The Mansion (Revised Edition)

5

“Twilight Sparkle.”

“Yes, Princess Celestia?”

“How would you like to become a princess?”

“Really? Truly, Princess? It’s always been my dream ever since I was a little filly, thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“But...”

“But?”

“There is a test you must pass.”

“Don’t worry Princess, I’m prepared.”

“Are you sure?”

“Definitely.”

“Are you absolutely certain that you want to leave Ponyville and come to Canterlot with me? You may never see them again.”

She hesitated. “Princess, I love my friends very much and they love me. No matter how far we are in space or time, I know we’ll always be together. That’s the magic of friendship.”

“You have learned much, Twilight Sparkle. Very well.”

A great light shot out of the Solar Princess’ horn and Twilight fell to the ground unconscious.

The memory played through the pony’s head like a broken record. The tall white pony stood on the remains of the Mansion. She wasn’t a normal pony, having been gifted with both magic and flight. She was an alicorn and also the monarch of the land. In the public eye she was gazed upon her by her pure brilliance. Yet, none of them knew about the secret burden which carried out within the depths of her castle. Only in these dark depths would she be free to become a true monster.

“Sister, why do you continue to torture these ponies like this?” The princess of the night stood behind her as her subordinate.

“Tradition,” the princess of the day exclaimed. She raised a hoof in the air, silencing her sister. “Tradition, my dear Luna. Blood and tears have run down the walls of the Mansion for generations. It is the royal way.” Her eyes glimmered off of the red stains on her hooves. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Luna retreated. “No it isn’t.”

“What? You dare speak against tradition?”

“I remember when I was sent into the Mansion. My friends, all the friends that I’ve grown to love were slaughtered. How could you do this to them, to me, to anypony? How could you lie to all of us, Celestia?”

“It is a test of power and wits. I knew that you, Luna, were a very powerful mare. As proof, you escaped the Mansion alone. You discovered that power is an ever consuming desire that corrupts every individual. Friendship saved you, Luna. It’s unfortunate that the others did not learn the same.” She pointed her hoof at the purple mare, crucified in the center of the rubbish. “Twilight Sparkle, with powers that rivaled mine, was too young. You were once like her, unable to accept her weaknesses, and so she could never have lead this wonderful land in that condition. Only with an unwavering heart without flaw can anypony lead us all to the bright future.”

“That doesn’t mean that you had to do this. Nopony has to die to prove anything. This is wr-”

“And you learned not to speak against me while exiled to the moon,” She shot a venomous look at her sister, “correct?”

“Yes, sister.”

“You know what will happen if you speak out of line again, correct?”

“Yes, sister.”

“The games shall continue. Do you see Luna?” Celestia stared at her sister hysterically. “This is the one and only way that anypony will realize the truth. We have to gather more ponies - bring them in from all over Equestria - and we’ll watch them - yes, sister, we’ll watch them soak in the blood of their beloved.”

“You, no. This is evil. This is wrong. This is-”

“I’ve had enough of this.” Celestia thrusted her sister through the doorway which lead to the surface. “You are excused from my presence. Leave now, or to the moon with you.”

Luna gaited out, tears in her eyes for the poor souls that rested in the Mansion. She passed through the chambers and up the spiraling steps into the light of the surface world. She was tired of watching all the ponies fail the demented task for centuries. She was tired of remembering the faces of her friends which she slaughtered like animals.

She paused just once at the gates, finally understanding the ominous inscription on the wall:

“The Mansion feeds the monster inside us all.”

End?