“Ego border holding steady at 2.18, minor fluctuations. Containment cell's structural integrity...nominal. Recalibrating internal chamber pressure to compensate for density differences. Well, everything seems to be in order now, Princess.”
Celestia nodded once in approval, her eyes fixated on the prison she had personally commissioned, her expression dull and lifeless. In the nine agonizing days that it took for it be completed, not once had she cracked a smile or spoke unless it was necessary. Her throat felt raw from disuse, she could feel her joints creak whenever she was forced walk or fly, and her mind felt like it was covered in a thick haze from lack of sleep. However, none of it felt as devastating as the emptiness she felt in her heart. What she was forced to do in these fleeting days left her tortured to the core.
“Princess? Princess, did you hear me?”
She placed a hoof on the crystal glass in front of her, breathing a soundless sigh. She indeed heard the engineer next to her, but she just didn't feel like responding. Giving Celestia an exasperated look and groaning softly with her mouth closed, the engineer pony closed the diagnostic panel next to the observation glass with a clack and trotted towards the door behind her. Stopping at the exit, the pony said to her in a plain tone, “I'll leave the door unlocked until you are ready to leave. However, you must understand that ponies shouldn't linger in the central control room for any longer than they should...even if it's you, Princess. We still don't know if there are any adverse effects for being this close to the subject.”
“He has a name,” Celestia retorted without looking back. “And you know what it is. He's just as much a victim as the rest of us. Do not belittle his name by referring to him as if he were a monster or lab specimen.”
“...of course. Please excuse my rudeness.”
The engineer's hoofsteps became more and more distant until the Princess was alone once again, the ethereal, green glow of the chamber and the low hum of arcane machinery her only companion. Her head lulled forward until the tip of her horn was pressed against the glass, her eyes never leaving the sight in front of her.
“You must be so alone. So scared. Even now, the power you wield prevents my sister from comforting you in your dreams. So, if you can hear my words...then I am sorry. If you want to blame somepony for your pain, then it is fine to blame me. I have failed you, just like I had failed her all those years ago...”
The circular room behind the glass spanned for nearly a mile in diameter. Countless cables and pipes composed of a dull, silvery metal ran across the floor like the roots of a tree, intermittently spewing out a foreboding, green mist from it's cracks, feeding into the bottom of a devilish, crystal machine shrouded in darkness. She couldn't clearly see what it looked like now, but in the first few days that it was under construction, she knew that it's design was cruel, demoralizing...and necessary. A cold, heartless machine designed to accomplish a single task – to protect Equestria from the greatest threat it had ever known.
“I thought I'd find you here, Princess.”
Celestia finally turned her head towards the door after hearing a familiar voice, her eyes meeting with Twilight's. Her expression was a mix of anxious apprehension and genuine concern, as her eyes were still and even, yet somehow forced. Stepping into the room, she continued, “Well, is the containment unit operational? Can we have our mages finally cease their binding spells?”
Turning her head back towards the glass, she responded, “Yes...yes, of course. Send the order to the EUP. They can go back to their families now.”
“Then we're safe...at least for now.” Twilight had come up to Celestia's side, her eyes peering into the darkness of the room as well. “It's still hard to believe...somewhere in that mass of crystal and metal is my number one assistant. What could have caused this? Why did this have to happen...?”
The taller alicorn eyed her, considering her current mood. “You're taking this much better than I'd expected. Much better than, I have, at least...”
Twilight shook her head, “Trust me, I'm not...I'm only trying to put up a front for the other ponies right now. I-I mean...it took me days to just stop crying after it happened.”
She stepped closer to the glass, taking a moment for herself before speaking again. “I just got done with damage control. Eight thousand four hundred and one...that's how many ponies died when the Alpha Wave happened. I should have done something, I-I should have done more research, or-or came to you sooner. Maybe I could have prevented this, maybe, uh...!”
A tear leaked out from the corner of her eye, but was wiped away just as quick. “Maybe...I could have saved him from himself. Saved him from that terrible power. And now look at you...”
Her last words were nearly inaudible, her voice getting scratchy and strained. Celestia turned to face her and wrapped a foreleg around her neck, pulling her close and closing her eyes. “Twilight...we cannot let ourselves be consumed by past regrets. All we can do now is persevere, and protect what we can. Equestria is scared and paranoid by these turn of events, so it is our sacred duty to - ”
“Your highness! Urgent news from – ah!”
A pegasus guard skidded to a stop at the entrance, biting his tongue after seeing the scene inside. “I, uh...! Princess Celestia, Princess Twilight, forgive me for my intrusion, but this matter is of the utmost importance!”
Celestia gave the guard a dissatisfied look, giving him half a glare, but Twilight decided to let it slide, stepping forward. “It's alright. Tell us what's wrong.”
He gulped before going on, “Well, you see...I have confirmation from nearly every guard stationed in every major city nationwide. Ponies across the land are, well...developing supernatural powers!”
Celestia balked, taking a step forward with panic in her eyes. “What did you say?!”
“There is a report of an earth pony from Phillydelphia conjuring fire from thin air! And...there is another guard in Cloudsdale allegedly reporting a pegasus moving objects with her mind! And just a few minutes ago, I received a report of an incident in Manehatten where a unicorn displayed unlimited strength and durability!”
Twilight's face paled, her eyes wide and downcast. “Just like Spike...they're espers...”
Author's Note
5/8/14 - Well...it's something. Once again written in around 3 hours. Originally I was going to write about the group of griffons getting the bronze medal and their subsequent quarrel over tournament presence, but I thought this idea was better for taking it a step further if I so desired. Inspired by elements of the psychopathic cyberpunk anime, Akira.
