar in style to Twilight’s: Shadowed Stalked Summoned Ever free yet shackled HOPEful yet HOPEless Fractured yet whole HOME So close to HOME I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me I am Me The lines repeated and continued beyond the page. PC: Luna and I came to the Everfree, searching for any sign of a pony within. Flying over the deeper parts of the forest, we noticed lights within these ruins. And here, in these dungeons, we found her. VV: That’s… That’s wonderful news, Princess, but— WC: Is there a reason you didn’t bring this to our attention immediately? Twilight was still listed as a suspect, along with the others. PL: Twilight’s condition was… PC: Special. It required careful observation before we informed you, along with questioning to be certain. WC: And you are certain? PC: Yes. The pony in the cell is Twilight. It may be difficult to see that, but I can swear to you it is. VV: Then let us see her. Princess Celestia looked to Luna, who nodded at her. PC: Very well. Clover and I approached the cell with Celestia at our side. As we got closer, the sound of a quill scratching words into parchment reached our ears. There were also voices, several I thought, muttering something in unison. As we reached the cell, the dim glow of the torch in the hall illuminated only half of the interior. A journal lay open on the floor, and a quill, surrounded by purple magic, etched words into it over and over. I could see them just barely: “I am Me.” Within the deep shadows, there was a similar purple light. Thanks to it, I could make out the shape of a figure, pony-shaped with a horn atop its head. Ragged, dried out purple hair framed its face. Celestia tapped on the rusted bars. The quill and muttering voices stopped. PC: Twilight. I brought Miss Vines and Miss Clover, like you asked. The figure stood, and the quill came to rest in the journal’s margins. With careful, shaky steps it moved into the light. Twilight’s coat and mane were dried out, but I could make out the colors: lavender, purple, and pink. Here and there on her face and neck were splotches of black. They seemed to shift and writhe in the dim light. While one of her eyes was purple, the other was a strange gradient of cyan and black; both looked heavy and weary. Still, she managed a smile as she approached us. Then her body started to come into the light. More patches of black covered her coat, but there were other spots of faded yellow amidst it. On her back, mostly bare of feathers, were a pair of bruised yellow wings. Her cutie mark was only half visible on her flank, the rest blocked by patches of black, yellow, and pink, the latter of which was in the shape of a butterfly wing. Even when she came to a stop, she still seemed to be moving, as if her entire body were shifting subtly. When she spoke there were many voices, but the clearest were two: one soft and melodic and the other raspy and monotone. Twilight Sparkle (TS): Vines. Clover. I am Me. I am Me. I am— She quieted, taking a breath and looking down. TS: I… I am Twilight. My mouth moved without words. As she spoke, my eyes drifted to the patches of black. I saw shapes within them moving beneath the surface, but they were gone the moment I tried to focus on them. WC: Hello, Twilight. It’s good to see you here, safe. VV: Yes. H-hello. TS: I… do not know how long, after sending Them away. How long until I woke. Here. Not here, but… Belong here. VV: If you’re here, Twilight, did They… manage to follow you? Are They— She approached the bars, hooves resting on them as she shook her head. TS: No. No. No no no no no no. Have not felt, sensed, known, seen, dreamed. It is… it must be far. PL: I have not sensed any gaps within the dreams of ponies within Ponyville, nor with Twilight. WC: Do you know how you got here then, Twilight? Twilight pulled away from the bars, turning away. Her ears flattened against her head and she covered them with her hooves. TS: I am Me. I am Me. I am Me. I am… I do not remember. I lured Her. I lured Them. Threw, flung, pushed it away. All away. Me away. W—Them away. WC: Twilight, it’s alright. We’re just… it’s worrying if you managed to get here, you understand. TS: I am Me. I am M-M-Me. I am M-Me. I-I… I… WC: Twilight? TS: I… am M-M- Twilight began to convulse and shudder, ragged coughs escaping her throat as she struggled to form words. She dropped to all fours, limbs spreading out as far as they could go while her wings struggled to open wider than they were. VV: Princess, what’s wrong with her? Neither of them said anything. Princess Celestia looked away, one hoof holding the journal tightly to her chest. Princess Luna simply watched, until Clover reached for the cell door. PL: Do not, Miss Clover. Twilight came to a stop. A raspy breath escaped her throat, and I could hear bones cracking as her wings forced themselves outwards. Her head turned to face us. The monotone voice was quieter as she spoke. ???: I am We. We are They. Princess of void. Of searing sun. Wonderers. Her body turned about slowly, though her stance remained low. I was reminded of a predator ready to pounce. ???: Do you think they will ever recover, recoup, resign to their fate? Lost and shattered and hopeless. They never left Us. They will return. We will return. VV: Who are you? ???: We are They. But you know Us. You know who We were. Who We each were. The black patches on her coat began to move and shift, revealing patches of yellow in their wake and devouring purple. They seemed to rise off of the surface as well, but I could not be certain in the dim light. Slowly, she began to slink back towards the shadows of the cell. ???: We will escape. We will consume. We will change. We will spread. We… W-we… Twilight’s body locked up again, just as her rear hooves entered the darkness. Seizures wracked her body and her stance finally gave way as she fell. As she curled up into a fetal position, I could see something wet and black splatter on the cell floor. The muttering continued. ???: W-we… We are… I… I am… I-I am M-M-M… I am M-M-Me. I am Me. Twilight’s body relaxed, hooves spreading out until she pulled herself off the floor. Her stance was shaky, but she turned and faced the bars. TS: I… I am sorry. I should have said, warned. Portents. Uttered, written, set meant… unavoidable. Meant truth. Calamity. WC: Was that you, Twilight? TS: No. Her. Fluttershy. I… We were like this… for so long. So long to take control. To work hidden, unknown. To force Her away. To contain. Mantra. Will. Conscience and consciousness. It kept Them scattered, hopeless, docile. When I slipped, faded, She struck. She conquered and threatened and hurt… hurt so many. Here is safe. Here is prison, restraint, penance. For both of us. Twilight looked down at the journal, her magic picking up the quill as she resumed writing and muttering her mantra. Princess Celestia approached the bars. Her voice was steady and flat. PC: Twilight has said that… that she and Fluttershy hold no more control over this other place like they used to. She cannot sense it. It’s possible that while the two of them came here, the others are gone. PL: For now. PC: Yes. VV: What would you like us to do, Princess? PC: I do not know. I… I do not know if the two of them can become separate again. Twilight is happy to imprison herself here. Luna and I have put wards on the cell and walls at her request, and Fluttershy has not exhibited control over Twilight’s magic during her outbursts. PL: I have had no luck broaching their dreams. It is not just the dreams of two ponies at once. They seem to constantly fight and bicker and contest one another, even in sleep. Traveling within them is dangerous. WC: Why would you want us to record all of this? PC: There may come a time where whatever Twilight or Fluttershy have to say is important. There may also, however small, be a chance they could both be rehabilitated. I’d ask you to leave this here. I’ll ensure that future recordings are kept secret. Princess Celestia removed the tape from the recorder, handing it to me. PL: I would suggest the creation of a case file, Miss Vines. While this is not to reach any other pony’s ears for now, we will need to catalog everything. VV: Yes, Princess. PC: Thank you. You are both dismissed. Princess Luna escorted us back to the edge of the Everfree and then to our tent in camp. There was only a stray patrol still awake when we finally arrived. While I am skeptical that both of them will recover, I have since asked for Doctor Blue Sky to be contacted after he has completed his work with the other survivors. For now, the information related to Twilight and Fluttershy will be kept from any official record of Ponyville’s disappearance. This case file will only be available, after its creation, to Princesses Luna and Celestia until they deem otherwise. Signed, Verdant Vines Confidant Case #3467-A