In the instant that everything stood still the events that played out in front of Serena froze, like the others she found that she was frozen in place unable to move a muscle of her body, yet she was still aware. She looked at the couple that was the centre of the commotion in the room, and the look of panic that had adorned their features once the Hooded Man; or rather the Memories Sentiment as he called introduced himself. Judging of what little of his face she could see under his black hood was the furious expression and piercing gold eyes, while Serena couldn’t make out what he was saying she saw him materialise some sort of rifle in his hands and just fire it into the air, muttering something under his breath. A moment later the couple just seemed to unravel and then just fade into nothing, as if they were never there in the first place.

“Was there even anyone there?” She wondered briefly, but couldn’t seem to recall anyone being there in the first place.

“Don’t bother.” The Sentiment spoke as he walked past her frozen body. “Things like that won’t be missed or remembered. I know you’re aware, my influence can only go so far with a being that’s more powerful than I am.” He stood still for a moment before snapping his fingers, “And thus the memories tell their story and time marches on.”

Time seemed to rewind back a few moments as the world seemed to be erasing the events that played out before and then just continue on as if nothing had happened…

Serena made her way to the reception desk, still slightly confused at the appearance of the Memories Sentiment and unsure on how she could even explain it.

“How may I help you?” The receptionist, a small pastel blue unicorn asked Serena politely.

“I’m here to see Dr Samuel Weiss; I believe he is expecting me.” Serena answered. The receptionist picked up the phone via telekinesis and informed Dr Weiss of Serena’s arrival.

“Just go on through, he should be in his office at the end of the hall on the right.” The receptionist informed Serena.

Samuel was in his office still trying to come to terms of his new situation, sighing he did his best to continue his research into this matter of the memory alteration. Nothing seemed to lead anywhere; he just hoped that Dr Serena Narcissa held the answers he sought so desperately. A knock upon his office door pulled him away from his thoughts.

“Please come in.” He greeted, “You must be Dr Narcissa, and it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.” Serena just looked at him dumbfounded of what to say. “Ah, please forgive me my…new situation. I hope you have some good news, as I’ve exhausted all possible leads I’ve come across.”

“Yes the issue regarding the memory alterations.” Serena took a moment to look through the file she was carrying and pulled out a set of photographs. Samuel examined the photographs with some disbelief.

The first photograph seemed to be of some sort black creature locked in combat with a hooded figure, the creature for the most part seemed human in shape but it had tendrils and elongated nails the seemed to form claws, it’s jaw was open and split down the centre revealing its unusually long tongue.

The second seemed to be the moon that appeared at the start of this mess, only cracked open revealing some sort of massive creature inside it. Samuel double checked this image with the photo of the false moon in his own records and it confirmed that they were one and the same.

The final photo was a close up of the hooded man in the earlier photo, the hood he was wearing was still up but the angle of the shot revealed a young man with brown hair and gold eyes.

“Hmm…” Samuel muttered, “I’m sorry but I fail to see the connection between the three.”

“The false moon is responsible for all this; it produces these creatures that are composed of the memories of others twisted into unnatural shapes and forms.” Serena explained, “The hooded man in the photo hunts these creatures down and in the process changes the memories of others around him.”

“Well, I must say Dr Narcissa.” Samuel paused for a moment, “This wasn’t what I was expecting….”

“Well she’s telling the truth…” A voice spoke out, “She was with me when through all that, but I doubt she remembers any of it.”

“Who the hell are you?!” Samuel demanded. A hooded figure appeared from thin air leaning against the wall behind Serena with his arms folded.

“I am the Memories Sentiment, and I must apologise for the trouble I’ve caused everyone here just by being on this world.” The Sentiment stated, “Before ask any questions let me speak…”

“Fine then….explain yourself.” Samuel asked as politely as he could though it sounded forced on his part.

“What I am allowed to tell you is the memory alteration is my doing.” He explained, “Being what I am I have the ability to control memories in its entirety, there are rules I have to follow but my hand is being forced right now. You see someone or rather somepony has given me strict instructions to follow, which sadly I must adhere to…”

“And they are?” Serena and Samuel asked.

“And I quote: You must find my sister, and then eradicate any of those creatures you encounter and finally ensure this will never happen to either of us ever again.” The Sentiment explained. “To put a long story short, my reasons altering memories left, right and centre are to protect others from these creatures and the false moon.”

“And why is this needed?” Samuel asked.

“These creatures twist memories of others to breed, by altering the memories the creatures can’t touch them as the new memories are basically lethal to them if they get anywhere near them.” The Sentiment continued, “I can’t control what the memories of other are unless they willingly allow me to. So the Memories are based on that person’s deepest desire instead.”

“Um…Could you have a look at this please?” Serena asked nervously, pulling out a small heart shaped locket that looked like it could be separated into two separate pieces. The Sentiment took it without a word and opened it.

Inside was picture of a young couple, the woman seemed to be Serena while the young man seemed familiar to him. It was as if he was looking at a reflection of himself, the only difference he could find was the eye colour; in the photo the eyes of the young man were blue while his was clearly gold.

“How long have you had this?” The Sentiment asked.

“I’ve had it since I was child.” Serena answered, “I assumed they were my parents.”

The Memories Sentiment took great care to take the photo out of the locket revealing an inscription.

“Together no matter how far apart – Cillen and Serena”

A heavy silence filled the room; the Sentiment dared not say a word but eventually answered sounding somewhat sad.

“I gave you this locket so it would help us both remember, it’s how I could find you so quickly…” He explained, “I can’t tell you anything about the woman in the photo, but the man in the picture….I’m all that’s left of him…I’m literally the memory of a man that died a long, long time ago.” Serena couldn’t explain why but she just clung onto the Sentiment and cried into his chest…

I felt a feeling of déjà vu wash over me as I became aware of my surroundings, I quickly did a back track of what I was doing I blushed when I came to realise what was happening. Mom stood there in the doorway in complete utter shock.

“…It’s not what it looks like!” Shane practically screamed. Sighing well if I’m going be murdered might as well go out with a bang…

“Shane…” I spoke up, “You aren’t fooling anyone…we’ve been caught it’s as simple as that.”

“Oh fuck me…” Shane groaned.

“….hmm maybe later.” I said innocently. Shane went bright crimson and my mother only stared on eyes as large as dinner plates.

A few moments later after we had composed ourselves into a more…dignified situation, Mom had sat down upon the nearby desk chair glaring daggers at Shane. Shane on the other hand was currently cowering under my mother’s gaze.

“…So I…understand you and Shane are an item now.” She stated, “I must say this is quite the surprise.”

“Hmm…” I wondered briefly how I would explain about the whole issue with our memories, “Well we thought we would give it a shot at the very least.” Yeah smooth Marcia…real smooth.

“You don’t have to lie to me Mark,” Mom replied, “I know about your memories, and I assume Shane and Matt has been affected as well.” Mom paused for a moment patiently awaiting my response.

“It’s true.” Shane piped up, “It isn’t only our memories but anything relating to us, it’s as if the world around us is changing to match our memories.” Mom remained silent at Shane’s answer unsure on how to respond.

“Sorry if I interrupt your moment together.” Samuel spoke up, getting Serena and the Sentiment’s attention. “But what exactly do mean by control over memory?” The Sentiment took a moment to compose himself before he answered.

“Well it’s exactly that.” He answered simply, “As a Sentiment I’m basically a personification of an aspect of life itself, there are other Sentiments and each of us have absolute control over our aspect. As such I can change, restore and even erase memory in any shape or form even if it’s just data on a computer, muscle memory to as far as genetic memory.”

“And I assume there are restrictions to this?” Samuel wondered aloud.

“There are some, for example I can’t interfere directly with the memories of others who don’t want me to unless there is one of those creatures are present on the world I’m on, then the memory alteration happens as a sort of defence mechanism regardless if I want to or not.” The Sentiment explained.

“So I take it you’re responsible for Scott’s lack of memory of his former self.” Samuel asked, the Sentiment just nodded his head.

“Didn’t have much of a choice it was either that or let him turn into one of those creatures,” He continued, “Thankfully the transformation into an Equestrain delayed the transformation long enough for me to remove the infected memories.” Samuel sighed out of the surreal nature of this conversation.

“And what did you leave him?” Samuel asked.

“Memories of a family he always wanted.” The Sentiment answered, “No different than that filly you were treating here.”

“Hmm,” Samuel answered, “There still hasn’t been any word on who did that to her…”

“Don’t you worry yourself about it, I’m sure whoever did it has already been dealt with.” He replied, “I’m sure she’ll make a complete recovery and quite possibly surprise you.”

“I certainly hope so, but still about all this what happens now?” Samuel asked.

“I’m sorry but I can’t say, for the time being I’ll be staying with Serena. I imagine she has a few questions for me in private.” The Sentiment added.

“Um is there any way we could help you?” Serena asked, The Memories Sentiment was about to decline a small smile graced his features.

“With my business no…but at the very least call me by my name…Cillen Raines.” He answered, “It’s been far too long since I’ve been called that.”

In a grand hall belonging to a once great kingdom, countless ponies laid frozen in time with the exception of a select few. A lavender alicorn collapsed from exhaustion due the rift she had to maintain for her mentor and mother figure.

“Princess Twilight are you alright!” A member of her personal guard asked his voice full of worry; she nodded weakly as she saw her mentor return through the slowly closing rift.

“How are the others?” She asked concerned, “Has there been any progress?”

“Rarity and Applejack are still frozen; fluttershy is tending to the injured, Pinkie is keeping Rainbow company and Rainbow has been hysterical since that Sentiment came here.” Twilight explained, “It’s the always the same, it’s as if Dashie and that weapon he carries clash with each other.”

“It isn’t Rainbow Dash that clashes with that spear, it’s the element she embodies that clashes with it….” The larger alicorn explained, “Loyalty and Betrayal can’t co-exist at the same time, from what he tells me about the weapon it should only be temporary, nothing fatal but it will always cause Rainbow Dash some discomfort.”

“How did the meeting go by the way?” Twilight asked. “I hope it’s good news…” Celestia smiled warmly.

“He’s found Luna, and from the sound of things on his end, the False Moon is slowly fading from existence, and we’ll have a new home soon.” Celestia answered.

“…A new home?” Twilight repeated confused.

“After the attacks of these monsters…the Memoria, Eques is slowly losing its ability to sustain life and our population is at an all-time low…” Celestia winced at the list of casualties caused by those monstrosities. “In one month from now every living thing on this planet will be transported to a planet called Earth. Apparently the False Moon had begun its twisted process but it was altered somehow by the Memories Sentiment and Luna during its encounter with them.”

“But what about their world’s government?” Twilight continued, “Surely they’ll object to all this!” A stern look washed over Celestia’s face.

“As he put it,” She began, “Don’t expect a warm welcome straight away, at the very least I’ll get them to listen and if I can’t I’ll make them.”

Author's Note

And thus the finale of the Overwrite arc is complete, The "Thirty Days" arc begins next week.

-Silent