Cubed, Twilights descent

by Gone with the wind

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Crossover, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 3261

Trapped in a cube, made if cubes, containing puzzles. Twilights life couldn't be better. Until she starts to learn the truth. And it is not pretty.

Twilight is trapped in the labyrinth. It is talking to her telling her to dredge inwards. Will she escape? Or listen to the being and take the terrible reward it offers? This is my first fic so please do not criticize to hard! Though feel free to leave helpful suggestions in the comments!

Published 2014-04-10 02:40:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-04-10 02:40:04 UTC

Labyrinth

Twilight racked her brain to keep her sanity in check. Who was she? Where was she? Those question raced through her mind while traversing the technological maze she called home. Her parents had never brought her here she thought. Whoever they were they couldn't be heartless. She had been there for the last 15 years of her life, she was what? 20? 21? She didn't even know anymore. She had almost memorized it by now, her predicament was quite odd in a way. She had been told by it that her task was very simple. There is a grid, 32 by 32 cubes with each cube being 15 by 15 feet. She was supposed to traverse the grid and solve a puzzle in each one. She had been here since she was a filly. She knew her way around this place. Every once and a while she got to take a break, eat and mentally prepare for the trials ahead. All the while it was encouraging her to finish the giant test. This being was the only somewhat sentient thing she could talk to and it was not very good company. The voice was feminine and taunting.

"This giant test has to be completed, you know this. It's only preparation, the performance of any form of knowledge gaining procedures are a beautiful thing. You will see, they would be proud of you. If only they weren't dead. But don't worry, the only one you need to know is me. Yourself not included as you already know that." As she completed cube after cube she got to one she hadn't seen before.

"We'll isn't this a surprise." She said to herself, "Yah know its not too hard just listen to me." She snapped out of it, this disease was getting worse by the day. Or week? Hour? It didn't matter, she had to her own horror start succumbing to schizophrenia. She was seeing herself, as she would enter a room new ones especially she would see herself exiting. Even hearing herself. Looking around this new puzzle she saw one wall with the exit, and a table in the center. Around the dull grey room were horrible pictures. All of them showed a figure in the dark smiling a large smile. She was trying to look at the other things like her friends sitting in the corner and the bottle on the table. Preferring her friends she walked over to the pile of dolls resembling some ponies. She didn't know them, but they were her only non aggressive or taunting company. After a quick chat with, "Wait? Chat? No no no no she was losing it. She had to keep this in, on the table was the same bottle but inside it was an assortment of brightly colored pills. On the side it said, "Take the right one and keep your sanity!" Oh she had gone over the edge now.

"Is this just a game!" She screamed, "Am I your personal lab rat! What if I wan't to leave! My sanity is draining so now I'm as much use as a shattered element of." Wait what? She clearly hasn't thought that one through. But something seemed familiar. What was she going to say? That one thing had for her questioning herself. How long have I been here? Her train of thought interrupted by an all to familiar voice.

"Nothing is wrong in this place, don't think of elements err no think of testing. Testing is what you have been doing for the past 15 years. What a shame if." Twilight hastily interrupted,

" How long have I really been doing this! I'm starting to wonder if you've been lying to me! It's starting to come together now!" She seriously didn't think an outburst would help but she just couldn't hold it in. Elements Elements Elements of, something. Remember Twilight! That's one of your talents. Remembering things! She was thinking these in silence while staring at the bottle. And why not, cracked it open, all of them were labeled with random phrases and concepts. Origin, Control, laughter. Laughter, she thought elements of laughter? Elements of, element of laughter! Got it! She had no idea why but the pink colored pill seemed the most likely as of now except for one thing. She'd save it, not now not now she was thinking. Out of the blue she ended up taking the one labeled Origin. She suddenly saw things as if she were much much younger as she looked around and saw a table taller than what she could see. "Either I'm younger, or shorter." She told herself. She was overlooking a large circular room with a pod in the center hooked up to who knows how many machines.

"This" an unseen stallion said, "will keep this place running long after we are gone. All if our work will not be for nothing. Now this machine only operates with the assistance of a sentient being. Ponies have free thought. Machines don't, so our researchers thought combining them would work outstandingly. The hard part is finding a suitable pony to be in control. They must be incredibly mentally secure. Due to the fact that the goal set as of now has a chance if causing insanity as of doing the same thing over and over and over. Now." As that word was said Twilight was back in her normal self pondering over what she had seen. It was obviously its creation. But who was controlling it? She thought that it would have to be a very mentally in control pony with outstanding information processing and the ability to perform monotonous tasks without going insane. Going to the next cube she was greeted with something new. The puzzle was the same but according to her memory, 27371. That was an odd figure but that was irrelevant. She had done this before, yeah. Every time she somehow took the same path. A cycle, she thought. That's why I'm going insane! No sense of progress! Its probably behind all this. It's all probably just a big messed up game. She would put a stop to this, in the
dull grey space if cube 172 she devised a plan. The cycle must

be broken.

The cycle must be broken

Pondering over her plan as she completed the numerous puzzles she came across. First puzzle 213 then 116 and so on, but these agh! Elements, strange symbols and phrases names and colors. They were every where. Her theory on going insane was truly in effect here. But the scariest part is when she saw herself completing the puzzle as she walked in she, she loved it. For some reason she enjoyed seeing herself completing puzzles before herself. Was it the monotonous nature of her task? Who knows, she was putting things together now, the memories of when she was a filly. Fabricated, once she, she heard a voice. Not her own, no but a higher pitched voice that sounded as if the speaker was in constant motion.

"Follow the elements! I am laughter, because life just isn't fun without a good chuckle now and then am I right?" All after taking that bright pink pill.

"Good job Twilight you are just begging for insanity." She thought. The plan was all clear now, get to the pill room and find these elements.

"Wait wait wait, pill room my friends." She had just remembered that one of her supposed friends was bright pink. "Pill pill pill, it can't be!" The pills don't make me go insane! They put my memories together!" Eureka! She thought! With her plan all but nonexistent now she scurried across the smooth tiled floor ever so carefully not to trip on her way to the pill room. That nonexistent plan had been rushed but stated that after her tests were done and she met, It she would kill it. "The cycle must be broken. The cycle is It, the cycle begins and ends with It. And now that cycle will stop." Thought of murder had never come to her but who really cares? She was trapped here so may as well take advantage of that. She then stopped in a new chamber where he pill room should have been. It wasn't there,

"Yes you're little plan to kill me has no effect as I know you very very well. Just give up. It isn't worth it. Stay here, it is almost done, the 23 of August is approaching."

"Why do you keep me here!" Twilight yelled impatiently. "You can't keep me here forever! Eventually I will die and you're little cycle will come to a crashing stop!" She finished.

"Are you sure?" It said, " Life and death are abstract concepts, they are terms used to identify criteria in the functions of any living thing. Trust me Twilight, death is not your fate." Twilight recoiled, that was the first time It had formerly addressed her without the words stupid or stubborn. It was a complete change of events and her plan was as much use to her as her schizophrenia. On the new table in the center was a lovely display of dishes with muffins and cakes piled high. "Sit down." It told her in a calm tone. "We have to talk. Forget about your conspiracies and just stay here. The test is almost complete. So what if it is a cycle? Your reward is very close. The next Thursday you turn 22. Won't that be fun? And in that day you will receive the ultimate reward for participating.

" I want to leave and know the truth!" Twilight interrupted pushing away the pastries in front of her. "

"I'm sorry but you can not leave this place. You haven't left and you never will. But in a few days you will understand. Everything you have been hearing and seeing. It is only preparation. Do what you want now, but you will not be happy with what you find." And with that a bottle appeared on the table to replace everything else. Upon further inspection it was revealed to be the pill jar. "But why?" Twilight wondered, and after that the truth or at least part of it was revealed. After taking the pills labeled loyalty and honesty on a hunch things started to come together. "How ya holding up?" A voice said that made her think of the country and farmers and the whole lot.

"To heck with it I have to be honest, let go." Then she heard her voice saying something about being crazy. Followed by a short scream and a sigh of relief. "I am honesty, you can't go through life lying your way out of every situation or you'll become on as well." After that she heard an intense voice that sounded as if the pony had run a marathon. "

"Incoming!" Said that voice followed by a startled yelp. That voice sounded like someone reckless or some pony full of energy. "But who?" Then she heard that voice again like the last voice. "I never leave my friends hanging." Followed by an eruption of cheers. "Not trusting ourselves and practicing the art of betrayal will betray us." Then she heard, "I am loya forever and am proud to practice loyalty!" She was then back in the present wondering what had happened. Did she know those ponies? Was that her she heard? The only way to know was take the rest. Next even though all these pills could kill her curiosity got the better of her and she swore that this one labeled kindness would be the last for now. As she took it she immediately heard,

" I'm " the text was really muffled angled quiet so she was unable to hear it. The next part was easier to hear and things started making sense. " Sometimes we just need to show a little bit of kindness." And following it. "If we don't allow ourselves to give some kindness we won't receive any as well." Finally came, "I am kind and that is nothing to laugh at!" Then came the headache.

"No no no too many! Thstjvfgvdtg too too too dthbdssdfhhv the pills ffjfetyhserdb they're they're they're everywhere! Somebody help me! Somebody anybody!"

Darker realizations

When she woke up she was in pain. Her head everything, she was on the floor of one of the cubes. This puzzle was new, over the exit it said in big bold letters, Trust. Leading to the exit was a rickety plank over a long gap. This couldn't be in the cube, this is more than 15 feet long. But did she trust herself? Suddenly she was in a new cube. "Wait how did she get here?" She couldn't have just teleported, was this reality? Or was it madness? Above the exit it now said loyalty. "Wait these correspond to..." Then she was gone and in a new one. She thought it was the pills, too many but as she travelled through this "world" she kept seeing familiar things. Hearing familiar things. She was starting to remember. Now up in the new pill room she then heard a voice.

"You're alive! Thank goodness! I thought I thought, it was over." As It rambled on she was genuinely shocked, it cared for her? After years if taunting and tormenting? To tell the truth it was touching but why would It care? Next to her was the pill bottle again so she picked it up and began unevenly walking toward the exit. "No more puzzles for now just rest. " Then a feeling of drowsiness came upon her, she fell to sleep right there. After a well needed rest on the cold hard floor she got up and continued with the cycle. After assuring it was safe she took the generosity pill and continued with the puzzles. She then started to hear,

"You're from, Canterlot!" She wondered what this place was but to her it was just more proof she didn't belong here. "Oh you poor thing! I have an idea!" An unidentified voice on the background yelled owe! Then was followed by a thick cutting sound. Then she heard, "Always think of what you can give not what you can receive." And the expected final quote she was used to stated. "I am generous, because when receiving it is just an opportunity to give." She now put things together, these were the element elements of of of. Peace? Prosperity? Harmony! It all rushed back to her like a tidal wave. Her friends the elements. Then as this realization came she heard her own voice.

" You see nightmare moon when all these elements are ignited by by the spark that lies in the hearts of us all you get the 6th element, MAGIC!" These thoughts then betrayed her. When the bad memories started rolling in.

"Restrain her!" Applejack said in an irritated tone.

"Just lock in there whatever, keep her away from us!" Rainbow Dash said urgently.

"Whatever it takes to keep her in!" Pinkie pie said bouncing along. Who were they talking to? Wait wait her "teacher". See? Cel? Celestia! That was the final straw! For the first time in her terrible life she didn't want to escape. Celestia was posing as It. Those feeling of remorse were nothing but fantasies to keep me in here! I will escape, but not for freedom for revenge! These horrid thoughts raced through her head as she angry went through the cubes. Then once they have been dealt with I will retreat to here. My own little world. Under my control. The visions don't matter! The disease has destroyed me! But it it is perfect! I love it! Now I will complete these....

"Congratulations!" It said in a happy upbeat tone.
"You have..." She interrupted it with violent words saying,

"Listen here you deceiving rat! I know you're little secret! You will die! I will not just follow you! You lied to me! I don't..." It interrupted in a still calm tone saying,

" don't worry, I said you may not like what you find. You have this wrong, it is my fault don't blame them! Blame me!" She interrupted again saying,

"I know who you are and where you are hiding! I will get you!" It spoke again with a sigh,"You have it wrong Twilight, please understand it is painful for me to see you like this. Today you turned 22, the truth hurst but you have only spent 8 years here. I lied for your own good. For your benefit. Your cooperation you now deserve your ultimate reward. "

The ultimate reward

In front of her a machine rose from the ground. It was shaped like a mini escape pod and was completely white except forms all amounts of grey and black. A few feet away an elevator appeared.

"Escape it or take it." It said. She understood that it was now up to her, would she? Her friends, maybe it was just. A misunderstanding. Maybe she could just talk to them. They would work it out.

"No she though, 8 years I've been here I deserve this." With that she started walking to the pod and got in. As the pod closed around her she was suddenly in pain! It felt as if needles were pressing into her and she couldn't escape. "This machine was KIILLING her. Seconds later she could see again. It was cube 13, the way she was seeing it was grainy, like she was watching it through an old television set. She looked around and saw she could look at any of the cubes. She could also put in or take away objects from the cubes. Complete control.

"Congratulations, you are now in control." The voice of It rang out. For the first time she recognized this voice. With a horrible realization ominous in like a hurricane she recognized it as her voice. "You are now the being you referred to as "It". Even though you are me now it has always been you. The day you powered up the elements and created magic you fell terribly ill. The only option was to keep you from knowing your full past in a physical form. Keeping you here was the only way to save you. Celestia said you had been cured 7 years ago, but it was only a replica. So now you must remain here completing this cycle over and over. It was agreed while here you could be doing something that you loved. You may have not realized it but you love this. Secretly through all you've been in it is one joy you can count on. This time loop me you and all of us call home is yours now. Remember, the cycle must go on." Then Twilight was alone. Then she noticed something in cube 1. It was a mare, about 14 or 15. She had a purple mane a purple horn and purple eyes She said,

"Hello! Any pony! I'm Twilight Sparkle!" This was something she needed to interact with.

"Hello, and welcome to the cube. This is a cube made of many other cubes 15 by 15 feet. Your task is simple, complete a test in each cube until at the end you will receive the ultimate reward." She then knew that as she slowly learned if her past. The cycle would continue.
" I'm sorry. Please forgive me, friends it must be done."