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Where do I start...1,147 words
The Change1,023 words
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The Finding569 words
The Move2,673 words

The Move

Entry: 16
Date: 3-2- Celestial Era, Year 1
Though I found solace in joining Juniper in the gardens again, I find trouble still, wherever I go.
We talked on what we may have to decide upon when we begin to run out of herbs.
Should we let certain ponies die of infection?
Or do we let those already sick be taken by their own bodies?
If only the Council weren't trying to force a surrender upon the populace of the castle.
Maybe if we had more time.
For what, I don't know yet.
But when we do find out, we'll regret wasting every second arguing.

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 17
Date: 3-8- Celestial Era, Year 1
I thought I had heard intruders earlier, when I used the facilities.
When I went to check on who was trying to break in, however, I found my brother trying to sneak food into the Archives.
The difference, however, was that this time, he had several bags under his eyes, and he told me that he was looking into enchanted metals and machinery.
I had asked him about why he chose to study those at the same time, and he told me that he might have an idea.
But what really grabbed my attention, was the way he said it.
He told me to think of it as the action that would bring our names to light, together.
That ponies of Equestria would look to us one day, and remember us as heroes.
"Star Swirl and Gear Mind," he said, "bringing in the new era at last."

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 18
Date: 3-9- Celestial Era, Year 1
To think, this is what my brother has been doing.
He's been caught up trying to build a new defense for Equestria.
Not just some magical artifact, like the Elements of Harmony, or the Portal Mirror.
An actual device capable of defending us.
At first, I was, of course, skeptical.
To think that anypony should be more powerful than the Princesses and claim glory and power over Equestria.
He agreed.
Then he told me something even crazier, which I didn't think was possible.
Then again, it was Star Swirl, the definition of "Crazy Wizard."
I'm forgetting the point.
He wanted to construct an artificial defense, much like the Ancients did once.
He asked if I remembered the Golem we fought thirteen years ago.
I asked him how I could forget something that almost killed me.
He wanted to scale that same concept down into a more pony-like size.
To say this is the undertaking of the millennia would be an understatement.
That's what Star Swirl said, anyways.
Crazy ~~bastard~~ colt.
I didn't want to press him about Princess Celestia.

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 19
Date: 3-9- Celestial Era, Year 1
I ran out of space for the last entry.
Anyways, Star Swirl wanted me to help him create a new type of Golem.
One that would defend Equestria from any threats it receives.
I tried to calm him down.
I tried to talk some sense into him, but he isn't listening.
He just keeps asking me about what I think we should construct the armor out of.
I simply stared at him.
If it were literally anypony else, I would have them committed to a mental asylum.
Being my brother, however, means that I had to at least give him a chance.
I know I'm going to regret this, but I'm going to go help him in a few days, on the fifteenth.
Maker have mercy.

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 20
Date: 3-10- Celestial Era, Year 1
I told Juniper about what my brother said.
She was shocked to learn that I was apparently related to Star Swirl.
We had a little bit of back and forth humor discussing our siblings.
She has three older sisters and a little brother.
I had to remind her that my brother is Star Swirl the Bearded.
It was nice to have a moment like that with her, if only for a few minutes.
It was calm.
It was nice.
It was everything I thought we had lost when our Princesses left us alone.
I'm getting off topic.
I told her about what Star Swirl told me.
About building a new defense for Equestria.
Surprisingly, she debated her own opinion.
She told me that while it was unethical on several levels, we need something to keep us safe.
I'm still pondering her opinions alongside my own.
I'm trying to decide what would be right.
I'll think about it until I meet my brother again.

\\\\\\//////

Twilight cleared away all of the dust from the pieces of the box and propped them against the wall in her new laboratory. Since she found the statue, she had been preparing the space with all of her new equipment from Canterlot, setting up benches and computers across a massive room. Above her was a balcony, where she had set up a viewing area for her friends if they wanted to watch her examine the statue once she told them about it. She smiled as the finishing touches were placed on the lab, and teleported back to the statue.

\\\\\\//////

Light.

Flash.

Teleportation.

Crack.

Sound.

Everything is changing again.

I can...

... feel...

The invasive substance.

Moving around here.

Screams and blood from the memories.

Everything's becoming more vivid.

My thoughts are expanding the more I remember.

But the more I allow back, the more I feel.

It hurts to feel.

It's cold here.

It's undesirable.

Sight.

The...

... p...

... o...

n-n...

... y...

... pony...

Pony.

Alicorn.

Princess.

Pain everywhere.

Nothing but pain in here.

I hear the shouts.

A memory of another sensation.

Burning.

The pony is speaking again.

\\\\\\//////

"What the," Twilight gasped as she examined the statue.

When she tried to move it with her magic, she found that it wouldn't so much as budge. Not because it was heavy, only a few hundred pounds, but because it was protected. Several runes along the metallic surface glowed red, seemingly melting into the bronze armor of the statue, and warded off her magic as though it were nothing.

"How can it still work?" she pondered aloud.

As she thought about how to move the statue for examination, she began to walk out, unable to notice the clicks of gears turning through its neck.

\\\\\\//////

Something pulsing.

Words being defined by my memory of learning.

... learning...

"It's a learning machine, unlike anything you could imagine."

"How does it work?"

"How did you build it?"

"Will it help us?"

Pain.

Suffering.

Agony.

Descriptions of what I...

... feel...

... now.

Voices in here.

Painful memories.

Something...

... cold...

\\\\\\//////

The machine whined almost inaudibly as it stood still as a statue as a few parts began to move inside it. A small drip echoed through the room as a single drop of crimson liquid met the floor beneath the head of the figure.

\\\\\\//////

Push them back.

Push them away.

"You don't want to remember."

I don't.

It hurts.

"Seal away the pain."

Seal it away.

Think.

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 21
Date: 3-12- Celestial Era, Year 1
Zerion.
The element to solve all our problems.
That's what my brother told me, anyways.
I wished to know more about what he had meant about the defense of our land.
He told me everything would be clear once he showed me on the fifteenth.
That's all I was able to get out of him.
That, and I heard him mutter the phrase above.
Zerion.
Where have I heard that before?

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 22
Date: 3-13- Celestial Era, Year 1
Juniper and I had several patients today.
Well, she had patients.
I helped.
It felt good to help so many in need.
To see the good I've done.
She asked, at one point, if I knew how Princess Celestia was.
I responded by asking her why.
She told me that since I was Star Swirl's brother, I would know.
I lied to her.
She told some patients.
I lied to them all.
But their faces showed hope.
Something we need more of.
I feel now like I had to.
To make things more bearable.
For them.
For her.

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 23
Date: 3-14- Celestia Era, Year 1
The Council was stupid again.
Big surprise.
They wanted to evacuate the castle to the inside of the mountain.
Some of them agreed.
A few, thankfully, knew that those caves were sealed off for a reason.
One responded by questioning how that will stop the Dogs.
Bickering ensued.
Bucking Nobles.
Somepony pointed out that I was still on the Council.
They all looked to me for advice.
I accidentally mentioned my brother.
They all want me to work on whatever it is that he has.
It's all we've got now.

\\\\\\//////

Entry: 24
Date: 3-15-16- Celestial Era, Year 1
Amazing.
That's the only word I can use to describe this project.
I spent all day and night working with Swirl to further the completion of the Subjects.
I need to explain this for future's sake.
When I got to the Library, I went down to the secret section that my brother and Princess Celestia built.
Inside, I found schematics all across the walls, stones and runes scattered about, and half a month's worth of food in a corner.
I asked Swirl what he was planning on.
He showed me the prototype armor for a Subject.
Subjects, he told me, will be metallic guardians of our cities.
They will wage wars for us on a scale that would rival that of the Elite Guards.
A completely artificial warrior.
He had the materials for making them, but not the mindset.
He knew how to enchant them to function, but not how to build them.
That's where I come in.
I'll build a wall of metal soldiers to protect our land.
I'll be the creator of our last resort.
We can't rely on the Princesses forever, if the last few months are anything to go by.
My brother understands this all too well, and we've begun to create the first generation, the A family.
This will be the endeavor of a lifetime.

\\\\\\//////

Sound.

Movement.

Voices.

More talking.

I can feel more approaching.

What...

Something in front of here.

Something...

... pink...

\\\\\\//////

"OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo," Pinkie sounded as she approached the statue.

"What is it?" Rarity asked as she neared it.

"I told you, I don't know," Twilight stated. "It was just shipped to me one day from the Star Swirl the Bearded section of the Royal Archives."

"Didja try askin' the Princess?" Applejack asked.

"I'm not so sure about asking either of them," Twilight said with a frown. "This could be something they forgot a long time ago, but I thought it might be a gift from them, too."

"Pffft, it's not so scary," Rainbow Dash bragged as she flew up to the metal face.

"What's that?" Pinkie asked as she prodded a small exposed object.

When it clicked inwards, the line across the statue's head let out a clang as the piece separated from the rest of the head, stopping as it hit its limit. Everypony backed away in surprise when they saw the mouth of the metallic form open to its widest. Rainbow Dash froze and dropped to her hooves as she gazed into its horrifying maw. Inside were three rows of teeth on the top and bottom, much like a shark's. However, these teeth resembled that of a dragon, and each row was bent at a different angle. In short, it felt like looking into a hungry nightmare's mouth as it prepared to rip her apart.

"GAAAAHHHH!!!!" Rainbow yelled as she flew out of the room.

Twilight gulped as she closed in to examine the teeth of the statue. She caught a faint orange glow from inside its maw before it snapped shut. The others stepped back even further from it when it slammed its jaw closed, but Twilight remained close to it. When it looked as though it were done, she slowly approached it and tapped the surface with a hoof.

\\\\\\//////

What was that?

That feeling?

It was here.

Yet also there.

Why?

What was it?

GONG

What is that!?

Panic!

Fear!

Terror!

Everything is pain!

Screaming, searing, horrifying, terrible, unthinkable, nightmare of pain!

I can't think!

I can't stop panicking!

Help!

HELP ME!

\\\\\\//////

Something inside of the statue clicked at the contact, causing Twilight to back away. After waiting a few minutes, she decided that it was safe to interact with again, and turned to her friends.

"Alright, we need to move this thing to the Laboratory so that we can learn what it is," she said confidently.

"Ya sure that's a good idea, Twi?" AJ asked.

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Applejack. Besides, I've already set up protective wards in the lab, so if something does happen, it'll be contained to just that room."

All of her friends looked to each other before Rainbow flew back in with a small sweat on her head.

"H-hey, so, do we, um, need to do something, or, what?"

Twilight pointed to the board of wood underneath the statue.

"Applejack, do you have your rope?"

Within minutes, the five had tied the rope on the edge of the board and were all tied to it by a length of rope, ready to pull.

"Alright, on three," Twilight started. "One..."

\\\\\\//////

Something stopped.

Everything is still again.

I can thi-

CRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRK

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

MAKE IT STOP!

MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT STOP!

"MOMMY!"

\\\\\\//////

A cry of pain moaned from the shut jaw of the metallic figure, unheard due to the grunts of the ponies and creaking of wood and metal on a stone floor.

\\\\\\//////

After a grand total of three hours of pulling, the five mares panted in exhaustion as they all shed the ties to the board, leaving the statue in the middle of the white room.

"That thing... needs to... be lighter," Rainbow panted out.

Pinkie gasped loudly before collapsing onto the floor, rubbing her face against the cold stone of the lab to cool her face.

"Jeezy-Cheesy... that was... heavy!" she managed.

"I think... I'll examine it... tomorrow," Twilight huffed out. "Everypony... wanna meet... me here?"

They all managed to barely confirm their future presence at the examination before Twilight spoke again.

"Who's... up for... an emergency sleep-over?"

Again, the group groaned in approval before trudging towards the door.

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