They're Never Coming Back

by Flashgen

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Twilight Sparkle, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Mystery, Horror
Length: 35318

With the discovery of a line of communication to one of Ponyville's inhabitants, Verdant Vines and her team search for answers.

Case Report: Update - May 2nd
Submitted by: Verdant Vines
Location: Ponyville
Date: May 2nd
Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

White Clover,

Given the new writings included in the addendum to the provided journal transcription, I’ve elected to continue our investigation through conversing with whoever, or whatever, is on the other side of it. They claim to be Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's personal student. I’d like to request that Princess Celestia is not informed of this possibility until we can verify their identity.

As such, from this day forward I will be sending daily reports before sundown with transcription of our conversations, along with any thoughts I have. Included with these documents is a formal request of personnel transfer for Doctor Blue Sky to my team in order to assist with any psychological evaluations related to the writer of the journal. His team will continue to support evaluations of personnel working the case.

Special thanks to FloydienSlip, Petrichord, and KorenCZ11 for their help with feedback.

A print version of all the stories in this series can be found here.

Published 2020-05-02 20:10:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-05-12 19:37:55 UTC

Session 13 - Verdant Vines - May 2nd

Transcription of Session 13: Verdant Vines, Head Investigator
Date: May 2nd
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Interviewer: Doctor Blue Sky, PhD

It has been several days since the events that transpired with Pendant, Miss Vines, and myself. In that time, it has been requested that I stay on-site in Ponyville to further assist with the investigation and the well-being of Miss Vines’ team. This is the first time since then that Miss Vines requested to meet with me in private. She asked me to keep recording our conversations to relay any relevant information to Canterlot.

Blue Sky (BS): Everything should be set up, Miss Vines. Would you still like to treat this as a… session?

Verdant Vines (VV): For transcription and review? Certainly, Doctor, but I don’t think I want somepony questioning my sanity right now. Even with our experience I still feel… capable of carrying out the rest of this investigation.

BS: I understand you’ve been busy since what happened. You didn’t appear to be in an unstable condition then, but it was harrowing.

Miss Vines laughed at my comment.

VV: I think that would be putting it lightly, Doctor. Are you holding up well?

BS: The first night wasn’t the easiest. I could say that I was concerned with Pendant’s well-being, or yours, but… I’ve never been in fear for my life during my work before. I’ve talked to many ponies who have. I thought I knew what I would need to say to myself.

VV: It’s difficult to rationalize your safety after that. I’ve been through it too, Doctor.

BS: I think I slept… thirty minutes the first night. I woke up because my mind was playing it over again. Flashes, of course: the glint of a knife, overwhelming darkness, that… storm and the screeching. I saw it again last night, and then during a nap earlier today. It was—

I shifted in my seat. It was hard to explain.

BS: —calmer, like the emotion was removed from it. I know that some individuals deal with trauma better, but to view it so analytically after a day and a half feels... cold.

VV: I’ve dealt with stressful situations before. It was easier for me to sleep that night, but I still—I feel like I failed Pendant. She could have been holding on to the journal for days and never said anything to me, to anyone. Then I looked over your interviews and Lantern seemed to see something in one of his dreams. It could have been her taking the journal, rooting around for more clues.

Miss Vines looked down, fiddling with her front hooves.

VV: I want to have stopped it. I tell myself that if I’d worked closer with her or seemed less distant or… something, it could have been avoided. Then again, maybe it would have ended up worse: that journal doing horrible things to everypony here with us knowing nothing about it. Gleam didn’t find anything on her second review, so whatever danger there was with it has hopefully passed.

BS: I assume that means the investigation is going to continue?

Miss Vines looked up from her hooves, but glanced off to the side. One of her ears drooped slightly.

VV: Yes. In addition to what was in the journal, we found someone writing through it. There’s some kind of aura on it, but it isn’t strong enough to be a transmission spell, so there’s nothing to trace. Still, we can at least talk to them.

Her eyes met mine, even though her face was still turned away.

VV: It’s Twilight Sparkle. At least that’s who they claim to be.

BS: That seems like a good step forward: contact with somepony that was there, still alive.

VV: That’s part of why I asked you to stay here, Doctor. I know we might still need your assistance if ponies are struggling with things that drove Pendant to… whatever happened. However, a concern more pressing than the well-being of the members of my team is the well-being of those directly affected by all of this. If she is who she says she is, has gone through what she wrote in that journal—

BS: You want somepony to evaluate her mental state?

Miss Vines took a deep breath and turned fully to face me.

VV: Yes. I can’t force you to stay here, Doctor. I won’t. I’ve thought about that off and on for the past two days. Still, the work you’ve done for my team members has been helpful, even if some of them were beyond helping here. I’m not sure if I can allow you to talk directly with her, but I’d at least like to have you either in the room with me as we write to her or here every night to review the logs with me.

BS: What will it take for me to speak, well, write to her one-on-one?

VV: A letter to White Clover. Maybe a few back and forth. Until then, I can release the logs to you, just as my team members have been able to share details of their work in your sessions. It’s just as much a matter of safety as classified material at this point. While we can’t definitely tie the journal to what happened to Pendant, since our reviews turned up no harmful magic, I would be willing to bet every bit I’ve ever earned on it. Clover’s assignment of your team hinged on them being out of harm’s way, even if it wasn’t in the requests. I know that about her.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

BS: I think it’s a bit late to avoid that. I’d be happy to continue helping, Miss Vines.

VV: Thank you, Doctor.

BS: Is there anything to cover about communication with her yet?

VV: No. We received the original message, and she hasn’t badgered us after we gave a greeting back. She’s more patient than I would be, or maybe she’s still hiding. There’s nothing to go on except for who she claims to be.

BS: Then I suppose there’s not much left to discuss tonight?

VV: Right. Thank you again, Doctor. For everything you’ve done already, and what you’re prepared to do.

I said my goodbyes to Miss Vines and returned to my tent. I pray that my work can continue to be of help, and that things work out for the best.

Personnel Transfer Request: Blue Sky, PhD

Personnel Transfer Request: Blue Sky, PhD
Submitted by: Verdant Vines
Location: Ponyville
Date(s): May 2nd
Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

White Clover,

This letter is to request the transfer of Blue Sky, PhD to the team overseeing the investigation of the mass disappearance in Ponyville. While his team’s assistance with the psychological evaluations of all personnel working on the case continues, the recent discovery of somepony writing to us, who may have gone through the events leading up to and following April 16th, requires a professional who is experienced in dealing with ponies who have suffered traumatic events.

This may include potential personal danger given the events surrounding the discovery of the journal (see Session 12: Verdant Vines, April 30th) and will require clearance in addition to already obtained access to confidential information.

Proper evaluation of this individual’s psychological state will be required to aid in the investigation and is beyond the capabilities of anypony currently on my staff. Blue Sky has already been asked if he is willing and able to assist in this capacity, and has affirmed.

Sincerely,
Verdant Vines
Head Investigator
Case #3467

Personal Letter to Verdant Vines - May 3rd

Vines,

I’m sorry for not being able to write often. Between working through what your team sends back, reporting to the Princesses, and overseeing details of the quarantine cover, I haven’t had a moment to myself except to sleep. It’s nearly 2 a.m. and I still have more to do tonight before turning in. I’m doing well though, especially considering what you’ve been going through.

I know you feel like what happened to Pendant and Lantern was partly your fault, but there’s obviously more at work here than you or your team, or even the ponies we’re trying to find. I know you can keep everypony there safe, but certainly not alone. It will take all of them, even some of the ponies out there around Equestria.

I wish I could be there for you, and not to help Doctor Blue Sky or Mirror Gleam; they can handle their work just fine. I know how calm you feel when we get a chance to really talk, catching up over tea, but I feel like right now you need somepony to talk to. It looks like you’ve done that with Blue Sky, so please keep at it.

Depending on how things go, I can accompany Princess Celestia once you verify Twilight’s identity. Until then, feel free to send a letter with your reports.

Love,
Clover

P.S. I’ve approved Doctor Blue Sky’s transfer to your team, but please avoid having him sit in on your first session with Twilight, assuming you receive this before then. Even if I trust Gleam’s work, I still have a faint worry that the danger related to that journal hasn’t passed.

P.P.S. I’ll let you know about Lantern and Pendant’s condition. If I can’t visit them directly, I’ll at least have access to any relevant reports or send somepony else in my stead.

Witness Interview - "Twilight Sparkle" - May 3rd

Transcription of Witness Interview: “Twilight Sparkle”
Date: May 3rd
Time: 10:15 a.m.
Interviewer: Verdant Vines, Head Investigator

After review of the journal by Mirror Gleam to verify the lack of harmful enchantments or hexes, I began an initial interview with the entity on the other side of the journal claiming to be Twilight Sparkle. This, and following interviews, will be transcribed from the journal directly.

The writing style is decidedly different from the original journal of Twilight’s we found, appearing more jagged and somewhat disconnected. Still, some stylistic similarities are apparent that seem to match her horn writing.

Hello, Twilight. Are you still there?

(The wait for a reply took several minutes.)

yes
I apologize
for the wait

That’s alright. My name is Verdant Vines. I'm the head investigator of the team working here in Ponyville. We arrived here on the 16th of April to assist with those that arrived on the 13th.

it is nice to meet
to talk with you
Verdant Vines
it fills me with
HOPE
that we can save those
trapped
lost
here

I understand your feelings, Twilight, especially after what it seems that you and other ponies here went through, based on the writings we’ve discovered. It’s harrowing. Regardless, I need to perform an interview with you to verify your identity and attempt to clarify some information. Is that alright?

(There was an extended pause before the next response.)

yes
I will do all I can
Verdant Vines

Are you alright, Miss Sparkle? Are you safe?

yes
I am sorry for the
delay
I had to be sure
I had time
safety

I’m glad to hear that. I would like to take you at your word, but do you have any information that you can provide to help corroborate your identity? If you were in front of me, I could verify it myself, but you must understand the position that I’m in. Accepting that these words are coming from who you say you are is a difficult request.

I understand the
trepidation

I do not look the
same now
marred
disfigured
still
my coat is lavender
mane purple with streaks
cutie mark
six-pointed star
with five white sparkles
surrounding
aiding
I have been Celestia’s student
for years
came to Ponyville
to study friendship
with Applejack
Rainbow Dash
Rarity
Pinkie Pie

Fluttershy

Spike
my assistant
a dragon

is this enough

(Based on the information we were provided by Princess Celestia, this is accurate. Still, there is no guarantee that knowledge wouldn’t be readily available to the residents of Ponyville. I decided to use events from the journal to attempt to verify her identity more concretely.)

For basic information, yes. We’d like to be more certain given the circumstances. Can you recall some of the books you looked into for spell research a week or so before we arrived?

it has been
some time
cooking with magic
Stalwart Bulwark
battle casting
blue and yellow

it is hazy

(Two correct titles, one author and a tangential reference to a third title. Correct enough, especially without access to the journal.)

Who were you out with on patrol on April 16th?

Applejack
Rainbow Dash
one of your ponies
cannot remember
recall
the name

(Correct, excluding Sugarcane. All of that information, of course, occurred before April 16th and when our investigation began. It’s still possible that someone else in Ponyville could have had that information.)

That’s alright, Twilight. I can understand, after so much time, that it might be difficult to recall. Which of your friends was affected? The one that ran away?

(The reply took a minute to come. A few moments before the answer came, a blot of black appeared on the page, as if a quill were being held in that spot.)

Fluttershy

Thank you, Twilight. Can you give me a moment? I need to grab a few extra documents before we continue.

of course

(I took the time to collect the copies of the other journals that we still had on-site, in addition to any relevant notes. I returned roughly fifteen minutes later.)

Twilight?

I am here
Vines

I needed to collect the other journals we’ve found. I’d just like to have the chance to go through events and ask some questions we’ve had, so that we can clarify what might have happened.

I will
answer
aid
however I can

What we found in your journal says that on the morning of April 16th, when we arrived in Ponyville, you awoke to darkness. A lack of stars, the moon, and the sun. What you wrote said you were here for about two weeks, until the 29th or 30th of April. We collected a journal from Sweet Apple Acres that described events until May 5th, and this journal, Solace’s, describes events over the course of, if the tally marks are correct, 147 days. Do you know how long you have been there?

only since I
came back to my
senses
self
can I say for sure
it is not exact

That’s alright, Twilight. I just want to understand what you’ve be

(The response came as I was writing.)

648

Days?

yes

How have you survived that long?

this place is different
slower

Slower?

time is
slower
or not here
cannot be sure

the body
adapts
overcomes

sometimes

You said “this place.” Do you know where you are?

here
and not
dark

Twilight, we’ve looked everywhere around Ponyville for anyone that was there on the 15th and 16th. There’s been no sign of you or anypony else.

I can try to explain
it took time to learn
to grasp

Alright. Tell me what you know.

it is
another world
not a planet
a plane

Equestria
Equus
is like wood
a table
a block
a brick
rules are rigid
structured
ordered
defined

here is
paper
flimsy
flexible
easily moved

Moved? Then you aren’t still in Ponyville?

for now
close

it does not have a name
this place
it does not have
anything

absence
malleable

it moves along
untraceable winds
universal
Celestial

when away
from Equestria
from reality
it is nothing

not darkness
not empty
nothing

when it finds
something
Equestria
it finds form

(I gave Twilight time to write her thoughts. When there was a pause longer than a minute, I assumed that the conversation had fallen to me. I needed time to understand and decipher what she was saying as well.)

This place, are there creatures there? The things that ponies saw, that might have taken them, that whispered to them and you?

yes

Are they near you? Hunting you? Pendant, one of my investigators, who found this journal, deciphered a message we found in one of our transcripts. It talked about somepony hiding from them. Was it you?

yes

apologies
not hunting me

I am hidden
I am safe

I left the message
I left HOPE

(I realized how much I had forced on her in a short span. If I were talking to her, if she were here, it wouldn't have happened. She needed space and time.)

I’m sorry, Twilight. I’ll try to space my questions out. We’ve found other messages too, which are not ciphered. They sound like threats. Do you know who sent them?

Her
others
They are planning

How did you, and they, leave them?

when close
reaching out
grazing by

things that were here
have an imprint
how i made this
sent it
delivered

You found Solace’s journal then?

yes

Did you -- find him there? Was he alive?

barely
he is still here
safe

Thank you, Twilight. Can you try to take me through the events that happened to you when you were taken to this other world?

did you read the story
about shadow walkers

Yes, we found an entry on them that you seemed to be talking about in a page torn from the journal.

They are things
made here
when this world finds Equestria
intersects
They can cross
touch
affect
infect

(Talk of infection brings to mind one of Twilight’s journal entries: “they will come back again, and spread to everything, just like a VIRUS.”)

before then it was
grazing
just within reach

small parts of the town
I think ponies wandered
wondered
close
they were
caught
taken

That was before the 16th, correct?

yes
and others
history
myth
legend

that night
this place was like a blanket
it smothered Ponyville
took everypony

there’s nothing here
but it
imprinted
everything
just the town
no sky
no stars
no moon
no LIGHT

We found the journal that morning. You said time is different in this place. Two weeks passed by the time we arrived?

more
different
for each
I do not know how much
when the world
moved
shifted
abandoned
things were left
no ponies

And you said you’ve possibly experienced 648 days at least. Could others there have experienced that much time?

possibly
some are alive
still here
I know it
I feel it
I feel them

That’s good to hear, Twilight. So everypony in Ponyville was taken to this place, this other world, and time is different there. Is it different in different places? Applejack seemed to experience an extra week or so of time than you all did at your library. And you found her journal afterwards.

yes
I cannot define
place
measure
except my own
I simply know

You made some observations in your journal, about how things were in this place. Can you elaborate on some of them?

there is no LIGHT here
cold outside of it
no
not warm outside of it

space limited
run outside of space
space copied
circles
loops

Solace mentioned something like that while mapping hallways connected to Town Hall. He said that rooms moved. Repeated.

yes
but no
that was
intentional

town hall was special
location
material
ley lines

it was safe for a while
isolated

others
leaving town
found nothing
but iteration
reprise
capitulation

(This could be an explanation for how we found Town Hall completely bereft of any items, except for the mayor’s office.)

So the fact that this world copied all of Ponyville explains why you were unable to see any other locations as well, like Canterlot. The change of time experienced would also explain the lack of consistency between accounts.

You and others mentioned whispers?

They reach out
speak out
slowly
this place has an effect
on ponies
on life
some handle it differently

Do you still hear whispers?

new ones
different ones
quieter
calmer

perhaps just Me
hard to tell

But you feel safe?

yes

(The points seem counterintuitive, but I should at least put some stock in her own words. I'd have to see what Doctor Blue Sky thinks.)

Is this place still close to Ponyville? Ponies on my team have complained of dreams and nightmares and whispers while working here. I don’t want what’s already happened to repeat itself.

close
not touching
not overlapping
some want it to happen again

They
Fluttershy
want it
crave it

Are we in danger?

not yet
but soon

Pendant was different
malleable
direct
came into direct contact
with this

She’s in Canterlot now, along with Lantern. He found Applejack’s journal and heard whispers and voices when he did.

I reached out
I was
eventually
found for it
I do not regret it

but I am sorry

Will they both be safe now that they’re far away?

do not know
time
distance
may tell

You said you “came back to your senses.” What have you been doing since then, Twilight?

research
hiding
finding how to fix
everything
everypony

reaching out to you
to others
to anyone

If you helped us find Applejack’s journal and opened this line of communication, then I appreciate it, Twilight.

you are welcome
Vines

I think I need some time to go over all of this, Twilight. I’ll compare it to notes and accounts we have and try to make sense of it. Will you be alright waiting until tomorrow?

yes
can spend time
resting
thinking

some days since
first message
wait may be
longer
shorter
unsure

the closer
the faster
sometimes

synced
skipped

I’m sorry to have to leave you then. I may have somepony else with me tomorrow to oversee our conversation. Would you be alright with that?

yes

Thank you, Twilight. Stay safe.

you too
Vines

I’ll need to go over all of this with Doctor Blue Sky. I’m worried for Twilight’s apparent mental state, especially with how long she has been alone.

The prospect of there being survivors here instead of victims is promising, even more so if there is some way to bring them and Twilight back. I want to keep an open mind. However, this may all still be a ploy of some kind.

Session 14 - Verdant Vines - May 3rd

Transcription of Session 14: Verdant Vines, Head Investigator
Date: May 3rd
Time: 5:46 p.m.
Interviewer: Doctor Blue Sky, PhD

Miss Vines provided me with a copy of her conversation with the pony on the other side of this journal claiming to be Twilight Sparkle an hour before we began the session, along with some of her personal comments. References to the conversation in general and specific were made during our conversation and I’ve provided notation where needed.

Blue Sky (BS): Good evening, Miss Vines. It seems you had a productive day from the looks of this interview.

Verdant Vines (VV): I feel I did, Doctor. I don’t think we can definitively say that this is Twilight Sparkle, but it is certainly more likely than I originally suspected.

BS: At the same time, I’m as worried as you seem to be about Miss Sparkle’s mental state. If her claims are correct—

VV: Two years. She’s been alone for nearly two years.

Miss Vines leaned her head back, taking several deep breaths.

VV: Can you even imagine that?

BS: The journal Pendant found seems to chronicle Solace being alone for months. I haven’t dealt personally with ponies who have spent that long in isolation, but I have read one or two case studies. One stallion survived in the Frozen North, separated from an expedition and thought lost forever. He wandered back to civilization after nine months. It took a doctor a year to get him adjusted to communicating with ponies again. By comparison Miss Sparkle seems much more cognitive. If she’s been doing research on this place as she claims, it could be the mental activity has kept her—I hesitate to say sane, but sharp.

Miss Vines had closed her eyes, still taking deep breaths, but she opened them and looked back at me after I had finished speaking.

VV: It’s possible, yes. Clearly there’s some loss from her writing style and sentence structure, if I can even call what she wrote sentences. I wonder if she’s been writing whatever she’s researched down. From the speed of her responses it seemed like she drew it all from memory. Then again, I’m not sure how long the gaps for me were for her.

BS: I’m hesitant to say how reliable her account of events are, given we’re equally unsure of her mental state. Still, she was able to recall events, names, and places. While she may have trouble articulating what she was trying to say in her explanations, she was able to differentiate between what she did and did not know for certain. The talk of whispers and others does concern me; it could denote a sense of paranoia. Given the message you included from a transcript that seemed to be from her, it’s likely that she’s been in fear of being found or discovered by these creatures for... all this time.

The message in question was a ciphered one found on a transcription of Applejack’s journal from Sweet Apple Acres. Translated, it reads:

“I’m still here. Still alive at least. I hope this is alive. I was so foolish to give in, but it didn't last forever. I feel clarity now. I found out how to break free. I found out how to move, quietly and unseen. I found out how to speak, to you, whoever you are, without them knowing. It's like static to them.

I'm trying to find the others, to save them. To snap them out of it. Maybe together, we can fix it or at least make sure it doesn't happen again.

They're preparing for something. I don't have much time.

Wish me luck, but you'll need it more.”

VV: And in that message she talked about hiding what she said from someone. Yet now she’s able to talk to us without any ciphers at all. I don’t think we can rule out the possibility of a ploy or subterfuge, so we’ll need to be cautious moving forward. Speaking of, Clover confirmed your movement to my team. I only got the paperwork officially an hour ago, but her letter with the news arrived this morning after I started talking to Twilight.

BS: Then you’ll want me involved tomorrow?

VV: Yes, but I don’t expect you to speak to her, Doctor. She seems welcoming of an observer, maybe because she knows anypony could open that journal, but if she is paranoid then we should take it slowly. Maybe some extra ink color would be helpful. It could differentiate which of us is talking if there’s some need for a rapid change of interviewer. I’ll see if we have something. Should I assume blue for you?

Miss Vines’ posture had relaxed and she gave me a smirk. I do admit I laughed.

BS: Whatever will be fine, Miss Vines.

VV: Any other insights you can give?

BS: There is one peculiarity. It’s the odd circumstances when she wrote Fluttershy’s name in response to your questions. The hesitation could mean a few things: anger, regret, confusion. Without any actual quill indentations on our end, it’s hard to say. She did show some hesitation with the name when providing basic information. Maybe it’s her emotion tied specifically to the betrayal she likely experienced?

BS: Actually, there is another. She’s referring to you as Vines instead of your full name after some time. It seems like an attempt to open up and become closer with you. I wouldn’t say it’s malicious though. If anything it’s a positive that she’s not withdrawing after so long without any direct contact with other ponies.

Miss Vines stood up, but instead of leaving as I might have expected, she walked over to the small stove I had set up. She then set a kettle on.

VV: Did you sleep well last night?

I chose to leave the recording running.

BS: Yes. Yourself, Miss Vines?

VV: Fine. I told you I never have dreams, right? Rarely, I suppose.

BS: I recall it from our first meeting, yes. I apologize again for pestering you with questions.

VV: It’s fine, Doctor. I guess I do enough of it for a living that being on the receiving end was jarring.

BS: Right. You were saying though?

VV: Well, I had one last night.

The kettle began to hiss. Miss Vines took it off the stove and carried a tray with cups over. I selected a chamomile and she a daisy and rose blend. I offered to pour the cups.

BS: Do you want to discuss it on the record?

VV: I do.

There was a long pause as Miss Vines lifted her cup and took a few sips.

VV: I was back in Canterlot. Clover and I were at this place called the Candle Cafe. We sometimes stop by there after cases to catch up over coffee. It isn’t even really the best you could find. This stallion named Flickering Wick runs it out of his candle shop. His talent was making candles, but he just loves brewing coffee, and some tea now and then. He even sells pastries, though he just buys them from the baker across the way and charges half of what he paid. Clover was born and raised in Canterlot and I guess it’s her special place, so she invited me while we were still on the same team.

Throughout recounting this, Miss Vines was smiling, though it faded as she continued.

VV: In the dream we were talking. I couldn’t hear about what. It was all muffled from what I can remember, but I assume it’s a case. We always talk about them there before we move on to private things. I look out the window and I notice it’s night, but when I look back Clover has stopped talking. She’s just looking… not at me, but toward me. I think it’s at somepony over my shoulder, so I look behind me and the place is dark, like all the lights were out in the blink of an eye.

Miss Vines took a second to sip her tea.

VV: When I look back to Clover, the coffee’s gone and there’s just a candle between us. We just stare at each other. I think I was saying something. I felt my lips moving at least. Then she shakes her head, puckers her lips, and blows out the candle. The rest of it was nothing.

BS: You don’t think it’s important after that?

VV: No, it was nothing. Just black, darkness. I felt something, though. Calm, maybe, but also cautious and tense. Like the calmness wasn’t permanent. Yet when I woke up, I swear it was the best night of sleep I’d ever had.

BS: I’m sure you might already know where my thoughts are going.

VV: The dreams in the first journal, yes. I didn’t hear any whispers. Like I said, I couldn’t hear anything. Maybe it’s just rereading and focusing on these things over and over and over again that’s getting to me. Especially after what happened to us.

I took the moments of silence to finally sip my own tea.

BS: Maybe. I hope Lantern and Pendant’s conditions improve. I assume Miss Clover will send any relevant reports on them to you?

VV: Yes. I also asked her to visit them, but I assume she has her hooves more full than she’d like.

Miss Vines took a final, long sip of her tea, and then got up, packing her copy of the documents we reviewed.

VV: Sleep well, Doctor. I think I’ll be turning in early after writing a letter and getting these copies sent off.

BS: You as well, Miss Vines.

I was left alone with my thoughts for some time: Twilight's state, Miss Vines' dreams, and my own reaction to events. While I've yet to have a dream similar to what was in these journals, I can't stop thinking about them. My faintest worry, that I'm sure Miss Vines must share, is that these events will come to pass again.

I can't deny that it grows by the day, with every little thing I become privy to.

Witness Interview - "Twilight Sparkle" - May 4th

Transcription of Witness Interview: “Twilight Sparkle”
Date: May 4th
Time: 9:26 a.m.
Interviewers: Verdant Vines, Head Investigator and Doctor Blue Sky

There were no additional words marked in the journal since the interview was concluded with the pony claiming to be Twilight Sparkle on May 3rd. Doctor Blue Sky was also in the tent with me while performing the interview, giving feedback and taking notes. Some of his notes are included here.

Twilight, are you there? We’re ready to begin again.

yes
good morning ?

Yes, it is, Twilight. Do you know how long it’s been since we ended our interview?

two
close to two days

I’m sorry again that you’ve had to be alone that long, Twilight. As I said, I have a colleague here to assist me with the interview. If some of my replies take a while, I may be talking with him. I don’t want you to have to speak with him if you’re uncomfortable, but if you’d like to converse with him, I have a supply of blue ink that he’ll use.

thank you
Vines
what is his name?

Blue Sky.

hello Blue Sky

(Blue Sky: Miss Vines informed me of Twilight’s greeting. I gave one in return.)

He says hello. He hopes you’re feeling well.

I am
HOPE helps
slept more
thought more

That’s good. I did have some questions though, about what we discussed yesterday: where you are and how this place works.

I will try
to answer

You tried to compare Equestria to this world. You said that Equestria is rigid and this world is flexible, and even mentioned physics. Is there a lack of those rules, the laws of physics, there?

when away
yes
when it is close it
copies
mimics

some things do not copy
LIGHT
weather
connections
some exist around
me
ponies
like thoughts exude coherence
keep rules
order

You mentioned that you left messages by reaching out when the world was “close” to Equestria. Are you able to see things or ponies that are here?

where they are
impressions
like murky water

Are you near us now?

no
the journal is connected
copied
mirrored

I can move it
still communicate

Are you in Town Hall? You mentioned finding Solace, that he was still safe.

Solace there
safe
I am
elsewhere
it is off
secure
isolated

(Blue Sky: Twilight seems unwilling to give her location. It could be a sense of paranoia, that writing it down leaves her vulnerable to whatever these whispers or creatures are. It could also simply be that she doesn’t know, but feels secure wherever she is.)

You mentioned yesterday that others were still alive, still safe. Do you know how many or who specifically?

no
I know how to gather
collect them
when the time comes

The time?

They want to be close
to do this again
They try to steer
connect
correct
this world

how is complex
difficult to express
like willing it to be
smothering by force

when it is close
we could leave
return
send this place
away

send Them away

You asked us for help in your first message. Is that what you need our help for, to bring those that were missing back to Equestria?

yes

(Blue Sky: Miss Vines and I had a quick discussion, mostly about the well-being of those in this other world, and about the state of those Twilight kept referring to as “others” and “They." If there were a safe way to bring these ponies back, Miss Vines would prefer it, but it could risk these “others” coming or causing these events to happen again.)

I am sorry for the wait, Twilight. You said yesterday that this world you’re in affects ponies, sometimes differently. Can you explain that in more detail?

this place
They
erode the mind
the spirit
the body

some ponies are
resilient
strong-willed

others
weak
malleable
molded

(Verdant Vines: We did notice that a lot of different effects seemed to be recorded in the journals: physical and mental. Applejack noted ponies changing physically, Twilight and Fluttershy seemed to be affected mentally. Solace was able to survive without food or water for days. Whether these effects persist remains to be seen.)

You were affected, Twilight, weren’t you?

I know you must
distrust
doubt
that I am Me

I am Me
I am Me
I am Me
I am Me
I am Me

I do not remember
it
the dark
when I
gave in

I remember
waking
searching
learning
regretting

so much lost
time
chance
HOPE

friends

(Blue Sky: I would have advised against Miss Vines’ question, but I was not consulted. I suggested she apologize if possible, to express her concern and that the question was merely to understand her experiences.)

I’m sorry, Twilight. I didn’t mean to upset you. I only want to understand, so that we can help you and those still lost in this place.

I
know
I am sorry

I understand
your doubt

books
and covers

You broke out of it, somehow, whatever happened to you. Could everypony else that was affected like you also recover?

I HOPE
even if far gone
they can return
to LIGHT

it may take
time
so much time

it may have taken
weeks
months
years
for me
I cannot know
cannot tell
cannot imagine

Do you know if anypony was immune? Unaffected?

no
they may
by degrees
be easier to recover

Would being here, back in Equestria, help with recovery?

it may
away from whispers
away from shadows
away from nothing

(Blue Sky:It is impossible to truly tell if this is a correct assumption. If Lantern or Pendant’s conditions are caused by this place and the creatures there, then any improvement seen by their movement to Canterlot may be in support of it. Then again, their issues may not be entirely related. We will need to proceed with some caution when it comes to treatment of anypony we recover.)

Thank you again for all of this information, Twilight. How can we help you? How can we help bring those ponies back?

I need to try
a test
if it works
others can come

You want us to bring you back?

no
Solace

he is safe
he was hidden
he will go
unnoticed

When can it happen?

need time to prepare
a portion close
a place safe
town hall

keep eyes
there
always

for you
I cannot say
how long
day
days

Will they be in danger? Could these others try something?

it is always
possible
when this world
is close

I cannot
promise

I’ll need to talk to my superiors before I can promise help with this, Twilight. We need to consider the dangers.

it will not need
help
yet
only eyes
only watching

I’ll see what I can do. I don’t have any other questions today, Twilight. I need to write some letters to my superiors, but Blue Sky will be able to talk with you, if you’d like.

I would like that
company
talking
writing
helps

Alright. I'll talk to you as soon as I have more, Twilight.

goodbye
Vines

Hello, Twilight. This is Blue Sky.

hello
Sky

Miss Vines made me aware of what you’ve gone through. I thought it might help if you had a chance to talk about these experiences a bit more openly. I don’t doubt that you’ve been truthful to Miss Vines, but she’s approached this as a professional, as part of her duties.

you do not
have duties?

I do have a job here, yes, but it’s not tied to finding out what happened to you and the other ponies that disappeared. I’m more concerned with what will happen when you and the others return to Equestria, and how this case has affected those working on it.

I’m a doctor, a psychologist. I was asked by White Clover, Miss Vines’ superior, to come here for the sake of the ponies working here. They had complained about nightmares and trouble sleeping, which Miss Vines has mentioned to you. They thought at first it was just the nature of the case getting to them. From what you’re saying, and what we have both experienced, it seems to be much more than that.

yes
They reach
grasp at minds
yearning

I
saw a dream
a few
they are scattered
memories

I cannot
recall
remember
reveal

That’s alright, Twilight. I don’t want to force you to have to pull a memory or information for me. I just want to talk. Do you truly feel safe? I know that Miss Vines is concerned with the safety of the ponies working here, but she also cares for your safety.

yes
I am
hidden
obscured
distant

Have you had anypony else to talk to, besides yourself?

no
Solace
would not speak
to me

That must be very difficult, to go so long alone.

(Blue Sky: I noticed spots forming on the page. It took me a moment to realize they were water stains.)

yes

You are not any longer, Twilight. We are here to talk with you. I know that we cannot every second of the day and night, but we are here. We will help you get back, if we can.

(Blue Sky: More of the spots formed.)

they are not
I left
them
my friends

(Blue Sky: I had assumed this a possibility, given the information included about how close Twilight was to her friends. Some of them were with her when they were taken, and others suffered terrible tragedies. Survivor guilt is a difficult symptom of PTSD to treat, especially when I cannot physically be there for Twilight.)

Twilight, you went through a very difficult experience. It’s one I don’t think anypony else in Equestria has experienced before you. Whatever you did is past. Whatever happened was not truly your fault. Your friends may still be alive. You deserve to be here, now.

I failed
them
myself
Celestia

my parents
my friends
nopony will
forgive
forget
trust me

Twilight, you cannot place the full brunt of what happened on your withers. It was caused by something out of your control. It affects ponies beyond your control. It continues to do things beyond your control, and you are working to save yourself and whoever is left there to save. You do not have to apologize for things outside of your control.

(Blue Sky: The tear spots stopped, but Twilight’s reply took several minutes.)

I am
sorry
Sky

thank you

You’re welcome, Twilight. I have a team of doctors here with me, and colleagues I can call on from Canterlot, Manehatten, Trottingham, and Vanhoover; we will be able to help you and everypony that comes back. I promise you.

I am glad
doctor

what happened
to Pendant

I am still sorry

(Blue Sky: I hadn’t considered it yesterday, but Twilight knew that Pendant was the one who carried the journal, even though her first words were written after the incident between Pendant, myself, and Miss Vines. I believed what Pendant went through was partly related to her mental stress from the investigation, in addition to whatever ill effect this other world or creatures had on her. I could also not deny that Twilight felt a sense of responsibility for it, even after I explained that she shouldn’t have to apologize for circumstances out of her control. I also recalled the voice I heard that night. “Not ready” it said.)

Twilight, was what happened to Pendant a side effect of what allows you to talk to us through this journal?

(Blue Sky: The reply did not come.)

Twilight?

(Blue Sky: I thought to alert Miss Vines.)

yes
the link
to establish
it took
reaching out

Pendant was
near
close
attached
malleable

I did not
want it to happen

I did not
want ponies in danger

I did not
want her to break
fracture
crack under pressure

She is alive, Twilight. She’s being taken care of in Canterlot, by the best doctors, I’m sure. Princess Celestia would waste no expense for their well-being.

I am sorry
I am sorry
I am

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
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

(Blue Sky: Twilight’s mantra continued until Miss Vines returned. She asked me to come with her. I wrote what I could several lines below, so as not to interrupt Twilight. Whatever the purpose of the mantra, it seemed to calm her earlier. If she needed it now, I would not want to stop her.)

Twilight, I have to go speak with Miss Vines. We will try to speak soon.

Session 15 - Verdant Vines - May 4th

Session 15 - Verdant Vines - May 4th

Transcription of Session 15: Verdant Vines, Head Investigator
Date: May 4th
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Interviewer: Doctor Blue Sky, PhD

We once again had copies of the conversation with Twilight Sparkle at hoof as we began talking. I shared my notes where applicable as well. Miss Vines also gave me a letter she received, from White Clover in Canterlot.

Blue Sky (BS): There are a lot of things here to be concerned about, Miss Vines.

Verdant Vines (VV): I know. I’m just not sure what to talk about first.

Miss Vines was fidgeting in her seat, hoof tapping on the floor quickly as she scanned over both the transcripts from the interview today, as well as some reports from her staff members and the letter once I returned it to her.

BS: Perhaps from the beginning is best.

She sat aside the letter and reports, picking up the transcript.

VV: Alright, so we got clearer information from Twilight about this place she was taken to, how it works—assuming she’s correct—and what exactly she can see or feel from there. I guess it all makes the messages we found in our transcripts a little easier to understand, though some of them are more threatening now. Things like "we will not stay buried" and "lights and lives going out" are more unnerving when you know it wasn’t a prank from somepony with no sense of tact.

BS: I think that fact would be something to hide from everypony else, if you can, at least for the time being. Tension and stress are already fairly high from what the rest of my team reports.

VV: That was my hope. I’ve kept the fact we even have this line of communication open a secret so they don’t start making up worse stories than reality. We also know exactly what kind of help she’s looking for from us.

Miss Vines had stopped tapping her hoof, eyes scanning two pages over and over again.

BS: You’re still worried about the validity of what she says?

VV: I’ll admit, I’ve swayed from cautious pessimism to cautious optimism, but the caution is still there. Maybe when Celestia arrives she can verify Twilight’s identity for certain and make a final judgment on what to do about her plan. Meanwhile, I did post two guards to Town Hall. They won’t be there all night, but it will be past the curfew.

BS: I'm concerned with her blazing ahead without a full commitment from our side, but if she says that it’s only a test, and it turns out well, our concerns could be eased.

Miss Vines looked up suddenly to me, fixing a steely glare. Her body was entirely tense, as if she were about to leap forth from her seat at the faintest sign of danger.

VV: And if something terrible happens?

BS: Then it’s out of our hooves, our control. If she, or “They,” do something without our knowledge, outside of our control, can we blame ourselves for not acting?

Her expression and body softened, tension seeping out of her. Her head lowered as she looked back at her transcripts.

VV: I suppose not.

BS: It’s perfectly fine to be concerned, Miss Vines, but just as Twilight was overly worried about things far out of her control, I feel you should practice the same tempering of your reactions.

VV: It’s my job here to protect these ponies, Doctor. I’ll shoulder some blame. We’ll need to put in an adequate request for medical personnel if we do go forward with any plans to recover these ponies. There will be a lot of them to rehabilitate. How many ponies can the local hospital handle?

BS: Well, I’d wager given the size it normally handled maybe 20 or 30 ponies at once. That said, at most I think it could house and treat up to 60 with a proper staff and good use of quarters and rooms.

VV: Ponyville had a population of 308 on April 16th. 282 was the town population, plus 23 members of the agency and guard on-site and 3 tourists we found in the ledgers at the hotel. Of course, that wouldn’t account for any guests staying with the locals, or those that may have been away, like the ponies we’ve stopped at the perimeter.

BS: That means some that are returned would need to be treated and housed elsewhere. Besides the train line to Canterlot, we could also make use of Cloudsdale for the pegasi if an airship could be secured.

VV: I’ll make sure to mention it all in any report I give. Do you think your talk with her helped?

BS: It seemed to, at least letting her express what she’s likely had to keep bottled up for some time. I still feel she’ll need more direct counseling, in addition to any medical attention when she returns. It is possible she could never recover from what she’s gone through, that any of them could. It will be my job, and the job of many others, to do their best to help them.

Miss Vines stood up abruptly, walking over to the stove. Before I could ask, she put on the kettle again.

VV: I’m sorry, I just really need something for the nerves. Will you want any, Doctor?

BS: No, I’ll be fine.

We sat in silence as the kettle finished warming, which Miss Vines took off just as it began to hiss. She was quick to pour herself a cup and then walk back to her seat.

VV: I don’t know how to react to two things from our discussion with her.

She took a long sip from her cup and I waited for her to finish.

BS: And those are?

VV: The first is the news that she knew about Pendant, and that what Twilight did affected her. Assuming there was no malicious intent, I’m thankful. Still, it’s hard not to feel that one of the members of my team was personally attacked. The same for her reaching out to Lantern. He talked about how “They” were coming and “she” was already here. What if he meant Twilight?

BS: It’s a possibility, but we cannot know for certain unless Lantern volunteers more information. Given his condition, that may be soon if he continues to improve.

VV: And that brings me to the second thing: she mentioned that distance might be able to help those affected. Lantern sounds like he’s improving, but Pendant doesn’t seem to be. Then there’s the fact that these dreams are spreading in Canterlot too. Either Twilight has no real idea what will happen when these ponies return here, or she knows more and isn’t saying anything.

BS: Why would she not?

Miss Vines finished off her cup and began to pour another.

VV: Fear that we won’t help her with this plan? Hope that we’ll fall for whatever she really has planned? Again, I’m optimistic, but I can’t help my mind from racing. That’s not even including the fact that Princess Luna can’t see these dreams at all, or that Clover and I seemed to have a near identical one. She didn’t even go to see Lantern until today. Could the letters I send her be responsible? The transcripts that were already touched? If it’s information, did Lantern say something to these other patients? If not, could it be proximity?

Miss Vines stopped her rapid line of questioning and downed her entire second cup of tea before pouring a third.

VV: I just want answers, but every piece of information we get seems to only give us more questions. It’s hopeless. We’re like a dog chasing our own tail.

BS: Then we can only move forward on what we do know. Do you have an estimate of when Princess Celestia will arrive?

VV: If I had to guess, early. I wouldn’t be surprised if dawn was an hour or two ahead of schedule tomorrow.

Miss Vines chuckled and sipped her third cup of tea more slowly. She looked down at the cup for a few moments.

VV: Have you had any more dreams, Doctor?

BS: Nothing like what your team has reported. Then again, I have been on-site for less time. I will be certain to report anything that doesn’t seem normal. I still dream about Pendant, however, and Lantern. Both events have… shaken me, I believe.

VV: I can sympathize, Doctor.

We both sat in silence for a few minutes. I took my time going over notes and transcripts as Miss Vines focused on her tea until she broke the silence.

VV: I should write something to Clover, before it’s too late. I’m not sure if it will reach her in time, or what to say, but it would get some things off my mind.

BS: I’ll just keep looking over these a bit longer, if you don’t mind. You’re welcome to take your lette—

We were interrupted by a guard walking into the tent. It took me a moment to recognize him as Gilded Cage.

Gilded Cage (GC): Vines…

He took a moment to look at me.

GC: … Doctor. We found something at Town Hall.

VV: What is it?

GC: It’s a pony, we believe it’s Solace.

VV: You recognized him?

GC: Barely. We could only make out the cutie mark on his flank, as faded as it was. I left Aegis behind to guard him and sent Truffles to get water.

VV: Doctor, are you trained in first aid?

BS: Some basic training, yes. I can’t do anything substantial.

VV: Then come with me. Cage, get one of the medics and then join us there.

Witness Interview - Twilight Sparkle - May 5th

Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle
Date: May 5th
Time: 1:16 a.m.
Interviewer: Doctor Blue Sky, PhD

After Solace was recovered, I asked Miss Vines if I could speak to Twilight. She allowed it and I retrieved the journal, but I took my time in starting this interview. I regret making Twilight wait so long for a reply, but I was afraid. I feared that there would be some catastrophe in opposition to our success once again. I stayed with Solace and the medic, Tourniquet, to make sure that he was recovering well, and waited.

I dozed off for a while, but awoke sometime around midnight. I excused myself to one of the other rooms and found the below after my previous goodbye, in addition to a few more lines of Twilight’s “I am Me” mantra. Her writing grew more scattered with each line of her mantra, letters tilting and lines askew, but it eventually returned to her previous, if jagged, style.

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
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

goodbye
Sky

I am starting
soon

Solace
will come

he is not
strong
resolute
willed
enough to move

resting
exhausted
worse
getting worse

he will come soon
please
be ready
help
doctors
water
food

did it work?
is he there?
the office
mayor’s
please look

I am sorry
I reached
grazed

I know
he is safe
recovering
sleeping
resting
waiting

(I recalled an odd dream from when I was resting. It was dark for a few seconds and deathly cold.)

Hello, Twilight. I’m here. I’m sorry for making you wait so long and not informing you of your success. I feared something worse might still happen to Solace, like what happened to Pendant when she found this journal. Please, don’t take it as a lack of confidence in you or your work. It was merely superstitious caution based on what we’ve already experienced.

(The reply took many minutes to come. I assumed that, were the effort draining, Twilight may have been sleeping.)

it is
fine
Sky
thank you
I HOPE
my intrusion
did not
unsettle
disturb
dissuade you

No, I slept fine, Twilight. Tourniquet, one of the medics working here, is looking over Solace now. He’s in bad shape, but she and my colleague agree he is stable. Given the massive amount of wasting, muscle atrophy, dehydration, and exhaustion he seems to have experienced, I would say that’s a miracle. Him even being here with us is a miracle.

no
it is
chance
luck
penance

(Twilight still seems to feel blame for her actions, some of which she cannot likely recall.)

What did it take from you? Some sort of spell? I believe you talked to Miss Vines about willing the world you’re in to move, but how did you send Solace back?

no spell
I pushed a part
a piece
Solace
towards Equestria

it took
strength
concentration
will
the others
will take so much
more

always more

One of Miss Vines’ superiors is coming tomorrow, along with Princess Celestia. They’ll all want to speak to you about your plan and how they can help.

I am

glad

I HOPE Celestia
is well
not worried

Luna as well

I’m certain they’re fine, except for their worry about you and your friends. Their worry for all of the ponies that were here, that are here.

(I started to wonder why I had truly wanted to speak with Twilight. My first concern seemed to be her well-being, especially if this act took a good amount of strength from her, or to congratulate her on her success. However, I still had a nagging feeling of curiosity, a need for answers, just like Miss Vines and her team.)

It’s a worry that I share. We received word about Lantern and Pendant’s condition from Canterlot. Pendant remains comatose, but Lantern seems to be improving.

that is
good
to hear

However, there has been a peculiarity. I’m not sure if you can explain it. Other patients at the same hospital seem to be reporting the same strange dreams that Lantern experienced, along with White Clover.

that is
troubling
but maybe
expected

How so?

this place
the influence
spreads
mind to mind
dream to dream
nightmares
to reality
it is not strong
when
disconnected
severed
away

it passes
fades
but it can still
spread
grow
infect
malignant and strong

So if the world, that place, is close to Ponyville, those in Canterlot may be far enough away and could recover with time?

it is
difficult to say
I assume
but cannot
verify
guarantee
ascertain

it is
a VIRUS
but it cannot
live forever
in the LIGHT

Thank you, Twilight. Do you know why Princess Luna would be unable to see these dreams as well?

I
do not
cannot know
for sure

shrouded
concealed
separate

impossible to say
to know
for now

Lantern mentioned seeing Solace in one of his dreams after coming here, walking in what may have turned out to be the hallways connected to Town Hall. Perhaps the dreams take a part of the pony’s consciousness there?

possible
Doctor
I cannot
do not
will not
know all of this

I have studied
researched
searched
so hard
for answers

but they elude Me
always

it does not
want
to be known

But these creatures, these “others,” do. I’m sorry, Twilight. I know you don't know everything about these events. You’re just our only concrete lead. I’m sure Miss Vines must be thinking the same things I am, even if she’s resting now.

I suspect
she is

Sky
thank you
again
for speaking with me

it helps
it gives HOPE
HOPE gives LIGHT

I pray
I
the others
We all
are
accepted

cured

redeemed

saved

You’ve done everything you could to atone for your supposed failings, Twilight. That speaks volumes about who you truly are, and ponies will be willing to forgive you, accept you and help you. Everypony wants to help.

I am
not so sure
I should rest
more
hide
They
Her
may have found
a piece
a clue

goodbye
Sky

Goodbye, Twilight. Be safe.

Twilight may never forgive herself. I hope that we all can, however. No one should have to suffer from their past forever.

Witness Interview - Twilight Sparkle - May 5th - 2

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

Session 16 - Verdant Vines and White Clover - May 5th

Transcription of Session 16: Verdant Vines and White Clover
Date: May 5th
Time: 9:40 a.m.
Interviewer: Doctor Blue Sky, PhD

I was summoned back to my tent by Gilded Cage from Ponyville General, where I was assisting with inventory and requests. When I arrived, I found Miss Vines and Miss Clover, both deathly quiet. I took the time to turn on my equipment and began.

Blue Sky (BS): Good morning, Miss Vines, Miss Clover. I take it Princess Celestia has arrived as well?

White Clover (WC): Yes, Doctor. She's currently speaki—conversing, with Twilight. Vines has filled me in on some recent revelations, or at least her interpretation.

BS: Do you mean Solace's return? It's a rather positive outcome, I'll admit.

Both Miss Clover and Miss Vines were silent. Miss Vines' eyes were glued to the floor. After a few moments, she shook her head.

Verdant Vines (VV): No, Doctor. I obviously don't have her words in front of me, but Twilight Sparkle confessed to… everything we read in Solace's journal. She claims that she found the ponies in Town Hall, isolated, and… used them for experiments.

Twilight's seeming guilt over things apparently beyond her control came into crystalline focus.

BS: You're certain of this?

Miss Vines bolted upright, hooves stamping on the table and rattling an empty kettle and teacup there.

VV: I know what I read! I know what she said!

BS: Miss Vines, I'm… sorry, I don't mean it like—I was certain she did not believe that is all.

WC: Despite our unique situation, Doctor, I don't think it helpful or appropriate to cast doubt on Twilight's words because she is not here. It is obvious she has been through a lot, and that trauma may have driven her actions and emotions, but if she says she did these things then we must accept it for now.

Miss Clover moved closer to Miss Vines, placing a hoof on her withers.

WC: And we need to approach this as professionals, Vines. Despite how what we deal with makes us feel, we have to seek the truth. Other things we want follow in its wake.

Miss Vines relaxed and then slumped back down onto the couch. She took long, ragged breaths. Miss Clover approached me.

WC: How are preparations at Ponyville General going, Doctor?

BS: With the supplies we have, we could only adequately treat twenty at most, even with space for three times that. If rooms are ready at other hospitals, we can ship them off quickly, but… If Solace's current state is representative of others, I doubt they would survive the trip.

WC: Princess Celestia can ensure we get the supplies needed here as quickly as possible. If Twilight does have some control over the return of survivors, we can try to have her wait.

VV: We can't though, can we? Even if she did this to the ponies at Town Hall, the fact is that these creatures are still out there and want to harm the survivors. If we wait, there could be none left. There's no guarantee. She said she feels them, but… time is strange there. If she's experienced years then—

WC: There may be no time left, yes. We can discuss it with Princess Celestia. Just as we'll need to discuss what to do with Twilight.

Silence returned for a few moments.

BS: She feels remorse. If there is any truth in what she's written, it's that she feels responsible, even before what happened with Solace. She wants penance. If she can, I'm confident, hopeful, she'll return and—

VV: Give herself up? I certainly hope so. What's to stop her from plunging us all into this place? It's obvious now that with this journal, what happened to Pendant was her doing. We were there, Doctor.

WC: It was temporary though, wasn't it? And if she wanted to kidnap you and do this again, she could do it whenever. Why would she send Solace through?

VV: To gain our trust? It got Celestia here. It could all be dangling a carrot to get us to rush headlong off a cliff!

WC: We could evacuate, for now.

VV: To where? She says it moves: this world, this place. What's to stop it smothering everything? Thousands of ponies, maybe more, plunged into darkness.

BS: Then why bring Celestia here if she could abduct her anywhere? You cannot be so defeatist, Miss Vines.

WC: Blue Sky is right. As much danger as there may be, we can't let our imaginations run wild.

The entrance to the tent parted and Princess Celestia walked in. I saw the armor of two royal guards just behind her, remaining outside. At her side was Solace's journal.

Princess Celestia (PC): Clover, Vines, Doctor Blue Sky. I assume you've discussed what Miss Vines was privy to?

WC: Yes, Princess. We were discussing the possibility of evacuating the town. Twilight's potential abilities related to this place, what she's capable of, and these other creatures all pose a risk to everypony here, including yourself.

The Princess looked around at us and then down to the journal as she held it in front of her.

PC: That may be prudent, yes. While I trust Twilight's intentions, there is still some danger. I do not think it will come from these other creatures, however, if her words are truthful. She says that she has not felt them for some time. It is possible their danger is a… lingering sense of paranoia. Still, with all that has happened, we cannot afford anything but caution. Shining Armor!

As Princess Celestia called out, a unicorn poked his head in.

PC: Have your guards alert anyone still working in the town, as well as those at the hospital. Only crucial supplies should be taken with them. I believe there's an appropriate clearing near Whitetail Woods, and it should be far enough from town.

He simply nodded and galloped away.

PC: I would suggest you all do the same.

VV: What about the journal, Princess? The incident with Pendant, Sky, and myself clearly involved us… going to this place.

WC: We'll still need to have it to communicate with Twilight, and I trust that there's no form of harmful magic within it.

PC: I haven't felt anything from it, and one of your personnel confirmed, twice, that there was no dangerous magic. We will have to accept the risk, even if the magic of this strange place and its creatures is beyond our ability to detect.

VV: Yes, Princess.

PC: I will also have to ask you to keep the truth of matters to yourselves. To anyone but the four of us, this is a measure to ensure safety, not to prepare for anything we are to attempt. And this line of communication to Twilight is equally important to keep secret and secure.

We all agreed.

PC: I know it may be a lot to process now, but I should say one more thing, as you will find it when you make transcripts of my conversation with Twilight.

PC: According to her, these creatures that attacked Ponyville and its residence were once ponies and other creatures. They were merely changed by this place, some worse than others. She believes they desire to return home, at least some of them. It is possible they could recover, but she is not certain. Whatever has happened to them, whatever they are now, we must be ready for them.

PC: I will not abandon my little ponies. I will not forget them.

The Princess left the tent and the three of us were left alone. Miss Clover and Miss Vines excused themselves. I was left alone for some time to gather what documents I considered most important, along with the recordings I still had.

Twilight wants forgiveness, I know that. I want to forgive her, because I want it too. I feel I've led to ponies' harm just as she has, even if there is no guarantee I could have avoided it.

I hope she is genuine. I would hate for my trust to harm even more ponies, even more lives.

Session C1 - Verdant Vines - May 5th

Transcription of Session C1: Verdant Vines
Date: May 5th
Time: 3:16 p.m.
Interviewer: White Clover

With most personnel and supplies moved to a clearing far from Ponyville, I requisitioned one of Doctor Blue Sky’s recording devices for my own use. It was important that I have a discussion with Vines to go over our course of action moving forward, while Princess Celestia considers the same.

I also feel, however private we want it to be, that a friendly chat might assist the record. I made sure to prepare a kettle for tea before we started, and once Vines and I had settled down, I began recording.

White Clover (WC): So, not likely the chat you were hoping for, Vines?

She laughed, sighed, and then sipped at her tea. One of her hindhooves tapped slowly on the floor.

Verdant Vines (VV): No, Clover, it really wasn't.

WC: Well, usually things are wrapped up when we catch up. So, let's work on the loose ends, shall we?

VV: Yeah, sounds like a plan.

She downed the rest of her tea and stood up, pacing back and forth in the tent.

VV: So another… plane of existence and creatures that came from there, but were originally from Equestria, kidnapped an entire town. They've been subjected to untold amounts of stress and torment, for an actually unknowable period of time, and one pony has a way to bring them back.

VV: We don’t know what they'll look like, if they can be rehabilitated, and this pony has committed, at the least, potential atrocities by her own admission. They could be lying and leading us into a trap, in which case we've been standing in it for weeks, but the jaws haven't shut yet. If they're telling the truth, some of these creatures and ponies are working to spring a trap, and there is absolutely no guarantee that we can do more than delay it.

VV: We have to balance rescuing survivors, ensuring our own safety, avoiding a national disaster and panic, and, if it's even possible, arresting the creatures responsible. Sound like everything?

WC: More or less, yes. Twilight, if this is her, needs to be held accountable for what she’s done. That said, she's already talking about remaining in this place. Whether that's sacrifice or punishment or… running away, I can't say. She's the only hope we have of finding more survivors though.

VV: Unless some other journal drops out of the sky and into our laps. But there's no hope that'll be real and trustworthy.

WC: We could wait for Solace to recover, but that may take too long. If these other survivors are in his state then—

VV: They're on borrowed time.

Silence came for a while, in which I nursed my own cup and Vines poured another.

VV: I just feel betrayed, Clover. I almost feel like her writing "I'm guilty" a dozen times when she first wrote to us would have been better. Then I'd know where she stood, what she was. I wouldn't have this hope to be dashed on the rocks.

WC: We've both dealt with these things before, and so has Sky. So has everypony. It's part of our jobs to root out the truth, and that often comes with finding out someone was lying.

VV: And when they were, you trust them with your life?

WC: No, but I'm willing to see the bigger picture.

VV: I started thinking what the worst case scenario is, even before what she said. These things fighting against her for the fate of that place and this town. She loses, we lose, everypony or even the world is at risk. Now she claims they aren't even there or at least that she can’t sense them? The worst case is still present, and the best case isn't quite so great.

WC: It never was going to be. At the best, we would recover a small portion of those kidnapped, find out what happened, and would have to spend an inordinate amount of time helping them recover. And that was assuming the truth didn't make us eternally paranoid, which it seems is a foregone loss.

VV: Our burden to bear, along with Princess Celestia.

WC: No. It will be a burden for every single pony that suffered through it, those who will help them, and every descendant that will tell some terrible story derived from it all around a campfire.

VV: A little reaching, don't you think?

WC: Maybe, but it's all beyond the present, Vines. What do we do?

Vines was silent, her hoof tapping slowly at first and then faster.

VV: What does Princess Celestia think?

WC: I think she's much more optimistic than you. She believes this is Twilight, that she speaks the truth, and that we can… save everypony or at least some of them.

VV: So when is it going to start?

WC: She told Twilight to wait, so whenever we're ready.

VV: Do you trust her?

WC: I only have what I've read and what’s happened to consider. If she was malicious, there would be no need for this. She talked about how They can reach out and affect things here, and you and Sky ended up there for however little time it was. Wouldn't you still be there?

WC: If you vanished, we'd obviously try to find out why or send more ponies. Why explain anything about this place? Why even talk?

VV: Because they knew we'd give up otherwise.

WC: Possibly, but if they can control this place, does it matter where we are? Even worse if this infection, if that's what it is, makes it easier.

WC: It's just that… we can see the worst and plan for it, but rejecting this avenue wholesale leads us nowhere. There's no progress without risk.

VV: I know, of course I do.

She was quiet for several moments.

VV: Did you have another one? A nightmare yesterday?

WC: Not a nightmare, no. A dream of you? Yes, but you didn’t do anything.

VV: Well I had one. I didn't like what I saw. It wasn't anything steeped in this imagery and metaphor. I… I think I saw her.

I approached Vines, but lingered close by. She stared down into her near empty cup, swirling it in her hooves.

VV: It was this… thing that looks like us but isn't. Twisted and dark and… there's no way it can be. It didn't move right. It didn't sound right. It didn't breathe.

WC: But Solace isn't that. He's alive. He doesn't look like some alien creature and he could be the first of many.

I pulled her into a comforting hug, at least as much as I could manage.

WC: We'll get through this, Vines.

She returned the embrace and I felt tears on my coat.

VV: I really hope so, Clover.

After a few moments, we broke our hug. I took a seat next to her.

WC: Should we let Celestia handle talking with Twilight going forward?

VV: I have a feeling you aren't really asking. Sky would probably recommend it: someone she knows to talk to instead of a stranger.

WC: That would be the idea, yes.

VV: Well, I guess we just need to be ready then. Solace suddenly appeared at Town Hall. Hopefully there's little theatrics with the other survivors she sends.

WC: I'll help assign the guards to canvas the town and its surroundings when she begins. I've already sent a pegasus to request medical aid from Cloudsdale, and we have a train and airship coming from Canterlot tomorrow. There should be enough supplies and personnel on them to assist us.

WC: We'll also need to advise caution from everypony involved. Do we have a list of… suspects? For those that may be a danger.

VV: We can go over the transcripts again. Beyond Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy, there have to be some other ponies that exhibited odd behavior, or were at least in difficult enough situations to have changed.

With our path settled, I sent a guard to inform Princess Celestia and we began our research.

Declaration from White Clover - May 5th

Declaration from White Clover
Date(s): May 5th
Relevant Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

This is a notice to all those working on the case of Ponyville's Mass Disappearance. You will all be assigned to portions of the town and its surroundings to assist with recovery of survivors from this case.

Those you find may be malnourished, injured, distressed, or any combination of the above, so approach them with caution. Each group will have one member assigned to first aid duty. Ensure any survivors are calmed, treated if needed, and then moved to the triage area before returning to your assigned section. If you are low on any supplies, have them refreshed before you return.

While all survivors are to be approached with caution, the following ponies are to be considered suspects and must be detained:

Twilight Sparkle
Coat: Purple
Mane: Lavender and purple
Cutie Mark: One star, purple, surrounded by five smaller white ones

Applejack
Coat: Orange
Mane: Blonde
Cutie Mark: Three red apples

Fluttershy
Coat: Yellow
Mane: Pink
Cutie Mark: Three pink butterflies

Quill Script
Coat: Dark purple
Mane: Light blue
Cutie Mark: Two quills and an inkwell

Tinder
Coat: Orange
Mane: Red with yellow streaks
Cutie Mark: A bundle of moss surrounding a small flame

Minuette
Coat: Light blue
Mane: Blue with grayish blue streaks
Cutie Mark: An hourglass

Pokey
Coat: Grayish blue
Mane: White with cobalt blue streaks
Cutie Mark: Safety pin

Nickel
Coat: Brown
Mane: Rust red
Cutie Mark: Hoof of playing cards showing five aces

Marbles
Coat: Light blue
Mane: Mint green
Cutie Mark: A cloth bag of marbles, with four blue ones sitting in front of it

When they are treated and secured, take them to the detention area and return to your assigned section.

Shifts will be assigned, and this recovery effort may take several days. If you feel unfit to continue before the end of your shift, alert myself or Verdant Vines so that you may be relieved and replaced.

Signed,
White Clover

Witness Interview - Twilight Sparkle - May 6th

Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle
Date: May 6th
Time: 9:52 a.m.
Interviewer: Princess Celestia

White Clover: Despite my offer to keep it from the record, Princess Celestia insisted the following be entered as an interview. There was only one guard present with her at the time: Shining Armor.

Princess Celestia noted that there were a number of new lines after where she ended her conversation with Twilight previously.

Vines
Sky
Princess
for any
deceit
lie
I cannot take back
I cannot apologize

I can do no more

I will be ready

I HOPE
They
will not

Twilight, we are ready. Vines, Clover, and Sky will be working on their own tasks to assist whoever you can send back.

You may begin. If you need to talk, I will be here, as will your brother. I have not told him what you've said previously, but both he and your parents miss you greatly.

(Princess Celestia: The reply took some time.)

they will be coming
soon
I cannot say
when
where
how close
how in need
how safe

All of Vines’ and Clover's ponies will be cautious, Twilight, and we will do all that we can to help them when they arrive.

thank you
for trusting
believing

staying

I
miss you all

so much
so much
so much

they are coming

I will always be here, Twilight.

(Princess Celestia: Twilight’s response took hours to come. Given the record of recovered survivors, she was likely preoccupied during this time.)

some have gone

willing
unwilling

beaten
broken
pristine

piece
part
parcel

so many more
to come
to save

Each one you bring back is a grace, Twilight. Clover and Vines have many guards covering the town. They will find them.

I know
can feel
sense
reach
see
understand
every moment

so much pain
so much torment
so much misery

never together
ever again

Take as long as you need, Twilight. We’re prepared to stay as long as we need to help.

(Princess Celestia: Several more hours passed, in which I was updated on the number of survivors recovered. Eventually, I began to lower the sun.)

Princess
are you still there?

Yes, Twilight. I will not leave you.

drained
taxed
lost

I have done
all I can
for now

You have done well, Twilight. So many have been returned which are being taken care of. If you need to rest, so shall we.

Shining Armor
is he still there?

He has been with me, yes. Do you wish to speak with him?

no
not yet

please
just say
that I miss him
that I miss them

Of course, Twilight. Just let us know when you are ready. Night has fallen here, but we’ll continue our work and preparations.

why did you
trust
believe
me

Princess?

Because of who I know you to be, Twilight. Only you would reply the way you did from such a greeting. As for what you’ve done

(Princess Celestia: As I considered my words, Twilight would not wait.)

you cannot
say?

What you’ve done is not all that defines who you are, Twilight. Good actions, while they cannot erase the bad, speak volumes as well. I have faith you are still the same pony I taught, who has the well-being of all her friends in Ponyville, of all those working here, in mind.

and if
They
come?

We will have to face that when we come to it. If I can do anything to combat Them, then I will do it, Twilight.

I tried
I failed

I wonder if
They
can be
hurt
maimed
broken

more broken than
They
are

If we cannot, Twilight, then I will still do everything in my power to help the ponies here, and those still lost.

I will too

I
rest
should rest

I
HOPE
LIGHT
keeps Them
away
but
hide
can hide before

Sweet dreams, Twilight. Rest well.

Case Report: Survivors Recovered - May 6th

Case Report: Survivors Recovered - May 6th
Submitted by: Verdant Vines
Location: Ponyville
Date(s): May 6th
Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

Survivors recovered on May 6th, including their condition, location, and time of discovery, are listed below for the record. Interviews with those who did not require medical attention are being conducted. For the moment, these interviews will purely be to assess their mental well-being.

Verification of names was done using records in the mayor’s office of Town Hall.

Sunny Daze
Location: Ponyville Schoolhouse
Time: 10:12 a.m.
Condition: Unconscious, severe scarring on flanks and hind legs, mild malnourishment. Moved to triage.

Snips
Location: Ponyville Schoolhouse
Time: 10:20 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment. Escorted to triage.

Snails
Location: Ponyville Schoolhouse
Time: 10:20 a.m.
Condition: Unconscious, mild malnourishment, scarring on neck. Moved to triage.

Rumble
Location: Ponyville Schoolhouse
Time: 10:41 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment, scarring on wings and barrel. Reacted violently to guards, but eventually calmed and escorted to triage.

Cheerilee
Location: Ponyville Schoolhouse
Time: 11:26 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, exhausted and brandishing a sharpened yard stick. Calmed, disarmed, and escorted to triage.

Zecora
Location: Everfree Forest (edge)
Time: 11:59 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, exhaustion and mild malnourishment. Escorted to triage.

Roseluck
Location: Bountiful Bouquets
Time: 12:46 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, moderate malnourishment and wasting, scarring on the barrel, withers, and flanks. Moved to triage.

Aloe
Location: Ponyville Day Spa
Time: 1:16 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment. Resisted attempts to be moved for several minutes, but eventually calmed and escorted to triage.

Sundial
Location: Ponyville General
Time: 1:46 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, severe scarring on face, neck and barrel. Moved to triage.

Daisy
Location: Bountiful Bouquets
Time: 2:32 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, severe malnourishment and wasting. Escorted to triage.

Redheart
Location: Ponyville General
Time: 2:59 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild fatigue and wasting. Escorted to triage.

Targe
Location: Ponyville General
Time: 3:01 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, delirious, bleeding from gash on forehead. Treated and escorted to triage.

Lyra Heartstrings
Location: Private residence
Time: 3:26 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild scarring on withers. Resisted attempts to be moved until recovery of Bon Bon minutes later. Escorted to triage.

Bon Bon
Location: Private residence
Time: 3:34 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, moderate malnourishment and wasting. Moved to triage.

Pipsqueak
Location: Private residence
Time: 3:56 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious. Moved to triage.

Brass Blare
Location: Whittler’s Woodwinds
Time: 4:16 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment and wasting. Escorted to triage.

Octavia Melody
Location: Whittler’s Woodwinds
Time: 4:22 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, fresh wounds on neck and withers. Treated and moved to triage.

Cloudchaser
Location: Northern outskirts
Time: 4:45 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, severe scarring on wings and barrel. Escorted to triage.

Pavé
Location: Hospitality’s Hostel
Time: 5:16 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, severe malnourishment and wasting. Moved to triage.

Carrot Top
Location: Private residence
Time: 5:26 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, scarring on legs and barrel. Escorted to triage.

Crafty Crate
Location: Ponyville Post Office
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, scarring on muzzle, ears, and neck. Moved to triage.

Filthy Rich
Location: Rich residence
Time: 6:35 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, scarring on front hooves and neck. Escorted to triage.

Silver Spoon
Location: Rich residence
Time: 6:47 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, mild malnourishment and wasting, missing front left leg. Moved to triage.

Cookie Crumbles
Location: Private residence
Time: 6:58 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment. Escorted to triage.

Sweetie Belle
Location: Private residence
Time: 7:02 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, scarring on flank and lower barrel. Moved to triage.

Scootaloo
Location: Private residence
Time: 7:03 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, scarring on wings. Escorted to triage.

Additional survivors remain and will be recovered as soon as possible.

Those considered well enough to move will be transitioned to other sites as possible, including both Cloudsdale (Updraft Health and Mayday Medical) and Canterlot (Asclopius Hospital and Stable Medical Center). Psychological evaluations onsite will be considered for subjects on Doctor Blue Sky’s recommendation.

Signed,
Verdant Vines
Head Investigator
Case #3467

Session C2 - Verdant Vines - May 6th

Transcription of Session C2: Verdant Vines
Date: May 6th
Time: 8:46 p.m.
Interviewer: White Clover

After recalling all personnel from Ponyville for the night and reviewing the list of recovered survivors, Vines and I discussed the day and potential changes we might make to our plans moving forward.

White Clover (WC): Quite a productive first day.

Vines finished looking over an update on the more severe patients recovered, looking up from the paper with a sigh.

Verdant Vines (VV): Twenty six. It’s a good number, but there are a lot who aren’t in the best condition. Besides the ones that were actually conscious when we found them, none of them are awake. Solace is still out cold and so is Pendant in Canterlot, so it could be days before the others wake up.

She put the paper down, looking over the list of those that were conscious and the ones circled who had already been moved out of triage and to other facilities.

VV: But yeah, it’s better than nothing.

WC: There’s no telling how slow we were on some of those recovered. There’s certainly no pattern or any kind of magical signal that shows a pony’s arrival. No physical phenomena either. We’ll just have to keep the guards rotating through every residence, though maybe we can check off some of the buildings where they’ve already been found.

VV: No, I think we still need to be checking every building, at least as much as we can manage. There’s no telling where somepony might have been or where they’ll end up. How far is the radius again? I’m worried, after finding Zecora near the Everfree, that we might not be scanning far enough.

WC: Well, we have the village proper and a full circle around the town that extends to the farthest locations. That’s out to Sweet Apple Acres and Fluttershy’s cottage near the woods. Two, three miles outside of the town center?

VV: That only goes a short distance into the Everfree. I suppose we don’t have a good idea of how far this place extends, but I’m worried we’ll miss somepony who isn’t in shelter.

WC: I’ll have a few patrols dip into the woods near Fluttershy’s cottage tomorrow, but I can’t guarantee we can look that deeply into the Everfree. Zecora was found past the edge.

Vines leaned back in her seat, rubbing her forehead.

VV: Blue Sky said we’re fine on supplies and personnel for triage, at least if we get a similar volume of survivors tomorrow. That doesn’t cover the psych evals he needs to finish though. Of course, if we get even more...

WC: I’ll inform Celestia and we’ll get another train of supplies in as quickly as we can. Did you tell Cage yet?

Vines finished filling out a requisition form and didn’t look at me.

VV: No. I figure he found out himself though. He hasn’t left her side since they brought her in.

WC: I know he probably isn’t in a state to—

VV: He’ll help when he’s able, I’m sure, even if it’s just at triage. We have enough eyes in town, so one less pair won’t hurt. If it were my family, I’d be doing the same.

I set down some forms that I was reviewing and began to look over the rotation schedule for search parties.

WC: Did you want to go out on patrol?

VV: No, I’m better served here, I know it. Only one besides you who could ever stomach paperwork in this agency.

WC: I tend to abide. Better to simply follow along and remove any enjoyment or lack thereof from the equation.

She chuckled, finishing her forms and standing up before walking to the tent entrance.

VV: Think that’s the last of it for me. Shame you’re still slow at it.

WC: I’ll be right behind you, don’t worry.

But I couldn’t let her leave then, not with something else on my mind.

WC: Did you feel safe today, Vines?

I heard her hooves come to a halt, and there were a few moments of dead air.

WC: I just… it’s been on my mind.

She trotted back towards where I sat.

VV: I was tense at first. Sitting there, looking out at the town and… waiting. I felt like Blue Sky after we found Solace. I wanted calamity. I wanted chaos and trouble and setbacks and… I wanted vindication, that I was right to feel angry.

She walked around me, sitting down on the floor at my side.

VV: It seeped out though, little by little with every pony they brought back to camp. But when they weren’t awake I… it actually got worse. And I think it’s been bubbling under the surface ever since.

WC: I feel the same. It’s this looming dread.

VV: Yeah. Building up a tower so we can have it toppled around us. Now there’s more to lose.

WC: Did you dream about it again?

She sighed, front hoof tracing a circle on the floor.

VV: Yeah. I don’t know if she’s… if it’s even her or “Them” anymore. Whispers and shadows and this thing. I want it to be her, but she said that it was always “Us.”

WC: You think you’re doing it to yourself?

VV: Maybe? The other option is to blame it on… all of this.

WC: We still don’t know how it all works, if what Twilight said was true. I didn’t have one last night. Each pony is affected differently.

VV: She said that, yeah.

There was silence, for just a few moments.

VV: What if we’re making it worse?

WC: We can’t know that, right? Can we just leave so many ponies to their fate on… fear?

VV: But if it starts spreading in Canterlot, past the hospital.

WC: There’s no sign of that yet, and the ponies working there are doing everything they can to prevent it.

VV: But it’s not some disease they can scrub away. You said it’s a burden to bear, but… what if it’s just a… a scar. A scar they can inflict on anypony around them for the rest of their lives?

WC: We’ll know when Twilight’s done, when this place and They are gone. If ponies get better—

VV: Or if they don’t.

WC: Right… We’ll know when the time comes. Until then, we soldier on.

VV: Until it’s done. Good night.

WC: Good night.

Vines stood up and walked towards the tent’s entrance. We both had nothing more to say.

Witness Interview - Twilight Sparkle - May 7th

Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle
Date: May 7th
Time: 8:22 a.m.
Interviewer: Princess Celestia

There was no further writing from Twilight since our last discussion.

Twilight, are you there? It’s a new day for us. We’re ready to begin when you are.

Twilight, I’m here whenever you’re ready.

(It was some time before a reply finally came.)

They came

I
I had to fight

push back
resist
revolt
repel

revise

Are you alright, Twilight? Are we in danger?

no

passed
routed
weakened
They did not expect

wanted prey
scurrying
withering

found HOPE
LIGHT

They will come back stronger

They will come back braver

They will come back with
Her

Is there any help that we can offer? Anything at all that I could do?

no Princess

it has to be Me

it has to

cannot lose more
cannot threaten
cannot obstruct

Very well, Twilight. If we can do anything beyond collecting the ponies you send back, please let me know. Ponies are already combing the town this morning. They are ready whenever you are.

soon
trails hard
to track
winding
wandering
wasting away

the strongest
HOPE
are far

And Her, Twilight? Is it really your friend, Fluttershy?

was
is
will be

but not as well

if I cannot
recover
She cannot

if I can
She
still may not
broken
shattered
cracked
beyond
mending

They are coming
again

may be less
longer
lost

However many you can bring back is enough, Twilight. Please be safe.

(There was no further reply from Twilight for hours. I took the time to discuss things with her brother, Shining Armor. I had still not told him the truth of why his sister was considered a suspect, worthy of note and detention. In my experience, painful, personal truths are better spoken by those who committed them. If Twilight will not say it by the end, it will be my burden to undertake, but until then I would rather she speak for herself.)

Princess

Yes, Twilight?

it is changing
morphing
resisting

harder to find
harder to lead
harder to HOPE

draining
daunting
deliberate

She must be
obscuring it

Are They hunting the survivors as well?

impossible to say
impossible to
stop

like finding
a pebble
in an unfathomable ocean

Are those in town in danger? Are you?

I can still hide
places
They have not
They do not
go

LIGHT
HOPE

They will try
to bridge the gap
when safe

if you are not
there
at night
in dark
in shadow

They will not come

(I took stock of Twilight’s words and decided to alert Verdant Vines and White Clover. Shining Armor left me for some time to fetch them.)

I hope that you are right, Twilight. I will still make sure the guards are careful, and we may stop our patrols early today.

I will be
as well

I promise
Princess

winding ways
twisting trails

another path
opens
rises

I will talk again soon

I will wait, Twilight.

(When Shining Armor returned, he informed me that Vines and Clover had decided to end efforts an hour before sundown. I relayed the information to Twilight and waited.)

Twilight, the guards will be pulled back from Ponyville early today. They have three or four hours left at the most. Please keep it in mind, and let me know when you are finished and safe.

(I received no reply immediately, biding my time by asking Shining Armor about the number of survivors recovered. At that time, the number was thirty-five. Such a small number of the ponies that lived here, made their lives here, felt safe here. Everyone Twilight helps return is, as I have told her, a miracle, but I shiver with dread when I think about if Luna or I could have done anything to prevent this.

These dreams, nightmares, visions that ponies have mentioned, Luna never saw them. These creatures, my ponies, may have taken so many in the past. Could we have ever known? Could we have seen the signs? Could I, alone all those years?

It is a worrying spiral I have to pull my thoughts away from. The past is just that. I must focus on the now and the future. Whatever we learn here, we will be sure to note. We will prepare for the future, if at all possible. With any luck, there will be no need, but what little optimism I can muster shrinks with every passing moment.

It was hours later when Twilight finally responded.)

I could not reply
Princess

focused
frenzied
frantic

I had to keep
moving

working

saving

It’s alright, Twilight. There isn’t much time left in their shifts today.

I know

I’ve done what I can
for now

I will
find a place to
hide
for the nights

I will be here again, if you want to talk. So is your brother.

may I
can I
talk to him

Of course, Twilight. I would not try to keep you from him.

(I called Shining Armor in and asked him not to look through the journal as he waited for Twilight’s words.)

Twily?

yes
Shining Armor
brother
I
I am sorry
I cannot be there

It’s alright, Twily. I’m just glad you’re safe. Princess Celestia and the investigators have told me a little, that you’re close. Close to coming home, helping other ponies get home. I’m so proud of you.

I know
I know you
mom
dad

you were
are
so worried

concerned

afraid

I know what you’re capable of, Twilight. I know that if anypony can get out of this and help fix things, it’s you.

fix

yes
fix

I

do not know

if I can
will
come back

if I do not

please tell mom and dad

I miss them
I love them
so much

I know you’ll come home, Twily. I believe in you.

thank you

do they know
yet

No, just me, but they’re worried sick. They always are, ever since you moved to Ponyville. Ever since you became Celestia’s student, really.

I
HOPE
they will not

worry
much longer

I am
still Me

I will
be Me

I am Me
I am Me
I am Me

I know, Twily.

I need
to go again

to speak
to Celestia
the Princess

once more

Okay. I love you, Twily. Stay safe.

Yes, Twilight?

I mean it

I will try

to come back

I will tell him
all
then

I miss you

I miss them

so
much

I miss you too, Twilight. Stay safe. I’ll stay awake as long as I can, if you need to talk at all.

need
rest

always more
rest

energy
will
HOPE
LIGHT

warmth

Princess

it’s so cold here

Rest well, Twilight. Do not push yourself on my account.

just want
need
something
somepony
else

besides
whispers

besides
thoughts

besides
suffering
pain
anguish
screams

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
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 continued for some time. On Doctor Blue Sky’s recommendation, I left Twilight to her devices with her “mantra.” Eventually, they stopped, halfway through a line. Nothing else came for the rest of the night.

Session C3 - Verdant Vines and Blue Sky - May 7th

Transcription of Session C3: Verdant Vines and Blue Sky
Date: May 7th
Time: 7:32 p.m.
Interviewer: White Clover

Given Twilight Sparkle’s information about malicious entities attempting to undermine her efforts, and the danger to personnel in Ponyville after dark, we withdrew all patrols an hour before sundown. We still do not know if we are far enough from the town to avoid danger, but no one made it this far from town in the journals.

With the last survivor recovered some hours prior, Vines and I were able to begin our review early as well. In addition, Doctor Blue Sky asked to join both of us to discuss some of his limited findings as well as the current status of triage and the movement of patients off-site.

Blue Sky (BS): Thank you for allowing me to join both of you, Miss Clover.

White Clover (WC): I’m more than happy to have you here, Doctor. Especially if you have some news about those we’ve recovered.

BS: Yes, I think we have made some progress on that front. As you know, we’ve recovered forty-two survivors as of this evening. Those that were conscious and located yesterday have been moved off-site—except for a few special cases—and we’re in the process of reviewing the ponies recovered today. As for the ones that were unconscious on their discovery, we’ve been unable to make headway on waking them. Solace is still comatose, and word from Canterlot is that Pendant is as well.

Verdant Vines (VV): Which of the ones from yesterday are special cases?

BS: The first is Daisy. While she was located conscious, her state was so severe that I’ve recommended keeping her here for recovery, at least until she’s well enough to move on her own. If we run low on beds, I can consider moving her as an emergency, but I’d personally want to keep her on-site.

BS: The second is Redheart. She was a nurse at the local hospital. I don’t think she’ll be able to assist for a day or two more, but I’d like to take every pair of hooves we can get. That is, with permission from both of you.

WC: We’ll see how the following days shake out. We’d prefer all civilians are removed as soon as possible. Is there anypony else?

BS: Yes, Cookie Crumbles. Her daughter is still unconscious. I’d be remiss to try ordering her to leave.

WC: As long as it isn’t a burden to our overall efforts, I think it will be fine, but please try to broach the topic of moving her off-site. Were you able to complete some screenings before sending the other conscious survivors away?

BS: Generally, yes. Most of them are still skittish, frightened. Those we couldn’t move yesterday didn’t seem to rest overnight, even the ones that were exhausted. Whether it’s on the way to their respective hospitals or when they get there, I’m certain they’ll reach a breaking point. If not, I’ve advised that the doctors taking over their care consider sleep aids.

BS: I understand the aversion if Twilight's experiences are indicative of what they went through, but the sooner they rest the better it will be for them.

BS: I asked how they were and tried not to bring up what they’ve gone through. Overall, the general opinions were negative. Despite the relative safety they’re in, they refuse to see it as over.

BS: None of them appear dangerous—a threat to themselves or others—but I’ve still advised they be kept under close supervision if able. I’ve also suggested quarantine procedures, both to keep up the appearance of Ponyville’s closure as well as a preventative measure should all of this prove… infectious.

VV: And what about those from today? Have you spoken to them yet?

BS: No, not yet. I do understand two of your investigators were found, however.

WC: Yes, that’s correct. I… would have considered asking for a screening first, but Spanner and Sugarcane approached me as I was checking up on the triage counts. Rainbow Dash was with them as well.

WC: It seems they may have been the luckiest ones. At least on what information we have.

BS: Why is that?

WC: They said they left Sweet Apple Acres an hour before they appeared here.

There was a pause from Blue Sky.

BS: I believe that journal was discovered…

WC: Two weeks ago, yes. We obviously can’t speculate beyond what they say, but… at least it means more beds we can likely free up.

WC: I’d still like for them to undergo evaluation from your team first, but then I’ll consider having Spanner and Sugarcane report back to active duty if you sign off.

BS: I’ll be as thorough as possible. What about Rainbow Dash?

VV: She’s still a civilian. Have her moved out of town as soon as the evaluation is done.

Blue Sky was about to object, but I cut him off.

WC: Even as one of Twilight Sparkle’s friends and an Element of Harmony, yes. We need to focus on attending to those that need our help the most.

BS: Understood.

WC: Anything else, Doctor?

BS: There was another parent and child recovered today. The child is likewise unconscious.

WC: We’ll keep it in mind.

BS: As for those we are caring for because of their state, our supplies are still on a positive projection unless there’s a rapid degradation of their well-being. With another two shipments coming in the next few days, we’re ready for about two weeks’ worth of treatment for fifty patients. Given we have sixteen on-site, that’s very good.

VV: We can’t be sure how many are still on their way, so just keep that in mind. Make sure to categorize the ones who can be moved off-site on short notice.

BS: We’ll do our best.

WC: In regards to Twilight, it seems she was hampered by these malicious creatures today. That’s why we called off patrols early. We’ll narrow the time frame going forward to one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset. That should give us some leeway on the dangers that may be present.

VV: And if there’s a danger to the camp?

WC: We’ll sound an alarm for evacuation. I’m sure, with the personnel we have, that the unconscious patients could be cared for on a trip.

BS: Yes. The main concern is that we can’t sacrifice the medical personnel we have on-site for the transfers. That and I fear we may overload the locations we’re transporting them to. They can only set up so much of a quarantine while caring for their normal patients.

WC: Exactly. Nevertheless, we’ll make sure to flow it down to the guards and investigators if you can handle your staff, Doctor.

Blue Sky nodded, making a note of it.

WC: Twilight has also told Princess Celestia that she plans to return now. We don’t know when it will be, but… we still have the detention area prepared for her, along with anyone considered high risk.

BS: There was… already one filly with a missing limb that we recovered. We checked for a sign of infection, but there was none. Certainly none that matched Applejack’s description.

WC: I’ve considered that. There is the possibility it’s limited purely to this place they were taken to, and distance is proving helpful.

BS: We’ve kept her isolated from the others, for now.

WC: Good. I think that’s all we’ll need today, Doctor. I assume you have other matters to attend to.

Blue Sky stood, nodding to both of us, and gathered his notes before leaving the tent.

WC: Anything else to go over, Vines?

VV: No, Clover.

WC: Anything unrelated to the case?

VV: No nightmares last night. No dreams at all. It’s worrying, just a little. Makes me more tense. As soon as I heard about Twilight’s issues, it got even worse. It was like last night was the eye of the storm, even though I was already so…

WC: I know. I didn’t have any dreams either. Maybe it has to do with the survivors coming through or our spirits improving because of that. Or maybe it’s still… different for each of us.

Vines got up from her seat, walking over to the portable stove at the end of the tent and putting a kettle on.

VV: Maybe. Want a cup?

WC: I won’t turn it away. Have something in mind?

VV: Rose and honey?

WC: Sounds lovely.

We waited in silence as the kettle boiled and I took the time to prepare the cups. Once the cups were poured, we both sat back down, now next to one another instead of across.

WC: I hope Princess Celestia will… not let her connection cloud her judgment.

VV: You’re concerned she’ll keep us here too long?

WC: Just a possibility, a worry. She’s always cared very much for her citizens. I don’t doubt she’ll pull us away at the first sign of danger, but… I’m more concerned she won’t leave with us.

Vines sipped for a long time, nearly finishing the whole cup.

VV: She’s very close with Twilight. Now that Twilight claims she’ll come back, I can see what you mean. So, are you asking me to try and convince her when the time comes?

WC: No, no. I don’t think her sister could convince her. Just… we need to be aware, that’s all.

Vines finished the rest of the cup slowly.

VV: This is good. Did you bring it from Candle Cafe?

WC: Of course. I wouldn’t settle for anything but the best.

She laughed, smiled, and downed the last few drops.

VV: Thanks, Clover… We still need to pay it a visit when things are done. It just wouldn’t be a closed case without it.

WC: I know, Vines. I just thought it would help you relax.

VV: It did. Hopefully there will be sweet dreams to follow.

Vines stood up, walking to the entrance of the tent. I said nothing to make her linger or stay, yet she came to a stop.

VV: About… last night, Clover.

WC: Yes, Vines?

VV: I’m sorry for being… defeatist. I want to be objective about the case, but—

WC: I know, Vines. It’s difficult, more so for you. You’ve, potentially, come into contact with this place. If you want to leav—

VV: No, no! I just… Thank you for being a little more optimistic.

WC: I try, most of all for you. We’ll get through this, Vines. We all will.

VV: I was… Something came to mind, though. I was trying to keep my mind off how, well, uneventful last night was for me, and…

WC: Go ahead. If it helps you to say it, I’ll be glad to listen.

She trotted back to me.

VV: I was reading some of the interviews: the ones Blue Sky and his team are doing. Targe was at Sweet Apple Acres. He said he got separated from the others when they ran away from the farmhouse, but…

She took a deep breath, hooking her hooves over the chair’s arm to my side.

VV: If it happens, if it looks like it… Promise me we’ll stick together.

She put her hoof on mine. I held it tightly.

WC: Promise.

It was a few moments of silence before she let go and backed up towards the tent entrance.

WC: Good night, Vines.

VV: Night, Clover.

Session C4 - Verdant Vines- May 8th

Transcription of Session C4: Verdant Vines
Date: May 8th
Time: 8:34 a.m.
Interviewer: White Clover

Vines came to me early, just after sunrise. She wanted to speak before the day began in earnest and she wanted it recorded. After setting up the recording equipment, we started.

White Clover (WC): Alright, that’s everything, Vines. What’s so urgent?

Verdant Vines (VV): I think… They’re coming. They might already be here.

WC: You mean the ones Twilight wrote about it? Are you sure?

She leaned forward, taking a few moments to collect herself.

VV: I don’t know for sure. I had a dream last night. It was like Lantern’s. Floating, flying, like looking through a window. But it wasn’t Ponyville or the camp. It was… nothing.

VV: Black, formless, empty nothing.

VV: I couldn’t see or breathe and there was this feeling like being noticed, felt or sensed but not found.

VV: Then I heard voices. Not like two talking to each other. It was like a thousand screeching over one another, begging to be heard. It was noise and pain. Then it came to a halt.

VV: “Almost ready.” One voice, cutting through the fog and the haze. There was something about it though. It was calm and collected and soothing. It almost sounded like singing. I knew I wasn’t awake but I felt like sleeping, resting.

She went silent, looking down at the floor.

WC: And you remember it clearly now? I know some of the others, Twilight, didn’t remember—

VV: I do. I remember more pain. Anguish. Screeching cries. And then silence. A light. Crying. “I’m sorry.” Over and over again.

VV: Just before I woke up, it stopped for a moment. “I failed you.”

WC: We’ll have to see what Twilight thinks, if she’s noticed anything peculiar.

Vines took a few deep breaths and sank back into her seat.

VV: I think it was her, at the end. I could hear this suffering in her voice. Like she had the world in her hooves, and then let it shatter.

I got up, taking a seat beside Vines and wrapping a hoof around her shoulders.

WC: We still don’t know what it all means, if it’s true, when it will end. But we’re in this together, Vines. We all are. Her, the citizens, the team, the Princess. We all have some stake in this, we all feel like we might fail. That one misstep means… who knows?

WC: Maybe she does and that’s why she wants so badly to help. Why she’d feel so… distraught to fail.

WC: Maybe—

The entrance to the tent was thrown open and Shining Armor stood there.

Shining Armor (SA): Urgent news from the Princess! Someone wrote in Twilight’s journal. They threatened her and the town. Princess Celestia wants all patrols delayed.

Vines stood up quickly, whatever doubt she had falling away. I knew the look on her face.

VV: Inform Princess Celestia that we’d like to speak with her. We’ll make sure that the patrols are delayed.

Shining Armor nodded and ran out of the tent.

WC: Vines, I’ll get—

VV: No, I’ll handle it. You have the information Celestia will need and you’re the higher authority. I’ll spread the word around camp and warn Blue Sky to start preparing for evacuation.

I was left alone for a few minutes, taking the time to collect as many logs and records as might be pertinent.

When the entrance opened again, it was Princess Celestia with Shining Armor and the journal at her side.

Princess Celestia (PC): Clover, where is Vines?

WC: She’s informing the rest of the camp, Princess. The patrols will be stopped and the medical personnel will prepare for an evacuation if one is needed.

PC: Has something happened since the message? I don’t know when it was written, but it had to have been before sunrise.

WC: It’s possible, yes. Vines… had a vision, potentially. She’s worried that They are coming.

Princess Celestia opened the journal, showing me the words written overnight.

PC: She knew of this before being told?

WC: Yes. She dreamt it, though that may not exactly be what it is that allows these glimpses. I was prepared to take her words under advisement, but if we’ve received this threat, then—

PC: Then we must consider it credible. I must leave you both for a moment. I will fetch Luna and we’ll return to protect this camp if at all possible.

PC: Shining Armor, keep Vines and Clover safe if any threat arises. Clover, please keep the journal safe.

Shining Armor saluted, and the Princess passed me the journal before vanishing in a vibrant flash of golden magic.

SA: Is there anything I can do for you, Clover?

WC: For the moment, I think just the Princess’ orders. Vines should be back soon.

SA: Understood. I… Is Twilight in danger, really?

WC: We have to assume. Whatever They have become, in this other place, They seem to mean her and many others harm. While she’s been helping to return survivors to Equestria, that’s likely only exacerbated Their malice.

WC: And looking at her reply to Celestia, it’s only made Twilight more anxious.

SA: What is this other place?

WC: We still don’t know, but Twilight learned a great deal about it, even if… even if it’s not been corroborated. We’re dealing with an enemy we can’t see coming and who has already kidnapped an entire town at the least.

SA: Then an evacuation should be the priority.

WC: If Twilight is to be believed, it would only delay the inevitable. She had some plan to push this place away, but… I don’t know if she can complete that now. We weren’t given any details. I can try to—

Vines ran back into the tent, along with Doctor Blue Sky.

VV: The patrols are called off. We’ve set all guards and investigators to protect the perimeter.

Blue Sky (BS): And I’ve made sure that evacuation preparations are underway. It may take an hour or two to have all the patients prepped, but we’re focusing on the high risk ones first. I don’t think we’ll have a train here until noon, but the airship is still on-site.

VV: Where’s the Princess?

WC: Celestia left to get Princess Luna, to assist in protecting the camp.

VV: Any idea when she’ll be back?

SA: I’d give it a few minutes at the most. Celestia’s not one to delay.

VV: Clover, anything in the journal of note?

WC: For today, there’s a few. Someone wrote a threatening message to Celestia. It mentions that “We” are coming, which means your visions might hold more weight. Twilight wants to rush the rest of her rescue, but Celestia wants her to exercise caution and care. There’s been nothing from Twilight since then.

VV: Then we had best let her know that there aren’t any patrols in town. Any survivors she tries to send could be in danger.

I grabbed a quill, writing in the journal:

Twilight, this is White Clover. Celestia has left, momentarily, for Canterlot to summon her sister. We’ve pulled patrols from the town. I have to ask that you please not send anyone else back to Equestria for the time being. We are not prepared to recover them and that may make Equestria more dangerous than the place they are.

WC: There. Hopefully she hasn’t discarded it completely.

VV: I doubt she would. She knows it’s her only line of communication, at least that we can clearly receive.

BS: Given her likely level of stress, it’s still a possibility.

WC: It’s the only hope we have. We still don’t know how she intends to push this place away or if it can be done while she’s opposed. We also don’t know if there’s anything at all we can do, besides leave.

VV: Perhaps we should take Twilight’s lead.

SA: What do you mean?

VV: I mean we don’t delay. As soon as the patients are ready for evacuation, we move them. However many ponies are needed to care for them will travel with them and the rest hoof it.

BS: Even with the patents prepared, it’s a potential danger to move them. Especially when we don’t know the risk they’ll pose to others or if the hospitals they’ll be taken to are ready to care for them.

VV: I understand that, but sitting here is worse, isn’t it?

BS: These are ponies’ lives, Miss Vines. There are not easy probabilities to consider here. Something that benefits half of them and harms the other will still leave many harmed in the end.

WC: We’ll need to make that choice, Doctor, unless things manage to settle.

There was a flash of gold and purple light within the tent; Princess Celestia and Princess Luna appeared among us.

Princess Luna (PL): My sister has informed me of the situation. We are prepared to assist however we can.

PC: Has there been any escalation, Clover? Has Twilight replied?

WC: Not yet, Princess. We are prepared to evacuate if need be.

Princess Celestia took the journal up in her magic, frowning as she checked the surrounding pages.

VV: We’ve assigned those that would have been on patrol in Ponyville to guard the perimeter of the camp.

PC: Is there any sensation here, Luna? Like something out of place?

Princess Luna considered it for a moment, before shaking her head.

PL: No. When you asked me to assist with Lantern and Pendant, I couldn’t sense their dreams, but there was still a feeling. It was like an empty spot in an unfinished canvas; it was obvious that something should have been there, but was absent. Here, in the waking hours, there’s nothing at all.

PC: I feared as such when I could not sense it. Still, we will do all we can within our power. Even if it cannot be sensed, we may still be able to fight it.

BS: I should leave to assist with the medical preparations. I’ll be in the triage area if you need me.

He nodded to each of us, and bowed to the Princesses before leaving.

BS: Miss Vines. Miss Clover. Princesses.

VV: What do we do now? Wait for Twilight’s reply?

PC: It may be our only course of action, until the survivors are ready to be evacuated.

PL: I would have to agree. If neither my sister or I have the capability to detect this strange place’s effects on ponies and Equestria, then we must be careful. Any attempt to combat it without proper precautions could only incite these “They.”

PC: Wait… Twilight is writing.

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

PC: It is her mantra. Something must be happening.

Twilight, this is Princess Celestia. We’re here and ready. Please, if we can do anything to help, tell us.

I am Me
I am Me
I am Me

I am ready
I have to
I must

it has to be now
it has to be Me

I have to stop Them

PC: She wants to act, now.

VV: We still don’t know what her plan involves or if it can be done alone. We don’t even know if it will work.

Twilight, are you certain you can do what needs to be done? Can you at least tell us about your plan or if we can help?

WC: This may be out of our control, Vines.

a bridge
a HOPE
one connection

long enough to save
long enough to help
long enough to lure

then break

away

into void

into nothing

SA: If Twilight has a plan, it has to have some logic to it. She’s not the type to run headlong into something without thinking it through.

VV: Even after she’s been isolated for what she says is years? Are you really sure of that?

SA: I… I am.

PL: Sister?

PC: I think Twilight means to save all the ponies that she can and then throw this place and Them away.

VV: That certainly matches what she’s said before, but how? If They are being actively malicious now, is there hope she can wrest control of it from Them?

Can you still do it when They are working against you?

quick enough
enough time
time to act

has to be now

has to be Me

acting before They do

only HOPE

PC: If she acts now, she thinks that she can.

There was a commotion outside the tent, of ponies galloping about and shouting, followed by a howling wind.

I am sorry

HOPE
LIGHTs the way

HOPE
for Me

As the wind picked up, the entrance to the tent was thrown open by the gusts. We left the recorder behind. All that followed on it was garbled static.

It had grown dark outside, as if storm clouds were overhead, but the sky was completely clear. It was as if the sun had been dimmed.

All of the lights in Ponyville shone in the distance, flickering in windows, and from even miles away I could make out shapes moving within them. Even Sweet Apple Acres was fully lit, despite the fact that the lights which adorned its orchards on the arrival of Vines and her team to the town had long since been taken down.

Above Town Hall, a swirling mass of black clouds began to form, and as it expanded the light dimmed until it was completely gone. I felt a chill seep through my body as I stood still in that darkness, with only the soft light in the distance to keep me oriented.

The horns of several unicorns lit throughout the camp, but it was the light of Celestia and Luna that brought my surroundings back into focus. Vines and I began to give orders to have the lights in camp turned back on. Warmth returned in the light.

We waited. Guards on the perimeter held their positions after they were given lamps to light their way. Doctors continued to focus on preparing the patients for evacuation. I simply watched with Vines and Shining Armor, eyes fixed on the horizon. In the vast darkness between us and Ponyville, I could see something moving, blocking our view for moments at a time. The shapes were undefined, and I couldn’t tell how close or far away they were.

Casting a glance over my shoulder towards Canterlot, I saw nothing.

In the sky above, Celestia and Luna waited.

I do not know what they thought. I did not know what the guards or the doctors or the conscious survivors thought. I only hoped that what Twilight had planned would work. I held onto it. I held onto Vines.

The lights in town grew brighter and I heard shrieks in the distance. They sounded strange, echoing from ahead and behind and above with metallic tinge. In the rare moments they faded, they sounded like the cries of a wild animal, a predator fought back by weapon or cunning. Amidst the light’s glow in the distance, I could no longer see the dark clouds above the town, but I saw the swirling vortex of something around it, between us and the town. It began to spin faster and stronger. The gusts of wind picked up, and I heard the flapping of tents and the taut tension of ropes holding them down behind us.

There was shouting from behind. I turned to see Rainbow Dash being held back by Spanner, and Sugarcane shortly afterwards. I couldn’t hear her words over the gale, but I could see the expression on her face. Vines and I had seen it enough. It said more than whatever words she shouted into the wind.

Turning back to Ponyville, the lights in town grew brighter and brighter still with every second. It was like the beating of a heart as their glare pushed back the miasma that swirled about Ponyville and our camp. Then, one by one, they went out, blinking into place above Town Hall. When they were all together in a massive ball of light, they started to dim and move into the sky.

The vortex of darkness swarmed the dying light, wrapping about it until all but one or two rays managed to reach us. Celestia began to fly out with Luna close behind, but it was finished. As the last ray of light was obscured, the miasmic clouds ascended and the sky was rent in two.

Vibrant golden sunlight shone through the gap, giving way to a bright, clear blue sky. It was just enough to see the swirling clouds in perfect light for a moment. Strange shapes grew and shrank and shrieked on its mass. Faces came into formation before fading with screams. It vanished into the shadow of the formless sky, and the crack in the sky expanded wider and wider. Soon, there were no shadows left to hide in. It was normal. It was Equestria once more.

Ponyville, as it was that morning with lights off and abandoned, lay in the distance. From the sun in the sky, it appeared to be the afternoon. Off to the east, the day’s train of supplies had arrived, and the airship was left docked and ready.

When Celestia and Luna landed, they ran to collect the journal. There was no new writing.

Twilight, are you there? Twilight, did it work? Please, say anything.

No reply came. With the danger seemingly passed, I volunteered to lead a team with Vines into Ponyville. This included myself, Vines, Shining Armor, Sugarcane, and Spanner. Rainbow Dash pleaded to go, but Princess Celestia was able to convince her to stay.

By the time we reached the town limits, we had an answer for if Twilight’s plan had worked. A lone earth pony walked slowly out of a nearby house and collapsed in the street. I assisted with checking them while Shining Armor ran back to camp.

Over the next two hours, we located the rest of the survivors within the town.

There was no sign of either Twilight Sparkle or Fluttershy.

No survivors exhibited any strange markings or signs of infection. All were conscious, though still malnourished or exhausted.

By nightfall, Solace had awoken, followed shortly by the other unconscious patients.

No word of the strange phenomenon we saw and experienced was reported in any part of Equestria.

Case Report - Survivors Recovered - May 8th

Case Report: Survivors Recovered - May 8th
Submitted by: Verdant Vines and White Clover
Location: Ponyville
Date(s): May 8th
Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

Additional survivors recovered on May 8th, including their condition, location and time of discovery, are listed below for the record.

Jelly Belly
Location: Street at eastern town outskirts
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting, and exhaustion. Escorted to triage.

Peachy Pie
Location: Private residence
Time: 2:26 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment. Escorted to triage.

Magenta Heart
Location: Private residence
Time: 2:26 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, delirious. Calmed and escorted to triage.

Sassaflash
Location: Private residence
Time: 2:38 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting. Escorted to triage.

Ocean Dream
Location: Private residence
Time: 2:48 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment and wasting. Escorted to triage.

Rarity
Location: Carousel Boutique
Time: 2:51 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, moderate malnourishment and wasting. Scars on flank and neck. Escorted to triage.

Vinyl Scratch
Location: Private residence
Time: 2:56 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, minor scarring on rear legs. Escorted to triage.

Amethyst Star
Location: Private residence
Time: 3:14 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, moderate wasting. Escorted to triage.

Quill Script
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, severe wasting and malnourishment. Scars on neck, legs and flank. Escorted to the detention area.

Tinder
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, moderate wasting and malnourishment. Escorted to the detention area.

Nickel
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting, and scarring on barrel and flank. Escorted to the detention area.

Minuette
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, severe wasting and malnourishment. Escorted to the detention area.

Marbles
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, moderate malnourishment, and exhaustion. Escorted to the detention area.

Pokey
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment. Escorted to the detention area.

Time Turner
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting, and exhaustion. Escorted to triage.

Toe-Tapper
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, severe malnourishment. Escorted to triage.

Twisty Pop
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment, and scarring on flanks. Escorted to triage.

Jasmine Leaf
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, minor scarring on front hooves. Escorted to triage.

Seasong
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, moderate wasting. Escorted to triage.

Bluebell
Location: Town Hall
Time: 3:19 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, minor scarring and bruising on wings. Escorted to triage.

Berryshine
Location: Private residence
Time: 3:31 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, exhausted, and delirious. Calmed and escorted to triage.

Icy Rain
Location: Northern outskirts
Time: 3:34 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, severe scarring on barrel at base of wings. Escorted to triage.

Hard Hat
Location: Private residence
Time: 3:51 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, minor scarring on neck and face. Escorted to triage.

Spike
Location: Golden Oaks Library
Time: 4:03 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, delirious. Refused movement for several minutes until calmed. Escorted to triage.

Golden Glory
Location: Private residence
Time: 4:16 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild malnourishment. Escorted to triage.

Skyview
Location: Private residence
Time: 4:32 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, scarring on shoulders and neck. Escorted to triage.

Sweetheart
Location: Private residence
Time: 4:32 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting. Escorted to triage.

Pinkie Pie
Location: Sugarcube Corner
Time: 4:36 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, moderate wasting and scarring on flanks and barrel. Escorted to triage.

Dewdrop
Location: Private residence
Time: 4:46 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, minor scarring on front legs. Escorted to triage.

Cinnamon Swirl
Location: Private residence
Time: 4:46 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, severe wasting and malnourishment. Moved to triage.

Searches continued until sundown. No additional survivors were found. In addition, there were no bodies of deceased residents of the town. All other inhabitants are to be assumed missing.

Signed,
Verdant Vines
Head Investigator
Case #3467

Session C5 - Verdant Vines - May 8th

Transcription of Session C5: Verdant Vines
Date: May 8th
Time: 8:16 p.m.
Interviewer: White Clover

With a survey of the town finished and catalog of all survivors completed, Vines and I met in my tent to review the day’s events.

Verdant Vines (VV): What’s first to go over, Clover?

White Clover (WC): I was hoping you might have something in mind.

VV: It’s hard to… sort. I guess the survivors are a start. Total tally including the past two days is seventy-three. The number still on-site is fifty-eight, but we should be able to move most of those off-site tomorrow. If it weren’t for the massive number found today, Doctor Blue Sky probably would have moved several of the conscious patients from yesterday, but this is where we are.

VV: A few of those in better condition are going without beds, at least in the triage area.

WC: And the ones in detention?

VV: Being watched over and taken care of, like all the others. They aren’t showing any signs of danger, but it is only a precaution given what we’ve read about them going through. Solace has also been moved to detention on his own request.

WC: Any reason why?

VV: He said it’s unjust, given our rationale. He was there for as long as any of them might have been.

WC: Well, at this point it is still just a precaution. Too much care wouldn’t do us harm.

VV: It could, if They come back.

WC: Has there been any further communication in the journal?

VV: Princess Celestia and Luna have written in it several times. There’s been no reply, at least not that they’ve chosen to inform us of. I believe Shining Armor has left a message as well, along with Blue Sky.

WC: Thanks, or…?

VV: I think just goodbyes, for Blue Sky and Shining Armor at least.

WC: And any thoughts about what we saw?

Vines took several seconds to respond.

VV: It was sublime… and I’d guess it’s exactly what Twilight said she would do.

WC: I suppose it was. Have you reached out to Canterlot to see about Lantern and Pendant’s condition?

VV: I drafted a letter and sent it before sundown. We should have something in the morning. If everypony here woke up, I would assume the same happened in Canterlot. As for the dreams and nightmares, we might just have to wait and see.

WC: The long road of recovery stretches ever onward. Did you feel a chill, Vines? When the darkness came?

VV: Yeah.

WC: So we were actually in that place, for a while. I have to assume so. I looked behind us and I couldn’t see anything. No sun, no moon, no stars, no Canterlot.

WC: It felt like minutes there, but hours passed. The sun was in a different place, the train of supplies arrived. And nopony else saw it.

VV: Hopefully we won’t keep it with us.

WC: Time will tell. Doctor Blue Sky and other professionals will help the survivors with their recovery, but… now we have to find out what to tell the rest of Equestria. Seventy-three out of… over three hundred. It’s a lot of lives to account for, a lot of families broken, a lot of friends lost.

VV: Will it fall to us? Celestia might be able to break the news better.

WC: Maybe, but someone has to say it, explain it. We can’t hide it, not with so many that went through it and remember. We can’t silence them.

VV: We also can’t start a panic. Maybe we should give it a few days, some time to make sure things are settled? Time to get some or any word back from Twilight?

WC: I’m inclined to agree. Knowing for sure if there is any lasting damage will help with phrasing it.

VV: I’d like to send out daily patrols into the town and around it. We didn’t find anything at Sweet Apple Acres or on the edge of the Everfree, but there’s still a possibility we might have missed somepony or that Twilight isn’t completely finished.

WC: Then we can see about arrangements for letting recovered patients back into town. That’ll probably take the longest time.

VV: And rebuilding too. Even if it wasn’t a full disaster, there was still some damage when we arrived back on the 16th.

WC: Anything else?

Vines stood up, galloping over to my seat and wrapping her forelegs about me.

VV: Thank you, for staying close to me.

WC: I’ll always be here, Vines. Always, for you.

I turned off the recorder and we said our goodbyes for the night.

Article Clippings - May 9th through May 15th

Increase of Patients at Canterlot and Cloudsdale Hospitals
Canterlot Chronicle - May 9th

Several ponies have been seen being transported from the Canterlot Train Station to both Stable Medical Center and Asclopius Hospital over the past few days. The exact origin of these trains has not been determined and the reason for the admission of the ponies has not been released to the public.

However, all patients admitted have been placed under quarantine, separated from the rest of the hospital population. It is possible that these may be related to the quarantine that has been taking place in Ponyville since April 16th, and Ponyville General may have been completely overwhelmed.

Reaching out to the management of Asclopius and Stable Medical has yielded no information, but one nurse was willing to speak to us anonymously. “The patients aren’t majorly sick, at least not with a physical disease. Some seem like they’ve undergone some level of wasting or malnourishment and others have some physical scarring, but they’re still kept separate from the general patient population. I’m limited to only working on them too. All we’ve been told is just not to say who they are.”

In addition, airships have arrived with patients in Cloudsdale, who have been transported to Updraft Health and Mayday Medical. Under similar quarantine at their facilities, it is reasonable they came from the same source.

The organization in charge of quarantine in Ponyville has been silent on the potential move of patients out of the town. Due to the strict quarantine, no one is allowed within the town, so we are unable to get any view of how the town is doing.

-

Ponyville Citizens Abducted: Several Survivors Returned
Manehatten Times - May 11th

The truth of Ponyville’s quarantine since April 16th came to light this morning, in a press release by Princess Celestia and the Canterlot Investigation Agency. According to those in charge of the investigation, there were a series of kidnappings in the week leading up to April 16th, before the entire citizenship of the town disappeared overnight.

After several weeks of investigative work, it was discovered that they were taken to some unknown place, separate from Equestria, by a strange group of malicious creatures. Eventually, the way to reach this place was discovered, and with the assistance of Princesses Celestia and Luna many citizens of the town were rescued. A total of seventy-three ponies—consisting of citizens, investigators and tourists—were recovered. However, the rest of the citizens and those within the town on April 16th are considered still missing. A full list will be released in the following days.

There is mention in the release that the creatures responsible may be the subject of myths and could have committed smaller kidnappings in the past. The investigators consider this potential link to not be fully substantiated, but they “value the release of all information possible related to [their] investigation.”

Reaching out to White Clover, current head of the Canterlot Investigation Agency, about a potential threat to ponies by these creatures in the future, she had the following to say: “There is a potential risk, yes, but we do not want to start a panic. With the help of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, we want to stress that any immediate threat has been delayed at the worst, or eliminated at the best. There will be more information to follow in the coming weeks.”

-

Survivor of Ponyville Disappearance Speaks Out
Cloudsdale Glider - May 12th

The case of Ponyville’s mass disappearance has gripped nearly all of Equestria. As names filter out and hospitals are hounded by journalists and citizens alike, many want the truth. It gives us clarity in times of such a great loss, a way to shed light and glean some insight into why the events happened. To know it happened is much different than to know why it happened: one is a harsh truth we face, while the other is a way to prepare ourselves, perhaps, for the future.

While the why may escape us for now, we can at least offer solace by allowing those who experienced it to speak out. Cloudchaser, one of the pegasi recently released from Mayday Medical, came to us wanting to tell her story.

“I was one of the first. I didn’t even know all of Ponyville was gone until a few days ago. I went out one night with a friend, Thunderlane. We went out for dinner and then a night fly around town. I remember it felt cold that night, colder than it should have been, but I didn’t think anything of it. Then, it suddenly got darker, so dark. I thought it was clouds over the moon, but when I stopped flying and looked up, there wasn’t anything in the sky.

“No stars. No moon. No clouds. Then Thunderlane tapped my shoulder and I looked back at Ponyville. It was… gone. At least, most of it. I could see the hills and woods around the town, and one of the houses at the edge of town, but… But after that, it was blank. Just empty ground. We didn’t know what to do, we just panicked and tried to fly away. After a few minutes, we calmed down and decided to go to the house. It was deserted, but I could see the paintings and pictures on the wall. I knew who it belonged to, but they weren’t there! We felt so tired, so we went to sleep. I think we were hoping it was a bad dream.”

Interview continued on page 3

-

Ponyville Repairs and Population Plan
The Trotter - May 13th

Plans for Ponyville’s population have been in flux for the past few days, but word from Canterlot may finally bring it into focus. Three construction companies, out of Trottingham, Manehatten and Vanhoover, have been contracted to perform repairs on the town’s infrastructure and buildings.

While citizens that have made a recovery have been allowed to return to the town under supervision to collect their belongings, they have not been allowed to stay. This has been due to the large number of buildings and businesses that would go unused, which require processing to either family of those still missing or the government as necessary. Between repairs and this distribution of property, the estimated date for re-opening of the town is May 31st.

Princess Celestia was confident of the proposed date. “Between the companies we’ve reached out to, and the assistance of volunteers and citizens, I believe Ponyville may well be open before the end of this month. However, some degree of care is necessary when dealing with these estimates. I hope that those who’ve returned to us will be able to resume their lives in earnest as soon as possible, but we will endeavor to help them for as long as they need. While both they and all of Equestria may not be able to put these events fully behind us, we can at least assist them with regaining some degree of normalcy.”

Volunteers who wish to assist with catalogue and distribution of property from Ponyville can reach out to the Canterlot Investigation Agency.

-

Memorial or Surrender?
Pony Express - May 14th

Discussions have recently begun about a memorial to be erected in the town of Ponyville. These efforts are mostly pushed by families of those still listed as missing, along with some prominent citizens of Ponyville. A petition, started by Goldie Delicious of the Apple family, has already begun circulation in Cloudsdale, Appleoosa, and Canterlot.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure we remember those who were harmed by this whole horrid affair. Never letting the memory of our family, of our friends, leave our mind will ensure they’re never truly lost.”

Support also comes from some survivors of the town’s disappearance. Filthy Rich, a local businesspony of the town, has put his own personal fortune behind the effort. “I have been personally affected by this, as many citizens of our fair town were, and I feel this may help all of us in what we hope to accomplish: to move on. I do not expect it to assuage everypony’s worries and doubts and pain, but I think it will be a step forward for us all.”

While funding for the memorial may be possible once restoration of the town is complete, there are those that have raised concerns related to a monument of such a traumatic event. One anonymous citizen of Ponyville had this to say: “If we put one down, we’re just admitting they’re gone for good. They’re not! They’re just stuck in that place still. They can make it back, they have to make it back! We just have to wait. However long it takes.”

Some of those on the original list of missing ponies have been found, having been out of the town at the time the incident took place. However, the majority of the over two hundred missing citizens are still unaccounted for. According to the Canterlot Investigation Agency, there are no further leads and the investigation has been fully closed. Whether or not they will ever be found, the memorial could bring peace to at least some of the citizens of Ponyville, and perhaps all of Equestria too.

-

Nightmares and Shadows: What Lingers After
Galloping Gazette - May 15th

Imagine waking every morning in a cold sweat, clinging to your sheets and feeling your life was in danger. Every night, as you fall asleep, the faintest noise sets you on edge and pulls you from any hope of peaceful slumber. Even in the bright light of day, you see shapes moving in the corner of your eyes and within the shadows that seem darker than they should be.

This is the daily experience of many Ponyville citizens and a personal series of anecdotes by Aloe. Once a co-proprietor of the Ponyville Day Spa, Aloe has spent her days since being rescued at the Stable Medical Center. While she has physically recovered from the experience, she has elected not to check herself out of the hospital.

“I just don’t feel safe. I do not know if I will ever truly feel safe. Every time I go to sleep, or close my eyes, or look at the dim shadow in the corner of my room I go back there. To the dark. To the cold. To where… to where I lost her.”

A common concern we have received from our readers, asking us for further information about the events which occurred in Ponyville, is that the events which happened are not completely finished. Questions about “Shadow Walkers” and the thought that these events have transpired in the past without notice are a prevailing uncertainty within the common folk of Equestria.

“I still feel watched. Watched by them. Watched by the shadows. I want to feel safe, to feel warm, but it’s only in the light. There’s no way to be out of the darkness forever. Even lit, the light flickers. They say I’m safe. They say it’s gone, but it doesn’t feel like it.”

Doctor Blue Sky, a psychologist who has been working with patients of the Ponyville disappearance case, had this to say: “Whatever supernatural or preternatural or magical entities affected these ponies in the past, what they suffer from now is trauma. We cannot expect this aftereffect to vanish in weeks or even months. These survivors may carry it for life, but ponies in my profession will do everything we can to help them cope and, perhaps eventually, move past what they have suffered through.”

Article continued on Page 5

Case Report - Final - May 15th

Case Report: Final - May 15th
Submitted by: Verdant Vines
Location: Canterlot
Date(s): May 9th through May 15th
Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

The following is a summarization of events following the final recovery of survivors from Ponyville on May 8th. It is meant to be an overview of events leading up to the closing of this case.

Pendant, unconscious in Canterlot, awoke at roughly the same time that those in Ponyville recovered on May 8th. Over the days that followed, Lantern, Pendant, and other patients and professionals within the same hospital did not report any shared dreams. Pendant and Lantern, however, are still experiencing nightmares reflective of their trauma. They are undergoing counseling until they are cleared to return to active duty.

Daily patrols of the town continued until May 12th. No additional survivors were located through patrols, and no bodies of any deceased were found either. All those that were in Ponyville on April 16th that have not been found, either in Ponyville or throughout Equestria, are to be considered missing.

All survivors underwent medical treatment and psychological screenings on-site. Once cleared and well enough for transport, they were moved to hospitals in Canterlot and Cloudsdale as needed. On May 12th, any patients still in severe condition were moved into Ponyville General, where they are still being treated. All patients will be offered physical therapy and psychological counseling as needed.

All those that were considered suspects before recovery of survivors began were subjected to additional psychological evaluations and questioning. All were cleared of intent to cause any further harm and were moved to general triage by May 10th.

To date, the town of Ponyville has not been opened up for permanent residency. At time of writing, plans are to begin moving back residents that are considered well and mentally sound by May 31st. This will allow time to repair infrastructure and building damage, and catalog which residences and possessions are to be passed on to the families of those missing and which are to be marked as unowned. However, citizens that have recovered are allowed into the town to collect any personal belongings, provided that they agree to be escorted.

None of the nightmarish visions mentioned in previous journals or by those working on the case were experienced following May 8th. While many survivors and those working on the case still report odd dreams and nightmares, they are all visible to Princess Luna.

No further communication was received in Solace’s journal by Twilight Sparkle or the individual that wrote the threat to Princess Celestia. The journal has remained in Princess Celestia’s custody under her request.

Official word of the events began circulation on May 11th. A summary of the strange events leading up to the town’s disappearance are all included, along with mention of the creatures and the place they came from. Any information about the possibility that these creatures are all ponies themselves has been left out of the official story. The timeline of the investigation and recovery of survivors was also made public, though mention of Twilight Sparkle’s role in the events has been omitted. Instead, Princesses Celestia and Luna have taken the lion’s share of responsibility.

There has been no restriction on survivors to share their experiences, and many have been interviewed by a variety of newspapers throughout Equestria. We have offered, until the town reopens, to provide room and board for all patients removed from hospitalization.

In addition to psychological evaluations, mature citizens have been approached for questioning about their experiences. Information is being collected and cataloged in the event that similar occurrences happen in the future.

For now, no additional evidence has been located, and the case is considered closed until further evidence is brought to light.

Signed,
Verdant Vines
Head Investigator
Case #3467

Candle Cafe - May 16th

The evening sun painted the streets of Canterlot in dim oranges and reds where it reached, and in dark blacks where it did not. From her seat in a small storefront, Verdant Vines could see an alleyway across the path. The shadows in it appeared deep and unfathomable, even as the bakery nearby turned on its lights. She stared at it, her vision narrowing until all she could observe was the blackness. Limbs and body tensing, she tried to fight against the ensuing shiver that ran down her spine.

“Here’s your tea, Miss Vines.”

Verdant Vines blinked, vision returning to normalcy as she looked to the stallion standing next to her table. He placed two cups down on the table, steam wafting up from them. In the candlelight of the Candle Cafe, his dark orange coat and dull yellow mane seemed vibrant to her eyes, especially in contrast to the brown apron he wore.

She offered him a smile and took one of the cups in her hooves. Raising it to her muzzle, she noticed the hints of floral fragrance in the steam. “Thank you, Wick,” she muttered before taking a gentle sip; the sweet honey was just enough to counteract the slightly bitter taste of some flower beneath it.

Her eyes drifted back towards the dark alley, until she caught sight of a white unicorn trotting by the front window. Verdant Vines met the unicorn’s gaze, smiled, and placed her tea down. She was able to ignore the alley and its empty shadows, however impossible the act seemed to her. A chipper chime announced the unicorn’s entrance into the shop, her bright yellow mane rendered duller by the dim light.

“I’m sorry for running late, Vines.” She approached the table, pulling a seat away with her magic. “The train was—”

“I know, Clover. It’s fine. You somehow managed to get here right as the tea was ready, so…” Vines nudged the second cup towards White Clover and felt the tension in her body seep out of her.

White Clover took her seat, lifting the cup up in her magic to take a sip. She savored it for a moment, eyes closed, before swallowing. “Lilac, honey, and… daffodil?” White Clover looked towards Flickering Wick, now seated behind the counter.

He smiled and chuckled. “Always on the money, Clover. Can’t sneak a bit by you.”

“It’s delicious as always.” White Clover went for another sip, but stopped halfway when she noticed the expression on Verdant Vines’ face: solemn and rigid despite the smile she wore. “Enjoying being back home, Vines?”

Vines took a deep breath, eyes drifting down to the cup in front of her. She moved it back and forth in her hooves, the tea inside swirling gently. “It’s,” she finally let the breath go, “the same as it ever was. Always a little weird to get back after spending weeks somewhere else, like it should have changed while I was gone. Of course, the atmosphere has, but…” She looked up to Clover. “Thankful to be able to pass out in my own bed again.”

Clover giggled, though her smile softened after a moment. “Always better when a case is actually solved, right?”

Vines’ hooves stopped. She nodded and then downed the rest of her cup in a long gulp. “Yeah, means some accomplishment. Though it’s…” She sat the cup down towards the edge of the table. “How about just coffee, Wick? Have a cup or two left?”

Flickering Wick began to forage around the cupboards beneath the counter. “Always have to make a new pot for you, Vines.”

With Flickering Wick distracted and a minor racket acting as cover, Vines lowered her voice and leaned closer to Clover. “I’m still not sure that it’s done for good.”

Clover leaned in as well, taking a deep breath. “We’ve talked about this already, Vines. It’s never really going to be ‘over.’ We keep helping the po—”

“You know what I mean, Clover. I’m still left with questions we can’t really be sure about.” Vines glanced around the shop, verifying that they were the only three ponies there, and that some passerby wasn’t about to join them. “Do you think they know what Twilight knew?”

Clover took a long sip of her tea. Letting out a sigh, she kept her eyes on Vines. “Well, from the interviews it seems like no one else that went through the ordeal made any kind of ground on… understanding that place. I think the closest consensus was them understanding that the creatures there hated the light and that they felt cold outside of the light, both things we already mentioned in the press release.”

Vines tapped the floor gently with a hoof, but caught herself after a few moments. “And what she did?”

Clover was quiet for a few moments. “If they do, they haven’t said anything to us, except for Solace. She approached him after… that ordeal, and he had some idea of what she was, though he didn’t understand it until we showed him the journal. Still, he’s unwilling to discuss it, probably to put what he suffered through behind him. That and he understands why we didn’t mention it.” Clover looked down at her tea, lifting the cup to her lips. “The kind of panic it could raise… knowing that those things were once us. That if they come back, more ponies could join them.”

The din of rummaging quieted and the two mares leaned back in their seats. Wick approached the table with a tray just a minute later, dropping off two clean cups and a fresh pot of coffee. Clover smiled and floated a few bits towards him. “Wick, would you mind getting a few things for me from the back? I’m low on that rosemary brew and green tea too. Some more jasmine and lilac would hit the spot as well. I just can’t do without them at home, and the stock from Leaf’s store is… It just never compares.”

Wick placed the bits in a pouch on his apron and headed for the backroom. “Anything for my best customers. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

While the two were left alone, they still kept their voices low. As Clover poured a cup for both of them, Vines resumed their conversation. “So you think the story is good? I mean, given somepony doesn’t break protocol.”

“Are you getting ideas or just being worried?” Clover focused on finishing her tea, though she moved her cup of coffee close enough for the steam to waft up towards her muzzle. Vines had nothing to say. “Regardless, yes. I think the story we’ve given Equestria is… acceptable. Enough truth to avoid questioning. Certainly there’s still a worry about it happening again because we told them that it happened before, but most of the focus is on what ponies went through and what we’ll do to move forward.”

Vines sighed as the warmth from her drink spread out through her body. She took another, longer sip when she saw the darkened road outside, the last rays of the sunset nearly gone by the time the street lamps turned on. “Then you have ponies like Rainbow Dash, and me.”

Vines felt a hoof on hers. Her gaze drifted back to Clover across the table. Her eyes were kind despite how weary they appeared. They seemed to stare deeply into Vines’. “It’s over, Vines. There’s no more visions, there’s no more whispers, there’s no danger in the dark and… you wrote the last report, right? You know the truth.”

Vines sat her coffee down, and then gripped Clover’s hoof gently in return. “I know. I… we can’t know for sure. If she can’t feel it, what warning is there? Maybe the Princesses will have more to say, eventually. When they feel they can actually tell Equestria, at least.” She looked to her side, down at the saddlebags next to her chair. “You need the report, right?”

Clover softened her grip on Vines’ hoof. “If it’s ready. I’ll make sure it gets where it needs to go.” When Vines nodded, Clover reached into the bag with her magic, pulling out a manila folder and a reel of audio tape. She put the tape in her own bag and opened up the folder. “Amalgam?”

“Celestia didn’t give any request other than making a file. I thought it fit.” Vines finally let go of Clover’s hoof and returned to her coffee. Her eyes drifted back to the alley across the street. In the dusk, lit by only the bakery next to it and the street lamps of the road, it seemed darker still. The shadows were growing, encroaching on the empty street more and more by the second, but every sip of warm, bitter coffee pushed them back.

“Yes, I suppose it does. Do you think they’ll…?” Clover asked.

“It’s up to them. I hope they make some progress, but… how do you recover from that? Especially when one of them doesn’t want it.”

As the door to the backroom opened, Clover put the file in her bags. She and Vines returned to their coffee, their tea, and eventually to talking about anything but the case that had finished. Vines managed to pull her attention away from the alleyway, but she couldn’t stop herself from glancing at it out of the corner of her eye.

Case File - Amalgam

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

Case Report: Update - May 2nd

Case Report: Update - May 2nd
Submitted by: Verdant Vines
Location: Ponyville
Date(s): May 2nd
Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

White Clover,

I apologize for the delay of delivery in the documents attached. After recovery of the transcribed journal (now the third believed to be written by ~~surv~~ victims of the events of April 16th), we performed all necessary magical precautions dictated by procedure to verify it was safe to handle. I requested that Doctor Blue Sky withhold sending his team’s interviews until we had all information prepared as well.

However, after the initial transcription of the journal was completed, a cursory review to verify its contents revealed new writing at the end of the journal, which had appeared without any quill marks on the page. A second review for any hostile enchantments or hexes revealed nothing malicious. Mirror Gleam, in charge of this review, noted that there was a faint magical aura, though it is not strong enough to trace it to a source.

Given the new writings included in the addendum to the provided journal transcription, I’ve elected to continue our investigation through conversing with whoever, or whatever, is on the other side of it. They claim to be Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's personal student. I’d like to request that Princess Celestia is not informed of this possibility until we can verify their identity.

As such, from this day forward I will be sending daily reports before sundown with transcription of our conversations, along with any thoughts I have. Included with these documents is a formal request of personnel transfer for Doctor Blue Sky to my team in order to assist with any psychological evaluations related to the writer in the journal. His team will continue to support evaluations of personnel working the case.

Sincerely,
Verdant Vines
Head Investigator
Case #3467

Personal Letter to White Clover - May 2nd

Clover,

I already submitted my case report for the updates in Ponyville, but I just wanted to make sure you’re doing well. Most everything I get from you is official, and I know that it’s important to keep things running smoothly here, but I need to know you’re alright.

We still haven’t replied to “Twilight,” and I’m cautious to get my hopes up that it’s really her. It could help us make a breakthrough, find out what happened, and maybe get survivors back. It could help us get answers: about what really happened to all those ponies in Ponyville, about what recently happened to Lantern and Pendant. and let us know if it’s going to happen again.

I know you’re probably busier than me, but please write back.

It’ll be simpler in the official request I’m going to make alongside this, but I want to keep Doctor Blue Sky here for more than just psychological evaluations on my team members. His team will still keep doing that, of course, but I need someone to help me with “Twilight." You know I’ve never been the best with ponies who’ve gone through these traumatic events. That was always your specialty, even if you were on the team for your work with hexes and enchantments.

I can’t have you here for either of those now, so I guess I just want your blessing on it. You even recommended Mirror Gleam after you were promoted and I’m thankful that you did, since she found something magical affecting that journal. The aura is too weak for something like a transmittal spell, but it at least means something tangible is going on with it. That and the lack of anything malicious is a positive.

I promise I’ll keep everypony safe going forward, including me.

Love,
Vines

P.S. Visit Lantern and Pendant for me if you have the time.

Personal Letter to White Clover - May 3rd

Clover,

Today was productive, though I’m still unsure about “Twilight’s” identity. At this point, without seeing her face to face, it’s impossible to be one-hundred percent certain, but I still can’t shake this nagging suspicion despite her responses. Even when I try to put it aside, it keeps crawling back into my thoughts. I’ll leave it up to your discretion on whether or not to inform Princess Celestia, and I’ll be ready to make any necessary arrangements to accommodate her stay.

I had a dream last night. You’ll read about it in my discussion with Blue Sky, or maybe you already did if this letter arrives late (or you just put business first like always). We were at Candle Cafe. I felt happy like always, to be able to talk to you again, even if the rest of it was alarming. It’s this imagery similar to some reported dreams from the journals we’ve found here: darkness, candles going out, being alone and isolated. My first instinct is that it’s just reading these accounts over and over again, spending every waking moment focused on this case.

Still, I know what Lantern said he went through. I know what Pendant went through. I know that my team members wouldn’t lie about all these dreams and that ponies having such similar ones is unlikely at best. I never had the dreams that others reported, when it seemed like they were dreaming the same thing as Lantern a day or two behind him. I wonder why it might be happening now. Maybe it’s delayed or it affects ponies differently. “Twilight” has already said as much.

I’ll try and assign some ponies to looking through the myths and legends books we brought over from Canterlot to see if they can find anything about shared dreams. It could be helpful, no matter what we find. It would give them something to do, to occupy themselves.

I miss you, Clover. I hope you can come when Princess Celestia does, if she does. I hope we can meet at Candle Cafe when I get back, though if you don’t want to wait and you make it here, Blue Sky has an excellent selection of teas. I think he and my father would get along swimmingly on that alone.

Love,
Vines

P.S. Get some sleep, okay? Even if you have to put the work off, just get to bed at a reasonable hour.

P.P.S. It's a stretch, but if you dream anything similar—something about me—please let me know. I don't know if it will be relevant or just coincidence, but I need to know.

Personal Letter to Verdant Vines - May 4th

Vines,

I’m sorry this letter took so long to write. I didn’t receive yours until late in the morning. I think there was some issue with the delivery. I’ll make sure that this letter finds you quickly. The information is urgent, but I’m sure this will not take as long to write up as an official memo.

I visited Pendant and Lantern today at Asclopius Hospital. Official reports from the doctors are still being written, but they informed me of their conditions. Pendant is still comatose. She hasn’t awoken since she arrived on the 30th. However, some ponies have heard groans coming from her despite a lack of movement. Lantern, on the other hoof, has been having an easier time getting to sleep, but he’s still been complaining of nightmares.

The thing is that other ponies staying there, unrelated to the case, are having them too. Even the doctors, nurses, and orderlies are reporting them. They’re all of the same things Lantern and others at Ponyville mentioned: candles, darkness, being watched, whispers. They’re minor, small, irregular, but they’re happening. I’m having them. I had the same one you wrote about, but you blew the candle out.

I took the time today to inform Princess Celestia about the line of communication to Twilight and some other details, mainly the dreams and the incident with Blue Sky, Pendant, and yourself. She’s known about the nightmares for a few days, as part of some of Blue Sky and his team’s reports, and she told me that she reached out to Princess Luna about them. Luna has searched through dreams during her nighttime vigils, but she’s found nothing. No sign of them. It's like the ponies having them aren't asleep.

I’m worried, Vines. I want to keep up hope, but more and more of this makes it seem like it’s out of our hooves. Celestia is heading to Ponyville tomorrow. She has a few loose ends to tie up related to some court duties, but I’ll be traveling with her. Please ready whatever accommodations you can for her and me, as well as some additional guards.

Try to sleep well tonight. I’ll be there soon.

Love,
Clover

P.S. I don’t know if it will help, but if you do have a similar dream, give me a sign. Do that eye roll you do whenever I ask about your family. It will be to see if they’re connected. I’ll try to spin something in the air.

Personal Letter to White Clover - May 4th

Clover,

I hope this letter finds you well, and I apologize if its delivery woke you at all. I sent the fastest pegasus we had to get it to you. We’ve found Solace. Twilight Sparkle said she had some way to bring ponies back from this place they’re all trapped in and that she could test it with him. She told us to keep a watch on Town Hall. I tried to tell her to wait for word from my superiors because of the potential risk, but it seems she moved forward without us.

It was around 5 p.m. when I was interrupted from my session with Doctor Blue Sky by Cage. We rushed to Town Hall, where he said they had found a pony that had Solace’s cutie mark, though he was in poor condition. He was up in the mayor’s office, sprawled out on the floor in the center of the room.

Blue Sky gave him as much of an examination as he could, but we couldn’t truly do anything until the medic arrived. His breathing was shallow and ragged. Most of the fat and muscle on his body had wasted away, his bones clearly visible along his chest, barrel, haunches, flank, and thighs. His mane, tail, and coat had all dried up, losing a lot of their color. His eyes were still closed. He may have been sleeping, but we didn’t get any response from him.

Both Blue Sky and I did as much as we could to help once the medic arrived. We kept him stationary and assisted with inserting an IV into his foreleg. Given his state, the medic suggested we get him to a more stable location where he could recover. We were able to get him on a stretcher and to the local hospital. The first of hopefully many more patients.

He’s yet to wake up, but the medic and one of Blue Sky’s colleagues think his condition is stable.

Clover, we’ve seen a pony locked up and underfed for a week or two at the most. I’ve never seen anything this bad. What if everypony else is like this? We’ll need a lot more on hoof than we already have, and that isn’t even taking into account the staff needed.

See if you can get in touch with a few hospitals in Canterlot and Cloudsdale. Blue Sky thinks if we make use of the latter for pegasi, we could accommodate the full population of the town.

If you’re only reading this in the morning, safe travels. Otherwise, sleep well.

Love,
Vines

Case Report: Survivors Recovered - May 7th

Case Report: Survivors Recovered - May 7th
Submitted by: Verdant Vines
Location: Ponyville
Date(s): May 7th
Case: Ponyville Mass Disappearance (#3467)
Classification: Top Secret

Additional survivors recovered on May 7th, including their condition, location and time of discovery, are listed below for the record.

Matilda
Location: Private residence
Time: 9:42 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting. Escorted to triage.

Ditzy Doo
Location: Private residence
Time: 10:16 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, scars on base of wings. Refused to be moved until recovery of daughter minutes later. Escorted to triage.

Dinky Doo
Location: Private residence
Time: 10:22 a.m.
Condition: Unconscious, moderate malnourishment. Moved to triage.

Lily Valley
Location: Bountiful Bouquets
Time: 11:16 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, scars on neck and barrel. Escorted to triage.

Warmfront
Location: Quills and Sofas
Time: 11:42 a.m.
Condition: Conscious, scars on face and flank, mild wasting. Escorted to triage.

Clear Skies
Location: Quills and Sofas
Time: 11:56 a.m.
Condition: Unconscious, moderate wasting and malnourishment. Moved to triage.

Hazel Harvest
Location: Private Residence
Time: 12:42 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, mild wasting. Moved to triage.

Cup Cake
Location: Sugarcube Corner
Time: 1:06 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting. Refused to be touched for several minutes. Escorted to triage.

Blossomforth
Location: Private residence
Time: 2:36 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, bruises on barrel and one broken wing. Moved to triage.

Flitter
Location: Northern outskirts
Time: 3:09 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, mild wasting, scarring on barrel at base of wings. Escorted to triage.

Ambrosia
Location: Agates to Zircons
Time: 3:52 p.m.
Condition: Unconscious, severe malnourishment and wasting. Moved to triage.

Ivy Vine
Location: Agates to Zircons
Time: 4:01 p.m.
Condition: Conscious, exhausted, and delirious. Calmed and escorted to triage.

Spanner
Location: Northeast of Sweet Apple Acres
Time: 5:18 p.m.
Condition: Conscious and found carrying packs of supplies. Escorted to triage.

Sugarcane
Location: Northeast of Sweet Apple Acres
Time: 5:18 p.m.
Condition: Conscious and found carrying packs of supplies. Escorted to triage.

Rainbow Dash
Location: Northeast of Sweet Apple Acres
Time: 5:18 p.m.
Condition: Conscious and found carrying packs of supplies. Refused to be moved for several minutes. Escorted to triage.

Rescue operations were called off and delayed before sundown. Additional survivors remain, and efforts will resume as soon as possible.

Some psychological evaluations have been started by Doctor Blue Sky and his team, though a majority of their efforts are on stabilizing new survivors and providing care until they can be moved to additional sites.

Signed,
Verdant Vines
Head Investigator
Case #3467

Witness Interview - Twilight Sparkle - May 8th

Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle
Date: May 8th
Time: 9:16 a.m.
Interviewer: Princess Celestia

There was new writing when I awoke in the morning. It was not Twilight’s.

They’ll never come back
Never fully
Never truly
Never in one piece

Lost
Fractured
Wanderers
Wonderers

Clinging to shadows
for safety
for comfort
for purpose

Princess
of lost souls
of worthless paradise
of the sun that will sear their flesh away

Did you really think you could trust her?
A failure?
A deceiver?
A broken mare?
Resolve
Time
light
hope

All will run out
All will fade
All will end
All will become ruin

We are coming

(There had been no alarms raised in camp, and Ponyville looked serene in the early dawn. My sleep, for its part, had been calm and peaceful.

I had to assume who it was that wrote the words, but how she had come across Twilight’s book—wrestled it away from her—was impossible to tell.)

Twilight, are you there?

(There was no immediate reply, and I sent Shining Armor to alert Vines and Clover to keep everypony out of town. Before he returned, new writing began to appear.

It was her.)

Princess
yes

I
do not know
how

I was
vigilant
I was
careful

I was
awake
and then

I
I failed

Twilight, it’s alright. Are you safe? Did They hurt you?

yes
safe

whole

racing
raving
worried

did They
attack

I’m not sure, Twilight. Everything appears normal this morning. The guards have not gone into Ponyville yet, and I’ve informed them to be kept away for now.

no
it must continue
I have to save them

I have to come home

I have to finish

please Princess

We want to be sure it’s safe, Twilight. Safety is our priority. It must be.

if I wait
stumble
bide

they will be lost
They will win

please
Princess

I must do this

Twilight, please. You must understand that putting yourself in danger will not help anyone. It may only doom the ones left to save. Relax, calm yourself, breathe.

Care is needed here, above all else. To protect us. To protect you. To protect everyone.

Shining Armor returned. There was no response from Twilight. He informed me that Vines and Clover had held their patrols back, but that they wished to speak with me.

I took the journal with me.