I remember that day, the day I watched the two Memory Orbs. It was a bright and sunny saturday morning in Ponyville, school was closed and the children played, a perfect day. I was walking to the library to read a book about Equestria's History. I had recently begun to love history and I loved reading, so the library was the perfect place for me too spend my free day.
I walked in and was greeted by Twilight Sparkle and her assistant Spike, a baby dragon, sorting books into the shelves. I knew Twilight and Spike since I began spending most of my weekends at the library three years ago. I wasn't best friends with them but I was a friend to them. My relationship with Twilight was friends but with Spike I was more in the border of friend and acquaintance. Me and Spike didn't get along as me and Twilight did. The fact that he did not like reading or books didn't help.
Twilight turned around when she heard the door open. "Good morning Cercatore. Do you want your usaul Sci-Fi book or are you looking for something different today?" Twilight asked with a smile.
"Morning Ms. Sparkle. I am looking for an Equestrian History book today. I recently began loving History and I want to learn a lot about," I said as I went over to where they were.
"Oh really? I love history too. I'll get you some books right away. Oh and I keep telling you that you don't have to call me Ms. every time we greet each other," She said as she walked over to a shelf.
"And I keep telling you that I was taught that when greeting someone older, I should always address them as Ms. Mr. or Mrs," I said.
"You know, you sound a lot like a Canterlot Unicorn. And I am only three years older than you." Twilight said as she kept looking for my books.
"You are still older. And yes my grandparents are Canterlot nobles so my parents raised me as a Canterlot noble," I said as I took a seat in a chair.
"Alright Cercatore I found a few books that range from the ancient pony civilizations and current events in small details. I also found some books that go into deeper detail of important historical events such as Hearth's Warming," Twilight said as she put the books on the table, in front of me.
"Thank you Twilight; I really appreciate it," I said as I levitated a book to start reading.
"My pleasure Cercatore. I'll leave you be," Twilight said as she left me to read.
I spent the next five hours reading until I Twilight gave me lunch, like she always did every weekend. I spent most of the afternoon reading and by the time I had to go home at six, I knew a lot about Equestria's and the world's history. Now some of you might think my Cutie Mark would be books or something but the truth was that I did not have my Cutie Mark yet. I didn't give it much thought because it meant I had the potential to be good at anything. Besides I did not care a lot, or at all, about Cutie Marks. I believed it limited a ponies ability to be anything in this world.
After I was done I said my goodbyes to Twilight and Spike and left. When I got home I discovered the house was empty and began to question where my family went. A note on the fridge solved my questions. "Honey, I know you always get home at six after the library so me and your father are going to be out, its date night! Your brother and sister have their own activities tonight so its just you in the house. Dinner is in the oven, Love you -Mom" Ah yes date night. Every sartuday me parents go out on dates to keep their love fire burning or something like that. I went into the kitchen to get dinner. In the oven was a delicious looking lasagna ready to eat. I grab a plate and served myself. As I ate I began to think about the things I read today.
'Hmm, Equestria's history is very... harmonious. No wars or hatred after the creation of Equestria. Seems kinda strange. One would think that after hundreds of years of hatred between the tribes there would be at least some sort of resentment after Equestria was created. Hell maybe even some rebellious ponies who wanted to stick to tribal ways but no such thing. Equestria was created and everything was fine and dandy. They lived happily ever after. Seems to fairy tale-ish. But I guess that is just the world we live in,' I finished eating and put my plate in the sink.
I walked to the living room and sat down in the couch to rest for a bit. I saw the two Memory Orbs out of the corner of my eye; their shiny spherical bodies catching my attention. I kept looking at them having nothing better to do and then I saw a small symbol on the Orb. It was hard to see without paying really close attention to them since the symbol just merged with the Orb's material. 'Strange, I've never noticed this symbol before.' I got up and got a closer look. The symbol was an eye next to a crescent moon with a sword going through the middle. From the handle of the sword two phoenix wings stretched out. A sword with wings and a half open eye next to a crescent moon in the background. Under the symbol was a word; Serum. 'Serum what does that mean? Maybe this ball opens up or something,' The second I used my magic on it, there was a bright blinding light and I couldn't think anymore.
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When I could see again all I saw was a mirror. The mirror reflected the image of an old red Pegasus stallion, with a strange black crown on his head, who seemed like he was ninety years old. 'What in hay happened. Who is that pegasus. Wait if that's mirror why can't I see myself in it?! And why can't I move my limbs?!!? What is going one here?!?!?!,' I began to freak out while my brain tried to process the situation. 'Okay calm down and think about the last thing I remember. Hmm, I was levitating the weird ball we have in the living room then there was a bright light. Did that ball do this, is it a teleportation devise or something. No it did not teleport me, it did something else. It's magical since my magic triggered it, but what did do?!' As I was debating with myself the Pegasus cleared his throat so I shut up. He began to speak shortly after.
"Okay how should I begin. Welcome descendant, if you are viewing this than that means my family passed down the Memory Orbs down the family lines and I am your ancestor. Well that or the government has acquired this. So if you are a government dog you can go fuck yourself," He glared at the mirror for a bit, then continued.
"If not please ignore that last comment. My name is Red Baron, I am a senior elder of the organization The Truth Serum. What I am about to tell must not be repeated to anyone ever. About one hundred and twenty years ago, my time, the citizens of Equestria rose up in arms against Celestia and her evil government. They rose up because they found out the truth behind Luna's banishment. Luna, bless her, was banished because she wanted to protect her citizens from the Mark program Celestia was developing to further control Equestria's citizens. What followed was a long and bloody war that shook Equestria's core. The citizens fought for the truth and the government fought for their lies. Sadly the truth lost and the lies won. Celestia ordered the truth to stay silent for eternity, in exchange that she too would forget the rebellious actions of the citizens. The citizens had no choice but to agree and peace was declared," He had a sad look on his face.
"But not everyone was going to forget. An Earth Pony by the name of Truth Seeker, organized the remaining rebels and created a secret rebel organization, The Truth Serum, a year after peace was declared. Serum's objective was to uncover, reveal, and destroy the lies of the government. From then on Serum has been partly successful. We have discovered many technologies and stopped harmful government plans but we are under resourced and outnumbered. We have not told the public about the truth because the government keeps it's most hidden secrets highly protected and the truths we have uncovered would not make the people rise up in resistance. And frankly I think we have lost our connection to the citizens," He shook his head in sadness.
Now I don't know what time period you are in, be it a hundred or a thousand years from now, but I am going to give you a choice. Serum needs new agents and it needs help. If you don't want to be apart of Serum and keep living in blissful ignorance, then please as your ancestor and family member, I beg you to destroy this and any other Memory Orbs and never think about it again," He had a pleading look in his eyes. 'Memory Orbs? Is that what the ball was?'
"But if you do want to be apart of Serum and fight the tyranny of Celestia and the Equestrian government, you have to follow my next instructions. Go to Ghastly Gorge and near the nest of eels yell "The truth doesn't stay hidden for eternity!" Return home swiftly. In two days time a letter will be given to you in anyway possible. The envelope will look like this," He showed the envelope to the mirror. It was all black with the same silver symbol that was on the Memory Orb.
"Make your choice and please be safe," Everything went black after her said that.
When I woke up I was lying on the living room carpet. I was stunned, my brain overloading with information and trying to process what had happened. 'Did that really happen? Could what that Pegasus said be true? Is he even my ancestor?! Uhggg! I need to concentrate. Okay, he said that Celestia and the Equestrian government were evil and trying to control everypony. But why?! Why would Celestia try to control us? She is already treated like a god. And Luna is not against her! They both rule Equestria peacefully! I don't see how she is against her! Maybe this is just the memory of an old crazy Pegasus. But he looked so, serious. Like he truly believed what he was saying was real. No, no! It can't be real. We live in a very peaceful world. Nothing ever goes wrong in Equestria and thinking otherwise is ridiculous. And thinking Celestia is evil is blasphemous!! She has guided ponies from chaos to harmony. She can't be evil! This was just the ramblings of an old, demented Pegasus!.... But what if its true. No can't be! Ughhh! I need to destroy this Orb thing,' I stood up and stomped on the Orb. "Oowww!!" This only resulted in me getting my hoof hurt.
I lifted my hoof to look at it and saw a small bump slowly forming. 'Celestia-damm that hurt! I should find a better way to destroy this thing,' I tried walking but every time I set my hoof down it stung. I sat down and looked around for something to destroy the Orb. A shiny object caught my eye. The second Orb. 'Should I watch the second Orb? Maybe it'll answer some of my questions. Alright here goes nothing,' I concentrated my magic on the Orb and a big white light engulfed me.
Dark, just darkness all around me. I began to worry thinking the memory had failed and now I was stuck in the unending darkness. Until I heard a yell. "Prisoner!!" the yell broke through the darkness. A few seconds after the yell, a bright blinding light was turned on, illuminating the area around me. My host was inside a prison cell, no, a box. Nothing but a door and the ceiling light were inside the box. A white Unicorn guard was at the door; he was also the source of the yell.
"Get up traitor! The princess wants to talk to you," The guard baked at my host. My host made no movement. The guard came over and hit my host with a bat looking weapon. It hurt, a lot. I was surprised, and scared, to discover I could feel the pain my host felt. I was going to hate this memory.
"I said get up good for nothing traitor!!" He hit my host again. "Get up!!" Finally after receiving another blow to the head, my host made an effort to stand up and walk.
"Good, now follow me," The Unicorn guard ordered. "And don't lag behind, because then I will have to be extra demanding!" My host followed him out the door. Outside the box was a long gray hallway lit up by candles on the walls. Similar doors
Equestria... a civilized, harmonious country that is the home of the Equine species. A country where there is no war, crime, or hatred, only peace, compassion, love, friendship and harmony reside in Equestria. A perfect land where nothing could ever go wrong, where nothing has ever gone wrong... or so it seems.
Many events have not gone perfect throughout Equestrian history. Unlike how they are portrayed in many textbooks to keep the pony population blissfully ignorant of the truth; but the truth never stays hidden forever. Such an event happened many years ago, when the Equestrian civil war began. The pony population found out the truth and rose up in arms. You have probably never heard about the civil war because it is only mention once as a small conflict, that was resolved peacefully. That is not the truth, it is a another lie created by the Equestrian Government.
What really happened was a long scale war that resulted in the death of thousands. The pony population fought for the truth and the government fought for their lies. The lies won the war and ordered the truth to stay silent forever. But the truth can't stay silent forever. A secret organization was created shortly after the war; they called themselves, The Truth Serum. The Truth Serum's goal was to uncover the hidden truths and dissolve the lies of Equestria. Unfortunately, the Serum disappeared after their HQ was destroyed by the government. Now no common pony knows about the Serum or that it ever existed. The only ponies to know about the Serum are direct descendants from Serum members, high ranking government officials and the princesses.
Descendants only knew of their ancestors' involvement in Serum through the use of Memory Orbs. Memory Orbs are a powerful Arcano-tech devise that have the power to store the memories of a pony so another pony could view and relive those memories. The extraction of a memory is a very mysterious spell and only high ranking government Unicorns and Serum Unicorns knew the spell. A memory orb could only be viewed by Unicorns, so another devise was created by Serum, Recollectors. Recollectors were crown shaped devises that were worn to record a memory as it happens, like a camera. The Recollectors were made so that Earth and Pegasi ponies could view and relive their ancestors memories. Memory Orbs are kept secret from the public, along with many other technologies, by the government and Serum had the only known Recollectors.
Now you are probably asking why do I know about Serum and the government lies. Well its obvious isn't it? One of my ancestors was a Serum official and he passed several Memory Orbs down the family. Many of the orbs were lost and only two remained in my family when I was born. Nopony in my family actually believes the Orbs can make you relive the memory, so nopony paid any attention to them, blissful ignorance. So for the longest time in my childhood the Orbs were just decorations. Until I discovered their true purpose. Oh I forgot to mention my name. My name is Cercatore.
