Code name Eclipse:

A pony has acted against harmony. This code is only used for members of Sections One, Two, and Three. There are three stages of this code.

Partial Eclipse. Reserved for low-level staff, such as housemates and waiting staff. To date, Partial Eclipse has been used a total of 146 times.

Notes: Seems infiltrators assume the castle staff isn’t watched and has the run of the place. Such obvious loopholes are no real threat to Harmony. -T. Sparkle

Half Eclipse: Reserved to Sections One, Two, and Three standard staff. To date, Half Eclipse has been used a total of 57 times.

Notes: My ponies that work in Sections 1, 2, and 3 are chosen after a thorough screening process. Those that work for Twilight doubly so, but even the stoutest of us can falter in our just work. After a rash of defections when Twilight implemented a new torture (the Iron Mare I believe she calls it) we’ve increased the amount of memory wipes Section Three staff undergo on a regular basis, and I’ve delegated all Stage 3 Omega Breaking procedures to Twilight’s capable hooves. -Celestia.

Total Eclipse: Reserved for usage when a Princess acts against Harmony. Director Twilight Sparkle falls under this category due to her position in Section Three. To date, Total Eclipse has been used a total of 5 times. 4 by Director Twilight Sparkle against Princess Cadence. And once By Cadence as a way to call a ‘family meeting’

Notes: Cadence means well, but her efforts are in vain, I’ve never quite observed a pony like Twilight. She values Knowledge far more than any individual being. The last Code ended in bloodshed, Twilight had determined that a proper punishment should follow what she called ‘erroneous usage of a state of emergency’.

I’m only grateful Cadence recovered from her injuries. Had I not intervened I think Twilight might have executed my niece. -Celestia.

I’m not giving up on Twily, I can still sense love inside her, buried deep down. It’s a weak flame, almost not even there most times. But if you catch her when she finds a new book, it’s hard not to feel it’s flame. -C

The Harmony Spell:
Type: Light magic (Mind Affecting)
Difficulty: Above Average
Casting time: Three Hours
Usage: Forbidden without approval from Celestia, Director Twilight sparkle.
Effects: Forcefully instills The values of Harmony in an individual. Similar to a Geass except this leaves no outward effects, and can’t be circumvented with clever changes in belief or thought.

An unwilling individual who has the spell cast upon them will have their mind destroyed, leaving behind nothing but a body that reflexively sustains life. It will drink water if it’s poured into their mouth, chew and eat food, Breathe and blink. It will also relieve itself whenever it feels the need, regardless of what position it is lying in.

Notes: The basis of Harmony and the main tool used to maintain a self-perpetuating system. I only wish the Harmony spell didn’t require the target to be willing. I’ve refined the breaking procedures necessary to be as ‘kind’ as they can be, at the request of Celestia. -T. sparkle

Breaking Procedures

Breaking Alpha: Disharmonic individual is subjected to standard sleep and food deprivation for two weeks. Unicorns have their magic sealed with an enchanted Inhibitor ring, and pegasi Have their wings bound. The cells in A have been enchanted with time dilation effects. Timers set above each cell counts down from three minutes. Every three minutes(roughly three days for the Disharmonic) the Disharmonic are given a standard portion of water, calculated for weight, age, and the temperature fluctuations of the cell.

Cell design: Always brightly lit by a miniature sun hanging in the center of the ceiling. The temperature fluctuates between 32C(90F) during the ‘day’ and 18C(65F) at ‘night’ (The sun does not dim during the night, only temperature changes occur)The Dimensions are 12/12/12. The walls are brown and padded to prevent suicide by its occupants. There is no bed or other creature comforts. guards are ordered to provide water at specific intervals (roughly once every three days to the Disharmonic) and never more water than required for survival. Every nine minutes (nine days for the Disharmonic) they are asked if they submit to Harmony. Guards are not to react in any way to the Disharmonic unless they are being asked to rejoin Harmony.

Notes: 90% of the Disharmonic agree to the Harmony Spell after Breaking Alpha, and it also lowers their will and resistance for Beta and later Omega.

Breaking Beta: Disharmonic is given a standard ration, and water then moved to a Beta chamber. They are strapped onto a table and left for three hours.

After three hours a Beta employee will begin.

Beta Step 1 is a slow amputation. If it’s a unicorn It is their horn, a pegasus, their wings. Earth ponies lose their hind legs. The Beta employee is to make the Disharmonic feel that this is permanent, but the cuts are to be clean and precise so that they can be reattached later. The amputated part is ‘burned’ before the Disharmonic, this is a flame sending spell modified for the transport of severed limbs. Under no circumstances should something be done to a Disharmonic that cannot be healed without leaving a scar.

If disharmonic does not agree to rejoin Harmony after amputation and another Two-hour delay They proceed to Omega.

Beta/Omega chamber: a 30/30/8 dimly lit room that hovers around 20C(68F). Chains on the wall within the Disharmonics view contain skeletons of some Erased. Torchlight is the only illumination and the Omega devices are kept barely out of sight. The point of the Three-hour difference is for them to recover slightly from the bright Alpha chambers. Experience has shown that Ponies will worry about what is going to happen to them. Three hours is the optimal time, as longer times allow for detrimental recovery of mental faculties.

Notes: 50% of those who arrive at Beta submit to Harmony

Breaking Omega: Director Twilight Sparkle is to personally handle all Omega breaking procedures. Ponies are left up to her mercy until a predetermined time. After this time they are told that a final refusal will result in being Erased, followed by a brief explanation of the Erasure procedure. Only Director Twilight may know what methods she uses.

Notes: 95% of those who reach Omega Submit to Harmony.

Of those that agree to have the spell cast upon them, there is a 1% chance that they resist, typically the feeling is quite pleasant. The spell is tricky and does it’s best to soothe the target while it’s being altered.

~~~~~

“Do ya know what happens ta those who go to Section Three?” Applejack’s face looked thoughtful, a frown creasing her forehead.

Pinkie sighed. “No, but it’s nothing good, what little I know about the Harmony spell is…” She glances at an empty corner. “It makes you happy, and it instills the qualities of harmony into you. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The few I’ve sent to Celestia have come back great ponies. Their sadness is gone, but so is their ambition.”

A white hoof rested on Pinkie’s shoulder, Rarities caring eyes looked thoughtful as well. “How did you of all ponies get involved? I can hardly see you being a part of...this” Rarities white hoof swept the room, all those who came to see Celestia sleeping soundly in a pile near the center.

Pinkie took a deep breath, her usual energy spent. “They are always watching, someone noticed my....memory and conscripted me.” Pinkie looked into Rarity’s kind eyes, her hair seeming a bit less poofy than before. “It isn’t something you say no too.”

Rarity paused for a moment. “Did you say no?” Pinkie nodded. Rarity raised an eyebrow waiting for a response only to get a sad shake of pinkies head. “I know I said no at first, I was sent to see Twilight.” At a cough from someone unseen behind Pinkie, she gave an absent wave of her hoof. “Director Twilight.” She sighed once more. “I don’t remember what happened during that time, but I woke up in my bed, it seemed a few days had passed and my desire to refuse was gone.”

Applejack spoke up. “You don’t think...they used the Harmony spell do ya?” Pinkie shook her head. “I don’t think so, those under its control never speak about it, I also think I’m...Important somehow. I was actually on Twilight’s list of ponies to meet today.”

Dash’s rough voice echoed around the room. “Who cares? We all knew Twilight had to be important, or the Princess wouldn’t have sent her. That Black pony did something to her, and we need to fix it.” Dash’s eyes were determined, her mouth set in a grim line.

Pinkie shook her head. “I know, but you should know, Twilight is strong. She was trained by Celestia herself eight hundred years ago…. And if the rumors are true, she knows not only battle magic, but dark magic as well.”

Rarity scoffed. “It can’t be that bad, after all, magic is only capable of….” her expression fell. “I’m beginning to see the issue. ‘Combat magic’ isn’t taught anymore. And I’m starting to see the obvious information blackout on magic used to harm. She was also trained during a war, but what’s Dark magic? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Pinkie looked to Spike, getting a nod she continued. “Dark magic corrupts the caster, ponies who use it end up changed, easily falling to hatred, it’s power is so great that it’s rumored it’s what caused...Nightmare Moon.”

Rarity blinked, taking a moment to process that. “I see, though our best bet is for Nightmare Moon to grow overconfident.”

Pinkie sighed, nodding in agreement before she could respond though Dash’s voice cut in. “Who cares? Twilight’s in the hands of that...Nightmare and it’s our job to get her back right? Let’s just go get her back.” Everyone was shocked at her brazen declaration but their expressions turned serious. As one they turned toward the window that Nightmare Moon had dragged Twilight through.

Pinkie bounced to her feet. “No sense waiting any longer, we’ve got a journey to get through. She bounced through the doors, the other 4 following soon after.

~~~

The light from Nightmare Moon’s horn slowly faded. “Hmm, I was expecting more panic from my return, I can hardly sense any strife or distress at all.

“It’s likely the E.I.S. has already started measures to wipe memories of the event.” Teal Draconic eyes moved over to the bound Unicorn. “I must say, I’m impressed my dear sister could come up with a system like this. And it seems she’s no longer the warrior who banished me a millennia ago.”

Twilight tried, she truly tried to remain silent, but the curse in her blood forced her to speak once again. “She has bad memories of the battlefield, I imagine it’s some form of PTSD. She’s not participated in breaking in almost a century. I don’t even know if she still practices battle magic at all.”

Nightmare nodded “Explains why she wasn’t here to greet me in pony. Sending a replacement instead.” The clop of hooves on stone echoed about the area as Nightmare moved toward a shattered globe, large stone spheres littering the ground. “What was she expecting? The elements are inert, and magic is nowhere to be seen. Her entire plan hinges upon a faint hope.” Nightmare kicked one of the spheres, sending it rolling across the ground with a rough grinding sound.

“Are you truly opposed to Joining Section Three? Celestia wishes to rule together with you once again. Surely you remember good times as well as the bad?”

Nightmare raised a delicate eyebrow. “An emotional plea now? Are you truly running out of options where that’s your best course of action?”

Twilight's face shifted from wide-eyed and hopeful back to grim determination, her lips set in a line. Resisting answering for a full five seconds before a simple “Yes.” escaped her lips.

“How quaint, but a few centuries of life isn’t quite enough to match wits with me.” Summoning a scrying mirror Nightmare looked in on Ponyville. “Oh, it seems your ‘friends’ are on their way. I’m afraid their plan won’t work…”

Nightmare moved closer to twilight, with a flick of her horn she removed the bindings holding the vampire in place. When she eventually rose to her hooves Nightmare stared deep into Twilight’s eyes. “Break them, don’t just kill them, show them that their efforts are futile.” Twilight stood there for a full thirty seconds before she sank into a shadow at her feet.

Already figured out she can use shadow magic now. I’m glad I could control her, she might have been a challenge otherwise. Nightmares gaze returned to the scrying mirror, a bunch of ponies making their way foolishly toward her. “I hope your watching dear sister, my only regret is that I can’t see the look on your face when this house of cards you’ve built comes tumbling down around you.”

Author's Note

Here are my words that I chose by throwing a dart at a dictionary, it wound up somewhat resembling a new chapter, so I posted it. As usual, any questions can be asked in the comments, I'd like feedback so I can improve even more.