The Passing

(From the Diary of Princess Twilight Sparkle. Presented at the 'Second Global Conference on the "Project 7" Incident'. New Canterlot, Equestria, 21'st year of the 5th Era.

May 15th                                                                 4th Era, Year 1004

        Finally moved everything that was salvaged from the Library into the castle today. On one hoof I am extremely excited for my beautiful castle as well as my new role in Ponyville,. On the other, I can’t help but wish for my old library again. But, I am moving on, slowly but surely. The girls have been helping me move in over the past weekend. They all seemed a little shaken up after everything that happened with Tirek. After the battle I passed out in my new bed for what seemed like a day and a half. Now with most of my belongings salvaged and accounted for I was hoping to just have a week of peace and quiet; maybe a few days where I can just relax. That plan will have to be put on hold for now, as usual. The Princess has called me to Canterlot for some unknown reason. Spike and I will probably be heading out tomorrow morning on the earliest train. She sounded pretty urgent.

[Pages missing]

May 21st                                                                 4th Era, Year 1004

        The Princesses along with the royal court and myself have finally come to a consensus. After the incident with Tirek it is evident Equestria is unprepared to defend itself. That is why we as a nation must focus on the advancement of our defenses, so that our peaceful way of life is not threatened once again. For too long has Equestria been bullied by powerful creatures and tyrants. Celestia has personally chosen our top scientists, thinkers, engineers and inventors to form a new committee to bolster and advance our defenses nationwide. It will be called the “Equestrian Defense Committee” or EDC. I couldn’t be happier. Even with the Elements of Harmony, my friends have constantly been put in danger. I cannot risk putting them in harm's way anymore.

[Section missing]

3 years later

March 8th                                                                 4th Era, Year 1007

        I’m glad to be back from my trip to Canterlot. The past few days Princess Celestia has been showing me the progress the EDC has been making since our last visit. It is really quite remarkable what ponies can do when they have a common goal. The things they have created are astounding. Technology that we never could have dreamed to be possible, yet here it is just within our grasp. Theories that can change everything we know about science and the magical arts. And we’re not just talking about advances for our military. These marvelous things will change life as we know it.  The possibilities are endless with what this technology could do for the good of Equestria.

[Section missing]

2 years later

July 12th                                                                 4th Era, Year 1009

        The latest diplomatic meeting with the Tsar of The United Socialist States of Maretonia ended yesterday without reaching an agreement. They continue to stick to their argument that our advances pose a threat and are seen as hostile actions. To make things worse, our latest intelligence shows that they have indeed copied our technologies. At the moment it appears that they are massing a military force of their own. This isn’t what we wanted. We just wanted to live in peace without fear of evil. I know Maretonia isn’t evil, but if they're looking for a fight, I fear we won't have much of a choice.

[Section missing]

4 years later

October 19th                                                                 4th Era, Year 1013

        Saddle Arabia fell last week under the power of the USSM. Already the latest images from our newest spy satellite shows what appear to military installations being installed. One by one the nations across the western sea have fallen to the USSM. There have been rumors from Canterlot that the enemy now has satellite capabilities and have been watching our progress as well. I fear that war is inevitable. As I write these words our forces are still hard at work preparing for a war that many say is just beyond the horizon. I have confidence we can peacefully overcome these tense times, but Equestria is prepared for the worst. If they shall come, let them come. We are prepared.

Eternity was a bright white expanse. An endless void. This was what Dr. Mark Harrison director of Project 7, was seeing. Eternity. Or at least that’s what it felt like. A large, infinite, white, nothingness and he was in the middle of it. He couldn’t seem to tell if he was floating or standing on a solid surface, he wasn’t quite sure. He looked around himself trying to make sense of where he was. But in truth he was neither here, nor there, nor anywhere. He was surrounded by everything and nothing. It was both infinite and infinitesimal. The Dr. could not feel anything nor hear anything. He looked down and was relieved to see his physical body, it being covered by a torn and dirtied lab coat. Something felt different though. He soon realized that he was not breathing. He tried to inhale but no oxygen graced his empty lungs. Despite this he did not get the sensation of suffocation, nor did he feel the need for a breath. He felt no hunger, no thirst, and no pain. Is this death? he thought. He tried to remember how he got here, but it was like his memory had been wiped. He probed his memory searching for answers.I know who I am, he thought to himself. My name is Mark Harrison, and I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. I'm 67, or at least I think I am. I...I worked in D.C. at the National Institution of Scientific Studies as a Nuclear Physicist. But something was missing from his memories. It was as if the final chapters and been ripped out a book. Harrison continued to search his empty surroundings until, at last he spotted something in the distance. It was a faint glow, but he could not tell how far off it was. He watched as the glow grew in size and intensity until it seemed to envelope his entire surroundings. His fears and troubles vanished as he basked in the lights warmth. It was a feeling he had not felt in a long time. Peace. He closed his eyes and a smile crept across his face as the light enveloped him. The Dr.’s eyes snapped wide open. He remembered now. He was falling.