The darkness had enveloped Mady and Twilight in an opaque veil, suffocating any clear memory of their past. When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in a dark and narrow room, the faint light filtering through the windows barely illuminating the blurry outlines of the wooden walls. The throbbing pain in their heads brutally brought them back to reality. Fragmented flashes of memory returned to them, confusing images of their encounter with Rainbow Dash, familiar voices that seemed distant and distorted.
Mady slowly sat up, her mind clouded with questions and doubts. Beside her, Twilight also emerged from the darkness, her eyes frantically searching for familiar landmarks in this unfamiliar room.
"Twilight... where are we?" asked Mady in a weak voice, her trembling hand instinctively seeking her friend's.
Twilight shook her head, her thoughts still muddled by the tumultuous flow of incomplete memories. "I... I don't know. Everything is so... different."
A shiver of anxiety ran down Mady's spine as she tried to understand the situation they were in. "We need to find answers, Twilight. We can't just stay here wandering in the darkness of ignorance."
Twilight nodded, a determined glint in her tired eyes. "Yes, we must uncover the truth, whatever it may be."
They rose cautiously, their movements hindered by the pain in their heads. As they approached the door, they heard voices outside, worried murmurs that seemed to float in the air laden with mystery.
"We need to find out what's going on here, Mady. Perhaps if we regain our memories, we can understand why all of this feels so strange," murmured Twilight, her eyes scanning the room for a clue.
Mady nodded, her mind filled with myriad unanswered questions. "Yes, we must uncover the truth, whatever it may be."
They opened the door cautiously, revealing a dark and deserted hallway. The voices seemed to come from a nearby room, a glimmer of hope rising in Mady's heart as she stepped forward stealthily. They pushed the door open gently, revealing an intriguing scene. Rainbow Dash was sitting at a table, talking with two other ponies that Mady didn't recognize.
Their voices were filled with urgency and concern, their faces drawn with the weight of responsibility. "We must be cautious. If they suddenly remember, it could cause an even greater shock," said one of the ponies, his voice grave.
"But they deserve answers. They remember nothing, and we must help them," replied a softer voice.
Mady and Twilight exchanged a glance, torn between the excitement of finally discovering some answers and the fear of what they might learn.
"We need answers, Rainbow. Why are we here? Why is this world so different?" asked Twilight, her voice trembling, as they crossed the threshold of the room.
Rainbow Dash turned to them, her expression a mix of surprise and constraint. "I suppose you have the right to know," she finally said, inviting the two friends to sit down.
The newcomers introduced themselves as Roselight and Snowflake, important members of the community in which Mady and Twilight seemed to have found themselves. They explained that years ago, a disaster had struck Equestria, plunging the world into chaos and darkness. Mady and Twilight had been leaders in the fight for survival, but something had happened, some sort of evil had driven them totally mad and dangerous, to the point that they had to find a powerful medicine to calm them down and that for several days. That's why they were tied up and under medication.
"But how is that possible? We remember our Equestria, our friends, everything... except for this world," Twilight replied, incredulity painting her face.
"I think the medication we gave you to calm you down must have caused serious hallucinations of a potential more perfect life and more to your liking, and that caused you to have memory problems," replied the young pegasus Snowflake.
Mady simply couldn't believe it. "I really wonder how we're going to get back home. I should potentially talk about some hypotheses with Twilight," she thought as she contemplated a strategy.
"Now please return to your quarters. We'll come and get you when it's time for dinner and to resume your duties," said Commander Dash.
Mady and Twilight looked at each other before returning to their quarters, feeling totally disoriented. And if all this were indeed real? They couldn't conceive it, although it all seemed surreal. Why had the princesses left? What event had caused all this devastation? Too many questions crowded their minds.
"It's impossible, I don't want to believe it..." said Twilight, looking at Mady.
"I know, but... I'm starting to doubt it. It would be too big of a joke..." she said, pacing around.
"If this is true, how do you explain that we are both here, that we remember each other, and that we still love each other just as much?" Twilight replied, starting to get anxious again.
"I agree, but... I don't understand either, but thankfully you're here because I wouldn't have made it out without you," she said, trying to reassure her as she cuddled her.
Twilight also hugged Mady tightly. "Me neither, I don't know how I would have managed without you..."
The two friends began to ponder their situation. They don't know what they should do, but what's certain is that they are not ready to accept their fate.
Mady paced back and forth in their room. "I don't understand how this is possible," she said, her voice filled with frustration.
"I agree, maybe we should investigate further to gather more information?" Twilight said, her tone determined.
Mady thought for a moment before looking at Twilight. "You're right, who knows, maybe we're not the only ones who have been brought here."
The two unicorns began to devise several plans in case of failure. The basic plan was simple: gather as much information as possible around them to understand why they are here. If this plan were to fail, they would devise an escape plan to leave this place. The problem was that several people guarded the camp. They tried to come up with an effective plan for several long minutes until Roselight and Snowflake arrived.
Snowflake stepped forward first. "You two, follow us, we'll take you to the cafeteria," she said in a firm voice.
"Why do we need to be escorted?" Twilight asked, intrigued.
"We have to keep you under surveillance," the young pegasus replied.
Mady approached Twilight. "I don't see why. We don't even have our magic anymore," she said seriously and nervously.
"That's not our problem, you need to follow orders," Snowflake began to get annoyed.
"Why can't we use our magic?" Twilight asked, stressed, moving closer to the pegasus.
"Step back. That's an order!" she shouted.
Twilight, determined to get answers, approached further. "No, we have the right to get answers."
Suddenly, young Snowflake tried to silence Twilight with a blow, and Mady stepped between the two mares to protect Twilight from the blow she was about to receive. Young Roselight approached to separate her colleague while Twilight moved closer to Mady.
"What are you doing, Snow- You didn't have to do that..." said the pegasus.
"You're lucky I don't have my magic anymore," Mady said, holding Twilight close to her. "I swear, if you dare to touch her again, I'll skin you."
"Mady, calm down, we'll discuss all of this with Lieutenant Solar," Roselight replied calmly.
"Solar?! Is my brother here too?" Mady asked, calming down a bit.
"Yes, your brother is here, and he can't wait to see his little sister," she said. "And um, Shining Armor is here too?" Twilight asked, worried.
"Yes. But he's on a mission," Snowflake replied.
The two friends looked at each other before following the two mares who took them to the camp cafeteria. Twilight and Mady sat at a table alone while most of the other inhabitants stared at them. Mady and Twilight felt uneasy under the stares of the other ponies. The cafeteria was a large space, lit by oil lamps, and filled with wooden tables where ponies ate in silence, sometimes whispering to each other. The tension in the air was palpable.
Twilight, nervously scanning the room, whispered to Mady, "We need to remain discreet. The more attention we draw, the harder it will be to uncover the truth."
Mady nodded, keeping her eyes on the food in front of her. "I agree, but I feel like we're being watched very closely. We'll have to be cautious."
Roselight and Snowflake were still nearby, their vigilant gaze never leaving the two friends. Suddenly, a large, imposing-looking pony entered the cafeteria. He wore shiny armor, and his stern eyes swept the room before settling on Mady and Twilight. It was Solar, Mady's brother.
"Mady, Twilight, come with me," he ordered, his voice firm.
Mady immediately stood up, followed by Twilight. They followed Solar out of the cafeteria, walking through the dark corridors of the camp. They soon arrived in a meeting room, where Solar had them sit down.
"We have a lot to discuss," Solar began, his tone softening slightly as he looked at his sister. "There are many things you need to understand."
"Solar, please explain what's going on," Mady pleaded. "All of this seems so unreal."
Solar sighed and sat across from them. "A few years ago, Equestria was hit by a series of disasters. The princesses disappeared, and the kingdom fell into chaos. Dark forces emerged, spreading terror and destruction. You two were at the forefront of the resistance, but one day, you were ambushed. Something happened, and you lost your minds. We had to contain you for your own safety and that of others."
"But why don't we remember any of this?" Twilight asked, the incredulity still present in her voice.
"The medication we had to give you to calm you down probably altered your memories and potentially made you hallucinate another life," Solar explained. "But now that you're here, it's time to rebuild and uncover what happened."
Mady looked at her brother with an expression of doubt and confusion. "What if all of this is just an illusion? What if we're under a spell?"
"All of that is completely impossible," Solar replied gravely. He nodded. "We've managed to find some of them. They're scattered, but we're doing our best to bring everyone together. Shining Armor is on a mission to find survivors and restore peace," Solar sighed deeply before continuing. "There's something you need to know about these evil monsters we're fighting. They're not just dark and terrifying creatures. They're ponies, or rather, they once were. They've been transformed into some kind of zombies by a dark force."
Mady and Twilight exchanged incredulous looks. "Pony zombies? How is that possible?" asked Twilight, disbelief in her voice.
Solar nodded gravely. "Yes, it's hard to believe, but it's the truth. These creatures were once our friends, our families, ponies like you and me. A curse has turned them into soulless monsters, attacking anything that moves."
Mady nodded, still wary. "Alright, but we need to remain cautious. We can't just accept everything we're told without asking questions. We need evidence and answers."
Solar understood their reluctance and mistrust. "I understand. I'm not asking you to take me at my word. But know that we're doing everything we can to end this tragedy. If you want evidence, I can show you files, reports, and even arrange for you to speak with other survivors."
Twilight nodded. "Alright. We'll cooperate."
Solar smiled slightly, acknowledging his sister and Twilight's determination. "That's a good idea. Come, I'll show you where we keep the files and organize meetings with the other survivors."
They left the meeting room, heading to another building in the camp where files and reports were stored. Along the way, Solar continued to talk, giving more details about the creatures they were fighting. "These pony zombies, as you call them, are extremely dangerous. They're drawn to magic and strong emotions. That's why we need to be cautious and rational at all times. Fighting them requires not only physical strength but also complex magical strategies."
Twilight listened attentively, mentally noting every detail. "Could the magic of the princesses save them? If we manage to find Celestia and Luna, perhaps they could reverse the curse."
Solar sighed. "It's possible, but the princesses have been missing since the beginning of this crisis. We have search teams trying to locate them, but so far, without success."
Arriving at the archive room, Solar showed them the files and reports, allowing Mady and Twilight to begin their own investigation. They spent hours examining the documents, finding evidence of ponies being transformed into zombies and desperate resistance attempts.
Mady and Twilight pored over the files in the archive room, trying to understand the situation. However, a question burned in their minds, and they knew they needed answers. Mady finally closed a file and turned to Solar.
"Solar, there's something we need to know. Why did you take away our magic?" asked Mady, her gaze steady and serious.
Solar sighed, anticipating this question. "Your magic had become unstable. After the attack, you had uncontrollable fits of rage. Your magic was so powerful that it threatened not only yourselves but also those around you. We had to temporarily remove your magic to ensure your safety and that of others."
Twilight frowned, clearly frustrated. "And our wings? Why don't we have our wings anymore?"
Solar seemed surprised by the question. "Your wings? Twilight, Mady, you've never had wings. You've always been unicorns. Perhaps the medications you took created false memories or hallucinations."
Mady shook her head, confused. "But we remember having wings, flying. How is it possible that we have these memories if they're not true?"
Solar looked at them with compassion. "Hallucinations and false memories are known side effects of the medications we used to calm you. They were very powerful because the situation demanded it. I understand it's confusing, but it's the reality." Solar placed a comforting hand on his sister's shoulder. "We have specialists working on ways to help you regain your memory. It will take time. You'll have to confront them, cross-check them with those around you, and accept that some may not be real. We're here to help you through this process. We also have psychologists to assist you."
Mady nodded slowly, reluctantly accepting her brother's explanations. "Alright, but we want to actively participate in this resistance. We don't want to be bystanders."
Solar smiled slightly. "Of course. Your experience and determination are invaluable. We'll find a way for you to help while ensuring your safety and that of others."
After their conversation with Solar, Twilight and Mady requested a moment alone. They retreated to a quiet corner of the archive room, where they could talk without interruption. Sitting face to face, they exchanged looks heavy with confusion and skepticism.
"Twilight, I don't know what to think," murmured Mady, rubbing her temples. "Everything they're telling us... it's so hard to believe. We both remember having wings, flying... How could that be false?"
Twilight nodded, her hooves trembling slightly with stress. "I agree, Mady. None of this seems logical. But if Solar is telling the truth about the nature of the medications and their side effects, it could explain our confused memories." Twilight instinctively moved closer to Mady, seeking comfort in her friend's proximity. "Mady, I'm so anxious. All of this... it's too much. I don't know how much longer I can hold on without losing it."
Mady gently squeezed Twilight's hooves, trying to calm her. "I understand, Twilight. I'm worried too. But we have to stay strong and focused. If Solar is telling the truth, gaining their trust could give us access to more information and help us better understand what's really going on."
Twilight took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "Maybe, but I can't shake the feeling that there's something wrong. Something they're not telling us."
Mady nodded, feeling the same mistrust. "I feel the same way, Twilight. But for now, let's play along could give us access to more information and help us better understand what's really going on."
Twilight took a deep breath, her eyes still filled with doubt. "Perhaps, but I can't shake the feeling that there's something more. Something they're not telling us."
Mady wrapped an arm around Twilight's shoulders, offering her physical and emotional support. "I feel the same way. But for now, we have to play along. If we truly want to uncover the truth, we need to first help them here. Gaining their trust could give us access to more information and perhaps a way back home."
Twilight hugged Mady tightly, finding some comfort in the embrace. "You're right. We need to stay focused. But I can't help but think about our friends... and everything we've lost."
Mady sighed, nodding in acceptance. "We need to be patient. We'll uncover the truth, no matter what."
As they reflected on their memories, Mady felt a wave of clarity wash over her mind. Her memories of Equestria were vivid and detailed, as if her past life flowed through her veins. She remembered specific moments, sensations, emotions, everything that was part of her existence. Deep down, she knew that this life, these memories, were real.
"Mady, what are you thinking?" asked Twilight, noticing the intense expression on her friend's face.
"Twilight, I remember everything. I can almost feel the wind under my wings, the warmth of the sun on my back... It's all too real to be an illusion. I'm convinced that something is wrong here. This world... it's not our reality," declared Mady with conviction.
Twilight looked at Mady, tears welling up in her eyes. "Do you really believe that we're trapped in some kind of lie?"
Mady nodded. "Yes, Twilight. But for now, we have to be patient. We'll uncover the truth, but we have to stay vigilant and play along."
Twilight nodded, inspired by her friend's determination. "Exactly. We'll cooperate, help the resistance, but we'll stay on guard. We'll find the answers we're looking for."
The two friends stood up, ready to join Solar and the other members of the resistance. Although their minds were still plagued by doubt, they knew they had to move forward. Together, they were stronger, and nothing could stop them from uncovering the truth about their real world and the strange world where they were now trapped.