Power is Knowledge

Born: Year 376, November 23 of the Pre-Enlightenment Era.  Location of Birth: Tremomenda, Settlement II.  Death not recorded."

Holy Celestia.  DT's been alive for thousands of years... he may be the last of his kind, as well.  Scientifically speaking, he's of a completely different species that existed before "conventionally thinking" ponies existed.  It's a psychological thing.

"Born to Star Belovious Swirl (Unicorn. 336-393) and Golden May Crop (Earth. 341-393).  Named 'First Good Impression' on November 25, year of birth."

First Good Impression.  Well, somepony had faith in him.  Not that I don't, but... moving on.

"Siblings:

1. Honored Bestivous Glory. Brother.  Unicorn.  Born Year 370, March 13 of the Pre-Enlightenment Era.  Location of Birth: Velocia, Settlement XVI. Death recorded on October 12, 393."

Honored Glory?  Quite the name to live up to right there...

"2. Twilight Viola Sparkle.  Sister.  Earth.  Born Year 379, January 2 of the Pre-Enlightenment Era.  Location of Birth: Kiaforn, Settlement I.  Death recorded: Year 393, October 7.  Cause of Death: Slit throat.  Port-mortem puncture wounds on the neck, chest, and head (See File 17)."

He had a sister?  It seems she died on the day of the stabbing... at only 14 years old.  And an Earth pony, too... there was no way she could defend herself...  She had the same name I do.  That must be hard on him, seeing me and thinking of his deceased sister...

"Profession: Healer, Psychologist."

A healer?  Why couldn't he patch himself up?  Was he afraid I would notice his quick recovery and trace that back to his roots?  The psychologist bit is interesting, too.  I guess that's when he learned to read other ponies' thoughts.

I look at these and notice that the three were born in different towns, or as they refer to them, Settlements.  Why was his family moving around so much?  Also, how come I never came across this when I was studying Star Swirl's work?

"Assumed Year of Death: Year 60 of the Enlightenment Era.  Cause of Death: Age."

Nice try, historians, but I just saw him yesterday.

"(See File 18 for more information)"

I put the file aside and took out file 18, which was surprisingly light.  I opened it up to see...

"NOTES OF "FIRST GOOD IMPRESSION"

YEAR [REDACTED], APRIL [REDACTED]

RESEARCHER: NEVERENDING MILE

The studies on Subject [REDACTED] have proven the worth of [REDACTED] to the community, which was [REDACTED] in the Year [REDACTED].  It has been proven to help with [REDACTED], [REDACTED], [REDACTED], and many other common [REDACTED].  His research notes, although mostly [REDACTED], have proven to be quiet useful in recent years.  The [REDACTED] Spell is almost a cure-all of diseases, including [REDACTED] and [REDACTED].  However, it does require much magic, and thus must be used only for [REDACTED]."

Could they redact just a little more, please?

"Deciphering his notes wasn't easy.  It took until [REDACTED], a co-worker of mine, found out the new coding pattern as seen in the newest testing trials of Subject [REDACTED].  Only some of the Subjects have been able to use [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] to see into the minds of others.  The best have been selected, and yet even they have trouble performing the [REDACTED] Spell.  Subject 92, however, has been able to [REDACTED] the spell, almost to perfection."

This isn't getting me anywhere.  I need to see those notes first hand, otherwise I'll be left under a pile of redactions as a sad excuse for information.

I looked back at the first file.  The only other file I saw on there that might lead me somewhere was File 17, his sister's.

I skipped over the basic information and moved onto the siblings.  Again, it redirected me to File 18.  Maybe they got the number wrong?  I checked File 19 instead.

"CASE FILE NOTES: THE MURDER OF SECOND CHANCE"

Well, this was unexpected, but it might hold some information.

"Case Introduced: Year 390, August 14 by Star Swirl.

Case Resolved: Year 390, August 17 by Defense Attorney, Unending Lane.

Case in brief:  Second Chance, the victim, was murdered on the night of the 13th.  After much extended time towards the prosecution, it was decided Second was responsible."

A few things to note here.  One, they had a judicial system thousands of years ago, quite like ours.  How interesting.  Two, Second was held responsible for her own death?  I better keep reading on.

"Cause of Death:  Suicide, performed with a noose."

Holy Celestia... why would she do that?

"Motive: Unknown."

Figures.

"Estimated Time of Death:  11:49, August 13 (Year 390)."

That's quite precise for an estimation.

"Chief Prosecutor: Unjust Justice."

Who names their kid that?  Honestly, some ponies...

"Defense Attorney: Unending Lane

Victim: Second Chance

Initial suspect: First Impression"

Wait, what?!  How could they say it was him?

"Reason for suspicion: Unknown location at the time of victim's death, relation to the deceased."

That makes enough sense.  I guess they had nopony else to throw under the bus other than him.  The prosecutor must've known he was fighting a losing battle.

"Suspicion withheld after short turn of events by the defense.  Prosecutor makes one last grasping effort to keep the court case going.  Court session adjourned until following day.

Prosecution provides new evidence about the crime scene, and suggests new suspect: Third Charm, the victim's sister.  Prosecution whittled down after defense disproves theory with another more logical theory.  Court adjourned until further notice.

On the final day, the Prosecution comes up with no evidence as to the new suspect.  Defense finds clues leading to suicide, and the court ruling follows his theory.

Transcript from each day below."

Well then...  that was not exactly descriptive, but at least the transcript is here.  I looked it over and found that the prosecutor was constantly being backed into corners, and there was pretty much no other reason that he was suspending the trial sessions other than to make a few more bits.  Lawyers: throughout the ages, they are still blood-sucking jerks.  For the most part.

There's another file it says to go to find more on the victim at the end here.... File 4.  That's my only lead so far, unless I really want to search through all these documents.  (I don't, but I have to.)

File 4 contained nothing very useful, but it did point me in the direction of another file for "substantial information on victim's family" in File 10.

I checked there, and to my surprise, I found First Impression there.

"First Good Impression.  Unicorn.  Relationship: Coltfriend. (See File 9)"

You know, I've always found it strange that ponies say "colt" instead of "stallion", and sometimes the other way around.  It's very easy to confuse the two, and a census bureau actually came out saying more people use "colt" than "stallion" to refer to males, despite the meaning it has for their age.  Just a side note.

Anyway, moving on.  File 9...

***

Another boring day of clearing the skies.  The weather team said that a huge storm could come from all the excess clouds produced for the last rainfall.  Not that I care.  I just do what I gotta do: remove annoying clouds.  Preferably, in ten seconds flat.  It leaves me with more time for myself.  But, I guess that's what makes this day so boring: there's nothing to do!

I decided I've had enough of all this.  I'm gonna go see what the others are up to.  Twilight's place is close by, and I think that egghead mind of hers could probably think up something for me to do.

***

Just when I pick up the file, the window flies open, sending all the papers flying everywhere!  Rainbow Dash decided to make a "surprise visit", and just at the wrong timing, too.

"Rainbow, can't you ever just use the door?"

"What?!"  she shouted. "Use the door? That is strictly against my policy!"

I groaned. "Just tell me what you want.  I'm busy right now, so make it quick."

"Well, I figured with your egghead smarts and all, you could find something for me to do."

I groaned again, louder.  That's what this was all about?  She was so bored she couldn't even find something to do on her own?

"I'm sorry, but I've got nothing for you." I said, ready to ignore her and go about my business, but an idea struck me.  "However, Fluttershy might need some help with something.  Why don't you go check up on her?"

She shrugged at the idea. "Better than nothing, I suppose."

She flew off, and I began to reorganize each file, one by one.

***

Fluttershy's place wasn't too far off (nothing ever really was too far off with my amazing flying speeds.)  I could probably check on her.  Now, I know Twilight was just trying to get out of her mane, but I honestly thought she'd point me to Applejack or somepony if she didn't want me there.  Why Fluttershy?

I swooped down into the window and found that it was pitch-black in here... so dark...

Friggin' light switches.  Always in the weirdest places.

I went downstairs, turning on lights as I did so, and I did not find her.  I heard this strange scratching noise coming from a nearby room, like a pencil scratching against paper...

***

Time, time, time.  How I hate time.  The idea of time, the length of time, the passing of time.  Everything about time just disgusts me.  The world abides by the laws of time and space, and we just play along?  I hate it.  Stopping time altogether would be catastrophic, but yet--

Hold on a moment.  It seems it is time to endure more rudeness.

***

"Who are you?"  I asked. "What are you doing here?"

"You remind me of Twilight.  Demanding.  Direct.  Incompetent." he replied.

"Incompetent?! I'll show you incompetent!"

I smacked him across the face.  His face looked something only a little off from "emotionless" after that.

"And suddenly, the relation is gone.  Huh."

"Just tell me who you are."

"I'd rather not, especially with your current attitude towards the situation."

I smacked him again.

"You'd better get used to this attitude, otherwise you and I, well... we'll have some problems."

"I think you're the only one with problems: anger issues."

***

She smacked me again and kept asking who I was, why I was here.  She isn't very perceptive.  Had she thought about it, she would know exactly why I'm here.

After a while, my nose began to bleed.  I must've looked like shit, given how many times she hit me.  I don't know why she was doing this; she should know through Twilight that I don't give up info, even insignificant info, that easily.

"What are you doing in my friend's home?"

"Oh, you mean Fluttershy?"

She smacked me again.

"OF COURSE I MEAN FLUTTERSHY, YOU BIG SACK OF SH--"

She was interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open.  I could see Fluttershy peeking through, wide-eyed and scared.

"R-R-Rainbow... w-what are you doing to him?"

"Fluttershy!" she replied, relieved to see her friend.  "This jerk-bag over here refuses to leave your house!  Just snuck in and sat here!  I've been trying to beat him out ever since!"

Fluttershy didn't make a move or a sound.  She looked over to see me and gasped.  I knew it must look like my head was a giant red pussball which would be the sad excuse for my face after a beating like that.

She opened the door and moved forward cautiously.  "Double Take?  W-what happened to you?"

Shy ponies are brave ponies on the inside.  However, at this point, seeing her freaked out about my face gave me an idea.

I gave her this look of sadness, then hung my head down, allowing all the blood that was trapped in my mouth to flow out.  It must've made quite the scene.

"Rainbow, what have you done?!"  she shouted. "Poor Double was trying to recover from an injury, and you beat him like this?!"

Rainbow's face was shocked... or at least, I think it was.  Hard to see through the dirty locks of hair accumulated over the years that were blocking my field of vision.

"Fluttershy, I--"

"You didn't know who he was!  Why would you do this???"

"That's the point!  I was trying to get him to say who he was, but he wouldn't answer!"

"And you thought hitting him would help?!"

"Well, I--" she was cut off by the sound of her own voice.  Desperation.  That is all I heard in that voice, and that is all I needed to hear.

Rainbow stepped back and away.  Fluttershy rushed over to me.

"Double! Are you okay?"

"My face hurts like hell," I said.  I may know there is no hell, but that word still holds value in my world.

"You really got beat up..." she said, examining the wounds. "I'm going to go get some ice."

She turned to Rainbow Dash. "You come along as well." she told her.

Rainbow kept her head down and exited the room with Fluttershy.

Now was my chance.  With Fluttershy distracted and a clear exit plan, I can finally leave this place and write in peace.

I used a quick healing spell on my face to stop the bleeding.  Yes, I may have sucked at medical magic back in the day, but a few thousand years allows for ample time for practice. I did the same for my side, allowing a little more power into the magic to heal it to a state so I could walk.

I did one last thing, and left.

***

Fluttershy and I went and got some ice and carried it into the guest room.

Fluttershy spoke up a little, "Alright Double, we've got the ice right here, so don't panic--"

The bed was empty.  There were a few bloodstains left on them, but on sign of Double Take.

Fluttershy dropped the bucket and started searching around the room.

"Double Take?  Double Take!" she said repeatedly as she searched all over the room.

"He's gone, Fluttershy," I said. "I musta scared him off."

"Well, what do we do?  He's in no condition to walk, much less stand!"

"I'll find him." I volunteered. "He probably teleported out of here.  He was a unicorn, right?"

"Yeah."

I spread out my wings. "Well then we couldn't have gone far.  I'll find him and bring him back here, as soon as I can."

"Rainbow?"

"Yeah?"

"Please don't hurt him when you find him."

"I won't."

"Thank you," she said with a worried tone.  I immediately took off out the window, scanning the ground as I went.

***

I found myself in the town, right where the alleyway where I lived (if you can call it living.)

Enough.  The show must go on.

Where did I leave off?  Ah, yes, the explanation of my family.

My father's research on the Relics of Unity.  My brother, aspiring to be like him... yes, covered that... here we are!

"Impression, you and I are going to change the world.  There's no stopping us now!"

No, no there was not.

That night was to be the night of the testing that my father told me about.  Going to another world... it sounded exhilarating.  I was at my desk, trying to perfect one of my greatest creations: The Mind Reading Spell.  As worked off of the Mind Link Spell, this was to be the first to help in finding the truth where it was hiding: in the back of ponies’ minds.  A simple spell to use and cast, but it depleted one's magic almost immediately.  I was trying to find a way to counteract that.

Halfway through the note taking, I stopped to hear a little rumble of hooves moving in the floor above.  That was where my father and brother were testing the connection to the other world; they told me not to look the room, though, so I did not.  I kept writing, and right when I found a way to reduce magic consumption, I heard the rumble again.  Mumbles of conversation were had, and I thought all was well.

That is, until I heard the door slam open.  My father cried out: "Run!  Hide!  Something's gone terribly wrong!"

I heard a guttural scream resonate through the house.  I quickly gathered my notes, put them into a bag, and ran to my book cabinet.  I ripped out the tomes, and I hid inside.  My sister came running in, and I heard our elders cry out in pain.  I gestured to her, waving her over to my hiding place.  She quickly ran over and hid beside me.

"First, what's going on?"

"I don't know," I said urgently. "but whatever it is, it cannot be good."

I heard the door squeak open. I held my sister close, and she buried her head into my shoulder, stifling her sobs.

"Fiiii-iiiiii-iiiirst!" I heard my brother call. "Where aaaaaaare yoooou?"

I heard a disturbing laugh come from him, and I started to shiver in fear.

"Hide-and-seek, eh?  I love that game..." he said.  I heard a giant thud as he ripped open the door to my closet.

"Looks like all that practice paid off... Ah-HA!"

I heard another thud as he opened the cabinet nearby the one my sister and I were in.  I knew we were doomed.  This was the last cabinet, the only place we could possibly be hiding that he would think of.

I heard his crazed giggles as he took step after step, slowly approaching.  I shut my eyes.

Suddenly the hoof stomping stopped.  I listened close, but heard nothing.  Silence.

I waited a minute, listening to the sound of my own silenced breathing.  It seemed he was gone.  I relaxed for a second.

"Brother?" my sister asked.

I didn't even have time to answer her as she was ripped away from me, my brother's magic quickly pulling her out of the cabinet.  In one quick move, my brother took the knife with his magic and slit her throat wide open.

Shock overwhelmed me.  I can remember that very moment all too clearly.  The door halfway open, the room a mess, the look on my brother's face and the blood of my sister... every detail down to the type of knife that he wielded: a long, black knife crafted out of cursed stone.  One does not simply unsee these things.

I stumbled to my hooves as the bloody knife almost sliced me, and I ran for the door.  It slammed in my face, held closed by my brother's magic.  I ran to my desk, hoping I had something to counteract this madness my brother was experiencing.

"Well, well, well... look at you.  First Impression, mother's favorite.  Always mother's favorite."

I was cornered.  My notes had nothing on something like this, so I used the one spell I thought would work.  I read his mind and found it was not his own.  Dark essences lurked in there, causing his crazed slaughter.

"Brother, don't do this.  You know that's not true!  Your mind is clouded with evil!" I said, but to no avail.  A giant smile crept over my brother's face.

"Evil?  HAHAHA!  You know not of the true nature of evil.  If that's how you feel about evil, though... let's see how you feel about this!"

And then I was stabbed.

"Why...?" I asked, falling to the floor.

He watched me fall, and I watched his crazed smile as my vision began to fade.

That's when I first encountered it.  The light.  Staring me in the eye, it stood what seemed to be a few feet away.

Not a lot of space.

All it took was thinking that there was space in this strange place, and the light turned into a void, consuming all that was nearby it.  I tried to hold my ground, but the force was too much.  I was being dragged closer and closer...

It was then I was saved.  I don't know by who or what, but I was dragged back to reality, pain surging through my body.  I screamed, like any pony in pain would.

"Hold still, dammit!" a voice shouted at me.  I knew the voice.  This was one of my friends from the medical school.  I did not know his name, but I saw his face.

I kept screaming in pain and was restrained.  Something was injected into my neck, and that was the last time I would see his world for a long time.

The light appeared again, and I decided I had no choice.  It wasn't going to go away, and being in this world... there was no point anymore.

I lowered my head (theoretically speaking, that is, since any actual physical movement would be impossible at that point) and stepped into the light.

Once the gleaming light got out of my eyes, I saw my home.  The colors were all wrong... Everything was mismatched, opposite of what it was on what I call this side.

I looked around and saw there were still ponies.  Walking, talking, and alive.

I just stared.  What was I supposed to do?  Where was I?  What was all this?

I started to walk, but I felt like my hooves were moving on their own.  I certainly didn't control where they went.

This world was all the same.  Everything was colored differently, but it had the same general layout.  I walked and walked and realized I was headed towards the graveyard.

I kept going and going until I just stopped.  My legs refused to move.  I looked down to see the gravestone I stopped in front of.

FIRST IMPRESSION

376-390

R.I.P.

I was dead.  The realization hit me like a brick to the face.  My knees gave out, and I fell to the ground.

I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead... I thought, the same line repeating in my mind over and over again.  I felt tears run down my eyes.

"First?"

I stopped all movement.  That voice... it couldn't be.

"Second?" I asked back.  Sure enough, she was standing nearby with some flowers, most likely to place at my grave.

"Are you... real?" she asked, her voice wavering.

"I could ask you the same thing!" I said with an unintentional nervous laugh.

She looked the same, as did the rest of the ponies here.  Just some of the other colors of this world had changed... not that it mattered at that point.  She was back, or rather, I was back.

I was at a loss for words.  I stepped closer slowly, and so did she.  We met in the middle, hugging.

I have to say, sadness was an easy feeling to feel at that point.  I knew I was dead, and I knew that this must be the afterlife.  I knew that I made the right choice.  There was a lot to cry about at that point.

But I was wrong.

"Where were you all these years?" she asked me.

"Whatever do you mean?" I asked.  Confusion swept over me for a moment, but the answer was in what I just saw: the tombstone.  I died three years previous...  so that means...

I broke the embrace.  "I'm sorry.  This is wrong."

"First, what do you mean?"

"I'm not who you think I am."

"You came back from the dead.  I'm not surprised that would be the case."

"No, no... I'm not... You shouldn't... I don't..."

Sentences are things that help keep the conversation in line.  This is why this conversation gets very much out of hand.

She put a hoof over my mouth, shushing my inadequate attempts at speaking.

"Shhhhh... there's no need for words.  I know you may be somepony beyond explanation, but to me, you will be the same pony you always were, First."

...

I choose not to write more on this subject.  Why does everything lead back to Her like that?  I need to figure out how to write this next part...

***

I found Double Take a little ways off from the library, hidden away in an alley.  He's not that easy to spot.

I swooped down to tell him to get back to Fluttershy's place, but something seemed off about him.  His face sure wasn't looking half as pulverized when I saw it last, and his side seemed just fine.

I told Fluttershy I wouldn't hurt him, but I was angry.  This guy thinks he can just feign being hurt and just occupy somepony's home whenever he pleases?  That does not sit well with me.

"Hey, DT!" I called, prepared to knock the living crap out of him again, when something happened.

***

I knew it.  This Rainbow pony was going to find me at some point, and I thought it'd be now.  However, this time, she was not going to get any hits in.

I restrained her every movement with my magic.  Literally every movement.  She could've gone into cardiac arrest had it not been for my magic allowing her heart to pulsate and her lungs to breathe, as well as other subconscious functions.  Her eyelids I did not use magic on, but I kept her eyes trained on me.

"Rainbow Dash.  I did not appreciate your actions back at the cottage." I said calmly.  I allowed her to speak.  If she did not watch her tongue, I could stop her form talking whenever I pleased.

"Let me go, you pathetic piece of--!"

"Language, Rainbow." I scolded mockingly. "Now, what is it that you want?"

"Fluttershy wants--"

"No, Rainbow.  I did not ask what Fluttershy wants.  I asked what you want."

"Well, now I just want to get out of here, but--"

"Leave?  For what purpose?"  I said, delving into her thoughts. "We've only just started talking."

Somehow her facial muscles broke loose from the magic for a second to become an angry face, but I regained control again.

"Look, buddy--"

"Call me Double."

"Fine then, Double, I'm here to carry on a message from Fluttershy."

"No you are not." I said.  Her thoughts were like an open book... no, not that, an organized file.  I could simply pick and choose what to use against her. "You are here to beat me further.  Do I have that right?"

"Look, Fluttershy told me--"

"Again, it's not about Fluttershy, or what she says.  This is about you." I said getting closer to her.  I was trying to pull the menacing look, and so far, it was working. "What did you think of doing as soon as you saw me? Be truthful."

"I thought about telling you what Flutters--"

"Stop it!  This is not about Fluttershy!" I yelled at her. "I am asking for your thoughts, and your thoughts alone."

"Why does it matter?"

"Are you saying your thoughts don't matter?  That you don't matter?"

"I didn't say that!  It's that they shouldn't matter to you!"

"Oh, shouldn't they?  What if I told you I already know what you're thinking?"

"Oh yeah?  Prove it!"

"You thought of beating me up again.  You didn't even think to ask about my condition before doing so."

"You liar!  You were never hurt!"

"No, I was hurt.  Badly.  The thing was, I could've healed myself but simply chose not to."

"But why?"

"Oh, so now I hear an actual question leave your mouth.  It's almost foreign to me.  All the same, I will answer with a question.  Tell me: If you had to perform a serious bit of medical surgery on yourself, would you do it?  Could you do it?  The answer is no.  Your self-preservation instincts would kick in before you even got a look at your wound.  Even with magic, one's preservation instincts will stop oneself before anything can be done.  But you provided for me an opportunity.  With the damage done to my face, my body was working towards fixing that first.  I could then freely heal myself and rid of the serious wound before moving on and repairing my face.  Particularly my jaw, which I think you broke.  Not that I'm holding it against you or anything."

"So basically... you didn't do it before because you couldn't?"

"And the blind pony gains her sight, even if it is just the peripheral vision.  Yes, that's right.  I suppose putting things into layman's terms is your specialty."

"What happened to you, anyway?  Why were you at Fluttershy's and not the hospital?"

"Your friend Twilight can tell you all about that.  Funny, though, she cannot tell you everything about me."

"You know Twilight?"

"She knows me.  She hassled me these last few days."

"Friggin' egghead... what about?"

"My origin story."

"Origin story?"

"Oh, right, layman's terms... the story of my life before Ponyville."

"Why not just tell her?  What bad things could come of it?"

"Many bad things.  I'm not going to share those.  They are far beyond your understanding."

"Hey, uh... I don't wanna hurt you, okay?  Seriously.  Could you just let me go?"

"I suppose."  I released her.  At the first sign of malicious action, I was prepared to restrain her again.

"I've got this all figured out." she said.

"Hm?  What's this?  A pony like you adding things up?"

"Yeah," she replied confidently, "I know what this is all about.  You're the one who upset Pinkie, right?"

"Yes, but whose fault is that?"

"Yours?"

"Twilight's.  She planned to have this party in the beginning, hoping to get some information out of me."

"But you didn't have to act that way."

"Says the one who beat me up.  I was simply acting in self-defense... mental self-defense, if you will."

"Look, buddy, it's hard to get used to Pinkie's antics sometimes.  We all know that.  That doesn't give you the right to hurt her feelings like that."

This is what I was writing about before.  The guilt of my actions is still with me, and this conversation as only making it worse.  She was blaming me for actions I couldn't control.  I was almost angry, but I was not allowed to be.

"You're right, yet what you say changes nothing."

She didn't say a word.  Her mind... empty.  Only her subconscious was still at work in that head of hers.

"I'm going now."  I said.  There was nothing left to discuss here.  Unlike most of the others, this one pony did not object.  She simply took to the skies and went away.

You know, all this time I thought I'd feel satisfaction when things go my way, but... I do not feel like rejoicing, that much is certain.  I'm starting to question these methods I have created, these limitations I restrict myself to.  Perhaps coming clean would not be a bad idea... the only time that evil has ever come from them is when I choose not to tell them these things.

This debate must be done in my head... there's too much to think about and so little time...

***

I watch as the files turn to ashes in the fire.  This... I didn't want to know this much.  I've gone too far, too fast, all because I just wanted to get to know somepony.  I hold the last file, File 9, in my hooves and ask myself if I really want to know what secrets it holds.

First Impression.  An evil pony, a manipulator, a lifesaver, and an immortal.  There's too much to process here.

I have crossed off every theory on my list.  I know who he is now.  I know what has been done and what cannot be undone.  I know why he's here.  I know why he avoids everypony else.  I know him.

Now that I know, I wish I could go back and stop myself from ever wondering about this pony.

I opened the file.

First (Good) Impression

This pony was born in Tremomenda (Stlmt. II) in the Pre-Enlightenment Era to a rich family.  Son of Star Swirl the Bearded, he studied much magic and became proficient in most teleportation and levitation magic by age 7.  He almost never left his house.  Many claim to have seen him outside the house at the late hours of the night, but many facts suggest otherwise.

I kept reading and reading.  I couldn't stop myself from indulging myself in this file.  He had family, friends, a steady relationship, a life worth living.  Oh Celestia, how he must feel now.  I kept reading and reading until something seemed off.  This writing was familiar... very much so...

Celestia's writing!  This was all her writing style, and... wait a minute, if the Princesses are immortal, couldn't they have known of the other immortal beings?  They would know him... yet they have never spoken of him, or at least, Celestia hasn't.

That's not all that struck me as funny.

First Impression (in Year 575 of the Enlightenment Era) was said to have been seen and conversed with in an area just outside of town.  Many ponies were sent to look for him and bring him to the Princesses, but none found him.  The race war was raging at this point in time, and many claimed to have spotted the strange unicorn nearby all at the same time, thus it is assumed it was a mishap.

In the Year 1903, it was claimed that he was spotted again.  When the search party went out to his location, they found nothing but a note on the ground.

It read, "Life is the truth.  The truth hurts.  What hurts is healed.  Life's inflictions must be healed.  WTAAO, not yet. The fated one will come, and only she will understand."

To this day, the meaning of the WTAAO acronym is unknown, as well as the pony defined as "the fated one".

In the Year 1990, the last report of a First Impression sighting was in Canterlot.  His final note was found.

"And may the sun watch over the fated one, and let that pony be frank and true.  The fated one shall strive for perfection: finish what was left unfinished, redo what was undone, and arise to the greatest light of them all: the light of the sun.  Praise be to the fated one, born upon this day."(FI sighting note, January 1st, 11:58 PM)

I know what he meant.  I know who he is, and his purpose.  What I don't know is why.

Why go through this much strife, this much trouble, this much time, all to deliver only one little message?  Why do these notes even exist?  Why say there is this "fated one"?  Who is it?

He never said anything about this.  I have to talk to him.  The only problem with that is, as I heard from Fluttershy, that he went missing, and that Rainbow Dash was going out to find him.  So this will have to wait another day until he is spotted again...

I just hope that he hasn't disappeared for good...