Sparkyll and Hyde

Act I:Chapter Two:

Of Madmares and Hypocrites

     Fleur de Lis impatiently tapped her hoof against the marble floor, huffing for Alicorns know how many times.

     She, Sir Fancy Pants, Sir Blueblood, Octavia Melody, and Princess Luna were waiting in a small room adorned with oak walls and a cold marble floor. A single glass lamp hung from the ceiling, but was not in use due to the sunlight bursting through the window beside Fleur. There was a podium made of the same wood at the far end of the room gathering dust, for want of its host. At the other end of the room, the Lunar Princess sat at a desk next to them, looking over documents that were obviously unimportant to the meeting at hand. Octavia stood in a bipedal position playing a soft aria on her prized cello, and Fancy Pants and Blueblood both sat next to her, taking in her performance.

     Fleur glanced at the clock next to the window, then cursed mentally.

Canterlot's House of Law is not a place meant for such tardiness, especially for the governors of Canterlot Hospital. Fleur thought to herself.

        The Governors of Canterlot Hospital were formed of each of the ponies currently present, with the exception of Princess Luna, who was serving as a surety for the meeting. After founding the Hospital, Fancy Pants had established the Governors to maintain legal matters of the Hospital, such as approving and administering new medicine, or in the case of the current meeting, helping the progress of certain doctors.

     And although the Alicorn Princesses ruled Equestria and handled matters of life in the kingdom, the two had agreed to leave issues of the Hospital in the hooves of the Governors. They feared that if either of them approved of a matter without the consent of the Governors, it could be seen by others as favoritism, leading to disorder in the city, or even open rebellion, which could cause the escape of the deity of Chaos. Therefore, the Princesses had little choice than to leave the issues of Canterlot Hospital to the Governors.

     Of all the Governors, Blueblood had joined simply because the Hospital was to be bequeathed to him after his parents passed on. Despite this, he took his duty seriously, for once, willing to aid alongside his family.

     The only Governor set on personal gain was Octavia. Because she was a renowned cellist, as well as a mare of stunning beauty, she had a vast wealth, nearly as rich as Fancy Pants and Fleur de Lis . To build up her reputation as a mare of charity, she began donating a sum of her wealth towards Canterlot Hospital, which eventually earned her position as one of its governors, though some believed that she had reserved reasons for her contribution.

     "Princess Luna," said Fleur, having enough of wasting time, "I would be ever pleased to know why the sole reason we're here is absent from this session. I'm already late for several other affairs."

     The Princess of the Night lifted her head, checking the clock above her. It was ten-eighteen, nearly an hour after the meeting was supposed to start. "Please have patience," she said calmly. "I'm certain Doctor Sparkle will arrive at any moment."

     "We've given more than enough of our time, your Highness," grumbled Blueblood. "How much longer do you expect us to wait and neglect our matters of actual importance?" Allowing himself a cruel smile, he added, "You'd think the prized pet of your sister's would learn to take such meetings seriously. She set the meeting herself, after all."

     Fancy Pants arched an eyebrow at him. Son or not, Blueblood's behavior today sickened him, and his choice words for it were not fit for the conversation; so choosing to remain silent, he freed his mind to wander on other things.

     "Why should she come?" chimed Octavia. Up until now, she had been mute, save for the music emanating from her cello. Lifting her bow from the strings, she locked her gaze at Luna. "She's only going to make a fool of herself when--or if--she arrives. She's wasted her entire life pursuing these empty causes, and is yet to create a cure for madness."

     Returning her attention to the cello, she resumed the song she was previously playing. And though none could hear it over the music, she said under her breath, "Besides, seeking to cure insanity? I'd say Discord planted that idea in her head to tear our society apart."

     Luna glanced at the clock again. Ten-twenty. She may have appeared as calm as her sister, but deep inside, she was panicking.

Where are you, Twilight Sparkle? she thought. Your being late is already reflecting badly upon your presentation. They may shut your entire project down!

     The door across from Octavia's position opened abruptly to reveal a hasty Twilight carrying several papers in her mouth. She wore a saddlebag with her cutie mark etched on it. Her mane had tangled during whatever adventure had delayed her, and her assistant dragon, Spike, was clinging tightly to the white coat she wore on top of her blue sweater.

     Hearing Octavia and Blueblood snicker, Luna shot a warning glance to silence them.

     "Shhry, shrry!" Twilight tried to say. "Shike!" Spike wrested his claws open, slid off her back, then proceeded to take the papers still hanging in her toothed grip. "I'm sorry, Princess Luna!" she shouted, once the papers were removed. "I thought I had more time, and by the time I left--"

     Luna inhaled sharply, calming her jolted nerves. "Understandable. Just . . . don't allow it to happen again, please." Luna was cautious with her words, and her face became a façade of stone. Being anything less than strict to Twilight--with the Governors present--would have led to an uncomfortable situation.

     Fancy Pants rose from his seating, beaming with high spirits. "Greetings, Doctor Sparkle."

     "It's a pleasure to see you again, Sir Fancy Pants," Twilight sighed with a likewise attitude as she smoothed her mane out. "But you don't have to call me 'Doctor'. We're all the same, average ponies, after all."

     She heard Blueblood scoff from behind her.

     "Okay, not all of us are the same. Some of us sink just a bit lower." She said this with a cheery wink towards the pompous stallion.

     The relationship between Twilight and Fancy Pants had become somewhat similar to her and Celestia's after Rarity had introduced the two on her visit in the city. Soon after meeting, their common interests in science rooted a friendship nearly alike to one of a father and daughter; mostly because the idea of the TS8 Project intrigued and encouraged him to help fund her work by providing her with state-of-the-art equipment and tools for her research.

     "So what took you so long, anyway?" asked Octavia. "Visiting your mother, Sleeping Beauty again?"

     Her face flushing, Twilight dropped her eyes to the dark streaks in the marble.

     "You can't talk to Twi like that! What if you had a loved one suffering in that Hospital, huh? I'll bet--mmhh!"

     Spike's defensive outcry was cut off by Twilight forming a zipper across his mouth. Furrowing her eyebrows, she stared him down in warning. When certain he got the message, she removed the zipper.

     "What I meant to say," the dragon restated, "was that Twi was checking, um, Mom's calorie intake with the feeding tubes." Spike looked at Twilight, who sighed, relieved for the most part.

     Octavia smirked at her, then focused on adjusting her cello's strings.

     "Come on, Spike," commanded Twilight, her calm expression forming.

     Spike carried the papers to the podium. Handing them to Twilight, he sat in a small chair next to the podium. As she shed her saddlebag, and sorted and stacked the papers neatly, she heard Fleur whispering something to Fancy Pants.

     ". . . you defending her? Do you expect us to indulge in her heresy while she . . ."

     Luna cleared her throat, gathering everyone's attention. "Now that every pony--and dragon--is here, let's begin." Turning to Twilight, she began, "Doctor Sparkle. You have set this meeting concerning a breakthrough in your work, the TS8 Project. You also wish to submit a request to the Governors, as you addressed to each of us in the form of writing?"

     "Tell us something we don't know, Princess," interrupted Blueblood, "Such as, why we should listen to this mare's ranting on the misuse of science."

     Fleur and Octavia both spoke assent, while Twilight tried to rein the group in, creating an indiscernible clamor.

     Fancy Pants calmly walked to Luna's desk and pounded the gavel against it, disrupting the argument.

     "Enough." The near-monotonous voice and tranquil demeanor surprised Twilight. She expected more shouting from him, but instead he stood calm, seeming almost bored. Looking about the room, she could see everyone else, save for Luna, was intimidated. "Doctor Sparkle's methods may be unprecedented, but she is still a mare of renown, loved by those in Ponyville, and respected by many ponies of science. If not for her and her companions, we would be mere puppets of Discord's dark magic. She has worked hard to reach this point in her career, and as a noble-pony of Canterlot, I say we give her a fair chance to present her request. Are we agreed?"

     He said this last sentence while furrowing his eyebrows, as if in a warning. The other three Governors settled, even showed enthusiastic interest, which Twilight already knew was forced. Returning to his seat, Fancy Pants winked at Twilight, followed by Luna nodding, informing her to proceed.

     "Thank you, Fancy Pants," Twilight smiled. "I will see to it that your support will be noted in my journal." Clearing her throat, she restacked her papers again, took the first sheet from the pile, and began reading.

     "Distinguished Governors, before I begin, I must thank all of you for hearing me out in this vital matter concerning our society. I know that through my work--"

     "Doctor Twilight Sparkle," complained Fleur de Lis, "Perhaps, just perhaps, it would do us all good to skip the pleasantries and proceed with the purpose of this meeting . . . if there is one to speak of.

     "Of course, Lady Fleur," said Twilight without missing a beat. She passed all the cards to Spike, who discarded them into the saddlebag. "I'm afraid you'll have to forgive me for my good manners. I wasn't, after all, raised by snot-nosed dignitaries who stick their heads in the air like drunken turkeys."

     Before Fleur could respond, Twilight spoke up, beginning her presentation.

  "As I was about to say, Governors, Princess Luna, it is my belief that within each and every one of us, even the best of us, there resides two separate natures; two distinct souls, if you please." She held out her hooves to emphasize her statement. "One is conceived of the goodness in our hearts, and one of the evil lingering in its darkest corners.

     "When I say every one of us, I mean that every creature born with a sense of free will; be it pony, zebra, griffon, breezie, dragon, and so on, each is both blessed with free will, yet cursed to endure evil to thrive in their lives and fight for control over its host.

     "With evil free to reside in our souls, we're often drawn to temptations to commit selfish deeds. This, I believe, was how the dark usurper, Sombra, first seized the Crystal Empire; Him once being an innocent stallion, but tempted by selfish rewards, thus ensnaring him within his inner evil.

     "There are some cases when certain emotions such as jealousy, anger or grief cloud our nature of goodness. Mind you, the emotion itself is not evil--since it is natural to experience these feelings--but what we choose to do with that emotion causes evil to take hold of its host, in the case of Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon."

     Twilight just barely missed the motion of Luna nodding slightly in acceptance. At first, she felt it unjustified to call out on her mistake, but then felt an air of relief following her nod. She rounded the podium with Spike following behind, approached the Governors, then stopped in the small semicircle formed of the five ponies.

     "Whatever the case, if an essence of evil is left unchecked, or neglected to be countered by goodness, the evil becomes uncontrollable, resulting in its host losing their free will. Each of you have seen it in the ponies locked away in asylums or federal prisons--"

     "Or in hospitals, under certain . . . ailments?" Octavia suddenly inquired, eyes narrowed in a taunting derision.

     Twilight kept her face fixed in a tranquil expression, refusing to retort or even glare at her; although she allowed herself a brief moment to imagine casting a harmless disembodiment spell on her and watching her disassembled body parts bouncing about.

     "Yes, well, you have a point, Octavia," she chuckled, masking her fantasy. "My Mother's comatose state is a primary reason why I've focused on medical science, and an essence of evil can also render its host comatose.

     "What I'm trying to say is, after thoroughly studying the two elements of our hearts for the last few years, I have reached an understanding. I understand that the only way to free a comatose or mentally unstable being is to divide and eradicate the wheat from the chaff; to separate the natures of goodness and evil, and destroy the latter, so that all creatures with free will only possess a nature of goodness."

     Twilight's excitement began to grow greater and greater as she spoke, like a bubbling geyser soon to detonate.

     "Yesterday morning, a dear friend of mine helped me discover the final key ingredient, the missing link to my TS8 Formula. With the combination of the forces of magic and science, along with this extra ingredient added to it, I've experimented the Formula on various animals, each test resulting in success. I speak to you truthfully when I say that the separation of these natures is not only a life-changing possibility, but it is achievable."

     "An interesting theory," Blueblood stated dryly. "But what does this have to do with the request you've yet to address?"

     "I was just getting to that." Sighing deeply, Twilight mentally and emotionally prepared herself. The Governors were not going to like what she was about to say. "Governors, Princess Luna, I have set this meeting to say, although my Formula works on various animals, I must prove it can affect a creature with free will. I humbly ask you to allow me to test my Formula on a creature who has fallen to his or her darkness, on a sentient subject."

     As expected, Twilight was met with mixed reactions. While Fancy Pants and Luna both nodded assent, knowing her request had to be fulfilled if the TS8 was to be proven successful, the other ponies were surprised and enraged.

     "Sacrilege!" exclaimed Fleur.

     Blueblood walked around her, circling, with eyes filled with venom. "You tread on dangerous ground, Doctor. Do you expect us to willingly damn an innocent pony to your dangerous games?

     Luna, for the first time, stepped out from behind her desk. "Calm yourselves, every pony! I'm sure Doctor Sparkle has a reasonable explanation."

     "And she does! How can she prove her theory without testing it on a pony?" said Spike, who half-expected another glare from Twilight, but was instead rewarded with a smile.

     "Thank you, Spike. My assistant has a clear point. I cannot treat mad-ponies and comatose patients without taking this chance."

     "If you so desperately need a test subject," said Fleur, "Then whatever is wrong with testing your potion on your pet?" She gestured towards Spike. "You did say that dragons are sentient creatures too."

     The dragon's emerald eyes shifted between Twilight and Fleur, pupils thin as paper.

     "No." The Unicorn wrapped her leg around Spike in protection. "I wouldn't risk Spike's safety. Not even to save my Mother."

     "Yet, you're absolutely content with risking the well-being of a pony you don't even know?" Blueblood sneered, still circling. Twilight realized she'd just walked into a trap.

     "Well, um . . ." Twilight looked at Luna as if to ask, "Can't you do something?" only to be answered with a pained stare.

      Recomposing herself, she said, "Listen, I understand my work is an unprecedented subject; no pony has ever attempted it before. Perhaps it's why you stand against me right now. Your fear of the unknown has clouded your judgment of me and my work, and you fear my Formula will lead to disaster.

     "And I also realize that you helping me could possibly ruin your reputations--being that some believe my work to be more supernatural than scientific--but I beg of you for one equine doomed to insanity; I cannot move forward until I find a test subject!"

     "And . . . this would be a terrible tragedy?" Octavia deadpanned.

     Facing her, Fancy Pants huffed angrily. "Whatever is your problem with Doctor Sparkle? Can you not see what she is trying to accomplish? She could save countless lives with the TS8 Formula!"

     "Other ponies may agree with your opinions just because you're a celebrity, Fancy Pants," Octavia shot back, scowling with contempt, "But here, the law of us Governors comes first. I will not be moved by your fame. Twilight Sparkle is a heretic and a witch who spits upon everything the Alicorns have done to build our society and fields of science."

     Twilight just about had it with Octavia's spiteful insults. Approaching her, she locked eyes with her in a stern expression. "You should know, saying that is exactly like saying that Princess Celestia is the one spitting on the Alicorns' work. She was the one who approved of my idea and encouraged me to keep up my work when I was ready to give up. She was the one who taught me of the balance between the natures of goodness and evil, which inspired me to perform my research and work."

     Octavia did not sway an inch. "Please. You'd believe your master if she'd told you two plus two equaled five."

     Twilight inhaled shakily. "You aren't just a Governor just for the reputation, aren't you? Have you donated all that money only so that you could stand against me, so I couldn't have but a chance to save my Mother?"

     "You never stood a chance. You were just too stupid to open your eyes. If your mother's essence of evil got out of control, then wouldn't that mean she chose to be evil herself? An essence of evil doesn't just attack at any random moment, right?"

     "Silence!"

     Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice shook the entire room. The five ponies and one dragon each stumbled before turning their attention to Luna.

     "Do you not see what has happened?" begged the Lunar Princess. "Even as we speak, our anger continues to drive us against one another! This is exactly what Doctor Sparkle meant when we take our emotions and use them for evil!" She paused for a moment to compose herself. "Doctor Sparkle said that a nature of evil can attack its host through various emotions."

Turning to Octavia, she continued, "Lady Melody, whatever caused the accident that fateful night, I feel it was not a choice of evil. Twilight Velvet could have simply been overwhelmed by her emotions of her child already growing up, and the manticore attack had soon followed, losing her free will and slipping into her coma.

     "Twilight Sparkle is only trying to give us a chance for us to control our fate, and holding her back for selfish reasons will not accomplish anything. Is there any reason to deny her request other than to secure your reputations?"

     Everyone had fallen silent. Blueblood and his mother both shifted their attention to the marks in the wooden walls.

     As she saw a hint of a smile on Fancy Pants' face, Twilight was then sure that her request would pull through; until Octavia spoke up.

     "Actually . . . your Highness, there may be one thing the good Doctor has missed that I now realize." The cellist spoke gently, as if talking of today's weather. "Doctor Sparkle says that the TS8 Formula is meant to separate our natures from sentient creatures, and was successful on various animals, correct?"

     Twilight nodded, unsure of where she was going with this.

     Her tone began to take the form of maliciousness. "But she has not said whether these animals were sentient or not. If the TS8 only separates the natures from non-sentient animal--whom aren't even your target patients, since they lack sentience and the natures of goodness and evil--how do we know we're aren't--as Blueblood had said--before damning an innocent pony to your experiment?"

     Twilight felt her consciousness of being in the room disappear, suddenly angered at her own stupidity. This minor, yet key point obliterated her request completely. Of course the animals she tested her Formula on didn't have sentience! She couldn't jump to conclusions and test a live pony at that period! She saw her mistake of not thinking ahead coming to light. How could she convince the Governors to lend her a sentient patient now?

     "Doctor Sparkle?"

     Twilight blinked back into reality. "What, Princess Luna?"

     The Princess bit her lip, then responded, "I said, Octavia has a valid point, I fear. If you have only proven a creature that is not your target patient can be cured, how do you know the test subject with remain unharmed?"

     As much as she wanted to deny it, to demand of the Governors a test subject anyway, Twilight knew that doing either would worsen the situation. Swallowing her pride, she answered, "I don't, Princess. I admit, I've only tested the Formula on non-sentient animals, and I don't know what will happen if used on a pony." She glanced at the black streaks in the marble, wishing for the meeting to end already.

     "Well then," Luna coughed. "Shall we vote? Spike, you too, are entitled to vote."

     "In that case," he said, "Yes, Twilight should get a test subject! If you dummies opened your eyes for one second--" He didn't need to see Twilight's grimace to know he had to be quiet. "Um, never mind."

      Blueblood was next. "As a noblepony of Canterlot, my answer is 'no'. We have enough madmares loose in this city."

     Then Fleur. "No."

     Octavia followed. "I believe I made my opinion quite clear already, your Highness."

     Fancy Pants had not spoken since arguing with Octavia. Closing his eyes, he said regretfully, "I . . . abstain my vote."

     Luna sighed again. "By three votes to one, with one abstention, Doctor Twilight Sparkle's proposal is rejected." Pounding the gavel against her desk, she exited her seat. "You are dismissed."

     Twilight shut her eyes, intentionally seeming oblivious to the Governors as they left. As she heard clicking hooves approach her, she opened her eyes to see Octavia, smug as ever. Before she could say whatever insult was on her mind, she raised a hoof to stop her. "Just leave me be, Octavia. You've won. What more can you do to destroy my work?"

     The cellist didn't seem fazed by the remark. "You should be thanking me. If not for my noticing your mistake, one innocent pony would be dead, and you would have been humiliated."

     She headed back to the door and exited the room, leaving only the doctor, Luna, and Fancy Pants. The latter walked to Twilight, head down.

     "I am exceedingly sorry, Twilight," he said sorrowfully.

     The doctor forced a smile, then gathered her things together. "Good day, Sir Fancy Pants."

     Taking the hint, he followed the other Governors out of the building.

     Spike helped Twilight load her saddlebag onto her back--which to both, felt strangely felt heavier than before--and walked beside her. She set a hoof on her forehead in thought, then turned to her assistant. "Come on, Spike. Let's go home."

     "But . . . what about Pinkie's congratulations party?"

     "Then, I'll just tell her I'm not feeling well," she replied glumly. "At least it isn't a lie."

     Luna darted around the pair and stopped them. "Wait, Twilight Sparkle. May I suggest something?" When the doctor shrugged in reply, she said, "If the Governors will not give you a test subject, what about testing the TS8 Formula on yourself?"

     Twilight was already shaking her head before she finished the sentence. "It won't work. After considering that option, I remembered that I wanted, in its complete form, for it to only separate the natures from those who have already fallen. I don't know what effects, if any, will occur if used on those who still have free will, nor do I see any reason to risk it."

    Luna took this into consideration, then responded, "Then I am certain you will convince those ponies to reconsider."

     Twilight couldn't help herself snapping back. "How can I? The Governors claim to help those in need, yet ignore the issues that stand right in their faces! And they boast their reputations as friends of medicine and science, but they're not; they're hypocrites, every last one of them!"

     She immediately regretted saying that last statement, being that Fancy Pants had willingly and strongly supported her; and she could tell Luna understood what she'd meant.

     However, if Luna was surprised at her outburst--which Spike obviously was, since he put some distance between himself and her--she hid it with ease.

     "I do not disagree, Twilight Sparkle; but they have the ultimate say in these matters." She then shook her head, almost in disbelief. "However, you are fortunate they did not shut your project down, as I thought they would."

     "What's that supposed to mean?"

     "Your display of your emotions today was not . . . " she stopped, looking for the right word. "Suitable."

     Twilight sighed, seeing her error. Signaling Spike to come back, she said, "I'm sorry, Princess. But the truth is they are so afraid of crossing that line which is my work, that they won't give me a chance! I know I can save my Mother, and the countless others who suffer the same fate, if the Governors would just listen!"

     [ link ]

     She closed her eyes and sang softly, "How can I pursue the truth when they can block each step I take?"

     Luna place a hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight, you have come too far. Remember what you have at stake!"

     "Liege, I know I'm right. I must let my vision guide me.

But I'm so weary of this fight. There's so little left inside me."

     Spike smiled up at Twilight. "You have set this dream alive, so we've gotta see it through. We gotta see it through . . ."

     Twilight exhaled, understanding Spike's encouragement. I lost today, but I will continue my work; without their help. I just won't be able to have a test subject right now.

     "Eight years ago, I started this journey alone; now it's alone I'll see it through to its conclusion!

Who are they to judge what I am doing? They know nothing of the endless possibilities I see!"

     Hoisting Spike onto her back, she started for the exit door. "It's ludicrous, Spike! I'm bound by their decision!"

     "Seems vision is a word they've never heard . . .," contemplated Luna.

     "If it mattered less, I'd treat them with derision." She chuckled grimly, then added, "It's absurd . . ."

     "Come on, Spike," she said again. "And goodbye, Princess Luna."

     The Princess of the Night waited until Twilight and Spike left the room before singing, "And yet . . . the fact remains; those bastards hold the reins . . ."

     Levitating the papers from her desk behind her, she left Canterlot's House of Law, returning to the Castle and her Sister, all the while praying that the Ancient Alicorns would be with Doctor Twilight Sparkle as she continued her journey to pursue the truth.