Chapters Prologue
It was another lovely sunny day in Ponyville. The sun shone, the the water sparkled, screams of ponies filled the air...
“HYDRA!!”
The panicked ponies ran in packs pellmell through the streets as a greenish-brown, four-headed beast roared, stomping closer to the town.
The height of 20 ponies, its slick and slimy body dripped with the muck from the bog it called home. Its two legs thundering against the ground as the giant monster thrashed it's huge tail. Its four maws roared, each big enough to snatch up a pony in a single gulp. It stalked closer to the town, just moments away from the biggest pony feast of its life.
But it had one obstacle.
Standing in its way were six brightly colored ponies.
Twilight Sparkle smiled confidently as she glanced at her friends, eager to defend their home.
“Another day, another disaster,” the rainbow maned cyan pegasus chuckled, “You ready girls?”
“Ain't no ugly four headed brute gonna munch on ponies taday,” the orange earth pony smiled, tipping her stetson cowboy hat back over her blond mane as she readied a lasso.
“Right,” Twilight nodded. “Let's do this. Rarity, you and Fluttershy evacuate the nearby buildings and join us when you're done.”
“You can count on us Twilight,” Rarity smiled, flicking her delicately curled purple mane back, her white fur coat gleaming in the sun.
“Of course Twilight,” Fluttershy nodded, her wings barely fluttering as she hovered less than a foot from the ground, “I mean, if you think that's best...”
Twilight nodded as the pair took off and she turned her attention back to the approaching beast, “Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, keep that thing distracted.”
“Aw yeah!” the cyan pegasus crowed as she shot forwards with blistering speed to swirl around the heads of the confused beast. Three followed her, snapping at her hooves as she spun in circles fast enough to leave a rainbow trail behind her.
The fourth looked on in mild confusion until a squeaky voice from below caught it's attention. A bright blob of pink that was in the shape of a pony.
“Oh Mr.Hydra,” Came the sing-song voice from below, “Up for a game? I just love games, games of all kinds, solo games are fun but the best games are with friends don't you think? There's Twister, Mare-opoly, and my favorite Pin the Tail on the Pony and...”
Pinkie was cut off as the head crashed down around her location, scooping up a mouthful of ground in the process.
“Ooh, you want to play tag?” Pinkie had somehow appeared behind the hydras head as she leaned into his eyes, “Ok, tag you're it!” she slapped the hydra in the face as it spat out the ground it had gathered in its first attempt. Further attempts yielded it biting a rock, a tree, and a lot more dirt, but every time Pinkie dodged away without a care in the world.
“Good,” Twilight smiled, “AJ,you ready? We're gonna need you to hog-tie this hydra.”
“Not a problem Twilight,” Applejack smiled, her lasso already spinning from her tail-tip, “Jus leave it ta me.”
The earth pony took off at top speed, flinging the rope with a perfect hook around the hydras tail tip before racing around and around the creature, tying up it's legs.
It was just as Dash was beginning to get tired (though she would have said she was giving the hydra a moment to breathe) that the creature noticed it's bonds and gave a sudden kick trying to pull free. While the rope didn't break, there was enough slack that the kick managed to catch Applejack in the side as she ran by, hurling her towards a nearby tree. Thankfully before she hit she was encased in a blue glow and stopped before being deposited on the ground.
Nearby Twilight smiled, seeing the blue glow fade from Raritys horn, she and Fluttershy had returned just in time.
“Dear me,” the unicorn female gasped. “You're a lot heavier than you look Applejack, muscles or not.”
“Yeah well thanks for the assist Rarity,” Applejack chuckled, “Now how about we get this critter back ta where he belongs?”
“I've got it,” Twilight smiled, “It's a new banishment spell I've been working on. It'll send him to a nice bog on the other side of the Everfree Forest where we won't have to deal with him again.”
“Are you sure that's a good idea Twilight?” Fluttershy muttered in her tiny voice as she flew up to her friend, “The Everfree Forest is really big. That's a long way to send any animal as big as he is.”
“Don't worry,” Twilight smiled, “I'm sure I've got this under control. Size doesn't matter in this spell.”
Fluttershy still looked unsure as Twilight got as close as she dared to the struggling creature, her horn beginning to glow, first one layer, then two, then three as the Hydra was covered in the same lavender glow. By the fourth layer on Twilights horn she was sweating profusely and straining as hard as she could. The hydra began to lift into the air as twilight put all her force behind the spell.
But then something unexpected happened.
There was a noise like tearing fabric (which indecently made Rarity shriek with fear), as space around the Hydra seemed to twist and warp. Huge cracks began to appear over the hydra, suddenly there was a noise like breaking glass and Twilight watched in horror as the image of the hydra shattered, like a stain glass window having a rock thrown through it. Beyond was darkness. A consuming darkness that gaped like the maw of a ferocious predictor.
A terrible wind kicked up as the ponies struggled to hold on to anything. Twilight yelped as she struggled to grab hold but there was nothing nearby to hold on to. Dash swooped in to try and grab her, and for a moment that seemed to work, but Twilights hooves were still slick with sweat and Rainbow couldn't get a good grip.
“What's happening!?” Dash called over the roar of the wind.
“It's broken!” Pinkies voice called back over the storm, “Twilight broke it!”
“Broke what!?” she and Dash replied at the same time.
“Reality!” Pinkie called back.
Before Twilight could even comprehend Pinkies words, Dash lost her grip, and the last thing she saw was her friends shouting her name as she was plunged into the inky black void.
Chapter 2: The Dream Machine
Chapter 2: The Dream Machine
Twilights barrage of questions that followed had been all but impossible for the doctor to answer, so Brian agreed to show her. He was reluctant to do it so soon after she'd woken up, but it was clear her insatiable desire to know was not going to let her rest any longer.
Guiding her out of the room, he led her down a long hall to a room marked 'storage'. Inside the small room were several large clear-plastic bins containing clothes and other affects stacked in neat rows on shelves all around the walls.
Brian pulled down one and opened it for her. Inside was a rather simple purple sweater and green vest as well as long blue-jean pants and a familiar looking purple satchel.
“These are yours,” Brian stated simply, “You left them with us when the program began. Do they bring back any memories, Twilight? …Twilight?”
The doctor looked up but Twilight was not listening. Her eyes had focused on another bin. And before she could help herself she pulled it down to reveal what she'd seen through the plastic. Most of the bins had contained clothing or bags she didn't recognize, but this one had something she knew all to well.
An tan stetson cowboy hat.
That alone might have been a coincidence, a fairly big coincidence maybe, but when Twilight also saw the satchel with the symbol of three shiny red apples, there was no doubt.
“Applejack is here?” She rounded on the doctor and glanced at the bins, a total of eight were full counting the two that had been pulled down. “Who else? Are my other friends here? Where are they? What have you done with...?”
Brian raised a hand to silence her. “Remember what I said? You will get your answers, but you have to take it slow.”
“Right,” Twilight sighed, “Right, I know...”
Carefully, almost reverently, she placed the hat back into the bin and put it up, feeling a deep heartache she couldn't quite understand as she did so.
After getting dressed Twilight was ready to see what Brian had promised her, unfortunately her own stomach turned traitor and demanded food with a low rumble. Brian chuckled good naturally and stated they'd swing by the staff cafeteria since it was on the way. Twilight was irritated at the delay but was consoled by the fact progress was being made at least.
The cafeteria was largely empty and very clean, a rather stark contrast to the kitchen at Sugar Cube Corner. Not that it wasn't presumed to be spotlessly clean from dawn to dusk, but every time Twilight had been over Pinkie always had something going that looked like a cake had exploded half way through decorations (once that had even happened when she'd been making a 'prank cake', it had taken Twilight days to get the strawberry frosting out of her mane).
Thoughts of Pinkie were suddenly distracted as she looked over the food being offered behind the counter. A good portion of it was vegetables and pastry products she knew and liked, but there was a section that made her stomach turn as she saw slabs of meat covered in various sauces. To her horror she even saw Dr. Brian consider having some. At her look though he opted for the greens.
As he lead her to a table where they could eat he tried to explain. “In this world Twilight, eating meat is not uncommon. Now before you get all disgusted, sure you know some animals Fluttershy takes care of eat meat.”
Twilight nodded slowly, “I know, she has some otters that eat fish, and I've seen her feed a few more of the larger predators once in a while... But ponies aren't predators, we don't eat other animals. It's wrong to consume other life.”
“The plants are alive.” Dr. Brian pointed out simply, “They're living things. Just because something doesn't have a face, a brain, or sentience doesn't mean it isn't alive.”
Twilight fell silent at that.
“Look, Twilight,” the orange unicorn continued, “Nobody is making you eat meat. If you want to stick to salads and the like that's fine, I'll even stick to salads with you if it'll make you feel comfortable. But you can't change a whole world simply because you think it's wrong.”
Twilight nodded slowly as she looked at her salad. “I still don't like it.”
“Nor should you,” Brian nodded as he bit into a carrot, “But most just don't think about such complex issues. It's an unfortunate way of life here. The darker thoughts that would cause ponies to drown in sorrow are generally ignored, they aren't forgotten, but they're pushed aside to focus on the good stuff.”
Twilight felt that was wrong somehow, but didn't have the energy to protest as she nibbled at her meal.
After the meal Brian lead her deep into the facility. More than once he had to be cleared at a security check point, though the guards gave Twilight more than a few raised eyebrows as she passed, not even asking the doctor about her. Twilight knew something was up. Even if she’d never talked to them that she could recall, they were all acting like they knew who she was.
After a few more corridors and a flight of stairs, the pair emerged onto the catwalk surrounding a large room. Huge windows filled the far wall, showing a large gleaming city beyond. Tall buildings obscured the horizon and windows of skyscrapers gleamed everywhere.
Twilight barely noticed any of it though. Her eyes were drawn to the contents of the room itself.
All along the walls, strange metallic boxes covered with switches and screens buzzed softly. They looked much like the devices Twilight had in her lab, but far more advanced. But even they were just the garnish to the centerpiece of the room on which her eyes feasted.
In the center of the room, attached by wires to all the computers, was a strange looking device that looked like a flower in full bloom. But instead of petals there were odd pod-like constructs. There were eight pods total with six arranged on the outside with two in the middle. Each was half sunken into a raised platform that would leave just enough room for a technician to crawl under to fix any wiring problems if need be.
Each 'pod' was covered with what looked like frost, save one which was open. As Brian lead Twilight towards the strnge construct she felt a decidedly strong sense of unease, as if she felt like she should know what all of it was and it should make her feel worried, and yet she had no rational explanation for why.
As they climbed the ramp to the open pod Twilight could see the inside was what looked like a padded bed with more wires snaked about the edges. Several large ones were attached to what looked to be a silvery crown of some kind.
“W-what is this?” Twilight couldn't help but stutter slightly, the chill from the nearby pods and her own unease making her shiver.
“Until just a few short hours ago Twilight,” Brian sighed, “This was your home, your town, your entire world. As it has been for the last six months.”
“No, you're lying,” Twilight shook her head, no anger behind her words, just a desperate desire to believe this was all a dream and she'd wake up any moment, “This can't be real.”
“I'm afraid it is real Twilight.” Brian sighed and pointed to the pod next to them. The frost nearly covered it completely but Twilight could see a figure inside, resting as if asleep. Her hands trembled as she brushed away the cold flakes gathered over the pod. As the last of the frost was cleared Twilights mind reeled.
Stretched out on her back, was a familiar figure. She had hands like Twilight and had been clothed in the same gown Twilight had awoken in, but there was no mistake. Under the collection of wires attached to her body and the helm wrapped around her head, was a tan mare with sandy a blond mane.
“Applejack...” Twilight gasped.
Before Brian could say anything Twilight moved to the next pod and furiously wiped away the frost. This one revealed a familiar cyan mare with rainbow streaked mane and tail.
“Dash...”
And so it went, Twilight moving around the pods, growing more frantic as she wiped them away. Rarity... Fluttershy... Pinkie Pie... They were all there.
When Twilight got to Pinkies pod she had to sit down. All her friends had looked normal under the pods glass despite their changed shape, but seeing Pinkie Pie gave her a shock. Where the mare normally had a bright poofy pink mane all of that had been shaved away and bandaged, a sign of a grievous head injury.
Not even thinking about the consequences Twilight tried to open the pod with her magic. Her horn sputtered for a moment and the glow around it died. Trying again had it last a moment longer, but with the same result. Giving in she tried to use her hands, but not being used to them and the fact they were numb from the cold meant Brian was able to take his time walking over to place a hand on her shoulder and gently stop her.
“Please don't Twilight,” he stated firmly, “You would do them more harm than good to wake them up now.”
“But why?” Twilight gasped, she hadn't even realized she'd started crying until she saw her tears splash on the surface of the pod, “Why are they like this? How is any of this here? Why can't I use my magic? What's going on?”
“Before I answer those questions, I think you should take a look in the last two pods,” Brian stated indicating the as of yet untouched pair in the center of the configuration.
Unlike the others, these were vaguely teardrop shaped, with the narrow end curved slightly towards the wider end of the opposite pod. Slowly Twilight stood, her legs trembling as she approached the pods. These had frost on them as well, but it was less than the others, allowing Twilight to see at a glance the figures inside. And once more her legs very nearly gave out.
On her right, with hooves angled away from Twilight, lay a stunning dark blue mare, with a mane a lighter royal blue. Unlike Twilights friends she was dressed in a gown of white with her hands clasped over her heart. And opposite her lay a pure white mare with a shimmering pink mane. They were different than what she knew, but there was no mistaking the seemingly younger mares.
“Princess Luna... Princess Celestia...”
Twilight was frightened. Her whole body shook. It was too much to take.
She flinched as the Dr. Brian put his arm around her shoulders. She couldn't say anything. The words just wouldn't come. She was a hares breath from passing out, or loosing her lunch or both.
Brian gave her a gentile squeeze. “Twilight, I know it's hard, but even after seeing all this, are you ready to hear the truth?”
Twilight glanced around at all the pods. She didn't want to believe any of this. She wanted it all to be a dream to just go away and wake up in her own bed at home.
Turning to the doctor, she looked deep into his eyes and found there an odd comfort. Slowly, very slowly, she began to calm down.
“Yes...” She sighed eventually, “I think I'm ready to listen...”
Chapter 3: Sunset
Brian peaked through the doorway, checking first that room was empty before sliding in with Twilight close behind. It was a small room, a break-room of sorts for the staff, featuring only a couch, a table with some chairs, a vending machine or two, a mini-fridge a coffee machine, and a microwave. All the basics for any staff break room.
In any other situation Twilight might have been fascinated by the odd machines with their displays for candy and other snacks, but her mind was awash with too many questions as it was.
Brian gently directed her to the couch as he poured himself a cup of coffee from the nearby machine. It tasted like oil but the caffeine was necessary at the moment.
Carefully sitting down on the couch, Brian pulled up a chair in front of her. Once she was settled he began. “I know this is all hard to take in Twilight,” he started slowly, trying to find the right words to say, “But Ponyville, Canterlot, in fact all of the Equestria you know, is contained in that machine...”
“But how is that even possible?” Twilight asked confused, “I mean, my friends... they looked like they were asleep... and dreaming...”
“Well in a way that's what it is,” Brian nodded, “The Equestria Reality Matrix, or E.R.M. , was made to create the perfect virtual world as a form of therapy.”
“Therapy?” Twilight asked, obviously confused, “Why would I, or my friends, or even the princesses need therapy.”
“Well, to be fare, that was the original intention of the machine, but it has sort of... 'evolved' beyond that.”
“But why are my friends in there? Why do they, or I, even need such a treatment? Why have we been living a lie!?”
Brian placed a hand on Twilights shoulder again in an attempt to calm her.
“It's a long story Twlight, but to but it simply, you and your friends have each suffered some terrible tragedies in your lives, tragedies we hoped to use the machine to heal you from.”
“But if that's true, why don't I remember it? You say I had a tragedy in my life, something that warranted me being in that machine, so why don't I remember it?”
“Because...” Brian hesitated, “Because of another tragedy that happened to us, here in the lab...”
“Please... Tell me...”
Brian sighed, “Alright, very well. But to understand everything, we'll have to go back to the beginning. Back when I was seeking more funding for the project...
“Back when I went to see the king...”
* * *
Three Years Ago...
“Your highness, please be reasonable. I think this project could greatly benefit all the world. There is no reason why it should be limited to just Equestria. Think of the other kingdoms.”
King Solaris sat rigidly on his golden throne, the pure white stallion stroking his red beard with just the faintest hint of gray at the corners giving him a distinguished look. The billowing fiery red mane framed his crown nicely as it hung to the golden tasseled shoulder guards on his regal red and gold trimmed uniform.
“I have decided,” he stated in a voice that was both strong and powerful but also full of wisdom and compassion, “I wish the project to remain in New Haven, for the time being at least. Perhaps once better terms have been reached with the surrounding kingdoms of Cervidinia, and the Bison of the Barrens, then we can see about expanding it's use.”
“You must understand,” stated the mare at his side, “We only want what's best for everyone, but sharing such technology too soon could be dangerous.”
Brians eyes turned to the figure beside the king and he had to control his mind at the sight of her beauty.
Dressed in a robe as blue as the midnight sky on a full moon, her coat was black as night, a stark contrast to the kings white fur. And just as contrasting were her eyes, a deep rich blue, while his were a red like the embers of a fire. Her mane hung long and full, reaching the small of her back as it billowed around her head like blue smoke. She wore a silver circlet adorned with a single large sapphire that hung just under her horn.
“I apologize Queen Mahina,” Brian nodded bowing again, “I only wish to help as many as I am able.”
“We understand that,” the king nodded, his words kind and thoughtful, a faint smile on his lips, “And it is our desire to do the same, but there have been rumblings from other nations. Rumors of discontentment on their standings and blaming our country as part of the problem rather than looking inwards to find the solution. So for now we must be cautious. You have my permission to take what funding you need, as long as you agree to keep all knowledge of the project contained for the time being.”
Brian sighed but nodded, in truth it was more than he'd hoped for even if it wasn't the best of situations. After bidding his thanks he turned to go, but stopped. A pair of inquisitive eyes peered out at him from behind a nearby pillar. The shy figure ducked out of sight as soon as he spotted them.
Seeing Brian stop King Solaris' eyes roamed to the pillar. Catching a glimpse of the small figure ducking out of sight he chuckled softly, “Luna, come now dear don't be afraid.”
The small filly stepped out slowly from behind the pillar, dressed in a light blue gown similar to her mothers, but with silvery accents to match the small unadorned circlet she wore. Her mane cut short hung to the back of her neck. Like her parents she was a unicorn.
The smaller filly looked up at the strange stallion apprehensively. She was easily in her early to mid teens, but seemed so much smaller and younger from the shy manor in which she held herself.
“There you are!” the rather strong feminine voice emanated from the chamber doors as another young mare strode into the room, “I'm sorry father, Luna slipped away from me for a bit and... oh!”
The newcomer gasped a bit in surprise seeing Brian and blushed slightly in embarrassment at having overlooked him in her haste.
The new arrival was white like her father, but sported a pink mane cut to just below her shoulders. A golden circlet adorned her head as she wore an unadorned white gown that blended almost perfectly with her fur coat. She was also a few years older than Luna, judging by her height. Not quite an adult but on the cusp of blooming into a beautiful lady.
“Forgive me. Father, I did not realize you had a visitor.”
“It's alright dear,” the king chuckled good naturally as he stood and paced slowly towards them, “Dr. Brian allow me to introduce my two lovely daughters, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia.”
Both curtsied in turn as they were named. Brian smiled and bowed in return, “It is a pleasure to meet both of you.” He'd seen both many times before, of course, but during such things as royal processions or the like, never close enough to actually 'meet' them.
Turning to the king Celestia continued, “Forgive me father, but Luna slipped away during our lessons and I felt I should find her.”
“Not without telling your tutor I hope?” the king smiled and chuckled softly as Celestias blush said it all. He turned to his younger daughter, “Luna, you do know you need to learn how to be a proper princess don't you? One day you two will be in control of the kingdom.”
“But it's so boring father,” Lunas soft voice sounded like the chime of a crystal bell, “I know we need to, but I just can't focus. And Professor Star Swirl is nice but he just goes on and on without really explaining anything.”
Again the king chuckled good naturedly, “Well I'll have a talk with the professor and we'll see if we can get him to pause a bit more in his lectures, but you have to try harder dear. It will be important one day.”
“Yes father...” Lunas tone suggested that she had caved if only to avoid a lecture but still didn't agree.
Turning to Celestia he continued, “And you Celestia, I know you care deeply for your sister, but for now she is not your responsibility. I don't want you getting into trouble simply because you felt you had to watch over her. You are not her mother, so don't feel you have to dole out punishment if she misbehaves.”
“Yes father,” Celestia sighed nodding her head in understanding.
“Now, both of you best return to your studies,” King Solaris turned to Brian, “And it was a pleasure meeting you Dr. Brian, I do look forward to seeing what what your machine is capable of. I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors.”
“Thank you your majesty,” Brian bowed.
Brian turned and left with the girls as a guard entered the room. Brushing past them, Brian felt an oddly unsettling sensation but was not able to put his finger on it. It wasn't until the doors closed behind him that his fears were confirmed.
A sudden shout went up from the throne room, and much clattering and crashing of metal on metal. Brian was no solder but he couldn't help himself as he turned and wrenched open the doors to the throne room.
What he beheld would be forever etched into his mind.
King Solaris, down on one knee, sword dangling from his hand as a dagger protruded from his chest. Another sword was shoved through his shoulder. The one holding it had looked to be a guard but the helmet had been knocked aside, presumably by the kings attempt at a strike, revealing the disguised individual was not a pony, but a zebra.
The queen was on her hooves, wishing to rush to her husbands side, but such was not necessary. Within seconds the other guards of the hall had surrounded the disguised assassin, but before they could strike he collapsed foaming at the mouth.
A suicide pill.
Brian was torn. His mind a wash with conflicting emotions. All of which were shoved aside as the king fell.
“DADDY!” Lunas shriek startled him out of it as the young princess ran to her fathers side, Celesta close behind, both already brimming with tears. The queen was already there cradling her husband in her lap. A series of coughs left a stream of blood trickling from his mouth.
“You're doctor aren't you?” Luna gasped looking to the still stunned Brian as he stood struck dumb in the entrance way, “Please... you have to...” Luna couldn't even finish her sentence as her eyes filled with tears.
Brian crossed the hall in four quick strides and knelt by the king. Even though it had been years since his last practical medical examination, Brian could still recall everything he'd been drilled on.
Little good that does now , he thought bitterly.
Already other medics were being yelled for but Brian could see the blue tinge showing on the kings lips. Poison from the dagger most likely. He had minutes left at best.
Despite his silence, or perhaps because of it, Solaris understood the gravity of the situation and turned his head slowly to face his daughters and grieving wife.
“Luna...” Solaris gasped, “Celestia... My wonderful daughters... I need you to be strong... please...”
The pair knelt by his side, Luna crying her eyes out as she bit back sobs, Celestia only fairing slightly better. In this moment they were not royalty, but a merely a family on the verge of a tragic loss.
“You both are my legacy...” Solaris gasped, a string of coughs wracking his body again, “You must do your best... become leaders to the country...”
“We will... Dad,” Celestia gasped, sniffling a bit as she blinked away tears, “I promise...”
Despite the pain the king smiled at them both as he looked to his wife and whispered to her. Brian couldn't hear what was said but he saw her nod slowly, her eyes also overflowing with tears.
Taking one last look at his family Solaris' breathing slowed as he whispered his final goodbyes. At the last Luna couldn't take it and broke down crying, her huge bawling sobs echoing in the chamber as the king breathed his last with a final whisper of love to his family.
* * *
“The king... the princesses father, was assassinated?” Twilight gasped fighting back tears of her own.
“I'm afraid so,” Brian sighed leaning back in his chair and sipping at his coffee which had since gone from lukewarm to cold, “Worse it was discovered later though investigation by the royal guard that the zebras had been hired for the job, which meant any country could have been the ones responsible.”
Twilight only half listened though. The thought that the king had been killed, just like that... She'd heard Princess Celestia talk of more troubling times before when she had a few such attacks on her own life, but the thought of such an attack succeeding...
Still something didn't sit right with her.
“But Princess Celestia and Luna know so much magic, surely their father could have defended himself against such an attack?”
Brian leaned close and spoke as an adult to a child, not talking down or in a condescending way, but merely gently correcting her. “Twilight, those powers only exist within the virtual world. Magic is... well, it's practically nonexistent here.”
Twilight again was hit hard. No magic. Her special talent was magic.
Did that mean she didn't have anything?
She shook her head violently. “No, no that can't be true,” Twilight knew she was acting irrational on some level but for the moment she didn't want to care and focused all her will into her horn trying to do something. Anything.
Brian just sighed, “Twilight, that's not going to do anything. You're just going to hurt yourself.”
However Twilight refused to listen as she strained as though she were trying to lift a whole mountain. The glow on her horn seemed to do little more than intensify but nothing in the room moved, nothing stirred and in the end Twilight gasped and collapsed, falling to the floor in pain.
Brian was by her side in seconds and calling for help. “You'll be ok Twilight,” he whispered as the doctors rushed in, “Don't worry, we'll take care of you.”
As they carried her out Brian sniffed a little and smelled something odd in the air. The distinct smell he'd always associated with the break-room. The coffee.
Glancing back, he caught a glimpse of what looked like steam rising from the cup on the table before the door closed.
Chapter 1: Awakening.
Twilight floated in darkness. Nothing but endless darkness in all directions. She couldn't think, move, feel, see, or smell anything. At first she thought she couldn't hear either, but then noises floated up at her from the darkness. Distant and echoing, they made no sense at first. It took all of Twilights will to slowly realize they were words. Somepony, or several someponies, were speaking. What they were saying took even longer to comprehend.
“...not sure they're going to like this. This was never supposed to happen.”
“It's all right... We can fix this, but she has to come out of it first.”
By now the darkness had begun to glow, replaced by blurry colors, and Twilights sense of touch was coming back as she realized she was stretched out on something soft.
“But explaining things? Won't that just cause more problems?”
“It can be fixed, but she'd a living, thinking being, she needs to make that decision for herself.”
By now the colors were becoming intense and twilight had to squint to see anything. There were bright lights hanging overhead, and two colored blobs nearby that seemed to be talking.
“You're going to get us in a lot of trouble,” the voice Twilight was now able to identify as a mares continued, “We're going to loose our funding and they'll shut us down for sure then.”
“I'll take full responsibility then,” the other voice, a stallions, replied, “If worse comes to worse I'll get the boot and you all can continue on with the experiment.”
“You know we can't continue this project without you, Brian. We'll be up a creek either way.”
Twilight's inquisitive nature was getting to her, she had to get up, she had to know what was going on. Where was she? Who were these ponies? What was the Experiment? How was she involved? Unfortunately trying to get up was about a million times harder than trying to see at the moment, and she only managed a soft grunt of exertion.
“She's coming around,” the stallion muttered, “Just let me do the talking. It'll be fine.”
“We're doomed,” the mare sighed, resolved to her fate.
Twilight heard the sound of hooves on a metal floor as the unseen pony approached. Her eyes still adjusting she was able to make out an orange figure with brown hair as he appeared over her.
“Good morning Twilight Sparkle,” he stated warmly, as a doctor speaking to a child patient, “How are you feeling?”
“W...w-wh-ere...?” Twilight wheezed, her throat feeling unusually tight.
“That's a long story,” The figure above, which she could now tell was wearing a white lab coat, replied, “For now let's focus on the basics. Can you feel this?”
Twilight felt him touch her stomach gently and she managed a very slight nod.
“Good, how about this?”
This time the sensation came from her leg, and again Twilight nodded, but something didn't feel right either.
“Wonderful. And how about this?”
Again the doctor touched her at the end of her front legs. Only not. Twilight felt him moving extremities that shouldn't have been there. She counted them.
Five digits where her hooves should have been.
Twilight's breath came faster, her fears pumping adrenaline through her body as she struggled to fight back the sleepy feeling she'd had before.
“Whoa, take it easy!” the doctor yelped, “Don't struggle, you're just going to hurt yourself.”
Twilight didn't care. She had to know. It took a supreme effort, but she lifted her front limb to her face.
No hoof. Instead an appendage with five smaller digits extending from it.
Hands. Fingers.
Twilight had studied some animals in school. It was much like a monkeys extremities. Already her mind was leaping to conclusions as her heart began to race. Maybe she'd been caught by some mad scientist who'd chopped her hooves off and stitched on some animal limbs? What if he'd done more horrendous things to the rest of her? What if she was some sort of sick monstrosity her friends would scream and run from? What if the Princesses sent out the royal guard to hunt her down like some monster? What if...?
A pain in her shoulder and a moment later her heart rate began to slow.
“Take it easy,” the stallion assured her, “You've been through a lot. Just relax, I promise everything will be explained in time.” He gripped Twilights hand (not hoof, some part of her mind screamed) and as her eyes began to close she saw for the first time that he had hands just like hers.
Twilight awoke again some time later. This time coming up felt like she was waking from a normal dream. Silently she prayed that was all it had been, that she could wake up in her own bed and find Spike snoozing in his basket close by. Another normal day in Ponyville and another normal part of her life.
Sadly it was not to be.
Opening her eyes yielded the same gray tiled ceiling as last time with the strange light fixtures dangling overhead. The bed was hard an sterile too, like something from a hospital.
“Welcome back,” the soothing voice of the stallion from before washed over her, “Sorry about the seditive, but you would have done more damage to yourself if we'd let you struggle.”
“What's happened to me?” Twilights voice was dry and raspy, but at least she could form sentences again, “Where am I? What's going on?”
“Take it easy Miss. Sparkle, there's a lot to explain and trying to give it to you all at once is just going to cause more stress,” The Stallion moved in close as she was able to see his brown hair and tender green eyes, the horn on his head profe he was a unicorn like her, “I promise I'll explain everything, but you have to take it slow or you'll just hurt yourself.”
“Alright,” Twilight sighed slowly, trying to calm down a little, “Alright. I'll try... Where am I? Who are you?”
“A tough question to answer and an easy one,” the doctor nodded with a smile, “I can see why you're so intelligent. Where you are I can't explain in full yet, but to suffice it to say you are not in Ponyville anymore, and yet it is closer than you think. As for my name, I'm Dr. Brian Sturgeon. Yes I know, I've heard all the jokes before.”
Twilight couldn't help but smile a little at his casual nature.
“And these?” she asked, holding up her hands and wiggling her fingers.
“What?” Twilight looked confused, “No, I had hooves just yesterday, I've always had hooves...”
“Calm down,” the stallion tried to sooth her, “I promised I would answer all your questions. But you won't understand some until you have the whole picture. I promise you this, those hands you have, as well as the state your body is in, are all natural. Nothing has been altered about your appearance. This is who you really are.”
Twilight said nothing for a moment, letting that information roll around in her mind. Finally she looked up at the doctor. “Can I see?”
“Of course,” the stallion nodded, “Just take it slow, remember you're still recovering, so you need to be careful.”
The stallion helped guide her legs out of bed, some part of her was glad to see she still had hooves at the end of her legs, though they seemed a bit wider than she recalled. Carefully Twilight was shifted to a sitting position before the doctor put an arm around her and gradually helped her to stand.
Almost at once Twilight felt like she'd fall over. Walking on two legs was a far cry from what she remembered, but somehow she was able to maintain her balance for the most part.
A few shaky steps followed, her hooves clopping loudly on the cold floor as the doctor gently held her and guided her to a nearby mirror hanging on the wall. Twilight almost didn't want to look, fearful of what changes she would discover, but her scientific curiosity got the best of her and soon she stood in front of the mirror, scanning her body with a analytical eye.
She was pleased to see much of her looked the same. Purple fur was still visible under the hospital style dressing gown, and a quick check revealed her cutie mark was still in place. Her mane and tail were the same color, if a little unkempt., her muzzle, ears, eyes, horn, all of it seemed to be as she recalled.
The biggest change was the different shape her body had, now upright with arms instead of front legs and hands instead of hooves. There was something else too, a pair of small soft mounds on her chest that she knew she hadn't had before. She reached up to feel when the doctor gently grabbed her wrist. “That's for another time,” he stated with a faint blush in his cheeks.
Twilight looked at him quizzically, but decided not to push it.
It was then she noticed his form.
Similar to hers, though mostly hidden under a white lab coat, and blue pants, he was similarly upright as she was, even a bit taller.
Twilight looked him in the eyes, her mind growing sharper by the minute. “Where am I?” There was no anger in her voice, but it was clear she wanted answers.
The stallion sighed, “If you must know. You're in research lab nine, in the city of New Haven.”
“There's no city by that name in Equestia,” Twilight was confused, again feeling her fears nibbling at the edge of her mind, “You said I was near Ponyville.”
“You are,” the doctor sighed, “For you see, Ponyville, Canterlot, and all of the Equestria you know, is contained within this building.”
“That's impossible...” Twilight was feeling decidedly nervous now, “You're lying.”
“No, I'm not,” the stallions eyes seemed to show both concern and immense sadness at the same time, “Twilight... You've been living in a dream for the last six months.”