Mankind Triumphant - Relic

by Dafaddah

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Princess Celestia, Human, Sad, Princess Luna, Gore, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe
Length: 53914

Princess Celestia is a disembodied head in a box. Maybe she's gone insane. Or maybe, just maybe, she hasn't. Based on Chatoyance's TCB Brand New Universe Chapter 7: Mankind Triumphant

It is seventy-five years after the HLF and human intelligence services defeated the pony invasion of Earth. Celestia is a prisoner of mankind, reduced to being a source of magical blood used to make ponification potion. Ponification has become the punishment for even minor crimes. Yes, humanity stands triumphant. So why are the HLF and the PER back? Is Celestia really so powerless? Does she have a plan? Or has the loss of Equestria and all that she loves simply driven her mad?

This story is a sequel to Chatoyance's Conversion Bureau story Brand New Universe: Chapter 7 - Mankind Triumphant - please read it before reading this one. When I first read Mankind Triumphant it shook me to the bone. It scared me, it kept me awake, it affected me. When she invited others to submit stories around her New Universe scenarios, I knew I could not refuse. I felt this story calling to me. Resistance was futile. So here it is. BTW I have Chatoyance's permission, for which I am very grateful indeed!
Artwork by Mythee AKA Glowball

Published 2012-05-27 00:54:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-09 03:03:28 UTC

AD 2125 - Judgement day

The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant
- Relic -
Chapter two: Judgement Day

by Dafaddah

Author's note: When I first read Chatoyance's story it shook me to the bone. It scared me, it kept me awake, it affected me. When she invited others to submit stories around her TCB New Universe scenarios, I knew I could not refuse. I felt this story calling to me. Resistance was futile. So here it is.

By the way the chapters are not presented in chronological order. Yes, intentionally. But you can read them that way if you like!

Note: some of the text in part one is from Chatoyance's original story and is used with her permission. A resemblance to Midnightshadow's story Shattered Worlds - Habeas Corpus also intentional and has been cleared with the author.

AD2125

"Your majesty, we would like to get a photograph of you just peeking through the barrier. Just in the process of stepping through, just your head coming out... our marketing research has determined that this would be seen as 'cute', but also as connoting the willingness of Equestria to step forward and reach out to humanity in kindness. Do you think we could get such a shot from you?"

"Of course, my little pon... good humans. I would be happy to oblige this request. It sounds like a delightful image." Celestia stood, peeking through the barrier. Several cameramen checked their watches. "OK! That is excellent, your majesty! Could you please hold that position and smile for us?"

"Certainly! A smile gladdens every heart!" Princess Celestia smiled a gentle, loving smile, filled with welcome and peace.

The cameramen slammed the goggles over their eyes and ducked low. Celestia stared at them as everything in sight suddenly glowed a searing white and then...

... time slowed. It was an ability the Princess rarely called upon. For an immortal, a shortage of time was rarely the issue, but there were occasions when giving yourself a little bit of extra time came in handy. Like now. She estimated that she had perhaps ten seconds of subjective time before the energy blast reached the barrier.

Time enough to determine what had happened. She reached out with her magical awareness to link with the barrier spell itself. It was exceedingly complex as spells went, almost sentient in its abilities, and its enormous power had taken centuries to accumulate before it could be cast. She felt the spell reacting to the explosion, struggling to achieve what she had designed it to do: expunge unnatural and deadly human technology from within its realm. She immediately began to exert energy to reinforce the barrier.

Eight seconds.

Odd. There were two centers of disturbance, and judging from the scale of the energies involved, these were no doubt hypernuclear explosions. How had the humans gotten such devices past the barrier?! Intriguing, but as this was not her immediate concern she vowed to figure out all the details later.

Seven seconds.
The Princess came to a realization. Everything and everypony on Earth within several hundred kilometers of the barrier would be vaporized. She quickly surveyed that there were currently over seven thousand ponies and close to a half million humans within this area. And one alicorn Princess. As she was partially out of the barrier 'everything' included her head and neck.

Six seconds.

Celestia's options were limited. The slowing of time unfortunately did not change the laws of physics. There simply wasn't time to pull her head back inside the barrier before the energy wave hit. Standing astride the barrier had another unfortunate consequence: she could not teleport. Technically, the barrier itself was a teleportation spell between universes, and she was presently mid-spell. She remembered some of the research experiments Starswirl the Bearded had conducted when working on the barrier spell with her. Objects teleported while straddling the barrier simply dissolved into a mush of basic particles, disappeared entirely, or exploded rather messily as their constituent parts tried to rematerialized into the same space.

Four seconds.

The Princess came to a second realization. She might not survive this attack. A major part of her would remain in Equestria, but she had no idea if it would be able to regenerate sufficiently to live. Much of her substance was hyper-dimensional and would not be destroyed with her head, but would the remainder still be Celestia?

She might die. She, the immortal Princess, might die. She thought of her sister, of how happy she had been since her return from the moon. She thought of Twilight, her student, best friend, and daughter in all the ways that mattered. She thought of her friends and loves over the years, many of whom had never known her true identity.

There were only two things that she had left to do.

Two seconds.

She called out to her sister in a mental shout, projecting all the feelings of love she held for her little sister. "Luna - it is now up to you to protect them!" She poured as much available energy into the sending as she could spare, while still shoring up the barrier spell.

One second.

And then, even stronger and as the last act of a ruler that had been obliged to keep her distance from all those ponies she loved so dearly, she opened her heart fully and broadcast her feelings to all Equestrians: "Remember, I love you."

Something strange happened to the barrier. It... disappeared. Where she had felt Equestria and its teaming billions, now there was... nothing.

"Oh, no."

Her head fell to the ground.

Pain. There was pain.

Something was missing.

Everything was missing.

Everything but the pain. The pain... was.

No air. No breath. Pain.

Darkness.

Pain.

Movement.

Aching, searing pain!

Darkness! Darkness... please!

Blessed darkness...

Time passed.

Celestia awoke in the familiar dark. She did not recall why it was familiar. It just seemed so. She must have awoken before, but perhaps not fully. She was aware that she was hurt. Something was missing. Equestria! Where was Equestria? She could not feel Equestria, anywhere.

She was a Princess and a ruler. She would not panic.

She tried to move... pain!

She remembered the pain. Best not to move, she remembered that too, now.

The barrier! She remembered the barrier disappearing, and Equestria with it.

Fear.

Where was Equestria? Where were her sister, her loyal subjects, the billions of newfoals? She feared for them.

Fear. How it ate at her being. Celestia desperately wanted to act, to move, but she could not. She could not move, and she had to do something!

Magic... make a light... nothing.

Fear!

Again... darkness.

FEAR!

One... more... time... an unbearably bright light shone out and...

'AAAHHHHHH!' Her powerful mind buckled in silent agony, rational thought driven out by all-consuming pain.

She blacked out.

Celestia awoke in the familiar dark. She could not recall how often she had awoken. Or where she was.

But she knew that she was hurt. She noticed that she wasn't breathing. She must have had an accident and was still regenerating. Might as well try to determine what level of functionality she still retained.

Her tongue could move. So could her jaw. The taste of blood was in her mouth.

She tried opening an eye. Only darkness. She tried the other eye. Her eyelid did not move. She concluded that she must be lying on that side of her face. But if the first eye wasn't damaged then she must be literally in the dark.

Both ears had very limited range of movement. There was a painful area in her neck, and then no feeling below that.

Perhaps she was paralyzed from the neck downwards, she thought.

The Princess remembered that trying to use her magic caused her pain before. She decided to try producing the smallest glimmer of light. With a tremendous effort she made a tiny spark appear. It was enough light to give the barest glimpse of what seemed like the inside of a box. Celestia wondered if she had been buried and if what she saw was the inside of her own casket. That would certainly explain why she wasn't breathing!

She allowed herself a brief smile at the irony. It quickly faded when the spark sputtered and winked out.

Trapped in a box in the darkness, the ruling Princess of Equestria knew despair, and wept.

After a while Celestia's exhaustion overcame her and she drifted back into troubled sleep.

Movement. Sound.

'Scritch. Scritch...Screeeeee-eeeeeeeee-eeeee.'

A drill.

Celestia lit a spark, but could see nothing. Her light was brighter now, and much less painful to maintain than the previous time. She might be healing, at last.

There was a tapping noise.

She felt lighter all of a sudden, as if some pressure had been relieved. She also felt a part of herself moving away. They had taken some of her substance. But whom? And why?

The darkness gave no clue, but a few minutes (seconds? hours?) later the Princess felt something she had not experienced in a long time. A human was being ponified. She felt the call of the newfoal to the conversion dream, but she was trapped in here, wherever here was, in the darkness. She could not welcome the newfoal!

Celestia grew frantic. Then angry.

It was her duty to welcome the newfoals. Hers, and Luna's as well. She tried to call out to Luna, getting only pain in response. Granted the pain was not as bad as during her previous attempts at magic. Or maybe she was just getting used to the pain.

The newfoal! If Luna wasn't there, he or she would be alone in the conversion dream.

And Celestia could not feel Luna's presence. Not one bit.

'This cannot be happenning!' lamented the Princess silently to herself, weeping tears of frustration. It was her responsibility to be there for them. But she could not leave this cursed box!

Anger rose, and she quickly dismissed it, as she had always done. Anger was the enemy of Harmony. She would not give in to anger. Not now. Never.

She then felt the newfoal awaken. He (it was a stallion) projected feelings of both wonder and pain. Soon, the wonder and happiness took over. Something seemed different about this newfoal, but the link was too weak for Celestia to get anything more than a general impression.

Still the echos of happiness felt like rays of sunshine, spiced with traces of magical energy. This was the first happiness Celestia had felt since entering this box. She basked in its warmth, and slowly fell back into quiet, peaceful sleep.

"Good morning, your majesty," said Spike. He was sitting on Twilight's back as they entered the Princess' bedchamber.

"Good morning Spike, and my faithful Twilight. You two are my alarm clock this morning it would seem."

The baby dragon leapt from the lavender pony's back, a teapot clutched in one claw and three china cups in the other.

"So how do you feel today Princess?" asked Twilight as she approached the bed, sounding concerned.

"Why, I'm fine," said Celestia, "and how are you and Spike?"

"Fine and dandy, thanks!" replied her protégé. Celestia looked on as Twilight went around the room opening the drapes. Oddly, there was already sunlight coming through. Had Luna raised the sun in her place?

As the young mare passed the tail of her bed she decided she should arise, but to no avail. She could not move. Concerned, the Princess called out. "Twilight, could you come here and help me to get out of bed? I seem a bit stiff this morning."

"Of course, your majesty."

Celestia looked on with affection as her student approached with her horn glowing as she drew the blankets back with her magic. Twilight's eyes widened in surprise and she uttered a piercing shriek.

The Princess glanced down. In the bed beyond her neck there was nothing. No barrel, no flanks, no limbs, and no tail. Celestia was nothing but a discorporated head! She screamed... and awoke to darkness.

Celestia gathered her energies and a small spark lit the inside of the box. She bent her perception to what lay below her neck. There was nothing, only the the other side the small cubic box.

Her dream was true, she was nothing but a head and neck.

Once more, she wept in silence.

Celestia dreamt of Equestria again. Those dreams gladdened her heart, but left her melancholy on awaking to her dismal reality. Still, she felt uncommonly energetic today, or tonight, or whatever time of day it was.

Her dream brought Equestria to the fore of her thoughts. What had happened to Equestria in those last seconds before she passed out? It was a mystery to say the least. She kept reviewing the sequence of events, as they did not make logical sense. At the very least there were some pieces missing from the puzzle.

The Princess still had no clue how the hypernuclear devices traversed the barrier into Equestria. She had one possible lead. There was a twinge of a familiar 'scent' to the explosions: Discord. And just days before the DragonEquus had gone missing from her statue garden. As she had not detected any sign of Discord's particular brand of magic, she could not be certain there was a link between the two.

The second mystery was what happened to the barrier itself. Instead of doing what it had been designed to do, it disappeared, along with all of Equestria. The barrier should have simply pushed the hypernuclear explosions outside of its surface. In fact it was in the process of doing just that immediately previous to its mysterious departure from Earth.

There was also the third and perhaps most perplexing mystery of all: where did all the energy from the hypernuclear explosions go? It should have been released to devastating effect into the area immediately outside the barrier. But she distinctly remembered as her head fell to the ground that there was no such conflagration. In fact she distinctly recalled a human in radiation gear grabbing her head by the ears and tossing it into a box, most likely the same one in which she currently resided.

A last and more personal quandary remained: why hadn't her body regenerated, as it always did after a major trauma? She and her sister both existed partially outside this plane of existence. Was this because she was stuck in Mundus? And was this related to her almost total lack of magical resources, she who once could move the sun and the moon across the sky at will?

She pondered often on these four questions. Whodunit, as the humans would say, was not in question. She had received intelligence that the HLF was planning something big. However there was also another very troubling aspect to this: they could only have gotten their hands on hypernuclear devices with the direct collusion of at least one major human government, and probably even then could not have kept it secret from the other governments' intelligence services. The attack was a last ditch concerted effort by the human remnants to avoid the complete absorption of the Earth into the body of Equestria. And to her shame Celestia had to admit that it seemed to have succeeded.

A long time later Celestia awoke feeling different.

Whether it was weeks, months or years, she didn't know. She measured the passage of time by the periodic releases of pressure from the box. Somehow she continuously produced more blood. So far she had been 'visited' one hundred and eighteen times.

As to the difference, the Princess couldn't quite place a hoof on it (and not because she no longer had hooves, either!)

She savored the feeling of novelty. It had been quite a while since anything had changed in her box. She was in no rush to discover the difference just yet.

One hundred and eighteen. What came in one hundred and eighteens? Since her memory was almost perfect she reviewed in her mind's eye all the things related to that number.

There were one hundred and eighteen steps from the ground level to the top platform of Canterlot Castle's grand stairway.

One hundred and eighteen windows in Royal Library (counting the small ones on many of the inner doors.)

One hundred and eighteen Zapp-apple trees in Sweet Apple Acres farm last year. (And the same six years previous, as well.)

Celestia paused in her review. Thinking of Sweet Apple Acres reminded her of Applejack, which made her think about Twilight.

Her heart ached when she thought of her young protégé. Of all the ponies of Equestria, she missed her the most. Even though she felt Luna's absence acutely, Twilight was the filly she had raised, watched over and now worried about.

As Celestia had done countless times since entering the box, she reviewed every moment she had shared with Twilight. She recalled this in sequence: first becoming aware of the filly's incredible magical power during the entrance exam to her School for Gifted Unicorns, her magic studies under her personal guidance, her assignment to Ponyville to bring together the Elements of Harmony, and her role as ambassador after the opening of the Conversion Bureaus.

Of course properly reviewing her experiences with Twilight took a pleasingly good amount of time. She slept more than once during her review, often dreaming of Twilight and those happy moments.

At each awakening she again felt the growing 'difference' she had first noticed shortly after 'visit' one-eighteen. She could finally identify it: she could now track time. Almost a month had passed in the outside since the last 'visit'. In fact she had been dreaming a lot about the world outside her box, and she was thinking this might be due to all the ponies with her blood in them roaming the Earth, each contributing to her some small amount of magical energy.

She was also feeling much stronger and could use more magic, at least within the confines of the box. No attempt to exert magic beyond its walls had succeeded in the least.

By a process of experimentation, the Princess discovered how to speak by circulating the air in the box through her throat and vocal cords! The first use to which she put this new ability was to shout for help, hysterically on more than one occasion, a lapse in decorum of which she felt most ashamed. But it was all to no avail. Nopony would speak with her, or even acknowledge her calls for help.

If the 'visits' were regular that would mean that she had been in the box now for over ten years, with no contact with anypony in all that time. That she had only limited energy to stay awake might indeed be a blessing! Still, the only logical conclusion was that she was being held by somepony who wanted her kept isolated.

How she sympathized with Luna now! Hadn't she done the the very same to her own sister? The thought lay heavy on her heart. She could imagine the conversation they would have:

"Oh, Luna, I so regret banishing you to the moon," Celestia saw herself saying.

"Pish-posh, dear Celestia. It was necessary," replied her illusory sister.

"But still, you were there, alone for a thousand years. What did you do in all that time?"

"I angered, I wept, I raved, I went mad, my madness burnt itself out, and I bided my time, sometimes scheming, sometimes praying that I might escape... but mostly, I slept." The imaginary Luna smiled conspiratorially.

"Really? I find myself doing much the same. One does accumulate a good number of vacation days ruling a nation. And perhaps a corresponding degree of fatigue." Celestia imagined herself following her sister's lead in the jest.

"Indeed. Being upset can tax one's energy so, and I was upset for the longest time. Being on the moon was just the rest I needed actually." Luna winked at her sister.

Celestia paused in her fantasy. The imagined exchange had brought a smile to her face, but it also left her longing for real contact.

"Even your imaginary self gives good advice, Luna," whispered the Princess into the darkness.

Celestia was in a lucid dream. She floated incorporeal like a ghost through the ruins of a city. Not a sound could be heard. No pony voices raised in greeting, no animals scurrying, no birds chirping, nothing. Not even the sound of her hooves on the crumbling cobblestones as she drifted down the streets.

"Even in my dreams I no longer have a body." she remarked out loud to break the deafening silence of the place. The remaining doorways stood less than six feet tall, and there were visible structures accessible only to beings that could fly. This had been an Equestrian city with unicorns, pegasai and earth ponies. Now it was only shattered timbers, broken masonry, and dust.

She rounded a mound of rubble and suddenly her perspective changed. Before her was the first building she had seen that was still mostly intact. That gatehouse and portcullis, those battlements and those crumbling towers were familiar. This was Canterlot Castle. She was home.

"Luna dear, this might be but a dream, but how it breaks my heart to see it."

Celestia hesitated only a moment. She liked to think that she had always faced the consequences of her own mistakes squarely. Even in a dream she would not betray that principle, so she gathered her courage and entered the deathly quiet castle.

The Princess silently made her way to the throne room, past halls filled with pieces of discarded armor, rotting furniture, broken glass and cherished memories. She finally arrived before her throne. Immediately to its right, next to where Luna's throne had crumbled into a pile of dark blue rubble, was a large standing mirror.

Intrigued, she rose up the steps to hover before it, expecting no more of a reflection than any other ghost. What she saw instead in the mirror was a human girl-child, perhaps ten years old, with long blond hair and familiar deep blue eyes.

The child in the mirror looked up. "Greetings, Celestia. I have been waiting for you a long time," said the child.

"Greetings to you as well child. I am sorry for making you wait, but I have been... indisposed. Might I enquire as to your name?" replied the Princess.

"You already know my name," said the girl. "We have much to do, in this new world."

Celestia hovered lower and approached the glass at eye level to the human child. "I am sure that we do. But this world does not seem so new to me. The place does seem to have gathered quite a bit of dust since I last was here."

"Perhaps we shall need a broom?" replied the waif with a shy smile.

"And a dust pan," added the Princess, feeling her heart blossom in the light of both the gentle humor and the smile.

The girl-child grew more serious. "We also have much to learn in order to rebuild this place," she announced in a whisper as if relating a confidence. She held a hand up to the mirror, as if placing a palm directly on its glass surface.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. "And what do we need to study most, little one?" whispered the Princess approaching even closer.

"This is no longer a place just for ponies. We have to learn to be human too." As the child replied Celestia felt a moment of vertigo as if falling into the mirror. A moment later, she was on the floor in a tangle of limbs.

Limbs. She had limbs! She scramble to rise and suddenly noticed that she stood on two legs, and before her were human arms ending in dainty girl-child hands and fingers. She wriggled them in fascination for a few moments, then looked into the mirror. She was the blond girl-child.

Celestia rocked between the ecstasy of finally having a body again, and the horror of it being in the image of those that had taken away her old one. In the end her practical nature won out, and she gingerly walked bipedally to her throne. She sat down and looked over the ruins of her throne room.

"Little sister, I have become human. What do I do now?"

The wind sighed as it blew through the shattered windows of her broken domain.

AD 2200 part 2 - Illusions

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter three: AD2200 part 2 - Illusions

by Dafaddah

Author's note: When I first read Chatoyance's story it shook me to the bone. It scared me, it kept me awake, it affected me. When she invited others to submit stories around her TCB New Universe scenarios, I knew I could not refuse. I felt this story calling to me. Resistance was futile. So here it is.

By the way the chapters are not presented in chronological order. Yes, intentionally. But you can read them that way if you like!

Note: some of the text in part one is from Chatoyance's original story and is used with her permission. A resemblance to Midnightshadow's story Shattered Worlds - Habeas Corpus is also intentional and has been cleared with the author.

Conrad Sachs walked the fragrant paths of Eastern Ascendancy Victory Park. Everywhere flowers were in bloom in the meticulously tended gardens. Often he would catch sight of the pony gardeners, snipping a branch or wilted flower here, whispering a bud into to full bloom there. It was really a joy to behold. At least it was for Conrad, as he waited patiently for his father to show up.

This was the big day. His father would finally get to meet the failed leader of the invasion of earth: Princess Celestia of Equestria. It had been his father's obsession ever since he could remember. His father even had Conrad's nannymare tell him stories about Celestia from before she went bad and had to be brought to justice. Conrad probably knew as much about Celestia as any human alive, except for his father of course.

He sat at a bench to admire a particularly well trimmed shrub (all of them were in the shape of humans adopting various heroic poses) when a voice whispered his name. He turned to look but saw only the hedge behind him.

"Don't turn back. Just continue looking at the shrubs," whispered the voice again.

"And why shouldn't I just call security?" asked Conrad calmly. As the scion of a wealthy and powerful family, he had both discrete security and training on how to handle situations. Rule one was 'Co-operate passively whenever possible.'

"Because the HLF are out to get you," said the voice, "and they've already neutralized your security."

Conrad was shocked. Still, it could be a trick. He had better follow protocol anyway and try to stall for time. "Why should I believe you? Are you one of them?" he asked.

"NO!" That was much louder. His invisible interlocutor was obviously upset by the question. Maybe he wasn't HLF after all. "Look, they are coming any moment now, your only alternative is to run. Now!" The voice was growing desperate.

Conrad was torn. The voice was quite convincingly sincere, but the protocol was to stay calm and wait for security to show up. He stood, yet was paralyzed by indecision.

"GO NOW!" the voice was insistent.

He made up his mind and decided to run back to the entrance when two men emerged from around a corner in the hedge. They weren't his security staff. He turned to run in the opposite direction. Two more men awaited him, one with a large syringe in hand. He turned again just in time to be tackled to the gound, his head and torso held immobile under the mass of his assailants.

His face was inches away from an immaculate white rose which filled his vision. He smelled its wonderful perfume, and felt a sting in his right arm, no doubt from the syringe one of the men were carrying. He had a moment to wonder what substance in the world they could possibly want to inject into him. And then the pain started. Pain such as he had never known in his short and privilidged life. Pain sufficient, finally to make him black out.

***

He was walking in a large field, around him, ponies galloped. Somehow he could feel that these ponies were friends. Some of them looked at him curiously, smiled, and galloped off. He felt the urge to run with them, and so without further thought, he ran. He ran over the hills and through valleys. His sweat flew from his body. The wind blew through his hair, whistled in his ears and stroked his body with its caresses. He felt the joy that was running. He felt free. He felt the approval and acceptance of his friends the ponies. He felt as one with the herd. He felt alive... more alive than he had ever felt before.

The herd approached a cliff, and the ponies just kept on galloping into the air itself. He whooped for joy, and ran with them into the sky. The moment lasted for an eternity, and then...

He was no longer running. He was standing on a grassy plain, a city in ruins before him. Only one of its building seemed intact, a white fairy-tale castle with tall spires that beckoned to him. He could do nothing else than approach. After a short while he arrived at the gaping entrance of the Castle itself, its portcullis raised. The urge called him inside, the insistent inner voice directing his steps until he arrived at a huge room with two thrones at its center, one white with a sun motif upon it, and the other black, adorned with a crescent moon.

Sitting in the white throne was a young girl, perhaps eleven or twelve years old, with long blond hair and bright blue eyes. As he came closer something in those eyes seemed... strange. Looking into those eyes he saw a soul much older and sadder than should ever reside in such a pretty young face. And yet, it was also a soul that knew great compassion, that was infinite in love, and time. Conrad suddenly knew who this ageless girl was. He harbored no doubt at her identity at all, his mind reeling as he figured out what it implied about his circumstances. He trembled and fell to his knees before her.

"Rise, Conrad," said the girl. "Do you know who I am?" she asked with a shy smile.

He stood, still trembling, but now in understanding. "Yes, I know. You are Princess Celestia. In the garden, that was ponification potion that was injected into my arm, wasn't it? And this," he waved a hand to indicate the echoing throne room, "is a... is my conversion dream," he said.

"Yes, Conrad. You were done a great evil, and one which I am unable to undo," said the Princess. "The men who attacked you were with the HLF, if I understand correctly what happened."

For decades now the HLF had been targetting members of the ruling class, accusing them of using forced ponification to opress the masses. Conrad figured he had been selected for 'exemplary ponification' because of who his father was. Usually, and unfortunately for him, such unsanctioned ponies were quickly and quietly disposed of, as they usually did not suffer mental damage from conversion, could potentially breed, and simply knew too much.

She gave him a shy smile. "You are far more knowledgeable about conversion, and about me, than the ususal poor newfoals who come to my castle these days."

"Yes, I suppose so." He thought about all the human beings sentenced to ponification for even the most trival crimes. "I can't help but be curious - why do you appear as a human girl instead of as an alicorn, and why is the city in ruins?" he asked.

"This realm exists within my mind and is maintained by the magic of the ponies within my herd. After I was cut off from Equestria, there were many years when I and my realm were close to nonexistance." She paused as if the memory was one that caused her pain. "Then humanity began ponification again, and my herd grew as did the magical energy they provided. This," she gestured to herself with both hands, "is how I appeared to myself when I was able to return here. At first I had no idea why I should take on this appearance, but now I believe that it is for these sad involuntary newfoals. Their last moments as humans were likely terrifying. Is it not a kindness that at least their first moments as ponies be as non-threatening and welcoming as possible?" She again produced a shy smile. "But to be truthful even I cannot be sure, for this is the only shape I may take here. Your father might say that this is my penance for having tried to invade the earth."

Conrad nodded. How would the forcibly ponified feel when confronted with the alicorn Princess? He admitted that perhaps this form was best.

"As to the city and castle," continued the Princess, "When I was cut off from Equestria, this realm was almost totally depopulated and starved of magic for many years. Its state improved significantly when all these newfoals began to join me, but since only earth ponies are produced, many elements needed to make it work are missing. It is only with the 'exemplary ponifications' of the HLF that any new unicorns or pegasai have joined my herd. Most of them do not long survive ponification, alas." He again saw profound sadness in the little girl's eyes.

"Princess, how did you know I was going to be targeted?" asked Conrad. He wasn't angry at the HLF for some reason, or at least not as angry as he thought he should be.

"There were ponies in the garden who saw the HLF elliminate your security guards, and I saw through the eyes of these ponies. One of my agents tried to help you, but unfortunately we only understood the situation too late to change its outcome," replied the girl with a sad smile.

"Oh, so it was one of your ponies who tried to warn me?"

"Yes. Ever since the HLF has resurfaced there have been many such unofficial ponifications. I have re-created the PER under my sanction this time," she smiled at the irony, "as the Ponification Emergency Railway, to help spirit these newfoals away before they are exterminated."

"Is that what happens to me now? I run away and hide?" The magnitude of Conrad's situation was coming home to him in rather stark terms.

The Princess held up a vial of purple liquid. "Not necessarily. Upon certain rare occasion, I can marshall sufficient magical energy to make one of these. It is a magical disguise, a spell that fools all biological entities into seeing a human when the being in question is a pony. It will not fool machines, but it will to an extent disrupt electronics. With this, a pony can simulate being a human and move about in human society if he or she is very careful. There are very few such - I call them 'simulacra' and they are my agents in this world."

Conrad was stunned at learning that Celestia had in some way managed to influence the world outside her prison, the Treasure Chest. He was stunned, but also pleased, a further surprise. All the stories he had heard about Celestia as a child gave him the impression that she was a resourceful and competent leader, and a person to be admired. He now felt a small degree of vindication for such feelings. Or was the ponification process itself influencing and changing his loyalties? He took a deep breath.

"I assume I now have a choice before me: become one of your agents, take the potion and do your bidding, or run away and hide," said Conrad.

"Just so. But I want you to understand that the choice is yours and yours alone, Conrad. I know your heart and have seen the quality of your character. I will not ask you to betray your morals or do evil in my name. But I do ask: will you join my herd, and become one of my agents in the world?" She looked up at him, a small girl almost lost upon that huge throne.

Somehow, Conrad believed Celestia was being entirely truthful with him, and that she could be trusted to keep her word. He thought back on the ponies that had raised him and made his life so much easier, who had fed him and his dad, made their beds, washed their clothing, tended their gardens, and done all the other myriad mundane tasks needed to make a household work. He was genuinely grateful, and wanted to do something to help those ponies, regardless of whether he himself was now one of them. He knew, deep down where it mattered, that what she offered was right, and that he wanted this.

"Yes, my Princess," he finally replied.

The girl on the throne smiled brightly. A shaft of sunlight pierced the gloom, painting a glowing yellow disc on the floor. She slid off the throne and entered the circle, seeming to grow larger as the light swathed her small person in an ethereal glow. Celestia beckoned to him.

As he entered the light he felt his body change and his perspective lower. Looking down he saw two pony forelegs instead of feet. He approached the Princess, who opened her arms and clasped him into a hug. He closed his eyes, falling into the immensity that was Celestia. For the first time in his life, he knew true, utterly pure love. When he opened his eyes again the glow had assumed the familiar outline of the alicorn Princess, with the solid core of the small human girl still at its heart.

"I will always and forever be your friend, and from this day you will never, ever be alone." whispered the child Princess in his ear. Her words echoed through his mind as the world around him faded to black.

***

"Shh! Don't make a noise!"

It was the whisperer again.

"Quickly, drink this vial".

Conrad felt glass against his lips. He swallowed the liquid that was poured into his mouth, and felt something... change.

"Look, you're going to be awkward on your hooves for a while, so we'll have to pretend you've banged your head and are a bit woozy. I'll hold you up, so to everyone else it'll just look like we're friends caught up in a misadventure." Conrad had the impression of a young man about his own hight. His former hight, that is! He saw a hand extended in greeting. "My name's William Hitchcock, you call me Billy, and we've been casual friends since our sophomore year. We met on the bench by happenstance and were together when those men showed up. They ran off because they didn't wan't any complications." He saw teeth in the gloom. "Guess I saved your flank!"

"Geez - my hero," deadpanned Conrad.

"Okay, on my mark we crash out of this hedge. Whatever happens, just follow my lead. And stay away from body scanners!

He tried a step, his first on four legs. He took another an nearly tripped on something soft in the dark.

"Be careful. I had to cut your clothes off to prevent you strangling while you ponified."

"Waite a minute, I can't go out there naked!" objected Conrad.

"Don't worry. The simulacra spell will provide."

Conrad felt a push from behind and was propelled out of the hedge, stumbling into the light. Several people looked up at the noise. One of them was his father.

"Conrad! You're safe!" Wilberforce Sachs ran up to hug his son but was brought up short when a young man emerged from the same hedge and held up a hand.

"Easy, there. Conrad took a good hit to the noggin'," said the youngster. "Hi, I'm guessing you're his dad." He helped Conrad stand up.

"Hey dad, this is Billy Hitchcock, a friend of mine from school. When those goons saw him they ran off. By the way, where're Phil and Terry?" He truly was concerned about his security team.

His father's smile wavered. "I'm sorry son. They're... there was nothing we could do."

Conrad was really sorry to hear the news. Phil and Terry weren't bad sorts. They were hard people, but that was their job. He would miss them. He looked down and saw purple pony legs. Dark blue mane hair hung down on either side of his face. Ugh! Just as well the simulacra spell seemed to be working. He didn't want to be responsible for blinding anypony... anybody. He was going to have to be careful about that. He gave a tight smile, and was surprised when he felt tears stream down his face.

"It's okay, son. Phil and Terry were professionals and they knew the risks. We'll make sure their families are well provided for."

"Yeah dad," said Conrad through his tears, "please do."

One of his dad's other security agents ran up with a scanner. "We'd like to scan your friend, and add him into our database. Mr. Hitchcock, if you would allow us..."

"I said he was with me!" shouted Conrad at the agent, taking everyone present aback.

"Woah, there. Hey Conrad, I'll just give the nice man my id card, okay? No harm done, see?" said Billy, handing over the card. Mr. Sachs waved assent and the agent gratefully took the card and shoved it into one of the scanner's card reader slots. After a moment he examined the screen and seemed satisfied with the information displayed.

"He's clear Mr. Sachs," reported the agent handing the card back to its owner.

"That's great! Now, how about we get back home, have the doc AI take a look at Conrad's head, freshen up and have a nice dinner. Billy, you'd be most welcome to join us as our guest this evening. Did you have any plans?"

"Er, no. Mr. Sachs. Sure, I'd love to visit if Conrad's up to it. Waddya say Conrad?" said Billy.

Conrad nodded.

"Good! Perkins, please lead them back to the car. I'll be there in a few minutes." Mr. Sachs turned back towards several other members of his security team. No doubt they wanted to scan the Gardens for clues to the identity of the attempted assailants.

The agent with the scanner nodded and began leading them slowly out of the Gardens, Conrad still weeping silently and being supported by his friend.

Once they were in the car Conrad pressed a button and the partition to the driver's compartment went black.

"Look, nopony can see or hear us now." He sniffled and found some tissues to blow his nose.

"I'm really sorry those people died," said Billy. "There really was nothing we could do. We don't have ponification potion of our own." He did seem sorry.

"So how did you get the simulacra potion so fast?" Conrad was beginning to recover his emotional balance, and the question had been bugging him.

"You came back from your conversion dream with it on a chain around your neck. It just materialized as I was watching over you." He took the vial and its chain out of an inner pocket and handed it over to Conrad, who dropped it onto the floor. "Maybe I'll just hang on to it until you get the hang of things." Billy, or rather the simulacra image of Billy picked it up and put it back in an inside pocket.

A moment later there was a knock and a door opened. Mr. Sachs came in and took a seat next to Conrad. "Feeling better?" he asked.

"Yeah dad. Let's just get home."

"Sure thing son." He pressed a button on the cabin wall. "Perkins, home please." The car accelerated gently. "You know, while we're on our way I can tell you boys about my interview with Princess Celestia."

"You mean Princess Celestia of Equestria, the failed invader?" asked Billy with enthusiasm. "I didn't know it was possible to speak with her in the Treasure Chest." He said Treasure Chest as if somehow he could pronounce capital letters.

"Well, there wasn't, until today. I've been working up to this for years, and finally it all payed off. I saw her just a few hours ago and had a conversation with her." He beamed at Billy who was obviously playing up to him.

"Please tell us about it, dad," asked Conrad. That should keep his father occupied for the entire trip home, and he really didn't feel like answering questions right now anyway.

Is this what the rest of my life will be like, he thought, trying to avoid being caught and fooling the people I love?

He lay back on the uncomfortable human sized seat and listened as his father droned on animatedly, looking at the purple pony reflected in the glass of the cabin's partition.

That was when he noticed the horn sticking out of his forehead. Good Celestia, I'm a unicorn!

AD 2135 - Skinned Knees

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Brand New Universe Chapter 7: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter three: AD2135 - Skinned Knees

by Dafaddah

Author's note: When I first read Chatoyance's story it shook me to the bone. It scared me, it kept me awake, it affected me. When she invited others to submit stories around her TCB New Universe scenarios, I knew I could not refuse. I felt this story calling to me. Resistance was futile. So here it is.

By the way the chapters are not presented in chronological order. Yes, intentionally. But you can read them that way if you like!

Note: some of the text in part one is from Chatoyance's original story and is used with her permission. A parallel to Midnightshadow's story Shattered Worlds - Habeas Corpus is also intentional and has been cleared with the author.

Tia looked at the crushed remains of the caterpillar on the school desk. Tears streamed down her muzzle. Lulu stared at the desk in sudden, horrified understanding. The little foal's ears drooped. Tears welled up in her eyes and finally gushed over into a full-on cry. Hearing her little sister's sobs, Tia immediately wrapped her in a warm embrace of neck and wings.

"Now don't you cry too, kiddo!" The small white filly soothed her weeping sister. "It wasn't your fault. You didn't see the caterpillar when you put your bag down." She regretted how strongly she had reacted to the accident, propelling Lulu's slate and precious notebook from her desk in a blast of telekinesis. Too late! The thought echoed through Tia's mind. And it had obviously frightened the youngster quite badly.

"I didn't know! I didn't mean to kill it. I didn't..." Lulu's voice dissolved into more shuddering sobs. Tia held onto her sister, cooing softly, miserable that her impulsive nature had again led to even more pain for someone she loved.

Dexter entered the classroom, late as usual, swinging his schoolbag exaggeratedly. Sizing up the situation, he immediately started singing one of Lulu's favorite songs while pretending to dance really badly. After a minute of the ridiculous performance Lulu's smile finally broke through her blues and the fillies started giggling as the colt's antics got progressively sillier.

Spotting the insect remains on Lulu's desk, he froze mid-step and toppled to the floor in a tangle of mismatched draconequus limbs. "Is this bug what all this crying was about?" he enquired, raising a skeptical eyebrow. He proceeded to get up slowly. "Hey, if you're gonna cry make it worthwhile, like over spilled milk, or a stubbed toe, or a broken toy or something!" he assumed a scathing pose, and then winked at the fillies to let them know he was just kidding.

"A life is a life, Dexter, even a small one," scolded Tia, "but I may have overreacted a bit." Her ears drooped in shame.

"Isn't school boring enough without getting all serious? Come-on, let's play a game before the teacher gets here." Dexter started rummaging in his schoolbag, pulling out a skipping rope, a slingshot, a head of lettuce, and was in the process of pulling out an improbably long yellow and red striped pole when an adult voice caused him to freeze in mid-pull.

"Did you remember to put your homework in that bag, Dexter?" asked an old yellow unicorn stallion from the doorway.

Cringing, Dexter replied: "Yes, Professor Morning Bell. I did." The colt proceeded to pull a crumpled sheet of paper from the bag.

"Excellent! Perhaps you can put away your playthings while the young ladies take out their homework."

"Yes, Professor Morning Bell," replied the three youngsters in unison.

***

Celestia awoke with a start in the dark confines of the Treasure Chest, the images and feelings of her dream slowly fading in her perception. It had been centuries since she had last dreamt about her foalhood. Back when... Dexter was still Dexter. She had not thought about him as the truly joyous child he was in millenia.

When did I forget about that youngster whose only desire was to make others happy? She looked back over the very long span of her life. How easy it is to lose sight of the past, and simply drift onward in the sea of time, she berated herself. How important... no, how truly precious is our past.

She ruminated, thinking about the short and fragile lives of mortals, and how their memories died with them. Both mortal ponies and mortal humans attached so much value to artifacts from their lives and those of their parents and ancestors. In the case of the humans, many of these artifacts were electronic and were either destroyed or transformed by transition through the Barrier to Equestria. Was the fear of losing these things and the link they provided to the past the real reason why so many humans strongly resisted ponification? Did my solution take away too much of what they valued, destroying the legacies they wanted to leave to succeeding generations?

For the first time since she had resolved to save mankind Celestia questioned her Conversion Bureau strategy. She recalled one of the humans' sayings: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. It resonated within her conciousness. And yet, here I am: in Hell.

She was still pondering her dismall state when she felt a tingling sensation. A wave of magic passed through her, and she felt the call of a newfoal undergoing ponification. Her perception shifted, and she found herself back in her castle, standing in a circle of light before her throne. She stood on two human legs, in the shape of a human child.

I cannot be seen like this! she thought horrified. She dashed from the dais seeking to hide behind the broken remains of furnishings in a corner of the throne room. Still clumsy at walking on two legs, she tripped and fell, crying out in pain as she tumbled down the steps, injuring an arm and a leg. Unused to pain in this body she gasped, and shook as she started sobbing.

"This... won't... do!"she murmured through clenched teeth, making a supreme effort to gather herself.

Attend to the injuries first. A large gash ran down one arm. She ripped a segment from her overcoat and tied it as fast as she could manage with her other arm. The bleeding stopped after a few minutes. She gingerly picked herself up, her clothes torn and sullied in the fall. I must look a fright. Just what a newfoal needs to see: a ragged goddess! She sighed.

Hearing footsteps approaching, she turned on unsteady legs. A young man approached. The newfoal!

Celestia looked into his face, and saw both bewilderment and compassion. I have no idea what to say! I have nothing to offer him! She felt shame at her lack of preparedness and impotence. Do not offer him false hopes. It would be kindest to say nothing at all. She limped as she tried to exit the throne room and fell onto the floor again as the injured leg refused to cooperate.

She stared up at the approaching man and wept in silent misery.

***

"Momma!" cried Tia.

She lay on the courtyard flagstones, weeping as crimsom drops fell from both of her skinned foreknees. It had been a very rough landing! Her mother appeared in a flash of light, enveloping her in broad wings.

She stared up at her approaching mother and wept.

"Oh, my sweet little pony! Did you hurt yourself?" Momma's voice wove around her and through her. Now the pain wasn't important, and neither was her embarrassment at the clumsy landing. All was right with the world, as her knees started to glow. Her mother bent down and kissed her foreknees one a time, and the pain was no longer even a memory. Momma smiled and said "There, there, sweetheart. All better!"

***

"Who... who are you?" asked the man.

"Please help me," whispered Celestia, showing him her haphazardly bandaged arm.

He looked perplexedly at her proffered limb. "I-I-I don't know what to do." He seemed genuinely sad. Celestia took pity on the poor human, no doubt still very confused from his forced conversion. Before, she would have know what to say. She would have known how to reasure and welcome the newfoal, she would have known what to do. Now, she was no better than a child herself. I am not a child, and at least I will not add to the man's fright.

It was time to reassure him that she was not severely injured, and leave. She had a sudden inspiration. "Kiss it all better? Mommy used to kiss it better," she said like child that was more frightened than hurt.

"My mommy did that too, sweetie," the man replied, and attemped to reassure her with a hug. "I can-" As soon as they touched Celestia felt a small portion of her magical power restored. It was not much, certainly not when compared to how powerful she was before her decapitation. But it was nevertheless much more than she had possessed since her awakening from that awful event. She knew that she could now control her presence in this man's ponification dream. She took a quick peek in the man's mind. Joss. She would remember and repay his kindness one day. And then she disappeared.

She watched from behind a screen in the opposite corner as Joss jumped up in surprise at her sudden absence. She observed as he climbed the dais and felt his joy as he plunged into the circle of light and truly became a pony, a member of the herd... of her herd. Feeling his presence in her conciousness, she basked in the light of his happiness, and amplified it as much as she could with her own. Next time, she would do better. Next time she would know what to say. Next time, she would not fail her new little pony.

***

Celestia imagined herself sitting with her sister in her favorite room of the castle, her study, with its large windows that let in the light of the sun. They reclined on large comfortable cushions, a cheery fire in the hearth, with sweet apple tea steaming in exquisite porcelaine cups set on a low table between them.

"I have an admission to make, sister," said Celestia.

"Oh? And what would that be?" said Luna

"It regards the humans. I fear I may have made a serious mistake."

"Really now?" Luna raised an eyebrow. "Do you mean that being a head in a box was not part of your plan all along?"

Celestia laughed. "Very droll. Perhaps I should quit while I'm a head."

"Not funny!" Complained Luna. She was not a fan of puns, a character trait that Celetia reveled in, to Luna's frequent annoyance. "Be serious now, what mistake did you mean?"

"I fear that I failed to understand how important to humans is the wish to have a physical legacy that survives their death," replied Celestia, serious again. "When I first came up with the plan to provide conversion to the humans, most of their cultural artifacts could be brought with them. I had not imagined that human science and technology would become so dependant on electronics, and that such would become the main repository of both their collective and individual histories." Celestia took a sip of tea.

"In these modern times, so much of a human's life and sense of self is tied to their online activities that to force them to leave these behind is asking them to commit a form of partial suicide. Many cannot even imagine how the pony who left all that behind could truly still be them. Others simply cannot let go emotionally of all the memories stored online. These data define their sense of identity as well as their hope to be remembered one day beyond death," concluded the Princess of the Day.

"I understand, or at least I think I do," said Luna gravely. "So what are you going to do now?"

"Now, I am the one who must change. These newfoals need help, and I must do what I can. But I sense something else is happenning. Some other agency is influencing the affairs of the humans, and I need to discover who it is. Perhaps they hold the key to understanding the events of that fateful day, and what happenned to Equestria, you and all my subjects..."

Celestia fell silent as she realized that she had been having a conversation with a sister who was not really there. The conversation had helped her crystalize her thoughts and begin to formulate a plan of action. But she was still disturbed at how real the conversation had seemed to her.

Alone in the dark, Celestia wondered how fragile both she and her sanity had become. Then, from somewhere outside of her box there was a glimmer. A wave of magical energy swept through her, raising her hopes and lifting her spirits: another newfoal was joining the herd.

This is not and will not be Hell. This is my domain, a land of happiness and harmony, and I will rebuild it.

This time she knew what to do, and what to say. This time, she would be ready.

In Canterlot Castle Celestia the human child sat on her throne, waiting for the newfoal, encircled in light.

AD 2200 part 3 - Loyalties

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter five: AD 2200 part 3 - Loyalties

by Dafaddah

Author's note: When I first read Chatoyance's story it shook me to the bone. It scared me, it kept me awake, it affected me. When she invited others to submit stories around her TCB New Universe scenarios, I knew I could not refuse. I felt this story calling to me. Resistance was futile. So here it is.

By the way the chapters are not presented in chronological order. Yes, intentionally. But you can read them that way if you like!

Note: some of the text in part one is from Chatoyance's original story and is used with her permission. A resemblance to Midnightshadow's story Shattered Worlds - Habeas Corpus is also intentional and has been cleared with the author.

"Conrad, you never told me you lived in a castle!" Billy stared out the window as the limo approached the mansion and stopped under the coach entrance. Perkins opened the car door and Conrad, his dad and Billy exited.

Billy stopped short when he saw the huge white marble structure topped with crenelations and even a few short towers. "Wow!"

The elder Sachs was amused at his reaction. "I actually had it designed in a style similar to Canterlot Castle in Equestria. I did have to accept some minor differences in order to make the place defensable from attack by modern weapons. The inside of this mansion is probably one of the safest places on planet Earth." He seemed quite proud of the edifice. "Now how about you boys go have a rest. Dinner will be at eight o'clock. Oh, and have the doc AI..."

"... take a look at my head," finished the younger Sachs. "Will do dad. Come-on Billy, let me show you around." Conrad led Billy in through the wide doorway, nodding to the Blackmesh clad security guards on both sides.

Inside, Billy ogled the faux-medieval decore and whistled. "And the Canterlot Castle theme continues! So do we have to wear plate armor to dinner, or are tabard and tunic acceptable?"

"Light armor is always acceptable if well polished and it doesn't smell too cheesy," replied Conrad, giving in to the inevitable. Billy wasn't his first visitor to react in this way to his house. They climbed the central stairway to a large gallery on the second floor. At its end they turned to the right where there was another guard in Blackmesh. "We are now in the private wing of the house. Only family and trusted guests get in here alive."

Billy started walking closer to Conrad. "If that was meant to scare me into behaving then it worked!"

They approached a door like any of the others. Conrad put his hand to the knob. He sighed when he realized he had no idea how to turn a knob with the hoof hidden inside the illusion of his hand.

"Let me help." Billy opened the door with a floorish and a grin. They entered and the Billy stopped shortfor the second time in as many minutes.

He gazed at the contents: four walls with fully crammed bookshelves from floor to ceiling, interrupted only by doorways and windows. Even the area at the head of the bed was surrounded by packed shelves. He rushed over to look at some of the books. "Whoah! Most of these predate Judgement Day. You must have like a million credits worth of rare books here."

"Actually, these are worth collectively some two hundred and thirty million EA credits. I've been collecting them since I was ten. Their value is actually more than everything in the rest of the house combined. I started with all the books on Equestria and Celestia my dad and grand-dad had collected, and it sort of took off from there, I guess. It's my... it was my intention to become a historian and document the events leading up to Judgement Day." A sad look crossed his face as he gazed at the collected tomes.

"What do you mean was? Look, Conrad, this doesn't have to change your personal goals. In fact, it might be better that you don't change your usual activities. That might raise suspicions." He looked at Conrad, who had sat down on the end of the bed. "Are there any cameras monitoring this room?"

"No. Dad actually taught me how to sweep for bugs myself. We extremely rich and powerful folks are either paranoid, dead, or get forcebly converted into ponies." There was a full length mirror on the inner side of the door. He looked at his reflection and laughed. "Correction. Sometimes we manage more than one of the above at the same time."

"Okay. So here's magic lesson one." Instantly Billy's human form was replaced by a yellow unicorn pony with a maroon mane and tale. Conrad's eyes grew wide in disbelief, and then he started to chuckle. Soon he was laughing so hard he was tearing up and grabbing his sides.

Billy was looking rather confused. "What's so funny?" he asked, as his new friend rolled around on the bed.

Conrad gasped for breath. "Ha! I thought my coloring was lame." He managed a deep breath. "So what's your pony name? Overipe Banana?" This declaration set him off laughing again, and it took him a full minute to calm back down.

All this time time Billy stood waiting, tapping a yellow hind hoof. "Did I forget to mention that for the first few days after conversion you will be subject to frequent mood swings?" When Conrad was finally quiet, he continued with his lesson. "To turn the Simulacra spell on and off, you need to think of its handle, the command you want to give it, and concentrate with your horn." He paused to make sure his student was paying attention. "Simulacra On!" he said as his horn glowed. The pony was instantly replaced by his human shape. "Simulacra Off!" He resumed his pony form. "Now you try it. There's an organ just under your horn. Imaging you are exhaling through that organ and out through your horn. Oh, and you don't have to say the spell out loud, just think it clearly."

Conrad concentrated and said "Simulacra Off!" He didn't feel any different, and of course he could not see any change in himself. "Did it work?"

"Nope."

Conrad was crestfallen.

"Try it again. But this time really try to focus your awareness on the base of your horn. Try it now."

This time Conrad closed his eyes and thought he felt a twinge of something in his forehead. He said the command while imagining breathing out through that spot."Simulacra Off!" This time he definitely felt a sensation akin to a mild electric shock in his forehead.

"Hey, you did it! Not bad, sport. It took me a whole lot more than two tries to get it right the first time," said the yellow colt.

Conrad was pleased with himself, but suddenly his ears drooped and his smile disappeared. "Uh, look. Billy, I uh, shouldn't have insulted your looks. I'm really sorry." His eyes started watering up.

"Conrad! Forget it! It's the new pony hormones talking. Think happy thoughts, will ya? Sheesh, newfoals!" He placed a hoof on the shoulder of the dejected looking colt. "Do me a favor, try turning on the spell."

"Simulacra On," mumbled Conrad. There was a flash of purple from his horn.

"Wow, that's very good. But you have to learn to hide the flash, or it will give you away. There's a technique for that that I'll teach you as well, and how to manipulate stuff with your magic so it looks like you're using your hands, and..." he stopped short when he saw a look of fear cross Conrad's features. "What's the problem now?"

"Geez. What if I hadn't become a unicorn? How could I have done any of this stuff?"

Billy relaxed. "Oh, that's simple actualy. If you had become a pegasus or an earth pony Celestia would not have offered you the Simulacra spell. It would have been my job to get you away from there before the human authorities found you, and to deliver you to the PER, the..."

"... Ponification Emergency Railroad." Conrad finished for him. "Yes, Celestia told me about them." He looked up into Billy's smiling face. "What about machines, like the house medical AI?"

"The smarter the AI the more likely it will be fooled by the spell. Dumber electronics we fool by scrambling their signals. It kind-of looks like interference on the monitors. That's also a spell I have to teach you, but I had better show you how first." Billy smirked at Conrad. "We can use you as a guinea-pony, since we promised your dad you'd get your head looked at, and I suspect he'll check with the AI."

Conrad smiled back at his new friend, then started to mist up again. "I'm so lucky you came along, Billy." He wiped a tear from his muzzle. "And I"m going to be so bucking relieved when I'm off this hormonal roller-coaster!"

"Don't sweat it, Ace. You're already doing better than I did. And you've maybe two more days of sniffle-laugh-sniffle, three days tops!" He put a hoof to his head in thought. "Well, there was this one filly. She took two weeks to stabilize..."

"TWO WEEKS!?" shouted Conrad in dismay.

"Or maybe it just felt like two weeks. Anyway, better get yer' pony on. We've got an AI to befuddle." Billy was back in human form.

"Simulacra On." It was barely a whisper. The two seemingly human boys left Conrad's bedroom.

***

Four burly men sat in chairs too small for their frames before a wide desk. On it was a single device, an ancient looking desk phone. On its other side sat a smaller man in a much bigger chair. There was a musty smell in the room, as if the ventilation was insufficient. The institutional gray paint on the walls had flaked away in a few spots, revealing much older institutional green paint underneath. Many of the ceiling lights were dim or completely dead and the few remaining functional ones cast sinister distorted shadows on the scene.

"And you're quite sure the target was not ponified?" asked the man behind the desk.

"Quite sure, Major Hood. We had two lookouts posted near the exit. Both saw the boy leave while still obviously human," replied the burly man second from the left.

"So you screwed up, Willis!" accused the Major.

"With all due respects, sir, no we did not. Tommy injected the full syringe into the target's arm without spilling a drop." He looked to the burly man on his right.

"Sir, it happened just like Sargent Willis said. I swear!"

"Then in the expert opinion of you fine gentlemen, what went wrong?" snarled Hood.

A third burly man, the one on the extreme right spoke up. "Sir, the potion in that syringe must have been defective." His voice was was preternaturally calm. It almost always was. Pretty much everybody in the HLF were deathly afraid of him.

"Have you sent the expended syringe to the lab for testing, Corporal Harper?" asked Hood, not daring to look the dreaded Corporal in the face.

"Yes-sir. The very tiny amount left checked out normal, as far as they can tell," said Harper.

"As far as they can tell?" Hood's mood got yet even darker.

"Unfortunately, the amount was so small that the tests were not entirely conclusive," added the Sargent.

Hood brooded a moment over the news. "Very well. Although I cannot fault you operationally, as the objective was not reached the mission is declared a failure. You are dismissed." The burly men trudged out of the room.

Hood picked up the phone and typed a number on the keypad. It rang twice and someone answered.

"Yes?" said the voice at the other end.

"The mission failed to achieve the objective. Sachs junior is still human."

"Oh, what a pity," said the voice dripping with sarcasm. "Four experienced agents against one late blooming teenager. I guess he was just too much for them to handle."

Hood kept his temper in check, electing to say nothing.

"Perhaps it's time I took a direct interest in the bright and capable young Mr. Sachs. After all, his father's cooperation is essential to my plans. Do be a chum and tell the Lizard that I'm expecting his call." The line went dead.

Hood slammed the receiver onto the desk set. It took him another few seconds to get his emotions under control. He truly hated the Lizard and having to be the messenger between the boss and the AI construct was simply degrading. Nevertheless he wasn't stupid enough to disobey a direct order from the head of the HLF. He picked up the handset and composed another number. It answered on the very first ring.

"Hello," said the dead sounding voice of the Lizard.

"The boss expects your call," said Hood. "That is all." Then he hung up. He left the office in a very foul mood. Someone was going to pay for this screw-up, and it wasn't going to be him!

***

Conrad and Billy had just left the infirmary.

"That was odd," remarked Conrad.

"How so?" enquired Billy.

"He's usually quite ill-tempered for an AI. It's not like him to let anyone pass through his office un-insulted."

He pondered the event. The house medical AI had appeared very confused from the moment they had walked in, enquired as to the nature of the medical emergency, and then quietly scanned Conrad. Still appearing confused, he said that he had not found any evidence of injury requiring treatment, and without further comment disactivated himself.

"Expect that with AIs. Did you follow what I did?"

"Yeah, I think so. Let's head back to my room and discuss it." Conrad looked at the ceiling, trying to give Billy a signal that there was likely surveillance in this corridor. His friend nodded once, and they made their way back.

When they were back in his room Billy began teaching him to manipulate objects with his magic. Again, he was a quick study and had mastered picking up books, turning door knobs, and even extracting his ID card from his wallet. Within the simulacra illusion he wore in an improvised saddle bag made from a belt and an old book bag. He was was trying to learn how to type on a computer keyboard using only magic, when his phone rang. The display showed only "Lizard" with no other information. This was something that wasn't supposed to be possible with his family's AI protected communications. He answered by pressing a special key to alert the AI of a possible intrusion. "Hello?" He signalled Billy to be quiet and magically hit the "hands free" button so he could listen-in.

"Hello Conrad," said a rather cold and monotonous male voice. "I am the Lizard. Congratulations on escaping the HLF."

"Thank you Lizard. How did you get this number?" For the second time that day Conrad found himself using the security breach protocols. He eyes grew moist at the thought of his assasinated personal security guards.

"I have ways to get what I need. My employer is impressed at your handling of that difficult situation and he has some information on its perpetrators. Would you be interested in speaking with him?"

"Uh, sure, why not?"

"Hold one moment" said the Lizard.

"Conrad Sachs, it is a such pleasure to make your aquaintance!" said a new voice, perhaps a bit too warmly.

"Thank you. And to whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?" replied the youngster.

"Let's just say that I am both an admirer of your valiant resistance to those HLR goons, and a concerned citizen who would like to see avoided any further such deplorable incidents," said the voice.

"The Lizard said you had some information for me."

"My, you do get right to the point, don't you? Well, it's my sad duty to inform you that the attack may have been the result of your father's recent visit with a certain former invader."

"I don't know what you're talking about," replied Conrad.

"Ah, ever the faithful son. Good for you! But perhaps you should ask your dad if he thinks consorting with a convited criminal is a good idea. Who knows, she might even be behind the HLF attacks, including the one on you. And the authorities never have figured out how the HLF get their grubby little hands on conversion serum, have they?" said the voice.

"Who is this she you're talking about?" asked Conrad.

"Don't be insulting, boy! You know full well I meant the former ruling princess of Equestria, Celestia the failed invader. Mark my words, both you and your father, boy. Celestia is not what humanity believes her to be. She is far more dangerous than you could possibly imagine."

"Thanks for the warning. So why are you telling us this?" asked Conrad. The protocol stated that they always want something, and to get them to talk about it.

"Tsk, tsk. I supposed those raised in the halls of power do lose their innocence earlier than most. At some point I might have some assistance to give your father, should he be so considerate as to advance certain causes I and my associates would favor. And I'll make sure to let him know in advance if he, his family and loved ones are at any further risk from the HLF."

"How do we contact you, assuming that my father ever desires to do so?"

"Just pick up a phone and say Hello Lizard. He will do the rest. It truly was a gas talking with you, Conrad Sachs. Ta-ta!" This last was said in a sing-song voice, and then the line went dead.

Conrad quickly called the house AI on his phone. "Jeeves, can you trace the call I just received?"

"I am sorry, master Conrad, but you have not received any calls since this morning. Could you specify a time?" answered the AI in a typical british buttler accent.

"No, Jeeves, that's okay. Please disregard my earlier request." Conrad closed his phone and put it back into his saddle bag.

"We need to discuss this with the Princess," said Billy. "But right now I have fifteen minutes to teach you how to use cutlery with only your magic. Thank Celestia the Simulacra spell will hide the glow from your horn.

***

In the Treasure Chest, Celestia pondered what she had just heard via her agent Billy. He would have to teach Conrad the sensory relay spell as soon as possible. That voice! she thought. That beloved, despised voice that brought back so many memories, and so much unhappiness. He's here. Discord is HERE!

***

Celestia galloped as fast as she could manage through town. She could see flashes of light relfected off the sides of buildings and could hear various pops and explosions. She passed the school noting that several of its edifices were in flames. They'll have to hold our graduation ceremonies elsewhere, she thought. She was getting close to the epicenter of the disturbance, and felt sick to her gut when she detected a familiar aura to all the destructive magic going on. He can't be be doing this. He just can't.

To either side, she saw collapsed buildings, strange anomalies, creatures distorted in awful ways, and bodies. There were bodies of dead ponies everywhere.

She finaly made it to Castle Equestria, just in time to see several of the towers melt into puddles of candle wax. Screams would start and suddenly cut off as ponies floundered and sank in the hot viscous liquid.

The porticulis was down, so she took to the sky and flew into the central courtyard. While still in the air she could hear the sound of raucous laughter coming from the main hall. She musn't be here! Gliding without a sound, Celestia slowly descended into hell.

Everywhere around the hall lay bodies in heaps, some of them aflame, adding a horrid stench of burning fur and flesh to the atmosphere. She looked up at the dais. On the huge throne where normally her mother sat was a familiar Draconequus form. Her heart sank as her eyes confirmed what her magical senses had been telling her. Dexter, her brother in all the ways that mattered, sat and idly cast spells as the mood hit him, destroying, distorting and killing indiscriminately. It was too much to bear. She screamed his name and collapsed before the throne.

"Ah, well if it isn't my dear Celestia, the very image of good, come to see my handiwork." He gestured grandiosely with a talon."Well, what do you think? Certainly makes this dull place a lot livelier doesn't it? I mean, they all behaved like corpses before. Now they won't have to try so hard." He laughed raucously again, with more than a tinge of hysteria this time.

"Dexter, how could you? You knew these ponies. Some of them were our friends." She stared at him, eyes wide in fright and horror.

Dexter stood up on the throne, trembling with emotion and anger such as she had never witnessed in his face. "Knew them? Knew... them...! They were all fakes! Not real ponies, not even a single one of them!" He dashed down from the dais, picked up and tenderly cradled the severed head of the lord Chamberlain, a merry pegasus called Hazy Wisp. He held it up before him in one claw. "Alas, poor Hazy, I knew him, Celestia; a fellow of infinite jest, and most excellent fancy; he hathe borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how abhorred in my imagination it is! My gorge rises at it! For he was... not... real!" He punctuated every syllable with a wave of his grisly trophy. "He was nothing more than a fancy spell, part of a bigger spell, designed and not born, tasked to do his part in a fantasy world that exists only in the spell. This simulated person played with us Celestia - but there was no such living thing as Hazy Wisp. He was thaumatic energy, held in a pattern. He had no life - he had no soul." He dropped Hazy's head and waved expansively at the carnage in the room. "In fact, Tia, I'll have you know that whenever we weren't present, all these simulated spells were dormant. We were literally the life of the party, not just of this room, but of this whole city and of Equestria itself."

He jumped back up the dais, resumed his seat, and began to weep, tears dropping onto the throne as he continued to shake his fists in the air. He looked at Celestia with despair in his eyes. "And do you want to know the best part, sweet, dear, Celestia?" He bit off each word as if it cost him a piece of his soul. He continued almost in a whisper "Do you? Well, I'll tell you: So... Are... We! We're all fakes. Even you, me and Luna." He covered his face and wept.

"No," said Celestia, her world crumbling beneath her. "It can't be true. You're lying, Dexter." But she had had suspicions. Signs of inconsistencies. Ideas she had discussed with Dexter in quiet moments. Doubts that she could not erase from her memory. "Please... please stop lying."

"Don't take my word for it," said Dexter. "Ask our dear teacher, Professor Morning Bell, if that is indeed his real name." He waved a claw and Celestia saw a pony levitating down from the ceiling. He was covered in bruises, blood matted his fur in many places, and at least one limb twisted unnaturally. "Tell the nice filly what you told me, Perfesser dearest."

The bloodied stallion hovered before Celestia and opened one eye. "Run..." he said.

"That hardly constitutes a full disclosure now, Perfesser. Perhaps you need some incentive to organize your thoughts." Dexter gestured again and the old stallion screamed in pain.

"Stop it, Dexter!" Celestia covered her ears with her hooves.

"Speak!" commanded the Draconequus.

"It's... it's all true. What he said. This city, you, your sister, me, we're all part of a simulation. But you three were intended to become real, if this iteration worked out. You are not necessarily fakes..." the old stallion fainted and Dexter levitated him back against the ceiling.

"We were intended to become real. How rich!" Dexter laughed and cried at the same time. "Do you know what he means by this iteration, Celestia, do you?" He waited a moment as she lay too stunned to move. "Well I didn't, but I found out. We are the seventeenth iteration, Celestia. The seventeenth!" He leapt off the throne. "All of this, has been tried sixteen times before. And each time it failed, and they just... turned... it... off. Poof. Everypony gone. Clean slate. You're not the first Celestia. I'm not the first Dexter. Luna, well Luna is a recent addition to the mix, I didn't get any precedents on her. But you catch my drift."

Celestia got up slowly. "How do you know this is true? And why haven't they just turned us off?"

A wicked gleam passed over Dexter's face. "Because, dear Celestia, I stole the main control spell." He laughed and did a little dance on the throne. "I snuck in, got access and changed it. If only I could have seen the looks on their faces! Sadly, the first thing I did with it was to cut Equestria off and relocated it in the cosmos! They'll never be able to find us! From now on this is my world to play with and do as I please. I will judge what is real. Me." He laughed maniacally again. "Oh, I still need to get the six sub-system spells, but that should be a piece of cake, especially if you lend me a hoof, Celestia. So what do you say?" He pointed a claw out the window. "Shall we have a little fun?"

Celestia slowly climbed the dais to stand before Dexter, who promptly climbed down from the throne to look Celestia in the face. "What it is, Tia? What's wrong?" He was leaning over her with a look of concern when her right hoof connected solidly with his left temple. The Draconequus dropped like the proverbial sack of potatoes.

Looking at the ceiling she found Professor Morning Bell and slowly levitated him to the floor, where he groaned in pain and again opened his solitary good eye. "I don't have much time before he wakes up. The six sub-spells. Who has them?" Celestia's tears fell on the beloved old teacher as she held his head in her forelegs.

His horned glowed dimly, and a collar with six gems appeared around Celestia's neck, "You have them, now..." the stallion went limp and would move no more.

Celestia allowed herself only a moment. "Goodbye, old friend." She slowly placed the pony's body on the floor.

When she looked up, Dexter was gazing at her. "Nice necklace. So that's the way it has to be, huh?" She would never forget the look of betrayal in his eyes.

"Yes. That's the way it has to be. That, and one more thing, Dexter. If you ever tell Luna about our origins, I will kill you." Celestia's voice contained a low growl that Dexter had never heard before.

"I wouldn't dream of hurting our little sister." He said. "But I think it's time we put Dexter to rest, don't you? That kid is as dead as the perfesser here." He tapped the body with a lower limb. "From now on, I'm done with Harmony, and I'll be just the opposite: Discord." He smiled crookedly. "Discord... I like the sound of that!" He paused a moment. "Next time we meet, it will be to do battle." He saluted and winked. "Thanks for making this whole godhood thing so much more interesting Celestia dearest. Ta-ta!" He disappeared with a loud pop.

***

Conrad shut the light. He and Billy had worked into the late evening perfecting his magical skills, so he had invited Billy to bunk in the room next door overnight. He had learned a lot, but knew he still had far to go.

Overall, his first first day as a pony had not been too bad, despite the rather garish color scheme that came with it. Then he thought of his murdered body guards, Phil and Terry. He kept seeing images of them in his head. They had protected him for almost as long as he could remember. Now they were gone, because the HLF had targeted him.

Conrad wept silently. Finally, exhausted, he fell asleep.

AD 2155 part 1 - Rise Victoria

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter six: AD 2155 part 1 - Rise Victoria

by Dafaddah

Author's note: Big thanks to both Microshazm and SecondLaw for editing.

“Victoria Spencer, you have been found guilty of embezzlement, libel against your immediate superiors, gross incompetence in the fulfilment of your corporate duties, and insolvency.”

This can’t be happening!

The WorldCorp magistrate droned on, each word slower and more muffled than the last. In Victoria’s perception his bench seemed to recede into the distance. “You are are hereby sentenced to ponification, under the revised penal code of the Western Ascendancy.”

It wasn’t me. I told you... I showed the court! I had the e-mails! It was Harvey and Loretta, they’re the embezzlers... Ponification?

His eyes were as cold as his voice. “Your sentence is to be carried out immediately.”

Ponification? But my daughter?

Bang went the gavel.

Who’ll take care of Chloe?

Bang.

This can’t be happening!

Bang.

Victoria rose and screamed. “NO!” Then everything went dark and she felt herself pushed down to the floor. They’ve put a bag over my head! She felt her whole body seize up, then everything went numb.

The bailiff put away her taser, and rolled Victoria Spencer onto her side. It wouldn’t do to let the condemned die by drowning in their own vomit before the sentence was carried out. “Well, there Lady Blue, guess you didn’t think you had a whole new career ahead of you, didja?!” she said. She knew the upper class perp was still conscious, and she did love to give them a dose of their own medicine.

***

The hood was removed by a man wearing medical scrubs. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the bright light. Behind him she saw bars and an open door also made of bars. Another cell. She had seen several in the weeks since her arrest.

“Now Victoria,” he said calmly, “I know that you’re not the type of person to make this any harder on yourself than it needs to be.” On a cart next to him were laid out a syringe filled with a purple liquid, a second one with a yellow and red hazard label, and some large round tipped scissors. She tried to rise but fell back. Her right arm was handcuffed to the cot on which she lay.

“This would be easier for both of us and much safer for you if you disrobe first. I don’t want you to feel embarrassed, so I’ll look away and you can cover yourself with the blanket, okay?” He turned around without waiting for her reply, humming tunelessly.

Victoria knew the futility of resistance to the corporate will. If she didn’t before, well, today had been an education. Tears fell as she took off her clothes.

“There, there..” said the man hearing her sniffles, “this won’t hurt. We’ve improved the serum and use the same sedatives as they did in the days of the conversion bureaus. Sometimes the old way is still the best way, no?” He turned back to Victoria, who lay naked under the sheet. Her jail shirt and bra now hung from the handcuff chain near the head of the cot. He gingerly picked up the purple syringe, checking to make sure there were no air bubbles.

“Please give me your left arm,” he said and held out his own left hand, palm open. His eyes, when she looked into them, held none of the sympathy he expressed in his words. She slowly brought her arm out from under the blanket and held it before her. He suddenly grabbed her wrist in an iron grip, hard enough that she muttered in pain.

“I’m sorry if this is a little rough, dear, but this is usually the point at which some people try to fight the inevitable, so...” he jabbed the syringe into her upper arm and pushed in the plunger all in one motion, “... I have to do this part expeditiously.”

Before the pain even registered he was pulling out the needle. He let go of her wrist and placed the empty syringe on the cart. He looked at her with a satisfied smile. “Now we wait and hope I don’t have to use the other syringe.” Victoria fell back onto the cot and blacked out.

***

In the dream Victoria had run with the horses. It had been the most exhilarating dream she’d had in years, almost as euphoric as the first moment she’d seen her Chloe’s newborn face. She had chosen to carry Chloe herself, not trusting the birthing vats that had become so popular in recent years. Somehow she felt this made her and Chloe closer than seemed the case with her more fashionable friends and their vat born children.

Then she and the herd had run into the sky and somehow she ended up here, in a rundown castle, with an irresistible urge to pass through a large set of ornate doors before her. She heard dull echoes of her footsteps as she entered a huge hall, at the far end of which was a raised dais topped by two thrones, a white one bearing a stylized sun at its head, the other dark blue and sporting a crescent moon motif. The latter was obviously in need of major repairs.

Upon the white throne, encircled in light, sat a young girl, with long blond hair. The child’s eyes caught her attention. They were a blue so dark it was almost violet, and they were... old... yes, ancient, wise and somehow she knew that this was someone who had known great suffering.

“Welcome Victoria,” said the child. “Do you know who I am?”

“No. But I feel as if I should. Why is that?” asked Victoria.

“That is a better question than most ask when they arrive before me.” The girl smiled warmly. “Because I am Princess Celestia of Equestria, and because you are forcibly becoming one of my subjects. I wish it were under better circumstances, but neither of us has been given a choice in the matter.”

Victoria thought for a moment, her heart sinking. “Then what that man said was true. I am being ponified.” Her shoulders shook as she began to weep silently. “I have a daughter, Chloe. I am all she has, my... my husband died two years ago... in an attack by the Eastern Alliance... Princess, what will she do? Who will take care of her? Can you help?” Victoria hid her face in her hands and sobbed.

Celestia slid out of the throne, and walked down the steps to the bottom one, where she stood to almost match Victoria’s height. When the Princess enfolded her in a hug Victoria felt a presence deeper, larger and more loving than she would have thought possible. “For now there is little I can do in the land of mortals. But my power on earth grows with every person ponified. I promise you this: if I can find a way to help you and Chloe I will.” Celestia disengaged from the hug, and climbed back up to her throne.

Victoria felt the urge to join her there, in the circle of light. “This is my last moment as a human being, isn’t it?”

“Yes, when you join me in the circle, you will have fully become a member of my herd.” Somehow this seemed to sadden the Princess.

Victoria dried her tears with the back of her hand. “Then I will count on you not to forget your promise.” She followed Celestia up the dais and stepped into the circle of light. She felt a sudden euphoria, and looking down saw...

***

… yellow hooves and forelegs sticking out of the blanket under which she still lay. The nice man in the white clothing smiled at her, holding a red and yellow syringe with one hand. “You see! That didn’t hurt at all, did it?”

She seemed to vaguely remember some unpleasantness before, and she didn’t like the look of that syringe for some reason that she couldn’t clearly remember. But she felt great now, and smiled up at the man. “Nope! I really feel good. It’s a good day I guess.”

“I suppose so,” said the man. “Now, can you tell me your name, please?”

She thought for a minute. “What is my name?” she asked, feeling a bit confused. And then she remembered: “I know! It’s Vicky-picky-toria!” She was really happy to have remembered it. That wasn’t her entire name, but then Vicky-picky-toria was the fun part, so the rest wasn’t such a big deal.

The man put the syringe onto the cart. He reached over and - using a small key on a chain - removed the handcuff on Vicky’s foreleg. “Hey, Vicky. I bet you’re feeling pretty hungry now aren’t you?”

She nodded enthusiastically. Vicky felt great, but her stomach rumbled loud enough to set them both laughing. Another man with a collar and leash entered the cell. She waited patiently as he put the collar on her, and attached the leash.

“Mr. Jenkins here will bring you to the processing center for newfoals. Just do as he says and you can have a nice snack there. And take it slow so until you learn how to walk like a pony! Bye now, Vicky!”

She rose on unsteady legs. “Goodbye Mr. Doctor! It was fun meeting you!” Jenkins rolled his eyes and led her out.

***

Many of the ponies Victoria met over the next few months told her she had been quite lucky in her ponification. Not all the doctors were so nice, and as she learned through sad experience, neither were all the pony overseers. But all in all, she had to say that her life was a happy one. She grew flowers in a garden, and periodically did shifts in the hydroponic farms. She was constantly making new friends too, and that was probably the best part.

Every once in while, she would remember that she had a daughter called Chloe, and that made her sad. She tried not to think about it too much, though, ‘cause when she did she grew kinda forgetful and messed up her work. Sometimes she was beaten because of it. She didn’t like that at all!

Shortly after her first pony birthday she was reassigned to nursery duty for a man called Harvey Litton. That sounded familiar, but she usually didn’t pay much attention to human stuff anymore. They told her she would be responsible for taking care of his two daughters. She had had a daughter once, so she thought she could do it and so looked forward to the assignment.

When she arrived, Mr. Litton met her in the office he kept at his large house. He was tall, had very black hair, a pale complexion and a long, thin face that she knew she had seen before. “Hello Victoria, do you remember me?” he asked.

“My name’s Vicky, now, sir.” She had been taught to be polite with her human masters. “And you look familiar, but I can’t rightly recall. Sorry!”

“That’s okay, Vicky. It was a long time ago. Would you like to meet my daughters?”

“That would be swell! I really like kids,” said Vicky with heartfelt enthusiasm.

“There’s only one thing, Vicky. You might also recognize one of the girls. Her name is Chloe. And a long time ago she was your daughter. But a human can’t have a pony for a parent now can they?”

Vicky didn’t know what to say. She did remember having a daughter Chloe, but that was way before, and her memory of those days was really hazy. “If you say so, Mr. Litton,” she answered uncertainly in a low voice.

“So when you meet Chloe, maybe you shouldn’t tell her you were her mom before. That might make her sad. You don’t want Chloe to be sad now, do you?”

“Oh, no. I would never want that!” Vicky was horrified at the thought.

“Good. I knew you were a smart mare.” He pressed a button on his desk. “You can bring them in, now,” he spoke into the device. A second door opened and two young girls were led in by a pink mare. Vicky could not take her eyes off of Chloe. This was her Chloe, and she felt so incredibly happy to see her.

“Sasha, Chloe, this is Vicky. She will be your new governess-mare,” said Litton.

“But I like Bubbles. Why does she have to go away?” complained Chloe. “I don’t like this other mare!”

Vicky was very sad that Chloe didn’t like her. But she was not going to show it, or make Chloe ashamed because her mom was a pony, so she said nothing.

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but it’s already been decided.” He smiled at Vicky. “Bubbles will introduce you to the upstairs staff and train you in your duties. Please stick with her for the next few days.”

“Yes, Mr. Litton,” said Vicky. She looked at Chloe. How fine she looked in a pretty yellow and white print dress! Vicky was so proud! And she was also very happy to be close to Chloe again. She followed Bubbles and the girls out, never seeing the smirk on Litton’s face as they left his office.

***

Harvey Litton was still smiling when an arm snaked around his chest and a voice whispered in his ear.

“How long are we going to put up with having that brat and her pony mother around?”

Harvey turned to face his wife Loretta. “Now, now! Living well is the best revenge, they say. But just for kicks let’s see how Vicky enjoys being rejected by her own daughter. And as long as Chloe is with us she serves as an ample demonstration of what happens to those who oppose us. I figure we’ll get a a year or so more out of the arrangement and then we can quietly dispose of them both.”

Loretta still looked unhappy as she stared at the door through which the ponies and girls had left.

***

Vicky watched over Chloe and Sasha as they slept. How she loved to see them having sweet dreams and listen to the sounds of their breathing. It made her especially happy to see Chloe at night like because during the day Chloe did not like Vicky to get too close. The child still resented how two months earlier Vicky had replaced Bubbles, a pony Chloe had grown to love in the year since she been put in the guardianship of the Littons. However, Sasha was very kind to her, so Vicky had already become very affectionate of both her charges.

Slowly, she felt herself nod off.

Vicky looked around. She was walking in the castle again, this time it seemed bigger, as did the dais, the throne, and even Princess Celestia. As Vicky climbed the steps, the human girl rose and went to her, greeting the pony with a hug. “Hello Vicky, I hope you are well.”

Vicky hugged her back. “Hello miss Princess Celestia. I’m really happy, and guess what?”

Celestia looked at her wearing a smile tinged with sadness. “What is it, my little pony?”

“I’m taking care of Chloe and another little girl called Sasha. I get to see her everyday. I make her bed, and pick up her toys and clothes, and brush her hair. And I take her and Sasha out for walks in the garden. Oh, and I really like the way she smells. I never noticed that before.” When Celestia resumed sitting in her throne Vicky sat down on her haunches before it with a big grin on her face. It faltered when she noticed the tracks of tears running down Celestia’ pretty little-girl face. “What’s the matter, miss Princess Celestia ? Did I say something wrong?”

“Vicky, do you remember what I said the last time you were here, about helping you when I could?” asked Celestia.

“Uh-hunh, I remember.” She nodded, her smile restored by the happy memory of meeting the Princess for the first time.

“I am happy to say that I now can keep that promise.” Vicky felt her whole body tingle for a moment, and then, it was as if a fog lifted in her mind, and she could see and think clearly for the first time in a very long time. She rose to all fours, thinking back on all she had done and witnessed since her ponification. She was no longer smiling.

“I have been a puppet, a slave... and worse. Oh, Princess, I have let them do as they would with me! I have...”, she was finding it hard to say out loud, “I let them...” She hid her face in her hooves and wept with shame.

Celestia knelt before her and again took her into a hug. “Hush, my little pony. You did nothing worthy of reproach. That which is done to you blots the souls of others, not your own.”

“Chloe!” Victoria’s expression held fear. “The awful people who had me ponified have custody of my daughter. Why didn’t I see this before? How could I not object? How could I live with them in their house?”

“My dear Victoria, the conversion process used on you not only turned you into a pony, it severely limited your intelligence, as it has for almost all new convertees. Only today have I been able to do something about and restore to you what was taken.”

“But, I was happy being their dupe. I was... so happy.” Again she hid her face in shame.

“Victoria, life is what you make of it. I have in the last few decades also faced defeat, fear, and shame. I have given you a piece of myself to restore you to your full intellectual capacity. It will be some time before I can help another in the same way. However, what you do with this gift is in your own hooves, and none others. I ask only one thing of you, that you let me see through your eyes, hear through your ears, and again smell and taste the world around you. Only when I better understand what is happening outside will I be able to help all my little ponies again. Do you agree to do this for me?” Celestia’s face, which so far had seemed so calm and serene showed something new, something that could only be described as a deep need, an aching hunger that burned in her eyes.

“If I said no, would you... could you force this of me?” asked Victoria.

“I could. But Victoria I would not. I will never do to my little ponies what others have done to them. This is my promise.” The hunger in Celestia’s eyes was still there, but so was the resolve to make good on her promise.

“Then I agree to do this for you.”

“Thank you, Victoria. I am in your debt,” said the little girl who climbed back up onto her throne. “You will have to exercise care to hide your restored faculties, if you continue to reside in that household. Do you think you can do this?”

“I will have to. The alternative is to lose Chloe again. Besides, I have to find out why they have taken custody of my girl and if there’s any way out of this nightmare.” She smiled uncertainly at Celestia. “Auditing got me into this trouble, maybe it can get me out.”

“That is a very brave attitude, Victoria. I chose you above all others to be the first pony restored to full intelligence. Something about you when we first met gave me great confidence in you, and now I know that you are up to the challenge. Please be careful, and remember that I will be with you from now on. You can always call on me for my help, such as I can provide.”

Victoria descended the steps, turned and bowed. “This is the proper way to take leave of true royalty. Goodbye, your majesty.”

“Goodbye, my brave little pony.” Celestia watched as Victoria exited the throne room.

***

Victoria woke up in the girls’ bedroom. She noticed for the first time that her “bed” was nothing more than the type of large cushion sold in pet stores as beds for dogs. She crept off of it as quietly as possible, and went to peer at the beautiful face of her sleeping daughter. She gently kissed her forehead, and felt the pang of not being able to hold her close to her bosom.

She sighed as she left Chloe’s bedside. She wanted nothing more than to stay here all night and watch over her precious little love, but she had work to do. She had to find out why her daughter was here, and what she could do to remove her from harm’s way. As a member of the pony staff, she knew just where in her ex-boss’ house he kept all his records. And she had just been given back the mental acuity to do something about it.

She paused at the door and looked back, then closed it in perfect silence. Or so she thought.

The instant the door was shut Sasha pulled back the covers and sat up. She had seen Vicky kiss Chloe on the head, and then leave the room. Why just her and not me? And where did she go? wondered the little girl.

AD 2200 part 4 - Worlds

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter seven: AD2200 part 4 - Worlds

by Dafaddah

Author's note: Heap Big thanks to both SecondLaw and Microshazm for editing.

“So Equestria was a simulation?! But it physically intersected with the Earth and caused all the events that led to Judgement Day. It was a whole other universe, wasn’t it?” asked Conrad. He and Billy lay on the floor of his bedroom, the simulacra spell deactivated. Billy had taught him a spell to contact Princess Celestia, and the three were engaged in his first briefing as one of her agents.

Her voice was as warm, calm and composed as he remembered it from his conversion dream. “Yes, but not in the sense of a computer simulation. A thaumatic simulation actually has a physical manifestation, although under normal circumstances it is short lived. But just like in human virtual environments, objects and people can either be pre-programmed or be artificially intelligent, sentient and capable of independent thought and volition.

“When Discord disconnected Equestria from our original universe it became a new, separate universe. Equestria was manifested permanently, so in that sense it was no longer a simulation. This also set the underlying physical laws of Equestria, to which Discord has a master key. He could modify entire sections of it as long as he was able to marshal the necessary thaumatic energy to effect the change. However, because he was denied the six subsystem spells, he could not directly alter or delete individuals, nor could he modify their personalities, relationships, skills, or memories, except through purely physical means. Perhaps that is why he became so good at both psychological and hormonal manipulation. What he could not do was freeze the entire Equestrian universe itself or reset it, he had to live in it, as did Luna and I. All of Equestria, grew from this seed.”

Billy looked at Conrad with eyes as big as dinner plates. “Your majesty,” said Conrad, “I am honored that you would tell me this. After Equestria’s convergence with Earth, any human scholar of Equestria would have given his right arm to have this information.” Billy smirked and pointed a hoof at Conrad’s own right foreleg. And then at Conrad’s left foreleg. Billy shook and gripped his sides as he laughed in silence, rolling around on the floor.

Conrad rolled his eyes. “I mean no disrespect, but why tell me, and why now?”

“My dear little Conrad, I have had many years to think about things following the events of Judgement Day. I no longer consider my own survival as a given, especially as I am at humanity’s mercy and could conceivably be terminated at any time. I want the story of Equestria to be known and to survive my ending, should it come to pass. Anypony can see from the books you keep in your room that you are the ideal candidate for the job.

“But the reason for starting this process now is due to the anonymous call you received yesterday. I recognized the voice of that caller, and if I am not mistaken, it is that of none other than Discord himself.”

Billy stopped rolling around and gagged, a look of fear on his face. “But... but.. how is that possible? He was ground up into powder to make the Treasure Chest.”

“That, my little ponies, I do not know. Therefore I need you to investigate this as quickly as possible, for if it is indeed Discord, our world is in dire peril,” replied Celestia in a somber voice.

Conrad and Billy stared at each other. “How should we go about this?” asked Conrad.

“First, I need you to find any and all information you can get regarding what was done with Discord’s statue, and how every single piece of it was used,” said Celestia. “I also want you to report what happened to your father and his security team. It is very important that you behave just as you would have had you not been ponified.”

“Yes, your majesty. I’ll get on that right away. Billy can help.” The other colt nodded to Conrad.

“Secondly, please find out all you can on this other person called The Lizard. There is something familiar about him, but just what it is escapes me for the moment.” The two colts voiced their acknowledgement.

“And Conrad,” said the Princess, sounding concerned.

“Yes?”

“This is a dangerous situation for your father. I want you to know that I would never ask you to put my welfare or my directives above your responsibilities to him. Is that clear?”

“Thank you, your majesty. It’s a relief to hear you say it. Please remember that I’ve been the son of one of the most powerful people on Earth all of my life. I’m under no illusions regarding how dangerous his and my situation are,” said Conrad with perhaps more confidence than he really felt.

“It is I who thank you, Conrad and Billy. Please report back to me every day if possible,” said Celestia.

“Any particular time?” asked Conrad.

“I’m not going anywhere, Conrad. Please contact me whenever it’s convenient. Goodbye.”

For the first time he experienced the coy humour for which Princess Celestia was legendary. Conrad felt his ears burning. Billy took one look at him and started rolling on the floor laughing again. I guess it shows, even through the fur, thought Conrad with a smile.

***

In the Treasure Chest, Celestia pondered her conversation with Conrad and Billy.

... our world...

The words echoed in Celestia’s mind.

... our world...

Is that what she really believed? Was she now so attached to the earth and the ponies of her herd who lived there?

… my herd...

Was she still in any sense that Princess Celestia, the immortal alicorn, co-ruler of Equestria? Or just a head in a box with pretensions of more?

… my herd...

Maybe all of it was a dream and she was nothing more than a delusional human girl-child?

In the darkness of the Treasure Chest, Celestia wondered.

Who am I? What am I?

It wasn’t the first time she had been forced to ponder these questions.

***

Discord disappeared with a loud pop, and Celestia’s young heart broke.

How could he? How could Dexter... no, Discord just kill without remorse?

She looked over the carnage in the throne room. Nopony moved. Nopony was alive. She looked at the bodies of Professor Morning Bell and all the other dead strewn about the dais haphazardly. She felt the heat of emotion rise within her as she regarded the throne, symbol of wisdom and justice, sullied with blood. The throne where her mother usually sat. Where his mother sat. This emotion was beyond anger. It burned in the pit of her stomach and made her feel like striking out. For the first time in her short life, Celestia felt hate. In one of the mirrored tiles that graced many of the room’s columns, she saw her reflected face and the hard eyes contained within its countenance. She paused and stared at the scowling visage of a stranger.

Is this what I’ve become? She thought. She hid her face in her hooves. Shame, Celestia, Shame! You do not defeat the enemy by becoming like him.

She reined in her emotions. Calm down. First things first, find the survivors, organize help.

Less than an hour later her fear was returning. She had searched the entire castle only to find more dead. She exited the castle and began searching the ruins of neighboring buildings, looking for survivors. Discord had been thorough. It was only when she passed through the front gate of the Royal School of Magic nearby that she found somepony alive: Professor Silver Bit walked out of the front door of the teacher’s quarters, as she often did when Celestia came to school. She trotted up to her magic teacher, a teal colored unicorn mare with a sky blue mane and tail.

“Professor Silver Bit, you’re alive!” The middle-aged teacher had a look of confusion on her face. “What do you mean, young filly? Of course I’m alive. Why are you here? Graduation isn’t until tomorrow.”

Celestia pointed a hoof at the destruction around them. “There will be no graduation tomorrow. Professor, you have to tell me what is going on here. Is Equestria truly nothing more than a simulation?”

The old mare’s face went white. “I cannot... I’m confused...” She collapsed onto her haunches. “How strange, I... I do not know what to do!”

“Professor Bit!” Celestia held her teacher’s muzzle in both forehooves and raised it so she could look her in the eyes. “You must tell me the truth. What am I? Where is my mother?”

Professor Bit swallowed, a look of fear and dread in her face. “I am outside my parameters. I should have a guide. I should not even be activated!” The old mare curled up into a ball and refused to acknowledge any further queries.

Feeling panic rise within her, Celestia also fell onto her haunches, next to her now catatonic teacher. Celestia, think! She remembered her lessons in governance. What are my resources? Who can help?

She suddenly remembered: Professor Morning Bell’s collar! She examined it and the gemstones on it with her magical senses. Somepony had attached a message spell to them. Without further thought she activated it. Professor Morning Bell’s image appeared before her.

“Hello Celestia.”

“Hello Professor Morning Bell” replied Celestia, beginning to tear up.

“Now, now, you know this is just an agent spell, it’s not really me. So dry up!”

“Yes, Professor,” said Celestia, even though she quietly continued weeping.

“I had just enough time to set up this spell while Dexter was distracted by you. I’m afraid it won’t be able to answer all your questions, not by a long shot. But it is configured to be your guide and will provide you any information it has at its disposal, which is still considerable,” said the image.

Might as well start with the big questions, thought Celestia.

“Who am I, and what am I?” asked Celestia.

“You are Princess Celestia of Equestria, destined to be co-ruler of Equestria with your siblings Princess Luna and Prince Dexter. Together the three of you are being prepared for the task of ruling a new pocket universe being created by the members of the Equestrian faction of the Consortium. Once completed, Equestria is to be the new home of fourteen billion Consortium citizens, including members of the Dragon, Gryphon, and Dog factions among others.”

With a sniff and a smile Celestia noted how similar the guide spell’s manner was to Professor Bell’s usual ‘dry’ presentation style. And the answer, as usual, raised more questions than it answered. She did have two other important questions.

“Where is my mother?”

The guide spell paused. “This will be difficult for you to hear, but your mother is a simulation spell as well. She was designed to raise the best possible future rulers of Equestria. In reality she is an amalgam of several ponies. Her spell was neither active nor in storage when Dexter moved Equestria’s substrate, and so you will not be able to access or activate it.”

Celestia again buried her face in her forehooves.

We are on our own. She felt close to despair. One more question.

“Where is my sister Luna?”

“Her spell is in storage. The spell has been linked to the moon sigil on the collar Professor Bell gave you,” answered the guide spell.

I am not alone! Overpowering relief washed through Celestia’s entire body, leaving her feeling giddy and weak.

“Is she aware of our circumstances?” asked Celestia.

“No. She has been sleeping soundly and will continue to do so until her spell is re-activated.”

“Oh, thank Harmony!” It was one small grace in this shattering disaster, that her sister had so far been spared the horror of the moment. Celestia swore to herself she would prevent Luna from being destroyed by these events.

“Celestia.” The guide spell spoke up unexpectedly.

“Yes?”

“I have been instructed to begin your training in the use of the the six elemental subsystems you command, and to do this as soon as possible as conflict with Prince Dexter is likely imminent. Shall I begin?” it asked.

“Yes. Yes of course.” Pull yourself together Celestia! You have to make this world safe for your sister and for other ponies! she thought. She wiped her muzzle with an already damp foreleg.

You can do this. After all, you were made for this...

***

Conrad concluded his report to his father on the previous night’s mysterious call. “... and so I checked with Jeeves to see if he had recorded anything. He hadn’t. Dad, it’s really scary if someone can just call us without our security systems being being aware of it or detecting any intrusion”. He looked to Billy who sat in the other chair in front of his dad’s desk. Billy nodded his approval of the report, and they both turned to face the elder Sachs on the other side of the desk.

“Son, you did well. You followed the protocol to the letter, and I’m proud of you, especially after what almost happened yesterday. I just wish you would have brought this to my attention last night,” said Wilberforce Sachs. He looked at his son. I am proud of him! he thought.

“I’m sorry Dad, I was just so distraught. I wasn’t really thinking straight.” Conrad sighed.

There was however, one aspect of the call that badly troubled Wilberforce. “Are you sure the first person in the call identified himself as ‘The Lizard’?”

“Yes, I’m certain. Have you heard of him before?” asked Conrad.

“I believe I have. Although you should say ‘it’ and not ‘him’. The Lizard is a fully autonomous AI,” replied his Dad. “Unlike the other AIs, The Lizard chose to remain on Earth when they left in the closing hours of the singularity. It was actually pretty important in minimizing the effects of the Austerity Wars and the setting up the WorldGov. It occasionally provides some intelligence to the WorldGov.” He paused, deep in thought for a moment. “It’s very troubling to think that an autonomous AI might be involved in an attack on a government official’s son, and the HLF. By the way, boys, this is classified information, so don’t talk about this to anyone unless I personally tell you otherwise.”

“Yes sir,” they replied in unison.

“Dad?”

“Yes, Conrad?”

“Was The Lizard involved with Project Eris?” As his Dad seemed to be in a talkative mood this morning, Conrad decided to risk asking that question with Billy present.

“Yes it was.” The elder Sachs looked at Billy for a moment. “This stays in this room, capiche?” When the boys nodded he continued. “The Lizard provided much of the design work of the casings used for the Eris missiles and their target placement in Equestria at detonation, as well as for project Catch and the Treasure Chest. As The Lizard is an artifact of mankind, this still means that the defeat of Celestia’s invasion is still purely a human achievement. But we don’t want The Lizard’s involvement to become general knowledge. There is still a lot of fear of autonomous AIs left over from the events that led up to the singularity.”

“So what do we do about Mr. Concerned Citizen?” asked Conrad.

“I’ll work that out with my security, but for the moment just tell them that you reported the call and their instructions to me. Nothing more than that. Is that understood?”

“Yes sir.” Conrad and Billy left the room.

“Jeeves,” said Wilberforce in a low voice.

“Yes, Mr Sachs,” replied the house AI.

“Clear my schedule for two hours late tomorrow afternoon.”

“Yes, Mr. Sachs.”

It’s time to visit Celestia again, thought Wilberforce Sachs.

***

Barely three hundred, thought Celestia.

She led the rag-tag procession of ponies out of the city in some parts shattered, and eerily distorted in others, all of these the handiwork of Discord. Smoke still rose and fires raged in many sections. Its structures had proven too vulnerable to Discord’s attacks. The price of that bit of wisdom was lives. Too many lives.

Celestia hung her head in shame as she recalled those lost in the last few subjective weeks. In some cases she had been able to transfer their personalities and memories into a still living body. There were so many of those with blank or dysfunctional minds wandering the landscape. And in many cases the transfer didn’t work: the receiving body and new mind were unable to integrate, and both died.

Barely three hundred ponies to restart a civilization. Is this even possible?

The six elemental subsystem spells Celestia controlled gave her great power in this universe. She could literally change the characteristics and personalities of the ponies around her with a simple act of will. It took all of her considerable willpower not to exercise those functions indiscriminately. In fact she loathed using them at all. She shuddered to think of what Discord would have done with them.

Three hundred would have to suffice. Other than Luna’s, there were no more hidden personalities in the storage substrate. Celestia’s search had been thorough. She had also discovered entire villages of Dragons, Gryphons, Buffalo, Zebras and Dogs, as well as other creatures. She activated them, and then left them to their own devices. For his own impenetrable reasons, Discord had also left them alone, so far.

Last in the line was a familiar face.

“Professor Morning Bell. Is that everypony?”she asked.

“Yes indeed. Three hundred and twelve precisely, including the two of us.”

“It would have been less than twenty, had you not transferred the six elemental identity management spells to me, and instructed me on how to use them,” said Celestia.

“As one of the main beneficiaries: I concur!” said the old unicorn with a broad smile.

They began walking side-by-side at the end of the snaking line of ponies, many of whom were carrying their equipment and provisions. Celestia finally had a moment to discuss something that had been bothering her. “Professor, please don’t be offended by this question, but I must ask it.”

The professor took note of the anxious face of his former student. “Ask, child.”

“How do you feel about the... original Professor Bell? Do you consider yourself a copy?”

“Child, I am a copy. I know it because I did the copying myself, at least I remember doing so. Up until that point in time there was no other Morning Bell. Just me. Beyond that point, there is another me, which we can call the original, who gave up his life to protect you, and me and those other three hundred and ten ponies. I mourn him, and yet I celebrate him. It’s decidedly odd to be one’s own saviour, don’t you think?”

Celestia had not thought of it that way, but the words nevertheless comforted her. The Professor had always had the knack of lifting her spirits in the most unconventional fashion.

“Think of it another way,” he continued, warming to the topic. “Who and what we are is nothing less than the series of all the choices we have made in our lives. Those choices, made by the original Morning Bell, have been passed on to me. Now I must honor that gift by continuing that series in the same spirit. So to answer your question, I am Professor Morning Bell, the one and only.”

Celestia’s smile, so rarely seen in the last few weeks returned, and was no less radiant for its extended absence. Up and down the line, ponies nudged each other to see the welcome sight.

Celestia looked around her at the countryside. Although many parts showed the ravages of Discord, there were huge swaths still untouched and heart-breakingly beautiful.

This is our world now...

The ponies marched onwards towards the Everfree forest, many with smiles on their faces and a spring in their steps.

… and this is my herd!

AD 2155 part 2 - Secrets and sins

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter eight: AD 2155 part 2 - Secrets and Sins

by Dafaddah

Author's note: Heap Big thanks to Microshazm for editing.

“Victoria cantered down the corridor, a vacant smile on her muzzle. She had noticed that a smiling pony was essentially invisible to the human staff, and could essentially go anywhere in the house without being questioned. She winced internally every time she passed her fellow pony staff along the way. They too had had their intelligence dimmed as part of the modified ponification process, and in the case of the males had also been gelded. Those responsible will pay a price!

She got to her destination and knocked three times on the door with a yellow forehoof. Victoria wasn’t expecting an answer so late in the evening. Usually the Littons spent this time of night watching movies or engaged in other entertainments.

She turned the knob with her mouth, and let herself into the Littons’ office. Once inside, she held up a pendant she had found hanging on a chain around her neck. It had mysteriously appeared there after her last interview with Princess Celestia. Somehow, she knew what it was, and how to use it. Victoria stroked it once and felt the presence of the princess. How eerie! she thought.

“Well it’s pretty new to me too! But I’m glad it works,” said Celestia’s voice in her head.

Hello, your majesty. Wow! This is better than in a spy movie! Victoria grinned ear-to-ear. Can you see what I see as well?

Celestia’s voice again whispered gently in her mind: “Yes. In fact I can experience all your senses. But you’ll only hear my voice. It will be less confusing for you that way.”

Victoria went to the desk, where a standard workstation icon floated a few inches off the surface. She placed her hoof in the icon and it expanded into a standard display.

Uh,oh. This is going to be slow going if I have to type everything one key at a time with my hooves, though Victoria.

“I can activate the keys for you telekinetically, if you tell me what to type,”said the Princess.

Great! Victoria touched the id entry field on the panel. Type “wallbanger”, please. The letters magically appeared. She touched the password entry field. Type “Sasha123”. She tagged the enter button, and Litton’s home screen floated over the desk. Success! That bastard Harvey never even thinks twice about logging-in right in front of his pony slaves! Too bad for him...

Victoria stumbled mid-thought, and blushed. Oh, I’m sorry I used that type of language, your majesty! She was amazed that she had become so squeamish about even mild cussing.

She heard Celestia’s chuckle echo in her mind’s ear. “Despite appearances, keep in mind that I am not in my first millenium. Don’t worry my little pony, I’ve heard worse.”

The background screen showed the feeds from security cameras placed around the house. It was set up so that each window seemed to be following a specific human around the house. None of the feeds showed ponies. Ha! Even the house AI has been instructed to ignore ponies. Isn’t that interesting?! Vicky smiled as she explored the Littons’ files.

Thirty minutes later, the smile turned predatory when she was able to locate records on a series of financial transactions that occurred on a monthly basis. This is interesting, Princess, she thought. It would appear the Littons’ have established a contact with a person working for Sachs Heavy Industries, in the Eastern Alliance. Technically that’s treason. The amount of money involved makes it very likely clandestine. Also, the Littons are only acting as brokers, the real buyer is registered as a numbered account.

“Can you list the dates of the transactions?” asked Celestia.

Yes. Victoria touched a tab with a hoof. The list appeared onscreen.

“Each transaction happens exactly two days after my blood has been harvested from the Treasure Chest,” said the Princess. “I believe it is too strong a coincidence for it not to be linked. It would seem someone in Sachs Heavy Industries has been selling some of my blood with the Litton’s acting as their agent in the Western Ascendancy.”

Victoria was surprised again at the strength of her emotions. Tears began to fall past her muzzle onto the desk. If only I had been able to discover this before I would have been exonerated and I would not have been ponified!

“It is my hope Victoria, that you can find some solace in the fact that you are no longer alone. There is admittedly little I can do, but what I can do, I will,” vowed the Princess.

Vicky felt ashamed. She did not want to give Celestia the impression that she was so self-centered, or ungrateful for what she had already received. And she was very grateful to have gotten her full faculties back. You have my gratitude both for giving me hope and my mind back. But gratitude is not enough... “ She had a sudden thought. Princess Celestia, how would you like to own a company? Her predatory smile returned.

***

It was the second night in a row Victoria had been in the Littons’ office. So far she had set up a company technically owned by Harvey Litton but under her direct oversight, and transferred assets to it from the Littons’ other holdings via complex transactions effectively making them untraceable. As a former auditor, Victoria knew all the tricks, and she used the knowledge to her fullest advantage. Princess Celestia now had access to sizeable financial assets!

Victoria was now going through the rest of the information base stored in the system. She had avoided looking for the files on her daughter Chloe so far. She dreaded what she might find there. Finally she located the files from her trial, and the transfer of guardianship of Chloe granted to the Littons by the trial magistrate. It was all done “in the interest of the child’s welfare, given the close relationship of the defendant with the Littons.” Seeing the words on the screen brought a sour feeling to the pit of her stomach.

There were additional files, video taken of Chloe after her arrival in the Litton home. Several of the first such showed Chloe either crying or angrily demanding for her mother. She wept seeing these, but she could not stop herself from viewing them. Several of the files showed Chloe and Sasha together. It warmed her heavy heart to see how Sasha took charge of Chloe, doing everything a young girl could think of to make Chloe feel welcome. She was glad. She had liked Sasha very much before her intelligence was restored, and had hoped it was not just an artifact of having been dumbed down.

Then she came upon one recording showing Chloe alone with Harvey. She raised her hoof to stop the stream, but hesitated. She had to know. She let the video run. It was in the girls’ bedroom, with Chloe face down in bed, obviously having a cry. Harvey sat down on the bed next to her.

“Hello Chloe,” he said. “Why are you sad? Don’t you have enough toys to play with?”

“I don’t care about toys.” Chloe voice was muffled by the pillow, but she could still hear the unhappy tone.

“Oh, well what do you care about Chloe?”

“I want my mommy back!” said Chloe with a sob.

“Oh, sweetie. I’m afraid your mommy’s gone. And there’s nothing I can do about that.” He stroked Chloe’s hair when she continued to shake and tremble as she cried. Victoria watched, horrified as the traitor’s hand gave comfort to her daughter. “I know that Sasha and I can’t replace your mommy. But, sweetheart, you have to be strong now. Your mommy would have wanted you to be, did you know that?”

“What do you know about my mommy?” cried Chloe.

“We were friends at work, Chloe. I knew your mommy pretty well. I know that she wouldn’t want you to be sad. So how about you and me and Sasha we go drink some hot chocolate together. Would you like that?” He gestured off camera. Sasha approached the bed and took Chloe’s hand.

“Come-on Chloe. Bubbles makes really good hot chocolate,” said Sasha with enthusiasm.

Chloe looked up at her. Her face was wet. It took her a moment, but then she sniffled and nodded. “Okay,” she said almost inaudibly.

“Great, let’s go to the kitchen. Come now, hold my hand.” Harvey got up and led the two girls out of camera range. The video ended.

Victoria stared at the screen for a long time, highly conflicted. She wanted to hate Harvey with every fibre of her soul. But after seeing this, she just... couldn’t. She sighed, shut down the workstation, and left the office.

***

Vicky busied herself tidying up the girls’ room as Sasha was late getting into bed. She seemed to be working up the courage to say something. Chloe was already asleep and snoring peacefully. Finally, Sasha spoke up. “You’re Vicky. But you’re not Vicky.”

Victoria didn’t let her smile slip. “That doesn’t make much sense, Miss Sasha.” said Victoria.

“You know I saw you last night. And last, last night too. You gave Chloe a kiss on the forehead. Why didn’t you give me a kiss too?” When Victoria didn’t answer, Sasha continued. “And you don’t look... fuzzy... like you did before. You look sharp now, when you think there aren’t any grownups looking.”

“Miss Sasha, I...” Victoria didn’t have the heart to lie to this child who had done so much for Chloe at a time when Victoria herself could not be there. She sighed, and decided to drop pretenses. “Sasha, I’m Chloe’s mommy. I was turned into a pony.”

Sasha’s eyes grew wide. “I thought only bad people were turned into ponies.” Then her expression warmed up and she gave a brilliant little girl smile. “But all the ponies I know are really nice!”

“Sweetie, sometimes the explanations adults give are not the whole truth. Some things are pretty complicated and sometimes grownups don’t have the time to explain.” Her ears drooped. She felt ashamed for all the times she had done the same. “But, Sasha, I don’t want to lie to you. You were so nice to Chloe when she came here. I want you to know that I am very grateful you helped her. You are a very good person, Sasha.” She held the girl in a tight hug, and then kissed her on the forehead. The child produced another dazzling smile.

“I knew you were a good person, even before when you were fuzzy.” She hugged Victoria back. “But why are you hiding it from the grownups?”

“When they turn people into ponies they’re supposed to become... fuzzy. They mustn’t know that I’ve gotten smart again, or else they’ll take me away, and I’ll never be able to see Chloe again. Sasha, you must promise me that you won’t tell anyone about this. Not even your mommy and daddy. Can you do that for me?”

The young girl looked very serious. “I promise. But what about Chloe? Does she know you’re her mommy?”

“No she doesn’t. I’m going to tell her when the time is right, but right now things are very dangerous for her too. So I have to ask you to keep this a secret even from Chloe.”

Sasha was quiet a moment. “So that’s why you kiss her at night, when she’s already asleep.” She looked Victoria in the eyes. “Doesn’t it make you sad?”

Victoria hugged the child again, her vision blurred as tears started forming in her eyes. “Yes, Sasha, it makes me very sad. But it makes me happy, too. Because at least I can be close to her. And now I’m glad to be close to you too. You’re a bright girl, Sasha.” She released the child and sat on her haunches. “Now it’s time for good girls and bright girls to have their naps.” She tucked-in the cover over Sasha. “Sleep well, sweetheart.”

***

That night Victoria had only a few volumes of archival storage left to check out. Most was related to various engineering projects. Boring stuff, until she happened upon a set of files referring to subcontracts from a Project Eris. She rubbed her pendant and felt Celestia’s presence join hers.

“Hard at work again, I see, Victoria. What have you discovered?” asked the Princess.

This project timeline is just weeks before Judgement Day. It’s the project that built the Treasure Chest. It states that the box was actually made from the powdered remains of a statue that had been stolen from Equestria. See here, she pointed a hoof, it says this was the statue of “Discord” does that mean anything to you?

“Yes, it does.” There was a sadness in the Princess’ voice such as Victoria had not heard before. “They killed him.”

Killed? Do you mean this statue of Discord was a person?

“Yes, Victoria. He was my brother. But he became quite... dangerous to others. I did not have it in me to end his life, so I turned him to stone. It is one of the saddest episodes of my life. And now, if I understand this document correctly, his body was used to build the box that now contains me. I live surrounded by the remains of somepony I loved.”

Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry, your majesty! Victoria was aghast at her discovery.

“Please don’t be sorry. I least now I hold one piece of the puzzle of my capture and the destruction of Equestria. I thank you for discovering such important information, sad as it is. But now, I will leave you. I’m afraid of must grieve for Dexter yet again,” said the Princess.

Victoria felt Celestia’s presence fade.

***

Harvey Litton was talking with his customer by phone. “Yes. I have dispatched courier with the package. I think you’ll really like this one.” He laughed into the handset just thinking about it.

“What do you mean?” replied the voice at the other end, unemotional as it always was.

“Oh, you’ll see when he gets there.”

“Yes. Do not be late, as this will be the last of our transactions.” Now it was Harvey’s turn to be puzzled.

“Last? Don’t you want any more?” he asked, beginning to feel sick to his stomach.

“We have secured an alternate supply source. Good bye.” Harvey heard a click as the call was ended.

Well then. Let’s see how the HLF will appreciate having its shipment of Princess Celestia’s blood delivered by a pony! thought Harvey. He swallowed. An alternate source. Shit, this is beginning to get scary.

***

In the Treasure Chest, Celestia lit a small magical light. She examined the sides of the box. They were a featureless white, giving no clue of their provenance. Her head lay upon the floor of the box. Upon the remains of Dexter.

Celestia did something she had not for years: she wept.

Oh, Dexter!

She had already reconciled herself with the fact that he along with everypony else in Equestria was assuredly dead. She now knew his death had preceded Equestria’s by some weeks. It should not matter, but it does.

Celestia lit the light and again stared at the walls of the Treasure Chest.

It matters! It matters because... ?

The realization hit her harder than she thought anything possibly could.

It matters because a piece of him is here with me: I am no longer... alone.

For the first time, the walls of the Treasure Chest seemed warmer to her, not just the cold walls of a dark prison.

***

“HE SAID WHAT?!” shouted Loretta. She pushed Harvey away from her and jabbed him in the chest with one finger. “Do you know what this means?”

“Yes, of course I do!” argued back her husband, looking to see if there was anyone else within earshot. Luckily, the living room was large and otherwise deserted. He calmly crossed his arms and leaned back against the bar. “Winston sent us a discreet warning. We are vulnerable. We have to find a way to turn what we have into a poison pill toxic enough to make sure they don’t try to get rid of us the same way we got rid of Victoria. I’ve been thinking about it all afternoon.”

“And have you come up with any bright ideas?” Loretta slumped onto the nearby sofa. She covered her face in her hands.

“The only thing we have is the link to Sachs Industries. And that’s a real double-edged sword.” Harvey paused a moment. “Look, we’ve been through tighter spots before, we’ll get through this one. Just for security’s sake I suggest we take the girls and disappear for a week or two.”

“Girls? Are you seriously saying we should bring that brat with us?” Loretta looked at him as if he was crazy.

“She’s part of our insurance. We’ve discussed this. I’ll have Vicky prepare their things. We’ll leave in the middle of the night and take a flight to Canberra. I can arrange it to be completely quiet.”

She looked up at him in misery from the sofa. “Sure. And of course we’ll take the bitch along with her brat. Go ahead and set it up. I’ll go pack my things.” She rose slowly and walked out without saying another word. Harvey took out his phone and typed a code, and then walked behind the bar, opened a bottle of his favourite whiskey, and poured himself a large tumblerful.

***

Celestia saw her human self sitting with her sister in the observatory of Canterlot castle. It was one of her very favourite places. They rested on large comfortable cushions next to the parapet, the unmatched beauty of Equestria spread before them while the scent of jasmine tea perfumed the air.

“So that is how they built a box that could contain my head and isolate my magic. They made it out of Dexter’s body,” said Celestia matter-of-factly, then she took a sip of her tea.

“What a pity,” replied Luna. “And now you’re reminiscing about your dead brother with your imaginary sister. At least you haven’t turned this into one of your horrid puns.”

“Oh, were he here, I’m sure Dexter might say that he always had a place for me deep within his heart.” Celestia batted her eyes.

“I take it back.”

“Well, as you know, you can’t take it with you. And in the case of Harvey Litton, our little pony Victoria has actually taken a big chunk of his estate and put it under our control. Sister, we finally have capital again!” Celestia was surprised how important this seemed to her.

“And what good does this do you when you’re stuck in a chest?” asked Luna archly.

“Money is the root of all evil, sister, except when I have it! I will see if I can use it to improve the lot of my newfoals. But I have yet to really make any clear plans on what to do.”

“Something will come to you Cely, it always does.”

“Yes, I guess so. If only because I for one am certainly not going anywhere.”

“Ha, ha. But you're wrong. This is where your sister reminds you to think outside the box." Luna batted her eyes while swishing her tail coquettishly.

"How is that?" asked Celestia, trying to keep a straight face.

"You have a potential friend in Victoria. Why haven't you tried to get closer to her?"

"I... That's a very good question, Luna," said Celestia, subdued.

"Humpf! You're trying to elude a sister who isn't even there. How about you answer my question this time?"

"I'm... afraid." Celestia looked down at her hands. Her very human hands. "I've lost everything I loved. It is very hard to expose myself to this hurt again."

"She who risks nothing has nothing,” replied Luna.

“Perhaps you are right,” whispered Celestia.

Luna-in-her-dreams approached and hugged her human shaped sister. “I am right... as usual.” She gave a sisterly smirk.

Celestia recalled what she had told Victoria: Remember, you are no longer alone.

They gazed out over Equestria in peaceful silence.

And neither am I, she realized.

AD 2200 part 5 - The Wages of Charity

The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter nine: AD 2200 part 5 - The Wages of Charity

by Dafaddah

Author's note: Heap Big thanks to both SecondLaw and Microshazm for editing. Use of characters from An Azure Future with the gracious permission of Krass McWriter.

“Is this *beep*-ing thing on? Okay, let’s *beep*-ing do this.”

A human torso and face appeared in the video window projected by Conrad’s room AI. It belonged to an athletic looking young man, perhaps in his late teens or early twenties, and in the image he seemed bored. He picked up some papers and read from them.

“Minutes of the board meeting of Intelligent Designs corporation, John Norris reporting, secretary pro tem for this meeting, timestamp.” The screen briefly showed a date: July 28th, 2018. “The board reviewed and approved the minutes of the last meeting, like anyone of these *beep*-ers would object!” Norris looked into the camera and smiled crookedly. “But today was special. Today this board lived up to its name by wasting an hour that we will never get back entertaining a crazy shit with the stupidest idea since flavored socks.” He looked down at the paper.

“The *beep*-hole in question was named Dr. Gilles Burnford representing the Green Earth Collective, Inc. AKA *beep*-ing tree-huggers nonpareil, *beeep*. He proposed to pay Intelligent Designs three hundred million dollars to develop the world’s first true green AI, as if that that makes any *beep*-ing sense! Stated objective of the AI: to restore the Earth to its former state of natural beauty, biodiversity and fully functional, autonomous, and self-regulating ecosystems, i.e. to bring Earth back to the Garden of *beep*ing Eden.”

Norris looked into the camera. “*Beep*-ing nutjob, and I told him so before he left the room. The CEO, that *beeep*, recommended we accept the proposal, as this was basically taking money for nothing. We could just repurpose one of our existing AIs for the job, which would cost us max five or six million to deliver as specified. The slower members of the board did the math. Then the board voted on the proposal. As the junior stockholder on the board, my votes and common sense came short of getting the majority and the board approved the *beep*-ing project. The AI will be based on the Resource Snake AI we sold to Exxon earlier this year, and will be called the Lizard. Well, that’s all, except we had coffee and some really decadent pastries and watched as various board members put their metaphorical *beep*-s on the table at least once or twice each. Secretary pro tem John Norris, signing the *beep* off.” He saluted the camera, and turned away. “Man, I had better not have to *beep*-ing do this again anytime soon...” The video ended.

“Did you get that Princess?” Conrad blushed as he spoke, which he hoped Princess Celestia couldn’t detect it through the telepathic link. Billy shook in silent laughter at his friend’s embarrassment. They had debated playing the actual recording because of Norris’ colorful language.

“Yes, I did, despite the frequent redactions,” replied Celestia. Conrad’s blush deepened and his ears began to droop. Billy was holding his sides to prevent himself from laughing out loud. “It was quite resourceful of you to find this information, Conrad. However did you get access to it?”

His ears rose back up at the praise. “Intelligent Designs was bought out by a consortium, that was in turn bought by my great-great grandfather. As a shareholder I have access to all company and subsidiary internal reports and shareholder minutes of meetings. When my dad said the Lizard was an AI, I recalled that Intelligent Designs had been one of the pioneers in that area. It made John Norris one of the richest men in the world before he could even drive a car!”

“Excellent initiative, Conrad. I wouldn’t have even thought of looking into company board meetings.” Conrad’s ears rose all the way back. “I am beginning to suspect there is more to this Lizard than he lets on, even to his partners in the HLF. Then there is also the troubling issue of Discord being involved, and how he fits into this Lizard’s plans. Have you made any progress in discovering where are the stored remains of Discord not used on Judgement Day?”

“We have, but that’s Billy’s department,” said Conrad. Billy, still laughing, was caught off guard and suddenly straightened up.

“Uh, yes, your majesty,” said Billy, still trying to catch his breath. Conrad stuck his tongue out at him and crossed his eyes. “Uh, I used Conrad’s house AI to do some searches in old inventories of the same corporations during and following Judgement Day. I turned up an interesting item identified as ‘Equestrian Statuary Fragment Powder’ that was shown as having a rather low book value, but was always kept in the most secure facilities available to the conglomerate. It was listed as weighing three point seven metric tons when first acquired, and after the first move the weight was reduced to just over two tons. Does that sound right?”

“Yes, my little ponies. That sounds correct. Do you know where this item is kept now?”

Billy smiled sheepishly. “This was a bit of a surprise, but after what Mr. Sachs said when we arrived here, it kind of makes sense. It’s now listed as stored in the basement of this house.”

It took Celestia a moment to answer. “Is the storage area accessible?”

Conrad spoke. “I can go there, but Billy can’t. Do you want me to check it out?”

“Yes, Conrad please do. Immediately, if possible,” said Celestia.

Conrad turned on the simulacra spell and rushed out of the room. He went down the corridor to an elevator. “House, please authorize elevator to panic level three, Conrad Sachs two, six, five, Beta.”

“Authorized,” said a voice and the elevator door opened. He entered, the doors closed, and it sped quickly down. A moment later, the doors opened again. He turned to the left and walked down a long corridor to a door marked ‘Storage 24’. Nobody unauthorized could ever get to this level alive, so there were no locks or access controls. He opened the door and entered.

The room itself was rather large, but Billy had given him an inventory location tag. “Inventory item 45B-28S, locate,” he said out loud. A line in the floor lit up and led him to the indicated storage bin. It was a large drum, topped by a rolling cover with a single handle. “Should I open it?” asked Conrad.

“Yes, but do be careful, Conrad,” replied Celestia, sounding subdued. Conrad suddenly remembered that the contents of the drum were supposed to be the powdered remains of her brother. He gingerly grasped the handle and rotated the cover backwards, peering inside. Instead of powder, the bin held several large plastic containers of water.

“Hey! This isn’t powdered statuary.” Conrad was confused.

“Please don’t be upset Conrad, but this is what I had expected,” said Celestia. “It only proves to me that Discord has likely regenerated partially, and maybe even been set free. I suspect the Lizard is behind this as well. You can return to your room now, if you wish.”

“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” Conrad exited the storage room and made his way back upstairs. When he arrived he found Billy staring at shipping records.

“I’ve noticed something interesting,” said Billy. “When the remains of Discord were moved, they always used an optimal secure route between origin and destination. But over here,” he pointed at one shipping invoice, “it should have taken at most two hours, but the arrival is a whole day later than the departure. It happened over ten years ago, but I suspect that is when Discord was... er, re-constituted. By coincidence, the truck reported a failed GPS transmitter, so the actual route taken was not filed. I’m sorry, but I don’t think we can use this to track down Discord.”

“Don’t worry, Billy. It was excellent work nonetheless. At least now I know when Discord is likely to have begun interacting with humans. I have other avenues of research I can pursue. But please do continue looking, and if you have any ideas please let me know.”

“I’m glad, your majesty,” said Conrad.

“Glad of what, Conrad?” asked Celestia.

“Glad that Discord is still alive. He is your brother, after all, and you were so sad when you thought he had died before.” Billy stared at him with his eyes wide as if he had gone crazy. There was a long pause.

“Thank you, Conrad. You are truly very kind, and it has been so long since anypony expressed such concern for my welfare. Even though he is a great danger to this world, I am glad he is alive. This is selfish of me, but you are right, I have to keep hope alive, especially for my brother. Now, I need to think upon what I have learned today. Please let me know if you discover anything else you think is important. Goodbye, my little ponies.”

“Goodbye, your majesty,” they replied in unison, and deactivated the telepathic link to the princess.

“You know, that was really nice of you to think about how all of this might make the princess feel. For a rich kid, you’re not all bad!” said Billy, causing his friend to roll his eyes. He took out a deck of cards from his saddle bag. “Okay, telekinesis practice time, only this time do it while in the simulacra spell.”

The deck flew over to Conrad, who made it look as if he had caught it with his right hand. He extracted the cards from their box and fanned the cards. He then shuffled the deck and dealt them five cards each. The whole process looked perfectly natural and ordinary, even though all the card manipulation was done using magic in synchronization with the illusory hands presented by the simulacra spell.

Billy clopped his hooves. “Very impressive, Conrad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anypony get the hang of magic so quickly!” His friend’s smile wasn’t entirely a happy one. Billy tilted his head to one side. “Hey, what’s the matter? I said you did good!”

Conrad looked at him. “You know, everything I’ve done in the last three days has been great, but I just wish I could show my dad.” He looked down. “I really feel bad about fooling him. Don’t get me wrong, I understand why it’s necessary. But still, I wish it wasn’t.”

“Yeah. After having met your dad I’m starting to see why you feel that way. He’s not bad either, for one of the most powerful people on Earth,” replied Billy. “How about we continue with the lesson?”

“Okay, but only if we actually play a hand after I deal it. Rummy?”

“Sure, but the loser has to eat lunch with chopsticks!” said Billy, activating his own simulacra spell with an evil grin.

“You’re on!” Conrad’s simulacra image dealt the cards.

"NO! Not Dexter! I don’t want to hear any more!” Princess Luna covered her ears with her hooves, tears streaming down her dark muzzle. The filly was barely fourteen years of age, not counting the year she had spent in storage before Celestia finally had the courage to call her back. So far this conversation had not gone easily, no matter how often the elder sister had rehearsed it in her mind.

“I’m sorry, Lulu, Discord is too dangerous to be allowed to live,” said Celestia. Despite being only a few years older, right now it felt as if several lifetimes of struggle separated the sisters. “I know it’s hard to hear this.” She looked down at her hooves. “But he’s not the Dexter we knew and loved. He’s been broken by the weight of a truth he could not bear.”

Luna seemed to shrink-in on herself. “I can’t bear it either, Tia”

Celestia encircled her with her wings, as Luna wept in grief and loss. “No, Lulu. You can and you will. You will not reject those around you. You will not run in fear, and you will not go killing and destroying everypony and everything in sight. You’re stronger than that.” Celestia sighed. “Of the three of us, you’ve always been the brightest, the most determined, the one who cares the most about others. I cannot imaging you going down that precipice, Luna.” She waited as her sister’s sobs abated and her shaking stopped.

Luna opened her eyes and looked into Celestia’s. “Tia, you have always said that a life is a life, even a small one. Well this is our brother, Dexter. You must... find another way.”

Celestia looked at Luna in despair. “As long as he can act he can hurt others. How can I allow that to continue?”

Luna’s gaze was hopeful and desperate. “There must be a way, and we have to find it, Tia. You have to promise me! Otherwise just put me back to sleep, because I want no part of this world.” Luna’s gaze was implacable.

Celestia looked to the sky took a deep breath. How often had she asked herself the very same question? Had she made her peace with the decision to kill Discord, or had she just lost her objectivity? But now, Luna’s happiness, and maybe even her sanity, rested on this decision. In her heart she couldn’t bear the thought of losing her only sister as well. She made her choice.

“I promise, Lulu. I will find another way.” She knew the day would come when she would more than likely regret the promise, but her heart felt lighter the moment she made it. She would have to speak with the professor and explore alternatives.

Luna smiled through her tears. Her first one since Celestia had started relating the events of the last year. “Poor Tia. All this fighting and death.” She brought a hoof to her sister’s cheek. “You protected me all these months. Now it’s my turn to protect you. Just... find a way to stop him without killing him, and let me do the rest.” There was steely determination on her young face. Celestia had seen it before and knew her sister to be unshakable once she had chosen her course. A smile broke out on her own face. Now Discord was in for a fight!

Wilberforce Sachs walked up to the security station. He placed his palm on the reader and waited for the green light to indicate that he could enter. It did, and the door to the vault rose ponderously.

As in his last visit here, he was not wearing any protective clothing. Again, he wasn't expecting to stay very long, but this time, he had a very specific set of questions to ask the prisoner within. And this time, it was the life of his son that was in jeopardy.

The Treasure Chest gleamed dully, its metal impregnated with the anti-magical Substance D produced from the ground fragments of Celestia's nemesis, Discord. Low on one side was a spigot from which every month the accumulated magical blood of Celestia was drained to produce ponification serum. On top was a 3D view-screen, part of a two way communications system he had had installed two days earlier.

Wilberforce activated the switch and the image of Celestia’s head appeared on top of the Treasure Chest.

“Hello Wilberforce, I wasn’t expecting you back so soon,” said Celestia, in a businesslike voice.

He thought for a moment. “Good day, princess. I wondered if I might ask you a few questions.” He held up a placating hand. “Now before you answer, I admit that I cannot coerce you to cooperate, but if you do, I am in a position to perhaps improve in a limited way the conditions of your incarceration. Consider this video link my first contribution towards that end.”

She stared up at him, eyes alert. “What do you wish to know, Wilberforce?”

Sachs, linked his arms behind his back and paced in front of the box as he spoke. “There was an attempt made on the life of my son, Conrad. It failed, thankfully, but I have reason to believe it was a means of expressing disenchantment with my policy of opening communications with you.”

“Then is it wise to visit me again? And is the boy safe?” asked Celestia.

Sachs stopped and gazed at Celestia. He saw nothing more than concern in her countenance. He took a deep breath. “There was a call, a warning really, communicated through my son. The callers claimed to have a way to influence the HLF, the organization that attacked him. And one of them was very likely an AI named the Lizard. Have you ever heard of it?”

The princess looked deep in thought for a moment.

“The HLF has long been a radical group opposed to ponification,” said Celestia. “I assume their stance has not much changed in the last century. And the Lizard AI, was associated with an environmentalist group, the Green Earth Collective, if I recall. Some of their membership became ponies and travelled all over Equestria collecting samples of flora and fauna, but oddly enough only of those species that had previously existed on Earth and gone extinct. We also thought it odd this AI was one of the few that stayed on Earth when most of the others left at the end of the singularity. In answer to your unspoken question, the Equestrian government had no dealings with the Lizard, nor did any my agents.” She paused a moment. “May I ask you a question?”

Wilberforce knew the game of quid-pro-quo. “Very well, although I make no promises that I will answer it.”

“Was the Lizard involved in my capture and the destruction of Equestria?” asked the princess.

WIlberforce considered for a moment, then spoke. “Yes, but that is all I will tell you on this subject.”

Celestia’s smile seemed genuine. “Thank you for your honesty, Wilberforce. For this I will tell you two things. The first is beware of this Lizard. It was made to restore the garden of Eden on Earth. Its agenda is its own. At the time of Equestria’s arrival on Earth, some in the intelligence establishments of certain human governments feared it greatly, because they also could not fathom its true intentions. Second, it was rumoured that the Lizard had somehow obtained the statue of my nemesis in Equestria, Discord. I am aware that this box containing me was made from his substance, Wilberforce, but I ask you to be sure you have all the remains of Discord where you can keep an eye on them, for if he gets loose on Earth it will be a genuine catastrophe, one that will make the events of Judgement Day seem like a minor inconvenience.”

Wilberforce stared at the image of the princess hovering over the Chest. “You presume much. Why should I trust you, Celestia, to be honest with me in regards to your dealings with humanity? And even if I did, why should I then also believe the words of those humans who were so eager to cooperate with you and betray their own race?”

For the first time Wilberforce saw something that looked like anger in those eyes. “Because, my dear Wilberforce, it was I and Equestria that were manipulated into cooperating with the plan for the Conversion Bureaus. It was I who was misled, and being a prisoner in this box with Equestria dead is the price of my foolishness.” Celestia visibly made an effort to calm herself down. She continued in a much calmer voice. “There was a meeting where all this was discussed with the WorldGov leadership. It was held on August 1st, 2020, in Washington, DC. I assume you can get access to a recording of it.”

Wilberforce could not believe his ears. “So you still deny being a failed invader? I should have expected nothing better. What do you care of the Earth, or me or my family?” By the time he reached the end he was almost shouting.

“Because, on Earth, ninety percent of the population are now ponies of my own blood. Because, hard as it may be for you to believe, I care about the humans on Earth as well. And because, dear Wilberforce, these people and ponies and this Earth are all I have left.”

Sachs felt conflicted. If the princess was being honest with him much of what he had believed his whole life might be based on lies. There still was a possibility that she was insane and spouting nonsense. But if that were really the case, why had Conrad been attacked after his first visit here? Wilberforce had studied Celestia extensively and thought he had a good grasp of her character, at least as it was before Judgement Day, and a good idea of when she was being forthright and when she was holding something back. So far today she had appeared very sincere. He sighed, and made a decision.

“I don’t know what to make of this all. I will consider what you said. As a reward for your cooperation, I will authorize access to a news feed to your communications array. You will be able to receive news from around the world. I will also arrange a line for you to communicate with me when you think you have something important to say. Abuse either one and I will have them both removed. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Wilberforce. And thank you,” replied the princess.

Could that really be gratitude he saw in her eyes? “Goodbye, Celestia,” he replied in a low voice, turned off the view-screen, and left the room.

Wilberforce Sachs was alone in his office, a tumbler filled with his favorite brand of whiskey, made by a firm of ponies in the Scottish highlands. It was made using only traditional ingredients, recipes and methods that had only recently become possible again due to the environmental reconstruction of the British Isles.

He had his personal AI open a vid window. It showed a group of twenty men and women around a table with Princess Celestia. The recording had not been easy to get. He had had to spend a lot of personal capital and bribe money to gain access to it.

On the screen the chairman of the WorldGov central committee stood and addressed its members. The view panned around the table.

“This meeting is called to order. We will dispense with the reading of minutes as we have a special guest, her majesty Princess Celestia of Equestria.” The humans around the table clapped politely. “The princess is here at my invitation to negotiate the terms of our proposal to the Equestrian government for the funding and operation of a global network of Conversion Bureaus. Your majesty, you have an opening statement?”

Celestia rose. “Yes, thank you Mr. Chairman. Ladies and gentlemen, let me start by thanking you for sharing the current status of the Earth and your projections over the next years, and by assuring you that the government of Equestria is both sympathetic to your cause and deeply saddened by the crisis in which humanity finds itself. I am here today to report on a few of our initiatives to help the people of Earth.

“You project being able to feed your population only for another five to six years. We have investigated supplementing the ever decreasing mass of usable raw materials for your nanite food processing plants with organic materials from Equestria. Unfortunately I must report that test runs have shown an almost universal degradation and significant outright cessation of nanite function when using these materials in any meaningful quantities. The cause appears to be the thaumatic radiation emitted by all Equestrian organics.”

One of the committee members raised a hand. Celestia nodded in acknowledgement.

“Why can’t you just turn other stuff into food using your magic rather than use nanites?” she asked.

Celestia smiled. “Unfortunately, such transformations are generally short lived, and the food reverts to its original composition a few hours later. That might prove dangerous if the original constituents were either indigestible or even worse poisonous. However, the biggest problem with this approach is that the thaumatic energy needed to do such transformations is enormous, so the total production, even it it would engage the full capacity of every single unicorn in my kingdom, would be so small as to be of negligible impact.

“We have also examined our own capacity to increase food production. Unfortunately our population is very small compared to that of the Earth, and so I’m afraid even if we were able to double our output, it would result in an increase of less than one half of one percent increase in the global food supply.”

Celestia paused a moment.

“Another project investigated the progression of the barrier produced by the incursion of Equestria on Earth. At the current highly variable rate it is likely to take about fifteen years to consume the entire planetary surface. You have declared that your capacity for getting people off-planet is limited to two to three thousand per year, making a planetary evacuation impossible, so we in Equestria have set up a program to examine the possibility of reversing, halting or even slowing down progression of the barrier. I regret to inform you that our unicorn mages have proven that it is impossible to slow this progression down. Indeed, all our attempts to do so have only resulted in locally speeding the rate expansion. My sister, who is in charge of this effort, has recommended we halt any further experimentation along these lines as the risk is too great. We are sorry, but we consider this line of investigation a lost cause.

“This leaves only the proposals for accommodation. I have personally led the effort to determine why thaumatic radiation is so poisonous to humans, and to find a way to stop its effect. I regret to report that these efforts have also been unfruitful. Again, all attempts at mitigating the effects of thaumatic radiation on humans have only succeeded in accelerating the process. This was done at a great cost to the humans who volunteered for this study. Some of them, who had indeed become friends, perished in this study. Their courage and sacrifice will be remembered.”

Celestia paused again, longer this time. She took a slow breath, and continued.

“As to the final project, led by my esteemed student Twilight Sparkle, we have engaged with WorldGov in research to link our Amniomorphic spell with your nanites, successfully I might add, to convert human individuals into ponies, thus making them immune to thaumatic radiation. This would simply resolve the problem of the ever decreasing land area capable of supporting human life, but at the cost of the inhabitant’s very humanity. Because of the destructive effect of Equestrian metabolism on nanites, the conversion process is unfortunately a one way process, and so the government of Equestria is still unconvinced that this is the optimal solution to the incursion. But we have not lost hope and continue to seek other alternatives.” Celestia sat down on her haunches, putting her head about the same height as the sitting humans. The room was deathly quiet.

The chairman rose again. “Your majesty, we thank you for your candor, and the continued efforts of the Equestrian people, uh, ponies, on humanity’s behalf. Your report presents a dire situation, although one for which this body has prepared contingencies. Our proposal today is in light of these facts, and must focus on nothing less than the avoidance of the end of mankind.” He looked at the sober faces around the table.

“The only option still on the books is a relocation of a viable human population to another planet. We have identified a suitable candidate less than thirty light years away, and we have the transport capability to get there in some two hundred years or so in interstellar colony ships. The colonists will travel in suspended animation and will not age in transit.

“In order to assure a sufficient population for the continuation of the human race and most of its key cultures and traditions, we will need to transport some ten thousand people to our moon base where interstellar colony ships are being built. Sadly, if this were generally known, there would be major upheaval, with likely a massive loss of life and property as people tried to force themselves and their families into the colony ship program. In fact our projections show that if the plan were publicly disclosed, it would be so disrupted by this upheaval that it could not be successfully launched. The outcome, in a few short years, is that humanity would become extinct. Consequently, we are keeping the entire colony program entirely confidential.

“However, we cannot and will not abandon those who will stay on Earth, and that is where the Conversion Bureau program comes into play. The only conceivable place for all the remaining people of Earth is... Earth and Equestria. Due to the lethal effects of thaumatic radiation on humans, that is only possible if they first convert. So what we ask of you and Equestria, your majesty, is to help us convert as many of Earth's teeming billions as we safely can, and to assist in their adaptation to life as ponies.

“However, we face another problem. We will not be able to feed to the human population beyond another five years or so at the current rate of population increase and resource depletion. If, however, we can get a reduction in the human population of at least ten percent per year, our resources can last for a good ten to twelve years, assuming we can start the Conversion Bureau program immediately. Also, the newly converted become self-sustaining, as the earth ponies amongst them can within weeks start producing food enough food to feed the entire group.

“One final consideration: our own psychologists and behavioral analysts do not believe a sufficient number of humans would voluntarily convert unless the threat of Equestria’s expansion is made more imminent, and that conversion is done under the expectation of emigration to Equestria.

“As you have just stated, your majesty, you and Princess Luna can actually speed up the expansion of the barrier around Equestria. We propose that the Equestrian government undertake to speed up the expansion so as to create conditions that will foster a faster rate of conversion in the general population and thus ensure that resources are sufficient to prevent mass starvation in the remaining unponified population until the completion of the conversion process. The rate of advancement of the barrier can be tied to food consumption and production, to ensure remaining food stocks will last until the end of the conversion program and the complete absorption of Earth’s surface in Equestria. This way no-one will starve, and only those who refuse to convert will die of thaumatic poisoning.

“As I mentioned moments ago, we also propose to undertake a massive information campaign to market Equestria as a unspoiled paradise, clearly stating that conversion comes with automatic Equestrian citizenship.

“We realize that the absorption of such a huge population represents both a logistical challenge and even great cultural risk to Equestria. We also remind the Equestrian government that our projections show that each day’s delay in setting up the Conversion Bureaus may result in the death by starvation of as many as one million human beings. The chair cedes the floor to her majesty.”

Wilberforce knew Celestia well, and thought he had seen her under many circumstances. He watched as Celestia rose hesitantly to stand before the board. In the video, he saw something new, something he could never have even imagined. He saw fear on the face of Princess Celestia of Equestria.

AD 2155 part 3 - Victoria Triumphant

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Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter ten: AD 2155 part 3 - Victoria Triumphant

by Dafaddah

Author's note: A Big Thanks to Microshazm and SecondLaw for editing.

“In the girls’ bedroom, Victoria finished packing. She was worried: an unexpected family trip like this was usually a sign of trouble. The girls and the Littons were having dinner, despite the fact that Harvey had appeared a short while earlier reeking of whiskey and looking shaky. As soon as she was done she trotted up to the office.

She checked the e-mails of the day. The only oddity was a brief note wishing the Littons a fun time on their upcoming vacation.

A warning beep sounded and the security video window appeared, displaying sixteen smaller images each rotating through a series of security camera feeds. One went dark. And then another. And another. Victoria watched in panic as image after image turned black. The house is under attack, she thought. The girls!

Victoria galloped out into the hallway, and down towards the family dining room. Along the way she noticed several burly men she had never seen before. She slowed to a walk. As usual the humans paid scant attention to the house ponies carrying on with their chores. As she approached she heard two of the men talking in front of the closed doors leading to the dining room. The shorter and elder of the two had an ear pressed against the left-most door.

“It sounds like they’re all in there. Do you have the shots ready?”

“Yup,” said the other man whose muscles bulged through his cheap dark suit. He held up a tray with four syringes that gave off a strange purple glow. “Original recipe!” He cackled. “You know they’ll probably just put them down as soon as they figure out these ponies weren’t convicts.”

“Not our problem. We gotta move fast. The boss is going to make the announcement, soon.” The older man took out a can of spray paint and sprayed three large letters across the closed dining hall doors: H-L-F.

“Okay. Let’s do this!” He took out a gun, pushed open the door, and ran in. “Nobody move!” he shouted.

Harvey and the girls stared up from their dinner, a shared look of shock on their faces.

Vicky rubbed her amulet in a panic and felt Celestia’s presence in her mind. “Hello, Victoria. This is unexpected! Is there something wrong?” asked the princess’ voice in her mind.

Princess, there are gunmen from the HLF in the dining room with the girls! What can I do? Vicky advanced cautiously towards the open doorway.

“I don’t know what I can do, Vicky, but can you get a look at the situation inside?” Vicky nodded. ”And do be careful!” replied Celestia.

Vicky cautiously peeked around the door. She could see Harvey on the floor, curled up in the fetal position. Chloe was sitting still in her chair, a man standing behind her. Another held a gun to Loretta’s head while she wept. She couldn’t see Sasha.

The man behind Chloe took a syringe from a box lined with foam. From the impressions in the foam it looked like this syringe was the third of four. He grabbed Chloe’s arm and just as he was lowering the syringe towards it, Vicky screamed “NO!” As if in response to the shout the syringe flew out of his hand and embedded itself in the ceiling. The last syringe still in its box went flying into a corner, as did the gun held by the other man. Disarmed, they looked at each other and ran from the room, away from Vicky and into the kitchen.

Thank you, Celestia! So you can do more than just type remotely! thought Victoria.

Loretta dropped to the floor and picked up a form that Vicky had not seen before: Sasha lay limp in Loretta’s arms as she wept. “My baby, my baby! Oh god, what have they done?” She saw that Sasha’s skin had become waxy, as had Harvey’s.

“Tell Loretta that she must remove Sasha’s clothing now, quickly before it strangles her. And she mustn’t touch her skin!”said Celestia. “And you must do the same for Harvey Litton, Victoria!”

Vicky called out to Loretta and repeated Celestia’s instructions as she went to Harvey’s unconscious form. “Please trust me, Sasha and Harvey’s lives depend on it.” She used her teeth to pull and rip off his clothes. She felt Celestia give telekinetic assistance to the complex task. Finally it was done. Breathing hard, she rushed to see if Chloe was hurt. Her daughter clasped her tightly around the neck, and began crying. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’m here. I’m here.” She ran a hoof down the back of Chloe’s head, caressing her in the way she always did when Chloe was scared or upset. She was still holding her daughter when Celestia spoke again in her head.

“Victoria, Chloe is fine. We must attend to the Littons now. Will you allow me to speak to Mrs. Litton through you?” asked Celestia.

“Y-yes. Okay,” said Victoria out loud. She looked at Lorette, kneeling on the floor sobbing next to the amorphous blob that only moments earlier was Sasha, surrounded by pieces of her daughter’s clothing.

“Loretta Litton!” said Celestia, using Vicky’s vocal apparatus. “Do you want to save Sasha’s life, as well as your husband’s?”

The woman looked up at her, confusion and abject despair waring for her emotions. “What is happening to my daughter and my husband? Can you stop this?”

“They are being ponified, Loretta, and there is nothing I can do to stop or reverse it.”

Loretta slumped to the floor next to doughie mass that used to be her daughter, and wailed.

Sasha saw the ponies galloping in the field around her. She didn’t feel afraid, instead, she felt like running with them, and so she did... an exhilarating while later, she found herself approaching a castle. There was a man in front of the gate as well. Even though his back was to Sasha, she could tell who this was. She shouted for joy and ran up to grab her daddy’s hand.

“Daddy! You’re here too!”

Harvey Litton looked down at his daughter, surprised. “Hey pumpkin! You’re in this dream too?”

“Maybe,” she replied. The thought that this might be a dream hadn’t occurred to her. “We need to go inside.” Of this at least she felt certain.

“It would seem so. We might as well go then.”

They walked hand-in-hand until the got to the entrance of a large hall. In the middle was a raised dais on which which were two thrones. Upon one sat a young girl a few years older than Sasha.

“Welcome, Harvey and Sasha. Please come near.” She smiled invitingly. When they had scaled the steps they saw that she sat within a circle of light. “I am Princess Celestia of Equestria. Do you know why you are here?”

Harvey clasped his daughter’s hand more tightly. “If it’s what I think it is, then why is my daughter here as well?”

“For the same reason you are Harvey Litton. She was forcibly ponified by members of the HLF,” said the princess.

“The HLF?” asked Harvey. “They're disbanded. And why would the HLF ponify anyone? They’re against conversion!”

“That, I do not know,” said Celestia. She noticed Sasha listening intently to her words. “But you recently delivered some of my essence to a non-official recipient. I strongly suspect this may have been the closing act in making ponification serum available to clandestine entities, perhaps also the HLF.”

Litton’s eyes grew big as he made the connection in his mind. He looked down at Sasha. “Oh my god, Sasha, this is all because of me!” He knelt down next to his daughter and hugged her. “Oh, sweetheart. I’m... I’m so sorry! I...” He clutched her in a hug as his eyes welled up and he ran out of words.

“Daddy,” said Sasha. “We’re gonna become ponies, like the princess says, aren’t we?”

Numbly, her father nodded his head.

Her brow furrowed in thought. She turned to regard Celestia. “Are we going to be fuzzy, like the other ponies? Or can you make us smart like you did Vicky?”

Celestia smiled at the child. “Victoria has told me more than once how very bright you are Sasha. I can see she was not exaggerating!” Her gaze shifted to the girl’s father. “Mr. Litton, there is one consolation in this otherwise unfortunate event.” Harvey looked up at the mention of his name. “It would appear that the HLF have used the original formulation of nanites in their conversion serum. You and your daughter will retain your native intelligence, although you will have to hide it when amongst humans.”

Harvey rose to his feet, still holding onto his daughter’s hand. “How long do we have?” he asked.

“Time is different in this place, and each conversion dream takes the time needed.” Her smile was warm but somehow still tinged with sadness. “You are ready now. It is time you step into the light and become members of my herd.” Her penetrating gaze focused on Chloe and Harvey each in turn. Harvey shivered under its intensity. “Please remember that from this moment onwards, you will never be alone. We will do what we can to hide and protect you.”

Harvey fought his fear, and clutched Sasha’s hand tighter. “Please forgive me, Princess, but how can you possibly do what I wasn’t able to do, with all my wealth and power?”

Celestia’s smile broadened. “You’d be surprised how much I can do ever since a certain Victoria joined my herd. She has proven to be very resourceful.”

Harvey lowered his head at the mention of Victoria’s ponification, ashamed of his role in that event, but when he looked up again there was gratitude in his eyes. Celestia had chosen not to elaborate on her comment and sully his reputation before his daughter.

Harvey nodded. “Are you ready, honey?”

“Yes, daddy.”

Together they stepped into the light. As their bodies changed their minds were wrapped in the immense welcoming presence that was Celestia and their hearts were filled with joy.

Loretta shrunk in on herself, hiding her face in her hands. “It’s my fault! It’s my fault! I told Harvey to deal with those people, when I knew they were dangerous!” Loretta’s words dissolved into incoherent sobs.

“Loretta, do you want Sasha and Harvey to live? If you do you must listen and obey! NOW!” said Celestia’s voice from Victoria’s mouth.

The weeping woman looked up from under her hands. “What... what do I do?” She stared as her daughter slowly transformed. Already her pony form was evident, with a small protrusion emerging from her forehead.

“Sasha is becoming a unicorn, and Harvey a pegasus. If they are seen they will be killed, Loretta. We must hide them immediately. Do you have a hidden room?” asked Celestia.

“The panic room. We can hide them there.” Loretta looked down at her daughter. “Can I pick her up now?”

“Yes, Loretta. Vicky and Chloe will help Harvey. You must go now,” said Celestia.

“N-no!” Victoria struggled for a moment to re-impose her own will on her voice. “Loretta, they’ll know about the panic room.”

“What?” Frightened, Loretta crept closer to Sasha, whose color gradually became pink as fur grew to cover her pale skin. “But what will we do? They’ll take my baby!”

Victoria thought furiously for a moment. Where wouldn’t they look for Sasha and Harvey? The answer came to her in a flash. “The pony quarters!"

I’m sorry I contradicted you, Princess, thought Victoria.

“Don’t be, Victoria. You are likely quite right, as you know these people better than I do. I am grateful that you are here, and defer to your better judgement,” said the voice of Celestia in Victoria’s head.

"Chloe, help me get Mr. Litton up, and everyone follow me,” said Victoria.

Harvey was starting to stir already. “What’s going on? Vicky? The gunmen!” He looked down at himself. “Oh. It was real! The dream was real.” His last words were spoken in a sob.

Loretta spoke up. “Harvey, get a move on! If they find you and Sasha like this they’ll kill you!”

“Loretta?” He looked at the foal his wife held in her arms. “Is that Sasha?”

“Yes, Harvey.” Vicky used her head to help him up. “You need to learn to walk on four legs. It’s best you don’t actually think about your legs, just will yourself to go forward and let your new body do its thing. Follow me.” He actually was able to get going. “This way. We’ll use the pony quarters and pony service corridors. The house AIs don’t watch them.” She led them out of the dining room into a small corridor used by the ponies to carry goods around the house. A few turns later they arrived into low-ceilinged room with some twenty of the large dog beds lined up on each side. Some were occupied by sleeping ponies. Most were empty at this time of day.

“Harvey, lie down in this bed here, and don’t move. If anyone asks you are sick and were told to stay in bed. And don’t let anyone or anypony see you have wings!” Victoria dragged a blanket over him to cover his body.

“What about Sasha?” said Loretta.

Victoria looked her in the eyes. “Loretta, we’re going to have to trust each other. Sasha can’t go with you, and Chloe can’t stay here in the pony quarters. Can I trust you with my Chloe, Loretta?”

Loretta looked back at her. “You aren’t like you were when you first arrived here Vicky. Can I trust you to protect my Sasha?”

“Mama?” said a small voice. “Mama, you can trust Vicky. I do.”

All eyes sought the small unicorn foal in Loretta's arms.

Loretta smiled in relief. “How long have you been awake honey?” asked Loretta.

“For a while. I know that that pony on the bed is daddy. I’m a pony too. The Princess said so in my dream.” She raised a small foreleg in front of her face. “I’m pink!” she exclaimed happily.

“Honey. Some bad men are going to come and you and daddy have to hide from them. You’re going to have to listen to Vicky and do exactly as she says.”

“But mommy, what about Chloe? Her... Vicky said she can’t stay here.” She waved a hoof at Chloe who was clinging onto Vicky as if her life depended on it. Chloe waved shyly back.

Loretta shifted her gaze to Victoria, then to Chloe. “Chloe will come with me, won’t you Chloe dear? We have to keep Sasha, her father, and Vicky safe, don’t we?” She looked at Victoria. “And I’ll keep you safe too, Chloe, I swear.”

Chloe continued to cling to Victoria. “Chloe,” said Victoria softly, “we’re all counting on you, honey. Will you go with Mrs. Litton and do exactly as she asks?”

Chloe gave her a hug. “Okay, I will. Vicky?”

“Yes, honey?”

“Are you my mommy?" She gave Vicky a shy smile. "You sound just like my mommy. And when you chased those bad men away and you held me, it was just like when my mommy held me.”

Victoria felt tears begin to track down her muzzle.“Oh, Chloe, yes. I’m your mommy. I was turned into a pony and couldn’t take care of you anymore. Then the Littons took you in and that’s why I came here. To be with you. But honey, you mustn’t ever tell anyone about this.”

Chloe smiled brightly and she nodded. She gave her mother an extra tight hug and released her, then she waited while Loretta placed Sasha on the bed next to her father.

“Sasha, you’re going to have to hide next to your dad for a while. Don’t move and be very quiet until I’m back, okay?” The little unicorn nodded. Loretta moved the blanket to cover her as well, and went to take Chloe's hand.

“I suggest we take you to the nursery. Loretta, if anyone asks you say that Chloe had a fit at supper and you wanted her to calm down and finish packing. Then you saw the security monitors of house AI go blank, so you hid in the nursery with Chloe. Don’t leave until I come to get you. As to me, I’ll go check the office to verify if the house security AI is back online and to see what I can find out from the nets.”

“If corporate security comes here won’t they be suspicious of a pony running around in the house?” asked Harvey from his bed.

“Hah!” said Victoria. “They don’t even see ponies anymore. Don’t worry, I’ll be perfectly safe. It’s you two who are in danger. Please do be careful. Loretta and Chloe, I’ll lead you upstairs, so let’s be quiet until you’re in the nursery.”

They left through a low passageway.

Vicky left Chloe in the care of Loretta, or seeing how tightly the woman held her daughter’s hand, maybe it was more the other way round. She turned as she exited the nursery. Chloe waved at her with her other hand and gave her a reassuring smile. She’s a brave kid! thought Victoria, as she returned the smile and shut the door.

She galloped to the Litton’s office, entered, and activated the security console. Most of the house AI’s video feeds were back in operation and showed no evidence of any strange men in the house. She relaxed a bit and began to scan the news streams for any sign of the HLF. She did not have to wait long, barely five minutes into her vigil one newsfeed after another began reporting attacks on prominent leaders by assailants who left the prominently displayed letters H-L-F at each site near the bodies of their victims. In each case the departing attackers called the police, who arrived in minutes in full Blackmesh armor and removed the victims from sight before the transformation was complete. She wondered how Celestia could handle the sudden influx of all these newfoals. She hesitated a moment and rubbed her amulet.

There was a long wait before the princess answered. “Yes. Victoria. What is it?” Celestia’s voice in her mind sounded uncharacteristically weary, like a tired ten year old girl on the verge of tears.

I was calling you to find out about all the people being ponified and how you are coping, thought Victoria tentatively.

Again it took a moment before Celestia responded. “Unfortunately, Victoria, my news is sad. Almost all of them were put to death immediately after they were taken into custody. Several were taken during their ponification dream and whilst we were talking.” There was a long silence. “This last quarter hour has been most distressing. They were so briefly members of my herd.”

Victoria was appalled. Oh, Princess! I’m so sorry! I can’t imagine what this must be like for you... I... I don’t have the words. She paused, bewildered at her feeling of impotence to help the princess. I wish there was something I could do.

“It is the lot of an immortal to experience more grief than most, dear friend. But your voice is a great comfort to me, Victoria. More so than I would have imagined before these terrible events. I... am grateful for your concern, Victoria. It warms my heart so, and I do not wish to be alone with my thoughts.”

Victoria’s heart went out to Celestia. Nopony should grieve alone, princess, and you don’t have to. A sudden thought struck her. I'm surprised the police have not raided this house yet. No sooner had she expressed the thought to Celestia than an alarm popped up on the security window, and a screen showed a video feed of the front doors being broken in and a group of Blackmesh guards entering, guns held high.

Victoria left the office at a gallop. I have to intercept them and give them the alternate story, before they do a serious search of the house! she transmitted to the princess.

On the way she passed the dining room and blocked the doors open, hiding the painted letters H-L-F. She arrived downstairs moments later shouting. "Help! Help! They stole the master and Sasha! Police! Police!"

Victoria found herself at the focal point of several very deadly looking weapons. The nearest Blackmesh guard lowered his gun and approached the distraught looking mare. "You, pony. What's your name?"

Vicky looked up at him with her eyes bugging out and lowered her head almost to the floor. "I'm Vicky." She covered her head with one forelimb and trembled in fear.

The Blackmesh guard's stance relaxed even more. He approached Vicky and stroked her mane with a gloved hand. "That's a good girl, now Vicky. We're the police, and we're here to help." The other Blackmesh guards started to fan out into the house. "Where did this all happen Vicky? Can you take us there?"

Vicky slowly lifted her head and gave the Blackmesh officer a tentative smile. "Yessir. It was in the dining room. I can take you there if you wanna."

The officer signaled for two of his remaining troopers to follow him. "Now that's a fine idea, Vicky. Why don't you just lead us there like a good girl?"

Vicky fairly jumped in her enthusiasm. "This way! This way! I saw it all. I was in the dining room serving dinner when those bad men came. They had guns! And they pointed them at the master and Sasha." They arrived at the open dining room doors and proceeded inside.

"They pointed their guns at them and then put needles in them. And when they fell down they put them into bags and took them away."

The Blackmesh officer examined the table, spotting four settings. "Vicky. Are you quite sure only the master and Sasha were here? You wouldn't lie to me now, would you?" He approached Vicky and began stroking her mane again.

She beamed up at him, leaning into the hand as if she was really enjoying the motion. "Yup. Just before those bad men came Chloe had a fit about her clothes for the trip. The missus said she needed to check the luggage again ‘cause Chloe always forgot stuff, and she was really cross about it. Then she took Chloe upstairs, but it was lucky for them 'cause they weren't here when the bad men came, or they would have taken them too." Victoria took a deep breath and smiled.

"Now Vicky, this is real important. What happened after the men stuck the needles in them, did their skin become real pale?"

Vicky chewed on the tip of a hoof. "Uhh... I don't think so. And the master took a long while to fall asleep. The bad men said a lot of bad words, too. I was hiding under the table, so I didn't see them too well, 'cept for one bad man. He made a phone call, then they said more bad words and put the master and Sasha in bags. And then they took them away." Vicky began to cry.

The Blackmesh officer looked at his troopers. "Hmm. Seems this one isn't following the pattern. Might be a separate occurrence." He looked around. “Might be worthwhile doing a search."

"Oh, Mr. Policeman!" said Vicky, wiping the tears from her muzzle. "They're really bad men those HLF men!" The officer's hand froze mid stroke.

"Vicky, how do you know these men are from the HLF?" The other Blackmesh guards swung their weapons back towards the smiling mare.

"Oh, that's easy. They wrote their name on the door!" Vicky fairly bounced back to the dining room entrance, the Blackmesh guards in tow. She closed the doors, showing them the spray painted letters H-L-F. "See!"

The officer froze a moment, head cocked slightly as he listened to a communication. A moment later he turned to his men. "Okay, the pony's story has been corroborated. The wife and other daughter were found hiding in the nursery. She saw attack on security cam and hid. Their stories match up. Looks like the HLF goons had a failure in their process here and decided not to leave the evidence behind." He turned towards Vicky. "You run along now, Vicky. You did fine, girl. Go find your missus, she needs your help."

Vicky trotted up to the office and watched as the Blackmesh guards exited the house. A moment later the house security AI called the all-clear. Victoria sat down on her haunches and took a deep breath. She glanced up at one of the news feeds. Text scrolled across a ribbon at the bottom of its window. “An organization calling itself the Human Liberation Front carried out savage attacks on important corporate and government officials today killing many, as well as some of their family members. A statement allegedly from the leader of the group was released on the globalnet synchronized with the attacks. It states: ‘The HLF has been reactivated. In the name of Humanity, we declare to the powers that be that ponification is unacceptable as a punishment for even the most serious of crimes. So long as humans are being forcibly ponified, the HLF will continue to subject the families of those responsible to the same humiliation and deprivation they so callously inflict on the people of the world.’ The authorities report already making progress in their investigations of these incidents, and believe they should be able to bring these criminals to justice in short order.”

Did you see that, Princess? thought Victoria.

“Yes I did,” said Princess Celestia’s voice. “This is dire news indeed, and sheds light on many of today’s dark mysteries. My old foe, the HLF is reborn. Sadly, I suspect we have not heard the last of them.” Celestia’s voice seemed to take on a much lighter tone. “But enough of gloom, for today we also have a victory to celebrate, thanks to you Victoria. I am thoroughly impressed! What you have done in facing both the HLF and the authorities was nothing short of brilliant. And you’ve given me some ideas on what we might be able to do in future HLF attacks.”

Victoria blushed at the praise. I have a few ideas on that as well. Shall we discuss them while I round up the the troops, your majesty? asked Victoria.

“Please do. And I’ve been meaning to ask you something,” replied the princess as Victoria exited the office, this time at a far more leisurely pace. “When it’s just us two, please call me Celestia.”

The entire Litton family, Chloe and Victoria were collected in the nursery. Harvey Litton came in wearing a house livery vest that hid his wings reasonably well. Victoria had procured it as a well a large basket from which Sasha emerged the instant the nursery door was closed. Loretta ran to her daughter and held her in her arms. Then she approached her husband the three had a whispered discussion. Victoria waited until they seemed to reach a conclusion and quieted down, sitting together on the rug in a group. Chloe had come to her the moment she arrived. They sat together on the carpet opposite the Littons, Chloe clasping one of her hooves.

Victoria addressed the group. “Now that we’re all together, we have a lot to discuss and not a lot of time to work it all out. I could only interrupt the surveillance for this room for two hours without triggering verifications from the security AI. But first, I would like to inform you that there is a sixth party to our little gathering, Princess Celestia of Equestria.”

“How is that possible? Has she been released from the Treasure Chest?" asked Loretta confused.

Chloe’s eyes grew wide. “A real-live princess? Where is she?”

“She’s still in the Treasure Chest, but she can see and hear through my eyes and ears, and she can speak using my voice,” said Victoria. “She would like to say something to us now. To avoid confusion, when she speaks you will see her image instead of mine.”

Loretta gasped and the girls went squee as the image of a young girl replaced that of Victoria. “My little ponies, and friends. I am sure my appearance is not what you expected, but since my reawakening a few years ago, this is the shape I wear.” She looked at each member of the group in turn.

“Ever since Victoria joined my herd, she has been helping me establish a material foothold in the world. I had plans for how to use this to help the lot of humans who have been ponified, such as our good Victoria.

“The events of today, however, have irrevocably changed these plans. The HLF is back, and as of today they wield as a weapon the very thing they deplore the most: ponification potion. Attacks such as the one on your family have been made on over fifty of the leading families of the world’s largest corporations. In most cases the people ponified were taken into custody and disposed of. This is what would have happened to Chloe and the Littons, had Victoria not intervened. You owe your lives to her clear thinking and quick action.

“But saving the lives of this family is only a beginning. We now must find a way to keep Sasha and Mr. Litton from being discovered. Also, I am sure the HLF will continue their attacks as long as ponification is used as a punishment. I would like to save the ponies created from the sorry fate experienced by most of their fellows today.

“In order to do both of these things, I wish to create a series of safe farms, where unicorns and pegasi can live without fear of termination. I also wish to reconstitute the PER, this time as the Ponification Emergency Railroad, to quickly grab these newfoals and bring them to safety before the authorities get to them with dire results.” She paused to give the Littons time to digest this information.

“But how will you manage to do all that? It’s hopeless,” said Loretta, looking as if she might burst into tears at any moment.

“No, it isn’t hopeless,” said Celestia with a smile, “because we have this family and its resources. And mostly, Mrs. Litton, because we have you.”

Loretta looked up, eyes wide. “Me? What can I do?” She placed an arm on her husband’s withers, looking very insecure.

“You can become the human face of our little enterprise. And with your business contacts you can also help us infiltrate the HLF. Victoria will present you the details of our plan. But I remind you, Mrs. Litton, the safety of your daughter and husband rest in your hands, and your hands alone. We need you, as they need you. Will you promise to be our human face, Mrs. Litton?”

Loretta looked very lost for a moment. Sasha, still in her arms snuggled closer to her mother. Loretta looked at her, and then at her husband. “I don’t want to lose you, either of you. And I can’t fail you again. I won’t.” Her gaze returned to Celestia’s. “Yes, I promise,” she said in a more determined voice.

“Thank you, Loretta.” Celestia’s countenance slowly dissolved into that of Victoria.

“She is still listening in, if you’re wondering,” said Victoria. “Okay, first a few basics. During the last week I have created a shell-company and a few holding companies in your names. You are going into the farming business with assets raised from the futures markets.”

Harvey lost his smile. “Er, I haven’t done too well in futures lately.”

“But since I took over in the last week, you’ve been making money Harvey,” said Victoria. Her grin grew until it was almost predatory. “It’s amazing how easy it is the predict yields and prices when, via a certain equestrian princess, you have access to information from and can influence every single pony growing the high price luxury crops in question.”

For the first time that day, both Harvey and Loretta smiled.

One year later -

Loretta Litton sat in a car as it drove up to the security gate of Demers Industries. At her side were Vicky and another pony sleeping on the floor. Both ponies wore the official livery of the Litton Family, which was comprised of a colorful vest that entirely covered the barrel and collar, and included a bow tie and a funny little pill-box hat set just above the eyes.

The exit was guarded by what seemed to be a whole regiment in Blackmesh armor. Her human driver lowered the window and spoke with the guards. “Only Mrs. Litton, myself and her pony staff.” The guard looked in and pointed a scanner at the vehicle’s interior while several other guards subjected the trunk and the undercarriage to the same treatment.

“What’s the delay, Will?” asked Loretta irritably.

“Nothing regarding us, ma’am!” replied Will. “It seems there was some sort of incident and so they’re going through all the outgoing vehicles with a fine tooth comb.”

After a moment, the guard saluted and the gate lifted. Will closed the window and moved the car forward.

They had driven for a quarter hour when the pony sleeping on the rug began to wake. “Wha... where am I?” He clumsily tried to stand up and fell back down. He noticed his pale blue limbs ending in hooves, not hands. “Oh, shit! It wasn’t just a dream.”

“No, Mr. Demers, it wasn’t,” said Loretta. “And as I’m sure you’re well aware, if we hadn’t snatched you first, you would almost certainly have been euthanized by now.” She held a mirror to his muzzle, and lifted the hat, revealing his unicorn horn.

Demers peered at himself in the mirror, then leaned back to gaze at Loretta with an intelligent but somewhat resigned look in his eyes. “And I assume this is the part where you offer to protect me... for a price.”

“No, my little pony,” said a little girl, startling Demers. His glance shifted to the child, sitting primly in the space which just seconds earlier had been occupied by a pony in Litton livery. She seemed to be in her very early teens, except for her eyes, which spoke of a soul far older and wiser. It was the princess of Demers’s ponification dream.

“Mr. Demers, we are not going to extort money from you. In fact, we have a great need for unicorns and several open positions within our company. Our intelligence within a certain unsavory organization led us here today in the expectation that you might be forced into a sudden career change.” Princess Celestia leaned forward. “You see, Mr. Demers, you were a powerful man, but you are a unicorn pony now, a fugitive fleeing a death sentence. And so this is the part where I offer you the chance to fight back. This is the part where you get to join the resistance.”

The wall of the estate was several kilometers longs, the brick and mortar barrier some ten meters high over most of its length. There were four gates leading inside through four tunnel-like structures. The local residents and the guard staff at the gates never saw the inside of Litton Estate, one of the most private places on earth. It was the kind of privacy only great wealth could afford. All visitors invited inside, and they were very few in number, had to sign a binding non-disclosure contract before being allowed in. Even from the air it was impossible to see what lay inside, as it was covered by multiple redundant photonic disruption grids. When asked about it the locals laughed and said the “emperors of fruit had gone just a bit fruity themselves”. The only ones who ever saw the estate’s sprawling expanse of low buildings and fields were the residents themselves, most of whom did not officially exist.

Inside the main house, Victoria and Loretta sat together in the breakfast nook just off the kitchen. Chloe and Sasha, as inseparable as ever, were drawing pictures and coloring them on a low table in the kitchen, within sight of their mothers but far enough for discrete conversation between the adults.

Loretta was wearing a simple elegant cotton t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, both worth a fortune and appropriate for her station as titular head of one of the world’s largest growers of premium food-stuffs and its premier land reclamation magnate. “I would never have dreamed of this, Victoria,” she said in a low voice.

“Really now, Loretta? Wasn’t something like this what we talked and schemed about all the time as we tried to climb the corporate ladder?” asked Victoria with a conspiratorial smile.

Loretta’s brow furrowed for a moment. “No, I meant the girls playing together, and just being girls, out of the system that produces people... like me.” She gazed at her hands.

“You mean like us?” asked Victoria. She leaned closer to Loretta. “Loretta, I’m under no illusions that I’m an angel. I rose through the auditing ranks because I was even sneakier than the people I exposed, and vicious in pursuing them. It cost me my husband, Loretta, and then my humanity.” She looked at Loretta’s eyes until the woman gazed up into hers. “I’ve never told you this, but becoming a pony was the best thing that ever happened to me.” She held up her forehooves. “It’s not that I don’t miss my thumbs, because I do.” Her smile turned bittersweet. “But, just like you and Harvey, I was on a trajectory that had only one destination: a person who would see others as objects, nothing more than resources to be recruited or obstacles to be disposed of.” The hard lines around her mouth relaxed, and her smile grew gentle again. “But then I met Celestia, and she took me off that trajectory.”

“Harvey said something very much like that,” said Loretta. “He said after joining her he could never see others the same way again. He’s become such a good person since. I have no idea why he would even let a person like me in his sight.” She looked up. “But he says he still loves me.” She looked back to the girls drawing their pictures. “And she does too.”

“Then I’ll tell you another thing I’ve never told you, Loretta.” Victoria became serious. “Before the attack by the HLF, I was planning to take Chloe and run away, with a sizeable portion of your fortune. But when I was looking through your files, I found all sorts of little reminders that this family had been good to Chloe, and little Sasha won my heart.” Both adults gazed at the little pink unicorn sitting with Chloe. “But the nail in the coffin of my revenge, Loretta, was you!”

“Me?” said Loretta with a skeptical look.

“Yes, you,” said Victoria. “When the HLF attacked, I held on to my Chloe and saw your heart break as you watched Sasha turning into a pony. And later I saw it mend the instant Sacha woke up and called to you. I saw how very similar we really were, Loretta.” She paused for a moment. “We all have good and evil in us. Maybe sometimes all we need to become a better person is to just believe that we can.” She got a far-away look in her eyes. “Of course it helps to have someone else who will encourage us to believe in ourselves.”

Loretta pointed to the girls. “And a reason to become a better person.”

The mare and the woman watched the girl and filly draw, whisper to each-other, and giggle in girlish glee while they drank tea in silence as mothers and maybe, finally, as friends.

The evening sky over Equestria was a riot of pink, gold, coral and a delicate eggshell blue that was a pale ghost of royal blue of day. Celestia had just set the sun. Together in the castle observatory, the sisters marked the twilight until Luna would raise the moon and paint the night-time sky with bold constellations and a rushing river of stars shining bright.

“I love this time of day, Lulu,” said Celestia, legs dangling over the parapet, feet kicking rhythmically over the drop. She held the bars of the guard-rail in her young hands.

Luna sat next to her, leaning against the rails, her tail swishing in counterpoint to her sister’s legs. “How beautiful, and yet how brief.” She put a hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “You seem so much happier these days, Cely. Can I attribute this to the magic of friendship?”

“Yes, Luna. Victoria has become such a dear friend. I feel more alive than I have in decades.”

Luna smirked. “And admit it, you always did enjoy a little empire building, Cely.”

The little girl face with the wizened eyes turned towards her. “So what do you think of my new associates, Luna?”

The dark princess was pensive a moment. “Some of them do have a rather... colorful past, don’t you think? Other than Victoria, don’t you fear they may end up biting the hand that feeds them?”

“The Littons may not have been the most exemplary of humans, but they have both become major assets to our cause, if for no other reason than the love of their daughter Sasha. Loretta Litton, despite her other character flaws, is nevertheless the type of mother who will do anything to protect her child. Harvey and the other newfoals we are collecting know full well the only fate that awaits them outside of our organization is a quick death. In the meantime, I now have several unicorns and pegasi adding their own distinct flavor of magic to mine. Eventually I will have all the faculties I did before my... incarceration. I also now have deep insights into the behavior of the human governments and corporations, which is already bearing fruit in our commercial enterprises.”

Stars began to dot the sky, as its colors deepened.

“And I have my dear Victoria, to guide me in making this all work. She came up with a truly marvelous idea the other day. We have created a new courier company for hoof delivered messages. She called it the Pony Express! She’s already created several decontamination companies that have made a killing buying wasteland and reconditioning it into prime agricultural or residential real-estate.”

More stars appeared, and the last of the bright colors darkened.

“Every day now, I can truly help more of my little ponies, and heal a little more of this wounded earth. And there will come a day when I will set my ponies free and make it possible for them and the humans of this world to live in harmony.” She looked at Luna in the failing light. Her sister had closed her eyes and stopped moving. On the horizon, a pale glow erupted as the moon rose slowly into the sky.

“Well, this illusion of a sister is nevertheless thoroughly impressed. Real friends, real money and real-estate! Not bad for a bodiless head living in a box!”

By the light of the moon, Celestia’s smile glowed brightly. “You know Lulu, you do have a knack for cheering me up!”

Princess Luna laughed and slowly gestured with a hoof at the firmament above. Countless stars slowly twinkled into sight, the glory that was Luna’s night, the sky of Equestria that Celestia could only see in her dreams.

“There will come a day,” whispered Celestia.

AD 2200 part 6 - Eden is Optimal

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter Eleven: AD 2200 part 6 - Eden is Optimal

by Dafaddah

Author's note:A Big thanks to Microshazm and SecondLaw for editing

Wilberforce Sachs sat in his office staring at the bottom of an empty tumbler. Despite the excellent whiskey it had contained, his stomach was a cold, twisted knot, and sweat beaded his brow. Fear does that, he mused, swirling a final drop of amber in the glass and tilting his head back to deliver that drop to its fate.

The video he had just seen had turned his world upside down, on more than one level. Celestia the invader had been invited in! The Conversion Bureaus were not an Equestrian imposition on a dying planet, they were a human invention, meant to calm the masses while a select few escaped the Earth to go live on another planet.

What he had taken as truth, mankind’s triumph over the pony invasion, was a lie. The glorious resistance to extinction, was a lie. Lies! It was all lies!

And Celestia’s trial in absentia, her incarceration in the Treasure Chest for her crimes, the righteous justification for robbing her of her blood to create a great society that had healed the wounded planet. Lies! Worse than lies. It was rape!

He rose from his chair and walked across his office to the bar, intending to deposit the tumbler in a tray that lay on its top. He looked at the glass held his trembling hand.

Fear. Fear, and anger! There was a picture of his grand-father standing next to the Treasure Chest on the wall. Staring at the picture he felt his face burn. Shame. He recalled his first visit with Celestia. In the photograph his grandfather was laughing. Shame and... betrayal!

The glass tumbler exploded into sparkling shards of crystal as it smashed the glass of the picture, leaving behind a web of fracture lines.

One of his security guards rushed into the room, his expression changing from determination to bewilderment as he took in the sight of Wilberforce Sachs, staring at the damaged picture while breathing hard. “Is there a problem, Mr. Sachs?” he asked tentatively.

Sachs turned his gaze from the wall to his confused guard and barked out a laugh. “There just might be, Turner. There just might be.” He looked back towards the damaged picture. “Have someone clean this up. Oh, and tell them to get rid of that picture while they’re at it, please.”

“Yes-sir,” replied Turner. Taking one final look to make sure nothing was amiss, he left Sach’s office, quietly closing the door behind him.

Wilberforce went back to his desk and had hardly sat down before the phone rang. The call display read ‘Guess who’. He debated ignoring the call, but then decided answering might actually be the safer course. He hit the reply button and said “Sachs.”

“Wrong!” said an annoyingly cheerful voice. “But that’s okay, you get two more tries.”

“The Lizard,” said Sachs.

“Nope, but you’re getting warmer!”

“Enough of this nonsense!” spat Wilberforce. “Identify and show yourself if you want this conversation to continue.” He raised his finger over the cut-off.

“Okay, Wilberforce, you win!” A video window opened, showing a middle aged man with dark hair. "My name will mean nothing to you as I’m not from around here, but you can call me General Patton, and suffice it to say that I’m the head of the HLF.” He raised both hands, fingers spread outwards. “Surprise!”

The man looked disappointed when the gesture failed to get a reaction from Sachs.

“Jeepers, Willy! Had a bad day?” He tilted his head to one side. “Well, I’m going to cheer you up. You see, I’ve got some more information for you that you just won’t believe, buuuut... you’re going to have to come meet me face-to-face.”

“That’s out of the question,” replied Sachs.

“Really now?” said the man with a sad frown. “You’re breaking my heart! Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

“I don’t meet terrorists, or anyone for that matter, unless I want to see them.”

Anger now showed in the man’s expression. “So be it. I tried to do this the nice way, but then life can be so disappointing for nice guys like me.” He tilted his head again, his expression halfway between a smile and a snarl. “Perhaps you should check on Conrad and his nice little friend. And if you ever want to see either of them alive again, meet me at this address in an hour.” The screen blanked out, but then reappeared. “Formal attire is not required, but bring twenty pre-authorized diplomatic pouches with seals. Ta-ta, Willy!”

The screen went dark and this time stayed that way.

Sach’s voice trembled as he spoke. “House. Security level 1a, full Eastern Alliance priority. Locate Conrad Sachs and William Hitchcock.” The knot in his stomach grew worse with each passing second.

“Conrad Sachs and William Hitchcock could not be located within the confines of the Eastern Alliance,” said the voice of the house AI.

Wilberforce took a breath. “Turner,” he said out loud.

“Yes-sir” replied Turner’s voice in Wilberforce’s security earpiece.

“Call The Council office. Have them prepare twenty diplomatic pouch tags and authorized seals for me. I need them here in fifteen minutes.”

“Yes-sir,” said Turner.

Sachs wondered how much worse his day could become.

Celestia leaned against the guardrail at the top of her observatory tower, deep in thought.

“Oh, my. That is one serious face!” said Princess Luna as she approached. “Are you any closer to resolving the mystery of Equestria’s disappearance, and mine as well?”

“Perhaps,” said Celestia. “I now know how they got the Hypernuclear devices into Equestria. They encased them in a material made from the powdered remains of our dear brother in his statuesque state. But a few things still puzzle me, my imaginary sister.”

“And these are?” Luna raised an eyebrow.

“The placement of the devices, for one. If they had detonated more than a few hundred meters from the exact center of the bubble, the shockwave would have reached one point of the barrier first and it would have breached catastrophically at that point. Most of the energy produced would have exited the enclosed sphere from there as well, causing a blowtorch effect. They could even have positioned the devices so that the discharged was aimed into space, minimizing the potential damage to Earth.

“Instead, the shock wave reached all parts of the barrier simultaneously. I believe this presented you with an interesting dilemma, dear sister, and perhaps an opportunity.”

Luna looked surprised. “A problem and an opportunity? This is related to the barrier then?”

“More specifically it’s related to its dual nature. The natural part of the barrier is of course the interdimensional interface, where the local topology of Earth space is absorbed into that of Equestria’s. This is the part where the laws of physics change from those of one universe to another, and that is so deadly to humans and most of their technological artifacts. That barrier we cannot stop outright, although we can influence the rate of its encroachment of Earth space to an extent. And then there is the filter part, the force field we created to transform or push out dangerous substances before they can harm anypony or Equestria itself.

“It’s this barrier that pushed the energy discharge from the hypernuclear explosions out from the center of Equestria. The problem was that the shockwave spread evenly over the entire sphere, so there was no single point of release for the energy of the detonation.

“If things had taken their natural course, the shockwave’s energy would have been discharged over the entire surface of the barrier, effectively sterilizing everything on Earth within several hundred kilometers of it.”

“If things had taken their natural course... but you think they didn’t, and that my real self had something to do with it?” asked Luna.

“Exactly. Because the natural course is not what happened. The Shockwave was stopped somehow, and the energy was not discharged outside the barrier.”

“To use a very modern expression: well duh-uh!” Luna rolled her eyes. “Since you so obligingly gave those so-called photographers a peek-a-boo pose with your smile on Earth, your neck over the barrier, and your plump white rump in Equestria, your head would have been one of the first things incinerated, dear Cely. Do I look like the type of sister who would allow that to happen?”

“You’ll get a cramp in your forehead if you try to raise that eyebrow any higher, Lulu.” answered Celestia drily. “But somepony did something, and you are the main suspect! If I recall at the time I was busy transmitting my goodbyes to you all.” She sat down at what had become her favorite spot along the parapet.

“And your love,” Cely. Luna approached her sister from from behind and wrapped her wings around Celestia’s girlish form. “You poured out your love. And I am sure, illusion though I be, that everypony in Equestria felt it in that moment.”

Small hands began to preen Luna’s feathers. Hands with deep knowledge of what feathers truly were and how to care for them. The hands froze and Luna felt her sister’s back stiffen suddenly.

“Cadence,” she said.

“What?”

“You and Cadence.” Celestia’s smile could have outshone her sun. “You, and Cadence!”

“Me and Cadence what, Cely?”

“You stopped the filter spell from discharging the energy of the blast at the barrier’s perimeter. You couldn’t bear the thought of me being killed, which would have been the likely outcome if my entire head was destroyed.”

“Celestia, dear, it took Starswirl a hundred years to devise that spell. Then it took you almost five hundred years to build it up, and you did all of it without me. It was the most powerful thaumatic entity ever constructed, was semi-sentient, and it took a team of over one hundred unicorns to keep it and the dimensional barrier growing according the humans’ timetable. I don’t think it could be so easily modified, and certainly not in micro-seconds.”

Celestia’s grin practically split her face from ear-to-ear. “No, of course you couldn’t! But what you and Cadence could do is put up another barrier just a few nanometers outside of it. A barrier that would contain the energies between it and the filter barrier. And to be specific, this would not be done by creating a new barrier, but by reusing and reinforcing an existing one. One that has existed for over a thousand years.” Celestia paused, looking up into Luna’s eyes.

Luna’s eyes grew wide as saucers. “The Crystal Heart!”

“The Crystal Heart,” agreed Celestia. “That would explain how the expected energy discharge at the barrier never happened, and why I am still alive to try to solve its puzzle.”

“And to have conversations with your imaginary sister,” agreed Luna. “But, had I and Cadence not intervened, even with the energy discharge, it is likely the interdimensional barrier itself would have survived and eventually would have consumed the Earth. Why did the humans attempt this action at all?”

Celestia thought for a moment, and her smile faltered. “It was our fault!”

“What do you mean?” Luna’s ears raised in alarm.

“We never explained to them that there were really two barriers. The filter barrier was a defense against attacks that we could not foresee, and to prevent even the accidental incursion of technologies that could ruin the Equestrian economy and ecology. When the convergence began, we chose to keep its existence secret from the humans. I know for a fact that many humans thought that by destroying us they would be destroying the barrier itself and thus halt the expansion.” Distress crossed her pretty features. “I foolishly thought the filter barrier impregnable.”

Her expression softened, and again, she got a faraway look in her eyes. “But a few things about this event bother me still,” exclaimed Celestia.

“These being?” ased Luna.

“Where did the confined energy go? And what happened to the dimensional barrier? After the explosion, just like Equestria, it was gone.”

The sisters stared out over Celestia’s memory of Equestria.

Major Hood gestured to Sgt. Willis, who prodded the two hooded forms forward. Willis gestured and the hoods were removed, revealing two rather annoyed looking young men.

“Greetings... Conrad Sachs and... Billy Hitchcock.” said the voice of the Lizard somewhat hesitantly.

“You! Why have your goons kidnapped us?” asked Conrad angrily. “We cooperated with your demands. I passed your message on to my father.”

“Yes, you did.” The was a pause and some scratchy sounds from the speakers. “We kidnapped you because we need your father’s immediate cooperation. He has agreed to bring us diplomatic pouches and credentials that he will exchange for you two.” Again, there were scratching noises from the Speaker. Conrad looked at Billy, who nodded almost imperceptibly.

Major Hood was looking at the boys with disbelief. The Lizard seemed to be more open with information with these two prisoners than with the HLF’s own rank and file!

“Why do you need diplomatics pouch tags?” asked Conrad.

“To get past nanite scans, of course... Major Hood?” the Lizard’s voice still seemed hesitant.

“Yes-sir?” replied Hood to the hated machine intelligence.

“Please secure these two persons for transport to the exchange point... You will accompany... General… Discord... Patton,” said the Lizard haltingly.

“Yes-sir”. Amidst their grumbled complaints, the bags were placed back over the boys’ heads, and they were led back out of the room.

The first thing Conrad saw when the mask came off was his dad. The second thing was a man standing next to him with what looked like the most insufferably amused expression in the universe. The third was the mask being pulled off of Billy’s head, who was sitting on the floor of the delivery van next to him. Its doors were open, revealing the interior of an empty warehouse. He turned back to look at the man.

Is that Discord, Princess? asked Conrad via the link to Celestia.

“Yes, Conrad,” was Celestia’s telepathic reply. “He is very unpredictable and dangerous. Don’t resist or give him any cause to dislike you. Also, it might be dangerous for this link spell to be active if he touches you. I’ll observe via Billy only. Call me if you need me.” He felt their mental connection dissolve.

Discord waved in the boys’ direction. “There, you see? Safe, sound and fit as a fiddle! We even had them wash their hands after they went to potty like good boys should,” he said. “Might I inspect the merchandise before we effect the transaction?”

Conrad’s dad handed him a case. He opened it and checked the displays on the tags, while his dad seethed in silence.

“Well, I can’t fault you for quantity or quality, Willy.” Discord gestured and Conrad felt himself pushed from behind. Billy moved forward with him. They quickly crossed to where his dad waited with Discord.

“Finally we meet face-to-face, Conrad Sachs. I’m honored to meet the young man who could out-wit my otherwise efficacious Major Hood and his hoodlums! Har-har!” He offered Conrad a hand and waited. And waited.

He leaned closer to Conrad. “You know I could still just have everyone here I don’t like shot. Do your dad and Billy a service and shake my hand like a gentleman.”

Conrad looked at the hand, and tentatively raised his to clasp it and shake. Thank goodness Billy showed me how to fake a handshake! he thought.

Discord raised an eyebrow. “My, what an interesting grip you have there Conrad.” His gaze shifted to Conrad’s dad. “The boy has horsepower!”

Billy’s eyes grew big, but he said nothing as they waited for him to release Conrad’s hand. Finally he did, and picking up the case, threw it at Conrad who caught it reflexively. He then pulled out a gun and pointed it at Conrad. “You know what? I like Conrad, I really do.” He smiled at Wilberforce. “I think I’ll keep him one more day. Just to make sure our pouches clear customs without any embarrassing delays.”

"The deal was the tags for the boys!" His dad took a step towards Discord, who aimed the gun in his direction.

“Wilberforce, really! I never said when I would give them back now, did I? And to show that I’m not the type to take things personally I’ll let you keep Billy Boy, here. You’ll get Conrad back, safe and sound, once the pouches have arrived to their destinations.” He gestured with the gun. His dad took another step towards Discord.

Conrad stepped between them. “Dad, stay cool. I’ll be okay.” He walked past his fuming father, and with DIscord in tow went all the way back to the delivery van and got in. The doors closed and it drove out of the warehouse.

“Young Conrad Sachs! As we haven’t been formally introduced please allow me: General G. D. Patton, at your service.” Discord bowed his head. “I’m sure a bright lad like you is just bursting with curiosity to find out why we need these diplomatic pouches.”

“The pouches are needed to get past the public transport virus and nanite scans,” said Conrad dully.

Discord looked at him with a frown. “How do you know that?”

“Er, the Lizard mentioned it,” said Conrad with a swallow.

“Tsk, tsk. Loose lips sink ships, and all that. And what do you suppose the nanites we ship will do?”

Conrad stared glumly at him. “Given the history of the HLF, I would suppose you’ve engineered a pony plague of some sort and plan release it simultaneously over the entire globe. Why else would you need twenty nanite scan exempt diplomatic pouches? Twenty and you cover all major land masses. There’d be no way to stop the nanite plague once released.”

Discord smiled. “Why else indeed!” For the rest of the trip he was uncharacteristically quiet.

“Damn!” Wilberforce Sachs positively radiated frustration.

Billy approached him. Moments after waking up and realizing that he had been kidnapped he had contacted the princess. She had advised Billy on what he needed to do. “Mr. Sachs, I think I know who the general is.”

“What? How could you possibly know that?” asked Sachs, anger suffusing his every action.

“Because me and Conrad found something out while researching the Lizard. We searched from before Judgement Day, and we found out more about how they made the casings for the hypernuclear devices they used, and how they build the Treasure Chest.”

“And what does any of that have to do with the so called General Patton?” asked Conrad’s dad.

Billy swallowed under the elder Sachs glare. “They only used a small portion of the statue of Discord to make those. Most of it was stored in a series of secure facilities, the most recent of which was actually your house.”

“Was?” asked Sachs a bit more calmly.

“Yeah, was. When we found out where it was Conrad went to check it out. There was nothing but several containers of water in the bin. The statue material was gone. And when we were questioned by the Lizard he let dropped another piece of information: the name Discord.”

Sachs grabbed Billy by the collar of his shirt. “Are you sure that was the name he used?”

“Yes-sir! I’m sure!” squeaked Billy.

Sachs let go. He stared into the distance for a moment, and then took out his phone. He dialed and waited a moment until the party at the other end answered. “Hello Celestia, this is Sachs. We need to talk. I’ll be there in an hour and I’m bringing a guest.”

Billy went ‘Squee’ like a little girl.

Conrad sat on the warehouse floor while the HLF members filled the diplomatic pouches with cylindrical containers. They were all in very good spirits. A few minutes later all the pouches had been filled, addressed and the diplomatic exemption seals applied. The men sat in chairs while waiting for the courier service to come pick them up. Hood looked at Conrad.

“Finally, the real end of the pony invasion of Earth is at hand,” he said. Conrad looked at him, keeping a neutral expression.

“People like your father betrayed us, you know. We didn’t beat back the genocidal bitch just so we could voluntarily change nine tenths of humanity into bloody aliens ourselves!” He shook his head in disgust. “No. It has to end and it will end now.”

“What about the billions of ponies that will die? They used to be human and they didn’t chose to become ponies. Don’t they count for something? Don’t they deserve to live?” asked Conrad in a low voice.

“Every war has its collateral damage, son,” said Hood. “But let’s be clear about something, they stopped being human the instant they were converted. The people died when the needle went into them and the nanites ripped the humanity out of their bodies. What’s left is alien. No humans will die from this plague.”

There was a clapping sound and the voice of ‘the general’ spoke: “Bravo, Major! Well said.”

He walked to the table and grabbed the lone cylinder that had not been put into a pouch. In his other hand was the same gun he’d had earlier. “Conrad, you and me need to have a little talk. Sorry for the rush, but time is short. Let’s gallop on over to the conference room right over there.” He pointed to a door with the gun.

Conrad rose and walked quickly in the direction indicated. Every few seconds his eyes glanced at the cylinder in Discord’s other hand.

Behind them there was a commotion. He heard Willis shout. “Pony Express is here for the pick-up.” The laughter of the HLF men echoed through the warehouse.

Conrad opened the door. The light switched on, revealing a rather drab standard issue meeting room: large rectangular table, dull grey chairs on casters, conferencing phone, whiteboard wall at the narrow end opposite the door. He entered and sat on one of chairs. It was somewhat uncomfortable because it made no provisions for his invisible pony tail.

Discord sat down opposite him and regarded him with interest. He placed the cylinder on the table between them. “Okay, Conrad my boy, you and I are going to have real pony to man talk.” Even though he was grinning his eyes were deadly serious.

“How did you figure it out?” asked Conrad, just as seriously. “Was it the handshake?”

Discord looked down. “Well, you can’t fool me with magic at that level, boy. The moment I touched you I knew your real nature, and I must say I’m intrigued.” When he looked up again he actually did seem less hostile. “Do you know mine?”

Conrad hesitated a moment, but figured that this might be a test of sorts. He decided to play as close to the truth as possible. “Billy and I investigated Judgement Day and discovered an amazing story of something called ‘substance D’. A whole pile of it is missing from my dad’s warehouse. If you can discern magic, then my guess is that your real name is Discord.”

The eyes of ‘General Patton’ displayed several emotions in sequence: hunger, gratitude and then an almost childlike joy. ‘The protocol’ said to try to find out what the kidnappers wanted. He decided to exploit Discord’s good mood to see if he could get any useful information from him.

“Why are you doing this: killing all those ponies?” asked Conrad.

Discord’s smile grew wistful. “My dear Conrad, I have an admission to make.” He lifted the back of a hand to his brow. “You see, I am nothing more than a figurehead in the HLF.” The hand came down and he leaned across the table. “The real kingpin of this outfit is...” He left his sentence unfinished while taking out a piece of paper and a pen.

“The Lizard,” Conrad concluded for him.

“Bravo, young Sachs. You got it in one!” Patton scribbled on the paper. “And you see, I had Corporal Harper report to me in the minutest detail regarding what happened when you and Billy boy spoke with it early. What an interesting conversation! I would be very interested in you having another conversation with him just now.” He winked at Conrad and slid the paper across the table to him. On the paper was the sentence ‘What’s in the cylinders?’, with large question marks drawn randomly on the other parts of the page.

Conrad hastily used the AI befuddlement spell, hoping he'd got it right. If Discord noticed he didn’t let on. Or maybe just has a good poker face, thought Conrad.

Discord hit a button on the conference phone and said: “Oh Lizard?”

“Yes, General.” There were snaps and fizzes as the AI spoke.

“The pouches have been collected by Pony Express and will be dispatched within the hour. I have the Sachs boy here with me as we discussed. The poor child is so distressed. I thought we could cheer him up a bit. In fact I thought we could let him open the very first one!”

“Negative. You may only release the local vector at the agreed time... after all the other cylinders … have been delivered,” replied the Lizard in fits and starts.

It’s working! thought Conrad. It’s just like when we spoke with the House Doctor and the Lizard earlier. Billy isn’t the only one who can manage this spell!

“Why not?” said Discord. “Only ponies will be affected, after all.” He reached for the cylinder.

Conrad looked at the cylinder in alarm. He pushed away from the table until the back of his chair hit the wall behind him. Discord grinned jovially.

“Do not release... the vector or the transport... might fail before the other cylinders... reach destination.” the Lizard’s command came out somewhat distorted.

“Why not?” asked Discord in a reasonable tone of voice.

The only response was several seconds of static.

There was a knock at the door. “General?” It was Hood’s voice, sounding impatient. “Might I have a word with you, sir?”

“Come on in, Major,” called Discord affably.

The door opened revealing Hood holding a gun pointed at ‘the general’. “Sir. I am to relieve you of that cylinder. Please have the kid bring it to me.”

“And what if I refuse?” asked Discord as if it was a perfectly reasonable question.

“Then I am authorized to shoot you to secure it, sir,” replied Hood evenly.

Discord smiled. “You might want to revise your plans, Major.”

The was an ominous click and Hood slowly raised his arms.

"Ah. Perfect timing, Corporal Harper." Discord smiled in satisfaction. "Do take the major's weapon and tie him up somewhere comfortable."

"Sir. Tommy is keeping an eye on Willis,” replied Harper laconically.

“Splendid!” ‘The general’ turned to gaze steadily at Conrad. “Where were we?” He tapped the side of his head with the cylinder. “Oh, yes! The nanites.” He held it up as if he had just remembered that he was holding it the entire time. “Maybe you should ask the architect of our grand scheme? After all, much as you impress me, you seem to have quite the effect on our dear Lizard.” He tapped the note on the table with the tip of the cylinder.

Conrad nodded hesitantly. “Lizard! What’s in the cylinders?”

There was a moment of silence and then again the sound of statics. “Nanites...” replied the Lizard. “Do not release them... until the other vectors have arrived at their destinations.”

Discord made a circular motion with tip of the cylinder.

“Uh, nanites that do what, exactly?” asked Conrad hesitantly.

There was a pause with more static. “Create the final conditions... for the return to the initial self regulating ecology,” answered the AI.

‘The general’ rolled his eyes as well as the cylinder, this time.

“And what are these conditions?” added Conrad.

“A fully functional natural and sustainable ecology... without artificial environmental distortion factors... The Earth is repaired... the ecology... capable of self-regulation.” The Lizard’s voice was gradually becoming harder to understand.

Discord raised an eyebrow as he mimed swinging the cylinder as if it was a tennis racquet.

“What kind of distortion factors, and how will the nanites affect them?” asked Conrad.

“Uncontrolled technologies and... those agencies that... produce them. The nanites will disassemble them into component molecules... and where necessary... encapsulate environmental toxins.”

By this point Conrad was as curious as Discord to see where this was leading. “And what would those agencies be?” he asked.

“Intellig...t agen... ies.” there was more static noise.

“Intelligent agencies such as what?” Conrad felt he might be running out of time to get a coherent response from the Lizard.

“... original agents of env... strophy and their artificial... igences...”

“What about ponies?” asked Conrad desperately.

There was static for several seconds. “... sterile... die out naturally... no humans to conv...” The room became deathly silent as even the static died out. Discord hung up the call.

For the first time in their short acquaintance Discord was visibly angry. He stared at the cylinder in his hand with eyes narrowed. “Conrad, it’s time we cut to the chase. I figure you couldn’t possibly have managed magic at this level by yourself. And I just don’t picture Billy boy in a leading role here. So, I suspect you’re in contact with her royal highness Princess Celestia of Equestria.” He grinned at Conrad conspiratorially.

“Maybe you boys and your father are all agents of hers. Either, way, there’s only one way I’ll ever know for sure.” He got up and gestured for Conrad to do the same, and then handed over his phone. “Call your father, kid. Tell him to meet us at the entrance to the Treasure Chest vault - sans security contingent. We’re going to have a little chat with dear old Celestia.”

Conrad dialed his father’s number and waited for him to answer. “Hi dad, it’s Conrad...”

Mr. Sachs ended the call and put away his phone. “How much of that did you catch, Billy?”

“We’re meeting Conrad at the Treasure Chest, with Discord?”

“In one, Billy. And here I am having to chose between the life of my son, and possibly delivering Princess Celestia into the hands of her greatest enemy,” said Sachs.

“Oh,” said Billy. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Did you get all that, your majesty? he subvocalized.

“Yes, Billy. I’m prepared,” said Celestia’s voice in his head.

AD 2200 part 7 - The Walls of Jericho

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter Twelve: AD 2200 part 7 - The Walls of Jericho

by Dafaddah

Author's note:A Big thanks to Microshazm and SecondLaw for editing

Conrad looked out through the window as the van pulled up to a rather shabby looking building on the edge of the financial district, of all places. For some reason the HLF men had pulled off the bag from over his head just before arriving at their destination. Gun in hand, Discord motioned Conrad to exit the van and precede him inside. His father and Billy stood waiting next to an unattended reception desk. A half empty coffee mug gave evidence of recent occupation.

Discord greeted his dad with a big smile. “Willy! I told you it wouldn’t be so long. And I’m glad we were able to come to terms. You get the boy back, and I get to visit the Treasure Chest. Everybody wins! Shall we?” he pointed with the gun at the open doorway into the next room.

Conrad could see his dad was quite furious as he led the quartet around the reception desk. They followed a corridor left and then right, and ended up before a rather imposing vault door. To its left stood a security station. His father pressed his hand to the reader, causing the vault door to rise, and led them inside.

Beyond the entrance was a bare concrete room, fifteen meters square, with institutional lighting. On one side was a rather plain wooden bench and in the middle a square box, set on a short metal stand. Near one of the box’s lower corners was a metal spigot, and on top a simple push-button on a three-d video emitter.

Discord looked around in disgust. “WorldCorp didn’t spare any expense on this joint did it, Willy?”

Wilberforce ignored him and went to the box, pressing the button on its top. An image of Princess Celestia’s head formed. Discord approached and leaned over until his nose was practically touching hers. “Why, Celestia dear. I swear you haven’t aged a day since last we met!”

“Hello Discord. You, on the other hand have a whole new look. It must be easier to buy suits now that all your parts match, and I doubt the rank and file of the HLF would take orders from a draconequus,” said Celestia with a wary smile.

“Oh, my! You are quite well informed for a prisoner in solitary confinement. And you even managed an interesting reparté for once! I’m quite impressed.”

“Discord, I suspect this isn’t a social call. Why are you here?” asked Celestia.

Discord straightened up. “Hmm. Well that was short lived.” He looked back towards Conrad’s dad. “Were you aware that our dear Celestia has been meddling in human affairs for years?”

“She’s been completely isolated here for over seventy years, General,” said his dad through gritted teeth. “Her first contact with the world outside that box was with me only days ago.”

“Are you quite sure about that, Willy ol’ pal? Then how do you explain this?” He made a dramatic flourish towards Conrad and Billy.

Conrad felt something shift, and he saw that Billy had resumed his true yellow and maroon pony form. With a sinking feeling he turned to his dad. From the look of horror on his face, Conrad concluded his simulacra spell had also been turned off. He swallowed. “Dad, I...”

“Who are you? And what have you done to my son?” raged his father stepping forward.

Conrad felt his world fall apart. “I am Conrad, dad, I swear! It was the attack by the HLF. It succeeded dad, I was converted.” He looked down in misery, his ears drooping. He glanced back up at his father. “Dad, it’s me. For real...”

His father froze mid-step, hurt and anger both evident in his expression. He looked into this purple pony’s face intently for and moment, and somehow, he recognized his son. “But son, you were fine. The doc AI even gave me his report.”

“I was already a pony then, dad. Princess Celestia sent Billy to try to warn me the HLF were coming. But I was too stubborn to listen. I stuck to the security protocol instead of running, so they got me in the gardens. In my conversion dream Princess Celestia gave me a spell to make me look human so I wouldn’t be killed. And Billy taught me another spell to confuse AIs.”

“Conrad, why didn’t you tell me?” there was definitely more hurt than anger in his father’s question.

“Ahem!” said Discord. “I hate to step into the middle of a touching family moment, but the clock is ticking here. Willy, do you want humanity and all its wonderful technological toys to be destroyed in a nanite plague, or would you rather cry over spilt conversion potion?”

Wilberforce Sachs turned his gaze back to Discord, eyes suddenly hard. “Is that why you wanted the diplomatic pouches? To spread a nanite plague?”

“No I didn’t, Willy. I just wanted to get rid of the ponies before it was too late and your sweet Celestia took over the planet. The HLF’s goals aligned pretty well with my own, you see. Humans are much more fun and chaotic than ponies, and they are becoming rather thin on the ground if you ask me.” His smile was replaced by a wince. “However, it would appear that our main sponsor, the Lizard had different plans. I was only today able to discern the Lizard’s true intent by drafting your son’s truly remarkable ability to befuddle the poor AI.” He smiled at Conrad. “Good going, junior!”

“He’s telling the truth, dad,” said Conrad. “I used the same spell we used on the house doctor. The Lizard thinks the Earth is ready to become a self-regulating ecology again. Now it wants to get rid of things that could disturb the system and the original agents of the ecological collapse: humans and their technology.”

“He’s indeed a bright boy, but he needs to loosen up a bit, if you ask me. So now that you have the picture, Willy, all I want is to get back what’s mine and leave this mess in your capable hands.” He took off his jacket and extracted a cylinder from an inside pocket. “This is insurance that you won’t come after me.” He draped his jacket over the treasure chest, cutting off the hologram of Celestia’s head.

“Wilberforce, get out of here!” he heard Celestia shout.

“Ta-ta dear sister. I’m sure ol’ Willy’ll find you a nice new box to live in.” Discord reached down and touched the surface of the Treasure Chest. The box’s edges became indistinct and it seemed to melt. Discord gradually got bigger, apparently absorbing its mass. A purple glow issued from beneath the remains of the Treasure Chest and the jacket.

Conrad’s focus narrowed. His father stood, transfixed by what was happening to the Treasure Chest, ignoring Celestia’s warning. Without further thought he tried levitating his father, but was only able to drag him for a few feet before they both crashed to the floor. He looked back at the Treasure Chest. Now only the jacket remained, covering a large L-shaped lump that moved spastically. A glowing purple liquid leaked from under it.

As his father struggled to get back to his feet, Conrad placed his body between him and the now glowing jacket. “Dad! Keep me between you and the thaumatic radiation.” Over his shoulder he saw the writhing lump, and Discord walking out. “Dexter! How can you leave her like that? Help her!”

Discord froze, his face became a mask of fury. He raised a hand as if he was going to strike Conrad, who shrunk down over his father. “Don’t ever call me that name again, boy!” Discord paused a moment, looking at Conrad trying to protect his father and sighed. After a moment he turned, went to wooden bench, flipped it over and dragged it to the center of the room, pushing the wood under the jacket. For a moment Conrad thought nothing was happening. Then he noticed that Discord had shrunk very slightly. The lump under the jacket has risen a bit and the wooden bench was wrapped in a glowing magical field.

Discord nodded once and made his way back to Conrad and his father. “You two look perfectly silly on the floor. Willy, get up but stay put. I put up a thaumatic radiation barrier before any of it leaked out.” He pointed an accusing finger at the senior Sachs. “I don’t want you dying on me. Your job is preventing the Lizard from killing humanity and ruining my party.” His glance shifted to Conrad. “As to you, The only reason I did this was because I owed you one for cluing me to the Lizard’s plan. Consider us even-steven.” He walked out of the room twirling the cylinder of nanites.

Both Sachs looked towards the glowing jacket in the center of the room. There was a bright flash of light, and then a young woman stood next to the Treasure Chest’s empty stand. She was in her late teens or early twenties, wearing crisp blue jeans, a cotton t-shirt, and Discord’s discarded jacket. As soon as she opened her eyes Conrad knew her identity. He bowed to his princess, as did Billy.

“It’s now safe for you in this room, Wilberforce Sachs. I can contain the thaumatic energy within me.” said Celestia.

Conrad’s dad approached, his complexion getting darker with each step. “So now we know,” he accused. “You’ve been playing us all along. Tell me, is it your plan to eventually turn all of humanity into ponies?”

“No, Wilberforce it is not. I tried that once, you will recall, even though I was reluctant to do it. You know full well what it cost me. No, turning most of humanity into ponies was the Lizard’s plan.”

“What?” Sachs sputtered. “Why would that AI want to do such a thing?”

“Because it was programmed to do one thing: restore the Earth’s ecology to its natural state from before Homo Sapiens became the dominant species. For almost one hundred years the Lizard has been plotting to rid the Earth of humanity. Ponies were just a conveniently useful by-product of the process. At each step of its plan, the Lizard used both humans and ponies to further its goals.”

“You can’t be serious,” said Sachs, sounding uncertain.

“Look at the facts, Wilberforce. Who could convince the old national intelligence agencies to attempt something as incredibly dangerous to humanity as Judgment Day was? It was at best a very foolish gamble. There was no assurance that igniting a nuclear holocaust in Equestria would in any way stop the barrier from gobbling up the Earth. And even if it did stop the trans-dimensional convergence, the potential for global annihilation was very high.

“Only some agency that didn’t care about humanity’s survival would have risked it. An agency that had all the genetic material it needed stored up for when conditions were ripe, and that had an infinite amount of patience in executing its plans. An agency that cared for no outcome other than preventing the Earth’s real-estate from being absorbed into Equestria.”

“But humanity wasn’t annihilated on Judgment Day,” intoned Sachs.

“No it wasn’t. And the Lizard was prepared for that eventuality as well. The whole capture of my head was a ploy to remove my power from within Equestria at the critical moment, and possibly to force my sister and other powerful entities into protecting my head and thus the surface of the Earth around the barrier’s perimeter. That gambit worked perfectly, and as a bonus humanity now had my head in a box.

“The third act of this tale is even more insidious. Having my blood available for ponification gave the Lizard a way to significantly accelerate the healing of the Earth by using earth pony magic. The Lizard even used humanity’s own ambitions to perpetuate his scheme, and mine to accelerate the healing. He played us all, Wilberforce, and he did it brilliantly. Today was to be the culmination of the program, a nanite plague to remove humanity and technology from the picture.”

“And why didn’t this list include the ponies?” asked the elder Sachs, still angry.

“Because they’re sterile, dad. They would just eventually die off, continuing to heal the Earth until they died. Looking at it from the Lizard’s perspective, it was a pretty effective plan.”

Wilberforce pointed to his son and Billy. “So how do they fit into this plan?”

“They don’t. The Lizard, and the WorldGov and WorldCorp don’t know about them. They’re my rescued foals, Wilberforce. The ones that would have been killed if found because they were converted in attacks by the HLF. The HLF only had access to the original generation of nanites used for ponification, the one that produced not only earth ponies, but pegasi and unicorns, all retaining their full mental faculties and quite fertile, I assure you. Did you fail to notice that both Conrad and Billy are unicorns? Tell me, what would your own police do to them if they were discovered?”

Conrad’s dad glared at Celestia, looking both resentful and embarrassed. “I’ll have to think this through. Perhaps I was a bit hasty accusing you. But now I need to stop this plague from killing my people.”

“Our people, Wilberforce.” Celestia raised a hand. “Let me assure you, this body is not an illusion. It is who I am now, Celestia, a human woman. I will not let humanity die. In fact I have already resolved the problem.” She smiled, and it was the same enigmatic, mysterious and infuriatingly pleasant smile as in all those vids of the Equestrian Princess from long ago.

“What do you mean, already?” asked Wilberforce.

“Conrad, were you there when the HLF expedited the diplomatic pouches?” asked Celestia.

“Yes, I was. Er, it was picked up by a courier service, if I recall,” replied Conrad.

“Indeed. In fact by a courier company I own,” said Celestia. Wilberforce’s eyebrows rose. “Call Pony Express, and it’s there!” Celestia’s laugh was bell-like. “Except for this time. I'm afraid the Lizard's packages have all been intercepted and the nanites destroyed.” She noticed the elder Sachs’ unhappy glare. “I have a lot of economic interests I haven’t told you about, Wilberforce. But then, being locked in a box does not encourage one to be trusting.” She stepped forward and offered Wilberforce her hand. “Shall we leave this dreary place?”

The elder Sachs looked at the proffered hand. “Celestia... you know I can’t let you leave here, you’re a prisoner.” He looked abashed.

“What!?” Conrad blurted out. “Are you serious, dad?” His mane and tail bristled. “Discord’s on the loose and you want to keep the only person on Earth that could defeat him in jail!?”

“Son, I...”

“Don’t you ‘son’ me!” He poked his father in the chest with a purple hoof. “She’s the only reason I’m still alive!” Poke. “And didn’t you hear that she just saved the Earth from a nanite plague that would have killed everybody and all technology, you included!” Poke. “And you already know that she didn’t even invade the Earth in the first place!” Poke.

His dad grabbed the offending hoof. “Now, that’s enough! We’ll discuss this later when...”

Conrad poked him with his other hoof. “... what do you mean later? Before or after the police shoot me and Billy for being unregistered converts, unicorns, with brains and balls!” Poke, poke, poke, poke!

“Conrad,” interjected Celestia. “That is quite enough. Your simulacra spells will work again now, and your father will be busy tonight anyway. He’s calling a meeting of the Eastern Alliance Executive Council, with me as the guest speaker.”

The elder Sachs was now beginning to look a bit green around the gills. “And just why would I do that?”

“Ahem,” said a voice from the doorway. It was a young stallion wearing the Pony Express uniform. “Delivery for Mr. Wilberforce Sachs.”

The elder Sachs raised his hand. “That’s me. And this is supposed to be a secure facility.”

The delivery pony ignored Wilberforce’s complaint and pulled a package out of one of his saddle bags with his mouth, giving it to him. He lifted a hoof and a vid-window appeared. “Please sign here, sir.” Wilberforce gestured over the window. “Thank you, sir.” The pony glanced at Celestia as if noticing her for the first time. He swallowed and bowed, and then trotted back out.

“He was efficient, effective and polite,” said Celestia looking pleased. “Our delivery ponies are very well trained and it shows. Please open the package, Wilberforce.”

The elder Sachs sighed and did as he was bid. In the package were a sheet of paper and a cardboard tube about the same size as the cylinder Discord had left with. He took out the sheet of paper.

People of Earth,

The Earth is healed. The forests again are green. The prairies roll with seas of grass. The oceans once so close to death now team with life. And the sky once more is blue.

For over seventy five years, humans and ponies have worked tirelessly to reverse the damage due to centuries of ignorance, neglect, exploitation and war, and to restore what was lost to this beautiful world. Of this great achievement we can all stand proud as we proclaim to future generations: this good Earth is our legacy, and our promise, and your birthright. Let none ever try to take it from you again!

It is also the time for all sentient beings on this planet to work for a common future in equality, liberty and harmony. Henceforward, all sentient beings, whether human or ponies will be declared full and equal citizens under the law. Conversion will be on a strictly voluntary basis and may no longer be applied as a punishment by the criminal courts. Ponies will be free to seek their fortunes and happiness as they see fit, and enslavement of ponies or humans will henceforth constitute a crime.

The change from the ways of the past to this new society of man and pony will not be easy or simple. As a pledge and a first step towards this new era of harmony, there will be a general amnesty extended to all parties that have engaged in these practices in the past, as only in the light of forgiveness may this new Earth prosper and avoid being chained by the legacy of history to the errors of the past.

For indeed our future is bright, as one people. Together we have brought life back to a world that was at the brink of death. Together in equality, liberty and harmony we can build an even better place for the generations to come.

Celestia, a princess of Earth

Wilberforce stopped reading. “These are noble sentiments. But why would the ruling corporations agree to this? Many face ruin if what this document proposes is implemented. There is also the undeniable fact that most ponies lack the intellectual faculties needed to take care of themselves.”

“Oh, I don’t think the corporations will mind as much as you think,”replied Celestia. “I already own all eight of the main pony conglomerates worldwide and most of the smaller ones as well. As to the intelligence of the ponies, that should pretty much have changed by tomorrow morning.” She pointed at the cardboard tube. “I took advantage of the opportunity the Lizard provided to globally distribute my own little nanite plague instead of his. It removes the intelligence limiters on ponies inserted by modern conversion potion. It also reverses the infertility of stallions who have undergone the less invasive gelding process that I instituted when I took over the pony management companies over forty years ago.”

Wilberforce stared at Celestia, eyes wide as saucers.

The princess leaned in closer. “Gotcha!” whispered Celestia with a lighthearted laugh, but then her expression became earnest. “Wilberforce, if I harbored any ill will towards humanity I could have taken my revenge a thousand times over by now. Since waking up in that box I have only worked towards realizing the vision I’ve expressed in that letter. This was done in the shadows, which is where I would have remained for a number of years still, but for Discord.” Celestia smiled again, but this time it was tinged in sadness.

“So what do you expect he will do?” asked Sachs. “Try to set himself up as ruler of Earth?”

“Perhaps. But you need to understand that Discord doesn’t seek to rule.” Her expression grew sadder still. “He seeks to unrule, to destroy order and harmony, to bring chaos. It took my sister and me almost a thousand years to repair Equestria after his reign. He mustn’t be allowed to do the same to this world.”

A look of grim determination replaced the sadness in Celestia’s face. “So Wilberforce, I offer an alliance, in defense of this society and the Earth. What do you say?”

Wilberforce Sachs met Celestia’s ageless gaze. Still alien, he thought. Every possible emotion seemed to war for his face. Finally he took a deep breath. A wry smile split his face. “You don’t make short term plans do you?” He offered Celestia his arm and walked with her out of the vault and into the light of day.

Discord entered the HLF headquarters and went to a special set of doors only he and one other knew about. He activated the same spell he had observed Conrad Sachs using earlier that day. The door opened to reveal a series of low tables on which sat four plain metallic boxes approximately the size of bread toasters. Each was connected via a set of fiber and power cables to the hypernet connections imbedded in the walls.

“Hello Lizard,” said Discord.

“General... why are you here?” the Lizard’s voice was laced with static.

“Oh, just tidying up a loose end,” replied Discord. “You see, I’ve learned a very distressing bit of news. It would appear you were playing the HLF, me, and pretty much everyone else for fools.”

“Have the vectors... been delivered?” asked the AI.

“I suspect not. But that’s not why I’m here. To answer your question, I’m here because I’m really quite cross with you, Lizard. So cross in fact, that I’ve just activated my trusted agents in all HLF offices around the world and ordered them to destroy all your datalinks, secure nodes, storage and backups. I’ve also confined your processing capability to this set of boxes for the moment.”

“... How... Why?” The questions were almost drowned out in white noise.

“As to how, well, I ran into a spot of luck today. I was able to finally get a bit of the old magic back, courtesy of my dear sister Celestia. She had more than enough to spare, and I did help her in a tight spot, so it was a fair trade. And I've been dying to try out an interesting bit of magic I learned form a little unicorn today. It confuses AIs like you to no end. Fancy that!

"But let's discuss the why. I did this, dear Lizard, because I hate having someone around who's more dangerous than I am. Oh... and also because you pissed me off.” Discord tilted his head to one side. “Say goodnight, Gracie!” He snapped his fingers. Blue lightning engulfed the boxes until smoke rose from each one.

Discord turned on his heels and exited the room.

AD 2205 - Two weddings, a funeral, some tea, and a filly

Based on The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

Chapter Thirteen:
AD 2205 - Two weddings, a funeral, some tea, and a filly

by Dafaddah

Author's note: In the writing of this story I’ve been blessed with the assistance and support of not one but two great editors: Microshazm and SecondLaw. Their participation made this story much better than it otherwise would have been, and for that I am eternally grateful. Of course all remaining errors, bad phrasing and clumsy text are due to my own stubbornness and illusions of projecting my own “voice”. Nevertheless I hope this story will have brought some pleasure to its readers, and maybe even given them a thing or two to think about.

June 2205

The Litton Estate gardens were decked out in celebration. A huge white open-sided Pavillion easily accommodated the several hundred invited guests, and on its sides more tables had been set up so that the entire resident population of the Litton Estate could attend. All eyes were on the two head tables set up on a dais near one side of the tent.

Spoons and hooves began to tinkle on crystal glasses. At first it had been just a few, but momentum built as more people and ponies added their own contribution to the din. Finally, the happy young pony couple could no longer ignore the call, arose and treated their assembled families to a major smooch. Cheers rang all around, turning to laughter, as with eyes closed the couple held the kiss, and held it longer still. They only parted lips when some of the younger members of the audience began whistling a bit too enthusiastically for modesty’s sake.

The groom peered into his bride’s big bright golden eyes, and all the noise and hubbub faded from awareness, leaving room only for Storm, the mare he loved, the filly that drove him crazy almost from the moment they met. And now here she was, a vision of incredible beauty in her wedding dress, an angel, silver highlights in her dress bringing out the light grey of her complexion and wings and illuminating the copper tinted gold of her mane. Conrad Sachs sighed in contentment and they sat down still holding hooves.

Moments later the commotion started again, but this time Conrad and Storm joined in with the noise making. Finally, at the other head table, the second couple married today, two humans in their fifties, rose and gave a briefer but no less passionate kiss that gathered more applause than whistles.

Conrad rose and lifted his glass. The crowd quieted. “A toast: Long life and much happiness, to my new stepmother, and my new uncle!” This last joke was greeted by much laughter, and many cries of “Here-here!”

Wilberforce Sachs stood in turn, glass in hand. “My lovely wife Chloe and I wish the very same to our new daughter, and nephew!” There was more laughter. “And to my future grand-foals, great-nieces and great-nephews.” Several of the attendees stood and applauded.

Conrad’s best-colt nudged him in the ribs. “Hey, doesn’t this mean that you ‘n Storm are kissing cousins now?” Billy grinned.

“Life’s strange Billy,” was Conrad’s only reply. He gazed around the table, an assemblage of human and pony family members. Storm’s parents made a cute pegasi couple: Sasha Litton and Air Heart, like Conrad a subject of HLF conversion. Storm’s grand-parents in their late seventies sat next to them, Loretta and Harvey Litton, one of the very few mixed species couples, even at this wedding. Some things will take longer to change than others, thought Conrad.

Rounding out the table were Sasha’s best-mare, two bridesmares and two bridesmaids, all of whom were fellow residents of Litton Estate. All had become good friends in the four years since the Council of the New Earth had declared the pony residents of the estate full citizens.

At his father’s and new step-mother’s table was a pony of legend: Victoria Spencer. She had never married after becoming a pony and had only recently retired, with her daughter Chloe taking over the reins of Celestia’s businesses. Victoria was the brain behind Celestia’s business empire and for all those years, Loretta Litton had been her very formidable human front. And now both are my grand-mothers in law! thought Conrad, intimidated.

Next to Victoria sat a beautiful young woman whose poise was simply ethereal, Princess Celestia of Equestria. It was odd seeing the head of state of most of the world’s population sharing whispers and jokes with her dearest friend. Conrad still couldn’t believe that some ponies, after regaining their full mental faculties, had insisted on reaffirming old allegiances instead of declaring themselves of Equestrian nationality. Celestia had been adamant that there were only two ways to become Equestrian: be born of Equestrians, or voluntarily declare yourself to be one. She didn’t even require a person to undergo conversion, and therefore there were a number of human citizens of the Equestrian nation.

Others at his parent’s table were like his father: senior officials of the Eastern Alliance. With all the dignitaries attending these weddings there was a significant portion of the world’s leadership collected here today, a real security nightmare. In the last several years, Discord’s HLF had been responsible for a whole series of frightening or simply bizarre attacks on Council institutions. Disruption of the wedding had been Conrad’s frequent nightmare for most of the last year. Thankfully, Celestia herself had provided additional unicorn and pegasi security for the event.

Preparations for these two weddings had dominated the news for months, and inevitably there was significant media representation attempting a modicum of discretion tonight. Conrad sighed. After all, this event could easily be seen as an example of the age old tradition of uniting families to cement a negotiation, in this case the power sharing deal struck by the Council in the days following Celestia’s release. I just wish people weren’t so cynical about it, thought Conrad. The Sachs dynasty, marrying with the Litton-Spencers certainly looked to be just that: a political alliance.

But he knew different. He really loved his Storm, one of the first naturally born Equestrians on Earth since Judgement Day. And he also knew for a fact that the bond between Chloe Litton-Spencer and his father was as wonderful as it was unexpected for them both. Love is like that, thought Conrad as he nudged Billy in turn.

“What was that for?” exclaimed his friend.

“Later, you should ask Twilight Sky for a dance.”

“Conrad, are you for real? She’s like Celestia’s goddaughter. She is so out of my league.”

“Oh yeah? Well Stormy says she told her that she likes you. So buddy you’ve got no excuse not to ask her to dance.” Conrad raised an eyebrow. “Or are you just a big chicken in a pony tux?”

On the other side of Conrad, Storm was whispering to Twilight. Conrad saw the young unicorn mare looking at them out of the corner of her eye.

He turned to Billy. “Dude, she’s checking you out!” Billy gulped and then smiled nervously.

Beneath the table he squeezed Stormy’s hoof twice. Everything was going according to plan!

July 2206

Being immortal had its advantages, but there was a price to pay. For an immortal every relationship had a single inescapable conclusion: grief. As the centuries and the losses accumulated an aversion to closeness set in, and unless checked, would result in a strong drive towards personal isolation. For most of Celestia’s life she had, in part, been protected from this peril by having an immortal companion: her sister Luna. She had only truly understood the loneliness of immortality when she had been forced to banish her sister to the moon. Celestia had always felt in her heart that somehow that episode was due to a failure of her own character as much as it was to that of her sister’s. She wished she had discussed it more with Luna in the short years she had had her back.

She recalled the years of Luna’s banishment, years when the immortal’s dilemma had become her daily reality. Very lonely years when she had buried her heart in work, projects and sometimes even physical isolation. But she had never retreated for too long into herself, and for that she owed thanks to her little ponies. No matter how cold and remote she became, their sense of joy never abandoned them, nor they her. And so she always returned to them, as their happiness became the sunshine of her own existence. In her last few hundred years she had again come to embrace life with her beloved ephemeral companions and celebrated their brief passage through her days. She loved meeting them and seeing them grow in wisdom and experience. She wondered at the power of their love and the scale of their achievements, and she wept at their passage from this world.

So it was that Celestia the immortal had come to cherish her grief. It was the one thing the princess chose to do in private, the one part of her life that she kept for herself. She had spent almost her entire life under watchful eyes, and her present situation was no different.

This is why she was in the New Arlington cemetery, alone. A short distance away a family was gathered around an open grave as a coffin was being slowly lowered into the ground. The majority of mourners were ponies, like with many families these days. After having their faculties restored many ponies tried to return to the relationships they held before forced ponification. In some cases the broken bonds could be mended, but certainly not all. Sometimes the past could not be restored, and ponies were hurt yet again. But even those rejected knew with a certainty that they were not alone, that they were forever and always part of the herd and surrounded by friends. With the support of these friends they were able to form new families. They recovered and the majority even prospered. From her vantage at near the funeral, Celestia observed ponies and humans leaning on each other, united in mourning. The bittersweet sight reminded her of why she was here.

It had been almost one year since the attack that had killed Harvey and Loretta. Two broken souls that somehow Victoria had saved, she who had suffered the most at their hands. Celestia had grown so very fond of them, of Harvey’s steadfast love for his wife, and of Loretta’s constant battle to be a better person than she believed she was inside. Celestia marveled at how Victoria had seen all this, and had the courage to give them the chance to show that they could be more than just an extension of their shameful pasts.

She had brought roses to place before their tombstone. As she set them on the grass another mourner came up behind her. “Hello Celestia,” said a well known voice.

She turned and saw Dexter dressed in a black trench coat, a bouquet of mixed wildflowers clasped in his hands. His eyes widened as he noticed the tracks of tears on her cheeks. “Hello Discord. If you don’t mind this is a private moment.”

“Look Celestia, I...”

“Of all days and of all places, why do you approach me here? Haven’t you done enough?” Celestia surprised herself with the vehemence of her feelings. From the expression on his face it was clear that she had surprised Dexter as well.

“But we didn’t do this, Cely.” He crouched and placed the wildflowers next to her roses. “It wasn’t my people. No matter what the police reported, it wasn’t the HLF. It was some crazy copy-cat group, which the HLF has broken up. They won’t bother us or you again.” He rose to stand next to his sister.

“I came here because I thought you might come alone. I have a question to ask you, Celestia. Why?”

“Dex...“ She winced and started over. “Discord. I have no patience for games today. Why what?”

“Why are you doing this?” asked Discord. “Why incarnate as a human? Why stay on this dingy little planet with these dingy little people who locked you up in a box? What do you owe them?”

Celestia knew that this was probably just the bait for one of Dexter’s elaborate traps. But she realized that she didn’t care. It was a good question, and she felt like answering it honestly, if only for herself. “Because this is what the ponies and people of Earth need: an undeniably human representative for the ponies, a bridge that binds them together. And for those who erred and transgressed, someone to say ‘I forgive you’ and make it possible for ponies and humans to face each other again and live in harmony.”

Discord made a face. “Ugh! Harmony. Couldn't you use another word for just getting along? I'm a creature of chaos after all.” His shy smile had none of the scorn she would have expected from the words. So small a thing, she thought. And yet it means so much to me.

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “You know, this chaos thing is getting boring. Can't you find another outlet for your creativity, like poetry, knitting, or bowling if it makes you happy?”

Discord’s smile grew brighter. “I’ve discovered online communities. These poor sops have yet to see what a real troll can do.” He gripped his chin in one hand and looked at Celestia as if in deep thought. “Forgiveness and spicy banter! You know, exposure to humans has changed you Celestia. And I mean that in a good way.”

Celestia looked at Discord intently. “And what about you, Discord, has the Earth affected you?”

He stood in silence for a moment. “If it hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here.” A look of pain crossed his face. “Back in Equestria, I couldn’t escape the feeling that everything around me was a lie. We were experiments, the ponies were fakes, and Equestria itself was a sham. But when I woke up here, I wasn’t surrounded by lies anymore. I couldn’t change the sunrise, or make it rain chocolate milk, or even make it stop raining!” A sudden smile graced his features. “It was interesting, invigorating, gloriously chaotic, so much more real. I liked it, Cely, it felt... good.” For a moment his expression showed a hint of his usual mischievous glee. “And isn’t it just deliciously ironic that we two battling rogue AIs from another universe teamed up, and defeated the local rogue AI that would have turned this planet into a zoo with no visitors?”

"If I've learned anything in the last eighty years Dexter, it's that the people of Earth are worth fighting for," said Celestia solemnly. "I should have seen that earlier." Her expression softened. "Just like with you."

Discord took a deep breath and his demeanor became contemplative. “Look Celestia, I’m not ready to ‘come-in’ yet, and to be honest, I may never be. But maybe we could talk about it someday.” The shy smile was back.

“Yes we could,” said Celestia. “And thanks!”

“Whatever for?”

“Letting me out of that box. You forced the issue on them, and to be frank the fear of you played a big part in the agreement we reached.”

“Glad that my reputation could be of service!” He nodded his head. “Oh, that reminds me, this is for you.” He took an envelope from his vest pocket and handed it to her. “Just something I discovered in the Lizard’s archives.” He scanned the area around them. “I just got news that we might have company. Gotta run, Cely.” Despite the words he stood hesitating before her.

“Goodbye, Dexter.” She raised a hand to touch his arm, but he ran off before she could complete the motion. She looked on as he disappeared from sight.

Celestia examined the envelope and gingerly opened it. Inside was a single sheet of paper on which was printed segments of two reports.

Document No. EBO-OP28-Vislog-21251025-002.EN
HIGH COMMAND

EQUESTRIAN BARRIER OBSERVATION REPORT
OCTOBER 25, 2125
VISUAL OBSERVATION LOG POST 28

The following summarizes recorded visual images from EBO-OP-28. Each entry is preceded with the observation timestamp.
1500 - 1600Z No change
1602:03.1204 - Hypernuclear ignition flash detected
1602:03.8972 - 1st brightness peak reached - sudden drop in brightness by 62.81%, followed by gradual rise in brightness.
1602:04.3693 - 2nd brightness peak - brightness remained constant
1602:05.6353 - Barrier becomes opaque - brightness reduced to near zero
1602:07.7334 - Barrier begins to shrink - brightness near zero
1602:10.2429 - Barrier shrinking exponentially (rate estimated to constant volume lost per second)
1604:02.5893 - Barrier shrunk below camera resolution (2.4 cm)

The second segment read:

Document No. TEA-PCU1-EvEv-21251111-BC01.EN
ERIS COMMAND

TACTICAL EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS
NOVEMBER 11, 2125
PHYSICS AND COSMOLOGY UNIT 1
EVENT EVALUATION - BARRIER COLLAPSE 01

The following summarizes analysis of recorded visual images from Document No. EBO-OP28-Vislog-21251025-002.EN. ADVISORY: this document contains statements of a theoretical and speculative nature. This document may not be represented as a conclusive determination of the events described, their causes or their significance.

1) Visual evidence of changes in Barrier light emissions show an unexplained 62.81% reduction of brightness at timestamp 1602:03.8972Z. SPECULATION: Uniform nature of reduction over entire Barrier seems indicative of a change in nature of Barrier or imposition of an additional Barrier within the existing Barrier. Nature: perhaps an undisclosed innate defense mechanism established by Equestria. Purpose: no speculation.

2) Disappearance of light emissions at timestamp 1602:05.6353Z. Analysis shows light emissions were not zero, but rather typical of background light emissions from intergalactic space.SPECULATION (HIGH ORDER OF PROBABILITY): The segment of the Equestrian universe converging with our own within the Barrier suddenly shifted to an area of Equestrian intergalactic space. Nature: focal point (location) of convergence in Equestrian space has translated to a different point of Equestrian space, or the planetary surface of Equestria itself has moved. (See related notes on Equestrian cosmology - Movement of Sun and Moon.)Purpose: Agents unknown have moved Equestria out of the convergence zone. This may have been necessary in order to dump the energy of the hypernuclear blasts into open space rather than into Earth space. Why the Equestrians would seek to do this is unknown, as the only potential beneficiaries would be the inhabitants of the Earth.

3) The mechanisms by which the ignition of Hypernuclear explosions would lead to the disappearance of the Barrier are unknown at this time. The (REMAINING TEXT CENSORED.)

Celestia wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. They may have survived! Equestria might have survived! Starswirl’s Filter spell had done its job and protected at least some part of Equestria, because somehow, somepony had moved Equestria itself out of the zone of convergence, something Celestia and Luna had not thought possible. Perhaps it had to do with the magic of the Crystal Heart, linked to the magic of the earth ponies, the deepest and most potent in Equestria. But how, or by whom didn’t matter to Celestia. She carefully folded the sheet of paper and put it in a pocket.

Celestia stood before the grave and read the epitaph Victoria had asked be chiseled in the stone below the names:

It is the smallest hope that inspires the greatest courage

“Goodbye, old friends,” she said to the tombstone before her. She turned and left the cemetery feeling more hopeful than she had for almost an entire century.

July 2206

Celestia was again the girl child of her dreams. She sat with her imaginary sister having tea in the observatory of Canterlot castle.

“How can you be certain that they survived, especially given the provenance of these documents?” Luna asked.

“I cannot. But with these reports I can at the very least hope they did. And of course I had Conrad track down the original documents. There were more corroborating reports, and even some additional attempts at analysis. It all checks out.”

“But it still isn’t proof they survived, only that somehow Equestria or the locus of convergence was moved,” insisted Luna.

“But then there was also that first unexplained reduction of the brightness of the explosion. Granted we are dealing with the intersection of two universes with different physical laws. But the sequence of events is telling. And good enough for me.” Celestia took a large bite out of a huge cookie. These had become her favorites for tea in the observatory.

Luna put down her teacup. “Then you know it is time to try to contact them again. It's been over five years since you finally got out of that box. You’ve grown almost as powerful as you were before that horrid day, yet you haven’t attempted it. Why haven’t you?”

Celestia peered into her own teacup. The reflection showed her pony self, as did all mirrors in this dreamscape. She could easily read the expression on that pale mare’s countenance. “Because Lulu, I am afraid to fail again, and lose the hope that I might not be alone.”

“THOU ART A LIAR, SISTER!” said Luna in the Royal Canterlot voice. She smiled crookedly and in a passable imitation of Applejack’s country pony accent said: “Y’all try that again now, sugarcube.”

Celestia stared at her hands. “Because... I might have to choose between this place and all my little ponies here, and the real Equestria. Oh, Luna, I... I don’t know if I could.”

The illusory dark princess took a sip of her tea. “It seems to me, Cely dear, that you already have.”

August 2206

The little white filly galloped into Princess Luna's parlor in a huff. She saw the princess sitting with a guest in two large armchairs near the windows. “Auntie Woona I can fly, I can fly! Look!" She jumped up into the air and managed to hover for two or three wing-beats before crashing to the carpet into a tiny heap, all hooves and smiles.

"Celestia! You get back to class right this second." A middle aged purple alicorn mare cantered into Luna’s parlor and began to help the foal untangle herself. "I swear that filly is more trouble than a whole flock of dra...” She noticed the strange creature sitting in a chair next to Princess Luna. “...gons. A human!” Twilight approached, her insatiable curiosity had not been blunted by over a century of helping Luna rule Equestria. “I apologize for the interruption. I was...” She stared into those magenta eyes, “... teaching Cely to read.” She swallowed, and approached the pair slowly.

The woman stared back. Twilight noticed her hands shaking. “Hello, Twilight,” she said.

That voice... thought Twilight. In shock, she sat down on her haunches. The woman rose from her seat and knelt before Twilight, putting her arms around her. “Luna tells me you are well, my most faithful student.”

Twilight hugged her back. “I... we... missed you,” was all she could think of to say. For a minute she had no voice other than her tears. She felt a nudge on her foreleg and looked down to see little Cely very unsure about the situation. She wiped the tears from her muzzle with a fetlock.

“Twilight,” said Luna. “Please allow me to introduce Celeste, a princess from a faraway land. But then I think you two already know each other.”

“Oh, yes, where are my manners?” Twilight released the hug and pulled a suddenly very shy looking little white filly up into her forelegs until she was nearly muzzle to nose with the human. “Cely, this is Princess Celeste. Princess, this is my daughter Cely. She is all of five years old.”

The little foal smiled brightly. “Hey! I’m a princess too! An’ so’s my mom! An’ she helps Auntie Woona. An’ she can raise the sun. An’ she’s gonna teach me how when I’m bigger, but now I hafta learn letters an' numbers an' RIFMATIC! An' I’m NOT five years old. Auntie says I'm older'n she is an' she's like a GAGILION years old, but I was big before, an' then a bad thing happened an' I got real small an' I was asleep for a loooooong, long time. An' my birfday is on the day I woke up, but I don't 'member anything before that, an it’s TWO WHOLE MONTHS until my next one! YUCK! An’ your name is almost like mine: Ce-les-tia! Ooh! An’ your eyes are the same color as mine! But you don’t have wings, or a horn. An’... say! What are you?”

“Cely! That’s not polite!” Twilight looked abashed, and a bit proud at the same time. Luna and Celeste laughed.

Princess Celeste smiled at the filly. “I’m a human, sweetheart. And an old friend of your mom and auntie. Can I be your friend too?”

The little mare's eyes stared out from below her stubby horn, then she turned her head and crossed her forelegs. “Nope!” she said.

Princess Celeste looked nonplussed at the sudden refusal. Twilight was blushing in embarrassment.

“What if I say pretty please?” asked Celeste.

“Nuh-uh!” said Cely.

"Pretty please with a great big cherry on top?" suggested the human, showing a toothy smile.

Cely kept her round little muzzle steadfastly in the air and peered at the human out of the corner of her eye. She gestured with a tiny white hoof for her to come even closer, which she did. Cely raised a hoof to Celeste's ear.

In her tiny foal voice she whispered one word.

“Gotcha!”

AD 2200 - State of Heads

The Conversion Bureau: Mankind Triumphant

Relic -

by Dafaddah

Author's note: When I first read Chatoyance's story it shook me to the bone. It scared me, it kept me awake, it affected me. When she invited others to submit stories around her TCB New Universe scenarios, I knew I could not refuse. I felt this story calling to me. Resistance was futile. So here it is.
PS thanks to Microshazm for improving this story immesurably by masterful editing and story advice! (Dafaddah bows.)

AD2200

Humans had a duty to produce offspring, which they did by the vat-load. The baby vats were tended by pony pediatricians, and the children were nurtured by pony nannies of course, as had been the young Wilberforce Sachs. Only the best children made it to middle-age without being ponified, and WiIberforce was the best of the best, of this he was sure. In fact this is what inspired him to his great ambition: to be the first to speak to Celestia in her case, to show the former Princess the greatness that was mankind. To tell her about humanity's achievements since, and describe all that might never have happened if Celestia had not foolishly attempted to invade the Earth. He wanted to show her this great society that could never have been built without the bounty of her blood and the serum that was its product. Yes, Sachs wanted to thank Celestia, for what she had done, and for the way she monthly contributed literally of herself to ensure the perpetuation of mankind.

Wilberforce Sachs walked up to the security station. He placed his palm on the reader and waited for the green light to indicate that he could enter. It did, and the door to the vault rose ponderously, emitting a hiss as negative air pressure kept thaumaturgicly tainted air from escaping its confines.

He was not wearing any protective clothing. He knew that it would likely be of no use, and he wasn't expecting to stay very long, anyway. He, like his worthy father and grandfather before him, had worked tirelessly for many years to finally achieve his position as leader of the Executive Council of the Eastern Alliance. Unlike them, this was not his true goal. His struggle was to amass the power and influence that would allow him to enter this room and see this object before him: a reinforced steel case euphemistically called the Treasure Chest. Its contents were nothing less than the still living head of the former ruler of Equestria, Celestia herself.

The Treasure Chest was not very imposing. It gleamed dully, its metal impregnated with the anti-magical Substance D produced from the ground fragments of Celestia's nemesis, Discord. Low on one side was a spigot from which every month the accumulated magical blood of Celestia was drained to produce ponification serum. The serum was used as a general punishment for most crimes, these days. As a result, the population of the Earth was now over ninety percent pony. They were happy ponies, growing food and tending gardens, doing all the low level jobs of the world of men and living simple lives.

None of this truly concerned Sachs. The object before him did.

Sachs smiled warmly as a technician drilled a pinhole and inserted some specialized nanites. They would safely build a sight and sound bridge between the inside and outside of the case, using the substance of the case and Celestia herself. How fitting that she would contribute to her own new ears and eyes. The technician bowed to Wilberforce and left. It would only take a moment for the nanites to do their work and connect directly to Celestia's nervous system. Already a view-screen was forming on top of the Treasure Chest. In a moment it would display a holographic image of Celestia's head just above the case, as if her head were sticking out through a hole in its top surface.

Of course he had read the reports of the sound of screaming supposedly coming from within during the monthly harvest of Celestia's blood. He was ready to be patient and understanding, if it took her a while to stop screaming. And he was ready also for the tears that no doubt would come. After all, what a change of circumstance she had suffered, all because of her own selfish ambition to conquer humanity. Her feelings of guilt must be simply crushing.

He was also ready for the begging when it came time. Begging to let her out, to let her go, and of course he would have to explain that they could never set free a creature as dangerous as she, a failed invader, the chief architect and perpetrator of an attempted genocide.

And when she came to realize her fate, he expected Celestia to then beg for death, to seek release from her shame and her guilt, to wish to end the pain of living in a box, without comfort, without company, with only her thoughts and regrets. But how could he grant her such, when the constant supply of her blood was one of the very pillars of society? No, Celestia's blood was needed. Truth be told, and he would tell her, Celestia owed humanity for the deprivations she had caused: the loss of so many lives in her war, the extinction of so many brilliant minds by ponification, the sacrifice of almost a sixth of the Earth itself and close to half of humanity in the ensuing disasters. No, she owed humanity still, and such was her punishment that she would be obliged to continue paying that debt, until such a time as humanity judged otherwise and released her from residence inside the Treasure Chest.

Sachs was not an evil man. Only a strong-willed person could ascend to the heights he had achieved, but he had always endeavored to keep and nurture the solid core of compassion in his inner soul. So he felt for Celestia, he really did, and he had steeled himself against her begging him to stay another few minutes and keep her company, to delay her return to isolation. But he could not remain longer than a few minutes without risking overexposure to the thaumaturgic energy radiating from Celestia herself. He would however, generously promise to visit her again, when his heavy obligations permitted it, in a few months or a year. He resolved that he truly would be generous with his time.

Sachs felt good about this visit. He licked his lips in anticipation, and watched as the hologram of Celestia's head rapidly took shape over the Treasure Chest. Her eyes were closed but it was clearly the face from those long ago vids, despite the odd clot of blood matting her white fur. Her reputed rainbow gossamer mane was absent, which disappointed him somewhat, as did her so far passive attitude. It was Wilberforce's policy to always take the bull by the horns, or in this case, he smiled at the thought, the alicorn by the horn.

"Celestia." His voice rang out, neither cold nor warm, but familiar, like an old acquaintance or a colleague greeting another in the corridor. He meant to reassure and not to frighten the poor creature.

She slowly opened her eyes, and he felt the gaze of her keen intellect wash over him. He had expected to see terror, fear, hate, remorse in those eyes. But what he saw there instead disturbed him greatly. It shook him to his core. It made him want to hate her, to despise her, to scorn her. What he saw in her eyes was the last thing he expected to see. What he saw was compassion. The ache of it burned in him, and he felt his smile turn into a scowl. But the look on Celestia's face never wavered, her compassion never faltered.

"How dare you?" he said. Right then and there he almost decided to turn and leave this unrepentant criminal. But something held him back. He took a moment to calm himself, and then he understood. His deepest instincts had saved him. If he had left, she would have won, and he would have been a coward. No, he would face her down, prove to her once again the superiority of humanity. That was why he had come here today. That is what he would do. Now was the time to attack her delusions and shove her muzzle firmly into the pungent truth. This criminal deserved no less.

"How dare you look upon a human without contrition, murderess." he reprimanded Celestia, calmly, rationally. His smile returned as he said the word 'murderess'. It was a fitting word for the creature before him. "Do you not regret your crimes?" He raised an eyebrow to show that this was not a rhetorical question, and that he expected an answer.

"I look upon you as I have looked upon countless humans before you. Never in hate, always in love. I am what I am, and cannot be otherwise," said his prisoner in a sweet, gentle voice.

"So you admit your crimes and refuse to repent?" said Sachs. He knew how to unmask evaders. All it took was patience and the intelligence to ask the right questions. Sooner or later, the guilty party's evasions contradicted themselves. He would be ready to spring the trap. He knew this game well.

"I have acted only in the best interest of all the inhabitants of Earth and Equestria, whether human or ponies, or griffins or dragons or other sentient species," replied Celestia.

"Is that so?" he cocked his head to one side. Wilberforce noted that she was smart enough to know this time his was a rhetorical question and kept her silence. "Tell me, Princess, if your plan had succeeded, would not the earth have completely disappeared, swallowed up by Equestria and humanity with it? Would that not have been a genocide?"

"Our objective," said Celestia, "was to provide an escape to all humans from that extinction. Humanity would not have ceased, it would have... transcended. But even if the collision between the Earth and Equestria had not happened, the long-term prospects for mankind were quite dismal. The earth was mostly dead, its ecosystems destroyed, its oceans toxic. Life on earth would have been increasingly curtailed, with resources to support an ever dwindling population. And trust me in that I know this for a fact, if Equestria had not appeared when it did, there would be no humans left on Earth by now."

"And how is that different from your planned invasion? Sounds like the same result from my perspective: no humans. Instead we now have a vibrant Earth with mankind. A green, living Earth, tended mostly by ponies, thanks to you, Celestia." Wilberforce chuckled. This interview was now proceeding as he had planned. It was time to make Celestia aware of her 'contribution' to mankind.

"I am aware of the current pony population of Earth. And I am proud of what they have accomplished," said Celestia. "Through their magic the Earth is reborn: cleansed of toxins and green again. Life has even returned to the oceans, has it not, my dear Wilberforce?" She smiled her infuriatingly compassionate smile.

Sachs grew irritated again. How did she know all this, and how did she know his name? He had never introduced himself. He had hoped to hold his identity from her, a potent psychological weapon, when he had at leisure been able to study up on the Equestrian Princess. He knew practically all that was known by humanity about her. He nevertheless decided to pursue his intended course.

"The ponies have provided most of the physical labour to undertake these great works. But kid yourself not, the plan was from the minds of humans, as was the idea of using your blood to create ponification serum. You see, every month or so you provide us with the means of protecting the best of humanity, and giving those poor inferior souls who do not make the grade a new life as a pony. We even provide a place for them in our society where they can contribute and live happy, productive lives. Such is our mercy. Have we not surpassed you by finding a way to accommodate ponies while preserving our humanity?" He watched Celestia carefully to see how his revelations would affect the former sovereign.

"I am willing to admit that it might seem so from your point of view." Disappointing him again, Celestia smiled. "But you must admit that without the magic of ponies and the seed stock brought in from Equestria before your intervention, Mundus would have died a slow death."

Wilberforce was starting to dislike this creature. His earlier admiration for her perhaps misdirected but still considerable accomplishments was fast wilting under the harsh sun of her self-delusion. He began walking around the Treasure Chest. Of course, having no body attached to her neck, Celestia could not not turn her head to follow him. He enjoyed forcing her her to lift her chin and swivel her eyes in order to track his orbit around her. It was time to make her feel the pain of knowing the consequences of her intransigence.

"Let's talk about our... intervention, as you called it." With a glint in his eye he came around and lowered his face to within a finger's breadth of hers. "Did you know that we succeeded in destroying Equestria with twin Hypernuclear devices? Did you know that all the ponies in Equestria, and the billions of unfortunate humans you had ponified and forcibly relocated, that all these were turned to less than ash, in a blink of an eye. Not to mention a considerable part of your royal self!" Wilberforce smiled beatifically while delivering this news.

There was a moment of deepest silence, then Celestia blinked. Ah-ha! Wilberforce rejoiced. He had finally elicited a reaction. Her infuriating smile was gone and in its place was a bemused expression. Was Celestia finally showing some regret for her outrageous actions? Perhaps there was hope for this criminal still.

"I am certainly in no position to deny that my head was left behind when Equestria and Mundus were sundered." Celestia laughed as if her situation was merely some jest, a prank committed on a friend in good fun. Sachs felt his anger rise. His entire upper body tensed and he caught himself just short of slapping the insolent pony face for making a farce out of the death of billions! But he knew this face was but a hologram, and that his hand would pass through without striking, without hurt and without satisfaction.

Perhaps it was time to end this charade. But so great was his compassion that he had a thought: what if Celestia had gone mad from several hundred years of isolation and no company but the thoughts in her head? In all that time, could she have withstood the guilt of bringing to an end all that she held dear? Who knew what fictions she had devised in order to live with herself and keep herself from descent into hopelessness? Could any sentient being, no matter how godlike, have survived undamaged?
"No." Wilberforce answered his own question. He stood back and looked down at Celestia with pity and compassion. "I must leave you now." He truly felt sorry for the deranged entity before him. It would be more 'humane' to extinguish her outright, but he knew that this final mercy was not his to give, yet. "I will come to visit you again sometime. Until then, goodbye."

"Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. I have truly enjoyed our conversation Wilberforce. Goodbye," replied Celestia. As he reached over to deactivate the view-screen, he paused, staring into her fathomless eyes. Those huge eyes were inhuman, alien. How could he not have noticed before? He switched off the hologram, turned away and walked back out of the vault, filled with melancholy.

***

Celestia's mind withdrew from the interview with Wilberforce Sachs feeling melancholy. "What a sad man," she said to to her sister.

"Why do you expend the energy to maintain that wordline, Celestia? It is so dismal, so dark. And it causes you such pain," replied Luna, a look of deep concern on her muzzle.

"We have discussed this before, dear sister. I could not allow so many to be extinguished, that would not voluntarily come to us. This way, they are slowly being added to the herd, and the simulacra amongst the ponified give us a way to gently influence mankind into a more compassionate society."

"But there are so few left. How long will you continue this sad charade, Celestia?" Luna approached her sister leaning into her to ease the sting of her words.

"As long as they still need it in order to live, dear sister." She sighed. "I am what I am, and cannot be otherwise," said Celestia in a sweet, gentle voice.