Derelict Soul

I was just a unicorn at the time. I know that much. I was no one special, a unicorn of upper-middle magical strength working in Canterlot as an inventor of magical constructs. I was working on a device to aid in the retrieving of memories, in a  way where they can be viewed at any time. Originally I had intended it to be used by the elderly as a way of seeing past memories whether it was just for a walk down memory lane of just to regain something forgotten. Then I got interest from the government, and Princess Luna herself had interest in the espionage uses of such a device. I had been working on a prototype of the device when it happened, and I watched it as it copied my memories. I had borrowed parts of this devices' framework from an old classmate named Starlight Glimmer, using parts of her theorized 'cutie mark removal' spell. Essentially the rig would make a copy of the memories of the user's memories and store them in a magical shield bubble, which could later be charged into a specially made gem. It used an internal power supply in its function, and it would be controlled by he person whose memories were in question or in some cases an operator would aid in the process for safety. I was operating it myself as I was only going to copy a few small memories. I was in the middle of operating the prototype when it happened.

Tirek drained the city. In a single move he drained every last spark of magic from every being in my area. That left me connected to a previously untested device, one connected into my brain itself. The device went haywire, tearing through my skull and every last synapse of my brain. I collapsed in agony. Later I would figure out that the device hadn't copied my memories, but rather had torn them out of me and then left them in its barely holding shield. I saw darkness and in that instance I gained a glimpse of the beyond, that has since become blurred in my mind if only to protect my sanity. The moment came when Tirek fell, and magic flowed back through Equestria once more. But mine had nowhere to go, as my body had long since lost any warmth of life it held. So it did the next best thing.

It became one with my mind, stored in the device. The device lay shattered and no longer functioning, and I found myself a soul with no mortal coil to call my home. I thought myself dead, but there I floated. I hovered in the air, in an ethereal form of my body, looking down on my own corpse and the wreckage of my tinkering room.  took a few moments to try and gain some control of my ethereal form. I set down on four hooves, unnerved by the fact that I could see straight through them, if with some slight effort. I moved through the room and saw myself in the mirror. Same lanky build, same pointed horn and messy dark blue mane, same light gray coat. My eyes were still a light yellow-green color, and my cutie mark was still...Gone. My mark was gone without a trace. I would have panicked if not for the fact that I had died and was now essentially a ghost. I gulped and looked down. I concentrated to use my magic, to see if it worked, only for it to suddenly throw my corpse across the room without any difficulty. I had meant t simply levitate one of my hooves, but it seemed that without the physical limitations of my body I had every scrap of magic available to me without any form of inhibitor. That meant I could easily flare with destructive results if I didn't keep myself in check. I looked around and attempted to see if I could touch anything, only for my hooves to pass through everything...

*thunk*

I looked down in surprise to see that I had moved the magical components of my device. It seemed that I could interact wth magical objects. I sighed, and lay down on the ground. It seemed at least that I could control which walls and floors I would pass through. I couldn't believe it. I was dead. I was a literal ghost. What would I do?! Where would I go!? Why was I a ghost? Was it by some random act of the universe or a benevolent being? I sighed. It didn't matter either way. My parents had made it quite clear they wanted nothing to do with me after I became and inventor. I didn't have any siblings, and by nature I was of the asocial sort. I had no friends nor family, I was alone in my work other than a few colleagues. I sighed, and puffed out my chest to buck myself up, I was dead, so I decided to make the best of it. I managed to focus and bend enchantments into the metal of a messenger bag I used. I collected my meager belongings into the bag and slung it over my spectral shoulders. I was never one for extravagance so my home had only a few things worth keeping. As I went I felt more and more relaxed. I was a ghost I could do whatever I wanted, whenever. I could go on an adventure, or simply see the world! It was all there waiting for me. And thus with a light heart and an unsure goal I set out in a spectral form to go into the world.

Unknown to me, my death would make a feature article in the Canterot Times the next day...

IS THERE A CRIMINAL ON THE LOOSE? LONE INVENTOR CAUGHT IN TRAGIC BURGLARY DURING CENTAUR ASSAULT!

Yesterday after the attack on Equestria by the demon Tirek, a unicorn inventor by the name of Vibra was found dead in his modest apartment. Everything of value including the inventors' own research into memory capturing magic was taken and Vibra himself was fond dead in his apartment. Guards say that his mind had been brutally damaged by magic during the attack by Tirek, and foul play has not been ruled out of the matter as his research had garnered interest from even Princess Luna herself. It is believed that... (Rest On Page 6)