Thought Ghost: A Journey through Equestria's Diaries

by Theblondeknight

Rating: everyone
Tags: Slice of Life, Sad, Mystery, Second Person, Random
Length: 607

In the far future, scientists and magicians have come together on a monumental breakthrough: The private thoughts and feelings of Equestrians are coded into a tangible, virtual reality experience for YOU to explore.

The Thought Inquisition was founded for just this purpose. The mysteries of the past are no longer locked away, just hidden behind years, thoughts, and the code. As an Inquisitor, you are tasked to delve into the enigmas, trials and triumphs, secrets, and accidents of history's greatest figures….and probably some of its unnoticed potential too.

Welcome to the Inquisition, today you are a ghost: a Thought Ghost.

Sounds like a lot of responsibility, too much power, doesn't it? To boil down scenes of a pony's life into a few lines of code, condense an entire day, or far longer, into a 'diary'. Well, the Inquisition hasn't been without scandal, that's true. Just keep your head down and think like the name. Ghost. You are a ghost, intangible to them, but everything they say, do, think, and feel will be as real to you as your own private thoughts.

Work hard, be perceptive (consider the source of the diary, is this a trustworthy narrator? What does history say about the fallout of these events? Does morality have application, or in this instance exist? Have you encountered the parallel diary, if one exists? QUESTION EVERYTHING!), and of course, enjoy.

Series of related one-shots and short stories under a nameless Thought Ghost. Inspired mostly by thought-experiment type stories (Would It Matter If I was? -GaPJaxie) and my own interest in diary/textbook style stories. Also I haven't written second person in a while.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2016-01-01 23:15:09 UTC

Introduction (Instructions)

Equestria has come far since its creation well over 4,000 years ago, hasn't it?

The troublesome voice rings out again, pervading the ears of everypony traveling down the fifth story road, the very same message that plays every day to ponies working in projects of meta-conception and assorted applications of mental energy. Well....the Inquisition building ins't far. Once inside you know there will be refuge from the monotony. No two days in the Inquisition are alike.

From Princess Celestia to King Dameonhooves, to Supreme Leader Snow-XK, the advancements are seen in every facet of society.

You feel the scanning eyes of the drones on the terrace in between the fifth and sixth level stories reading your internal identification. The eerie vibration you once knew in youth is now a comforting sign of maturity and power. The day has begun as you take your first steps onto Inquisition property; the crowd thins significantly.

Now it is your turn. Advance yourself to advance us all. Potential is the waste of talent.

Another Ghost, marked clearly by the same all-white eyes you have, nods as you pass him by. His shift has ended. You feel for him. "Shift" is a word with very different connotations to wage slaves than to a pony like a Ghost. Ghosts live lifetimes in the span of days. You are here to continue the never-ending journey, the page has been marked for you by that same passing pony.

Tomorrow is never more than a few steps away. Be daring enough to leap past it.

Almost through the doors, into the solace of silence.

Creativity is the-

The doors shut behind you. At last. The words are well and good, but their monotony has bored you significantly. The new void is tangible, but far more familiar. Comfort is a word that comes to mind as a difference between the outside and the Inquisition. The time lapse from entrance to your station is quick. The Inquisitorial Voice addresses you as you take your place.

"Greetings, welcome home. The code update went into effect between this station's shifts. Allow me to brief you on the new features and controls inside the diaries you will encounter today.

Thoughts are now more tangible than ever. The implications and exactly what they mean are still for you to decide and report on, of course. Expected increase in productivity is projected to reach 2.9%

A greater distinction has been made in thought ownership as well. (Assuming more than one pony is in focus)

**Written words* are now translated through the system as fluently as words, and increase in digestion of content is projected to be boosted 0.4%*

Imaginations and creative figments are also more easily distinguished, after several fiascos as of late in differentiating fact from fiction.

Similar to the update in thought ownership, imagination and creative thinking have also become more distinguishable.

Are these settings acceptable?"

"Affirmative," you reply, tone like ice as you settle into the system, allowing it merge with your own systems and your mind.

"A new diary has emerged from the system; level five quandary, era: Lunar Return/Harmony's Resonance, urgency: great. Initiate Diary?"

"Make it so."

The words come from your mouth as though somepony else had said them. The process is successful, as always, and you are almost wholly in the system now.

"Initiation started; please input starting preferences and commence when ready."

You complete the final preparations and fall into the diary like it was a pool, free falling into the system, through the code, into many new things, the sum of which, surely, is something very grand.

"Engage."

It has begun.